Specna Arms SA-X01 EDGE 2.0™ AR-9 SMG w/Gate ASTER MOSFET

The AR-9 platform is becoming very popular these days, and there is little worse than spending time perfecting your setup only for it to look like everyone else's! Enter the SA-X01, Specna Arms' first release from their AR-9 range. The X series makes use of a uniquely designed alloy AR-9 receiver with Specna's hard-wearing Nanocoating finish and stylish weight-reducing cuts throughout to separate it from other AR-9 platforms, and is pre-upgraded on the inside with some superb high end parts to give it the performance to duke it out with the ARP9, X-9 and other 9mm AR platforms. Can the SA-X01 contend with the king of CQB, the ARP9? Only time will tell!

Starting at the front end we have a standard M4/AR15 birdcage flash hider constructed from alloy which conceals 14mm CCW male threads beneath. The birdcage gives a rather plain look to the muzzle end, but the 14mm CCW male threading allows any of the most common muzzle devices to be mounted in its place, including tracer units and suppressors. Being a CQB-oriented platform, the SA-X01 would certainly benefit from a tracer!

The outer barrel is constructed from alloy and is 8.5 inches in length, providing a decently sized platform for both CQB encounters and aggressive outdoor play. The M-LOK handguard is slightly shorter at 5 inches, reducing the weight at the very front of the SMG and allowing it to be pointed more quickly using CQB-friendly stances. The 12 o'clock position of the handguard features a 20mm Picatinny rail which extends to meet the receiver rail seamlessly, allowing for long optical sights and even red dot and magnifier combos to be mounted, leaving you plenty of room for a thumb-over-bore grip.

The 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions boast M-LOK negative space attachment slots allowing for M-LOK accessories to be directly mounted or 20mm Picatinny rails for M-LOK to be added to facilitate the use of 20mm Picatinny accessories. This gives you the best of both worlds, with loads of accessory mounting options but a light and agile front end in its default configuration. As it comes, the SA-X01 has a Specna Arms high density polymer stubby vertical grip for M-LOK pre-installed, part of their SAAS (Specna Arms Accessory System) range. The grip is comfortable and has crackle texture on each side for optimal grip, but if you have a preferred grip you can remove it quickly and easily as it is M-LOK mounted.

As we arrive at the receiver we can see an M4/AR15 style layout, but a completely original receiver design with loads of ergonomic enhancements machined in. At the front of the magazine well we can take note of the gripping texture which allows greater control of the SMG when using the "magwell grip" which is a great technique for exchanging fire at close range. The magazine well has a built-in flare to help guide your magazine in during an adrenaline-fueled reload in the thick of it, and each side of the magazine well has weight reducing relief cuts, with the deeply and crisply engraved trademarks on the left side.

The trademarks on the receiver are Specna's own, with the SA in a box logo at the top, and "X-SERIES" followed by "9x19 mm" and the serial number just below. The markings are immaculately engraved as Specna Arms are known for, and do not detract from the realism aspect, as there is no "6mm" or "for Airsoft only" to be seen. Nice work Specna!

The magazine release is located on the bottom of the SMG, positioned in the centre to allow for easy access for both left and right-handed shooters. This mag release is seriously massive, giving you absolutely no chance of missing it when a quick reload is needed. The texture on its surface also guarantees grip in any weather conditions. The trigger guard follows just behind the mag release and is built into the receiver similarly to modern "billet" AR15 receivers, increasing strength by removing the M4/AR15 modular trigger guard system which is a known point of weakness in the design. The trigger guard itself is enlarged to allow easy access to the trigger, even when wearing thick gloves, and its angle matches that of the magazine well perfectly, showing Specna's consideration to aesthetics when designing the X-series.

Within the trigger guard, we can find the flat trigger, but this isn't just any flat trigger! This is the Gate Solar trigger, based on their successful Quantum trigger. Designed to interact with the optical sensors inside the Gate ASTER MOSFET/ETU, the Solar allows the trigger travel and the sensitivity to be adjusted to suit your preferences using Gate's Control Station app, the Gate Blu-Link or USB-Link (available separately). The flat trigger design is perfect for rapid semi-auto shots in CQB and has a textured front surface for optimal grip, and a short finger ledge to keep your trigger finger where it needs to be.

The HOP-up unit of the SA-X01 is located right where we would expect it; inside the mock ejection port, concealed behind the steel mock bolt. Pulling the charging handle, located at the top rear of the receiver, will retract the mock bolt and lock it open, revealing the rotary HOP-up dial beneath. The rotary unit design is the latest for the M4/AR15 and is known to hold its adjustments well under the vibration of full auto fire, and provides finer increments of adjustment than the legacy gear HOP-up unit.

The HOP-up rubber installed within this unit is the Specna Arms Helium™, providing plenty of lift and allowing heavier BBs to be used to extend the SA-X01's range. With your HOP-up adjustment complete you can hit the bolt catch on the centre left of the receiver to send the mock bolt home with a satisfying "clank".

The SA-X01's pistol grip is a modern ergonomic design with a filled backstrap and textured panels on either side for optimal gripping qualities. The grip is set at a more vertical angle than usual, making it great for use with modern shooting stances and pairing perfectly with the super compact PDW stock, adding to the beastly CQB qualities of the platform.

The stock is the standard Specna Arms PDW stock, complete with Specna's bespoke texturing to make it easy to extend. The QD sockets usually found on either side in other brands' PDW stocks are not present on the Specna stock, instead, we have a single centrally positioned socket, meaning if you switch shoulders to take a tight corner you don't have to mess with the sling. The adjustment button is on the base of the stock and has a textured surface to ensure it is easy to adjust mid-game.

The battery compartment is inside the buffer tube of the stock, meaning battery space is a bit tight inside the SA-X02. Accessing the battery compartment only requires that you unthread the buffer tube with the stock at its longest position, and inside you will find a Deans battery connector, providing lower resistance and higher electrical efficiency than the more common mini-Tamiya connector. For the SA-X02 we recommend the Specna Arms 7.4V 600mAh LiPo PDW Stick battery, but if you add the Specna Arms PDW battery extension you can use a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo stick battery. If your battery stash is full of mini-Tamiya batteries, no need to buy again, the SA-X01 comes with a Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter!

Inside the SA-X01 we are treated to the usual Specna Arms goodies, starting with the ORION™ gearbox. The ORION™ boasts a reinforced polymer piston with steel teeth, an aluminium nozzle and cylinder head, a quick change spring guide equipped with ball bearings to reduce rotational stress, and a solid set of steel gears running on 8mm ball bearing bushings. Sounds good, but it gets even better!

The SA-X01 is pre-wired with the Gate ASTER MOSFET/ETU which provides superior electrical efficiency, protects your battery from reverse polarity and has a whole host of advanced smart functions which can be unlocked by using the Gate Control Station app, the Gate Blu-link, the Gate USB-link or the Gate Programming card (available separately). To give the gearbox the pull it needs to do the ASTER justice, Specna have installed a high torque motor with Neodymium magnets which helps with the split-second trigger response but is also capable of pulling far stronger springs than the M90 which comes pre-installed.

So, if you want to jump on the AR-9 bandwagon but you are a unique character who wants to stand out, but not at the cost of performance, the SA-X01 would be perfect for you. The advantages given by the phenomenal Gate ASTER will certainly give the ARP9 and other currently popular AR-9 platforms a run for their money, and being full metal as a bonus gives the SA-X01 its own unique spot amongst the plethora of 9mm AR platforms out there!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• M4/AR15 Style birdcage flash hider
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Modern design, very effective
• Gate ASTER MOSFET pre-installed - Advanced features, snappy response
• High torque motor with Neodymium magnets - 22TPA, capable of pulling strong springs
• Programmable fire controls through Gate Control Station App, Gate Blu-Link or Gate Programming card
• M-LOK Handguard - M-LOK at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, 20mm Picatinny up top
• Specna Arms polymer stubby vertical foregrip pre-installed to the 6 o'clock M-LOK slots
• 20mm Picatinny railed upper receiver - Ready for red dot sights or scopes
• Gate Solar trigger pre-installed - Based on the Gate Quantum trigger, flat design for speed!
• Specna Arms ORION™ V2 gearbox - Pre-upgraded internal parts
• Unique modern receiver design - Weight-reduced "billet" style receiver
• Ambidextrous extended magazine release - Easy and fast reloads
• Ambidextrous fire selector - Great for left or right-handed shooters
• Extended charging handle latch - Easy access to the HOP-up for adjustment
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Straighter grip angle, great for shooting up close with the stock collapsed
• Enlarged trigger guard - Easy trigger access with or without gloves
• 4 Position PDW sliding stock - Super compact, great for CQB

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-X01 EDGE 2.0™ AR-9 SMG w/Gate ASTER MOSFET
• 120rnd S-MAG Medium capacity magazine x 2
• Deans to mini-Tamiya battery adapter
• User manual

Special Instructions

For more information on the Gate ASTER™ MOSFET and what it can do, check out our Blog. If you want to get into the real technical nitty gritty check out the Gate ASTER™ homepage and the user manual.