Ares Otto Repa SOC SLR Assault Rifle AEG (AR SOC)

If you're into futuristically styled platforms you will love the Ares Otto Repa SOC SLR Assault Rifle AEG (AR SOC)! Based on a real steel prototype developed in Germany, this bullpup assault rifle is the closest thing we've seen so far to the Liberator from Helldivers 2, especially if you remove the flash hider and barrel extension. Boasting full metal construction and a seriously hefty build, the AR-SOC is unlike anything else we've seen and is ideal for the skirmisher who simply must break the mould!

Inside, we are equipped with a unique gearbox shell compatible with version 2 gearbox pistons, cylinders, piston heads, tappet plates & nozzles ( length 21.2mm), great news for those who must upgrade everything they touch. As it comes, the AR-SOC is equipped with a polymer piston with a full steel tooth rack, 18:1 ratio steel gears running on 8mm ball bearing bushings and the Ares EFCS MOSFET, providing cycle completion so you never get a locked trigger when double tapping your foes and allowing the fire modes to be programmed using the Ares EFCS Programming Box (available separately).

Starting at the front, we have a long DMR-style flash hider directly connected to a two-inch barrel extension which itself connects to the outer barrel via 14mm CW male threads. Unfortunately, Ares got its threads backwards once again but if you want to mount a tracer or suppressor to your AR-SOC you still can using a 14mm CW to 14mm CCW adapter. Or, you can do what we would and remove the barrel extension entirely to make the SOC-AR look that bit closer to the Helldivers 2 Liberator!

Below the barrel, we are treated to an integrated red aiming laser concealed beneath a removable polymer cap. This laser can be turned on via the switch in front of the trigger guard, though you will first need to install two AAA batteries into the internal battery cradle. The battery cradle is located inside the pistol grip and can be accessed by pulling the tab at the rear of the baseplate forward, after which the baseplate will pop off. Inside, you'll find the battery cradle. Slide the battery cradle open, insert your 2 x AAA cells and flick the switch on the outside of the cradle to the "on" position and your laser is hot as soon as you press the polymer button inside the trigger guard. Unfortunately, the laser is not adjustable but it is quite bright; a very useful tool in pointing out distant targets to teammates in the field.

The battery compartment of the AR-SOC is inside the receiver and accessible with the upper removed. To take the upper off, simply unscrew the flathead screw at the top front of the chassis and you can slide the upper off towards the front of the rifle. With this done, you will see a mini-Tamiya battery connector near the front. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in crane/nun-chuck configuration for a flawless fit.

There is actually plenty of space inside the AR-SOC for other batteries but make sure you are extra careful when reinstalling your upper receiver as the location of the mini-Tamiya connector makes it potentially vulnerable to getting trapped between the receiver halves. If you feel resistance when putting the AR-SOC back together, check where your battery connector is!

Moving rearwards along the chassis we come to the charging handle which is pre-installed on the left side of the AR-SOC, ideal for right-handed shooters. The charging handle provides access to the rotary HOP-up unit and when pulled, opens the dust cover and retracts the mock bolt carrier on the rear right of the chassis. Behind the substantial and very realistic mock bolt, we can see the rotary adjuster protruding.

The HOP-up allows you to tune the AR-SOC for your chosen BB weight, seeking the flattest possible trajectory. With your adjustment complete you can hit the ambidextrous bolt release catch present on either side, just above the pistol grip. When you hit the bolt catch, the bolt slams home and emits one of the most ear-pleasing metal-on-metal rings an Airsoft gun can make!

Below the charging handle tracks is where we can find the fire control group, including the pistol grip, trigger guard, fire selector and safety catch. The pistol grip is patterned after real steel AR-15 grips but is shorter than the average to allow for an ultra-low prone position.

The trigger guard is constructed from alloy and the fire selector switch is positioned where it meets the receiver on the left side, well within reach when in a firing position. The selector has 3 positions, offering semi-automatic, 2-round burst and full auto fire modes, a well-suited selection for a futuristic assault rifle. The safety catch is ambidextrous and positioned directly above the trigger, offering a 90-degree throw between safe and fire with a textured section for optimal traction. The trigger itself is a flat trigger with a short finger ledge built-in, ideally suited to rapid double taps.

Moving rearwards, we come to the action and stock of this bullpup configuration rifle, including its mock bolt carrier, dust cover and polymer cheekpiece. The cheekpiece functions similarly to that of the SA80 series of rifles, keeping your cheek weld comfortable in colder weather by covering the cold alloy of the receiver itself. The mock ejection port is on the right side, showcasing a detailed alloy mock bolt carrier. As previously mentioned, racking the charging handle retracts the carrier and holds it open and hitting the bolt release catch returns it to battery with a satisfying clank.

The magazine release is positioned just below the ejection port on the right side of the stock, making for a strange manual of arms requiring you to use your strong hand to operate it by removing your hand from the pistol grip. This will definitely require some getting used to and is the only aspect of the AR-SOC design we would change if we could. Looking at the magazine release, it appears to be M4/AR-15 compatible so there is potential you can add an ambidextrous release if you really cannot cope with the weird position of the existing magazine release. The upside is that the AR-SOC is compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines, meaning if you already have piles of AR mags you can use them with this unique bullpup!

At the very rear of the stock, we are treated to a serrated butt plate to ensure the AR-SOC stays firmly in your shoulder when wearing body armour or during wet weather. Also present is a pair of QD sling sockets, one on either side, ready to be equipped with a QD sling swivel and a single-point sling. You can also add a two-point sling with the addition of a 20mm Picatinny rail or M-LOK mounted front sling point which we would definitely recommend for such a hefty platform.

Inside, the AR-SOC is based around the same unique gearbox shell as the DMR version, equipped with the Ares EFCS MOSFET. The EFCS provides programmable fire modes through the Ares EFCS Programming Box (available separately) and also offers cycle control, ensuring the gearbox completes a full cycle with each trigger pull. This also prevents trigger lockups, allowing you to hammer the trigger as fast as you can without concern that you'll jam your gun and also provides the super cool 2-round burst mode which is a great way to improve hit probability when engaging moving targets.

The gearbox itself is compatible with several common version 2 spec components, including the piston, cylinder, piston head, tappet plate and nozzle (21.2mm length), perfect for the upgrade fiends! As it comes, the pre-installed piston is equipped with a full rack of steel teeth, and the 18:1 steel gearset runs on 8mm ball-bearing bushings for a smooth, friction-free gearbox report.

If you're working on a sci-fi style loadout requiring an exciting primary that no one recognises, the Ares AR-SOC is exactly what you need. With advanced styling on the outside and a super satisfying 2-round burst mode built-in, the Otto Repa SOC SLR Assault Rifle AEG (AR SOC) is the perfect platform for the skirmisher who values a uniquely styled primary!

Features

• Replica Begadi SOC assault rifle - Based on a real steel prototype
• Full metal construction - Mostly CNC 6063 Alu & alloy
• Uniquely futuristic looks - Pretty close to the Helldivers 2 Liberator if you squint!
• Bullpup design - Short overall length with long barrel length
• 14mm CW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready with 14mm CW to 14mm CCW adapter
• Built-in red aiming laser - Concealed beneath a polymer cover, great for marking out enemy positions
• M-LOK handguard - M-LOK slots at 6 o'clock and the upper offset angles, ready for M-LOK accessories
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or scope, plenty of space for big optics
• Ambidextrous safety catch - 90-degree throw, ideal for left or right-handed shooters
• Ambidextrous bolt release catch - Drop the bolt from the left or right side
• QD Sling sockets on either side of the stock - Ready for QD sling swivels
• Ergonomic pistol grip - M4/AR-15-based design, shorter than standard for a lower prone position
• Flat trigger - Ideal for rapid double taps, finger ledge to prevent you from slipping off
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - M4/AR-15 compatible, pull the charging handle to access
• Functional charging handle & bolt - Sounds absolutely mint when racked
• Three position fire selector - SEMI - 2 ROUND BURST - FULL AUTO
• Unique gearbox shell:
  • 18:1 Steel gears
  • 8mm Ball bearing bushings
  • Ares EFCS MOSFET
  • Micro-switch trigger
  • Polymer piston with full steel tooth rack
• Compatible with version 2 gearbox parts: Piston, cylinder, piston head, tappet plate & nozzle (21.2mm)
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares knocking about!

Package Includes

• Ares Otto Repa SOC SLR Assault Rifle AEG (AR SOC)
• 300rnd High-capacity magazine
• Cleaning rod