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As a relatively new brand, Arcturus came into the airsoft market with a very specific goal in mind: Bring high quality modernized airsoft guns to the beginner and advanced airsoft market alike. The AK market especially had been dry of modernized platforms before the dawn of Arcturus. Nowadays, you don’t have to be relegated to the M4 platform if you want to run a fully kitted out rifle. And, you also won’t need to shill out an arm and a leg to get that rail space! Arcturus’ rifles are designed to offer just about every feature a modern airsoft gun should have at a price point reasonable enough for your average working man. You might be wondering, “Well, what are those features?” In this article, we’ll break down Arcturus from the bottom up to uncover what exactly their rifles have to offer. We’ll take a critical look to see whether Arcturus is truly “modern,” or just chalk-loaded with mediocre gimmicks to catch an inexperienced eye.
Starting from the bottom, we’ll first take a look at their most budget entry rifle:
At only $160 (at the time of writing this), what can you really expect? Surely it can’t be that great if it’s cheaper than a G&G Combat Machine, right?
Let’s take a look at the features:
- Durable Nylon Construction (Buffer tube and outer barrel are metal!)
- True quick change spring gearbox.
- 11.1v battery ready out the box.
- Electronic trigger MOSFET with a tactile microswitch for a more realistic trigger break.
- Bolt locks back for ease of hop-up adjustment
- 24k RPM Neodymium motor for quick trigger response.
- Numerous gearbox upgrades, such as a full steel tooth piston, 8mm bearings, and a steel cylinder.
- Sleek modernized M-LOK rail system for adding any attachments you prefer.
- Comes with a mid-capacity magazine that can toggle between real 30rd capacity and 135rd capacity.
- Fairy dust? Leperchauns? Whatever magic they used to make an advanced rifle for such a low price.
That’s a lot of features. Surely they have to cut corners somewhere for this rifle to be as inexpensive as it is, right? Heck, I’m skeptical just writing this feature list down!
Blog break! I’m going to stress test this rifle and ask around to see if I can find anything to complain about. I'll be right back.
After consulting our tech department and store department here at Evike Superstore, we’ve come to a single point of criticism:
“The polymer feels like I could leave teeth marks if I bit it.” - Jason Y.
Other than that, shooting the rifle felt excellent on an 11.1 TITAN battery and none of our techs complained about the M4s giving them any troubles or recurring issues. They’re that good! If you’re looking for a budget M4 with all the staple features of a modern airsoft gun, there are few options more competitive than Arcturus! That is, so long as you’re not ferally biting chunks out of your receiver-
Looking for a sturdier body with the same features? Check out their M4E3 series with its ambidextrous controls and full metal body!
Their budget M4 still not modern enough for ya? Allow me to introduce you to Arcturus’ C.A.T. series rifles, which build upon their base M4 design to include a number of more fascinating features. Every feature of the base M4 is present on the C.A.T, as well as some additional external benefits. Even with the battery wired to the buffer tube, Arcturus has designed the stock to be able to fold down for extra compactness. I’ve found that returning the stock to its original position is a struggle due to how tight the tolerances are, but at least nothing wobbles or feels insecure as a result of it. The aluminum rail feels solid and is hardly any heavier than its predecessor’s polymer rail, offering extra sturdiness without any additional weight. Although the aesthetics aren’t my personal cup of tea (especially not the diminutive charging handle), I have to admit that the feel is pretty damn good.
The big selling point of the C.A.T. series is it’s split gearbox design, which theoretically should allow for easier disassembly of the rifle’s internal components. By popping off the upper receiver, you get access to your rifle’s entire compression system. This allows for easy diagnosis of any possible issues and makes swapping out parts for upgrade parts a breeze since you no longer have to fully disassemble the whole rifle to arrive at the part. The C.A.T. series also mentions that it has a “tunable sector gear” feature. This is a new concept in the airsoft world, and allows you to set where your gears finish their cycle after a shot. In doing so, you can have your rifle “precock” its next shot, allowing for a more instantaneous semi automatic trigger response. Do keep in mind that leaving your rifle in this precocked position is bad for the lifespan of your main spring!
So, if you plan on getting the C.A.T., add “Split Gearbox” and “Adjustable gearset” to that massive list of arcturus features. Quite the impressive lineup of features while still retaining a sub $300 price point!
Even with all this good stuff, M4s aren’t even Arcturus’ primary product. Let’s take a look at some beautiful modernized AKs!
I absolutely adore a well done AK12. Typically, going with an AK over an M4 as a primary poses some challenges; Most models aren’t very accepting of attachments and upgrade potential can be slightly more limited. In the case of Arcturus, you won’t need to compromise one way or the other! Arcturus AKs come right out the box pre-tuned to compete, utilizing the same features from their M4s to bring you a snappy trigger response not found on other competing AKs. Throughout all of Arcturus’ selection there is no wood furniture to be found. Each of their AKs come pre-equipped with some sort of modular rail system to allow you to customize and set up your primary with whatever attachments you desire. The future is now!
The concept of a “quick change” spring has always been awkward subject for airsoft AKs. While most brands do have some sort of mechanism to ease spring changes, most AKs still require you to do some basic receiver disassembly to access the spring’s location. Arcturus finally put this awkwardness to rest, giving you access to your spring guide just by folding the stock and taking off the dust cover. Now that’s convenient!
Is “great” not good enough for you? Do you demand the pinnacle of perfection? Are you ready for the peak of what airsoft technology has to offer from an out-the-box package? Behold, The Arcturus PE series (Performance Enhanced), which comes fresh out the box with a high speed gearbox carefully assembled with the best parts Airsoft has to offer. The high speed wire cut 13:1 gears and V3 Perun MOSFET allow this rifle to dish out some serious damage, as they greatly improve trigger response and full-auto rate of tire. Go ahead. Reign tyranny over the airsoft battlefield with this monster of airsoft performance!
The philosophy of embracing modernity and versatility in airsoft guns is wholly brought to fruition by Arcturus. Their modern approach to airsoft rifle design is for those who seek effectiveness above all else. The traditional aesthetics and limitations of older models, like the classic AK74, are being overtaken by the necessity for customization, be it for aesthetic or practical purposes. There are few brands that can hold their own compared to Arcturus’ sheer price to performance ratio. If Arcturus is the standard for what value can be, we can optimistically look forward to how effective future airsoft guns can be!