14 minute read
ARMOURY: ARES X-CLASS AR-091E
FIRST CLASS
AFTER A BIT OF A DRAWN-OUT LAUNCH PERIOD ARES HAVE RELEASED TO MARKET THEIR NEW X CLASS AR MODELS; THESE COMBINE THOROUGHLY MODERN STYLING WITH SOME TRIED AND TESTED INTERNALS AND CERTAINLY LOOK RIGHTEOUS! BUT BEAUTY NEEDS TO BE BACKED UP WITH SOLID PERFORMANCE, AND BILL HAS BEEN PUTTING THE 091E CARBINE VARIANT THROUGH THE MILL TO SEE IF ITS STUNNING LOOKS ARE EQUALLED BY REAL RANGE-READINESS!
For some reason I seem to have spent a fair amount of time with new ARES models on the range in the last year, but there’s one series that both Jimmy and I have got a little excited about, but for very different reasons, and that’s their new “X CLASS”! Ever since we saw the teaser image on their social media of the tricked out Model 12 we’ve been talking about it, and when the guys from iWholesales offered us one to get on the range we, of course, jumped at it!
AR-style models just keep on rolling out, and there’s more and more going on with them both internally and externally! I sometimes wonder if we’re going too far down the electronics route (as an “old skooler” more inside means more potential problems to me!), but Jimmy continues to educate me on the benefits of all the new systems… that said I’m still a “program basic functions and go” kind of guy, and as long as an AEG continues to spit BBs I’m happy.
Am I missing a trick? Quite possibly, as an out-ofthe-box AEG is now far more capable than anything I was able to get my hands on back in the day, and the new directions that ARES have taken recently with their programmable EFCS and their quick change front ends has really impressed me. I really
like the X45 and the MUTANT, again for different reasons, but both have proved solid on the range, and durable thus far in terms of “internal ops”.
I’ll come back to the internals of the X CLASS later but what I will say here is more of a general overview. Most people love a Marui, and why is that? Basically Marui make AEGS for their home market, and as much as we may now scoff a little at the power levels they deliver as standard, nobody can doubt that they work sweetly as new and continue to do so unless you mess with them unnecessarily. Fact is that they are made to function at their initial power level due to Japanese law, but everything in them is 100% set up and balanced to work at that level; gearboxes, gears, pistons, motors and electronics are absolutely working in harmony and the net result is an AEG that works flawlessly, from the box… okay, if something does go wrong, and it will eventually with all electric models, Mauri’s proprietary gubbins is going to be a right pain…
What we have seen though is other manufacturers start to follow this model; once upon a time many manufacturers looked to the majority of Europe and the USA markets where higher power levels are legal, and indeed sought after in my experience, and simply “up-powered” their basic AEGs with stronger springs, and the fallout from this was internal failures everywhere! Motors burned out, gears and pistons stripped, and that awful “whizz, grind, silence” became a pretty standard sound at every skirmish day we attended!.
However, again in my opinion, many manufacturers, ARES included, are now approaching things differently and these days the internals are of better quality generally, and certainly more balanced to handle higher power-loads for longer. The entire AEG is now put together with parts that actually work together properly, and although certain manufacturers will always find new directions to explore, these directions are generally real enhancements to what’s already a sound system. Better parts, better quality and quality control, and a real desire to REALLY make things the best they can be are more often than not the norm now, and I rank ARES amongst the manufacturers taking this approach, and if you’ll pardon the pun, all power to them!
A CLASSY NUMBER!
So, what’s new and interesting about the new X CLASS variants, of which there are a few ranging from the 555-650mm Model 6 “PDW” up to the 850930mm Model 15? Basically put ARES have created a line of AR AEGs that are designed from the get-go to be a reliable yet stylish, up-to-the-minute choice for players, with a billet style ambidextrous lower receiver, flat-faced trigger, a uniquely designed CNC handguard, and a steel QPQ flash hider. In addition to this, the X-CLASS models come as standard with a 6.03 inner barrel, a very usable set of flip-up front and rear sights and a redesigned stock. The stock itself is slimline and low profile, and easy to adjust, and for better control the AEGs come with a slim motor grip, angled with a 1911-rake for a more comfortable and controllable shooting experience. The carbines and rifles are available in two colours, and whilst the black looks great, the bronze colour looks downright gorgeous! The latest releases in the X CLASS line have some great features and the externals as I now expect from ARES, and they’re first rate in terms of fit and finish. First off, this premium AEG has thoroughly modern styling with a Radian Arms-inspired lower receiver; the real Radian Model 1 Upper Receiver is a thing of beauty, precision CNC machined and structurally reinforced in critical areas for improved strength and rigidity, such as the contouring around the magwell and beefy “fences”. The upper receiver on the real Radian setup is billet-style 7075-T6 aluminium and is assembled with dust cover, hand guard anti-rotation pin, light weight forward assist, and Raptor-SD Ambidextrous Charging Handle; sadly the X CLASS is missing a Radian-style RAPTOR charging handle and the curved forward-assist cutaway on the upper, but it ain’t half bad, and after all is “inspired by” and not a replica of the real which of course would need to be liecenced! There’s also a Geissele-style rail system, one which seems to be very popular in airsoft circles at the moment! The high-grade alloy CNC 6063 handguard fitted as standard to the X CLASS looks very much “IN THE PAST MANY MANUFACTURERS LOOKED TO THE MAJORITY OF EUROPE AND THE USA MARKETS WHERE HIGHER POWER LEVELS ARE LEGAL AND SIMPLY “UPPOWERED” THEIR BASIC AEGS WITH STRONGER SPRINGS, AND THE FALLOUT FROM THIS WAS INTERNAL FAILURES EVERYWHERE! MOTORS BURNED OUT, GEARS AND PISTONS STRIPPED, AND THAT AWFUL “WHIZZ, GRIND, SILENCE” BECAME A PRETTY STANDARD SOUND AT EVERY SKIRMISH DAY WE ATTENDED!”
like an M-LOK Super Modular Rail MK4, but without the additional picatinny sections at 3 and 6 o’clock, and it looks great! We talk a lot about M-LOK these days, and for newer players it may be useful for you to know that M-LOK is, and I quote directly that it is “a modular locking accessory mounting system that is a direct attachment method for hard mounting accessories to a negative space mounting point”.
Developed by Magpul Industries Corp in 2007 for the Masada Concept Rifle, the system first featured a polymer handguard with three elongated holes that acted as a “negative mounting surface” for accessory rails. These slots became one of the first “negative space” attachment systems that allowed the user to only put rails sections where they were required rather than covering the entire surface with full-length rails, then covering those rails with protective covers. The system also allowed direct mounting of accessories, such as fore-grips and flashlights with no rail interface needed, and it’s become the preferred option for many shooters, both real and airsoft!
INTERNAL HARMONY!
Internally the X CLASS variants come with the ARES RVTSTM, or Rapid Velocity Tuning System Quick Change Spring System, along with their tried and tested programmable EFCS gearbox and everything is compatible with other V2 gears and parts, not that you’ll need to be thinking major upgrades any time soon! As an added bonus, the X-CLASS models now come standard with Airsoft T-Plugs and work ideally with Titan Batteries! Like most ARES AEGs these days, the X CLASS variants have that Electronic Firing Control System (EFCS) gearbox. With the development of this easy-to-use system, ARES now seem to be making the EFCS Gearbox “standard” in line with what is on offer from other manufacturers, but unlike some, the EFCS has now been around for a little while.
This programmable system will still need the external programmer but most good airsoft shops seem to have one these days and can set up your AEG just as you want it in mere seconds. However, when it comes to the X CLASS my advice would be to invest in one of your own. The programmer will allow you to set up your AEG in different ways but also protects it by having it withstand current to around 30A, enhances piston positioning and allows it to set up with rapid semiauto fire.
The gearbox is of the highest build quality, coming with a quick release spring guide, silver wiring, and an electronic trigger. Allied with a high-torque motor that sits beneath and in line with the gearbox it all equates to an efficient and effective setup. The EFCS system can be programed to use either 7.4v or 11.1v batteries and you can also program either semi and auto, 3 round burst and auto, or semi only, which is a very useful thing to have in any AEG! In full, the EFCS features: • Gearbox protection system - EFCS will shut down the battery if there is a malfunction in the gearbox • Able to withstand large firing current to around 30a • Enhanced ABS and precise magnetic sensor to improve piston position • Suitable for advanced player settings • Able to withstand rapid semi-auto fire • Adjustable trigger stroke distance • Reduction in battery use • Easy to manitain • Programmable for different shooting modes (ARES electronic gearbox programmer required)
DOWNRANGE
The model that was kindly sent to me for testing was the mid-length 690-770mm AR-091E; I’ve regressed slightly back to mid-length ARs recently unless it’s a .308/7.62 replica, and I have to say that in recent builds of my own this is undoubtedly the length that suits me best for general use, as an AEG of this size and weight (2600g in respect of the 091E) is easy to manipulate yet still has decent inner barrel to work with. As much as the X CLASS performed extremely well in in initial testing, and I’m now more confident with their internals overall, experience has taught me that with an ARES model I still need to perhaps tweak the hop unit and rubber, and check the air seals to ensure real long-term performance… only time will tell on this.
With the EFCS programmed at the shop again thanks to Marcus, I loaded up the 140BB midcap with .20g and had at it on the 30m range. When it comes to getting the 091E rolling, a battery can be easily housed inside the buffer tube and stock; as I’ve found with other ARES AR carbines of late a decent stick LiPo will fit easily into the buffer tube if you’re careful and don’t compress the stock fully, which means you can use the new ARES slim stock without any bother, and I fitted my normal “ARES tester battery”, a 2600 mAh 11.1V TITAN LiPo.
The standard rotary hop really is easy to work with and adjust, and once set, it stays firmly in place, and with everything set on .20g BBs the 091E is a bit of a performer! The trigger is most certainly crisp, as just a nudge sends BBs downrange happily with the
standard magazine feeding smoothly; on semi you really can get shots away quickly, and full chat with an 11.1 works brilliantly for a great ROF. I’m pleased to report that the 091E I received for testing chrono’d with consistency at 1.12 Joule/348fps using .20g BBs; I jest not when I say “consistency” as with a ten BB string I noted a deviation of less than 0.85fps with zero misfeeds! That’s pretty cool for any AEG and comes back to what I mentioned earlier in relation to all the internals working in harmony together!
The flip-up sights that come fitted as standard to the 091E are more than adequate for most situations, so the AEG is ready to roll straight from the box if you add a battery and some BBs, although for full testing at longer range I added my favourite holosight and a foregrip. At 30m unsupported it was easy to get hits on a 400mm x 400mm torso-sized target with each BB flying straight and true. I also took the 091E up to my local site for longer range testing, and the carbine performed superbly on .28g BBs, easily and accurately sending them to target at 60m, and that’s pretty much straight out of the box before any “bedding”!
I have to say that the 091E definitely lived up to the promise that Jimmy and I first talked about when we saw it, and has most definitely been worth the wait. It looks great, feels great, and shoots superbly! You have the now-fully-tested EFCS gearbox system along with a quick spring change system at the rear and the super slim high torque motor grip. The carbine has full ambidextrous controls throughout with multiple QD sling points on the rail and the stock. The handguard is a great length and the barrel is threaded 14mm with a steel muzzle device. In fact everything is in situ to make shooting the 091E a pleasure from the first time you lift it out of the box!
I really do like the 091E, and by extension the X CLASS models as a whole; for the carbine tested it’s an exceptionally tight package both inside and out, and care has obviously been taken to provide something in AEG form that’s fully worthy to take ARES forward into their next iteration. If you’re looking for a thoroughly modern, high-performance AR AEG that with care and maintenance will see you through many airsoft adventures, then I believe that you may well find a trusted friend amongst the ARES X CLASS models!
As usual my thanks go to the guys at www. iwholesales.co.uk for providing the 091E test model, so please do take a moment to go and check what else they offer that can be ordered easily from most good airsoft stockists! AA
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