Description
Ares M45X-S with EFCS Gearbox (AR-083E – Black – with Extra Mid-Cap and Low-Cap Magazine)
The Ares M45X-S is a short, SMG-style electric rifle that marries the familiar M4 control layout to a 9mm SMG-style magazine. The result is a compact, fast-pointing gun that is easy to carry through doorways, corridors and dense woodland. This is the AR-083E version in black, and it comes with an extra mid-cap and an extra low-cap magazine, so you have both styles to try from the first game.
Ares designed the M45 platform from the ground up rather than shortening an existing rifle. It uses a dedicated reinforced gearbox with Ares’s integrated EFCS electronic module, an Ares slim motor and a metal receiver, so it feels solid in the hand while staying light enough for long days of close-quarters play. Tool-less assembly and quick-change front sets make it one of the easiest AEGs to strip down and reconfigure.
Build and handling
The receiver and handguard are metal and are held together with steel pins and screws, while the pistol grip is polymer. The black finish is understated and goes with almost any loadout. Flip-up iron sights let you aim straight out of the box and fold away when you fit a red dot or holographic sight to the top rail.
Because the M45X-S is so short, it is quick to bring up from the low ready and easy to manoeuvre in vehicles, stairwells and tight rooms. The ambidextrous safety selector means it suits left- and right-handed players equally well.
Electronics and performance
The heart of the M45X-S is the EFCS (electronic fire control system) module built into the gearbox. It replaces the usual mechanical trigger contacts with electronic switching and a built-in MOSFET, so the trigger is crisp and consistent and the contacts are protected from wear. It also means the rifle is ready for LiPo batteries.
Out of the box it fires on semi and full auto. If you buy Ares’s EFCS programmer separately, you can set up a three-round burst and other custom fire sequences. Quick-change front sets allow the barrel length and set-up to be changed without tools, which is useful if you play at both indoor and outdoor sites.
Getting started
Fully charge a suitable battery before first use, then fit it as described in the manual and connect it carefully. Load a magazine, wind it if it is a high-capacity type, and start with the hop-up turned off. Fire a few shots at a safe target and add hop a little at a time until the BBs fly flat without rising at the end of their flight.
Have the rifle chronographed at your site before you play, and keep a note of the hop setting that suits your favourite BB weight so you can return to it quickly.
Key features
- Compact SMG-style AEG on the Ares M45 platform
- Reinforced M45 gearbox with integrated EFCS module
- Built-in MOSFET, suitable for LiPo batteries
- Ares slim motor
- Metal receiver and handguard, steel pins and screws
- Tool-less assembly and quick-change front sets
- Ambidextrous safety selector
- Semi and full auto; burst and custom modes with the optional EFCS programmer
- Flip-up iron sights
- Supplied with an extra mid-cap and an extra low-cap magazine
- Black finish
What’s in the box
- Ares M45X-S AEG (AR-083E)
- Extra mid-cap magazine
- Extra low-cap magazine
Compatibility
The M45X-S only takes Ares M45 series magazines, which come in mid-cap and low-cap styles; standard M4 AEG magazines and other SMG magazines will not fit, so make sure any spares are listed for the M45. Because the EFCS module includes a MOSFET, LiPo batteries can be used; choose a compact pack that fits the battery space of this configuration and check the connector before you order.
The rails accept standard 20mm accessories such as red dots, torches and lasers. Front sets, gearbox parts and many internals are specific to the M45 series, so check that any upgrade is listed for it. The EFCS programmer is sold separately.
Care and maintenance
Remove the battery whenever you are not using the rifle, and never leave a LiPo charging unattended. Run a cleaning rod with a clean patch through the inner barrel regularly to keep accuracy consistent, and only use clean, seamless BBs of a decent brand.
After muddy or wet games, wipe the outside down and let the rifle dry naturally before casing it. Check that rails, accessories and the stock are tight, and have any gearbox work carried out by an experienced technician.
Who is it for?
This version suits CQB and indoor players who want a short, modern SMG with electronic trigger control, and anyone who would like to compare mid-cap and low-cap magazines without buying them separately. Its M4-style controls make it an easy step up for players already used to an AR platform.
Please note: A battery and charger are not listed as included. Always wear suitable eye and face protection, and have the replica chronographed at your site before play.
