Delta Armory DA-A07-ETU ALPHA™ MK18 MOD.1 M4/AR-15 AEG

If you're looking for a modernised full metal MK18 MOD.1, the Delta Armory DA-A07-ETU ALPHA™ MK18 MOD.1 M4/AR-15 AEG should be your next buy! This M4/AR-15 AEG boasts Delta Armory's top-of-the-line internals along with the advanced Delta programmable MOSFET/ETU system. The MOSFET provides 3 or 5 round burst, binary trigger and pre-cocking, all of which can be programmed in using the fire controls of the AEG itself. 

Inside the reinforced version 2 gearbox you will find a plethora of CNC machined aluminium parts, including the nozzle, piston head and cylinder head, along with CNC machined steel 16:1 gears, cylinder and spring guide. With Delta's strongest parts present, an electronic trigger unit/MOSFET was added to the formula, providing pre-cocking and the ability to program the selector for burst mode and binary trigger, backed up by a high torque neodymium magnet motor.

Starting at the tip of the 10.5-inch alloy outer barrel we are met with a birdcage flash hider which conceals 14mm CCW male threading beneath. The birdcage suits the MK18 MOD.1 build well, but if you are going full SF with this rifle you will be happy to learn it can accept any tracer unit or suppressor which mounts to the common 14mm CCW male threading. A KAC or SF-style suppressor or tracer would be perfect on this rifle!

The handguard begins practically immediately following the flash hider, being 10 inches in overall length. This handguard is a great replica of the real steel MK18 MOD.1 handguard and boasts 20mm Picatinny rails machined in at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions along the full length of the handguard. The lower section of the handguard can also be removed, leaving the bare barrel exposed to allow an M203 grenade launcher to be mounted in the most realistic way possible, just like the real thing. Whatever you plan on mounting to your primary, this MK18 can take it!

The upper rail of the handguard meets the receiver rail seamlessly, providing a massive 16-inches of uninterrupted rail space along the top; perfect for optical sights of any length! As you will receive it, the Delta Armory DA-A07-ETU MK18 MOD.1 has a set of polymer flip-up aperture iron sights pre-installed on this rail which are fully adjustable and can either serve as primary sights to tide you over until you get a red dot on this bad boy, or left flipped down to act as back up sights to your primary sight. The spring-assisted deployment of these sights makes them especially useful as BUIS as you can simply press the tab on the rear of each of the sights to have them snap up and into place in an instant, ready to take the shot!

The receiver of the Delta Armory DA-A07-ETU deviates slightly from the MK18 MOD.1 military configuration, though it keeps its standard M4/AR-15 controls layout. The fire selector is positioned just above the pistol grip and offers 3 modes of fire; SAFE, SEMI and AUTO, with a 90-degree throw between each mode. This makes the selector easy to switch, but not so easy that it can be knocked out of position accidentally. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is accessible for a right-handed user with the tip of the trigger finger.

Pulling back the charging handle, located at the top rear of the receiver will open the dust cover and retract the mock bolt carrier to allow access to the rotary HOP-up adjuster. This is the latest HOP-up unit design for the M4/AR-15 and provides finer increments of adjustment and holds its setting more effectively when compared to the older gear style HOP-up unit. The charging handle has an extended latch for easier access, allowing even those with thick gloves to access the HOP-up unit, though you may need to take off a glove to turn the adjuster!

The receiver of Delta Armory's MK18 is a modernised design constructed from alloy, complete with gripping texture on the front of the magazine well; ideal for shooting from unconventional positions and angular surfaces across the receiver, giving the old '60s design a 21st-century facelift. The trigger guard is also enlarged and built into the receiver, improving strength considerably and following trends in the latest high-end real steel AR-15 rifles.

The pre-installed pistol grip is based on the real steel "Gunfighter mod.3" grip, a modern ergonomic design with a filled backstrap and a reduced grip angle. This allows for a more comfortable shooting stance in CQB when you are running the stock fully collapsed, avoiding wrist fatigue which can develop with more conventional grip designs. The trigger is known as the CNC Type A Flat trigger, offering a flat serrated front surface with a short finger ledge, ideal for rapid double taps.

The Delta Armory MK18 MOD.1 also includes some dummy controls to keep the rifle looking faithful to the real MK18 MOD.1. The bolt catch, over on the left side of the receiver does not function but is nonetheless a separate part, avoiding a moulded in bolt catch, a tell-tale sign of a replica. The forward assist is a similar story, being present on the right side of the upper receiver and being a separate moving part which can be pressed in but does not affect the function of the AEG.

At the rear of the receiver, we are treated to an ambidextrous sling plate which is constructed from steel, providing ample strength to support the MK18 on a single-point sling. This sling point can also be paired with a front sling point (available separately) if you prefer a two-point sling setup for better stability when moving with the rifle stowed. Following the sling plate, we come to the good old AR buffer tube, constructed from high-density polymer and offering 6-positions of adjustment for the stock, making it suitable for any body type.

The stock itself is a crane-inspired design with a slimline form and a comfortable angled cheek rest, featuring a QD sling socket on either side, together with conventional "footman loops", aka sling slots. With a rubber butt plate featuring lattice checkering, this slimline crane stock stays solidly in your shoulder in any weather conditions but can be swapped for alternative M4/AR-15 AEG stocks if you want to change up the looks or have a preferred stock in mind for your build.

The buffer tube also serves as the battery compartment for the DA-A07-ETU. To access the battery compartment, you will need to pull the stock adjustment lever (located on the bottom of the stock) out and hold it in place, after which you can slide the stock off the buffer tube, revealing a Deans/T-Plug battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in stick configuration for the DA-A07-ETU though you may need to keep the stock extended to fit this battery inside. Delta Armory recommends a LiPo battery measuring 1.4 x 1.9 x 10 cm approximately for full functionality of the sliding stock.

The internals of the ALPHA™ series boast more than their fair share of pre-upgraded parts, and there are even more present in this, the ETU version.

Inside the version 2 gearbox, we are treated to CNC 16:1 ratio steel gears running on 7mm ball bearing bushings, an SHS piston with a full rack of steel teeth, an SHS tappet plate for reliable feeding, and a CNC aluminium piston head, cylinder head and nozzle for maximum long term durability. The cylinder is also CNC machined from steel, as is the spring guide.

These ultra-strong CNC parts are powered by a high torque motor with Neodymium magnets, kept in check by the ETU/MOSFET system. The result is an incredible trigger response and rate of fire, with more than enough range to compete with the big boys out in the woods. The party trick of the ETU/MOSFET is the ability to program the fire controls for burst mode, binary trigger and pre-cocking, giving this incredibly cost-effective setup some functions usually reserved for platforms twice this price!

If you're after a MK18 and want to take it your own way rather than mimicking the US-issued variant, the Delta Armory DA-A07-ETU ALPHA™ MK18 MOD.1 M4/AR-15 AEG keeps the iconic silhouette and adds in plenty of modern perks. With impressive internals brimming with advanced features and pre-upgraded parts, this is a MK18 you will never need to upgrade!

Features

• Full metal construction - Realistically hefty
• 9" Barrel, 8" handguard - Ideal for CQB and fast movers
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential, 365mm length
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Flip-up iron sights pre-installed - Mounted to the top rail, press textured buttons to flip up
• M-LOK/20mm Hybrid handguard - Compatible with M-LOK accessories at 3, 6 & 9 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or rifle scope
• Unique receiver design - Angular surfaces, gripping texture on the front of the magazine well
• Enlarged trigger guard - Easy access for gloved or ungloved shooters
• Ergonomic pistol grip with reduced grip angle - Great for modern shooting stances, very comfy
• Ambidextrous sling plate - Mount a single-point sling on the left or right side
• Extended charging handle latch - Easy access to the HOP-up unit for adjustment
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Easy to adjust in fine increments, holds its setting well long-term 
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock to suit your body type perfectly
• Low-profile Crane style stock - QD sling point in each side, buffer tube battery compartment 
• Rear wired - Deans/T-Plug connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in Stick config.
• Reinforced version 2 gearbox - 
  • SHS Piston with steel full tooth rack
  • SHS Tappet plate
  • CNC Aluminum piston head
  • CNC Aluminium cylinder head
  • CNC Aluminium nozzle
  • CNC Steel cylinder
  • CNC Steel quick change spring guide
  • CNC Steel 16:1 gearset
  • 7mm Ball bearing bushings
  • Programmable ETU/MOSFET system 
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares available

Package Includes

• Delta Armory DA-A13-ETU ALPHA™ 8" M-LOK M4/AR-15 AEG
• 120rnd Mid-cap magazine