Delta Armory DA-C02-ETU CHARLIE™ M4/AR-15 CQBR AEG

If you like military-style M4s but prefer them short, the DA-C02-ETU M4/AR-15 CQBR AEG from Delta Armory is your ideal lightweight primary! Based on the real steel CQBR (Close Quarters Battle Receiver) configuration of the M4A1 rifle, this platform marries old and new with some superb Delta Armory ergonomic enhancements and the internals of Delta's ALPHA™ ETU series. 

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. If you like a lightweight and agile platform that has all the perks of the more expensive, full-metal models, the DA-C02-ETU CQBR is perfect!

Starting at the front, we can see a birdcage flash hider mounted to the 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of the 10.5-inch alloy outer barrel. This means the DA-C02-ETU is ready to be kitted out with a tracer unit or suppressor, or an alternative muzzle device for a more customised look. If you are going for an MK.18 MOD.0 look, add this suppressor if you are going silent!

Next up, we come to the M4A1 style triangular front sight post, which houses the front sight and mock bayonet lug. The bayonet lug is non-functional in the CQBR configuration due to the shortened 10.5-inch outer barrel, though if you want to add one you can mount a 4.5-inch barrel extension to allow for it. The front sight itself is adjustable for elevation using an M4/AR-15 front sight adjustment tool, and for less precise work up close it can be used as an index point for rapid aiming when there is no time to align the sights.

Mounted to the bottom of the front sight assembly we have our first sling point, which is a standard alloy footman loop compatible with a wide variety of sling types. This can be paired with any of the 3 rear sling mounting options to fit a two-point rifle sling to take the burden off your arms or allow for easy transitions to a sidearm. The perk of a relatively old-school design is that all the sling points are built in, meaning no extra adapters are needed!

Following the front sight, we come to the handguard assembly which is constructed from a combination of alloy, steel and high-density polymer. The KAC RAS style handguards themselves are polymer and are equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, ready for your mission essential kit to be mounted. The handguards are held in place using a steel handguard cap at the front, and an alloy delta ring at the rear. The handguards are made in two parts, allowing you to remove the lower handguard and mount an M203 launcher to the barrel for some extra firepower.

The modularity of the M4 platform is easily its best feature, and it is no surprise that it gained the nickname "Barbie for men" following its "SOPMOD Block 1" upgrade. This modularity also extends to exchanging external parts, and with an M4/AR-15 armourers' wrench, you can change the entire front set of the DA-C02-ETU and make it look like practically any M4/AR-15 variant out there. Even if you don't have an armourers' wrench, the delta ring front end is compatible with any 7-inch drop-in rail system or handguard set for delta rings, so if you want to change up the looks of your DA-C02-ETU you'll be happy to learn that it can be done without a single tool!

Moving rearward we reach the receiver, which is a familiar M4/AR-15 layout but styled to match modern AR-15 billet receivers. The receiver is constructed from high-density polymer with a matt black finish and features a built-in enlarged trigger guard for improved strength and easy access to the trigger. The front of the magazine well is equipped with gripping grooves to allow it to be used as a makeshift grip when shooting from unconventional positions and the receiver surfaces are angular and modern, matching the most recent real-world M4/AR-15 pattern rifles.

The fire selector is located on the left side of the AEG and sits directly above the pistol grip to provide fast and easy access for right-handed shooters. The fire selector has a 90-degree throw between modes, making it quick to operate but not too easy to accidentally knock it and end up in the wrong fire mode. Each fire mode is indicated with recessed bullet pictograms, with a crossed-out projectile denoting the safe mode, a single projectile for semi-auto and multiple projectiles for full auto.

At the centre of the left side of the receiver, we can find a dummy bolt release catch which doesn't have a function in an Airsoft AEG but is included to keep the externals looking realistic. The bolt release is a separate part which is a nice touch to avoid the tell-tale signs that this is an Airsoft gun and not the real deal. Over on the right side of the receiver, we can see what is known as the forward assist button, located on the upper receiver behind the mock shell deflector. This button also has no function but serves to force the real M4/AR-15 bolt carrier into battery if it fails to close due to dirt ingress. The button can be pressed and is a separate part, showing that Delta Armory wants us to have the realistic looks we deserve!

The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is ideally positioned to be pressed with the trigger finger from a firing grip for right-handed users. Left-handed users can use their support hand thumb to press the release, and this can be done quite fast with a little practice. The surface of the mag release is textured to provide the necessary gripping qualities, and is protected from accidental presses by the "magwell fence", a raised protrusion in the receiver which stops the mag release from catching on your gear as you move.

The adjustable HOP-up unit is located inside the mock ejection port over on the right side of the upper receiver. This device allows you to adjust the amount of backspin applied to your BBs and tune the DA-C02-ETU for your ammo weight of choice, looking for the flattest possible trajectory. The Rotary HOP-up adjuster can be accessed by holding the charging handle back, after which the dust cover will spring open and the mock bolt plate will retract. The rotary HOP-up design is known as the latest and greatest for M4 AEGs, and it is always nice to see up-to-date internal parts, even in reasonably priced platforms like this.

The pistol grip of the DA-C02-ETU boasts a refined grip angle for greater comfort when shooting with the stock fully collapsed and in more modern shooting stances. Based on the real steel "Gunfighter mod.3" grip, a modern ergonomic design, each flank of the pistol grip includes fine texturing for perfect wet weather handling. The trigger is known by Delta Armory as the CNC Type A Flat trigger, offering a flat serrated front surface with a short finger ledge, ideal for rapid double taps and fitting in perfectly with the modernised receiver design.

At the rear of the receiver, we come to the steel CQD style sling plate, which offers ambidextrous functionality with single-point slings; perfect for left or right-handed shooters. The steel construction of the sling plate practically guarantees no matter what you choose to mount to the DA-C02-ETU CQBR, the sling plate can handle the weight.

Following the receiver, we reach the AR buffer tube, which is a common part found on the vast majority of M4/AR15 AEGs. This buffer tube is constructed from the same tough high-density polymer as the receiver and provides 6 positions of adjustment, enough to suit any body type or loadout. The buffer tube system allows you to swap your stock out for any aftermarket M4/AR-15 stock simply and quickly, so if you get tired of the looks of the DA-C02-ETU in the future, swapping out the stock can freshen 'er up!

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-C02-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 1450mAh LiPo in stick configuration for the DA-C02-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 DA-C02-ETU pairs the high-density polymer build of the CHARLIE™ with the ETU series internals. 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!

Whether you are a CQB door kicker or a woodland warrior, the DA-C02-ETU CQBR is a fantastic choice for any fast-moving, aggressive playstyle, made even better by its pre-installed MOSFET/ETU. With superb build quality, enough weight to know it's there without being a burden and Delta's top-of-the-line ALPHA™ ETU pre-upgraded internals, the DA-C02-ETU is perfect for a beginner who wants to start at the head of the pack!

Features

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential 
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Fixed front iron sight with bayonet lug - Compatible with M9 Bayonet replicas (barrel extension required)
• Front and rear sling points - Front on the gas block, rear on the stock 
• KAC RAS Style handguards - 20mm Picatinny rails at 3, 6, 9 & 12 o'clock
• Extended charging handle latch - Easy access to the HOP-up unit for adjustment
• Flip-up rear iron sight - Press the button at the rear to deploy
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or rifle scope
• 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
• Delta Armory battery stock - Plenty of space for nunchuck batteries, QD sling sockets on each side
• Ambidextrous sling plate - Mount a single-point sling on the left or right side
• Ergonomic pistol grip with reduced grip angle - Great for modern shooting stances, very comfy
• 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 
• Rear wired - Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo in stick config.
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares available

Package Includes

• Delta Armory DA-C02-ETU CHARLIE™ M4/AR-15 CQBR AEG
• 120rnd Mid-capacity magazine
• Cleaning rod
• User manual