EMG Barrett REC10® AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU

If you're after an AR-10 platform DMR base gun well-suited to an agile playstyle, the EMG Barrett REC10® AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU should be on your radar. Made predominantly from superb quality high-density polymer with an alloy outer barrel and buffer tube, this build is officially licensed by Barrett Firearms via EMG, adorned with authentic markings for a flawlessly realistic look. 

Inside, the REC10® is based around the version 2 long (sometimes known as V2.5) gearbox, boasting a longer cylinder to increase air volume for peak efficiency with long inner barrels. The polymer piston boasts a full steel tooth rack, and the cylinder head and piston head are CNC aluminium "silent" types, providing excellent airseal and preventing excessive wear by cushioning the piston as it impacts the head. A quick-change spring system makes power tuning a breeze, and the high torque motor provides plenty of "oomph" to cope with high-power DMR springs. 

The pre-installed Kestrel Basic MOSFET offers programmable fire modes and a host of quality-of-life features built in, improving efficiency and reliability. Available fire modes include 3-round burst and binary trigger, with adjustable pre-cocking, active braking, cycle completion, low battery warning and low/high voltage protection to keep your REC10® performing as it should. Also inside is a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up, along with a connector for the CYMA Tracer HOP-up unit if you want to really light the enemy up!

Starting at the front, we can find a Barrett trademarked 3-prong flash hider, just like the real REC10®. The flash hider is made from well-finished alloy and mounts to 14mm CCW male barrel threads, meaning tracers or suppressors are a go for the REC10®, ideal for sneaky skirmishers. Just make sure you remove the grub screw on the bottom before attempting to unscrew the flash hider!

Following the barrel back, we can find more licensed Barrett trademarks on the top, reading "BFMI 308 WIN", denoting the calibre of the real steel REC10®. As with the other markings, these are flawlessly engraved and a perfect match for the real deal. The mock gas block follows just behind the markings, made from alloy and a dead-on match for the shape of the real REC10® gas block. The gas block connects to a mock gas tube, which runs parallel to the barrel, through the handguard and all the way back to the receiver; an essential detail of a realistic "direct impingement" style AR build often missed by other manufacturers. CYMA certainly knows how to please stitch counters like us!

The handguard itself is made from strong, high-density polymer, featuring M-LOK slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions and a 20mm Picatinny rail running along the top, along with licensed Barrett trademarks on either side. M-LOK slots allow M-LOK accessories or 20mm Picatinny rail adapters to be fitted where you need them, a versatile accessory interface which is ready for anything. The upper 20mm rail extends back to the receiver, meeting it seamlessly and allowing for optical sights of practically any length to be mounted along with any other 20mm Picatinny accessories you need to complete the mission at hand. 

Pre-installed on the upper rail, we have a set of polymer flip-up iron sights which are adjustable for both windage and elevation. The sights can be raised and lowered by hand and click positively into place in each position. If you're running a scope, you can remove the iron sights or keep them on the REC10® flipped down, functioning as "BUIS" (back up iron sights) in the event your optic goes down mid-firefight. 

The receiver itself is constructed from the same super-strong textured polymer as the handguard, rocking realistic recessed markings on the magazine well, along with the iconic Barrett Firearms logo. The layout of the controls matches the M4/AR-15 platform, making for an easy transition to the REC10® and no need to retrain for anyone experienced with an M4. The 3-position fire selector switch is above the pistol grip on each side, an enhanced ambidextrous design with a 90-degree throw between each fire mode. The default modes are SAFE-SEMI-AUTO, but the Kestrel Basic MOSFET allows you to program binary trigger instead of semi and three-round burst instead of full auto. 

The magazine release is in the usual spot, on the right side of the magazine well, easily within reach of the trigger finger when the REC10 is held in a firing grip. This mag release is a push-through design but also features a non-functional ambidextrous release on the left side, keeping the details accurate to the real steel REC10®. While it is a shame the ambi mag release isn't functional, this is practically unavoidable when replicating the REC10® receiver profile with Airsoft internals. 

At the top rear of the receiver, we can find the charging handle, a similar design to the M4/AR-15, but with an extended latch for extra purchase when wearing gloves. This extended latch is rounded, reducing the chances it will snag on your gear and providing the perfect combo of fast access and snag reduction. Pulling the charging handle back will pop open the Barrett-marked polymer dust cover, retract the mock bolt carrier and lock it to the rear, revealing the rotary HOP-up unit within. The adjustable HOP-up allows you to vary the amount of backspin applied to your BBs and tune the REC10® for different ammo weights, seeking the flattest possible trajectory.

When you've completed your HOP-up adjustment, you can hit the mock bolt release to send the mock bolt home with a satisfying "clank". Just like the real REC10®, the bolt release is ambidextrous, with a standard "ping pong paddle" style release on the left side and a textured lever just above the magazine release on the right side, both of which are functional. 

At the bottom of the receiver, we can find the pistol grip, which is a modern ergonomic design with a filled-out backstrap and texture on either side. The front and rear features linear grooves for added traction, and the grip angle is more vertical than traditional pistol grips, making it more comfortable for modern shooting stances with the stock fully collapsed.

At the rear, we have the prolific M4/AR-15 buffer tube, constructed from alloy and offering 6 adjustment positions for the pre-installed battery stock. The adjustment lever of the stock is on the bottom; a low-profile design intended to reduce equipment snags, a considerable improvement over the ageing crane battery stock design. A QD sling socket is present on either side, along with conventional "footman loops" for standard strap slings. The butt plate is rubberised and serrated for optimal wet-weather traction and hinges open for easy battery access via the button in the centre. 

With the button in the centre of the butt plate pulled down, the butt plate will hinge open around the toe of the stock, revealing a Deans battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery in crane/nunchuck configuration, but buffer tube stick-type batteries should also work when installed in the buffer tube itself. 

Inside the REC10®, we are equipped with a version 2 long gearbox (aka V2.5), offering greater air volume for improved efficiency with long inner barrels. The polymer piston has a full rack of steel teeth, and the piston head and cylinder head are CNC machined from aluminium, equipped with dampening pads to reduce wear and tear as the piston head impacts the cylinder head. A high-torque motor provides the necessary power for high-strength springs and a true quick-change spring system 

The highlight of the REC10® build is its Kestrel Basic ETU/MOSFET, offering 6 levels of adjustable pre-cocking, options for 3-round burst and binary trigger, along with low battery warning, cycle completion, active braking and low/high voltage cutoff. This means you can crank up the trigger response for super-fast double taps or run the REC10® with SAFE-SEMI-3RND BURST fire controls. Also inside is a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and a rotary HOP-up unit, giving you superb accuracy potential and the latest HOP-up design for M4/AR-15 platforms. A hidden bonus we were very pleased to find is the wiring loom, which is equipped with the connector needed to install the CYMA Tracer HOP-up unit far more easily than it would be otherwise!

If you're seeking a DMR base platform with lightweight yet high-quality externals and the pre-requisite 7.62x51 DMR looks, the EMG Barrett REC10® AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU is the best option on the market currently. Well equipped internally but begging for a full DMR upgrade, the REC10® makes a fine modern alternative to ageing SR-25 platforms! 

Features

• High-density polymer build - Alloy outer barrel & buffer tube
• Licensed Barrett Firearms trademarks - Authentic looks
• 14mm CCW Male threaded barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Superb accuracy potential
• M-LOK handguard - Ready for M-LOK accessories at 3, 6 & 9 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or scope
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Tune for different ammo weights
• Tracer HOP-up wiring pre-installed - Add the CYMA Tracer HOP-up easily
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Filled out backstrap and a more vertical angle, ideal for modern stances
• Mock ambidextrous magazine release - Right side release functions, left side for looks only
• Ambidextrous fire selector switch - Enhanced design, great for left or right-handed shooters
• Ambidextrous mock bolt release - Drop the mock bolt from the left or right side
• Extended charging handle - Easy HOP-up access when wearing gloves
• 5-Position M4/AR-15 Buffer tube - Adjust the stock to suit your body type and loadout
• Rear-wired: Deans connector - Recommended Battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in Crane/Nunchuck config. 
• Version 2 long gearbox:
  • Polymer piston with full steel tooth rack
  • High torque motor
  • Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU
  • Quick-change spring system
  • CNC Aluminium silent piston head
  • CNC Aluminium silent cylinder head
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Low/high voltage cutoff
  • Low battery warning
  • Adjustable pre-cocking
  • Active breaking
  • Cycle completion
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3-Round burst
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU programming instructions are available  here
• Compatible with A&K/CYMA/CA pattern SR-25/AR-10 magazines - PTS EPM-LR Recommended

Package Includes

• EMG Barrett REC10® AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU
  • 110rnd Mid-cap magazine
  • Speed loader