Delta Armory DA-B04 BRAVO™ Silent Ops 8 M4/AR-15 AEG

If you like your ARs with a sneaky aesthetic, you'll love this one! The Delta Armory DA-B04 BRAVO™ Silent Ops 8 takes the M4/AR-15 design and adds an integral suppressor recessed into the handguard for an aggressive, snub-nosed look. Unlike adding a suppressor to a standard platform, the Silent Ops 8 adds no length to the M4/AR-15 CQBR format thanks to the suppressor running beneath the aluminium quad rail up front, meaning you can turn and burn in CQB and not bash your suppressor on the walls. 

Delta Armory's BRAVO™ range is the middle-of-the-road option from Delta, combining the high density polymer receiver and buffer tube of the CHARLIE™ line with a CNC aluminium handguard and alloy outer barrel. This gives the platform more realistic weight distribution and an extra hint of realism without compromising the platform's agility. Like the ALPHA™ and CHARLIE™ AEGs from Delta, BRAVO™ AEGs have more than their fair share of pre-upgraded parts, including a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel, rotary HOP-up unit, 7mm ball bearing bushings, a reinforced V2 gearbox shell and a quick change spring system. 

Starting at the front end we can find a pre-installed suppressor which covers the 280mm 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel, mounting to the 7-inch alloy outer barrel. This gives the Silent Ops 8 the look of an integrally suppressed AR with a compact front end which makes it easy to take corners in CQB. The suppressor mounts to 14mm CCW male threading but due to the inner barrel length, a barrel extension will be required to mount a tracer unit.

Surrounding the suppressor we have an aluminium 20mm Picatinny quad-railed handguard with 20mm rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, ready for any 20mm accessories you choose to add to complete your mission. The upper rail runs back and meets the receiver rail seamlessly to allow for longer optical sights to be mounted, including red dot sight and magnifier combinations. Unlike similar integrally suppressed platforms with KeyMod or M-LOK handguards, you will never have trouble mounting mission essentials to the quad rail of the DA-B04 as it doesn't require clearance between the handguard and suppressor. 

The receiver follows the familiar M4/AR-15 format and is constructed from high density polymer to keep the platform light and manoeuvrable. The finish on the receiver is consistent and strong enough to resist scratches more effectively than most metal receivers, making the Silent Ops 8 ideal for those who skirmish like a bull in a china shop!

The fire selector can be found on the left side, positioned just above the pistol grip for fast access from a firing grip. The selector provides 3 modes of fire; Safe, semi-auto and full auto, with a 90-degree throw between each mode. The modes are all indicated in classic M4/AR-15 style, with recessed markings in block capitals matching real MilSpec M4 receivers. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is easily reached from a firing grip with the trigger finger, allowing for super swift emergency reloads and the enviable handling the M4/AR-15 platform is known for.

The mock bolt catch is located in the centre of the left side of the receiver, and while this is a dummy control which doesn't provide a function it is nonetheless a separate part to maintain the realistic appearance and avoid the tell-tale signs of being a replica. The dummy forward assist is present on the right side of the upper receiver, right where it should be. This control does nothing on an AEG, and some real AR shooters argue it does nothing on the real thing, but it is included on the Silent Ops 8 to keep the rifle faithful to real M4/AR-15 rifles.

The charging handle is located at the top rear of the receiver and doesn't need to be pulled before the first shot. It instead serves to retract the mock bolt carrier and open the dust cover on the right side of the upper receiver, giving us access to the rotary HOP-up unit inside. The HOP-up allows you to tune the flight path of your BBs and set the DA-B04 up for different ammo weights, looking for the flattest trajectory possible. The use of the rotary adjuster style is a nice touch and futureproofs the Silent Ops 8 with the most modern HOP-up design for the M4/AR-15 platform, boasting an improved ability to hold its setting under the vibrations of firing and being adjustable in finer increments than the older "gear" adjuster design.

The pistol grip of the Silent Ops 8 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 guard is the standard M4/AR-15 flat style, and 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.

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 plethora of 20mm rails on the Silent Ops 8, the sling plate will be strong enough to support the weight.

To the rear of the sling plate, we come to the M4/AR-15 buffer tube, which is constructed from the same strong high density polymer used for the receiver. The buffer tube offers 6 positions of stock adjustment and also serves as the battery compartment for the DA-B04. To access the battery compartment, squeeze the two tabs at the toe of the stock together, after which you can lift the butt plate off, remove the battery plug, and make use of the stock's built-in battery compartment to house a nunchuck/crane-style battery. For the DA-B04, we recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo crane/nunchuck battery but you can also make use of a 9.6V 1600mAh NiMH for extra capacity.

The internals of the BRAVO™ series boast more than their fair share of pre-upgraded parts, including a reinforced gearbox shell with quick change spring functionality and a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel paired with a rotary HOP-up unit, offering higher FPS with the same spring and finer HOP-up adjustment increments so you can get your HOP-up set perfectly for your chosen ammo weight.

Inside the version 2 gearbox, we are treated to 18:1 ratio steel gears running on 7mm ball bearing bushings, an SHS piston with a full rack of steel teeth and an SHS tappet plate for reliable feeding, even at high speed. The internals are all Tokyo Marui spec, meaning aftermarket upgrades are prolific for those who want to maximise performance. 

Those looking for an AR platform with a sneaky aesthetic straight out of the box, the DA-B04 Silent Ops 8 is one to watch. Though ARs in this style are a pound a penny, the Delta Armory option is probably the best we've seen so far, even more so at this price! 

Features

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Delta Armory BRAVO™ AEG - Aluminium handguard, high density polymer receiver
• Integrated suppressor - Stealthy styling, perfect for sneaky types
• 14mm CCW Male threaded barrel - Swap the suppressor for your choice of alternative
• 20mm Picatinny quad railed handguard - Ready for 20mm Picatinny accessories mounted at 3, 6, 9 or 12 o'clock
• Flip-up iron sights pre-installed - Mounted to the top rail, press textured buttons to flip up
• Extended charging handle latch - Easy access to the HOP-up unit for adjustment
• 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
• Crane 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
  • Quick change spring guide
  • Steel 18:1 gearset
  • 7mm Ball bearing bushings
• Rear wired - Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in Crane/Nunchuck config.
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares available

Package Includes

• Delta Armory DA-B04 BRAVO™ Silent Ops 8 M4/AR-15 AEG
• 120rnd Mid-cap magazine