Specna Arms Daniel Defense® SA-C19 CORE™ Gen.2 HAL¹ ETU™ MK18 AEG

The MK18 is one of the most iconic platforms available on the market. However, few can boast that they have the real steel trademarks that the Specna Arms Daniel Defense® SA-C19 CORE™ HAL ETU™ MK18 M4/AR-15 AEG has. This Airsoft replica is almost indistinguishable from its real steel brother, so those who love their realism are sure to love this.

Inside the SA-C19, we are treated to the HAL ETU/MOSFET, a lovely addition for no extra cost! The HAL¹ ETU offers binary trigger, AUG mode and sniper delay instead of semi-auto and semi-auto lock, 3-round burst or 5-round burst instead of full auto, along with several quality-of-life improvements and, most importantly for CQB, adjustable pre-cocking! Pre-cocking positions the piston at the rear of its cycle after a shot, meaning when you pull the trigger, the response is practically instantaneous, ideal for semi-auto duels in the close confines of a CQB site.

A considerable improvement over the original SA-C19, the HAL¹ ETU adds a lot of functionality to this compact and lightweight player-friendly platform. With no more trigger lock-ups when shooting semi-auto, plenty of fire mode options and the pre-installed 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up combo which made the original SA-C19 CORE such a solid choice, the new version is hard to beat!

Starting at the tip of the alloy outer barrel, we are met with a birdcage flash hider which conceals 14mm CCW male threading beneath. The birdcage suits the MK18 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 Daniel Defense® handguard begins practically immediately following the flash hider, being 10 inches in overall length. This handguard is practically identical to the real steel MK18 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 Specna Arms Daniel Defense® SA-C19 CORE™ HAL ETU™ MK18 M4/AR-15 AEG 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.

Next up, we reach the receiver, which is of a standard and instantly recognisable as the standard M4/AR-15 configuration with controls laid out in a considerate and ergonomic manner, allowing the SA-C19 to be manipulated quickly and instinctively by veterans or learned rapidly by new users.

The fire selector lever is situated just above the pistol grip, on the left side of the AEG, providing 3 modes of fire: SAFE, SEMI, and AUTO, with a 90-degree throw between each. The fire modes are helpfully marked in bold, recessed text on the receiver, and the selector switch locks positively into each mode with the aid of texture on its surface to ensure a secure grip on this control. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well, easily accessible for a right-handed user with the tip of the trigger finger, but can also be learned by a lefty using their off-hand thumb.

Pulling back the extended charging handle, at the top rear of the receiver, will open the dust cover and retract the mock bolt carrier, which allows access to the rotary HOP-up adjuster. This is the latest and greatest HOP-up design for the M4/AR-15 AEGs 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 gloved users to access the HOP-up unit, though you may need to remove your glove to adjust the unit!

The bolt catch on the left side of the receiver does not function, but is nonetheless a separate part, mitigating the common tell-tale signs of a replica. The forward assist is a similar story, being located on the right side of the upper receiver and functioning as a separate moving part that can be pressed in but does not affect the operation of the AEG. A new addition to this HAL-equipped SA-C19 is the flat trigger, enhancing the aesthetic with a touch of modernity and providing an easily slappable trigger for snappy double taps in semi-auto.

The pistol grip of the SA-C19 is an M16A2/M4A1 style pistol grip, also known as the "A2" finger ridged grip. The A2 has diamond checkering on either side and linear texture on the back strap to provide excellent gripping qualities, no matter the weather or whether you wear gloves or not. The finger ridge is designed to help you keep hold of the rifle and prevent the grip from slipping out of your hands when held in a single hand (if you're going for a Terminator-esque look). As with most M4/AR-15 AEGs, this grip is compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 AEG grips, ideal for customisation addicts!

The battery compartment is inside the crane stock, accessible by squeezing 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 chunky nunchuck/crane-style battery. Being equipped with the HAL ETU, we are also treated to a Deans/t-plug battery connector, a lower resistance alternative to the mini-Tamiya found on previous Specna Arms CORE AEGs. For the SA-C19, we recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo crane/nunchuck battery for an easy fit and great performance.

The Crane stock also includes a pair of QD sling sockets, one on each side, allowing for QD sling swivels to be added for a quick, removable sling setup. Conventional sling slots (aka "footman loops") are also present for those who want a two-point sling but prefer the old-fashioned way. The butt plate is also made from grippy rubber, ensuring your SA-C19 doesn't slip off your shoulder at a critical moment.

Inside the Gen.2 SA-C19, we are treated to the Aether-enhanced gearbox shell, the same reinforced V2 shell used in Specna's top-tier PRIME series. The Aether features a reinforced spine and ports throughout the design to allow for easy tuning, ideal for the techy types. Also inside are 18:1 ratio steel gears running on 8mm bushings. The spring guide is an ESA quick-change example, making power tuning a breeze for those who want to get as close to site limits as possible. The inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore paired with the Magnus TDC rotary HOP-up unit, giving you superb accuracy potential and the most up-to-date HOP-up unit style for M4/AR-15 AEGs. All internal parts are Tokyo Marui AEG spec, meaning aftermarket upgrades are a go for the performance seekers!

The HAL¹ ETU adds a whole lot of functionality into the mix, with programmable fire controls, 6 levels of pre-cocking adjustment and 5 levels of trigger sensitivity adjustment. Available fire modes include 3 or 5-round burst, binary trigger, AUG mode aka two-stage trigger, semi-auto only and sniper delay, giving you loads of options for how you use your SA-C19.

This rifle has more than enough going for it to show why it is an amazing value for its price. The upgraded internals combined with the real steel Daniel Defense trademarks make this rifle a force to be reckoned with on any skirmish field!

Features

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Trademarks from Daniel Defense® - super realistic and look great!
• High-density polymer with CNC Aluminium handguard
• Bird cage style flash hider - Fits the MK18 Model perfectly
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel
• Quad 20mm Picatinny railed handguard - Ready for 20mm Picatinny accessories
• Flip-up aperture iron sights pre-installed - Adjustable for windage and elevation, 2 apertures to choose from
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights, PEQ lasers or scopes to be mounted
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - The latest M4/AR-15 design, holds its setting well and allows for fine adjustment
• Finger ridged "A2" pistol grip - Comfortable for most hand sizes, textured for extra traction
• Flat milspec trigger guard - Matches real US Army-issued M4A1 rifles
• 3-Position fire selector switch - SAFE, SEMI AUTO & FULL AUTO, 90-degree throw between each mode
• Extended charging handle - Fast access to the HOP-up unit for quick mid-game adjustment
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock quickly and easily to suit your body type or loadout
• Crane stock pre-installed - Plenty of battery space, QD sling sockets built-in
• Version 2 Gearbox:
  • Aether Enhanced gearbox shell
  • Aether Aluminium nozzle
  • Polymer piston with steel tooth rack
  • 8mm Bushings
  • ESA quick-change spring system
  • Steel 18:1 ratio gearset
• HAL¹ Programmable MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Low-voltage alarm
  • Active braking
  • Adjustable pre-cocking (6 levels)
  • Two-stage trigger (AUG mode)
  • Sniper delay
  • Semi-auto only
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3 or 5-round burst
• HAL¹ Programming instructions
• Rear wired - Deans battery connector inside the buffer tube, accessible with the stock removed
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - S-Mag High-cap |S-Mag Mid-cap |S-Mag Mid-cap 5 Pack
• Rear wired: Deans battery connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in crane/nunchuck config.

Package Includes

• Specna Arms Daniel Defense® SA-C19 CORE™ Gen.2 HAL¹ ETU™ MK18 AEG
• 125rnd S-Mag M4/AR-15 Mid-cap magazine x2