Specna Arms SA-C06 CORE™ Gen.2 M4/AR-15 URX3 AEG

If you're after a sleek and light AR platform, the Specna Arms SA-C06 CORE™ Gen.2 M4/AR-15 URX3 AEG is one to watch! Part of Specna's recently revamped CORE™ Gen.2 range, the latest SA-C06 is kitted out on the inside with impressive stuff but maintains the strong yet lightweight build which made Specna's original CORE™ line such a hit. 

Inside this, the latest SA-C06 variant, known as the "Gen.2", we are treated to the advanced AETHER™ gearbox shell and Magnus TDC HOP-up unit of Specna's PRIME™ series, providing enhanced long-range performance and making gearbox tuning a piece of cake. Also inside is the HAL™ ETU/MOSFET, offering 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, the Gen.2 enhancements add a lot of functionality to this sleek 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 Magnus rotary HOP-up combo, the CORE™ Gen.2 line provides more bang for your buck than ever before!

Starting at the tip of the 12.5-inch alloy outer barrel, we can find an alloy birdcage flash hider, a familiar sight to most M4/AR-15 users. The pre-installed birdcage flash hider can be unscrewed to reveal a 14mm CCW thread underneath, meaning if you are sick of the sight of a birdcage, you aren't stuck with it! The threading allows you to mount Suppressors, Tracer Units, Muzzle Brakes or any 14mm CCW-compatible muzzle device to further enhance the looks or performance of your AEG.

On top of the handguard and at the rear of the receiver, you will find the pre-installed BUIS (Back Up Iron Sights). The sights are easy to operate, requiring a simple press of the textured button on the top of each to deploy them from the stowed position. The sights are fully adjustable for windage and elevation, and the rear sight offers the choice of two apertures: a smaller one for long-range shooting and semi-auto, and a larger aperture intended for low-light use and full-auto fire.

The handguard is a URX-style design which saves on weight by reducing the length of the side and bottom rails, leaving 20mm Picatinny rails only in the most appropriate positions. The 12 o'clock position features a full-length rail, giving you plenty of space to mount an optical sight of practically any length, and the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock rails are positioned at the front, allowing for a bipod, tactical flashlight or PEQ laser to be added. 

The sides and bottom of the handguard are bevelled to make it easy to hold, and also have threaded holes in case you want to mount extra rails for more mission-essential goodies. As the handguard meets the receiver, we can find dummy QD sling sockets on either side. In our tests, these sockets were non-functional, so we recommend adding a front sling point to the 20mm Picatinny top rail if you want to run a two-point sling. 

Next up, we reach the receiver, which is of a standard and instantly recognisable M4/AR-15 configuration with controls laid out in a considerate and ergonomic manner, allowing the SA-C06 to be manipulated quickly and instinctively by veterans or learned rapidly by new users.

The fire selector lever can be found 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 recessed text on the receiver, and the selector switch locks positively into each mode with the help of texture on its surface to guarantee you can stay in control of your fire modes. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is accessible for a right-handed user with their trigger finger or by a lefty using their off-hand thumb.

Pulling back the extended charging handle, at the rear of the receiver, will pop open the dust cover and retract the mock bolt carrier, which allows 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 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 movable part to reduce the common tell-tale signs of a replica. The forward assist is a similar story, being present on the right side of the upper receiver and being another separate moving part which can be pressed in, but does not affect the function of the AEG. A new addition to this HAL-equipped SA-C06 is its flat trigger, enhancing the military 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-C06 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, 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. 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 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-C06, 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-C06 doesn't slip off your shoulder at a critical moment.

Inside the Gen.2 SA-C06, 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-C06. Features like these are usually only present in high-end replicas; we simply cannot believe the wealth of functionality inside the HAL¹-equipped SA-C06 Gen.2, especially considering the price!

If you love a sleek and light build with more than its fair share of internal perks, the Specna Arms SA-C06 CORE™ Gen.2 M4/AR-15 URX3 AEG will hit the sweet spot. Keeping the best bits of the original CORE™ with a sprinkle of PRIME™ on top, this makes a fantastic beginner primary, and the Aether gearbox makes adding upgrades yourself far less of a headache!

Features

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• High-density polymer with CNC Aluminium handguard
• Birdcage flash hider - The standard M4A1 muzzle device
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready (barrel extension required)
• URX3-style handguard - A lightweight and sleek design with 20mm rails where you need them
• 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 mil-spec 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 available here
• 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 SA-C07 CORE™ Gen.2 M4/AR-15 AEG
• 125rnd S-Mag M4/AR-15 Mid-cap magazine x 2
• Speedloader
• Cleaning rod