Specna Arms SA-C22 CORE™ Gen.2 HAL¹ ETU™ M4/AR-15 Carbine AEG

The Specna Arms SA-C22 Gen.2 is the perfect modern assault rifle; it features a modern handguard interface, a preinstalled MOSFET and upgraded internals. As far as beginner platforms go, this one is certainly worth considering if you're looking for a platform to take your gameplay to the next level. As with the original Specna Arms CORE series, the polymer quality is top-notch, more scratch-resistant than comparable metal receivers and ultra-light for high energy throughout the skirmish day.

The HAL¹ ETU™ is the star of the show, a lovely addition to a beginner rifle! It 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!

Beginning with the front of the platform, you can find a pre-installed birdcage flash hider with 14mm CCW male barrel threads underneath. This means that the pre-installed flash hider can be removed and you can add a tracer or suppressor if you would like, or instead, an alternative muzzle device to customise the appearance of the SA-C22. Whether you decide to customise this platform for a DMR build or use it as a standard AR, you can equip the perfect attachment for you!

Moving rearwards, you will find the M-LOK handguard of the SA-C22, which is built from aluminium using CNC machining, guaranteeing that the attachment slots and rails are flawless. The handguard is also equipped with a section of 20mm Picatinny rail running along the top of the handguard, offering a full-length rail so you can mount larger optical sights and long eye relief LPVO scopes, useful for a DMR conversion!

The sides and bottom of the handguard are equipped with M-LOK negative space attachment slots, allowing you to mount the latest vertical and angled foregrip designs directly or make use of the preinstalled 20mm Picatinny rail adapters for M-LOK. The benefit of a modern M-LOK handguard is that in its smooth configuration, the handguard is lightweight and surprisingly ergonomic, meaning you don't need to add rail covers to avoid the discomfort as you might with a 20mm quad rail.

Next up we reach the receiver, which is of a standard and instantly recognizable M4/AR-15 configuration with controls laid out in a considerate and ergonomic manner, allowing the SA-C22 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 a separate moveable part to reduce the giveaway 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 has no effect on the function of the AEG. A new addition to this HAL-equipped SA-C22 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-C22 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-C22, 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-C22 doesn't slip off your shoulder at a critical moment.

Inside the Gen.2 SA-C22, 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-C22. Features like these are usually only present in high-end replicas; we simply cannot believe the wealth of functionality inside the HAL¹-equipped SA-C22 Gen.2, especially considering the price!

If you like your rifles long, this is definitely one to keep an eye on! The Specna Arms SA-C22 CORE™ Gen.2 HAL¹ ETU™ M4/AR-15 Carbine AEG is highly upgraded and advanced for its price and a must-have for anyone looking to start their own DMR build.

Features

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• High-density polymer with CNC Aluminium handguard
• Perfect for CQB skirmishing, compact and lightweight, it provides great manoeuvrability!
• Birdcage Flash Hider pre-installed
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel
• M-LOK handguard - Modern and slick design
• 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
• 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-C22 CORE™ Gen.2 M4/AR-15 AEG
• 125rnd S-Mag M4/AR-15 Mid-cap magazine x2