ARCTURUS M4/AR-15 E3 Carbine AT-AR06 AEG

Those looking for a modern M4/AR-15 are very well catered for at the moment, with ARs coming off the production line at an ever increasing pace. So what makes the ARCTURUS M4/AR-15 E3 Carbine so special? This AR is a 10.5-inch short barrelled M4 platform with a free floated M-LOK/Picatinny hybrid handguard and fully ambidextrous controls.

It is rare to see an ambi M4/AR-15 in this price range, especially one which is full metal with upgraded internals. Ambidextrous controls make the E3 Carbine the perfect tool for left-handed M4/AR-15 fans, allowing them to manipulate this AR without any weird body mechanics. The ambi controls only enhance this short barrelled rifle's CQB potential, allowing you to use cover more effectively by switching shoulders like the real operators do!

At the front end, we are treated to a unique compensator style muzzle device which adds an aggressive look to the E3 Carbine, sitting slightly recessed inside the handguard for an integral look. The recessed nature of this muzzle device means you will probably need a short 1-inch or 2-inch barrel extension to mount a suppressor, though this isn't out of the question thanks to the rifle's common 14mm CCW male barrel threading. This muzzle device is made from aluminium alloy, reducing weight up front, and measures 31mm in diameter, meaning it can be replaced with the NUPROL Flash-P tracer unit if you really want to light the enemy up!

Surrounding the muzzle device we can find short sections of 20mm Picatinny rail machined into the M-LOK/Picatinny hybrid handguard, with QD sockets at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. This means you can mount your flashlight, PEQ box and even a bipod if needed, all without needing 20mm rail adapters. At the 12 o'clock position we have a full length 20mm Picatinny rail which is perfect for mounting the included flip-up iron sights and meets the receiver rail seamlessly to allow for even the longest of optical sights to be mounted without issues.

To the rear of the Picatinny rails the handguard tapers to a nice slim C-clampable size, with M-LOK attachment slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o clock positions, punctuated by weight reducing handguard vents. This allows you to mount whatever you like to the handguard, either using direct M-LOK mounted accessories or by adding 20mm Picatinny rail adapters to make use of accessories for 20mm rails. The upper spine of the handguard is also machined for weight reduction, with circular ports along its entire length. This combination of weight reducing features make the E3 Carbine a pleasure to handle, with no extra weight up front that will become fatiguing over long skirmishes and a light and easy to point front end which is conducive to rapid target-to-target transitions.

The receiver of the M4/AR-15 E3 follows the familiar M4 format, but with some notable enhancements mimicking the real steel KAC receiver. All of the controls are ambidextrous other than the charging handle, which is far from an essential control in Airsoft terms. The fire selector is mirrored on either side, offering safe, semi-auto and full auto fire modes with a 90-degree throw between modes, allowing for fast mode changes without risking accidentally knocking the selector into the wrong mode. The magazine release is also ambidextrous, allowing reloads from either shoulder and slick righty like handling for left-handed shooters. Even the bolt release is ambi on this AR, allowing you to drop the mock bolt after a HOP-up adjustment either with the traditional receiver slap or by pressing the catch on either side with the trigger finger.

The charging handle is located at the top rear of the receiver and is a standard low profile design, intended to minimise the chances of snagging on your gear as you move quickly. Pulling the charging handle back will open the steel dust cover on the right side and retract the mock bolt, revealing the rotary HOP-up unit within. The rotary HOP-up unit is one of the best improvements made to the M4/AR-15 AEG platform, offering the ability to adjust in finer increments than the older gear adjuster, as well as providing improved setting retention under the vibrations of full auto fire.

The pistol grip of the M4/AR-15 E3 Carbine is an ergonomic design with a filled backstrap and provides a comfortable hold over extended periods. The grip is bevelled in the area it meets the receiver to reduce hot spots which cause discomfort over long durations, and has deep linear grooves on the front and rear strap to promote effective grip in all weather conditions. The trigger guard is a KAC style enlarged guard, allowing ease of access to the trigger even if you wear thick gloves when skirmishing, and also has a relief cut machined in to provide a spot for your trigger finger to rest when it isn't on the trigger sending rounds at the unfortunate enemy!

The rear of the receiver boasts one of the most notable enhancement of the KAC style AR receiver; a pair of integral QD sling sockets. These sockets are constructed from steel to provide strength where needed and eliminate the need for a sling plate for those who like a single-point sling setup. The sockets are present on either side, allowing both left-handed and right-handed shooters to benefit from a quick-release sling system, allowing primary weapons to be switched without taking the sling off, and also allowing quick sling reconfigurations on the fly.

The rear of the E3 Carbine sports an M4/AR-15 6-position buffer tube, allowing for aftermarket M4/AR-15 AEG stocks to be mounted in seconds for those who have a preferred stock option. The stock which comes with the E3 is a slimline low profile stock with a QD sling socket on either side, and a low profile adjustment lever with texture to aid adjustments with wet hands. The butt plate is constructed from rubber with hexagonal gripping texture for easy shouldering with body armour. The stock also has ports throughout its design which reduce weight, but also provide a handy attachment point for those who prefer a silent sling solution rigged up with the help of paracord.

The battery compartment of the M4/AR-15 E3 Carbine is located inside the buffer tube and can be accessed by removing the stock. To remove the stock is quite difficult, but we have figured out the best way. With the adjustment lever pressed in you will see a small hole through the adjustment pin. If you insert an Allen key or similar tool through this hole it should hold the adjustment lever out, though you will have to pull it out with some force to clear the buffer tube end as you slide the stock off to the rear. With the stock removed you can unscrew the buffer tube cap, and inside you will find a Deans battery connector to which you mount your battery of choice. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in stick configuration for an easy fit and great performance.

Internally we are in for quite a treat with the M4/AR-15 E3. The gearbox is equipped with a rock solid internal feature set with some well chosen upgrade parts and nothing overly complex which may go wrong. The gearbox is a version 2 reinforced type with a quick change spring guide mounted on ball bearings for reduced rotational stress, and the piston head is also fitted with ball bearings, resulting in a long lasting and low stress gearbox setup.

The nozzle is Teflon sealed for superb air seal qualities, and the steel gearset runs on 8mm steel bushings for a smooth gearbox sound and unlaboured functionality. All of the wiring is heavy gauge low resistance wiring, making for a setup which is far more efficient in both air seal and power use than most of its rivals. This superb feature set is enhanced by the microswitch trigger, which provides a snappy trigger response in semi-auto, and genuinely feels like it must have a MOSFET inside. It doesn't, but it looks like ARCTURUS has proved you don't need a MOSFET for a rapid response if your gearbox is well built!

If you have your eyes on a kitted out AR but you demand ambidextrous controls, this is one of the most affordable and well equipped options out there right now. This CQB oriented Carbine is a fine choice for indoors work, but can also reach out and touch the enemy outdoors thanks to its highly rigid steel tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up unit. With solid internals, lightweight but robust externals and all the sling points under the sun, you can't go wrong with the M4/AR-15 E3 Carbine from ARCTURUS!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.03mm Steel tightbore inner barrel
• Rotary HOP-up unit - The latest design for M4/AR-15 AEGs
• M-LOK/Picatinny hybrid handguard - Use M-LOK, 20mm, or both!
• 11-inch M-LOK/Picatinny hybrid handguard
• 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel - Ready for a tracer or suppressor
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Seamless integration with the handguard rail
• QD sling sockets on the handguard, receiver and stock - Ready for QD sling swivels
• Ambidextrous bolt release - Drop the bolt from either side
• Ergonomic pistol grip with filled backstrap - Comfortable for most hand sizes
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Great for lefties/weak side reloads
• Enlarged trigger guard with finger recesses - Plenty of room for gloves
• Ambidextrous fire selector with relief cut - Comfy and functional for left or right-handers!
• 6 Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 AEG stocks
• Mil-spec curved trigger - Perfect for military style builds
• Slimline stock - Reduced bulk, increased agility
• Bearing spring guide and piston head - Reduced rotational force, less friction
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Fine increments of adjustment, holds setting well
• Teflon sealed air nozzle - Great compression/air seal qualities
• Microswitch trigger - Snappy trigger response
• Low resistance wiring - Great electrical efficiency
• 8mm Steel bushings - Smooth running gearbox
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines

Package Includes

• ARCTURUS M4/AR-15 E3 Carbine AT-AR06 AEG
• 30/130rnd Adjustable capacity magazine
• Flip-up iron sight set
• Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter
• User manual
• Cleaning/unjamming rod