East Crane EC-202 M-417 DMR AEG; In-Line MOSFET

The East Crane EC-202 is patterned after a real steel marksman rifle we all know and love, boasting the big boy looks of a 7.62x51mm replica with a clear polymer magazine showing off detailed mock cartridges. While it is a real looker on the outside, the EC-202 is also rocking a respectable number of pre-upgraded parts straight out of the gate. A quick change spring system allows for easy power tuning without opening the gearbox shell and a 6.04mm tightbore inner barrel with rotary HOP-up unit gives it the performance it needs downrange, with full compatibility with aftermarket Tokyo Marui inner barrel and HOP-up bucking for those that need a bit more!

On the outside, the EC-202 boasts full metal construction with high density polymer furniture, matching the real rifle perfectly and providing a hefty and realistic feel. The finish of the metallic parts is fantastic, with a hard-wearing matt anodisation which should resist wear and tear well. You will never be short of 20mm Picatinny rails on this platform; the handguard boasts rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions and the receiver rail mates with the handguard seamlessly, allowing for truly massive optics, laser aiming modules and all manner of other mission essentials to be fitted with ease. 

Starting at the front, we can find the extra chonky 417 style birdcage flash hider, a larger version of the device commonly seen on M4/AR-15s but upscaled to the 7.62x51 calibre appropriate size. The flash hider is constructed from alloy and looks great as it is, but thanks to the common 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of the outer barrel, mounting a tracer unit or suppressor for the authentic DMR look is as easy as unthreading the flash hider and screwing on your preferred muzzle device. 

The outer barrel is 12 inches in overall length, making this a great platform for manoeuvrability and matching perfectly with the "Assaulter" configuration of the real rifle. If you need a bit more length for your local site's DMR rules, a suppressor should do the trick. Just above the barrel at the front of the handguard, we are also treated to a nice touch of realism in the form of a dummy gas adjuster which can be set in two different positions by pulling it out and rotating it into the position of choice. 

The handguard measures 10 inches and is equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, ready for PEQ lasers, tactical flashlights, vertical or angled foregrips and optical sights to be added wherever they are required. The handguard also features vent ports punctuating the 20mm Picatinny rails, giving the EC-202 the appropriate realistic look and also helping to reduce the overall weight for a more pointable front end. The handguard rail slots are also numerically marked with laser engraved numbers, allowing you to keep track of where you mount your accessories so you can chop and change your setup and return it to an alternative configuration easily. 

The dummy gas block is beneath the handguard and includes a sling mounting loop which is accessible through the port at the bottom of the handguard, near the front. This can be coupled with the sling slot on the stock to mount a two-point sling setup without the need for additional parts. We recommend using a loop of paracord or a keyring if you find that your sling hook is too large to fit through the gas block sling loop to give a bit more flexibility and compatibility with a wider range of sling hook types. 

The receiver follows the M4/AR-15 format but is much larger than a normal M4, keeping things authentic to the real-world platform. The magazine release is located on the right side of the mag well and is also mirrored on the left side for ambidextrous functionality. As with the M4/AR-15 platform, the mag release is a push-button design and is well within reach of the trigger finger when the rifle is held in a firing grip. 

All of the other controls on the EC-202 are ambidextrous, making it a great platform for left-handed shooters who refuse to change or right-handed shooters who like to shoulder-to-shoulder transition to make the best use of surrounding cover. The fire selector switch is on either side, just above the pistol grip, sporting the standard 90-degree throw between fire modes and SAFE-SEMI-AUTO fire mode options. Each position is denoted with a red high-vis pictogram, with safe being indicated with a white crossed-out projectile. 

The mock bolt release is functional on the EC-202 in that it allows you to send the mock bolt home after HOP-up adjustment with a satisfying metal-on-metal "clank". Naturally, the bolt catch is also ambidextrous, with the standard "ping pong paddle" release in the centre of the left side of the receiver and a secondary catch on the right side, just below the ejection port. The charging handle has a latch on either side, meaning it can be pulled from either side with a single finger, retracting the mock bolt and locking it to the rear to expose the rotary HOP-up adjuster. 

The rotary HOP-up design is widely known as the best design for M4/AR-15 style Airsoft guns and we are happy to see it take its place inside the EC-202. The HOP-up allows you to vary the amount of backspin applied to your BBs and tune the EC-202 for different ammo weights, looking for the flattest possible trajectory. The HOP-up unit, bucking and nub are all Tokyo Marui compatible, so if you are maxing out your build you can drop in a Pro-Win, Gate EON or Maxx HOP-up unit without any fitting worries. 

The pistol grip is an ergonomic design with a filled-out backstrap to assist in supporting the weight of the EC-202 and to provide improved comfort and functionality with the stock fully collapsed. The trigger guard is enlarged, allowing fast access to the trigger when wearing thick gloves, meaning you can keep your digits protected and not worry about dexterity. 

At the rear of the receiver, we come to a familiar sight; the good old M4/AR-15 buffer tube. This isn't 100% accurate to the real deal which uses a bigger buffer tube due to its bigger bolt carrier, but offers full compatibility with aftermarket M4/AR-15 stocks which we think is a worthy tradeoff. The castle nut is constructed from steel, as is the receiver end plate, and the buffer tube is constructed from alloy, providing 6 positions of adjustment allowing for various body types and loadouts with bulky body armour vests. 

The stock itself is patterned after the low-profile stock option of the real deal, boasting a low-snag design to keep mobility high. The adjustment lever is located on the bottom and is well concealed inside the design, allowing the stock to be lengthened and shortened to suit the environment and play style. The stock also has a port on the top through which the numbers marked on the buffer tube are visible, meaning you can keep track of your preferred length of pull setting and adjust it to perfection every time. 

The battery compartment is inside the buffer tube as with many M4/AR-15 platforms and can comfortably fit a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo battery inside. To access the battery compartment you can either remove the stock entirely by pulling the adjustment lever out or remove the butt plate. Inside you will find a Deans battery connector to which you mount your chosen battery. The Deans connector has the advantage of being smaller and offering lower electrical resistance when compared to the mini-Tamiya, and we are always happy to see more Deans connectors appearing on out-of-the-box AEGs. 

As you will receive it, the EC-202 comes remarkably well equipped. The gearbox is a Version 2 long (sometimes known as version 2.5) gearbox with Tokyo Marui compatible steel gears and a long cylinder and piston, offering greater air volume than a standard V2 which lends itself well to DMR setups with long inner barrels. The inner barrel is a 6.04mm tightbore example, improving accuracy at long range and giving a slight boost to FPS due to better air seal qualities. 

The steel gearset runs on 8mm ball bearing bushings, promising low friction and a long lifespan for the internal parts, and the in-line MOSFET present in this version helps boost rate of fire and trigger response by improving electrical efficiency. With a quick change spring system built into the gearbox shell, the EC-202 can quickly be tuned to meet the FPS/joule limits of your local site, and can even be upgraded to DMR power levels with the right expertise. If you are looking for an easy DMR conversion, check out the EC-202 Programmable MOSFET version!

With full metal construction, a fantastic finish, superb out-of-the-box performance with full upgrade compatibility, the EC-202 is the perfect primary for milsim or casual players looking for a platform that stands out. Whether you are your squad's designated marksman or you just want a 7.62x51 style platform to add to the collection, the EC-202 has all the slick accessory options of your usual M4/AR-15 AEG but in a bigger and more menacing form!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.04mm Tightbore inner barrel - Excellent accuracy and range potential
• In-Line MOSFET version - Improved ROF & trigger response, lower electrical resistance
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Ready for a tracer unit or suppressor
• 20mm Quad Picatinny railed handguard - 20mm Rails at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, ready for 20mm accessories
• M-417 Style birdcage flash hider - Appropriately big for a .308 / 7.62x51mm replica
• Clear polymer magazine with detailed mock cartridges - Very realistic looking
• Dummy adjustable gas system - A great touch for realism!
• Sling points front and rear - Front point on the gas block/handguard, rear point on the stock
• Ambidextrous fire selector - Easy access for both left and right-handed shooters
• Ambidextrous mock bolt release - Drop the mock bolt from the left or right side
• Ambidextrous magazine release - Easy to reach, textured surface, perfect for lefties or righties
• Enlarged trigger guard - Easy and fast access, even when wearing thick gloves
• Ambidextrous charging handle - Lock the mock bolt back to access the HOP-up unit from either side
• Ergonomic pistol grip with refined grip angle - More comfortable for modern shooting stances 
• Low profile sliding stock - Low snag design with a built-in sling slot
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Aftermarket stocks are a go!
• Rubber serrated butt plate - Plenty of grip for wet weather work
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Fine increments of adjustment and holds settings well
• Version 2.5/Version 2 Long Gearbox - Long piston and cylinder, TM compatible gearset
• Steel gears running on 8mm ball bearing bushings - Smooth, low friction gearbox report
• Quick change spring system - Easy power tuning without opening the gearbox shell
• Compatible with E&C / East Crane EC-202 Magazines

Package Includes

• East Crane EC-202 M-417 DMR AEG; In-Line MOSFET
• 110rnd Mid-cap magazine
• User manual
• Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter