East Crane EC-203 M-417 SDMR Semi-Automatic DMR AEG

The East Crane EC-203 is based on the real steel designated marksman rifle we all know and love, and is kitted out for DMR duty straight out of the box! This version has a programmable Kestrel Basic MOSFET pre-installed, offering various fire selector configurations including burst mode and binary trigger. A quick change spring system allows for easy power tuning without opening the gearbox shell and a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel with rotary HOP-up unit gives it the performance it needs downrange, with full compatibility with aftermarket Tokyo Marui inner barrels and HOP-up buckings for those that need a bit more!

On the outside, the EC-203 boasts full metal construction and high-density polymer furniture, matching the real rifle perfectly and providing a weighty 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 rail space on this platform; the handguard boasts MLOK at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions and a 20mm top rail that meets with the receiver rail 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 a 417-style birdcage flash hider, a larger version of the attachment 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 15 inches in overall length, that's seriously long! You will have no trouble convincing people that this is certainly a DMR platform. Hidden within this alloy outer barrel is a 380mm tightbore inner barrel, giving this DMR some incredible range and high FPS potential when the spring is swapped out. The accuracy of theEast Crane EC-203 M-417 SDMR Semi-Automatic DMR AEG is superb, long-range engagements are sure to be a breeze.

The handguard measures 14.5 inches and is equipped with an MLOK interface at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions and a 20mm Picatinny rail at 12 o'clock, making this DMR ready for infinite rail sections or attachments like PEQ lasers, tactical flashlights, vertical or angled foregrips and optical sights to be added wherever they are required. The handguard also features vent ports, giving the EC-203 a modern realistic look and also slightly reducing the overall weight for a more moveable front end. There are also QD points on the rear of the handguard, ready for slings or other devices.

The East Crane EC-203 M-417 SDMR Semi-Automatic DMR AEG comes equipped with a set of flip-up iron sights. The front sight is a fixed post, it cannot be adjusted for elevation or windage. It is constructed from alloy and has wings on either side of it, protecting it from bumps and knocks. The rear sight has adjustable windage and elevation, twisting the wheel on the right side of the sight adjusts the windage (left to right) and twisting the post underneath the sight adjusts the elevation (up and down).

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-203 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 ambidextrous 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. Safe and semi are denoted with pictograms but full auto is not, this is because this fire mode is disabled straight out of the box. With the Kestrel Basic MOSFET preinstalled alternate fire modes can be programmed such as burst mode or binary trigger. 

The mock bolt release is functional on the EC-203 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-204. The HOP-up allows you to vary the amount of backspin applied to your BBs and tune the EC-204 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 DMR 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-204 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 is accurate to the real steal platform as it uses the enlarged buffer tube, sadly this means it is not compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 stocks. 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. We don't recommend using the visible loop sling points on the stock as they are made from polymer, we would recommend using the slit in the middle of the stock instead.

The battery compartment is inside the buffer tube as with many M4/AR-15 platforms and can comfortably fit a 7.4v 1450mAh 30C LiPo Stick Battery inside. To access the battery compartment you can either remove the stock entirely by rotating the rubber butt stock counterclockwise and pulling it off. 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. 

On the inside, the EC-203 is kitted out to the nines. 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 6.03mm tightbore, giving you more accuracy and FPS than a standard bore would, and the programmable trigger offers the option of using burst mode or semi-auto only, depending on whether you are going DMR or long-range assault rifle with your EC-203. DMR is an easy option with this platform thanks to its quick change spring system, allowing for power tuning without needing to open the gearbox shell. 

The highlight is certainly the Kestrel Basic ETU/MOSFET, offering 6 levels of adjustable pre-cocking, options for 3-round burst and binary trigger along with low battery warning, cycle completion, active braking and low/high voltage cutoff. As it comes, theEast Crane EC-203 M-417 SDMR Semi-Automatic DMR AEG is programmed to semi-auto, but full auto can be programmed if you don't wish to keep this platform as a DMR.

If you are building yourself a DMR and you want to go 7.62x51 style for authenticity, the EEast Crane EC-203 M-417 SDMR Semi-Automatic DMR AEG is E&C's gift to you. With a quick change spring system, tightbore inner barrel and easy programming for semi-automatic only, this beast represents everything you want and need, it is ready for DMR duty as soon as you are!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Locked to semi-only out of the box - Full auto can be programmed if needed
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Excellent accuracy and range potential
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Ready for a tracer unit or suppressor
• MLOK handguard - MLOK at 3, 6, 9 20mm Picatinny at 12 o'clock
• Elongated 417 style birdcage flash hider - Appropriately big for a .308 / 7.62x51mm replica
• Clear polymer magazine with detailed mock cartridges - Very realistic looking
• Sling points at rear - At of stock
• Functional mock bolt release - Drop the mock bolt with a metal clank
• Ambidextrous fire selector, mag release, bolt release and charging handle
• 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 
• Enlarged buffer tube - Not compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 stocks
• Low profile stock - Reduces chance of snagging
• Rubber 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 East Crane 110rnd Mid-Cap Magazine for EC-202/203/204 AEGs
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3-Round burst
  • Active braking
  • Low/high voltage cutoff
  • Low battery warning
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU programming instructions are available here

Package Includes

• East Crane EC-203 M-417 SDMR Semi-Automatic DMR AEG
• East Crane 110rnd Mid-Cap Magazine for EC-202/203/204 AEGs