East Crane EC-204 G-417 Semi-Automatic DMR AEG

The East Crane EC-204 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-204 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 20mm Picatinny rails on this platform; the handguard boasts rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions and the receiver rail meets 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 an elongated 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 16 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 410mm tightbore inner barrel, giving this DMR some incredible range and high FPS potential when the spring is swapped out. The accuracy of the East Crane EC-204 G-417 Semi-Automatic DMR AEG is superb, long-range engagements are sure to be a breeze.

The handguard also measures 16 inches and is equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, ready for infinite 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 at the bottom, giving the EC-204 the appropriate realistic look and also slightly reducing the overall weight for a more moveable 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 East Crane EC-204 G-417 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 a ring around the sight post, protecting it from bumps and knocks. The rear sight has adjustable windage, next to the wheel there is a tab, push that in and then you are free to adjust the left-right placement of the sight. This sight also has a quick detach system, pull the left side of the base rearwards and you can quickly remove the sight.

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 as with any 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.

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-204 in that it allows you to send the mock bolt home after HOP-up adjustment with a satisfying metal-on-metal "clank". The standard "ping pong paddle" release is located in the centre of the left side of the receiver. 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 is extremely unique, matching the look of the one used on the real steel variant of this rifle. It can be adjusted by pushing up on the lever located at the bottom. Its tough polymer construction is sure to survive any skirmish setting or milsim operation. The stock also comes equipped with an adjustable and modular cheek riser, which is important for those who spend a long time aiming down sights before taking the shot. To adjust the cheek riser, loosen the screw with an Allen key at the rear and then you can adjust the height.

The butt plate can be adjusted for different lengths of pull, offering 5cm of length extension to suit shooting from the prone position and those with longer arms. The stock can be adjusted by rotating the dial on the right side at the rear of the stock, don't twist it too far though as it will come out and be difficult to put back on.

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 need to remove the stock by pulling the lever out further than usual. Inside you will find a Deans battery connector. 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, this EC-204 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-204. 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, the East Crane EC-204 G-417 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 East Crane EC-204 G-417 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
• 20mm Quad Picatinny railed handguard - 20mm Rails at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, ready for 20mm accessories
• Elongated birdcage flash hider - Appropriately big for a .308 / 7.62x51mm replica
• Clear polymer magazine with detailed mock cartridges - Very realistic looking
• Dummy gas system - A great touch for realism!
• Sling points at rear - At of stock
• Functional mock bolt release - Drop the mock bolt with a metal clank
• Ambidextrous fire selector
• 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
• Unique stock - Adjustable cheek riser and butt plate
• 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-202/204 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-204 G-417 Semi-Automatic DMR AEG
• East Crane 110rnd Mid-Cap Magazine for EC-202/204 AEGs