Specna Arms SA-F09 FLEX™ HAL¹ ETU M4/AR-15 AEG

If you're into lightweight, agile ARs with a skeletonised aesthetic, the Specna Arms SA-F09 FLEX™ HAL¹ ETU M4/AR-15 AEG is calling your name! This AEG is equipped with the rock-solid FLEX™ internals and high-density polymer construction to keep things lightweight and agile, not to mention cost-effective. As with previous FLEX™ releases, the SA-F09 is kitted out with a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel straight out of the box, giving you a free upgrade to keep this lightweight and agile platform competitive with rivals.

The HAL¹ ETU 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 for both CQB and outdoor battles, including adjustable pre-cocking! Pre-cocking positions the piston at the rear of its cycle after a shot, meaning when you pull the trigger the response is practically instantaneous, ideal for semi-auto duels and rapid double taps. 

Starting at the tip of the 14-inch outer barrel we can find an M4/AR-15 alloy birdcage flash hider mounted to 14mm CCW male threading. The outer barrel is constructed from alloy to provide a strong backbone and keep the tightbore inner barrel nice and straight for perfect accuracy. If you want to mount a tracer unit, suppressor or alternative muzzle device all you need to do is unscrew the flash hider and mount your preferred device thanks to the common 14mm CCW threading at the tip of the barrel.

The handguard is constructed from high-density polymer and features a unique design that skeletonises the handguard to reduce the overall weight. There is a 20mm Picatinny rail section that runs along the top of the platform, the other sides of the handguard feature an M-LOK interface, with short sections of detachable 20mm Picatinny rail sitting at the front of each rail section. M-LOK handguards are extremely popular, with their slick design and plenty of available attachments on the market, they're worth checking out!

With a 20mm Picatinny rail at the 12 o'clock position, the handguard also provides a mounting point for the included flip-up aperture iron sights which can either be left flipped down or removed entirely if you prefer to use a red dot sight or scope. The irons can be raised and lowered by hand, with no need to press buttons or fiddle with catches, and are fully adjustable for both windage and elevation.

The handguard's upper Picatinny rail meets the 20mm rail on the receiver seamlessly, allowing large optical sights and red dot sight + magnifier combos the extra space they need to be mounted easily. The receiver itself is constructed from fibre-reinforced high-density polymer with a beautiful matt finish and a high-quality textured feel, keeping the weight low and the strength high, with added scratch resistance so the odd mid-skirmish bump or scrape doesn't mean your pride and joy looks scruffy.

The receiver is of a standard and instantly recognizable M4/AR-15 configuration with the controls laid out in a considerate and ergonomic manner, allowing the SA-F09 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 tells a similar story, being present on the right side of the receiver and is also a separate moving part that can be pressed in but has no effect on the function of the AEG. A new addition to this HAL-equipped SA-F09 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-F09 is an M16A2/M4A1 style pistol grip, also known as the "A2" finger-rigged 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-F09, we recommend a 7.4V 1450mAh 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-F09 doesn't slip off your shoulder at a critical moment.

Inside the HAL¹ equipped SA-F09, we have an alloy V2 gearbox shell with 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 and when paired with the rotary HOP-up unit, it provides superb accuracy potential. All internal parts are Tokyo Marui AEG spec, meaning aftermarket upgrades are a go for the performance seekers!

The HAL¹ 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-F09. Features like these are usually only present in high-end replicas; we simply cannot believe the wealth of functionality inside the HAL¹ equipped SA-F09, especially considering the price!

If you're looking for an extremely affordable way to start your Airsoft journey, there is no better way than with the Specna Arms SA-F09 FLEX™ HAL¹ ETU M4/AR-15 AEG! This lightweight polymer platform is equipped with some of the latest and greatest internals including the highly advanced HAL¹ MOSFET/ETU, allowing both new and veteran players to tune their AEG perfectly for their needs.

Features 

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• High-density polymer construction
• Compact and lightweight - provides great manoeuvrability!
• Birdcage Flash Hider pre-installed
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel
• M-LOK handguard - Modern and slick design, pre-installed 20mm Picatinny sections
• 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:
  • 8mm bushings
  • ESA quick change spring system
  • Steel 18:1 ratio gearset
  • Alloy shell
• HAL¹ Programmable MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Low voltage alarmActive 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 available here
• 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 1450mAh LiPo in crane/nunchuck config

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-F09 FLEX™ HAL¹ ETU M4/AR-15 AEG
• 300rnd S-Mag M4/AR-15 High-cap magazine