Double Eagle M923G DEX556 AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU

If you have been keeping pace with the latest AEG releases from Double Eagle you know as well as we do that they have seriously upped their game! The M923G DEX556 sits right in line with the other members of the Double Eagle UTR family, boasting pre-upgraded internals and high-quality externals with the advanced Kestrel Basic ETU taking centre stage.

The majority of the DEX556 is constructed from high density polymer, giving it very low weight but superb strength and the high-quality feel RIFs like the Double Eagle UTR45 and UTR556 has become known for. The inner barrel is a 6.04mm tightbore paired with a rotary HOP-up unit, giving you the accuracy and range needed to compete whether you skirmish indoors or out. With a unique exterior and advanced internals at a uniquely affordable price point, the DEX556 is one to watch!

Starting at the front we can find a sound amplifying muzzle device mounted to the 14mm CCW male threads at the tip of the outer barrel. This device is what gives the DEX556 its absolutely epic muzzle report, guaranteed to scare the living daylights out of anyone within earshot and rivalling the legendary G&G Firehawk when it comes to the intimidation factor. If you skirmish more discreetly and like to sneak around, you may find a tracer unit or suppressor to be better suited to your playstyle but thanks to the 14mm CCW male barrel threads, you can mount one right away with no adapter needed.

The sound amp sits slightly recessed into the 9.5-inch M-LOK handguard, giving the DEX556 the modern snub-nosed look of a compact AR. Fortunately, the handguard is designed with this in mind and is enlarged at the front, allowing the sound amp or a tracer/suppressor with an outer diameter of approximately 35mm to be installed while still allowing the front M-LOK slots to be used. Visible through the handguard's M-LOK slots we can also see a nice touch of realism in the form of a dummy gas block and gas tube, giving the DEX556 two thumbs up from the stitch counters!

The handguard itself is constructed from high density polymer, using the same fantastic polymer formula as the Double Eagle UTR45 which is no bad thing. The polymer has the high-quality textured feel and matt finish of modern fibre-reinforced polymers, with no squeaky, shiny ABS polymer to be found! The upper surface has an integrated 20mm Picatinny rail which meets the receiver rail seamlessly, allowing for large optical sights and red dot sights with magnifiers to be mounted with plenty of space to spare.

M-LOK slots are present at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions with additional slots at the offset angles, giving you more options than most when it comes to where you mount your M-LOK accessories. On either side, we are also treated to a QD sling socket constructed from steel which can be paired with QD sling swivels, allowing you to mount your sling and quickly remove it in seconds.

Included in the box is an M-LOK hand stop with barricade bracing texture at the front and a pair of M-LOK rail covers, giving you a few thoughtful accessories to get your DEX556 up to speed. Also included and pre-installed onto the top rail is a set of flip-up iron sights which can be used in either an "open sight" configuration when left flipped down or as an "aperture sight" when flipped up, with similar functionality to the iron sights provided on the real world MP7 but with a more modern look.

When flipped up, the iron sights are fully adjustable for both windage and elevation via the rotary dial on each sight, and the rear sight provides 2 different aiming apertures; a large one for low light use and full auto fire and a smaller one for more accurate shots and bright, outdoors environments.

The receiver is constructed from high density polymer, keeping the weight of the DEX556 low and leaning into its mobility-oriented design. The polymer used is solid, with not a hint of flex, creaking or wobble to be found and has a lovely matt finish with a textured feel. The receiver design is patterned after real steel "billet" style AR receivers, boasting a built-in magazine well flare, angular receiver details and a built-in trigger guard to improve strength when compared to the standard AR receiver design. The front of the magazine well also has linear serrations on its surface, allowing it to be used as a makeshift grip when shooting in unconventional positions.

The ambidextrous fire selector is located just above the pistol grip, right where we expect it, and offers 3 modes of fire; Safe, semi-automatic and fully automatic, with a 90-degree throw between each mode. Thanks to the pre-installed Kestrel Basic ETU, the fire controls can also be reconfigured for burst modes of varying duration and binary trigger, giving the DEX556 some advanced party tricks to improve hit probability and letting you easily customise the setup to suit your playstyle.

The magazine release is positioned on the right side of the magazine well, safety recessed inside the "magazine well fence" to reduce the chances of an inadvertent mag drop in the thick of it. Following the standard M4/AR-15 pattern, the magazine release has a push-through design that is very easy to reach from a firing grip and has texture on its surface to provide effective grip in all weather conditions. Over on the left side, we have what looks like an ambidextrous magazine release but unfortunately, this is a dummy control designed in for pure aesthetics. While this is a bit of a shame, if you know your way around an M4/AR-15 AEG you can install your own ambidextrous magazine release to allow for left-handed use.

At the bottom of the receiver, we come to the pistol grip, which is an ergonomic design which has a similar look to the renowned PTS EPG-C; with a more compact, slimline design than most M4/AR-15 AEG grips and linear texture on the front and rear, with additional crackle texture on either side for flawless gripping qualities. As they did with previous releases, Double Eagle has done a fantastic job with this grip, partnering high-quality polymers with a very comfortable design and smoothly transitioning the grip to the receiver to reduce "hot spots" which can cause irritation when used for long durations. The techy types will be happy to hear that the motor height adjustment screw is nice and large, making it easier to apply motor adjustments following disassembly for upgrades or maintenance.

The charging handle is also right where we would expect it; at the top rear of the receiver. The handle design mimics real-world "raptor" style charging handles but can only be operated from the left side due to its left side latch. Pulling the charging handle rearwards will spring open the mock dust cover and retract the mock bolt carrier beneath, providing access to the rotary adjustable HOP-up unit.

The rotary HOP-up design is widely known as the best HOP-up design for M4/AR-15 platform Airsoft guns and benefits over the older gear adjuster in that it holds its setting more effectively over long durations under the vibrations of full auto fire and provides far finer adjustment increments so you can get your HOP-up tuned perfectly for your chosen BB weight, looking for the flattest possible trajectory. When your adjustment is complete, you can hit the realistically designed "ping pong paddle" bolt release on the centre left of the receiver to send the mock bolt carrier home with a satisfying "clank".

Following the receiver, we reach the AR buffer tube. It is constructed from a strong alloy and provides 6 positions of adjustment, enough to suit any body type or loadout. To adjust the stock position, press up on the lever located at the bottom of the stock and then slide the stock to your desired position.

The stock is constructed from high-density polymer and features an angled butt plate, which provides comfort and security when wearing full-body gear and operating from modern shooting stances. The buffer tube system allows you to swap your stock out for any aftermarket M4/AR-15 stock simply and quickly. If you fancy a change or get tired of its looks in the future, the option to switch out the stock means you have access to the widest variety of aftermarket stock options out there!

At the rear of the stock, we are treated to a QD sling point on both sides of the stock, this allows you to attach a sling to either side of your rifle depending on your shooting style. It also has a slightly raised cheek pad comprised of slightly smoother polymer than the rest of the stock for improved comfort. The butt plate is also polymer and is textured for good grip; ensuring that the stock stays firmly in your shoulder when shooting

The battery compartment is located within the buffer tube and can be accessed by removing the stock. To do this, pull the two tabs on either side of the front of the stock. Once pulled down, the polymer stock can slide off the buffer tube and you can access the Deans style connector. For this snappy little beast, we recommend an 11.1v 1450mAh LiPo Nunchuck Battery.

On the inside, the DEX556 is very well equipped, even before you consider the price! The inner barrel is a 6.04mm tightbore example, promising improved accuracy at range and a slight FPS boost thanks to improved air efficiency. The gears are constructed from steel and run on 8mm ball-bearing bushings, producing minimal audible drama as the gun fires and providing reduced friction for a longer lifespan. All of the gearbox internals are Tokyo Marui version 2 spec, meaning upgrades are easily within reach for those who simply cannot use an AEG without upgrading it!

The highlight of the M923G DEX556 is its Kestrel Basic ETU/MOSFET, which offers 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. This means you can crank up the trigger response for super fast double taps or run this AEG with SAFE-SEMI-3RND BURST fire controls. Also present inside is a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up unit, giving you superb accuracy potential and the latest most reliable HOP-up design for M4/AR-15 platforms.

The DEX556 sits alongside other Double Eagle UTR series releases as yet another option with a distinct visual style and the same epic yet affordable internal feature set which put the UTR45 and M90x series on the map. With the highly advanced Kestrel Basic ETU in command of a lightweight and manoeuvrable ultra-modern AR platform, you are guaranteed to give the enemy a hard time whether you are turning and burning up close and personal or duking it out in the vanguard at your next woodland skirmish!

Features

• High-density polymer construction
• 6.04mm Tightbore inner barrel
• 14mm CCW male threaded outer barrel - Suppressor/tracer ready!
• Sound amplifying muzzle device pre-installed - One of the loudest AEGs we have ever shot
• M-LOK handguard - M-LOK slots at 3, 6, 9 & offset angles, 20mm Picatinny at 12 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights & scopes, pre-installed flip-up iron sights
• Modern "billet" style receiver - High-density polymer construction, flared mag well & enlarged trigger guard built-in
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible with the charging handle pulled and mock bolt locked back
• Ambidextrous QD sling sockets front and rear - Ready for QD sling swivels and single or two-point slings
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock to suit your body type perfectly
• Slim stock - Matches the compact and agile design of the AEG
• Ergonomic pistol grip - Linear texture front and rear, crackle texture on each side for flawless grip
• Includes 2 x M-LOK rail covers and an M-LOK hand stop - Less for you to buy to get her set up!
• Rear wired to a Deans battery connector - Smaller and less resistance than the mini-Tamiya connector
• Reinforced version 2 gearbox
  • Steel 18:1 gearset
  • 8mm Bushings
  • Steel spring guide
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3-Round burst
  • Active braking
  • Low/high voltage cutoff
  • Low battery warning
• Recommended battery: 11.1v 1450mAh LiPo Nunchuck Battery
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU programming instructions are available here

Package Includes

• Double Eagle M923G DEX556 AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU
• 160rnd Magazine
• M-LOK Hand stop
• M-LOK Rail cover x 2