East Crane EC-901 SASS SR-25 DMR AEG; Semi-Automatic Only

The EC-901 from East Crane is styled to match the real steel M110 SASS, the replacement for the venerable M24 sniper rifle system in US Army service. The M110 has also been used by the special forces of Ukraine, Poland and Brazil, meaning you don't need to be a Yank to rock the M110 as it is equally fitting for a Ukrainian International Legion, GROM or Brazilian BOPE loadout!

As a DMR platform, the EC-901 is locked to semi-automatic only straight out of the box, getting one of the hardest parts about building a DMR done and dusted before you get your hands on it. To go full DMR and get the FPS up, all you need to do is swap out the spring which is quick and easy thanks to the quick change spring system. The EC-901 already boasts a 6.04mm tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up unit but if you seek even more performance, the HOP-up unit, bucking, nub and barrel are all Tokyo Marui AEG spec, meaning aftermarket parts are ten a penny. 

Starting at the front we can find a meaty 7.62x51mm birdcage flash hider concealing 14mm CCW male threads on the outer barrel beneath. The flash hider is the perfect muzzle device to replicate the real steel M110  but it can easily be replaced with any 14mm CCW threaded muzzle device such as tracer units or suppressors if you prefer. The outer barrel of this monster is a whopping 20 inches in length, meaning the inner barrel is 509mm with plenty of extra cylinder volume to go even longer thanks to the version 2 long gearbox. 

Following the barrel rearwards by around an inch, we come to the handguard which is a near-perfect replica of the KAC URX2, the handguard used on the real steel M110 rifle. The handguard is equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at the 3,6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, with a built-in flip-up front sight at the front. The sight can be raised by pushing the button on the left side and can also be left flipped down with your preferred sights mounted on top thanks to its rail-integrated design. 

The handguard is nice and long, matching the barrel length well for a sniper-esque barrel-to-handguard ratio, letting everyone know to stay very far away from the EC-901 when game on is called...if they know what's good for them! Between the handguard and the muzzle device, we are also treated to a realistic mock gas block, with a realistic D.I gas tube running back to the receiver, visible through the handguard ports. This gas tube has 20mm Picatinny rails on its upper and lower surface, allowing for a bipod or front sight to be mounted to save space on the handguard. 

The handguard also has the ability to separate the upper and lower sections, allowing the lower section to be removed by removing the 6 screws on each side. This allows for an M203 grenade launcher to be mounted in barrel-mounted configuration; like any DMR rifle really needs that! Just because you can, doesn't mean you should, but if you care not for realism and you hit the gym, why shouldn't you?

The receiver follows the M4/AR-15 layout, meaning good news for those already accustomed to M4s and an easy transition over to the new rifle. The fire selector is ambidextrous, located on each side of the rifle, just above the pistol grip. The selector offers 2 modes of fire; Safe and semi-automatic, with a 90-degree throw between each mode. The selector stops at semi-auto due to the raised protrusion built into the receiver on the left side, just like the real M110 and SR-25 rifles. The 90-degree throw means the selector is quick to use but without the risk of accidentally bumping it out of place at an inopportune moment. 

The magazine release is located on the right side, on the magazine well, and is a push-button design, just like an M4. Unlike your usual M4, we also have a secondary mag release over on the right side, perfect for left-handed marksmen. The magazines of the EC-901 are much larger than an M4, being patterned after real steel 7.62x51mm mags, so while the layout is about the same, M4 mags are not compatible. The pistol grip, however, is M4 compatible, meaning you can swap it out for your preferred grip if you don't like the "A2" finger-ridged grip which comes pre-installed. 

The charging handle can be found at the top rear of the receiver and when pulled back, allows access to the rotary HOP-up unit through the ejection port on the right side by retracting the detailed mock bolt carrier. With the HOP-up adjuster exposed, you can tune the EC-901 for different ammo weights and extend your range, looking for the flattest possible trajectory. 

The rotary HOP-up design is known to be the best option for M4/AR-15 style AEG platforms, offering improved setting retention and finer increments of adjustment when compared to the older "gear" adjuster design. With your HOP-up adjustment complete, you can hit the realistic mock bolt catch on the left side of the receiver to send the mock bolt home with a satisfying metal-on-metal "clank". There is also a secondary ambidextrous bolt release over on the right side, allowing the bolt to be dropped with the trigger finger if you prefer. 

The receiver itself looks similar to an SR-25 platform, but in line with the improvements made in the M110 iteration, now has ambidextrous controls. The sides of the receiver have dynamic angled surfaces for a modern look and protected controls to reduce snags. The trigger guard is of the standard M4/M16 flat type and is compatible with aftermarket alternatives, though as it is it is a perfect match for the real steel M110. 

At the rear of the EC-901, we have a fixed rifle stock, but it is only fixed in the loosest sense of the word! 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 loosening the dial on the right side (turn it in the opposite direction to that which is indicated on the dial itself), pulling the butt plate out to the desired length and tightening the dial back down again to lock everything in place. This is a neat feature, especially for a DMR, and of course, it perfectly matches the functionality of the real M110 SASS. 

The battery compartment is also located inside the stock and requires the stock to be entirely removed for battery installation. To do this you will need to unscrew the screw in the butt plate, remove it and then remove the stock, revealing a Deans battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 2600mAh LiPo battery in crane configuration as there is absolutely loads of space inside. 

When it comes to internals, the EC-901 isn't messing about! 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, giving you a bit more accuracy and FPS than a standard bore would, and the trigger is set by default to semi-auto only, giving you a fantastic DMR base gun with the prerequisite 7.62x51 styling and all the hard parts of the tuning process done already. The quick change spring system makes converting this AEG into a true DMR super slick and easy, requiring minimal technical skill and no need to open the gearbox shell. 

Whether your loadout is that of a US Army, Ukrainian, Polish or Brazillian sniper or you have been eyeing up a DMR base gun which requires minimal effort to tune up to true DMR FPS, the EC-901 would be the perfect platform for you. With flawless build quality, pre-upgraded internals and the easy option of converting to a DMR, all this bad boy needs is a humongous optic and a bipod to complete the look!

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.04mm tightbore inner barrel - Improved accuracy and FPS
• Locked to Semi-automatic only - Ready for DMR duty
• 7.62x51mm Style birdcage flash hider - The correct device for the US Army M110 SASS
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• In-Line MOSFET pre-installed - Improved electrical efficiency = Improved trigger response
• URX2 Style handguard - 20mm Picatinny rails at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock
• Removable lower handguard - Remove the screws on the sides and mount an M203, if you must!
• Mock gas block & gas tube visible through handguard ports - Very realistic, will please the sticklers!
• KAC-style flip-up rear iron sight pre-installed - Fully adjustable & removable
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or scope to be mounted
• Modernised receiver design - Angled surfaces with weight reduction
• Finger ridged "A2" pistol grip - Familiar and comfortable for most users, diamond gripping texture on each side
• Fixed stock with adjustable butt plate - Fine-tune the length of pull via the dial on the right side
• QD sling sockets on either side of the stock - Ready for QD sling swivels
• Harris lug sling point at the toe of the stock - Add a Harris-style sling swivel if you prefer
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Accessible through the ejection port when the charging handle is pulled
• Rear wired - Deans battery connector (Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter included)
• Spare Magazines: 550rnd High-cap W-MAG | 130rnd Mid-cap W-MAG
• Compatible with Classic Army/A&K/CYMA SR-25 mags - Not compatible with G&G

Package Includes

• East Crane EC-901 SASS SR-25 DMR AEG; Semi-Automatic Only
• 130rnd Mid-cap magazine
• Deans to mini-Tamiya adapter
• User manual