EMG Daniel Defense M4A1 RIII 14.5" Replica AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU

If sleek style is your desire, there aren't many better examples than this! The EMG Daniel Defense M4A1 RIII 14.5" Replica AEG has a perfect replica of the latest M-LOK handguard from Daniel Defense up front, allowing for agile handling whilst still maintaining accessibility to a plethora of attachments or rail sections.

Like other Daniel Defense examples from EMG, this rifle comes equipped with a full complement of licensed Daniel Defense parts, including the "Grip-N-Rip" charging handle, "Tornado" pistol grip and DD collapsible buttstock. The receiver is adorned with a mix of crisply engraved trademarks and white laser engraved calibre and model markings, completing the authentic Daniel Defense external build.

Internally you will find a reinforced version 2 gearbox featuring plenty of pre-upgraded parts including a high-speed motor, CNC steel 13:1 ratio high-speed gearset and the Kestrel Basic ETU for extra function and allow the use of 11.1V LiPo batteries. This rifle also boasts a 6.02mm tightbore with an alloy rotary HOP-up unit, giving it some amazing range and accuracy potential.

Starting at the tip of the 14.5" outer barrel we can find the M4 standard birdcage type flash hider pre-installed on the barrel’s 14mm CCW male threading. This flash hider matches the design of the rifle but if you prefer a suppressor or tracer for your skirmish excursions, it will simply twist off, just make sure to undo the grub screw first.

The handguard replicates the latest and greatest MK18 style handguard from Daniel Defense, known as the RIS III. This handguard keeps the military applicable aspects of the original MK18 handguard, specifically the ability to remove the lower section and mount an M203 grenade launcher but boasts a slimmer profile and reduced weight thanks to its use of M-LOK negative space attachment slots instead of 20mm Picatinny rails.

M-LOK slots are present at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions with additional slots at the offset angles in the ideal position to mount a tactical flashlight to keep it tight to the platform to reduce snagging. The slots allow M-LOK accessories to be directly mounted but you can also make use of 20mm Picatinny rail sections if you have a preferred 20mm foregrip, flashlight or laser aiming module.

Like the previous iteration, the MK18 RIS II, the RIS III handguard features a 20mm Picatinny rail on its upper surface which runs back to meet the receiver rail seamlessly, allowing for long optical setups to be mounted. Also present on the handguard are a pair of QD sling sockets, allowing for QD sling swivels to be mounted and paired with either the rear sling plate, QD sockets or footman loops on the stock to allow for a two-point sling.

On the top rail, we are treated to a set of preinstalled flip-up aperture iron sights which can be deployed by pressing the button on the left side of each sight. The sights are fully adjustable for both windage and elevation and protected on each side with protective wings to keep the sights set properly and protected from any mid-battle bumps and scrapes.

Next up, we find the receiver which displays a stunning showcase of licensed Daniel Defense trademarks, flawlessly engraved and perfectly positioned to match the real steel Daniel Defense rifles. The left side of the upper receiver also includes a 5.56mm calibre marking in high-vis white laser engraving and a stylised M4A1 RIII logo at the rear. The dust cover, found on the right side, also features DD markings and is constructed from high-density polymer to match modern weight-reduced dust covers found on high-end rifles.

The charging handle is located at the top rear of the receiver, and as we might expect, is a licensed Daniel Defense design. Known as the "Grip-N-Rip", the charging handle is ambidextrous, with enlarged latches on either side allowing for flawless functionality whether you wear gloves or not.

Pulling the charging handle back will pop open the dust cover and reveal the mock bolt carrier with its DD trademarks. The mock bolt carrier will also lock to the rear, allowing access to the rotary HOP-up unit. This unit is constructed from alloy for increased strength, allowing you to tune this M4A1 for your chosen ammo weight. Once your adjustment is complete, slap the "ping pong paddle" bolt catch on the left side to send the mock bolt home with a satisfying "clank".

The fire selector switch is located on the left side of the receiver, just above the pistol grip and is a standard M4A1 mil-spec design with a textured surface for optimal traction in wet weather. The selector provides 3 modes of fire; safe, semi-automatic and fully automatic, with a 90-degree throw between each mode, however, other options are programmable using the pre-installed Kestrel Basic ETU.

The magazine release button is over on the right side of the magazine well, a standard M4/AR-15 push button release but compatible with aftermarket ambidextrous alternatives. The button is surrounded by a raised protrusion in the receiver, known as the "magazine release fence" and designed to prevent the mag release from accidentally being pressed as the DD4 RIII MK18 rubs against your gear. Another great aspect of the AR-15 design, the magazine release is easily accessible from a firing grip, making for scorchingly fast reloads as long as you practice!

At the base of the buffer tube is an ambidextrous sling plate sandwiched between the receiver and the castle nut. This plate is constructed from steel to provide the prerequisite strength for use with a single-point sling. A sling point is ideal for a single-point bungee sling but can also be used with a two-point sling with the addition of a rail-mounted front sling point.

Rear of the sling plate, we find the stock of the Daniel Defense M4A1 which is the usual M4/AR-15 format of a 6-position buffer tube with an adjustable sliding stock. The buffer tube is compatible with any M4/AR-15 AEG stock you choose to mount, but the pre-installed stock is pretty effective and stylish, so swapping it may not be necessary!

The stock replicates the real steel Daniel Defense Buttstock, a precisely manufactured stock designed to eliminate lateral wobble and add ergonomic enhancements for a more comfortable shooting experience. The sides of the stock are sloped, similar to a crane stock but feature rubberised pads on the surface for a positively luxurious cheek weld. A QD sling socket is present on either side, ready for QD sling swivels, and the stock also includes conventional "footman loops", aka sling slots for standard rifle slings. The butt plate is also serrated for extra grip and shaped to allow for a high hold and a more intuitive head position when shooting.

The battery compartment is hidden within the stock which is accessible with the butt plate removed. To do so, simply press the rectangular EMG marked section in the centre of the butt plate and it will pop straight off. Inside, you will see a Deans battery connector to which you mount your chosen battery. You can make use of either the buffer tube itself for your battery if you use stick batteries, or the hollowed "cheeks" of the stock if you prefer a crane/nunchuck battery. The Kestrel Basic allows you to use 11.1V batteries, for this rifle we recommend batteries like a 1200mAh stick battery or a 1450mAh nunchuck battery.

On the inside, you will find why this Daniel Defense shoots so well. The CYMA Platinum E-Edition gearbox features some of the best out-of-the-box parts available on the market. Inside you will find a CNC machined steel 13:1 high-speed gearset, Kestrel Basic MOSFET and high-speed motor. The gearbox shell is also reinforced in all the key places for a long lifespan, and inside you will find 8mm ball bearing bushings, a CNC machined aluminium silent piston head and cylinder head set, a polycarbonate piston with a full rack of steel teeth and a ball bearing quick change spring guide. The inner barrel is also a tightbore 6.02mm example, adding accuracy potential so this M4A1 can tackle long-range threats with ease.

The highlight of this Daniel Defense rifle 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 the SR-16 with SAFE-SEMI-3RND BURST fire controls.

If you want a streamlined AEG, full of the best out-of-the-box internals that are available on the market, the EMG Daniel Defense M4A1 RIII 14.5" Replica AEG; Kestrel Basic ETU should definitely be on your shopping list. This rifle looks as good as it shoots and with its Daniel Defence furniture we can assure you, it looks really really good.

Features

• Full metal construction
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• Kestrel Basic Pre-installed - Improves trigger response, rate of fire and programmable fire modes
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Daniel Defense RIS III 9.5" M-LOK handguard - M-LOK slots at 3, 6, & 9 o'clock, 20mm up top
• Additional M-LOK slots at the offset handguard positions - More accessory space, ideal for flashlights
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or scope, plenty of rail despite the short length
• Flip-up aperture iron sights pre-installed - Fully adjustable for windage and elevation
• Gorgeous Daniel Defense trademarks engraved on the receiver - Includes .300BLK calibre markings
• Ergonomic Daniel Defense "Tornado®" pistol grip - Comfortable design with rubberised backstrap for extra grip
• Ambidextrous DD "Grip-N-Rip®" charging handle - Easy HOP-up access for left or right-handed shooters
• Alloy rotary HOP-up unit - Accessible with the charging handle pulled, alloy for extra strength
• Daniel Defense marked polymer dust cover - Ultra-modern dust cover design with DD markings
• 3 Position M4/AR-15 fire selector - SAFE - SEMI - AUTO with a 90-degree throw between each mode
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock to suit your body type and loadout
• Daniel Defense DD Buttstock - Modern stock with rubberised cheek pieces and QD sling sockets
• Rear wired: Deans/T-Plug battery connector - Recommended battery: 11.1V 1200mAh LiPo stick or 1450mAh nunchuck battery
• CYMA Platinum E-Edition version 2 gearbox:
  • CNC Steel 13:1 high-speed gearset
  • Polycarbonate piston with full steel tooth rack
  • 8mm Ball bearing bushings
  • CNC Aluminium silent ball bearing piston head
  • CNC Aluminium silent double O-ring cylinder head
  • Quick change ball bearing spring guide
  • High-speed Neodymium magnet motor
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET functions:
  • Low/high voltage cutoff
  • Low battery warning
  • Binary Trigger
  • 3-Round burst
  • Adjustable pre-cocking
• Kestrel Basic MOSFET/ETU programming instructions are available here
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - EMG 230rnd Daniel Defense Mags are ideal!
• OEM: CYMA Platinum

Package Includes

• EMG Daniel Defense DD4™ MK18 RIII 10.3" AEG
• 230rnd Daniel Defense Mid-cap magazine
• Speedloader
• Allen key