Delta Armory DA-A18-EGL ALPHA™ TALOS 3 PDW M4/AR-15 AEG

If you're looking for a light and tight AR with full metal construction ideal for CQB, the Delta Armory DA-A18-EGL ALPHA™ TALOS 3 PDW M4/AR-15 AEG is exactly that. This ultra-compact PDW was made for duking it out at kissing distance but is equally an asset to an outdoor skirmisher who moves fast or a sniper seeking a more potent back-up platform than the usual GBB pistol. 

Inside, the TALOS 3 is generously equipped, boasting the EAGLE™ MOSFET/ETU allows for the fire controls to be programmed for burst modes of various duration, binary trigger, sniper delay, semi-auto only, AUG mode, pre-cocking, trigger sensitivity and active braking of the AEG, giving you loads of built-in customisation options with no need for aftermarket programmers, apps or other complications. To make matters even sweeter, this little monster has a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel fitted and paired with a rotary HOP-up unit, giving the TALOS 3 far better long-range performance than its size would suggest!

Starting at the front of the platform, you can find a pre-installed SLR-style compensator, serving as a sound amplifier in Airsoft terms. The sound amp really makes the TALOS 3 pop, and by pop we mean boom! While the sound amp looks fantastic and really suits the compact nature of the platform, the 14mm CCW male barrel threading means you can add a tracer or suppressor if the mission requires it. It goes without saying, a tracer unit would be well suited to this CQB optimised build!

Moving rearwards, you will find the M-LOK handguard which is made from aluminium using CNC machining, guaranteeing that the attachment slots and rails are in flawless form. The handguard is also equipped with attractive angular vent ports between the M-LOK slots and a QD sling socket on each side, ready for QD sling swivels. The M-LOK slots are present at the 3, 6 & 9 o'clock positions with a 20mm Picatinny rail up top equipped with the included flip-up aperture iron sights. The benefit of a modern M-LOK handguard is that in its slick configuration, the handguard is lightweight and surprisingly ergonomic, meaning you don't need to add rail covers to avoid the discomfort as you might with a 20mm quad rail. 

The receiver of Delta Armory's TALOS 3 is a sleek design, complete with machined-gripping texture on the front of the magazine well, ideal for shooting from unconventional positions and angular surfaces across the receiver, giving the old '60s AR design a 21st-century facelift. The trigger guard is also enlarged and built into the receiver, improving strength and keeping up with the trends in the latest high-end real steel AR-15 rifles. Being an AEG of the ALPHA™ line, this receiver is constructed from alloy, matching the metal-to-polymer proportions of the real AR-15!

The fire selector is positioned just above the pistol grip and offers 3 modes of fire; SAFE, SEMI and AUTO but, with the EAGLE™ MOSFET/ETU, the TALOS 3 is not limited to just these modes! The fire selector has a 90-degree throw between each mode, making it easy to switch, but not so easy that it can be knocked out of position accidentally. The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is accessible for a right-handed user with the tip of the trigger finger.

At the top rear of the receiver, you will find the charging handle, an extended design intended to provide easy access to gloved users. Pulling back on this will open the dust cover and retract the mock bolt carrier to allow 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 mock bolt catch is situated in the centre of the left side of the receiver, and while this is a dummy control which doesn't have a function, it is still a separate part to maintain the realism and iconic appearance as well as avoid the tell-tale signs of being a replica. The dummy forward assist is present on the right side of the upper receiver, matching the real-life models this platform is replicating. This control does nothing on an AEG, and some real AR users would argue it does nothing on the real thing either, but it is included on the DA-A18-EGL to keep the rifle faithful to real M4/AR-15 rifles.

The pistol grip of the TALOS 3 boasts a refined grip angle for greater comfort when shooting with the stock fully collapsed and in more modern shooting stances. Each flank of the pistol grip includes fine crackle texturing, with additional linear texture on the front and back straps for perfect wet weather handling. The trigger is a "flat" trigger with a short finger ledge and textured front, making it ideal for pumping out rapid semi-automatic shots in CQB. 

Next up, we come to the stock of the TALOS 3 which is a super compact sliding PDW style stock, a far more compact alternative to the standard AR buffer tube. On the base of the stock, we can find a QD sling socket which can be used with a QD sling swivel to mount a single point sling to the TALOS 3, or a two-point sling if you make use of the front QD sockets on the handguard. 

The stock itself is a minimalist PDW-style stock which can be compressed to an ultra-short length for CQB use or for transportation in smaller gun cases. The butt plate of the stock includes linear texture moulded into its design to ensure the stock stays solidly in your shoulder and also has textured panels on the top and at either side to provide a comfortable cheek weld. The PDW stock pairs perfectly with the ergonomic pistol grip with its refined grip angle which is optimised for stocks with a short length of pull and compressed shooting up close. 

The buffer tube of the PDW stock sits beneath the butt plate when the stock is collapsed and doubles as the battery compartment of the TALOS 3. To access the battery compartment, we will first need to extend the stock, then unscrew the buffer tube with a counterclockwise turn. With this done we are presented with a Deans battery connector, a nice modern touch from Delta Armory to maximise the electrical efficiency and allow for a higher rate of fire. The battery compartment is designed for PDW-style stick batteries, and we recommend a 7.4V 600mAh LiPo battery for the best fit. If you have a full-day skirmish planned we recommend keeping a spare battery in the kit bag just in case!

On the inside, we are treated to some decent pre-upgraded parts designed for long-term reliability. The gearbox shell is reinforced to cope with stronger springs and the spring guide is a quick change example making power tuning a breeze. Inside the version 2 gearbox, we have an SHS piston with a full rack of steel teeth and an SHS tappet plate to guarantee reliable feeding. The gearset is constructed from steel with an 18:1 ratio, and the gears themselves run on 7mm bushings for a smoother, unlaboured gearbox report. 

This results in an incredible trigger response and rate of fire, with more than enough range to compete with the big boys out in the woodland skirmishes. The party trick of the TALOS 3 is its EAGLE™ MOSFET/ETU, giving it the ability to program the fire controls for burst modes of various duration, binary trigger, sniper delay, semi-auto only, AUG mode, pre-cocking, trigger sensitivity and active braking, giving this incredibly cost-effective setup some functions usually reserved for platforms twice the price!

Whether you're a CQB specialist or a fast-moving woodland warrior, the Delta Armory TALOS 3 will be your new favourite primary! Outfitted externally for agility and internally for whatever role you place it in, the DA-A18-EGL ALPHA™ TALOS 3 PDW M4/AR-15 AEG has the trigger response to keep heads down in CQB and the advanced functionality and tightbore barrel to make the enemy team pay in an outdoor environment!

Features

• Full metal construction - Realistically hefty
• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential 
• SLR-Style sound amp pre-installed - Looks great and sounds menacing
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Flip-up iron sights pre-installed - Mounted to the top rail, press textured buttons to flip up
• M-LOK handguard - Compatible with M-LOK accessories at 3, 6 & 9 o'clock
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or rifle scope
• Unique receiver design - Angular surfaces, gripping texture on the front of the magazine well
• Enlarged trigger guard - Easy access for both gloved and ungloved shooters
• Ergonomic pistol grip with reduced grip angle - Great for modern shooting stances
• Extended charging handle latch - Easy access to the HOP-up unit for adjustment
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Easy to adjust in fine increments, holds its setting well long-term 
• 5-Position PDW stock - Super compact, ideal for CQB and storing in small gun bags
• Low-profile Crane style stock - QD sling point in each side, buffer tube battery compartment 
• Rear wired - Deans/T-Plug connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 600mAh LiPo in Stick config.
• Reinforced version 2 gearbox:
  • SHS Tappet plate
  • Quick change spring guide
  • Steel 18:1 gearset
  • 7mm Bushings
  • EAGLE™ Programmable MOSFET/ETU
  • SHS Piston with steel full tooth rack
• EAGLE™ Programmable MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • 3 or 5 Round burst mode
  • Binary trigger
  • Semi-automatic only
  • Sniper delay
  • AUG Mode
  • Active braking
  • Pre-cocking
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares available

Package Includes

• Delta Armory DA-A18-EGL ALPHA™ TALOS 3 PDW M4/AR-15 AEG
• 120rnd Mid-cap magazine