Delta Armory DA-C03 CHARLIE™ M4A1 RAS AEG

If you like the "Standard Issue" look, you will love the DA-C03 CHARLIE™! This M4A1 replica from Delta Armory is styled after the original M4A1 rifle issued to the US Army starting in 1994, complete with a KAC style RAS quad rail handguard and fixed front sight post with bayonet lug. Not content with simply replicating the US Army issue M4, Delta Armory has added an ergonomic gunfighter-style pistol grip, enhanced receiver and Delta Armory battery stock to the mix to add some extra functionality and improve handling.

Being an AEG of the Delta Armory CHARLIE™ range, the DA-C03 has more than its fair share of pre-upgraded internal parts. Inside, you will find a 6.03mm tightbore barrel and rotary HOP-up unit, along with a pre-upgraded gearbox featuring an SHS tappet plate and piston, 7mm bushings and a quick change spring guide for easy power tuning. This makes the DA-C03 a fantastic, affordable base gun for a custom build and a respectable skirmish primary for both indoor and outdoor skirmishing. If you like the iconic silhouette of the original M4, here it is made even better!

Starting at the front, we can see a birdcage flash hider mounted to the 14mm CCW male threading at the tip of the alloy outer barrel. This means the DA-C03 is ready to be kitted out with a tracer unit or suppressor, or an alternative muzzle device for a more customised look. If you like the classic aesthetic, leave the birdcage where it is as this is the flash hider issued with the original M4A1, though if you are going for a SOPMOD Block 1 look, add this suppressor if you are going silent!

The outer barrel is 14.5 inches in length and follows the M4A1 barrel profile, complete with thicker sections designed to improve accuracy and resist heat in the real deal, and the M203 cutout which allows an M203 Grenade Launcher to be mounted. A 203 looks fantastic on this style of M4, but make sure you are ready for how much the setup will weigh!

Next up, we come to the M4A1 style triangular front sight post, which houses the front sight and mock bayonet lug. The bayonet lug is compatible with Airsoft M16 rubber bayonets (sometimes known as the M9 bayonet) but do make sure you check with your local site's staff before fixing bayonets when skirmishing, even rubber ones! The front sight itself is adjustable for elevation using an M4/AR-15 front sight adjustment tool, and for less precise work up close it can be used as an index point for rapid aiming when there is no time to align the sights.

Mounted to the bottom of the front sight assembly we have our first sling point, which is a standard alloy footman loop compatible with a wide variety of sling types. This can be paired with any of the 3 rear sling mounting options to fit a two-point rifle sling to take the burden off your arms or allow for easy transitions to a sidearm. The perk of a relatively old-school design is that all the sling points are built in, meaning no extra adapters are needed!

Following the front sight, we come to the handguard assembly which is constructed from a combination of alloy, steel and high density polymer. The KAC RAS style handguards themselves are polymer and are equipped with 20mm Picatinny rails at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock, ready for your mission essential kit to be mounted. The handguards are held in place using a steel handguard cap at the front, and an alloy delta ring at the rear. The handguards are made in two parts, allowing you to remove the lower handguard and mount an M203 launcher to the barrel for some extra firepower.

The modularity of the M4 platform is easily its best feature, and it is no surprise that it gained the nickname "Barbie for men" following its "SOPMOD Block 1" upgrade. This modularity also extends to exchanging external parts, and with an M4/AR-15 armourers' wrench, you can change the entire front set of the DA-C03 and make it look like practically any M4/AR-15 variant out there. Even if you don't have an armourers' wrench, the delta ring front end is compatible with any 7-inch drop-in rail system or handguard set for delta rings, so if you want to change up the looks of your DA-C03 you'll be happy to learn that it can be done without a single tool!

Moving rearward we reach the receiver, which is a familiar M4/AR-15 layout but styled to match modern AR-15 billet receivers. The receiver is constructed from high density polymer with a matt black finish and features a built-in enlarged trigger guard for improved strength and easy access to the trigger. The front of the magazine well is equipped with gripping grooves to allow it to be used as a makeshift grip when shooting from unconventional positions and the receiver surfaces are angular and modern, matching the most recent real-world M4/AR-15 pattern rifles.

The fire selector is located on the left side of the AEG and sits directly above the pistol grip to provide fast and easy access for right-handed shooters. The fire selector has a 90-degree throw between modes, making it quick to operate but not too easy to accidentally knock it and end up in the wrong fire mode. Each fire mode is indicated with recessed bullet pictograms, with a crossed-out projectile denoting the safe mode, a single projectile for semi-auto and multiple projectiles for full auto.

At the centre of the left side of the receiver, we can find a dummy bolt release catch which doesn't have a function in an Airsoft AEG but is included to keep the externals looking realistic. The bolt release is a separate part which is a nice touch to avoid the tell-tale signs that this is an Airsoft gun and not the real deal. Over on the right side of the receiver, we can see what is known as the forward assist button, located on the upper receiver behind the mock shell deflector. This button also has no function but serves to force the real M4/AR-15 bolt carrier into battery if it fails to close due to dirt ingress. The button can be pressed and is a separate part, showing that Delta Armory wants us to have the realistic looks we deserve!

The magazine release is on the right side of the magazine well and is ideally positioned to be pressed with the trigger finger from a firing grip for right-handed users. Left-handed users can use their support hand thumb to press the release, and this can be done quite fast with a little practice. The surface of the mag release is textured to provide the necessary gripping qualities, and is protected from accidental presses by the "magwell fence", a raised protrusion in the receiver which stops the mag release from catching on your gear as you move.

The adjustable HOP-up unit is located inside the mock ejection port over on the right side of the upper receiver. This device allows you to adjust the amount of backspin applied to your BBs and tune the DA-C03 for your ammo weight of choice, looking for the flattest possible trajectory. The Rotary HOP-up adjuster can be accessed by holding the charging handle back, after which the dust cover will spring open and the mock bolt plate will retract. The rotary HOP-up design is known as the latest and greatest for M4 AEGs, and it is always nice to see up-to-date internal parts, even in reasonably priced platforms like this.

The pistol grip of the DA-C03 boasts a refined grip angle for greater comfort when shooting with the stock fully collapsed and in more modern shooting stances. Based on the real steel "Gunfighter mod.3" grip, a modern ergonomic design, each flank of the pistol grip includes fine texturing for perfect wet weather handling. The trigger is known by Delta Armory as the CNC Type A Flat trigger, offering a flat serrated front surface with a short finger ledge, ideal for rapid double taps and fitting in perfectly with the modernised receiver design.

At the rear of the receiver, we come to the steel CQD style sling plate, which offers ambidextrous functionality with single-point slings; perfect for left or right-handed shooters. The steel construction of the sling plate practically guarantees no matter what you choose to mount to the DA-C03 M4A1, the sling plate can handle the weight.

Following the receiver, we reach the AR buffer tube, which is a common part found on the vast majority of M4/AR15 AEGs. This buffer tube is constructed from the same tough high density polymer as the receiver and provides 6 positions of adjustment, enough to suit any body type or loadout. The buffer tube system allows you to swap your stock out for any aftermarket M4/AR-15 stock simply and quickly, so if you get tired of the looks of the DA-C03 in the future, swapping out the stock can freshen 'er up!

Not that you would want to swap the stock, as we are treated to the superb Delta Armory battery stock at the rear, one of the best modern Airsoft stocks out there. Some may recognise it from Krytac's Trident range, but this stock was actually designed by Delta and supplied to Krytac, so what you are seeing here is the original! The stock is constructed from high-density polymer throughout, with a steel adjustment pin to eliminate wobble and steel QD sling sockets on either side. The stock is a "club foot" style design with a low profile adjustment lever to reduce the possibility of snagging the stock on your equipment.

Accessing the battery compartment is super simple compared to other stocks; simply press the two textured tabs at the toe of the stock and the butt plate will pop off, revealing the battery compartment and the mini-Tamiya battery connector inside. We recommend a 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in crane/nunchuck configuration for an easy fit but there is potentially room for more, though make sure you don't squash your LiPo cells!

Also present on the stock is a sling slot for more traditional rifle sling setups and a raised cheek pad comprised of slightly smoother polymer than the rest of the stock for improved comfort. The butt plate is rubberized and is textured for optimum grip; ensuring that the stock stays firmly in your shoulder when shooting. The Delta Armory logo can be found embossed on the left side in bold lettering, allowing you to show off your brand allegiance!

On the inside, we are treated to some decent pre-upgraded parts, even in this CHARLIE™ line platform. 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.

To provide the accuracy needed to deal with long range foes, the DA-C03 is equipped with a 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel paired with a rotary HOP-up unit, offering higher FPS with the same spring and finer HOP-up adjustment increments so you can get your HOP-up set perfectly for your chosen ammo weight. The rotary unit also holds its setting far better than the legacy gear-style HOP-up unit, meaning once your HOP-up is set you won't need to touch it again for quite some time.

If you're into the US Army issue M4, the Delta Armory DA-C03 CHARLIE™ M4A1 RAS AEG has the same overall format with improved handling thanks to its updated pistol grip, receiver and Delta Armory stock. With upgraded internals straight out of the box at an unbeatable price, this is the ideal starter platform for those interested in Milsim!

Features

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential 
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Fixed front iron sight with bayonet lug - Compatible with M9 Bayonet replicas
• Front and rear sling points - Front on the gas block, rear on the stock 
• KAC RAS Style handguards - 20mm Picatinny rails at 3, 6, 9 & 12 o'clock
• Extended charging handle latch - Easy access to the HOP-up unit for adjustment
• Removable carry handle with ghost ring rear iron sight - Convenient but can be removed
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for a red dot sight or rifle scope
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - Easy to adjust in fine increments, holds its setting well long-term 
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock to suit your body type perfectly
• Delta Armory battery stock - Plenty of space for nunchuck batteries, QD sling sockets on each side
• Ambidextrous sling plate - Mount a single-point sling on the left or right side
• Ergonomic pistol grip with reduced grip angle - Great for modern shooting stances, very comfy
• Reinforced version 2 gearbox - 
  • SHS Piston with steel full tooth rack
  • SHS Tappet plate
  • Quick change spring guide
  • Steel 18:1 gearset
  • 7mm Bushings
• Rear wired - Mini-Tamiya connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1300mAh LiPo in Crane/Nunchuck config.
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - Plenty of spares available

Package Includes

• Delta Armory DA-C03 CHARLIE™ M4A1 RAS AEG
• 120rnd Mid-capacity magazine