Specna Arms SA-C05 CORE™ HAL¹ ETU™ M4/AR-15 AEG

If you're looking for a sneaky CQB platform, the Specna Arms SA-C05 CORE™ HAL¹ ETU™ M4/AR-15 AEG is one to watch. Constructed to Specna's CORE standard, the SA-C05 boasts a CNC aluminium handguard and alloy outer barrel paired with a high density polymer receiver, buffer tube, stock and pistol grip, giving you a great combination of realism and ease of use. As with the original CORE series, the polymer quality is top-notch, more scratch-resistant than comparable metal receivers and ultra-light for high energy throughout the skirmish day. 

Inside this, the latest SA-C05 variant, we are treated to the HAL ETU/MOSFET, a lovely addition for no extra cost! The HAL¹ ETU offers binary trigger, AUG mode and sniper delay instead of semi-auto and semi-auto lock, 3-round burst or 5-round burst instead of full auto, along with several quality-of-life improvements and most importantly for CQB, adjustable pre-cocking! Pre-cocking positions the piston at the rear of its cycle after a shot, meaning when you pull the trigger the response is practically instantaneous, ideal for semi-auto duels in the close confines of a CQB site. 

A considerable improvement over the original SA-C05, the HAL¹ ETU adds a lot of functionality to this compact and lightweight player-friendly platform. With no more trigger lock-ups when shooting semi-auto, plenty of fire mode options and the pre-installed 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel and rotary HOP-up combo which made the original SA-C05 CORE such a solid choice, the new version is hard to beat!

Starting at the front, we can see the integral suppressor poking out of the CNC aluminium quad-railed handguard, giving the SA-C05 a honey badger-style vibe, ideal for stealthy skirmishers. The suppressor is made from aluminium and conceals an extended 6.03mm tightbore inner barrel beneath, giving you above-average accuracy potential and a slight increase in FPS thanks to air efficiency improvements. 

The stealthy look comes at the small cost that you'll need a barrel extension to mount a tracer unit due to the extended inner barrel but these are easy to source thanks to the outer barrel's common 14mm CCW male threading. The handguard itself is constructed from CNC machined aluminium, guaranteeing a flawless form and precise, in-spec attachment interfaces. 20mm Picatinny rails are present at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions, ready for your choice of 20mm rail-compatible accessories including grips, lasers, flashlights and more!

Next up we reach the receiver, which is of a standard and instantly recognizable M4/AR-15 configuration with controls laid out in a considerate and ergonomic manner, allowing the SA-C05 to be manipulated quickly and instinctively, even by new users. 

The fire selector lever can be found just above the pistol grip, on the left side of the AEG, providing 3 modes of fire, SAFE, SEMI, and AUTO, with a 90-degree throw between each. The fire modes are helpfully marked in bold recessed text on the receiver and the selector switch locks positively into each mode with the help of texture on its surface to guarantee you have a good grip on this important control. 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 or by a lefty using the off-hand thumb.

Pulling back the charging handle, located at the top rear of the receiver 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 charging handle has an extended latch for easier access, allowing even those with thick gloves to access the HOP-up unit, though you may need to take off a glove to turn the adjuster!

The bolt catch, over on the left side of the receiver does not function but is nonetheless a separate part, avoiding a moulded-in bolt catch, a tell-tale sign of a replica. The forward assist is a similar story, being present on the right side of the upper receiver and being a separate moving part which can be pressed in but does not affect the function of the AEG. A new addition to this HAL-equipped SA-C05 is its flat trigger, enhancing the aesthetic with a touch of modernity and providing an easily slappable trigger for snappy double taps in semi-auto. 

The pistol grip of the SA-C05 is an M16A2/M4A1 style pistol grip, also known as the "A2" finger ridged grip. The A2 has diamond checkering on either side and linear texture on the back strap to provide excellent gripping qualities whether you wear gloves or not. The finger ridge is designed to help you keep hold of the rifle and prevent the grip from slipping out of your hands when held in a single hand. As with most M4/AR-15 AEGs, this grip is compatible with aftermarket M4/AR-15 AEG grips, ideal for customisation addicts!

At the rear of the receiver, we come to the venerable M4/AR-15 buffer tube, constructed from strong high density polymer and offering 6 length-of-pull adjustment positions for the crane stock. To adjust the stock, simply press the adjustment lever on the bottom and slide it into your position of choice. This allows body armour users to adjust for a comfortable stance and suits shooters of all body types. If you ever feel like changing up the looks of your SA-C05, you'll be happy to learn the buffer tube accepts almost all M4/AR-15 AEG sliding stocks!

The battery compartment is inside the crane stock, accessible by squeezing the two tabs at the toe of the stock together, after which you can lift the butt plate off, remove the battery plug and make use of the stock's built-in battery compartment to house a nunchuck/crane-style battery. Being equipped with the HAL ETU, we are also treated to a Deans/t-plug battery connector, a lower resistance alternative to the mini-Tamiya found on previous Specna Arms CORE AEGs. For the SA-C05, we recommend a 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo crane/nunchuck battery for an easy fit and great performance.

The Crane stock also includes a pair of QD sling sockets, one on each side, allowing for QD sling swivels to be added for a quick removable sling setup. Conventional sling slots (aka "footman loops") are also present for those who want a two-point sling but prefer the old-fashioned way. The butt plate is also made from grippy rubber, ensuring your SA-C05 doesn't slip off your shoulder at a critical moment. 

Inside the HAL¹ equipped SA-C05, we have an alloy V2 gearbox shell with 18:1 ratio steel gears running on 8mm bushings. The spring guide is an ESA quick change example, making power tuning a breeze for those who want to get as close to site limits as possible. The inner barrel is a 6.03mm tightbore paired with a rotary HOP-up unit, giving you superb accuracy potential and the most up-to-date HOP-up unit style for M4/AR-15 AEGs. All internal parts are Tokyo Marui AEG spec, meaning aftermarket upgrades are a go for the performance seekers!

The HAL¹ adds a whole lot of functionality into the mix, with programmable fire controls, 6 levels of pre-cocking adjustment and 5 levels of trigger sensitivity adjustment. Available fire modes include 3 or 5-round burst, binary trigger, AUG mode aka two-stage trigger, semi-auto only and sniper delay, giving you loads of options for how you use your SA-C05. Features like these are usually only present in high-end replicas; we simply cannot believe the wealth of functionality inside the HAL¹ equipped SA-C05, especially considering the price!

If you're looking for an affordable starter platform with advanced functionality, the Specna Arms SA-C05 CORE™ HAL¹ ETU™ M4/AR-15 AEG is a great call. Packing more tech inside than ever before with the same thoughtful pre-upgraded parts as the original, the SA-C05 is ideal for new skirmishers or pros seeking the sneaky aesthetic!

Features

• 6.03mm Tightbore inner barrel - Great accuracy potential
• High-density polymer with CNC Aluminium handguard 
• Suppressor pre-installed - Sneaky styling!
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Barrel extension required for tracer units
• Quad 20mm Picatinny railed handguard - Ready for 20mm Picatinny accessories
• Flip-up aperture iron sights pre-installed - Adjustable for windage and elevation, 2 apertures to choose from
• 20mm Picatinny railed receiver - Ready for red dot sights, PEQ lasers or scopes to be mounted
• Rotary adjustable HOP-up unit - The latest M4/AR-15 design, holds its setting well and allows for fine adjustment
• Finger ridged "A2" pistol grip - Comfortable for most hand sizes, textured for extra traction
• Flat milspec trigger guard - Matches real US Army issued M4A1 rifles
• 3-Position fire selector switch - SAFE, SEMI AUTO & FULL AUTO, 90-degree throw between each mode
• Extended charging handle - Fast access to the HOP-up unit for quick mid-game adjustment
• Functional mock bolt catch - Send the mock bolt home after HOP-up adjustment by hitting the bolt catch
• 6-Position M4/AR-15 buffer tube - Adjust the stock quickly and easily to suit your body type or loadout
• Crane stock pre-installed - Plenty of battery space, QD sling sockets built-in
• Version 2 Gearbox:
  • Alloy shell
  • 8mm bushings
  • ESA quick change spring system
  • Steel 18:1 ratio gearset
• HAL¹ Programmable MOSFET/ETU functions:
  • 3 or 5-round burst
  • Binary trigger
  • Semi-auto only
  • Sniper delay
  • Two-stage trigger (AUG mode)
  • Adjustable pre-cocking (6 levels)
  • Active braking 
  • Low voltage alarm
• HAL¹ Programming instructions available here
• Rear wired: Deans battery connector - Recommended battery: 7.4V 1450mAh LiPo in crane/nunchuck config.
• Compatible with M4/AR-15 AEG magazines - S-Mag High-cap | S-Mag Mid-cap | S-Mag Mid-cap 5 Pack

Package Includes

• Specna Arms SA-C05 CORE™ HAL¹ ETU™ M4/AR-15 AEG
• 380rnd S-Mag M4/AR-15 High-cap magazine
• Cleaning rod