OUR ALL.

When rounding out the top-end of our catalogue of small frame rifles, we wanted to ensure that the buck stopped at our best. The CRANE™ A3 is the culmination of years of effort in development, testing, and evaluation to bring you an offering that hangs with the industry's cream of the crop duty-grade carbines. With a precision chrome-lined barrel, hard chrome plated BCG, our new M4P™ series of rails, a set of truly ambidextrous controls, and our signature 2-step coating applique, you will be hard-pressed to buy or build a rifle that packs more value and performance into a single package.

 

UPPER RECEIVER

The beating heart of your rifle is the upper receiver. As with all our rifles, the CRANE™ A3 starts with a forged 7075-T6 MIL-spec receiver with M4 feed ramps and a thermal fit barrel seat. For detailed information on our M4 receiver, click here.

The barrel in the CRANE™ A3 comes from our trusted partners at Criterion. For over a decade, they have been the standard bearer for the industry in precision chrome-lined barrels. You have the choice between their wildly popular CORE profile, which features a dramatic increase in material toward the chamber nearest the shooter that tapers to a lighter-weight front end OR the more traditional Hybrid profile that spreads the material more evenly across the length of the barrel. While these are certainly a premium performer, they do tend to have a bit of a wait to get and are often the determining factor on lead time for our CRANE™ builds. Visit Criterion's site by clicking the links above for their estimated lead times on each profile in the 14.5" length.

Just like the rest of our lineup, the CRANE™ A3 is built from the ground up for implementation with a suppressor. The gas port is drilled to 0.075”, which delivers a 50/50 tuning out of the box with the intermediate buffer system in the lower receiver. Despite the increasing ubiquity of suppressors on the civilian market, many manufacturers have refused to update their specifications and still hog out gas ports to as large as 0.085”. An oversized gas port significantly increases backpressure in the system, which accelerates component wear, dumps more harmful chemicals and heavy metals into the operator’s face, and can cause functional issues by dramatically increasing carrier velocity. The solution to these problems is to simply drill the hole smaller, which we did. The mid-length gas system is driven by a fixed-gas, low-profile block that is installed with knurled set screws and pinned in place so it will not shift or move without explicit command by an armorer.

Driving the action is our tried-and-true M4P™ Bolt Carrier Group (BCG). This assembly starts with a full-mass, heat-treated 8620 carrier with a MIL-spec 4130 gas key that is sealed with high-temp gasket compound and secured in place with staked Grade-8 OCKS fasteners from Michiguns. The bolt head is machined from time-honored, MIL-spec Carpenter No. 158 alloy, precision ground, and High-Pressure Tested (HP) and Magnetic Particle Inspected (MP). Each bolt head is also individually marked with a unique QC number that ties it to the barrel with which it is paired. The cold-drawn, 4130 extractor is shot-peened for durability and comes standard with a Sprinco® XP-5 5-coil spring. Likewise, the S7 tool steel ejector is driven by a Sprinco® enhanced ejector spring. These springs are cryogenically relieved and Moly-coated for a stupendously long service life of 25,000 rounds or more. In other words, this set of springs will outlast any of the other wear components within the assembly. Lastly, the firing pin is machined from 8740 alloy, shot-peened for durability, and chrome-plated for corrosion resistance. The hard-chrome plating on the carrier, bolt head, and gas key all work in tandem with the Duragray DFL coating on the upper receiver and body of the Radian™ Raptor™ charging handle for smooth function in dry and/or abrasive conditions.

Rounding out the upper receiver assembly is our new M4P™ rail system in either the Mk1 (M-LOK®) or Mk2 (QRM™, Quad Rail/M-LOK® Hybrid) flavor. Unlike most modern free-float rail designs on the market today, it does not rely on a complex, heavy clamping mechanism or anti-rotation tabs to hold it in place. Instead, it uses a timed barrel nut with countersunk fasteners that bolt directly into the nut so there is no possibility for the rail to shift or rotate. For more details on each rail variant, click here for our full breakdown in the knowledge base.

 

LOWER RECEIVER

The bottom half of the assembly is built on our new Gen 3 GLC™ lower receiver. In most regards, it is a high-quality forged MIL-spec receiver with the notable exception of a modern ambidextrous bolt catch and release mechanism and an widened magazine well flare. On the outside is a GI-style 90-degree ambidextrous selector that delivers smooth, positive engagement and maintains reliable option in the “FIRE” position and predictable safety in the “SAFE” position. The CRANE™ A3 is configurable by you to have a set of Magpul®, B5 Systems, or BCM® GUNFIGHTER™ furniture out of the box.

The CRANE™ A3 comes standard with our Two-Stage Match fire control group. Utilizing full-power springs, it delivers a significant improvement to the trigger pull when compared to a USGI FCG without compromising reliable primer ignition. The 2-lbs take-up stage leads into a consistent and clean wall that gives way to a 2.5-lbs break. For those with discerning tastes, the complete rifle is also available with a variety of Geissele® FCGs.

On the back end is a 9-position, intermediate-length receiver extension machined from impact extruded 7075-T6 Aluminum. Like the receiver set, it is coated inside and out in the Duragray DFL applique. The extension is torqued down to TDP-spec 40 lbs-ft and secured in place with a double-staked QD endplate. Inside the buffer tube is an A5H1 buffer assembly paired with a Sprinco® Green rifle buffer spring. In combination with the mid-length gas system, this buffer system delivers a smooth recoil impulse and improved timing for feeding from the magazine.

The whole rifle comes in your choice from our CRANE™ exclusive colorations: JUST BLACK (Black receiver set, extension, rail, and charging handle latches), BADLANDS (FDE receiver set/extension, medium brown rail/CH latches), PONDWATER (Medium brown receiver set/extension, OD Green rail/CH latches), SHALE (Gray receiver set/extension, FDE rail/CH latches), and SLATE (Gray receiver set/extension, black rail/CH latches). All finish options feature our exclusive two-step application with a super durable DFL coating on the interior working surfaces (receiver set, charging handle body, and buffer tube) with your chosen cosmetic coloration on the exterior. This process makes the action almost frictionless and keeps things running smoothly even when debris is introduced.

 

WARRANTY

As with all our firearms, every component is inspected and assembled by procedure before the complete firearm is test fired with live ammunition. It is our guarantee that they walk as well as they talk. So, should you encounter any issues arising from component selection or assembly error, we will fix it under the provisions of our FYS Limited Lifetime Guarantee. The upper receiver, barrel, and bolt head are all individually engraved with matching numbers stored internally as a part of the QC during assembly for reference should you need work done on your rifle down the line.

 

WHAT’S INCLUDED

(1) CRANE™ A3

(1) Cable chamber lock

(1) Chamber flag

 

REGULATION DISCLAIMER:

Federal regulation stipulates that you must be 18 years of age to purchase a long gun. Check your local jurisdiction for any additional regulations or limitations.