Issue 07 - Mar 2012 by Airsoft Action

ACTION

THE Airsoft Magazine

WIN

LIMITED ED

G&P/MAG ION PUL

M4 MOE CQB

EXCLUSIVE FIRST UK REVIEW SECTION 8 REVIEW

SKILLS ROOM

SOCOM CHEYTAC M200

Baz Collins checks out one of the UK's largest sites

Billy B explains the basics and importance of patrolling

Ratty hefts Socom Gear's awesome Intervention

SWAT urban ❱ So you wanna be a para? ❱ G&G G980 ❱ THe SHOT SHOW report

MARCH 2012 - £4.25

First in depth look at the limited edition M4s from G&P Magpul

March 2012

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ACTION

THE Airsoft Magazine

AIRSOFT ACTION

WIN

LIMITED EDI

TION

G&P/MAGP

CONTENTS

M4 MOE CQB

AIRSOFT ACTION - MARCH 2012

EXCLUSIVE FIRST UK REVIEW

READERS’ GALLERY WE GAVE UP WITH LETTERS – AIRSOFTERS LIKE PICTURES!

KIT BAG CHECK OUT SOME OF THE GOODIES WE’VE GOT ON TEST

AIRSOFT NEWS NEW AIRSOFT STUFF, SHOWS AND EVENTS COMING SOON

SKILLS ROOM LEARN THE ART OF PATROLLING WITH BILLY B

RIFLE REVIEW EXCLUSIVE FIRST REVIEW OF THE LTD ED G&P/MAGPUL M4

BIG BOYZ TOYZ THIS MONTH RATTY LOOKS AT BRITISH MAINSTAY BEDFORD

URBAN 6 AIRSOFT GADGE MAKES THE TRIP TO URBAN 6 FOR OP: CLEAR SKIES

PISTOL REVIEW SOCOM GEAR’S PT 1911: A GBB TRAINING AIDE?

SHOT SHOW ACTION OOOH, SHINY... OUR ROUND-UP FROM SHOT SHOW 2012

COLD WAR WARRIORS SOVIET MOTOR RIFLES OF THE THIRD SHOCK ARMY

RIFLE REVIEW RON M ASKS IF KWC’S MINI UZI LIVES UP TO THE NAME

RIFLE REVIEW G&G’S G980 – SCOTT ALLAN CHECKS OUT THE K98 REPLICA

SECTION 8 ONE OF THE LARGEST SITES IN THE UK, S8 HAS A LOT TO OFFER

PATHFINDER PARAS ROY M EARNS HIS WINGS WITH PATHFINDER PARACHUTE GROUP

MARCH 2012

SECTION 8 REVIEW

SKILLS ROOM

SOCOM CHEYTAC M200

Baz Collins checks out one of the UK's largest sites

Billy B explains the basics and importance of patrolling

Ratty hefts Socom Gear's awesome Intervention

SWAT urban ❱ So you wanna be a para? ❱ G&G G980 ❱ THe SHOT SHOW report

MARCH 2012 - £4.25

First in depth look at the limited edition M4s from G&P Magpul

Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant editor: Anthony Platt Art director: Chris Sweeney Ad design: Ryan Dixon, Steve Dawson Advertising: Hannah Benson Operations director: James Folkard Assistant publisher: Ruth Burgess Editorial director: James Marchington Publisher: Wesley Stanton

Full UK 12-issue subscription rate: £59.40 For overseas prices visit: www.airsoftactionmagazine.com Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street Leamington Spa.Warwickshire. CV32 5SZ Tel: 01926 339808 Fax: 01926 470400 E: info@blazepublishing.co.uk W: www.blazepublishing.co.uk © Blaze Publishing Limited, 2012 Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Blaze Publishing Limited 2012. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publishers in writing. The opinions of the writers do not necessarily reﬂect those of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

RECOGNISE THIS PATTERN? TAKE A NOTE! YOU’LL NEED THE PATTERNS FROM ISSUES 1 - 12 TO ENTER OUR CAMO COMPETITION!

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GEARBOX HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR GEARBOX? MIKE B CAN HELP!

66 68

COMPETITION WIN AN M4 MOE CQB!

73 77 82

RIFLE REVIEW RATTY GETS TO GRIPS WITH SOCOM’S CHEYTAC M200 YOUNG GUNS WHY DO WE PLAY AIRSOFT? SWAT URBAN RON M GEARS UP FOR SOME SERIOUS CQB GAMING GUCCISOFT CHEAP STUFF WORKS – SO WHY BUY EXPENSIVE?

LIPO UPGRADES THE INS-AND-OUTS OF RUNNING BIGGER LIPOS

KIT REVIEW: WEBBING DANNY P CHECKS OUT THREE DIFFERENT PLCE SOLUTIONS

MEDIA REVIEW ALEX WHARTON TRAVERSES GOTHAM CITY IN BATMAN

BOOKSHOP OUR SELECTION OF BOOKS HANDPICKED FOR THE AIRSOFT BOOKWORM

ow – what a month! I’ve had some busy months before but January 2012 is way up there with the busiest! Of course, it was completely dominated by that small gathering of Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Tradespeeps, known as The SHOT Show in Las Vegas which, as you will see from my write-up on page 20, was, well, very large indeed! I was simply staggered at the sheer scale of the Show and just how many exhibitors there were. But something happened at the Show that wasn’t very well reported, something that might just be the tip of a very important iceberg. The Jag Precision/Echo 1 USA booth was shut down and their personnel escorted from the show. Why? Because Cybergun S.A. and FN Herstal had gained temporary restraining orders, alleging Patent Infringement by Jag Precision/Echo 1 USA – the first being filed in Texas on 10 January and the second in Nevada on the opening day of the SHOT Show, 17 January. Extreme indeed but, as it turns out, we could well see the same sort of thing happening here. It is my understanding that at least one UK distributor is looking very closely at companies who are selling copies of their product, after receiving a number of ‘faulty’ items back for repair or replacement – their owners not being aware they had brought copies had sent them in ‘under warranty’. The contention is that if it is illegal to sell copies of other items, then surely the same law must apply to copies of airsoft guns and equipment – unless properly licenced. I am not going to get into the legalities of all this here but just wanted to point out that if you do buy a copy and it goes wrong, don’t expect any help from the official distributor. The old adage “if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is” should be written on your forehead in capital letters – and remember, caveat emptor! Nige

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Letter, idea or question? Got something to say? A question for our experts? Or an article, or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the assistant editor (anthonyp@blazepublishing. co.uk), send us a letter at the Blaze Publishing address on the previous page – or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

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READERS’ GALLERY Send your pics into anthonyp@blazepublishing.co.uk and see yourself in the mag – the more the merrier! in Shak, Taken at Shoot ITCH N Ireland,by M

hly dleton’s hig Paul Mid ised viet Motor o S te a r u c ac ression 1980) imp Infantry (c 4I 50) ght) as i r ( ar (c19 n a W g n o a L e Kor Steve o of the d n a m Com

IR ith M4 S w d r o f s e er Daniel B

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AIRSOFT AIR A AI IIR RSO RSO RS SOFT SOF OFT O FT FT

AIRSOFT NEWS

NEWS NE N E EW W WS S

Airsoft Action will be at this year’s British Shooting Show (25-26 February) alongside BadgerTac, Stirling Airsoft, Edgar Brothers, TLSFx, JD Airsoft, BadgerTac2 and The Grange. A celebration of Britain’s rich shooting culture, the Shooting Show encompasses

all forms of shooting sport in the UK. Airsoft is only a small, albeit growing, part of the show. Visitors will have a chance to try out that airsoft rifle they’ve been eyeing, before shelling out their hard-earned cash. Stirling Airsoft will be running its CQB Tactical Training Area and The Grange returns with an AIPSC course for all comers. Elsewhere you’ll be able to have a go at clay shooting and air rifle shooting, and many of the hundreds of confirmed exhibitors will give you the chance to get up close and personal with all manner of shooting gear. Airsoft Action will run a rather special free-to-enter competition across the

weekend, so be sure to come say hello! Tickets are available for one day or both, starting from £17.50 on the door for adults and £8 for children aged eight to 15 (under-eights free) – but please note anyone aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult. For details visit www.shootingshow.co.uk.

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THE FUTURE OF WARFARE: SELF-GUIDED BULLET A prototype of a self-guided bullet has been demonstrated to be effective up to 2,000 metres. The picture here shows the bullet’s trajectory when fired, with an LED attached to the bullet combined with timelapse photography making it possible to see just how they work. Developed by Sandia National Laboratories the 4in-long .50 bullet is loaded with optical sensor, CPU, actuator and battery. When a laser is used to designate the target the actuators within the bullet ‘steer’ it to follow changes in the target’s direction and speed. It is able to adjust trajectory 30 times per second. Sandia is looking for a partner in order to put it into production.

NEW GAS COMPLIES WITH EU REGULATIONS Abbey Supply Company has developed a new gas – Abbey Predator 144a – to replace the currently-used 134a in line with EU regulation ‘Tokyo Protocol’ which banned 134a gas for use in airsoft. The older 134a gas – now discontinued by Abbey Supply – is used in air conditioning units and vehicles, as well as being used by airsofters, and the EU has declared it a global warming hazard. New regulations insisted a replacement be found, and Abbey Supply Company has met the challenge. The new gas contains no CFCs or HFCs and is environmentally safe. Predator 144a is suitable for use indoors and outdoors in warmer climes. By the time you read this it will be available in 700ml and 270ml aerosols. The 700ml can will retail at around £12. In other Abbey news, the popular Brut Sniper Gas is now available in smaller 270ml aerosol cans. For more details contact Abbey Supply Company: www.abbeysupply.com

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CARNAGE IN THE WOODS Combat Action Games’ annual Carnage event returns this year. Carnage in the Woods 2012 will take place 26-27 May at the Firstwave site in Norwich, and this year it’s set to be bigger than ever. A highly-social event, Carnage involves two teams that must collect items to earn points. With games running 10am-6pm on both Saturday and Sunday, and several other timed and objective-driven missions across the weekend, Carnage represents excellent bang for your buck – book your place before 13 May and it’s just £45 for the weekend (full price £60). With the site open from Friday for the keen to check out the game area, smaller skirmishes on the Saturday night and a social on Sunday (taking advantage of the Bank Holiday Monday) Carnage is the ideal event for teams and individuals alike. Airsoft Action hopes to be there in person to cover the weekend. For more details contact Combat Action Games: 01328 711867, www.combatactiongames.co.uk

AIRSOFT NEWS

AIRSOFT ARMS FAIR 5

The Airsoft Arms Fair has announced that GBB specialist Milspec Solutions will be exhibiting for the first time at the 5th Arms Fair and Tac Gear Show, to be held 19 May. Milspec joins Swindon Airsoft, East Midlands Airsoft, First and Only and Airsoft Direct as confirmed exhibitors. More will follow in the next three months leading up to the show – including us! Returning to a one-day format this time, the Airsoft Arms Fair and Tac Gear Show will take place at The Grange (near Coventry) and sees players, retailers, operators and private sellers come together for a seven-hour festival of airsoft goodness. Expect to see the AIPSC course run by The Grange to make a welcome return and more action to be announced soon. Entry times are staggered with three options available: 10am entry, 11.30am entry and 1pm entry. All tickets cost £9. If you have a valid VCRA defence be sure to contact The Grange in good time so it can be verified. Without doing so you will not be able to purchase RIFs at the event. For more details contact The Arms Fair: 01676 532384, www.airsoftarmsfair.co.uk

WIREPULL BURST SMOKE Enola Gaye has released its newest pyrotechnic smoke grenade, the WirePull BURST. An improved wirepull design, rapid burn rate and huge volume of doublevented smoke make it the ultimate smoke grenade for the skirmish field. The first of five new devices to be launched by the company this year, Enola Gaye’s WirePull BURST was on sale for the first time at the SUPER6 paintball event held 4-5 February. Expect to see them available more widely by the end of February]. For details contact Enola Gaye: 01189 714470, www.enolagaye. com

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G&P/MAGPUL PTS M4 MOE SPECIAL EDITIONS

can hear a load of you groaning already and deep sighs around the UK as you think: “Oh great! More M4s!” Hang on a moment though – there’s more to this than meets the eye. When you get three big businesses in the airsoft community, working together to produce a bit of kit, that’s surely a sign airsoft as a whole is moving in the right direction. In the last issue I reviewed the Beta Project/Magpul PTS Tactical AK (which I was rather taken with). As a collaboration between the twi it worked really well. But perhaps that was just the start of it.

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So who is involved with these two rifles and why are they special? Edgar Brothers has worked closely with G&P and Magpul PTS and commissioned these two editions. With a limited build of just 50 units of each rifle they fall into the brackets of useable airsoft AEGs as well as collectors’ pieces. More than 10 years ago Tokyo Marui launched two special limited edition models: the AK47 Spetsnaz (not the Beta Spetsnaz model) and the MP5A4 Navy. At the time, neither cost much more than other Tokyo Marui AEGs, but after the production run had finished they started going up in value.

The MP5A4 Navy was overshadowed by the AK47 Spetsnaz, the price of which eventually exceeded £500. I am not saying that these two models will do the same – the airsoft world is a different place these days – but with just 50 units you can’t help thinking it could be a possibility.

The guns: an overview M4 MOE CQB G&P M4s have always been well-made and solid bits of kit. Available in a variety of different lengths, styles and markings I was expecting something that would exceed the

Only 50 of each of these Special Edition M4s will be made so you can guarantee they will be highly sought-after – but Ratty has got his hands on them ﬁrst!

THE ARMOURY

normal build quality. It arrived in a plain brown box (as with all G&Ps) and when I’d finally fought off the bubble-wrap my initial impression was of a nice-looking, chunky CQB weapon. If you like Magpul kit then you will love this! Starting from the rear it features: a Magpul PTS MOE five-position collapsible stock, an ambidextrous sling attachment point (ASAP) and an MOE pistol grip. I really like the receiver – all black, all metal and with a large Magpul logo on the magwell on the left-hand-side of the receiver. I like the fact that the fire selector is in picture format (similar to H&K style) rather than the usual standard ‘Safe/Semi/Auto’. On

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the right hand side there is a little script and also a unique serial number for each weapon. The upper receiver is a standard M4 flat top type with Weaver rail. The rear sight is a Magpul PTS flip-up Mbus. If you have previously owned a G&P M4 type rifle then you may remember that the ejection port dust cover never clipped in. Well that hasn’t changed – but is it going to cause an issue during game play? Personally I can’t think that it ever would. The hop adjustor is located in the usual place, in the ejection port. To get to it simply pull back the charging lever. The RIS system is real-steel Ergo Z-rail two-piece system. On its own it’s worth around £110! There is absolutely no wobble or movement in it whatsoever –so you can rest assured that if you bolt on all your accessories it ain’t going anywhere. The only let down, for me, is the very front end. You’ve got this really great ‘Gucci’ rifle, but it’s finished off with a standard front foresight, front sling mount and M16A2 flash hider. I know this still allows for personalisation but given all the other stuff on the rifle it wouldn’t have taken much to have fitted a cut-down gas block with an Mbus flip-up front sight and an aggressive-style flash hider to finish it off. For me, on the aesthetics side, that’s the difference between a good rifle and a great rifle. . The CQB is set to take a LiPo battery in the stock tube. To fit one can be a bit fiddly the first few times, especially when it’s -5°C! First pop off the MOE stock then unscrew the end cap on the stock tube to access to the wiring. Again, if you have owned a G&P AEG before, especially a model with a crane stock, then you won’t be surprised to learn that the CQB is set up with a deans connector. The CQB comes with a Magpul PTS 120-round mid-cap magazine.

M4 MOE Mid Length Carbine The Mid Length Carbine is something a little different. I am sure that there will be those of you that really like it and those of you who don’t. The receiver and stock are the same as on the CQB version, although it is not wired up to the rear end this time. The Mid Length Carbine, as the name suggests, is longer than the CQB; when put up alongside a standard M4A1 is only a ﬂash-hider shorter. The thing I like here is that there is very little outer barrel on show, and in that respect it’s the same set-up as the CQB. All the extra length is covered by a longer MOE handguard. Fitting the battery is much simpler and faff free too! In much the same way as ﬁtting a battery into a standard M4A1,

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simply pull back on the delta ring/collar and pull down on the bottom handguard. This then pops off and exposes a mini Tamiya type connector. In the box is a small foregrip that fits into the bottom of the MOE handguard with the aid of a small clip that fits on the inside of the hand grip itself, something I really like about this rifle. It helps with the looks and makes it easier to manoeuvre in tight surroundings. Overall, and like the CQB, it’s a well-constructed and solid AEG.

On test With batteries fitted and a load of various brands of mid-cap mags bombed up, off I went to put these two through their paces. As they were brand new my first objective was to bed them in, so after a quick squirt of silicone and turning the hops on just a little, I started banging some rounds through them (well, any excuse to get out and light up some targets!) First the CQB… What an amazing rate of fire on just a 7.4v LiPo! On full-auto all I could see was a continuous stream of Blaster Devil .2s as they thwacked into a metal Figure 11 target. Flicking the selector to semi, which is a precise movement with an audible click, I started to double-tap. The trigger response was really good and didn’t give any indication of not keeping up with my rapid-fire fingers. After 12 mags I thought it was time to chrono this little beast. With the hop off it was achieving a reading between 349-360fps. When I set the hop properly for a 0.20g this dropped down to between 329-340fps, with a regular 337fps reading. I set a couple of targets up at 100ft and 120ft and BBs were bouncing off both. For such a short-barrelled weapon I thought that a fantastic achievement. Carrying out much the same tests with the MOE Mid-Length I was achieving the same results, although with the longer barrel there was less in-flight deviation. Chrono readings with the hop on were between 324-337fps.

Summary I have always liked G&P rifles, having owned a fair few over the years. It’s good to see that the build quality is still right up there. The CQB, apart from my personal gripe about the front foresight and flash hider, is a cracking little gun. With its rate of fire, fps, accuracy and real-steel Ergo Z-rail system it’s it a great all-rounder. The MOE Mid Length will be suited to a slightly different gamer, someone who wants all the performance without all the fuss – a

sort of ‘airsoft Bentley owner’! By contrast the CQB is deﬁnitely more for your ‘soupedup Skyline’ driver. Did I like them? Well, yes – but then I was always going to! Which version did I prefer? Not sure – but saying that I would like to own a Bentley, whack on some 22in wheels, give it a bright orange paint job, tune the nuts out of it and mount a huge spoiler on the boot! Would I own one? No – but that’s purely because I don’t think they will be on retailers’ shelves long enough to get one considering they’re this good and limited editions to boot! Mind you, you could win the CQB in this very issue of this very magazine (I wonder if Nige will let me enter…?). ■

WIN! WIN! FOR YOUR EXCLUSIVE CHANCE TO WIN A G&P/MAGPUL M4 MOE CQB FLICK TO PAGE 66!

SPECIFICATIONS G&P/Magpul M4 CQB Weight: 2,860g Length: 680mm (stock collapsed) 770mm (stock extended) Construction: Metal receiver, rail system, outer barrel; ABS stock, pistol grip Inner barrel length: 10.5in Gearbox: Version 2, 8mm Bearings Motor: G&P M120 High Speed Battery: Li-Po in the stock tube (Deans connector) Power: 324-340fps (hop on) Price: G&P Magpul M4 Mid Length Weight: 3,250g Length: 720mm (stock collapsed) 800mm (stock extended) Inner barrel length: 11.5in Battery: LiPo/NiMh front handguard Price: Huge thanks to Edgar Brothers for supplying guns for review. Both variants of the limited edition M4 MOE are distributed by Edgar Bro’s – ﬁnd your nearest retailer at www.edgarbrothers.com

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URBAN6 OPERATION: CLEAR SKIES Urban 6 Airsoft puts more effort into its storylines than Stephen King. Sian Westall and Gareth ‘Gadge’ Harvey give us the lowdown on Operation: Clear Skies

here are some things in life you always mean to do but for one reason or another just don’t seem to get round to. One of those things I’d been meaning to do was visit Urban 6 Airsoft, and boy am I glad I did! Now I have to admit to not being totally impartial here. Some time ago an old army buddy of mine collared me at a re-enactment show, said he was setting up a site and asked if I’d like to come and have a look. Despite best intentions of going along for a game it took me a good year or so to get myself and some of the Airsoft Action crew down to Urban 6’s regular site – Swynnerton Army Camp, an MoD base recently revamped to supply realistic training to troops set to deploy to Afghanistan. Eventually fulﬁlling my promise to Urban 6 head honchos Mark Warrier and Nigel Armitage we loaded up the car with the usual airsofting paraphernalia on a freezing winter’s morning and set of for a lengthy drive to Swynnerton in Staffordshire. It wasn’t the easiest site entrance to ﬁnd but once there we were quickly checked in by the Urban 6 team, and with less fuss than expected a quick and concise safety brief was issued before the real nitty gritty of the day’s play was explained.

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While it’s usual to have one or more teams with pseudo-military objectives for the games very few sites put as much effort into their back story and props as Urban 6 does. At times it felt more like we’d booked onto a well-themed weekender (like those run by Stirling Airsoft) and I’ll explain why. Nigel and Mark’s crew had created an entire military operation for this weekend. We were told that a renegade Russian state had been causing mayhem in the East and that UN forces were needed to go in to stabilise the region… ‘Simples’ you might think – but the main NATO force couldn’t go straight in as well-camouﬂaged man-portable SAM sites were taking out NATO

helicopters by the dozen. There was only one thing for it: a NATO ground team would have to go in. With more than a little pre-battle prep, the Urban 6 crew had warned for anyone wanting to play on the NATO side to wear temperate woodland shades with the Russian rebel militia in black and mixed camo patterns. This also meant that, well in advance of the game, one team knew they would be largely in defence and were happy to be so.

Sian: From a player POV the different kit requirements did a good job of differentiating the teams. I was expecting to ﬁnd it harder as I didn’t know any of the other players at all. Even

SITE REVIEW related reason for us to move out to the next stage of the day. The scenarios were allowed to go on long enough to get the most out of interesting skirmishing terrain, but moved on before it became dull. The movement between scenarios felt fairly organic and not forced or contrived.

Gadge: As the patrols pushed out further they occasionally found themselves subject to some well-executed Russian harassing attacks. Before long the ﬁrst of the SAMs was discovered though, and promptly destroyed. Throughout the day the Russian forces really had NATO on the ropes and every single SAM site was a real effort to locate and destroy, so when the marshals called a halt for a much-needed meal break I don’t think anybody on the NATO team was particularly upset! For the whole morning NATO had been on a regen rule, allowing them to keep deploying troops to hammer away at the Russian positions, while the Russians were allowed a medic once they were hit to get them back into the game. Working on the military maxim that no attacker

“...we were given further crucial safety info. To paraphrase: ‘See that hill there, don’t go past it or you might get shot – as in really shot’” wasn’t an issues as the marshals were on the ball and marking with signs or tickertape would have detracted from the (at times terrifyingly) real feel of the skirmishing on what is, as mentioned above, a proper army training base.

with the fairly loose ‘kit requirements’ a fair few had got into the spirit of day and on the Russian side at least there were a few ushankas donned and a greatcoat or two (though the believable Siberian temperatures may have been a factor of the kit choice). On route to the ﬁrst scenario start point we were given further crucial safety info. To paraphrase: “See that hill there, don’t go past it or you might get shot – as in really shot.” (I hasten to add these weren’t the exact words, but that’s what my brain translated it as). At ﬁrst I was a bit unsure as to how easy the boundaries would be to remember since they weren’t clearly marked. But in retrospect it

Gadge: The Russian forces left quickly to set up defensive positions. Once they had been given sufficient time to dig in the NATO foot patrol set out. (Their objectives were threefold: destroy SAM radar sites, locate and destroy the mobile launchers, and take out any rebels that opposed them.) Before too long the carefully staggered foot patrol scouts had found the enemy firmly ensconced in a bunker complex. A hasty attack was launched and after a frantic firefight the Russians were pushed out, and NATO had its first foothold in the province. Sian: The site organisers kept up really good comms and kept the gameplay moving. Once it became apparent the Russians were firmly bedded into the complex they prevented a stalemate and provided a plausible plot-

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assaults an enemy position without superior numbers meant that NATO in the story had a surplus of men and materiel. One criticism of the day would be that the idea of a regen vs medic system was essentially sound but not all players were aware of it. During the early phases of play this led to some raised tensions and a few mutterings of ‘Teﬂon bastards’ from the Russian side.

Sian: I felt the use of different regen rules at different points in the day was good though as it kept it interesting. It was clear the guys from Urban 6 did it because it ﬁtted that scenario, rather than being stuck with the “Well we do medic rules here because that’s what we always do” attitude that I’ve encountered in the past. Gadge: Once again we have to applaud Urban 6’s team for making sure that everyone got some hot food and drink down them during the break. Even in cold and wet weather it’s

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all too easy to dehydrate. A drink and a chat around the gas heaters do wonders to restore morale and calm frayed tempers! With lunch out of the way we took to the ﬁeld again for the second part of the adventure. With the SAM sites cleared the NATO forces now had to clear a set of radar dishes, to deny the enemy any early warning of the incoming NATO heli forces. In much the same way as the morning’s play, every single feature of the site became a fearsome redoubt for the enemy. As the occasional sleet and snow showers fell and obscured vision, hit and run ambushes were conducted by small roving Russian patrols separate from the main defending force. Many airsofters will know Swynnerton from some of the early Town Assault games, and many more from having spent uncomfortable days on Army, TA and ACF exercises on it. The sheer variety of terrain at Swynnerton is quite staggering. Built as an ordnance factory and storage site in WWII and later used as a nuclear defence site and Army Training Area, the site has a curious mix of ruined red brick building (including an underground hospital), blastproof bunkers, assault courses and even an amphibious assault training area. Recently the MoD has upgraded the site to include realistic Afghanistan security bases and vehicle check points – and the Urban 6 guys are lucky enough to be allowed to use these new areas too! It was on an attack up the side of one of these concrete bunkers that the NATO forces ﬁnally put paid to the last troublesome radar dish – and with the imminent arrival of troops the Russian force headed for the hills. While NATO may have achieved its objectives the Russians had cost the Brits and Yanks dearly – and they still had one last card to play…

While the main battle was underway a team of rebels had captured a downed NATO pilot and were holding him hostage in a secure base. It was up to NATO to get him back! For this final instalment all hell broke loose as the NATO force swooped down upon the ‘Afghan compound’ area... After a truly chaotic firefight the allies managed to free the captive and the final whistle was blown. As the guys called endex there were smiling faces all around despite the appalling weather (Operation Clear Skies? Operation Pissing It Down more like...). Urban 6 had provided a thoroughly engrossing and entertaining day – and we can see why they have a large and loyal base of regular players. So if you’re an airsofter looking for something a bit more involved than your average open day but perhaps less kit-intensive than a MilSim weekend, this might be exactly what you’ve been searching for! ■

URBAN 6 AIRSOFT Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 0QN Prices Walk-on: £30 Riﬂe hire: From £15 (incudes riﬂe, face mask, chest rig and 1,000 BBs) to £25 (for heavy gunner or sniper package) Contact www.urban6airsoft.com, info@urban6airsoft.com

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SHOT SHOW 2012 Kicking and screaming, Nige dragged himself off to Las Vegas to visit the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades Show. It’s a hard life…

he SHOT Show has something in common with the Grand Canyon… Words cannot describe it and pictures do not do it justice. The only way to fully appreciate the

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enormity of it is to go and see for yourself. On Monday 16 January 2012, as I stood on the lip of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon looking out over the dizzying spectacle in front of me I ticked one off my bucket list. The sheer size, scale and beauty of the place

is truly awe-inspiring and mere words simply cannot do it justice. On Tuesday 17 January 2012 I had pretty much the same feeling as I stood in the middle of ‘Level 2’ of the 2012 SHOT Show. This Show is not just big; it’s huge, humongous, massive (and just about every other superlative relating to size you can think of) – and it’s full of guns, lots and lots of guns! Surrounded by iconic names such as ArmaLite, Colt, Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer, Heckler & Koch and Browning I really did feel like a kid in a candy store – wanting to see and try everything but not knowing where to start. Thankfully, I had an agenda to keep to and so at least I had a starting point! The show was spread out over three levels of the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, with 1,600-plus exhibitors filling 630,000sq/ft of space. This year broke the attendance record with more than 61,000 visitors, making the SHOT Show the largest trade show of its kind in the world. The enormity of the thing does make it difficult to find what you’re looking for but once you’ve managed to decipher the Show map and

SHOW TIME

“It wasn’t until I’d Americanised myself and mentioned ‘soft air’ and ‘BB guns’ that the light switched on and they understood.” got your head around the stand numbering system, it really isn’t too bad. One thing that surprised me was the number of people I spoke to that, when I mentioned I was the editor of an airsoft magazine, looked at me in the quizzical manner that usually indicates they’re not quite sure what you are talking about. I don’t know if some of them were being deliberately vague, but it wasn’t until I’d Americanised myself and mentioned ‘soft air’ and ‘BB guns’ that the light switched on and they understood. That said, once the ice had been broken everyone I chatted with seemed keen to talk, and they were all extremely complimentary about the magazine too. The other reaction I got was that they didn’t

which also produce products we use, such as Magpul PTS, Crosman, Bushnell, Crye Precision and Propper. All of these were delighted to see a UK airsoft magazine at the show, and more than happy to give us a heap of exclusives (some we can tell you about, and some we have to hold onto for a bit longer unfortunately).

realise how big airsoft was in the UK and how seriously we take the game over here. For some it was a real eye-opener! Among the 87 exhibitors listed under the ‘Airgun and Airsoft Products’ category were some names we all recognise such as Action Sports Games, ESS, ICS, KWA and Umarex, but many were new to me including WingSun Trading (optics and related products), BKL Technologies (mounting systems) and Alta Industries (knee and elbow pads). Keep an eye out for a future review of Alta Industries gear: its products look very good and are in use with the military, government agencies and SWAT teams. Of course there were also companies not immediately associated with airsoft but

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When shadows aren’t enough: The new Kryptec camo at the Show

Crye Precision’s multicam softshell

One of the things I really wanted to get my hands on was the Kriss Vector, from KWA. Before I left for Vegas the magazine had received a press release saying it would be there and I was keen to see whether it would live up to the hype. If looks are anything to go by then it most certainly does! It is a 1:1 replica of the realsteel version and KWA has also replicated the sloping internals. Unfortunately the show has a no-ﬁring policy so I can’t tell you what it ﬁres and sounds

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like but, if it plays just half as well as it looks, then KWA is onto a winner. KWA was also displaying its collaborations with Magpul PTS, including the RM4, LM4 and FPG. The RM4 features KWA’s patented recoil engine (known as KFS – Kinetic Feedback System) which is said to deliver a much more powerful and realistic kick but again, due to show restrictions, I wasn’t able to test it for myself. The same system is fitted in KWA’s new AK range. While it does not have a UK distribution deal it is my understanding that KWA has been in discussion with a number of UK companies and is close to signing with a major UK distributor – watch this space for more info when we get it. Over at the Magpul PTS booth I was invited in to take a look at the new products, and was immediately taken by the PDR (Personal Defence Rifle), a lightweight, compact rifle that is absolutely loaded with features. I particularly like the two-stage trigger system on the PDR – for those of you that don’t know, a two-stage trigger fires semi-auto at the first stage and full-auto when you pull through to the second stage. This means that you don’t have to release pressure on the trigger to switch between semi and full-auto fire (there’s no selector to turn). Although it features a 10.5in barrel, the compactness of the PDR means that it barely stretches past the mag position on an M4. It takes P Mags or any AR15 equivalents, is fully ambidextrous and has a 9in Picatinny top rail. I also got the first look at Magpul’s long-

awaited G36 P Mag and was given a global exclusive ‘heads up’ on its brand new T Mag, a transparent version of the P Mag which will be available in the second quarter of this year. While at Magpul PTS I bumped into Carl Miller from Edgar Brothers, who took me over to meet the guys at Crye Precision. I know it is a stupid statement but camo is such an important part of what we do and more and more manufacturers are realising that airsoft is a lucrative market for their products. Crye Precision is well-known for its multicam products and, although expensive, continues to be popular – as does A-TACS. Almost from the day it burst onto the scene, A-TACS (Advanced Tactical Concealment (not camouﬂage!) System) has been immensely well-received. I remember being at the War and Peace Show last year and seeing it being snapped up from The Shop at The Grange stand faster than they could put it out! However, the one question asked over and over was: “Is it available in woodland colours?” Well now it is, and I am ecstatic to say that the lovely people at Propper gave me a set to bring back to the UK for an exclusive review, which will be in the next issue of Airsoft

Action. Another camo that caught my eye at the show was from a company I had not heard of, Kryptek. The company’s tagline is “When shadows are not enough” and looking at

SHOW TIME “If looks are anything to go by then KWA’s 1:1 replica of the Kriss Vector does indeed live up to its hype” Talk of the town: the KWA Kriss Vector

the pattern I can see how it might work. According to the blurb Kryptek “utilises a multi-directional design to effectively conceal in a multitude of terrains that have either a lateral or vertical flow.” I couldn’t find anyone on the stand I could persuade to give me a set for review, but am now in contact with the Kryptek head office and will bring you more news as we get it. The guys at the Action Sport Games (ASG) booth had a good range of guns on display, including the long-awaited CZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1. Produced by ASG in Europe, the Scorpion was developed from original Ceská Zbrojovka (CZ) 3D drawings. Its electronic trigger system is able to deliver semi or fullauto and three-round burst and, among other things, the gun features a built-in system that detects jamming and shuts down to prevent possible damage to the gearbox. Although their Blaster Devil BBs are very popular here ASG is not so well-known for its airsoft guns, but with the Scorpion scheduled

for release later this year that may well be about to change. Crosman has been around since the early 1920s and has been involved in just about every sector of the airgun and paintball markets, but it wasn’t until 2002 that the company introduced its ﬁrst range of airsoft pistols. In the States, Crosman manufactures a wide range of (mostly plastic) airsoft pistols

ASG’s long-awaited CZ Scorpion Evo 3 A1

Show selection: some of Crosman’s airsoft range

and riﬂes (spring, gas and electric) and also distributes Umarex products. Here in the UK it is less known for its airsoft products than airgun and paintball offerings. However Crosman also sees the huge potential of airsoft and we will be seeing much more from the company in 2012. Umarex has recently signed an exclusive UK distribution deal with Birmingham-based Armex, so I popped over to the Umarex stand to see what goodies are in store for us. Needless to say there was a plethora of products on display, but something in particular caught my eye… Leaning up against a display stand, emblazoned with H&K logos was something I hadn’t seen before, an H&K SL8 (the civilian version of the G36). “Ah yes”, said the man from Umarex, “that’s new!” Unlike the US

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“That’s new!”: The Umarex H&K SL8

real-steel version, the airsoft SL8 comes with a 35-round mag and can accept any standard G36 mag (real-steel SL8s in the USA have to be modiﬁed not to accept standard G36 20/30-round mags, only 10-round mags are permitted). It comes complete with upper and lower rails plus a bipod, and should be available in the UK sometime around May. Just before I wrap up this whiz-round of SHOT 2012 I want to mention a company I knew little about before the show: Bushnell. Bushnell’s mission statement is “To develop and market optical products that enhance the experience of outdoor and sports enthusiasts,” and it has been an industry-leader in high-performance sports optics for over 50 years – so Bushnell knows what it’s talking about!

Of particular interest to me was its range of scopes and sights – of which the company markets a huge range and variety, including night vision and red-dot – one of which caught my eye (no pun intended): the new First Strike sight. The First Strike is a fully water and shockproof, 5MOA (Minutes of angle), compact, reflex red-dot sight that takes just one CR2032 battery. Even under the bright lights of the show the red-dot was brilliantly illuminated, because the sight features self-regulating brightness which automatically adjusts according to available light conditions (and powers the sight down when the protective hood is in place). The First Strike is part of Bushnell’s ‘Tactical’ range which has been developed in conjunction with a panel of military and law enforcement experts, as well as competitive shooters. Another of its products, the Elite Tactical Riflescope, is claimed to be ‘the world’s most advanced tactical riflescope’, used by the American military. Bushnell doesn’t just market its own products, it also supplies a wide range of other brands, such as Uncle Mike’s (holsters), Tasco, Millett and Butler Creek to name a few. These are just some of the companies that I spent time with over the four days I was at SHOT, many of whom are actively considering airsoft as a potential outlet for their products. This can only be good news for us and will bring greater strength, stability and choice to all of us – and bodes well for the future of the sport in general.

Ultimate CQB primary: Magpul PTS PDR-C

The SHOT Show is huge and there are already dates in the diary for the next two years at least. It is probably the only place in the world where you can get to see so many guns in one place – but guns aren’t the whole story. The number of support and ancillary product suppliers far outnumbers those that manufacture guns and there were some amazing items on display. Airsoft was well, if not overly represented, and I expect future shows will see more airsoft companies attending. No one with an interest in any form of shooting could fail to enjoy the Show, and I was delighted at the reception and compliments Airsoft Action received, not only for its content and quality but also for what we are doing with airsoft in the UK. Las Vegas is an amazing place and SHOT is an amazing Show – the two go well together! ■

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KWC MINI UZI

s iconic weapons go, the IMI (Israel Military Industries) UZI is up there with the best of them. Just as everybody says ‘Hoover’ when talking about a vacuum cleaner (or ‘Dyson’ in recent years), the Uzi became the byword for every submachine pistol of the late 1970s and 80s. The first Uzi submachine gun was designed by Major Uziel Gal in the late 1940s. The prototype was finished in 1950 and first introduced to IDF (Israeli Defense Force) Special Forces in 1954. Although countless millions of defence dollars are spent promoting a new weapons system it only takes an iconic

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Ron Mahoney’s had KWC’s replica of the IMI Mini UZI out in the ﬁeld to see just how it performs

moment in a weapons’ life and you have the kind of publicity money cannot buy. For example, when pictures of the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy ﬂashed around the world, Heckler & Koch probably rested a little on its laurels in terms of promotional budget for the MP5. The Uzi really had two iconic moments. First was the daring rescue of Israeli passengers from the terminal building at Ugandan airport Entebbe. Operation Thunderbolt, or The Raid on Entebbe as it became known, involved 100 Israeli commandos who ﬂew over 2,500 miles in four Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules to Uganda.

THE ARMOURY

Their mission was to rescue more than 100 hostages held from Air France ﬂight 139. The second iconic moment was the attempted assassination of US President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Amid the chaotic scenes after John Hinckley Jnr. shot Reagan outside the Washington Hilton Hotel, Secret Service agent Robert Wanko was seen to draw his Uzi from an attaché case to keep the bystanders back as colleagues bundled Hinckley into a squad car. Given the real-steel history behind it, does the Mini Uzi from Taiwanese manufacturer KWC manage to hit the mark?

Build Quality The first thing to note is that this gas blowback replica – designated KCB07HN by KWC, which does not hold the license to use the real name or markings – is a faithful reproduction of the IMI Mini UZI. It is almost entirely full-metal (just the small foregrips, pistol grips and positive safety grip are plastic). The remainder of the body and nearly all the internals are metal – and they need to be. A bit of advice: when firing the Uzi for the first time hold on tight as this little atom packs a hell of a kick – I’ve fired .22 rimfire rifles that had less recoil! The working parts really snap back and forth flawlessly, feeding BBs from the magazine at a frightening rate. In full-auto it will empty a magazine in less than five seconds of jaw-jangling vibration. But this high rate of fire does have its drawbacks; you will struggle to get much more than a magazines’ worth of BBs (38 rounds) out of each CO2 cartridge, and secondly the rate of fire and velocity will decrease dramatically if you just stand there with your finger welded to the trigger. This means that unless you ‘use the force’ wisely (or buy a dozen magazines) you will be sat reloading mags and taking hits as one thing is for sure – the enemy will have heard

“In full-auto it will empty a magazine in less than five seconds of jaw-jangling vibration” exactly where you were shooting from. With its slender steel stock folded the Mini Uzi lives up to its name and measures in at just over 14in, with the butt now forming a handy foregrip that makes the weapon very manoeuvrable and excellent for CQB. For more control in full-auto, and for more accurate semi-auto shooting, the stock is swivelled around (it does not lock) and extends the length to 23in. Both front and rear sight are adjustable – the front sight has a small tool to wind up or down and I’d recommend sorting this out before heading into the field. Once in game any field stripping required is simple. The main working parts (of which

there aren’t many) can be accessed within about three seconds as there is only a latch that holds the top cover in place. All the bolt components come out as one and then any potential problem, such as a jammed or misfed BB, can be easily cleared. The hop-up is beautifully simple: the barrel nut is rotated against a ratchet clockwise for more hop and anti-clockwise for less, and takes a matter of seconds to adjust it to suit the conditions.

Centre mass target results For the accuracy test we used a human-sized target with a centre mass cut out to take A3size paper, so it is easy to record hits. What

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is a little harder to judge is just how many shots missed the centre mass but still hit the main target (I reckon about half a dozen more shots hit the overall target on each occasion). Accuracy-wise, using the Uzi in semi-auto mode yields very acceptable results for a weapon with such a short barrel, as the table below demonstrates. In hindsight we should have tested at 10yds as I think an airsoft SMG should have a range of 10-30yds, but 15 is a good pointer. A fresh magazine of 38 rounds of BB Bastard .25g BBs and with a fresh CO2 bulb was used for each test. The chrono read under 350fps at the start of each test. The zero point and hop was set at 20yds for the duration of the test. As soon as you start using longer bursts of ﬁre the accuracy drops off dramatically, no doubt a result of the considerable kick and dramatic cooling effect of CO2 gas. Likewise the effect of the CO2 over the last few shots sees a noticeable drop in the trajectory of the BB.

CENTRE MASS TARGET HITS (EX-38) Distance (yards)

Hits (semi-auto)

Hits (full-auto)

Skirmishing I’ve used the Mini Uzi at both urban and woodland sites, with temperatures ranging from about -1°C to 10°C in this bizarre British winter we’ve been having. Of course I received a few weird glances when I stood on the start line with temperatures near freezing. “You’re brave bothering with CO2 today aren’t you!” was the general comment. But providing I didn’t weld the trigger (for all the reasons listed above) the open-bolt system on the Uzi means air will circulate around the hop and barrel, and many of the usual problems associated with CO2 in very cold weather can be negated. In CQB games the Uzi’s compact size and ability to switch rapidly from folded to extended stock is a huge bonus. As the site rule was understandably single-shot/ semi-auto when indoors I never really got to experience the thrill of clearing a room and to have that devastating short burst rate of ﬁre when it is needed most though. That said the semi-auto rate and the noise is still pretty intimidating.

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In a woodland setting the Uzi is limited by the length of the barrel and the distance of engagements. As you can see from the chart the accuracy starts to drop away after about 30yds – you can still engage targets at this distance but you will be using more BBs to bring your rounds on target. One thing I did notice is that the BBs tend to climb when ﬁred on full-auto so you probably stand a reasonable chance of a hit but will burn through ammunition. I think that a regular woodland skirmisher would need to invest in at least three additional magazines to get the most out of games. My best moment with the Uzi came when I had managed to ﬂank around the back of a group of four OpFor players, sneaking to within about 20yds of where they stood with their backs to me. I unleashed a burst of fullauto at them, and watching their reaction as they heard the noise of the Uzi was priceless. Their feedback afterwards assured that the Uzi is a keeper for me!

Summary What type of player and role would get the most from the KWC Mini Uzi? Well if you’re a low-cap, sneaky beaky sort of player, one who knows that there is a time and place to let a full burst go but prefers to use semiauto for most of your play, then the Mini Uzi is something to think about. There isn’t a vast array of aftermarket add-ons (though there is a silencer adapter

available) and you can’t easily add any optics, torches or lasers. In a similar way that many players have looked at an MP7 or MP9, maybe as a back up for a sniper – the Uzi with its classic, simple design can be relied on to provide you with a show of force that a pistol can’t pack. Just as with thousands of real-steel military and police users, picking up this reliable workhorse, cocking that bolt and knowing that when you squeeze the trigger you’re going to get a rapid and fairly accurate burst of ﬁre is what keeps the Mini Uzi design relevant as it approaches the anniversary of the 60th year of production. KWC has certainly taken this on board and done justice to the icon in this CO2 version. ■

SPECIFICATIONS KWC Mini UZI (KCB07HN) Weight: 2,100g Length: 355mm (stock folded); 584mm (stock extended) Build: Full metal/polymer body System: CO2 Gas blowback Hop-up: Adjustable Magazine: 38-round KWC CO2 Velocity: 280-350fps Price: £180 Thanks to Milspec Solutions for supplying test model: 01257 453689, www.milspecsolutions.co.uk

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SECTION 8

With more than 1,400 acres of airsoft goodness, Section 8 is one of the largest sites in the UK. Baz Collins makes the trip to Dura Forest, to the ﬁrst site he played

ong before I started airsofting there was a site located at Dura Forest in Allanton between Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its original name was Firefight (Scotland) Airsoft but few have ever known it as that – to us it’s Section 8 (or S8 to the regulars). This was the first site I ever played, and indeed the first I ever even heard about. In my early years I found out about the sport via online gaming clans. One of my teammates put up a picture of him holding a G3A3 and immediately I had to know more. He gave me Section 8’s web address and suggested I check it out. After a quick

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browse of the forums I made a few friends and went to my ﬁrst game day at Section 8. I’ve never looked back! I still get out to S8 a good few times a year, but as I don’t drive and have a site a mere 20 minutes away I don’t get out as much as I’d like to (S8 is almost an hour away unfortunately). But I ﬁnally managed to arrange transport and made my way to the site in early January. The site is massive, and I really do mean massive! Dura Forest covers 1,400 acres and all of it is in play, though obviously not all in one game. There are multiple zones spanning across much of the forest that allow for varying styles of gameplay, and S8 is one of the largest sites in the UK.

Speaking of size, some of the bases at S8 are huge too. A lot revolve around wooded bases (obviously) and that’s all well and good, but one built base that springs to mind is Canadia. This is a large base situated at the top of a small gradient. The amount of fun had here is unreal, as both attacking and defending is difﬁcult and makes you want to go and watch Hamburger Hill! But this is not the best S8 has to offer, for on the far reaches of the site there is a total hidden gem. Once you reach it you will be amazed – it’s called The Alamo and is outside the wooded area, across a dried-out riverbed where an old cottage sits. The only way to get here is either to

SITE REVIEW

cross the riverbed or use the one and only stone bridge directly in front of the cottage. Needless to say playing here is intense! Getting to S8 can be a bit tricky but there are excellent directions on the website and forums. It is located inside the actual forest itself so there is a bit of a rough road to traverse as you’d expect (but it’s no worse than most urban roads these days anyway!). Once you reach the site there is ample parking – and on the day I attended to write this review it was dearly needed as well over 100 players had turned up. All sites have their favoured warm-up game and S8 rotates between a few, including ‘Bomb the base’ and ‘Capture the bases’. There’s another loosely-dubbed

the ‘Predator’ game, which sees two allied teams in two separate bases defending against a light force. Defending teams must stay within the confines of their bases; if they are hit by the enemy then they leave the base and join the enemy ranks. Fight to the last man standing, or kneeling, or lying in the foetal position! I love this game, it is a cracker of a warm up and really does get the blood flowing. Before lunch we played a fall-back game with a twist. The fall-back consisted of retreating to full-blown bases with all sorts of defences. The objective is quite simple: once all the defenders are cleared from one base that base is declared taken by the enemy, who moves onto the next one and so on. Once the defenders are hit at the first base they make their way to the second and on to the final third. This is another excellently-designed game

involving brutal, sneaky tactics and amazing teamwork, making use of the site’s landscape and features. This one usually buggers me as the site is so large and I am a tad out of shape – these two don’t mix! Without the social side of things airsoft wouldn’t be half the sport it is and it’s always nice to see the usual camaraderie during lunch, with players reliving their own battle stories and sharing kit with one another. This is something I love about airsoft and S8 is one of the best sites for it, as the players and marshal team are some of the nicest people you’ll meet. With everyone fed and watered it was back to the game zone for a large game dubbed the ‘PMC’ game. This basically consists of two large teams of around 45-50, both hunting a 10-man squad of rogue Private Military Contractors (PMCs). Both teams had their own bases and were

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“Defending teams must stay within the bases – if hit they join the opposition. Fight to the last man standing, or kneeling, or lying in the foetal position!”

fighting with each other as well as looking for these guys. The kicker is that the PMC players are usually picked from the best vets of the site, making them very difficult to track and find. This game is hard, no doubt, and requires your team to work well together – on a site this big communication is paramount. The game developed rapidly and it was good to see some impressive teamwork among the players as they attempted to hunt the PMCs while evading the other team. Another game marked by lots of brutal fighting and some excellent play, though ultimately the PMCs managed to evade capture. S8 is renowned for its awesome winddown games, in the vein of pistol/shottie or zombie scenarios – but unfortunately I had to go home at this point. All in all Section 8 is a great site to play, absolutely huge and with some

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impressive bases (the size of this place is truly awe-inspiring). If you like to play in vast areas where the use of ﬁeldcraft and tactics really come into their own then this site is perfect for you. You can go almost anywhere on the site and attack the enemy from areas they hadn’t realised existed. I love this place and if it wasn’t for the guys who run it and the guys who play it, this airsofter may have ended up sitting playing Warhammer for the rest of his life! Special thanks to Steve ‘Reverend Scapegoat’, the owner of S8 (ﬁnd him on

the Section 8 forums for bookings and hires), for all his help in bringing me into this sport. Cheers mate! ■

SECTION 8 Dura Forest, Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB Prices Walk-on: £16 Riﬂe hire: £15 (includes AEG, hi-cap mag and face mask) Contact: 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

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We’re gearing up for some dedicated kit reviews – take a sneak peek at some of the stuff we’ve got on test SOUTH AFRICAN ASSAULT VEST IN ACU £26.99 The South African Assault Vest is an affordable, no-nonsense load-carrying solution. The vest comes complete with nine pouches, including a dump pouch on either side and back pouch for hydration kit. The shoulders are fully adjustable and have padding on the inside. It is not a modular vest but does have all the pouches you could need, with a double mag pouch, two single mag pouches, grenade pouches and big pouches on either hip capable of carrying all sorts of equipment you might need in the field. We can even fit our camera in there, with the lens in the pouch on the other side. The lower pouches can be a bit fiddly if you’ve got bulky objects in the upper ones, but not impossible to use. With everything adjusted the vest gives nice weight distribution and is plenty comfortable for a day’s warfare. A staggering bit of kit when you consider the price, the South African Assault Vest is also available in black, olive, coyote, DPM, Flecktarn, Desert, CCE, Woodland and Czech Woodland (prices £23.99-£34.99) – so something to suit whatever your style! We’ll be taking this into the field very soon – look out for a more in-depth review in a future issue!

Military 1st, www.military1st.co.uk

NCS 3-9X40 RUBBER ARMOURED MIL-DOT SCOPE £64.95 This is the first time we’ve seen an NCStar scope – and what a cracker it is. A future article will take a closer look at the NCStar range, but for now we wanted to show you this rugged, balanced and affordable optic. Ideal for the SDM or sniper role, the Mil-Dot reticle allows for quick and precise range adjustments once you’ve had a bit of practice. Windage and elevation adjustment is good for +/-40MOA and 3-9x magnification means there’s not an outdoor airsoft scenario this can’t handle. Tough rubber armour protects both internal and external components while hightech lens coating technology makes for anti-reflective optical surfaces all round – perfect for you sneaky snipers. Plus red or green illuminated reticle makes for easier low-light shooting. If you’re looking for a dedicated optic, don’t overlook NCStar.

Zero One Airsoft, 01202769614, www.zerooneairsoft.com

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TAB STANDARD SLING £50 TAB Gear arguably makes some of the best riﬂe slings available, popular with both precision target shooters and military snipers. Designed and manufactured by Tony Burke in the USA, the original idea came from a group of Special Forces guys that attended one of Tony’s classes and showed him a sling they had produced from scrap parts. Tony improved upon this initial design and brought the TAB Sling to the market. It’s not cheap as airsoft slings go, but when you consider it’s often attached to riﬂes costing several thousand pounds it’s not all that expensive either. Constructed of industrial-grade nylon webbing with Nexus Fastex buckles the TAB sling is solid as a tank and built to withstand years of real use. It can be used as both a carry and shooting sling, is easily adjusted and features a 5inthick triple-ply section of stitched webbing that can be used as rear support if needed. In a future issue we’ll take a closer look at TAB Gear and its innovative products. Not everyone will spend £50 on a sling, we know – but for those players that want the best kit available, look no further than this.

KIT BAG

Sporting Services, 01342 716427, www.sportingservices.co.uk

MIL-COM ALL-LEATHER PATROL BOOTS £34.72

ABBEY ANTIFOG £10.99

These landed in the ofﬁce almost as we were sending the mag to the printers, but we were so impressed we had to squeeze them in. Look out for a full test and report in a future issue, too. With a pricetag just over £30 these represent fantastic value for money. That’s a good price for a pair of boots anyway, but when the boots are as good as these it’s really something to shout about. Though I’m usually a size 10 these were a little big for my foot, but I’ve got an unhealthy collection of boot socks so that posed no problems. Made from leather and with a comfy Thinsulate lining they are easy to break in and warm and comfortable from the off. More thorough testing will show how well they cope with the British countryside, but we’re looking forward to being pleasantly surprised here. (And yes, eagle eyes, the picture shows the same boots but with canvas siding – our bad!)

You might have heard of Abbey Supply before – not least because it was in the news section this issue! It makes Predator Ultra gas, Brut Sniper gas and a full range of cleaning products for airsoft guns – and also produces AntiFog, the best solution to eye protection fogging we’ve seen. Most of you will have suffered this – ﬁnding yourself trying to squint through the least-fogged patch of your goggles and virtually unable to see. A few squirts of Anti-Fog on the lens of your favoured eye protection, wiped away with a quality lens-cloth, will prevent your goggles or glasses from steaming up. The solution lasts a good while and the 150ml bottle will go a long way as only a little is needed for each application. It’s also small enough to stick in a pouch or pocket if playing a longer game and reapplication may be necessary. Abbey tells us it’s clever stuff, designed not to smear or streak and with an anti-bacterial formula that kills germs. All we know is it does exactly what it’s supposed to – that’s one less thing to worry about on the ﬁeld.

Patrol Base, 01484 644709, www.patrolbase.co.uk

Abbey Supply Products, 01202 603067, www.abbeysupply. com – available from several airsoft retailers

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ON PATROL Billy Basics: Patrolling – Part One

“In Warfare, patrolling is the basis of success: it not only provides eyes to the side that excels at it and blinds its opponents, but through it the soldier learns to move confidently in the element in which he works.” That quote adorns the lectern in the main classroom of The Pathfinder Platoon, The Patrols Company in Colchester. It rather neatly sums it up doesn’t it? Enough said! Whether you find yourself clearing an area overlooking Kajaki Lake, as part of a fighting patrol looking for insurgents in the lawless Helmand Province in Afghanistan, or taking the fight to the opposition on a weekend airsoft event somewhere in the UK – the aims

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and principles of patrolling remain the same. Some would say that patrolling is, and always will be, the very essence of soldiering. All the training has bought us to this point: map reading, fieldcraft, weapons training, physical fitness, camouflage and concealment. The heli is turning and burning, mags checked one last time and stowed, weapons loaded and made ready, comms check (funny old thing though, it chooses right now to go down!), one last map check and confirmation with the LS. You’ve got the green light. It’s show time.

The aims of patrolling We don’t just bimble about in the countryside hoping for some baddies to

turn up, there’s a reason for everything we do: planned, co-ordinated, determined, purposeful action with an outcome. In much the same way, a rugby match or American Football game (without the fans, cheerleaders, beer, sponsorship… Ok ok, but you’ll get the picture in a minute) are both a series of set piece movements that the teams have practised over and over, in order to outsmart the opposition, connected by short periods of free play. We patrol to achieve certain outcomes, to ensure that victory is ours and not the enemies’. These are the aims of patrolling. 1: To discover what the enemy are doing. To obtain information – and knowledge really is power here – in business as

well as war, you may need all the stealth and skill at your disposal, and nerve too. Exercises can be just as nerve-wracking as the real thing sometimes, the closer you get to the enemy and the higher your risk of compromise the more your heart will be trying to bounce out of your chest. 2: To dominate the ground in front of both their position and yours, denying the enemy freedom of movement in order to hamper their plans and prevent them from mounting patrols against you. Own the land in front of their position and prevent them from venturing out. Blind them. 3: To find and destroy the enemy, breaking their morale and fighting spirit. This can sometimes be done with a small patrol that can inflict damage out of all proportion to its size, but the risks are great and it will require a disciplined team with a strong Patrol Commander.

SKILLS ROOM

“The patrol is a single unit and you’re the working parts; if those parts don’t work in unison the beast will stall and fail” Types of Patrol Most patrols will broadly fall into one of the following categories. Recce patrol: Usually consisting of the PC and three or four Patrol members. Not designed as an offensive force but equipped with enough ﬁrepower to extract themselves aggressively from a contact if need be. Of between one night and 10 days’ duration, and usually travelling light by necessity (‘travel light, freeze at night’), so they’ll need to be your hardiest team members. Recce patrols rely on stealth as their main defence. There will be a large amount of pressure on the Lead Scout (LS) as he will probably contact the enemy ﬁrst. It’s therefore important to rotate patrol

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members through this role to give him a break. LS might well have his personal weapon on automatic, to enable him to get a weight of fire down when he comes under contact, but this is a personal choice and ammunition conservation needs to be considered. Bear in mind the size of the patrol and the fact it might not be your only contact that day; ammo conservation is of paramount importance. Standing Patrol: Will move into an area under cover of darkness and observe the enemy from a fixed location – sometimes also called an ambush party. Because they might remain static for long periods and not need to be as agile as a Recce Patrol the PC might chose to beef up the firepower a bit for self-defence, including some belt-fed machine guns and anti-armour missiles. Fighting Patrol: Very much a mixture of the two above, formed for a specific strike

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option or task, properly scaled with men and weapons to destroy the enemy, going in ‘heavy and quick’. Fighting Patrols might be used to mount a diversionary attack, or to cover the retreat of an OP Party or Recce Patrol.

Pre-patrol considerations There are some things we need to check before we set off. You might not have worked with the team before, and as a patrol you need to be able to rely on your mates to act instinctively when you come into contact with the enemy. It’s almost as if the patrol is a single unit and you’re the working parts: all those parts need to work together in unison or the beast will stall and fail. As an example of this, let’s say you are the number two in the patrol; you know that when the shooting starts your LS always

dives for cover on the left, so you can react instantly, saving valuable seconds as the patrol goes to ground. All this information and possible areas for attention will come out by carrying out detailed rehearsals and ‘actions on’ before you step off. Actions on are rehearsed events that happen when you’re out on the ground, dependent on your situation (enemy pre-seen; if you’re spotted on the route in; if you sustain a casualty on the insertion…) Going forwards we’ll be looking at detailed rehearsals: day noisy, day quiet, night noisy, night quiet and actions on. ■

GLOSSARY 2IC: Second in command LS: Lead Scout Ptl: Patrol PC: Patrol Commander

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THE BEDFORD

MK/MJ SERIES

4-TONNER Ever fancied pitching up to an airsoft site in a military truck? The Bedford MK could be just what you need – Ratty has the lowdown

f you are of a certain age or have ever lived near a military camp or town then two British military vehicles will stand out as familiar sights on the roads. Firstly Land Rovers, which I covered a while ago – and the other would have been the Bedford four-tonne truck. The Bedford MK and later MJ models were far from glamorous (they were indeed rather basic and antiquated), but for nearly 30 years were the heavy workhorse of

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British Forces. Used by all three services in a manner of roles, from general service (GS) wagon through to fuel bowsers and mobile workshops. It’s still in service with some units today, a testament to its timeless design and simple engineering.

History Bedford Vehicles (normally shortened to Bedford) was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself a British subsidiary of General

Motors (GM). Bedford was established in 1930 and constructed commercial vehicles. For several years it was GM Europe’s most proﬁtable branch, becoming a leading truck manufacturer, exporting its light, medium and heavy trucks throughout the world. Bedford had already won the tender in the early 1950s to supply a medium lorry. The Bedford RL was based on the Bedford SCL, a civilian petrol-engined seven-tonne truck. The military version had all wheel drive and bigger wheels to increase ground clearance. It became the British military’s main medium truck and was built from the mid 1950s until the late 1960s. Many specialist variants of the RL were built, including workshops and radio vans and the ‘Green Goddess’ ﬁre

engines are based on the RL platform. The Home Ofﬁce also purchased a large number of RLs to be kept in reserve for any national emergency. These have since been disposed of, many of them with less than 2,000 miles on the clock. But in the early 1960s, with the Cold War progressing, the MoD issued a requirement for a 4x4 4,000kg truck to replace the RL. All the major British manufacturers submitted vehicles for trials: Austin entered its FJ (FV13701), Commer the CB (FV 13901) and Bedford the RK (FV 13801). It was based on its civilian TK 4x2 truck and after a series of trials it was selected and standardised as ‘Truck, Cargo’.

Bedford MK The MK four-tonne 4x4 first entered service in 1969. Powered by a K series, six-cylinder, 103hp, multi-fuel engine mated to a fourspeed manual gearbox, and a two-speed transfer box to boot. This was a vast improvement over the old RL. It was faster, with a top speed of 48mph (77kmh) and had bags more torque than the model it was replacing. But it was heavier (weighing in at 8,664kg in GS format), longer (6.5m) and wider (2.5m). With air braking and drums all round it stopped as well as it went – for its time. It didn’t take long for the MK to prove itself a fantastic all-rounder. Great on the road, they also had fantastic off-road capabilities. Most people would only have seen the standard GS version, with the tarpaulin back, normally carrying troops or equipment. They were also fitted with hard back bodies and used as mobile workshops. Some were fitted out as fuel or water bowsers. They were used in all theatres of operation with the British military. From the UK and Western Europe they saw service in warmer climates (such as Cyprus and Gibraltar) and, when winterised, used in the freezing conditions of Norway. With a crew of two there was a small amount of space behind the seats in the cab, which when going on operations would become your home from home. Guys who drove them swore by their reliability, with the only real issue usually being gearbox or clutch related. Due to the simple engineering (they didn’t have any power steering!) day to day maintenance was fairly easy to carry out. The only drawback came when more involved work was required. Due to the lack of a cab tilt system the whole cab would have to come off, which is the not the

easiest of tasks to do out in the field! That the MK was capable of doing its job is reflected in its production figures. Between 1969 and 1978 a total of 11,700 MKs had been produced in many variants, not just for British Forces but overseas forces as well.

Bedford MJ From April 1981, Bedford changed the designation of its popular truck from MK to MJ. This was due to the old K multifuel engine being superseded by the J’s new 5.5L, 98hp, Bedford 330 Turbo Diesel powerplant. This new engine was still mated to a four-speed manual gearbox with the two-speed transfer box. Even with slightly less horsepower it was up on torque, which meant more pulling power – it was also faster than the old unit, giving the MJ a top end of 54mph (88kmh). Externally it was much the same as the MK, although many had a reinforced chequer plate outer skin bolted on top of the cab. Most MJs had a cupola for the commander to use for observation,

BIG BOYZ TOYZ or with the addition of a GPMG and mount it could be used in an anti-aircraft defensive role. The MJ, much like the MK before it, went pretty much anywhere the British Forces ended up. Throughout BAOR (British Army of the Rhine) every unit had Bedford fourtonners, let alone back home in the UK. They were extensively used in the ﬁrst Gulf War and in just about every conﬂict since, until they were pulled out from frontline service in the late 1990s. Even now they are still in service, in limited numbers, with some TA units, and some are still held in War Reserve Stores.

Post-MJ A major blow struck Bedford when the company failed to win the MoD contract to produce the standard four-tonne 4x4 GS

“Between 1969 and 1978 a total of 11,700 MKs had been produced in many variants, not just for British Forces but overseas forces as well” www.airsoftactionmagazine.com

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Can I buy one?

truck for the British forces. Although the Bedford candidate had performed equally well as its main rival in extensive testing, the contract eventually went to Leyland DAF – despite the Army expressing a preference to continue the trusted relationship with Bedford trucks.

Personal experience with the MJ Going to show my age now, but when I was serving with 2nd Royal Tank Regiment our MT was made up of Series III Land Rovers, Alvis Stalwarts (one of my all-time favourites and a future article!) and Bedford MJs. Bear in mind that these vehicles had to cross terrain that regiments of Challengers, Chieftans and all manner of other heavy armour had churned up, in all-weather conditions, to replenish us with essentials such as fuel, food and other goodies (absolutely no beer, honest!). They always made it through. My ﬁrst proper drive of an MJ was when I was spammed (sorry, volunteered) to do a stint in MT on an exercise. Fullyloaded, driving at night with just tactical lighting, we were to rendezvous with a tank squadron coming in for their fuel and food requirements. All we had to go on was a sixﬁgure grid reference on the Saltau-Luneberg training area and with little sleep, off we went. The Bedford MJ never missed a beat throughout the journey. The ride off road could best be described as bone shaking and between exercising my left leg working the clutch pedal and shifting gears, all I could see to follow was a tiny convoy light. The MJ

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had several steep muddy inclines to surpass which she crawled up faultlessly, and then picked up speed going down the other side crossing tank tracks. While it seemed like the whole thing was swinging from side to side with the tailgate chains chinking away you felt it wasn’t going to let you down, and no matter what the conditions or terrain you would get there in the end. After the replen and with no payload it was back to our start point to load up and get ready to do it all again. And so on it went, two weeks spent behind the wheel of an MJ. If I’m honest, at the time I really missed my Challenger and was glad to get back behind the tillers of a 70-tonne death and destruction machine, but retrospectively it’s an experience that has stayed with me.

The 21st century Since a majority of MKs/MJs have gone through the MoD disposal procedure many trucks have found new lives both at home and abroad. In the UK, some have been converted into horse boxes and campers as well as used by farmers and other agricultural-based companies. Some have been bought and run by military enthusiasts (that’s us) and if you attend any military show you are guaranteed to see a Bedford or two. But many more have traded the roads and tracks of Western Europe for dust trails out in Africa and other far-ﬂung lands after being purchased by United Nations charities such as Christian Aid, to get food, water and other humanitarian aid to disaster areas and throughout the Third World.

The simple answer is: yes, you can! Withams recently sold off 12 MJs with HIAB cranes and there are plenty for sale on Milweb as well as other military/truck/private ad websites. Expect to pay around £4,000 for one in OK nick, going up to around £8,000 for a mint one. As ever do your research – don’t rush in and buy the ﬁrst one you see because it has a great camo paint job! Parts are readily available and are still reasonably priced. Everything from wheel bearings to a complete backend (and everything in between) is for sale. I know I say this every month but joining an association such as the Military Vehicle Trust (MVT) is always a big help, not just with sourcing a vehicle and parts but also for help when it comes to insurance (membership will get you a large discount from some companies). Do your research and speak to owners to get their viewpoint. If it is a ‘team’ purchase and costs are split then day to day running costs are minimal – and how cool is it when a load of you arrive at your local skirmish site in something as awesome as one of these beasts. MPG is not outstanding (hey, it’s no Prius!) but on £100 of diesel you should see nigh-on 200 miles depending on how hard you work it and how much kit you are carrying. The last thing to say is that you will need an HGV Class 3 on your license to drive an unmolested one. If not then the only other option is to have it worked on and reclassiﬁed down into the same category as a 7.5-ton truck which you can drive on a car licence.

Summary The fact they are still working in some of the harshest climates in the world, some 40 years after they were conceived, is testament to the Bedford’s design, British engineering, build quality and reliability. The Bedford MK/ MJ series are often overlooked for more glamorous military vehicles, but if you want an affordable, dependable and big piece of British military history, for less than £10,000, then these, just as in their 30 year military working life, will take some beating! ■

Military Vehicle Trust: www.mvt.org.uk MilWeb: www.milweb.net Witham Specialist Vehicles: www.mod-sales.com (at the time of writing, Witham was selling 50 (yes, 50!) Bedford MJ Series trucks, with a guide price of £4,500 plus VAT)

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SOCOM GEAR

VIKING TACTICS PRO TRAINING 1911 Like most of us Ratty has a love/hate relationship with GBB pistols – but how does he feel about this one? Read on…

as blowback pistols: we all have love/hate relationships with them. There are loads and loads available, from many different manufacturers to suit wallets of all sizes. How many of us use our pistols to maximum effect though? The answer is probably not that many! Most of the time they sit in our holsters strapped to our legs, or in a MOLLE holster just, well, looking good really. The only exceptions tend to be on CQB sites where pistols see more usage. The UK handgun ban not only took pistol ownership away from law-abiding sports and hobby shooters, it also created a lack of facilities to use real pistols. Many handgun clubs folded as guys joined clubs abroad and took their pistols with them. Some clubs continue using .177 CO2 pistols, some use airsoft pistols that take CO2 magazines.

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We all know that the world is not a safe place and many British citizens are working around the world either in a private military contractor (PMC) role or in maritime security carrying out anti-piracy duties. Companies that employ these guys and girls spend fortunes sending them away to do tactical pistol and riﬂe training. What if these companies could save that expense and do all the drills and tactical training on home soil, in a safe environment? Step in the training weapon system. Although airsoft has been used as a training aide before it has never really been fully

up to the job. AEGs don’t stop on the last round being fired, gas rifles just aren’t reliable enough and pistols not robust enough. Things have changed in recent times though: the use of airsoft guns has been adopted by government agencies, branches of the military, law enforcement and private security companies around the world. This is because build quality and realism have improved dramatically. Systema and Celcius make fantastic, electrically-powered training rifles, and many of the latest gas blowback rifles – the WE G39 range for example – can be adopted for training purposes. On the pistol side, KWA was perhaps the first company to bring out a range of dedicated training pistols – but Socom Gear has now released, in conjunction with Viking Tactics, a 1911 specifically for training. So it should make an awesome all-yearround gas blowback sidearm for the airsoft skirmish theatre.

Viking Tactics Inc The founder and owner of Viking Tactics, Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb, is a former Tier 1 Special Forces operator who served with the US Delta Force. With more than 21 years’ US Army experience, 15 of which were with Special Operations, Lamb conducted combat operations in numerous theatres including Mogadishu and Somalia (BlackHawk Down incident) as well as several tours in Bosnia and Iraq (both Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom). Not just a veteran of war, he is also an accomplished writer. His book Green Eyes and Black Rifles: The Warriors Guide To The Combat Carbine is widely regarded as a tactical bible by many shooters. Lamb is a hardened, experienced and intelligent warfighter who demands only the best. With that in mind, Viking Tactics Inc offers a large selection of highquality, battle-proven tactical gear designed by warriors, for warriors. The VTAC product line caters for the tactical requirements of the modern soldier, law enforcement officer, private security operator and competitive sport shooter. On top of all of this, VTAC also offers battle-proven weapon handling techniques and instruction. Their instructors, who all come from a Special Operations background,

continue in the evolution of weapons handling with aggressive, no-nonsense threat assessment and elimination skills. Catering for both pistol and riﬂe skills they have a range of books and DVDs available to keep your drills up to speed.

Socom Gear Viking Tactics Pro Training 1911 Socom Gear has established itself as a high-end manufacturer, making quality and collectable pistols (mainly 1911 derivatives, as well as some Beretta M9s and more recently the GemTech Oasis, a gas non-blowback silenced pistol). This training pistol is officially licensed and its design approved by Kyle Lamb himself. With all this in mind I was keen to see whether it had achieved all their goals and would not only be a great training aide, but a useable, skirmishable pistol too. When I first received this little package I saw the box looks no different to other models in the Socom Gear range, such as the MEU. The picture may be different along with the logos and a bit of blurb, but it’s the usual plain, brown, unassuming box. Flip the lid open and what first strikes you is the VTAC logo etched on the top slide. Along with the pistol, fitted with a removable 14mm silencer adaptor and magazine, there is also a decent lanyard and an instruction manual in the box. As with all Socom Gear 1911s it is full-metal aluminium construction, finished in a powder

THE ARMOURY coated smooth black finish. Weighing in at 942g you know that you have it in your hand and it feels a very solid bit of kit. It has a plain trigger and hammer though, which is unlike other 1911 models that feature more fancy designs. I must admit I was a little taken aback by this, but pleasantly surprised. After all, this is intended as a no-nonsense training aide so keeping it simple works for me. The grips, again finished in a black polymer, have the Novak logo on them. When handling the pistol they offer great friction, whether you wear gloves or not, and has an engraved thumb groove positioned to make access to the mag release button smoother and easier – as well as being very pleasing to the eye. I’m not normally affected by how nice rifles or pistols looks, but when something works, it just kinda works… Everything else on this 1911 is where you would expect it to be. The grip safety works, so it can’t be fired unless it’s held correctly, while the normal safety is ambidextrous and located at the rear of the frame. This can only be engaged once the weapon has been cocked. The mag release button is again on the left-hand side of the pistol grip just behind the trigger guard. Lastly, the slide release catch is located on the left hand side of the frame too.

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Now I know that pistols are a very personal choice but I have always found 1911s easy to use. I am able to work all the important bits with just one hand. There is very little to say about the right-hand side, apart from the Vtac Pro Training logo on the top slide and some other etching on the frame. The mag is a standard Socom Gear MEU style single stack with a 15-round capacity. The hop is adjustable and dead easy to get to and alter. Simply push out the slide release catch, making sure that no mag is ﬁtted, and then slide the entire top slide. Flip the top slide upside down and you will see a tiny black dial with an indicator on it. Rotating the dial towards the back of the top slide puts more hop on, while going the other direction backs it off.

On Test After familiarising myself with this 1911 (which took about ﬁve seconds!) I sprayed a squirt of silicone into all the places you need to lube a little. I gassed up the mag with ASG Ultrair gas and manually fed in 13 0.20g BBs. The ﬁrst few mags were really just to bed the pistol. It was only 5°C and I was expecting a catastrophic failure, with lots of gas venting out and the whole thing getting really cold – but it didn’t happen!

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I set up an indoor range and set the hop to roughly where I reckoned it needed to be. First things first it was out with the chrono to see what reading I could get. Using Blaster Devil 0.20g BBs the first eight shots achieved an average of 289fps, then a slow drop off with the last two shots giving a reading of 266fps. Still not bad with the weather conditions being what they were. Even the last shots were still accurately hitting the target 50ft away. If I was going to be owning one of these babies or using it as a training aide I would definitely be using 0.25g or 0.28g BBs and keep decent range as well as improved accuracy. If I was doing a proper indoor CQB course then I would use 0.30g for accuracy over range. Throughout the entire test the action and workings never missed a beat, the slide snapped back and forth with a clean crisp action.

Summary My aim of this review was really to see if Socom Gear has released a gas blowback pistol that’s not only robust and useable enough to be a training aide, but also skirmishable all year round for airsoft players. Going on my day’s usage in the temperatures that it operated in, the answer has to be a deﬁnite yes.

Not only that but it’s a great, modernlooking 1911 that can either be kept simple or optioned up with a suppressor. It ﬁtted in my Black Hawk CQC holster, so again on the training side you wouldn’t have to worry about changing your kit around as the airsoft toy gun won’t ﬁt! All in all it’s a lovely pistol and if you are a fan of 1911s then this one is a must. I hope that Socom Gear expands on its training pistol range. Let’s wait and see; KWA’s PTP range now has some serious competition. ■

SPECIFICATIONS SOCOM Gear Viking Tactics PT 1911 Weight: 942g Length: 232mm Build: Full-metal aluminium frame and top slide, black polymer grips, licensed markings by Viking Tactics Inc Hop-up: Adjustable Power source: Green gas Action: Gas blowback Magazine: Single stack 15-round capactiy Shooting mode: Semi-automatic Price: £95 Many thanks to RedWolf Airsoft for loaning us the review pistol: www.redwolfairsoft.com

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049

SOVIET MOTOR RIFLES OF THE 3RD SHOCK ARMY 1980 The Russian 3rd Shock Army sacriﬁced training and marksmanship for overwhelming numerical superiority. Gareth Harvey takes a look at the Soviet war machine

ith the ability to put a staggering four million men in the ﬁeld the Cold War Red Army and its vast resource of men and materials was the stuff of nightmares for allied planners.

Stalin once said that quantity had a quality all of its own, and this was typified in Soviet milit ary formations of the time. In contrast to the small, professio nal and motivated forces of NAT O, the Soviet Army was a blunt sledgeha mmer – an unstoppable steamro ller of heavy armour and automatic fire. Had a European land war began the1980s NATO strategists pred icted the Russian 3rd Shock Army wou ld thunder across the plains of the West German ‘Fulda Gap’. The shock armi es were formations conceived durin g WWII that endowed armoured ‘mot or rifle’ infantry and tank divisions with a greater than usual allocation of supporting equipment and artillery. This allowed them to entirely annihilat e key opposing formations. Comprising three tank divisions and one motor rifles division; the 3rd Shock army (actually renamed in Soviet parlance as the 3rd Assault Arm y but still referred to by NATO by its old title) could field an impressive 40,000 men at full ‘paper’ stren gth. (Around 1,000 main battle tank s, 10,000 men per tank division and 12,000 men in the motor rifles divis ion. In contrast a UK infantry division numbered about 3,000 men.)

The Motor Riﬂes Soldier

Our soldier here wears the 1969 modernised hebe or Rubashka combat uniform which replaced the long serving gymnastiorka tunic and breeches of WWII vintage. Membership of the ‘motor riﬂes’ branch of serv ice (Soviet infantry formations were in effect entirely armoured mot or riﬂes

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boards red shoulder noted by the de is s) e red 80 th 19 in the t Army’ and CA for ‘Sovie rs tte le seen e th es g bearin ere sometim ough these w th al s, he as fl collar aki versions. far from in subdued kh the 1980s was ed forces of m ar et vi come So be The ian Amy has rce the Russ fo d se ni as still er w the mod e infantryman ot wear for th fo rd ewed da ch an es St today. soldiers still ot, and many bo ck the ja r g de -le un the high nd the feet ’ bound arou ps ra w ot st ‘fo po r socks fo is the Soviet chaic design ar r ila of m nt si ce a is f boots. O 80s. Remin until the late ed us rap st ar Yge d an eb WWII w mble of belt bing this ense eb w , II ic W br W ed fa German own rubberis from a dark br pouches ry lla ci is constructed an d munition an am al du vi di in l fittings. with the her and stee nvas with leat ca m fro to his ed on construct ht in comparis r travelled lig ie ld so squads’ et e vi The so rried upon th ost kit was ca M t. ar rp sacks te ck ru NATO coun ms such as carrier and ite l ne on ere rs w pe gs armoured sleeping ba xuries such as Lu . dard on m an m st were unco r ranks. The ide the office ts ou an nt of te is ly near non-ex consist pure ldiers would so y an r m ei th of r combat load magazines fo three to four r fo h a uc d po an versack ammunition respirator ha soldier e, a bayonet, buckle). Our of ft Kalashnikov rifl (le h uc po n io cont aminat medical or de

COLD WAR WARRIOR

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here is positively well-equipped with what was known in the Russian army as the ‘existence load’ which adds an entrenching tool, waterbottle, veshmeshok rucksack and his plasch palatkas waterproof raincape/ groundsheet rolled across the top (in cold weather this could be substituted for a greatcoat). Personal protection is minimal, in the form of a steel helmet. For years the Soviet army continued with the WWII SSh40 steel helmet, but by the early-80s use of the improved SSh60 model worn by our soldier was more widespread. (Up until 1975 many soviet solders were, besides the substitution of the trademark AK47 for the bolt-action Moisin Nagant, near-indistinguishable from their WWII Red Army forefathers). While WWII Soviet soldiers considered the steel helmet ‘unmanly’, photographs from the Cold War era show it was almost universally worn, even in extreme cold weather when the winter ushanka fake fur and pile cap was issued (the cap is often seen worn underneath the steel helmet).

The Ubiquitous Kalashnikov

“While WWII Soviet soldiers considered the steel helmet ‘unmanly’, photographs from the Cold War era show it was almost universally worn”

Perhaps the most distinctive item that our Red Army soldier carries is the ubiquitous AKM assault rifle. Essentially a modified form of the AK47 assault rifle (introduced in 1949 in small numbers to the Red Army), the AKM utilised stamped steel rather than a milled receiver for a lighter and more economical weapon. Other improvements included an adaptor upon the muzzle to reduce excessive climb on full-auto and an improved bayonet. The AKM is most distinguishable from the AK47 by the smaller rectangular indentation on the receiver above the magazine, the slanted muzzle adaptor and the pronounced ridge in the forward heatshield/grip. The AK series of weapons perhaps best illustrates the emphasis on quantity rather than quality in Soviet Russia. (As a side note of interest, the improved AKM 6Kh bayonet is able to combine with its scabbard to form a basic set of wirecutters – a feature copied by later NATO rifle designs including the UK’s SA80.)

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In contrast to NATO emphasis, in particular within the British Army, on high standards of marksmanship and aimed fire, Soviet doctrine was for the rifle squad to dismount to attack and advance in line, firing their weapons on full-automatic to put a veritable hail of fire down on the enemy. Of particular note is the basic design of the AK series. While nearly all western rifles are based around a fire selection system where fully-automatic fire is an addition, useful for close assaults and desperate situations, the AK series has full-auto as the default setting after one slides the rifle from ‘safe’ to ready to fire… single shot capability is very much an afterthought with Kalashnikov rifles. While the squad laid down automatic fire and advanced, important targets such as officers and NCOs would be engaged by

the squad marksman with supporting fire provided by the AFV. By the 1980s the Soviet soldier was undoubtedly far better trained than his predecessors but the Red Army sill placed heavy emphasis on learning battle drills by rote. Training was unimaginative and repetitive, designed to condition the soldier to behave ‘exactly so’ in any given situation. Independent thought and initiative from NCOs and junior officers was positively discouraged, and NATO plans sought to take advantage of this by targeting higher command elements in order to paralyse the massed Russian forces. The shock infantry of the Red Army was eventually defeated by economics and political change – which is just as well given that at the height of the Cold War they outnumbered NATO troops 11-1. As one former Cold War-era tank commander stated: “We were under armoured and outgunned, the Russians could engage us beyond our tanks’ range and they could fire missiles on the move from over 5km away – our life expectancy on the Fulda Gap in a Centurion tank was around 28 seconds!” ■

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G&G G980 G&G Armament, long known for its cutting-edge designs, has lunged 80 years into the past. Scott Allan gets his hands on G&G’s replica of the infamous Kar98

uay Guay – or G&G as it’s better known – has kept us entertained and salivating with a steady stream of releases from Taiwan in the past few years. Recently we reviewed the new PM5-A4 and now we have been lucky to be one of the first to see the final version of the Karabiner 98 (aka Kar98, K98) airsoft rifle. (But obviously, as Taiwan respects international copyright G&G’s offering is not a Kar98 but a G980.) With an excellent finish that boasts a

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hefty real wood finish and full-metal outer construction it is hard to find a reason not to appreciate the new K98; powered by CO2 with variable power to suit every player, there’s little more you could ask for. So if you are a diehard WWII German fan, either airsoft or re-enactment, this version presents a usable alternative for both. Both the length and weight are absolutely spot on and while it feels tough it does not feel overly heavy. The original Kar98 saw service throughout WWII and was the general

issue bolt-action rifle until the grim invention of the assault rifle and submachine guns. Originally manufactured by Mauser in 1898 the rifle underwent various transformations and eventually ended up a little bit lighter and shorter, under the Karabiner 98 Kurz designation (K98k). Utilising the 7.92 x 57mm round, the same as the MG42, the rifle packed a mighty punch even by today’s standards. Many of these rifles were also fitted with a scope to be used in a sniper role, but this was difficult and expensive in WWII. After

THE ARMOURY

“The 8g CO2 cartridge is located in the magazine which is also responsible for the power, and comes in two ﬂavours – 350fps and 470fps” its initial service with the German army the rifle saw action in Turkey and Spain, and it is even spotted in Iraq today. While it can be tough to appreciate a classic-looking rifle, the G&G G980 is faithfully replicated from beginning to end. It is a 6mm CO2, singleshot bolt-action rifle. The 8g CO2 cartridge is located in the magazine which is also responsible for the power, and comes in two flavours – 350fps

and 470fps (temperature dependant). There are several realistic markings on the rifle including the German Eagle symbols which help complete the overall look. A spare magazine is included in the package, and it’s a good job too as they only hold nine rounds each. It also comes with a sling. Performance of a bolt-action is always a tricky thing to

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gauge. Full-auto electric rifles are too different a kettle of fish to try and compare against the K98. Comparison against other singleshot rifles is the only way. The power system, controlled via the magazine, is the best out there. You can simply switch magazines to opt for more or less power, which allows for more flexibility than any other gas rifle on the market. The 8g CO2 bulb is a less common size than the 12g versions used by most CO2 pistols; you tend to find the 8g ones in brewing shops but they are available at around 30p per bulb. The action is extremely smooth and feeds each round without any issues. On the field the bolt-action rarely reins supreme, in real life and airsoft gaming alike. The CO2 system does deliver a steady and consistent power and the 8g bulb lasts for a good few reloads. Changing the bulb is tool free as the magazine takedown takes seconds and has the screw key built in. Against other boltactions in a WWII scenario, in particular the other K98s available, this rifle stands head

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and shoulders above the others. Similarly if the K98 was to be used in a sniper role I believe it would be a force to be reckoned with. Depending on your tastes and the games you play this rifle is either for you or it’s not. There is no real middle ground when it comes to the WWII scene – but what G&G has produced cannot be shunned from a performance or build quality point of view. Niche, perhaps, but a quality rifle nonetheless, and the ingenious ability to vary power levels makes this a viable weapon for anyone serious about their role as an airsoft sniper. ■

SPECIFICATIONS Length: 1,100mm Weight: 3,740g Inner barrel length: 577mm Build: Real wood and full-metal construction Power source: 8g CO2 bulbs Magazine: Nine-round CO2 mag Velocity: 350fps or 470ps (depending on magazine) Price: £274.99 (includes sling and two magazines) Available from Land Warrior Airsoft: 0131 654 2452, www.landwarriorairsoft.com

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PATHFINDER PARACHUTE GROUP

EUROPE Simon Chambers (author of Keepers of the Gateway to Hell) tells us how one UK-based group is bringing history to life – and you can be part of it!

is eyes watered as he stuck his face firmly into the slipstream and squinted. About a mile away on the horizon he could see the outline of the Sannerville Drop Zone approaching fast. Pulling himself back into the lumbering Douglas Dakota transport aircraft he peered around the first Paratrooper in the stick and waved to catch the attention of the loadmaster. “Five right!” he shouted and confirmed with a hand signal. The loadmaster cupped his hand over his radio mike to drown out the engine noise and repeated the request to the pilot. Ian felt the aircraft jerk ever so slightly; a quick glance out the door confirmed the pilot had made the course correction. Ian looked at Roy and smiled. The rest of the stick behind him were all hyped up. They

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were about to jump onto the Sannerville DZ in Normandy, a DZ no one had jumped onto since WWII. Pathﬁnder had been given permission by the Mayor to do just that. The honour was not lost on any of them. Two-thirds of the aircraft’s 24 jumpers were former Paratroopers from several different countries; the rest were historians, re-enactors and airborne enthusiasts. You have to be a very serious enthusiast to do this, though: it’s not cheap and it’s a high risk sport. Still, there is no shortage of jumpers. Each man had purchased reproduction uniform of the period representing most of

the Allied airborne contingents involved in the original operation. They were all using green round military parachutes and would be jumping static line (not freefall). Apart from the fact that they were using steerable

parachutes, they would be showing the general public massed around the DZ an idea of what the original drop looked like in 1944. Waiting for the jumpers on the ground was George Moodie and his wife Hilary. George is a Paratrooper veteran of the original drop and his son Doug, also a former Paratrooper, was somewhere behind Roy in the first stick. They were going to have a lot to talk about once he landed! “Action stations!” Ian called and Roy moved into the door, handing him his static line. It was a nice day for it; it was a bit gusty despite the blue skies, but nothing they couldn’t handle and well within safety parameters. Behind Roy the rest of the stick shuffled forward and bunched up close behind him. It would have to be a fast exit to make sure no one missed the DZ. Roy looked down and could see the blue flashing lights from the French police car blocking the road on the edge of the DZ. Hundreds of people lined the road, their white faces clearly seen looking upwards towards the aircraft. Roy recognised the track marking the leading edge of the DZ from the aerial map they had seen during their briefing at Carpique Airport. This must have been very close to what the original drop had been like, although Pathfinder was not jumping into enemy territory as the spearhead for one of the biggest invasions in human history – and they were not about to get shot at!

LIVING HISTORY

“Green on! Go!” Ian shouted in Roy’s ear and slapped him on the shoulder. As a drill movement he stepped smartly into the 120mph slipstream and braced as his feet came up level with his shoulders. He could feel the ties of his static line snapping in order until the nylon canopy blossomed above and with a slow jerk his world stopped moving. Like most old sweats he had completely forgotten to do his four-second safety count, but knew instinctively when he should feel the chute open. He looked up to check the canopy and there was the most beautiful sight any parachutist could ask for – a perfectly round and inﬂated parachute! “Well that’s one bum twitch out of the way – now all I have to do is land safely.” Pulling down on his right toggle he turned towards the DZ. The red signal smoke that had been ignited to help the pilot identify the DZ also served to

ON THE TELLY Al Murray, The Pub Landlord, trained and jumped with Pathfinder at Arnhem while filming an episode for his TV series The Road to Berlin. More recently, Pathfinder trained a group from a London youth group as military parachutists, in co-operation with Camelot Events, and dropped them over Arnhem as part of a Living History project. It was filmed and shown on TV under the title Arnhem, Tour of Duty. In 2014 Pathfinder will once again be in front of the cameras for the making of Men of Arnhem, an Angel Motion Pictures production.

show the jumpers which way the wind was blowing. With a quick look around to make sure he was clear of all the other jumpers Roy turned into wind. Time under canopy from 2,000ft is only about two minutes in good conditions so jumpers don’t have long to admire the view or think about what to have for lunch. The cornfields below promised a soft landing. They don’t usually get the opportunity to jump into crops but the French farmers in the area had all given permission, which was really good of them and in return the jumpers would keep the damage down to a minimum. The last 50ft rushed up and Roy arrived on French soil with a thump, quickly followed by the rest of the stick. Yet another successful jump completed by Pathfinder, and another ‘first’ to add to its already impressive and ever-growing collection of firsts.

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Pathﬁnder was formed over 20 years ago by Sgt Roy Mobsby and Lance Bombardier Ron Ball. Both former Paras, they wanted to jump around the world on other country’s Para courses and earn their Wings – that’s what you call badge collecting the hard way! Apart from the basic parachute course Pathﬁnder teaches in Holland, the group also

jumps at WWII anniversary events using either a DC3, Polish AN2 or the good old Cessna Caravan. They are not too worried about the type of aircraft they use (after all it’s just a hole in the sky that they can jump from) – it’s more important to put green round parachutes over the drop zone to remind the youth of today what it would have looked like in 1944. Pathfinder has clocked up some impressive firsts and was the first group (since they were originally dropped onto in WW2) to jump a round canopy onto these former war time DZs: Arnhem, Ginkle Heath, Wolfheze, Oosterbeek, Renkum Heath, Ede, Dreil, The Alps in support of Peter Churchill’s SOE, Sannerville and Merville in Normandy, as well as DZ N at Pegasus Bridge and the DZ that should have been used in 1944 at Arnhem Bridge. Pathfinder jumped this last one twice, to prove it could have been done. Would it have shortened the war by a year? We will never know – but Pathfinder proved that the jump could have taken place, and much nearer the bridge. ■

“The type of aircraft isn’t important – it’s more important to put green round parachutes over the drop zone to remind the youth of today what it would have looked like in 1944”

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION WWII anniversary events are just a small part of Pathfinder and its activities. Roy, a Warminster-trained small arms weapons instructor, has always had an interest in airsoft and deactivated weapons used as training aids. On leaving the army he set up a training establishment using airsoft. Pathfinder has been given space at the former RAF camp at Sopley in the New Forest, near Bransgore and a stone’s throw from Bournmouth. Pathfinder shares the site, using the camp on alternative weekends. Registered with UKARA under company name Black Ops Solutions, several of their club members have also served as PMCs in Iraq so you are guaranteed to be trained by professional soldiers who have seen service in hostile environments! Pathfinder Group Airsoft Military Simulation concentrates on doing it properly and currently trains Cadets, Territorials and other airsoft groups in the art of CQB, FIBUA and battlefield drills. The use of casualty simulation and radio controlled explosions keeps its members on their toes – not to mention the booby traps in the Killing House! Just when you think you have finished and can see the light seeping through the exit door you feel the tug of the tripwire on your boot and, for you, the war is over… So whether you want to experience a military parachute course and earn your Dutch Military B Wings, stalk targets in the darkness of the Killing House or maybe just get your battlefield drills right, Pathfinder Group Airsoft Military Simulation is for you. Contact: Roy, Pathfinderuk1@aol.com, www.pathfindergroupuk.com Keepers of the Gateway to Hell is available as a Kindle download (£1.94) from Amazon: amzn.to/KOTGTH

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Mike Buttrick and Nick Lawrence of Lincolnshire Airsoft Club take us through identifying and ﬁxing problems with gearboxes, barrels and hop units

WORKSHOP

GEARING UP FOR MAINTENANCE

f you want your AEG to keep running smoothly then you’ll need to undertake regular maintenance. Nick Lawrence has been gun-tech at Lincolnshire Airsoft Club for ﬁve years, so I took advantage of his expertise to bring you this guide to competent maintenance of your weapon. Before you break open your AEG it is important to ﬁgure out the exact problem, so you can ensure you have the correct parts to hand. Remember that the longer an AEG is left open the greater the chance of parts going missing or becoming damaged.

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Identifying the gearbox

Identifying problems ■ AEG is cycling but air nozzle is not moving? The tappet plate is probably broken. ■ Gears are moving, along with the tappet plate and air nozzle, but no ‘pop’ from the piston? The piston is probably broken. ■ Grinding sounds from the gearbox? Check for incorrect motor height, poor shimming, worn gears or possibly damaged bushings. ■ AEG still functioning but with a drastic drop in velocity? The spring may have snapped (an exceptionally rare problem). ■ AEG has been working ﬁne but suddenly stops and the motor will not cycle, and you know that your battery is still charged? Then the motor has probably burnt out. ■ Piston stopped moving or grouping and range of BBs has become erratic? The O-ring on the piston is probably broken. ■ Barrel jammed, and not due to a dirty barrel or cheap BBs? The hop rubber may have split, your hop setting may be too high, or your hop unit has cracked (the latter is rare and only found with plastic hop units).

Version 1: Tokyo Marui’s ﬁrst gearbox is found only in the Famas.

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There are several different variants of gearbox, known as versions. These range from V1 to V8, with some being much less common than others. Each version has parts that are speciﬁc to it, and are not interchangeable between versions. These include: spring guides, tappet plates, air nozzles, trigger mechanisms and motors. The most common are V2 and V3 gearboxes. The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at the top of the gearbox; a V3 has a metal slide that holds both sides of the gearbox together while a V2 relies on screws to do the same job. If you’re not sure which version you have, compare the shape to those shown on these pages. Within the gearbox, and attached to it, you will ﬁnd the following parts: motor, anti-reversal latch, bevel gear, spur gear, sector gear, spring guide, spring, piston (with attached head), cylinder (with attached head), tappet plate and spring, air nozzle, trigger mechanism, bushings (metal or plastic) and shims.

Gearbox maintenance essentials Make sure you are wearing eye protection before splitting the gearbox to avoid damage caused by any small parts ejecting at speed. It is also important to have all of the necessary tools to hand. When splitting the casing you need to ensure that the spring does not eject from the gearbox as it may snap the spring guide. The risk of this happening in future can be reduced by replacing the stock plastic spring guide with a metal version. It is important to keep the moving parts well-greased but avoid over greasing, as it leads to them moving slower, jamming and draining battery power. The gears should be correctly shimmed as a lack of shims can lead to gear and piston wear and the tappet plate being impeded. Use a grease of light viscosity (one which appears clear or translucent white). If using heavy based grease, which is usually black or dark brown, apply it sparingly. While you have the gearbox apart you should check for wear on gears and remove any metal ﬁlings.

Version 2: One of the most common gearbox types. Several companies have redesigned and improved upon it, but there are essentially three variants: windowed, non-windowed and ICS. Shown here is the windowed version (note small ‘window’ to rear of gearbox) usually found in Armalite riﬂes (which cannot take a non-windowed type as it doesn’t allow for the body tabs to pass over the gearbox. The non-windowed type is found in non-Armalites. V2 used in: Armalites (CA, TM, G&G, G&P, AK); MP5 (CA, TM, G&G, ICS); G3 (CA, TM); M249 (G&P)

Do not force the parts if you encounter resistance when putting the gearbox back together. The parts may not be correctly placed and continuing to force them could cause unnecessary damage. If you lack experience in opening gearboxes always seek advice from your local gun-tech, or check out some of the millions of videos that deal with the subject on the internet.

Version 3: Favoured for its reliability and the abundance of aftermarket parts available. Look for the retainer plate on the top of the gearbox (instead of screws, as used in V2). Also has a thicker shell. Note: though SIG gearboxes can take V3 parts they are not normal V3 boxes – it doesn’t have a motor cage, and features a unique ﬁre selector. V3 used in: AK47 (GG, ICS, TM, CA); AK74 (GG, ICS, TM, CA); UMP (GG); Steyr Aug (TM, CA); MP5k (TM); G36 (TM CA)

Problems with custom parts Be aware that custom parts are not guaranteed to fit and may require some modification. If you decide to replace stock parts with modified custom parts it can lead to the AEG being altered in such a way that the modifications cannot be reversed.

Barrels and hop units Barrel performance is not necessarily related to length. For example, an ICS CXP has a range comparable to a full-length G3. If the barrel is too long then the BB experiences more friction which can reduce velocity and range of shot. Fitting a tight-bore barrel can improve the grouping of BBs and therefore improve the accuracy of your shots. But this can also increase the velocity, which can be a problem on AEGs that already reach your local site’s fps limit. Also, if a tight-bore barrel is not cleaned regularly then the BB is more likely to be affected by any dirt deposits, which can cause jamming or erratic ﬂight. This is less likely to happen with a standard barrel (as witnessed with standard Tokyo Marui barrels that are wider but still have good range). Any 6.01mm barrel will only work effectively when used with very high quality BBs – which means the cost of BBs goes up! Make sure that your hop unit is completely turned off and that the barrel clip is removed

Version 4: This one is found only in PSG-1.

Version 6: The wiring and switch assembly is found on the outside of the V6 box. This means it is relatively easy to upgrade parts. The gears are standard although high-torque gears may require some modification before fitting. It also uses TM’s standard piston and spring set, so it can take aftermarket pistons for V2 and V3 boxes. It can also take V2 spring guides. V6 used in: Thompson M1A1 (TM); P90 (TM) barrel and rubber into the hop unit. The groove in the barrel should be facing downwards, with enough room for the hop clip to fit in the vertical grooves on either side of the barrel. A good way to test that you have put the hop unit and barrel together properly is to turn the hop on fully and look down the inside of the barrel from the opposite end, if you see the black bead pushing down on the hop rubber then it is fitted correctly.

Version 7: Like the V6 this one has wiring and switch assemblies on the outside. However, the switch mechanism is divided into several parts so upgrading this can be a little trickier. Has a slightly longer cylinder and much smaller spur gear than found in previous versions. Can use a V6 spring guide, but otherwise components are not cross-compatible. V7 used in: M14/Socom16 (TM)

Version 8: A unique gearbox featuring a mechanical burst function, found only in TM Type 89.

ICS simplicity The split gearbox design of ICS M4 AEGs allows you to open the AEG quickly and have direct access to the gears without removing the gearbox. This can allow you to quickly change the spring to adjust for lower or higher velocity. To open the case and access the gears on this model, and to safely close it, follow this procedure: ■ Push the forward-assist button. If the gearbox is under tension you will hear it wind back on itself at this point – that is normal, don’t worry! ■ Remove the pin from the rear of the AEG. ■ Maintain control with the pistol grip on the front of the AEG. ■ Hinge the casing forwards. ■ To close the casing you should ensure that the visible gear is showing the smooth section and not the teeth.

when you remove the barrel. If you don’t you can damage the hop rubber. If the barrel proves difﬁcult to remove then stop pulling and spray the hop with silicon lubricant. When ﬁtting a new hop rubber you should apply grease to the end of the barrel that has a groove and open cut-out, then line up the ridge in the inside of the rubber with the groove in the barrel. Check for any deformities in the rubber by looking down the barrel from the opposite end. Lubricate the outside of the rubber before inserting the

WORKSHOP

■ Maintain control with a ﬁrm grip and close the casing slowly. ■ Reﬁt the pin.

Hopefully you will have found this guide useful, educational and informative – maintaining your AEG should now be a less daunting task. Everyone has to start at the beginning, and all gun-techs were novices at some point, so understanding the workings of an AEG is not an insurmountable task. A previous article was signed off by pointing out that all marshals require a sense of humour; this is also an important requirement when maintaining AEGs as even the most skilled gun-tech will encounter serious problems at some point. ■

■ Do not force the casing close as this can damage the tappet plate.

Version 5: An obscure-looking gearbox, the V5 is found only in the TM Uzi.

For more details on any of the gearbox types, check out: bit.ly/IDGearbox

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. . . N I W . . . N I WIN...W

4 M L U P G A M P G& B Q C E O M G COMP ES

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SOCOM GEAR CHEYTAC M-200 INTERVENTION The real-steel Intervention holds the world record for the best distance grouping – but how good is the airsoft counterpart? Ratty finds out with Socom Gear’s M-200 Introduction There are many reasons that certain rifles and pistols become famous, such as length of service (Colt 1911) or their use at a certain moment in time (MP5 at the Iranian Embassy siege), and more recently for their use in film or TV (Uzi 9mm). The same goes for sniper rifles too. In recent years, due to on-going conflicts, advances in technology and munitions have seen some revolutionary rifles being adopted by various forces. While the British forces have been issued such rifles as the L96 and more recently the AW.338, American forces have adopted large calibre rifles such as the Barrett .50cal, originally designed as an anti-materiel sniper system. But there is a rifle that was overlooked by the masses until its appearance in Hollywood blockbuster The Shooter – the

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CheyTac M-200 Intervention. Since then there have been a few airsoft CheyTacs to suit most budgets. For those of you who want realism then Socom Gear’s 8mm gas version must be high on your ‘wanted’ list!

The Real Deal CheyTac LLC (short for Cheyenne Tactical) is one of a handful of companies that has designed both riﬂe and ammunition in-house. Its basis is that the design of many military small arms and cartridges in service today are over 50 years old. The evolution of new military ﬁeld tactics has been hampered by a lack of parallel small arms and cartridge designs. Working with both the American military and Homeland Security, CheyTac USA has developed (and is continuing to develop) weaponry, support

systems and tactics that have been adopted and will serve as a core to their field operations. The basis of the Chey Tac Long Range Rifle System is the M-200 Intervention rifle, and the CheyTac cartridges that go with it. The rifle itself is a seven-shot bolt-action, heavy-duty take-down sniper rifle. Available in either .408 or .375 (both CheyTac’s own designed rounds), it was originally conceived and designed specifically as a long distance (up to 2,500yd/2,300m) anti-personnel sniper rifle. From its original conception as simply a rifle, the CheyTac Intervention has developed into a total system package comprising of rifle, cartridge and Advanced Ballistic Computer (ABC). Unlike other heavy sniper rifles, the Intervention is entirely maintainable

at operator level, including complete strip down as well as barrel removal and replacement. Spare barrels can be maintained at unit level and replacements can be made in the field, allowing for mission-specific and special barrel designs. The .408 CheyTac’s light recoil is attributed to the McArthur PGRS-1 muzzle brake that was designed to strip gases from the projectile before leaving the muzzle brake itself. There is also a muzzle brake suppressor, designed by Ops Inc. Currently two daysights are available. The primary sight is the Nightforce NXS 5.5-22x56 variable magnification telescopic sight, and the alternative is the US Optics SN-9. The chosen nightvision system is the AN/PVS-14 gen3 Pinnacle monocular. The PVS 14 is attached to the day optic sight using a Monoloc device. Where there is insufficient ambient light or where the infrared laser is needed for further target illumination, an AN/PEQ-2 IR laser is used for system support. The CheyTac cartridge was developed to fill the gap between .338 and .50. The .408 and .375 cartridges were designed (and are manufactured by CheyTac) to outperform the best .50cal projectiles downrange. The projectiles are CNC lathe turned and made of a copper/nickel alloy. It is available in 419gn, which has a supersonic range of 2,200yd or more at standard air conditions, and in a 305gn variant designed for highvelocity, near-range applications. The ABC came about after early testing of the Intervention, when it became

THE ARMOURY apparent that the field accuracy level was less than acceptable. A tactical computer was developed to integrate radar data with a handheld computer. The computer, using input from a Kestrel 4000 or 4500(NV) meteorological and environment sensor package and Vector IV Laser Range Finder, calculates and provides the operator with elevation and windage settings. Options include using a Dell or Windows capable mobile phone as a platform for the ABC. On the Discovery Channel in April 2007, during the TV show Future Weapons episode ‘Massive Attack’, the host Richard Machowicz (a former US Navy Seal) hit a human-sized target at a distance of 2,530yd (2,313m) with three out of six shots – pretty damn impressive! The CheyTac M-200 Intervention was also voted the number one sniper rifle on the Military Channel’s Ultimate Weapons. Former US Marine Scout Sniper Patrick Garrity trained Mark Wahlberg, lead in The Shooter, to shoot both left- and righthanded as the actor is left-handed. As the film’s military technical advisor Garrity also taught Mark different shooting postures, how to adjust the scope, how to judge effects of wind to a shot, carry out rapid bolt manipulation and develop special breathing skills. His training also included extreme distance shooting (up to 1,100yd) and the use of ghillie suits.

“First impressions are good: this thing looks the dog’s danglies! If you turn up on site with one of these you are going to be your team’s best friend – and on the other team’s most wanted list!”

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Socom Gear CheyTac M-200 Intervention I popped the last catch on the large (and extremely heavy) Socom Gear padded hard rifle case and lifted the lid, and what a sight to behold. As anyone who knows me will tell you, what I know about sniping can be written on the back of a postage stamp with a crayon – but I do know well-made kit when I see it! When you think of Socom Gear most will think of top-end pistols, usually 1911 based, and while Socom Gear does a range of M4-based gas rifles too a bolt-action, gaspowered sniper rifle is a little bit out of the norm, let alone an 8mm one as well!

Overview First impressions are good: this thing looks the dog’s danglies! If you turn up on site with one of these you are going to be your team’s best friend – and on the other team’s most wanted list! Only when you go to pick it up do you realise how close to the real CheyTac this thing is, weighing in at 9kg (31lb in old money). Not surprising – when you know that Socom Gear built this using the original blueprints. Due to its accuracy to the real deal CheyTac was more than happy to fully license this M-200 Intervention. The official blurb says it’s the only 1:1 scale Cheytac M-200 Intervention on the market. Even the .408 PGRS-1 muzzle brake is an authentic reproduction! The rifle is full-metal construction, bar a couple of small bits and pieces. Flipping the adjustable bipod down and setting this beasty on the floor, the only thing I needed to do was to screw the cocking lever knob onto the bolt itself. Also in the hard case is the HUGE magazine, a pack of five imitation .408cal brass cartridges and a small pack of 0.35g 8mm BBs. Again like the real thing, the way the stock is designed on this means that accidental racking of the bolt is impossible. Extending the stock out is easy: push a button on the side of the rifle and pull the stock until it clicks into its extended position. Apparently the rifle is 20mm longer than the real thing with stock extended. Outrageous! In the back of the stock is a monopod that can be deployed to aid stability, and means that you are not shouldering the weapon for long periods. There is a standard Weaver rail running along the top of the receiver for mounting optics. The safety switch selector is on the right-hand-side of the receiver, just forward of the bolt above the pistol grip. Safe can only be selected when the rifle is cocked.

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“Richard Machowicz (a former US Navy Seal) hit a humansized target at a distance of 2,530yd (2,313m) with three out of six shots” I am sure that some will criticise the riﬂe for not coming with a scope. Yes it’s an expensive bit of kit and normally I would be one to make such a comment. However, I was told that the reasoning behind this

was not to force a particular scope onto the owner. This lets the owner use whatever scope they want to put on it. I hate to say it, but to do this thing justice you will need a sizable budget set aside for a decent optic.

need to be firm when carrying out actions on it. Don’t go over the top and start bashing it about, but if it doesn’t locate the first time then take it out and try again. With the mag located I pushed the bolt forward; you can hear it collect the round from the mag and feed it into the chamber. It really does make you feel like you are on the ranges at Bisley! Bearing in mind it was only 5°C when I tested this, my expectations weren’t too high – but when I pulled that trigger, Christ, was I wrong! There was a hiss and thwack as the heavy pellet whacked into a metal Fig 11 target some 120ft away. Pulling the bolt back extracted the empty cartridge and flung it about 6ft away (don’t forget to pick them up, or do it properly and cup your hand over the extraction port to catch the casing). It made all the right metallic noises as it did so. Bolt forward again and another round chambered, pull the trigger and repeat the process – it didn’t take long to do all five rounds. It was running really well so I loaded up the cartridges, bombed up the mag, re-gassed the bolt and did it all again, and again, and yet again! Pulling the bolt back is nice and easy with a smooth action. You can now access the gas valve, which is located on the top of the exposed bolt. I used ASG Ultrair on this test and for the first fill I pumped in nearly 30 seconds’ worth of gas. It would be a good idea to support the bolt from underneath with your free hand when filling up with gas. I doubt that not doing so would cause any problems, considering the substantial build quality of this rifle, but when buying top-end kit why would you not want to look after it and elongate its life? With the gun gassed up the fun really began! Taking the five dummy brass .408 cartridges out of the packet I put an 8mm BB in each. Socom Gear recommends Marushin 8mm BBs for the cartridges but I am sure that the likes of Madbull 8mm will be fine to run through it as well. Loading up the mag with the dummy cartridges was easy; the spring on the magazine is strong but not so strong as to make it difficult. The clink of brass against metal as I fed the rounds into the mag put a real smile on my face.

It was running nice and consistent so I decided it was time to put a chrono in front of it. Ah! Problem! This rifle is so long and as I was on my own I had to hold the chrono while reaching back with my other arm to be able to pull the trigger. I must have looked like a circus act – no jokes please! The first shot achieved 325fps, so did the second and third, while the fourth was slightly less at 314fps and the fifth just over 300fps. That doesn’t sound like much, but bearing in mind that the chrono is set for a 6mm 0.20g BB and how much bigger and heavier the BB I was shooting through it, my mind staring whirring over. With the aid of my trusty calculator I scaled it back and worked out that this is firing equivalent of around 430fps-ish. Now that is more than ample and most sites will allow you to use it on game days, albeit with a minimum contact distance. I would still check with the site owner/operator beforehand though. Don’t forget this is a sniper with only seven rounds so you want every shot to count and make sure that your target knows he’s been hit!

In Use

Summary

After finishing off my bowl of three Weetabix I picked up the Cheytac, magazine, tin of gas and pack of BBs and headed off outside for testing. Putting the magazine in the rifle took a couple of attempts – I was being too gentle the first time! Like most things on this rifle, and again like working on a real firearm, you

Sniping in airsoft is a quirky role. I see sniper riﬂes of all shapes and sizes on game sites, spring, AEG and gas, and they mostly stay in the Safe Zone. So on one side, spending a fair wedge of cash on a riﬂe you might use for one game would be mad! However, if you are really serious about sniping and want a

THE ARMOURY

useable, consistent, ultra-realistic sniper riﬂe, then this is the one for you. Be prepared to spend another wedge of cash on a decent scope and get yourself down the gym to prepare for lugging this 9kg beast around. Some of you will be asking, is it all worth it? When you see that round hitting its target at over 150ft away, watching their hand go up and hearing that word “HIT!”, you’ll know it’s worth every single penny. ■

SPECIFICATIONS Socom Gear CheyTac M-200 Intervention Weight: 9kg Length: 1189mm (stock collapsed) 1366mm (stock extended) Inner barrel length: 650mm Build: Steel bolt, bipod, magazine and stock; heavy aluminium barrel, chassis and forend; reinforced carry handle with oversized bolts Magazine: Seven-round 8mm Shooting mode: Bolt-action Power source: Green gas/propane (CO2 bolt available as upgrade) Hop-up: Adjustable Velocity: ~430fps (8mm 0.35g BB at 5°C) Price: £830 Available from: Redwolf Airsoft, www.redwolfairsoft.com Real-Steel Specs (.408cal) Weight: 14kg Length: 1187mm (stock collapsed) 1346mm (stock extended) Barrel length: 762mm Magazine: Seven-round .408 Many thanks to Redwolf Airsoft for supplying test riﬂe

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Reasons to be cheerful: Jezz Blume on why we play airsoft

YOUNG GUNS

G N YOU 1 Pretty obvious, right? When else can you don 15kg of gear and camo, grab a gun with the latest accessories and engage another group of like-minded people? (Sorry paintballers, your guns are just not realistic enough.) MilSim can be extremely invigorating and is about as close to real combat as you can get without having to worry about that irksome ‘dying’ thing. Plus great friendships and camaraderie can come out of the sport. Airsoft can bring out the best in players, especially when they get that rush of adrenaline. It’s that same rush that comes right before an ambush is sprung, and that feeling in your chest when you’re stacked ﬁve deep and about to sweep and clear a four-bedroom house. It’s that rush when a burst of BBs zip past your ear. That rush is addictive, and if you get hooked it’s hard not to want more (but again it’s unlikely to kill you; if your partner’s giving you a hard time about how much time you spend airsofting remind them you could be addicted to crack or ballet, and to count their blessings).

GUNS 2 It’s great exercise

3 Skill sharpening

No one can argue against this and I’d say it’s especially true when playing outdoors. If you get deep in to the woods you’ll know how fields can turn in to muck and the only option is through. Usually with indoor games the only weight you might gain is a bit of dust here and there, but after 35m of murky field you’ll easily be dragging an extra 5-10lb of water and mud. Oh, and don’t forget those steep hills that everyone always fights over (Hamburger Hill at Ground Zero comes to mind). All that weight will really begin to tear you down after hours of constant climbing, crawling, standing and diving. Muscles that you forgot you had will begin to swell and ache. The powerbars will wear off, dehydration will kick in and the walk back to the respawn will be a welcome break. Who needs P90X when you can just play airsoft?

“…Research has shown that videogame playing experience or playing a video game immediately before being tested can improve both reaction times and anticipation.” The same research also showed it can improve vision up to 20 per cent. That said, we all know airsoft and FPS videogames have a lot in common and that a large portion of airsofters are also avid gamers. So it’s only natural for videogame players to test their reaction time and vision in real scenarios. It’s funny, but I don’t know how many times I’ve thought to myself during a match: “This is just like a videogame…” Not only does airsoft work your reaction speed, vision and judgment, it is also a great way to improve teamwork, problem solving, land navigation, memory and both mental and physical discipline. One could consider

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there’s no time like the present. Anyway, loads of new people are turning up, playing once then becoming regulars. Once you’re in there’s no going back! It will become the biggest hobby in your life. Airsoft may be addictive but it’s in a good, healthy way (when put next to crack or ballet, at least). So moms, if you don’t want your boy joining the military then let him get it out of his system early with airsoft – and if he still joins then at least you know he’s practised!

5 It’s cheap!

airsoft a live action game of chess; the players that are the most successful are the ones that can out-think and outmaneuver their opponents

4 Airsoft vs military. I know I’m going to be immolated for this, but airsoft really is the next best thing to joining the military. The thrills you get from running around shooting people, diving in and out of bushes, crawling through bushes and ambushing people is indescribable. What more does a young boy (or grown man) want than to run around tactically (or recklessly) shooting people in a forest (or building)? It’s a guys’ dream! I couldn’t exaggerate more how exhilarating this is. So fellow adrenaline junkies – get into airsoft! Right now. You won’t need to do anything else. Airsoft is genuinely the next best thing. The community is still growing at pace; I know I’ve seen loads of new people turning up at my local site, and mainly youngsters. Young guns are the next generation and

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Now before you jump to any conclusions let me explain that statement. Airsoft is cheap in comparison to the other technologies out there such as Simunition, laser systems and paintball. Assuming that you’re a regular player, enthusiast, trainer, or someone who just loves war games, airsoft is probably your least expensive option – even the initial investment isn’t too bad. If you think about it all you really need for airsoft is a basic AEG with a hi-cap magazine, some cheap woodland camo, eye protection and BBs. Other than the gun, which might run at between £150-£200, the rest of your essentials can be found for less than £30 a piece. An entry-level paintball gun will cost about the same as an entry-level airsoft AEG, but all the other essentials are usually considerably more. Quality paintballs are hugely expensive compared to quality airsoft BBs. A pack of 2,000 RPS Stinger paintballs costs around £35-£40, while 5,000 .20g BBs come in somewhere around £11-£15. Not only that, but paintball players have to purchase extra tanks if they want to play

more than a couple of rounds (add £35-£150 on top), get each tank filled for £5-£10 and then hope they don’t run out of CO2 or HPA on the field. As an airsofter, all you need is an inexpensive battery and charger and if your battery dies on the field all you have to do is charge it again. Simple, straightforward and no massive CO2 tank necessary. I’m also a skateboarder, and overall airsoft is cheaper than skating. For example you can pay £100-£200 for a gun, then £20 for a whole game day Let’s say you play twice a month minimum and need a gun service twice a year at £35 a time. That makes your minimum first-year cost around £800 when you factor in ammunition. Your first year of skating would easily tip the £1,000 mark. Let’s say your first board (full set-up) costs £200-£300. If you’re skating regularly you’ll go through shoes like you wouldn’t believe, tearing them up in a month or so, and a decent replacement pair could set you back £60 a time. Let’s assume you break your deck four times that year, at a cost of £50-£60, and you’re already at a minimum first year cost of more than £1,200. That’s not even factoring in stuff like trucks and wheels that break and burn down too. So while airsoft may not be the cheapest of sports it can be far from expensive, and much more economical than some people would have you believe. In the end airsoft is one of the most practical, safe, and fun activities anyone could do with their free time. It’s the evolution of MilSim and, if you ask anyone that plays with an organized group, they’ll say the same thing. This is WarWolf signing out until next time. ■

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Ron Mahoney packs up his satnav and heads off to Area 51 in Cheshire, to uncover the secrets of SWAT Urban airsoft…

SITE REVIEW

N A B R U T SWA 1 5 A E R A Y ou know how some sites can be difﬁcult to ﬁnd? You do your homework, check the maps on Google Earth, enter the address into your satnav and visualise a mental path to the site. But when you’ve driven past the same empty dirt track a dozen times without seeing any sign of activity, that nagging feeling of being in the wrong place inevitably starts to grow. Well forget all that when you visit SWAT Urban near Deeside, Cheshire – there’s a huge sign pointing you in the right direction. Admittedly the sign doesn’t actually say ‘Airsofters This

Way!’ – it is big, blue, and says TATA Steel. It points the way to some of the best CQB gaming around. The guys behind SWAT Urban have been involved in team combat sports for over 25 years and have a decade of airsoft experience. They started offering paintball experiences at a woodland site (and still

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run a highly respected paintball operation) but over the years have developed a number of urban sites, including the old MOD camp at Saighton. They moved onto their present location, the old headquarters of the TATA Steel Corporation, about 18 months ago. Unlike many urban sites that hang under the ever-present threat of redevelopment, the site has been secured as an airsoft venue for the foreseeable future. Covering some 15 acres, the site consists of six large office buildings, an orchard and an overgrown ornate garden that staff must have wandered around in their lunchtime. In its heyday the site employed 5,000 staff and was the corporate headquarters of John Summers Steel. The main house was built in 1908, a mirror of a town hall built in Bradford. The buildings have over 600 offices on five levels within the main house and three within the F-Block. The main reception, kitting-up area and Safe Zone is a huge hanger-like building that can easily accomodate 80 players and their kit, with enough room that they’re not tripping over each other. All guns are chronographed to ensure that they fall under

“…the great thing about CQB airsoft is being right on top of the enemy – and the worst thing about it is being right on top of the enemy!” the site’s 350fps rule (externally you can use full-auto but once inside it is semi-auto only) and a full safety and gameplay brief takes place before you move out. The warm-up game was a ‘straight in-yourface’ contact scenario outside. Starting at the eastern end of the site the Blue team was on the offense and the Red team had to maintain a constant fighting withdrawal. This was a bit like a boxing match: teams eyed each other up across the car park and there was little time for ‘where’s my best spot’ as game-on was called. It was pretty much carnage from the off and the momentum would be with whichever team could maintain a high rate of fire and tactically out-manoeuvre the opposition. Wave after wave of Blue attacks were repelled as the attackers were pretty much exposed. Numerous pyros were deployed, and after about 15 minutes the Blue team pushed through a tight walkway and drove the Reds back into the orchard. With more cover available the Blue team could spread out a little more and try various flanking moves on the defenders. It was a credit to the Reds that although they were forced backwards they defended every yard with a great deal of awareness, and the game was really tight on the ground. But the Blue team now

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had the advantage and moved in waves of covering fire to finally push the Reds back towards the building where the first CQB game would begin. Now if you’re a fan of CQB games you will know that the great thing about CQB airsoft is being right on top of the enemy – and the worst thing about it is being right on top of the enemy! If that’s a bit confusing let me explain… With most airsoft CQB fire-fights you are pretty damn close, maybe a room’s length away, and this makes for some adrenalinefuelled action (especially with flash-bangs and other distraction devices going off all around). But problems occur when you have a choke point in the game and what I’d call a ‘conveyer-belt regen system’ – players are being hit, dropping back and coming back into game a couple of minutes later at the same point. Games become static and a marshal has to throw something in from leftfield to stand a chance of changing the game dynamic. The buildings at SWAT Urban are large enough to negate this problem – there are choke points, but they are numerous. In the game I was taking part in the Blues had control of the first floor and the Red team had to wrest it off them. With well-placed regen points and the fact that the floor

could be attacked from several staircases (including from the ﬂoor above) the defending Blue forces had to control and coordinate their team carefully. While the

principal Red attack kept coming up the main staircase, using about 15 team members, others had fanned out in the building and were probing the Blue defensive choke points and causing a great deal of confusion as to where the main attack was coming from. Although the main staircase was the number one area to hold (as a whole horde of enemy could move up this if lightly defended), it was breakthroughs in other areas and subsequent regens that caused the main staircase to be lost to an overwhelming Red charge. As an observer it seemed that the Blues’ clever tactical deployment of their team and hard work was lost as the Reds dug in on top of the main stairwell, but a Blue counter attack swept them back to where they had come from! Over lunch I picked up my torch and headed out to explore. I wouldn’t get to see some areas ‘in game’, as it’s such a large urban site. The buildings are a mix of light and airy office space with both large open-plan and corridors of smaller offices. The connecting corridors are well lit and if you have decent comms you can actually watch and pass information on enemy team movements through these areas. Most of the ground floor is boarded up so it’s pitch black and a torch is a must. I wandered around old kitchens, R&D areas,

SITE REVIEW large storage rooms and plenty of smaller offices. This really is a site for the sneakybeaky player who can move quietly among the shadows and wait patiently in the dark. Because of its shape, even those who don’t know the site intimately will quickly get to understand how the various floors mirror each other and where the main points of contact will be. With a friendly bunch of regular players you will also have plenty of insight into the best tactics and strategies. As I was exploring the nooks and crannies, players back in the Safe Zone were taking advantage of the on-site charging facilities and retail store SWAT 24/7 to stock up. One of the most in-demand items was the hire of BFGs (blank firing grenades) as SWAT offers a package of the grenade, the loading rod and 10 9mm cartridges. SWAT Urban doesn’t allow the use of any other pyros, believing no manufacturer has sufficiently proved that its brand is safe. So these BFGs are highly efficient in this venue as the percussive blast from the 9mm blank will shock the opposition within five metres. It was also good to see how quickly marshals would retrieve the BFG for further use. Some needed to top up on BBs for the afternoon’s session but I had hardly emptied a low-cap magazine. SWAT Urban is that sort of site: you can loose off a couple of hundred BBs and play close-up and personal each mission, or hang back in the shadows and take out the next silhouette that appears in the doorway. Just hope it’s an enemy! The main slogan that you see throughout the site, on ID patches and other insignia is ‘You’re either SWAT or you’re not’ – and I think I can answer that question honestly by saying “I definitely am!” ■

SWAT URBAN AREA 51 Shotton, Deeside, Flintshire, CH5 2RW Site type: Urban ofﬁce building complex Prices Non-members: £30 Members: £25 Riﬂe hire: £20 (M4 Stubby or AK47, includes combats and gloves) BFG hire: £10 (includes 10 cartridges) Contact: Paul Knaggs, 0151 644 1611 or 07703 177756, www.swaturban.com

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STYLE OR SUBSTANCE? Gucci kit won’t make you a better player – so is it worth paying through the nose for it? Mike Buttrick looks at both sides of the spectrum

he term ‘Guccisoft’ has been used increasingly over the last year, but what does it mean? For the uninitiated, Guccisoft relates to expensive airsoft kit or aftermarket upgrade parts. There are many reasons people buy expensive kit or parts, but there’s always some important questions to ask: is it worth the expense? Does it make the airsoft experience any better? Some skirmishers will buy specific combat fatigues in an attempt to replicate their teammates or a character from their favourite game or movie. A player who regularly attends games at my local club has modelled his look on Captain Price from the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series. While this can be a very striking look, and rather distinctive, unless other players take up the same idea it is expensive as the uniform worn by Price is reasonably modern and expensive. Another down side to modelling your look on a character is that the uniform may not be well suited to the environment that you play in. If you model your clothing on a character from a desert-based action game then the camouflage will not fit in well in a European woodland setting, so you stand out against the local flora. Ultimately this makes you more of a target than other players who have chosen more suitable camouflage. I chose to wear Flektarn from my very first airsoft game because that was the camouflage worn by my team. At the time there were very few people wearing Flektarn as most wore DPM, so this gave me the advantage of standing out from the crowd while wearing one of the cheapest forms of camouflage on the market. I quickly learned the benefits of wearing Flektarn when I spent

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MONEY MATTERS

“More expensive brands are not always the best; there is quality kit out there at a reasonable price if you are willing to shop around” half an hour crawling through a field of ferns at Ground Zero and wasn’t spotted once by players on either of the opposing teams – despite there being a lot of activity in the area, and at 6ft 2in I’m no small target. This is the clear benefit of wearing a camouflage pattern specifically designed for a European environment, and at £20 for a full load-out it was also amazingly cheap. This argument becomes a moot point when we look at CQB, as there is little need to blend in. You could attend an event in any colour combat trousers and a t-shirt – darker colours may be preferable if you wish to hide in dark corners. Currently I have mothballed my Flektarn fatigues for a combination of a

DPM shirt with woodland Ripstop trousers. These do not match perfectly but I believe that mixing fatigues can sometimes be better than matching, as your outline is broken up by the difference in patterns. After all, when you look at a woodland environment there are very few areas with exactly the same pattern – this was the whole purpose of a ‘disruptive pattern material’, to break up the outline with varying shades. This is the one area where I have gone for value over frugality, as the Ripstopbranded trousers do as the name suggests – the manufacturing process of the trousers means that small rips do not spread. They may be more expensive but they are likely to last longer than a cheaper pair.

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Take a look at the picture of Natalie (left) – she looks as though she is carrying half the mud from the quarry that we were playing in, which begs the question: would you want to play in this environment with your beloved Gucci kit? The major area where Guccisoft comes into its own is AEGs and aftermarket parts – prime examples of this are Systema, Hurricane and Magpul. While the more expensive AEGs come loaded with some real quality parts it does not necessarily make the AEG any better than a standard manufacturer’s model – especially when you consider the cost of repairing or replacing parts in these AEGs. When I purchased my JG G36E almost four years ago many players laughed at me for buying a ‘china-soft AEG’. Yet to this day the gun has not needed any repairs at all, it has only undergone one full maintenance check in

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that time and still has a consistently fantastic rate of ﬁre and greater range than many more expensive AEGs. When you consider that a Systema polycarbonate piston can cost £10.95 but comes without a piston head and only has one metal tooth, would it be better to purchase a JG Mosfet advanced piston that costs £11.90 and is complete with a piston head and full metal teeth? This, I think, is proof that the more expensive brands are not always the best; there is quality kit out there at a reasonable price if you are willing to shop around and not be led by branding. If further proof were needed that going down the expensive route is not necessarily the better option, then consider the following example. The picture on page 82 shows James Robson (a fellow player/marshal from LAC) sporting his usual load-out. James is a

MONEY MATTERS big fan of MilSim while I prefer skirmishing. That is pretty much where the difference ends as we both have an aggressive but tactical style of play and get a similar level of enjoyment from airsoft – and yet our kit is extremely different. James was kind enough to give a rundown of the costs incurred when buying his kit and I have similarly tallied up the price of the items I use for exactly the same purpose. James’ load-out cost £2,678 – mine only cost £378. It is worth noting that a great deal of James’ cash was spent on his beloved PTW Max II (£1,330) and that you would most probably have to pry it from his cold dead hands if you wanted it. But is it any better than my CYMA AK47 that only cost £120? Neither load-out is better than the other, they are simply what we want and are comfortable with. James enjoys his bling while I like to carry a light load-out so that I can add more weight in BBs and chocolate! Never forget that airsoft is about having fun – you don’t have to be a serious ‘Geardo’ to go Gucci. The picture (page 83, bottom right) shows a father and his son who have clearly bought some seriously Gucci kit but don’t take themselves too seriously. Everyone at LAC was very impressed by ‘the little predator’ and his hardcore outfit. I too have been known to go down the Gucci route in the name of fun – the ninja (left) is me, and the outfit was specifically bought for the laughs involved in playing a night game as a ninja! Airsoft clubs can play an important role when dealing with players who wish to purchase their kit from a reliable source. If a club owner is willing to take the time to find cheap and reliable suppliers, and to negotiate reasonable discounts, then this can add revenue to the club’s coffers. In this time of austerity clubs need to hang on to every decent fee paying player that they encounter. There is no right or wrong when it comes to purchasing airsoft equipment. You simply choose what you want and hopefully you will be happy with the outcome. Just remember that it is easier to accept an AEG breaking after a year if you only paid £120 for it, rather than £400. The most important thing to remember is that purchasing expensive equipment will not automatically increase your skills – getting better comes with practice and patience, which ultimately are far more valuable commodities. ■

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See your ad here Call Hannah on 01926 339808 hannahb@blazepublishing.co.uk

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GEARBOX AEG’S DRIVING FORCE

BATTERIES

Baz Collins explains how to get the best from powerful LiPo batteries

ll AEGs have gearboxes. They are similar to the gears on a bike or car, driving a piston back and forth to push the air out through the hop and expel the BB from the barrel. But what if you want things to go faster? In the past issues we have discussed the amazing abilities and potential of using LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries; this time we will look at the upgrades needed to run the most powerful of these batteries, the 11.1v LiPo. As stated before there are more powerful LiPos than the 11.1v, but this is the main powerhouse battery used by the speed and power freaks out there (like me!). So let’s look at some of the things that will need to be done. First off you’ll obviously need a gearbox to cannibalise, preferably a complete one. Now in essence all you need to do is make sure your shimming is spot on (gear heights are all raised and lowered to the appropriate levels for the gears to merge correctly), as well as angle of engagement and shortstroking, and that it’s well greased using a good quality machine grease (WD40 won’t work!). Let’s start angle of engagement (AOE): this is where you remove teeth from the rear of the piston (amount can vary) to allow the sector gear the engage correctly. To clarify, most guns come with an uncorrected AOE which can result in stripped pistons

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“Most guns come with an uncorrected angle of elevation which can result in stripped pistons and such, and this is one of the crap facts of airsoft” and such, and this is one of the crap facts of airsoft. But for us in the upgrading sense this has to be correct, as the piston will just disintegrate at high speeds if the AOE isn’t bang on. Short-stroking is the act of removing teeth from the front of the piston and the aligning teeth on the sector gear. This decreases the piston’s cycling time and thus results in a faster rate of ﬁre. The only downside is this will reduce velocity, and you normally have to use bigger springs to compensate. The more teeth you drop the more powerful spring needed, hence the need for heavy batteries to pull the powerful springs. This is pretty much all that needs to be done on a standard gearbox

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to get it to run high-powered batteries, but most standard parts (even in high-end AEGs from the likes of VFC, G&P, and CA) are not that great compared to aftermarket highspeed upgrades. This is why I personally get my work done for me; I am good with gearboxes but not to the extent of grinding down metal teeth and fitting MOSFETS. A while back my friend Neil (Midas Airsoft) told me about the best upgraded gearbox he had seen. This was the ASG Ultimate gearbox – and what a gearbox it is! Most of the parts inside are of the highest quality and the finish is fantastic. These gearboxes come with very well done shimming, good greasing and work an absolute treat out the box. As with all gearboxes the AOE and short-stroking still needs to be done though, but at least you know they will last for a good long while when it is done! MOSFETs (or ‘Fets’) are Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors, a mighty long acronym! Fets are transistors for amplifying or switching electronic signals to a subject, in our case the motor. Think of this as an electronic gate which opens and closes allowing for instant power to the motor. This helps prevent over-spin (which happens a lot on semi-auto: you fire but it jams and you have to switch to full-auto then back); combined with AOE corrections and short-stroking this makes your gearbox fire as well as a Systema – if not better! There are different types of Fets which have active braking (this basically ensures that over-spin does not happen and is the best to buy) and fused (cut off if there is a problem) as well as programmable. There are several programmable Fets available: attachable ones that connect like a battery but don’t offer the same quality as a soldered one, some three-round burst Fets which are very popular, and one main other. It’s called the Airsoft Systems Control Unit (ASCU) and has been seen in these pages before. It really has raised the bar for all Fets out there. In the pictures you’ll see the fabulous Ultimate gearbox combined with the new ASCU II. This combination is a match made in heaven – one of the best gearboxes on the market with probably the best Fet ever! The ASCU offers a multitude of different properties; programmable burst settings allow you to choose the amount of rounds per trigger pull you would like (two, three, five or seven rounds), ensuring near 100 per cent complete cycle. This means you can

really go for it on semi-auto and this thing will keep up with you no problem at all. A microswitch contact gives the shortest of short trigger pulls, while battery detection means it will tell you when the battery is running too low – no more burnt out LiPos! The last thing I want to touch on is motors – and the need for a good one. Motors come in all shapes and sizes, but ultimately there are two types: torque and high-speed. We spoke brieﬂy in the last issue of G&P’s high-speed motors which are great, but when you take teeth from the piston you lose velocity as mentioned above – which is OK to a degree, but if you take off seven teeth at a loss of roughly 15fps per tooth that’s a lot! This is why torque motors are used in high-speed set-ups; they make up for the missing teeth by pulling a larger spring and thereby offset the fps reduction. As an example let’s say you have removed four teeth from your piston (resulting in a drop of around 50-60fps from your 350fps set-up). You are running an M100 spring and a super torque motor, so you then drop in an M120 spring (which would normally put out closer to the 400fps mark). It will not jump up to 400fps but to around 350fps again due

BATTERIES to the missing teeth. High-speed motors can’t pull the spring and this is where torque and a big battery come into play. Pictured is one of the best available on the market, the ASG Inﬁnity motor. With a combination of good speed and mega torque this motor is fantastic, and was designed to be paired with the Ultimate gearbox. The pictures here show an example of the best money can buy and it really is worth it if you are looking for PTW-like performance at half the cost. This combination will set you back around £300-£350, just for what’s pictured, but you can put that into any gun you wish – which makes this something special! Special thanks to Neil and Midas Airsoft for all the help on this project. The guy is a true wizard with this stuff and he can be contacted via his website (www. midasairsoft.co.uk) for any info on how to build these remarkable powerhouses. ■

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PLCE WEBBING Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE) is the current tactical webbing used by the British Army. Danny P takes a closer look at this ubiquitous bit of kit

PLCE CHEST RIG There are many forms of chest webbing out there but one of the most easily recognisable sets is the issue PLCE Chest Rig. The rig has three magazine pouches on the front and two water bottle/utility pouches at the side, plus an internal map pocket. It is adjusted using two straps which go over the head and then a waist strap to ﬁt the webbing securely. The pouches are secured by Velcro and have a plastic clip with an adjustable strap, for use when you don’t need to get to your magazines in a rush. The adjustable strap is also useful when carrying bigger items in the utility pouches. I have used one of these rigs on many occasions, often depending on the job I was doing at the time. They are great for urban operations and for use when you aren’t going far from camp

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(or in your case, the Safe Zone), when you don’t have to lug lots of useless equipment and just want to carry the basic essentials. I have to say for someone starting out in airsoft looking for a lightweight rig that can carry up to nine 5.56mm magazines (you might be able to fit 7.62mm magazines in there but I have never tried), and possibly some pyro and water, you can’t go far wrong with one of these. The only downside with the chest rig is that it can be a little awkward at times when you get into the prone firing position, or try to lay flat on your front. The issue one is only available in British DPM but there are many other rigs similar to this out there available in a wide range of colours.

Price: Around £40

KIT REVIEW

ithout wanting to come over all Wikipedia, the main purpose of PLCE is to contain everything a soldier might need to be operational for 48 hours including armament, food, water, protection and comms equipment. PLCE was a replacement for the old canvas 58 Pattern webbing and went through a number of developments throughout the 1980s, leading up to the DPM version (95 Pattern, also known as Soldier 95) that is still current today. There are loads of different components available that make up individual rigs. I am going to look at three of those rigs here.

PLCE ASSAULT VEST The PLCE Assault Vest is exactly what it says on the tin! A mesh vest with pockets sewn directly on, it allows you to carry what you would in your PLCE webbing but with weight spread over your upper torso. The vest has two ammunition pouches on the left-hand side, allowing you to carry six 5.56mm-size magazines and a utility/water bottle pouch. Above this is another small utility pouch and an internal pocket with a pistol holster inside (should you need it). On the right hand side are three large utility pouches and a smaller utility pouch, above which is another internal pocket for maps or notebooks. The pouches are again secured by Velcro and plastic clips. The vest is adjustable on the shoulders and at the rear, so can ﬁt many sizes. The front of the vest is secured by three plastic clips and there is a grab handle at the rear – just in case.

This vest is great for a newcomer to airsoft looking to carry a little more equipment than you can in a chest rig, but not wanting to use a full set of PLCE webbing. But I would also say that it does depend on the type of game that you prefer to play, whether it is urban or woodland and a skirmish day or a full-on weekender. For the newbie (or even experienced) player out there looking to get away from the sea of plate carrier and MOLLE equipment, you can’t go wrong with this old classic. The issue vest is available in both British DPM and Desert DPM, but again there are many other vests similar to this available in a vast range of colours.

Price: Around £60

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PLCE ISSUE WEBBING The issue PLCE webbing first came about in the early 1990s and is still in use today. It’s one of the first things you are issued and that you will probably use on a daily basis, especially as an infantry soldier. The standard set of webbing comes with an adjustable belt, which holds two ammunition pouches each able to hold up to six magazines, giving a total of 12 magazines (or you can just about squeeze some grenades into the pouches as well). Depending on your waist size you can comfortably get three water bottle/utility pouches (32in waist and below) or four water bottle/utility pouches on there (34in+ waist). There is also an adjustable yoke to help distribute the weight of the equipment you are carrying. The great thing about the PLCE webbing is that it is totally adjustable to the user, so you can have as many or as few pouches as you want and are able to carry. These sets of webbing are great and only limited by your imagination on the types of pouches used and their configuration and set-up. I have seen guys with all manner of weird and wonderful set-ups and no set of webbing is really the same.

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The webbing itself is comfy to use and you don’t have any of the problems lying prone that you do with other types of webbing. If I was just starting out in airsoft I would deﬁnitely get myself a set of this as it is so versatile. It’s not great in every environment but it does the job. I still have my issued set from nearly 15 years ago and it’s still going strong (and no, before you say it, it’s not like Trigger’s broom!). The issue set is only available in British DPM but, as ever, there are plenty of other sets made in many different colours. PLCE webbing is very widely available from most military surplus stores and a large number of airsoft shops stock it too. My advice would be to have a good look around but be careful if someone is selling at ridiculously cheap prices. There are a number of less-thanhonest copies out there, so only buy from a reputable dealer (such as the ones you see in Airsoft Action), or someone you have bought from before.

Price: Around £60-£99

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The Caped Crusader makes his videogame return to help rid Gotham City of scum (again). Alex Wharton checks out the latest installment

’m Batman! Well, if only – I’m actually kinda skinny and pale. I’m also not a ninja, a fact I learned many years ago when I nearly broke myself trying to ﬂying kick my brother off a chair after watching Power Rangers. But Batman: Arkham City allows you all the Batmanning goodness without the worrying side effects (namely various psychopaths attempting to remove parts of your anatomy like a kid with a spider). Batman: Arkham City takes what Arkham Asylum did and runs with it, stretching it out to a much larger and more open form. Arkham Asylum has now been expanded to a large section of the city, walled off from the rest of Gotham, where all of the villains and criminals can run riot to their hearts’ content. Not the most original of stories, but cast your mind back to the various movies and they’re all based around this same premise. This time you get to play Batman though, the world’s greatest detective (and of course the badass-est of all badass superheroes). And now he’s got a whole playground in which to kick 10 levels of the proverbial out of anything that moves. Right from the beginning of the game you can go

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anywhere – soar from the highest buildings to the deepest of sewers. But even so the city doesn’t seem quite as large as it was hyped up to be. It takes around three minutes to fly from one side to the other – but that space is packed with a whole heap of stuff to do and explore including some relatively linear inside areas that take you through parts of the story. And what an awesome little story it is: thrown into Arkham City by Dr Strange, the overseer and prison warden of the city, you come face to face with most of the great names from Batman’s history. The Joker is of course here, along with Two-Face, Bane, Poison Ivy, The Penguin and The Riddler – to name a few. You get to play as Catwoman as well in a semi-altruistic role which changes the setup slightly. The game is part stealth, part exploration and part beat-em-up. A lot of time is spent in the rafters of rooms, picking grunts off one by one, a well-executed element of the gameplay that heightens the predatorial feeling. Watching from the shadows as that last guy in the room runs around in a panic before you finish him is just great, sadistic fun. Sometimes though you simply have to pick a fight and take them all down. The combat in Batman is best described as a rhythm game. When surrounded by

GAME REVIEW

the bad guys it’s as much about timing your punches and counters to build up the combo as it is about being aware of what weapon and bloke is coming at you next. If you punch too often then your attacks will be wasted and enemies will get inside your defence – but if you do nothing but counter then the attacks will not come fast enough to allow you to build up the combo count. This means that your really deadly attacks will never get used – it’s a fine balance. Takedowns outside in the city are also fantastic – my personal favourite move is jumping from the tallest building into a grunt’s face, fists first. You can also shoot the BatClaw to the edge of a building, rappel up at speed

and grab a grunt as you go by, quite literally pulling them into the sky before a painfully fast descent back to earth and a satisfying crunch.

As you progress Batman starts to show the wear and tear of taking on these criminals. His cloak slowly gets shredded and holes and gashes appear in his armour. This is a beautiful touch that makes the fight to survive feel like a real struggle and makes completing the game all the sweeter. Of course, if you are going for 100 per cent completion you will need to face off with The Riddler. He has decided to place hundreds of little question marks around the city that you need to collect. I got to about 80 before I gave up and continued with the story, and was around 40 per cent done with the Riddler side quest. While I know they continued this from the first game I found it annoying to stand and look at the city, and no matter where I looked all I would see were bright green marks leading me to the next one to collect. It drew me out of the game and I regularly left some poor soul at the thugs’ mercy because I was too busy trying to work out some stupid little puzzle. So I’m not Batman. I can live with that. Until I beef up and get slightly better at the kung fu I guess I’d better stick with this game. Batman: Arkham City gives you all the crime fighting goodness that you want and expect from the series, with a decent storyline and some great twists to boot. It looks good, plays great, and most definitely deserves a place on your shelf. ■

“Much like in the ﬁrst game they have drawn on the darker side of the Batman stories for inspiration. This isn’t a cartoon, nor is it a kids’ game” Though not epic the city looks amazing, with plenty of little details bringing the dark and decrepit streets to life. As in the ﬁrst game they have drawn on the darker side of the Batman stories. This isn’t a cartoon, nor is it a kids’ game.

BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY Developed by: Rocksteady Studios Produced by: Warner Bros Out now on Xbox 360 Playstation 3 and PC Price: From around £30 depending on platform

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