THE Airsoft Magazine
AIRSOFT ACTION
WCIUISNDTW
CEL
TH WOR
0 8 3 £
DRAGON’S LAIR: CALL OF DUTY
THE GAME BROUGHT TO LIFE
GHK G5 CARBINE The latest replica from the Japanese giant
JULY 2013
G&G GIMS ❱ INTRO TO MILSIM ❱ TOURNAMENT GAMES ❱ AIRSOFT ARMS FAIR AA_001_Cover_Rev2_MH.indd 1
JULY 2013 - £4.35
Gunman site with a colourful history
ON TEST: TOKYO MARUI G36K
9 772047 348025
More than just another M4?
SITE: THE OLD POT FACTORY
07
ON TEST: ARES M4 S-CLASS
>
CQB WEAPON ON TEST
23/05/2013 17:11
02
002.indd 2
July 2013
24/5/13 14:04:11
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
003.indd 3
03
24/5/13 14:04:57
CONTENTS AIRSOFT ACTION – JULY 2013
6 10 Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant editor: Mike Hine Graphic design: Steve Dawson Art director: Chris Sweeney Ad design: Anna Makwana, Matt Smith, Katherine McArdle Advertising: Hannah Benson Group production editor: Colin Fallon Operations director: James Folkard Assistant publisher: Ruth Burgess Publisher: Wesley Stanton
Full UK 12-issue subscription rate: £59.40 For overseas prices visit: www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
12 18 22 27
Cover photograph: Paul Long (www.sleepydog.net) Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street Leamington Spa,Warwickshire, CV32 5SZ Tel: 01926 339808 Fax: 01926 470400 E: info@blazepublishing.co.uk
36
W: www.blazepublishing.co.uk © Blaze Publishing Limited, 2013 Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Blaze Publishing Limited 2013. 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.
Find us on… facebook.com/AirsoftAction
Search ‘Airsoft Action’
Letter, idea or question? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article, or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the assistant editor (michaelh@blazepublishing.co.uk), send us a letter at the Blaze Publishing address above – or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.
004
July 2013
31 40 44 48 53
AIRSOFT NEWS A round-up of the latest airsoft headlines
COMPETITION Up for grabs this month is a Celcius DTW worth £380
56 60
EVENT: OPERATION CUT THROAT
66
PISTOL: KWC TANFOGLIO LIMITED CUSTOM
EVENT: CALL OF DUTY Jay Slater checks out Dragon’s Lair Airsoft’s Call of Duty event
RIFLE: GHK G5 This new CQB rifle gets Ron Mahoney’s seal of approval
SITE: THE OLD POT FACTORY Ron Mahoney pays a visit to the Manchester site
RIFLE: TOKYO MARUI G36K The latest G36 replica from the Japanses giant gets the review treatment
RIFLE: ARES M4A1 S-CLASS Ratty has an M4 on test – but not any old M4, it seems
INSIDE AIRSOFT: DB CUSTOMS Find out about custom airsoft engineer Darren Burns
SKILLS ROOM: BILLY BASICS Billy Basics reminds you that hard work is essential for success
RIFLE: G&G GIMS This AK-47 replica from G&G gets a dusting down from Scott Allan
SITE: SKIRMISH EXETER Kris Roberts pays a visit to Skirmish Exeter
DEBATE: TOURNAMENTS Could tournament airsoft events ever work?
FEATURE: BELT ORDER Historian, Will Fowler, looks at the belt order
69 70 72 74 77
82 86 90 94
Gunman’s Cold War is hotting up, says Gareth ‘Gadge’ Harvey
Jay Slater investigates this fast-firing CO2 handgun
SUBSCRIBE Get Airsoft Action delivered to your door every month!
BOOK SHOP Exclusive offers on a host of military-themed books
KIT BAG: HELIKON-TEX A host of awesome kit for when the barometer drops
SKILLS ROOM: LOW-LIGHT Flashlight techniques and low-light entries examined
MEDIA REVIEW: DARK SOULS A fantasy game goes under Alex Wharton’s microscope
FEATURE: INTRO TO MILSIM Oscar Plummer debunks some MilSim myths
COLD WAR WARRIOR We look at what gear a 1980s Soviet Infantry Officer carried
INSIDE AIRSOFT: CRAWLEY SURPLUS STORES Les Lee visits the popular Sussex retailer
SITE DIRECTORY Find somewhere to play airsoft this weekend
RON MAHONEY
Ron has been involved in fieldcraft, shooting and outdoor pursuits for over 30 years. His real passion is the ‘sneaky-beaky’ style of airsoft game
ALEX WHARTON
As a self-professed big-time geek, our video game expert Alex is a massive airsoft fan. He’s been playing the sport for over six years now, and just can’t get enough
ANDY NIGHTINGALE
Andy has seen active service around the world – and now runs Pro-Tact, a not-for-profit group providing tactical training for the airsoft community and private security forces
BILLY BASICS
Billy spent 25 years in uniform, and has served in all the usual salubrious ‘hoiday destinations’ around the world. He has always been a writer and doodler by habit
JAY SLATER
Jay fell in love with airsoft not so long ago and has too many guns. An active member of the South London airsoft scene, Jay is also a publisher of military and history books
GARETH ‘GADGE’ HARVEY Gadge is our resident history buff and FilmSim fanatic. He has a passion for WWII, Nam-soft and Cold War gaming – but still finds time to fit in an open day skirmish
IAN ‘RATTY’ ARMITAGE
Ratty has been involved in airsoft since the mid-90s, and has seen the sport grow over the last 20 years. He fondly remembers the prehealth and safety days!
SCOTT ALLAN
Scott has worked in airsoft retail for many years – and played airsoft long before that. He likes big, heavy guns, loud explosions and MilSim games in particular
O
pinions: everyone has them and everybody is entitled their own. In airsoft, opinions are often divided along fairly distinct lines, such as who makes the best version of a particular weapon, or whether M4s are better than AKs – and even which loadout is best in any given situation. The number of replies and differing opinions we get in response to our debate questions is ample proof of that. This month we asked for your opinions on whether tournament airsoft could ever work – especially with cash prizes involved. We round up your thoughts over on page 53, and unsurprisngly we received replies that approached the controversial topic from a range of angles. The reason there are so many different opinions is simple – it is because we have a choice. And because we can choose from a vast array of guns, gear, sites and everything in between, there is an equally vast number of opinions that go with those choices. I mention this as a result of a conversation I overheard at the recent Airsoft Arms Fair, in which someone was expressing his opinion in an (in my opinion) unnecessarily forceful manner. The recipient had an opposing view and, as it continued, the more irritated he became. Thankfully, the opinion-giver was distracted by the arrival of a friend and wandered away before the listener responded in kind. Airsoft is an amazing game, but remember that is just that: a game. Is it really worth getting close to the point where anger takes over, just because someone doesn’t agree with you? Sure, it’s perfectly okay to have an opinion about airsoft, and I am as passionate about it as the next man, but please remember that we do not live in an Orwellian society – and the person you are speaking to might just have a different opinion to yours. It doesn’t mean it is wrong – just different! However, there is probably one thing we all have the same opinion about – our consistently crap weather! See you out there. Nige
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
005
AIRSOFT NEWS NEWS Well, nearly halfway though the year already, and we’ve had some major reshuffles at the United Kingdom Airsoft Players’ Union. We now have a new registrar on board and have, I believe, fully caught up with all pending membership applications. We also have a new web admin and will be upgrading our IT capabilities very shortly, so the website and forums may be down for a while during the switchover. We are going to be making further improvements to the membership application process once the IT side of UKAPU is sorted out – so you’ll be able to select auto-renewal if you use PayPal or Google checkout, meaning you’ll never have to worry about your membership expiring and losing access to all those wonderful discounts! If you’re not a member and want to find out more about UKAPU and what we do, then please visit our website at www.ukapu.org.uk and see what the membership fee of just £5 a year can give you. On a different note, thanks to those who came and said hello at the Airsoft Arms Fair 2013; it is always a pleasure to meet like-minded folk and talk airsoft, guns and shooting! I hope you got some good bargains while there and caught up with friends both old and new. We managed to have some really good conversations with various people in the industry as well as players, and we’re already looking forward to the next one. Phil Bucknall Chairman United Kingdom Airsoft Players’ Union
006
S-T-T-S TIER DROPS Specialist Tactical Training Solutions (S-TT-S) have announced the launch of their new range of training weapon packages. S-T-T-S have had considerable success in training weapon distribution over the last few years – and positive feedback from both players and the various police and military units (including the SAS) that use their weapons has inspired the development of the new products. There are three ‘tiers’ of S-T-T-S training weapon due for release, each geared up for specific mission requirements and financial resources. Each is available in M4A1 and CQB variants, and they include some of the finest parts from the world’s leading training weapon manufacturers, plus items that
have been custom-made specifically to give you the edge when in training or in the field of combat. All S-T-T-S weapon packages come fully equipped for use and include not only spare magazines, spare upgrade parts and batteries – but are also supported by a 12-month warranty. The introductory Tier 3 package retails at £589.95, the intermediate Tier 2 at £789.95, and the definitive Tier 1 package at £1,069.95. The training weapons will be available from all of S-T-T-S’ appointed UK and European retailers from early July 2013, and are available to pre-order now. For more information, visit www.s-t-t-s.co.uk
GOD OF WAR Ares has a new Electronic Gearbox Programmer for its M4A1 Carbine. This simple devices feature two black knobs, one on each side, which plug into the gun and the battery respectively. Once you’ve set the programmer to work for the battery type you’re using, you can selector four different firing modes, including threeround bursts! Once you’ve programmed the gun, simply remove the device and you’re good to go with your new settings. The Ares Electronic Gearbox Programmer retails around £32, and is available from Red Wolf Airsoft (www.redwolfairsoft.com)
July 2013
AA_006-008 News_rev5_MH.indd 6
24/05/2013 15:36
AIRSOFT | NEWS
CPU CAMO KIT Helikon-Tex’s CPU Pants and Shirt are now available in a range of awesome camo patterns from A-TACS and PenCott. This outfit is perfect for airsoft purposes, and includes many features found on typical army issue attire, such as multiple pockets, badges and reinforced areas. The postman dropped a few examples off at the Airsoft Action offices this month – and they feature in our kitbag round-up over on page 72. The patterns available are A-TACS FG (pictured) and AU – plus PenCott Greenzone and Badlands. The CPU uniform’s range of colours will have you covered in any battle environment. The A-TACS CPU shirt and pants retail at £58.85 each, while the PenCott
garments are £67.38 each. For more information visit www.helikon-tex.com
OPERATION BLUE SHREW West Midlands-based airsoft site Fireball Squadron is celebrating its 15th birthday with a charity weekender running from 19 to 21 July. The event, dubbed ‘Operation Blue Shrew’, will be in aid of combat stress charities, and the guys hope to raise between £2,000-£3,000. Plenty of players have already booked in – including some French teams, apparently! – and Airsoft Action hopes to bring you coverage of the event. To find out more, and book in, visit www.fireballsquadron.com. In addition, we have two free tickets to give away to the event, worth £65 each! To bag one of them, simply answer the following question: Fireball Squadron was founded in which year?: A. 1998 B. 1999 C. 2000 Email your answer to michaelh@blazepublishing.co.uk. Entry will close 11 July 2013.
PLATOON STORES’ RANGE EXPANDS Platoon Stores have announced that they will begin stocking Dytac and WE products in their Rochester shop. Items on sale will include WE’s range of two-tone and professional gas blowback pistols, gas blowback rifles (such as the WE L85) – plus magazines and accessories. They are also trialling a range of Dytac AEGs. The vast majority of Platoon Stores’ products are covered by a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee – and more details can be found on the store’s website (www.platoonstores.co.uk). To mark the announcement, Platoon Stores are holding a WE open day on Saturday 29 June, showcasing the Taiwanese brand’s range of products. WE’s European manager will be on-site to answer any questions, and customers will have the chance to get hands-on with their potential purchases. Airsoft
Action understands there may even be freebies! For more information, visit facebook.com/platoonstores In addition, Platoon Stores are looking to hire an enthusiastic and qualified person in the Kent area to provide high quality maintenance and an upgrade service to their customers. If you’re interested, contact details can be found on their website.
COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to Andrew Lane of Crawley, who has been drawn as the winner of our May competition prize – a PTS Masada CQB worth £430. We’ve invited Andrew down to collect his prize from Airsoft Action HQ. Fancy getting some free swag yourself? Turn to page 10 to have a go at winning this month’s competition prize – a Celcius M4 DTW worth £380!
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_006-008 News_rev5_MH.indd 7
007
24/05/2013 15:36
AIRSOFT | NEWS
AIRSOFT SHOW EXPANDS Following on from the massive success of the British Airsoft Show 2013, held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire from 9-10 February, the organiser has announced that the 2014 show will be extended to a three-day format. The BAS is part of the larger British Shooting Show, which showcases all manner of country sports and shooting. Airsoft has had a growing presence at the show over the past few years, gaining its own dedicated area for 2013, with awesome demonstrations from Stirling Airsoft, plus exhibitors’ stands and new products from all the biggest names in UK airsoft. The editor wrote a full report of this year’s event in our April issue – commenting on how significant the BAS has been for raising airsoft’s profile with more traditional shooters. That trend looks set to continue in 2014, as the additional day will provide an extra 50 per cent trading time. There will also be more car parking facilities and an additional main entrance, to ease congestion around the show’s main access areas. British Shooting Show organiser, John Bertrand said: “We can only try getting two pints out of a one-pint pot for so long. Visitor attendance on the Saturday is now rapidly approaching a critical
point. It’s brilliant that the show is getting such a fantastic level of support, but visitors in 2013 remarked that some stands were too crowded for comfort. The extra day on the Friday will improve the conditions on the Saturday. We have discussed this with many manufacturers and retailers and all have welcomed the decision to extend the show. The general consensus is that, with the extra day, substantially more business will be achieved.” The British Airsoft Show 2014 will be held Friday 14 to Sunday 16 February 2014 at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. For further information visit www.shootingshow.co.uk
SHOOTERS’ BIBLE UPDATED Impressum Media has released the fourth edition of its renowned Firearms Guide. This DVD is the definitive digital firearms, ammunition and airgun database, containing detailed information on over 57,000 modern and historic firearms from hundreds of worldwide manufacturers. It is also has a huge schematics library with over 4,300 printable, high-resolution gun diagrams/exploded views – plus parts lists from 360 manufacturers. You can zoom in on any schematics to see the smalle-WWI wars, American Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam War and others are presented. Real-steel enthusiasts will find information on machine guns, submachine guns, assault rifles, automatic pistols – plus the variety of different stock finishes and build materials available on each. The database is easily searchable to find firearms using specific criteria – plus you’ll find extras such as printable targets, a calibre conversion chart, and ballistic performance information. The Firearms Guide DVD works on both Mac and PC and retails at a mere £26.47 from www.firearmsguide.com
008
FULL-SPEED
AHEAD Canadian airsoft manufacturer SPEED airsoft has released its V2 propane adapter for gas blowback rifles and pistol magazines. It now comes with a quickreplacement Delrin nozzle tip, and is CNC precision-machined from USA grade aluminium. It is fully anodised, making it highly durable, and it now comes with a milled exterior for easy gripping. The SPEED propane adapter is available via www.airsoftworld.net
July 2013
AA_006-008 News_rev5_MH.indd 8
24/05/2013 15:36
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
009.indd 9
09
24/5/13 14:05:25
w
WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...WIN...
CELCIUS M4 DTW L
WORTH
£380
Name _____________________________________ Address____________________________________ __________________________________________ Postcode ___________________________________
ast issue, we brought you a full review of the new training weapon built in collaboration between Celcius and G&D. Celcius has a reputation for creating top quality airsoft products for use by military and police personnel – plus, of course, skirmishers and MilSim players! This M4 training weapon continues the company’s trend of releasing awesome guns, and despite its modest price tag, includes a raft of features normally only seen on its more expensive counterparts. Not that price will be a concern to the winner of this competition! It can be yours for absolutely nothing – simply spot the five differences between the images below and send them in.
Telephone __________________________________ Email _____________________________________
Post your entry to: Celcius M4 DTW competition, Airsoft Action, Blaze Publishing, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 5SZ. Or, email your entries to competition@blazepublishing.co.uk, quoting ‘Celcius M4 DTW competition’ in the headline. Entries received after 11 July will not be valid. One entry per household. The winner will be the first name pulled from the editor’s hat. Blaze Publishing would like to keep you informed of other offers and publications. Please tick here if you would NOT like to be contacted by post or email
010
July 2013
n
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
011.indd 11
011
24/5/13 14:05:59
Call of Duty is an awesome video game – but could the guys at Dragon’s Lair Airsoft bring it to life? Jay Slater went along to find out
012
July 2013
EVENT REPORT | CALL OF DUTY
I
t all began with Wolfenstein 3D, the father of the modern-day, first-person shooter, where you would stalk corridors in a Nazi castle and hunt the Wehrmacht with 9mm Luger fury. An early 1980s revelation on primitive PCs, this ‘run and gun’ shooter with smooth gameplay was the template for modern day mega franchises Call of Duty and Battlefield. Unlike today’s games of high production values and elaborate lip-gloss set pieces, Wolfenstein 3D had a more simple purpose: to shoot bad guys… lots of them! And how can you go wrong when the final chapter, entitled ‘Die, Führer, Die!’, involves confronting Adolf Hitler in a bunker under the Reichstag, the old sod equipped with a robotic suit and four chain guns? The first-person shooter – or FPS – originated around 1974 with Colley’s Maze War. A primitive puzzle game, it was cutting
edge at the time. Battlezone – a solid sci-fi tank blaster in the early 1980s with green and black vector-style graphics – pointed the way forwards until Doom changed gaming forever with its revolutionary shotgun mayhem, petrol-driven chainsaw slash ‘n dice, and machine gun cha-cha-cha. Subsequently, as technology advanced, other FPS games followed in Doom’s wake, such as Duke Nukem 3D, Quake, GoldenEye 007, Half-Life, Vietcong, Halo, Metroid Prime, Call of Duty and Battlefield 3. Whereas the latter game, explosive perfection from Sweden with its impressive physics model and large maps for sniper nirvana is arguably the finest FPS, Call of Duty remains a cultural touchstone. The series has penetrated social consciousness and rolls around in dollars. The video game has surpassed Hollywood summer blockbusters in terms of profits earned.
It was only a matter of time before the FPS franchise inspired an airsoft event. That said, to carefully mimic a video game to perfection and pull off an exhaustive but memorable day takes some homework, dedication and serious hard graft. Scenarios and gaming sessions have to be studied and intrinsically executed into a seamless day’s event that not only engages players in airsoft firefights, but also immerses them as characters that interact within a roleplaying template. They must become living MilSim dogs of war inspired by a digital, pixel backdrop. To pull this off would be one hell of a challenge, but Dragon’s Lair Airsoft confronted it all guns blazing. With over 25 years of experience under its belt, and an enviable reputation for competition, Dragon’s Lair Airsoft is the real deal. A family affair, the site is huge, bombastic, highly professional and
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
013
impresses in spades. Run by founders Ray and Jean Cain, a charismatic and friendly couple, they have worked hard to build Dragon’s Lair into a leading UK airsoft site. In a past life the site was run for paintball, but the Cains in their infinite wisdom embraced airsoft: the rest is history. Located on the site of a oncesecret, ex-government nuclear bunker in Kelvedon Hatch near Brentwood in Essex, it is easy to find and a stone’s throw from junction 28 on the M25. On a standard gaming day, the walk-on fee is £25.99 and a rental is £40 with AEG, mask and 3,000 BBs to help the beginner to develop a taste for blood on the killing fields. And with free tea and coffee, you can’t go wrong.
014
July 2013
The whole set-up, from safety zone, signing in, stalls and gaming area, reeks of extreme professionalism and duty in promoting airsoft. One is made welcome and appreciated – nothing is too much for Ray, Jean and co. They pack up at the end of the day when the players want to. Also evident from the outset is how friendly players are to strangers. Airsoft safety is taken extremely seriously. There is good-humoured banter throughout, and a younger member of the Cain clan also plays. The Call of Duty-themed day began at 10am and was reasonably priced at £30 considering what was to come. The price was reduced to £25 if players came with a Call of Duty loadout and a screenshot of their character from the game. There was a strict emphasis on attention to detail: if your firearm in the game has an ACOG sight, foregrip and laser, it was encouraged to replicate the same on the day. I was more
in tune with WWII, with a TM 1911 sidearm and ICS M1 Garand rifle. The day began with a good mannered firefight to get the blood and adrenalin pumping. I also realised in short order that I should have bought more than two magazines for the Garand! The first gaming scenarios commenced with the likes of ‘Kill Confirmed’, ‘Intel Collection’, and ‘Rocket Launch’. The games were often somewhat complicated, their basics way over my head, with various sub-missions involving the recovery of laptops with hidden codes and so on. This prompted an excellent degree of teamwork for all involved, whether they were regulars or newcomers. The marshalling was cheeky and the very best I’ve witnessed: thorough, amusing and totally professional. The gaming areas are huge and impressively constructed with ambitious villages, trenches, obstacles, towers, bridges and a swamp-like environment that reminded me of Southern Comfort as I trudged on towards the objective to be repeatedly and mercilessly shot to ribbons in the mud. Amid the many colours and explosions of smoke grenades and pyros, the village
EVENT REPORT | CALL OF DUTY
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
015
games took a turn for the worse with the introduction of a heavily-armed juggernaut. Call of Duty is somewhat new to me, but I realised very quickly that he was bad news. Invulnerable to our firepower, the juggernaut stomped towards our spawning points with impunity and took delight in strafing our defences with his G&G M60/ Mk 43. Not good... After an exhilarating opening, it was time to retire for lunch. A vegetarian’s nightmare, The Meat Man was selling his finest carnivorous delights such as a mean bacon and sausage roll (£2.50); sticky barbecue ribs with cowboy beans and coleslaw (£5); slow cooked, marinated pulled pork roll (£5) and spiced pork burger in a roll for £3.50. Ray and Jean offered their hungry and thirsty souls – there were over 100 on the day – the finest food and drink I have enjoyed at an airsoft event: sheer tastebud bliss. At this point I was thinking they must have pulled out all the stops, and that the afternoon would simply be a repeat of the morning. The charging armoured 4x4s bristled to the teeth with twin SAWs told me otherwise. The equivalent of highly intimidating airsoft panzers, their crews mowed down hapless stragglers. The remote-controlled K9 units and RCXDs with explosive claymores were a rude shock – and the four-man SAS units proved to be airsoft terminators. Perks such as Scavenger, Flak Jacket, and Last Stand, and
016
July 2013
EVENT REPORT | CALL OF DUTY
“The gaming areas are huge and impressively constructed with ambitious villages, trenches, obstacles, towers, bridges and a swamp-like environment” wildcards including primary and secondary Gunfighter, Overkill, Tactician and Danger Close were all part of the game. Along with perks such as riot shields, UAV and kill streaks, not only was Dragon’s Lair Airsoft’s tribute to Call of Duty one of sublime perfection, albeit physically and mentally exhausting, it was also on-the-spot training on how to play the game. If there was a negative, it was that airsoft could not get better than this.
INFORMATION & PRICES Dragon’s Lair Airsoft
LOCATION: Kelvedon Hatch, Essex WEB: www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk TEL: 01708 765036 or 07703 530189 PRICES: £25.99 walk-on; £40 with rental
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
017
GHK G5
Ron Mahoney checks out a new GBB carbine sure to appeal to CQB players
T
he last few months have been great for CQB players who want something a bit different to the run-of-the-mill MP5 or P90. Just before Christmas, people finally got their hands on the KWA KRISS Vector gas blowback. Okay, it was probably the wrong time of year to really put it to the test, but it did get people excited. Then, just into the new year, stocks of another eagerly awaited CQB tool, the Magpul PTS PDR, started to hit the shelves – and were soon gobbled up by keen customers. Yet among all the post-release hype of both the Vector and PDR, one very small, perfectly formed and highly skirmishable contender seems to have slipped under the radar.
018
July 2013
Like its recently launched cousin, the PDR, the GHK G5 carbine is not based on a firearm that reached production – although there is little doubt that it bears more than just a passing resemblance to the Scorpion Evo 3 A1, a real steel firearm from CZ of the Czech Republic. I suppose the advantage of starting with a blank sheet of paper and coming up with the ‘ultimate’ design for a close quarters weapon system is that you can let your imagination loose (look at the curves of the PDR) – and you can build in all forms of ideal-world concepts. However, on the downside, without a reel-steel basis you don’t know just how the weapon will feel, how it will
shoulder, and most importantly, how it will shoot!
Features So what did the designers get right on the G5? Well, the first thing you’ll notice about the package is how small the box is. I’ve had pistol boxes that were nearly as big. The reason is that the G5 comes with the stock folded and retracted to produce a carbine that is just over 450mm long, or 18” in old money. That is only a couple of inches longer than a HK MP5K, so you know we’re talking small. Picking the carbine out of the box, the fully polymer build of the body makes for an incredibly light gun. But though
THE ARMOURY | GHK G5 you want to fit your own optics. The charging handle lends a lot of its design to the classic MP5 handle. Cock it, lock it, insert a magazine and the give it a quick tap down to release the bolt/ working parts to pick up and feed a BB.
On Test In use, I found the magazines easy to which you adjust the hop unit. Rotate it to the left for more hop; pull it to the right for less. If you are going to get a G5, then add a small flat-blade screwdriver to your kit bag, as although other implements can be used to adjust the hop, I could see them damaging it over time. Moving further forward, the G5 has plenty of space to attach essentials such as tactical lights and foregrips, as it boasts two 10cm rails on the left and right, a 15cm rail underneath, and a virtually full-length 26cm rail on top. The front fixed sight folds into the top rail, and the rearsight is removable
it’s light, it feels like a tough little nut. From the rear, the butt is adjustable for length of pull by four very positive settings. A large button on the left side collapses the butt, and it folds neatly along the right side of the action. You then have an effective machine pistol with the butt pad effectively forming a foregrip. The box also contains a plate that makes the attached folding stock accept the full range of M4-style butts. Moving forwards, the G5 has fully ambidextrous controls for the fire selector and magazine release – although the magazine release on the right-hand side is larger and similar to most M4/16 platforms. The mag well has the G5 graphics and logo on the
right, and an individual serial number just below that. When added, the magazines double the weight of the carbine. Built like the proverbial brick outhouse, they are similar in looks to a P-mag. GHK have given some serious thought to their construction, and one clever feature is the solid base of the magazine. There are no ranger plates to lose, and no dirt will get stuck in the brass fillingnozzle. ‘Hang on; if the base is solid how do you gas the mag up?’ I hear you cry! Well, GHK have moved the nozzle to just below the gas valve, meaning that the nozzle stays nice and clean in the mag well. They hold 40 rounds each, so you have a decent supply of BBs.
Just forward of the mag well on the right is a rectangular window through which you adjust the hop unit. Rotate it to the left for more hop; pull it to the right for less. If you are going to get a G5, then add a small flat-blade screwdriver to your kit bag, as although other implements can be used to adjust the hop, I could see them damaging it over time. Moving further forward, the G5 has plenty of space to attach essentials such as tactical lights and foregrips, as it boasts two 10cm rails on the left and right, a 15cm rail underneath, and a virtually full-length 26cm rail on top. The front fixed sight folds into the top rail, and the rearsight is removable if
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
019
THE ARMOURY | GHK G5
you want to fit your own optics. The charging handle lends a lot of its design to the classic MP5 handle. Cock it, lock it, insert a magazine and the give it a quick tap down to release the bolt/working parts to pick up and feed a BB.
On Test In use, I found the magazines easy to gas-up and load – and you are supplied with a speedloader with a fixed end that ensures magazines are fed at 90 degrees and not straight down. One fill of gas provides a good two loads (80 shots). One small niggle is that if you change the magazine before you have emptied it, there will be a BB already sat in the hop ready for use. It is just a little quirk of the gun, and is easily rectified by remembering not to re-cock after inserting the fresh magazine. Just insert a new magazine and crack on. If you do re-cock you can get a misfire, but most of the time it just kicks out both BBs. Once the magazine is out of ammo, the working parts lock to the rear so you can insert a new magazine and let the bolt go forward. Accuracy-wise, the G5 has a little surprise up its sleeve. With an inner barrel of just over 220mm, you would
020
July 2013
expect this to be perfectly adequate for CQB engagements, but a bit more limited at range. Well, I am happy to report that, using my standard target – a plywood figure 11 with an A3 inner target area, I was able to put round after round into the centre mass at 10 and 20m, achieving seven out of 10 hits at 30m. Remember, I’m using the A3 size area for measuring accuracy. The ‘missed’ shots still pinged off the main target! On full-auto bursts, the BBs follow each other like a line of ants at 10 and 20m, but tend to spread out a bit at 30m. Now, when we were at one of the sites doing the tests, a lot of people got very excited about the noise the gun made, as both Iain from Milspec Solutions and I were firing G5s on full auto. However, in-game you will probably be using it in semi-auto mode, as the ratio of rounds to the probable hits means you’ll want to keep full-auto engagements limited. Even though it is a great little platform, the number of rounds you can put out against a full-auto, highcap AEG will always put a gas system at a disadvantage. But using this in single/semi-auto mode was fantastic, and I certainly enjoyed double-tapping targets indoors.
Conclusion In summing up the GHK G5 platform, I would say it is the complete CQB package: a featherweight contender that shoulders easily, grips right, and can be made very compact. Add to that the ability to throw an accurate punch way out beyond its conceived target range, and you have a system that can perform equally well outdoors – despite being a featherweight design.
INFORMATION & PRICE GHK G5
LENGTH: 455mm; 680mm when fully extended WEIGHT: 2.02kg SYSTEM: Gas blowback PROPELLANT: Green gas FIRING MODES: Semi-/fully-automatic HOP UP: Adjustable MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 40 rounds MUZZLE VELOCITY: 280-330fps (depending on gas type used and ambient temperature) PRICE: £275 AVAILABLE FROM: Milspec Solutions (www.milspecsolutions.co.uk ) Thanks to Milspec’s Iain Jack for supplying the test gun
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
021.indd 21
021
24/5/13 14:07:39
Ron Mahoney heads to Greater Manchester to check out a Gunman Airsoft site with a rather colourful history…
factory floor “
O
kay listen in, this is very important,” began Gunman organiser Tony Gregory. “On the roof we have set up a zone that simulates a helicopter landing and incursion. This means you are actually going up on the roof – so we’ve screened this from public view. Although you can see gaps in the screens, do not start poking your guns through them or pulling them aside because there is a main police station just down the road, and although they know we’re here I don’t want them getting false alarm calls. Also, if you do start sticking your guns through and shooting, the locals may fire back – and that won’t be with 6mm plastic BBs!” Although this part of Tony’s briefing brought a laugh from everyone, especially with his deadpan delivery, it was a very serious point. If you have read anything about Gunman Airsoft’s other events, you will know that they like to do things a little
022
July 2013
bit differently (FilmSim Doomsday-style events) and maybe a bit more realistically (WWII and themed events) than the run-of-the-mill skirmish. With this comes a responsibility on the individual to fully participate in what Gunman is trying to achieve and not spoil it for everyone else. One of their newest ventures is the indoor CQB site called ‘The Old Pot Factory’. The site is the former home of a Woolworth’s store that would sell everything from penny-mix sweets, clothes, household goods and pots and pans. So is that where the name The Old Pot Factory comes from? Well, not quite. The building had been left derelict for years when some enterprising ‘businessman’ rented a shop underneath the store. From there, he tunnelled into the main building and commenced to move in hundreds of large plastic tubs, tons of fertilizer and rows of feeding sprinklers and lighting. Our
local Dragon’s Den candidate had set up a hydroponics factory and was producing cannabis on an industrial scale. However, the one slight flaw in this genius plan (at this point Duncan Banatyne would say ‘I’m out’) was that the deserted store was constantly flown over by the Greater Manchester Police force chopper, and the thermal imaging camera operator must have seen a heat signature like something out of the Three-Mile Island! Needless to say, the boys in blue were soon delivering an early morning alarm call.
Into The Darkness Since then, Gunman Airsoft took over the lease on the site and Gunman Northwest’s Tony Gregory and the team have put a lot of hard work into making the site safe to skirmish. The first thing you notice about the Old Pot Factory, as you leave the safety of the outside world to enter, is just how
EVENT SITE REPORT REVIEW | OPERATION | THE OLDFURIOUS POT FACTORY ANGEL dark it is in all but a couple of places – the safe zone, offices and the heli-entry site on the roof. Your night vision will kick in after a while, but if you are going to make the most of a session here you need to have a light, gun-mounted ideally, and a back-up would be advisable. Due to the construction of the building, no chemical pyros are allowed – and even those using BFGs are asked to double check that the explosion from the blank hasn’t created any problems. Tony completed his thorough and detailed briefing, and once everyone was happy we trooped off back to the safe zone to prepare. The first games – basic attack and defence – would give those of us who didn’t know the building’s layout the opportunity to explore it a bit more. It was a last-man-standing scenario, with the attacking force’s role to clear the building. They would outnumber the defenders by about three to one. This was achieved by the clever use of counters in the regen point. Each time you were hit, you would return to your start point/regen area and take a poker chip token from one plastic box and place it in another. So the attackers started with about three times the number of chips the defenders did. Once all the chips had moved from the ‘lives’ box to the ‘dead’ box, you were then on ‘hit-and-out’. Our start point was on the roof – and I could see exactly what Tony had been concerned about in his earlier briefing. It was a great way to enter the building, but as I looked around the Manchester skyline it was easy to see that this could go very Pete Tong if not respected.
“The game can become very demoralising for the attackers, and when this happens frustration rears its head, followed shortly afterwards by frayed tempers”
Choke Point As we made our way down the stairs into one of the floor areas, we realised that the defenders had been given the full run of the building and a quick succession of ‘hit’ cries made us think that this may not be the best method of entry. Although a few of us were working together, we were too fragmented to be able to flood a room effectively, so we settled into taking the occasional double tap as figures ran from one shadowy corner to another. Returning to the regen point for the first time, I was alarmed to see the number of our tokens
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
023
that had already depleted from one box to the other. Waiting for my teammate Iain to return to regen, we figured this was going nowhere fast. One of the regular players arrived and we asked about flanking the main floor. “Well the only other way through to the far end of the building is through the tunnel, and we’re getting pinned down there, too.” I thought we might as well have a look around the building anyway, so we decided to go and offer a few more bodies to force the ‘tunnel’. Beyond the main floor areas, the building is a network of dark corridors, switchback staircases and smaller subrooms. You have to take your time moving through these areas for several reasons. Not only are there slip-and-trip hazards, but it’s also very easy to round a dark corner and be up close and personal with the enemy. Gunman don’t use a ‘bang’ rule,
024
July 2013
EVENT SITE REPORT REVIEW | OPERATION | THE OLDFURIOUS POT FACTORY ANGEL
though they do use a ‘surrender’ challenge – and it is up to the individual to decide if they feel lucky or decide to take the hit. For this reason, I would strongly recommend using full face protection while at the site. In our case, we had helmets, balaclavas, half-face masks and shooting glasses (with a set of goggles on the helmet). A close-up shot to the arm or leg stings a bit, but a face-full from five inches isn’t pretty. The decision is yours.
A Helping Hand When we reached the tunnel, it was obvious why players were struggling to get through. Like those ventilation shafts used by Bruce Willis in Die Hard, you are on your hands and knees going through a 3m-long tunnel that drops into another room. It was easy to see why the defenders could easily keep us a bay. Here another of Gunman’s unique traits came into play. It’s what I’ll call ‘dynamic marshalling’, meaning while the marshals ensure safe and sporting play, they might also throw a bit of advice or an extra element into the game to keep it moving. In our case, a bit of vital kit… a riot shield! Armed with this game changer, we were now able to push through the tunnel and drop into the next room. We still took lots of hits, but at least we had established
ourselves in the room after the tunnel. Now, some may read this and think that’s cheating – but anyone who plays CQB knows that, once you hit a choke point with defenders dug in, it becomes almost impossible to get past them, especially with a group that don’t regularly play together and so aren’t co-ordinated. The game can become very demoralising for the attackers, and when this happens frustration rears its head, followed shortly afterwards by frayed tempers. Personally, I think the lads at Gunman got it spot on – we knew that when we were on defence the attackers would be getting the same help, so it evens out in the end. After both teams had been on attack and defence, the scenario-based games started; these included a hostage rescue, destruction of an intel-laden laptop, rescue and movement of a high value target, and locating and defusing an IED. A quick word on this last scenario – the lads have actually built a bomb inside an old Calor gas container, which makes it both heavy and obvious. In normal games they wire a pyro to a timer, so it’s a real race against time. Unfortunately, a few days before our visit the site had been burgled and lots of kit had been taken, including a couple of other props from a game played a few
weeks earlier – ‘Drug Wars’. I would love to have seen the look on the faces of the likely lads as they cut into the packages that looked like Columbia’s finest. ‘Ere y’are mate, ‘ave a toot on that,’ as the little angel inhaled a nostril-full of Silver Spoon’s finest!
Conclusion The lads at Gunman certainly go out of their way to put realism into their events, through use of props, the way they organise scenarios and the dynamic marshalling. I only scratched the surface of the interior of The Old Pot Factory and I could tell that the regulars who know the site had a great advantage in understanding the layout of this old leviathan of a building. It would be great to get to know the site fully, but if you only want the odd game then don’t worry, Gunman will try to stop you being target practice for the site’s regulars.
INFORMATION & PRICES Gunman Airsoft: The Old Pot Factory
LOCATION: Old Church Street, Manchester, M40 2JF WEB: www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk TEL: 07854 2772 PRICES: £25 walk-on; £45 with rental
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
025
026
026.indd 26
July 2013
24/5/13 14:27:19
THE ARMOURY | TM G36K
LAND OF THE RISING GUN
Tokyo Marui, the original master of the airsoft rifle, has revamped the iconic G36. Scott Allan does the honours
T
he idea of a manufacturing business is fairly simple: make stuff people want and sell it to them. Tokyo Marui, however, is a very odd manufacturer. They make airsoft rifles for the Japanese market with no real interest in the rest of the world. TM distributors outside Japan are rare, and stocks fluctuate wildly. You would think that this would damage the company’s reputation and the lust for their products. But you would be wrong. In fact, players seem to have a greater appetite than ever for the unique products that slowly but surely slip out of Japan.
The G36K or Gewehr 36 Kurz (‘Military Rifle 36 Short’ in English) is the carbine version of the fulllength G36. Tokyo Marui had previously only released the G36C, or ‘Compact’, version. The K variant has a 12.5" barrel: slightly shorter than the M4A1 Carbine, but longer than the CQB-length M4. The polymer bodywork bears a resemblance to the real-steel version, and is equally tough, as well as ergonomically pleasing to shoulder. It also sports a proper recoil shock system, not to be confused with a mere blowback system like the Ares versions.
Real Steel The G36 was developed and manufactured by the world-famous Heckler & Koch in the late 20th century, replacing the 7.62mm-touting G3 rifles in much the same way that the British shed the 7.62mm SLR for 5.56mm L85 platforms. The G36 fires from a closed rotary bolt and is gas operated. A standard rifle design, it shares common internal parts throughout all variants. The folding skeleton stock is lightweight and tough, yet allows the rifle length to be reduced dramatically for vehicle use and storage. It has a 30-round polymer magazine, the same
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_027-029 ™ G36K_rev3_MH.indd 27
027
24/05/2013 11:27
A 3x scope is built into the design
The polymer mag is tough but lightweight
capacity as the L85, but feels more like a P-mag: very tough and very light. The design allows magazines to be clipped together, making for faster changes.
The Replica The fire selector and trigger do not disappoint
028
Tokyo Maruis always have nice packaging. The rifle looks great just resting there, the solid black polymer reeking of quality. The folding stock feels solid when locked in position, more like a single-piece system than a two-piece, and stays firmly in place when folded. The fire selector, a make or break part on any rifle, is perfect. So often a rifle will look great but the fire selector just feels vague, like it’s not quite sure
where it should locate. There are no such problems with the Tokyo Marui G36K. The 3x scope is of unusually good quality – many scopes that share this design have a poor eye relief that makes sighting the optic difficult with shooting glasses. The rifles that come out of Japan have always had a very strict power level. Generally you will not see a Tokyo Marui rifle over 300fps out of the box. Yet this does not overly affect the range, thanks to an excellent hop up design. The gearbox is a unique type – so not a version 3 as you might expect – and the gear set and piston are equally distinctive. The recoil engine has a 300g weight that provides realistic recoil action. Most other blowback designs exist purely to show the ‘working parts’ moving in a realistic fashion. The G36K goes one step further by including a
July 2013
AA_027-029 ™ G36K_rev3_MH.indd 28
24/05/2013 11:27
THE ARMOURY | TM G36K
“If you enjoy your opponents knowing that you are coming to get them, then this will definitely raise a smile” shock system, providing feedback for each cycle of the gearbox, and it really is quite a noticeable thump. The price might seem a little steep at first – and in some ways it is – but it helps to draw a comparison to the car market. Japanese manufacturing is closer in style to Europe than China: full of health and safety, work regulations, and other boring (and expensive) things. Think of it like the difference between buying a new Mitsubishi or a Geely (a Chinese car manufacturer). Yes, lots of people will go for the cheaper option, but in their hearts everyone knows that the Japanese option will be higher quality. So it may look like an expensive G36, but it is really a high quality product trying to stand out in a crowded market. The H&K trademarks are the only negatives worth noting. Strangely enough, Japan does not recognise
international trademarks, and so TM use the H&K markings regardless. This leaves retailers open to legal issues, so don’t be surprised if the trademarks are not on the rifle you purchase.
In Use You will never shatter the earth with fps out of a Tokyo Marui rifle, but then most people agree that power is not everything. What you can expect is a long life and a solid and stable performance. The scope helps with target acquisition, and the 20mm rail on its top allows a red dot to be attached. The length means it is equally suited to both indoor and outdoor games and the recoil shock will always raise a smile, clattering back and forth as you take down target after target. As a skirmishing platform, the G36 is lightweight and sleek. Most importantly
from a player’s perspective, it is well balanced and shoulders nicely. The 290fps sends BBs out to good distance at a very respectable 800 rounds-perminute – just don’t expect it to be quiet! If you’re a sneaky woodland player and prefer not being heard this might not be your thing. If you enjoy your opponents knowing that you are coming to get them, then this will definitely raise a smile. The only downside with any G36 platform is the storage of magazines. The lugs for clipping the magazine together are a continual pain when you place them into a pouch and many people do shave them off to help, so consider your pouch options carefully before purchase.
Conclusion The Tokyo Marui G36K may look like every other G36 from a few feet away, but it is the heart of the beast that you are paying for. What they have achieved internally with the recoil shock system is fantastic. Don’t be put off by the lower power: the efficiency and quality of the hop unit will prevent any major loss of range. It is a shame that the trademarks breach international law, as the trades would have set it off perfectly. In short, if you want a G36K and you have a bit of extra cash to spend you will not regret buying this package.
INFORMATION & PRICE Tokyo Marui G36K
LENGTH: 615-860mm WEIGHT: 2.9kg MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 30 rounds VELOCITY: 295fps with 0.20g BBs BATTERY: 8.4V mini (not included) PRICE: £425
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_027-029 ™ G36K_rev3_MH.indd 29
029
24/05/2013 11:28
030
030.indd 30
July 2013
24/5/13 14:10:24
THE ARMOURY | ARES M4A1 S-CLASS
As Ares moves into the ‘sportline’ market, Ratty takes a look at their first release – an ‘economy’ M4
B
PURE CLASS
efore all you M4 haters start moaning and groaning and bypass the next few pages, hang on! I know what you’re thinking: “Oh great; yet another M4 on the market…” But in this case, there’s more than meets the eye. Ares has been making mid- to high-end airsoft AEGs for many years, but this is its first venture into the economy ‘sportline’ market. They are not the first manufacturer to deviate from the norm and enter this highly competitive market: the likes of Classic Army and ICS made the bold move some years ago, and it has worked
really well for them. So, has Ares succeeded in making a cheap, reliable and quality AEG? Will its S-Class make the grade? Only one way to find out…
First Glance Ares isn’t known for its fancy packaging, and this is no exception. Although not in a plain brown box like the majority of models, its surroundings are best described as ‘functional’. Flipping the lid, I found the gun along with a 300-BB, highcapacity magazine, instruction manual, cleaning rod and an Ares sticker for your kit box.
The M4 proves surprisingly light, mostly down to its ABS/nylon-fibre upper and lower receiver. That said, the outer barrel, front foresight assembly, flash hider and buffer tube are all made of metal or aluminium, adding some weight to the rifle and making it more robust. One nice touch on the S-Class is the little tag tied around the trigger guard, informing me that this AEG was tested on 21 January 2013 and chronographed at 100.2 metres-persecond (329fps). The plastic, six-position collapsible stock slides firmly and clicks into place with minimal wobble. The upper
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
031
receiver is a standard M4 flat-top type, with a detachable carry handle/rearsight assembly that, when removed, exposes the Weaver rail to mount your optics. All the switches and selectors are where they should be on an M4 Carbine. The charging handle (when pulled) flips open the dust cover and pulls back on the dummy bolt to reveal the hop adjustor – and this is where things get interesting. Ares is using a different style hop adjustor to the norm; it’s more in the style of a G36 or G3 series AEG. The hand guards are a bit shiny, but with a firm pull on the delta ring they remove easily, exposing the miniTamiya connector and allowing you to fit the battery. It is interesting to note that there is no fuse fitted. Flipping the M4 upside down and peering inside the mag well, the gearbox has an official gold Ares anti-tamper label, and the flash hider is an M16A2 type on a 14mm CCW thread. The supplied high-capacity magazine is plastic-bodied, too, so it’s fairly easy to see where the money has been saved in production costs. As with all ABSbodied M16/M4 variants it does suffer from the proverbial front-end wobble, but no more than an equivalent TM or other branded sportline version. For a sub-£140 price tag it seems well put together, albeit from cheaper materials.
On Test Somewhere in the blurb, it says it will take a 9.6V crane stock-style nunchuck battery. Although there seems to be plenty of room, I’m not sure that I’d be happy to run this M4 on them long term. Under test conditions, I’m going to run on both an 8.4V 1600mAh mini type (possibly the most common battery available) and a 9.6V 1600mAh nunchuck. I will also be using a mixture of brands of magazines to see how cross-compatible they are. Today, I’ll be using Blaster Devil 0.20g BBs and a Madbull Version 2 Chronograph. As with all new AEGs, I have sprayed a little silicone spray down the barrel and up into the hop chamber. From there, I gave the barrel a good clean. Turning the hop on ever so slightly, it was time to bed it all in. I sprayed a tiny amount of silicone spray into the plastic-bodied magazine that comes with the rifle and, after pouring a load of BBs into the mag, started to wind it up. Surprisingly, considering how cheap and plastic this mag feels, it all wound up okay. I then proceeded to fill the other mags I was using for testing. With a freshly charged 8.4V battery fitted, I donned my safety specs and headed off to my makeshift range. First off, I whacked in an ASG M16 300-BB mag and let rip with it in long
but controlled bursts. The BBs went all over the place, but remember this was just for bedding the AEG in. When the mag ran out, I then changed it for a full loaded Classic Army and repeated the process, followed by a TM version. Fitting the magazine was fine, albeit a little stiff, and each mag fed without any issues. Then I fitted the Ares mag that came with the gun. It was a bit of a pain
Pulling back the charging handle reveals the hop adjuster
Ares’ packaging is simple and to the point
032
July 2013
THE ARMOURY | ARES M4A1 S-CLASS
“Ares’ good reputation for general build quality and reliability is upheld by this latest M4”
to locate, taking three attempts to get it to ‘click’ in properly. Although the mag worked without a problem once fitted, removing it again once empty was just as fiddly as putting it in. It could just be that the gun and mag were both brand new, but as the other mags had gone in and come out without any problems it’s probably down to the moulding. With the mag being plastic, this will wear in
after a time. In the meantime, you have to get a little rough with it. After a few mags-worth of BBs, I had to set the hop properly. Pulling back on the charging handle revealed the hop adjuster. Although the dummy bolt doesn’t lock back, it is still easy to adjust. The adjuster itself moves fairly freely, but stays firm once set. With the hop set roughly to where it needs to
be, it was time to see how accurate and skirmishable this budget rifle is. With the stock adjusted and a fresh mag fitted, I raised the rifle to my shoulder. After moving the fire selector from safe to semi, I pulled the trigger: the first BB flew down the range and pinged against the target. A few rounds later, after a slight adjustment to the hop, I selected auto and fired a short
The gearbox displays Ares’ gold anti-tamper label
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
033
THE ARMOURY | ARES M4A1 S-CLASS burst. A trail of BBs sailed downrange and whacked into the target. After a few more bursts, I got a bit more adventurous, flicking to semi and firing a mix of single and double taps. At 100 feet they all hit the target roughly where the barrel was pointing.
I moved across to engage my mannequin target, set at the same distance. Again, firing a mixture of semi, doubles and short bursts, the AEG did everything that was asked of it, hitting my opponent each time. Even on the double taps, there was very little trigger lag and it managed to keep up with my finger action. From there, I dropped out the 8.4V and replaced it with a 9.6V. It will come as no surprise to learn that the rate of fire was up, but the rest of the gun’s performance remained unchanged. This rifle doesn’t disappoint over the chrono either. Over 20 shots, the readings were really tight – lowest of 326 and a max of 331fps – so it’s site-safe for pretty much everywhere I can think of.
Conclusion It’s really easy to have a ‘downer’ when it comes to budget guns. For many of us, there was no such thing as entry-level guns when we first started (15 years ago there was only TM kit costing upwards
INFORMATION & PRICE Ares M4A1 S-Class Carbine
LENGTH: 870mm WEIGHT: 2.45kg BATTERY: 9.6V 1500mAh mini MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 300 rounds FIRING MODES: Full-/semi-auto, safe MOTOR: High torque flat motor HOP-UP: Adjustable VELOCITY: ~330fps PRICE: From £120
034
July 2013
of £300) but we’ve all got to start somewhere. In the present economic climate funds for hobbies are tight, so it is a case of buying the best you can with the money you have available. This being the case, the Ares S-Class makes a good choice. It doesn’t come with a battery or charger, so by the time you have factored these in – along with a spare mag and perhaps a sling – £200 should buy you a decent starter package. Ares’ good reputation for general build quality and reliability is upheld by this latest M4. Despite it’s mostly ABS/ nylon-fibre construction it feels robust enough for regular game use, although you will have to be aware of doorways or using it as a leaning post. Yes, there are plenty of cheaper budget guns on the market – many of which are shocking – or you could always look at the forums, but don’t get me started on them! Buying a new AEG from a reputable retailer, however, should give you peace of mind when it comes to warranty. In essence, the Ares M4A1 Carbine S-Class makes a great starter rifle, loaner, or even a spare. It will be interesting to see how Ares fares in this market and what other models it will release in the S-Class range.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
035.indd 35
035
24/5/13 14:11:53
CUSTOM SATISFACTION W
James Badura takes a behind-the-scenes look at the work of Darren Burns, aka DB Customs
hen you think of custom work in airsoft, there are a few names that might spring to mind – such as Clarence Lai, aka ‘The Airsoft Surgeon’, and Mike Cripps. But one name you may not be familiar with is Darren Burns, who operates under the name DB Customs. Darren featured in Airsoft Action a few months ago when he organised a Help For Heroes event in conjunction with Dragon’s Lair Airsoft and Badgertac 2, for which he built a custom DMR worth over £650, which was auctioned off for the charity. Darren first got into airsoft following a motorbike accident that put him in a wheelchair. Being a bike mechanic before the accident, he is naturally mechanically minded and, simply put, a genius! He soon earned a reputation at his local site, The Bunker CQB,
036
July 2013
for repairs and upgrades. Before starting work on a gun, Darren would always first ensure that he had the same model of gun himself, to become familiar with its assembly and disassembly. And so began one of the biggest collections of airsoft guns I have ever seen. His reputation within Essex airsoft has been second to none for many years. At Darren’s local site, he was given the nickname of ‘The Punisher’ due to the fact that he played in a wheelchair that he had made silent. However, the wheelchair-friendly Bunker soon closed – and though this did not entirely stop Darren from playing, it did affect the frequency of airsoft games he could attend. He did visit sites such as Urban Assualt Peterborough and First and Only’s The Mall, where the marshals aided Darren
to the safe zone or gaming area without any questions asked – but it was just too far to travel for him to make it a regular thing.
The Collection It is no exaggeration to say that Darren’s collection of airsoft guns is huge. To date, he owns over 400, and has a dedicated room, dubbed ‘The Armoury’, with all four walls covered floor to ceiling with weapons ranging from very rare pistols, including all the TM Biohazard series, to every model of the Barrett M82 .50cal. There are also display cabinets all around his house, one of which features a particular favorite of mine: comic book character The Punisher’s dual pistols finished with exact detail! These items were purchased not just for recreation, but also to ensure that every
INSIDE AIRSOFT | DB CUSTOMS With over 400 airsoft guns, Darren’s ‘Armoury’ is a sight to behold…
JAMES BADURA James Badura first started playing airsoft eight years ago. He is the owner of Badgertac 2, which makes him the youngest airsoft retail store owner in the UK! His every minute now revolves around airsoft.
…and he’s particularly keen on pistols!
repair or upgrade he undertook was correctly done with the relevant knowledge in mind. Not only has he got a whole room dedicated to the collection, but he also has a specially designed workshop. If ever there were an airsoft museum, this would be it!
The Beginning of DB Customs Darren became heavily involved in airsoft again following the opening of Badgertac 2 and Dragon’s Lair Airsoft’s new site. Around this time, due to the success of the TV show, Sons Of Guns, Darren created an airsoft Darren Burns – aka The Punisher!
version of the famous custom RIS Thompson M1A1, which some purist Thompson lovers despise with a passion. It really is the ultimate Marmite gun – you either love it or hate it. He also created a version of the fully suppressed AK-47 that was featured on the TV show. Both are stunning and extremely well built – and the first true creations from DB Customs. Following this, Darren became ever more connected to the shop and site, creating custom 1911s fully spec’d out with trigger response and slide jobs – plus the extra touch of personalised pistol grips. He also built an SIR AK-47, which features a built-in laser and just makes you say ‘what the hell’. Traditional AK lovers won’t be too keen, but the engineering behind it is sublime. However, Darren’s most successful custom-built gun was the one-off DMR rifle auctioned off at the Help For Heroes fundraiser. It raised a significant amount for charity, and was showcased to over 100 people at a single event.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
037
INSIDE AIRSOFT | DB CUSTOMS One of Darren’s ‘mad scientist’ creations
Players have since approached DB Customs with all sorts of designs – including a mad scientist project based on the gunmodification/creation app Pimp My Gun. He has been able to create a gun that looked like an XM8 rifle had bred with an SA80. Then there’s his latest project, which he’s keeping very hush hush until completion – but I can say it involves a P90, a Famas and a G36! The customisation doesn’t stop there. At the opening of the Blue Streak Airsoft site, Darren rolled up with an attachment to his wheelchair that was motorized and essentially created a tricycle, equipped with a HK 417, master-keyed with an MP5K variant. It’s safe to say he made a few heads turn! Not once has Darren allowed his disability stop him from playing the sport that we all love. Players are always there to help him if required, and sites have offered to open up alternative entrances and create a personal safe zone, thereby showing the unity of everyone involved within airsoft. It truly is inspirational.
Future Plans With a healthy relationship established between manufacturers and retail stores, Darren has got many projects in the pipeline. He recently completed his take on the RC-XD car from Call of Duty. It has a frontfacing claymore mounted, and a built in HD camcorder, filming the carnage that unfurls. It was used Dragon’s Lair Airsoft’s recent Call of Duty day. (A full report on which you can read on page 12 – Ed). A limited edition line of pistols is also in the early stages of creation, as well as some more one-off, eccentric guns. One thing you can count on for sure is that DB Customs’ guns really are customised – and not created just by bolting on a few spare Magpul parts, screwing a new flash hider on, and opening a tin of Krylon. Darren modifies, manufactures and CNC-machines all his parts. Blood, sweat and tears go into every build. There are big things coming from DB Customs – and it is most definitely a service that you will not want to forget.
INFORMATION
Darren’s custom DMR was auctioned off at a Help For Heroes fundraiser
038
July 2013
Darren can be contacted via Badgertac 2 (www.badgertac2.co.uk, 01268 906494), or on site at Dragon’s Lair Airsoft. A DB Customs website and Facebook page are in the early stages of production.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
039.indd 39
039
24/5/13 14:12:33
path of most resistance The hard way is always the right way, argues a suntanned Billy Basics
Y
ou won’t want to hear this folks, but I’m on holiday at the moment in Florida. The weather’s warm, and we’ve got little to do but catch up on reading, sunbathing, drinking beer, eating far too much and just enjoying ‘not being where you lot are’. So what possessed me to sit down, get the iPad out and start typing an article? Partly to rub it in, of course, but also to impart a little knowledge that just occurred to me. Apart from the usual threatening emails from the editor about pulling my finger out, the other inspiration behind this article came when walking to the beach. The walk from the house we’re renting involves crossing a beautiful boardwalk over a large area of mangrove swamp.
040
July 2013
I was strolling along with my daughter in her buggy, wondering what I would gorge myself on when I got to the cafe – which is why I came to the US, after all! Looking down into the twisted mass of damp, wet, and muddy mess of creepers and roots, I was not thinking, ‘I wonder if I’ll see an alligator’. Instead, I was thinking what most ex-soldiers think: ‘I’m bloody glad I’m not smashing through endless miles of that stuff with a bergen and a gimpy,’ because that’s exactly what I was doing when I was 25. The dictionary definition of a soldier should be ‘some poor sod that you hang stuff on’. The job you’re given is never going to be easy or straightforward. You’ll never be ordered to attack downhill.
Walking across this swamp, I was reminded of an exercise I did in Louisiana at a facility called the Joint Readiness Training Centre (JRTC). The JRTC’s purpose is to observe absolutely everything you do on an exercise, from receiving your initial orders to planning and executing the mission. Then they give you a thorough debrief at the end. They see everything, from arguing over who’s carrying the radio, to the practical jokes and mick-taking. Anyway, we had these two ranger dudes assigned to us for our mission. On arrival we were given a whole load of ‘hot air’ from the JRTC liaison guy, which was supposed to impress newcomers. Apparently they would follow us like ‘silent, omnipresent,
SKILLS ROOM | BILLY BASICS
watching shadows’ (as opposed to the chatty, gossipy kind?), so basically we just ignored them for the whole time. We talked about it on the way over as a patrol, and decided that was the way we’d handle it, otherwise it would just be a bit strange having two mutes with us for two weeks. I seem to remember that we broke ours a day into the infil. We had a sweepstake going about when they’d talk. On the way to our target we selected the approach that the enemy would least expect, which nine times out of 10 is the hardest route. On this occasion it was through a swamp, with higher, firmer ground to either side, but we knew these areas would be watched and patrolled routinely. So we ditched all our comfortable items, as we knew it was going to be a ‘travel light, freeze at night’ kind of trip.
“The final straw came for them when we slept sitting on half-submerged bergens bungeed to trees to keep from falling in” So there we were, slogging through this knee-deep swamp within 500 metres of the firm footing that we were paralleling, and which lead straight to the target. I glanced at our two silent, omnipresent shadows and they were looking pretty grumpy. The final straw came for them when we slept sitting on half-submerged bergens bungeed to trees to keep from falling in. About an hour into the second
day, we’d set off for more tactical wading and our shadows broke and said to the PC, “Okay guys we’re really impressed, but can we use the high ground now?” To which the boss just said, “Guys do what you like, but we’re just going to crack on okay?” About two years later we invited our shadows, who were great guys, over to the UK. They slotted into a patrol and we
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
041
SKILLS ROOM | BILLY BASICS
truck over the holiday?” to which the other replied, “I tried man but it was about as easy as sand-papering a bobcat’s ass in a telephone booth.” I can count on the fingers of one hand the times when I have laughed so hard that a bit of wee came out, and that was one of them. So what is the moral here? Soldiering is a tough, hard, dirty business that at it’s worst point will have you thinking ‘What the hell am I doing this for,’ or ‘If only I’d worked harder at school, I wouldn’t be here’. After all, if you were a high flyer with prospects, you wouldn’t be in the wet and cold with a huge load and a crappy job to get done. Well you’d be wrong – they only
set off over Dartmoor. Before long we were tabbing across some really wet, high ground and one of them, Chuck, stopped and started properly freaking out: “The ground keeps moving man, god damn it what is this place?” One of the lads replied: “Relax Chuck it’s a swamp, it’s fine”, to which he replied, clearly not convinced, “We’re on a goddamn hill and I’m from Louisiana: this ain’t no goddam swamp!”
042
July 2013
In fairness, it is an awesome facility and we had a great time. I also heard the funniest thing I have ever heard someone say without trying to be funny at all. We were waiting to sign out some new big gun or radio or something to play with, and it was taking ages. These two janitors were cleaning the halls around us, and one of them said to the other, “Hey Stan did you manage to do that thing with your
choose the high flyers for those kinds of jobs, because they have the determination to see it done. If you’re an airsofter, a full time regular soldier, or a TA soldier, pushing yourself in your sport or profession means lots of hard work and dedication – and it’s not always easy. In fact, it’s never easy, but by doing it the hard way in training and preparation, when the day of the race arrives you’ll feel confident that you and your team have put in all the hard graft and are ready for whatever the game throws at you. Billy Out.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
043.indd 43
043
24/5/13 14:13:03
G&G GIMS Guay Guay have rolled out a new high-end AK-47 variant series with a clever battery design – so Scott Allan takes a closer look
The bodywork, right down to the trigger blade, is all steel…
044
…though the barrel is rounded off with a plastic red tip!
July 2013
AA_044-046 G&G GIMS_rev4_MHNS.indd 44
23/05/2013 11:44
THE ARMOURY | G&G GIMS
G
&G always make me smile. They have a truck-full of ideas that continually make it to their Taiwan-based production lines – which I imagine to be a Willy Wonka-type affair, with a mad professor chap running about with springs on his shoes being chased by some new contraption. Or maybe I’ve just had too much coffee. But in all seriousness, if the airsoft market had a few more companies like G&G it would be very exciting indeed. With the newest Generation 2 rifles coming pre-upgraded, their value for money is increasing greatly – and the version I have on test here is the GIMS AK-47, G&G’s take on an AIMS. The AIMS sports a wire frame, sidefolding skeleton stock and a wooden front grip. In my opinion, it is one of the best-looking AKs next to the AMD65. There are also regular AK-47, AK-74N and AKS-74U versions being released to suit everyone else’s taste. This is a Top Tech rifle, the name for G&G’s high-
end range, and boasts stunning wood furniture and steel construction. All this has been done before, and will be done again – but G&G has always offered a high quality package with added value and this is no exception.
Real Steel The AK-47 needs little introduction. In short, it is the iconic non-western rifle. It has seen service in every conflict for the past 50 years, and I would wager that it’ll continue to be produced for another 50. Originally firing 7.62mm short rounds, they packed a sizeable punch. The AK-47 is known for its ease of use and being forgiving in harsh conditions. The more modern AKs fire the 5.45mm round, which is high velocity and smaller, meaning that the user can carry more ammunition. This was developed midway through the Cold War, when a mechanised assault
through Europe was all but inevitable. Thankfully, this never actually happened, or I guess we would be seeing a lot more AKs, even now.
The Replica G&G never make a bad rifle nowadays; the performance is always good and suitable for the price point. The wooden grip is the first thing you’ll notice on this rifle: it looks superb, and is on par with the best brands and real-steel types. The steel bodywork feels tough and rugged – and like the wood, it is excellently finished, which shows the manufacturer’s commitment to providing value while developing new and innovative ideas. The system boasts G&G’s patented pneumatic blowblack system, which on an AK is always popular. The whole package feels solid and
The GIMS’s rearsight is fully height adjustable
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_044-046 G&G GIMS_rev4_MHNS.indd 45
045
23/05/2013 11:44
THE ARMOURY | G&G GIMS robust, and I have no fear of it taking a few knocks here and there. Though the price of this gun is a little higher than you might expect at first, if you consider that batteries and a charger are supplied, then the value looks a lot better. Plus, as a G&G product, you’ll get a warranty with your supplier. This is worth its weight in gold, and can often be the deciding factor for customers – and so it should be. Who wants something that might break down, leaving you to wait months until you can pay someone to fix it? Buy within the UK and you will get at least a 12-month warranty with good stores. G&G are great with their product support, too, and will quickly arrange any spares needed to repair your pride and joy. This is a GEN 2 rifle, which means it has metal hop chamber, bearing spring guide, a tight-bore barrel pre-fitted, and an uprated motor. The gearbox is an AK version 3 type with 8mm bearings, and with steel gears this should be able to take any upgrades that you wish to throw at it. Now for the really clever part: the battery is built into the wooden foregrip. This rifle is designed to run on an 11.1V LiPo, and this is what comes with the package. But what do you do when it runs out? You use the spare handgrip that comes with the package. Each battery holds 1600mAh of juice, which should last most players the bulk of a game day without too much worry. The charger you need is supplied in the box, although it is a two-pin and requires a travel adaptor. The finish here is top end, the woodwork beautifully made and finished – while the steel stock and bodywork should outlast the toughest of games. The two batteries have more than a day’s gaming in them, if not a whole weekend. It uses generic AK magazines, which means spares are plentiful and very affordable. The dedicated battery system may put off players who like to use existing batteries, but times change and this specific battery idea may become a more common feature with certain companies. An AK is always slightly trickier to work with during a game than an M4,
046
but they are very rewarding, especially for bad guy or PMC loadout. The continuing clacking of the blowback as you let off round after round towards your targets will make you chuckle. Weighing in at 3kg, this is a hefty beastie, but the balance is good and the folding stock means tight spaces and storage are less of a problem. The rifle also comes with a side mount for fixing rails, which saves a great deal of hassle further down the road. AK magazines can hold up to 600 rounds if you opt to use high-caps. That is a hell of a lot of ammunition, and one of the largest magazines of all the airsoft rifles. The mid-capacity magazines generally hold 120-150 rounds, which is fairly large, too. Basically – you shouldn’t be caught short very often!
Conclusion The AK market is a funny thing for airsoft. Many players over the years have praised the AK’s style, build quality and performance. They talk extensively about how much they like it… and then go and buy an M4! This is why it will never be a mainstream rifle, and why you will see very few of these at your game site – but this is also why you should consider one. M4s are more boring than being stuck in a lift listening to two Jocks debate Scottish independence and, like an opinion on that subject, everyone has one. Weigh up the whole package – cost, look, build quality, and warranty – and you will seriously consider this product.
INFORMATION & PRICE G&G GIMS WEIGHT: 3kg VELOCITY: 360fps with 0.20g BBs BATTERY: 11.1v 1600mAh LiPo SYSTEM: Pneumatic blowback MAGAZINES: Standard AK PRICE: £360
July 2013
AA_044-046 G&G GIMS_rev4_MHNS.indd 46
23/05/2013 11:44
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
047.indd 47
047
24/5/13 14:02:38
KRIS ROBERTS Formerly a member of the Territorial Army, Kris has over a decade’s worth of experience playing airsoft. Not one to be swayed by Gucci kit, his philosophy is ‘keep it simple, safe and fun’.
S
kirmish Exeter lies hidden in the wooded hills a few miles north of the city. As I drove up the steep, winding road leading to the site, I was happy to be on familiar ground. I used to play here quite regularly, but with a change of work shifts it had now reached a full year since my last visit. I was eager to see if any changes had been made in my time away. After parking up, I walked between the two guard towers that form the entrance to the safe zone, and immediately I noticed some subtle but significant changes. The booking-in cabin has been reorganised and extended, and now includes a built-in kitchen and office. I have always been impressed by the safe zone facilities at the site, as it already has in place a full-sized toilet block, sheltered seating, security lockers, and a tuck shop that also sells ammo and pyros. There’s even a charging station should your batteries need a top up. So, with the new additions, I saw little room for improvement. After a quick ask around, I found the game organiser manning the chronograph. Rick Bass has been running the airsoft games here for the last nine months, designing game objectives and ensuring the days run smoothly. Despite his hectic schedule, Rick took a moment
048
July 2013
way out west Our man in the south-west of England, Kris Roberts, checks out Skirmish Exeter to welcome me, and within minutes he was calling all the players together for the morning brief. Organising airsofters has often been compared to herding cats, so it was a credit to his professionalism that all 64 players had gathered in next to no time. With no time wasted, players were divided into groups of five, and marched off to a village arena to face off in three 20-minute games. As the players took their positions, the sun struggled to fight off the drizzle, but beneath the tall and varied trees, the players gave little thought to the weather. Rick began the countdown, attentions were focused, weapons were raised, and safeties were switched to war mode. What followed was fierce. Warm up games can all too often be dull, stagnant affairs – but in this large arena, with a dozen groups advancing from all directions, and with the sole
objective to be the last team standing, the fighting was fast and exciting. The terrain at Skirmish Exeter is ideal for large-scale engagements. There are many hills and valleys scattered throughout the site, the ground rutted with dips and ridges that look like deep waves in the mud. Combined with the large trees and undergrowth, it’s the perfect environment for players to move undetected and undercover, opening up a full range of tactical choices. Afterwards it was back to the safe zone for a quick breather and a chance to reload and get a drink before heading back out. It was now that I had a quick chance to meet Martin, the site owner.
“It’s the perfect environment for players to move undetected and undercover, opening up a full range of tactical choices”
EVENT REPORT SITE| REVIEW OPERATION | SKIRMISH FURIOUSEXETER ANGEL
Players enter the Missile Arena
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
049
Martin has owned the site for 28 years as a paintball venue, but four years ago began hosting airsoft games. “We listen to the players,” says Martin. “Our ethos is that the customer is the most important thing.” The years of experience are evident in the construction and smooth running of the venue, and I mentioned the changes I have seen since my last visit. “We are always trying to improve the site to give the players what they want. Even now we are building another arena. The site is huge at 120 acres, so even though we sometimes have to host paintball and airsoft games at the same time, we can manage them both without one having an effect on the other. We’ll also be extending the safe zone to accommodate an on-site shop selling all manner of equipment.” Given that the site is UKARA registered, I’m sure this will
050
July 2013
A skirmisher takes cover in a wooded area
EVENT REPORT SITE| REVIEW OPERATION | SKIRMISH FURIOUSEXETER ANGEL
The open grasslands at Skirmish Exeter are ideal for large scale engagements
prove to be a popular addition for the players. Back in the field, we headed off to the Missile Arena – and once there the players were formed into two teams. This time the attacking team had to fight their way into the area and, using two keys given to them during the briefing, open a control briefcase and stop the launch. Easier said than done – and after 45 minutes the attackers failed to complete the task. A quick reversal of roles and the game was played out again to the same result, but this time with a temporary cease-fire being called to medi-evac a player who had taken a nasty fall. As the marshal’s quad bike drove the injured player safely out of the gaming area the fight resumed, and the attackers launched a daring charge but were forced back after facing a murderous
wall of defensive fire. The game ended in a draw, and lunch was called, much to my delight; I was looking forward to sampling the burger and chips on offer! After a satisfying hot meal it was back into the field, this time for games that would use much larger areas, allowing each team to divide and move as they saw fit. Objectives were set, and the players entered the fray with the same level of energy that they had displayed all morning. Talking to the players throughout the day, it was apparent that the big draw for them was the high morale and great atmosphere created by staff and players alike. Skirmish Exeter has some of the best facilities I have ever seen at a site, and the promise of further development is very encouraging. The games themselves are action packed
and provide a greater variation than your average open day events. Alongside this, the terrain is such that, even with regular attendance, you could still experiment with different techniques and approaches on reaching your goal. So time for the big question: will I return? Yes, as soon as possible. And next time the notebook and camera can stay at home. I’ll be tooled up and ready to join the fight!
INFORMATION & PRICES Skirmish Exeter
LOCATION: Stoke Woods, Exeter, EX45BW WEB: www.skirmishdevon.co.uk TEL: 01548 580025 PRICES: £20 walk on (£15 for members); £45 with gear hire
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
051
052
052.indd 52
July 2013
24/5/13 14:14:31
DEBATE | TOURNAMENT AIRSOFT
PRIZES AND
COMPROMISES Gareth ‘Gadge’ Harvey asks if competitive tournament airsoft could really work – or would putting a cash prize into the mix tempt too many players to leave sportsmanship back in the safe zone?
A
long time ago, back in my youth, I was a fairly big advocate of the sport whose name we dare not speak. Oh well, alright then… paintball. In many ways, paintball was similar to airsoft in that you’d rock up to a Sunday open day, shoot the hell out of your mates and tell tall tales about it afterwards. But one thing crept in that made things very different – tournament play. Tournament paintball sorted out the ‘men from the boys’ (or at least it sorted out who had deep pockets) and became a big-money, big-sponsor, big-deal element of the hobby, with national teams facing off against each other in highly publicised matches. Tournament play both saved and killed paintball at the same time. On the one hand, it
raised the hobby from a ‘weekend wargame’ to a professional, sponsored sport, revamping its image in the process. But on the other hand, once the hardcore tourney players mixed in with the ‘open day’ crowd, they tended to dominate the playing field with top-of-the-range kit and a carefree attitude to ammo expenditure! On countless forums, a regular ‘old chestnut’ for discussion, especially among newer players, is how great it would be to have airsoft leagues and tournaments. But would they ever work? Essentially, our hobby involves stealth, camouflage and tactical movement, with near invisible projectiles. In a nutshell, not the world’s most exciting spectator sport. While
paintball had the same issues, they quickly realised that by focusing on the faster-paced ‘speedball’ scenarios, ditching the camo for brightly coloured clothing, and referring to their guns as ‘markers’, they could not only make the game eye-catching, but also disassociate themselves from the ‘Rambo’ and ‘gun nut’ tags. Somehow, I can’t see that working for airsoft, given the general love of ‘realism’. But perhaps the biggest hurdle for tournament airsoft is the issue of honesty. Now, back in the day I was lucky enough to be part of a ‘semi-pro’ paintball team. While we didn’t get free guns, flights abroad and Gucci kit like the big teams, we did get our green fees paid for, our paint bills covered and a big discount on gear. But still, there was a lot of
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
053
DEBATE | TOURNAMENT AIRSOFT PLAYERS’ VIEWS
Potential ‘airsoft arenas’ could take many forms
SAMUEL BUCK: “Seeing as most people that currently cheat in airsoft seem to do it so they don’t lose, introducing a cash prize into the mix is just going to amplify things. Airsoft is an awesome way to spend a weekend and an awesome hobby. I’d rather not have it picked away by cheats and elitists.” BILLY GUMBRELL: “I think it will raise the profile of airsoft in a good way and add credence to what we do. It could also attract sponsorship and drive forward innovation and technology. It will either be good for the public image or it will fade into obscurity – either way, what do we have to lose?” KEITH FOX: “Cash prizes are a big no. There will be too much temptation to cheat with money up for grabs. However, to keep our sport moving forwards we can’t stand still. A tournament of any kind is the perfect platform to improve the perception of what we do. The old school mentality of ‘it’s fine the way it is’ needs to change.” MATTHEW SEARS: “I don’t think forceon-force tournaments would work too well, but I think that a course of fig11 targets could be a good idea. The people who win would get bragging rights, and those who don’t will try harder and up their game for next time. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I think many teams would gain a lot from it.” PAUL WEST: “Tournament paintball in the UK does nothing whatsoever to raise the game’s profile. I personally enjoy playing it – but it’s a little bit like being in the Freemasons! I doubt it would be any different with airsoft.”
HAVE YOUR SAY Got an opinion to share on the tournament debate? Got an idea for a future topic? Get in touch with Airsoft Action via the address on page 4, or email nigels@blazepublishing.co.uk. Look out for future debate polls at our Facebook page (facebook.com/ AirsoftAction)
054
July 2013
money riding on some of the bigger games. And with big money comes big temptations. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying it’s impossible to cheat in paintball. A dishonest player can dive to the floor when hit and crawl forwards, smearing and ‘wiping’ his hit – or pad their clothes to catch the ball softly, and so on. But in general, it tends to be obvious in paintball when you’ve taken a hit. In airsoft, we have the honour system. All of us have, at some point, in the heat of a battle when the pressure is on, failed to notice an eliminating hit – but all in good faith, and not necessarily because of a desire to cheat. And what more pressure and ‘heat’ could there be than a £5,000 prize resting on the match? So, could airsoft ever overcome these issues to become a ‘tournament’ sport? For a start, we can discount any attempt at a spectator sport... there just wouldn’t be anything to see! ‘Team on team’ tourneys, meanwhile, have all the ingredients of an epic argument waiting to happen. So that just leaves one real option… time trials against an ‘opposing force’ of marshals! By tasking players to complete a course of ‘enemies’ against the clock, you eliminate the possibility of at least one of the sides cheating – but you’ve still got to rely on the honesty of the ‘trialing’ team, or the sharp eyes of the marshals! This has been tried before with a fair amount of success (and to be fair, so have ‘force on force’ tourneys), but up until now, big money, or even big sponsorship, has not been a factor – and many readers we consulted on the topic (see panel above left) felt that bringing in a cash prize would be the death knell for the sport. Even without hard cash, if the winning team knew that next season they’d all have gratis
Systema PTWs and free CRYE kit from eager sponsors, you can see where the temptation to be Teflon might begin to blossom. In our Facebook discussions, while many readers decried the influence of tournament ‘competition’ and ‘playing to win’ over the perceived sportsmanship of airsoft, an equal number of players were keen to point out that airsoft is, in its very nature, a competitive game. Some players do ‘play to win’, and if you’re going to cheat… well, you’re going to cheat. Perhaps the most amusing comment we received was that competitive tournament airsoft could be a great thing for the hobby, as it would pull those inclined to play badly, cheat and lie away from open days with a lure of riches and fame, and leave Sunday morning skirmishes to the more light-hearted and easygoing players! Furthermore, some players felt that ‘force on force’ tournaments are, in fact, the very thing the sport needs in order to raise its profile, while accepting that these would have to be very heavily marshalled, or even potentially filmed, to allow contested hits to be viewed by a referee. All in all, good ideas – but I still wonder who the audience would be. Other teams? It wouldn’t be the general public – but as other players from the paintball scene have pointed out, tournament paintball, in reality, did little to make the sport a ‘household name’. It is something of a closed circuit. All in all though, it’s something of a moot point. As yet, no one has stumped up a colossal cash prize or offered to outfit an entire team for any of the existing tournament-style events. But when the day comes (and it surely will), the Airsoft Action team will be on the sidelines waiting to see the results.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
055.indd 55
055
24/5/13 14:15:29
WAIST NOT WANT NOT Military historian Will Fowler looks at the belt order, and how to make sure you pack only the essentials
T
he old military adage says you live with what is on your back, fight with what is in your webbing and survive with what you have in your pockets. Indeed, a tobacco tin-sized survival kit will fit into the top pocket of a smock and, even if it is never used, will always be there as an insurance policy should the shit hit the fan. The bergen rucksack or large pack is like a home on your shoulders, holding your sleeping bag, spare rations, clothing and washing and shaving kit, as well as spare batteries, ammunition and a few personal items. Though as a three-tour veteran of Vietnam told me, “If you can’t carry it you don’t need it”. Fresh back from the Falklands in 1982, a Royal Marine captain summed it up simply: “There are three things you need – food, ammunition, and more ammunition.” Your load-bearing equipment is where the ammunition gets stowed, and it is for this purpose that the belt order developed back in the 1960s. In the jungles of north Borneo, British, Commonwealth and Malaysian forces faced the tough and well-trained Indonesian army. We needn’t get into the history and politics, but one of the ways in which remote company bases on the border were re-supplied was by parachute drops.
056
July 2013
The cargo was secured with strong webbing straps, tightened and secured with roller-pin, quick-release buckles. Soldiers were quick to realise that these straps and buckles would take the ammunition pouches and water bottles on their 44-pattern webbing – and so they dumped the yoke and belt. The rig came to be known as a belt order, and since the 1960s, the idea has caught on with sportsmen and women, photographers and, in effect, anyone who wants to have kit stowed and readily available around their waist, rather than in a backpack. With chest rigs increasingly favoured for carrying magazines, the belt order has become a useful alternative to the day pack. The important thing with any belt order is ensuring that it sits comfortably on the hips. Foam padding clipped along the length of the belt can help prevent chafing; getting the balance right is also essential. Liquid is a very heavy load, and so water bottles on either hip will help balance. Remember that sterilising tablets are a must, and if you can get hold of a pump-action kit that filters out sand and grit as well as microbial nasties, this will make life a lot easier. The water bottle remains a handy
bit of kit – not least because the metal mug is a versatile container in which water can be heated and rations warmed up simultaneously. However, the hydration bladder has taken over in many cases from the water bottle. It allows hands-free drinking, since the ‘bite valve’ is positioned on the harness close to the soldier’s mouth
WILL FOWLER A veteran of the First Gulf War, Will Fowler graduated from the French Army École Militaire, Paris, as a Reserve Staff Officer (ORSEM) in 1993. While in uniform, in addition to infantry tactics he developed an specialist knowledge of demolitions and intelligence work. He is now a writer and military historian.
FEATURE | THE BELT ORDER at the end of the tube from the bladder. The joy of a belt order is that it can be a mix-and-match system. The AllPurpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment, or ALICE system, that was adopted by the US Army in 1973 is a useful basis for a belt order. So what, besides water, do you want slung around your waist? Though GPS has become the navigation aid of choice, the compass is a tried and tested bit of kit that does not require batteries and will work under some very adverse conditions. There should be a pouch for it on the front left-hand side of your belt. This means that you can hold the compass in your left hand while your weapon remains in your right. A compass can be one of the excellent range of lightweight orienteering versions, and could be carried in the top pocket of a smock. The essential thing with all compasses is that they should be secured by a cord or lanyard either to the belt or the button hole in the smock. Lose your compass in scrub or long grass at night or in bad weather and you and the team who are relying on your navigation are in very deep trouble. So what if you’re in trouble and need help fast? Today the mobile phone network is pretty reliable – but a searchand-rescue helicopter pilot, perhaps flying in marginal conditions, needs an exact fix on where your group may be.
A screw gate karabiner tool attached to a Spanish Army load carrying loop
“The essential thing with all compasses is that they should be secured by a cord or lanyard either to the belt or the button hole in the smock”
A belt order made up from US Army ALICE load-carrying equipment
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
057
Lensatic compass pouch
Vehicles often have a role in MilSim – even helicopters!
A strobe light will flash for hours, much longer than the burn time of a hand held flare. However, in some conditions a simple torch will do the job. There are combination torch and strobe lights on the market, and one of these stowed in a pouch on the belt is invaluable. It may be worth taping over the switch so that the strobe is not activated by accident, and masking the torch so that it produces a minimum of light. A steel mirror is okay as a signalling device, and can be seen from remarkably long distances – but of course it needs some sunshine to be effective. If you want to ensure that the powerful flash from the strobe light is directional, put the signal mirror behind it. However, when all else fails and the battery on the mobile runs down, you can fall back on a trusted friend – the whistle. It carries for longer distances than the human voice. Unless you are a trained medic, you will not need an elaborate medical kit.
Spec Plus Pilot’s survival knife with scabbard modified with Velcro for quick demounting from the belt order
The first aid pouch and inner box. The kit comes with contents that can be modified according to the user’s needs
058
July 2013
FEATURE | THE BELT ORDER However, it is always useful to have the basics with you to deal with minor cuts and injuries. You will need to be able to clean a wound and dress it and perhaps add antiseptic cream. Elastic strapping for twisted ankles is always useful, and one bit of first aid kit that is sometimes forgotten is a blister kit. The medical kit is for your use, and therefore you will know what painkillers you can include. Giving painkillers to another person may be seen as a kindness, but if they are on medication it has the potential do more harm than good. The US ALICE Individual first aid kit is an ideal starting point and comes in a tough plastic box. If you decide to assemble your own first aid kit, it can be stowed in a utility pouch at the back of the belt order. The pouch can also hold a brew kit and some basic rations and high-energy snacks from an MRE or 24hour ration pack. The food and beverages will keep you going if rations have not come up the line. Hot drinks can literally
be a life-saver, so solid fuel tablets are essential. It may not be necessary to have a stove, since a metal mug can be supported on stones. However, there is a stove support for the US ALICE water bottle mug that fits neatly into the carrier. A gas cigarette lighter is useful as a means of igniting the fuel tablets, though if matches are packed they should be windproof. The utility pouch can also help to support a ponchco roll that is wrapped around an aluminium foil space blanket with bungees and pegs. The poncho and bungees will allow you to put up a basic shelter in an emergency and the space blanket will keep you warm. It is also worth getting a heavy-duty blanket, as one-shot The mug and water bottle – the mug emergency blankets has a strip of masking tape on the can rip.
rim to protect the lips from hot liquid
Belt order seen from the back
A multi-tool is probably a better option than a knife. However, if a knife or multitool is carried, it is best to have it in an easily demountable pouch or sheath. If there is a problem, it can quickly be removed from the belt and put in a secure place. Blades can lose their edge, and so a simple steel sharpener should be included in the utility pouch. The sheath for a knife can also be a place to fix a first field dressing or multi-tool pouch. One versatile multi-tool design combines a screw gate karabiner or snap link with a blade and screwdriver. As with any kit, there can be a temptation to overload and add in the ‘just in case’ items. If you know that transport and reliable communications are readily available, and emergency can be handled quickly, the load will be small. If, however, you are ‘over the hills and far away’, it is worth assessing risks and needs and taking the right kit. This can be carried as a belt order or in a day pack. If there are several of you in the team it can be split among you to spread the weight. A belt order is more than a back up if you are out on an airsoft operation tabbing over the Brecon Beacons, or on some exotic and more challenging enterprise – it is a friend.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
059
operation cut throat The Cold War seems to be hotting up – as Gareth ‘Gadge’ Harvey found out at Gunman Airsoft’s latest event
T
hose of you who have been following Gunman Airsoft’s Cold War campaign will know that things are hotting up. If this were a TV show, it would be safe to say that we’re nearing the end-of-season finale! For those of you not up to speed, let me give you a rapid briefing on the state of play. It’s the early 1980s and Polish militants pushing for independence from the Soviet Union have enlisted covert NATO aid. Small strike teams have been inserted by helicopter to help the rebels, and are currently being hunted by the Warsaw
060
July 2013
Pact. Over the last few operations, they have uncovered plans for deadly chemical weapons and a rogue computer known as ‘the mole’ capable of spilling defence secrets. While the secret war raged across Europe, a very real war was happening in Afghanistan, where a NATO strike team attempted to aid Mujahidin rebels in ousting the brutal Russian Colonel Vanya and liberating a vital oil depot. The oil facility fell, but Vanya escaped and returned to the European war zone to be debriefed by his superiors at a HQ near the Czech border – and that’s where we
join the action. NATO special forces teams have been dispatched to capture Vanya alive, but in order to get him out, a secure landing zone (LZ) needs to be located – the adventure begins! For this latest instalment of the Red Mist campaign, our ‘Poland’ for three days would be a huge equestrian centre covering acres of woodland that we’d been given the rare privilege of playing airsoft on. With everyone assembled and listening to the safety brief, as NATO commander I was already a bit worried: we seemed to be outnumbered by the Warsaw Pact players
EVENT EVENT REPORT REPORT | OPERATION | OPERATION FURIOUS CUT THROAT ANGEL
by at least two to one. This was not a massive disaster given the scenario, but it seemed that a large contingent of the US army were going to be missing out on this battle!
Not-So-Special Forces Special forces teams had been dispatched to capture Vanya and bring him back to the West for questioning. Now normally I cringe a little bit when ‘special forces’ are put into airsoft games. It’s usually the case that those who clamour to play ‘elite ninja commandos’ are those with the least aptitude to do so, and are more concerned with sewing winged daggers onto their smocks than actually learning any fieldcraft. I was fairly pleased to discover, then, that our role wasn’t to play the sneaky beaky raiders, but to be the line infantry units that secured the LZ for their extraction! So, as ‘Major Harvey’, what did I have at my disposal? Not a lot to be honest. My entire retinue consisted of about 20 men (damn those no-show Yanks!): an eightman British Rifles recce section, the same number of US Rangers, and a four-man Royal Navy Gunnery Support forward observer team. Against me was the entire Warsaw Pact. There looked to be about 50 of them, an even split of Russian infantry and East Germans.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
061
“Small teams of elite NATO recce specialists were hunted by the untrained, unwashed conscript hordes of communism” In all honesty, the mismatch in numbers actually fitted the scenario. It meant we could have a real ‘hare and hounds’ event where small teams of elite NATO recce specialists were hunted by the untrained, unwashed conscript hordes of communism. With that in mind, the scruffy Soviet hoard were mounted on trucks and shipped out to their staging areas while I held an ‘O group’ to brief the respective NATO section commanders on our objectives. Our objectives in themselves were quite simple: recce a suitable helicopter extraction point and hold it until the Sunday afternoon. Our secondary objectives involved placing radioblocking jamming boxes at strategic points to confuse warpac air defence, laying minefields to hamper any Soviet reinforcements, and capturing prisoners
062
July 2013
EVENT EVENT REPORT REPORT | OPERATION | OPERATION FURIOUS CUT THROAT ANGEL
to get a better idea of the forces arrayed against us.
NATO Professionalism Things initially went well. Our small patrols slipped effortlessly past the conscripts and managed to lay two antitank minefields; that was one secondary objective down nice and early! While the Rangers and British Rifles moved like ghosts through the trees, my HQ group set up a concealed command post, cammed up our Land Rovers and waited for the recce teams to report in. The Royal Navy section soon located a suitable site for the extraction, but were ordered to delay marking the zone until a little later – no point attracting attention to ourselves too early! It’s probably worth noting here that, due to a comms problem, we had just two working
radios… a dozy marshal had forgotten to charge them! Command and control would have been impossible were it not for the professionalism of the NATO side. The Soviet side sent out regular patrols to harry us, and as the guys were really ‘in the zone’ with their big line-abreast formations, they were easy to avoid. All too soon a patrol did contact us, however, and they advanced, firing from the hip Soviet-style. Accurate NATO rifle fire from the Brits and aggressive fire and manoeuvre from the Yanks soon closed the deal and bagged us a whole section of Soviet prisoners to boot. The prisoners were searched and interrogated and we now knew we were up against a motor rifles battalion – so scratched the other secondary objective. The rest of day one followed suit, with the small NATO teams running the larger,
unwieldy Soviet formations ragged, and as the day drew to a close it was time to embark on the night ops phase of the mission. Night games in airsoft have always been a bit of a farce in my opinion, and I was sceptical about this one. But with the rules reduced to ‘if you’re shot, you’re dead’ and with no need to regroup or stay in formation after contact, it went rather well. All the NATO teams managed to infiltrate the Soviet lines and drop off the jammer boxes, but two were spotted and captured as they tried to exfiltrate.
Shoot ‘n’ Scoot Next morning we took up our positions – most guys had camped out in the field in foxholes and bashas. The Russians sent out mine clearing patrols at 6am and the Brits sent out sections to harry them. While the Soviets did a valiant job, they
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
063
EVENT REPORT | OPERATION CUT THROAT enemy commander (last seen running for his life across a field) they did manage to capture the entire Soviet battle plan and all of their intelligence documents.
Impossible Odds But even with these bonus goals under our belt, we couldn’t hold the LZ. One advantage NATO did have was mobility, and we exploited this to the max by moving patrols about by Land Rover, hoping to confuse and exhaust the Soviet forces. It nearly worked. With minutes to go before extraction the LZ was in our hands. The naval party had deployed coloured smoke to bring in a Harrier strike to clear it of enemies but, just as we thought we had it in the bag, a massive Soviet counter-attack swept NATO off the site. Call sign after call sign went quiet on the net, and with a reluctant heart, I realised that Operation Cut Throat was a failure for NATO. The special forces teams would have to find a new extraction site, and I only hoped that I wouldn’t find a court martial waiting for me back at base. I boarded my command Land Rover and sped through the Polish forest to the NATO hidden command post.
Final Thoughts
missed one last mine that wiped them all out. This signalled ‘kick off’ for the second day’s battle. Day two was nothing like day one; the Soviets knew we were there and the gloves were off. The naval section was ambushed deploying the landing zone markers and, with the location compromised, a pitched battle started for possession of this vital clearing. Now, despite the fact that my lads were of a vastly superior quality to the Warsaw Pact rabble, it was a fight that, outnumbered at least two to one, they had no chance of winning. So, reverting to form, we carried on with ‘shoot ’n’ scoot’ attacks.
064
July 2013
The Warsaw Pact units massed together and swamped any of the small NATO section they found. This was a fatal error! Realising that the four-man naval team had been overrun by around 40 Warsaw Pact players, I guessed that their tactical field HQ (found earlier in the day by the skilful US Rangers) was totally unguarded, and quickly formed up ‘Operation Executioner’. Bundling the Rangers aboard their Jeep, I ordered them to raid and destroy the enemy HQ and bring me the Soviet battalion commander’s head. Tearing across the site in their vehicle, the Rangers descended on the warpac HQ in a fury. While they were unable to capture the
Once again, the Gunman Airsoft team put on a blinder of an event. Every event I’ve ever been to has had some issues, problems, challenges – call them what you will – but normally these are minor issues to improve on and don’t merit inclusion in the review. This time I have to say that the event was perfection. From the scenario to the sportsmanship of the players, everything was top notch. Not a single player gave less than 100 per cent, the setting was amazing, and the props were mind-blowing. I can’t wait to find out what happens next now that NATO has to pull out of Poland and lick its wounds on the East German border while the furious Soviets protest against this blatant attack on their sovereignty. It looks like the Cold War is about to get very hot.
INFORMATION Operation Cut Throat
ORGANISER: Gunman Airsoft WEB: www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk TEL: 07854 277264
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
065.indd 65
065
24/5/13 14:18:00
KWC TANFOGLIO LIMITED CUSTOM The Tanfoglio Limited Custom is a formidable sporting pistol, and Jay Slater has been spending some range time with the latest replica
The supplied optic-mounting rail is attached by four screws
066
July 2013
AA_066-068 Pistol Tanfoglio_rev3_MHNS.indd 66
24/05/2013 11:39
THE ARMOURY | KWC TANFOGLIO LIMITED CUSTOM
I
talian brand Fratelli Tanfoglio S.N.C. specialises in sport and defence weaponry, offering a major choice of arms for tactical shooting, a pastime that is increasing in popularity. Tanfoglio’s professional guns are championed and sponsored by Eric Grauffel, five times World Champion at the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC). An avid target shooter and firearm instructor, the canny French marksman took a fancy to the Gold Custom and Limited Custom. The difference between the real steel and the airsoft boils down to cents. The 9mm will set you back 1,900 euros, whereas the airsoft replica from KWC is a more acceptable £130. The airsoft Tanfoglio Limited Custom is a devilish hand cannon with the punch of a panzerschreck. With an incredible blowback action and sniperfuelled accuracy, this pistol means serious business and refuses to take prisoners. Superbly engineered and constructed from full die-cast metal, it is one mean contender. The box is bright, colourful and tightly packaged: no concerns of damage in transit here. A compact carton of .20g BBs is included, as well as a spare caplet base, since this is a CO2-powered monster. Weighing in at an astonishing 1.2kg, it is powered by a 12g CO2 bulb that is cost efficient. With its 17-round magazine, a bulb will exhaust two magazines for an average cost of 2p per shot or thereabouts. Another advantage of CO2 over green gas is that it is not weather dependent. And its power range – in this instance an awe-inspiring 350fps with .20s – is electric and constant.
Admittedly, the bugbear with CO2 bulb weapons is reloading in the field. A tricky and time-consuming process, you do have to question the validity of such a firearm when up against highcap AEGs spitting out endless streaks of BB carnage. That said, this is a professional airsoft training weapon. Built by the reputable KWC, the aesthetics are gorgeous and pleasing on the eye. Not only is the Tanfoglio Limited Custom seriously hefty, it is solidly built without seams or construction niggles to cause criticism. The pistol is also supplied with a rail to support an optic. With four screws, the rail is attached to the pistol with ease, despite a slight wobble, although a design issue remains whereby the back end of the rail does not sit flush with the rearsight. This is an inconvenience considering the cost involved. I purchased an additional red and green electric dot sight separately, and installation and operation was flawless despite giving the weapon a distinct, hardcore SF punk sensibility. It may appear mean and downright brutish, with a one-fingered salute towards good taste, but looks over functionality is questionable when it comes to holstering such a behemoth and reloading the CO2 bulbs. So what we have, in essence, is a tarted-up 1911 pumped to the eyeballs on testosterone. As a sports pistol, the safety levers are ambidextrous and wide for ease of use, despite a cheap plastic feel to them, and are easy to locate with your thumb. The trigger unit could be better with regards to its professional pedigree: it is short, somewhat heavy in execution, and not as crisp and snappy as expected.
The trigger is somewhat heavy in use
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_066-068 Pistol Tanfoglio_rev3_MHNS.indd 67
067
24/05/2013 11:39
THE ARMOURY | KWC TANFOGLIO LIMITED CUSTOM
“It is as if a 1911 and Desert Eagle conceived an airsoft lovechild”
The CO2 bulbs are inserted into the bottom of the grip
The magazine release button has been enlarged and extended. This makes operation and rapid exchange of magazines in the heat of shooting remarkably straightforward. However, with a deft movement of thumb, the button is all too easy to press for an accidental release of the magazine that may have dire consequences in terms of damage. Another bugbear is that the black paintwork will scuff, whatever happens. Another interesting design feature is the widened magazine well, which assists quick reloading. The grip is comfortable and, despite the gun’s weight, the Tanfoglio Limited Custom feels reassuring in the hand. Wherever you aim, the BBs will hit. Other notable features include the superb Magwell funnel, a BAX system for split bucking, which allows for more consistent contact with the BB (to assist stability and increased accuracy and velocity), and its smooth-as-silk slide mechanism, with its assuring metal-on-metal kerching. Replenishing the full-metal magazine with fresh CO2 is child’s play. The bulb is inserted from the bottom after unscrewing the base with the supplied Allen wrench. Followed by a tiny drop of silicon oil on top of the bulb, it is
068
dropped into the magazine housing and the base tightened. A word of warning, however: the top plastic feeding lips are thin and fragile. With the ease of accidentally ejecting the magazine due to the overlarge release button – remember that this is a target pistol – snapping the lips is easily done. I tested this bad boy at a 140foot firing range with .20 and .25 ammunition. Operating the top slide is gleefully pleasing, and it feels perfect in the hand, with no noticeable unpleasant weight to its design, making target acquisition fluid and second nature. With the CO2 magazine locked firmly into place, the trigger response is direct, and the slide buttery smooth – but this beast has one hell of a snappy recoil. Having fired a number of real-steel pistols, the Tanfoglio Limited Custom is perhaps the most realistic in terms of blowback and recoil: it is as if a 1911 and Desert Eagle went out on a bender and conceived an airsoft lovechild. With an adjustable hop-up, accuracy is spot on and double taps a delight. With no gas slowdown, the Tanfoglio goes hell for leather, giving it her all, its power breathtaking and exhilarating. Range could be somewhat better considering the Tanfoglio’s high-quality
build and power plant, but humansized targets are easy meat at a good 80 feet with no loss in trajectory or stopping power. But this is not a field weapon. As a sports pistol, the Tanfoglio Limited Custom is sheer nirvana, and a perfect aid to hone shooting skills, be it in the garden or downrange. Also, it raises the bar in terms of how airsoft has advanced as a recreational hobby and professional sport. This beautiful monstrosity could draw blood in woodland gaming – and many CQB sites ban CO2-powered weapons due to their power. The KWC Tanfoglio Limited Custom is highly intimidating, extremely effective, and devastating.
INFORMATION & PRICE KWC Tanfoglio Limited Custom
LENGTH: 220mm WEIGHT: 1.2kg SYSTEM: Gas blowback PROPELLANT: CO2 MAGAZINE CAPACITY: 18 rounds FIRING MODES: Safe and semi-auto HOP-UP: Adjustible VELOCITY: 350fps and above with .20g BBs PRICE: ~£135
July 2013
AA_066-068 Pistol Tanfoglio_rev3_MHNS.indd 68
24/05/2013 11:40
RIBE SUBSC ECT BY DIR GET AND DEBIT TRA ONE EX EE! FR ISSUE
ACTION
THE Airsoft Magazine
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
YES PLEASE – I'D LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO AIRSOFT ACTION FOR JUST £43! Mr/Mrs/Ms
Please send me 13 issues of Airsoft Action
Address
I am paying £43 by annual Direct Debit
Postcode
LTD
Direct Debit Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit
Telephone No.
Service User Number
2
5
4
3
8
9
Ref. No. (For official use only)
Please ll in the theform formand andsend send Blaze Publishing Ltd, Lawrence House,St,Morrell St, Leamington Spa, Warks. Pleasefifill to:to: Blaze Publishing Ltd, Lawrence House, Morrell Leamington Spa, Warks. CV32 5SZ CV32 5SZ
Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society
Signature
To the manager (Bank Name)
Please send me 12 issues of Airsoft Action
Address
I am paying £43 by credit or debit card/cheque (please delete as appropriate)
Postcode Account holder(s) name(s) Branch sort code
Expiry Date
CVV no (last 3 digits on reverse)
Start Date / issue no Your statement will read Blaze Publishing Ltd.
Tick here if you do not wish to receive information about other Blaze Publishing magazines Offers apply to UK residents only. Direct debit option not available by phone or internet.
Bank/Building Society account No. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY. Please pay Blaze Publishing Ltd Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction, subject to safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that the instruction may remain with Blaze Publishing Ltd and if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank or Building Society.
Signature
Date
Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some types of account.
Quote Reference AAJUN2013
Please debit my Switch/Maestro/VISA/Mastercard £43
SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: www.airsoftactionmagazine.com or www.virtualnewsagent.com (above offer only available by post or phone) RETURN THIS FORM TO: Blaze Publishing Ltd, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5SZ, England
☏ OR TO SUBSCRIBE BY PHONE: 01926 339808 052 June 2013
051.indd 52
30/04/2013 15:49
AIRSOFT
ACTION
BOOKSHOP
Total War - SRP £25.00
The Retreat - SRP £10.99
AA Price £21.00
AA Price £9.00
Tank Men - SRP £8.99
Never Surrender - SRP £8.99
SAS Operation Storm - SRP £25.00
Kill Switch - SRP £6.99
The Kill Zone (hdbk) - SRP £18.99
The Kill Zone (pbk) - SRP £6.99
AA Price £6.00
Killing for the Company (hdbk) SRP £18.99 AA Price £16.00
Soldiers Pocket Book - SRP £10.00
Cadet Pocket Book - SRP £8.00
Air Cadet Pocket Book - SRP £8.00
Army Cadet’s Log Book - SRP £4.00
Skill at Arms - SRP £6.50
AA Price £7.50
AA Price £16.00
AA Price £7.50
070
July 2013
AA Price £7.50
AA Price £7.50
AA Price £21.00
AA Price £3.50
AA Price £6.00
AA Price £9.00
AA Price £5.00
Visit www.virtualnewsagent.com for these fantastic offers. Either fill in the form below – don’t forget to put a tick by the books you’re ordering – and post/fax to us, or call us on the number at the bottom
Elite:160 World War II Infantry Assault Tactics - SRP £11.99
AA Price £10
Soldier I – The Story of an SAS Hero - SRP £8.99
AA Price £7.50
Elite:168 World War II Street Fighting Tactics SRP £11.99
AA Price £10
Elite:170 Special Operations Forces in Iraq - SRP £11.99
AA Price £8.50
Title
Author
Category
Tank Men
Robert Kershaw
Non-fiction 0113-001
Code
SRP £8.99
AA price £7.50
Never Surrender
Robert Kershaw
Non-fiction 0113-002
£8.99
£7.50
Total War
Michael Jones
Non-fiction 0113-003
£25.00
£21.00
The Retreat
Michael Jones
Non-fiction 0113-004
£10.99
£9.00
SAS Operation Storm
Roger Cole & Richard Belfield
Non-fiction 0113-005
£18.99
£16.00
Kill Switch
Bill Shaw
Non-fiction 0113-006
£6.99
£6.00
The Kill Zone
Chris Ryan
Fiction
0113-007
£18.99
£16.00
The Kill Zone
Chris Ryan
Fiction
0113-008
£6.99
£6.00
Killing for the Company
Chris Ryan
Fiction
0113-009
£18.99
£16.00
Soldiers Pocket Book
Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd), Rupert Godeson and John H Harris
Non-fiction 0113-010
£10.00
£9.00
Cadet’s Pocket Book
Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)
Non-fiction 0113-011
£8.00
£7.50
Air Cadet Pocket Book
Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)
Non-fiction 0113-012
£8.00
£7.50
Army Cadet Log Book
Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)
Non-fiction 0113-013
£4.00
£3.50
Skill at Arms And Shooting
Maj John Hobbis Harris(retd)
Non-fiction 0113-014
£6.50
£5.00
World War II StreetFighting Tactics
Stephen Bull
Non-fiction
0113-015
£11.99
£10.00
World War II Infantry Assault Tactics
Gordon L Rottman
Non-fiction
0113-016
£11.99
£10.00
Pegasus Bridge Benouville 1944
Will Fowler
Non-fiction
0113-017
£11.99
£10.00
Soldier I – the Story of an SAS Hero
Pete Winner
Non-fiction
0113-018
£8.99
£7.50
Special Operations Forces in Iraq
Leigh Neville
Non-fiction
0113-019
£11.99
£8.50
Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan
Leigh Neville
Non-fiction
0113-020
£11.99
£8.50
Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger
Leroy Thompson
Non-Fiction 0113-021
£9.99
£8.50
The Rocket Propelled Grenade
Gordon L Rottman
Non-Fiction 0113-022
£9.99
£8.50
Total
Raid:11 Pegasus Bridge – Benouville D-Day 1944 - SRP £11.99
AA Price £10
Elite:163 Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan - SRP £11.99
AA Price £8.50
Name ........................................................................................................................... Address ....................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................... Postcode/Zip Code ........................................................................................................ Country ........................................................................................................................ Telephone ................................................................................................................... Email............................................................................................................................ Signature ...................................................................................................................... Date .............................................................................................................................. I enclose a cheque for ______ payable to Blaze Publishing Ltd. Please debit my Switch/VISA/Mastercard/Maestro for _____ (No Electron or Amex please)
Expiry date ……/…. Start date/issue number ……/….…
Weapon:2 The Rocket Propelled Grenade - SRP £9.99
AA Price £8.50
Weapon:7 The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger - SRP £9.99
CVV No. (Last 3 digits on reverse of card) Your credit card statement will read Blaze Publishing Ltd. Please call +44 1926 339 808 for international postage costs. Now fax or post this form to: Blaze Publishing Limited, Lawrence House, Morrell Street, Leamington Spa, CV32 5SZ England T: 01926 339808 F: 01926 470400 E: info@blazepublishing.co.uk
AA Price £8.50
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
071
cided e d e w , g trips n i p m a c rnight e v ear… o g y r e n a h t a m one too n-Tex’s cold we n o f f o socks eliko r H u f our o o e g n ed off i m z o KET e s C spark e t A a r e J f k g c k oo 7 Ja Havin l VEL 7 After a E Level gear. e L r r v e e h h a t t r a a e e e e to h we w ction old-w old w ame, a sele me, c e of c t oked a nd , we lo n d sou io n t a c A u safe irsoft cing o a y A f f p r o e e issue th, aft s to ke y n a m o e M m it ed to This n the oors ition. e decid l outd d w a e , ic t p t x n c e e oft nd. e ev of pra d airs it arou s at on , eeken ther k rature a e e Britain p w l m il on a w t it’s s old te er cold , t c s t e u ly t b r n a e e bitt upo f th arm some nearly ome o p up w ok at s o wra is now t lo r g ing. e a p in m e hav sum lf hav if cam e h y s g ll r u u ia o o c d, th ie find y , espe Indee r post onths doubt all, ou ing m ’ll no u it m o f o m y c o e ht t fro and s in th e weig look a hilly event der th kit to ling c n f u o plenty a g n t in io r ck t r o c e f g l le a g e a ide ive s So, st mass gear is ge of d us a n e a r r e v e s deli – who n-Tex Heliko . ts in ten nights
I
gle US jun of the e k a m und n’s re has fo Heliko re US BO esign d ssic is g la c ink the in r a th r u e you’d is end e tnam’n, th il ie , h ig s in ‘V w and This ted de ce aga world, at. On ttle-tes e h a ’ b th ie a d a n un such ‘boo mely ies aro prove re. Na in arm a featu do to im tr x n e a favour c n you ed a much nd add is not atures way, a a d Hat fe n u ie fo n o e o ’v they as the , the B s well cation uard! fters ord, a specifi /c y p a neck g m tr r h airso s a ite wit a chin to US r d u e n o d a v a M les m fa on ho is a fir entilati ld. This ote, ie h four v s nd, Coy neck la le d b o a o v W remo Polish orld. Black, and Camogrom d the w aroun : Olive, d
AT ONIE H
II g ket ng xtre t WW m jac n’s ra The e recen a war Heliko a g t n in a t lo s h eat ys. ing a intere n to d en da or tak t froze betwe ssity f s e g o c in e w on lm p n o a of sn s cam of the r s o e d o h e c our d d ee in e out y in y remin ith thr is bab st-gam w h o t kg) it p e t v e an a 1 o ha n’t cu for th less th glad t st wo s e ju t er b h y it l k ig ’l la ter you it we WWII eal ou – and cket ( id d ja n t n u h a o tweig , and the gr istant is ligh u. to st-res n! Th e o r g f r ith yo e erials d b n ood w x mat e ind- a m o p w a A w , t ally in . The shield is rain armth Clima re’s re u s w t e a e s t n e u t ovid ltima when Jacke and u l to pr evel 7 erly, ateria lation u m s The L e r clev in c e h flee , rath ermal it d h t n w r a e u d tbite g yo e line provid st fros movin ets ar e k in r c a t o g u p a n s itho chest string otectio sted w nal pr o draw e adju io w b t it y d y il d b s a kets n ea od ca st poc the ho se che e h t Coyote from en and e hands r ! G m e a h h lp d in t lack, A locate E IN: B
BL AVAIL A XXL S : SIZES £ 1 3 0 ~ : PRICE
BLE IN oodlan AVAIL A Desert, US W om) US Camogr Khaki, (£9 for 8 £ : E PRIC
072
July 2013
AA_072-073 Kit Bag_rev6.indd 72
24/05/2013 11:15
BAG| HELIKON-TEX | HELIKON-TEX KITKITBAG sed land-ba ors is a Po x d outdo e n T a n y o r a k e li it e il H of m ucts ar cturer its prod f r o o y F n . manufa ma lers g – and UK dea f ts, o is e k g c clothin n a ra K sto U ia v g in le d b lu availa on, inc formati .com x te more in n .heliko w w w visit
KA
D PAR
FIEL ARMY
and itional re trad o m in a refer rested who p be inte u t o h y ig f o of kit m Those Parka. n’ cut y Field -grow m e r h m A o ‘h e Britis British ng issu ti n-Tex’s o is k x li e e H on ghtly closely as a sli Styled arka h P ld everal s ie wear , the F s to k c u o o y sm cold wing eath in fit, allo ndern u looser g ing y in hen sta of cloth nus w o layers b s l e a r re featu er – a et also weath he jack T and a t. h ts pocke overnig s u io sily c uld ea n capa at sho a doze th d o aid ized ho ear. To good-s headw t s to o d m n r eat, a go ove body h g ild n u ti b t la t swea in regu leasan p n s u e t atur preven also fe smock e nd a th a , , p u vents ip z h. As m r a n mes under itish of nylo e d a the Br m rs iform, lining n u f colou U eir CP riety o a th v h a it w able in is avail d, Parka tterns. oodlan mo pa lish W a o c P ctarn , d e le n a : Oliv , and F IN m E o L r B g amo AVAILA land, C Wood l a it ig D
H
BRITIS
S-XXL SIZES: 5 £9 PRICE:
ERS TROUS D N A IRT PU (or CPU SH a cted C onstru s form
c rouser gedly nd t and T x’s rug ir e h -T S n res fou ) o Helik niform es featu U d l lu o c , tr at in at Pa ntries Comb O cou outfit th y NAT s-style n s a e r rem d f d battle es an orms o o badg r ue unif lc s ear. e is w V e , ne to in th ockets ost pro ty of p m n s le e a p e ar on th with on the styled 0. ement closely y ll in 201 a enforc d e tu is ac , issu U m r P r of o C e if b e n Th a num rmy u d A n h a s li t Po and on ockets newes ckside ve 10 p a a b h e e s r use ding th s on th The tro d area for pad e t c e r k c fo o -rein nal p d with double n inter djuste (with a n be a a s c e e e n iz ts the k e wais ay and th two-w knees) -front, ll . s fu r , a te ts jus with ip ven side ad stened rarm z e fa d is n t u th ir rt, e ckets, The sh r comfo six po te a s e a r h g and ial. d, for zipper, mater hes an fleece d pouc ft a o p s a w ith elbo Polish med w , Olive, ellenic, is trim collar : Black H
BLE IN ogrom, AVAIL A , Coyote, Cam nd Woodla nd PenCott a S C A A-T -XXL ach S : S SIZE 39.30 e £ m o r :F PRICES
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_072-073 Kit Bag_rev6.indd 73
073
24/05/2013 11:15
LIGHT WORK Engaging an enemy in low-light areas can be tricky – so Andy Nightingale presents some tried-and-tested techniques
Y
ou are out on patrol and the sun is high in the sky. A shot rings out in your direction from a deserted building. You return fire and begin to make your way to the door. You decide to enter and hunt down your adversary. As you enter the building you are greeted by stairs that lead to a basement. You make your way down to the basement and find yourself in a low-light environment. What do you do?
In the Chapman position, the light is held in the palm of the weak hand, with the stronger thumb on the switch
074
July 2013
Low light environments are one of the most hazardous places to be in when you need to fight. Your adversary will use the low light to their advantage by hiding in the shadows and waiting for you to wander into their sights. There are many ways to extract an armed bad guy from a building, but if you have to hunt them down, then your only option is to go in with artificial light and seek them out. This has its potential pitfalls,
as any artificial light source will give your position away. In this article we will look at some of the different methods we can use to go hunting in the dark with white light – and come out of the situation safely. One of the main problems faced during low-light encounters is target identification. We have to be certain that we can ID our target before shooting; it is all too easy to shoot your partner or other innocents in the dark, thinking that you have just seen your adversary. So, if you’re not 100 per cent sure, don’t shoot – and never shoot at a noise in the dark. Of course, when the light fades, so do the iron sights on your weapon. The use of tritium night sights is a good idea if you can afford them, and if not, a splash of light-sensitive paint on the front sight blade helps maintain a view of the muzzle orientation. The use of red dot or holographic refraction sights also gives good weapon orientation. But knowing where your sights and muzzle are pointing is one thing; pointing them at the target is another. The use of white light is the most common way of lighting up your target. White light can be anything from a simple, handheld flashlight to a purpose-built, weaponmounted flashlight. We will look at both in more detail. The weapon-mounted light is probably the easiest to use, as it gives you the chance to go ‘hands free’. With the light attached to the gun, you can use both hands to operate and shoot – a must if you are using a long gun. A weapon-mounted light that is fixed underneath the gun and near the muzzle will give you maximum light output with no shadow. A light mounted behind the muzzle and front sight, such as on the side of a long gun, will cast a shadow from the barrel but greatly enhance your sight acquisition by silhouetting your front iron sight on the target. Where you mount the light is a personal preference.
SKILLS ROOM | LOW LIGHT The FBI technique can be tiring, as the arm is extended for long periods of time
© Official Navy Page 2013
Casting shadows is no big deal; it will only be small and you won’t have the light on constantly. Mounting the light towards the muzzle won’t highlight the sights, but it will be pointing clearly in the same direction. The most important thing is to make sure that you can operate it with ease. I use an M3 weapon-mounted tac light. The light fits to the Picatinny rail under my Glock and is operated by my weaker hand’s thumb. I also have one mounted on the side of my M4 carbine, which is again operated by my weaker hand’s thumb. Having the same light fitted to both weapons enables me to operate with ease, plus if one fails I can simply swap them over and continue as normal. Another important thing to remember is that you should use a light with a dual tailswitch. The first mode will give you continuous light when activated and the second mode will only work if you keep pressure on the switch. It is this second mode that you will use the most when in a tactical situation. The way you hold a non weapon-mounted flashlight is also a matter of preference. The Harries method (named after its inventor, Mike Harries) is to grip the light in a dagger fashion with the weak hand, resting the thumb on the tail switch. The strong hand is then placed on the back of the weak hand for support, and both move at the same time while searching. The Harries is the most stable of the many flashlight techniques and orients the beam with the muzzle at all times. The second technique – and probably the oldest – is the FBI method. This involves holding the weapon with the strong hand
while the other hand holds the flashlight up and out to the weak side of the shooter. This can be a tiring technique as the arm can be extended for long periods of time while searching. The light does not always shine in the same direction, as the muzzle end tends to wander away from the weapon sights. You will also tend to follow the light with your eyes and forget about your muzzle direction. The third method is the Chapman technique (named after Ray Chapman). The shooter is best suited to hold the light while standing in the isosceles position, but the Weaver stance is a viable option
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
075
SKILLS ROOM | LOW LIGHT The strong hand supports the flashlightcarrying hand in the Harries method
as well. The light is held in the palm of the weak hand, secured by the index finger and thumb. The thumb of the strong hand operates the tailswitch, pulling back to activate the light. Although this does not allow for an ideal grip, it does enable the shooter to maintain a two-handed hold on the gun at all times.
076
July 2013
When possible, you should search without light and rely on natural night vision. Only put the light on when you really need it, and for as short a burst as possible; using it too much will give your position away to any adversary waiting in the dark. Once you have lit up the area you need to see, turn off the light and move away from your position
at once. Your adversary may have spotted you and be moving into position to counter attack. Remember: light on, light off, move. If you do see someone in the shadows, don’t just shoot: remember you have to ID your target. Shine the light into their eyes. This will disorient them and destroy their night vision. Some modern tactical flashlights have a strobe effect that when shone into the eyes of your adversary will cause disorientation, confusion and slow down any attack reflexes. If possible, light areas that you cannot see into from behind cover; this will give you a degree of protection if the light does give you away. Try to sweep the area to gain the full picture, then switch off and move. Bouncing the light beam off a wall or ceiling to light another area can help to maintain your tactical advantage and prevent your adversary from identifying your position, but you should still move as soon as possible. Flashing light around in a dark environment will destroy your night vision. A good tip is to close your shooting eye when you turn your light on and search with your non-shooting eye to save your natural night vision. Of course, if you do see your adversary then you can open your shooting eye and engage the target. Get as much practice as you safely can, and happy hunting!
MEDIA REVIEW | DARK SOULS
With a sequel on the way, Alex Wharton revisits the first Dark Souls game
F
or this issue, I’ve spent time going back to an old game I’d given up on: Dark Souls. Dark Souls is a punishing, third-person action role-playing game developed by From Software. It is set in the mystical land of Lordran. As with many Japanese RPGs, you need to put in some serious work to understand the story. Basically though, you are undead, and every once in a while an undead is chosen to make a pilgrimage. You are the chosen one, and are tasked with killing a load of bad guys and taking their place …or something. As I said, it’s seriously convoluted, and even reading a plot synopsis, I don’t understand what’s going on! However, much of the story is told through very short conversations you have with the odd non-aggressive character out there, so isn’t really fleshed out. Generally, I just found myself accepting what I needed to do and then
getting on with it, enjoying the locations and gameplay over the story. Gameplay is dealt with from a thirdperson perspective, and is actually a relatively simple hack and slash system. You can do a light attack, a heavy attack, and block or parry. Combining these with movement, there is also a jump attack and a couple of other moves, including dodge. You have a stamina bar that fills up quickly when not doing anything, but is used up when doing just about anything. Blocking attacks takes down stamina – so you can’t just block them all! While that’s relatively simple, it’s how you apply it that really adds to the game. For example, you may choose to equip heavy armour so you are tougher. However, that will slow down your movement and dodge, and some enemies will just move around you too fast. Conversely, if you have next
to no armour, you may well be able to dodge out of the way of everything, but even blocking with your shield may not absorb all of the damage. Different weapons also have different ranges and attacks, so picking the right gear for the right situation is a must. Dark Souls’ main principle is ‘learn from your mistakes’. There is no difficulty setting when starting a game. All enemies are deadly. Even once you are levelled up and powerful, drop your guard and that super basic mob that you have killed a thousand times can take you down. The combat is so precise, however, that when you die, you know the only reason was because you made a mistake: blocked when you should have dodged, attacked when you should have backed off, or just stupidly stumbled into a nest of enemies. As with all things, you find yourself getting slower and making poor
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_077-079 Media review - Dark Souls_rev2_MH.indd 77
077
24/05/2013 11:42
decisions as you get tired. In Dark Souls, you notice this immediately before you even think you are lagging. Getting your block up slightly too slow, or making poor combat choices – all of these will get you killed fast. You will only have yourself to blame, though. Some enemies are brutally difficult to fight, even when you are playing perfectly. Much of the time this means you need to think outside of the box. For example, in one area, if you aren’t careful, you can anger a large number of very powerful forest protectors. Yet if you run over to a small ledge over a cliff just under a set of stairs, all of the protectors sprint up the stairs and straight over the edge of the cliff. While some games would view this as glitching or taking advantage of a bug, these are acceptable and shared strategies for this game. It’s just that hard – any advantage you can get must be taken. As you go through the game, you will find fires where you can rest, level up, and repair or reinforce gear. These are handy little islands of safety in the crazy land of Lordran. However, they come at a cost. Each time you rest at one to recover, everything respawns. The same applies when you die and return
078
to the last fire you used. You can never ‘clear’ an area. Nowhere but these small fires are safe in this land, and there will always be something for you to fight. The placement of these fires has been decided very carefully. Quite often, to get to a boss fight, you need to go through an area before you locate them. This can be anything from a few small minions that you can dispatch easily, to a 20-minute slog against hardened
enemies. That’s before you even get to the boss, who will likely just squash you like a bug until you understand how to defeat him. This journey from the fire can involve the use of potions and similar, so by the time you get to the boss you are weakened. This is deliberate, and I’m pretty sure just part of From Software’s sadistic need to make us suffer. When you get it right, though, taking down that
“Some enemies are brutally difficult to fight, even when you are playing perfectly”
July 2013
AA_077-079 Media review - Dark Souls_rev2_MH.indd 78
24/05/2013 11:42
MEDIA REVIEW | DARK SOULS
boss you have been trying for hours, the feeling of accomplishment is immense! The concept department seems to have had free rein on what they wanted the enemies to be like. So far on my play-through, I’ve seen the basic stuff: undead knights, skeletons and the like. Then some cool but not completely out of place creatures like hydras and demons. Then you get things that are actually difficult to describe! Okay, we all remember Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, right? You know that mouth thing
Jabba is going to sacrifice Luke and Han to out in the desert? A Sarlacc. Now image one of those, but walking on tentacles! Mouth up in the air – oh and the sides are covered with hundreds of eyes! Not for the faint of heart. I’ll be honest, I’ve been following a walkthrough to get through the game. There are things in this game that I couldn’t truly say how anyone has uncovered, like obscure hidden walls, and strange items that are useful in that one specific place only. Anyone who’s played a Final Fantasy
game would understand this – but this game has taken it to a whole new level. In one area there is a chest behind a hidden wall. Behind that chest is another hidden wall, then another, which leads to a whole area to fight through. How did anyone work this out? Dark Souls suits the kind of gamer who plays through games on regular, then goes back and tries it on the harder difficulties. But with this game, From Software has just removed the practice run-through before throwing the player in at the deep end. It is quite possibly the most frustrating game I’ve ever played, yet at the same time so rewarding. If any of this sounds like you might enjoy it, I urge you to give it a go. It’s pretty old now anyways, so probably won’t cost much to pick it up. Then you will be totally hooked and ready for Dark Souls 2, which is coming! So great, more frustration and hair-tearing to look forwards to…
INFORMATION & PRICE DEVELOPED BY: From Software PUBLISHED BY: From Software PLATFORMS: PS3, Xbox 360, Windows PRICE: From around £15, depending on platform
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_077-079 Media review - Dark Souls_rev2_MH.indd 79
079
24/05/2013 11:42
a farewell to arms? Nige went along to The Grange and came away asking ‘has the Airsoft Arms Fair run its course?’
I
hadn’t been to the Airsoft Arms Fair since 2011, so thought I’d best crack along – for couple of reasons really. A number of people had asked if I would be there and, from a personal point of view, I was looking forwards to catching up with friends I hadn’t seen for a while. Unfortunately, I think my most enduring memory of the Fair will be of those that weren’t there, rather than those who were. Sure, some of the usual suspects were there, like TAG Airsoft, Milspec Solutions and Pro-Tact – and there were a couple of new faces, including Red Wolf Airsoft and
080
SNAFU Airsoft Apparel (a new company who were launching their products at the show), but there were some big names missing, too. Edgar Brothers, Land Warrior Airsoft and BadgerTac had all decided not to attend, but probably the most noticeable absence (possibly due to the lack of explosions and gun fire) was Stirling Airsoft. For many, the highlights of visiting the Arms Fair are the additional attractions. On my last visit, ‘Mr. Practical Pistol’ himself, Clarence Lai (The Airsoft Surgeon) was running training sessions, Pro-Tact were busy teaching people how to disarm an attacker or storm a building,
while over at The Grange’s main site, Stirling had brought along some SF members to run ‘live’ training scenarios. In other words, there was plenty to do beyond just drooling over the latest airsoft awesomeness and spending your hard-earned dosh. This year, apart from the guys at Pro-Tact, who were running training sessions in aid of Help for Heroes, there seemed to be little else beyond the sales areas, of which there were three (I heard them being referred to as ‘the hall’, ‘the tent’ and ‘the car park’). The main area was a large marquee, and this is where the majority of retailers had set up,
July 2013
AA_080-081 Airsoft Arms Fair_rev3_MH.indd 80
24/05/2013 12:08
SHOW REPORT | AIRSOFT ARMS FAIR 2013 although it has to be said that the largest (and most dominant) display was smack in the middle and was for the media sponsor. Arriving at about 11:00, I was struck by the lack of visitors, although by the time I left there were certainly many more cars in the car park and a queue had formed at registration. Before I left, I did one last walk-round to see if I could gauge the mood and, without putting too fine a point on it, it wasn’t wonderful. Yes, there were people rooting through the second-hand stalls, and yes, there were people buying guns and gear, but (and here’s the kicker) that was it! I spoke to a group of guys who had driven a couple of hours to get there and they were unanimously ‘disappointed with both the turnout and lack of variety’, although I also chatted to others who were delighted with their bargain purchases! Of the retailers I spoke to, the majority were of the opinion that ‘it is what it is’, and some were unsure if they would commit to attending again, although others said they enjoyed the show and most definitely would. Me? I am not sure. It seems the Airsoft Arms Fair has become almost a boot sale and, with the huge success of the British Airsoft Show, I came away wondering if it has run its course. If it has, it would be a
shame as I welcome anything that promotes airsoft and brings it to a wider audience (albeit one that is probably already involved in the game). I know Jim Sefton and everyone else at The Grange work extremely hard to make this event a success and I really don’t want to sound all negative, however I do wonder if it is time to take a long, hard look at The Airsoft Arms Fair’s format. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it is dead (not by a long way) but it could probably do with a big injection of adrenalin to get it up to speed again!
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_080-081 Airsoft Arms Fair_rev3_MH.indd 81
081
24/05/2013 12:09
MILSIM MYTHS Want to try a MilSim? Worried about what it takes? Oscar Plummer presents a novice’s guide
L OSCAR PLUMMER Oscar believes three things about airsoft: drinking tea makes you win; ‘Tally ho!’ is the best battle-cry; and RIS is a hideous modern monstrosity that should be banned.
082
July 2013
ike many people, I got into airsoft after a brief, filthy and thoroughly disappointing dalliance with another force-on-force projectile-based game. Dare I say it? Yes, your honour, I played paintball. I say ‘brief’… it was actually tragically short – one walkon, surrounded by brightly-coloured, baggy sweaters, mirrored visors and ridiculous sci-fi markers was enough to send me looking for something more realistic – and I found a happy home at my regular airsoft site. After a few years, though, I began to get an itch. I wanted to take things to the next level. I still have a ball on a good skirmish day, with the plastic flying in great sheets and gusts across a patch of woodland, or ricocheting between
the walls of a CQB setup, but I was beginning to want something extra. The urge for a dash more realism was rearing its head again. Talking to the guys in the safe zone, more and more people recommended I try out a MilSim event, but I was initially worried that I would need lots of extra kit, or to join a team, or that I would be totally out of my depth. Surely MilSim games would take tonnes of time and cash – and would I actually be up to the challenge? Eventually, I manned-up sufficiently to give it a go, and it was a great experience. So, if any of you have thought twice about trying MilSim, here are some Milsim Myths thoroughly rebuffed!
FEATURE | INTRO TO MILSIM Extravagant kit isn’t essential – though some players like to go ‘full tactical’
Too Serious? MilSim is about taking the airsoft experience to the next level. Whereas your average walk-on skirmish will cater for every level of player toting every type of kit, a MilSim will generally have requirements of the type of kit you can use, along with more in-depth objectives, a longer run-time, more of a narrative, and possibly a command structure. But these are all about modifying the experience, not about setting a level you have to meet. Most MilSims will be set up to allow people new to the concept to have a go and see if they like it. There’s nothing stopping you taking part, and from experience, players at MilSims are just as welcoming as at a walk-on – don’t worry that you might feel like a complete noob! Most of us start our airsoft career with skills inexpertly gleaned from video games, films,
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
083
Vehicles often have a role in MilSim – even helicopters!
TV and YouTube. Milsim is the opportunity to actually try some of those in a much more realistic setting – and by and large, other people on your team will happily help you sort the dross from the gems! Also, MilSims tend to attract players from a wider distance than a usual walk-on, and as well as meeting tonnes of new people, chances are you’ll have a much bigger chance to get to know how your teammates play – which means more opportunities to hone your patrol skills and teamwork. As an additional plus, many MilSim games take place over longer periods. Overnighters are common, with some running over two or more days. Yes, there will likely be less charging about like a loon, but that doesn’t mean they will be less fun. There’s a huge amount of enjoyment to be had in taking part in a brilliantly executed manoeuvre as part of team, even if you might only fire a fraction of the rounds you’d get through at a walk-on!
Skill Level Let’s face it, most of us turn up to skirmishes with ideas about how a game should be tackled and tactics we want to try out. However, on an average skirmish day, putting together an organised assault can be like herding cats! Likewise, many of us will have
084
July 2013
sat at times watching teammates throw away an advantage by popping their rocks too early, or giving away a well set-up ambush (through no fault of their own). Similarly, there’s no skilllevel preventing any airsofter from playing in a MilSim. But again, don’t think that means they are no fun. MilSim is an opportunity to take some of that chaos out of a day’s play. There will be much more planning, more depth and better organisation – which all equates to plenty of opportunities to build and deploy strategies and crush the opposing team through thought, not weight of fire!
Distance You can play MilSim pretty much anywhere – don’t fall into the trap of thinking you will have to travel miles. Most sites will run occasional games, so keep an ear out at your regular site. Having said that, bigger games are often held at full-blown military training areas such as Copehill Down or Sennybridge. Access to these MOD sights is very restricted, and a MilSim event is probably your main opportunity to play through them – all the more reason to give it a go! There are also increasing numbers of games played in other countries, with teams from around the world pitting their wits against each other.
Expense MilSim really doesn’t need to be expensive. Prices for a game do tend to be a bit higher than a walk-on, but that’s just a reflection of the additional planning, set-up and running costs, including (quite often) rental costs attached to high-level sites. A day game will normally cost around £40-£50, with a twodayer sometimes reaching £90. MilSims generally give you access to kit and set-ups not generally found on a walk-on day. Vehicles and mortars are two common enhancements built into MilSims, and some games even involve helicopters! Let’s face it, everyone loves roaring around in a WMIK, don’t they?
Teams Don’t feel you need to be a member of a team already. Most MilSims will cater for people
FEATURE | INTRO TO MILSIM MilSim presents the opportunity to play at unique locations, such as military training facilities
turning up on their own or with a friend or two, just like a regular skirmish. And one thing that is really great about longer, structured games is that you have tonnes of opportunities to meet new players and bounce ideas and experiences off each other. How do people form teams, after all? Increasingly, organisers are setting up groups on social networks for pre-planning and so players can get to know each other in advance. Many MilSims carry a story over from event to event, so if you choose to, you can get back together with people you met at the first event and carry on where you left off!
Kitting Up You’ll probably need a lot less gear than you think. Some MilSims, especially those set in a specific historical period, will have
stricter uniform rules than others (Vietcong in Multicam with a Masada? I think not…) but by and large there are plenty of games set up with broad themes, so anyone’s kit can find a place to fit in: green v tan, for example. One thing that is pretty much universal is a ban on high-caps, and usually two-tones, in the name of realism. That might be a problem for some people, but it’s worth asking if there is kit that can be borrowed. Also, mid-caps can be found cheaply from many sources and, in my opinion, are much better than tactical-maraca high-caps! From personal experience, my rule is to pack my kit and then bin half of it. I always end up lugging around a load of junk that I never use! Also, don’t worry about having to lay in tonnes of ammo and pyro – chances are you’ll use much less than you expect!
Time Commitments This is one area that can make a MilSim harder to take part in than a normal skirmish. Weekenders are more difficult for most people – especially those with rugrats and better halves to appease! And by and large, sorting your kit might need more forethought. If you are going to be in the field for eight hours with no breaks back to safe, it pays to have packed the right bits! Some games also require much more attention to detail on kit, so building that impression can take some effort. Having said that, there’s a whole range of opportunities out there to experience new games and visit new sites. If you’ve not tried a MilSim, why not hit the web, find a game that takes your fancy and start getting your kit sorted? You’ve nothing to lose, and there’s a whole lot of fun to be had.
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
085
Red Army set up special officer training academies. By the 1980s, the Soviet officer corps made up roughly 15 per cent of the armed forces, a much higher proportion than in NATO armies, and much of this can be put down to their differing role and work expectations. In the Soviet armed forces, NCOs tended to be specially selected and trained conscripts rather than the career soldier NCO of the West, and would have little real authority over those in their ‘command’. As a result, the Soviet officer would often find himself undertaking duties that might well have been those of a corporal or sergeant in the British Army. In fact, the gap between enlisted men and their officers was probably larger in the Soviet Army than any of the comparable Cold War forces.
Groomed For War Young men in the Soviet Union could find their way into officer training in a number of ways. For many, there was a route comparable to their counterparts in the West: a high-school education followed by an application to serve as an officer. Those who had either been part of pre-army paramilitary activity groups or members of the Young Communists’ Party were most likely to be selected – being Russian was also something of a pre-requisite, and while other nationalities could and did apply, their chances of success against a Russian-born candidate were slim. Officers could also be selected from enlisted men who had shown aptitude and ability during their basic training or initial
In this month’s instalment, Gareth ‘Gadge’ Harvey examines the 1980s Soviet infantry officer’s loadout
A
s with all armies of the Cold War era, the commanding officers of the Soviet Army were the ‘cream of the crop’. Oddly for a communist system in which all men were considered equal, Soviet officers were generally plucked from the social elite – and many had been groomed to lead men in war from childhood. The Soviet officer class had, in the early 20th century, taken a severe beating. After the Russian revolution, the Red Army had abolished officers for a short while, but found it somewhat impractical and soon
086
The Soviet officer’s ‘Sam Browne’ belt holds a water bottle
reinstated them. However, the greatest disaster came when WWII leader Stalin, in a fit of deep, murderous paranoia, had many of his senior officers killed in ‘purges’ in the 1930s. The Red Army’s next generation of officers would be crippled, not only by poor and hurried training, but also by the enforced attachment of a ‘political officer’ (or commissar) to authorise even the smallest decisions, creating a cumbersome system of leadership. Realising that the Soviet officer was vastly outstripped by his German counterpart, the
July 2013
AA_086-088 CWW_rev3_MH.indd 86
24/05/2013 12:24
COLD WAR WARRIOR | SOVIET INFANTRY OFFICER 1985 period of service, and any soldier who had completed their first year of service and an initial tour of duty could also apply to attend officer training school. Lastly, and massively at odds with the western world, were the Suvorov training schools. These military academies quite literally taught young boys to be officers from childhood. Set up in the 1940s to counter the poor training of WWII Soviet officers, these were initially intended to be schools for the orphans of WWII Soviet officers and heroes – but by the 1970s they were admitting non-military orphans, and even some older students who had completed suitable pre-academy educations. The Suvorov schools took in children from 10-13 years of age who were physically and mentally above average and trained them to lead. The five- to sevenyear course taught the children a regular education, but also trained them in the military and political skills needed to be an outstanding Soviet officer. While graduates of a Suvorov school were not compelled to become soldiers, they were held on the reserves list and most chose to enter the armed forces in a branch of their choosing. The Soviet officer was not well paid by NATO standards (and his salary was perhaps slightly lower than a Soviet citizen with comparable training and skills) but he did gain many benefits from his service. Soviet officers were not only well respected members of a largely militaristic society, but also gained better pensions and healthcare than their civilian professional counterparts; most importantly, they could shop at special Voyentorg stores, which often stocked goods that were unavailable in the civilian economy.
The 9mm Makarov service pistol
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
AA_086-088 CWW_rev3_MH.indd 87
087
24/05/2013 12:24
COLD WAR WARRIOR | SOVIET INFANTRY OFFICER 1985
Our warrior unfolds his brown leather map case
Soviet Doctrine In the field, the Soviet officer had a hard time of things compared to his NATO brother officers. His uniform and equipment were of an antiquated design by the 1980s, and he was still hidebound by the suspicion and paranoia of the Soviet system. While in the West NATO officers were trained to be able to use ‘textbook’ examples to resolve tactical problems or accomplish their missions, they were also encouraged to use initiative and ‘think outside the box’. In contrast, the Soviet officer lived in fear of the repercussions of making a wrong decision and would nearly always stick to Soviet doctrine in his battle plans, knowing that the officers below him would be just as wary of upsetting him as he was his superiors. When this tactical inflexibility was coupled with the need to ‘micro manage’ his men due to the lack of competent NCOs, it resulted in
088
a slow and cumbersome beast of an army – a juggernaut to be sure, but one slow to react and respond to a rapidly changing battlefield. Our Soviet officer in this month’s Cold War Warrior is a comparatively low-ranking 1st lieutenant (below him would be 2nd lieutenants and officer cadets), as is marked out by the single red stripe flanked by two stars on his shoulder boards. In day-to-day barracks duties our officer’s insignia would be much more visible. His shoulder boards would be gold and red, his cap band and collar badges in the bright red of his army branch of service – but in the field all rank was of a subdued nature. His basic uniform differs little from the M69 ‘hebe’ uniform of his men: a simple, utilitarian, olive drab field uniform, but of a slightly better cut and quality to that of the ranks. Just visible at the collar of the uniform is the clean white collar liner that would be
replaced and a fresh one sewn-in daily. On the outside of the collar we can see the ‘motor rifles’ branch of service insignia on subdued collar patches. The peaked field cap is an oddity and seems to have often been worn in the field by officers to allow their men to differentiate them, something NATO armies would avoid, although a steel helmet would be as common. An officer’s breeches sometimes displayed a thin red strip down the side of the leg, although, as with our example, this was not universal. Our lieutenant (or Leitenant in Russian) also carries a short officer’s field coat. This warm, padded jacket was a popular alternative to the greatcoat and was occasionally acquired by better-connected senior NCOs when they could get their hands on them. Rounding off our officer’s uniform are a pair of tall officer’s pattern boots, generally of a better finish and slightly taller than the enlisted man’s sapogi or jackboot. As with most Soviet impressions we show in Cold War Warrior, field equipment is minimal, as befitted an army that mainly intended to fight from armoured vehicles. Of almost WWII vintage, our officer’s kit has changed little since the First World War! Most prominent is the ‘Sam Browne’ pistol belt, which was worn as dress uniform in many NATO armies but rarely in the field. Our man’s Sam Browne belt, with its cross-strap, carries just his water bottle and a holster for his 9mm Makarov service pistol (many junior ‘intermediate command personnel’ or Srednii Komandnyi would acquire an AK-74 or AK-SU for personal protection in times of war). Carried on a separate cross-strap is his brown leather map case. While somewhat heavy, this map case is of an excellent design and folds out to display large area maps and safely carries pens, pencils, rulers, protractors and other aids needed to formulate a battle plan. Completing his ensemble is a pair of binoculars to enable our Leitenant to keep a sharp eye on the enemy forces. For those of you considering this impression, it’s worth remembering that, while it’s still a relatively cheap and available loadout, it’s becoming less so every year. While at one point communist militaria was easily acquired, now 30 years on, it’s becoming something of a collectors’ piece, and articles in decent sizes and good condition are harder to find. So if you want to take command of the Shock Army as a Soviet officer you’ll have to do something out of character… seize the initiative and react quickly to grab it before it’s gone!
July 2013
AA_086-088 CWW_rev3_MH.indd 88
24/05/2013 12:24
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
089.indd 89
089
24/5/13 14:18:45
ACCESS ALL AREAS Crawley Surplus Store is more than just a regular army surplus shop, as Les Lee found out on a recent visit…
T
he words ‘surplus store’ will probably conjure a very specific image for a lot of people. You might envisage somewhere cramped, with a musty smell, olive green ‘thingies’ sticking out of every nook and cranny, dust gathering on shelves and hanging on gravity-defying flexing rails and old military remnants and hand-me-downs... with a couple of battle hardened badass guys behind the counter with displaced noses and attitudes that have seen better days. ‘Wot yer after fella?’ is their battle cry. However, with Crawley Surplus Store, this vision is far from true. My first visit to the West Sussex shop was in May 2011, soon after the shop relocated from their small premises on Crawley’s high street to Access House on Stephenson Way Industrial Estate. The new store is very accessible, located just outside Crawley town centre in the Three Bridges area,
090
July 2013
a five-minute walk from the railway station – and just a few minutes’ drive from Junction 10 off the M23. The moment I walked through the door, I was confronted by sheer awesomeness – it was like the first time you get to see Santa’s grotto as a kid! But make no mistake, this is very much the grown-up man’s toy shop, containing major eye candy in its massive, modern 3,000 square feet of showroom, where you’ll find everything you could ever need for airsoft. The size of this showroom has to be seen to be believed – with wall-to-wall guns wherever you look. The shop’s layout is well designed and thought-out. A 360-degree sales counter is central to the shop floor, which enables staff to be at a customer’s side at a moment’s notice. At the rear of the store, a raised mezzanine area overlooks the sales floor, and is home to the highly functional office, the mail order sales
desk (which has a 48-hour turnaround time scale from point of order being received) and a repairs workstation. The open-planned, bright and airy layout makes for a pleasant shopping environment, and ensures that customers aren’t left unattended and scratching their heads without being offered assistance. The sales team are very friendly – and there’s no hard selling, just a genuine, warm welcome followed by an offer of help or advice if needed. Then you are free to start your adrenalin-fuelled and belly-warming journey around the store (and don’t be embarrassed if you find yourself dribbling and clawing at cabinets after a few minutes, it happens to us all). There is also an enclosed shooting test area for those that wish to try before they buy – and for the team to make repair evaluations. Furthermore, all guns are tested before they
S
INSIDE AIRSOFT | CRAWLEY SURPLUS STORE
LES LEE Les Lee has over 25 years of shooting experience under his belt – but now his focus is airsoft. Safety, common sense and a balanced perspective are his strengths – and he just loves his handguns!
Crawley’s staff are always on hand to offer top-rate advice
“We are trying out a new paint system for the two-toning,” Daniel explained. “Although we’ve managed to achieve a very high standard of finish, the current paint just doesn’t have the toughness we want it to. When you skirmish with an AEG, you will knock it about and any paint job has to cope with that. Nobody likes being forced have a two-tone gun to start out with, but our reasoning is, if you’ve got to have it, make it as good as you can... even the pink! It’s not just two-toning though, we have also taken two-tone guns back to RIF colours for customers with a justified legal reason, although that does take a little more preparation.” The man behind these paint jobs is Dan Kennedy – an integral member of Crawley Surplus’s team. He has been the shop’s technician for over five years, and like many of the staff, he’s also a dedicated player, so understands just what airsofters want and
leave the store – and rightly so, because who wants to buy a faulty gun? Airsoft products stocked include a varied range from top manufacturers such as Tokyo Marui, WE, ICS, KWA, Umarex and many others – and stocks are kept high to meet demand, as another thing we airsofters don’t like is having to wait for our guns to arrive! It seems that Crawley Surplus Store has found a very successful balance of items – with a quality of service to match the state-of-the-art facility. This is not your stereotypical army surplus store, as it does little to support the collector of military artefacts, instead placing the focus on the 21st century skirmisher’s inventory. But Crawley Surplus isn’t just about airsoft and BB guns, as it carries stock to cater for all manner of outdoors enthusiasts and activities. However, considering that more than 65 per cent of the shop’s sales and service accounts for airsoft-related business, it is clear where owner Daniel Levene and his loyal and long-serving family of valued staff want to take Crawley Surplus Store. Airsoft and related equipment is without doubt the prevailing interest. Crawley are also committed to staying onside of the law. The 2006 Violent Crime Reduction Act caused a major review of airsoft sales practice, leading to the creation of the UKARA scheme. Following the Act, Daniel put in place a two-tone painting facility and was able to keep customers happy and the lawman from the door. I was privileged enough to be given to a behind-the-scenes peek into the two-tone painting process.
Dan Kennedy is Crawley Surplus Store’s dedicated technician
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
091
INSIDE AIRSOFT | CRAWLEY SURPLUS STORE MD Neville Wynn with the G&G ZD30
to do something it really shouldn’t. His ethos is that if it’s too powerful for any skirmish site in the UK there’s no point in having it. “A lot of our AEGs do come in ridiculously over-powered, as they’re made for the world market rather than just the UK. We do try to chronograph all our AEGs, and if we find any that are over 380fps, we always downgrade them to a UK spec for free before they leave the shop, and as with the painting, we can often do a while-you-wait upgrade or repair service, depending on store circumstances and if given advance notice.” Crawley Surplus Store also has close links with the community. They’re currently supporting Ardingly College and Southern Pursuits – and the shop also has its own team, dubbed Metal Ops, a small but close-knit bunch of guys that venture out into battle. So there you have it – a ‘superstore’ among airsoft retailers, in a south-east, easy-access location. And for the armchair airsofter, you could always browse their website. Go on, you know you want to!
The store’s on-site two-toning process shows the level of customer service on offer
need, and has the skills and support to make it happen. “We do handle upgrades and repairs,” Dan said, “and I’m more than happy to talk people through the best solution for what they want to achieve. We do a full range of repairs and upgrades, but I will not recommend something to a customer if I don’t know for definite that it works and makes a real difference. For example, I’m currently trialling a slightly different hop system in my personal AEG to
092
July 2013
see if it makes a significant difference in-game, and we have made our own MOSFET switch systems in house, but we are currently trialling some Gate MOSFET systems to see how well they work in the field. There are a couple of other little mods we are having a play with, but I can’t say too much about them. My team does sometimes end up playing the guinea pig for me though!” However, Dan won’t take on a job from someone who wants their AEG or sniper rifle
INFORMATION Crawley Surplus Store LOCATION: Access House, Stephenson Way Industrial Estate, Three Bridges, Crawley, RH10 1TN TEL: 01293 525880 WEB: www.surplusstore.co.uk OPEN: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm. Closed Sundays.
TO ADVERTISE
01926 8 0 8 9 3 3 CALL HANNAH HANNAHB@BLAZEPUBLISHING.CO.UK
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
093.indd 93
093
24/5/13 14:59:54
SITE DIRECTORY Find somewhere to be this weekend… SYMBOL KEY
Is it woodland or urban? Check the key! UKARA
UKARA MEMBER UKASGB MEMBER WOODLAND
£
SHOP ONSITE BATTERY CHARGING URBAN PYROS ALLOWED REPAIR SERVICE DESERT
ATROOP AIRSOFT
AIRSOFT COMMANDOS
ALPHA ELITE GAMING
ARENA AIRSOFT
ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT
AIRSOFT KGB
AMAZON EVENTS
AWA HERTS
AIRSOFT SKIRMISH
AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM
BARNSLEY AIRSOFT
AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB
AMBUSH ADVENTURES – SOUTHAMPTON
Clocaenog Forest, LL16 4SP 07967 394976 www.atroop.co.uk
Maidenhead, SL6 3SS 07871 314951 www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk
ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES Penkridge, ST19 5RE 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk
ACE COMBAT
Kent, TN12 7DG 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk
AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com
AIRSOFT ASYLUM
North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com ayrsoft@gmail.com
094
July 2013
Sutton, near Ferrybridge 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com
Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com www.kgbairsoft.com
Stoulton, WR7 4QW 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
Studley, B80 7LY 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je
Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL 0844 2570433 www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk
Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
ALL ARMS AIRSOFT
Near Trawden, BB8 8SN 07909 683464 www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk
APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT
Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com
Grimsby, DN31 3JD 07752 404060 www.arenaairsoft.com
Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com
Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE 07779 236166 www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk
BATTLETEC AIRSOFT
La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2 07781 104068 www.battletec.co.uk
BETTER BATTLES
Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH 07967 940043 www.better-battles.com
BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT
Westcott Venture Park, Westcott, Aylesbury, HP18 0XB 01926 658600 www.bluestreak-airsoft.co.uk
AIRSOFT SITES | DIRECTORY Huge thanks to our friends at Airbana (www.airsoftmap.net) for supplying data! BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT
Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport. PR46JX 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com
BRISTOL AIRSOFT
Bristol, BS1 2HQ 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com
BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT
Sheffield, S2 5TR 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com
BUNKER 51
Charlton, SE7 8NJ 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk
C3 TACTICAL
Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk
CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT Corby, NN17 3BB 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk
COMBAT ACTION GAMES
Maryland, Norfolk, NR10 4 01328 711867 www.combatactiongames.co.uk
Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE SANDPIT
Bradford, BD2 1BQ 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT - RIVOCK EDGE
Keighley, BD20 0LS 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT SHEFFIELD WOODLAND
Sheffield, S6 6JE 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT Brimington Chesterfield S43 1DQ www.cia-airsoft.co.uk
Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL 07921 336360 www.dragonvalley.co.uk
ELITE ACTION GAMES – DORKING
Dorking, Surrey, RH5 5AB 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com
COMBAT SOUTH URBAN Portsmouth, PO6 3LS 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND Fareham, PO17 5ND 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL
Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk
COOL UNDER FIRE CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE COMPLEX
DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT
Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk
CORNWALL AIRSOFT ASSAULT
Truro, Cornwall, TR2 07837 475012 www.cornwallairsoftassault.co.uk
CUMBRIA AIRSOFT
Dumfries, DG12 cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net www.cumbria-airsoft.com
DELTA TEAM 3
Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk
ELITE ACTION GAMES – EPSOM
Epsom, Surrey, KT18 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com
ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING
Worthing, BN13 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com
ELITE BATTLEZONE
Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
FINMERE AIRSOFT
Buckingham, MK18 4JT 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com
FIREBALL SQUADRON
Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com
FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMP
Leek, ST13 8 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST AND ONLY – BATTLE LAKES
Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9AP 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST AND ONLY – BUNKER WOOD
Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT
FIRST AND ONLY – KHE SANH WOODS
FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS
FIRST AND ONLY – MANCHESTER WOODLAND
FIFE WARGAMES
FIRST AND ONLY – ASYLUM
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN 01380 728982 www.experienceairsoft.co.uk
Lewisham, SE13 5SU 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk
St Andrews, KY10 3XL info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com
Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
Bolton, BL7 9TS 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
DOGS OF WAR
Houston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP 07853 195290 www.dow-airsoft.co.uk
DRAGON’S LAIR
Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA 07703 530189 www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
095
SITE DIRECTORY Find somewhere to be this weekend… LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT
Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk
LAC SITE 1
FIRST AND ONLY – THE EMBASSY
Leicester, LE2 6EA 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST AND ONLY – THE MALL Reading, RG1 1NR 07862 288359 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
GROUND ZERO WOODLAND
Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF www.groundzerowoodland.com
FREE FIRE ZONE
Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH 01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk
FRV AIRSOFT
GUN HO AIRSOFT
Guisborough, TS7 0PG 07525 435696 www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk
GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGE
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk
GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICH Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk
HIGHLAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT IV25 3PY 07702 846090 www.highlandtacticalairsoft.co.uk
Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ 07730 586926 www.frvairsoft.com
HILTON PARK AIRSOFT
GASS AIRSOFT – PENN
HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT
Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com
Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft
GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON
INVICTA AIRSOFT – RAINDEN WOODS
Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT
Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com
GREENZONE COMBAT
Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com
096
July 2013
Folkestone, Kent, CT18 7AY 01227 763335 www.invictaairsoft.co.uz
ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT
Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30 07964 751047 www.islandrecon.co.uk
MILSIM UK
Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk
Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
NCIS AIRSOFT
LAC SITE 2
NOMAD AIRSOFT
LAC SITE 3
NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT
Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
Saxillby, LN1 2JW 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
LAC SITE 5
Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk
Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY 07904 998250 www.nomadairsoft.com
Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft. co.uk
NORTHFLEET CQB
Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
LINDSEY AIRSOFT
Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk
NSC AIRSOFT
Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk
MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES
Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com
NTAC
Durham, DL4 2ER 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk
MAW
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 07562 479966 maw.airsoft@hotmail.com
MIA
Cornwall, EX23 9JL 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk
MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Wrightington, WN6 9PL 01942 514724 www.*militaryoutdooradventure. co.uk
OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLL Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com
OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk
PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION Former RAF Camp Sopley/ Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 02380 899369
PHOENIX AIRSOFT
Budby, Notts, NG22 9FG 01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk
AIRSOFT SITES | DIRECTORY Huge thanks to our friends at Airbana (www.airsoftmap.net) for supplying data! PLATOON 1HQ
Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk
PLAYERS OF WAR
High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk
PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF 028 4377 0566 www.predatorcombat.com
RAVEN’S NEST
Suffolk, IP8 4 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk
SG1 COMBAT GAMES
Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk
SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY
Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk
SKIRMISH EXETER
Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk
SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT
Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – THE ROCK Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM) Cambridge, CB24 8RL 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
STIRLING AIRSOFT
Coventry, CV3 6NX 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com
SECTION 8 AIRSOFT
Shotts, N Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com
SECTION 8 AIRSOFT
Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com
UCAP AIRSOFT
SW WAR GAMES – TREGANTLE FORT
UCAP GREEN OPS
Antony, Cornwall, PL11 3AB www.swwargames.co.uk
Antony, Cornwall, PL11 3AZ 08456 345011 www.swwargames.co.uk
Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
UCAP SANDPIT
RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk
SW WAR GAMES – SCRAESDON FORT
STORMFORCE AIRSOFT
Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk
Bean, Kent, DA2 8 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
TA EVENTS
Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk
TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT
Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk
TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk
Slinfold, RH12 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk
Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD
Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13 TASK FORCE SKIRMISH
Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk
Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com
URBAN6AIRSOFT – THE BLOCK THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT Redford, DD11 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk
Wood Street, Butron-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 £AB www.urban6airsoft.com
URBAN ASSAULT THE EX SITE
Mold, CH7 4 07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk
Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk
VIKING AIRSOFT THE WARGAMES CENTRE
SUSSEX AIRSOFT
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM
Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN 08456 434326 www.scottishadventurecentre. co.uk
Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk
WARMINSTER AIRSOFT
Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk
TROJAN AIRSOFT
Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ 07921 837658 www.trojan-airsoft.com
XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST Dunstable, LU6 2EE 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk
XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END Email michaelh@ blazepublishing.co.uk to add or change a site listing
High Wycombe, HP14 3NP 01494 881430
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
097
DEALER LISTINGS
ADVERTISERS INDEX Land Warrior Airsoft ...............................................................2 Airsoft World...........................................................................3 Redwolf ...................................................................................9 Pro Airsoft Supplies ...............................................................11 Edgar Brothers PTS ..............................................................21 Apocalypse Airsoft ................................................................26 Goliath Footwear ...................................................................26 Airsoft Zone...........................................................................30 JD Airsoft ..............................................................................35 Wolf Armouries .....................................................................39 JD Airsoft ..............................................................................43 Badger Tac ...........................................................................52 Just BB Guns .........................................................................52 No VAT .................................................................................52 Military 1st............................................................................55 First & Only Airsoft ..............................................................55 Gunman Airsoft .....................................................................55 Patrol Base ............................................................................65 Just BB Guns .........................................................................65 Crawley Surplus Stores .........................................................65 Epic Militaria .........................................................................89 Flecktarn ...............................................................................93 Etonguns ...............................................................................93 Dragon Valley Airsoft ............................................................93 Countryside Matches .............................................................93 Edgar Brothers TLSFx ...........................................................99 Pro Airsoft Supplies .............................................................100
098
098.indd 98
July 2013
24/05/2013 16:02
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
099.indd 99
099
24/5/13 14:28:16
0100 July 2013
100.indd 100
24/5/13 14:29:06