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T H E
A I R S O F T E R ’ S
M A G A Z I N E
O F
C H O I C E
AIRSOFT ACTION
ARMOUURSIVYE
KRYTAC EXCL CK DYTAC BLACKJA UILD GPMG CUSTOM B
SITES
F&O - THE BASE AND RED ONE WOODL
INTERN15ATIONAL WENDIGO 20 NASSAU 03
KIT
VIPER TACTICAL
PROUDLY SUPPORTING
COLD WAR WARRIOR
PRACTICALLY ATTIRED
SPEARHEAD ASSAULT
80’S WEST GERMAN PARA
MAY 2015
DMR | BATTLEFIELD BRITAIN | PRACTICAL SHOOTING | ESCAPE & EVASION
MAY 2015 - £4.50
BOOK REVIEW
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PILGRIM BANDITS
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CASHBACK ON EVERY ORDER
The leading online airsoft equipment specialist and authorised distributor of all the brands below
Call: 0131 654 2452 or order online at
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LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT
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AIRSOFT NEWS WE WERE VERY SAD TO LEARN OF THE DEATH OF AIRSOFT ACTION CONTRIBUTOR, MALCOLM DOWDING. Airsoft Action readers will know him as one this Country’s top Practical Shooters, who also worked as a Range Officer at the Airsoft Surgeon European Championship. His presence on the range was always a calming and reassuring factor and his skills with a handgun were legendary. There was only one Malcolm Dowding and he will be sorely missed by all those that knew him. Our thoughts go out to Malcom’s family and many, many close friends. The Malcolm Dowding Challenge Cup was held in his memory, on the 5th April, at The Outpost. “Gone… but not forgotten”
HOCKLEY AIRSOFT ARENA MPA Enterprises is proud to announce the opening of a brand new custom built CQB Airsoft Arena. Hockley Airsoft Arena offers a unique indoor airsoft experience and also provides a target range and shop for experienced airsofters and those new to the sport. The airsoft arena has a hotel theme and is designed for intense CQB encounters for up to 20 players. The arena is finished to a high standard with carpeted floors and furnished with items you would expect to find in hotel rooms. Games are paid for on an hourly basis and a hire package consisting of a rifle, ammunition and full face mask are provided at no extra cost. The arena is open every day except Monday from 10am to 10pm. Events and offers are advertised on the arena’s FaceBook page hockleyairsoftarena. With all the pressures of modern life coupled with the vagaries of the British weather, it can be hard to find the time to pursue hobbies such as airsoft. Hockley Airsoft Arena offers a flexible all weather experience which can last for as little as an hour or for as long as you wish. Players from 12 years and over are welcome, meaning this can be a fun family event. Located 5 minutes walk from Hockley Rail station just off the high street on a small industrial estate Hockley airsoft Arena is easy to find.
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A DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES... On 10th May at around 2:00pm, at The Richmond Club in Hereford, Rusty Firmin is giving talk about his time in The Regiment (22 SAS) in aid of Pilgrim Bandits. Tickets are only £5.00 each and if his last talk was anything to go by, it will be full of little snippets you could not possibly know unless you were “there”. Rusty lead “Blue Team” on the Iranian Embassy siege and had a very active time with the Regiment, so who knows what gems he will come up with this time. The Richmond Club is at 69-71 Edgar Street and I have no doubt the Bar will be open afterwards, so you will get plenty of chance to have a chat with Rusty. For more information, or to buy tickets, contact Jason on 07970 671861. I promise it will be a good way to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon. For more information about Pilgrim Bandits, visit their website: www.pilgrimbandits.org
THE ADVENTURES OF MAG
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CARTOON
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AA GALLERY READERS PHOTOS
ROGUE’S GALLERY
CHARLIE COZINS
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RSMITH FINLAY CLEAVE
KELLY H ARDWIC K
PAUL AT DRONE AIRS OFT
EAST ANGLIA - SKIRMISH FROM NIALL
THE DI
STUART JOHNSON, REN EGADE TACTICAL
RT ND JAMTA DUCKY A
INFORMATION Fancy seeing yourself in Airsoft Action? Send in your photos via email (nige@airsoft-action.co.uk) or share on our Facebook page (/AirsoftAction), plus a few words describing what’s going on in the image.
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PHEN FROM STE
SHAW
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SEAN - RIFTS COM3 SITE
E COM3 SIT E - RIFTS
SUZANN
SNOW PATROL AT X-SIT E - MOLD
WOLVES THE DIRE
HELLS JOCKS AIRSOFT TEAM - THE RIDGE
PAW AIRSOFT
SURAWOOT TANASEN
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THE NEW DYTAC BLACKJACK RIFLES LOOK REALLY MODERN AND SLICK, BUT AT THIS WALLETFRIENDLY PRICE HAS THE COST OF GOOD LOOKS IMPACTED ON THE RELIABILITY INTERNALLY? SCOTT ALLAN FINDS OUT…
DYTAC DOUBLE DOWN
DYTAC, OR DYNAMIC TACTICAL, HAVE BEEN AROUND for many years as a parts manufacturer, much like G&P was in the early days. In more recent times they have been more involved in the water transfer of ATACS and Multicam parts for rifles that have been well-received as an alternative to painting. From a personal perspective it doesn’t seem to be very popular on the game sites. Now over the last couple of years DyTac have dived head first into the “complete” AEG market and I would like to know if they are going to be a contender to the big boys like G&P, or whether they are merely playing at it (like so many before them). Originally the “Invader” and “Combat” series were the main rifles that DyTac made but these have now been superseded by the (very cool) “Blackjack” series.
SO WHAT IS THE BLACKJACK? At the time of writing there were 8 types available; 14.5” and 10.5” barrels with corresponding rails, the rails then come in black or dark earth and finally the rail is styled in a Mk4 or a Mk5 design. Confused? Don’t worry I’ll explain everything
A LITTLE ABOUT THE REAL VERSION… These are all based on the Haley Strategic Jack Carbine, built by Bravo Company USA (BCM). The real version sports Geissele rails, a BCM manufactured pistol grip, charging handle, 12
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ARMOURY DYTAC BLACKJACK
THE METAL HOP UNIT AND H BUCKING (WHICH YOU CAN THANK ALEX KO OF PTS FOR) ARE CLEARLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOOD RANGE THAT THIS RIFLE GAVE DURING TESTING
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compensator, Troy Industries sights and, naturally, it sports all of the corresponding logos. The 5.56mm milspec rifle will set you back around $2,200 which, given the sum of the parts, isn’t so scary – that’s still cheaper than a Systema PTW as well! 5.56mm is one of the most common calibres in the USA and the AR15/M4 platform is probably one of the most popular semi/fully automatic designs. Every military force and many police forces around the world will have an M4 platform in some form or another. It is the weapon system that defines weapon systems, although there are certain camps that do not like M4s and I used to be one of them, favouring my faithful old Marui Sig 552. Then one day you use an M4 and you realise that they are ultra-common but they are also fantastic from a functional point of view. They say “don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes” and never a truer thing has been said about M4s. When I opened the plain brown cardboard box (which I really wish companies would stop doing, raise your prices $5 and at least print the box up with some colour), I was excited to see this platform. I am a Haley fan from the Magpul Dynamic days and BCM really do have some totally bitching guys on board. If you get a minute, check out Pat McNamara on American Gunfighter, Episode 3. I met him at Shot Show 2015 while covering it for Airsoft Action and few individuals in my life have ever put me so far into the uncomfortable zone
www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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so quickly as Pat (watch the video and you’ll see why). I’ve seen most of the original DyTac rifles in the flesh and generally they’ve been nice but a little rough around the edges. Not because I am some kind of snob I am sure you will appreciate, otherwise I’d never review anything other than Systema PTWs and Marui’s and tell you about how wonderful they are. You don’t want to hear that and it quite simply isn’t true, well not entirely anyway. What I wanted to see was G&P quality, even though it is not the G&P price and I knew I was probably asking a little too much. Now we all know the saying about mutton dressed as lamb and that is quite frequently the case with pretty rifles from new or smaller manufacturers. I remember back when VFC released their jaw-dropping Barrett 50 Cal 8mm Gas Rifle, when after waiting for weeks and weeks I finally got it and couldn’t have been more disappointed. It shot as well as Bez from the Happy Mondays danced, it weighed 13 kilos and then dumped a tin of gas everywhere after 5 shots. In the end I sold that rifle without ever having used it in a skirmish successfully with no real help from the retailer I bought it from. The Blackjack certainly looks damned good straight away… Really, really good!
“IT ALL RUNS VERY WELL OUT OF THE BOX AND I JUST KNOW IT COULD EASILY GO FROM “OKAY” TO “AMAZING” FOR ABOUT £50 WORTH OF PARTS.”
SUMMARY OF THE FEATURES The features are always a bit odd for me, because it’s not until you write it all down that you start to say “actually, this is a good value rifle”. Well the quality is definitely there in certain places but it seems through testing (and once we had a look inside) that there are always areas for improvement. This could set off alarm bells for some people but they are not major improvements, nor are they expensive. This is why the question is always raised, why are there any bad guns these days? Does the bean-counting for cheap parts really extend so far to allow a sub-standard product to be sent out? Imagine a Ford Focus RS with a regular Focus brakes, you have all the quality and power in one area only for an equally important area be neglected. Inside we found what appeared to be nice quality parts, bearing a resemblance to Cyma and that is a good thing. The metal hop unit and H bucking (which you can thank Alex Ko of PTS for) are clearly responsible for the good range that this rifle gave during testing, this fits with the standard type brass barrel. The wiring, like so many manufacturers is quite light and I would be quick to change it to Ultimate silver wire to aid with the rate of fire and trigger response. The motor is a bog-standard type that is has neither a particularly high torque nor high speed. The gearbox could benefit from some upgrades, the plastic piston head, clear plastic tappet plate and air nozzle just shows where the quality could have been a little better. It all runs very well out of the box and I just know it could easily go from “okay” to “amazing” for about £50 worth of parts. A sure way to put off new buyers is to not include sights with a rifle and, for some reason, this rifle doesn’t include sights. The only external faults are a few little rough areas that don’t look quite as nicely done as the rest of the rifle. The rail wasn’t quite seated perfectly on one of the models I tested, the
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stock nut on another wasn’t sitting right. These are tiny, almost insignificant things that make a great buy into a slight irk. It’s not because it is a problem, it is because it shouldn’t be a problem. That said, the Blackjacks have it where it counts and that is in the performance. Consistent power from the gearbox delivered round after round downrange at the target with a surprising lack of spread at the far end. The trigger response is what I would expect in a fairly standard rifle set up and the rate of fire is very standardfeeling. So what the Blackjack lacks in internal oomph, it makes up for in external appearance and boy does it look good! If you like to rip stuff apart and change everything you won’t feel guilty putting these parts into the spares box. Crack an ASCU, torque motor and short stroke this bad boy and you’ll be dropping targets like flies all over your site!
CONCLUSION There is no getting away from it, the Blackjacks look great, the CNC front rail is amazing and retailing over £80 on their own means the rifle could have been much cheaper. The full metal bodywork with funky logos set it all off together and with a comfortable stock you are set to go. The lack of sights is a bit of a let-down at the price and internally it is solid enough but won’t rock your world. The MK4 is the SMR super modular rail only without the screw holes for additional rails and the MK5 is a keymod rail. Neither provides any great advantage of the other, although keymod can be more useful in the long term. For me it’s on par with most ICS M4s but it is not quite a G&G or a G&P… Just yet.
features CNC ALUMINUM 13” SMR MK 4/5 HANDGUARD OR 9.5” SMR MK 4/5 HANDGUARD 14.5” CARBINE OR 10.5” CQBR CONFIGURATION ALUMINUM RECEIVER HIGH QUALITY PRECISION GEARBOX 8MM BEARINGS INSTALLED 1 PIECE OUTER BARREL METAL HOP-UP BASE WITH H-SHAPE HOP-UP SPACER 1 1/2” SLING ENDPLATE INCLUDED 300RD LOADING CAPACITY FULL METAL HI-CAP MAGAZINE BRAVO SOPMOD STOCK NICE TRADEMARKS (UNLICENSED) MUZZLE VELOCITY: 350FPS WEIGHT 3 KG RRP £275
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RELEASE THE KRAKEN! IN YET ANOTHER AIRSOFT ACTION EXCLUSIVE, SCOTT ALLAN GETS HIS HANDS ON THE MUCH ANTICIPATED NEW AIRSOFT RIFLES FROM KRYTAC AND GIVES US A RUN DOWN.
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THERE ARE FEW TIMES IN THE WORLD OF AIRSOFT that so much hype has ever been made about a new brand in the Airsoft market – but now it is time to release the Kraken…. Or at least two thirds of it! Dubbed “the next evolution in Airsoft technology” the guys at Krytac have raised the bar very high for themselves but will this be just another range of M4 rifles, or a genuinely new step forward for our beloved sport? With a logo that screams “Hail Hydra!” they are definitely talking the talk. Kraken Tactical (or Krytac) are a branch of Kriss Arms – that’s right, the guys who make the Kriss Vector also make Airsoft rifles now. You remember the Airsoft Kriss Vector I’m sure, it is still knocking around. It was built in collaboration between Kriss Arms and KWA. Kriss decided to buy KWA and then someone threw a teddy out of the pram and spat the dummy! Next thing you know you are staying with your Aunt Linda and you’re not allowed to see your dog. If that doesn’t make sense, then neither does what happened between the two companies. Information was sketchy and there was talk of court action but no more has ever been heard publically. All of that aside, players still love the KWA and the Kriss products. Kriss decided to avoid any future issues working with a manufacturer; they would just become the manufacturer. So they moseyed on across to Taiwan to set up their very own plant to manufacture Airsoft products and Krytac was born.
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AIRSOFT ACTION EXCLUSIVE
ARMOURY KRYTAC OVERVIEW
Last year at IWA the Krytac range was really shown off with a projected end-of-year launch, which didn’t happen. That is nothing new in Airsoft at all, the original Vector arrived just over two years late. There was a small scale launch for the US market in the second half of 2014 and now it is time for the European invasion. There are four models on the initial launch, all M4 based types:
TRIDENT SDP
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The baby of the family, it is an ultra-compact, “lightweight” pistol-sized M4 rifle. The stockless rifle is definitely an acquired taste for many but with a battery in the would-be buffer tube and handgrip barrel, it will be unmatched in manoeuvrability. This stripped down pocket-rocket is all about compact angriness.
TRIDENT PDW
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A step up from the SDP, this steps more toward a standard M4, although it is still very compact. The stock is a little longer as it has a skeleton slide out pad and the 5.5” barrel is the same as the SDP. The overall length is 24” and that is still tiny in M4 standards but the Keymod rail will allow the fixture of torches and lasers.
TRIDENT CRB r.
The “old school meets new school” rifle. The classic CQBlength rifle has its own six point adjustable stock, keymod rail, removable iron sights and a 10.5” barrel. This will undoubtedly be one of the most popular rifles in the range, giving you great all-round use with a flexible platform.
TRIDENT SPR The first choice for the modern rifleman. The 14.5” carbine barrel is still compact enough for close encounters with enemy players but long enough to ensure accuracy at the further ranged engagements. Sporting the same adjustable six point stock as the CRB but a longer rail, giving you more real estate to attach a plethora of Keymod accessories. I think “SPR” isn’t quite the right name but it is definitely my personal favourite.
COMMON DESIGN POINTS All the four rifle types have an aluminium alloy receiver stamped with the Krytac logo in a matt black finish. The fire selector is a modern ambidextrous-type that is one of the best I’ve ever used and the locking bolt catch means you have quick and easy access to the hop adjuster and is, again, much better than the other versions available. The barrels are threaded to the more common counter clockwise – and too that is helpful. Externally these rifles cannot be faulted. There are no blemishes or burrs, no weird creaks or wobbles. Quite simply they are the definition of finely produced goods. The matt black finish gives it a more “firearm look and feel”, rather than the glossy black that you often see. The use www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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of a good quality aluminium alloy makes the difference too, it keeps the weight down and the strength up. The only polymer parts on these rifles are the parts that would be polymer on a real rifle and that is the pistol grips and stock. Interestingly, for all the unique designs across the range of rifles, the pistol grip is the M16 A2 classic style. There’s nothing wrong with this classic design, I just would’ve presumed there would have been a jazzy Krytac version instead. There is an impressive feature set and the final, final touches are still being made to the European models to suit each country better. The gearbox is called the “Nautilus V2 Gearbox”, which is a cool name and in keeping with the “Kraken” theme. The gearbox can make or break a rifle brand long term, as G&G found out many years ago. Great rifles with a weak heart caused the brand a huge set back that took a lot of time to recover from, so if you are going to do anything right get the gearbox right – externals are only there to take a beating anyway. The Nautilus V2 is a reinforced, 8mm ball bearing gearbox that boasts an integrated MOSFET inside the case to regulate power and to protect the trigger contacts. The corners of the gearbox that surround the cylinder feature a smooth radius, as opposed to a 90° angle, to prevent fracture of the casing. We saw this design change also in the ASG EVO last year. There are many clever things, such as the gearbox shell features a small window on the left side where lubrication can be applied directly to the gears or piston. This window is also convenient for inspecting the angle of engagement with the gearbox fully assembled. Additional gearbox features include a quick-change spring guide system that will allow the spring to be changed without completely disassembling the gearbox. Again this isn’t anything very new but it is helpful for long term usage of the system. The KRYTAC piston is made of a durable, lightweight polymer and features 4 metal teeth, with the 2nd to last tooth absent. The Cylinder head is padded with a rubber bumper to optimize the angle of engagement and to absorb energy form the impact of the piston assembly. The material for the gears have been especially formulated to be very strong. It is reported by Krytac that the Rockwell test figures on the gears are much higher than industry norms, unfortunately there were no actual stats given. The spur gear features a tension system built into its axis to keep the gear perfectly aligned while under load. Other features of the Nautilus gearbox include an anti-corrosive coating that gives the gearbox its unique colouring. Each component on the KRYTAC Nautilus V2 Gearbox has been designed to perform at a high level and to be user friendly for the technician that repeatedly tunes their AEG. The KRYTAC rotary hop up unit is constructed of polymer and features many user-friendly updates, when compared to regular M4 hop up systems we see every day. The rotary adjustment wheel is precise and definitive; each click position is numbered and the hop up offers a tactile and audible feedback when adjusting. It looks a little like the G36/Madbull style which is a better and easier design to work with. The lever arm can be lifted upwards to give access to the hop up nub chamber for easy adjusting or cleaning. Also, the hop up nub is retained by the arm to prevent loss when changing barrels or hop up buckings and this should save those “uh oh” moments when it falls on your black shaggy rug.
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One thing that struck me during testing, was that there was virtually no difference between the SPR and the SDP in terms of accuracy at the far end range. The SPR was better - but by a lot less than I would’ve hoped and at 45-50 metres, I was pretty much always inside a man-sized target. Quite astonishing (truth be told) but this is where another bit of Krytac simple know-how has helped. The end of the inner barrel is braced by an O ring, this reduces vibration and barrel wobble during operation which in turn increases the accuracy. Simple but very effective.
CONCLUSION The Krytac range has taken a lot longer than I would’ve liked for it to arrive but then patience is a virtue (and all that jazz). I would have loved for their SR47 and their LMG to be released straight away but it is tipped for the end of this year, which probably translates to this time next year. Still, it gives us something to look forward to. Where Krytac goes from these six rifles is anybody’s guess, although they have given the go-ahead for the Kriss Vector AEG. Now that is very exciting but it’ll probably be a few years before the review is written. In the meantime you can all sit back and enjoy the initial offerings that are nice, solid and reliable rifles destined to fill up game sites very soon. Needless to say, we will be reviewing the range in more depth as the European rifles become available and, hopefully, by the time you read this the first shipments should be reaching UK stores (if I haven’t just cursed it)!
features FULL METAL ALUMINIUM ALLOY CONSTRUCTION KRYTAC STAMPED RECEIVERS 8mm JAPANESE STEEL CAGED BEARINGS BEARING METAL SPRING GUIDE (QUICK CHANGE) AMBIDEXTROUS FIRE SELECTORS INTEGRATED MOSFET SWITCH LOCKING BOLT CATCH ROTARY LOCKING HOP UNIT DEFIANCE ACCESSORIES (KEYMOD RAILS ONLY) NEODYMIUM MAGNET MOTOR RRP £300–350 APPROX DEPENDING ON TYPE
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EUROPE’S BIGGEST AIRSOFT SHOW
G T is fu a b ri sp a th A Ta M
IWA IS THE BIGGEST SHOW IN EUROPE FOR BUSINESSES INVOLVED IN AIRSOFT AND, OF COURSE, AIRSOFT ACTION WAS THERE TO COVER IT. SCOTT ALLAN REPORTS… THE 2015 IWA SHOW PROMISED TO BE A big one and I was there with all the big names to get the low-down on the way the market is moving for the year ahead. With the 2014 show being a really good one I was keen to get my teeth into this year’s show. The IWA Show in Nuremberg, Germany has been going strong for over 40 years. With over 1,200 exhibitors from the big guns (literally) such as Heckler & Koch to Glock and nearly 40,000 visitors flocking to this amazing gothic city every year. The Outdoor Classics Show is angled at the hunting market and target sports, although Airsoft has become a bigger and bigger part of this each year and this year was no exception. After the Shot Show proving to be a tiny bit thin on the Airsoft front (but much better than 2014), IWA had a lot of lost ground to cover. Nuremberg as a city is an intriguing place and well worth
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the walk around, although this Bavarian city does hold a dark past. Being the National Head Quarters for the Nazi party in the late 1930’s, huge rallies were held here before the war broke out. By the time the war ended the city was in ruins and essentially wiped off the map by Bomber Command. Rebuilt in the post-war years to its former glory, the city truly is a place of beauty and is one of those surprising little gems. But enough of the Trip Advisor stuff! There were all the usual major manufacturers at the show and a few new ones, many of which I have now worked with for years, so there was always good gossip to find out at the show.
ACTION SPORT GAMES This stand is always a favourite of mine, the Danes always have a very welcoming nature and generally with a beer for you in hand. Their stand is one of the most professional of all of the Airsoft companies at the show and slowly yet surely, ASG are changing tack slightly. In previous years ASG have been rebranding many Chinese brands under their own label and distributing Classic Army in Europe. Even though Classic Army were there exhibiting with their own re-launch, ASG was showing off more of their EVO range released last year. The EVO is continuing to be developed and expanded, showing ASG’s dedication to supporting their products. The big release on their radar now is the Bren 805! Not the favourite from movies such as Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels but the modern version from CZ. While final details are still very much in the melting pot there, will definitely be two versions; a Sportline (which appears to be coming first) then the Proline. This prototype isn’t exactly the final product or even close apparently. It will come with a magazine converter to give you the authentic Bren magazine or you can use a standard M4 magazine. This sadly will not be produced in Europe like the EVO but in the Far East. It will definitely be one to watch over this year.
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Event IWA 2015
GUAY GUAY (G&G) The G&G stand is always great and it looks like a little cohesion is coming to the G&G range. The Gen 1, 2 or 3 black and tan, full metal or plastic, blow back or not blow back variants were an utter nightmare to keep track of. It seems this is all now being phased out for their new range of very nicely self-styled rifles. Interestingly they had the prototype of their MG42, it sported some nice design features but no real delivery dates are to be expected yet. The “MITS” system was on show too, this system looks clever but how well it will roll out with regular Airsoft remains to be seen (imagine Airsoft crossed with Laser Tag and you’ll get the idea). This system idea isn’t new and the MITS system seems to be a long time coming. The new G Box design rifle is a step closer to being released too, something like a Systema idea is where this one sits. Again it has been a long time coming so we’ll wait and see what actually happens for the final release. So in short, some definitely cool redesigns and some nice tech in developments. I always love G&G for that!
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WE AIRSOFT EUROPE It has been a bit of a slow start for WE Airsoft Europe as people get used to the change in distribution. Now set on the right path with a great line up of products, WE Airsoft Europe are set to make it big over the next year. Their first stand at the IWA looked professional and showed the dedication they have, with the announcements of a series of new Nuprol products that are set to hit your local shelves very soon. More powerful Nuprol gases are one of the key exciting things we saw, which means my usual stomping grounds in Scotland could see an influx of gas blow backs that work all year round. All sounds very promising for the guys at WE Airsoft Europe!
UMAREX A whole new stand for the 2015 show was unveiled and it was amazing!! Gone is the clean cut imperial faceless corporation and a new look “container yard” stand was shown. Each container showcased the new products being released, split into Airsoft, bows, air weapons and air pistols. On show was the new jaw-dropping H&K G28 rifle. Made by VFC and sporting a MOSFET it looks an obscenely nice package. The package includes the stunning scope/T1 mount but no actual scope or T1 is included for the whopping £900 price. That said there are only 300 being produced, which is very cool from a collector’s point of view.
KRYTAC
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Well Krytac is edging ever closer for the European release. Initially tipped for last year it, like all things Airsoft, didn’t happen. Then a whole pile of typical backward and forwarding of the distributorship as per usual and now we’re at the date of “nearly here”. The initial release will only be four models of M4, including the little stubby number Trident SDP (as debuted on the Airsoft Action stand at The British Airsoft Show). Sadly the LMG and SR47 type are not going to be released until much later this year. It will be nice just to see these on the game fields here in the UK asap and you can expect a full review very soon.
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s Airsoft Action will exclusively be receiving one of these awesome-looking rifles in the very near future, so I’ll be able to tell you more about it then. They also had a really nice shotgun pump Speedloader which was clever and, although not entirely useful during games, will great for Safe Zone use.
www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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Event IWA 2015
REDWOLF
GUN FIRE This Polish distributor has carved out a larger and larger market share through a variety of methods and now they are to release their very own manufactured M4 range called Specna Arms. The Gun Fire stand showed a large cross section of what they have available as well as many hydro-dipped products that looked fantastic. The range is quite varied and the quality looks good throughout.
MODIFY A manufacturer of great upgrade parts was showing off their new rifle soon to be released. Modify aren’t a company I have had many dealings with – for no real reason but I am keen to see what they are going to do over the next 12 months.
that Denny was more than willing to listen to both their feedback and ideas on how to make a few simple changes that would radically effect the rifle’s performance. They may be new to airsoft but they bring with them a long pedigree of providing top-quality weapons and customerservice. It will be interesting to see how they develop.
BO MANUFACTURING Working with VFC, BO is producing some nice high-end, greatlooking rifles. I’ve used one of their first rifles they ever did in an AK format, it was very good (with a matching price) but lovely none the less. I think BO will continue to release more and more cool gear and might be a really big name very soon in Airsoft.
CLASSIC ARMY Next door to their old partners ASG, in the mighty Hall 7 at the show, CA showed up with much of their “existing” line. The quality of Classic Army could not be denied 8-9 years ago. They were the go-to company if you wanted a full-metal, high-end rifle back in the Tokyo Marui days. They really fell away over the past half-decade, so it will be interesting to see how well they bounce back from near oblivion with so many well established competitors now in the market.
“THE TENDRILS OF DEVELOPMENT ARE REACHING OUT TO MANY CORNERS OF THE WORLD, WITH NEW AND CRAZY IDEAS CREEPING IN EVERYWHERE.”
TIPPMANN Paintball manufacture meets Airsoft… Surely not? But yes, the Tippmann rifle is around, powered by CO2 or HPA. The CO2 design isn’t quite perfect (in my opinion) due to it dumping all the gas on releasing the magazine. Once this has been changed I think we could be seeing a new great gas blow back manufacturer. Nige had the opportunity to meet with Denny Tippmann, as he spoke with Jim and Andy from The Grange and reported
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Red Wolf had a great stand combined between their worldwide offices. It showcased many interesting items such as the outrageously nice Airsoft Surgeon pistols, Pantac gear and (best of all) a Socom Gear Barrett. There was also a brilliant 30cal that they will be releasing also. As always the RW stand is a showcase of what they do worldwide so some things are purely display but those Sons of Anarchy fans will be happy to see their new KG9 come to market soon.
CONCLUSION While the show can be a little quiet on the Airsoft side, this year was a definite hit! Continuous development of the sport showed that manufacturers are not always sitting copying each other directly but attempting to innovate individually. The tendrils of development are reaching out to many corners of the world, with new and crazy ideas creeping in everywhere. This means that exciting products will emerge and new and better processes for manufacturing will keep things fresh. While the issues of ROHS compliance and CE marks have not disappeared entirely, most manufactures are 95% of the way up to speed. I’ve covered most of the major manufacturers worth mentioning but, of course, there are always many, many more who I missed or didn’t mention. The show is massive and difficult not to see a friendly face every few minutes and both of you have to be quickly polite as you scurry off to your own separate meetings. Until next year!
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WINTER WARFARE 2015
CALLSIGN NOVEMBER CHARLIE WARNORD: Military Grid Reference System: 33VVD Time zone: GMT+1
Light to gentle breeze. 20-30 cm heavy and wet snow. Daily light snow fall. Ice quality is low; hazard!
1. SITUATION
The Russian troops remains south of horizontal grid line 780.
1st of February Russia attacked Sweden. Within 8 hours they had invaded and seized the island of Gotland and within 5 more hours they advanced into the Swedish mainland. The Russian troops have sporadically experienced strong resistance but nothing that have halted the invasion. However, south of Eksjö, the invasion have halted for a couple of days thanks to a dedicated Swedish regiment in a joint operation with Special Forces from Denmark and the Netherlands. Day temperature 0 to -5 degrees Celsius. Night temperature down to -15 degrees Celsius.
a) Enemy Forces:
The troops have high morale and get continuous supplies. Most likely they will advance north with small hunter troikas, supported by heavy artillery.
AIRSOFT ACTION RECEIVED A REPORT FROM OPERATION WENDIGO, WHERE SNOW, ICE AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE NOT THE ONLY CHALLENGES FACED BY THE PARTICIPANTS.
2. MISSION You will be inserted close to frontline on Friday 1200. Your main role is to operate at and behind the frontline to gather intelligence and to slow down the Russian invasion, so that Swedish troops can reinforce with new troops arriving Sunday 1200.
Tactical operations command: Hotel Quebec 1: Swedish Squad: Sierra Alpha 2: Swedish Squad: Sierra Bravo 3: Dutch team: November Charlie 4: Danish Squad: Delta Echo 5: Danish Squad: Delta Foxtrot ACKNOWLEDGE
3. EXECUTION Not disclosed.
Team leader acknowledge with text containing team name.
b) Friendly Forces: Swedish troops have a temporary base north of horizontal grid line 810 and move south with light armoured trucks.
4. SERVICE AND SUPPORT
Danish troops have reinforced the line of defence south of “Solgenån”.
Radio: 155MHz with antenna connection BNC female.
c) Attachments and Detachments:
Frequency or channel scanning is forbidden!
Assign one medic per group.
WARNORD ENDS
48 hours self-sustained. A 5. COMMAND AND SIGNAL
Radio frequency: 155.400 MHz.
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International OPERATION WENDIGO 2015
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AND THUS IT BEGINS…. After a few months of excitingly waiting, prepping (and spending money), we arrived in Sweden for the winter event we as a team had been waiting for since 2013. In that year we got the taste of what it takes to participate in a sub-zero environment. We joined in on Operation Wendigo II which was a co-hosted event between Tier One Military Simulations and Pandion and were a part of the British team that conducted the operations for the 48h. A great experience and a good learning experience for the 2015 edition. Anton Holmström, the event organizer and owner of Pandion puts up a MilSim event, or as he calls it a “Realsim event” that will challenge you to go further than you normally would. It’s all about mind-set and Anton looks for participants to come to his events with the right mind-set. You don’t need to have top dollar equipment but you have to have common sense and adjust your gear to the environment you are signing up for. Pandion’s Wendigo Winter Warfare 2015 kicked off February 13th at noon and went straight on for 48h in sub-zero temperatures, calf deep snow and in a massive tree covered terrain. The Area of Operations is roughly 8 square kilometres and usually MGRS grid references would be provided in 1km resolution. This means that if you get tasked to perform an operation in 81 79 you have a full 1 by 1km grid to search for you objective. In the weeks leading up to the event we started to received our intel for this event. The intel consisted of a WARNORD and later on an OPORD. These documents gave us a bigger picture of the scenario the game would be played in and immersed us into a world of political power play and economical motivations. Our starting mission was to find and destroy a downed UAV behind enemy lines, using an RF tracker to guide us to the UAV. Pyros were provided by the organisation to blow up the UAV. Initially we had some difficulty locating the UAV, probably because of another signal interfering which left us walking in a large circle for most of the afternoon. Switching operators did not help, we were all getting the same result and started to think we followed interference from the TRI PRC117 on the back of our Foxtrot (radio operator), or that perhaps the PTW
of the TL caused a spurious signal. By the time we realized this was not the case and something different was misleading us it already started to get dark and we would soon have to dig in for the night. After contact with HQ we were given a new 1km grid reference to relocate and restart our search anew – but due to the falling of darkness we only made partial headway at the time. A night-time reconnaissance had to be aborted after one of our members crashed through the ice in a ditch resulting in wet footwear and trousers. www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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D m h c t ( o a h n d O b s
“IN ONE FLUID MOTION WE LAID DOWN OUR FIRE AND TOOK OUT ALL BUT ONE. THE POOR FELLOW, WITHOUT THE ADVANTAGE OF NIGHT VISION EQUIPMENT, HAD NO IDEA WHERE OUR FIRE WAS COMING FROM AND DECIDED TO SURRENDER.”
a s 1 li fi
The second day we broke camp and marched out to the new grid reference, loaded with our fighting gear and Bergens. During our infill we were noticed by a substantial enemy force and soon overrun. After a break to respawn we continued our mission, making our way through forests, fields, and other beautiful and often rough terrain. On our approach to our destination (a blind guess within the 1km grid) from which we intended to restart the search for the UAV we were unlucky enough to run into the very same enemy force who had earlier taken us out. They were stationary and we were both moving and outnumbered, with predictable results. Both firefights were conducted with great sportsmanship and even though we lost they were thoroughly enjoyable. Kudos for those guys!
Taking another route and firing up the tracker we were getting better results. The tracker took us in somewhat of an arc – and to our surprise we finally found the UAV on the very 10m grid location we had ‘guestimated’ at the start of the morning. After blowing it up with our pyro’s we reported back for new orders
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a t w a s m p h s a f w w n
Orders where given using the 155Mhz radio frequency. At the beginning of the event we got issued an 8 meter long wire antenna to have an optimal length to send and receive orders but the odds were not in our favour. First our own flex antenna broke off just before we had to move out, the backup radio had problems sending and receiving messages probably due to the cold, the backup of the backup – which was not intended to use as backup but as intra team communications – wouldn’t send but could receive! After fixing the problem with the broken off antenna by replacing it by the wire antenna all our issues were sorted for the moment. Even using a 5W power, radio contact was intermittent at times. Where necessary we either relayed through (and for) other teams, or used text messaging as a final fall back option. But Murphy’s Law kicked in again! The primary radio (a TRI PRC-117G with a 25000Mah battery) wasn’t handling the cold that well and leaving it turned on all night didn’t do the battery capacity any good. This was the first time we used this radio so we now have some useful hands-on experience that will help us in future events. After the primary means of communications failed, we only had the backup-backup radio that could only receive on the 155Hhz channel. We got this news to HQ and all orders where send now out from HQ using radio and acknowledged by us via text massage. This functioned quite well but was the last resort but we have to get our equipment up to speed to work better next time. Our next objective was to head over to a new location – one very close to our starting position. With dusk setting in, we ended up setting up our harbour position just short of the intended objective.
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International OPERATION WENDIGO 2015
After we finished our Dutch issue boil-in-the-bag meals we got tasked to head out and find an enemy campsite and blow it up with the use of a 66mm LAW (pyro). Unfortunately one of our members could not come along – wet footwear, even with multiple changes of socks having become a real frost bite risk. After ensuring that all that no medical attention was needed and getting him warm and dry would sort him out, we went on with the task at hand. On our route in we hand followed a railroad track, flanked by forests, fields and under a star lit sky, which provided a stunning backdrop through our NODs. As we got closer and closer to the designated MGRS grid, adrenaline started to kick in. We used the forest as cover, scanning all our sectors, our senses tuned to maximum. Every 100-odd meters we took our time to soak in the environment, listing to the sounds of distant noises. Nonetheless we did not find what we were looking for. After a status report with HQ we got tasked to ambush a small hunter troika force, expected to pass our grid. With the use of vegetation and taking advantage of our NODs we silently waited in ambush for the opposing forces. After a few minutes the force consisting of 4-5 pax closed in and stopped on the road a mere 7 meters in front of us. In one fluid motion we laid down our fire and took out all but one. The poor fellow, without the advantage of night vision equipment, had no idea where our fire was coming from and decided to surrender. After this successful ambush we ex-filtrated the area, again following the railroad. By now we were tired and looking forward to the return to our harbour position and patiently waiting bivvies. A day filled with walking with Bergens and kit, walking on rough terrain and performing on a higher level than normal live tends to eat away your energy.
On Sunday 0600 we got orders to move out and take out an enemy encampment south-east of our location. We got orders to move south and follow the road heading to our designated MGRS coordinates. Little did we know that our infill onto the designated target area had already been noticed. The opposing forces ordered an air strike on our location. The explosions where deafening, smoke was thick as fog and sparks flew over our heads. This ended our attempt and took us out for the next while. After respawning and still with 2 hours game time left, we got orders to move up near the principal farm and be sure to bring our LAW. As we closed in on the location, still unseen, we identified opposing forces holding a crossroad with multiple 4x4 vehicles. We would like to thank Anton from This was the moment to shine and Pandion for organizing this great take out the 4x4 using our anti vehicle event, as well as all players for their rocket. Even though we missed, we fair play and overall general good suddenly found ourselves reinforced by times. the Sierra Alpha callsign, moving up on And a special thanks to Karl our flank with their Swedish all-terrain Herolf, for the use of some pictures. vehicle and mounted machinegun. In the intense firefight that followed, we made it half way to the enemy position before being downed in a hail of bbs. With only half an hour left on the clock this marked the end of the event for us, and we relocated to the sauna near the lake to enjoy the end-of-game BBQ!! Soon we were joined by participants from Sweden and Denmark for a very enjoyable conclusion of the event. After the BBQ we changed out of our military kit for the long trip home – the first stage a drive down to Copenhagen for showers, beer, pizza and a warm bed.
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IGGY ROBERTS REPORTS FROM A FIRST & ONLY SITE WHERE GAMING EXPERIENCE COUNTS FOR MORE THAN SIZE
SIZE DOESN’T MATTER
“THE BASE”, FORMALLY KNOWN AS Royal Air Force Yatesbury, used to be an RAF signals and wireless training site. It has long since been deserted and, until recently, not used. The site itself is only 2.5 to 3 acres, however do not get put off by the size because what it lacks in acreage, it gains in game experience. The site is a mixture of old buildings, littered with corridors and rooms of various sizes and a few bomb shelters (for those keen on small, dark spaces) and larger open spaces, to satisfy the sniper in you. This provides a great mix of player types, bringing Airsoft guns of varying lengths and the games are very interesting to watch when you have players used to fighting in larger areas going against the “up close and personal” CQB guys. Tactics are tested and good plans ruined by sneaky lone wolves and that sniper that’s always there……. Somewhere!! The games tend to roll one into another, with a fast turnaround for more trigger time in the game zone and lunch is the only long break, where you get a good warm meal (curry on the day I visited). There are over 10 buildings you can use ingame, along with a varied terrain of open ground, tracks and mounds of rubble. The ground under foot is very undulating and I would recommend a good pair of sturdy boots. Each of the buildings is a maze of corridors and rooms, enough to get the old adrenaline going as you clear each room, expecting the enemy to be right around the next wall. The previously mentioned bomb shelters are single, cramped, sub-terrain rooms, pitch black and fairly long with only one “in game” entrance each (perfect for that last stand). The bomb shelter has been used by one player to hold of 15 plus enemy for some time. The Safe Zone is in a large hanger, which keeps all the customer’s cars safe and provides a
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guaranteed BB-proof zone to take off your eye pro. There is a constant supply of free tea and coffee as well as a selection of consumables for sale, such as BBs, gas, and grenades. Items such as goggles, masks and gloves can also be purchased over the counter. Just in case you were wondering, there is a portaloo for those “caught short” moments when nature calls. The site was opened in November 2014 after First & Only (F&O) assessed and cleared the site fit for use. There are no-go areas but they are clearly briefed and marked off with police tape. The Marshals are friendly and professional and all regularly airsoft. With over 10 years’ experience in the sport, the Site Operator Brian “Tuna” Alley, along with his Head Marshal Phil Wood and team of marshals keep the games fast-paced and interesting, changing game scenarios on a bi-weekly basis so regulars won’t get bored. They run games in different directions ensuring many different experiences are had on the same site. Over time, more and more props are being utilised and in depth games designed to keep this site up in the forefront of airsoft venues. At times it has been known for marshals to play against the customers for a fun alternative to break the day up. The site has an average turnout of 25 players and puts a cap at 40 each day because any more would just flood the site, leaving no manoeuvring room. The site is open every other Sunday to tie in with other F&O sites in the area. Over all, the site has a lot to offer. My initial thought was “Is that it??” Ohhh how wrong I was!! Once you get lost in the network of
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Site Review FIRST & ONLY – THE BASE
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“SO WHETHER YOU’RE A “RUN IN AND GET STRAIGHT INTO THE ACTION” OR A MORE “SIT BACK AND OBSERVE BEFORE YOU ACT” PLAYER YOU WILL NOT BE “NOT FIRING” FOR LONG AT THIS BRILLIANT LITTLE SITE!”
brick and concrete you forget about the size of the site and just get consumed into the fold of the games. The enemy is never far and just that thought keeps your heart rate up as you carry out the mission. So whether you’re a “run in and get straight into the action” or a more “sit back and observe before you act” player you will not be “not firing” for long at this brilliant little site!
For more information or to book onto the site please visit the First & Only website: http://www.firstandonlyevents.co.uk/locations/the-base-cqc/ It costs £35 for a walk on airsofter with all their own kit (which includes lunch) and there are discounts for F&O Silver and Gold members.
The site FPS limits are:
F&O provide hire packages for those without kit:
500 FPS for bolt action sniper rifles.
Package 1 is £50 for a rental gun, protective clothing, face mask and a Hi-cap mag full of BB’s
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Package 2 is £60 for a rental gun, protective clothing, face mask and two Hi-cap mags, both full of BB’s.
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Information
Pictured in the group in front of the hanger is: Greg Allen and his friends on his stag do.
328 FPS with a 10% allowance (350FPS) for AEG’S and Gas RIF’s 400 FPS for a DMR Both the DMR and Bolt action sniper weapon systems have a 30 Meter minimum engagement distance. F&O only allow its own shop bought pyro’s to be used at all their sites. The minimum age for players at the site is 13 years old, when accompanied by an adult.
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L7A2 GPMG CUSTOM BUILD PART TWO
IN THE SECOND AND FINAL PART OF HIS EPIC CUSTOM BUILD, MIKE BAKER FINISHES TURNING AN M240B INTO A GIMPY.
AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT WAS BACK. However, there were a few snags along the way; the first being that the Suncorite paint couldn’t be used, having been phased out under new EU environmental regulations. All contractors – the likes of Manroy and HK – are now free to use their own firearm coatings as long as they meet the required standard which, in the UK, is called “DEF STAN 80-56”. Mine was sprayed with what’s called “Small Arms Black”, which is used mainly by Manroy. It’s not as accurate for an older GPMG as Suncorite but its still genuine paint.
FRONT SIGHT BLOCK/BARREL WASHER
BARREL MARKINGS
Having had the locating hole drilled and the correct pin fitted, the top part of the sight has been revamped and re-phosphated (‘Parkerized’). This, along with the gas regulator and rear sight aperture are usually the only things that are left phosphate grey (the rest of the weapon will be painted black). The other thing now fitted is a barrel lock washer that you will find between the flash hider and front sight.
The whole barrel has now had all the engravings filled and smoothed (although due to one of the snags mentioned earlier they can be seen slightly). The final step was supposed to be having the correct UK markings stamped into the barrel but I was informed that it might not be legal to forge the proof markings and decided not to risk it.
The second snag was the parts that had been filled with Quiksteel were “just” visible. Even though the Quiksteel was advertised as being able to handle media blasting, it had eroded faster than the steel of the gun’s frame. Suncorite – being quite a thick paint – would have covered it but Small Arms Black is as thin as Cerakote and the markings are now, unfortunately, just about visible. Now for the rest of the weapon; I’ll start from the front and work my way down and explain everything the best I can.
Proof marks prove that the gun barrel has been test-fired successfully with a special overpressure cartridge. There are several UK proof marks out there and they tell you what proof house it came from and what it’s been tested for. Sometimes a barrel may have a couple of proof marks where the barrel has had work done and has had to be reproofed; in this case the old proof mark will be stamped over with an “X” and a new mark will be stamped next to it. Below is a diagram of some of the proof marks you are likely to see on barrels of various British service weapons (Enfield is no more but may still appear on some blank fire barrels):
Front sight block and barrel washer fitted
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GAS BLOCK
BARREL FLASH HIDER A few years ago the British forces started using the B.E. Meyers flash hider. It was brought in as part of a UOR (Urgent Operational Requirement) and, so far, has only been used in Afghanistan. With British forces having withdrawn from Afghanistan, it will likely end up retained in stores for future use. I happened to have a King Arms 7.62mm version on another rifle, so I decided to use it for this. Unfortunately, the flash hider was the standard airsoft 14mm CCW and the Inokatsu barrel has a real-steel 19mm thread. I had the flash hider’s inner diameter lathed out, then a bit of tube threaded to 19mm and lathed down to fit inside.
May 2015
T c c m f f e c r n o m e a e t in g s
The block itself has now had the locating hole drilled and pin fitted. The lip that was on the barrel where the old gas block was has now been lathed down flush with the rest of the barrel. You may also notice that the bottom of the gas block has been left silver; armourers don’t normally paint that area of the part due to the heavy use and cleaning of the gas parts. SLING SWIVEL The recess has finally been done on the gas tube and the sling swivel moved to this side of the barrel and correct pin fitted to hold it in place. VENT HOLES Nothing special here other than they have been tidied up a bit with a 3.2mm reaming tool and de-burred around the edge of the holes. Early GPMG barrels had the proof mark placed on the left side, about 1” in front of the chamber area. On later barrels, stamps were placed on the flat space on the underside of the barrel. Barrels were also stamped with the weapon’s serial number, which should be within 6” of the chamber on the left side using a 5-6mm stamp. This would normally be the weapon’s full serial (‘UE84A2912’) but sometimes they have been known to just stamp the last 4 digits (‘2912’).
Gas block fitted along with recess made for sling swivel and vent holes sorted
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t f c n is w c b 7 w t o fi t t
The reason why barrels are normally stamped with the serial number is because each barrel is paired to a specific parent gun and not supposed to be used with other guns. This is because over time the barrel locking thread on the body wears and to counter this, three locking nuts with different thread thicknesses are in use. “Nut 1” is the standard size, “Nut 2” has a slightly thicker thread and “Nut 3” even thicker. On the locking nut itself, there are some notches that
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FEATURE CUSTOM BUILD
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the barrel locking latch will use to keep the barrel from coming free and these cause the latch to click repeatedly as the barrel is locked home. The number of clicks is important - the minimum is three and maximum is 7 - as it demonstrates whether the barrel nut is too worn. If the latch clicks fewer than three times, the barrel will not be held or locked sufficiently. If it clicks more than 7 times, then the thread on the gun has become worn and the locking nut must be changed for the barrel to stay positioned correctly. Because one gun may have to use barrel nut size 2, it may fit perfect on that gun but it will possibly be too tight or too loose to fit on to another gun; hence, the pairing arrangement.
Along with the serial number, barrels also had makers’ details and designations on the left side about 2-4” in front the chamber. However, because several companies have made barrels over the years, maker’s marks vary and may not be present at all. Designations are usually engraved onto new barrels when issued straight away to a particular weapon. If not issued (e.g., if the barrel was made as a spare) then it was stamped later on when it became issued. Early designations were L1A2 (made by Enfield); later barrels became L6 and L9. L6 barrels were for the L7’s and L9 barrels for the L8/37/43. L6 barrels have the foresight and foresight block fitted; the L9 barrel doesn’t have either. L9 barrels also have a different gas regulator and various carry handles, which have differently shaped flat metal bars to allow fitting in different vehicles. The other thing that may be seen on barrels is numbers stamped out with “X”. This is where the armourer has removed the barrel from one weapon and “re-paired” it with another, having the former parent’s serial number stamped over. This will also happen if the barrel has become too worn or damaged for continued live-fire use. A barrel might then be used for blank fire use only and have the serial number stamped out and “BLANK FIRE ONLY” stamped next to or above it.
Barrel locking nut thread and notches along with the barrel locking latch The reason why a barrel needs to keep its correct positioning is for it to help maintain correct Cartridge Headspace (CHS). This is the measurement between the point which stops the forward motion of the cartridge and the back face of the breech and it must be calibrated to ensure the cartridge will fit in the firing chamber correctly. If headspace is insufficient, then the round will not chamber fully and the weapon will not fire. If headspace is excessive, hard extraction or, in the worst-case scenario, a ruptured case may result. A hard extraction is when the case expands into the excessive space behind it and the base of the round tears off during the extraction cycle; a case rupture occurs when the insufficiently supported cartridge tears open inside the chamber, releasing very high-pressure gas which may damage the firearm and injure the shooter.
All I have had done for now is the complete serial number from the side of the weapon (UE84A2912) stamped, along with the “crows’ foot” mark. The crows’ foot mark is a small arrow-like stamp more properly known as the “broad arrow”. The broad arrow is used as a Government or ordnance acceptance mark and appears on everything from military boxes and equipment such as canteens and bayonets, to rifles and their parts. My stampings:
EARLY VERSION
HK barrel in the field – original picture courtesy of www.defenceimagery.mod.uk
HK barrel markings- picture courtesy of the ‘GPMG’ Facebook page In the first section the top line is the NSN number; I haven’t found out what “CF” means yet. Then the 7.62mm, followed by L120A1 which is the British designation for that barrel, much as older types were L1A2. With the next section, the “HK” is the maker’s mark and 03 is the year of production. Usually after the “HK 03” it will have the weapon’s serial number stamped onto it (although it doesn’t in the above photographs). The new HK serial numbers are now 6 digits long and will look like this: A 001732/1. Below “HK 03” are the three proof marks. HK PROOF MARKS The first symbol is an eagle with the letter N underneath. This means it has been nitro proof tested. The second is the letters AD. These are the German marks to show the year the barrel was proofed. For example: • AK = 2009 • AI = 2008 • AH = 2007 • AG = 2006 • AF = 2005 • AE = 2004 • AD = 2003
Full serial number now stamped r
The third, twig-like, symbol means it was tested at the ULM (Baden-Württemberg) proof house in Germany. In the first picture, you will also find a smaller version of the nitro proof mark just under the carry handle. Below are some of the German
Broad arrow mark stamped
Diagram of correct cartridge headspacing
The new barrels are made by HK. The first batches of these were laser engraved but were later mechanically engraved instead. The markings will always be on the right hand side, close to the carry handle.
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ENGRAVING When I had originally removed the M240 markings on the side, I worried that I had taken away too much material and that the curvatures would appear after painting and with the change of paint for a thinner one I worried even more. However, even though the curvatures can be seen slightly, I do feel this has come out well. proof marks you may see in the future, now HK are producing the new GPMGs: Real side grips now added
MAIN BODY BARREL LOCKING LATCH Earlier in the article I originally showed the new style one with a plastic cap but that has now been changed for the older style latch. LARGE RIVETS On the right-hand side of the American version (M240) they use flat headed rivets as mentioned earlier and on the British version they use large dome headed rivets. The US ones have now been removed and the correct UK ones fitted. TOP COVER PLUNGER If you look closely there is a rectangular object pressing up against the front edge of the top cover. This is for when the top cover is open and it’s there to stop the top cover from closing naturally (on your fingers) while you are cleaning or loading the weapon.
Engravings now the body has been painted EJECTION PORT COVER AND EJECTION BAR RETAINERS Earlier on during the alterations the original bar retainer was one straight length, which if you remember, was then filed away to make the two separate lugs. From that moment I was worried that the weaker Quiksteel could possibly bend or break. I still am slightly worried but having fitted the spring, bar and the ejection cover, the two lugs seem to be holding up (for now, at least). BIPOD RETAINING LATCH This part is for when your bipod is tucked away; you can use it to stop the legs from springing open while you’re patrolling, which can be extremely irritating. Over time there have been a few types made but I only know of two types being really used; both are in the comparison photo near the beginning of this article.
Top cover plunger visible along with two large rounded rivets now fitted FEED TRAY I had this machined out to fit over the gearbox and hop up unit. Which was an absolute nightmare by all accounts as the thing is hard chrome plated onto very hard steel and destroyed a number of end mills – I wasn’t popular, I tell you.
The original one was just a long plate that you simply pushed in towards the body to release and was used on the original L7s, MAG 58s and M240s. The other type is the one I have fitted now. I have seen two ways of using the newer type. The first is using the little lever, which makes the latch swing down. The other way is to use the spring from the older type and have it so that you push down on rear and slide the latch back and forth to lock or unlock.
EXTERNAL MARKS
B
BALANCING MARK
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On British GPMGs they have a white line placed towards the rear right side of the weapon, called a “balancing mark”. The white line corresponds to the position the cocking handle should be in when “balancing” the weapon. It acts as a visual guide to show where the working parts make contact with the second sear (the former being the safety sear). The safety sear was put in on later models to stop what’s known as a “runaway gun”; a condition where the bolt doesn’t engage the sear and the gun will fire uncontrollably without trigger input until the ammunition is exhausted, you have a stoppage, or bits of the gun begin to melt.
E b e t r a In c o a t o it
Prior to the safety sear, the only real way to stop the unstoppable gun was to twist the link near the feed tray to intentionally jam the weapon. The later installation of the safety sear was intended to catch the bolt even if the bolt didn’t catch the main sear. The position of the safety sear is important - if the working parts haven’t gone back far enough to engage the safety sear, then they aren’t back far enough for the breech block to load another round. The only way for a runaway gun to occur now would be if the safety sear was damaged or worn down.
T m d t w s n a g b t r a li c li h p T t
The first picture is a diagram to show the position and size of the balancing mark. These would be placed from new, when the weapon was balanced with its parent barrel and its spare barrels matched. It is then down to the company armourer to replace the mark when worn. However, once with the company armourer they will not be put back on to the standard it came and will vary in size. This is the same in the field too when it has to be temporarily replaced with Tippex, or a white paint pen by the user as it wears off. Regardless of size drawn on by the user, the line itself must be placed directly above the last rivet.
If r r in a t is le A
View of the ejection port cover, lugs and bipod retaining latch TRIGGER GRIP
Feed tray cut away to sit over gearbox and hop unit
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I fitted real grips to the gun. They were close to drop-in fit and needed only to have the flat edge of the safety catch hole filed down very slightly. It was just a tad tight against the safety catch, causing it to rub and making it hard to move.
Diagram showing balancing mark dimensions
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FEATURE CUSTOM BUILD
Other number/marks will include: • Vehicle or unit call sign, e.g. “10B”, “33A”, “24C” with the exception of “11” and “22” in an armoured battalion. • “Zap” number; the individual soldier’s casualty identification number, this is the first 2 letters of the surname and the last four from their service number. For example, “Davis 25015598” would be “DA5598”. Some people had this written on their weapons (just in case) in Afghanistan but it was not standard procedure. Balancing mark now placed on my receiver BALANCING A GPMG
y
y n
Each gun needs to be “balanced” to find the best gas regulator setting, which is enough gas to ensure reliability but no more than that, in order to reduce vibration and rate of fire. A slower rate of fire makes the weapon easier to control - improving accuracy - as well as conserving ammunition and reducing wear and tear. Incorrect settings on the gas regulator can cause constant stoppages, accelerated wear and, on older guns, will loosen or even break rivets. This is another reason why the barrel must be paired to the weapon, as the gas block and regulator - part of the balancing act - are attached to the barrel itself. To balance a GPMG, you close the gas regulator, minimising the amount of gas directed into driving the bolt back against the pressure of the mainspring. Firing the gun in this condition will fire only one round (as you are deliberately starving the mechanism of the gas pressure it needs to operate), inducing an event known as a “gas stoppage”. Then you gradually open the gas port, allowing more gas into the gas system, by twisting the gas regulator in the direction of the arrow, counting the number of clicks on the regulator as you go. After each unsuccessful attempt at getting the handle back to the white line, keep increasing the gas setting until the cocking lever finally becomes level with the white line. You must count the number of clicks you had to open the gas regulator from its fully closed position, to getting the handle to the white line. The number of clicks is the balancing number for the barrel, not for the gun. If any gun fires sluggishly on its normal gas regulator setting and the adjustments fails to rectify the fault the unit armourer must be informed. The same is to be done if the gun fires and the cocking handle cannot be moved back to the white line; this is an indication that the gun is firing in a way that will cause accelerated wear leading to dangerous stoppages. ARMOURER/SQUADRON MARKS These are basic armoury numbers for quick counting and easy identification and are most commonly found on feed covers buttstocks or carrying handles. The numbers are there for ease of retrieving a particular weapon from the rack. For example, “L7A2 BL69A073249” could be rack number “55”. It’s easier, when looking at a rack of 100+ weapons, to just grab the one with the big “55” number on it, instead of having to go through each weapon to check for the serial number.
Soldiers have also been known to paint colours on the top covers. This is sometimes done to identify a company or squadron within a regiment, battalion or battle group. Coloured patches are normally placed on the top cover and although it’s not commonly done, it is more often seen on L85s, SUSATs and L110 top covers than L7s.
GEARBOX & FEED SYSTEM Having devoted so much of this article to the externals, it’s time to show the beating heart of the beast. The gearbox was originally built up when I purchased the M240. Since then I’ve had to replace a few bits due to general wear and tear but this is how the internals stand at present: • Guarder SP110 mainspring • Ultimate piston head (ventilated hexachrome aluminium) • Systema Area 1000 v.3 cylinder head • Systema Area 1000 Teflon cylinder • Systema Area 1000 oilless 6mm bushings • Systema Energy v.3 tappet plate • Systema v.2 flat gear set • Systema Jet AK nozzle • TM AK hop-up chamber parts • Madbull Blue hop-up rubber • TM EG1000 short-shaft motor • TM 509mm (M16-length) inner barrel It currently chronographs at 337fps with Blaster 0.20g bbs; consistency is excellent and the range is wicked on 0.20s, although trying to get it to fire individual shots is very hard as it’s either safe or cyclic! I’ve kept the standard barrel on this and not upgraded it for the simple reason that I want to use it how a support weapon should be used. With work I could have it DMR accurate but I like to harass a whole barricade, not just one person! The inside of the Inokatsu is a fairly typical AEG gearbox; what complicates the gun is – as usual for box-fed airsoft guns – the feed system. I had originally wanted to use a G&P M249 auto-winding box magazine. Unfortunately, after receiving a donated one I found that the mechanism itself was just too big to fit into the smaller 50rd ammunition tin fitted to my gun. I looked at other types of box and drum magazines but nothing stood out until a forum member approached me with a spare Echo1 M240 box magazine for sale. Having received it, I promptly ripped it apart for the feed mechanism. Unhappy with the wiring I decided to strip the G&P box for parts too and soon a Frankensteinian monster was in the making.
Echo1’s harness is made of extremely thin wire and I’m worried that the stress of long bursts of fire may cause it to overheat. The G&P harness is heavier-duty and also has a circuit board with an integrated transformer to vary the battery’s high voltage to the lower voltage required by the winding mechanism’s motor. Usefully, the circuit board also continues to wind the magazine for a few seconds after you release the trigger, ensuring there are bbs fed for the next burst. I cut and bent a metal plate to act as a makeshift reservoir and cut a rectangle in the side of it to hold the LiFe. I’m still looking for other ways to store the battery, so this isn’t necessarily final. I also tried to think of a way to hide the feed tube but there wasn’t enough room to do so; for the moment at least I’ve had to stick with the feed sticking out the bottom. The feed tube may have been too big but the wiring wasn’t, so that has now been hidden after making a cut out in both the body under the feed tray and on the edge of the ammo box lid. Bear in mind that this magazine is really only a prototype and still under development. I need to make sure things work reliably and I would like to simplify the wiring at some point before I make something more permanent.
THE FINALE With everything wrapped up – at least temporarily – it’s time to drag the completed GPMG into the sun and show it off in all its lethal glory. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I do – you’ve earned it!
CONCLUSION Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. This has been a big project for me, representing significant investment in time and money but I feel that the final result has been oh-so worth it. I have had a lot of support, both online and off and the encouragement (along with the constant demands for updates etc.) has been great. I would like to say a special thank you to: Dave S. Josh S. Mike Templar of templarairsoft.com Deano Brewer of Iron Werx Airsoft Phil P. of project-x.org.uk and Hapi & Red Cuffs from ZeroIn’s forums. Your input has been phenomenal and much appreciated.
The chief reason for trying to marry the G&P’s electronics to the Echo1’s mechanics was my decision to power the gun with a 9.9v LiFe. The
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F H T G S
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CWW WEST GERMAN PARATROOPER, LATE 80S
FALLSCHIRMJÄGER – HUNTERS FROM THE SKY!
GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY LOOKS AT A GERMAN PARATROOP REGIMENT THAT STARTED A TRADITION COPIED BY MANY COUNTRIES SINCE.
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“THE QUALIFIED PARATROOPER’S JUMP PAY OFTEN MEANT THEY EARNED TWICE AS MUCH AS A REGULAR INFANTRY SOLDIER!”
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few last airborne operations. The most notable of these was the successful mission to land assault gliders at Gran Sasso mountain (on a tiny patch of land) and rescue the imprisoned Mussolini in 1943 and the less successful paradrops attempt to pin down and capture Marshall Tito in his Yugoslavian cave complex stronghold in 1944. Both of these later missions were undertaken by SS Fallschirmjäger, rather than air force paratroops but all had undergone the same exhaustive training and were equally skilled. In the last days of WWII few Fallschirmjäger were jump trained and the Luftwaffe had neither the time, petrol, pilots nor planes to conduct training jumps but their infantry training still emphasized their elite nature… and this would continue to be the case in the post war years. For a short while after WWII Germany was forbidden from having an army of any real potency (in fact just a border guard force) but with West Germany becoming a member of NATO, the Bundeswehr was created and quite quickly the Fallschirmjäger were re-instated (many of its early officers had served during WWII). As an aside it is interesting to note that while forming entirely different ground forces, both East and West Germany saw the importance of recreating the elite Fallschirmjäger units as both a military and propaganda tool.
ALL VOLUNTEER ELITE FORCE In the 1980s, West Germany’s airborne force consisted of three para brigades, known as Luftlandebrigades (German: Air Landing), with each one assigned to one of the three German army corps facing off against the Soviets. Each brigade consisted of a HQ and three battalions of airborne troopers, with each battalion being further split into two infantry companies and two dedicated anti-tank companies using light, air-portable AT weapons. While many of the Fallschirmjäger were conscripts like the majority of the Bundeswehr, the paras consisted entirely of national servicemen who had volunteered for the role. Training was demanding and among the toughest regimes in NATO but the rewards were worth it. After completing advanced infantry training and a minimum of five parachute landings (with one at night and a final one with full fighting kit) the qualified paratrooper’s jump pay often meant they earned twice as much 40
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as a regular infantry soldier! Our Cold War Warrior this month represents a Fallschirmjäger NCO on a winter training exercise. Like other members of the Bundeswehr he wears the traditional grey green “moleskin” battle dress and parka lined with a removable artificial fleece inner. This uniform is near identical to his infantry counterparts we have seen in previous Cold War Warriors but to recap, consists of trousers and jacket in a loose weave soft fabric known as “moleskin”. While most of NATO (bar the British) at this time standardised with olive drab uniforms, the Germans opted for a greyer tone in keeping with the traditional “field grey” that had been in use since WWI. A soft cotton grey/green button-down field shirt is worn under the field jacket, with the aforementioned winter parka on top. Our para wears West German “Para Boots” which were a much sought after item by NATO soldiers in the US and UK. At the time these were a rugged and forward-thinking bit of kit offering great grip, firm ankle support and “speed lacing” eyelets to rapid readiness; by modern standards these boots are incredibly heavy but in the 1980s, compared to the British ankle height “ammo boot”, they were a real step in the right direction and would influence boot design across NATO for years to come.
GREEN DEVILS In combat the NATO steel helmet would be worn like our paras infantry counterpart but with an improved suspension and chinstrap for airborne forces. Some German airborne forces in the 1980s have been seen with jump helmets more akin to the WWII para helmet but most pictures of troops in the field show the M1, with more diverse patterns being worn by para qualified police units like GSG9. Here we see our NCO wearing the Fallschirmjäger distinct “red beret” which, like most NATO airborne forces, is actually a deep maroon shade. The red beret was adopted post war, during WWII the Fallschirmjäger were known as the “Green Devils”, as their early smocks were a deep green but we can see that the beret badge of the fallshcrimjager has changed little since WWII. As with the original badge, it features a diving eagle about to attack it’s pray above the national emblem, the whole device being
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CWW WEST GERMAN PARATROOPER, LATE 80S
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surrounded by an honorific wreath. As with out other examples of West German fighting men, field kit is intentionally light. Here we see the traditional German “Y strap and belt” arrangement, modernised for the 80s in grey webbing and aluminium fitting. While quite comfortable to use and rugged, the numerous metal-on-metal fittings in this set can create undue noise, which is a drawback to the webbing system. Shown here is a “skeleton order” of harness, two ammo pouches for his UZI Smg, water bottle and mess set, bread bag for rations and lastly, a rubberised NBC satchel containing his respirator and chemical defence aids. Armed with the practical and popular MP2 sub machine gun (as the UZI is known in German service) our para advances cautiously across the snowy exercise area. Most notable of all his kit is his “shcneetarn” (snow) camouflage poncho in this distinctive West German snow camouflage pattern. Consisting of a simple hooded cloak (reversible to pure white) this provides adequate lightweight snow camo. Troops expecting to operate primarily in winter conditions would be issued full snow suits in the same effective scheme. As with all NATO cold war loadouts, this one again is very simple and cheap to put together for the airsofter wanting to look a little different. While the Cold War Fallschirmjäger might be a little lacking in “combat operations” and so a little unknown, it’s still a fantastic impression to replicate… if only because it’s so damn comfy. If you’re like me, you’ll buy this uniform for airsoft and end up wearing it more for comfy outdoors clothes; there is a good reason that German paraboots, moleskins and parkas became student stalwarts in the 1990s!
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K I J A
F P c r n p s r q a m b d t a v “ t is w s t g w in s w c t b s n £ u m it e a c a s c p t o ( m z t t
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KIT VIPER TACTICAL
KIT WITH BITE IN THE FINAL INSTALMENT OF HIS THREE PART OVERVIEW, JERRY NOONE TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT THE NEW CLOTHING AND TACTICAL GEAR FROM VIPER.
FOR YEARS VIPER HAVE BEEN PROVIDING great entry level tactical clothing and gear but their new range takes things up to a whole new level. Although they have produced jackets before, it’s superb to see the new ELITE range – the fabrics used and the quality achieved are better than anything they’ve done before in my opinion and the designs are bang up to date. Not only have they developed new garments, they have also gone ahead and made them up in their very own camouflage pattern, “V-CAM”. This is in similar in tonality to both Multicam and issue MTP and works extremely well with both these patterns, so if you already own some kit in those patterns then VIPER gear is going to mix very well, without breaking the bank! The updates to the range have been arriving steadily, with the Tactical Fleece and T-Shirt (this now available in V-CAM) arriving first and the new Soft Shell coming slightly later. These really gave an indication of what was going to be happening in relation to VIPER clothing as they were absolutely, 100% better than anything that had come before from the brand. That said, I honestly hadn’t expected to see another, lighter Soft Shell Jacket and two new trouser designs as well! The ELITE Jacket comes in with an SRP of £59.95 and is a fully specified garment made up in V-CAM Micro Shell (nylon taslan); this means that although it’s extremely lightweight it’s also highly durable. In terms of features everything that you need is in place. There’s a stash away adjustable peaked hood in the collar, two front hand pockets with zip closure, a chest pocket with zip closure, soft inner sleeves and even a rubberised headphone/ comms port. Both upper arms have zipped pockets with elasticated inner D-Ring and there’s an additional lower arm zipped pocket on left sleeve. Both sleeves also sport 4”x4” (10.2x10.2cm) Velcro patches for your team and morale patches. There is a two-way YKK front zip closure with chin protector, with non-slip pull tabs on all the main zips. It has reinforced elbows to take further abuse and underarm zipped vents www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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for added breathability and airflow when things warm up. Cuffs feature a unique rubberised VIPER closure along with elastic and velcro adjustment. The waist is also adjustable to cinch things in nice and snug. Although not fully waterproof due to the lack of taped seams the ELITE jacket offers good protection against wind chill and showers and is cut for performance to avoid bunching when worn underneath tactical equipment. With an SRP of £42.95 the ripstop polycotton ELITE Trousers are as equally well put together and specified. With multiple adjustment features these trousers can be modified to the user’s own shape for comfort and feel. The built-in (yet removable) ABS knee pads with neoprene lining also offer comfort, protection and durability for hard use. There’s a velcro waist closure and zipped fly, along with elasticated waist adjustment. There are two regular, angled thigh pockets which are easy to access, two buttoned back pockets, two deep cargo pockets and two ankle utility pockets. Velcro knee retention tabs keep the knee pads exactly where you need them, along with internal pad adjusters located in the front two pockets; this is a neat feature as the pads can effectively be “lifted” to position them perfectly. The ankle closures are also velcro tabs which can be set to snug in around the cuffs of high leg boots keeping dust, dirt and debris out effectively. With all the features and the level of adjustment the ELITE trousers can be set up very individually and offer great value for money, especially as the knee pads are included in the price! If you want to keep things even more budget-oriented or prefer a simpler design, then there’s the Tactical BDU Trousers with an SRP of £24.95! This is super value for a Classic BDU style with total of six pockets button fly, side waist adjusters and drawstring legs. There are two regular pockets, two buttoned
back pockets and two expandable, deep cargo pockets. The trousers are reinforced in the seat and knee areas and the legs have drawstring bottoms to cinch things in and keep debris out. They are made of a solid Ripstop Polycotton material (60% Polyester Ripstop, 40% Cotton) and the finish is very nice indeed. These are a great pair of trousers that are solidly put together and offer all the features of much more expensive alternatives. Overall these three garments are a wonderful addition to the ever expanding VIPER range of clothing. They offer the “ELITE look” whilst not costing the earth; in fact you could pay as much for a jacket from another brand as you will for the VIPER jacket and trousers together! This has to be a good thing for airsofters on a budget although I suspect that many players will pick up the ELITE jacket and trousers as a fallback set of gear too. At present these garments are only available in V-CAM and I hope that VIPER will offer other plain colours as they do with the fleece and the Tactical-T in the future, as this is perfect clothing for any airsoft scenario.
GOOD TO GO GEAR In fairness VIPER have been known in the past for their well-priced tactical gear; their pouches especially have offered great “bang for your buck”. They have always traditionally offered a basic plate carrier and chest rig that are perfect for airsoft but I wouldn’t have wanted to be trusting my life to them! That has certainly changed this year though, as the new range contains some absolute peaches when it comes to thoughtful and innovative design and clever use of materials. The entire range of plate carriers, pouches and accessories are all tough as old boots 600D Cordura and are very solidly put together. The stitching is neat and well achieved so nothing is going to be falling apart any time soon. The individual components have been put together with full modularity in mind and they are also fully MOLLE compatible, so if you just want to add a few pouches to an existing rig then that’s easy to do. All the gear is available in V-CAM, Black, Green and Tan so there’s a lot to go at. Flagshipping the new lineup is the ELITE Platform with an SRP of £65.95. This is a fully specified plate carrier that offers extensive load carrying capacity and is high customisable. This EP has removable side panels and fully adjustable shoulder straps which are all made with 15mm foam lining for comfort even when the Platform is fully loaded up. It has a ton of MOLLE webbing panels, velcro ID panels, Quick Release Buckles and fully adjustable padded shoulder straps. Internally
“THIS IS A REALLY COMPREHENSIVE RANGE THAT VIPER NOW OFFER, A RANGE THAT WILL QUITE LITERALLY ALLOW YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR GEAR FROM HEAD TO TOE AND I KNOW THERE’S EVEN MORE TO COME…” 44
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VIPER make good use of their Ventex technology which helps to manage moisture and keep things cool. This really is a cracking bit of kit if you want to load up “Direct Action” style! If however you like to keep things along the “light is right” line, then at just £39.95 you can lay your hands on the ELITE Carriers. I have to admit that this is one of my personal favourites in the new line up as it is right up to the minute design-wise. The lightweight ELITE Carrier is a minimalist design which optimises mobility and reduces load weight for the user. It still offers a reasonable acreage of MOLLE webbing panels along with velcro ID panels, Quick Release Buckles, adjustable padded shoulder straps and padded Ventex internals. It’s a simple affair with just front and rear armour compartments but there are velcro outlet retainer for comms cables and hydration hoses. If you’re looking for a plate carrier that light and versatile for a more “RECON” oriented feel then this is the one for you. The first thing you’re going to be wanting to add to your new carrier is magazine pouches, right? VIPER are still offering their simple Single Mag Pouches of the open top/bungee variety for £12.95 apiece but they’ve added to these with a great new design. At £16.95
and £19.95 respectively come the Duo Mag Pouch Double and Treble. VIPER have been darn clever here by making pouches that are effectively already “stacked” when you buy them, so the Duo will let you carry four M4 magazines and the Treble let’s you carry six! If like me you carry mostly midcaps or realcaps then these two new additions to the line are a godsend; both new designs enable the user to easily and simply stack magazines on most MOLLE panels. The 600D Cordura enhances smooth operation while magazines are securely held by quick release bungee retainers. Initially I found the pouches to be really tight and I really had to heave the magazines out; over time though they have loosened up a little and now offer great retention and smooth extraction. Do work with these pouches before you go to a skirmish as otherwise you may find yourself in a sticky situation when you go for a fast changeout! The next “must have” for me is hydration; I like to carry a 3 litre hydration bladder so I can really keep my intake up and this means either carrying something like the VIPER One Day Modular pack or a dedicated carrier. The pack option can be quite bulky when attached to the back of the plate carrier, so if you’re going “urban” or playing in very thick vegetation then the carrier is a better option. The Modular Hydration Pouch (£14.95) is of a minimal size to allow it to be neatly added to most MOLLE platforms whilst maintaining a low profile. It’s big enough for a 3 litre bladder (you’ll need to find this separately) and has a MOLLE panel on front, a velcro ID panel and a simple velcro release lid. If you want to keep hydrated on the move then this a great well priced bit of kit. If you prefer a simple, straightforward waterbottle www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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though, VIPER offer a “US Style” version in a 600D pouch, again for £14.95. There’s a whole series of great utility pouches in the line which will allow you to carry all those little bits and pieces that are so useful on a skirmish day. There are phone pouches, notebook holders, GPS and map wrist pouches, operators pouches and a special ops pouch; in a nutshell if you want to carry something then VIPER have a pouch for it! One neat little design that took my eye especially was the “V-Pouch”; this versatile little pouch can be used in multiple roles or even every day use. You can load it up with medical supplies, small electronics and personal belongings. Items can be stored safely and securely within one of its two compartments and loaded to a belt or MOLLE platform and it costs a miserly £11.95! Talking of “medicals” the last pouch I’m going to cover is the First Aid Kit. This handheld kit is conveniently sized so it can be attached direct to most MOLLE platforms. Its contents (all the little first aid items for a skirmish day are included) are securely retained with a drawcord nylon closure and a velcro flap making things easily accessible. For £13.95 you get a fully loaded FAK and even a subdued rubber medics patch is included. Bargain! There are far more items in the range that I haven’t included, not because they’re not good but because for me there are some real “stand out” items that deserve more space. This is a really comprehensive range that VIPER now offer, a
“IN A NUTSHELL IF YOU WANT TO CARRY SOMETHING THEN VIPER HAVE A POUCH FOR IT!”
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range that will quite literally allow you to choose your gear from head to toe and I know there’s even more to come… Laser cut anyone? As I write this I’m preparing to head off to Germany for IWA and I’m excited to see what VIPER have got to show me this year. In the meantime to keep up to date with the new VIPER tactical products as they become available please visit www. viperkit.co.uk. You’ll also be able to find full stockist details there too. You can also follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated.
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Site RED 1 WOODLAND BROMLEY
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HAVING HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS SITE, LES LEE HEADED OVER TO BROMLEY IN KENT TO CHECK IT OUT AND GOT CHATTING TO SITE OPERATORS, JASON AND ROB. IN LAST MONTH’S ISSUE, YOU MAY REMEMBER some reference to a site called “Red 1 Airsoft” in the big Pete player profile feature which tickled my curiosity, as all I kept hearing were positive comments. So the aforementioned curiosity once again overtook all sensibilities, predominantly that this place was a long way from home, it’s probably on someone else’s turf (sorry guys) and I will need a mid-flight refuel for my V8 Jeep! So imagine my happy moment when I was told that they had just built a new woodland site in Bromley, Kent which IS my territory (apology retracted guys). My first thought (not surprisingly) was “is there any woodland left?” in what is mostly, as I thought, more South East London where the green grass doesn’t grow anymore. I was pleasantly surprised to find an enchanting wilderness a little way off the main road but with enough structure to make it easily accessible via a hard top road and adequate parking just a few yards from the check-in desk and covered gear stowage area and safe zone. From the good old M25, take junction 3 and head North West along the A20 for approximately 6 miles to Chiselhurst. Take a left turn onto the A222 Perry Street followed shortly after by a right turn into Foxbury Avenue and by now your sat Nav should be screaming at you to hit the brakes! If you are too busy texting the missus (naughty naughty) saying “I’m here darling” then you won’t get past 6-foot plus former Defensive End for The London Ravens British American Football Team, Tony Toretti, who is likely to be standing there to meet and greet you and guide you to a suitable parking place (I thought was a nice touch to be personally welcomed by one of the staff). Trust me when I say you really won’t get past Tony because anyone that www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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“ONE MINUTE YOU WILL BE IN DENSE UNDERGROWTH AND AT A SIMPLE TURN OF A CORNER, IT’S TIME TO STOW THE RIFLE AND PULL OUT A HANDGUN. IT DOESN’T GET MUCH MORE CHALLENGING THAN THAT!”
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knows anything about American Football will understand that not much gets past a Defensive End and, as The London Ravens were the top British American Football club, I wasn’t surprised that Tony and I found ourselves sharing stories from our days on the Gridiron. I had six great years of playing Offensive Tackle and my Sunday evenings just wouldn’t have been the same without at least a mild concussion! I consider myself fortunate that we never played against The Ravens, as Tony would have been my opposite number in my position as Offensive Tackle and no doubt I would have gotten my arse kicked... Maybe… Red 1 Woodland respects that there are other sporting facilities in the immediate vicinity and are keen to develop and maintain good working relations with the other area users which, in turn, portrays us as the respectable and responsible sportsmen and women that the huge majority of Airsofters are. So I grabbed my trusty camera and headed for the entrance, which is where I saw “best practice” number 2. The footpath leading into the checkin area and safe zone had the probability to be as messy as Mississippi mud pies in a food fight, however Jason had made sure that this didn’t happen by covering the walkways with wood chipping so that every inch of floor space stays safe under foot and user friendly, which leaves only the gaming areas to get wet muddy. Nice touch! As the pace of the preparations began to increase, players were taken to a very impressive 75 metre shooting range to sight in their guns and undergo the chrono check. A lot of thought had gone into the shooting range with targets displaying the yardage from the firing points, which is a huge 50
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advantage to everyone but especially the Snipers (who then don’t have to spend the best part of the morning fine-tuning their sights). It was no surprise to find that because of the challenging design of this shooting gallery, which resembled a typical action shooting arena, this was very popular with the guys as it added another quality dimension to the day. There are many of us that could spend a considerable amount of time simply improving and honing our accuracy skills and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Jason developed some type of target shooting competitions on the side (just simply because he can). I don’t ever recall seeing this done at any other site and being a former Section One target shooter myself, I would be well up for it. Having met site operators Jason and Rob by now, I felt it was time to get some cold hard facts about Red 1 Woodland @ Bromley and so with that in mind, time for a little Q & A session with the man himself. Les: Jason, great to finally meet you and time for me to ask a few questions, so how and when and how did you become involved in Airsoft? Jason: I started as a player in late 2007 after purchasing a cheap Double Eagle Rifle for my son. It broke after two weeks so I looked for a replacement and came across a site in Dorking, so myself and my son booked in as hires and never looked back, we got completely hooked! Rob: I first learned about Airsoft in 2009 and made some inquiries. I then went to my first site in Kent but I had reservations about it, however after my first day’s Airsoft I was hooked. Since then I have gone through 27 different M4s, pistols, SA80s and sniper rifles etc. You get the picture, you can never have too much kit - just don’t try to wear it all at once! I have found our sport/hobby very welcoming and have met
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some great players who are always ready to help with their knowledge or spare kit if needed. Les: Tell me about the shop, the School and any other aspect of Red 1 Jason: I started the shop based in St Albans in 2009. I was in a small unit in an arcade but have now moved to a larger store, still in St Albans. I stock a lot of varied brands including WE, VFC, BOLT, G&G, ICS and Tokyo Marui. I like finding those hard-to-get items and am always on the lookout for those accessories we don’t see very often in the UK. I also use the tech services of Matt Constable of CowboyWorks, who specialises in TM Recoil Upgrades and have some very happy HK416 and Sopmod owners who are amazed at the difference Matt’s upgrades have made. We have just finished Big Pete’s Monster of a Scar H. Although I don’t have the biggest store in the country, I have great suppliers and can get you anything you don’t see in store, usually next day. The School CQB site started mid-2011 and has evolved steadily since then. Unfortunately we lost one of our areas, the Science Block, due to water damage and it was deemed too dilapidated for use, so we now have the 3 storey main block and two large playground areas on split levels. Losing the science block has changed the dynamic in terms of game play but we have a loyal player base within a friendly atmosphere, the regulars are spot on and we have a number of players that come in that add to that experience. What we care most about is that the players have had fun. We now have a second site which is woodland with CQB elements to it based in Chislehurst on the South London Kent border. Les: Chiselhurst seems a little “out of area” for Red 1, why is that? Jason: Although I live in Hertfordshire I’m from South London, so I know the area well. I run the Chislehurst site with Rob Gentry, who lives locally and actually approached me to run the site together and so far it’s going fantastically well. Rob has a military background so brings a lot to the table in terms of experience. I don’t think it matters where we are geographically as long as we are bringing quality gaming to the area. Les: So when did you acquire the land and how much of it is there? Jason: We started work just a short while ago, in November
2014 and it tops out at around 4.5 acres. Our aim is to keep it woodland but embedded in the heart will be some very challenging CQB game zones, a village type area with safe but demanding buildings and strongholds which form some of our varied game scenarios. Obviously, as you saw, our deep trench system is pretty unique due to the size of it and the structures which network out giving a variety of choices such as dig in or run for your life! Les: So who else is part of your team of dedicated staff that make this a great day for all? Jason: Rob Gentry, Reece Gentry, Tony Torretti, Steve Johns, Duncan Mc Mahon, Martin Boon. Rob, Tony, Steve and Duncan run the Site and we also have Steve’s partner Sophie, who does the food and refreshments for us. All the guys have put many hours into building the site up to what it is now and we are constantly improving it. We all share the duties of marshalling and looking after the players. Les: What has been the biggest obstacle(s) to date? Have you encountered any problems i.e. area, public, conservation, etc.? Jason: The biggest obstacle really is time when building the site. We put in shifts where we can, plus we have had the full support of our Landlord, so really don’t have many issues in that regard. Les: How many players can you cater for and what is your current and projected attendance? Jason: We can field around 80 players no problem. All the game areas flow into each other nicely which gives us great game play options. We are currently getting between 25 to 30 players, which we are very happy with being as we have only been open a short time but with all the fantastic feedback we have been getting from those players, we feel we will only get stronger and numbers will increase and really add to the experience. I for one would love to see the trench system full with players! That will be an awesome day! Les: What about facilities, i.e. car parking, safe zone, snacks and lunch, chrono/target area and toilets etc.? Jason: We have plenty of car parking just before you enter the site, you can park the length of Foxbury Avenue that leads into the site. We have a covered safe area with tables for all your kit and free tea and coffee on tap. Just outside of the safe area we have a 75m firing range, so you can hop your rifles and we also chronograph from this point. Sophie provides the food all day, from bacon rolls to hotdogs, drinks and choccy bars, all of which are very affordable so won’t burn a hole in your pocket. We have now built a covered toilet area for the guys and for the ladies (and any gents that need to “upgrade” their requirements), there are full toilet facilities a short walk away at the club house for the playing fields that we are situated within. Les: What about fees and hire guns (types and costs)? Jason: The walk-on fee is £25 per person and the rental fee is £50, which includes walkon fee, gun hire, 3,000 bbs, face protection and lunch of hot dog, soft drink, chocolate bar and crisps. We use a mix of G36c and M4 AEGs. 51
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BBs and gas can be purchased on site as well as items from the Red 1 Airsoft store, ranging from AEGs and pistols, to accessories and clothing. After the game you can also go over to the clubhouse, watch the footie and enjoy a pint… unless of course you’re the designated driver! Les: Any restrictions i.e. smokes, flash bangs, etc? Jason: We can use bangs in specific areas but there are football playing fields directly next to us, so use of smoke is restricted to the afternoon when the football games are finished. Les: Tell me about any game specifics, such as names, objectives, props and game zone names? Jason: We of course have our “Trench System”, which snakes across the far side of the site with feeder trenches branching off of the main trench. We have built structures over some areas of the trench, as well as Pill boxes around it and could easily fit a 100 players in that alone, but we have also built our structures in such a way that it enhances the game play by incorporating CQB-type areas without compromising the woodland experience. We have the main fortification with central tower but have built rooms within. Opposite, we have built a CQB area which creates a street effect between the two and often find intense battles between the two areas. We also have another 3 villages and are currently at work adding a tunnel-style structure for players to negotiate. Snipers work well here and we can’t wait for the summer to see the transformation once the woods are in full bloom. We are also running night games once a month which should be epic and also run small 5-man team challenges through to team domination and have props such as timed devices and the usual flag type games. So far, feedback has been excellent from all the players that have joined us and all have shown themselves to be excellent players. Les: And your vision for the future? Jason: We already have more opportunities that we are currently investigating and needless to say, we are looking at bringing unique environments into play but we will have to wait and see. We have a few tricks up our sleeve but for now it’s just one step at a time but like I said, the emphasis is “for now” because we intend to integrate our woodland and CQB due to its close proximity. This should put us in quite a unique bracket because, typically, you usually have one or the other. Fortunately our plans and landscape have given us a unique opportunity where one minute you will be in dense undergrowth and at a simple turn of a corner, it’s time to stow the rifle and pull out a handgun. It doesn’t get much more challenging than that! Effectively something for everyone but I don’t think anyone but the hardnosed snipers (with their MED and 400+ FPS) will object to a bit of up close and personal. (Author’s note: Snipers, don’t forget to pack a pistol, sounds like you’re gonna’ need it). Interview over, back to the other things you want to know... The grub was good, the shop was limited but had everything that you would need, especially quality consumables. It might be worth phoning Jason a day or two prior to your visit if you will be wanting something specific
because he will be more than happy to bring it along. Although I haven’t personally visited the shop, I have been informed from a reliable source who shall remain nameless (well that’s what Big Pete told me to say, so I’m not grassing... WHOOPS! Too late, sorry mate!) the shop has a superb stock of just about everything you will need and if you’re like me, gear that you don’t need but you buy anyway! So to summarise, Red 1 Woodland is a site that will meet almost every Airsofter’s needs. It has woodland, it clearly provides a first class CQB game zone and the two are often integrated for particular games that puts demand on your ability to adapt and which will give you the ultimate adrenaline rush, from hiding behind a bush one minute to having someone breathing down your neck the next! It has a fantastic shooting gallery (which is a challenge in its own right), a comfortable and dry safe zone with refreshments, a toilet for those that don’t want to do what the Contact Details: bears do and I think my favourite feature of all, Jason Clarke the deep and lengthy trench system which I’m Red 1 Airsoft sure will be seeing an awful lot of action. 75 London Road Red 1 Woodland has it all really and it’s St Albans definitely one of the most varied sites that I Hertfordshire have had the pleasure in visiting. The staff are AL1 1LN superb, very professional and not an ounce of www.red1airsoft.co.uk ego amongst them (I like that) because their goal 01727 846069 is your enjoyment and they want to give you the best Airsoft experience that money can buy. Site Location: Les OUT! Foxbury Avenue Chiselhurst Kent
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BAD BEHAVIOUR IN THIS ISSUE’S DEBATE, GADGE HARVEY PONDERS THE ISSUE OF AIRSOFT BAD BEHAVIOUR AND ASKED FOR YOUR EXPERIENCES. THE RESPONSE WAS NOT EXACTLY WHAT HE EXPECTED…
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HAVING BEEN A REGULAR PLAYER, CONTRIBUTOR, organiser and team member in airsoft for fifteen or so years I’ve seen a lot of weird stuff go down. On the whole, Airsoft is probably the most fun activity I can do with my clothes on and it’s a rare day when I come back from an event less than happy… but it does happen. While 99.9 per cent of sites are well-run by dedicated individuals, most events well planned and exciting affairs and most players are like-minded nutters out for a laugh, once in a blue moon something happens that makes me consider jacking in the sport! At Airsoft Action we don’t like to dwell on the negatives of the game as, like “cheat calling”, it brings down the game on the whole but this month we’re going to break with tradition and have a vent! So we asked you this month to discuss the worst of behaviour you’ve seen in the game and whether you feel that sites (and indeed your local site) grip these problems properly or do they turn a blind eye? To give an example… Years ago I was a regular at a site with a supposedly “zero tolerance” attitude to cheating (as all good sites should have) but it soon became apparent that the “zero” was not an absolute and that being on the site team, or a mate of a marshal gave you considerable leeway in “questionable” play. Time and time again I’d see a player who was hit just wander off, no hand in the air, no cry of “Hit!” and then
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reappear later. Had I hit him? Was he cheating? Dunno… I was just told “Oh, that’s just Dave!” as if being well-known made it OK to have dubious play patterns. The same site would alter the parameters for a scenario on the fly for the site team to have an easier time if they were doing badly etc… Needless to say my friends and I went to shoot plastic pellets elsewhere after a while. I’ve also seen that over the years nearly every site I’ve played at has threatened a “life time ban” for known cheats… and been dismayed to see guys who’ve been given a telling off, or told to go home, back the next month. While word of mouth means that most players get warned “Hey that’s team x, they cheat”, is there much point to it if sites let them back month after month? Surprisingly most of you didn’t have any real disasters to share and most of you felt that a polite word with offenders between games let them know you were “onto them” and for persistent Teflon types, making your shots “sting” a bit more was an incentive to play fair. On the whole you seemed to feel that most sites were true to their word in enforcing bans on poor players but one or two of you had encountered the “marshal’s mates” syndrome. More surprisingly though, none of you had ever seen a player sent home or banned on an actual game day. I personally have sent players home for dangerous play at games I’ve co-run at a well-known chain of airsoft sites and assumed that because we stand by our policy, that other sites did too. It’s never a good thing to have to take a player aside and say “Sorry mate, you’re drunk/playing dangerously/ constantly removing your eye pro… I’ve got to refund your game fee and ask you to go home” but we felt that if you don’t do that, any threats to ban poor players lose any validity. So on the whole this was one of our “quieter” debates but we’ve got mixed feeling about that as well. In some ways it’s a bit disappointing when we start off a debate hoping for some interesting tales of shocking play and get a largely “actually it’s all good” response, but… it’s actually a great thing that (by and large) our hobby really is “honesty based” and that that system really works! Have your say: Daniel Shears: One CQB site close to me had a very bad reputation for non-hit taking and dangerous behaviour (including ridiculously hot guns, inappropriate pyro being used, threats of physical violence) and it didn’t help that all the regular marshals were a part of this same team. To cut a long story short, the site and the team have become a local joke. A lot of the old regulars have moved onto other sites and the team have for the most part stopped playing. James W: Turning up to a site and having someone threaten to kick my head in for pointing out their gun is stupidly hot was the highlight of that particular evening but the “teflon walrus” does not play anymore. What will I do with my 0.4G bbs now? Jezasaurus Maximus Armstrong: Oh I love a good vent! Unfortunately it isn’t down to the site but some random
butthead could just turn up on the day and decide he is the ultimate Teflon warrior. This is why I use an 8mm tri-shot and aim for the face when people decide they didn’t want to take the hit and that’s fine with me. Airsoft is an honourable hobby, if you don’t want to play fair and not take your hits I’m more than happy to aim higher or get you kicked off the site for being a cheat Brendan Robb: Coming around a doorway in a semi-only CQB area, only to take a burst of at least 10 (I counted the dots after) to the gut nearly made me lose my cool recently. I think he was a new player and s*** scared. In another game, after hitting a bloke in the helmet three times and it not being called, I was forced to aim a little lower. By the sounds of his yell, ear shots hurt! Anthony Doolan: I got hit, called my hit, stuck my hand up and walked off as it was a “hit and dead” game. Same bloke shot me again, so I called “Hit!” louder. This carried on until I was bellowing “Hit!” as loud as humanly possible and a marshal had to have a word with the player. The excuse? He was “shooting people behind me”. The fact I was flat against a wall wasn’t lost on the marshal… Brendan Robb: I have! One group were told not to return after some dodgy antics, such as using the safe zone as cover but the final straw was sneaking a Dan Wesson revolver with full power shells onto the field and shooting somebody in the face at close range. I would rather play at a site that isn’t worried about telling people to bugger off. It shows they are looking out for all the other players. Bart Kondratiuk: Things going missing! On one site a lad lost a Dynatec grenade, it just vanished. No perps were caught. The site organised a bit of a search but stopped short of searching the player’s gear, except some of the guys that volunteered their cars and bags to be searched. In my opinion everyone should be searched, immediately, no exceptions. Sean BE: I play at a site that has zero tolerance and this is exercised. It is now made a lot easier with the use of GoPro devices and this has actually reduced the instances in non-hit taking, as the footage is sent to the site owner and then a ban/ warning is imposed. The site though is the best I have ever played at and you feel like being a member of a big family. Suzi BE: Having played for nearly three years now I have experienced cheating from brand new players and seasoned veterans. Sometimes it can be put down to adrenalin but, unfortunately, on other occasions it is blatant cheating! It can be difficult to call a marshal to mark a player as you give your position away and also there is not always a marshal in close proximity. So how do we solve the problem? I’ve recently gone up to the player afterwards and asked them very nicely if they felt any BBs hit them in the hope of shaming them into taking their hits next time but, to be honest, I doubt that will work. Maybe we need communication between Site owners with a database of banned players so they are not welcome at other sites. Airsoft is a game of honour and cheating or bad behaviour can ruin it for everyone.
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Tony – Rift Airsoft: I’ve been in the sport since 1994. I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the growth of Airsoft over the years and I look forward to many more great years of fun and excitement! One thing that has always been with us from day one is “The Cheat”. As a Site owner I decided to bring the mention of cheating to the forefront in my Morning Brief. I do believe that discussing cheating in detail and reminding players that cheats ruin the Gameplay aspect of the day but also devalue another player’s day has a genuine impact. Everyone pays their hardearned cash for a quality day of Airsoft – if a guy or girl decides to “play on” once clearly hit, they are not “Welcome on Site”. On occasion after hearing complaints of non-hit taking I pull everyone together: This is the point where I get somewhat more assertive! “Cheats are not welcome – please leave now if you do not wish to play as intended!” It is hard, VERY hard to encourage 100% of players to play as intended, however I always engage the issue and do not ignore comments from players. Our Policy is that if a Marshal sees “Blatant Cheating” he/she will report that to me and the player is asked to leave and not allowed to return. “Reputation”, “Friendship”, “Sportsmanship”, “Value for Money”, “Quality Game Day” – these are the things I mention and overall I do believe it makes for a better day. The “other” frustration is “Cheat Calling” – a player that thinks he has hit someone but isn’t really sure but still starts shouting abuse!! Just as bad!
www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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“D.M.R.” – THESE DAYS IT SEEMS THAT THERE is no getting away from those three little letters. Whether it’s on an internet forum, facebook group or even finding its way into the average safezone chat, it isn’t long before someone jumps onboard with a sudden yet apparent epiphany. “Nice gun mate, you should turn it into a DMR!” “Yeah mate, get a scope on it and stick a stronger spring in it, that would make it a beast!” I’ve got to admit, I was starting to get a bit sick of it. Fads seem to come and go in Airsoft with the coming of each new WE SEE THEM EVERYWHERE moon. Some new concept or piece of tech appears that promises to IN AIRSOFT AND SO IN PART “revolutionise” the way we play the game, yet the idea of what we do has ONE OF THIS SHORT SERIES, never once changed: To shoot the other KRIS ROBERTS FOCUSSES ON guy before they shoot you! Players have always fitted out their THE UBIQUITOUS DESIGNATED equipment to suit their own styles and personalities and I’ve been seeing MARKSMAN RIFLE. scopes and the like being fitted to every gun conceivable for the last twenty years. It’s nothing new. So, why the increase in attention to the idea of using more powerful and accurate aegs and gas blowback rifles as distance shooters? Surely a sniper rifle designed for long range accuracy is the answer? Or is it?
A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING... As with pretty much most things in Airsoft, these ideas serve as a reflection of what takes place on the real world battlefield. DMRs have been used to varying extents for generations but for the best understanding of their use and application you have to look at the first two letters of the abbreviation, the “Designated Marksman”. The role of the Designated Marksman is to provide rapid accurate fire as part of a larger team or squad. Using either an accurised version of the squad’s primary assault weapon or a specialist larger calibre rifle, the DM delivers semi-automatic fire that extends beyond the reach of the other squad weapons. By bridging the gap between the ranges of an assault rifle and a single shot sniper rifle, the DM is able to increase the overall fighting potential of an infantry squad, much in the way that a support gunner can. Another key advantage is the mobility that is available to the DM. Unlike a sniper who is often restrained in movement by the need for camouflage and a static position from which to take extreme long range shots, the DM moves and is protected by the fluidity of the squad. The Designated Marksman Rifle therefore should be looked at as a squad support weapon. Where a squad automatic weapon would saturate an area with hundreds of rounds, the DMR can offer an extended range and hold an enemy at bay with precision fire. One weapon offers the roar and monstrosity of massive firepower, the other the clinical lethality of accurate fire delivered bullet after bullet. Vastly different in their
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approach, but equally terrifying to those on the receiving end and therefore vital in squad based fighting. So how does this compare to Airsoft? Well, in much the same way. We already employ the idea of roles within a team at many games and the role of a DM is no different in deployment than that of a support gunner or sniper. Where Airsoft has always differed to the real world is in the need for safety and consideration towards other players and of course, the use of a higher powered Airsoft gun will rightfully come with restrictions in place. These restrictions vary all across the country, and sites differ on their own personal rules and regulations. As a general rule the power limits seem to be set between 400 to 450 fps on a 0.2g bb, with minimum engagement distances varying anywhere between ten to thirty metres. What appears to be a steadfast rule throughout though, are the semi-auto only capabilities of your chosen DMR. Again each playing site has its own idea on how this should be done (more on this in Part 2 - next issue) and I highly recommend that you speak directly to your site managers to find out their personal requirements before spending your money.
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You want to play as a Designated Marksman? Great! But so what? Like I said above, popping a scope onto your M4 is nothing new, squeezing every last drop of power out of your rifle is something that has been done countless times before. Trying to be original or special in a game that is made up of thousands of players is not only costly, it’s also pointless. Like any specific role you take on, if you want to be recognised as a Designated Marksman you have to matter to your team. Only the correct mindset will make a difference. Whereas a sniper can become as involved (or uninvolved) as they choose with regards to team matters, playing their own game and creating their own brand of havoc, the Designated Marksman must consider themselves as part of a team and move to support the objectives of a larger group.
Don’t get me wrong, there are no laws in Airsoft on how much of a team player you should or shouldn’t be. You pay your money and therefore you have the right to play however you choose within the rules of the game but choosing to play as a pre-determined role comes with certain expectations. If you can meet those then you can take your experiences to another level with very positive results and probably provide a more enjoyable day for those who played at your side.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE So you’ve been inspired by the movies you watch and the books you read, you’ve spent countless hours watching Youtube videos of real life DMs in action and you know that this is what you want to do in Airsoft. Well then, my dear, it’s time to gun up. There are, quite frankly, a ridiculous amount of options available to you here. So before we ask what gun to buy we must try to filter everything down to the basics. A team mate of mine put the answer to this question in a very simple way… There are three types of Airsoft DMRs: The first is a replica of its real steel counterpart, the second is an Airsoft gun that has been internally modified to work as an Airsoft DMR and thirdly there are those that both look and work accordingly. The first option is based on the visual. If you are trying to replicate a certain look then there are plenty of choices out there to suit. The M14, the SR25, the SVD, the G3 etc., are all available straight off the shelf as standard. There is no shortage of guns out there that would help you to look the part. The second option is to convert an existing aeg or gas blowback to contain the guts of an Airsoft DMR. With increased power limits and parts fitted and modified to enhance accuracy and consistency, the focus here is to have a functioning DMR that falls within the rules of the game. The third option is to put the two together. It looks like a DMR and it shoots like a DMR. Leave no man in doubt that you mean business. Where you go from here is entirely down to personal preference. You may just opt to get something like an M14
“USE YOUR DISCRETION WISELY, AS I CAN THINK OF MANY A PLAYER WHO WOULD THROW UP THEIR ARMS AND WAIL TO THE SKY AT THE SIGHT OF A P90 OR MP5K DMR.”
www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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Feature DESIGNATED MARKSMAN RIFLE
and leave it as standard, choosing to play with the mindset of a marksman and picking your shots. While you may be able to retain the full auto option and not have the worry of minimum engagement distances, the downside here is that you will not be able to use the role to its fullest and as intended, that being to engage targets at a distance beyond your teammate’s capabilities with accurate and repeated fire. Alternatively you could upgrade any existing platform to perform as needed. But use your discretion wisely, as I can think of many a player who would throw up their arms and wail to the sky at the sight of a P90 or MP5K DMR. Whatever you decide, take the time to properly research the gun you have picked and it’s suitability for upgrade. There are far too many pitfalls and potential problems for me to list here, so once you have an idea of the direction you wish to take then study up on it as much as possible. An oversight at this point could mean expensive repairs later.
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Done well, the building of an Airsoft DMR can be a costly and laborious affair. So let’s cut to the chase; are DMR’s worth it? I’ve been on the receiving end of plenty and I have seen some major misuse of their power and advantages but I have never bought, built or used one myself. It’s easy for me to criticise from the far end of the field, or to dismiss their use as another potential fad but, as with many things in Airsoft, you don’t really know until you try it yourself. In the next issue I’ll be investing in my own DMR and putting it through its paces. I’ll take you step by step through the building process and explaining my personal choices on the final set up. Then it’s off to the skirmish field, to see what the effect is and weighing up the pros and cons of owning and using such a powerful yet restricted gun.
“LIKE ANY SPECIFIC ROLE YOU TAKE ON, IF YOU WANT TO BE RECOGNISED AS A DESIGNATED MARKSMAN YOU HAVE TO MATTER TO YOUR TEAM. ONLY THE CORRECT MINDSET WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”
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PRACTICALLY ATTIRED WITH THE RAPID GROWTH IN POPULARITY OF PRACTICAL SHOOTING, JERRY NOONE TAKES A LOOK AT LOADOUTS SUITABLE FOR RANGE USE. Pictures: NETEE
IT WAS WITH GREAT PLEASURE LAST MONTH that I saw that Practical Shooter, Mark Hurding, had joined the Airsoft Action team and I’m looking forward to his forthcoming articles. As it’s a part of airsoft I enjoy myself, I thought this month I’d take a look at a couple of loadouts ideal for the range! Practical Shooting is one of those great pastimes that has transferred successfully from the “real steel” side of shooting sports to airsoft, a fact that I am certain both Mark and Andy from Pro-Tact will cover in greater depth in their own articles. I am by no means a Champion Shooter like Mark but that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good course of fire against the clock. During the late spring and summer months when the evenings are longer, it’s a regular occurrence for some of my team mates and I to get together for an evening of shooting. Luckily we have access to some secluded private land (and we pay our own third party insurance) where we can take turns to set up different courses to challenge one another. These will involve barricades, obstacles, plates, spinners and paper targets to make life interesting. It’s also the ideal opportunity to test new airsoft replicas or really dial in existing ones that we’ve been working on; the real plus of this is that all of our pistols, rifles and shotties are ready to roll come skirmish day. A number of us have been working on better tuning our GBB pistols and there’s feverish work currently going on behinds the scenes to modify the PTS recoils that have been acquired over the winter months. It’s a great social occasion too; as much as we’re there to shoot our best, the competition is friendly and the banter what you’d expect. Safety is always paramount but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun too! Usually after a few hours shooting, when the shooty things are clean and locked safely away, it’s time for a barbeque and a beer or two back at someone’s where the hilarity continues, often at the expense of whoever shot the worst that night! Mark explained in his excellent opening article last month how the different governing bodies and disciplines work in some depth and once again his knowledge is obviously far greater in that respect than mine. I would say that what we do locally is a mix of Iron Plate Action Shooting (IPAS) and Practical Speed Plate (PSP), although we’ve moved it up to “three gun” to include a shotgun element. Again, he explained how pistols would be upgraded to really get the best from them but we use essentially “black pistol, black rifle and black shotgun” as all of the replicas on the range will go onto the skirmish field at some point or other.
“THE FIRST THING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND GEAR FOR PRACTICAL SHOOTING IS DITCH THE CAMO!” www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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As this is more of a social meeting gear and clothing is more “civvy” than “tacticool”, the first thing to get out of the way when it comes to clothing, footwear and gear for Practical Shooting is ditch the camo! IPSC, IPAS and indeed PSP strictly forbid camo for competitions and I can understand why; why would you need head to toe “MultiKryCottCam” when you’re in a place where you actually want to be seen? That said, many Practical Shooters that I know do look very seriously at the tactical brands for their clothing as said garments are designed with the dynamic movement needed to compete in mind.
jacket is available in Black, Tan and Olive Green. It’s made from 250gsm Polyester Gridfleece, has arm pockets with velcro for your team patches, two lower zipped pockets, a zipped chest pocket and elasticated cuffs. It’s a simple, no-nonsense design but the fabric is first rate and all the stitching is flat locked to keep seams from rubbing uncomfortably. The cut is reasonably generous without being baggy, offering a great range of movement. I chose boots here that I could use away from airsoft as well. Not all of us want a “military” looking boot though, so when it came to finding new range footwear for myself I looked a little harder at the HAIX range and the “Black Eagle”
KEEPING IT REAL For the first loadout I’m going to keep things as down to earth but I wanted as much performance as possible. What do you really need on a range? What is it you really need to compete? The answer to both these questions is surprisingly straightforward: Firstly you’re going to need clothing that moves well and this can be as simple as a cheap pair of stretchy jeans and a polo shirt. I picked up a couple of NIKE moc neck T’s designed for golf at one of the outlet stores and they are absolutely ideal! Think outside the box; even though tactical brands make clothing specifically for shooting most sporting brands design for equally dynamic disciplines. Alternatively you could just go for a Tactical T from VIPER which come in plain colours at £22.95. In this instance I’ve married up the NIKE shirt with a pair of black Traverse Pants from 5:11 Tactical. The Traverse Pant is a fairly recent addition to the colossal 5:11 range and is built for more athletic disciplines. It’s a great design that provides the speed, mobility and utility you need to perform at peak levels. Built from a 4-way stretch blend of durable nylon and flexible spandex, the Traverse Pant offers enhanced air flow and quick dry characteristics that won’t slow you down. A high rise elastic waistband, articulated knees and a full running gusset from hem to hem offer unmatched agility and heavy bartacking at major stress points enhances their strength and durability. Low profile cargo pockets feature integrated magazine retention bands and secure zipped seat pockets keep accessories secure while you’re on the move. Whether you’re on the range, simply on a day hike or just going to the shops these pants are comfortable and easy to live with. They’re not the cheapest thing you can find out there but boy they are worth every penny! A simple fleece Jacket is worth its weight in gold when you’re waiting for your turn to shoot and this one for me was a no-brainer. VIPER offer a superb Tactical Fleece which, in my opinion, was one of the best pieces they’d ever made up until now (you’ll see the new range elsewhere in Airsoft Action this month). Priced at just £39.95 this comfortable and lightweight
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models seemed to fit the bill entirely. I looked for something a little more athletic in styling and the Black Eagle Mids from HAIX have proved perfect. This is a very able boot made of a microfibre/textile combination so it’s nice and light. They also have a 3-layer GORE-TEX membrane laminate which is 100% waterproof and highly breathable. The lining is abrasionresistant with the HAIX Climate System with Micro-Dry lining at top of the cuff which really does help to manage internal moisture; after all, a dry foot is less likely to suffer blisters so this is important.
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KIT LOADED OR UNLOADED
chose to replace them with the LOWAs as I have a pair of their wonderful Mountain boots for the winter and really like the fit. The Zephyrs are a bit more sporty-looking; they are highly rated by professional users worldwide as a tactical lightweight desert boot. The LOWA Zephyr Mid GORE-TEX® Coyote Tan Boot (to give them their full name) fulfils the requirement for those who want an ultra lightweight boot but require a GORE-TEX® lining. The slightly darker coloured Coyote Tan version has been designed for use with UK MTP or multicam but also looks great with plain colours. They are slip lasted with an injected LOWA “Croos” sole and made of 1.4/1.6mm suede leather and Cordura. Waterproofness comes courtesy of a GORE-TEX Vision 3LY lining and at only 1120g a pair they certainly fulfil the “lightweight” claim. They’re available in UK 6.513 and at £130 are bang on the money for this level of boot.
BELT UP
There is an insole which is comfortable, cushioning, moisture repellent and anti-bacterial with a separate heel area for further cushioning and foot retention. The running outsole is anti-slip and it offers very good grip on differing terrain. All in all I can already tell that this is a boot that’s going to have a long and active life!
GETTING GRITTY The first loadout described is fairly innocuous and would certainly be welcome at most ranges I know. Sometimes though you want to go a little more “hardcore” and once again that’s where my trusted CRYE Combat pants come out. I won’t go into detail on these but suffice to say that they are designed and made to perform and the stretch panels work perfectly to give a great range of dynamic movement. I also like the fact that they have the integrated but removable kneepads; these are invaluable when the ground is rocky or gritty. Once again I’ll revert to a polo style shirt, in this instance the superb Under Armour Euro Performance Polo. These come in around the £30 mark and give every bit of performance that you could wish for. Under Armour’s lightweight HeatGear® micropique fabric keeps you cool, dry and comfortable; the fabric is basically a 95% PolyArmour/ 5% Elastane mix. The finish is anti-pick and anti-pill for long lasting durability. In addition they’re perfect for the (hopefully!) hot summer months as they have 30+ UPF sun protection and anti-odour protection built in. Available in white, black and “range red”, sizing is classic S-XXL. You’ll find similar models of polo available from 5:11, Helikon and BLACKHAWK! to name just a few. When things get a bit cooler then I’m going to head to 5:11 once again for their excellent Tactical Full Zip Sweater. This is actually a very technical piece of gear as it’s made from brushed polyester but it looks and feels almost like wool. It’s not overtly tactical although it does have some great features, like a poacher pocket on the rear, welded reinforcements on the shoulders and elbows and some neat concealed carry touches; the lower zip pockets are “reach through” for instance so that you can get to gear carried under the sweater without undoing the main zip. These are available in Field Green and Gun Powder Grey, so they’re low key and absolutely ideal rangewear. In relation to boots I’ve been after a pair of LOWA Zephyrs for ages but couldn’t justify them until my trusty old 5:11 Taclites had worn out. After four years of almost daily use the Taclites finally had to go but that’s great service in my opinion! I
Setting up your gear for Practical Shooting can go one of two ways. My personal setup is very straightforward; belt, holster, a couple of mag pouches for the handgun and a couple for the rifle. Depending on what type of course we’re running I might chuck on a dump pouch too. I’ve used many different brands of belt over the years but at the moment I’m using a sturdy model from BLACKHAWK! My favoured holster is a custom Kydex model made by my good mate Phil at Clearwater Holsters and my Glocks fit perfectly, well retained but easy to clear. Dependant on where I’m shooting I really like the HSGI “Costa” style of leg rig that lets me carry two spare carbine magazines, two spare pistol magazines and a mulitool. If however, the range where I’m shooting only allows belt-mounted gear, then I vary between RAMPs and Fastmags. If I do run a dump pouch, my favourite which I’ve had for six years or so now is from 5:11. Consistency is really the key to building up your speed in terms of practical disciplines and I find that keeping the belt rig the same each and every time I use it really helps with this. I may well change out the mag pouches or holster for different makes of gun but ultimately everything stays in the same place! What I’ve described above is a very workmanlike set of gear. It’s not “cheap, cheap” but neither is it going to break the bank! However, if you have some money to burn then you might consider a purpose built “race rig”. To the average shooter “race rigs” are strange looking things as the “holster” does in no way resemble what we traditionally think of in terms of a holster. The race holster essentially anchors the handgun via the trigger guard of the handgun only. The draw is straight up vertically and once practiced becomes instinctive and VERY fast! Race belts are different beasts again. They’re normally a two-piece affair with a velcro inner belt and a stiff external outer belt that affixes to the inner and carries both holster and magazine pouches. First you put on the inner belt through your belt loops as snugly as possible (as tight as is comfortable!) and fasten it at the rear. You then affix the outer belt to this, again as snugly as possible. Holster and pouches are pre-positioned so that they sit in exactly the same place time and again which brings that oh, so necessary consistency. www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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“CONSISTENCY IS REALLY THE KEY TO BUILDING UP YOUR SPEED IN TERMS OF PRACTICAL DISCIPLINES AND I FIND THAT KEEPING THE BELT RIG THE SAME EACH AND EVERY TIME I USE IT REALLY HELPS WITH THIS.” One thing you’ll often see on a race belt is that many shooters will “cant” their magazine pouches. The first pouch at the front may be dramatically canted so that the magazine changeover is as “straight” as possible, with the arm perfectly in line with the magwell of the handgun. As the pouches move rearwards they become more vertical for ease of magazine extraction. Pouches may be traditionally styled, magnetic, or a combination of both. (My thanks here to Benny at The Range for providing some cracking pictures to illustrate more advanced holster systems.)
HOWEVER YOU ROLL I’ll conclude this month with my usual mantra of do your research, get the information you need and buy wisely. With the clothing and footwear I’ve chosen I would say all of it (bar the CRYE pants) would be equally at home in town, on the range, or indeed for skirmishing with a “PMC” type of feel. In my opinion that is money well spent. If you have yet to try Practical Shooting check up on what your local site has to offer; many good sites I know are already starting to run “Practical” alongside their regular game days, sometimes in the evenings so please do go and try this cracking discipline and support them if they do. If, like us, you’re going to try and set up your own range please ensure that it is on private land that is well secluded. Ensure that the backstop in up to the task of letting BBs fly away safely. It’s also advisable to look into your own Liability Insurance and to be completely on the safe side it’s certainly worth considering letting your local Police station know what you’re up to and when. However you try Practical Shooting, practice hard, go safe and enjoy some long summer evening’s airsoft fun with your friends!
GEAR LIST
AND WHERE TO GET IT www.viperkit.co.uk VIPER make some of the most cost effective tactical clothing and equipment available and their quality just keeps getting better and better. The new range of packs, tactical gear, footwear and clothing is being released already and believe me when I say there are some surprises there!
www.military1st.co.uk Need tactical gear? Military1st is pretty much your one stop shop in this respect. They stock a HUGE array of kit and I always manage to find exactly what I want by visiting their easy to navigate website!
www.tactree.co.uk I met the great team from TacTree based in Donnington Wood at the British Shooting Show where they were showing off the entire 5:11 range of clothing, footwear, accessories and equipment. They are currently the only UK Premium Select Dealer for 5:11 so you’ll find everything you need from the brand in one place!
www.airsoftrange.co.uk Based in central London The Range specialises in airsoft replicas and equipment specifically for Practical Shooting disciplines and their range of holsters and belt setups is really second to none! If you’ve never checked out their website I’d urge you to do so.
www.patrolstore.com If you like the look of the HAIX boots then please visit Patrol Store as they have the very latest models available. They also offer a huge range of kit from the very best brands out there.
www.lowa .co.uk To check out the LOWA Zephyrs and all the other fabulous models in the LOWA Task Force range then check in here for full details of the lot!
www.top-of-the-range.co.uk For more information on the Under Armour range of clothing, footwear and accessories please visit UK distributor Top of the Range; they also deal with some other fabulous brands and you’ll be able to find stockist details on their informative website.
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Patriot Heavy Fleece Jacket is designed to be used in tactical situations in difficult weather conditions. The jacket features an adjustable hood, useful in harsh weather conditions as protection against wind and various weather elements, as well as a set of pockets to carry essential equipment. Elbows are strengthened for additional durability. Patriot is versatile and durable upper apparel also available in camouflage versions. Jacket is suitable for both Military and Law Enforcement users. body moisture
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EVASION PART ONE
AS I SIT DOWN TO START WRITING this article, I am watching events unfold on the TV about the hostages being held in a Sidney café. Part of the footage shows numerous armed police officers taking up positions around the outside of the building. Suddenly, a young lady fuelled with pure fear and determination to live, bursts out from one of the café doorways which leads onto the street. She makes a run towards one of the armed police officers, desperate to escape captivity. As she runs towards the police officer who is all clad in black kit, her facial expression shows a plead of needing help and the normally intimidating SWAT-type figure must seem to shine like a beacon of hope as the hostage runs for her life towards him. As the escaping hostage crashes into the arms of the police officer, she breaks down into tears of relief as she realises that she has reached safety and that the ordeal for her at least, is now over. I cannot even start to imagine what it is like to be in a situation where you are being held against your will and could face death at any time. It was quite moving to watching that young lady make the emotional run to safety in Sidney. Her visible desperation to survive represents everything that I believe in. Escape and evasion is usually a specialist skill only needed to be used by the armed forces but, as the unfolding events in Sydney have already shown, being held captive and needing to escape a hostile situation can happen to anyone.
“I DON’T HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO ADVISE ON HOSTAGE SURVIVAL BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS DON’T ATTEMPT TO TACKLE AN ARMED ASSAILANT AND DO NOT ARGUE WITH THEM.” That café in Sydney could have been any café in the world. In fact, a number of years ago (2008) in Exeter, a city close to my home and where I have shopped, eaten and socialised many times with family and friends, a suicide bomber attempted to blow himself up in a busy city centre café. The customers who were in the cafés both in Australia and Exeter would have been unsuspecting and taken by surprise by the attackers. Developing situations can at first seem surreal and the shock of capture can make people submissive to their captors. Therefore, your best chance of escaping is before you become held captive, so situation awareness is very important. 72
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THE KEY TO NOT BECOMING A CAPTIVE, IS TO AVOID CAPTURE. SURVIVAL EXPERT, PAUL YELLAND, OFFERS SOME INSIGHT INTO HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO STAY FREE FOR LONGER. Noticing things that seem “out of place” can pre-warn you that something is just not right and may give you that vital few seconds warning before a hostile incident develops thus, allowing you an early escape. I don’t have the credentials to advise on hostage survival but what I will say is don’t attempt to tackle an armed assailant and do not argue with them, as there is a good chance that you will end up being injured or killed. The first moments after capture are going to be the most chaotic with a high risk of people being killed by nervous gunmen who will be desperate to force their authority over their hostages. Also, if you are surrounded by an armed group, the outcome of an escape attempt at this point could be very bleak for you, so just do as you are told by your captors and stay mentally switched on. Pay attention to the number of attackers, their locations, armament, clothing, discipline of group members and their command and control. This information can then be passed on to the security services if you are successful in escaping. Any attack is more than likely to have been pre-planned, with the attackers carrying out reconnaissance of the area, including the building layout. An opportunity of escape may present itself during your captivity (similar to what happened with the members of staff who escaped from the café in Australia) but remember that any escape attempt will come with a risk and with a potentially high price to be paid by you or your fellow captives if it fails. It is not just in urban areas where people are captured and held against their will. The rural setting can present its own set of challenges. Imagine that you are part of a covert OP team, who has been watching an enemy target. Your position is compromised and a fire fight ensues. You are the only member of your team to survive the contact and are now massively outnumbered by the enemy troops who are closing in on you. Your only chance of survival now is to go on the run in an attempt to evade capture. You are being hunted by a determined enemy force who has a vast array of resources available to them for their use in locating you. Friendly forces are miles away from where you are. Your weapon is of little use to you now – it is your wits that will keep you alive. As a guide to help you evade capture, remember the four D’s: • DIRECTION • DISTANCE • DECEPTION • DARKNESS
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First of all, work out which way you are going to run. To start off with, it will obviously be away from the enemy forces and initially, it might not be the correct direction to get you back to friendly troops. If you were still in a group, then the smaller the group in numbers, the less chance there is of being found, so split up large groups and head in different directions. Any planning for the OP should have covered Emergency Rendezvous Points (ERV’s) as part of your escape plan. If you were in a team which survived the enemy contact but had become separated, head for the ERV. Be careful as you approach an ERV as its location may have become known to the enemy through the interrogation of captured members from your unit. Any maps that you are carrying should not be folded to show the area of operations or have anything marked on them. Observing this rule will deny the enemy of any intelligence if you are captured and won’t compromise the rest of your unit. The ability to navigate will depend on what equipment you still have with you. Keep important items such as maps in your smock and a compass around your neck tied onto some parachute cord. In this scenario you are “pre-capture”, so you still have your belt kit. However, you should still prepare for the possibility of losing all of your kit before starting the operation. Conceal survival items in your clothing to help you when evading. Issued cloth escape maps can be sewn into the lining of smocks and button compasses can be sewn into Aircrews were issued with the seams (use fishing line to cloth escape maps and re-sew the seams). Wire saws compasses during WW2, with the rings removed, snare in case they were shot wire and lengths of para cord down can all be fed along the inside of seams. Small items can be concealed in combat boots but make sure that your ability to walk is not impeded.
DISTANCE It is really important to put as much distance between you and the hunter force as early as possible. This will be physically challenging but it is vital to push hard, as distance gained now will mean a bigger area for the enemy to search. Remember, you will be on foot but the enemy may have vehicles and aircraft available to aide in the search. The enemy may be able to deploy stop teams ahead of you at key points, such as bridges or borders and wait for your arrival, so be aware. The best chance of escape is immediately after capture as the further into enemy territory you are taken, the harder it will be to escape back to friendly forces. The easier option is to try and evade capture in the first place. As you travel, try to use any natural cover that might be available, such as “dead ground” and forests. Make irrational changes in your route to include steep hill sides and tie this in
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Avoid roads and bridges as they may be patrolled.
Drink cans make good cooking pots.
Discarded drink bottles can be used to carry collected water.
Railway lines are dangerous and some are electrified. They may also be patrolled. with your deception plans. Bad weather can help to mask your movement and could make it harder for you to be tracked. Try to scavenge food as you move, such as edible nuts and berries and keep an eye out for any discarded items which could be of use to you. These include plastic drinks bottles for carrying water, plastic sheeting for a shelter and drinks cans which can be fashioned into a small cooking pot (if you are going to risk lighting a fire). All of these items can be found thrown into ditches at the road side. However, don’t take items that are going to be noticed. If the local population notices any suspicious behaviour, then it could be reported to the local forces, who may well investigate and start searching that area for you. Another point about the local population – avoid them at all costs. You will not know whether they are friendly or hostile, so it is best to treat them as hostile. Stay away from settlements and avoid the local dogs which will start to bark as soon as they get wind of you approaching them.
DECEPTION The enemy will deploy combat trackers, dogs and aircraft in an attempt to find you. They are the hunters and you are their prey. Stay on your guard and assume that you are being tracked, even though there might be no obvious evidence of this… yet.
Counter Tracking Techniques As you create distance between you and the enemy, try to use counter tracking techniques in an attempt to fool the tracker. An experienced tracker will be very aware of these techniques but it is still worth trying. Here are a few examples: • Avoid disturbing vegetation, especially walking through tall grass as this will leave a very obvious path showing direction of travel. • Try not to snap branches or bruise the undergrowth as you brush past it. • Pushing vegetation back to its original position after walking though it could help to hide your track but it is time consuming, especially if the enemy are hot on your heals. There will have to be a trade-off between speed, distance and covering your movements. • As you move through an area of small shrubs and trees, try not to hold on to them as the movement of the tree could be seen by the enemy. • Avoid walking through mud and leaving boot prints. Also, back tracking your steps might deceive an unaware tracker but the signs you leave will differ from the rest of the track you have left, so could give your attempt to deceive away. • Avoid using tracks and roads • Move using dead ground and natural cover • Take irregular routes to try and confuse the tracker
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Grass that you step on can tell a tracker what direction you are travelling in
Sliding down slopes will create a very obvious sign of disturbed ground
The tracker dog and its handler are a team, so you need to try and confuse the dog, which will hopefully cause its handler to think that the dog has lost your scent. There are certain methods that can help you to confuse the dog. These include: • Travel over well used tracks to hide your scent amongst others • Zig-zag across rivers and streams • Double back • Tire out the dog and handler by moving up and down steep hills • When hiding, stay low to the ground breathing downwards into the earth • Bury any waste • Cover your body when laying up to reduce the amount of scent being picked up and carried in the air
Camouflage and Concealment If you are to be successful in evasion, then you need to remain allusive to the enemy, so use camouflage, concealment and tactical movement.
Walking through puddles will disturb sediment
Enter a river and walk a distance up it. Then exit the river on the other side of the bank
Avoid spooking animals that will move away from you quickly. The tracking team will notice this
Tire out tracker teams by moving up and down steep hills
• Enter a river and walk a short distance up it and then hide your exit point • Bury any rubbish as it can tell a combat tracker a great deal about you and your physical state • Avoid spooking animals such as livestock – they will move away from you possibly giving you away.
Tracker Dogs Dog are used in tracking because of their advanced senses of hearing and smell. They will be used in conjunction with a human handler who will assess what track the dog is picking up. A dog’s vision is quite poor compared to its other senses but even so, the animal will still see movement, which will get its attention. The tracker dog smells scents which are airborne and those which are at ground level. Airborne scents are dispersed soon by the wind but ground scents could remain in place for days. Your body will give off scent as you sweat, breathe and touch surfaces. At ground level, crushed vegetation and disturbed earth will give off a scent which the tracker dog will follow. Certain surfaces and weather conditions are more favourable to the tracker dog team than others. Areas of soft, wet ground, dense, tall vegetation and woodland will make the scent trail easier for the dog to follow. The best weather conditions for a tracker dog are light wind and rain, humidity, mist and fog. Terrain such as rocks, sand and open sparse areas will make it harder for the tracker dog team, as will moving along roads. Weather conditions that will hamper the dog’s ability to track are high winds, heavy rain and ice.
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• Shape • Shine • Shadow • Sound • Silhouette • Smell
Shape It is commonly taught in field craft that there are no straight lines in nature. Just take a look around next time you’re in the countryside. You will soon begin to realise that the shape of the human body really does stand out from everything else. By wearing some form of camouflage clothing, such as the British temperate disruptive pattern material (DPM), the shape of your figure will start to be broken up. The body’s outline will still be noticeable though. By sewing on dark elastic loops to your head wear, combat smock and trousers, you can add local vegetation to your camouflage. Pay particular attention to your head and shoulders but don’t obstruct your field of view with too much foliage on your hat/helmet. Load-carrying equipment should also have strips of scrim net and local vegetation attached, again making sure that the head and shoulders are broken up adequately by fixing foliage to the yoke. A word of advice though... Make sure that you can still get to all of your pouches easily. Also make sure that any foliage that you add is securely fastened and won’t drop off. The rifle is another item of your equipment that needs to have its shape broken up. Wrap scrim netting around the fore grip and barrel and apply camouflage tape to the body of the gun. Make sure any moving parts remain free. Elastic bands can be used to attach local vegetation to the weapon if desired.
Shine Anything with a shiny surface will reflect sunlight, moonlight, searchlights and flares. Your skin, regardless of colour, will reflect light. Therefore, camouflage cream needs to be applied. The face, neck, ears and hands all need it. Helmets, if being worn should be used with a helmet cover and helmet net. The shape needs to be broken up by attaching foliage. Finally, boots - don’t shine them. Gleaming boots are only going to reflect the light. Keep your boots clean and well waxed up but go easy on the polishing.
Sound A careless and undisciplined enemy will often be heard long before they are seen. Loud talking is asking for trouble. Messages should be whispered, or hand signals used to communicate with other members of your team. Be aware of loud radio noise as well. Before moving off to your objective, put on all of your kit including belt kit and bergan and jump up and down. Anything that rattles and makes a noise should be taped down with black insulation tape. Also, watch your step,
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Skills EVADING THE ENEMY
Apply camouflage cream to your face, hands, ears and neck
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Apply foliage to your head and shoulders to break up the shape of your body
especially in forest and wooded areas. Avoid stepping on dead fall which will give a nice loud “crack “, warning the enemy of your approach.
Shadow
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Relevant at night during a full moon just as it is on a sunny afternoon. Be aware of the sun or moon’s location and watch where your shadow is being cast. It is no good trying to sneak up on someone when the sun is behind you casting your shadow off to your front. Your target will see your shadow before you get close to them. Use shadow to your advantage. When hiding up, move way back into the shadows of foliage and when crossing open ground, stick to the shadows.
Silhouette
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There is no point spending ages camouflaging you and your equipment, to only go and walk across the top of a hill. With no backdrop, you will be sky-lined, making yourself the perfect target for a sniper. Walk below the sky line and avoid gaps in cover. Applying vegetation to your kit will break the silhouette’s shape up.
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Sweat and deodorants will be easily detected by a well-tuned nose and you will be sniffed out. Avoid smoking as the smell will get carried in the wind and could be detected by the enemy, giving you away.
Laying Up
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When looking for a suitable place to hide, avoid obvious places such as remote buildings or small woods as these will be searched. Instead, head for the thick undergrowth away from built up areas, roads and footpaths. Choose a position
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which offers good concealment from both ground troops and aircraft and make sure that the cover offers some protection from the weather. It is important that there is a route of escape to use if you are discovered. When in the hide, maintain noise and light discipline, which includes not lighting fires unless it is essential. If you do choose to light a fire, then a low profile one such as the Large, dense forests offer a better dakota fire should be used. Water place to hide. can be collected from rivers and streams but be aware that the enemy will know that you need water, so could be patrolling the river banks in an attempt to catch you. Food can be sourced from gardens or fields of crop but this is risky. Only take what will not be noticed and only take items from the edge of fields avoiding leaving any trails. It is better to collect wild edible foods as you move. Traps can be set for catching game but need to be set before laying up and will need to be checked and removed when you move on. There is a risk of the traps being discovered by locals, or the enemy. Also, if you are keeping mobile then you will not have time to use traps.
DARKNESS If possible, only travel at night using the daylight hours to lay up Cigarettes and stay concealed. Movement at will shine night will offer you some protection as bright as a torch light when spotted against detection but you should though night vision equipment. still be aware that the enemy might have technologies such as night vision, thermal imagery and motion sensors at their disposal. It will be dangerous to move over certain terrain at night such as mountain areas. Thick forest areas could also be difficult to walk through in the dark but the density of the foliage should provide enough cover, making it safe for you to move during daylight. The real benefit of moving during the hours of darkness is being able to move across open ground which would be too risky to do during the day. Also, finding a hide at night could leave you in for a surprise the following morning, when you discover that you are laying up at the bottom of somebody’s garden, so if possible, select your laying up position before darkness falls so you are aware of what is surrounding you.
SUMMARY
p Avoid hiding in solitary buildings such as this. They will be searched
Move over open ground at night
There are many famous stories of people escaping and evading an enemy force. There are also stories detailing individual accounts during captivity and the horrors endured by the captives, both mentally and physically. I have had the privilege to listen first hand to the accounts of a POW and to witness their emotions as they told me their story. The word “brave” does not come close to describing what anyone who has been held in captivity is, nor is it enough to explain what it takes to escape from someone who wants to kill you.
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AIPSC AN INTRODUCTION CHAMPIONSHIP SHOOTER, MARK HURDING, WRITES ABOUT THE RE-EMERGENCE OF A DISCIPLINE THAT ALMOST DIED IN THE UK BUT IS NOW GROWING AGAIN. AIPSC is definitely on the move! After several years of shooting with the same guys at two or three venues, I’ve seen a huge change in the sport recently. Many more new shooters and clubs popping up all over the country and I think this is in no small part due to the International Practical Shooting Confederation recognising airsoft as a legitimate discipline and also skirmish sites like the Grange in Coventry taking up the sport and putting on AIPSC matches. RedWolf and Clarance Lai, (Airsoft Surgeon) is giving AIPSC a huge boost, not least as they put on the annual European AIPSC Championship at the Grange with several overseas teams in attendance. The United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association (UKPSA) are also on hand to lend advice and support on how to run a “proper” IPSC match to any interested parties and, in doing so, also garnered further interest from the “old boys” who used to shoot Practical Pistol with real handguns in the UK prior to the ban. The UKPSA is now involved in putting on at least two Level 3 matches this year and there are teams of shooters from Europe and Hong Kong planning to come and shoot the match. (I’ll explain what “Level 3” matches are next time but in the world of IPSC, it’s a big deal!) All of sudden, it seemed, Practical Pistol was back, numerous new clubs, new shooters and plenty of competitions to be had up and down the country. So here it is, everything you need to know about AIPSC pistol shooting in the UK! Your definitive guide split over the next few issues of Airsoft Action.
RULES, RULES & MORE RULES! Welcome to the wonderful world of Action Pistol Shooting!! You’re a Skirmisher and you’ve heard about AIPSC pistol shooting and you’ve said to yourself “I’ve got an airsoft pistol, I’m a good shot and I fancy a go at this AIPSC lark!” 76
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practical pistol AIPSC - AN INTRODUCTION
“Practical Pistol” (to give it its proper title) evolved during the 1950’s. Jeff Cooper and a team of other very talented handgun enthusiasts sought to test the limits of combat effectiveness of pistols in military and law enforcement scenarios. Jeff, a former US Marine and Firearms instructor and his mates developed handgun techniques that are still in use today. Everything was looked at: grip, stance, loading and unloading, strong hand shooting, weak hand shooting, reloading with one hand and so it went on. Of course, exponents of these new techniques wanted to test their skills against one another and so it was inevitable that structured competitions began. What started off with just a few guys partaking in some friendly rivalry, developed into the biggest handgun sport in the World. In 1976 the guys got together in Missouri in order to formalise their new sport of “Practical Pistol” and they formed The International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) and appointed Jeff Cooper as its first President. There are 92 countries which have an official Practical shooting association affiliated to IPSC, (UKPSA in the UK who, incidentally, have been members of IPSC since 1977) all using real handguns - except in those few countries where handguns are banned, including the UK where a ban came into effect in 1997. This means that there are tens of thousands of shooters all over the world enjoying this amazing sport using real hand guns and therefore the safety of all participants and spectators is paramount and I’m sure you wouldn’t disagree… would you? I’m going to assume your answer is “yes”, you do agree that safety is the most important aspect of any shooting discipline and this brings about the issue I wanted to raise first. Practical Pistol shooters in the UK use airsoft pistols because we are not allowed to own real ones but will still follow the same set of safety rules as set out in the IPSC rule book - always have and always will. We also make sure that people who want to shoot AIPSC competitions know what they are doing, so offer a basic safety course. The UKPSA runs basic safety training for AIPSC and once you have passed this course you will be assessed and, if successful, a Competition licence will be issued to you which allows you to compete in UKPSA sanctioned matches at Level 2 and above. A UKPSA Competition licence also says something about you; it says you are competent, it says you know what you are doing, it says you know how to handle a firearm, it says
above all, YOU ARE SAFE. However, the one thing Practical Pistol Shooters NEVER, NEVER do, is point their guns at each other! It is such an alien concept it makes us shudder to even think about it, such is the training and the safety rules that we follow. This pays great dividends however because it affords us the opportunity to shoot real handguns abroad in competition and even the Range Officer at the famous “Gun Shop” in Las Vegas, where you can shoot a plethora of small arms, will give you a “you’ve done this before” when you unload and show clear! A couple of years ago I was invited to a skirmish site not too far up the M1 from where I live in London, to give a demo on Practical Pistol as the owners/operators wanted to set up their own AIPSC club. “Great!” I thought, “the more clubs we have operating the better it will be for the sport.” Imagine my horror when one of the chaps put the gun in his mouth and blew out the BB to clear it! “That’s how we unload and show clear round here” he said. Great hilarity ensued but I was left feeling quite disturbed… What sort of person would put a loaded gun in their mouth? “But it’s not a real gun” I hear you say? And herein lies the biggest issue we are facing when crossing over from Skirmishing to AIPSC I’ve not been skirmishing yet but I fully intend to give it ago when it gets a bit warmer, it looks like a lot of fun but I have question; when I get “hit” it doesn’t mean anything does it? I can just carry on shooting my gun at everything that moves one handed Rambo-style? I don’t have to sit down or play dead do I? I mean, after all, it’s not real, is it? OK, I’m being facetious but I hope you get my point. The rules of the game are the rules of the game and an individual cannot choose to change them just because it might make it easier to play the game, or because they simply think the rules do not apply to them. I’m very glad to say that the site I visited now runs one of the most successful AIPSC clubs in the UK, hosting competitions and training new shooters to a very high standard. This is what AIPSC is all about, this is what it needs and this is how the sport of AIPSC will grow from strength to strength here and abroad. Even the USA is taking a keen interest, as airsoft allows competitors to practise at home If you want to practise your pistol craft to the highest level then come do AIPSC. You will be taught how to shoot your pistol with great speed whilst maintaining high levels of accuracy and your gun handling and safety will be second to none and, as a very quick guide to get started, just remember this: First rule of competition: Don’t get disqualified (see rule book!) Second rule of competition: Don’t miss! (missing the target sucks!) www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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“IMAGINE MY HORROR WHEN ONE OF THE CHAPS PUT THE GUN IN HIS MOUTH AND BLEW OUT THE BB TO CLEAR IT! “THAT’S HOW WE UNLOAD AND SHOW CLEAR ROUND HERE” HE SAID.”
AIPSC - AN INTRODUCTION
AIPSC LOADOUT Once you have decided to give AIPSC a try you’ll need some basic kit to get started, we’ll look at these in more detail over the coming issues but here’s a quick list.
PISTOL
CLOTHING Whatever works as long as it’s NOT camo! Camo is not acceptable in AIPSC. I tend to wear black combat trousers, a long sleeve undershirt, a polo shirt, trainers (most comps are indoors) baseball cap and glasses.
BELT We use a belt that is in two parts; an inner belt which goes through the belt loops on the trousers and an outer belt which has the holster and mag pouches permanently attached. The outer belt then fixes to the inner belt with Velcro.
HOLSTER Any holster that will fit the pistol you are using, it needs to be able to retain the pistol if you’re moving about and it needs to cover the trigger of the pistol. It must be worn at the hip.
MAG POUCHES As many as you want that will hold your mags securely. The first one must be at the hip on your weak hand side, the others placed behind this one going around towards your back.
Any multi-shot 6mm airsoft pistol with removable mags that runs on green gas. There are two divisions you can opt to shoot in. Broadly speaking, there is “Open” division where you can use trickedup guns with red dots, extended barrels, compensators and unlimited ammo. The second is “Standard” division and here the guns have “iron sights” and you are limited in the number of rounds you can carry in the magazine but you can still upgrade the internals and add a magwell if you want.
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MAGS If you are shooting in Standard division you are limited to 18 rounds per mag and you probably won’t need more than three mags to shoot the longest stage in any competition… probably! You need carry your mags about your person, you can put them in your pocket if you want to or don’t have enough mag pouches to start off with. I’ll go in to more detail about rules, scoring and kit next time but for now, if you want more information on clubs, competitions and events for action shooting with gas powered pistols visit the forum at www.actionairshootingukforum/phpbb
Finally, I’d like to close by saying a fond farewell to my friend Malcom Dowding, who passed away recently after a very unexpected illness. Malcolm, or “Madders” as he was known was without doubt a leading light in the word of Practical Pistol with airsoft guns. Madders put a huge amount of effort into putting on matches at East Barnet over the years and not only did he organise, design and build the stages, he also competed in them too, usually winning! Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with Malcolm’s family and friends, he will be missed by all. WPPC and Xsite are hosting the Malcolm Dowding Challenge Cup, an IPSC competition held in his name, at The Outpost on April 5th. Details can be found on the AASUK forum. Malcolm Dowding 1960-2015
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SLICING THE PIE PRO-TACT SHOOTING’S ANDY NIGHTINGALE WRITES ABOUT THE TRICKY SITUATION OF SHOOTING ROUND CORNERS. DURING CQB OPERATIONS, OR ANY TYPE of operations for that matter, one may need to look around a corner of a wall into a corridor, or into a room through a door in order to see into, or around to either check that the area is clear, or to locate an enemy. However, to do so, one has to expose themselves. The simplest way to proceed is to just simply walk around the corner, or peer into the room but this can have quite a different outcome than you would want. For many years, military units and law enforcement officers have used a simple way of doing this without exposing any part of their body to the enemy with great success and this is done by the use of mirrors. Using mirrors to see around obstructions and cover has become a common skill, all the enemy can see is the mirror and not you. The cost of a mirror is nothing compared to the loss of the human life. Mirrors were used in mass numbers during the first world war to look above the trenches across no mans land to observe enemy activity, however both sides of the line knew where the others were. The simple use of a shaving, or vanity mirror on a handle of some description, was all that was needed to construct the first “tactical mirror”. Later development produced the periscope. These were used by snipers and in the trenches during the First World War and snipers, even today, still use periscopes to observe enemy positions without breaking concealment. 80
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Finding a mirror and something to attach it to during operations can pose somewhat of a problem. One of the easiest things to do is to include it in your kit during the operation planning phase. Today we don’t have to rely on shaving mirrors as we can now find small inspection mirrors that are attached to telescopic wands and can be folded away into a small pocket or pouch. Even small dental mirrors can be found for little cost and utilised in the same way. The use of mirrors, although sound in the fact it is better to get the mirror shot instead of the operator will, if seen, give your position away if the enemy spots it and don’t forget mirrors cast or reflect light. An alternative to the use of mirrors is to adopt a skill that is known as “slicing the pie”. This is a very simple technique, which if done right, will save you an early trip back to the regen point. It will allow you to observe around a corner or through a doorway into a room without being seen by anyone on the other side. Slicing the pie was not developed to locate an adversary in secluded places but to identify a person (or persons) be it friend or foe. Care and caution when working on this skill should be taken as it is all too easy to give away your position and intentions to those you seek. As you approach a corner or door jam, slow down and
“SLICING THE PIE WAS NOT DEVELOPED TO LOCATE AN ADVERSARY IN SECLUDED PLACES BUT TO IDENTIFY A PERSON (OR PERSONS) BE IT FRIEND OR FOE.”
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Airsoft Skills PRO-TACT SHOOTING
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start to distance yourself from the wall as far as geography will allow (this can be only a short distance if you are in a tight corridor for example). As you proceed forwards, lead with the head and weapon only. Make sure that any other part of your body, such as feet and arms, are behind the head and weapon. Slowly move around the corner inch by inch. As you move you will be rounding the corner and inspecting a section at a time. As you search around the corner you will be doing it in such a way that you will be searching in increments - just like the slices of a pie! This technique will allow you to slowly but surely identify anything in the room or around a corner. As you move, be sure to lead with the gun and slowly move the muzzle from chest height down to floor level and then up to roof level, then back down to chest height again. Move the muzzle of the weapon in this fashion all the time as you move. The main area of threat will be at chest height but it is easy to find that there is a staircase around the corner and the enemy might be on the stairs at the time of contact, thus the enemy target may well be in a high or low position to you. If, at any time, you see a person you will not be able to identify them as friend or foe (unless they are wearing an enemy uniform) as you will only see a part of them, such as an arm or one side of their body.
This will allow you to decide on your next course of action. Unlike a mirror, you cannot tell whether the person is friend or foe as you will not want to expose too much of your self around the corner in case you are seen. However you will still be in a position to operate, as you have not given your position away and you know there is someone there around the corner.
“WHEN PRACTICING THIS DRILL TAKE IT SLOW, IT IS NOT A DYNAMIC MOVE. STAY LIGHT-FOOTED AND DON’T ANTICIPATE DANGER AROUND THE CORNER… EXPECT IT!” You will not know for sure if the person (or persons) around the corner (or in the room) are friendly or not until you clear the corner of doorway and confront them head on but you will have the element of surprise on your side. Slicing the pie is a tried and tested skill that works. I have used it many times in airsoft and in live operations and I think is one of the easiest and most thankful skills I have. When practicing this drill take it slow, it is not a dynamic move. Stay light-footed and don’t anticipate danger around the corner… expect it! Your target might not be stationary but coming towards you. This is definitely a skill worth practicing and having in your arsenal. Work with a live target when practicing and try to out-perform each other. Have the bad guy show several fingers by the side of their body and try to identify how many are showing as you round the corner – without the bad guy spotting you. Once you have mastered this try it in low light but don’t use a torch as this will defeat the object of the drill. Have fun and stay safe. www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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SHOT AT DAWN
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IT WASN’T JUST THE ENEMY THAT KILLED BRITISH SOLDIERS DURING WORLD WAR ONE. DAN MILLS WRITES ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT OF FIRING SQUADS. DURING THE GREAT WAR A PUNISHMENT SYSTEM, pretty similar to the one back in civvy street and their former lives, had to be imposed to help keep order. Hard, dangerous criminals could expect to be “hung until dead” back in Great Britain after receiving a sentence but events out on the Western Front took a slightly different path. Several thousand servicemen were sentenced to death by firing squad. For over three hundred men the sentence became a reality and that is how they met their deaths. Three hundred and forty six were executed by firing squad, with the remainder being pardoned and punished in a different manner – but they were alive. In many cases those sentenced would spend a last night in their cell, quite close to the place of execution. Often a last meal would be supplied which would include some alcohol, then a restless, dark, lonely night would follow – most likely with the last rites being given by a priest before being taken
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outside, in hand-cuffs or irons and led to a wooden post. There the condemned would be tied to the post with his arms behind his back, a blindfold placed over their eyes and they would be shot dead, although some would refuse the blindfold. Should any prisoner not succumb to his wounds then he would be dealt a final blow (coup de grace) by the officer in charge of the firing detail, usually using a sidearm with a single bullet to the head. More than likely those selected from the ranks to make up the firing squad would be chosen from his peers. This was not a nice experience for men who once were fighting alongside an individual, to lining up, getting the unfortunate in his sights and shooting him dead. This would send several signals back to the servicemen’s unit. If you carry out a crime punishable by death, you will be caught, tried at court martial and if found guilty, executed. The unpleasant news would then be carried back and spread by word of mouth throughout the ranks by the firing squad, having just shot one of their own dead. Offences likely to end with the death penalty included desertion, cowardice, quitting their post, throwing one’s weapon away in the face of the enemy, striking a senior officer, sleeping at their post, treason and mutiny. These were generally military offences but common civil crimes such as murder and rape would also warrant the death penalty. It had to, otherwise there would be no discipline at all. Quite why so many of the death sentences were altered to life imprisonment are not known. Maybe due to morale at a time of such great losses and the combatants already witnessing enough slaughter, it was kept for serious cases and instances where a harsh point was required to be made. Today it has been noted that many of the cases back then, in particular for cowardice were actually no such thing. Shellshock has been widely recognised and luckily Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been discovered and recognised for what it is, an illness brought on by an emotional experience. This discovery and modern attitude led to an official pardon ninety years after their execution took place. 306 out of the 346 who were executed were granted a posthumous pardon (Aug 2006), the remainder not being pardoned due to the
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WW1 FIRING SQUADS
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original sentence being for a civil offence as opposed to a military one, such as murder or treason. Due to the nature of the warfare, the costs involved in getting troops home and in some cases location, sending men home to England for a period of rest and recuperation (R and R) or leave was just not viable, therefore certain areas set back from the front lines were used as places where men could go to get some respite from the daily grind and bloodshed of the war. Poperinge, or “Pops” as it was known, was one such town. Before the war it was a town of only several hundred people but during the height of its popularity in the Great War it was a temporary home for thousands. It was located just ten miles West of Ypres, itself involved daily in the war and its activities. It was odd then that Pops would be selected for the location of the Town Hall, Court, two holding cells and an execution pole, all conveniently located in the same spot. In the war years thousands upon thousands of soldiers would be sent to Poperinge to escape the sound of the guns, yet shots could still be heard, of the firing squads. Those unfortunate enough to spend time in the cells had a gruesome view, of the shooting post! The first British soldier to be shot at dawn was one Private Thomas Highgate. Thomas was convicted of desertion and executed in September of 1914, very early on in the war. Another was Private Harry Farr, shot for cowardice but later suspected as shock. Highgate was a regular soldier. Aged 17 he enlisted in 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment on 4th February 1913. Prior to mobilisation his battalion was based in Dublin’s Richmond Barracks and it crossed to France on 15 August 1914. The battalion first saw action at the Battle of Mons, being engaged in both the battle and the subsequent retreat. On 5th September, as his battalion moved forward to take part in the First Battle of the Marne, Highgate was arrested in a barn on the estate of Baron de Rothschild. He reportedly said “I have had enough of it, I want to get out of it and this is how I am going to do it.” Highgate had changed into civilian clothes and his discarded uniform was found nearby. He was tried by court martial, convicted of desertion and the death sentence was confirmed on 6th September 1914. Highgate was undefended and called no witnesses in his defence but claimed that he was a “straggler” trying to find his way back to re-join his regiment, having got separated from his comrades. Highgate’s execution was almost as hasty as his trial, as senior officers insisted that he be executed “At once, as publicly as possible.” Highgate was informed of his fate at 6.22am on 8th September in the presence of a Church of England clergyman. An officer then ordered a burial party and a firing squad to prepare and Highgate was shot at 7.07am witnessed by men from 1 Dorsets and 1 Cheshires. News of his fate was published in Army Routine Orders and distributed to the remainder of the British Expeditionary Force. As you can see, to make an example time moved very quickly when it was needed! Private Harry Farr was executed for cowardice at the age of 25. He came from Kensington in London and was serving in the 1st Battalion, the West Yorkshire Regiment. He deployed with the 2nd Battalion of his regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1914 and fought in the trenches on the Western Front. His position was repeatedly shelled and in May 1915 he collapsed with strong convulsions. His wife recalled that while he was in hospital, “He shook all the time. He
couldn’t stand the noise of the guns.” It is now thought that Farr was possibly suffering from damage to the inner ear, caused by the sound of the exploding shells, losing its ability to soften and filter sound, making loud noises physically unbearable. Despite this, Farr was discharged from hospital and sent “IF YOU CARRY back to the front with the OUT A CRIME 1st Battalion, where he fought in the Battle of the Somme. Farr reported PUNISHABLE BY himself to the medical station several times over DEATH, YOU WILL the following months. In April 1916, he was kept at the medical BE CAUGHT, TRIED station for a fortnight due to his state. On 22nd AT COURT MARTIAL July he spent the night at a medical station and AND IF FOUND was discharged for duty the following morning. On 17th September he again attempted to seek GUILTY, EXECUTED.” the help of a medical orderly but was refused as he was not physically wounded and the aid station was dealing with a high number of battle casualties. Farr reported for duty at the transport lines at 8pm that evening but went missing shortly afterwards. Upon being found at 11pm, he refused to return to the front line. He was subsequently arrested for disobeying orders and on 1st October Farr was subjected to a court martial. Farr had to defend himself. He was tried under an accusation of “misbehaving before the enemy in such a manner as to show cowardice”. The court martial lasted only twenty minutes and Farr was found guilty and recommended a sentence of death by firing squad. General Sir Douglas Haig signed his death warrant and he was shot at 6.00am on 18th October 1916. His family have always argued that he was suffering from shell shock at the time. Highgate and Farr are two of those represented at the “Shot at Dawn” memorial in Staffordshire.
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THERE CANNOT BE MANY AIRSOFTERS THAT HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE MAN THAT SNIPER ONE, DAN MILLS, WRITES ABOUT IN THIS ISSUE: “THE LEGEND”, CHRIS KYLE. CHRIS KYLE WAS BORN IN TEXAS and classed himself as a cowboy. He grew up shooting and hunting deer and bird life with his father. After an injury ended his professional rodeo riding days he decided to return to his original idea, to join the forces. Chris was a determined guy and on entering the Careers Office he answered the call to be the elite, the best of the best, opting to become a SEAL. Chris was invited to attend Basic Underwater Demolition Seal Schools in 1999, lasting 24 months. When he came out the other end as a qualified SEAL he asked for (and was duly assigned to) Seal Team 3. Chris Kyle went on to become America’s most successful sniper with 160 confirmed kills whilst out serving four tours on operations. He was given the nick name “Devil of Ramadi” by his enemies, the insurgents he fought against because of his skill with the rifle. They also put a bounty of 80 Thousand USD on his head hoping this would lead to his capture or death. His longest shot was fired from a Macmillan 338 sniper rifle, 1920 metres away from his fire position to his target, 88
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an insurgent about to hit a U.S. Convoy with a grenade. Take it from me, that is some shot – especially in the conditions out in Iraq, with the heat and positive identification to contend with (PID). Typical scenarios afforded Kyle with a target rich environment. At first, as tends to be the case, the enemy would appear somewhat uncaring in their attitude towards being shot – that is until they learnt that there is a proficient sniper working the area. Most people learn the hard way, by experiencing a close friend or colleague, or someone in command getting taken out when close. During operations he was shot twice by the enemy and had six encounters with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). It is said that word was passed about the insurgents describing his cross tattoo on his arm, obviously he had been observed and had this information passed on. Chris Kyle also had plenty of unconfirmed kills too and had the use of quite an arsenal to help raise the tally. His weapon of choice for each task was selected from the 338, Mark 11 and Mark 12 7.62mm and 5.56mm designated sniper rifles, a Winchester .300 Magnum, a M4 Carbine and backed up with a Sig P220 for his sidearm. A nice array of weapons, every man’s dream!!
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Sniper CPO CHRIS KYLE
On February 2nd 2013 at Rough Creek Ranch Shooting Range in Texas, whilst out on one of these range days with a friend of his, he was helping out a veteran Marine called Eddie Ray Routh who was having mental troubles. Kyle was asked asked to do so by the Vet’s mother, to see if he could help, when he was crudely murdered along with his friend by the said troubled Vet. Cowardly, Routh brutally gunned the two down from behind, then he stole Kyle’s truck and left them dead or dying on the range where they fell. He was chased and captured driving the same truck after he had told all to his sister, who on hearing immediately dialled the Police and informed them of what the had done. “SHE WAS ALREADY DEAD, I JUST MADE SURE SHE Chris Kyle was buried in Texas State Cemetery DIDN’T TAKE ANY MARINES WITH HER.” in Austin Texas, thousands of people lined the route to pay their final respects to him. On February 24th 2015, just over two years not have the time, there was too many enemy combatants or since Routh shot them from behind, he was sentenced to the situation was so desperate most of the time, we operated life in prison for the deaths of Chris Kyle and Chad alone in positions of observation I had allocated. Littlefield, with no chance of parole. Chris Kyle had his first kill in the early days of the invasion This was not a good ending for such a man as of Iraq. A woman holding both a grenade and her young child Chris Kyle, who had been awarded numerous medals was approaching a patrolling Marines call sign when Kyle and and citations for his service including 2 Silver Stars his Buddy spotted her. She was identified as hostile and shot and 5 Bronze Stars. dead. Instances like this were a cause of some concern due to the age and sex etc. of the target – but it was justified. They simply identified the threat and removed it. He was quoted as saying “She was already dead, I just made sure she didn’t take any Marines with her.” After his first tour or so he started having a family back home in his normal life which, of course, put a lot of strain on the relationship; children put a whole new angle on everything for all concerned. Chris however, had his priorities and at first it was to his country and then family; he joined for operations and he was determined to get some! He completed four tours of Iraq as well as numerous overseas deployments and training. Whilst deployed and when he thought sniper activities were low, he went to get more action and pass on his knowledge by volunteering to help clear houses by assaulting them with the Marines. He was taking a huge risk in doing this, not just to his career but to his life. In the end his priorities changed; he had had enough. This led to Chris applying (as was his right) to be discharged honourably from the Navy and a return to “civilian street”. Lots of the kills went over in his mind, in particular those that involved children. One such contact he was involved in concerned a young male he had watched waiting for a bus. On its arrival a group of young male adults stepped off the bus and the young male waiting immediately turned and made to walk away but the group caught him and put a pistol to his neck. Fearful for the youngster’s life, Kyle shot the pistol-wielding gunman and two others before the remainder ran off. It was like the Wild West… After his military career had came to an end he spent time with his family, did what he could to help out any other veterans and wrote the book “American Sniper”, which has just been made into a movie and was nominated for an Oscar. Chris started a company with a friend of mine, teaching and training a multitude of operators both in and out of the military, spending much range time out shooting. This range time included (where possible) helping other veterans unwind from the daily grind of their lives and often as a means of helping fight against PTSD. A sniper’s kills are confirmed by the observation of one or two witnesses, dependent on the situation. Each shot is logged into the personal log book and signed by a witness and entries would include as much detail about the conditions of the shot as possible, including range, type of target, distance to target, weather and so on. As alluded to, observation is not always possible so therefore kills can quite often not be confirmed due to the absence of a witness. When I was sniping in Iraq I had no time to fill out a logbook with the required information for several reasons; I did
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YOU CAN’T BREAK ME, I’M A RUBBER DUCK!! FOLLOWING AN UNEXPECTED KNOCKBACK IN HIS PERSONAL LIFE, BILLY TAKES STOCK AND DECIDES HOW TO MOVE FORWARDS. “YOU JUST CAN’T WIN ‘EM ALL CAN YOU?” When one door closes abruptly in your face with little explanation or feedback, it’s very often for a good reason and may even be a blessing in disguise - though it may well not feel like that at the time. These and other rather aggravating clichés are often rolled out and repeated by people that have passed first time and are trying to make you feel better but the truth is, that often they’re not that bothered, they’d much rather you just “manned up”, grew a pair and cracked on (another few clichés there for good measure eh?) Don’t worry Dear Readers, I haven’t lost my marbles, although a long chat with our Ed didn’t help matters much earlier today. We all have to deal with failure now and then and I have just recently failed something that I had set my sights on (physically and metaphorically), so I wanted to dedicate this issue to bouncing back from setbacks… and learning to swallow your pride and learn from your mistakes and then to go again. Failure is just as much a part of life as success, it’s just not as pleasurable. It comes in many forms, from failed marriages and holidays that you were really looking forward to (and turned out to be awful), to games or missions that had not gone the way you wanted them to. Perhaps you might just think that you haven’t succeeded in life, or had set your sights to high (unrealistically perhaps) and were gutted when you fell short and maybe even did it quite publically. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Now Ed and I talk regularly on our handy portable telecommunication devices, you know the usual stuff, the shambles in the Eurozone, why I am late getting the article to him again, the Russia question etc… NOT!!! Anyway the conversation normally sees me shackled to my desk working away while Ed is at the top of a ski slope somewhere in Europe (it must be a hard life). He often asks me (between gulps of 92
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billy basics IF AT FIRST…
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Gluhwein), “What’s coming up next for Billy in this issue, old man?” I sometimes think that our Dear Ed is going to put a stop to my keyboard ramblings but he seems to enjoy them – and he claims that you guys do as well. So in this issue if you’ll permit me, I would like to chat about failing, screwing up, missing the mark and not succeeding – all that good, life affirming, positive stuff. Not my usual cheerful up-beat topic you might think and you might well decide to skip these gloom filled pages entirely but I urge you not to. Because you can turn defeat into victory in the firing of a synapse (that’s a thing in your head by the way, and no there isn’t an app for it either) if you want to. If you can’t change your situation then it might be better to change how you think about that situation, which will then change the situation, which is rather neat isn’t it? Death is life’s way of telling you that you’ve failed. A little harsh you might think, but Mother Nature is not the benevolent force we all like to think she is, she’s a vicious lady who finds weaknesses and exploits them to weed out the weak, ensuring that the strong and the fit survive. If you want to achieve things above and beyond the ordinary then you have to work at it, dedicate time and energy as well as resources to it but also to confront the possibility of failure and ridicule by your peer group. The Army have been terrible at this in the past and some very junior soldiers look to the guys who are senior to them (and the “Barrack Room lawyers”) and want to be like them and if there is a culture of “Why bother?” then that will stifle ambition and clog up the place with cynics and troublemakers and that’s the last thing you want. Very rarely will somebody say “I didn’t make the grade because I wasn’t up to it” or “I wasn’t good enough” and as much as I would like to point the finger at my recent assessors and grizzle about quotas I mustn’t, because they obviously saw something in me that lead them to the conclusion that I was unsuitable. Don’t just keep doing what you’re doing if it’s not working – In Silicon Valley they reckon that a successful businessman will have failed at least 4 times with start-ups, before eventually getting it right and making his business a success. That’s a very heartening ratio I think, you can’t just keep doing the things that come easily to you, you have to identify what your weaknesses are and then work on them. Sounds simple but it’s
not at all as we’re all naturally drawn to the things we’re good at because they make us feel good. However if we’re to succeed next time, we need to get a grip and start getting good at what we’re bad at and I bet you’ll find that it’s a real voyage of discovery too! Once you’ve started out you’ll quickly realise that it’s actually not that bad and after a short while you’ll laugh at all the anxiety it caused you before, worrying about it. After all a journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step, so get going. Have faith: I am not necessarily talking here about a recognised religion but faith in whatever you draw strength from. That might be a tight group of friends, your family or something else. Having faith is a great way of bouncing back from setbacks. I see it as a firm base to which you can retreat in times of crisis and lick your wounds or have a grizzle where there’s a non-judgemental shoulder to cry on. Nobody can take this firm base away from you so it’s always there and hopefully you can’t go any lower than that. Diversify: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you rely on one thing to bring you happiness or reward and it doesn’t
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“IF YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR SITUATION THEN IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO CHANGE HOW YOU THINK ABOUT THAT SITUATION, WHICH WILL THEN CHANGE THE SITUATION, WHICH IS RATHER NEAT ISN’T IT?” go your way then you’re mentally in for a hiding. You could have a couple of things on the go at once, be it making models in the evening, running, writing a novel in your spare time that kind of thing. But if you’ve got a good thing going in your back pocket that you can pull out to lift the “ha-ha needle” back up a few clicks to take your mind off the thing you’ve failed, then that’s going to be good news. Never trust so-called “Experts”: If you are being assessed by somebody for a job, or position it’s likely they are an expert. Now I read a line in a book the other day, it was set in the 1800s in India and an expert was trying to persuade the British Government to invade Afghanistan again, against the advice
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of others. This character quoted said “Doctors find disease everywhere, churchmen find sin everywhere and soldiers find threats everywhere, so don’t always listen to Experts”. The lesson for us is this; it may be that you are not the obvious choice but in an interview, your assessor has a very short time to find evidence for your suitability. It’s just not meant to be: Sometimes we aim a little too high, no matter how much we want something, be it a job, a girlfriend, a pay rise or to complete a full traverse of the Cuillin Ridge (Google it), it’s just not going to happen. Real friends are very useful here, friends that can tell you that you haven’t trained hard enough, she’s just not in your league or that you’re wasting your time. Keep your own counsel: I remember years ago when I was young and bit daft (now I am middle aged) and I went to join the RMR when I was at college. I told just about everyone that I was going to get my “green lid” and be a rugged handsome part-time Marine. Anyway, on the day of the race I had a cold (as well as a hangover) and made a total shower of the whole thing. I then had to tell everyone that I had made a can of worms of the whole thing and I felt very silly. So now I tend to keep my own counsel, tell as few people as possible (or who need to know) and that way there’s a lot less pressure on my shoulders. Take heart from failure: Look at all the great things you’ve already got. When I got my results a month or so back, I was thoroughly disheartened and felt like a failure but the more I spoke to my lovely wife and looked around me, the more I realised what I already had at home and it’s pretty darn good. And last but not least by any means, if all the above tactics have bought you not a scrap of solace, the simple answer is just to say “Oh Well, to hell with it!!” A thoroughly English response and one that has worked wonders for me several times. Anyway dear Readers, I hope my ramblings have cheered you all up and, as the Python boys used to say, “Always look on the bright side of life!” (and I bet you can’t get the tune out of your head for the rest of the day now!) Billy Out
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BATTLEFIELD: BRITAIN
AFTER THE DEBACLE OF THE BEF, GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY TAKES A LOOK AT JUST HOW WE PREPARED TO DEFEND OUR ISLAND NATION FROM THE EXPECTED GERMAN INVASION. ENEMY TROOPS ON BRITISH STREETS, martial law, curfews and armed resistance to a foreign invader! It sounds like the plot of a remake of “Red Dawn” but only a few decades ago the country faced a very real threat of being defeated by a foreign power! When we think of “war” these days it usually of some sandy arid country, racked by terrorism and internal dissent and the “war” is very much one a million miles away, being fought by our armies to help other countries achieve stability. However to many in the UK, the idea of “war” is still in their living memory, of a time when the enemy wasn’t an insurgent group in the middle east but a massive juggernaut of an army poised a mere stone’s throw away across the English Channel. While it’s only our grandparents and perhaps the odd elderly uncle who can remember the dark days of WWII, the physical evidence of the threat of invasion is still very much there in the landscape of the UK and so, this month on behalf of Airsoft Action I went to check out some of the defences put in place in the UK to repel a German invasion.
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ON THE ROPES WITH LITTLE HOPE It’s fair to say that Britain didn’t quite expect the spanking that the British Expeditionary Force got from the Germans in the 1940 “battle for France”. While many men returned to the UK after the “miracle of Dunkirk”, we did manage to leave pretty much anything more potent and chunkier than a bren gun on the French coastline for the Germans to pick up. With the army
70 years ago this could have looked out on advancing panzer divisions!
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Concrete type 26 on East Cliff of Cuckmere Haven
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A well preserved brick and concrete type 26
returned the situation looked dismal. Few tanks remained in the UK; most anti-tank guns had been lost. German paratroopers had neutralised nearly every country with air attacks and the Germans had proven that their army really knew its stuff. It was time for Britain to do the only thing it could really… “dig in!” Expecting a seaborne attack on the South or East coast, the war department decided to create “stop lines” along natural fortification lines (cliffs, rivers, woods etc.), each defended by a division or a corps. While the primary assault was expected in the South East the North and West were also shored up with less formidable lines of defence and important locations, road junctions and HQ areas were listed as “nodal points” and made into fortified “defended localities”. London itself was seen as the prime target and defended by no less than three concentric rings of anti-infantry and anti-tank defences. With a critical lack of heavy machine guns, tanks and anti-tank guns the intention was to stall German panzer forces and channel them into areas that were either heavily mined, guarded by the few large calibre guns we had left or (bizarrely) could be set on fire. Entire roads and areas of coast were rigged by the Department of Petroleum Warfare to be immolated at a moment’s notice but perhaps this was a little on the extreme side. Less drastic measures involved setting up concrete and iron roadblocks on major roads and anti-tank “pimples” or “dragon’s teeth” to force enemy armour to take a different route. 1940-41 was also the age of the improvised weapon and shortages of proper anti-tank guns were made up for with spigot mortar weans like the “blacker bombard”, weapons capable of launching a shaped charge in a curving arc onto enemy tanks.
OPERATION SEA LION AND THE INVASION OF BRITAIN It is perhaps the pillbox though that we are most familiar with as lasting legacy of WWII. These can be seen all over the country, usually by rivers, coastline or main roads and for generations kids have “played army” in them unaware of their
Concrete Bren gun mounting in West bunker
critical importance during Close up of West the “Battle of Britain” Cliff machine period. gun embrasure While normally these overlooking are scattered about and the valley usually either now falling to pieces or heavily vandalised, you can still find great examples in higher frequency in the South East, one such excellent location is Cuckmere Haven on the South coast between Brighton and Seaford. It’s easy to think of the defence of Britain in 1940-44 in terms of the bumbling home guard of “Dad’s Army”; it’s an unfair view to take. In hindsight we know now that the German plan to invade Britain was probably beyond the means of the Luftwaffe and kriegsmarine, to the planners in Whitehall in 1940 it was a very real possibility. Had the Germans launched their own D-day in 1940 you can bet your life that their “Sword Beach” would have been Cuckmere Haven. Cuckmere Haven is a picturesque break in the South coast cliffs and provides a flat entry point to England for a breadth of a few hundred metres. Recognising it as a perfect landing point, the War Department listed the area as “Defence Area 14” and began building extensive fortifications (of which many survive today as we will see) to protect the area; across the channel the Germans earmarked the area for amphibious landing by the 6th division of the 9th Army. After parking my car at the local pub I went on a trek to find out for myself how these defences would have protected our coastline. Taking a route to the Western most cliffs first it was not long before I climbed to the top of the bluff and saw a brick shuttered (reenforced outer coating) concrete pillbox for a machine gun, overlooking the beach and the estuary. A pillbox that I was able to get into the Type 25 one- or back of and even find two-man pillbox the original concrete machine gun mounts that would have allowed the defenders to fire their bren on fixed lines if they invasion had happened at night, or been covered by smoke screens. Next to this well-preserved example was a formidable concrete anti-tank gun bunker, which had clearly
“ENTIRE ROADS AND AREAS OF COAST WERE RIGGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM WARFARE TO BE IMMOLATED AT A MOMENT’S NOTICE BUT PERHAPS THIS WAS A LITTLE ON THE EXTREME SIDE. ”
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Converted coastal anti tank position
been converted to more peaceful use as some form of garden storeroom or shed by the nearby cottage occupants. While this was about all I could find of the area’s defences on this cliff face, it did provide a fantastic view of the beach and, almost masked by the passage of time but still visible from above, I could see the faint outlines of anti-tank ditches that were now partly flooded (I was disappointed to find that the “dragon’s teeth” anti-tank defences were also now underwater). It’s hard to imagine it now, but the beach below me would once have been heavily mined, covered in barbed wire and sporting metal spikes sticking out of the sand to tear apart landing craft!
A BATTLEFIELD IN YOUR BACKYARD As a more subtle defence the entire valley had been fitted out in the 40s with an armoured generator house and electric lighting to create the illusion that the empty grasslands were a town and distract German bombers intent on destroying Brighton or Eastbourne. These days it’s almost impossible to see evidence of this but if you know what you’re looking for it’s easy to imagine. Hiking up to the East coast and using a popular tourist trail, the route was a pillbox spotter’s dream. Barely onto the trail, you encounter a one or two-man “Type 25” turret pillbox that would certainly have been a death trap for anyone expected to man it! Further still down the trail the pillboxes occur more frequently and are clearly mutually supporting, with the precast concrete embrasures angled to provide covering fire for
70 years old and still ‘tank proof’
Defence Area 14, the German D-Day beach!
each other with the square “Type 26” boxes supported by sunken “Type 25s” covering their rear. It’s possible to clamber inside these larger block house pillboxes and while some are worse for wear and half filled with mud, one or two give you a real feeling of what it would have been like to man one of these in the war. Wooden shutter frames and rusted hinges survive but the asbestos shutters are long gone (perhaps a good thing) and I mentally traversed the “bren gun of my mind” along the arc of fire of each pillbox and realised what a killing field they would have created for an invader. It’s important, however, to remember that these pillboxes were not “mini forts” with a rifle section huddled inside them, they were the “strongpoint” of a bigger defence, with the rifle section occupying trenches surrounding the pillbox. Those trenches themselves protected by screens of barbed wire to hamper attackers. The surrounding cliffs would have been deeply scarred by anti-glider ditches to prevent the Germans landing above them and attacking the flanks (and as mentioned, a few pillboxes point to the sides and rear as all round defence). Around 6,000 Pillbox survive in the UK today, out of a total of around 30,000 constructed in WWII. They have become part of the social and physical landscape so much as to blend in more now than they ever did then (in fact wartime pillboxes were often given fake roofs and painted to look like sheds or cottages to fool German air observers) and you’d be forgive for driving past them without a second thought. But, next time you’re passing one and not in a hurry, why not stop and explore these fascinating relics from a time gone by, a time when these really could have been part of Battlefield Britain.
Steps leading into the West cliff bunker
Rear anti aircraft fire area and protective blast wall
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BOOK REVIEW SPEARHEAD ASSAULT
SPEARHEAD ASSAULT BY JOHN GEDDES
THOSE OF US OF A CERTAIN AGE WILL WELL-REMEMBER WATCHING THE EVENTS OF THE FALKLANDS WAR UNFOLDING ON OUR TV SCREENS. KRIS ROBERTS READS AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY A PARA WHO WAS THERE…
“Goose Green was a battle apart. It was the last no-tech battle of the twentieth century and we fought in pitch darkness without infrared sights to help our aim, facing murderous fire without a single piece of body armour. No bullet-stopping Kevlar plates for us. There were no smart bombs to spank the enemy with pinpoint accuracy, no attack helicopters with Gatling guns and missiles to roll them up before us. We rolled them up ourselves with aggression and guts, bullets and bayonets.”
Content John Geddes grew up wanting to be a movie star. Inspired by the onscreen heroics of actors like Steve McQueen and Lee Marvin, Geddes learned that his favourite action stars had all served during the Second World War. It was after a chance meeting with acting legend Dirk Bogarde, a former soldier in the Parachute Regiment who fought in Normandy, that Geddes felt fate was calling and joined the ranks of that infamous band of warriors.
21st May 1982. Geddes was one of almost four hundred soldiers from 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, to land at San Carlos Bay on the Falkland Islands. Facing the bitter cold and with the most basic equipment, 2 Para established a beachhead and, despite continuous attacks form the Argentine Air Force, made preparations to march on and assault the settlement and airfield at Goose Green. British military intelligence had decided that this strategically important position was defended by only a couple of hundred Argentine troops. They were wrong. When the men of 2 Para launched their attack on 27th May they faced an enemy force almost fifteen hundred strong. Dug in with heavy machine guns and a network of overlapping fields of fire, the Argentine troops had so much ammo that it lined the floors and walls of their foxholes. Fourteen hours later the smoke of battle cleared to reveal a hard won and bittersweet victory for the Paras. But the battle had almost been a complete disaster for the British. Poor leadership, minimal mobility and logistical support and an almost criminal absence of air cover had meant that the whole endeavour had frequently swayed close to breaking point.
Impressions Geddes’ introduction to the battle of Goose Green is delivered with a hammer blow of speed and ferocity. Throwing the reader into the heart of the action from the first page, Geddes forces us to hit the ground running and drags us headlong into a hellish scene of carnage and imminent death. Delivered with a stark and brutal clarity, Geddes seldom minces his words. Glimpses of levity are delivered with the infamous British Army humour and are often found in moments of extreme suffering that would turn the stomach of your average civilian. In the same vein, Geddes delivers his verdict of the high ranking decisions that played such a
pivotal role in the battle. Although keen to give credit and praise where it is due, the author is damning in his criticism of the mistakes made by the pen pushers and penny pinchers. For the most part, Geddes aims his frustrations at his commanding officer, Colonel H Jones VC. The Colonel, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on the day, has long been the subject of controversy. Geddes offers his opinions in the only way he can, as a soldier who was under intense enemy fire at a time when strong leadership was vital. In this sense, the thoughts of Geddes and his fellow Paras are the strongest and most valid, for it was their lives that hung in the balance. An extraordinary account of a war set on the eve of a technological evolution, Spearhead Assault is a riveting account of soldiering at its best and most basic, where help isn’t coming and the quickest way home is through a storm of bullets and fire. ‘There’s an odd thing about the way time and space change when the chips are down. They slow to a time-frame exposure. Every sense is magnified and on the field of endeavour the best soldiers, like the best sportsmen, appear to make time and space their own. The difference is that while some sports imitate war, the usual way you get sent off the battlefield is when you’re killed or wounded. But there is another way, a better way: you march off the winner.’
INFORMATION ‘Spearhead Assault’ By John Geddes Century Publishing Hardback RRP £14.99 Also available in paperback.
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AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB
ALL ARMS AIRSOFT
Allt-lywd Wood Farm, outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales. 07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk
Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com
Near Trawden, BB8 8SN 07909 683464 www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk
AIRSOFT ASYLUM
ALPHA 55
North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com
Halkyn wood, North Wales CH8 8DF 0845 257 6937 www.alpha55.co.uk
ARENA AIRSOFT
ALPHA ELITE GAMING
AWA HERTS
Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je
Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com
AMAZON EVENTS
BADLANDS AIRSOFT
Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL 0844 2570433 www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk
Rowlands Castle, Hamps PO9 6DP 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk
AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM
BARNSLEY AIRSOFT
ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT Maidenhead, SL6 3SS 07871 314951 www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk
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AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com
Grimsby, DN31 3JD 07752 404060 www.arenaairsoft.com
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AIRSOFT COMMANDOS ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169), Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk
Sutton, near Ferrybridge 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com
ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES Tong Wood, Newport Road Wolverhampton TF11 8PN 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk
AIRSOFT SKIRMISH
May 2015
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AIRSOFT KGB Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com www.kgbairsoft.com
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Stoulton, WR7 4QW 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE 07779 236166 www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk
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SITE DIRECTORY
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FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
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
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
CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT
ELITE BATTLEZONE
Truro, Cornwall, TR2 07863 240153 www.cornwallseliteairsoft.co.uk
Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
COTSWOLD AIRSOFT
EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT
Bourton Woods On the B4479, Blockley Near Bourton-on-the-hill www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07724629140
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN 01380 728982 www.experienceairsoft.co.uk
BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane, Dronfield, S18 7UR www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk
BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT Westcott Venture Park, Westcott, Aylesbury, HP18 0XB 01296 658600 www.bluestreak-airsoft.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
CUMBRIA AIRSOFT Dumfries, DG12 cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net www.cumbria-airsoft.com
DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk 07455906132
BORDERLINE AIRSOFT
ng
51 Green Road, Ballyclare,Co. Antrim Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com
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
CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT
DARKWATER AIRSOFT
Corby, NN17 3BB 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk
Hythe, Kent CT21 5SL 07947 558433 www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk
FIFE WARGAMES St Andrews, KY10 3XL info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com
Buckingham, MK18 4JT 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com
FIREBALL SQUADRON COMBAT ACTION GAMES
DELTA TEAM 3
Maryland, Norfolk, NR10 4 07748 023832 www.facebook.com/ combatactiongames
Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk
COMBAT AIRSOFT Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk follow signs for Combat Paintball -tel: 07703 045849 www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk
DOGS OF WAR Houston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP 07853 195290 www.dow-airsoft.co.uk
DRAGON’S LAIR
Sheffield, S2 5TR 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com
Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA 07703 530189 www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk
COMBAT SOUTH URBAN Portsmouth, PO6 3LS 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
BUNKER 51
DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND Fareham, PO17 5ND 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
C3 TACTICAL Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk
Lewisham, SE13 5SU 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk
FINMERE AIRSOFT
BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT
Charlton, SE7 8NJ 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk
FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS
CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk
Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL 07921 336360 www.dragonvalley.co.uk
DOG TAG AIRSOFT Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE TEL 01293 852 314 www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft
CERBERUS AIRSOFT - THE COMPLEX
COOL UNDER FIRE
ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING
Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk
Worthing, BN13 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com
Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com
FIRST AND ONLY – ANZIO CAMP Leek, ST13 8 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST AND ONLY – BUNKER WOOD Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST AND ONLY – KHE SANH WOODS Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST AND ONLY – MANCHESTER WOODLAND Bolton, BL7 9TS 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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FIRST AND ONLY – ASYLUM
GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON
LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT
NCIS AIRSOFT
P
Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk
Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk
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FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE
GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT
LAC SITE 1
NOMAD AIRSOFT
P
Middleton, Manchester, M24 1AZ 0161 727 8863
Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com
Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY 07904 998250 www.nomadairsoft.com
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FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY
GREENZONE COMBAT
Wrexham, Denbighshire, LL13 9RG 0161 727 8863
Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com
NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT
P
Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk
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NORTHFLEET CQB
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Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
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NSC AIRSOFT
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Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk
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NTAC
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Durham, DL4 2ER 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk
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OBAN AIRSOFT – HILL ARGYLL
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Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com
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OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS
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Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk
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OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB
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Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk 07731 744471
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PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION
S
FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6QF 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY: THE ASYLUM Kidderminster, DY10 3PT 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY: THE OUTPOST Kidderminster, DY11 5SA 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY: SLEEPY HOLLOW Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 5LS 0161 727 8863
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 – MIDLANDS RAF Honiley/The Grange Frogmore Grange, Frog Lane, Balsall Common, West Mids CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk www.shop. suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk
LAC SITE 2 Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
LAC SITE 3 Saxillby, LN1 2JW 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
LAC SITE 5 Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
LINDSEY AIRSOFT Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk
MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES FIRST & ONLY: THE DEPOT Glasgow, G45 9SB 0161 727 8863
GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICH Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk
MAW
GROUND ZERO WOODLAND Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF www.groundzerowoodland.com
HILTON PARK AIRSOFT Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com
FREE FIRE ZONE Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH 01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 07562 479966 maw.airsoft@hotmail.com
MIA HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft
FRV AIRSOFT Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ 07730 586926 www.frvairsoft.com
Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com
Cornwall, EX23 9JL 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk
MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES HUMBER AIRSOFT North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk 07792 680297
Wrightington, WN6 9PL 01942 514724 www.militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk
GASS AIRSOFT – PENN Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
MILSIM UK ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30 07964 751047 www.islandrecon.co.uk
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May 2015
Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk
Former RAF Camp Sopley/ Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 02380 899369
PHOENIX AIRSOFT Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road, Notts NG20 9JX 07956 587213/01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk
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Huge thanks to our friends at Airbana (www.airsoftmap.net) for supplying data
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
T
PLATOON 1HQ
SG1 COMBAT GAMES
TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT
UCAP GREEN OPS
Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk
Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk
Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk
Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
PLAYERS OF WAR
SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY
TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT
High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk
Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk
Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk
PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES
SKIRMISH EXETER
TECH BRIGADE
Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com
Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk
Newgate Street, Hertfordshire. SG13 8NH 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org
RAVEN’S NEST
SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT
Suffolk, IP8 4 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk
Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com
RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH
THE BUNKER
Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
Aberystwyth, www.aberairsoft.co.uk 07841 462806
Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk
RED1AIRSOFT Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk co.uk
RED1AIRSOFT CQB Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk
RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM) Cambridge, CB24 8RL 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
SECTION 8 AIRSOFT Shotts, N Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com
Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk
Bean, Kent, DA2 8 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13 Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com
URBAN6AIRSOFT – THE BLOCK SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – THE ROCK
THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT
Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
Redford, DD11 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk
Wood Street, Butron-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 £AB www.urban6airsoft.com
URBAN ASSAULT STIRLING AIRSOFT
THE EX SITE
Coventry, CV3 6NX 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com
Mold, CH7 4 07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk
Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk
VIKING AIRSOFT STORMFORCE AIRSOFT
THE WARGAMES CENTRE
Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk
Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk
Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com
WARMINSTER AIRSOFT
SUSSEX AIRSOFT Slinfold, RH12 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk
S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu 07703 177756
SECTION 8 AIRSOFT Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com
TASK FORCE SKIRMISH
UCAP SANDPIT
TA EVENTS Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk
Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk
TROJAN AIRSOFT Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com
TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP
XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST Dunstable, LU6 2EE 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk
XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP 01494 881430
UCAP AIRSOFT Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
www.airsoft-action.co.uk
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DEALER LISTINGS
ADVERTISERS INDEX Land Warrior Airsoft RedWolf Airsoft Airsoft Zone JD Airsoft WE Airsoft Europe BadgerTac Airsoft Armoury ActionSportGames VIPER Tactical Military 1st Patrol Store Gunman Airsoft Leeds Airsoft VIPER Tactical Helikon-Tex ActionAirUK Hardcore Custom Airsoft Crawley Surplus Store eHobbyAsia Airsoft Action Digital Editions JustBB Guns Sly Photography BombUpAirsoft NoVAT Dragon Valley Military Outdoor Airsoft Action Subscriptions Skirmish Cup Percy Publishing Advertisers Index Airsoft World Pro Airsoft Supplies
106
OD8J 2014
2 3 + 19 + 52 7 + 56 9 + 32 + 87 15 23 28 + 29 38 42 47 48 60 63 66 71 79 82 82 83 86 90 91 91 91 91 91 95 98 100 106 107 108
AA48-May_AA48 24/03/2015 14:40 Page 107
6 7 5 9 8 7 8 0 6 9
6 0
5 8 0 6 7 8
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