Airsoft Action - May 2019 by Airsoft Action

AIRSOFT ACTION

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UMAREX PPQ SCORPION SKINZ CLASSIC ARMY AKS74 ATF QUALIFICATION SHOOT NUPROL BREACHER AIRSOFT GRENADES PLUS MUCH MORE! 05

TM MINIGUNS BATTERIES 101 BOLLE GOGGLES MECHANIX GLOVES IWA SHOW REPORT ARCTURUS TACTICAL AK SILVERBACK STEALTH RECON

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT The UK’s largest supplier of Airsoft and Tactical goods. Visit landwarriorairsoft.com or speak to the team on 0131 654 2452 for further details.

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AIRSOFT ACTION

100 PAGE 100TH ISSUE

ANNIVERSARY EDITION UMAREX PPQ SCORPION SKINZ CLASSIC ARMY AKS74 ATF QUALIFICATION SHOOT NUPROL BREACHER AIRSOFT GRENADES PLUS MUCH MORE! 05

9 772047 348032

MAY 2019

PROUDLY SUPPORTING PILGRIM BANDITS

MAY 2019 - £4.50

TM MINIGUNS BATTERIES 101 BOLLE GOGGLES MECHANIX GLOVES IWA SHOW REPORT ARCTURUS TACTICAL AK SILVERBACK STEALTH RECON

ARMOURY: ARMOURY: ARCTURUS AT-AK04 NUPROL BREACHER

Editor: Nigel Streeter Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk

EVENT: IWA 2019

24 56

Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: +44 (0) 1684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.online ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2019 All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print. Distributed by Intermedia Brand Marketing Ltd.

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SITE: SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

REEL STEEL: COMMANDO

KIT & GEAR: BOLLE X800I

LAST POST: WTF!!

LETTER , IDEA OR QUESTION? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the Editor: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk, write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

CONTENTS 6

ED’S COMMENT

ARCTURUS AT-AK04

Our resident “AK Guy”, Bill, continues his look at new models on the market with the very latest “tacti-cool” offering from emergent brand, Arcturus.

Contents MAY 2019

MAY 2019

from Issue 1 to 100 - well, 99 actually (as this is Issue 100)! We hope you like our choice - maybe you might see yourself amongst them!

REEL STEEL: COMMANDO

FEATURE: LOOKING BACK

FEATURE: MAS-G BACKSTORY

KIT & GEAR: BOLLE X800i

AIRSOFT 101: AEG BATTERIES

ARMOURY: UMAREX PPQ

QUALIFICATION SHOOTS: ATF

A few issues back Phil Bucknall reviewed the Mechanix 0.5mm High Dexterity gloves, as a replacement for his sadly departed Hatch Operators, which had given good service for well over eight years. So how are they doing now?

FEATURE: AK47 RELOADED

KIT & GEAR: SCORPION SKINZ

ARMOURY: CLASSIC ARMY AKS74

ARMOURY: NUPROL PIONEER BREACHER

EVENT: IWA 2019

Having previously enjoyed the NUPROL Delta Pioneer, Phil Bucknall was keen to see if this budget range AEG was as capable as its big brother. Airsoft Action hits the biggest gun trade show in Europe and what we found at IWA in Nuremberg this year was an airsoft industry that is maturing and growing! Bill takes us on his journey through the show halls in Part 1 of our annual report, starting with all that’s new and improved in relation to RIFs and accessories.

SITE: ALLSORTS AIRSOFT

FEATURE: GRENADES

Airsoft Action’s roving reporter, Lez Lee, heads into the wilds of West Sussex to bring us a report from an airsoft site that is rapidly growing in popularity. When a room needs to be cleared there is nothing more efficient at doing so than the (not so) humble airsoft grenade. Angelo DV compares three such devices to see which one he prefers.

SHOP: ALL AGES AIRSOFT

Driven in part by manufacturers and distributors, it seems the days of the “Player Retailer” may be drawing to a close… or are they? Bill takes a look at the importance of “the local shop” and what that means to fellow players in his neck of the woods.

KIT & GEAR: WAS UNI HOLSTER

KIT & GEAR: MECHANIX UPDATE

Can a universal holster really suit all sidearms? Steve Takle finds out…

SURVIVAL: OVERNIGHT KIT

On occasions there may be a need to stay out in the field overnight. Being on the ground for extended periods of time is going to mean carrying more equipment and getting used to living outside. Paul Yelland gives us a few tips on what equipment to take and how to stay comfortable.

With the rise of the “Buddy Movie” in Hollywood it may have been easy to draw the conclusion that the days of the “Lone Wolf” were numbered but, on probably his finest form, Arnie put this idea to bed when the 1985 movie “Commando” was released. Featuring more interesting movie firearms than most of the others put together, this set a whole new tone! Bill tells us more… Following last issue’s article, Frenchie was wondering what topic to cover this time round and cast his mind back to an old favourite. You may not recognize the name but you will certainly know the product, advertised as “the worlds most advanced airsoft grenade”. Phil Bucknall went behind the scenes to find out what how the MAS-G came about and what the future holds. Big sweaty beard, Steve Takle, finds fog-free nirvana at last. The most common type of airsoft RIF is the AEG, however, these can be powered by a bewildering array of batteries! Tom “Anvil” Hibberd cuts through the confusion of what it all means. Want to stand out from all the Glocks and 1911s on game day? Steve Takle finds out if the Umarex PPQ shoots as well as it looks. Continuing his look at the qualification shoots from various civil and military organisations, Andy Nightingale turns to The ATF for this month’s issue. Tom “Anvil” Hibberd looks at some of the many variations based upon Mikhail Kalashnikov’s original design and the airsoft equivalents. Want to give your rif a distinctive appearance without shelling out on a custom paint job? Steve Takle gives this sticker kit a go...

Steve Takle finds out if Marui’s mini guns are a useful tool or entertaining toy?

ARMOURY: TM MINI GUNS

Whilst Tom has looked at how “improvements” have been made to the classic AK this month, as a big fan of “AK” airsoft replicas Bill gets back to basics with a well-priced, steel-bodied version by Hong Kong based airsoft giant Classic Army.

ARMOURY: SILVERBACK SRS

LAST POST: WTF!

Nearly two and a half years ago, Airsoft Action took a look at the Silverback SRS “Covert” model and now, coming bang up to date, Bill was able to check out the very latest “Gen III” version thanks to Fire Support.

Following recent comments on (anti)social media and in national news, Frenchie questions why anyone would want to shoot at targets depicting images of real people.

GALLERY: FROM 1 TO 100

Looking for a skirmish site, or your local Action Air Club? Then we may have the answer, with pages of sites and clubs throughout the UK.

SITE DIRECTORY & PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUBS

As this is a bit of a special issue, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the thousands of images we have collected,

T N E M M O C S ’ ED

AIRSOFT ACTION REACHES 100 ISSUES!! “Hey Nige”, the voice at the other end of the phone said, “I’ve just had a guy called Wes Stanton phone me up and ask if I knew anyone who could be the Editor of a new magazine he wants to publish, so I told him to call you!” That was just over eight years ago, the voice on the phone was my good mate, Ratty, from BadgerTac and the new magazine he was talking about was called “Airsoft Action”! From the day I was given the job, I set out to produce a magazine that would be as inclusive as possible. Airsoft has so many different facets, varieties, genres and styles of play, the easy route would have been to just “pick one” and create a magazine based on that alone, while simply ignoring other players – but that has never been my style! Fast-forward to today and Airsoft Action has gone from being the ”new kid on the block” (that some said wouldn’t last more than six months), to the Number One magazine for airsofters and has been voted “Best Airsoft Magazine” by you, the players, for the last three years in a row. In that time we have reviewed over 500 different airsoft weapons… pistols, rifles, carbines, shotguns, cannons, mortars and even flintlocks! If it fires a 6mm BB we’ve probably reviewed it at some point. We have visited and reported from hundreds of sites, games and events… MilSim, FilmSim, Zombie, Post-Appocalyptic, Napoleon, WW1, WW11, ‘Nam, Afghanistan, weekend skirmish, Action Air, you name it… to us they are all equally important and deserve coverage. Looking beyond our shores, we regularly attend Trade Shows such as SHOT in Las Vegas and IWA in Nuremberg, plus others in the Far

MAY 2019

East and report from events around the world. We don’t just pretend to be “international”, we actively promote airsoft globally. …and that has lead us here, to Issue 100 of Airsoft Action and I want to put on record my thanks and appreciation to everyone who has read, bought, subscribed, advertised in, offered feedback and (sometimes) criticism and helped to make our magazine what it has become. There is, however, a group of people that (quite literally) without whom Airsoft Action would not exist, our Contributors… “The AA Team”! Week in, week out, they look for the stories and articles they know airsofters like you want to read and every article is written by someone who is personally involved in the subject matter, be that a product review, event or site report, team or shop profile, or anything else. They are the backbone of the magazine and to them I also say a huge thank you! Following this and on Page 8, you will find some of these have been brave (crazy) enough to let me publish theIr picture and a little info about them. You may well recognise some of them, so please be gentle next time you spot them playing (they will probably shoot me for saying that)! These last 100 issues have been one hell of a ride and I cannot wait to see what the next 100 will bring – but you can be certain of one thing… Airsoft Action will continue to bring you the best airsoft magazine on the planet! See you out there! Nige.

DUST MONKEY

GEORAGA

I love writing for AA because i get to be part of an amazing team who are all passionate as funk for the hobby and it gives me a platform to share the spotlight on unique events that may otherwise not get it and pass on some tips and tricks so people can make their gear look used and abused.

Like many of our team, after years and years of playing airsoft, tinkering with guns, making YouTube videos and just generally enjoying the hobby, I like that writing is just another way to engage in it. Writing for Airsoft Action? Well, in my opinion the rest of the team come from such varying backgrounds that I love reading their articles as much as writing my own, not to mention the discussions we have in the planning group. It’s a really good bunch of folk to write with.

THE

TEAM

CONT’D...

CRAIG

IGGY

I started off just providing pictures to Airsoft Action with no intention of writing. That was until I was asked by Nigel to do an article on a local site... and it snowballed from there. I’ve now done multiple sites, competitions and advice articles (most recently about drones) for the magazine and have lots more planned. A highlight last year was being the official photographer on behalf of Airsoft Action at the National Airsoft Event. The support I’ve had from the team and the readers has been amazing and it’s exciting to be part of such well-respected magazine. Looking forward to what promises to be an amazing year for me here at WA03 Media and as part of Airsoft Action.

I started airsoft before the days of GBBs and AEGs or rules of the game as we know today and fondly remember the amazement as Tokyo Marui changed the skirmish field with semi and fully automatic! I’ve enjoyed a variety of guns from AR platforms, shotguns, pistols grenade launchers, SMGs and support guns all in a selection of GBB and AEG format. As a part of Airsoft Action my passion for the sport is strong and I wish to promote it for all the good aspects it brings such as fitness through to the friendships formed. It is a game at the end of the day but it’s one hell of an experience every time.

BILL This year marks the 25th Anniversary of me buying my first AEG (and yes, it was a TM FAMAS not an AK!)! I’ve been with Airsoft Action for the past four and a half years, and work with a truly gifted group of fellow enthusiasts; every day sees something new and exciting in our world, be it a RIF, a piece of gear, or a new game scenario. I’m lucky enough to do what I do full-time and as airsoft moves forward, as it always does, I hope to see more friendliness, more inclusion, more recognition by the shooting sports community in general for what we do, and of course a continuation of the honour shown from player to player. I may be in the “veterans league” these days, but I’m still “good to go”! PHIL B So here’s me! Mid game loving the hobby I got into over 25 years ago. Like many people my love of it has ebbed and flowed but it’s always been a part of my life one way or another. I joined the Airsoft Action family about a year ago and it really is like a family. We discuss ideas and potential articles together; we banter, have a laugh and give advice or critical appraisal and help where it’s needed. So, what do I love about writing for an award winning magazine like Airsoft Action? That’s easy! being a part of a team that love, live and breathe Airsoft is a rare honour and one I am always grateful for. Having the opportunity to review new products and share those reviews with the readers still excites me and I love looking for new and innovative things that I think people will want to read about mixed in with the odd snippet of knowledge picked up over the years. As long as people want to read it I’ll continue to love what I do and keep doing it. 8

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LEZ Lez has been a contributor for Airsoft Action for a little over 6 years. Airsoft sees him having gone full circle from when he got his first “Johnny 7” gun aged 7 years and thus far, his interest in shooting has taken him all over the world where he developed his special passion for pistols in the indoor ranges of the USA. Like many of us, he has enjoyed paintball, air rifle, rimfire, Section One, shotgun and now finds airsoft his No.1 hobby. Having a career spanning nearly two decades as an Officer in Her Majesty’s Prison Service, Lez’s vocation came to an abrupt end after sustaining an injury in the line of duty, and now finds himself specialising in the complex world of Mental Health. A keen Western horse rider and guitarist, his interests have taken him to many far and distant places as he seeks out new and exciting challenges come what may! KELLY My name is Kelly and I have been writing for Airsoft Action since 2015. I started playing in August of 2014 and quickly became involved in airsoft media after I created one of the worldwide leading airsoft blogs, Femme Fatale Airsoft in November 2014. I am an airsoft and tactical kit enthusiast, although obsessive is probably more accurate! I am 27 years old and make my living as a full-time blogger, influencer & writer travelling the world visiting airsoft sites and events. I have been actively playing airsoft for 5 years! I am a CQB girl at heart who loves to dabble in MilSim. I love writing for Airsoft Action as I have been fortunate enough to travel internationally to cover events for the mag - from woodland skirmishes in France, to 40 hour MilSims in Greece, Germany for IWA and even Taiwan for the G&G CQB Cup. I have travelled extensively and met so many awesome people, I am really grateful for the opportunities the mag has afforded me.

armoury ARCTURUS AK CARBINE AT-AK04

ARCTURUS KALASHNI-KOOL AIRSOFT ACTION HAS ALWAYS FOLLOWED CURRENT TRENDS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY CLOSELY AND WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE CONTRIBUTORS THAT ARE ABSOLUTE EXPERTS IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD. THIS MONTH OUR RESIDENT “AK GUY”, BILL, CONTINUES HIS LOOK AT NEW MODELS ON THE MARKET WITH THE VERY LATEST “TACTICOOL” OFFERING FROM EMERGENT BRAND, ARCTURUS. FOR MANY YEARS AIRSOFT HAS been dominated by the “AR” platform, especially when it comes to “tactical” but things they are a changin’ - and the change is happening fast! If you’ve ever thought of owning an airsoft “AK” then there is no better time than now to be thinking about turning that thought into the reality of ownership, as currently there are more cool AKs on the market than ever before! In years gone by, if you wanted to own a really good “tactical AK” then it was a case of buying a decent donor and then buying all the parts you wanted to fit onto it. For a long time these would have been “real steel” parts that, in the main, required a fair amount of not just fettling but out and out re-machining to get things nice and tidy. Of course, these days you can pick up airsoft-specific parts that will fit your AK straight from the box or packet and I’ll be looking at some of those in an article next month. For now though, I’m going to concentrate on the AEG in hand, and that is the Arcturus AT-AK04. Probably like you, I am constantly scouring the interwebz for new and interesting models and Arcturus is a brand that has been quietly but steadily gaining ground. I first saw the odd “AT” model appearing on the Taiwangun website a little while ago but then they started appearing with other retailers based in the UK. Whilst I was wrapped up in other new AK models hitting the market I kept my airsoft-eye on Arcturus and again, slowly but surely, I noticed more AK variants and even some tasty looking ARs appearing from them. If you check out www.taiwangun.com you’ll find (at the

may 2019

time of writing) seven different AK variants, seven ARs and the “Centaur B”, which is a classy-looking hybrid! Add to that some very tidy upgrade parts and you could say that Arcturus most definitely has my attention! Luckily I have a great working relationship with Taiwangun so I reached out to them to see if there might be a test/review model available for Airsoft Action. Such is our standing now, not just in the UK market but also globally via our digital platforms, Taiwangun not only offered to send me over the very latest model but they did so as an exclusive for us and therefore, for you.

MOS WHO?

I like to do a little digging to find out the background to any emergent brand and in all honesty, in this case it required my very best detective work! Whilst there is a lot of information on the “AT” models on the Taiwangun website about externals and internals, it wasn’t until I saw the sentence “for years, MOS has been gaining experience, producing items for firearms as well as for the largest companies from the airsoft industry” that things really fell into place and a big smile formed on my face! For those of you that haven’t come across them before, MOS Manufacture in China are best known for their E&L Airsoft and Meister Arms brands and now they have added another great line of airsoft replicas under the new brand Arcturus. MOS specialise in airsoft and have been providing high-quality products for years, delivering the most exclusive AEGs, parts

armoury ARCTURUS AK CARBINE AT-AK04

“THE MOVE TO OPFOR AND THE RISE OF RUSSIAN-THEMED TEAMS HAS CERTAINLY HELPED BUT I WOULD GO FURTHER AND SAY THAT THE ADOPTION OF THE AK PLATFORM BY MANY MORE SEASONED PLAYERS HAS FILTERED DOWN VIA GAMES AND SITES TO THE NEWER PLAYER.” and accessories. They also manage the shipping and warehousing for their partners and years’ experience have allowed them to build up an efficient logistics network to ensure their products reach the retailer and, ultimately, the end user in a timely fashion. In their own words: “With hard work and total team dedication has continued to grow, from humble beginning, we know our success will be built on competitive quality airsoft brands, service delivery, and satisfied customers. Arcturus focuses on high quality and unique designs for a fair price!” Speaking of quality, throughout their range they use solid materials like Full Steel or CNC Anodized parts; some are steel stamped and QPQ processed (is this become more standard in the airsoft industry I wonder?) With 8mm bearings, 19000RPM motors, Micro Switches, Spring Tension Release systems and LiPOready, MOS ensures quality inside as well as out.

THE RIGHT AK AT THE RIGHT TIME

The Arcturus AT-AK04, in my opinion, has hit the global airsoft market at precisely the right time. When speaking to friends in the international airsoft community I am seeing ARs being replaced by AKs at almost every turn and most certainly amongst those that I would refer to as “the old and bold”! Whilst trends are driven in the main by manufacturers pushing forward with new models, the whole “AK Thing” seems to have grown more organically and to my mind has been driven by the players themselves. The move to OPFOR and the rise of Russian-themed teams has certainly helped but I would go further and say that the adoption of the AK platform by many more

seasoned players has filtered down via games and sites to the newer player. Once upon a time, the majority of players on any site would have been fielding some form of “AR/M4” so it was perfectly natural for new players to look around and come to the conclusion that this style of RIF would be their first purchase. I will openly admit that you would always see other styles of RIFs at any site but I believe you’d have to be blind not to agree that up until now the “AR” has been king. I’ll bring this down to a thoroughly local, grass-roots level. My local shop sells many, many “AR” AEGs and in truth that is their “bread and butter”. However, there are a bunch of us that play together and hang out at the shop socially that use AKs and in recent times the shop has seen a rise in the sales of AK models. I would have to draw the conclusion that these two things are connected. Although there are a few of us that love the classic 47/AKM/74 wood and metal models, the newer players in the main seem to look for something far more funky, far more “modern”, with all the bells and whistles as standard. The release by manufacturers, therefore, of thoroughly up-to-the-minute “tacticool AKs” with buffer tubes and fancy stocks, upgraded controls and all flavours of rail system has grabbed the attention of many new players - and the prices are now keen enough to please all of our wallets! The newest AT- AK04 Carbine from MOS/Arcturus is an absolutely classic example of this, as it provides a modern, clean look with precision performance. If you look at this particular AEG from end to end the only giveaway that it’s an AK is the central section,

www.airsoft-action.online

armoury ARCTURUS AK CARBINE AT-AK04

combining the lower receiver with the top cover. In this area you’ll find the traditional AK selector but even this is upgraded with a “tacticool” thumb lever! Going to the rear of the 04 you’ll find a rock-solid buffer tube with singlepoint sling plate, along with a super “MOE L” style sliding stock.

Go forward from the receiver group and you’ll see a lovely slimline M-LOK rail made from high-quality alloy that looks great a feels just right in the support hand; it also has an “MOE AK” style pistol grip to round things out nicely. To me the only thing that jars slightly is the chunky “super-74” style flash-hider but this is on a standard 14mm CCW thread so is easily replaced with an after-market part. I quite fancy one of the new muzzle-blast devices for it which would make it “thoroughly modern” in my eyes. In addition to some first-rate flip-up front and rear sights, the 04 is also equipped with a unique magazine funnel which helps to make mag changes easier and faster.

Teflon provides durability and, most importantly, has very good flow properties so no lubrication is required. This works with a metal hop-up chamber in which a hardened 6.01mm precision steel barrel is mounted. The gearbox has been equipped with a spring tension release that has been placed next to the trigger; the spring-loaded lever basically pushes the anti-reversal latch to release the spring tension, keeping the gearbox in top shape over time. Huge thought and attention to detail has gone into the AT- AK04 and this shows on the range! I had wondered about the power level of the 04 (in Poland the legal level for AEGs there is actually a whopping 17 Joules before a RIF is classified as a firearm, although players don’t get anywhere near that of course) and when the 04 arrived it was indeed up at 1.59 Joule/415fps on a RZR .20g! After a swift and easy spring change it was soon down to a UK legal and friendly 109 Joule/344fps on the same BBs. I am certain that UK-purchased models will be at the correct power legally but as a word of advice, if you buy from outside the UK chrono as soon as you receive it and have a spring on hand to reduce power immediately if you find you’re heading into a “grey area”! Once I was happy with the power level I upped to .25g RZRs. The shot distance was great, sending BBs right to the extent of the 30m range with a dead-flat trajectory. After running a couple of full mags through the 04 I was able to achieve a nice tight group and switching to full-auto delivered a line of BBs straight to target. The 04 comes with two magazines as standard, a 550 BB hi-cap and a 120/30 BB model; this can be easily changed out by removing the magazine “cassette” and simply flipping a clearly marked switch. Both magazines feed perfectly and are black “74” style; between the two you get a lot of game options, so bloody well done Arcturus!

SUMMARY

Each 04 has a unique serial number and most of the external elements are made of metal. It should be noted here that (as in the real thing) the receiver, top cover, the safety selector and the trigger guard together with the latch of the magazine have been cold pressed from steel sheet. All these metal elements have been protected against corrosion using a “real steel” industrial process. Knowing the other brands that MOS bring to the party the gearbox is first rate. There is a quick-change spring system and the spring guide, as well as the piston head, has bearings. The polymer piston is equipped with steel teeth that work with high-quality gears. Gears are mounted on slide bearings to be able to cope with the highest loads; only the motor rack is mounted on ball bearings to ensure that it is free to spin at high speeds. The 04 benefits from an electric trigger “Micro Switch” that is connected to low-resistance wiring, so essentially it is 100% Li-Po ready (the use of an electric trigger eliminates the problem of burned out contacts and improves the response to the trigger too). The gearbox is finished with a Teflon sealed nozzle.

may 2019

Overall the Arcturus AK CARBINE AT-AK04 is one hell of a package. It’s beautifully put together and finished, the parts are completely bombproof and it shoots really, REALLY well. And the best bit? It costs under 240 quid! Yup, you heard that right! A top-of-the-line “tacticool” AK with everything you need to get in the game for £237.56 at the time of writing! If you’re not an “AK Guy” already, then this AEG could well change your mind! AA

My sincere thanks go to www.taiwangun.com for providing the test sample and please do be sure to visit their website to check out the other models from Arcturus and much, much more!

armoury NUPROL BREACHER

NUPROL DELTA PIONEER

BREACHER HAVING PREVIOUSLY ENJOYED THE NUPROL DELTA PIONEER, PHIL BUCKNALL WAS KEEN TO SEE IF THIS BUDGET RANGE AEG WAS AS CAPABLE AS ITS SIBLINGS. I’VE BEEN PLAYING AIRSOFT for quite a while now and when I started there wasn’t the choice of budget, midrange and high-end guns. Nope, there were guns and… erm… that was it - and most were around the £400 mark. It wasn’t a cheap hobby to get into at all and choice was exceedingly limited too. Skip forward a few years and there has been a lot of changes; some good - some not so good! But where change has happened that is most definitely good, is in the choice of guns and not just high-end ones, but across the whole spectrum from very affordable, to ultra-expensive.

all for a stupidly low price. Whilst the accessories these come with aren’t worth even plugging in, the price is more than justifiable for anyone just getting into the hobby but unwilling to sink large sums into kit before they’ve played a few games. A lot of companies produce cheaper offerings under the name of “Sportline”, or similar monickers and they differ from their higher end brothers in materials used, so typically they will be polymer or plastic receivers instead of metal ones. The components inside will be of a lesser quality and, as such, they don’t have the longevity of higher-end parts and overall the finish isn’t

“MY SON HAS USED THIS NOW IN SEVERAL GAMES AND EACH TIME HE HAS ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. THE ONLY ADDITION HAS BEEN A CLONE EOTECH TO TAKE CARE OF AIMING DUTIES. OTHER THAN THAT, IT IS EXACTLY AS IT ARRIVED. IT HAS NEVER MISSED A BEAT OR HAD A MISFIRE.” I’ve dabbled with very cheap guns before, when “Chinasoft” was a thing and it was ridiculous the prices you could get a gun for in those heady days. My best deal was a JG M733 I think it was, which cost me £35 for the gun and £30 for shipping. Yes, when it arrived it was somewhere north of 490fps but with a spring change it was fine and to the best of my knowledge, it is still going strong today. It wasn’t all good though and some cheap guns were absolutely awful. Luckily it is very, very rare to actually get a RIF these days that is so bad it is completely unusable (it does happen but not so often and most manufacturers listen to feedback now and make changes if required). If we skip forward a few more years, entry level packages seem to be everywhere and oftentimes include things like batteries, safety glasses and chargers - and 14

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quite as polished. Saying that though, even with the obvious compromises, they are generally good to go straight out of the box and if treated well there is no reason they couldn’t go on to give years of service. For a long time, companies like G&G and Classic Army dominated this segment and the G&G “Combat Machine” (to take one example) was literally everywhere. Having done a lot of teching over the years, I have my own rather negative view on these and other G&G offerings and sadly nothing I’ve seen has done anything to change that …but I digress! The choice at this lower end of the market is now almost as large as further up the food chain and one example of a company bringing in good products at a good price is NUPROL. Having been around for a good while now, NUPROL

armoury NUPROL BREACHER

is not new to airsoft and, in fact, their accessories, BBs and (especially) gun cases are very well-represented at most skirmishes - and for good reason: they offer good products at good prices. In addition, they have a pretty substantial range of AEGs and I know my fellow contributor, Bill Pryce Thomas, has a particular soft spot for their new AK range and I myself included their Delta Pioneer in my round up of my top six M4s back in the Xmas issue. When an opportunity came to review the Breacher AEG from the same budget range I was all for it, as was my son (who loves his Delta Pioneer).

DELTA PIONEER BREACHER

The gun arrived in the now familiar black and red styled box adorned with images of the gun and some instructions, including battery recommendations, on the rear. Inside the gun is held firmly in place in a neat foam cut out and the package includes the gun, a Hicap PMAG-styled magazine, an instruction manual, a cleaning rod and some polymer Magpul-style back up sights. As I’ve already mentioned, the vast majority of the gun is made from a tough-looking plastic and this includes the rail, receivers, pistol grip, magazine, sights and stock. The buffer tube is metal, as is the outer barrel and sound hog loudener, which is a nice touch, along with the metal sling plate (I’ve had guns costing considerably more than this that didn’t include a sling plate). The stock tube will easily accommodate a 1300Mah battery, although I found the battery compartments in the crane stock to be quite narrow, so be aware of this if that is your preferred battery placement. The connector is the standard “mini-Tamiya” and it works fine getting power to the motor and making it all go as it should. The motor is more than adequate for the job and the gearbox is more than up to the task. There’s nothing earth-shattering about the guts of the gun but the word “capable” keeps springing to mind whenever I think of it. The same can be said for the tightbore aluminium barrel; it isn’t amazing but it is absolutely fine for chucking BBs down range and not just a short distance either; easily and consistently reaching out past 50m using ASG blaster 0.25g BBs. Rate of fire was a little slow compared to some guns but not so sluggish it was detrimental to game play and the FPS was a very site friendly 310 using 0.2g BBs, over the site chrono at Stormforce Airsoft.

IN GAME USE

My son has used this now in several games and each time he has absolutely loved it. The only addition has been a clone Eotech to take care of aiming duties. Other than that, it is exactly as it arrived. It has never missed a beat or had a misfire. It has fed from the three different types of magazines - all Hi-caps - without any issues. The big plusses for him (and I guess many players who will buy this) is the light weight. Compared to my full-metal PTS C4-10, it is easily less than half the weight so for junior players, or those that don’t want to (or can’t for whatever reason) be lumping a 3-4kg AEG around, it makes perfect sense.

SUMMARY

Would I recommend this to a more seasoned player? Probably not but I got this review sample with the expressed intention of looking at it from a novice player’s point of view and to see if it would meet the criteria that they might set for a purchase. As a player of long-standing I wouldn’t buy this gun for myself but that isn’t because it does what it does badly, that is most definitely NOT the case. No, I wouldn’t buy it because it doesn’t fit with what I want from an AEG. For a novice though, it ticks so many boxes it would be a huge mistake to not consider it! The price is low enough that it doesn’t evoke a sharp intake of breath – sub-£150 from most retailers is very reasonable I think, nor is it a massive investment if, after a few games, you find that airsoft isn’t really for you. As I already mentioned, the weight makes it particularly suitable for younger players and I’ve seen quite a few who, half-way through a day, are dreading going out after lunch as their arms are aching from the morning and carrying a full-metal AEG around. This won’t give you that problem. Long term I would say that upgrade potential is there but only if you swapped out most of the existing plastic furniture, including the receivers so it may well be cost-prohibitive to do so but I also think that, at that point the player may well have bought another gun already and this will possibly be sold to another new airsoft player with a limited budget or kept as a reminder, perhaps to be used occasionally or as a loaner for friends. Either way I can see them being around for many years and used by many people and that is no bad thing. AA

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event report IWA OUTDOORCLASSICS 2019

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN, THE TIME WHEN AIRSOFT ACTION HITS THE BIGGEST GUN TRADE SHOW IN EUROPE AND WHAT WE FOUND AT IWA IN NUREMBERG THIS YEAR WAS AN AIRSOFT INDUSTRY THAT IS MATURING AND GROWING! BILL TAKES US ON HIS JOURNEY THROUGH THE SHOW HALLS IN PART 1 OF OUR ANNUAL REPORT, STARTING WITH ALL THAT’S NEW AND IMPROVED IN RELATION TO RIFS AND ACCESSORIES. IWA IS MOST DEFINITELY MY VERY FAVOURITE show of the year when it comes to airsoft. All too often airsoft is an “also ran” alongside the mass of the shooting sports industry as a whole and all too often we airsofters are looked down upon by that mass. 2019 for me though, marked a HUGE change for numerous reasons that will become apparent throughout my report. Each and every year IWA gets bigger and better, of that there is no doubt. It’s a huge show; the Nuremberg MESSE covers 12 halls in total, some of them as big as a football stadium and the show now covers eleven of them. To put that in perspective, when I first attended IWA only six of the halls were in use - but the show just keeps on growing! IWA OutdoorClassics, held from 8th to 11th March, enjoyed further growth this year with 1,622 exhibitors (2018: 1,562) from around the world spread through eleven halls at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg. The leading international exhibition for hunting and shooting sports, outdoor equipment and equipment for civilian and official security requirements, IWA OutdoorClassics

to the magazine we have a pretty good overview of what has worked and where problems exist. I all too often see the comment that “Brand X” has “not responded to my messages or emails” but not all the manufacturers speak English, so sometimes it’s hard for them to appreciate what is an honest plea for help and let’s face it, online etiquette, or the lack of it doesn’t help either! Standing face to face with them, however, at a show where they will have a translator on hand if needed, means that we can speak to them directly about any concerns that need to be raised and I’m pleased to report there are a couple of companies that we will be working with directly to try and help overcome those “issues”. I know that many of you have a good laugh at us when the topic of IWA comes up but let me assure you… it’s bloody hard work! Yes, we do get first look at all the new “shiny things” but the schedule is brutally punishing! 03:00 get ups to catch planes and trains to and from the show are the norm. Seventeen-plus hour days are the norm from start to finish, as just as much

“03:00 GET UPS TO CATCH PLANES AND TRAINS TO AND FROM THE SHOW ARE THE NORM. SEVENTEEN-PLUS HOUR DAYS ARE THE NORM FROM START TO FINISH, AS JUST AS MUCH WORK GETS DONE AFTER THE SHOW AS IN IT. SOMEONE THIS YEAR ACTUALLY TRACKED THEIR FOOTFALL AND IT CAME IN AT OVER NINE MILES A DAY AND THAT’S JUST INSIDE THE SHOW ITSELF!” has been the meeting point for manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers and mail order firms, authorities and the trade press from the relevant sectors for 46 years. Once again this year, the event drew over 46,000 trade visitors to Nuremberg. Basically, for the week of IWA (and the allied Mil/ LE EnforceTac show) Nuremberg plays host to everyone who is anyone in the European shooting sports family - and to many that come from far further afield! IWA is where tactical and airsoft writers like me can stand toe to toe with manufacturers from around the globe, discuss their plans, check out all their latest products and provide feedback to them from the community. Whilst nobody at Airsoft Action would deem themself a “voice of the community”, we are involved with many groups and make note of any genuine problems we see. We also see and test a large number of RIFs and a huge pile of gear every year, so amongst the 30+ contributors 18

may 2019

work gets done after the show as in it. Someone this year actually tracked their footfall and it came in at over nine miles a day - and that’s just inside the show itself! When you see a picture of your favourite blogger or vlogger cracking a cold brewski at the end of the day, believe me, they have bloody earned that and so has everyone that’s been on their stands all day long! Suffice to say that we pack in as much as possible to the days we are at the show because this is our chance to be with all the manufacturers and distributors of airsoft goodies in person, and the opportunity must be embraced in full so we can continue to bring you the stories you want to read all year round.

BANGING ON!

So, enough of my musings and onto what you really want to hear!

event report IWA OUTDOORCLASSICS 2019

NUPROL Our first meeting of the show as usual was with a NUPROL and although they took a bit of flak from the internet trolls (who weren’t even at the show!) their airsoft stage extravaganza featuring professional dancers was truly a wonderful thing to behold and the crowds that gathered simply loved it! With an even bigger stand than last year, the entire team was on hand to meet, greet and show the world the professional face of airsoft business in the UK! Following the launch of the new RAVEN pistol range at the back end of 2017, the guys were once again rocking in Germany with the existing models and a whole heap of new “concept pistols” and I believe we can expect great things from this range in 2019! Alongside their new ROMEO AK models, they were showing a number from the E&L range they now distribute, along with choice models from their new distribution deal with A&K. I’ve said this year on year but in our current economic climate it is just stunning to see a British company doing so very well on the worldwide market. G&G G&G also always have something fresh and this year was absolutely no exception - in fact they blew many, me included, away with the depth of their new models! They are focusing on the pistol market this year and have a worldwide patent pending for their innovative whirl cylinder valve. In short, the whirl cylinder valve helps reduce frost built-up. You can expect a lot of pistols from them this year… 25 to be exact. They will be releasing different colour schemes and will have upgrade/replacement parts easily accessible for all new models. In addition, they will have a fully licensed rifle from Seekins Precision and Knights Armament, some new PRK “9mm” models and even a couple of righteous-looking open-bolt gas ARs. To put the icing on the cake they also had TWO bolt-action Lee Enfield rifles on show, one of which is the sniper variant but, sadly, we were advised that these would be for a 2020 release, which was disappointing. That said it certainly

looks like it’ll be another exciting year for them and their computerised “gun turret” looks like they’ll make it an exciting one for us too! ICS My old friends from ICS had their usual fine stand this year and, like other manufacturers, continue to tweak and refine their already super AEGS. As well as an extension to their new “BLE” handgun line, including a “Makarov”, they were showing off a really nice looking “light tan” finish and some excellent new rails, plus the HERA ARMS collaboration with ASG.

CLASSIC ARMY Classic Army were just across the way and once again seem to have upped their game in terms of quality and appearance; they also had more stand-alone accessories and rails than ever before with both KeyMod and M-Lok in evidence and some lovely looking “9mm AR” variants. This seemed to be a growing theme within many companies, no doubt mirroring the current trend in the “real steel” world. ASG ASG had moved stand location this year as the show continues to grow but as always they were “loud and proud” and rightly so! Big news included getting “hands on” the new “Shadow 2” pistol which is simply stunning both internally and externally. They also dropped a bit of a bomb by unveiling the first look at their new B&T Universal Service Weapon (fully

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EVENT REPORT IWA OUTDOORCLASSICS 2019

licensed) and, of course, their “CZ EVO and BREN” train continues to steam onwards with some exciting new accessories.

AND ON WE GO!

Those miles covered really clock up and many were feeling it after Day 1, in some cases due to a bit of a late “business meeting” in the ever-popular Finnegans! LCT The start of the second day though took our steps to the stand of LCT and whilst their display at the show was of largely existing products, they did have some great new rails and accessories to drool over, as well as their new BBs and much of the talk was still of their new EBB “recoil system”. Tom already has one installed in his personal AK and will be looking at this in detail soon, so we had LOTS of feedback to pass their way. They also showed us a new folding AK buffer tube to line up with their EBB system which is exciting but their BIG news for IWA 2019 was the brand-new, not seen before AK12! Suffice to say that it is a thing of utter beauty if you’re an “AK man” like me, especially when the build-quality of the sample was (as I expect from them) superlative! We look forward to getting one in as soon as they are released and taking it straight the the range!

BOLT Talking of “recoil AKs”, a trip to meet with BOLT revealed their own take on this and what a take it is! Now in full production form, their “AKSU” looks and performs brilliantly as some of you will have seen in our review and oh, what a nice kick it gives in the shoulder.

MAY 2019

VFC Tech just keeps on rolling forward and another superb model that caught my eye was the full-travel open-bolt SR25 ECC from VFC. Whilst perhaps not an out and out skirmish gun this is still an absolutely stunning piece of engineering and gives you a full travel bolt group and some absolutely stunning furniture from none other than Knights Armament! The operation seems to be mega-efficientand along with their super-looking “Samurai Edge” these these guys are really “one to keep watching” and I’m speaking to them in terms of review models right now.

REDWOLF I said earlier, airsoft continues to expand at IWA and as usual Redwolf were all over this, leading from the front as always. With some stunning new “Airsoft Surgeon” replicas to drool over, including Clarence’s rather wonderful competition creations and their continued collaboration with Agency Arms means that there are a more absolutely righteous-looking pistols on the way soon! Their stand, as always, was absolutely chock-a-block with airsoft goodness and innovation but one thing that particularly caught my eye was the new range of TITAN Lithium Ion batteries, which are superbly cutting edge and I look forward to having a closer look at these in due course. However, the real “showstopper” for many of us was their own stunning custom models and even those were surpassed by their “Nighthawk” pistols, while their continued collaborations with Agency

EVENT REPORT IWA OUTDOORCLASSICS 2019

Arms, Battle Arms Development and Fortis means that there are again a few more absolutely righteous looking RIFs on the way soon! GUNFIRE/SPECNA ARMS Gunfire really came to the fore this year and their “customs” were just as jaw-dropping as usual! Their range of product continues to grow and grow and seeing pictures of their new, state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution centre showed me that these guys REALLY mean business. I recently placed an order with them myself, and to say their service was excellent is a total understatement! With RIFs from most major manufacturers, along with their own “Primal Gear” and “Armoured Claw” glove lines, these guys are simply forging ahead but it was the SPECNA ARMS EDGE series of AEGs that really lit my fire. SPECNA ARMS has been getting bigger and better since I first saw them, and with the top-end EDGE AEG I truly believe they’ll cause a stir. I’m looking forward on getting my hands on one of these as soon as possible for testing and will report back as soon as I’ve had it “downrange”. I was also very excited to see their “Snaiperskaya Vintovka” SV-98 sniper rifle which will be a “must have” for any selfrespecting OPFOR sharpshooter!! HONOURABLE MENTIONS Before I wrap up, as usual I have to make a couple of “honourable mentions” of things that I saw that I thought to be first rate. King Arms continue to build their range of pistols and once again were showing a very, very respectable looking “RONI” kit licensed by CAA. Umarex, it has to be said, pulled a bit of a blinder with their new licensed GLOCK models and although Scott tells me they ain’t going to be cheap, I’m going to bet there’s a few out there that will find the cash for these little crackers! Valken, after a bit of time in the doldrums, are back in full swing and, again, we’ll be working with them going forward.

AWARDS AND CELEBRATIONS

This years’ Airsoft Meetup, arranged by Ronald from NLA, along with Vic and Owen from Popular Airsoft (and their worthy, hard-working teams!) was bigger as well. In addition to the Awards Ceremony I was honoured to be part of the Airsoft Discussion Panel again, along with my great friend and fellow AA contributor, Kelly.

This year the players discussion panel was followed by a manufacturers one, with Nuprol, G&G, LayLax, Tippman, Redwolf and Gunfire all ably represented. The Meetup also hosted the Popular Airsoft Players Choice Awards and the Airsoft Action team were honoured with the award for “Best Airsoft Magazine” for the third year running. It was humbling when my friend Nige stepped up to collect the “shiny thing” that acknowledged the hard work that he and the entire team have put in over the past few years. Our congratulations go to all the award recipients and we look forward to working with you all in the future!

Airsoft companies continue to innovate and grow and, as I said at the start of this report, there appears to be a new dynamism and professionalism apparent wherever you may look. Sadly, this also means that the business is becoming a bit harder-edged and I did hear of one particular incident that should have no place in any business, let alone airsoft. It’s saddening to hear of this happening and I truly hope that the friendship, fellowship and honour will not be lost to the mighty dollar… only time will tell. On a brighter note (and I said this last year) but to conclude I will use simply one word again… “MEALSIM!”… bigger, bolder, better, and MUCH louder than ever before! Together we feasted! Next month I’ll head into the gear halls for our usual clothing, footwear and gear review but for now I’ll just say that IWA 2019 was a tremendous show again both for me personally and for Airsoft Action and I hope to see just as many folk from the UK airsoft community in Nuremberg next year. The show has already been fixed for Friday 6th to Monday 9th March 2020, so get it in your diary and the Airsoft Action crew look forward to seeing you in Germany next year! AA www.airsoft-action.online

SITE REPORT ALLSORTS AIRSOFT SOUTHDOWN

ALLSORTS... AIN’T JUST LIQUORICE!

AIRSOFT ACTION’S ROVING REPORTER, LEZ LEE, HEADS INTO THE WILDS OF WEST SUSSEX TO BRING US A REPORT FROM AN AIRSOFT SITE THAT IS RAPIDLY GROWING IN POPULARITY. SET DEEP BESIDE ONE OF THE LUSH country back roads of West Sussex, a copse of unparalleled wilderness lies secreted in densely forested woodland. Over 100 acres of firs and flora obscure the skyline and screen the perimeter of a place where deer run wild and free. But this ain’t about nature’s finest and I’m not the legendary Sir David Attenborough! This is about a band of brothers and sisters that have infiltrated one of the most naturally created and challenging airsoft arenas in the South and if you think you’re tough enough to run ‘n’ gun a strategically placed and heavily defended encampment up on a 45° hillside, then I dare you to try! Oh.. and did I mention the deep trenches surrounding this FOB? ...thought not! The ALLSORTS AIRSOFT family chose to rejuvenate this exceptional but neglected prime skirmish area with all the bells and whistles and is now what I believe to be an exceptional airsoft arena, with all the good stuff thrown in that we have come to expect in the 21st century pastime of airsoft. So let’s start this report at the beginning… You will need a sat nav - trust me - because this area known as Graffham (yeah, I’d never heard of it either)

lies off the main roads in between Petworth and Midhurst, which favourably places it way beyond the frowning faces of passers-by. Fortunately, the postcode of GU28 0LR will lead you right to the front door (if it had one) but just in case, there is a sign at the end of the lane. Ample parking is just a few metres from the covered safe zone so no need to lug your kit bags half way across the woods. A walk on price of £25.00 will get you a day’s skirmishing under the watchful eyes of experienced and highly visible Marshals that not only oversee fair and honest play but drive the teams towards their objective with enthused directives. Also, this includes hot lunch, hot drinks, two of the cleanest portaloos I’ve ever seen, a well-stocked site shop, a well-managed chrono station, an onsite gun tech legendary master of the soldering iron, Ian Dinsmore, who has more Tamiya to Dean’s conversions under his belt than claims on an MP’s expense account. And then we have the magnificent 90 metre shooting range and oh my! What a bloody good range it is too! Not only are the targets uniform to the distance but they are each boldly numbered for accurate range assessment. This is a simple but incredibly useful facility because it will allow you to not only zero your scopes and tune your hops, but

“THE BRIEFING COMMENCED WITH HEAD MARSHALL, JAMES UNDERWOOD, WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AIRSOFT SINCE STONEHENGE WAS BUILT. HIS WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WAS NOT ONLY TO OVERSEE THE BATTLES BUT TO DESIGN SOME WELL THOUGHT OUT AND CHALLENGING GAMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.”

APRIL 2019

SITE REPORT ALLSORTS AIRSOFT SOUTHDOWN

challenge each other to shooting competitions and more, all within a fully enclosed and safe area adjacent to the safe zone. Although ALLSORTS AIRSOFT (Southdown) is not a brand new site, the land owner/operator simply didn’t have the time to enhance this area of great potential and things just ticked over with a few regular players until its demise, which was a shame given the location and topography. However, with Liz and Ray’s interest in airsoft developing at a rapid pace, they took things to the next level and went from a local site shop to opening Allsorts Airsoft retail shop, in 2018, on the main through road in Littlehampton. Such was their passion for airsoft, they decided to take yet another step forward and found that the former Southdown Airsoft site needed re-opening with an injection of upgrades to not only bring it in line with modern day expectations, but to surpass many existing sites in the South. So the deal was done and their first day was a huge success, with around 100 people on site.

walk-on games are being held on the last Sunday of every month but there are some odd days that go against this rule, so please check us out on Facebook. Search for our group “Allsorts Airsoft – Southdown Site”. The intention of our first open day was to utilise as much of the site as we could to give the players an idea of the scale and also to experience the varied ground we have to offer.

The briefing commenced with Head Marshall, James Underwood, who has been involved in airsoft since Stonehenge was built. His wealth of knowledge and experience was not only to oversee the battles but to design some well thought out and challenging games throughout the day, starting with a “basic” hill game (he-he). This is best explained by the man himself, so over to you James.....

rejuvenate the facility into a functioning CP, complete with vehicle barriers and defensive firing points. • Jungle – Closely managed coppiced hazel makes for an extremely dense woodland environment, ideal for flanking and ambushes. • Ammo Dump – Mixed medium density woodland with severely undulating ground and craters throughout. The area houses dozens of oil barrels. • Drop Zone – Long grasses and ferns sit at the crest of yet another steep hill, with a small stream at the base. It’s an excellent firing position to engage attackers making their way down the adjacent hill. Set back from the crest are barricades and foxholes making this a very defendable position.

THE GROUND

The Allsorts Airsoft – Southdown site is 100+ acres of prime Southdown woodland, dispersed with steep hills and valleys, dense ferns and rhododendron bushes as well as bunkers and bases dotted throughout. Currently,

• The OP (Observation Post) – An area of dense ferns and loosely spread spruce trees. The area is commanded by a set of bunkers and barricades with interlocking trench systems that are well concealed with camouflage netting. • Hill 360 – The peak of a hill with extraordinarily steep sides with spruce trees clinging to the edge. The top of the hill is adorned with bunkers and firing positions. • Check Point – Currently a rundown shack sitting on the corner of two tracks but plans are in place to

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SITE REPORT ALLSORTS AIRSOFT SOUTHDOWN

• The Slums – A CQB maze made from thick material which absorb shots and vastly reduces ricochets. Designed with plenty of tight corners and choke points There are many other areas on the site which we have neglected to mention at this time. Mainly because the site is newly opened and these areas need developing before we will announce them.

one of the best and most physically challenging airsoft theatres in the South. There is something about family run airsoft sites that gives them a warm and welcoming appeal and ALLSORTS AIRSOFT ticks all the boxes in my book. I feel that a good example of this is that during one of their preparation days leading up to the first game day, both Ray and Liz were not discouraged when

THE OPENING DAY

a big old full size fir tree (which was rotten to the core) decided to end its days ...by crashing down on both of them and causing some very nasty injuries. Ray was particularly hit badly, with a leg broken in five places, spinal trauma and a bunch of other nastiness which put him in hospital for some time and even though this happened just a couple of weeks before the opening day, both Liz and Ray were not deterred and were both in attendance, although I think Ray might have benefited from an all-terrain wheelchair. Nevertheless, it was decided that “the show must go on”!

We kicked off our opening day with a simple “King of the Hill” game, with the emphasis firmly on the word “HILL”. Afterwards we did an extended rolling assault which covered an estimated 1.4KM before breaking for lunch, which consisted of hotdogs, fizzy drinks and crisps. “Lovely hotdog, enough to fuel us but didn’t leave me feeling sluggish or bloated” was one players review. To celebrate our inauguration over lunch, a raffle ticket was included in the walk on fee with prizes valued in excess of £1,000 including what seemed like a never ending supply of bottles of Bulldog BBs along with around 16 other prizes, including some top quality RIF’s. After lunch we headed straight to the slums for some high intensity CQB action, with teams activating and deactivating a bomb by entering a code that they struggled to commit to memory. We had a fantastic opening day, we could not have wished for any better. The Allsorts team owe great thanks to those that volunteered to muck in and help us get ready.

To conclude, this site is not just another woodland site, it is “different” in so many positive ways. For starters it has everything that you will need for a great day out but additionally there are some very well designed enhancements, thanks both to the Allsorts friends and family and, indeed, good old mother nature. Lez OUT!

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

The Allsorts team want to make this site as inclusive and friendly as possible. We are welcoming to the new players and grizzled old warriors alike and hope that you will find enjoyment in our games, whether you are a pure skirmish junkie or a hardcore MilSim addict. Going forward we hope to add vehicles to our list of props and objectives, we already have three 4WD vehicles on site but they are in need of some TLC before they can be considered “airsofter-proof”. Additionally in the pipe line, not only do we have our walk on skirmish days once a month but we will also have Weekender Events, WW2 Weekender and a Halloween Zombie Experience. It’s an exciting time for all of us at ALLSORTS AIRSOFT and we hope that you come and try us out soon. Thank you James. In my opinion, Liz and Ray and the highly motivated team have got what it takes in terms of experience, enthusiasm and determination, to make this

CONTACT DETAILS Allsorts Airsoft 9 Arundel Road Littlehampton BN17 7BY Phone: 01903 714688 E mail: allsortsairsoft@gmail.com

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FEATURE AIRSOFT GRENADES

BOOM! BOOM! CLEAR THE ROOM!

WHEN A ROOM NEEDS TO BE CLEARED THERE IS NOTHING MORE EFFICIENT AT DOING SO THAN THE (NOT SO) HUMBLE AIRSOFT GRENADE. ANGELO DV GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON THREE DIIFFERENT DEVICES. IN THE MANY YEARS I HAVE BEEN testing and reviewing various airsoft guns, products and sites up and down the country, I have seen countless pistols, shotguns and rifles in use so I decided that I would look at something different but no less important than a primary weapon. Yes, I am of course talking about airsoft grenades. Now there are many different types of grenade on the market, that serve various purposes but for this review I am concentrating on room clearing. I know we have all tried those dreadful “pea grenades” that pop and fire a few dried peas or similar out but they rely on a dry striker on the top which is not always the case, especially when it is raining hard. The three grenades I am testing are “impact” grenades that are gas-powered not percussion capped. So you basically fill them with gas, load as many BBs in as you can, then toss them into a room and bingo, you’re in! The three grenades I have chosen for this report are all very similar, with two of them made from very tough polymer and one from hard aluminium but all use the same principal. 1. The Storm 360 grenade from ASG (Big Boy) 2. The E-Raz which is marketed both from BO Dynamics and NUPROL (The Rascal) 3. The Strataim Nova grenade which I believe is available from most airsoft retailers. (The Heavyweight) To make this fair I have judged the grenades on three different categories, marking them out of 5. • Ease of use • Effectiveness • Reliability/Durability Remember though, this is just my opinion and yours might be completely different so, as always, see if one of your mates can let you try theirs, or ask your local shop if it they have a range to try them out before you hand over your cash.

MAY 2019

THE BASICS

OK, so the basic principal of these devices is that you fill them with gas via the valve on the top and then there is a hole near the top of the grenade in which you load your BBs. Each of these grenades will take between 100-150 BBs so a speed loader is a must. One thing to point out at this stage, is with each grenade when filling with BBs if it feels full, shake the grenade and you’ll find they move down the internal spiral and you can fit more in. Prior to filling with gas, each product comes with a pin that you insert through two holes on the side of the flange where the plunger lives. Make sure the pin is located correctly then fill it with gas. You will actually hear the plunger pop up slightly against the pin. Then we get to the the fun part… Pull the pin out, toss it into the room where the enemy are and wait while hell is unleashed …I LOVE EM!!

ASG STORM 360

I met up with Paul from ASG some time ago and he handed me the Storm 360 and asked if I would review it and also what I thought of it. So, with eager anticipation, when I got home I tried it. After a brief look at the instructions and safety guide I put the pin in (which I might add is extremely sturdy), filled it with green WE gas and Draft Club 0.25g BBs. I then popped out to the back garden, pulled the pin and threw it on the patio. Now all I can say is, when someone throws this into a

FEATURE AIRSOFT GRENADES

room be somewhere else! The 360 jumped up spinning and the BBs went everywhere, I was even hit by quite a few of the BBs myself and they sting. I challenge anyone who is in a room and not behind hard cover not to be hit by a least one BB. It was like watching a tornado that spat BBs at you and wanted to rip your head off, it’s absolutely nuts!! So I thought I would have another go and another and so on. I must say at this point the grenade started to leak gas and needed to be fully stripped to see what the problem was and found a dodgy main seal was rolled over. I contacted Paul and Ben at ASG to inform them of this and I had a new seal kit within 3 days, which is great customer support. I guess some cynics will say it shouldn’t have started leaking at all but let me tell you something… all the grenades in the test did. These things are under high pressure and being thrown around, something has to give eventually. These are my scores for the Storm 360: • Ease of use 4/5 • Effectiveness 5/5 • Reliability/Durability 2/5

BO DYNAMICS/NUPROL E-RAZ

After a good chat with Danny from Nuprol and my fellow writer Bill Pryce Thomas, I managed to lay my hands of one of the BO Dynamics E-Raz grenade, which I had seen quite a bit of on different Facebook pages. I will admit when I took this out of the box it felt a bit… well… “cheap” if I’m honest. It is very light and a fair bit smaller than the Storm but, as we all know, looks can be deceiving. What I did like was the size though, it will easily fit into most utility pouches with no effort and when I said looks can be deceiving, I was right on the money. The E-Raz loads up pretty much the same as the Storm but there is an O ring near the hole where you put the BBs in which made it a little bit fiddlier. So down with the plunger and in with pin, gassed and full of BBs I tossed it onto the patio and boom! BBs everywhere in a similar spread to the Storm but with slightly less BBs and impact. The E-Raz also started to leak after a few throws but that was easily solved with a couple of drops of decent silicone oil down the side of the plunger. These are my scores for the E-Raz: • Ease of use 3/5 • Effectiveness 4/5 • Reliability/Durability 3/5

STRATAIM NOVA

So down to the final participant in this shootout and have I saved the best until last? Unlike the other two grenades, I had seen quite a bit of marketing and videos of this grenade so I wasn’t totally in the dark about it. During a visit to The Skunkworks, Matt mentioned to me that he had one of these grenades and would I like to add it in to the shootout which, of course, I accepted. However, this grenade is quite a bit different to the other two. First of all it is made from very solid aluminium billet and has two holes to load the BBs in, not just one like the others. Another different design feature is that the plunger and the gas fill valve are one and the same, whereas the others are separate. This caused a bit of a problem when having to hold the plunger down with a pin and fill it with gas. This isn’t helped by the fact that the pin is a really flimsy-looking split pin. OK, it’s tied to a piece of string with a clip on the other end you could attach to your rig but this looks like a really well engineered bit of kit, so why skimp on the safety part of the device. Really irked me that. Filling it with BBs isn’t that easy either. The O ring you have to move to get the BBs in is really tight so it’s even fiddlier than the E-Raz. Anyway, plunger down, fiddle with the safety pin and load up with gas and BBs and off to the patio for a third time. I pulled the pin, tossed it and nothing happened… (strokes chin). So I threw it again and it went off, causing as much (if not a little more) chaos than the other two. This also leaked after a few throws but again a bit of silicone oil down the side of the plunger and it sealed up nicely and, as this is made of aluminium it should last for many moons to come. These are my scores for the Nova: • Ease of use 2/5 • Effectiveness 4/5 • Reliability/Durability 4/5 So there you have it. If you want to clear a room then get one of these, they are immense fun and get the job done and I personally think they are awesome. My thanks go to Paul & Ben from ASG, Bill Pryce Thomas and the guys at NUPROL and Matt at The Skunkworks for supplying the test grenades. BOOM! BOOM! Go get some folks! AA

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COMMUNITY ALL AGES AIRSOFT - DOVER

ALL AGES AIRSOFT

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL SHOPS FOR AIRSOFT COMMUNITIES THE AIRSOFT INDUSTRY IS BECOMING MORE BUSINESS-LIKE DAY BY DAY. DRIVEN IN PART BY MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, IT SEEMS THE DAYS OF THE “PLAYER RETAILER” MAY BE DRAWING TO A CLOSE… OR ARE THEY? BILL TAKES A LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF “THE LOCAL SHOP” AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO FELLOW PLAYERS IN HIS NECK OF THE WOODS. NOT SO LONG AGO, TO REACH my “local” airsoft shop entailed a two hour round trip, money for petrol and parking and invariably ended up with me getting home and swearing loudly and volubly because I’d forgotten something or other! And so it was with great joy then that I heard the news mid-last year that my home town was at last getting a shop of its own and that the shop would be run by someone that, like me, had been around in the UK airsoft community for some considerable time. Perhaps it’s just me, but I’m always wary when I hear of someone claiming to have been there “back in the day” and also telling folk about their prowess as a “tech” but I was lucky enough to meet Marcus, the shop owner, before the doors of “All Ages Airsoft” opened to the public. After some back and forth, some mutual connections and a good chat about the mysterious inner working of AEGs, I was more than satisfied that he knew what he was on about and was, indeed, the “real deal”. Marcus has been involved in airsoft possibly even longer

I’m the first one to admit that I’ve made some howling mistakes in my life and as far as I’m concerned, admitting this makes you a better person in my eyes. Sadly though, in the days of “shout first, establish facts second” that we seem to live in, there were those that seemed hell-bent on raking up “old news” about Marcus which saddened me deeply and before the shop even opened, the potential for a new (and much needed) local community hub hung in the balance… And this is where I’ll start to talk about the huge importance of having a healthy and robust local community. As soon as unpleasant rumours and hearsay started, a number of seasoned local players, myself included, stood by our new friend and simply said “no, not on our watch”. When a man admits to his shortcomings, of his “failures past” honestly and openly, that in my book shows both simple honesty and integrity and what has followed has proved his character beyond doubt! “Chairborne Warriors”, head back to the dark place you inhabit and leave decent folk alone, would you?

“PASSERS-BY OFTEN JUST DROP IN TO FIND OUT WHAT’S GOING ON; YOUNGSTERS WITH A “COD-DRIVEN” INTEREST, AND MUMS AND DADS WITH THE KIDS… ALL ARE WELCOME AND TREATED WITH OPENNESS AND RESPECT.” than I have, back in the early days of Greenham and Electrowerkz and worked for some considerable time as tech at the original Wolf Armouries. Conversation led to some fine reminiscing about sites and players and we even worked out that we’d probably played at Fort Amherst on the same days! Like many of us though, myself included, for a while life ganged up and, by his own admission, he “made some poor choices” which led to him taking a break from the game - and the industry itself.

MAY 2019

For our little “community” the new shop, modest as it is, has become a thriving hub of activity and airsoft joy. It’s a place where we can just drop in and be assured of a warm welcome whether we buy anything or not, a venue where we can meet friends in an inviting setting, sit on the sofa, drink coffee and talk about guns and games. Marcus has purposely made the shop welcoming to all and it’s not uncommon to see more seasoned players chatting to total beginners about their first two-tone

COMMUNITY ALL AGES AIRSOFT - DOVER

AEG! It’s on the main street so passers-by often just drop in to find out what’s going on; youngsters with a “CODdriven” interest, and Mums and Dads with the kids… all are welcome and treated with openness and respect. It’s essentially a very friendly and inclusive place… with the added bonus of RIFs and gear! Although Marcus has run a couple of “open house” evening events on a smaller scale, earlier this year, on Saturday March 2nd, he got together with “Red Van Man” Trent, to host a NUPROL day at the shop and I was very happy to go along and see what was going on. Although free tea and coffee was on tap, I took along some genuine “Twinkies” that had been a gift from my good mate John T at J-Tac Custom and this set the tone for much jollity about “Zombieland” and “Die Hard”… a visit to the shop will undoubtedly devolve into a debate on the latest tactical/war-y/zombie movie or TV show and what firearms are used to best effect! As we all know, the sheer depth of the range offered these days by NUPROL through their own excellent brands is comprehensive but when you add E&L, S&T, Double Eagle et al to the mix, Trent’s display becomes more than impressive! As with any small shop, Marcus can’t possibly stock every single model, so to have everything on hand was a real treat for most who came along and come along they surely did! When I arrived at the shop at 10:30 it was absolutely heaving! Players were mooching around the displays “oohing and ahhing”, whilst from the basement the sound of pistols cracking away indicated that some were seriously “trying before buying”. Marcus, his “little helper” Aidan (sorry mate, couldn’t resist!), Trent and a number of regulars were all speaking to those visiting; giving advice, and telling the usual, and highly entertaining tales of derring-do. Even I got in on the act at one point, speaking at length to a couple of guys about the new ROMEO AK models which I reviewed when they launched! Once again, the atmosphere was full of warmth and genuine passion and I have to admit standing back and just enjoying the moment as, to me, this was everything that a good local airsoft shop should be. Gradually the numbers began to thin and even then the sense of “belonging” continued, as a run was made to the chippy and everyone proceeded to tuck in together. As is usual in this situation, everything went quiet for a while and companionable silence reigned. NUPROL do a fabulous job of supporting sites, games, and “grass-roots” events like this one, and of course this does result in good business being done; many of the local players that frequent the shop run with Breachers,

Defenders and RAVEN pistols, although the ROMEOs are strangely popular in my neck of the woods... The new shop for our little airsoft community has proved to be a real home from home and a haven too; if you head in under a cloud, I guarantee you will leave to sunny skies! This clearly illustrates the importance of a shop to any airsoft community as it’s not just about the game is it? It’s about those guys next to you, the ones you can trust to “have your six” - both on the field and off. I’m pleased to report that the shop, thanks to sheer hard work by Marcus and the guys, along with support from the likes of NUPROL, iWholeslaes and ASG, is doing well. As I write, the stairs to the basement range have just been rebuilt with the input of the players themselves; both labour and some materials have been provided by the community so as to make “our shop” even better. New shooting lanes are planned and the workshop (which Marcus lets me use for my own arcane airsoft projects!) has also been improved and upgraded. We’ve managed to secure an outdoor range for the summer, so no doubt there will be shooting and BBQs aplenty in the good weather months ahead and Marcus has even been welcomed into our local, loose-knit team. The shop has already become the hub for our community and that particular group is now thriving more than ever before! At “All Ages Airsoft” the door is always open, the kettle on, and the sofa (which I donated by the way!) is ready for you to relax on. If you’re passing through Dover, perhaps on your way to the ferry, then feel free to drop in as you’ll undoubtedly find someone from “our community” ready to welcome you. See you there soon I hope! “All Ages Airsoft” is situated at 32 London Rd, Dover, Kent and you can find out more about the shop by visiting www.facebook.com/pg/allagesairsoftdover AA

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KIT & GEAR WAS UNIVERSAL HOLSTER

WARRIOR ASSAULT SYSTEMS

UNVERSAL HOLSTER

CAN A UNIVERSAL HOLSTER REALLY SUIT ALL SIDEARMS? STEVE TAKLE FINDS OUT… HOW GOOD CAN A UNIVERSAL HOLSTER really be? Especially one that’s the equivalent of a cummerbund compared to a full body suit. As it turns out, pretty good... If you only use one sidearm, then a polymer retention holster makes perfect sense. But at £20 and more a pop, that can get expensive for those of us that like to switch it up between games. I’ve used a “full” fabric universal for a long time, but there are certain guns that just won’t work with it. One of those is the perennially popular CZ P-09, which has the unfortunate habit of ejecting its mags under pressure because of the way its release stands proud. There are no such problems with this ingenious solution from Warrior Assault Systems. We’ve tested it with the P-09, but also Glocks, Hi Capas, M9s, and even a P99, all without issue. We’ve wangled, finangled, pressed, prodded and

reach for it and as you grasp the grip, apply pressure to the thumb-activated lever; it feels very natural in action and with practice adds little to your draw time. It’s certainly quicker than releasing either a press stud or velcro fastening. The outer is a fabric and velcro system that wraps around your sidearm with a series of flaps, from side to side and top to bottom. It might sound precarious but, cinched in, it holds just about any gun we’ve tried nice and tight to the release mechanism. The fact that each velcro flap also has a fabric release tab only speaks to the overall quality of the product. Our only criticism would be that the straps attaching the holster to a belt lack press studs or even velcro for security, relying on an “under-tuck” instead. We’ve used it for a few games without it detaching but we’d still prefer to see a firmer physical method to secure it to a duty belt or MOLLE panel, just for peace of mind.

“IT FEELS VERY NATURAL IN ACTION AND WITH PRACTICE ADDS LITTLE TO YOUR DRAW TIME.” pushed every which way but have yet to lose a mag out of it. We know that other players have had problems, but you can see where the frame comes close to the release mechanism; take a minute or two to set the holster for the gun and we have yet to experience an unwitting ejection.

HOLD FAST

As for the gun itself, they’ve all been held fast by this holster. It may look like a minimal offering but at its core is a polymer frame that engages the sidearm with a push-to-release mechanism. The gun is secured until you 34

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UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING

If you’re the kind of player that uses more than one sidearm and you don’t have an unlimited budget for a series of dedicated systems, then a universal holster is essential. Where the more conventional full solutions can eject costly magazines, the Warrior Assault Systems holster offers a viable alternative as long as you’re willing to retrain your thumb to release instead of your trigger finger. We can’t say that it will work for every sidearm, but at less than £40, we think it’s a worthwhile investment to try with your loadout. AA

KIT & GEAR MECHANIX GLOVES UPDATE

A FEW ISSUES BACK PHIL BUCKNALL REVIEWED THE MECHANIX 0.5MM HIGH DEXTERITY GLOVES, AS A REPLACEMENT FOR HIS SADLY DEPARTED HATCH OPERATORS, WHICH HAD GIVEN GOOD SERVICE FOR WELL OVER EIGHT YEARS. SO HOW ARE THEY DOING NOW?

I KNEW WHEN I GOT THESE that there was no way on Earth they would last even half the Hatch Operators did as the palm material was so thin – just 0.5mm! That’s super thin for a pair of gloves expected to be used by Law Enforcement, military and airsoft players. The fabric on the back of the gloves is also quite a thin spandex type stretch fabric. The first time I used these they were great; exactly what I wanted from a pair of gloves! The feel through the thin fabric the palms was spot on and I thought I had sussed the problem I had always endured with all of the other gloves I had used before. I could really feel through these and mag changes, as well as more dexterous, functions were easier to accomplish. They were also very comfy and the elasticated back made them give where and when needed. They were neither too hot to wear, nor too cold when the temperature started to head south. Overall I was really happy and this continued for about 4-5 games. Sadly, the happiness didn’t just subside but completely evaporated on my sixth outing with the High Dexterity Gloves… Within an hour there was a rip in the left thumb (and not just on the palm but the spandex backing as well) that went from the tip of my thumb to two thirds of the way down. Sad Phil.

What made it worse was the response of the retailer - who refused point blank to replace the gloves saying they had “failed through use”. I could understand this if I’d used them every day for 6 or more months but after six uses of no more than 6 hours at a time. I think that is ridiculous; remember these are being marketed as gloves for the military and LEO’s as well as airsofters and there is nary a mention of a reduced lifespan for the gloves! Mechanix themselves (via their Customer Service email) also said “no” and I was feeling quite rambunctious by then! Once they’d seen my post about it on Facebook - I tagged them in as I wanted them to explain how a pair of gloves that had been used for less than a week of cumulative use had started to come apart and why they and their sales agents thought it was acceptable - lo and behold, a lovely PR lady from Mechanix got in touch and suddenly, a new pair of HD gloves (as well as a pair of Fast Fit gloves) were winging their way to me! So, in the end, it is a happy ending BUT…is that because I whinged on Facebook and called them out? I reckon so. Does that mean I’ve completely given up on Mechanix? Nope, no way! I really like their gloves and I really liked the HD 0.5mm ones too. I bought a pair of Fast Fit ones when the HD’s died on me and I’ve had a pair of M-PACT ones for years that have survived some really crappy weather and conditions. Once it gets a bit warmer I will break out the new HD gloves and give them another go. It is quite possible that they had a manufacturing fault in the pair I had and I believe in giving companies a second chance; especially if they go to the bother of sending me a replacement pair. It’s only fair. I would say though, that if you buy a pair of the HD 0.5mm gloves, don’t expect them to survive through months of constant abuse - or even weeks. If you are particularly tough on kit like gloves then you’re either going to have to use something else or accept that you will be replacing them every few weeks. In essence, treat them as “disposable” and you could well be pleasantly surprised if they last longer than a few weeks. AA

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SURVIVAL OVERNIGHT KIT

ON OCCASIONS THERE MAY BE A NEED TO STAY OUT IN THE FIELD OVERNIGHT. BEING ON THE GROUND FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME IS GOING TO MEAN CARRYING MORE EQUIPMENT AND GETTING USED TO LIVING OUTSIDE. PAUL YELLAND GIVES US A FEW TIPS ON WHAT EQUIPMENT TO TAKE AND HOW TO STAY COMFORTABLE. IF YOU ARE ATTENDING A WEEKEND EVENT, be it a MilSim without breaks, or one that pauses overnight, it may well mean you will have to stay out “in the wild” overnight - even if that “wild” isn’t far from civilisation - and there are a few things to consider beforehand. In particular, give attention to the equipment you will take, which can include the following: • Shelter • Sleeping equipment • Ground insulation • Cooking equipment • Extra rations and water • Spare warm clothing • Personal admin • Medical (including own prescribed medications) • Torch (with red filter) • Spare batteries • Spare ammunition I’ll take a quick look at each of these in turn.

SHELTER

Depending on the circumstances, this could be under canvas or inside a building. Not all overnight stops are going to need to be tactical, especially if it is just a group of mates out for a laugh, but if you are into MilSim then keeping things military themed could be fun. The most basic form of shelter for use outdoors is the military basha. This is an extremely adaptable piece of kit that I have discussed in previous articles – and a personal favourite of mine. I have slept underneath one of these through all weathers and survived to tell the tale. If the basha is put up correctly and in a suitable location, then it will provide adequate protection from the elements. If the weather is warm and dry, another option is to just use a sleeping bag placed inside a gortex type bivvy bag. Sleeping like this is quite an experience as there is no overhead shelter and will be completely exposed to any changes in the weather that could occur during the 38

MAY 2019

The versatile basha.

night. On the plus side, it really is sleeping underneath the stars if you are into that kind of thing. The other benefit is the set-up time is minimal. Another option for a shelter is to use a civilian tent which will give you excellent protection from the weather and somewhere to keep your kit dry – but this is not suitable if you need to remain tactical.

SLEEPING BAGS

There are a few things to consider when choosing a sleeping bag. Firstly, the filling is either going to be synthetic fibre or down (small feathers). Both types have advantages and disadvantages with synthetic performing well in damp / wet conditions unlike down that will not insulate when wet. In very cold and dry conditions, down provides better warmth than synthetic but when it comes to cleaning, down sleeping bags need to be carefully cleaned unlike synthetic filled bags that can usually be put into a washing machine. Down sleeping bags tend to weigh less than synthetic bags and can be compressed more to take up less room inside a bergen. The next consideration is what season rating the bag should be. Sleeping bags are generally rated one, two,

SURVIVAL OVERNIGHT KIT

three or four seasons. One and two season rated bags will keep you comfortable in warm summer weather.

and reasonably easy to put up whilst others need assembling and are more time consuming.

FOOD AND DRINK

The Snugpak Softie 9 Hawk.

Three and four season bags will provide better insulation in colder conditions. The shape and size of the sleeping bag is important to get right because a bag that is too short and not wide enough won’t keep you warm and will be restrictive and uncomfortable. It is a good idea to choose a sleeping bag that comes with a hood because a considerable amount of warmth is lost from the body through the head. Using a bivvy bag will stop the sleeping bag getting wet from rain or condensation on the inside of a basha and a sleeping bag liner will help to keep the inside of the bag clean when you crawl inside it with muddy clothes on.

Extra food and drink will need to be brought along – and enough for the planned duration of the event. Check beforehand to see if there is mains water on site or whether all water needs to be carried in. Some sites operate a catering facility which is great if you are not miles away from it in the middle of nowhere, otherwise all food, water and cooking equipment will have to be man packed in with you. After stopping for the day,

GROUND INSULATION

It doesn’t matter how well your sleeping bag performs, if you sleep directly on the cold and damp ground you will lose body heat downwards. That is why anyone who is sleeping outdoors needs to lay on an insulating roll mat. These are either tough foam or filled with air (self-inflating) and can be bulky to carry – but worth the space and although basic, really do make a difference.

Eat rations hot whenever you can.

getting some hot food inside you is a must. Even if you feel too exhausted, it is important to make the effort and heat up some rations and make a hot brew to replace the calories that have been lost during the day. Military rations can be eaten cold if necessary but are better warm.

ROUTINE & PERSONAL ADMIN

Decent ground insulation is important.

Having a set routine can really help to keep both you and your equipment in good condition while out in the field. When you are feeling completely shattered, soaking wet and freezing cold, knowing what needs to be done and in what order can make a real difference to your physical state. A routine also prompts you to do the simple things such as change into dry clothes, cook food and maintain weapons.

HAMMOCKS

A different option to sleeping on the ground is a hammock. Usually suspended from the head and foot end between two trees, a hammock is a way of sleeping off the ground and is commonly used in jungle environments. There are various makes of hammock from a basic net to an all in one hammock with a canopy and mosquito net. Hammocks don’t take up much room and are reasonably comfortable and quick to put up.

CAMP BEDS

If the sleeping area is going to be inside a building and close to vehicle parking, then bulky items like camp beds could be considered. You certainly don’t want to be carrying a camp bed around with you all day, but they are worth considering if you have a building available as a base to operate from. Some camp beds are folding

A selection of items for personal care.

Keeping clean and personal hygiene is very important

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SURVIVAL OVERNIGHT KIT

when living in the field as numerous medical problems can develop if you don’t look after yourself properly. Washing sweaty areas helps to prevent bacterial infections, but if water is in short supply then wet wipes are an adequate substitute. Good hand hygiene is the key to avoiding stomach upsets and alcohol hand gel can be used in the absence of running water. Any preexisting medical conditions – especially the ones that require daily medication shouldn’t be neglected either and remember to bring the medication with you. Once you are inside your shelter and wearing some warm dry kit, take a few minutes to clean and treat any minor wounds that you may have sustained. Also tend to any blisters that have developed, especially on your feet. It is sensible to carry a pair of dry socks and some foot powder to help keep your feet in good condition. The challenge is to try and dry your wet clothes while you rest. Resist the temptation to stuff the wet clothes inside your sleeping bag with you as this will just Change into warm and dry clothes before settling down. make you feel

colder and dampen the inside of the bag. An obvious option is to dry the clothes near a fire if one has been lit. The other option is to use the drying effect of the sun or wind. In the morning, it can be a struggle to get going again after sleeping out – especially if you have not slept well and the weather is wet and cold. It does take a bit of getting used to, but once you get some hot breakfast and a brew down your neck, you will soon feel a lot better.

PACKING KIT

All extra equipment will need to be carried into the field with you, so having a suitable rucksack that is large enough and comfortable is important. Military bergens are ideal due to being well constructed and very capable of carrying heavy loads. The two main considerations are packing the bergen correctly and keeping the contents dry. When packing the equipment, do it in a way that allows items needed first to be at the top and easy to access without having to turf everything else out to get to it. Store the contents in good quality dry bags so even if the bergen gets completely soaked, the equipment inside will remain dry. There is nothing worse than being hungry, soaked to the skin and freezing cold with painful blisters. Spending the night out in the field can be a welcome break from everyday life and made more comfortable by having the correct equipment and knowing how to look after yourself. This will mean you stay warm, dry and in good condition. AA

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armoury TOKYO MARUI MINI GUNS

CHIBI CHALLENGERS JAPAN IS WELL-KNOWN FOR MAKING SMALLER VERSIONS OF BIG THINGS AND HERE, STEVE TAKLE FINDS OUT IF MARUI’S “MINI GUNS” ARE A USEFUL TOOL IN AIRSOFT OR JUST ENTERTAINING PAPERWEIGHTS. HARDCORE MILSIMMERS SHOULD LOOK AWAY now - likewise, anyone looking for authenticity from airsoft. But if you put fun first, then you might want to take a look at these deliciously diminutive offerings from Japan’s legendary Tokyo Marui. Japanese culture sets the nation apart from the rest of the world in many ways and one of those is a long tradition of shrinking otherwise aggressive objects down to fun size - just see the legions of super deformed mechs, or chibi caricatures lapped up by otaku and gaijin alike. We shouldn’t be surprised then, that Marui has applied this approach to firearms with a range of mini guns that are cuter than a kitten in a cradle. Versions on offer include an Uzi, MP5 and AUG Steyr but on test here are the SG550, M16 and AK47 variants, as supplied by www.airsoftworld.net.

STAND FREE

You could spend the £30 asking price on a single magazine, so getting a full auto BB gun for the same outlay doesn’t seem like a bad deal. They’re all powered by four AA batteries in the grip and require you to rotate a switch on the left side to enable the trigger. That’s the safety on the Sig and M16 but a sling mount on the AK, which is kinda cool. Marui have spent time tailoring the BB loading mechanism to each model to disguise it well. The front sights pivot upwards on the AK, while there’s a slide built into the rear sights on the Sig and the carry handle on the M16. These might not be authentic replicas but this attention to detail shows that the company has spent time to make each version an enjoyable, smallform take on the original. They’d make fun wall hangers or desk props in an informal office, which is probably why each of them can free stand on the grip and mag.

TOY SOLDIERS

All three guns on test feature a non-adjustable hop-up and can hit a torso sized target at a range of 20 feet … 42

MAY 2019

armoury TOKYO MARUI MINI GUNS

just! By that point though, an opponent would have plenty of time to step out of the way. But that’s missing the point of these little things. Could you use them in a game? Maybe. If you only wanted to use them at close quarters for building clearance and even then, you’d have to be pretty determined to use one over and above a dedicated sidearm. Sure, the full auto is fun but you’d have more success with a Glock 18C – although at four times the price, to be fair. These mini guns are toys. That’s why the packaging has tiny cardboard targets to take out at close range. Line up a few toy soldiers at the far end of a desk, plink away and they’re great fun - especially on full auto!

SIG FIRST

The mini gun range is recommended for use with .12

BBs as included in the box, when these three deliver between 84 and 124 FPS on average, with the Sig leading the way. Testing them on .20s as standard, that drops to an average between 57 and 85 FPS, Sig still in charge. This could be a shortcoming unique to our review samples but both the M16 and AK regularly double-fed BBs and disappointed on range, while the SG550 was the clear leader with neither shortcoming. And it has deployable front stands, which have absolutely no effect - but are a cool extra nonetheless. We ran the numbers just to do a proper review but we imagine that most buyers of these miniguns are not looking at them as a credible alternative for the field. If you just want to buy a cute version of your favourite gun, use up the free BBs, then stand it on your desk to look good, then we don’t think £30 is unreasonable. AA

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armoury SILVERBACK STEALTH RECON SCOUT

STEALTH RECON SCOUT... COMPACT IS KING! NEARLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AIRSOFT ACTION TOOK A LOOK AT THE SILVERBACK SRS “COVERT” MODEL AND NOW, COMING BANG UP TO DATE, BILL WAS ABLE TO CHECK OUT THE VERY LATEST “GEN III” VERSION THANKS TO FIRE SUPPORT. IT’S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOU CAN come back to an airsoft rifle that you really enjoyed the first time round, so when Frank at Fire Support asked if I would like to look at the latest iteration of a bolt-action model that had got approving nods around the team a couple of years back, you can bet your bottom dollar that I was interested! The Silverback Stealth Recon Scout (SRS) is once again the model that was chosen, so that I could really get “like for like” against that original model, but this time I was sent the “Gen III” with a right-handed (more traditional) pull-bolt. With its bullpup design, the SRS is nearly a foot shorter than its equivalent barrel length competitors, while maintaining concealability and manoeuvrability without sacrificing accuracy, this is a rifle that I really like, and the SRS “Covert” compresses the package even smaller, at the

overall length of 26 inches it maintains the lethalness of a full sized bolt action rifle whilst being the same length as carbine.

may 2019

I love this about it as, whilst I am no sniper, I do like a bit of sneaky play and as an “OPFOR dude” I often need to conceal my carbine or rifle to get around those pesky NATO guys. Quite often with a distance or sniper rifle this will mean breaking it down for carriage but with the SRS I can keep it together and ready for immediate action if the scenario turns “loud”. Of course, there are full-length models available in the Silverback range should you desire that but for me, compact is king!

WHAT CAME BEFORE…

To recap, in the real world the SRS A1 is manufactured by Desert Tech in the USA. Desert Tech, formerly known as Desert Tactical Arms, was founded in 2007 and the SRS made its debut appearance at SHOT Show the following

year. They have established a strong reputation of creating the most accurate and compact rifle systems in the world. Designing is an art that they take very seriously. Located in West Valley City, Utah, Desert Tech employs an amazing team of dedicated workers with strong values and ethics that strive to provide the best firearms, ammunition and training possible for military, law enforcement and

armoury SILVERBACK STEALTH RECON SCOUT

“WITH ITS BULLPUP DESIGN, THE SRS IS NEARLY A FOOT SHORTER THAN ITS EQUIVALENT BARREL LENGTH COMPETITORS” private gun owners. They are truly passionate about the products they make and are extremely committed to being at the forefront in developing tomorrow’s weapons technologies. The Stealth Recon Scout is unusual in that it is one of the few true sniper rifles that has a bullpup boltaction layout - and that is rugged enough for combat. Because of the bullpup layout, the magazine and bolt are behind the pistol grip and therefore the operation is slightly different from most other conventional designs. It features an adjustable cheek-rest and a raised, contoured buttpad helps to seat it more securely into the shooter’s shoulder. The “real deal” SRS A1 was originally designed around the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge but is also available in many other calibres, including; .260 Remington, 6.5X47Lapua, 7WSM .308 Winchester, and .300 Winchester Magnum and even the mighty “50 Cal”. A quick-change barrel system means that the user can switch calibres in seconds, which makes the SRA amazingly adaptable to changing mission parameters. The SRS is fed from a five round box magazine and uses a match fluted, free-float barrel. While the barrel is standard with a muzzle brake, this can be removed to allow access to a threaded muzzle for the attachment of a suppressor. The rifle is guaranteed to have a standard 0.5 MOA accuracy. The SRS Covert shares all the same features of the SRS A1 but uses shorter barrels and therefore a shorter handguard. The shortbarrelled version of the rifle has been created to give users, particularly military and law enforcement, a more compact and manoeuvrable tool for close quarter scenarios and urban environments.

had airsoft shooters worldwide drooling… a “standard” SRS A1, along with two other variants. This meant that the Silverback SRS series would come with three barrel lengths; the SRS A1 “long version” would have a 26-inch barrel and a three chamber muzzle brake, along with a full length quad rail system. The SRS A1 “standard version” would have a 20-inch barrel, 14mm CCW threaded and a single chamber muzzle brake, and a full-length quad rail system. Finally the SRS “Covert” came with a 16-inch barrel, 14mm CCW threaded barrel with no muzzle brake and a short quad rail system. The Silverback SRS series comes with a 6.05 AEGtype precision inner barrel and equipped with an innovative two-sided hop adjustment system that utilises normal AEG type hop-bucking to enable precise adjustment. If you’re used to a regular rotary or sliding bar style hop adjustment, then at first this arrangement seems very intricate but take it from me, it is incredibly effective, allowing you not only vertical adjustment, but lateral as well to ensure your BBs go exactly where you want them too! The aluminium hop-up unit, directly attached to the quick-change barrel assembly, allows you to switch barrel groups in seconds while keeping your hop setting. The hop adjustment itself is done by using two screws on top of the rifle, through the receiver, with the provided key, without removing the barrel, the magazine or the optic.

IN AIRSOFT GUISE

In airsoft guise the SRS is every bit as impressive as the real thing - and there’s a good reason why. Back in April 2014, Hong Kong-based Silverback Airsoft Ltd stated their intention to release a fully licenced SRS and in October 2015 they announced the product release. What appeared was something that www.airsoft-action.online

armoury SILVERBACK STEALTH RECON SCOUT

The railed handguard is of CNC 6061 T5 aluminium and fibre-reinforced nylon that comes with additional rail sections; 3 pieces are included. The rail system itself is firmly attached to the receiver via a sturdy 38x2mm thread. The rifle stock is again made of fibre-reinforced nylon in Black, Flat Dark Earth and OD. The SRS A1 variants also benefit from a functioning Monopod which is an extremely accurate replica of the Desert Tech LLC patented version, once again CNC 6061 aluminium; even the trigger is CNC aluminium, with position and preload adjustment. In fact, there are NO injection moulded metal parts, NO zinc alloy, and even all screws are in 10.9 steel. The steel magazine, with reinforced nylon internals has a 30 BB capacity.

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Trigger box/safety: design of the safety has been modified, so safety controls are now encased in a safety plate. Pull bolt buttplate extension: better fit with the spring guide, reducing vibrations.

PLAYING THE LONG GAME

The SRS Covert is put together like a tank! There are absolutely no creaks anywhere and once everything is together (yes, there is some final assembly needed, but nothing too arduous and the instruction manual is excellent) it’s as solid as a rock. Everything about this replica just oozes “top-end”, with all the materials and parts being put together with some obviously very high

“AT FIRST THIS ARRANGEMENT SEEMS VERY INTRICATE BUT TAKE IT FROM ME, IT IS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE, ALLOWING YOU NOT ONLY VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT, BUT LATERAL AS WELL TO ENSURE YOUR BBS GO EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT THEM TOO!” levels of quality control. Once again, to replicate our initial testing, I fitted an NcSTAR1.1-4x26optic on a QD site mount so that everything could be “minimalised” for transport and concealment. With the magazine again filled with NUPROL 4.0 “Black” and loaded up with .20g BBs it was off to the chrono - where the SRS came in at a superbly consistent 1.44 Joule/395fps. Taking things onto the 30m range the SRS proved to be a joy and using .30g BBs it was hitting dinner-plate sized targets each and every time at the furthest point of the range once I’d had a fiddle with the hop. As I mentioned before, this is not as straightforward an adjustment as most out there but if you have patience and take things slowly the final result is worth your patience and effort! As one used to a classic rearward-cocking bolt action I have to admit that I found the old Silverback forward-push version quite hard to get on with. Initially Silverback released a standard pull-back conversion kit so that you had an option but with the Gen III, the rifle comes pre-fitted with a left or right-handed pull bolt. There are also other upgrades with the Gen III version which include: • Piston: heavier than the previous version (54g instead of 40g), piston end revision for smoother locking on the sear, the head is now a silent cup type. • Hop up: new rubber, flat-type design, better seal and easier to lift heavy bb’s (also compatible with an optional fast hop-up). • Magazine: all models now come with a more durable-finish magazine with a long flexible follower included

PROPERLY LICENCED

As you might expect with a proper licence, high-quality materials, cutting edge construction, and superb performance, the Silverback variants are never going to be cheap. The Covert Gen III comes in at £530.00, rising to £615.00 for the SRS Gen III A1 26 Inch- Barrel Pull Bolt Rifle. This might seem a little steep when you can pick up a basic TM VSR for under two hundred quid these days but let me tell you, to get the VSR up to the standard of the Silverback you’re going to spend a LOT of money and you still will not end up with something that’s properly licenced or that performs as sweetly! AA My thanks go to www.fire-support.co.uk for the loan of the test sample, and you can check out the entire range of rifles and accessories from Silverback by visiting their website.

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