Airsoft Action - May 2020 by Airsoft Action

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ARMOURY: G&G PRK-9

ARMOURY: CYMA 132S

KIT & GEAR: BEARBACK SLINGS

KIT & GEAR: V-CAM BLACK

Editor: Nigel Streeter Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Deadshot Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter

Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL

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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.

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WORKSHOP: BASIC MAINTENANCE

SITE: THE ARENA, NZ

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.

AA SPECIAL: MENTAL HEALTH

ARMOURY: VFC SR-16

CON ONT TEN ENTS TS 8 ARMOURY: G&G PRK 9 The 9mm carbine AEG has been all the rage in the last couple of years, with numerous airsoft manufacturers entering the fray both with licenced replicas and more esoteric designs of their own creation. Bill has been watching the rollout of a new family of “pistol calibre carbines” from G&G Armament for a while now and finally gets hands on with the all-new PRK-9! 12 ARMOURY: CYMA 132S After asking the aa team why AEPs are seen as the poor relation of the family, Steve T gets his bluff called with a challenge to review one... 16 ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS SA-J04 Specna Arms have been teasing us all with their new “J-Series” AEGs for a while now, and finally they’re here! Our resident “AK Geek” Bill took delivery of one direct from Poland as soon as they were released, and now he tells us all if the wait for the “Specna AK” has been worth it!

Contents MAY 2020

MAY 2020

44 FEATURE: LOCKDOWN MAINTENANCE Frenchie has been maintaining kit for longer then we dare mention, and starts this new series with some simple, basic maintenance tips. 46 KIT & GEAR: TECHNICAL FABRICS With the majority of us stuck at home right now, we continue this month’s look at care and maintenance as Bill revisits technical fabrics and takes a close look at why you should choose them as part of your loadout and how you can effectively look after them without leaving the house! 50 HEAD TO HEAD: KRYTAC V AVALON Want to move up from starter RIFs to the mid-range? Steve T pits two perennial favourites against one another - and finds a clear winner... 54 SITE: THE ARENA Airsoft Action’s “man down under”, Ioan “Iggy” Roberts, gets his CQB game on, as he reports from an excellent site in the suburbs of Christchurch, NZ.

22 EVENT: AIRSOFT SURGEON 2020 Tomo, from Arms Magazine in Japan, brings us his special coverage of the recent Airsoft Surgeon Championship, held alongside the British Shooting Show in Birmingham, UK. This special report is printed with kind permission of Arms Magazine, in Japanese.

56 AA SPECIAL: MENTAL HEALTH With a large part of the planet still under Covid-19 lockdown and one in four people experiencing mental health issues, why don’t we talk about it more openly? Steve T finds out how airsoft can help get us through the dark days and look forwards to a better future.

32 THE CAGE: AT CLOSE OF PLAY As lockdowns all over the world see our local shops shutting their doors and the close down of our favourite sites it feels like everything airsoft has ground to a halt, but the fact is that there are still stores out there happy to send all manner of goodies direct to your doors thanks to their online business portals! Perhaps now is the time to give your AEG or GBB that “TLC” that it’s been missing! Bill got together with the team to check out what they’re up to…

60 ARMOURY: VFC SR-16 Within the Airsoft Action team there’s an ongoing debate as to the veracity of gas blowback rifles and carbines for regular game use, and Bill is very much on the “pro-gas” side of the argument. This month he looks to his most recent armoury addition in the form of the SR-16 GBBR from Vega Force Company.

34 FEATURE: HIGHS & LOWS Sitting at home pondering what subject to cover in the next issue of Airsoft Action, Frenchie’s thoughts turned to the all the things that have happened since he got into airsoft, both good and not so good. 39 KIT & GEAR: BEARBACK SLINGS Often overlooked and rarely commented upon, a sling can make or break your day. Phil Bucknall has quite a collection already but is always looking for something new to try. 40 KIT & GEAR: VIPER V-CAM BLACK Always looking for ways to stay cool in the heat of the moment, Steve T tests Viper Tactical’s new Gen2 Elite Trousers and Mesh-Tech Shirts. 43 VORSK DIARY: UPDATE The “Gen I” Vorsk EU and Hi Capa models have been out on the market a little while now and, as promised, Bill returns to his own Hi Capa 4.3 RDS and compiles his diary entries to give you all an update on how things are going now that the pistol has seen some action!

64 ARMOURY: SPECNA CORE C03 Hunting around for a gun he could lend to friends, or use if a primary went down, Phil Bucknall turned to Specna’s Core range to see if he could find something suitable for around £120… 68 THIS IS MY M4: PART 6 After years of making minor modifications to RIFs with varying degrees of success, Steve T goes all-in on his MWS to find out just what an inept home tech can achieve. This month: new handguard. 7O AA GALLERY: WA03 MEDIA Our good mate and Airsoft Action Contributor, Craig, from WA03 Media, got in touch to ask if we’d like to use a bunch of photos he’d taken recently at Bristol Airsoft and, of course, we are more than happy to do so! 76 LAST POST: SH1T JUST GOT REAL! Sometimes life – read “Mother Nature” – throws us a curveball when we least expect it. Frenchie shares his thoughts on how the Covid-19 pandemic affects airsoft.

Photo by Victor Karlund. https://www.instagram.com/victorkarlund

COVERT BOOT

BLACK / BROWN / TITANIUM / SRP: Â£49.95

armoury G&G PRK-9

G&G INNOVATION ATION + AK STYLE = PCC PERFECTION

THE 9MM CARBINE AEG HAS BEEN ALL THE RAGE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WITH NUMEROUS AIRSOFT MANUFACTURERS ENTERING THE FRAY BOTH WITH LICENCED REPLICAS AND MORE ESOTERIC DESIGNS OF THEIR OWN CREATION. BILL HAS BEEN WATCHING THE ROLLOUT OF A NEW FAMILY OF “PISTOL CALIBRE CARBINES” FROM G&G ARMAMENT FOR A WHILE NOW AND FINALLY GETS HANDS ON WITH THE ALL-NEW PRK-9!

sually I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to airsoft guns, and whilst I’m certainly not all about the “Mil” look I do tend to veer towards AEGs and GBBs that have at least some basis in reality! However, at the risk of contradicting myself, I also have an insanely soft spot for manufacturers that go their own sweet way in terms of new designs, and unique directions, and I have to say that G&G Armament are certainly at the forefront of this. Whilst they do create some fabulous “Mil” and, indeed, competition rifles and carbines, they’re also unafraid of going in their own direction and I have to say that this appeals to me greatly. The new “PRK” family shows just how much fun a manufacturer can have when they take off the blinkers and decide to create something all of their own! Regular readers of AA will also know that I have something of a “Kalshnikov obsession” and my personal collection is quite extensive these days, with everything from a totally classic AK-47 up to and including the AK-12. If pushed, I would have to say that my personal favourites are still the classic AKM and AKMS variants as they are so versatile in airsoft form, covering off conflicts from the Cold War up to the present day, so you might well expect me to

take one look at the G&G PRK-9 and immediately dismiss it. In this you’d be very, VERY wrong! Basically, of the three PRK-9 models that are being released as I write (some retailers already have them on pre-order!) two are essentially what, in the real US-firearms world, would be described as “pistols”. The basic PRK9 resembles an MP5K if you squint a bit - and that’s no bad thing; with no stock of any description the PRK-9 is definitely in “pistol” territory. Whilst the PRK-9 L gives you a “pistol calibre” full-length rifle, it’s the PRK-9 RTS with a side-folding buffer-tube stock that got my attention right from the very first moment I started seeing it as shows.

COOLNESS INSIDE AND OUT!

Essentially the PRK-9 and PRK-9 RTS are the same, short (13 inch/330mm) and sweet AK-style members of the family and both come with the same features. Internally you have a metal gearbox and gearset, 8mm bearings and a fully programmable Mosfet that gives you semi/full auto/3-round burst functions. You also get the tried and tested G&G ETU, but the hop-up unit is the first-in-the market rotary hop-up chamber for the VIII gearbox, which I’ll come back to later. Externally is where things, at least for me, get really

“…IT FEATURES A FAL-STYLE LOCKING SYSTEM THAT HOLDS A BUFFER TUBE WITH POLYMER SLIDING STOCK (THE STOCK DESIGN IS ONE OF G&GS OWN, AND IS VERY, VERY GOOD!) FIRMLY AND SOLIDLY OPEN OR CLOSED, MEANING YOU CAN SHOULDER AND AIM PROPERLY, RATHER THAN JUST SPRAYING AND PRAYING!” 8

MAY 2020

armoury G&G PRK-9

interesting though! The PRK-9 models look completely like a cut down AK, with a full metal lower receiver and hinged topcover visually the same as those you’d find on any AK variant; the fire-selector is also 100% “klacker” but of the “tactical style” featuring, as it does, the thumb-rests for ease of use. Whilst the dedicated and stockless “pistol” variant is nice, it’s the RTS model that to me is the most useable as it features a FAL-style locking system that holds a buffer tube with polymer sliding stock (the stock design is one of G&Gs own, and is very, very good!) firmly and solidly open or closed, meaning you can shoulder and aim properly, rather than just spraying and praying! And at the front end things are also distinctly different, as the muzzle of the PRK-9 is only a mere 90mm from the front of the lower receiver! Yes, it really is THAT short! Even so there are some cool features in evidence with a fixed 5-slot lower rail for a foregrip, and additional 10-slot rails fitted at 3 and 6 o’clock; the rail on the RHS is cut away to accommodate a short folding cocking lever which reveals the hop adjustment wheel. In addition, the muzzle itself is neatly finished off with a knurled cover, which can be removed to reveal a standard 14mm CCW thread so that you can fit a suppressor or tracer unit… in my mind the PRK-9 is just gagging for a suppressor! All the PRK-9 models come with fixed, shrouded metal AK-style foresights, along with a very useable polymer rear sight, which makes it ready to go from the box; the top covers are railed though so it’s easy to fit an optic of your choice if you so desire. The standard 40BB translucent “bullet” magazine (I understand that G&G will soon be releasing a PRK-9 drum mag for you hi-cap lovers!) is quite striking, looks great, and fits solidly with no wobble. If, however, you’re not used to AK mags then the PRK-9

model may vex you a little initially as you really need to seat the front lip into the magwell very positively to enable you to rock the mag back and lock it firmly in place. Do practice this until you have your load completely down, as it’s no way as intuitive as the load for an AR but if you’re used to an AK you’ll be fine.

BANG ON

Huge thought and attention to detail has gone into the PRK-9, and this shows on the range! Although it’s a properly small and tidy package, on testing the RTS came in at 1.09 Joule/344fps on my usual RZR .20g BBs. Once I was happy with the power level I adjusted the hop, which is extremely easy to do with the newly designed horizontal adjustment wheel and upped to .25g RZRs. The shot distance was great, sending the BBs right to the extent of the 30m range with a dead-flat trajectory! After running a couple of full mags through the PRK-9 I was able to achieve a nice tight group and switching to full-auto delivered a line of BBs straight to target. The “bullet” magazine feeds perfectly, so bloody well done as usual G&G! I’ve already seen a few comments doing the rounds and for the “AK Puritans” out there, the PRK series is definitely going to be one that you either coo or scream over! However, I’d urge anyone to stop before they rant, as actually the fundamental design, certainly in respect of the “pistol” and RTS variants, does actually exist in the real world in the form of the Chiappa PAK-9! The PAK-9 is, at heart, a 9mm AK distributed by Italian firearms legends Chiappa, made in a Romanian arms factory called NOVA.

“THE SHOT DISTANCE WAS GREAT, SENDING THE BBS RIGHT TO THE EXTENT OF THE 30M RANGE WITH A DEAD-FLAT TRAJECTORY! AFTER RUNNING A COUPLE OF FULL MAGS THROUGH THE PRK-9 I WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE A NICE TIGHT GROUP AND SWITCHING TO FULL-AUTO DELIVERED A LINE OF BBS STRAIGHT TO TARGET.” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury G&G PRK-9

The receiver is 100% AK but a plastic magazine block attached to the handguard allows the weapon to feed from 9mm pistol magazines, specifically Beretta 92 magazines and for a twitch under US$400, the PAK-9 comes with two

ten rounders. You can fit an interchangeable magazine adapter for it, that allows you to convert from Beretta to Glock magazines easily and without tools and the package includes a threaded barrel, the Glock mag adapter, sling and rear adapter for mounting a pistol brace or SBR stock (after NFA approval). Now, whether or not the G&G design team took inspiration from the PAK-9, the fact of the matter is that they have created something that on the face of it is a bit “out there” but actually has a grounding in the real firearms world! This to me simply reinforces the joy of owning a PRK-9 RTS, as it takes it from a “play AEG” to something a little more serious, and something that could, with its 40BB mags actually sit in the right themed game, up to and including being in the hands of a belligerent modern OPFOR in a MilSim setting! Whilst models like the MP5K, the CZ Scorpion and indeed the entire plethora of “9mm ARs” are all very well, at heart I am definitely an “AK Chap” and the PRK-9 RTS really sings to me because of this! I believe that after much thought I shall be adding one to the “Kalashnikov Kollektion” because it’s superbly made, shoots well, and is actually a genuine addition to the ongoing story of the muchrevered AK. Whether it was luck or fine judgement, once again G&G Armament have come up with the goods and full credit to them for another fine series of AEGs that I am certain we’ll be seeing on sites around the world very soon! My thanks go to G&G (www. guay2.com) for supplying the test model, and to UK distributors www.nuprol.com for facilitating delivery. AA

“WHILST MODELS LIKE THE MP5K, THE CZ SCORPION AND INDEED THE ENTIRE PLETHORA OF “9MM ARS” ARE ALL VERY WELL, AT HEART I AM DEFINITELY AN “AK CHAP” AND THE PRK-9 RTS REALLY SINGS TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS!” 10

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armoury CYMA 132S

ELECTRIC PISTOL BOOGALOO

AFTER ASKING THE AA TEAM WHY AEPS ARE SEEN AS THE POOR RELATION OF THE FAMILY, STEVE T GETS HIS BLUFF CALLED WITH A CHALLENGE TO REVIEW ONE...

set the cat amongst the pigeons at AA Towers recently, when I suggested that Automatic Electric Pistols (AEP) are the poor relation to their Gas BlowBack (GBB) counterparts. I’d never had an inclination to own one, based on universal comments from other players about their disappointing performance. But others on the team quickly set me straight, with reports that many airsofters have seen good results from ever-so-slightly modding their AEPs to run LiPo batteries, with a decent boost to performance. After a couple of disappointing outings with GBB pistols in the depths of winter this year, I was interested to find out more. Then TaiwanGun gave me the chance to review CYMA’s new AEP, the CM.132S MOSFET Edition that comes ready to run with LiPos from the factory.

LOVEHUNTER

I don’t know about you but the first thing I do when I get a new pistol - after checking it’s clear of ammo - is rack the slide. Of course, you can’t do that here, so the next best thing would be to cock the hammer. It’s clearly not moulded into either the slide or frame and easily moves under your thumb, so why not? Yeah - don’t do that! Now it just flaps and clacks about. There’s no instruction manual to warn you in advance and

a flappy hammer is a bit embarrassing in anyone’s book. There’s a small spring at the base of the hammer that you can use something like a jeweler’s screwdriver to poke back under the frame so it doesn’t happen again - just be sure to tell anyone not to move it before you hand the 132S to them and be prepared in advance to take the jokes on the chin. Even though this moving part makes is easier to seat the non-functional slide, it would have been smarter to lock the hammer in place - or even mould it as part of the frame - to avoid the problem entirely.

SLIDE IT IN

CYMA’s 132S comes in a cardboard box and a foam insert with cutouts for the pistol itself, a speedloader and charger as well as two - yes, TWO - LiPos that are included. That means that right out of the box, you can have one on charge while the other keeps you in the game. Did we say LiPos? As standard on an AEP? Why, yes we did - and that’s one of the main selling points for this M9A3-inspired model. Despite the tight space for batteries, fitting them is a straightforward affair. Simply depress the “slide release” to remove the whole thing slightly forwards and mostly up to reveal the concealed wiring within. Insert one of the

“FOR ITS RELATIVELY BUDGET PRICE, THE MOSTLY PLASTIC 132S IS ACTUALLY QUITE SOLIDLY BUILT, WITH LESS CREAKING THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT. THE RAIL UNDER THE BARREL WILL HAPPILY TAKE STANDARD LIGHTS AND LASERS, ALBEIT WITH A TOUCH MORE SIDE-TO-SIDE MOVEMENT THAN WE’D LIKE.” 12

MAY 2020

armoury CYMA 132S

supplied batteries into the cavity below the barrel, connect the cables via mini Deans, tuck them out of the way and refit the slide. It takes just seconds. I normally eschew bundled chargers and prefer to use my trusty Imax, but in this instance, I had no choice. Without instructions, it seems that the battery is charging when the light in the USB end of the cable flashes, turning solid green when fully charged. Those little LiPos lose charge faster in storage than batteries with more cells, so you might need a maintenance regime to avoid them going flat and rendering them obsolete between games. CYMA recommends topping them up every three weeks, but they go flat so fast I almost feel like I need to put them on life support. The battery might be really easy to fit, but access to the hop wheel is also under the slide and while it’s similarly easy to adjust, it’s also easy to knock out of position whenever you refit the slide – i.e. at least once every game day when you connect the battery.

SAINTS AND SINNERS

For its relatively budget price, the mostly plastic 132S is actually quite solidly built, with less creaking than you might expect. The rail under the barrel will happily take standard lights and lasers, albeit with a touch more sideto-side movement than we’d like. But we do mean just a touch. This is not a pistol for Southpaws though. As you might expect from an M9, the mag release is only to be found on the left, but at least it looks like you might be able to swap the button and the blanking plate from side to side. Less conventional is the fact that the traditionally ambidextrous safety at the rear of the slide is not all it first appears - the operational safety is actually a slider above the right of the trigger guard that physically restricts the trigger’s movement. Dare I say that it’s actually easier to use than the real thing? At least it falls within easy reach of a right-handed index finger. The conventional safety lever to either side of the slide at the rear is now just a moulded extrusion on the right, but

there are hidden surprises on the left too. All is as you might expect in its upper “live” position but rotating the lever down to obscure the usual red dot in the traditional safe position has another effect entirely… Full auto, baby! Not gonna lie; I had so much fun using this pistol in full auto. Of course, there are other full auto pistols such as the Glock 18C or the Beretta M93R, but with none of the usual cool-down issues associated with gas systems, the batterydriven 132S was quite happy to dump entire magazines flatout without skipping a beat. We also enjoyed the fact that just unscrewing the barrel’s thread protector means that you can easily fit a suppressor or a tracer unit, such as Acetech’s Lighter S, without an adaptor. It sounds silly, but just adding the Lighter S also added a lot to the experience of handling Cyma’s AEP. And with the fact that the 132S is also AEG quiet, it could be a great choice for an unconventional sniper sidearm.

SLIP OF THE TONGUE

It’s just a shame that instead of using a full-sized magazine for maximum ammo count, the 132S uses a stick mag. The fake magwell makes it comfortable for larger hands, but the shorter stick mag means that you’ll need to use a thumb or finger to ensure the mag is properly inserted within its recess, instead of the usual palm-bump. It’s a small detail, but it detracts from the overall experience.

“ALL IS AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT IN ITS UPPER “LIVE” POSITION BUT ROTATING THE LEVER DOWN TO OBSCURE THE USUAL RED DOT IN THE TRADITIONAL SAFE POSITION HAS ANOTHER EFFECT ENTIRELY… FULL AUTO, BABY!” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury CYMA 132S

Had CYMA chosen to offer a high capacity mag to fill out the grip with room for more BBs, the 132S could have offered the pistol equivalent of a drum mag on an AEG. At least the stick mag format means that spares are cheap to buy at around £6.00 each - and you could easily carry up to four per standard pistol mag pouch. That potentially means up to four times the ammo for the same cost and space in your rig as one magazine for a conventional GBB. It’s ironic that the included speedloader is absolutely useless for filling the mag though, because there’s no cutout down the open slot to pop BBs in. Instead, you’ll need a loader with a swing-out or clip-on adaptor to insert ammo through the feed lips at the top of the mag. And that’s if you’re lucky; we found it easier just to feed the mag’s appetite for ammo with every BB by hand. However you fill the mag, the capacity is about 30 rounds, which is actually more than most full-sized magazines where the extra space is taken up by a gas chamber or CO2 bulb. It feeds just fine time after time and after numerous refills; we’re happy to report that it keeps on working without problems.

COME AND GET IT

AEPs are famous for returning lower FPS measurements than GBB pistols and the 132S is no different. We measured an average output of 210FPS/0.41J using .20 BBs, which places it about 50 less than a modest GBB and very shy of the UK’s typical 350FPS limit. That’s great news if your number one objective is to be site legal at all costs but may be disappointing if you’re looking for ultimate performance. The big difference is that when the temperature drops hard and other players are forced to leave their gaspowered pistols in the safe zone, you’ll still have a backup to rely on. I’ve been that gas guy too many times this year alone. While it can’t match the best pistols I’ve used, the CYMA costs a third of their price and is still fairly accurate, with decent groupings on my usual 25M range. The hop adds about an inch of lift at just 6 metres even at its minimum setting, but at that range, you’re either aiming centremass or miss! Further out and the hop is more useful at typical engagement distances up to 25 or even 30m, where you’ll need the hop full on. Beyond that, it gets unpredictable. Of course, consistency between shots is one benefit of an electric power source over gas, which is something we observed here. Fewer flyers going wide of target not only means tighter groupings within range, but also that even though it’s down on distance overall, you can more

reliably account for that deficiency using holdover on target (aiming just a bit above where you want the shot to land).

HERE I GO AGAIN

After having been given a light-hearted pasting by some AA contributors for mocking AEPs, has the CYMA.132S convinced me of the platform’s potential? I have to admit that I’ve come away pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed using this AEP far more than I thought I would. Am I a convert? In the depths of winter, when my GBBPs run out of puff? Totally! Otherwise? Not really. There’s none of the drama and excitement of using a gas pistol, while both power and range are down too; but bear in mind that I’m also a sucker for gas rifles. If you’re an AEG devotee, then having an AEP as a backup might make a lot of sense. If you’re on a budget when buying a sidearm and trying to decide between power sources, then I’m happy to say that I’m surprised how capable I found the 132S. For about £70, you can buy a pistol that will perform reliably, whatever the conditions - and while it may not have their absolute measure, might actually make a smarter investment in terms of reliability than many similarly priced gas-powered sidearms. And if you don’t want to run a GBB system for some reason - maybe the homeowner doesn’t want compressed gas out of their control in the household, kids - then I’m happy to say that purely based on my experience with the 132S, an AEP is definitely a viable alternative. And at just £69 for the pistol, two LiPos and a charger, this particular one is an absolute steal. It might not replace GBB pistols in my regular loadout then, but like any RIF, this AEP should be seen as a tool to be utilised - and under the right circumstances and in the right conditions, the 132S definitely has its place in the armoury of anyone that plays year round. AA

“…LIKE ANY RIF, THIS AEP SHOULD BE SEEN AS A TOOL TO BE UTILISED - AND UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, THE 132S DEFINITELY HAS ITS PLACE IN THE ARMOURY OF ANYONE THAT PLAYS YEAR ROUND.” 14

MAY 2020

armoury SPECNA ARMS SAJ-04

SPECNA ARMS HAVE BEEN TEASING US ALL WITH THEIR NEW “J-SERIES” AEGS FOR A WHILE NOW, AND FINALLY THEY’RE HERE! OUR RESIDENT “AK GEEK” BILL TOOK DELIVERY OF ONE DIRECT FROM POLAND AS SOON AS THEY WERE RELEASED, AND NOW HE TELLS US ALL IF THE WAIT FOR THE “SPECNA AK” HAS BEEN WORTH IT!

onestly, as an airsofter, if you haven’t by now heard missing from the offering date though is the not-soof Specna Arms I truly believe that you must have humble-any-more Kalashnikov, but I am overjoyed that they been living not only under a rock but beneath one have now addressed this with the launch of their “J-Series” that has been located at the back of a very deep, dark cave! (why “J” and not “K” I can’t tell ya!), and the initial eight Specna Arms have come onto the airsoft scene relatively variants/models now appearing for sale bring a little warm recently but have wowed airsofters around the globe with glow to my otherwise stony old heart! their now-comprehensive AR series of AEGs from their I love firearms of all kinds and have done pretty much CORE, EDGE, and ONE Series, plus also visiting the G36 all my life. When I was 14 or 15 I wanted to be a gunsmith with their G-Series, and even throwing in some decent bolt- and I even looked at apprenticeships, until my family action rifles along the way! convinced me that going They’ve impressed even the onto higher education was a most seasoned of players, better idea. Nearly 40 years “THEY’VE FORGED SOME FABULOUS including a number of the on and here I am writing Airsoft Action Team, with about… firearms, albeit STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH REAL their external build quality replicas rather than real! FIREARMS MANUFACTURERS, FIRST and what is included in Bottom line, what is meant WITH ROCK RIVER ARMS AND NOW the package with internals to be, will be. as standard, featuring With all the stunning WITH DANIEL DEFENSE AND STRIKE components such as their firearm models around SYSTEMS. ADD TO THAT THE FACT ORION V2 gearbox, GATE the world, both military THAT THEY ARE CONSTANTLY X-ASR and ASTER Mosfets and civilian, my DESIGNING AND INNOVATING “IN and their ESA2 quick heart belongs to change spring function. “Comrade HOUSE” TOO AND I BELIEVE THAT They’ve forged some Mikhail”! Ever SPECNA ARMS WILL BE WITH US FOR fabulous strategic since I first laid THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE…” alliances with real firearms my hands on a manufacturers, first with real AK-47 many, Rock River Arms and now many years ago in with Daniel Defense and Africa, I’ve been sold, Strike Systems. Add to that the fact that they are constantly the “Joy of AK” transcending even my boyhood love designing and innovating “in house” too and I believe that for the SMLE, L1A1, and FN FAL. Now of course I’m largely, Specna Arms will be with us for the foreseeable future, though not exclusively, restricted to airsoft versions of “The bringing value and excellence to players worldwide! Russian Rifle”, so whenever I see a new one hit the market One area though that has, at least to my mind, been I’m super-drooly-keen to get my mitts on it… and thanks

MAY 2020

armoury SPECNA ARMS SAJ-04

to Specna Arms I now have their all new SA-J04 (AKS-74 to you gun-bunnies!) to talk about!

MODERN CLASSIC

It was way back in 1977 when the Western world first saw the “new” Kalashnikov being carried by airborne troops in Red Square and rumour has it that the CIA paid $5,000 for the first AK-74 captured by the mujahedeen during the Soviet–Afghan War, such was their eagerness to get their hands on a specimen of the latest model! In truth though, the rifle had been around for some considerable time before the first sighting, as it was developed in the early 1970s by Mikhail Kalashnikov as the replacement for the earlier AKM, itself a modernised version of the AK-47. Much like their western counterparts, the Soviet military were interested in the better performance given by intermediatecalibre high velocity ammunition and the main change was that the AK-74 used a smaller 5.45×39mm cartridge, replacing the 7.62×39mm chambering of earlier Kalashnikovpattern rifles, and this enabled a number of steps forward to be taken. These

improvements were primarily the result of converting the rifle to the new cartridge; compared to the preceding AKM the AK-74 had effective range, accuracy (which main development goal) and

better was a reliability. The AK74 was equipped with a new shape of butt, a handguard which retained the AKM-type finger rest, and gas cylinder. The stock had a shoulder pad different from that on the AKM, which was made of rubber and serrated for improved grip. In addition, there were lightening cuts on each side of the butt. The butt, lower handguard and upper handguard were first manufactured from laminated wood, whilst the AKS variant replaced the rearmost wood with a skeletonised butt which

folded neatly to the left hand side of the receiver. To this day the AK/ AKS-74 is still used by most countries of the former Soviet Union. Licensed copies were produced in Bulgaria (AK-74, AKS-74 and AKS74U), and East Germany (MPi-AK74N, MPi-AKS-74N, MPi-AKS-74NK), and of course these have found their way into the hands of soldiers and fighters worldwide!

GUN UP TOVARISCH!

When I received the Specna Arms replica “AKS-74”from my friends at Gunfire, one of the very first things I noted was the overall “feel” of the rifle, as it has, at 3.4 kilos, a really good weight to it. All the parts that should be are metal, and indeed steel parts include the receiver, top cover, outer barrel, trigger guard, magazine latch, fire mode selector plate, gas block, muzzle brake, sling loop and plate on the stock, rear sight, cleaning rod, stock latch, stock, and pins and rivets. Even where steel is not used, all parts are alloy with a special coating used in the finishing process which gives a very realistic appearance overall. There is a black polymer pistol grip, and I’m pleased to report that the wood handguards are a much better colour than some of the orange “Chinese wood” versions that we see all too often on AKs with a keen pricepoint, as on the J04 they are a very rich brown, almost “chestnut”, hue. To sum things up, externally the finish of the rifle is very good throughout to be honest and it is absolutely solid as a rock with not a wobble or a creak apparent anywhere. Internally, Specna Arms have earned a good reputation for using quality parts as I mentioned earlier, but the V3 ORION is, to the best of my knowledge, still to be fully “field tested” over time. However, given that the V2 ORION has largely proved to be a sound unit, I have high hopes for the longevity of the V3 and of course, inside the J04 you get a reinforced polymer piston with a steel teeth, an aluminium double air-sealed cylinder head, aluminium double airsealed piston head with bearings, 7mm bearings and steel gears. All of these ARE tried and tested components so you’re on pretty solid ground with them. One of the things that is absent from the J-Series is the GATE Mosfet, but could Specna Arms be holding this back for some reason? Only time will tell… The J04 comes with a pair of 500BB “AK-74 Bakelite” Hi-Cap magazines which are finished in a nice matt colour, rather than the brighter hue you sometimes find. The inclusion of two Hi-Caps to me suggests, as does the keen pricepoint, that the J04 is aimed at the entry level player,

“LICENSED COPIES WERE PRODUCED IN BULGARIA (AK-74, AKS-74 AND AKS-74U), AND EAST GERMANY (MPI-AK-74N, MPI-AKS-74N, MPI-AKS-74NK), AND OF COURSE THESE HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THE HANDS OF SOLDIERS AND FIGHTERS WORLDWIDE!” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury SPECNA ARMS SAJ-04

or the player who wants a “second” or OPFOR gun and doesn’t want to break the bank, but I’m pleased to report that all my AK Mid-Caps from different brands fit and function well. I always find that, other than steel versions, AK Hi-Caps feel a little insubstantial and even “flimsy”, but the Specna Arms versions fit and feed well, although I did notice a little “flash” came off the maglips with a “crack” when first fitted. One associated feature I really like is one that you may easily miss and that’s the little locating plate in the magwell that lets you easily seat your magazine… plus points here Specna Arms, as this will really help new AK users! The J04 has standard AK-74 iron (steel) sights, but if you fancy fitting an optic then one additional feature that comes as standard is an AK sight mount on the left hand side of the receiver; you’ll need to buy the correct sight rail to clamp to this though, and please note that if you fit the rail then you can’t close the steel stock. On the range AK74s have always given me very respectable performance, and given the 455mm inner barrel, pretty solid range and accuracy too. First, I ran the rifle through the chrono on .20g RZR BBs and recorded and consistent 1.11 Joule/347fps. Moving up to .25g BBs, easily resetting the sliding hop adjustment and using just the iron sights (which are also easily adjustable), I was able to hit A4 targets and group reasonably at the limit of the 30m range. A 7.4V LiPo battery fits easily under the top cover but if you’re judicious you can squeeze in an 11.1V pack which brings up the ROF quite seriously! My only quibble with the entire rifle is the top-cover latch, which seems a little “short”; even though I was able to lock the top-cover closed once I’d fitted a battery it felt like the catch itself needs to be a couple of millimetres “prouder” to ensure a solid lock. It’s totally usable as is but I feel a slight change here would be

advantageous for future models. Many airsofters, especially those just starting out, try to find a replica model that will work for a variety of loadouts and themes and the J04 certainly ticks all the boxes in this respect. If you look at timeframes the AKS-74 was used way back in Afghanistan (Round 1!) so you’re good for a “Cold War” loadout, and it is still being used today - so that’s “modern/OPFOR” and everything in between cracked too. If you favour the ever-popular “contractor” look then the J04 will work for that perfectly. With solid performance out of the box, reasonably cheap accessories and magazines should you need more, and an introductory price of just €159 at the time of writing the SA-J04 is a great bit of kit, and if you’re in the market for something other than the “M4” then I’d really suggest you take a good long look at this new model from Specna Arms. I’m just keen to see exactly where they take “Project J” next! Thanks as always to www.gunfire.com for supplying the test/review sample. Please do though visit www. specnaarms.com to check out this model and the comprehensive range of Specna Arms models on offer! AA

“ONE ASSOCIATED FEATURE I REALLY LIKE IS ONE THAT YOU MAY EASILY MISS AND THAT’S THE LITTLE LOCATING PLATE IN THE MAGWELL THAT LETS YOU EASILY SEAT YOUR MAGAZINE… PLUS POINTS HERE SPECNA ARMS, AS THIS WILL REALLY HELP NEW AK USERS!” www.airsoftaction.net

EVENT SPECIAL AIRSOFT SURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP 2020

Tomo, from Arms Magazine in Japan, brings us his special coverage of the recent Airsoft Surgeon Championship, held at the NEC in Birmingham alongside the British Shooting Show. For more from Arms Magazine, visit: www. hobbyjapan.co.jp/armsweb To see an English translation, head over to the Airsoft Action website: www.airsoftaction.net/airsoft-surgeon-2020-in-arms-magazine

MAY 2020

EVENT SPECIAL AIRSOFT SURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP 2020

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EVENT SPECIAL AIRSOFT SURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP 2020

MAY 2020

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MAY 2020

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THE CAGE CLOSE OF PLAY

THE CAGE: AT CLOSE OF PLAY AS LOCKDOWNS ALL OVER THE WORLD SEE OUR LOCAL SHOPS SHUTTING THEIR DOORS AND THE CLOSE DOWN OF OUR FAVOURITE SITES IT FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING AIRSOFT HAS GROUND TO A HALT, BUT THE FACT IS THAT THERE ARE STILL STORES OUT THERE HAPPY TO SEND ALL MANNER OF GOODIES DIRECT TO YOUR DOORS THANKS TO THEIR ONLINE BUSINESS PORTALS! PERHAPS NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE YOUR AEG OR GBB THAT “TLC” THAT IT’S BEEN MISSING! BILL GOT TOGETHER WITH THE TEAM TO CHECK OUT WHAT THEY’RE UP TO…

et’s face it, sometimes we’re actually not that great at looking after our AEGs and GBBs are we? We spend a lot of money on buying the airsoft platform that suits us best, and then we spend even more on dressing it up in fancy party clothes to get it just the way we want it. We add new internal parts and external accessories to make it truly our own, or to resemble the very latest variant used by some uber-dark-ops Special Forces team, but then at the end of our game day we throw it into a gun bag or case until it’s time to join the fight again. In my time playing airsoft I’ve seen AEGs stuffed away after a wet game day without even so much as a wipe down, battery still connected, and magazines still half full, and I’ve seen those same AEGs come out again a week later not having been touched in the interim. I’ve seen GBB pistols with slides so dry they grate, and mags bulging to the point that they won’t actually fit any more. As much as we say that we love our airsoft guns, we sometimes treat them very badly and then bemoan the fact that they don’t work as we want them too… and all down to the fact that we don’t maintain them, even in the very simplest way. I grew up in a household where real firearms were

part of the furniture pretty much and from my earliest days I was taught to respect them. From memory, I fired my first pistol when I was about 7 years old, with my Dad, and straight away the mantra was “don’t point at anything you don’t want to kill”. Yup, the old boy took it very seriously but then he had fought in WWII and finished out his “Army days” as an Infantry Instructor, so his mantra became mine. One of my favourite things to do with my Dad as much as the shooting, was the cleaning part afterwards, where a brew would be made, biscuits or cake put on the table and the rags, rods, and gun oil would join them. To this day I cannot smell gun oil and not think fondly of my Dad, and as I actually clean my airsoft replicas regularly and thoroughly, you’ll often find me in the man cave with a big soppy grin on my face while I do so! Cleaning and maintaining your AEG or GBB should not be seen as a chore, but rather as an extension of your general airsoft day; when you get home the gun bag or case should be opened once again with a view to making sure all the contents are finally stored away for the week in tip-top condition. Another military mantra springs to mind for this, which is “First Weapon, Second

“TO THIS DAY I CANNOT SMELL GUN OIL AND NOT THINK FONDLY OF MY DAD, AND AS I ACTUALLY CLEAN MY AIRSOFT REPLICAS REGULARLY AND THOROUGHLY, YOU’LL OFTEN FIND ME IN THE MAN CAVE WITH A BIG SOPPY GRIN ON MY FACE WHILE I DO SO!”

MAY 2020

THE CAGE CLOSE OF PLAY

Kit and Then Self” and it’s a mantra that will see you right every time. Let it become an enjoyable part of your airsoft day and your AEG and GBB will thank you! With this in mind and given the fact that our guns are now away for longer than usual, I got together with the team and asked them: “What maintenance regime do you have for your AEGs and GBBs and what small and simple jobs can be carried out easily that will make a positive difference to performance?” Scott: “I always fire it until it stops working, or unless I notice something isn’t shooting right. Generally a year or two before anything goes nowadays…” Christopher J W: “Any issues, give them to a friend or just buy a new one! I did once when I used GBBs before swapping to TM Recoils strip one of them and re-lube… to be honest I have not taken apart a gearbox for over 8 years…” Frenchie: “I clean everything before putting it away. Really boring I know but I swab out the barrels, clean the exterior then into the case knowing I could grab and go the next time. As for upgrades, commonly for a techie, I do very few to my own gear, just keep it running as necessary. Too much like a bus-man’s holiday to open guns just for shits and giggles!” Craig: “AEG maintenance for me is just cleaning the barrels after each game day. For gas, mainly pistols, I’ll clean the barrel and check the slide isn’t catching or that it’s not bone dry on the internals and apply silicone or lubricant if needed. Easy upgrades? For AEGs almost every time would be a tight bore barrel, hop rubber and bucking. With the exception of my TM Recoil, I tend to buy cheap and upgrade because I enjoy the tinkering side of the hobby as well.” Phil: “Having teched for years on other people’s guns I tend to leave mine alone until they need it now. Obviously a spring change if a gun is a little “warm” shall we say. Apart from that the only thing I do for pretty much every gun I buy is swap out the stock hop rubber for a guarder clear 50deg. In my experience across a number of platforms and manufacturers it is the best one around for UK power levels.” Stu: “Run it like I stole it. Cry when it breaks. I need to be better at preventative maintenance! #haikustu” Rob: “#1 is clean the barrel over and over as a dirty barrel (and hop bucking) is the first cause of inaccuracy. So I use clean patch, then a patch with alcohol and dish soap and water (usually several, this is a degreaser that is safe), then follow with just alcohol (removes any residue) and finally just dry. I want zero dirt and residue (most new and recently worked on AEGs still spit grease across

the nozzle and down the barrel). #2 I clean the outside down with my degreaser (Alcohol, dish soap and water combo again) and in many cases will apply a very thin layer of coconut oil or grizzly-frog lube type, then warm the replica up with a hairdryer and rub the excess off, followed by a polish to keep tarnish and rust away.”

PULLING THROUGH

It’s actually very interesting to me that, given we have a LOT of technical knowledge between us amongst the AA crew, there are actually very few of us that go in for major upgrades “off the bat”. This has been discussed before but it’s still uncanny when you find out that even some of the most experienced airsofters out there will “run their gun” pretty much stock until something goes wrong! I’ll have to say that I’m in total agreement with my peers in this respect, as although I know what goes on inside and AEG or GBB, I’ll leave it pretty much alone until something really needs doing and even then I’ll usually hand it off to a dedicated tech who deals with internals day in, day out. As I regularly say, “I’m a shooter, not an armourer”. That’s not to say that upgrading is a bad thing; as Craig pointed out, sometimes you can buy a budget AEG and turn it into an absolute beast by installing the right aftermarket parts in the correct way, if that’s what you like to do. Don’t forget that most good retailers are still able to send out parts right now, at least if you order them online! For me, well I still revert to those happy days with my Dad, make a brew and break out the cookies and depending on the model in question at the end of each day (including multi-day games and events where I’ll carry a little cleaning kit in my gear!) I’ll spend a few minutes “pulling through” or cleaning the barrel, brush everything down with a small paintbrush, wipe down the metalwork, and where necessary re-lube. I’ll also clean the glass on any optics and taclites I may have fitted. I’ll remove and test batteries both from the gun and accessories and empty magazines completely so as not to stress the springs. I’ll purge the gas from my GBB mags and put a squirt of gas back in and I’ll strip down my GBBs and lube internally where appropriate. Finally, I’ll test all the screws and hexes to make sure they’re nice and tight before I give a final wipe down and place everything safely back in safe storage. I treat my AEGs, and especially my GBBs, just like the real thing and time and experience has taught me that if I look after my guns, when the time comes they will look after me in return! AA

“I’LL SPEND A FEW MINUTES “PULLING THROUGH” OR CLEANING THE BARREL, BRUSH EVERYTHING DOWN WITH A SMALL PAINTBRUSH, WIPE DOWN THE METALWORK, AND WHERE NECESSARY RE-LUBE. I’LL ALSO CLEAN THE GLASS ON ANY OPTICS AND TACLITES I MAY HAVE FITTED.”

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FEATURE HIGHS AND LOWS

AIRSOFT HIGHS AND LOWS...

SITTING AT HOME PONDERING WHAT SUBJECT TO COVER IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF AIRSOFT ACTION, FRENCHIE’S THOUGHTS TURNED TO THE ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE HE GOT INTO AIRSOFT, BOTH GOOD AND NOT SO GOOD.

here have now been eleven years of Airsoft Action and the question was asked around the (virtual) office about airsofting highs and lows during that period. We had to limit this to airsoft, otherwise we would literally be here for ever! Somewhat to my surprise a lot of the responses concerned gear rather than experiences, but we have a bit of both to offer. Unless I decide otherwise (mainly for the sheer cringe factor) all names have been changed to protect the innocent!

TEE-HEE!

I’ll own this one, because I loved it! Picture the scene... I was leading a team at a big game arranged by A.N. Other Airsoft magazine. By some foolish skulduggery I was handed into the tender care of the opposition. I think this was done because my team was caning theirs, but whatever. I was slipped a grenade, which I proceeded to use but which sadly did not send me back to my own respawn. Instead I was handed over to a couple of lovely lads in a small room and all my gear was removed and piled on the floor. Outside the battle raged and there was a full-on running skirmish happening as my teammates performed a flanking move. This proved too fascinating to ignore

for my captors who both stood at the window offering comments and commentary. Unfortunately for them they also offered me easy access to the rubber knife one of them had stuck on the back of his vest. Gently I slipped it out of its resting place and kindly I stabbed them both. I then grabbed my kit and checking my pistol, wandered out into the enemy’s stronghold. Since they were under constant attack it’s fair to say they weren’t paying too much attention to what was happening in their midst, so I wandered lonely as a cloud, shooting anyone that got in my way. I’d like to say I made a clean getaway but eventually someone twigged and shot me! That’s fine, because now I get to go and respawn. Job done. The lesson? Never wear a knife on your shoulder and turn your back on a prisoner!

KIT LOWS

One manufacturer came up with almost boring regularity: Celcius. Now, I have never owned any of their guns but I have worked on one of their AKs with considerable assistance from one of their techs. Even then, I couldn’t get it to work consistently, so it’s fair to say I wasn’t impressed, especially as they are bloody expensive. The biggest problem Celsius seem to have is that they are copying and

“...MY CAPTORS WHO BOTH STOOD AT THE WINDOW OFFERING COMMENTS AND COMMENTARY. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM THEY ALSO OFFERED ME EASY ACCESS TO THE RUBBER KNIFE ONE OF THEM HAD STUCK ON THE BACK OF HIS VEST. GENTLY I SLIPPED IT OUT OF ITS RESTING PLACE AND KINDLY I STABBED THEM BOTH.” 34

MAY 2020

FEATURE HIGHS AND LOWS

already complex bit of kit in the Systema. Now, given that I have seen Alan at Land Warrior completely rebuild stock Systemas to get them to work as well as possible, it’s safe to say that playing the copy game here is probably going to be a challenge. So it would seem, with no one at AA having a kind word to say for the brand and those who were brave enough to drop money on the brand regretting every penny they spent, especially since just buying the damned thing wasn’t enough – you had to then spend more (and more and more) trying to at least make it function. This is exactly what happened to our unnamed contributor… “Celsius CTW (remember them?) Unfortunately, promised much and delivered little other than aggro! Having had loads of little “niggles” with it, including a stripped piston and “grinding” from the gearbox, I ended up having my Celsius completely overhauled by JD Airsoft. I used it on just one occasion after that, with not much by way of improvement and a trigger that Arnie would have struggled to pull. It has been consigned to its box ever since.” Oddly, or perhaps not, the same contributor had a similar experience with another gun, the ASG CZ75 SP-01 Shadow…

that point I gave up with it!”

CELCIUS ...AGAIN!

This isn’t the only time CTW was mentioned: “…for me the worst ever experience came with the Celsius CTWs. I was so stupid I even bought two!! The BS that came

out of the main retailer for them was astounding too. They knew how shit they were and kept selling them and covering up the flaws. One of my favourite examples was when my first gun kept chopping BBs. Their reply was “well it is shooting pretty fast (22rps over a chrono in their shop and not especially fast) but it’s only chopping a few so that’s pretty good really!” That whole debacle was just such a waste of time, money and energy. Makes me shudder just thinking about how much I lost on those guns.”

GEAR PROBLEMS

“The Shadow was a really good pistol... until it wasn’t! “I used it for Action Air at Double-Tap and for the first couple of sessions it ran like a trooper ...and then the nozzle started playing up, then the hop, then the extended mag well fell off, then the seals on all five mags gave out, then the trigger became loose and the final straw was when the mag release became sticky and it would drop mags at the most inopportune moments! At

I am now trying to think of gear problems I’ve had. It’s a bit of a struggle, mainly because having spent years tech-ing you either know what to avoid or how to fix any problems. There is one, relating to Classic Army… I began airsofting up at The Hill, near Dundee. It was run by the redoubtable Warren Reynolds and I went through a few guns up there before I moved on to pastures new. At one point I had acquired a Marui M16A2, a fine gun with which I had a lot of fun. With it I received a Classic Army hicap magazine, amongst others. This mag was always problematic, although it never outright failed. During one game I was moving forward as part of the attacking team when we came under fire from Mr. Reynolds himself, securely dug into a small foxhole. Using the principles of fire and movement, I advanced firing, only to have that magazine crap out on me at the most inappropriate moment. They say training takes over – which would be cool if I had ever had any training – but without missing a beat I dropped the magazine and threw it at Warren, keeping his head down while I slapped

“ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EXAMPLES WAS WHEN MY FIRST GUN KEPT CHOPPING BBS. THEIR REPLY WAS “WELL IT IS SHOOTING PRETTY FAST (22RPS OVER A CHRONO IN THEIR SHOP AND NOT ESPECIALLY FAST) BUT IT’S ONLY CHOPPING A FEW SO THAT’S PRETTY GOOD REALLY!”” www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE HIGHS AND LOWS

another one home. I’m not sure that’s entirely cricket, but, hey – war’s hell!

HIGH ON THE HILL

Another high from the Hill came through my regular use of Marui shotguns (which I love). Attacking up a short but steep hill, I’m taking fire from a tree above me. The shooter ducks back behind the tree and I let off a shot from the Marui. To my astonishment there is a cry of “Hit!” and my would-be assailant emerges, hand in the air. Seems that at least one of the BBs had curved round the tree trunk and hit him! Hard not to love shotguns after something like that. The following is from an anonymous Airsoft Action staffer let’s call him Pill Bryce Thomas… “I’ve thought about this for a while now and probably my most embarrassing moment and the funniest moment came in one single game... embarrassing first... “I played with a great team in the USA and had a fabulous “wing man” called Jay. We were all stacked up ready to hit a building entrance, Jay #1, me #2. We’re just

about to hit the “go go go” button when Jay sticks up his hand to call a halt to the breach... and I promptly shot him in the trigger finger from about six inches away... Much interesting language was the result as you can imagine... “Same weekender and the team was down to just Jay and me whilst the others were respawning, and the mass of the opposing team (about 100 players) were heading down “Main Street” towards us... by this time Jay had ripped the front out of his trousers and is down to shorts. Naturally, the only option was for us to launch a sprinting, full-frontal assault straight up the middle of “Main Street”, shooting like loons on semi-auto all the way! Until that was, the entire opposing force opened up on us! I have never been welted like it before, or indeed again since - the other team gave us a fabulous cheer, laughed heartily at our audacity (stupidity?) and we retired welted but happy!” So, as I rush towards a reasonable word count, it’s obvious that airsoft has it all; tears, laughter, pain, sorrow and the ability to deprive otherwise sensible people of huge amounts of cash for little or no return! Here’s to the next eleven years of BB-based lunacy! AA

“NATURALLY, THE ONLY OPTION WAS FOR US TO LAUNCH A SPRINTING, FULL-FRONTAL ASSAULT STRAIGHT UP THE MIDDLE OF “MAIN STREET”, SHOOTING LIKE LOONS ON SEMI-AUTO ALL THE WAY! UNTIL THAT WAS, THE ENTIRE OPPOSING FORCE OPENED UP ON US!”

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KIT & GEAR BEARBACK SLINGS

BEARBACK IND. 2-POINT SLING OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND RARELY COMMENTED UPON, A SLING CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR DAY. PHIL BUCKNALL HAS QUITE A COLLECTION ALREADY BUT IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO TRY.

’m a big believer in slings and also in using good quality ones, after all, why spend several hundred pounds on a gun and then trust its safety to a $4 sling off eBay. Y’know the one that lets go as you’re running and watch in slo-mo as your pride and joy crashes into a tree and snaps! If you’re going to make an investment in decent kit, then a decent sling should be right at the top of your shopping list. I’ve tried quite a few different slings and I’ve been an ardent fan of the Ferro Concepts Slingster, amongst others such as the Magpul range of slings and also the Vickers VCAS padded sling but I am always looking to see what else is out there. I’ve even used the new Viper VX sling on a couple of lighter and cheaper guns and for the money they are pretty good gear. A little while back I got a message about a new sling from a company called Bearback Industries. Its a QD lightweight sling that is designed so that it is easy to transition from shoulder to shoulder, avoiding snags on kit or clothing, yet easy to adjust and when used, your rifle will just hang centrally without putting undue pressure on your neck. The top end sling is £35 ex P&P and is made using genuine Multicam material as well as climbing rated parts for buckles, from the venerable metal AustriAlpin. They will also do a slightly cheaper version with polymer fittings a little further down the line and they will be available in other colours too.

It’s simply a case of attaching it to the gun using the fairly large para cord loops. The size of which means there is unlikely to be a gun that it won’t fit on. Once you’ve looped it through wherever it’s going then you can slide the little PU tubes down the cord to the loop to lock it in place. Very simple but very effective too. In use it took a little getting used to after the Slingster as it is a lot more flexible - the fabric being much softer - but that’s what allows it to be so maneuverable. It is very easy to loosen or tighten with the toggle plenty big enough to get a good purchase, even if your hands are wet or wearing gloves. The sling is more than capable of taking a fair amount of weight and I tried it on a few guns - a couple of ERGs which are quite heavy and also my KWA Ronins. In the end I left it on my T6 as it just works really well on it. The construction is very good and it’s obvious to see that high standards are enforced in the factory, from the quality of the material, to the stitching holding it all together. I’ve used it for a few months now and it’s not showing any signs of wear or tear thus far and I’m very happy with it. Check them out on Instagram @ bearbackindustriesofficial to find out more about them and see some images of the slings in use. Stay safe out there folks and see you back in the game as soon as possible! AA

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KIT & GEAR VIPER TACTICAL: V-CAM BLACK

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO STAY COOL IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT, STEVE T TESTS VIPER TACTICALâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW GEN2 ELITE TROUSERS AND MESH-TECH SHIRTS.

MAY 2020

KIT & GEAR VIPER TACTICAL: V-CAM BLACK

’ve used Viper’s original Elite pants for about a year now, particularly in warmer weather when their slightly thinner construction helps me stay cool. This year, Viper introduced its GEN2 pants with the addition of the VCBK colourway - in other words, an unlicensed version of MultiCam Black. Pardon the pun but colour me interested! And in a perfect confluence for hotheads everywhere, Viper has also released mesh tops with both short and long sleeves in the same dark camo, to help fat sweaty so-andso’s like me stay cool. It was an instabuy combo for me all-round then.

mesh shirts feel considerably cooler than any UBACs I’ve tried, without sacrificing camo cover. I just wish Viper made a proper combat shirt in the same pattern to pair with the pants outside of a heatwave.

PANT-A-LOON

Well priced at around £70, the quality seems good too. Everything about the original Elite pant has been improved, from the introduction of flex panels to more malleable removable armour. Still constructed from 60/40 Ripstop Polycotton, the label assures me they are “100% Tactical”. There’s still a velcro waist fastening above the fly but the waistband is slightly stiffer and broader on the V2, albeit sacrificing adjustment. The basic pocket arrangement remains mostly the same but the height adjustable straps for the knee armour are no longer accessed through the hip pockets, so now your change won’t fall out around your knees on the way to or from a game! If you ever managed to find a use for the original’s shin pockets though, then think again because they’re gone. No great loss. Overall, the GEN2s seem well made, comfortable and a good upgrade from the originals - especially if you want a camo pattern that will work in woodland sites.

SHIRT HOT!

I don’t know about you but I start sweating the moment I pull a UBACS over my head! Viper’s Mesh-tech shirts could be the end of that. The 100% Polyester construction means that it’s not only more lightweight and feels cooler as soon as you put it on, but also faster wicking than conventional cotton blends. Both long and short-sleeved versions work best when worn snug against the skin, but if you’re at all body conscious, I’d go up a size - or even two - and they’ll still work great. The camo pattern is slightly lighter than on the pants, but things get lighter the higher they are, right? I’m happy to confirm that they totally work at reducing body temperatures, but while the full-length sleeve option has an adjustable zip collar, the short-sleeve can feel a bit tight around the neck. That’s something I particularly dislike though, so it might not bother you. Either way, they might not be the last word in battlefield authenticity but both

There’s a trade-off for using cooler fabrics in that you will sacrifice physical protection. Of course, we’re not talking about bulletproof layers but rather knocks and scrapes against the terrain. This base layer might not be as thin as the most sheer exercise tops, but I still have a question mark over durability. I doubt it would shrug off an encounter with a nail, but the thin construction is part of how the shirts achieve their cooling performance. At least you’ll be able to feel every single hit.

CAMO DELIGHT

I’ve not had chance to skirmish either shirts or trousers since we’re in the midst of the Corona lockdown but I tested them during exercise instead. I found that the GEN2 trousers are more comfortable than the previous generation thanks to those stretch panels, while the mesh shirts both help considerably with cooling. Viper Tactical has a track record of providing costeffective kit that outperforms its price point and on this evidence, the new 2020 lines don’t disappoint. In fact, for my budget, the new camo options strike the perfect balance between price and performance. AA

“THE BASIC POCKET ARRANGEMENT REMAINS MOSTLY THE SAME BUT THE HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE STRAPS FOR THE KNEE ARMOUR ARE NO LONGER ACCESSED THROUGH THE HIP POCKETS, SO NOW YOUR CHANGE WON’T FALL OUT AROUND YOUR KNEES ON THE WAY TO OR FROM A GAME!”

www.airsoftaction.net

STRETCH PANTS BLACK / DARK COYOTE / GREEN / SRP: Â£69.95

VORSK DIARY MAY 2020

VORSK

DIARY UPDATE THE “GEN I” VORSK EU AND HI CAPA MODELS HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE MARKET A LITTLE WHILE NOW AND, AS PROMISED, BILL RETURNS TO HIS OWN HI CAPA 4.3 RDS AND COMPILES HIS DIARY ENTRIES TO GIVE YOU ALL AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING NOW THAT THE PISTOL HAS SEEN SOME ACTION!

hen I first shot the Vorsk Pistols with Ross some months back, I promised that I’d keep a running diary of how the two models, the EU18 and the Hi Capa 4.3 he provided for me for long-term testing fared over time and with regular use. Luckily for me I have an Attack Sense Target System set up at my local shop, All Ages Airsoft in Dover, where I can go and shoot whatever the weather. I’ve set it up at the shop rather than at home or on my woodland range as that way all the local shooters can make use of, and benefit from, it - and it’s proving to be a real winner with everyone. Sadly this is now mothballed until we’re all allowed to reconvene… I’m also lucky though that I have an outdoor 30m range that I use for all my testing in some private woodland owned by friends just 15 minutes walk away across country from my front door. So even during the current lockdown I am able to get there without meeting a soul along the way and, once I’m there it’s just me the dog and an airsoft gun for as long as I want to stay out. My “one a day” is put to best use of course! On my regular visits to both ranges I’ve been taking along the Vorsk Hi Capa 4.3, so I’ve now been able to spend some “meaningful time” with it. Thus far it’s been out with me in all weather conditions, from frosty early mornings to some unexpectedly clement days where the sun has shone and the wind has stayed light. I managed to secure a couple of extra 28BB magazines for the pistol, so my belt is now all set up and a new holster made by Kydex Customs is locked in place. This has proved to be an excellent addition to my setup and Taig kindly set the holster up with a belt clip so that I can easily transfer it from

belt to belt if I wish. I’ve been running the Hi Capa on NUPROL 2.0 gas, using .25g RZR BBs and the chrono still settles well at 1.01 Joule/330fps with a .20g BB, with little variance from new. The pistol has now had 150 mags worth/4,2000 BBs down the barrel and to date I’ve experienced no issues other than the slide not locking back on empty on really, REALLY chilly mornings, which would vex any GBB of course! Accuracy is actually getting better the more I run it, and at 10m I’m now down to regular 80mm groupings when I really try. Consistently at 10m it’s a breeze hitting a “Figure 11” each and every time, even when I’m on the move. Thus far the Vorsk Hi Capa 4.3 has proved to be an exemplary and wholly worthy sidekick and the RDS is even still running on the original battery! I’ll update again in due course, but next for the diary will be an update on the Vorsk EU18 RDS… I’ve got myself a couple of extended mags to try in that one, which sounds like proper airsoft fun to me, so watch this space! AA

“THE PISTOL HAS NOW HAD 150 MAGS WORTH/4,2000 BBS DOWN THE BARREL AND TO DATE I’VE EXPERIENCED NO ISSUES OTHER THAN THE SLIDE NOT LOCKING BACK ON EMPTY ON REALLY, REALLY CHILLY MORNINGS, WHICH WOULD VEX ANY GBB OF COURSE!” www.airsoftaction.net

WORKSHOP BASIC MAINTENANCE - PART ONE

LOCKDOWN AIRSOFT MAINTENANCE FRENCHIE HAS BEEN MAINTAINING KIT FOR LONGER THEN WE DARE MENTION, AND STARTS THIS NEW SERIES WITH SOME SIMPLE, BASIC MAINTENANCE TIPS.

tuck at home and nothing to do? Time to look after your kit – assuming you don’t already! With Covid-19 rampant and many of us finding out that we aren’t actually essential workers, you may be wondering what to do with all this time – given that you can’t go outside… Well, if nothing else, this is a perfect opportunity to do some basic maintenance on your airsoft guns and gear, so this month I’ll run down the genuinely basic stuff, jobs that require few if any tools yet which will prolong the life of your guns and improve their performance. Forgive me if I’m teaching my Granny to suck eggs but we all have differing levels of experience when it comes to these things.

IN THE BEGINNING…

I’ll start with a couple of statements… Airsoft guns, electric guns especially, need only simple maintenance to keep going, often for many years. There is no need to go deep-diving inside their guts on a regular basis unless it gives you pleasure and I have always warned people off doing so unless necessary. The old rule of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is one I have really come to appreciate with age and experience! I encourage you to think of the gearbox inside your gun as a sealed system – it isn’t – but it can be treated as such, especially

these days. Overall reliability has improved over the years, as has performance, which used to be the greatest reason for opening gearboxes. With most sites happy with 350 fps, or maybe a bit more, the old Marui standard of around 280 fps looks well out of place. Fortunately, the likes of G&G, Krytac etc. are producing guns which are performing far closer to player’s expectations these days. Secondly, they do not need “servicing”. Most techs will do it if you insist because why wouldn’t they? Most of the ones I know will tell you that it’s not necessary. So, what does need to be done? First and foremost: cleaning. Good old fashioned getting rid of the muck. Although functionally very different from firearms (I’ll come to gas blowbacks in a later issue) airsoft guns work better when they are clean and free from obstructions. Therefore, if you are one of those players who treats his guns very much as a tool – if it gets wet and muddy so be it – then this is especially applicable to you. If your guns are mucky, clean them, whether that’s a quick wipe down with a damp sponge or something more convoluted. There is seldom any need to disassemble an airsoft gun to clean it, unless you have dropped it into a ditch filled with liquid mud. In that case, yes, you are going to have to strip it and if you aren’t confident with that, I suggest you wipe the worst off, then take it to a tech. I have rebuilt a few guns over the years following the presentation of a bag of

“THERE IS NO NEED TO GO DEEP-DIVING INSIDE THEIR GUTS ON A REGULAR BASIS UNLESS IT GIVES YOU PLEASURE AND I HAVE ALWAYS WARNED PEOPLE OFF DOING SO UNLESS NECESSARY. THE OLD RULE OF “IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT” IS ONE I HAVE REALLY COME TO APPRECIATE WITH AGE AND EXPERIENCE!” 44

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WORKSHOP BASIC MAINTENANCE - PART ONE

bits and “I was just cleaning it”. I’ll clean a gearbox when I’m working on it but even I don’t strip them to polish the piston…. Other things you don’t need to do…. Spray half a can of Abbey silicon oil into every single orifice in your gun. There are a couple of places it should go and many it shouldn’t! You can spray some onto a rag and use it to give your gun a once over once it’s clean and dry. It won’t harm plastic and it will protect metal from corrosion. Marui used to recommend a squirt of silicon oil into the hop chamber after use and, being a hapless newbie, I got into the habit of doing that years ago. It certainly won’t hurt but the first several rounds through the gun will not benefit from the hop up until that oil has been removed by the passage of BBs.

Sliding stocks are worth removing to clean around the buffer tube, likewise hinged stocks – make sure there is no debris caught in the hinge that could cause jams or breakages. Most of us are reasonably careful to ensure that we don’t fill the muzzle with muck but it does happen. Worth checking.

BARREL CLEANING

Cleaning the barrel is one of the single most useful things you can do and it’s easy to do. The best material I have ever found to do this is “J-Cloths” or the supermarket’s no-name equivalent. I do recognise that any mention of supermarkets may strike fear at present but we all still need to eat and, in fairness,

I can’t think of anyone wanting to wipe their bums with these! They’re the good old blue and white stripy clothes used for a myriad of cleaning tasks. They have a couple of advantages – they tear easily and consistently, and they are largely lint free. Assuming you have a cleaning rod and some silicon oil you’re all set. Tear of a strip about 10mm wide. Manuals always seem to suggest 50mm long, I tend to go a bit longer. Thread it through the slotted end of the rod, wind it round the head of the rod, give it a squirt of silicon oil and carefully run it the full length of your barrel. Important word that: “CAREFULLY”! If you have used too much cloth you can pull the hop rubber out of the chamber. So, if it’s really tight going down the barrel, stop, pull back and remove a bit of the J cloth. I have seen this done, so it’s not just a piece of Internet nonsense! Unless you’re a consistent barrel cleaner don’t be surprised if the cloth comes out filthy. Many manufacturers send their guns out with greasy barrels – G&G were amongst the most egregious offenders and you just have to work away at it until the cloth comes out clean. Once it is, I tend to run a dry cloth down the barrel once but remember what I said about my habit of squirting a little silicon oil into the hop chamber to maintain the rubber. Other than a visual check of your gun for bared wires, loose connectors and other physical problems, that’s about it. I’ll cover gas blow backs next issue but I will touch on springers here, although I appreciate that they are in the minority on sites these days. Most spring guns - and I include sniper rifles here just need to be kept functionally clean and their barrels thoroughly swabbed out. I am reasonably adept at stripping Marui triple-barreled shotguns, and if you have too much time on your hands, you can learn too! However, it’s generally unnecessary – clean the barrels and fire a little silicon spray into the loading chamber, straight into the channel the BBs pass through on their way up to the barrels. That should do it. Most airsoft snipers are fairly obsessive anyway and I wouldn’t deign to tell them how to look after their pride and joy!! None of this is rocket science and I suspect most of you do it anyway. You’ve made an investment in your guns and it takes little effort and time to keep them running sweetly. Since time is something most of have at present, go on, show them some love! Until the next time and the delight that is gas blowback guns – stay safe. AA

“THERE IS SELDOM ANY NEED TO DISASSEMBLE AN AIRSOFT GUN TO CLEAN IT, UNLESS YOU HAVE DROPPED IT INTO A DITCH FILLED WITH LIQUID MUD. ” www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR TECHNICAL FABRIC MAINTENANCE

KIT & GEAR: TECHNICAL FABRIC MAINTENANCE WITH THE MAJORITY OF US STUCK AT HOME RIGHT NOW, WE CONTINUE THIS MONTH’S LOOK AT CARE

AND MAINTENANCE AS BILL REVISITS TECHNICAL FABRICS AND TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE THEM AS PART OF YOUR LOADOUT AND HOW YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY LOOK AFTER THEM WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE!

nderstanding what you buy and what you use in relation to your personal clothing is a subject that’s very close to my heart. “Technical clothing”, whilst not hard to come by, is an expensive part of any loadout and you want it to keep on performing for a significant time to make your investment worthwhile. So, what are we really talking about when we use the phrase “technical performance fabrics”? Basically, we are looking at fabric technologies with a very specific end use in mind, that balance the three key areas of waterproofness (read general weatherproofness), breathability and durability. I’ll use the well-known GORE-TEX products as an example here, as they really are a market leader and Gore are continually developing new, ground-breaking fabric technologies to meet the needs of their Brand partners. Breaking it down, W L Gore and Associates use two main forms of construction in their garments, Two and Three Layer (although there are other specific constructions in their massive portfolio). Two Layer construction essentially means that their ePTFE (expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene) membrane is attached directly to an outer face fabric with a loose lining; Three Layer construction means that the face fabric, membrane and inner lining fabric are all bonded together. Many prefer the Three Layer construction as it’s is easier to get on and off as a loose mesh liner can sometimes snag on gear. Different seam tapes (to ensure seams are 100%

waterproof and do not let water in through stitch holes) are used in the different constructions; Two Layer seam sealing tape is applied to the GORE-TEX membrane directly, whilst in Three Layer the sealing takes place over the inner lining fabric. Seam sealing is an art form in itself!

WATERPROOF

Let’s take a look first at waterproofness and how technical fabrics achieve this. The GORE-TEX membrane is the heart of all their excellent products. It contains over 9 billion microscopic pores per square inch. These pores are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule, which makes the membrane durably waterproof, while allowing perspiration (moisture as a vapour) to escape from the inside. An oleophobic, or oil-hating, substance is integrated into the membrane, preventing the penetration of body oils, insect repellents and the like. Simply put, imagine an elephant, a mouse hole and an ant! The mouse hole is the microscopic pore in the membrane, the ant is a water vapour molecule and the elephant a water droplet. It’s pretty easy to see that although the ant can escape through the mouse hole with ease, there is NO WAY that you could push the elephant through it without breaking the wall down! In garment

“THESE PORES ARE 20,000 TIMES SMALLER THAN A WATER DROPLET, BUT 700 TIMES LARGER THAN A WATER VAPOR MOLECULE, WHICH MAKES THE MEMBRANE DURABLY WATERPROOF, WHILE ALLOWING PERSPIRATION (MOISTURE AS A VAPOUR) TO ESCAPE FROM THE INSIDE.”

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KIT & GEAR TECHNICAL FABRIC MAINTENANCE

terms that would mean tearing a darn great hole in your jacket! So, water cannot penetrate the membrane, or can it? Logic dictates that eventually any fabric technology can be pushed to a point of failure and this can be tested. In this case the applicable British Standard that I refer to is “BS EN 343:2003 Protective Clothing: Protection against Rain”. The Standard describes the tests that should be carried out to ascertain a garment’s level of waterproofness and sets out the performance standards that items carrying this description should meet. A Test House would carry out these tests in order to ascertain the garment’s ability to keep out water. This is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch) or “Hydrostatic Head”. Hydrostatic Head is measured in mm and pressure is measured in pounds per square inch. The Hydrostatic Head is determined by a test whereby a fabric is held taut underneath a sealed tube of water 1 inch in diameter. Over 24 hours it is observed to see how many millimetres of water the fabric can withstand before it leaks through. When the fabric begins to seep water, the “height” in millimetres is noted. This is known as the fabric’s ‘hydrostatic head”, which literally means: Hydro Water, Static - Not moving, Head - Height. The PSI relates to the amount of water pressure that a garment can withstand both from the pressure within

the garment (the wearer) and the external conditions (the weather). To be 100% waterproof, the British Standards of 3PSI has to be met, which means that a fabric can withhold 1500mm of water pressure. Pressure is not just as simple as the pressure of a rainstorm, simply moving a garment when it is worn will exert pressure on the fabric. Let’s put this in perspective though… If you were to sit on a wet, flat surface the mean pressure you generate is around 10,000mm! If you were kneeling in a firing position then the point of the knee generates 15-17,000mm of pressure (smaller surface area, greater pressure) so let’s face it, a minimum legal rating of 1500mm just does not do the job. It does begin to explain though, how a garment can be legally classed as “waterproof” but in reality it isn’t. Back to GORE-TEX. What’s the hydrostatic head I hear you ask? Simple one this, as all GORE-TEX products have a MINIMUM testing level of 28,000mm… that’s right, 28 metres! Put another way I’ve seen top end GORE-TEX fabrics tested at over 70 PSI and not leak until they quite literally explode! Belt and braces time here folks.

BREATHABLE

Comfort is a relative thing but if you’re too hot, that can lead to heat exhaustion, too cold, hypothermia; whilst keeping external ingress of moisture at bay, controlling the

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KIT & GEAR TECHNICAL FABRIC MAINTENANCE

micro-climate inside your clothing system helps to prevent either too. The body regulates itself effectively; as activity levels increase you sweat and the evaporation of this moisture helps to cool the skin. If moisture is not allowed to move away you will become “uncomfortable” inside your clothing system. Letting moisture escape from the system is a tricky thing but it’s essentially what is being discussed when we use the word “breathable”. Behind it all is a law of nature: the Law of Partial Pressures. This law states that moisture as a vapour will naturally move from a warm, high pressure environment to a cooler low pressure one. If we are keeping a well-balanced temperature inside our clothing system, then on a bad-weather day moisture will move away from our skin through the pores in our clothing and escape to the outside. Sometimes we call this the “Temperature Gradient” as it sounds like moisture vapour is moving “down” from hot to cold. So does a breathable fabric technology work in a rain forest? Yes, is the answer but due to the temperature inside the garment and outside the garment being more in equilibrium, the transfer rate will obviously slow down. We all know we can work with Ma Nature - but never beat her! This, of course, is also subject to testing. Many methods can be used here to establish a Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR) or a Resistance to Evaporative Transmission (RET) figure. Of the two I prefer an RET figure as it just plain makes more sense to me. Skin is 100% breathable and has an RET of Zero. As soon as you cover it though, you build up a resistance that slows down the rate at which moisture can be transmitted away; the thicker the barrier the more resistance and the slower the transmission. In essence, this means that as you cover the skin with layers your system becomes less breathable so we will always be looking for technical fabrics with as low an RET figure as possible. In some cases the clever folks at Gore have got the RET figure well down into single figures, especially on their bespoke technologies. They continually develop completely new and innovative lining fabrics which are thinner (but more durable) than the industry standard linings available elsewhere - and thinner = less resistance, right?

WHAT YOU CAN DO IN YOUR DOWNTIME

If you’re spending a lot of money on a set of waterproof gear, then you really want to get the best out of it don’t you? Just like changing tyres or the oil in a car, your “shell gear” will really, really benefit from some regular “TLC”, a bit of a service if you like. I truly believe that there is a far

better understanding of the fabric technology used in our clothing systems than ever before and it’s a subject that is a bit of a “holy grail” for me. All too often I’m out on the range or at a game with my mates and when we get back in the car their “Gucci” waterproof shell gear just gets dumped unceremoniously in a pile on the floor or in the footwell! These are usually the self-same people that I will see at a later date bemoaning the fact that their expensive waterproof jacket “isn’t working”, complaining to all and sundry that somehow the technology has failed and that they are wet and uncomfortable. The most common gripe I hear is that “this funking thing is leaking” when actually it’s still perfectly fine and the fact is, it just isn’t “breathing” anymore! Like all performance items, top-end shell gear needs maintaining regularly to get the best from it. You might only change the tyres on your car infrequently (probably when the MOT or insurance inspection rolls around!), but on a Formula One car they may change the tyres several times during a single race to get the very best performance. When you buy a Gore-Tex (or similar) jacket you’re investing in a high-performance item, and as such, it needs treating like one! Over time things like the hydrophobic (water-heating) Durable Water Repellent (DWR, think a microscopic “film”) on the outer face fabric of the garment will begin to wear and crack and the fabric will start to hold the water that’s now allowed through to it. As new, water droplets will be held on the DWR layer, simply rolling off the fabric before they penetrate. You’ll notice after a while that this “beading” process will start to lessen and that the water is being absorbed into the fabric itself; this is usually noticeable first in areas like the shoulders where pack straps or a plate carrier rub and abrade the DWR, or on cuff ends where the fabric rubs against itself. Internally over time, body oils, grease and general dirt will also build up and the net result is that your jacket will stop “breathing” as well as it did when it was new. You won’t really notice this until it becomes obvious and water vapour that was previously being transferred out of the system stays inside and re-condenses. You’ll feel cold, clammy and uncomfortable and, when you put your hand inside your jacket, feel “water” and of course your quite natural conclusion will be that the jacket is leaking! A re-proofer will restore the waterproof performance of your gear to ensure it continues to keep you dry and protected. To combat the degradation of performance you simply need to give your jacket (or pant) a bit of care and invest in a maintenance product. There are many of them

“IF YOU WERE TO SIT ON A WET, FLAT SURFACE THE MEAN PRESSURE YOU GENERATE IS AROUND 10,000MM! IF YOU WERE KNEELING IN A FIRING POSITION THEN THE POINT OF THE KNEE GENERATES 15-17,000MM OF PRESSURE…”

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KIT & GEAR TECHNICAL FABRIC MAINTENANCE

on the market these days and most can be ordered easily online, so check out brands like Grangers, Nikwax, Storm, Red Wing, Rockin’ Green, and Gear Aid. These brands create environmentally sustainable treatments used to clean, waterproof and care for fabrics and the majority can be used in the same wash cycle. You’ll also find bespoke products for down, merino, and base layer care products to keep all of your gear tip-top. These products offer high performance cleaning, water proofing and after-care treatments that let you refresh and restore the performance of your gear, ensuring your kit delivers the same protection it did when you bought it. The first step is obviously to clean your garments and to do this you need to ensure that first and foremost you follow the manufacturer’s care guidance that’s given on the label you’ll no-doubt find inside the garment. Most garments, including hard shell, can be popped in the washing machine and by using a dedicated wash product you can make certain that no harm is going to come to your beloved gear so it comes out all sparkly and fresh! Once your garment has been cleaned, you should clean out your washing machine’s detergent tray. This is a similar step for washing but you’ll want to clear out any remnants of your washing product. Get yourself some wash-in proofer (unless your garment has a hydrophilic (waterloving) lining which is used sometimes to help transfer internal moisture, in which case use a spray on proofer to the outer face as directed!) then simply follow the instructions for volume and temperature settings before setting the washer. Let the cycle run with the proofer and once completed, allow the cycle to repeat and remove excess moisture. Re-proofers usually activate with heat so if your garment allows you to tumble dry it the heat will help activate the replenished coating and then you’re good to go all over again. All of your clothing system will benefit form a good wash and clean and again, products like base and midlayer washes will help your clothing system in its entirety. These wash products are specially formulated to work with both natural and synthetic “thermal layering and next to skin” garments to retain and improve performance and aid in effective moisture wicking, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your entire clothing system. And if, god forbid, you do tear your jacket or pant don’t despair as most of the brands mentioned also offer a products for repair, often in the form of patches. The patches provide a simple and easy method of sealing holes

and tears, as well as providing an excellent protective solution. Most repair patches are made from tough, matte finish, abrasion resistant, elastomers that resist punctures and tearing, combined with an aggressive adhesive formulated for high bond strength. The patches expand, absorbing force on impact and always return to their original shape and size. This flexibility allows the patch to conform to irregular surfaces without restricting the movement of the repaired material. With an emphasis on preservation and eco projects, it appears that even care product manufacturers are “going green” for the sake of the environment too! A huge 91% of discarded plastic isn’t recycled and it has been predicted that by mid-century, the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton (https://news. nationalgeographic.com)! To do their bit, companies have introduced new, easily-recyclable product containers. Using plastic-free packaging, you can now buy products that are not only great for your gear, but also great for the environment.

THE BALANCING ACT

It’s always precarious balancing act when you put technologies together in a garment with a lining fabric and an outer face fabric that will ensure long term durability whilst not degrading performance and when you then add thermal mid-layers and fast-wicking baselayers it becomes trickier still! All these fabrics are chosen with extreme care and tested for all kinds of heat, cold, flex and abrasion. Not maintaining these garments to the best of your ability simply means that you’re not getting the levels of performance you have invested in and this is something you can be doing at home right now. The fact of the matter is that many people find performance garments expensive but at the risk of being blunt, they must have no real conception of what is going on behind the scenes! When you’re paying for a performance garment you’re getting “Formula 1” levels of performance and that doesn’t come cheap. Of course, you can always buy a cheap “hatchback” but if your enjoyment, and ultimately even your life, may end up depending on the performance of your clothing system I have to ask the question “how much is too expensive”? Use your time wisely now while you have it, and get your gear prepped and ready for new airsoft adventures as soon as we’re allowed back out to play! AA

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armoury TRIDENT V GLADIUS

TRIDENT V GLADIUS

WANT TO MOVE UP FROM STARTER RIFS TO THE MID-RANGE? STEVE T PITS TWO PERENNIAL FAVOURITES AGAINST ONE ANOTHER - AND FINDS A CLEAR WINNER...

here comes a time in every airsofter’s “career“ when they want to progress from their starter RIF. Maybe you’re looking for more solid construction. Maybe you’re looking for a performance hike; better range or accuracy. Either way, that barely triple-digit dollar value gateway gun no longer scratches your itch. But the good news is that you don’t need to spend the thick end of four-figures to see a real difference. Even better, you don’t even need to spend half that in order to purchase a definite improvement right out of the box. Nobody’s hating on budget guns here - hell, I know of more than one former soldier turned airsofter that sees no need to own anything other than an entry point RIF - but I also

know bikers than can hustle a Harley faster than most riders on a sportsbike. But they’re a breed apart. My point? We mere humans could do with any leg-up we can get,

NEPTUNE VS KING ARTHUR

Anyone researching great out-of-the-box performance in the last few years will inevitably end up with a shortlist of two ARs that trade blows on forums the world over Krytac’s Trident and VFC’s Avalon ranges. The former is renowned for performance plus reliability as standard, while VFC continues to enjoy a reputation for excellent externals with easy to upgrade internals. On paper

“ANYONE RESEARCHING GREAT OUT-OF-THE-BOX PERFORMANCE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WILL INEVITABLY END UP WITH A SHORTLIST OF TWO ARS THAT TRADE BLOWS ON FORUMS THE WORLD OVER - KRYTAC’S TRIDENT AND VFC’S AVALON RANGES.” 50

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armoury TRIDENT V GLADIUS

at least, it seems like the purchasing decision comes down to whether you want to tinker or not. No? Get the Trident. Yes? It’s an Avalon for you…

AN EARLY SHOWER

I personally own both RIFs - paid for out of my own pocket - and have no affiliation with either manufacturer. As a review, this is a mix of direct experience, data and individual opinion. I fully expect this head-to-head to be a close-run affair to the bitter end. Buy the Krytac! I know, I know: it’s my job to keep you reading and I hate to short-circuit this tension-filled comparison but it’s an absolute no-brainer. The Trident looks and feels sharper, shoots better and even costs less in CRB trim versus the comparable Gladius. I couldn’t believe it was so clear-cut either... According to owner reviews, Krytac has been the manufacturer to beat in airsoft’s AR middle-ground for several years now - especially among patriots in the good ol’ US-of-A that appreciate the company’s domestic presence. VFC upped its game with the Avalon range seeming to deliberately target Krytac’s dominance, with many online reviews calling it a dead heat. That’s exactly why I wanted to pitch them against one another in this review. But on the basis of the two RIFs on test here, VFC came up short. I’m a big fan of the brand - and genuinely love its recent P320 and MCX releases - but while this Gladius may be good, it isn’t that good.

PHYSICAL GRAFFITI

As a legacy of the Gladius’ origins, it features a stock that’s mounted as if it should fold - but doesn’t. Which is fine, but it’s less solid than a conventional fixed stock - even

after nipping up the grub screws - while still not being able to fold for confined spaces. It’s the worst of both worlds, without any advantage. By comparison, the Trident’s stock runs on a conventional buffer tube and feels more solid with plenty of room for larger batteries. The Gladius shows its PDW roots with a slightly shorter reach from stock to grip too. Both feature KeyMod rails that work with every accessory we’ve bolted on. The trigger feels better defined - smoother and crisper - on the Trident, while both feature a conventional and ambidextrous 180-degree fire select switch. But where the Krytac’s movement is positive, the VFC has slop with multiple stops between positions. The Trident is also more accepting of a wider range of magazines; ironically including the standard VFC unit that will barely seat in the Gladius. It’s just a shame that magazines rattle around in the magwell. This Gladius’ charging handle also easily bent out of shape, which is not exactly the end of the world since it’s basically non-functional, but disappointing given the price point. Both RIFs have easily accessible rotary hop adjustment accessed through the ejection port using that charging handle. But where the Krytac’s features a more positive click and the bolt release then operates with a satisfying clack, the VFC is more muted and also lacks even a mock forward assist.

DEAD HEAT

The VFC averages 290FPS using .20 BBs versus the Krytac’s 320 using the SPR upper - but swapping that for the shorter PDW drops the Trident’s average to just 255! One feature of the Trident is that you can purchase a package that includes both the longer SPR upper and the CQB-friendly PDW. With included barrel, hop and handguard on both, it literally takes seconds to swap from almost DMR range to up close and personal. Of course, you

“BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW DO THEY COMPARE IN TERMS OF ACCURACY? AT 25M AND USING .25 BBS, THE LEADING STEED IN THIS TWO-HORSE RACE PULLS FURTHER AHEAD, EVEN IF NOT BY A COUNTRY MILE.” www.airsoftaction.net

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Journey to Perfection

armoury TRIDENT V GLADIUS

can do this with other makes but Krytac makes it easy from the moment you click “Buy”. It’s a very consumer friendly offering but with hindsight always being 20-20, I’d choose the middle of the road CRB if I had a do-over. The SPR is a bit long and unwieldy, while the PDW looks odd with a full stock. Back to this versus test though and the swappable Trident uppers mean that neither Krytac configuration matches the VFC in terms of barrel length. Given that a longer inner barrel = higher FPS, you can see that the Gladius’ intermediate length falls almost exactly between

either extreme of the Trident, which is borne out in terms of FPS. It seems fair to call a dead heat for output.

DMR OR DOA?

But most importantly, how do they compare in terms of accuracy? At 25m and using .25 BBS, the leading steed in this two-horse race pulls further ahead, even if not by a country mile. Once dialed in, the Gladius’ standard hop certainly does a good job of lifting the ammo but not in a consistently straight line, with shots landing left and right of the centre line on a six-inch target. Airsoft is all about hitting a human-sized target though - and the Gladius will do that all day long. Target shooters should know the spread was most of the width of the target but most of us will be impressed to learn that you can choose which pec to hit in a skirmish. The Krytac acquits itself even more favourably, with more hits within the middle inch or two. There’s still a spread of shots but the point of impact is more reliably nearer to the point of aim every time. The Trident is no sniper rifle but I

know from using it in-game that this assault rifle can make shots far enough out to make a DMR envious.

CONCLUSION

With airsoft forums and YouTube reviewers alike calling a dead heat between these two mid-range M4-alikes, I found that King Krytac’s throne is safe from VFC’s advances - at least for now. There’s not a lot between them but the Trident is just out of the Gladius’ reach in every area when tested head-to-head. Used in isolation, VFC’s giant killer is impressive and a clear upgrade from an entry level RIF but it just can’t measure up to the Krytac, which has earned its reputation for good reason. While both RIFs acquit themselves well in terms of performance, there’s a clear winner here. If you really like the looks of the Avalon - or get a great deal then rest assured that you’ll buy a solid RIF that works well and is ripe for upgrades. But for everyone else, I’d recommend Krytac’s Trident - in any configuration - without a second thought. AA Krytac Trident SPR (PDW) Price: £500 (Two upper receivers) Weight: 2,800g Length: 840-920mm Inner barrel length: 416mm Inner barrel diameter: 6.05mm FPS: 320 avge (Tested) Hop: Adjustable Construction: Metal/ Polymer Full auto: Yes Recoil: No Power source: Battery Magazine Capacity: 300

VFC Avalon Gladius DX Price: £400 Weight: 2,390g Length: 670-688mm Inner barrel length: 285 mm Inner barrel diameter: m6.03m FPS: 290 avge (Tested) Hop: Adjustable/Nonadjustable Construction: Metal/ Polymer Full auto: Yes Recoil: No Power source: Battery Magazine Capacity: 120

“USED IN ISOLATION, VFC’S GIANT KILLER IS IMPRESSIVE AND A CLEAR UPGRADE FROM AN ENTRY LEVEL RIF BUT IT JUST CAN’T MEASURE UP TO THE KRYTAC, WHICH HAS EARNED ITS REPUTATION FOR GOOD REASON. WHILE BOTH RIFS ACQUIT THEMSELVES WELL IN TERMS OF PERFORMANCE, THERE’S A CLEAR WINNER HERE.” www.airsoftaction.net

SITE REPORT THE ARENA - NEW ZEALAND

THE ARENA

CHRISTCHURCH, NZ AIRSOFT ACTION’S “MAN DOWN UNDER”, IOAN “IGGY” ROBERTS, GETS HIS CQB GAME ON, AS HE REPORTS FROM AN EXCELLENT SITE IN THE SUBURBS OF CHRISTCHURCH, NZ.

ocated in the Yaldhurst suburb of Christchurch, The Arena is a compound-style venue tucked away from the road by a tree line, keeping things hidden in plain sight. There is ample parking in the compound along with an excellent seating/setup area. The site and shop are located at the same location but are both large enough to stand alone. Shop wise, on the outside it looked a little small, but once inside size perceptions change. The walls were lined with a vast selection of airsoft guns, shelves full of tactical gear, face masks and equipment. Glass Cabinets held the smaller guns along with accessories and spares under the counter. The guns were from brands such as ICS, Tokyo Marui, GHK, LCT and VFC. The store is laid out very nicely, everything is easy enough to find and you can’t help but get distracted and drawn to the gun wall. All the Airsoft guns were individually locked to the wall, which was a great way of

keeping control of who handles what. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. They were more than happy to unlock the guns and allow you to hold and feel them. It’s no secret that the Arena staff are some of the very best techs in the Christchurch area, offering the best options for gearbox rebuilds and upgrades to ensure airsoft guns are running to their best performance or to tune them up if wanted.

THE SKIRMISH FIELD

Hidden again from view of the shop and preparation area, mainly to protect the safe zone, the playing field is accessed through an airlock-type design using an area cut off via 2 hanging sheets attached to an enclosed wooden structure. This allowed you to load and unload in between the site and safe zone. The Arena is very enjoyable. It is certainly one of the best close quarters playing fields I have been on. The amount of cover to weave in and around, the passageways, the windows and in parts the two stories adding height for the snipers out there along with the balance of open space made the venue what it is. There really is something for every type of airsofter in this field. If you are fast, you could probably run around causing chaos and get away with it for some time but without a doubt, it also allows for strategic team manoeuvrers to work through the container buildings and timber structures with devastating effect. Being CQB, power is limited to 350fps for safety reasons. CQB with tight spaces and lots of corners really promotes the very effective use of pistols as a primary!!

“IT IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THE BEST CLOSE QUARTERS PLAYING FIELDS I HAVE BEEN ON. THE AMOUNT OF COVER TO WEAVE IN AND AROUND, THE PASSAGEWAYS, THE WINDOWS AND IN PARTS THE TWO STORIES ADDING HEIGHT FOR THE SNIPERS OUT THERE ALONG WITH THE BALANCE OF OPEN SPACE MADE THE VENUE WHAT IT IS.”

MAY 2020

SITE REPORT THE ARENA - NEW ZEALAND

Guys that know how to run and gun with pistols proved very hard to challenge. Although players using AEG’s of all sizes were getting good kill tallies too. Another great aspect of the field was that most of the buildings had multiple entries to them. This allowed you to travel through the building. But also meant players couldn’t camp out in one spot, simply because it wouldn’t be long before someone on the other side would most likely to come across your hideout and get you. There were two referees on the field, one up high and the other roaming. They, thankfully, were almost not required. All the games seemed to play very well. Not once did I see or hear of any cheating or non-hit taking. Just good old fashioned honest airsoft skirmish. There are various hire gun packages available, which include the walk-on as well as some ammo and magazines. These start at $39. I went for one of the Arena “Premium Gun” packages, which cost $44. I had to go for the ICS SA80 (L85) A2’s for our motherland. There were, however, many other options that I could have gone for, from AKs, light machine guns, MP5s and, of course, the usual M4 variants.

The hire gun fleet seemed to be in great working condition for guns that no doubt have been used vigorously for months. Using .25 bbs, I gave a slight adjust of the hop up and it was easily ranging ¾ of the field length - around 70m or so. Definitely couldn’t complain. The hire gun came equipped with a reflex sight, making it quick and easy to line up targets as I passed through the site. I even had ample opportunity to be sneaky enough to use my rubber knife on a few occasions! The games we played varied from simple team vs. team death match, to more objective-driven games with actual missions to complete in order to win. On average the games ran for around half an hour and each time I was able to find a different way through the maze of cover. Overall, this is a site worth checking out. Even if you’re over here on a holiday make sure you can fit it in. You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to going to the Arena every year I visit Christchurch for the larger game with OZ1 airsoft club from Australia. You can check them out online: www.thearena.co.nz AA

www.airsoftaction.net

AA SPECIAL MENTAL HEALTH

SAD TIMES

BETTER DAYS

MENTAL HEALTH IS “A STATE OF WELLBEING IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL REALIZES HIS OR HER OWN ABILITIES, CAN COPE WITH THE NORMAL STRESSES OF LIFE, CAN WORK PRODUCTIVELY AND FRUITFULLY, AND IS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO HIS OR HER COMMUNITY”. WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.

WITH A LARGE PART OF THE PLANET STILL UNDER COVID-19 LOCKDOWN AND ONE IN FOUR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WHY DON’T WE TALK ABOUT IT MORE OPENLY? STEVE T FINDS OUT HOW AIRSOFT CAN HELP GET US THROUGH THE DARK DAYS AND LOOK FORWARDS TO A BETTER FUTURE.

adies and gentlemen, today we present something outside of the norm. At Airsoft Action, we usually deal in gear reviews, upgrades or historical features, but the one thing that unites us is our shared love of airsoft. It’s a love that can transcend boundaries and create friendships that would otherwise never happen. In this article, we will explore how that camaraderie can help in our darkest times - to reconnect with those around us, find new purpose and regain balance. Anyone that has ever suffered from mental health issues - about one in four of the population, according to the charity, Mind - might find this article both interesting and inspiring. The Samaritans report that UK Suicide rates rose by more than 10% in 2018. So, if we can help someone just a tiny bit, then I’m sure you won’t begrudge us a few words on the subject.

If that all sounds a bit touchy-feely for you, then fair enough; please skip a few pages and normal service will be resumed.

NO ROOM FOR CYNICS

Just to assure keyboard warriors everywhere that may accuse Airsoft Action magazine of cashing in on a content trend, I pitched this article to the management because I genuinely believe it can help others like me. And they not only said, “Go for it!” but also “What can we do to help?” I write from hard-won and painful experience in the hope that my learnings may help you find a shortcut to success. In the process, not only has AA magazine supported me in my mission, but many of the team have also lent their voices to the cause. If you’re struggling with mental health right now, I hope you find my words, their

“I SERVED IN THE BRITISH ARMY AND ALSO AS A CONTRACTOR ON THE CIRCUIT. 19 YEARS AGO I WAS CLINICALLY DIAGNOSED WITH COMBAT RELATED PTSD, TRIED A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT THERAPIES BUT NONE WORKED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD RELAX WAS TO SKIRMISH. “I NOW HAVE MY OWN SCHOOL WHERE I TEACH COMBAT FIREARMS SKILLS AND DRILLS. TEACHING OTHERS HELPS WITH MY THERAPY AS I KNOW NO OTHER KIND OF WORK. CONTINUING MY MILITARY INTEREST HELPS ME RELAX, COME TO TERMS WITH DIFFICULT EXPERIENCES AND FACE MY DEMONS. I CAN CONTINUE WHAT I KNOW AND LOVE, YET BE SAFE AT THE SAME TIME.” ANON, AA CONTRIBUTOR 34

MAY 2020

AA SPECIAL MENTAL HEALTH

words - or other people’s words - some kind of helpful.

WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE

At the age of 46, I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety for about 15 years. Some days I struggle to find a reason to get out of bed; other days I wish I’d never bothered. But one Sunday out of four, I have an obligation to meet with my team for a day of airsoft. Sometimes it’s epic, other times it’s crap but it always gives me something to hang my month around other than my mundane and ultimately unfulfilling 9-5 existence. But it’s not always been this way for me. Long story short; with no history of depression, it hit me in 2004 when, in the space of 12 months I lost my home, my spouse, a parent and my career. But that’s just my story. Many of our airsoft comrades that have served in the armed forces will have far more harrowing stories to tell. As Paul Yelland says, “Every player has a story behind them and unfortunately, some are incredibly upsetting. Airsoft can be their escape for a few hours where they can find friendship and have fun”.

TRIGGER POINTS

Beyond working through therapy, the trigger - no pun intended - for depression almost doesn’t matter because the end result is the same: your life will never be the same again. Scientists are still unsure whether individuals are predisposed to depression because of chemical reactions in the brain or behavioural patterns, but it affects more of the population than most people realise. Before I’d experienced depression for myself, I had no idea how debilitating it could be. It is literally like your brain undermines itself at every turn. Nothing is ever good

enough even for yourself and everything is too much for you. Suddenly, the phrase “Wherever you go, there you are” becomes altogether less comforting.

LET THE BELLENDS RING!

Life has taught me not to trust people, so I don’t make friends easily, but airsoft is helping me overcome that. Solo airsoft is a fine pursuit, but it’s so much better with friends. I took a risk and reached out through my local site’s Facebook page looking for chums to swap tales of derring-do in the safe zone. And it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. They may be a bunch of bellends (they might be reading this, after all), but not only did I join a squad of similarly middle-aged, out-of-shape twats, but I’ve also made some genuine friends. Although they may change their minds when they read that… I’ve met some good people to casually chat with as part of my wider circle online - about sniping, batteries or scopes - but I’ve also made some great friends in the real world. Friends that I can not only coordinate with on a two-pronged attack, or to watch my back when I’m reloading, but friends that will share a mag or battery with me if I need it. Friends that would even help me move house …maybe. But definitely friends that will check in when they know the chips are down. Airsoft has given me just the tiniest taste of the brotherhood that active personnel enjoy. Of course, it isn’t the same, before anyone calls me delusional, but it might just be “similar”.

I HAVE A USE FOR YOU

So, while mental health is still a taboo subject for many, what is it about airsoft that breaks down those barriers? For starters, “Gunday Sunday” is outside the norm - you

“MY DEPRESSION WAS TRIGGERED WHEN MY MUM DIED - WE WERE SUCH A CLOSE FAMILY - AND I’VE BEEN ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS EVER SINCE. “I’M PRESCRIBED DIAZEPAM FOR WHEN I FEEL AN ANXIETY ATTACK COMING ON, BUT THE ABSOLUTE BEST REMEDY OUT OF ALL IS GETTING MY GEAR READY ON SATURDAY TO GO PLAY AIRSOFT AND SHOOT PEOPLE. ALL LEGAL, ALL HIGH-PRESSURE AND WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, SPENDING TIME HAVING BANTER WITH LIKE MINDED LUNATICS THAT ALSO ENJOY SHOOTING PEOPLE AND GETTING SHOT. I CAN GUARANTEE THAT NOBODY IS HAVING DEEP AND DARK THOUGHTS WHILST OUT IN THE FIELD OR THE SAFE ZONE. “MANY MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS MANIFEST FROM LACK OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STIMULATION, WHICH GIVES THE HUMAN MIND TIME AND SPACE TO PRODUCE THOUGHTS AND IMAGES - AND BEFORE YOU REALISE IT, THE DARK CLOUD HAS CLOSED IN AROUND YOU ONCE MORE. “I’M TALKING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE - AND NOT JUST FROM RECENT WORK IN SECURE NHS MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS WHERE I SPENT TWO YEARS SUPPORTING ADULTS TO IDENTIFY, UNDERSTAND AND FIGHT A VARIETY OF CONDITIONS. “IT’S NOT THAT EASY TO FIGHT YOUR WAY THROUGH IT, BUT WITH RIF IN HAND, YOU ARE EMPOWERED AND WITH YOUR TEAMMATES FIGHTING THE ENEMY, YOU FIND YOURSELF NEEDED. WITHIN MOMENTS, THE CLOUD HAS DISAPPEARED. AN ADRENALINE RUSH WILL LIKELY WASH AWAY THE BLUES AND WHAT BETTER RUSH THAN RUNNING INTO A HAIL OF (PLASTIC) BULLETS? “AIRSOFT IS A HUGE DISTRACTION FROM REAL LIFE. IT HAS HELPED ME AND I KNOW OF MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME RELEASE OF ANGER, FRUSTRATION, LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND MANY, MANY OTHER INVISIBLE CONDITIONS THROUGH OUR SPORT.” LEZ LEE, AA CONTRIBUTOR www.airsoftaction.net

AA SPECIAL MENTAL HEALTH

can leave your job, responsibilities or career behind you. The moment you step into your camo costume - or just raise a RIF - you are immediately outside your usual life experience. And that will help bring perspective to your existence. It’s a little like taking a holiday from yourself. You’ll also most likely be up against pressure as a team to achieve your objective - and that‘s a shortcut to working together. So you can park your day-to-day dilemmas while you build towards that objective as part of a team. In other words, you’ll have no option but to live in the moment rather than forecasting your fears and catastrophising about your shortcomings.

MAGIC MOMENTS

Being “in the moment” is a well-documented strategy for dealing with mental health that you can guarantee will never mention airsoft in the self-help books and yet it’s one of the most effective measures I’ve encountered. Sai Kelly says that, “Airsofting is a good place to get your buttons pushed with the potential for real therapy”, specifically mentioning anger, unresolved issues and interactions after the event. He says that it’s important to feel supported and surrounded to make good on a desire for improvement. “In a perfect environment with help from teammates and friends, this can be a good scenario for therapy. Providing no one gets trampled! I’ve given a fair amount of apologies...” Another AA contributor says, “Although I have had my mental health issues over the years - depression is the gift that just keeps giving! - I was in the middle of a divorce when I first got into airsoft. I can attest that there is nothing like shooting c**ts to clear the air a little!”

learned - and it’s a treat to watch them work. Others use it as a way of dealing with problem issues from big bangs to bad situations. They make a genuine contribution to the team that we all benefit from.

WHAT IF?

With depression often comes anxiety. What if I’m not good enough? What if I let everyone else down? What if I can’t breathe? Oversimplifying things massively, the single best thing you can do to combat - pun intended this time - anxiety is to face your fears. That might mean going to a crowded space, handling a tarantula or taking a plane journey but putting yourself in the line of plastic hail might also be a good strategy. Popular psychology bases recovery around facing specific phobias but maybe fear in general is the real enemy for some. If you can learn to control your fear response in one scenario, then that could be a transferable skill. I’ve experienced panic attacks while playing airsoft over the years, but each time has been a learning experience where I can practise coping techniques to incrementally wage war on my inner demons. Whether taking a moment out to count my breaths or saying “Fuck it!” and piling in headlong, airsoft has taught me that even if I might not win, I will prevail. As they say; adapt and overcome. Now, I’m genuinely proud to say that at least one of my squad calls me fearless because of the way I dive headfirst into the fray.

TOGETHER ALONE

If you’re struggling with mental health issues right now, there’s nothing more trite than someone saying, “You’re FOR THE FORCES TOO not alone”. Where are those people at midnight on a Where airsoft used to be seen as nothing more than Thursday? But it might at least help to know that more wannabe playtime by the armed forces, things have moved people than you think will understand. As our glorious on. Especially leader and since agencies Editor Nige the world over puts it, “MY BRUSH WITH CANCER SENT ME TO VERY DARK AND FRIGHTENING PLACES. now recognise “Nothing WHEN YOU ARE SUDDENLY CONFRONTED BY YOUR OWN MORTALITY, IT’S A the benefits is more VERY EMOTIVE THING AND YOUR MOODS SWING AT THE DROP OF A HAT. it has to offer important “THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN MASSIVELY SUPPORTIVE THROUGHOUT for training. than family MY RECOVERY FROM MAJOR SURGERY; SOME OF THE LOCAL LADS DELIVERING Airsoft has - but family ME A RATHER GRUESOME ‘KIDNEY CAKE’ WHEN I HAD ONE OF MINE REMOVED! come a long doesn’t “THE KINDNESS, SUPPORT, AND GENERAL BLACK HUMOUR OF MY AIRSOFT way from its necessarily FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD HAS MOST DEFINITELY SEEN ME THROUGH A inception and mean parents TOUGH TIME THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR HARDER WITHOUT THEM.” now attracts and siblings”. BILL PRYCE-THOMAS, AA CONTRIBUTOR an increasing And that number sentiment isn’t of former restricted to servicemen and women looking to recapture the team spirit Fast and Furious movies - it holds true for airsoft too. they’d experienced in action, as well as capitalise on their Maybe you’ve always fancied trying airsoft or maybe learned skills. And many of them are also recovering from you’re taking a break from it, but why not pop down to PTSD. your nearest site and see what kind of welcome you get. If I’m fortunate enough to have former soldiers on my you know someone that’s having a hard time right now and squad. Some of them just enjoy the teamwork they miss you think they’d enjoy shooting people - purely for fun! from active service and deploying the fieldcraft they’d - let them know about airsoft in case it’s just the release 36

MAY 2020

AA SPECIAL MENTAL HEALTH

“MY DEPRESSION STEMS FROM POSTNATAL DEPRESSION. ISN’T THAT JUST FOR WOMEN? AS IT TURNS OUT, NO. “SEEING MY WIFE IN SO MUCH DISCOMFORT FOR 50 HOURS AND FEELING USELESS TO HELP HAS LED TO SOMETIMES CRIPPLING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND RECENTLY DIAGNOSED PTSD. ALL IS GOOD NOW AND WE HAVE A HEALTHY THREE-YEAR-OLD, BUT I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM IT ALL. “AIRSOFT IS A GREAT THING. YOU GET TO BE OUTDOORS AND DO SOMETHING ENERGETIC - MUCH BETTER THAN BEING A COUCH POTATO - BUT THE BIGGEST POSITIVE FOR ME IS BEING ABLE TO GO SOMEWHERE AND DO SOMETHING TO ESCAPE EVERYDAY STRESSES. “IT’S LIKE A THERAPY SESSION AS I MEET UP WITH FRIENDS AND LIKE-MINDED OTHERS FOR BANTER AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO REGRESS TO ACT A BIT LIKE KIDS. WE GET TO DRESS AS SOLDIERS, ACT AS A CHARACTER FROM A VIDEO GAME AND RUN AROUND SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT’S A CHANCE TO HAVE FUN. I HAVE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS - SOME OF WHO HAVE BECOME NON-BLOOD FAMILY TO ME ALL AS A RESULT OF AIRSOFT.” PJ, AA CONTRIBUTOR they’re looking for. As one contributor says, “I would strongly advise you go if you can. Rely on your friends; they’ll help you along and take your mind off it, even if for just a while. I’m struggling but you might not if you can go be around people doing what you love”. In before the critics; this is most definitely not a callous roll-call to drum up business for airsoft sites. As a team, Airsoft Action has many members and contributors that have both suffered mental health issues and overcome them - at least in part - due to airsoft, as we hope you’ll see from the quotes. We speak from shared experience so that we might help others that are struggling right now. We only hope that through sharing our experiences and encouraging others to find solutions to their individual problems through airsoft that we can help in some small way.

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

If you know someone that’s dealing with mental health issues, please don’t wait for them to ask for help - they might not be in a frame of mind where they can reach out. Just take a moment to check in on social media, bung them an email and, when this lockdown is over, pop around for a cuppa… or arrange your next airsoft day together. It’s really not overstating things to say that you might just save a life... AA

STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH? IF THE ISSUES IN THIS ARTICLE HAVE AFFECTED YOU, PLEASE TALK TO YOUR GP. IF YOU ARE IN CRISIS, CALL THE SAMARITANS FREE ON 116 123 OR THE NHS ON 111. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: COMBAT STRESS: WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK MIND: WWW.MIND.ORG.UK RETHINK: WWW.RETHINK.ORG SHOUT: WWW.CRISISTEXTLINE.UK THE NHS: HTTP://BIT.LY/38TUTTE THE SAMARITANS: WWW.SAMARITANS.ORG MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK TAKES PLACE FROM 18TH-24TH MAY IN THE UK AND IN THE USA, MENTAL ILLNESS WEEK IS FROM 4TH-10TH OCTOBER. www.airsoftaction.net

armoury VFC SR-16

VFC SR-16 CARBINE WITHIN THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM THERE’S AN ONGOING DEBATE AS TO THE VERACITY OF GAS BLOWBACK RIFLES AND CARBINES FOR REGULAR GAME USE, AND BILL IS VERY MUCH ON THE “PROGAS” SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT. THIS MONTH HE LOOKS TO HIS MOST RECENT ARMOURY ADDITION IN THE FORM OF THE SR-16 GBBR FROM VEGA FORCE COMPANY.

his may sound “privileged” to some of you but once write them off as things specifically for MilSim players and upon a time, when I received an item for testing, I’d “wannabes”. Whilst there is certainly some truth in this, immediately strip open the shipping box to get at it is also true that numerous manufacturers in the airsoft the “shiny shooty thing” inside but these days I sign the industry have been working hand in hand with well-reputed shipping receipt and it generally goes onto the pile that firearms counterparts to bring some stunning, fully-licenced needs working through. I see a hundred-plus AEGs and and extremely effective gas replicas to market. GBBs each year, so it needs to be something pretty special I’ve long been a fan of gas rifles and carbines and yes, to really get my interest level up these days. in large I’ve built these specifically for MilSim events and Back during IWA 2018 I saw and handled some for general shooting use. The very best of the gas guns absolutely lovely replicas and replicate the “feel” and whilst there were some that operation of the real thing offered genuine advances in to a high degree and as performance and technology, I’m a “real steel” shooter “WHILST WE WERE CHATTING ON THE there was no “light bulb whenever the opportunity VFC STAND MY EYES (AS ALWAYS) moment”, that moment arises, the airsoft replicas when you pick something also offer a very cost WERE IN “SEARCH MODE”, TAKING IN up and think to yourself “I effective platform for my ALL THE GOODIES THAT VFC HAVE TO MUST have one of these”… “training toolbox”. I’ll throw OFFER AND WHAT MY EYES LOCKED until it was that I met with into the pot here that, from my friend Ray Chang from conversations I had at SHOT ONTO ON THE VFC STAND WAS THEIR Vega Force Company (VFC) earlier this year, numerous FULLY LICENCED KNIGHT ARMAMENT that is! Whilst we were firearm manufacturers are COMPANY SR-16 GAS BLOWBACK chatting on the VFC stand seeking experienced friends CARBINE - AND IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST in the “6mm” industry with my eyes (as always) were in “search mode”, taking a view to creating training SIGHT!” in all the goodies that VFC platforms based on existing have to offer and what my airsoft technologies. I’ve eyes locked onto on the VFC seen this developing over stand was their fully licenced a few years in truth, seeing Knight Armament Company SR-16 Gas Blowback Carbine - some pretty famous names (SIG and Glock for instance) and it was love at first sight! exploring this territory with real intent. Whilst this is not strictly a “new” model from VFC, it is VFC are one such airsoft company, who are right at the an interesting one. If you are new to the world of the “gas forefront of gas-operated replicas, with strategic alliances in rifle” then I am certain you will no doubt, as many do, place to drive forward the “gas gun agenda” and they’ve

MAY 2020

armoury VFC SR-16

already been working with select partners for some time. Vega Force Company was founded in 2004, and has gained a global reputation for not only being 100% professional but also for making highly realistic airsoft replicas with custom grade performance instilled in their internal mechanical design, giving end users a better shooting and operating experience. Whilst they hold licences with a number of firearms companies to produce 6mm replicas of the very highest quality, the one I will focus on here is that of Knight’s Armament Company (KAC).

KNIGHT’S ARMAMENT COMPANY

We all know KAC, as they seem to have been a part of the firearms industry for ever and their firearms and technologies have definitely been right at the tip of the spear when it comes to the “War on Terror”. Going right back to 1974, founder C. Reed Knight Jr. began with the intention of developing specialist equipment and weapons for US Special Forces and initially worked with Eugene “The Daddy of the AR” Stoner, a collaboration which resulted in KAC’s best known product line, the Rail Interface System (RIS). More recently, KAC added full blown firearms to their extensive list of accessories and like their add-ons, these are highly specialised platforms such as the SR-47, PDW (Personal Defense Weapon), SR-25, M110 SASS, SR-15, and the SR-16. A while back, when I took a look at

VFC’s stunning SR-25 ECC GBB, I asked Ray about the licensing arrangement with Knights Armament and if he could tell me a little about how that relationship started and how VFC works with them. What he told me I’ll replicate here… “The cooperation with KAC is down to the fact that our boss likes the KAC brand and guns very much. KAC guns are not only beautiful but also well-made. So we started make airsoft replicas of KAC, and we chose the KAC PDW, an interesting model to start with. After initial manufacture we were introduced by our American friends and we got

online with KAC themselves. KAC were very surprised that we could make the airsoft guns so beautiful and close to their appearance and that started the long-term cooperation with us. Talking about how we cooperate, in general, they don’t limit what we want to do. We only need to pick the types we want to make, and send samples to them for review and confirmation, and then we can start making and selling products by ourselves. I think this is because the quality of the airsoft replica we make is very good, so they are very happy to let us to handle airsoft replicas of their brand.”

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB

So what, to me, makes the VFC replica of the SR-16 the right tool? The answer is simple! If you can find a full metal replica of an “AR” that is 100% real world feels,

exactly like its counterpart, that can be adjusted and operates (albeit from gas and BBs in each magazine rather than bullets and propellant) like a real carbine for the same price I would love to hear about it! Overall, the VFC is as close to the real deal as you’ll find in 6mm form! Everything is nailed down to look and feel exactly as it would on the real thing, including the operating system! It has a full-travel bolt with some real “oomph” and once again, this replicates EXACTLY the operation of the military rifle, so your drills need to be 100% the same. For instance, the VFC “V-Mags” only hold 30 BBs so your reloads need to be on point. In addition to luxurious build quality and superb components, the SR-16 also offers realistic take-down; by splitting the receivers you can remove the Bolt Carrier Group (BCG) for cleaning and maintenance, again, just like the real thing. But what is beauty without performance? I’m pleased to report that the SR-16 has both. I initially took the carbine to my usual 30m woodland range to chrono and test and in terms of power I got a consistent 1.35 Joule/382fps on a .20g BB using green gas and with .30g BBs, the accuracy was stunning at that range. Ray told me that they’d been hitting A4 sheets at twice that distance, so never one to be put off by a challenge, I duly fitted the SR-16 with my Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6X24 optic and headed back to the woods. Measuring out 75m I secured one of my own home-made A4 targets and had at

““…FROM CONVERSATIONS I HAD AT SHOT EARLIER THIS YEAR, NUMEROUS FIREARM MANUFACTURERS ARE SEEKING EXPERIENCED FRIENDS IN THE “6MM” INDUSTRY WITH A VIEW TO CREATING TRAINING PLATFORMS BASED ON EXISTING AIRSOFT TECHNOLOGIES.” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury VFC SR-16

it prone… suffice to say that the A4 came home with thirty 6mm holes drilled in it! I honestly have fallen in love with the VFC SR-16! I’ve changed out a number of accessory components such as the pistol grip, stock, and rail covers and added a holosight with a flip-to-the-side magnifier, so it feels right for me. Now that I’ve used and trained with it, this feeling has only been reinforced and I honestly, genuinely love it to bits! There are many gas rifles and carbines out there now that “simulate” the real thing and many of them are very, very expensive beasts. Having now shot the SR-16 on regular basis, I can tell you that it will perform as well as the best and you’ll find it with most good dealers for under US$350! In closing, this is by no means your average “airsoft gun” and for this reason I don’t believe you’ll be seeing it regularly at Sunday Skirmishes, although I will be sure to give it a run out just to see if my drills and accuracy are as good as I think they are! Going head to head with hi-cap players on a normal skirmish day with a GBB and 30BB mags certainly adds a little “something” to the day but the range, accuracy, and reliability of the SR-16 makes this viable. It’s also, unlike some, gas-efficient on full-auto although with limited ammo you’ll want to pick your engagements carefully… In truth, the VFC SR-16 GBB hasn’t been designed and made for the mass market. It’s been designed and made for those that truly want a platform that operates exactly like the real thing but which fires simple 6mm BBs, not live 5.56! Yes, it’s been designed for the MilSim player but also for those that want to test themselves to the limit in any game, with real-like operation and real-world magazine capacities… Basically it’s been designed for people like me and to that end I can only recommend it to you in the best possible way! My thanks again go to my good friend Ray at VFC (https:// www.vegaforce.com) for being part of this article, and also to the guys at http://uk.redwolfairsoft.com for facilitating delivery of the SR-16 to me. AA

Length - 33 inches (838 mm -stock extended), 29.75 inches (756 mm stock retracted) Weight - 2770g (unloaded) Magazine Capacity - 30 BBs Power Source - Gas Powered via Magazine

Blowback – Yes, Full Travel BCG Shooting Modes - Semi, Full Auto Hop-up – Adjustable for BB weight Magazine Compatibility VFC M4 GBBR models

“IN ADDITION TO LUXURIOUS BUILD QUALITY AND SUPERB COMPONENTS, THE SR16 ALSO OFFERS REALISTIC TAKE-DOWN; BY SPLITTING THE RECEIVERS YOU CAN REMOVE THE BOLT CARRIER GROUP (BCG) FOR CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE, AGAIN, JUST LIKE THE REAL THING.” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury SPECNA CORE CO3

SOLID TO THE CORE

HUNTING AROUND FOR A GUN HE COULD LEND TO FRIENDS, OR USE IF A PRIMARY WENT DOWN, PHIL BUCKNALL TURNED TO SPECNA’S CORE RANGE TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND SOMETHING SUITABLE FOR AROUND £120…

nyone who has read the magazine in the past few months will know that I am quite the fan of Specna and their line of affordable, yet feature-packed, range of guns. I was first introduced to them back in May last year when I was at the Northern Shooting Show and was thoroughly impressed by both the size of the range and the quality of the guns. I was passed one of the CORE range to have a look at; the CORE is their entry level range but still packs a hell of a lot of gun into a more than reasonable price point. In fact, with a bit of searching around, it is possible to get one for around £120 …maybe even a little less! I was so impressed with the CORE guns I saw at the show that I bought one of the EDGE series, with the GATE X-ASR Mosfet installed pretty much straight after the show, followed by two of the H series - their take on the famous HK416 rifle. Then more recently, I decided that I’d get one of the CORE guns to keep as a loaner for if I had a friend who wanted to come along and play or if someone’s primary went down. I wanted a gun that wouldn’t cost the earth but one I also wouldn’t be too upset about if it did get broken. For £120 I figured this would be perfect. So, what does this amount of money get you then?

In the box there is: • The gun - obviously! • A polymer hi-cap magazine • Instruction manual, stickers, a Specna lanyard • Spare M100 spring

• Battery and charger So, it’s quite a good offering. Personally, I wouldn’t use the supplied battery as I’ve always found them to be of low quality when you get one included with a budget gun. I cannot comment as to whether this one was or not, as I use Titan Li-ion packs and that is what I ran when playing with the CORE CO3.

EXTERNALS

Starting with the externals, I was completely blown away by the gun once I’d been told the price! There are obviously areas where costs have been saved, so this M4 has a polymer receiver, which actually feels very sturdy and nothing at all like the creaky plastic of days gone by. It also bears the fully-licensed trademarks for Rock River Arms. The controls are where you would expect to find them on an AR pattern gun and they work very crisply; theres no mushy fire selector here. The plastic pistol grip is the traditional A2 style and mounted on the polymer buffer tube is a plastic cranestock with a rubber buttplate. The stock can easily swallow a 7.4v 7000mah Li-ion Titan battery pack, so that should be enough to keep you going for, well, …erm, about three months! The outer barrel is metal as are a few other components but like the receivers, the rail is polymer - although I haven’t had cause to complain about it and it doesn’t flex or otherwise move about in use. It feels like a very sturdy gun from the tip of the muzzle to the buttplate; there is nary a creak or squeak from it and the receivers are mated together very nicely, minimising any slop there,

“I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE CORE GUNS I SAW AT THE SHOW THAT I BOUGHT ONE OF THE EDGE SERIES, WITH THE GATE X-ASR MOSFET INSTALLED PRETTY MUCH STRAIGHT AFTER THE SHOW, FOLLOWED BY TWO OF THE H SERIES.” 64

MAY 2020

armoury SPECNA CORE CO3

which is common on AR pattern guns both in Airsoft and the real world.

INTERNALS

Internally is a perfectly functional gearbox. I have heard (anecdotally) of some people having issues with theirs but thus far, in over 5 months I haven’t encountered any issues in both of these and the EDGE series which have the upgraded Orion gearbox. The shimming and compression seem okay and the gun, once the M100 was installed, was approx. 330fps/1.01J with a 02.g BB. Changing the spring couldn’t be easier, which is just as well given this gun is targeted at beginners who will most likely not have the wherewithal, or desire, to strip an AEG. It utilises the ESA system so all you have to do is remove the buffer tube and then you have access to the spring guide. A quick turn to disengage the lugs and you can pop the new spring in; then it’s simply a matter of reversing the steps. The inner barrel is a 363mm long, 6.03mm tight bore that is mated to a plastic rotary hop up unit. This has plenty of adjustment and easily coped with my usual 0.28g BBs and giving an effective range of around 55m. The BBs did go further and up to 60m they might still have had some effect but they had started to spread out a little and were beginning to drop after this. For normal engagements it is more than capable of holding its own against guns that cost a lot more. It is consistently accurate and has a very useable Rate of Fire (RoF) - approximately 15-18 rounds per second with this particular one. I really hate high RoF guns with a passion, so I’m pleased to see this has a more realistic rate and is broadly similar to a real M4’s RoF. One problem I did encounter was the hi-cap magazine that came with the gun. In a word, it was rubbish! Luckily,

I had a box of the mid-cap S-mags and I was able to use these for testing and in subsequent games. The supplied magazine worked once and then it refused to lift any BBs in the feed tube. I imagine that the spring broke or some other component in the clockwork winding mechanism. I understand this is not an isolated incident but Specna are aware and are looking at it from what I have been told, which is good and I hope they rectify it asap, as it is literally the only fly in the ointment for this gun. I have used this as a loaner and also myself if my back is hurting a lot, as it is by far and away the lightest gun in my collection, coming in at 2.5kgs. This lightweight makes it very “flickable”, so moving and shooting is a breeze and you can easily walk around shouldering the gun for extended periods without fatiguing and still being effective when the time comes to return fire, or launch your attack. I would be perfectly happy to run this as my main gun and have done in several skirmishes. It has the scope to be upgraded as you develop from beginner to more experienced player but if you move on to more exotic or expensive guns, then you haven’t lost a lot of money if it gets sidelined - although that would be a shame, as this would make an admirable back up or loaner or maybe even a gift to someone else who has just started on their airsofting adventures and needs a bit of help. Would I buy another one? Yes, most definitely and I think that should tell you everything about it. Until next time - stay safe folks! AA

“STARTING WITH THE EXTERNALS, I WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY BY THE GUN ONCE I’D BEEN TOLD THE PRICE! THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY AREAS WHERE COSTS HAVE BEEN SAVED, SO THIS M4 HAS A POLYMER RECEIVER, WHICH ACTUALLY FEELS VERY STURDY AND NOTHING AT ALL LIKE THE CREAKY PLASTIC OF DAYS GONE BY.” www.airsoftaction.net

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If you have any old kit or gear tucked away in a cupboard, garage or shed that you have thought about sticking on eBay, or a forum to get rid of it, then why not donate it to the Pilgrim Bandits instead and Tez will make sure any money raised from its sale will go towards helping even more people â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and you can be sure of the undying gratitude and thanks of those who it helps to live again. Please contact Tez on either his mobile: 07748 800 981 or email: terry.arnett@pilgrimbandits.org

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THIS IS MY M4 PART 6: RAILS

THIS IS MY M4 PT 6: RAIL AGAINST THE MACHINE

AFTER YEARS OF MAKING MINOR MODIFICATIONS TO RIFS WITH VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS, STEVE T GOES ALL-IN ON HIS MWS TO FIND OUT JUST WHAT AN INEPT HOME TECH CAN ACHIEVE. THIS MONTH: NEW HANDGUARD.

ast issue, we had the front end apart to fit a longer inner barrel. And since that means removing the rail, it seems like a good opportunity to swap it out for something beefier. In terms of functionality, as long as I have enough real estate to hang a scope, torch and grip then I couldn’t ask for anything more. But the rails on any weapon have a huge impact on its visual appeal, which is half the battle in airsoft (if we’re honest). My first instinct was to go for a slick M-lok finish - and even ordered a Geissele replica handguard with that in mind - but then I realised that I already have a smooth-snouted AEG in my Krytac Trident. By way of comparison - and as I’ve said before - what I’m aiming for with this M4 is an excitingly “chunky” form factor. Both M-lok and Keymod rails offer benefits for open or gloved hands especially if you use the flavour-du-jour C-clamp hold - but that’s not how I play. Since I’ve grown accustomed to a vertical foregrip on my assault rifles, that’s become more important than a narrower hand profile across the whole handguard.

If you’re aiming for 100% military beef, then what better choice than the Daniel Defense rail as adopted by the US Army and special forces alike? It’s all solid, completely functional and looks cool-as, to boot.

A BEAR OF VERY LITTLE BRAIN

Since we’re fitting aftermarket rails, this is where reassembly differs from standard and needs a little bit of thinking. As a bear of very little brain, I soon hit obstacles despite online research, then spent hours fitting, removing and refitting parts just to try to understand what I was up against. This is when I began to regret undertaking this project. What was I thinking? Well, dear reader, in some strange way, I was thinking of you. I had no idea when I began this series whether it would become a cautionary tale or an inspirational story - or maybe a combination of the two. Let’s work the problem.

OH, POOH!

back into the upper is about as easy as it gets. But from here, we were in for a rougher time of it. Had we just been refitting the standard parts, even I could have managed that. But we weren’t. Instead, I’d chosen to fit aftermarket with no instructions other than good ol’ YouTube. Having researched beforehand, I knew that we needed to use an adapter ring - in our case by PTS - to fit the 12in lite rail from Madbull. What I hadn’t anticipated was the need to work out which ring went in which orientation and which order with no diagrams or markings to refer to. Get it wrong and nothing fits - and even funnier - the barrels just fall out! But, even having narrowed the configuration down to the right combination through a process of elimination, there was still a problem - one ring would not seat as intended within another. Problem identified, a few minutes with a file to remove a coat of paint and problem solved. Only then could we get the mount as flush as it should be. Maybe a little too flush - as you’ll see later...

Inserting the the barrel assembly

“WHAT I HADN’T ANTICIPATED WAS THE NEED TO WORK OUT WHICH RING WENT IN WHICH ORIENTATION AND WHICH ORDER WITH NO DIAGRAMS OR MARKINGS TO REFER TO. GET IT WRONG AND NOTHING FITS - AND EVEN FUNNIER - THE BARRELS JUST FALL OUT!”

MAY 2020

THIS IS MY M4 PART 6: RAILS

BOLT FOR IT

One shortcoming of the DD rail (in this application at least), is that as far as I can see, there’s simply no way to pass the gas tube in even a lowprofile mount once fitted through the handguard itself. The only way I can see it working is to offer up the tube from the barrel end of the rail, then somehow knock the mount in place and fasten it before securing the rail itself around it. I have no idea if that’s even possible. Instead, the kit includes a short metal rod - like a piece of dowel in flat-pack furniture - to insert in the gas tube recess in the receiver and prevent the mount rotating. Barrels now attached to the upper and nipped tight with a wrench, it’s time to fit the rails. The whole unit simply slides in place over the floating barrel and since you line the top rail up with the receiver, it can only go one way. Less obvious is the fact that the bolts will only function in one direction; two pairs from the front, with the pair behind the side rails coming in from behind, matron! I may have made this sound easy, but it took me far longer than it should have done to really dial in the inner rings. But confident that all was as it should be, I could tighten up the mounting bolts, drop it all into the lower receiver, slot the pins home and try out my handiwork. Or so I thought…

three-quarters of its journey. So I pulled the rear to rotate the front down in case that made life easier and that’s when I noticed the DD mount was fouling on the front of the receiver, meaning that the upper would not - could not - lift open. Short of stripping it all apart again, my only option was to tap the upper rearwards in the hope that the holes would align. No go. So I pulled the pin, removed the upper and tried to push the pin home naked. Still no dice. What? After some time, more attempts and further examination, I realised the issue in all its horror - I’d cracked the lower receiver to the left of the front pin. Press “F” to pay respects. The sympathetic among you will understand my pain but I can hear the smartarses laughing from here. I choose to rise above and hope that my experience will help someone, somewhere.

WALL-HANGER ALLEY

After hours of research, patient fitting and refitting, methodical problem solving and a fair bit of swearing, I now have a broken gun for my troubles. Disillusioned, I refitted the externals and hung her out to dry

while I cooled down. This is the airsoft definition of “all dressed up and nowhere to go”. I’m looking at how to repair/ stabilise the crack now. While the MWS is still operational, I know that in future games, I will always wonder if this is the day it breaks for good. With replacement lowers costing £150 and up, at this point it probably would have been cheaper - and certainly less stressful - to have the work done by a tech. Ordinarily, as an ape with barely opposable thumbs, that’s exactly what I would have done, but the whole point of this series is to see how much an oaf like me can handle. I’ve since found out that the DD guard fouling the lower is a known issue. While that’s small comfort, it seems I just happened to be unlucky and chose a part that’s hard to fit. If I’d gone ahead with the Geissele front end that’s lurking under my desk right now, all might be well with the world. Now, I need to sort out that crack as well as a way to reduce the profile of the DD’s mount to the lower rear. Next month: Fat fingers and sharp handles! AA

NOT SO FAST, KIMOSABE!

The front pin would not return home. While the rear slotted in without issue, the front had become stiffer to move and just wouldn’t return more than about

“AFTER HOURS OF RESEARCH, PATIENT FITTING AND REFITTING, METHODICAL PROBLEM SOLVING AND A FAIR BIT OF SWEARING, I NOW HAVE A BROKEN GUN FOR MY TROUBLES. DISILLUSIONED, I REFITTED THE EXTERNALS AND HUNG HER OUT TO DRY WHILE I COOLED DOWN.”

www.airsoftaction.net

AA GALLERY WA03 MEDIA SPECIAL

Our good mate and Airsoft Action Contributor, Craig, from WA03 Media, got in touch to ask if we’d like to use a bunch of photos he’d taken recently at Bristol Airsoft and, of course, we are more than happy to do so! Check out more of his photos and work at: www.facebook.com/WA03Media MAY 2020

AA GALLERY WA03 MEDIA SPECIAL

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AA GALLERY WA03 MEDIA SPECIAL

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last post SH-1-T JUST GOT REAL

SH-1-T JUST GOT REAL! SOMETIMES LIFE – READ “MOTHER NATURE” – THROWS US A CURVEBALL WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT. FRENCHIE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECTS AIRSOFT.

ell, we didn’t see that coming! As a rule, I am normally unclear (read: clueless) about what subject I’ll turn my attention to for each Last Post. I certainly didn’t expect to write about a global pandemic and how it might affect airsoft - but here we are. The world is reeling from the effects of Covid19 and it doesn’t look like that’s about to change anytime soon. While it was nice of the Prime Minister to suggest that we’ll have it licked in 12 weeks, I don’t know if anyone really believed him, especially since the health service seems to be gearing up for peak disaster right about then. How does this affect airsofters? An excellent question, well presented - which is how an old airsofting friend of mine responded to any query for which he didn’t have an answer. Should sites continue to run games? Should shops remain open? Surely it’s better to be outside than cowering in our homes? What’s the worst that could happen anyway? Let’s deal with that last question first - you could die. You, or someone close to you could die. This isn’t “just the flu” and while it is true that younger people seem to weather it better (and airsofters are generally younger people), the reports from those who have suffered from it suggest that staying as far away from it as possible is a really good idea. I have an 86-year old father-in-law who is supposedly in isolation (we’ll gloss over that bit) and I personally won’t take the chance of introducing him to a virus that could put him in the ground. My choice. So, should we play? My view - and as ever in Last Post it is just that - is no. We are being encouraged to avoid social gatherings, with variable success. I don’t buy the argument that because airsofters are outside they are

somehow safer. What happens between games? Yup, a bunch of sweating, heavy breathing players all congregate in the Safezone. Lots of them. Somehow I simply can’t see airsofters voluntarily keeping a 6 foot space between them and their fellows, assuming the Safezone is actually big enough to allow that. Moreover, as I have commented previously, airsofters are generally a sociable bunch so where once I saw a friendly social gathering, now I see a superb potential for infection. I wouldn’t go near that for all the money the Bank of England is going to spend. My concerns for my family would far outweigh any loss of enjoyment. I also suspect that while the government has arguably been lax up to now about enforcing “social distancing”, with emergency powers about to whistle through Parliament like sh*t through a goose, you may find the choice isn’t yours for long anyway. Should you go shopping for airsoft gear? I have friends whose livelihood depends on you doing this, so I am a bit torn. It’s great to visit an actual shop, to chat, to handle the merchandise but you can see what the potential there is for viral transmission. I suspect that online shopping might be a wiser choice for the time being, any shop worth its salt will be more than happy to spend time on the phone or on email making sure that you get what you need and it’s a pretty-much risk free way of doing it. I accept that deliveries may take slightly longer than normal but with companies recruiting drivers left right and centre to cope, it shouldn’t keep you and your beloved kit apart unnecessarily. Is it better to be outside, where the air is clean? Well, yeeees. But no. I think you just need to take a look at Wuhan, Italy and France at present. In a situation where none of us have any immunity from Covid19, the thinking

“I CAN’T SEE THE AUTHORITIES BEING PLEASED IF WE ALL DECIDED TO AIRSOFT FROM BALCONIES RATHER THAN SINGING A LA ITALIANS BUT, IF I’M REALLY HONEST, I THINK THAT WOULD BE EPIC! (SORRY GUYS - NOT GOING TO HAPPEN).”

MAY 2020

LAST POST SH-1-T JUST GOT REAL

is that the best way to slow the spread of the disease is to make it as hard as possible for it to be transmitted and that means keeping its host, humans, as far from each other as possible. I can’t see the authorities being pleased if we all decided to airsoft from balconies rather than singing a la Italians but, if I’m really honest, I think that would be epic! (Sorry guys - not going to happen). So, staying as far from our fellow homo sapiens seems to be the accepted advice, even here in good old Blighty. Ignore the Tim Martins and Stanley Johnsons of this world - the best we can hope for is that they infect each other and spare the rest of us who have scintilla of common sense. Contrary to how you view it, airsoft is not a game that demands we stay as far apart as possible, quite the opposite is true. Yes, you only want to get close enough to the opposition to shoot them, but what about your own team? Medic rules, laying on of hands, helping people up when they fall, pulling them bodily back into cover when they make a really bad tactical decision, everything that is the good side of airsoft and airsofting. All of that now comes with a far greater risk. Can site organisers re-write and crucially, enforce, new rules that ensure that no one comes into physical contact? I can’t see how, not while still delivering an experience that is worth taking part in. I am shocked, genuinely, at the number of sites still behaving as if nothing has changed. Airsoft does rather engender a feeling of invulnerability - after all we shoot each other repeatedly, get up and do it all again. It is

also predominantly played by those of tender years who naturally feel that there is nothing in this world that can touch them - I felt that way when I was their age. I have the dubious honour of having sat with two people as they died from bilateral pneumonia; they were old and they were vulnerable and these things happen. It wasn’t pretty, despite all the excellent care both received right up to the end. That’s what’ll kill you with this virus. Is risking that worth a game? I don’t think so. Covid19 will pass and there will be many more years to run, hide, crawl and shoot each other. For the time being it would be wise to stay at home and polish your guns, clean your kit and wait for those halcyon, and safer days to arrive. For God’s sake, whatever choices you make, stay safe guys and gals. AA

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Airsoft Action - May 2020

Articles inside

THIS IS MY M4: PART 6

LAST POST: SH1T JUST GOT REAL

AA SPECIAL: MENTAL HEALTH

ARMOURY: SPECNA CORE C03

SITE: THE ARENA

ARMOURY: VFC SR-16

HEAD TO HEAD: KRYTAC V AVALON

KIT & GEAR: TECHNICAL FABRICS

FEATURE: LOCKDOWN MAINTENANCE

ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS SA-J04

FEATURE: HIGHS & LOWS

KIT & GEAR: VIPER V-CAM BLACK

VORSK DIARY: UPDATE

THE CAGE: AT CLOSE OF PLAY

KIT & GEAR: BEARBACK SLINGS

ARMOURY: CYMA 132S

ARMOURY: G&G PRK 9