Airsoft Action - November 2020 by Airsoft Action

ISSUE 119 - NOVEMBER 2020 - FREE

PROUD TO SUPPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY

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ISSUE 119 - NOVEMBER 2020 - FREE

ARMOURY: KWA RONIN 47 PROUD TO SUPPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY

ARMOURY: ICS XMK

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 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.

EVENT: BORDER WAR XII THE STORM LORD

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KIT & GEAR: ATTACKSENSE UPDATE

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.

42 KIT & GEAR: HOLSTER CHOICE

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RED CELL: G-SERIES

THE CAGE: OPTICS

VORSK DIARY: HI-CAPA 5.1 SPLIT SLIDE

CON ONT TEN ENTS TS 8 ARMOURY: KWA RN47 PRE-RELEASE SPECIAL With some neat video appearing online at the end of September in relation to the release, AA Red Cell member, Boycie, has already had hands-on and lands an early “first look” at this stunning new AEG! 14 ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS EDGE V2 Bill is a self-proclaimed “techno-luddite” who knows his way around a gearbox but would much rather be shooting than “fettling”! So when we received the very latest “V2” model from Specna Arms, who better to hand it to? 20 ARMOURY: ICS XMK In another “early look” Airsoft Action has been able to get hands on the very latest pistol model from industry-giant ICS Airsoft, and it is certainly different! As airsoft manufacturers move further into their own design sphere, Bill takes a look to see if ICS have got it right, or is the new XMK just another face in the crowd? 24 EVENT: BORDER WAR XII It was Bill’s great pleasure to sit on the airsoft speakers panel with Mike from the Border War Crew at the presentation of this award in 2017 and have been speaking ever since. When Mike contacted us with an AAR of this year’s event, THE STORM LORD, we were delighted to share this and illustrate that big games are still running, even in challenging times! 32 RED CELL: G-SERIES RANGE DAY After the intro last month, it’s time for Red Cell to really get rolling and for the first Shoot Day it was all about the G-Series! With recent news of the legal situation in the USA in relation to Glock, we have to ask also if this is the time to buy and own one of these pistol models? Bill brings together the team findings to point you in the right direction! 38 EVENT: TAIWAN SPEEDQB Following the success of “Bunker Kings: First Salvo” and with no shortage of interest from the original teams, as well as newer players drawn to the more athletic shooting competition format, Airsoft Action Legionnaire, Stewbacca, reports from direct from the event in Taiwan. 42 KIT & GEAR: HOLSTER CHOICE Having our wider, international, Airsoft Action Legion allows us to discover viewpoints from players all over the world. This month our “legionnaire” from China, Hana, got together with fellow shooter “Dennis The Goose”, to share a great article that first appeared in part on the OneTigris blog that gives a super overview on various types of holster placement for your “secondary”! 46 KIT & GEAR: PANDEMIC LOADOUTS Last month Bill showed how he put together his very own “Pandemic Loadout” inspired by the

Contents NOVEMBER 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

USN uniform worn in the TV Show “The Last Ship”. This time he and his team-mates create their very own “Vulture Team” loadout using the same inspiration… and a LOT of black kit! 50 ARMOURY: WE G17 GEN5 MOS The rise of the RDS/Reflex sight mounted on a pistol appears to be inexorable, so Bill takes a close look at one of the “originators” of this style, in the form of the G17 Gen5 MOS and digs into why this can be useful. 54 FEATURE: BOOKS FOR XMAS If, like Frenchie, you enjoy a good book, this look at some that have caught his attention recently will be of interest – and maybe give you an idea (or hints) for Xmas presents! 56 KIT & GEAR: ATTACKSENSE UPDATE Regular readers of Airsoft Action will know that some of our contributors have been making good use of their “airsoft “tools” to keep their skills and drills up to date with the AttackSense Smart Target System - and now things are getting even more interesting, with live “ranking data” available to all! 60 KIT& GEAR: TACTICAL FLEECES As we head into the colder months of the year Bill takes a look at some of the models he’s been using and abusing and brings us the benefit of his years of use and technical garment knowledge! 64 ARMOURY RELOADED: LCT LK-33A2 In Issue 117 we brought you the “first look” at the stunning new LK-33 from LCT Airsoft, and although we’ve had some challenges actually getting our review model to “land”, we can now bring you the findings of our range testing and see how the new rifle feels and performs! 67 THE CAGE: OPTICS We all love seeing a nice shiny optic atop an AEG or GBBR, and these days even on a GBB pistol, don’t we? Ultimately though are we just putting them there for show, to make our “primary” look Gucci, or are they there for a reason? Bill checks in with the AA contributors to find out more. 70 SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP As usual, we cast an eye over new products that have really got our attention… not that you lot out there seem to need any incentive to buy new goodies for your setups and loadouts! 74 VORSK DIARY: HI-CAPA 5.1 SPLIT-SLIDE This month Bill opens a new page in his ongoing “Vorsk Diary” with a look at the new Hi-Capa 5.1 Split Slide! 76 LAST POST: CAN GLOCK BLOCK? Following Bill’s article about trademarks and Intellectual Property rights in last month’s issue, Frenchie picks up the subject and ponders what the future might hold for unlicensed replicas.

ULTIMA JACKET BLACK / DARK COYOTE / GREEN / SRP: Â£89.95

armoury KWA RONIN 47 - PRE-RELEASE SPECIAL

NOVEMBER 2020

FIRST SEEN BY THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM AT SHOT SHOW, WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR KWA TO DROP THEIR ALL-NEW RN47 INTO THE MIX AND THAT TIME HAS ALMOST ARRIVED! WITH SOME NEAT VIDEO APPEARING ONLINE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER IN RELATION TO THE RELEASE, AA RED CELL MEMBER, BOYCIE, HAS ALREADY HAD HANDS-ON AND LANDS AN EARLY “FIRST LOOK” AT THIS STUNNING NEW AEG!

armoury KWA RONIN 47 - PRE-RELEASE SPECIAL

020 has been a busy year for KWA. Despite the worldwide Covid restrictions they have kept their release of new products on schedule. At Shot Show 2020 in Las Vegas they announced the new models for the coming year and amongst these products was the RN47, which is part of their Ronin Series of rifles. “Ronin” was the name for a Samurai warrior who was leaderless/masterless. Not only does the “47” in the name relate to the style of magazine but also a 18th century (1702) historical event in Japan, when a band of Ronin avenged the death of their master against instructions not to. The incident is legendary in Japan and people visit the graves of the 47 Ronin on 14th December each year, after they were sentenced to death but were permitted to commit ritual suicide (seppuku) and retain their honour. Some of the most popular KWA releases over the past 18 months have been the compact AEGs with a 6-inch (150mm) rail and the KWA 2.5 system along with their slither type tanker stock. The RN47 continues the line of compact rifles with the KWA “Tanker” stock, but as the name suggests uses an AK47 style “banana” magazine. Despite the small tanker style stock it is possible to fit up to a 1600 or 1800mAH 11.1v LiPo that, for most players, would last all day on semi-only play, which a number of sites now have as a site rule. An option for more battery capacity is to fit the Acetech Battery Compartment extension, the only downside to this is that you only then have two stock positions, instead of three, due to the extension.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

As we have come to expect from KWA, opening the box reveals the rifle, held in place by three sections of foam packaging. The section at the butt end also securely holds the magazine. Under the rifle is a plastic bag which contains the warranty card, VPS adjustment tool, stickers and two sections of MLok rail so that the owner can add accessories. There are few manufacturers who supply additional rail sections along with a new rifle and this is a nice touch from KWA. Lifting the rifle out of the box and removing the foam packing, the first thing that strikes you is the solid feel of the rifle along with the weight; this is due to the rifle being predominantly made from metal. It’s certainly not as light as a plastic bodied rifle but isn’t a huge unwieldy lump in your hands and feels well balanced.

Unlike some rifles, the upper receiver and rail are solid with no wobble. The rail fitted to this rifle is of the same style as the T6 and QRF series but the one on the RN47 is their 8” variant, which gives three full M-Lok positions on each side and two on the underside. Moving to the muzzle, KWA have given the RN47 a new style muzzle brake. This came in an anodised dark orange for US laws but there is also a black version available from KWA. UK and European models will come with the black muzzle brake as

standard. A top the rifle there is the great PTS flip up “iron” sight set,

which are easy to use and give a good sight picture. The upper receiver is the same type as the QRF and TK45 series, so should be

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury KWA RONIN 47 - PRE-RELEASE SPECIAL

compatible with uppers from either series. Moving back to the rear end the now common, 3 position KWA “Tanker” stock assembly is fitted with the same butt pad as the T6 rifles. As has become standard on KWA 2.5 and 3.0 series rifles, there is an ambidextrous sling plate which is solidly fixed to the rifle. Fire selector controls are ambidextrous as well and are made from a quality plastic. They are well fixed and only have slight movement but they provide positive positions and are really easy to manipulate either in bare hands or in gloves. Moving to the magazine release system and for me, one of the stand out features that KWA have given, is three options of how to remove the magazine from the rifle. Not only is it fitted with the ambidex release type (similar to an M4) but

also there is the paddle type release which can be found on MP5, G3 and AK type rifles. This gives plenty of ways in which you’ll be able to get the magazine out. The 120rd magazine supplied resembles an AKstyle curved “banana” mag. This is great for those who like the AK type mags and gives a familiar feel. The mag is of a proprietary design and is slightly different to general AK type mags, in that you don’t need to rock the magazine into the mag well. I found the easiest method was to locate the front of the magazine on the front edge of the mag well then

push it straight home (again similar to an M4 style) and it locks home with a positive click. When the magazine is empty the follower protrudes from the magazine, which means you fire every BB. You do have to be careful not to break the follower when putting empty mags away, but in all the years that I have had KWA ERGs I have yet to break a follower. A huge advantage to the magazine design is that they will fit into M4 style pouches and don’t snag, another of the things that I really like about the rifle. My preferred mag carrier is the Templar Gear magazine pouch which has a similar look to a Taco. Pulling back on the lovely ambi charging handle will open the dust cover and retract the dummy bolt plate so that you can access the hop adjustment wheel. To close the dummy bolt plate simply press the bolt

release catch, which again can be found on either side of the rifle and it slots back into place with a nice click.

WHAT’S IN THE AEG?

In what I believe is a first for KWA they are supplying the RN47 with Deans connector already fitted to the wiring loom and in the bag with the warranty card is a female connector to go onto your battery if you don’t already use Deans. The RN47 is fitted with the KWA AEG 2.5 system, which includes a user adjustable spring guide to

“DURING A BREAK IN PLAY I APPROACHED A GROUP OF PLAYERS AND OFFERED THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HANDLE AND FIRE THE RIFLE. THE MAIN COMMENT WAS THAT OF HOW SOLID THE RIFLE FELT IN THEIR HANDS BUT THAT WAS UNTIL ONE GUY RAN A MAGAZINE FULL THROUGH THE RN47. “WOW! THAT’S SOME RANGE ON IT, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO IT?” TO WHICH I REPLIED, “NOTHING OTHER THAN FIT A BATTERY AND FILL THE MAGAZINE”.” 10

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armoury KWA RONIN 47 - PRE-RELEASE SPECIAL

enable them to vary the fps on a given spring by approximately 30 fps. It takes about 5 minutes back in the safezone with a couple of tools to adjust and this prevents it being a simple “tweak in game” option (which less scrupulous players could abuse to up their fps after chrono). Should a user prefer to have felt recoil, then it is a simple job to replace the 2.5 VPS system with the 3.0 recoil set. Also, the gearbox is of the 2.5/3.0+ type which allows drop in fets, such as the Gate Titan, to be fitted with no need to remove material from the gearbox casing. We had the opportunity to range test the RN47 at a private day at Strikeforce CQB in Gloucester, UK. From the box, chrono readings over 15 shots using Nuprol RZR .20g BBs and not adjusting the factory hop setting, were 343.93, 341.88, 342.46, 336.98, 338.12, 341.29, 339.27, 340.42, 337.55, 340.42, 341.29, 339.84, 338.12, 340.71 and 339.27, giving an average of 1.07 Joule/340.10 fps. The range from the box couldn’t be exactly measured as I didn’t have a long enough tape measure but I was able to pace out the distances. I shot at various sized targets at ranges from approx. 10m out to 50m and once the hop was set I was easily able to consistently hit the targets at 50m. The next BB to try was the Nuprol RZR .25g; after resetting the hop the flight of the BB seemed to be better and the more rounds that went down range, the more consistent the flight seemed to be. One thing I am regularly asked to do, is change the hop rubber from the standard 2GX to something a little softer for use in the UK. The preferred rubber to change out to is the Maple Leaf 50 degree, although the Guarder Clear and Prometheus 50 are also popular options. My choice is to usually pair the Maple Leaf 50 with the harder Prometheus hop tensioner (nub), which tends to give a lot more positive adjustment for hop. Soon I will make up a second barrel and hop unit set, using the standard hop unit, KWA inner barrel fitted with the Maple Leaf 50 and Prometheus hard hop tensioner. This can be quickly fitted in place of the factory set up, so that in the following weeks and months when I am using the RN47 at game days, the two set ups can be compared. Before I packed up for the day I introduced Paul and Daniel of Swindon Airsoft and Strikeforce CQB to the RN47. They took the opportunity to put a magazine full each through the rifle and big smiles soon appeared on their faces. One of the big points that Paul made was that despite the magazine resembling the AK style, it wasn’t necessary to “rock” the mag into the mag well. Despite their best efforts at trying to get me to leave the rifle with them, I took

the rifle with me when I visited the Humber Airsoft site on the following weekend to do some outdoor tests and to see what players thought of the new AEG. Dressed up with a replica MRO red dot, Nuprol NX600S Light, PTS MOE Foregrip and an Element PEQ15, the RN47 looked ready to party as well! During a break in play I approached a group of players and offered them the opportunity to handle and fire the rifle. The main comment was that of how solid the rifle felt in their hands but that was until one guy ran a magazine full through the RN47. “WOW! That’s some range on it, what have you done to it?” to which I replied, “nothing other than fit a battery and fill the magazine”. The player seemed to be shocked, and even more so when I told him that the retail price would be somewhere around UK£350! Special editions will be priced differently, with the Kaiju Limited Edition being rumoured to be retailing at approximately UK£650! AA

USED IN THE TESTS • KWA RN47 2.5 AEG with standard 120rd magazine. • Valken 1100mAH 11.1v LiPo • Nuprol .20g and .25g RZR BBs My sincere thanks go to Debbie at KWA for the opportunity to test the rifle ahead of the release date. Also thanks to Paul and Daniel at Strikeforce CQB, along with Andrew and Harry at Humber Airsoft for letting me use their sites for the field tests, plus to Tim for the Bearback Rifle Sling to mount on the rifle and to Megan at Nuprol for ensuring the speedy delivery of the accessories. Photos feature the RN47 with “Tactical Optician”, Andy B, taken at Humber Airsoft by Boycie. www.airsoftaction.net

armoury SPECNA ARMS EDGE V2

THE EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY AMONGST THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM WE HAVE MANY TALENTED “TECHS” WHO ARE UP TO DATE WITH THE VERY LATEST INNOVATIONS, BOTH MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL, THAT MAKE UP THE “BEATING HEARTS” OF THE AEGS THAT WE SEE EVERY DAY … AND THEN WE HAVE BILL, A SELF-PROCLAIMED “TECHNO-LUDDITE” WHO KNOWS HIS WAY AROUND A GEARBOX, BUT WOULD MUCH RATHER BE SHOOTING THAN “FETTLING”! SO WHEN WE RECEIVED THE VERY LATEST “V2” MODEL FROM SPECNA ARMS, WHO BETTER TO HAND IT TO?

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armoury SPECNA ARMS EDGE V2

t’s true you know… I hate technology! It may surprise you, but for someone that works exclusively in digital publishing these days I don’t even own a smartphone, preferring instead a “burner” whose battery lasts for months on one charge and that I can make calls on! Sometimes I have even been known to send a “txt” …whatever that is! It’s a bit of a standing joke amongst my friends and colleagues, that I’m as “tech averse” as I am but the fact is I’d much more be experiencing life, rather than watching it on a screen! I am old, that is true, and I embrace technology as a tool to do a job but if it ain’t useful to me, than I ain’t gonna bother! I prefer to stay happily non-conformist and if truth be told, I do like to disappear “off grid” at the drop of a hat too! So when the guys at Specna Arms told us that they had the “next generation”, or V2 EDGE Series AEG for us to look at and that it was full of new electronic wizardry worthy of the most discerning (in my mind some kind of cyber-Gandalf-esque) user, then we advised that we would dearly love to see it and I would arrange for one of the “youngsters” to check it out. However, when we got into our production meeting to decide who would be looking after what this month, the “Specna V2” was sent my way, the reasoning being that if I could work with it, then anyone could… Suffice to say I soon found myself at my office PC, muttering under my breath, whilst trawling through numerous websites and pdf documents to actually understand what I had in front of me.

DON’T BE FOOLED BY APPEARANCES!

What arrived on my desk was a Specna Arms RRA SAE14 EDGE Carbine, or so it appeared. Now I’ve looked at this model before and it’s a great, mid-length AEG that benefits from all the good stuff that the brand has had to offer, wrapped up in a package with a solid 300mm M-LOK rail system on the front-end. It has the Rock River Arms lower, Specna’s own ergonomic pistol grip, singlepoint sling plate, upgraded charging handle, ORION gearbox, a pair of S-MAGs… yadda, yadda, yadda! It’s a Specna Arms RRA EDGE model… been there done that and I already bought one for myself thank you, the SA-E04! However, on closer inspection there were some “tell-tales” that what I was seeing in the main was not telling the whole story! The first thing I noticed was that rather than the usual buffer-tube nut, this model had a large knurled affair at the back of the receiver and when I started to tinker a bit I soon discovered that this was the visible

part of the new spring change system, the ESA 2! The original ESA system was easy to work with but the ESA2 pushes things along even further in terms of ease; it genuinely requires no tools and allows you to change the spring in less than a minute! You simply unscrew that large knurled ring, remove the buffer tube, unscrew the spring guide and it’s done! With the ESA2 you can quickly and simply adjust the power level of the AEG in the field and you are able to adapt it to CQB or of Woodland setup in just seconds! I also noticed that the “E14” that arrived with me had a different, flat-blade trigger from the standard curved model of the original AEG and on closer inspection this proved to be the new SOLAR Trigger that Specna Arms posted about on their social media back in June. They told us then that this new trigger, made under the GATE Quantum Trigger Licence, would “be mounted on board new replicas with the GATE Aster V2 unit”, and that “it will allow you to set a hair trigger with the ASTER controller”… and finally the lightbulb moment arrived! Now I understood why the “E14” had arrived with a USB cable and an additional doohickey with a GATE label on it! This was the newest of the new, the much-talked-about Specna Arms EDGE V2! The “E14” may have looked like the existing model on the outside but apart from the ESA2 and SOLAR Trigger, it also had the programmable ASTER V2, rather than the GATE X-ASR inside!

ASTER V2 FOR THE WIN!

Now I’d already done a bit of reading on the ASTER V2 system by GATE and found that it offered: • safeguard from reverse polarization of a battery • innovative optical sensors • 250 trigger sensitivity settings • ability to configure with the use of the replica’s trigger or GATE Control Station application • integrated RGB LED diode simplifying the programming of the system • premium functionality at a reasonable price

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury SPECNA ARMS EDGE V2

Bearing in mind that this AEG had arrived with me with no manuals and no explanation, I’m guessing that those lovely chaps at Specna Arms had done this quite deliberately to see if we (in this case “I”) could work it all out and, as much as I may be a technophobe, I do love a good challenge! So it was back to work with my “research hat” on - and it soon became apparent that I would need to start up my PC (as I don’t have a smartphone, remember?) to really get to grips with all that the system offers. To make full use of the ASTER V2 (and there are various ways to do this) you’ll need to set up the “GATE Control Station”. This a free universal app for configuring, controlling and connecting GATE ecosystem elements. The ASTER and GATE Control Station give you total control over your AEG, as the GCS offers you the option to: • control your AEG from a smartphone with Android (also with iOS in 2020, after Bluetooth® dongle release) and PC with Windows or macOS • simply adjust the ASTER settings • update and upgrade firmware • see the BB counters and Measurements statistics • perform diagnostics and send reports The app is compatible Windows devices and as I wanted to be able to work on the AEG settings on my office PC using the USB-Link and the GATE Control Station computer app (it is compatible with all firmware editions of ASTER and TITAN with GBU), I simply followed the link to https://www.gatee.eu/ software/gcs and chose “Download GCS 3.0 beta 7 for Windows”. I downloaded this onto my PC by following the steps on screen as usual. Once I’d downloaded the GCS software package and had it installed I needed to register as a user on the system and wait for a verification email… this took a while… patience is something else I don’t have a lot of, just FYI! Once my account was verified I was able to log in and this led me to the first “options” screen, where I could begin the task of programming things the way I wanted them! If you want to check out exactly what to do, you can download the (60 page!) “Quickstart Guide” for the ASTER V2 and I’d suggest that you do take a look at this… You can find it at https://www. gatee.eu/download/aster-v2-quickstart.pdf This guide immediately told me: “Tremendous transformation of your AEG is about to begin. You are entering the era of computerized control over your airsoft gun. This quickstart will guide you through the first stage of this journey – 16

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installation and configuration of your ASTER. So go get your new device mounted, your AEG set up and immerse yourself completely in a whole new airsoft experience.” And oh boy, they were not wrong! First, I attached the unit to the USB cable provided and popped this into my PC. Connecting it to the T-Plug (battery connection) of the AEG, the diode first glowed blue as it made connection with the software… Again, you need to be patient as this might take a couple of moments before the diode glows green and the connection is confirmed onscreen as established (if there’s a problem it will glow red). And this is where the fun REALLY begins!

The GENERAL setting lets you see immediately what you’re starting with but I moved immediately to TRIGGER to see what I could play with there and options are for PRECOCKING and ROF CONTROL and you can recalibrate all of this if you wish. As I wanted to test the AEG pretty “stock” I left the calibration original, although I shall go back and play more with this. Moving onto the SELECTOR page I decided that I would have a play here. I recently had a go with a friend’s AEG that had a Binary Trigger and actually quite liked it, so as the option was available that’s what I chose, ending up with Safe/Binary (on Semi)/ Auto. The software guided me through each step of this quickly and easily.

armoury SPECNA ARMS EDGE V2

Another interesting feature I’d read about is that you can “simulate” your magazine capacity using the software too, so this again was on my list to try as it didn’t affect the “shoot operation” of the AEG materially and again, setting the AEG to simulate “30 rounders” was simplicity itself! The ALERTS page is self-explanatory and all to do with protecting the electronics inside your AEG but the STATISTICS page interested me greatly as a reviewer, as this is obviously designed to accurately track usage and BBs fired. I believe this will be invaluable to me to really keep a track of how the AEG performs during use and I can track this perfectly now.

HOW GREEN IS YOUR DIODE?

With the simple changes I’d wanted to make done and the diode showing everything “in the green”, of course I needed to check it out, so it was off to the Short 10m Range to see if this “technoluddite” had been able to work with the magic of the software and the gun itself - and beggar me if it hadn’t all worked perfectly! Binary Trigger? Check! 30 BB Cutoff? You betcha! After check-firing I logged back into the GCS to looked at those “stats” and, as I’d hoped, the page told me that I’d fired 64 BBs, which was spot on as I’d done two sequences of 30 BBs and then cleared… colour me bloody impressed!! In all honesty I know I am only touching the tip of the iceberg as to what the software/ASTER/ AEG is capable of! As usual, the guys at Specna Arms had set the AEG up for me iro 350fps at source, so as to comply with UK legal and field guidelines and on chrono the AEG was as consistent as usual, settling at 1.11 Joule/347fps on a .20g RZR. Performance was in line

with the other Specna Arms models I’ve tried before, with both range and accuracy up there with the best of them. As I fired the AEG though, I also noticed that the motor seemed even quieter than usual and, upon inspection, I discovered a new High Torque version lurking. When I took things apart I discovered that there was also a flat-hop as standard… yet more “upgrades” to the original AEG! Just to be on the safe side, I did check the DIAGNOSTICS page before finally (yup, I did spend a bit of time on there!) logging out of the GCS and as that came up with “No errors detected”, I rather smugly switched everything off and reflected with a nice cup of Italian Roast just how seamless and straightforward the entire process had been, even for me... Overall, I have to say that as someone not known for their love of “gadgets”, that everything I have found on and in this test model has been exemplary! I know that I’ve not yet reached the “sweet spot” on the SOLAR Trigger but this is something that I’ll play with more using the options available via the GCS for the ASTER V2 (the proximity trigger sensor offers 250 sensitivity settings!). In terms of the Binary trigger setting and the “round count” cutoff function… I already bloody love ‘em! We already know that Specna Arms offer great “bang for your airsoft buck” but if what I’ve had my hands on is what we can all look forward to in the future, then “Great Scott!” take me back to the future now! My sincere thanks to http://specnaarms.com for providing this evaluation sample, and I look forward to seeing the first production models featuring all the new tech coming soon! AA

“BINARY TRIGGER? CHECK! 30 BB CUTOFF? YOU BETCHA! AFTER CHECK-FIRING I LOGGED BACK INTO THE GCS TO LOOKED AT THOSE “STATS” AND, AS I’D HOPED, THE PAGE TOLD ME THAT I’D FIRED 64 BBS, WHICH WAS SPOT ON AS I’D DONE TWO SEQUENCES OF 30 BBS AND THEN CLEARED… COLOUR ME BLOODY IMPRESSED!!.” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ICS XMK GBB

DARING TO BE DIFFERENT! I

’m going to kick things off by publicly stating that I am (and have always been) a fan of what I Chi Shivan - or ICS Airsoft as we all know them produce and have owned many excellent AEGs from their range. I am a particular fan of the models where they follow their own design path, creating innovative and unique airsoft models from the ground up and my experience with hundreds of review guns from different manufacturers has taught me that when ICS

get it right, they REALLY get it right! I suppose that this has also made me hyper-critical of the brand, as my expectation now when they drop a new model is that it will be as good, if not better than what has come before. As an honorary “ICS Captain” I expect excellence from ICS in everything they do and recent releases that I’ve looked at (like the licenced Korth GBB pistol and the ARK AEG) have lived up to my expectations in full.

“I’VE HEARD FOLK ONLINE ALREADY REFERRING TO IT UNKINDLY AS “A SPACE PISTOL”, I HAVE TO SAY IT’S OBVIOUS THAT THEY ARE YET TO HAVE ONE IN THEIR HAND AND THEY ARE SINFULLY OBLIVIOUS TO CHANGES IN THE WORLD OF REAL FIREARMS!” 20

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armoury ICS XMK GBB

I am, however, tied to the cord of “realism” when it comes to my personal “armoury” and usually I look for at least a modicum of “firearms realism” in what I personally buy. This doesn’t necessarily mean “military”, as there are many fine firearms designs these days made specifically for the civilian shooting market but it does mean I like a little grasp on reality! When I received the sample of the new GBB pistol, the XMK, from our friends at ICS though, I was a little taken aback as what emerged from the box was something pretty unusual - unique right enough but definitely unusual! Normally, any reviewer worth their salt would look immediately to the “real gun” for reference and look to the replication of features from the real model to the airsoft version, however, if you would look to do this in relation to the XMK you’re going to draw a big blank, nada, zip… The XMK must definitely go under the heading of “interesting” and it follows the current trend that we’re seeing from the best manufacturers, that they’re not only breaking the mould when it comes to design but stamping it underfoot and turning it to dust! Yes, the XMK has a grip, a trigger guard and a hole at the sharp end where the BBs emerge… It has a magazine that holds gas and BBs, some safety and control features and sights front and rear but… and a what a BUT it is! It’s all put together to make a solidly functional pistol but done in such a way that you would never, ever mistake the XMK for what it is and that’s an ICS “in house” design! Is this a bad thing you may ask and on the first, cold, from-the-box view, my reaction was “my, but that’s a big boy”! It’s chunky and blocky - but not “Glock-blocky” - and it has curves in all the right places to make it aesthetically (and somewhat strangely) alluring! The grip angle is almost that of a G-Series pistol but then it swells up and nestles under the heel of your thumb. It looks front-heavy, but once you have the magazine inserted in balances beautifully just where it should. The frame/slide combo looks oversized until you have it in your hand but then it seems to settle “just so”… All I’ll say is that looks can be very deceiving and although I’ve heard folk online already referring to it unkindly as “a space pistol”, I have to say it’s obvious

that they are yet to have one in their hand and they are sinfully oblivious to changes in the world of real firearms! What deceives the eye is the big alloy “compensator” that dominates the muzzle end of the XMK and this is most definitely a “statement part” of the overall design ethos, plus when you get to looking at form AND function, it has a part to play. As ICS say themselves: “It’s fascinating when these in-house-design airsoft guns like the XFG and XMK, have been created simply based on our years of experience standing in players’ shoes, showing the creativity and uniqueness of the design, from the externals to the internals. Without having to stay real to the licensed model, it’s easier to bring out the ideas, while still taking (the) account of the user’s expectations!” Well, I will be the first to say that the “creativity” is most certainly in evidence but as a player who demands performance myself, I’m pleased to say that the unique looks lead pretty much directly to a unique, and highly impressive, shooting experience! Whilst I wouldn’t call the XMK a “split-slide” design, the addition of that distinctive, oversized comp has allowed the ICS engineers to run the inner barrel right out almost to the very end where there’s just a small section of inset thread to accommodate the suppressor adapter that comes in the box as an accessory. The extended inner barrel is a whopping 113mm long and this, of course, reflects positively on overall performance. Talking of performance, the XMK also benefits from the impressive ICS Revo Valve System. This is a combination of a revised inlet valve and an adjustable outlet valve and ICS claim that by using this system you can fill your magazine by 30% more, compared to standard valves. The valve has a small vent to release and free up space for gas in a liquid form. When the magazine is full any over-gas will escape and visually indicate that the magazine is fully charged and this means that you will always fill the www.airsoftaction.net

COMING SOON

Barrel Lock / RMR adapter included / Steel-made hammer unit Inner barrel with R-Hop / Upgraded REVO valve system TM compatible internal parts

BLE-007-SB (metal slide)

BLE-007-PB (plastic slide)

armoury ICS XMK GBB

magazine with the same amount of gas, which in turn means that the pistol shoots in a consistent and predictable manner.

DESIGNED TO PERFORM

Although the design may be unusual, the refinements present inside the XMK mean that it’s actually a GBB pistol that is meant to shoot well and stay consistent whilst doing so! As gases continue to improve in stability there’s no longer a hiding place for inconsistency in operation, and ICS obviously spent much time and effort ensuring that the “mechanics” work and that all the constituent parts work in harmony together. The XMK is finished to the usual impeccable standard that I (for one) expect from ICS, with the frame and compensator finished in a matte black, whilst the moving slide is a mix of matte and gloss. This overall finish must be incredibly hard to pull off

as the frame is polymer, whilst the comp and slide are alloy - but pull it off they have - and everything works beautifully as whole! There’s lots of detail to the appearance of the pistol, from the serrations in the slide down to the texturing of the pistol grip, which also includes the “Black Leopard” that I certainly have come to associate with the pistol models that ICS design in house. The pistol grip itself warrants further mention, in that it’s a modular design! ICS offer two magazine choices for the XMK, a long 23BB capacity “standard” that comes with the pistol and a “compact” version that has a 17 BB capacity with an extended floorplate, similar to that of a G26. Unlike the G26, however, it’s the pistol grip that you change rather than adding an extension spacer to the magazine! To change the magazine type you simply remove the standard magazine, undo a hex-screw inside the housing, slide off the lower part of the housing and insert the compact magazine. It’s a different solution to the same problem of different magazine sizes but quite a simple and elegant one - and I like “simple”!

BOOMTIME!

In operation on the range the XMK is absolutely spot-on! In terms of controls you get a double safety and a chunky slide, along with an ambidextrous mag release and a very pleasing “safety-type” trigger. Although the slide appears slightly oversized, it’s really not but you do still get a good slam when you release it forward. Bizarrely, the slide is, if anything, lighter than the average (eye deceived yet again!) and this seems to make a real difference to the operation and efficient cycling of the pistol. Over the course of testing it happily sent .20g RZR BBs downrange with a very (VERY!) consistent reading through the chrono of 0.70 Joule/275fps using NUPROL.2.0 gas. Don’t forget the XMK benefits from the REVO system, this really does seem to make a profound difference in gas efficiency and I’d have to say that this works… well! In terms of overall performance, the XMK is on the money too and the tri-dot luminous front and rear sights make acquiring your target straightforward, even in low light conditions. Once you’ve fiddled a bit with the hop (and this is a bit tricky as you need to not only remove the slide, but also the compensator BEFORE you can remove the slide!) to get things nice and flat in terms of trajectory, then you can crank away to your hearts delight and the standard magazine has enough capacity to keep you in the fight for a considerable time, given the accuracy at 10m. I was able to ring the 240x210mm steels at that distance time and again and I’d say that the consistency of power and operation really helped with that! With the unique design of the XMK for their latest pistol, ICS have really come “out of left field” again and that’s another bold thing to do, but I’m beginning to expect this from one of my favourite airsoft brands! I believe that they are onto something special with their design direction and this pistol is as good as any that I’ve shot, performing splendidly from the outset! Although “the look” may not appeal to all and you’re probably going to want a bespoke holster given the chunky design, I have to say that I truly believe that the performance, just like in the real world where we are seeing unusual new directions in performance design like the Hudson H9 and the Laugo Arms ALIEN, will place the XMK high on the “must have list” for many players! My thanks as always go to ICS Airsoft for providing an early T&E sample for us. Please do visit www.icsbb. com and keep an eye on their social media for the very latest developments. AA

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EVENT BORDER WAR MILSIM XII

NOVEMBER 2020

EVENT BORDER WAR MILSIM XII

The Border War Crew organize unique large scale international MILSIM games and have done since 2008 with a portfolio of more than 125 organized events stretching back to 2003. Border War MILSIM has been voted the best airsoft event in the world for Border War 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 in the Players Choice Awards and entered the Popular Airsoft “Hall Of Fame” thanks to FIVE victories in a row in back in 2017! It was Bill’s great pleasure to sit on the airsoft speakers panel with

Mike from the Border War

Crew at the presentation of this award in 2017 and have been speaking ever since. When Mike contacted us with an AAR of this year’s event, THE STORM LORD, we were delighted to share this and illustrate that big games are still running, even in challenging times! www.airsoftaction.net

EVENT BORDER WAR MILSIM XII

order War MILSIM XII - THE STORM LORD, organised by the Border War Crew, took place at the beginning of September as the only largescale International Airsoft Event hosted in Europe in 2020. The C-19 pandemic situation blocked the original April date and moved the event to September with the main point of focus on player safety, massive usage of game props and plenty of updates based upon player’s wishes from BW11. BW crew readiness and large investments enabled the event to proceed with the most stringent safety standards possible, making it a player-safety-oriented benchmark event with continuous 12 years of history. Border War MILSIM – THE STORM LORD set another benchmark in airsoft history in terms of anti-covid measures, with an on-the-spot and active approach towards making the event happen, rather than postponing it to next year. Border War MILSIM 12th Episode – The Storm Lord was held in Czech Republic, in the former Military area of Ralsko and took place in first half of September, hosting players from 20 countries around the world. People came from all around Europe even in difficult times and participants undertook an intensive infantry MILSIM battle across massive scale terrain. The event focused on large scale infantry tactics in deep forest vegetation with additional usage of motorized heavy armour elements. Border War 12 again upgraded the player services compared to previous events. Very smooth registration, all-participant temperature checks with latest possible technology, professional chrono, medical services on site and enforced player logistics assured Border War MILSIM the status of a worldleading event proving itself as a benchmark in many aspects of Airsoft MILSIM event organizing. BW 12 traditionally hosted historical vehicles this time including heavy armored ones, 20 WW2 fortified

bunkers, antitank obstacles, in-game vehicles, ammo crates, large scale rockets and satellites and much more, including completely new 3D printed game props were seen across many game locations built for the purpose of the event. STRICT PLAYER LIMITS Starting from BW11 a strict player limit has been introduced to increase game quality. Due to the pandemic this was further reduced to a maximum limit of 1,000 participants available on site for BW12 due to government restrictions. “Our aim was never to be the biggest but the best, therefore we didn’t have the problem to stick to the the new limits and will do so as well in the future.” said Mike, leader of the Border War Crew. CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM Border War MILSIM as a leading airsoft event started building new achievements with a corporate responsibility program, supporting the local region already from the 10th Anniversary, with a focus on supporting kindergartens, airsoft camps and local municipalities. The Border War Crew is as well working on rare and protected biotopes cultivation together with natural park authorities. SPONSORS AND SHOPS Specna Arms, Gunfire LCT, G&G Armament and Evolution Airsoft were the main sponsors of the event. The event was as well supported by Bohemia Airsoft Shop, Border War Armory shop and Night Tec shop. LOGISTIC SUPPORT Off zone offered a large variety of airsoft products, goodies to take from the sponsors and also shops with equipment for the airsoft player; gifts and samples from sponsors were given to the players for free, also players had a chance to put their hands on the new products. Traditional professional catering accompanied all of the event with excellent food for reasonable prices and a great non-alcoholic Czech beer. BEHIND THE SCENES BW12 preparation took 14 months. Due to the

NOVEMBER 2020

EVENT BORDER WAR MILSIM XII

Border War Professional organization the organisers were allowed to use for the game a large area of the natural park for seventh year in the row. The BW crew received very positive feedback from authorities for very professional level of organization as always. PLAYER SAFETY AND MEDICAL CARE Border War MILSIM’s main focus is safety of players above all, with professional medical services provided by the company Davepo. Ambulances, paramedics on jeeps and quad bikes together with doctors were present during the duration of the game setting the medical readiness for high risk environment. Security on spot was arranged by professional Security Company Čechy, known from large festivals and NATO days in Ostrava. Of course, the event was as well supported by local firefighters and police department. Safety of the players is the organizers priority.

UNIQUE POINTS

The unique points of Border War MILSIM episode 12: • Fastest registration for the event on Border War so far – sold out in few minutes in July 2019 • New game props for day and night gaming never used on Border War MILSIM before • Player rules available in 4 languages • Brand new player kits distributed before the event • All day convoy operations transporting players from the base to the frontline and back • Nature friendly event – Strictly Bio BBs, Pilot project of recycling and new Beercups • Largest game battlefield ever used in Europe maybe in the world • Probably the only large-scale international game in Europe in 2020 • Enforced player logistics to get to bases using Humvee and trucks • Most advanced medical and safety standard on an Airsoft event in Europe, possibly the world, including enhanced Anti-Covid measures and technology for temperature scanning and

disinfection. • Several trucks of Game Props were transported and used in game • Corporate Responsibility Program – supported local region by various activities • More than 1,000 metres of fencing was used to make the base walls • New enhanced night missions • General Game rules update was introduced

ABOUT THE SCENARIO.

The fictional scenario brought players to Northern Chena where the military forces represented by Task Force Viking, supported by DOD operatives and local sheriffs units, were set against tribal militias. Militias were aiming on taking control of governmental property in order to scavenge resources as well to demand ransom from the government. Task Force units defended a local rocket battery installation with several antennas and as well mining facilities against the rebels. The Weather was nicely warm and tested participant’s endurance and resistance in physical activities in 25 degrees Celsius temperatures, falling to14 degrees Celsius at night. GAME SCENARIO OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVEMENTS: High level point of view – all game sides managed well and successfully fulfilled main tactical objectives.

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EVENT BORDER WAR MILSIM XII

FRIDAY: Task Force units rapidly deployed to FOB Patriot with the extended support of armoured convoys from MOB Liberator. Fighting erupted between Task force and Militia units over Jefferson Farm and the Signal Tower with both main sides of the conflict during Friday afternoon changing ownership between the objectives several times. Due to this ongoing fight militia units didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any free hands to try taking control of FOB Patriot during Friday. Task Force units managed to operate all rocket launchers sending strategic bombardment towards strategic objectives of the entire campaign. Armoured convoys remained intact and served effectively for the TF purpose. Heavy fighting as well consumed a local village where villagers were happy to survive several exchanges, with the front line dynamically changing between HLDF and DOD operatives clashing with militias over a water resource area. Local tribesmen lost their princess at the hands of militia warriors seeing villagers fighting on the side of TF during Friday. Militias managed to push back SOG units from old bunkers and seize AT rockets from

the secret ammo depot in one of the fortresses. TF infantry units with the dawn rolled back to base and exchanged exhausted infantry man after several hours of heavy combat deployment for SF operatives and TF Night Operators equipped for the night combat. Friday night by the light of the moon was dedicated to nocturnal raids over several areas of strategic importance generating plenty of Strategic points for both of the game sides for the next day. During Friday night TF and allied units managed to fulfill all objectives and afterwards pulled back to FOB Patriot where they remained until the dusk when fresh troops took over their position. SATURDAY: TF attempted to quickly roll in with full force to the village in the morning and met with militiamotorized recce. Heavy fighting started and Task Force units lost several juggernauts and transport vehicles to massive AT fire from militia side. TF APC managed to push to the village but was significantly damaged and out of fighting condition. Militias managed to capture several prisoners and APC crew. Task Force units focused all forces to engage militia units on the front line over the Coal Mine and Petroleum Rig. Again, all locations switched sides several times generating production for both game sides. Front line fighting and overall distraction helped SOG members to create diversion attacks on the militia base where gate sentry units fought with SOG operatives and second SOG group sneaked

NOVEMBER 2020

EVENT BORDER WAR MILSIM XII

in the militia HQ, stealing the militia flag and killing all HQ personnel. Two targets on the “wanted list” were eliminated, and the trophy flag was taken and displayed on TF base. Militia reaction was fierce as regrouping units hunted down SOG operatives at FOB Patriot, and fierce battles consumed the entire area. TF units pulled back to MOB Liberator to defend their position from fortified ground. Militias successfully collected parachute drop of extra AT rockets and moved the supply to the front lines. Finally, militias attempted to siege FOB Patriot causing heavy damage to some of the base facilities. TF general was wounded by agent infiltrator, but no TF flag was taken. Saturday night was focusing on COIN operation on the key highway with the aim of limiting militia forces to receive extra resources and supplies for Sunday fight. SUNDAY: The “Battle of Fishermans Village” started with a slow mode leading to fierce close quarter combat in the village. The village priest ran away, the doctor got shot and tribesmen used their bows to defend the last supplies of food from the hands of hungry militias and at the same time ruthless TF and DOD units led by the local sheriff moved to restore law and order in the village at all costs. The last shot was fired slightly before lunch time and battle was over, leaving the battle ground open for further conflict escalation.

THE OUTCOME

After calculating all strategy and resource points, no matter that both game sides were successful in achieving tactical victories, the overall scenario ended with no significant winner or loser. Player feedback from all game sides considered that TF units to have played very well this year giving Militia tough times.

For that reason, TF and allied forces agreed to a new offensive into Northern Chena in April 2021 and tribal militias called for help from all remaining tribesman to defend the sacred grounds of Chena Valley, effectively setting the scene for BW Operation Storm Lord Chapter II! The BW Crew would like to thank to all the brave MilSimmers who came to the event in these difficult times! BW Trustees, Game Masters, Coy Commanders and PLT commanders are thanked especially for leading the players to their objectives. Mike said, “You did a very good job!” Mike and the Crew have carefully evaluated the feedback from all players received electronically via their questionnaires and are proud to say that they have again received very positive feedback, indeed much better than from BW11.

CONCLUSION

“In conclusion, BW12 was a successful event, creating a significant milestone in airsoft history in this difficult pandemic times. We are proud that we managed to stand against all complications bringing in epic experience to our fans and not stepping down from the Covid pressures in already a bit special airsoft season of 2020. Also, we are very proud that we managed to make the event in the same year without 12 months of postponement.” said Mike. Mike asked us to conclude by expressing his thanks one more time to all players for their trust and loyalty and he is already looking forward to see you next year. Border War MILSIM 12th edition - Second Chapter is slated for April 2021, and we hope to travel out with the “AA Press Corps” to cover this exciting next installment personally! For now, you can keep up with developments and planning for Border war 2021 by keeping an eye on www.borderwar.cz

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RED CELL RED CELL G-SERIES RANGE DAY

G-SERIES RANGE DAY

AFTER THE CONCEPT AND TEAM INTROS LAST MONTH, IT’S TIME FOR RED CELL TO REALLY GET ROLLING AND FOR THE FIRST SHOOT DAY IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE G-SERIES! WITH RECENT NEWS OF THE LEGAL SITUATION IN THE USA IN RELATION TO GLOCK, WE HAVE TO ASK ALSO IF THIS IS THE TIME TO BUY AND OWN ONE OF THESE PISTOL MODELS? BILL BRINGS TOGETHER THE TEAM FINDINGS TO POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

ometimes it would seem that it’s all about the timing! When I put forward to the Red Cell Team that our first focus would be on “G-Series” GBB pistols, little did I know that a US law suit that has been running for over six years would be coming to a finale, and that the law would drop in favour of Glock Inc in relation to the protection of their trademarks and “trade dress” when it comes to airsoft replicas! Although I am of the belief that this is a tussle mainly for the American domestic market, with many reasons behind it (and not all airsoft-gaming related!), it is still a move that has sent a definite shudder through certain areas of the airsoft industry. As far as we can ascertain at this time the negation of trademark use is specific to the US market, but obviously it has finally rung alarm bells with the “copycats”, and it’s also my belief that we will see more general licencing across the board, no bad thing if I’m to be honest. With that particular “elephant out of the room”, at the time that Red Cell hit the range in earnest for the first time it was all about those “Gs”, licenced with trades, unlicenced with trades, and just plain “vanilla plain”! Our pool consisted of 18 models overall from different manufacturers, and where we had multiple models from the same manufacturer we concentrated on key models that best serve multiple loadout options; for instance we looked at the G17, G19X, G34, and G45 models from Umarex, but ended up including the first two and not the latter as the 17 and 19 are more applicable to a wider range of “end users”. This is in no way saying that the others were not great and usable GBB pistols, rather that they are more specific to a certain style of loadout and we want to always concentrate on what’s most applicable 32

NOVEMBER 2020

to players in the best and broadest sense! As we are still finalising our final “Red Cell Range Home” (more on that next month!), the first Shoot Day was hosted kindly by team-member Bill W-R as he lives WAY out in the countryside; we were able to shoot outside with a safe “runout”, although the AttackSense (AS) Smart Target system was set up to shoot up to 10m. Neil and Rob from AS spent the day with us to ensure that we were getting the best from the system, and also introduced some new twists that you’ll see featured in more detail elsewhere in this issue. Virtus Systems “steels” were also set up at maximum 10m to give some variety. The day started with my safety briefing and intro to the team (oh boy, it felt GREAT to be back out giving a briefing after my “poorly time”!), and of course at the moment this had to include comment of additional safety and social distancing matters due to C-19; suffice to say that being outside with a relatively small group it was far easier to adhere to the guidelines than in a busy site-setting… although there was some “impatience” when the bacon sandwiches arrived courtesy of Bill’s wife, Alison (a HUGE thank you from us all!)…

SHOOT FORMAT

The “format” for our shoot days is a simple one and falls into a series of steps: 09:00 Assemble 09:30 Safety briefing and Intent Briefing 10:00 Equipment Intro - this step will involve representatives from equipment manufacturers briefing the team on new developments; for “Day Zero” we were joined by Neil and Rob from AttackSense Smart Targets.

RED CELL G-SERIES RANGE DAY

• 1100 Cold chrono of all the models and start making notes on first impressions; each model to have its own “stat sheet” • 1200 Lunch, have a good “socially-distanced” natter, and then crack on with the shooty part! • 1230 Free Range; all focus models shot by all members of Red Cell using a variety of targets; focus on models performance including efficiency of feed and cycle, accuracy, and ease of use. • 1500 Hot chrono of all models • 1530 Endex and Debrief This format will be the basis for all future Red Cell Shoot Days, although members of the team may sign out the models featured to use on a game day, with stats being logged on each model after each use.

Model: Tokyo Marui G17 Gen 4 Price: iro £150.00 Age: New Weight: 709g Length: 202 mm Magazine Capacity: 25+1 Cold Chrono:0.89 Joule/310fps

Hot Chrono: 0.83 Joule/300fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: No Available From: www.fire-support.co.uk

Model: Raven EU18 (Select Fire) Price: iro £90.00 Age: Two Years Weight: 790g Length: 200mm Magazine Capacity: 24+1 Cold Chrono:0.78 Joule/290fps

Hot Chrono: 0.75 Joule/285fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Good Available From: www.rvnairsoft.com

Model: Raven EU17 Price: iro £85.00 Age: Two Years Weight: 700g Length: 200mm Magazine Capacity: 24+1 Cold Chrono:0.75 Joule/285fps

Hot Chrono: 0.75 Joule/285fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Good Available From: www.rvnairsoft.com

Model: Vorsk EU17 Vented Price: iro £120.00 Age: One Year Weight: 500g Length: 220mm Magazine Capacity: 22+1 Cold Chrono:0.95 Joule/321fps

Hot Chrono: 0.95 Joule/321fps Holster Compatibility: OK Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Good Adaptor fitted as standard Available From: www.vorskairsoft.com www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL RED CELL G-SERIES RANGE DAY

Model: Vorsk EU18 Vented Price: iro £145.00 Age: Two Years Weight: 550g Length: 220mm Magazine Capacity: 22+1 Cold Chrono:0.98 Joule/325fps

Hot Chrono: 0.98 Joule/325fps Holster Compatibility: OK Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Good Adaptor fitted as standard Available From: www.vorskairsoft.com

Model: Umarex Glock 17 Gen 4 Price: iro £160.00 Age: New Weight: 665g Length: 210mm Magazine Capacity: 24+1 Cold Chrono:0.92 Joule/315fps

Hot Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: No Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

Model: Army Armament R17 V3 Price: iro £50.00 Age: New Weight: 700g Length: 200mm Magazine Capacity: 25+1

Cold Chrono:0.92 Joule/315fps Hot Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: No Available From: www.allagesairsoft.com

Model: WE G17 Gen 5 MOS Price: iro £120.00 Age: New Weight: 770g Length: 186mm Magazine Capacity: 25+1 Cold Chrono:0.95 Joule/320fps

Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: No Available From: www.weairsoft.com

Model: Umarex Glock 19X Price: iro £185.00 Age: New Weight: 641grams Length: 185mm Magazine Capacity: 20 + 1 Cold Chrono:0.95 Joule/320fps

Hot Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: No Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

Model: WE G19 X Price: iro £120.00 Age: New Weight: 690g Length: 180mm Magazine Capacity: 24 + 1 Cold Chrono:0.95 Joule/320fps

Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Good Available From: www.weairsoft.com

NOVEMBER 2020

RED CELL G-SERIES RANGE DAY

With the Red Cell Shoot Day format nailed down, there are perhaps a couple of descriptions that we use to get out of the way: • Power/Chrono Readings: All models shot on .20g RZR BBs, all models gassed with NUPROL 2.0 Gas • Cold Chrono – This describes the AEG/GBB being lifted fresh from the box, battery fitted or gas filled, BBs loaded and test-fired • Hot Chrono - This describes the AEG/GBB being retested after use at the end of the session; fresh battery fitted or gas filled, BBs loaded and test-fired • Compatibility – For pistols we will look at how well they work with accessories such as lights and suppressors, along with ease of use from different holster systems. For rifles/carbines we will look at accessories and optics, along with suppressors/tracers, and how well they work with different brands of magazine. With that nailed down, let’s get to the meat of things and see how the models fared in the unforgiving hands of Red Cell!

TESTING TIME

Jase: “My top of the pops was the Umarex 19X, The licenced trades and finish where spot on. Slide was crisp and tight to the frame. I know the power was stable, and it was one of the most powerful of all the G’s. My second best short was the TM G17; 285fps, fired straight and true with a solid finish. My third choice was the cheap’o Army oneas it had bloody awesome range and gas efficiency; I’d go as far as to say I’d have taken it home with me. Nuprol

models were solid enough and I was happy with how they fired All the other Umarex stuff was grand, just like the 19X.” James: “Not-Glocks, first impressions, tops for me was the WE G17 Gen 5 MOS; it had a great feel in hand and holster, slide action was crisp and had a good build and finish. The little added extra of a lanyard attachment always a good thing for me after the steep learning curve of losing a pistol in game due to a holster malfunction, and the removable top plate on the slide allowing you to add your choice of sight makes this a versatile platform. The Umarex range of pistols on test all had a very high-quality feel to them, markings spot on and as expected very good to shoot. Performing well also were the raven EU17/EU18 and the Army Armament R17 V3. That being said the price point of the Army Armament would make this an excellent choice for a player on a budget or someone dipping there feet in to airsoft for the 1st time; a solid build and a good finish to it, but still the lower price point of the Ravens makes them a viable option too. The Vorsk EU17/ EU18 were, definitely the most stand out pistols in terms of looks, think ‘glock GTI’ with their vented slides, silver barrel and silver accented flared mag well! They definitely have the bling factor, however this does come at some cost to the shooter. When using with my leg drop holster the slide vents do occasionally become a snagging issue, slowing draw time. Extended mags were also available for test and especially with the EU18 you can certainly put some rounds down range with the obvious drawback being just the additional weight.” Boycie: “My holster was a Safariland 6280 for Glock with M3 but it also fits a multitude of other lights (and other pistols, inc 1911 - cocked and locked).I loved having a range of variants to look at, handle and test, and I was really impressed with the Raven and Vorsk models, although I’m not a fan of 18 models unless on semi only. I was also actually impressed by the TM AEP which was not amongst the test models but that Jimmy had brought along; so many people give them grief, which IMHO is undeserved, and the range was awesome and accuracy too! I’m already a big fan of the VFC/Umarex for the build quality and lack of rattle. Their hop adjustment by the guide rod www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL RED CELL G-SERIES RANGE DAY

is a really good move as well. Personally the G series is my favourite, right back into the 80’s when I shot IPSC. Being a lefty the lack of having to use a thumb safety, especially when they were only available on the left side for “righties” was a real help. They sit nice and low in the hand as well which certainly helps in controlling recoil.” Jimmy: What a plethora of pistols we had to choose from. TM, WE, AA, VORSK, Umarex, Raven! There were some very solid builds from several manufacturers all offering the same fun but, yes there are some buts. It’s amazing how one design can differ in many ways. All of the pistols were very different when it came to performance and feel and price tags. Little things such as grip design, magazine design, trigger pull, hop adjustment. I personally didn’t like the Ravens they didn’t give me any wow factor. I wasn’t a fan of the Umarex style mags with the fill valve being covered by a plastic plate, in the event to have to re-gas in the field; it’s a case of gloves off and if you have short nails you need a tool to remove the plate which loses time and it’s all a bit of a faff to be honest, but the pistols themselves are a good solid build which carry the trademarks which a lot of shooters really appreciate. The VORSKs for me seemed to lack that air of quality in the lower frame construction, and the between lower frame and slide felt sloppy (Note: Of all the pistols on test the Vorsks have already been shot extensively so it will be interesting to recap on this once the other test models reach the 3000BB+ mark!). The AA G17 I was very impressed with it felt solid and shot surprisingly well and emptied a mag with no issues. Take down was nice and easy and with the price tag it carries 36

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who can go wrong? A great little pistol with great performance and a price not to be sneered at and i would happily carry it into a game and not worry that it’s going to fall flat on its face. The Marui pistol was my favourite of the day with a shadow of a doubt, not because it holds the godfather name but because of its performance and its build quality it was perfect apart from its pricing; having said that you’re getting a lightning quick pistol with high quality and reliability. I know this is going to work every time you pull it from the holster and put rounds down range. Yes the fps was low but as we all know the Japanese have added their little sprinkle of pixy dust over it and made it magical. I was using my own holster, it’s a standard Nuprol one which just clips over a belt. A majority of the pistols would have fitted without the torches attatched but the Vorsks were not fitting due to the large front sights. There was a G34 which we didn’t really cover and that fitted perfect in the holster. WE, TM, AA, Umarex all fitted, but all had a little bit if wobble but once clicked in place they weren’t going anywhere until you hit the release.” Chris: “WE had a well-fitting slide and barrel with minimal wobble, a nice finish, a crisp blowback and decent range. The trigger was slightly soft but still had a crisp break. I have never shot a Umarex Glock before but I was incredibly pleased with the finish, the fit, the blowback, the styling and the trigger; everything about the brand screams premium, and the hop system is an added bonus. Honorable mention; for the money the Army Armament Glock 17 was incredibly impressive; there’s been some quality control issues I’m lead to believe, but overall a superb clone of the Marui Glock 17, one I would advise any new player or

RED CELL G-SERIES RANGE DAY

seasoned player to buy.” Bill (no, the other one!): “So hands up, not a fan of Glocks, all much of a sameness! However three stood out above the ground; Jimmys TM AEP! I think this could be the future of pistols, it’s still early days with the tech but the benefits of non-gas in a cold climate are unarguable” The thing holding it back is the technology and for your normal skirmisher, the noise. The standard tm was an amazing piece, feel and balance were awesome and the grip felt just right. However the one big sticking point is the price. Top of the shop for me as a skirmisher, Army Armament! Wow! If I was to buy a G- series that is the one I want. Price point is amazing, felt balanced in the hand and shot consistently well. A clone of the TM, it’s a great buy even If it goes wrong after a few games you could just buy another and still not be out of pocket. Bill: So, for me if I had to pick a Glock, then it would be … a Glock! The Umarex G17 for me is everything that a proper “replica” should be; well made, beautifully finished, a proper weight and size to fit into any “real-deal” holsters, and ultimately it shoots really well. And then there’s the trademarks that any self-respecting “gun bunny” will drool over… I’ve never been a huge TM fan and although the old G17 still rolls well the fact that I know the “trades” are hooky and the slide is a “plastic fantastic” puts me off when I have other, cheaper, options like the cheeky little Army R17 available for a fraction of the cost! You’ll see my comments on the WE G17 MOS as I’ve reviewed that in full in this issue, but suffice to say I’d certainly have one for myself!”

FINAL COMMENTS

A number of the testers commented on the Raven and VORSK models actions being a little “sloppy” when compared to others on test, and indeed perhaps it has proven that for future testing I need to ensure that all the models we use start “as new” to give full parity; all the Raven and VORSK models have had upwards of 3-3,500 BBs through them, and I believe this showed in their overall actions. The Raven G17 is still very much my “go to G” and I’ve used it effectively in games both home and abroad for a creditable “service life” already; it’s well-priced and has shown great durability, so we’ll have to see how the other models compare once they “loosen up” over time! This has also proven to me what I think about VORSK; they are unique and striking GBB pistols, but the simple models are most definitely your “down and dirty fighting pistols” whilst the unique outer design of the VORSKs makes them pistols to cherish

and use on the range, and the VORSK EU18 rocks the giggle factor with the extended mag and the selectfire function! Don’t get me wrong, a VORSK will serve you well on gameday just as well as any of the other models featured, but let’s not be forgetting KISS! As mentioned by a couple of the team, one of the most “fun” models we had to shoot (although not part of the GBB test pool), and one of the most surprising was the little TM AEP! In the debrief Jimmy told us: “My little AEP TM G18; well, having never owned a Glock until the purchase of mine I was not really a lover of the G-series but my opinion soon changed! Yes the AEP gets a fair bit of “H8” but I think they are misunderstood and lost in a sea of GBB pistols which offer users the air of realism. Don’t be fooled to think that an AEP is anything less during a game day. With a much lower power than all of the pistols on the bench, range and accuracy had it holding its own on the day. An AEP has a massive advantage over a GBB and that’s in relation to “cold fatigue”; it doesn’t and will never suffer from the gas dump of death due to cold, that moment you draw your GBB pistol, pull the trigger only to hear a click followed by a large cloud of disappointment!”

CONCLUSION

So, with the G-Series models firmly in the bag I believe I can conclude by saying a couple of important things! Firstly it’s become apparent that you don’t ALWAYS get what you pay for, and that the performance of the more “budget” models is actually very good indeed. Secondly, if you want trades then pay the extra for the licenced models as these days their performance is such that they are actually worth the extra! We hope that you’ve enjoyed the first instalment of “Red Cell” and that this has given you some great pointers if you’re considering a “G-Series pistol for yourself; watch this space as next month we move onto the venerable “1911” in all it’s fabulous guises!

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EVENT REPORT

LIVE AND LET DYE! SPEEDSOFT SPEEDQB --TAIWAN TAIWAN - TAIWAN

WITH THE INITIAL SUCCESS OF THE ORIGINAL HOME GROWN “BUNKER KINGS; FIRST SALVO” SPEEDSOFT TOURNAMENT, ORGANISED PRIMARILY BY HANN (N00B_SOFT) BACK IN MARCH OF 2020, THERE WAS IMMEDIATELY AN ALLUSION TO A “2ECOND STRIKE2 - A FOLLOW UP TOURNAMENT WHICH WAS INTENDED FOR SIX MONTHS LATER IN SEPTEMBER. WITH NO SHORTAGE OF INTEREST FROM THE ORIGINAL TEAMS, AS WELL AS NEWER PLAYERS DRAWN TO THE MORE ATHLETIC SHOOTING COMPETITION FORMAT, AIRSOFT ACTION LEGIONNAIRE, STEWBACCA, REPORTS FROM DIRECT FROM THE EVENT IN TAIWAN

n the intervening months since the first grass roots attempt, major changes were afoot in Action Bunker - the indoor CQB site that “Bunker Kings; First Salvo” was held at. Steve Hsia first began setting up the site and progressed it to a fullyfledged business between 2007-2017, until his mainstream

professional career forced him to take a step back and allow an interim management team to handle things due to his schedule and work commitments outside of Action Bunker (which he had originally set up with four other airsoft industry investors in the Taipei area primarily as a side project and hobby based business). Despite Taiwan being, thankfully, largely unaffected by the COVID pandemic, as per my previous article regarding the “First Salvo”, this was not entirely known earlier in the year and many people had concerns about attending events in enclosed spaces, even though it turns out that many of these concerns were unfounded, despite being prudent elsewhere. This, of course, had a negative effect on the business and attendance of game days, even though they went ahead in terms of regular organised skirmishes. With Steve stepping back in to retake the reins and hopefully improve the income of an unusual business model; most people in Taiwan play without having to pay, by using disused outdoor facilities, due to much laxer laws here compared to the required third party insured sites of the UK or elsewhere.

REBUILDING

To ensure the site could continue to operate in the longer term 38

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EVENT REPORT SPEEDSOFT SPEEDQB - TAIWAN

a major shake-up was required, with a focus towards the site once again being run “by shooters, for shooters” and a major revamp and longer term plan to provide a membership scheme and a much better environment for all facets of airsoft or shooting related hobbies to flourish in. Action Bunker already offered standard open skirmish days, as well as tailoring for corporate hire kit days and TFAS Action Air team have been based there for a good while already too. So, with the idea of further expansion of the goods and services to be offered and a facelift to increase the appeal and footfall of the site, Speedsoft/SpeedQB seemed an ideal new aspect of the shooting sports to focus on and bring in a more spectator-friendly sport and intense gameplay to develop more interest, membership and mentoring new players into getting involved. With this in mind, Steve reached out to myself - as one of the more experienced players and a frequenter of Action Bunker already, as well as one of the many of us with a YouTube and Instagram following, as well as my knowledge of the UK and European airsoft business models and other aspects of shooting sports and finally, as someone with an all-round design and handyman background - to help the deep clean of the site and initial reworking. To provide a more authentic Speedsoft experience (in keeping with what the official SpeedQB governing body in the US has begun developing in America and internationally), it was decided that we would perform a major remodel of the main gaming area on the upper underground floor. Drawing from the European Championship arenas, a new gaming space and the appropriate

layout and SpeedQB specific cover set pieces were designed and outsourced to a local professional carpentry firm in order to ensure everything was made, painted and delivered to the site in time for the early September schedule. Throughout this process the teams and people involved in the original event were consulted to help shape the competition and the arena itself, as well as the media, gameplay, advertisements and structure of the event and its itinerary. While Action Bunker, as a business, footed the bill for major reworking of its playing space and infrastructure or services offered, ensuring that the event was organised with the players and their needs in mind, as well as attempting to secure official SpeedQB sanctioning and sponsorship by satisfying their operating procedures, was always an important underlying consideration.

SPEEDQB RECOGNITION

With the stage set - somewhat literally, with the arrival in midAugust of the variety of new L, C, cube and triangular shaped SpeedQB arena set pieces or “covers” - the event was coming to fruition well. The marketing of the event and the presence of the new infrastructure helped to convince SpeedQB in the US to give the event its blessing and while it was not considered an www.airsoftaction.net

EVENT REPORT SPEEDSOFT SPEEDQB --TAIWAN TAIWAN - TAIWAN

“official” tournament (in the sense that it would not be a qualifier allowing the winners to enter further competitions elsewhere in Asia, with SpeedQB already being propagated more officially and extensively elsewhere such as in Japan), it was nonetheless an officially sponsored tournament, with SpeedQB offering prizes of their own branded equipment, as well as banners to be mounted upon the set pieces within the game space to give the event greater legitimacy and authenticity. The core teams of the original “First Salvo” would also be returning, with original champions OPS (On Point Squad, the more speedsoft-focused portion of our larger TaiWan Anglophone Team, as well as TWAT fielding our own separate 5 man team), the poster children team KSJV, who narrowly missed out on winning the first tournament, also returned in force and with their typical flair; sporting top notch gear and awesome team themed jerseys, as well as FGMT (the otherwise predominantly MilSim based players who had formed their own speedsoft team to compete in the first event). While the 77 Kindergarten, Speedsoft Schoolers, ODBS and Black Ops teams did not officially return to the competition, many of their players ended up amalgamating with the other mainstream teams to ensure more than enough players to field five players in all situations, while still other new players formed the relatively young SWT and NKSV teams. With six full teams confirmed, all of which had reserves or the ability to substitute in players or alter their team’s disposition to better suit different opponents, the event was developing well and with the physical arena ready over a month ahead of the intended event date, there was plenty of time for players to test out the new gaming space, get used to firing and maneuvering among the new surroundings and give feedback. This led to rearrangements and optimisation of the gaming space to suit the player’s needs, all as part of the three Saturday morning practice sessions that were provided as part of the package deal each team signed up for, which also included the whole day of the competition itself and various other freebies and perks for the players in terms of marketing materials.

NOVEMBER 2020

THE BIG DAY

As the big day rolled around there was a great deal of excitement and interest built as a result of the various teams and their practice session videos, Action Bunker themed marketing materials and social media presence, with many teams intending to bring along their friends and families to support them and help document all the action. TFAS were also brought in as experienced shooters to provide invaluable umpiring and organisational services during the event - ensuring that everyone had their equipment appropriately tested in time and that teams were prepared in due course for each of their bouts. The initial round robin of the morning involved every team playing every other team with faster two heat rounds - each team playing each way along the arena to aid in fairness. During this time I had agreed to be a reserve for TWAT, as I had been involved more heavily in the organisation of the event and arena and working Saturdays had meant I was unable to practice with the rest of my team anyway. So for the morning I was perched up with the head umpire in a scaffold overlooking the arena, allowing me to take some great videos and photos of the action unfolding below. In the final rounds of the morning session I was, however, called upon to join TWAT as one of our players had unfortunately been disqualified for a few instances of not noticing that he had been eliminated by the opposition’s players, not entirely unthinkable given the sheer chaos of some of the matches. Even up in the scaffold we were getting peppered with ricocheting rounds despite not even being in play! The pace and intensity of the action looked fairly exciting even before I donned my own gear and picked up my WE GBB MP5k PDW to get involved in the firefights myself. One of the key elements of the organisation on the lead-up to the event was the insistence on all players using tracer units and the related fluorescing ammunition, making it much easier for the umpires to

EVENT REPORT SPEEDSOFT SPEEDQB - TAIWAN

determine who eliminated who and where the gunfire was coming from in general. This also made for some epic, almost discothequestyle gameplay, also ensuring the pictures and videos were equally exciting for those watching on - either in person, or even online; just prior to the event the staff at Action Bunker managed to get a livestream system working which allowed anyone on their Facebook feed to stream the entire event. While this did have a few minor technical issues and required re-initialising during the day, the viewership and interest in the site and its Facebook page skyrocketed as a result of this feature and everyone’s efforts to promote the tournament before it began.

THE FINALS

With a long break for lunch and complimentary pizza and drinks being enjoyed by all the players and their spectators, there was time to recuperate and regroup, plus allow local Youtuber QMoer to interview some of the players to introduce the growing SpeedSoft movement to the wider community in Taiwan. With the four finalist teams being decided based upon all their points accrued in the first-round robin, through eliminating opponents, retrieving the central flag first, or recovering it and placing it on the opposite team’s starting barrel. FGMT, TWAT, KSJV and OPS were determined to be the finalist teams, with all previous points discounted at this point and a further round robin of each team playing each of the others, but this time in 3 heat rounds, before determining who had accrued the most points. This allowed the final rounds to determine who of the top two scorers would reign supreme and which of the lower scoring two teams would be second runners up. With everything to play for the intensity of the games after lunch increased dramatically. In one of TWAT’s rounds against OPS I managed to eliminate three of the other team, leaving only me and their more MilSim oriented player. Unfortunately, I dropped the magazine out of my MP5 just after reloading and got eliminated as I tried to recover it. One of the

main takeaways for me is that, much as I love using GBBRs in CQB, for SpeedQB their ammunition capacity, reloading time and inability to toss magazines around or drop them in a carefree manner makes them too much of a disadvantage. In future I will use SQB games as an excuse to test out sample AEG’s I’ve been sent for evaluation, as they are much better suited for the sheer pace and athleticism of the whole enterprise. After the last semi-final games were complete the initial pairings were in. Once again OPS and KSJV would be duking it out over the top two positions, while us of TWAT and FGMT would be scrambling to see who could secure third place. With the stakes running high the sportsmanship and camaraderie both within and between teams was nonetheless excellent, with a real feeling of a great atmosphere and a desire of everyone to give it their all. Once again, as with the original grass roots event, OPS and KSJV played out of their skins, providing some awesome footage and photos of the finalist’s firefights and a great spectacle for those watching from the side-lines and, once again, OPS won by a single five point elimination - just as they had six months prior! TaiWan Anglophone Team managed to hold our ground and finish in third and I’m quite sure I’ve never run my MP5 that fast before! With the last round finished there was a great deal of elation and emotion between all the competitors and everyone retired to the Safezone for the final announcements as well as the prize draw that followed; with XCortech providing two of their latest tracer units, Milvus eyewear giving away ten sets of their ballistic glasses, BLS gifting ten bags of tracer BBs and G&G donating both an SSG-1 - their Speedsoft oriented specialist gun - as well as an ARP9. As it was, OPS are already well armed enough so having won the SSG1 in the prize draw decided to donate it to one of the team captains from the younger teams who didn’t make it to the finals and, after a quick round of “paper-scissors-stone”, the SWT team captain walked away with a free AEG and a smile on his face. With all the formalities dealt with everyone could finally demobilise, pack their gear away and say their goodbyes, awaiting our next outing and adventure. AA

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KIT & GEAR HOLSTER CHOICE

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HOLSTER

HAVING OUR WIDER, INTERNATIONAL, AIRSOFT ACTION LEGION IS ALLOWING US TO DISCOVER VIEWPOINTS FROM PLAYERS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THIS MONTH OUR “LEGIONNAIRE” FROM CHINA, HANA, HAS GOT TOGETHER WITH FELLOW SHOOTER “DENNIS THE GOOSE”, TO SHARE WITH US A GREAT ARTICLE THAT FIRST APPEARED IN PART ON THE ONETIGRIS BLOG THAT GIVES A SUPER OVERVIEW ON VARIOUS TYPES OF HOLSTER PLACEMENT FOR YOUR “SECONDARY”!

o begin with, my loyalty to OneTigris can be reflected in my regular use of their products from everyday carry to sports and airsoft. My first impression was the durability and unwavering quality of their designs, and at such competitive pricing in delivering these values. I’ve caught wind of their eagerness to expand their airsoft product line, how they’re looking into “modernizing” existing nylon pistol holsters with polymer built fast draw systems. As a “pistol nerd” I was intrigued and immediately reminded of my experience in using side arms during service. It just so happened that I chanced upon an opportunity to converse with OneTigris’ airsoft product designer and shared my experience on various pistol holsters with him. This article contains the highlights of that particular conversation with hopes of educating those who wish to learn more about how to choose the right pistol holster. The first question for you: Where will you secure your pistol holster? Generally speaking you can opt for the chest, waist, or outer thigh rigging. Thanks to blockbuster movies most people would go with thigh rigs to look cool and it’s true that veterans who have served before 2005 also favour this option. Before you 42

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decide, here are the pros and cons of each option for you to consider.

THE CHEST RIG

Old school operators before the MOLLE system liked to go with chest rigs. You can Google for pictures of US Special Forces using Chinese PLA Type 56 AK Chest Rigs in Vietnam and you’ll see. It makes the most sense to carry pistols and ammo this way considering the design of man’s body structure. For men in war required to march for long distances, chest carry is the most energy efficient and physically comfortable solution. Then the MOLLE system came along and many gun holster manufacturers launched body armour or plate carriers that incorporated the chest carry system. Take a look the picture of the Blackhawk SERPA Quick Draw Holster used by the US Army Special Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. These men and women spend long hours patrolling vast areas of land and imagine how difficult it would be for them to draw their pistol from a thigh rig or waistband in a narrow vehicle when fast draw is called upon. Chest rigs would be the best option in such a situation.

KIT & GEAR HOLSTER CHOICE

Pros of Chest Rigs – Saves strength and energy, high level of comfort in any posture, fast draw capability in a vehicle and low risk of losing your weapon compared to waist carry and thigh rigs. Cons – Interference with rifle slings, slow ammo retrieval and less speed compared to gun draw from the waist and thigh.

with protective gear with little space in the upper torso, and mobility when standing upright isn’t a top priority when on duty, so a bit of weight on the leg is acceptable. Pros of Thigh Rigs – Quick draw when standing without inference with upper torso gear, as well as being able to carry more gear around the chest area this way, and the fact that you’d look like an action movie hero. Cons – Pistols can be easily removed from a thigh rig, mobility would be hindered if required to push forward while laying low, considerable discomfort if required to dash a couple hundred yards or to march for several miles with 10lb of weight hanging from one leg, and as previously mentioned it’d take more time to draw your gun if attacked when within a vehicle. It’s evident from pictures that thigh rigs are less comfortable to sit with and weapon access wouldn’t be as handy or quick.

THE THIGH RIG

From the end of the 80’s to the beginning of the “War on Terror”, thigh rigs became mainstream due to the limitations of combat suits and how ballistic armour (prior to the existence of plate carriers) took up most of the upper torso area leaving little space for a soldier to work with. This picture shows how it would be difficult to carry your pistol around the waist area in a desert combat uniform. The soldier in the picture may have gone with a thigh rig because it enabled fast draw but still you can see how waist carry would not be ideal. Despite the fact that Gen 3 type combat pants are so commonly worn, many people would still choose a thigh rig for pistol carry, especially law enforcement personnel, SWAT and VBSS teams. The reason they all go with thigh rigs is they’re already heavily geared up

WAIST CARRY

Waist carry is naturally the first option for man as warriors from ancient times did this with daggers and swords, as do cowboys and the police of today. At the dawn of the “War on Terror”, waist carry became once again popular in the military with the advancement of military equipment and through experience from operations and combat. Lightweight military gear was the way to go, and with the increased use of lightweight plate carriers, there is now is more space in the upper torso for gear, and combat uniforms have also become compatible with waist carry systems. When you’re looking for mobility and flexibility, and you require swift pistol access without knocking into other pieces of gear (chest rigs, rifle straps and telecommunication wires and cables), waist carry is evidently the best option. Take a look at the picture of a MARSOC member using the classic Blackhawk CQC holster for waist carry to sum up the www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR HOLSTER CHOICE

advantages mentioned above.

retention will greatly affect speed and efficiency. During the 21st Century “War on Terror”, polymer built holsters greatly grew in popularity compared to nylon holsters because the solid material allowed speedier access to your gun than traditional nylon holsters, and gun retention was also made easier. Fast draw holsters’ locking systems can be categorized into: No release/retention, index finger release, middle finger release, and thumb release systems.

NO RELEASE/RETENTION SYSTEM

Pros of Waist Carry – Better concealment and protection of weapon from enemies, quick draw when standing compared with chest/thigh rigs, better comfort regardless of when sitting, sitting or laying low, optimized mobility in hundred-yard dashes and mile-long runs, high versatility for multiple environments be it parachuting or river crossing or driving, and easy access to your gun without knocking into other equipment. Cons – When heavily armored or in winter combat gear, access to your gun may be less straightforward, and it doesn’t look as cool for those who do care about how they look. With more combat experience to refer to, we now have other feasible solutions for pistol carry. When the stability and comfort of waist carry as well as swift access to your pistol were both required, several leading brands came up with the drop leg platform that could be described as a hybrid between the waist carry system with thigh holsters. Holster height can be conveniently adjusted based on personal preference. The below picture below shows a drop leg platform with the pistol hanging low and the use of a bungee cord for heightened stability and retention.

MOVING ON

Moving on, let’s talk about the different types of polymer built fast draw systems. When we’re choosing a pistol holster, besides the obvious gun model and quality options, we need to consider the locking system. Safety is always the first priority and no matter if it’s real guns or airsoft guns, gun release/ 44

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Such holsters are usually made from kydex with no release/retention mechanisms and rely solely on friction between the gun and the holster to keep the gun in place. This option means ultimate fast draw, plain and simple! This is a kydex built no retention drop leg holster. See the two black screws that you can tighten or loosen based on the gun and personal preference. This kind of holster can be commonly seen on shooting ranges or IDPA matches. For military personnel and law enforcement, the majority would choose ones with locking mechanisms as they require more safety and protection of pistols when in combat and on the move.

INDEX FINGER RELEASE SYSTEM

This system releases the pistol by pressing the outward facing release button with your index finger. Retention is automated when the gun is placed into the holster requiring no further action. This shows a classic index finger release system. From personal experience this is the most ergonomic locking system that requires little training or getting used to, hence the popularity of the Blackhawk CQC series. It must be said though, that there have be reports of a few incidents of accidental discharge with index finger release systems, causing some concern

KIT & GEAR HOLSTER CHOICE

for safety. This happens because your index finger is also the pistol trigger finger, and for some pistols with relatively loose triggers, when you use your index finger to press the release button the same finger subsequently rests on the trigger that could result in accidental discharge. Of course, this is of no concern for airsofters and I highly recommend index finger release systems for airsoft pistols.

MIDDLE FINGER RELEASE SYSTEM

This system requires you to use your middle finger to press a release button situated inside the holster to draw your gun. Retention is also automated when the gun is placed in the holster.

This picture shows the middle finger release system. As you’re using your middle finger accidental discharge is less likely to happen because you’re not using your trigger finger, but this system is more strenuous and requires you to keep a firm hold of the grip for a smooth gun draw. Shooters will need a bit of practice to get used to the feel of the middle finger release mechanism. For soldiers in combat when the environment could be stressful, gun draw using this system could be slower and trickier.

THUMB RELEASE SYSTEM

The thumb release system requires using your thumb to press the release button on the inside of the holster for gun draw. Retention is automated when the gun is placed in the holster.

The picture shows the Safariland ALS Holster System utilizing thumb release for gun draw. This system is also safer with little risk of accidental discharge and the release system is easier to navigate compared with the middle finger release system. The drawback is that the “press and pull” action requires some practice and if the holster is placed in a higher position, it may be more difficult for you to locate the retention button with your thumb. No release/retention and index release systems both have higher safety risks as if you’re engaged in a struggle the opponent could easily remove your gun from the holster. Middle finger and thumb release buttons are located within the holster and offer better security. Last but not least, there is also a low-risk specific locking system for law enforcement requiring a design that prevents the above described scenarios – removal by opponent and accidental release. The holster displayed in this picture shows an additional protective plate that shields and prevents removal by other people. You need to press and push the top strap above the grip with your thumb to release the pistol. The drawback is lower speed of gun draw. This concludes the 4 most commonly seen locking systems for gun holsters, and the pros and cons of different methods of gun carry. I hope this helps some of you in choosing the right gun holster and where to place it. Personally, I prefer the index finger release via waist carry in airsoft but if on duty I’d go with a thumb release ALS system and keep my holster snug around my waist. Our thanks go to Dennis for allowing us to share his words and just FYI, he’s served in the PLA and China Fire Department, is a long-time airsoft and outdoor sports enthusiast and also a military replica/equipment collector! Our thanks also go to Hana for facilitating this report and to OneTigris for allowing us to share it; check out all the outdoor and tactical goodness they offer by visiting www.onetigris.com AA www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR PANDEMIC LOADOUTS

LAST MONTH BILL SHOWED HOW HE PUT TOGETHER HIS VERY OWN “PANDEMIC LOADOUT” INSPIRED BY THE USN UNIFORM WORN IN THE TV SHOW “THE LAST SHIP”. THIS TIME HE AND HIS TEAM-MATES CREATE THEIR VERY OWN “VULTURE TEAM” LOADOUT USING THE SAME INSPIRATION… AND A LOT OF BLACK KIT!

t would seem that I’m not alone in wanting to watch a show or movie about a pandemic whilst in one as, from what I read, films like “Contagion” seem to be getting a lot of views via the streaming services! It would seem that we all like a bit of a natural disaster onscreen, especially when there’s a positive outcome - and perhaps there lies the answer as to why we watch them! I believe that we’re all hoping for a positive end to the situation that we currently find ourselves in, and although this seems as far away as ever we, as airsofters, are all looking forward to the day when we can re-embrace the game that we love wholeheartedly without having to jump through extra hoops to do so. But while we wait (hopefully still getting out to some smaller games where we can) of course we keep on working on our guns and gear. Indeed, when I speak to retailers and manufacturers, they all tell me that they are currently doing okay and some are even reporting their best months on record right now! This indicates to me that airsoft is alive and well and illustrates that working on gear, improving and upgrading our AEGs and GBBs, and planning for our next “BB War” is, to many, as much a part of things as the game itself! I have to admit that when I started to think about my “Nathan Jones” loadout that featured last month, it was a bit of a whim and actually an exercise to see if I could pull together a half-way decent set of kit based on that worn by the show characters. While I was doing this I was also talking to my mates Jase and James about it and they both started watching the show too. If you don’t know the show (and if not, you really should take a look), Season 1 and 2 offer great storylines, with a slow, slow start building up to something quite different but as much as there are some “shooty bits”, it’s not until Season 3 that things 46

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really kick into gear for “gun bunnies” like we three. Season 2 sees the arrival of the characters “Bivas” and “Wolf” and almost immediately we move away from the focus on ARs to some more interesting bits of kit, like the Steyr AUG and the MP7A1. However, it’s Season 3 where it really kicks off, especially in Episode 4 “Devil May Care”, when in one scene alone you get suppressed M4A1s, an MP5SD3, suppressed HK416 and 416D, and even a Daniel Defense DDM4 MK18. Later, in Season 4 we even get a Mk46 Mod 0 LMG in Episode 7, “Feast”! And it’s not just the weapon variants that get things cooking along, as in Season 3 “Vulture Team” also get the “cool guy factor” with all black tactical gear and clothing and this setup stays with them all the way through to the Season 5 Series finale.

KIT & GEAR PANDEMIOC PANDEMIC LOADOUTS

BLACK IS BACK

To re-cap, in last month’s article I used my existing black 8 FIELDS Buckle Up Plate Carrier with a simple STANAG mag carrier on the front and an Assault Back Panel on the rear. My belt-kit worn in the pictures was the new Helikon-Tex Comp gear and I added a bit more to the belt and put the back panel on the plate carrier, as I want to be out in this gear for an entire game. I already own a set of black tactical clothing from First Tactical, along with the Lightweight Patrol Gloves, so when the guys suggested that we form our very own “Black Kit Vulture Team” I was pretty much set. Amongst the three of us we already had in hand various items of black tactical kit from various manufacturers but it just so happened that we’d also been discussing equipment and uniforms from Invader Gear, so this seemed an ideal time to get some of this great looking gear in to try. Invader Gear, based in Austria, is a brand of tactical clothing and accessories made specifically for airsoft. Providing a range of combat shirts, trousers and smocks as well as gloves, pouches and vests/plate carriers, Invader Gear offers superior quality with the use of great fabrics and components that are ideal for airsoft, built to last both on and off the field. None of us had really tried the gear before and, as it now appears to be getting generally more available, we thought it was high time to rectify this! First up were the clothing pieces and as the guys have slightly different styles of play, Jase went for the Combat Shirt and Predator Combat Pant, whilst James chose the Revenger TDU Shirt and Pant combo. The Invader Gear Combat Shirt features high quality standard fabrics and components and, as the shirt is usually worn under body armour, it is

designed to avoid pressure marks and to provide good moisture wicking properties. The modern cut is well balanced for a not too tight but also not too loose fit, while the collar is equipped with a quality zip by YKK and can be worn open or closed to avoid intrusion of debris. Large upper-arm pockets provide quick and convenient storage, and the elbows are reinforced with an additional layer of fabric which is also intended as a compartment for elbow pads. The sleeves, collar and shoulder area of this shirt are made of a sturdy 65% cotton/35% polyester rip-stop woven fabric for great comfort and fast drying properties. The torso is made of an incredibly comfortable 80% cotton/20% polyester knit fabric with good moisture wicking performance. Made of the same rip-stop fabric along with durable stretch panels and integrated (removable) kneepads, the Predator Combat pant is Invader’s “take” on the modern combat trouser and matches up to the Combat Shirt perfectly.

REVENGER RANGE

The Revenger range is a classic Tactical Duty Uniform (TDU) but with some thoroughly modern twists! Featuring two breast pockets, two angled arm pockets, all of which feature “stress part” reinforcement, there’s also a pencil pocket on left forearm make the design complete. The shirt has a velcro and button front closure, with a mandarin collar that can be worn up or down to ventilate, or indeed to protect the neck from BB strikes. The fabric here is again a tough-as-old-boots mix, 35/65 ripstop polycotton. The trousers make use of the same tough fabric, and benefit from good storage; the front pockets are strong and roomy, whilst the angled side pockets are large enough for maps and all those accessories you may need to lug around, but access easily. There are two additional dressing pockets, one on each lower leg, and two rear pockets round out the feature set nicely. Both James and I already have black plate carriers (mine 8 FIELDS, his VIPER) and these are set up ready with pouches and good to go. Jase, however, needed a black carrier, so decided to take a shot at the new Invader Gear Reaper QRB model. The www.airsoftaction.net

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

KIT & GEAR PANDEMIOC LOADOUTS

new features on this updated version include the now-popular Buckle Up type front panel, as well as a harness and cummerbund with a quick-release (QR) system built in. This new system allows you to get the rig on and off super-quick and it also allows you to stay silent if you need to make adjustments; there is no need to unfasten any velcro to put on or adjust the rig! The carrier features well-padded shoulder straps which make it very comfortable during use for extended periods and the inside of the rig and shoulder straps are padded with a soft spacer mesh to ensure comfort and air circulation. The entire outer surface of the carrier is covered with laser cut MOLLE, which allows you to configure it just as you like and we ordered in a bunch of different magazine and accessory pouches to play around with in different configurations. The carrier also has internal pockets for a radio or an additional magazine, both of which are nice touches, and overall the design is tidy and durable. Jase will be giving me his full feedback on this at a later date so we can give this new piece of kit the space it really deserves. To round things out we added to the Invader Gear order a couple of black FAST helmet covers (these are seen in the TV show), and two drop-leg holsters, the version that will house different handgun models. Luckily, Invader Gear offer this in LH and RH configuration, a real bonus for James who’s a “leftie” and often struggles to find the right gear for himself at a decent price! Black has always been a bit of a “fave” in airsoft and for us this has been a return to our earlier days! The choice of Invader Gear has proved to be a good

one for setting this type of loadout up without breaking the bank and now the gear is with us I can tell you that it’s really well made and thoroughly fit for purpose! Given the wide range of weapons seen in the hands of “Vulture Team” throughout the five series of “The Last Ship”, you can pretty much choose anything you’d like in this respect but for the photoshoot we chose to “KISS” with the SA-E03 and E-04 from Specna Arms (although the new SA-E19 EDGE Mk18 would also be a STRONG contender here!), along with our “secondary’s” of choice. It’s been as much fun as ever putting together Part 2 of the “pandemic loadout”, especially as this time I’ve done it alongside two long-serving airsoft friends and I have to say that the black kit will serve us for many games to come where it’s appropriate. We’re now all happy with our gear and ready to roll together, so now it’s time to get this onto the field and start chucking some BBs! We hope a few of you may be inspired yourselves to put together a set of “pandemic black kit” and if you do we can thoroughly recommend giving Invader Gear a good look as they should be able to supply all your needs. Who knows, perhaps you can even join “Vulture Team” for a mission… we may not be saving the world but we’ll have a LOT of fun pretending that we are! My sincere thanks go to the guys at Invader Gear for helping us with the gear for this article and although you’ll find the brand cropping up now in your local airsoft stores, you can always visit www. invadergear.com to check out their full range. AA

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury WE AIRSOFT G17 GEN5 MOS

IT SEEMS THAT EVERY GBB PISTOL WE GET THROUGH TO THE AA OFFICE FOR TEST AND EVALUATION (T&E) THESE DAYS EITHER COMES WITH A MINI/MICRO RDS MOUNTED, OR IS AT LEAST COMPATIBLE IN SOME WAY WITH ONE! THE RISE OF THE RDS/REFLEX SIGHT MOUNTED ON A PISTOL APPEARS TO BE INEXORABLE, SO BILL TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT ONE OF THE “ORIGINATORS” OF THIS STYLE, IN THE FORM OF THE G17 GEN5 MOS AND DIGS INTO WHY THIS CAN BE USEFUL.

NOVEMBER 2020

armoury WE AIRSOFT G17 GEN5 MOS

lthough I usually choose a “simple” secondary (pistol) myself, these days you can have pretty much any pistol model pre-fitted with a reflex red dot sight (RDS). Having a RDS on a handgun seems to be all the rage right now but is “just because it looks cool” good enough reason to add a RDS or buy a model with one already fitted? I have to look more closely at this to give you a sensible answer. Advancements in sighting systems have allowed us to enhance our pistols with options including adjustable sights, tritium, and fibre-optic inserts. Changes in iron sight options have enhanced our ability to see and track our sights but have offered no way to change the way we see both the sights themselves and the target; we’re all still stuck with the “front sight, rear sight and target” thing! With a RDS it changes. Red dot sights are by no means a new thing as competition shooters have been using electronic sighting systems successfully for years. With companies improving red dot sights so they can be mounted directly to a slide and handle the rigours of slide-mounted recoil, RDS systems can now be trusted and better shooters than I have spent many a range hour proving this. Yes, it’s a personal decision whether to incorporate “technology” onto your pistol and no doubt many a discussion will still be held over a nice malt as to their efficacy, but the fact is that the technology itself works - and can be trusted to work and perform. Using a RDS effectively takes time and effort but, simply put, when you’re shooting a pistol using just the regular iron sights it requires three focal planes. This means the eye must “do work” to achieve its task; it must take in and process the front sight, the rear sight and the target to align everything prior to you taking your shot. With a RDS the eye needs to deal with just a single focal plane, the target. When shooting with a RDS you can remain focused as the dot “paints” on the target and once the dot is placed in the correct targeting location you can make your shot. Remaining “potential threat” focused allows you to take in and process more information during an encounter and act accordingly. In essence, a RDS will potentially allow you to stay more situationally aware, letting you keep an eye on potential threats rather that getting “tunnel vision” on a single target point. In a fighting situation this means that you can be aware of what is going on around you better, whilst, when shooting for competition, you can already have your next target

in your peripheral vision ready for transition! I believe it’s easy to see why many shooters in the real world, even law enforcement professionals (now including the US Coastguard with the G19 Gen5 MOS!), are moving to pistols with the RDS!

IT’S ALL ABOUT CHOICE!

When it comes to what I use on my AEGs and GBBs it’s always ALL about choice and, therefore, I like the option to have a RDS mounted on my pistol but in some games I also want the choice to be able to run my pistol “clean”, and this is where the WE Airsoft G17 Gen5 MOS gets my full approval. The MOS was one of the “from the box originators” when it comes to being able to mount a RDS on your pistol simply and easily, and also remove it just as simply if you just want to run a fairly “vanilla” secondary. We’ve talked a lot about G-Series models in Red Cell and although the MOS is featured there in its base form (and got good approval on quality and performance from the group in this guise!), it’s when you start to look at the modularity of the pistol that it REALLY begins to shine. Its core feature is the MOS platform on the slide, which allows you to adapt and install mainstream pistol red dot optics onto the slide directly without any permanent modification! The MOS, or Modular Optic System, makes it easy and straightforward to mount a RDS on your pistols and that’s all she wrote! It allows great versatility, and the MOS system will still work with the iron sights (WE provide a tall rear “iron” in the box for this purpose), so you have a backup in case the optics fail. The MOS system allows you to mount the sight you want quickly and easily using only a few tools. Changing the sight is simplicity itself; just remove the old sight, remove and reinstall the correct adapter plate and mount the new sight. The WE MOS pistol comes with a cover plate fitted as standard and FOUR different mount-plate options that fit the sights from the most trusted optic manufacturers out there; WE even throw in a mock-RDS for you to experiment with, which is a very nice touch!

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury WE AIRSOFT G17 GEN5 MOS

As standard, the pistol comes with a “G-Series Gen5” frame which is great for most players as is but you also get two easily-changed backstraps, allowing users with different sized hands to comfortably wield and manipulate the pistol. The grip features a chequered finish that provides solid retention with gloves or without, and also in both dry and wet conditions. The MOS also features an extended magazine release making it easier to find when you need to carry out a swift mag change, although you do need to be a little careful with your holster choice so as not to inadvertently activate this if you’re under pressure. The MOS also has improvements inside as well as out. Internally, the new, unique nozzle and BBU allows the replica to perform optimally even with the slight additional weight of a RDS on top of the slide. Another feature that WE have added is in relation to the 26 BB magazine, as the improved gas port allows the gas to enter the redesigned nozzle directly to ensure greater gas efficiency.

MORE RANGETIME… MORE!

Although we all put the MOS through its paces on the range as a part of the Red Cell group test, I’ve also spent some more time with it on my own, having mounted a SHIELD RMS-4MOA Mini Sight. This excellent little optic mounted easily once I found the correct mounting plate (WE mounting plate #4 was a perfect fit) and is now sitting in place like it was born to be there! I also like to run a taclite to my pistols and I’m pleased to report that my Surefire X300 fits perfectly on the lower frame “rail”. With the MOS set up like this I’ve spent a few more hours working it on the Short Range (between 5 and 10m) and I’m really liking it as a setup. Externally, the finish is standing up well to going in and out of my Kydex Customs holster and although there’s some very slight wear on the muzzle end and around the ejection port, this is to be expected as Kydex is pretty unforgiving to finishes and the blocky slide of the “G-Series” is not exactly “hard holster friendly”! I’ve been running the MOS on green gas and to date I’ve had no major issues with consistency of power, plus the magazines are really standing up to being hammered on a regular basis, with no leaks apparent. The action of the pistol has been lubed after each range session and retains the smoothness that it had when it first arrived with me. In fact, if anything,

the action cycles even more efficiently now than it did as new and it was pretty smooth in the first place… it just goes to prove that even the very best models need a little time and some use to “bed in”. In terms of continued performance I’ve now personally logged in excess of 1,000 .20g, .25g, and .28g BBs through the pistol; thus far it is still performing as new at 5-10m on steels and on the AttackSense Smart Target System, with solid accuracy at that distance (the realistic maximum distance I would usually expect to use a “secondary” at), although it does certainly have the ability to reach out further! The MOS has registered highest at 0.95 Joule/320fps on a .20g BB, settling in at 0.92 Joule/315fps and staying there. I’ve found that now it has “settled” it does like .28g BBs as its regular fodder and this is most certainly the weight I will use in the future. The magazines feed very well indeed and that additional gas-efficiency is certainly in evidence, especially when you start to drop rounds fast! As I said at the outset, once you’ve trained hard with a RDS in place, it IS possible that you can benefit from faster target transition, quicker sight acquisition of your target and improved accuracy at both long and short range but, as with anything, you need to work it hard to be close to perfect. The WE G17 Gen5 MOS allows you to have a RDS while keeping the iron sights as a co-witness option, or indeed you have the option to run the pistol “clean” if you so desire by simply leaving the cover plate in place. Whichever way you like to run your pistol it’s always nice to have options, and on that front alone, as on many others, the MOS delivers fully. The Modular Optic System (MOS) is available on WE Airsoft G-Series Gen 3, 4 and 5 models, and you can check them all out by visiting www.weairsoft.com AA www.airsoftaction.net

feature GOOD BOOKS

GOOD BOOKS

ne of the apparent advantages of Airsoft Action’s move to being an exclusively digital magazine is that Nige, our editor, can plan issues much further ahead. There is therefore a good chance that this piece will appear around Christmas, which given that it is a suggestion of good reads and better viewing, may just be fine timing! I have been hammering my Amazon Fire recently, both viewing and reading and since my interests are likely to accord with some of you, I thought I would pass on a few suggestions. Most of the books are available on Kindle Unlimited and I will add links where I can. Some you will have to buy but at least one of them is, in my opinion, well worth the price. SOVIET STORM Let’s start with a bit of watching though …quite a lot of watching actually! On Amazon Prime (no, this piece isn’t sponsored, that’s where I get most of my eBooks!) there is a series called “Soviet Storm”. There isn’t the same wealth of works about the war in the East, compared to the western campaigns, and there are fewer made from a purely Soviet perspective. Despite its slightly cheesy name, Soviet Storm is a Russian-produced series from 2011 that tracks events from Operation Barbarossa through to the defeat of the Nazis in Berlin. There are two series, both of nine one-hour episodes. Production values are good, there is a lot of CGI, and it’s – ok. What is nice is that the producers mix re-enactment with the CGI – so you have real actors serving a CGI antitank gun for instance. I found this slightly off-putting at first, but you quickly accept it and it all flows nicely. Details are good and the history is sound. Uniforms, equipment and weapons are all period correct, so I haven’t been 54

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IF, LIKE FRENCHIE, YOU ENJOY A GOOD BOOK, THIS LOOK AT SOME THAT HAVE CAUGHT HIS ATTENTION RECENTLY WILL BE OF INTEREST. sitting shouting at the screen like a true geek. The Great Patriotic War was genuinely epic in scale, geography and savagery and I have always struggled to picture the movement of Fronts and armies and here, at the strategic level, this series really shines. You get a clear overview and explanation of what happened and when, and the extensive use of animated maps makes it much easier to understand the magnitude of some operations – Bagration is an excellent example. Most of us know about the battle for Moscow, Stalingrad and the effects of the Russian winter but there is so much more. The fighting in Caucuses, the eviction of the Wehrmacht from Ukraine, Manstein’s scorched earth policy. There are specific episodes on the Soviet navy, the partisan war and the intelligence war. In short, there is an awful lot of information to digest here. If WWII history is your thing, this comes highly recommended. BLOOD RED SNOW Sticking with the Soviet Union, “Blood Red Snow” is the memoir by Günter K. Koschorrek of his time serving in the Wehrmacht during the Russian campaign. I have read a few of these, and they are of variable quality. This frankly reads almost like a novel suggesting real talent or a good editor, regardless it is worth your time. You get an excellent feel for the constant nature of the fighting, digging, freezing, fear, retreating. Some of this I have read before in other memoirs but this one flows well with a strong narrative and is easy reading. I chewed through it in a couple of days. His description of a column of desperate retreating German soldiers being taunted by two columns of Soviet troops who didn’t even bother to take them into captivity gives a poignant reminder of how hopeless the war in the East eventually became for those forced to fight it. TO DIE IN SPRING My final suggestion with a Wehrmacht theme is “To Die In Spring”. This one you’ll have to buy but it is

feature GOOD BOOKS

a genuinely moving book about boys dragged into a hopeless war and what it does to them. Beautifully written by Ralf Rothmann, it has rightly garnered high praise from critics around the world. It centres on the experiences of two farm workers, forced into the Waffen SS right at the end of the war, how they react and what happens when one of them goes AWOL. It’s a sombre evocation of the final months of the Thousand-year Reich and how, right up until the bitter end it was willing to devour its young to perpetuate and pointless conflict. A profoundly affecting book. Ok, time for something lighter – sorry, just kidding, but definitely not set in the former Soviet Union. SUEZ-THE FORGOTTEN INVASION My father in law narrowly avoided the Suez crisis during his period of National Service, most of which was spent in Egypt, and I realised that this was a piece of history about which I was profoundly ignorant. While I suspect that Robert Jackson’s book isn’t the definitive account, it certainly fills in more than a few blanks. The events leading up to the Suez crisis are probably more important than the actual invasion itself, which was short-lived and although successful from a military point of view, ultimately futile. Rather this is a tale of fading colonialism and the burgeoning of Arab nationalism under the influence of Egypt’s then-rule, Gamal Nasser. Unsurprisingly the fledgling state of Israel had a significant role to play in this illstarred adventure that was to cost Anthony Eden his premiership. The political machinations are all sadly familiar as is the outcome – the whole sorry affair was summed up by Churchill to his private secretary, Jock Colville. Asked if he would have embarked on the Suez adventure had he been Prime Minister, Churchill replied, “I would never have dared, and if I had dare, I would never have dared stop”. VIETNAM Slightly more up to date is Max Hasting’s “Vietnam:

An epic history of a divisive war 1945 – 1975”. I am reasonably well versed in Vietnam War history, having been born just as US involvement became overt and hit ten years of age as they pulled out. I have read widely over the years and although I am something of a Hastings fanboy, I held off reading this as I wasn’t sure what he could bring to a very-well covered topic. I should have had a little more faith perhaps… Of all the histories of the conflict, this is the one I would recommend. It is the only one that I have read which goes into the complexity of the political situation inside North Vietnam and their tortured relationship with both China and the-then USSR. Naturally, Hastings covers all the wellknown landmarks – Dien Bien Phu, Khe Sahn, the Tet Offensive, but these are placed in a broader geo-political context than nearly all other accounts I have read over the years and is all the better for it. It strips away the “America bad, downtrodden North Vietnamese good” myth and neither side comes out well from the scrutiny. If you want to properly understand the conflict, the global and local context in which it flourished, this is well worth your time and money. FORGOTTEN WEAPONS My final recommendation is Ian McCollum’s “Forgotten Weapons” YouTube channel. If, like me, you are a bit of a gun geek and the development and engineering of firearms hold real interest, you cannot do worse than spend some time with “Gun Jesus”. His knowledge is encyclopaedic, his research excellent and his enthusiasm undimmed after years of producing content. I honestly don’t know how he does it, I am just deeply grateful that he does. Prepare to lose hours of your life if this channel is new to you! Right, that lot should keep you going for a bit – I’m off to look for more interesting stuff and I might even try to get a bit more up-to-date next time! AA www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR ATTACKSENSE TARGETS UPDATE

TRAINING AND COMPETITION IN THE CLOUD! REGULAR READERS OF AIRSOFT ACTION WILL KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR CONTRIBUTORS HAVE BEEN MAKING GOOD USE OF THEIR “AIRSOFT “TOOLS” TO KEEP THEIR SKILLS AND DRILLS UP TO DATE WITH THE ATTACKSENSE SMART TARGET SYSTEM - AND NOW THINGS ARE GETTING EVEN MORE INTERESTING, WITH LIVE “RANKING DATA” AVAILABLE TO ALL!

arlier this month I had the great opportunity to have both Neil and Rob, the guys behind the exceptional AttackSense Smart Target training system, on site at one of our shoots and I’m pleased to report that they had a lot of updates to give us in relation to the system, how it’s been faring after longterm operation and also how they aim to improve things even further! Our own system has been running flat-out for some considerable time now, and we’ve been able to give feedback to the guys in areas we feel could be improved for longevity and durability (such as physical protection to the batteries that live on the rear of the individual targets) and they really do open their ears to what we are able to tell them. It strikes me that they are 100% in this for the “long haul” and not just another “here today, gone tomorrow” shooting and training system. It would appear that we are truly blessed at the moment when it comes to safe, use-at-home training systems and as this long-drawn-out-summer staggers towards its socially distanced end, it has proved the absolute importance of systems that we can use safely and effectively at home with limited space (and that can be transferred to a larger competition or training 56

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workspace later), systems that allow us to keep our all-important skills-training focused and regular.

NEVER STOP TRAINING

Training is something that should never stop, as even short-term lapses will eat into our hard-won ability and proficiency, and I have to admit that having a (temporary it would appear) lull in the meeting safety guidelines here in the UK allowed some of us to finally get together in person again to train as a group… Okay, it was “elbow bumps” rather than “man hugs” and back slaps rather than high-fives when we got together, but at least we were all out and shooting as a group again; the sun shone, much BS was traded and we all just enjoyed one another’s company as the gun belts went on again! One of the high points on the day, where we’d set up our existing AttackSense system anyway, was the introduction by Neil of two new target types, a “Dual Zone” setup, and a massively challenging 120x120mm “small” target that really keeps you on your toes! This of course is in addition that that main setup. To recap for newcomers, AttackSense is an electronic target system designed for 6mm and Simunition rounds, providing an exciting new way

KIT & GEAR ATTACKSENSE TARGETS UPDATE

to practise skills and compete with friends using non-lethal ammunition. The smart targets connect wirelessly to the AttackSense Commander app, creating varied training simulations and competitive multi-shooter opportunities. It’s a reactive target system that’s versatile, easy to use and provides an immersive training environment in a wide variety of uses. Targets work wirelessly across a large area and connect to an app that lets shooters act out a variety of target practise, competitive shooting and multi-shooter scenarios. Users can initiate a variety of pre-built single shooter, multiple shooter and team rounds, or design complex custom scenarios to complement a training programme. Actionable statistics allows shooters of all abilities to identify points of weakness and improve on their shooting skills and other disciplines. Available in multiple form factors and with a variety of installation options, AttackSense targets can be used indoors or outdoors in any environment, and up to an area up to 1,000 square meters and 65 individual targets, with up to 128 shots per round. Different types of round provide a variety of training scenarios and rounds are fully customisable for any types of ability and deployment. The bolt-action

mode allows for reload times to be built in for sniper rifles and other single shot platforms. Shooters can compete individually with automatic shooter ranking or compete head to head with shooting gallery and duelling tree modes. Wirelessly upgradable and with frequent updates, targets are future-proofed and deliver a great return on investment.

NEXT GEN FULL ACCESS!

The app already provides immediate feedback of hits including missed targets and reaction times, along with “good guy” actions that simulate friendly targets to keep you switched on. Shooter enrolment and round history provides improvement tracking and competitive analysis. As the smart target system has really taken off in the UK and Europe as a “competitive” system, Neil and Rob have worked further on this side too and now AttackSense enables viewing of leader-boards, personal improvement and run history from anywhere, with their enhanced ShooterID app. This new addition enables shooters to view previous runs, performance gains and current leader-board positions in their own AttackSense ShooterID app.

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KIT & GEAR ATTACKSENSE TARGETS UPDATE

Range operators can now enrol in AttackSense’s cloud services for free, allowing information to be uploaded centrally and enabling features that benefit both shooters and range operators. Neil told us: “Feedback on social media and at events we’ve attended frequently points to shooters wanting to track their performance and keep tabs on their current leader-board positions away from the range, and this latest improvement now makes that possible. We know our interactive digital displays when used at sites and ranges have a big impact on engaging shooters waiting for their turn, and this extends the competitive atmosphere out beyond their time on the range.” ShooterID is AttackSense’s mechanism for quickly enrolling shooters into a range, using QR codes that uniquely identify a shooter across any AttackSense system. ShooterID codes can be generated by the range operator or by shooters themselves in the ShooterID app. The new system works through range operators enrolling into AttackSense’s ShooterID portal, which sets up a secure connection between the range and AttackSense’s cloud services. Ranges that aren’t always connected to the Internet can still use the system as data is stored locally and pushed to the service when the tablet running the AttackSense Commander app is periodically connected to an Internet network. With this first release shooters can view and diagnose previous shoots, view their relative leaderboard positions and track their improvement over time through the AttackSense ShooterID app, available now on Android and shortly on IOS. Shooters can view visits to every AttackSense system, so as more ranges enrol into the system shooters will see their improvements over multiple sites in a single view. AttackSense plans to grow this capability over time with more exciting features that will develop inter-site competitive frameworks and improved performance diagnostics. In competitive practical shooting tournaments, scoring is often laborious, time consuming and leads to downtime on the range. ShooterID can simplify the registration process, negate scoring complexity and errors, and provide real-time visibility of participant rankings leading to faster paced and more engaging competitions. The benefits for range operators are significant; competition amongst shooters not only leads to more range time but also encourages shooters to improve in order to climb the ranks. For more formal training

environments, the AttackSense ShooterID portal enables Range Officers to review performance and diagnose all aspects of a single run away from the range, allowing more in-depth analysis without tying up range time. Of course, there is also a benefit when it comes to training with your regular crew, as long as everyone has access to the same target setup and, to me, this is where the “peer to peer” really starts to enter the picture! With access now to “relative leader-board positions” amongst your training group (as well as the wider airsoft world!) you can now see, and track, improvements against those whose opinion matters to you, and potentially this could be done in “real time” across multiple physical shooting locations, even with a trainer online to talk you through your mistakes! I’ve yet to discuss this “peer to peer” aspect fully with Neil and Rob, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I shall be. Heck, I could even go head to head with airsoft friends around the world at last… from the UK… and see how my “at home training” really stacks up in reality! For more information visit www.attacksense. com, or for existing AttackSense system owners, visit shooterid.attacksense.com to enrol. AA

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KIT & GEAR TACTICAL FLEECES

VERSATILE + TECHNICAL + TACTICAL = FLEECE

ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOTHING NEW, ONE OF THE MOST-OVERLOOKED BITS OF KIT IN OUR “GAMEDAY WARDROBE” IS THE FLEECE, BUT IT’S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE GARMENTS THAT YOU CAN OWN, BOTH FOR PLAYING AND FOR GENERAL USE! AS WE HEAD INTO THE COLDER MONTHS OF THE YEAR BILL TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MODELS HE’S BEEN USING AND ABUSING AND BRINGS US THE BENEFIT OF HIS YEARS OF USE AND TECHNICAL GARMENT KNOWLEDGE!

t’s a common misconception that when the temperature plummets, wearing the thickest clothing possible is the ideal solution but in reality most technical users, including players like you and I, can benefit from a variation on a layered clothing system. I’ve covered the system itself in some detail in the past, so this time I’d like to focus your thinking on one garment that is often overlooked when it comes to “Gucci” shells and softshells - and that’s the fleece. As airsofters, like other outdoor users, we are often exposed to challenging weather conditions and thus need performance clothing. A fleece jacket or pullover is an incredibly useful and versatile garment because it provides insulation and can be worn either as an outer layer (in dry weather) or as a mid-layer under a shell layer (in wet or snowy weather). Fleeces are very comfortable to wear, quick-drying, moisture-wicking and breathable. Due to these qualities, they are perfect for wearing directly over a base-layer as a midlayer. They also provide good warmth even if they get exposed to moisture (high humidity, rain etc.) and are less expensive than many other insulated garments. If you like, think of a fleece like a technical string 60

NOVEMBER 2020

vest! A fleece by its very nature has a very open structure, and this means that when worn underneath an outer shell garment air is trapped in the “holes” and quickly warms up. These microscopic “holes” also allows moisture vapour to pass easily within your clothing system, transferring moisture away from your wicking base-layer, through the fleece midlayer, to the breathable shell-layer where it can be dispersed, aiding massively to your overall comfort and performance. Sometimes simply called “the insulation layer”, the mid-layer provides warmth. Usually a mid-layer is either a fleece or an insulated jacket. Like a baselayer, a mid-layer should be breathable and able to retain heat; many insulated jackets will help to keep you warm, but suffer badly in the breathability stakes once you’re doing anything other than standing still. A mid-layer is worn directly over a base layer when the base-layer alone can’t provide sufficient warmth. The main function of a mid-layer is to provide thermal insulation; mid-layers include fleece jackets, fleece sweaters, wool sweaters, down jackets and jackets with synthetic insulation. Fleece fabric is typically very

KIT & GEAR TACTICAL FLEECES

breathable and comfortable to wear all day long; it also absorbs very little moisture (less than 0.4% of its own weight, unlike down!), dries very fast and efficiently wicks moisture away from the skin. Some fleece fabrics include stretch fibres to increase mobility. Fleece garments are usually made of polyester fleece, which is a soft and comfortable fabric that comes in different “weights”, normally from 100g/m2 to 300g/m2 and different “weights” offer different levels of insulation. For example, a jacket made of fleece with a density of 100 g/m2 will be less warm than a jacket made of fleece with a density of 300 g/m2. When it comes to finishes one of the recent trends is to use a grid pattern, and it is a fact that fleece fabrics with a grid pattern (back to the string vest!) are better at trapping the body-warmed air and thus provide a better warmth-to-weight ratio. It’s important to understand that different “weights” of fleece can have a profound effect on your comfort too; too thick and you’ll start to overheat, too thin and you’ll still feel cold! As a rule of thumb, I tend to go for “mid-weight” (iro 200g/ m2) fleeces unless I’m heading somewhere super-cold as these do tend to provide a great balance of heatretention against comfort. I actually own a “family” of fleece garments from different manufacturers though, as style and cut variations can add to the performance of the fleece fabric itself.

PICKING THE RIGHT FLEECE

It may surprise many of you that one of my most favourite fleece garments, one that I wear almost every day and that I’m actually wearing as I write, is the Tactical Fleece Hoody from good old VIPER in the UK! Constructed of a lightweight and durable fleece, it’s the absolutely perfect mid-layer and although it does sport velcro on both arms, it’s very low-key. It’s quite close fitting, which is technically correct to maximise breathability but the hood and “kangaroo” pocket means that you can really warm yourself up easily. VIPER have been quietly busy during the “lockdown” period and the new STORM and ARMOUR Hoodies are both made from a new VIPER fabric, that although not strictly a “fleece”, looks like it will wear well, basically a 300gm polyester bonded Ribtech fabric with a polyester brushed lining. The Armour Hoodie is a great choice for those who are looking for a versatile sweatshirt and it works really great when worn on its own, or as an under layer when the weather is less forgiving. The hood can

be adjusted using a drawstring and the front pocket is a handy storage. To keep you warm and cosy the hoodie is lined with 300gms polyester bonded Ribtech fleece. The adjustable elasticated cuffs with thumbholes will help with temperature control. You can create a personalised look using heat-treated hook and loop patches on both shoulders. The STORM hoody is a different beast, with the addition of polyester 5od peached contrast fabric in key areas. With a full zip this has a far more “technical” fit than the ARMOUR and is the perfect mid-layer garment for wearing beneath a shell jacket when the weather turns really bad! One of my personal favourites, when it comes to “mid-weight” fleece jackets, is probably the Aviceda from Clawgear. Although this design has been in their range for a while, this lightweight mid-layer garment is extremely comfortable to wear and the styling allows a full range of unrestricted movement. It’s made from a 100% polyester fleece fabric which looks

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Helikon-Tex®

MCDU® Combat Shirt Unmatched Comfort on a Mission

• Two zippered bicep pockets • Sleeves made of NYCO® fabric • Torso made of TopCool® fabric

#Journey to Perfection

KIT & GEAR TACTICAL FLEECES

and feels great, and high quality YKK zips are used throughout. The fleece itself is water repellent and breathes extremely well, making the Aviceda a superb layering piece. I especially like the low-profile hood which works perfectly in conjunction with a hard or softshell outer layer, effectively eliminating cold spots around the neckline. The Aviceda also benefits from two lower, meshlined handwarmer pockets, pockets on both upper arms with velcro patches for team/unit patches, and an inner pocket which allows routing for comms cables; the outer pockets are neatly trimmed with black fabric which gives the jacket a visually stunning appearance as well. Weighing in at just 410g the Aviceda is easy to pack and takes up minimal space in a pack, so it’s absolutely ideal if you want to stow it away “just in case”. Overall, it’s a superbly designed jacket made of high-end fabrics and components and the finish of it just oozes quality and attention to detail.

The Alpha Hoodie Jacket is a superb example of the grid principle in action, and this fleece jacket is warm, comfortable and a part of Helikon’s Urban line. It’s an enhanced version of the Alpha Tactical Grid Fleece and now features a hood with chin guard and

WINTER WEIGHT!

A “heavy” fleece garment is just the thing for when it gets REALLY cold but I use that term only because the garments in question are “heavier” than their mid-weight counterparts! By way of illustration, the Clawgear Milvago MKII hooded jacket weighs in at just 750g, and offers a whole heap of warmth! Clawgear have really worked their “technical knowledge magic” of fit and function into the Milvago; this heavier-weight fleece mid-layer garment is again extremely comfortable to wear and styled with a dynamic tactical end-user in mind. The Milvago also benefits from two lower fully-lined handwarmer pockets, pockets on both upper arms with velcro patches for team/unit patches and an inner pocket which allows routing for comms cables, plus the outer pockets are very low profile which gives the jacket a visually stunning appearance as well. Like the lighter-weight Aviceda, the Milvago is water repellent and breathes well; for me the hood is a great addition and it works amazingly well as a liner beneath an outer shell garment, giving seamless coverage up and over the neck. If you want to look at the “grid” style of fleece, then Helikon-Tex are real masters when it comes to fleece products and I’ve had one of their (non-grid) heavyweight hooded Patriot jackets in my gear locker for over TEN years now and it’s still wearable. Now that really is value for money! They offer a fabulous selection of performance fleece products in various weights within their range so you can custom tailor your gear to your own performance level or task.

a strong full-front YKK zipper, which can be fastened high around the neck. It also has a zip chest pocket with a comms port inside, two lower zip pockets and an elastic drawstring with cord locks on both sides sewn into the waistband. The cuffs are elasticated, tight enough to keep the arms from riding up, but not as tight as to be uncomfortable. The majority of the sewn seams are flat-locked so there are zero abrasion points. The front face of the jacket is also mesh lined, adding to the overall insulative properties and giving some degree of wind protection. The fit of the all the fleeces featured here is quite technical, all of them fitting snugly to avoid creating cold “dead air spaces” when you wear them as part of a layering system. I’m normally an XL in jackets and in all the garments I’ve described sizing is spot on. If, however, you are still carrying a few extra “Pandemic Pounds” you might consider going up one size! Excellent fleece garments are easy to find in good retailers (both dedicated tactical and good outdoor stores and outfitters like www.military1st.co.uk) and having a couple of different weights to choose from is certainly worth your investment. All the models I’ve quoted in this article are available in solid block colours which means they are just as wearable for daily use as they are in a gameday setting, and if you look after them they’ll give you great service for years to come. AA www.airsoftaction.net

RELOADED

HECKLER & KOCH HK33 LCT LK-33A2

IN ISSUE 117 WE BROUGHT YOU THE “FIRST LOOK” AT THE STUNNING NEW LK-33 FROM LCT AIRSOFT, AND ALTHOUGH WE’VE HAD SOME CHALLENGES ACTUALLY GETTING OUR REVIEW MODEL TO “LAND”, WE CAN NOW BRING YOU THE FINDINGS OF OUR RANGE TESTING AND SEE HOW THE NEW RIFLE FEELS AND PERFORMS!

o, originally this RELOADED report was scheduled to drop in the last issue but like many of you, our review sample got caught up in the bottomless abyss that is the UK Customs system! Yup, just like any other player in the UK we need to provide our “Proof of Defence” when it comes to importing a RIF and, interestingly, the “proof” required by UK Border Force was none other than my personal UKARA Player registration Number and a matching postcode! Without going into all the blather that surrounds opinion on the UKARA player registration scheme, both pros and cons, the fact is that this is what I was required to show to allow import - and what I was asked for in writing. It would appear that as we move forward towards the end of 2020, like it or not, having a UKARA number as proof of defence is going to become very important! The entire experience of importing a “black rifle” has been a sobering one yet again. All politics aside, this could be what we will end up facing in the UK at the end of this year, not just on imports from outside the EU but also from within. It’s our understanding that some of the retail “big players” of Euro-soft are already addressing the situation but I can only say that you need to ensure that you have your personal player “Defence in Law” nailed down sooner rather than later, if you intend to buy a new RIF in 2021. With that out of the way I’ll now turn my full attention back to one of the most wonderful, heavy, most realistic RIFs that it’s ever been my pleasure to lay hands on, the LK-33A2!

NOVEMBER 2020

To recap, as Lawrence from strikehold.net rightly noted in his introduction to the “HK33”: “With its realistic heft and weight (4.08kg), the LK33 scores high in this category. There are also loads of nice realistic details like the strong cocking handle spring that permits a proper “HK slap”, the sturdy handguard with aluminum heat shield built-in, and even the inclusion of the wire-cutter notch in the flash-hider. “As one would expect from such a high level of build quality, the finish is excellent. I’m sure that some parts which see a lot of use will show some wear over the long term, but the out-of-the-box level of finish is certainly excellent for an airsoft gun. There is also no flashing around the edges on the molded parts, and there are no gaps, wobbles or jiggles anywhere either. The LK33 is made from highquality materials and it feels absolutely rock solid. Picking up a magnet I verified that all of the metal parts are indeed made of steel – pressed and welded just like the real thing.” And now we’ve (finally!) got our own “hands on” the LK-33 we can only agree 100% with his evaluation - this thing is made to be an out and out airsofting monster and for that alone we already love it! From the tip of the distinctive steel flash-hider, to the rubber butt-end this is an AEG that just screams “get me to a game… NOW!” Unlike rifles and carbines with a more “modern” style (remember that the HK33 first appeared way back in 1968) that really beg you to overload them

RELOADED LCT LK-33A2

with optics and accessories, the LK-33 is an out and out fighting rifle and needs nothing more than a battery and some BBs to get you fully into the game. For those of you out there that own a G3, or have owned one in the past, the 33 is going to feel like coming home and if you have ever used an MP5, this is going to feel comfortably like a “big bro” as all the safety and operation controls are of course based upon that original “Gewehr 3”. I did notice, as Lawrence noted too, that the pistol grip feels a little small but comparing it to my full-size, tried and tested G3 AEG, it’s exactly the same size! Everything about the LK-33 is solid… and I really do mean SOLID! Like rock solid. Like solid as a solid thing from Solidsville! Okay, you get the picture, this thing is built like the proverbial brick outbuilding, in the majority from steel, with not a groan, squeak, flex, or indeed any movement, of any kind, anywhere! Now I’m no stranger to real firearms and I can say with my hand on my heart that this is genuinely the closest thing to “real feel” in AEG form that I have had the pleasure to come across, and when you pop the magazine in, it looks and feels absolutely brilliant. And this brings me neatly onto the magazines themselves and I’m pleased to say that LCT have listened to player feedback and moved on from the mid-caps that originally released with this new model! Whilst “your” LK-33 may still arrive with the original 25-round style 130 BB mid-cap (40-round style 150 BB mid-cap magazines are also available), LCT have now released two additional magazines in the form of a 300 BB (25 round) and 600 BB (40 round) hi-cap, which means again that with just a couple of mags you’re good to go for most skirmish situations! The magazines are all of full steel construction and feel like you could hammer nails with them. I did try the 33 with all the magazines of different capacities and all fed excellently with no jams or misfeeds, although I did note that the big “40 round” style needed a little extra care when seating. This could be as all the magazines are still relatively new and need chance to “work in” with the magazine catch, but once they’re in, they are again solid, with zero wobble. Inserting the magazine is a little like a mix between an AK and an AR in that you need to place it into the magwell slightly nose first and then press it straight up for it to fully engage; this is slightly unusual, but something that no doubt will become second nature over time.

7.4v and 11.1V LiPos will power the beast happily but things do start to “sing” with an 11.1 if I’m honest; a 7.4 will drive things happily, but the 11.1 really seems to give the 33 that “powered up” feel, and makes everything feel more “snappy”. With the A2 model received for testing the battery lives in the butt and is accessed via simply pressing off the rubber butt-plate, so you can use as big a battery as you like to ensure all-day-power. Performance-wise, the LK-33 is totally cool as well! There’s an easy-to-adjust rotary hop, and to change out springs you simply remove the entire butt unit (one large push-through pin, and it slides off, which means you can also fit the sliding A3 stock which is offered by LCT as a “spare”) to access the quick-change function, and this literally only needs a screwdriver to achieve! The test rifle came pre-fitted with the LCT QM PK397 spring which is quoted at 0.83 Joule/300fps/90 m/s on a .20g BB, although LCT offer springs up towards 450fps with their QM PK401, if your country allows this legally! With the QM PK397 spring the 33 is quite enough for me (and the law in the UK too!) and on chrono using .20g RZRs I got a consistent reading of 0.91 Joule/314fps/95.7 m/s, exactly as was stated on the printed report stamped and signed by the factory manager (as Lawrence also commented in his report). In terms of range and accuracy, I believe that LCT may have borrowed a little of that “Japanese Unicorn Dust”, as with a 445mm long inner barrel I thought the 33 might have some grunt and, once the hop was set to accommodate

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RELOADED LCT LK-33A2

.28g RZRs and the iron sights were dialled in, that indeed proved to be the case. I witnessed an absolutely flat BB trajectory out to 30m, hitting small steels each and every time at that range and at 70m prone I was able to easily hit a 240mm x 210mm steel with each and every BB sent. None too shabby straight out of the box and I have the distinct feeling that this will only improve as things bed in! I’ve always personally fancied an “HK33” to add to my collection; as a Brit it’s an important model to me as it’s believed that “The Regiment” used the HK33KA3 carbine variant for close protection duties, usually keeping the rifle in the vehicles, so it sits perfectly alongside my SLR, Sterling, and Browning! Given the “real-like” feel, the quality and the outright “BB performance” of the review sample, this is most definitely a rifle to own and cherish and if you like a bit of “old school” that’s just a bit different, then you really should get your hands on an LK-33 from LCT Airsoft. My thanks go to Bella at www.lctairsoft.com for arranging the review sample. For more information on the Lk-33 along with other models from LCT please do pay their website a visit. AA

NOVEMBER 2020

THE CAGE OPTICS

THE CAGE: OPTICS

USEFUL OR JUST FOR SHOW?

WE ALL LOVE SEEING A NICE SHINY OPTIC ATOP AN AEG OR GBBR, AND THESE DAYS EVEN ON A GBB PISTOL, DON’T WE? ULTIMATELY THOUGH ARE WE JUST PUTTING THEM THERE FOR SHOW, TO MAKE OUR “PRIMARY” LOOK GUCCI, OR ARE THEY THERE FOR A REASON? BILL CHECKS IN WITH THE AA CONTRIBUTORS TO FIND OUT MORE.

o, optics in airsoft? As the question states in the title bar, are they really useful to us, or are they just a bit of window dressing to make your chosen AEG or GBB look just a little more “ally”? I’m not talking here about the “uber scopes” you sometimes see atop a nice bolt-action setup, but more the “regulars” like red dots, holosights, ACOG-alikes and short-dots.

The real answer to this question in my mind is “a bit of both…” I do tend to veer personally towards “real steel” optics as they come with an assured level of performance, with my personal faves being EoTECH holosights and as I’ve followed the “Vortex Story” pretty much from the beginning, I do have a bit of a leaning towards this brand and tend to recommend them to my friends in the category of “money well spent”. I learned my initial (prone) shooting skills largely on iron sights and to be honest, in most situations and with airsoft engagement distances being what they

really are, I still tend to use just the sights that are built into the rifle/carbine, or flip-ups mounted on the rail. To give an example of this, I have a pretty poor replica PSO-1 that I bought to dress up my gas SVD and I find that this actually reduces the effective range of the rifle… With it I’m lucky if I can hit a target at 70m but using the rudimentary “irons” on the SVD I’ve taken a running target at 100! This leads to an interesting question about magnified optics in general though, one that I know most marshals reading this will nod sagely at. You have your favourite AEG and you’ve tested it out to XXX metres, so you know it has legs. Then you fit a real-deal short-dot scope that you know has effective range WAY beyond XXX metres and this must surely be a marriage made in heaven, right? Proudly you hit your local skirmish the next weekend, get eyes - and optics - on target and let rip… and the beggar doesn’t call their hit!!!

“BUY AN OPTIC - EITHER REAL OR A GOOD QUALITY REPLICA - AND LEARN TO WORK WITH IT; TRAIN WITH IT, LEARN ABOUT HOW OPTICS WORK AND WORK OUT JUST WHAT RANGE YOU CAN TWEAK FROM YOUR CHOSEN PACKAGE. BY ALL MEANS BUY THAT 20-BUCK REPLICA BUT REALISE IT AIN’T GONNA QUALIFY YOU AS A “TEAM 6 SHARPSHOOTER” ANY TIME SOON, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT LOOK KINDA’ CUTE ON YOUR IG FEED!” www.airsoftaction.net

THE CAGE OPTICS

Annoyed as hell you rightly call in the marshal to check your hit and well, how embarrassing, the marshal confirms that you’re dead on-line but your BBs are falling WAY short of the target… Red-faced mumbling ensues… The fact of the matter is that it’s all well and good dressing up your rifle, carbine, or pistol with an optic but PLEASE practice and train with your setup to ensure that it really does have the range and accuracy that you think it does! Also, if you buy an optic for a few bucks online don’t expect that to give you the performance you might think it should, as often they are out of kilter before you even start! Buy an optic - either real or a good quality replica - and learn to work with it; train with it, learn about how optics work and work out just what range you can tweak from your chosen package. By all means buy that 20-buck replica but realise it ain’t gonna qualify you as a “Team 6 Sharpshooter” any time soon, although it might look kinda’ cute on your IG feed!

REAL OR REPLICA?

With this in mind I conferred with the members of the AA Contributors Group and The Legion to get their feelings on optics and posed them the question “What is your favourite airsoft optic? Do you use them and what benefits do you get from using them?” This is what they told me: Stewbacca: “I’d have to say the pretty good repro EoTECH 552’s atop my WE G36C and HK416 GBBRs. They’re different models/manufacturers with slightly different reticles, but I like the fact they use normal AA batteries instead of something proprietary and expensive or a ballache to source. I have had to stretch the battery seating springs in the compartments of both to stop them disconnecting due to the recoil, but otherwise I haven’t had to change the batteries that I remember, they don’t kill them even when not in use, the zero doesn’t wander and they’re top notch after adding protective screen inserts (had one shot out already but a damn sight cheaper to replace). If I end up with a full size MP5 to go with my PDW, I’ll likely throw a shorter EoTECH on that too like my teammate’s setup.” 68

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Chris P: “G&P “Aimpoint Comp 2”, I’ve had it for nearly 15 years and it’s a damn nice bit of kit. Need some new covers for it at some stage…” Bill (no, the other one!): “Never really used scopes properly as most of my play for two years was indoor CQB with tracers. I always wanted to try the TP200 Torrey Pines though. I’ve just started using a Nuprol ZR10 scope on the AST-01 sniper though so will see how that goes!” Boycie: “I tend to favour the T series type red dots, usually the Nuprol type, but I also own a Vortex SPARC AR II (after a guy called Bill recommended it) and I also have a SIG Romeo 5. For observation at longer ranges I like the Vision King-type short dots.” Jimmy: “Having never really used an optic in airsoft I can’t really comment but when I used to shoot HFT my main go-to was the Nikko Stirling Mount Masters 3-9x40; easy on the pocket and very effective up to and including 75yds although they will give accurate shooting further. For airsoft I predominantly use a red dot and I love the C-more Railways. I’m using repos so cost-wise they are around £50 so easily affordable for any airsofter. I’m looking forward to testing the Vision King 1.5 4x30 on my newly acquired DMR build!” Phil B: “My favourite at the moment is the Vision King 1-8x24. It’s a bargain at around £130 compared to some optics but it works beautifully. The construction is rock solid; the glass is crystal clear and eye relief is good. Also, it has no problems holding zero on GBBR’s or recoil guns. I use this scope on my ERG mk16 DMR. For some of the other guns I have I use the cheaper 1.25-5x24 version which is also illuminated if that’s a feature you class as important.” Jase: “When I was using my DMR I used a Vision King optic, works really well for the cash, had it five

THE CAGE OPTICS

years now. Its downfall is the weight. I highly recommend the Vortex Strikefire 2, super reliable bit of kit, won’t be without it, and it’s never skipped a beat on my LM4; when I have been at MilSim events I’ve run a Dytac T1 which has held up sure well on my RM4 too. I have recently bought an Evolution Gear EXPS1, it’s a spot on replica and looks to be holding a good zero on my LM4.” Rob: “For my Ultimak on the AKs and Kpos (Glock carbine) I run aimpoint T2/3s, and on my Glocks and on the 870s (that have an optic) I run RMRs, hands down best optics I have used and prefer. We have a bin of others we destroyed or tossed due to being too big, too heavy, too foggy, too blurry as I replicate in airsoft RBT what I use in real training-work. With that said... I have tried out various others I like but sadly haven’t had the chance to try airsoft versions like Meprolight. For gaming usually I run same but as we are also collectors we have everything and have tried them... outdoors I have used UTG scopes with adjustable parralax optics on some snipers. Cheap, and they work. But then again I’m not a Milsimmer or “hollywood simmer” gamer.” Jonathan: “Vortex Gen 3 red dot sight!! Being it’s real steel it holds the dial all the time, and allows a wider scope of vision as its low profile on the platform!” As I stated earlier, I do prefer a real-deal EoTech or Voretx SPARC on my gas ARs, and an older Crossfire model on my gas AKs, given that they hold zero when those big old bolts are flying back and forth, and I even have a flip-to-theside EoTECH magnifier to

use in conjunction with the holosights if I’m looking for maximum range (ie 90-100m!). For an AEG I’m quite happy with a decent replica and run either NPTECH 886s on my ARs or NPOINT E1 RDSs on my “tactical AKs”; I stick with the same models as this is what I’m familiar with and that helps if I’m jumping from model to model. I do own boltactions (mainly for my own enjoyment!) and on those I run models from NUPROL and Night Force (the latter that I’ve had for years), and for my DMRs then I’ve found that absolutely the best “bang for buck” at the moment is the NP OPTICS - 1.25-5X26 IR. Whatever your choice may be, be it regular irons, a holo or RDS, or indeed some form of magnified optic, then spend some time with it on the range. Get it dialled in and work out what your realistic effective range really is and hammer those targets until you can hit them every time, in all conditions. Don’t be “that guy” that the marshals shake their heads at whenever they see you, be “The Guy” that gets the nod of approval from everyone for making that impossible shot time after time! AA

“FOR GAMING USUALLY I RUN SAME BUT AS WE ARE ALSO COLLECTORS WE HAVE EVERYTHING AND HAVE TRIED THEM... OUTDOORS I HAVE USED UTG SCOPES WITH ADJUSTABLE PARRALAX OPTICS ON SOME SNIPERS. CHEAP, AND THEY WORK. BUT THEN AGAIN I’M NOT A MILSIMMER OR “HOLLYWOOD SIMMER” GAMER.”

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KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP!!

IT SEEMS LIKE ALTHOUGH THE WORLD IN GENERAL IS STILL ON SLOW-MO DUE TO THE ONGOING PANDEMIC SITUATION, THE “AIRSOFT WORLD” IS STILL VERY MUCH ACTIVE AND KICKING AND IT’S BEEN ANOTHER GREAT MONTH FOR NEW THINGS TO HIT THE STORES! AS USUAL, WE CAST AN EYE OVER NEW PRODUCTS THAT HAVE REALLY GOT OUR ATTENTION… NOT THAT YOU LOT OUT THERE SEEM TO NEED ANY INCENTIVE TO BUY NEW GOODIES FOR YOUR SETUPS AND LOADOUTS!

MILITARY1ST

Kicking things off this month, not only do we need gloves to protect from harsh environments and BB strikes but as the weather turns cooler some good “handpro” is a must! Coming from one of the brands that we truly trust to deliver performance in all ways we’re pleased to see that Military1st.co.uk just stocked up on the the DIRECT ACTION LIGHT GLOVES, which are lightweight and extremely durable universal tactical gloves designed for military and law enforcement professionals. Synthetic leather used on the inner side guarantees high durability and a reliable grip while specially designed slits on the finger joints provide comfort, even during prolonged shooting use. The middle finger and thumb are touch screen compatible, and a sewn-in Hypalon loop not only helps with easy on and off but also can be used to hang the gloves on equipment. Elastic and extended cuff offers maximum confidence and 70

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comfort, while thin yet durable construction enhances the ability to conduct searches, manipulate gear, and work with a handgun.

VIKTØS

VIKTØS is a family run business headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin. Launched in the fall of 2017 by a combined force of industry and military veterans, it is their mission to produce innovative gear for the tactical user. Their product transcends the typical boundaries of conventional tactical companies and addresses the entire black gun lifestyle; from combat to training, to R&R. It is a decidedly unique approach from a decidedly unique brand. The VIKTOS WARTORN GLOVE, now in at Tactree. co.uk, was designed to overcome common points of gear failure while adding additional service and functionality. The thumb valleys are reinforced with Combative Leather to defeat the aggressive checkering/ stippling of modern polymer handguns. Reinforced fourchettes on the trigger and middle finger prevent premature

KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

gusset failure. Silicone printing on all fingers provides increased grip on slides regardless of the weather, while the trigger finger and thumb are touchscreen compatible. A full-sized polymer knuckle provides backhand protective coverage while segmented finger knuckles allow for increased flexibility. The integrated loop knuckle pads allow attachment of their MORALPHABET™ accessory letters (sold separately), so you can sound off without ever saying a word!

HAZARD 4

HAZARD 4 is now a well-known brand of top quality gear, and their broad catalogue of products includes range of sturdy and practical packs and bags, clothing and watches, as well as tactical accessories such as holsters, panels and MOLLE pouches. Available now at UK-based Military1st, HAZARD 4 personal equipment combines extreme durability, functionality and innovative technology. We’ve long been fans of the unique designs that have come from the brand, and it looks like they’re breaking new ground again with a selection of high-quality, high-performance watches; with a couple of qualified divers in the Airsoft Action team this is right up our alley! With water resistance of up to 300 meters and highly visible 3D military stencil-cut numerals, the Heavy Water Diver Titanium Tritium (HWDT) Watch from HAZARD 4 comes with hypoallergenic titanium case, scratchresistant sapphire crystal glass and custom T.P.R. band. Additionally, this highly unique action watch features selfcontained ever glow tritium-vial lamps which are self-powered and don’t require charging. Continuous glow (night or day) is achieved by combining hydrogen-3 gas (tritium/ H3), glass tubes, and phosphors into self-contained mini-lamps which don’t fade overnight and are feather-light. Arriving in an extremely neat militarygrade thermoformed Coyote case (which we can see numerous other uses for!) with brown dial, black and brown bezel, black hands and graphics the HWDT offers self-contained everglow tritium-vial lamps with green hours and hands, yellow noon, and a green bezel. There’s a GMT daylight ring with

an additional hand for tracking second time zone, and a daylight ring and additional hand for tracking a second time zone. Set in a light, strong, and hypoallergenic titanium case, there’s an aggressively knurled unidirectional bezel with tritium marker in “12” porthole, scratch-resistant A.R. sapphire crystal glass, and a crystal interior with anti-reflective coating. Overall this is exactly the kind of thing we’ve come to expect from HAZARD 4, a thoroughly neat package that shows their quirky yet innovative design style in one tough package that’s designed to perform in the most adverse of conditions! With technology usually used only for critical applications, the Heavy Water Diver Titanium Tritium Watch represents great value for any serious player who values a quality timepiece that has a few bucks to invest! Sticking with HAZARD 4, we’re also liking the look of their BLASTWALL HARDSHELL SLING PACK! This new type of tactical EDC pack with revolutionary modular design and a lightweight build is made for keeping valuable electronics and gear safe and for preventing against damage from within and without. The front of the bag is made of a thermoformed front shell with external HardPoint

double grommets for attaching bungee cords, carabiners, lights and other HardPoint items. The camera compartment can fit any mirrorless or APS-C system and comes with internal soft lining, movable padded dividers in various sizes to adjust it to your needs. The front clamshell zip opening compartment features administration organiser panel with various sleeve pockets, a hook-and-loop field with MOLLE system, internal padded sleeve compartment for laptop, hook-and-loop gusset system to attach the shell to the bag and inner loop lining on the shell for additional gear or pouches. The bag also comes with a CCW compartment with two-way zip opening and soft lining material. MOLLE attachments points on both sides of the pack can be used to attach additional pouches or gear. On the back of the pack, www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

there’s a padded and ergonomic shoulder strap with attachment points, a quick release buckle and hook-and-loop hydration hose holder, adjustable and removable chest strap with quick-release buckle, adjustable and removable waist strap with lockable quick release buckle and ergonomically padded back panel to provide excellent breathability and comfort of wearing. This well thought sling-pack with sturdily built is a perfect EDC carrying solution, especially if your load includes drones, or cameras and lenses, but the versatility of it makes it also useful as a daily use bag.

HELIKON-TEX

Talking of daily-use packs, if you’re in the market for something neat then look no further than the HELIKON-TEX GROUNDHOG PACK. Available in plain colours at Military1st.co.uk, the Groundhog features a spacious, hydration bladder compatible main compartment with webbing hanger and an expandable front pocket with a vertical zipper opening and inner mesh pocket. It comes with a mesh beavertail stowed inside a dedicated bottom pocket, which offers an extra carrying space and allows transporting a helmet or other gear or separating wet clothing from the rest of your gear. Additionally, on each side of the pack, there are two rows of 15mm MOLLE Lite webbing enabling mounting of pouches, two pass-through sleeves and two zippered pockets with additional mesh bottle holders inside, along with adjustable and stabilised with compression straps. Lightweight and durable, The Helikon-Tex Groundhog Pack has a stiffened back padded with 3D mesh, 72

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narrow padded and profiled shoulder straps, a durable carrying handle and minimalistic hip and chest straps. Small and functional it’ perfect for everyday use, and for when you need a modest yet functional pack for skirmish days.

TAIWANGUN

Coming onto that all-important “hardware”, we’re very pleased to see that TAIWANGUN have both restocked and enlarged their 5KU parts offering for AKseries AEGs! Made from 6061 aluminium using CNC machining with an anodized finish and compatible with CYMA, LCT and GHK AK replicas, you can choose from the AK GAS TUBE COVER LONG, LOWER

HANDGUARD ALPHA KEY-MOD, UPPER HANDGUARD ALPHA PICATINNY, TACTICAL AK UPPER RAIL FOR RED DOT, and even some great-looking LONG TUBULAR HANDGUARDS for the AK and AK105! With a host of accessory parts, stocks, foregrips, muzzle brakes, and even some really tidy-looking “PBS” style suppressors the 5KU line gives you all the parts you could possibly

KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

want to customise you beloved AK and make it truly one of a kind!

VALKEN

Sometimes it would appear that the airsoft world is all about the shiniest and most expensive of things, and that’s especially true when it comes to optics to mount on your AEG/GBBR! However, when many of us start airsoft “The Budget” is a big consideration, and every so often you come across an item that does the job, yet doesn’t cost an arm and leg, and our friends at All Ages Airsoft just popped the Valken Tactical RDA20 Mini Red Dot Sight in front of us, and we have to say that for the money it’s a cracking little piece of gear! For those that are short of cash Valken has made a really affordable (and usable!) mini red dot sight that is small (only slightly larger than T1 size), tidy, solid, and easy to adjust. The sight is made from a strong polymer with a metal housing which gives it great durability and light weight, and it will fit any standard RIS rail. This scope has adjustable brightness settings to help with target acquisition in any environment, and is available in plain black, or black/tan to match your favourite rifle or carbine.

GUNFIRE

Once you’ve added a new optic to your choice of AEG/GBB, you’ll want to add some more “extras” without breaking the bank won’t you? New in at GUNFIRE are some super tactical lights in the “Opsmen” range. The FAST 302 model is available with different rail mounting hardware, or indeed just

as a small standalone flashlight, and is a universal tactical flashlight equipped with a CREE XM-L2 diode with a power of 800 lumens, and the flashlight operates in 100% mode. The flashlight’s casing is

made of durable, anodized aerospace aluminium, and special seals provide the flashlight with IPX-8 standard water resistance. The flashlight uses a high-quality mineral glass with a high degree of transparency. The flashlight is turned on using the button at the back of the casing or using a gel switch on a cable which gives you a lot of versatility, and we have to say that the “tan” colour looks properly “OPR8R” to us!

PTS SYNDICATE

Rounding out with more magazines again this month, is it a MidCap, or is it a HiCap? When it’s the PTS Syndicate EPM1 Magazine it’s a bit of both in one unique package! PTS Syndicate is committed to bringing the highest quality and most innovative products onto the market to meet and exceed the exacting standards of the most discriminating end user, and they’ve been in touch to introduce their newest product, the EPM1. The PTS Enhanced Polymer Magazine ONE, or EPM1, is their most advanced and highest capacity spring loaded AEG magazine; aptly named the EPM1, the magazine is the FIRST in many ways: • The EPM1 is the First collaborative development between PTS and Odin Innovations. • The EPM1 is the First spring loaded AEG magazine to rival the capacity of a high cap mag with an approximate 250 bb capacity. • The EPM1 is the First AEG magazine with a “Fuel Gauge” window to indicate full or remaining bb load. • The EPM1 is the First magazine to reliably achieve both high load capacity and high rate of fire performance. Now we all need reliable magazines, and sometimes you’d like the silent-carry of a MidCap but with a little extra load capability, wouldn’t you? Available in Black or FDE, the EPM1 looks to be an efficient solution to this particular conundrum and should be landing with PTS-recommended retailers soon. AA www.airsoftaction.net

COVERT BOOT

BLACK / BROWN / TITANIUM / SRP: Â£49.95

VORSK DIARY HI-CAPA 5.1 SPLIT SLIDE

AIRSOFT ACTION HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE TEAM BEHIND THE EVEREXPANDING RANGE OF VORSK GBB PISTOL MODELS (EVEN BEFORE THE VERY FIRST MODEL HIT RETAILER’S SHELVES) AND WITH UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS TO THE DESIGN PROCESS BEHIND THESE UNIQUE AND STYLISH PISTOLS, WE’RE AHEAD OF THE CURVE WHEN IT COMES TO SEEING NEW VARIANTS! THIS MONTH BILL OPENS ANOTHER PAGE IN HIS ONGOING “VORSK DIARY” WITH A LOOK AT THE NEW HI-CAPA 5.1 SPLIT SLIDE!

eez! A LOT has happened since I started keeping a detailed VORSK Diary at the back end of 2019 - and time seems to have stretched beyond belief in some ways! As 2019 drew to a close I was introduced by my good friend Ross to the first models of the new pistols to arrive with retailers and, fresh from the warehouse, those new pistols were laid out for me to shoot at the A2 Supplies store in Reading. Right then I knew that I was witnessing the physical birth of something that I’d seen in concept from for some time already. As I wrote a while back: “I’ve been privileged to have been aware of the “VORSK project” since its very inception. I’ve seen sketches become 3D renders, and witnessed those renders become design drawings. I’ve in turn seen those design drawings wing their way off to the manufacturing plants in the Far East, and seen the development pictures as parts came free of the all-new moulds. “I’ve been lucky enough to hear the passionate backand-forths over the importance of a trigger design or hammer style, of how weight can be saved whilst maintaining durable structural integrity in a slide, and how the angle of a cut will have a profound effect on overall design and durability. Every tiny change has been brought to my attention, not for any kind of approval, but just so that I “knew” just how much attention there was to even the tiniest detail, and just how much “love” was going into creating something that didn’t even exist as an idea a few short months ago. In essence I’ve been privy to the process of creation of a totally new range of pistols from the seed of an idea, and to me this has been insanely satisfying.” …and this process, C-19 or no, has not stopped! Whilst other brands have sat on their hands and indeed furloughed staff to sit at home, the team behind VORSK has ploughed ever onwards and 2020 has already see the release of such unique and wonderful models as the VX-9 and the TITAN in addition to EU 17 and 18’, and Hi Capa 76

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4.3 and 5.1s! Taking into account the number of colour permutations and the fact you can have models with or without an RDS as standard, the range is already VAST and the back end of the year is going to see this grow yet again! The first model of what I will call the “second wave” is the Hi-Capa 5.1 Split Slide and oh my, what a huge, happy handful of airsoft fun this is! On first inspection the new HiCapa has everything we’ve learnt to expect from VORSK; a mix of high quality polymers and alloys but this time with a custom textured grip and a flared, oversized magwell which aids immeasurably doing fast reloads! The lower frame of the pistol features a rail which comfortably gives a home to an NP taclite such as the NX300. It’s the slide that makes all the difference on this new pistol; the “Split Slide design” which means only the rear half of the slide actually moves, dovetailing beautifully with the fixed front half so there is much less weight moving, making your gas usage massively more efficient and the cycle time meaningfully less when it comes to taking follow-up shots! And up on top of the slide you get, as we’ve come to expect, raised fibre-optic “irons” which are brilliant in low light situations and super-fast to acquire, and the attractive spiral-cut outer barrel of the pistol is threaded for suppressors and tracer units. This removable threaded adapter comes so any 14mm CCW threaded muzzle attachments can be used and is finished with a knurled cover to protect the thread itself. The 5.1 Split Slide is as good inside as it is stunning outside too, featuring a 6.03 mm tight bore barrel for more accurate shots and tighter groupings, as well as an adjustable hop-up unit for range and accuracy. As with all VORSK models, the pistol comes with a replacement nozzle and O-ring kit which can be used to keep things rocking far into its “service life”. When I first got the 5.1 Split Slide in my hand I thought it to be a most eye-catching design and at 900g it certainly

VORSK DIARY HI-CAPA 5.1 SPLIT SLIDE

Airsoft & MilSim News Blog feels solid and weighty, a pistol made to the fast cycling you can certainly “get business done”. On the fixed, front “Mozambique” to your heart’s@AMNBOﬃcial part of the slide the “venting” is not only content. This is visually pleasing as a design feature but Airsoft & MilSim News Blog serves a purpose too, in that you can mount a micro or mini-RDS on this section for @airsoftmilsimnewsblog excellent target acquisition and retention of zero. As new, the 5.1 Split Slide has performed very well at 10m on steels and at 5-10m on the AttackSense Smart Target System using .20g RZR BBs, even on cooler days. In terms of the chrono, things are exactly where I hoped and expected; the pistol recorded a high of 1.01 another fine example of how Joule/329fps using .20g RZRs and settled nicely in the midelegant and unique design can be 320’s on the same weight BB. It does seem to be incredibly married to the total understanding WINNER efficient on NUPROL 2.0 gas, cycling the rear ofAWARD the slide of how a GBB pistol works to create quickly and efficiently and having no problem whatsoever a pistol model that if anything emptying the entire 28BB magazine. shoots even better than it looks! It also rocks when you fit it with a suppressor and, given You can keep fully up to date that the front of the slide remains fixed in place, it seems by following the VORSK page on purpose designed for this! Overall, with the NX300 and Facebook and rest assured that there’s a whole the suppressor fitted it looks like a thoroughly modern lot more Vorsk goodness to come before year end… AA WWW.AIRSOFT-MILSIM-NEWS.COM “assassins pistol”, a look I personally find cool and with

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 – 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

www.airsoftaction.net

last post CAN GLOCK BLOCK?

CAN GLOCK BLOCK?

FOLLOWING BILL’S ARTICLE ABOUT TRADEMARKS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN LAST MONTH’S ISSUE, FRENCHIE PICKS UP THE SUBJECT AND PONDERS WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD FOR UNLICENSED REPLICAS.

he subject of trademarks and their enforcement within airsoft is as old as, well, airsoft I suppose. It all took a new turn recently however with a judgement in the USA… “U.S.A. – (Ammoland.com) - On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, a Federal Judge for The United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, issued a decision in the case of GLOCK, INC. v. THE WUSTER INC., d/b/a AIRSPLAT.COM, Civil Action No. 1:14-cv-00568. The Defendant operated AirSplat retail locations and an Internet retail store at AirSplat.com that sold airsoft guns and related products. The Court’s decision yesterday ended a six-and-a-half-year lawsuit between the parties in favour of GLOCK. “In February of 2014, GLOCK filed a multi-count complaint against the Defendant for trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, and related claims under federal and state law. The Court awarded monetary damages to GLOCK totalling $ 2,253,078.28…” Although the financial award looks substantial, it will likely be made up mostly of lawyer’s fees and costs, the real significance is the win itself. If, as is likely, Glock USA now decides to send a fresh round of “Cease and Desist” letters to other retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, who amongst them is going to feel inclined to fight, given this judgement? It is far more likely that they will either stop selling anything Glock-shaped or start buying licensed replicas which, over the six and a half years of this case, have now become far more available. We shall have to wait and see if Glock also seeks punitive damages from profits made from unauthorised replicas.

Leaving aside the ubiquitous M4, Glock pistols are probably one of the most copied designs to be seen on airsoft sites. But there are plenty of others; Colt, Beretta and Heckler & Koch to name but three, all of whom have licensing agreements with regards to airsoft guns but now may feel more inclined to see them enforced. How this might affect that great original, Tokyo Marui remains to be seen. The Japanese have always been quite relaxed about trademarks on airsoft guns and some retailers in the UK have taken to covering up any trademarks before sale in order not to incur the wrath of licence holders. I’m absolutely unsure about the legality of this but I wonder if someone might decide to push the matter to see if they can get a ruling one way or the other. The fact that retailers are covering trademarks, however, does suggest that maybe they feel the ground they stand on isn’t terribly secure. Some years back, the threat of being limited to licensed replicas was actually a bit of an issue, mainly because those that existed weren’t terribly good, or the trademark as executed on the gun itself was shockingly appalling – Cybergun’s “Kalashnikov” anyone, complete with its nice picture of Mikhail – just like the real thing? This is not the case to the same degree these

“ IF YOU ARE ANYTHING LIKE ME, JUST BECAUSE SOME QUESTIONABLE BOLT-ACTION RIFLE IS “LICENCED” BY A COMPANY YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF DOESN’T MEAN THAT IT’S ANY GOOD, AND I SAW A FEW OF THOSE. I ALSO SAW LOTS OF GLK PISTOLS AND MANY AEGS THAT WERE NEARLY G36S OR AR15S” 78

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LAST POST CAN GLOCK BLOCK?

days; many of the licensed replicas built in the Far East come from reputable manufacturers. The Glocks from Umarex are perfectly excellent, as are the Heckler & Koch rifles they supply. Quality control is noticeably better as well and the whole package tends to be much more attractive. There is a generation of airsofters who were, perhaps, spoilt by being able to buy unbranded guns made in China at knock-down prices, who feel that the cost of licensed replicas is unreasonable. This is exacerbated when you realise that the licensed replica is the same as the Jing Gong you used to get for £90. While no one wants to pay more than they must, licensed goods are always going to cost more as they reflect some of the costs of the parent company. All those Glocks don’t get into movies for free… I have trawled a few websites while writing this, starting with the search: “licenced airsoft guns” and the results are… erm… “interesting”. It’s no surprise that the recurring suppliers (not brands) are ASG of Denmark and Cybergun and yes, all of these sites do have licenced products. Whether they are licenced products you would want to buy is a whole different question. If you are anything like me, just because some questionable bolt-action rifle is “licenced” by a company you have never heard of doesn’t mean that it’s any good, and I saw a few of those. I also saw lots of GLK pistols and many AEGs that were nearly G36s or AR15s. In fairness, G&G and others have a full product line largely composed of “nearly” guns and I have no problem with that, as their stuff is solid and is not claiming to be something it isn’t. The future of GLK however may be in doubt. Will we see a big change - and will it matter? Probably not - and probably not! It will, ultimately, come down to how much effort the owners of the original trademarks want to expend to suppress copies of their designs, from which currently they are receiving no income. In some cases a stern letter will have the desired effect, although not always. Cybergun is a good example of this and I have known them send cease and desist letters based on spurious grounds to which the only reasonable response was “go away”. Incidents like that undermine them when they do have a legitimate right to protect intellectual property. I also cannot see a future where only licenced replicas are available – Taiwanese and Chinese manufacturers aren’t going to stop making what they make and then you have the interesting ones like Classic Army who have licences but not necessarily from the original manufacturer of the gun. So, your “G3” might not be HK but “Random Arm Importers of SC, USA” licenced. ASG are also noted for this, where many of their AK variants are licenced by Arsenal Firearms Inc. who import and

manufacture AK-based rifles in the USA. Legal, but odd. Glock’s win is significant and it will enable them to enforce their rights more effectively, yet I cannot see that decision having a major impact upon airsoft and the gear that is available. There is sufficient leeway in design for manufacturers to get close to iconic firearms without putting themselves in the firing line (pun fully intended!) and if firearms manufacturers want to profit from court rulings like this, they have to try and ensure that their branded offerings are of a decent quality and value. Generally they hand this off to companies like ASG or Umarex who then strike the deals to make and market them, but I would suggest that there is a case for not degrading the brand by slapping a well-known trademark on a cheap piece of tat. If Glock and others want to make money out of airsofters, they owe it to them to offer a product that is in keeping with their branding. A lesson that Cybergun didn’t always take to heart, unfortunately. AA

“THERE IS SUFFICIENT LEEWAY IN DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURERS TO GET CLOSE TO ICONIC FIREARMS WITHOUT PUTTING THEMSELVES IN THE FIRING LINE (PUN FULLY INTENDED!) AND IF FIREARMS MANUFACTURERS WANT TO PROFIT FROM COURT RULINGS LIKE THIS, THEY HAVE TO TRY AND ENSURE THAT THEIR BRANDED OFFERINGS ARE OF A DECENT QUALITY AND VALUE.” www.airsoftaction.net

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