Airsoft Action - September 2021 by Airsoft Action

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ISSUE 129 - SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSN 2634-9515

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CONTENTS 8 ARMOURY: ARCHWICK L119A2 Having spent a great deal of time at Archwick, AA Legionnaire “Stewbacca” has had a very privileged inside view on the longerterm development of a few of their ongoing projects. In particular, one that has caused quite a stir: the L119A2 GBBR!

PROUD TO SUPPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY

ISSUE 128 - AUGUST 2021 ISSN 2634-9515

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, UK.

16 ARMOURY: ASG STEYER SCOUT All of us at Airsoft Action are genuinely delighted to see something that’s just a bit different and, in a departure from his usual preference of airsoft RIFs, Boycie takes a long, hard look at the Steyr Scout bolt action rifle from ActionSportGames.

22 ARMOURY: ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE There are some little “gucci” gems out there for those that don’t want to spend the earth on their “skirmish gun”. Bill has been on the range A LOT with the latest PDW from Arcturus that’s built for performance without a massive price-tag, the KARAMBIT LITE!

Tel: +44 (0) 1684 878 003 Web: www.airsoftaction.net ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2021 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 publication.

FIND US ON…

64 ARMOURY: ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA Jimmy normally bring us the lowdown on innovations and advances in his regular “Tech” column but now we’re letting him out of his special dark room and into the light of day as he talks about a new handgun model from ICS that ticks all his boxes!

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.

88 SHOP DROP: RETAIL ROUNDUP Manufacturers around the globe are shaking off the cobwebs and re-appearing with some absolutely fabulous new “guns n’ gear”! Sadly though, there is still one shadow on the horizon that will affect us all and that’s where we’ll begin our round-up…

Contents SEPTEMBER 2021

30 KIT & GEAR: OPFOR Bill has found himself on all manner of teams but he does say that it has been the time that he’s spent playing opposing force, or OPFOR, where he’s enjoyed himself the most. From humble beginnings, he finally starts to look at OPFOR “Main Force”!

62 VORSK DIARY Since the “VORSK PROJECT” started, Bill has been keeping detailed notes and a running tally on the existing models to see how they perform over time and continues to give all the models, including the latest releases, a VERY hard time on the range in his weekly sessions!

36 FEATURE: TACTICAL OUTDOORS As 2021 moves forward it seems like the world is finally reawakening and, as it does, the spirit of adventure has most definitely kicked back into high gear amongst the AA crew, as Jon starts looking at gear that can turn a great airsoft experience into a truly memorable one!

68 RELOADED: WE EU17 CUSTOM Think of a military or law enforcement situation in the last couple of decades and the chances are that they use a Glock. Steve T challenges his Glock prejudices with a custom model to see if most airsofters have it right, most of the time, after all...

38 KIT & GEAR: DIRECT ACTION It’s been a little while since we spoke about new gear from the team over at Direct Action in Poland. Bill has been keeping a very close eye on their latest developments and innovations for the true tactical user and brings us an update of kit that he’s already tried and tested extensively!

70 PRACTICAL SHOOTING Jon “Posh” Mills has started his journey into all things “practical” as he documents his first steps into a whole new world of airsoft and, along with other members of the AA crew, takes a step back to “Project Precision” and sees how true “Airsoft Multigun” is being looked at.

42 THE CAGE: GLOVES We’re constantly looking for good kit; not simply gear that’s 100% fit for purpose but equipment that’s going to give you good service and great value for money! The AA Legion take a look at gloves, so you can really get “hands on” in any situation!

76 RELOADED: KJW CZ75 SP-02 Airsoft Actions’s “Man in Taiwan”, Stewbacca, takes a look back at how and why he ended up using a KJ Works CZ75 Shadow 2 for his Action Air exploits and asks: “Why did the Shadow 2 capture my interest over the SP01 I already had?”

46 RED CELL: COLD WAR SPECIAL The Red Cell Crew are constantly looking at different AEG and GBB platforms that are “good to go” from the box but what’s the situation when it comes to period-specific models? With a love for NATO models from the Cold War era, “The Cell” have put together their favourites.

84 AIRSOFT COMMANDER We have all taken part of unique airsoft games, with different stories, missions, scenarios and everything in between but, in most cases, there is one thing in common and that is the faction commander; someone willing not to play so that others can have fun and enjoy themselves!

58 TECH: AIRSOFT PROPS With the first “Operational Deployment” of his Missile Launch System well and truly under his belt, James embarks on a new series of articles investigating how the correct use of “scene setting” can turn a good airsoft game into an awesome one!

86 KIT & GEAR: LEATHERMAN Frenchie has written about multitools on more than a few occasions in Airsoft Action and this month he’s going to add to that growing pile, by taking a closer look at one of his favourites - the Leatherman Style PS.

60 TECH: KEEP IT CLEAN! Any self-respecting ‘softer owns and uses frequently a GBB pistol but owning any GBB pistol requires a certain amount of maintenance, somewhat more than an AEG. In this instalment of “Tech”, Jimmy covers how to go about looking after your pistol.

92 LAST POST Now that a publicity moratorium has been lifted, Frenchie brings us an overview of the latest BB development, one that will surprise - and possibly startle - airsofters the world over (either that, or he’s been sniffing his Pritt Stick again)!

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

DESIGNED FOR PROFESSIONALS

maromx.com

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN UNDER STUDIO CONDITIONS - GBBR CHECKED CLEAR - MAG EMPTY

armoury ARCHWICK L119A2

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armoury ARCHWICK L119A2

LABOUR OF LOVE

HAVING SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AT ARCHWICK, AA LEGIONNAIRE “STEWBACCA” HAS HAD A VERY PRIVILEGED INSIDE VIEW ON THE LONGER-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW OF THEIR ONGOING PROJECTS. IN PARTICULAR, THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS UNDERTAKEN TO REALISE ONE OF THEIR UPCOMING CENTREPIECE ITEMS, ONE THAT HAS CAUSED A FURORE AMONG THE UKSF IMPRESSION COMMUNITY - IN THE UK IN PARTICULAR - BUT WHICH ALSO HAS A HUGE FOLLOWING IN THE WIDER INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT COMMUNITY: THE L119A2 GBBR!

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ARCHWICK L119A2

he Colt Canada L119A2 Armalite derivative rose to international fame in the real steel arena with its employment by the Special Air Service (SAS) and, in particular, the Nairobi terror incident in Kenya, where a lone operative (who happened to be training nearby) single-handedly strolled into the foray and resolved the situation to great media and political plaudit, with L119A2 in hand and clad in a mixture of civilian and Multicam equipment (which has become a go-to impression for many avid fans of special forces and MilSim games). Recognising the clear popularity of the platform (and realising that it sits in the specific niche typical of their chosen projects), the team at Archwick decided to undertake a somewhat leviathan task for their first GBBR product - a genuine licensed replica, with a truly monolithic upper receiver akin to its real counterpart, authorised and detailed to the most realistic extent possible. As with all their products, this would be produced with typical fastidiousness and attention to minutiae, no doubt in order to satisfy the increasingly pernicious discerning collectors and shooters within their customer base who will find any faults if present. Bearing this in mind, it is clear that Archwick’s L119A2 project and its resultant array of products and

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components - including the presentation style transport cases and even the required installation tooling included - are, like all their products, a labour of love. Announcing their intent to roll out the product with social media releases just prior to the Military Outdoor & Airsoft exhibition in late 2020, in Taipei (MOA 2020) and then showcasing their prototype along with some real steel optics mounted and a bilingual information pack on display sporting “Obi Wan Nairobi” himself, “Christian Craighead” (as he has made himself known as on social media), kicking in Kenyan doors as advertising for the L119A2 - similar to operation Nimrod’s effect of catapulting the HK MP5 into popular culture. Aside from being the only officially authorised and trademarked version of the L119A2, what else sets Archwick’s offering from the rest of the replicas, from a variety of manufacturers who have scrambled to answer the end user’s desires? Archwick are ensuring they not only have collector level buyers satisfied with their level of detail, appropriate trademarks, surface treatments and of course their build quality, they are also ensuring as broad a user base as possible, with a variety of models compatible with frontline manufacturers ARs. The first production release to hit the market will be a complete gun built off the well-proven GHK internal operating system, with GHK dealing direct with Archwick to supply the internal

armoury ARCHWICK L119A2

components and “raw” basic lower receivers. These are then finish machined externally and surface treated to give the markings and appearance of a Colt Canada lower which, once populated with the GHK fire control components, is then fitted with the Archwick-produced aluminium buffer tube, related spring and buffer, an ASAP style ambidextrous sling mounting ring plate, ambidextrous charging handle, polymer ergo-pistol grip, CTR telescopic polymer stock which, upon completion, is then joined by the upper receiver assembly. This Archwick upper assembly comprises the centrepiece monolithic aluminium upper receiver, locally produced and well regarded A-Plus CNC machined hop unit and inner barrel, as well as the Archwick produced steel outer barrel. The outer barrel has to be installed with the included tubular tool due to the lack of access near the front of the receiver, as the external picatinny rails are of course integral and thus the barrel requires a long tool with a castellated end to aid tightening of the barrel nut from the barrel’s front end during fitting. Being released in July 2020 and already with multiple hundreds of units accounted for in the order books, the Archwick team really have their work cut out for them in terms of volume to be produced and the obvious demand for the product. The GHK versions will be supplied with the upper & lower receivers individually completed but separated within the kit cases. Following on from this premium level full gun

assembly, will be the Tokyo Marui MWS GBBR platform compatible kit. This will comprise the same upper receiver assembly and barrel installation tool, as well as Archwick produced CNC lower receiver bodies, the same ergonomic pistol grip, ASAP style rear buffer plate, machined buffer tube, buffer and spring, all of which will be supplied separately in the cases, with either the end user or dealers performing the final installation of the required Marui internal or cosmetic components. Once this version is completed the next platform in their sights is the Tokyo Marui NGRS recoil AEG range. Looking to cater for the more foul-weather player base (in terms of those who just can’t get along with GBBRs where they live and play, or otherwise just prefer the electric life), clearly there’s something for everyone who wants to get their special forces gear on, regardless of whether they prefer to run on gas or electric. The kit cases not only ensure that the guns arrive at the end user in pristine condition, they also provide an excellent carry solution to and from sites, allowing the user to break the upper and lower receivers apart and store them in the cases, which look very “grey man” and thus ideal for those who have to move through public spaces or transport to get to games. Along with the external components and detailing, Archwick even went to the extent of having curved and knobbled heat shields stamped from aluminium sheet to really add the little details and finishing touches to the replica, while their buffer tubes also

“THE COLT CANADA L119A2 ARMALITE DERIVATIVE ROSE TO INTERNATIONAL FAME IN THE REAL STEEL ARENA WITH ITS EMPLOYMENT BY THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE (SAS) AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE NAIROBI TERROR INCIDENT IN KENYA, WHERE A LONE OPERATIVE (WHO HAPPENED TO BE TRAINING NEARBY) SINGLE-HANDEDLY STROLLED INTO THE FORAY AND RESOLVED THE SITUATION TO GREAT MEDIA AND POLITICAL PLAUDIT…” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ARCHWICK L119A2

buck the typical industry trend of taking an extrusion and slapping a base plug in the end. They actually machined them entirely from solid; a near insane level of investment in time and effort to ensure the finished article not only looks as close to the real thing as possible, but even mimics its build process and quality by making use of a level of production that will surely spoil skirmishers, and satisfy the most discerning aficionados. Similarly, the attention to detail in terms of polymer component production is evidently a hangover from their prior Mk13 Mod 7 products, which made extensive use of separate external polymer components all bolted to the chassis in a manner true to form of the real steel counterpart, even though it made it a much more expensive to produce. Although the pistol grip is the only Archwick made polymer component, the type of rubberised material used and the realistic two-part construction of hard mechanical liner with mounting hardware and softer ergonomic outer skin that gives a pleasant feel in the hand and is textured for extra grip, ensuring that every level of the process extols their capabilities. In terms of the prototyping and pre-production efforts, there were numerous iterations and minor issues I witnessed which were all dealt with to a great deal of attention, ensuring the end product would meet the end user’s standards. Making use of another manufacturer’s internal components entailed repeated 12

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tweaks of the upper receiver internal geometry and related CNC programming to ensure proper fit and function, as well as avoiding any machining marks in the finished article, which is then shot blasted for further smoothness. The function of the internals also required a process of tuning and tweaking to ensure a reliable and consistent recoil of the gas parts and accurate coaxial fitting of the machined Aluminium buffer tubes. At times the cadence during full auto fire would alter due to friction or imbalances, but the team worked hard to reiterate the combinations of spring rates and buffer weights to get the L119A2 running like a sewing machine, while also giving it quite a pleasant recoil impulse - less abrupt than some of the other GBBRs I’ve used. Similarly, attaining the perfect surface finish lead to a move away from the initially intended genuine Cerakote painting of components, as this was found to chip from the sharp edges of the stub Picatinny rails too readily. The decision was made to instead hard anodise the receivers; the next challenge thus became colour matching of the lower and upper receiver bodies, which initially posed a minor nuisance as the two are made from dissimilar Aluminium alloys (7075 and 6061 for upper and lower respectively). Therefore, the initial experiments with anodising resulted in slightly different shades which then required repeated treatments until the appropriate process and colour

armoury

matching was obtained. Throughout all of these trials and tribulations I saw the Archwick team apply their experience and problem-solving abilities well and strive to give the end user the level best in quality of both the appearance and function of their L119A2 GBBR series, producing a platform that looks and feels the absolute business, which shoots straight and reaches out far, especially on heavier BB ammunition weights. I’m sure the upcoming Marui NGRS AEG system will be given the same consideration, although, hopefully, won’t present the same internal balancing issues due to its electric operation. With this ever-expanding range of signature top tier products to entice end users, whether they’re a

discerning collector of replicas of service weapons, or the avid MilSim skirmisher who has to have every minor detail of their kit up to par, Archwick look set to keep turning out top notch airsoft guns and accessories that will have people reaching into their pockets. I’d like to once again extend my thanks to Nelson, Ray & their team for accommodating me so often and continually being so open with their production and development process, so I can bring their attention to detail to our reader’s attention. AA www.airsoftaction.net

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN UNDER STUDIO CONDITIONS - GBBR CHECKED CLEAR - MAG EMPTY

ARCHWICK L119A2

armoury ASG STEYER SCOUT

“A SHOOTER NEEDS ONLY ONE RIFLE!” 16

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armoury ASG STEYER SCOUT

...SAID NO AIRSOFTER

…EVER! www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ASG STEYER SCOUT

NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF PLATFORM IT IS, ALL OF US AT AIRSOFT ACTION ARE GENUINELY DELIGHTED TO SEE SOMETHING THAT’S JUST A BIT DIFFERENT AND IN A DEPARTURE FROM HIS USUAL PREFERENCE OF AIRSOFT RIFS, BOYCIE TAKES A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE STEYR SCOUT BOLT ACTION RIFLE THAT’S COME TO MARKET COURTESY OF ACTIONSPORTGAMES (ASG).

he Scout was designed to fill the role of a versatile, lightweight, all-round rifle that was specified in Col. Jeff Cooper’s Scout Rifle Concept. His concept was that the rifle should be less than 1 metre (40”) long, weigh less than 3 kg (6.6lbs), have iron sights, be able to accept optical sights and be able to accept practical slings to aid in both shooting and carrying the rifle. Also, it should be able to hit a man-sized target at 450m (1476ft) without optics. The real Steyr Scout is made in Austria by Steyr Mannlicher and its primary calibre is 7.62 NATO. Some also call this the .308 but although the dimensions are close enough to allow them to be chambered and fired, the chamber pressures of .308 are usually significantly higher. Other calibre options for the real steel are 5.56 NATO/.223 (again different rounds), .243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .376 Steyr and 7mm-08 Remington. The fully-licensed airsoft version of the Steyr Scout is a collaboration between ASG and Modify, to provide an out of the box rifle that needs no further “upgrades”. When you open the box, the rifle is wellprotected with foam packaging and also visible is the 32 BB magazine and a bottle of 680 x Modify .40 BBs. Also included is a plastic bag with a simple and clear instruction booklet, a Modify Allen Key for adjusting the hop and a Modify PVC patch. I’ll get the basic stuff out of the way first…

SPECIFICATIONS (FACTORY) • • • • •

Length - 1000mm Weight - 2950g Magazine Capacity – 32rnd Velocity – 450 FPS (with .20g BB) Joule Output - 1.82

FEATURES • • • • • •

Metal piston with dual rotary rings Silent cylinder head and piston head with airbrake 9 mm stainless steel spring guide with rotary ring Integrated bipod Enlarged volume steel cylinder Pressure lever and TDC for dual hop up adjustment system • Upgradable to M190 spring power 18

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• • • • • • •

Hop up bucking for 0.36g or above heavy BBs Trigger with lightweight trigger pull Adjustment tools stored inside the fake magazine Backup magazine storage Flip-up sights QD Points 14mm CCW Thread for Airsoft Suppressor/Muzzle Brake • VSR compatible inner barrel

OVERVIEW

Before setting up to shoot, a good look round the rifle reveals a dummy magazine (where a real rifle would have one) which holds the hop adjustment Allen Key. A really good feature is that you can adjust the hop by a slider, which is accessible when the bipod legs are deployed. The stock is really comfortable and the butt can be adjusted for length by removing sections to get it to fit naturally and comfortably into the shoulder. The foreend of the stock is really comfortable in the hand and is great for both unsupported and bag-rest firing. Under the butt there is another dummy magazine cover (in the real Scout this is storage for a further 5 round magazine) which opens to reveal storage for a spare 32 BB magazine; I really like this feature as it means you can carry 65 BBs on the rifle. Under the fore-end of the stock is a button with releases the legs of the integrated bipod; the length of the integrated bipod can take some getting used to as they are non-adjustable but then, as with the real rifle, there is a dovetail section where you can fit a section of Pitcatinny Rail to hold an adjustable type bipod. At the butt and on each side of the dummy magazine well and under the foregrip are QD points, totalling 5 positions, to allow the end user to fit the sling set up that most suits them. Up front is a really nice-looking fluted outer barrel in which sits a VSRcompatible inner barrel, meaning you can, if you wish, change the length of the inner barrel and even run it into a dummy suppressor. One thing I found when using the spare Modify 30 BB magazines, is that they don’t release properly from the rifle, however, the magazine (32 BB) that comes with the rifle drops out far enough to allow you to grab it and withdraw it fully. After a quick look it seems that one of the

armoury ASG STEYER SCOUT

pins on the magazine is a little too long and after a light filing, allows the magazine to fit and release perfectly. Laying prone behind the rifle it sits in the ideal position for you to get a great cheek-weld and eye relief. When firing you get the usual VSR type thwack of the piston hitting the front of the cylinder but it’s not bad and as I shot more BBs through it, this seemed to lessen.

ON THE RANGE

For the longer-range tests, both fellow Red Cell member Stuart and I travelled over to Humber Airsoft Club, where we can test out to 100m plus. We got to the Safe Zone, grabbed a coffee and waited for the safety brief before we were permitted to drive down to the area we had been allocated to do the testing. This was away from the areas that the players would be using during the morning games, so we’d be undisturbed (other than hearing the boom of pyro from the games!). We set up our table and after unpacking, the first job was to conduct a base line chrono test: 431.44 fps average (432.5, 432.2, 432.5, 430.9, 429.1) using Nuprol RZR 0.20g For the test we used 60% scale IPSC targets, which are roughly the size of the “centre mass” of a target, or about the size of the front of a plate carrier. The rifle was fired using the integral bipod for support. The ammo used for the tests was: • Nuprol Rzr 0.20g & 0.25g • Valkyrie 0.32g • Vorsk Bio in 0.36, 0.40 & 0.43g Aluminium IPSC 1/3rd scaled targets were placed at 20m and 25m along with an IPSC 60% card target at 25m for grouping. After a chrono check of 5 BBs we engaged the 20m plate and then the 25m plate. The aluminium was being hit hard enough by the ammo to not only make it “ring” when hit but provided a dint in the surface which showed the grouping made by each weight. Next was a 10 BB group on the card target. From this we measured the tightest group of 5 BBs and also the max spread of the 10 rounds fired. Rzr 0.20 431.44 fps average (432.5, 432.2, 432.5, 430.9, 429.1) = 1.73J Result 3.75” (95.25mm) group of 5, max spread of 5” (127mm) Rzr 0.25 411.52 fps average (411.2, 410.4, 408.7, 419.3, 408.0) = 1.96J Result 2” (50.8mm) group of 5, max spread 4.25” (108mm).

Valkyrie 0.32 385.48 average (392.1, 381.3, 386.3, 387.3, 380.4) = 2.07J Result 2” (50.8mm) group of 5, max spread 3.5” (89mm). Vorsk 0.36 Bio 358.28 average (360.4, 361.8, 355.6, 355.6, 358.0) = 2.15J Result 1 3/8” (35mm) group of 5, max spread 3.25” (82.5mm) Vorsk 0.40 Bio 349.36 average (347.7, 349.8, 347.7, 349.6, 352.0) = 2.27J ¾” (19mm) group of 5, max spread 2.5” (63.5mm) Vorsk 0.43 Bio 342.76 average (342.6, 345.4, 341.5, 343.8, 341.3) = 2.35J 1 ¼” (31.75mm) group of 5, max spread 3” (76.2mm) These groups were all shot with a breeze from the right of approx. 6-8mph, low humidity, air temp approx. 22 degrees. We then set out aluminium targets at 35m, 50m, 60m and 75m. We would fire 10 BBs at each distance and could hear the target “report” a hit with a “ding”. For this test we only used the Vorsk 0.40 Bio BB. The first BBs at most distances were to gauge the breeze. On the 35m target 8 shots sounded, then we moved back to 50m (prone) gave 9 hits on the target. On the 60m (prone) distance I guessed the hold over for the target and got a hit on the first shot, so as time was getting short (and after Stuart called me a “smart ar*e!”), I moved straight back to 75m prone where 4 shots actually hit the target. However, I could observe the BB path and it would be easy to hit a human size target at 75m. When spotting, Stuart was calling that the BBs were hitting in a smallish area out to approx. 85m at this point. We are confident that with the breeze we were experiencing hits out to 100m+ should be possible. This is rather impressive for only a 360mm inner barrel. To be fair to the lighter weights of ammo, the hop rubber is stated to suit 0.36 and higher BB weights. We took a picture of the aluminium target after shooting the 50m string and saw that 5 of the hits were in the “headbox” of approx. 2.5” square. Having been a real steel long gun shooter from the mid-80’s through to the present day, I never really got into shooting airsoft bolt action rifles but I’m really impressed with the Scout and am looking forward to putting it through its paces at the skirmish sites in the coming weeks and months.

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ASG STEYER SCOUT

SUMMARY

For a rifle which, from Redwolf HK, costs $469.99 (approx. £340, plus shipping and import charges), all that is needed is to add BBs and go out and play. The rifle comes with integral iron sights which are good enough to use but if you want to kick it up a gear then you can fit a reasonable scope, like we used in the tests, for approx. £50. Compare this to the TM G-Spec which costs approx. £200 in the UK and would need a fair chunk of cash spending on it to bring it to a similar level as the Scout, it would likely cost about the same all in all. In my view this is a great “out of the box” rifle that needs nothing more than BBs and a couple of spare mags, possibly a scope and sling in order to make it skirmishable.

STUART’S STANDOUT POINTS

It’s reeeeely good! For an out of the box, pre “upgraded” bolt action rifle, this was a revelation to me. Everything works and works very well too. The bolt is really smooth when travelling and despite the quite heavy spring it is really easy to cock. There is none of the “clunkyness” which can often be felt on other rifles. The trigger was nice and once I got used to it, I really found it very user friendly. Although this trigger isn’t adjustable like a zero trigger for example, I don’t think it needs any change made, it’s just a really nice break point. The rifle in itself is short, well-balanced and pointable. The weight also is really good, I’d be happy carrying this all day, either slung or unslung. Even with the test scope and suppressor fitted it didn’t feel unwieldy. I couldn’t fault the bipod; the fact that it is integral is brilliant and despite being fixed height I quickly found it to be really helpful and there was no need to compensate by hunching myself to get a good sight picture. At the time of writing we’re unsure when the Scout will be readily available in the UK but it’s already out in the wild in the Far East and we’d certainly say keep an eye out because when they land here they will be really popular. Our thanks go to Herman at RedWolf UK for sourcing the Scout Rifle for us, to Andy and Harry at Humber Airsoft Club for allowing us to test the rifle at their site and to Megan at NUPROL for rushing through the Vorsk Bio BBs for us to use in the tests. We would also like to make it 100% clear that all photos were taken when the rifle was unloaded and cleared, which is why, in some photos, normal glasses were being worn. Always wear appropriate eye protection whenever you are playing, or testing with a loaded RIF or IF. AA www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE

PREMIUM PERFORMANCE... BUDGET PRICE! 22

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armoury ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE

NEVER LET IT BE SAID THAT AT AIRSOFT ACTION WE ONLY EVER LOOK AT THE EXPENSIVE END OF THE AEG MARKET, AS THERE ARE SOME LITTLE “GUCCI” GEMS OUT THERE FOR THOSE THAT DON’T WANT TO SPEND THE EARTH ON THEIR “SKIRMISH GUN”. BILL HAS BEEN ON THE RANGE A LOT WITH THE LATEST PDW FROM ARCTURUS, THAT’S BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE WITHOUT A MASSIVE PRICE-TAG, THE KARAMBIT LITE! IN ASSOCIATION WITH

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE

f you’re starting out in your personal “airsoft journey” then believe me, I totally understand that the pennies may not stack up for what you would really like to buy… I know, I’ve been where you are… always broke and broker still when I discovered the joy of 6mm! The differences now though, from when I started in airsoft, are massive in all respects and even at the “cheaper” end of the market there are some totally righteous AEGS available that offer both looks and performance which I could only dream of 27 years ago! I’ve highlighted the word “cheaper” as it often appears we’ve all come to the conclusion that the more money we spend on an AEG, or the more money that we throw at it, will somehow mean we become better players. However, as I always say to those I play alongside: “It’s not what you’ve got, it’s how you use it” and I would much rather be playing alongside someone who plays hard and with honour and has a rental, than someone with a mega-shootyupgraded-AR-ikov who sits in the Safe Zone all day or walks obliviously through a hail of BBs without once calling their hits! The fact is that airsoft, to me at least, was summed up by my friend Stelios and his team when I played on Crete at WarZone 6. They had the approach that you should play the game “to give your opponent the best possible experience” and I truly love that! They’re not saying for one moment that you shouldn’t play hard, take ground and smash the objective, but they are saying that you should do so in a way that makes the game enjoyable for everyone, by simply playing fairly. In that scenario, with that mindset, it REALLY doesn’t matter what AEG you have in your hands; if YOU are enjoying your game of airsoft and you’re playing in such a way that those around you are enjoying it too, then the “platform” you use becomes almost secondary. I’ve turned up to do a Site Report with no intention of being an active participant, been offered a game and handed a rental AEG, and actually had some of the best skirmishes of my airsoft “life”! But the fact is that if I were to buy another AEG of my own today, I would have SO MUCH CHOICE! I could pick a dedicated “woodland” model with a great long barrel, I could pick an historic model just because I love it, or I could choose from a vast array of short and super-short CQB/CQC variants that would also see me well in most games. If I already owned a 24

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“woodland” rifle these days I could actually afford to buy a “shorty” too as prices have become (for now at least) quite ridiculously low! And this leads me neatly on to the latest Arcturus model, the KARAMBIT LITE as, at the time of writing, you can pick up one of these super little “PDWStyle” AEGs for well-under UK£120!

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

As someone that has a healthy respect for blades I was immediately struck by the choice of name for Arcturus’ new line of AEGs, as the “karambit” is a diminutive curvedblade knife believed to originate in Indonesia. The karambit was originally a tool for those toiling in the rice paddies, smaller and

more nimble than their larger scythes, a tool rather than a fighting implement. However, the “karambit style” has become increasingly popular in knife-fighting circles and as a “hideaway” for “operators”. If you are inclined to look you will find models of this style amongst the offerings of many of the finest blademakers around the world today. It’s the handling characteristics of the blade that appears to have influenced the choice of name for

armoury ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE

the Arcturus AEGs, as they too are (in terms of price) available to even the poorest amongst us but as small, lightweight, perfectly formed and effective as their bladed forebear! There are three models in the Arcturus “Karambit” line (all with MOS Manufacture in the shadows…); one full-metal and two nylonfibre-bodied “LITE” models with different barrel lengths. I chose the smallest and cheapest of the lot, the AT-NY05, to check out - and I’ve been delighted by what I received! This is indeed one sharp little AEG! The upper and lower receivers are made of durable nylon-fibre, which is actually very sturdy with no bend or flex in evidence. Thanks to the nylon body, the weight and the price of the replica have both been kept low and the former, especially for a super-short “PDW”, is spot on! At just 2,300g this is an AEG that you can

carry all day long, almost without noticing it until you need it. Arcturus have been clever when it comes to overall strength of the AEG though, as there’s a socket for the buffer tube tube and a barrel socket with a thread for the handguardring, both of which are reinforced with a metal threaded sleeve; no breaking or cracking above the pistol grip (an age old problem with “plastic” ARs) here! However, the majority of the external parts in the LITE, such as the handguard, outer barrel, muzzle device (very cool!), fire selectors, magazine catch,

ejection cover, bolt catch, and receiver extension tube are alloy and all these parts have been suitably treated to protect against corrosion. Inside the story is also good, as the LITE features a V2 gearbox finished off with a sealed nozzle, a quick spring change system, a bearing spring guide and bearing piston head. The polymer piston is equipped with steel teeth that work with high-quality gears and the gears themselves are mounted on 8mm steel bushings to cope with high load. The bevel gear is bearing-mounted to ensure that it is free to spin at high speeds and there’s even a microswitch trigger with low-resistance wiring, so everything comes “LiPo ready”. As always, an electric trigger eliminates the problem of burned out contacts and improves the trigger response. In terms of precise BB-in-flightadjustment and overall performance, there’s a metal rotary hop-up chamber and a hardened 6.03mm precision steel barrel as standard too.

ROCKIN’ THE ‘BIT!

There are also some elements of the Karambit’s construction that I have to comment on as I REALLY like them, especially considering the price of this AEG. The magazine catch, bolt catch and fire selector are ALL ambidextrous. The handguard is a very, very nicely achieved alloy M-LOK 140mm but it still has a top-rail that marries up perfectly with the railed upper and the sliding “PDW-style” stock is sold as a rock (and has QD slingstud-points both left and right) - although it does suffer from a tiny battery compartment, which means you have to pick your battery carefully, especially as it’s T-Plug wired. I found that small 11.1V 800mAh 15C works very well indeed. I also like the pop-up polymer “irons” that come pre-fitted and that the carbine comes with a pair of pistol-grip backstraps! This is quite a rare thing with a “standard” AEG at this pricepoint and it means that even those with small hands (or a slighter stature overall as this AEG is perfect for smaller players!)

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TOKYO MARUI

L119A2 CUSTOM BUILD

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armoury ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE

can get a really positive hold when shooting. I also totally LOVE that Arcturus provide a very “old skool” towelling wristband in the box to deal with “shooting hand sweat”! The net result is that although the Karambit is priced VERY competitively, you still feel you have something a little bit special! So, what’s it like to shoot? Being a big chap I do struggle a little with really short AEGs and even with the stock at full extension the LITE is only 604mm long! It is, however, a very tidy little package that shoots well, straight and surprisingly far! The LITE comes with a 340 BB polymer magazine which is ridged and textured, making it very tactile and positive and the magazine is designed for smooth and uninterrupted feeding of BBs even at a high ROF. I did, as usual, try a whole load of different brand “AR” mags and all of them worked perfectly. So, all set up it was off to the woods for some range time and the Karambit LITE performed just as positively as I expected it would, as I’ve had much experience now with their AK variants. It’s a great little AR to work with, with great ergonomics and a very positive cheek weld (even with the minimalist stock). Adding a finger rest makes it very easy to drive the muzzle from target to target, and the overall length of the rifle, the full 604mm for me, makes it easy to work with, especially in tight spaces! Once the rotary hop was set, an easy control to adjust, the LITE was shooting straight out to the end of the 30m range at a site-friendly 1.09 Joule/344fps average on a .20g RZR BB. The microswitch trigger is light yet crisp, with very little lag so it’s easy to get consistently accurate shots away time after time. Switching it up to full auto sends a nice stream of BBs downrange in quick time at a rate nobody would moan about, apart from perhaps the airsofter on the receiving end! I would say that if you are looking for a supercompact “PDW-Style AR”, then the Karambit LITE is certainly worth looking at… and looking at hard! It’s a great, modern-looking replica and it performs just as well as it should out of the box; it’s light yet solid and at the price it’s pretty much a no-brainer! If you fancy something longer, or with a metal body, then there’s the 5.5” AR15 Dwarf, the 5.5” AR15 Karambit, or the 8” AR15 Sword AEGs to choose from in the latest line-up from Arcturus and I am certain that there’s a model for YOU somewhere in the mix. Although I’ll stick with the Karambit LITE if it’s all the same to you! Many thanks indeed to TAIWANGUN who kindly provided me with the AEG sample for this review. You can check out more details on the KARAMBIT LITE and the rest of the extensive range of Arcturus models by simply visiting www.taiwangun.com AA www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR OPFOR OPERATOR

DURING HIS TIME PLAYING AIRSOFT, BILL HAS FOUND HIMSELF ON ALL MANNER OF TEAMS AND EVERY SINGLE ONE HAS HAD ITS OWN PARTICULAR PLUS AND MINUS POINTS, BUT HE DOES SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN THE TIME THAT HE’S SPENT PLAYING OPPOSING FORCE, OR OPFOR, WHERE HE’S ENJOYED HIMSELF THE MOST. FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, HE FINALLY STARTS TO LOOK AT OPFOR “MAIN FORCE”!

’ve been following the OPFOR path for some considerable time now, as to me it brings back some of the freedom of the old days. Like many, my loadout has become progressively more “operator” over the years and guess what? These days I find myself running about in a simple chest rig and simple belt kit once again… I’ve been trying to play more and more regularly following my major surgery a couple of years back and (due to its nature) I’ve found wearing a plate full carrier quite uncomfortable. This has forced me to step back to simpler kit, as I still want to get out and play, to have fun with airsoft again and regain the fitness I’d lost (and drop come C-Pounds too!). Playing more regularly locally means that I’ve also reconnected with some superb “grass roots” airsofters at local skirmishes and the social aspect is re-emerging too! I’ve been lucky enough to meet more and more players who live locally to me again. First amongst them was James (who has gone on to become a valued member of the AA Legion and regular contributor), who I met through our shared love of “Post-Ap” style board and video games. Whilst at first we met to play with “tiny warriroz” on

the tabletop, he too was missing belonging to an “airsoft team”. At this point the seeds of what was to become “DO-18 OPFOR” were planted; “DO” for Dover where we both live, and “18” for the year we set things up. Our initial discussions were about what type of team we wanted to create and, after much back and forth and some soul-searching, we agreed that what we missed were the games where we took on interesting missions on a very “small unit” scale, and this led to me suggesting that we follow the OPFOR route. OPFOR is often viewed as being “cannon fodder”, a force which is always set up to lose against the better armed, better equipped BLUFOR and I’ll say yet again, that if this is how you view OPFOR then it’s not for you. As I’ve also said before, a decent OPFOR to me is a team that has multiple challenges. Yes, BLUFOR will have their mission and, in turn, their taskings to fulfil this mission but they will also have to contend with a fairly rigid command structure and rules of engagement. Being a part of BLUFOR at more carefully constructed MilSim events will also mean quite a rigid uniform and equipment element and I know that this can seem prohibitive for newer

“OPFOR IS OFTEN VIEWED AS BEING “CANNON FODDER”; A FORCE WHICH IS ALWAYS SET UP TO LOSE AGAINST THE BETTER ARMED, BETTER EQUIPPED BLUFOR AND I’LL SAY YET AGAIN, THAT IF THIS IS HOW YOU VIEW OPFOR THEN IT’S NOT FOR YOU.”

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KIT & GEAR OPFOR OPERATOR

players. For OPFOR though, just like any airsoft loadout, you need to still think ahead before you set up your “to buy” list and (unless you’re unlike any airsofter I’ve ever met) the first considerations will inevitably be driven by what primary and secondary you want to use! When it comes to OPFOR work, of course the AK is king and thankfully there seem to be more choices in terms of airsoft AKs than ever before! There are excellent models available from the likes of GHK, VFC, E&L, LCT, ARCTURUS, TM and soon G&G too if the “12-alike” comes to fruition… I could go on and on now, which, for me, is sheer heaven! My personal choice OPFOR work is either the WE AKS 74U or ACE SVD GBBRs (for MilSim events) or the superb E&L AKS74UN-A Tactical (for everything else!), although I have added an Arcturus AK-12 for potential “main force” use. I use Real-Caps in the gasser and Mid-Caps in the AEGs, so I need to carry six mags in total for either variant as ammo limits will vary given the “realism” of the game. My choice of “secondary” is usually a WE Makarov, just as a backup, or now an upgraded RAPTOR GRACH (we’ll come to the upgrades on this with Jimmy at a later date!). If my DO-18 team-mates and I are running “ambush heavy” then there’s also usually an ASG B&T GL06 launcher with a few MOSCARTs in the mix too, along with an A&K PKM!

before it gets down into your eyes. At a summer game where the sun was out full force I wore the “Partizan” Boonie that I got some time back from Giena Tactics; not only did that shield my face and neck, but the Russian pattern also gave a properly OPFOR feel to the whole outfit. For many moons though, I’ve wanted to take the leap and create a full set of “main force”, or more Russian Military “feel” gear to my OPFOR wardrobe. Amongst my collection I already have in hand various items of Russian 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 their latest gear in to try as they’ve recently added full sets in both “Partizan” and “Digi Flora” to their clothing range. 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. We’ve used the original gear before and as it now appears to be coming generally more available we thought it was high time to check out the updates! First up were the clothing pieces and, as we have slightly different styles of play, I went for the

GETTING YOUR GEAR ON!

If you have followed my “OPFOR Adventures” in AA, you will know that I advocate simplicity and for my personal “militia” setup I have my much-loved black Adidas tracky top. This works surprisingly well in the winter months either on its own, or as a layering garment underneath a plain coloured waterproof as, being an athletic garment, it has inherent performance characteristics like wind repellence and breathability. For the summer months I picked up two black Adidas “Climalite” wicking performance t-shirts from my local sports shop, just £20 for the two in the sale. James also found a really nice polo version in blue for much cheapness online! In terms of trousers/pants, it’s easy enough to marry up a pair you already own, a pair that you might already use in another loadout and find comfortable. All I really add to this is a black “ChiCom” chest rig, a small black pack, black gloves (in my case First Tactical …coz I love ‘em!) and some form of hat. I do like a simple BUFF worn “pirate style” as this is very low profile and also helps to mop up any sweat

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KIT & GEAR OPFOR OPERATOR

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 and 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, whilst 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

SEPTEMBER 2021

the Combat Shirt perfectly. Where the MKII Combat Pant differs from the original is the careful placement of yet more stretch elements and these are really quite remarkable! Over the top of the knee and in the small of the back behind the comfortable high waistband, the clever designers at Invader Gear have placed panels of a new stretch construction; it looks almost “concertina-like” in construction but work superbly well. These panels are also made in the same camouflage pattern as the rest of the trousers to give a better overall “total camo solution” and the one in the small of the back works SO well I had

to check a couple of times that the trousers weren’t actually falling down, so great is the movement! This is a brilliant step forward, so well done Invader Gear guys for this! I personally find the kneepads that come as a part of the set quite bulky but I’m pleased to say that my “go to” CRYE pads fit the new Predator pants perfectly (sorry Jase, for all my p-taking, I guess I am a proper gear tart too!) and bring down the bulk. The Revenger gear is more 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 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

KIT & GEAR OPFOR OPERATOR

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.

FIELDING IT

Now, as much as I would love to own a living history standard loadout for “main force” and perhaps one day I will, I’m an airsofter and one that knows what works for me in the field and in game! I already own a lovely Partizan Gorka suit from Grey Shop, so I’ve tailored the Invader Gear kit to match up with that and their “take” on the Partizan pattern is excellent if I lay it next to my “real”. For this set of gear I already have a super SSO/SPOSN “Jaeger” chest rig that I bought from “Tovarisch Taz” (who writes for us from time to time) and has been a positive mine of knowledge when it comes to all things “Ratnik”. My GRACH currently rides in a simple black leather holster which I will upgrade to a polymer “ALPHA” when I have the money and the only other thing on my belt is a plain green dump pouch. I have a number of plain green packs that I can use if I need

more “load-lugging” space, one of which closely resembles the SSO/SPOSN “ADLER” so that feels right enough. The Digi Flora pattern from Invader Gear is also an excellent reproduction, so their FAST helmet cover will work with the lids I already have. I believe it will be safe here to go with some of Taz’s other “Ratnik Recommendations” though (you can find his excellent full article on Ratnik Gear in the Back Issues section of the AA website, Issue 117!) like a Digi Flora 6B45 Body Armour Carrier (Plate Carrier), although I’m in two minds about the 6SH117 load bearing system and may well stick with another chest rig to keep the weight and bulk down. Again, I’d stress here that this is meant to be gear to play airsoft in and not a reproduction of current Russian “service dress”, so mixing and matching for effectiveness on the field, as has always been my way, will be the way I will go - no doubt much to the absolute horror of the “stitch bitches” out there! As long as my total loadout is obviously very different from that of BLUFOR, I’ll be good to go! Thanks to the new clothing and accessories from Invader Gear both James and I are one step closer to building our very own “main force” set of gear for our ongoing “DO-18 OPFOR” project, and although I’ve always said that going OPFOR can be a cheaper option for getting into MilSim territory, I’ve also never for a moment suggested that you can’t be OPFOR and have all the very latest gucci goodies, as of course sometimes BLUFOR will encounter opposition every bit as well kitted out as they are! Let’s just reiterate that as OPFOR you are not there to lose, you are there to adapt, overcome, roll with the undoubted pounding you will get from BLUFOR and ultimately thrive and survive to take on your next bit of skulduggery, sabotage, or downright naughtiness! With a little imagination and some help from companies like Invader Gear you can now also look as cool as your NATO Task Force counterpart while doing so! Many thanks as always go to my friends at Invader Gear and you can be sure I’ll update you on their gear as more becomes available and updates are made to existing models. Meanwhile, you can keep an eye on their clothing and gear ranges yourself by simply heading on over to www.invadergear.com AA

“…AS OPFOR YOU ARE NOT THERE TO LOSE, YOU ARE THERE TO ADAPT, OVERCOME, ROLL WITH THE UNDOUBTED POUNDING YOU WILL GET FROM BLUFOR AND ULTIMATELY THRIVE AND SURVIVE TO TAKE ON YOUR NEXT BIT OF SKULDUGGERY, SABOTAGE, OR DOWNRIGHT NAUGHTINESS!” www.airsoftaction.net

HI-CAPA • TDC Hop-Up Chamber (Compatible with TM spec)

• MASTER MODS R-Hop System • REVO.II High Performance Valve System • Steel made fire control system components (Compatible with TM spec)

• SUS301 Stainless Steel Searing Spring (Compatible with TM spec)

• Adjustable Trigger • RMR & DOC Mount • 3-dot Luminous Sights

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

FEATURE OUTDOORS

AN AIRSOFTER’S GUIDE TO TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT AS 2021 MOVES FORWARD IT SEEMS LIKE THE WORLD IS FINALLY REAWAKENING AND, AS IT DOES, THE SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE HAS MOST DEFINITELY KICKED BACK INTO HIGH GEAR AMONGST THE AA CREW! AS A GROUP OUR AIRSOFT ADVENTURES HAVE TAKEN US ALL OVER EUROPE AND THE USA AND NOW, WITH OUR ESTIMABLE LEGIONNAIRES, EVEN FURTHER AFIELD. HERE, JON STARTS LOOKING AT GEAR THAT CAN TURN A GREAT AIRSOFT EXPERIENCE INTO A TRULY MEMORABLE ONE.

020… What a year that was! I, for one, am glad it’s over as it’s given me time to sift, sort and de-clutter all my kit. It also gave many of us the time to kick back, relax, spend time with our close loved ones and work on areas of our lives that, maybe, we had neglected. One thing it didn’t let us do, was play our beloved airsoft. This time out became apparent when I wanted to use items I’d forgotten to take to a recent outing with my fellow Red Cell contributors and, even more so, when I used the Attack Sense System that had been set up there (No, I don’t want to talk about it and yes I AM the guy that will be writing a newbie guide to Practical and Competition Shooting)! All of the skills and drills I had learned over the years had gone out the window. While it was somewhat frustrating, I managed to pilfer those missing items from my colleagues and had a great day of airsoft. My utter unpreparedness got us recalling (as a group) all the daft things we had done over the years

at games - and there are many, MANY of them, especially when it comes to the years that the likes of Nige, Bill and Boycie have been involved with airsoft and where Nige and Bill’s travels have taken them! How we’d forgotten kit, over-packed and struggled to carry our gear through a scenario, got soaked to the bone and almost frozen solid. You know, light-hearted, generalised tales of misery, stupidity and most often, ignorance. That’s not to say we are arrogant or overconfident in our abilities, we (mostly me) hadn’t considered something and had to learn the hard way that we should have. It was an amusing conversation! That got us pondering on the common mistakes that we ALL make at one point or other during our time in the game. “We” decided that it might be an idea if “I” (notice how “we” became “I” there!) wrote a series of columns where “we” take a look at some common mistakes, misunderstandings, things that never cross your mind to take with you and how to have the best experience you can at a game day, a

“MY UTTER UNPREPAREDNESS GOT US RECALLING (AS A GROUP) ALL THE DAFT THINGS WE HAD DONE OVER THE YEARS AT GAMES - AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE YEARS THAT THE LIKES OF NIGE, BILL AND BOYCIE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AIRSOFT AND WHERE NIGE AND BILL’S TRAVELS HAVE TAKEN THEM!”

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FEATURE OUTDOORS

weekend event, or a scenario that lasts even longer. Along the way we will point you in the direction of suppliers and manufacturers who offer up various bits of kit that can and will help you out. That’s not to say you HAVE to take our recommendations, it’s just that in our collective experiences of airsoft, bushcraft and outdoor pursuits, these bits of kit have served us well. We will take a deep dive into what you REALLY need as a minimum and why you need it, then onto the things that are nice to have to compliment these basic items.

SO WHERE TO BEGIN?

It’s all in the planning. We’re civilised folks here at Airsoft Action (unless there’s a CQB scenario involved… looking at you again Bill!) and in the interest of being polite, I’ll direct your attention to the “5” Ps: • Proper. • Preparation. • Prevents. • Poor. • Performance. What kind of game are you playing? Is it a skirmish, BattleSim or MilSim? Is it a series of short games with a break between each one, a day with a lunch break or are you out in the A.O. for 12/24/36/48/72 hours? If you are playing a long game, will there be a F.O.B, will you be operating roaming patrols or will you be part of a Q.R.F. squad? Before you even start to look at your kit, you will want to be considering a whole host of factors, some of which I touched upon above but other things that none of us have had to consider before due to the pandemic. If you’re planning on a skirmish game or a “broken day” game, you don’t really have a huge deal to worry about but you do have certain things to consider to insure you have a comfortable day. • How will you be traveling there and will you be going alone? • Is there a sheltered Safe Zone or are you working from the boot of your car? • Is there food and drink available from the site or do you need to take your own?

• In this newly emerging post Covid World, will the site take cash or do you need to pay by card for the game day and on site items? • Are there toilet facilities? • Do you need a face mask and hand sanitizer when moving around the safe zone areas? • Is there an on-site shop to replace the BBs or gas that you may have forgotten? • Is this a new site to you? It may be that there is a site map available online that you can print out so you can find your way if you get lost. See where I’m going with this? There are a myriad of factors and things you SHOULD be considering before you even look at what kit and gear you will be taking. We’ll be working again with some of our long-term friends and partners in the industry like Snugpak, Helikon-Tex, VIPER, and Military1st to find gear that’s affordable and fit for purpose - not just for airsoft but for all our adventures - and putting things together in a way that’s straightforward and easily digestible. In the next instalment we’ll take a look at the 6, sorry, “5” Ps in more detail and start breaking down what you need and why you need it. AA

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KIT & GEAR DIRECT ACTION

DIRECT ACTION:

2021 UPDATES! IT’S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE WE SPOKE ABOUT NEW GEAR FROM THE TEAM OVER AT DIRECT ACTION IN POLAND. AS ALWAYS THOUGH, BILL HAS BEEN KEEPING A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THEIR LATEST DEVELOPMENTS AND INNOVATIONS FOR THE TRUE TACTICAL USER! WITH SOME GREAT NEW MODELS AVAILABLE HE BRINGS IN AN UPDATE OF KIT THAT HE’S ALREADY TRIED AND TESTED EXTENSIVELY!

et’s face it, 2021 has been a challenging year for businesses in many industries and the tactical gear manufacturers and innovators have had just the same hoops to jump through as everyone else. Raw material costs, fabric costs, and especially “goods inwards” costs have all spiralled - and continue to do so. Add to this problematic shipping and outrageous lead times for raw materials and specialist parts/components and I’m amazed that anyone has got anything meaningful done during the last twelve months! However, as I’ve often noted in my AEG and GBB reviews, there ARE manufacturers that have got a complete handle on all these disparate elements, and they have not only continued to do good business but have actually thrived in adversity. Given the folk involved behind the scenes with Direct Action, I am

not at all surprised that they have come out of the “Days of C-19” at the head of the pack. As I said when I last wrote about Direct Action: “…as with any relationship, the backbone is one of mutual trust and respect and over the past few years I have really come to respect and trust the guys at Direct Action immensely” and, if anything, their output during a time when lesser companies have faltered and wobbled has increased my respect for them even further! To recap for those that haven’t come across them before; Direct Action is a Polish company set up in 2014 that, from the outset, sought to combine great design and manufacturing capabilities with an up-close-and-personal understanding of the specific end-user needs. From the very beginning Direct Action have been a very tight unit, and their

“…THE GUY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR INNOVATION AND TESTING IS A PRIOR-SERVICE GROM COMBAT MEDIC WITH ALMOST 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, PLUS SEVERAL TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN!”

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KIT & GEAR DIRECT ACTION

R&D team in Poland consists of just a few good people; each member has his or her own area of expertise and is responsible for the tasks and projects that relate to that. As an example, the guy responsible for their innovation and testing is a prior-service GROM combat medic with almost 20 years of service, plus several tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan! This combination has created the approach of an “individual-as-a-system” that is open and flexible to all necessary options, yet remains streamlined and avoids overburdening. Each part of the system interfaces with the other components; weapons, load bearing equipment, backpacks, jackets, duty uniforms and even camouflage patterns, each of these is a part of a whole and a key component that’s critical to mission success. When creating Direct Action gear every detail is rigorously thought-out using a systemic perspective; there are no random choices, no compromises, no “same-old-stuff” design approach and no shying away from new technology - all items are based on first-hand, real-world experience of elite special operations units. Direct Action uses the highest quality materials available and the production process itself is subject to rigorous control. The whole line of combat equipment is designed and manufactured in Poland.

SPITFIRE

My first exposure to Direct Action came in the form of a couple of their excellent patrol pack models and I’m going to tell you, that as someone who worked with cutting-edge pack manufacture in a “previous existence”, this is an area in which I am hypercritical! Direct Action packs continue to impress not just me, but others that I work and play with. I am a user of Direct Action gear, both for airsoft and training and I’ll be straight and say that I love it! Although these days I’m more of a chest rig and pack kind of guy and not usually in need of any kind of “armour protection”, I still love the fact that all Direct Action gear is designed to work together and that it fits neatly in a fully modular fashion, not just with their own range but also with that of other industry leaders! My go-to plate carrier solution for a couple of years now has been the SPITFIRE MKII PLATE CARRIER –(the Adaptive Green rig that you’ll see in many of my range pictures).

The Direct Action SPITFIRE takes its name from a famous WWII fighter plane and, just like this aviation icon, it’s a streamlined and dynamic platform designed to carry ballistic plates with modular accessories, on or off the battlefield. At just 672g in a Size Large, it’s lightweight and non-restricting and one of the lightest carriers in its class. The MK II looks simple but in fact it is much more scalable and mission-configurable than its predecessors. The Direct Action team have stripped the carrier of unnecessary PALS slots under the flap and on the back, as well as enlarging the loop panel on the front for larger unit patches, plus they’ve even made it lighter! The SPITFIRE is beautifully made and cut and the materials and components are absolutely first rate! Put together using proprietary laser-cut laminate, Cordura 500D and softshell materials, the carrier benefits from front plate only configuration using the chest rig interface, optional pads on front, back and shoulders area for improved airflow, a zippered chest admin pocket and PTT and comms wires/ antenna routing attachment points. There’s even an accessory armour package for heavy configuration in development!

www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR DIRECT ACTION

The back panel zipper attachment system is compatible with Crye Precision AVS, whilst the chest Rig attachment system is compatible with Mayflower/Velocity Systems, offering you even further options! Thanks to numerous new design elements, back panels and optional side armour compatible cummerbunds, you are able to set up the carrier the way you actually need it. It’s at the same time and incredibly durable platform and unique in its modularity, converting to a cut-away rig in just a few simple steps, thus allowing for quick donning, doffing and medical access thanks to Hypalon pullers.

carbine mag pouches, pistol mag pouches, along with space for bangs and admin items. If you need to carry more load as part of your modular system Direct Action offer a number of excellent back panel add-ons like the SPITFIRE MK II BACKPACK PANEL or SPITFIRE MK II UTILITY BACK PANEL so you’re all set!

BEARCAT

As always though, time moves on and Direct Action have added another superb carrier to their line, this one called the BEARCAT (the Grumman F8F Bearcat was a lightweight WWII carrier-launched fighter aircraft FYI!), which is an ultra-light plate carrier designed to be the foundation for a durable, yet versatile system. Reduction of the amount of laminate and Cordura fabric to bare minimum has resulted in a significant weight cut and the main platform weighs only 290grams! Made from cuttingedge softshell fabric and laser-cut laminate, the Bearcat offers a skeletonized modular system with fully interchangeable front panels (DA call them “flaps” and think a full-on MilSpec version of the buckle up systems I wrote about not so long ago). Even though

I’ve put the Spitfire through its paces with my usual medium plates fitted and thus far I’m impressed. Although the Spitfire is certainly smaller than the carriers I usually work with, the plate support is excellent and the pressure exerted, both around the torso and over the shoulders, is nicely balanced and spread evenly. The “captured” female buckles for the front carrying system are tidily achieved, meaning that you can easily change out your load carrying options. Say you want to set up your plate carrier for light use? Simply attach a SPITFIRE MK II SLICK CARBINE MAG FLAP, SPITFIRE SMG FLAP, or SPITFIRE SHOTGUN SHELL FLAP to the velcro and buckle it in place. Running hot and heavy with a full fighting load? No problem! Simply use the CHEST RIG INTERFACE (which also means you can use the Spitfire in Front Panel Only mode) and you’re all set with rifle/

“…AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED WITH CUTTING-EDGE PACK MANUFACTURE IN A “PREVIOUS EXISTENCE”, THIS IS AN AREA IN WHICH I AM HYPER-CRITICAL! DIRECT ACTION PACKS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS NOT JUST ME, BUT OTHERS THAT I WORK AND PLAY WITH.”

SEPTEMBER 2021

KIT & GEAR DIRECT ACTION

Bearcat is designed mainly with Swimmer Cut plates in mind, it will also fit SAPI or Shooter plates (so I could easily use the same set of SAPI plates I have in my existing Spitfire). Due to the use of highly stretchable softshell fabric, the Bearcat offers a great fit, no matter what kind of plate cut you choose. The inner velour Velcro panels are designed to work well with COMFORT PAD of the Spitfire System too and the Bearcat continues the “full modularity” story, as it will work seamlessly with other Direct Action system components. So, not only the COMFORT PAD will suit the Bearcat well, its the same with the other Spitfire System accessories, like the CUTAWAY set, flaps and back panels - and vice versa! That makes this carrier a great choice for those who, like me, already have the elements of Spitfire System but seek an even lighter platform. However, the Bearcat has been launched together with specifically designed products to extend its functionality. Amongst them is one of the lightest back and chest panels on the market, along with an all-new SKELETONIZED BACK PANEL and SKELETONIZED PLATE CARRIER FLAP, as well as a minimalist SKELETONIZED CUMMERBUND SLIM, and the SKELETONIZED COMMS WINGS SET made to carry your communication system. With them, you’ll be able to compose a perfectly functional and incredibly comfortable set of gear that will last you a lifetime!

The latest gear from Direct Action certainly shows that they have not been idle in the last twelve months and, to me, it shows that they still 100% mean business in the future. I did see them briefly at the last SHOT Show I attended but I missed seeing them at IWA this year (sadly that show was never going to happen). However, 2022 is a whole new year and by the look of what they have in the form of the new BEARCAT system, they’ll undoubtedly have more to come soon and I’ll look forward to reporting back on it all as usual when I see it! For more information on the extensive range of top-notch tactical gear offered by Direct Action please check out https://us.directactiongear.com/ in the USA and https://eu.directactiongear.com/ in Europe. AA

ROUNDING UP

As I said when I started, it’s incredibly exciting to watch a brand grow from the ground up and from humble beginnings Direct Action have grown in the very best way possible, enlarging their offering sensibly, and moving things on when new ideas or technologies become available. I’ve been very, very impressed by the Spitfire with its original range of modular pouches and panels and I’ve recently added the advanced, skeletal Bearcat .556 and .308 panels to my personal setup, where they interface perfectly. Both of these panels offer space for three magazines (sized for the appropriate calibre) which are secured from the top via a bungee cord. Due to the skeletal construction, the panels are not only minimalistic but also some of the lightest modular panels on the market. The panels are covered with the same laser cut modular system, which is fully compatible with MOLLE/PALS. The panels are attached to the carrier via top buckles and all the panels available (there’s quite a few of them) can be easily transformed into a compact chest rig using the FRONT FLAP RIG INTERFACE. www.airsoftaction.net

THE CAGE GLOVES

THE CAGE:

GLOVES

AS WITH EVERY INSTALMENT OF THE CAGE, WE’RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR GOOD KIT; NOT SIMPLY GEAR THAT’S 100% FIT FOR PURPOSE BUT EQUIPMENT THAT’S GOING TO GIVE YOU GOOD SERVICE AND GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY! THIS TIME THE AA LEGION TAKE A LOOK AT GLOVES, WHAT THEY’VE WORN IN THE PAST AND WHAT THEY’RE WEARING NOW, SO YOU CAN REALLY GET “HANDS ON” IN ANY SITUATION! AS USUAL, BILL LEADS OFF…

loves are tricky things to get right, aren’t they? How often have you parted with money for a pair of “tacticool” gloves that offer you entrance to the “operatorz world” and found that, in reality, they are sub-standard, poorly fitting, and frankly an absolute waste of your hard-earned dollarbucks? When I first started out, gloves were not such a “thing” and an old pair of black leather “NI Gloves” from your local surplus store were probably your best bet! When I moved to the USA in 2006 though, my eyes were opened to the possibilities of what I could use to cover my hands safely, as every tactical store seemed to be offering cool models designed both for law enforcement and the military. For a while I was like a fat boy in a donut shop and every couple of months I’d pick up another model; online forums were “de riguer” for the discerning tacticalist at the time and it seemed to me that someone was ALWAYS posting about gloves! Of course, the dissemination of information about which unit is using which glove model has accelerated with the rise of social media and now new gloves seem to come along on an almost daily basis (or so it seems!). For me, my “go-to gloves” are First Tactical Lightweight Patrol Gloves, Helikon Range Tactical Gloves (because PenCott!), HWI Combat Gloves 500 (Multicam), and OR Ironsight Sensors for general range work. But, with so many glove models out there, how the hell do you decide on the right glove for you? What considerations should you take into account? For me 42

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there are three main areas to look at: Grip The most important thing for me is grip. A glove is of no use to you if it hinders the ability to grip your AEG/GBB, or restricts access to using technology (especially these days!). Because of this, many users choose to go with “old skool” fingerless gloves but not me! Of course, grip is related to handling and before you take every shot you have to have the feeling of contact with your trigger, or it can become a distraction from getting the shot. There are now designs which feature special finger tips to provide superior grip perfect for using technology, handling small items, plus shooting needs. Dexterity Another thing I look for in tactical gloves, is to find an option that allows not just grip but also dexterity. Some tactical gloves are designed to protect your hands from damage by way of padded knuckles, but if the material over the knuckle is too thick it will impede your dexterity. Likewise, if a glove is the wrong size, it can get in the way of movement. When it comes to finding the right sizing to ensure ease of movement, remember that phrase, “fits like a glove” as your guideline; the right fit of a glove should feel natural. Comfort When it comes to fabrics and technology many gloves still use leather (or “manufactured leather”) exteriors, or specially bonded synthetic blends. While this certainly has its place in relation to overall comfort, a better option is to choose one that

THE CAGE GLOVES

incorporates both in expertly designed ways. For instance, gloves should have leather for exceptional durability, contouring and waterproofing abilities, but you also want materials that offer some breathability, either through the use of specialist lined interiors which are absorbent or through breathability features built in to the glove. The matter of comfort is important since you will be wearing these gloves all day!

TEAM TALK

As usual - and with my criteria in mind - I asked the members of the AA Legion “Do you use tactical gloves, and if you do what model? Do you use them for protection from cuts, scrapes and BB hits to the knuckles (ouch!), or do you want more from them?” and this is what they had to say: Boycie: “As many will know, I also run a pyro business and gloves for me are an essential item of PPE. We use a range of types depending on the job and the dexterity we need to safely carryout the job. If using hand-deployed pyro a good pair of gloves are essential. All you need is for something to go off prematurely or fail and the damage that even a Mk5 can cause could be catastrophic to your hand. For this part of the pyro side, we use the First Tactical Slash/ Flash Glove. These proved to be an excellent glove and the right thing to be wearing when there was a failure in a pyro unit. The actual glove involved was returned to First Tactical so they could see the damage, along with a “Thank You!” for making such a good product. Without doubt, the appropriate glove for the job saved me from major injury. In general use I tend to wear something like the PIG or Mechanix glove, which is thin enough to allow me good dexterity for manipulating RIFs and other items within the “game zone” and protection against scrapes, cuts and minor injury.” Miguel: “Well yes, gloves are a must, not so much against BBs but more to protect against cuts and such. Our woodland here in Portugal is quite “spiky”, a lot of bushes have small thorns and such, so having gloves helps to protect. Brands? Me and the guys mostly use Mechanix and Armored Claw.” Stu: “Mechanix! After a number of years trying other makes/styles I got a pair of Mechs; comfy, loads of knuckle protection!” Turgay: “I am using PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT) Alpha Gloves. They can be used in all weathers. They are very, very durable (more so than Mechanix) and also you can use touch screen products. It protects you from most of the hard surfaces but it has no extra knuckle guards.”

Robbie: “For me, gloves are to prevent getting burned mostly and avoiding scrapes and cuts second. I wore them in airsoft for the second reason but also to keep the habit for training. LA Police Gear Core Shooting Gloves are hard to beat for cost, fit, function simplicity IMO but I have had all sorts of good ‘n bad off-brand ones too. For me, the glove has to fit perfectly, have no seam-hotspot issues, not stretch out and/or bind and not be too bulky. Touch screen compatibility doesn’t hurt either!” Stewbacca: “I’ve been through all manner of gloves over the years, starting with old school Viper, then Warrior Assault Systems, Oakley SI gloves and most recently Mechanix MPact. All of the former types fell apart after a few years of light use skirmishing or doing MilSim - bearing in mind I used to manage once or twice a month for the most part back in the UK - usually opening up at the seam between the palm and back, and the velcro wrist straps would inevitably break away too. Since playing in Taiwan - far more often than in the UK - I’ve just had one pair of the Mechanix MPact and they have lasted by far the best out of any type, only losing the velcro from the wrist straps thus far, but otherwise being entirely intact, if a little worn on the surfaces. So, buy MPacts. And the knuckle protection on the likes of the Oakleys can also cause discomfort unless your index finger has a separate piece to the others, due to the different angling of your other fingers forcing single piece protector types across the knuckle of your trigger finger.” Jon: “Well... I’ve had a few pairs over the years. I’ve been through cheapo unbranded jobbies and more expensive well-known brands such as Clawgear, Oakley, Mechanix and so on. In my opinion, gloves are not essential but do offer a smidge of protection from brush and knocks. Let’s face it, we’re not rappelling or fast-roping in so we don’t need Kevlar lined and Carbon knuckled gloves. Yeah, they look cool but they’re not necessary. With that in mind, I have opted to switch over to a pair of First Tactical Lightweight Patrol Gloves. Nice and thin, nice and tactile and as they’re First Tactical, I shouldn’t need to buy any more for several years.” Jonathan: “I’ve always worn gloves while playing and working. I’ve tried them all… Oakley, Pig, etc, etc, but I’ve always returned to MECHANIX as I find them brilliant! I always buy a medium as I like a tight fit for that tactile feeling. Good story: I was playing a 36hr game and my hand was bitten by a mossie after Endex… I was stripping down and couldn’t get the glove off, didn’t my hand swell up so much the lads had to cut it off! Waste of a good glove!!” www.airsoftaction.net

TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

THE CAGE GLOVES

Bill W-R: “So… glovage... Being in the motor trade I have known the Mechanix brand for many years, using them for impact protection etc. I then saw they did some slightly less bulky versions in black, tan and Multicam, so started running those and never had anything bad to say about them. Until... Red Cell’s first meeting and out come some Gucci-looking Claw Gear Armoured Claw gloves in tan that are my now my go to digit protection. As an added bonus I can even operate my smartphone whilst wearing them.” Dan: “Even though I was a 90’s kid, I’ve always been a fan of fingerless gloves myself. I like a bit of palm protection but prefer to have full dexterity for my fingers. Surprisingly, there are very few quality options for “tactical” fingerless gloves on the market. For many years I co-opted gloves from my cycling days; usually North Face cycling gloves. These had a tiny bit of foam or gel padding in the palms and were surprisingly durable despite the thin construction, breathable and offered a lot of dexterity. I’ve also tried various brands of climbing glove but these were typically thicker leather and therefore not as pliable or as comfortable to wear over the long term. The last couple of years, I have been running the Blackhawk SOLAG fingerless gloves and those have been holding up pretty well. There’s a few things I’d probably improve on them, like a shorter cuff and reinforced edges on the fingers. Like a lot of gear, I’m still on the hunt for the “perfect” fingerless glove that ticks off all the boxes.” Björn: “I always use gloves for whatever reason; sharp objects, bbs (have seen people with cracked fingers even at low joule) , dirt, you name it! Then of course it can add some coolness to your kit!” Hana: “I think gloves are important to protect our knuckles from BB hits in the game. Most of our friends in the game use gloves. The glove design I like to have a soft adhesive protection to strengthen the knuckle area of the hand, but a flexible choice on the index finger when I need a quick reaction. The only drawback of the pair I’ve used so far is that the smallest size available on the market is still large for me, I’d like to buy one more if they have a size for female players.” Allyssa: “Erm, they’re all too big! They’re obviously for men and as such I ended up buying weight-lifting gloves from Sports Direct, eBay or Amazon. The added bonus with a weight-lifting glove, for me is that they often come with wraps to support my wrists. It’s a shame manufacturers don’t account for women airsofters. Gloves, clothing and so on, everything, is for men. It’s a shame really, guys get some great kit and that just doesn’t work for us women as a rule!”

Chris: “US Nomex Pilots Gloves have been my staple go to glove for over 20 years. They are thin and have no padding unlike like all these flashy modern gloves but they offer great dexterity, and reasonable palm protection and I find my hands don’t overheat on hot days. A great no frills glove with an attractive price point.” Jase: “Only ever had two pairs of gloves for airsoft, both where/are Mechanix. Enough said, lol!” Overall all of the gloves detailed completely match our individual and personal requirements in terms of Grip, Dexterity, and Comfort and many are even touchscreen compatible should you wish to use them in conjunction with your phone or other device (okay I have my own phone now to test this, but I am after all still a techno-luddite!). In my opinion they all offer great levels of performance for a good price and what more can a cash-strapped airsofter ask for? However, once again the question of correct fit for female shooters becomes an issue here! Manufacturers… as more and more female players start hitting the sites and games the Airsoft Action team believe that you’d better start paying this some serious attention! AA

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL COLD WAR SPECIAL

RED CELL

AEGs OF THE COLD WAR THE RED CELL CREW ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT AEG AND GBB PLATFORMS THAT ARE “GOOD TO GO” FROM THE BOX BUT WHAT’S THE SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO PERIOD-SPECIFIC MODELS? WITH A LOVE FOR NATO MODELS FROM THE COLD WAR ERA, “THE CELL” HAVE PUT TOGETHER THEIR FAVOURITES TO BRING IN THE FIRST OF THEIR “SPECIAL REPORTS”!

or some of you reading this, “The Cold War” is just another part of history but for some of the older members of the Red Cell crew, memories of the later Cold War period - and the 1980’s specifically - are the time when they were taking their first tentative steps into the “military realm”, and their knowledge of the weapons platforms, uniforms and equipment used are still from first-hand experience! The Cold War period (generally acknowledged as the late 1940’s through to the start of the 1990’s) saw some really profound changes in military doctrine, with a move towards highly mobile, mechanized units and fast-moving battlefield formations and equipment moved along with the changes. The “Western Bloc” was largely built up of (what became) the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries that came together as an inter-governmental military alliance to implement the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed in 1949. These countries allied to support one another in face of external aggression and faced off against the “Eastern Bloc”, which was led by the Soviet Union and its Communist Party. At this time the US supported right-wing governments and uprisings across the world, while the Soviet government funded communist parties and revolutions! As many fledgling states achieved independence they became Third World battlefields in the Cold War and emergent national power-bases started to flex their muscles… Focussing on the later years of the Cold War, an era of “small wars” globally but thankfully one that never 46

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saw the much-feared WWIII, the fighting soldier still retained many trappings of their forebears from earlier conflicts. Although there had been huge advances in military gear and hardware, your average “grunt” was still wearing belt-mounted load-bearing equipment and carrying a big old battle rifle! This was the time of the L1A1 SLR, the FN FAL and the H&K G3. SMGs were still the issued weapon of support and special operations personnel, although the US forces (and by proxy their NATO allies) had adopted the M16 over the M14 as pretty much a “one size fits all” solution. It was still the time when “7.62” reigned supreme, although moves were already afoot to standardise to “5.56” amongst the NATO partners. And these days, although some of the period gear is becoming scarcer, there has actually never been a better time to put together a “Cold War” loadout, as virtually every one of the necessary weapon platforms is available in 6mm form! To this end “The Cell” now presents their personal favourites and, using a slightly different format incorporating some history and their “user comments”, we bring you, with the help of “guest star” Frenchie (plus Bill and Jimmy playing “Dress Up” - which we’ll come back to in a future issue!), “Red Cell - AEGs Of The Cold War Special”!

L1A1 SLR

The L1A1 SLR was a British variant of the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle, produced under licence and adopted by the British Army as the L1A1 in 1954.

RED CELL COLD WAR SPECIAL

The L1A1 SLR incorporated modifications developed by the Allied Rifle Committee. The weapons were manufactured by the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms, Royal Ordnance Factory and ROF Fazakerley. After the production run ceased replacement components were made by Parker Hale Limited. The SLR was designed using Imperial measurements and included several changes from the standard FN FAL. A significant change from the original FAL was that the L1A1 operated in semiautomatic mode only, the MOD stating that every British rifleman was a trained marksman and would only take single, well-aimed shots and that support weapons such as the L4A1 LMG and L7A1 GPMG would provide significant fully automatic fire as needed.

to shoot with as a youngster, courtesy of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces! The SLR has been seen in airsoft form several times as both King Arms and the STAR Airsoft Company issued a classic, semi-auto only version of it with synthetic furniture; in fact, if you visit the STAR website you’ll still find a picture of the original model there! I was lucky enough to buy one of the originals and even then it felt as if I were returning to a younger life! Can I say that the re-released ARES airsoft L1A1 SLR had been updated and upgraded? Not really is the answer, as it feels and performs just like my original STAR, but I can tell you that the accuracy and performance are absolutely first rate; the ARES SLR shoots like a laser, and the “wood kit” version is simply drool-worthy!”

L2 STERLING

The first run of rifles was fitted with walnut furniture, consisting of the pistol grip, forward handguard, carrying handle and butt. The wood was treated with oil to protect it from moisture, but not varnished or polished. Later production weapons were produced with synthetic Maranyl furniture (often referred to incorrectly as “Bakelite”), a nylon and fiberglass composite. The Maranyl parts were “stippled” with an anti-slip texture. In addition to four lengths of butt, sized to suit individual users, there was also a special short butt designed for use with Arctic clothing or flak jackets, such as those regularly seen in Northern Ireland. After the introduction of the Maranyl furniture, as extra supplies became available it was retrofitted to older rifles as they underwent armourers maintenance, and this resulted in a mixture of wooden and Maranyl furniture within units and often on the same rifle. Wooden furniture was still in use in some reserve units until 1989. The SLR was officially replaced in 1985 by the L85A1 and by 1994 the L1A1 rifles were gradually phased out. Bill: “I will sing the praises of the L1A1 SLR to anyone who will listen, as it’s one of the rifles I learnt

Speaking to many who served in the UK Armed Forces during the 1980s, the thought of a Sterling brings a kind of misty-eyed reverence, obviously returning them to a very specific place and time in their lives. Based on the Patchett machine carbine first produced in the 1940s, the Sterling L2A1/C1 first entered service with the British and Canadian forces in 1953 and was produced in the UK by the Dagenham-based Sterling Armament Company. The Royal Ordnance Factories also manufactured the Sterling purely for the British Forces and over 400,000 were produced. Going through minor modifications, the L2A2 and finally, the L2A3 had a long and distinguished service career until it was finally phased out in 1994, when the L85A1 was fully introduced. There was also a suppressed version of the Sterling, the L34A1, which was used to some effect by the ASASR and NZSAS during the Vietnam War, as well as by UKSF and even the Argentinians during the Falklands War.

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL COLD WAR SPECIAL

ARES L1A1 SLR Price: iro UK£470.00 (£560.00 Wood Version) Age: Two Years Weight: 3900g Length: 1160mm Magazine Capacity: 120, Hi-cap available Cold Chrono: 1.24Joule/366fps Hot Chrono: 1.31Joule/377fps Taclite Compatibility: Zero - and all the better for it! Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW (but a bayonet is better!) Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk S&T STERLING L2 Price: iro UK£320.00 Age: Three Years Weight: 2850g Length: 490 - 680mm Magazine Capacity: 110 and that’s your lot! Cold Chrono: 1.10 Joule/345fps Hot Chrono: 1.11 Joule/347fps Taclite Compatibility: Nope! Suppressor Compatibility: Not a chance! Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

CYMA CM.009C MOSFET EDITION (M16) Price: iro UK£125.00 Age: New Weight: 2640g Length: 998mm Magazine Capacity: 160, will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 109 Joule/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Taclite Compatibility: No again! Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

LCT LC3A3 (G3) Price: iro UK£400 Age: New Weight: 4410g Length: 1026mm Magazine Capacity: 140, Hi-cap available Cold Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps Hot Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps Taclite Compatibility: Nada! Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

LCT LK-33A2 Price: iro UK£450 Age: New Weight: 4080g Length: 929mm Magazine Capacity: 300, Mid-cap available Cold Chrono: 0.91 Joule/314fps Hot Chrono: 0.91 Joule/314fps Taclite Compatibility: Mmmm… No! Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

SEPTEMBER 2021

RED CELL COLD WAR SPECIAL

UMAREX MP-5 Price: iro UK£290.00 Age: New Weight: 1635g Length: 465 mm (675 mm Full Stock) Magazine Capacity: 30 - Mid/Hi-caps are available Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Taclite Compatibility: Dedicated Forestock can be mounted Suppressor Compatibility: Dedicated Supplied By: www.landwarriorairsoft.com KING ARMS FN FAL Price: iro UK£300.00 Age: Old! Weight: 3300g Length: 970mm (“Para” variant) Magazine Capacity: 90, Hi-cap available Cold Chrono: 1.0 Joule/328fps Hot Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps Taclite Compatibility: Nope. Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

TOKYO MARUI UZI Price: iro UK£200.00 (original price!) Age: VERY OLD! Weight: 1800g Length: 470/655 mm Magazine Capacity: 40 (220 Hi-caps were available) Cold Chrono: 0.63 Joule/262fps Hot Chrono: 0.64 Joule/264fps Taclite Compatibility: Hmmmm, possibly not. Suppressor Compatibility: VERY dedicated!!! Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

JG STEYR AUG A1 Price: iro UK£100.00 Age: Three Years Weight: 3200g Length: 809mm Magazine Capacity: 300, Mid-cap available Cold Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps Hot Chrono: 1.03 Joule/333fps Taclite Compatibility: What do you think… NOPE! Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

TOKYO MARUI FAMAS Price: iro UK£200.00 Age: New Weight: 2900g Length: 757mm Magazine Capacity: 60, Hi-cap available Cold Chrono: 0.74 Joule/283fps Hot Chrono: 0.74 Joule/283fps Taclite Compatibility: Not a hope! Suppressor Compatibility: VERY dedicated!!! Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL COLD WAR SPECIAL

The Sterling was a simple beast, that’s for sure. Many who used it in anger described it as the “scaffold gun” due to the simplicity of its construction. It was entirely put together from steel and plastic with a curved, 34-round, 9mm SAA Ball, side-feeding magazine and collapsible stock; the latter made the Sterling perfect for vehicle mounted and airborne troops where the lengthy L1A1 issued at the same time proved to be unwieldy. The issued Sterling was a carefully machined firearm in spite of its somewhat rudimentary appearance, which made it more expensive to produce than many of its contemporaries but it was generally reliable and stood up well to “squaddie abuse”. James: “I first came across the S&T Sterling online, from pictures posted by a friend who happened to have attended the big show on Hong Kong. I questioned him immediately and he was kind enough to send me some video of the Sterling in action and I was hooked from that moment on. Pictures were taken and I began to circulate these quietly amongst other friends who I knew shared my passion for firearms of the Cold War and their reaction was exactly the same as mine… WANT!” Bill: “I love the Sterling but is the S&T version an ideal skirmish-ready replica? I’d have to say that finally we have an airsoft Sterling that absolutely is! The components and the finish are superlative, although personally I will eventually have the metalwork reworked for that classic look, but the performance is great. Overall, it’s a winner as far as I’m concerned and as it has both semi and a safety setting, this would make a perfect CQB tool. As I’ve recently picked up the suppressed L34 there’ll be a review coming on that in due course!”

taking place on a smaller scale; troops became mechanised and air mobile and the rifle they used needed to reflect this. It needed to be smaller and lighter in weight than the ungainly and heavy M14s, L1A1s and G3s in use at the time by the US and other armies worldwide. Engagement distances, especially in the jungles of south east Asia, were decreasing and the need for a high power 7.62mm was lessened. After many trials and tribulations, the US Army finally standardised an upgrade of the XM16E1 as the M16A1 in 1967 and the Model 603/M16A1 remained the primary infantry rifle of U.S. forces in Vietnam until the end of direct U.S. ground involvement. It also became the standard service rifle for all U.S. military ground forces after it fully replaced the M14 service rifle in 1970.

M16

In March 1970, the USA recommended that all NATO forces adopt the 5.56×45 mm cartridge, and this shift represented a change in the philosophy of the military’s long-held position about calibre size. By the mid-1970s other armies were looking at M16-style weapons systems and indeed, there is much evidence of the “M16” in various guises being used by UK and other European forces during the Cold War period. In fact, the “M16” became a kind of “de riguer” weapon for SF units across the globe and British Forces, such as the Royal Marines, liked the “M16” series (in reality more likely to be Colt export models such as the 711 and 715), as did the SAS from their time in the jungles of Borneo. The M16 was the most commonly manufactured 5.56×45 mm rifle in the world and, at its height, was in use with fifteen NATO countries and more than 80

In the late 1950s, a (then) relatively unknown firearms designer by the name of Eugene Stoner produced the prototype of a new rifle called the “Armalite”. Development continued through the 50’s until, in 1956, it came up to Army specification using a .222inch Remington cartridge with an improved bullet. In July 1959 production of the rifle was licensed to Colt and, later in that same year, production started on the Colt Model 601. The bulk of the rifles went to the US Military, with 8,500 going to the Air Force, 1,000 going to the Army for evaluation in project AGILE and a handful going to the Navy SEALs. During the late 1950s and early 1960s the way the USA fought wars experienced a paradigm change, moving from massed “force on force” set pieces to “manoeuvre warfare”, with far more deployments 50

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countries worldwide! Numerous companies in the United States, Canada, and China have produced more than 8,000,000 rifles and variants on the original pattern and it is alleged that some 90% are STILL in operation! Iggy: “I started my airsoft life with a TM MP5 (a dream choice from seeing one on the cover of a Janes book of guns!) when I was 14 but when I grew big enough I hurried to buy a TM M16 Vietnam! I had it for 14 years and got it rebuilt upgraded and had Hobbs, sprayed it in tiger camo, the lot, and I loved it. Sadly it had to go before I emigrated to Australia…” Bill: “Airsoft replicas of US “period-specific” rifles and carbines has become better and better and with the current drive in technology in relation to internals, they actually perform excellently too these days! Externals have also improved, with many re-enactors that I know owning AEGs and GBBs because they are just “right” and you’ll see many of them at shows like War & Peace or Military Odyssey. Although I’ve owned many “period ARs”, the full length M16 has never really been my preferred model. That said, most of the Cold War airsoft players I know revel either in the role of the lowly “grunt” or some form of “SF”, where “Mr Colts Best Girl” is most definitely their favourite choice and thankfully now there are many excellent models to choose from!”

with particularly accurate sighting-in ammunition. Although several companies were involved on the production of the rifle, in 1977 the West German government ceded ownership of G3 production and sales rights exclusively to H&K. The rifle proved successful in the export market, being adopted by the armed forces of over 40 countries. The G3 was (and in some cases continues to be) produced under license in France (MAS), Greece (Hellenic Arms Industry), Iran (Defense Industries Organization), Luxembourg (Luxemburg Defense Technologie), Mexico, Myanmar, Norway (Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk), Pakistan (Pakistan Ordnance Factories), Portugal (FBP), Saudi Arabia, Sweden (FFV), Thailand, Turkey (MKEK) and the United Kingdom (Royal Ordnance).

Boycie: “The G3 was one of my first skirmish rifles. I think it appealed to me as it was a little like an SLR, with its big mag, decent length barrel and “cool” look. Even though it was a long rifle, it was still quite easy to swing about and employ in CQB back in the day at the famous Lightfighter Urban site in Sheffield.” James: “With the current “Airsoft Trend” towards close quarter encounters in “urban” settings, I could say that anyone choosing a full-length, 1026mm/4.5kg “battle rifle” had gone in the wrong direction, but I think I’d be lying! “Sunday Woodland Skirmishes” are every bit as popular as they have always been, and for this setting a G3 can be absolutely devastating. For me this would be an AEG to use in a DMR role though, where picking your shots and accurately achieving them is of paramount importance. “Overall, the features are excellent as these days a G3 will come with a full steel construction, and the upper can accept any standard claw mount for optics intended for use on a G3 or MP5. The rifle also has a comfortable, slimline forend and the furniture is available is either black or green (the issued colours). With high quality externals, scrupulously achieved internals and extreme attention to detail, the airsoft

The “Automatisches Gewehr G3” was a 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle, developed in 1956 by the German armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design and development agency CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales). Germany bought the manufacturing license for the CETME rifle and transferred it to Heckler &Koch, who slightly modified the CETME design and, in 1959, the Bundeswehr adopted the CETME/Heckler & Koch rifle under the designation G3 (Gewehr 3 – Rifle, “Model” 3). From 1959 to the current day the G3 has served, in different variants, as the issue rifle not only for German Armed Forces, but also for many other countries. Initial production of the G3 rifles differed substantially from more recent models; early rifles featured closed-type mechanical flip-up sights (with two apertures), a lightweight folding bipod, a stamped sheet steel handguard, a wooden buttstock (in fixed stock models) or a telescopic metal stock. Before delivery to the Bundeswehr, each G3 went through functional checks, zeroing the sight line and undergoing a shooting test at the factory. In the process, five shots were fired at a target at 100 metres

www.airsoftaction.net

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G3 is a strong, reliable rifle for those interested in something with a definite history, and that is stunningly different from most AEGs out there!”

HK33

Along with the G3, Heckler & Koch also began developing new firearms for military and police use and in 1968 introduced the 5.56mm HK33 assault rifle series. Essentially a re-scaled G3, the HK33 was produced in several different variations, including a fixed stock (A2) and retractable stock (A3) rifle, a carbine (HK33K) with either a fixed stock (A2) or retractable stock (A3), and a “Scharfschutzen Gewehr” (sharpshooter rifle) with a bipod, precision trigger and telescopic sight, known as the HK33SG/1. A licensed US-made copy by Harrington and Richardson (called the “T223”) was tested in combat by the US Navy SEALS during the Vietnam War and the HK33 was also extensively and favourably tested by the French Army in the 1970s. Mostly for political reasons, the French Army adopted the FA-MAS instead of the HK33 and the Bundeswehr also showed no interest in changing from the 7.62mm G3 they’d invested heavily in. Nonetheless, the HK33 did very well internationally for H&K. The rifle was adopted by the Brazilian Air Force, the Chilean and Ecuadoran Marine Corps, the Thai, Turkish and Malaysian armed forces, as well as law enforcement and military units in more than 40 other countries including the US and the UK. Standard magazines for the HK33 series were 25- and 40-rounders made of pressed steel. Bill: “I’ve always personally fancied an “HK33” to add to my collection and thankfully LCT have provided a really good one now. 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 their 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 LCT, this is most definitely a rifle to own and cherish. If you like a bit of “old school” that’s just a bit different, then you really should get your hands on an HK33!”

MP5

During the early to mid-1960s it became apparent to security forces worldwide that the rise in terrorist atrocities was a trend that they had to counter and, for this reason, many police and military units started the hunt for a lightweight, accurate, pistol calibre submachinegun (SMG). The Germans, of course, had a bit of a history with SMGs and “machine pistols” and two companies, Carl Walther Waffenfabrik in Ulm-an52

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Donau and Heckler & Koch (H&K) GmBH in Obendorfam-Necker, were at the forefront of the development process. Initially, the Walther MPL and MPK (basically a long and short version of the same firearm) seemed to have the edge, as the design was already finalised in 1963. In 1964 though, the first designs of the MP5 from H&K started filtering through - and the rest, as they say, is history.

H&K looked at the successful G3 rifle designs and then adapted things so make use of the 9×19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge. The MP5 was created within this group of firearms and was initially known as the HK54. First created in 1964, the H&K MP5 was developed as a pistol-calibre, blowback operated roller-locked member of the H&K weapons system and in 1966 it was officially adopted by the German Federal Police, border guard and army special forces. In repeated and exhaustive testing the MP5 has proven capable of firing more than 30,000 rounds without a single stoppage or parts failure and it is not uncommon to find MP5s still serving with in excess of 500,000 rounds through the original barrel and receiver! Still regarded of as one of the most reliable and effective submachine guns in the world, the MP5 has become the choice of the worlds’ most famous elite anti-terrorist, special operations and special law enforcement organisations. Stewbacca: “I had a whole array of MP5 AEGs from various manufacturers back in the UK. When I was still playing with the J-Team (and basically arming the whole team), me and my flatmate acquired four different MP5 AEG models. These included a Galaxy MP5k and MP5k PDWs, a JG MP5J and MP5A4 (all of which I tended to lend to the ladies due to their lightweight and the fact they looked pretty badass wielding them) and I’d make use of the “WMag” high-cap magazine units to avoid the need for

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reloading as such. These ready-made twin MP5 magazine stuck together set ups were basically a single manufactured unit which allowed you to fill BBs by pushing the fake rounds of the left side forwards to gain access to the hopper, then winding the wheel across the bottom of the unit to feed up the right column. “These all worked excellently for the most part, providing a lightweight, simple and fun solution for new players or physically smaller ones and the magazines were great as a no fuss way of carrying and feeding as much as 500 rounds in something that added to the realism. Eventually my friend managed to strip the gears of the MP5A4 but aside from that I never had any issues with any of them.” Stu: “MP5… possibly one of my faves. TM/JG/CA/ Cyma, I’ve run at least one of each make! Sliding and fixed stock. SD fore-ends, tac versions (jubilee clip, M4 RAS section) even fitted a real H&K slim foregrip. I loaned a JG MP5 to a mate who’s own highly tec’d m4 had lunched itself; he was highly sceptical of said MP5, until he returned it to me later. He was somewhat at a loss to see how cheap-soft MP5 had rinsed his M4! My only grumble was with the external HOP slide adjuster, but a bit of tape usually solved that. Of them all, I’d say the CA B&T SD was my favourite, accurate, pointable and an excellent range.” Boycie: “I’ve loved a few models of MP5 over the years. Being compact and giving the ability to carry plenty of mags, 100rd Mids or 50rd Lo Caps depending on the game and my mood at the time, it’s a super, compact, lightweight platform. A big advantage was that I could use the M4 closed pouches to hold 4 x MP5 mags and this saved much profanity when considering the need to change over mag pouches to better suit each platform format!”

FN FAL

The FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger) has to be one of the most pictured rifles of the Cold war Era after the Russian AKM. The first FAL prototype was completed in 1946 and it was designed to fire the intermediate 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge developed and used by the forces of Germany during World War II. After testing this prototype in 1948, the British Army urged FN to build additional prototypes, including one in bullpup configuration. However, after evaluating the single bullpup prototype, FN decided to return instead to their original, conventional design for future production. Designed by Dieudonné Saive and Ernest Vervier and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal (FN Herstal), it might truly be said that FN created what is possibly the classic post-war battle

rifle! There are many, MANY, variants based on the original FAL design and they have also been manufactured with both light and heavy-barrel configurations, with the heavy barrel intended for automatic fire as a section or squad light support weapon. Most heavy barrel FALs are equipped with bipods, although some light barrel models were equipped with bipods and a bipod was later made available as an accessory. During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, with the notable exception of the United States. It is undoubtedly one of the most widely used rifles from the period, having been used by more than 90 countries, and it’s STILL seen to this day! Bill: “Although I own a number of RIFs that are completely correct for the 1980’s I decided that I’d really like to create something a bit unique for a “merc” role, so set about researching what weapons that were most popular with them and of course, other than the venerable AK there was one that really jumped out - and that was the FN FAL, so a FAL it had to be! Luckily my initial search for an airsoft variant led me to an old King Arms FAL with a battery and four Mid-Cap magazines for £100; a bargain that has proved to be a formidable shooter! King Arms have always been known to look at some of the more esoteric historical weapons in airsoft form and there has been much talk about the re-introduction of the FAL AEG line, which encompassed a number of FAL variants. Although I’m yet to see any solid evidence of this at retail I can only hope it is, or will be, true, as I’d dearly love another full-length one brand new from the box as it’s actually a darn good AEG!”

UZI

The Uzi is such an iconic firearm! Uziel Gal, the designer, did actually crib a few features from the Jaroslav Holecek-designed Czech ZK 476 (prototype only) and the production Sa 23, Sa 24, Sa 25, and Sa 26 series of submachine guns, namely in relation to the open-bolt, blowback operation. What truly makes it unique though, was the fact it was designed when Israel stood alone and was produced entirely in that country! The Uzi was made primarily from stamped sheet metal, making it less expensive per unit to manufacture than an equivalent design machined from forgings. With relatively few moving parts, the Uzi was easy to strip for maintenance or repair. The magazine is housed within the pistol grip, allowing for intuitive and easy reloading in dark or difficult www.airsoftaction.net

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conditions, under the principle of “hand finds hand”. The pistol grip is fitted with a grip safety, making it difficult to fire accidentally. Initially, the Uzi came with a wood stock with a metal buttplate and three variations of this were used by the IDF. In 1956 IMI developed a downwardfolding, twin-strut metal stock with two swivelling sections that tucked under the rear of the receiver - and the “look” of the Uzi that most will recognise was born!

Since its introduction in 1954 the Uzi has been exported to over 90 countries. Over its service lifetime it has been manufactured by Israel Military Industries, FN Herstal and other manufacturers. From the 1960s through the 1980s, more Uzi submachine guns were sold to more military, law enforcement and security markets than any other submachine gun ever made. Bill: “Although I’ve had other airsoft Uzis over the years, such as the Guarder-enhanced WA/KWC CO2 “Mini”, these have come and gone and the TM is the only model that’s been with me for the duration. I love it to bits and these days I’m extremely careful with it as I know if it breaks, parts are now almost impossible to find. It is a super little AEG, sturdy as anything and even after many moons (and a few services) still manages to raise an eyebrow with other players when I (very!) occasionally take it out to a game and they see just how good it is. Like many of you, I too hope that Tokyo Marui (or some other capable manufacturer who may read this!) might re-release this little gem; I’d have another in a heartbeat!” James: “Introduced at the back end of 1998, the TM Uzi was a long-awaited replica that proved an immediate hit with airsofters around the globe. With an EG1000R motor and a completely unique V5 gearbox and piston design, the Uzi also offered a small amount of recoil/blowback vibration for added realism - which TM christened “the recoil 54

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shock system” - and to this day the end result is quite unique! Like Bill, I hope that someone produces a new airsoft Uzi and that it’s as good - and as much fun - as the old TM!”

STEYR AUG

The Steyr AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56×45mm military rifle, which was originally developed and designed in the 1960s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG. The AUG (“Armee Universal Gewehr” or “Universal Army Rifle”) was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 (Sturmgewehr 77) in 1977 to replace the 7.62×51mm StG 58 automatic rifle (a licence-built FN FAL) and became the standard small arm of the Austrian Bundesheer and various national police units. Designed as a family of rifles that could be quickly adapted to a wide variety of roles (with the change of the barrel to a desired length and profile), the AUG is a modular configuration and employs a high level of polymer and advanced alloy components. The primary variant of the rifle, designated the AUG A1, consisted of six main parts: the barrel, receiver with integrated 1.5x telescopic sight made by Swarovski Optik, bolt and carrier, trigger mechanism, fiberglass-reinforced polyamide 66 stock and magazine. Many believed the AUG rifle to be revolutionary in many respects when it first appeared but, in fact, the AUG is a clever combination of the various existing ideas, assembled into one sound, reliable and aesthetically attractive package. Since its inception the AUG gained great popularity, being adopted by the armed forces of Australia, Austria, New Zealand, Oman, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Ireland and some others. It was also widely purchased by various security and law enforcement agencies worldwide, including the US Coastguard. The Steyr AUG can be considered probably the most commercially successful bullpup assault rifle to date. Stewbacca: “Ah… the AUG! I acquired one from a teammate which I believe was a JG, the AUGA2 civilian style in black with the rail. I always quite liked the handling and feel of the dual stage trigger and the long internal barrel offered excellent performance; I’ve always been a fan of bullpups!” Chris: “The Steyr AUG is a later addition to my collection but one I sit and think “Why on earth did I not pick one up sooner?” I’ve owned two for about four years now (ASG and JG) and I’ve fallen for the platform hard. The ergonomics, the modularity and the general classiness of a design that must have seemed out of Sci-Fi at the time of its conception, but still holds its own against any modern firearm

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design like the FN2000. Being Bullpup it’s very much a Marmite gun, either you get on with the bullpup style or you don’t, but I especially find the AEG versions well balanced, fairly light (unlike various L85s - yes, I’m looking at you ICS) and pleasantly comfortable with no sharp angles to snag on kit or woodland foliage. “Modularity is a massive plus of the AUG as, with a flick of a switch, you can change barrels and with a push of a pin you can change uppers, so having one gun for all situations is absolutely a plus. With 3D printed parts now available that turn it into the 9MM version it just adds a little “something different” to a collection. If you haven’t had the chance to pick up an AUG yet I suggest you do.”

FAMAS

The FAMAS (Fusil d’Assaut de la Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne or, in English, “Assault Rifle from the Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory”) and known by French troops as Le Clarion (The Bugle) due to its distinctive shape, saw service for many years! Operational conditions proved the weapon to be reliable and trustworthy and gave rise to its long service life. Development of the bullpup FAMAS began in 1967 under the direction of General Paul Tellié and the first prototype was completed in 1971, with French military evaluation of the rifle beginning in 1972. However, developmental and manufacturing delays meant that the final model was not delivered and issued to French troops until 1978.

to rely on the FAMAS F1 as their primary rifle. The successful design remained fundamentally unchanged from what it was originally and the legendary but old-fashioned FAMAS finally bit the dust in 2017, with French troops now being issued the Heckler & Koch HK416. Stewbacca: “At the dawn of time, when the world was still young, there was only Marui and Classic Army. They were the best of times. They were the worst of times. Excel were the only BBs, and 3,700 BBs in a bag seemed like hard currency. All batteries were NIMH or NICD, Lithium was the stuff of Star Trek - and the FAMAS was the bestest gnu!” Frenchie: “To hold the Marui FAMAS F1 is the have a piece of airsoft history in your hands. It was the very first electric airsoft gun (AEG), it featured adjustable hop up and the Version 1 gearbox is - and remains unique. “The problem with history is that it gets left behind and although the FAMAS had a silly rate of fire in its time, it will seem a bit tame these days. Range is also an issue, that hop unit may be adjustable but it’s not the most efficient and the very uniqueness of the gearbox militates against meaningful upgrades. Churning out a modest 250 feet per second approximately, the ability to add another 70 fps would make a significant difference. And it creaks! That big plastic foregrip where the battery lives isn’t particularly stealthy. “But… I love them so much I have owned SIX of them over the years. They have a good weight, not too heavy; the bipod is useless in the field because it can’t be slewed but great in the safezone for keeping the gun out the mud. Finally, the gun is stupidly reliable. I don’t know if Marui still produce these, probably not, it would be nice if they would give it a much-needed upgrade but I doubt they will. France has moved on and adopted the HK 416, understandably, but good though the 416 is, it will never be as cool as the “Clarion”. Vive le FAMAS!” AA

This rifle served, without its fair share of complications, through until 1994 when the FAMAS G2 was developed to comply with NATO standards by accepting standard NATO magazines. The French Navy purchased the FAMAS G2 in 1995 and issued it to their Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine but the French army refused to purchase the G2, preferring www.airsoftaction.net

COVERT BOOT

BLACK / BROWN / TITANIUM / SRP: £49.95

FEATURE AIRSOFT PROPS

SETTING THE SCENE: SETS AND PROPS

WITH THE FIRST “OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT” OF HIS MISSILE LAUNCH SYSTEM NOW WELL AND TRULY UNDER HIS BELT, JAMES TURNS TO THE MORE GENERALISED USE OF “SET AND PROPS”. THIS IS WHERE IMAGINATION MEETS REALITY, AS HE EMBARKS ON A NEW SERIES OF ARTICLES INVESTIGATING HOW THE CORRECT USE OF “SCENE SETTING” CAN TURN A GOOD AIRSOFT GAME INTO AN AWESOME ONE!

hemed games have been around for a long while in airsoft and add an extra layer of immersion and excitement to the player experience. Whether it be WWII, Cold War, or even scenarios based on video games such as Tom Clancy’s “The Division”, finding the right loadout look beforehand is all part and parcel of the “fun” when attending these events. Whilst the players are busying themselves getting their loadouts perfectly in theme though, what of the game play environment? This is where the use of props and even sets comes in to get the event location looking as good as the player’s loadouts and, when done right, can make for a truly memorable event for all! All that said, it doesn’t have to come at massive cost to event organisers and simple ideas are often best. Smaller props can be made for specific objectives

within the event; for example, for a Task Force sent to recover items from an aircraft, one item hot on list would be a Flight Data Recorder. The one pictured was easily repurposed from an old avionics module, purchased from eBay second hand for £10. A quick spray orange, some hazard tape and a couple of custom ordered “Flight Data Recorder” vinyl decals and good to go for under £20. The second example pictured shows the original unit displayed in a museum; the red “Self Destruct” unit is an original from the WWII and was used in the “Chain” home radar stations around the coasts of the UK. In the event of a German invasion, the operators could destroy sensitive equipment to save it falling into enemy hands. The second picture is the home-made version (awaiting lettering at time of publication), has been made from an empty aluminium junction box, some metal “sauce dip” pots

“OTHER SMALL DETAILS ALL ADD TO THE EFFECT, WITH OLD BROKEN LIGHT FITTINGS AND BENT MESH AND, AS MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE OLD SCRAP, THIS KIND OF SET PIECE CAN BE MADE FROM OLD BITS YOU HAVE LAYING AROUND, KEEPING THE COSTS DOWN.”

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and push buttons found online. This unit will fit in perfectly at a FOB or command post and can be wired to electronic Mk5 maroons for in game purposes. When it comes to larger set pieces, the first example is a “CERA Medical Post” as featured in “The Division”. This entire set piece came in at less than £100; the principle material is blue tarps to make the rear walls, the decontamination tunnel is made from PVC pipe and clear plastic dust sheets, with a UV strip light sourced online. The camping put-up bed and some home-made missing posters and biohazard signs all add to the immersion.

Biohazard waste bags are available from pharmacies and online and a building site flood tower gives the impression of a city without power running on backup. This area could be used in game as a capture objective or make a very cool respawn point. Sticking with the video game theme this month, the second example is a “Rustion Coffee” shop, as featured in “The Last of Us”. This area was used just as background for some of our AA pictures a while back and is made from a 2.5 x 1.5in CLS frame and MDF boarding as the walls. A mix of artificial and real plants give the “abandoned” vibe along with spray paint, broken conduit, plastics and paint effects. Other small details all add to the effect, with old broken light fittings and bent mesh and, as most of the items are old scrap, this kind of set piece can be made from old bits you have laying around, keeping the costs down. What I’ll be aiming to do in the coming months is to show you how easily an objective, room, or even area can be created quite cheaply and easily to really add “gravitas” to any scenario. It may be something small and simple like the Flight Data Recorder, or something on a larger scale altogether, but by adding props - and even entire sets - to your game scenarios, you’re going to give everyone a far more “immersive” experience and a game that will be remembered and talked about for years to come! Watch this space! AA www.airsoftaction.net

TECHNICAL

KEEP IT CLEAN! KEEP IT CLEAN

OWN A GBB PISTOL OF SOME DESCRIPTION? WE BET YOU DO! ANY SELF-RESPECTING ‘SOFTER OWNS AND USES FREQUENTLY A GBB PISTOL BUT OWNING ANY GBB PISTOL REQUIRES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE, SOMEWHAT MORE THAN AN AEG. IN THIS INSTALMENT OF “TECH”, JIMMY COVERS HOW TO GO ABOUT LOOKING AFTER YOUR PISTOL, WHETHER IT BE OUT OF THE BOX OR HEAVILY USED. ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY? IF SO, HE’LL BEGIN…

t can be a real let down (and sometimes infuriating) having to swap to your secondary only for it to fall flat on its face in your hour of need, letting an opponent get the drop on you and giving you that “long walk” back to the Safe Zone, can’t it? However, much of the time, a pistol failing to do the job is primarily down to lack of maintenance. I’m not about to start pointing fingers but some people might not understand the importance - nor even how to - go about basic pistol maintenance and this month I’ll pass on a few tips for those that don’t know. Some pistols require a little more love than others and one thing you will need to become familiar with is how to strip your pistol. For basic maintenance you don’t need to be stripping it down to every single component but knowing how to separate the slide from the frame is a must in order for you to clean and lubricate it effectively. Most pistol’s takedown is relatively straightforward, by way of a lever or a frame pin. When it comes to maintenance everybody has their preferred method and likes to use their favoured products, which is absolutely fine as there’s more than one way to peel a potato and there’s a wide variety of products available (each claiming to be “the best”). When it comes to new pistols, I like to remove the slide and do away with the heavy thick grease commonly used by manufacturers. Grease should not be used on any part of a pistol. No grease? I hear you 60

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ask …correct, no grease! While grease is a lubricant, it is thick and heavy and can slow your pistol down, even making it inefficient. A good oil or lubricant is far better to use as it is much lighter and it allows everything to move easier with less effort, making your cycle time quicker and maintaining gas efficiency. So, with an out-of-the-box GBB, I will clean and remove as much grease as possible and lubricate only the places that are needed. For example, when it comes to any contact points between the slide and the frame, you don’t need a lot of lubricant. With a good oil, a few drops properly placed properly will go far. My choice of oils/lubricants are GHK silicone oil and Maglube oil. Both are very good lubricants and perfect for use on all aspects of your pistol and can be purchased fairly cheaply.

GETTING DOWN TO IT

Here is my process for cleaning and lubricating my pistols: I start by cleaning any old oil or grease from the slide, inside the rails and around the blowback housing and nozzle using cotton buds, as they can reach the smaller areas and they are inexpensive. Next, I will inspect my barrel and hop rubber to check for any grime down the barrel and check for wear on the hop rubber. I also look for any signs of lubricant on the hop rubber. Contaminants on your

TECHNICAL KEEP IT CLEAN

hop rubber will have adverse effects on accuracy and range. Using a cleaning rod and small squares of cotton t-shirts which I cut up myself (old t-shirts of course!) I then clean the barrel. It may take three or four goes before your barrel is clean but repeat the process until the wipe comes out clean. For this I use either isopropyl alcohol, or Zippo lighter fluid. The trick here is to clean the grime from the barrel and leave it oil and grime-free, while being mindful at all times of your hop rubber. Try not to push the rod too far as you may damage your rubber. It’s amazing the difference a simple clean of the barrel makes on both range and accuracy. Once you are happy that your barrel is clean, turn your attention to your mag. Your pistol is nothing without an efficient mag. Using a cotton bud with some oil on, wipe around the release valve (the oil helps to pick up any debris) making sure there is no dirt or dust around the valve, as this could cause problems when the knocker strikes the valve to release gas. This next step isn’t vital but it’s something I do to be sure the BB can feed up the mag and that the mag follower doesn’t jam. By removing the feed lips on the mag, I then remove the follower and the spring followed by the base plate and, using another cotton bud with some alcohol, I clean the channel from top to bottom, ensuring no contaminants are present. Grit and dirt can get into your mag and jam BBs. Give the spring and the follower a wipe over with some rag or workshop towel. All of these sections should be free of obstructions and contaminants as this can cause feeding issues and any oils will be picked up on your BB and then sent through the barrel. At this stage we now have three sections of your pistol cleaned and ready for oil but before you do this inspect your pistol, check for any signs of wear, check for any breaks or cracks. If you see any screws or grub screws just give them a check making sure they are tight, along with the gas valves; release and fill and just check they are tight.

with the condition of things, now is the time to get the lube out (ooh matron!) if you have ever seen Evolution’s “there’s always time for lube” …sorry got a bit distracted there! With the oil we don’t want it dripping out everywhere, we just want to administer enough in the areas needed. So, the railed sections on both the slide and the frame, add a few drops at points you know are contact points. Next add a drop or two on the disconnectors, pull back the hammer if you have a hammer and add two drops to the hammer and sear contact point and (if you can get to it) add two drops to the valve knocker; also draw open your nozzle and add a drop or two onto your piston o-ring. At this point you can replace your slide and by hand, cycle the slide a few times so that the oil becomes evenly distributed. Next is the mag and the only point on your magazine to add oil is around the release valve; two drops should suffice and one drop on the fill valve. I mentioned about a hammer. Some pistols aren’t hammer action but, instead, are known as strikerfired; Glocks for example. With the slide removed you can see pretty much all of the action, so look for any point of pivot or component contact and just add a drop in these areas. I believe this concludes the process of basic pistol maintenance. Always remember that a well-maintained pistol is a happy pistol! Look after your gear and your gear will look after you. Now get out there and enjoy taking down your opponents! AA

TOOLS FOR THE JOB

If you plan on regularly maintaining your pistol(s) yourself, I highly recommend investing in some valve tools. These make life much easier than trying to do it with ill-fitting screwdrivers. After the inspection and you are happy

www.airsoftaction.net

VORSK DIARY DIARY UPDATE

VORSK:

DIARY UPDATE SINCE THE “VORSK PROJECT” STARTED, BILL HAS BEEN KEEPING DETAILED NOTES AND A RUNNING TALLY ON THE EXISTING MODELS TO SEE HOW THEY PERFORM OVER TIME AND ALTHOUGH SOME STILL HAVEN’T YET SEEN A GAME DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS WE HAVE ALL FACED, HE CONTINUES TO GIVE ALL THE MODELS, INCLUDING THE LATEST RELEASES, A VERY HARD TIME ON THE RANGE IN HIS WEEKLY SESSIONS!

ORSK just keeps on rolling, even during the global pandemic when others faltered and what a joy it is to have access to each and every one of the new models as they are released! Some of you may think that VORSK is “just another GBB pistol brand” but I have to tell you that if it is, it’s most definitely in the very, very top tier and giving some of the brands that have been with us for longer a REAL run for their money! VORSK now encompasses not only the superb pistols themselves, but now also high-grade BBs and even “Fuel”! The BB ranges comprise 5 styles, across 8 weight classes, with 6 different size options, resulting in 96 unique products that come beautifully and precisely packaged! Instead of being forced to buy over 3,000 BBs for each desired weight, VORSK’s new, smaller container sizes allow you to buy exactly what you need: 2,000 .25g and 1,100 .25g Tracer BBs for your AEG? No problem! A small bottle of .36g for your DMR? Easy! The convenience of having smaller bottles gives the ability to carry them onto the field to match your choice of primary, with the 2,000 BB bottle fitting nicely into a 40mm grenade pouch. VORSK’s range of Bio-Degradable BBs is broad to say the least, as .20g to .43g BBs are on offer, as well as Bio BBs infused with Tracer Green for those night-time battles! And it has to be said that the VORSK team do know a thing or two about gas airflow mechanics and performance! Born from a desire to fine-tune their replicas with their own in-house formulation for improved shotconsistency and gas efficiency, they have worked with leading Airsoft Gas manufacturers to produce their own “GBB Fuel”: V6, V8 & V12. At its heart, VORSK “Fuel” is a propane-based mix with Silicone lubricants and treatment additives, formulated at a ratio designed to give you enhanced FPS and better felt recoil. The silicone and further additives provide protection to the GBB platform to maintain its performance shot after shot. 62

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I was kindly sent test samples of the three new “fuels” and found that they do indeed have a profound effect on performance levels. Using a VORSK Vengeance pistol with three separate VORSK 23BB Hi-Capa magazines, we first vented each mag to ensure it was empty. Using VORSK .20g performance BBs we then topped off the mags to the extent of their 23BB capacity and filled one each with V6, V8 and V12 fuel. The results were immediately obvious just given the difference in “kick” between each magazine and this was borne out by the means calculated after each magazine was emptied (they all emptied on one single gas fill): • V6 = 0.99 Joule/327fps • V8 = 1.09 Joule/343fps • V12 = 1.22 Joule/364fps The V12 is fabulous if you want a big “kick” but may put some pistols over the site limit, so you have been warned! All three “fuels” have been designed specifically to give optimum performance from your VORSK pistol and I’ll be using it in my testing as the “Diary” continues to fill!

RUNNING TOTAL TIME!

All of the models have now had thousands of BBs through them, far more than any of the other pistols in my collection and the slides and frames have been lubed after each range session. Magazines have been checked, serviced and seals/o-rings inspected to ensure continued performance. This is not in any way a negative, as any GBB magazines should be checked and serviced regularly (as Jimmy outlines in his article this month) and this is something that is a matter of routine for me. The first models to enter my little “test program” were the EU18s and the Hi-Capa 4.3s. I’ve been running the HiCapas until now on NUPROL 2.0 gas, using .25g RZR BBs and the chrono still settles well at 1.01 Joule/330fps with

VORSK DIARY DIARY UPDATE

a .20g BB. The pistols have now had over 8,000 BBs down the barrel… Accuracy is excellent and appears to have settled at 10m but that, of course, could be put down firmly to the skill of the user! The Hi-Capa 4.3s really are superb GBB pistols but I’ve FINALLY had to replace the battery in the RDS… Jeez, I thought that was never going to run out! The EU18s also continue to rock and the muzzle wear I noticed on the slide of the grey RDS version seems to have stopped, so now I know it was indeed just down to the sharpness of my Kydex as it’s not appeared anywhere else. I continue to run the EU18s on the suggested NUPROL 2.0 and still have experienced no major issues with consistency of power; apart from replacing one set if feed lips they are all good to go for a while longer. The action of both pistols has retained the smoothness that was apparent when they first arrived with me. I’ve now logged in excess of 7,400 RZR. 20g and .25g BBs through the pistols and thus far the “long-termers” are still performing as new at 10m on steels and on the Attack Sense Smart Target System, with solid accuracy at that distance. The EU18s have registered highest at 0.78 Joule/290fps on a .20g RZR, settling in at 272fps and staying there. I’ve found that now they’ve has settled in they like .25g RZRs best. The first model of what I called at the time “the second coming” was the Hi-Capa 5.1 Split Slide and oh my, what a super pistol this is; the more I use it, the more I love it! It’s the slide that makes all the difference on this pistol and, as I suspected, that Split Slide design, which means only the rear half of the slide actually moves (dovetailing beautifully with the fixed front half), means there is far less weight moving, making gas usage massively more efficient and the cycle time meaningfully less when it comes to taking follow-up shots. The 5.1 Split Slide has performed very well over 5,000 BBs at 10m on steels and at 5-10m on the Attack Sense Smart Target System using .25g RZR BBs. In terms of the chrono, things have now settled with it recording nicely in the mid-320’s on .20g BBs. Okay, the VX-9 “Hitman” duo! This is STILL an awesome pair of pistols anyway I look at them and I do look at them regularly, as they are gorgeous! The finish on these has stood up very well in use and the woodwork and rubberised panels inset to frame are still looking great! I personally still prefer them “sans suppressor” but the effort that went into the extended inner barrel and the “suppressor” is becoming more and more obvious as they have a profound effect on

performance too. I’ve continuously tested the pistols with (and without) the extensions over some 6,000 BBs each, and using NUPROL 2.0 gas and RZR .20g BBs I still get a consistent chrono of 0.72 Joule/280fps without extension and 1.07 Joule/340fps with! The Vorsk VP-X nails the “Punisher Pistol” look perfectly but of course, looks are not everything and as cool as the VP-X undoubtedly looks, that’s backed up by quality and performance in testing so far. Vorsk tell us regularly that “all of our pistol designs are passion projects” and the VP-X is no exception to this rule. A full metal construction with an anti-porous, electrostatic finish means that the VP-X is standing up to my abuse so far and as it inevitably wears it’s going to look great as it does so! With 3,200 BBs down the barrel on the short 10m range the VP-X performs flawlessly on Nuprol 2.0 gas, and using RZR .20g BBs it chrono’s with a pretty darn consistent 0.94 Joule/319fps even when it first comes free of the holster! Accuracy is great too, as it easily rings the steels at both 5 and 10 meters on .25g RZRs! Coming to the newest model in the test pool, using NP 2.0 gas and the new .20g VORSK Precision BBs, from the box the VENGEANCE chronos consistently at 0.98 Joule/325FPS after 1,400 BBs. The pistol feels great, cycles smoothly, has a super recoil impulse. The flared magwell and extended magazine base plate help with swift changes when you run dry and with the red dot fitted it’s supremely easy to track from target to target if you’re shooting plates or spinners. I’m not alone in running the VENGEANCE, as Jon has also added one to his “practical armoury” and thus far it’s serving him very well on a regular basis! So, things continue to move along and to date all of the original pistols are cranking along sweetly! Performance is still great on the older models and the newer ones continue to raise the bar each and every time! I’ve just got hands on the new VP-26X and have started testing on this to report fully in Issue 130, but my initial impression is “WOW!” not just in terms of performance, but also in the uniqueness of its “look”. So watch this space for ongoing updates on VORSK as there’s a LOT more to come! AA

www.airsoftaction.net

armoury ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA

CHALLENGER IN NAME...

...CHALLENGER BY NATURE! 64

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armoury ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS JIMMY HAS BEEN LABOURING BEHIND THE SCENES TO BRING US THE LOWDOWN ON NUMEROUS INNOVATIONS AND AIRSOFT ADVANCES IN HIS REGULAR “TECH” COLUMN BUT NOW WE’RE LETTING HIM OUT OF HIS SPECIAL DARK ROOM AND INTO THE LIGHT OF DAY AS HE LANDS HIS FIRST EVER REVIEW IN AA AND TALKS ABOUT A NEW HANDGUN MODEL FROM ICS THAT TICKS ALL HIS BOXES!

think it’s safe to say that the Hi-Capa pistol in airsoft is to date one of, if not the most popular handgun platform out there - and it’s most certainly the most upgradable pistol on the market. For me it has become a pistol I know I can rely on and therefore it is also the most used pistol in my collection. With so many manufacturers all producing their own “take” and all claiming them to be the best, I can imagine that to create something better and to have it stand out in the crowd would be quite a challenge, plus you would need to create something none other has. It is my personal opinion that the mighty TM are the producers of the finest Hi-Capa pistols and to compete with such a name would need something special indeed.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

ICS have now brought something very new - and very special - to the table with their new “Challenger” and it has honestly got my juices flowing! It comes in my favourite colour (black) and although I feel it’s a bit too glossy (and would look amazing in a matte finish!), that doesn’t detract from what is inside, or its superb performance. It is the first of its kind to come out of the box with an R-hopped stainless-steel barrel, making it quite the beast. The ergonomics of the pistol feel “just right” and it sits nicely in my hand. It really is a nice design but then I’m not surprised, as this is ICS we are talking about. But it isn’t ICS alone, as internally Master Mods have had their chance to work in some rather lovely components. You may remember a few issues back I had the immense pleasure of reviewing some new Master Mods internal parts and I loved them. There is almost a heavy scent of Japanese cherry blossom about this pistol, as it has been designed with TM spec and compatibility in mind. This new pistol, as the name says, is a “Challenger”

and will indeed challenge other manufacturers to be this good and I do think it could easily follow the in the giant footsteps of TM. It is a first for me to see an out-of-the-box pistol adorned with so many great features, features no other manufacturer are fitting as standard!

BOX FRESH

The pistol is presented in a simple “picture” cardboard box, which I was a little unenthused about if I’m honest. It would have been nice for such a pistol making such a statement to come in a nice hardcase but that doesn’t reflect on the pistol itself and again, is just my personal opinion. I just feel the presentation deserves “more”. At first glance it looks like a competition pistol and you know what, it feels like a competition pistol! ICS have made it so you can either run open sights or easily attach a RMR of your choice on the pre-fitted RMR plate and even with a RMR fitted the slide had no trouble cycling. The grip is a nice size, fitting neatly in my large hand, although, sadly, there is no stippling on the grip but it does work well with or without a gloved hand and it sits at a comfortable angle. The grip also sports a large flared magwell for swift, precision changes. The mag itself is a Hi-Capa style and I can confirm it does fit and operate in both TM 4.3 and 5.1 pistols and vice versa. The magazine capacity is 30BB which you’d expect from any Hi-Capa, and where some struggle to empty a full mag this beaut empties with ease and locks back on every last BB. Gas consumption would see one and a half mags emptied before it wouldn’t cycle enough to load the next BB; it’s full metal so this is to be expected, as it takes more gas to move a heavy slide. The trigger pull is completely adjustable, thus allowing for fine tuning and for a personal feel and at its shortest its just over 1mm before it fires, which

“INSIDE THERE ARE SOME SUPERB FEATURES WHICH I HAVE NEVER SEEN IN AN OUT-OF- THE-BOX PISTOL, SUCH AS THE R-HOP BARREL, TDC HOP UNIT, FIXED HOP, STAINLESS TIGHT BORE BARREL. THESE FEATURES COMBINED MAKE FOR A VERY ACCURATE PISTOL WHICH WILL ALSO OUT-RANGE MOST STANDARD NEW AEGS …AND THAT’S NO EXAGGERATION!” www.airsoftaction.net

HI-CAPA • TDC Hop-Up Chamber (Compatible with TM spec)

• MASTER MODS R-Hop System • REVO.II High Performance Valve System • Steel made fire control system components (Compatible with TM spec)

• SUS301 Stainless Steel Searing Spring (Compatible with TM spec)

• Adjustable Trigger • RMR & DOC Mount • 3-dot Luminous Sights

SAR 9.II

BLE-009-SB-2 SMART TACTICAL

BLE-XMK

BLE-010-SB MARK X

BLE-010-CB

armoury ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA

makes for fast follow-up shots. Inside there are some superb features which I have never seen in an out-ofthe-box pistol, such as the R-hop barrel, TDC hop unit, fixed hop, stainless tight bore barrel. These features combined make for a very accurate pistol which will also out-range most standard new AEGs …and that’s no exaggeration! Due to the Master Mods R-hop and barrel it can lift a heavy weight BB with ease and there was a nice little note on the slide telling you to use 0.30g BB. I have never seen an unmodified pistol lift anything heavier than a 0.28g BB effectively, so I was amazed when the first few BBs span off into the distance to a point I lost sight of them! Don’t panic though, as you’re not forced to use 0.30g as there is a separate hop rubber included for a lighter-weight BB should you choose to run lighter. The Master Mods TDC hop unit is very well made and can be adjusted using the allen key provided, which allows for very finite tuning. Because ICS have made certain parts TM compatible I just had to see it for myself and the hop unit does definitely fit in the competitor and works incredibly well. I did manage to fit the outer barrel in a TM slide but it was a tad to tight for it to cycle, so I gave up with that! Also, as previously mentioned, the mags are TM compatible, so if you own a Japanese Hi-Capa you don’t really need to buy anymore magazines. Included in the box are a suppressor/tracer adaptor which allows the use of 14mm attachments; I tested with an Excoretech XT301 and it worked fine and cycled perfectly. Also included is a little spring guide locking tool which makes life very easy for you should wish to remove the spring and guide (which I really like and have never seen before). Let’s now look at a few specs shall we? • Overall length of the pistol is 220mm • Barrel length is 113mm • Mean muzzle velocity is 0.95 Joule/320fps on 0.20g • Gross weight is 962g • Mag capacity is 30 BBs ICS have built most of the body using high-grade aluminium, which keeps the weight below the 1kg mark but have opted for a more robust steel for the fire control system, making it incredibly tough and much more durable than others who use cast alloy. You can rest assured it’s going to last and SUS301 stainless steel springs have also been used to give superior spring power and longevity. Here is a list of the awesome features for this fantastic new pistol: • TDC Hop-Up Chamber (Compatible with TM

spec) • MASTER MODS R-Hop System • REVO.II High Performance Valve System • Steel fire control system components (Compatible with TM spec) • SUS301 Stainless Steel Searing Spring (Compatible with TM spec) • Adjustable Trigger • RMR & DOC Mount • 3-dot Luminous Sights • Steel CCW 14mm Barrel Adapter, Sight Cover Plate, Reverse Plug Retention Clip Before closing I will tell you that I tested all of my holsters with the Challenger and unfortunately it would not fit any of my hard case holsters. However, I can confirm it does fit in the Warrior Universal Holster and the Viper Universal Holster. No doubt once the Challenger hits the shop shelves there will be all manner of holsters cropping up but to be clear, it does not fit in CCCP, Nuprol, or Ammomax holsters. I really do feel ICS have hit the proverbial nail right on the sweet spot with this pistol. The only thing I could be critical over was the glossy finish, so all in all they have produced something that I believe is going to bode well with many an airsofter and I predict they will sell out very fast, faster than hot cakes! If you are looking for a high-level contender which offers superb performance, I recommend you take a look at the new ICS Challenger pistol - if you buy one, you WILL be the envy of many! Our sincere thanks go once again to our good friends at ICS Airsoft for sending over the sample of the new Challenger for test and evaluation and you can be sure that we’ll continue to test this new pistol and report back when we do. For regular news from ICS be sure to check out their busy social media channels or go direct to www.icsbb.com AA

www.airsoftaction.net

RELOADED WET FORCE EU17 CUSTOM

WHEN CUSTOM COMES AS STANDARD

STEVE T CHALLENGES HIS GLOCK PREJUDICES WITH A CUSTOM MODEL TO SEE IF MOST AIRSOFTERS HAVE IT RIGHT, MOST OF THE TIME, AFTER ALL...

es, I see you, Glock aficionados. I see your Gen 3/4/5 knowledge and raise you an I-don’t-givea-damn. They’re all just so blocky-Glocky that unless you really want to run a standard issue sidearm, they’re easy to dismiss. Even the Gen 5 update amounts to little more than a finger-bump delete and beveled edges to the slide. Hardly ground-breaking now, is it? But maybe that’s the point. The real arms manufacturer has done very well out of incremental upgrades - thank you very much - as well as a long history of blocking “Glocking” in the airsoft world. But that eased recently in a trade agreement with Umarex, which saw fully-licensed Glocks finally reach the airsoft market, manufactured by long-term makers VFC. Which is great. Unless you a) don’t rate VFC, or b) don’t want to pay extra for the licence. And while we think the latest range of Umarex/VFC Glocks are brilliant, we can understand why you might look for a more affordable alternative. Check out our very own Red Cell roundup from the November 2020 issue for more Glock options.

WE ARE FAMILY

I really don’t think we need to recap the history

of Glock pistols, do we? Think of a military or law enforcement situation in the last couple of decades and the chances are that they use a Glock. That explains why they’re so popular - omnipresent almost - on airsoft fields today. It is understandable that players want to replicate the firearms they see in use. Many of the longestrunning and most oft-recommended “Glock-a-likes” at skirmish sites everywhere must be from WE. Originally a TM clone, over the years, the Taiwanese manufacturer has established a reputation for affordability, reliability and parts availability whether you want to repair, replace or upgrade its offerings. But, to be honest, they do tend to be a bit… vanilla. However, when an experienced new recruit to my squad said how much she has loved her EU17 Custom over a couple of years, I felt obliged to investigate further.

CUSTOM AS STANDARD

Yes, this is a Glock you can purchase new - just as I did for this review. No, it isn’t “standard”. Unless you qualify “standard” as supplied by the manufacturer, in which case… Just look at the thing! It’s basically a hundred

“I REALLY DON’T THINK WE NEED TO RECAP THE HISTORY OF GLOCK PISTOLS, DO WE? THINK OF A MILITARY OR LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATION IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES AND THE CHANCES ARE THAT THEY USE A GLOCK. THAT EXPLAINS WHY THEY’RE SO POPULAR - OMNIPRESENT ALMOST - ON AIRSOFT FIELDS TODAY.” 68

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RELOADED WET FORCE EU17 CUSTOM

quid all-in and looks like a completely custom pistol! From the flared magwell and engraved slide to the aggressive stippling on the grip and the red safetyscissor trigger, there’s no mistaking this for a standard Glock. But it isn’t all about the looks. This is based on WE’s platform that has been in use for years now and has proven its worth in skirmishes everywhere. It’s high time to see whether tried and trusted tech can match newer releases with the latest trade markings to match.

FLASH FORWARD

The WE EU-17 Custom will feel instantly familiar to anyone that’s used the platform before - it just works! Previous models may have lacked the flashier touches, but it’s all based on the same old tried-and-tested formula. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, after all. This legacy system is still as effective now as it was on first release. Umarex and VFC may have the rights to the Glock trademarks now - and their later releases feature a much more convenient hop adjustment system too - but is this WE every bit their match in terms of FPS and accuracy? At the risk of deflating the build-up? No. It’s really - REALLY - good but WE’s aging EU17 Custom just can’t measure up to more recent releases. It’s such a shame because it looks so Gucci. More “PMC with a slightly sci-fi flair of the Mandalorian” about it. But, as ever here at AA, appearance takes second place to performance. If first impressions count, then the WET Force wins big. With its aggressively stippled Gen 3/4 grip, deluxe trigger and cut-down slide, this feels like a sidearm to be proud of from the moment you pull it out of the ever-so-slightly-underwhelming cardboard box. There are truly luxurious - albeit fictional - markings on the slide, outer barrel, flared mag well and more. This is not mil-sim territory but it doesn’t half look the part of a sidearm for the very richest private operator that any quarry would fear. The trademarks are suitably specialist and don’t give the game away that this is an airsoft replica at 20 paces.

PRACTICE MAKES NOT PERFECT? Putting the luxurious EU17 through its paces,

we achieved two magazines out of each gas fill, averaging 300FPS, which is about on par for a GBB pistol. The high was knocking on the CQB ceiling at 349, with the lowest at 280 at the end of the second full mag. The remaining dozen or so viable shots from mag three averaged 250 FPS, which is exactly what we’d expect. The “fiber-optic” sights work really well and remain clear to see even after dark. It’s easy to ignore the functional safety under the barrel - unique to WE’s airsoft incarnations - while the conventional Glockstyle scissor trigger safety still works just great. In terms of accuracy, the WET does… OK. With the hop set for .25s at 25 metres, it hits an A4-sized target more often than not. But with its wibblywobbly outer barrel, this EU17 Custom is not the match of other, more exacting pistols in the same price range.

SPECIFICATIONS

Price: UK£109 (approx) Weight: 820g, inc mag (tested) Length: 202mm FPS: 300 average (tested) Hop: Adjustable Construction: Metal/polymer Full auto: No Recoil: Yes Power source: Green Gas Magazine type: Metal/Polymer Capacity: 25 rounds

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AFTER ALL

I’ll readily admit that I’m not a Glock fan but I fell in love with the officially licensed Umarex G19X by VFC last year and I’d field one all day long. But it also costs half as much again as this “Custom” model from WE, which feels more special, while costing less. If you want to wow people in the safe zone, then the WET EU 17 is a safe option. It’s very cool and works just fine. But I’d choose the officially licensed version from Umarex as the better performer, despite the additional cost - which as it turns out, is not just for that expensive license after all... AA

“IF FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT, THEN THE WET FORCE WINS BIG. WITH ITS AGGRESSIVELY STIPPLED GEN 3/4 GRIP, DELUXE TRIGGER AND CUT-DOWN SLIDE, THIS FEELS LIKE A SIDEARM TO BE PROUD OF FROM THE MOMENT YOU PULL IT OUT OF THE EVER-SO-SLIGHTLY-UNDERWHELMING CARDBOARD BOX.” www.airsoftaction.net

ACTION AIR PRACTICAL SHOOTING

PRACTICAL MAGIC

IN THE FIRST PART OF YET ANOTHER NEW SERIES, JON “POSH” MILLS HAS STARTED HIS JOURNEY INTO ALL THINGS “PRACTICAL” AS HE DOCUMENTS HIS FIRST STEPS INTO A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF AIRSOFT AND, ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AA CREW, TAKES A STEP BACK TO “PROJECT PRECISION” AND SEES HOW TRUE “AIRSOFT MULTIGUN” IS BEING LOOKED AT WITH FRESH EYES! 70

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ACTION AIR PRACTICAL SHOOTING

don’t know about you, but after several years of skirmishes and MilSim games, I feel kinda “meh” about it all. Having run sites you get to see the underbelly and sometimes it’s not as nice as you would like. I have met some amazing people and forged some lasting friendships that I’m truly grateful for; I just need something more from Airsoft… I was always aware of IPSC and Action Air and I’d loosely kept an eye on the situation but I’d never really moved forward with it in any productive way. That was until late 2019, when I purchased myself a budget setup with the view to giving it a go. Then Covid happened. In the real world, I work in Health

and Social Care so, as I’m sure you can imagine, I was a touch busy and my focus has been elsewhere. Now though, as we were due to be released from the clutches of restrictions in the UK, I decided to start looking at it again. I’m not the first to express an interest in practical or competitive shooting here at Airsoft Action. Bill likes a bit of “Airsoft 3 Gun” and keeps going on and on about it. Nige is, of course, intimately involved (and very good friends) with the master Airsoft Surgeon, Clarence Lai and the Airsoft Surgeon Championships, plus we have our AA Legionnaire, “Stewbacca”, who writes regularly about his escapades in the practical shooting world. As a result, I have access to a wealth of knowledge, individuals and experience from those who are in the know. That, though, is not a resource that I am going to tap into! I want to try and explore the interesting world of IPSC and Action Air under my own steam. I want to do my own research. I want to discover and experience all the wonderful and woeful elements for myself, without being pre-warned or being given a leg up. I want to buy the wrong kit, fail and fumble miserably and learn what’s needed. I want to put in the training and learn from my mistakes. I want to enter a competition only to come last. That’s where the fun is. And so, I invite you to join me on a journey. A journey that demonstrates just how terrible a shooter I www.airsoftaction.net

ACTION AIR PRACTICAL SHOOTING

am. A journey that demonstrates the pros and cons of the IPSC and Action Air World. A journey that you can walk – and, if you wish, shoot - with me. A journey from the start. I guess that the first question I should answer is, what is Practical Shooting? The UK Practical Shooting Association states: “The dynamic marksmanship discipline of Practical Shooting requires a blend of accuracy, power, and speed so that you acquire a winning combination. The discipline includes multiple targets, moving targets, targets that react when hit, penalty targets, or even partially covered targets, obstacles, and movement. These all play a part in the challenging sport of practical shooting” …and “The idea is simple. The shooter tackles competitive ‘stages’ requiring varying numbers of rounds and using different shooting positions, against the clock. The appeal of the sport lies in the diversity of the courses of fire available to the shooter – they are different for every match. Targets vary in size, shape, position and material – metal, paper or frangible – from a variety of distances (from 3 to 300 metres)”. It’s worth pointing out that frangible targets and 300 meters are only for real steel shooting. Action Air is using close range targets. In layman’s terms, shooting at targets along a course, with the most accuracy in the shortest time. Seems simple enough to me. This is gonna be easy! (I’m predicting a “famous last words” moment here). Those of you not residing in the UK may not be aware that we have some fairly strict rules relating to firearms (especially pistols) and, as such, Airsoft Replicas replace their real steel counterparts in the IPSC recognised Action Air discipline. That’s what I’ll be doing or, at least, trying to. Finding out where to start is actually a bit more difficult than you’d think. The UKPSA website has a lot of information about the disciplines (most of which are real steel) but it does mention Action Air and has a link to the fairly weighty rulebook and oh boy, what a rulebook that is! What it doesn’t immediately show you, although I’m sure it’s on there somewhere, is where you can go to do it. Back to Google I go. A good search term is “Action Air UK” as this pinged up a Facebook Group in the UK run by UKPSA and

“ACTION AIR IS USING CLOSE RANGE TARGETS. IN LAYMAN’S TERMS, SHOOTING AT TARGETS ALONG A COURSE, WITH THE MOST ACCURACY IN THE SHORTEST TIME. SEEMS SIMPLE ENOUGH TO ME. THIS IS GONNA BE EASY! (I’M PREDICTING A “FAMOUS LAST WORDS” MOMENT HERE).” 72

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ACTION AIR PRACTICAL SHOOTING

it has links to several related articles and one name pops up again and again, “XSite Practical Shooting Club”. They are the home of the UK’s ranked Action Air afficionados, “the Wyborns”. Father Tim and two sons Matt and Paul are very well known in the Action Air circles with plenty of number one spots under their belts.

BOOTS (OR TRAINERS!) ON THE GROUND

XSite is a two-hour drive away from us but it’s the nearest club to me so I had to pay them a visit. I took Red Cell Jimmy along as he’s a super competitive fella. Upon arrival we were greeted by Tim and the team. Tim ran Jimmy and I through some history of IPSC, Practical Shooting and Action Air. Turns out it came from military and law enforcement as there was a lot of friendly fire within the various departments/units. This spurred a drive for a more positive attitude toward safety and training. Shooting at targets under a strict rule-set became the norm and common practice. For example, your pistol must always point down range, failure to do so will result in disqualification from any competition. Another rule that at first glance seems unnecessarily harsh is that you must take your finger off the trigger when you move more than a single step. When you think about it, if you were to trip, fall or stumble you could discharge the weapon and cause injury or worse (remember, everywhere else in the world this sport is done with real firearms). We were also shown the basic targets and had the scoring system explained to us. I’ll be honest, I’m writing this TWELVE hours later and I’m still none the wiser. So, after being bombarded with a huge amount of information and safety we were called to the “Course of Fire”. A Course of Fire is a series of targets laid out in a manner that requires you to move in a dynamic way to hit them. Each target needs TWO shots and you move through the course as accurately and fast as possible. You’re given the opportunity to walk the course a few times before starting. A range officer asks you to “make ready” which is to load, charge and holster your pistol. After that they call out and a timer will beep within FOUR seconds. As soon as it beeps you complete the course and hit a closing target to end the timer. I flew through my first run and was super proud of myself. Turns out however I’d only hit the targets once, not the required twice. That meant that with penalties I scored a solid zero. It didn’t get much better from there on. In fact, it took a complete

nosedive! We ran a couple more technical courses over the rest of the session and I fumbled and failed my way through. With that, the evening is over and done with. Our scores were given. I came in at an awesome last place. Jimmy came mid-table, beating some of the regulars! That aside we had a great evening and it was an awesome experience. I am super-excited about this journey and next time will talk about what kit you’d need to start, what class that’d put you in and try to provide you with some clubs that are UK based.

P-AMG THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS

After my first (pretty abysmal if I’m honest!) foray into things practical, I got to thinking again. Fact is we all love Airsoft. There’s nothing quite like running around the woods with your mates on a weekend shooting at each other. The laughs, the tales of kills, misses, epic moves and friendly banter. It’s something quite special. You might be interested in Speedsoft for that all out adrenaline rush and attend a few competitions or events. Then from there you might take the decision to participate in something a little more immersive, a BattleSim or a MilSim. It’s different, it’s tactical, it’s cool. For many, that’s more than enough but for some of us, as I said earlier, something is missing. Some of us crave the competitive environment but want a tactical feel thrown in for good measure. So, where do you go from there? IPSC Action Air is definitely an option and one I will continue with and report back. It requires training, it requires practice, it requires dedication and its great fun. There is one drawback, however, it doesn’t account for rifles and shotguns and longerrange rifles. These are the staples of airsoft. They’re the fun factor in our beloved sport and many will look away from this awesome discipline because it, for them, lacks something. A good while back now, Bill wrote a column called “Project Precision” and as usual he was well ahead of the curve. Most of us are familiar with the John Wick movie franchise, how it encompasses how most of us like to see ourselves when we’re on the field. It’s fastpaced, there’s some incredible Gun-Fu and of course, Mr Wick is a total badass! But how did Mr Reeves get there and gain those skills that he has or displays in the movies? Well, he learned, amongst other things, to become a competition level 3 Gun shooter and this was the basis for “Project Precision” but using airsoft and with a twist! For those who don’t know, 3 Gun is a hugely popular discipline of completing a course, again with the most accuracy in the fastest time but this www.airsoftaction.net

ACTION AIR PRACTICAL SHOOTING

“MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE JOHN WICK MOVIE FRANCHISE, HOW IT ENCOMPASSES HOW MOST OF US LIKE TO SEE OURSELVES WHEN WE’RE ON THE FIELD. IT’S FAST-PACED, THERE’S SOME INCREDIBLE GUN-FU AND OF COURSE, MR WICK IS A TOTAL BADASS!” IMAGE FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCE

time using 3 Guns: Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun. A quick Google search will show you just how popular a sport this is around the world and there are some superb YouTube channels dedicated to it. It looks awesome. The only problem can be, again, those pesky firearm laws. The pistol law for us in the UK specifically prohibits us from being able to even participate in it and, as such, is a very niche area of shooting sports. Yes, there are some places offering it but it’s super rare and really unachievable for many of us. That’s where a new discipline that is now my beloved brainchild (Bill helped a bit to be fair!) comes in. For years Bill and I have chatted about wanting to create an airsoft version of 3 Gun. Ideas were batted around, many were canned but this idea eventually grew and morphed into a 4 gun, or multi gun idea, more specifically, Practical Airsoft Multi Gun (or P-AMG). So, what is P-AMG? Essentially, it’s an airsoft version of 3 Gun plus a bit more. Competitors will navigate courses of fire using a Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun, with an optional Long Gun section added to the end. You’ll be scored on accuracy and speed, with penalties for misses and rule infringements. Safety is also a huge part of P-AMG and competitors can be disqualified from matches for relatively minor infringements. The most positive and encouraging thing about P-AMG is that you don’t need to run out and buy specific or

new equipment (you can if you want too though!). Most of us have three out of the four platforms already. This opens the sport up to pretty much everyone that skirmishes and that’s the great thing. It, alongside disciplines such as IPSC Action Air, will help shine a better light on our much-loved airsoft, which often gets a bit of unfair negative publicity (due to the fact we actually shoot each other!). This, in my, and our, opinion, is only ever going to be a good thing. At the moment, rules are being written and courses are being designed, so you won’t be able to compete just yet but keep your eyes on forthcoming issues of Airsoft Action Magazine and the website for more information and potential event dates. In the meantime, for more information about IPSC Action Air, our man Stewbacca regularly writes about his experiences in Taiwan and I’ll continue to chart my personal journey, reporting from a newbie’s perspective as I progress, so keep “eyes on” as we start to explore yet another aspect of the joyous thing we call “AIRSOFT!” AA

“AT THE MOMENT, RULES ARE BEING WRITTEN AND COURSES ARE BEING DESIGNED, SO YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO COMPETE JUST YET BUT KEEP YOUR EYES ON FORTHCOMING ISSUES OF AIRSOFT ACTION MAGAZINE AND THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND POTENTIAL EVENT DATES.” www.airsoftaction.net

RELOADED KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2

CZECH MATE

AA’S “MAN IN TAIWAN”, STEWBACCA, TAKES A LOOK BACK AT HOW AND WHY HE ENDED UP USING A KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2 FOR HIS ACTION AIR EXPLOITS.

have experimented at great lengths in Action Air since my initial forays into it with my HK45 back in early 2019, then joining team SPPT in Taipei in February 2020 using my Glock 34 TTI, then switching to the KWA USP Compact for my qualification in March 2020, before trying out the WE M17 clone for my first competition in April 2020 and eventually settling on using the KJWorks CZ75 SP01 Shadow for my competitive shooting efforts. However, my teammate Ming came along to try out a session in late May 2020 and brought his KJWorks CZ75 Shadow 2 along to use, as well as letting me try it out in the practise stages. I found it more comfortable to use than my current SP01 and it also seemed somewhat of a tack driver in terms of accuracy by comparison, from that point on it was only a matter of time before I made the upgrade. So, in August of 2020 I decided to invest in yet another birthday present to myself and stopped off at KIC Airsoft a few MRT stops away from home and took home a shiny new toy to put to good use. The advantage, of course, being magazine commonality with the SP01 magazines I’d already had trouble acquiring previously, as well as not needing to adjust my IPSC holster, as the external profile of the two pistols are largely the same.

WHAT’S NEW?

So what’s new? Why did the Shadow 2 capture my interest over the SP01 I already had? 76

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The handling of the Shadow 2 just feels faster and slicker - the grip panels of the updated version are far flatter than those of the SP01 with an overall size of 28mm, versus the rounder footprint of the SP01 grips at 35mm. While this might make it seem smaller in terms of its overall circumference and thus feel smaller in the hand, coupled with the more exaggerated heel of the backstrap of the frame, I find it actually fits better in the strong hand, sitting a little higher and pointing a lot more intuitively. Also not slewing around in the hand as much during firing and movement due to the flat sides of the grips - making it easier to put retaining pressure on - than the more curved profile of the SP01’s grips. I really find it just ends up on the target a lot more readily and shoots and moves a lot faster as a result, while the inherent accuracy advantage I found with Ming’s example earlier in the year was still present in my own example. The issues I found with the earlier SP01 had also largely been addressed with the Shadow 2 - this is unsurprising, as the real steel equivalent was developed with feedback from competitive shooters to ensure it handles more favourably in on-the-clock use. The ambidextrous safety levers are much flatter and lower profile to the frame, yet are still easily controlled with the side of the strong hand’s thumb with a sweeping motion enabling or disabling them consistently if the safety is required. However, the lesser emphasis on use of the manual safety in IPSC relevant manual of arms obviously drove the decision

RELOADED KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2

to keep them out of the way of the slide stop/release lever, which retains the same form of the SP01. The magazine release is improved and enlarged over the original SP01, with a greater overall footprint that’s 3mm longer and wider than the original, as well as squarer in profile and also 3mm prouder from the frame than the original as well, thus making it significantly larger and more easily actuated in a hurry. I’ve personally found it much more helpful for speed reloading. The trigger is slightly re-profiled to make it flatterfaced and further forward than the SP01, which seems to make it more comfortable to actuate, as well as slightly shorter to enable the bottom edge of the trigger guard to be squared off without sacrificing the indent at its rear that allows the strong hand middle finger to ride higher into the frame. The front edge remains fairly square vertically and retains the serrated front surface of the SP01 for support hand grip if that style of handling is preferred and likewise, the deep scallops in the frame above the triggers are retained, allowing the support hand to achieve the same thumb drive grip or higher on the frame. The front and back straps of the frame are also more textured than those of the SP01, with all round meat mallet style checkering that improves grip over the predecessor’s thinner patches. The top slide follows largely the same footprint, although the serrations are much more pronounced and coarse covering a longer area front and rear, with the front sets being pushed closer to the muzzle end and the top side faces of the slide being chamfered more heavily and angled inward, as opposed to the filleted and rounded off profile of the SP01. The slide looks and feels more aggressive, as well as being easier to manipulate during loading. With the more slender frame and reduced safety levers, I had to adapt my grip somewhat to make effective use of the Shadow 2 as it lacks the thumb rest shelf option that the SP01 larger safety levers provided. Now I tend to point my strong hand thumb upward in a more exaggerated fashion and rest its inside edge against the lower profile safety lever. The accessory rail on the underside of the frame is slightly simplified, with only a single transverse accessory retention slot present and moved further

rearward instead of the three found at the front end on the SP01. While the front sight is slightly shortened (but still features the collimating fibre optic style insert to improve its clarity and ease of acquisition), the rear sight is much improved and can not only be drifted left and right for windage adjustment in its mounting dovetail by loosening of the two vertical grub screws that retain it, but also has a spring loaded rear block that is held down by a flathead screw which can allow fine elevation adjustments. Only recently I finally got around to properly adjusting these, having struggled with consistency in previous months of training. Using heavier 0.3g BLS ammunition and also switching to black rounds to prevent me relying on visual tracking of my shots instead of my iron sights as I should, my general usage of the Shadow 2 had greatly improved. However, I had a high left bias of shots which I eventually got around to correcting by adjusting this rear sight properly and now the Shadow 2 will carve out the “A” embossed into the A zones of a cardboard target at around 10 metres.

OBSERVATIONS

The takedown procedure is largely unchanged; the retention of the slide is still by way of the slide stop/ release lever and the slide must still be retracted slightly to align the notch in its left rear portion with the corresponding one on the frame. The reinsertion of the stop/release lever can still be an issue due to the hairpin spring as with the earlier SP01. The recoil spring now includes an improved spacer buffer at the rear end where it interfaces with the frame when installed, however, remains a loose component rather than a captured or unitised affair. The magazines are basically identical to the SP01 offerings, aside from the profile of the baseplates having slight indents in them which allow for stripping forcibly from the magazine well should the need arise, although again this is less of a concern in airsoft pistols as the kind of failures or malfunctions that necessitate such features in real steel pistols just won’t occur. However, the magazines also suffer the same cool down drawbacks as their earlier predecessors and, along with having to use the hair dryer or air heater unit methods to try and increase their

“WHILE THIS MIGHT MAKE IT SEEM SMALLER IN TERMS OF ITS OVERALL CIRCUMFERENCE AND THUS FEEL SMALLER IN THE HAND, COUPLED WITH THE MORE EXAGGERATED HEEL OF THE BACKSTRAP OF THE FRAME, I FIND IT ACTUALLY FITS BETTER IN THE STRONG HAND, SITTING A LITTLE HIGHER AND POINTING A LOT MORE INTUITIVELY.” www.airsoftaction.net

RELOADED KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2

temperature between rounds of shooting at training, I have also resorted to purchasing CO2 magazines more recently as well as a bulk box of 50 12g capsules to enable me to make effective use of the Shadow 2 even in the cooler months here in Taiwan (where the winters drop below double digit temperatures which is enough to cause problems at times). The use of CO2 definitely gives a noticeable increase in slide recoil impulse and snappiness of the action cycling, as well as a more visceral muzzle report. In general, the whole experience using CO2 is much improved and each capsule can deliver around 75 rounds consistently, thus allowing three full magazine loads to be fired during more open practise, or 5 loads in terms of stages where I am limited to loading 15 rounds anyway due to production division rules. Thus, they offer a very effective, reliable and easily trusted manner of operation especially in competitions when speed and dependability are everything. I made use of the two CO2 magazines I purchased as my front line options for the most recent competition (as featured in my Action Air article in Airsoft Action Issue No. 125 - May 2021) and they performed flawlessly. The only downside to using them occurred immediately afterwards at the next training session I attended. Even though I had switched back to using green gas magazines as the weather improved somewhat, I found that the outer barrel had been overstressed and outright cracked during one of my drills while doing individual training. Evidently all that extra impulse from the CO2 usage translated to greatly induced stress on the slide and outer barrel. I imagine it was a result of the brass cross pin - which retains the inner barrel floating within the outer barrel and limits its travel - hammering against the rear portion of the outer barrel at the limit of its rearward travel during recoil, thus causing a crack that propagated throughout the outer barrel and sheared off the rear chamber section as a result. Having pushed the Shadow 2 to breaking point, I feel that this is not a terrible drawback given the sheer abuse and tens of thousands of rounds it must already have put down range. Most sessions entail firing around 400-500 rounds including the individual practise drills we do on our own and then running through training stages or drills in turns as a team

later. The wear and tear on an Action Air competitor’s pistols are immeasurably higher than your average skirmisher. This mishap put my Shadow 2 out of service for a few weeks while I awaited replacement parts. I bought a spare SP01 barrel from KIC thinking it might be compatible, but they are in fact slightly shorter and have a different profile to their locking lugs at the rear end near the chamber which prevent them operating properly in a Shadow 2. So I ordered two spare barrels through Chris Leung at SPPT’s home training field and we installed one, as well as taking a look at my double action operation issue with my SP01 of my previous review. The new replacement outer barrels have been redesigned to remove one side of the cutouts that the brass retention pin runs in. I imagine this has been a recurring problem with European users who favour CO2 powered magazines for cooler weather and thus have encountered fractured outer barrels often enough for the feedback and warranty issues to effect a design change on the part of KJWorks. Suffice to say, the new outer barrel design looks less likely to fail in the same manner and has a lot more meat left in it by comparison and, hopefully, that will be the end of this issue. To be fair, the only real one I’ve found with the pistol so far and somewhat of an extreme case due to the wear and tear I’ve imparted on it. Magazine availability and reliability issues aside, if you can forgive the more minor drawbacks of the Shadow 2 and enjoy its improvements in handling and appearance over the SP01, then it’s definitely a more solid contendor than all of the other pistols I trialled to get to this point. Despite my teammate’s efforts to try and convince me to come over to the dark side of fudd guns and race queen HiCapas, you know I’m stubborn and don’t want to be like everybody else. I’ll keep running my beloved Shadow 2 into the ground against the clock, eventually I might stick a longer barrel, compensator and red dot on it and run it in open then switch to my newly acquired birthday pistol - a VFC Walther PPQM2 National Police Authority (Taiwanese police standard sidearm) - to run production class with a more typical style of carry pistol. Maybe... AA

“USING HEAVIER 0.3G BLS AMMUNITION AND ALSO SWITCHING TO BLACK ROUNDS TO PREVENT ME RELYING ON VISUAL TRACKING OF MY SHOTS INSTEAD OF MY IRON SIGHTS AS I SHOULD, MY GENERAL USAGE OF THE SHADOW 2 HAD GREATLY IMPROVED.” 78

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RELOADED KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2

www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE THE NEED FOR SPEED: PART I

THE NEED FOR SPEED: PART I

ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT SEEM THAT WE ARE ALL CONSTANTLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE “LATEST AND BESTEST” INNOVATIONS THAT WILL MAKE OUR AEGS AND GBBS UTTER DEVASTATORS AND BRINGERS OF DOOM, IN PART 1 OF A TWO-PART FEATURE, BOYCIE TAKES A LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE’VE COME FROM AND HOW WE CAN USE THE SIMPLEST OF “FIXES” TO OUR BEST ADVANTAGE!

started my interest in airsoft in 1994, before that building the LS pellet firing kits …and if anyone of you calls me “grandpa”…! The progress of engineering and design has risen stratospherically since the first AEG “automatic electric gun” was made by Tokyo Marui way back at the start of the 1990s! There were only one or two AEGs available and after a few years it seemed that TM and Classic Army were the only makers out there which were regularly seen on skirmish sites. Fast forward 30 years and FAMAS is no longer the only AEG out there but it still is “the bestest gnu”, as Frenchie and Bill so eloquently argue in Red Cell this month. Nowadays though, we have a wide range of manufacturers offering a vast range of replicas and their own designs of RIFs. We can see things ranging from a simple M4 or MP5, right up to the Pulse Rifle seen in the Alien series of films. One thing that perplexes me to a point though, is the apparent “need for speed” within airsoft.

RISE OF THE MACHINE

We can liken the rise to modern levels of technology to that of Formula 1. Players wanting to push for every fps and cm of range they can get from a RIF and, like in Formula 1, just because you have the most expensive and technologically advanced equipment, it doesn’t always mean you have the best kit on the day. It also means you need to pay a lot of money for all the “upgrades” needed to achieve those gains. You can have a rifle firing bang on 350fps consistently and reaching 70m to hit an A3 sheet of paper on a still day - but come the weather and the effect on the BB means you may not be able to hit the same target at 35m. Back in the day of EG700 type motors and 7.2v batteries, the play style was more “spray and pray”. One way to increase this slow rate of fire was to fit “High Speed Gears”, which would bring the ROF up to something half way between running an 8.4v and 9.6v battery on a standard motor. Then Marui released the EG1000 motor and this

“YOU CAN HAVE A RIFLE FIRING BANG ON 350FPS CONSISTENTLY AND REACHING 70M TO HIT AN A3 SHEET OF PAPER ON A STILL DAY - BUT COME THE WEATHER AND THE EFFECT ON THE BB MEANS YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HIT THE SAME TARGET AT 35M.”

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FEATURE THE NEED FOR SPEED: PART I

lump of a battery needing a lot of space to be stored in the AEG. We’d regularly be shooting full auto all the time and it wouldn’t be unknown to run 10 plus x 450rd M4 or 600rd AK type magazines - and even having to refill them - during a game. Ammo counts back then for a day could easily reach 20,000 per day and Excel was about the pinnacle of BB manufacture, costing around £8 for a bag of 2,200. Nowadays, play in the style of play I enjoy means a bottle of 3,300, if I played each fortnight, could last me up to 3 months.

became one of the first “upgrades” we would fit to our AEGs. Also around this time, 8.4v NiCad batteries of around 1600MAh made of Sub C cells were the norm. Some would even fit 10.8v or 12v batteries, hoping that their rifle would last the day. I even remember one guy using two 7.2v batteries to make a 14.4v. Needless to say, the gearbox lasted a few hundred rounds before it lunched itself but it was fun while it lasted!

UPGRADES “OLD SCHOOL” STYLE

Back in the day, upgrades to the FAMAS would be (maybe) running an 8.4v NiCad in place of the recommended 7.2v and also cramming in the heaviest spring possible and hoping the gearbox would last the day. In the early days there were no adjustable hop units, plethora of hop rubber compounds etc. It really was mostly “plug and play”. Life was simple and we didn’t even have any FPS limits! Further progress came when Marui brought out the EG1000 motor in place of the EG700 which was, for the time, a huge increase in performance. That and added to the more prevalent 8.4v NiCads and some 9.6v, 10.8 and even 12v batteries were beginning to be seen. Back then the 9.6v (for example) was a hefty

Modern levels of technology and materials performance mean that higher speeds, higher FPS and range are achievable with pretty impressive reliability from the lower end models. Pushing the envelope of performance will always be the aim of some players; this is great and should be applauded as without this innovation the sport would still be using the same old tech 30 years later. As with motor sport, there are the top-flight formulas which are at the cutting edge but also some people still enjoy racing the older cars like in the Classic series. www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE THE NEED FOR SPEED: PART I

Progress in any sport is inevitable but like in motor sport, there are some of us “old school” players who have evolved over time to be leading the charge for innovation and engineering advances. But there are still a number who like running “old school” type rifles where, jokingly, FPS is known as “Faulty Player Syndrome” and ROF is known as “Rate Of Fail”. They don’t chase every fps that they can, it’s just fit a battery, fill with BBs and play. Don’t get me wrong, every facet of the sport (yes I do regard it as a sport) has its place and I’m more than happy to see “speedballers”, hard core MilSimmers, Skirmishers and those who just don’t care that they just pick up a pistol, put on their safety glasses and go out bare chested, wearing shorts and boots. The ultimate aim is to have fun, blow off cobwebs/steam and go home to our families afterwards with a sense of enjoyment in the time spent with like-minded people. No one part of the “sport” is any better than another, we can all co-exist, play and have fun. There are specific events which have tighter rules on what kit can be worn and used, but general open skirmish days can find MilSimmers wearing accurate Military Kit and replicas, playing alongside Speedballers dressed in bright clothing, multi-coloured RIFs and Dye Masks, and down to the new players using twotone Ifs, to “rentals” who are trying out the sport for the first time. To quote Shaun, who some old school players will remember as “Eznugud”, co-owner of Lightfighter Urban in Sheffield… “At the end of the day you’re grown-ups, dressed as soldiers, playing with toy guns.... Just how seriously should you be taking it?” I’m not, in any way, against innovation and performance “upgrades” but my philosophy is to buy a rifle, run it for a few game days then approach how to improve parts of the performance to reach what I need. Other players will buy an already quite expensive rifle and then splash 1-2 times its value on “upgrades” …before they even use it on site. That, as well, is fine. It’s what they want to do with the budget that they have available. A lot of players who are either starting out or on a lot lower budgets, don’t have the cash available to spend £600 on a rifle and then another £600-800 (or more) on upgrades, so this part of the article will look at getting the most from what you have on a budget.

to take the inner barrel and hop assembly out of the rifle, take the standard inner barrel out and clean it properly. This can be as simple as using the cleaning rod and a couple of sheets of kitchen roll to clean the inside of the barrel. Pulling it through until the kitchen roll is clean. You can also dampen the cloth/kitchen roll with some warm soapy water. Once this is done and fully dry, the next thing to look at is the hop rubber. Some manufacturers fit hop rubbers to their rifles to suit their primary market and with the ambient weather conditions this means a harder rubber compound will work better, say, in Taiwan than it will in a more temperate climate. For the UK and much of Europe the “best” compound for around the 1 joule (328fps) is a soft or 50 degree. Before fitting the hop rubber it’s a good idea to clean off the release agent from the inside of the rubber, this will mean less time needed to “break in” the rubber and get the best level of performance from it more quickly. I still hear from time to time, the old wife’s tale that using a spray of silicone up the feed nozzle will affect range. Well, yes it will - but only to drastically decrease it! The whole idea of the rubber is to grip the BB and help impart the spin which stabilises it in flight. Putting silicone oil on the rubber will be akin to pouring oil on a wet road surface. The more grip you have on the BB the better. Fit the clean rubber and bucking (now referred to as a “nub”) back to the clean inner barrel and reassemble into the rifle. I find it best to still run a few hundred BBs through the rifle before the best performance becomes noticeable. Next month we hand over this section to one of our newest “Legionnaires”, Dan in the USA, to carry things forward into more modern times, so stay tuned, and look forward to some fireworks in Issue 130!. AA

KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!

The thing I hear a lot from new players is: “I want moooooaaar range!” Well, for this you don’t need to throw hundreds of pounds of parts into a RIF. The first thing I suggest is

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FEATURE COMMANDING AIRSOFT TEAMS

COMMANDING AIRSOFT TEAMS

WE HAVE ALL TAKEN PART OF UNIQUE AIRSOFT GAMES, WITH DIFFERENT STORIES, MISSIONS, SCENARIOS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN BUT, IN MOST CASES, THERE IS ONE THING IN COMMON AND THAT IS THE FACTION COMMANDER; SOMEONE WILLING NOT TO PLAY SO THAT OTHERS CAN HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THEMSELVES! BUT WHAT’S LIKE TO COMMAND A FACTION? WHAT DOES ONE NEED - AND WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON OBSTACLES? AA LEGION MEMBER MIGUEL OLIVERA, FROM PORTUGAL, GIVES US AN IDEA…

ell, let’s talk about the obstacles first and let me tell you straight away, except a few extremely organized events where the teams sometimes are hand-picked, it’s impossible to prepare for everything. You will find teams that you will see at the start of the event, they will receive a mission or an objective and after that they will disappear! There will be teams with no way of communication amongst themselves, so when they start going back to respawns it will be hard to regroup with their own, so after that, they will probably join other groups or wander off aimlessly looking for their team. Sometimes the organization can make mistakes, like handing out wrong coordinates to objectives, placing mission items in the wrong place or just giving information that can have multiple interpretations and this may lead to

confusion. So, it’s important to keep in mind that nothing will go 100% as planned. Now let’s go over what one needs to command a faction, or even a large team. The first and most important resource that you will need is reliable a communication line with your faction, this will be the most important aspect of your “job”. Information needs to be spread out, missions need to be handed out and players need the feeling of an active chain of command, so they don’t feel “lost” or “abandoned” which could lead to demotivation. It doesn’t matter if it’s a radio, phone calls or chat apps, what’s important is to have a two-way system of comms the whole game. I would recommend the use of chat apps; everyone has a smartphone these days but not everyone has radios, sometimes they might not be within range and there’s always the

“IT DOESN’T MATTER IF IT’S A RADIO, PHONE CALLS OR CHAT APPS, WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE A TWO-WAY SYSTEM OF COMMS THE WHOLE GAME. I WOULD RECOMMEND THE USE OF CHAT APPS; EVERYONE HAS A SMARTPHONE THESE DAYS BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS RADIOS…”

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FEATURE COMMANDING AIRSOFT TEAMS

issue of many players in the same radio channel. If you have access to the list of players before the event I recommend grouping teams in sections, squads or whatever you may call it, this way you can have a couple of people (Squad Leaders) in charge of each group, instead of having to command each individual team or independent player. One thing that might also help, especially at larger events, is having a “comms officer”, someone helping you handle radio chatter, phone calls or chat apps. This way you can focus on other aspects of the event, handle information and planning ahead while not missing any important communications. These are the bases of that you need to handle a faction, of course games will differ, scenarios will vary and the teams present will be wildly different from each other. But with these bases you can adapt to each challenge. Of course, commanding factions has a lot involved. You get to know a lot of teams and a lot of players, learn how they play and which ones commit to the event until the very last BB is fired. Of course, if the event goes wrong it’s always the commander’s fault, even when things go out of his control and I’ve learned this throughout the years while commanding factions for many games. So I can say that not every experience will go well, so it’s better to prepare for it. But if you think you are up for it, take the challenge!

You can keep up to date with Miguel’s airsoft adventures, along with those of his “GHOST” teammates via their regularly updated Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GhostOpsPortugal. AA

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KIT & GEAR LEATHERMAN STYLE PS

SOMETIMES SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL FRENCHIE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT MULTITOOLS ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS IN AIRSOFT ACTION AND THIS MONTH HE’S GOING TO ADD TO THAT GROWING PILE, BY TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE OF HIS FAVOURITES.

was given my Style PS as a gift; one I had requested as I was trying to reduce the weight of metal I was lugging around daily on the off chance that I would be called upon to fix something. On the face of it, the Style is rather limited but living with for several months has revealed just how damned useful and competent it is. So, sit back and allow me to explain what it is and why it might be your best friend - both on and off site. Leatherman appear to have designed the Style PS with travellers in mind and one eye of the styling of their Skeletool. With the increased restrictions on what can (and cannot) be carried on flights since 9/11, anything with a blade has been problematic unless it is in hold baggage. There are exceptions within the European Union but since we no longer are, we’ll leave those aside. Consequently, the Style PS has no blade, which might seem to be a bit of a deal breaker for many but the scissors it does have go a long way to outweigh any perceived fault. I’ll list the tools Leatherman claim for (Image courtesy of Leatherman Inc) this tool as it will help when discussing what it can do: 1 Spring-action Needle nose Pliers 2 Spring-action Regular Pliers 3 Spring-action Wire Cutters 4 Spring-action Scissors 5 Flat/Phillips Screwdriver 6 Tweezers 7 Nail File 8 Carabiner/Bottle Opener Assuming that most of you are familiar with multitools, you will also be aware of just how often one feature is described as four, so this list isn’t wrong, it’s just a bit “advertise-y”. There are a set of sprung pliers which have a reasonably narrow nose, a larger centre section and a wire cutter. That’s three separate tools according to Leatherman! The carabiner has the weakest spring I have ever encountered and should not be trusted to secure your Style to anything, the bottle opener should work fine though. I suspect the poor carabiner is a direct result of 84

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KIT & GEAR LEATHERMAN STYLE PS

prioritising a functioning bottle opener. Construction is predominantly bead-blasted stainless steel with the screwdriver/nailfile housed in a glass-filled nylon panel. I honestly don’t know why this one part isn’t steel as well, but it’s all very robust as is typical of Leatherman tools. The tweezers are also housed in the nylon side plate, and they are as tight as a tight thing celebrating Ultimate Tight Day in Tightsville! You might lose a bit of nail getting them out, but they do come out and work as well as any tiny tweezers. Although all-metal, they are quite like those found in a Swiss Army knife. Closed, the Style PS is slightly under three inches and weighs less than two ounces – it’s a “keychain” tool. You aren’t going to loosen a stubborn barrel nut with this but, as is often the case in airsoft, if you need to remove an outer barrel, you have problems that probably aren’t going to be resolved on site. I appreciate that I’m possibly sounding far from super enthusiastic about the Style PS thus far, so let me redress that. Despite my cynicism this is a very accomplished tool, one that I reach for every single day, it is just so damned handy. Those pliers are not going to win prizes for sheer strength but they are easy to use thanks to the handle shape and the spring action and perfect for holding or manipulating small items one handed. To give you an example, I have used them several times to hold a needle when sewing bits of kit for the dog. Some of those leads are made of really tough webbing and my fingers are just not up to forcing a needle through it. I can sew sufficiently well using the Style to grip the needle, not something I could do with many other tools. They happily cut wire and cable ties, and accepting that they have limits because of their size, are largely faultless. The scissors probably get more use than anything else and they are excellent. Victorinox are rightly lauded for the quality of the scissors in their knives, these are right up there. If you do a bit of searching online, you will find lots of complaints about the spring for the scissors breaking. The thing about the internet is that it’s a bit of a time machine; content that is many years old remains accessible along with more current reviews and opinions. As best I can see, all the stories about spring failures are from many years back and there are few reviews mentioning this as a problem these days. I have absolutely no complaints – I find them easy to use, very precise in their cutting and utterly invaluable. While it is simply not possible to truly replace a blade with two blades (I carry a basic Swiss Army Cadet for blade duties), I have no qualms whatsoever about going away and

leaving my knife at home, safe in the knowledge that I can cope with pretty much anything. The nail file is, well, a nail file. It’s fairly coarse but does the job and the screwdriver end works fine, both as a driver and as a pry tool although I wouldn’t attempt to lever a tin of paint open with it! I’ve already mentioned the tweezers – they work fine, and the poor carabiner is what it is. I simply added a better one to the tool. I’m sure it’s been said before that the best gun in airsoft is the one you have in your hands at any given moment. The same is true of multitools. You can watch hours of video (try YouTube if you doubt me) and read acres of print comparing the minutiae of which tool is better than other tools, but the truth is that if you only have one with you, that’s the best one at the moment. Being so small, the Style PS can go with you anywhere and everywhere. There is no weight penalty, you could frankly wear it round your neck on a bit of paracord and forget it’s there. The key thing is that if you need it – it is there - and within the limitations of its design it should sort you out. I’m sure I made the same observation about the Swiss Army Classic knife; but for me the Style PS wins because of those pliers. For airsofters, the ability to crimp a wire, to pull a bit of forest out of their gun is more important than having a fine, short-bladed knife. You could carry both to be honest, but if it’s got to be just one – get the Leatherman! Prices vary quite largely in the UK – expect to pay between £30 and £40 GBP which isn’t super cheap although it does come with Leatherman’s 25-year warranty. Cheap or not, it’s worth the cost because it is simply so useful. You won’t build a house with one but you may just be able to keep it runningl. AA

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KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP!!

IT SEEMS THAT AIRSOFT IS NOW, AT LAST, COMING FULLY BACK TO LIFE, RISING PHOENIX-LIKE FROM THE ASHES OF THE C-VIRUS AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE STILL NOT COMPLETELY BACK TO FULL SPEED, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT MANUFACTURERS AROUND THE GLOBE ARE SHAKING OFF THE COBWEBS AND RE-APPEARING WITH SOME ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS NEW “GUNS N’ GEAR”! SADLY THOUGH, THERE IS STILL ONE SHADOW ON THE HORIZON THAT WILL AFFECT US ALL AND THAT’S WHERE WE’LL BEGIN OUR ROUND-UP THIS MONTH…

hops, sites, games and events are all restarting slowly but surely around the world and in many ways airsoft is positively thriving! New players have been drawn to airsoft, all of them wishing to take part in a group activity with their mates that gets them out of the house, away from their screens and as far from lockdown as they could possibly imagine. And they’re entering a world that is has never been better to be a part of than right now, with more guns, more gear, and more choice than we have ever had before! But - and this is a BIG BUT - things they are a-changin’!

CHEAP AS CHIPS

In recent years we have seen the price of AEGs and GBBs come tumbling and, as we’ve often said, you can pick up a “starter AEG” for almost silly money at the moment. Competition (sometimes unfair and unscrupulous) amongst manufacturers and retailers particularly (we’re looking hard at you, “bedroom resellers”!) has seen the price of AEGs, GBB pistols, and all kinds of gear come crashing down and these days a UK£100 AEG will get you in the game with performance to spare. Sadly, for many it looks as if these days are well and truly numbered. We’ve been speaking to numerous manufacturers and retailers and everyone is telling us that 2021 into 2022 is the time we will see these prices changing. Some manufacturers have already

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increased their trade prices by as much as 30%, which means that the item is now more expensive to the retailer and although we are sure some retailers will try to swallow some of the increase, doing so is not sustainable in the long term, so we ARE expecting to see prices rise across the board. However, before you start screaming “Rip Off!!”, let’s try to understand the reasoning behind this; the fact is that raw material prices have rocketed in the last year - and don’t even get us started on shipping costs! To put it in a nutshell, we’re hearing that the price of a 40-foot container from the Far East (IF you can find one!) has soared from U$2,500 to almost US$18,500! Although you can fit a lot of AEGs in a 40-foot container, that still means an incremental per unit rise. Border regulations have, for better or worse long term, also changed within the EU and for UK players that does mean that (currently) some brands are now almost beyond our reach. However, although this is now calming down and “mainland retailers” are finding logistical solutions, it does mean additional duty for the buyer and, as such, that UK£100 AEG is now going to cost you significantly more! The bottom line is that we will see AEGs and GBBs climbing back to higher price levels but, as airsoft prices have been almost artificially low for quite some time, this is in some ways just balance being restored… Perhaps Tokyo Marui have had their prices right all this time after all!

KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

Which brings us very nicely to more exciting and positive news, as the first thing on our menu of airsoft delectability this month is the new TM AKM GBBR!

TOKYO MARUI

We were lucky enough to get our hands on a sample of this lovely new GBBR earlier this month and as we have some real AK-lovers amongst the AA crew, it was both eagerly anticipated and very warmly received! As we expect from TM, both the construction and the performance of the AKM are first rate and even their “faux-wood” looks to be of the highest grain! We particularly liked the finish of the metal parts and the attention to detail, right down to the “Bakelite” pistol grip that mimics the real perfectly and we’ll be getting “range hands on” with one of these as soon as we can! These are now arriving with stockists and as we hear that mags are currently in short supply, we’d advise that you buy a few extra where possible! Staying with TM, there’s also news that their latest Next Generation Recoil Shock (NGRS) model should be hitting the Asian market later this month and, of course, it’s their eagerly-awaited MP5! As we reported on the AA web news page, the MP5 NRGS also features the new “M-System”, which has been newly developed so that a microcomputer (MCU = microcontroller unit) comprehensively monitors and controls FETs, FC (Fire Control), batteries, and motors. There’s also an Ambidextrous FireSelector that includes a Burst function, improved Trigger Response with FET and more! This is looking to be a truly special AEG and we are seriously looking forward to getting one on the range! We hear from Scott and the crew at Land Warrior Airsoft (LWA) that they are expecting this model to be with them in October, so if you fancy one then you’d better get your order in soon! We are STILL just on AEG news here, as things are shaping up for a bit of a tussle when it comes to new P90s!

EVIKE MANUFACTURING GROUP

Again, as we reported via our web news, Evike Manufacturing Group (EMG) have collaborated with KRISS USA Inc.’s premier brand of airsoft products, KRYTAC, under a license granted by Cybergun SA, to create a new P90 model and this promises to be a

superlative AEG. We further know that the EMG P90 AEG will be a 1:1 representation of the FN P90 Tactical SMG, with MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny top rail. The body will be made of a durable, impact resistant, polymer, with an aluminium upper receiver and an ambidextrous magazine release, charging handles, and selector switch. The P90 will be a select fire SMG with a compound trigger in Auto mode; a “half press” fires one round, while a “full press” fires automatic.

The EMG P90 will be fed through a 200 BB mid-cap magazine, with selectable 50 rounds capacity switch.

TITAN BATTERIES

We also just got word from our mates at TITAN that they’re in with the rollout too when it comes to batteries. They told us; “Fitment and performance, we got you covered! We did extensive battery fitment and performance testing together with KRYTAC. What do these batteries have in common? We can already confirm they all fit the new Krytac FN P90; only the 11.1v nunchuck will need the additional battery extender!” We understand that the extender will also be released with the AEG in September and we’ll have more news on that soon… Although we’re still not 100% convinced that the P90 is the model we would have chosen from the FN licence agreement with Cybergun, what we do find exciting is the level of support that this new AEG appears to have from multiple industry partners all www.airsoftaction.net

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KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

working together! So often we see fabulous AEGs and GBBs that go unsupported by anyone other than the original manufacturer and it really is GREAT to see so many quality brands coming together to work and support each other, and ultimately benefit the players that do buy the new P90! BUT it would seem that EMG, KRYTAC, Cybergun et al have some immediate competition - and it’s come again from the airsofter that some love to hate, Novritsch!

NOVRITSCH

The SSR90 Electric SMG has a pre-order on now, with an ETA of February 2022 and this is going to come into “direct contact” with the FN P90! Given that the SSR90 will come “in a completely redesigned, preupgraded package tailored for the most demanding players out there” we’re very interested to see what the fallout of this may be in licensing terms as, let’s face it, there’s some mighty big names in play here! This may be one to grab that “Michael Jackson Bucket of Popcorn” for, to sit back to watch…

Also coming soon will be a model that is sure to please all the “bolty” users out there!

dropped yet another fabulous GBB pistol model, in the form of the VP26X! We’ve been biting our tongues until recently as we REALLY wanted to shout about the very latest handgun model from VORSK but were sworn to secrecy on the new VP26X until the official announcement came. As Bill has already mentioned this model in VORSK DIARY this month we won’t go into huge detail here, but there’ll be a FULL review on the way of this model in Issue 130 next month! And to round out we’ll stick with pistols and shout a bit about the latest RAVEN R226!

RAVEN

As much as we love the original RAVEN R226 Railed GBB pistol (and we do love it as it’s a great pistol with super performance!) there are some instances where you just feel the need for a bit of a “classic” and the latest R-Series non-railed, full-metal pistol really sings to us in that respect! The R226 is of full metal construction. RAVEN’s experience with other GBB models ensures first-class gas efficiency, easily emptying the standard 20 BB magazine when unloading downrange. You have the option of R226s with or without the 20mm rail now, allowing for the attachment of a range of accessories such as torches or laser units of you wish, or the ability to “run clean” is you’re a bit of a classicist! All furniture is functional including the de-cocking lever for returning the hammer to a safe position without discharge. With the introduction of the non-railed version you now have many, MANY options when it

SILVERBACK AIRSOFT

Fresh in the airsoft world and fresh in the door at LWA HQ (who personally gave us the news) is the Silverback Airsoft TAC-41P Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle, complete with a myriad of awesome features. A very capable long gun that is surprisingly light and short, weighing at around 2.65Kg locked and loaded and measuring 110 cm long, it’s ideal for both urban and woodland environments. Each rifle is individually serialised, with a CNC Aluminium Receiver and Fibreglass Reinforced Nylon Stock, and comes in four colour options: Black, FDE, Wolf Grey and Olive Green. What’s more, LWA have plenty of each colour in-stock now but they expect these to sell very quickly, so don’t hesitate!

VORSK

We are also over the moon that VORSK have just

comes to owning an R226! You can have a Railed or Non-Railed Version, an Iron Sight or BDS Sight Version, and you can choose from Black, Blue, Tan, Tan-Black, Grey, GreyBlack, Green - and even Chrome or Gold if you really want to out-bling the opposition! So, that’s it from us for another month! We realise that this month we’ve been a bit “gun heavy” so we’ll catch up with all the superb gear that’s come to our attention recently next issue! For now, keep safe - and go play airsoft! AA www.airsoftaction.net

last post SQUARE IS THE NEW ROUND

SQUARE IS THE NEW ROUND

NOW THAT A PUBLICITY MORATORIUM HAS BEEN LIFTED, FRENCHIE BRINGS US AN OVERVIEW OF THE LATEST BB DEVELOPMENT, ONE THAT WILL SURPRISE - AND POSSIBLY STARTLE - AIRSOFTERS THE WORLD OVER (EITHER THAT, OR HE’S BEEN SNIFFING HIS PRITT STICK AGAIN!)

hange is not something that comes quickly in airsoft, it has taken decades for us to see proper electronic triggers, despite their inherent advantages for instance. One area where that has been only one significant change has been ammunition and that change was the widespread acceptance of biodegradable ammo, mainly driven by landowners and sites. The venerable BB (Bullet Ball according to Marui) has been around forever and there was little to suggest that this was going to change. Airsoft guns are fundamentally muskets, projecting a sphere down a smooth tube. Hop up was developed to dramatically improve the range you can achieve from this basic setup since the alternative, massively increased power behind the BB, is simply not viable if we are to avoid injuring each other. Some experimentation with “rifled” barrels has been attempted but this is more to do with creating a spiralling airflow around the BB as it moves down the barrel and does nothing to improve the seal between the BB and the barrel. In real firearms the base of the bullet is forced into the rifling by the massive gas pressure release when the round is fired, and this seals the bullet against the barrel and the rifling imparts spin which stabilises the flight of the bullet. It is not possible to do this in airsoft guns, although it would make the whole process more efficient and the resultant trajectory more stable all without resorting to backspin to keep the BB in the air for longer …until now.

INVESTED INTEREST

To understand what’s going on and why there has been – and this is unusual – almost no pre-launch publicity, it’s worth understanding the nature of the production of BBs. Yes, obviously they come from factories but there are very few companies who produce our ammunition. If my memory serves correctly, there are or were only three in Taiwan and a few in China. Given the enormous variety of brands available you might reasonably (and correctly) assume that these few foundries produce ammo for many brands, big and small. The important thing here is that the production of BBs is vested in the hands of a few specialist firms who have made the necessary investment in tools and equipment. We have been extremely fortunate to see advanced samples of a new system designed to address all these issues, which has been in development between one of the largest BB foundries in Taiwan and a major Japanese airsoft manufacturer. Although we have had three months to play with, test and evaluate the system, the embargo on writing about it only ended on the first of August this year. The heart of what could be a truly revolutionary development is the ammunition and the barrel. Imaginatively dubbed the Bullet Square (BS™) the new projectile is just that – essentially a cube. This has been married to a barrel which has a matching internal structure with a low, one-in-five twist ratio. This has proven optimal in balancing flight stability with acceptable levels of friction between the barrel

“ANYONE ENTERTAINING THOUGHTS OF JAMES PUCKLE’S SQUARE BULLETS FOR USE AGAINST “INFIDELS” CAN REST EASY. THE BS™ ROUND IS SQUARE IN CROSS SECTION, HOWEVER, DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IT WAS REALISED THAT CHAMFERING THE OTHERWISE SHARP CORNERS WAS HIGHLY DESIRABLE FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE…”

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LAST POST SQUARE IS THE NEW ROUND

and the projectiles. What does this mean in simple terms? In indoor testing with the supplied rifle (a plain vanilla M4A1), range without any holdover was consistent to point of aim at 70 metres with a measured muzzle velocity of 295 feet per second. Using holdover, whether guessed or dialled into the optics, would see us putting rounds out to 100 metres without problems. Consistency was nothing short of stunning. The ammo weights are different from current standards, so we were using 0.26g (all that was supplied to us) and the grouping at 70 metres from a bench rest was slightly over 70mm. Despite some concerns, the BS™ rounds were maintaining sufficient energy to penetrate the paper targets we were using.

PUCKLE UP!

Anyone entertaining thoughts of James Puckle’s square bullets for use against “infidels” can rest easy. The BS™ round is square in cross section, however, during the development process it was realised that chamfering the otherwise sharp corners was highly desirable from a safety perspective, and it was found that this also greatly improved feed reliability and appears to ease the passage of the round through the barrel. It’s not a true dodecahedron, being closer in shape to a gaming dice. The barrel in the supplied gun was made of brass with an internal diameter of 6.001mm between flats. Apparently, Teflon lined, and polished stainless-steel barrels were trialled but found to offer no appreciable improvement to offset the increased cost and complexity of manufacture. Speaking of manufacture, it will surprise none of you that this system requires very tight tolerances to run well. Airsoft guns are not tolerant of muck in the barrel, and this is going to be even more marked in the BS™ design. We cleaned the barrel as directed using the rod supplied with the gun. Apart from the slight rotation of the cleaning rod as it follows the rifling it is no different to cleaning a current barrel and we believe that existing rods can be used for cleaning with acceptable results.

The initial complexities encountered during tooling up are part of the reason that nothing has been announce before now. The basic design work on the ammo and the barrel was relatively straightforward, however, designing the chamber and tooling up for production was a major challenge. For this reason, we have been told not to expect a sudden shift to the new system, it will be gradual and phased, the M4 leading the way for electrics, followed soon we hope by a promised bolt action rifle based on an established design.

EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE

One of the benefits of this system to the gun maker is that apart from the barrel, feed system and barrel seal (chamber), there is no requirement to redesign the mechanics of the gearbox. The geometry within the chamber is impressive and is designed to ensure that each round presents correctly to the barrel, regardless of its orientation while being fed. Imagine the feed system from the P90 magazine but in a component only 9.5mm in diameter. The increased efficiency of the BS™ round in the barrel also means that there should be less demand for upgrades which might strain the box over time as the range increase is achieved through massive efficiency improvements rather than brute force. Unlike the Tanio Koba system, BS™ maintains its effectiveness regardless of muzzle velocity, so snipers will be able to run their guns somewhere between 350 and 370 fps depending on ammo weight and be rewarded with greatly increased range and accuracy. The days of taunting the opposition because you’re safely out of range may be coming to an end. We have no idea when the system will officially be launched as both companies are awaiting the granting of patents. These are expected late 2021 but the global pandemic has touched even these arcane activities. Airsoft Action, along with a select few airsoft commentators have been promised sight of a full technical package with test results from the manufactures once the patents have been granted although we were informed that the results we obtained from the prototype BS™ M4A1 should be largely indicative of production results. So, after years of complaining that there have been no truly innovative developments in airsoft, it seems that those who were in part responsible for the sport as we know it today are about to change everything all over again. The future’s bright, the future is BS! AA

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Airsoft Action - September 2021

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