Airsoft Action - October 2021 - 10th Anniversary Issue by Airsoft Action

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ISSUE 130 - OCTOBER 2021 ISSN 2634-9515

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CONTENTS 8 ARMOURY: TOYKO MARUI AKM GBBR As it’s our 10th Anniversary we thought it only apt to have something just a little bit special to open with this month and, thanks to Red Cell member Marcus, we’ve been able to get handson the very latest GBBR AKM model from Tokyo Marui!

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ISSUE 129 - SEPTEMBER 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: SOPMOD To celebrate our 10th Anniversary though, Bill brings in a special report that looks both back - and forward - to talk about the SOPMOD program that has turned the basic M4A1 into a weapons system for the elite warfighter!

28 EVENT: NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021 TEN years ago Nige headed down to “The National Airsoft Event” to launch a new magazine called “Airsoft Action”. Now the AA crew head down to the UK’s New Forest to check in at the National Airsoft Festival. After the last year there was a lot to talk about!

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.

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FIND US ON…

80 FEATURE: CLARENCE LAI - NEW BEGINNINGS Clarence Lai, aka Airsoft Surgeon, Is a close friend of Airsoft Action, so when he moved away from Hong Kong to settle in Taiwan, we asked our man on the ground, Stewbacca, to catch up with the man himself and find out what he’s been up to.

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.

86 FEATURE: THE NEED FOR SPEED PTII After a great introduction from Boycie last month, this time one of our newest Legion members from the USA moves things forward as to how you can get the very best performance from your new AEG! Dan picks up the story…

Contents OCTOBER 2021

ACTION

THE Airsoft Magazine

OCTOBER 2011 - £3.95 Airsoft Action

MASADA UPDATE SITE REVIEWS BIG BOYZ TOYZ

RIFLES PISTOLS YOUNG GUNS

WIN £500kit

of G1098

GROUND

Believe it or not, Airsoft Action is ten years old! Yep, this issue is our 10th Anniversary Issue and to celebrate 10 years of continual publication, Nige brings us a whole bunch of photos from the last 129 issues!

OCTOBER 2011

When we started this journey 129 issues ago, we didn’t dare to dream it would be as successful as it has become, going from (as it was then) the “new kid on the block”, to the largest global airsoft magazine available today!

ZERO WEEKENDER LAUNCH EDITION

top Tactical tips ■ special operations ■ essential kit ■ game reports ■ dangerous stuff! AA_001_Cover_Rev1.indd 1

WELCOME TO THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF AIRSOFT ACTION!

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ISSUE 129 - SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSN 2634-9515

17/8/11 20:38:49

34 FEATURE: FAVORITE LOADOUTS As this is a “special issue” to talk about our love for airsoft over the past ten years, we got together with The Legion and asked them about their favourite airsoft loadout, and were surprised to hear their answers (given that these days it seems to be all about the Multicam)!

70 ARMOURY: VORSK VP26X Gas blowback pistols have come a LONG way in the last few years, with increased functionality and efficiency, plus some very cool design aesthetics. At the head of the pack is VORSK, so Bill takes a look at the VP26X, which takes their already unique designs in a totally new and exciting direction!

40 THE CAGE: BEST KIT Carrying on the theme of this issue, this month Bill got together with the members of the Airsoft Action Legion and Red Cell and asked them all about their favourite gear and, for THE CAGE, it’s all about a single item that has really made a difference!

74 RELOADED: STONER The argument of the benefit of a support gun over a standard AEG will undoubtedly go on and on, but when it comes to one specific model there’s some very good reasons why there are FOUR G&P Stoner M63A1s owned by the members of the AA Legion - and Bill will tell you why!

58 TECHNICAL: GBBR It’s commonly perceived that gas rifles are expensive, tricky to maintain and coax the best performance from and offer limited ammo capacity, so why on earth would you want to run one as your primary? Bill takes up the argument for why a gas rifle can actually be “king of the hill”!

90 FEATURE: THINGS GO WRONG Even the very best of us can get it very badly wrong from time to time …we’re only human after all! Recently, Jase attended a MilSim event with a lot of new kit to test - and things certainly didn’t go smoothly! Red Cell member, Jase, humbly tells his tale of woe…

62 TECHNICAL: AEG With Bill singing the praises of gas platforms, it’s right and proper that we have a counterpoint for the joys of the AEG! Without doubt it’s the “Electric Gun” that has powered airsoft forward, so Jimmy picks up the challenge as to why you should REALLY own an AEG…

96 SHOP DROP With word from stores, distributors and manufacturers all confirming that they are experiencing nigh-on record levels of sales at the moment, it appears that airsoft at least has shaken of the darkness of the past months and is absolutely thriving!

66 KIT & GEAR: MAROM-X Jon has been setting up and working with a pre-production MAROM-X Elite Night Vision Camera and, thus far, it’s a bit of kit that may look quite unassuming but one that offers a whole range of advanced functionality that many airsofters are going to truly love!

100 LAST POST With the proliferation of (anti?)-social media videos purporting to show airsoft players cheating, as a longtime player and site operator, Frenchie asks: “Should players be banned for posting cheat videos from the site?” IMAGE FROM DUTCH THE HOOLIGAN

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

armoury TOYKO MARUI AKM GBBR

IS IT REAL...

OCTOBER 2021

armoury TOYKO MARUI AKM GBBR

AS IT’S THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF AIRSOFT ACTION, WE THOUGHT IT ONLY APT TO HAVE SOMETHING JUST A LITTLE BIT SPECIAL TO OPEN WITH THIS MONTH AND, THANKS TO RED CELL MEMBER MARCUS, WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO GET HANDS-ON THE VERY LATEST GBBR AKM MODEL FROM TOKYO MARUI! SO, SIT BACK AND LET HIM TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HIS BESTEST AND MOST FAVOURITEST KALASHNIKOV!

OR IS IT TM? www.airsoftaction.net

armoury TOYKO MARUI AKM GBBR

mongst the Red Cell group there are a number of AKM (and indeed, Kalashnikov as a whole) fans but, until recently, I have been very much open-minded about the platform amongst many that are exemplary. As a real firearms shooter in the past, I do appreciate everything that a Kalashnikov brings to the party (pun intended!) and although I’ve worked on and tried many, many airsoft AKs, there hasn’t been one that’s really taken my eye …until now! To really understand just how good the new TM AKM GBBR really is, I need to kick off by telling you about the real one, as it would appear to me that TM may well have had a peek inside the Izhmash or Tula factories to get the lowdown on how they should go about making their replica… The AKM (Avtomát Kalášnikova modernizírovannyj, or “Kalashnikov’s Automatic Rifle Modernised”) is an assault rifle that has been used in countless conflicts, past and present, all over the globe! Presented in service way back in 1959, it was chambered in the 7.62x39mm Soviet intermediate cartridge, a selective fire rifle, gas operated with a rotating bolt, firing in either

semiautomatic or fully automatic modes, with a cyclic rate of fire of around 600 rounds per minute (RPM). The gas-operated action was a large bolt carrier with a permanently attached long stroke gas piston and the gas chamber was located above the barrel. The bolt carrier rode on two rails, formed on the side of the receiver, with a significant space between the moving and stationary parts. Despite being replaced in the late 1970s by the AK-74, the AKM is still in service in some Russian Army reserve and second-line units and several east European countries and you’ll still see them regularly pictured in current conflict zones, such is it’s longevity! The GRAU (a department of the Russian (exSoviet) Ministry of Defense) officially designated 10

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the AKM as the 6P1 assault rifle. Compared with the AK-47, the AKM featured detail improvements and enhancements that optimised the rifle for mass production; some parts and assemblies were conceived using simplified manufacturing methods. Notably, the AK-47’s milled steel receiver was replaced by a U-shaped steel stamping. As a result of these modifications, the AKM’s weight was reduced by about 1kg (2.2 lb), the accuracy during automatic fire was increased and several reliability issues were addressed. The AK-47’s chrome-lined barrel was retained, a common feature of Soviet weapons which resists wear and corrosion particularly under harsh field conditions and near-universal Eastern Bloc use of corrosively primed ammunition! The AKM’s receiver was stamped from a smooth 1.0 mm (0.04 in) sheet of steel, compared with the AK-47 where it was

machined from heavier gauge steel. A rear stock trunnion and forward barrel trunnion were fastened to the U-shaped receiver using rivets The receiver housing also featured a rigid tubular cross-section support that adds structural strength. Guide rails that assisted the bolt carrier’s movement that also incorporated the ejector were installed inside the receiver through spot welding. As a weight-saving measure, the stamped receiver cover was of thinner gauge metal than that of the AK-47. In order to maintain strength and durability it employed both longitudinal and

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latitudinal reinforcing ribs, plus there were many more modifications including a chrome lined barrel bolt and bolt carrier mods and a new under-folding stock. And this legendary rifle was amongst the most widely produced firearms in the world to date, being used all over the world by solders and freedom fighters alike! I it has to be one of the most instantly recognisable firearms to date and it has even appeared on one country’s national flag!

REPLICATING THE CLASSIC!

Now, we do expect great things of Tokyo Marui but you wouldn’t know it from the box this time! The new gas AKM comes in a rather plain box that is made to look like a packing box, with the usual TM

markings and AKM in big letters with “avtomat kalashnikov modernizirovannyi”, the Russian name next to it with (in smaller writing under it) the specs of the real AKM, and a serial number in the bottom right hand corner; although all the boxes I’ve seen so far have the same number on them, it’s still a nice touch. However, when you take the lid off you will find the AKM nesting beautifully in a burlap-typematerial with the magazine; this can be used to wrap the rifle up in and has instructions on how to do it! There’s also a box that looks like a box of 20 7.62x39mm cartridges; it has this written on the box and underneath actually says it is 6mm BB.. and beneath that (a lot of info in a small space!) it has the usual writing about the muzzle cap and accessories, and again in the bottom right-hand corner there is another number that would be a lot number for the ammunition. This box contains a muzzle cap, a small bag of TM BBs (probably 0.20g but unspecified) and a front sight adjustment tool. Right, now to the fun part and from the getgo, externally the gun looks great! It is full metal and there’s no wobble anywhere; the stock and handguards are all plastic but you wouldn’t know it at first, as TM have really done a great job at colouring the stock work to look like real wood. In fact, it’s

beautiful! The lower receiver is a steel stamping just like the real thing, and the front and rear trunnions have been riveted in; the finish of all the metal work is superb! The pistol grip is made to look just like the real thing and looks just like the Russian equivalent of Bakelite and it even has the factory code on the top left hand side which is fabulous attention to detail, but then we expect no less from the mighty TM! The dust cover is a steel stamping and looks really good with the reinforcing ribs pressed into it and the rear site is well-made, graduated properly and again looks great. The front trunnion is also well-made and finished and the piston tube catch is neat and moves freely with just minor resistance The piston tube looks just right with the plastic woodwork

cover and the main tube is a again a steel stamping. The main outer barrel is all steel and the attention to detail is wonderful; the gas block correct and the front sight is elevation-adjustable with the tool I mentioned earlier. The distinctive, angled muzzle brake is correct for the gun and is angled; on the real thing its there to reduce the muzzle climb! The cleaning rod can be removed but does not have a threaded end that the real thing would have had to screw on a barrel brush onto it but, in all fairness, most airsofters wouldn’t use it anyway! The stock is a lovely piece and looks perfect; it has a sling mount on the lower left hand side and is screwed in place with the buttplate being another steel stamping; this has a sprung lid in it where on the real thing would be some pieces of cleaning kit .

TAKEDOWN

When you come to stripping the AKM it’s simple and just like the real thing! All that you need to do is hold the gun, press the rear catch that’s on the back of the dust cover and lift that back and off. This gives you access to the recoil spring assembly and the bolt assembly, so you just push the recoil assembly forward and off the lower receiver (it’s a captive spring and very similar to the real thing) and then all you have to do is pull the bolt to the rear and out. Then you can

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flip the gas tube catch up and remove the gas tube… and that’s it, just like the real thing! The bolt itself is beautifully crafted, metal again with the gas piston being a separate piece fixed in place and made from a shiny piece of aluminium. The whole thing is very well made and houses the blowback unit that is the heart of the Marui gas blowback system. The lower receiver houses the trigger, hammer, safety and fire control components as well as the hop unit, which is neatly housed in the left hand side, a small wheel adjuster type, that can be easily reached when the magazine is removed. On the right hand side, the opposite side to the hop unit, there is a useful catch that allows you to “dry” fire the AKM without BBs loaded in the magazine. You simply use one of your fingers in the right hand side front of the magazine well and pull the catch and down, you can then fire it as much as you like without the gun stopping shooting because you’ve run out of BBs. You can deactivate this feature by pulling the catch back and pushing it back up; this is a bit fiddly but it actually works very well.

DOWNRANGE

Right, onto my shooting impressions! Loading the magazine is straightforward; first put gas in it just like any other GBB and then you can use the loading tool that is in the box to bomb up. It’s pretty small so you’ll need to fill it three times, then insert the magazine front first and rock it back to lock it in place. Safety off, first click down is full auto, the second is semiauto (which still taxes poor Jimmy!), then pull back the bolt handle, release it and you’re ready to go! Put the sights on target and pull the trigger you will get a very satisfying sound and a sweet little push in your shoulder from the recoil - and on full auto the recoil and the fun just keeps on coming! The dedicated magazine feeds smoothly and chrono’ing at 1.12 Joule/348fps on a .20g BB it’s got some of that old TM magic - and shoots straight as a die! The overall feel of the AKM is such that there’s no wobble at all and all the fake woodwork is well 12

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fitted and is strong enough to cope with long-term gameplay; the only thing is that the plastic woodwork is just TOO nice, it’s actually TOO smooth! It’s too nice it really needs to be a bit rougher to make it just that bit better but you can’t really fault TM for making something TOO nice, now can you? The AKM handles really, really well! The grip feels good in the hand, although a bit small for me. The recoil impulse is good and strong and I had three full mags of BBs out of one fill of gas, which is great, typical Marui efficiency. It’s the same gas system they use in their “M4” series of GBBR that works so well, so no surprises there! It’s a joy to shoot and the price makes it very competitive as it retails at around the UK£500 mark and the extra magazines will be around UK£50. Do make sure you buys some extra mags at the same time as the gun though, as these have proved hard to get at the time of release (although no doubt this will change in time). When it comes to accessories, any standard 14mm CCW suppressor or tracer unit would fit (although if you fit one you’ll want undoubtedly want the correct PBS-1!) and I’m sure soon someone will release a full real wood kit that would make it an even more beautiful piece of kit! Any AK sling will fit and will set it off nicely too. When it comes to optics there’s no mount fitted so you would have to get a side mount post-purchase. This would need to be either riveted or screwed in place just like the real thing, or you could remove the rear sight and fit a small mount in the recess, but other than that you’re pretty limited on the sight front. However, as it’s an absolutely beautiful, classic AKM, why would you want a modern optic anyway? This is most definitely a GBBR to love and cherish, with all the looks, quality and performance we take for granted from Tokyo Marui these days! I’ve bought this particular one, so it’s all mine and, apart from loaning it to Bill for some additional test firing and photos, it’ll take pride of place on the wall at All Ages Airsoft in Dover… Who knows, if you come and visit I may even let you fire it yourself! AA

armoury TOYKO MARUI AKM GBBR

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armoury SOPMOD

PROGRAM-BASED E R F E C T I O N OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS AIRSOFT ACTION HAS COVERED SOME OF THE BEST AEG AND GBBR RELEASES TO HAVE ARRIVED ON THE MARKET, BUT IT IS BEYOND DOUBT THAT THE “AR/M4-STYLE” IS THE BIGGEST WINNER AMONGST PLAYERS. TO CELEBRATE OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY THOUGH, BILL BRINGS IN A SPECIAL REPORT THAT LOOKS BOTH BACK - AND FORWARD - TO TALK ABOUT THE SOPMOD PROGRAM THAT HAS TURNED THE BASIC M4A1 INTO A WEAPONS SYSTEM FOR THE ELITE WARFIGHTER!

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or more than ten years my job has been airsoft - and I live and breathe it every day! In that time I’ve written reviews on new AEGs and GBBs every month and EVERY SINGLE MONTH I seem to see a new “M4” hit the market! Now, in truth, the M4A1 is a very specific beast and although there are now some very good replicas of the military carbine, most “M4s” that I see are actually not, they are models based on the “AR” system. Yes, most have been amazing AEGs and GBBRs but they are NOT an M4A1! However, virtually every airsoft manufacturer on the planet produces a “replica” based on the Colt carbine - and some are actually very accurate replications. If you take a look at some airsoft manufacturers, not only do they offer one “M4 style” but, in some cases, they have an entire range of them. It’s no wonder then, that if you visit any airsoft site anywhere in the world you’ll find the majority of players using some kind of “M4”, even if it is an “AR” rather than a true M4. Indeed, my very first replica was a “springer M4”, which was consigned to the great armourer in the sky many, many moons ago! I’ve personally always been into replicas of different and unusual models of firearm but, even so, there have been “M4s” that have come and gone within my armoury. For specific loadouts the M4 is the only carbine which is appropriate, but I have to admit that having fired the real 5.56mm M4 and its .223 semi-auto civilian siblings (on many occasions), it’s often been a replica that I have shied away from as the AEG versions have left me wanting more. With gas itself becoming more stable and efficient though, many manufacturers have been looking more seriously at gas blowback replicas, with a number of different “open bolt” gas-powered rifles and carbines available and, these days, reliable. This year I’ve been taking a very close look at these models and have come away being very impressed with just how far the gas replicas have moved on since I first encountered them; gone are the magazines that vent as soon as the temperature drops a degree or two and in have come features that make them as close to the “real deal” as they can possibly be. However, to put things in perspective (before I get into “SOPMOD”), we first need to look at why the M4 has become so popular. Following the adoption of the M16 rifle during the Vietnam War, it soon became apparent that a shorter, carbine length version would be useful for vehicle and helicopter crews, and for special operations units. Although there were forerunners, the Colt Model 607 was the first attempt to produce a proper carbine which had both a reduced barrel length and, in this case, a somewhat intricate collapsible stock. However, these carbines had design issues; as the barrel length was drastically reduced so too was range and accuracy. The short barrel also led to a massive muzzle flash and blast, so that an oversized flash suppressor had to be fitted. The Mod 607 was the very first “Colt Commando”, although it was very quickly followed by the improved Model 609 (the Model 608 was a specifically designed survival carbine for aviators) or “XM177E1” to give it the correct military designation. The Model 609 went into production in late 1966 and continued production until early 1967. The 10-inch barrel on the Model 609 would prove to have reliability and accuracy problems too and it was later phased www.airsoftaction.net

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Image from public domain

SOPMOD

out and replaced by the Colt Model 629 (XM177E2). This was basically the same carbine with an 11.5 inch barrel and an improved flash hider, which would allow a grenade launcher or “Masterkey” shotgun package to be installed (possibly the earliest incarnation of a modular system of accessories for a basic military carbine… more on that later!). This 1960s’ veteran stayed in service with special units of the US military for a considerable time and in fact, if you look at some of the images of the guys in the Personal Security Detail for General “Stormin” Norman Schwarzkopf during “Desert Shield” and “Desert Storm”, you’ll see that they still carry XMs’! By 1988 Colt had already begun work on a new carbine design called the XM4, combining the best features of the Colt Commando and M16A2 rifles. The XM4 was given a longer 14.5-inch barrel with the M16A2’s 1:7inch rifle twist in order to use the heavier 62-grain M855 rounds. The extended barrel improved the XM4’s ballistics and reduced muzzle blast even further. The XM4 was also given the M16A2’s improved rear sight and cartridge deflector. In 1994 the U.S. military officially accepted the XM4 into service as the M4 carbine, to replace M16A2s in certain roles. M4s were fielded by troops in positions where a full-length rifle would be too bulky, including vehicle operators and squad leaders. Designed specifically for lightweight mobility, speed of target acquisition and potent firepower capability, the M4 delivered on all counts. It could be comfortably carried yet be instantly available to provide the level of firepower, dependability and accuracy of a 5.56mm rifle. Proven in military combat operations all over the world, it is in a class by itself as a first-rate combat weapon system. The Colt M4 Carbine serves as the United States Armed Forces’ weapon of choice and the weapon of the 21st century warfighter worldwide. In April 2012, the U.S. Army announced its intention to buy over 120,000 M4A1 carbines in addition to their initial order of 37,000, to start reequipping frontline units from the original M4 to the new, even further improved M4A1 version. In October 2015, Commandant Robert Neller formally approved of making the M4 carbine the primary weapon for all infantry battalions, security forces and supporting schools in the U.S. Marine Corps. The switch began in

early 2016 and today the M4 is used by the entire US Armed Forces!

SOPMOD

By the time those original M4 carbines started being issued to regular line units, of course it had been in the hands of the “Spec Ops” community for FAR longer! You can easily find most of the information online these days in open source but if you’re looking at the M4 specifically, then the Special Operations Peculiar MODification (SOPMOD) program to provide the elite warfighter with a truly modular weapons platform “dates back to September 1989, when the Special Operations Special Technology (SOST) Modular Close Combat Carbine Project was founded. The Material Need Statement (MNS) was signed on May 1992, and by September 1993, the Operational Requirements Document (ORD) for the program was validated. Responsibility for the program was then assigned to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division.” For those that know only of the “SOPMOD or CRANE” stock fitted to many AEGS, it may interest you to know that the Naval Support Activity Crane (NSA Crane) is, amongst other things, the home of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). NSA Crane was originally established in 1941 under the Bureau of Ordnance as the Naval Ammunition Depot for production, testing, and storage of ordnance under the first supplemental Defense Appropriation Act. The base is actually the third largest naval installation in the world by geographic area and employs approximately 3,300 people! Whilst personnel at NSA Crane do a lot of “interesting jobs”, it’s the work done there on the SOPMOD program that most interests me - and us - as Crane produced (what would essentially become) the “blueprint” for what we now refer to as the “Blocks”: 1, 2, and now 3 (or I, II, and III if you prefer)! In original documents now in the public domain that date back to the early 2000’s, it is clearly stated by those clever people at Crane that: “The SOPMOD Program Management Office (PMO) at NSWC Crane, IN, will provide standardized, versatile weapons accessories to meet needs across SOF mission scenarios. These accessories will increase operator survivability and lethality by enhanced

“…THE M4A1 IS A VERY SPECIFIC BEAST AND ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NOW SOME VERY GOOD REPLICAS OF THE MILITARY CARBINE, MOST “M4S” THAT I SEE ARE ACTUALLY NOT, THEY ARE MODELS BASED ON THE “AR” SYSTEM. YES, MOST HAVE BEEN AMAZING AEGS AND GBBRS BUT THEY ARE NOT AN M4A1!” 18

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weapon performance, target acquisition, signature suppression, and fire control. SOPMOD PMO will provide these accessories when they are operationally suitable, affordable, sustainable, and funded.” Under “SOPMOD ORD 5 - Core Small Arms” it was stated that the main program core recipients would be the M4A1 and the M203 grenade launcher but it went on to encompass (as “annexes”) models such as the SCAR, CQBR (Mark 18), MK46 LMG/ M249 SAW Machineguns, MK48/ M240-N/M240/ M240-B Machineguns, M14 and Mark 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle, Mk-19 40mm Launcher, M2-HB .50 Cal Machinegun, M72 LAAW, AT4-CS, MAAWS, MK11, MK12, MK13, & MK15 Sniper Rifles, M-24 Sniper Rifle - and even the AK-47/AK74 Series Assault Rifle!

BLOCK 1

Crane analysed the “capabilities” needed, especially those required by dedicated Special Operations and Special Forces units operating in small teams and documented that these “capabilities” needed to encompass a family of modular weapons accessories that could be added to the basic M4 and M4A1 and would enable even a small team of highly trained operators to REALLY punch above their weight! To achieve this, the first “BLOCK” or group of modular enhancements to the basic infantry “M4” was born, with the stated aim of creating “Platform Mods and Phased Replacements”. The components for this (the list is now also easily available in the public domain if you look for it!) included all of the following: • Knight’s Armament Company (KAC) Rail Interface System (RIS) forearm • KAC’s vertical foregrip • KAC’s backup iron sight (BUIS) • Trijicon’s Model TA01NSN 4x32mm Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) • ECOS-N optical sight (a variant of the Aimpoint CompM2) • Tactical Ordnance and Equipment Improved combat sling which allows for secure cross body/patrol carry. • PRI Bracket mount for AN/PVS-14 night vision • In addition to these elements the “BLOCK 1 KIT” also included (in limited issue numbers): • Insight Technology’s AN/PEQ-2 Infrared Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Laser (ITPIAL) • Insight Technology’s Visible Light Illuminator (VLI) • Trijicon’s Model RX01M4A1 reflex sight • KAC’s quick-detach sound suppressor (QDSS)

• KAC’s quick-attach M203 grenade launcher mount • Quick-attach sight for use with the M203 • M203 with a 9-inch barrel • Insight Technology’s AN/PEQ-5 visible laser sight • AN/PVS-17A mini-night vision sight • AN/PSQ-18A M203 night sight Although this provides a great list to work from if you want to create a really good “early model SOPMOD M4”, it is by no means exhaustive. As an ongoing program, even within the “BLOCK 1” auspices, there have been numerous changes, additions and enhancements seen in the wild, such as the EoTech 551 and 552 optics, the Crane (Sloping Cheekweld) Stock , the M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System and the M320 grenade launcher (remember what I said

about that Nam era “Masterkey”!). Basically, the SOPMOD kit allows for the

attachment of any rail-compatible accessory so, within reason, anything goes but for a proper “BLOCK1” build I’d stick reasonably closely to the list above!

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OCTOBER 2021

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BLOCK “1.5” and 2

Staying with the Crane documentation, the next part of the program entered new territory and could be described as “BLOCK 1.5” (as they were really a continuation of the original) or, as Crane puts it, “Block II - New and Combined Capabilities”. These continuations and “phased replacements” included upgrades and modifications that, for the first time, saw the program deviate from “drop-in” rail solutions in favour of the Daniel Defense M4A1 RIS II and RIS II FSP, full-length handguards using a gas block without a front sight. They also included the Insight Technology M3X Tactical Illuminator (SU-233/PVS), Insight Technology M6X Tactical Laser Illuminator (SU238/PVS), EOTech 553 HOLO Weapon Sight (SU-231/ PVS), Trijicon ACOG TA01 ECOS 4x Scope (SU-237/ PVS), AN/PVS-17 Product Improvement Kit and BUIS II “irons”. As things moved forward to full-blown “BLOCK 2”, then once again a pretty definitive list became apparent and once again this is easily found online but I’ll add it here for ease. • The “BLOCK 2” kit includes: • Insight Technology LA-5/PEQ • Insight Technology CNVD-T Thermal Sight (SU-232/PAS) • L3EOTech 553 (SU231/ PEQ)

• L3EOTech XPS3-0 (FDE) Holographic Sight • L3-EOTech G33 (Tan Anodized/FDE) Magnifier • Raytheon Company Elcan SpecterDR 1-4x Scope (SU-230/PVS) • Trijicon ACOG + Docter RDS (SU-237/PVS Sight Unit) • AN/PVS-24 Night Vision Device • Daniel Defense RIS II Series (FSP/Non FSP/GL, FDE) • Insight M3X Light (SU-233/PVS Gun Light) • Insight WMX200 Gun Light • WSC (Weapon shot counter) • LMT® SOPMOD Gen 1/2 Stock (The Gen1 buttstock does not have the QD sling connector, so slings were attached through the slats in the back and tied on; Later, LMT introduced the Gen 2 stock that had the connector.) • KAC Front Sight • KAC Micro Rear BUIS • Tango Down VFG • KAC “Broomhandle” VFG

“I’VE BEEN… …VERY IMPRESSED WITH JUST HOW FAR THE GAS REPLICAS HAVE MOVED ON SINCE I FIRST ENCOUNTERED THEM; GONE ARE THE MAGAZINES THAT VENT AS SOON AS THE TEMPERATURE DROPS A DEGREE OR TWO AND IN HAVE COME FEATURES THAT MAKE THEM AS CLOSE TO THE “REAL DEAL” AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY BE.” www.airsoftaction.net

armoury SOPMOD

The “Weapons Shot Counter” is an interesting development in this list, as this actually dates back to the Crane “overview” of 2006. This pistol-griplocated-device enables unit armourers to determine the number of rounds fired through an individual platform which, in turn, minimizes catastrophic parts failures and malfunctions in combat, leading to greater reliability… or as Crane so delicately put it: “If His (the operators) Gun Fails in Combat, He and His Companions May Die or Lose the Fight. Worst Failure is a Catastrophic Breakage of Parts That Could Have Been Replaced, such as a Bolt, Leading to a Jammed Weapon That Is Not Repairable During a Firefight. Second Worse Failure Is a Burned Out Barrel, Making a Hit on His Enemy Unlikely” Of course, this last is not really very useful for airsoft purposes but it certainly gives an insight into what efforts are made to keep a real operator’s personal weapon fit for the fight! You could go into gathering all the parts you need to build a “BLOCK 2” model for airsoft but the fact is that you can now buy something VERY similar straight off the shelf at your local store, and one great 22

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example of this is the BOLT B4 SOPMOD Block 2. This model, from one of my favourite AEG manufacturers, is based off their excellent MK18 platform but with the 12” rail system and is built to an exceptionally high standard that really captures the essence of an “operator’s rifle”. Externally everything looks fabulous with the outer barrel, rail system, receivers, buffer tube and controls put together using a combo of high-grade alloys and steel which gives a great weight and “heft”. Nylon Fibre has been used where you’d find polymer

the very highest standard with first rate materials, but with the tried and tested BRSS recoil system gives you a nice bit of “felt recoil” too! If this is something that you like without following the GBBR route, then the BOLT is going to really tick all your boxes when it comes to a great looking “BLOCK 2 AR” that’s good to go from the box, plus, as BOLT collaborate with EMG in U.S.A. to obtain the authorization for the original Daniel Defense body and rail, you even get all the cool “trades”… totally legit!

MK18 BLOCKS

I’d be remiss here if I didn’t look at the Mk18 as this too is really a part of the Crane

on the real deal, namely the pistol grip and sliding stock and this is also of great quality, adding to the overall “feel” of the replica. Internally things are rear-wired but, as the BRSS recoil system takes up most of the buffer tube space, the battery needs to sit alongside in the stock itself and I’ve found that a stick LiPo works best for this; no more trying to juggle bloody wires with a “Crane Nunchuk Battery” these days! To fit a battery all you need to do is pull backwards on the stock pad until it comes out and push it back into place when your battery is fitted. The tidy VLTOR Style Stock also features a QD socket for a quick release sling and a sling plate is included as standard. Underneath the steel flash hider is a 14mm CCW thread so you can easily fit a nice Surefire suppressor should you wish. This is a cracking replica which is not only built to

Program of “M4 enhancements”. I’ve said it before, but I believe the Mk18 was, and is, the “unsung hero” of the Naval Special Warfare program! Even shorter-barrelled than the M4A1 SOPMOD carbines with a 10.3 in (262 mm) barrel, the upper receiver was designated the Close Quarters Battle Receiver (CQBR), while the entire weapon system was designated the Mk 18 by the United States Navy and became a common sight amongst the USN VBSS units, NCIS, and USN SEALs. The purpose of the original Mod 0 CQBR was to provide operators with a weapon of compact size, but one still capable of firing a rifle cartridge, intended for urban warfare and other close quarters battle (CQB) situations. However, as one of two proposed “special mission receivers” that were planned for inclusion into the SOPMOD Block II kit, the CQBR proved incredibly popular amongst its users. The CQBR has been pretty much owned by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division following the CQBR’s removal from the SOPMOD program and the complete CQBR-equipped carbine was type-classified as the “M4A1 CQB/R Block II”. The Mk18 Mod 1 differs from the earlier Mk 18 Mod 0, in that it again utilizes the Daniel Defense RIS II free-float rail system, often with a low-profile gas block. As with the M4/M4A1 Block II, the Mark www.airsoftaction.net

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Image from public domain

18 Mod 1 was a product of the SOPMOD Block II program which had its own parts list and again I quote from information in the public domain: • Insight Technology LA-5/PEQ, L3-EOTech 553 (SU-231/PEQ) • L3-EOTech XPS3-0 (FDE) Holographic Sight • L3-EOTech G33 (Tan Anodized/FDE) Magnifier • Raytheon Company Elcan SpecterDR 1-4x Scope (SU-230/PVS) • Trijicon Acog + Docter RDS (SU-237/PVS Sight Unit) • AN/PVS-24 Night Vision Device • Insight M3X Light (SU-233/PVS Gun Light) • Insight WMX200 Gun Light • LMT SOPMOD Gen 1/2 Stock • KAC Front and rear sights • Tango Down and KAC Foregrips There’s a little confusion though, as, for some reason, Daniel Defense also made the decision to call the RIS II the “Mk18”! It’s beyond doubt that the RIS II was designed at the request of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the Block II program, as they had a specific requirement for a free float M203 solution and Daniel Defense responded, designing a revolutionary product to meet the government’s and user’s need. However, this does

cloud the entire “Mk18” story a little and that’s why I’ve spent some time here explaining things! If you fancy an “off the shelf” Mk18 then, as I’ve covered relatively recently, you’ve got GREAT choices for both AEG and GBBR. If you love the gas route, then go no further than the VFC Mk18 MOD1 GBBR, as it’s a fabulous thing! Essentially the VFC is as close to the real deal as you’ll find in airsoft form and everything is nailed down to look and feel exactly as it would on the real thing, including the operating system. Internally the gun runs the latest VFC GBBR system, making it extremely efficient, while the internal construction also ensures added durability as well, providing a recoil impulse that is solid and consistent, which makes the shooting experience fun and immersive. Like my SR-16, it has a full-travel “bolt carrier group (BCG)” and this replicates exactly the operation of the military carbine, so your drills need to be 100% the same. For instance, the VFC magazines only hold 30 BBs, so your reloads need to be on point. In relation to magazines, the grey STANAG style provided is also the latest version from VFC, with no visible valve on the base, which adds to the “real feel” overall. This version is even more reliable and will go through more BBs with less cooldown if you do decide to go crazy in full auto - this is a “gasser” where you can actually do that without the whole deal venting! Bottom line, I guess, is that I bought a VFC Mk18 GBBR myself as I already own their SR-16 GBBR, and yup, you better believe I have, as the Mk18 is “of its time and place” and quite apart from that, it’s a darn fine airsoft gun! Although my days of hard charging “Zero Dark Thirty” style play may be on the decline, I still love an AR with a “soul” and the Mk18 GBBR has a very big soul. Add to this that it’s also a fine training tool, it’s reliable and accurate, and you have a package that’s sure to delight you every time you pick it up, and that’s a more-than-good enough reason to own one!

“I BOUGHT A VFC MK18 GBBR MYSELF AS I ALREADY OWN THEIR SR-16 GBBR, AND YUP, YOU BETTER BELIEVE I HAVE, AS THE MK18 IS “OF ITS TIME AND PLACE” AND QUITE APART FROM THAT, IT’S A DARN FINE AIRSOFT GUN! ALTHOUGH MY DAYS OF HARD CHARGING “ZERO DARK THIRTY” STYLE PLAY MAY BE ON THE DECLINE, I STILL LOVE AN AR WITH A “SOUL” AND THE MK18 GBBR HAS A VERY BIG SOUL.” 24

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However, if AEG is your preferred choice, then the Daniel Defense Mk18 SA-E19 EDGE that’s being offered to us by Specna Arms is a great model to look at! This has been in the Red Cell Test Pool for a while now and still continues to delight us. Running stock from the box it’s yet to let me down in any way. There are no frills, no bells and no whistles, just a solidly made short AR AEG that’s immediately ready to BB-up and get out onto the field with. The Mk18 has been manufactured in cooperation with EMG Arms in the USA and every part of it appears to have been made and fitted with the utmost care and attention to detail. Internally the Mk18 is what I have come to expect from Specna Arms and for a “stock gun” that’s top notch! Inside you get a precision 6.03 inner barrel that provides accuracy from the get-go, both on first and followup shots; this barrel works in tandem with the rotary Hop-Up that allows for very precise adjustment of the BB spin. The carbine also features a factory-fitted X-ASR GATE Mosfet and the ORION gearbox which is rated to work with springs up M140. As well as the gearbox itself, you’ll find a reinforced polymer piston with steel teeth, aluminium air-sealed nozzle, aluminium double air-sealed cylinder head, aluminium double air-sealed piston head with bearings, a set of steel gears and 8.mm bearings. I have to say that the Mk18 AEG has definitely rekindled my love for all things NSW in ANY game. It looks great, feels great and shoots excellently. So as far as I can see, Specna Arms and EMG have got this very, very right and I look forward to seeing what they do with that Daniel Defense licence next, although with very little effort I believe the Mk18 will make a superb base for very passable “Team Six” carbine!

• Colt M16 BCG • Surefire 4-prong flash hider The Upper Receiver Group, Improved or URG-I initiative was launched by the United States military to refresh rifles used by some of its units that had been using similar platforms from the “Block program”. The URG-I is designed to upgrade the current Mk18 and SOPMOD Block 2 versions of the M4 and boasts improvements over its predecessors, such as an updated M-LOK handguard, charging handles, a suppressor-compatible flash hider and new barrel. Available with both 14.5” and 10.3” rail systems, the URG-I has been designed to provide users with a lightened upper receiver

which provides increased parts life whilst maintaining

BLOCK 3

Heading back again to that very informative briefing document from Crane, “BLOCK 3” is, as they say, all about “Emerging Capabilities” and a big part of this is the Upper Receiver Group, Improved (URG-I). Whilst not having so much fanfare with all the addon goodies, the “BLOCK 3” setup appears to be as follows: • Colt M4 Receiver • Daniel Defense 14.5” CHF barrel with midlength gas system, also available in 10.3” with carbine length gas system • Daniel Defense pinned gas block • Geissele Mk16 Super Modular Handguard in Desert Dirt Camo • Geissele Airborne charging handle in Desert Dirt Camo

modularity with accessories previously provided as part of the overall SOPMOD program. Though primarily issued to USASOC personnel, the URG-I has now been spotted in the wild with a number of USSOCOM elements. www.airsoftaction.net

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Now you may think that as the “BLOCK 3” is still not so commonly seen, that it would be difficult to replicate in airsoft form but the fact is you can already have one, in both lengths from VFC in AEG or GBBR form, or as an NGRS AEG from Tokyo Marui! However, much as I do love my VFCs, I was recently given the opportunity to try a GHK M4 URG-I GBBR and I have to say it’s as awesome as their AKs! This lovely 10.3” short-barrelled “M4” has really taken my fancy as it has authorized COLT engraving (via Cybergun this time) on the receiver and some super Geiselle trades on the Super Modular Rail (SMR)! It feels great, weighing in at 2980g, and the overall length of 715mm-800mm suits me perfectly for a CQBtool. If you are more of a regular carbine than a shorty-soul though, there’s also a 14.5” version at a similar weight that comes in at 820mm905mm.

“NOW YOU MAY THINK THAT AS THE “BLOCK 3” IS STILL NOT SO COMMONLY SEEN, THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE IN AIRSOFT FORM BUT THE FACT IS YOU CAN ALREADY HAVE ONE, IN BOTH LENGTHS FROM VFC IN AEG OR GBBR FORM, OR AS AN NGRS AEG FROM TOKYO MARUI! ”

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Everywhere you look there is attention to detail; the M-LOK system is beautifully finished and apart from the trades and the low-profile gas block inside it, the colour is a very close mimic to the new “Desert Dirt” colour of the real deal. This is a far more muted tone than FDE and I have to say I rather like it. The “Geissele Airborne” charging handle is also fabulously replicated and is finished “Desert Dirt” too. Overall it is simply stunning - from the “Crane Stock” right up to the four-prong flash hider at the sharp end. Inside I’m told that the URG-I benefits from a CNC heattreated V2 all-steel bolt carrier, along with a V2 new magnetic bolt lock set improve the system stability The URG-I comes with a thirty-six BB “polymerstyle” magazine and a speedloader with which to fill it, and it’s solid and heavy as obviously there’s a lot going on with the gas valves and the like. The open bolt system in this carbine makes the operation pretty much identical to the real thing, in that you must cock the rifle before you fire. Once the magazine has been emptied the bolt locks to the rear and when you insert a fresh, fully loaded magazine you need to hit the bolt release to let it slam forward again - just like the “real deal”. Please note that, once again like the real world counterpart, you cannot engage the safety until the carbine is cocked; trying to force the fire selector into the safe position with an un-cocked rifle could lead to damage! In operation the GHK is an absolute cracker and if you’re buying it as a training tool then you’ll need to do absolutely nothing to it, other than charge the magazines with green gas and load up your BBs. I tested using .20g BBs and Vorsk V8 gas and got an average of 1.07 Joule/341fps which is more than enough for me! The GHK URG-I retails for UK£430 and I have to say that it’s absolutely amazing value for an up-tothe-minute spec ops-style GBBR. If you’re looking for a training tool to keep your skills and drills up to date then it works perfectly for that. If you’re in need of a base gun for a full SOPMOD build that’s fully compatible with “real steel” accessories, it’s a real contender. For skirmishing I’d say that it is absolutely in prime “MilSim” territory, although (given the accuracy) I’d also say that you could definitely hold your own at a general weekend skirmish game if you’re doing things right. I think it’s a complete gem of an airsoft replica and certainly one of the closest I’ve ever come across to the real thing! To round things off, I would just say that I hope that you find the information included in this article informative and useful. Whilst most of the details, especially the “Parts Lists”, are easy enough to find

these days, I hope that including them here makes this a bit of a “one stop shop” if you’re thinking of really building a really great SOPMOD M4 replica. If you’re into UKSF then you’re of course wanting to get yourself an Archwick L119A2 or create one yourself, but if you’re into “SEALs or DELTA”, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, then you’re going to want a SOPMOD M4. Whether you choose to buy an “off the shelf” model such as those mentioned here or collect the parts and build a “custom”, I wish you the very best of luck. I sincerely hope that yours will last you just as long as my old “BLOCK 1” has lasted me, and that the airsoft adventures you have with it are as memorable as mine! It only remains for me to say a big “THANK YOU!” to all of you for sticking with Airsoft Action over the last 10 YEARS and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next with the SOPMOD program; perhaps I’ll update this in another ten years and see where we’ve got to! If you’d like to REALLY get under the skin of some righteous airsoft SOPMOD builds, then I’d thoroughly recommend that your check out https:// thereptilehouseblog.com as this is a real fount of all things “SF”! My sincere thanks though go to everyone that’s been involved with helping me create this article; thanks to Tom at www.nuprol.com for the loan of the BOLT B4 SOPMOD Block 2 AEG, to Danny at www.uk.redwolfairsoft.com and my main man, Ray, at www.vegaforce.com for access to the VFC Mk18 GBBR and the VFC URG-I AEG, Pawel at www. gunfire.com for supplying the Daniel Defense Mk18 SA-E19 EDGE and to Tim at www.iwholesales.co.uk for providing access to the GHK M4 URG-I GBBR. It’s been a pleasure working with all of you in the last few years, and I look forward to MANY more to come! AA

www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021

NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021 PHOTO COURTESY OF KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

TEN YEARS AGO NIGE HEADED DOWN TO “THE NATIONAL AIRSOFT EVENT” TO LAUNCH A NEW MAGAZINE CALLED “AIRSOFT ACTION” AND NOW THE AA CREW HEAD ON DOWN TO THE UK’S NEW FOREST TO CHECK IN AT THE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL EACH YEAR, TO FIND OUT WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING WITH FRIENDS OLD AND NEW AT A THOROUGHLY CONVIVIAL EVENT THAT’S ALL ABOUT THE AIRSOFT ...AND AFTER THE LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT!

ith player numbers traditionally in the thousands, The National Airsoft Festival is the UK’s largest airsoft event and this year’s gathering was even more highly anticipated as it was the first big game “post-lockdown”. However, its significance for us at the magazine was even greater, as it was here ten years ago that we launched Airsoft Action! When he wrote his review of the event back in Issue 2, Nige said: “If the sound of 1,600 voices shouting “Hurrah!”, followed by 1,600 guns firing into the air doesn’t make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, I suggest you check that you still have a pulse!”

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FEATURE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021

Since then, Airsoft Action has been present at all but one event and we have seen (what was then called) The National Airsoft Event become de-rigueur for airsofters Europe-wide, with players travelling from across the continent to enjoy not only the wide-ranging gameplay, but also the incredible social atmosphere created when thousands of airsofters get together! Of course, this year’s event was tempered by the travel restrictions still in place due to C-19 and the fact that the event itself was in doubt until the middle of July (when restrictions were thankfully lifted in the UK) but for those 1800-plus players who did make it this year, we were treated to a fabulous weekend – both on and off the field of play! Over the years I have reported from the NAF we have seen it grow into more than “just another game of airsoft” …into something really special. Yes, the gameplay is great fun and, given the sheer size and scale of the Ground Zero Airsoft site (where the event is held), wide-ranging and as challenging as you choose to make it, but there is just something “special” about it that raises it to a whole new level. From the moment players start arriving on Friday morning to check in and get their player number and wristband, the atmosphere starts www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021

to build as groups of players form and merge and, following loads of “high-fives” and “man-hugs”, the inevitable “airsoft banter” begins! Right alongside the event, the campsite rapidly fills with motorhomes and tents of all shapes and sizes and in previous years, has been home to

multiple team “swimming pools” and “bars” – although there is also a “quiet area” for those who prefer to sleep! This year, the Airsoft Action crew, made up of myself and Nige and ably supported by PMCI’s Andy Nightingale, plus guest visitors, Jon, Ray and Vika, were looking forwards to another hugely entertaining event …and that is exactly what we got! Before last year I would have been amongst the many UK airsoft players that said “Yeah, the National Airsoft Festival, what about that?” but after a totally entertaining and illuminating event in 2019 I was really, really looking forward to heading on down to Ground Zero to attend an event that I’ve done a total about face on! It’s one weekend that we all get to hang out together so that in itself makes the trip 100% worthwhile, and this year was especially poignant given the restrictions that we all faced during 2020 that meant “no NAF” for that year. For those that are still oblivious to the event though, the National Airsoft Festival (formerly the National Airsoft Event) takes place every August Bank Holiday down at the Ground Zero site in the depths of the New Forest. The NAF/NAE has been running since 2007, when Ground Zero/Zero One made history by hosting what was at that time the largest airsoft event ever held in in the UK (and probably still is!), bringing in players from all over the UK and Europe. At a time when we are a little bewildered as to what will happen in regards to our relationship with 30

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the rest of the world and travelling around it, in the month ahead I will say that amongst UK airsofters we frankly appear (although we are happy and willing to face some restrictions for the safety of all) to still get our game on! Many personal friends come to the NAF every year, and it’s a time when I can actually get together with them face to face, which I love. Things may change again in the months and years to come (who knows?) but one thing I do know is that these guys will always be my friends and it’s always a pleasure to see them! The fact is that the NAF is just one HUGE celebration of airsoft, not just for UK players, but usually for players from much further afield, although of course this year the numbers were down due to ongoing international travel restrictions. The thought of a massive airsoft game involving quite literally thousands of players is my personal worst scenario though; we all know that sadly you get the odd “cheater” at even the very best game, and the chance of that happening with so many players in one place at one time means that this is magnified. Many players, even good ones that are always willing to give the benefit of the doubt decide not to attend the NAF for this reason and, having now been twice, I think they are truly missing out on a great airsoft experience - even if they don’t play a minute! Even though the travel restrictions meant that certain friends were missing this time (Stef and the crew from the Netherlands, you WERE missed!) the Event still maintained the warm, friendly “Festival feel” and I for one needed a bit of that! In the past the NAF appeared to be growing year on year, not perhaps in the number of active players, but in the volume of folk who turn up to camp for the weekend, see mates, bask in the sun with an ice cream or a cold beverage and shoot the breeze about

FEATURE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021

their favourite 6mm pastime. Many will say “don’t bother!” but when it comes to the NAF, pay the “naysayers” no heed! Okay, this year the numbers were down, but 1800 airsofters in one place is a goodly amount by anyone’s reckoning! Upon arrival at the Ground Zero site you’ll be immediately impressed with the sheer size of the field and the diversity of terrain and that is just as you drive in! Ground Zero is situated about a mile from the nearest road on the private grounds of Somerley Estate in Ringwood Hampshire, and boasts some 175 acres of playable terrain, with a massive 50 acres of Safe Zone. Now you may find that latter number “overkill”, but I’m going to tell you that with nigh on 2,000 bodies and all the varied entertainment/logistics staff on site 50 acres soon becomes very, very small and intimate. The main Safe Zone is split away from the camping area and is almost a self-contained “festival village” in its own right. There are numerous gear-sellers around the village, with Jo from www.flecktarn.co.uk and the Enola Gaye team, Ian and Dave (Ratty and Rocky to their friends!) with the VIPER stand (who made a couple of players VERY happy with their “locked crate” gear giveaway!) and the guys from BRAVO TWO TWO with their excellent t-shirts, newcomers Spartan Precision Equipment with their superb bipod system (more on that in “SHOP DROP” this issue!), Neil and Rob from AttackSense Targets (more on them later…), our good friend Taig from Kydex Customs (who is REALLY pushing along with his range and even tempted me with a rather nice MC holster for my G17!), and you could even have your photographic portrait done by Josh from Krios Photography! Then there’s a whole plethora of stands that make up the “food court”. If you wanted an ice

cream or a bacon bap, then it was there for the having, and if you didn’t want to cook over the weekend then you had a choice of very well-priced Greek food (absolutely stunning kebabs!), Thai red or green curry with rice, burger and chips, good old fish n’ chips, wood-fired pizza and even fresh coffee and donuts! The licensed bar marquee this year was put up with safety in mind, being fully open on one side, and the usual outdoor table area was wider-spaced than usual for the same reason; in fact, the Ground Zero team did an excellent job of making sure that they did the best possible for player’s safety. And I’m still not finished with what was on offer in “The Village”, as Zero One had their own Site Shop, stocking the essentials, again this year with an online ordering system that allowed you to order from their warehouse and have your goods delivered to site for collection the same day. Personally I was again a little disappointed to see their “HUGE SHOP” not there again this year, and I know others that were of the same opinion, but it was more comprehensive than 2019 in fairness. I understand it’s an enormous job for Zero One to put this together but I honestly believe that they probably lose sales to those, like me, who can’t resist an “impulse buy”, especially at a festival! I hope that they did okay, I’m sure they did, but I missed the old “big top shop”.

GAME ON!

As per past years I was able to watch all the proceedings as players arrived and booked in, and this was again done very efficiently with an absolute lack of fuss. The queue dispersed surprisingly fast though, with each player coming away with a “goodie bag” and their player armbands, Green for “Delta”, Orange for www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021

“Bravo”, and “Blue” for the “Others”. Whilst the players booked in a multi-chrono station and zeroing range was run next door within the “Saloon” building, and once again I saw very little in the way of long lines forming. In fact the “range” stayed open late into the evening, and was in use the whole time. Across from this you could also try out the AttackSense target system that we’ve been raving on about and use for our Red Cell Test Days, and this was busy the entire time, and proved especially popular (to say the least!) with the very competitive fellows from the British Army display stand! After a relatively swift and to the point safety brief (Team Briefs had happened well before this) it was time for “Game On” and players headed out to their respective start points. After a rousing brief from the team I/C the game started properly with a pyro barrage, and it was time to get your fight on. Although the site is HUGE it’s also broken down into smaller “game zones” that are eminently playable in their own right, and that on a regular “skirmish day” would delight anyone. There’s a small village, a “prison”, outposts, guard towers, trench systems and numerous other structures to play through. Of course, for the weekend EVERYTHING is in play at the same time, and wherever you went there was the sound of a firefight taking place. All three teams had objectives to achieve and points to be earned from them and from what I saw every objective was hard-earned by the eventual victors. Play continued throughout the day, with some hardy souls lasting the duration, whilst others returned to the camping grounds and “The Village” for much needed R&R as this year it was yet again hot, darn hot, REAL HOT and the ice cream van did outrageous business! As Day One wound down, the evening “action” started with the raffle, and the now usual “banter” from Marshal Rich; this has become something of a legend, but if you’re of a gentle disposition it’s best to stay away, especially if you’re ginger, skinny, or a Russian it would seem! The main “action” for Saturday night appeared to be once again centred on the camping grounds where many groups had BBQs lit and their party heads on! This was where the real “festival spirit” took over, and in “The Village” the bar rocked thanks to a live band that played a real old mixture of classic tunes, but it seemed that the heat of the day had sapped everyone and the only ones dancing were numerous fancy-dressed ‘softers - and a player in a rather floppy inflatable pink pig! Beers went down in a sociable and thoroughly chilled out atmosphere, with groups from all the teams exchanging their “war stories” from the day 32

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and having a genuinely good laugh. As the evening progressed though many players moved on outside, standing by roaring fire pits and shenanigans continued… what happens at NAF stays at NAF though! You need to make sure you have sufficient sun cream to last you the weekend at the festival, and this year you really needed it as players needed to contend with heat and the sun blazing down on them without mercy! The teams obviously felt there was still more to play for though, and on Sunday morning they headed back to the game, and they just kept on playing, gaining objectives and points whilst having a thoroughly good time. Reports are that there were actually very few heat-induced incidents, although by early afternoon a few players were heading back in as tempers wore thin. Again I believe that this was in the minority though, as most players were having a great time of it! My final thoughts on the National Airsoft Festival 2021? The site is superb and the organisation impeccable, especially with new restrictions to contend with! The facilities on site were first rate, and the scheduling spot-on. Once again I’ll echo my thoughts of past years, as the play that I saw was hard, fast, and in the main fair, with hits taken and compliments given where they were due. The “after game” was as much fun and as lively as I’ve seen, and the bottom line is that everyone seemed to be having a thoroughly bang-on time whether they played for the duration, for a few hours, or not at all! Whatever your style of play may be, the National Airsoft festival has something to offer you. The Festival is first and foremost just that, a joyful event that celebrates airsoft in all its diverse and wonderful forms; a festival that just happens to be set on an awesome site that has an enormous game going on at the same time… and long may it continue! For further information for the 2022 National Airsoft Festival please keep an eye on www. groundzeroairsoft.com/nae, and I look forward to seeing you there - you don’t need an inflatable pink piggy suit to impress us …but it does help!! A huge thanks to Josh at Krios Photography for letting us use his awesome photos. If you want to see all his photos from the event (and maybe buy some of your favourites), head over to https://bit.ly/3jLfSGW

FEATURE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2021

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FEATURE FAVOURITE LOADOUTS

FAVOURITE LOADOUTS AS THIS IS A “SPECIAL ISSUE” TO TALK ABOUT OUR LOVE FOR AIRSOFT OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS,

WE GOT TOGETHER WITH THE LEGION AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR FAVOURITE AIRSOFT LOADOUT, AND WERE SURPRISED TO HEAR THEIR ANSWERS (GIVEN THAT THESE DAYS IT SEEMS TO BE ALL ABOUT THE MULTICAM)! BILL SETS THE SCENE…

kay, I’ve been playing airsoft on and off now for years, and in fact it’s over 27 years since I picked up my first-ever springer! In that time I’ve see a major shift in what folk wear to play, from the early days of jeans and DPM to the current “mil-spec” standard that we all see every time we play. Over the years - and especially over the last 10 since Airsoft Action kicked off - the internet and easy e-commerce has really opened up new doors for us to step through when it comes to our personal kit, and nowadays we can order direct from source if we want something specific.

Dedicated airsoft gear companies have also come into being as airsoft itself has grown and matured, and these appear to be flourishing! This means that we can have gear that otherwise would not be available to us given ITAR and other restrictions, and although they are often not made from the same MilSpec fabrics and components of the “real”, they look pretty darn close! Many tactical clothing and gear companies have also embraced the fact that airsoft is now a major potential source of income and have sent their respective sales pitches our way at last, and when

“MY PERSONAL COLLECTION RANGES FROM WWII “PACIFIC USMC”, THROUGH AN ENTIRE “NAM” ERA COLLECTION THAT’S BIG ENOUGH ON ITS OWN, 1980S BRITISH COLD WAR, AND INTO MODERN DAY! THERE’S COMPLETE A-TACS AU AND FG LOADOUTS, ATP AND MTP, TRICOLOUR AND MULTICAM, DPM AND DDPM ALL TUCKED AWAY - AND THAT’S BEFORE I GET ONTO MY “CONTRACTOR” AND OPFOR GEAR…” 34

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FEATURE FAVOURITE LOADOUTS

you roll it all together it means that we have greater choice, at better prices, with quality gear designed for airsoft use! Although there are items of clothing and gear where “only real will do” for some, the fact is that we can have pretty much anything our hearts desire if we search hard enough; from boots to helmets, gloves to socks, UBACS and combat pants, TDUs, plate carriers and comms… you name it and it can be had if you know where to look! And of course, that’s BEFORE we even get to “historic airsoft” where the growth in availability of

an understatement, but then I have had the benefit of time! My personal collection ranges from WWII “Pacific USMC”, through an entire “Nam” era collection that’s big enough on its own, 1980s British Cold War, and into modern day! There’s complete A-TACS AU and FG loadouts, ATP and MTP, Tri-colour and Multicam, DPM and DDPM all tucked away - and that’s before I get onto my “contractor” and OPFOR gear… what is my favourite you may ask, and I would answer my simple OPFOR setup! A simple yet decent chest rig and a minimal set of belt order with a holster is my basic requirement for this, along with a good pack if ‘m going to be out longer. Some good eyepro (in my case the Australian brand BLUEYE), black First tactical combat pants, a decent

gear for the re-enactor market has opened up further different directions for airsoft loadouts… I am known as a bit of a “gear magpie” and having played on numerous teams over the years, with numerous different loadout requirements, to say that I’ve built up a sizeable collection would be

set of boots, First Tactical gloves, and of course my favourite “Team Three Stripe” Adidas tops! Coming back to this simplicity again I found it immediately more comfortable and, in turn, I can be more “switched on” when I start playing. I’ve spent time discussing this with friends locally and it www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE FAVOURITE LOADOUTS

has become eminently clear to me that I’m not the only one moving away from the “operator” look to something altogether more streamlined, as you’ll see from the rest of the Legionnaires! If I’m going “full rattle” though, then it’s most definitely my GreeZone gear; PenCott GreenZone is sadly still not the easiest pattern to create a “top to toe” loadout in, and you’ll have to search a bit to complete your gear setup. Having said that, more and more manufacturers are taking the pattern up, and I’m certain that this trend will continue! But what of The Legion? What do they have to say about their favourites? Jon: “Oooh... I sit on the fence! I love the grey man

and wish I’d brought those trousers here with me. In general I like the layout, comfort and practicalities of the South African Assault Vest, although I ended up building my own similar setup from the FLYYE EDC hydration pack and clipped on PLB padded belts with setups for each main gun that could be interchanged to suit, I found that much more comfortable and modular than the non-PALS setup of older SAAVs.” Miguel: “Well, being part of an “organized” team, we follow specific uniform rules and guidelines. All our accessories are in OD (vests, belts, kneed pads, etc.) and right now we use three different uniforms: M81 Woodland, ATACS-AU and full OD green. We do

approach; jeans, t-shirt and shirt, with a low profile chest rig in a bag, topped off with a baseball cap and my trusty Wiley X Nash glasses. If I’m going camo, you better believe it’s PenCott GreenZone and WildWood, specifically the UFPro Striker XT Gen 2 Shirt and Pants, Gen 2 Boonie, Helikon Windrunner in Pencott Wildwood and for now Viper Kinetixx Gloves and Speero Alcor boots. Eye Pro is still Wiley X.” Stewbacca: “OpFor all the way! My final trip to Copehill was probably my favourite loadout in general. I finally worked out most of the kinks in things, getting a genuinely comfortable loadout down which kept me warm or cool enough as and when, and we all had the same OD jackets and 6094 style Plate Carriers as a team, and made use of a mixed bag of guns and trousers. I quite like the M81 pattern 36

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a few combos among them, like ATACS-AU pants + OD top, but my favourite is still the M81 Woodland, combat pants and combat shirt for hot weather or normal top for colder weather. As you know, most of

FEATURE FAVOURITE LOADOUTS

my gear is from Viper Tactical, I use the Gen 2 M81 Elite Trousers, Technical Harness (just the belt), Gen 2 VX Plate Carrier w/ Ready Rig, Charger Pack and Scrote Pouch, Venom Boots, OD Fast Helmet or M81 Boonie, VX Gun Sling, gloves from Armored Claw and ESS eye pro.” Boycie: “I really don’t think I can say I have one particular favourite loadout. I tend to move between several different combinations. It really just depends on the site, game day and who I’m going with so the decision it usually only made in the week that runs up to the event. I have enjoyed putting together some law enforcement loadouts over the years, one in particular was a Police SFO one. This wasn’t based on

any specific force area but with the weight of the vest, clothing and equipment, carrying out some “training” on a hot day it certainly gave me a bigger appreciation of the job that Police do in all weathers. Currently I am really finding it fun to just wear my Clawgear tactical jeans, First Tactical Boots and Invader Gear “Red Cell” red plaid UBACS. When I go to sites, I usually get some good comments about where people can buy the shirt and “What are your patches?”, which I explain are the Airsoft Action Legion Red Cell group patches. This sometimes results in a conversation about what we, in the Red Cell, do. Also currently my armour carrier is the Templar Gear TPC which sports the Airsoft Action Legion patch.” Jase: “My favourite loadout...that’s a tough one when you don’t have a lot of kit, hahaha! Pretty much in the twelve years I’ve been in the game I have only ever run a Multicam loadout, but then MilSims are more my thing. From a pair of RAF issue trousers in

MTP back in the day to the Viper Gen 1 and now Gen 2 combats trousers, but always rocking an MTP UBACS. Having a young family I could never justify buying lots of different outfits but in the last three months I have bought some AOR1 clothing for that “SEAL Team” look. I have always loved the digital camo and am chuffed with my new acquisition. I did run a PMC look back in past but that was on the very odd occasion, but I always end up running my Multicam loadout.” Chris P: “Some may have thought it’s my Aussie Navy kit that would be my choice, but it’s actually my Navy SEAL Stoner Gunner loadout is certainly my favourite. It’s been improved and changed over a period of 15 years (when I found a new bit of research material), and as simple as it looks it’s easy to get wrong. Now it’s 99.9% correct, the jeans are modern as vintage Red Label Levi’s are well out of my price range! Sadly, it doesn’t get used as much as I may like to use it but it’s always there in my heart as a labour of love.” Hana: “My Multicam loadout is the one I wear the most, as it works on any terrain, but today I’d like to share my personal favourite clothing from O.P.S, the A-TACS camo suit, comfortable and reliable, A friend in Hong Kong recommended it to me, for wear in CQB and outdoor games. It provides great concealment and flexibility in the wild! I like the Cobra

buckle hard-belt like I used in training and play to provide stability and loading pouches, but because it’s a wide belt is always too big for me as standard!” www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE FAVOURITE LOADOUTS

Robbie: “My absolute favorite kit is a combined 100% cotton DPM and Smersh. hands down my most comfortable, baggy, good-camo-tac; the Smersh as a belt set carries awesomely and my AK supplies I like in the butt pack. Sadly, I’ve recently sold some of my airsoft gear due to my impending house-move; in fact some of the only things I actually kept of my airsoft stuff are two GBB AKs, a pair of Glocks, the Smersh, and my full set of DPM. Yeah, definitely my favourite!” Bjorn: “I love my “game inspired” loadouts, and my latest is the “Nomad” kit from the famous game Ghost Recon made by Ubisoft, in this case the “Breakpoint” version ( I have done the “Wildlands” setup before and I have actually played some airsoft games wearing that kit too, but that’s another story!). The Breakpoint kit is based upon or around the 5.11 Tac Tec PC and holds several pouches from High Speed Gear, such as three AR mag pouches, one pistol pouch, one grenade pouch and an M249 mag pouch that also is used as waterbottle pouch, or to stock more AR mags. My setup also includes real steel plates for the right feel. On the chest you’ll also see five extra shotgun shells ready for those close encounters! To the setup there is also a 5.11 AMP 24 backpack holding everything you need for a shorter mission plus extra guns/ shotguns on the sides and an extra utility pouch from High Speed Gear. “At the waist you find an Octa Versipack by Maxpedition that can hold your phone, radio, lightsticks, bandage or maybe some extra pistol mags. Pants are in MC for this setup , and these come from OPS (by UR Tactical) as they were the most similar ones to the character. Boots had to be my LOWA mids as the ones for the character were a PITA to get hold of as they had gone out of production a long time ago! There’s a Dropleg holster holding a Glock as I couldn’t get hold of a two tone (black and tan) Sig Sauer M17. The other leg holds the classic Ka-Bar knife! Kneepad(s) from Hatch. Glove(s) from Oakley. Glasses from Wiley X. Watch from Suunto. Cap is made from own design produced by a local company. Primary gun is one of the Ghost guns from Evolution International. “This setup works just as fine as any of my other setups I have ready in my airsoft wardrobe, and that’s what makes it even cooler. I will admit that carrying guns on the side of the backpack isn’t that workable but I have tried it. Carrying four guns at the field doesn’t make you fast to say the least.... So dropping the backpack at the field is the best way to go. Only thing I missed out in the field was a Camelbak but that could be sorted out by carrying the backpack and 38

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put the bladder in that, so you can actually transfer some gear setups straight to the field! And hey, who doesn’t wanna look like a cool game character in the field?” Of course, though there’s always someone TOTALLY organised with their gear (happy to say it’s not just me!) and in this case it’s one of our newest Legionnaires, Dan in the USA, so I’ll round up by showing his “kit list” in full: Primary LBE: • Tactical Tailor Fight Light one-piece MAV (modded) • Tactical Tailor Fight Light X-Harness • G-Code Softshell Scorpion magazine pouches (4x) • HSGI dual-pistol magazine TACO • Milwaukee Custom Kydex RACC • Tactical Tailor smoke / flashbang pouch • Milwaukee Custom Kydex Raven M12 carrier • Warrior Assault Systems 1.5L hydration pouch • Camelback 1.5L hydration carrier • Ferro Concepts PTT retainer Subload: • Ronin Tactics Shuto belt • G-Code RTI optimal drop platform • Milwaukee Custom Kydex Airsoft Elite holster • Haley Strategic “Anything Hook” Comms: • Disco32 amplified U-94 PTT • SRS Tactical Avengers • Baofeng UV5R w/extended battery pack and Nagoya NA-701 antenna Clothing: • Oakley SI stretch-fit hat • Blackhawk SOLAG fingerless gloves • Crye G3 M81 Combat shirt and pants • Lowa Zephyr’s Misc: • Moondog Industries flexible unjamming rod • Dark Angel Medical trauma shears • 3M electrical tape • Nikon Fog Eliminator dry wipe cloth • Leatherman WAVE • ESS ICE eye-pro • Extra Ramset .22 cartridges Gats and Noisy Things: • Custom LCT AK104 • Custom RWA Agency NOC • 4x AK-74 magazines (+1 on the gun) • 2x G17 magazines (+1 on the gun) • Odin M12 Speedloader • Airtech Studios Odin adapter • Airsoft Innovations Bang 22 Xtreme

FEATURE FAVOURITE LOADOUTS

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THE CAGE BEST KIT

THE CAGE:

BEST KIT

CARRYING ON THE THEME OF THIS ISSUE, THIS MONTH BILL GOT TOGETHER WITH THE MEMBERS OF THE AIRSOFT ACTION LEGION AND RED CELL AND ASKED THEM ALL ABOUT THEIR FAVOURITE GEAR AND, FOR THE CAGE, IT’S ALL ABOUT A SINGLE ITEM THAT HAS REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE!

ucky rabbit’s foot? Favourite rubber chicken? Old, dented coffee mug? What is it that you value most when you head out to an airsoft game? What is that one single item that you never leave home without and what does it mean to you? Over the years I’ve been privileged to work with some of the very best gear manufacturers out there and I’m lucky enough that I continue to do so! With that in mind I’ve been able to try a million and one things that should, could, maybe make my “airsoft life” just that little bit sweeter! Some, like a solar charger for my electrics, have been mind-blowingly good, but others have just left me thinking “WTF”! C’mon, we’ve all done it, haven’t we? Seen that “thing” online and mentally gone “I MUST have one of those or my life will be incomplete!” only to shudder in apt dismay and utter disappointment when the UPS guy arrives and you find you’ve bought a complete lemon… Yup, me too! But sometimes there is genuinely something that you find that makes ALL the difference, something that is insanely useful and effective, or simply something that you just love with all your heart and can’t be without. It’s that one thing that brings you joy in some unfathomable way when you head out to play airsoft, or that makes being out in harsh conditions just that little bit easier. It’s the thing that helps you keep going either physically or mentally when you just want to give up, and it’s a VERY personal thing that others may not even begin to understand as much as you try to explain it to them. Okay, I have an old notebook that’s been with 40

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me for years and has notes from games and events scribbled in it until the pages feel like soft fabric, so much have they been written on! It’s covered with GreenZone and it’s been in my hands at every trade show I’ve been to in the last five years and it sat beside me in the darkest days following my surgery. It’s full of things I want to remember about the best days of airsoft, notes and jokes with friends, plans for future articles that are now long in the past, and just… memories of airsoft! It’s a treasured possession and always gets stuck somewhere in my kit bag to this day! On a more practical level the one bit of kit I never head out without is a 3L hydration bladder, and I learned hard and fast when playing in Florida during the really “hot and humid months” that this could quite literally be a lifesaver! The number of times over the years that I’ve seen players fall by the wayside due to poor hydration is uncountable, and I’ve seen some pretty horrific sights when this leads to real dehydration and

THE CAGE BEST KIT

heat exhaustion. My Camelbak, and more recently SOURCE, hydration systems are ALWAYS in a pack on my back, or that pack is within easy reach. I was once told by one of the guys behind the invention of the hydration system that “if you feel thirsty, you’re already entering the first stage of dehydration”, and that has always stuck with me, so yes, if you ask me on a purely practical level what my single “must have” would be, it’s that hydration system on my back!

TEAM TALK

BUT… what of The Legion? I asked them “In all your time playing airsoft what is the one thing you have bought or been given that’s become a “must have” item when you head off to play?” and this is what they had to say! Robbie: “My must-have that I was given... a premium midcap speed loader. Somehow someone bought me a blue speed loader that never jammed, was easy to use, and, well it never jammed. It was-is amazing. Funny that something so simple but wow it makes a difference!” Jase: “My one stand-out bit of kit I was given has to be the Viper lid Bill gave me when we did a photo shoot for Viper back in 2015, I still wear it to this day, tried and tested!” Jimmy: “Without a doubt, it has to be my Heroshark Mako hex-mesh goggles which are in fact made using Bolle Tracker frames. The best eye pro I have found, and I’ve tried so many different pairs, and while all will offer you the protection needed there is no real way of beating the dreaded fog. That’s where the hex-mesh holds its own, guaranteed to never fog up. The hex-

mesh has been designed to not only give you exceptional protection from BB impact but they also give the user a great field of vision as opposed to other mesh which really can limit your sight, especially in dark surroundings. After a little while wearing them your eyes adjust and you forget you’re wearing mesh. There are some days I’m able to wear lenses but the conditions have to be just right, whereas mesh, it is four season friendly. It also depends on my headgear for that particular day as to what I use. As long as

Heroshark keep producing the Mako I’ll keep wearing them in the knowledge my mince pies will be safe!” Hana: “The one of the “must have” I think will be full mask. I think protecting our face is an important part of what women care about, haha…” Dan: “That’s going to be hard one to choose. There are a lot of specific items that are “essentials” such as eye-pro, hydration, etc. and these selections have stayed relatively static for years and years now. But I guess the one piece that really made a difference (in comfort and usability) for me was changing up the way I carried my sidearm. “About a year ago now, I switched from a vest mounted holster to a Ronin Tactics Shuto belt, which is a 2-piece affair that has an inner and outer belt. This provides an extremely stable platform for

my G-Code optimal drop platform which runs a Milwaukee Custom Kydex holster with RTI mount for my RWA Agency NOC. This is a nice bit of kit that can be scaled up or stripped down as needed. For pistol only games, I can ditch my vest and just run the belt and a few spare mags in Kydex carriers that can be quickly mounted via Tek-Lok attachments. This setup also does double duty for my real steel as the RTI system makes swapping holsters out a breeze!” Miguel: “I would say gloves; here the woodland is really dry and spiky, so having good protection for the hands is important.” Stewbacca: “I’d probably go for my FLYYE EDC Hydration pouch as it formed the very useful basis of that custom SAAV style loadout I moved towards over my latter years before finishing up with TMC 6094 plate carriers and then leaving the UK.” Bill W-R: “The one piece of kit I cannot live without would have to be my dump pouch which doubles as a tactical Haribo carrier!” Iggy: “It sounds silly, but for me it’s a hat or headgear of some sort. Eyepro is a given but a hat I can’t leave without! It all stems from when, as a youngster, we used to roam the fields and forest outside our town with various single-shot BB guns, shooting each other until we literally couldn’t take being shot anymore. That all changed when Tokyo Marui introduced the AEG (Airsoft Electric Gun) that www.airsoftaction.net

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THE CAGE Airsoft & MilSim News Blog had fully automatic! I wasn’t wearing any head gear and I hid under a

BEST KIT

advancement of modern materials, boots are lighter, @AMNBOﬃcial breathable and most importantly, comfortable. I still have my leather Lowa Elites in the arsenal but these Airsoft & MilSim News Blog days it’s folks at AKU, Under Armour, Lowa (synthetic versions) and more recently with my fishing boot find, Speero that make@airsoftmilsimnewsblog a difference. “Eyepro is another; I’m now a do or die Wiley X fanboy. My Nash’ and Vapor go EVERYWHERE with me!”

small cliff to try and flank. I ended up being shot all across the top of my head in full auto from the top of the cliff - which was only 3 meters up! Blood streamed into my eyes under my goggles. Since then I wear a ball cap, bush hat, helmet, anything to soften the blow! Ohhh, then thankfully game rules were introduced such as one hit by a BB So, a lot less silly then you probably thought it AWARD WINNER and you’re out… Hurrah for civilisation!” would be, but what the guys talk about sings to me Jon: “I think the single most important piece of as it’s pretty much all about personal safety, about kit change-up that was literally game-changing was making sure that you’re ready to get your game on going from a cheap pair of surplus boots, to a more and continue to do so for some considerable time! modern type of “sneaker boot”. I still think I may be adding an extra dump-pouch to “There was a time that waterproof meant my belt-kit for those Haribo though… good tip that WWW.AIRSOFT-MILSIM-NEWS.COM heavy, stiff and uncomfortable leather. With the Bill W-R!! AA

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

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