Airsoft Action - July 2022 by Airsoft Action

NORMANDY SPECIAL

WINNER BEST AIRSOFT MAGAZINE

ISSUE 139 JULY 2022 ISSN 2634-9515

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CONTENTS 8 ARMOURY: ARES WWII RIFLES It will come as no shock to keen WWII airsofters that ARES have recently released a batch of new models for both AXIS and ALLIED would-be-troops, and we were able to access them thanks to iWholesales in the UK who very kindly showed the only ones “in country” at the time of writing this. NORMANDY SPECIAL

WINNER BEST AIRSOFT MAGAZINE

ISSUE 139 JULY 2022 ISSN 2634-9515

Editorial Director: Bill Thomas Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Deadshot Design Publisher: Calibre Publishing

18 ARMOURY: VFC COLT M733 GBBR With yet another shift in the ever changing landscape of real steel licensing within the authorised airsoft replica arena, Vega Force Company (VFC) have managed to reacquire the rights to the Colt trademark through Cybergun after a few years of it being the sole realm of another local competitor.

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

26 ARMOURY: SECUTOR RAPAX M6 As an ongoing project Bill is in the process of building his “.308 AR DMR” and has become slightly obsessed with “long rifles” of late, so when he had the opportunity to get his hands on the very latest RAPAX M6 you can bet he was all over it! But does the SECUTOR rifle tick all his boxes for what he believes makes a great AR DMR?

FIND US ON…

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 Editorial Director: bill@airsoft-action.co.uk, write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

34 ARMOURY: G&G GK-12 After much waiting suddenly it would appear that there are a lot of options now when it comes to buying an AK-12 replica, and the latest manufacturer to enter this fray is G&G! After a long wait Bill finally gets his hands on their GK-12, but is it all that he’d hoped for!

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40 GEAR: RAGNAR RAIDS We are always on the look-out for cool, functional clothing and gear that will stand the test of regular skirmishing and longer-duration airsoft adventures! We got our hands on some superb new gear from RAGNAR RAIDS and will be torture testing this in the months ahead.

80 ARMOURY: AW CUSTOM VX9 When it comes to compact handguns, Bill is an absolute fan! When he got the chance to check out one of the latest from Armorer Works, you can bet that he was very happy to get their Custom VX9 on the range!

44 THE CAGE: WWII AIRSOFT Getting into our main theme for this month, that of WWII airsoft, The Legion broke from their current pattern to look at “historically themed” games and what can be big deciders for those taking part.

84 ARMOURY: SPECNA FLEX It seems that each month Specna Arms are releasing more new models of AEG, and heading in many exciting directions at the same time! Bill has spent some time with one of the latest models to be released, the “entry level” SA-F01 FLEX.

48 RED CELL: D-DAY SPECIAL As we find ourselves now in June it seemed apt to look back to the same month in 1944 and to the weapons, and airsoft replicas thereof, that would have been used by both sides facing one another over the beaches and countryside of Normandy on D-Day!

88 AA LEGION: PORTUGAL Miguel has really cemented his place as a key member of the Airsoft Action Legion, and we love him for it! This time we bring you his report on a very special game indeed for his fellow GHOSTs and he in Portugal, their Birthday Game, “15”!

62 ARMOURY: HISTORIC PISTOLS Continuing our theme of weapons that would have been used on D-Day, Bill and Stewbacca delve into their personal collections - and back in time - to focus a number of famous, and indeed infamous, models that would add perfectly to any “Normandy” loadout!

92 AA LEGION: HONG KONG We’re delighted to carry the first report from our newest “AA Legionnaire” Larri, known to his friends around the world by his callsign UBCA Lar, as he visits WZ Studios Limited’s CQB Site “War Zone HK” and lets us into the world of airsoft HK-style!

70 TECH: ULTIMA MG42 WWI-era airsoft replicas, both AEGs and GBBs can be hugely treasured items, and keeping with our WWII theme in this month’s Airsoft Action, Dan takes an up close and personal look at a rare bird indeed, the Ultima MG42!

96 HISTORICAL: SAS SMOCK It is said that a soldier lives with what is in his or her pack, fights with what is on their belt and survives with what is in their pockets. AA resident kit historian, Will F, takes a look at an enduring garment which has its roots firmly in WWII but is still superb today!

74 FEATURE: NORMANDY TOUR Bill is somewhat of a military historian, and as well as having played airsoft for many years, his travels have taken him to many historical battlefields all over the world! He now shares his experiences of visiting Normandy and gives some pointers for if you wish to visit the D Day beaches yourself!

98 LAST POST: D(RESSING UP)-DAY Since this edition has something of a D-Day theme, we asked Frenchie if he had any thoughts on airsoft as re-enactment for his “Last Post” topic this month - and he most certainly did! So gird your loins for his as-usual acerbic and time-enlightened take on all things “historical”!

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ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

BOLT (AIRSOFT)) (AIRSOFT ACTION! IT WILL COME AS NO SHOCK TO KEEN WWII AIRSOFTERS THAT ARES HAVE RECENTLY RELEASED A BATCH OF NEW MODELS FOR BOTH AXIS AND ALLIED WOULD-BE-TROOPS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THEM THANKS TO IWHOLESALES IN THE UK WHO VERY KINDLY SHOWED THE ONLY ONES “IN COUNTRY” AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS. AS WE HAD OUR “D-DAY SPECIAL” ALREADY IN PLANNING THEY SEEMED THE IDEAL CHOICE TO LEAD OFF WITH THIS MONTH, SO IT’S OVER TO BILL FOR HIS “FIRST TAKE” ON THEM!

s you’ll see from the contents page for this month we made the decision a little while back that for our June issue this year we would bring a lot of information together to celebrate all that is good in WWII-soft whilst remembering the events of D-Day and focus on the AEGs and GBBs that have been, and are, out there; as luck would have it (or perhaps fate!) this coincided with the arrival of two very important rifle models crucial for this period from ARES AIRSOFT! When it comes to ARES I am lucky that I have an exceptionally good relationship with the guys at UKdistributor iWholesales, and I visit them every other month to catch up with what’s new from this brand and all the others that they work with. I had been given the “heads up” that the new ARES historical bolt action models were due to arrive, but it wasn’t until I got there during late May that this became a reality, and I was finally able to get my hands on them! These two new lines in their CLASSIC series are vitally important for players that favour the WWI 8

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period, and in the context of D-Day were probably two of the most widespread models in the hands of the combatants. Tucked behind that “Atlantic Wall” young soldiers of the German and AXIS forces, some of them green and untested in battle, would have nervously clutched their Kar98k rifles as they awaited the invasion forces heralded by overnight glider and parachute landings as well as countless small resistance actions. They must have known that something was coming, and those rifles must have seemed very heavy in their clammy hands. Equally young men of the Allied forces, some veterans already of many years of war, and some just as green as their foes waiting for them would have been huddled against the elements in the bottom of vomit-filled landing craft heading for the dramatically beautiful beaches of Normandy; in some cases though those beaches had become death traps, and the Lee Enfield No4 MkI gripped tight between their thighs must have given them some confidence, even if both that and their youthful bravado were somewhat forced and strained.

ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

So, two massive forces clashed along the Normandy coastline, while inland a game of cat and mouse played out! Although movies and TV shows would have us believe that every German carried an MP40 and a clutch of stick grenades the truth is that the Kar98k would have actually been, alongside their fast-firing light machine guns, the predominant firearm on that side of the battle. Likewise, although STENs and “Tommy Guns” were favoured by the Commandos and Paras, most of the Commonwealth forces would have been carrying a Lee Enfield alongside their “Section BREN”. But why were these two particular rifles so important and where had they come from? To answer this I will look into the history of both models as this gives an indication both of changing military weapons and the tactics that came with them.

AXIS

The Karabiner 98 kurz (“Carbine 98 short”) often referred to as the Kar98k was adopted on 21 June 1935 as the standard service rifle by the German Wehrmacht. It was one of the final developments in the family of Mauser rifles that had served the German army for many years, and just like the models that had gone before it was respected by all that used if or faced it; it was known for its reliability, safety and a highly accurate effective range of up to 500 metres with iron sights and 1,000 metres with a telescopic sight. Although the arrival of both semi-automatic and fully automatic rifles showed that the world of the infantryman was about to change yet again, the Kar98k remained the main German service rifle until 1945. Online resources tell me that; “The Karabiner 98k was born of the classic Gewehr 98 (G98), Mauser’s bolt action rifle that set the design standard for battle rifles in a new century of warfare. The Gewehr 98 debuted in combat in China in the hands of German troops participating in the Peking Relief Expedition of 1900. The Gewehr 98 then went on to be the primary German service rifle until 1935, gaining considerable fame during the First World War. The famously smooth Gewehr 98 action, its internal five-round magazine — easily loaded by stripper clips — and the powerful 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge all contributed to make the G98 a dominant battlefield weapon in the early 20th century.” By the mid-1930s, Germany looked to update their already excellent infantry rifle, and the Kar98k was born. Changes in post-WWI tactical doctrine www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

meant that the old days of stalemated trench warfare were relegated in the main to a distant past, and the fledgling “manouver warfare” of the Wehrmacht meant that a shorter barrelled rifle was needed for troops that would be working in harmony with motorised transport over a fast-changing, dynamic battlefield. In trials it was also found that the Kar98k, featuring a 23.62 inch long barrel, also heightened the performance of the standard German rifle cartridge; the 1903 pattern 7.92×57 cartridge, originally designed for machine gun use, produced less muzzle flash from rifles that had a shorter barrel and also provided better accuracy! The Kar98k actually cut down the overall length from 49.2 inches to 43.7inches and cut the weight from 9.0 lbs. to 8.2 lbs. The Gewehr 98’s straight bolt was replaced by a “turned-down” design that increased rate of fire by creating an easier-to-operate action. The new bolt also allowed telescopic sights

to be y fitted directly above the receiver, but more on this later as it wasn’t quite as straightforward as that! The 98k also replaced the “roller” rear sight with a conventional leaf sight, and after 1939 the 98k was fitted with a hooded post front sight to reduce glare. Accuracy and rate of fire increased while size and manufacturing complications went down, and production of Kar98ks ramped up; by September of 1939 most frontline infantry units were equipped with the new model, and this would prove to be a durable, reliable, and accurate rifle that would serve the German soldier well in multiple theatres! For snipers, Kar98k rifles were pulled from the production lines and selected for being exceptionally accurate during factory tests. These rifles proved to have an effective range of up to 1,000 metres when used by a skilled sniper, and scopes fitted included the German Zeiss Zielvier 4× (ZF39), the Zeiss Zielsechs 6× and Zielacht 8× telescopic sights amongst others,

“THE FLEDGLING “MANOUVER WARFARE” OF THE WEHRMACHT MEANT THAT A SHORTER BARRELLED RIFLE WAS NEEDED FOR TROOPS THAT WOULD BE WORKING IN HARMONY WITH MOTORISED TRANSPORT OVER A FAST-CHANGING, DYNAMIC BATTLEFIELD.”

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ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

and a number of different mounts produced by various manufacturers were used. Although the new bolt meant that fitting a scope was “easier” this is somewhat a relative term, as attaching a scope to a Kar98k required machining by a skilled armourer! A scope mounted low above the centre axis of the receiver did not leave enough space between the rifle and the sight body for unimpaired operation of the bolt handle or the three-position safety catch lever! This problem was solved by mounting the scope higher above the receiver (not always a good thing as it changed the sight over bore relationship somewhat), modifying or replacing the safety lever or using an offset mount to the left side in relation to the receiver centre axis. Although these may seem a little “ad hoc” the Kar98k in the sniper role was actually highly effective, and it’s believed that some 132,000 of these sniper rifles were produced! From the German perspective, the machine gun

was their primary infantry weapon, and during WW II their riflemen supported the machine gun rather than the other way round, so Germany’s decision to continue their use of the bolt-action Kar98k, despite the development of semi-auto rifles like the Gewehr 41 and Gewehr 43, and indeed the StG44 makes some sense in relation to the doctrine of the day.

ALLIED

When I refer to “Allied” here what of course I mean is “Commonwealth”, as we all know that by the time D-Day arrived the US infantry soldier, traditional and airborne both, was issued with the mighty M1 Garand, “ping” and all! I covered the No1 MkIII Lee Enfield in some depth back in Issue 135 and as I mentioned there this rifle would go on to see use for many years to come, and it was most certainly still carried on D-Day! However, further developments of the Lee Enfield “program”

“WHEN I REFER TO “ALLIED” HERE WHAT OF COURSE I MEAN IS “COMMONWEALTH”, AS WE ALL KNOW THAT BY THE TIME D-DAY ARRIVED THE US INFANTRY SOLDIER, TRADITIONAL AND AIRBORNE BOTH, WAS ISSUED WITH THE MIGHTY M1 GARAND, “PING” AND ALL!”

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ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

had come about in 1939, although the new No4 MkI was not officially adopted until 1941. The trusty “old campaigner” that was the MkIII was long overdue for some updating, and this began with the replacement of the notch-and-post tangent sights with long-radius aperture sights, meaning instead of a post in a notch, there was a post that was to be centred within a circle. Initially designed with a ladder-style rear sight, the final No4 design was simplified for the sake of mass-production; a dual-position, 300yd (imperial, so 274 metres!) ‘battle sight’ could be flipped for longer range engagements up to 600yd (548m). The No4 also utilized a far thicker barrel than the MkIII which improved accuracy and was also mostly floating (ooh, “old skool free float!” in the furniture apart from the underside of the stock applying a measured amount of pressure on the barrel. The No4 MkI, with its focus set to improving the accuracy of the MkIII, was designed to group within 50mm from the factory at 100yd (91m). Trigger modifications were also made, along with a new button-style of removing the rear sight but the MkI* reverted to a more MkIII style of bolt removal which was cheaper and faster. Like with the MkIII “star series”, the No4 MkI* sought to decrease the cost per unit, so by 1943 a Lee Enfield cost £7 15s to produce whilst to put this in perspective a STEN MkII submachine gun cost just £2 10s! The No4 rifle was primarily produced for the United Kingdom, Canada and other Commonwealth countries, and served its users very well indeed! In terms of the ‘sniping’ role it is believed that some 25,000 standard No4 rifles, selected again for their accuracy during factory tests, were modified by the addition of a wooden cheek-riser, and telescopic sight mounts designed to accept a No32 3.5× sight. The sight had a field of view of 8 degrees 20 minutes and featured a bullet drop compensation range drum graduated in 50 yard (45.7m) increments from 0 to 1,000 yards (914m), and these rifles were designated as the No 4 MkI (T). The wooden cheek-riser was simply attached with two screws, and the rear “battle sight” was ground off to make room to attach the scope to the left side of the receiver; each No 32 and its mount were matched and serial numbered to a specific rifle.

ARES NAIL IT… AGAIN!

In an era when semi-auto rifles like the Garand and the Gewehr 43 had begun to appear more commonly on the battlefield, and indeed the first “assault rifles” had started to be issued, it was still the humble bolt-action that lay in the hands of many of the infantrymen of both sides on D-Day, and this is why I feel that the new models from ARES really have a place in any decent WWII airsoft armoury! Both models have of course been produced before, and you’ll find comment on some of them in Red Cell this month! However, I believe it is fair to say that all the Kar98ks and Lee Enfield’s to date have been a little uninspiring when it came to out of the box performance but one thing that I will tell you about the two new ARES replicas is that they certainly DO NOT lack consistent power! They arrive with a chrono reading on 1.54 Joule/411 fps on a .20g, so although I’ve (as yet!) been unable to range test them properly it would indicate to me that with some minor fettling of the hop/inner barrel these could be absolute nail drivers! The power is certainly there, so much so that when Tim at iWholesales first lifted one from its oh-so-lovely case (both rifles come in a “crate-style” case!) and worked the action of the Kar98k it actually gave a little cough like a gasser, and released a small vapour cloud from the muzzle! As, at the time, everyone was still wondering if these were gas or spring (ARES were REALLY cagey about the power source initially) I somewhat embarrassingly asked Tim where the gas went… I can only surmise that there was a little lubricant in the barrel that got spat out with that first shot! Internally we now know that unlike most ARES spring bolt action guns the new models feature a direct feed system similar to the Amoeba STRIKER series to make the action much more realistic, and it certainly makes the action of the bolt super, supersmooth; I’d go as far as saying that the action is closer to the real deal (and I’ve shot both the real rifles on numerous occasions) and significantly smoother than most airsoft bolt-actions it’s been my pleasure to try over the years! I won’t go into range and accuracy as I don’t feel that it would be fair to do so yet; we all know

“INTERNALLY WE NOW KNOW THAT UNLIKE MOST ARES SPRING BOLT ACTION GUNS THE NEW MODELS FEATURE A DIRECT FEED SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE AMOEBA STRIKER SERIES TO MAKE THE ACTION MUCH MORE REALISTIC, AND IT CERTAINLY MAKES THE ACTION OF THE BOLT SUPER, SUPER-SMOOTH”

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ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

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ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

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ARMOURY ARES WWII RIFLES

that any airsoft rifle takes a while to “bed in” fully, and this is especially true with bolt-actions, so I’ll reserve comment on this until I’ve been able to range test both models over a significant period. As I said though, the power is there, and the actions are impeccably smooth, so with a tweak to the hop rubber I’m expecting great things from these rifles. Externally all I can say is that the rifles are STUNNING! The finish is absolutely A1 throughout, both in the accuracy of replication of individual parts and the quality of the final finishing! 95% made of steel with QPQ finishing they also have the most beautiful furniture I’ve come across as standard in an airsoft replica, and I’m told that the head honcho at ARES was unwilling to release the rifles until he’d found exactly the right wood to mimic perfectly the look of the real thing… a little bird tells me that this wood finally came all the way from Turkey though! Here we have a pair of beautiful, elegant airsoft rifles, so let’s look at the “numbers” head to head! SMLE NO.4 MK1 • LENGTH: 1125mm • WEIGHT: 3600g • MAGAZINE: 35 rounds (6mm BB) • 95% Made of Grade 304 Stainless Steel with QPQ Finishing • High-Quality Wood KARABINER 98K • LENGTH: 1110mm • WEIGHT: 3800g • MAGAZINE: 20 BBs (you get two though!)

•

95% Made of Grade 304 Stainless Steel with QPQ Finishing • Genuine Laminated Wood Whilst the basic rifles are superb, ARES have also gone the extra mile by simultaneously releasing “sniper variants” of both, and with these DELUXE versions you also get the correct modifications and a pre-fitted period-correct scope with mounts! With some crossover to the STRIKER series we already know what can be achieved in upgrades, so it bodes incredibly well for some real sniper-elite-level action with a little effort. I’ve always had a soft-spot for the seriously under-sung ARES “Classic Line” given the sheer gorgeousness of their L1A1 SLR, and I truly believe that the No4 MkI and the Kar98K are going to make a lot of you out there sit up and take notice too! “Period Airsoft” might always be a niche part of what we do, but having superbly-finished, good-to-gofrom-the-box rifles might just persuade a few more players to get involved and have a go, so well done ARES, well done indeed! Will I buy one of these lovely rifles for myself? The answer is probably no to be honest as I do shy away from WWII scenarios for personal reasons that will become apparent in my other articles this month… but, and it’s a HUGE- UBER-MEGA-BUT I certainly WILL be buying myself the ARES L42A1 sniper variant that has also come out at the same time as the WWIIera rifles and is based on the Lee Enfield for my Cold War collection! AA

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ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

BRINGING THE

WITH YET ANOTHER SHIFT IN THE EVER CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF REAL STEEL LICENSING WITHIN THE AUTHORISED AIRSOFT REPLICA ARENA, VEGA FORCE COMPANY (VFC) HAVE MANAGED TO REACQUIRE THE RIGHTS TO THE COLT TRADEMARK THROUGH CYBERGUN AFTER A FEW YEARS OF IT BEING THE SOLE REALM OF ANOTHER LOCAL COMPETITOR. WITH THIS RENEWED ACCESS NO TIME WAS WASTED BRINGING A FRESH PRODUCT TO MARKET BEARING THE PRANCING PONY AND ASSOCIATED LETTERING, AND NOW STEWBACCA GETS DOWN AND DIRTY WITH IT! 18

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ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

he Colt M733 is a cult classic for many of us (more experienced and possibly slightly long in the tooth!) airsofters and firearms aficionados, well known for those who grew up, or tried to avoid doing so, throughout the 1990’s with very memorable appearances in cinema with the likes of ‘HEAT’ or ‘Blackhawk Down’ in the hands of both the good guys and the bad, but also more recently in ‘Blood Diamond’ as well as featuring in numerous

video games! The M733 is the modernised equivalent of the earlier Vietnam era XM177 or CAR-15 carbines which were derived from the larger M16A1 to give commanders as well as vehicle or helicopter crews something less cumbersome than the full-size individual weapon that the US service personnel were trudging through the jungles of southeast Asia with. www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

My own journey can be said to be somewhat allegorical; having owned the Marui AEG M733 many years ago in the UK, and having shifted to almost exclusive use of GBBRs since coming to Taiwan, I’ve been trudging through jungles in the tropical heat for the last few years and have likewise come to appreciate the lighter weight and shorter overall profile of SMGs, PDWs or carbines, and as a result vastly enjoyed fielding the latest offering from VFC. Having seen the new model announced at the MOA 2022 campfest a few months ago, this was somewhat of a surprise release compared to some of their other much awaited offerings. I recently returned once again to the VFC Pentagon Service Centre not far from my place in Taipei and met with our good friend Ray Chang to get the lowdown on this sneak release for 2022; with so many exciting licensed replica products from a range of real steel manufacturers coming out of VFC’s understandably secretive headquarters as of late, I was keen to find out more about the return of Colt to this illustrious list. Ray told me that the M733 will be a limited single production run release predominantly for Asia and was intended as a somewhat more economical offering compared to VFC’s usual premium feature packed product lines in the GBBR arena. The carbine itself also presents an ideal entry level Armalite/Colt style platform for those looking to get into the gas gun game as well as it being compatible with other such systems in VFC’s range. With a reduced overall physical footprint the M733 is ideal for the smaller or slighter players (somewhat more typical in Asia) after all, but as well as offering a good gateway platform it leans on the real steel history of its counterpart, and finally offers a gas blowback alternative to the classic AEG many of us enjoyed. Thus it has wide appeal to new players who might not be old enough to remember the storied history of the carbine in real world events and popular culture, while also giving the older players a retro appeal rifle that has all the latest internal features as well as the external trimmings of its original counterpart.

FIRST RATE, INSIDE AND OUT!

Running the latest third generation fire control system

inside, with its steel hammer and simplified, durable valve striker unit, the VFC Colt M733 GBBR also makes use of their latest magazine design, with a cast aluminium alloy internal reservoir encased in a predominantly aluminium STANAG style grey painted magazine shell, which is capped off with a reinforced head unit that encapsulates the feed lips, vent valve as well as the inlet valve. As is increasingly the case the gas feed has been placed on the rear spine of the magazine so that it is protected within the magazine well when fitted in use, preventing any dirt ingress during gameplay as well as improving the realism and aesthetic of the magazines. The M733 is for all intents and purposes an M16A2 with shortened furniture; the front handguards are much shortened compared to the full size rifle, with the cylindrical ribbed profile rather than the earlier Vietnam era triangular versions, although noticeably thinner than the M4A1 handguards which followed, allowing for easier handling even for someone with longer arms like myself; normally the likes of an MP5 standard handguard will give me wrist ache trying to C-Clamp or support hand hold it and I default to vertical fore grips on most guns. The M733 however just seems to work comfortably for me, perhaps due to its much lighter overall weight and slender profile I found it much easier to wield and manoeuvre during my skirmishing and testing of it, just like my old beloved AEG version in the UK. The front handguard and barrel section is in fact relatively similar in length to the extended butt stock, giving the carbine a surprising aesthetic and physical balance to it, perhaps that’s one element to its overall appeal. The butt stock itself is of the early telescopic version with just two peg holes for the adjustment lever actuated spring loaded catch to lock into; at fully collapsed and extended lengths, although as with the real steel equivalent there is plenty of material in the buffer tube extension beneath to drill further holes into to customise the length of pull to an individual’s taste and requirements, and fully extended was just fine for me, thankfully. Being an earlier variant the M733 lacks any QD attachment points or a castle nut receiver plate with sling loops included, although the clean lines do make

“THE M733 IS FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AN M16A2 WITH SHORTENED FURNITURE; THE FRONT HANDGUARDS ARE MUCH SHORTENED COMPARED TO THE FULL SIZE RIFLE, WITH THE CYLINDRICAL RIBBED PROFILE RATHER THAN THE EARLIER VIETNAM ERA TRIANGULAR VERSIONS, ALTHOUGH NOTICEABLY THINNER THAN THE M4A1 HANDGUARDS WHICH FOLLOWED, ALLOWING FOR EASIER HANDLING EVEN FOR SOMEONE WITH LONGER ARMS LIKE MYSELF” 20

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ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

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ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

it aesthetically more appealing and less likely to catch on clothing or obstructions during use, but does mean your slinging options are going to be likewise somewhat classical; with the front standard sling swivel and twin upper and lower integral sling loops moulded into the butt stock allowing the attachment of a two point fabric sling. Personally I just threw on one of my fairly standard Fastex QD buckle units with a toggle to tighten the loop around the buffer tube and attached the carbine to my integral sling built into my plate carrier that I use for all of my own guns, which also added to my ease of handling allowing me to effortlessly transition between right and left handed use for navigating corners and obstacles.

DOWNRANGE

I fielded the M733 just using the iron sights which are actually M16A1 styled; the earlier prototypes of the real steel equivalent all made use of M16A2-styled handguards and pistol grips, however the upper receiver geometry tends to vary along the lineage, with the initial examples still employing M16A1 fixed rear sight units with the simpler adjustment dial rather than the later fully adjustable floating sight block inset into the cutout of the later carry handle styles typified by the M16A2 rifle series. The folks at VPSC were also good enough to lend me three of their 30 round modernised magazines to fill my plate carrier with, which worked excellently throughout and didn’t present me with and feeding or gas issues at all; I probably put a few hundred BBs downrange with the testing and skirmishing I did during our game day. Initially I chronograph-tested the M733 at home with a few shots using BLS 0.2g BBs and ‘12kg’ or ‘green gas’ from Puff Dino (somewhat industry standard in country) and clocked it throwing out 1.3 Joule/375 fps max in a reasonably consistent fashion, while at the skirmish I made use of my own standard 0.3g BLS BBs and the chrono came in at a consistent 330fps in many of the shots with even less variance for the most part. I also had to tweak the HOP unit setting as a result of using the heavier ammunition, and having seen the 4UAD Smart Airsoft team’s video about the M733 they managed to lift even the heaviest ammunition with the included HOP unit!

I found that once I got it dialled in the range and consistency were astonishing for such a short inner barrel of only 275mm; I’m not sure exactly how many BBs have already been put through this particular example as it’s the VPSC demonstration gun as such, but the HOP is either excellent out of the box or has settled in well over its use as it was consistently stretching shots out the length of the disused factory hall we were playing in; at least 50-60m long, after only a short time tuning and putting some rounds down range I quickly managed a first round elimination with just the iron sights and against a lot of return fire, so most pleased! The HOP adjustment itself is accessed via the horizontal seam between the upper and lower front handguards, which allows the top and/or bottom segments to be removed independently by retracting the spring loaded ‘delta ring’ at the rear of the handguards where they meet the upper receiver body; this is admittedly very heavily sprung and can be somewhat challenging to remove, requiring you to brace the butt of the carbine against something and really pull back hard on the ring to allow you to pop them off, one of my only complaints about the platform, and admittedly one you shouldn’t have to endure once the unit is set to your preferred ammunition weight. This gives access to the drum wheel style HOP unit beneath the chamber and barrel, which is conveniently marked with + and - symbols for increasing or decreasing the HOP effect; it is relatively stiff which means it won’t move unwantedly but the large surface area and ribs enable you to easily push it in the desired direction of rotation to adjust it. In terms of construction the M733 follows the other recent releases from VFC, as with their Mk48 LMG it is predominantly aluminium and alloys thereof to allow for economical and lightweight construction, but is excellently finished with the familiar hard anodisation that resembles the surface texture and colouration of parkerized steel. The steel components are thus limited to some of the internal components and wear surfaces, with the receivers, outer barrel and bolt carrier group being castings of zinc aluminium alloys which are then finish CNC machined on internal functional surfaces. The general feel is nonetheless

“THE HOP ADJUSTMENT ITSELF IS ACCESSED VIA THE HORIZONTAL SEAM BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER FRONT HANDGUARDS, WHICH ALLOWS THE TOP AND/OR BOTTOM SEGMENTS TO BE REMOVED INDEPENDENTLY BY RETRACTING THE SPRING LOADED ‘DELTA RING’ AT THE REAR OF THE HANDGUARDS WHERE THEY MEET THE UPPER RECEIVER BODY”

JULY 2022

ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

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ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

exceptionally sturdy despite this, and there’s little if any movement or creak in any of the joins or components, even the captive receiver retention pins retain their resistance nicely and are easy enough to drift out when required, but won’t do so of their own accord as in some other manufacturers examples. The buffer and related spring are actually reduced rate to give them a softer effect on the bolt carrier during recoil, which gives a surprisingly strong impulse upon firing, perhaps because the bolt carrier is a more significant proportion of the weight compared to larger, heavier AR GBBR platforms, but nonetheless the very loud and satisfying report are followed by an equally enjoyable thudding of the carrier within the receiver. The general feel is crisp and sharp and follow up shots were fast and accurate during our more heated game rounds and team training for marksmanship after we finished skirmishing. The integral carrying handle also features the required holes in its upper surface to allow attachment of top rails or classic optics with the specific bolting or clamping arrangements, however I found the iron sights very easy to use even with my ageing eyes. The magazine well features the M16A2 and Colt name and “prancing pony” markings, the fire selector is left side of the body only for right handed use, and similarly the magazine release is right side only for right handed index finger actuation, all told it is a very much ‘no frills’ carbine externally, but I kind of like that for the classic or retro appeal and just the slimmer and cleaner lines. Overall I am extremely impressed with the Cybergun licensed VFC Colt Commando M733 GBBR, to the point where I am struggling to stave off buying one until other priorities have been fulfilled, but I’m pretty sure this is an itch I’ll inevitably have to scratch. The only issue I found, aside from the somewhat stiff handguard retention, was a slight sticking of the trigger reset towards the end of my morning shoot; again the 4UAD team found something similar in their example around the 6000 BB mark, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for if you do find yourself with one. Having seen their solution I inspected the internals and found the same slight uneven wear on the hammer sear hook surface; it’s merely a case

of evening out that wear with a slight amount of filing to rectify this issue if you encounter it, and not something that would put me off given the myriad other issues I’ve had experimenting with numerous other gas guns in my time thus far! The M733 has really left a lasting impression on me for just how much fun it was to shoot and very comfortable and easy to handle and transition with. So, if you find yourself in the market for a new GBBR AR for the gun wall, or are looking to start your adventure in gas guns, the licensed Colt M733 GBBR from VFC is something I’d happily recommend to you; it’s perfect for any player of any build really, even being a wookiee-esque lumbering giant myself I still appreciated the weight and length reduction and the general aesthetic appeal. I’d once again like to sincerely Thank Ray Chang, Sam Shen and the rest of the VPSC team for their time and entrusting me once more with one of their products to test, and for their commitment to supporting me, and Airsoft Action, with their very latest creations! AA

“...IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW GBBR AR FOR THE GUN WALL, OR ARE LOOKING TO START YOUR ADVENTURE IN GAS GUNS, THE LICENSED COLT M733 GBBR FROM VFC IS SOMETHING I’D HAPPILY RECOMMEND TO YOU; IT’S PERFECT FOR ANY PLAYER OF ANY BUILD ”

JULY 2022

ARMOURY VFC COLT M733 GBBR

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ARMOURY SECUTOR RAPAX M6

DMR... OR NOT?

JULY 2022

ARMOURY SECUTOR RAPAX M6

AS AN ONGOING PROJECT BILL IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING HIS “.308 AR DMR” AND HAS BECOME SLIGHTLY OBSESSED WITH “LONG RIFLES” OF LATE, SO WHEN HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HIS HANDS ON THE VERY LATEST RAPAX M6 YOU CAN BET HE WAS ALL OVER IT! BUT DOES THE SECUTOR RIFLE TICK ALL HIS BOXES FOR WHAT HE BELIEVES MAKES A GREAT AR DMR?

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ARMOURY SECUTOR RAPAX M6

uring my time playing airsoft I’ve often hankered after something with a bit more “legs” from time to time, and to this end have always had a huge soft spot for the Designated Marksman Rifle or “DMR” where you still get semiauto, but with a bit more grunt! When I lived and played in the USA I was the only Brit on my team, and although I proudly played in DPM for most of our skirmish games, when it came to MilSims and weekenders I’d be in the same digital Army Combat Uniform as the rest of the guys. Strangely I always liked the Universal Camouflage Pattern, and in the arid areas of Florida in actually worked pretty well, greying out into the background just like it does in that famous “sofa picture”. I also gave up my MP5, or in the latter days there my L85, in favour of some form of “M4” variant. Just sometimes though I wanted some extra range, and there is one “rite of passage” that in my mind every airsofter needs to go through, and that’s owning and fielding a DMR! Until you’ve lugged an ungainly M14 EBR around an airsoft field all day as I did in the USA you’ll never fully appreciate the pain of having “the right rifle”, but one that is going to stretch both your sinews and your sanity! But of course it’s the AR that we all love, and as much as the EBR rightly has its place in history, these days when putting together a “long rifle” it’s going to be based on that platform, probably in “7.62/.308” unless it’s for OPFOR-use or a dedicated USMC M27

IAR! Now I do fully understand that we are talking about airsoft and 6mm BBs here, and that the “look” of a larger calibre rifle has little overall bearing on how the airsoft version will perform on the field (ie very much the same as every other 6mm BB platform unless you do something quite special to it!), but there’s just something about that big old mag that sings to my heart. The SR-25 or Stoner Rifle-25 changed the game for many airsofters like me, and it is a bit of a legendary firearm and one that I now see quite regularly fielded in the DMR-role; it is undoubtedly a fine choice, with many airsoft replicas available as a project base. Designed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by Knight’s Armament Company, back in the day when Colt made the decision to concentrate on the AR15 it left the AR-10 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle design up for grabs, that design went largely ignored until the early 1990s when Stoner joined Knight’s Armament Company and continued his AR-10 design work. The end result was the SR-25 (which added together the numbers of the AR-10 and AR15) which improved the AR-10 design with M16A2 advancements and parts commonality. Subsequently we’ve seen many more dedicated “AR-based” airsoft DMRs come to be, and I’m lucky enough to have tried quite a few of them! It’s true, for the last couple of years I’ve been

““WHEN I LIVED AND PLAYED IN THE USA I WAS THE ONLY BRIT ON MY TEAM, AND ALTHOUGH I PROUDLY PLAYED IN DPM FOR MOST OF OUR SKIRMISH GAMES, WHEN IT CAME TO MILSIMS AND WEEKENDERS I’D BE IN THE SAME DIGITAL ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM AS THE REST OF THE GUYS.”

JULY 2022

ARMOURY SECUTOR RAPAX M6

playing around with an AR DMR build as I do have that great love for “long rifles”, and I think I’m nearly at the end of my quest apart from finding the perfect inner barrel/hop setup to really give it those sought-for legs! I’m of the belief that a really good “designated marksman” can be a real team-asset in any game, a real force-multiplier of both the shooter and their rifle are genuinely any good! Earlier this month though I was reading one of the posts in the Airsoft Europe group online on the topic of “DMR” and it got me to thinking… what do most people actually mean when they talk about a DMR though? It seems that the answers vary wildly.

BREAKING IT DOWN

Let’s start by breaking down that name; DMR = Designated Marksman Rifle. This is largely defined as a semi-automatic, larger-calibre rifle capable of more sustained fire, and accurized and often fitted with a bipod and a magnified optic to increase lethality at longer engagement distances than the average infantry rifle or carbine. “Them what know” say “designated marksmen are usually considered an organic part of a unit and are never expected to operate independently away from the main force, whereas snipers usually work alone or in very small teams with independent mission objectives”. In recent conflicts it was found that the infantryman with a 5.56mm carbine or rifle was often outranged by enemies still using older, large-calibre battle rifles, so the designated marksman became a solution for helping them dominate the “middle ground”, ranges deemed beyond effective for a standard infantry platform, but well inside that of a dedicated sniper rifle. Let’s now look at what a DMR is not; it is NOT a sniper rifle as a designated marksman is NOT a

sniper. A sniper will work with a spotter or as a standalone entity carrying out specific tasks, often from concealment or in a hide, at mid to long ranges at the behest of “higher higher”, whilst a designated marksman will work within a squad or section structure at medium engagement ranges slightly beyond those that a regular rifle or carbine will be capable of to carry out specific in-mission tasks. Back in the early 2000’s there was huge debate in the international airsoft community as to how we could replicate the “DM” in game, yet differentiate them from someone with a bolt-action rifle. After much debate at my own games the team and I made the decision that a “DMR” could be a semi-auto-only rifle (taking our lead from what we were seeing in the real world), and that it had to be obviously and physically locked to semi, with DMR-users sworn against spamming of the trigger. It could be more powerful than regular AEGs, up to 450fps on a .20g, but would also have a MED of 30m to avoid unnecessary injury to the player on the receiving end. We believed this would allow an airsoft “DM” that little extra bit of “oomph” whilst still not giving them the total range of a bolty, and we played this role successfully from that point onwards.

RAPAX ROLLING OUT

At the back end of summer ’21 I had the opportunity to check out and test the RAPAX M5, and I concluded that “All things considered I’m really, really happy with the SECUTOR RAPAX M5 and it’s exactly the kind of semi-auto “reach out and touch somebody” rifle that I hoped it would be”, and after substantially more time with it I’m still of that opinion. As a “stock DMR” (and it is undoubtedly one) it’s still kicking out iro 1.78Joule/439fps with .20 BBs, and will hop substantially heavier BBs with ease and grace! So, when Tim at iWholesales told me that there was a new RAPAX kid on the block, in fact two as there’s

““THEM WHAT KNOW” SAY “DESIGNATED MARKSMEN ARE USUALLY CONSIDERED AN ORGANIC PART OF A UNIT AND ARE NEVER EXPECTED TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY AWAY FROM THE MAIN FORCE, WHEREAS SNIPERS USUALLY WORK ALONE OR IN VERY SMALL TEAMS WITH INDEPENDENT MISSION OBJECTIVES””

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ARMOURY SECUTOR RAPAX M6

Image courtesy SecutorArms

an M6 and M7 variant in the mix, I was keen to check out what they brought to the party, and the bottom line is that the latest DMRs in the line-up are the latest in SECUTOR design with great features for those not wanting to spend a fortune fettling a custom build! I got hands-on the M6, the more civilian-looking of the two new models, the M6 (which differs from the M7 which is more MIL-looking and comes pre-fitted with a suppressor), and on first impressions this is a DMR ready to go out of the box with some premium features and some gorgeous styling. The first thing you notice about the M6 is just how lovely it feels, and just how easy it is to manipulate! It is, as I’ve come to expect from RAPAX rifles, solid as a rock in every respect, and the mix of the very dark bronze of the M-LOK rail and the buffer tube really stand out from the satin black of the receivers; the finish on all parts is absolutely impeccable! The feature set itself is extremely well thought out, as you get a semi-only ambi selector, ambi mag release, and very cool straight trigger. The pistol grip is very “magpulesque”, and the sliding stock has five positions so you can get it exactly as you like it. There are QD sling points inset to the stock and lower receiver on both sides, and the rifle comes with a single QD sling swivel which you can change easily from lefty to righty. Some pretty darn decent iron sights are included, but this is a rifle you will definitely want to set up with an optic,

JULY 2022

and the use of what looks very much like a Knight’sstyle 7.62 QDC muzzle device really rounds out some impressive looks! Internally there’s a lot going on too! First up you get a programmable electronic trigger and an ARES EFCS Mosfet so if that’s your thing you can play with this to your heart’s delight, although as “stock” I see nothing wrong with the setup! A combination of bearings and 8mm bushing, a piston with all metal teeth, a CNC steel cylinder and cylinder head made in a single piece to improve compression, and silver wiring throughout make everything nice and tight from the outset, although compatibility with aftermarket parts will give you pace to fettle further if you so desire. There’s a 6.03 mm precision barrel fitted as standard and married up to what I know to be a reasonably robust and efficient hop-unit, although this has a new improved rubber for heavier BBs. Wiring is to the buffer tube and comes fitted with a T-Plug/Deans.

DOWNRANGE

So, everything, on paper certainly bodes well for the M6, and I have to say that as new it certainly worked well on the range. I made use of a longer range owned by a local club to test out the M6 as I knew I’d be after some longer ranges having had a good 60m+ from the M5 from the box, and I’m glad that I made this decision as the M6 really needed more that the

ARMOURY SECUTOR RAPAX M6

30m range I have in the woods! I fitted the rifle with a QD 1.1-4x25E MilDot optic, added some lo-profile M-LOK rail covers at the midrail-point, and fitted a Harris-style bipod via an M-LOK mount. From the box the M6 chron’d very respectably at 1.85 Joule/447fps with .20g BBs, and once I’d reset the hop it was more than happy on .36’s although I felt it could actually hop heavier than this! This is a bonus as a heavier BB is more in keeping with getting the range and accuracy you want from a DMR, and the new hop rubber obviously does its job effectively! One thing I like a lot is that the CNC trigger has external travel regulation by means of a screw to reduce the travel and shooting sensitivity, so again you can set this as you like it; it’s an easy “in the field” adjustment too! The big old 160 BB “.308-style” magazine fits and feeds perfectly, although I’ll give you the heads-up that this is “mid feeder” so you’ll need to find extra

mags with great care as many of the box-set options out there are “front feeders”. So, all set up, .36g BBs in the mag, hop dialled in and the optic zero’d to 50m on the rifle… how did it do? Just great, thank you… really great as a new rifle! The M6 hurtled BBs downrange to 50m without breaking sweat, and making allowance I was soon hitting steels at 60m, then 70m most of the time! I honestly believe that this rifle could actually hit past 80m with little effort other than that of the user, and a little diligent tweaking of both rifle and shooter might even break my magic “100”! This is remarkable for a stock rifle, and I take my hat off to SECUTOR in all ways for their achievement, as this truly IS a workable DMR straight from the box! Thanks as usual to iWholesales for providing the test model; you can check out all the SECUTOR models they have by visiting www.iwholesales. co.uk AA

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ARMOURY G&G GK-12

FEEDING THE BEAST AFTER MUCH WAITING SUDDENLY IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS NOW WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING AN AK-12 REPLICA, AND THE LATEST MANUFACTURER TO ENTER THIS FRAY IS G&G! AFTER A LONG WAIT BILL FINALLY GETS HIS HANDS ON THEIR GK-12, BUT IS IT ALL THAT HE’D HOPED FOR!

JULY 2022

ARMOURY G&G GK-12

have to admit that with the horrific events in Ukraine still unfolding on a daily basis I have found it hard to write about a replica of a firearm being used in an active warzone, especially one that is being used by the aggressors to suppress the freedoms of another country’s population. Even to a self-confessed “AK-aholic” like me, the AK-12 is a model that I find hard to get enthusiastic about at the moment, although as an extension of the AK family I can talk about it purely in airsoftdevelopmental terms. And airsoft rifles, especially an advanced AEG that combines the very latest internals and electrical operating systems all married up to an excellently achieved set of externals needs to be spoken about, so when it comes to the G&G GK-12 I will concentrate on, and address, two key areas, the AEG itself as a move forward in technological airsoft terms and the misconception that G&G “modern AKs” can only use proprietary magazines! I first clapped eyes on the prototype GK-12 a while back, and I’ve been pestering my good friend Rick at G&G about this beast ever since! This means that the development of this latest AEG has taken a number of years from concept to realisation, and just shows

that G&G continue to change, not just rushing out a new AEG because others have, and because it’s “on trend” at that particular moment, but taking their time to develop it properly so that ultimately what we as players receive actually is indeed the best thing they can produce given current technology. I think we can all point to G&G AEGs in the past that have been less than “stellar” when released but that have actually turned out to be darn good guns after a little fettling and TLC. I can also point to new developments that haven’t worked quite as they should from the box, and even to few “dead ends”. What I specifically like about G&G most these days though, and the main reason I am always pleased and proud to work with them, is that they have actually listened to our gripes of the past, and shown with their more recent releases that they have taken note and acted upon our collective feedback. Now many manufacturers SAY that they do this, but if you all knew the amount of time I spend talking to Rick at G&G each week (he is a very gracious listener!) I believe you’d be shocked! He always has a question for me as I usually do for him, and he also listens to what I, and we have to tell

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ARMOURY G&G GK-12

him; I am certain not going to flatter myself that I’m the only person he spends so much time with, in fact I know I’m not! G&G WANT to know what we all think of their AEGs and GBBs, and they WILL action problems highlighted by us (and that includes you!) as users of their products. Many of you might say that using the community as “final product testers” should not be a “thing”, and I’m largely in agreement with this line of thought, but with the sheer pace of technological advances in airsoft right now this does mean that AEGs in particular will be quickly brought to market to illustrate that “Manufacturer X” is with the program. That’s why I’m so pleased that G&G have really taken their time with releasing the GK-12, as although it does contain all their latest gizmos and goodies inside (I love a good technical term!), it’s been part of their long-term development program to bring us solid, functional, and most important of all, durable skirmishing tools!

FINE LOOKS!

When it comes to the GK-12 it certainly has all the right “party clothes” to please anyone that wants to own an AK-12 replica! I’m pleased to report that like other AK-12 models I’ve tested and used to date, G&G have been faithful to the “real” in their replication on this latest electric rifle! The GK-12 is built like a tank, and weighs in at a hefty 3565g, so just a little lighter than some of the others; if like me you’re used to a “classic AK” then this weight feels “right”, and this is a bruiser of a rifle with steel and alloy construction throughout. Like the “real deal” the receiver cover is another unique feature of the design as it has a permanently affixed top rail where the rear sight assembly mounts directly to the cover; this of course means that the rifle is all ready for an optic should you desire to fit one, and this is mated firmly to the dust cover. This also means that the traditional rear “poplatch” has gone, and the dust cover is released instead by rotating the retained front locking arm above the cocking handle and sliding the entire cover back and up to access the battery compartment. With most of the other AK-12 replicas I’ve tested and used to date this locking arm has proved to be a little “sticky” to

start with, but G&G seem to have got this nailed, and their locking arm has proved to be the easiest to use by far; they’ve really got this right, and it means that “in the field” battery changes are slicker than those of the competition. It’s a small thing, but oh-so-crucial in the midst of a skirmish! There’s an ergonomic pistol grip modelled on that of the real rifle, more rails on the handguard, and a solid side-folding, multi-position stock. The excellent muzzle brake has been 100% replicated from the real thing, although in the case of the GK-12 it’s highgrade alloy rather than steel, which helps to shave a few grams off what is a pretty heavy rifle; thankfully the GK-12 outer barrel is threaded 14mm CCW rather than being fitted with a “QD System” (or not so “QD” in some replicas!) so it’s easy to fit a suppressor or tracer unit should you wish to, and once again thankfully the seating pin for the brake is retained so you won’t lose it if you’re changing out front-end options in-game. Externally everything is lovely as far as I can see, and internally you get the latest G&G ETU, a pretty solid gearbox setup with 8mm bearings, all driven along by an Ifrit 25K Short Axis orange (25000rpm) motor and there’s a proper quick-change spring function should you need to use it; all you need to do is swing the stock open, remove the dust cover, and then… here comes the clever bit… depress the spring loaded gas tube plug at the sharp end and rotate it counter-clock to remove it! This becomes an 8mm allen key (the back of the gas tube plug!) you can then use depress the spring guide, rotate 45˚, and carefully remove the guide and spring… no need for an extra tool, you have all you need, and to install the new spring, simply reverse the steps… genius! In terms of the latest Gen4 MOSFET functions the GK-12 benefits from easy to set modes and has: 1. Built-in double-shot selector switch. 2. Programmable pre-cocking mode. 3. Memory function; settings will not change after the battery is changed. 4. Power-cut activated when there is no BB in the chamber or empty magazine (this needs a Proprietary GK12 magazine, more on this later) 5. Warning light and sounds to indicate: • Low battery power: one warning sound and

“THE GK-12 IS BUILT LIKE A TANK, AND WEIGHS IN AT A HEFTY 3565G, SO JUST A LITTLE LIGHTER THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS; IF LIKE ME YOU’RE USED TO A “CLASSIC AK” THEN THIS WEIGHT FEELS “RIGHT”, AND THIS IS A BRUISER OF A RIFLE WITH STEEL AND ALLOY CONSTRUCTION THROUGHOUT.”

JULY 2022

ARMOURY G&G GK-12

flash per 1.5 seconds. Malfunction (motor or gear jammed, low battery power, piston jammed): continuous warning sound and flash for 3 seconds when trigger pulled. • Sector gear misposition: warning sound and light flashes twice when trigger pulled. Programming is simple too as you first switch to semi-auto, hold the trigger down for FIVE seconds (please note for safety that this will fire one shot), and when you hear a BEEP three times you release the trigger to enter the program mode. After you are in program mode: Default Setting Hold trigger down for THREE seconds, continue to the BEEP and release the trigger to complete the program. Pre-cocking Pull trigger TWICE and hold the trigger on the second pull for THREE seconds, continue to the BEEP release the trigger to complete the program. 3-Round Burst Pull trigger THREE times and hold the trigger on the third pull for THREE seconds, continue to the BEEP release the trigger to complete the program; full-auto has been programmed to 3-round burst mode. 5-Round Burst Pull trigger FIVE times and hold the trigger on the fifth pull for THREE seconds, continue to the BEEP release the trigger to complete the program; full-auto has been programmed to 5-round burst mode. •

MAG FRIENDLY!

So, inside and outside the GK-12 is exactly what I’d hoped to see, but there’s still one area that I’d like to address, and that’s the “proprietary magazine” thing! Like many of you I already own quite a sizeable collection of AK AEGs and their magazines from different eras, and although I wouldn’t use the AKM/S “steelies” in an AK-12, my AK-74 mags might be useful as you only get a single G-08-196 120 BB midcap in the box. These will be available to add to your loadout if you want to stick with G&G, and they are a cracking replication of the real AK-12 magazine, but this is indeed a proprietary mag and works with the power-cut system to deactivate the AEG when the magazine empties and simulates bolt-lockback, and it’s true that with other magazines this function does not work. However, when I brought this up with Rick (remember, he likes to give ALL the information!) he told me that other G&G RK(AK)-series magazines would work in the GK-12, although the power-cut www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY G&G GK-12

function would be lost. So confident was he in this that he kindly arranged for a sample of EVERY SINGLE G&G AK MAGAZINE including the fabulous 2200R drum to be made available to me for testing… and yes, EVERY RK mag fits and feeds perfectly in the GK-12! This is great news if you already have another G&G AK (RK) in your armoury. However, with this in mind I got to thinking about my somewhat sizeable collection of “74” mags, so I tried examples from many other manufacturers and blow me if THEY didn’t all WORK with the GK-12 too, apart from one CYMA “waffle”, and frankly that doesn’t work with anything other than the AEG it came with bizarrely! Bolstered by the success with the “74” mags, as I already have a bunch of AK-12 mags from different manufacturers I duly tried all of these too… and yup, they worked in the GK-12 just fine, especially the D-DAY DMAG 30/130RDS variable caps! So, bottom line is this, if you have an AK already, and you have mags that work with that, if you fancy a G&G GK-12 then take some mags with you when you “try before you buy”; I’m certain that you’ll get the same result as I did, although you will lose the powercut feature. Quite frankly, if that’s what’s stopping you from buying a GK-12 then you’re missing a trick! So, to the proof of things! Fully up to spec inside and out, with ALL mags tested and feeding, and with everything pre-programmed to safe/3 round/ semi, the GK-12 chrono’d in at a mean of 1.36 Joule/384fps using .20g RZR BBs. A quick “in the field” spring change (easy!) brought this down to a more friendly 1.06 Joule/339fps. Now properly set it was time to pop up the steels and see what the GK12 was capable of. After correctly setting the sturdy and steady rotary hop wheel, on semi-auto using RZR .28BBs and using just the iron sights, the rifle performed really well out to 30m; flicking the safety lever to its full-auto mid-point I was soon knocking over those plates on pre-set three-round bursts. Back on semi and shooting prone I was still getting a 170mm group consistently, and that was with the hop still bedding! I reset again to full-auto and had at it with that big old drum, dumping continuous strings of BBs like it was going out of fashion, and for once I was in total agreement with Jimmy… WAY TOO

MUCH GIGGLE FACTOR… and the GK12 handled this without a beat! Whatever your thoughts and feelings may be at the moment in relation to the AK-12 as a real-world firearm, the G&G “take” ticks all the right boxes! As an AEG it shoots fast, well, and accurately; it’s solid as a rock, and it’s a great length for both CQB and woodland use. Now that I’ve answered my own question about magazine compatibility (thank you G&G!) you’ve got enough capacity available to you to get in a game straight away, and ultimately that’s what counts with any good AEG isn’t it? Some things take time to get right, and in the case of the G&G GK-12 it has obviously been time thoroughly well spent.

This particular “AK” has genuinely been worth waiting for! AA

“BOLSTERED BY THE SUCCESS WITH THE “74” MAGS, AS I ALREADY HAVE A BUNCH OF AK-12 MAGS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS I DULY TRIED ALL OF THESE TOO… AND YUP, THEY WORKED IN THE GK-12 JUST FINE, ESPECIALLY THE D-DAY DMAG 30/130RDS VARIABLE CAPS!”

JULY 2022

KIT & GEAR RAGNAR RAIDS

BUILT FOR RAIDERS!

ALTHOUGH WE TEND TO SPECIALISE MORE HEAVILY IN THE “HARDWEAR SIDE” OF AIRSOFT, THE TEAM AT AIRSOFT ACTION ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR COOL, FUNCTIONAL CLOTHING AND GEAR THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF REGULAR SKIRMISHING AND LONGER-DURATION AIRSOFT ADVENTURES! RECENTLY WE GOT OUR HANDS ON SOME SUPERB NEW GEAR FROM RAGNAR RAIDS AND WILL BE TORTURE TESTING THIS IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. BILL SETS THE SCENE WITH AN OVERVIEW…

t’s always a REAL pleasure to see new gear coming available in our home market in the UK, and last month I had the opportunity to check out some of the latest clothing models from RAGNAR RAIDS when I visited iWholesales to pick up some more new RIFs for the test pool. iWholesales, one of the largest UK distributors of AEGs, GBBs, accessories and gear have got wholly behind this range of clothing and gear, so by the time UK readers see this overview the gear should be appearing in your local store, and trust me, you’re going to want to check it out! Although RAGNAR RAIDS may be a new brand for some, it has actually been around for a while already. Since the creation of the HART brand, the guys ultimately behind RAGNAR RAIDS, in 1990 (part of a company which was actually founded in 1948!) the team there have been working with cutting edge textile technology and design specifically for hunters and outdoor users, listening to their needs and progressing with them. Based in Spain, HART gear is now well known and well respected as a hunting and outdoor brand throughout Europe and they’ve now consolidated and expanded their team and their horizons to cater fully for new markets, including the one that we’re all interested in… tactical! During this time their “outdoor spirit” has led

to them also meeting the requirements of highly specialized police and military units, which were looking for very specific developments to perform their activities. Initially, since it was not intended for the general public the specialist “professional user gear” was made to order, and its very existence went largely unnoticed… apart from “those that knew”. That all changed in 2019 when RAGNAR RAIDS was born as the conclusion to a journey that began over 30 years ago. Uniting the experience of their explorer spirit and fighting soul that have influenced every decision and every garment, in 2021 RAGNAR RAIDS was introduced to the world, and in their own words “this time we didn’t come to explore, we came to stay!” You may wonder of course, as we’re part way through 2022 already, why it has taken so long for RAGNAR RAIDS to really get rolling, and my answer to this would be pandemic-related, and subsequently the problems that everyone, and not just in the tactical gear industry, has faced with shipping and distribution. Thankfully, most professional distributors like iWholesales have now got a handle on the latter and gear is beginning to flow more freely again! In relation to the RAGNAR gear I can tell you now that I’m very pleased that this is the case!

“INITIALLY, SINCE IT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THE SPECIALIST “PROFESSIONAL USER GEAR” WAS MADE TO ORDER, AND ITS VERY EXISTENCE WENT LARGELY UNNOTICED… APART FROM “THOSE THAT KNEW”.”

JULY 2022

KIT & GEAR RAGNAR RAIDS

JOIN THE RAID!

Okay, there’s no disguising the obvious “Viking” connection when it comes to this new gear, and personally I think it’s a cool direction! As the RAGNAR website explains they’ve taken inspiration from the story of Ragnar Lodbrok who was a legendary Viking hero, as well as Danish and Swedish king! He is known from Old Norse poetry of the Viking Age and Icelandic sagas, and distinguished himself by conducting many raids against the British Isles and the Holy Roman Empire during the 9th century. As the web-spiel puts it... “Ragnar Lodbrok, the most distinguished warrior of the norsemen, half way between legend and history. A man whose exploits in his raids have been passed down from generation to generation all the way to this day. His persona and his unrivalled legend has inspired our ambition to offer you our commitment, in the shape of equipment and clothing that meets the highest specifications and quality. May his legend accompany you throughout your life.” It is undoubtedly a cool starting point for any range of gear, but there’s a couple of things I’ll pick out of that marketing statement. “Raids”; yes this gear is all about fast, dynamic movement that you’ll need as a “raider”, and the fabric technologies chosen and designs of the individual items are very perfectly in line with the intended use. “Accompany you throughout your life” is another interesting phrase as it suggests gear of a hard-wearing and durable nature, and again from what I’ve seen thus far the

fabric chosen, components, and quality of finishing would indicate that everything has durability as a cornerstone.

STREET AND SCOUT

It’s interesting too to see how RAGNAR have distilled their initial offering down into two main categories, STREET and SCOUT. Okay, there’s also VALHALLA, but that’s a separate thing that I’ll comment on before I finish. “STREET” is very much RAGNAR’s take on the “EDC” area, with a range of clothing that would be equally at home for everyday wear as it is on the range or at the gym. There’s a superb mix of clothing starting with TYR ballcaps, the THOR AOR1 tactical jeans (the AOR1 is on some cool design accents) that feature a superb fourway stretch denim, through technical T’s like the VANIR, LOKI and FENRIR polos, to a low-key, fully-featured pant in the shape of the SKOLL. There’s also a wicked yet tight collection of logo T’s and some awesome morale patches, and a very nice hooded jacket, the EINAR! In the “SCOUT” category you get more into the “tacticool” side of things, and all the designs are indeed both tactical with a healthy dose of

““ACCOMPANY YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE” IS ANOTHER INTERESTING PHRASE AS IT SUGGESTS GEAR OF A HARD-WEARING AND DURABLE NATURE, AND AGAIN FROM WHAT I’VE SEEN THUS FAR THE FABRIC CHOSEN, COMPONENTS, AND QUALITY OF FINISHING WOULD INDICATE THAT EVERYTHING HAS DURABILITY AS A CORNERSTONE.”

www.airsoftaction.net

KIT & GEAR RAGNAR RAIDS

cool! The technical T’s cross over onto the SCOUT range, but here you’ll find some excellent full-spec tactical pants in the form of the RAGNAROK, a couple of tactical glove models (VALKYRIE Mk1 and 2… the Mk1s are FABULOUS for anyone like me that likes a snug, lo-pro shooter glove!), and a bit of a “flagship” garment in the RAGNAROK hooded Combat Shirt, one model of which also features AOR1… well, SEALs and Vikings, do I need to say more! Now I did mention VALHALLA earlier, and this I have to admit I have not yet had “hands on”; VALHALLA is where RAGNAR get into the “hard gear” side of things, and equates to their plate carrier and load bearing system. As they put it, again in their own words: “Because there are no standard missions, you cannot use standard set ups. Valhalla System was created to respond to this need for a real configuration of combat equipment for each operator according to their needs. Because all warriors are different, all configurations should be different too. We adapt to you and not the other way around.” This does look righteous, and if you visit this product area on www.ragnar-raids.com you’ll find some excellent video of the gear in action; in fact the website is chock-full of videos for just about every item! We’ve been promised a VALHALLA system to check out as soon as one arrives “in country” so we’ll be able to tell you more on this later when we’ve used it. I had my hands on every model in the range when I visited iWholesales and to be honest, even after minute inspection I could find nothing negative about anything in terms of design, fabrics and components, and the quality of finishing; all were absolutely first rate! But of course the proof of that long-term durability will only come after thorough testing; as I said, I already LOVE the Mk1 gloves, and I’ve been wearing a Coyote LOKI T on and off ever since (in fact you’ll see them being worn in the main image of my FLEX review!) the guys very kindly gave me them to test, and thus far both items have performed in an exemplary fashion, and are very, VERY comfortable, but of course this is only my initial

appraisal. Thanks to iWholesales we actually have a selection of the gear to put through its paces in the coming months, and both Jimmy and Jase will be getting involved in the testing process, so expect to see RAGNAR RAIDS gear revisited later in the year. All the clothing is already in stock now, and as I said earlier UK players should see this starting to appear in their favourite stores soon, if it’s not already there! The brand is already available throughout Europe, and even further afield too if you fancy a bit of “norse” in your life! To conclude for now I’ll once again give the last words to RAGNAR RAIDS themselves, and they are certainly words that resonate strongly in me, as I am sure they will in you... “The concept of a special unit is very old and its commitment in each community was forged under a single symbol. A brand must convey the values in which it believes, we do not expect you to be the fastest, the strongest or become a Special Forces Operator by wearing our clothes. We hope that under our symbol you will acquire the commitment to face your fears, to fight every day for your family, for your friends and to be better than yesterday. “You must accept that commitment and you will soon recognize it in others who, like you, joined the Raid!” My thanks to the team at www.iwholesales.co.uk for providing samples of the latest RAGNAR RAIDS gear for us to test long-term, and please do visit their website and social media to get even more detail on this range of clothing, and much, much more in relation to high-quality airsoft kit! AA

“BECAUSE THERE ARE NO STANDARD MISSIONS, YOU CANNOT USE STANDARD SET UPS. VALHALLA SYSTEM WAS CREATED TO RESPOND TO THIS NEED FOR A REAL CONFIGURATION OF COMBAT EQUIPMENT FOR EACH OPERATOR ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS.”

JULY 2022

KIT & GEAR RAGNAR RAIDS

AESIR

EINAR

FENRIR

LOKI

RAGNAROK

VANIR

SKOELL

VALKYRIE

THOR

www.airsoftaction.net

THE CAGE WWII AIRSOFT

THE CAGE:

WHAT PRICE WWII AIRSOFT?

GETTING INTO OUR MAIN THEME FOR THIS MONTH, THAT OF WWII AIRSOFT, THE LEGION BROKE FROM THEIR CURRENT PATTERN TO LOOK AT “HISTORICALLY THEMED” GAMES AND WHAT CAN BE BIG DECIDERS FOR THOSE TAKING PART; AS USUAL BILL LEADS OFF…

irsoft is usually an incredibly inclusive thing, and you can turn up to your average weekend skirmish in jeans, a sweatshirt, some good boots and eyepro and nobody is going to comment on that. Okay, things change a little when you get into Battlesim and especially MilSim where teams are usually differentiated in part by their loadouts, but it’s games with an historic theme where things really do change pace! As anyone who knows me will understand, I’ve been involved with airsoft for many, many years and over that time I’ve had the luxury of dabbling in many different genres and building loadouts for them all! My main passion, and one that has been with me even before I started playing airsoft, is the Vietnam war, and my collection of period and repro gear has grown surely but steadily over the years; these days I can throw together a decent loadout from “Early War Adviser” to “Late War LRRP” and everything

pretty much between, and I even had loadouts for both “VC” and PAVN… with all the AEGs and GBBs required too for both sides! Through speaking to friends interested in, and veterans of, the Vietnam War I also got involved in a WWII USMC group combining both airsofters and living history enthusiasts, and slowly but surely I accumulated the right gear for “The Pacific”. This is really my only major dabble into WWII loadouts apart from the “US Airborne” one that every airsofter I know seems to go through at some point; British and German WWII loadouts, as I’ve said before are just a little too close to home for me as my Father fought in that awful war… So, I’ve had time to bring my “impressions” together, although I totally understand why some players have no interest in the historical side; it may be, like me that they have a personal connection, good or bad, to one particular conflict, or no interest

“PUTTING IT BLUNTLY ANY AIRSOFTER I KNOW QUITE HAPPILY DUMPS HUNDREDS OF BUCKEROOS INTO THEIR RIFS AND GEAR, AND IN MOST CASES IF WE’RE HONEST THAT RISES TO THOUSANDS! SOME FOLK WILL HAPPILY DROP FOUR FIGURES ON UPGRADING THEIR “UBER-RIF”, BUT STILL WON’T TRY HISTORICAL AIRSOFT “BECAUSE IT’S EXPENSIVE”!” 44

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THE CAGE WWII AIRSOFT

at all in anything other than skirmishing with their mates, but more often than not it appears to come down to funds, and that, frankly I’m not so understanding of. Putting it bluntly any airsofter I know quite happily dumps hundreds of buckeroos into their RIFs and gear, and in most cases if we’re honest that rises to thousands! Some folk will happily drop four figures on upgrading their “uber-RIF”, but still won’t try historical airsoft “because it’s expensive”! In perspective you can pick up a good “uniform and equipment package” from the likes of our old mates at Soldier of Fortune (www.sofmilitary.co.uk) here in the UK for little more than the price of a moderately upgraded AEG, and by their own admission their gear is not cheap (although their range is comprehensive to say the least!)! In the context of our “D Day” theme this month, UK£421.93 will get you a “British D-Day Normandy Assault Uniform Set”, and UK £598.88 will get you a pretty darn nifty “British Army No3 Commando Normandy 1944”… just add a Sten, Thompson or SMLE and you’re good to go! On the same token, if you prefer an AXIS loadout then UK £391.39 gets you a “German Heer WW2 M36 Army Uniform Set” minus boots, and c’mon, who doesn’t LOVE and WANT an MP40 and a Luger? Bottom line I guess is that you have to WANT to put together an historical loadout, as it is an investment, although some game organisers like our mate Josh at Gunman Airsoft (www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk) will happily get you started. Gunman Airsoft has four sites across the UK providing all manner of airsoft games from the fast paced, action-heavy skirmishes to the slower, more in depth story-based filmsim and milsim games, along with numerous historical scenarios; these games can vary from one day events to full weekends (and more!) and offer some real immersion that you don’t get from single-day games. Josh and his team are dedicated to providing high-quality, mission-based airsoft games around a simple ideal, to provide the experience of airsoft in a friendly atmosphere with honour, sportsmanship and fair-play at the heart of everything they do. In order to encourage players to try more historically-based games (including “Wild West” airsoft!), Josh and Gunman also offer free loan of WWII, Nam, and Cold War period uniforms and equipment so that so you quite literally “try before you buy”, and they even have period-correct RIFs for hire at reasonable prices too! Like me though, Josh is a believer that although you should make every effort to fit into the theme of the game, it’s 100% the taking part that matters rather than having the gear to “stitch bitch” standard; although some re-enactors may also be airsofters, not all airsofters want to “re-enact”, and that’s fine, there’s room for all, and that’s why many www.airsoftaction.net

THE CAGE WWII AIRSOFT

of us love airsoft in the first place! Cultural and social “drivers” like movies, TV shows and video games continue to create interest in historical themes, so why not take those self-same adventures of yours from screen to (airsoft) reality?

TEAM TALK

So, with all this in mind I asked the members of the AA Legion the following question; “Have you ever played an historically-themed game? WWII, Nam, or Cold War? If you have please tell me about it, and if not, is there something that puts you off this type of game?” Stewbacca: We played ‘Nam themed airsoft for a good few months around when I first started out - maybe a year or two into my skirmishing activities, while I was still a poor student. It was good in terms of having a team and larger groups in themed equipment and MilSim style games with communications, air strike abilities provided by marshals with pyro and even whole firebases wired up with claymore mine pyros for added effects. The down side was the sheer cost of even repro M56 gear, plus the weight of it compared to modern equipment, coupled with a (then newly released) Marui M14 scoped up as an M21 and a Marui M1911 in a leather shoulder holster, I certainly looked the part but the cost and weight nearly crippled me financially and physically and I almost quit airsoft back then because I’d be knackered from running up and down hills trying to just get to an objective then immediately get taken out. Not my most enjoyable time of things by far… Jonathan: I’ve planned, written & run WW2, NAM, 80s,90s themed games, and correct loadout and platforms are very important but there needs to be a little leeway! If guys make a good effort at the required loadout it’s normally allowed. Storyline is very important as everyone likes to get into the role, and rules need to be adjusted to suit the time period! Dan: Years ago there was a little more emphasis on some historically themed events. We had exactly two Vietnam themed events that I can recall attending. At best, they had maybe 14 players show up, with only a handful out of that lot who put an effort into making an impression. After the lacklustre showing for Nam games, the emphasis moved to covering the Cold War and more modern themes, which seemed to have more appeal and a larger audience. These were MILSIM events covering things such as the perennially popular OP: Gothic Serpent, and relatively lesser known 46

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THE CAGE WWII AIRSOFT

events such as Team Spirit, Urgent Fury and the like. Still, for but a small handful of events, most of these were very loose in their requirements and didn’t really emphasise impressionism so much as “please don’t show up in blue jeans and a sweatshirt.” It became somewhat established that the player base wasn’t really invested in creating impressions and most wanted to do their own thing. This really did boil down to generational differences too. GWOT was looming large then, MultiCam hit like a tsunami, COD: Modern Warfare and its sequels dropped, and all the kids wanted to dress up like hard charging SF guys. So inexorably, events started looking like the largest gathering of (albeit badly executed) Special Forces you’ve ever seen arranged around mostly fictional themes. For field owners, this was simply a matter of adaptation, survival and keeping the audience flowing in. For the diehard event promoters who were invested in historical themes, they weren’t able to adapt and many just quit out rather than try and change with the times. From what I have seen, the big barrier to entry for historically themed events is the cost barrier. Some themes are naturally more expensive to pull off impressions for than others. When things were seesawing back and forth between Namsoft, to WWII to some Cold War scenario to the Wild West, people also just ran out of money and steam. The other side of the coin is we’ve also noticed the youngest generations simply don’t seem to have the patience to invest themselves in researching period correct impressions. Generation TikTok with their “attention span of a Goldfish” is literally real (and terrifying)... For myself, once it became clear historically themed events were dying, I stopped investing in it and put that time and effort into creating kit that was comfortable and durable. I do miss the immersive quality of a historical themed event when it’s pulled off well, but on the other hand, there’s a certain freedom that can’t be ignored when you have the leeway to create something uniquely “you.” Jimmy: I’m yet to bridge that gap from skirmish to themed airsoft. That said I do have an interest in the Cold War era mainly due to the fact my father served in the Royal Green Jackets through the 70’s and 80’s. I feel I would quite enjoy Cold War themed airsoft and

it’s on my ever growing airsoft bucket list! Hana: I was (at a themed event) on a mission to stop a missile launch but it wasn’t WWII! But themed games are always more contextual and immersive, where we can actually act out our “heroism” without actually getting hurt. It’s great to work with a team to complete a task; taking care of each other and supporting each other makes us really become comrades in arms. Themed games help us forget the little annoyances in life and focus on what’s most important; it’s one of life’s fun little fireworks! My sincere thanks go to Paul and the guys at www. sofmilitary.co.uk for letting me use the awesome gear images in support of THE CAGE this month; if you’re looking for an historical loadout then do pay them a visit! AA

“THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN IS WE’VE ALSO NOTICED THE YOUNGEST GENERATIONS SIMPLY DON’T SEEM TO HAVE THE PATIENCE TO INVEST THEMSELVES IN RESEARCHING PERIOD CORRECT IMPRESSIONS. GENERATION TIKTOK WITH THEIR “ATTENTION SPAN OF A GOLDFISH” IS LITERALLY REAL (AND TERRIFYING)...”

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL OTHER GBB PISTOLS

RED CELL

NORMANDY 1944!

AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION THE MEMBERS OF RED CELL THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME TO UNDERTAKE ONE OF THEIR “SPECIAL REPORTS” AGAIN AND AS WE FIND OURSELVES NOW IN JUNE IT SEEMED APT TO LOOK BACK TO THE SAME MONTH IN 1944 AND TO THE WEAPONS, AND AIRSOFT REPLICAS THEREOF, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED BY BOTH SIDES FACING ONE ANOTHER OVER THE BEACHES AND COUNTRYSIDE OF NORMANDY ON D-DAY!

n the morning of 6th June 1944, the peace of a new dawn on the beaches of Normandy was rudely broken by an enormous naval bombardment, and soldiers from around the world were drawn into a bloody conflict that was fought out in Normandy. “Operation Overlord” began with a massive overnight aerial bombardment which served to distract the Germans and upset communications, and was supported by the actions of the French Resistance and allied clandestine special units. Landings of paratroopers and glider-borne infantry shortly after midnight sought to secure key objectives, and these operations were targeted mainly at the canal crossings and the artillery installations; their strategic purpose was “to secure river crossings for the beach break-out and to reduce enemy defences.” Shortly after, in the early light of the day special units like the Rangers made for their objectives, often scaling cliffs like those at Pointe du Hoc to get

to their targets. The precision naval bombardment against the coastal batteries shifted from the beaches mere minutes before the main landings commenced; H-Hour was 0630 over five beaches, Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. British, American, Canadian, Polish, Australian, New Zealand, French, Belgian, Norwegian, Dutch, and other Allies who fought alongside them and against the German defenders hit those five key beaches and the battle for the liberation of Europe began in earnest!

“H-HOUR WAS 0630 OVER FIVE BEACHES, UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO AND SWORD. BRITISH, AMERICAN, CANADIAN, POLISH, AUSTRALIAN, NEW ZEALAND, FRENCH, BELGIAN, NORWEGIAN, DUTCH, AND OTHER ALLIES WHO FOUGHT ALONGSIDE THEM AND AGAINST THE GERMAN DEFENDERS HIT THOSE FIVE KEY BEACHES AND THE BATTLE FOR THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE BEGAN IN EARNEST” 48

JULY 2022

RED CELL OTHER GBB PISTOLS

I still have a very personal connection with D-Day as my father was amongst those thousands of men that crossed the deadly beaches and made their way inland and back in 2019 I made somewhat of a pilgrimage to retrace his steps on 6th June 1944, along with members of my Dutch extended family. Although D-Day is very clear in my mind, and will indeed never be forgotten, some of the younger members of my family knew very little about “Overlord”, so I tried to make history a little more personal for them by telling the story of my father on that fateful day, as he told it to me before he passed away, and after some further research.

Among all the units that landed on that first day there was only one specific Welsh regiment that had been detailed to take part in the invasion, the redoubtable South Wales Borderers, the regiment to which my father belonged. Taking information direct from archives and unit records I discovered that, in 1944 the Borderers were part of the 50th Infantry Division who landed on Gold Beach; the Borderers’ task on D-Day was to wait until the first waves had gone ashore and then land near Arromanches and push inland from the beachhead to high ground north of Bayeaux. On their way inland the Borderers were expected to capture a radar station as well as the guns and bridge at Vaux-sur-Aure, and finally, they were to link up with American troops and consolidate their position. A little before midday came the order to land. Sadly two men were drowned in the landing, and the same

fate nearly befell the CO, so eager was he to get ashore! Glad to be out of the dreaded landing craft, the Borderers met little resistance at the beachhead and pushed quickly forward. D Company drove the defending Germans out of the radar station and by nightfall on that first day the bridge at Vaux-sur-Aure was in their hands. To put this into perspective you can drive from Arromanches to Vaux-sur-Aure in under 15 minutes these days, but it took the Borderers several hours. It’s actually such a small bridge, but having now stood on it myself with the chateaux the Borderers liberated from the German forces behind me, you can clearly see the spires of Bayeux in the distance! It’s told that a small number of men actually made their way into Bayeux that very night to “recce”, and what a bold move that must have been! To stand where my father stood, and look forward to Bayeux as he must have done was a moving moment for me, and certainly one that I, or indeed my younger relatives who accompanied me, will ever forget. When I visited the then-new Overlord Museum close to Omaha Beach, later I discovered an account from one of the other soldiers of the Borderers which recounted the exact same tale of the advance to Vauxsur-Aure my father had told me before he passed away, and I’m honoured to know that this small action will be remembered there for ever more.

ALLIED ARMS

I hope that you’ll pardon me for telling this tale, but I hope it does go some way to explaining why I personally can’t get into the whole “WWII in Europe” thing, it’s just too personal. Have I played in WWII games, yes I have, as an “SOE Agent” in one memorable game where I dressed I civilian clothing

“A LITTLE BEFORE MIDDAY CAME THE ORDER TO LAND. SADLY TWO MEN WERE DROWNED IN THE LANDING, AND THE SAME FATE NEARLY BEFELL THE CO, SO EAGER WAS HE TO GET ASHORE! GLAD TO BE OUT OF THE DREADED LANDING CRAFT, THE BORDERERS MET LITTLE RESISTANCE AT THE BEACHHEAD AND PUSHED QUICKLY FORWARD.” www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL OTHER GBB PISTOLS

and carried out “sabotage” tasks… I have to say that even that made me feel a little uneasy, as seeing lots of British “squaddies” dressed as my father would have been made me strangely sad. So, apart from a little dabble with mates in “US Airborne” gear for a photoshoot many years ago, that’s my limit of WWII airsoft… but I have, like many of the members of Red Cell owned a number of AEGs and GBBs from that era as they are a true part of firearms history, and to new tactics that were developed due to the change in the way even a humble infantry soldier could operate! One of the many aspects of airsoft that I truly enjoy is the fact that, whatever your interest in firearms, you are more likely than not going to be able to find a replica that fits into any era. From WWI to current day there are replicas out there that cross over from pure airsoft skirmishing to living history display with ease. Being a re-enactor with group membership and valid insurance gives you a defence in law to legally own an airsoft replica in the UK, and there are many re-enactors I know that will go down the airsoft route rather than buy a de-activated firearm. Not only will they end up with something that with a little effort is perfectly suitable for display, but they will also end up with a properly serviceable skirmish gun should they decide to follow this route too! Now I have to admit that I actually sit in both camps. I do like to get out to an airsoft game with my friends, but I also enjoy the historical aspect

immensely too. Many Site Operators take this as read from their player base, offering specifically themed days, and WWII airsoft has proved particularly of interest to many. Luckily for the allied forces there are some perfect replicas out there and I’ll kick this off with a replica that is a real “WWII Icon” and a must-have for many of us, the Cybergun-licenced CYMA M1A1 Thompson sub machine gun! This is a super replica and one that is truly not going to break the bank! The M1A1 was the militarised version of the 1928 model that was made famous by the gangsters and police officers during the Prohibition years in the USA. With its distinctive drum mag and angled gangster foregrip, the Tommy Gun ruled the streets. The CYMA Thompson ticks a lot of historical boxes; it’s a full 1:1 scale replica constructed entirely out of metal. Out of the box the M1A1 feels good and hefty in the hands, the only slight drawback for me being the ‘plastic’ woodwork. Luckily there are numerous manufacturers out there who provide real wood aftermarket kits for the Thompson, so a quick search online and a few extra quid spent will soon rectify this. If you do invest in the real wood kit then the metal furniture is simply transferred from the original plastic parts to the aftermarket ones; the metal sling swivels are very sturdy and the addition of a period sling really finishes the gun off nicely. The battery for the Thompson is stored in the butt, and is easily accessed; I now run mine on a 7.4 mini LiPo battery that gives great performance sending a .20g BB downrange at a healthy 335fps. Spring quality though has varied in the M1 models, so do check to make sure yours complies with site limits. There are steel gears and a metal gearbox, both of which are easy to work on. The hop up adjustment is situated openly where the ejection port would normally be, directly above the magazine. It’s a wheel type which is easily adjusted and stays firmly set once adjusted. The magazine itself as standard is a 380 round HiCap, but both 20 and

“ONE OF THE MANY ASPECTS OF AIRSOFT THAT I TRULY ENJOY IS THE FACT THAT, WHATEVER YOUR INTEREST IN FIREARMS, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND A REPLICA THAT FITS INTO ANY ERA. FROM WWI TO CURRENT DAY THERE ARE REPLICAS OUT THERE THAT CROSS OVER FROM PURE AIRSOFT SKIRMISHING TO LIVING HISTORY DISPLAY WITH EASE.” 50

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30 round MidCap magazines can be purchased as accessories; much as some of you might wish for the drum mag, this too was something mothballed with the demise of the M1928A1 model, although you can find them if you search hard enough! Whether, like me, you collect certain replicas because of their historical significance or are a player that just wants something different, I would certainly give the CYMA Thompson your consideration. Of course “historic airsoft” is one area where GBBRs can work very well, and handing over to Stewbacca for a moment he told me: “I first got hands on a WETech M1A1 Thompson as soon as I arrived in Taiwan and saw the large WE booth at the inaugural MOA 2017 show - they had the Tommy Gun on offer at their range and I couldn’t say no to dumping a magazine in semi and bursts of full auto. I was immediately impressed. “Fast forward a few years and my teammate Kev here in Taipei acquired one and turned up to one of our shoots sporting it; he has a habit of fielding oddball guns just to see if they can be skirmished. He played with it on a few occasions and it ran flawlessly until the main recoil spring got tangled up somewhat, but thankfully parts availability is high over here at source so he was able to repair it easily enough. He recently went to Canada with his wife from there so left some of his guns among our team to look after and evaluate in his absence, and I jumped at the chance to dibs the M1A1. “I recently fielded it for the whole of a morning session in Taoyuan and had a whale of a time playing with it, even managing to get a confirmed elimination with it on my second round! The hop unit is easy to adjust with the dial drum ring being permanently exposed, and I soon dialled it in to make use of my somewhat standard 0.30g BLS ammunition. The range and consistency were surprisingly good even for a GBB, especially an open bolt operating one, and a few of the guys tried it out while I had it on site and commented on the fun factor and the somewhat counterintuitive recoil impulse of the bolt flying forwards on fire then

returning rearward and being held back on the sear. “Really the only major drawbacks are the archaic controls which are a bit cumbersome, given the two separate somewhat industrial looking twist dials with long stalks that require breaking the firing grip to take it off safe or switch between semi and full auto. The magazine release as well is somewhat unwieldy, although my hands are large enough for my thumb to reach back and press up the rearmost portion of the long swinging arm while I ‘beer can’ the magazine and remove it. Fitting a new one is also a bit of a pain in the rear as there basically isn’t a magazine well as such, but a rear dovetail rail that the corresponding spine on the magazines fit into. “If you can see past the handling issues, which are as such a reflection on the original real gun and WE’s faithful replication of it, and if you’re looking specifically for a WW2 primary gun, you really could do worse than pick up one of these; it’s excellently built, sturdy, and heaps of fun to use, I was carrying 4 magazines, which easily carry 50rnds each and I found was plenty for the games we were playing.” Sticking with “gassers” I’ll move on to one of my own favourite WWII models, and that’s the King Arms M1 Carbine. I’ve owned a Marushin M1 for some

“HE PLAYED WITH IT ON A FEW OCCASIONS AND IT RAN FLAWLESSLY UNTIL THE MAIN RECOIL SPRING GOT TANGLED UP SOMEWHAT, BUT THANKFULLY PARTS AVAILABILITY IS HIGH OVER HERE AT SOURCE SO HE WAS ABLE TO REPAIR IT EASILY ENOUGH. HE RECENTLY WENT TO CANADA SO LEFT SOME OF HIS GUNS AMONG OUR TEAM TO LOOK AFTER ...AND I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO DIBS THE M1A1.” www.airsoftaction.net

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AGM MP40 AEG Price: iro UK£150.00 Weight: 2850g Length: 635m/833mm Magazine Capacity: 55 BBs (Hi Cap available) Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

AGM STEN AEG Price: iro UK£185.00 Weight: 2650g Length: 770mm Magazine Capacity: 55 BBs (Hi Cap available) Cold Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk

CYMA THOMPSON (033) AEG Price: iro UK£105.00 Weight: 3010g Length: 813mm Magazine Capacity: 300 BBs (Mid Cap available) Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Available From: www.taiwangun.com

KING ARMS M1 CARBINE (STANDARD VERSION) C02 Price: iro UK£390.00 Weight: 2450g Length: 920mm Magazine Capacity: 15 BBs Cold Chrono: 1.63 Joule/420fps Hot Chrono: 1.59 Joule/415fps Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

G&G KAR98 (C02) Price: iro UK£420.00 Weight: 3600g Length: 1100mm Magazine Capacity: 9 BBs! Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

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REDWOLF LEE ENFIELD SPRING Price: iro £UK 550.00 Weight: 3150g Length: 1100mm Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.78 Joule/290fps Hot Chrono: 0.78 Joule/290fps Supplied By: www.redwolfairsoft.com

ICS GARAND AEG Price: iro UK£430.00 Weight: 3600g Length: 1102mm Magazine Capacity: 42 BBs (2 x Supplied) Cold Chrono: 1.33 Joule/380fps Hot Chrono: 1.33 Joule/380fps Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

G&G SPRINGFIELD A3 CO2 Price: iro £UK 450.00 Weight: 3500g Length: 1115mm Magazine Capacity: 9 BBs! Cold Chrono: 1.33 Joule/380fps Hot Chrono: 1.27 Joule/370fps Supplied By: www.guay2.com

ICS M3 “GREASE GUN” AEG Price: iro UK£220.00 Weight: 2300g Length: 570mm/780mm Magazine Capacity: 430 BB Cold Chrono: 0.89 Joule/311fps Hot Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

AGM MP44 AEG Price: iro £UK290.00 Weight: 4300g Length: 940mm Magazine Capacity: Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

www.airsoftaction.net

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considerable time, but being the MAXI version it’s 8mm and not easily used as a skirmish, or indeed even Battlesim rifle! The M1 was approved on October 22, 1941 as the “United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1”, and entered service with a standard straight 15-round box magazine. The introduction of the select-fire M2 carbine in October 1944 also brought into service the curved 30-round magazine or “Banana Clip”. A total of over 6.1 million M1 carbines of various models were manufactured, making it the most produced small arm for the American military during World War II (compared with about 5.4 million M1 rifles and about 1.3 million Thompson submachine guns). Despite being designed by Winchester, the great majority of these were made by other companies, even the Rock-Ola Jukebox Company! The M1 carbine was, and indeed still is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that was a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, and way beyond! Is this model from King Arms finally a skirmishable replica? In general terms I’d still very sadly have to say

no, as the realistic 15BB CO2 magazines and semiauto only action will put you at great disadvantage in your usual “Sunday Skirmish” where your opponents are probably running full auto RIFs with HiCap magazines! Let’s stop there for a moment though, and pause for thought. Other than a regular skirmish many sites are now proposing limited ammo, semi auto only, and “gas and spring” days; along with these, themed historical games usually have strict limited ammo requirements, and you’ll still see players with bolt-action Lee Enfields, Springfields and Kar98s; in this type of environment the M1 can come into its element! The King Arms M1 really is a lovely bit of kit, with full metal and sumptuous wood construction throughout. It has semi-auto fire mode only, but the gas blowback system driven by a C02 bulb in the 15BB magazine is a thing of pure beauty, clacking back and forth with each and every shot fired. The version I have is the M1A1 “Para” version with the skeleton metal folding stock, and in either open or closed position this is solid as a rock; detailing is superb, even down to the “leather” padded cheek piece, front and rear metal sling points, and fully adjustable iron sights. When it comes to range and accuracy the M1 is really up there with other gassers that I own, easily sending a .30g BB out to the extent of my 30m testing range, hitting a sandbag target time and again whilst in the prone position! And there’s more on the gas front, as G&G Armament have the iconic M1903 Springfield!

“A TOTAL OF OVER 6.1 MILLION M1 CARBINES OF VARIOUS MODELS WERE MANUFACTURED, MAKING IT THE MOST PRODUCED SMALL ARM FOR THE AMERICAN MILITARY DURING WORLD WAR II (COMPARED WITH ABOUT 5.4 MILLION M1 RIFLES AND ABOUT 1.3 MILLION THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUNS).”

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Now I’m one of those individuals who never enter competitions; simple reason why? I NEVER win anything. At IWA 2013 G&G Armament gave us the first look at their new, gas-driven M1903 Springfield bolt action rifles and everyone present had a good drool over what looked to be a stunningly attractive replica. Two models were on display, a version with chromed parts as used by the Rifle Display “Spinning” Teams in the USA, and a more mundane yet still beautifully achieved “field version”. Although only shown then in “sample form” G&Gput on a “giveaway” of numerous of their new models. At the last moment I was persuaded by my old mate and former ASG-er Ben to place my card in the draw, and beggar me if I didn’t a Springfield on the last draw of the day! The finish is absolutely superlative. All metal parts (and just about everything apart from the stock is metal!) are finished in a nice dull grey, and the real wood stock is finished probably more perfectly than the real thing ever was! After a few trials and tribulations, overall I have been extremely impressed with my Springfield; for the dedicated WWII airsoft player this is most definitely a rifle that will find a space in any collection, and in a themed skirmish it’s going to work very well indeed. I can see that this replica may also be of great interest to anyone who is a WWII USMC re-enactor, as it really does look that good. At your local airsoft “Sunday Skirmish” you’re probably only going to use this is “sniper mode” due to the low magazine capacity, but it’s certainly a model that would work well in that role. Suffice to say it’s a bolt action model I have grown to love for all year round use!

manufacture the rifle; now fully on a “war footing” Both Springfield and Winchester operated around the clock, producing more than 4,000,000 M1 rifles by the end of the war in 1945! The United States was the only country to equip its troops with an autoloading rifle as the standard infantry weapon of WWII, and it gave American troops a tremendous advantage in firepower, leading General George Patton to call the M1 Garand, “the greatest battle implement ever devised”. Now while you don’t get the “ping” with the ICS airsoft replica of the M1 Garand, I’m going to tell you that this is one of the few things that isn’t there, as this is a truly stunning replica! I’m lucky that I get to shoot over a hundred or so airsoft replicas on the range each and every year, and that’s before I count the models I get to try at demo days and shows, and to my mind the ICS Garand is a standout model, as it’s truly a visual work of art. The linseed-finished woodwork is absolutely lovely, feeling almost “sticky” as new; this rifle looks just like it’s come direct from the Springfield Armory! Overall the ICS M1 Garand is a truly lovely replica, and I can really see it acting as your main AEG if you want something for a living history impression that will double-date at your local Sunday Skirmish! For the quality of materials, construction and performance I do not view this as an expensive replica that comes with a pair of unique 42BB mags included, and you are getting a slice of firearms history and a great deal for your money! To round out the “Allied Armoury” of course I have to mention the “Grease Gun”, and again I’m going to plump for ICS! The M3 was intended as a cheap,

ELECTRIC DREAMS!

Back to electrics now, and onto another “icon”, the Garand, and my personal choice here is the ICS version although of course there are others out there now like to G&G and the A&K! Mass production of the M1 Garand began at Springfield Armory in 1937, and the first rifles were delivered to the Army in 1938, and in 1940, a second line was opened by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company who were contracted to

“THE UNITED STATES WAS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO EQUIP ITS TROOPS WITH AN AUTO-LOADING RIFLE AS THE STANDARD INFANTRY WEAPON OF WWII, AND IT GAVE AMERICAN TROOPS A TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE IN FIREPOWER, LEADING GENERAL GEORGE PATTON TO CALL THE M1 GARAND, “THE GREATEST BATTLE IMPLEMENT EVER DEVISED.”” www.airsoftaction.net

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easily mass-produced replacement for the Thompson (much like the STEN, more of that later!), and began to enter front line service in 1944. Disparagingly referred to as the “Grease Gun” or simply “the Greaser,” owing to its visual similarity to the workshop tool, it was actually a solid design and worked well, which led to its continued service. The M3 was designed by ICS from scratch with careful attention to detail and quality, although it’s full auto only (as is the real thing), so it’s the ideal tool for sweeping and clearing, although where sites enforce a “no full auto” in buildings you may need to resort to your trusty 1911 when things get close! The ICS M3 offers great range, and despite the short it’s more than a match for most guns in the woods and definitely good for CQB where full-auto is allowed. Although for me the wood and metal mix of the Thompson still touches a place in my heart when it comes to WWII vintage airsoft replicas The Grease Gun may not be the prettiest AEG on the field but as Major Reisman says in “The Dirty Dozen”, “I never went in for embroidery, just results”! Now I’m not going to spend a lot of time here on the Kar98 or the SMLE as I’ve already done that in my main look at the two latest models from ARES in this issue, but I will say that there has never been a better time to look at these venerable bolt action models

than now! For sure the new ARES springers are thing of beauty, but in terms of the Lee Enfield you now actually have a choice between Redwolf and S&T, and G&G are STILL teasing us with their entry to this particular market! Likewise with the Kar98; the ARES is undoubtedly lovely, and as a spinger is simplicity itself to work on, but there’s other choices out there already! I personally love the G&G C02 model as it operates much like their Springfield, but if you fancy something a bit different The D Boys/Double Bell shell ejector may be the thing! Once again though I’d have to direct you to S&T for this rifle, as with a bit of fettling you can have a super K98 for under the UK£300 mark!

CROSSING OVER

Why did I call this sub-section “crossing over”? Well, it’s because of two of the most user-and-budgetfriendly WWII AEGs that share a commonality in magazines, and both of them are AGMs; of course what I’m talking about here is the MP40 and the STEN! Prior to 1941 the British War Department were purchasing all the Thompson submachine guns they could from the United States, but both cost and the entry of the USA themselves to the War meant an alternative had to be found! The Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, was commissioned to produce an alternative. The STEN name came from of names of the designers, R. V. Shepard and H. J. Turpin, and from the factory where they worked (Enfield Arsenal), and although the design was crude, ugly and simple (it was often described disparagingly as the “Plumbers Gun”!), it proved to be one of the single most effective submachine guns of WWII. However, if there’s one single WWII airsoft replica that you’re going to own I’m betting, like me, that it will be the German

“THE STEN NAME CAME FROM OF NAMES OF THE DESIGNERS, R. V. SHEPARD AND H. J. TURPIN, AND FROM THE FACTORY WHERE THEY WORKED (ENFIELD ARSENAL), AND ALTHOUGH THE DESIGN WAS CRUDE, UGLY AND SIMPLE (IT WAS OFTEN DESCRIBED DISPARAGINGLY AS THE “PLUMBERS GUN”!), IT PROVED TO BE ONE OF THE SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE SUBMACHINE GUNS OF WWII.” 56

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Maschinenpistole 40, or MP40! Commonly known to us all as “The Scehmeisser” it’s an iconic SMG that has graced the silver screen in many war movies, and filled the pages of our childhood comic books, probably with accompanying speech bubbles with unpolticatlly correct terms such as “Achtung!” and “Eat lead Tommy schweinhund!” I’ve been lucky enough to have had both the AGM STEN and MP40 in the armoury, and they are two airsoft replicas that I dearly regret selling; I also regret that to date I haven’t bought myself a North East STEN, but that’s another story entirely! I bought both the AGMs though as they were totally iconic WWII (and beyond!) firearms, and having played as “resistance” in my time they were sensible purchases and neither were too expensive, and they actually did share the very same magazines in airsoft guise! The AGM full metal STEN was a bit of a character and that’s no lie, and with no safety and full-auto only it had to be handled well wherever you were! Inside though, it was pretty interesting though, as it featured a modified M14-style gearbox with a modified motor cover-case, and a custom metal gearbox that had fully upgradeable, TM-compatible gears. The STEN chucked out BBs accurately to 30+m although I did tend to use .28s with it as lighter BBs had a tendency to “fly” no matter how you set the hop! The AGM MP40 was a totally different beastie, and I have to admit I still fancy another one! As I said earlier, the MP40 used the self-same 50 BB magazines as the STEN and mine performed flawlessly all the time I owned it. The AGM was basically a reinforced and redesigned version of the original Top MP40 from Japan, but with a price that was affordable, and performance that was more than acceptable! With full metal externals and reinforced high performance

internals and metal gearbox, the AGM was a real fire-breather, especially if you popped in an 11.1 LiPo (NOT recommended at all if you wanted your MP40 to last, but huge fun!). It was both a collector’s item and a skirmish ready AEG with endless upgrade possibilities; bog-standard though it was no slouch, kicking out .30g BBs again to 30+ metres. It was solid as a rock, even with the collapsible stock open, and I have to admit that is was genuinely one of those AEGs that I would just take out of the armoury and admire again and again! To round “usable AEGs” out I Have to mention a model that I will admit that I’ve never owned, but have tested thoroughly, and I’m sticking here with AGM in the form of their MP44, or StG44

“COMMONLY KNOWN TO US ALL AS “THE SCEHMEISSER” IT’S AN ICONIC SMG THAT HAS GRACED THE SILVER SCREEN IN MANY WAR MOVIES, AND FILLED THE PAGES OF OUR CHILDHOOD COMIC BOOKS, PROBABLY WITH ACCOMPANYING SPEECH BUBBLES WITH UNPOLTICATLLY CORRECT TERMS SUCH AS “ACHTUNG!” AND “EAT LEAD TOMMY SCHWEINHUND!”” www.airsoftaction.net

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(Sturmgewehr 44)! This in the “real world” was a German select-fire rifle developed in the mid/late years of WWII, and there’s quite a story about how it came into being in the first place! The MP44 was actually “the first successful and widely produced design to use a new shorter cartridge, which permitted controllable automatic fire from a weapon more compact than a battle rifle, coupled with the recognition that most aimed rifle fire in combat situations did not exceed a few hundred metres”. Of course, if rumour is true then it also helped form the template for a later design, that of Comrade Kalashnikov! The StG44 was certainly ahead of its time and allegedly users loved it! It certainly filled its role effectively, offering a greatly increased volume of fire compared to standard infantry rifles, and the same can be said for the AEG version! With a V2 gearbox and many reinforced parts, the AGM is a surprisingly well made metal replica; the metal used for production is mainly alloy and steel, and the butt, just like the real StG44, is made of wood and also acts as the battery compartment. On the range the ‘44 gave me very respectable performance, with pretty solid range and accuracy too. On 0.28g BBs and using just the iron sights, which are also easily adjustable, I was able to clang the Red Cell “steels” and group on paper reasonably at the limit of the 30m range! So, I’m nearly at the end of our look at “The Guns of D-Day”, and I’ll overlook one omission that SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS, and that’s an a 6mm “Fallschirmjagergewehr 42”; this was once on the VIVA ARMS “coming soon” list, but sadly never came, let alone “soon”. I’d

also be remiss if I didn’t at least give a nod to support guns… sadly these come under my personal heading of “hard to skirmish” with for a couple of reasons. Firstly, by and large they are EXPENSIVE; an S&T M1918 BAR will set you back UK£400-500 depending on where you buy it, but this pales into comparison when you look at the G&G MG42! Of course there are other makes out there like AGM, but their MG42 is somewhat “middling” and still nearly UK£500, and VIVA ARMS (if you can still find them!), with their M1919 .30 cal that’s almost £UK1,000 too! The other thing is their sheer bulk and weight!

“THE MP44 WAS ACTUALLY “THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL AND WIDELY PRODUCED DESIGN TO USE A NEW SHORTER CARTRIDGE, WHICH PERMITTED CONTROLLABLE AUTOMATIC FIRE FROM A WEAPON MORE COMPACT THAN A BATTLE RIFLE, COUPLED WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT MOST AIMED RIFLE FIRE IN COMBAT SITUATIONS DID NOT EXCEED A FEW HUNDRED METRES”. ” 58

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Having lugged various support AEGs around in my time, the thought these days of hauling 5-10kg of gun around, and indeed a gun that will not give me any major benefits over a regular AEG with a Hi Cap, is not one I relish! However, if you ARE immersing yourself in the period then of course one of these models, either AXIS or ALLIED, must be high on your wish-list, and in a game where most players will be using bolt-actions or AEGs with limited ammo loads a support gun will prove its weight in gold, although Jimmy has had some less-than-ideal experience with the AGM MG42 which I fely pertinent to include before I finish up; Jimmy told me: “I got my hands on the AGM due to it needing some much required maintenance as it was misfeeding… sorry, not feeding at all! Velocity was very poor and in general just sounded horrible. One thing though that was quickly apparent with it was its colossal presence; it’s a beast of a machine and when fully loaded with magazine and its large capacity of BBs it REALLY is heavy! Anyone running around with this all day deserves credit. Aesthetically stunning, it is a well-built platform from its large muzzle device right down to the fin shaped stock. “Designed with one thing in mind, ‘suppression’, the airsoft variant takes quite a beating and sadly AGM don’t use the best quality internal parts and they also adopted certain standards which don’t follow suit of other manufacturer’s parts which makes part sourcing a bit of a nightmare. When it works it is fun to use and due to its internal barrel being in excess of 700mm it is amazing the range you can get; most airsoft platforms similar to this have much shorter barrels and can’t find the same range. I’ll be looking at solving a number of issues in this particular AEG and will bring you my full report on it next month… suffice to say that it’s a shame that a platform with the price tag it carries has so many issues,

issues quite frankly that should never of been there in the first place!” I, and the members of Red Cell, hope that you’ve enjoyed our look at some of our favourite AEGs and GBBs for “Normandy” games, and we hope that for those of you just coming into airsoft that this will give you a real “heads up” for what’s available if you fancy trying something just a bit different in 6mm form! Please remember that WWII AEGs and GBBs recreate a very specific era of warfare, and if you do decide that this is for you, then please play this type of scenario with the greatest of respect for the memory of all those soldiers like my father who fought so we could actually have the freedoms to play the games we do! Please note: All archive images featured found in the public domain. AA Red Cell is supported by:

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ARMOURY HISTORIC PISTOL MODELS

PISTOLS OF D-DAY!

CONTINUING OUR SPECIAL JUNE ISSUE THEME OF WEAPONS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED BY THE OPPOSING FORCES ON D-DAY, BILL AND STEWBACCA HEAD INTO HANDGUN TERRITORY, AND EVERYONE LOVES A PISTOL, DON’T THEY? THEY NOW DELVE INTO THEIR PERSONAL COLLECTIONS AND BACK IN TIME TO FOCUS A NUMBER OF FAMOUS, AND INDEED INFAMOUS, MODELS THAT WOULD ADD PERFECTLY TO ANY “NORMANDY” LOADOUT! 62

JULY 2022

ARMOURY HISTORIC PISTOL MODELS

n Red Cell this month we’ve had a good look at the primary weapons of the Allied and Axis forces and hopefully given you all some inspiration for creating a WWII “Normandy Loadout” at least in relation to the replicas out there, and in THE CAGE I hope we’ve addressed to a degree just how you can think about putting that loadout together. But everybody does love a sidearm, and in a world of blocky “tacticool” models it’s actually a joy to look back to an age where elegance of firearm design still had a place in the military armoury! In the handgun world at the start of the 20th century developers and engineers were constantly striving to find something new like the Luger, Borchardt C-93, and Mauser C96 but most nations officers and fledgling “SF” still relied on the tried and tested revolver or “wheelgun”. Pistols like those from Webley & Scott, Enfield, Colt, Smith & Wesson, and the Lebel to name just a few would have been present in the hands of the combatants in Normandy, but the newer “semi-autos” were very much in evidence by 1944 too. Of course WWII was the “War of the SMG” and the semi-auto, and many would have course have had one of the “newer” pistols at their side, especially the Axis troops. Although the Borchardt C-93 was pretty much long gone by this time, the Luger and the Mauser would have seen action, joined by the Walther P38. On the opposing side would have been the venerable Colt M1911, and both sides fielded a version of the 9mm Browning! The Browning Hi-Power or “GP” (for the French term, “Grande Puissance”) pistols were actually used during World War II by both Allied and Axis forces! During their “Blitzkrieig” through the Low Countries German forces took over the FN plant in 1940, and German troops began to be issued the Hi-Power as the “Pistole 640(b)”. Browning pistols were also produced in Canada by John Inglis and Company in Toronto; the plans were sent from the FN factory to the UK when it became clear the Belgian plant would fall into German hands, enabling the Inglis factory to be tooled up for Browning production for Allied use. Inglis produced two versions of the Hi-Power, one with an adjustable rear sight and detachable

shoulder stock (primarily for a Nationalist Chinese contract) and one with a fixed rear sight. The pistol was popular with the British airborne forces as well as covert operations and commando groups such as the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the British Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment. Now we’ve written about the WE Browning on many occasions recently so we won’t go into depth about the airsoft replica again, but suffice to say it’s a very troubled soul! Of the models I’ve personally owned the magazines have been lacklustre, and the pistols themselves are fragile internally and prone to breaking quite easily… of the two models I’ve owned my first “Canadian” was sent back to be replaced (the replacement is still working thankfully!) and the Mk3 is currently with Jimmy as he tries to find some durability solutions, and we WILL report back on this in due course.

“OF COURSE WWII WAS THE “WAR OF THE SMG” AND THE SEMI-AUTO, AND MANY WOULD HAVE COURSE HAVE HAD ONE OF THE “NEWER” PISTOLS AT THEIR SIDE, ESPECIALLY THE AXIS TROOPS. ALTHOUGH THE BORCHARDT C-93 WAS PRETTY MUCH LONG GONE BY THIS TIME, THE LUGER AND THE MAUSER WOULD HAVE SEEN ACTION, JOINED BY THE WALTHER P38.” www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY HISTORIC PISTOL MODELS

ALLIED

Rather more robust in airsoft form, the Colt M1911 pistol really needs no introduction as it’s the basis for a whole family of airsoft replicas that we all know and love, but to recap in this context it was formally adopted by the US Army on March 29, 1911, when it was designated Model of 1911, later changed to Model 1911 in 1917, and then M1911 in the mid1920s, and it’s a pistol model that is still going to this day and shows no sign of stopping!

With over 100 years of service history under its belt the “1911” is a true classic that is a pleasure to own and shoot, both in airsoft and “real deal” form. I’ve had my current WE 1911 “classic” for over ten years now, and after many games and many, many range sessions it still functions perfectly, even if I have had to replace the original magazine. Like the real thing, the WE is a thoroughly reliable and durable sidearm that’s a joy to own! Staying with the Allied forces there is, of course, one throwback to the pre-WWII era that was very much in Action in Normandy, and that’s the Webley revolver beloved of the British! Other models like the Enfield were of course there too, but for some reason

it’s the Webley that sticks in my mind! The official service pistol for the British Army during WWII was actually the Enfield No. 2 Mk I .38/200 calibre revolver, but because manufacture of the Enfield hadn’t caught up with demand a number of other pistols were also adopted meet the shortfall. As a result, the Webley

Mk IV in .38/200 and Webley Mk VI in .455 calibre were issued during the war. The Webley’s were robust and powerful weapons (in fact it’s said that the Webley .455 service pistols were among the most powerful break-action revolvers ever produced!), and they gave excellent service throughout WWII and beyond! Marushin did produce the Enfield No.2 MK1 as a “Giga Maxi Weight” model but I must admit that I’ve never had my hands on one of those! I’ve tried a number of different airsoft versions of the Webley though, and although you can still find a range of different models from WinGun I’ve always found these a little fragile and slightly insipid in their performance. Another model, a MKVI, was produced under the Enfield brand a few years back and these were much better, but my current favourite of the “Webley” replicas is that from of all brands, WELL that came to me by way of iWholesales! This is a CO2driven, break-top replica that’s actually a real pleasure

“I’VE HAD MY CURRENT WE 1911 “CLASSIC” FOR OVER TEN YEARS NOW, AND AFTER MANY GAMES AND MANY, MANY RANGE SESSIONS IT STILL FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY, EVEN IF I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL MAGAZINE. LIKE THE REAL THING, THE WE IS A THOROUGHLY RELIABLE AND DURABLE SIDEARM THAT’S A JOY TO OWN!”

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ARMOURY HISTORIC PISTOL MODELS

to shoot and is reasonably accurate and easy to work on, and best of all, IT’S CHEAP! It’s an affordable and eminently pleasing take on the old campaigner that I’d urge anyone to check out!

AXIS

Although I’ve had experience with both the WE Luger and the WE C96 I’ll hand over to Stewbacca now to bring a different “voice” to this article!

could be done, and the long barrel and fast operating action with its curt recoil impulse and relatively small low mass bolt makes it akin to an AAP01 with the lack of moving top slide in terms of its rapid cycle time, especially when you depress the locking button on the right hand side and rotate the fire selector to the fully automatic position! The select fire true ‘machine pistol’ sidearm is obviously a little odd feeling in the hand for those used to a modern semi-automatic, with the “broomhandle” feeling a little odd in its shape and with the bore axis and majority of the weight sitting very high above the grip, but it remains surprisingly consistent and accurate; I actually ran it better on one of the IPSC runs than my PPQ! Again, it’s a little odd to field, especially with the specific holster that my friend Kevin included with it; there are shorter flush fit magazines available but he only lent me the longer type so I was unable to holster it loaded, meaning a bit of a clunky draw the gun, draw a magazine and load it affair. But, it’s still very good at throwing BBs downrange and looks the part right enough. As Bill rightly said about the Colt 1911, the Luger P08 also should need little introduction! The Pistole-

The Mauser C96 (Construktion 96) was and extremely unique semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced by German gun-maker Mauser from 1896 to 1937, and it had a distinctive integral box magazine in front of the trigger, a long barrel, and even a wooden shoulder stock accessory which doubled-up as a holster or carrying case, and an unusual grip that earned the gun the nickname “broomhandle”! The WETech “712” is their GBB replica of the “Broomhandle” Mauser C96, the detachable box magazine fed variant historically popular with officers in Germany and mainland China alike back in the early 1900s and related conflicts. I’d already dabbled with using it at an Action Air session just to see if it

“ORIGINALLY PRODUCED BY GERMAN GUN-MAKER MAUSER FROM 1896 TO 1937, ...IT HAD A DISTINCTIVE INTEGRAL BOX MAGAZINE IN FRONT OF THE TRIGGER, A LONG BARREL, AND EVEN A WOODEN SHOULDER STOCK ACCESSORY WHICH DOUBLED-UP AS A HOLSTER OR CARRYING CASE, AND AN UNUSUAL GRIP THAT EARNED THE GUN THE NICKNAME “BROOMHANDLE”! ” www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY HISTORIC PISTOL MODELS

Parabellum to give the Luger its proper nomenclature, was a semi-automatic self-loading pistol patented by Georg Luger in 1898 and was manufactured by DWM from 1901 onwards. Interestingly though the first country to adopt Lugers for military use though was Switzerland, not Germany, as the Model 1900 was adopted by the Swiss, chambered for the 7.65mm Parabellum round! Replicas of the Luger pistol are still being produced today. It has been popularised through its use by Germany during World War I and World War II, especially in the movie world, though it was also used by many other countries. As a firearm “icon” the creation of Herr Georg Luger is certainly up there with the best, and in relation to “Pistols of D-Day” it’s a must-have if you’re going the “Heer” route! The WETech Luger P08 GBB was something I just had to have as a firearms enthusiast (and I know that Bill agrees as he has the longer “artillery” model in his collection!), as it is really the earliest successful semi-automatic pistol and has an immediately recognisable, distinctive, grip angle and outline, with its toggle locking action, which is faithfully replicated and operates in the original manner. It’s certainly a nicely finished piece and anyone who appreciates the checkered history of it will enjoy the replica, however practically speaking I’d relegate this to a holster filler; the action has never been particularly consistent in my experience, and the magazines are so thin and small that their ammunition and gas capacity are somewhat limited, with the gun rarely finishing a full load of BBs for a full load of gas. The hop unit and action seem to throw rounds downrange a little oddly or inconsistently. As with the WE Browning, the action must also be cocked prior to insertion of the magazine due to an oddity of the copied internal system that results in a damaged spring and sear system if the magazine is pushed in with the ‘hammer down’ so to speak. Good enough for the look of it, and the historical aspect and aesthetic coupled with the odd toggle locking action, but I wouldn’t rely on it to actually do anything practical with it as a sidearm besides a holster-filler for visual purposes! And now I’ll hand this back to Bill… One pistol remains in our round-up of suitable

D-Day sidearms and that’s one that I personally love, the Walther P38! The 9mm P38 was accepted by the German military in 1938 (hence the name!)

but production of prototype pistols did not begin in reality until late 1939. Walther began manufacture at their plant in Zella-Mehlis, and developed the P38 as the service pistol of the Wehrmacht to replace the costly Luger P08. The P38 was a cutting edge semiautomatic pistol design, which introduced technical features still used today, and as such it’s fully worthy of being the last pistol in this list of legends! This follows a bit of a theme as the P38 I own is a fabulous little replica made by WETech again! It’s a solid, full metal replica with a fully functional GBB system that totally mimics the real thing (and I know this as I’ve fired the 9mm!) and a great recoil impulse that really adds to a feeling of realism. The frame, front sight, slide, slide stop, barrel, rear sight, safety, hammer, magazine catch and magazine all made of metal, and only the pistol grip panels are made of plastic, so it feels “real” too! Although it’s a little “clunky” in operation, and mine struggles to empty the magazine completely on a single fill, it IS accurate and if you need to deliver a few BBs to target as a last-ditch move then you know that they’re going to

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ARMOURY HISTORIC PISTOL MODELS

go exactly where you aim them! All of the pistols that we’ve listed here are undoubtedly things of beauty and have earned their place in the annals of firearms history! Many of the models have had a direct influence on the modern pistols that we use today, and whether you use one to play airsoft with, or simply have them in your collection, they are all immense fun to own and shoot. Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, if you want a pistol as part of a “Normandy Loadout” then these days you have a choice, and you can easily find historically correct holsters for all of the models we’ve spoken about here too! We hope that you’ve enjoyed something a little different this month, and that for players old and new it may open up even more new “airsoft possibilities”! AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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TECHNICAL ULTIMA MG42

ULTIMA SUPPORT!

WWI-ERA AIRSOFT REPLICAS, BOTH AEGS AND GBBS CAN BE HUGELY TREASURED ITEMS, AND KEEPING WITH OUR WWII THEME IN THIS MONTH’S AIRSOFT ACTION, DAN TAKES AN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL LOOK AT A RARE BIRD INDEED, THE ULTIMA MG42!

ven in its heyday, Ultima was a relatively unknown and obscure company, producing just a handful of models mainly of the MG42 variety, but also the Sturmgewehr MP44 and MG3. In 2022, you will be hard pressed to find evidence of their former existence now. This particular example has passed a few hands before being graciously loaned to me by my friend for this article. The 70

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original owner was a US serviceman stationed in Japan and purchased this from a local shop and brought it back with him when he returned to the states. From there, it found its way into the hands of a WWII enthusiast who eventually hung up his spurs and sold it to my friend for a song and a dance. There are scarcely any details regarding this unique AEG, save for what little references can be gleaned

TECHNICAL ULTIMA MG42

from scouring the dark recesses of the Internet and mostly defunct collector’s forums. The Ultima MG42 was not entirely produced by Ultima; it actually uses a Shoei of Japan body. But where it departs heavily from the Shoei is in the AEG conversion department. Inside you will find a custom CNC machined AEG gearbox and arguably one of the weirdest arrangement of internals that could be the only result from the unholy trinity of a Steyr AUG, RC servos and inspiration from ICS. It is unknown how many examples of the Ultima MG42 were actually produced, but I’ve seen some anecdotal remarks that less than 100 to 200 examples were made. Owing to age and the inevitable breakdown of parts, this particular MG42 is no longer stock. From what I have gathered, and depending on the

version, these would have normally been fitted with either Tokyo Marui or Systema gears and powered by the now-ancient Marui EG700 motor. The only website still carrying a product listing is DEN Trinity shop in Hong Kong where these have been out of stock for years. Retail price would have been US$1800 - US$2350 depending on whether it was the “standard” or “deluxe” version. Spare drum magazines fetched a princely sum of US$290 apiece. Aside from gears and presumably some other internal changes, the main difference between the two versions is the standard shot in the nature of 0.63 – 0.68J (260 – 270 FPS), whereas the deluxe was likely intended for export and had a higher velocity of 1.49J (400 FPS.)

REAL DEAL AND REPLICA

used here. The bipod, sights, charging handle, stock mount, barrel change door and more are all real steel components. Even the drum magazine has been converted from a real MG42 drum! Once you pop open the dust cover you begin to get a glimpse of the oddities concealed inside. To get a full appreciation of the peculiarities of this AEG, we need to start with the magazine first. As it is converted from a real MG42 drum, the magazine is perhaps one of the best feeling and most solidly constructed drums one might encounter in airsoft. It has a 1600 BB capacity and is operated by a continuous-rotation RC style servomotor operating a

Despite its impressive size, this MG42 is deceptively well balanced at 7.57kg (16.7 lbs.) with the drum magazine and steel bipod affixed, owing largely to the mostly 2.9mm aluminum body construction and good weight distribution. The grip panels and stock are actually made from ABS, which have been cleverly painted to mimic real wood in a manner that would make Tokyo Marui blush with envy. This was not how they were normally outfitted from Ultima, but rather was a bespoke touch from the former owner. Whether through original design or addition, there are a number of real MG42 parts

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TECHNICAL ULTIMA MG42

feeder assembly that looks borrowed from the M240 design. The servomotor is powered off the gun, so technically it’s designed to feed and fire in sync, as opposed to requiring the end user to constantly work a switch like a hi-cap magazine. Contrary to typical LMG/GPMG airsoft designs, this does not feed directly into the hop up chamber. Rather, it pours BB’s in from above into a hopper through a spring-steel Bowden tube. From there,

brand AUG hop up chamber fitted. It is arguably the most byzantine and unnecessarily complicated feeding mechanisms I have personally seen. There is certainly room enough to have just fitted a direct-feed system and skipped all the complication. Due to relatively low speed of the servomotors, the feed and cyclic rates are always at odds with one another. It is possible that the drum mag will actually overfill the hopper faster than the ability of the paddle to feed BB’s into the hop up chamber. This can induce a state where the BB’s get packed into the hopper too tight and the paddle starts slipping on the O-ring and fails to feed. As such, rather than try to perform long strings of sustained fire, the optimal method of use is to fire short controlled bursts instead. With good trigger discipline, you can get to the bottom of the drum magazine without issue. There is a large square-cut window on the underside of the body, which is there to help facilitate assembly and disassembly. Unfortunately, this also

the BB’s fall into a CNC machined feeder assembly that looks similar to a much abbreviated version of the Cyclone paddles found in the Tippmann A5 paintball marker. This “paddle” is powered by yet another RC servomotor that spins the paddle via an O-ring stretched over a brass pulley. The paddle then

pushes the BB’s into a single-track channel that’s been machined into part of the gearbox shell. This channel curves towards the back of the gun before making a vertical rise up and into the bottom of the hop up chamber, which is based off the Tokyo Marui AUG design. In this case, it has what I believe is a G&P 72

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means the bottom pulley and O-ring are exposed to the elements or inopportune objects that might dislodge the O-ring from the pulley; the latter has actually happened once during an event. And let me tell you… it’s a pain to try and reinstall that O-ring in the field without tools and a dental pick handy! The inner barrel is of an unknown brand and measures 565mm long and is a 6.01 diameter bore. It’s also free-floating the entire length, save for a plastic support that near the end of the crown. The outer barrel is a large-diameter thin metal tube that is retained via a friction fit. There’s a chintzy little aluminum retainer that’s designed to fit over the hopup chamber and keep it pressed against the gearbox plate. The fit is so poor that the previous owner used some heat shrink to take up the slop. Obviously, this setup is anything but precision. Interestingly, I have

TECHNICAL ULTIMA MG42

found the best method to removing the outer and inner barrel assemblies is through the barrel-change door on the receiver.

UPDATING AN OLD WARHORSE!

Moving over to the gearbox proper, this is a beastly bit of overbuilt CNC machined aluminum that has a lot of extra material that mostly exists to fill in voids within the receiver. This has a quick-change spring guide assembly, which can be conveniently accessed through the back of the receiver when the buttstock is removed. ICS fans will notice that it’s also a split-style gearbox, where the upper component houses the compression parts and the lower houses the gears and motor.

Inside we find an AUG length air nozzle, followed by a conventional mix of V2 compression parts and gears. The previous owner had at some point outfitted this with some old-school Super Shooter 32:1 gears and half-rack steel piston. It was also sporting a Guarder Bore-Up cylinder, silent-type mushroom piston head and bore up nozzle. There was also a V 3 tappet plate installed, which I assume was done on the mistaken assumption that since the AUG

system uses a V3 gearbox, this should follow suit. On the contrary, a V2 tappet plate is what is required in this gun. All of this was gutted out when the gun

received a “modernization update”, including the original wiring loom, which was quite mangled and in dire need of replacement. Presently, this has been equipped with a Warhead brushless motor, 16 AWG low-resistance Alphawire Ecowire, SHS 18.65:1 gears, Angel Custom KRATOS piston, a ZCI stainless steel cylinder, a Lonex POM Piston head, Guarder tappet plate, and a 70D AirPad and Lonex double O-ring cylinder head. There’s an unusual brass ring that acts as the frontface of the gearbox and indexing point for the hop up chamber. This actually is an unfortunate design misstep as it leaves the entirety of the front of the cylinder head unsupported, which causes all the stress from the piston impacting the cylinder head to transfer directly into the cylinder lugs. At some point in the past this caused both of the original aluminum lugs to shear completely off. In a conventional V2 gearbox, this would have been a “kill shot” and meant scraping the shell. But fortunately with this shell there is enough material thickness and clearances that I was able to install a set of thick steel screws coming in from the exterior of the shell to act as replacement lugs for the cylinder head. The grip frame is a clamshell design that can be separated to reveal the motor, bushings, and gearset. This is also where the trigger switch is found. There is no manual safety on this gun or any means of rendering it incapable of firing other than disconnecting the battery. The safety is actually cosmetic in function only and does not move or operate. Years ago, when I first received this gun in for repair, we were having issues with it burning through the trigger switches. The original switch type used had a very low 2.5-amp rating for what the system is typically pulling. I managed to track down some switches of the same footprint that had a higher 10-amp rating, and this seemed to mostly solve the problem. Still, these switches are inadequate for the realities of airsoft use. Thusly, for serious use, one would benefit from the efficiencies and large amperage reduction a brushless motor would bring to the table. The Ultima MG42 is a unique and interesting historical curiosity in the footnotes of airsoft history. As they go, MG42’s of any variety are relatively rare to spot on the field and fewer still will have heard of Ultima, much less it’s shared parentage with Shoei. Owing to the age and its rather peculiar design, it may not be as eminently skirmishable or as reliable as more modern designs, but there’s no denying that there is an intrinsic charm in stretching the legs on this old warhorse from time to time! AA www.airsoftaction.net

FEATURE NORMANDY TOUR FOR AIRSOFTERS

OVERLORDING IT!

IT MAY HAVE BECOME APPARENT FOR REGULAR READERS OF AIRSOFT ACTION THAT BILL IS SOMEWHAT OF A MILITARY HISTORIAN, AND AS WELL AS HAVING PLAYED AIRSOFT FOR MANY YEARS, HIS TRAVELS HAVE TAKEN HIM TO MANY HISTORICAL BATTLEFIELDS ALL OVER THE WORLD! HE NOW SHARES HIS EXPERIENCES OF VISITING NORMANDY AND GIVES SOME POINTERS FOR IF YOU WISH TO VISIT THE D DAY BEACHES YOURSELF!

JULY 2022

FEATURE NORMANDY TOUR FOR AIRSOFTERS

’ve written in Red Cell this month about the journey I made to retrace the footsteps of my father on 6th June 1944, but of course all of us are the sum of two parents, and whilst the story of my dad may be more pertinent to this Issue of Airsoft Action, the fact is that my mother was a history teacher, and she instilled in a me a strong adherence to the principles of When, Where, How and, probably most importantly, Why when it comes to putting history in context. Of course when it comes to D Day I know without any shadow of a doubt the “Where, When and Why” but it’s the “How” that fascinates me and continues to intrigue me to this day, and I’ve travelled to Normandy many times, both on my own and with my wife and wider family over the years to find out more, always more… I’m lucky that my wife understands both my passion for airsoft and my fascination with all things “military history”, and over the years we’ve developed what we refer to as our “Outdoor/Gastro/ History Tours”; in essence this means that we head somewhere on vacation to enjoy being in the big outdoors, eating great local food, and for me at least feeding my inner truth-seeker. It’s a good model, and one that I’m lucky enough to have experienced with someone very special. Our last visit to Normandy was pre-pandemic, summer 2019 and as I said before it was a very special trip for me, and it really concentrated my thoughts on how I could best tell the tale of D Day to my younger relatives. Some of you may have undertaken a similar trip, but when recently I was speaking to Tom at NUPROL he expressed to me that he would love to visit the places and sites that he’d seen on-screen in TV series and games, places like Carentan and Sainte-Mère-Église… Sometimes I fear that some of you young ‘uns out there may have lost the spirit of true adventure that I had when I was your age, and then one of you comes along and says “I’d love to see THAT place, and I WILL!” So, with Tom in mind, and yes, I’ve already loaned him some books and maps (Michelin 102 “Battle Of Normandy” is a must-have!) to help him plan his own trip to Normandy, so I’ve put together this little “crib sheet” of good places to visit that I hope may give some of you a starting point in your own “Normandy Adventure”. I tend to drive down to

Normandy and therefore tend to begin my journey at the SWORD Beach end near Ouisterham and then head along the coast to Cherbourg over the course of a week, but in fairness you can do the route in either direction. On most of my journeys through Normandy I have camped, and there are great campsites a-plenty along the coastal route, although last time with my extended family we stayed in a rather grand mini-chateau in the super little town of Douvresla-Délivrande. There’s also a bakery and traiteur in every town and village (pretty much!) and remember that Normandy is the land of cider, calvados, Pontl’Évêque, Livarot, Neufchâtel and Camembert cheeses, Andouille de Vire, meadow-salted lamb, and Marmite Dieppoise… no, not THAT kind of marmite, look it up! In my opinion a trip to Normandy, to visit the museums, memorials and the landing beaches themselves is an odyssey that should be made by any self-respecting airsofter that has any interest at all in military history, but trust me when I say that I’m certain that when you’ve been once you’ll discover that there is much more to see and experience than one visit will allow… Perhaps I’ll see you along the D Day Route one day as I am sure to return now that things are back to some normality!

PACKING IT IN!

I’ve tried here to give a sensible selection of museums and memorials, one that is in no way complete or exhaustive, you could happily see in a long weekend, but in reality would be better visited over a week with some other activities thrown in! With many of the venues you can now access all information on your smartphone via QR Codes inside the museums, or indeed take part in numerous interactive tours.

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FEATURE NORMANDY TOUR FOR AIRSOFTERS

THE PEGASUS MEMORIAL MUSEUM https://musee.memorial-pegasus.com The Pegasus Memorial Museum, located between Caen and the sea, tells the story of when the very first liberators from the British 6th Airborne Division landed on the night of the 5th to the 6th of June 1944. Period documents, films and objects, along with guided tours of the museum, of Pegasus Bridge and of the reproduction of a WWII glider. If you hit this museum early in the day, then the Café Gondrée across the street serves a very good coffee and pastries! Address: 1 Avenue du Major Howard, 14860 RANVILLE THE NUMBER 4 COMMANDO MUSEUM https://www.musee-4commando.fr This is located in Ouistreham where Allied forces landed at SWORD Beach and deals with landings in the regions of Calvados and Cotentin and, above all, the destiny of the 177 French Navy fighters who, integrated into British troops, were representative of the French forces that took part in Operation Overlord! Address: Place Alfred Thomas, 14150 Ouistreham THE D DAY MUSEUM https://www.arromanches-museum.com/ The official website tells me that “Ten years after the Allied forces landed, an exhibition was set up in Arromanches, and inaugurated by President of the French Republic, René Coty. It’s the first D-Day museum that recounts June 6, 1944, with the objective of commemorating the Battle at Normandy” This is still one of my favourite museums to visit as both the main exhibition and the surroundings are constantly updated. It’s also the place to get up close and personal with the remains of the “Mulberry Harbour”, and within the museum itself is a fabulously detailed scale model of the harbour in all its glory along with some super static weapon, uniform and equipment displays! Address: Place du Six Juin 1944, 14117 Arromanchesles-Bains THE D-DAY SHIPWRECK MUSEUM www.dday-overlord.com What made D Day so unique was its amphibious nature, where troops arrived in many different highly specialized boats and landing craft. Unfortunately, some of these craft didn’t make it to the coastline, and artillery, vehicles and tanks all became wreckage without ever having even landed. The D Day 76

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Shipwreck Museum displays these artefacts that have been reclaimed from the sea. Port-en-Bessin itself is a “must visit” as it lies between OMAHA Beach to the west in the American V Corps sector, and GOLD Beach to the east in the British XXX Corps sector. An objective during Operation Overlord, the fortified port was captured by No. 47 (Royal Marine) Commando of the 4th Special Service Brigade, and subsequently fuel was supplied through the small port by coastal tankers to support the advance into Normandy until the PLUTO system could come fully online. This is now a lovely little harbour town to either stop at, or indeed stay overnight in as there are numerous well-priced hotels, and some VERY fine restaurants; the Bar de la Criée at the top of the main street overlooking the harbour serves particularly fine “steak frites” Address: Route de Bayeux 14520, Commes – Port-enBessin THE OVERLORD MUSEUM www.overlordmuseum.com The Overlord Museum was a new one for me when I visited in 2019, and it’s SO worth visiting! Named after the code-name for the Battle of Normandy, this D Day museum is particularly impressive with its full-scale displays of the armies who fought on the battlefield. There’s also a REALLY good café and even a gift shop selling Warlord games wargame miniatures… I couldn’t resist picking up some Commonwealth Infantry and a Universal (BREN Gun) Carrier for my own WWII games! Address: Lotissement Omaha Center, 14710 Collevillesur-Mer THE OMAHA BEACH MEMORIAL MUSEUM www.musee-memorial-omaha.com OMAHA Beach is one of the beaches on which American, Canadian, English and French troops landed on June 6, 1944, and sadly it’s on this beach that the largest number of casualties were taken by the Allied forces, so many in fact that it was nicknamed as “Bloody Omaha”. It’s a slightly more sobering visit, but there’s a wealth of information about the technicalities of the landings themselves, so it’s well worth the time. Address: Avenue de la Libération 14710, SaintLaurent-sur-mer POINTE DU HOC MEMORIAL www.abmc.gov/Pointe-du-Hoc As airsofters The Pointe Du Hoc Memorial probably

FEATURE NORMANDY TOUR FOR AIRSOFTERS

has most direct resonance as it commemorates the “small unit action” by the American Second Ranger Battalion who fought there on 6 June 1944 as part of the D-Day landings in World War Two. Pointe Du Hoc overlooks OMAHA Beach, which was a vital landing point for Allied troops during the D-Day operation. Led by Lieutenant Colonel James E. Rudder, the Second Ranger Battalion of Army Rangers was tasked with capturing German artillery at Pointe Du Hoc to ensure the safety of the troops landing on the beaches below. During the American assault of Omaha and Utah beaches, these U.S. Army Rangers scaled the 100foot cliffs and seized the German artillery pieces that could have fired on the American landing troops at OMAHA and UTAH beaches. This is a very open memorial site best visited on a fine day, but it is 100% worth it as you’ll be able to walk amongst the remains of the fortifications (especially the quite unique “tobruks”), and standing by the memorial itself you’ll get a true idea of the amazing achievement of those brave Rangers… not a place to stand if you suffer from vertigo! Address: 14450 Cricqueville-en-Bessin

the image of the US paratrooper hanging from the church spire (he’s still there in dummy form!) at the very centre of the town is The Airborne Museum, and this has become the largest museum in Europe dedicated to the American paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne engaged in the Normandy invasion! With aircraft and glider displays alongside many fabulous static displays of uniforms, weapons and gear, the museum now also offers a host of interactive exhibits to really make a visit quite spectacular and memorable; if you’re heading back to Cherbourg to catch a ferry, then this makes a fabulous end to a roadtrip! Address: 14 rue Eisenhower, 50480 Sainte-MèreEglise. AA

MUSEUMS IN CARENTAN “Dead Man’s Corner” https://dday-experience.com Of course “Carentan” will be a name familiar with any of you who have watched “Band of Brothers”, and it’s an important stop on any tour of D Day Normandy! In or around Carentan you’ll find “The D Day Experience”, “The Normandy Tank Museum”, and “The Normandy Victory Museum” amongst other interesting points of note. My favourite though, if I can call it that, is “Dead Man’s Corner” as this unprepossessing house was actually the HQ of the German paratroopers; it’s here that the 6th German parachute infantry regiment, nicknamed the “Green Devils”, fought for three days against the American paratroopers of the 101stAirborne Division. It’s now a museum dedicated to those paratroopers so actually shows a different side to the conflict. Visit this small museum to discover the story and to check out a unique and authentic collection of memorabilia. Address: 2 Village de l’Amont, 50500 Carentan-lesMarais THE AIRBORNE MUSEUM www.airborne-museum.org Again, who could know anything about D Day and not have heard of Sainte-Mère-Église? Famous for

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TOKYO MARUI

L119A2 CUSTOM BUILD

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ARMOURY AW CUSTOM VX9

SHORT AND SHARP!

WHEN IT COMES TO COMPACT HANDGUNS, BILL IS AN ABSOLUTE FAN AND HE’S ALWAYS GOT HIS EYES OPEN FOR ANYTHING NEW IN THIS CATEGORY! WHEN HE GOT THE CHANCE TO CHECK OUT ONE OF THE LATEST FROM ARMORER WORKS, YOU CAN BET THAT HE WAS VERY HAPPY TO GET THEIR CUSTOM VX9 ON THE RANGE!

may have mentioned before that I do love a short, compact,

small-frame handgun, especially when it comes to airsoft where performance is not governed by the round used, but by the efficiency of the gas system! Whereas “IRL” you generally need a physically larger frame and slide to handle bigger and more poweful rounds, in one particular way all (current) airsoft pistols are equal in that they all fire a 6mm BB. Whilst some may like the look and the “intimidation factor” of a Deagle or a Mk23, the fact is that they fire the same BB as an airsoft derringer, and whilst I don’t like to go THAT small, I see little point in encumbering myself with a dirty great hand-cannon when a well-tuned and well

“I “MAY” HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT MY APPROACH TO A “SECONDARY” IS EXACTLY THAT, IT’S SECONDARY TO MY PRIMARY LONG-GUN, AND IT’S GENERALLY ONLY WHEN THE SAUSAGE BUTTER MELTS THAT I EVEN REALLY BEGIN TO THINK OF TRANSITIONING TO MY PISTOL”

JULY 2022

ARMOURY AW CUSTOM VX9

set-up semi-auto “compact” will give me the same overall result. Again, I “may” have mentioned before that my approach to a “secondary” is exactly that, it’s secondary to my primary long-gun, and it’s generally only when the sausage butter melts that I even really begin to think of transitioning to my pistol. Okay, I practice regularly with my pistols because a) if I have to use one in-game I need to be effective with it (as the situation is probably dire…) and b) I actually love shooting handguns! Regular AA readers will probably recall too that I’ve always, up until the last couple of years, been a dyed-in-thewool “Glock” (or a “not” a Glock if you’d prefer) man when it comes to my personal airsoft sidearm, although of late I have been lured back to Hi Capas. For a number of reasons a “Glock” still sings to me though as it’s the secondary of choice for many military and police units so it has that little sense of being “real”, and it just so happens to be the make of pistol I once owned myself, a G17 in 9mm. Sadly being back in the UK these days I can no longer own a real handgun, so having the “same model chambered for” 6mm BBs is as good as it gets! Now as much as I like a 9mm G17 in real life, and would head back to that immediately if I were somewhere that I could carry “real”, when I attend a skirmish day it’s not a life and death situation, and when it comes to getting many, many BBs downrange in quick time anything that does that seems to suit me well, especially the latest generations of GBB that seem to fill your hand and deliver BBs with great gusto and a real thump in your hand. The latest “Not Glocks” that I’m seeing, just like in the real world, have moved on considerably in terms of design, and although they still retain the classic feature and control set there’s a lot more to them these days, isn’t there? Although they still retain the classic feature set, acknowledged to still be one

of the best around, their overall design means that they’ve been reinforced, tweaked,

ported, vented, lightened, and made more “ergonomic” or extremely functional with highly efficient gas systems. Some models to me seem to be out and out fighting irons whilst others have an aesthetic that could almost be described as elegant and even artistic if such a thing is possible for a replica firearm!

PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Amongst the manufacturers that are really playing with longevity of design, hedging their bets at both ends of the “form V function” debate is Armorer Works (AW). These days AW are no longer the “new kid on the block” as they’ve been around for a few years (they launched in 2015 is memory serves correct) and their products have developed an almost cultlike following worldwide. New models are eagerly anticipated, and seem to be snapped up as soon as they arrive in store; drawing inspiration from the real shooting world, AW pistols are made with precision slides coupled with custom-level looks, AW pistols seem to give their owners something a step above the average GBB, and certainly pleasure and pride in

“THE CLASSIC FEATURE SET, ACKNOWLEDGED TO STILL BE ONE OF THE BEST AROUND, (AND) THEIR OVERALL DESIGN MEANS THAT THEY’VE BEEN REINFORCED, TWEAKED, PORTED, VENTED, LIGHTENED, AND MADE MORE “ERGONOMIC” OR EXTREMELY FUNCTIONAL WITH HIGHLY EFFICIENT GAS SYSTEMS”

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ARMOURY AW CUSTOM VX9

ownership! AW’s apparent flair for the unusual yet functional means you are presented with great-looking, greatfeeling products straight out of the box, fully loaded with parts that you would usually have to add yourself as expensive after-market additions and upgrades. However, it would appear that these enhancements aren’t just for show, as AW scrutinise every detail that goes into one of their creations, improving the appearance, efficiency, performance, and usability. I have shot a fair few Armorer Works pistols over the years, and they’ve all been very nice, both in the way they look and the way they perform. I’ve looked at some and gone “I love it!” whilst I’ve looked at others and thought “what the hell were they on when they designed THAT?” but in fairness the former has most definitely outweighed the latter, and when I first saw the “Custom VX9” it was most definitely a “love” moment. It’s a compact little handgun so for me it’s already a winner, and weighing in at 664g with the 22 BB shortened magazine, it just goes to show that looks can be very deceptive! This is a short, small-frame pistol that’s designed to feel much lighter and be more “pointable” when it comes to engaging multiple targets at speed; the VX9 has all the things that I now expect from a “modern” compact “Not” from the box including a nicely-formed and uber-grippy “stippled” pistol grip, and an extended beavertail. The finish of the frame on the evaluation model was excellent throughout, with the frame and the slide in a complementary metal/polymer satin black; the frame and slide also marry up beautifully, with a continuous series of weight-saving grooves cut into the front of the slide that carry on exactly along to the rear, giving a pleasing yet aggressive look overall. The top of the slide at the sharp-end is also cut away “ported-style” to save weight and aid in fast cycling, and the muzzle is threaded suppressor-ready, although you will need an AW adaptor. The front white-highlighted sight is fitted directly to the slide as you’d expect so you’re not going to be changing that to fibre-optic without a fight, but the white-highlighted rear “U” looks like it could be changed out for something aftermarket if you wish. Under the front of the frame is a four-slot rail for lights and LAMs, and this will accommodate an X300 style pistol light perfectly. So, the VX9 does in fact look a bit “custom”, but as it comes out of the box this way, does this make it truly so? That’s a debate for another time, but if you want an attractive wall-hanger or something to look cool in your expensive holster then this fits 82

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the bill exactly, totally cool yet understated with no extraneous “bling” in evidence, and it’s all the better for that. However, the VX9 is in no way a wall-hanger but a “get work done” tool, so I want it to be blistering in terms of performance more than anything! Great-looking? Well, beauty they say is in the eye of the beholder, and personally I love it although it’s most definitely not a Mil or LE-styled handgun. Put together to last? Everything indicates to me that AW have done a great job in this respect as everything fits and functions together perfectly, and gives the VX9 a reassuring feel in your hand.

DOWNRANGE

At 10m the VX9 is just fine, thank you and it keeps BBs on target with consistency, and that’s really all that’s important at the end of the day, isn’t it? The VX9 feels like, and acts like an accurate compact secondary from the get go, and in my opinion, where the many “Nots” are good, the VX9 is as good if not better, and is in fact far better than many of the other AW pistols I’ve tried to date, and as good as most models on the market in its category! The VX9 initially chrono’d in at 0.86 Joule/305fps on .20g BBs and green gas, but it seems to enjoy being fed .28g best. With this weight of BB you get cracking performance at 10m, with consistent power delivery through the entire magazine (just a little drop off towards the end when hammering it), a smooth, quick cycling action, good standard sights that let you get on target fast, and a crisp trigger break that lets you stay on target too! So, with that in mind let’s recap; is the AW VX9 is a GBB pistol that’s well made, operates efficiently, and put together to last? I would say yes, it most certainly is in all respects, so I believe you will be getting a whole heap of modern compact goodness for your money if you plump for one yourself. This is a great-looking pistol to show off to your mates, but it’s also a pistol that will serve you equally well in a skirmish situation when you really, REALLY need your secondary to perform! Thanks to www.iwholesales.co.uk for providing the test model; you can check out all the Armorer Works pistols and accessories they have by visiting their website, and keep up with all the latest news by following them on their social media. AA

ARMOURY SPECNA ARMS F01/2 FLEX

PRICED TO ENTICE!

JULY 2022

ARMOURY SPECNA ARMS F01/2 FLEX

SPECNA ARMS HAVE REALLY BEEN DRIVING FORWARD HARD DURING THE PERIOD OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, AND IT STILL SEEMS THAT EACH MONTH THEY ARE RELEASING MORE NEW MODELS OF AEG, AND HEADING IN MANY EXCITING DIRECTIONS AT THE SAME TIME! BILL HAS SPENT SOME TIME WITH ONE OF THE LATEST MODELS TO BE RELEASED, THE “ENTRY LEVEL” SA-F01 FLEX, AND NOW BRINGS IN HIS FINDINGS…

s I’ve said openly before I honestly think I’d be hardpushed to think of another AEG manufacturer that has consistently released so many models and variants in such a short space of time, as although Specna Arms have been knocking around for a while now, their recent output can only be described as “full-on”! I remember seeing the brand appear on the Gunfire stand some years back with a small range of “ARinspired” models, and now they seem to cover off some absolutely righteous models whether you’re new to airsoft or an old hand! I believe it would now be impossible to make that same mistake, as Specna Arms have become an “airsoft household” name, with a wide range of retail stockists throughout Europe, and further designs on expansion worldwide if I read what I’m currently seeing right! And the fact is that they have the goods to back all this up, and they continue to innovate and inspire with new models to suit any, and every, airsoft player out there, models that are well-built, well-priced, and

perform from the box. This, ultimately is what we, the players, truly want if we’re honest, as although we are bombarded with words, pictures, and videos from folk telling us to “fettle, change, and upgrade” our AEGs and GBBs what most of REALLY want is to get out and play a game with an AEG that, you know… works! Although we have been constrained over the last couple of years in our ability to actually get out and use our airsoft kit in earnest, the fact is that in my opinion we are living in “halcyon airsoft days”, where most firearm models are available as really quite excellent airsoft replicas, and our choice is bigger and wider than ever. And that to me is where manufacturers like Specna Arms (there are others!) have stepped into the ring with gloves raised to take on all comers in a thoroughly professional way. Not only are we seeing the “business model” of airsoft changing, but as I have said before we are seeing airsoft manufacturers going their own way to pursue design concepts of their own, and turn those concepts into reality. The future of airsoft looks sunny for sure, and with many new players coming in, especially after the pandemic, there’s always going to www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY SPECNA ARMS F01/2 FLEX

“THERE’S ABSOLUTELY ZERO MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER RECEIVERS, AND NO WOBBLE IN EITHER THE BUFFER TUBE OR THE RAIL SYSTEM; EVERYTHING IS SOLID AS A ROCK, AND FEELS STURDY AND DURABLE… MORE THAN YOU COULD SAY FOR SOME “FULL METAL” AEGS OUT THERE! ” be a need for entry level models and the new FLEX series from Specna Arms has been designed purposely to fill that slot!

NEW FOR THE NEWBIE

I personally hate the term “noob” as it has such negative connotations, and although some new players really don’t get the whole “airsoft/honour” thing to start with (and frankly some never do!), there are many that do from the get-go, and they charge into the game with energy and enthusiasm, and are a pleasure to play alongside! I recently saw a

post by a young man who’d just played his first game and it was full of praise for the site, the marshals, the game, and above all, the friendliness and openness of all the more seasoned players he’d met! This is what I love to see on social media, rather than the toxic rantings of some poor deranged “chairsofter! And of course new players are going to need their very first AEG, aren’t 86

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they? Everyone that’s been playing airsoft for a while knows what a money pit it can be, and for those just starting the outlay can be daunting, not just in relation to their AEG but in terms of accessories and gear! And this is where the FLEX series come in, as the two current models available, the F01 (SBR) and F02 (carbine) are priced VERY keenly, with the shorty being sub-UK£100! So, if you are looking for a lightweight and reliable AEG to get you rolling then the FLEX series of AEGs have been designed just for you, and after thorough testing of the SA-F01, I have to say that these really are super little AEGs that will get you going, or keep you going in a pinch, and at the price they’re certainly not going to break the bank! Although the FLEX models are super-cheap in terms of price (and that should make any airsofter cheerful!) that’s not to say that they are in any way deficient when it comes to doing their job… okay, they ARE pretty much 100% polymer as the receiver set, free-float rail system, buffer tube, CRANE stylestock, “iron sights”, and the pistol grip are made of polymer reinforced with nylon fibre; this reinforcement makes the structure more durable than other polymer structures. The barrel is alloy, as are the flash hider, enlarged charging handle, and controls. All screws, pins, ejection port cover and dummy bolt are all metal. Overall this means that the FLEX, well… doesn’t! There’s absolutely zero movement between the upper and lower receivers, and no wobble in either the buffer tube or the rail system; everything is solid as a rock, and feels sturdy and durable… more than you could say for some “full metal” AEGs out there! All I can say is that I wish that my first “plastic AR” had been this solid! Everything internally is very workmanlike too, obviously designed to meet a pricepont, but again not deficient in any way because of this, and it just shows how far even “entry level” AEGs have come! The FLEX models come with a rear-wired V2 gearbox, a decent standard motor, 8mm bearings, steel gears, a polycarbonate piston with steel reinforcement, and the guys at Specna Arms tell me that everything is rated still to handle up to an M140 spring… if you’d put that spring in one of my old “polymer ARs” back in the day it would have just climbed back into the gun case in defeat before I’d even squeezed

ARMOURY SPECNA ARMS F01/2 FLEX

the trigger! You also get an easy-to-set rotary hop adjustment and a good 6.03mm inner barrel so if you want to tweak things it should be easy to do so! And the FLEX models still have one of the Specna Arms “standouts”, the ESA quick spring change system! This lets you easily (really easily!) adjust your power level for different sites/fields so for new players it’s a kind if “one ring to bind them” kind of deal! The FLEX models have also been designed to to work with LiPo and LiFe batteries so you have options here too, although I think perhaps Specna Arms missed a trick by not adding a battery to the basic AEG; this of course would have meant the pricepoint would suffer.

GETTING WORK DONE

The SA-F01 FLEX is a really simple AEG to work with due to its compact size. The battery is housed inside the mock buffer tube that forms part of the stock assembly, and the compartment is easily accessed by removing that CRANE-style stock. I fitted an 11.1V LiPo (although you’ll get more-than-adequate performance from a 7.4V, and probably keep your new AEG alive just a little bit longer too!), and this gave a really crisp, positive shooting experience. The F01 comes with a Hi Cap S-MAG magazine which has an unusual but visually appealing look as it features an amalgam of the Specna Arms logo; I’ve used these mags for a while on and off in testing and they’ve proved to be excellent, although like other Specna Arms AEGs the F01 appears to function smoothly on many brands of magazine! So, on a sunny morning it was off to the woods range for me, and the F01 performed just as I’d hoped and that was very well indeed; it is a Specna Arms AEG after all! It’s a great little carbine to work with, with great ergonomics and a good weight at just 2130g; this is heavy enough to feel right, but light enough that you could run with it all day long. Adding a short foregrip to the URX-style rail makes it very easy to drive the muzzle from target to target, and the overall length of 735mm (full extension, 650mm compressed) for me, makes it easy to work with, even in tight spaces so it would be ideal for CQB use. The F02 has a longer KeyMod URX-style rail, and both have a 14mm CCW thread on the muzzle if you want to add a suppressor or tracer unit. Once the rotary hop was set, an easy control to adjust, the F01 was shooting a straight shot out to the end of the 30m range initially at 1.36 Joule /383fps but changing the spring brought that down to a more site friendly 0.99 Joule/328fps average on a .20g RZR BB; Specna Arms very thoughtfully provide an M90 spring in the box if your local power limits dictate

lower rather than higher. The trigger is light yet crisp, with very little lag so it’s easy to get consistently accurate shots away time after time and they’ll beon target thanks to the pre-fitted, flip-up “irons”. Switching it up to full auto sends a nice stream of BBs downrange sharpish, and it’s easy to fire away for a while without emptying that Hi Cap. At the end of the day I have to say that the “entry level” area of airsoft is still VERY competitive, with some great choices available for not much moolah! Many of the models in this price-range these days are “all -polymer”, but as I’ve said many times before, so are many real firearms these days so that shouldn’t put you off. The SAF01/F02 FLEX models are certainly most worthy of your consideration, as they are both great looking replicas (even better when you add a few accessories!), available in

both black and black/tan, are solid as a rock, shoot straight and far, and are indeed priced to entice… what’s not to love? Many thanks indeed to Gunfire who kindly provided me with the AEG sample for this review; you can check out more details on the FLEX models and the rest of the extensive range of Specna Arms models by simply visiting www. gunfire.com AA

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

ANOTHER YEAR... ANOTHER GAME! MIGUEL HAS REALLY CEMENTED HIS PLACE AS A KEY MEMBER OF THE AIRSOFT ACTION LEGION, AND WE LOVE HIM FOR IT! AS AN AIRSOFTER WITH MANY YEARS OF GAMEPLAY UNDER HIS PLATE CARRIER, AND AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR BOTH VIPER AND SPECNA ARMS WE REALLY ENJOY FEATURING HIS STORIES FROM THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY IN PORTUGAL, AND THIS TIME WE BRING YOU ALL HIS REPORT ON A VERY SPECIAL GAME INDEED FOR HIS FELLOW GHOSTS AND HE, THEIR BIRTHDAY GAME, “15”!

JULY 2022

GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

rganizing an event commemorating my team’s birthday is kind of a tradition, and this year it was no different! So, welcome to “15”, a game that we created that simulated two survivor groups in a post-apocalyptic scenario, both groups would have to fight for basic resources and then sell them to reach the end goal, but more on that later on! The event for us started really early, at 0600 we arrived at the field to get everything ready, place objectives, set up the check-in, and build the all-important “negotiation zone” that would be a key part of the game itself. Soon after the players started to arrive and check-in, and in the middle of some good talks the briefing hour arrived, so at 0900 sharp we started the briefing (we like to follow the schedule!). www.airsoftaction.net

GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

Now let’s talk about the game! It followed the struggles of those two survivor groups that had to fight and control different locations on the map where they would find four types of resources; gas, scrap metal, ammo, and coal. With these resources in hand, they could approach the third faction in the game, which was controlled by as the organisers, to make deals to sell the resources, and make as much money as they could! These deals had a good part of role-playing, where each party tried to haggle and push the prices in their favour (of course!). Now, it’s important to mention that there was no faction commander in each faction, we wanted to create a bit of chaos within each team and see how would they organize among themselves, and that was evident when each faction reached the negotiation table. While the Blue team was less organized as a whole and had a good number of different players to do the negotiations, which means fewer resources to bring to the table each time, the Red team had three or four players in total that dealt specifically with “trading” and they were able to bring more every visit, and with that they left with more money each time.

SHOW US THE MONEY!

The second stage of the game was of course using the money they got from selling the hard-fought-for resources. And for that, we had a travelling merchant in a vehicle making a circuit around the field and stopping at the factions’ “communities”. In the stops along the way or in the communities the players could buy water and food, which was their final goal in the game. But every time the merchant stopped on the field and opened for business anyone could ambush that location, so even if one faction was behind they could try to steal from their opponent; sneaky stuff, right? So the game went on like this; factions collected resources and sold them so they could, later on, buy water and food. At the same time, some special missions would pop up, at specific hours when someone appeared to negotiate; we would make a proposition where they would “bet” the resources they had with them at the time, and if they were able to complete said mission, they would get paid double for what they brought to sell. These missions would normally force them to bring

a specific object to us, that was most of the time close to places controlled by the enemy faction, so some conflict would take place. Here both factions had to to complete the missions on time; if they missed the time window they would lose the resources! After we did the math, the Red faction won by a large margin, although the Blue faction pushed them hard at every opportunity! Basically the Red faction followed the brief closely, and every time they came to the negotiation table they would bring more resources and with that they made more money! And of course, with that money, they were able to buy more water and food for their communities which meant they were true survivors. For us though, no game would be complete without a big BBQ steak, pork chops, cold beer, and soft drinks, everything was ready to welcome the hungry and thirsty players at the end of the game itself, and it’s always great to speak with the players about the game or just talk airsoft! And in the end, we had a giveaway with goodies offered by Gunfire (ww.gunfire.com), to whom I want to give my thanks for once again supporting my team and our events. We want to leave our thanks to everyone that took part in “15”, and we really hope everyone enjoyed the game. It was great to see all the different survivor loadouts, different approaches to the role-play situations, and all-around fair play! AA

“FOR US THOUGH, NO GAME WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A BIG BBQ STEAK, PORK CHOPS, COLD BEER, AND SOFT DRINKS, EVERYTHING WAS READY TO WELCOME THE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY PLAYERS AT THE END OF THE GAME ITSELF, AND IT’S ALWAYS GREAT TO SPEAK WITH THE PLAYERS ABOUT THE GAME OR JUST TALK AIRSOFT!” 90

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

BACK IN THE GAME!

THIS MONTH WE’RE DELIGHTED TO CARRY THE FIRST REPORT FROM OUR NEWEST “AA LEGIONNAIRE” LARRI, KNOWN TO HIS FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD BY HIS CALLSIGN UBCA LAR! THIS TIME HE, WITH THE HELP OF HIS UBCA COLLEAGUES MUUBI AND BEN T, CELEBRATES A RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS BY VISITING WZ STUDIOS LIMITED’S CQB SITE “WAR ZONE HK” AFTER RENOVATIONS, AND LETS US ALL INTO THE WORLD OF AIRSOFT HK-STYLE!

JULY 2022

GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

reetings Airsoft Action readers! I am UBCA Lar of the Hong Kong based airsoft group called Umbrella Corp. Airsoft (“UBCA”). UBCA has held games every Friday since 2011 (save for a few exceptions). We are passionate about CQB airsoft and this passion has also led us to travel around Asia to play airsoft outside of Hong Kong. We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to share with you news of the Hong Kong airsoft scene in this article as well as future articles! WZ Studios Limited’s CQB site known as War Zone HK (“War Zone”) has now completed renovations to their game zone by injecting both Japanese and Middle Eastern flavours into their site. There is now tons of new cover, obstacles and superb decorations. It is a great way to feel like playing airsoft in other countries while the pandemic travel restrictions are still in effect in Hong Kong. Due to the high cost of rent in Hong Kong, indoor airsoft venues have shrunk from 20 to 7 CQB venues within the last 10 years. However, players are still very passionate about the hobby which has encouraged the remaining venues to create more unique sites to both grow and maintain player interest.

We recently visited WZ Studios Limited’s venue known as War Zone HK together with a total of 36 players. WZ Studios Limited was founded in 2021 and War Zone was launched in July of the same year. The venue is well known in the Hong Kong airsoft scene for providing good air conditioning inside the game venue of 20,000 sq ft which is important for indoor venues given Hong Kong’s high temperatures and humidity. The layout and designs were inspired by various video games and include larger items such as actual vehicles, tents and shops. Other smaller details to replicate a real world environment include safes, ATMs, cash registers and food.

NEW ZONES, NEW GAMEPLAY!

At the beginning of 2022, the owners gathered feedback from players and decided to enhance the gameplay experience through renovation of the venue. The renovations included two larger scale modifications: (1) the demolition of an entire wall to expand the play area; and (2) the installation of a raised platform to enable players to better secure parameters inside the play area by providing vision from higher ground.

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

The venue is separated into different zones each with their unique theme; during this latest visit of War Zone, we had the Japanese themed zone which included a replica Japanese torii and cherry blossom trees that made for great snaps! Within this Japanese themed zone there were two buildings that give players a high ground advantage to provide supporting fire. In addition, there were two shortcuts that led players to the Middle Eastern themed zone. If there is too much resistance in the shorter shortcut, players can opt to take the longer shortcut bypassing the bamboo maze zone instead. However, both shortcuts are made of tunnels and small rooms which may require more teammates’ assistance to secure. In between the Japanese and the Middle Eastern themed zones, there is the bamboo maze zone which includes market stalls and is great for camouflage loadouts. Within this area, there are two high grounds for support fire and are key to securing further attacks. The last game zone is the Middle Eastern themed zone which contains: (1) five houses, (2) several vehicles for cover and (3) barricades in the middle. Each house has two or more exits so it is impossible for players to have a perfect camping spot during gameplay. The green vehicles are great to hop into to scout the enemy’s cover fire. This zone has comparatively lower lighting in the corridors which makes it easier to execute surprise attacks. As an assault player of UBCA, I enjoyed these latest changes as the adjustments have made better use of spaces than before. It is very exciting to plan and coordinate your attack during gameplay. The shortcuts that were mentioned above were not easy to traverse alone and will require teammates to assist checking all the various corners. It is also important to secure the area before opposing players take control of the choke points especially the high ground! For those who are interested to check out the venue, here is the video link of the gameplay from our recent visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REgw3uab28E We had a chat with the venue designers after playing our weekly games; we were told that the adjustments completed is only phase one and that we can expect a lot of more decorative items to be added soon. We are looking forward to seeing the upcoming additional changes. Finally, for any Airsoft Action readers that are

interested in personally experiencing airsoft at War Zone, you just need a minimum of 10 people to make a booking. If you are coming with less than 10 people, War Zone also has an in-house organizer who arranges public games. Either way, please do not hesitate to contact them for some CQB action if you are in, or visiting, Hong Kong! That is it for our sharing this time, hopefully, you enjoyed our first article. If you have any questions or ideas for future articles, please contact us via our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ UmbrellaCorpAirsoft). If you have made it this far into the article, thank you for your time and attention! AA

WARZONE HK Unit 8A, 8F, Hong Kong Spinners Industrial Building, Phase 1 And 2, 800 Cheung Sha Wan Rd, Cheung Sha Wan Website: https://warzone.hk/ Email: inquiry@wzstudios.hk Phone: +852 2152 9669 War Zone HK Pricing Information for NonMembers: HK$160 per person for 2-hour session* HK$240 per person for 3-hour session* HK$280 per person for 4-hour session* HK$100 per person for gear rental per session * Minimum booking of 10 people

“THE VENUE IS SEPARATED INTO DIFFERENT ZONES EACH WITH THEIR UNIQUE THEME; DURING THIS LATEST VISIT OF WAR ZONE, WE HAD THE JAPANESE THEMED ZONE WHICH INCLUDED A REPLICA JAPANESE TORII AND CHERRY BLOSSOM TREES THAT MADE FOR GREAT SNAPS! ” 94

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

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HISTORICAL SAS SMOCK

THE WINDPROOF “SAS” SMOCK IT IS SAID THAT A SOLDIER LIVES WITH WHAT IS IN HIS OR HER PACK, FIGHTS WITH WHAT IS ON THEIR BELT AND SURVIVES WITH WHAT IS IN THEIR POCKETS, AND IF YOU ARE WEARING A BRITISH ARMY WINDPROOF SMOCK YOU HAVE PLENTY OF POCKET SPACE! AA RESIDENT KIT HISTORIAN WILL F TAKES A LOOK AT AN ENDURING GARMENT WHICH HAS ITS ROOTS FIRMLY IN WWII BUT IS STILL SUPERB TODAY!

he garment that is often called an “SAS Smock” owes its origins to a simpler garment developed in 1942. This was printed in a distinctive colour -fast brown and green splinter camouflage and consisted of a pull over garment with draw cord at the hood and hem with two pleated pockets at the top and two patch pockets at the skirt. It was not waterproof but offered good camouflage and was a lot more practical than a battledress blouse. It was initially issued to the SAS, SOE and SBS but by 1943 had filtered down to the infantry where it was used by snipers as an alternative to the Denison Smock. A matching set of over-trousers was produced to complement the smock. Variations of the ‘Windproof’ followed in different colours; white (or at least natural cotton) for desert operations, olive green and black. The post war smocks had a full length heavy duty zipper but retained the same pocket design, and these were still 96

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in evidence with the SAS in the 1970s! In the late 1960s though a new design the Smock, Windproof, 1963 Pattern, was produced in the distinctive camouflage known as Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM). The DPM version had large box pleated pockets with larger than standard buttons that could be opened by gloved hands. There were draw cords at the hem waist and around the hood, though the hood was rarely used and was rolled up tightly around the back of the neck. The SAS Smock was a distinctive garment made from Gabardine a windproof quick drying material, and cut to fit more loosely, to fit over other layers of clothing and the Trooper’s belt order. Where the standard combat jackets were closed by a full-length zipper, covered by a buttoned flap, and buttoned cuffs, the windproof smock used Velcro to close the flap over the zipper and to fasten the cuffs. The smocks became particularly popular as a private purchase item in the

HISTORICAL SAS SMOCK

1980s when soldiers found that they being issued with very poor quality combat clothing that had ostensibly been developed from experience during the Falklands campaign of 1982. A similar DPM Windproof smock was introduced designated the Smock Windproof Arctic and was primarily issued to Royal Marine Commandos and Army serving in Norway. Unlike Smock, Windproof, DPM it had button-on rank loops on the chest and back, as well as a wire ‘stiffener’ for the deep hood that allowed it to be moulded around the wearer’s face. It proved very effective in the Antarctic winter of 1982 in the Falklands. Since its inception the SAS./Windproof Smock has formed the basis for a diverse range of combat smocks Some are startlingly expensive for a garment that may see the wearer rolling around in mud, or pushing across rough terrain and prickly woodland. However they often have some useful features like extra internal and external pockets. A long poacher’s pocket across the back of the skirt is one feature and two first field dressing/compass pockets on the sleeves. In addition a compass pocket may be added to the chest. Deep zippered inside pockets that can be accessed from the outside are handy for maps or other documents like TAMs. Though the cuffs are secured with Velcro tabs other modifications can be knitted para smock cuffs; these are great in cold wet conditions but do not allow the sleeves to be rolled up if it gets hot. There are cheaper copies around probably manufactured in the Far East and to be honest if you want a knock about jacket/smock they will do the job perfectly well. I had one which I was happy to modify in many ways with extra pockets and an elasticated draw cord at the hem for a snugger fit. The newer smock may be windproof but it is still not waterproof; one solution is to add a MVT layer jacket underneath. There is a very handy Dutch Army MVT jacket on the market that with some small modifications will offer this protection.

CURRENT DAY

The current issue Windproof Smock is in Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) camouflage and uses the Canadian looped toggle pattern buttons; it has been upgraded and redesigned from the earlier CS95 smock. The significant improvements include angled pockets and more, reinforced panels. The cut is also more generous than earlier smocks, allowing for easier movement when it is worn as a top layer over other layers. The hood is wired and can be rolled and buttoned in place when not needed, and the two-way heavy-duty zip at the front is full length with a Velcro secured storm flap. For pockets, you have plenty of options; two large expandable chest pockets with two zipped internal chest pockets alongside. There are also two large expandable hand-warmer waist pockets which are fleece-lined as well as two angled sleeve pockets with Velcro panels for attaching Zap patches or other badges/panels. For protection from the elements, the cuffs are windproof with Velcro fastening and there are drawcords at the waist and hem. Useful additions are zipped ventilation armpits to allow the wearer’s base layers to breathe, front rank loop and a mesh lining. The rear rank loop has been discarded because it had a tendency to snag on camouflage netting. Soldiers will always have opinions about kit and clothing and there have been criticisms of the mesh lining saying that it can snag on fleeces and other layers. If it gets wet the hand warmer pockets take time to dry out and many soldiers have commented that hands should not be stuffed into pockets or indeed hoods worn. The “SAS Smock” is, after many years of service, and man redesigns a thoroughly valid garment; while it is harder to find genuine olive green smocks they are great general outdoor clothing and less of a “signature” garment than DPM or MTP, so perfect for more every-day wear. Product images shown are of the reproduction “WWII SAS Smock” sold by www.silvermans.co.uk, historical images found in the public domain. AA www.airsoftaction.net

last post D(RESSING UP)-DAY AIRSOFT

D(RESSING UP) -DAY AIRSOFT

SINCE THIS EDITION HAS SOMETHING OF A D-DAY THEME, WE ASKED FRENCHIE IF HE HAD ANY THOUGHTS ON AIRSOFT AS RE-ENACTMENT FOR HIS “LAST POST” TOPIC THIS MONTH, AND AS IT HAPPENS, HE MOST CERTAINLY DID, SO GIRD YOUR LOINS FOR HIS AS-USUAL ACERBIC AND TIME-ENLIGHTENED TAKE ON ALL THINGS “HISTORICAL”!

s it stands, all airsoft is enactment of one form or another. When the Statutory Instrument that granted UK airsoft its exemption was drafted, the definition of airsoft that we came up with was ‘acting out military and law enforcement scenarios for the purpose of entertainment’, or if you prefer, ‘playing soldiers for fun’. A big component of that is dressing the part and there are damned few airsofters who don’t become conscious of what they wear when playing. Sure, most of us started with really basic gear, but over the years we all tend to invest in more and more specific kit to achieve one or more looks. That basic principle applies to historical airsoft as well, as does the insistence by some that you’re not doing it properly. I’ll come back to that little cherry later. Whether it’s SWAT black or the most modern variant of Multicam, all of us are acting out something, and we’re no different from those who choose to find their inspiration in the past. I wrote about a ‘flintsoft’ game a long time ago where every player looked to have stepped out of the Napoleonic wars and rubber swords were responsible for more kills than BBs! This was a bit of a niche exception; WWII and subsequent wars such as Vietnam are much more

likely to inspire players. On many airsoft sites you will probably come across the odd US G.I. or Heer soldat (German infantry from WWII) but only a few sites in my experience have these in excess. One of my old haunts, Players of War in central Scotland, had more than their fair share of these, but even so, on anything other than themed game days, they would still be in the minority. There are a bunch of obstacles to pulling off a decent historical look and the lack of weaponry is one of them. It is the case that over the last twenty years or so there has been something of an improvement in

“A BIG COMPONENT OF THAT IS DRESSING THE PART AND THERE ARE DAMNED FEW AIRSOFTERS WHO DON’T BECOME CONSCIOUS OF WHAT THEY WEAR WHEN PLAYING. SURE, MOST OF US STARTED WITH REALLY BASIC GEAR, BUT OVER THE YEARS WE ALL TEND TO INVEST IN MORE AND MORE SPECIFIC KIT TO ACHIEVE ONE OR MORE LOOKS.” 98

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LAST POST D(RESSING UP)-DAY AIRSOFT

the situation with MP40s, PPSh41s, Stens, Thompsons and M1 Garands appearing in usable forms as you’ll see in Red Cell and the WWII pistols article this very month. Others are still problematic, especially the more widely issued rifles such as the No4 Enfield and the Mauser Kar 98k, although I’m led to believe this may be changing. They are available but the amount of noise such releases generate in the airsoft press and online is, in my experience, inversely proportional to the number of players who will actually buy and use one, assuming they are functional. The long-term standard for the airsoft Kar98, made by Tanaka, was a beautiful piece but it was somewhat fragile and being a gas rifle, a bit temperamental as well. Fortunately upgrade parts were available which

was just as well because alternatives such as the gaspower G&G version of the same rifle were shockingly rubbish. If I recall correctly, a company I worked for at the time ended up selling them off as wall-hangers, stating very clearly and explicitly that if they actually shot, it should be considered a bonus! Uniforms and equipment are less of a problem as the continuing success of companies like Soldier of Fortune (SoF) attest. (Quick disclaimer: other suppliers are available but I’ve used SoF and had good service). Subject only to stock availability you can outfit yourself with uniforms and equipment from before

WWI through to the present day. It should come as no surprise that their range covering the events of 1935-1945 is more extensive than any other era although it does centre around British, American and German equipment. While nothing is particularly cheap, everything will be more than adequate for airsoft unless…

THEY’RE THE WRONG BUTTONS OLD CHAP!

Like all truly enthusiastic enthusiasts, re-enactors can get a little fussy about details. I once endured a monologue from a young man at the Military Odyssey show on the subject of buttons, or it might have

been underwear, I honestly can’t remember. What I do recall was a certain admiration for his grasp of detail and minutiae and a strong desire that one of us suddenly cease to exist, and frankly I didn’t care who! These are the people for whom merely mentioning SoF can cause an aneurysm followed by a lengthy lecture about all the heinous sins they commit. Should they encounter you onsite you may face a polite but insistent lecture about why the stitch count on your tunic is incorrect, the colour is at least two tones out, that your epaulettes should be 3 mm narrower and

“...THE COLOUR IS AT LEAST TWO TONES OUT, THAT YOUR EPAULETTES SHOULD BE 3 MM NARROWER AND 2 MM LONGER, THAT THE COPPER CONTENT OF YOUR BRASS BUTTONS IS TOO LOW TO BE ACCEPTABLE AND THAT, ALL THOSE MINOR ISSUES ASIDE, YOU’RE WEARING IT ALL WRONG.”

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last post D(RESSING UP)-DAY AIRSOFT

2 mm longer, that the copper content of your brass buttons is too low to be acceptable and that, all those minor issues aside, you’re wearing it all wrong. Please feel free to scream. Loudly!

of the two pastimes are different. Airsoft for most players is about having fun (remember ‘..purpose of entertainment’) whereas for re-enactors it seems to be more about accurately capturing and recreating specific periods in history. I strongly suspect that they too have fun doing their thing (what’s the point otherwise?) but accurate presentation is much more important to them if they are to achieve their goals. We cross each other’s paths now and then but I have always found the number of airsofter hailing from a period of history that isn’t ‘now’ to be in the minority. My guess is that this is the case for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that the Second World War ended nearly eighty years ago and may not really be relevant to many younger players. Modern gear is more functional and generally cheaper and there is a mountain of current weapons to choose from so matching one to your loadout is much easier. Historically inspired airsoft won’t go away, but I don’t think it will ever enjoy widespread popularity or find itself vying with Speedsoft as an alternative to what we all think of as skirmishing. Like so much in life, it is what it is, and no one has ever told me that my Multicam is the wrong colour! AA

I totally get that if your passion is recreating an era as accurately as possible, these things matter but so does context. If I were going to attend a show and be part of a living history display, fine, accuracy would be more important. If on the other hand I am going to clamber through dirty buildings or crawl through woodland trying to shoot my fellow players, I’m really not certain that that level of detail is necessary or relevant. Be honest, by modern standards historical kit sucks anyway. Wool uniforms? Leather load bearing gear? It’s very much of its era and there are exceedingly good reasons why modern gear uses neither of those materials, not smelling like a wet sheep being high on my personal list. So, if you have gone to the expense of recreating German infantry from the Eastern Front, 1943, as your preferred airsoft loadout, I’ll happily salute your effort without feeling the need to get out my colour chart or stitch ruler. If you have added SS runes, I’ll consider you deeply dubious, but that’s just me, or is it? For hard core re-enactors I can understand the desire or even necessity to go there, for airsoft I just don’t get it. Leaving that personal niggle aside, the aims “SO, IF YOU HAVE GONE TO THE EXPENSE OF RECREATING GERMAN INFANTRY FROM THE EASTERN FRONT, 1943, AS YOUR PREFERRED AIRSOFT LOADOUT, I’LL HAPPILY SALUTE YOUR EFFORT WITHOUT FEELING THE NEED TO GET OUT MY COLOUR CHART OR STITCH RULER. ”

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Airsoft Action - July 2022

Articles inside

HISTORICAL: SAS SMOCK

AA LEGION: HONG KONG

ARMOURY: SPECNA FLEX

AA LEGION: PORTUGAL

ARMOURY: AW CUSTOM VX9

FEATURE: NORMANDY TOUR

TECH: ULTIMA MG42

RED CELL: D-DAY SPECIAL

ARMOURY: G&G GK-12

GEAR: RAGNAR RAIDS

ARMOURY: VFC COLT M733 GBBR

THE CAGE: WWII AIRSOFT

ARMOURY: SECUTOR RAPAX M6

ARMOURY: ARES WWII RIFLES