Airsoft Action - August 2022 by Airsoft Action

WINNER BEST AIRSOFT MAGAZINE

ISSUE 140 AUGUST 2022 ISSN 2634-9515

CONTENTS 8 ARMOURY: G&G MXC-9 Airsoft Action are proud to have a fabulous working relationship with G&G Armament, and once again we were able to get the lowdown on their very latest SMG model before it hit the stores! Jimmy has been running the MXC-9 through its paces for a while already and brings in his report on a model that’s sure to raise some eyebrows for many positive reasons!

WINNER BEST AIRSOFT MAGAZINE

ISSUE 140 AUGUST 2022 ISSN 2634-9515

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

18 ARMOURY: RAVEN R14 Bill was overjoyed when Ross at RAVEN introduced him to the preproduction version of their new GBB pistols and he’s been using one for nearly FIVE years now, both at home and abroad! Since then the marque has moved ever-onwards offering players a mindbending array of models and indeed colours to choose from, and the latest R14 is something just a bit special… again!

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.

24 ARMOURY: LCT LK53A3 Anyone who knows Stewbacca will know that you’re rarely likely to see him wielding an AEG by choice; the climate, the heavily MilSim style of play and his recent move towards “Jungle Ops” have all lead him to lean towards gas blowback rifles for their realism, fun factor and that they work effectively in the heat. So if he’s singing the praises of an AEG, you know it’s worth taking a look at!

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: KRYTAC EMG FN-LICENCED P90 The airsoft P90 is undoubtedly a model that divides player opinion, but one that has been with us in “6mm” form for many, many years and has given solid service and enjoyment to owners worldwide. But do we need another version of this diminutive PDW, and if so, what does the Krytac/EMG “take” bring to the table? Bill delves deeper…

Contents AUGUST 2022

40 TOD: BASHA BUILDING We thought it was time to start putting some of those Tactical Outdoor skills into practice, so Bill and Jimmy have been out in the woods building fast-set shelters that can see even the most efficient and “light is right” players amongst you comfortable for a night or two!

76 LEGION EVENT: OP CABRIT In Issue 138 we brought you Jase’s report on “OP CABRIT”, but while he was busy out “on task”, behind the scenes two more of the AA Crew were making things work in relation to “special effects” and now Jimmy reports back…

44 THE CAGE: SLINGS There are many aspects to consider when you’re setting up your primary for airsoft, and over the past couple of months the Legionnaires have been discussing this in depth. Now we come to a piece of equipment which is often overlooked by many, and that’s your sling!

80 AA LEGION: USA Airsoft is flourishing all over the world again and this is where the members of the AA LEGION are really coming into their own! With new members coming online the international event and game reports are flowing. Here, Dan in the USA reports in on a “Wild West” game with a difference!

48 RED CELL: SBR UPDATE Way back in Issue 124 Red Cell gathered to look at AR SBRs. Nearly a year and a half later they put their heads together again to see how some of these test models have done - and what new ones have caught their eye and been added to the Test Pool!

86 AA LEGION: PORTUGAL Miguel is a “seasoned vet” in the AA LEGION and with questions like “Do you like Airsoft? Do you like a great get-together with players from other parts of your country? And all this with good food and drinks?” you can see why as his enthusiasm for all thing airsoft just keeps on shining!

60 RELOADED GE AMD-65 Bill is always on the look-out for wellpriced yet unique replicas to add to his AK collection. He finally found one that has been evading him for some time, the Hungarian AMD-65! After giving the poor thing some real abuse he now reports back on the AEG version from Golden Eagle Airsoft.

90 AA LEGION: HONG KONG Our “Man in Hong Kong” Larri is really excited about sharing the passion for airsoft there, and this time he reports on a SpeedQB Pre-Match that he believes takes Hong Kong SpeedQB Competition to next level!

66 TECH: AGM MG42 In our D-Day Red Cell “special” Jimmy had a few choice words to say about the AGM MG42! As promised he now brings in his full assessment, and the steps he took to make the well-priced support gun into a true, BB-chucking beast!

94 SHOP DROP This month we’ve got a couple of important pieces of retail-related news to share, both about brands that we’ve been working with closely and that we’ve mentioned online in the “website dailies” but though they needed more space!

70 TECH: M4 SOPMOD BUILD If you look through the range of virtually any manufacturer out there it’s going to be the AR-style that is dominant! Bill continues with his journey to recreate a BLOCK 1 M4 SOPMOD, a Mod 0 CQBR, and the kit to go with it

96 LAST POST Many AEGs are surprisingly robust and just go on and on. But what can you do if you don’t pay attention, or if you meaningfully TRY to do the worst to your beloved AEG… just HOW can you kill it? In his usual wry fashion, airsoft-industry veteran Frenchie has the answer!

ARMOURY G&G MXC-9

SHORT... BUT OH SO SWEET! 8

AUGUST 2022

ARMOURY G&G MXC-9

AIRSOFT ACTION ARE PROUD TO HAVE A FABULOUS WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH G&G ARMAMENT, AND ONCE AGAIN WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE LOWDOWN ON THEIR VERY LATEST SMG MODEL BEFORE IT HIT THE STORES! JIMMY HAS BEEN RUNNING THE MXC-9 THROUGH ITS PACES FOR A WHILE ALREADY AND BRINGS IN HIS REPORT ON A MODEL THAT’S SURE TO RAISE SOME EYEBROWS FOR MANY POSITIVE REASONS!

t was mentioned a while back now in our daily website news that Airsoft Action had got handson a brand new SMG model from G&G, the MXC9! A few of the team saw this for the first time at IWA 2022 and they were all very impressed; sadly I did not make the trip but I was kept very much in the loop and had a few images sent to me direct from the show which got me quite excited! From what I understand from the IWA-team this new platform gained a fair amount of interest also from another big name in airsoft that has made a bit of a living from a certain SMG model (I shall keep you guessing on that…), and if you didn’t catch the scoop on IWA 2022 rest assured we’ve got you covered in the back issues of AA available on the website.

G&G is a brand I have come to respect and I love the fact they are always coming up with something new. G&G are a major player in the airsoft industry and their products are very popular indeed, from the budget right up to the premium range. I was very honoured to get the chance to test and report on this new platform as it was one of the first to land on UK soil, being sent directly to us from the factory! It is quite a privilege I must say, so thank you, you lovely G&G people in Taiwan! “Higher Higher” at Airsoft Action have built a very strong relationship over the years with G&G, and know them on not only a professional level but on a personal one as well. So where did G&G originate? To recap for newer players, in 1986 Guay Guay Trading co. ltd was established in Taipei, Taiwan. www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY G&G MXC-9

From the very beginning Guay Guay were dealers of airsoft toys, action figures, and military/law enforcement equipment for airsoft and military enthusiasts. In order to broaden the scale of airsoft Guay Guay launched their own brand to focus solely on airsoft, and 2001 saw the birth of G&G armament. From the early days (2004 up until 2013) G&G had already developed, manufactured and distributed more than 100 different replicas around the world. Still going strong in 2022 G&G to my knowledge are one of the few manufacturers who have strayed from the path and designed and manufactured their own designs, meaning these aren’t “replicas” of anything that exists in the real steel world. Of course they have teamed up with the likes of Cobalt Kinetics and Knights Armament now to offer some true “replicas” and to me this just shows how much respect they have earned from the “real” firearms industry, and rightly so! Anyhoo, let’s get back to the matter in hand shall we? The MXC-9; what a cracking platform! I have really enjoyed getting out on the field with this, and yes you read right, out on the field which means this isn’t an “as new” review, this as always is another review on not only what it looks like but also its performance - and boy has it performed! As with most things there is always a ‘but’; in this case there is no ‘but,’ seriously, I have found no fault or flaw with the MXC-9 and it is so nice to be able to say this.

A SOLID FOUNDATION

G&G have had undoubted success with their ARP9 in the “PDW” market, and it would be rude not to mention this here; however, this has not stopped them taking things forward with their new models

though, and as usual they have done this in their own special way and created some super SMG to go alongside their

platforms PDWs! It would have been easy for them to simply redesign the ARP9 a little and slap a big old UMPlike “.45” mag into it, and many would have shaken their heads sadly and said “oh, another AR”, and to be honest I would have been amongst them. But no! As usual G&G decided to do things THEIR way, and rather than go with an existing design in a different “calibre” they threw that all to one side and created something entirely, refreshingly new, something that gives a nod to the past but brings things completely, thrillingly up to date. Now many that have seen the PCC-45 have immediately said “this is just a modern take on the Heckler & Koch UMP” and they would be right in saying this purely down to the fact that the PCC-45 uses that larger magazine, but they would also be very wrong in my opinion as this was an entirely new beast that just happened to use a visually similar magazine! But how does this all fit in the story of the MXC-9? Let’s get this out there early, the MXC-9 has been fashioned around the very popular PCC-45 model, but when I say fashioned I mean redesigned! The PCC-45 works incredibly well and looks absolutely fantastic, and G&G have realised this to be a very good base; I’d have to agree that it’s a really solid foundation on which to base a whole series of SMGstyle platforms (please!). Here is a ‘but’ though; the PCC-45 while it looks fantastic (with a serious nod to the LWRC SMG 45!) it has one major flaw and that is the battery placement. Sadly you are very limited on battery choice and even batteries that do fit it are still

“I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED GETTING OUT ON THE FIELD WITH THIS, AND YES YOU READ RIGHT, OUT ON THE FIELD WHICH MEANS THIS ISN’T AN “AS NEW” REVIEW, THIS AS ALWAYS IS ANOTHER REVIEW ON NOT ONLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BUT ALSO ITS PERFORMANCE - AND BOY HAS IT PERFORMED!”

AUGUST 2022

ARMOURY G&G MXC-9

very tight, and the possibility of damaging a battery is very high. What G&G have done with the MXC-9 is to completely revamp the battery placement, and the path they have chosen is a path I will happily walk. They have taken a good platform and made it almost perfect in my opinion. Others may disagree but I’m not listening quite frankly… Out of the very well-presented box, first impressions on the MXC-9 are very good; first impressions can play a major part and have significant effect on what you think or how you see things further down the line, and my initial evaluation just on the box alone was, “very well presented”, not your average packaging, good things come in small packages apparently; quality! So, to the platform itself! It looks somewhat similar to another very popular and well-known airsoft SMG platform in my opinion, and is roughly the same size. With CQB in mind this platform will be very effective in that environment. Although it is mainly polymer it is very solid, with no movement between any of the parts. The M-LOK-style 5.5 inch handguard is aluminium and in true G&G form it is very well machined and finished with a nice little handstop incorporated, so no need to add any extras. The overall length is 605mm fully extended but the MXC-9 does have a folding stock so can be made very short making it easy to carry in a rucksack and weighs in at 2330g. I really like the stock design as it reminds me of a “Zhukov” stock, with six adjustment levels and a moveable cheek rest. Inside the stock is where the battery is housed and the MXC-9 can easily accommodate an 11.1v stick battery; a Giant Power

15c stick or similar fits perfectly and this should keep you going all day long! Due to the fact the stock can fold G&G went for a conductive hinge on this, and for me it is the first time I have used one, although from what I understand it isn’t a new design; I feel it is a great idea as there are no wires in between the stock and the body. Although the body of the MXC-9 is just a PCC-45 G&G have designed a completely unique set of magazines in “9mm” guise and they look great ! They come in two flavours, 130BB or 170BB and both sport the new FOUR CHANNEL converging system. This means there are four separate channels in the mags which merge into one feed tube, the benefit being you’re able to fit more BBs into a smaller area, and the springs feed better due to sitting inline and not bent around the inside… just don’t be in a hurry to take them apart, trying to get the four springs back in is like trying to get wet spaghetti into a Maccy D’s straw lol! I prefer the look of the 170BB mag as it has a chunky rubber base, so in the event you drop it the rubber will certainly protect it. For the record you can use both MXC-9 mags and PCC-45 mags, the mags will happily swap between the two platforms so you don’t need to worry about being specific with your mags.

ZERO SNEAKY!

Naturally I had to go inside and see if there were any differences between the two G&G platforms, and the main difference I found was the MXC-9 has a 25k Ifrit motor whereas my PCC-45 came with the 18k motor, so a massive difference in performance where speed is concerned. The 25k Ifrit motor is a very capable motor

“DUE TO THE FACT THE STOCK CAN FOLD G&G WENT FOR A CONDUCTIVE HINGE ON THIS, AND FOR ME IT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE USED ONE, ALTHOUGH FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IT ISN’T A NEW DESIGN; I FEEL IT IS A GREAT IDEA AS THERE ARE NO WIRES IN BETWEEN THE STOCK AND THE BODY.”

www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY G&G MXC-9

with lots of torque and a very respectable speed giving you on 11.1v 15c around 20 rps which by my standards is more than enough. The G2 gearbox sounds great with the 25k motor, while I feel the PCC-45 sounds a bit laboured with the 18k. Out on the game field is where this compact platform really shines! Being compact you would automatically think it to be an indoor close quarter tool, and well, you would be wrong to think this. Even with its meagre 128mm barrel this thing surprised me fully, allowing me to reach out to distances which a barrel three times its length should be reaching. In fact I was reaching out past many others, and this mainly due to G&G’s new BLUE rubber. It is a great hop rubber in comparison to the tried and tested G&G GREEN which has been over the years a popular choice. I reckon with a premium inner barrel, the blue hop rubber and an Omega nub you could see some crazy ranges! Don’t try to be sneaky with the MXC-9 as everybody on the field will know where you are! This is due to the muzzle device fitted; it is large and very loud, in fact I’m going to say it’s probably louder than the Fire Hawk, and if you know the Fire Hawk then you get the picture. I really would love to see some EBB on these new offerings though; being a fan of EBB I love hearing the noise and getting a sense of realism from the operation of seeing the bolt fly back and forth. Filling up with my usual .20g BUSHIDO BB “testers” the MXC-9 gave a mean chronograph reading of 0.99 Joule/328fps which was on the nose pretty much each and every shot! I’m not sure what G&G have been up to in the depths of their “skunkworks”, but this shot-to-shot consistency is becoming the norm for them, as I’ve had the same level of consistency when I’ve tested other recent G&G models, and this is obviously perfectly site friendly for the majority of countries legally. I’ve been running the MXC-9 mostly on my usual .28gs “in game”, and the hop is easy and simple to adjust even wearing tactical gloves. With all the controls on the MXC-9 being ambidextrous (another thing I’ve come to almost expect with newer G&G models), it makes operation extremely simple and comfortable for all potential users. So to conclude, yes, this is a PCC-45 underneath,

that we cannot not deny as it clearly says it on the side, but I am a massive fan of the 45 even with its flawed battery compartment. However, the MXC9 doesn’t just up the awesome looks it also totally eliminates the battery storage issue! With the new stock design and the new handguard I’m somewhat shocked to hear myself say that the MXC-9 looks better than the PCC-45, although I may have to swap out stocks between the two just see how the 45 will look with the MXC-9 stock… I would like to be able to say definitively what the price range will be in the UK and Europe (www. redwolfairsoft.com are showing the MXC-9 at US $354.99 which sounds right…) but as I said, we received it way before it was due to land in store! I imagine they will be landing in your favourite airsoft shop very soon though, and within reason I will say the MXC-9 will be worth every penny! I would like to say a massive thank you to the guys at G&G Armament (www.guay2.com) for the opportunity to test and report on this great new platform; I look forward to what comes next with some anticipation! AA

“THE MXC-9 DOESN’T JUST UP THE AWESOME LOOKS IT ALSO TOTALLY ELIMINATES THE BATTERY STORAGE ISSUE! WITH THE NEW STOCK DESIGN AND THE NEW HANDGUARD I’M SOMEWHAT SHOCKED TO HEAR MYSELF SAY THAT THE MXC-9 LOOKS BETTER THAN THE PCC-45...”

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ARMOURY G&G MXC-9

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ARMOURY RAVEN R14

NEXT GEN 1911! 16

AUGUST 2022

ARMOURY RAVEN R14

BILL WAS OVERJOYED LATE IN 2017 WHEN ROSS AT RAVEN INTRODUCED HIM TO THE PREPRODUCTION VERSION OF THEIR NEW GBB PISTOLS AND HE’S BEEN USING ONE (OF MANY!) FOR NEARLY FIVE YEARS NOW IN HIS PERSONAL AIRSOFT ADVENTURES BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD! SINCE THEN THE MARQUE HAS MOVED EVER-ONWARDS OFFERING PLAYERS A MIND-BENDING ARRAY OF MODELS AND INDEED COLOURS TO CHOOSE FROM, AND THE LATEST R14 IS SOMETHING JUST A BIT SPECIAL… AGAIN!

AVEN GBB pistols have always been to me what I lovingly refer to as “fightin’ irons”, and by that I mean simple, straightforward yet elegant handguns designed specifically to be accurate, durable and reliable in a game setting, and the fact that they are REALLY competitively priced doesn’t hurt either, especially at the moment when many of us are feeling a bit of a financial squeeze! A RAVEN pistol is a tool that you can use immediately you buy one, and if you wish, work on to become a partner that will serve you well over a considerable “service life”! I’ve got original RAVEN 1911s that are still running as new, and my RAVEN “training, NOT a…” gets extensive use; with even basic maintenance these handguns run and run, unlike some of the competitors out there that burn bright initially but fade away over time… I still maintain that the RAVEN Hi-Capa is by far one of the best “fighting pistols” that I’ve ever come across, simple yet SO effective, and that’s not bias towards my friend Ross coming out as he’s been behind the concept and design of many fine GBB handguns now, it’s just a fact that the Hi-Capa is a fine, fine pistol FOR THE USER! I now have in my collection a 5.1, 4.3, and a 3.8 RAVEN Hi-Capa, and I love them all for different reasons, the 3.8 RDS model being the latest acquisition for my PAMG setup. But as I’m having a bit of an “airsoft throwback moment” and looking back to my old “US SF” gear I found myself digging out my original RAVEN MEU, and although it’s still a more than serviceable shooter

it does pale just a little against the performance of the HiCapas, and having been spoiled by these I found myself wanting just a little bit more from the “old campaigner”… And blow me if the RAVEN team haven’t read my mind, as the latest pistol in their everexpanding stable is a marvellous mix of the two! It’s an “MEU-style 1911” BUT one that has been up-specced and uses Hi-Capa magazines! This to me is a magic combo for airsoft use, as although I wouldn’t get away with any kind of Hi-Capa at a living history event, at an airsoft game I can use it happily while pretty much keeping “in theme”! The R14 is to me a stunning pistol and the idea of having “Hi-Capa Utility” in a somewhat more classic design appeals to me greatly! C’mon, who amongst us doesn’t want all the performance we can get from any platform, but still have it look great too? I for one want a “secondary” that’s going to be unwavering in delivering BBs to target time and again, with performance from the box that means

“THE R14 IS TO ME A STUNNING PISTOL AND THE IDEA OF HAVING “HI-CAPA UTILITY” IN A SOMEWHAT MORE CLASSIC DESIGN APPEALS TO ME GREATLY! C’MON, WHO AMONGST US DOESN’T WANT ALL THE PERFORMANCE WE CAN GET FROM ANY PLATFORM, BUT STILL HAVE IT LOOK GREAT TOO?”

www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY RAVEN R14

I can just run it “as is” and be assured of reliability when I REALLY need it… as I’ve often said, if I have to go to my secondary in-game then it’s because something has gone seriously pear-shaped, and I need that secondary to do its job right! After having shot all of the current range, from pre-production models through to “seasoned campaigners” I have that confidence in RAVEN handguns and that’s why more often than not if you see me at a game there’ll be one in my holster.

Whilst I can fully appreciate a new pistol model from any manufacturer if it works as it should, and there are many lovely models to choose from now that do, unless I am running a very specific loadout that requires a particular model that isn’t in the RAVEN line-up then you can pretty much bet on the fact that my handgun will feature that black avian on the magazine base. RAVEN has really come on as a brand in its own right since I was involved in the launch of those initial models, and although, like any manufacturer they’ve had their “ups and downs” it’s been pretty much all “ups” as the range has matured and grown!

SYMBLOISM MADE REALITY

I’ll go back here to what Ross told me when the RAVEN concept was just that, a concept and not the impressively comprehensive range of handguns that we see from them now! When I asked him “why

RAVEN?” he told me: “GBB Pistols are the reliable secondary you keep at your side, so when naming this new GBB Brand we took inspiration from the Norse god ODIN, who at all times had his two faithful, reliable ‘RAVEN’ servants at his side. THIS is exactly how we want our customers to feel about their new RAVEN GBB Pistols; we want to create pistols that players can rely on 100% as their “sidekick” or game-partner, something that would always be with them as they progressed in their own personal airsoft journey, forever learning and growing as they move everforward like the hero in a saga of old…” And I’d say it’s “mission achieved” from my perspective, as the RAVEN line now encompasses many different models and variants thereof, and I have zero doubt that this line will continue to expand, and even improve as new materials and technologies become available; for what is seen by many as an “entry level brand” due to that keen pricing these pistols quite literally provide an immense amount of “bang for your buck” for players that are starting out on their own airsoft journey, or for those old-timers like me that need a little inspiration to pep up their game! As much as the existing RAVEN EU and “1911” models were first rate, and that range continues to grow, the guys behind RAVEN felt strongly that they wanted to really make a firm statement of intent when it came to what they are able to achieve, and the net result of that was their excellent range of Hi- Capas. These models moved on from the original single-stack, more classic 1911s, with a modern, strong, almost “blocky” look that is still right on the button for current combat pistol design. Again, at the time of their introduction Ross told me: “With the Hi-Capa’s we’ve kept thing completely streamlined without any fuss or ornate work to any of the main parts. These are pistols fundamentally designed to be skirmished with, to be used rather than just carried in a holster. We’ve beefed up areas that we felt needed it to give them longevity and

“GBB PISTOLS ARE THE RELIABLE SECONDARY YOU KEEP AT YOUR SIDE, SO WHEN NAMING THIS NEW GBB BRAND WE TOOK INSPIRATION FROM THE NORSE GOD ODIN, WHO AT ALL TIMES HAD HIS TWO FAITHFUL, RELIABLE ‘RAVEN’ SERVANTS AT HIS SIDE”

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ARMOURY RAVEN R14

durability, only adding features where necessary like the threaded outer barrels and the light/laser rail on the frame. We also upgraded the slide spring to cope both with the minimal increase in weight, and to give them a real kick!” And I can certainly attest to their efficiency and efficacy, both in “pistol-only” games and on the range; I just love these pistols! But, and there is a BUT here, I do love a classic 1911, and certain loadouts do indeed cry out for one. The new R14s move this into new territory though, featuring railed tactical models with more “MEU-style” lines that benefit from all the latest advances along with Hi-Capa levels of power and performance.

GETTING IN EARLY!

Once again I was lucky enough to be sent the last model of the “pre-production” R14s, one which actually has the individual serial number of “0001” that meant it was the first of the fully realised new pistols, albeit with cosmetically-unfinished parts still in evidence. I actually quite liked this as I could see some of the work that had been undertaken to make the pistol work efficiently in a very visual way, although beneath the surface there were other things going on that weren’t immediately apparent! The R14 actually brings together many concepts found within RAVENs current range of GBBs to produce a punchy, efficient and reliable secondary. Starting with the true “driver” of a GBB pistol, the 23 BB mag is “double-stacked” which means a hefty amount of BBs and gas storage; in fact the R14 will use any of the magazines from the RAVEN Hi-Capa series, and you’ll be able to shoot every single BB in that double-stack with ease. Surrounding the magazine is the moulded-stipple RAVEN grip which has an almost rubberised feel, something like the feel of the old Pachmayr grips for those that know them. The “Beaver Tail” safety fitted to the rear was one of the parts obviously modified to accept the greater width of the magazine

housing, along with the slide release. In the hand it feels outstanding, and for those of you that, like me, own a Browning Hi Power there is a distinctly familiar positive, “chunky” feel to the R14 grip geometry. The frame features a Picatinny Accessory Rail on the front lower much like that of the M45A1 CQBP, essential for going “full-tactical” with a taclite or LAM. Bringing this replica together, the R14s slide is a thing of beauty in its own right; whilst similar to the classic 1911 slide, it sits atop a frame that makes

allowance for that big old double-stack mag, so the R14 has a topnotch “power-to-weight ratio” thanks to the fact that the slide itself has been made relatively light to aid in overall performance. It’s still slim like a singlestacker slide which of course means that apart from being efficient in cycle, and having a really sweet recoil impulse, the whole pistol will still fit into even classic-1911 holsters! I do hope that at some point there’ll be a non-railed version with a flat magazine baseplate as this would work SO well in a Namsoft loadout… From extensive testing of the “0001” model I immediately knew from both the feel and performance perspective that this would be a GBB pistol I would love to add to my armoury, and so when the full-production version arrived (number “0197” just FYI) I was overjoyed to see that the finish was first-rate. When it comes to handguns I’m a bit “Henry Ford” as any colour will do as long

“FROM EXTENSIVE TESTING OF THE “0001” MODEL I IMMEDIATELY KNEW FROM BOTH THE FEEL AND PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVE THAT THIS WOULD BE A GBB PISTOL I WOULD LOVE TO ADD TO MY ARMOURY, AND SO WHEN THE FULL-PRODUCTION VERSION ARRIVED (NUMBER “0197” JUST FYI) I WAS OVERJOYED TO SEE THAT THE FINISH WAS FIRST-RATE.” www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY RAVEN R14

as it’s black… although I may occasionally make an exception if it’s “SF Bronze” or green to fit into my PAMG setup. The black R14 is MINT! Yes, I know that there are more colours to choose from, including an absolutely outrageous FULL PINK model (although in fairness the pink/silver actually looks quite elegant!), but black is what I wanted, and black is what I got! The finish really is one of the best that RAVEN have created to date, an almost satin black that gives a real “quality” feel. Markings are extremely subtle with just a tiny “R14” unobtrusively on the slide, although there is a neat, etched “.45 ACP” on the outer “chamber”. The outer barrel comes internally pre-threaded for an additional muzzle device or suppressor should you wish to fit one… and to me the R14 really cries out for an “SF-y Advanced Armaments-style” can!

DOWNRANGE

And as for my testing, “0001” has been going on now for nigh-on a couple of months of regular morning range sessions; after a couple of hundred mags downrange to date it’s still kicking out BBs perfectly, even though I’ve been purposely running it “dry” and un-lubed! Putting BBs to target happily at 10m each and every time I’ve recorded an average reading through the chrono of 1.02 Joule/332 fps on

RZR .20g BBs using NP 2.0 gas, and the R14 handles heavier weight BBs just as well! I’ve been running “0197” on NUPROL 2.0 gas, using .20g RZR BBs for testing since it arrived, and the chrono settles consistently at 1.03 Joule/334fps on that weight, with little variance. The pistol has now had about 35 mags worth down the barrel (a mix of .20 and .25g RZRs), and to date I’ve experienced no issues. The trigger is awesome, as this is now supercrisp with just a mil or two of take-up, and accuracy is actually getting better the more I run it; at 10m I’m now down to regular 75mm groupings when I try and consistently at 10m it’s a breeze hitting steels each and every time, even when I’m on the move! I’ve been close to the R14 project for a good while now, and I have to say that I’m truly happy with the look, feel, quality, and performance of the finished product; it absolutely looks like Ross and the RAVEN crew have done it again, and it feels like each and every RAVEN release just moves things on! For a GBB pistol that’s going to be selling in that all-important UK£100 bracket, the R14 100% delivers on all fronts. Available with or without a pre-mounted RDS, the R14 is available in multiple colours and it’s hitting stores right now! For more information please do visit www.rvnairsoft.com or keep an eye on their Facebook page for regular updates. AA

“THE TRIGGER IS AWESOME, AS THIS IS NOW SUPER-CRISP WITH JUST A MIL OR TWO OF TAKE-UP, AND ACCURACY IS ACTUALLY GETTING BETTER THE MORE I RUN IT; AT 10M I’M NOW DOWN TO REGULAR 75MM GROUPINGS WHEN I TRY AND CONSISTENTLY AT 10M IT’S A BREEZE HITTING STEELS EACH AND EVERY TIME, EVEN WHEN I’M ON THE MOVE!” 20

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ARMOURY RAVEN R14

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ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

OLD SKOOL/ NEW SKOOL BEST! ANYONE WHO KNOWS STEWBACCA OR FOLLOWS HIS EXPLOITS IN TAIWAN WILL KNOW THAT YOU’RE RARELY LIKELY TO SEE HIM WIELDING AN AEG BY CHOICE; THE CLIMATE, BOTH LITERALLY AND IN TERMS OF THE HEAVILY MILSIM STYLE OF GAMEPLAY THERE AND HIS OWN RECENT MOVE TOWARDS “JUNGLE OPS” WITH TEAM TAIJI, HAVE LEAD HIM TO LEAN TOWARDS GAS BLOWBACK RIFLES DUE TO THEIR REALISM, FUN FACTOR AND THE FACT THEY ACTUALLY WORK EFFECTIVELY THERE IN THE HEAT. SO IF HE’S SINGING THE PRAISES OF AN AEG, YOU KNOW IT’S WORTH TAKING A LOOK AT!

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ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

aving spent quite some time at their large stand at MOA Campfest 2022 (featured back in May’s issue 137) and then shortly afterwards visiting their facility down in the midlands of Taiwan (June’s issue 138) as well as online communication with their team, I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know LCT Airsoft a little better than before in recent months. Having done the factory tour and enjoyed the hospitality of the

staff and their

showroom chock full of ALL the guns, I took to introducing some of their products and sharing my thoughts as part of their Youtube LCT Fresh episode 15. At MOA and on the tour I evidently took quite a shine to their LK53 EBB variant which is one of the latest models in general, originally being released in August 2021, but now also one of the most recent to receive their EBB system re-working for added realism and end user experience. Unsurprising, given my love of all things Heckler & Koch, you no doubt assume; in fact I did have their LK33A2 full length rifle AEG previously which I got as part of a bundle from a well-known friend here along with my Modify PP2K; at the time I didn’t have a battery or charger and never got around to acquiring one due

to my heavy emphasis on all things GBB and the fact I rarely got chance to field the LK33A2 due to other obligations for review. As well as it being very heavy and unwieldy for me with my ageing back, it ended up moving on to another teammate better suited to it without me having had any chance to enjoy it myself. Nonetheless, my interest in its smaller sibling had been noted and Benita from their staff contacted me a week or two before my birthday back in May and told me she was sending one for me (not requiring return or purchasing, full

disclosure and whatnot!) for me to keep and assess over the long term. I specifically requested the LK53A3 with the telescopic stock as I prefer that kind of thing over fixed stocks in general due to my lack of personal transport as well as the greater ease of storage in general! A few days later another in a line of long and suspicious packages was left with my concierge and I came home to an exciting unboxing experience of my own LK53A3 EBB, as usual well packaged in LCT Airsoft’s nicely decorated, information rich and sturdy packaging as well as including some additional goodies hidden beneath the plastic shell layer for me to use along with it; an LK013 front RIS system for HK platforms, as well as their PK406 GP74 styled combined battery box and ergonomic front horizontal grip unit, along with an extended wire loom end unit to help reach into it and connect to the battery stored within.

GREAT IN THE HAND

The immediate impression you get when handling any LCT product, and no less this one, is the heft and build quality; the stock and bare LK53A3 EBB is admittedly around the same weight as my GBBR MP5s with all the trimmings added on, but they really are the closest thing you’re likely to find to the real guns! Having seen them stamping and pounding plain metal sheets into the intricate shapes of AK & HK platforms during my visit, their level of industry is somewhat difficult to match in this field; I very much doubt even www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

especially with regard to its earliest shortened carbine versions) many special forces turned to the HK53 as an ideal recoil/ roller delay operated, handy weapon which was less sensitive to ammunition and the environmental conditions which gave the M16 and XM177 such a bad initial reputation. With high profile users such as the US Navy SEALs, UK SAS and other special forces, as well as extensive use by air crew and Royal Protection details among other special purposes, the HK53 is a bit of a silent partner that many airsofters or impression/loadout lovers might otherwise overlook due to the lesser fixation upon it in media and historical prominence. Despite this it clearly offers a great primary choice and enables you to match it with an array of different military or police forces impressions should you choose to.

Image from Public Domain source

I could break one of their products, and believe me, I already tried, as when I fell over and sprained my ankle at the weekend while testing it, IT came out unscathed and worked fine for the rest of the day, myself, not so much! What is an HK53, you ask? Practically speaking, an MP5 chambered in 5.56mm! The external appearance, dimensions, even the accessories to some extent, are close or identical to an MP5, which, coupled with H&K’s general modularity in construction, and LCT’s close replication of it and the dimensions of their replicas, means you can interchange certain parts with ease, even with real steel components or those of other manufacturers! I was very happy to stumble on the fact my existing MP5A5’s integrated weapon light front handguard will fit equally well on the LCT LK53A3, although the stock handguards are of slightly different lengths, with the rear ‘skirt’ or overhang of the HK53 type extending back further, but the mounting ‘shoe’ or hook it latches onto the receiver with is in the same place in both types, making them interchangeable. Having spent most of my adult life in Nottingham after heading there to study at university, and hanging around for a decade in industry before heading to the tropics, I am most familiar with the firearms choices of Midlands Police Armed Response or patrol units, so I immediately liked the look of the LK53A3 with the integral weapon light as well as a top picatinny low rail mount and EOtech 558 clone which again are all readily compatible thanks to LCT’s replication of real steel dimensions. This all goes together nicely to give me another ‘police’ gun familiar to my formative years, along with my MP5A5, G36C and P99 pistol. The HK53 has a much longer lineage in the use of security forces worldwide, however; originally developed along with its full size HK33 sibling during the early 1960’s to compete with the AR platform (which had reliability issues in general during the Vietnam conflict, but

FIT AND FUNCTION

The quick change spring system of LCT’s heavy duty gearbox makes it very easy to upgrade or downgrade the power output without having to dismantle the whole gun or even remove the gearbox, as simply

“WITH HIGH PROFILE USERS SUCH AS THE US NAVY SEALS, UK SAS AND OTHER SPECIAL FORCES, AS WELL AS EXTENSIVE USE BY AIR CREW AND ROYAL PROTECTION DETAILS AMONG OTHER SPECIAL PURPOSES, THE HK53 IS A BIT OF A SILENT PARTNER THAT MANY AIRSOFTERS OR IMPRESSION/LOADOUT LOVERS MIGHT OTHERWISE OVERLOOK” 26

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ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

popping the retainer pin on the stock and sliding it off the back exposes the base of the spring guide which can then be pressed in slightly and turned to unlock it and allow its removal along with the mainspring, enabling the end user to rapidly tune the gun for site or game rule variations. The magazines are of course interchangeable with their earlier LK33 larger version, and you are supplied with a single shorter “25 round” real steel equivalent which gives you in airsoft a 100 BB midcap magazine; it’s actually 104 BB capacity, which nicely accounts for the four excess rounds left in the feeding tube upon emptying and removing the magazine during reloading, so you get exactly a hundred BBs fed effectively. The longer “30 round” real steel equivalent magazine variant affords you a slightly higher 130 BB capacity in a midcap, while you can elect for old school high capacity winding magazines in the same external dimensions which carry 300 or 600 BBs respectively. The magazines themselves are fitted in a rock and lock fashion similar to the earlier 7.62mm G3 family of weapons; nose in the front lip of the magazine into its supporting lug, then rotate it backward and upwards to engage the release lever and retain it solidly in the magazine well. The release can be actuated with the typical ambidextrous flapper release lever beneath and behind the magazine well, or the push button on the right side of the receiver if you have long enough trigger fingers like mine. The fire selector is of the more traditional left side only, longer lever and further sweeping S-E-F trigger pack style with the earlier ribbed and insert pistol grip unit familiar to earlier adopters of the MP5, whereas the later pictographic style selectors of the US Navy style have a smoother overall profile and shorter selector levers with shorter throw angles between positions. This may be a mixed bag of ergonomics depending on your usage and experience, the longer lever of the more traditional trigger pack style is arguably easier to actuate from safe to semi auto without breaking your firing hand grip (if your thumbs are shorter or you otherwise find modern MP5 style controls less comfortable). However, if you’re going to be using full auto a lot, the 90 degree downward position of the selector lever makes it a little less

comfortable to switch into or out of that setting; it’s also fairly stiff and has the retention divots in the arc of the receiver wall beneath it that enable very positive locking of the already stiff selector lever into each position. The charging handle has the forward folding lever unit that retains on an external dimple to prevent it moving unwantedly, and gives you a great amount of leverage and a comfortable control when locking it back for isolating the EBB unit, or adjusting the HOP unit, but of course also allows for an extremely satisfying “HK slap” without any worry of damage long term!

“WITH A STURDY BUT BASIC GEARBOX, THE STOCK TRIGGER HAS OF COURSE QUITE A REASONABLY LONG PULL TYPICAL OF H&K PLATFORMS OF THIS ERA, BUT THE TRIGGER IS COMFORTABLE AND EASY TO GET USED TO ACTUATING, WHILE THE GEARBOX ITSELF OBVIOUSLY HAS THE USUAL WIND UP OR LOCK TIME ASSOCIATED WITH NON MOSFET OR PRE-COCKING ENABLED AEGS” www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

The front muzzle device is a typical enclosed birdcage similar to an AR, and has the standard 14mm thread beneath it for the attachment of silencers or other muzzle devices or tracer units. The upper receiver and cocking tube assembly follow the original dimensions so the end user can easily attach a low claw rail as I have, or a higher sitting claw mount for a scope or red dot sight should they wish. At the rear of the receiver is a large fixed slinging loop, while the cross pin retaining the front sight block has the usual eyelet on its end for hooking on a small sling clip, and with the telescopic stock variant you have the standard swinging flag beneath the stock plug where it meets the receiver, pulling it towards the left of the receiver unlocks the stock for deploying or collapsing, with retention latches for fully extended or collapsed positions. With a sturdy but basic gearbox, the stock trigger has of course quite a reasonably long pull typical of H&K platforms of this era, but the trigger is comfortable and easy to get used to actuating, while the gearbox itself obviously has the usual wind up or lock time associated with non MOSFET or pre-cocking enabled AEGs. I imagine fitting such an aftermarket unit would make the LK53A3 quite something when coupled with its performance and EBB system. Despite regularly carrying gas guns and magazines where my whole loadout is perhaps less than 200 BBs, when you have a hundred BBs in a single magazine you seem to get through it a lot more quickly! In my experience of fielding the LK53A3 I think I may have to furnish myself with more of the 100 BB midcaps to fill up my magazine pouches; these are of course equally well suited to my 5.56 style TMC Scorpion FASTmag pouches given their general sizing.

MIXING IT ALL UP

With the LK013 RIS handguard installed (a simple matter of pushing out the front retainer pin of the original handguard, removing the short original wire loom termination and installing the extended one LCT sent me, then putting on the handguard itself, feeding the extended cable through one of its cooling holes in a convenient place for fixing the battery, and tightening the retention grub screw on the bottom of its rear end which helps retain it against the main

receiver body) I could also slide on and grub screw retain the additional PK406 ergonomic handguard and battery box which will hold a small LiPo battery with ease, with a roughly 100mm internal storage space length and allowing for very rapid battery changes by simply popping out the retainer pins at both ends and pulling the lower section of the grip off. This whole setup is a great idea in terms of rapid battery changes, and was indispensable for me given that I’d specifically asked for the telescopic stock variant; if you don’t mind getting the LK53A2 with the fixed stock, you’ll have an even easier time with its much larger battery space in its internal compartment. Either solution offers a great experience in ease of use and handling, and particularly for myself the ergonomic grip helped eliminate the usual strains or discomfort I get from fielding shorter guns without vertical foregrips, although admittedly the aesthetic might not be to everyone’s taste - including some of my teammates. The out of the box performance, general handling, but particularly the recoil experience, however, were very much to everyone’s taste who handled it and let off a few BBs (or magazine loads!) during my first few game days during its initial evaluation! Most of my teammates were very impressed and vocal in singing its praises for build quality, feel and particularly the consistency and range despite it being stock and out of the box, even when using full auto fire.

DOWNRANGE

The LK53 internal barrel is 270mm long and composed of the typical brass, and despite being somewhat shorter than rival systems nonetheless delivered excellent consistency and range straight out of the box; the gearbox was kicking out around 1.6 Joules with the stock spring! I chronographed with 0.2g BLS BBs and got a range of ten shots between 121.3 - 126.9m/s (398 - 416 fps) as well as 100.8 104.1m/s (330 - 341 fps) using 0.3g BLS BBs, all of which is fine for Taiwan’s local regulations but will no doubt need downgrading for UK or other lower power limits; no big issue given the quick change spring system. This also surprised me somewhat, again having only really dabbled slightly in recoil AEGs back in the UK

“THE OUT OF THE BOX PERFORMANCE, GENERAL HANDLING, BUT PARTICULARLY THE RECOIL EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, WERE VERY MUCH TO EVERYONE’S TASTE WHO HANDLED IT AND LET OFF A FEW BBS (OR MAGAZINE LOADS!) DURING MY FIRST FEW GAME DAYS DURING ITS INITIAL EVALUATION”

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ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

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ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

as they were first starting to show up with the likes of my Marui AK102, which had a somewhat lacklustre recoil feeling and power by comparison. The general heft of the LK53A3, nearly four kilograms all told, is nonetheless very effectively thrown around during automatic fire with the EBB system, giving you a great experience of the juddering sight picture and the rata-tat factor; with my EOtech’s donut shaking around the targets I’d chosen at distance, but nonetheless all rounds landing nicely on target. The HOP unit is easily adjusted by retracting the folding charging handle and locking it up into its rear retention notch, which retracts the faux EBB bolt and exposes the slim drum type HOP adjuster in the ejection port, which is easy to use and holds its position well, allowing for a consistent effect despite the vibration of the blowback unit. The EBB feature can also be isolated by doing this; if you fire with

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the charging handle locked back the EBB bolt will not travel with the internal piston of the gearbox, thus allowing you to either tune your HOP unit with greater ease, or operate more stealthily if you don’t want your position to be given away by the somewhat loud report of the blowback unit clattering with each shot! On our first outing to Hutoushan to the West of Taipei, myself and few of the other guys who had a go with it were drilling BBs into small abandoned burners/ drums at 20m effortlessly, while more recently on our Xindian shoot to the South the following weekend I was laying single shots and even long bursts of fire on a human torso width tree trunk at 50m away with great ease, without any rounds straying even during extended full auto fire. Despite the relatively short internal barrel and all the recoil impulse throwing the LK53A3 around, it still manages to effectively put

ARMOURY LCT LK53A3

BBs down at range, and in a small target box - most impressive, I found. I used 0.3g BLS BBs for the most part but also dabbled with 0.4g BBs while I had some to hand, and it just runs like a sewing machine on either with an easy but slight adjustment of the HOP to account for the difference in ammunition weight. I was having a great time with it and was even managing to land bursts on an empty gas can at the base of the tree,so with enough BBs run through it, the HOP will no doubt bed in nicely and start giving you a really tight and satisfying grouping, particularly with an optical sight and the repeatability of point of aim that gives you. The stock iron sights are the typical H&K four position rotating rear diopter drum sight and front post in a protective ring, and not ideal for my ageing eyes, the donut of an EOtech or dot of other sights would suit it well. I didn’t experience a single feed issue or malfunction throughout any of my shenanigans, even after slipping over and doing my ankle in, landing on the gun and getting it a little muddied (even in the muzzle Frebchie!), it just kept on shredding away and being genuinely fun to shoot, not something I’d associate with an AEG in my hands to be entirely honest. Evidently LCT are doing a lot of things right, and despite the overall weight being a potential downside for some users, I had a great time wielding it and could see myself having it on hand more often as it’s just short enough to fit in my 5.11 Rush 72 hour backpack with the stock retracted, which allows it to shrink to just 563mm, or 755mm with it deployed for shoulder firing; the fixed stock A2 variant is 745mm overall. It also presents a great option for new players, with it being applicable to so many different loadout scenarios as well as short enough to find its way through CQB fields with ease, you’re basically getting all of the handling of an MP5, but with a sturdy package and larger magazine profile for ease of handling and compatibility with more ARoriented tactical gear making it easier to use with a lot of existing loadouts or equipment (instead of having to stuff MP5 or other 9mm sized magazines into oversized pouches or rework your rigs to use pistol/SMG mag pouches) as well as the general performance meaning it is easy and effective to shoot without much faff for new players. With all that in mind I might invest in some more of those 100 BB midcaps and run mine out in some of the MilSim weekender games we have been waiting to be rescheduled after ‘rona related delays; it certainly provides a lot of performance and firepower

in a handy package, just like its real steel equivalent did for many dangerous people in dangerous environments in real conflicts in the past. So, if you’re looking for something which is aesthetically pleasing, good to handle, and will happily throw medium to heavy weight BBs all the way out easily past 50m or more, and perhaps want something a little different which works well for special forces, armed police, protection detail or air crew impressions, why not consider the LCT LK53? I’d like to once again extend my sincere thanks to Benita and the rest of the LCT Team for sending me the LK53A3 EBB along with the additional accessories for evaluation, and I’ll undoubtedly have more fun with it in the future and have further thoughts to share. Do check out their entire range by visiting www.lctairsoft.com AA

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ARMOURY KRYTAC EMG FN-LICENCED P90

OPERATIONS SPECIALES!

THE AIRSOFT P90 IS UNDOUBTEDLY A MODEL THAT DIVIDES PLAYER OPINION, BUT ONE THAT HAS BEEN WITH US IN “6MM” FORM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND HAS GIVEN SOLID SERVICE AND ENJOYMENT TO OWNERS WORLDWIDE. BUT DO WE NEED ANOTHER VERSION OF THIS DIMINUTIVE PDW, AND IF SO, WHAT DOES THE KRYTAC/EMG “TAKE” BRING TO THE TABLE? BILL DELVES DEEPER… 34

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ARMOURY KRYTAC EMG FN-LICENCED P90

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ARMOURY KRYTAC EMG FN-LICENCED P90

n FN P90 replica is without doubt an AEG that divides player opinion like virtually no other I can easily think of, with vociferous and vocal “yay” and “nay” camps on either side of the debate! I will admit that I have personally never used a P90 AEG in game or even on the range, and to this point have always been firmly in the “nay” category, but for reasons that frankly I am hard-pressed to fathom! The airsoft version was originally launched by Tokyo Marui in 2001 and upon its release it was received very favourably, probably for “Stargate” reasons amongst Japanese cosplayers! However, although the AEG was innovative at the time, there were flaws. Over the years, companies such as Laylax have offered up a whole host of upgrade parts for the AEG which did rectify several issues but it was ultimately still not “TM perfection”. I have however known many solid players that absolutely swear by their P90 AEG, and will have not a word said against it. Many players local to me in the South East of the UK will remember “Big Mark Mac” who is still a very good friend of mine even though his airsoft days are apparently behind him; “Big Mark” was something of a connoisseur of AEGs, spending many an hour in his workshop getting his “game guns” just right, and amongst his

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impressive armoury was a TM P90 that he cherished. Why is this of note? Well, I’m a big guy but Mark dwarfs me, and I honestly always thought that the tiny P90 looked somewhat ridiculous in his hands! What I can tell you though is that in a CQB environment, the real P90s intended “home”, his little AEG was absolutely devastating, and odd as he may have looked with it I certainly always wanted him on my team!

KEEPING IT REAL

Over time I have genuinely often wondered if I was missing a trick with the P90 as it’s actually, in real firearms terms, something pretty darn special! Okay, you will NEVER mistake a P90 for any other firearm, that’s for certain, but its uniqueness extends far further than just the external appearance. Fundamentally the P90 was designed by Fabrique Nationale for a specific purpose, that of a PDW, and was created in conjunction with a cartridge designed to defeat modern body armour! Much like the H&K MP7 with the 4.6×30mm armour-piercing cartridge the P90 is chambered in 5.7×28mm (initially the SS90 and subsequently the SS190, a cartridge it shares with the FN Five-SeveN pistol) and shows the changing face

ARMOURY KRYTAC EMG FN-LICENCED P90

of modern-day combat needs… and the debate about which is the more effective round still rumbles on at the very highest level! It’s stated widely that: “Both the P90 and the 5.7×28mm ammunition were developed by FN Herstal in response to NATO requests for a replacement for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge and associated pistols and submachine guns. NATO called for two types of weapons chambered for a new cartridge, one a shoulder-fired weapon, and the other a handheld weapon.” According to the NATO requirements these weapons, termed Personal Defence Weapons or PDWs, were to provide “personal protection in lastresort situations when the user is directly endangered by the enemy”, and to do this they had to be able to counter OPFOR who might be wearing protective body armour which was still a novel concept in the late 1980s and showed at least some foresight on the part of NATO procurement for once! Although the development process for the new, shoulder-fired weapon began around 1985/6 it was not until 1990 that production commenced, hence “Project 90”, or P90 for short. Created in a bullpup style to keep the overall length down, high-tech polymers were used extensively to keep weight as low as possible too, resulting in a weapon that weighed in at just 2630.84g/5.8 lb and is 505mm/19.88 inches long… but with a 263.9mm/10.39 inch barrel! It’s said that “the P90 was designed to have a length no greater than a man’s shoulder width, to allow it to be easily carried and maneuvered in tight spaces, such as the inside of a vehicle”. Its unusual shape was based on extensive ergonomic research, so the P90 was, and is manipulated via a thumbhole in the frame that acts as a pistol grip, as well as an oversized trigger guard that acts as a foregrip for the support hand. The main “Mil/LE” model came with an integrated reflex sight and fully ambidextrous controls, and the design incorporated several innovations such as the unique top-mounted magazine along with further integrated features which included an interchangeable visible/IR laser manufactured by Laserex of Australia. It also ejected spent casing from the bottom… go figure?

All of this was pretty “out there” in the late 80’s and early 90’s, but the P90 proved its worth early in the 2000’s with both Belgian units and particularly French SF in Afghanistan where it was issued to operators under the auspices of the Commandement des Opérations Spéciales who were charged with VIP close protection. The PS90 Standard is the current model offered by FN Herstal, and this features a MILSTD-1913 rail fitted to the top of the receiver, which allows the shooter to mount their preferred optical sight; the rail includes a set of integrated iron sights, as backup in case the primary sight is damaged and offers more scope (pun intended!) for personalisation and mission specific setup. The P90 in all its variants has gone on to be used by more than 40 nations around the globe, probably most notably by the United States Secret Service, and when firing the military and law enforcement-only SS190 round (there are “civilian”, semi-auto variants), the FN P90 has proved to offer great accuracy and reliability with unbeatable stopping power, and is therefore highly respected by its users.

NEW EYES ON

So, once again that question… have I been missing a trick with the airsoft P90 for all these years? It ticks many of my personal “boxes” in that it has not only real-world provenance with both Mil and LE, and is

actually a highly-respected platform amongst those that use it in earnest. It benefits from some unique characteristics that make it perfect for both MilSim roles and CBQ skirmish encounters, and of course it’s been the absolute and undoubted “star of the show”

“BOTH THE P90 AND THE 5.7×28MM AMMUNITION WERE DEVELOPED BY FN HERSTAL IN RESPONSE TO NATO REQUESTS FOR A REPLACEMENT FOR THE 9×19MM PARABELLUM CARTRIDGE AND ASSOCIATED PISTOLS AND SUBMACHINE GUNS.”

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ARMOURY KRYTAC EMG FN-LICENCED P90

in the “Stargate” franchise and numerous video games! So, when I was offered the chance to try out the new Krytac/EMG P90 by iWholesales I thought it was about time that I gave in and actually tried one with “new eyes on”, and you know what, I’m actually pretty glad that I took them up on their offer! The “FN P90 Tactical Submachine Gun” is another collaboration job that came in with huge fanfare, and is the love-child of Evike Manufacturing Group (EMG), the production and distribution subsidiary of Evike.com, and is actually manufactured in

collaboration with KRISS USA Inc.’s premier brand of airsoft products, KRYTAC, under license granted by Cybergun SA! There’s some seriously big hitters right there! At the time of launch George Melahn, Evike.com Marketing Manager told us: “We are very pleased to collaborate with KRYTAC and Cybergun on this endeavor. The P90 AEG is beloved for its compact size, weight, and ease of upgradability.”

KRISS USA Marketing Manager, Tim Seargeant went on to say: “We’ve elevated this great platform in the same way that every KRYTAC product stands above the rest. Subtle, but significant, features are designed into this P90 to improve the useability and ownership experience.” And it’s true, the new P90 does indeed appear, after extensive testing on our part, to offer more than those that have come before. It’s actually a true 1:1 representation of the FN PS90, a top loading, bullpup PDW, with MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny top rail. The body is made of a durable, impact-resistant polymer, with a high-grade alloy upper receiver. You get an ambidextrous magazine release, charging handles, and selector switch. This version is a select fire SMG with a compound trigger in auto mode, so a half press fires one BB, and a full press fires… well, every BB in the 200 BB mid-cap magazine (with selectable 50 BB capacity switch) if you keep the rigger depressed!

Thankfully the trigger pull is adjustable through a small port behind the grip, so you can set this to your own sensitivity preference! The hop up window opens when you work the charging handle, and it’s large enough to be adjusted while wearing gloves. Removing the butt plate reveals the quick change spring guide and a generous battery compartment with no unnecessary wiring. Internally,

“SO, WHEN I WAS OFFERED THE CHANCE TO TRY OUT THE NEW KRYTAC/EMG P90 BY IWHOLESALES I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT TIME THAT I GAVE IN AND ACTUALLY TRIED ONE WITH “NEW EYES ON”, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I’M ACTUALLY PRETTY GLAD THAT I TOOK THEM UP ON THEIR OFFER!”

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ARMOURY KRYTAC EMG FN-LICENCED P90

8mm ball bearings support all three gears (the AEG actually features the same gear sets used in the “Trident Series” and will work with most standard V2 gearsets), integrated MOSFET, T-plug connector, and electronic fire control unit with last round cut off when using KRYTAC Magazines; don’t worry though, if you do have TM magazines, they will fit but they won’t have the last-round cut-off feature. So, this latest “take” on the P90 aims to change all the issues that we’ve seen on others, even the TM! The polymer construction is superb, with nary a flaw, and is far better that the plastic I’ve seen used in other replicas. The alloy upper receiver gives a weight of just 2290g and when mated to the polymer lower, and the AEG feels solid as a rock which takes it forward in the “felt and perceived durability” stakes. That old, clunky “P90 trigger” that many complained about has gone, replaced by the Krytac version with that adjustable “pull; the pull-weight is also adjustable by swapping out a spring, and it has an incredibly quick response thanks to the high-tech electronics used!

DOWNRANGE

Now, as I said I’m a big guy, and the P90 does still feel odd because it is so small! At just 503mm long I have to really hunch up to get myself around it, and the muzzle feels like it’s right on top of my fat fingers! That said, it IS highly manouverable even in the tightest of spaces, and even with a suppressor fitted (the P90 flash hider is spot-on and has a 14mmCCW thread) it’s “footprint” is still minimal. The magazine change takes a little getting used to, but with 200BBs at hand you shouldn’t need to be changing-out too often in a semi-only CQB environment, and as the magazine appears to feed without a hitch, you’ll be good to go from the box. With everything set up, an 11.1 LiPo fitted, and the full-fill of 200 .20g VORSK BBs it was time to see what diminutive P90 was capable of and it certainly didn’t disappoint. On semi-auto BBs flew nicely downrange at a very respectable and site-friendly 1.06 Joule/339fps. Accuracy was unexpectedly good, and range when I moved up to .28g BBs was actually exceptional given the incredibly short 255mm inner barrel; this is a replica ideal for CQB where engagement distances are short range, but pleasingly solid out to the extent of the 30m “woods range” too, so even in dense woodland this is going to be a winner! Pressing down and changing things up to fullauto this is a right wee beastie, and you’re going to burn through mags fast if you keep the gas on; thank goodness everything inside IS first-rate as the P90

really does go like a jack-hammer! My only criticism, and this is a personal thing, is that I find the top-rail too far over the bore to happily mount an optic for CQB work, but thankfully the built-in “irons” are easily acquired. So all in all the little P90 is a bit of a gem; even though it’s small those “ergonomics” really shine through, so it’s very comfortable and instinctive to use, and given its size, easy to carry all day long and transport safely and easily, a real bonus if you’re heading to a city-centre indoor site! It really is so handy that it is only slightly more difficult to use than a pistol and it offers FAR greater firepower. Spare magazines for it are not a problem, but IMO it’s worth sticking with the Krytac models to get the last-round cut-off. The Krytac EMG FN Licensed P90 really is a whole lot of fun, but given the price (currently UK£450 at most retailers) it may not tempt players like me into picking up a whole new platform! This said, it does seem an awful lot of AEG for the money, and if you’re a new CQB player or someone who has had and loved P90’s in the past and been slightly less than impressed by their performance then it’s a model you should most definitely have a look at! For more information on the P90 and numerous other fabulous replicas please do pay a visit to www. iwholesales.co.uk, and for more insight to the companies involved behind its creation do check out both www.emgarms.com and www.krytac.com AA

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OUTDOOR TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT

BASHA UP!

WE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO START PUTTING SOME OF THOSE TACTICAL OUTDOOR SKILLS INTO PRACTICE AFTER TALKING ABOUT THEM FOR SO LONG, SO BILL AND JIMMY HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE WOODS BUILDING FAST-SET SHELTERS THAT CAN SEE EVEN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND “LIGHT IS RIGHT” PLAYERS AMONGST YOU COMFORTABLE FOR A NIGHT OR TWO!

ack when I was a teenager I was really into my cadet-force life, and lived for “parade days” on a Friday! Back in the 8o’s it was perfectly acceptable to wear our DPM to school and then head straight out to “army training sir”! Due to being in a garrison town we had a regular turnover of units in residence and it was my great honour (although not always pleasure!) to receive training from the likes of our parent Regiment The Royal Engineers, but also the likes of the Parachute Regiment, Royal Marines, the Gurkhas, Royal Irish Rangers, and the Queens Infantry Regiment! Weekend and summer camps were the undoubted highlights of my year, but especially those summer 40

AUGUST 2022

two-or-three-weekers where my friends and I lived and breathed all things “army”! Proper days on the range shooting everything that UKLF had to offer, section and platoon skills, all kinds of field training, but most importantly for me a good 48 or 72 hour exercise to round things off. The final exercise was where we put ALL the training we’d been given into practice, and after a full day of patrols, ambushes and section attacks our platoon laager at the end of the day was where “field admin” really came into play, and I have to admit that this experience went about shaping the future person (and indeed airsoft player!) that I would one day become.

OUTDOOR TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT

Personal admin (ie keeping yourself clean and your sh1t squared!) came to the fore, along with cooking expediently over a hexi-burner with mess tins; water was largely what you carried in a couple of ’58 waterbottles so you had to be efficient! Although we “stood to” at dusk and dawn, and undoubtedly pulled “stag” during the night, I remember that on those short summer nights under a “basha” I slept like a log! Our old “bashas” were put together using two ’58 pattern ponchos, bungees, paracord, and a couple of tent pegs, but essentially a basha can be easily made using any waterproof canvas or plastic sheet which you can always find in camping, outdoor, or military surplus stores. This can happily act as a “fastset” shelter, in the form of an impromptu “tent” supported with cord and bungees attached to trees. The origin of the word “basha” I’ve discovered from further research online (we didn’t have “online” back when I first started building bashas!) comes from Assamese, meaning a “hut that takes the form of naturally fabricated shelters made of bamboo and palm materials”. That research also tells me that it probably first entered British Army “slang” to describe a temporary jungle shelter by Chindits operating behind enemy lines in Burma! A more accepted adoption of the word then came during the Malayan Campaign (1950–1959) where many ex-Chindits were recruited to fight the communist insurgents in the jungles. Bashas are used primarily by the military, particularly the British Army, the Australian Army (where they are colloquially known as a “hooch”, “hoochie” or “hutchie”), the New Zealand Army and other commonwealth forces and the term describes a fast-set shelter on operations, usually constructed out of the equipment carried between two soldiers, or a “buddy pair”, they are basic, super-lightweight and can put up swiftly, and camouflaged simply with foliage specific to the AO. Their low profile provides a minimal silhouette, and as many military tarps are infra-red reflective, this makes them even better! Normally bashas are erected in woods, as the trees support the basha using bungees and paracord. Whilst they are by no means “sniper hides” they can also provide cover for longer term recce missions due to their ultra-low-profile.

HOME FOR THE NIGHT

If you decide that your airsoft adventures will lead you into the MilSim world, then the ability to set up a suitable overnight shelter quickly is a crucial

skill. Yes, you can carry a tent or a hooped bivvy, but this all adds to weight and bulk of load, making you ultimately less effective during “ops”. Although not as comfortable overall, a fast-set shelter will still provide protection from wind and rain and help to keep in some warmth, allowing for an adequate night’s rest; there’s nothing worse than having a crap night’s sleep, and you want to be fully switched on for the next day, don’t you? A “military” basha is as simple as it gets; by using very little equipment that you carry as a part of your “line gear”, you can create a tactical shelter within minutes, and one with a very small footprint and silhouette! With a basha you have a multitude of configurations to choose from depending on the ground, to make an effective shelter and a solid, weather-protective “home for the night”. These days in my Patrol Pack I always have a couple of super-light “Stashas” (stasha = stashable basha, clever!) from Snugpak with which to create my basha. In addition I carry a selection of green, hook-ended bungee cords, two small rolls of different thickness paracord, six tent pegs, and a small roll of sniper tape; my advice would be to NOT use standard metal tent pegs, they are cheap sure enough, but weak, and as they may need to be driven into the ground between the rocks and roots, it’s worth investing in some really good pegs! Bungees can also be found very cheaply online these days, and although just carrying paracord will do the job, you really don’t want to be messing about with knots in the cold and rain if you can avoid it! So, in terms of a “basha kit” I would personally recommend that you have in your pack the following items: • Snugpak Stasha, Military Poncho or Tarp with Corner Eyelets • 4 x Green, Hook-End Bungees (two different lengths) • 6 x Tent Pegs • 5-10m of Paracord • 1 x Small Roll of Duck or Sniper Tape (the answer to all problems!) Some people use tent-style guylines (the Stasha comes with a set) but paracord can simply wrap around a tree to provide stability and lift the shelter

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OUTDOOR TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT

centre to let rain and dew run off. The tent pegs are to peg in the sides or corners, and it may be useful to also carry a couple of karabiners which can be used in conjunction with the paracord to give more flexibility when attaching corners of the tarp to securing points.

CORD AND TAPE

Interestingly when I was in the midst of writing this article I got into a back and forth with our resident historian Will F, and he gave me some information which I’ll share with you as I found it fascinating! The Brits call it “Sniper Tape”, the Americans “100 mile an hour tape” and civilians commonly call it duck, duct or gaffer tape. The actual US Army designation for it is “Olive Drab Green Reinforcement Tape”! During World War II the US Army asked Johnson & Johnson to develop a seal that would keep moisture out of ammunition boxes. J&J came up with OD green reinforcement tape. It is said that the tape was so effective that rain beaded off it like “water off a duck’s back” earning it the name “duck tape”. Duck tape would end up having multiple uses when GI’s didn’t have the proper tools to fix something they would use duck tape. The popular myth was that it would hold a Jeep together travelling at 100 mph, hence the nickname “100 mile an hour tape.” Another version of the name that dates from the Vietnam War where it was in such demand that if a user did not keep a firm hold on a roll it would disappear at “100 miles an hour”! For many years the British Army used a heavy duty black fabric tape for the functions covered by 100 Mile and Hour tape. It was formally known as black masking tape but better known as ‘black nasty’ or ‘bodge tape’ while the Royal Marines called it “Pussers Tape”. The British Army sniper tape that entered service during the war in Afghanistan is manufactured by Scapa and follows the lead given by 100 Mile an Hour. It is available in

olive green and desert sand, and the matt fabric is non-reflective, and can be painted over or written on. Sniper Tape has been used to reinforce the camouflage around the brims of helmets, secure loose equipment straps and make expedient repairs to clothing in the field. Tape can fix a lot of problems but sometimes you need a different sort of back up, and here “Paracord” is the answer. It was originally the rigging lines of discarded or damaged military parachutes (hence the name) but is now produced for military and civilian use. Perhaps the highest accolade that can be given to Paracord is that it was used by space walking astronauts in 1997 in the 82nd Space Shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space telescope! The best Paracord to go for is MIL-C-5040 550 which is the same size and breaking strain (550 lbs)

as the Type III Commercial Paracord but is made to a very specific set of guidelines dictated by the US Military. It can be identified by one of the inner seven strands which is multi-coloured, allowing it be traced back to source. This is useful because some stuff that is passed off as Paracord is just green nylon cord and sometimes polyester. You don’t need to be in the Services, or a dedicated airsofter to discover that 100 Mile an Hour Tape and Paracord are incredibly useful friends to have in your EDC Kit, and especially so when building bashas!”

SETTING IT UP

If you look online you’ll no doubt find countless ways to set up a basha, but there are two configurations that have always been my default! The “A-Shelter” is probably the simplest (and quickest to set up!) and dates way back to when man first started to make an improvised shelter in which to rest overnight! All you need to do for an “A-Shelter” is find two trees a little wider apart than the LONGEST length of your “stasha” and run a tight length of paracord between

“THE BRITS CALL IT “SNIPER TAPE”, THE AMERICANS “100 MILE AN HOUR TAPE” AND CIVILIANS COMMONLY CALL IT DUCK, DUCT OR GAFFER TAPE. THE ACTUAL US ARMY DESIGNATION FOR IT IS OLIVE DRAB GREEN REINFORCEMENT TAPE!”

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OUTDOOR TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT

them. Once you have your paracord in place you simply toss your “stasha” over this line and then secure the ground-edges with your tent pegs. What you end up with is a low shelter that when looked at from the front makes an “A” shape, hence the name!

For an even lower silhouette you can set up a really classic British Army-style “basha” with a pair of stashas, one for a groundsheet and one for the “roof”. For this you’ll need to locate two trees or saplings a little wider apart than the SHORTEST length of your stasha and run a bungee to each from the corner eyelets. Once you’ve done this pull the stasha back to form a sloping over-cover and stake this out using two tent pegs for the rear eyelets. This is your basic “roof”, and if your tarp has a central point it’s worth running a length of paracord

from above to lift it and create a low, conical structure as this will let rain or dew roll off more easily; if you’re using a military poncho simply tie off the hood to do this. Now you can slide in your “groundsheet” under the “roof” (having first cleared your sleeping area of obvious rocks and groundlitter!) and peg this out using the remaining four tent pegs in your kit (total, six pegs!). And that, as they say, is “all she wrote”! With your shelter created it’s then as simple as throwing in your sleeping bag on top of your kipmat; I use either a Snugpak full-length TRAVELITE mat or a Snugpak MIDI MAT depending on the duration that I’ll be spending in the basha; both are self-inflating and are low-volume, low-weight which keeps my physical pack size down. Both Jimmy and I had a lot of fun out in the woods rekindling our love for the simple basha, and it’s definitely something that you can do with your own “battle buddy” to keep the skill honed. I would confess though that we did take the MSR and my coffee pot to have a decent brew while we worked… as I always say, “any fool can be uncomfortable”! Next month we’ll take things up a notch and look practically at lightweight hooped bivvys and tents that are ideal for an “overnighter”. As always my sincere thanks go to our old mates at Snugpak for working with us on this article. Be sure to check out all they offer by visiting www. snugpak.com/sleeping/military-tactical AA

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THE CAGE SLINGIN’ IT!

THE CAGE:

SLINGIN’ IT!

THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU’RE SETTING UP YOUR PRIMARY FOR AIRSOFT, AND OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THE LEGIONNAIRES HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS IN DEPTH. NOW WE COME TO A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY MANY, AND THAT’S YOUR SLING! BILL AS USUAL LEADS OFF…

o, to sling or not to sling? When I received my training courtesy of Her majesty’s Armed Forces way back when the sling was a piece of equipment that was pretty much frowned upon! Yup, we were taught that the place for your personal weapon was in your hands, and that it should never be more than an arm’s length away from you… we all learned over the course of many hundreds of press-ups that an “arm’s length” was a subjective measurement at the whim of the DS… How things move on though, and the fact is that the sling has actually become a useful piece of equipment in our weapon manipulation drills! Sure, a sling will help carry your rifle, but a GOOD sling will also be able to serve as a support, helping you to maintain that key point of aim. There’s actually an entire science behind the humble sling that we won’t go into here, and although there are many, many types of sling that all offer “benefits” and work better with different platforms, it’s probably easiest to focus in on two of the most popular models for airsoft, and that’s the single-point and the two-

point. Starting with the latter, a two-point sling is exactly that; it attaches to your primary via two points, usually with one on the butt or stock, and one on the rail or front stock. However, not all two-pointers are equal! A simple canvas/web two-point like the one that you’ll see on weapons of a historic nature or vintage are usually “passive”, and though they are adjustable for length, that’s pretty much all she wrote! A modern two-pointer allows for much more… A modern design two-point sling is different from that old carry strap in that they are designed primarily to retain the weapon on the shooter’s front side rather than on the back or over the shoulder. They offer superior platform retention while also allowing the shooter to quickly bring the primary on target from a slung position, often with a QD release to enable extension from “rest” to “shoot”. I use a couple of different models of this type of sling, one from Direct Action in Poland, and one from Viking Tactics in the USA, although the new VIPER VX sling offers the same features for less money and is really all you need for

“A MODERN DESIGN TWO-POINT SLING IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OLD CARRY STRAP IN THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO RETAIN THE WEAPON ON THE SHOOTER’S FRONT SIDE RATHER THAN ON THE BACK OR OVER THE SHOULDER. THEY OFFER SUPERIOR PLATFORM RETENTION WHILE ALSO ALLOWING THE SHOOTER TO QUICKLY BRING THE PRIMARY ON TARGET FROM A SLUNG POSITION” 44

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THE CAGE SLINGIN’ IT!

airsoft. For many, many years I used a single-point sling; the single-point excels at accommodating a wide variety of shooting positions and movements at the cost of support and retention. Attaching to a dedicated plate at the lower rear of the receiver, a good single-point will give you freedom of movement to perform swift manipulations and strong/weak-side transitions. Used as a punch-out brace for a stockless primary like the MP9 or MP5K it also helps to strengthen your overall shooting position, allowing you to keep shots on target better. However, a single-point makes it harder to stabilise your primary when you let it loose to transition to a sidearm, sometimes resulting in the dreaded “crotch smash” for unwary users if they’re not careful! For me a single-point is the ideal sling for CQB-use where my primary will be in my hands the majority of the time, but for general field-use I definitely prefer the two-pointer as I’ll often need to secure my AEG or GBBR while I carry out other tasks like team comms or map-reading!

TEAM TALK

So, my question to the members of the AA Legion this month was simply “Do you use a SLING on your primary? If yes, what type of sling do you prefer (Singlepoint? Two Point? Three Point? Padded or Unpadded?) and why? If it’s a no, then why don’t you choose to use one?” Stewbacca: For the PSG-1 I have a slightly padded two-point sling permanently attached to it to help carry the weight and have it sit nicely across my chest at rest. All my other guns have a QD Fastex buckle attached at their rear or in the area of the pistol grip which attaches to the floating QD female clips which slide along the custom integrated slings on my plate carriers and allows for single-point slinging and ease of transitioning which works fine for the vast majority of gameplay I’m involved in. I also have a larger male Fastex QD buckle on the front of most of my guns which can be clipped into the left side of my play carrier either with the gun in front, or once it’s slung over my shoulder at the top

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THE CAGE SLINGIN’ IT!

limit of the integrated sling so it’s held tight across my back for any instances where I have to use my hands or sidearm for longer. Robbie: Sling = two-point kevlar (melt proof); I use my sling to transition or carry. I want the rifle out of my way but quick to access. So, long carry would be quiver style across the back, but most carry is single shoulder, transitioning is over my left shoulder muzzle down. I can do this one handed while drawing my sidearm and I can also take it off my shoulder one handed and into a shooting position faster than most

can draw a sidearm and without getting leg-burned or crotch smashed like singles do. I usually run an AKM for note; I attach mine via kevlar paracord. Pull loop front and depending on either paracord or shockcord rear point (allows me to stretch over rear of stock and around front post for out of the way). Miguel: A sling is a must for me, as a team leader, I’m always handling maps, objectives, or other items depending on the event. I normally use a Viper Tactical VX Sling, it’s comfortable, strong, and it has a fast length adjustment, it’s perfect for what I need. Mine has seen a LOT of use and ZERO issues. Dan: A sling is a must-have accessory in my book. If

you’ve ever done a 2 or 3 day MilSim that has a lot of rucking and long distance patrols, you’ll wish you had one. It’s also good to have for just being able to free your hands up, doing transitions, pulling grenades, working comms, maps, etc. I’ve been using two-point Blue Force Gear VCAS’s since forever. Most of my stuff is equipped with QD sockets now, so I can easily transfer slings around with the push of a button. But there’s a few guns like the AK and SVD platforms that have a permanent VCAS mounted out of convenience. I have them looped through the factory sling loops and run an AK or HK hook up front. I normally wear it with the strap looped over my neck, and adjust the slider as needed. For the heavier guns like the PKM, I’ll use the padded version of the VCAS which makes carrying them much more comfortable. I’m a big fan of the material and slider design on these. They have the perfect amount of grip and smooth sliding. The slings themselves have been absolutely bombproof, with the only signs of wear being the heat-transfer logo wearing off after a time. I did just pick up a Magpul MS3 to run as a single-point for the MP7. That thing is just short enough that a two-point feels like it’s crowding it, and a single-point can be used without muzzle tapping your nuts when doing transitions or taking a knee lol Jimmy: For me a sling is prerequisite! I love finding myself in that situation when you have to draw on your secondary. In the event you need to use your pistol speed is usually of the essence and we all know drawing your sidearm is quicker than a reload in the heat of the moment. If you need to shoot and move then putting your primary down is not an option this is where your sling comes into play. It’s something I drill a lot, getting the rifle out of the way and getting

“FOR ME A SLING IS PREREQUISITE! I LOVE FINDING MYSELF IN THAT SITUATION WHEN YOU HAVE TO DRAW ON YOUR SECONDARY. IN THE EVENT YOU NEED TO USE YOUR PISTOL SPEED IS USUALLY OF THE ESSENCE AND WE ALL KNOW DRAWING YOUR SIDEARM IS QUICKER THAN A RELOAD IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT”

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THE CAGE SLINGIN’ IT!

“FOR MY AUG’S I USE A STANDARD ISSUE NO FRILLS ADF SLING (BASICALLY AN L85 SLING WITH A DIFFERENT CLIP), AND FOR MY AR’S A SINGLE-POINT BUNGIE SLING (MINE IS NUPROL) THAT’S THE SAME/SIMILAR TO THOSE USED AGAIN BY THE ADF” to the pistol quick; some would think it to be an easy task, while it looks to be easy doing it fast and fluid takes practise. As I use a selection of slings getting the movement right is paramount. Now it all depends on what primary I use at the time and I have three go to slings which all play different roles. Note all my slings are replicas and not the real deal so I don’t always have 100% confidence they will hold out but so far I have only dropped one rifle. My favourite is the Magpul style MS4 Dual QD; this is a fairly robust sling which can adopt different roles and has a fast-adjust system and can easily be switched out for both left and right handed shooters. This one I mainly use for my smaller CQB platforms. Next up is my Magpul-style MS3, much like the MS4 but without the QD; instead there are two lockable hinged clips, great for sling plates. This one I will use for my slightly bigger rifles and use mainly for outdoor. Both the MS3 and MS4 I use as a singlepoint but both are capable of being used as a two-

point should you feel the need. The third I use is a Nuprol two- point sling which I use when I take the larger, heavier rifles out; being a two-point it helps spread the load a bit but it does make transition between primary and secondary a bit slower, but a little practise helps. With the two-point I also use it to help balance the weight a little by ensuring proper placement, so when I grasp the front of the rifle the sling sits across the top of my hand aiding with accuracy. Chris: It depends on the Kit/Gat. For my AUG’s I use a standard issue no frills ADF sling (basically an L85 sling with a different clip), and for my AR’s a singlepoint bungie sling (mine is Nuprol) that’s the same/ similar to those used again by the ADF, you can see a pattern forming here can’t you? On my Steyr Scout I need to get hold of a Ching sling, but at the moment I use a two-point sling by FRV Tailoring; again no frills but it works and keeps my rifle on my shoulder when bimbling about in a tactical fashion! AA

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RED CELL SBR UPDATE

RED CELL

Short barelled rifle FTW!

WAY BACK IN ISSUE 124 RED CELL GATHERED TO LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AEG GROUPS OUT THERE, THAT OF AR SBRS. NEARLY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER THEY PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER AGAIN TO SEE HOW SOME OF THESE TEST MODELS HAVE DONE - AND WHAT NEW ONES HAVE CAUGHT THEIR EYE AND BEEN ADDED TO THE TEST POOL!

he airsoft industry never sleeps! That’s for sure, and although we’ve been through some trying times, and indeed the world is still not fully recovered from challenges both medical and commercial, the manufacturers keep on delivering new models for our delectation! Whilst the pandemic certainly put a big dent in all things airsoft, the ongoing issues with shipping and distribution thankfully appear to be easing at last. However, now I’m hearing from many friends in the retail side of the industry that given the economic pressures we are all facing the sales of new AEGs and GBBs have slowed right now, with more players spending what money they have on getting to games and keeping their existing replicas serviced and running to their best.

As someone who has lived through several global recessions this doesn’t surprise me at all, as when money is tight we all, as players, tend to keep spare cash for actually getting out to play, and the purchase of a new platform gets pushed back in favour of keeping what we already have going. It strikes me that this makes what we do in the Red Cell program even more valid than ever before, as many of the models we have “in test” are models that you own, and where we are beginning to encounter problems (or not!) then we can comment on the potential fixes for these very issues you may yourself be facing. Bottom line is that EVERYTHING electrical and mechanical will eventually fail! We do all tend to give our replicas a proper hammering when we play, and even with the very best maintenance regime in the

“IT STRIKES ME THAT THIS MAKES WHAT WE DO IN THE RED CELL PROGRAM EVEN MORE VALID THAN EVER BEFORE, AS MANY OF THE MODELS WE HAVE “IN TEST” ARE MODELS THAT YOU OWN, AND WHERE WE ARE BEGINNING TO ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS (OR NOT!) THEN WE CAN COMMENT ON THE POTENTIAL FIXES FOR THESE VERY ISSUES YOU MAY YOURSELF BE FACING.” 48

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RED CELL SBR UPDATE

world, parts WILL wear and eventually lead to the failure of a very complex piece of machine art. What we always intended to look at in Red Cell is when things fail in some very popular brand AEGs and GBBs and then come up with fixes for these; is it a simple, inexpensive fix, or something far more involved? The fact is that none of us have a bottomless wallet (I wish!) and that we need to get the very best performance from our platforms, not just as new, but also in the long-term. This is especially true when money is tighter than usual, so that fact that some our test AEGs featured here are OLD we hope will give you a heads-up on where best to spend your money! To set the scene for SBR ARs, and why they’re so important to us as airsofters I’ll refer back to my words when we first looked at this category; developments in doctrine and tactics mean that the carbine, and especially the SBR (Short Barrelled Rifle) has become the weapon of choice now for CQB/CQC. In USparlance and SBR is an AR (or similar) that has a shoulder stock, with a barrel length of less than 16 inches, although for the purposes of this article the Red Cell team decided to go sub-14.5 inch (“M4 carbine) barrel length. For CQB/CQC use a shorter rifle is easier to manipulate in buildings and vehicles and a shorter rifle is also easy to use and put into action. Shorter rifles can also be lighter and better balanced if they’re well set up. In the real world this means that you can have the benefit and higher penetration of a .223/5.56mm round, but of course many SBRs can still handle the newer 6.8mm ammunition and cartridges like the 300 Blackout to give a real performance edge! However, there is a downside to an SBR, namely that “rounds down” from a shorter barrel are going to start losing velocity when compared to a “regular length” carbine and rifle length. Velocity loss means you are going to get a serious dent in terminal ballistic potential at longer ranges, and potentially the “muzzle blast”, both visible and auditory can be huge unless a suitable suppressor/muzzle brake/ blast deflector is used. Barrel length pretty much makes an SBR a medium-range weapon at best or close quarters rifle for most, but of course in trained hands with the correct “bolt-ons” the SBR comes into its own as a short-range platform that will defeat (or at least seriously hinder those

“THE FACT IS THAT NONE OF US HAVE A BOTTOMLESS WALLET (I WISH!) AND THAT WE NEED TO GET THE VERY BEST PERFORMANCE FROM OUR PLATFORMS, NOT JUST AS NEW, BUT ALSO IN THE LONG-TERM. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN MONEY IS TIGHTER THAN USUAL”

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RED CELL SBR UPDATE

wearing) body armour whilst still maintaining the ability to reach out further. This is why we now see so many military and police units ditching (in the main) their pistol calibre MP and SMG models in favour of platforms like the L119A2, HK416A5 and MK18 CQBR, and if your taste in airsoft replicas is more “mil” then an SB-AR will undoubtedly be high on your list of must-haves. This is also true if you’re a dedicated CQB player as the additional manipulation utility offered by short-barrelled carbine will prove invaluable!

THE ONLY EASY DAY!

Also as I said before, with all of that as a background of course in the world of airsoft, and the engagement distances we encounter, the barrel length of our replicas is not so important, and although we might fit a suppressor or blast deflector for a cosmetically pleasing look, we aren’t having to deal with “signature” either, so a shorter rifle for indoor or urban use is going to be something that we always look at seriously. With this is mind the Red Cell team once again got their heads together to review suitable “SBRs”, models that we have now used in game and can comment on with “time in”, or those that have impressed us in testing and have now entered the test program; suffice to say that for these AEGs “the only easy day was yesterday!” Dan: One of the platforms I happen to specialize on through my work is KWA’s, so I have naturally accrued a lot of experience with the Ronin T10 in particular. As far as recoil based AEG’s are concerned, it is my humble opinion that KWA’s ERG system represents the best in class for sheer robustness of design, felt recoil and ease of disassembly and upgradeability. For end users on this side of the pond in the USA, the base rifle is 1.49J ready without requiring the extensive investment in upgrades that its nearest competitor, the Tokyo Marui NGRS, requires in order to be reliable at higher velocities. The majority of internal components are compatible with standard V2 parts, which allows for a lot of pathways to upgrading. KWA also offers excellent parts support, to which end someone could literally build the entire rifle

from the ground up if ordering up every component separately through them. Contrary to popular misconception the recoil is not “electronic”, but is purely mechanical; being driven by the rearward movement of the piston and mainspring, which drives a large brass recoil weight inside the buffer tube. It’s a very robust and simple design, which is not prone to breaking. Slightly unique to the T10 is the change in gearbox design, known as the “AEG 3.0” which allows for it to accommodate the hugely popular Gate TITAN electronic trigger unit. Preceding designs, such as the RM4A1, which is based off a traditional 14.5” M4 style rifle offer the same ERG recoil system, but are fitted with a gearbox that has last round cutoff capability. KWA’s current system of rifles embraces a modular type of design, in that it is possible to transfer the cutoff-capable gearboxes to the T10 platform and vise versa. In a similar vein, one can also convert the gun over to the Variable Performance System (VPS), which is a more traditional quick-change-spring style setup that allows for fine tuning the FPS output. Moving to the exterior of the rifle, we have ambidextrous selector switches and charging handle. The charging handle in particular is a solid one-piece T-shaped design blows

“AS FAR AS RECOIL BASED AEG’S ARE CONCERNED, IT IS MY HUMBLE OPINION THAT KWA’S ERG SYSTEM REPRESENTS THE BEST IN CLASS FOR SHEER ROBUSTNESS OF DESIGN, FELT RECOIL AND EASE OF DISASSEMBLY AND UPGRADEABILITY.”

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the Radian and similar designs out of the water for sheer strength. A slim 10” M-LOK rail and bespoke 2-port custom muzzle brake round out the front. The Ronin comes outfitted with the excellent PTS EPG-C motor grip and EPS stock, which offers impressive battery space as well as durable nylon-fiber construction. PTS backup iron sights are also fitted as standard. The base rifle will generally provide many years of workhorse-like performance, but end users may wish to upgrade the stock bucking as it is often not ideal for environmental conditions outside of the high humidity and heat of its native Taiwan. For anyone looking to select a solid out of the box rifle – with recoil - that can be skirmished with right away, the Ronin T10 is an excellent first choice that can be maintained and upgraded well into the future. Bill: It’s fair to say that I have a bit of history when it comes to the HK416 in airsoft terms as I’ve been running my Gen1 VFC since 2007! When I moved to the USA in 2006 I wanted to keep on playing airsoft, but as many of you old-time readers of AA know I had to replace my entire armoury thanks to shipping constraints at the time. Long story short is that I ended up buying a then-new 416 from AEX in California, and it’s been with me ever since, returning with me to the UK courtesy of British Airways in 2011! This has been a fabulous AEG in all ways, and after a few niggly-wiggly wiring issues as new (not something we have to contend with majorly these days

thankfully!) it’s continued to run and run! I have had it serviced professionally twice in the intervening years, and in fairness it’s probably overdue for another bit of TLC again (please Jimmy!) but other than o-rings and seals, hop-rubbers, bucking, and one new spring it has been a faithful and reliable partner-in-crime since new. It’s also had a new, shorter inner barrel as I decided that its final form would be as a “DEVGRU-style” CQB-length variant… and the outer barrel extension ended up on my longer L119 anyway! I have thought about getting it upgraded from time to time, but the fact is that the 416 “as stock” has never really needed it in my opinion as I get a solid ROF, along with decent range and accuracy as it is. I’ll hand off to Boycie now as he decided that it WAS worth going the extra mile… Boycie: I had the VFC 416 for a year or so before I handed it over to Marcus and Jimmy to work their magic on it. While it was working fine and I was happy with it, I thought it would provide an opportunity to try one of the, then new, Leviathan fets, along with one of their flat triggers. The build was featured in the Tech Talk section of the January 2021 issue of AA. When I got it back from Marcus and Jimmy, there was a stratospheric change in performance, compared to the normal standard performance that I tend to prefer. One of the first things which took me a while to get used to was the near instantaneous trigger to cycle time that the 416 now had. The travel of the trigger was about 1-1.5mm and lets me quickly loose off 2-3 rounds.

“WHEN I GOT IT BACK FROM MARCUS AND JIMMY, THERE WAS A STRATOSPHERIC CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE, COMPARED TO THE NORMAL STANDARD PERFORMANCE THAT I TEND TO PREFER.”

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RED CELL SBR UPDATE

ARES X-CLASS AR-091E

Price: iro UK£390.00 Age: New Weight: 2600g Length: 690mm/770mm Magazine Capacity: 140, will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.12 Joule/348fps Hot Chrono: 1.12 Joule/347fps Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk

BOLT B4

Price: iro UK£350.00 Age: One Year Weight: 2000g Length: 530mm/630mm Magazine Capacity: 190, will accept most STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 0.83 Joule/300fps Hot Chrono: 0.78 Joule/290fps Taclite Compatibility: Magpul-Style Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

CYMA CM.097B

Price: iro UK£155.00 Age: 3 Years Weight: 2770g Length: 730mm/815 mm Magazine Capacity: 160, will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 109 Joule/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.09 Joule/344fps Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

EVOLUTION E-416

Price: iro UK£295.00 Age: 17 months Weight: 2,920g Length: 700mm/780 mm Magazine Capacity: 130, will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 109 Joule/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: store.evolutioninternational.it

SPECNA ARMS MK18 SA-E19 EDGE

Price: iro UK£230.00 Age: 18 months Weight: 2675g Length: 700mm/785mm Magazine Capacity: 125 (2), will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Hot Chrono: 1.04 Joule/335fps Taclite Compatibility: Standard rail Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

VFC (UMAREX) HK 416 D CQB V2

Price: iro UK£430.00 Age: 15 YEARS (for the Gen 1)!!! Weight: 3074g Length: 705mm/805mm Magazine Capacity: 320, will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.09 Joule/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.09 Joule/344fps Taclite Compatibility: Standard rail/SMR on A5 Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

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SPECNA ARMS RRA SA-E04

Price: iro UK£175.00 Age: 2 Years, 6 months Weight: 2600g Length: 700mm/780mm Magazine Capacity: 125 (2), will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps Hot Chrono: 0.98 Joule/325fps Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

SPECNA ARMS SA-H12

Price: iro UK£190.00 Age: 18 months Weight: 3000g Length: 730mm/820mm Magazine Capacity: 300, will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Taclite Compatibility: Dedicated, SMR Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

EVOLUTION RECON M EMR A ETS

Price: iro UK£260.00 Age: One Year Weight: 2200g Length: 650mm/740mm Magazine Capacity: 130, will accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: store.evolutioninternational.it

VALKEN KILO

Price: iro UK£150.00 Age: 18 months Weight: 2494g Length: 620mm/700mm Magazine Capacity: 300, will accept most STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps Hot Chrono: 0.98 Joule/325fps Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.308-sniper.co.uk

KWA VM4 RONIN 10 SBR 2.5

Price: iro UK£375.00 Age: 18 months Weight: 2900g Length: 724mm/794mm Magazine Capacity: 120, will accept most STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.09 Joule/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Taclite Compatibility: KeyMod Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk

G&G SR30

Price: iro UK£360.00 Age: 14 months Weight: 2760g Length: 700mm/770mm Magazine Capacity: 90 (G2), will accept most STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 0.98/325fps Hot Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK Suppressor Compatibilty: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

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RED CELL SBR UPDATE

I’m not a full auto hoser so the semi trigger to cycle time is a real bonus. The re-shim whilst the Leviathan was being fitted had also reduced the noise from the gearbox and all I hear on firing is the “zip, zip, zip” that used to only be heard in Systema PTWs in past years. The 416 has also now gone through some cosmetic changes with a new front rail and a few other small parts. I usually run 11.1v to power the rifle but even on a 7.4v I get around 13rps with auto selected. One of the really cool options now is that I have the ability, thru Bluetooth, to change the settings, read off how many rounds have been fired and loads of other data, all kept on my “smart” phone. This is a great advantage over some other fets which you have to change selector and pull the trigger to change settings. When I manage to get out on the field and play, the 416 is my “go to” rifle, and since Marcus and Jimmy worked their magic I’ve had people asking “what the heck have you done to that” and I usually get a big smile from folk when I offer them the chance to go and give it a run! Bill: Sticking with 416-style models I was very impressed with the new E-416 when we first received it for initial testing. Evolution have come a LONG way since I first met them, and I’d have to say that the E-416 DEVGRU is a fabulous amalgam of everything that they’ve learned about airsoft over the years, handily placed into one excellent, great looking package! Externally their full-metal take on the 416 looks not only great, but with the anodized CNC machined aluminium “SF Bronze”

rail it’s drop-dead gorgeous, and everything, right down to the keyed-colouration of the polymer parts gives an overall impression of a project where everyone involved has given their all. As I concluded at the time I first looked at it “After spending so many “easy yesterdays” with my existing 416 I have to say that any contender for the title was going to have to be exemplary from the get go, and I have to admit that after not touching an AEG from Evolution for far too long, the new E-416 DEVGRU ETS has once again opened my eyes to how far airsoft carbines and rifles have come in such a short time! It has some classic and unique features externally that I love, and internally it’s set up not only to protect the tech and ensure its continued operation, but to provide more than sufficient operating choices to keep any user satisfied for some time to come”… and the user of the Test Pool 416 is Jimmy! Jimmy: So looking back at the Evolution E-416 my first impression on this platform was that it is an awesome piece of kit and I couldn’t really find fault with it; a very solid well-built package. The black and the bronze really appealed to me that and the fact it came factory fitted with their ETS system, I’m a sucker for an electronic trigger. When I first encountered this platform it was a bit of an unbox review with very little range time, as you don’t need weeks of testing to see if something is initially good. There are times when a flaw can immediately stand out but with the E-416 this wasn’t the case. Having now

“EVOLUTION HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE I FIRST MET THEM, AND I’D HAVE TO SAY THAT THE E-416 DEVGRU IS A FABULOUS AMALGAM OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY’VE LEARNED ABOUT AIRSOFT OVER THE YEARS, HANDILY PLACED INTO ONE EXCELLENT, GREAT LOOKING PACKAGE!”

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fielded the 416 on numerous occasions I can safely say my opinions haven’t changed since the first day. There are a few things I would change though; this isn’t due to fault it is more down to personal preference really, things I have found I like and one is a shorter trigger pull. The ETS system gives the user a degree of adjustability and one of them is trigger sensitivity, so for me I would like and adjustable trigger to compliment that parameter. I would also change the motor grip for something a little chunkier due to my hands being quite big; I have become a big fan of the SPR-style grips. Like I said these choices are personal to me and not a prerequisite so please don’t muddle my words by thinking that they need changing immediately! Out on the field it performs perfectly and accommodates a selection of different magazines, Nuprol mid-caps, Saigo mid-caps, G&G 2500 BB drum mag, Battleaxe 900BB… they all feed with no issues whatsoever. The Nuprol mid-caps and the Battleaxe hi-caps had a little bit of movement to them but nothing significant enough to cause feeding issues. On an 11.1v 15c lipo BBs were feeding at a rate of 18rps which is perfectly acceptable in my opinion and one fully charged battery can almost see a whole day gaming as the 416 isn’t power hungry. Range and accuracy are what you would expect from an ootb platform with its brass 6.03mm inner barrel and standard hop rubber it is effective out to around 45-50m, easily hitting a man-sized target; I wouldn’t be trying to get inch groupings but a hit is a hit in my book so tight groupings aren’t something I worry about and if you can hit a player at 50m consitently then that is good enough for me.. I have really enjoyed playing with the E-416; it looks great, works perfectly, isn’t overly expensive and has withstood the abuse from me. Would I recommend to others? Oh yes. Bill: And there’ still another 416 to go at! We’re now seeing more and more images of operators with the HK416, and especially now the HK416A5, and although there are a few airsoft versions out there already, they haven’t exactly been aimed at the “starter end” of the player market with price tags heading way up there and that’s before you start adding all those “necessary” accessories!

“IT IS EFFECTIVE OUT TO AROUND 45-50M, EASILY HITTING A MAN-SIZED TARGET; I WOULDN’T BE TRYING TO GET INCH GROUPINGS BUT A HIT IS A HIT IN MY BOOK SO TIGHT GROUPINGS AREN’T SOMETHING I WORRY ABOUT AND IF YOU CAN HIT A PLAYER AT 50M CONSITENTLY THEN THAT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME..”

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RED CELL SBR UPDATE

When it comes to CQB-length AEGs, Specna Arms had an undoubted success with their “MK18 CQBR” at the back end of 2020 (more on this shortly!) and they’ve moved things along nicely with two new models that step firmly into the NSW replica arena whilst keeping things real when it comes to pricing. The SA-H11 and H-12 are without any question “416-alikes”, and as they’re both priced sensibly this puts the “operator primary” well within the reach of those on a budget, and that is fabulous! The H-12 variant arrived with us late in 2020, with our first look after initial testing early in 2021; since that time it’s been with our resident “MilSimaholic” Jase!

Jase: H12, it’s still a nice RIF to just look at just hangin on the wall, and it’s prived to be a pretty cool shooter in all respects, and the build quality of this fine example of the H&K is one I’m happy to have in my arsenal! While the H-11 is pretty much a “standard” A5 with the usual railed HK system with integrated flip up

sight, the H-12 takes things up a notch with an “Geiselle SMR” style system, and it’s a fabulous slimline rail that brings down the front-end weight and bulk of the carbine. The H-12 benefits from ambidextrous operating controls; bolt catch, magazine release, safety/fire selector lever and charging handle, the rounded “winter” trigger guard for use with gloves and cold weather clothing, contiguous top rail for use of optics and aiming accessories, a redesigned ergonomic pistol grip (there’s no storage compartment for a field stripping tool of course!), an enlarged bolt catch lever and protective barrier against accidental use, and the latest slimline multi-position sliding stock; all in all a VERY tidy package! I’m pleased to tell you that in operation the H-12 that was provided for testing is, if anything, even better than other heavily-upgraded HK416s I’ve tried… from the box! Last year I had issues with magazines not sitting properly in the magwell and only last month I actually got round to trying to address the issue. With the help of some Velcro (soft side) added to the mag well and it for seem to have fixed the issue, so now I just need to head out onto the playing field to give it a run out again! Bill: Now I mentioned the Specna Mk18, and this is STILL an AEG that I am totally in love with! Okay, I have my 416, but as I’m a closet NSW-fan I had to have me a Mk18 AEG for general play to go alongside my VFC GBBR version that is lovingly held back for training and MilSim. Both platforms are set up exactly the same so that I can go from one to another without any issues! The Specna Mk18 has been with me for nigh-on 18 months, and with zero work done still performs like new! We’ve seen some great looking new AEG AR models from Specna, but also their super everyplayer-can-own-one- priced M249, some great new programmeable technology for the future, and to really put the icing on the cake now theor licensing collaboration with Daniel Defense … and what resulted was the Mk18 CQBR! The first observation I would make is that this AEG is a “looker” that will please players that favour a more “military” model. I like to use the phrase “fighting gun”, and the Mk18 (or E19 in Specna parlance) is most certainly that; there are no frills, no

“IT’S STILL A NICE RIF TO JUST LOOK AT JUST HANGIN ON THE WALL, AND IT’S PRIVED TO BE A PRETTY COOL SHOOTER IN ALL RESPECTS, AND THE BUILD QUALITY OF THIS FINE EXAMPLE OF THE H&K IS ONE I’M HAPPY TO HAVE IN MY ARSENAL!”

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bells and whistles, just a solidly made short AR AEG that’s immediately ready to BB-up and get out onto the field with. The Mk18 has been manufactured in cooperation with EMG Arms in the USA, and every part appears to have been made and fitted with the utmost care and attention to detail. In game it has proved to be a real tack-driver with no issues to report so far! I really do love the Mk18 as it’s proved to be an exceptionally tight package both inside and out; care has obviously been taken to provide something in AEG form that’s fully worthy of carrying the Daniel Defense name! I won’t comment here on the other Specna that I’ve had for a couple of years now, the E04, as you’ll find more on this particular SB-AR in our “BLOCKS” article this month, but suffice to say that after a little love it’s cranking on nicely! Jase: I’ll continue the love for licensing here as another of the test models I’ve had access to is G&G take on the Knights Armament SR30! My first thoughts on the SR30 were “impressive”. The immediate quality of this RIF was good. It felt solid, really solid! Apart from the stock giving off a wee rattle, the whole platform did not make a noise. I wasn’t expecting this. In the years I have been a player in the community, I have fettled with my fair share of AEGs from expensive to cheap so I know what a good RIF feels like. Back in the day, a few of my team ran G&G Combat Machine M4’s which were budget orientated (which you cannot fault them for) but they were a spot on the ropey side, so when I was tasked a with this G&G review, I was not holding out much hope in the quality department. How wrong I was! I have been treated with plenty of well trademarked RIF’s of late so I was eager to see how well G&G had engraved this SR30. Talk about a good job, from what I can tell this is the spitting image of the real thing. The trades are super crisp, and I’d go as far as to say laser engraved as they look so nice. When I compared this with photos of the real Knights SR30, apart from the missing CTR stock and slightly different pistol grip, this was a damn fine Knights Armament replica. The G&G Knights Armament SR30 has been really nice to use too, I’ve had zero issues or gripes. The SR30 comes fitted with a programmable Mosfet as standard and it’s great to see G&G moving this

“APART FROM THE STOCK GIVING OFF A WEE RATTLE, THE WHOLE PLATFORM DID NOT MAKE A NOISE. I WASN’T EXPECTING THIS. IN THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN A PLAYER IN THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE FETTLED WITH MY FAIR SHARE OF AEGS FROM EXPENSIVE TO CHEAP SO I KNOW WHAT A GOOD RIF FEELS LIKE.”

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RED CELL SBR UPDATE

along; their “take” on this gearbox/ Mosfet combo offers really handy features! Here in the UK this SR30 is competitively priced for a solid, wellmade, beautifully “traded” AEG. Would I recommend this G&G SR30? So far it’s a “Yes”. Bill: As Jase has so ably made the argument for a properly licenced model I feel it’s only fair to conclude with something that is still relatively new, and unashamedly airsoft through and through… and that’s the ARES X-CLASS AR-091E that I looked at in Issue 137, and this is another AEG that I’ve already come to respect greatly! I seem to have spent a fair amount of time with new ARES models on the range in the last year, but there’s one series that both Jimmy and I got a little excited about, but for very different reasons, and that was their new “X CLASS”! So, what’s new and interesting about the new X CLASS variants, of which there are a few ranging from the 555-650mm Model 6 “PDW” up to the 850-930mm Model 15? Basically put ARES have created a line of AR AEGs that are designed from the

get-go to be a reliable yet stylish, up-to-the-minute choice for players. In the case of the 091-E this premium AEG has thoroughly modern styling with a Radian Arms-inspired lower receiver, and a “Geisselestyle” rail system, one which seems to be very popular in airsoft circles at the moment! The high-grade alloy CNC 6063 handguard fitted as standard to the X CLASS looks very much like an M-LOK Super Modular Rail MK4, but without the additional picatinny sections at 3 and 6 o’clock, and it looks great! The flip-up sights that come fitted as standard to the 091E are more than adequate for most situations, so the AEG is ready to roll straight from the box if you add a battery and some BBs, although for full testing I added my favourite holosight and a foregrip. At 30m unsupported it’s easy to get hits on a 400mm x 400mm torso-sized target with each BB flying straight and true. Now it’s been out in earnest for longer range testing, the carbine performs superbly on .28g BBs, easily and accurately sending them to target at 50-60m now it’s bedded in; not too shabby at all, and I’m looking forward to seeing just how well this new AEG performs over time! We’re running out of space this month, but suffice to say that the CYMA 097, BOLT L4, Valken Kilo and the Evolution Recon are all running as they should! Posh (Evo Recon) is currently on an “airsoft hiatus” due to a new job, and sadly Bill W-R (Valken Kilo) is still recovering from an illness; I’m sure you’ll join us in wishing him a speedy recovery to full health, and we’ll update all these models in “RELOADED” articles at a later date. AA Red Cell is supported by:

“...IT’S BEEN OUT IN EARNEST FOR LONGER RANGE TESTING, THE CARBINE PERFORMS SUPERBLY ON .28G BBS, EASILY AND ACCURATELY SENDING THEM TO TARGET AT 5060M NOW IT’S BEDDED IN; NOT TOO SHABBY AT ALL”

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BLOC ON A BUDGET!

BILL IS ALWAYS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR WELL-PRICED YET UNIQUE REPLICAS TO ADD TO HIS AK COLLECTION AND AFTER MUCH SEARCHING HE FINALLY FOUND ONE THAT HAS BEEN EVADING HIM FOR SOME TIME, THE HUNGARIAN AMD-65! AFTER GIVING THE POOR THING SOME REAL ABUSE HE NOW REPORTS BACK ON THE AEG VERSION FROM GOLDEN EAGLE AIRSOFT.

kay, I make no bones about the fact that I’m an AK “fanboi” and when it comes to playing OPFOR there is, in my opinion, nothing better than an AK-variant to distinguish yourself from BLUFOR. I’m also a fan as in its base form (and here I’m looking at the wood-furnitured AK47, AKM/S and the 74 SU specifically) it’s a classic piece of functional military design that rightfully deserves a place on anyone’s gun wall!

The “Automat Kalashnikova” of 1947 created by Mikhail Kalashnikov was a genuine, 100% “game changer” in the world of military firearms, allowing the humble infantry soldier access to a fast-firing, durable, and above all

“I MAKE NO BONES ABOUT THE FACT THAT I’M AN AK “FANBOI” AND WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYING OPFOR THERE IS, IN MY OPINION, NOTHING BETTER THAN AN AK-VARIANT TO DISTINGUISH YOURSELF FROM BLUFOR.” 60

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reliable battlefield tool. The humble AK has come in many variants during its long service life, even within Russia, but when you take into account the number of models “based” on the AK but built under licence in different Soviet Bloc countries the variations can become somewhat mind-boggling! The AK, including all of its variants, has truly become one of the most widely manufactured and used firearms in the world, of this there is little doubt. Interestingly though one of the first licence agreements after the initial Russian-only manufacture

good. Femaru- Fegyver- es Gepgyar (FEG) based in Budapest started re-tooling for the AK in 1957, and the first AK-55 left the factory in 1959. The receivers, which were machined from steel blocks, were made by Danuvia Gepgyar initially, as that company boasted better machining facilities than FEG, and the stock, checkered pistol grip and fore-end were made of locally-sourced wood. The AK-55 shared a basic form and structure with the AK-47 but differed slightly due to the shift in manufacturing from a forged and

of the AK-47 was with the Hungarians! By 1957 the Magyar Nephadsereg (Hungarian People’s Army) decided it was high time to replace their aging and outmoded bolt action Moisin Nagant rifles with a modern AK-47-style battle rifle. The Hungarian AK was designated the AK-55 and it was simply a direct copy of the Soviet AK-47; it came with a cleaning rod and lacked a bayonet lug, but a barrel-mounted bayonet was available. Manufacturing quality was very

machined receiver to a lighter sheet metal receiver. This alteration to the design made the AK-55 twothirds lighter than its predecessor, and it was adopted in every evolution of the Hungarian AK afterwards. This modification has been left out of many historical accounts of the rifle, with the initial forging and machining process, which was so revolutionary in the creation of the AK-47, almost lost from the story. The AK-55 served until 1963 until the introduction www.airsoftaction.net

RELOADED GOLDEN EAGLE AMD-65

of the AKM-63 with its sheet metal receiver, and all parts were made by FEG. The AKM-63 proved to be a highly functional and reliable rifle, popular with the troops, but of course development never stands still and the AKM-63 was duly replaced in 1966 by the AMD-65 (Automata Modosított Deszant of 1965); this was a shortened (by 98mm) “paratrooper” variant of the AKM-63 with a simple folding tubular butt and rubber butt plate in place of the heavier wooden version; the butt could be folded by pressing a catch under the receiver behind the rear pistol grip, and the shorter length reflected the increasing use of helicopters, vehicles and especially AFVs by the Eastern Bloc Armed Forces in general. The short barrel had a distinctive large twoport muzzle brake, and the early pattern wooden pistol grips were replaced later with dark-coloured plastic ones. The front handguard area was made of perforated sheet metal which incorporated the black or grey plastic vertical foregrip (this was attached to assist in controlling fully automatic fire from a shorter weapon) and the vertical foregrip was canted forward to lessen interference with the early “banana-style” magazine changes.

UNIQUE AND SPECIAL

So why, you might ask yourself, has someone gone to all the trouble of producing an airsoft replica of what was essentially a rather obscure AK variant? Well, the fact is that the AMD-65 is a bit of a “grail gun” for many of us AK-fans, and it’s actually a model that has appeared somewhat bizarrely and regularly throughout the more recent conflicts in the Middle East! While it is undoubtedly a model that any “period” airsofter would wish to own, it was also used by the Afghan National Police and has been seen in the hands of many private contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq. Online research from “Tactical Life” tells me that “the Afghans started receiving them around 2006, when they went out of Hungarian service. I have seen figures to the effect that the Hungarians “donated” 39,000 AMD-65s and the U.S. purchased 45,000 more for the Afghan Police”. These are significant numbers in anyone’s book, and the fact is that for police issue the shorter barrelled, folding stock AMD-65 would have been a

perfect choice given that fundamentally it’s the same same as other AKs, a design with which the Afghans would have been more than familiar. A few years back I had the great pleasure of looking at the LCT version of the AMD-65 and it was righteous! However, at the time I didn’t have £UK350 to spare for a new AEG, and as much as I loved it, it was returned following the review and test process. From that point on the AMD-65 has been in the back of my mind, so when I can across the same model from Golden Eagle (GE) I was intrigued, especially given that at UK£150 it seemed a real bargain, so I picked one up with a view to upgrading it later! I do know Golden Eagle International (HK) Limited, they’ve been around a while so they obviously do something right! Founded in 2007, with experience in developing and manufacturing airsoft guns, airsoft parts and related products under the brand GE Airsoft (Golden Eagle Airsoft) you’ll find Golden Eagle under their own brand name across most of Europe, but if you’re in the USA then no doubt they’ll be offered under the “MATRIX” banner… the same thing basically… Long story short is that GE actually have a lot of experience and they’ve been quietly making airsoft replicas since they started, often at the more “budget end” of the market. Although they are well priced they are often of quite decent quality externally, and the AMD-65 AEG comes with a solid and durable metal body and barrel and benefits from black plastic grips fore and aft, the tubular side folding stock, and the distinctive muzzle brake; for a rifle that first saw service in the 1960s the placement of the foregrip, which is essentially just a reversed pistol grip, gives the “65” a surprisingly modern “feel”. Everything is put together very well indeed and there are absolutely no creaks, groans or wobbles apparent anywhere; the overall weight loaded fully of 3175g means that you can happily carry this AEG all day long, and at 610/860mm it’s also a great AK for use in both CQB and woodland games. Internally things are solid enough for the money; there’s a tried and tested (and easily upgraded!) V3 gearbox all driven along by an “okay” short-type motor. Nothing inside really sets the pulse racing but it’s all serviceable to start with, and the fact that everything is compatible with all TM-spec AEG

“WHILE IT IS UNDOUBTEDLY A MODEL THAT ANY “PERIOD” AIRSOFTER WOULD WISH TO OWN, IT WAS ALSO USED BY THE AFGHAN NATIONAL POLICE AND HAS BEEN SEEN IN THE HANDS OF MANY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.” 62

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RELOADED GOLDEN EAGLE AMD-65

upgrade components means that with the absolutely rock-solid externals you could end up with a very respectable, uniquely-charactered OPFOR shooter!

DOWNRANGE

Performance-wise the AMD-65 is no slouch from the box to be fair though. The AEG comes with a 600 BB High Capacity magazine which is also of full metal construction; I have tried it with other AK-47 and AK-74 magazines of different capacities and all feed very well with no jams or misfeeds. It seems to work happily on an 11.1V LiPo which gives it a nice trigger response and ROF, and thus far after about 20K BBs nothing has burnt out or spat the dummy… yet! There are sling points fore and aft should you wish to fit a sling (canvas webbing please!), and the control layout of the AMD-65 is much the same as every other AK variant on the market (I return to that comment earlier about “Afghan use”…). The charging handle cover hides a traditional sliding hop-up adjuster, and the safety lever has three positions; top is “safe”, middle is “auto”, and the lowest setting is “semi-auto”, just like the real thing; you do need to keep the selector arm screwed down tight though as this has a habit of shaking itself loose and interfering with the choice of shooting modes. With the magazine fully loaded and wound, and a charged TITAN stick-LiPo fitted initially the AMD-65 through the chrono was actually very (surprisingly!) consistent at a site-friendly 0.92 joule/315fps using .20g BBs; rate of fire was also pleasantly “AK”, chugging along nicely on a 7.4, but darn quick on the 11.1. The AMD-65 also has some “legs” in relation to range, and once the hop has been dialled in it happily sends out .28g BBs to the extreme of the 30m “woods range”; at 30m prone I’m able to easily hit a dinner plate-sized target… none too shabby for a “cheap gun”. However, and this is quite a big “however”, just like the real deal it’s not always perfectly accurate, and you do get a few “flyers” from every mag. I would stress that I am still using the GE “stock” with zero upgrades as nothing has broken yet (it’s actually lasted longer than I thought it would!), and I think that the first thing I will task Jimmy with is to look at the

hop-unit and inner barrel relationship. This should be a relatively cheap area to upgrade that would give almost instant performance results! I’ve always personally fancied an AMD-65 to add to my collection, and I have to say that this model is a real gem of a find given the quality of the externals, and the performance as new is quite acceptable without any upgrades. If you like a bit of an “old school AK” that’s just a bit different, and at a great price, then you really should get your hands on an AMD-65 from Golden Eagle Airsoft. My thanks go to www.iwholesales.co.uk for supplying the review sample; for more information on the AMD-65 along with other models from Golden Eagle please do pay their website a visit. AA

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TECHNICAL AGM MG42

GIVING THE BUZZSAW SOME TEETH! LAST MONTH WE LOOKED IN DEPTH AT THE WEAPONS, AND THEIR AIRSOFT REPLICAS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN USED ON D-DAY AND IN OUR RED CELL “SPECIAL” JIMMY HAD A FEW CHOICE WORDS TO SAY ABOUT THE AGM MG42! AS PROMISED HE NOW BRINGS IN HIS FULL ASSESSMENT, AND THE STEPS HE TOOK TO TURN A WELL-PRICED SUPPORT GUN INTO A TRUE BB-CHUCKING BEAST!

hen it comes to weapons of an era I do prefer the more modern models, although I do have a small interest in weapons of Cold War. While WWII replicas are still very popular a lot of them don’t really interest me; that said there are a few which do grab my attention such as the Colt 1911 Government, Browning 9mm, the BREN and let’s not forget the wrecking machine that is 66

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the MG42! As I have become quite familiar with the MG42 I shall give an insight into my experience with its workings, and the ensuing issues I faced, but first let’s have a little history on its real counterpart! The MG 42 (shortened from German: Maschinengewehr 42, or “machine gun 42”) was a 7.92×57mm general-purpose machine gun designed by Mauser in Germany and used extensively by the

TECHNICAL AGM MG42

Wehrmacht and German Forces during the second half of World War II. Entering production in 1942, it was intended to supplement and replace the earlier MG 34, which was more expensive and took much longer to produce, but both weapons were produced until the end of the war, and in the case of the MG42 far longer, but more on that later! Designed to be low-cost and easy to build, the MG 42 proved to be highly reliable and easy to operate. It is most notable for its very high cyclic rate for a gun using full power service cartridges, averaging about 1,200 rounds per minute compared to around 850 for the MG 34 and perhaps 450 to 600 for other common machine guns like the M1919 Browning or FM 24/29 or Bren. This ability made it extremely effective in providing suppressive fire, and its unique sound led

to it being nicknamed “Hitler’s Buzzsaw”. The MG 42 was adopted by several armed organizations after the war, and was both copied and built under licence. The MG 42’s lineage continued past the AXIS defeat, forming the basis for the nearly identical MG1 (MG 42/59), chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO, which subsequently evolved into the MG1A3, and later the Bundeswehr’s MG

3, Italian MG 42/59 and Austrian MG 74. It also spawned the Yugoslav unlicensed nearly identical Zastava M53… strangely there was a small car which took the name Zastava made by Yugo…. But let’s get back to the matter in hand.

GIVE ME LOVE!

I got my hands on the AGM MG42 due to it needing some much required maintenance and a bit of true tech love as it was misfeeding… sorry; make that not feeding at all! Velocity was very poor and in general it just sounded horrible. One thing that is fast apparent with the MG is it’s colossal presence; it’s a beast of a machine and when fully loaded with magazine and it’s large capacity of BBs it really is

heavy at nearly 6000g, so 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. One thing I found to be a bit of an annoyance is the bipod, that thing does what it wants to. I understand it needed to give the user a www.airsoftaction.net

TECHNICAL AGM MG42

wide range of manoeuvrability but when you’re trying to work on it or move from point to point it just flaps all over the place. Designed with one thing in mind, “suppression”, the airsoft variant takes quite a beating and sadly AGM didn’t use the best quality internal parts and they also adopted certain standards which don’t follow suit of other parts manufacturers 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. The big old drum mag can be a bit of a fiddle to fit, especially the locking catch, and you have to get it lined up perfect in order for it to clip in and can take two or three attempts at that, but once on it is very well secured so no worries of it falling off. I like the idea of having it hardwired but powered from its own power source requiring 4 AA batteries; no need to push any buttons or switches just pull the trigger and the mag will self-wind. The way they have set up the mechanics is nice also as you have two complete separate sections, the lower section which houses your gears and your trigger mechanism and the upper portion which deals solely with your compression side of things, making life a bit easier when it comes to maintenance as both are incredibly easy to remove. Battery space is better than most to be honest, batteries are stored in the rear of the body and the stock although caution should be taken when fitting the stock as you have to twist the stock on which could compromise a wire.

INTERNALLY UNREMARKABLE

Getting into the internals AGM have used standardquality budget parts and not much diligence has been used in putting them all together. I found the gears were very poorly shimmed with little to no grease, the safety switch was very stiff, motor height was way off, the piston was of poor quality and again there was no lubrication where it was needed except just smeared on areas where no contact of parts were. So my job was to unfudge the fudgery! When installing the new piston I discovered the original piston to be marginally thinner that the three

models that I tried to fit, resulting in the new ones jamming when the shell was closed and forcing me to modify the piston to allow smooth operation. I had to trim a couple of mill off the tappet plate as the nozzle was being held open way too long causing drastic power loss. Shimming the gears required them to be sat as low as possible in order for the sector gear to get a good engagement of the piston rack meaning I couldn’t get the motor to sit as high as I would have liked which can be detrimental to either the pinion or bevel gears, but time will tell I suppose. The main reason for the misfeeding was down to a number of issues; the main factor was the length of the nozzle as it was way too long and due to the odd size AGM had used, no aftermarket part was available so I had to carefully machine material away until I had reached the correct length which took several attempts to get right. The old saying you can take more off you can’t put any back so this resulted in best part of an afternoon to get just right. Another problem was with the hop unit alignment to the upper half of the compression housing. Although the hop unit fixed directly to the housing when installed the two parts were not linear, so it sat a little too high. This platform tested my abilities and at times had me questioning myself and made me feel I was out of my depth, but perseverance prevailed and the beast succumbed finally to my wishes. Now fully operational I was happier than a pig in mud. So a platform that looked amazing on the outside was lacklustre on the inside, but with a few choice enhancements and a fair amount of my time it became the machine it should have been. Running on 11.1v it has a very crisp sound and will pump out a very healthy 18rps which isn’t far from the real MG42’s rof, at between 345 & 350fps so I’m very pleased with that. I always like a challenge, and I find that the more AEGs I work on, the more I understand their individual characters and the MG42 although initially hard to fathom turned out just fine with some thought and perseverance. Unless you’re a skilled tech with a wellset up workshop I’d say getting the most from one of these AEGs will be hard, so my advice to you is to take it to a good tech who will find the correct path, with the correct parts, to really put some teeth into your Buzzsaw! AA

“ONE THING I FOUND TO BE A BIT OF AN ANNOYANCE IS THE BIPOD, THAT THING DOES WHAT IT WANTS TO. I UNDERSTAND IT NEEDED TO GIVE THE USER WIDE RANGE OF MANOEUVRABILITY BUT WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO WORK ON IT OR MOVE FROM POINT TO POINT IT JUST FLAPS ALL OVER THE PLACE.” 68

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TECHNICAL AGM MG42

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TECHNICAL M4 SOPMOD BUILD

THE BIRTH OF THE BLOCKS PART II

In Partnership with NUPROL and Military1st

THE AR AND “M4” STYLE OF AEG HAS PROVED TO BE THE “PRIMARY” CHOICE OF AIRSOFT PLAYERS AROUND THE GLOBE, AND INDEED IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE RANGE OF VIRTUALLY ANY MANUFACTURER OUT THERE IT’S GOING TO BE THE AR-STYLE THAT IS DOMINANT! BILL CONTINUES WITH HIS JOURNEY TO RECREATE, WITH THE HELP OF OUR FRIENDS AT NUPROL AND MILITARY1ST, A BLOCK 1 M4 SOPMOD, A MOD 0 CQBR, AND NOW THE KIT TO GO WITH IT!

do love a build project; in fact when I was a kid I wanted to be a gunsmith but my family talked me out of it as “there’s no money in guns”… hah, if only I knew then what I know now! Here I am, the older and wiser (I hope!) me and what do I do for a living? I build, shoot and write about guns and gear both real and replica, and although I’ll never be a

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millionaire, I LOVE what I do! The “BLOCKS” project so far has been a really interesting one, but when I sat back to think about it I realised that what I was doing was essentially recreating the platforms and loadout that I used when I was at the very height of my playing days! Once I’d set the wheels in motion to create a passable BLOCK 1

TECHNICAL M4 SOPMOD BUILD

M4 and a Mod 0 CQBR and handed them off to Jimmy for some internal refinement I found myself ordering in a new set of tri-colour BDUs from Military1st and digging out all my old gear from the very early 2000s! I am an absolute “magpie” when it comes to gear, so although I wanted a new uniform set, the rest of the appropriate kit was still safely stored away in the “Gear Locker”, and I had a great afternoon digging it all out and reminiscing about games and comrades past! I still have all of my BDUs and combat shirts in ACU cut in the US Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), but although I have some more “modern” tri-colour I’ve always wanted a basicish BDU, and a visit to www.military1st.co.uk scored me a lovely two-piece set from Helikon-Tex which they had at for a reasonable price, and delivered super-fast! My intention with the tri-colour BDU is to reconfigure the shirt as more of a “RAID-style” to fit in with the “SF Theme” of the two ARs, and I’ll come back to that in the concluding part of my “BLOCKS” series later. So, where do the two ARs sit now, what work has

Image from Public Domain source

been done, and how have I configured them and why? For the first part I’ll hand over to Jimmy to detail just what he’s done inside the two SPECNA ARMS AEGs!

INSIDE TRACK

Both of these platforms being from SPECNA ARMS have already been well-used and seen some (airsoft!) action but they have fairly robust internals and from the multitude of Specnas I have worked on to date I have only ever seen one faulty Gate X-ASR and one bevel gear fail. The task at hand here was to give them a bit of an overhaul, rectify any velocity problems and increase accuracy. I carried out exactly the same process on both of them apart from having to replace one of the advanced motors due to it locking up; fortunately I had an exact replacement on hand! Both gearsets were completely re-shimmed starting with the bevel gear in order to get the www.airsoftaction.net

TECHNICAL M4 SOPMOD BUILD

best motor height and perfect mesh between the bevel and pinion gears. Fully cleaned and re-greased using Abbey gun grease, which is a favourite of mine for gears. All compression parts were cleaned thoroughly and re-lubed using GHK silicone oil. Piston o-rings were replaced for Viton rubber o-rings which gave a perfect cylinder airseal; the original ones were leaking a little which gave inconsistent chrono readouts. I lightly sanded, using fine wet and dry, a few small imperfections from the gearbox piston rails making them much smoother allowing smoother piston travel. Both barrels were thoroughly cleaned through using isopropyl alcohol and then lightly polished using a very small amount of Autosol just to remove any tarnish in order to aid the BBs to travel on a much smoother surface helping the BB maintain the spin, thus increasing range slightly. As a result of the work done I managed to get both carbines hitting comfortably and pretty consistently at 345 +/- 3 fps (on a .20g BB). I do like the Specna internals; they are actually fairly good as stock internals go. Full metal rack piston, double o-ring piston head, double o-ring cylinder head, o-ring nozzle… there are far worse gearboxes on the market in all honesty!

FIELD READY

To achieve my own “field ready” SOPMOD M4 and Mod 0 I went back to the “official” components in the first “BLOCK” or group of modular enhancements to the basic “infantry M4”. This list is now also easily available in the public domain if you look for it, but you can also find it in PART I of this series back in Issue 136. I also looked long and hard and reference images online of how “operators of the day” had their carbines set up (this again is far easier these days!) and also thought about how I had my much-loved

Image from Public Domain source

“noughties” M4 configured; one reference image I remember we all used from the first time round I’ve included here, that of a SOPMOD M4A1/203 combo. I do still need to find a Quick-attach sight for use with the M203 but as a good G&P version is iro US$60 that may have to wait! I also consulted my old “Weapons of Delta Force” book (written by Fred Pushies circa 2002, ISBN-13: 978-0760311394) which is an invaluable source for information! As both the Specna E03 and E04 are quite close to an original “A1” in many ways I needed to do very little to the basic carbines externally other than finding a couple of decent CRANE-style stocks for them; I do have the “XM-style” stock (as shown) but the CRANEstyle allows for better battery storage, so is more useful in airsoft terms. I’ve also (at the moment) kept the original motor grip in place… just because I like it and it works for me! Many SF users fitted COTS parts to their M4s so this isn’t a “deal breaker” for me. Two parts were ultra-important to me in the build though, were the Insight Technology AN/PEQ-2 and the KAC quick-detach sound suppressor (QDSS) as they both scream “Afghan M4”! Luckily I already had a couple of old “PEQ-2” boxes lurking in the man cave (and ordered a new red laser model from Daves Custom Airsoft), but you can find these easily enough online for very few pennies these days… I had forgotten just how big these are compared to the

“TO ACHIEVE MY OWN “FIELD READY” SOPMOD M4 AND MOD 0 I WENT BACK TO THE “OFFICIAL” COMPONENTS IN THE FIRST “BLOCK” OR GROUP OF MODULAR ENHANCEMENTS TO THE BASIC “INFANTRY M4”. ”

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TECHNICAL M4 SOPMOD BUILD

LAMs we use now, and when fitted to the top of the rail I remembered why I used to fit them on the side instead, so as not to obscure my optic sight picture! This is also shown in many reference images. I still had my original Guarder KAC Style QD Silencer but as this was already sprayed up I was pleased to find that you can still get these if you search hard enough (thanks to Ronald at titan.eu for helping me get hands on a new one!), so I grabbed a plain black one for the Mod 0.

SEEING CLEARLY

Optics choice? Well, as I said in Part I of this build report I stuck with the NUPROL range, mainly for cost reasons! I do still have my original, real “511” holosight that came home with me from the USA, but the NUPROL repro is perfect for the Mod 0; my reference for the Mod 0 though shows an Aimpoint COMP M2, but as I’m still hunting for a “straight mount” for this I ended up going back to the 511-style as I love this as a wide FOV CQB optic anyway. For the longer carbine I went for the NPCOG 4 X 32 as this works pretty much perfectly to replicate the early-model Trijicon ACOG, and for the “field-ready SOPMOD M4” this is my definite choice. Looking again at my “ref pic” it actually showed the longer model M203 mounted, so this went on, the “big badda boom” option that screams SOPMOD M4 to everyone, from their S&T distributorship. I’m still debating whether or not to mount the “old skool” G&P Scorpion Series VLI X9 Illuminator Combat Light as standard as the front end of the M4 is now getting pretty heavy as it is… I’ll probably “pouch” this and attach as needed!

Talking of “illumination” I was slightly reticent to fit a Scout-type light to the Mod 0 as although the early ones were definitely about in the time-period I’m looking at for this build, it’s not something I used personally “back in the day” and it just didn’t “feel” right to me. Luckily I noticed that S&T also do a M910 LED taclite/foregrip combo that’s the dead-ringer for the old SureFire M910A Picatinny Rail Vertical Foregrip Weaponlight (which was included in the “wider” SOPMOD list) that I used to run on my SCAR circa 2007-8; this had already been around for a while, and seemed the ideal solution for a CQB-length beastie! Both carbines are now pretty much complete bar the small details that really make a build like this “sing”, so the next stage is bringing everything together. I am still considering “paintjobs”, but as things stand I think that the Mod 0 will remain plain black, although the longer version will receive one of my sprayjobs. For the final part of the BLOCKS project I’ll conclude on the finished carbines including some range-testing results, along with some suitable kit to go with them! My thanks as always go to Tom at www.nuprol.com for helping (and humouring me!) with this project, and also to Lukas at www.military1st.co.uk for getting the new BDU set to me so swiftly! AA

Image from Public Domain source

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TECHNICAL LEGION EVENT OP CABRIT

SEEING THE FLIP SIDE

THE AA CREW LIKE TO PLAY AIRSOFT FOR SURE, BUT THEY’RE INVOLVED IN FAR MORE THAN JUST PLAYING! IN ISSUE 138 WE BROUGHT YOU JASE’S REPORT ON “OP CABRIT”, BUT WHILE HE WAS BUSY OUT “ON TASK”, BEHIND THE SCENES TWO MORE OF THE AA CREW WERE MAKING THINGS WORK IN RELATION TO “SPECIAL EFFECTS” AND NOW JIMMY REPORTS BACK…

id-March saw my attendance of my first MilSim event, not from a players perspective though as Mr Spencer, my fellow AA Red Cell member, had asked if I could join them and help with the effects side of the event. Gladly I accepted his offer without an inclination of what lay ahead… I had little or no equipment for spending a weekend out in the wilderness (not really the Wilderness, it was a forest in Surrey!) so naturally I put out a call to the group and ended up getting my hands on some pretty good gear with a sleeping bag from Posh - and cooking/admin kit too! My bed for the weekend though sadly sat 4” off the ground as it didn’t appreciate 16st, so I pretty much slept on the floor but in all honesty the weather was fair to us so it wasn’t too bad…. suffice to say I have now invested in a decent military cot-bed though! On Friday evening myself, James (Spencer) and our mate Ben (CS Sharpy) set off for the hour and half drive up to Dogtag Airsoft, a nice little site which I have previously visited several times before so I already knew the lay of the land which helped with manoeuvring around at the dead of night in the pitch black (we had head-torches, but I’m trying to set a scene here okay!). We arrived on site to be greeted but a small number of chaps, mainly the organisers who were going to be part of the Task Force, and slowly over the course of the evening numbers started to increase. It was nice to see 76

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familiar faces turning up, Ryan M (I love airsofting with Ryan as I know he appreciates my love for a drum mag and a good full auto story… NOT! Haha), and Harry T my barista for the weekend; I say barista but actually I forgot coffee and I discovered he had brought a fine blend and quite frankly went on to consume most of it over the course of Saturday and Sunday, thank you Harry you sweetie! These are guys who I have played alongside in the past and are a joy to be around. We set up camp down the bottom end of the FOB; we had three sleeping bays, a technical operations room and a kitchen all set up in the hour. After that we had a quick scout of the site so the other Ben and James had an idea of where to set up the effects for certain ops. Then it was a case of chill out for the evening have a few adult beverages with the guys and generally mingle and get to meet some cracking people.

TECHNICAL LEGION EVENT OP CABRIT

Smooth Jase, my good buddy whom I have known for over fifteen years (and who I once mocked for playing airsoft and choosing not to come cycling of a weekend, oh how the tide has changed and here I find myself in the same boat!) introduced me to a few of his fellow Milsimmers, very nice chaps indeed, and one guy I will not forget! Spencer S was an especially nice chap and that is due to the fact he rustled up the most fantastic sweet BBQ pulled pork rolls! Oh my gosh I have never tasted anything so delectable in all my life so much so I am now hooked on pulled pork. Funny thing is I never used to like pork… It felt very “Pre-Op”, guys turning up setting out their gear and sleeping equipment, checking mags, cleaning rifles, sorting comms, but the obligatory banter a completely different feel to setting up in the Safe Zone at a skirmish where everything feels rushed; these guys had their sh1t together!

ZERO DARK THIRTY

Saturday morning would see an early start and we were up around 0700 ready to get setup for the first ambush in the dark. Myself, James and Sharpy wandered off into the forest and set out a series of bangs on one of the main roads. During the placing of said bangs James’ wire cutters all of a sudden disappeared which had us all completely baffled as he had just had them in his hands. We made do with what we had to hand, finished all the connections and bimbled back to the FOB just in time for the first set of briefings. James had his Sabre Rocket System (the build of which you’ll find detailed in our Back Issues on the website) all loaded and ready to go for the first push. After the briefings Sam (the “OC”) approached me and asked if I could play the role of a civilian in need of aid after stepping on a land mine later in the day, and in fairness for us though there was a fair but of down time in between Tasks which gave us the opportunity to get the next part set up in time, and still get involved where needed to ensure the game ran really well for the players During the Saturday there were Sabre launches against incoming missile raids on the Castle during the “Rescue the Hostage” (other Ben) Tasking and

James set up a series of explosions and flashes to simulate mortar fire. There was to be a briefing for the Task Force back at the FOB which saw another air raid, which was met by another Sabre rocket launch! After that was where yours truly came in with something to keep OPFOR on their toes; COVERED IN (fake!) BLOOD I made my way to my POI to await my call. It was quite funny seeing the guy’s faces who were on point at the road into the OPFOR camp. I came wondering up the road with rifle in hand covered in fake blood said a cheery “Hi!” as I passed them and stomped through the woods; they must have known something was about to go down but what exactly had them baffled. My task was to act as a victim of a land mine attack right on the doorstep of the OPFOR camp; after being rescued I was then moved to the camp where I received medical attention from guy called Jack and an interrogation of sorts to ascertain if I was in fact part of the Task Force. They were confused as to why I would purposely blow my own legs off with a grenade, so I kindly said “It’s supposed to be a mine injury and do you have any beer?” During this time a raid occurred which caught the OPFOR by surprise a little as the focus was on me. After a good half hour of laying on the floor I was hauled into a vehicle, driven to the Task Force FOB and kindly dumped on the ground about 50mtrs off where a Task Force patrol would find me, detain me, and interrogate me further.

DARKSIDE OPS

This was followed by a bit of a lull which gave us chance to then setup for the night ambush which would be a series of explosions and blinding white light which was to be around 2000. A little wait and a chance to get some grub. As darkness set in we followed the Task Force out to a point to await a passing patrol. It felt like forever crouched down with my finger poised on the detonator. We crouched in cover in the pitch black; I couldn’t see a thing nor could I feel my feet as I had crouched in the most awkward of positions and for fear of being heard and giving away the Task Forces’ position, I literally couldn’t move. The patrol approached and OC Sam gave the order for us to let rip, which was

“IT FELT VERY “PRE-OP”, GUYS TURNING UP SETTING OUT THEIR GEAR AND SLEEPING EQUIPMENT, CHECKING MAGS, CLEANING RIFLES, SORTING COMMS, BUT THE OBLIGATORY BANTER A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FEEL TO SETTING UP IN THE SAFE ZONE AT A SKIRMISH WHERE EVERYTHING FEELS RUSHED; THESE GUYS HAD THEIR SH1T TOGETHER!” www.airsoftaction.net

TECHNICAL LEGION EVENT OP CABRIT

fast followed by a trade-off of fire between the two forces. I was hoping it was going to last longer but it was over in minutes. We let the guys bug out and make their way back to the FOB so we could reel up our cables and collect all the detonators before heading back ourselves. We set up the same lights on the back of the FOB overlooking the chapel and positioned the mortars about 40mtrs off to the side. Conveniently there were two pieces of tubed framing which would be perfect. This was all set for a planned attack at around 2300. James set the lights off and I rigged up the mortars which were large roman candles; now we did discuss the mortars and we had guessed which way up they went as there were no distinguishable markings or instructions. At around 2245 it kicked off; Sharpy was to operate the lights and me and James hot-footed it to the mortar site. It fast became apparent that we had the mortars up the wrong way and it was

a proper ‘oh feck’ moment as we now had roman candles firing at our feet! How embarrassing! I leapt into action and flipped the tubular framing over so they were now firing over the FOB! We made our way back and it was getting quite full-on when Harry ran to me, threw his rifle at me followed by “fix it” lol. I had done some previous upgrades on his TM 416D where I noticed the base plate screw holes were damaged; not being able to find a replacement grip I attempted to fix it the best I could and managed to get it operating again as we had some field gaffer tape; not the prettiest fix but it got him through.

MORNING GLORY!

Following this at around 0100 Sunday morning myself and James needed to go for a bit of a hike and carry the power pack all the way over to “Spooky Woods” to The Castle and setup the comms panel. The power

“AT AROUND 2245 IT KICKED OFF; SHARPY WAS TO OPERATE THE LIGHTS AND ME AND JAMES HOT-FOOTED IT TO THE MORTAR SITE. IT FAST BECAME APPARENT THAT WE HAD THE MORTARS UP THE WRONG WAY AND IT WAS A PROPER ‘OH FECK’ MOMENT AS WE NOW HAD ROMAN CANDLES FIRING AT OUR FEET!” 78

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TECHNICAL LEGION EVENT OP CABRIT

pack was not light but we made it. I have seen these woods in the daytime and they’re not one bit spooky but at 0100 on the pitch black… yeah it’s spooky. Once setup we made our way back to grab Sharpy and take another hike, this time around 0230 where we would set up a downed UAV and a series of smokes which would allow the Task Force to bugout under a blanket of thick yellow smoke; we prayed that we had positioned everything at the right points! It would be Sharpy’s mission to rendezvous at the trenches in order to set these off at 0600, and thankfully our positioning was spot-on! Task Force regrouped at the FOB and at 0800 it all kicked off again with a full on frontal attack from OPFOR which would see them seize control and push the Task Force out and make their way to the LZ for extraction. Before leaving the Task Force destroyed any evidence on the hard-drives which was an impressive display in itself. James had set up a large number of explosives all

around the FOB to simulate this attack and it was quite full-on seeing grenades, smokes and TAG rounds peppering the rooftops .It was at this moment that a TAG grenade landed at my feet and all I could do was just look at the thing hoping it wouldn’t scorch my socks! OPFOR entered the FOB, and swept for any remaining Task Force; quite exciting if I’m honest, this was what my expectation of a MilSim was and finally the moment had arrived, and even just watching the action my adrenaline was pumping by this point! At this point our services were no longer needed so we started packing up, gathering all our gear ready to make our way home. All in a very good weekend with the exception of sleep deprivation! I’m glad I went and would like to thank James for inviting me, and his “special effects” certainly did the trick helping with the “event immersion”. Also a big thanks to the guys of SEO MilSim; I look forward to a Milsim sometime soon, and maybe next time I’ll get a little more “involved”. AA

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - USA

TALES OF THE OLD WEST

AIRSOFT IS FLOURISHING ALL OVER THE WORLD AGAIN AT LAST, AND THIS IS WHERE THE MEMBERS OF THE AA LEGION ARE REALLY COMING INTO THEIR OWN! WITH NEW MEMBERS COMING ONLINE THE INTERNATIONAL EVENT AND GAME REPORTS ARE FLOWING IN NOW, SO WHO BETTER THAN DAN IN THE USA TO REPORT IN ON A “WILD WEST” GAME WITH A DIFFERENCE!

AUGUST 2022

GAME REPORT AA LEGION - USA

“The year is 1913. The Wild West is rapidly disappearing. The days of the gunslingers and outlaw gangs riding the range are coming to a close. The six-gun is feeling its age against the rise of a self-loading pistol designed by John Browning just two years ago. “Horse trails have given way to railroads and paved roads have been laid down in some cities for the horseless carriages growing in popularity back east in New York, Chicago and Detroit. The Pony Express is being replaced by the telegraph and the telephone. “The frontier is fading rapidly here in the small town of Mesquite along the MexicanAmerican border, but there still might be time for another score.”

hus sets the scene for our themed event hosted by Pegasus MilSim, “Mesquite”, an escape to the early 20th century a year before the Great War would reshape the map of the world. As an active airsofter who has been playing for many years now, I have found the routine MilSim and generic pickup games started to lose their lustre over time. You start craving for that firstgame hit, or something unique and interesting that represents a fun diversion from the humdrum of the norm… which is why every now and then a unique themed event can be just the ticket needed to get the creativity and passion for airsoft flowing again! Mesquite was not so regimented in the minutiae of impressionism as to be too restrictive on what one could use and wear. It was largely restricted to items and weapons used in the late 19th to early 20th century: chiefly bolt-action rifles, lever guns, revolvers and early semi-auto pistol designs. This would naturally change the pace of battle from the usual high-volume full-auto firefights to more measured and precise engagements. With limited capacity and however fast you were at running a bolt or lever gun, you had to make your shots count. For myself, I equipped with an S&T Kar98k spring rifle outfitted with a full TNT upgrade kit and a modified real steel walnut stock. My sidearm was a KWC Luger P08, with a 1912 marked German leather holster and belt, Kar98 cartridge pouches, canvas trousers, suspenders, and a 19th century work shirt and bowler hat. This was a

mostly period correct ensemble that wasn’t too rigid in periodspecific

impressionism that it would have limited use in other events down the line. For the most part, I elected to only lightly age and weather some of my kit rather than give it the overall appearance of being something over 100 years old. The rifle would show normal signs of use and wear consistent with routine carry and exposure to the elements, but other items would have a more new appearance, which would be realistic for things more recently purchased by our fictional character. On a related note, the process of researching and acquiring new gear is an adventure all its own. It was fascinating to read of the evolution in clothing and styles of the period, and anyone who enjoys military and small arms development history will note this is a very rich period indeed when invention and ingenuity were being pushed forward with a full head of steam.

THE MIGHTY DOLLAR!

While this was by most definitions a themed skirmish, it was not all strictly war games, as our little western-themed town featured a general store, saloon, bank and a sheriff’s office. Players started out in the little town of Mesquite and were expected to engage in some commerce, trading and seeking out bounties that were placed on players who “offended” the law. There was also plenty of gambling, gentleman’s duels and gungames to partake in too. Like any good western, temptation awaited the actors of this film, with the bank housing a safe and a pile of gold. In order to

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - USA

crack this safe, one had to use at least four sticks of dynamite, which could be purchased (or stolen!) from the general store. The game was based around having a currency-based economy, with each

player at the outset rolling a 12-sided dice to determine how much starting cash they would begin with. In concept, this actually worked out pretty well and ensured a realistic disparity in available cash reserves amongst the players. For myself, I came away with a whopping $2, which admittedly couldn’t buy much in our fictional economy. The respective owners of the saloon and general store set prices, and the currency could be used to buy real world food items, beverages, and even that dynamite, the latter being initially priced exorbitantly high to limit its proliferation on the field. Naturally, the high price

criminal elements that were bent on stealing it and using it to crack the bank safe. Before long, a plan was hatched that involved multiple conspirators, one of whom would secret away into the tree-line to snipe the owner of the general store. At the precise moment the owner was incapacitated, I was tasked with pilfering the crate of dynamite for as many sticks as my hands could hold and ideally get away before the Sheriff could react! The plan MOSTLY worked, but during my escape from town I took a “bullet” in the back from an unseen assailant; presumably it was a noble townsperson who couldn’t let such thievery happen on their watch! My co-conspirator was hot on my heels, however, and swooped in and retrieved most of the dynamite I had scored. He left two

sticks on my body as a “consolation” prize to the Sheriff to throw off how many our little outlaw band had actually stolen.

WANTED:DEAD OR ALIVE!

of dynamite lent itself perfectly to the quick formation of 82

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Since we had now become part of the scurvy-ridden banditry, bounties were placed on our heads, with myself being hunted for the princely sum of $200 USD. In quick order, we found ourselves having to evacuate the premises, and as bandits are wont to do, we retreated to the surrounding forest and fended off our pursuers. These small skirmishes really showcased some of the limitations of the period correct gear and gave you an appreciation for what people of the era had to fight with. I was finding that my cartridge pouches

GAME REPORT AA LEGION - USA

and Luger holster were sliding all over the place on the belt. The canvas trousers did not come with belt loops, as was correct for that style of pants, so the belt more or less just hung off your hips, with nothing else to really secure it. Being used to the rigidity of MOLLE, where every pouch simply stays where you place it, this was something new to get used to. The Luger holster was basically an all-encompassing shell of formed leather and wasn’t really designed for quick access so much as fully protecting the pistol from the elements. In hindsight, a field harness or leather keepers would have probably lent some more stability to my setup. Similarly, as nearly everything in my modern collection is running a red dot or optic of some sort, going back to running old school iron sights was a unique change of pace too. After thoroughly exercising the bolt on my Kar98k, I felt it safe enough to try and sneak back into town to see if we could take a stab at the bank safe. But the old axiom “there is no honor among thieves” bore true, and I found myself shot in the back (again!) by my fellow bandit who hauled me before the sheriff and scooped up the $200 bounty on my head! All’s fair in love and war, as

they say! As enjoyable as this themed event was, it was also a bit dismaying to see the low levels of attendance. Historically speaking, themed events have traditionally always had poor attendance, though. By nature of the events themselves, there is often a barrier to entry in

outfitting oneself with the

appropriate gear. In this case, it wasn’t helped that we are still dealing with major supply chain disruptions and material shortages in the present. In the months leading up to the event, there was a distinct lack of retail inventory available for revolvers, lever guns and even WWI and II era rifles. Even historical clothing suppliers had a dearth of available items and sizes from which to select from. With the younger generations, there also seems to be a general lack of interest in dressing up as anything other than pseudo-Special Forces, and “COD-Fever” still hangs heavy like a wet blanket over their shoulders. This is perhaps the hardest aspect to overcome itself. In particular, site owners are the ones taking on all the risk breaking away from the usual games to offer something unique, and it doesn’t always come out ahead for them; often quite the inverse. They put a lot of heart, blood, sweat and tears into their events. This also doesn’t account for the many volunteers who are the ‘silent army’ that assists the site owner in setting up events and put forth equal toil into building structures, props and more. As players and attendees, it’s on us to support our local fields and ensure they stay afloat and continue to offer quality events. I would argue that this also means supporting the less-popular themed events, even if it is not your usual gaming preference. At the very least, I challenge you to try something different for a change of pace… you may genuinely surprise yourself with how much fun it can be! For more information on games run by Pegasus MilSim please check out their Facebook page, www. facebook.com/PegasusAirsoftGroup, and thanks to Rob and the team for the game images … Yeeha! AA

“WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS, THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF INTEREST IN DRESSING UP AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN PSEUDO-SPECIAL FORCES, AND “COD-FEVER” STILL HANGS HEAVY LIKE A WET BLANKET OVER THEIR SHOULDERS. THIS IS PERHAPS THE HARDEST ASPECT TO OVERCOME ITSELF.” www.airsoftaction.net

GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

AA LEGION PORTUGAL OP INTERIOR MIGUEL IS FAST BECOMING A “SEASONED VET” IN THE AA LEGION AND WHEN HE POSES QUESTIONS LIKE “DO YOU LIKE AIRSOFT? DO YOU LIKE A GREAT GET-TOGETHER WITH PLAYERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF YOUR COUNTRY? AND ALL THIS WITH GOOD FOOD AND DRINKS?” YOU CAN SEE WHY AS HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR ALL THINGS AIRSOFT JUST KEEPS ON SHINING THROUGH! 86

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

n the past month of May, my team “The Ghosts” travelled to a town in Portugal called Castelo Branco, where we were invited by our friends from the USAC Airsoft Team to take part in an event. We arrived on Saturday and by the end of the afternoon we were welcomed in a pavilion equipped with most of what we needed, from WCs, kitchen appliances, electricity, and of course food and drinks! We had a great time talking with players until late at night. The next morning we woke up to a great breakfast and coffee!

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

But now let’s talk about the game, and we can’t talk about with without looking at the field! And oh boy, what a field! Over 1000 hectares (yes, one thousand), with pine and eucalyptus forests, rocky areas, buildings, a small river, and even a lake! The game itself had a simple “recipe”, two opposing factions fighting to collect artefacts around a specific, but big, area of the map, along with special missions that took place outside that area. Each objective and mission had a certain score to it and in the end, the faction with the most points would win. Now, my team wasn’t part of any of these two factions, we were under the direct “orders” from the game’s organization (the USAC Team) and our goal was to be a balancing force in the game, so if one of the factions started to take a big lead we would be ordered to strike at them by being an OPFOR.

HOT LZ!

So, most of the time we were dropped by a jeep in a random position close to one of the faction’s objectives and proceeded to create chaos! We were even tasked once to attack one of the main bases and it was a memorable situation; we were dropped way behind enemy lines and proceded with a careful approach to the Blue base. We got to 20-25 meters without being noticed and when we opened fire there were even screams from two photographers that were there at the moment! We eliminated everyone present in a flash attack, stole everything possible, and ran out before reinforcements arrived, then we hid in the woods and called our extraction; truly an Airsoft moment for the books! After the game ended we had a great lunch (BBQ of course!) together with everyone present, followed by a giveaway with goodies from Gunfire! I want to make a special mention of this event as we welcomed into our midst the Serbian player Elvis Varcelija. He was invited by the organization but since we are close, and we already had a great connection with him, we picked him up at the airport; he stayed and travelled with us, and played along with my team in the event. It was great to learn about airsoft from Serbia, change opinions and show him a bit of Portugal and even how we play Airsoft here.

Elvis I know you are reading this, you will always be welcomed here!

ENDEX

To finish I asked my good friend Miguel Barata aka Snowhead, team leader of the USAC Airsoft team, and the organizer of Op. Interior for a few words about the event. “Operation Interior aims to promote airsoft in Portugal and particularly in the Beira Baixa area, we aim to create a memorable game for all players who participate, and at the same time create something different in Portugal. We want to have a big game in Portugal where anyone from Portugal or even other European countries can come to play and get to know this beautiful part of our country. Regarding the first edition of OP INTERIOR, we want to point out that the event went well; there were some technical flaws that were promptly resolved. During the course of the game we tried to create a model completely different from anything we’ve played before, giving the “faction leaders “ the ability to make decisions with the possibility of benefit or hazard at the same time; we also created a “Task Force” that was under the control of the organization in order to balance the game in case there was a big difference in the score. We would like to thank our great friends from the “Ghost Ops” team for accepting the challenge of playing as a “Task Force”, you guys are the best! We also want to leave a shout-out to Elvis Varcelija for accepting our invitation to come to Portugal to play; I think it was very important to compare the airsoft that is practiced in the two countries. Elvis Varcelija, it was an honour for us to receive you in our house, and you already know our house is yours! Thanks for the opportunity.” So, who knows, this could be the start of something for airsoft in Portugal, and perhaps next time we may even host some of the AA Legion to come and join us… and you too if the thought of playing airsoft with fellow enthusiasts in our beautiful country is attractive to you! To keep an eye on what Miguel and his fellow “Ghosts” are up to next, be sure to check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ ghostopsairsoft AA

“OPERATION INTERIOR AIMS TO PROMOTE AIRSOFT IN PORTUGAL AND PARTICULARLY IN THE BEIRA BAIXA AREA, WE AIM TO CREATE A MEMORABLE GAME FOR ALL PLAYERS WHO PARTICIPATE, AND AT THE SAME TIME CREATE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN PORTUGAL.”

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - PORTUGAL

www.airsoftaction.net

GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

UP TO SPEED!

OUR “MAN IN HONG KONG” LARRI IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SHARING THE PASSION FOR AIRSOFT THERE, AND THIS TIME HE REPORTS ON A SPEEDQB PRE-MATCH THAT HE BELIEVES TAKES HONG KONG SPEEDQB COMPETITION TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

irsoft events are coming back in Hong Kong, and as a CQB speedsofter, it was my great pleasure to witness a game event run in SpeedQB format in recently! This was the first ever “official” SpeedQB event in Hong Kong with a proper SpeedQB style layout, which brought players a great way to compete using their marksmanship, teamwork and speed in SpeedQB style! SpeedQB, established in 2016, makes use of tactics and a venue setup very different from skirmish and MilSim games. It is a fast paced competition setting, where the gear used by players is vastly different from what we would usually take to a game; usually the gear is are colorful, comfortable to wear, and pads are used that are especially great for sliding! According to SpeedQB.com, the official game mode consists of FIVE players per team. The objective of each match is to obtain the most points after all rounds are played (Three rounds in total and Two rounds with highest scores will be counted). Points can be earned by eliminating the opposing team’s players, capturing the flag, and touchdown with the flag on the opposing side (touching the flag to the opposing team’s breakout wall). There is definitely more regulation during the competition, and also penalties for misconduct to maintain fairness during competition. In recent years, more SpeedQB style communities have been growing in Asia; there were SpeedQB competitions organized in Taiwan, and several community events happened in Hong Kong. The size of the SpeedQB communities is growing exponentially and younger players seem dedicated to promoting this sport, which brings a new experience and choices to airsoft players.

promote SpeedQB style competition. The event were sponsored by several Airsoft Gear providers, and also supported by St. John Ambulance to provide first – aid service if needed! As this was a competition is a pre– match only limited airsoft teams were invited. Participating teams included GOS, ROA, Smile Lab, SOF & VOC with a total of 30 game matches for the championship. This pre-match also had its own house rules; for example, instead of getting a first touch flag score, any team who grabbed the flag and got hit received no points! This lead to eliminating enemies being the primary objective. SpeedQB is definitely not just rushing and kill; as it is a “5 vs. 5” game each team member has their designated role, and their team role has different call out names, for example: Snake, Mid Player and Guard. For their strategy, usually they will rush and take over half of the arena, and when the chance comes they will rush together and clear the enemy, which requires great coordination among teammates for the attack. During the competition, venue crews took part as referees and hosts; they treated every match seriously with professionalism. Finally, after four hours of fast and furious competition, the winners were: • Champion: GOS • 1st runner up: Smile Lab • 2nd runner up: ROA

GAME ON!

This event took place at Landing Zone Hong Kong, organized by Speed.HKClub, which is a club formed in 2022 and includes several SpeedQB team leaders to

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAM

After the competition, I had the opportunity to speak with the team leaders, and these teenagers were very keen to promote airsoft and SpeedQB, exactly what we love to see in all areas of airsoft! They told me about their teams, so here’s a “lowdown”! GOS GOS sent two squads for the competition; their leader, Deep is interested in SpeedQB because of the fast paced gameplay, and he also think that there is a huge potentials in SpeedQB play style in Hong Kong. So in the near future, they are growing their community size! ROA ROA was formed by Ero, and the team enjoy coordinating teamwork and encountering all difficulties during gameplay. Although his personal pursuit is on speed advancement, Ero also thinks other airsoft play styles are cool and skillful, and looks forward to enjoying more styles of airsoft and making airsoft a more popular sport. Anson is the youngest player of the event, he is only 14 years old, and the pacing of the match attracted him, although actually he is also interested in MilSim play style and hopefully he hopes to meet more airsoft players through a variety of events. Nadia, one of the ladies in the community, thinks SpeedQB requires a different set of knowledge in gear, fitness and strategy. As the Pandemic hurt the industry a lot, she is a believer of making airsoft great again, she thinks it is important to respect all players and set good examples to promote airsoft. SMILE LAB Smile Lab is a recently formed team, but their players have been playing SpeedQB style for a long period of time. They believe playing airsoft, especially SpeedQB is all about having fun, in the near future they hope they can share their experience with new players and grow the community. SOF SOF has recently rebranded from STP, and their current team leader is Peter. He was a MilSim player, and he also enjoys MilSim, and he thinks both styles have their own challenge, and as a airsoft player, it is great to experience different game modes, make use of the benefits of each style and them to different situations.

VOC VOC was founded in 2018, and they were the first SpeedQB team in Hong Kong. They are dedicated to providing resources to promote this sport, and also very passionate about building the community. Their founder, Deacon, believes that SpeedQB is different to other types of competitions among airsofters, a competition format that requires true teamwork and speed, but it is also a way to challenge the limit of players endurance. With this growing community, it is great to meet friends sharing the same goal to have fun and promote this sport together. As a speedsofter myself, I always enjoy fast-paced CQB action; however, organizing an airsoft CQB competition I think there are also a lot of physical limitations and challenges like referee location, camera settings, and observation points. Luckily, with such a high roof, at Landing Zone the referee can observe all action easier. I believe their support is very positive and a great advantage for further SpeedQB competition development in Hong Kong! For those who interested is seeing Landing Zone, you can check out my video on gameplay there on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=C83OBJ-rDms). For SpeedQB, this is definitely something I would love to try in the nearly future. Hopefully the pre-match success will give more insight and support to promote airsoft sport in different ways. AA INFORMATION Venue: Landing Zone HK https://www.instagram.com/landingzonehk/ Organiser: Speed.HKClub https://www.instagram.com/speed.hkclub/ Teams by alphabetical order: GOS https://www.instagram.com/gosairsoft/ ROA https://www.instagram.com/roa.airsoft/ Smile Lab https://www.instagram.com/smilelab_airsoft/ SOF https://www.instagram.com/sof.airsoft/ VOC https://www.instagram.com/voc.airsoft/

“AS A SPEEDSOFTER MYSELF, I ALWAYS ENJOY FAST-PACED CQB ACTION; HOWEVER, ORGANIZING AN AIRSOFT CQB COMPETITION I THINK THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS AND CHALLENGES LIKE REFEREE LOCATION, CAMERA SETTINGS, AND OBSERVATION POINTS.” 92

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GAME REPORT AA LEGION - HONG KONG

GOS

SMILE LAB

ROA

VOC

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KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP!!

THIS MONTH WE’VE GOT A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT PIECES OF RETAIL-RELATED NEWS TO SHARE, BOTH ABOUT BRANDS THAT WE’VE BEEN WORKING WITH CLOSELY AND THAT WE’VE MENTIONED ONLINE IN THE “WEBSITE DAILIES” BUT THOUGH THEY NEEDED MORE SPACE!

n Issue 137 we carried an overview of what Outrider Tactical is all about, and we were definitely interested to see their T-Shirt being worn by a certain President still standing up to Russian despotism! Bill looked specifically in the overview at some of the gear, but his testing has continued (actually he never stops!) and now that the gear is hitting many good stores. Several garments were highlighted in his original article, but here’s some more information on a couple more pieces he’s been trying out! The T.O.R.D. Performance Polo has an innovative fabric composition (50% Lyocell and 50% Polyester) that creates some serious advantages Lyocell, I’m told, warms almost as well as sheep’s wool, cools similarly to linen and is more wicking than cotton, and in the recent hot weather the latter has proved invaluable during ranges session. In addition, Lyocell is extremely tear-resistant even when wet, making it a very durable material. The fabric is very soft and comfortable to wear, the honeycomb structure on the inside allows better ventilation and dries moisture from the body more quickly. Bacteria growth is reduced by Lyocell in a natural way and completely without chemical additives. Thus far, a big thumbs-up from me! The T.O.R.D. Flex Pant AR is characterized by durability, functionality, light weight and high mobility. To achieve the best possible freedom of movement, a stretchable fabric has been used, which is additionally coated to repel stains and water; a 65% polyester / 35% cotton mix that benefits from mechanical stretch, this fabric is Teflon coated to increase 94

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durability so the pants keep on looking as good as they did when new. The design offers many storage options and at the same time leaves a low profile for the wearer. The waistband height is optimized for concealed holsters to be ideally covered by a shirt or jacket. The sophisticated pocket and interior pocket concept offers many options for organizing

KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

equipment. So far, everything about these pants for me is positive! To check out all the great new garments available from OUTRIDER TACTICAL please visit https://outridertactical.com Second on the list of “must share the news brands” is our old and trusted friends at SNUGPAK; as Bill is currently working on the “TOD” column and talking about “overnighter solutions” we were very pleased to see something a bit different when it comes to “camo solutions”, and Snugpak, the UK’s leading sleeping bag and insulated clothing manufacturer has a whole collection of products featuring the brand’s best-selling “Terrain Pattern”. Users will now be able to mix and match products to complete their collections! A number of their most popular sleeping bag models are now available in Terrain Pattern. The Snugpak Explorer Kids sleeping bag for the “littlest ones” is ideal for sleepovers or camping trips and as it can be opened fully to add versatility it can be used as quilt or blanket as well. In addition, the Sleeper Lite, Sleeper Extreme and Sleeper Expedition are ideal camping sleeping bags and an introduction to Snugpak’s performance range. They all are mummyshaped and have different warmth ratios depending on your needs. All the sleeping bags in the Sleeper collection are robust and durable with a soft touch feel and a manageable pack size.

When it comes to shelter from the elements the compact Ionosphere (a firm AA favourite!) is a two-pole, one door, easy to pitch (inner first) tent for overnight stays, wild camping and adventure racing. The inner tent is made of a No-See-Um Mesh Mosquito Net which not only keeps out bugs and snakes but it can also be used without the fly as a stand-alone mosquito shelter/barrier in the summer months and in warmer climates. When weight is a consideration, the Ionosphere packs down small with a light trail weight of only 1.2kg / 2.65lbs (fly, poles and inner tent) and doesn’t take up valuable space, making it suitable when weight and pack size are vitally important. A Terrain flysheet is also available for anyone who already owns an Ionosphere (we’ll be looking at this in detail in “TOD” next month!).

Snugpak’s popular bushcraft range has a capsule of sleeping solutions which are available in Terrain Pattern, including the Tropical Hammock which is strong, lightweight and easy to set up, thanks to the Suspension Attachment System. Made out of “550” paracord with spaced out knots, it allows for various attachment points and distances from the tree. No more fumbling and tying knots, simply wrap the Suspension Attachment System around the desired tree then run the knotted end through the loop end and attach the carabiner on the hammock to the knotted section to achieve the desired length and height when setting up. The Hammock comes in a stuff-sack with the suspension system guy ropes, carabiners and tree protectors. Snugpak‘s Jungle Hammock has all the features and benefits of the Tropical Hammock but with an added mosquito net. It offers the perfect solution when you are out in the wild and protection is needed from mosquitos or midges. The Polyester net features 1000 mesh per sq. inch which will ensure that no insects disturb your sleep. The All Weather Shelter G2 is a rhombus shaped 3x x 3m tarp shelter that offers versatile protection from the elements thanks to its taped seams and waterproof polyester rip-stop. The shelter can be configured as a traditional diamond-shaped tarp, Fly, Lean-to Shelter, as well as other free-standing shelter designs. It comes with four extendable guy lines and eight alloy tent pegs making it ideal as an emergency shelter for group activities and wild camping. A smaller tarp, the Stasha G2 is also available. For further information or to buy online via one of Snugpak’s preferred stockists, head over to www. snugpak.com AA www.airsoftaction.net

last post HOW TO KILL AN AEG

HOW TO KILL AN AEG!

THESE DAYS WE’RE USED TO AEGS THAT JUST GO ON AND ON, AND MANY ARE SURPRISINGLY ROBUST! BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU DON’T PAY ATTENTION, OR IF YOU MEANINGFULLY TRY TO DO THE WORST TO YOUR BELOVED AEG… JUST HOW CAN YOU KILL IT? IN HIS USUAL WRY FASHION, AIRSOFT-INDUSTRY VETERAN FRENCHIE HAS THE ANSWER!

had a peculiar and frankly unique experience recently. I live in a town with a port, a port which used to build ships. One of the relics of this past is a large crane which has stood unused for many years. The industry which needed it has gone, and finally it was due to be demolished. Having lived with this landmark for so long, I was making a point of photographing the process, and I had paused to do so. As I snapped away, my camera told me the battery was exhausted. Oh well, I proceeded to change batteries. As I did so, I kept an eye on the ongoing demolition and was, to put it mildly, somewhat surprised to see many, many tons of crane topple off its base and into the port below. Naturally, with no battery in my camera, I failed to capture this unique moment! So, what has any of this to do with airsoft? Nothing of course, but it got me thinking about the death of machines and the longevity of airsoft guns; how bad does your gun have to be before you simply have to accept that it’s beyond repair… The more I thought about this the more I realised that as with so many things in life it’s a value judgement. The bottom line is that you can replace everything in and on an airsoft gun should you need to, it just boils down to whether or not the individual is willing to spend the money required to do so. I know from experience that there is a hard core of players who often spend far more than the cost

of a new gun to get it upgraded well beyond the capabilities it has out of the box, and that’s before they’ve even pulled the trigger once. For some, the cost to restore a favourite gun is not much of an issue. If you signed up to the Systema club, you are probably used to replacing expensive components on a regular basis, whereas if you own a brace of G&Gs (depending on the model) you most likely spend next to nothing on them. Rarity plays a key role. If you have AR variants, you’ll probably have no problem getting parts, either replacement or upgrades. Likewise AK variants, whereas if you own a minigun, parts might just be an issue!

GETTING DOWN TO IT

The bottom line for most of us however is that killing a gun actually requires a fair bit of effort. Having replaced every conceivable component of airsoft guns over many years the simple truth is that to utterly kill one you need either a furnace or an industrial metal chipper. You could I suppose rebuild the exact gun from parts, but at that point surely just replacing it would be the easier option. Ok, if killing them is actually difficult, how do you at least try? Go swimming with your gun. Those gearboxes just love water cooling and heaven help you if the lithium in your battery comes into direct contact with water, the results can be spectacular… for which read

“SO, WHAT HAS ANY OF THIS TO DO WITH AIRSOFT? NOTHING OF COURSE, BUT IT GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE DEATH OF MACHINES AND THE LONGEVITY OF AIRSOFT GUNS; HOW BAD DOES YOUR GUN HAVE TO BE BEFORE YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT IT’S BEYOND REPAIR…”

AUGUST 2022

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Image from Public Domain source

HOW TO KILL AN AEG

‘explosive’! Speaking of batteries, damaging or even better, short-circuiting them will generally do it every time. The interwebz is awash with videos of smoking and occasionally flaming airsoft guns. There’s a surprising amount of energy stored in those things and when it finds an uncontrolled outlet, things can get interesting quickly. Use your gun as a walking stick because let’s face it, all that running and creeping is tiring. Most guns are strong enough to support the weight of an average child so you should be fine, no? At best you’ll compress all manner of muck into the barrel, and if you’re really lucky you may manage to cause structural damage. The former acts as an efficient suppressor, or at least until the back pressure caused by the blockage persuades your gearbox to eat itself. The latter is just a wonderful surprise waiting to sneak up on you, especially if the damage isn’t immediately obvious. There’s really nothing like your stock falling off mid-shot, or finding out your barrel is no longer straight to spice up an otherwise ordinary game!

use it and additionally means that every log, rock, ditch and low wall can modify your long arm into a short one. Now there’s a result! This will give you the welcome opportunity to replace pretty much everything with high quality alternatives… lucky you! If that’s just not your scene, carrying it horizontally across your midriff is also a winner. I particularly recommend G3s for this as they bend beautifully, especially if you have gone to the effort of already installing an expensive aftermarket full metal kit. A gap between trees, or a narrow doorway are just aching to help you turn your iconic cold war bauty into a boomerang. The silver lining to this apparent cloud? You’ve fitted the full metal kit once, it will be so much easier the second time and you’ll almost certainly have the ideal opportunity to install an upgraded barrel and hop unit… and a new outer barrel and flash hider... And maybe a new gearbox as well… Don’t forget gravity either. Many guns are surprisingly drop-proof, others not so much. Depending on the height of the drop and the landing surface you may well be able to pick it up and carry on as if nothing has happened. Some plastic guns are remarkably resilient, others less so. If you think full metal has you covered here, think again. If they were made of steel, yeah, no problem, but the alloys used in airsoft gun production can be surprisingly brittle,

UNCONCEALED CARRY

It’s important to carry your gun properly when in game. My experience suggests that long arms, especially M16s are best carried like an oversized pistol with the muzzle pointing down. This keeps it in a safe position until you’re ready to “USE YOUR GUN AS A WALKING STICK BECAUSE LET’S FACE IT, ALL THAT RUNNING AND CREEPING IS TIRING. MOST GUNS ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF AN AVERAGE CHILD SO YOU SHOULD BE FINE, NO?”

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last post HOW TO KILL AN AEG

especially if they are brought to a short halt by a carefully lurking rock, or a nice chunk of concrete… an ideal opportunity to replace that stock/receiver/ forend with something new and shiny. Result.

GLORIOUS MUD

And let us not forget humble mud. Mud is great stuff. It can clog barrels and find its way into magazines and onto ammunition. If you combine it with a bit of water, a nice ditch for instance, or a torrential downpour mid-game, it finds it so much easier to get into all the hidden nooks and crannies of your pride and joy where it can act not unlike valve grinding compound; polishing components that shouldn’t be, insulating switches that really don’t need it and generally making a damned nuisance of itself. After a mud bath, you’ll be obliged to get in there and thoroughly clean your gearbox! The moral of this little monologue, if it has one, is that to truly destroy an airsoft gun takes effort or serious misfortune. The potential to incrementally hurt them though is much more prevalent; I didn’t even bother to touch on the joys of the ill-advised and poorly performed “upgrade”, that deserves a piece all on its own. While airsoft guns are still essentially well designed toys, they are often constructed with quite close tolerances which don’t respond well to the ingress of contaminants, their materials are nowhere near as robust as their real world inspiration and their motive power source, electricity, is worthy of some respect. As outlined at the start, most damage can be repaired but really it’s better to avoid that expense until you decide that you want those upgrades! AA “MUD IS GREAT STUFF. IT CAN CLOG BARRELS AND FIND ITS WAY INTO MAGAZINES AND ONTO AMMUNITION. IF YOU COMBINE IT WITH A BIT OF WATER, A NICE DITCH FOR INSTANCE, OR A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR MID-GAME, IT FINDS IT SO MUCH EASIER TO GET INTO ALL THE HIDDEN NOOKS AND CRANNIES OF YOUR PRIDE AND JOY...” 98

AUGUST 2022

Airsoft Action - August 2022

Articles inside

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AA LEGION: HONG KONG

SHOP DROP

AA LEGION: PORTUGAL

TECH: AGM MG42

TECH: M4 SOPMOD BUILD

AA LEGION: USA

RELOADED GE AMD-65

THE CAGE: SLINGS

LEGION EVENT: OP CABRIT

RED CELL: SBR UPDATE

TOD: BASHA BUILDING