Airsoft Action - December 2022

8 ARMOURY: HUNSTMAN

TACTICAL

HUNTSMAN TACTICAL has hit the ground running with a range of AR-style AEGs that are skirmish-ready from the box! But who are they, and where have they come from, and are their AEGs “good to go” or just another brand joining an already crowded marketplace? Bill digs deeper to open your eyes to a series of wellpriced ARs.

16

ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS SAI BLU

After much teasing online we’ve all been waiting to see what AEGmaestros Specna Arms can come up with when they turn their attention to GBB models, and now the first pistol has arrived from the brand we got AA LEGIONNAIRE Miguel to check it out and report back! As a Specna Arms Ambassador he’s closer to the pistol program than most as he brings us the lowdown.

24 ARMOURY: SECUTOR ASTRA

When it comes to SECUTOR rifles we all know the RAPAX models, and these have a great reputation amongst the AA crew. We’ve looked in depth at their “762/308” DMR models and found their performance to be on the money, but does this carry over to their new “556” ASTRA models? Bill’s been on the range to find out!

FIND US ON…

32 ARMOURY: EMG TTI 34

There’s a little bit of “John Wick” inside all of us when it comes to playing airsoft, and putting the “suspension of disbelief” fully in place we all dream of that one moment in-game where our personal kill-streak goes way up against all odds! So with that in mind Bill looks at the latest “Wick-themed” GBB pistol from EMG in Part 1 of “BE WICK-ED”!

38 TOD: RATIONS

“Bullets, Beans and Bandages” is an old military saying that stands for the proposition that your initial steps for thriving in any “combat” situation must include thorough prep in terms of food/water, AEG/GBB/training and medical supplies/first aid know-how. So this month Bill and Will F take on the “Beans” aspect!

44 THE CAGE: TEAM ROLES

This time the members of the AA Legion continue their in-depth look at “airsoft roles”, and just what it takes to perform them to perfection! As we continue the series it’s time to look at one of the real unsung heroes of any airsoft team, and that’s THE MEDIC!

It is often stated that the most iconic and easily recognised firearm in the world today is the venerable AK47, and much as this might be true in our mind it is very closely followed by the diminutive “Maschinenpistole 5” first designed by Heckler & Koch GmBH in 1964, the year Bill was born as it happens, so you could say that the MP5 has been around for a LONG time, just like him!

62 INSIDE AIRSOFT: KYDEX CUSTOMS

A holster is just a holster, right? It is until you find the in-game shortcomings of cheap and cheerful models that may retain your beloved GBB securely, but when it comes time to draw lets you down when you need it most! When it comes to his personal holsters, there’s good reasons why BILL turns to Kydex Customs when he needs a new one!

Discovering and understanding innovative and effective new camouflage patterns is a bit of an ongoing quest amongst certain members of the AA crew, and we’re always looking around for what is most effective. This month we’re joined again by our old and trusted friend Chris Bravo from AMNB who has been working directly with the guys behind CONCAMO!

70 TECHNICAL: PERUN P90/AUG

We’re very proud at AA to have superb relationships with some very special people in the airsoft world, and this time Jimmy brings us Part 1 of his look at the new Mosfet technology from the PERUN crew over in Poland! Whilst the AUG and P90 may not be his favourite AEGS he bites the BB and gets to work looking at the benefits that the new tech will bring to a pair of old “airsoft warhorses”.

74

AA LEGION: UK

When it comes to airsoft events then sometimes small can most definitely still be beautiful, and last month Red Cell shooters Jimmy and Ben headed out to a practical shoot locally that proved this point! Whilst attendance numbers may have been low for this inaugural event, we hope that it’s the first of many… and that our boys continue to excel! Jimmy kicks things off…

80 AA LEGION: JAPAN

We’re delighted to once again bring you a story from our good friend and Legion Associate Marck! Now a solid part of the LayLax crew, he’s been kind enough to go into a little more depth especially for us as he visits Okinawa to check out airsoft there!

84 AA LEGION: TAIWAN

The adage tends to go “train hard; fight easy” but as we all know, there’s also the auxiliary concept of “no plan survives contact with your own forces, let alone the enemy”! Both of these epithets would come into play when Stewbacca finally made his way along to his first MilSim event in Taiwan.

92 RELOADED: ICS MK18

It really seems that we’ve been spoiled for choice when it comes to Mk18 CQBR variants, and both Red Cell and The Legion members have been loving each and every one! Bill looked at the new, bang-up-to-theminute Mk18 AEG from ICS in Issue 141, and now Jimmy has joined him in owning one!

96

LAST POST: MILITARY.. REALLY?

When it comes to buying gear we always go by the mantra of “Buy Right, Buy Once”! All too often it’s tempting when you see something vaguely “tacticool” at a great price online, and think “that’ll do”, but this month Frenchie gives an example of why the buyer really should beware!

48 RED CELL: MP5 SPECIAL

66 KIT & GEAR: CONCAMO

READY FOR THE HUNT!

BRAND NEW TO THE AIRSOFT SCENE, HUNTSMAN TACTICAL HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH A RANGE OF AR-STYLE AEGS THAT ARE SKIRMISH-READY FROM THE BOX! BUT WHO ARE THEY, AND WHERE HAVE THEY COME FROM, AND ARE THEIR AEGS “GOOD TO GO” OR JUST ANOTHER BRAND JOINING AN ALREADY CROWDED MARKETPLACE? BILL DIGS DEEPER TO OPEN YOUR EYES TO A SERIES OF WELL-PRICED ARS THAT MAY GIVE YOU FRESH OPTIONS AND MAKE YOU THE HUNTSMAN IN-GAME!

When I look around the airsoft market there is one fact that is undoubtedly true, and that is that the “AR IS KING”, and the different “flavours” and pricepoints illustrate to me the quality of what is on offer on the market currently for AR AEGS. The fact is that these days you can have a great-looking, fully-specced and functional AR AEG for very little money and this shows me just how far airsoft has come, and how lucky we all are to be airsofters today with so much choice!

Whatever your personal feelings may be about enhanced electronic and digital functions inside a AEG, as shown by the ongoing debate within our own Red Cell group, and indeed within virtually every online airsoft group out there, the fact is that there has never been so much choice, and so much functionality if you want it as there is right now, and airsoft is all the better for that!

If you take a look at some airsoft manufacturers then not only do they offer one “AR style” but in most cases they have an entire range of them! It’s no

wonder then that if you visit any airsoft site anywhere in the world, you’ll find the majority of players using some kind of “AR/M4”. Indeed, my very first “airsoft replica” was a spring AR in kit form which sadly was consigned to the great armourer in the sky many, many moons ago… I’ve personally always been into replicas of different and unusual models of firearm, but even so there have been ARs that have come and gone within my armoury.

I’m not going to get into the history of the real world AR as that’s been done so many times before, but I will say that with a platform that’s loved by civilian users worldwide, and in a military form that’s been in service for many, many years, and adopted by many police and military units since then in one form or another, I can kind of get why pretty much every airsoft manufacturer out there produces the AR in one of its many guises. Add to that the interest in “USSOCOM” units amongst the airsoft community and the appearance of ARs in so many of the big movies, TV shows and games, and you’ve got to admit that making one is going to be a bit of a “win, win”.

So, when the guys at iWholesales first showed me the new range of AR-based AEGs from their HUNTSMAN TACTICAL brand I was quietly excited! “Oh, great”, I hear you say, “more ARs to look at”. This is a phrase that many of us who review airsoft replicas often start an article or video with, and it’s actually the way many of us feel when a manufacturer drops a new version (or in this case “versions”, plural!) into the marketplace. However, when the “manufacturer” is one of the biggest distributors of airsoft replicas in the UK who deal with numerous premium brands and understand just what goes into a great 6mm BB-chucker then you’d better believe that is going to make me pay attention right quick!

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

You may ask yourself why a large-scale and professional distributor might go into making their own AEGS, and I certainly did, but then I remembered that iWholesales have actually been making their own airguns under their HUNTSMAN ARMS brand for some considerable time. I asked Tim at iWholesales about this and he told me

“iWholesales has for some time had its own range of air weapons, mainly of the 4.5mm variety. The range has been growing as markets have evolved and changed, and it now includes an expanding array of air guns and accessories in various calibres.

“For some time we have looked at expanding and including airsoft models; the ever changing nature of airsoft guns and specifically the internals means we can be as up to date as possible if we are choosing at manufacture exactly what goes into them and ensure our customers are getting the absolute best value from the products they can.

“The growing range has also brought about a clarification of name, anything airgun related now falls under Hunstman Arms, and the airsoft range is Huntsman Tactical”

Now there’s something to look at in more detail in that statement, and the most important point to me is the comment “specifically the internals means we can be as up to date as possible if we are choosing at manufacture exactly what goes into them and ensure our customers are getting the absolute best value”.

There’s an initial range of six AR variants in the starting lineup for HUNTSMAN TACTICAL (HT), from a non-mosfet “Tactical M4” that would be a shoe-in for a “Mod 0” to some thoroughly modern-day ARs with all the bits we love, and they’re all priced in that allimportant “iro UK£175-230” bracket that seems to be the current sweet-spot for skirmishable AEGs. Without doubt there are AEGs out there that come in cheaper, but you’ll be spending money almost immediately getting them up to proper fightin’ spec!

Available in both metal and polymer when it comes to the externals (polymer and metal bodied AEG’s with uppers and rails to match) apart from the “Tactical M4” the HT AEGs pretty much all benefit from the same spec when it comes to internals, and that spec is pretty darn good for AEGs that sit squarely in the “entry/intermediate level” price bracket!

Externally you get some righteous parts as standard like M-LOK rails and different muzzle devices, and there are lengths to choose from ranging from PDW to mid-length Carbine! In addition to the M-LOK rails that have numerous QD sling points, with the metal models you get a metal Upper and Lower Receiver with an engraved Huntsman Logo, CNC Aluminium

HUNTSMAN M4 TACTICAL

HUNTSMAN M4 RONIN

HUNTSMAN M4 PDW

Stock Tube, Metal Inner and Outer Barrel, Retractable Polymer Stock, metal Hi-Cap 300 BB Magazine, a Metal Flash Hider, (14mm CCW), and fully adjustable Front and Rear Flip-Up Sights. All the same features are replicated in the polymer models, so if you want the “look” then you can have it in a lightweight, “carry all day” package too!

HANDS ON

Although I had “hands on” with all the models, I had the HT M4 Short M-LOK polymer AEG to test, and I have to say that externally it’s a very tidy AEG indeed! All of the parts have been put together with care and attention to detail and there’s absolutely no wobbles or creaks anywhere. The receivers fit very well indeed, and although I would usually choose a metal-bodied version, the strength of the polymer parts appears excellent. There are a few very minor mould lines visible, but really only on the underside of the buffer tune, and everything else is crisp and precise.

Internally things are very impressive for the pricepoint; starting with a slimline M4 Motor Grip housing a Hi-speed motor, what is obvious from the get-go is a Full Metal Gearbox with a quick-change spring function (an M90 is fitted as standard). Inside as standard you get 18:1 ratio steel gears with a sector gear delayer, 8mm solid Bushings, a 14 tooth steel piston and a red anodized cylinder for improved air seal. In terms of wiring the models have a MiniTamiya connector in the buffer tube with shielded low resistance wiring throughout, and 16AWG shielded wiring to that easy-to-damage rear section.

You also get as standard an electronic trigger AND a built in Mosfet; by “built-in” I mean that this is carefully placed inside the body of the AEG and not in-line with the wiring in the buffer tube so as protect the electronics and give maximum battery space! This is one indication that this is indeed an AEG platform that has been well thought out and designed by folk who understand the very nature of airsoft, and where possible pitfalls may lay… and I like it! Tim told me that:

“Unlike most RIF’s aimed at the entry level market, the entire Huntsman range comes pre-fitted with an electronic trigger unit and a mosfet. This is built into the gearbox itself, not an add-on in the stock tube,

and gives a crisp reliable trigger response, usually only seen on replicas of a much higher value.”

DOWNRANGE

How does this all transfer to performance you may ask, and first let’s get power levels on that M90 standard spring logged; downrange using an 11.1V 1000mAh LiPo and .20g BBs I got a mean reading through the chrono of 1.05 Joule/337fps which is perfectly acceptable! The HT models all come with a basic battery and charger, and this is probably the only thing in the package that I personally would replace straight away, although it will be perfectly adequate to get your rolling if this is your first AEG.

The flip-up sights that come as standard are excellent, and indeed are sturdily made of polymer, so the HT M4 is ready to roll straight from the box just by adding a battery and some BBs, and the battery compartment is actually big enough to get most stick LiPos in, especially as there’s no Mosfet taking up space! With the simple rotary hop set, at 30m unsupported it was easy to get hits on a torso-sized target with each BB flying straight and true as new. As usual I also tried the HT on the 10m “short range” and it performed superbly in rapid, target-to-target transitions, again in reality down to the responsiveness of the super trigger.

With a pricetag iro £175 here in the UK the HT M4 Short M-LOK polymer (UK£230 for the full metal) is a little more expensive than some, but it really gives a tremendous amount of quality and performance for the money. It looks great, is short and super-sweet, and shoots straight and far, so as far as I can see the guys behind HUNTSMAN TACTICAL have got this 100% right!

The launch of the new HUNTSMAN TACTICAL AEG models is a confident, superbly achieved debut, and shows just what a company that intrinsically KNOWS airsoft can create when they decide to. I for one look forward to seeing where the range expands, but for now I believe that the new AEGS will bring a lot of joy to many, many players out there, and enable them to enjoy the thrill of the hunt to the max!

Check out the whole range by visiting www. iwholesales.co.ukfor more information and availability! AA

HUNTSMAN M4 MLOK SD

HUNTSMAN M4 MLOK SHORT

HUNTSMAN M4 MLOK MED

TOP TIER BLU

AFTER MUCH TEASING ONLINE WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING TO SEE WHAT AEG-MAESTROS SPECNA ARMS CAN COME UP WITH WHEN THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO GBB MODELS, AND NOW THE FIRST PISTOL HAS ARRIVED FROM THE BRAND WE GOT AA LEGIONNAIRE MIGUEL TO CHECK IT OUT AND REPORT BACK! AS A SPECNA ARMS AMBASSADOR HE’S CLOSER TO THE PISTOL PROGRAM THAN MOST, AND IN HIS FIRST PLATFORM REVIEW, ONE THAT WE SINCERELY HOPE WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY, HE GIVES THE LOWDOWN.

Who doesn’t like a good-looking, robust and well-built pistol? Well, you can count me into that group, as I love a good pistol! But when we hear Specna Arms, we think AEGs, their huge range of AR-15s, HK416-alike, AK and even G36 style, so a GBB pistol doesn’t really come to mind, but that’s about to change.

For a good while now, Specna Arms has been teasing us with an up-coming pistol, but before they launch their very own in-house model they decided to partner up with EMG Arms and their Salient Arms International (SAI) licence and launch this SAI BLU Utility Tier One package. Yeah, it’s a mouthful! I think this is a good step for a future full line of Specna Arms pistols. If they can work closely with brands that have a lot of experience in the pistol range, it will be a great help to enter this new world of replicas. Of course we know Specna Arms who are now an established part of the airsoft industry worldwide, and Airsoft Action has

“FOR A GOOD WHILE NOW, SPECNA ARMS HAS BEEN TEASING US WITH AN UPCOMING PISTOL, BUT BEFORE THEY LAUNCH THEIR VERY OWN IN-HOUSE MODEL THEY DECIDED TO PARTNER UP WITH EMG ARMS AND THEIR SALIENT ARMS INTERNATIONAL (SAI) LICENCE AND LAUNCH THIS SAI BLU UTILITY TIER ONE PACKAGE. YEAH, IT’S A MOUTHFUL!”

what we want!

And Salient Arms International create some unique and elite weaponry in the “real world” with a focus on both accuracy and performance, so the BLU is also a great choice. Whether their customers are military, law enforcement, civilian, or even competition shooters, SAI provide them with cutting edge products that they can rely on. And the SAI BLU pistol is made completely in house by them, featuring a proprietary integrated brass back strap and magwell. Not only this, but the BLU is available in two configurations, full-size and compact, both accepting Glock magazines. The standard model features a full size slide and frame accepting Glock 17 magazines, and this is what we see represented in the new GBB airsoft pistol offered by Specna Arms.

GETTING DOWN TO IT!

So, enough talk, we are here to take a look at this GBB pistol, and oh boy, what a beauty. I think around

also love the stippling done in the finger rest area, as it gives me some extra security when holstering the SAI BLU, since I really like to know where my finger is!

And are you a fan of trademarks? Then we got you covered, as this model comes with a lot of trademarks, and I mean a lot! You will find SAI markings in the barrel, grip, trigger, mag release, ejection port cover, along the upper slide, the base of the mag, the red dot mounts and maybe even in other hidden spots! I’ve never seen so many, it’s just crazy!

I really like the paint finish on both the frame and the slide, although they are made with different materials (the slide is lightweight aluminium and the frame is polymer), it’s hard to see the difference in both, unless you touch them, and when you do, it’s easy to understand why this is called a premium pistol, or in this case a Tier One; it has a rock solid build, and there are several little touches that show how much work it was put into it, and the bronze and gold give it a special touch. All in all, the SAI BLU it’s a beauty

“SALIENT ARMS INTERNATIONAL CREATE SOME UNIQUE AND ELITE WEAPONRY IN THE “REAL WORLD” WITH A FOCUS ON BOTH ACCURACY AND PERFORMANCE, SO THE BLU IS ALSO A GREAT CHOICE. WHETHER THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CIVILIAN, OR EVEN COMPETITION SHOOTERS, SAI PROVIDE THEM WITH CUTTING EDGE PRODUCTS THAT THEY CAN RELY ON”

that will catch the eye of many, many players.

DOWNRANGE

Now let’s go over with the performance and other important details. I had the chance of taking the Specna Arms SAI BLU to the chrono, using green gas and Specna Arms EDGE 0.20g BBs, and with 20 shots I got a max of 1.02 Joule/333fps and a low of 0.93/317, with an average of 0.97 Joule/324fps, with a temperature of around 17-18C. When it comes to shooting, I don’t really recommend the use of BBs under 0.25g, since when you’re shooting at a target (a good old tree trunk) at 40m a lot of the BBs start to diverge from the target. But if you use BBs of at 0.25g+ you will get a surprising range of +/- 40m with some superb precision.

In fact, it was a teammate who pointed out the range I was shooting at when I was first testing it, since it’s a target we use for our primary replicas and not secondary ones! I haven’t had the chance of doing a test with heavier BBs, but I don’t think we will see much improvement as it’s already very good. One aspect that I really enjoy is the trigger; with a secondary trigger that works as an extra safety and a really enjoyable super-crisp trigger pull it makes the SA SAI BLU really a treat to shoot, and all those who had a chance of testing it out in the field had the same opinion and were really surprise how snappy it is.

The magazine carries 24 BBs, and it comes with a well done seal that stops any excess of gas escaping when shooting; it also has a larger baseplate that makes it easier to get from pouches and with the enlarged magwell it’s really smooth to load the mag in. If you are the type of player who likes to install a red dot to your pistol, then Specna Arms has you covered here too, with four, yes FOUR, different mount plates for different sight styles; all you need is a hex key, remove two screws and install the mount you want to. Easy! But, if red dots in pistols are not your thing, then in the box you will also find a set of raised fibre optics sights, and that way if you run a silencer you can use the sights with ease, but be careful! They might not fit some rigid holsters with these raised optics. And if all that is not enough, you even have an integrated under barrel 22mm rail for flashlights. No

wonder they call it a Tier One package!

A STATEMENT OF INTENT!

Now of course there are a few points that I don’t like; for one the “package” where the Tier One package comes in doesn’t really fit the name, it’s a simple card box with a flimsy plastic interior, so flimsy that mine was already cracked in several places. The replica comes with a grooved outer barrel and an 11mm to 14mm adapter (CW to CCW), which is a real plus if you want to use a silencer, but be careful with the included muzzle cap since you can’t really tighten it up (because you will then unscrew the adapter) there is a possibility that it will always be a bit loose. Pay attention not to lose it!

So, let’s wrap it up! Specna Arms is taking its first steps in the pistol world, but before launching their own line, they reached out to EMG Arms and Salient Arms International for a cooperation to launch this SA SAI BLU. This I believe is a statement of intent that when a pistol is created under the Specna Arms brand it will be exemplary in all ways! There’s no question that the BLU a well-built and gorgeous pistol with a lot of extras, attention to detail, and an envious performance, but don’t forget to, at least, use some good 0.25g BBs!

I’m really curious to see what Specna Arms has in development for their pistol program in the future, but they have certainly set the bar high with this cooperation; expect to see more in Airsoft Action as the program develops!

Big thanks to Specna Arms for getting the SAI BLU to me so quickly for evaluation, and for more information head to www.gunfire.com where they are already available to buy! AA

“THIS I BELIEVE IS A STATEMENT OF INTENT THAT WHEN A PISTOL IS CREATED UNDER THE SPECNA ARMS BRAND IT WILL BE EXEMPLARY IN ALL WAYS! THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT THE BLU A WELL-BUILT AND GORGEOUS PISTOL WITH A LOT OF EXTRAS, ATTENTION TO DETAIL, AND AN ENVIOUS PERFORMANCE”

“762/308” DMR

Although I am still an OPFOR-ist at heart, in the last few years I’ve had a lot of “556 ARs” out on the range and in-game, and new models just keep on rolling in! PDWs, SBRs, mid-lengths and full-size have all come and gone, and it really does give you an appreciation of how intuitive the AR design is, as you can go one to another knowing exactly that the same drills and manipulations will work just as well with them all, with just small modifications to grip and stance to take into account different overall lengths!

The controls are all in the same place, and mag changes are the same, optic placement identical so you can really get a consistency of operation even moving from model to model. As a tester it does make my life easier as I can use the same set of drills from rifle to carbine to SBR, which if course means I get complete consistency in my weekly testing program. I use the same batteries and the same BBs for each and every model, so the range and method of testing needs to be longer-term but consistent too so that I get parity from one model to the next.

WHEN IT COMES TO SECUTOR RIFLES WE ALL KNOW THE RAPAX MODELS, AND THESE HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION AMONGST THE AA CREW. WE’VE LOOKED IN DEPTH AT THEIR

MODELS AND FOUND THEIR PERFORMANCE TO BE ON THE MONEY, BUT DOES THIS CARRY OVER TO THEIR NEW “556” ASTRA MODELS? BILL’S BEEN ON THE RANGE TO FIND OUT!

“ALTHOUGH I AM STILL AN OPFOR-IST AT HEART, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS I’VE HAD A LOT OF “556 ARS” OUT ON THE RANGE AND IN-GAME, AND NEW MODELS JUST KEEP ON ROLLING IN! PDWS, SBRS, MID-LENGTHS AND FULL-SIZE HAVE ALL COME AND GONE, AND IT REALLY DOES GIVE YOU AN APPRECIATION OF HOW INTUITIVE THE AR DESIGN IS”

they are) they’re still kicking out iro 1.78Joule/439fps with .20 BBs, and will hop substantially heavier BBs with ease and grace!

556… AND GO!

Okay, so we all know that we’re talking about the same 6mm BBs here, but when Tim at iWholesales told me that there was a new RAPAX kid on the block, in fact three of them, and that they were “556” variants as opposed to the “762” rifles that I have come to expect from SECUTOR, I was eager to find out what they brought to the game. The bottom line is that the latest AEGs in the line-up are at the bleeding-edge of SECUTOR design with great features for those not wanting to spend a fortune creating a custom build! I got hands-on and some solid rangetime with the SECUTOR ASTRA XI SHADOW, the longest of the three new models, and on first impressions this is an AEG ready to go out of the box with some premium features and some really superb

The second thing you notice when you first heft the carbine is just how lovely it feels, and just how easy it is to manipulate! The ASTRA is, as I’ve come to expect from the RAPAX rifles, solid as a rock in every respect, and the mix of the very dark grey of the M-LOK rail and the buffer tube (on the ASTRA III and IV, more on the XI in a mo!) really stand out from the satin black of the receivers, and the finish on all parts is absolutely first rate, with nary a blemish anywhere! The feature set itself is extremely well thought out, as you get an ambi selector, ambi mag release, and very cool straight trigger. The pistol grip is a comfortable and positive raised-dot ergo design, and on the ASTRA XI the again “magpul-style” sliding stock has five positions so you can get it exactly as you like it.

There are QD sling points inset to the rail and the carbine comes with a single sling point on the stock at the rear. Some pretty darn decent flip-up “iron sights” are included, and the ASTRA XI has a fitted suppressor with the 6.03mm inner barrel running to the end of

“THE SECOND THING YOU NOTICE WHEN YOU FIRST HEFT THE CARBINE IS JUST HOW LOVELY IT FEELS, AND JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO MANIPULATE! THE ASTRA IS, AS I’VE COME TO EXPECT FROM THE RAPAX RIFLES, SOLID AS A ROCK IN EVERY RESPECT”

different tastes and shooting styles too! But a foregrip is a foregrip, right? Wrong, as the SECUTOR take is a modular three piece design that means you can run the grip super-stubby (my preferred option), midlength, or long. You simply unscrew the end cap and inside you’ll find three threaded spacers that mate with one another. The outer grip itself comes in three positive slot-together parts, and you can mix and match as you like! The grip fits directly to the M-LOK rail, which again keeps everything very “lo-drag”.

Internally there’s a lot going on too! First up you get a programmable electronic trigger and Mosfet so if that’s your thing you can play with this to your heart’s delight, although as “stock” I see nothing wrong with the setup! The CNC trigger also has external travel regulation by means of a screw to reduce the travel and shooting sensitivity which is a neat touch, more of this “on range”...

A combination of bearings and 8mm bushing, a

of the cam and its nub); this means a regular and even

DOWNRANGE

In terms of spec, everything sounds righteous, and I have to say that as new the ASTRA XI certainly worked excellently on the “range in the woods”. I fitted the rifle with my usual carbine optics setup of holosight and magnifier, and it was good to go. From the box the Astra XI chron’d very consistently indeed at 1.06 Joule/339fps with .20g BBs, and once I’d reset the hop it was more than happy on my game-use .28’s although I felt it could actually hop heavier than this; the new hop rubber and setup obviously does its job in an effective manner!

One thing I like a lot is that the CNC trigger I mentioned earlier, and this has the external travel regulation that I saw on the M6; by means of a single screw you can reduce the travel and shooting sensitivity, so again you can set this as you like it; it’s an easy “in the field” adjustment too! The 120 BB magazine fits and feeds perfectly, and trying it with my collection of other brand AR-style magazines (real,

“INTERNALLY THERE’S A LOT GOING ON TOO! FIRST UP YOU GET A PROGRAMMABLE ELECTRONIC TRIGGER AND MOSFET SO IF THAT’S YOUR THING YOU CAN PLAY WITH THIS TO YOUR HEART’S DELIGHT, ALTHOUGH AS “STOCK” I SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SETUP!”

“SO, ALL SET UP, .28G BBS IN THE MAG, HOP DIALLED IN AND OPTICS FITTED… I LOVED IT! THE ASTRA XI CHUCKED BBS DOWNRANGE TO THE EXTENT OF THE 30M RANGE WITHOUT BREAKING SWEAT AND ALTHOUGH THE FLIP-UP SIGHTS THAT COME FITTED AS STANDARD ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE.. WITH MY HOLO AT 30M UNSUPPORTED IT WAS EASY TO GET HITS ON A TORSO-SIZED TARGET WITH EACH BB FLYING STRAIGHT AND TRUE.”

mid and hi-cap) gave great results with all.

So, all set up, .28g BBs in the mag, hop dialled in and optics fitted… I loved it! The ASTRA XI chucked BBs downrange to the extent of the 30m range without breaking sweat and although the flip-up sights that come fitted as standard are more than adequate, and indeed are sturdily made (which makes the ASTRAs ready to roll straight from the box just by adding a battery and some BBs if you like!) with my holo at 30m unsupported it was easy to get hits on a torso-sized target with each BB flying straight and true. I also took the ASTRA down to our 10m indoor range where we have the Attack Sense Target System set up, and the rifle performed superbly, again in reality down to the responsiveness of the superb trigger when the targets were flashing on the highest, fastest setting.

So, have SECUTOR nailed their “556” models just like the big boy “762’s”? I’d have to give an unqualified “YES!” answer to that! Price-wise the ASTRAs are sitting mid-pack for this style of AEG, but they will give all of them all a run for their money. I have to say that the ASTRA XI I had to shoot really gives a massive amount of quality and performance in a very tight technically and good looking visually “AR Package”, and SECUTOR certainly appear to have pulled off their carbines every bit as well as their “larger calibre” rifles. I can simply just recommend these AEGs to you as I believe they are models for right now, and carbines that I believe you will thoroughly enjoy owning and skirmishing with.

Thanks as usual to iWholesales for providing the test model; you can check out all the SECUTOR models they have by visiting www.iwholesales.co.uk AA

THERE’S A LITTLE BIT OF “JOHN WICK” INSIDE ALL OF US WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYING AIRSOFT, AND PUTTING THE “SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF” FULLY IN PLACE WE ALL DREAM OF THAT ONE MOMENT IN-GAME WHERE OUR PERSONAL KILL-STREAK GOES WAY UP AGAINST ALL ODDS! SO WITH THAT IN MIND BILL LOOKS AT THE LATEST “WICK-THEMED” GBB PISTOL FROM EMG IN PART 1 OF “BE WICK-ED ”!

Okay, given my hairstyle (style, really?) these days I’m a lot more “Hitman: Agent 47” than “Wick” but let’s face it, and c’mon, admit it, we all dream of that moment in game when we totally “lone wolf” it and seem, in that one very special and memorable moment, to be invincible! We get the drop on everyone we encounter, and every BB flies straight and true to target; it’s an airsoft moment that will stick with you forever, and just like Mr Wick you might get a bit knocked about, but you will emerge ultimately victorious against any players that stand against you!

I have two such moments from nearly 30 years of playing airsoft, one in the UK and one in the USA; many of you in the UK will know “ANZIO” and the NAAFI building, and it was there on one memorable occasion that I cleared the building single-handed after the main advance had stalled; after taking out nine opposing players in close confines, semi-only, I emerged and rather cockily reported to my team leader “the building’s all clear”…

In another building assault with my mate Luke at Camp Blanding in Florida (those that know, know…) the two of us cleaned house and opened up a flank for our team to push on; a dash across 100m of open ground where not one BB hit us was followed by some righteous pistol CQB-action, and sticks in my memory as a definite “Wick Moment” that I will cherish forever more!

The three “JW” movies have most definitely made an impression on all of us in different ways, and quite apart from those very special in-game moments where we say “that move was totally Wick man”, they are all great entertainment. It was also an eyeopener for many when the footage of Keanu Reeves training “three gun” with Taran Tactical showed us that the best action heroes live the dream… and put

in the hard work to ensure that what appears onscreen is the best that it can be.

And let’s not forget that it’s also a totally visual feast for gun-bunnies everywhere! C’mon, you’re amongst friends here so just admit that, like me, you’ve gone through all three movies trying to recognise EVERY. SINGLE. FIREARM used, and nodded approvingly when you spot something righteous… it’s okay, just remember kids that you can give up gun-bunny-ism anytime…

Although there are many scenes that I love in the Wick movies, the one that always stands out for me is the gunfight in the catacombs in “Chapter 2” where he faces off not just against the “soldiers” of the Camorra, but also by Santino’s henchmen! Wick makes good use of a TTI TR-1 Ultralight carbine, Benelli M4 Super 90 with the TTI M4 Upgrade Pack, and ultimately a Glock 34, again with the TTI Combat Master upgrade which is the pistol on GBB form from EMG that I’ll talk about shortly; of all the “Wick Guns” so far, this is the model that, as a G-series user, sings to me the loudest.

But first, there’s one prefix that covers all the weapons provided by “The Sommelier” at The Continental that Wick uses in the catacomb battle (let’s not forget the Glock 26 TTI Combat Carry!), and that’s TTI!

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Now I mentioned earlier that Keanu Reeves trained at Taran Tctical for his movie role, and I can watch even those videos time and again, but the name that’s important there, and in relation to the firearms themselves, is “Taran”.

Taran Butler grew up shooting single-action revolvers and lever-action rifles at cans with his brother, but it was in the competitive shooting

“THE TWO OF US CLEANED HOUSE AND OPENED UP A FLANK FOR OUR TEAM TO PUSH ON; A DASH ACROSS 100M OF OPEN GROUND WHERE NOT ONE BB HIT US WAS FOLLOWED BY SOME RIGHTEOUS PISTOL CQB-ACTION, AND STICKS IN MY MEMORY AS A DEFINITE “WICK MOMENT” THAT I WILL CHERISH FOREVER MORE!”

realm that he really excelled, It’s said that “his first taste of competitive shooting took place at a local indoor event with a Glock-24 borrowed by legendary stuntman Bruce Barber”, and he shot his first Southwest Pistol League match in January 1995 placing 7th out of 118 shooters. He went from unclassified to Grandmaster in just a little over a year and was the first person in USPSA history to do so using a Glock!

His bio also tells me that:

“Over the years, Taran has gone on to win 23 consecutive South West Pistol League Championships in the open and limited division, and for his excellence, he was honoured with the title of Combat Master. He has won major pistol championships in USPSA Open, Limited, Limited 10, Production, and Single Stack divisions. He has won IDPA National titles, Steel Challenge World Championships, and IPSC World Shoot Gold Medals in countries around the world.

“Taran is the first ever USPSA Multigun National Tactical Champion. He is considered one of the most versatile shooters in the world. He is also the first and only USPSA Multigun Triple Crown National Champion by winning the Limited, Tactical, and Open Divisions. He has won the SSM 3-G Championship for eleven years in row; the longest winning streak in 3-gun competition history.”

There’s more, MUCH more when it comes to Taran’s achievements in the world of shooting, and I could go on, but suffice to say that his prowess lead him into the movie world (he was born in Hollywood!) where he has trained movie producers, directors and actors including Michael Mann, Keanu Reeves, Shemar Moore, Michael B Jordan, Jennifer Garner, Collin Farrell, Chris Hemsworth, and Josh Duhamel. Taran has worked on location or hosted movie training at his twenty acre range for many films, and of course he now creates some fabulous firearm-upgrade packages via Taran Tactical Innovations, or TTI, the very platforms used by our beloved John Wick!

THE EMG TAKE

Although a number of manufacturers have had a crack at “Wick Guns”, we seem to be talking an awful lot about EMG these days, and why not when

their name appears not only in isolation but alongside some other first-rate airsoft manufacturers too; EMG hold a number of licences with real firearm-makers and they look after these licences very well indeed!

Earlier in this issue you’ll have seen Miguel’s excellent overview of the new Specna Arms/EMG/SAI BLU GBB pistol, and through their licencing agreements EMG are making major inroads into industry partnerships that provide proper, fully-licenced airsoft replicas for us all to enjoy!

EMG’s vision is to manufacture products the world has never seen before; products that hit the spot, and EMG (Evike Manufacturing Group) was spawned from the realization that if you want something done exactly the way you want it, you need to do it yourself, and they do just that. It shows with everything that they create, both licenced and bespoke, and the latest model to receive their attention is the “TTI 34 Series Custom Combat Master Slide with OMEGA Frame pistol”, but let’s just call it the TTI 34 shall we? I don’t know what it is these days, but the “official” titles of new models seem to get longer and longer!

What you get from EMG is a faithful replica of the “catacombs pistol” used by good old JW in “Chapter 2”, and although I’m not big on fancy handguns (remember that I usually use an unadorned G17 or 1911 Hi Capa myself in-game!) this is one model that I totally love given the movie connection… it’s a piece of the legend that is WICK!

The version I received to look at is the C02 import model, so let’s get that addressed first off; this is one hard-kickin’ mutha of a handgun, and on hot-weather days you’re going to need to make sure you chrono regularly as it’s right on the edge for the UK! However, as nice as the extended 34BB C02 magazine is (it does 100% resemble the TTI extended version!), the good news is that most of my existing green gas G-series magazines fitted and the pistol functioned perfectly on all, reciprocating smoothly with just a miniscule (and I mean tiny!) bit of wobble in the slide, and locking back on empty unless lo-gassed; the chrono reading also dropped to an extremely consistent 0.94 Joule/319fps on a .20g BB with the regular magazines, perfect for pretty much any site, anywhere!

So, it shoots nicely… oh, yes it does, at 10m it’s a

“WHAT YOU GET FROM EMG IS A FAITHFUL REPLICA OF THE “CATACOMBS PISTOL” USED BY GOOD OLD JW IN “CHAPTER 2”, AND ALTHOUGH I’M NOT BIG ON FANCY HANDGUNS (REMEMBER THAT I USUALLY USE AN UNADORNED G17 OR 1911 HI CAPA MYSELF IN-GAME!) THIS IS ONE MODEL THAT I TOTALLY LOVE GIVEN THE MOVIE CONNECTION… IT’S A PIECE OF THE LEGEND THAT IS WICK!”

tack-driver, but for this particular pistol many will want it for its sheer good looks, and it has them aplenty too! What you get is a true replication of the OMEGA frame which incorporates a four-slot lower rail at the sharp end, and a very nicely stippled grip at the rear, with an EMG/ TTI Combat Master Slide on top, and this is a thing of beauty with input from APS too! Cutaway, incut-serrated, and bearing all the right logos in all the right places this slide is a small work of art, and any self-respecting gun-bunny will love it as much as I do! There’s also a green fibre-optic front sight, but just a plain u-profile rear, and all the controls are going to be second nature to any G-Series user.

Last, but by no means least when it comes to “the look” is the deep-bronze outer barrel which looks the absolute mutts-nuts against the satin black of the slide itself (you can have a silver version, but to me black is the bomb!), but also contains a 118mm, 6.03mm inner as standard. Overall the pistol weighs in at 980g, and with the improved ergonomics it’s a joy to manipulate as well as being a joy to look at!

A while back I had hands-on with the ARMY TT1 (also Wick-esque), and the EMG TTI 34 is a very different, and superior pistol! At 10m the TT1 was no precision “tack driver” but it kept BBs on target and that’s really all that’s important at the end of the

day, isn’t it? Now I’ve spent some quality time with it though, the TTI 34 feels like, and performs like, a better and a far (FAR!) more accurate pistol from the get go, and in my opinion, where the TT1 was okayish, the TTO 34 is better… WAY better, and I’m not alone in saying this as some of The Cell have tried the EMG TTI 34 and have also given it an approving nod too!

The EMG TTI 34 is a GBB pistol that looks fabulous, is well made, operates efficiently, and is put together to last with premium parts and a lot of love! It most certainly ticks my “Wick” boxes in all respects; this is a pistol that cries out to be shot, and shot a LOT, and given the compatibility with all my G-series mags, even the extended 50BB mags, it’s a pistol that I COULD shoot all day long happily and make even more action-hero-inspired airsoft memories!

Pistol sorted, next month I’ll be looking to the TTI TR-1 Ultralight carbine, and what’s available out there to replicate Mr Wick’s long-gun, so stay tuned for BE WICK-ED; CHAPTER 2!

Thanks again to the guys at www.iwholesales.co.uk for the loan of the EMG TTI 34; for more information and availability make sure to check out their website!

AA

FEEDING THE BEAST!

Bill: What happens when the period of the game you attend goes beyond 24/36/48 hours, and what happens when you need to actually carry in all your nutritional requirements as part of your kit? Then you are into a totally different game that takes some basic knowledge and a good bit of pre-planning to pull off well!

When you’re out in the sticks on a multi-day MilSim with no breaks putting in full days of activity, you want food that will nourish you, strengthen you, revitalise you and possibly even taste really good. When pondering how much or little to carry err on the side of taking a little more than you think you need. A reasonable goal is 2,500 to 4,500 calories per person per day depending on your size, weight and exertion level. On the other hand, you need to not overdo it, and a common blunder is to pack too much food, forcing you to lug unwanted bulk and weight. Experience will teach you what amount of food works for you, but there are easily-found guidelines.

Estimates range from 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day for adult women and 2,000 to 3,000 calories

per day for adult men, with these heading upward when you factor in extreme levels of activity. Within each age and sex category, the low end of the range is for sedentary individuals, and the high end of the range is for active (read here “going about your daily business”, NOT playing airsoft!) individuals. They say that due to reductions in basal metabolic rate that occur with aging, calorie needs generally decrease for adults as they age; “generally” is the key word here as believe me, if I’m without food at the end of a long day I’ll probably eat your bloody arm off!

Will F: So you’re out for a weekend on an airsoft adventure, and okay, there may be a B&B nearby for an overnight stay, – but that’s not in the spirit of the get together. Being in the field is part of the fun, but a picnic lunch or supper again is not in the spirit. If its food for living in the field for a night or two it’s got to be a 24 Hour Ration Pack or an MRE! Right now Airsofters are spoiled for choice if they go online

Rations from around the world can be bought, some it must be said at a price that you could spend taking the significant other out for dinner in a fancy restaurant, so we won’t go there.

“BULLETS, BEANS AND BANDAGES” IS AN OLD MILITARY SAYING THAT STANDS FOR THE PROPOSITION THAT YOUR INITIAL STEPS FOR THRIVING IN ANY “COMBAT” SITUATION MUST INCLUDE THOROUGH PREP IN TERMS OF FOOD/WATER, AEG/GBB/TRAINING AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES/FIRST AID KNOW-HOW. SO THIS MONTH BILL AND WILL F TAKE ON THE “BEANS” ASPECT!

Essentially you are looking for food for three meals; normally this consists of a breakfast course, snack meal for midday when you are on the move and an evening course. These can be juggled about according to the operational situation. Some combat rations like the US Army MRE consist of a main course and a snack, so you need to check what the main course is! You don’t want to start the day with a beef stew or for that matter end it with hash browns and beans.

While the main meals are tastier if heated up and particularly so in cold wet conditions they are precooked and can therefore be eaten cold, hence the designation Meals Ready to Eat… though wags have suggested that MRE stands for Meals Rejected by Everyone.

MIL SPEC

Experience in Afghanistan led US servicemen and women to “field strip” their MREs and reduce them to essentials. This involved removing anything that would be duplicated in another MRE like the spoon, condiments even the flameless heater if the meal could be eaten cold. Veterans reckoned that they could not only reduce bulk and volume but crucially weight down from1 lb. 13.7 oz. to 1 lb. 0.2 oz. While it might not seem like much, remember the old adage: “An ounce in the morning weighs a pound at night!”. Flameless chemical heaters and the retort pouch have revolutionised combat meals, so you can actually heat your main meal on the move as long as it is securely stowed in a trouser cargo pocket; stow it wrong and you end up with rather

warm, smelly trousers Otherwise it is easy to heat the meal as you prepare your bivvy site in the evening.

One of the best combat meals in terms of value for money that I have encountered is the Lithuanian MRE. It has a main meal and excellent snacks but crucially a chemical heater and a small solid fuel stove with fuel tablets. This is ideal if you fancy a brew in your canteen/water bottle mug. The packet weighs 0.67kg and has between 1400-1500 Kcal of food and snacks.

The British ORP (Operational Ration Pack is great) offers a full 24 hours food in a bag that incorporates a carrying handle; convenient if you are the person detailed off to collect a section’s rations… it’s a bit like carrying multiple carrier bags. With over 5000kcal the ORP is actually ranked as one of the best combat rations in the world!

The ORP has a lot of great features including different menus to cater for religious and dietry restrictions. The accessories pack has a re-useable Poly Bag, Tea x 2, creamer x 4, sugar x 4, instant coffee x 2, windproof/waterpoof matches, Alcohol free moist wipe x 2, Tissues, Water Purification Tablets x 6, Chewing gum, Spork, spicy red chili sauce. However because the RAF have very strict cargo regulations there is no solid fuel or chemical heater.

Most ration packs assume the diner is carrying them in his or her Bergen; however if you have the luxury of a vehicle there are rations that are bulkier and heavier, but also very tasty.

The Spanish and Italian 24 Hour rations come boxed. The Spanish Armed Forces Individual Combat Ration (ICR) features some of the finest

OUTDOOR

Spanish entrees like stuffed squid in its own ink, lentils stewed with chorizo and Spanish bacon, and octopus with garlic, among other hearty and scrumptious Spanish staples. The daily MRE contains approximately 3,400 calories.

The Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate) use a ration called the “Special Combat Food Ration” (Razione Viveri Speciale da Combattimento). Each individual ration is enough food for one soldier for one day. A single ration is approximately 30 cm x 23 cm x 10.5 cm with a weight of 2.3 kg. Each meal bag contains three boxes; one for breakfast, one for lunch, and one for supper/dinner. These rations use cans instead of the retort pouches seen in the US, British, and Canadian rations. The Italian ration is a little like a bit of Mama’s home cooked comfort food as the tinned minestrone soups are delicious as are the pasta courses like ravioli, but of course as with all tins there is a weight penalty.

The Australian Army has a one man ration designated Combat Ration One Man or CR1M –which of course becomes a “Crim” before it adopted retort pouches the ration had a handy tin opener that incorporated a bottle opener and spoon with the designation Field Ration Eating Device which the

soldiers knew as a “Fred”.

In former times some rations included small bottles of spirits and the ubiquitous US Army C Ration of Vietnam fame had packs of five wellknown brands of cigarettes! Now rations are much more health conscious and include vitamin tablets as well as water purification tablets.

If you are not feeling very hungry it is advisable not to treat yourself to just the goodies in your ration pack; to get a balanced meal eat small portions of all the courses as a lot of research has gone into your ration to ensure it provides effective nutrition.

COTS MEALS

Bill: In my former professional life as an outdoor instructor and practitioner one of the major considerations I had to take into account for any group I took into remote areas was that of what they ate and drank. Any of you that know me personally will also know that whilst I’m not a heavy chap, I am quite a big one, so food and drink rank pretty high on my list before I undertake any outdoor expedition; I don’t like being hungry!

When you’re at a day skirmish everything is pretty simple. You stop at “Mackey D’s” on the way in for

some breakfast, or you snarf a bacon buttie as soon as you arrive on site. You might actually drink some water, but more likely than not it’s a coke or a Red Bull. Most sites these days provide a decent lunch, and you’ll no doubt supplement this with a few choice snacks and some choccy bars. At the end of a fine day shooting your mates you can head home to a solid meal. Sound familiar so far?

Although personally the “meal plan” outlined above would not be what I would eat, or indeed drink (although I like a “Big Breakfast” as much as anyone!), it’s a mix that you can easily get away with for a day’s play; even a weekender won’t tax you too much as usually you can access all the goodies in your car, and the likelihood is that someone will crack up the BBQ after play has ceased.

When it comes to preparing for an immersive, longer-duration airsoft Op there are always regular

things that I carry, and most of them are easily found in your local supermarket or outdoor store. First is my “Brew Kit” which is a simple Ziploc bag containing of course tea and coffee, salt, pepper, and sugar, some waterproof matches, and more often than not a couple of stock cubes for hot drinks. All of these items are easily available and individually packed in their own little “baggies” for ease. Around my kit I’ll also carry some museli bars for a quick snack on the go, and most importantly in one of my thigh cargo pockets will be my “Nosebag”; this little Ziploc bag of goodness is made up of different types of nuts and dried fruit along with some crumbled digestive biscuits for a bit of extra sweetness, and was “the gift of knowledge” to me many moons ago from a “special” friend I trained with!

Although military rations as Will outlines are ideal for airsoft weekenders, for main meals I go back to my outdoor-pursuits-roots and I absolutely love, and swear by the pre-packed meals offered in virtually every outdoor shop in the UK by Wayfarer. These individually packaged, super-tasty and filling (they’re designed for trekking so calorifically they’re spot on) are pre-cooked so you can eat them hot or cold (just like an MRE!)); if you have water to cook with Wayfarers can be simply “boiled in the bag” to heat them up, and you still have clean water for a brew left over!

In a nutshell you can prepare yourself for a longer Op by taking your time, spending wisely, and not add a significant amount of weight and bulk to your load. For one day this is not particularly significant, but if you start talking about multi-days those grammes are going to start to stack up and begin to degrade your overall performance, your personal enjoyment, and the enjoyment of those around you.

My advice is to be smart; you’ve already probably spent a fair amount of money for the game, so why scrimp on something that will directly affect that in a negative way? Be smart, do your homework, buy the right thing, and eat well! AA

TURN YOUR PHONE INTO THE MOST AFFORDABLE VIRTUAL SIMULATION SHOOTING SYSTEM. WORKS WITH REAL FIREARMS, GEL BLASTERS AND AIRSOFT.

THE CAGE: TEAM ROLES... MEDIC!!

If you’re playing airsoft right you’re going to be taking hits proudly and extolling the virtues of the shooter that got the drop on you, especially if they’ve made one of the outrageous shots where you think you’re in cover, but they nail you anyway!

At this point in many-a-game you’ll be screaming “MEDIC!” next at the top of your lungs, hoping that the gazelle-like player on your team will get to you super-fast and get you back into the action!

I know, as just like any of you that play our beloved game with honour and some degree of aggression (in the right way of course!), when you get stuck in you’re more than likely going to take a BB and be thankful for “that guy” who dashes amongst their team-mates, dodging fire, rolling and sliding in the mud to get to you fast and get you back up and rolling… after all, you can to play airsoft and not sit of your sorry butt, right?

In many games I’ve been insanely thankful for our team medic, especially in some of my “Namsoft” adventures where the PAVN forces are respawning like mad and coming after your little recon team in a human wave attack! I’ve also been grateful in simple Sunday Skirmishes where one guy puts their own enjoyment in their back pocket in order for you to have a great time.

That’s why “unsung heroes” comes to my mind when I think of the Team Medic, and the ideal candidate for me is someone that’s fast, nimble, fearless, and above all can “read the game” so that they appear just when they’re needed, just in the nick of time!

They need to understand sometimes quite complex rules involving multiple bandages and bleed-out times, and deliver both their “care” and their understanding of the game guidelines in equal part to players that are often hyper-pumped and “in the zone”.

They need to play smart and be masters of using even the most minimal cover, and they need to be able to prioritise and make judgements quickly; two riflemen or one support gunner, which first? It’s not as simple as “run to Player A, medic, roll to Player B” as sometimes bringing a key player back into the game first will allow them to go on and ply their trade with others more effectively.

I have played the Medic role myself, but being a big, not so quick direct-action kind of guy I’m not the ideal candidate at all, although my knowledge of game-flow and priorities at least allowed me to fulfil the role adequately… just about!

So, next time you holler “MEDIC!!”, give a

thought to the person that’s playing this role, as if they’re doing it right there will be a whole heap of things going on for them that perhaps you haven’t considered before.

TEAM TALK

As always, with my own thoughts out there, it was time to pose my usual monthly question to the members of the AA LGEION, and this month I asked them “WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AN AIRSOFT MEDIC? WHY DO WE NEED ONE, AND WHAT MAKES A GOOD ONE?”

Stewbacca: “Don’t get shot” comes to mind. The occasions where I have played medic myself have usually resulted in me being the first to get shot. Because of course they have. Being able to move low to the ground and adapting whatever personal weapon and gear you have to the role is always helpful of you are assigned it early enough to plan

around such considerations, otherwise if you’re thrust into it as an interchanging role that moves between players each round I suppose minimising excess bulk and gear as best as possible and relying on close protection of a designated teammate or the squad as a whole and minimising your own exposure during movement are the best you can do. Radio, heavy gunner, medic. Walking targets for every occasion.

At Brit Tac MilSim events they used the poker chip blind draw from a bag which worked nicely. Differing numbers of green/red/black chips to denote revived/ respawn/medic and you are both dead outcomes which made it less onorous than always having to hump back to respawn. Certainly for smaller games here I’ve been toying with an idea of velcro strips almost like rank tabs on the arm that people tear off after each elimination and slap on their team’s respawn board. So you can see a K/D ratio or which players are getting taken out most etc. Otherwise using the clicker counters at the respawn to compare which team had more eliminations within a fixed period works too.

Boycie: Usually for me the better medics are the lighter equipped “whippets” of the team. They can get in and get out pretty quickly. If I get chosen to be the medic it’s almost a given that I get used as mobile cover as well!

Miguel: For me, a medic can be divided in two ways. The first is your typical in-game medic, someone in charge of following the game’s respawn mechanic, which can be either by touch, bandages, cards or any other system. But we also have a role within the team for someone with knowledge in first-aid, a player who is there to help in case of a more serious situation

Robbie: The airsoft medic (team) is essential on teams that work together. The rule of one is none, two is one. One is always providing covering fire, while the medic is healing/working. So the medics bodyguard is well equipped with plenty of firepower. The medic, well they are in a way a bandage and ammo mule! Depending on gameplay, they can be well-armed or not, but they should always be sneaky and fast when possible, as well as their bodyguard.

Dan: On the few games that have medic rules, they can definitely make or break it for teams. Good

medics will help keep the fight moving forward, so it’s a position that has to be carefully chosen. Not everyone is cut out for it, so it takes an attentive and proactive sort to really fulfil the role. I’ve honestly only played as medic a couple of times, so based on that I’d say you want to be lightly encumbered, and only carry the minimum loadout as you’ll be running on your feet and more physically active than most every other player. Don’t forget to hydrate either! They’re also high value targets, so they definitely need the assistance of their team to have adequate protection and covering fire.

We have used a few different medic systems over the years. We started out emulating the MilSim West style, where a limited number of bandages or tourniquets were used, with the player being able to get healed once before having to go back to respawn. The main issue was getting those bits turned in after the end of the day, or even in between stages, so it was always a struggle coming up with replacements.

The current system uses a laminated card deck, which contain randomized disabilities, from the severe (Blam! You’ve been headshot! Return to respawn immediately!) to simply inconvenient (your rifle was hit by incoming fire and is disabled! switch to your sidearm if you have one! If you do not have one, bleed out for 5 minutes and respawn).

There’s also a fair few cards of the “You have collapsed from heat exhaustion! Take a one minute break and hydrate!” type which helps remind people to do the all-important activity. It’s a fun system and the players seem to universally enjoy the variety of ailments doled out over the older method of using cloth bandaids or expensive bespoke TQ’s. Since the cards are solely retained by the appointed medic, it’s also easier to maintain control over the “bandaids” so to speak and get them turned in at the end of the day Iggy: In short a medic in the games sense is to keep you (the team) in the fight. They are required to NOT be the one on point or leading the pack, but be more standoffish to assist any players on their team that need have been hit and need to be revived to get back in the game. That doesn’t mean they won’t get rounds down. In fact it’s often the opposite as they need to shoot their way to the “hit” player, but it does mean they need to be more mindful of

their game play as they are the weakest link in the team because if they go down then there is often no regeneration for players “hit” thereafter.

Björn: Usually someone gets a bag of bandages and is called a medic. They are later returned by a spawn. But sometimes we draw a damage card. Arm disabled, leg disabled, etc but you can continue the fight. A hit in the chest/ head according to the card and you’re down if you don’t have a medic close. You can choose to continue this way or search up a team medic or get another hit and you’re sent to spawn! AA

RED CELL MASCHINENPISTOLE MAX!

IT IS OFTEN STATED THAT THE MOST ICONIC AND EASILY RECOGNISED FIREARM IN THE WORLD TODAY IS THE VENERABLE AK47, AND MUCH AS THIS MIGHT BE TRUE IN OUR MIND IT IS VERY CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY THE DIMINUTIVE “MASCHINENPISTOLE 5” FIRST DESIGNED BY HECKLER & KOCH GMBH IN 1964, THE YEAR BILL WAS BORN AS IT HAPPENS. SO YOU COULD SAY THAT THE MP5 HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, JUST LIKE HIM!

Pretty much every airsofter I know either owns, or has owned and MP5 replica during their airsofting “career” and said ownership is somewhat a rite of passage. I have owned early plastic versions, sold them, moved up to full metal versions, and there are still a couple of classic slidingstock versions lurking at the back of the “man cave”, one AEG and one GBB. They rarely come out to play these days but those little MP5s have been with me an awfully long time now, and have been involved in some awesome “actions-on” both at home and abroad!

Nearly twenty years ago I had the chance to go and live in the USA, and spent four extremely happy years living, playing airsoft, and running airsoft games in Florida. Back then the Star SLR was still a “WIP” and the L85 was eagerly awaited, so what was a “Brit Abroad” to do (a question our resident émigré Stewbacca no doubt asks himself these days too!)? Whilst all of my American friends were more than happy with their woodland camo and ALICE gear, and some great “M4s and M16s” I was intent on retaining my British-ness; this was easy when it came to kit as I simply continued to wear my S95 DPM and Arktis rig, but what to choose as my AEG?

My choice gradually whittled down to the diminutive “Maschinenpistole 5”, or MP5 as we all know it; carried by the SAS at the Embassy siege, back in those days it was viewed as being very “Brit SF”, and actually it was the natural AEG choice for use among the crowded mangroves and palmettos of coastal Florida, and I still have a very soft spot for it even today!

So what makes this little SMG such a “must have” for any airsofter? The simple reason is that it has been used by military and police forces worldwide, has appeared in the hands of most screen “action heroes” and of course was the firearm carried by the SAS on that fateful day on May 5th 1980 when they stormed the Iranian Embassy. It’s been used by the SAS, by the USN SEAL Teams, GSG-9 and virtually every special operations unit in the western world, and even today we see the MP5 in the hands of our firearms trained police officers. Whatever your style of airsoft loadout the MP5 fits it.

Like all H&K firearms the MP5 is a modular design

that allows the assembly groups, to include butt stock, trigger group and forearm to be exchanged on a common receiver by the user in the field to reconfigure it for varying mission requirements, mostly without resorting to tools. The real MP5A3 has an 8.85 inch barrel, is 21.00 inches in length with the retractable stock closed and weighs only 2.55kg unloaded. It can be fired in some of the variants in semi-automatic, 2 or 3-round burst or fully automatic mode depending on the trigger group mounted and at a cyclic rate of fire of 800 rounds per minute.

It should be noted that the “Navy” variants of the MP5A3 can be fitted with optional suppressors which reduce the sound signature by more than 38 dB and allows it to be fired immediately upon emergence from the water. In repeated and exhaustive testing though the MP5 has proven capable of firing more than 30,000 rounds without a single stoppage or parts failure and it is not uncommon to find MP5’s still serving with in excess of 500,000 rounds through the

“THE SIMPLE REASON IS THAT IT HAS BEEN USED BY MILITARY AND POLICE FORCES WORLDWIDE, HAS APPEARED IN THE HANDS OF MOST SCREEN “ACTION HEROES” AND OF COURSE WAS THE FIREARM CARRIED BY THE SAS ON THAT FATEFUL DAY ON MAY 5TH 1980 WHEN THEY STORMED THE IRANIAN EMBASSY”

original barrel and receiver!

Still regarded of as one of the most reliable and effective submachine guns in the world nearly sixty years of service has seen the MP5 become the choice of the worlds’ most famous elite anti-terrorist, special operations and special law enforcement organisations. While more modern submachine guns have been designed since the introduction of the MP5 it is still the user’s choice when lives are at stake!

So, with all of this in mind I asked the “old sweats” of Red Cell about their own experiences past and present when it comes to the MP5, and I believe what we offer here can certainly help you choose the right variant for your own armoury. All of these models have seen a LOT of action, so although you’ll be potentially looking at buying new, I hope our experiences will aid you in your own choice!

Stewbacca: For me the MP5 is perhaps the definitive submachine gun; of course there were earlier contenders within the world wars and intervening years when the concept was initially developed and the Thompson is also a favourite and classic firearm in its own right. However, Heckler & Koch’s mid-1960s 9mm derivative of their already popular G3 full tilt battle rifle system’s roller-delayed action is perhaps the culmination of all the important features in terms of both a highly functional, reliable and controllable action, ease of mass manufacture with the more modern stamped steel. The Germans pioneered and use of polymer for furniture, as well as the early modularity concept of the whole system, but of course all of these benefits being delivered in the platform’s sheer aesthetically appealing, ergonomic and now immediately recognisable profile; clearly they got the marketing mix right as even to this day it retains its popularity and is still the yardstick by which most new contenders are measured, including HK’s own subsequent simplified designs that were intended to be more economical and allow HK to somewhat phase out the comparatively more expensive to make classic MP5s. The people evidently still want them.

With saturation in media, typically being used as ‘good guy guns’ and their large prevalence in law enforcement as well as military, paramilitary and security forces, they’re timeless and applicable to so many scenarios, not just for cosplaying as your

“FOR ME THE MP5 IS PERHAPS THE DEFINITIVE SUBMACHINE GUN; OF COURSE THERE WERE EARLIER CONTENDERS WITHIN THE WORLD WARS AND INTERVENING YEARS WHEN THE CONCEPT WAS INITIALLY DEVELOPED AND THE THOMPSON IS ALSO A FAVOURITE AND CLASSIC FIREARM IN ITS OWN RIGHT”

favourite action star.

Personally, aside from my earlier use of JG’s MP5J (Japanese police variant), MP5A4 (solid stock) and the Galaxy MP5k PDW (short, folding triangular stock) variants, all of which served me very well for personal use and loaning out to numerous guest players, I have more recently scratched the GBB itch since coming to Taiwan which I never had the opportunity to previously. The WE Tech Apache series is still well regarded despite being harder to come by and some players still ask me how I sourced mine and if they are available anywhere, despite newer variants from competitors reaching the market.

I have both the MP5k PDW and MP5A4/A5 with a trio of interchangeable solid, telescopic and side folding stocks; although these only fit on the full sized A4/A5 unfortunately due to the welded tabs on the receiver of the MP5k PDW not permitting the other stocks to be installed. Both of these are second hand but have nonetheless served me very well thus far, the MP5k PDW was acquired a few years ago before I moved to Taipei and I spent a lot of time running it in CQB environments to great effect, even though it has a somewhat short inner barrel and isn’t the most accurate system compared to the likes of my KWA MP7, it is extremely fun to use, with a heavy and stout recoil thanks to its hefty bolt carrier, it is also very durable internally and allows for plentiful full on HK slaps without any worries over severed charging handles as has been experienced by some using other alternatives.

The MP5A5 was acquired around two years ago from a teammate who had already upgraded it with some Poseidon internal components which somewhat softened the recoil impulse compared to the shorter K model, and the longer barrel also makes for much greater accuracy. I recently ran both again at Linkou CQB having neglected them for a good year due to all the other new guns getting in the way, and I had forgotten just how much I loved running them.

The 45 BB magazines are hefty and I did end up dropping them occasionally due to improper seating of them during frantic reloads behind cover, sometimes the dry fire cutoff system doesn’t work as it should in more worn magazines which can be frustrating, or alternatively you forget to set them

to the fire position before insertion and get a dead trigger on the first round, but those minor gripes aside the fun factor and effectiveness of the very handy, albeit somewhat heavy MP5 GBBs cannot be overstated. I managed to eliminate two OpFor guys in quick succession at the very beginning of our first round using the MP5A5 to post rounds through a window about 15m away with ease and consistency. And the ease of transitioning shoulders for moving around the left and right hand corners as well as operating both guns ambidextrously makes them superb for such environments. Well worth your consideration if you are a fan of the MP5 and GBB systems.

Bill: I also love the classic MP5, and like Stewbacca I also love the GBB models! Mine though was developed by VegaForceCompany under the H&K licence held by Umarex, and I am going to come straight out and say that their take on the classic MP5 is probably the best I’ve ever seen, and that’s why I still own it!

The MP5A3 GBB shows the result of all the labours put into creating a first rate replica as it is simply stunning. Everything, and I do mean the lot, is truly 1:1 scale and it weighs in at 2.59kg unloaded, just 0.4g heavier than the real thing! Unlike any battery powered electric replica there is no heavy motor and gearbox adding weight to the design but just a cleverly designed bolt which relies purely on the gas in the magazine for operation; if you weren’t told that this is a replica I believe you’d be hard pushed to know this wasn’t the real deal; in fact you can field strip it for cleaning as you would the original firearm.

The entire upper assembly is of a pressed metal finish just like a real MP5. In addition to the enforced fibre frame which incorporates the pistol grip and the removable handguard, everything is finished to an extremely high standard. Going right down to the legend “Kal.9mmx19” on the left hand side above the magwell and an individual serial number this replica looks extremely real with just a small “6mm BB” notation appearing on the top of the receiver.

In operation the MP5A3 is very straightforward and intuitive. Safe, Semi, and Full Auto modes are clearly indicated by the traditional H&K “bullet pictograms” on either side of the body, and the safety catch is fully

“THE WE TECH APACHE SERIES IS STILL WELL REGARDED DESPITE BEING HARDER TO COME BY AND SOME PLAYERS STILL ASK ME HOW I SOURCED MINE AND IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE, DESPITE NEWER VARIANTS FROM COMPETITORS REACHING THE MARKET.”

“OH, THE TM “K”, HOW I LOVED THAT LITTLE BEASTIE, AND IT’S DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE AEGS THAT I’VE SOLD THAT I MISS! ANY VARIANT OF THE MP5 IS BOTH COMPACT AND LIGHT-WEIGHT, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SHEER MINIMALISM THE MP5K TAKES THE PRIZE!”

JG MP5 JG069 J

Price: iro UK£140.00

Age: Current Model Weight: 1725g Length: 550-735mm Magazine Capacity: 240 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps

Taclite Compatibility: No Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

TOKYO MARUI MP5 NGRS

Price: iro UK£520.00

Age: New Weight: 3100g Length: 500-660mm Magazine Capacity: 72 Cold Chrono: 0.72 Joule/280fps Hot Chrono: 0.76 Joule/287fps

Taclite Compatibility: No Supplied By: www.allagesairsoft.com

WE MP5A3 APACHE GBBR

Price: iro UK£300.00

Age: Two Years Weight: 3240 g Length: 500-660mm Magazine Capacity: 45 Cold Chrono: 1.49 Joule/401fps Hot Chrono: 1.49 Joule/401fps Taclite Compatibility: No Supplied By: www.weairsoft.com

VFC (UMAREX) MP5A3 GBBR

Price: iro UK£330.00

Age: Four Years Weight: 2820g Length: 495-660mm Magazine Capacity: 30 Cold Chrono: 1.03 Joule/334fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/341fps

Taclite Compatibility: No Available from: www.jdairsoft.net

WE MP5K PDW GBBR

Price: iro UK£350.00

Age: Two Years Weight: 3200g Length: 330mm/629mm Magazine Capacity: Cold Chrono: 0.83 Joule/300fps Hot Chrono: 0.87 Joule/306fps

Taclite Compatibility: No Supplied By: www.weairsoft.com

TOKYO MARUI MP5K

Price: iro UK£200.00 (High Cycle Version iro UK£260.00)

Age: Five Years Weight: 1490g Length: 345mm Magazine Capacity: 220

Cold Chrono: 0.49 Joule/230fps Hot Chrono: 0.52 Joule/237fps

Taclite Compatibility: No Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

ICS CES SD6

Price: iro UK£300.00

Age: Current Model Weight: 2300g Length: 600-741mm Magazine Capacity: 230

Cold Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps

Taclite Compatibility: No Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

BOLT SWAT SD6 SHORT

Price: iro UK£380.00

Age: Three Years Weight: 3000g Length: 550-700mm Magazine Capacity: 200 Cold Chrono: 1.0 Joule/329fps Hot Chrono: 1.04 Joule/335fps

Taclite Compatibility: Yes, on Lower Rail Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

CYMA CM.041H UPGRADED VERSION

(MP5)

Price: iro UK£350.00

Age: One Year Weight: 3280g Length: 550-710mm

Magazine Capacity: 130

Cold Chrono: 1.06 Joule/338fps Hot Chrono: 1.09 Joule/343fps Taclite Compatibility: Yes, M-LOK Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

CYMA

(MP5K)

CM.041L UPGRADED VERSION

Price: iro UK£320.00

Age: One Year Weight: 2700g Length: 556mm

Magazine Capacity: 130

Cold Chrono: 0.83 Joule/299fps

Hot Chrono: 0.87 Joule/306fps

Taclite Compatibility: Yes, M-LOK Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

ambidextrous. Sights are simple too with an enclosed post at the sharp end and a fully adjustable dioptre at the rear. The sliding stock is essentially a one position affair, either open or closed but this is true of the real thing as well so you can’t knock the replica in this respect.

Boycie: For me the MP5 has been iconic for nearly 45 years! The MP5 is one of my first memories of the Machine Pistol ever since 5th May 1980. Over the years many ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ have weilded it in film and TV. I have had a number of opportunities to fire the real thing in both semi and full auto. Some 30-35 years ago I bought my first ever MP5, the TM with non-adjustable hop and I’ve had one in

my collection ever since. I love the compact nature of it and when playing games where concealing the weapon and mags the MP5K or the PDW variant has regularly been used.

Bill: Oh, the TM “K”, how I loved that little beastie, and it’s definitely one of those AEGs that I’ve sold that I miss! Any variant of the MP5 is both compact and light-weight, but when it comes to sheer minimalism the MP5K takes the prize! In 1976 a shortened version of the MP5A2 was introduced; the MP5K (K from the German word “Kurz” or short) was designed for close quarter battle use by special units, especially in a close protection/bodyguard environment.

Much like its real world counterpart the TM MP5K

Image sourced from public domain

is not a new model which means that as a replica it’s been through the “airsoft mill” and found not to be wanting. I know certain sniper mates who have carried an original TM for a number of years as their backup, and these little AEGs seem to be able to take the punishment and come back for more. Weighing in at just 1500g, and with an overall length of just 315mm/12.4inches the MP5K is only slightly larger than some large framed pistols, but oh my, does it pack a bigger punch; this small size and light weight also means that it’s the ideal AEG for smaller and younger players that still want the “cool factor”

Although much of the K is high-quality plastic (TM’s have always been thus…) the thing is SO short that there’s absolutely no flex or “twist” anywhere to be found; all of the important parts however are metal. One unusual quirk of the TM MP5K though is where you’ll find the battery compartment, and I have to admit that this is not the most user-friendly design I’ve ever come across; TM have come up with a neat solution to the apparently zero space for a battery by incorporating a channel inside the body of the replica which was designed for an old-style AK-type stick battery, and which now of course holds a 7.4V LiPo with ease. It’s still a bit of a fiddle to change the battery though as you need to pop off the front grip by releasing a retained pin, then do the same with the rear-plate, which accesses the battery compartment itself. Pushing the battery into the compartment the “female” Tamiya connector needs to pass through a tiny “gate” to mate with the “male” part; this is made slightly easier in that with the cocking handle forward you can access the front part of the compartment to poke the connector through. Whilst you’ve got the front grip off you can also alter the sliding hop-up adjuster which is found lower left.

In terms of performance though, this of course is where TM have always excelled, and the MP5K is true to form; even with a tiny inner barrel of just on 100mm, at CQB engagement distances it shoots like a laser!

Dan: My love affair with the MP5 really started as a kid playing Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six on PC (circa 1998). Some years later I took a carbine class and one of the students brought his HK94 to class and let me rip through half a dozen magazines, which firmly cemented my desire to someday own one. I eventually started lusting after an airsoft version after perusing the website of the now defunct 747 Imports and discovering that Tokyo Marui made a replica of both the MP5 and MP5K.

For me, the MP5, and especially the MP5K, is pure “peak SMG”, and few competitor designs touch the

aesthetics, form-factor, utility, accuracy, reliability and smooth operation of the action. It hasn’t been until my mid-30’s that I’ve been able to actually afford the real thing, but now I can happily say I’ve finally acquired a genuine H&K SP5K to add to the collection.

I never did get around to actually buying an Airsoft MP5 until many years later, well after I had retired my paintball spurs and a few years more into playing airsoft. My first replica was the old Classic Army B&T licensed MP5A5 with a Surefire forearm and the classic retractable stock that I picked up for a song and dance. It was a decent gun, albeit a little anaemic compared to my other builds at the time, so I admittedly didn’t skirmish with it often.

Through my teching career, I’ve since been able to play with or have my fingers inside the guts of pretty much every other variant and brand made, save the new Tokyo Marui NGRS, which I have coming down the pipeline shortly. Probably my favourite brand and model would be the VFC Avalon MP5A4, as it is cosmetically beautiful and supremely easy to work on and upgrade. Second in line would be the venerable Tokyo Marui versions, ideally with a metal body kit, but mainly owing to their place in airsoft history. My least favuorite model would be the ICS CES-P MS1 because it’s a gross bastardization and plagued with all the technical oddities ICS is known for. Oh, and anything with a “Swordfish” kit gobbed on gets the heel of my boot too!

Bill: Actually this is one area where I’ll put the case for the ICS as a player; I totally agree with Dan’s comments on the technical issues (thankfully something ICS appear to have remedied with the more recent AEGs!), but much like its real world counterpart the ICS MP5 (the MX5 as was and now the CEP in ICS-speak) is not a new model, and of all the ICS models I have to say that the suppressed “SD6” is still my favourite of the bunch (it just screams “Night Ops” to me!); whichever variant you choose of the many, MANY models that ICS have offered you’ll be sure of getting a solidly performing AEG with a little care and attention.

When it comes to the older “Proline SD6” that I owned the entire upper assembly was of a pressed metal finish just like a real MP5. In addition to the reinforced fibre frame which incorporated the pistol grip everything was finished to an extremely high standard as I expect from my friends at ICS; say what you like, their finishing is usually impeccable! This replica again looked extremely real with just a small “6mm BB/ICS Airsoft” notation appearing on the magwell on the right. Internally you got exactly what you’d expect from an ICS AEG and that’s a V2

reinforced gearbox, ICS’s own Long Type motor with heat sink, and some very, very tidy wiring; ICS have pretty much always produced great quality internals and with a few quibbles, the MP5 models were no exception.

I’ll also here sing the praises of another “SD” model that I tested extensively some time ago and really liked, and that’s the BOLT MP5SD “SWAT”. BOLT are getting an increasingly good rep with players at all levels as they specialise in their patented electric blow-back (EBB) system for many of their rifles and SMGs; they aim to provide AEGs with a powerful recoil movement able to be used even with lower voltage batteries. BOLT Airsoft’s goal is to design AEGs as close to the “real deal” to satisfy airsoft players along with military collectors.

With solid stamped steel bodywork, and one of the sturdiest sliding stocks I’ve come across on an airsoft MP5, the BOLT MP5 features a stubby integrated alloy suppressor (the full length version is also available), as well as an alloy 20mm rail on the underside of the handguard to modernise it and for the attachment of foregrips and other accessories “SEAL Style”.

As with many MP5 AEGs the BOLT is front-wired and has a Mini Tamiya connector in the handguard, which is easily accessed by unscrewing the integrated suppressor; I love this feature as other MP5’s I’ve had in the past need you to remove either the handguard pin or a pair of retaining clips to access the battery compartment, and from experience these are easily lost! The hop unit is adjusted by a slider-type adjuster, easily accessed by pulling back on the charging handle which will lock to the rear to make it easier. Do avoid the “HMP5 slap” though, as although this part is solid, it will no doubt break if abused!

There’s a couple of models that “make the cut” for our list of noteworthy MP5 models, and we covered off the TM NGRS version back in Issue 131, and you can find that full review in the Back Issues section on www.airsoftaction.net

The other model (make that models... plural!) which I personally believe need a mention is the lastest takes from CYMA as this brings things right up to the modern day, and I feel gives the venerable MP5 a new lease of life! Given that the MP5 has SUCH a strong heritage and pedigree I thought it would

only be a matter of time before someone gave the platform a bit of love, and although there have been some stabs at it, I have to admit I didn’t think it would be CYMA that actually went the whole hog and did the job properly, but in the past couple of years the elusive brand has been doing some downright righteous things when it comes to AEGs, so why not “update” the MP5?

Now of course the CYMA takes (yes, multiple!) look like MP5s but are rightly unbranded as there is no licence agreement here; again, I know I say this every time, but if there’s no licence then don’t use trademarks, and what CYMA have done is to take the “principle” of an MP5 and enhance it in a way that has no real-world equivalent. This I can live with, as it’s what CYMA has done internally and externally that matters here.

The CM.041L (5 inch Barrel, 3 inch M-LOK) is basically a railed “K” with a PDW stock, the G is standard 5-length (9 inch Barrel, 6.3 inch M-LOK) with the same stock, and the H replaces the PDW-stock of the G with a buffer tube and sliding carbine stock, but they all come from the new PLATINIUM series, created as a cooperation again between CYMA and TAIWANGUN.COM (TWG). The metal body and outer barrel marry up with a nylon pistol grip like the real deal, and the compact design with different adjustable stocks makes all three models ideal for CQB/CQC.

Internally things look good as you get a reinforced V2 gearbox frame, full steel tooth polycarbonate piston, CNC machined steel gear set (ratio: 13:1), CNC machined aluminium silent cylinder and piston head set (ball bearing piston head, double o-ring cylinder head), all of which is powered along by a high-speed motor, and benefits from a processor unit with built-in MOSFET system. All three variants are what CYMA call their E-EDITION & HIGH-SPEED models, and set up like they are come in with a power around 350-360fps on a .20g and, in combination with a LiPo battery a very good trigger response and OOTB ROF around 25rps! What’s not to like?

So, to conclude, there’s still a LOT to be had from an MP5, and although the real-deal original model is now somewhat “long in the tooth”, the classic airsoft variants are all still great airsoft performers both as AEGs and GBBs, and new directions in accessory

“FOR ME, THE MP5, AND ESPECIALLY THE MP5K, IS PURE “PEAK SMG”, AND FEW COMPETITOR DESIGNS TOUCH THE AESTHETICS, FORM-FACTOR, UTILITY, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY AND SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE ACTION”

options and internals have brought the old warhorse fully up to date.

With more and more “9mm” models available on the market, I believe that an MP5 of some description should still be in EVERY airsofters armoury, and with the choices out there now, there’s absolutely no reason NOT to own at least one, especially as VFC have just released a new “Classic K” GBBR that we’ll be reporting on soon! AA

Red Cell is supported by:

QUICK DRAW ACES

Over the years that I’ve been involved in airsoft both at home and abroad one name has been at the forefront of things when it comes to my personal holsters for both airsoft replicas and the real thing, and that name is Kydex Customs. I’ve shopped with them consistently online for about three years and always received friendly, efficient service and their product range is simply staggering.

Over my time playing airsoft and shooting the real thing I’ve personally tried many holster models, from leg and thigh rigs through to concealed carry models, but what should YOU be looking for in a good holster? To me it’s not just a method of securely carrying a pistol, but a vital part of your “fighting kit” that will allow you to deploy your “secondary” swiftly and efficiently IF you need it. To me the pistol is a backup for the “SHTF” moments and is only really there for when your “primary” malfunctions or lawd forbid you run out of “ammo”; in this situation you need to get your pistol from secure to deployed lightning fast, and get on target!

Holster choice is a VERY personal thing, but I certainly hope that over time the members of Red Cell and the AA Legion have given you some pointers on what models to check out if you’re looking to upgrade. For me, well I’m definitely a two-piece beltkit kind of guy these days, so my holster is always going to be on there. In line with the above I have a Kydex Customs Holster for my Glock 17s, and a Kydex Customs light-bearing model, again for the 17s, in a cool Multicam wrap. As I’ve started mucking about with Hi Capas and 1911s (again!) for now I’m running a simple, cost-effective Kydex Customs “BARE BONES” holster which works well with the all the 1911-derived models, and I’ve also upgraded this with a 1911 light-bearer from Taig as well!

ORIGINS

But where have Kydex Customs come from, and

what particular passion drives Taig and his team on in the journey to holster perfection? The original Kydex Customs operation was founded in January 2018 and from word go they carried the most diverse product line with holster options for some of the most popular GBB models available on the market, and this continues today, and of course now they are a much larger operation altogether!

Recently I happened to be speaking with Kydex Customs founder Taig, so I took the opportunity to run a few specific questions past him about how he does things, and where he’s heading. Although I have dealt with Kydex Customs for years, and have personally known Taig for even longer as a player, I’d never had the real chance to sit down and discuss the business with him in detail; I know his team well too these days as I see them at most major events, and it genuinely felt like I was speaking to an old friend!

After having a good natter with Taig about life, house-renovation and plumbers (what a rock n’ roll life we lead!), I asked specifically why Kydex Customs was set up, and he told me simply:

“

At the time, I’d recently started playing at the Gaol in the UK and realised that I’d never played at a site before which had pitch black rooms. I wanted to mount a weapon light onto my pistol but couldn’t find a holster for my specific pistol and weapon light. So, having heard of Kydex in the past and being okay at making stuff I decided to give making my own holster a go!”

And the rest, as the saying goes, is history!

The team at Kydex Customs are tight knit and incredibly knowledgeable with many years of experience in the airsoft industry. Taig runs a thoroughly professional business which brings together holsters and accessories complementary to airsoft brands from all over the world. He also ensures that the “front facing” side of Kydex Customs runs smoothly and efficiently with regular updates on a

A HOLSTER IS JUST A HOLSTER, RIGHT? IT IS UNTIL YOU FIND THE IN-GAME SHORTCOMINGS OF CHEAP AND CHEERFUL MODELS THAT MAY RETAIN YOUR BELOVED GBB SECURELY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO DRAW LETS YOU DOWN WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST! BILL IS CONTINUALLY SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT FIT AND FUNCTION WHEN IT COMES TO HIS PERSONAL HOLSTERS, AND THERE’S GOOD REASONS WHY HE TURNS TO KYDEX CUSTOMS WHEN HE NEEDS A NEW ONE!

PROCESSES AND MODELS

Kydex Customs offering of products to support and complement many top brands is simply mindboggling! When I asked Taig what were the bestselling holster models, he told me at present it was

the usual Glock and Hi Capa holsters, but surprisingly HK45 and FNX .45 holsters are pretty close behind them! They also offer a large and comprehensive range of accessory products like Vortex optics, Shooters belts and weapon lights.

Their onsite workshop creates both production models and prototypes “in house”, and I understand that there’s also a lot of “skunkworx custom work” that goes on behind the scenes, normally at the specific request of many of the “real deal” customers Kydex Customs works with but can never mention! All of their work is made to a high,real-world-user standard, and the quality is absolutely top notch. I asked Taig about the process for creating a new model and he told me:

“Usually, we’ll purchase a new model of pistol from a supplier, painstakingly 3D model the pistol by

hand in CAD, once we’ve got a model we’re happy we’ll split the model into a the mould/tooling and go about machining the vacuum mould on our HAAS CNC mill.

“From this point it’s a case of machining moulds, testing the fitment and tweaking things (this is usually the most time consuming and expensive part of the process!) to ensure the fitment of the holster is spot on with different makes/brands of the same pistol to ensure our customers have a quality product regardless of which version of the same pistol they have.

number of social media platforms whilst behind the scenes the guys beaver away in the workshop.

“Once we’re happy with the mould, we’ll then design and machine the trimming jig to give the holster its final shape, which usually only takes 1 or 2 revisions to be perfect and we’re done!”

NEXT GEN?

Kydex Customs continue to attend many airsoft shows and events in the UK (and further afield!) in person, and their mobile shop is just as well laid out, well stocked and professionally run as their main online store. They also regularly have a shop on site at the UK National Airsoft Festival so that they can gain firsthand feedback from users.

Before I ended my chat I had one final question for Taig, and that, as always, was where do you see airsoft heading in the future and he told me:

“I believe there’s going to be a bit of a shift in airsoft being used as a training platform with armed police and being taken a little bit more seriously by firearms manufacturers (which we’re already seeing in the USA). Which should mean that we could be seeing more 1:1 replicas hitting the market and airsoft as a whole could move more into the spotlight as the goto realistic training platform!”

Ultimately, whatever holster you choose, make sure it works for you and your style of play; don’t be influenced by so-

called “experts” online, but get to your local site and try a few different models; undoubtedly more and more of them will orginate from Kydex Customs. Think about how you play, how and why you use your pistol, and go from there! If you are in need of a new holster, or indeed any kind of Kydex accessory I would thoroughly recommend that you take a look at the Kydex Customs Website; believe you me I guarantee it will be worth your while even if it’s just to gawk at their fabulous custom creations!

If you have a specific request for a holster then you can always contact Taig and his team via Sales@ kydexcustomsuk.com, and to check out exactly they already have (and it’s a LOT!) simply head on over to www.kydexcustomsuk.com AA

“I BELIEVE THERE’S GOING TO BE A BIT OF A SHIFT IN AIRSOFT BEING USED AS A TRAINING PLATFORM WITH ARMED POLICE AND BEING TAKEN A LITTLE BIT MORE SERIOUSLY BY FIREARMS MANUFACTURERS (WHICH WE’RE ALREADY SEEING IN THE USA).”

EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS

DISCOVERING AND UNDERSTANDING INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE NEW CAMOUFLAGE PATTERNS IS A BIT OF AN ONGOING QUEST AMONGST CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE AA CREW, AND WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING AROUND FOR WHAT IS MOST EFFECTIVE. THIS MONTH WE’RE JOINED AGAIN BY OUR OLD AND TRUSTED FRIEND CHRIS BRAVO FROM AMNB WHO HAS BEEN WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE GUYS BEHIND CONCAMO!

When you want to know all about “something new”, then why not head over and speak to someone that has been working with that “thing” for some considerable time already and knows it intimately! We thought it was high time that we delved deeper in the world of CONCAMO to understand better exactly what it is and where it has come from, and who better to introduce it than Chris… as he’s been working with them closely for quite a while already!

Chris is already well-known in the airsoft world through his amazing activities over on www. airsoftmilsimnews.com, and he is most definitely someone that we trust. We’re delighted to have him as a part of our AA Legion Associate program now, a group of like-minded and knowledgeable professionals, so we’ll be able to share more stories from him in the future; as the program grows we’ll be able to get more information on the coolest tactical kit developments direct from the people that know the most about it, and we hope that this information will benefit you as you come to make your own kit choices, creating your very own GEAR CAGE!

And camouflage is one topic that should be

important to all of us as players, as having that edge “in the wild” can make the difference between a successful mission and that long walk to Respawn. We’ll grow this section of AA out over time, with a focus, and indeed refocus, on effective clothing, equipment and camouflage patterns both old and new, but without further ado this time we’ll hand over to Chris to tell us all about CONCAMO!

CONCAMO® [CON-FU-SI-ON/CAMOU-FLAGE]

When we talk about modern camouflage patterns, what do you think about first… and why is it Multicam? It’s probably because it’s now the most common pattern out there and you see it literally everywhere. But there is more, way more then Multicam!

Let me introduce you CONCAMO®!

The company believes that the many marketavailable camouflage solutions are NOT effective enough for the professional user so the owner, a former German soldier, decided to make it better and in my personal opinion, he did and CONCAMO® was born.

CONCAMO ® GREEN

The development of CONCAMO®‘s proto-patterns began in 1992 and this was constantly refined until CONCAMO® went live in 2017, and the creator was confident that the development presented the desired solution. The final breakthrough was achieved through the application of modern scientific approaches derived from perceptual psychology. As to the “public timeline”, it goes like this;

• In March 2018, CONCAMO® premiered at IWA trade show with its CONCAMO® Green pattern

• The first German federal government SF unit adopted CONCAMO® Green even before the market launch

• Since August 2018, CONCAMO® Green has been available for the general public

• Since its launch, multiple government users have adopted CONCAMO® Green for official use and rely on its performance in their active service.

• In March 2019, CONCAMO® Brown as the second pattern was revealed at IWA. Market launch August 2019

• In January 2021, CONCAMO® Beige was launched.

The creator of CONCAMO® had already been working on camouflage solutions and their effectiveness before his military career in a Special Forces unit. During his active duty there, he perfected his approach to concealment, recognized possibilities for improvement and applied all of this into the development of CONCAMO®, so professionals could have a nocompromise solution.

Its unsurpassed performance is based on naturally occurring shapes, which were catalogued extensively and evaluated meticulously over the course

CONCAMO

® BROWN

of many years, and are included in abstract forms into the CONCAMO® pattern family. Many people, even those that know of such things, have seen CONCAMO® Green, but from the very beginning, as is the case with many of the developers of effective camouflage solutions, CONCAMO® has been designed as a family of camouflage patterns to complement one another in different operational environments.

Looking back to that phrase “perceptual psychology”, CONCAMO® consists of 25 superimposed layers which create a “chaotic illusion”. The subconscious is overwhelmed by the camouflage pattern and begins to discern natural shapes in it. Through this overload, the relay of relevant information to the conscious mind is either stopped or significantly delayed.

ASSURED QUALITY, EFFECTIVE PATTERNS

CONCAMO® closely cooperates with certified suppliers of the German Armed Forces in order guarantee highest material quality and smooth logistics. The company makes no compromise when it comes to IRR performance, which is why the inside of the uniform fabric is printed with an infrared signature-reducing ink. Professional users can rely on the promise that CONCAMO® will always stand for IRR camouflage!

CONCAMO® currently offers 3 different patterns; GREEN, BROWN, and BEIGE dominant, and each of them has its benefits.

• GREEN - CONCAMO® Green is the universal camo pattern of the CONCAMO® family. This variation achieves a very good to excellent camouflage effect in a wide range of greenbrown areas. A good camouflage pattern is always a compromise and a “universal” pattern an even bigger one. CONCAMO® Green has solved the task and as the company says it; “IT WORKS”!

• BROWN - CONCAMO® Brown was specifically developed for the European and North American fall and winter forest, as well as for drylands with a higher red content in their natural environment. The contour of the user is effectively blurred out by the pattern, even on low-growing, dry meadows, achieving a level of stealth previously known only from ghillie suits.

• BEIGE - CONCAMO® Beige was specifically developed for drylands with a higher beige content in their natural environment. Even in alpine and urban environments, this pattern is highly effective.

...AND YOU GOTTA LOVE TO MIX THEM!

What we have found out is that the three available patterns do not only work well alone, but they really perform well together when you mix them. See it for yourself, you will be pleased with the result!

Like Multicam and Crye Precision, CONCAMO® has its own product company called GHOSTHOOD® where you can find their own product-line, all of which is currently available. Just visit the shop for details, there is interesting stuff to see! If you’re looking for other companies that create specific products with CONCAMO® fabric, you will find a few out there such as Leo Köhler, MD Textil, Templars Gear, Zentauron and others.

You see, running a full CONCAMO® kit is already possible. Do I have your attention now? Well, if you’re interested in what I’ve said so far, great, then you may want to head over to their website and discover it all, just visit www.concamo.com AA

BETTER DAYS

WE’RE VERY PROUD AT AA TO HAVE SUPERB RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE IN THE AIRSOFT WORLD, AND THIS TIME JIMMY BRINGS US PART 1 OF HIS LOOK AT THE NEW MOSFET TECHNOLOGY FROM THE PERUN CREW OVER IN POLAND! WHILST THE AUG AND P90 MAY NOT BE HIS FAVOURITE AEGS HE BITES THE BB AND GETS TO WORK LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS THAT THE NEW TECH WILL BRING TO A PAIR OF OLD “AIRSOFT WARHORSES”.

The genius’ over at PERUN have been hard at work yet again producing more of their very popular mosfets but this time something a little different. PERUN are a brand I love and a brand I can put faith in as I know from prior experience just how good they really are.

This time round though I feel a little out of my comfort zone as the latest products to hit the market are for two platforms that have never been on my radar and there are good reasons behind this. For one I do not like the look of these platforms, and two I hate everything about the two-stage triggers they adopt. If you haven’t already guessed I am talking about the Steyr AUG and the FN P90, but thanks to the clever folk at PERUN better days are indeed ahead!

For the purpose of research I shall put my opinions in a bag and zip them up because ultimately it’s not about me, it’s about you the readers, and I am sure that many of you all dying to find out more. In this issue I will give a brief overview of both the units followed up in the next issue with a full installation of both to see if they drop in and perform like those that have come before.

In the packets there are a lot more components compared to the hybrid series, so will be a bit more involved. Both units are of a different design, but both offer the user the exact same parameters; adjustment

process is identical also, and both allow from 7v battery right up to a whopping 17v! The units will handle the power, but quite frankly nobody needs any more than an 11.1v for airsoft use!

PERUN design their units to be compatible with many platforms from different manufacturers, but with the same standards set out by Tokyo Marui, so you may find that some platforms aren’t as straightforward to work with and may need further alterations in order to get a perfect mating. The P90 mosfet will not fit into the G&G or the Krytac models,

and I cannot guarantee compatibility for all AUG gearboxes, so please do bear this in mind.

I am looking forward to getting these fitted and tested because the nature of the design uses optical and magnetic sensors, and doing so eliminates the need for both the P90 and AUG trigger bars to be completely removed, so goodbye mechanical monstrosity and hello electronic beauty! I have high hopes for these new units and they may change my opinion slightly on these two platforms, which in anyone’s eyes would be a positive thing.

SETTINGS FTW!

Firing mode can have multiple settings offering up 5 pre-set options:

• Semi-semi

• Binary-binary

• Semi/auto-semi-auto

• Semi/burst-semi-burst

• Burst/auto-burst-auto

The Burst setting allows you to set up to a 5BB burst. There’s active brake up to 5 levels, 5 being the highest amount this can aid with overspin. With precocking there are 8 levels; 8 would be piston fully cocked rearward. You can decock the piston by holding the trigger in for a few seconds, and by doing this you alleviate any spring tension and the piston will sit fully forward.

You can also set the trigger sensitivity to adjust the amount of travel before the platform fires; this is adjustable on stage 1 and stage 2 separately and up to 5 levels on both ROF reduction up to 5 levels. This can be used purely as a personal choice or can aid active brake to combat any overspin. When it comes to the LiPo/Li Ion alarm this in my eyes should be none adjustable, as it is an indication that you have depleted your battery to a point it needs to be changed. Not so much a problem with Li Ion but more so with LiPo batteries as if you start running a LiPo battery too low you can compromise cell integrity and at that point that they can be volatile…. trust me, this is NOT something that will make your day any better!

DSG mode either is on or off, and this allows the electronic sensor to pick up the dual sector gear. Due to the nature of a DSG, one cycle fires twice as opposed to a single sector which only fires once. Trigger calibration is a must, and calibrating the

trigger ensures you have a safe mode and also ensures first stage and second stage can only be accessed by the fire selector.

Last but no means least is the MASTER RESET! If you have made a mistake during the adjustment process and can’t figure out what it is you have done, it may just be quicker to reset the system and start again! If you have made a mistake and you are finding issues with the system, the problem may arise and the unit self-diagnose, giving you a hint as to what the problem is. The manual offers reasons and possible fixes. Once reset the unit will revert back to its original factory settings.

Over the next week or so I shall be attempting to fit both these units into their respective donor platforms with high expectations, so please do stay tuned where I shall go into more detail and report my findings in Issue 145.

For now, if you’d like to know more immediately then please do head on over to the PERUN website www.perunairsoft.pl where you’ll be able to find out more of the tiniest details in relation to these two amazing new bits of tech… and much, much more!

AA

“GOODBYE MECHANICAL MONSTROSITY AND HELLO ELECTRONIC BEAUTY! I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THESE NEW UNITS AND THEY MAY CHANGE MY OPINION SLIGHTLY ON THESE TWO PLATFORMS, WHICH IN ANYONE’S EYES WOULD BE A POSITIVE THING”

RED CELL SHOOTER READY!

WHEN IT COMES TO AIRSOFT EVENTS THEN SOMETIMES SMALL CAN MOST DEFINITELY STILL BE BEAUTIFUL, AND LAST MONTH RED CELL SHOOTERS JIMMY AND BEN HEADED OUT TO A PRACTICAL SHOOT LOCALLY THAT PROVED THIS POINT! WHILST ATTENDANCE NUMBERS MAY HAVE BEEN LOW FOR THIS INAUGURAL EVENT, WE HOPE THAT IT’S THE FIRST OF MANY… AND THAT OUR BOYS CONTINUE TO EXCEL! JIMMY KICKS THINGS OFF…

Last month saw local store, CQB site and range 308 Sniper Airsoft (www.308-sniper.co.uk) host their very first in-house IPSC-style competition, and boy what a day it was! I would like to thank all of the team Chris, Lyndsey, Will, and Dan for organising a perfectly orchestrated event, and also thank players Dave Bardo, Ronald Buckley, Alex Mash, Paul Shippley-Weller, and my mucker Ben Sharp for being such good sports and making the day thoroughly enjoyable!

The attendance was not huge but I feel the amount of players was about right seeing as it was 308’s first attempt at such an event, but that said the level of competition was high and everyone had a huge amount of enthusiasm. There were to be two disciplines over the day, the first being pistol-only and would see each opponent tackle FOUR points across the arena and consisting of FIVE targets per point; each person would have FIVE attempts over the course. Scoring was based on both time and accuracy.

The second part would be pistol and rifle which consisted of TWO points using pistol and TWO points using rifles and again each person would have FIVE attempts on the course of fire, again scored based on time and accuracy. Certain rules were set in place and needed to be adhered to in order to gain a high score and penalties were issued should you foul these rules. Rules were as follows:

• Course of fire will commence only on marshal’s order

• ONE shot per target equalling FIVE shot per stage

• Pistols were to be holstered before moving onto the next stage

• You must change magazines at the allotted point

• Magazine out and pistol/rifle placed on the table to complete the course of fire and timer stopped

In the morning we underwent chrono checks and everyone was to use no heavier than a 0.25g BB and be under a 350fps limit in order to make a pretty level playing field, which made perfect sense in my eyes as the distances we were shooting didn’t really warrant a high velocity or heavy weight BB. Following on was a safety brief and a chance to walk the course to get an understanding of the layout. There were six of us in total which should have been seven, but one person couldn’t make it; alas from the six of us we all had little to no experience in a competition environment which again made for

a pretty level field and the results could have gone either way. The first couple of runs through gave us another chance to gain our bearings and get comfortable in the surroundings and we all took the bull by the horns and settled in rather quickly, seeing gains from everyone both on time and accuracy.

Between each player there was a few minutes respite allowing Chris and the guys swap out the targets. I believe there is going to be a revision on target system in order to get reset time down but as I said, this was the very first comp so it’s all a learning curve, for us and for them! The whole event was live-streamed and we could watch the course of fire on the big screen.

The pistol section was pretty tight all the way through, and each player showed to be worthy of competition and we all progressed getting faster and faster; all managing a sub-one-minute time and it could have gone either way. By the skin of my teeth I brought home first place which I was very pleased with as my practise had paid off. Following very close behind was Alex, Ben, Paul, David and last but not least was Ronald. All bar one would see scores in excess of 200. We broke for lunch and medals were awarded where I learnt I would be the first person to get my name on the large plaque, quite the achievement I felt!

After the break we would move onto the pistol and rifle which involved a little more focus, as now we had to incorporate two mag changes. The numbers whittled down to just four of us, but still it didn’t become an easier on the nerves. Fortunately, everyone settled in nicely as we had the layout of the course firmly ingrained. I suffered a little on my rifle accuracy due to sighting my red dot in way to low

(Note to self: must work on sight-over-bore!) which saw my scores for accuracy plummet, but I made up on time and pistol accuracy which would see me bag a third place.

Alex did a great job and took the win followed by Ben in second and then Paul in fourth place. All players did a sterling job, and something to take into consideration was the fact this was our first ever competition event. Being on a skirmish day or playing CQB is completely different when you are in a controlled environment. Aiming at something the size of a coin when under duress of the clock is completely different to spamming a trigger at a man-sized target knowing you have all the time in the world.

Overall, it was a thoroughly good day and I really did enjoy myself, as did all the other guys who were amazing and it was nice to meet up with faces old and new. It was a great idea from Chris and the team creating their own version of an IPSC comp, as it opens up the doorway and allows shooters of any level a chance to compete.

Having seen what IPSC level shooters are capable of can make you nervous and overthink things as it did me; when Posh and I attended an IPSC club meeting at XSite practical shooting club, those

“BEING ON A SKIRMISH DAY OR PLAYING CQB IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU ARE IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT. AIMING AT SOMETHING THE SIZE OF A COIN WHEN UNDER DURESS OF THE CLOCK IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO SPAMMING A TRIGGER AT A MANSIZED TARGET KNOWING YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD”

guys were fast as well as very accurate and some of the equipment was very expensive and honestly intimidated me to a degree.

I therefore look forward to 308’s next competition and see what changes if any have been made. If you missed the livestream you can always catch up as the footage as it is readily available online both via their FB page and on YouTube. If it is something you feel you would love to try, and meet some great like-minded people why not give it a watch to see exactly what it is all about.

BEN

This being my first IPSC-style comp, I had a little idea of what to expect! 308 also provided us with a breakdown video a few days before the competition so we could drill into ourselves the patterns of set drills; this did help as myself and Jimmy were practicing while we each were at work… dry, of course!

As a result of this practice and research Jimmy came first in pistol only, myself third. Then we moved on to pistol and rifle where it got a little more technical but for me was way more fun, I came second and Jimmy third.

It wasn’t just about the competition itself, but the friendships we made and advice we gave each other to help better one another; talking with the team at 308 on ideas for improvements was awesome as we broke down a lot of what’s not needed and what could do with a slight change up. Hat’s off to the 308 team though for pretty much having it set up as best as you could hope for; for their first time hosting this type of event, they had just got the balance right with how many attended and dealing with the set up was really well thought out.

Everyone who attended was as nice as pie and enjoyed the day, and I have no doubt we’ll see the same faces and hopefully new ones on the next set up! Basically, we all were winners as everyone left with smiles on their faces, so I’m looking forward to the next one and hopefully seeing some more AA readers too!

AA

“IT WASN’T JUST ABOUT THE COMPETITION ITSELF, BUT THE FRIENDSHIPS WE MADE AND ADVICE WE GAVE EACH OTHER TO HELP BETTER ONE ANOTHER; TALKING WITH THE TEAM AT 308 ON IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS WAS AWESOME”

OKINAWA DREAMING

For those unfamiliar, airsoft as we know it was born on the island nation of Japan and over the years it’s made its way far and wide, even into South Park! With that in mind, I hope this article can serve as a follow up to my first article where I talked about my thoughts on Airsoft in Japan after moving here.

Over the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd 2022, the team and I made our way down to the tropical island paradise of Okinawa. If you are a history buff, you might find the name of this island familiar and you would be right because it was featured heavily during WWII. With that traumatic event in the past, Okinawa now serves not only as a Japanese Prefecture but also the home of several United States military bases.

Being one of the most important locations for to the United States Pacific Command it’s to no one’s surprise that you will get a lot of crossover and cultural mixing between the Japanese population and the population of American servicemen and their families. Keeping this in mind, it’s easy to see why playing in Okinawa felt very different than playing on Mainland Japan!

To start, the first thing we noticed when we got to the field Okinawa Airsoft Group Legion (OAG Legion) or Legion was that the rules were all both English and Japanese. The second thing that stood out was the operators there that helped run the field were exceptionally fluent in English and Japanese (of course). Not to the fault of the Japanese people, the rest of the country while generally is bilingual, airsoft fields are sadly not. I often find myself sitting in on a briefing about the field and rules completely oblivious to what’s being said. Though things are getting better, I went from understanding 0 to about 5%. It was very refreshing to understand the game rules, field rules, and all the associated information in a language I could quickly understand without needing a translator!

DIFFERENT, BUT THE SAME!

Outside of what I previously mentioned, the biggest standout was who the players were and how they played. There were far more foreigners, mainly Americans, that came to play. There were military service members, contractors, and families. It felt quite confusing as this was the first time while living here that there were more foreigners than Japanese locals; it almost felt like I was back in the US! This also transferred into the playing experience as well as the play-style was quite different from how airsoft is play here on the mainland.

On mainland Japan, players are usually more careful when they play. They peek-shoot and like to be more cautious and precise with their shots or

they like to generally rush while combining peek shooting. Playing with the community down there in Okinawa, they didn’t do much of that if any at all. The only people who played in this cautious, peek shooting style were the locals. The Marines that we played with were all just moving as they would during training and it was surprisingly refreshing! It was fun to be able to play in a style or way that I was familiar with and the other team members with me were just the same. The flow of the game and movement between team mates were very natural and made for an extremely fun experience.

BUT! There was one more thing that added extra fun to the whole dynamic and that was having to play within the same Japanese rules and

regulations. Playing within the Japanese rules and regulations and how it applies to your airsoft guns really adds a small wrinkle to how you experience airsoft. What this means is you have to move more because at longer ranges, lower powered guns just have less velocity, thus making them harder to reach out and hit further targets. With that said, hiding doesn’t do you too much good, so while rolling with the Marines was fun, the Japanese players were more than able to hold their own!

WEST MEETS EAST

All in all, if I had to sum up how it felt like playing airsoft in Okinawa, it would be “a melting pot”. At times, it felt like I was overseas. However, given how many foreigners we were playing there you

never forgot you were in Japan. You can see how some of the foreigners living in Japan have adapted their playing style to match Japanese fields and the same can be said about lots of the Japanese people adapting their styles to work better with foreigners. The community down there is much like the island itself; it’s a joyous mixture of both the West and Japan. While they don’t always mix perfectly all the time, the times that they do come together it makes for a uniquely “Okinawa” experience that you cannot get anywhere else!

For anyone travelling to Okinawa and needing an airsoft fix, you can reach out to the local community via the Okinawa Airsoft Group page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/OAG2010/) or check out their adventures on their own YouTube Channel (OAG)! AA

MILSIM

TAIWANESESTYLE!

THE ADAGE TENDS TO GO “TRAIN HARD; FIGHT EASY” BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE’S ALSO THE AUXILIARY CONCEPT OF “NO PLAN SURVIVES CONTACT WITH YOUR OWN FORCES, LET ALONE THE ENEMY”! BOTH OF THESE EPITHETS WOULD COME INTO PLAY WHEN STEWBACCA FINALLY MADE HIS WAY ALONG TO HIS FIRST MILSIM EVENT IN TAIWAN SINCE ARRIVING OVER 5 YEARS PRIOR, SOMEWHAT OF A DELAY COMPARED TO THE AT HIS ANNUAL COPEHILL DOWN GAMES OR SIMILAR BRIT-TAC ORGANISED EVENTS IN THE UK!

Team Taiji has been growing steadily in size and diversity over the past year or two since I came to know the key players and team leadership before eventually migrating towards them and joining the team as the old TaiWan Anglophone Team moved on to adult responsibilities or began focusing more on SpeedQB related activities.

With around sixty subs-paying members on the books, and a decent proportion of them playing regularly, we are with little doubt one of the largest teams regularly playing in Taiwan, and we draw our numbers from plenty of local Taiwanese players, many of them with past military experience or some who may still be serving, as well as a myriad of international players who live and work or study in Taiwan and similarly love to get behind replica firearms as a matter of our regular Sunday worship. With a variety of Canadian, American, British, Turkish, South African, Polish, Russian, Australian and Kiwi players among our ranks we have a great rapport and representation of different experiences playing overseas and locally in Taiwan, and we all manage to work well together around the language barriers which are an ever lessening problem for many of us as we further integrate into the country and shooting community.

As a matter of course we try and function well within this multinational setting as a team working in units with a reasonable command structure, making extensive use of higher grade radio systems and related communication or hand signals where necessary. Small unit tactics that have been honed by reasonably extensive practice in games at various sites as well as dedicated training sessions to work on fire and manoeuvre and squad role related gameplay where we find the time and opportunity, typically after the end of our usual morning skirmishing sessions, at whatever site we happen to be playing at, whether indoor CQB, a mix of indoor and outdoor, or purely jungle environments.

With the ‘POLK 2’ MilSim having been delayed (once again as a result of pandemic restrictions rolling on in Taiwan) we at least had more opportunity to hone our skills further in an effort to maximise our effectiveness, given that our team would account for nearly half of BLUFOR in the final event of around a hundred and sixty players total. Split fairly evenly at around eighty players per side and comprising around ten different teams, mostly from the North of Taiwan (Taoyuan, New Taipei City, Keelung and Yilan) and with some overlap from the IPSC and IDPA community with my teammates from

those realms also showing up in full battle rattle to round off their shooting experiences in a similar manner to myself.

FULONG BOUND!

Finally a date was settled on with restrictions loosening and we made our final preparations to brave the Northeast coast of Taiwan over near Fulong, a scenic spot with good camping facilities, and descended in force on the Saturday morning of the 17th of September! Having acquired tents and other camping gear and supplies, and packed all our guns and gear for the slow train ride there as discreetly as is manageable (read as; not very, but thankfully people in Taiwan are pretty chill about militarised behaviour or personnel unless you’re actively acting the fool!) we even had some folks ask us what we were up to during transit and show a more positive interest. The weather was already hotting up as we made our way to the campsite on the coast around nine in the morning and signed ourselves in then prepared our tents and equipment, and sat down to Taiwanese lunch boxes under the welcome cover of the large, canopied briefing area at the head of the camp where the shower and toilet blocks were.

I’d personally elected to go ‘little and large’; taking the short and manageable Modify PP2K GBB PDW which I’d been using most weekends for the preceding month due to its much improved performance since having work done on it; it’s a beast now it’s working better and I have four 56rnd magazines for it in a custom chest rig placard that makes them much more manageable and less of a pain due to their long and thin profile. Of course the ‘backup’ gun was my shiny new VFC FAL (LAR) as reviewed in the prior November issue; despite being a little more cumbersome I figured it was too good an opportunity for jungle warfare with it during my review process and took it along, gladly enduring the encumbrance. My sidearm, as has been standard since my acquisition of it - has been the ever trusty VFC PPQ NPA Taiwanese police pistol in a genuine Safariland holster; with four mags for all my guns in various load bearing solutions and belts to tackle anything I encountered over the weekend I was set. I’d even invested in one of the TMC replicas of the Qore hydration panel that fills the body armour space in your plate carrier and gives you almost two litres of drinking water in a more rigid and less frangible solution than your typical camelbak bladder; I’ll be assessing that in more depth in the long run, and although it tightened my whole setup a little with its rigidity I think I can adjust and get used to it, and the plate will probably help my bad back! With everything loaded up and chronograph tested, and having changed into my new Multicam uniform in my tent after travelling to the site in a less sweaty shorts and t-shirt, we all donned our rigs and started tuning in our radios to our assigned team channel and commschecking each other while the team leaders broke to take the large group briefing for both teams under the canopy we ate lunch in, before coming back to brief us at a squad level ready to

move out to our starting positions.

The whole site was somewhat of a horse-shoe shape, with the elevated ridgeline area in the treeline wrapping around the lower campsite below on three sides, and hills or stairs leading up to each team’s staging areas. BLUFOR got the short end of the stick and we had to hump up a mostly vertical sandy hill, grappling with the more solid looking trees and helping each other up the final stretch. I felt for the guys lugging support weapons up that lot!

my squad - alpha one - tore off ahead before I had a chance to catch up - good start, Stu. Immediately we realised what we were in for; despite the organisers (including our team leader and those of other’s) efforts to clear some of the undergrowth in the weekends prior during their final preparations, we were all immediately finding it heavy going; the dangling vines and strings of thorns, coupled with the trip hazard vines across the floor were making every step feel like it took the effort of three, with players constantly tripping or having to untangle themselves, their radio antennas, or barrels and muzzles from constant snagging.

GAME ON!

As game time approached we made our final checks and prepared ourselves in squads to make as fast an entrance as possible and try to secure the various objectives and choke points throughout the site. The air horn let off a blast and we were off - I’d already managed to fall to the very rear of the column helping teammates up the last leg of the incline and

Visibility was limited to around 20m just by sheer virtue of the density of the foliage, even though it was somewhat barren and dry, it was just so densely packed that we could barely see anything other than the odd flash of opposing (or even friendly!) team armbands, and once a machine gun opened up everyone tended to go to ground and fire wildly in the direction of the noise, sometimes incurring friendly fire as a result of the general chaos and difficulty in getting your bearings, as well as a clear radio signal; in the dense jungle war is hell, clearly. This certainly added to the realism factor and the undeniable realisation that environmental factors have just as much, if not more, effect than enemy action; some of our guys had purchased full-on monster machetes and thigh holsters in the preceding weeks to try and deal with the terrain we’d been forewarned about, those of us who

“WE WERE ALL IMMEDIATELY FINDING IT HEAVY GOING; THE DANGLING VINES AND STRINGS OF THORNS, COUPLED WITH THE TRIP HAZARD VINES ACROSS THE FLOOR WERE MAKING EVERY STEP FEEL LIKE IT TOOK THE EFFORT OF THREE, WITH PLAYERS CONSTANTLY TRIPPING OR HAVING TO UNTANGLE THEMSELVES, THEIR RADIO ANTENNAS, OR BARRELS AND MUZZLES FROM CONSTANT SNAGGING.”

hadn’t felt underprepared.

Nonetheless, battle commenced and continued, and I managed to link up with some vaguely familiar BLUFOR operatives on the left flank after finding my bearings, but not my own squad. We managed some fire and manoeuvre tactics towards the sound of incoming enemy machine guns, and to be fair the

also managed to cut open my left wrist as one of the deadmen ahead of me stood on one end of a vine and it dropped down and chainsawed through me… lucky I packed the mini first aid kit and some electrical tape, eh?

I spent a few minutes patching myself up as best as I could, taking on more water and M&Ms from my reserve backpack while it was off me along with the rest of my rig, refilled my mags with BBs and gas, and picked myself back up to get back at it. Luckily, making my way to my own squad I was just in time to take over from Ivan of our team who had expended all his ammo and was resorting to foul banter. “Push right” came from the squad leader Jon, I did, and I died… back we go again. At least this time I managed to realise I could follow some water pipes along the ground and back to the storage tanks at their head near our spawn point; it’s surprisingly easy to get lost in such dense undergrowth, even over short distances.

opposing squads were working quite effectively and ‘walking’ their guns well with alternating bursts of fire, but even they were limited by the jungle itself! Later I would find numerous trees with shredded bark and numerous impact craters from the pellets trying to make their way through, evidently even those with a high volume of fire were struggling to find their mark.

The heat and humidity continued to build throughout the early afternoon, and I got taken out trying to play hero and charge a gun position and had to make my way back to the spawn point; the walk out was perhaps more punishing than the incoming fire but at least I spotted my own Alpha One squad mates on the walk out. I sat down and yanked the quick release slide tab on my plate carrier to get it off and catch my breath; another squad of guys came and sat for a few minutes to rearm and take on water. I was already drenched in sweat, and I’d

Another recoup and rearm rest later and I was nearly ready to get back into it when another teammate Sky emerged and said he was already done for the day and End-Ex was apparently just a few tens of minutes away. Feeling somewhat defeated by the jungle and the high thirties temperature and mid-seventies humidity, and having already expended all my water reserves, I thought better of re-entering the fray, given the intensity of the walk in and back regardless of any firefights. Sky and I slowly made our way back down the murderous hill we’d had to surmount to start, using the sturdier tree trunks to break our slides and falls through the topsoil trodden loose by the whole team’s ascent.

R&R GI!

As we returned to camp and I made my way for a much welcomed shower I heard the whistle and call of ten minutes remaining break through the treeline and into camp. The ensuing cacophony of fire from

both sides somewhat lifted my spirits, as did the torrent of water washing the sweat out of my gear as I stripped off in the shower, washing it as I went. Shortly after the twin air horns of End-Ex blasted through the air and I just emerged nice and fresh with lightweight barbecue ready, clothing on, as the rest of the guys descended on the camp; we beat the rush, at least! Apparently BLUFOR’s final push had managed to unseat the central contested objective (both teams having initially secured the ones closest to their start points) with REDFOR putting up a deep and early advance to get a secure line on the middle one, which they held for almost the entire game before we apparently ran down their ammunition reserves and resolve just in time to push them off it before the final whistle with a last dash and grab effort. Excellent spirit and play from everyone, especially given the terrain and all the related movement and communication restrictions it entailed.

The rich smell of traditional Taiwanese sausages had been permeating the air for some time during the intensifying gameplay, and both Sky and I had been eagerly eyeing up the whole hog which was splayed and roasting on an open fire pit rotisserie as we came back past the camp’s food hall. Fight well, eat well… and drink well…

With everyone else catching up on the shower and changing front we’d all donned our flip flops and lightweight civilian attire ready for a good feeding and war stories, we moved inside and sat at our assigned tables and tucked into a decent spread with huge plastic recycling tubs full of iced water and plentiful beers now all the guns had gone silent and been cleared and stowed. The social aspect is always one of the best parts of MilSim events for most, and we all got chance to see folks we hadn’t for a while with things having cooled off a bit on gaming and movement in general in the preceding months since pandemic measures had kept many away from larger games. Suffice to say we all did our part to help empty the beer reserves and after we’d all finished eating our fill and chatting at length we managed to sidle back to camp, some in a better state than others, and the less worse for wear among us enjoyed the quieter atmosphere and chatting under the stars while also feeling the recent string of earthquakes further down the East coast as we sat and talked.

The lights of the briefing and facilities area stayed on all night and it wasn’t the easiest of night’s sleep to get, with some apparently not sleeping at all or otherwise moving around all night and making sure they’d found all the remaining full beer cans hiding amongst the tents! Nonetheless I awoke around 0700 and crawled out to see the aftermath that awaited.

WHAT DOES THE “O” STAND FOR?

The general malaise and groans from tents assured me that perhaps some had partaken more than their fair share of the festivities the night before, and indeed some wouldn’t make it for the Sunday’s game. In the end around half of each team remained, with many just being defeated by

“THE LIGHTS OF THE BRIEFING AND FACILITIES AREA STAYED ON ALL NIGHT AND IT WASN’T THE EASIEST OF NIGHT’S SLEEP TO GET, WITH SOME APPARENTLY NOT SLEEPING AT ALL OR OTHERWISE MOVING AROUND ALL NIGHT AND MAKING SURE THEY’D FOUND ALL THE REMAINING FULL BEER CANS HIDING AMONGST THE TENTS!”

the heat, humidity and terrain; honestly I’ve never fought so hard without firing so much at MilSims in the UK but at least there you’re usually moving to stay warm… given the more temperate climate, this was just something else entirely.

I started packing away my tent and sleeping gear and policing up what I could to enable a more rapid and organised exit; despite its bulk, my 5.11 Tactical SOMS 2.0 rolling luggage once again showed its worth for the first time using it in anger since it helped me emigrate here back in late 2017. I stowed my tent, folding chair, sleeping mat, plate carrier and most of my support gear, and readied myself for the second day’s play.

Those of us who could, regrouped, donned our kit once again and moved towards the opposite start points from the previous day; time to change ends, and tactics. The lessons of the previous day were fresh in my mind… radios barely worked due to the

dense trees and gullies, and the antennas and any other ancillary fixtures would just snag everything in sight. I ditched the plate carrier, threw on my olive drab BDU’s and small reserve backpack with water, snacks, gas and ammo, then elected to use my ‘58 pattern webbing belt and pouches for my magazines and sidearm, and finally, gleefully reached for the FAL GBBR, with the new scope mount top cover sporting my ACOG; time for some real jungle work!

Luckily I didn’t have to make any adjustments because (as I touched on in my review) the VFC FAL is a straight shooter and heavy hitter; it was pounding BBs out to the middle of the crosshairs with a distinctive, if not too easily detected report, usually followed by my own gleeful or aggressive noises. The second day was a much easier start for us, with an actual trail most of the way to where the fighting really got going, evidently REDFOR had had life a little bit easier the previous day which is why they managed to roll so far in on us; now the tables had turned, and we both had half the force to deal with in the closed spaces, so BLUFOR made good on our much simplified plan to fan out and push on, taking whatever ground we could and pinning the opposition as they had us.

Again I would find myself booted from play by a few lucky shots making it through the bracken and landing on my firing hand wrist as I was reloading; ‘58 pattern is not the most ergonomic setup, despite looking more FAL era, and trying to reseal the Spanish fly lugs under fire to avoid losing the other magazines cost me time, and a walk back to regen again…

I joined up with another squad pushing along the bottom of a gully and trying to take out the same effective machine gunner teams we’d heard breaching the peace the day before, and it was again heavy going with incoming and outgoing fire intensifying until we started taking more casualties and decided to back off and flank instead. Once again the action was over faster than we thought it would be; time just seemed to slow down in there, working through all the foliage and trying to find a comfortable firing position! Apparently REDFOR had to relent to our onslaught, once again expending all their ammunition and will to go on; a lot of people were already absolutely beaten by the first day’s play, so fair play to everyone for putting up the fight they could, with the decreased numbers and morale.

“LUCKILY I DIDN’T HAVE TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE (AS I TOUCHED ON IN MY REVIEW) THE VFC FAL IS A STRAIGHT SHOOTER AND HEAVY HITTER; IT WAS POUNDING BBS OUT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CROSSHAIRS WITH A DISTINCTIVE, IF NOT TOO EASILY DETECTED REPORT, USUALLY FOLLOWED BY MY OWN GLEEFUL OR AGGRESSIVE NOISES.”

We returned to camp and began our final packing and prepared to leave site, after collecting the previous day’s still sodden multicam that had dried a little on the makeshift paracord clothesline I’d thrown up for us all to use, and slid back into my civilian wear to try and survive the trip home. Thankfully a teammate ferried us and all our heavy gear to the front gate, with most of it, and us hanging out of the back tailgate for the ride! A couple of taxis later and we’d all gotten back to the local train station just in time to grab the slow ‘milk run’ train back to Taipei, and the beckoning comfort of yet another shower and a much needed rest. Battered, bruised, and cut-up along with our gear, some of us even managed to sleep on the train. A hard fought victory, although we all felt defeated.

Many thanks to the team of organisers pooled from the various Northern Taiwan shooting associations and skirmishing teams, they put on a great event with excellent facilities and planning, despite the dampener on ease of gameplay that resulted from the environment. Now I’m looking forward to my next MilSim experience, hopefully sooner rather than later! AA

A DEFINITE KEEPER

BILL’S TAKE

Wow! If you’re a lover of the MK18 CQBR as a platform then the last couple of years will have made you every bit as happy as me! We’ve seen some fabulous takes in both AEG and GBBR form from some very god manufacturers all working under the auspices of the EMG Daniel Defense Licence, and all of them have been top-notch!

However, this year has ended on a high point for both Jimmy and I as we are both now proud owners of the ICS Mk18 AEG version, and what a beauty this carbine is! It is beyond doubt that ICS make some of the finest, high-performance AEGs out there and I’ve been a fan for many, many years. Okay, like all manufacturers they have made the occasional misstep and I’d be less than honest if I didn’t say this, but overall their AEGs have always delighted me, and again if I’m honest I’ve had a fair few of them in the armoury during my long association with airsoft.

To re-iterate from my initial review, ICS have collaborated with EMG ARMS in the USA, and the ICS DD MK18 has been created under the EMG Daniel

Defense Licence and as such is 100% fully-branded, and I do mean FULLY, even down to the correct font in the trademarks and the DD logo on the mockBCG. Everything is where it should be on both the upper and lower receivers and 9.55” RIS II rail, right down to the NSN numbers, and along with these the overall finish of the AEG is just splendid, replicating the “chocolate tan” of the receivers and furniture that I was so taken with when I first saw it on the real models, and the “SF Bronze” of the rail is impeccable.

And after some pretty intense use the finish has stayed absolutely perfect; I can see some points where I’ve “barricaded” it showing the odd mark here or there, but nothing significant, and the finish is obviously durable enough to stand up to hard, regular use… knowing airsofters this is a must! I’ve not done anything too fancy with my Mk18 as frankly it looks good enough as new just to add your favourite accessories, and it’s ready for duty.

I’ve fitted just a few things that I like, namely a NUPROL NPQ15 LIGHT/LASER BOX (PEQ-15) that offers all the functions I need, an NP NX600S

IT REALLY SEEMS THAT WE’VE BEEN SPOILED FOR CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO MK18 CQBR VARIANTS, AND BOTH RED CELL AND THE LEGION MEMBERS HAVE BEEN LOVING EACH AND EVERY ONE! BILL LOOKED AT THE NEW, BANG-UP-TO-THE-MINUTE MK18 AEG FROM ICS IN ISSUE 141, AND NOW JIMMY HAS JOINED HIM IN OWNING ONE! FOUR MONTHS INTO CONTINUED TESTING AND IN-GAME USE, WHAT DO THE BOYS HAVE TO TELL US?

“ICS HAVE COLLABORATED WITH EMG ARMS IN THE USA, AND THE ICS DD MK18 HAS BEEN CREATED UNDER THE EMG DANIEL DEFENSE LICENCE AND AS SUCH IS 100% FULLY-BRANDED, AND I DO MEAN FULLY, EVEN DOWN TO THE CORRECT FONT IN THE TRADEMARKS AND THE DD LOGO ON THE MOCK-BCG”

WEAPON LIGHT, a replica XPS holosight, shorty foregrip and some ladder rail covers. This to me is a functional, tried and very-much-tested setup that I run on all my Mk18s, and the only thing that I’d add to the mix is a NUPROL “SF-style” tracer unit for lo-light/ night games.

Jimmy is going to talk more about internals shortly, so I’ll cut straight to the chase… in terms of performance I wasn’t sure what to expect straight from the box, but I was genuinely pleased when I first set up on the range. The model I received came in at 1.03 Joule/334fps and this has remained pretty constant so far. As I’m a midcap player I have been using N-MAG 30/125 models and these have fed flawlessly throughout testing and use which now totals some 3,700 BBs. I’m happily hitting the small

steels out to 70m-plus consistently on .30g. As I prefer to shoot on semi-auto the ROF, although exactly where claimed, is of little interest to me, but the trigger response is indeed crisp… SUPER crisp!

I concluded when I looked at this new Mk18 that “I have to commend ICS for once again for creating something that sings to me in every way possible… this is one AEG that you will most definitely want to own. If you’re in the market for a new AEG generally though, then I would certainly take a very good look at the ICS DD MK18; if this is the shape of things to come from ICS in the future then I’m super-excited to see what they come up with next!”

My opinion HAS NOT changed, the ICS Mk18 is 100% a keeper!

“I’M HAPPILY HITTING THE SMALL STEELS OUT TO 70M-PLUS CONSISTENTLY ON .30G. AS I PREFER TO SHOOT ON SEMI-AUTO THE ROF, ALTHOUGH EXACTLY WHERE CLAIMED, IS OF LITTLE INTEREST TO ME, BUT THE TRIGGER RESPONSE IS INDEED CRISP… SUPER CRISP”

PHOTO COURTESY KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

JIMMY’S TAKE

You may remember some of my previous reviews on the latest and greatest to come from the awesome people at ICS… and it doesn’t stop getting better! Back in August I had the immense pleasure to join Bill on site at the UK National Airsoft Festival and I took with me what I feel is the nicest MK18 on the market.

Yes, a fully licenced Daniel Defense MK18 from ICS and licenced by EMG. I bagged the battleship grey version and DAAAAMN it is a very sexy rifle; it replicates almost identically its real counterpart. Having had time to put it through its paces and get up close and pretty intimate with it I can honestly say it is perfection, and I can only find one small thing to question, the magazine; they made a STANAG design mag whereas I feel it would so much better with something more modern, but that said, the supplied mag does its job well, so looks aren’t always everything.

This is truly an out of the box high performing rifle sporting premium quality, reliable parts, and has a rapid response thanks to the SSSIII trigger system and the high quality evolution motor; with reinforced

MasterMod internals to ensure longevity, everything is nestled nice and neat in the now-iconic split gearbox which from a techs standpoint is a joy to work on.

Depending on your velocity (different models for a global market!) you can choose between 7.4v or 11.1v batteries and there is plenty of room in the butt stock with an easy access butt pad; just pull and twist it’s as easy as that. The battery you choose is entirely up to the user ultimately but ICS recommend up to 360fps use a 7.4v, and over 360fps use an 11.1v; I personally have been using a 15c 1300mah 11.1v with no problems at all.

Looking at the externals they are flawless and offer some nice little features in the way of trades. DD trades, a serial number on the handguard, and this also offers four complete rail sections, plenty of real estate for a plethora of attachments. Another thought they have taken with the rail sections is smoothing the edges unlike some which can be quite sharp to the touch. The upper receiver has been etched with a bullet logo containing the calibre of the real counterpart 5.56 and toward the rear an etched MK18 just to let everyone know you have good taste.

PHOTO COURTESY KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

The lower receiver has been deeply engraved with the full Daniel Defense logo. Sadly there’s no ambi selector for mag release but then I am a righty so nothing wrong there (sorry lefties). The dual tone grip has a perfect angle of dangle and is semi-coated in rubber which is bears the EMG logo.

Moving rearward there’s a full metal five point buffer tube which houses the wiring in the under tray, allowing for oodles of room in the tube for batteries. A polymer stock with rubber cheek pad again bearing the EMG logo is a nice touch and has minimal wobble on the buffer tube (no one likes a wobbly stock!).

Performance-wise I can’t fault it and for an out of the box AEG it will supersede most others on the market, pushing BBs out easily to around 70m, and very effective at 50mtrs all thanks to the fine tunability of the rotary hop unit, 6.03mm barrel and the MasterMods CNC brass tension nub which will lift 0.30g beebs with ease. Semi-auto response is instant thanks to a short trigger pull and great electronics and follow up shots are lightning fast; this is due to pre-cock so that after the first shot the piston sits fully pre-cocked. This is where the piston sits fully rearward laying in a state of readiness just waiting to slam forward sending the next BB out toward your opponents.

Once finished ICS have a nifty little feature; the spring tension release. By doing this you disengage the pre-cock, alleviating any pressure on the spring and piston as a spring that is sat under tension can in fact lose power meaning a drop in velocity. If your opponent isn’t calling hits you can quickly flick to full auto and give them a short burst, and on an 11.1v the MK18 will send around 20rps which is very acceptable in my opinion. After a quick burst I’m certain the player on the receiving end will call their hits after that! If you are in the market for a premium platform I seriously recommend you give ICS a thought you honestly cannot go wrong and will not regret it.

Our sincere thanks as always go to the lovely team at www.icsbb.com for providing the Mk18 AEGs as early as they did for Airsoft Action, and it is genuinely a pleasure to work with people that have such a passion for airsoft! Thanks also to AA LEGION ASSOCIATE Josh from www.kriosphotography.com for working with us on this article, and we’re looking forward to working with him more in 2023!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this RELOADED sequence as next month Jimmy and Bill will be looking at the VORSK HI CAPA models they chose to run alongside their ICS Mk18s, as there’s a few very good reasons why they did! AA

MILITARY… REALLY?

Writing about airsoft (and more generally) is, unashamedly for me at least, a fun way to make money. It allows a flexibility in my working life that suits me and it is an ongoing and ever-changing intellectual challenge. Those are some of the upsides, what of the downsides? It doesn’t always pay brilliantly (not a dig at AA!) and subjects can be varied and sometimes quite boring.

I was casting around for a subject for this month, and by some odd skien of thought I came up with “what will Amazon give me if I preface a search with military”? Lots is the answer, it is after all a common and attractive description for a whole bunch of reasons.

You know that I’m a bit of a bag tart, so I narrowed the search to ‘military bags’ and ended up with “Tactical Shoulder Bag, Tactical Molle Sling Chest Pack, Laptop Daypack Daysack Military Mini Backpack for Hiking,Cycling, Traveling (Include 1*Keychain)”. Ok, for 13 quid that’s cheap, I can probably make use of it, it has some MOLLE on it. Let’s see how ‘military’ it actually is. Order placed, bag turns up a day later. As I unwrapped it I had a growing sense of deja vu; that and an odd, petrochemical smell. Interesting. Off to my work room to rake through the piles of kit buried in the corner - ah yes! I thought so. Someone has had their patented “Kit Copying”machine

running, as what I received looked suspiciously like An older VIPER TACTICAL Shoulder Pack!

This is more like it, we can have a bit of fun doing a review, compare and contrast! The Viper Shoulder bag is not my favourite bit of kit, but it’s fairly competent and well-priced. How does something which costs a third of the original shape up? At the risk of offering a spoiler… not brilliantly.

MILITARY OR NOT?

Let’s deal with ‘military’ first. Speak to anyone who has served and they’ll tell you that military kit is anything produced by the lowest bidder. It’s really not the recommendation that too many people think it is. This is why a lot of serving personnel I’ve met have been buying gear to supplement or replace what they’re issued with. Secondly, it’s an image more than anything. It says ‘tough’, it suggests ‘no nonsense’ and a whole bunch of other stuff which I’m just not getting into. Think of overweight Americans with body armour and open-carry AR15s and you’ll understand what’s in my head here!

So our bag this month is really no more military than I am. It’s a smaller version of the Viper original, made from lighter material and lacking a number of the internal pockets. It’s not a bad bag per se

WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING GEAR WE ALWAYS GO BY THE MANTRA OF “BUY RIGHT, BUY ONCE”, SOMETHING THAT IN THE LONG-RUN WILL SAVE YOU MONEY AND PUT SOME DECENT, HARD-WEARING KIT IN YOUR PERSONAL “CAGE”! ALL TOO OFTEN IT’S TEMPTING WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING VAGUELY “TACTICOOL” AT A GREAT PRICE ONLINE, AND THINK “THAT’LL DO”, BUT THIS MONTH FRENCHIE GIVES AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THE BUYER REALLY SHOULD BEWARE! “I NARROWED THE SEARCH TO ‘MILITARY BAGS’

but there is nothing about its design or construction which says to me that it would be ideal for airsoft let alone anything more critical and demanding. The bag itself has a main pocket with two internal dividers, a zipped front pocket, again with an internal divider and a couple of elasticated straps, and there is a zipped slash pocket on the outside of that. There is a large slip pocket on the back, closed with a pop stud. A velcro belt loop sits on the back to secure the bag - I photographed it and cut it off. I personally don’t much like them and this was poorly executed anyway.

There are metal drainage grommets on both of the main pockets. All the fixtures are plastic - nothing exceptional but I have encountered much worse. The shoulder strap has plenty of adjustment and can be secured on either the left or the right. An area of velcro allows you to decorate the bag should you choose and this has a corded retention feature over it, although I am at a loss as to what exactly you would secure there.

FIT FOR PURPOSE?

Everything works well enough, and those of you who know me will know that was damning with (very) faint praise. I thought to use it as my everyday carry bag, but that idea lasted all of about five minutes and I went back to my Maxpedition Versapak. Instead it found itself doing duty on the dog walk, with which

it coped reasonably well but its lack of size tells against it. Granted I take far too much pooch-related stuff out with me but even so this was right on the cusp of what I regard as acceptable load carrying. It follows, as worse Tory PM follows bad Tory PM, that it would be next to useless in the field. As a shoulder pack it would get in your way. It lacks sufficient capacity to be a useful ammo or pyro carrier. Yes, there is MOLLE, but I cannot imagine that there is anything I could add to the outside of the bag which would improve its functionality. Compared to the VIPER original it comes off poorly, although it costs about a third of that bag. Everything about the VIPER is better; size, construction, versatility, capacity and even with all that going for it I still wouldn’t use the old VIPER bag when playing, it just doesn’t have a place with the rest of my gear.

When I used it on site it was as a marshal it was great for that! I could hang radio(s) off it, handsets, and carry all manner of useful bits and pieces. So it follows that it is also a bag that works well off-site. I do have one major problem with it, and because of its much cheaper construction this doesn’t affect the copy; the ratio of bag-bulk to usable space is all wrong. I have this problem with a couple of other bags. Basically there are too many pockets, or too much padding and the upshot is that the internal space feels cramped. It looks like you should be able to carry loads of stuff but honestly, you can’t because getting to it becomes a problem. I feel the same way about the 5.11 Rush MOAB 6. It’s so well made that if you fill all the internal pockets it becomes a real struggle to get to things. I’m a difficult bugger, I know.

Is there anything positive I can say about the fauxmilitary bag? Not a huge amount. It was cheap and it shows. There is exactly zero original thought in any of its design and materials and build are exactly what I would expect from a bag that retailed at £13 GBP. The stitching is adequate and the zippers all run pretty smoothly after only a short period of use. Access to anything inside is actually pretty good, better than the

original and that is due to the lack of padding and the lighter material. In terms of being a bag you can use, that is a decent plus. I forgot to mention that it has a top-mounted grab handle and that should be mandatory on all bags in my opinion, so some marks to the maker for remembering to add that.

FINAL MUSINGS

The rip-off is a cheap bag and it shows, however… It has sufficient of the features of the VIPER original to make it a functional, dare I suggest, useful daily carry. This one got wet and the contents survived unscathed, we’ll call that as showerproof I think. The available pockets are fine and it’ll happily hold things like a tablet, phone, wallet, and all your daily paraphernalia.

My biggest issue with it is that it doesn’t inspire

confidence; it feels cheap because it was cheap. As far as it goes, that’s okay, reasonable expectations and all that. But the same, or slightly more cash will buy you a better bag for daily use and there is no point in pretending that this has any place on the airsoft field; it doesn’t.

It’s not military in any way, shape or form. As is so often the case, that appellation has been added to snare the unwary or fashion conscious. I cannot think of a single reason to recommend this, so I won’t. There are so many better options out there if you feel you need a dual-purpose bag and I have reviewed a load of them in previous issues. Granted they are all more expensive than this, but they at least do the job required and manage that without trying to sell you some utterly fictitious military association.

I think I’ll hide treats inside this and let the dog test the strength of that stitching! AA

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“MY

BIGGEST ISSUE WITH IT IS THAT IT DOESN’T INSPIRE CONFIDENCE; IT FEELS CHEAP BECAUSE IT WAS CHEAP. AS FAR AS IT GOES, THAT’S OKAY, REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AND ALL THAT. BUT THE SAME, OR SLIGHTLY MORE CASH WILL BUY YOU A BETTER BAG FOR DAILY USE AND THERE IS NO POINT IN PRETENDING THAT THIS HAS ANY PLACE ON THE AIRSOFT FIELD; IT DOESN’T.”