Airsoft Action - January 2024 by Airsoft Action

WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE

ISSUE 157 ISSN 2634-9515

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CONTENTS 8 ARMOURY: G&G MGCR Last month Bill, Stewbacca and Anny reported on the G&G CQB World Cup in Taipei, and along with witnessing all the event-action they were also able to get their hands on some of the very latest new models that will be hitting your local airsoft store in 2024! Bill kicks off the coverage as he gets to grips with G&G’s very first GBB AR in the form of the MGCR 556!

WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE

ISSUE 157 ISSN 2634-9515

22 ARMOURY: NEW RAVENS! RAVEN pistols are one of the “quiet performers” in the AA armoury, and again in our opinion it’s one of the GBB pistol brands that really doesn’t get the attention it so rightly deserves! This month you’ll see two very different new pistol models hitting your local airsoft store, and Bill has been putting both of them through their paces! Editorial Director: Bill Thomas Deputy Editor (Asia): Stu Mortimer Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Deadshot Design Publisher: Calibre Publishing

Web: www.airsoftaction.net ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2023 All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to publication.

30 ARMOURY: ASG H15 It’s been a little while since we’ve seen a totally new AR from the good folk at ActionSportGames (ASG), but they’ve been promising something for a while now, and the H15 series looks like it’s going to excite their loyal fans and players in general all over again… Boycie has been digging deeper…

FIND US ON…

LETTER , IDEA OR QUESTION? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the Editorial Director: bill@airsoft-action.co.uk, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

38 KIT & GEAR: MAINTENANCE It’s that time of year again that we should be keeping our kit up to speed, so as usual Bill revisits technical fabrics and takes a close look at why you should choose them as part of your loadout, and how you can effectively look after them!

Contents ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

42 THE CAGE: LEGION ROUNDUP It’s been another busy year for the members of the AA LEGION with games, events, and range days all going on at pace, so as we head towards the end of the year we thought it would be a good time to look at specific items of kit that the crew have been using, and can recommend to you, and as always Bill leads off…

66 AA LEGION: JAPAN Our man in Japan Tama dropped our man Stewbacca in the East a line in mid-November having just visited two of the more minor yet most eagerly anticipated airsoft-related shows in Tokyo in one weekend! With some more stories to share and some interesting new products to share his thoughts on, we’ll kick off with what he had to tell us about the one and only MARUI FEST 2023!

48 RED CELL: MOST USED IN ‘23 Another year rolls on by, and for RED CELL it’s been one of really digging deep into the AEGs and GBBs that are in the long-term test pool, and we really hope that you’ve continued to enjoy and benefit from the insights that we’ve been able to give! However, as we reflect on 2023 we felt it time to ask the crew what THEY like, and WHY they like what they do, and as usual Bill leads off!

76 INSIDE: ICS AIRSOFT With Bill in Taiwan last month it seemed like an ideal opportunity to go down to Taichung together and visit our long-time friends at ICS Airsoft; Bill has been an honourary ICS Captain since 2015 and Stewbacca has been acquainted with many of their staff over his time in Taiwan and seen them not just at shows but also played alongside them at events, but what about their facility and what they’ve been up to in the last few years? ICS Rita was good enough to show us around in early November.

62 TECH: NIGHTFOX RED NV Over the course of the last year we’ve looked occasionally at cost-effective solutions to increase your effectiveness during airsoft “night ops”, and as we’re in the time of year where night falls earlier Ben has been trialling the NIGHTFOX RED NVGs to see if something that’s a fraction of the price of “milspec” models can cut it in-game; now he reports back…

98 RELOADED: VORSK VMP-1 If there’s one airsoft platform that we’ve got behind 100% during 2023 then it has to be the VORSK VMP-1! AA has had unparalleled and massively privileged “behind the scenes” access to the genesis of this new GBB, and from design concept to finished “in the wild” tack-driver Bill has followed and documented the awesome story of this punchy little SMG from Day Zero…

84 AA LEGION EVENT REPORT: MOA 2023 Once again the end of the year is upon us, and like last year Stewbacca’s up against the odds as usual to cram in a similar schedule as 2022, with a few long weekends of trade shows interspersed with training and a major competition in the deep South to follow… woe is he, and whatnot, whatever…. But we do what we love and love what we do here, so, let’s see how he suffered so, with all the lovely people and shiny toys at the first of the big shows for this season, the Military Outdoor & Airsoft Expo (MOA) 2023!

Thanks to www.ghost-hood.com for the fabulous cover image this month

‧ Bolt-Action ‧ Stainless Steel 61cc Cylinder ‧ 3-way Adjustable TDC Hop Up Chamber ‧ CNC machined One-piece Metal Hop-Up ‧ Master Mods Inner Barrel, R-Hop Rubber ‧ Inner Barrel Stabilizer

‧ Quick-Detachable Hop Up & Outer Barrel Assembly ‧ Quick-Detachable Spring Guide ‧ Top Feeding Magazine (50 rounds) ‧ Trigger Safety ‧ 3-Height Adjustable Cheek Rest ‧ Quick-Detachable Rubber Butt Pad

ICS-450

IMD-450-1

Facebook (Global): ICSBBAirsoft

Youtube: ICS AIRSOFT

Twitter (Global): icsbbairsoft

Instagram: icsbbairsoft

ARMOURY CYBERGUN/BOLT G&G MGCR 556 GBB BRSS SCAR-SC

HITTING THE GAS… HARD! 8

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

ARMOURY CYBERGUN/BOLT G&G MGCR BRSS SCAR-SC 556 GBB

LAST MONTH BILL, STEWBACCA AND ANNY REPORTED ON THE G&G CQB WORLD CUP IN TAIPEI, AND ALONG WITH WITNESSING ALL THE EVENT-ACTION THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO GET THEIR HANDS ON SOME OF THE VERY LATEST NEW MODELS THAT WILL BE HITTING YOUR LOCAL AIRSOFT STORE IN 2024! BILL KICKS OFF THE COVERAGE AS HE GETS TO GRIPS WITH G&G’S VERY FIRST GBB AR IN THE FORM OF THE MGCR 556! www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

ood things are undoubtedly worth waiting for, but they are also over in a flash and all but a cherished memory all too fast! My visit to Taiwan has certainly created some lasting and very special memories that’s for sure, and as always the people involved are just as important as the place. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our wonderful crew based in Taiwan; whilst I speak to Stewbacca in a pretty-much daily basis, spending time with him allowed us to plot and plan for the coming year, and Anny… well, Anny is just a force of nature and as a fellow media professional I am overjoyed that she wants to work with Airsoft Action in the future! But also of course we all got to spend some quality-time with the good folks at G&G ARMAMENT, renewing friendships and relationships that in some cases go back many years. We normally only get to see the faces behind the brand at trade shows, and these are necessarily brief interactions, so having a little time to spend with them more socially was a joy…. you learn more about people in a more relaxed

setting, and I’m honoured to have got to know some of the people

I have worked with over the years just a little better. I, and we, were also privileged to get a look at some wonderful new airsoft platforms that we would usually only access at those same trade shows, and unlike most shows we were actually able to take these platforms to the range and try them out! You’d better believe that we sent as many BBs downrange as we possibly could in the short windows of opportunity that were presented to us (the World Cup competitors were using the same ranges so we didn’t want to get in THEIR way!). Suffice to say we ended up smiling… A LOT! And for me one of the real high-points was finally being able to get my hands on a working prototype of G&Gs very first AR-style GBBR, the MGCR 556! This is a platform

that I’ve seen on display with G&G at SHOT and IWA over the past few years, but

“FOR ME ONE OF THE REAL HIGH-POINTS WAS FINALLY BEING ABLE TO GET MY HANDS ON A WORKING PROTOTYPE OF G&GS VERY FIRST AR-STYLE GBBR, THE MGCR 556!”

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

one that they have once again taken their time with to release… a jot for my have always would only when they the best it

perfect before they cared not impatience, but told me that they release this model were confident it was could be… Alongside Ryan from 101 TECH (G&G’s US-arm), Matt from NUPROL, and our new mate Pete from UK-based Patrolbase, Stewbacca and I happily poured BBs at targets for as long as we were able, and all of

us came away from having seen, and shot, the MGCR 556 with approving nods and big grins. I then spoke to the ever-friendly Apple from G&G and enquired when the MGCR would be available, and she told me that the first production run was just completing! She also asked me if I would like one of the first models off the line

to test, and you will no doubt know the answer to that! Suffice to say, on my return to the office I spoke immediately to Apple, and less than 72 hours later an MGCR 556 arrived via UPS… yup, 72 hours from Taiwan to the UK, and thankfully no import shenanigans either!

MODERN AND ELEGANT

Although G&G have a number of licences with realdeal firearms manufacturers they’ve taken the approach that the first iteration of the MGCR 556 should be without any doubt a G&G creation, and the external appearance of this cracking new platform shows all their wonderful

design elements wrapped up in one very, very tidy package. Available in three rail lengths, 7”, 10”, and 12”, the MGCR 566 is undoubtedly a G&G design; starting from the rear all models benefit from the same parts (other than different rail lengths) and this starts with the excellent GOS-V8 sliding stock on a six-position CNC buffer tube; I really like this stock as it’s easy to adjust and simple to cheekweld effectively with, and beneath the buffer tube at the rear of the

“ALONGSIDE RYAN FROM 101 TECH (G&G’S US-ARM), MATT FROM NUPROL, AND OUR NEW MATE PETE FROM UK-BASED PATROLBASE, STEWBACCA AND I HAPPILY POURED BBS AT TARGETS FOR AS LONG AS WE WERE ABLE, AND ALL OF US CAME AWAY FROM HAVING SEEN, AND SHOT, THE MGCR 556 WITH APPROVING NODS AND BIG GRINS” www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

lower receiver is a QD sling point, and the QD stud is included in the box. The lower itself is a 100% modern design with an enlarged trigger guard and neatly cut-away magwell; all controls on the MGCR are ambidextrous with some seriously enlarged paddles for mag and bolt release! The fire controls are a 45 degree throw rather than 90, so it suggest to me that G&G have designed all the controls to be super-fast and slick in operation. Finishing the lower feature set is G&Gs own GBB pistol grip, and this is slimline, comfortable and ergonomic with an upright grip angle. The upper receiver follows the design aesthetic with that sleek, modern look and features and oversized cocking handle, a working forward assist to the RHS whilst on the left are some very attractive, weightsaving cutaways, one of which incorporates the G&G logo. The rail up top is full length and marries up perfectly with the M-LOK rail system which has an attractive, stylised picatinny at 12 o’clock, with M-LOK attachment points at 3, 6, and 9 (five to each position on the 10” model). There are further cutaways to the rail, but these are smaller angled affairs… at a push you can add accessories to the offset angles, but they are design elements rather than functional placement positions. Arriving at the sharp end there’s a very distinctive muzzle brake which marries up to a faux gas-block peeping out from under the rail; it’s very neat, very tidy indeed and looks the bomb, and this is where the G&G operating system magic begins to make its presence felt too, but more on that shortly! Finishing things off there are the usual G&G flip-sights fitted as standard, which is absolutely fine by me as these minimalist “irons” are some if the best in the business!

BELLY OF THE BEAST

So, the MGCR as a design is undoubtedly G&G when it comes to the high-quality externals, and this continues as you get inside to see how the platform is driven. G&G have REALLY pushed along with their gas program in recent years, and we’ve seen some properly cool innovation in their pistols and in the SMC9, a platform which a few in the AA Crew love;

inside the MGCR 556 G&G have put pretty much ALL of these innovations into one tight, high-performance package! Staring with the physical elements there’s a lightweight alloy CNC BCG, and inside that there’s a cylinder/nozzle arrangement with Teflon double O-rings; this lightweight setup suggests a great rate of fire along with efficient gas consumption from the get-go. The high-precision CNC barrel group houses a 6.04mm brass inner barrel that is O-ring stabilised. There’s a reinforced buffer tune kit fitted as standard, and oh boy, the MGCR needs this as the steel buffer weight is a beast, weighing in at a whopping 180g! Inside the upper receiver is also something that I’ve personally not come across before, and that’s a damper/stabiliser rod that whilst inert itself stops the BCG (and nozzle) from slamming quite so hard into battery and minimises the potential for damage to the system; I discussed this with our in-house “techbods”, and they confirmed to me that this is actually extremely clever, as it allows the system to produce some seriously cool “felt recoil” whilst ensuring durability in the system overall. To round things out internally you get an easily removable (and adjustable) modular bolt catch, trigger and fire control group which benefits from a steel hammer and a steel vertical “A” flat-face trigger, the latter of which indicates to me again that the MGCR has been set up for fast operation throughout. So far so spot-on… I did mention those “G&G Innovations”, didn’t I? And yes, many of the cool features that G&G have built into their other gas-driven platforms are in evidence in the MGCR too! First up the bespoke 370g ally 30 BB magazine benefits from and enlarged gas fill valve to make life easy, and has a seriously large knocker too! Inside the cylinder assembly you will find G&Gs patented Polymer Whirl valve which helps create a stable air flow, and prevents frost-build-up (the bane of all gas systems!) using a high speed rotation. The hop adjustment is by way of the muzzle, using a 6mm hex key which is provided; this I really love as there’s no need to open the receivers to get to the hop adjustment, and you’ll certainly not be needing any weird “fettling tool of spurious construction”

“AVAILABLE IN THREE RAIL LENGTHS, 7”, 10”, AND 12”, THE MGCR 566 IS UNDOUBTEDLY A G&G DESIGN; STARTING FROM THE REAR ALL MODELS BENEFIT FROM THE SAME PARTS (OTHER THAN DIFFERENT RAIL LENGTHS) AND THIS STARTS WITH THE EXCELLENT GOS-V8 SLIDING STOCK ON A SIX-POSITION CNC BUFFER TUBE”

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ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

“STARING WITH THE PHYSICAL ELEMENTS THERE’S A LIGHTWEIGHT ALLOY CNC BCG, AND INSIDE THAT THERE’S A CYLINDER/NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT WITH TEFLON DOUBLE O-RINGS; THIS LIGHTWEIGHT SETUP SUGGESTS A GREAT RATE OF FIRE ALONG WITH EFFICIENT GAS CONSUMPTION FROM THE GET-GO”

www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

to make any adjustments! The hex key is a great solution as we all have one in our tool kits already, and if the original is lost or mislaid it’s easily replaced! Once you have the hex key seated at the muzzle end hop adjustment is a breeze, and each very audible click gives and increment of adjustment of just 0.0075mm… talk about precise!

DOWNRANGE

I took the MGCR 556 GBBR to my 30m woodland range, and also to the indoor 10m range to chrono and test, and in terms of power I got a consistent 1.27 Joule/371fps on a .20g VORSK BB using VORSK V8 FUEL , and upping to .30g VORSK BBs the accuracy was amazing at that both short and medium range; measuring out 50m in the woods I secured one of our sandbag targets to a tree and popped though half a dozen mags prone and supported, and the bag was thumping more than not with every more carefully placed .30g BB! On semi the trigger was crisp and light with minimal reset, and the bump in the shoulder from that weighty reciprocating chunk of steel in the tube was very satisfying indeed! As you can no doubt tell by now, I honestly rate the MGCR 556 as a platform very highly, as everything just seems “right” to me; I don’t mind now that G&G have taken so much time to bring this to market, as everything is nailed down tight.. almost! One small (tiny!) thing to note is that the small, springloaded H-bar that keeps that dirty great steel bufferweight retained in the tube is held in place by a tiny grubscrew that resides under the QD point at the rear of the lower… By removing the buffer tube assembly, you can access this (it is NOT obvious!) and I would do so as the sheer force of the mass banging back and forth in operation can shake this grubscrew loose… when you get your MGCR then just access this little grubscrew and add a blob of threadlock so the H-bar doesn’t come loose and jam things up… yes, this did happen to me, but it was a super-easy fix and a little prep in setting up your MGCR will prevent it happening in the first place; other than this one tiny thing, the MGCR 556 rocks! So, the MGCR 556 GBBR… I love the design

aesthetic from the stock through the ergonomic pistol grip, and onto the distinctive M-LOK rail; once again I’ve added my usual stunty foregrip and a holosight so it feels comfortable for me, and the overall length (stock fully extended) of 773mm and weight (with mag) of 3135g is absolutely perfect in my mind for a solid fighting carbine! I’ve now managed to get in some quality rangetime with the MGCR (oh, how I don’t hate my life!) and the added sense of realism that the gas operation adds to a platform I’ve already fallen in love with just adds to the feeling that you’ve got something more akin to a real firearm in your hands rather than an airsoft version; having now shot the MCMR on a regular basis over the last month I can tell you that early indications are that it will perform as well as the best of them! What G&G have done in my opinion is take the very best things that they have created over recent years, and put everything into one single package that’s been designed and made for ALL airsoft shooters! Yes, it’s a gasser, and yes, it’s not cheap, but with this amount of coolness we should be prepared to pay for a platform that will actually let us use it year round… my outdoor range sessions have been on the coldest days of 2023 so far, and the MGCR 556 had performed admirably at all times. Although this is more a “civilian-styled AR” rather than a military one it shows G&Gs commitment to creating platforms of their very own, with all the design magnificence that entails. As G&G have licence agreements in place with a number of great firearms manufacturers I would love to see them put their gasOS into something like the Knight’s SR15 which would be a “MilSim win”, but who knows what the future will hold? When it comes to the MGCR 556 GBBR then this has been created for players, shooters and users, people that want a 6mm BB carbine that not only looks and feels stunning, but one which operates exactly like the “real deal”, and with high-efficiency too; Mr Liao must be very, VERY pleased with what his team at G&G have created… I KNOW that I am! My sincere thanks go to Apple at www.guay2.com for sending over the MGCR 556 GBBR for evaluation; it’s not only the platform itself that’s efficient and userfriendly! AA

“I TOOK THE MGCR 556 GBBR TO MY 30M WOODLAND RANGE, AND ALSO TO THE INDOOR 10M RANGE TO CHRONO AND TEST, AND IN TERMS OF POWER I GOT A CONSISTENT 1.27 JOULE/371FPS ON A .20G VORSK BB USING VORSK V8 FUEL , AND UPPING TO .30G VORSK BBS THE ACCURACY WAS AMAZING AT THAT BOTH SHORT AND MEDIUM RANGE” 16

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ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

“THE UPPER RECEIVER FOLLOWS THE DESIGN AESTHETIC WITH THAT SLEEK, MODERN LOOK AND FEATURES AND OVERSIZED COCKING HANDLE, A WORKING FORWARD ASSIST TO THE RHS WHILST ON THE LEFT ARE SOME VERY ATTRACTIVE, WEIGHTSAVING CUTAWAYS, ONE OF WHICH INCORPORATES THE G&G LOGO”

www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

ARMOURY G&G MGCR 556 GBB

“WHAT G&G HAVE DONE IN MY OPINION IS TAKE THE VERY BEST THINGS THAT THEY HAVE CREATED OVER RECENT YEARS, AND PUT EVERYTHING INTO ONE SINGLE PACKAGE THAT’S BEEN DESIGNED AND MADE FOR ALL AIRSOFT SHOOTERS!”

www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY CYBERGUN/BOLT NEW RAVENS! BRSS SCAR-SC

A TALE OF TWO HANDGUNS 22

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

ARMOURY CYBERGUN/BOLT NEW BRSS RAVENS! SCAR-SC

AS FAR AS WE’RE CONCERNED RAVEN PISTOLS ARE ONE OF THE “QUIET PERFORMERS” IN THE AA ARMOURY, AND AGAIN IN OUR OPINION IT’S ONE OF THE GBB PISTOL BRANDS THAT REALLY DOESN’T GET THE ATTENTION IT SO RIGHTLY DESERVES! THIS MONTH YOU’LL SEE TWO VERY DIFFERENT NEW PISTOL MODELS HITTING YOUR LOCAL AIRSOFT STORE, AND BILL HAS BEEN PUTTING BOTH OF THEM THROUGH THEIR PACES!

make absolutely no secret whatsoever that I believe that the RAVEN GBB pistol range is one of the best-value lines of airsoft handguns out there when it comes not only to value for money, but also when it comes to outright down n’ dirty skirmish-day gunfightin’ performance! I’ve said on many occasions that in my opinion when it comes down to “bang-for-buck” that the RAVEN Hi Capa range is one of the best-kept secrets (okay, not “secret, secret” obviously!) out there today, and I now own a whole heap of them in different configurations from the 3.8 up to the 5.1, with and without RDS sights fitted as standard, and when it comes to my “PAMG” setup for friendly competition with friends it’s undoubtedly one if these solid-as-a rock GBBs that’s in my holster for general use. In fact I’d go so far as to say that I still believe that the chunky, solid-as-a-rock RAVEN has rekindled my love for the Hi Capa concept all over again! As my personal airsoft “tastes” have veered more and more towards MILSIM/OPFOR gameplay over the years, so too my choice of “secondary” has changed from a simple yet highly effective skirmish day/comp style of pistol to a more “military” model. This is still true as I carry a G17 in my “MilSim Holster”, and probably always will due to my long association with shooting the “real”. However, the Hi Capa is the “pistol of choice” for so many of you out there, and for those that only own one pistol and feel the need for no other, then the Hi Capa is still, rightfully to a large degree, king. The RAVEN take on this venerable platform is a righteous one; when the Hi Capas were launched, the guys told me that they wanted to really make a firm statement of intent when it came to what they were able to achieve, and the net result of that was the new iteration of RAVENs, the Hi Capas 4.3 and 5.1, later joined by the super-fun 3.8. All these models moved

on from the originals, with that modern, strong, almost “blocky” look that is right on the button for “combat pistol” design. RAVEN have really impressed me with their nofrills Hi Capa range that delivers performance in a seemingly simple and pared-back package that actually hides some exceptionally clever internal engineering. With their Hi Capas so far they’ve kept things completely streamlined, and these are pistols fundamentally designed to be shot and skirmished with, to be used and not just gazed at fondly… although their uncluttered and brutally elegant lines sing of function over aesthetics, to me they look 100% RIGHT!

HEX MARKS THE SPOT!

I’ve been using all the existing models since they first hit the market (in fact slightly before they hit the market!) and they have proved to be solid, durable, and dependable pistols, which is exactly what you want from “fightin’ irons”. RAVEN has gone from strength to strength as a brand since I first saw those initial models, and with the addition of the DRAGON 7 and R14 the line, in my mind at least, was looking pretty darn strong… but things continue to move on, and new GBB treasure is there to be found where HEX marks the spot! Never ones to rest easy when there’s work still to be done, the RAVEN team have moved things on yet again; the HEX COMP apparently melds together the longer-inner-barrel (6.03mm tightbore) of the 5.1 with a CNC-finished slide the same length as that of the awesome 4.3 (the real “combat pistol” of the range to me) and adds a distinctive and attractive compensator to the front end; this compensator is fixed but removable via four screws on the front lower frame for hop-adjustment. The frame length is also similar to that of the 5.1 which means that you get a 7-slot

“THE HI CAPA IS THE “PISTOL OF CHOICE” FOR SO MANY OF YOU OUT THERE, AND FOR THOSE THAT ONLY OWN ONE PISTOL AND FEEL THE NEED FOR NO OTHER, THEN THE HI CAPA IS STILL, RIGHTFULLY TO A LARGE DEGREE, KING. THE RAVEN TAKE ON THIS VENERABLE PLATFORM IS A RIGHTEOUS ONE”

www.airsoftaction.net

ARMOURY NEW RAVENS!

20mm picatinny rail for accessories at the sharp end! Still of full-metal construction the new HEX COMP offers something unique in the overall external styling too! It takes all the great performance and features of the originals, now very much tried and tested, and moves things up a gear for the shooter who likes something unique, with some added external detail that to me really makes the platform sing even louder! With the new HEX compensator on the front, matching the HEX-styled grip and embossed detailing across the back of the slide it makes the new model stylistically different and cool too.

The HEX COMP still has the extended safety lever and beavertail fire control features along with easyto-acquire green fibre sights, and the big old 23-BB double stacked magazine with extended baseplate offers the same all-round gas performance that I’ve come to expect from a RAVEN Hi Capa; the magazines are also completely compatible with existing RAVEN models, so if like me you have one (or more!) already then this just adds to your load in a good way.

TAKING IT “MIL”!

So, I’m super-happy with the HEX COMP, but what of the other new release, the RAVEN R9-4? Well, this is a totally different beast and all the better for that! This is without doubt a “replica” rather than just an airsoft pistol, and continues the RAVEN R9 line to a very logical point that will endear it to players that like a GBB that’s rooted in the “real”… for this reason it excites me, as everyone likes something “real”, don’t they?

If you search things out online you’ll find in the real-world that the “M9A4 represents the pinnacle of the M9 series of pistols. Built to exceed the standards of even the most demanding tactical shooters, the M9A4 blends the proven design of the M9 with modern features such as a red-dot optic compatible slide and dovetailed tritium night sights for optimal sight options, an enhanced short reset Xtreme Trigger System, an 18-round magazine, and a Vertec frame with included aggressively textured Vertec-style thin grips that ensure a more natural fit for all shooters”. So what have RAVEN done here? Simply put they’ve taken the great OS from their existing R9 pistols, tweaked it up and refined it, and upgraded the externals to “modern spec” at the same time! What you immediately feel when you lift the R9-4 from its box is the sheer solid heft of this full-metal handgun, as it weighs in just over 632g (mag out), just a tad more than the 600g of the existing R9. It’s a righteously solid, 215mm-long chunk of fullyfunctional GBB secondary that, if you’re anything like me, will give you a definite “smiley-face-vibe” from the get go! The R9-4 has a 20mm rail on the lower front of the frame, this time a 3-slot picatinny version, so it’s a snap to fit a taclite. Sights are uprated too as the R9-4 comes fitted with green fibre sights as standard, and the controls will be familiar if you’ve ever had an airsoft “M9” as everything is on the left side of the pistol. The magazine release is a button-style where the trigger guard meets the frame, and the slide release can be found just above easily within reach of the strong-hand thumb, and in front of this is takedown pin for slide removal, maintenance and for adjustment of the hop. You also get an ambidextrous decocking/safety lever at the rear of the pistol; with the action cocked, a simple movement of the safety catch down will decock the hammer, allowing you to carry the A4 in “Condition1” like a 1911. However, the R9-4 can be fired from “Condition 1” without having to re-engage with the lo-profile hammer, as with the safety off it has an SA/DA trigger. Sure enough, the first shot will have a long pull with follow-ups being significantly shorter as the gas-efficient system comes into its own. Other nice finishing touches include angled serrations

“I’M SUPER-HAPPY WITH THE HEX COMP, BUT WHAT OF THE OTHER NEW RELEASE, THE RAVEN R9-4? WELL, THIS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BEAST AND ALL THE BETTER FOR THAT! THIS IS WITHOUT DOUBT A “REPLICA” RATHER THAN JUST AN AIRSOFT PISTOL, AND CONTINUES THE RAVEN R9 LINE TO A VERY LOGICAL POINT THAT WILL ENDEAR IT TO PLAYERS THAT LIKE A GBB THAT’S ROOTED IN THE “REAL”” 24

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ARMOURY NEW RAVENS!

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ARMOURY NEW RAVENS!

on either side of the slide to give a positive handle when cocking the pistol, and checkered pistol grips which offer, in combination with the backstrap, solid retention (more on these shortly!). There’s also a threaded outer barrel with a knurled shroud that will allow you to run a suppressor should you wish to do so. As with the features of the “real”, that “Vertec frame with included aggressively textured Vertecstyle thin grips” the RAVEN R9-4 actually does a creditable job of replicating that too! The grip angle is actually the same as that of the R9 but with slimmer grip panels and a more “upright” backstrap the pistol feels significantly different, almost like it has a much more modern and straight rake which feels great in the hand. And of course there’s one other element that goes into making an “A4”, and that’s the “RDS compatibility”, and from what I see on the pistol I’ve had to test RAVEN have absolutely nailed this! The real deal has two insets machined into the slide just ahead of the fixed “irons” so that you can fit a mounting baseplate for an RDS, and the RAVEN has been replicated perfectly to mimic this; I say “mimic” as this is purely an aesthetic feature and you won’t be able to fit an RDS, but it does complete the “look” of the pistol very nicely indeed, and even to get this a redesign was necessary! Because of restrictions within the operating parts the RAVEN team actually made a new nozzle and blowback housing design just to achieve the correct flat-top to the slide which shows absolute dedication to getting things as right as possible; perhaps a functioning RDS fitment was a step too far at this point, but who knows what the future holds as they continue to innovate!

DOWNRANGE

Having shot both the RAVEN Hi Capa models, and the existing R9 I wasn’t expecting anything midbendingly-ground-breaking in terms of performance upgrades, as both original pistols shot beautifully and were gas-efficient initially and have continued to be so. In terms of the HEX COMP, when I shoot my

existing RAVEN Hi Capas they chrono in around 0.78 Joule/290FPS on a .20g RZR BB with a really punchy recoil impulse, even more so when you use the included CO2 conversion parts to run them on a CO2 bulb, although you will need to buy the CO2 magazine separately as an accessory. The HEX jumps this up slightly to iro 0.84 Joule/301fps and the familiar sight-setup lets you get BBs on target superbly at 10m; this is an accurate pistol, and absolutely ideal for that moment when you REALLY need it! Loaded up with .20g RZR BBs and NP2.0 greenbottle gas the R9-4 also sends a full magazine of 25 BBs downrange with astonishing accuracy thanks to the 113mm 6.03 inner barrel, giving excellent groupings at 10 metres. On .20g ammo it chrono’s consistently around the 0.83 Joule/300fps mark. RAVEN now offer a CO2 magazine as an accessory for the R9 too, and this will raise the power a little and will give greater consistency in the colder months of the year for those of us in “temperate” climates, although results with NP 2.0 were solid even in the chillier weather right now. Overall these are both really first-rate airsoft pistols and they are worthy of a place in anyone’s armoury. They look and feel spot-on, with the HEX COMP having an almost “cyberpunk” vibe, and the R9-4 giving some “real-deal-authenticity”. Both pistols shoot consistently and accurately, and cycle perfectly on NP 2.0 gas. Whether you buy either model as a simple, solid skirmish pistol or as a loadout-specific military model the fact is that the RAVENs will serve you well, and not deplete your game-day fightingfund whilst doing so! I love the fact that with these two new releases RAVEN have continued to grow and enhance their Hi Capa line, whilst at the self-same time creating something that will delight MilSim-oriented players and collectors! Whichever way we like to enjoy your airsoft, RAVEN obviously continue to “have our six”, and I downright love ‘em for it! My thanks as always go to the guys at RAVEN for letting me check out the new pistols, and you can get more information on all the models they offer by simply heading over to www.rvnairsoft.com AA

“THE GRIP ANGLE IS ACTUALLY THE SAME AS THAT OF THE R9 BUT WITH SLIMMER GRIP PANELS AND A MORE “UPRIGHT” BACKSTRAP THE PISTOL FEELS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT, ALMOST LIKE IT HAS A MUCH MORE MODERN AND STRAIGHT RAKE WHICH FEELS GREAT IN THE HAND”

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ARMOURY NEW RAVENS!

“OVERALL THESE ARE BOTH REALLY FIRST-RATE AIRSOFT PISTOLS AND THEY ARE WORTHY OF A PLACE IN ANYONE’S ARMOURY. THEY LOOK AND FEEL SPOT-ON, WITH THE HEX COMP HAVING AN ALMOST “CYBERPUNK” VIBE, AND THE R9-4 GIVING SOME “REAL-DEAL-AUTHENTICITY””

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ARMOURY CYBERGUN/BOLT ASG H15 BRSS SCAR-SC

ASG ARS EVOLVED!

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

ARMOURY CYBERGUN/BOLT BRSS SCAR-SC ASG H15

IT’S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE WE’VE SEEN A TOTALLY NEW AR FROM THE GOOD FOLK AT ACTIONSPORTGAMES (ASG), BUT THEY’VE BEEN PROMISING SOMETHING FOR A WHILE NOW, AND THE H15 SERIES LOOKS LIKE IT’S GOING TO EXCITE THEIR LOYAL FANS AND PLAYERS IN GENERAL ALL OVER AGAIN… BOYCIE HAS BEEN DIGGING DEEPER…

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ARMOURY ASG H15

f you’re a follower of our SFTW posts on the Airsoft Action website you will have seen the occasional reference to <REDACTED>, well now one of those references breaks cover. We’ve been talking a lot with ASG over recent weeks and months about things that are on the horizon and I first got to see the new ASG H-15 in person at a product briefing at ASG HQ about three months ago. By the time you read this, the H-15 will have been released and been in the shops for a little while. Before you say “Oh just another M4!” just hold fire and see what is different about the H-15. What the boffins at ASG have done is take their great EVO Scorpion internals and fitted them into an M4-esque receiver set which will appeal to those who love the AR style platform! So, with this said, what is included in the standard feature set? Well, they include: • V2 type gearbox which is fitted with the same gears and compression set as found in the Evo. • ASCU2 Electronic Trigger Unit • Quick Change Spring Guide • T-Plug Battery Connector • Retro Arms Trigger • PTS EPG-C Pistol Grip • Hera Arms CCS Buttstock Breaking with our usual review format I’m going to just take a few minutes to talk first about the gearbox. Having used the H-15 ‘way back’ at the ASG media briefing, I already knew the EVO, having owned a couple myself; I always loved the snappy firing and really impressive range from such a small rifle. Also the three fire modes single, three round burst and full auto were almost unique in an out of the box rifle when the EVO launched. The H-15 shares the same feel when firing and whilst you can’t switch directly through the three fire modes, programming the ETU can give the user the option to go Single/Three, Single/Full Auto or Three/Full Auto modes. Another great feature is the option to change the spring with the Quick Change Spring Guide, accessible through the stock tube, so in countries where the FPS limits are different, you can easily change the spring to suit local limits/laws without having to open the gearbox up. The standard battery connector on the H-15 is the

T plug (aka Deans) which makes for a much better connection between the battery and the gearbox wiring. In the rest of the world the H-15 BET and Carbine are shipped out set at 1.65 joules, whereas the CQB has been set to 1.4 joules. For the UK where our laws and fps limits are below those ROW (Rest of the World) limits there is an M95 version which will come in at 0.95 joules as standard. WIth the quick change spring you can soon tune the output to near to the upper limits here in the UK, and the H-15 is designed to work optimally using the Evo motor being powered by an ASG 11.1v 1450mAh 30C LiPo battery. LOOKING OUTSIDE Externally, there is the AR resemblance but with ASG’s own take on the aesthetics and design of the receiver set. From the top down, the receiver is more chunky with “dimple” features at the back of the upper. As usually found on similar platforms of this type there is a faux Bolt Forward Assist button and standard AR style selector lever, mag release and bolt release, which unlike the EVO doesn’t operate an empty magazine detection reset. This was decided to make the H-15 more compatible with the plethora of aftermarket magazines which are available, but I have to say the standard 180 BB “mid-cap” functions really well, so why would you want to change it. A cast trigger guard is part of the lower receiver but there is plenty of room to fit a gloved finger in there and not be cramped for space. When I was talking to JB about the H-15 some weeks ago, prior to getting my hands on a test rifle, this is pretty much exactly how our conversation went... JB: “The H-15, like our Evo is hand built in our Danish HQ on a new production line specifically for the H-15 series.” Boycie: “Reading between the lines does this mean that there will be more in the H-series to come?” JB: “Well we do have plans for future products in the H-# series, more than that I can’t say at the minute.” Boycie: “The rail looks different but with some familiar looking attachment options for accessories?” JB: “Our M-Rail handguard was custom designed ‘in house’ at ASG and is manufactured in Europe” Boycie : “Ahh... So not M-LOK ™?”

“BEFORE YOU SAY “OH JUST ANOTHER M4!” JUST HOLD FIRE AND SEE WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE H-15. WHAT THE BOFFINS AT ASG HAVE DONE IS TAKE THEIR GREAT EVO SCORPION INTERNALS AND FITTED THEM INTO AN M4-ESQUE RECEIVER SET WHICH WILL APPEAL TO THOSE WHO LOVE THE AR STYLE PLATFORM!”

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ARMOURY ASG H15

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ARMOURY ASG H15

JB: “No, not M-LOK(TM) but most accessories should be able to be fitted and we have a range of accessories coming over the coming months.” Boycie : “ The mags feel solid and well made” JB: “The magazines hold 180 BBs and feed extremely well. We went with a standard fitting but our own design to give the end user the choice of magazine. Additional magazines will be sold in boxes of three” Boycie: “Is there anything else that you can tell me about the H-15?” JB: “We’ve also made our ‘in house’ custom design of flash hider for the CQB and Carbine. The Hybrid series is our new line of products that sit within the Pro-Line range. These have been designed to be “the best of the best” and a blend of our 20 plus years of experience. Before I forget, there will also be a semi locked version also coming soon which will serve the German Market where they are restricted to using semi only rifles.” Boycie: “Thanks JB, I’m going to go and hit the range now.” JB: “Thanks Boycie.” Over the many years around the sport that

is airsoft, I have handled, owned and used a large number of rifles and I have to say that I really like how this H-15 feels in the hands. I particuarly like the feel of the M-Rail Handguard; it has a different profile to those which you may see on other platforms but sits really nicely in the hand and is really comfortable. On the top of the rail is the “usual” picatinny rail and on three sides, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions, are the rail accessory slots. On the BET model I was loaned, the guys at ASG had fitted a Strike Systems 1-4x24E scope which has a nice illuminated reticule. I like this type of set up as you can leave the illumination on for indoor use and it doesn’t affect the scope use outdoors in the better light. There was also a Harris style bipod fitted but my preference is not to have one fitted so I took it off. If I had left it on it would have been ideal for

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someone to lie in cover and “snipe” with the H-15.

DOWNRANGE

For the first part of my test, I ran three mags full of BBs through the rifle using bursts. This will, if new, mean that I can get the release agent off the rubber and get the best grip on the BB, in a similar way that F1 cars get the best grip from a tyre when the shine is off it and it’s warmed up. I have to say that the ROF is more than good enough for those who refer to use full auto and the snappy response on semi means that you can quickly get off a sequence of single shots in a short time. I only have a limited area to test this H-15 on but once I’d dialled in the hop, which is an easily adjustable rotary type, I was sailing BBs out to approximately 50m with reasonable accuracy (bearing in mind it was blowing a hooley when did this quick test. I am sure that during the cold months here in

the UK, the weather conditions will lead most people to change their hop rubber to a softer grade, maybe something like a 50 degree. I am sure that if I were testing this rifle in the summer, the factorystandard rubber would be great. I then had to wait a few days to get back on the range and for also the weather to improve so I could test the accuracy. As you may remember when Lil Stu and I tested the ASG Steyr Scout, our “go to target” is a simple piece of A4 paper (as it is a similar size to that of a medium SAPI plate) hanging from

ARMOURY ASG H15

some string or a fence. Starting at 40m almost every shot hit the paper, barring one or two due to user error. I pushed back to 50m and again, almost every shot hit the paper. As I said, I was limited on the range I could use so

I decided to repeat the practice but this time using an A5 sheet of paper. This time at least 50% of the shots ripped the through the paper and those that didn’t were only narrowly missing the sheet.

KEEPING IT REAL

I was told by ASG’s JB that in terms of power output the H15 variants for the UK would be safely under the legal limit, but of course this will to take into account the needs of the international nature of ASG’s customers by country; such is the “reach” and the ability of a manufacturer that is truly global in its nature! Suffice to say I will be getting the rifle out onto a skirmish ground soon to chrono properly and give it a run out; going on initial tests, I am sure I’ll have a good time with it. As you read this, the H-15 should be in shops near you and more accessories are due soon. One thing that would be great on this would be a tracer unit and when I mentioned this to JB he said “the faux suppressor would be able to take one of our tracer units so problem solved”. A huge thanks to ASG and to JB personally for allowing me to get hands on with the H-15 BET. I’m really looking forward to the next products in the H-series. One thing he did tell me was coming in 2024 was the <REDACTED>…. Oh, there it is again, but as soon as I can talk about it, be sure that I will be and I’m sure that Lil Stu will be wanting to get his tiny hands on it as well! For all the news on the latest releases from ActionSportGames (ASG) please check out their regularly updated social media posts, and also pay a visit to www.actionsportgames.com AA

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HELIKON-TEX ® Discover Guardian Plate Carrier #JourneyToPerfection helikon-tex.com

KIT & GEAR MAINTENANCE

TIME TO TAKE ACTION! IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN THAT WE SHOULD BE KEEPING OUR KIT UP TO SPEED, SO AS USUAL BILL REVISITS TECHNICAL FABRICS AND TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE THEM AS PART OF YOUR LOADOUT, AND HOW YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY LOOK AFTER THEM!

s we are heading well into winter now I’m certain that, just like all of the AA Crew, your cold and wet weather gear has been pulled out of that dark place where you store it, and made ready for the games to come in the next couple of months. Here in the UK it is really starting to be wet, cold, and muddy… Did I mention wet, “with the possibility of sleet” in the forecast as I write!

I write about looking after your gear every year, and make no apology for revisiting and including the subject here again; we

“I WRITE ABOUT LOOKING AFTER YOUR GEAR EVERY YEAR, AND MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR REVISITING AND INCLUDING THE SUBJECT HERE AGAIN; WE SPEND A LOT ON OUR PERFORMANCE GEAR SO LOOKING AFTER IT TO ME IS A CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF GETTING THE MOST FOR OUR MONEY! ”

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KIT & GEAR MAINTENANCE

spend A LOT on our performance gear so looking after it to me is a crucially important aspect of getting the most for our money! To recap on what I’ve written on this subject in previous issues of AA understanding what you buy and what you use in relation to your personal clothing is a subject that’s very close to my heart; “technical clothing” whilst not hard to come by, is an expensive and crucial part of any loadout, and you want it to keep on performing for a significant time to make your investment worthwhile. So, what are we really talking about when we use the phrase “technical performance fabrics”? Basically we are looking at fabric technologies with a very specific end use in mind that balance the three key areas of

waterproofness (read general weatherproofness), breathability and durability. Breaking it down most clothing manufacturers will use two main forms of construction in their garments, Two and Three Layer (although there are other specific constructions out

there). Two Layer construction essentially means that the waterproof membrane is attached directly to an outer face fabric with a loose lining; Three Layer construction means that the face fabric, membrane and inner lining fabric are all bonded together. Many prefer the Three Layer construction as it’s is easier to get on and off as a loose mesh liner can sometimes snag on gear. Different seam tapes (to ensure seams are 100% waterproof and do not let water in through stitch holes) are used in the different constructions; Two Layer seam sealing tape is applied to the GORE-TEX membrane directly, whilst in Three Layer the sealing takes place over the inner lining fabric; seam sealing is an art form in itself!

KEEP IT ROLLIN’!

If you’re spending a lot of money on a set of weatherproof/waterproof gear, then you really want to get the best out of it don’t you? Just like changing tyres or the oil in a car your “shell gear” will really, really benefit from some regular “TLC”, a bit of a service if you like. All too often I’m out on the range or at a game with my mates and when we get back in the car their “Gucci” waterproof shell gear just gets dumped unceremoniously in a pile on the floor or in the footwell! These are usually the self-same people that I will see at a later date bemoaning the fact that their expensive waterproof jacket “isn’t working”, complaining to all and sundry that somehow the technology has failed, and that they are wet and uncomfortable. The most common gripe I hear is that “this funking thing is leaking” when actually it’s still perfectly fine, and the fact is, it just isn’t “breathing” anymore! Like all performance items top-end shell gear needs maintaining regularly to get the best from it. When you buy a Gore-Tex (or similar) jacket you’re investing in a high-performance item, and as such, it needs treating like one! Over time things like the hydrophobic (water-hating) Durable Water Repellent (DWR, think a microscopic “film”) on the outer face fabric of the garment will begin to wear and crack, and the fabric will start to hold the water that’s now allowed through to it. As new, water droplets will be held on the DWR layer, simply rolling off the fabric

““TECHNICAL CLOTHING” WHILST NOT HARD TO COME BY, IS AN EXPENSIVE PART OF ANY LOADOUT, AND YOU WANT IT TO KEEP ON PERFORMING FOR A SIGNIFICANT TIME TO MAKE YOUR INVESTMENT WORTHWHILE”

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KIT & GEAR MAINTENANCE

before they penetrate. You’ll notice after a while that this “beading” process will start to lessen, and that the water is being absorbed into the fabric itself; this is usually noticeable first in areas like the shoulders where pack straps or a plate carrier rub and abrade the DWR, or on cuff ends where the fabric rubs against itself. Internally over time, body oils, grease and general dirt will also build up and the net result is that your jacket will stop “breathing” as well as it did when it was new. You won’t really notice this until it becomes obvious, and water vapour that was previously being transferred out of the system stays inside and re-condenses. You’ll feel cold, clammy and uncomfortable, put your hand inside your jacket, feel “water” and of course your quite natural conclusion will be that the jacket is leaking! A re-proofer will restore the waterproof performance of your gear to ensure it continues to keep you dry and protected. To combat the degradation of performance you simply need to give

your jacket (or pant) a bit of care and invest in a maintenance product. There are many of them on the market these days, and most can be ordered easily online, so check out brands like Grangers, Nikwax, Storm, Red Wing, Rockin’ Green, and Gear Aid. You’ll also find bespoke products for down, merino, and base layer care products to keep all of your gear tip-top so that moisture transfer away from your skin continues to work in tandem with your outer shell gear. These products offer high performance cleaning, water-proofing and after-care treatments that let you refresh and restore the performance of your gear, ensuring your kit delivers the same protection it did when you bought it. The first step is obviously to clean your garments, and to do this you need to ensure that first and foremost you follow the manufacturer’s care guidance that’s given on the label you’ll no-doubt find inside the garment. Most garments, including hard shell, can be popped in the washing machine, and by using a dedicated wash product you can make certain that no harm is going to come to your beloved gear so it comes out all sparkly and fresh! Once your garment has been cleaned, you should clean out your washing machine’s detergent tray. This is a similar step for washing, but you’ll want to clear out any remnants of your washing product. Get yourself some wash-in proofer (unless your garment has a hydrophilic (water-loving) lining which is used sometimes to help transfer internal moisture, in which case use a spray on proofer to the outer face as directed!) then simply follow the instructions for volume and temperature settings before setting the washer. Let the cycle run with the proofer, and once completed, allow the cycle to repeat and remove excess moisture. Re-proofers usually activate with heat so if your garment allows you to tumble dry it the heat will help activate the replenished coating, and then you’re good to go all over again. All of your clothing system will benefit form a good wash and clean, and again products like base and mid-layer washes will help your clothing system in its entirety. These wash products are specially formulated to work with both natural and synthetic “thermal layering and next to skin” garments to retain and improve performance, and aid in effective moisture

“LIKE ALL PERFORMANCE ITEMS TOP-END SHELL GEAR NEEDS MAINTAINING REGULARLY TO GET THE BEST FROM IT. WHEN YOU BUY A GORE-TEX (OR SIMILAR) JACKET YOU’RE INVESTING IN A HIGH-PERFORMANCE ITEM, AND AS SUCH, IT NEEDS TREATING LIKE ONE!”

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KIT & GEAR MAINTENANCE

wicking, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your entire clothing system. Comfort is a relative thing, but if you’re too hot, that can lead to heat exhaustion, too cold, hypothermia; whilst keeping external ingress of moisture at bay, controlling the micro-climate inside your clothing system helps to prevent either so also ensure that your base and mid-layers are up to scratch too!

THE BALANCING ACT

It’s always precarious balancing act when you put technologies together in a garment with a lining fabric

and an outer face fabric that will ensure long term durability whilst not degrading performance; when you then add thermal mid-layers and fast-wicking base-layers in becomes even trickier still! All these fabrics are chosen with extreme care and tested for all kinds of heat, cold, flex and abrasion. Not maintaining these garments to the best of your ability simply means that you’re not getting the levels of performance you have invested in, and this is something you can be doing at home right now. The fact of the matter is that many people find performance garments expensive but at the risk of being blunt they must have no real idea of what is going on behind the scenes! When you’re paying for a performance garment you’re getting “Formula 1” levels of performance and that doesn’t come cheap. Of course, you can always buy a cheap “hatchback” but if your enjoyment, and ultimately even your life, may end up depending on the performance of your clothing system I have to ask the question as I do every year… how much is “too expensive”? Use your time wisely, get your gear prepped and be ready for ALL your new airsoft adventures, whatever old Ma Nature may throw at you! AA

“COMFORT IS A RELATIVE THING, BUT IF YOU’RE TOO HOT, THAT CAN LEAD TO HEAT EXHAUSTION, TOO COLD, HYPOTHERMIA; WHILST KEEPING EXTERNAL INGRESS OF MOISTURE AT BAY, CONTROLLING THE MICRO-CLIMATE INSIDE YOUR CLOTHING SYSTEM HELPS TO PREVENT EITHER TOO”

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THE CAGE MOST USED

THE CAGE:

2023 LEGION ROUNDUP

IT’S BEEN ANOTHER BUSY YEAR FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE AA LEGION WITH GAMES, EVENTS, AND RANGE DAYS ALL GOING ON AT PACE, SO AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC ITEMS OF KIT THAT THE CREW HAVE BEEN USING, AND CAN RECOMMEND TO YOU, AND AS ALWAYS BILL LEADS OFF…

s we approach the end of another year of airsoft I thought it would be cool to get with the members of the AA LEGION to find out what in terms of kit and gear had REALLY worked for them this year! This isn’t a ’Christmas List” as such, as we hope that by now your seasonal airsoft-fromSanta sacks are already bulging, but if you’re anything like me then there will be a little airsoft-related “giftto-self” lurking somewhere under the tree… So this is really a list of things that the guys have used during the past year and have found both useful and 100% fit-for-purpose, things that make our airsoft life just a little bit easier, a bit slicker, and that have already in some cases stood up to a tremendous amount of in-the-field abuse! Without further seasonal ado I’ll hand over immediately this month to the team… Boycie: I can’t help thinking “all I want for Christmas is me two front teeth”, but today reminded me of one of the best cold/inclement weather jackets I have ever owned. Last year I got, through a trade, a Carninthia ECIG (Extreme Cold Insulation Garment), in black. This is just one heck of a jacket, fantastic in biting winds,

sub-zero temperatures and driving rain (as I found out this morning walking in to work). There are pockets galore in the jacket and really nice storm cuffs. The surprising thing is that this is easily able to be worn under my Templar Gear Plate Carrier and doesn’t feel too bulky or restrictive. Also when not in use the jacket has a stuff sack which when carrying it in a pack takes up about the same space

means it as a Snugpak jacket. Gear wise, I have to say my Spyderco ClipiTool knife/scissors is a great tool to have. I use it mainly at work but it’s ideal just to have in your pocket. The second gear item has to be the Red Rock Large Rover Sling Pack which both myself and Lil Stu used all thru

“LAST YEAR I GOT, THROUGH A TRADE, A CARNINTHIA ECIG (EXTREME COLD INSULATION GARMENT), IN BLACK. THIS IS JUST ONE HECK OF A JACKET, FANTASTIC IN BITING WINDS, SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES AND DRIVING RAIN (AS I FOUND OUT THIS MORNING WALKING IN TO WORK)”

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THE CAGE MOST USED

our adventures at Shot Show this year! Chris P: Clothing.. Helikon Range Hoodie; light and synthetic meaning it’s both warm and quick drying, ideal for autumn days or layering under a jacket. I bought the grey one; it’s paired with back panels on hard wearing areas and has pockets for elbow inserts if you do feel you need that bit of padding. Kit... ADA TBAS Battle Bra; superbly made for an issue bit of kit, padded and comfortable with minimal fancy featured. Being just a blank MOLLE panel it caters for all your pouch needs and is also able to take inserts behind the front panel. I would recommend it but they are almost impossible to get so a similar item is the SORD Sniper CTR rig. Robbie: Going a different route for this one, moleskin.. no idea why I seem to kill my boots above the heel inside, but moleskin fixes this! Ben: Although I haven’t used it much yet, the BN Tactical Ghost facemask... Wow! This mask is an awesome bit of kit, low profile and very comfortable; it naturally clings to your face plus is very easy to shape it and if you prefer running a snood and not a balaclava it’s perfect! The snood just gives it that extra cling....there’s two versions of this mask, one with a nose cover and one without...I shall be getting both as I prefer the not to have the nose cover bit as for me as it makes my snood look funny due to my predator print on it, but If I was using a one colour snood then it’s not a problem!

Li’l Stu: 5.11 jacket; I bought this second-hand yonks back; it’s seen me through some grim weather ( torrential rain storms) and kept me warm and dry with no issues! Jase: This year I have not played generally as much as I’ve concentrated on a few select MilSim adventures, but on the few times I have had a simple run-out I’ve really enjoyed running in my Ragnar RAGNARÖK Coyote Combat Pants. There are many strong points to like, from the soft lined waistband, eleven pockets of various sizes, reinforced knees where you can add pads of your choice, elasticated panels for ease of movement and my favourite feature, the metal hook on the inside of the bottom of each leg for a perfect fit of the pants to join them to the footwear stopping the leg from rising up when kneeling or going prone… I just wish they did them in Multicam… Iggy: Being based in Queensland it doesn’t get too cold here in Oz; in fact I don’t think I have worn my soft shell in Australia yet, and only use it when I go to New Zealand for airsoft. For my best bit of kit in 2023 it has to be the VIPER VX Buckle Up plate carrier. I had to replace my 5.11 All Missions one because it was stolen, and with having kids that are growing up and becoming ever more expensive I didn’t have the available budget I used to for 5.11, CRYE etc. I liked the look of the VIPER VX and could afford it. Since then I have grown to love it, holding strong game after game even with my 5kg plates front and back plus water and the usual MilSim equipment one tends to hang off the attachment system. I have my coyote coloured one all made up with pouches but I’m looking to get a second one for training in to do my weighted running because they are so comfortable. Miguel: Although it’s not something from 2023, the piece of gear that I can’t get enough of is also the VIPER VX Plate Carrier and its accessories.

“I’VE REALLY ENJOYED RUNNING IN MY RAGNAR RAGNARÖK COYOTE COMBAT PANTS. THERE ARE MANY STRONG POINTS TO LIKE, FROM THE SOFT LINED WAISTBAND, ELEVEN POCKETS OF VARIOUS SIZES, REINFORCED KNEES WHERE YOU CAN ADD PADS OF YOUR CHOICE, ELASTICATED PANELS FOR EASE OF MOVEMENT”

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THE CAGE MOST USED

forget to bring one with me. These are the best adapter for the Odin I’ve ever used. It’s low-profile, works with

It’s a highly customizable carrier, with many different options from the brand, comfortable, easy to use and ready to be used and abused. It’s been with me since it first came out, and it has become a main pillar in my gear, from smaller games to those nationwide events, with 24+ hours, rain, sun, heat and cold, it doesn’t matter, the VX Plate Carrier has been with me through it all! Dan: Clothing-wise (but not exactly clothing) has been some new shoe inserts, specifically a new set of Superfeet hiking insoles. Being flat-footed, I’ve always found stock insoles to be pretty lacklustre in the support department. These make a massive difference in the feel of the shoe/boot, and this also translates into a massive difference for how long I can stay on my feet and not feel sore or tired at the end of the day. On the gear side, I’ve been really happy with the Milwaukee Custom Kydex AlphaLB holster for my G-series, which I picked up earlier this year. The second bit of gear I’ve been using a lot of has been a couple more of the Airtech Studios Odin adapters. I’ve had one for a few years now, but recently purchased several more so now all my Odin’s can be outfitted, plus I can keep a spare in the tool box just in case I

every magazine out there (AEG-wise, at least), and will even double as a handy unloader for dumping BB’s back into the Odin or a bottle. Stewbacca: Clothing-wise you might be surprised that it’s a jacket from me! Despite living in the ballsweat tropics these days I do sometimes need a lightweight windbreaker or something to take the light rain when I have to be outdoors in the inclement times. Our team leader Ben usually sources our BDUs and other team kit, and I saw him and some of our other guys wearing these and decided I should get one as well; for just a few hundred Taiwanese dollars (about 10 quid to you!) the ‘Outdoor Shark’ lightweight windproof and waterproof fleece lined jacket sourced from the Chinese mainland; it’s light enough to not be a sweat-bucket when it’s marginally warmer but also quite warm when it’s a bit windier or damper. It worked great for the rainy Kaohsiung shoot last xmas; it has a roll up hood which also serves as a thick neck pad windbreaker when stowed, and of course it has plenty of zipped pockets and the allimportant velcro panels on the upper arms because I have to slap patches all over everything. Cheap and cheerful, it’s served me well most of the year except for the hottest months. Gear-wise for me the TMC1067 AOR2 backpack which I acquired in time for the POLK3 MilSim and customised and integrated into my AOR2 plate carrier to great effect; I used it for carrying my hydration bladder and spare snacks, ammunition, gas and loaders, which I honestly would probably have literally died without given the sheer heat exhaustion we were

“THE PIECE OF GEAR THAT I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF IS ALSO THE VIPER VX PLATE CARRIER AND ITS ACCESSORIES. IT’S A HIGHLY CUSTOMIZABLE CARRIER, WITH MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS FROM THE BRAND, COMFORTABLE, EASY TO USE AND READY TO BE USED AND ABUSED. IT’S BEEN WITH ME SINCE IT FIRST CAME OUT”

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all encountering in the July heat! Bill: Much like Jase I’ve been quite selective on what I’ve attended this year as pulling the magazine together each moth means I’m often otherwise committed at weekends as well as during the week in the office… I’ve mainly concentrated on range days both alone and with AA’s brand partners and some training events which I love with a vengeance… never stop training fellow ‘softers, there’s ALWAYS something new to learn and add to your “tactical toolbox”! However, I’m going to agree with Miguel and Iggy in respects of the VIPER Buckle Up system as it’s perfect for my needs on range days where I need to swap-out between different platforms; the newer low-profile magazine panels have proved absolutely invaluable when it comes to switching-out between AR/AK mags, SMG mags, and pistol mags… it’s simplicity itself, and SO versatile! At NAF I did finally pick up a dedicated G-Series light-bearing holster for my G17 from the lovely chaps at KYDEX CUSTOMS! This is (from memory) the fifth model-specific holster I’ve had from them, and

chills you, you know!), wearing one of mine got Tan Green!) almost daily with my VIPER

but I’ve been (I already and

Frontier Jacket as the mornings have turned frosty… it’s a match made in airsoft-heaven! AA

their creations just get better and better, and it works perfectly; this one is black, to go with my CQB belt setup, so I can see that I’ll no doubt be adding another FDE version in 2024! Finally from me; the new VIPER Technical Mid Layer Fleece Top! This is one of the newest additions to the VIPER line and I have to say it’s the garment I’ve been waiting for from them; this is a great choice if you’re looking for a really versatile top, as it works well on its own or as a under layer when the weather turns colder. I chose these as our “team top” for Stu, Anny and I for the G&G CQB event (that bloody A/C

“THE NEW VIPER TECHNICAL MID LAYER FLEECE TOP! THIS IS ONE OF THE NEWEST ADDITIONS TO THE VIPER LINE AND I HAVE TO SAY IT’S THE GARMENT I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR FROM THEM; THIS IS A GREAT CHOICE IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A REALLY VERSATILE TOP, AS IT WORKS WELL ON ITS OWN OR AS A UNDER LAYER WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COLDER” www.airsoftaction.net

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IMAGE CURTESY OF KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

RED CELL

TRIED AND 100% TESTED! 48

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ANOTHER YEAR ROLLS ON BY, AND FOR RED CELL IT’S BEEN ONE OF REALLY DIGGING DEEP INTO THE AEGS AND GBBS THAT ARE IN THE LONG-TERM TEST POOL, AND WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU’VE CONTINUED TO ENJOY AND BENEFIT FROM THE INSIGHTS THAT WE’VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE! HOWEVER, AS WE REFLECT ON 2023 WE FELT IT TIME TO ASK THE CREW WHAT THEY LIKE, AND WHY THEY LIKE WHAT THEY DO, AND AS USUAL BILL LEADS OFF!

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL MOST-USED IN 2023!

es indeed, it HAS been a busy year for RED CELL, and although we’ve not met as often, the guys continue to run models from the test pool hard, sometimes into the ground, although we’ve still only had a couple of catastrophic failures out of the myriad of models that we’ve been testing! Okay, some of the test models have needed attention in terms of general maintenance, but this is only to be expected, and in virtually every case it’s been simply hop rubbers, bucking, and seals, and this just go to prove that the AEG ad GBBs that we are buying these days are a million miles away in terms of durability and quality than most things that were available to us even 10 years ago! But the fact is that some (even 10 year-old-plus!) models are still functioning, and this is exactly what we’re looking at, and for, in the RED CELL program, those platforms that with a modicum of TLC will continue to perform as they should over an extended “service life”. And at this time of year especially I have to thank all our industry partners, the manufacturers and distributors that have had faith enough in their products and in Airsoft Action to support us in our endeavours, and continue to support us as we move into another year of airsoft adventures! As we’re now just on halfway through the

testing program I thought it would be nice to take

a pause for our Xmas, end-of-year issue and check in with the crew to see what they’ve been using most for their personal game-play during 2023. This is NOT meant to be a “this am bestest gnu” kind of deal as we all love different things for different reasons, but simply an overview of what we use ourselves outside of the test program, and a celebration of “stuff what works for us”! For me one of the stand-out platforms that I’ve most enjoyed during the latter part of 2023 is undoubtedly the VORSK VMP-1, but as I’ve covered that off in detail later in this very issue I won’t go into it again here! Suffice to say that it’s been seriously fun to shoot, and a joy to own thus far, and I’m not alone in saying that as Jase, Jimmy and Ben also have their very own VMPs too! I am though, somewhat embarrassingly, seriously spoiled for choice when it comes to what I can pick from to shoot, and it’s obviously been a quiet MilSim/ skirmish-year for me as normally I would adorn my personal choices with a whole host of OPFOR goodness! 2023 though for me has been mostly one of range and training days, so I’ve reverted to the good old “AR” on such occasions, and my first choice in the “most-used” stakes has to be my VFC Mk18 MOD 1 GBBR! I just love this compact little platform; you might ask why I train mostly with a GBBR, and not an AEG, and it’s honestly a personal thing really as I enjoy the operation of a full-travel-bolt gas AR or AK, and to me it gets as close to training with a real firearm as is possible. As, at the last time of looking, I am still a resident of His Majesty’s fine land that means that even as a club shooter I am restricted in the firearm models that are available to me, so the “gasser” becomes even more important. As many of you will know my personal choice of “trainer” is the VFC Mk18 MOD1 ; in truth this GBB hasn’t been designed and made for the mass market (just like the VFC BCM MCMR that I also love!), it’s been designed and made for those that truly want a platform that operates exactly like the real thing, but

“2023 THOUGH FOR ME HAS BEEN MOSTLY ONE OF RANGE AND TRAINING DAYS, SO I’VE REVERTED TO THE GOOD OLD “AR” ON SUCH OCCASIONS, AND MY FIRST CHOICE IN THE “MOST-USED” STAKES HAS TO BE MY VFC MK18 MOD 1 GBBR!”

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that fires safe and simple 6mm BBs, not live 5.56! Yes, it’s been designed for the MilSim player, but also for those that want to test themselves to the limit in any game or on the range, with real-like operation and real-world magazine capacities… basically it’s been designed for sometimes-jaded airsofters like me. Essentially the VFC is as close to the real deal as you’ll find in airsoft form, and everything is nailed down to look and feel exactly as it would on the real thing, including the operating system. Internally the platform runs the VFC GBBR system which makes it extremely efficient, and the internal construction also ensures added durability as well, providing a recoil impulse is solid and consistent, which makes the shooting experience fun and immersive. The MK18 MOD 1 as a design is “of its time and place”, and quite apart from that it’s a darn fine airsoft platform! Although my days of hard-charging “Zero Dark Thirty” style play may be on the decline, I still love an AR with a “soul” and the MK18 has a very big soul indeed. Add to this that it’s also a fine training tool, it’s reliable and accurate, and you have a package that’s sure to delight you every time you pick it up, and that’s a more-thangood enough reason to own one! And I’m going to stick with the Mk18 as my “game-choice” as well! Now, by my own admission, recovery from long-term illness and running the business has detracted from my usual “skirmish day tempo”, but as I enter my 30th year of being in the airsoft-world I think I can safely say what makes a good skirmishing platform, and for me it comes courtesy of ICS! Both Jimmy and I are owners of the ICS Mk18 AEG, 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 mis-step 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. I’ll cut straight to the chase here; 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 10,000 BBs! I’m happily hitting the small steels out to 70m-plus consistently on .30g. To conclude here I’ll quote what Jimmy had to say; “This is truly an out of the box high-performing AEG sporting premium quality, reliable parts, and that 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 tech’s standpoint, is a joy to work on.” Nuff said… Okay, it wouldn’t be me if I DIDN’T have at least one OPFOR choice in the mix, and one model that I’ve 100% enjoyed adding to my personal armoury is the LCT ZKS-74UN! If you want a thoroughly modern SU, then look no further than this AEG; weighing in at 3500g and at 770mm (667mm stock folded) this neat little model comes prefitted with all the “modern” base goodies that you could possibly want, like the distinctive side-folding ZPT-1 stock (I’ve always wanted one of these, and I bloody love it!), ZTK2 muzzle brake, and the ZB rail system; it’s basically a “Modern Tac SU” in a box and just needs an optic and taclite added to be

“OKAY, IT WOULDN’T BE ME IF I DIDN’T HAVE AT LEAST ONE OPFOR CHOICE IN THE MIX, AND ONE MODEL THAT I’VE 100% ENJOYED ADDING TO MY PERSONAL ARMOURY IS THE LCT ZKS-74UN! IF YOU WANT A THOROUGHLY MODERN SU, THEN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THIS AEG”

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL MOST-USED IN 2023!

VORSK VMP-1X GBBR

Price: iro UK£265.00 Weight: 2169g Length: 690mm (Max) Magazine Capacity: 48 BBs Cold Chrono: 1.06 Joule/339fps Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/341 fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: Dedicated, but 14mm CCW Under Supplied By: www.vorskairsoft.com

VFC Mk18 MOD1 GBBR

Price: iro UK£450.00 Weight: 2500g Length: 696mm Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.72 Joule/280fps Hot Chrono: 0.53 Joule/240fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.vegaforce.com

SPECNA ARMS E19 MK18 AEG Price: iro UK£225.00 Weight: 2675g Length: 780mm Magazine Capacity: 125 BBs (Two Included) Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps Hot Chrono: 1.06 Joule/338fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

ICS DD MK18 AEG

Price: iro UK£500.00 Weight: 2877g Length: 726mm Magazine Capacity: 120 BBs Cold Chrono: 1.03 Joule/334fps Hot Chrono: 1.03 Joule/334fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.icsbb.com

ASG M15 DEVIL SBR

Price: iro UK£220.00 (when new) Weight: 2400g Length: 738mm Magazine Capacity: 300 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.actionsportgames.com

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good to go! This is a really serviceable, bomber-tough AEG that’s quite unique in its look and feel for an “SU”; it’s short, easy to move around, and with the DTK-2-style brake it looks nice and aggressive. The only addition I would like to have seen here is the inclusion of the ZRK motor grip, but that’s easily remedied. The bonus of course with this little AEG is that I can use all the AK mags I already own which helps to keep costs down, and a side rail for an AK mount means I can run any optic I choose as the cheek riser on the ZPT-1 stock is fully adjustable. I’ve had extensive experience with LCT AEGs, and I’ve always found their performance solid, even “box fresh”. My own models have seen many thousands of BBs through their hops and down their barrels, and they continue to please me greatly every time I field one of them! Chris: I’ve been a part of this game we love for over 25 years and finally this year I got round to buying my first GBBRs! I picked up a pair of WE M4s second-hand and decided to tinker with them instead of buying new and I wasn’t disappointed. Sure, I could go out and get a brand spanking new MWS and call it done but for the price of a new MWS I bought TWO older M4s with enough parts to make a third (XM177 project) and a grand total of TWENTY mags… the second hand market has some gems to be found if you search hard enough and know exactly what you’re looking for! Gas primaries are oodles of fun and extremely satisfying to run in game; okay, they do take a little more to get set up and look after, but that’s no different to running a real firearm and teaches you to look after your kit (not that I didn’t already). Moving forward I already have plans for a second upper for one of my M4 builds as parts can be had at good prices from KY Airsoft in Taiwan. If you haven’t considered a GBBR primary or have just been procrastinating about getting one, just do it. You won’t regret it (as long as you maintain it)! Dan: Since taking a little break from sniping, I would have to say the gun that I’ve reached for most during 2023 has been my PKM build that I detailed earlier this year. The PKM has been responsible for so much absolute slaughter and mayhem on the fields

this year; with its DMR-level range and accuracy and 7000 BBs on tap, it’s practically like unlocking “God Mode”! Midway through the year, I did end up adding a bipod to the front so I could use it off the prone or barricades better. My first trial setup was an airsoft clone of the Atlas bipod mounted to a modified Zentico gooseneck. There were a few intrinsic problems with pushing that style of bipod into service with an MG, however. Suffice it to say, it’s too complicated and not ideal for the role. I eventually ended up getting hold of the original A&K PKM bipod, which I modified by removing a few inches from each leg. This brought the gun closer to the ground so it is more comfortable to get behind. The only thing I dislike is that it’s longer than the muzzle when in the stowed position. I think my dream setup would be to get a modified B-50 rail installed on the front and mount the Zenitco Zhuk-2 bipod legs to it. That would keep the length short still and be a nice and stable platform. Modding... it never ends, I tell you! Ben: My go-to trusted AEG that sees a LOT of use is the ASG M4 Devil SBR, (a second-hand purchase); it has never let me down, there’s nothing over-special done to it, just a MAX hop unit and a tightbore barrel… this old girl serves me well there’s been so many times it’s surprised me with range and accuracy, and also just how quiet it is! I’ve been feet away from enemies and taken out multiple players without them noticing my shots, and I always get compliments on its look and what’s been done to it. It’s due a service as very slowly the FPS has dropped, but that’s taken over two years and has been to pretty much every game day I’ve been on since getting it. The Devil always brings me joy, luck and good huntings! Stewbacca: For me, I guess it has to be the VFC HK53 GBBR. The MP5.56, always a favourite of the local constabularies armed response units back home, alongside the MP5 and G36C, as well as its longer brother HK33 being the go to for the RUC/PSNI I guess I’ve seen too many of the real ones knocking around in my life to not have a thing for it. Coupled with the great performance and recoil impulse is the ease of handling; in fact I’ve been running it on stages as my go-to competition rifle

“THE PKM HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR SO MUCH ABSOLUTE SLAUGHTER AND MAYHEM ON THE FIELDS THIS YEAR; WITH ITS DMR-LEVEL RANGE AND ACCURACY AND 7000 BBS ON TAP, IT’S PRACTICALLY LIKE UNLOCKING “GOD MODE”!”

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL MOST-USED IN 2023!

A&K PKM(STANDARD MODEL)

Price: iro UK£450.00 Weight: 7350g Length: 1185mm Magazine Capacity: 5000 BBs Cold Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps Hot Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps Optic Compatibility: No, but accessories available Suppressor Compatibility: Yes (Spetsnaz/Dan reasons only!) Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

VFC HK53 GBBR

Price: iro UK£550.00 Weight: 2895g Length: 750mm Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331fps Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps Taclite Compatibility: N/A Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.vegaforce.com

WE M4A1 GBBR

Price: iro UK£350.00 Weight: 3050g Length: 768/850mm Magazine Capacity: 30 Cold Chrono: 1.16 Joule/354fps Hot Chrono: 1.13 Joule/349fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed (RIS Version) Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

LCT ZKS-74UN

Price: iro UK£400.00 Weight: 3500g Length: 467mm Magazine Capacity: 130, will accept most AK-style Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: Dedicated Muzzle Brake Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

KRYTAC MAXIM 9

Price: iro UK£270.00 Weight: 768g Length: 240mm Magazine Capacity: 24 BBs Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331fps Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Integrated Supplied By: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

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most of the year and will likely take it to Kaohsiung for the TSMOC rifle competition in early 2024! It’s scarily accurate with the new EZHop system posting single shots through gaps in palettes out to 25-30m with ease at the GBR LARP in Taichung I covered back in issue 151 and you can read the full review in the same issue. It’s just been one of the first guns I reach for since I borrowed it from VFC’s Pentagon Service Centre and refused to return it… so I threw some money at them instead… I vote with my wallet, fellow shooters! Miguel: I must say the Specna Arms Mk18 EDGE 2.0 has been my personal “go to” for 2023… again! Firstly, the Mk18 is a simple and effective design, ready for any kind of attachments, easy to find parts for replacement or upgrades and pleasant to the eye (in my opinion). Secondly, being part of the EDGE 2.0 range, the replica comes with a configurable electronic trigger, the Aster from GATE, a new trigger, better internals and a flat hop up. For its price range, it’s a great deal! Mine has been with me for the past two years now, and with over 15k BBs shot it still works fine, giving great range and accuracy. Jimmy: For me it has to be my trusty not-so-TM anymore VSR 10. I got into sniping about two years ago now and I have to say I am hooked. What once was a humble 1j sniper rifle has since turned into a 2.5j HPA highly-accurate tool. Being HPA makes it incredibly quiet and easy to use thanks to the brilliant Mancraft SDIK engine. It no longer resembles the Remington that it is copied from as I replaced the stock with the Maple leaf MLC2 stock which I have to say is a fantastic looking and very strong stock; I call it ‘The Kennedy Killer’ with the ability to pick targets off at a known 80m!. It is very satisfying seeing a BB travel that distance and connect with the target, but I know it can reach out further though. The TM VSR 10 out of the box is a very nice rifle but to be effective and to give you the range and accuracy you really desire they do require a fair amount of work; fortunately they are a great platform to upgrade and the choice of upgrade parts available is fantastic. Another of my favorites of late though is the very popular Wolverine MTW billet. This thing is a menace on the field and with the right suppressor is virtually

silent. Made entirely by Wolverine it sports some top-shelf components and quality parts. Milspec components make the MTW stand out in a crowd and gives performance unlike many others. The Inferno Engine coupled with the Spartan electronics is the heart of the beast which the rifle was designed around. Jase: So for me, this segment was always going to be about my KWA RM4 ERG. This AEG, owned from new, has been in my possession for some TEN years now and bar a rewire (for my personal preference) has never let me down. Power has always been in or very close to original fps and bar a few buckings has cost me very, very little to maintain. I do have the gas sibling, the KWA LM4, but the reliability and real like functionality of the ERG win hands down for me. I don’t say it lightly when I say I love this gun; it’s like a can of ‘Ronseal’, ‘Does exactly what it says on the tin!’

SECONDARY EFFORTS!

Turning it around I asked the Red Cell Crew what they liked in terms of pistols, and although some of the “old faves” were there like the TM G17 and WE-based 1911 styles, there were a few models that sparked interest among us, and no small amount of conversation/debate! Jase: As for a secondary, it has to be my WE G17; eight years old, owned from new and has been faultless. I have hardly spent any money on it bar a few seals and a bucking. I have recently purchased a TM Desert Warrior which might rule the roost in 2024 but that has yet to play out… let’s see what my write up this time next year reads like.... Jimmy: The secondary choice of many airsoft snipers is the trusted Mk23 SOCOM, an almost-silent non-blowback gas pistol, but I chose to be different and opted for the TM FNX45 with a silencer. While the FNX is not as quiet as the Mk23 it is still pretty quiet, quiet to a point it doesn’t give away your position allowing you to go unnoticed and maintain your advantage. The FNX is and has been my favoured pistol for quite some time now and it performs as you would expect a TM pistol to perform. I mainly use it for close quarters inside my MED, although it has a respectable range and can easily lift a .30g BB

“THE SECONDARY CHOICE OF MANY AIRSOFT SNIPERS IS THE TRUSTED MK23 SOCOM, AN ALMOST-SILENT NON-BLOWBACK GAS PISTOL, BUT I CHOSE TO BE DIFFERENT AND OPTED FOR THE TM FNX45 WITH A SILENCER. WHILE THE FNX IS NOT AS QUIET AS THE MK23 IT IS STILL PRETTY QUIET”

www.airsoftaction.net

RED CELL MOST-USED IN 2023!

UMAREX GLOCK 17 GEN4

Price: iro £160.00 Weight: 665g Length: 210mm Magazine Capacity: 24+1 Cold Chrono 0.89 Joule/310fps Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: No Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

VORSK HI CAPA 5.1

Price: iro £130.00 Weight: 930g Length: 250mm Magazine Capacity: 23 BBs Cold Chrono: 1.11 Joule/346fps Hot Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: Good, Threaded Outer Barrel Available From: www.vorskairsoft.com

SPECNA ARMS SAI BLU

Price: iro £225.00 Weight: 930g Length: 215mm Magazine Capacity: 24 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.90 Joule/312fps Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: Good, Threaded Outer Barrel Available From: www.gunfire.com

VORSK VX14

Price: iro £130.00 Weight: 990g Length: 340mm (With Suppressor) Magazine Capacity: 23 BBs Cold Chrono 0.89 Joule/310fps Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: Included! Available From: www.vorskairsoft.com

TOKYO MARUI FNX 45

Price: iro £150.00 Weight: 830g Length: 220mm Magazine Capacity: 29 BBs Cold Chrono 0.82 Joule/298fps Hot Chrono: 0.84 Joule/302fps Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: Good, Threaded Outer Barrel Available From: www.fire-support.co.uk

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meaning I can still keep a good distance from my target. Miguel: Specna Arms are still just taking their 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! 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! 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! Stewbacca: Sidearm-wise I’d be remiss to not mention the Krytac Maxim 9; it’s certainly not to everyone’s taste, but nonetheless the whole deployment kit they sent me has made it an excellent go-to sidearm that just works when I need it to (can’t say that for all my pistols, for sure!). Putting the SRO clone on it along with the integrated tracer unit has made it a force to be reckoned with in CQB and the accuracy out to around 40m rivals some carbines with longer barrels. The holster is excellent and makes it a breeze to reach for even in awkward positions when you’re trying to cradle your PSG1 on your knee but need to take a shorter shot inside your minimum engagement range. It looks badass. It fills my bear paws well. It shoots straight. It’s just easy to get along with. Also ease of HOP adjustment with the little port on the left of the barrel block with the slide locked rearward makes it easy to “tweak”, even –game! Ben: for my secondary I’ve been putting the Vorsk VX14 through its paces, and as it stands...it stands well! Range is decent, still preforming just like out the box, and I’ve only had one jam… which unfortunately got me killed in-game! However, the performance

outweighs that minor hiccup so we can happily forgive that! I still sometimes feel as if the top slide is going to bust due to how light it is and how hard it hits, but thus far this is not a problem, so a thumbs up to Vorsk with the VX14...it’s 100% holding its own. Dan: On the sidearm front, I’m still rocking my trusty RWA Agency NOC build and don’t really have plans to swap to another platform anytime soon. Since adding the EMG TTI magazine extensions, which increase BB capacity a little, it’s been running like a top and has been very reliable. I also finally figured out the spring(s) side and have that pretty dialled in. Namely the Waldo Customs “Snappy Boi” spring ended up working the best of anything I’ve used thus far, plus it works with the gold on black theme to boot. The extensions also add a little more “gas in the tank”, which I think was a nice improvement and ensure the slide reliably cycles every round to an empty lock. If I could track down a second NOC slide at a reasonable price, I’d definitely build a twin off the extra G17 frame and pile of parts I have! Chris: My go to secondary has been my Marui USP 9mm but that’s barely actually been fired this year, maybe 10 BBs maximum when setting hop/ unloading… purely because I’ve not needed to use it! Bill: Much like my take on “longs” it’s a similar story when it comes to secondaries for me! I’ve had so many pistols out on the range this year again it’s been crazy, and the way 2024 is looking I know that’s not going to change any time soon! Although I’ve seen, and shot, many fine GBB handguns during 2023 I am a bit of a man of habit, and I know what I like. However, different disciplines require different solutions so my most-used handguns are pulled from the armoury for specific purposes. As, when the opportunity arises, I am a Glock man when it comes to “real deal”, for training scenarios (such as the day I attended with FAST TACTICAL earlier this year) it has to be my wholly-trusted, fully-licenced Umarex G17. This by no means a new pistol, but with just minor maintenance and some bucking-love it continues to perform and perform; to date it has never misfed or jammed, and the range and accuracy are both excellent… range of course is a relative term as I only usually revert to my secondary when necessary,

“SIDEARM-WISE I’D BE REMISS TO NOT MENTION THE KRYTAC MAXIM 9; IT’S CERTAINLY NOT TO EVERYONE’S TASTE, BUT NONETHELESS THE WHOLE DEPLOYMENT KIT THEY SENT ME HAS MADE IT AN EXCELLENT GO-TO SIDEARM THAT JUST WORKS WHEN I NEED IT TO”

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RED CELL MOST-USED IN 2023!

and then only at around 10m engagement ranges or inside rooms/buildings. I run it with a Surefire X300 taclite fitted in a specific light-bearing Kydex Customs holster; it suits me, and I know I can rely on it in those “WTSHTF” moments! Alongside the ICS Mk18 I’m as much as a “Gucci-gamer” as many of you though, and my choice here is my slightly “non-standard” VORSK Hi Capa 5.1! I just love the look of this pistol, and since their launch, the VORSK Hi-Capa models have grown in popularity due to their excellent shotto-shot-performance and gas efficiency. This high gas efficiency, the result of a large gas reservoir combined with their distinctive weight-reduced slides, has been remarkable, and each new model has brought something unique in terms of both performance and looks to the (airsoft) party! This combination gives the VORSK Hi-Capa’s a distinctive appearance, a faster cycle rate, snappy trigger action and a solid felt blowback, and the big old magazine keeps you in-game for longer! This is now a model that I’ve spent some meaningful time with and when the ICS Mk18s arrived and I looked around for a complementary pistol in a deep “SF Bronze” the 5.1 really jumped

out at me! The addition of a slightly longer pistol to my armoury (I usually run with an 4.3) means that I can have a specific sidearm for general field use, one that is easily capable of delivering BBs beyond my usual “10m rule” if necessary, but that is in operation one that I have “muscle memory” for. It also means I can use my existing VORSK Hi Capa magazines (WIN! No new mags needed!), my existing Kydex Customs Holster, and have a secondary that matched up beautifully to my shiny new skirmish AEG primary… yeah, that’s me being a true airsofter right there! I’m currently running the 5.1 absolutely stock… well, almost! I have made a change in that the stock bronze model comes with a very cool FDE wrapround grip and trigger guard assembly, but all the accents on my Mk18 are black! A quiet word with the lovely VORSK crew though saw a black gripassembly on its way to me, and this was easily and quickly fitted by Jimmy! My 5.1 now marries up to the Mk18 perfectly… and I love it! And that’s it for another year of RED CELL, and all that remains is for all of us to wish all of you a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS, and may all of your airsoft adventures in 2024 be truly memorable ones! AA

“ALONGSIDE THE ICS MK18 I’M AS MUCH AS A “GUCCI-GAMER” AS MANY OF YOU THOUGH, AND MY CHOICE HERE IS MY SLIGHTLY “NON-STANDARD” VORSK HI CAPA 5.1! I JUST LOVE THE LOOK OF THIS PISTOL, AND SINCE THEIR LAUNCH, THE VORSK HI-CAPA MODELS HAVE GROWN IN POPULARITY DUE TO THEIR EXCELLENT SHOT-TOSHOT-PERFORMANCE AND GAS EFFICIENCY” 58

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Red Cell is supported by: IMAGE CURTESY OF KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

www.airsoftaction.net

ARP9 2.0

EGC-ARP-9V2-BNB-NCM

7” M-LOK Handguard. Combat Machine Airsoft Gun. New GOS-V9 Retractable Stock. 170

5 POSITIONS RETRACTABLE

Stainless steel material

RAPID DEPLOYMENT

EXTENSION UNIT AVAILABLE

[G-05-062]

ARP9 2.0 ST

EGC-ARP-9V2-SST-NCM

TECHNICAL NIGHTFOX RED NV

GOING DARK OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR WE’VE LOOKED OCCASIONALLY AT COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO INCREASE YOUR EFFECTIVENESS DURING AIRSOFT “NIGHT OPS”, AND AS WE’RE IN THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE NIGHT FALLS EARLIER BEN HAS BEEN TRIALLING THE NIGHTFOX RED NVGS TO SEE IF SOMETHING THAT’S A FRACTION OF THE PRICE OF “MILSPEC” MODELS CAN CUT IT IN-GAME; NOW HE REPORTS BACK… 62

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ike all airsoft enthusiasts and military-minded people, and even those who like shooter-style vide games I also get that tingling feeling about NVG’S; they’re a thing of myth and legend to many of us who have to work within a meagre budget, but it doesn’t stop us wanting a little “making the night day” action, now does it? A little while ago I unfortunately missed out on getting myself a Gen 2 PVS 14 night vision monocular and as gutted as I felt I am also just as happy as it allowed me to explore more into the budget-friendly world of digital night vision. I came across this brand Nightfox, and after doing a little bit of research of the few products they produce I found myself drawn to the Nightfox RED. Now what attracted me was the RED had the capability of video and audio recording which would make my life easier with helping me out making night-time gameplay footage for my own YouTube channel, and the RED’s features also allowed X1 zoom, a focus lens wheel, twin 940 nm IR built-in lights, a battery that can last up to 5 hours if you are not using the IR built in lights to full capability and some other settings in the menu to deal with light settings with the built-in screen. HEADMOUNTED GOGGLES WITH AN EDGE: A supercharged version of the best-selling Nightfox Swift night vision goggles, the Nightfox Red adds 1080p video recording with audio, a wider field of view, a high capacity 3200mAh rechargeable battery, powerful Low Glow 940nm LEDs and a higher resolution screen. FOR CLOSE-QUARTERS USE: The Red is designed to see your immediate surroundings (1-25 yards) in pitch black. A 1x magnification and extra wide Field of View (FOV) of 46° is critical for

close quarters use. Two covert 940nm IR LEDs are designed to illuminate everything nearby. The Red is designed with covert tactical operations and airsoft close-quarters battle (CQB) in mind. To see threats further away, consider a different Nightfox device with 3x, 6x or 7x optical magnification. USE HANDHELD OR HEAD MOUNTED: The Red is supplied with an adjustable head strap as standard, making it easy to go hands-free. Using third party mounts (not supplied), you can also mount the Red to a tactical helmet or bump helmet using the GoProcompatible connection point on the top of the device.

“THE RED’S FEATURES ALSO ALLOWED X1 ZOOM, A FOCUS LENS WHEEL, TWIN 940 NM IR BUILT-IN LIGHTS, A BATTERY THAT CAN LAST UP TO 5 HOURS IF YOU ARE NOT USING THE IR BUILT IN LIGHTS TO FULL CAPABILITY AND SOME OTHER SETTINGS IN THE MENU TO DEAL WITH LIGHT SETTINGS WITH THE BUILT-IN SCREEN” www.airsoftaction.net

TECHNICAL NIGHTFOX RED NV

HD FOOTAGE WITH AUDIO: The Red boasts a Full High Definition (FHD) infrared camera sensor: 1920*1080p resolution, producing excellent quality video footage. Thanks to an integrated microphone, video footage also includes audio recording. To record footage, a Micro SD card is required (not included). ENERGY ALL NIGHT: Powered by a high capacity 3200mAh internal rechargeable battery that gives around 4 hours of constant use. With the included micro USB cable, simply plug the Red into any USB port to charge the batteries, like a wall socket or USB power bank. Never be stranded with flat NVG goggles again!

IN GAME

It’s easy to use setup with the controls even for a non-technical person like myself makes it super-slick to work with, but how does it feel in use? Well, I tried using the night vision unit for the first night-game wit

it on constantly (not ever having used night vision in-game before) and found after a short while that it was very disorientating; not having my peripheral vision definitely took effect, but not as bad as I thought! I quickly adjusted on my playstyle with them and found to lower the unit when I felt I was getting into contact or if I felt the need to scan the area I was situated in; this is where it shone through! Now after my first game with a couple of kills and understanding better about how to adjust for the disorientation, my second outing using the Nightfox RED unit saw my game had stepped up; I was finding myself sneaking behind the enemy’s front lines and wiping out small squads of players with ease and watching them have no clue as to my whereabouts, and I was truly shocked with not only the effectiveness but also the RED’s capability; being a budgetfriendly night vision unit I found it ideal with mote-than satisfactory performance for a skirmish-style game. How effective you may wonder… well I managed to get so close to the enemy team that they were literally brushing past the barrel of my MP7 and had no clue that I was there! Knowing the site and the many players that play there I also knew I had the advantage knowing that I would most likely be the only one with night vision capability, and it was FUN! I am currently in talks with the staff at Nightfox about future development on new devices with a view to making the units even more suitable for airsoft; they currently have a new gen that has just released called the Nightfox Swift 2 Pro which has some slight changes to the features that do seem rather desirable, such as built-in IR lights 850 nm for range and 940 nm for stealth, the option to switch screen from a black and white to the familiar green vision, and it

“I QUICKLY ADJUSTED ON MY PLAY-STYLE WITH THEM AND FOUND TO LOWER THE UNIT WHEN I FELT I WAS GETTING INTO CONTACT OR IF I FELT THE NEED TO SCAN THE AREA I WAS SITUATED IN; THIS IS WHERE IT SHONE THROUGH!”

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even comes with a dovetail mount that would fit the Wilcox G24 style NVG helmet mount! However, I am looking forward to the next gen to which I hope I can have a hand in helping bring to our game, and making some needed adjustments to get a better experience for the airsofter. I will cover the next gen for you lovely lot and hope to see Nightfox develop even more so in the budget-friendly way for fellow airsofters!

FEATURES •

•

1x magnification with a wide FOV helps you observe your immediate surroundings better than ever. The Red has a field of view (FOV) of 46°, much wider than anything they’ve offered before. HD recording with audio comes courtesy of

the Red’s new 1080p sensor and integrated microphone. The viewing screen packs in 50% more pixels than the Swift, giving even better clarity. • Covert 940nm infrared LEDs; thanks to the “low glow” 940nm wavelength and an internal mesh over the LEDs, visible glow from the Red is kept to a minimum. This is a feature requested lots by the Nightfox community. • An LG-cell 18650 battery provides high performance and better serviceability. Should you wish to upgrade or replace your battery in the future, now you can. To charge, just use the provided USB cable. To keep up to date with all the developments and Nightfox simply head on over to www.nightfoxstore. com/collections/airsoft AA

“I AM CURRENTLY IN TALKS WITH THE STAFF AT NIGHTFOX ABOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON NEW DEVICES WITH A VIEW TO MAKING THE UNITS EVEN MORE SUITABLE FOR AIRSOFT; THEY CURRENTLY HAVE A NEW GEN THAT HAS JUST RELEASED CALLED THE NIGHTFOX SWIFT 2 PRO” www.airsoftaction.net

AA LEGION JAPAN

MARUI FEST 2023! OUR MAN IN JAPAN TAMA DROPPED OUR MAN STEWBACCA IN THE EAST A LINE IN MID-NOVEMBER HAVING JUST VISITED TWO OF THE MORE MINOR YET MOST EAGERLY ANTICIPATED AIRSOFT-RELATED SHOWS IN TOKYO IN ONE WEEKEND! WITH SOME MORE STORIES TO SHARE AND SOME INTERESTING NEW PRODUCTS TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS ON, WE’LL KICK OFF WITH WHAT HE HAD TO TELL US ABOUT THE ONE AND ONLY MARUI FEST 2023!

he 12th of November 2023 marks the day of two of the biggest airsoft events in Japan which are the Tokyo Marui fest and the Bakuretsu-sai; two festivals that every airsofter and airgun lover are waiting for, but for this article I’m only going to cover my experience of this year’s Tokyo Marui Festival. It’s the festival that is eagerly awaited by numerous people the world over, partly because Tokyo Marui rarely holds any showcases outside of Japan which means that people are lining up like crazy to see what Marui has been cooking up for us! But before we get into what Tokyo Marui’s new collection consists of, what is Tokyo Marui Fest? The Tokyo Marui Festival is an expo organised by Marui themselves; they are held twice a year, and they showcase everything Marui have, from their bestselling VSR-10 lineups, pioneering AEG variants of the M16 and M4, their top of the line gas blowback pistols, their child-friendly 10 year old exclusive AEGs, all of their flagship gas blowback rifles, and of course their upcoming new products. Most of the stuff in the

festival can be handled and thus you can feel it for yourself; not only that but there’s a shooting range in the festival, so you can shoot and enjoy trying guns to your liking, especially the ones that you can’t get your hands on because they’re too expensive for your wallet, that’s what I did! The event is held in Bellesalle Akihabara, which if you know from the name is located in the heaven of otakus that is Akihabara; it’s really close to the train station, being just 4-5 minutes away. It’s a huge building with a huge “ベレサール秋葉原住友不動産” (Bellesalle Akihabara Sumitomo Real Estate) on the front so it’s somewhat hard to miss. The event itself is located in the open hall in front of the building, and on the gate there’s a huge “Tokyo Marui” logo, again making it very hard to miss, even from the surrounding buildings! The event was held over two days on the 11th and 12th of November, so there was a plenty of time to try out the wares on show; however, I was only able to go on the 12th and on that day there was

“THE TOKYO MARUI FESTIVAL IS AN EXPO ORGANISED BY MARUI THEMSELVES; THEY ARE HELD TWICE A YEAR, AND THEY SHOWCASE EVERYTHING MARUI HAVE, FROM THEIR BESTSELLING VSR-10 LINEUPS, PIONEERING AEG VARIANTS OF THE M16 AND M4, THEIR TOP OF THE LINE GAS BLOWBACK PISTOLS… ALL OF THEIR FLAGSHIP GAS BLOWBACK RIFLES, AND OF COURSE THEIR UPCOMING NEW PRODUCTS!” 66

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also Bakuretsu-sai happening in the other side of the town, so there wasn’t a lot of time for me personally, but thank god the expo itself wasn’t that big this year so it was at least easier to cover the new hot stuff that Marui are delivering. So after the boring introduction of the event, let’s get to the fun part of this article; showcasing Tokyo Marui’s new hot products up for grabs by us airsofters, and also my first impressions of them!

SHORTY SHOTGUN BOI

In June of this year Tokyo Marui released the long awaited Saiga-12K, the first gas blowback semi-auto shotgun produced, which broke onto the market and quickly became a flagship gun for them, with no company yet capable of matching what Marui achieved with the Saiga-12K, somewhat maintaining their throne within the gas blowback market. But they’re not stopping… meet the Saiga-12 SBS, the newest variant of the GBB shotgun, and the first child of the TM Saiga-12K family. So what is in the name? SBS stands for Short-Barreled Shotgun, which in reality became very short with a 7.5 inch barrel (8 inch if you count the flash hider). While the original is 11 inches long, heavy, and hard to handle at times, the SBS is very manoeuvrable and lighter than the original Saiga12k, perfect for indoor CQB battles. Although since it’s a Saiga-12, it’s nonetheless destined to be heavier than a normal AR or AK GBBRs, but I guess the slight weight reduction is at least welcome for those who want to field the Saiga-12 in CQB environments. One of the problems with the TM Saiga-12K is the low shot count; the original short mag can only hold 45 BBs and because it’s a triple-shot shotgun, you can only shoot 15 salvos with one mag, which is not enough even for small Japanese sized indoor fields. You either deal with it and have to be extra careful with your shots, carry two to four huge magazines, or get an aftermarket drum HPA magazine. But with the SBS, Tokyo Marui solved the problem with a long Saiga-12 magazine, thus solving the biggest drawback of the Saiga-12. The new mag will hold 90 BBs and is thus capable of delivering 30 salvos, which is a huge blessing because now you can at least match the real capacity count with most GBBRs. The magazine design is also different; it has a similar design with the

“THE G36C PLUS IS GOING TO BE EQUIPPED WITH TM’S NEW [PLUS SYSTEM] FET, IMPROVED MECH BOX, BETTER TRIGGER RESPONSE, AND BRAND NEW LI-PO BATTERY. THE FURNITURE TOO IS GETTING IMPROVED WITH A CHEEK RISER ON THE STOCK AND A KNIGHT’S ARMAMENT KAC TYPE UPPER PICATINNY RAIL”

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AA LEGION JAPAN

real Saiga-12 K-Var magazine, which is ribbed and angled like the AK 5.45mm magazine, thus it solves the capacity problem and makes it look even cooler. Talking about shots, the SBS will have a full-auto mode, unlike the original Saiga-12K; you need to do a little bit of modification to the original gun, but the SBS will have it from the factory, so you can unleash the monster without the hassle of tampering with the OS. Not only the magazine, but the furniture of the gun is now 100 times better and cooler than the original Saiga-12K; the hand guard is a boxy, IMI Galil style handguard modelled after its real-steel counterpart, the Saiga-12 SBS made by Izhmash (currently Kalashnikov Concern) which makes it look cooler and correct for the gun. It also have picatinny rails on all 4 sides, so now you can run torches, hand grips, and red dot sights without needing to buy a side-mounted picatinny rail shoe for your Saiga, although the SBS still retains the side mounts, so you can still choose to use that if it suits your preferred red dot placement for your Saiga-12 SBS. Moving to the rear, the SBS will be equipped with an AR-style 6 position buffer tube and a M4 style stock, so you can set it up to your liking or exchange it with the much better Magpul CTR stocks; a smart move, no doubt. The grip too is going to be not an AK style, but it’ll be a M16A2 style AR grip, which again can be exchanged, however all of these are incorrect to the original Izhmash Saiga-12 SBS, which infuriates me… also the flash hider is incorrect which tickles my firearm-freak instincts! Other than the incorrect parts, the SBS also retains one major drawback that the original has; finding magazine pouches that fit! The original short magazine is already huge, now they’re making it bigger and longer, and while the short magazine can fit into G36 twin pouches, AA-12, or old style AK magazine pouches, the new long mag is huge! Finding a suitable magazine pouch is going to be a hard task. Also it’s heavy, the gun is heavy and the magazines are heavy too so it’s a good gun if you want to get ripped arms, but you might regret it after fielding it for a full-day game. The blowback though is super-strong, but it’s not all that snappy, especially on full-auto; I guess it needs a lot of power to cycle 3

“MOVING TO THE REAR, THE SBS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH AN AR-STYLE 6 POSITION BUFFER TUBE AND A M4 STYLE STOCK, SO YOU CAN SET IT UP TO YOUR LIKING OR EXCHANGE IT WITH THE MUCH BETTER MAGPUL CTR STOCKS; A SMART MOVE, NO DOUBT.”

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BBs and perhaps could benefit from green gas where that’s allowed. But other than that, in my opinion the Saiga-12 SBS is a gun worth the wait and the hit to your wallet; the price is as yet still unannounced, but Tokyo Marui is planning to release it next spring, so save your money or use your rainy day money, and we’ll see if they bring us the SBS right on time.

FINALLY… NOT ANOTHER M4!

Tokyo Marui is also remaking one of their classic AEGs, the G36C, and they made it even better with making the G36C PLUS which is a new addition to Tokyo Marui Plus AEG family; they released the P90+, and the PATRIOT PLUS AEG is also imminent, so now were going to see the G36C get the same love as the P90 and the M4 Patriot. The G36C PLUS is going to be equipped with TM’s new [PLUS System] FET, improved mech box, better trigger response, and brand new LiPo battery. The furniture too is getting improved with a cheek riser on the stock and a Knight’s Armament KAC type upper picatinny rail, deleting the original G36C upper rail, making it an import version G36C. Unfortunately I didn’t have the opportunity to shoot it, but it has a purported better response and RPM than the original G36C. Other than that, it’s just another G36C, it’s not the Next-Gen G36C, it’s a standard G36C AEG being upgraded from factory, so unless you’re a Tokyo Marui diehard fan or a G36C fan, it’s another modern AEG, but at least we’re not only getting M4s, the G36C too is getting some love. It’s still in the development phase and the launch date is unknown, but expect it to come after the PATRIOT PLUS. Speaking of TM’s PLUS family, the P90+ and the PATRIOT PLUS were also showcased, which were cool additions to the expo.

DRIP-CAPA

From the GBB pistol department, Tokyo Marui is also re-making their much loved classics, the Hi-CAPA D.O.R, so say hello to the Hi-CAPA White D.O.R. You might ask “what’s changed?”, well they changed it from cool into a Radi-cool Hi-Capa; the off-white colour looks amazing on a SpeedQB oriented gun,

“TOKYO MARUI IS ALSO REMAKING ONE OF THEIR CLASSIC AEGS, THE G36C, AND THEY MADE IT EVEN BETTER WITH MAKING THE G36C PLUS WHICH IS A NEW ADDITION TO TOKYO MARUI PLUS AEG FAMILY; THEY RELEASED THE P90+, AND THE PATRIOT PLUS AEG IS ALSO IMMINENT”

www.airsoftaction.net

AA LEGION JAPAN

with a slight hint of black on the receiver, and a bright red trigger. This gun will catch the eyes of anyone on the other end of the barrel. They are also going to sell a matching coloured Tokyo Marui Micro Pro Sight for modification, which gives the gun more rad-ness! But they missed the magazine, it’s a shame that they’re not painting the magazines white; however they also improved the trigger box, so you will have better trigger response at least. They have also another repainted VSR-One, it has been produced in a blue format. Other than the cool appearance factor, it is after all just another re-skinned Hi-Capa, but if you want to have the Drip-Capa, expect it to be on sale next year, however price is still to be determined. But expect it to be more expensive than the original D.O.R, because the white Micro Pro Sight is already going to be priced around 6,800 yen (45.13 Dollar or 41.51 Euro), a thousand yen higher than the original!

NEXT GEN AUSTRIAN

The widely talked about next-gen Tokyo Marui Glock series also took the spotlight, the TM Glock 17 Gen5 MOS. It’s the hype from Marui, since it featured a lot of new improvements; one of them being the MOS optic system; MOS standing for Modular Optic System, which is a system that integrates a platform for the RMR red dot sight onto the slide of the gun, which makes installing a red dot sight far easier, especially when you can take off the cover with just a single button on the end-plate of the gun. The MOS system will be compatible with Tokyo Marui Micro Pro Sight, but beware other brands of RMR might not be so readily compatible. The second improvement is with the internals, especially the magazine. It’s a completely new magazine, that has a brand new gas tank system, which can hold up 20% more gas than the old version, resulting in better gas efficiency. The magazine follower is going to be painted orange, like those of the real Glock magazines, and they will have better seals that make the endurance in cold weather even better. But you might think this new magazine is very different and it won’t fit older Gen3 and Gen4 Glocks, thankfully you’re wrong! The new magazine is still compatible with older generation Glocks, so

“THE WIDELY TALKED ABOUT NEXT-GEN TOKYO MARUI GLOCK SERIES ALSO TOOK THE SPOTLIGHT, THE TM GLOCK 17 GEN5 MOS. IT’S THE HYPE FROM MARUI, SINCE IT FEATURED A LOT OF NEW IMPROVEMENTS; ONE OF THEM BEING THE MOS OPTIC SYSTEM”

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you can have a better gas efficiency even if you’re still fielding your 10 year old Gen3 models! Not only the magazine itself, but the gun will also have brand new shiny innards; from what they’re saying the Gen5 will have a brand new piston and trigger system, which gives the Gen5 Glock a stronger and snappier recoil, crisper trigger pull, and coupled with the new magazine, an overall better performance than its predecessors. For people who want much better performance on the already good Marui Glock series, this might be the gun for you; if you do consider the big performance improvements, especially the new magazine, it’s a gun worth the wait and to purchase, and the good news is you won’t need to wait that long; Marui plans to release the Gen5 Glock in either late 2023 or early 2024 with a price tag of 21,780 Yen (144.04 USD or 132.92 EUR); beware the sudden appearance of a next generation Austrian.

LYCOTIS RECOIL – REAL LIFE ADAPTATION

Last but not least is Marui’s new collaboration gun; from the hit action anime series Lycoris Recoil, they present to you “Chisato’s Gun”! You might wonder “Hey what’s the gun’s real name?” and I will answer “That is the name”, yes, Chisato’s Gun is the name that Tokyo Marui have given to this gun. Why? Because it’s the gun of choice for the main heroine Chisato Nishikigi, a .45 ACP Detonics Combat Master pistol modified with a sharp strike face that can stab

any anime villains on the front of the gun, a perfect gun of choice for a cute blonde girl. You might also ask “What is Lycoris Recoil?” If I have to explain it here, I might need another three pages to cover the anime plot! But to summarise; it’s the cute anime version of John Wick with a dash of shadow government and yuri sprinkled on top of it. I won’t get into details, but anyway Tokyo Marui made a completely perfect recreation of it, using their already existing Detonics.45 Combat Master as the base, they installed a brand new grip and a strike face similar to their Strike Warrior other than that it’s the ol’ reliable .45 Detonics. For any otaku whose eyeing up their waifu gun, Tokyo Marui isn’t disclosing anything other than that they’ll be releasing it soon, the price is also unknown, but do beware that there’s going to be otakus flocking and running Naruto-style into your local airsoft stores, likely on the day Chisato’s Gun is released… do keep an eye on them! That’s all for the highlights of the Tokyo Marui Festival, other than the aforementioned planned releases and displayed prototypes from Marui, they were also showcasing their AKM bakelite magazines, which are period inaccurate for the gun, their new GBB pistols for 14 year olds, new revolvers, and a fun corner, where you can vote for Tokyo Marui’s next GBB pistol; personally I voted for the Browning Hipower, because the Hi-Power is the GOAT of semiauto pistols. In summary, this year’s Tokyo Marui Fest left a bit to be desired; other than the Saiga-12 SBS and Glock 17 Gen5, most of their exhibited stuff was either a remake, a repaint, or a collaboration mod. Of course the Glock Gen5 and Saiga-12 SBS are the two things worth waiting for, other than that Tokyo Marui needs to create something to rival their external international rivals, but Tokyo Marui Fest also shows that they are not intent on giving up their GBB throne, with their top of the line GBB technologies and manufacturing… I’m hoping to see more brand new stuff next year, hopefully the Browning Hi-Power… This is Tama from Tokyo Signing out! Many thanks to Victor Chalim and Will Schmitt for the additional pictures (IG hazelx24 and bucky.t.b) used and for their support in creating this report. AA

“YOU MIGHT ALSO ASK “WHAT IS LYCORIS RECOIL?” IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT HERE, I MIGHT NEED ANOTHER THREE PAGES TO COVER THE ANIME PLOT! BUT TO SUMMARISE; IT’S THE CUTE ANIME VERSION OF JOHN WICK WITH A DASH OF SHADOW GOVERNMENT AND YURI SPRINKLED ON TOP OF IT”

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ICS – CHANGING THE GAME!

WITH BILL IN TAIWAN LAST MONTH IT SEEMED LIKE AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY TO GO DOWN TO TAICHUNG TOGETHER AND VISIT OUR LONG-TIME FRIENDS AT ICS AIRSOFT; BILL HAS BEEN AN HONOURARY ICS CAPTAIN SINCE 2015 AND STEWBACCA HAS BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH MANY OF THEIR STAFF OVER HIS TIME IN TAIWAN AND SEEN THEM NOT JUST AT SHOWS BUT ALSO PLAYED ALONGSIDE THEM AT EVENTS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THEIR FACILITY AND WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO IN THE LAST FEW YEARS? ICS RITA WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO SHOW US AROUND IN EARLY NOVEMBER AND INTRODUCE US TO SOME OF THEIR UPCOMING PRODUCTS AS STEWBACCA REPORTS.

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he last time I visited ICS Airsoft in person was way back in my early days in Taiwan before I’d even joined the mad house here at Airsoft Action; back then I was still writing for TacticalTwo blog that my old long-time teammate ‘Handsome’ Dave Weedon and our friend Piotr Usewicz had been running since Dave became an emigre himself. Of course the history of ICS hasn’t changed quite so much in the intervening years, but their in-house capabilities had noticeably increased since my earlier visit back in mid-2018. Nestled amongst the rice paddies in an otherwise industrialised zone in the very north of Taichung’s massive urban sprawl, I Chi Shivan, or simply ICS, have an impressive multi-floor facility emblazoned with their company logo; the ground floor is home to the front desk along with sales and administrative personnel in the open-plan central workspace flanked by the management in their own more private offices to the rear, along with their Quality Control office (with some very nice laser and physical metrology equipment for measurement of the finished products!) leading to the production floor to the rear. On my prior visit I had seen a lone CNC machining centre at the time which was responsible for the completion of extruded aluminium handguards for the likes of their AR series AEGs; since then it appears they have expanded their operations

significantly, with a new larger cell of four separate machines with operators churning out a wider variety of components in even larger volumes! We saw top slides for the sub brand Black Leopard Eye (BLE) GBB pistol range being machined as well as gearbox shells which had been finish machined from cast alloy blanks… of course I was in my element again, nerding out over the machinery and processes they have brought in house more recently. This kind of development is usually a good sign of increased business as well as tightening quality control and diligence over the whole production process; with a greater amount of the processing occurring under their own roof and in greater volume as a result, the R&D Department also appears to have grown and moved upstairs to a more secretive office, having been replaced by the QC department on the ground floor; they must have a larger number of people and more interesting things to be working on away from prying eyes!

SHOW AND TELL

While we were upstairs we also got the grand tour of the showroom (which also serves as somewhat of a fabulous museum to older OCS products these days) with ICS’ ever growing array of products on display! Multiple sliding racks try to accommodate the sheer volume of different models from their earlier history alongside the newer additions of more

“NESTLED AMONGST THE RICE PADDIES IN AN OTHERWISE INDUSTRIALISED ZONE IN THE VERY NORTH OF TAICHUNG’S MASSIVE URBAN SPRAWL, I CHI SHIVAN, OR SIMPLY ICS, HAVE AN IMPRESSIVE MULTI-FLOOR FACILITY EMBLAZONED WITH THEIR COMPANY LOGO” www.airsoftaction.net

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recent years. Among the latest models such as their very nicely executed licensed Daniel Defense Mk18 AEGs in various colours which of course Bill and I had to spend some time getting hands on with, and that Bill and Jimmy already know intimately! I was also drawn to their older lineages such as the original SEF style HK MP5 themed platforms, something which took me back to my own distant past when I first started out in this addiction, and again a love that Bill and I share. ICS’ split gearbox MP5s were one of the more innovative and well-loved solutions that many of my friends and teammates preferred when I first started out playing in the mid-2000s, allowing far easier changing of mainsprings to tailor the muzzle velocity to national legal limits or for use in lower powered CQB environments, as well as generally allowing greater ease of maintenance of the lower section with the gears and motor without having to deal with the mainspring tension when reassembling things… something I’ve turned the air blue with in my time

dealing with AEGs before! Ease of maintenance and creature comforts seem to be a common theme for ICS in their products and continuing research and development, with more recent years bringing us their AEGs with SSS - Self diagnostic Shooting System on board electronics, allowing for a great deal of convenience and protection of the AEGs they are fitted to as well as batteries connected to them. With audible and LED indication allowing users to better understand the status of their replica and whether it requires maintenance or repairs, and preventing further damage in the event of a mechanical or electrical mishap… as well as of course providing a MOSFET solution that improves response, allows for burst modes and greater battery efficiency, as well as eliminating issues with older mechanical contact switches.

PERFORMANCE DRIVEN

Within their GBB range the addition of their REVO

“WE ALSO GOT THE GRAND TOUR OF THE SHOWROOM (WHICH ALSO SERVES AS SOMEWHAT OF A FABULOUS MUSEUM TO OLDER OCS PRODUCTS THESE DAYS) WITH ICS’ EVER GROWING ARRAY OF PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY!”

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system also allows for a much more customisable and optimisable performance from your gas guns, with the REVO inlet valves enabling a greater amount of liquid propane to be injected, while the REVO output valves being user adjustable to change the valve head’s offset as well as total travel allowing greater control over the distance it can move to vary the gas throughflow and thus the muzzle velocity and recoil action of the host platform. In more recent years the arrival of their ‘Master Mods’ programme has driven the growth of inhouse-designed and produced upgrade components for the ICS AEG & GBB ranges; with a range of toptier inner barrels of various lengths to suit the end user’s platform of choice, as well as suitable HOP unit buckings and nub tensioners, cylinder heads and nozzles, piston heads and bodies, even HOP unit casings and external control components. All are aimed at providing the best in directly compatible components made by the original platform’s manufacturer rather than a third party and for enthusiasts and players who want to invest in the best in performance and maximise the capabilities of their ICS replicas, and our own Red Cell team have given direct feedback to help improve such components in the past, as well as making extensive use of them and reviewing their effects upon various replicas. These developments are just the latest in a long history behind the company, however, with ICS tracing its roots further back than before I was still just a glint in my parent’s eyes! In 1983 their founder Mr Chu starting the initial company on the basis of manufacturing toys in general; at the time the legal, political and social landscape in Taiwan were somewhat in flux, and the legality of firearms or even replicas thereof was a somewhat unstable environment (it seems not much has changed on that front!) although at least since then it has become more permissive in a business sense to produce and export replicas of firearms. As a result of this slowchanging in attitudes, ICS Airsoft as a self-owned sub-brand was created in 1995 to focus on the less generalised toy production and specifically target the growing local and global market for airsoft replicas firearms, evidently developing not only a vast array of products but also increasing design, development

and production capabilities with a great deal of components being finished on site, obviously the onboard electronics or moulded polymer components being an exception as vertically integrating such things is a massive capital investment and undertaking that few specialist companies would ever take on. In terms of product direction, for a large span of the company’s history there have been unofficial replications of H&K, AR, AK and numerous other real steel equivalents, with a lot of the CXP, MARS and BLE lines taking inspiration from real world guns, but blending a lot of their best features into ICS’ own ideas which follow their own unique design language, with many new products taking inspiration from Mr Chu’s own thoughts. However more recently ICS have also begun collaborating with real firearms manufacturers or directly licensing the appearance and trademarks with the likes of their HERA Arms CQR which made its debut way back at one of the earliest MOA shows. This represented one of their first major efforts, while more recently the aforementioned licensed Daniel Defense products also add to the repertoire of products that appeal to the discerning end users wanting to complete the look while also maximising the features and performance of their replicas.

CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN!

On the subject of end-users, in terms of community engagement ICS were one of the earliest manufacturers to implement an ambassador program, with ‘ICS Captains’ being nominated players of various nationalities who were, and are selected to represent ICS and its products in their home countries, and in fact Bill Was made an “Honorary ICS Captain” in 2015 to reflect his long-term relationship with the brand in their early days; with their product’s presence in over 60 countries worldwide, it’s certainly a wise approach to help improve contact and information flow between the company and end users, as well as develop invested players who can help to introduce new products at local or national events and extol the virtues of the latest releases and their features, as well as let people get hands on with them. These Captains can choose their own class or specialisation, and whilst these are not exclusive, and

“ICS’ SPLIT GEARBOX MP5S WERE ONE OF THE MORE INNOVATIVE AND WELL-LOVED SOLUTIONS THAT MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES PREFERRED WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT PLAYING IN THE MID-2000S, ALLOWING FAR EASIER CHANGING OF MAINSPRINGS TO TAILOR THE MUZZLE VELOCITY TO NATIONAL LEGAL LIMITS” 80

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flexibility is allowed for multidisciplinary promotion, the Captains can decide whether they will choose a specialisation in social media; an Instagram, Facebook, Youtube or similar platform user with a threshold number of followers and/or presence online in terms of content produced and appropriate level of representation of ICS Airsoft, its products and ethos. Or there are “Special Ops Force” Captains; focused more on physical presence and product promotion at game days or larger events, where they can showcase their own personal weapons platforms and encourage other players to try out ICS Airsoft products and raise general awareness through the use of prominent product placement stands with suitable promotional materials supplied from ICS to augment their own personal platforms or collections. Finally Intel Agents perform duties of grass roots or end user level market research and trend reporting, gathering pertinent information regarding end user preferences, needs or issues which can better inform ICS Airsoft and help tailor their products towards the ideal platform and related functionalities their end customers genuinely desire. The whole system was formalised and ‘gamified’ to enable a ranking or progression of ICS Team Captains and present incentives for continued cooperation between these brand ambassadors and ICS, as well as its other end users; raising the profile of both the company itself, its contributions, products and the entire industry as a whole and ensuring a positive impact now and in future as per its long standing company ethos.

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In terms of supplying such a broad international market, ICS can produce as many as 5000 AEGs on a monthly basis, around 50-60,000 units annually, with the use of temporary staff over summer months who are cross-trained on different tasks to ensure their ability to perform any stage of the process. With a finished AEG taking around an hour of assembly time to complete, everything is produced in sub-assembly fashion allowing for different batches to be produced to adhere to different power limit requirements for destination countries and their own laws. This scrupulous attention to detail obviously works and ICS models have been recognised and acclaimed this year in the “Taiwan Excellence 2023” awards as a result! While on site, Bill and myself also had the opportunity to see the latest upcoming products such as the extension to their Hi Capa GBB pistol range, and will hopefully have more exciting things to report early in 2024 when we have them in hand back in the UK as well as here in Taiwan; we both look forward to our continuing cooperation and valued relationship with ICS Airsoft and to sharing more from them in the coming year. To conclude, there is one thing we are sure of though… ICS will continue to “change the game” with their diligence and continued innovation, and we’ll be sure to document their very latest advances here in Airsoft Action when they do! Our sincere thanks go again to Rita for accommodating us so graciously during our visit, and do check in on www.icsbb.com and their social media for regular updates. AA

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MOA 2023 84

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ONCE AGAIN THE END OF THE YEAR IS UPON US, AND LIKE LAST YEAR STEWBACCA’S UP AGAINST THE ODDS AS USUAL TO CRAM IN A SIMILAR SCHEDULE AS 2022, WITH A FEW LONG WEEKENDS OF TRADE SHOWS INTERSPERSED WITH TRAINING AND A MAJOR COMPETITION IN THE DEEP SOUTH TO FOLLOW… WOE IS HE, AND WHATNOT, WHATEVER…. BUT WE DO WHAT WE LOVE AND LOVE WHAT WE DO HERE, SO, LET’S SEE HOW HE SUFFERED SO, WITH ALL THE LOVELY PEOPLE AND SHINY TOYS AT THE FIRST OF THE BIG SHOWS FOR THIS SEASON, THE MILITARY OUTDOOR & AIRSOFT EXPO (MOA) 2023!

ecember 1st marked the start of MOA 2023; with Bill being in country just a month before for the G&G CQB World Cup and our various travels around the island along with Anny to visit industry friends and partners afterwards, Id thankfully gotten a bit of a heads up or sneak peek and hands on trial of some of the things to be announced, so I had more of a plan in mind as to what to prioritise on the first day while there were less ‘civilians’ around trying to get their mitts on things as well. Nonetheless a lot to be seen there certainly was, with an even stronger showing this year in many ways; although some exhibitors were absent

compared to last year, or had chosen to amalgamate their booths with others or have third parties display their goods either due to cost or time constraints or having fewer new products to focus on or justify a full on exhibit, there were at least a greater influx of overseas and small independent outfits, with friends from Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan either exhibiting or conducting business along with folks from further afield coming along to see what was on offer. Similarly the “international mischief media crew” were out in force again this year, with Vic of Popular Airsoft and his assistant Jay rolling in on the Thursday

“WITH AN EVEN STRONGER SHOWING THIS YEAR IN MANY WAYS… THERE WERE AT LEAST A GREATER INFLUX OF OVERSEAS AND SMALL INDEPENDENT OUTFITS, WITH FRIENDS FROM TAIWAN, EUROPE, HONG KONG, THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN EITHER EXHIBITING OR CONDUCTING BUSINESS ALONG WITH FOLKS FROM FURTHER AFIELD COMING ALONG TO SEE WHAT WAS ON OFFER” 86

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night’s mischief we all huddled in fairly sharpish and set about taking in the sights, meeting and greeting all those familiar faces we love to spend time among!

MOA GAME ON!

Right inside the door on the right was PAF Airsoft so I stopped by to see Well and take a look at his latest iterations of heavy weapons; he has a new office in Taipei to avoid flitting back and forth to his PengHu home headquarters quite so much so I’ve had the opportunity to drop in on him on occasion and see the progress of his prototypes. His Russian AGS-17 grenade machine gun replica is nearing its final phases of pre-production which will be similar to his simpler Mk19 offering in as much as it has internal 6mm barrels and will fire BBs in a hose fashion from a large integral box ‘flash mag’ style reservoir which has a pull chord winder at the rear akin to a lawnmower starter for rapid re-tensioning of its feed system! He’s also been working on some standalone 40mm moscart mortar systems which are easily loaded and unloaded without having to disturb the main tube’s orientation in game.

and joining Medard of WMASG in Poland for dinner and some beverages, although he was flying solo this time having also only just been in town not long before for the G&G event with more of his crew. The gents from Airsoft.nu in Sweden returned along with some locally based support guys again to help with their photography and videography, while there were still other outfits from Japan, South Korea and further afield in the Americas that I was less familiar with. Having arrived a little earlier than game-on as usual on the first day I took in the show floor from the eagle’s nest of the floors above that look down on the main central open-plan space beneath the giant glass ceiling high above; the hustle and bustle was already in full swing with our industry friends and partners busily making their final preparations to welcome us in after the gates were opened at 10:00. Powering through the after effects of the previous

Next door was Alex and his team from the local Taiwan stands with the Ukraine outreach group, selling an array of keepsakes and Ukranian recipe delicacies and cookies which I naturally did my part to support the cause and bought some to stuff my chest rig with and sustain myself on. In this case they were actually taking donations specifically to support direct military efforts given the nature of MOA and

“HAVING ARRIVED A LITTLE EARLIER THAN GAME-ON AS USUAL ON THE FIRST DAY I TOOK IN THE SHOW FLOOR FROM THE EAGLE’S NEST OF THE FLOORS ABOVE THAT LOOK DOWN ON THE MAIN CENTRAL OPEN-PLAN SPACE BENEATH THE GIANT GLASS CEILING HIGH ABOVE; THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE WAS ALREADY IN FULL SWING WITH OUR INDUSTRY FRIENDS AND PARTNERS BUSILY MAKING THEIR FINAL PREPARATIONS” www.airsoftaction.net

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its military themes compared to their usual events; hopefully all that unpleasantness will be dealt with in a positive manner sooner or later, and I parted ways with the mandatory ‘Slava Ukrani’ and headed on around the corner.

Nine Dragons were flanking the other side of the show area and were in the same ‘space’ as Well and PAF as such, coming up with some novel 40mm moscart shell-fed field systems such as lightweight slam-fire mortars, customised rotary launchers, and even a pretty cool shoulder-fired affair that is rear loaded and they had a laser aiming unit attached to allowing folks to take shots at a target set up down the small range behind their booth. Of course I had to have a go; loud and fun, for sure, it kept going off all weekend and startling me, by the show’s end their booth was filled with BBs and spent Taginn practise shells after a few days of intensive usage!

I swung inwards towards the centre of the show and went through Cybergun and Bolt Airsoft to see our friends there; Tomy was extolling the new MWS-styled GBBR systems which Anny, Bill and myself had managed to get hands on with during our multiple visits prior; Ms Wu and I still need to finalise that individual “inside look” article early next year as they have some exciting new licensed products and accessories that we can’t talk about just yet but

should be officially announced soon. There was also an early production mock-up of their licensed B&T SPC AEG outer shell 3D printed on display among their many other finalised and released offerings that many people were eagerly getting hands on with, alongside many of the components of their collaborative HRT tactical gear offerings which I tried out the pistol magazine retention on… although unfortunately the sample belt rig was unfortunately in a more…local… size range than myself! Opposite Bolt were our friends at RATech who Anny was working the floor for again this year, along with lovely Celia dressed in Ada Wong cosplay who worked MOA a few years back as well as joining Anny and myself on one of the shoots with Team Taiji earlier in the year; hopefully we’ll see her in the field again soon as she took to it all very well, as she did with product presentations at the show. Alongside their excellent licensed GHK-magazine-compatible Noveske N4 GBBRs in various barrel and handguard lengths as well as now in sand colour schemes (as I reviewed in September’s issue No. 153, and used in competition

“I SWUNG INWARDS TOWARDS THE CENTRE OF THE SHOW AND WENT THROUGH CYBERGUN AND BOLT AIRSOFT TO SEE OUR FRIENDS THERE; TOMY WAS EXTOLLING THE NEW MWSSTYLED GBBR SYSTEMS WHICH ANNY, BILL AND MYSELF HAD MANAGED TO GET HANDS ON WITH DURING OUR MULTIPLE VISITS PRIOR”

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operate ARs without the need to reach back and use the T-charging handle if they prefer, but which don’t interfere with its operation if they still want to make use of it; a very nice addition that is a much slicker solution than some of the bolt on charging-handleextension units I’ve seen elsewhere. The shortened bolt travel really makes for a snappy bolt cycle akin to an SMG as well as allowing for AR18 style side-folding

and skirmishing since), there were also finished upper and lower receivers bearing the legitimate Colt livery and lettering for their ongoing licensed Colt AR GBBR product lines, and of course the new BRS47 AK/AR hybrid we got hands on with during our visit to them

stock setups due to the lack of the typical buffer tube (while the bolt hold open feature is also maintained despite the shortened overall travel), so lots of interesting products from them recently it seems. Adjoining them towards the left wall again were our good friends Clarence Lai and his lovely other half Katherine of CLPD showcasing a heavy emphasis

the month before, as well as an array of upgrade internal components and older platforms such as their SR16 and shortened WE M14 GBBR. Adjoining them in the next walkway were Maple Leaf Creative Workshop with every manner of HOP bucking on display in a huge smorgasbord of technicolour variety; I was also chatting with James again (who recently featured in Nonocat’s Youtube video of her visit to their facility) demonstrating their Hummingbird short-stroke bolt carrier system as well as their new M-LOK handguards with integrated HK style front charging handles which allow the user to

on Shadow 2s in all manner of colours and finishes this year including red dot and tracer unit enabled

“OUR FRIENDS AT RATECH WHO ANNY WAS WORKING THE FLOOR FOR AGAIN THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH LOVELY CELIA DRESSED IN ADA WONG COSPLAY… ALONGSIDE THEIR EXCELLENT LICENSED GHK-MAGAZINE-COMPATIBLE NOVESKE N4 GBBRS THERE WERE ALSO FINISHED UPPER AND LOWER RECEIVERS BEARING THE LEGITIMATE COLT LIVERY AND LETTERING FOR THEIR ONGOING LICENSED COLT AR GBBR PRODUCT LINES” www.airsoftaction.net

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versions, with a few of his very nice custom revolvers and their support gear also on display in the form of the customised holster and his own moon clips with belt mounted magnetic holders. He was also good enough to provide Bill, Anny and myself with personalised CLPD Shadow 2 shooter’s Jerseys which look the absolute business so naturally I had to throw mine on and grab some team pictures with him, Katherine and Anny; I’m sure I can find time to wear it for one of the days of the Kaohsiung international level 3 IPSC competition at Xmas too…

A VFC–STYLE SURPRISE… AGAIN!

Across the walkway from Clarence was the imposing stand of the folks at VFC, ready and waiting to start calling dibs on which organs I’m going to sell next year to fund buying all their samples I inevitably won’t want to give back! As I’ve said before, Ray is a great friend (he and Bill go back a LONG way…), but a terrible enabler! The news of their licensed FN FNC

GBBR leaked online a week or so before the show but again we’d already been briefed on a few new releases during visits ahead of the show and gotten to play with them as well; it’s a very nicely made and operating piece of kit that will no doubt sit nicely next to my already well-loved FAL. Other new projects included a tactical version of the FNC as well as an SA58 style modernised FAL carbine, and their growing Vietnam era lineup which now includes the original XM16A1, an exceptionally light and handy piece despite its length, just like our lord and saviour Stoner intended, and the XM177 along with the XM148 grenade launcher and associated modified M16E1 and XM177E2 furniture to allow it to be mounted below either model’s barrel. More of a surprise to most was VFC’s announcement of an AK platform in the guise of their largely steel AK74 GBBR platform that was hidden away in a glass case and adorned in whiteboard

“MORE OF A SURPRISE TO MOST WAS VFC’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN AK PLATFORM IN THE GUISE OF THEIR LARGELY STEEL AK74 GBBR PLATFORM THAT WAS HIDDEN AWAY IN A GLASS CASE AND ADORNED IN WHITEBOARD MAGNETS TO DEMONSTRATE ITS IRON CONTENT A SECOND PROTOTYPE; IT WAS FOLDED AND PARTIALLY FIELD-STRIPPED TO SHOW OFF THE INTERNALS” 90

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magnets to demonstrate its iron content a second prototype; it was folded and partially field-stripped to show off the internals, including a realistic braided twine style hammer spring. Further murmurings of a PPSh-41 GBBR were also seen later in the show

with demonstration videos spreading like wildfire, because they always like to have something a little extra to drop on people off guard! Alongside their more established M249 GBBR, AR URGI lineup, BCMs, HKs and PPKs pistols, they also exhibited their Taiwanese national service rifle GBBR (the T91 which has a 4 position free-wheeling safety lever like the real equivalent for easy switching either direction between safe, semi, burst and auto settings; this is again something we test-fired at the VPSC weeks before, and I will no doubt end up acquiring eventually as so many of their new products will now have STANAG/ USGI magazine compatibility. Having run out of partially excited but dread-laden thoughts of future purchases from them, I moved across to Unicorn Airsoft, one of the smaller local

cottage industry type outfits who support the IDPA circuit with upgrade barrel kits, precision HOP unit and buckings, along with a growing range of other consumables and components. Wayne was good enough to gift me some of his harder buckings as I explained that while the tightbore barrel he made me especially for my VFC PSG-1 is working wonders, the longer tightbore barrel and HOP of his I put in my VFC FAL wasn’t lifting .48g BBs too well, so now I have some 60 and 70 Shore hardness samples to try out; I’ll likely put together some further notes on the FAL in the near future as I’ve done a lot to it since getting it over a year ago now. Complimentary cute stuffed unicorn in hand, or rather attached to my rig below my Chewbacca plushie, I sauntered onward. Archwick were just around the next row and were already attracting a crowd with their various licensed B&T AIR products; with their SPR300 bolt action dual-feed system already gaining a great following in the community, their imminent release of the much awaited APC9k GBBR SMG was also drawing people in, with 4 additional variants planned for the future as

well they’ll eventually replicate the whole ecosystem with the various handguard and barrel lengths, buttstocks and silencer options built off the same common lower assembly, magazine and internals. They also had their own MWS compatible ‘Avanti’ line of fire control groups, bolt carriers, HOP units and turnkey rifles on display.

BRINGING THE PIGS IN!

Taking a stroll across the main middle pathway I found myself at LCT Airsoft’s well laid-out display with

“I FOUND MYSELF AT LCT AIRSOFT’S WELL LAID-OUT DISPLAY WITH THEMED FAMILIES OF WEAPONS PLATFORMS ADORNING THE VARIOUS WALLS OF THEIR BOOTH, FLANKED AT EITHER END BY LOW LYING PLINTHS OF ALL THEIR UPCOMING M60 AEG LMG FAMILY OF VARIANTS, AND THEIR RUSSIAN COUNTERPARTS AT THE OPPOSITE END. AGAIN THE ‘PIGS’ WERE DRAWING IN THE CROWDS…” www.airsoftaction.net

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themed families of weapons platforms adorning the various walls of their booth, flanked at either end by low lying plinths of all their upcoming M60 AEG LMG

a picture seated with the M60 Vietnam era LMG and their two lovely ladies sporting AKs, as well as one with the main man himself at their dedicated photography stand. Following these escapades I was corralled by a few familiar faces to various places and ended up seeing Hann (n00b_soft) at his Pew Logic stand, the local SQB event organiser and custom upgrade products producer partnered with John of Gaosen Kinetics/ LACapa, with an array of highly-stylised HiCapa slides, magazine wells, triggers and all manner of

family of variants, and their Russian counterparts at the opposite end. Again the ‘pigs’ were drawing in the crowds alongside their more established lines and the newer Z-series Zenitco styled wealth of accessories displayed nicely in a case. They also went to the trouble of building a new ‘iron throne’ from AK magazines and receivers which could thankfully accommodate me without the same issues as the older one at their factory… of course I had to get other components on display alongside all the posters and memorabilia of events past, some of which brought back fond memories of my own involvement back when those things first kicked off in Taiwan! From here I paid a visit to Andre at Laylax’s booth to see their latest soft goods in the form of their nice little range bag I’d seen RandomGuyKev sporting in one of his recent shoots in the US, as well as their upcoming electric automatic AEG magazine speedloader unit among some of their older custom pistols and slides on display. Next door were Model Work Company and some old friends from way back when I first started playing; they produce high-quality small-run conversion kits for Marui MWS platforms among others to dress up the core systems in more unique formats such as Taiwanese service weapons or classic film or cultural gun types. NUPROL were at the show for the first time, so having just met Matt weeks before I made sure to go and introduce myself to Jean who was manning their booth along with some local operatives; finally a chance to get hands on with the VMP-1 GBB SMG I’d heard so many good things about from the AA Crew, definitely understandable once you get to handle it! Nicely balanced, solid feeling, with a reasonable trigger compared to the older MP9 it seems to draw 92

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a lot of inspiration for its general outline from; the stock folding and unfolding perhaps takes some getting used to as it’s so rigidly put together you have to make sure your manipulation is right to get it to unlatch and fold. The additional quick detach silencer is also a nice touch. Similarly some of the Vorsk pistols were also present allowing me to get a feel for their manufacture quality and ease of manipulation, the VM9 and VP26K series being particularly nice in the hand and really smoothly operating in terms of the slides and triggers. At the top end of the show ICS Airsoft had their goods on display and I once again got hands on with some of their pistol offerings, the Korth PRS still being a favourite for its buttery-smooth slide operation, but also seeing their newer HiCapa models which Bill and myself already got a sneak preview of at their facility back in November, the Carnotaurus split-slide being particularly striking in appearance and having a very nice trigger pull. On the way back towards the entrance end of the show I found myself at Northeast Airsoft’s booth and chatted to my IPSC Teammate Rex who works with them about their FAMAS in some more depth. I’d gotten hands on and test-fired it a few months back when I went over to them to check out their V3 upgrades of the MP2A1 Uzi SMG and its CO2 variant magazines, but of course I wouldn’t say no to another opportunity to handle and test fire it, a much awaited piece that drew a lot of attention at the show. From here it wasn’t far to King Arms’s stand so I went over and had a gander at their range of wares,

the TWS9 being of particular interest having previously read Bill’s review of it, despite otherwise not hearing much about it! It seems there will be an even more economical polymer-bodied variant in the near future so I may have to invest in one of those to make use of all those Glock magazines I have in something a little different. Kizuna Works were next up and I finally got around to meeting Chloe and Jo in person having interacted with them over social media for a good while beforehand; both of them have prior experience in other operations within the industry and 3 years ago started their own business producing more obscure pistols and accessory kits for OpFor/Eastern Block platforms, their KW15 GBB pistol being

exceptionally nicely put together with an ultra-smooth slide cycle and snug fit, along with a really crisp but light trigger and a snappy recoil. Hopefully Anny and/ or I will get a chance to visit them in the coming year and look more into their backstory. Next I found myself at the Modify booth, with their familiar lines of XTC AEGs, PP2K GBB SMGs in various guises and bolt action sniper rifles, along with ammunition and spare or upgrade components. This year they were showcasing their own HiCapa GBB pistol which has quite a few nice external touches in terms of fit, finish and accoutrements; however the real magic is inside with their HOP adjustment that can be affected by partially removing the slide release lever so that the gear teeth built into its axle engage with those of the HOP unit allowing easy tuning of it

“NUPROL WERE AT THE SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME, SO HAVING JUST MET MATT WEEKS BEFORE I MADE SURE TO GO AND INTRODUCE MYSELF TO JEAN WHO WAS MANNING THEIR BOOTH ALONG WITH SOME LOCAL OPERATIVES; FINALLY A CHANCE TO GET HANDS ON WITH THE VMP-1 GBB SMG I’D HEARD SO MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT FROM THE AA CREW!”

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AA LEGION SHOW REPORT

without any need to remove the slide, very cool. Further down towards the front entrance were the guys from 4UAD Smart Airsoft, old friends from my early days who have previous experience with mainstream manufacturers but are going it alone to not only provide in-depth tech videos and

and hopefully finally get around to visiting them in Taichung in the new year now that I have more weekdays off work-work. At the very front left of the show by the other main entrance were Thunder Sports, Krytac’s local distributor, who had a variety of their new KRISS Vector GBBRs on display and also one that you could test fire for yourself… so naturally I queued up and had a magazine-load to try out the innovative recoil system and bolt along with the semi, two round burst and full auto fire modes; I may have to see if I can acquire one and fit in a review somewhere!

WRAPPING IT UP

product testing but producing a growing range of maintenance supplies in the form of their pens that allow easy application of lubricant, threadlocker or gas sealing compound depending on which variant you choose. Their main release for their inaugural own booth however is their own AEG & GBB compatible HOP buckings which they tell me build on their years of experience to provide an ultra-consistent trajectory with the aid of a wide consistent pressure pad; I’ll be putting these to the test myself at some point soon

Besides these more familiar names there were myriad local startups and small businesses dealing with custom holsters, tactical gear, innovative batteries and chargers, custom parts, consumables, apparel and of course the local military units demonstrating some of their equipment in terms of both small arms and land systems/vehicles, so naturally I gravitated that way before the end of the weekend to see the folks in uniform who do it all for real. It’s always difficult to try to encompass three daysworth of floor pounding and flesh-pressing into an article of reasonable length, but of course my more raw photographic exploits are already live on my public Stewbacca Island Insider Facebook page as well as cross-shared on the Airsoft Action page. By the final day we had all taken a prodigious amount of photos it seems, with some of the other media guys also focusing on videos and more in depth interviewing of people regarding their products, but with some of the guys having to leave earlier on the Sunday our numbers dwindled, and in the end Anny and I were joined by my old friend Abdel as well as our Hong Kong friends for a last supper before we all went our separate ways… as ever, there’s never enough time spent in good company! Many thanks to Eric and the QRF team for once again putting on a great show that as usual went off without any obvious hitches thanks to their organisational abilities; I’m already looking forward to some of the ideas I’m hearing regarding the next one, but that’s another story… until next time, fellow shooters… AA

“MANY THANKS TO ERIC AND THE QRF TEAM FOR ONCE AGAIN PUTTING ON A GREAT SHOW THAT AS USUAL WENT OFF WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS HITCHES THANKS TO THEIR ORGANISATIONAL ABILITIES; I’M ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME OF THE IDEAS I’M HEARING REGARDING THE NEXT ONE, BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY…”

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

AA LEGION SHOW REPORT

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ADVERTORIAL HELIKON-TEX GUARDIAN PLATE CARRIER

GUARDIAN PLATE CARRIER

THE GUARDIAN PLATE CARRIER IS A MODERN VEST DESIGNED FOR CARRYING BALLISTIC PLATES WITH THE OPTION OF ATTACHING ADDITIONAL GEAR THANKS TO ITS MODULAR SYSTEM COMPATIBLE WITH MOLLE/PALS. THE GUARDIAN SERIES INCLUDES THE VEST AND 16 COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE CONFIGURED AS YOU LIKE. THE GUARDIAN PLATE CARRIER ALLOWS FOR CARRYING PLATES IN THE MOST POPULAR STANDARDS: E-CUT (SAPI/ESAPI), SWIMMER CUT, AND SHOOTER CUT.

BUILD YOUR OWN SET

To better tailor the products to users needs, we’ve prepared several components designed for various activities.

Two types of cummerbunds: Standard Guardian Cummerbund and Guardian Cummerbund Quick Release. For carrying equipment at the front, there is the Guardian Kangaroo Flap with hook & loop and the Guardian Flap equipped with MOLLE/PALS straps with room for three AK/AR magazines. Specifically for police and similar services, we’ve developed the Law Enforcement Insert, which will accommodate two pistol magazines, a radio, and handcuffs. In addition, the Guardian series features two pockets for grenades: the Smoke Grenade Pouch for smoke grenades and the Flash Grenade Pouch for flashbangs. Efficient organization of equipment is provided by various types of pouches and pockets: Double

“SPECIFICALLY FOR POLICE AND SIMILAR SERVICES, WE’VE DEVELOPED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INSERT, WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE TWO PISTOL MAGAZINES, A RADIO, AND HANDCUFFS. IN ADDITION, THE GUARDIAN SERIES FEATURES TWO POCKETS FOR GRENADES: THE SMOKE GRENADE POUCH FOR SMOKE GRENADES AND THE FLASH GRENADE POUCH FOR FLASHBANGS.” 96

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

ADVERTORIAL HELIKON-TEX GUARDIAN PLATE CARRIER

Anything that doesn’t fit at hand can be carried in the Guardian Smallpack with a 7.5 l capacity, which can be attached to the plate carrier thanks to detachable straps. The backpack opens almost entirely and has a separate pocket for a hydration insert.

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Horizontal Pouch for rifle magazines, Pistol Magazine Pouch for a single pistol magazine, Universal Pouch for flexible gear storage, Guardian Dangler drop pouch, and Radio Pouch for storing a radio unit. Also available in the series is the Guardian Admin Pouch, a universal tactical Mini Pouch, and the Tourniquet Pouch.

In addition to individual components, Helikon-Tex also offers complete sets tailored for specific types of services: the Guardian Military set designed for the armed forces comes with the Guardian Cummerbund and the front Guardian Flap. The Guardian Law Enforcement set was developed with the police and other uniformed services in mind. The base element here is the tactical Guardian Plate Carrier vest. It comes with a Guardian Cummerbund, a front Guardian Kangaroo Flap, and a dedicated Law Enforcement Insert.

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RELOADED

Image: Krios Photography

VFC BCM VORSK VMP-1 MCMR GBBR/AEG

VMP MISSION ACHIEVED!

IF THERE’S ONE AIRSOFT PLATFORM THAT WE’VE GOT BEHIND 100% DURING 2023 THEN IT HAS TO BE THE VORSK VMP-1! AA HAS HAD UNPARALLELED AND MASSIVELY PRIVILEGED “BEHIND THE SCENES” ACCESS TO THE GENESIS OF THIS NEW GBB, AND FROM DESIGN CONCEPT TO FINISHED “IN THE WILD” TACK-DRIVER BILL HAS FOLLOWED AND DOCUMENTED THE AWESOME STORY OF THIS PUNCHY LITTLE SMG FROM DAY ZERO…

ISSUE 157 - JANUARY 2024

RELOADED VORSK VMP-1

ith six months of hard use and abuse now in the bag it’s time for me to reflect on the VMP-1 and exactly what my mates at VORSK have created, and moving from GBB pistol platforms, albeit excellent ones, to a fully-fledged gas-driven “long” is quite an achievement… and having this platform turn out not only to be good, but exemplary in the eyes of players and shooters just adds depth to this undertaking! Back in March VORSK absolutely wow’d the industry as they unveiled the VMP-1 at IWA, and very shortly after this players were equally gobsmacked as the VMP-1 started to land in their local stores and subsequently in their eager hands! Now I would be remiss and outright lying if I didn’t mention that like every new-100%-from-scratch platform there were a few teething problems to do with a purely cosmetic glitch on a handful of models, and given the fact that the VMP-1 has been pulling in a whole new generation of players to the wonderful and arcane world of GBB ownership there were some user-errors as they got to grips with a different technology… but to be equally honest such was the delight in the player community with the overall quality and downright banging performance of the VMP-1 that… nobody really gave a toss and just got on with lovin’ their own VMP! Every single player that I met and talked to had nothing but positives to share about their experiences with the VMP-1, and when the fledgling VMP Owners Group

assembled at NAF ’23 stories of airsoft adventures were exchanged and tall-tales-told, although actually these stories proved in most cases to be entirely accurate, just like the VMP itself! Sure, the VMP-1 was an ass-kicker when it came to CQB-play, and there are now countless videos online to support this including some great ones from my new friend Stu Knight that I met at the FAST TACTICAL training day. However, it also turned out that the VMP-1 had the legs for woodland skirmishing as well, and I can absolutely confirm that the platform is well capable of sending out BBs to 50m and beyond which puts it in a different place altogether! I’ve long said that a well setup GBBR can have a place on a regular woodland skirmish day IF it’s properly set up and used well and effectively, and the VMP-1 has proved my point as numerous owners are using the platform for ALL their airsoft games, and not just for CQB! And that’s most certainly my experience thus far with the VMP-1, as it’s a small package in its base form without the suppressor (more on that in a bit…) that offers big performance and HUGE bucketload of GBB fun! Although my own VMP is from the initial production run (serial number 001298 if you must know), something I very specifically asked for so nobody could accuse me of having anything “special”, I’ve had experience with it right from the moment that they came out of the container as my arrived with me straight from the warehouse!

HAMMER-TIME!

Quite literally the day it arrived, I, along with an additional four magazines, was out onto the woods range, and gassed up with VORSK V8 FUEL I started slinging BBs at targets… something I proceeded to do on a very regular basis so that I could provide feedback from the production model to the VORSK team… I hammered the living daylights out of my own VMP so that I could initially log the BB-count and report back, as well as giving feedback to other players that could encounter any issues. Thankfully that latter part has been largely unnecessary as other than a few “user error” instances the VMP-1’s that I personally know about have performed admirably. And performance? Oh, yes indeedy, you DO get performance! My VMP-1 now has 11,500+ BBs

“EVERY SINGLE PLAYER THAT I MET AND TALKED TO HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVES TO SHARE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH THE VMP-1, AND WHEN THE FLEDGLING VMP OWNERS GROUP ASSEMBLED AT NAF ’23 STORIES OF AIRSOFT ADVENTURES WERE EXCHANGED AND TALL-TALES-TOLD” www.airsoftaction.net

RELOADED VORSK VMP-1

through from new, with each of the five mags being expended many, MANY times; I set the goal of a round-out 5000 BB count as new from the box before performing any maintenance, and my VMP reached this point without a stutter. Thanks to the excellent take-down video created by the VORSK Crew for exactly this purpose (you can find this on YT or on the AA website) I was able to take things down and MAGLUBE the necessary working parts with no bother. And the VMP-1 does have some “oomph”; I’ve tested pretty much entirely on

Image: Krios Photography

VORSK V6 and V8 FUEL (V8 now the weather has turned colder), and even with stable gasses like these I have witnessed some fluctuation in power output, but in fairness now that the OS has bedded in, not that much; using .20g BBs for testing, on V6 with an ambient temperature of 18-19C the VMP-1 chrono’s consistently at 1.07 Joule/341 fps using VORSK .20g BBs, and at 8-12C on V8 I’m getting 1.06 Joule/339fps. In terms of BB’s “for real” I’m using a .28g BB as this gives me the best allround performance given the gasses that I use, although the VMP-1 will most certainly hop a .30g if you so desire.

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RELOADED VORSK VMP-1

With the .28g weight though once you’ve got the hop set right (easy by finger or with the neat little tool provided), it’s bang on... I’ve continued whacking the 300mm x 300mm steels on the woods range at 30m regularly, and recently I had the VMP hitting “Fig 11s” at 50m with no issue, and the trajectory of a .28g is dead flat-to-target at that range making me think I can still eke a little more...

FINAL WORKSPACE

As I said before I decided to keep things relatively simple when setting up my own VMP, although both Ben and Jimmy have taken similar yet individually different routes for this; I’ve noticed that many fellow owners have also used a similar accessories package. The fire-optic back-up sights are great, but low for me personally, so an NP T1-style red dot on a riser works, the riser due to the fact that I also wanted a LAM in place, an NPQ15 Light/Laser Box in my case. I experimented with a short Scout Light at 3 0’clock both hi and low, but eventually decided on the lower position for ease-of-grip/manipulation reasons, with a rats-tail pressure switch running to the same spot on the opposite side, again within support-hand workspace; I’ve since changed out the rats-tail to a dedicated single pressure switch on the support handside, just to keep things neat. I’ve been running the awesomely cool QD suppressor full-time; the suppressor itself is outstanding (although I’ve yet to fit a tracer unit) and really gives the VMP-1 some “presence” and it really is “QD”; as I said in my initial review this takes a little getting used to, but once you have on/off continues to be lightning quick and I’ve not heard of anyone having a problem with it in any way. I’m currently running a two point sling with the VMP (a Direct Action model) and it works well, but one thing I hope to see in due course is a dedicated singlepoint sling plate to sit between the body and stock… However, as VORSK are just delivering the latest model, the VMP-1C to stores right now I believe that my hopes will soon be answered! The “C” variant is very cool as it really parès things back to the fundamental basics for the platform in that it has all the great benefits of the original whilst offering players an out-and-out CQB-focused monster with just a simple singlepoint sling attachment instead of a full stock, and a straightforward muzzle device. Of course the modularity of the platform as a whole is still in evidence as new parts can be switched out with existing ones, and the commonality of magazines is retained.

This is a great move on VORSKs part as far as I’m concerned as it offers a “bare-bones” option for players that just want a GBB for a specific CQB role, and I am 100% certain that the “C” will grab even more attention. Okay, the singlepoint plate fitted to the “C” replaces the original side-folding stock in its entirety, but it illustrates to me that the guys at VORSK are thinking to the future with the program, and that in no way will the VMP be a “one-trick pony!”.

DONE… FOR NOW!

Wrapping things up after the first six months living with the VMP-1 we’ve had some pretty darn cool, consistent results from the platform; in honesty again, of course among the AA Crew we did manage to break a couple of nozzles… but in our case it was on purpose! Yup, you heard that correctly as I asked Jimmy to really push the boundaries of his VMP using HPA, and being Jimmy he went for it in a major way, pushing the VMP to the absolute limit of his HPA system and it was only at the extreme point that he trashed the nozzle… he suffers for my science bless him! I’m sure at a later date he will report back on this in full as both he and Ben are now running longerterm tests using the AIRTAC HPA setup, whilst Jase and I continue to run ours on VORSK FUEL. After our initial six-month testing period both on the range and in-game, it’s very obvious to us that the VMP-1 is a real winner, and for VORSK it really is a case of “mission achieved”! With IWA 2024 around the corner though I’m massively interested to see where the VORSK Crew go next with the VMP program, and I’m certain that they’ll have something new to show at what has become their flagship “new product show”. I honestly believe that the VMP as a concept can go much, much further, and if I know Ross and Mark as well as I think I do then I’m sure that there is something unique and special going on in the depths of the VORSK “skunkworks”! Right now though we have the VMP-1 and VMP1C, and you know what? That’s enough for me! VORSK have proved the point that they are not simply a pistol manufacturer, but an airsoft innovator that has the ability to create exciting new gas platforms that perform excellently and give “we the players” exactly what we want… again! My sincere thanks go to Josh and his crew at www. kriosphotography.com for allowing me to use their excellent images of the VMP-1C, and if you haven’t already make sure to visit www.vorkairsoft.com for the very latest on the VMP program! AA

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