EYES ON TARGET!

BILL IS USUALLY OUT AND ABOUT VISITING OUR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS EACH MONTH, AND IN AUGUST HIS TRAVELS TOOK HIM TO THE DOORS OF THE LATEST DEDICATED AIRSOFT SHOOTING RANGE IN THE UK SITUATED ALONGSIDE THE BESPOKE AIRSOFT STORE JUST OUTSIDE LONDON; WITH A LITERAL RANGE OF HIGH QUALITY TARGET SYSTEMS AND SOME SURPRISING “AIRSOFT HIRE PACKAGES” IT’S WELL WORTH A VISIT!

Ido love a good road trip, and I’m no stranger to putting miles under the wheels (and wings sometimes!) each month as I head out to visit the airsoft companies that we work with on a daily basis, and some that just plain interest me!

Personal, face to face communication is always the best way to find out about airsoft stories that are emerging, and given the excellent relationships AA is proud to have within the industry, it’s this level of the “personal touch” that keeps us at the top of our game.

Last month I paid a visit to our good friends and distributor of many fine, quality airsoft brands iWHOLESALES and as I’d already heard about the new shooting range at BESPOKE AIRSOFT I thought that I’d pay this, and their spanky new store, a visit while I was in the neighbourhood… it’s all about efficiency, or something like that!

BESPOKE was always, if I’m frank, a bit of a “beeatch” to get to in their old store, tucked away as it was in a trading estate behind Heathrow Airport with really limited parking… those who visited would always get to see some really first-rate airsoft “shinies”, but it was a bit of a crusade to say the least, as regulars there will attest. The new store though couldn’t be more different!

Now based a little further out, the new store, and the attached range, is literally just off the M40; taking

Junction 3 it is just a minute or two’s drive to get to their door (they have 30 car parking spaces!), and if you don’t drive then there are also direct public transport links too; if you arrive in High Wycombe by train you can simply take a bus (number 32 if you must know!) straight from the station, and alighting at the Boundary Road stop BESPOKE is a short walk from there and well signposted when you arrive.

Now I have to admit that I knew it was coming, and we announced the launch of the new range on the web news back in May (www.airsoftaction.net/newuk-indoor-range-goes-live/) but I’d not been in the area or had the opportunity to visit since the purposebuilt airsoft range opened, and I am so glad that I made the time to do so!

First up the new shop itself; bright, airy, spacious, intriguing and welcoming… all these things are true! The new shop, up on Floor One of a super building, is much, much larger than the old one, and is very nicely laid out indeed. As you enter you’ll find numerous glass display cases absolutely chock-full of airsoft goodness, with pistols, optics, and all manner of accessories, grenades and consumables that they offer. On the left you’ll see a glass-fronted room with a sign on the door saying THE BUNKER, and I’ll come back to this later…

Moving on, the main “gun wall” on the right of the shop is huge, and simply amazing in the diversity of what’s on offer; I would challenge anyone, and I mean anyone, not to find something on that wall to drool over… and I certainly did! Opposite this is the main desk where you check in for the range itself… or pay for your new airsoft goodies. The guys at BESPOKE are both friendly and knowledgeable, and whilst I was there I saw them in action helping a player who had experienced some issues with an AEG; said AEG had been fixed under warranty, the work was explained patiently and fully to him, and he left a happy bunny… what more do you need to know?

With more central display units showcasing even more accessories, clothing and tactical gear, and more gun displays in front of the windows you won’t know where to look next, and still there’s more! Tucked away to the rear right of the store is a recessed area, and it’s here that you’ll find some absolute airsoft gold; Lee Enfields, , Mausers, Arisaksas, MP40s, Stg44s, SLRs, Sterlings, a whole host of classic AKs, SVDs and even an RPG… oh my, it looked like they’d taken my personal dream airsoft collection… and then added to it with even more historical loveliness!

Ranging In

But, ultimately, it was the big glass partition and the unassuming door at the far end of the store where it says simply “RANGE” that of course most interested me! And behind that reinforced glass partition was what I really came to see, but let me preface this with my own expectations first! I’ve been on many, many ranges in my time, both for “real and replica”, and some of them have been outstanding, whilst others have left me wanting much, much more… thankfully the BESPOKE RANGE sits most definitely in the first category as it is truly excellent, a delightful place to spend an hour or two wasting time and BBs!

The Range consists of four dedicated shooting lanes; lanes 1-3 currently have the latest AttackSense target system (the same one we use in our Red Cell testing) which includes 8 electronic targets per lane, with your choice of play mode accessed through individual tablets on the respective lanes. Lane 4 is a flexible lane that can be used for new shooters or those wishing to progress, and this lane has the flexibility to be used with either rifle or pistol, at static targets mounted up to 10 meters from the firing point, or with the G&G Target System as a fun introduction to airsoft target shooting!

The whole range is clean, and due to that big glass partition and some large windows behind the firing points it is superbly well lit; no grubby, grungy, dark and dingy rangetime here, it’s all 100% professionallooking, more like you’d expect to find at a highquality RS pistol range in the USA! For evening use the range is lit with a mass of micro-spots which can be turned on and off in isolation to potentially give some cool low-light range/training options, and the firing points themselves are all moveable and configurable should the range guys ever decide to offer a little “killhouse” action. Overall with the firing point/lane setup, the choice of target systems, and even the lighting options, the BESPOKE RANGE is versatile with a big V.

NUTS N’ BOLTS

So, in its current form you can already expect to encounter on the BESPOKERANGE in a nutshell:

• Dynamic Courses: Challenge yourself on four lanes equipped with a variety of targets and obstacles. Experience the thrill of engaging with AttackSense targets on three lanes and a G&G Target on the fourth lane.

• State-of-the-Art Equipment: In-use high-quality equipment from AttackSense and G&G to ensure accurate and reliable target feedback, enhancing your shooting experience.

• Safety First: Your safety is top priority; the Range staff provide comprehensive safety briefings and enforce strict rules to ensure a secure and enjoyable environment for all shooters.

• Experienced Range Masters: The Range Masters are experienced airsoft enthusiasts who are dedicated to providing guidance, support, and fair play throughout your time at the range.

As we reported in our web news item, the guys at BESPOKE told us that “We cater to diverse needs with our range of packages, ensuring there’s something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned players. Plus, dive into the ultimate adrenaline rush with our exclusive John Wick experience, featuring the iconic guns from the franchise. And if you need more firepower, worry not; additional magazines are readily available for purchase.”

I also saw the “Wick” package that’s on offer, and if I hadn’t already shot most of the models in testing I would most certainly have signed up for this! TTI licenced JW3 Combat Master and Custom 34, JW4 Pit Viper, Double Bell TTI M4, and the awesome Dracarys… yes please to all, and damn the High Table! There’s also some more “mundane” airsoft replicas to choose from if you so desire… or you could just go the whole hog and shoot everything, right?

So, lots to shoot on a literally “bespoke range”, but how does it all work? Pretty simply and

CHOICE OF PLAY MODE ACCESSED THROUGH INDIVIDUAL TABLETS” straightforwardly to be perfectly honest! You can book your range slot online in advance, securing your spot by booking your preferred time and date through the easy-to-use reservation system.

The guys at BESPOKE ask that you arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to complete your checkin process and attend the safety briefing, and that’s where that glass-fronted room, THE BUNKER, that I mentioned earlier comes in, as this is a dedicated, secure space where you can set yourself up, sort out your gear, and generally chill when you’re not actually shooting, and there are toilet facilities close by too… just if you get a little over-excited perhaps….

The Safety Briefing is as I would expect, and that is slick but thorough; if you are using your own GBBs and AEGs to train (which is perfectly acceptable) these will be checked to ensure that they meet and comply with the range safety standards. The Range Wardens will familiarise you with the on-site rules and regulations, and ensure that you have the correct safety equipment; these same Range Wardens will be on hand to, as they state, “offer guidance, assist you, and answer any questions you may have”…. my advice, take a moment to listen to their advice as some of them are high-level competition shooters in their own right!

I do love a range as regular readers will know, and I spend a lot of time on my own, and I especially love a really good one such as that which has been created by the BESPOKE AIRSOFT team; it all sounded mighty darn fine to me in principle, and the reality lives up to the expectation! I’m genuinely pleased to see another fabulous airsoft shooting venue opening within easy reach of London, and even within easy reach of Heathrow if you happen to be passing through from overseas! I’ll certainly be booking our own “Red Cell Slot” to go and check out the new range with the rest of the AA Crew soon; who knows… we may even see you there!

Check out more by visiting the dedicated Range Booking Page at https://bespokerange.simplybook. it/v2/ or by visiting www.bespokeairsoft.co.uk and following the links on their homepage. AA

“I SAW THE “WICK” PACKAGE THAT’S ON OFFER, AND IF I HADN’T ALREADY SHOT MOST OF THE MODELS IN TESTING I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS! TTI LICENCED JW3 COMBAT MASTER AND CUSTOM 34, JW4 PIT VIPER, DOUBLE BELL TTI M4, AND THE AWESOME DRACARYS… YES PLEASE TO ALL!”