Airsoft Action - December 2024

CONTENTS

8 ARMOURY: VFC COLT M16A2 GBBR

Stewbacca’s a fan of efficiencies in every aspect of his life, but especially when it comes to airsoft. At present he’s surrounded by at least six different GBBR rifles that all operate on the same specification of AR magazine, and one of the latest of which is the Cybergun Colt-licensed VFC M16A2… the OG from the GWOT era of his childhood!

22

ARMOURY: ARCHWICK B&T APC9SD2

Editorial Director: Bill Thomas

Deputy Editor (Asia): Stu Mortimer

Deputy Editor (USA): Dan Whedon

Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing

Ad Design: Deadshot Design

Publisher: Calibre Publishing

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©Calibre Publishing Limited 2024

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.

Following his review of Archwick’s B&T AIR licensed APC9K GBBR SMG/PDW back in ISSUE 163, Stewbacca was admittedly more interested in the slightly larger variants that had been announced at MOA 2023. Given that the APC9K is quite a small platform, the APC9SD2 is the next step up and boasts more modularity and ease of handling for our resident Kermit-armed lover of SMGs.

32

ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS SA-P23 PRIME

When the guys met with them at IWA, SPECNA ARMS told us that their biggest news for 2024 would be their new PRIME series of AEGs and we’ve been waiting patiently for them to drop… and NOW THEY HAVE! Miguel as always is right on the ball with this latest take on the latest of many new and exciting releases, and now brings in his initial thoughts on a technological marvel!

40

ARMOURY: TOKYO MARUI AKX GBBR

In the spirit of looking after our “OpFor” fraternity Bill thought it only fitting that he should return to one of his many 6mm-loves, in the shape of a GBBR that he’s been testing for a while now, but held off commenting on until he was 100% happy with his testing… Say hello to his latest “little friend”, the AKX GBBR from Tokyo Marui!

48 RED CELL: FAVOURITES 2024 - PISTOLS

2024 rolls onwards, and what a year it has been so far for new airsoft models hitting the market; with MOA upon us of course we expect to see even more new “shiny things” making an appearance, but as usual at this time of the year the RED CELL crew have got their heads together to look in detail at what models they’ve been using themselves during 2024, models both old and new, starting with pistols!

62 KIT & GEAR: SEASONAL MAINTENANCE

Regular readers of AA will know that we roll this particular article out pretty much each and every year round about now because it’s important to us enjoying airsoft all-year-round, but why reinvent the wheel when the information you’re giving remains accurate and pertinent, and serves as a timely reminder that we all need to maintain our clothing and gear to get the very best performance from it? Over to Bill once again to point you in the right direction!

68 TECHNICAL: NITESIGHTS ELITE NV

We’re heading on into the winter months here at AAHQ and that means that for us the days are increasingly foreshortened, and even a simple skirmish day is going to end up being played out as darkness falls… but don’t despair if your airsoft budget doesn’t stretch to milgrade NV, as NITESIGHTS may have the answer even for those that are cash-strapped! Bill tells more…

74 SPECIAL REPORT: 30 YEARS ON!

November 2024 marks a BIG airsoft-related landmark for our current Editorial Director Bill as it marks 30 YEARS since he first picked up an AEG and started sending full-auto, hop-assisted BBs downrange, so we thought it was time for him to look back on his airsoft adventures, the highs and the lows, and to benchmark the changes that he’s seen!

84

AA LEGION UK: BASICS

What do you really need to play airsoft? It’s a topic that I see come up time and again from new airsofters online, and the simple answer is actually not very much! Ben and Bill were out to play together late last month to putting their heads to “necessities”, so read on to find out how they got on running “bare bones” only!

88 AA LEGION TAIWAN: POLK IV MILSIM

Having barely recovered from the PengHu islands MilSim featured last issue, Stewbacca was making his way south at the start of October to take part in the most recent iteration of one of the more prolific and enjoyable MilSim events in Taiwan. This year POLK IV was on a new site, and offered new challenges, and he’d literally be going ‘over the beach’ with Team Taiji and the rest of their RedFor to take on the defending BluFor entrenched in the rolling hillocks and jungles atop the dunes, testing his equipment, endurance, and long range marksmanship to their limits!

‧ Fixed Outer & Inner Barrel Design

‧ Slide Integrates with RMR Mount

‧ Switchable Semi Auto/Full Auto Mode

‧ TDC Hop Up Chamber

‧ Low Resistance Slide Design

‧ Rock Textured Anti-Slip Pattern

Innovation Competition Pistol

‧ Ambidextrous Thumb Rest

‧ Ambidextrous Slide with Quick Pulling Bump

‧ Side-changeable Magazine Release Button

‧ Extended Magazine (TM G17/18 Compatible)

‧ Luminous Sights (TM G17/18 Compatible)

‧ Detachable Magwell (Compatible with TM G19 mag while removing)

Facebook (Global): ICSBBAirsoft

Youtube: ICS AIRSOFT

Instagram: icsbbairsoft

Twitter (Global): icsbbairsoft

O-G-WOT!

STEWBACCA’S ALWAYS A FAN OF EFFICIENCIES IN EVERY ASPECT OF HIS LIFE, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO AIRSOFT AND RELATED SUPPORT SYSTEMS OR INFRASTRUCTURE, SO IT SEEMS INEVITABLE THAT NOW HE’S ACCUMULATED A FEW VFC AR PATTERN SYSTEMS IT’S NOT A HUGE STRETCH TO ACQUIRE A FEW MORE, NOW HE CAN JUSTIFY HIS COLLECTING HABITS WITH THE HALLOWED HOLY GRAIL OF ‘MAGAZINE COMPATIBILITY’. AT PRESENT HE’S SURROUNDED BY AT LEAST SIX DIFFERENT GBBR RIFLES THAT ALL OPERATE ON THE SAME SPECIFICATION OF AR MAGAZINE, AND ONE OF THE LATEST OF WHICH IS THE CYBERGUN COLT-LICENSED VFC M16A2… THE OG FROM THE GWOT ERA OF HIS CHILDHOOD!

Where I come from the Armalites are either backwards cut-n-shut affairs that were brought into UK Armed Forces service the same year I came into the world in the guise of the

UP-SPEC’D

Bounding onto the scene in the early 1980s following the calls for a better variant derived from the US Marine Corps’ experiences of its original A1 forebear

the excellent classic film that is ‘Black Hawk Down’, the very well-executed adaptation of the events of Operation Gothic Serpent in 1993, with that era’s heart-throb Josh Hartnett hanging out the side of a Blackhawk cradling his M16A2 and looking pensively about the events unfolding emblazoning the film poster and DVD art.

As much as the familiar and distinct outline of the L85 and the Cranberries’ ‘Zombie’ soundtrack pervaded my childhood memories of the whole ‘Norn-Iron’ thing and my upbringing, the M16A2’s silhouette and the likes of ‘Faith No More’ or ‘Public Enemy’ were no doubt culturally imprinted in us as much as our friends across the pond around the same era too thanks to the news and popular culture, films and video games - ever the drivers of interest in firearms for many in our community.

“AS

of conscript servicemen in Vietnam utterly hosing the countryside and mag dumping into thin air in many instances, either through lack of training and experience, or a lack of will to kill, or as a result of their hurriedly-conscripted nature in most cases.

Thus the burst function was the answer to prevent wastage at the hands of those untrained to use fully automatic fire in manually controlled bursts (and as usual, we tend to fight the next wars with the shortcomings of the weapons of the last); many argue the burst function worsens the already heavy MilSpec trigger, and in the airsoft version this feature is carried over. The full auto VFC M16A1 has an average trigger pull weight of 1.88kg in my prior testing for the Vietnam issue special it featured as the cover gun for back in Issue 164, which translates to exactly 4 lbs in old money for the old and bold, whereas the M16A2’s

MUCH AS THE FAMILIAR AND DISTINCT OUTLINE OF THE L85 AND THE CRANBERRIES’ ‘ZOMBIE’ SOUNDTRACK PERVADED MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES OF THE WHOLE ‘NORN-IRON’ THING AND MY UPBRINGING, THE M16A2’S SILHOUETTE AND THE LIKES OF ‘FAITH NO MORE’ OR ‘PUBLIC ENEMY’ WERE NO DOUBT CULTURALLY IMPRINTED IN US”

burst mechanism encumbered trigger a full 1.2lbs heavier, clocking in at 2.4kg average; even before I put my trigger pull gauge on it I could already feel the difference comparing them, and it certainly feels

If you can look past that admittedly minor inconvenience for the most part, the handling and sights certainly make an improvement over the original; with the ‘A2’ birdcage flash hider and pistol

other platforms.

Similar to the real steel equivalent it can also catch you unawares! If you have been firing semi auto, switching to burst seems to continue the number of BBs that were left in the ‘memory’ of the ratchet system, which appears to continue cycling even when semi auto is selected; so not only do you have to finish the bursts in burst mode, but switching into it from a string of semi auto fire can also cause the ‘miscount’ issue. Naturally I rarely use full auto fire here in Taiwan due to the constraints of our game rules etc, but the heavier trigger in general is noticeable. The FNC and M16A1 both feel better with the M16A2 and T91 SOC both suffering the on pound heavier trigger pulls with the use of the burst trigger packs; the FNC’s system actually disengages when not in use so changes things.

well distributed and even our very petite new girl on the team could manage it fairly well as she did the M16A1. The long front handguard gives near endless opportunities for comfortable gripping, either close-in near the magazine well for shorter arms, or if you’re a Kermit like me you can comfortably C-Clamp and index your support hand thumb right there in the front most vent hole nicely.

In my example one immediately noticeable thing; along with my newer M733 which I acquired recently despite not buying it back when I originally reviewed it on release, the handguard retainer rings at the rear are definitely easier to deal with given their more angled front surface and apparently softer tensioning springs which make it a lot less of a swearing fest to get one of the handguards off for access to the HOP unit adjustment wheel.It actually presents

“BOUNDING ONTO THE SCENE IN THE EARLY 1980S FOLLOWING THE CALLS FOR A BETTER VARIANT DERIVED FROM THE US MARINE CORPS’ EXPERIENCES OF ITS ORIGINAL A1 FOREBEAR IN VIETNAM, THE M16A2 SOUPED UP-THE BARREL, IMPROVED THE SIGHTING SYSTEM”

access to the ribbed wheel itself both above and below, but many will just be used to adjusting from below anyway. It can still be a bit of a three handed job to get the handguards back in place, but it isn’t anywhere near as aggravating as the older design.

HANDS ON, ROUNDS DOWN

I initially got hands on with the VFC M16A2 way back during Bill’s visit to Taiwan, yet another exciting thing alongside the FNC that we got to play around with and had to keep schtum about despite our obvious excitement!

Getting hands on my own example I quickly took it along to IPSC for some plinking and work at short range on drill stages and taking on paper and poppers, which was inevitably hilarious but nonetheless informative… shooting on a roughly ten metre range with a metre long gun certainly puts the muzzle closer to the targets to a significant degree! But once I adjusted to the height over bore issue for such close quarters I was able to run it fairly effectively regardless, although it was still somewhat cumbersome for moving around barricades… I can certainly see why ‘you Delta boys’ chose the M733 /

At the time I was pacing around the Pentagon Centre cradling it and not wanting to give it back; as classic as the A1 looks, I think the A2 just sings to me more, it’s certainly more of ‘my era’, despite my love of ‘Nam films as well I suppose.

“MANY

M727 or other carbine variants instead.

Moving to longer ranges I took it along to our Yangmei indoor/outdoor CQB site and had also acquired a classic G&P 4x tube carry-handle-mounted optic with its integral trough clamp that features

ARGUE THE BURST FUNCTION WORSENS THE ALREADY HEAVY MILSPEC TRIGGER, AND IN THE AIRSOFT VERSION THIS FEATURE IS CARRIED OVER. THE FULL AUTO VFC M16A1 HAS AN AVERAGE TRIGGER PULL WEIGHT OF 1.88KG… WHICH TRANSLATES TO EXACTLY 4 LBS IN OLD MONEY… WHEREAS THE M16A2’S BURST MECHANISM ENCUMBERED TRIGGER A FULL 1.2LBS HEAVIER”

the ‘tunnel’ to allow the iron sights to still be used with it installed… soon enough I had the HOP set up nicely for around sixty metres and zeroed to the iron sights and the crosshairs optic using .43g BBs before stalking the darkened corridors and engaging OpFor from the other end of the buildings fairly effectively; again the heft and length of the rifle did make it somewhat comical at times trying to work through window frames, but I was nonetheless enjoying myself throwing BBs far downrange with the comparatively lightweight setup, merrily ploughing through magazines and ducking behind cover to reload. As is

The internals follow the recent V3 modifications with the steel components, simplified construction and valve striker system, all of which ensures a good authoritative hammer drop and blast of gas each trigger pull. In terms of power output, the M16A2 has the same 360mm inner barrel length as the A1, and similarly kicks out around 100m/s on a .20g BB, only around 1 joule making it more friendly for international markets, using a .3og BB only drops it down to around 90m/s but the joules hold around 1.3 given the greater projectile mass. Regardless VFC’s recent blue HOP rubber and inner barrel combination

basically always the case, the rest of the team were queuing up to see what I was reviewing this time, and of course the range, recoil, consistency and general handling and aesthetic were getting approving grunts and nods as I often find.

seem to be doing their usual magic… the same great performance out of the box is present as with the FAL, FNC, T91 SOC, M733 and M16A1,easily throwing rounds out to the 70-80m range with reasonable consistency.

“THE VFC M16A2 ALSO WEIGHS IN SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THE A1; BEING AROUND 20MM LONGER WITH THE BIGGER BUTT STOCK, AND 400G HEAVIER AT JUST SHY OF THREE KILOS OVERALL, IT’S STILL VERY WIELDY ALBEIT LONG, AND THE WEIGHT IS FAIRLY WELL DISTRIBUTED”

“THE HANDGUARD RETAINER RINGS AT THE REAR ARE DEFINITELY EASIER TO DEAL WITH GIVEN THEIR MORE ANGLED FRONT SURFACE AND APPARENTLY SOFTER TENSIONING SPRINGS WHICH MAKE IT A LOT LESS OF A SWEARING FEST TO GET ONE OF THE HANDGUARDS OFF FOR ACCESS TO THE HOP UNIT ADJUSTMENT WHEEL”

“I INITIALLY GOT HANDS ON WITH THE VFC M16A2 WAY BACK DURING BILL’S VISIT TO TAIWAN, YET ANOTHER EXCITING THING ALONGSIDE THE FNC THAT WE GOT TO PLAY AROUND WITH AND HAD TO KEEP SCHTUM ABOUT DESPITE OUR OBVIOUS EXCITEMENT! AT THE TIME I WAS PACING AROUND THE PENTAGON CENTRE CRADLING IT AND NOT WANTING TO GIVE IT BACK…”

“THE A2 LOOKS BADASS, HAS THE ‘LEGS’ IN TERMS OF THE NOW TYPICAL RANGE AND PERFORMANCE I’VE COME TO EXPECT FROM VFC’S RECENT AR PATTERN AND OTHER RIFLES, AND ISN’T AS HEAVY AND CLUNKY AS THE FNC THAT I USED AT THE PREVIOUS SANXIA MILSIM”

The last game I took it to before write-up was the Bali CQB site just a short bus ride away from my place in Northwest Taipei. The disused hotel/club has an array of interesting rooms and facilities as well as dilapidated sports facilities at one end which present a good 80-100m sheltered testing space. With the 4x optic on the carry handle and the .43g BBs loaded up I was lobbing rounds out consistently and hitting empty gas cans on an office chair; I also went to the disused swimming pool of horrors and proceeded to play ‘pool’ in between game rounds, shooting the floating plastic balls floating on the water consistently and pushing them around the pool in a repeatable and amusing fashion!

This was also my final game before the POLK IV MilSim where I was final-testing my load bearing gear and hydration and comms setup, so I decided I was happy to use the M16A2 as my primary rifle at the game the following weekend; the A2 looks badass, has the ‘legs’ in terms of the now typical range and performance I’ve come to expect from VFC’s recent AR pattern and other rifles, and isn’t as heavy and clunky as the FNC that I used at the previous Sanxia MilSim when I reviewed (both covered back in Issue 163).

With all that in mind, if you’re looking to add another AR GBBR to your existing VFC collection or want to get into their AR ecosystem and have the opportunity to add more models running on common magazines (which let’s face it are one of the major outlays in terms of costing out a full combat loadout for the likes of MilSims or full game days running a GBBR with the real capacity ‘round counts’,) VFC’s Cybergun-licensed Colt M16A2 has all the aesthetic qualities of the real steel rifle, as well as the great out of the box performance and surprisingly easy handling despite its long boi profile.

If you’re looking to get your GWOT on, or trying for a Jarhead or similar loadout, I can certainly see the appeal of this system; a lot of the same cues as the M16A1, but with the modern twist and updated features. I imagine VFC are not getting this back either; on the wall it will stay now I’ve moved things around to accommodate it. It just looks too right beneath the M16A1… onwards my addiction and expenditure doth trundle, fellow shooters!

Thanks as always to www.vegaforce.com and the cool team at the VFC Pentagon Service Centre for their continuing support, and to my good friend Jerry Wu for his kind help with additional photography shown in this article. AA

SWISS KISS

FOLLOWING ON FROM HIS REVIEW OF ARCHWICK’S B&T AIR LICENSED APC9K GBBR SMG/PDW BACK IN ISSUE 163, STEWBACCA WAS ADMITTEDLY MORE INTERESTED IN THE SLIGHTLY LARGER VARIANTS THAT HAD BEEN ANNOUNCED AT MOA 2023 AT ARCHWICK’S BOOTH, HANGING FROM THE RAFTERS IN FRONT OF A SCHEMATIC OF THE BASE GUN AND ACCESSORIES! GIVEN THAT THE APC9K IS QUITE A SMALL PLATFORM, THE APC9SD2 IS THE NEXT STEP UP AND BOASTS MORE MODULARITY AND EASE OF HANDLING FOR OUR RESIDENT KERMIT-ARMED LOVER OF SMGS.

At the beginning of October I went over to Archwick’s facility having not visited for a while due to other side-gig commitments keeping me too busy as of late, and it was then and there I picked up the next in their line of high-endmanufactured and fully licensed B&T AIR products, the APC9SD2 GBBR, the slightly longer replicavariant of the real-steel 9mm SMG from the Swiss powerhouse.

The SD2 has the same basic lower receiver and a near identical receiver as the APC9K, but it also features a larger and chunkier bolt-on M-LOK front handguard that gives you five radial rows of two fulllength slots around the three o’clock to nine o’clock positions and bottom faces of the octagonal cross section in between, with longer versions in the works which I’ll be acquiring and fitting further down the road.

The standard configuration also has as a twopiece suppressor unit which can allow for a smaller permanent inner can section that runs just slightly inset from the front end of the handguard for a very nimble and mean looking compact package, or an additional 135mm extension section which can be threaded on to give it a more mid-range appearance and longer overall footprint. This will also allow you to fit an extended inner barrel and leave the suppressor extension fitted to cover it, or alternatively Acetech’s 28x57mm blaster module can be inserted into the extension unit to allow luminous BBs to be used for excellent indoor or night fighting effects.

The same telescopic stanchion stock and rear receiver plug can be found at the rear end of the receiver, with a fully closed position and three extended positions 30mm apart which gives 200mm

of extension at its rearmost setting. Again like the APC9K this can be swiftly extended by yanking on the rubberised butt pad until the stoppers on the stanchions hit the base plug and bring it to rest, with the button below locking into the cutouts on the tops of both stanchions to give you a very rigid platform to work from the shoulder with intuitively.

As with the front handguard there are more options in the works; the telescopic stock, like most similar ones on the likes of the MP5 series, is not always the most comfortable and repeatable in terms of its cheek weld, and with that in mind Archwick have been granted permission to replicate the other stocks in the APC9 lineup; the older skeletonised style side-folding stock as used on many MP5 models in the past will also be featured in the upcoming APC9 SD variant, but also the even more interesting side-folding and telescopic ‘SCAR’ style stock on the APC9 PRO model which I’m looking forward to sticking on mine in the longer term for greater comfort and aesthetic appeal.

The magazines are of course the same green gas powered standard 30 round ‘sticks’ as used in the APC9K and the other upcoming variants, and reliably feed and can usually get at least one and a half full loads of BBs out through the gun on a single fill of the somewhat reduced size rear gas reservoir - and CO2 capsule powered versions also coming to market for more reliable operation in cooler environments. The slight flaring of the magazine well does assist in guiding magazines in during loading or reloading to some extent, although the somewhat thick ‘dead space’ or additional thickness of the lower receiver body ahead of the actual opening does make it a little less intuitive at times as the

“THE SD2 HAS THE SAME BASIC LOWER RECEIVER AND A NEAR IDENTICAL RECEIVER AS THE APC9K, BUT IT ALSO FEATURES A LARGER AND CHUNKIER BOLT-ON M-LOK FRONT HANDGUARD THAT GIVES YOU FIVE RADIAL ROWS OF TWO FULL-LENGTH SLOTS AROUND THE THREE O’CLOCK TO NINE O’CLOCK POSITIONS AND BOTTOM FACES OF THE OCTAGONAL CROSS SECTION”

magazine sits a little further back

The controls of course follow the same format as the APC9k with the common lower receiver unit

for manually holding the bolt open during clearing drills, and can sometimes require more forceful downward pressure to trip the bolt release on a fresh magazine or if closing it on an empty one, which can be harder with the trigger finger than using a thumb. The left side release is the one that interacts with the magazine and bolt catch itself and thus tends to be more repeatable in its operation. The fire selectors are very positive in their positioning with the detent system, as well as avoiding any issues of discomfort as they sit slightly higher so your strong side hand and trigger finger won’t come into contact with them as can sometimes be an issue on AR style ambidextrous controls.

flapper-lock which can trigger finger as a right handed or support

interconnected and allow the bolt to be dropped again either by the firing hand trigger finger or support hand thumb after a fresh magazine

With my larger hands it’s also possible for me to reach up with my strong-hand thumb to actuate the stock release button and collapse it against my shoulder without having to significantly break my control or firing grip to do so, but your mileage will undoubtedly vary in that front. The front handguard is now extremely comfortable for me to handle and get a solid grip around, albeit this shortest version is perhaps not ideal for my arm length and I’ll look forward to

hand side stop/release lever is sometimes less reliable

out for the slightly longer 3 M-LOK slot version in future.

some getting used to, averaging at a 5 lb (2.4kg) trigger pull with a bit of softer reset has a little in terms of the trigger’s forward movement, it took

“THE STANDARD CONFIGURATION ALSO HAS AS A TWO-PIECE SUPPRESSOR UNIT WHICH CAN ALLOW FOR A SMALLER PERMANENT INNER CAN SECTION THAT RUNS JUST SLIGHTLY INSET FROM THE FRONT END OF THE HANDGUARD FOR A VERY NIMBLE AND MEAN LOOKING COMPACT PACKAGE, OR AN ADDITIONAL 135MM EXTENSION SECTION WHICH CAN BE THREADED ON”

me a while to get used to ‘finding the wall’ with it. As it’s a more realistic trigger feeling modelled from Nelson & Ray’s own experiences of firing the real B&T APC9 series during their visit to the Swiss HQ in Thun, nonetheless after a few weeks of running it fast and hard on stages at IPSC, and in a few CQB skirmishes I managed to get more used to it, and was drilling double taps on A-zone steel with ease, thanks to some extent to the real ACRO Nelson loaned me to put on it, and my own TMC-sourced replica ACRO I used during skirmishes… I didn’t fancy having the real one shot back at when it isn’t mine!

PERFORMANCE IS ALL

The standard inner barrel falls just short of the inside of the fixed portion of the suppressor body, offering 129mm of 6.03mm precision barrel,

HOP itself is a top dead centre (TDC) which can be adjusted by inserting a 1.5mm allen key into the opening just in front of the magazine well on the lower receiver, turning clockwise for more HOP when looking down on the upturned gun, or anticlockwise for less HOP effect.

permanent use of the additional suppressor section to hide a longer inner barrel, you could fit a 270mm long replacement into the overall available length and have it just run up to the front opening of the suppressor cap.

cutting that inner down by around 70mm to a 200mm inner barrel will allow you to have both better ballistics for longer range, but also retain the ability to make use of the Acetech tracer module in the front end of the suppressor body, something I’m seriously considering now as I have found the module from my Krytac Maxim 9 happens to fit perfectly and allows the use of both green and red tracer rounds which I now have a more readily available supply of through my aforementioned side-gig work.

out at 4 kilograms and

“THE MAGAZINES ARE OF COURSE THE SAME GREEN GAS POWERED STANDARD 30 ROUND ‘STICKS’ AS USED IN THE APC9K AND THE OTHER UPCOMING VARIANTS, AND RELIABLY FEED AND CAN USUALLY GET AT LEAST ONE AND A HALF FULL LOADS OF BBS OUT THROUGH THE GUN ON A SINGLE FILL”

“THE FIRE SELECTORS ARE VERY POSITIVE IN THEIR POSITIONING WITH THE DETENT SYSTEM, AS WELL AS AVOIDING ANY ISSUES OF DISCOMFORT AS THEY SIT SLIGHTLY HIGHER SO YOUR STRONG SIDE HAND AND TRIGGER FINGER WON’T COME INTO CONTACT WITH THEM AS CAN SOMETIMES BE AN ISSUE ON AR STYLE AMBIDEXTROUS CONTROLS”

“THE TRIGGER DID TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO, AVERAGING AT A 5 LB (2.4KG) TRIGGER PULL WITH A BIT OF A SOFTER RESET WHICH HAS A LITTLE OVERRUN IN TERMS OF THE TRIGGER’S FORWARD MOVEMENT, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET USED TO ‘FINDING THE WALL’ WITH IT”

makes it a handy and modern alternative to the MP5 platform with a similar weight but in a more compact platform that’s easy to handle and has the advantage of bolt hold-open on empty, avoiding those horrid moments where you have a dead click trigger on empty without being forewarned of the inoperable nature of the gun.

The ambidextrous charging handles are the typical B&T fare, similar to the USW-Glock chassis with the sprung loaded plunger self-closing flapper handles, both of which are attached through the ‘sled’ that rides inside the extruded aluminium upper receiver and rests in front of the bolt itself but is entirely separate; this allows the platform to be charged without the charging handles reciprocating when fired.

This was actually the only source of issues during all my testing; just as I got towards the end of my initial review, the ‘round count’ of the high hundreds or low thousands running magazine loads through it at IPSC and skirmishes had shaken loose the retention grubscrew in this sled that holds the charging handles in place, and as a result it dropped down far enough to interfere with the head of the bolt that retains the return spring for the sled, causing it to jam forwards.

In the end I stripped it down to get access to this grub-screw and added some thread-locker and reinserted it to where it belonged; hopefully it won’t walk its way loose again, although the guys assured me it should be thread-locked from the factory.

The recoil is still stout and the cycle time short as with the APC9K and other 9m format GBB SMGs given the shorter bolt travel compared to replicas of larger calibre platforms, and it makes it an ideal and easily controllable platform for close quarters, with straight magazines that are a lot lighter and less clunky than MP5 ones, allowing easier stowing in pistol magazine style pouches without too much worry of them flying out during movement, and the included rubberised bottom ‘feet’ make them easy to control, and also serve as a great mallet for putting the body pins back in place if you don’t have an extensive tool kit to hand and don’t want to mar the finish of the pins or receivers.

SMOOTH RUNNING

The full-length upper receiver picatinny rail allows for the addition of the included folding iron sights (although they are in fact made of plastic), but have pistol style sights built in to their top faces for rapid use when stowed. There’s the usual windage adjustable ghost ring and peep sight holes on a flip-over insert for the rear sight, and an elevation

adjustable front post.

The picatinny rail is also continued on the top edge of the bolt-on M-LOK handguard with just enough space to fit the front sight without interfering with the rest of the main rail, or the ability to remove the handguard, I have found.

Personally I find I quite like the feel of the original, laterally ribbed and fairly slender pistol grip, however as per the real steel ‘pro’ derivations this can be replaced with any standard AR pistol grips should you prefer. In terms of the front end I would strongly recommend installing a vertical foregrip or at least a stub handstop like I have on the bottom M-LOK slot to give a more comfortable indexing grip and also avoid your support hand wandering in front of the muzzle when the suppressor extension is not installed. This will also allow you to add more pulling force for shouldering the gun more positively during handling and run it smoothly; I managed to get a few good close eliminations at Yangmei snap-shooting a duo of OpFor through a window from outside during one of our assaults, and the general shortened profile of the APC9SD2 makes it ideal for working through door frames or narrow corridors as well as making shoulder transitions easy with its relatively light overall weight and ambidextrous handling.

With the more comfortable handling in general as well as the greater modularity and future-proofing of the Archwick B&T AIR APC9SD2 makes it a lot more appealing to me personally in terms of making it readily interchangeable between indoor and outdoor or close and mid-range use by changing out the handguards, butt stocks and barrel lengths with the suppressor setup in future, as well as the bonus of integrating the tracer unit for indoor use as well. I can see myself getting a few different HOP setups pre-assembled with different inner barrel lengths as it’s very easy to strip the gun down and the included barrel nut removal tool allows you to get the barrel out without even having to remove the handguard if you prefer.

I’m looking forward to acquiring some more magazines in future to improve its usefulness in skirmishing, and the enhancement features like the stocks and handguards; as much as I am a massive fan of the MP5, I can see myself running the APC9SD2 happily indoors as well in future forays, fellow shooters…

Many thanks as always to the Archwick team for their assistance in this review, I’ll have more to add when I revisit the platform as I install more components later. AA

TAP/CLICKIMAGESFORMOREINFORMATION

PRIME MOVER

WHEN THE GUYS MET WITH THEM AT IWA, SPECNA ARMS TOLD US THAT THEIR BIGGEST NEWS FOR 2024 WOULD BE THEIR NEW PRIME SERIES OF AEGS AND WE’VE BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THEM TO DROP… AND NOW THEY HAVE! MIGUEL AS ALWAYS IS RIGHT ON THE BALL WITH THIS LATEST TAKE ON THE LATEST OF MANY NEW AND EXCITING RELEASES, AND NOW BRINGS IN HIS INITIAL THOUGHTS ON A TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL!

So, it’s another series of AR models, what’s so exciting about that? Well, PRIME is the flagship of Specna Arms’ own development and the culmination right now of all their clever industry collaborations, and these AEGs are more than just a bit special!

In their own words:

“Specna Arms presents a line of airsoft carbines based on many years of experience, passion and commitment. The variety of models, versions such as those licensed by Rock River Arms or Daniel Defense

• External barrel with 14mm CCW thread

• Precision steel inner barrel with a diameter of 6.02mm

• Folding Sights as standard

• Dark Matter 28K Brushless Motor

• GATE ASTER II

• TDC Magnus™ (Top Down Center) rotating Hop-Up chamber for highly accurate and stable adjustment (covered by European Patent number 015052069-0001)

• Helium™ Flat Hop rubber for improved BB

“BASICALLY THIS IS PRETTY MUCH “STATE OF THE CURRENT ART” WHEN IT COMES TO AEGS, AND IF YOU LIKE YOUR AEG FULL OF THE LATEST GOODIES AND MOST CERTAINLY TECHNOLOGICALLY VERSATILE, THEN THE PRIME SERIES COULD BE THE VERY THING YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR… AND NOW, YES! THEY’RE HERE!”

nozzle, steel cylinder, steel spring guide, CNC steel gears with 16: 1 gear ratio, 8mm J-Cage bearings (motor and piston pinion) and 8mm plain bearings (centre pinion ), SolarTrigger™ trigger by GATE, a powerful Specna Arms Dark Matter™ High Speed brushless motor, and a Gate™ ASTER II Bluetooth® ETU Module!

So, basically this is pretty much “state of the current art” when it comes to AEGs, and if you like your AEG full of the latest goodies and most certainly technologically versatile, then the PRIME series could

weekend, otherwise it would be quite difficult to test and review all these new models! But, all the previous releases this year dwarf what the brand has been teasing for some time now, and by now most of you already know which one it is. It’s been announced everywhere! Of course, I’m talking about the new PRIME series, which came to “overthrow” the EDGE 2.0 series, as the top dog within the brand.

I was really looking forward to seeing what Specna Arms had in store for us; the upgrades and news that PRIME brought were many. In last month’s issue

“IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BE AT A GAME AND NOT HAVING A GOOD AMOUNT OF PLAYERS USING SPECNA ARMS’ REPLICAS; THEY HIT THE MARKET LIKE A METEOR, CREATING A GREAT IMPACT IN THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY, AND THAT IMPACT HAS ONLY BEEN GROWING, WITH THE ADDITION OF NEW LINES, NEW MODELS, ACCESSORIES, UPDATES, AND UPGRADES”

gearbox, but who wouldn’t be interested in testing something that Specna Arms obviously put their heart into it?

Next up, let’s look at the new Top-Down-Centre (TDC) rotary hop up called “Magnus”.

It is obvious that the brand took inspiration from some top-tier chambers in the market to design this

trigger responses I have ever used.

Another major addition is the ASTER II from GATE, which is also an upgrade from the Version 1 found in the EDGE 2.0 series. This new ETU brings with it all the features from the previous model like fire mode configuration (binary, bursts of various durations, full auto), ROF, trigger response levels, active break and pre-cocking. But now all this is available via Bluetooth®! You no longer need the USB link to connect with the Gate Control Station, or GCS. All you need to do is download the GCS app for your smartphone, register your ASTER II serial number, and you are ready to go. With this upgrade, the player can now change the replica’s settings in the field before a game. So, for example, if a field doesn’t allow full auto, you can configure a burst.

new model. Partner it up with already tested Helium flap hop rubber, which was designed to work its best with heavier BBs, and this is probably one of the best hop-up systems out of the box in the market. The only addition that I would have liked to see was having the numbers that show the hop-up level marked visibly white, this way it would be a bit easier to adjust our “shots”. This whole set up doesn’t fall far from the upgrades that many players get for their replicas, this way you can save time and money!

Now... the Dark Matter brushless motor, which I already had the opportunity to test in the A33 as I mentioned before; given its performance in an older platform (the ONE series) I couldn’t wait to see how the combination with the PRIME platform would turn out. The motor included in the PRIME series is the 28K, which offers 28,000 revolutions per minute, translating into a phenomenal rate of fire and a superb trigger response with almost perfect heat dissipation. During my tests, I can say without a doubt that this is an out-of-the-box AEG with the fastest

The last upgrade I want to mention is the new version of the widely known Easy Spring Access 2, or ESA2, Specna Arms’ tool-less system to quickly change the spring. They listen to the community feedback and reinforced the stock guide rod.

THE BEST… SO FAR…

No wonder that they chose a new name for this line; it’s not just an EDGE 3.0 as almost everything is either new, or an upgrade!

These new PRIME AEGs are complete beasts out of the box, and I for one have been really enjoying using the SA-P23 in-game and in the field, showing it to players and seeing the surprised look on their faces when they learn about the price.

In my opinion, Specna Arms took a great leap in cementing their position in the market and in the field with their PRIME AEG series. All these ingredients that make this replica are great on their own, but it’s another level when they are all combined into a BB throwing machine.

Many thanks to the good people at Specna Arms (www.specnaarms.com) and GUNFIRE (www.gunfire. com) for sending over the SA-P23 to be used and abused, enabling us to prepare this article! AA

“NEXT UP, LET’S LOOK AT THE NEW TOP-DOWN-CENTRE (TDC) ROTARY HOP UP CALLED MAGNUS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE BRAND TOOK INSPIRATION FROM SOME TOP-TIER CHAMBERS IN THE MARKET TO DESIGN THIS NEW MODEL. PARTNER IT UP WITH ALREADY TESTED HELIUM FLAP HOP RUBBER… THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST HOP-UP SYSTEMS OUT OF THE BOX IN THE MARKET”

“IN MY OPINION, SPECNA ARMS TOOK A GREAT LEAP IN CEMENTING THEIR POSITION IN THE MARKET AND IN THE FIELD. ALL THESE INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE THIS REPLICA ARE GREAT ON THEIR OWN, BUT IT’S ANOTHER LEVEL WHEN THEY ARE ALL COMBINED INTO A BB-THROWING MACHINE”

OPFOR OPOR8R

IN THIS ISSUE WE’VE HEADLINED WITH A WHOLE SELECTION OF NEW “BLUFOR” READY AIRSOFT PLATFORMS SO IN THE SPIRIT OF LOOKING AFTER OUR “OPFOR” FRATERNITY BILL THOUGHT IT ONLY FITTING THAT HE SHOULD RETURN TO ONE OF HIS MANY 6MM-LOVES, IN THE SHAPE OF A GBBR THAT HE’S BEEN TESTING FOR A WHILE NOW, BUT HELD OFF COMMENTING ON UNTIL HE WAS 100% HAPPY WITH HIS TESTING… SAY HELLO TO HIS LATEST “LITTLE FRIEND”, THE AKX GBBR FROM TOKYO MARUI!

Testing new airsoft platforms is a joy and a privilege; testing and proper evaluation should never be rushed, and I genuinely enjoy getting to take all of the platforms I get to see up to the “woods range” for some proper beasting time and again!

However, as you will know I like to take time to be thorough in what I do, so this review has been sitting for a little while as I wanted to ensure I’d got properly under the skin of the Tokyo Marui AKX and all its little nuances before commenting. And those that know me well will understand that without doubt I have an unyielding passion for many things in our big old airsoft world, but there are some that resonate

experience with the TM AKM GBBR that we’d had in to evaluate at the back end of 2021 (see Issue 130 in BACK ISSUES for this) and the AKX appeared to be another AK, albeit modern and with most of the “tacticool” bells and whistles already in place, based on TM’s already-trusted gas tech.

OUTSTANDING ON THE OUTSIDE

Externally the AKX is a peach, taking the AKM base and dropping it down into SBR territory; overall, with a reduced 220mm outer barrel, the AKX is 750mm (550mm stock folded) stock-deployed against the fixed-length 890mm of the classic AKM.

but when it comes to “Sims” of any kind, and most certainly when it comes to training environments, it’s a gasser that I return to time and again.

I’ve spoken many times too about my favourite OpFor gas platforms, and to date those have been my open-bolt “AKM” (converted from a WE AK “PMC” with a lovely wood kit) and my SVD, and although both have had some little tweaks and been garnished with much love and attention they’re bot “classic” models. I have tried messing around with different gas AK platforms to create something more “modern”, but for some reason these builds have always come up a bit short, and swiftly my devout attention returns to those “classics”.

However, early last year, a new gas platform from market-leviathan Tokyo Marui (TM) appeared on the market, and after getting my hands on one I thought to myself “now this looks like a thoroughly modern AK that I could live with…”. I’d had a pretty good

a quick-mag- change lever under the trigger guard!), that’s about all she wrote! Pretty much all the external parts are 100% different and totally updated to bring the AKX fully into the “OPR8R realm”.

Working from the sharp-end back there’s a more modern three-chamber muzzle brake that appears to have originated in TM’s own fevered imagination, but that follows the trends set by companies like J-MAC, SLR Rifleworks, and CRH Customs; this is on the usual 14mm thread so that you can add suppressors and tracers to your heart’s content.

Immediately above this is a lowered front-sight block married up as usual to the gas tube, but you can’t really see the gas tube as it’s covered in “tacticool goodness”; the lower handguard area features the M-LOK system that offers a multitude of slots at three and six o’clock, along with offsets on both sides so that you can really play around with accessory positioning to suit how you want to

“I GENUINELY ENJOY GETTING TO TAKE ALL OF THEM UP TO THE WOODS RANGE FOR SOME PROPER BEASTING; HOWEVER, AS YOU WILL KNOW I LIKE TO TAKE TIME TO BE THOROUGH IN WHAT I DO, SO THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A LITTLE WHILE AS I WANTED TO ENSURE I’D GOT PROPERLY UNDER THE SKIN OF THE TOKYO MARUI AKX AND ALL ITS LITTLE NUANCES”

run your AK, and a little box included contains three sections of rail along with a front sight adjustment tool and magazine loading tube. Clamping solidly to the lower system is an upper seven-slot picatinny. The entire dust cover is railed almost right to the rear, and there’s a clever little inset flip-up rear sight right at the back.

One thing that I do approve of greatly is a new method of locking down the dust cover; this is often unstable and the downfall of many tactical AKs, one of the reasons I’ve never been happy with my own builds where I’ve replaced the standard dust cover with an aftermarket railed version! TM have been clever here, with a new way of locking down the cover, and you’ll actually need to undo the obvious not at the rear to get under the hood… result, the dust cover is 100% locked-down, stable and opticsready without having to resort to any side-mount, a feature which I’m pleased TM have done away with on this model.

Folding stocks on AK variant are nothing new, but again the way that TM have achieved that on the AKX shows that they do actually take note of trends within the player community, so as with many AEGs and GBBRs these days you a picatinny adapter for mounting any of the aftermarket versions now available out there; I don’t know why you’d want to though as the polymer stock provided is excellent, operating with a FAL-like “lift and swing to the left” action. The stock housing also incorporates a QD-stud sling point which marries up nicely with that inset to the M-LOK system for a two-pointer, although equally it would allow you to run a single-point easily. A new ergonomic pistol grip rounds out the feature set, and this I like a lot too as the grip-angle is spot-on for me.

INTERNALLY IMPECCABLE

Internally all is good too; there’s nothing groundbreaking that is ultimately different to the existing very much tried and tested and not found in any way wanting ZET system as found on the AKM and the MWS so you can expect performance and efficiency.

When you come to stripping and maintaining the AKX it’s simple and just like the real deal! All that you need to do is undo that big nut at the rear and slide

“THE

LOWER HANDGUARD AREA FEATURES THE M-LOK SYSTEM THAT OFFERS A MULTITUDE OF SLOTS AT THREE AND SIX O’CLOCK, ALONG WITH OFFSETS ON BOTH SIDES SO THAT YOU CAN REALLY PLAY AROUND WITH ACCESSORY POSITIONING TO SUIT HOW YOU WANT TO RUN YOUR AK”

off the dust cover back and off; this gives you access to the recoil spring assembly and the bolt assembly, so you just push the recoil assembly forward and off the lower receiver (it’s a captive spring and very similar to the real thing) and then all you have to do is pull the bolt to the rear and out that’s it… boom, done. The bolt itself is beautifully crafted, metal again

with the gas piston being a separate piece fixed in place and made from high-grade alloy; overall as you’d expect the whole thing is very well made and houses the unit that is the heart of that TM gas blowback system. The lower receiver houses the trigger, hammer, safety, and fire control components as well as the hop unit which is neatly housed in the left hand side, a small wheel adjuster type that can be easily reached and adjusted with the mag out.

On the right hand side, the opposite side to the hop adjustment wheel, you’ll find a useful little catch that allows you to “dry fire” the AKX without BBs loaded in the magazine; you simply use one of your fingers in the right hand side front of the magazine well and pull the catch back and down, and that’s it, you can then fire it as much as you like without the gun stopping because you’ve run out of BBs. You can simply deactivate this feature by pulling the catch back and pushing it back up; this is a bit (make that very!) fiddly but it actually works very well.

DOWNRANGE

The AKX in operation is a dream, functioning entirely like a real AK model; the only part of readying the replica for firing is that you need to charge the magazine with gas and BBs rather than real rounds. For testing I used simple Green Gas which functioned superbly in warm weather, but to get the best from the AKX in the winter you’d probably want to vary your gas to take lower temperatures into account; as it cools down I’ll try this myself and report back at a later date.

Once the 35 BB magazine was ready, the chronograph registered a very consistent 0.83 Joule/300fps using .20g BBs, with only one “flier” going out at 0.89 Joule/311fps. Once everything was set up BBs were happily sailing out to the end of the 30 metre “woods range” with a good, flat trajectory. Upping the BB weight to .30g and adjusting the hop the AKX was still banging away at 30m on the irons, and again once settled the BB trajectory was nice and flat to that range with the heavier weight ammo.

On semi-auto with the selector set at the lowest point of travel accuracy was spot on, with an empty plastic BB bottle being easy to hit at mid-range, and the 300mm x 300mm steels at extreme range. Switching to the mid-selector-point the AKX kicked BBs out at a good rate with the additional pleasure of having the bolt slam back and forward with each shot. The rate of fire is slower than that of an AR with a really addictive “Kalash Clack” and I can see that in a firefight this would give additional realism and put a big old grin on your chops!

Overall my time spent with the AKX from Tokyo Marui was thoroughly enjoyable. If your style of play is more “Sim” than “Spray and Pray” then this fabulously put together replica should be high on your list of primaries to consider, especially if you favour a modern OpFor or “contractor” loadout. As with all gas rifles the cost of additional magazines is going to put up the overall price of things, but in my opinion that extra spend would be well worth it, especially if you make your purchases over time as I do…

Finally… a thoroughly modern gas AK that I believe I can live with for the foreseeable future, and

with the host of aftermarket parts out there already from the likes of Angry Gun, Dragon Workshop, Bow Master, and Samoon to name but a few there’s obviously an “upgrade rabbithole” to go down when something does eventually go awry. For now though the TM AKX is beautifully put together and a joy to run, and I can see it serving well as is for a considerable time!

Sincere thanks as always go to the guys at www. iwholesales.biz for supplying the Tokyo Marui AKX… they know I like a gasser, and they know I love an AK, and it seems like they’re more than happy to feed my habit, bless them! AA

RED CELL YEAR ROUND GBBS!

November is always a strange old month; the clocks have changed and the greyness of autumn heading into winter can be a depressing time for many. It has been said however, that “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons” and with our woodland sites changing it is certainly a dramatic time!

The vibrant greens of summer are behind us now, and leaves are turning to gold and rust-red and falling in heaps (much to the joy of the sniper fraternity!), and for the feint-hearted airsofter it’s time to head indoors and take up residence behind

2024 ROLLS ONWARDS, AND WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN SO FAR FOR NEW AIRSOFT MODELS HITTING THE MARKET; WITH MOA UPON US OF COURSE WE EXPECT TO SEE EVEN MORE NEW “SHINY THINGS” MAKING AN APPEARANCE, BUT AS USUAL AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THE RED CELL CREW HAVE GOT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER TO LOOK IN DETAIL AT WHAT MODELS THEY’VE BEEN USING THEMSELVES DURING 2024, MODELS BOTH OLD AND NEW, STARTING WITH PISTOLS!

the keyboard…

There is a breed of airsofter, though, that heeds not the change of the seasons, one that will venture forth to their local site come rain, ice, or drifting snow, and indeed playing during a hard winter can often bring some of the greatest gaming rewards to the prepared player! This, of course, is also true when you play in more extreme weather conditions anywhere around the globe, but for me the onset of winter means changing out gear and being ready for whatever the elements can throw at me… and I do love a physical challenge that just adds to airsoft.

For many though, November is a time where their gameplay and visit to sites slows somewhat, and many of us spend more time on the range than outdoor; the weather means that many that are ill-equipped will stay home, and the thought of Christmas just around the corner means that our “airsoft spend” in generally curtailed until a New Year dawns.

For many small airsoft retailers November is a really hard month, so if you have a few bucks to spare then pop in to see them, even if it’s to buy a bag of BBs as they WILL appreciate your custom, and it’s your custom that keeps them going and keeps them open for business… which of course benefits YOU in the long run!

But onto pistols as hopefully that’s what you came to read about! Whenever any of us in the AA and RED CELL crew visit a site or event it’s somewhat inevitable that players and others in the industry will ask us THAT question… “What am bestest gnu?” and of course the answer given will depend on exactly which member of the AA team you’re talking to, as we are all involved in different airsoft shooting disciplines with different requirements.

What one of us may deem “The Best” will depend of course on what we’re using the AEG or GBB for; is it for general skirmishing, MilSim, competition, training, or one of the other airsoft disciplines that we love? What we enjoy (and rely on!) for shooting one style of airsoft may differ drastically from another, and consequently it’s not unusual for us to have, in this case, more than one pistol model… and indeed some of us will have multiple dedicated platforms for “in the filed” and “on the range”.

So, what we’re looking at in our list to roundout 2024 is not “The Best” as that will depend on the usuage and viewpoint of the individual shooter; however, the models that you’ll see featured here this month as “The Best To Us”, the pistols that we have used ourselves year-round, and you’’ find the usage detailed in the test.

These are models that we, as airsoft players and shooters involved in the testing and evaluation of new variants pick to have in our own holsters. There are so many fine airsoft pistols out there these days that this list could have gone far further, but of course both on-page space and focus on our own requirement

“FOR MANY SMALL AIRSOFT RETAILERS NOVEMBER IS A REALLY HARD MONTH, SO IF YOU HAVE A FEW BUCKS TO SPARE THEN POP IN TO SEE THEM, EVEN IF IT’S TO BUY A BAG OF BBS AS THEY WILL APPRECIATE YOUR CUSTOM, AND IT’S YOUR CUSTOM THAT KEEPS THEM GOING AND KEEPS THEM OPEN FOR BUSINESS… WHICH OF COURSE BENEFITS YOU IN THE LONG RUN!”

does somewhat crystalize the “thought process”, and actually it we all think hard there are pistol models that we come back to time and again, because we rely on them to give the performance we expect time and again, and when they are maintained correctly will carry on providing a great shooting experience for many years to come!

So, not “Da Bestest”, but fabulous pistols all among many, many magnificent airsoft pistols out there, and most certainly “best” to us as individuals.

TEAM TALK

Jase: So this year I won’t pick my TM SIG or my WE Glock, this year I have picked my TM Desert Warrior. The DW is an airsoft replica of the iconic 1911 pistol, designed for realism and performance. As with all TM products, out of the box it just works.

I picked this up from the fine people at Alpha Delta Airsoft in Kent along with two spare magazines. I always wanted DW or an MEU, just for the coolness of the magazines. I remember on my first game seeing this player with two mags poking out of his plate carrier and the chrome finish sparking in the sunlight, ah nostalgia.

so BBs. Ultimately, it’s a combination of preference, performance, and the cult nature that contributes to my love for it!

Bill: Sticking with “1911” styles for a “combat pistol” the VORSK Hi Capa 5.1 is always a go-to choice for me; married up with a NUPROL X-300 taclite and a dedicated KYDEX CUSTOMS holster this really is a great combo for general skirmish use… and it ain’t too shabby on the range either! Since their launch, the VORSK Hi-Capa models have grown in popularity due to their excellent shot to shot performance and gas efficiency; this high gas efficiency, the result of a large gas magazine reservoir combined with the distinctive weight-reduced slide, has been improved more and more. When the slide is reduced in weight, a further benefit is that the pistol cycles better and faster too, and VORSK’s own “FUEL” gases have gone even further down the route of improving overall efficiency as you can now choose your “fuel” to get the best from your pistol in any given situation climatically. This combination gives the VORSK Hi-Capa a fast cycle rate, snappy trigger action and a solid felt blow-back.

in gameplay is one of the main things that make it enjoyable to use because you know it’s never going to let you down. Power out the box is about 280/300fps and each mag hold around 20 or

My own 5.1 is largely stock, although I do maintain it scrupulously (as I do with all my GBBs), but it’s a little unique in that it originally was the tan/bronze version that you’ll see in the main lists, but being a bit of a tart I wanted it to match up with my ICS DD Mk18, which on the bronze side of things it does beautifully! However, detail furniture touches on the Mk18 are black, so I begged the VORSK guys for a black wrap-round pistol grip to replace the stock tan… thankfully they managed to find me one, and I switched it over so the carbine and pistol complement one another; yeah, I know, this change brings absolutely ZERO to performance, but it pleases me.

Dan: I’m still rocking my custom (as in there is nary a vestige of Tokyo Marui left in it) Glock 17 Agency NOC build, which has been putting in steady work this year. The thing just shoots like a dream, and slings a .30g out with enough ease to keep up with the carbines in the range department. This is still my favorite personal “it’s me” sidearm.

If I had to pick my favorite new production pistol and what I consider the best value out of the box,

“WHY DO I LOVE THE DESERT WARRIOR SO MUCH? WELL, IT’S A VERY MODERN TWIST ON AN OLD, HISTORICAL, AND RECOGNISABLE PISTOL THAT APPEALS TO ALL PLAYERS. THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IN DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY MAKES IT FEEL TRUE TO THE FIREARM, WHICH ENHANCES THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE”

TOKYO MARUI DESERT WARRIOR 4.3

Price: iro UK£150.00

Weight: 820g

Length: 203mm

Magazine Capacity: 28 BBs

Cold Chrono: 1.11 Joule/285fps

Hot Chrono: 1.02 Joule/300fps

Holster Compatibility: Okay

Taclite Compatibility: Good

Suppressor Compatibility: Good Available From: www.alphadeltaairsoft.com

VORSK HI CAPA 5.1

Price: iro UK£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

VORSK HI CAPA SPLIT SLIDE

Price: iro UK£140.00

Weight: 900g

Length: 250mm

Magazine Capacity: 28 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps

Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps

Holster Compatibility: Standard Hi Capa

Suppressor Compatibility: 12-14mm CCW with adaptor (provided)

Supplied By: www.vorskairsoft.com

ICS LEGACY

Price: iro UK£180.00

Weight: 886g

Length: 205mm

Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.91 Joule/313fps

Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps

Holster Compatibility: Standard Hi Capa

Suppressor Compatibility: 12-14mm CCW with adaptor (provided)

Supplied By: www.icsbb.com

ICS CARNOTAURUS

Price: iro UK£195.00

Weight: 962g

Length: 220mm

Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.91 Joule/313fps

Hot Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps

Holster Compatibility: Standard Hi Capa

Suppressor Compatibility: 12-14mm CCW with adaptor (provided)

Supplied By: www.icsbb.com

then I’d go with the Elite Force Gen V Glock 45 made by VFC. Honestly, any of the Gen V’s, be it the 17, 19 or 45. I am most partial to the size format of the 45, though, which is similar to the 19X in that it combines a 19 length slide with a 17 length grip.

The Gen V’s have been excellent, and just run like a top straight out of the box. The recoil is nice and punchy, and accuracy is acceptably decent for a factory bucking and barrel. The fit and finish inside and out has been improved substantially from the early days of the rough-hewn Gen III models that originally made their mark as the first officially licensed G-series replica’s in the US. By far though, the nicest feature is the externally adjustable hop up which is peak convenience, and certainly something one can get spoiled on. The only thing that these are lacking is the MOS / Optics Ready slides, but the aftermarket is there to fill in that gap if that is your requirement. It’s been a bit of a long road, but I feel the Gen V’s are finally bringing the “Airsoft Glock” platform into the same space that the real steel occupies, which is to say: something that just works out of the box (and for the non-tinkerer) also something that you really don’t have to do anything to either.

Stewbacca: Dan, I would wholeheartedly agree on the Gen V VFC’s. I have the 17 and 45, and access to multiple 19s, and they do indeed slap, for the money and out of the box performance… noticeably punchier than my Gen III and IV 17s and 19s.

Dan: It’s definitely a case where one shouldn’t let the past iterations influence their opinion of the current model. My Gen III G19 was rough as a cob and nearly non-functional out of the box. It required a lot of polishing of the sliding surfaces to remedy its issues. But the Gen V’s have been beautiful by comparison!

Bill: As much as the guys are loving the newer Gen V Glock models, and for good reason, my steadfast companion for MilSim and training courses is my old Umarex G17 Gen IV… basically if I had to pick a Glock, then it would be … a Glock! The Umarex G17 for me is everything that a proper “replica” should be; well made, beautifully finished, a proper weight and size to fit into any “real-deal” holsters, takes a real deal Surefire, and ultimately it shoots really well. And then there’s the trademarks that any self-respecting

“gun bunny” will drool over… I’ve never been a huge TM fan and although my TM G17 still shoots really well the fact that I know the “trades” are hooky and the slide is a “plastic fantastic” puts me off when I have other, more life-like, options.

The Glock replicas created by Umarex have always been okay, but the latest generations have really moved things forward again. After years without an official “6mm” option licensed by Glock, Umarex finally sealed the deal and subsequently assigned Vega Force Company (VFC) to manufacture pistols for the brand; regular readers will know that we rate VFC training platforms highly, so this to us is very good news! Since VFC started working with Umarex they have taken every best possible advantage with the licence, and who could blame them?

Realism, that’s what I’m after here… to the left of the slide is engraved not only the Glock logo, but also “17 Gen 4”, “Austria” and “9×19”. The right of the slide carries a serial number that matches the one on the ejection port. Unlike copycat versions, you’ll also find the Glock logo to the bottom left of the grip, while the right side reads “Officially licensed product of Glock”.

One neat touch I particularly like is that the baseplate of the magazine also shows the Glock logo (it’s the little things, the smallest things… yeah, I’m a Mathilda Homer fan!); to recharge with gas, you’ll need to press in a small button in the magazine baseplate to slide it forwards, revealing the gas fill valve. It might sound like a pain, but not only does it help make the pistol look even more real, it also only takes a second or two to achieve.

I’ve been running the Gen IV on VORSK V6 more recently, and in all the years I’ve owned it I’ve had no major issues with consistency of power, and the magazines stand up well to being abused on a regular basis. A bit of TLC now again and the Umarex Glock continues to be an accurate, consistent, and above all reliable pistol.

Stewbacca: For me, hands down has to be the WinGun ASG CZ P10C, in my case with our good friend Clarence’s CLPD Steel slide kit fitted and a clone SRO red dot on his rear sight replacement mount, running on CO2.

Since acquiring the P10C direct from the man

“THE UMAREX G17 FOR ME IS EVERYTHING THAT A PROPER “REPLICA” SHOULD BE; WELL MADE, BEAUTIFULLY FINISHED, A PROPER WEIGHT AND SIZE TO FIT INTO ANY “REAL-DEAL” HOLSTERS, TAKES A REAL DEAL SUREFIRE, AND ULTIMATELY IT SHOOTS REALLY WELL”

TOKYO MARUI GOLD MATCH

Price: iro UK£160.00

Weight: 850g

Length: 222mm

Magazine Capacity: 31 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.74 Joule/283fps

Hot Chrono: 0.78 Joule/290ps

Holster Compatibility: Good

Taclite Compatibility: Yes

Suppressor Compatibility: No

Available From: www.fire-support.co.uk

VORSK VX-14

Price: iro UK£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 G17 GEN4

Price: iro UK£150.00

Weight: 709g

Length: 202 mm

Magazine Capacity: 25 BBs

Cold Chrono:0.89 Joule/310fps

Hot Chrono: 0.83 Joule/300fps

Holster Compatibility: Good

Taclite Compatibility: Good

Suppressor Compatibility: No

Available From: www.fire-support.co.uk

UMAREX GLOCK 17 GEN4

Price: iro UK£160.00

Weight: 665g

Length: 210mm

Magazine Capacity: 24 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315fps

Hot Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps

Holster Compatibility: Good

Taclite Compatibility: Good

Suppressor Compatibility: No

Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

UMAREX GLOCK 45 GEN 5

Price: iro UK£160.00

Weight: 620g

Length: 187mm

Magazine Capacity: 22 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.82 Joule/298fps

Hot Chrono: 0.87 Joule/307fps

Holster Compatibility: Good

Taclite Compatibility: Good

Suppressor Compatibility: No

Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com

himself and then having him upgrade it more recently with his replacement parts I’ve been running it at IPSC almost without exception and only recently forced myself to pick up the Shadow 2 Orange that I also admittedly love, and I’m honestly torn which one I want to enter the upcoming Kaohsiung Level III competition in November with.

favourite pistol thus far, and she keeps going back to it for the handling and great trigger; the release is reversible so we may see if she can get used to trigger finger releasing with it set up on the right side.

Similarly we bought one for our team leader for his birthday this year, and our 2IC quickly acquired one for himself afterwards. The aesthetic, stout recoil and report along with the general great performance straight out of the gate make it appealing to many. The only thing to be aware of is the fragility of the standard thin plastic baseplates; I broke one of mine on its first IPSC outing and the others quickly followed. I replaced them with custom steel versions for competition use as Ning was using it as her default

magazines, and I have it on good authority both from teammates who have done live fire handguns in other countries, and Bridges at Heavy Recoil Club that the recoil is very close to real steel 9mm in this configuration, making it a perfect training aid for any government agencies or other shooters who may have adopted it.

If we’re going for sidearms I actually use in skirmishing, then for me it has to be the VFC SIG AIR M18 compact US service pistol. The trigger is crisp and excellent with a short reset that makes it easy to stack rounds in short order, as I (and our new shooter Ning) have done at IPSC with it as well. It’s a very straight shooter out of the box and has a snappy recoil but also seems to fit everyone’s hands perfectly. Indeed, aside from the magazine release being a bit out of reach for Ning’s much shorter thumbs it’s been her

: I was, like many here, using a Glock, a WE 18c, but I’m going over to an action army AAP 01 purely because it’s a very upgradable pistol. It takes the same G-Series mags and my large suppressor fits straight on the end. The range is also better than the WE despite running the same mags. To be fair, I bought it second-hand and relatively cheap so that’s a factor too, but it’s a great pistol; I’ve a 40 metre garden and it does that easily! I’m modifying a generic cloth holster to hold it with the suppressor under my left arm but on my plate carrier.

Ben: I’m not massively into pistols but they do serve their purpose and for me they are my go-to secondary and I do have to thank Jimmy for convincing me to use my pistol more in certain scenarios which has served me well. The main two pistols that I have been using throughout this year have been the Vorsk VX-14 and the ICS Legacy.

The Vorsk VX-14 is a great budget-friendly pistol that has been reliable, gas efficient, and effective; it is most definitely a go-to for anyone starting off in airsoft and needing a budget-friendly and 100% decent secondary; I have only had one jam thus far with the VX-14 which unfortunately for me was at the wrong time which got me taken out as the other player was coming around the corner to which I had the advantage, but because of the jam he in return got me… ain’t it ALWAYS the way!

“SINCE ACQUIRING THE P10C DIRECT FROM THE MAN HIMSELF AND THEN HAVING HIM UPGRADE IT MORE RECENTLY WITH HIS REPLACEMENT PARTS I’VE BEEN RUNNING IT AT IPSC ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION AND ONLY RECENTLY FORCED MYSELF TO PICK UP THE SHADOW 2 ORANGE THAT I ALSO ADMITTEDLY LOVE”

ASG CZ P10C (STANDARD CO2 VERSION)

Price: iro UK£140.00

Weight: 720g

Length: 180mm

Magazine Capacity: 22 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.94 Joule/319fps

Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/327fps

Holster Compatibility: Good

Taclite Compatibility: Good

Suppressor Compatibility: Threaded Barrel version available

Supplied By: www.actionsportgames.com

ACTION ARMY AAP 01

Price: iro UK£80.00

Weight: 655g

Length: 230mm

Magazine Capacity: 23 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.94 Joule/319fps

Hot Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps

Holster Compatibility: Good, dedicated

Taclite Compatibility: No

Suppressor Compatibility: Threaded Barrel Adapter available

Supplied By: www.iwhiolesales.biz

ASG CZ SHADOW 2 ORANGE

Price: iro UK£325.00

Weight: 1290g

Length: 220mm

Magazine Capacity: 26 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.99 Joule/327fps

Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331fps

Holster Compatibility: Good, dedicated

Taclite Compatibility: No

Suppressor Compatibility: No

Supplied By: www.actionsportgames.com

TOKYO MARUI FNX45

Price: iro UK£160.00

Weight: 852g

Length: 230mm

Magazine Capacity: 29 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.83 Joule/299fps

Hot Chrono: 0.85 Joule/304fps

Holster Compatibility: Good, dedicated

Taclite Compatibility: Good

Suppressor Compatibility: Good

Supplied By: www.alphadeltaairsoft.com

VFC SIG AIR M18

Price: iro UK£190.00

Weight: 690g

Length: 180mm

Magazine Capacity: 22 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.84 Joule/301fps

Hot Chrono: 0.88 Joule/308fps

Holster Compatibility: Good, dedicated

Taclite Compatibility: Good

Suppressor Compatibility: Good

Supplied By: Stewbacca

I have not had this issue or any other since which makes me believe that the jam on the day would have been either down to a BB imperfection or possibly due to the weather being cold,that the hop rubber could have contracted and was a little bit tighter than usual... possibly…

As for ICS legacy! Now this has been my favourite pistol to use with its hyper-smooth top-slide action, very comfortable in-hand manipulation, and gas efficiency. Its accuracy, top performance and quality build are what I expect from ICS, and this little beast has not let me down yet! I still believe with the one issue that I have mentioned before to deal with the safety arm switch, it’s just a little bit too protruding that sometimes my thumb knuckle manages to knock it into safe whilst reloading or checking ammo left in mag (not a major issue).

Although this pistol is slightly more expensive than the Vorsk I would still class this as a budget-friendly, go-to pistol and for that extra money it does give you that little extra with performance and feel of build quality. The legacy has been my main go-to pistol as it is such a joy to use and personally I feel it is going to take something of the same standard or better for me to swap this out. Regardless of finding another pistol that would be of better quality the Legacy holds a good place in my heart as one of the better pistols I have had the pleasure to use; it’s one that you will happily pull out from retirement (off the shelf) knowing it’s quality and performance will always be there when needed.

Bill: Ah, ICS, how I have come to love the Carnotaurus! For my “fun range sessions” this awesome split-slide design has joined my VORSK Hi Capa 5.1 Split Slide as one that I just absolutely take delight in shooting! Impressed as I was by all three Hi Capa prototypes that ICS kindly provided for us to batter, it was the Carnotaurus that really made me sit up and take notice as it showed real and ongoing innovation in the ICS pistol program, and moved things forward for them yet again!

Once again you get all the good feature-related stuff that sits in the more traditional-looking Legacy that Ben has commented so favourably upon, and

“AH,

then speeds forward by increasing efficiency all over again, as I’ve said before about the VORSK split-slide design that I’ve come to love and cherish too. You still get everything that’s in the other models, but this time with a flared, oversized magwell which aids immeasurably doing fast reloads, and both an upper and lower frame that features rails to comfortably accommodate both a taclite and an RDS!

But it’s the slide and the fixed inner barrel that makes all the difference on this new pistol; that Split Slide design means only the rear half of the slide actually moves, dovetailing beautifully with the fixed front half so there is much less weight moving, making your gas usage massively more efficient, and the cycle time meaningfully less when it comes to taking follow-up shots! The fixed barrel also reduces vibration and negative “harmonics” while the slide travels, allowing you to get, in principle at least, better shot-to-shot accuracy; delivering a stable power output the pistol does indeed do so for longer, offering better gas efficiency overall than its siblings…

At first when I laid hands on the Carnotaurus I thought it to be a thoroughly eye-catching design, especially with the red accents on the outer barrel that’s visible through cut-outs, the adjustable shortstroke trigger and the reinforced magazine

prefer that style over direct-mounting to the fixed upper.

So, the ICS is new and superb, but how is the VORSK version faring? Now just over four years old, the VORSK Hi Capa 5.1 Split Slide is still performing very well, even on cooler days now I invested in a CO2 mag and I’m using the VORSK FUEL in it; it is absolutely mental on V12! In terms of efficiently, and having no problem whatsoever emptying the entire 28BB magazine. This is another fine example of how elegant and unique design can be married to the total understanding of how a GBB pistol works to create a pistol model that if anything shoots even better than it looks!

Jimmy: The use of pistols in airsoft for me has always been a secondary for those moments of need. If I have to draw my pistol it is purely for two reasons; either I have been way too trigger happy with my primary or I have gotten that close that a double tap from a lower-powered platform is the more respectful action. My play style over the past couple of years has been mainly sniper-related and the art of sniping requires stealth and silence.

My choice of pistols for this year are the ASG MK23 and the TM FNX45; conveniently the FNX suppressor fits both pistols and does dampen muzzle report. The

MK23 is an older design now, but as an NBB is very silent indeed and with a few choice upgrades is a very effective tool when needed. The FNX is a GBB but due to its design with the polymer parts and low recoil it is still a very quiet pistol, which for a sniper means so much less chance of giving your position away! It is a shame though; I feel the FNX got forgotten about, it is a popular pistol but there doesn’t seem to be the aftermarket support for it unlike the 1911/2011 for example where the list of aftermarket for the Hi Capa is so vast.

Looking back at pistols that have impressed me over the years TM will always be my first choice the quality you get from TM is always on point, and hands down it’s still the Gold Match for me as it just performed, and still performs, so much better than a standard TM Hi Capa, mainly down to the stabilised inner barrel; it fast became a very popular choice, and still is. One thing TM offers is all year round consistency and they just work when you need them too. Out of the box you can guarantee accuracy albeit at a lower power than others, but you know absolutely that your BB is going to go where

I was toying with the idea of buying a standard TM 5.1 which I love the look of but I wanted to change some of the aesthetics. I really like the look of the gold against the black. Off I ventured into the rabbit hole of customising pistols and at that time there wasn’t much about and what was about was not cheap. If you factor in the cost of the pistol and all the little extra parts needed you were looking at another UK£200+. I kept looking at kept wanting to do it and I nearly bit the proverbial bullet but just happened to stumble on a review of the new gold match and it was exactly what I wanted for a few pounds more than the standard 5.1 black saving me a whole heap of money that I could spend on other things.

There are some noticeable differences between the two. One is the length of the lower frame, the gold match frame is slightly longer and tapers off towards the end and the slides are completely different design with the gold match having the lightening cuts allowing the gold colour of the outer barrel and

“NOW JUST OVER FOUR YEARS OLD, THE VORSK HI CAPA 5.1 SPLIT SLIDE IS STILL PERFORMING VERY WELL, EVEN ON COOLER DAYS NOW I INVESTED IN A CO2 MAG AND I’M USING THE VORSK FUEL IN IT; IT IS ABSOLUTELY MENTAL ON V12!”

the spring guide stopper to show through, they also added some texturing to the front of the slide for grip. Fibre optic post was included also on the gold match and they added what I believe they call a jigsaw trigger. But one major difference and it did make a difference in performance was the inner barrel stabilising. The gold match was the first pistol that TM had actually added a new design, a part which increased accuracy over the 5.1 black. It consists of a rubber buffer that sits over the inner barrel and licks into the outer barrel by way of two moulded lugs, also there is a spring which is retained by and o ring that sits in a shallow machined groove. This puts tension on the hop unit keeping it firmly in place reducing the movement thus creating a more accurate shot.

In a close run with the TM I have to say ICS has massively impressed me, offering out of the box pre-upgraded performance for around the same kind of price. The first Challenger Hi Capa

institutionalized a new level of excellence in the ICS pistol program and this paved the way for a whole new approach followed on by a selection of great pistols shortly after such as the newer Legacy, Acme and Carnotaurus models.

Thanks again to our good mate and AA LEGION Associate Josh from www.kriosphotography.com for some awesome additional images for this article! AA

Red Cell is supported by:

PEAK PERFORMANCE

REGULAR READERS OF AA WILL KNOW THAT WE ROLL THIS PARTICULAR ARTICLE OUT PRETTY MUCH EACH AND EVERY YEAR ROUND ABOUT NOW BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT TO US ENJOYING AIRSOFT ALL-YEAR-ROUND, BUT WHY REINVENT THE WHEEL WHEN THE INFORMATION YOU’RE GIVING REMAINS ACCURATE AND PERTINENT, AND SERVES AS A TIMELY REMINDER THAT WE ALL NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR CLOTHING AND GEAR TO GET THE VERY BEST PERFORMANCE FROM IT? OVER TO BILL ONCE AGAIN TO POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

What are we really talking about when we use the phrase “technical performance clothing”?

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 Although there are many ways to implement this in terms of clothing and footwear Two and Three Layer constructions are the most common, although coating technologies are cheaper and becoming more common.

Two Layer construction essentially means that a 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 usually applied to the membrane directly, whilst in Three Layer the sealing takes place over the inner lining fabric; seam sealing is an art form in itself!

WATERPROOF

Let’s take a look first at waterproofness and how technical fabrics achieve this.

If I take, for instance, the GORE-TEX membrane that’s at the heart of all their excellent products it contains over 9 billion microscopic pores per square inch. These pores are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule, which makes the membrane durably

waterproof, while allowing perspiration (moisture as a vapour) to escape from the inside. An oleophobic, or oil-hating, substance is integrated into the membrane, preventing the penetration of body oils, insect repellents and the like.

So, water cannot penetrate the membrane ...or can it?

Logic dictates that eventually any fabric technology can be pushed to a point of failure and this can be tested; in this case the applicable British Standard that I refer to is ‘BS EN 343:2003 Protective Clothing: Protection against Rain’. The Standard describes the tests that should be carried out to ascertain a garment’s level of waterproofness and sets out the performance standards that items carrying this description should meet. A Test House would carry out

“TWO LAYER CONSTRUCTION ESSENTIALLY MEANS THAT A 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”

these tests in order to ascertain the garment’s ability to keep out water. This is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch) or Hydrostatic Head. Hydrostatic Head is measured in mm and pressure is measured in pounds per square inch.

The Hydrostatic Head is determined by a test whereby a fabric is held taut underneath a sealed tube of water 1 inch in diameter. Over 24 hours it is observed to see how many millimetres of water the fabric can withstand before it leaks through. When the fabric begins to seep water, the “height” in millimetres is noted. This is known as the fabric’s ‘hydrostatic head’ which literally means: HydroWater, Static - Not moving, Head - Height.

The PSI relates to the amount of water pressure that a garment can withstand both from the pressure within the garment (the wearer) and the external conditions (the weather). To be 100% waterproof, the British Standards of 3 PSI has to be met, which means that a fabric can withhold 1500mm of water pressure. Pressure is not just as simple as the pressure of a rain storm, simply moving a garment when it is worn will exert pressure on the fabric.

Let’s put this in perspective though; if you were to sit on a wet, flat surface the mean pressure you generate is around 10,000mm! If you were kneeling in a firing position then the point of the

knee generates 15-17,000mm of pressure (smaller surface area, greater pressure, right?) so let’s face it, a minimum legal rating of 1500mm just does not do the job. It does begin to explain though how a garment can be legally classed as “waterproof”, but in reality it really isn’t.

BREATHABLE

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.

The body regulates itself effectively; as activity levels increase you sweat and the evaporation of this moisture helps to cool the skin. If moisture is not allowed to move away you will become “uncomfortable” inside your clothing system.

Letting moisture escape from the system is a tricky thing, but it’s essentially what is being discussed when we use the word “breathable. Behind it all is a law of nature, the Law of Partial Pressures. This law states that moisture as a vapour will naturally move from a warm, high pressure environment to a cooler low pressure one. If we are keeping a well-balanced temperature inside our clothing system then on a

“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”

bad-weather day moisture will move away from our skin through the pores in our clothing and escape to the outside. Sometimes we call this the “Temperature Gradient” as it sounds like moisture vapour is moving “down” from hot to cold.

So does a breathable fabric technology work in a rain forest? Yes is the answer, but due to the temperature inside the garment and outside the garment being more in equilibrium the transfer rate will obviously slow down. We all know we can work with Ma Nature, but never beat her!

This of course is also subject to testing; many methods can be used here to establish a Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR) or a Resistance to Evaporative Transmission (RET) figure. Of the two I prefer an RET figure as it just plain makes more sense to me. Skin is 100% breathable and has an RET of Zero. As soon as you cover it though you build up a resistance that slows down the rate at which moisture can be transmitted away; the thicker the barrier the more resistance and the slower the transmission. In essence this means that as you cover the skin with layers your system becomes less breathable so we will always be looking for technical fabrics with as low an RET figure as possible.

EVERY DARN YEAR!

If you’re spending a lot of money on a set of waterproof gear, then you really want to get the best out of it don’t you?!

Just like keeping your car running properly you need to keep on top of your kit maintenance, and yes, that does mean “every darn year!” I truly believe that there is a far better understanding of the fabric technology used in our clothing systems than ever before, and it’s a subject that is a bit of a “holy grail” for me.

Like all performance items top-end shell gear needs maintaining regularly to get the best from it. You might only change the tyres on your car infrequently (probably when the MOT or insurance inspection rolls around!), but on a Formula One car they may change the tyres during a single race to get the very best performance.

When you buy a good quality jacket or suit 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 “beading up” and rolling off the fabric 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, being covred in crud and grime! 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. I personally use the Niokwax products and have done for many years, but individual manufacturers may specify certain care products, and there’s usually a reason for this.

These care-product brands create environmentally sustainable treatments used to clean, waterproof and care for fabrics, and the majority can be used in the same wash cycle; you’ll also find bespoke products for down, merino, and base layer care to keep all of your gear tip-top. These products offer high performance cleaning, water proofing and after-care treatments that let you refresh and restore the performance

“IF YOU’RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON A SET OF WATERPROOF GEAR, THEN YOU REALLY WANT TO GET THE BEST OUT OF IT DON’T YOU?! JUST LIKE KEEPING YOUR CAR RUNNING PROPERLY YOU NEED TO KEEP ON TOP OF YOUR KIT MAINTENANCE, AND YES, THAT DOES MEAN “EVERY DARN YEAR!””

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

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 wicking, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your entire clothing system.

NEW, WATER DROPLETS WILL BE HELD ON THE DWR LAYER, SIMPLY “BEADING UP” AND ROLLING OFF THE FABRIC 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”

And if, god forbid, you do tear your jacket or pant don’t despair as most of the brands mentioned also offer a products for repair, often in the form of patches. The patches provide a simple and easy method of sealing holes and tears, as well as providing an excellent protective solution. Most repair patches are made from tough, matte finish, abrasion resistant, elastomers that resist punctures and tearing, combined with an aggressive adhesive formulated for high bond strength. The patches expand absorbing force on impact and always return to their original shape and size. This flexibility allows the patch to conform to irregular surfaces without restricting the movement of the repaired material.

With an emphasis on preservation and eco projects, it appears that even care product manufacturers are “going green” for the sake of the environment too!

A huge 91% of discarded plastic isn’t recycled and it has been predicted that by mid-century, the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, ton for ton (source: https://news.nationalgeographic.com)! To do their bit, companies have even introduced new, easily-recyclable product containers. Using plasticfree packaging, you can now buy products that are not only great for your gear, but also great for the environment.

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’ve 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 shell garments expensive but at the risk of being blunt they must have no real conception 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 “how much is too expensive”?

Use your time wisely now while you have it, and get your gear prepped and ready for new airsoft adventures! AA

This article was produced in collaboration with our good friends at Military 1st. For more information on all the products they supply please visit www. military1st.co.uk

“THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT MANY PEOPLE FIND PERFORMANCE SHELL GARMENTS EXPENSIVE BUT AT THE RISK OF BEING BLUNT THEY MUST HAVE NO REAL CONCEPTION OF WHAT IS GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES!”

EMBRACING THE DARK SIDE

WE’RE HEADING ON INTO THE WINTER MONTHS HERE AT AAHQ AND THAT MEANS THAT FOR US THE DAYS ARE INCREASINGLY FORESHORTENED, AND EVEN A SIMPLE SKIRMISH DAY IS GOING TO END UP BEING PLAYED OUT AS DARKNESS FALLS… BUT DON’T DESPAIR IF YOUR AIRSOFT BUDGET DOESN’T STRETCH TO MIL-GRADE NV, AS NITESIGHTS MAY HAVE THE ANSWER EVEN FOR THOSE THAT ARE CASH-STRAPPED! BILL TELLS MORE…

Over the past few months you may have noticed that a new company, NITESIGHTS, have been running a pretty full-on social media marketing campaign to get news of their unique products out to us, the players, and I think you’ll definitely be needing some “eyesight assistance” if you haven’t seen it! Their tagline centres around a simple, cost-effective night vision device called the ELITE NVG, and the comment that caught my attention online was “Don’t let the absurd prices of military-grade NVGs hold you back. That’s why we made the UK’s BEST affordable night

past the obvious spiel, delving a little bit deeper into what was actually on offer.

The ELITE appeared to be a lightweight and compact unit that weighed just 236g and was only 135mm long! This was indeed “compact”, and I further thought to myself “Well that’s not bad, that’s not going to add much to a helmet, and what IF it REALLY does let you play effectively in the dark?”

Of course, that’s what we all want when it comes to night vision devices, isn’t it? A nice light and lodrag helmet-mounted unit that’s going to let us see in the dark just like those “Team 6 OPR8RS” that many love to emulate in-game. We want in this case not perhaps “the look” but “the performance”, the ability to carry our games beyond the daytime realm and into the shadows of the righteous!

then I started looking

I’ll state here that I haven’t personally owned any “NVGs” up to now as I just could not justify the cost! As much as they are definitely “cool guy kit” when I was at my most active as a player we played night games… in the dark! It was all about understanding how your eyes and other senses worked after dark and making the most of your fieldcraft and natural abilities. Over time though friends of mine, and indeed some of them among the AA Crew now, started running Gen I night vision devices at MilSim events; I tried them and made the decision that as largely an OpFor MilSimmer I wasn’t going to bother, I’d leave that kind of spend to the BluFor hard-chargers, and rely on what I had for so many years… my own eyes and ears.

CHANGING TIMES

Things have a habit of moving on though, and the “tech” that the guys were running when I played against them just got better and better. Not only did those “Gens” move forward and the devices themselves improved the vision you actually got from them in the dark, but I started seeing these being married up with thermal sighting options too… the dark just got a whole lot harder to skulk in, that’s for sure… but still, with friends spending at least late three figures (and even sometimes early FOUR figures!) in their quest for advantage I decided that this was not an arms-race I wanted, or had the ability to, invest in. I have at times used both NV and thermal technology in-game, when I’ve had a unit to test, or have hired some kit for a specific scenario.. I love “the look”, but I just haven’t got the cash to spare on top of all my other airsoft gear to invest… Plus, my wife would batter me if I did…

But back to NITESIGHTS!

After looking at the physical footprint of the unit, before I started getting all excited and diving into the “tech specs” of what it could do, I looked next at the price… and was genuinely shocked! For under UK£200 I could have not just the unit, but a FREE helmet and RHINO mount set to run it on! Yup, that’s right, although you CAN buy the ELITE unit as a standalone, you can also get the whole setup in one go… and it won’t break the bank like the “Mil” gear either!

Now I thought again “This is too good to be true!”, so I spoke to a couple of guys in the AA Crew, and immediately our “man downunder”, Iggy, told me that he’d already been using the ELITE, and that although he hadn’t yet given it thorough and full testing, he was impressed. This was an evaluation that I was willing to happily accept… Iggy has used the “real deal in real settings”, so if he said it was good, he knew what he was talking about.

Also, online I saw the “laughing

emojis” that greeted the early announcements of the ELITE turn slowly but surely into “smiling, cool, and thumbs-up emojis” as new users took the plunge and got their own units… and genuinely loved them! At this point I reached out to Leon at NITESIGHTS, and he and I have been speaking regualraly ever since, especially when I received my own unit to test!

I asked Leon what his motivation for initiating this project was, and he kindly shared with me that...

“My initial goal was to create an affordable night vision solution for NERF wars, knowing that most players wouldn’t want to spend a lot on equipment for casual, night-time games. As I explored further, I realised that airsoft players in the UK were facing a similar challenge; there weren’t many budget-friendly options for quality gear.

“In the USA, players can justify investing heavily in advanced night vision systems, such as analogue Gen 3, because they use them for more serious purposes like home defence. However, the culture in the UK is different. British players tend to take a more relaxed approach, especially since we don’t use real guns here, and we understand that it’s all just part of the game. That makes using IR technology more acceptable and manageable. Recognising this, I designed my own product to meet the needs of UK players, providing quality night vision at a price that makes sense for both NERF and airsoft enthusiasts.

“Since I’m based in the UK, I’m passionate about offering the best service possible, including

“SINCE I’M BASED IN THE UK, I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT OFFERING THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE, INCLUDING A 12-MONTH WARRANTY TO ENSURE OUR CUSTOMERS FEEL SUPPORTED AND CONFIDENT IN THEIR PURCHASE. BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH PLAYERS BOTH LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS WHAT DRIVES ME TO CONSTANTLY IMPROVE THE PRODUCT AND OFFER EVEN BETTER SERVICE.”

Being able to interact with players both locally and across the country is what drives me to constantly improve the product and offer even better service.”

GETTING WORK DONE

So far, so darn cool… the potentially right kit created for the best of reasons! But putting my rather tinfoil “tech hat” on, what does the NITESIGHTS ELITE actually offer, how will it enable you to “get work done”?

Well, for one, you CAN see in the dark in clear black and white! I say that somewhat flippantly, but the fact is that the ELITE unit will let you see pretty darn well in the darkness, out to a maximum of 100m, and at this distance the image is actually clear. Where it comes into its own, though, is at the engagement distances we’d mostly find in a night game, say 30-50m, and then it’s actually VERY clear and sharp indeed. But what gives it the “Oomph!” to do this? I asked Leon, and again he told me:

“The ELITE is built to provide airsoft players with exceptional low-light visibility at an accessible price point. Designed as a great starter package, the ELITE is ideal for players looking for a balance of affordability, performance, and practicality.

“Unlike cheap, plastic night vision options that suffer from poor quality and frustrating lag, they deliver a superior experience in build quality, performance, and reliability. They offer an affordable

alternative for those who may find Gen 2 or 3 NVGs out of reach, providing the confidence to enjoy casual games without fear of breaking expensive equipment.”

To do this the ELITE benefits from:

• Wide Angle 1x Lens – The ELITE uses a 1x wideangle lens for clear, distortion-free visibility. Unlike many cheap plastic night vision devices that often come with overzoomed (3x7x) lenses, the 1x lens provides a practical, wide view that’s perfect for close-quarters battles (CQB), offering a wide field of view and maintaining full situational awareness, which is ideal for both beginner and experienced players. Older players will appreciate the ease of use and reduced strain during extended play.

• 940nm Low-Emission IR Light with Adjustable Focus – The ELITE is equipped with a 940nm infrared light that’s invisible to the naked eye, with adjustable focus. The invisible IR light ensures stealth, crucial for tactical night operations. Adjustable focus makes it easier to switch between different distances, adapting to any airsoft scenario.

• Virtually No Display Lag (0.01ms Latency) – The ELITE features a 60Hz refresh rate and minimal display delay. Unlike cheaper alternatives that often suffer from frustrating lag and poor refresh rates, these goggles provide a smooth,

“SO FAR, SO DARN COOL… THE POTENTIALLY RIGHT KIT CREATED FOR THE BEST OF REASONS! BUT PUTTING MY RATHER TINFOIL “TECH HAT” ON, WHAT DOES THE NITESIGHTS ELITE ACTUALLY OFFER, HOW WILL IT ENABLE YOU TO “GET WORK DONE”?”

real-time feed without lag, helping players react quickly without the discomfort that often comes with delayed visuals. This is particularly valuable during high-intensity scenarios.

• Durable and Lightweight Design – The ELITE is made with a 2mm thick metal exterior for enhanced durability, combined with rubber elements, while weighing only 236g. Many entry-level night vision devices are made of low-quality plastic that easily breaks, but the ELITE unit is built to withstand the rigours of gameplay. The lightweight design reduces fatigue, making extended play more comfortable and providing reliability and confidence for older players who seek dependable gear.

• Rechargeable Battery with USB-C Charging –The ELITE has a battery life of up to 2 hours per charge, with USB-C compatibility for ingame charging; you can use a power bank 9even helmet mounted!) if needed to extend game time, providing convenience and fewer interruptions, which will be appreciated by players who want a hassle-free experience during longer scenarios.

Overall then the NITESIGHTS ELITE is quite a package! At a price that will put “NV” 100% within the reach of the skirmisher (rather than just the dedicated MilSimmer), I believe it’s a brilliant step forward, one that will allow more and more players “reach out in the darkness”. Is it a MilSim-level device? No, but then it was never designed to be.

PLANNED DEVELOPMENT

Obviously I’ll be doing more testing and putting it up against some of the NV units that the guys in the AA Crew are currently running, both “Mil” and commercial, and I’ll be speaking more to Iggy about his experiences with the ELITE on the other side of the world too in order to draw together a fuller picture for you.

Initially though, what are my own experiences to date? Easily operated via a sequence of four easy-touse (even with gloves) buttons, as much as I don’t personally like RHINO mounts, the one supplied with the “package deal” is solid with the unit fitted, and

it works perfectly as intended for helmet-use. If you wear glasses as I do, you may need to juggle with the eye relief to get it right for you, but perseverance in this area WILL pay off! And if you want to use the ELITE without a helmet, then there’s also a useful elasticated headband setup included too.

I’ve also been trying the ELITE rail-mounted on the range and I have to say that if I were running an “OpFor AK” this would most certainly be the way I would run the unit, as it offers very little back-glow from the screen to give your position away. I feel that the current simple rail-mount as offered still needs a little work… it works, but it feels a little “exposed and high” up on top of a rifle or carbine, and I’m discussing with Leon more solutions for this.

And Leon does LISTEN to feedback as he does genuinely want the ELITE to be the best for players on a budget, and I admire that, I really do! He tells me that further mounting options are still in development, and that he’s begun to get into incorporating thermal technology too, so there’s more to come from NITESIGHTS, and there’ll be more to come from the AA Crew as the system develops!

Many thanks to Leon for all his assistance in bringing this “first look” together, and to find out more about the ELITE and keep up to speed with developments please do checkout www.nitesights. co.uk AA

“AND LEON LISTENS TO FEEDBACK AS HE DOES GENUINELY WANT THE ELITE TO BE THE BEST FOR PLAYERS ON A BUDGET, AND I ADMIRE THAT, I REALLY DO! HE TELLS ME THAT FURTHER MOUNTING OPTIONS ARE STILL IN DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT HE’S BEGUN TO GET INTO INCORPORATING THERMAL TECHNOLOGY TOO”

OLD... BUT STILL (VERY) BOLD!

NOVEMBER 2024 MARKS A BIG AIRSOFT-RELATED LANDMARK FOR OUR CURRENT EDITORIAL DIRECTOR BILL AS IT MARKS 30 YEARS SINCE HE FIRST PICKED UP AN AEG AND STARTED SENDING FULL-AUTO, HOP-ASSISTED BBS DOWNRANGE, SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO LOOK BACK ON HIS AIRSOFT ADVENTURES, THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS, AND TO BENCHMARK THE CHANGES THAT HE’S SEEN!

Yup, it’s true! I really am, officially, one of the “Old and Bold”! Turning the big SIX-OH earlier this year I’m somewhat amazed and slightly bemused as to how I’ve ended up where I am… running a multi-award-winning and internationally recognised airsoft magazine and daily news site that is now my life, pure and simple!

If you’d asked me in 1994 when I got my firstever AEG (yes, a TM FAMAS haha!) if I thought this is where things would lead, and that the majority of my daily work would take place “digitally” I’d have scratched my head a bit… no, make that A LOT!

Let’s spool back in time to 30 years ago… like many of you “oldsters” reading this my first exposure to airsoft was when my local model shop got in some plastic pistol kits that actually shot little plastic BBs, and of course I NEEDED one!

This got put away and lost in time, but then in the early 90’s ready-made plastic BB pistols started appearing again in my local surplus store… the early 90’s weren’t a good time for me personally, as I’d finally at my family’s urging left behind further education and all the associated sports and outdoor pursuits shenanigans which I loved and got a “proper job and life”, one that had me behind a desk most of the day… wearing a suit!

Weekends were largely taken up with rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, shooting, and generally hanging out with my old mates from school and college, some of which after the many years we’d spent in the Army Cadets together had joined “the Regs”. For various reasons, after school I’d decided to head off climbing and skiing in Europe, which turned into a year or so of the same, and although I had a brief dalliance with the “Ruperts of the OTC” later I decided not join up myself.

As we all hit our late 20’s though many of us were missing that rare thing that we all try to find… freedom and comradeship and we’d meet at the weekends… so when I turned up one day at

my mate’s farm with a plastic, BB-chucking 1911 everyone had to have one… and things escalated from there!

The real turning point for some of us was when one of the lads somehow discovered “electric guns” from Japan, and he bravely set off who-knows-where (Reading I recall) to secure us some… and that, dear airsoft friends, is how in November 1994 I ended up with a wibbly-wobbly, creaky-bendy FAMAS AEG replica from some mythical outfit called Tokyo Marui!

Fast forward now a bit to the late 90’s and some of us were playing more regularly, largely still on the farm, but sometimes venturing further afield. Sites were becoming more of a thing, and some of these even advertised in the shooting press so that we could actually find them… games grew in size, and sometimes you even got more than twenty or thirty players at game! If you look back on arniesairsoft. co.uk (once the UK font of all airsoft knowledge!) you’ll find a short piece in their “what is airsoft” archive that states: “...now in mid 2000AD, there are well over twenty playing sites in the mainland UK alone, and more planned”… ah, so much choice!

But although technology was changing (full metal replicas anyone… yes bloody please!) the basic skirmish game remained the same, and we loved it! In 1997 I was heading towards jacking the “day job” and going back to outdoor pursuits full time so I got myself an AOL email address, as did many of my friends, and suddenly we could use our home phone lines to “get online” with much buzzing, whistling and clanking… and we started to see “Airsoft Forums” that told us more about airsoft, more about the AEGs that we could buy, and more about games we could go to… it was a revelation.

However, although some of my fellow “Old and Bold” you may encounter at your local site today will go all misty-eyed and say things like “Ah, we should bring the forums back!” I’m gonna tell you right now that these could be insanely toxic places, making

“IT’S TRUE! I REALLY AM, OFFICIALLY, ONE OF THE “OLD AND BOLD”! TURNING THE BIG SIX-OH EARLIER THIS YEAR I’M SOMEWHAT AMAZED AND SLIGHTLY BEMUSED AS TO HOW I’VE ENDED UP WHERE I AM… RUNNING A MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AIRSOFT MAGAZINE AND DAILY NEWS SITE THAT IS NOW MY LIFE, PURE AND SIMPLE!”

current-day social media look positively tame in comparison! You didn’t venture there unless you were a brave little airsofter…

THE Y2K BUG!

So pushing on past “Y2K”, and by that time all of us with the “airsoft bug” were “online”, and as ‘00 became ’01 amazingly the internet had not crashed and the world, and airsoft, trundled on as ever.

Sites and games were far more widespread, and access to both kit and airsoft platforms got better and better; choice grew, communication was faster, and the airsoft forums thrived! Although the forums grew increasingly unpleasant as new players got online and the then “Old and Bold” retaliated badly to their whipper-snapper peevishness, these were really “halcyon days” for airsoft, and although most of us had decent jobs that paid good money increasingly

we were drawn deeper into the airsoft world, spending said money on increasingly more complex AEGs, accessories, and gear, playing more regularly again and building our own personal kit lockers and armouries!

After a somewhat mad start to the new millennium

my life had settled again; I had a new partner (soon to be my second, very understanding wife), I was back to working in the outdoor pursuits world I loved so much with one of the best outdoor performance brands out there, had a new home in a new area, and got to play airsoft at least once a month! Then in 2006 came the chance to live and work the USA, and we leapt at it!

Sadly due to the moving companies not understanding “airsoft” but seeing “guns” I ended up selling off all my airsoft replicas and heading to “the

“SITES AND GAMES WERE FAR MORE WIDESPREAD, AND ACCESS TO BOTH KIT AND AIRSOFT PLATFORMS GOT BETTER AND BETTER; CHOICE GREW, COMMUNICATION WAS FASTER, AND THE AIRSOFT FORUMS THRIVED… THESE WERE REALLY “HALCYON DAYS” FOR AIRSOFT!”

new world” with a bunch of cash in my pocket, which I used over time to start my collection all over again!

Arriving in Florida I was by then self-employed and only came back to the UK a couple of times a year to fulfil contractual obligations… even back then I largely worked “online and remotely” from my new home in Clearwater…

Which of course meant more time playing airsoft with the new friends I soon made; Jay, Scott (Santa), Kyle, Jim C, Jimmy, Luke, Don, and eventually Robbie when he moved down from Virginia. My time in the USA also meant I got to shoot “real”… a lot! This was both in formal training sessions with some righteous instructors and in informal range sessions with mates but suffice to say I put a LOT of lead downrange in four years, and it illustrated to me just how close to the “real” look and feel some of our airsoft replicas truly are!

Again, long story short…

As major airsoft games in Florida at that time were “18 and up” we discovered that many of the youngsters were playing weekend pickup games wherever they could, in some cases in places where they really shouldn’t have been! Hooking up with a couple of paintball fields in the area Jay and I (with the kind guidance of my old mate John “Lionclaws” Lu) started running airsoft games, and our little airsoft business, “OC-16”, flourished… these were very good

times indeed and I like to think that the “OC-16 Tan Hats” introduced many young players to the game properly, something that I’m proud of to this day. All of our games were largely organised online by now, with regular email updates and by this time, social media posts to our “database” of regulars.

I was playing at least twice a week, at the weekend in the woods, and midweek evenings “under the lights CQB”! AEGs got better and more reliable. Access to kit, even airsoft-specific kit, got easier. Games got bigger, and once where it would be a handful of players, now even simple weekend skirmish games were reaching triple figures, and games taking place on genuine Military sites attracted even bigger numbers. It was during this time I started writing about bigger airsoft games in the USA, not for AIRSOFT ACTION, but for other publications, and again to keep things brief this soon became a major part of my working life, along with also writing for a military-themed magazine.

Returning to the UK after those four years I continued down the writing path, though it taught me, through a lot of personal pain, anguish, and what today would be described as “attacks on my mental health”, how NOT to run ANY magazine, let alone one that was for passionate airsoft enthusiasts!

“I GOT TO SHOOT “REAL”… A LOT! THIS WAS BOTH IN FORMAL TRAINING SESSIONS WITH SOME RIGHTEOUS INSTRUCTORS AND IN INFORMAL RANGE SESSIONS WITH MATES… I PUT A LOT OF LEAD DOWNRANGE IN FOUR YEARS, AND IT ILLUSTRATED TO ME JUST HOW CLOSE TO THE “REAL” SOME OF OUR AIRSOFT REPLICAS TRULY ARE”

Things came to a head when I was dumped on from a great height, and I was on the cusp of giving up airsoft writing, and even airsoft itself after this mind-numbingly unpleasant experience… then one morning the phone rang, and a very special man and Editor of one of the UKs biggest shooting magazines entered my world and asked me if I’d like to write about airsoft for him!

That man was the late, great Pat Farey of Gun Mart, who over the sadly few short years that I knew him became a friend, confidante, and a true journalistic mentor. He was a passionate believer in shooting sports as a whole including airsoft, and taught me to create better, more informative articles and about the business of how magazines actually work, and work well! I will forever be in his debt for the wonderful new vistas he opened up to me, and the advice that I will forever cherish both professional and personal. I hope Pat would look at what I do now and say “Good job young man, carry on… be sure to get your copy in on time!”.

Back in the airsoft world fully again as a freelance I also approached Nige and AIRSOFT ACTION to see if anything I wrote would be of interest, and very quickly a solid friendship developed.

Again, fast-forward to now, and here were are… after working with Nige on a couple of successful publications I was tasked to take AIRSOFT ACTION fully digital in March 2020 and champion our “Free to Read” format so that we could share “our kind of airsoft” to even more players globally. When it came time for him to take a step back, it was time for me (even though I was fighting cancer at the time) to step up, and with such a great “AA Crew” fully alongside me we have forged even further ahead… and I, and we, haven’t stopped yet!

UNANSWERABLE QUESTIONS

So onto some observations…

Over my many years “in the game” many nonairsofting friends have asked me “What is airsoft?”; is it a game, a sport, a hobby, or a passion and I have to say that it is all of those things… and far more as to me as you will have seen; it is a lifestyle choice.

The same question could be asked in a different way, as in “What is an airsofter?” and the answer I would give you after thirty years of being involved is that no two airsofters are alike. Some may be “lone wolves” who just love going out and being challenged both mentally and physically, whilst some belong to a team and jointly enjoying a particular way of playing, but even amongst those some will “play team” and that’s it whilst other may “play team” and at the same time enjoy other styles of airsoft.

And “styles of airsoft”… there’s a thing in itself! Skirmishing... FilmSim... BattleSim... MilSim... Speedsoft... Historical Airsoft... Practical Shooting… I could go on as the forms are both myriad and evolving further. While some will doggedly (and rather

“SO ONTO SOME OBSERVATIONS… OVER MY MANY YEARS “IN THE GAME” MANY NON-AIRSOFTING FRIENDS HAVE ASKED ME “WHAT IS AIRSOFT?”; IS IT A GAME, A SPORT, A HOBBY, OR A PASSION AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT ALL OF THOSE THINGS… AND FAR MORE AS TO ME AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN; IT IS A LIFESTYLE CHOICE”

pig-headedly) defend one specific and particular “discipline” as being “the one”, others like myself will look at what’s on offer and in many cases think “I’ll give that a go”, and our airsoft world is by far the richer for those players that, like our beloved game, continue to grow and evolve.

Wherever we may differ though there is one thing that brings us together as a global family, and that’s our ownership and passion for AEGs and GBBs!

Whatever your particular favourite “discipline” may be, we all need something that spits BBs, be that a specific replica of a real-world firearm or simply something that shoots reliably, accurately, and consistently of our own creation; in truth, for me, it has always been about “da gunz”!

GENERATIVE AI

Bizarrely, as someone that earns his meagre crust from writing, I genuinely have no problem with the adoption of AI for many reasons, as advances in so many fields that benefit us as humans are being touched positively. I also don’t have an issue with AI being used to generate images and even text… as long as it is made clear that AI is being used.

An artist creating a beautiful picture with charcoal sticks will tell you that they used “charcoal #4” to do so, and a writer will create fabulous worlds from their imagination alone… an AI can do both in a way, and intrinsically the part of AI I’m most interested in is the “I”, the intelligence aspect which indicates that this artificial construct has the ability to learn and grow.

This does not scare me, there’s no “skynet moment” on the horizon as far as I can see, but the learning process will no doubt be greatly accelerated; however, as I write about having 30 years of airsoft experience, of shooting a massive amount of AEGs and GBBs, of skirmishing, engaging in MilSims and special games, and of interacting on a very, very personal level with so many players in so many countries over the years I would ask when, and indeed if, an AI will have this catalogue of direct, personal experience to pull from?

SOCIAL MEDIA, THE NOT-SO-TENDER TRAP

I admitted earlier in this article that I have never been

averse to using social media, and in many ways it has been a great positive, allowing airsofters both locally and globally to speak and share their adventures and “technical intel” freely and easily. Game-runners can easily reach a far wider player-base for their events, and manufacturers, even small niche ones can keep us easily and swiftly appraised of all their new goodies!

But of course we have all learned that there is a far darker side to social media platforms; why… what is the narrative? Compulsion? Greed? Human nature at its worst?

Far from giving us the freedom to converse openly and across boundaries it appears that the social media platforms are setting their own horizons when it comes to free speech, even when it’s completely legal, but it’s ultimately “their ball, their rules”. Yes, as we know (and not just in airsoft terms) social media platforms have become echo-chambers for all manner of toxic “non-debate” and home to those who shout loudest, often with the least to say or at best an agenda of their own.

Influencers (again not limited to airsoft)… what do they gain and how? Essentially they are a hidden sales force for the products and services they “recommend”, and social media allows them to have their voice and flourish, gaining followers who aspire to a certain “lifestyle”. Sadly, apart from a few very good ones that I’m proud to count as personal friends (and in some cases work directly with) that provide solid in-depth analysis of new platforms and sound evaluation of new gear, plus first-rate event coverage, most “airsoft influencers” that have come and gone over the years have never appeared at any of the games I’ve ever been at, and if they have they’ve pranced around for an hour or so and then moved on… Airsofters? You decide…

Yes, as I said earlier too, forums… toxic as hell but now viewed through rose-tinted shooting glasses, and the forerunners of the vitriol I see spouted now on more “modern, progressive, and inclusive” social media platforms… “inclusive” to who… certainly not to airsofters, and most certainly not to businesses in the airsoft world.

Axe to grind? Me? No, not really to be honest as I’ve been more than happy NOT to reinstate the AIRSOFT ACTION Facebook page for instance, and

“WE ALL NEED SOMETHING THAT SPITS BBS, BE THAT A SPECIFIC REPLICA OF A REALWORLD FIREARM OR SIMPLY SOMETHING THAT SHOOTS RELIABLY, ACCURATELY, AND CONSISTENTLY OF OUR OWN CREATION; IN TRUTH, FOR ME, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT “DA GUNZ”!”

it has not affected the numbers of you that flock in to read the magazine each month (thank you!)… In fact, as inherently lazy human beings (and yes, I do count myself amongst you!) we like to take an easy path in a complex world. So, after stating that AA was leaving Facebook, thousands more of you signed up to push notifications direct from www.airsoftaction.net (thank you again!).

I’d urge you all to remember that just like your AEG or GBB, social media is a tool that should allow you to enjoy yourself, not threaten or cajole you into doing something you’d rather not. In recent months I’ve curtailed not only what AIRSOFT ACTION says on these platforms, but in actual fact how much I interact with them personally… and I feel better for it! As I said, social media is a tool… YOU decide when and how best to use that tool…

CLOSING DOWN, MOVING ON!

To sum up, as you’ll have read here, airsoft has been a massively positive part of my day to day for over half my life. All the real-steel and airsoft training courses, along with running around in cold, dark buildings and muddy woods has kept me physically fit (even after illness), and I like to think writing for military, security, shooting, and especially airsoft publications has kept me mentally agile too. It’s a rare thing that for thirty years one particular thing in your life can keep you excited and passionate about it, but airsoft for me has 100% been “THAT THING”!

I’ve been privileged to have trained at home and abroad with some righteous, top-tier guys that have “been there, done that” for real, to have played airsoft in many countries, and travelled even further afield to report on airsoft events and international shows like IWA, SHOT, and DSEI, along with airsoftrelated and airsoft-for-training stories. Heading to Taiwan last year was a bit of a dream come true for me, thanks to G&G of course, but staying for a bit longer “on my own dime” with Stewbacca and Anny allowed me to visit a lot of places where airsoft innovation truly thrives… I don’t refer to Taiwan as “Airsoft Central” without good reason.

I’ve been lucky enough to shoot literally hundreds of airsoft replicas of real firearms (along with the “real

steel” when at shows and on training trips overseas) from some fabulous manufacturers, along with their own unique designs, more of them than I ever thought possible and I do love my weekly rangetime! But ultimately, as I was reminded very recently, airsoft is all about where I started so many years ago… out in the woods, with a bunch of good mates with some “big bois toys”, ducking, diving, and slinging BBs at each other!

Whilst I have no doubt that those “weekend skirmishes” will carry on as ever, change is inevitable in all things, but thankfully in airsoft the growth of the game worldwide has been continuous and encouraging, and shows that the next 30 years should be totally positive if we can overcome the pitfalls of arguing with one another and act with a cohesive voice as a true part of the larger shooting sports world.

AIRSOFT ACTION still has a way to go, and that journey MUST include all of us that are involved in the magazine being active airsofters and shooters in one way or another! I don’t know if I have another thirty years left in me to be an “active player” on a regular basis again (that’s a sobering thought in itself!) but I do know that I will always get out to play a bit and shoot, real rounds and BBs both.

Airsoft has brought me so much joy and has made me so many fabulous friends around the world that it will be a part of my life until the day that I eventually leave for that big old Safe Zone in the sky… I just hope that I’ll be able to meet many, many more of you before I make THAT particular long walk! AA

“I LIKE TO THINK WRITING FOR MILITARY, SECURITY, SHOOTING, AND ESPECIALLY AIRSOFT PUBLICATIONS HAS KEPT ME MENTALLY AGILE TOO. IT’S A RARE THING THAT FOR THIRTY YEARS ONE PARTICULAR THING IN YOUR LIFE CAN KEEP YOU EXCITED AND PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, BUT AIRSOFT FOR ME HAS 100% BEEN “THAT THING”!”

BARE BONES AIRSOFT

WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED TO PLAY AIRSOFT? IT’S A TOPIC THAT I SEE COME UP TIME AND AGAIN FROM NEW AIRSOFTERS ONLINE, AND THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS ACTUALLY NOT VERY MUCH! BEN AND BILL WERE OUT TO PLAY TOGETHER LATE LAST MONTH TO PUTTING THEIR HEADS TO “NECESSITIES”, SO READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW THEY GOT ON RUNNING “BARE BONES” ONLY!

It’s been a little while since I ventured out to a simple skirmish due to my brush with “The Big C”, the treatment that entailed, and the slog back to “fightin’ fit”, but as I have a rule that everyone writing for AIRSOFT ACTION must be an ACTIVE airsofter in one way or another, it’s a rule that I have to impose on myself as much as anyone else in the crew!

Now, in ACTIVE I include not only those who are out at games on a regular basis, but also those who shoot in Action Air competitions, those who shoot regularly on the range, and those that are active as Tech’s in the workshop… but fundamentally anyone who writes in the magazine on a regular basis would ideally encompass two or more of those disciplines. However, when Ben and I were discussing this on the long roadtrip down to NAF earlier this year he made a very valid point to me, that without a shadow of a doubt the humble (or these days not-so-humble!) weekend skirmish is still very much the life-blood of airsoft and that we should all get out to one regularly. He said to me “Boss, I know you’ve been through it with your illness, but you really need to get out to a local skirmish… You don’t have to play the full day to start if it’s too much, but just come out to play!”

And so it was that a plan was hatched between us; we would pick a date and a site local to us, Cool Under Fire (www.cufairsoft.com) that Ben plays at

most weekends, and I would just simply book on as a player just like any other, no “Do you know who I am?” bullshit, just another player...!

As always, though, there’s always time for a story or article so Ben and I hit on the plan to run that chosen day “bare bones”, using only what was 100% necessary for a skirmish game… and NOTHING more!

Now I am (and always have been) a fan of the mantra “any fool can be uncomfortable”, which you well know, but I also believe fully in “you need to put more in to get more out” and that’s especially true for your personal fitness when you get older, or like me have been through a long-term illness and somewhat brutal treatment plan… and totally true when both are applicable. I’d already started training a few times a week to punch up my general fitness, strength, and overall flexibility, but to be ready to attend, and properly enjoy, a skirmish day I upped this to every day, five days a week; I’ve been doing this for a few months now, and oh boy, do I feel better!

GOOD GEAR TO GO!

When it came to what I would need for a skirmish day I immediately thought “Which gun will I take?”… then I thought again!

Although most of the platforms I run are largely stock internally many have numerous external upgrades so I thought I’d just grab one basic AR and

“MOST NEW PLAYERS BUYING THEIR FIRST AEG WILL FIT A SLING, AN OPTIC, POSSIBLY A TACLITE, BUT THAT’S ABOUT IT. THE AEG MIGHT COME WITH A FOREGRIP IN THE BOX (AS MANY ARS DO THESE DAYS) SO THAT WAS OKAY TOO… BUT THEN I STOPPED ADDING ACCESSORIES… YOU DON’T NEED THEM FOR A SIMPLE, LARGELY DAYLIGHT, SHOOT-DAY!”

one AK from the Red Cell Test Pool and job done!

Once I’d decided on my favourite old AKSU and a newer DELTA ARMORY “M4” (an MP5K for Ben!) I started to work on them, setting them up just as I like them… and then I stopped, took all the accessories off again, and sat back…

Most new players buying their first AEG will fit a sling, an optic, possibly a taclite, but that’s about it. The AEG might come with a foregrip in the box (as many ARs do these days) so that was okay too… but then I stopped adding accessories… you don’t need them for a simple, largely daylight, shoot-day! I checked the magazines that came with both AEGs and then added five more for each platform… done. Then it came to a secondary… one Glock with a single mag and a KYDEX CUSTOMS OONI Universal Holster… again, done.

So, then it was onto “kit & gear”! Let’s be honest, all of us like a bit of an “OPR8R vibe” of one flavour or another, but did I need all the “Gucci shizzle”? Not really, not just to go out and play airsoft. What I NEEDED I’ll pop in a short list below:

• AEG Primary Platform (AR or AK)

• Spare Magazine x 5

• GBB Secondary (for pistol games!)

• Holster

• Gun Case or Bag

• Eye Protection

• Waterproof and solid boots with good ankle support

• Decent Socks

• Gloves

• Sturdy, comfortable layered clothing

• Waterproof Jacket and Trousers

• BBs and Battery (plus a spare battery)

• Some way to police mags; a simple chest rig and a dump pouch

• Something to carry a water bottle, snacks, a speedloader, some extra BBs and a spare battery in the field

• A simple wristwatch (some games are timed after all!)

• A thoroughly positive mental attitude and the ability to take the hits and keep on rolling with a smile!

Yup, that’s the lot really; less in this case is definitely more! So, with this list in mind, what did it all cost, and what budget does a new airsofter need?

Although I would always recommend renting your first AEG and GBB on-site so that you can try different platforms, if when you have your Defence in Law (in the UK) these days you can have a thoroughly field-

worthy AEG for UK£150-£250, often at the higher end with a battery included, and a basic G-Series or 1911-style GBB will set you back under UK£100, so let’s say UK£300 for both.

A holster for your pistol can cost very little, but losing your pistol in the woods is both annoying and expensive! Although there are cheap holsters out there, buy a decent one, with decent retention; I used the new KYDEX CUSTOMS OONI “universal” with their mid-ride extender and it was an awesome combo... prices range massively here, but if you buy a “universal” model it will let you easily use it with different models of pistol; a simple belt-mounted cordura “universal” will set you back as little as £UK15-20 at your local airsoft store.

You’re going to want some extra mags without doubt and my advice here is to get yourself a mix of mid-caps and a couple of hi-caps so you can immediately vary your style of play in different settings (woodland or CQB for instance). I largely use NUPROL mags these days; a STANAG Hi will set you back about 13 quid a pop, a 30/140 BB adjustable mid a quid or so more… their excellent N-MAGS are a little more, but they look great and function perfectly. Allow UK£20-25 for a spare battery, around UK£10-15 for a big old bottle of quality BBs and you’re pretty much all set!

An AEG (or GBBR!) and a pistol in fairness are the “big spend” for all of us, but if you continue renting you AEG on site that spend can be worked up to, and you can try lots of different styles of platform too; in my experience airsofters LOVE to talk about their personal AEG or GBB and some may let you have a go on the range with their “baby” too, so again you can check out different options before you buy. When you do get round to buying your own “airsoft child”… don’t mess with it! Use it until something goes wrong (and at some point it WILL go wrong!), and then take it to a proper tech at your local store to get it fixed. By that time you’ll have begun to understand what “more” you want from your personal platform, and this is the time to get those specific upgrades sorted by the tech too.

So, back to my little list…

Most of the clothing you’ll need you probably already own so don’t sweat it over the “Gucci gear” at the beginning! Most of us own base layers these days, and for my “skirmish day” with Ben I just used some that I have for outdoor pursuits, same with a light fleece to go over, although in my case this was a VIPER TECHNICAL MID LAYER FLEECE TOP which you can pick up for around UK£25. I recently got myself

a new lightweight waterproof and breathable jacket (see our maintenance article this month) in the shape of a PENTAGON MONLITE from www.military1st. co.uk, in plain tan so I can wear it for airsoft and every day too; along with surplus waterproof over-trousers (UK£10 locally) this will have you set for wet weather .

Ben and I chose to go a little “PMC” so we just wore some old jeans, but any outdoor pursuits-style trouser will serve you well. I chose to wear the LOWA ZEPHYR GTX boots I already have, but equally I could have worn my MERREL MOAB GTX MIDS that I use for general outdoor as both offer good foot and ankle support; simply adding a neck gaiter and a ballcap completed things, although I did stuff a watchcap and insulated jacket (a VIPER FRONTIER) in my Safe Zone pack for staying warm between games.

I already have a few chest rigs, so I just pulled a simple old BLACKHAWK model out of my “CAGE”, but something like the VIPER VX BUCKLE UP READY RIG I saw many players wearing on the day will only set you back about UK£35, and they’re totally fit for purpose, letting you carry some extra mags and things like a small first aid kit, multi-tool and taclite safely and easily.

For keeping your kit squared away in the Safe Zone any old pack and guncase/bag will do to be honest, but if you want something to carry snacks, a waterbottle, speedloader, some extra BBs and a spare battery in the field then I’d thoroughly recommend the little VIPER CHARGER PACK which you can find for around UK£35.

Protective gear! You may wish to chuck on some kneepads for protection from stones and roots if you wish, but I’m personally not a fan. I am, however, a fan of decent gloves, and a pair of tactical/shooting gloves is a great investment as getting a BB on a bare knuckle if no joke! You’ll’ no doubt be able to pick up a pair from the same airsoft shop where you bought your AEG, or indeed from the shop that most sites have running in-situ on game days. I currently run a pair of lightweight RAGNAR RAIDS VALKYRIE MK1 gloves that you can pick up for about UK£15 and are excellent.

The real biggie… EYEPRO! This is ultimately a specialist area (you’ll find numerous articles on this alone in BACK ISSUES), and as we all say “You only have one set of MKI eyeballs, so look after ‘em!” and this is something that should be written in stone! No doubt your local site will offer a full-face mask (recommended for younger players anyway!) or reputable shooting glasses as a part of your initial rental package, but trust me, you’ll want your own. Don’t just ask other players what they use, but

research this extensively, visit a store that knows what they’re talking about in this respect, and buy something with the correct safety compliance… that actually fits your face! I use BLUEYE and NUPROL BATTLE PRO glasses these days which are well-priced and offer correct levels of safety compliance, although I do have a bit of a collection…

One thing to note is that as I’ve got older I now need regular glasses for reading, and although expensive “tacticool models” are available with inserts for prescription lenses the more sensibly-priced BATTLE PROS come with reday-to-go inserts but you’ll need to visit an optician for the lenses if you need them.

Honestly, like decent supportive boots, DO NOT SCRIMP on eyepro, spend some money here and get the best you can that fit and protect you properly!

And that my airsoft mates, is THAT… total spend minus the AEG and GBB (that’s down to your choice of primary and secondary!) comes out at around the UK£250 mark for kit that will last you a very good while, and give you some in-game options. A trip to an army surplus store will net you a full set of waterproofs and some MTP gear for very little when you’re ready, and of course online stores like www. military1st.co.uk can cater to your every clothing, footwear, and kit desire if you want something different!

HITTING THE FIELD

So, how was my “bare bones skirmish day” with Ben? Frankly... Awesome! It was a special Halloween game and there were some righteous outfits, the sun shone and it was T-shirts all the way for Ben and I even though it was nigh on November, so running light and “bare bones” was actually a pretty good call!

Cool Under Fire proved to be the perfect site to make my post-cancer “skirmish day comeback”, not too big but superbly developed with a whole host of cool structures dotted throughout the woodland and scrub.

Luke and the Marshal team were friendly, inclusive, kept things rolling well but were not obtrusive during the games. The Site Shop, run by the extremely friendly Scott and Michelle from Alpha Delta Airsoft, was well-stocked, bright and inviting, and the food onsite was spot-on!

The players were obviously a close-knit group but made me very welcome, and every single one of them was 100% banging and on-point all day long with objectives closely-contested and hard-fought-over. I had one misunderstanding over hits with another

player (it happens!), but we both took a hit, shook hands, and both went back to Respawn… He said to me “It’s only airsoft”, and I have to agree… airsoft done very, very right, and I loved every minute all over again after all this time! Cool Under Fire is local to me, and I will return.

Just remember that playing airsoft is all about that… PLAYING AIRSOFT, and playing it right, hard and with honour! If you spend all your money on unnecessary gear and accessories just because they’re cool, well… money only stretches so far for us mere mortals and I’d rather we all spent our money hitting a game day than hauling around extraneous stuff that we “might” need. Keep it tight, buy what you NEED, and what you WANT can come later!

Many thanks to Luke, the Marshals, and all the players at Cool Under Fire (www.cufairsoft.com) for a great skirmish day and for helping out with ingame images. If you’re ever down in Kent then I’d thoroughly recommend a visit to this awesome little site! AA

OVER THE BEACH

HAVING BARELY RECOVERED FROM THE PENGHU ISLANDS MILSIM FEATURED LAST ISSUE, STEWBACCA WAS MAKING HIS WAY SOUTH AT THE START OF OCTOBER TO TAKE PART IN THE MOST RECENT ITERATION OF ONE OF THE MORE PROLIFIC AND ENJOYABLE MILSIM EVENTS IN TAIWAN. THIS YEAR POLK IV WAS ON A NEW SITE, AND OFFERED NEW CHALLENGES, AND HE’D LITERALLY BE GOING ‘OVER THE BEACH’ WITH TEAM TAIJI AND THE REST OF THEIR REDFOR TO TAKE ON THE DEFENDING BLUFOR ENTRENCHED IN THE ROLLING HILLOCKS AND JUNGLES ATOP THE DUNES, TESTING HIS EQUIPMENT, ENDURANCE, AND LONG RANGE MARKSMANSHIP TO THEIR LIMITS!

TAIWAN: POLK IV MILSIM

POLK - derived from the phonetic derivation of ‘pork’ (and named for the fact they ‘go the whole hog’ with a spit roast pig for the communal dinner) is one of the larger MilSim games within Taiwan, predominantly by the ‘northern alliance’ of team leaderships and ‘survival games’ organisers in the upper half of the island.

Players, however, from all over come to enjoy not just the large-scale gameplay, but just as importantly the camping and barbecue communal dining and carousing… it’s what we in my prior UK team would call a ‘Chill-Sim’! The shooting is an element, but the camaraderie and party are also important, and 2024 saw its fourth iteration.

After I joined POLK II and III which were both held on the same camping ground and surrounding jungle in the northeast of Taiwan, this year we in fact went West and South to QiDing in the Hsinchu/Miaoli county area near our Pewniversity training site but to the coast itself.

If you remember back to POLK II it was later in the year, and thereby a little cooler and easier to deal with the weather; however the foliage of the part of the campsite we had booked was almost impassable, cutting us to ribbons with vines and thorns, and severely hampering gameplay. POLK III was in the same campsite but the south end with much better

terrain to play in, but we had to beat the summer rush with the booking and pull it forwards to midJuly… which made it lethally hot for many of the players, almost literally in the case of one unfortunate hospitalised guy who later recovered. Thus the ‘Goldilocks’ search on the part of the organising staff who took on board all the past feedback and decided to shift gears and sites to the opposite coast and again into October when the heat had started to dissipate somewhat.

The QiDing site is a well-developed camping and activities complex; a gaggle of university students were sharing it with us over the weekend, so it’s clearly still actively used for summer camps for the ‘civilian’ or normal folks. With horses and stables on site (some people even had time to take armed horseback photos during their down time!) as well as cycling, camping, dining and other activity facilities, it was certainly nice to once again have shower facilities to look forward to after the game, and a good-sized camping area to spread the teams out in.

Once again our preparations began in earnest months in advance! Our command element devised custom gridded maps of the area using satellite photographs to allow us to coordinate our own RedFor (and especially Team Taiji within it)

“PLAYERS HOWEVER FROM ALL OVER COME TO ENJOY NOT JUST THE LARGE-SCALE GAMEPLAY, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY THE CAMPING AND BARBECUE COMMUNAL DINING AND CAROUSING… IT’S WHAT WE IN MY PRIOR UK TEAM WOULD CALL A ‘CHILL-SIM’!”

without interference or interception of our plans or communications being so much of an issue as our maps would be coded for ourselves. Along with this we were separated out into a formalised squad structure with around five members per squad, grouped into two ‘bricks’ by radio callsigns, creating three main groups of ten or so working together under their squad leaders and RTOs. There were also floating lone command elements who coordinated with the organiser’s top level and other element commanders, as well as having a couple of roving forward operating pair or trio units who got out ahead to cause trouble and relay information about opposition’s movements to allow us to better respond to their positions and challenges in game.

We also had a few ‘dry run’ days of testing our final gear setups and preparing our units and strategies in advance; honestly I think this is where our main strength always comes from, not only being one of the largest teams and bringing half of an entire side to each MilSim, but the fact we all play regularly aside from a few family commitment exceptions or other individuals missing things; we play and train alongside each other all year basically and hone our tactics… not every team has the strength of numbers or ability to always play so regularly in force.

I had tweaked my plate carrier and supplemental backpack to maximise my comfort and efficiency, focusing on only carrying water in the pack with two Camelbak bladders to give me up to six litres on board in total. I tend to run out of water before anything else, from past experiences of all the POLK, Sanxia and PengHu MilSims, but not this time! I also decided to field the VFC Cybergun licensed Colt M16A2 whose review is headlining this issue as my primary rifle; the T91 optics setup had suffered in the rain of PengHu, and I wanted a fixed 4x optic and a lighter setup with a more classic outline, also taking their M733 as a backup gun with magazine compatibility, and the Sig Air/VFC M18 sidearm.

PREPPED AND READY TO ROLL

As Saturday 4th October rolled around all preparations were in place and our resident Irishman Colin was good enough to pick me up on the way past and we travelled down an hour and a half south quickly on the highway before the weekend rush. We got to the site an hour before we really needed to, but that allowed us to wander around and get some familiarity before signing in as the rest of the team rocked up and unloaded all their personal effects.

With everyone on site we began setting up camp together with our array of tents organised into the available spaces; being a long boi myself I have my own ‘3 man’ Quecha tent that I purchased way back before POLK II which I tend to end up sleeping diagonally in to fit, along with my gear stowed around me out of any potential rain. Some of the others were sharing larger tents that were a bit more intensive in their assembly, so I mucked in where I could to help expedite things. The team leaders were rounded up around 11:30 for the primary situation briefing which then trickled down to us just before we all went to the dining hall for lunch and then returned to the camp to start final gearing up for a 13:00 deployment.

“ONCE AGAIN OUR PREPARATIONS BEGAN IN EARNEST MONTHS IN ADVANCE! OUR COMMAND ELEMENT DEVISED CUSTOM GRIDDED MAPS OF THE AREA USING SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHS TO ALLOW US TO COORDINATE OUR OWN REDFOR (AND ESPECIALLY TEAM TAIJI WITHIN IT) WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OR INTERCEPTION OF OUR PLANS”

With everyone buttoned up in their gear, mags sorted, hydration and other sustainment sorted and radios tuned into squad level or command level channels (our RTO/squad leaders would carry two radios to allow comms, whereas we could listen in on everything but only transmit on squad level for the most part, to keep things less chaotic) we all moved to the flat field nearby for a massive group photo before heading south to the beachfront for our initial action, BluFor heading off up north.

With around eighty players per side, RedFor deployed in full force to the south entrance to the kilometre long beach-head section we would be playing along, with the Taiji ‘Yankee’ element taking responsibility for that left wing, and the other teams making up RedFor splitting into the central and right prongs of the trident attack we had planned. BluFor however would be split, with forty of their number entrenched at the upper end of the play area overlooking the beach and the central hilly and jungle areas, ready to defend and repel our assault, while the remaining half of their team would assault after twenty minutes of our initial action to simulate a local QRF response.

After the obligatory ‘doing cool guy shit in hot places’ posey photos and

team pictures “Game On” was called and we began moving up the beach; it was a lot slower going than we’d hoped, as the tide was quite high in during the afternoon, so we were forced to either move along the upper edge of the beach on the light dunes, or stick to the stony section above the breakwater line. It took us longer than we’d hoped to reach our dunebase rally points, with the main callsigns peeling off to form a three-pronged sideways attack with Foxtrot One and Two (our two squads) taking responsibility for the northernmost action, and thus being first to take fire on the beach as we reached the top end of the site and came under observation from the bushes lining the top edge of the slight cliffs.

BEACH-HEAD!

We came under fire as we began trying to deploy up the dunes, which in itself was a bit of a souldestroying exercise in climbing a 70 degree incline on sand that was constantly collapsing! Unfortunately the knotted rope that was supposed to assist us had apparently been removed, potentially by BluFor patrols, so we scrambled up using what solid roots we could find. I managed to take a sniper shot to the forehead during my covering action with some of the rest of Foxtrot Two; our new girl Ning was playing medic for us and did a sterling job all weekend of being where she needed to be when we all needed her!

For this game the dynamic had adjusted somewhat again; medics or squad leaders would have their mobile phones on them, and they would then take a photo of the casualty with one of the finite number of team coloured wrist-bands applied and send it over messenger APP to the organisers so they could track losses and regens in real time and ensure fair play. Patched up, but with my head still ringing a little I ended up being last man left on the beach, just as a gaggle of armed people came into view from where we had begun our advance!

Not wanting to risk friendly fire, and struggling

to make out any team ID colours with them being silhouetted against the blazing sun, I held them off at around 100m alone while trying to get confirmation of all our units movements; some of our team were joining the game late due to other commitments, and other RedFor units had perhaps yet to redeploy. In the end it became apparent that they weren’t backing down or identifying themselves so we decided to get me up the dunes on the tail of my team leader up there, not before dumping a few magazines to make them disperse and scoring an elimination. Thankfully it later turned out they were indeed team FGMT of BluFor, as they came and found me after the first round to share war stories about seeing my lone imposing figure and long rifle guarding the rear of my element.

Having finally clambered up the dunes and gotten out of the searing direct sunlight I took a breather with our team leader Jon and took the opportunity to fully reload and re-gas all my magazines as I’d run out most of the eight 30 BB mags I was carrying! Thankfully I had a speedloader and gas can on my new belt kit setup which worked excellently for me all weekend, rarely getting in the way or caught on anything, and not causing my backpack to be overloaded as in previous instances when I’d used it for such things as well as the water.

Listening to the wider comms net, aside from some annoying interference, we heard good progress from out teammates in other squads. RedFor had managed to pretty much eliminate or otherwise displace the BluFor elements at the very north and secure the Blue Team flag atop one of the higher hills just up from the cliff edge; presumably they deployed forwards and inland not expecting such a large element of us to go full on ‘Leeroy Jenkins’ and do the hard thing of the beach assault! Indeed it was only once Foxtrot One and Two reached the top end of the beach and all our compatriots had peeled off and mounted the

dunes that we drew any attention or came under any fire… sometimes, you just have to do things the hard way, fellow shooters…

As I finished reloading all my magazines the QRF BluFor continued to move up the beach not seeing Jon and I secreted in the thick shrubbery above them; we called in our contacts, readied ourselves and started raining hell from on high on them as their teammates had with us. The M16A2 was zeroed out to around 50 metres, but can range to 70 or 80 in reality, running .43g bio BBs I immediately eliminated one of their number on the waterline of the beach and began shifting my fire left and inland along with Jon to keep them at bay a little longer. By This time 1500 was rolling around… it had been a long hour and a half since game on, and we’d all covered a lot of ground and inflicted a lot of casualties on BluFor it seems.

Nonetheless we were reaching the end of our twenty minutes required to hold the Blue Flag with ten or more team members and resisting counterassault. As the time elapsed Jon called in to command that we’d fulfilled the goals and took the flag for the allotted time, and we called EndEx over comms and down the beach to the guys we’d just been hosing

“WE CAME UNDER FIRE AS WE BEGAN TRYING TO DEPLOY

UP THE DUNES, WHICH IN ITSELF WAS A BIT OF A SOUL DESTROYING EXERCISE IN CLIMBING A 70 DEGREE INCLINE ON SAND THAT WAS CONSTANTLY COLLAPSING! UNFORTUNATELY THE KNOTTED ROPE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO ASSIST US HAD APPARENTLY BEEN REMOVED, POTENTIALLY BY BLUFOR…”

from above. We clambered up and reunited with our other team elements just beyond the shrub line at the hill with BluFor’s flag, of course stopping to take some nice scenic pictures; all of us were pretty shattered having moved and fought under the beating sun, and it was decided to break early to recover and prepare for the hog roast already in preparation. It seems we finished things too early due to our effective action, but we did somewhat hobble ourselves in the effort; we all ensured the team rehydrated sufficiently and took stock of themselves and their gear.

R&R… AND HOG!

Having done our work well as a team, we sidled off in a somewhat spent state and returned to camp to get out of our rigs and chill out for a bit before dinner. An hour and a half of gameplay on the first day might seem a little tame quaint to those of you back in the UK who used to run all day Copehill Down events with me, but, try coming here and doing it in the forty degree heat and the near hundred per cent relative humidity, in a sandy and vicious jungle environment, where spiders the size of dinner plates await you!

And of course we had also worked hard to finish the fight in short order which somewhat left the organisers taken aback; there wasn’t really enough time to play another full game or set up an alternative, so with conditions as they were and the state of people after that

action it was decided to call it a day and crack open the well-deserved beers for everyone.

I gleefully ditched my rifle and rig and made my

“WE WERE REACHING THE END OF OUR TWENTY MINUTES REQUIRED TO HOLD THE BLUE FLAG WITH TEN OR MORE TEAM MEMBERS AND RESISTING COUNTER-ASSAULT. AS THE TIME ELAPSED JON CALLED IN TO COMMAND THAT WE’D FULFILLED THE GOALS AND TOOK THE FLAG FOR THE ALLOTTED TIME, AND WE CALLED ENDEX”

showered with my BDUs on to wash out the worst of the sweat, before stripping down to clean myself up.

Re-joining my teammates at camp we broke out the tinnies and started our after action report, reviewing our performance and progress, as well as checking out the stalls near the open field. Our friends at Bolt Airsoft and also newly-founded brand Amarok were displaying their wares on the run up to MOA’s more official releases, with Bolt’s GBBR AR platform nearing readiness since Bill, Anny and myself visited them to check it out last summer.

Amarok are producing heavy-duty high-capacity midcap magazines of their own design which seem to feed fairly flawlessly, with other M-LOK-compatible accessories such as various grips and cover panels on the way in time for MOA, and of course the star of their show was their tactical Corgi, Nini, who was getting all of the attention for being a goodest doggo, myself being no exception of course.

With the pig’s bacon being thoroughly cooked and diced up by the dab hands of the barbecue staff, we all assembled at the dining hall again and took our assigned team tables, Taiji occupying four of them and dividing ourselves up as best we could but still allowing a bit of mingling and variation. The standard dishes prepared by the began coming in thick and fast, and then we went outside in shifts to pick up plate loads of pig, which of course was cooked to juicy and delicious perfection with a great flavour that ensured the carcass was stripped clean in short order by the nearly two hundred hungry mouths among our number!

This is usually one of the best parts of the ‘POLK’ events, and the intent is always to ‘play well, eat well, drink well’ in good company, so along with the shooting action, the friendships and opportunity to get a lot of the major teams on island in one place at one time is a great

opportunity to revisit old friends or make new ones, so after finishing the bulk of my meal I started doing the rounds of the tables.

It’s Taiwanese custom to ‘cheers’ all the different tables in turn so of course I grabbed a can and my beer shot glass to go and catch up with people on BluFor and the other teams that I hadn’t had chance to see during the day. “There are no enemies in airsoft, only opposing forces” is a mantra I try to follow. Everyone was in great spirits throughout the weekend, sharing fistbumps on the field and clinking beers off it; everyone seemed to be playing very well and enjoying themselves, with minimal complaints that I heard of.

As the meat supply ran dry we all departed back to our camps to partake in our own snack and beer supplies. Colin had even brought his projector down and had ‘Generation Kill’ playing in our camp with a bunch of our team sat around our makeshift amphitheatre and watching, drinking and chatting into the night. At some point someone decided we should go and get more supplies as we had run out, the nearest 7-11 being ‘only’ a 50 minute walk

“SOMEONE DECIDED WE SHOULD GO AND GET MORE SUPPLIES AS WE HAD RUN OUT, THE NEAREST 7-11 BEING ‘ONLY’ A 50 MINUTE WALK AWAY… SEVERAL HOURS LATER WE RETURNED HAVING WALKED ALL THE WAY TO IT, STOCKED UP AND THEN STRUGGLED TO GET UBERS OUT IN THE BUTT END OF NOWHERE AND NOT FANCYING WALKING BACK… NONETHELESS REGROUP WE DID”

and finally around 03:00 we sidled off to bed.

RINSE, REPEAT, AD NAUSEAM

06:00…ish… rolled around and I began stirring once more, somewhat dehydrated by the previous day and not helped by the evening’s entertainment, I peeled myself out of bed and got myself dressed in shorts and a T-shirt to move around camp and continue the rehydration regimen.

McDonalds breakfast en masse arrived for use around 08:00 so we all got stuck in to that and leisurely ate at camp and

either over-indulge the night before, over-exert themselves on the first day, or as with some of our guys they just have to leave a bit early for familyrelated activities they can’t escape on the Sunday. We were still in fairly good strength, but BluFor had lost around half their number, so it was decided they would be entrenched once again and we would have to fight through the jungle to displace them and gradually force them back into a corner; having the tree cover was a great help compared to being exposed to the direct sun the day before.

We once again geared up and moved out, this time getting some very cool team photos on the beach, before slightly reshuffling things to streamline squads with some of our number having left us. Onwards we went, moving through the jungle terrain before rapidly coming under fire from BluFor and beginning another hour and a half of grind in better cover at least.

discussed the coming morning’s action.

We would be once again assaulting north, against what was left of BluFor; as is usually the case people

I took charge of the remnants of Foxtrot Two and we moved up the left edge of the shrubline along the cliff edge of the dunes we’d run along the day before, taking cover behind large trees or the natural berms and posting BBs through the gaps at whatever BluFor we could make out. Apparently they had a wealth of machine guns on their team, many of whom turned out to be the 62sf team I knew from some of them previously working at TMC Taipei before it closed down, and organising last year’s GBBR LARP I attended.

They had a bunch of VFC Mk48 LMG AEGs and someone even had a microgun, so it was no wonder

we had a tough time running them down and pushing them back. Eventually we moved to within around ten metres of their final element before EndEx was finally called. I’d run through at least two full battle loads of ammunition and reloaded in the field under fire while we slowly edged forwards and Ning had her work cut out playing Florence Nightingale to us all with great effect again, as well as throwing down with her AEG in her own right while tailing me into the furore. Again it was some damned hard fighting and slow going, but we inexorably pushed forward with great communications and squad movements and support again, I think we did ourselves proud.

With all that done with we once again returned to camp and those who hadn’t already dismantled their tents did so; on the way it seems the aforementioned university students were pulling their own version of the Songkran festival and having a massed merry water fight… feeling dank and dejected in another set of drenched BDUs, I figured I’d revisit the tradition of POLK III and have them douse me like my teammate hosed me down last year, so ditching my rifle and rig I beckoned them to dump a bucket on me, and I immediately felt better for it!

I once again took the opportunity to properly shower and change into slightly less grim clothing for the drive home, and did my rounds saying goodbye to the other teams before people disappeared back into the heartlands from whence they came. We all

said our goodbyes within the team and began loading our cars and heading off on our return journeys; Colin dropped me off at home and I began working through the dank mess of equipment and guns I needed to clean up and/or service… The magic never ends, fellow shooters.

Many thanks to the POLK IV organising staff for another excellent event with great teams, play and food and drink, to my friends in Team Taiji for their great teamwork and performance, and of course to the other teams who showed up in force and made the game and the camaraderie what it was and always is. And of course many thanks to ‘Jerry’ Wu Cheng Yi for his outstanding full-time photographic exploits for this game. AA