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EXCLUSIVE: ARES MS338 EXCLUSIVE: THE DIVISION 2 TM MK18 MOD.1 EGRS PTS RADIAN MODEL 1 VALKEN ASL TANGO LCT PK-331 EBB KIT NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW EYE PRO SAFETY STANDARDS AS SEEN ON SCREEN THE COLLECTOR: PPSH-41 VERSUS: L1A1 v AKM

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JULY 2019

26 EVENT: OP FLASHMAN

Editor: Nigel Streeter Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Photo: Craig Walton: WA03 Media www.facebook.com/WA03Media UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk

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ARMOURY EXCLUSIVE: ARES REMINGTON MS338 EVENT: NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW

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KIT & GEAR: THE DIVISION 2

Contents

CONTENTS 6 PLAYER’S GALLERY Airsoft Action readers doing what they do best!

12 EXCLUSIVE: ARES REMINGTON MS338 A recent meeting with the guys from iWholesales took Bill in a whole new direction when he got “hands-on” with the very latest airsoft version of the “MSR” from ARES. 16 ARMOURY: KWA TK45C In the last issue issue, Phil Bucknall was very impressed by KWA’s ERG version of the TK45 and now he puts the non-recoil version through its paces. 20 ARMOURY: TM MK18 MOD.1 NGRS The first sightings of the Tokyo Marui Mk18 MOD.1 Next Generation Recoil AEG caused a lot of excitement in the latter half of 2018, though it more than six months before the it finally came to market. Was it worth the wait? Tom “Anvil” Hibberd finds out! 26 EVENT: OP FLASHMAN Following the huge success of the Pilgrim Bandits event in 2018, this year’s event had a lot to live up to and three members of the Airsoft Action team once again headed up to Humber Airsoft to take part. Over to Bill “Mr. AK” Thomas, Phil “Uma Philman” Bucknall and Tom “Anvil” Hibberd… 32 SAFETY: EYE PROTECTION There have been recent reports on social media of eye protection failing, both in use and during testing, so we asked our resident Technical Guru, Tom “Anvil” Hibberd, to investigate the safety standards used in Airsoft and the impact energies that many products are rated for. 36 BOOK REVIEW: SAS IN ITALY The world knows of the exploits of the SAS during the Iranian Embassy siege and might even know of its history back to David Stirling but not much is known of their actions in Italy. Matt Limb OBE writes about a book from author Malcolm Tudor, a man who does know. 42 EVENT: NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW After travelling to the USA and Germany, AA staffers and contributors gather each May a little closer to home in Harrogate, for the “Northern”. Bill gives his thoughts on the 2019 show. 47 ARMOURY: G&G FIREHAWK AMP Can G&G’s Firehawk amplifier put the shooty-bangbang into pew-pew? Steve Takle finds out… 48 KIT & GEAR: THE DIVISION 2 The lure of “The Division” style and aesthetic is very strong when it comes to some absolutely righteous sets of gear! Bill takes a close look at how things have changed with the recent release of “Division 2” and how to turn it into a loadout you can use on a regular basis. 52 ARMOURY: LCT EBB KIT Gas blowbacks have long been at the top of the

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recoil game and when AATV’s Tom “Anvil” Hibberd heard that LCT had created an electric blowback kit that rivalled them, he quickly acquired one! 54 AS SEEN ON SCREEN: SIG 550 The first part of a new series exploring a different firearm’s appearances across films, TV and videogames every issue. This month, Steve Takle explores SIG’s venerable 550 series... 58 ARMOURY: PTS RADIAN MODEL 1 Phil Bucknall gets his hands on the latest release from PTS, the Radian Model One Gas Blow Back Rifle, that might just be an MWS- beater! 62 ARMOURY: VALKEN VSL TANGO The “entry level” market for AEGs is currently an extremely hard-fought battleground for manufacturers. Bill Takes a look at one of the latest offerings from Valken to see if it has what it takes… 66 ARMOURY: HFC HG-138 Ever wanted rail-mounted room clearance without resorting to grenades? Steve Takle finds out if HFC’s HG-138 is the answer. 67 KIT & GEAR: NI PATROL PACK Military Historian, Will Fowler, takes a look at a piece of kit that has stood the test of time in operational theatres around the globe and also makes an excellent 24-hour pack for airsoft. 68 ARMOURY: PTS ZEV G17 KIT Phil Bucknall takes a quick look back at the history of one of airsoft’s best-known names, then brings things bang up to date with one of their latest products.

70 SITE REPORT: ANARCHY AIRSOFT Recently, Angelo DV has been tied up with product reviews and testing and didn’t seem to have the time for site reports, so when he was invited to Anarchy Airsoft he jumped at the chance. 72 THE COLLECTOR: PPSH-41 Frenchie kicks off his new “Collector” series with a look at a Russian icon – although NOT one from the Kalashnikov armoury… 76 VERSUS: L1A1 v AKM Bill starts a new series of articles looking at some iconic firearms in airsoft form that faced one another on the battlefield, starting with two “Cold War Workhorses”, the UKLF L1A1 SLR and the Soviet AKM. 82 LAST POST: CHANGING FACE Over time attitudes change and a conversation with an old friend got Frenchie to thinking about how this change might have affected airsoft. 86 SITE DIRECTORY & PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUBS Looking for a skirmish site, or your local Action Air Club? Then we may have the answer, with pages of sites and clubs throughout the UK.

AA GALLERY AIRSOFT ACTION PLAYER PHOTOS

PLAYER’S GALLERY G

Photos sent in by Steve Walker Taken on May 12th at RIFT COMS Site 3, of Steve, Rosie and Tom “strolling about in the summer sunshine”! 6

JUNE 2019

AA GALLERY AIRSOFT ACTION PLAYER PHOTOS

A few more images from the “Division 2” photo shoot, with many thanks to all those who got involved to make it happen.

JUNE 2019

armoury ARES REMINGTON MS338/M40A6

PRECISION SHOOTER

AS A REBORN “BOLTY-BOY”, BILL IS CURRENTLY ON A MISSION TO FIND HIMSELF A PRECISION RIFLE FOR FRIENDLY COMPETITIVE USE ON HIS LOCAL RANGE. A RECENT MEETING WITH THE GUYS FROM IWHOLESALES TOOK HIM IN A WHOLE NEW DIRECTION THOUGH, WHEN HE GOT “HANDS-ON” WITH THE VERY LATEST AIRSOFT VERSION OF THE “MSR” FROM ARES. WHEN YOU HEAD INTO BOLT-ACTION rifle territory you really do open a big old can of worms, don’t you? I know from many friends that are “into” their bolt-action rifles for sniping, that have spent quite literally hundreds of pounds upgrading what (to me) is essentially a rather nice rifle in the first place - and I have to say that the gains from this upgrading seem to be rather minimal. From a real-world shooter’s perspective I can totally understand why you might seek a better trigger, a smoother bolt pull and an accurised barrel but I will admit that the whole thing leaves me rather cold. I enjoy my airsoft largely for one aspect - and that’s shooting. As long as my AEG, GBB, or springer spits a BB reasonably accurately over a regular “engagement distance” and does so reliably, I’m usually pretty happy. Even with access to some of the best airsoft parts available (and some that really aren’t generally available!) I am honestly of the school which teaches “if it ain’t broken then don’t mess with it!” To this end and as a returnee to the wonders of the bolt-action airsoft rifle, I am largely of the mindset that what I personally want is a good, solid rifle that works well and shoots straight, with enough precision to accurately “reach out” a little further than my carbine. To start with I’m looking for something that will hit a target out to 70m and as my own skill and distance shooting technique returns, perhaps further than that. In my mind I have 100m as being the “holy grail” and that is definitely something I will work to once I’ve settled on a final rifle model. But, of course, then something comes along that is all “Gucci and shiny” that turns your head and makes your plans go slightly awry and I’m as guilty of that as any of you! For me, that moment came at IWA when I first laid eyes on the ARES MS338 in the iWholesales display…

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MODULAR PRECISION

The Modular Sniper Rifle, or MSR, is a bolt-action sniper rifle developed and produced by Remington Arms for the United States Army. It was introduced in 2009 and was designed to meet specific United States Army and USSOCOM Precision Sniper Rifle requirements. In 2013 the MSR was declared the winner of the Precision Sniper Rifle competition. This was followed by a $79.7 million contract for 5,150 rifles with suppressors, along with 4,696,800 rounds of ammunition, to be supplied over the next ten years (according to MilitaryTimes. com). Remington Defense produces the sniper rifles and utilises two other companies for other system components, with Barnes Bullets for ammunition and Advanced Armament Corporation for muzzle brakes and suppressors; all three companies are subsidiaries of Freedom Group Incorporated. The MSR rifle is built upon an aluminium alloy “chassis”,

armoury ARES REMINGTON MS338/M40A6

IMAGE CREDIT: REMINGTON DEFENSE

“OF FULL METAL CONSTRUCTION AND WEIGHING IN AT 4758G, THIS IS A PRECISION RIFLE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY CARRY EASILY. AT JUST 890MM WITH THE STOCK FOLDED IT’S EASY TO STRAP ON A PACK IN ADDITION TO YOUR PRIMARY, BUT AT 1100MM WITH THE STOCK EXTENDED IT BECOMES A THOROUGHLY USABLE BEAST.” which hosts a compact receiver, adjustable trigger unit, pistol grip and fully adjustable side-folding buttstock. The quick-change barrels are free-floating inside the tubular handguard, which is provided with a number of Picatinny type accessory rails. The top of the receiver also is fitted with monolithic Picatinny rail used to install sighting equipment (telescopic sights or night vision sights). Additional equipment includes detachable folding bipod and a quick-detach suppressor which installs over the specially designed muzzle brake. The model that won the PSR competition is a modified version of the original MSR. It can be chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Lapua Magnum. It is reported to have 0.7 MOA average accuracy at 1,000 m (1,094 yd) with both Barnes and ATK 300 gr .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition. By 2015 the U.S. Army was considering the MSR to replace both the .300 Winchester Magnum M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle and the .50 BMG M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle for regular snipers. The U.S. Marine Corps was also considering the Mk 21 to replace their M40A5 sniper rifle. In2013 the Marine Corps released a solicitation for the M40 Modular Stock Program. Upgraded features included a folding stock, compatible with current M40 actions and barrels, to make the rifle more compact for transportation inside confined spaces like vehicles and a full-length rail to accommodate optics and accessories. The M40A5 has only a few inches of rail space beyond the scope for a night vision optic, so extending the rail length would allow more accessories to be attached, enabling snipers to put rounds on target under any conditions. The resulting weapon from the program was originally to be re-designated the M40A6. The M40A6 began fielding with Marine Corps in June 2016.

REACHING OUT

I have to admit that when I first set eyes on the ARES replica of the MSR it was a bit of “lust at first sight”, however, if it had been a plain black version, even though a black model would have had all the same features, I would probably have looked at it and moved on. Sadly for me, what I first saw was the “desert” version which comes with the entire stock and chassis in a rather fine “flat dark earth” (and yes, I seem to be having an “FDE” moment again!). Officially licensed by Remington, the latest iteration of the ARES MS338 spring-powered bolt-action sniper rifle is a faithful replica of the MSR/M40A6. As well as being a real-world tack-driver, this rifle has gained a popular following from video games like Call of Duty Modern Warfare3 and Ghost Recon Future Soldier and as you’ll see from our “Division” photoshoot this month, it also fits neatly into that setting for your “sharpshooter

www.airsoft-action.online

armoury ARES REMINGTON MS338/M40A6

agent” loadout. Of full metal construction and weighing in at 4758g, this is a precision rifle that you can actually carry easily. At just 890mm with the stock folded it’s easy to strap on a pack in addition to your primary, but at 1100mm with the stock extended it becomes a thoroughly usable beast. Ergonomic features include an adjustable riser/ cheekrest and a fully adjustable butt for a perfect fit that is entirely tailored to you. Mini RIS rails on the butt allow you to attach accessories or a monopod on the rear for a more stable shooting platform.

The upper receiver on the MS338 is CNC aluminium, while the lower receiver is diecast aluminium alloy. The fore-grip, barrel, flash hider and rail are CNC machined as well for greater authenticity. I understand from “sniper friends” that the spring cocking system is compatible with the TM VSR-10 system, which means that you can use after-market performance parts designed for the VSR-10 in this rifle. I mentioned earlier that this is the very latest version of the MS338 and as soon as I put a picture of it up online certain knowledgeable friends immediately started telling me that I would need to upgrade it (based on their experience with the older model)! Well, thought I, let’s see about that! I fitted the rifle with a generic “Harris” bipod kindly sent to me by the lads at NUPROL and I tried the MS338 with a number of different optics that I had in hand from their range. Although I see a lot of airsoft sniper rifles with enormous scopes on them, I quite happily settled on the 1.25-5x26model that just “felt right”.

ON THE RANGE

Off to the range I happily went with the MS338 and first up was to chrono on a .20g, which resulted in a very 14

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tidy 1.47 Joule/401fps. I’d hoped for more but “400” is in my mind more than adequate to get cracking with! With the scope off I quickly dialled in the hop to get a flat trajectory out to 50m, then popped on the optic. This was pre-set for another rifle so it was fairly straightforward to get the ARES and the sight working in harmony. At 50m with very little error I was soon able to hit an A4 sheet of paper and then, working slowly but surely, I was able to pull the grouping of the BBs in towards the centre of the cross drawn upon it. As it was spot-on at 50m I see no reason whatsoever that it will be a no-brainer reaching that 70m mark! The whole feel of the MS338 is absolutely lovely and the action of the bolt is silky smooth, meaning that you can easily stay on target between shots. The trigger is crisp with almost zero take-up. The pistol grip is sublime with a great shape and some super texturing - and that butt… Oh boy! You can fiddle with this to your heart’s content to get it absolutely perfect! Sadly the ARES MS338 looks to be a little beyond the budget I’ve set myself for “Project Precision” at this time, as I’m sure this latest model is going to come in around the £500 mark and I have to admit I am very, very sad that I have to hand the sample back to iWholesales as it is most definitely worth every penny. This is definitely a rifle that I would love to own and I am absolutely certain that over time I could make it work for me exactly as I’d hoped. Again sadly though - and contrary to opinions out there - we really don’t get to keep the test samples sent to us (unless we are asked to perform longer term testing by the manufacturer and report back accordingly). So, much like the rest of you in this instance, the “Remmy” is one model that I’ll just have to look adoringly at as I continue my search for the boltaction rifle that’s the “keeper” for me. In closing I’ll just say that if you are starting on the “precision rifle path” whatever your choice of “bolty” may be - and let me assure you that the latest ARES MS338 is a VERY good choice - don’t be put off by those that tell you “you’ll need to upgrade immediately”, just get out and use your rifle, train hard with it and get in the fight from the outset! AA

For more information on the MS338/M40A6 and the rest of the ARES Airsoft line please do pay a visit to www.iwholesales.co.uk. My sincere thanks go to Rishy and Tim for the loan of this super rifle.

armoury KWA TK45C

IS THERE LIFE WITHOUT RECOIL? IN THE LAST ISSUE ISSUE, PHIL BUCKNALL WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY KWA’S ERG VERSION OF THE TK45 AND NOW HE PUTS THE NON-RECOIL VERSION THROUGH ITS PACES. LAST MONTH I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH to get my hands on lots of goodies for review and the TK45 ERG was great fun to use and drew many an approving glance and “Ooohs and Ahhhs” from those that had a go with it. If you recall I also really liked it. It was a departure from my usual ERG M4’s, which I love, so this was going to be quite new territory for me and I’m very happy that I dipped my toe into the “not an M4” market. Admittedly, it has many features (including the ERG functionality) that make it a distant cousin of my favourite guns but being an imagined model based loosely around the current trend for pistol calibre carbines, is not something I would usually go for as I like guns that are based on real firearms. With that in mind, it did make me wonder what I’d think of the nonrecoiling version, the TK45C, as it didn’t even have the recoil to tempt me! Undeterred, I rocked up to Stormforce in Rugely for

places. The two notable differences are the fore end and the stock. If we start at the rear and work our way forward, I shall explain.

FROM BACK TO FRONT

As this is a non-recoiling AEG (its classed as an AEG 2.5 by KWA) it is not encumbered with the requirement for a full length buffer tube in which to house the kinetic feedback system that makes an ERG an ERG. This means that in place of the PTS enhanced polymer stock found on its big brother, we get a very well executed version of a tanker stock. If you’re not familiar with the tanker-style, then think of a slightly more beefed up MP5 collapsible stock and you’re nearly there. The rods that it extends on are fairly substantial with very little flex, however, due to the nature of it being a very minimalistic stock some flex is to be expected. To utilise the stock you just have to pull it rearward to one of

“OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS I’VE REFUSED TO BUY (OR USE) ANY GUN THAT DOESN’T RECOIL; WHETHER IT BE GBBR OR ELECTRIC AND I HAVE MISSED OUT ON SOME MODELS OF GUNS I’VE REALLY WANTED BUT DIDN’T BUY BECAUSE OF THIS. WELL, NOT ANYMORE!” one of their walk on days, complete with the TK45c and a handful of spare 120-round magazines, all loaned to me by the very nice man behind JTAC Custom, John Turrell, who is an authorised KWA Stockist and a bit of an expert on all things KWA and especially the ERG system, having made many beautiful custom guns based on that platform. The gun itself is very similar (as you’d expect) to the bigger TK45 with the midsection - so receivers, magwell area and controls all being the same and in the same 16

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the “stops” and it will stay there until you depress the button on the underside of the stubby buffer tube. It will then slide back in until said button is released. The shoulder pad part of the stock is again small and, whilst it does the job, I didn’t find it to be overly comfortable - especially when used with a plate carrier with padded shoulder straps. That being said, it wasn’t uncomfortable; its best described as adequate and functional I think. If we go back to the mock buffer section, this doesn’t

armoury KWA TK45C

have any functional purpose for the gun other than to act as the storage space for the battery. It really is quite small as well and I managed to just about get a 1300mah 7.4v battery in there but space really is at a premium, so chances are you are going to need more than one battery if you have a heavy trigger finger. Another potential hurdle the small battery space presents, is for those players that like to run plug and play mosfets - you are going to have to be pretty creative but before you start lamenting the size of the space, please bear in mind that the TK45c is the first of the new AEG line that is compatible with the wellrespected drop in GATE Titan. This, for those that don’t know, replaces the trigger switch in the gearbox with an electronic fire control system, negating the requirement for any external mosfets and keeping everything not only nice and neat but removes excess wiring and connectors from the equation thereby limiting any potential resistance in the system. Whilst you have the buffer cover off, if you look down into the gun’s guts you will see an opening. This is there so that you can adjust the FPS of the gun with the included T-handled Allen Key, either up or down

sample came in at around 330fps using 0.2g BBs and as such, I had no reason to adjust it but nonetheless it is nice to have should you find yourself a few fps over a sight limit and zero technical skills or, conversely, when you need a little more oomph! The receiver, mag well and extended trigger guard are the same as found on its recoiling big brother, as are the ambidextrous controls so, left or right-handed you’re not going to have to do any fancy hand work to manipulate the buttons and switches. Nope, you can do it all with either hand - and without leaving the firing position. Reloading the 120rnd midcap magazines is an acquired skill, especially if you’re used to shorter M4 mags like I am but after a few changes it soon becomes less of an issue - not second nature but easier! Also with them in a plate carrier designed to hold M4 mags, I found they could on occasion bash the stock when I shouldered the gun costing me a few seconds. Certainly not an insurmountable problem but if you can afford an SMG chest rig (there are some very good expensive and reasonably priced examples available on the market these days) to run with it is great, otherwise you will have to find a way that works for you. In my case that

“THE SHORT LENGTH... PROVED TO BE QUITE THE BLESSING. I FOUND I WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH GAPS WITH LESS NOISE THAN THE SAME GAP WITH MY 14.5”-BARRELLED M4. I DIDN’T SUDDENLY BECOME “A NINJA” BUT THE SHORT GUN WAS MORE FORGIVING OF MY CLUMSINESS.” depending on where you’re playing and what the site limits are, without having to take the gun down and have a selection of spare springs. There are limited adjustment clicks so it is not infinitely tune-able but it is definitely a great addition to a gun which, due to its physical size, lends itself very well to close quarter fighting in and around buildings. If you do wish to change the spring though, KWA have made it simplicity itself by making it a quick change operation. My review

meant putting one less magazine in the right-most pouch on my carrier. At the front of the gun is a custom rail made just for the TK45c. This covers the 6.75” outer barrel, capped off with a mini mock suppressor, hiding a brass 8.5” inner barrel attached to a very reliable and easy to adjust rotary hop unit. Here’s where I do not understand KWA’s thinking though… The rail on the ERG version is a beautifully rendered MLOK version but for the shorter

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armoury KWA TK45C

one they have gone for Keymod rail! Why? Why KWA? MLOK is cheaper to produce and easier to get within spec than Keymod and whilst both are still available in the real steel market, MLOK appears to be winning the fight for people’s attention as it is usually cheaper and doesn’t rely quite so much both the rail and the fittings being absolutely bang on. Both have picatinny rails along the top for attaching scopes and lasers and both have ample real estate for direct mounting of accessories at 3,6 and 9 o’clock although if you leave the rail clear of accessories, it does make for a very sleek, pointable and well-balanced gun. The finishing touch is the PTS enhanced polymer back up sights, giving an overall aesthetically pleasing gun that is well put together and has some really nice touches about it

TESTING TIME

Once I’d loaded the mags up with my preferred ammo 0.28g BBs and shoehorned a battery into the buffer, I went to give it a run out in a game and the first noticeable thing was the weight. It is neither heavy, nor is it light but felt just right when shouldered or at a high ready. The second thing is the short length, which in the dense bushes on site proved to be quite the blessing. I found I was able to go through gaps with less noise than the same gap with my 14.5”-barrelled M4. I didn’t suddenly become “a ninja” but the short gun was more forgiving of my clumsiness. When it came time to open fire I was a little wary because the hop on the ERG TK45 took a good while to get to its sweet spot and up to that point, the range was not much more than you could throw a handful of BBs. With some trepidation I pulled the trigger and BBs went flying downrange… quite some distance downrange in fact and I was pleasantly surprised - unlike the player on the receiving end who copped the full 2 second burst and my reward was a loud “HIT!”. The TK45 had claimed its first scalp and many more followed over the course of the day. The rate of fire was good - again not super-fast nor super-slow but somewhere in between. Accuracy and range were very good, easily going out past 55m and at that range the 18

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spread of BBs was tight enough to mean at least a few would hit a torso sized target. I was enjoying myself so much that I didn’t swap guns at lunchtime as I had planned to do but instead I carried on using the TK45C and, having been an ardent die-hard fan of recoil AEGs, I was genuinely surprised by that! Sometimes its good to challenge ourselves and try something we wouldn’t usually do. Over the last few years I’ve refused to buy (or use) any gun that doesn’t recoil; whether it be GBBR or electric and I have missed out on some models of guns I’ve really wanted but didn’t buy because of this. Well, not anymore! I shall still favour guns that have a recoil mechanism installed but I’ll not discount a gun out of hand just because it doesn’t. Actually, between you and me, I prefer the looks (keymod rail notwithstanding that is), I prefer the lighter weight and I prefer the length. So, if I was to buy a TK45… I’d get this one over the ERG one. That should tell you something. …and on that bombshell, I’m off for a lie down ‘til I know what’s made me feel all funny! AA

0.20g

0.25g

3000pcs per bottle | 6mm | Precision Airsoft BB | www.hornettactical.com www.patrolstore.com/hornettactical

armoury TOKYO MARUI MK18 MOD.1 NGRS

NEXT GEN RECOIL THE FIRST SIGHTINGS OF THE TOKYO MARUI (TM) MK18 MOD.1 NEXT GENERATION RECOIL AEG CAUSED A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE LATTER HALF OF 2018. IN CUSTOMARY TM STYLE THOUGH, IT WAS MORE THAN SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE IT FINALLY CAME TO MARKET. WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT? TOM “ANVIL” HIBBERD FINDS OUT... IF YOU SPEND ANY TIME on Airsoft forums or Facebook groups, you will have had some experience of Tokyo Marui NGRS (Next Generation Recoil System) owners espousing the virtues of their replicas. Having done quite a lot of range testing for our YouTube channel Airsoft Action TV, some of these claims seemed quite fanciful. Admittedly some of this was for upgraded guns but I did fancy putting a stock TM Recoil to the test and seeing what it really could do! I had been planning to build a Mk18 MOD.1 with correct trademarks using a KWA KM4 as a base, however, when Tokyo Marui announced their plans, I quickly decided to get one - although I did have to wait some time for the pre-order to arrive!

REAL STEEL HISTORY

The Mk18 MOD.1 comes from a long lineage of “Commando” length versions of the venerable AR15/ M16 rifle. Almost since the day it was introduced soldiers have requested a shorter, lighter version for fighting in tight confines. This started with the CAR-15 and XME177E1/2 of the Vietnam war, continued with the M733 of “Blackhawk Down” and eventually led to the Close Quarter Battle Receiver (CQBR). All of these featured a short barrel, making them very compact and suitable for use in environments where previously a pistol calibre sub-machine gun would have been used. The Close Quarter Battle Receiver (CQBR) was a replacement upper receiver for the M4A1 Carbine, developed by the US Navy. It was one of two proposed special mission receivers that were planned as part of SOPMOD Block II, along with the Special Purpose Receiver (of “Lone Survivor” fame). The CQBR and the Special Purpose Receiver were further developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Centre (NSWC) Crane Division into complete Rifles. The Special Purpose Receiver became the Mk12 and the CQBR turned into the Mk18. Initially, it was only issued to Naval Special Warfare units and SOCOM but it is now much more widely

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issued to units throughout the US Military, Airforce, Marines and Navy. Due to the short barrel it has some reliability enhancements but is overpassed compared to longer barreled carbines and rifles to ensure operation under adverse conditions. The CQBR/Mk18 MOD.0 could be found built from a variety of lower receivers, including some surplus M16A1. It also featured the Knight’s Armament Company Rail Interface System (RIS) but kept the distinctive traditional M16 triangle front sight. A wide selection of retractable stocks were fitted, however, most common is the SOPMOD or “Crane” stock that features battery storage on either side and a comfortable cheek weld. The Mk18 MOD.1 was further enhanced with the addition of the Daniel Defence MK18 RIS II. The Front site triangle was replaced by a low-profile gas block that sits under the full length, railed hand guard. Operators had begun to use so many accessories on their rifles that space was now at a premium and more rail slots were needed.

THE REPLICA

It’s not often I get all gooey-eyed over a RIF but the TM Mk18 MOD.1 does it for me! It simply oozes quality

armoury TOKYO MARUI MK18 MOD.1 NGRS

from muzzle to stock - so let’s go over it in that order! The flash hider is a replica of a Surefire 4-Prong War Comp. It doesn’t have any trademarks and, unlike some other versions I have, is made of aluminium rather than steel. However, it is a really nice touch that sets it apart. I did try fitting my Airsoft Artisan Clone Surefire suppressor but, unfortunately, it didn’t lock on.

The outer barrel is of a heavy profile like the real one and features the correct low-profile gas block and gas tube. Whilst these are of course non-functional in an Airsoft Replica, I like to see this implemented properly, for me it adds to the immersion. Probably the star of the show is the Madbull licensed Daniel Defence Mk18 RISII railed handguard. It is beautifully made with crisp machining, markings and

trademarks. It is very securely mounted to the receiver with no wobble or play whatsoever. It is anodised in a very dark bronze colour that sets it apart from most replica Mk18 RISII rails on the market, which are normally too light. I’ve even heard of people baking them in the oven to get them darker. That’s not needed with this version! Attached to the rail is a copy of a KAC back-up front sight, this is a well-made and well-finished clone that maintains the quality of the gun. There is also a front sling loop that inspires confidence and I was very happy to attach a Ferro Concepts Slingster to it for my testing. The front sight and sling looped are matched respectively on the rear of the receiver by another KAC style sight and a rear sling plate. Both are very nicely manufactured and finished.

One of the highlights of a Tokyo Marui Airsoft Gun are the trademarks and the MK18 MOD.1 is no exception. It has a full set of Colt M4A1 trademarks that are possibly too nicely down, compared to the real thing. For people like me that like military replicas and are prepared to pay a premium for it, this is crucial. The receiver itself is very well made and there is no movement between the upper and lower halves. The stock is a Crane SOPMOD which just happens to be my favourite, mainly as it doesn’t pull my beard hairs out like some but it also provides a comfortable and repeatable check weld when taking aim.

OPERATION

The Mk18 MOD.1 is part of Tokyo Marui’s Next Generation Recoil Series (NGRS) range. We’ve reviewed numerous examples of these over the years in Airsoft Action, so you may want to skip to the performance if you are familiar with them. The NGRS Airsoft guns have two main features that set them apart from a “normal” AEG - they have some recoil and a “stop on empty” system. Both of these are intended to add to the immersion of firing the RIF and add a little bit of realism. The stop on empty feature requires the use of specific magazines and this can add to the cost of owning an NGRS significantly, unless you already have some. When the last BB is fired this stops the gearbox cycling until the replica bolt release is pressed. In addition, the magazines can be switched from 82 BBs to 30, adding even more to the realism for hardcore players. The magazines will also feed every last BB and are happy with heavy ammo - as long as you use a quality brand.

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armoury TOKYO MARUI MK18 MOD.1 NGRS

Centre to use one of their excellent ranges for our tests. The idea was to see what BB weight it favoured and what the range and accuracy was like with them. We found the best BB was ASG 0.28g Devil Blasters, these chronoed at 0.7J and 232fps. As soon as we started shooting at the target we were able to hit it around 50% of the time at 55m. We pushed it back again to 60m which was again right at the limit of the range. TM MK18 MOD1 MAX RANGE BB Power FPS Range 0.20g 0.84J 300 50m 0.25g 0.84J 272 55m 0.28g 0.70J 232 60m 0.32g 0.70J 218 55m The recoil isn’t as heavy as a gas blowback rifle but does provide enough vibration and sensation to help you immerse yourself into firing it and if you don’t grip the rifle properly it does disrupt your sight picture a little. The KWA ERG system is probably a little harder kicking and the heaviest electric AR replica recoil kick I’ve come across is the GBLS DAS GDR15. My LCT AK EBB has the heaviest recoil but that also has a propensity to disassemble itself under the vibration! Personally speaking, the TM MK18 MOD.1 has enough recoil for me and I put it into the hands of a few people whilst testing it who had some real world firearms experience and they all enjoyed firing it a lot. The MK18 MOD.1 comes as stock with Tokyo Marui’s propriety battery system. This is a pretty neat and easy to use system that allows you to slide the stock in and out without worrying about trapping wires. However, it does tie you into TM’s batteries and technology has moved on. I had Eagle 6 Airsoft install their Deans connector modification and widen the stock to take more powerful and longer lasting 7.4v 2600 mAh LiPos, rather than the normal 8.4v 1300 mAh NiMh. This give me much more flexibility about what battery I’m using and also retains the ability to slide the stock in and out at leisure. This also helps with one of the problems with the NGRS, which is “lockup”. This is common to all AEGs but especially plagues V2 gearboxes and recoil guns. We’ve all had instances when firing on semi the RIF stops working and we have to switch to full auto for a moment to clear it. In the worst cases you have to open the gearbox to fix it. Whilst we won’t go into all the reasons this happens in this article, the extra power from the big LiPo batteries go a long way to eliminating this happening. As I’m an avid user of semi this is a big factor for me. I will probably end up fitting a GATE Titan ECU to further reduce the chances of lock up and increase the trigger response.

PERFORMANCE

Accuracy On our 10m range we achieved an average 10-shot group size of just under an inch. We find that 10m accuracy correlates very well to how accurate the gun is at longer ranges too. This was born out when we took the Mk18 for max range testing and we were able to hit a dinner plate size target out to 40-45m. Range We took the Mk18 to Thurlaston Airgun and Archery 22

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NEXT STEPS

Once I’ve played a few games with it this Mk18 will be going back to Eagle 6 Airsoft to have some upgrades done. It’s perfectly skirmish-able out of the box and you don’t need to upgrade to be competitive. Indeed, there’s a strong argument to just leaving it alone to ensure a long life and reliability. We are, however, going to continue testing and we would like to see how an upgraded and fettled NGRS does on the range. It will be taken up to around 1.1J and some accuracy and longevity mods done to keep it going. There is one big question to answer - and that is “Is it worth the money?” I’m going to be a bit cagey with my answer and say it depends on what you are looking for. Purely in terms of performance then no, it isn’t. I have many RIFs that are longer-ranged, though they are all upgraded. If you are looking for the ultimate realism experience, then a GBBR may be the better option. The TM NGRS for me is a bit like the sweet spot in the middle of a Venn diagram, it does a lot of things very well and brings together a lot of factors. If I’m pressed to answer “Is it worth the money?” then probably not! However, it is now my favourite Airsoft gun and has very quickly won a place in my heart. I don’t really know why but it just brings a smile to my face and that in itself is priceless… If you would like to see the Mk18 MOD.1 being put through its paces, then take a look at our YouTube channel Airsoft Action TV to see it being tested: www. youtube.com/airsoftactiontv AA SPECIFICATIONS: Length: 715mm / 790mm (stock extended) Weight: 3.2kg BB Weight Recommended: 0.20g to 0.28g Battery (Recommended by TM): 8.4v 1300 mAh NiMH SOPMOD Battery (As Tested): 7.4v 2600 mAh LiPo with Deans Conversion Power: 0.84J / 300fps (0.20g BB) Magazine: 82 BB NGRS Specific STANAG Rate of Fire: 14 BBs per second Trigger Response: 0.05 seconds Accuracy at 10m: 22mm Max Range (0.28g BB): 60m Effective Range (0.28g): 55m

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EVENT REPORT

OP FLASHMAN PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY GAME

FOLLOWING THE HUGE SUCCESS OF THE PILGRIM BANDITS EVENT IN 2018, THIS YEAR’S EVENT HAD A LOT TO LIVE UP TO AND THREE MEMBERS OF THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM ONCE AGAIN HEADED UP TO HUMBER AIRSOFT TO TAKE PART. OVER TO BILL “MR. AK” THOMAS, PHIL “UMA PHILMAN” BUCKNALL AND TOM “ANVIL” HIBBERD… Bill

Last year “Op BATT House” held at Humber Airsoft Club in aid of the Pilgrim Bandits charity was an absolute classic of a game that is still being talked about to this day, so when my good mate John from J-Tac Custom sent me the invite to the next instalment, “Op FLASHMAN”, that was being run by him and his excellent crew, you can bet your bottom dollar that I was all over it from word go! But what really happens when you return to a venue where you’ve already had probably one of the very best games of your airsoft “life”? May Bank Holiday weekend would bring the answer and what an answer it turned out to be!

BANDIT COUNTRY

Once again I elected to be part of the “Bandits” OPFOR element and John asked me if I would act as an “HVT” for part of the game scenario, which I happily agreed to. My fellow freedom fighters from the fictional nation of “Strackenz” and I would be taking on the British SF group over hallowed ground. Last year the action centred mainly around the formidable HESCO FOB that is the centrepiece at Humber but this time we’d be taking to the woodlands and village to launch our mayhem. I’d elected, much to the enjoyment of others, to camp onsite the night before and as the only camper, after a solitary and rather peaceful night in the tent I woke at 06:00 to an absolutely glorious blue-sky morning. As players started arriving though, the storm clouds were gathering both physically and metaphorically and this was to be a theme throughout the day. Sun, rain and showers would harry both teams

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but the “main event” was something none of us could have imagined in May, but more of that later… At game on the ragged (in comparison to the Multicam-laden BlueFor) Bandits proved from the outset that what they lacked in gear, they certainly made up for in attitude and I’m pleased to report that the “Three Stripe” look was fielded well by many! With some mixed comms and intel, fellow airsoft “vet”, Ratty Wright, stepped ably into the “Sgt Major” role to push things along and from “game on” we were engaged immediately with the “Pilgrims”. Our initial tasking was to hold the village in the woods, and the “Pilgrims” certainly pushed us hard from every available angle! I chose to run the A&K PKM as we were in defence and I’m pleased to say that this cracking AEG performed just as well in game as it did in testing, soon clocking up its first “kills”. The “Pilgrims” though, just kept on coming hard and as our numbers dwindled with players caught up in respawn eventually we were forced out… After many abortive attempts to force the “Pilgrims” from our village it was time for the “Strackenzian Weather” to play a part. As the skies above turned black and the wind began to roar, a pitter-patter of raindrops became a raging hail-storm, drowning out the sounds of our advance and whilst it felt like we were in the midst of gods-own “40 Mike”, we pushed forward and re-took our sacred ground after a particularly righteous grenade delivery and some hard-fought CQB action! With the woods around us looking like something from an alpine adventure, we took stock and dug in again…

PILGRIMS PROGRESS

As usual, lunchtime brought the raffle prize-giving and Terry “Tez” Arnett took centre stage for the charity, ably

EVENT REPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY GAME

“REGARDLESS OF WHO WON, BECAUSE IF I’M BEING HONEST I DON’T KNOW, THE CHARITY CAME OUT OF IT MORE THAN A FEW POUNDS BETTER OFF AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT WE WERE ALL THERE FOR” assisted by his “little helper” John, from J-Tac. After everyone had bombed up, got a brew and some scoff down and generally had a laugh, it was time for Part II. Putting on my “magazine hat” I was out taking pictures for a while, which allowed me into the FOB to chat with the “Pilgrims” who were in high spirits. They did seem somewhat disappointed though, that an “HVT” on their tick-list had simply wandered into the base but sadly for them, I wasn’t in-game so they couldn’t nab me! Much banter was had though… As the “Pilgrims” began to deploy their patrols the “Bandits” put in a hard attack on the FOB, which was ably repulsed thanks to some fabulous teamwork and extremely effective fire from the NATO fireteams. As I left the FOB to return to the village (which was under attack… again!) the “Pilgrim” patrols were heading out in force. The afternoon largely followed the same model for back and forth play, as well as the same pattern of weather, although I’m pleased to report that the hail did not return! I managed to end the day without being captured and as things drew to a close everyone had played in an exemplary fashion, and fun was definitely had!

Phil

It was a cold morning on Saturday 4th May and an early start for my shooting buddy and I as we headed back to Humber Airsoft for the next instalment in the Pilgrim Bandits series of games. We rolled up just before 8am and the car park was filling up nicely already for the invite only game, hosted by Humber Airsoft and organised by John Turrell, of JTAC Custom fame. Once we had checked in and made a start on “second breakfast” of a bacon bap the car park was positively alive with activity and players were milling about; old acquaintances catching up and saying “Hi!” It was great to see some friends I hadn’t seen since the first game held here, pretty much a year ago to the day. Whilst a lot was the same the weather obviously hadn’t

been booked in advance and it was bloody freezing! A complete contrast to last year when we were shedding kit as it was so flipping hot!

GAME ON

WITH everyone kitted up, it was time to go to our briefing points and so we walked to Alpha for the brief in glorious sunshine. We received said brief and the team leaders went off to do a recce and on their return they relayed what they’d seen. I was part of SFSG and our remit was to “plug the gaps” between the other squads and myself, Craig, Gadge and Sian headed off to patrol the right flank. The ground under foot was slick and several people slid down where they’d meant to purposefully walk! We advanced and soon came under direct fire from both the right and left flanks. The damn Bandits were hard to spot though; and we returned fire as best we could and fought our way up to the outskirts of the village, which was our objective for the morning. Whilst advancing I slipped; not badly but enough to jar my back, which then started to spasm and cramp. I kept going as long as I could - which was time to see the village fall to the Pilgrims followed by the mother of hailstorms! I had to take shelter as it was impossible to tell if it was hail or BBs that were hitting us. We did, however, take and then defend against several waves of very determined fitness fanatics - I assume that’s what they were judging by the amount of Adidas tracksuit tips being worn! For quite a while and the battle ebbed and flowed but there was always a contact somewhere; either direct assault or from the flanks. It was good to see smoke being used for cover and whilst it wasn’t the “grenade storm” of last year’s event, there were plenty of large explosions going off all over. The biggest and loudest were part of the staged pyrotechnics, which were ably managed and detonated by the guys from Airsoft Grenades and Pyrotechnics. (You’ll remember these guys from my review of the L111a1 training grenade I did in last month’s issue.) They were also there both to support

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EVENT REPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY GAME

the Pilgrim Bandits (as we all were) and show the grenades and other truck bits they’ve got coming.

LIVE TO FIGHT AGAIN

It wasn’t long after some rather large Airsoft Grenade “BOOMS!” I had to retire due to my back cramping so badly I couldn’t stand up straight. Whilst I missed the rest of the game, I got to hear most of it from the safe zone and watching battles around the FOB from the safe zone brought back some very happy memories not to mention a ringing in my ears! I spent the rest of the day chatting with old friends, trying out the PTS Radian Model One (the review of this fantastic GBBR is also in this issue) and letting others have a go too - and causing quite the stir with some well-placed “Bants”! The build up to the game involved some pretty high level, nay almost professional standard bants; sadly I was the target/butt of most of it but it’s all in good spirits and taken as such. I also got the chance to speak to Taig, who owns and runs Kydex Customs and sponsored the event too. Taig showed off some of his range of Kydex holsters, mag pouches, TRMR carriers etc. etc. For which he got quite a lot of attention - and rightly so as he makes some tasty designs for pretty much any Airsoft gun and he’s also a dab-hand at the custom side of plastic bending. As a former Kydex holster maker, I can tell you it’s not easy and it’s a laborious dirty at times thing to do but thankfully, there are those like Taig who keep making good products and in the UK as well. Previously if you wanted Kydex holsters you had to import from the good ol’ US of A and it cost an arm and a leg. It was obvious to see that the game was going back and forth and everyone seemed to be having a good time with small contacts all across the site. The Bandits were doing their best to disrupt the task force activities. It’s testament to John’s commitment to the cause (and Airsoft in general) that he managed more than once to adjust the game on the fly if things started going a little stale, or to compensate for some objectives having to be either changed or dropped completely. I found out I was an HVT at some point, so I am partly to blame as I had to stop playing! Sorry John and sorry Bandits, I know there was more than a few that were gunning for me from the get go. The cheery “Bye Phil, see you real soon!” and “We’re coming for you!” as I left the safe zone for the morning game gave me some indication I may have got my cards marked. Mental note to self: If no one else on your team is giving the other side a load of banter, don’t feel like you have to do it solo!

TOM

Whilst my esteemed colleges will no doubt be telling you about the site, gameplay and the charity I wanted to focus on something else, the build up…

BANTER

For me the run up to a game is often the most enjoyable part of it, other than spending time with my friends and colleagues. For a game like Pilgrim Bandits this is amplified, as I know (or know of) so many of the players and we all talk about the upcoming events in various online chat groups. Some of this is more serious

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and there was a lot of discussion about the rules we wanted to use for the game. Most notably were the various ammo limits for each weapon system type and the medic and respawn rules. I think ammo limits make a huge difference to the way that games play out and lead to better movement, so this was a big plus. Of course, as the date of the game approached we turned to trying to wind each other up. In particular was my cohost on Airsoft Action TV and Airsoft Action Magazine contributor, Phil Bucknall (who was taking part as a member of the opposing team). Phil had mentioned that he was going to be gunning for a few people, including myself and fellow colleague Bill Pryce-Thomas. We couldn’t let that go and I had to respond in kind… In a former life I worked as a product and packaging designer and rather quickly took the chance to exercise my rather rusty Photoshop skills. Given the amount of people now avowing to hunt him down, Phil compared himself to Sgt. Elias in the famous “running to the helicopter death scene” in the film “Platoon”. Feeling rather inspired by this I quickly knocked up the picture which you can see. Rather than calming down the banter this (of course) only fanned the banter flames further and Phil and the group responded, resulting in me producing “Kill Phil”, featuring our favourite new movie star Uma Philman…

Phil took the jokes very well and even gave his blessing to printing the pictures for you all to enjoy just as much as we did (we think he quite enjoyed the attention). I really enjoy this phase of a game, I’ve been playing long enough now, that actually pulling triggers is probably right at the bottom of my personal “Airsoft Hierarchy of Enjoyment” and seeing friends, a good scenario, a great site, uniform rules, ammo limits and quality gameplay are all more important than getting a few eliminations. Banter and build up is all part of that enjoyment for me as well as what to wear…

GETTING THE RIGHT KIT

One of the aspects I enjoy about Airsoft the most, is getting ready for a game and choosing what to wear and play with. I’m lucky, as over the last 20-odd years I have a huge choice of uniforms and gear to wear and a decent selection of RIFs to play with (though that collection could always do with another addition). In this case I was playing for the Bandits side, we were representing “freedom fighters” for a former Soviet Republic in Eastern Europe. The opposing side was the Pilgrims, a UK/US Taskforce that was mostly in modern direct action gear and clad in Multi-Cam. I love

EVENT REPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY GAME

games with uniform rules, it means that no one needs to be taped and generally it’s very easy to tell the teams apart. The Pilgrims uniform rules meant that we couldn’t wear camouflage, so I did some searching through the gear cupboard. I’ve long been a fan of the Russian Gorka suit and that quickly joined the pile of kit to take. Gorka (Mountain) suits are made from heavy canvas materials and are simple, rugged garments designed for outdoor use by hunters, walkers and the military. Whilst they are at the heart civilian clothes, they have been heavily used by Russian and Soviet army units so I wanted to add some more commercial elements to better suit the scenario. A quick trip to the local retail park and I came across the perfect thing, an Adidas tracksuit in a greenish tan colour with the classic “three stripes”. This would prove to be an awesome match to the Gorka suit. It would also make a great addition to my OpFor kit for MilSims and BattleSims.

on the day from numerous spares bins. It warms the heart to see the effort people went to, both in the organisation of the day but also the attendance, with some players driving over 250miles each way to be there. It might not have had the same feel to the first game, which is not a surprise as we had to contend with all four seasons in a day weather-wise and there were a few injuries too which took some players out of the game but overall it was another solid day’s Airsoft in the spirit of the game as it used to be “back in the old days”! Regardless of who won, because if I’m being honest I don’t know, the charity came out of it more than a few pounds better off and that’s really what we were all there for and I for one am looking forward to the next in the series. See you there! AA

...AND RIF

With my clothing sorted, thought turned to my RIFs for the day. My long serving LCT AKS-74 was first into the gun bag. I did think about taking another AK but decided to pack my KWA URG-I clone instead, to use as a DMR (and to take pot shots at Phil). We were limited to 600 BBs as riflemen so I also took my On One tactical chest rig to hold the four or five magazines I would need for the game. I packed my FRV Tailoring gun belt but decided not to wear it as I wanted to stay relatively light on my feet (I’m not that light in general).

OP FLASHMAN

Arriving at Humber Airsoft it was great to see so many familiar faces and catch up with old friends. Although we had at least four seasons in one day my gear choices stood up well and I didn’t get too uncomfortable in the rain, hail, sun and cloud that we encountered. As for killing Phil… Well he slipped quite early on in the day unfortunately and hurt his back. As you can imagine this was quite a disappointment as I was looking forward to having him in my sights. Oh well, there’s always next year!

SUMMARY

Bill Was it as memorable a game as the first one? I’d have to say no, as #1 was a hard act to follow. Whilst Humber is an excellent airsoft site I personally believe that it’s time for a new venue with fresh challenges. I spoke to John about this and plans are already afoot to move things on for next year. Overall though, it was a great day of airsoft with superb play by all who attended. As I write the “results” are yet to be announced as to who “won”, but once again I believe that most who played this year don’t actually care… at the end of the day the Pilgrim Bandits Charity “won”, and that’s all that is really important! Phil As always it was a pleasure to be a part of a Pilgrim Bandit game and to see so many others supporting it. I don’t know the figure for what was raised on the day but I do know, since then Terry from the charity has raised over £300 from bits and bobs players donated

Op Flashman was supported by: • Pilgrim Bandits Charity • Humber Airsoft Club • Airsoft Action Magazine • AMTAC • Enola Gaye • Stitch Me Up • Kydex Customs • Back Country Workshop • Airsoft Grenades • JCi Comms • SNR - Signal to Noise Ratio Relocation Cables • Clearwater Airsoft • J-Tac Custom Ltd

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AIRSOFT SAFETY EYE PROTECTION STANDARDS

HOW MUCH DO YOU VALUE YOUR EYES? THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF EYE PROTECTION FAILING, BOTH IN USE AND DURING TESTING, SO WE ASKED OUR RESIDENT TECHNICAL GURU, TOM “ANVIL” HIBBERD, TO INVESTIGATE THE SAFETY STANDARDS USED IN AIRSOFT AND THE IMPACT ENERGIES THAT MANY PRODUCTS ARE RATED FOR. EYE PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR AIRSOFT

This may come as a bit of a shock but there are NO specific Airsoft safety eye protection standards! Airsoft is relatively small worldwide when compared to other physical activities and, as it isn’t classified as a “sport”, this means there are no governing bodies except in a few countries. What this means to us here in the UK, is that we either have to organise ourselves and create a standard, or we have to look for products that are suitable for our needs elsewhere. In the UK one of the most common standards for eye protection is EN166F. This is most commonly used for workshop and industrial safety glasses. However, if you look at the standard itself, then EN166F glasses can only be rated to 0.87 Joules. This is far less than the 2.5J that bolt action snipers can reach in the UK and doesn’t even cover most AEGs, which can go up to around 1.3J depending on individual site’s rules. The next most common standard for glasses is the US ANZI Z87+. On investigation these are rated for 1.1J, which is better than EN166F but technically still not enough to cover our needs in the UK. Our previous two examples are for shooting glasses, so if we look at EN166B (which is for goggles), then we see 6.2J. This is sufficient protection for playing airsoft in the UK, so we recommend that you should use eye protection with an EN166B rating as a minimum

standard. Note, however, that EN166B is only for goggles, so if you want to wear shooting glasses then we need to look at a higher standard. Products can be tested way beyond the stated standards and this is especially true for glasses, where they can meet the higher rating for goggles but are only allowed to show the lower standard. However, all we know as consumers is what standard the product is specified as having and so that is all we can go on.

MILITARY BALLISTIC STANDARDS

Airsoft is a ballistic activity (i.e. we shoot and throw things at each other), it therefore makes sense to use eye protection that is designed for ballistic threats and there are several military standards with products that are commonly available. The military standards also have specifications for fogging, scratch resistance and optical clarity. This does make them more expensive than industrial safety glasses but you can find products for less than £30. Military testing uses smaller, faster penetrators than those used for civilian testing, which are designed to simulate fragments from explosive ordnance, IEDs and hand grenades. MIL-PRF-31013 (glasses)/MIL-DTL-43511D (goggles) This is my preferred standard as eye pro that meets it is good for at least 7.3 J! This allows for a good factor of

“PRODUCTS CAN BE TESTED WAY BEYOND THE STATED STANDARDS AND THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR GLASSES, WHERE THEY CAN MEET THE HIGHER RATING FOR GOGGLES BUT ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO SHOW THE LOWER STANDARD. HOWEVER, ALL WE KNOW AS CONSUMERS IS WHAT STANDARD THE PRODUCT IS SPECIFIED AS HAVING AND SO THAT IS ALL WE CAN GO ON.” 32

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AIRSOFT SAFETY EYE PROTECTION STANDARDS

When testing it is best to use a worst case scenario.

safety (see below) and still allows you to wear glasses if you desire. One of the easiest ways to find a product that complies with these standards is to search for the APEL (Authorised Protective Eyewear List), which lists all the products that currently meet the US Army standards for ballistic protection. This list includes products from manufacturers well-known to airsoft players, such as ESS, Oakley, Revision, Smith Optics and Wiley X but be aware, not all products from any one manufacturer may meet the standard.

SHOOTING YOUR EYE PRO

It seems to be fairly common for players to “test” their eye pro before using it by shooting it with an airsoft gun. This isn’t a very good idea, for a number of reasons. Like most safety equipment, eye pro (or the lenses of your eye pro) should really be replaced after a hard hit, even when you can’t see any visible damage to it. If you do insist on shooting your gear first, then you should really be buying two pairs and discarding the pair

“EN166F GLASSES CAN ONLY BE RATED TO 0.87 JOULES. THIS IS FAR LESS THAN THE 2.5J THAT BOLT ACTION SNIPERS CAN REACH IN THE UK.” NATO STANAG 4296/STANAG 2920 The equivalent NATO STANAG 4296 allows for impacts up to 7.5 J and you may only see a rating for STANAG 2920. There’s not enough space in this article to go too far into the testing procedure but if all you can see in the specifications is STANAG 2920, then you should look for a “V50” of 156 m/s, or preferably higher.

you have tested. On top of that, your test probably isn’t that effective! Did you use a bolt action sniper at 2.5J? Were the glasses secured on a head form when you shot them? If not, they would have moved and absorbed some of the impact. How many shots did you take? Are the frames capable of retaining the lenses with multiple impacts?

So why do I believe we need to think more about what eye pro we use?

SAFETY FACTORS

BEST CASE - WORST CASE

When writing a risk assessment for a product you are expected to think “worst case” and to assume that that there has been a chain of events that all increase the hazard. As humans, we normally think the opposite and give our own individual experiences more credence than they possibly deserve. Whilst researching this article I came across more than a few statements along the lines of “well a sniper will be at least 20m away”, or “as long as [they] stopped the BB it doesn’t matter that they cracked”. This isn’t the way you have to think when it comes to safety. What if that sniper is concealed around the corner of a building and fires just as you step in from of them? What if there are another 10 BBs coming in a burst that all hit your eye pro one after another? What if… What if… What if… All those “What ifs” need to be considered.

When designing a product we try and predict the operating circumstances in which it will be used. On the face of this it can seem relatively simple, all we have to do is look at the legal limits in the country(s) in which it will be used. However, design is rarely as clean cut as that. One factor immediately stands out in the previous statement, “legal”. What happens if someone is using a “hot” gun, has cheated chrono or has had a malfunction of some sort? There are other factors that could be considered such as, storage temperature, life in service, chemical attack, change in temperature when running gas guns, poor maintenance, repeated impacts without replacing, amongst many others. All of these can stack against the user’s safety. For a product like safety glasses it could be considered reasonable to use a factor of safety of two or three, i.e. it can take an impact two or three times more than the legal threat. In the UK that would mean we are looking for standards that give us around 6J or more.

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AIRSOFT SAFETY EYE PROTECTION STANDARDS

MESH

In my opinion eye pro that has holes in it is not eye protection! It allows particles of shattered BBs though

It took just 6 full auto shots to penetrate these mesh glasses.

MY RECOMENDATIONS

Simply put, EN166F & ANZI Z.87+ are not good enough for Airsoft in my opinion. I recommend that AS A MINIMUM people wear eye pro that is rated for EN166B, these are normally goggles though there are a number of products that are basically glasses with an additional, sometimes optional, head strap. These are not expensive and are fairly easy to find. If you want to use glasses, then I recommend that you purchase a pair that are compliant with MILPRF-31013 and goggles that meet MIL-PRF-43511D. Other very good options are NATO STANAG 4296 & STANAG 2920 V50 156m/s or higher. Buy from a reputable retailer and not from an Auction Site or direct from China. There are numerous clones and fakes around that do not meet the standards of the real items and sadly, this is just as true with eye pro as for other products - but it is especially important

and can also allow flash and debris from pyro and BB impacts. I’ve also seen, first-hand, rust under paint and have had paint fragments in my own eyes. I cannot recommend mesh to anyone and now refuse to let friends and family use it where possible. I’ve just bought an extra pair of ESS Crossbows that comply with MILPRF-31013 to lend out, if they are needed.

SURPLUS EYE PRO

In many militaries eye pro has a lifespan of around 1 year on operation or 10 years in storage, before it is considered no longer safe. It is sometimes then bought and placed on the surplus market and can appear

These lenses took over 100 shots before they cracked.

when it comes to saving your eye sight. Buying surplus to save money just isn’t worth the chance; you do not know what the eye pro has been through even if it is visibly in “perfect” condition. Replace your eye pro or lenses after a hard hit, or after any damage occurs and remember, you do not need to see any damage for the protection to be compromised. This is true for any safety equipment. Read the instructions that come with your eye pro. Many companies will recommend that you replace your product after a certain length of time. This isn’t just to make more money as plastics (especially) degrade over time and when exposed to UV and chemicals. And finally, please take care of your eyes. It just isn’t worth losing one, or both of them to save a few pounds! AA

Clones and fakes can be very hard to spot.

attractive to the player as it is military grade at a bargain price. Remember though, that you do not know what has happened to that eye pro and therefore how much protection it will give you. It may have spent ten years being flown to hot sandy places and back. It may have been exposed to some chemicals that have weakened them or have had several hard impacts already. I’ve even just read an account of someone going through a large box of goggles at a surplus store in the US and picking out the best two sets and paying $2 for them. Personally, my eyes are worth more to me than a couple of bucks!

There are many different types of eye protection.

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BOOK REVIEW SAS IN ITALY 1943 - 1945

RAIDERS IN ENEMY TERRITORY SAS IN ITALY 1943 - 1945 BY MALCOLM TUDOR

THE WORLD KNOWS OF THE EXPLOITS OF THE SAS DURING THE IRANIAN EMBASSY SIEGE AND MIGHT EVEN KNOW OF ITS HISTORY BACK TO DAVID STIRLING BUT NOT MUCH IS KNOWN OF THEIR ACTIONS IN ITALY. MATT LIMB OBE WRITES ABOUT A BOOK FROM AUTHOR MALCOLM TUDOR, A MAN WHO DOES KNOW. IN RECENT YEARS MUCH HAS BEEN written about British Special Forces, especially the SAS, including its formation by David Stirling in July 1941 during World War Two. Equally, much has been written about other campaigns but there is a campaign, in World War Two, that generally has been missed, one often referred to as the “D Day Dodgers”. It is the campaign after North Africa when the allies returned to Europe; Italy. Finally, a book has been written about the actions and operations of the SAS in Italy from 1943 to 1945. Any book written about such a secretive and clandestine organisation, even its history, can risk being a little tongue in cheek, given the sensitivity and security that surrounds the regiment. But I can think of no one better than Malcolm Tudor to write about the SAS in Italy, given his own background. An Anglo Italian historian, Malcolm’s father was a British soldier with the Eighth Army in Italy, in turn, his mother is Italian and his grandparents were awarded the Alexander Certificate

includes David Stirling, who spent the Italian campaign as a POW after being taken prisoner in Tunisia. It also introduces David’s elder brother William, who raised the second SAS regiment in Algeria; when asked what SAS stood for would always reply, “Stirling and Stirling, naturally”. The Italian campaign of World War II started with the capture of Sicilya and the SAS were heavily involved: “In less than thirty-six hours, they captured or destroyed eighteen large guns, four mortars, three rangefinders, and numerous machine guns and small arms; they had also taken over 500 prisoners and killed or wounded around 200 more … the action lasted for 18 hours and covered the distance of 24 miles; on their dangerous journey inland, the men had been outnumbered on most occasions by at least fifty to one.”

“ANY BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT SUCH A SECRETIVE AND CLANDESTINE ORGANISATION, EVEN ITS HISTORY, CAN RISK BEING A LITTLE TONGUE IN CHEEK, GIVEN THE SENSITIVITY AND SECURITY THAT SURROUNDS THE REGIMENT. ” in recognition of help they gave to Allied escaping prisoners of war. Add to this he has written several other books on Italy during World War Two, including, Amongst the Italian Partisans. The way the book has been written would allow anybody to simply take it off the shelf and begin to read into the history of the Italian campaign. Not only does Malcolm introduce the concept and the background to the Italian campaign but also some of the key players involved from the SAS, which gives you an understanding of the individual and his character. This 36

JULY 2019

Following the successful capture of Sicily, the allies started landing on mainland Italy. This triggered operations by the SAS which I’ve known of in the past but not in the detail that can be found in this book; Operation Speedwell. Op Speedwell was the disruption of enemy rail communications across northern Italy, especially in the high mountainous Apennine passes, in order to reduce German reinforcements travelling south as the Allied landings were beginning: “We’re only just stopped when we heard a train

BOOK REVIEW SAS IN ITALY 1943 - 1945

coming at a decent speed, roughly 25 miles per hour. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, and lots of sparks coming from the wires overhead. We did not see the damage, owing to the tunnel, but the train definitely stopped. All the next day there were no trains on that line except what we think were repair gangs going backwards and forwards.” It would be very easy to write about Operation Speedwell, in the nature of a boy’s hero story; how they suffer badly from near starvation, in severe weather conditions in the mountains and then travelled some 300 miles through enemy lines. But again, Malcolm Tudor brings out the individuals as we get a background on many of the soldiers who took part in the operations. I equally like how the author leaves history on the shelf for “The Missing Men”. A chapter best described as a memorial and dedication to the men that were lost

three SAS heroes killed in the Villa Rossi, the entire party was got out again sooner or later, without one single prisoner been taken by the Germans, thanks to the superb leadership of Roy Farran.” The concept and idea of small groups of highly trained soldiers parachuted behind enemy lines to gain intelligence, destroy enemy aircraft and attack their supply lines are legendary. But in this book Malcolm Tudor drills this down and focuses on the Italian campaign and does so in great detail, not only on the operations themselves but of the men who carried out risky and enduring missions. After reading this book you will sit back comfortably and with a far better understanding of the SAS Italian campaign and the men who fought in it and the book would be at home on many bookshelves. AA

“THE ATTACK ON SUCH A KEY GERMAN POSITION WAS CARRIED OUT TO THE SOUND OF A SCOTTISH PIPER, DAVID KIRKPATRICK, WHO WAS WEARING A KILT. HE HAD VOLUNTEERED TO BE DROPPED INTO THE AREA TO IDENTIFY THE OPERATION AS BEING BRITISH, IT WAS HOPED THAT REPRISALS WOULD NOT THEN BE CARRIED OUT AGAINST THE LOCAL POPULATION.” on Operation Speedwell. This includes a letter sent, soon after the war, to the father of Captain Patrick Dudgeon, which includes details of how his son died and where he was buried. In addition to details of the post-war investigations and the subsequent British Military Court with details of its rulings in 1948. The chapter concludes, little more than a decade ago, with the memorials erected in Northern Italy in honour of the men lost on Op Speedwell. The book continues with jeep and sabotage operations, plus a little-known phase of the Italian campaign which involved the rescuing of prisoners of war, where the SAS no doubt assisted many prisoners of wars escaping to the south. In addition to this, some of the amphibious landings and arrangements played in support for the landings at Anzio. One of the final chapters in the book covers the famous Operation Tombola. This was an operation when some fifty men parachuted into northern Italy in March 1945 under the command of Major Roy Farran. First, they helped and supported local SOE missions, then they attacked a German Corps Headquarters. The attack on such a key German position was carried out to the sound of a Scottish piper, David Kirkpatrick, who was wearing a kilt. He had volunteered to be dropped into the area to identify the operation as being British, it was hoped that reprisals would not then be carried out against the local population. “This was an attack on a Corp Headquarters in a highly defended zone and it must rate as one of the most ambitious, organised and daring operations carried out by the Resistance forces. One hundred men were infiltrated more than 30 miles down towards the plains and right inside a headquarters directly defended by 300 troops. What is more, after the action, apart from

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EVENT REPORT NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2019

THE NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW

THE “AIRSOFT SHOW YEAR” COMES UPON US IN THE FIRST AND SECOND QUARTER EACH YEAR AND AFTER TRAVELLING TO THE USA AND GERMANY, AA STAFFERS AND CONTRIBUTORS GATHER EACH MAY A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME IN HARROGATE, FOR THE “NORTHERN”. BILL GIVES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE 2019 SHOW. AIRSOFT ACTION HAVE BEEN LOYAL supporters of the Northern Shooting Show in Harrogate since its inception and we’ve certainly seen some changes in that time! Initially the “Airsoft Experience” area was a real challenge to say the least and although this has certainly improved, I feel that there are still some changes that need to happen before airsoft at “The Northern” really gets into its stride! When I first saw who had signed up for their own trip to Harrogate this year, I can’t help admitting that I was a little nervous about the whole thing. 2018 saw airsoft moving forward, with a new and dedicated area right at the very heart of the show but for 2019 retailer numbers seemed to have plummeted! Airsoft STILL hasn’t made it into the 4,320m2 single span exhibition hall (which increased the show by a 1/3 in terms of indoor exhibition space!) but once again airsoft manufacturers, vendors and organisations were housed in standalone semi-rigid marquee, Hall 3. So, sadly my expectations for 2019 were again a little muted. That said, the Yorkshire Event Centre is a beautiful site on the outskirts of Harrogate, just off the A1. It’s famous for being the home of the annual Great Yorkshire Show which has been going strong since 1951 and has on average 130,000 visitors attending the show over 3 days, so the infrastructure is second to none! The venue is geographically right at the centre of the UK, so is accessible to shooters (and airsofters!) nationwide. There is plenty of visitor parking on hard standing ground close to the entrances, professional indoor exhibition halls, plenty of toilets and amenities and good old sensibly priced

JULY 2019

Yorkshire food and Yorkshire portions! The venue has a mixture of indoor exhibition halls and beautiful outdoor space where you’ll find the interactive shooting areas and outside exhibitors. It really is an absolutely stunning venue, a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces and as all the stands get set up, the whole area turns into a somewhat riotous carnival representing all that is good in shooting in the UK. Although the “Airsoft Experience” area is still based slightly away from the main show halls, this by no means says that footfall was any lighter, as the airsoft “hall” is right by the main square which once again saw a wonderful collection of military vehicles and an absolutely stunning “cold war” living history display, as well as representatives from the likes of A Squadron of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry with their Jackal and kit.

MORE OUTSIDE...

As I mentioned at the outset, I was concerned that I was going to be “underwhelmed” this year, as when I looked prior to travelling up almost the length of the

EVENT REPORT NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2019

country, the only two dedicated airsoft retailers listed were Land Warrior and Fubar Bundy! For various reasons this year there was no NUPROL and no ASG on site but the arrival from Poland of the team from Specna Arms certainly took me aback!

Nige and I spent a goodly amount of time with Patryk and his team at IWA and, in fact, the Specna Techs are just in the process of readying one of their new EDGE AEGs in preparation for it being sent over for Phil and Tom to get to grips with. I clocked that Specna were going to be at the show and I am so glad that they made the trip over.

Supported by the guys from Patrol Base, the Specna stand was genuinely of international show standard and featured nearly every model from their extensive range of “ARs” along with examples of their equally-exciting new bolt-action models. All the AEGs that we saw were of cracking quality and, from “entry level” up, they have something for everyone - when even their basic offering comes out of the box pre-fitted with a “GATE” mosfet you know that these guys mean business! Alan and the lads from Land Warrior were once again busy showing their awesome licensed Umarex products, along with solid lines of goods from 5:11, PTS and new holster manufacturer “Ammomax”. Steve and his team from Fubar Bundy had some really, really tasty RIFs on display and, like Land Warrior, a wall of “Ammomax” holsters and accessories! If you’ve not come across “Ammomax” as yet, then don’t worry as Angelo and I are working with them and are awaiting T&E products to arrive from China at any moment! Also in “Hall 3” it was great to meet well- reputed show newcomers John and Donna from FRV Tailoring.

Established in August 2016, FRV Tailoring presents a broad range of equipment for use with military and civilian emergency services, creating very high-quality products, hand-made in the UK. They offer shooters belts, TQ holders, slings, and specialist climbing and K9 products and after speaking to them I discovered they are also able to do bespoke manufacturing to your design! I look forward to bringing you a report on them in the very near future.

On the green behind the marquee things got a bit more “shooty”! Our very own Andy “What is you?” Nightingale and his tactical loons from Calibre Shooting were running an absolutely ace “Kill House”, which attracted not only airsofters but those who were genuinely interested to see (and hear given the pyro used!) what the fuss was all about. Mark Farrar, match director of the UK’s Multi-Gun Syndicate, had a superb “Three Gun Challenge” on the go for both days of

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EVENT REPORT NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2019

the show and this drew a large crowd of viewers and spectators, at times five deep on the Saturday. Also joining this year were Tony and James from Stonehammer Airsoft with their absolutely first-rate “technical pickup”. If you’re a regular at Brit-Tac or

Stirling games then no doubt you’ll have seen this brilliant, home-built tacticool vehicle but for the crowds it was a great place to get your “ally picture” taken... I believe that Tony and James were actually approached by the Yeomanry and offered “enlistment papers”, so good was their display! Along at the end of the row was Taig with his Kydex Customs stand. Taig is becoming a regular at shows and events and as a user of his products I can only wish him success! I’ll be looking at exactly what he offers in a future issue…

ONE FOR ALL!

If you’re and airsofter who follows things online then undoubtedly you’ll have seen that the guys at Scott Country, along with GB Action Air shooter Arius Alipour, were running a Laser Ammo range in order to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity after the sad loss of a colleague. As I write they’ve just posted up on their Facebook page: “Thank you to everyone who donated and had a

go on the Laser Ammo smokeless range on the Scott Country International stand. “We raised £329 on top of what we earned via digital donations, for this very worthwhile charity that has a very special place in our hearts after losing team member and friend Paul OakleyEvans.” You can still donate to this worthy cause by visting https:// www.thebraintumourcharity.org/ I believe that most of the Airsoft Action team present had a go on the Laser Ammo “Smokless Range” and came away very impressed. I’ve arranged with Scott Country for a set of the basic equipment and Tom and I will be reporting back on this in due course! One of the great things about any show of course is the chance to catch up with the rest of the Airsoft Action team and I had the chance to have a good yarn with Tom, Phil, Kelly, and Angelo and meeting gave us the chance to catch up in person on “ongoing projects”. I also managed to have a chat with Paul from ASPUK and Matt Skunk and with the latter there’s a little thing in build for me that I’ve wanted for ages. Matt is converting a WE Browning to UK spec for me and having seen his work on other, similar builds I’m pretty excited! I also got to speak to many people about the legalities that face us as airsofters. It has often been said that “small is beautiful” and I’m going to tell you that in relation to airsoft at “The Northern ‘19” this saying has never been truer. What may have been missed in terms of quantity was more than made up for by the sheer quality and professionalism that the non-airsoft shooting community saw. Everyone on site was thoroughly professional, the stands and the displays were first rate and both the “Shoot House” and the “Three Gun” showed airsoft off in the very best way possible! I do understand that one of the major stumbling blocks airsoft faces in becoming a “full member” of the wider UK shooting community is the fact that WE SHOOT EACH OTHER! What was on show though was another side that many show visitors had never seen before and from those that I spoke to they certainly came away with a greater appreciation of “what airsoft is”. So I’ll conclude with a hearty “well done!” to all the airsoft fraternity that made 2019 in Harrogate such a success! Dates for 2020 have yet to be published at the time of writing but of course we’ll let you know them as soon as we know. I hope to see you there next year! For more information please keep an eye on www. northernshootingshow.co.uk AA

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armoury G&G FIREHAWK AMP

DOES THE AMP GO UP TO 11?

CAN G&G’S FIREHAWK AMPLIFIER PUT THE SHOOTY-BANG-BANG INTO PEW-PEW? STEVE TAKLE FINDS OUT…

AMPLIFIERS IN AIRSOFT ARE DUMB. They offer no performance benefits or tactical advantage and in fact, their only purpose is to give your position away to the enemy who can now hear you coming from half a mile away. But. Damn, they sound cool! When a squadmate trotted out his G&G Firehawk for the afternoon recently, that sharp, snappy report put a smile on all our faces. It added a little bit of aural drama to proceedings that an AEG simply can’t manage otherwise. It just sounded… fun! Unexpectedly, we found that as well as giving your position away to the enemy, that racket also let the rest of the team know where we encountered resistance as we pushed forwards and drew them into the firefight alongside us. And how intimidating would that sound be when advancing on your position in tight CQB games? Maybe amplifiers do have their uses after all...

JUST FOR THE HITS AND GIGGLES

So I thought I’d add one to my armoury, just for the hits and giggles. Ask most anyone’s advice about amplifiers and they’ll suggest the Noveske KX3 via Madbull, or one of its more affordable clones. But to my highly tuned ears, they pop rather than snap - a bit like a tube of Pringles on steroids. Not cool. Happily though, G&G offers the amplifier/flash hider, “Firehawk Style” as a standalone accessory. Regardless of any sonic performance, it’s a good looking unit and not unreasonably priced at £32.99. So even if it adds nothing to the audio, it’s still a decent add-on option for any image conscious RIF. With a 14mm CCW fitment, it will work with most models - certainly with widely available adaptors for non-standard sizes. Weighing in at 113g and measuring about 8cm long, it’s actually lighter than other flash hiders and seems well made. The finish is a nice matt black and where

conventional flash hiders would have cutouts, the Firehawk has sharply defined recesses to the outside, while the inner remains intact to help funnel the noise through the internal amplifier cone. So it looks good, but how does it sound?

PLUS CA CHANGE

Using a Scorpion EVO on an 11.1 LiPo with an already crisp action and to our ears it doesn’t sound much different to standard. From behind the noisy end at least - which is where we tend to keep our ears. To double check our findings, we used two free sound meters for Android and both measured just the tiniest of differences - 2db on average - between an open barrel and the Firehawk amplifier, whether the mic was behind or in front of the action. Standard read about 56db, while amplified measured 58db and to be honest, we really couldn’t hear much of a difference from the shooter’s position. Consider us confounded. So we tried it on another two AEGs with a softer sonic signature and roped in an impartial pair of ears for a blind test. With a spectator facing away from the RIF - luckily they trusted us not to shoot them in the back - they could identify the amplified sound was ever-so-slightly louder, but only by the smallest margin. From our own ears to digital sound meters and a bystander audience, the findings were far from the night and day results we were expecting. Of course, we’d expect performance to improve with a GBBR, but what we observed in no way matches what we heard firsthand from G&G’s own AEG, the Firehawk. When we asked its owner to corroborate our findings, they told us that their RIF measures an average of 90db, or about 30 more than we experienced. We can only conclude that whatever special sauce goes into the Firehawk’s sonic character, you won’t find it in the amplifier alone. AA

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KIT & GEAR

EXTREMIS MALIS BATES THE DIVISION BOOTS 2

LET’S FACE IT, COMPUTER-BASED GAMES CAN AND DO INFLUENCE YOUR AIRSOFT LOADOUT AND WHILST SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE USED IN A NEGATIVE CONTEXT, THE LURE OF “THE DIVISION” STYLE AND AESTHETIC IS VERY STRONG WHEN IT COMES TO SOME ABSOLUTELY RIGHTEOUS SETS OF GEAR! BILL TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED WITH THE RECENT RELEASE OF “DIVISION 2” AND HOW TO TURN IT INTO A LOADOUT YOU CAN USE ON A REGULAR BASIS. OKAY, I’M GOING TO START THIS in a slightly contentious way, in that I am 100% NOT a gamer! The game I play regularly is airsoft, so my adventures happen “IRL” and not onscreen or online! However, I am a HUGE fan of the work that goes on to create a great game and, as many of my airsoft friends around the globe ARE gamers, I can’t help but see what they’ve created when inspired by something seen in the gaming universe. I am also massively impressed with the imagination of the storylines behind what you see on screen and the level of professionalism in the graphics is simply jaw-droppingly stunning. I was very much taken by the original “Division” game, both in terms of the “Dollar Flu” storyline, the degradation of society portrayed and the realisation of the “Strategic Homeland Division” to combat this. Again, let’s not be shy about saying that sales of the airsoft Kriss Vector were undoubtedly strengthened by “Division-savvy” players (as I’m certain sales of the new TK-45 will be as this stands in nicely) and I’ve seen some absolutely spot-on takes on the loadout. in fact, I’d go as far as saying that I’ve made new mates due to this loadout as, in particular, I started speaking to Bjorn from Klockar Airsoft after I saw what he’d put together and we’ve become very good friends since! What we have in the first “Division” though, is an activation of “sleeper agents” around New York City in response to the release, on “Black Friday”, of Variola Chimera, the so-called “Dollar Flu”. This quickly evolved into a pandemic of massive proportions which, in turn caused chaos, mayhem and the destruction of both law and society in general in the city. If you’d like to know more about this in some excruciating detail - and why Duct Tape became so important - then I’d urge you to read “New York Collapse”, the “journal of April Kelleher”.

JUNE 2019

With their motto “Extremis Malis Extrema Remedia”, or “Extreme Evil, Extreme Remedy”, the “Agents” of The Strategic Homeland Division are activated to ensure the continuity of government in the case of a catastrophic emergency. Released in waves, Division agents are activated when all other forms of public protection have failed and the President signs “Directive 51” in order to activate them. What really, really grabs me about this is that the “agents” appear as normal everyday individuals, with simple, straightforward lives on the surface of things. Agents are hand-picked from various aspects of society but commonly they do have a background in military, law enforcement, the intelligence community, rescue services or engineering. They are approached and recruited based on a stringent set of criteria and recruitment can take a long time, to make sure the candidate fits the profile and is suited for this type of job. Often, candidates are recommended by word of mouth from existing members. Once the Strategic Homeland Division has determined a candidate has adequately fulfilled requirements, candidates are offered a chance to join the SHD. After joining, members are trained by other top tier operatives and when candidates successfully complete their training, they return to their daily lives. A key component of the Division is that members exist in the “shadows” and function like a normal member of society. Their own families don’t even know about their appointment to the agency!

A HUGE CHANGE OF “AO”

As an avid reader of all things “Division-related”, what strikes me about the “agents” in New York at the outset of the pandemic, is that they are all restricted initially to their “go bag” and their personal weapons and have

KIT & GEAR

EXTREMA REMEDIA

THE DIVISION 2

“THEIR WEAPONS AT THE OUTSET CAN, IN MY MIND, BE VIRTUALLY ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT FIND OWNED BY ANY LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN IN THE USA AND KNOWING WHAT SOME OF MY AMERICAN FRIENDS HAVE TUCKED AWAY IN REAL LIFE IN THEIR GUN LOCKERS, THAT MEANS UP TO AND INCLUDING .50CAL BARRETTS!”

a two hour “go window” after activation. Of course, there are “tell-tales” that they are “agents” and not just vigilantes, such as their SHD armbands and patches plus “SHADE TECH”. Division operatives possess contact lenses that let them view their augmented reality heads-up display (AR HUD), which is synched to their ISAC (Intelligent System Analytic Computer) and a Smart Watch. This is also connected to the ISAC, allowing the agent to communicate with fellow agents, hack communication systems and computers and generally let them stay ahead of trouble! The “look” therefore of “New York Agents” is a mix of winter civilian and performance outdoor clothing and footwear, along with some form of pack (these are actually Division-issue and armour-lined), plus a few choice “SHD” standard items like a vest (armour or otherwise), a protective mask, knee pads and certain “skill items”. Their weapons at the outset can, in my mind, be virtually anything that you might find owned by any law-abiding citizen in the USA and knowing what some of my American friends have tucked away in real life in their gun lockers, that means up to and including .50cal Barretts! Where the big change happens in “Division 2” is in both the regional and seasonal changes. The events of The Division 2 take place in the summer and are set in Washington DC, seven months after the events of the “Dollar Flu”, which took place in the winter in New York City. Attacks on the Pentagon, The National Mall and other landmarks followed the outbreak of the virus in DC. Riots followed the day after and the security forces were hit, forcing them to evacuate the capital. The summer heatwave added to a volatile situation further; supply lines were cut off and after just a few days survivors developed communities to survive. Many of these groups were armed, while criminals developed

their own factions, raiding these communities for supply and control. Much of DC is under the control of three main enemy factions: the Hyenas, a loosely organised group of several gangs, criminals, and anarchists who seek to take advantage of the chaos; the Outcasts, a fanatical group made up of the survivors of the Roosevelt Island quarantine zone, whom seek to exact revenge on those they believe responsible for their imprisonment and eventual infection. The third group are the True Sons, a highly organised and ruthless group of former Joint Task Force personnel, paramilitaries and other traitors who seek to gain control over the entire capital. Into this melting pot the SHD Agents are thrown and the overall feel of their gear has changed quite considerably. Gone are the heavy winter clothes, scarves and watch caps and in their place come check shirts (again, that old trope!), t-shirts and multi-layered performance tops. Initially many of the Agents go bareheaded with a few ballcaps thrown in. Unlike New York where everything was low-key and relatively concealed the “DC Agents” are more “loaded for bear” with larger packs, body armour/plate carriers and, of course, BIGGER GUNS!

BRINGING IT TOGETHER SHD-DC STYLE!

For the gear that we used in our photoshoot we looked at the overall feel of the “DC Agents” rather than trying to nail every single tiny detail, although we did try to incorporate various bits of “prop SHADE TECH”. The characters of “Caleb Dunne”, “Heather Ward” and “Brian Johnson” were our focus, as they are the three that appear in the box art and promotional materials, looking out over the ruins of Washington. Key aspects for our loadouts were practicality

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KIT & GEAR THE DIVISION 2

advantageous to carry whilst keeping with the three character “specialisations” that appear in game, namely: “Survivalist”, “Demolitionist” and “Sharpshooter.” This meant that we needed to look at weapon choices and how to carry ammunition of varying types. For the “Survivalist” we needed (i.e. we had to have!) a crossbow and shotgun and thankfully Nige managed to borrow us a crossbow from Enfield Sports Limited. As this was a working hunting crossbow, it remained uncocked throughout the shoot for safety reasons! For the “Demolitionist” we needed an MGL (thanks ICS and Fire Support!) and an “LVOA-style” AR, which was thrown in by James as he owns a very cool looking green G&G. The “Sharpshooter” was the trickiest of the lot to be honest, as in the art he’s shown with a Vector (old news…) and a TAC50. I personally thought about this long and hard and changed this out slightly to my own favourite AR and the new ARES Remington MS338. I wanted to have a bolt-action rifle with a tan chassis that was actually available and fieldable as an airsoft version, rather than a “window dresser” and in my mind this fitted the bill nicely. Thankfully iWholesales had one (their show sample!) in stock which they kindly leant me - and you can read my review of this corker elsewhere in the magazine this month too! Now I know that some of you “stitch bitches” out there will call me (and us) out over certain tiny things being “wrong” with our loadouts. The bottom line is that I’m certain many sites will be running “Division 2” themed games this summer and just because you don’t have the EXACT thing used in the game doesn’t mean that you can’t get involved. As long as you’ve gone to an effort to get things as right as possible, whilst maintaining practicality in your choice of gear and functionality in your choice of RIFs, then in my opinion you are 100% good to go. and ease of use. Inspired by the sets of gear shown in the game, we each went away and created what we felt would be

Time to come out of the shadows, Directive 51 has been invoked… AA

My sincere thanks go to www.nuprol.com, www.fire-support. co.uk, www.enfieldsports.com, www.iwholesales.co.uk, www. viperkit.co.uk, and www.stitchmeup.biz (for the awesome patches!) for their help in creating this article. www.airsoft-action.online

armoury LCT PK-331 EBB KIT

ANVIL’S HAMMER!

WE ALL LIKE IMMERSION IN OUR GAMES AND NOTHING ADDS MORE THAN A RECOIL AIRSOFT GUN. GAS BLOWBACKS HAVE LONG BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE RECOIL GAME AND WHEN AATV’S TOM “ANVIL” HIBBERD HEARD THAT LCT HAD CREATED AN ELECTRIC BLOWBACK KIT THAT RIVALLED THEM, HE QUICKLY ACQUIRED ONE! HERE IN THE AIRSOFT ACTION TV Studio we’ve christened our LCT PK-331 EBB equipped gun “The Hammer”! It is great fun to use and puts a massive smile on your face, plus it adds a lot of realism and immersion to games and that goes for the people you are shooting at as well. There are some caveats though, which we will go into in this article. Let’s get the really important part out of the way early… This kit is suitable for experienced AK AEG users only! By that we mean players that are comfortable taking their Airsoft guns apart and putting them back together, it would also be an advantage if you are also happy working inside gearboxes as some maintenance is required. If you are not one of these people don’t despair, as you can have a tech install it for you instead. The LCT EBB Kits are drop-in replacements for your standard LCT AK V3 gearbox and normal fake bolt cover but before you order one, make sure that your LCT is on the compatible list that LCT provide. Essentially, you’ll need a model with a fixed stock or stock tube and if you

The fake bolt and recoil spring are very similar to those on the real AK.

JULY 2019

have a side-folding stock, LCT sell a folding stock tube that’s compatible. Under-folders are not suitable and significant modification would be required. There is also a shorter version that is made for AKSU variants but you will have to also fit the special side folding stock tube with these models.

WHATS IN THE KIT?

LCT recommend that for muzzle velocity below 362fps with a 0.20g BB (M110 Spring) that you use a 7.4v Li-Po Battery Pack. For muzzle velocities above 362fps use a 11.1v Li-Po pack. It’s important to take note of these limits, running a battery pack that has too high a voltage can lead to gearbox damage and premature wear (more on that subject later). The unit we received consisted of a several parts: 1. A modified LCT Version 3 gearbox; this has a slot milled in the top and a reinforced recoil spring mount. It also uses bushings rather than bearings, this is presumably to take up any off axial loads caused by the recoil system operating. The gearbox also features a rather snazzy looking high torque motor, this is just as well as the motor has to compress both the main spring and the recoil spring! 2. A dummy recoil spring; this is very similar to a real AK recoil spring, including the two-part spring guide. 3. Fake gas piston and bolt carrier; this is also similar to a real version. It fits into the AK gas tube and runs in the receiver rails. This is the LCT AK dummy bolt kit with an additional tang welded on. 4. Fire selector gear assembly and grip screw, in case your originals are worn and out of spec. This is a really nice touch and if yours are in good condition then these can go into spare part storage.

armoury LCT PK-331 EBB KIT

HOW IT WORKS

Compared to some electric recoil systems, such as the Tokyo Marui NGRS and KWA ERG, the LCT EBB kit is relatively simple. The piston is made of steel and has an integrated hook that protrudes through a slot machined into the top of the gearbox. The hook interacts with the tang on the dummy bolt and retracts it as the gearbox cycles. When the gearbox fires the dummy bolt is also released and flies forward under spring pressure from the dummy recoil spring. A slot cut in the tang of the

The kit features a new high torque motor.

dummy bolt means that when going forward the bolt and pistol aren’t connected. The dummy bolt hits the front trunnion of the AEG creating a load thwack and a violent vibration. As regards actual recoil, there is a distinct tap on the shoulder as the bolt is retracted but significantly more throw forward when it fires. There is more than enough vibration in the system to disrupt your sight picture and rattle your fillings (if you have any). The recoil is far in excess than that produced by the previously mentioned AEGs and rivals the WE open bolt AK GBBR we tested it against.

ASSEMBLY

I found it reasonably straight forward to put the kit into our test LCT AK-104 AEG, which is comparatively old and worn – and that came back to haunt us later! As long as you are confident when working on an AEG it shouldn’t prove too much of a challenge. We found the only sticking point was putting the dummy bolt into the gun as this can be quite tight, there is a bit of a knack to it which you can see on our YouTube channel, Airsoft Action TV. You have to rotate the dummy bolt to the right as you insert in under the receiver rails. It is advised to make sure your receiver is clean and the rails are straight and not bent. We applied just a tiny bit of silicon oil to contact areas to help the dummy bolt slide.

The kit uses a modified V3 gearbox shell.

The wiring harness has bullet connectors to allow the wires to be separated. This is a great help when feeding it into the stock and stock tubes of your LCT AEG.

THE DOWNSIDES

The positives of the kit are also the problems; with our LCT AK-104 the vibration and impacts loosened the front end of the gun which then walked off slowly while firing! The selector lever also worked itself loose. This was partially solved with the addition of some blue Loctite to all of the screws and locators and a quick once-over every 1,000 BBs or so. Partly because of this, a brand new LCT AKMS was purchased as a permanent home for the EBB kit and, as this hadn’t been taken apart numerous times before, was a better, tighter host. We should also mention that our kit was one of the first off the production line as I was so excited about it! When I transferred the kit to the AKMS we also took the chance to open the gearbox and have a look inside. I found that the steel piston was wearing down the gearbox piston rails after only 2,000 or so BBs. There was large amounts of filings and particles inside the gearbox and coating the piston and cylinder. There were also a few other wear marks inside the gearbox and on the right-hand side of the outer shell where the fake bolt runs in the receiver. We took the time to contact a few other users and YouTubers who had installed the kit. Some of these people had also noticed a problem. There are also a few reports of cracked gearbox shells. We contacted LCT about our problems, they are aware that some users have had some problems and have already made some changes to the kit to alleviate this. There is a wedge locking piece that helps to hold the front end and they have started to polish and radius the piston rails to avoid the internal damage. They also have some longer-term plans for the kit that we’ll let you know about when they are ready to announce it and plans are firmed up.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Like “Version One” of many things the LCT EBB kit has had some teething troubles. It’s pretty common that initial releases of many products need some work to get them operating perfectly. I’m going to polish and radius the piston and piston rails on my kit myself to help operation, as well as correct the angle of engagement with the piston to minimise any off axis loads that the system goes through when operating. This isn’t a kit for beginners, you need to fit it yourself and going by our experiences it will need regular attention and maintenance. It’s best suited for games that require a significant amount of immersion and therefore you don’t fire very much! I’ve taken to checking all the bolts and screws every time I “bomb up” between games. However, it is great fun, the vibration and recoil compares well with GBB rifles and does add a lot of enjoyment to playing Airsoft. We hope that LCT fix the teething troubles as quite frankly, when it’s working well it’s amazing! If you want to see more on the LCT PK-331 EBB kit then head over to out YouTube channel Airsoft Action TV. We have a full installation video and film of it firing! Head over to: www.youtube.com/airsoftactiontv AA

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SEEN ON SCREEN SIG 550 SERIES

AS SEEN ON SCREEN:

SIG 550 SERIES THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF A NEW SERIES EXPLORING A DIFFERENT FIREARM’S APPEARANCES ACROSS FILMS, TV AND VIDEOGAMES EVERY ISSUE. THIS MONTH, STEVE TAKLE EXPLORES SIG’S VENERABLE 550 SERIES... DON’T WANT TO GO FOR THE OBVIOUS options like an M4 for the good guys or an AK for the baddies? How about the halfway house that is the Sig 550 series? Originally based on the venerable AK, Switzerland’s Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG) gave the Eastern stalwart a Western makeover, with increased usability and production values. Manufactured by Swiss Arms AG - a division within SIG - we have to say that for a neutral country, they make some fine firearms.

IN THE REAL WORLD

Designed as a modular update to the SG 510, the 550 series is issued to the Swiss army but also found popularity with international Spec Ops such as France and Pakistan, as well as law enforcement agencies worldwide. Entering production in 1986, more than half a million units have since been made - all featuring single fire, 3-round burst and full auto. While all models feature the trademark triangular skeletonised folding stock, there are differences. While the longer SG 551 is a popular option for longer ranges, the 552 Commando and the lightly revised 553 - or Special Operations Weapon (SOW) - are perhaps the most recognisable members of the family. Swiss security forces also used a sniper variant until recently. Most of the world’s civilian population might not be able to purchase these firearms but American consumers can buy the 556 - as long as the weapons were assembled in Exeter, New Hampshire. But that’s enough reality - let’s look at the make-believe…

JULY 2019

MOVIES

Given its provenance and AK origins - and despite the Swiss nation’s renown for impartiality - the 550-series is often used in Hollywood as an AK stand-in. It’s an easy way for movie studios to distinguish the bad guys from the M4-toting defenders of the free world without the politically charged implications. 550s make numerous appearances in the hands of antagonists in movies such as Transporter 3, Mission Impossible: Fallout, and Deadpool. But who can blame them when the gun looks this badass? That’s also why it makes up part of the onscreen arsenals seen in the background of movies such as Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol or Thor. But the same gun wins hero status in any number of movies.

FROM RONIN TO INCEPTION

Hands up who doesn’t love Ronin. Not only does this 90s classic feature one of the best car chases in cinema history but it also features some fine gunfire. Directed by John Frankenheimer in his last critical and commercial success, the plot revolves around a team of former spec

SEEN ON SCREEN SIG 550 SERIES

ops stealing a heavily guarded briefcase. Set largely in Nice and Paris, the film features one of film’s greatest actors, Robert De Niro, who can be seen as a former CIA operative firing a 551 during the Convoy ambush. Also starring Sean Bean as an SAS firearms specialist, it’s French gunman Vincent, played by Jean Reno, that can be seen with a 552 on the DVD cover. Picking up the baton as both a distinctive actor and a Hollywood star in movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Tom Hardy could be seen as Eames in 2010’s mind-bending Inception. The crazy plot defies description in just a few words, but centres around the concept of infiltrating ever-deeper levels of a target’s consciousness. This is not your average gunplay flick. If you can stick with the philosophy and psychology and it’s well worth it - the movie delivers an epic payoff with the assault on the fortress towards the end of the film, featuring Eames wielding an arctic camouflaged 552.

FROM RESIDENT EVIL TO FALLEN KINGDOM

As well as Johann Urb using a 552 as Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil: Retribution, action movie triple-A star, Tom Cruise, liberated one from the enemy as Jack Reacher in 2012, while Brit grit Jason Statham wields a scoped 552 as Frank Martin in 2002’s The Transporter, as well as a 556 fitted with an LMT M203 launcher as Deckard Shaw in 2015’s Furious 7. Uber babe Angelina Jolie used a P556 SWAT/550 hybrid in 2010’s fantastical Salt. With global politics including North Korea, Russia, NATO, the CIA and nuclear weapons, it’s a dumb movie with great gun fun to be had.

Hollywood’s love affair with the 552 continues with Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, just last year. Again, it’s the gun-du-jour for the mercenaries, but they’re also used by both comedy fatty turned Hollywood hunk, Chris Pratt and sodden starlet, Bryce Dallas Howard.

The 550 series gets less of a look-in on the small screen but still appears in the ever-popular NCIS between 2006 and 2016, as well as The Unit and Burn Notice, plus 2011’s short-lived sci-fi drama Falling Skies and both Banshee and Continuum in 2013. The Russian agents in 2014’s 24: Live Another Day were partial to a 550 too.

GAMES

Of course the 550 series makes an appearance in the all-conquering juggernaut that is the Call of Duty series; for example in 2012’s Black Ops II as the SWAT 556. The campaign describes the 556 as a “…fully automatic assault rifle. High rate of fire with moderate recoil.’ That’s bland enough to slip under the radar then. Most often seen in the hands of mercenaries, we’re more interested in getting to use it ourselves after unlocking it by completing the fifth mission, Fallen Angel. As a multiplayer option, it’s both high damage and long range, making it an effective choice if you have good aim - and can find a game seven years after release.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

You’ll have no problem finding a game with the thoroughly modern, online multiplayer only game that is Rainbow Six: Siege. The 552 Commando can be used by operatives of GSG 9, a German counter-terrorism and spec ops unit and its attacking operator, Monika “IQ” Weiss. Both the 552 and 556xi can be difficult propositions for close quarters combat due to their rate of fire. If you want to scratch that Sig itch in a Rainbow Six game, but don’t enjoy playing with other people, you should take a look at the still enjoyable single player campaign from 2006’s Rainbow Six: Vegas and its 2007 sequel. The 552 is Team Rainbow’s standard issue assault rifle, with the highest damage and penetration ratings for the class in the game. It’s unlocked by reaching Specialist rank in multiplayer.

STALKING PHANTOM GHOSTS

You’ll also find the SGI-5k in the PC-only postapocalypse Russia S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games such as 2007’s Shadow of Chernobyl and 2009’s Call of Pripyat. Again, the 550 beats all other assault rifles, being accurate and reliable and there’s also a sniper variant. Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon series features the civilian 556 right the way from a multiplayer weapon in 2007’s Advanced Warfighter 2 to the bang on-trend open world of Wildlands in 2017 where it’s described as, “A lovechild of the AR and AK platforms.” Can’t really argue with that. The venerable Metal Gear Solid series included the 550 series as recently as 2015’s The Phantom Pain, an open world mission-based game set against a background of the Soviet-Afghan and Angolan civil wars. Players taking the role of mercenary leader, Venom Snake, as voiced by none other than Jack Bauer himself, Kiefer Sutherland. Infamously featuring a bikini-clad female sniper by the name of Quiet, the series remains as barmy as ever. It takes a bit of customizing, but using the UNAutomatic Rifle for Combat as a base, add an SVG Type S2 barrel, an ARC type stock and an MRS Type FS muzzle to achieve a pretty good approximation of a 552.

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SEEN ON SCREEN SIG 550 SERIES

VIRTUAL REALITY

The 550 series continues to appear in games today, including Virtual Reality. Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades - otherwise known as H3 - is a sandbox game by RUST LTD for HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and Windows Mixed Reality. The 552 was originally added as an update, with the quad-railed 550 following later. Like many VR games, there’s no campaign as such and it relies on a series of brief but enjoyable mini-games to provide the fun. It can’t pass without noting that while the content would be considered slim pickings on console or PC, the sheer sensation of “using” a weapon in VR almost makes up for that. At times, it’s an uncanny experience and while still in Early Access on Steam, the game has “Overwhelmingly Positive” user reviews. We can see why.

- CS offered a more considered approach to online multiplayer shooters. It won legions of fans that remain loyal to this day. Both the 552 and 553 are only available to Terrorists in-game and while it’s expensive compared to other options, they’ve found favour with players looking for a well-rounded weapon - as long as they know how to control the recoil. The Krieg - which means “war” in German - can be found in the campaign during Secret War, Downed Pilot and Pipe Dream. To our eyes, the 553 looks more like the real-world 556, but it remains a great choice in the game. Controversially - and to the dismay of fans - CS:GO went free to play recently, introducing a new generation of players to its delights. But there’s no more affordable way to pick up a digital SG 550 series.

THE COUNTER ARGUMENT

CAPTIVATE OR ALIENATE?

Where M4s and AKs prevail, the 550 series holds a mystique that either captivates or alienates, depending on your preferences. Is it an odd aside in the progress of firearms, or an ingenious development uniting AK massscale production with AR functionality? Either way, now you know where to find it on a screen near you. AA

All images obtained from public domain sources.

But possibly the Sig 550’s finest hour in games is to be found in the mighty Counter Strike series as the Krieg 552 - and in the later Global Offensive as the SG 553. These appearances alone have persuaded many an airsofter to include a 550 Sig in their arsenal. Before Rainbow Six: Siege - and in the face of faster paced games such as Quake or Unreal Tournament

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armoury PTS RADIAN MODEL ONE GBBR

NOT JUST ANOTHER GAS BLOW BACK RIFLE! PHIL BUCKNALL GETS HIS HANDS ON THE LATEST RELEASE FROM PTS, THE RADIAN MODEL ONE GAS BLOW BACK RIFLE AND FINDS A RIFLE THAT MIGHT JUST BE AN MWS- BEATER! ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FIRST got me into Airsoft was the guns. I’ve always shot whether it be shotguns, full bore and rimfire rifles or airguns and I’ve always had an interest in militaria, so when I discovered Airsoft I was delighted as I could now own replicas of some of the guns I’d grown up reading about and even use them! I can still remember when Western Arms launched their exceedingly expensive, for the time anyway, gas blowback rifle - a version of the M4 CQBR. It was amazing! It did everything I’d always wanted an Airsoft gun to do, which was mimic as close as was possible a real firearm and it looked, handled and even came apart like a real one. Did I mention it was expensive? I did? Good, ‘cause it was Too expensive and too plastic too! It needed upgrading pretty much out of the box if you ran it with green gas, or it would break. Now Western Arms weren’t the first company to make a gas rifle. Not by any stretch and gas, or even HPA powered guns used to be the only way to have a select fire replica before Marui came up with the gearbox design and lo; AEGs were born. What Western Arms did was make one that didn’t require a real gunsmith to make it work. They did a gun with gas in the magazine not an external tank and they did it cheaper than before. It sold really well and has 58

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spawned dozens of lookalikes; some using the same system and others using other systems but from that day onwards, if you wanted to make a GBBR, it had to have the gas in the magazine.

MY FIRST GBBR

My first GBBR was made by WETTI, which has morphed into the company we know now as WE. It used a closed bolt system that was kinda’ reminiscent of the old bullet valve technology from the 80’s used by Sun Projects if I recall, so the bolt was fake and hollow and cycled over a brass tube that was attached to the inner barrel. Hence the term “closed bolt”; when it reciprocated the system was effectively closed to the outside. It took me ages to find one as they were difficult to get. I ended up importing one from the US (my first and only gun I have ever bought from the States and before the ATF decided they were illegal as well!) as they had a trademarked version with Colt markings. It was beautiful and as close to a real M4 as I’d ever seen.

“IT WAS UNRELIABLE AND NEEDED SPACERS, CUT DOWN AEG BARRELS WORKED WELL, TO KEEP IT SITE SAFE AND YOU’D BE CHRONOING IT EVERY OTHER MAGAZINE (IF IT DIDN’T LEAK EVERYWHERE) AND ADJUSTING THE FPS ACCORDINGLY. THIS WAS BEFORE THE NPAS WAS INVENTED AND ALSO THE REASON THE NPAS WAS INVENTED! IT WAS TRULY TERRIBLE - AND I LOVED IT!”

armoury PTS RADIAN MODEL ONE GBBR

It was also absolutely rubbish and required at the very least a degree in fluid mechanics to make it work for more than a magazine, which was fine as it was normally too hot to use in games anyway; mine started at around 400fps on a mild day. It was unreliable and needed spacers, cut down aeg barrels worked well, to keep it site safe and you’d be chronoing it every other magazine (if it didn’t leak everywhere) and adjusting the FPS accordingly. This was before the NPAS was invented and also the reason the NPAS WAS invented! It was truly terrible - and I loved it! So much so I had about four of these and it was the start of a quest for me to find a skirmishable, affordable and realistic GBBR. Since then I’ve been fortunate enough to own most types of GBBR rifle and my favourite one is the Marui MWS. Yes, they were late to the party but they came bearing gifts in the form of possibly the best GBBR we’d seen, even if it wasn’t the most realistic internally but it possessed that Marui magic! It worked, the hop worked and, being Marui, it was around the magic 1Joule muzzle energy. Another player had been beavering away and had a few GBBR’s on the market and that was KWA with their LM4 system, that was similar to Western Arms but not quite the same. This system has built up a solid reputation over time if not quite the user base of the TM gun for whatever reason but it isn’t a bad system at all and in America especially it’s done very well.

PTS

PTS, holder of many real firearms licenses, doesn’t make guns themselves but partners with companies to do it and uses their licenses and QC to make sure they are top notch and they have turned out some lovely GBBRs in collaboration with KWA including the Masada, the Mega arms and the Maten. The Radian Model One is the latest in that line up and I’ve got to tell you… it’s bloody lovely!

From the fantastic PTS EPS-C stock, to the end of the beautifully machined 14” MLOK rail, it exudes quality and solidity. The metal work is crisp and well finished and the plastic components like the stock, pistol grip and iron sights are from PTS’s in-house enhanced polymer range. The magazine holds approximately 40 BBs and is the new EP version also - more on the magazine in a bit though. The Model One faithfully recreates the unique attachment of the rail to the upper using four bolts aligned perpendicular to the barrel, giving an almost “monolithic” look as the upper melds seamlessly to the rail and gives a continuous picatinny rail at the twelve o’clock position for optics. The rail and upper aren’t compatible with anything else, so don’t buy this gun thinking you can swap out the rail at a later date; it won’t work. The receivers are so well done that you wouldn’t want to swap them anyway. The 14” MLOK rail covers a 14.5” barrel capped off with a standard A2 birdcage flash hider, which is a little disappointing given the licenses PTS hold but it is true to the real gun and I doubt Radian would be happy to have another company’s FH feature on their replica. It’s not a major concern and easily remedied if so desired.

RADIAN

Now you probably have already heard of Radian even if you don’t know it. If you like the Raptor ambidextrous charging handle then that’s a Radian Product. Surprise!! The Model One represents Radian’s first foray into a complete civilian rifle. This is perhaps why the LM4 system hasn’t been as popular, as the majority of guns using it are based on AR-15s rather than military M4/16 firearms and the Model One is no exception but what it is, is a simply stunning example of Airsoft engineering! The Model One is a real beauty and looks more like a real gun than some real guns!! Everyone who has seen and fired it has been more than impressed. Smitten actually… including me!

The Model One really is a flagship for Radian and the GBBR is no exception. It copies their famous Raptor charging handle and also their Talon ambidextrous fire selector controls, which is literally their whole product line. Radian aren’t a huge company at all so on the surface it could be seen as a strange choice for PTS to partner with but if you look at their other licenses it actually fits in with the other product lines PTS has very nicely.

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armoury PTS RADIAN MODEL ONE GBBR

THE RECEIVERS

At this point I really should mention the receivers as they are billet style and rendered beautifully. No sharp edges waiting to cut you but still very crisp and defined. There’s literally no creak or wobble and the controls are secured snugly where they should be, again with no slop or play evident. The controls are fully ambidextrous and, with the grip angle of the polymer EPC, manipulating them is a breeze. They move very smoothly with positive indents and satisfying clicks from the fire selectors and clicks in all the right places for the other controls. The trigger is a standard curved affair and has a nice light feel to it and it breaks crisply and repeatedly at the same point each time.

UNIQUE FEATURE

One feature unique to the Model one and one that has been faithfully replicated, is the ADAC system (Ambidextrous Dual Action Control) which allows you to lock the bolt to the rear by pressing the right hand side magazine release, meaning you can control the gun fully with your firing hand never having to move off the pistol grip. In practise it is very easy to do and once you’ve used it a few times it seems like such an obvious thing, you wonder why no one did it before.

than the gun!! Racking the charging handle to the rear pulls the realistic-looking bolt back and when you let go it glides forward with that lovely “thunk” fans of GBBRs know and love. Using the recommended green gas, the magazine delivered a full three loads of BBs without a noticeable drop in performance or FPS and when empty it locked back each and every time. I’m sure I could’ve got more out of it but felt that was damn good anyway.

The hop is adjusted in the breach using the little key that’s synonymous with KWA gas guns and it works well, easily hopping my favourite 0.28g BBs and lifting them past 60m at around 330fps. This is a little warm for skirmish use but there are CQB nozzles available to make it site friendly. I’m planning on using this for two/ three gun comps, so the FPS isn’t quite so important but it is more than capable of being tweaked if you did buy it for general skirmish use.

SUMMARY

IN USE

In the shoulder the balance of the gun becomes apparent; it is weighted beautifully even when empty but with a magazine fitted the centre of gravity is very much to the middle/rear and so the front end is extremely easy to flick from target to target. This is partly because the magazine weighs approximately 750g!! It’s ridiculously heavy and it is the only negative I found for the Radian! C’mon KWA/PTS!! You need to lighten that up cause if you’re carrying, say, six mags - a not unreasonable number then they will weigh more

I have to say I’ve been completely blown away by the Model One. PTS have smashed it out of the park with this gun and when I asked some friends if I was being too positive and gushing about how good I thought it was; once they’d had a go with it no one disagreed and they were as equally taken with it as I was. Yes, the magazines feel like they’re made from the core of a neutron star but that’s it. That’s the only fault I could find with it. If you want to use it for a military load out it wouldn’t fit and that’s not to say you couldn’t or shouldn’t use it but this is Airsoft, so you’re allowed a little bit of leeway! If you’re after a good GBBR that’s not a clone of a military rifle and is a little different then this could well be the one for you. Honestly, it may even have dislodged the MWS from its pedestal! The Model One is available from the PTS website and retails at $440 before shipping and any import duty/VAT Charges - and it is worth every single penny of that! AA

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armoury VALKEN ASL TANGO

HAVE YOU BEEN

TANGO’D?

THE “ENTRY LEVEL” MARKET FOR AEGS IS CURRENTLY AN EXTREMELY HARD-FOUGHT BATTLEGROUND FOR MANUFACTURERS, WITH MORE AND MORE OF THEM COMPETING FOR YOUR AIRSOFT £££! BILL TAKES A LOOK AT ONE OF THE LATEST OFFERINGS FROM VALKEN TO SEE IF IT HAS WHAT IT TAKES… IN MY PERSONAL OPINION THERE HAS never been a better time to get into airsoft! If you are new to the game that we know and love and your affair with the intricacies of the “Airsoft Electric Gun” has just begun, then trust me when I say that you’re going to have a great time from the get-go when compared to some of us that have been involved with airsoft for a while! Not so very long ago getting an AEG that was completely “field ready from the box” was in the lap of the BB-gods and even ten years ago you were just as likely to get a mutt, as you were a thoroughbred. These days though, with SOO many manufacturers happy to lure you into the game, you can be pretty much assured that you’re going to get something solid, serviceable and with a more than reasonable level of performance each and every time you purchase a new AEG. With a competitive market, manufacturers need to ensure that what they offer you is not just attractive in terms of the price (which seems to be settling now around the £140-£150 mark for a decent “starter”) but also in terms of look, feel and performance. Things that (even a couple of years ago) wouldn’t have had a look in

pause for a moment and recap on Valken themselves. Valken are no stranger to “combative sports” as they are one of the “veterans” of that other shooting sport that uses balls full of paint (sorry, can’t bring myself to name it in an airsoft magazine!) and although “Valken Sports” and indeed “Valken Tactical” is a more recent addition to the portfolio, the team behind it all have a rich and long history. Valken Tactical products (and remember here that they make protective items, clothing, gear and a huge range of accessories!) are of sound quality and, due to their in-depth knowledge of other markets, Valken Tactical products cover a wide range of prices so that anyone can find something to fit their budget. The brand is well-known for durability, reliability and good design of their paintball (there, I said it!) products and this ethos appears to have continued over to their airsoft RIFs and gear. All their AEGs, accessories and equipment are built with quality and durability in mind. Valken have tried hard to get themselves recognised in the airsoft community worldwide and in fact have had a good degree of success. For some reason though,

“NOT SO VERY LONG AGO GETTING AN AEG THAT WAS COMPLETELY “FIELD READY FROM THE BOX” WAS IN THE LAP OF THE BB-GODS AND EVEN TEN YEARS AGO YOU WERE JUST AS LIKELY TO GET A MUTT, AS YOU WERE A THOROUGHBRED.” for with an entry level AEG, like unique receivers, fancy stocks, bespoke rail systems and ergonomic pistol grips now come as standard and the old “you can have it in any colour as longs as it’s black” has most definitely been consigned to the airsoft history books.

ACCELERATE SPORTS LINE

Such a beast is the latest ASL (which stands for “Accelerate Sports Line”!) TANGO from Valken; out of the box it’s certainly not your average electric “AR”. Before I get into the carbine itself though, I’m going to

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this hasn’t really carried over to the UK and although Valken make some lovely higher-end AEGs we are still really only seeing their “entry level” offerings, which is a shame. Commercial reasons dictate that the stock level of airsoft products for them is kept lean, so I’m guessing that the higher-end guns stay in the USA right now - but I hope that will change.

A NEW GUN

What has already changed is that Valken in the UK now have a “new gun” themselves, in the form of Chris

armoury VALKEN ASL TANGO

Young. Many players local to me in Kent know Chris very well already, as he runs the popular “.308 Sniper” airsoft shop in Medway. Many more will have seen his site shop and stand at the War & Peace Show, where he has flown the airsoft flag very capably indeed and now Chris is looking after Valken. At last Valken have a guy in place that I believe will do great things for the brand; first and foremost Chris is a shooter but equally importantly, he is a retailer that understands exactly what players want and of course, intimately, what other retailers need! Nige and I saw him at IWA and he was truly busy and in his element, to the point that Nige and Valken “bigwig” Will spent more time reminiscing about the “good old, bad old days of paintball” than looking at the latest AEGs. I, however, got my nose into the airsoft models on display and agreed with Chris that I’d take a look at one as soon as a sample was ready and I’m very pleased that I did!

UP TO THE MINUTE

Right, let’s get the “techy bit” out of the way… The Valken ASL Tango features a mid- length barrel, billet-style nylon-fibre receivers, a unique handguard/ rail system, pro-match trigger, ambidextrous mag release and fire selector and has both standard rails and M-Lok slots so you can jig it up with a variety of accessories, flip-up front/rear sights, and a rather nifty sliding stock. Inside you get a V2 metal gearbox and a high-torque motor, good quality low resistance wiring, a 6.05mm anodized inner barrel and easy access to the anti-reversal latch. So far, so good! With solid “tried and tested” internals what makes it stand out from the crowd for me though, is the design, as there really are some lovely little features. I am loving the fact that many manufacturers are doing their own thing when it comes to “AR Design” as what this brings to the marketplace are some truly stunning looks and some great user-friendly ergonomics. It’s as if manufacturers have looked at the “Mil-Style” AEG and simply said “Nah, let’s do our own thing!” and the Tango is a perfect example of this. At the front end the forestock (I won’t really call it a rail system as it’s so much more than that!) is beautifully

bob-on for me. The sliding stock is also a Valken design, a slimmed-down and uprated CRANE style with a pop-off stock pad that makes in-the-field battery changes a snap. All the furniture on the test model was of a uniform “flat dark earth” which looks splendid. The “iron sights” are, of course, also nylon-fibre but they work very well and an added, well-thought out feature are some green hi-vis inserts that mean you have a sight really close to the barrel-bore for basic use.

ON THE RANGE

All of this means that on the range the Tango is actually a lovely carbine to use. It’s light weight (2.5kg!) and clever design tweaks make it easy to manoeuvre and shoulder and it’s an AEG that even the smallest player could carry all day long. Power-wise, the Tango I received is a properly certified “EU” model so its sits happily and consistently at 1.02 Joule/332fps on a .20g RZR BB. Accuracy at 30m was also more than acceptable and this was without the hop being “bedded in” fully, so further enhancement is certainly probable. The metal 300BB Hi Cap fed perfectly throughout testing and the Tango also fed unerringly from other magazines that I had at hand.

SUMMARY

Overall, I have to say that with the ASL Tango, Valken appear to have got everything right and from a recent “Valken Day” that Chris ran at my local shop in Dover, the players themselves would seem to agree with me! The design is unique and very fetching, the performance WAY more than adequate for your average skirmish and pricing seems to be

“AT THE FRONT END THE FORESTOCK (I WON’T REALLY CALL IT A RAIL SYSTEM AS IT’S SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT!) IS BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED AND WORKS WELL IN A CLASSIC STANCE OR WITH THE “MAGWELL GRIP” THAT I’VE SEEN SO MANY PLAYERS USE.” designed and works well in a classic stance or with the “magwell grip” that I’ve seen so many players use. This is a real “nod” that Valken have actually looked closely at how players PLAY and adapted their design accordingly. The receivers, made from a high-strength, very well finished nylon-fibre material are up to the minute in the “look” with a blocky “billet” feel to them and the magwell in the lower has the very attractive cutaway that seems all the rage at the moment! The pistol grip reminds me of a “Palm” model and feels great in the hand, with the grip angle pretty much

spot on in the target bracket for AEGs of this type. I wish Chris great success with the Valken brand and I sincerely hope that we’ll be seeing some of their fullmetal AEG models in the UK in the not too distant future! For more information on the ASL Tango and more from Valken tactical lease do pay a visit to www.valken.eu or www.valken. com AA www.airsoft-action.online

armoury HFC HG-138

HFC HG-138...

MAKE ROOM!

EVER WANTED RAIL-MOUNTED ROOM CLEARANCE WITHOUT RESORTING TO GRENADES? STEVE TAKLE FINDS OUT IF HFC’S HG-138 IS THE ANSWER. HFC MAY CALL ITS HG-138 a “grenade launcher” but it’s nothing of the sort - there are no grenades involved. But it is a rail-mounted BB launcher that will clear a room almost as effectively. Load up to 40 BBs at the business end and fill with gas to the side. Wait until the scenario allows and then unleash a hail of unexpected BBs towards the opposition. It’s like having a tiny shotgun attached to your RIF. Despite its diminutive stature and minimum required rail space at under 10cm long, there’s no denying that the HG-138 is a real room-clearer. In fact, this little unit is so small that you could easily mount it to any pistol with a tactical rail and still measure up to heavier hardware. Priced just under £45, we were impressed with the mostly aluminium construction that keeps weight down, while the matt black textured finish means you won’t stand out like a beacon in a game. It feels really good in the hand and the action is reassuringly positive.

THE RAIL TRAIL

As a rail-mounted accessory also with its own integrated lower rail, we’ve seen online videos mounting three 138s either side of a RIF, which is obviously daft - but fun. In normal use though, you could mount it to your gun’s rail estate and still add a flashlight underneath. We mounted it on a lower rail but you need to allow room to pull the “trigger” backwards. On an Evo SMG used for CQB, we had enough room to place it in front of a foregrip, with the index finger of our supporting hand falling quite comfortably in the recess. Not only does that make the 138 fast to deploy but an unexpected benefit is that it also improved our overall weapon control.

HAIL STORM

To arm the 138, make sure the trigger unit is pushed in, then use a speedloader to fill up to 40 BBs up front, then green gas to the side. It’s just like filling up any GBB pistol mag, really. The difference is that from that point, you have a BB storm ready to deploy. Which happens the moment you pull that finger recess back towards

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you. And when it does? Anyone in front of you is out of the game. On my personal indoor range at close quarters, the 138 not only had enough force to dislodge my usual backstop but also the extra 6in blocker I put in place beforehand. This is not just your average GBB pistol, then. The spread of fire is maybe four feet side-to side and half that vertically at 10m, but the width increases at longer distances. The effective range is a claimed 65 feet - or just under 20 metres - with a maximum reach of 98 feet or 30 metres. And that seems to be about right from our experience. We found the sweet spot for this scatter-chancer at around 25 metres; the rounds were just starting to drop but the hit zone remained predictable. It was even more effective at closer quarters.

FUN FIRST

The 138 is not at all realistic, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that this little launcher is absolutely hysterical fun! I mean like laugh out loud fun. Up close and personal, players will wonder what hit them and the fact it reaches out further is just a bonus in our book. We came into this expecting to find an effective CQB option but what we really found is a giggle machine that works at both short and medium ranges. And we’re still chuckling to ourselves as we finish this review… AA

KIT & GEAR NI PATROL PACK

NI PATROL PACK

MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER, HIGHLIGHTS A PIECE OF KIT THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME IN OPERATIONAL THEATRES AROUND THE GLOBE AND ALSO MAKES AN EXCELLENT 24-HOUR PACK FOR AIRSOFT.

“IT HAS STOOD THE TOUGH TEST OF OPS NOT ONLY IN NORTHERN IRELAND BUT EVERYWHERE THAT THE BRITISH ARMY HAS DEPLOYED SINCE THE 1990S.” THESE HANDY 30-LITRE PATROL PACKS were introduced into service with the British Army in the 1990s and because the Army was still committed to operations in Northern Ireland, quickly got the name “NI Patrol Pack” or Sack. They were an instant hit, being much handier than the 10/20 litre PLCE “Rocket” pouch yoke configuration. Since the 1990s they have been produced in OG, DPM and now MTP and recent models have MOLLE loops on the front for extra stowage. The core facts about the pack are that it weighs 1.8 kg and has a 30 litre capacity – though with clever stowage you can add an extra 10 litres. The two side pockets are 13.5cm x 8cm x 27cm and the main is 43cm x 35.5cm x 15cm. It is made from tough, waterproof Cordura. It has draw cord collars at the top of the main compartment and both side pockets, that prevent the ingress of snow, rain or sand. The side pockets have drain holes on the bottom and are capacious enough to take a 58 pattern water bottle and mug, a cooker unit, mess tins or first aid kit. They have Fastex buckle closures, as does the main compartment which is big enough to bulkier items. I fitted in a one-man tent, a 24 Hour Ration pack, air mattress, sleeping bag and waterproofs. As well as the snow collar it has a drawstring at the neck to pull the top of the pack tight. There are two square zipped stacked pockets on the lid of the pack; the bottom one is good for flat items like maps and compasses, notebooks or field guides. The box pocket on top will take gloves, hats, shemaghs or anything that you might need to access, or stow quickly. The pack also has loops on the bottom and front of the main compartment, both side pockets and the lid to allow more equipment to be attached. I fitted the poles for my one-man tent, however, I try to keep external stowage to the minimum. The back of my pack has Airflow padding for extra comfort. as do the shoulder

straps. In some respects the NI pack is old fashioned – there is little use of zips and the sack design means that you have to burrow down to get smaller bits of kit, however, it has stood the tough test of Ops not only in Northern Ireland but everywhere that the British Army has deployed since the 1990s. While zips are handy, if they fail or stick the pack becomes virtually useless and the snow collars and draw cord on the pack will keep kit safe if all the buckles fail, which is pretty unlikely. A surplus DPM NI pack from Kit Monster will set you back between £25 to £40, while a new one configured for a Patrol Medic costs nearly £140. A new, commercially made OG pack from Surplus and Outdoors with MOLLE loops on the front comes in at £44.99. Personally, I prefer the OG pack, it’s just as robust and capacious and when you away from the game, you can use it in public without attracting any unwanted attention. AA

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armoury PTS ZEV GLOCK KIT

ZEV TECHNOLOGIES

MARUI G17 KIT PHIL BUCKNALL TAKES A QUICK LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY OF ONE OF AIRSOFT’S BEST-KNOWN NAMES, THEN BRINGS THINGS BANG UP TO DATE WITH ONE OF THEIR LATEST RELEASES. AS LONG AS THERE HAS BEEN Marui GBB pistols there have been slide kits, frame kits and other internal upgrades for them; especially the G17 model. There is a multitude of companies making these parts, going from what you could consider as mass produced items from the likes of Guarder, to the high end kits from Guns Modify and Nova. In recent years another player entered the fray with their licensed Agency Arms Atom slide kit, Professional Training and Simulation, more commonly known simply as “PTS”. I’m sure most people are familiar with PTS but here’s a quick recap for anyone who’s never heard of them.

MAGPUL PTS

PTS started out with possibly one of the biggest licenses in airsoft, Magpul and were their de-facto manufacturer/ distributor of all airsoft products under the banner of “Magpul PTS”. So began a golden age of airsoft where everyone knew that Costa wasn’t just a coffee shop and “Art of the Tactical Carbine” was a perfectly reasonable film suggestion. The kit that Chris Costa and a certain Mr. Travis Haley demonstrated with real firearms in the aforementioned “art of” series of DVDs, Magpul PTS reproduced the most popular products in a high quality Zytel polymer for airsoft use. This included magazines, pistol grips, vertical grips and stocks to name a few and culminated with the rather splendid PTS Masada AEG and GBBR. Sadly, like all good things in life they have to come to an end and this particular end came about as a direct result of the huge success Magpul PTS had. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but when that imitation is in the form of cheap clones of Magpul products and those products were finding their way onto real firearms in the US, Magpul made the decision that the only way to prevent someone getting injured (or worse) and then suing Magpul by using a cheap clone product on a real firearm, was to stop all production in the Far East, so that anything bought outside of the US was considered fake and destroyed by US customs. They tightened everything up and once the stock of PTS products was gone; it was gone for good. PTS was left with a huge gaping Magpul-shaped hole after it left and it could’ve crumbled without the pull of a big name but they had a few other licenses in their portfolio and really pushed them out, whilst maintaining the extremely high standards in production. 68

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This, in turn, led to them securing a significant number of license agreements with a multitude of real firearms and accessory manufacturers so, instead of going under they actually flourished, even launching their own line in high quality polymer furniture under the EP (Enhanced Polymer) brand.

PISTOL KITS

Moving on and to pistol kits, I have always been very cautious of these as I have seen many “drop in” kits completely mess up how a Marui GBB works. In fact, I usually suggest to people that they just leave it alone and change nothing. If you do it is like a domino effect - you change the slide then you need to change the springs - then the gas flow’s not enough so you need new gas routers and hi-flow valves and on and on until there’s no Marui left and you have a mishmash of parts in a rough gun shape that never works properly again. Or you paid a small fortune for a CNC high end limited run kit. What PTS did was license Agency Arms Atom Kit and they made it very, very well. I knew people who had these kits and they had absolutely flawless function after fitting and a great looking gun to boot, so this restored my faith in pistol kits but I never really saw one I wanted …until recently. Late last year PTS announced an agreement between themselves and a small(ish) American company called ZEV Technologies. ZEV is an aftermarket gun/parts manufacturer who specialise in Glock kits and, more recently, rifles and rails for rifles. They started as a company whose focus was competition shooting and a drop in trigger unit intended for said competition shooters that fast became the gold standard for Glock triggers. From there they have grown to offer slides, triggers, lower frame accessories like mag releases, pin sets, complete handguns and now rifles and accessories; all of which look absolutely stunning! Having tried out and reviewed their Wedgelock MLOK rail on one of my M4s, I was very impressed with both the quality and fit as well as the price, which was approx. $95 and very much in line with a Madbull rail. I was secretly hoping that the license would include the slide kits as I had seen the real ones and they looked the dogs danglies. I must’ve been good or something as my prayers were answered when I opened my email one morning to a newsletter from PTS announcing the imminent

armoury PTS ZEV GLOCK KIT

release of the ZEV Prizefighter kit for the Marui G17 with cutouts on the slide for either an RMR or Leupold dot sight. I opted for the RMR version as I had a spare one lying around and in short order the kit arrived at my door. I’m not usually one to get excited by packaging but PTS have nailed it with the ZEV box. I know its only packaging but it does an excellent job of showcasing the product and exudes quality. If the parts are half as good as the box, then this was going to be a belter! On inspection it was evident that yes, the parts were every bit as nice and the slide is beautifully done with the cutouts machined to perfection, both on the sides and for the RMR sight. The slide really doesn’t weigh much more than the plastic slide it’s replacing, the cutouts removing material that’s not needed. The golf ball dimpled outer barrel looks fantastic too, with its faux titanium nitride coating giving it a goldy-bronze finish that’s more satin than matt or gloss. There’s an awful lot of stuff in the kit including: • Black cutout slide • Outer barrel • Adjustable trigger with either red or black inner trigger blade • New hammer, sears, springs, grub screws for the trigger and some pins for other parts • Flared ZEV marked magwell • RMR blanking plate with ZEV trades • Metal rear sight and fibre optic front sight • Blowback unit, valve, piston head and body and a new nozzle • Extended magazine release with either a silver or black knurled finish I think that’s about it! You definitely get a lot for your

money, which is $360 on the PTS website - cheap it isn’t but quality components aren’t cheap and as its licensed there’s going to be a fee payable to ZEV Technologies as well. Then there’s the cost of a donor gun if you don’t already own a Marui G17, so it represents a significant investment - but a worthwhile one if you love pistols and licensed replicas too. The one thing it doesn’t have, which it desperately needs, is a set of pictorial instructions for fitting it and unless you are comfortable with doing this sort of job, it can be quite overwhelming. I don’t consider myself to be a novice but I found it difficult in places to put it all together, however, with a little help from some friends, together it went with all the pieces fitting like a precision instrument. If you don’t feel up to it then I urge you to give it to someone you trust who knows what they’re doing, or you run the risk of messing up a beautiful kit. I’ve fed back to PTS that some instructions beyond “have it installed by a competent professional” would be very beneficial for those who want to do it themselves! Once it is all together it does look fantastic and certainly a little different to the rather blocky and mundane look of a standard G17, that’s for sure. The added weight feels good in the hand and the flared magwell really does make a difference with high speed reloads. Racking the slide gives a nice metallic clack and it feels like the slide is running on well-greased rails with very little resistance to movement, which bodes well for firing and proper cycling of the gun. Even with the RMR fitted it doesn’t feel overweighted to the point that cycling would be sluggish and it looks every bit the highend competition-ready handgun. I found that it actually looks pretty good without the RMR and the blanking plate on instead so I’m torn between how I’ll run it at the moment - what a first world problem to have eh? Due to my own hamfistedness, I stretched the trigger bar spring and so haven’t been able to field the gun much (see what I mean about getting a professional to do it rather than a keen but stupid amateur!) so I can’t go into detail on fps etc. just yet but will follow up next month with some after action details, when I’ve had a chance to use it on a course of fire at the Northern Shooting Show. With the few shots I did manage to fire, it cycled smoothly and problem free and sounded very satisfying. I don’t doubt for one second that my expectations for this kit will be surpassed and I look forward to reporting back with more news very soon. Until then, get out there and get shooting! AA

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ALLSORTS AIRSOFT SOUTHDOWN SITE REPORT ANARCHY AIRSOFT

RECENTLY, ANGELO DV HAS BEEN TIED UP WITH PRODUCT REVIEWS AND TESTING AND DIDN’T SEEM TO HAVE THE TIME FOR SITE REPORTS, SO WHEN HE WAS INVITED TO ANARCHY AIRSOFT HE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE.

I REALLY ENJOY WRITING SITE REVIEWS as it’s great to see how different sites are run and also the variety of games and challenges they offer. This time it’s the turn of Anarchy Airsoft who, in site-operating terms, are relatively new to the game, although in saying that, the two main men are people who have vast experience and knowledge of the sport itself. The two gentlemen I am referring to are Ian Maxwell and Shane Foot, who are ably assisted by Shane’s brother, Cain and his father Len, a bit of a family affair. One thing that does come across very well with these guys is their drive and focus to make a great day out for all the players.

THE SITE

The site itself is located not too far off the M62 in Knottingley, near Wakefield, Birkin Lane to be precise. The site isn’t new, as it was run for some years as Airsoft Commandos but when the site came up for grabs Ian and Shane decided to give it a go. So it was an early start one bright Sunday morning for myself, Neil and Rob from Rhino, who I met there. When you arrive you are greeted by a marshal in a Hi-Vis vest who guides you into the car park area and points you in the direction of the ready area, which is just a short two minute walk away. One little bit of advice I would offer, is to put a sign at the end of the lane so new visitors know where they are going, as the turning is easily missed. Upon arriving there was an extremely warm welcome from all, which wasn’t just because I know these guys, the warm welcome was extended to all.

I do like a good woodland site and this site is a peach and not one of those woodland sites that is five million acres with mountains in it, as my body just can’t take that anymore! The woodland isn’t too dense so plenty of eyes on the enemy …well unless they are one of them sneaky sniper types! In-between the trees and local flora are numerous wooden shed type structures, with some of the larger structures having turns and twists inside to keep you on your toes. This culminates in a collection of structures in the centre which they aptly named “The Village”. The paths in and out of the gaming area are very clear so even I didn’t get lost … not more than once anyway. There is loads of room in the safe zone/ready area with several covered benches and a big hut, so no issues there. As with many sites there were plenty of the regular players on hand to help out if required and I like that. Len kept the hot drinks coming all day which were free and there was even a functioning toilet. We got all kitted up as game on was approaching and it was over to the safety brief.

GAMEPLAY

The safety brief was delivered by Shane, covered all the necessary points and pointed out the First Aiders and no-go areas on the site. Shane seemed a little bit nervous whilst giving the brief and I don’t know if that was because he’s still getting used to doing the brief. One tip I would give Shane is to have a safety brief format and rehearse it if it makes him feel more comfortable. But that will come with time and all the points were covered which is the main point. At the end of the day Shane is a player and a very good one

“AFTER A QUICK BOMB UP WE WERE OFF AGAIN WITH AN ATTACK THE VILLAGE GAME AND THIS WAS WHERE IT REALLY STARTED TO GET GOING, WITH BBS COMING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS BACKED BY LAUGHING AND THE ODD YELP OF PAIN!”

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SITE REPORT REPORT SITE ALLSORTS AIRSOFT ANARCHY SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

so this is not his normal function. It was now the turn of the game mastermind himself to address the players. I’ve known Ian for some years now and he always has something up his sleeve when it comes to game ideas and scenarios. He is constantly working and thinking up new and more exciting ways to get you shot, he loves it. Like Shane, Ian is a player who wants to make sure everyone has a great day out. The first game was an attack and defend scenario which was timed and reversed at the end of the first round. It’s a great game to get the blood flowing. After a quick bomb up we were off again with an attack the village game and this was where it really started to get going, with BBs coming from all directions backed by laughing and the odd yelp of pain! After lunch they set up an escort the bomb scenario which worked really well. I didn’t play all the games as I wanted to get a feel from the other player’s perspective and you know something, this is one of the only sites I’ve been to where all the attendants were happy and loving it. On that point, throughout the day I heard no cheat-calling or disagreements and if there was, the marshals were more than capable of dealing with it as they didn’t put a foot wrong all day. One of the games they do run here is the “Arms Dealer” game, where everyone starts with a pistol and has to find money in the site to come back to the dealer to buy a main primary weapon. It works really well, as do all the games they run. In addition to the site and the gameplay, there were BBs and gas for sale at a very good price, just in case you get a bit giddy with the trigger.

I’m sure everyone went home happy, I know we did. The only way to see for yourself is to get yourself down there, they have a lot planned for this year including an “Escape From Tarkov” scenario which I will attending myself. One thing you will take away from your day at Anarchy is a feeling that they are not there to get your hard-earned cash then run the same old games week in week out, they do absolutely want you to have a fantastic day. I would like to thank Ian Maxwell and Shane Foot for the invitation, the marshals for keeping us all safe and of course the brew master himself, Len Foot.

SUMMARY

Our day at Anarchy was thoroughly enjoyable, with a very warm welcome and great atmosphere all day long. The drive that Ian and Shane display actually becomes quite infectious and they are always smiling. The gameplay was great, with no whinging or moaning and www.airsoft-action.online

THE COLLECTOR

PISTOLETPULEMYOT SHPAGINA-41 PPSH-41

HAVING INTRODUCED IT IN THE LAST ISSUE, FRENCHIE KICKS OFF HIS NEW “COLLECTOR” SERIES WITH A LOOK AT A RUSSIAN ICON – ALTHOUGH NOT ONE FROM THE KALASHNIKOV ARMOURY… AFTER LAST MONTH’S LENGTHY introduction, I had initially thought to start the series proper with the AK47 but the sheer volume of airsoft AKs made me quail slightly, so I decided instead to go with another iconic Soviet weapon – the PPSh-41. There are now several airsoft versions of this gun but they are pretty much all derivations of the two originals from Ares and Hexagon Productions. Both are good enough airsoft guns but again, as explained last month, the purpose here is to look at them primarily as replicas; i.e. how well do they represent the gun they are based on?

HISTORY

The Soviet Union learned a number of painful lessons during the Winter War against Finland in 1939 and 1940. Amongst these was the value of a reliable submachine gun in close quarters fighting, in this case, in the Finnish forests. As a direct consequence, the PPD40 was rushed into mass production, having been withdrawn from service in 1939. Designed by Degtyaryov it was a competent submachine gun

manufacture. It depended on a large number of milling operations which were expensive in both man-hours and materials. A search began for a replacement that would be cheaper and quicker to produce. The Soviet Union settled on a design by Georgy Shpagin which made extensive use of stamped sheet metal, dramatically reducing manufacturing time and cost. The gun, the PPSh-41 would be adopted as the standard submachine gun of the Red Army in 1941. Referred to as either the “PePeShah” or “Papasha” (which is “Daddy” in Russian) it was built in unprecedented numbers – by the end of World War Two over 5,000,000 had been made, often equipping entire companies. The PPSh-41 was officially replaced in 1943 by the PPS-43, an even simpler, cheaper and arguably better submachine gun, however, production of the PPSh-41 never ceased as the Red Army needed submachine guns in such enormous quantities that they couldn’t countenance the pause in production while factories retooled to make the new gun. Production therefore ran

“REFERRED TO AS EITHER THE “PEPESHAH” OR “PAPASHA” (WHICH IS “DADDY” IN RUSSIAN) IT WAS BUILT IN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBERS – BY THE END OF WORLD WAR TWO OVER 5,000,000 HAD BEEN MADE, OFTEN EQUIPPING ENTIRE COMPANIES.” chambered for the Russian 7.62x25mm Tokarev round. This was based on the German 7.63x25mm Mauser round, a fact that would prove fortuitous for the Germans later in WWII. The greatest failing of the PPD40, however, was the cost and time involved in its 72

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in parallel, with both guns being produced. Made largely of pressed steel with a wooden stock, the PPSh-41 had a hinged receiver that pivoted forwards when released to allow easy field stripping and servicing. Barrels were often produced by cutting a Mosin Nagant

THE COLLECTOR PPSH-41

barrel in half, giving two PPSh-41 barrels. It was a simple, selective fire blowback-operated gun and the only safety was a sliding lock on the cocking handle which locked the bolt to the receiver. In practice care should be exercised as dropping the gun onto a hard surface could still result in an accidental discharge. One of its most iconic features was the 71-round drum magazine supplied with the gun. Two were issued with each gun and they were checked for fit and feeding before being marked with the gun’s serial number. This was necessary as the PPSh-41 was sensitive to magazines and would fail to feed or even drop the magazine from the gun. The Soviets would address this with the issue of a 35-round box magazine which was mechanically superior to the drum but never seems to have be as popular as the bigger magazine. Captured PPSh-41s were repurposed by the Wehrmacht, who issued them as either the MP717(r) if left in 7.62mm or the MP41(r) if converted to 9x19mm parabellum. Since the Tokarev round was dimensionally identical to the Mauser 7.63mm, it wasn’t necessary to rechamber all the guns and generally the gun was preferred in this calibre as it was more powerful, with greater range and a higher rate of fire. The PPSh-41 survived the end of the second world war and was built under licence by many Communist states. They are almost certainly still in use somewhere in the world to this day, although their front-line days are long gone.

APPEARANCE

The PPSh-41 was made from a fairly heavyweight sheet steel, bent, stamped and welded to produce the finished gun. It features a crude compensator that extends beyond the end of the barrel. The stocks were not of high-quality wood although they were functional. The metalwork can be found with a variety of finishes, blued steel was common but I have also handled variants with a grey, slightly rough, parkerised finish. This was a late war production gun and parkerising may well have been certainly cheaper and harder wearing than blueing. Pushing the rear of the receiver forward released the upper to hinge forward just ahead of the magazine well for servicing and cleaning. The fire selector is a simple sliding catch immediately ahead of the trigger, inside the trigger guard.

THE PPSH-41 IN AIRSOFT

There are more versions of the PPSh-41 available now than I thought at first. Hexagon Productions just pipped Ares to market (as I remember – I could be wrong!), since then they have been joined by S&T and Snow Wolf in offering the gun. Both the S&T and the Snow Wolf appear to be copies of the Ares gun, featuring blowback actions and being available with both drum and box magazines. For our purposes here, I shall treat them effectively as Ares guns and concentrate on the original. The HP version was first offered with a very pale wooden stock which, while not inaccurate given the variations in the real gun, wasn’t much liked. Later they produced a darker stained version, which to my eyes actually looked less appealing.

Construction was nearly all steel and it made use of the Version 7 (M14) gearbox allied to a G36-style hop unit. It had two major weakness; the stock could crack at the grip because of the wood removed for the motor and the drum magazines were problematic. I have found these for sale with a warning that the drum should be used for show and that box mags should be used for gaming! The steel parts were all blued and the gun hinged as per the original, although you had to remember to push the hop forward before opening to avoid damage to the air nozzle. The Ares version when it arrived was typical of their output, being more complicated than was really necessary but also more professionally produced. Hexagon was a very small company; Ares is far larger. Again, the woodwork was well finished but too pink in colour and too finely grained to be accurate. I had to check that it wasn’t actually grained plastic. The finish on the metalwork was painted rather than blued and the gearbox was a proprietary design. This was necessary because of the piston-driven blowback and it also featured a quick-change spring, accessed by opening the receiver. Although I was cynical about this and the general design of the Ares at the time, I have revised my view having worked on a few. From a functional point of view, Ares delivered a stick magazine much faster than Hexagon although, sadly, magazines aren’t interchangeable between the two guns.

COMPARING WITH THE ORIGINAL

Both guns are reasonably heavy, the original is damned heavy and part of that is the weight of the steel used. While the steel used in both is more than adequate, it is easily half the thickness of the original. WOODWORK The quality of wood used on Soviet weapons has always been, at best, functional. It was certainly never machined or finished to bring out the beauty of the grain! The later version of the Hexagon gun has cruder woodwork and looks more like the real thing as a result, even if I find the colour too brown. The Ares gun is simply too perfect to my eyes, although no doubt use and maybe a bit of weathering could make that finish more appropriate. METALWORK For me, the Hexagon wins here with its blued steel. There are real guns out there with painted or coated finishes but the PPSh wasn’t one of them, so although the Ares looks good, it doesn’t look right to me. Hexagon have also gone a little further to reproduce the generally poor finish of the original, especially the

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THE COLLECTOR PPSH-41

welding. I don’t think any company offering a product for sale would release a gun with welds that were as bad or as visible as those on the original! FUNCTION While I said I wasn’t going to review guns from an airsoft point of view, the inclusion of blowback on the Ares does make it more pleasing to the ears if you wish to shoot it and the quick-change spring is a boon. If I was going to run one of these guns these days, it would be the Ares (or a derivative) that would be my choice. The Hexagon works well, sometimes very well but the magazine system was always problematic and it handles and sounds like a normal AEG.

CONCLUSIONS

If your interest is primarily in a wall hanger that you can play with occasionally, the Hexagon still wins for me. The blued steel looks right and the wood is less perfect and would reward a bit of weathering quicker than the Ares. If a functional airsoft gun is your priority, I would have to lean towards the Ares. Although more complicated it benefits from a far larger, longer established manufacturer behind it and that’s reflected in the overall quality. The availability of both drum and box magazine is a plus-point as the drum magazine is a handful. Weathering the wood and metalwork would improve the appearance of both guns, but the Hexagon needs it less. If looks matter most, hunt down the Hexagon PPSh 41. AA

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VERSUS ARES L1A1 V E&L AKM

THE CHALLENGE IS...

ARES L1A1 SLR VERSUS E&L AKM

BILL STARTS A NEW SERIES OF ARTICLES LOOKING AT SOME ICONIC FIREARMS IN AIRSOFT FORM THAT FACED ONE ANOTHER ON THE BATTLEFIELD, STARTING WITH TWO “COLD WAR WORKHORSES”, THE UKLF L1A1 SLR AND THE SOVIET AKM. OVER THE MANY YEARS THAT I’VE been involved with this wonderful (yet sometimes frustrating) thing that is “airsoft”, my interests have changed and, like many of you, I’ve changed my “primary” depending on my mood and the style of airsoft that I’ve been playing. One thing that has been my passion though, is building a collection of the RIFs that I’ve never been able to own in their real form and 25 years of building this collection means that there are some absolute gems in the “man cave”! I used the word “frustrating” in my opening sentence and what I mean by this is that there are still, albeit not many these days, models that don’t exist in airsoft form other than as true “customs”. The Kulsprutepistol m/45, or “Swedish K” is still out there to be found, as is the M1941 Johnson Rifle and I can only dream that one of the manufacturers will one day look at these models. What I will do in the coming months is to look at some classic models, both historical and modern, in the context of their time and explore what they brought to the battlefield. I would stress that ALL of the models I will feature are pistols, SMGs, carbines, rifles, and LMGs that I actually own and have used “in game”, rather than variants that have simply been tested for review purposes.

certain age” that again, like me, got to use the real thing. Some of you that will read this I know have not just used the venerable L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR) on the range but have deployed to foreign shores with it and for that reason alone, it holds a special place in our collective heart! It is widely believed that the term “cold war” first appeared in a 1945 essay by George Orwell called “You and the Atomic Bomb.” The United States and the Soviet Union fought together as allies against the Axis powers in WWII but the relationship between the two nations was a tense one. Americans had long been wary of Soviet communism and on the flip side, the Soviets resented the Americans’ decades-long refusal to treat the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community as well as their delayed entry into World War II, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of Russians. After WWII these grievances ripened into an overwhelming sense of mutual distrust and enmity. Post-war Soviet expansionism in Eastern Europe fuelled many Americans’ fears of the “Russian Bear”, whilst the USSR came to resent what they perceived as American rhetoric and their interventionist approach

“MAD, OR “MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION” BECAME THE PHRASE OF THE DAY AND POLITICIANS RAGED QUIETLY, YET THANKFULLY QUITE IMPOTENTLY, AGAINST THE REGIME OF THE OTHER FOR MANY YEARS. FOR THE AVERAGE SOLDIER THINGS WERE VERY DIFFERENT, THEY JUST CONTINUED TO DO THEIR JOB. ” COLD WAR PROTAGONISTS

I’m going to kick things off this month with a look at two military rifles from the not so distant past, one of which will undoubtedly bring a tingle to “those of a 76

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to international relations. Thus ensued a “cold war” where the Americans sought “containment” of Russian expansionism or, as Orwell put it in his essay, what evolved became… “two or three monstrous super-states, each

VERSUS ARES L1A1 V E&L AKM

possessed of a weapon by which millions of people can be wiped out in a few seconds.”

MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION

MAD, or “Mutually assured Destruction” became the phrase of the day and politicians raged quietly, yet thankfully quite impotently, against the regime of the other for many years. For the average soldier things were very different, they just continued to do their job. For the armed forces of the UK conscription ended (the last National Servicemen left the armed forces in May 1963) and a new “professional army” was the order of the day but in the USSR “conscription” was still in place. The late Soviet Armed Forces were manned by mandatory draft (with some exceptions) for all ablebodied males for 2 years, based on the 1967 Law on Universal Military Service.

L1A1 SLR

Let me take you, if I may, back to the early 1980s… As a senior member of my School Combined cadet Force Army Section at the time I was already a proficient rifle shooter and completely at home with the aging

ceased, replacement components were made by Parker Hale Limited. The SLR was designed using Imperial measurements and included several changes from the standard FN FAL. A significant change from the original FAL was that the L1A1 operated in semi-automatic mode only, the MOD stating that every British rifleman was a trained marksman and would only take single, well aimed shots and that support weapons, such as the L4A1 LMG and L7A1 GPMG, would provide significant fully automatic fire as needed. Additional changes included the introduction of a folding cocking handle, an enclosed slotted flash hider, a folding rear sight, sand-clearing modifications to the upper receiver, bolt and bolt carrier, a folding trigger guard to allow use with Arctic mitts, strengthened butt, plus an enlarged change lever and magazine release catch. The flash hider was fitted with a lug which allowed the L1-series bayonet to be fitted, an L1A1/A2 or L6A1 blank firing attachment or an L1A1/A2 ENERGA rifle grenade launcher. The first run of the rifles were fitted with walnut furniture, consisting of the pistol grip, forward handguard, carrying handle and butt. The wood was

“SOME OF YOU THAT WILL READ THIS I KNOW HAVE NOT JUST USED THE VENERABLE L1A1 SELF LOADING RIFLE (SLR) ON THE RANGE BUT HAVE DEPLOYED TO FOREIGN SHORES WITH IT AND FOR THAT REASON ALONE, IT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR COLLECTIVE HEART!” SMLE Rifles, No. 4 Mk I that formed the basis of our armoury, along with some equally dated BREN guns. These were easier, freer days and believe it or not, these bolt-action rifles and LMGs were stored onsite in old air raid tunnels behind the school which we could access at lunchtimes to clean and maintain the firearms!

treated with oil to protect it from moisture but not varnished or polished. Later production weapons were produced with synthetic Maranyl furniture, a nylon and fiberglass composite. The Maranyl parts were “stippled” with an anti-slip texture. In addition to four lengths of butt, sized to suit individual users, there was also a special short butt designed for use with Arctic clothing or flak jackets, such as those regularly seen in Northern Ireland. After the introduction of the Maranyl furniture, as extra supplies became available it was retrofitted to older rifles as they underwent armourers maintenance and this resulted in a mixture of wooden and Maranyl furniture within units and often on the same rifle. I can attest to the fact that wooden furniture was still in use in some reserve units until the late 1980’s!

AKM The L1A1 SLR being used in The Falklands.

I would, however, soon be introduced to one of the most iconic battle rifles of the Cold War era, the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle, or simply the “SLR”. For many summer camps and exercises I would carry “my SLR” with me every day, gaining an intimate knowledge of its workings and use and for me, as a young cadet, it was a leap from rifles of WWII to what was then being used around the globe by British Forces. The L1A1 SLR for the British Army were manufactured by the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms, Royal Ordnance Factory and ROF Fazakerley. After the initial production run

Whilst even as a cadet I became intimately in the workings of the SLR, we knew all about the AKM, the soviet rifle used not only by the forces of the USSR but also by many other armies and militias worldwide. The AKM (“Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy” or “Kalashnikov modernised automatic rifle”) was the main service rifle in use with the Russian forces for many years. Introduced with the Soviet Army in 1959, it was officially replaced in Soviet frontline service by the AK74 in the late 1970s (even in the 1980s you have to remember that the AK74 was a bit of a “unicorn”) but remained in use worldwide. The AKM featured detail improvements and enhancements that optimised the rifle for mass production; some parts and assemblies were conceived using simplified manufacturing methods. Notably, the www.airsoft-action.online

VERSUS ARES L1A1 V E&L AKM

AK47’s milled steel receiver was replaced by a U-shaped steel stamping. As a result of these modifications, the AKM’s weight was reduced, the accuracy during automatic fire was increased and several reliability issues were addressed. The AK47’s chrome-lined barrel was retained, a common feature of Soviet weapons which helps to resist wear and corrosion, particularly under harsh field conditions and the near-universal Eastern Bloc use of corrosively primed ammunition. The AKM’s receiver, compared to the AK47, was stamped from a smooth 1.0 mm (0.04 in) sheet of steel. To the U-shaped stamped sheet metal receiver housing a rear stock trunnion and forward barrel trunnion were fastened using rivets. The receiver housing also featured a rigid tubular cross-section support that added structural strength. Guide rails that assisted the bolt carrier’s movement which also incorporated the ejector were installed inside the receiver using spot welding. As a weight-saving measure, the stamped receiver cover was of thinner gauge metal than that of the AK47.

GOOD 6MM FORM!

As I spent my formative years in the “shadow of the cold war” you may have guessed that both the SLR and the AKM sit proudly within my collection of AEGs! I started out with an original STAR L1A1 but replaced this with the more recent ARES version when they were released a couple of years back. The ARES SLR is EXACTLY as I remember it from my youth!

A real SLR weighs in at 4.33kg/9.56lbs empty and the ARES at 3.790g/8.35lbs unloaded, so is not far off. Externally the SLR is stunningly finished and everything that should be metal is; the top cover is steel whilst the remainder is a high-quality zinc alloy. The “Maranyl” furniture is faithfully reproduced and feels great in the hand and given the fact that the SLR is unconcerned with rail systems or add-ons, it’s beautifully minimalist and slimline. Internally you have a reinforced metal gearbox, full steel gear set and a high torque flat motor so nothing there is going to let you down either! In terms of use and performance the battery compartment in the butt holds even the largest of power packs and is easily and swiftly accessed. Running on .20g RZR BBs I get a healthy average of 1.24Joule/366fps (although I use .25g in game). The rotary hop-up adjuster underneath the faux-bolt is extremely easy to set and happily stays that way. With everything set up correctly I am very, very pleased to report that the accuracy and performance is absolutely first rate; this thing shoots like a laser and so it should, as, like the “real deal”, it is semi-auto only! On the other side of “the Berlin Wall” the E&L AKM is beautifully finished externally. Clocking in at nearly 3.5kg/7.7lbs (the real AKM weighs 3.1 kg/6.83lbs, the airsoft version is carrying that slight additional weight due to the internals), the E&L replica is 100% full steel and real wood. Not only do E&L have a

“real steel” plant for the metalwork, they also have a complete woodworking shop where the wood parts and scrupulously finished to the highest standard by a carpenter’s hand. The wood parts are first boiled in oil to dehydrate them and then subjected to seven different processes before final staining and a hand polish. Inside

things are equally precise and what you get is CNC steel gears and 9mm bearings, a one piece CNC steel cylinder, a super wear-resistant POM piston with silent piston head, super tensile piston and tappet plate and a high-torque motor. All the wiring throughout is high quality low resistance silver cord. Out-of-the-box performance is right up there; using .20g RZR BBs the AKM delivers a massively consistent chrono reading of 1.1 Joule/345fps which is absolutely perfect. With the 120BB steel magazine topped off and with semi engaged the AKM sends BBs to target at 30m+ with a perfectly flat trajectory and in game I’ve had hits with it well beyond this distance! At the end of the day both the ARES L1A1 SLR and the E&L AKM “Platinum” are absolutely brilliant performers. Okay, I am biased because of my love of “cold war exotica” but both rifles are absolutely impeccable! The externals of both are absolutely perfect (read stunning!), the internals are the very best they can be and the performance of both is right up there with the best of them. Both rifles can still be found “in service” around the world today, so either of them will give you a perfectly usable tool for whatever period of airsoft you enjoy. AA

Modern training with an old stalwart.

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last post THE CHANGING FACE OF AIRSOFT

THE CHANGING FACE OF AIRSOFT OVER TIME ATTITUDES CHANGE AND A CONVERSATION WITH AN OLD FRIEND GOT FRENCHIE TO THINKING ABOUT HOW THIS CHANGE MIGHT HAVE AFFECTED AIRSOFT.

I JUST HAD A LONG CONVERSATION with an old friend of mine, someone I met through airsoft many years ago. Inevitably the conversation turned to airsoft as he had been involved with a site until he recently decided that enough was enough. Of real interest to me was his thoughts on the nature of players, their attitudes and the changes he was seeing in the safezone, mainly because they don’t fully accord with my own experiences at different sites. The main theme running through the conversation was the demise of a certain “camaraderie” between players. It was the case that both us had memories of busy safezones with no shortage of banter and laughter. What he’s been seeing is a marked decrease in that, with players preferring to keep to themselves in the car park, using their cars as the place that they load up between games, eat their lunch and chat to their friends, mainly those who have travelled with them to the game. Although there were still players who based themselves in the safezone for the day, their numbers had dwindled and they were, like the two of us, older players. As a consequence, the safezone was not as raucous or sociable as it had once been. His other observation suggests a number of possible conclusions and the above may be part of it.

PLAYING THE GAME

He was complaining about an unwillingness to play the game, hits were being ignored, magazines emptied in frustration - all the fun stuff. I’ve written about this before but his take on it was interesting, although I’m not sure I necessarily agree with him. He suggested that there was a generation of new players coming to the sport with a “you’re not the boss of me” attitude, shining examples of the worst facets of entitlement

and they were deciding how the game was played and whether or not hits would be taken and called. Now, not having been a fly on that particular wall, I cannot say what happened, how often it happened and whether or not his interpretation of it was correct; but I did find it interesting, nonetheless. For the record, my mate isn’t someone who regularly accuses the younger generation of being snowflakes or generally decrying them for having the audacity to be younger than we are, so I don’t believe that this was simple bigotry or intolerance. I kind of see where he might be coming from – my own kids in their own ways always struck me as more assertive than I was as a child, ready to express dissent and to question rules and norms. Why shouldn’t young players these days exhibit those characteristics too? (I’ll come back to rules shortly!)

LONE WOLVES

My other immediate thought went back to the car park and small groups of players largely keeping to themselves and playing by themselves. I wondered if the lack of camaraderie he’d commented on also presaged a decrease in common endeavour. We all remember (or know) players who never fully engaged in airsoft games, who were out purely for themselves and whatever they, personally got from it. If you’re anything like me, you tended to leave them to their own devices and concentrate on those who were willing to work together to achieve an agreed common goal. They were, in my recollection, only ever a small proportion of the players on site at any given time and therefore not a problem. What happens if that fragmentation gains traction though? Imagine you have a turnout of 80 players, so 40 per team. If the vast majority of them work together

“ALTHOUGH THERE WERE STILL PLAYERS WHO BASED THEMSELVES IN THE SAFEZONE FOR THE DAY, THEIR NUMBERS HAD DWINDLED AND THEY WERE, LIKE THE TWO OF US, OLDER PLAYERS. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE SAFEZONE WAS NOT AS RAUCOUS OR SOCIABLE AS IT HAD ONCE BEEN.” 82

JULY 2019

LAST POST THE CHANGING FACE OF AIRSOFT

then you have the better part of 40 players all trying to achieve the same thing. Airsofters are notoriously bad at following instructions but that notwithstanding, if they are all moving in roughly the same direction and share a common goal there is a reasonable prospect of success. I’m sure we can all think of smaller groups of players we have played with who worked well together within the larger team who and could be counted on to achieve objectives. Now, what happens to that scenario if your 40 players are actually made up of ten groups of four friends? What if those groups of four are principally interested in themselves and really not bothered by the greater group objective? Your team becomes fragmented and difficult to direct, objectives are harder to achieve because the sense of common endeavour is missing. Airsoft is a team game and if the team concept begins to breakdown it becomes some sort of loose “Battle Royal” with every small group out for themselves before all else. Whether it’s racking up a kill score, or just doing sneaky stuff for bragging rights later, it doesn’t necessarily contribute to the whole and there is less obligation to other players beyond your own, small group. At this point there is a danger that the most basic rules can get ignored.

RULES

Rules... all sites have them and nearly all of them try to enforce them but it isn’t easy. If a marshal sees some egregious transgression it’s easy to deal with - but that

happens rarely; it’s more often a “he said, they said” situation and those are a bugger to police fairly. You don’t have to airsoft for long to realise the truth of this and if you are less inclined to a sense of “honour” on behalf of the wider team, you might also be less inclined to think that ducking the odd hit is that much of an issue.

FRAGMENTATION

It may be the case that what my friend saw was more a case of fragmentation within the player population rather than the exercise of entitlement. A tendency to smaller groups, less interaction with other players outside your immediate circle and less involvement in the life of the site on game day would lead me to that conclusion. If you don’t get to know other players you won’t get to like them, respect them or even decide that maybe, they’re prats to be avoided. You’ll stay in your comfort zone, your attitude bolstered by your close friends and sod everyone else. That would be sad and it would do airsoft, as a whole, no good whatsoever.

A FINAL THOUGHT…

My friend could be wrong in his interpretation of this; I haven’t seen this behaviour myself, certainly not on this scale but I’m thinking of different sites. It might be that if it does exist, it’s a local problem or not a problem at all. What is true is that in any team pursuit, if the members of the team start focussing on their own, narrow, goals, problems are not far away. AA

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DTW Airsoft A3 Moorside Business Prk Colchester Essex, CO1 2ZF 01206 790046 www.dtwairsoft.co.uk

Surplus Store Unit 2, Access House Stephenson Way Three Bridges, RH10 1TN 01293 525880 www.surplusstore.co.uk

TacTree Unit 3, Stag Business Park Donnington Wood Telford, TF2 7NA 01952 565670 www.tactree.co.uk

Johnsons of Leeds 2, Vulcan Foundry Haigh Park Road Leeds, LS10 1RT 0113 277 5237 www.johnsonsofleeds.co.uk

Invicta Battlefield Airsoft Pook Hill Wood Farm Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, TN12 0HP 07876 263290 www.invictabattlefield.co.uk

Looking for somewhere to buy Airsoft Action? Your local Newsagent sold out? Then why not visit any of the fine airsoft companies listed here? They all keep Airsoft Action in stock and while you are there, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to have a good browse round to see what else they can tempt you with... 92

MAY 2019

Buy Airsoft Action from any of these shops or sites - and get your copy before it goes on sale on the High Street! Combat-UK 13-15 Market Place Stevenage Herts, SG1 1DH 01438 362922 www.onlyairsoft.com

Unit 8, Winston Avenue Croft Leicestershire LE9 3GQ 01455 285605

308 Sniper 66 High Street Chatham Kent, ME4 4DS 01634 921278 www.308sniper.co.uk

Socom Tactical 70 Reading Road South Fleet Hampshire, GU52 7SD 01252 616 868 www.socomtactical.net

Eagle6 Airsoft Sutterton Enterprise Park Sutterton, PE20 2JA 01205 460385 07944 904604 www.eagle6.co.uk

Airsoft Plantation Goatsmoor Lane Stock, Billericay Essex, CM4 9RS 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk

MidWales Airsoft Unit 3, Severnside Shopping Centre Newtown, SY16 1AA 01686 627594 www.midwalesairsoft.co.uk

The Vault Airsoft Store Brook Garden Centre Whittington Way Old Whittington Chesterfield, S41 9AG 01246 260860

Allsorts Airsoft 9 Arundel Road Littlehampton BN17 7BY 01903 714688 www.allsortsairsoft.co.uk

Red Alert Airsoft Hartshill Copse Burdens Heath Bucklebury, RG7 6SX 07941 087070 www.redalertpaintball.co.uk

www.thedepartmentcqb.co.uk

Sell Airsoft Action in your shop or on your site and get a FREE ADVERT on these pages PLUS a PREMIUM listing on theairsoftdirectory.com! Contact Nige on 01684 878003 or by email: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk for details. www.airsoft-action.online

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

SYMBOL KEY

IS IT WOODLAND OR URBAN? CHECK THE KEY! UKARA MEMBER

SHOP ONSITE

WOODLAND

PYROS ALLOWED

URBAN

BATTERY CHARGING

DESERT

REPAIR SERVICE

INDOOR

DISABLED FRIENDLY

Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER

AIRSOFT KGB

AMAZON EVENTS

BADLANDS AIRSOFT

Allt-lywd Wood Farm,

Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com

Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL

Rowlands Castle, Hamps PO9 6DP

Tel: 0844 2570433

Tel: 07534 465589

www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk

www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM

BARNSLEY AIRSOFT

Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL

Tel: 07779 236166

Tel: 01252 315225

www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk

outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales. Tel: 07511554740

www.kgbairsoft.com

www.aberairsoft.co.uk

AIRSOFT PLANTATION ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT Maidenhead, SL6 3SS Tel: 07871 314951

Goatsmoor Lane, Billericay, CM4 9RS Tel: 07534 636289 / 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk Email: apairsoftplantation@gmail.com

www.ambushadventures.co.uk

www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk

BATTLETEC AIRSOFT AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES Tong Wood, Newport Road Wolverhampton TF11 8PN

Stoulton, WR7 4QW Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

ACE COMBAT Kent, TN12 7DG Tel: 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB

robinsonm24@btinternet.com

Studley, B80 7LY Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com

JUly 2019

New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW

www.battletec.co.uk

Tel: 07781 104068

Tel: 01252 315225

BETTER BATTLES Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT

Tel: 07967 940043

Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP

www.better-battles.com

Tel: 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT

BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane,

Near Trawden, BB8 8SN Tel: 07909 683464

ARENA AIRSOFT

www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk

Grimsby, DN31 3JD

Dronfield, S18 7UR www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk

Tel: 07752 404060

ALPHA 55

www.arenaairsoft.com

AWA HERTS Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ

ALPHA ELITE GAMING Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 Tel: 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je

BORDERLINE AIRSOFT 51 Green Road, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim

Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF www.alpha55.co.uk

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB

Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 Tel: 07718 032541

AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON

www.ambushadventures.co.uk

Tel: 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk

Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE

Tel: 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com

Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH Tel: 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – SHEFFIELD WOODLAND

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND

DOGS OF WAR

Fareham, PO17 5ND

Houston, Renfrewshire PA6 7BP

PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059

Sheffield, S6 6JE

Tel: 02392 655636

Tel: 07853 195290

www.bravo22airsoft.com

Tel: 07891 469492

www.combatsouth.co.uk

www.dow-airsoft.co.uk

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL

DOG TAG AIRSOFT

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)

Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5

Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE

Tel: 01438 368177

TEL 01293 852 314

Off Badger Lane, Hipperholme, Halifax,

www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk

www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft

COOL UNDER FIRE

DRAGON’S LAIR

Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS

Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA

Tel: 07960 532613

Tel: 07703 530189

www.coolunderfire.co.uk

www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk

CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT

Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4HF.

Caerwent Training Area,

Tel: 0773 153 1113

South Wales, NP26 5XL

www.cornwallseliteairsoft.com

Tel: 07921 336360

BRISTOL AIRSOFT Bristol, BS1 2HQ Tel: 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com

BUNKER 51 Charlton, SE7 8NJ Tel: 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk

BUSH VALLEY AIRSOFT Runham Woods, Lenham ME17 1NQ Tel: 07786 448608 Email: bushvalairsoft@gmail.com

C3 TACTICAL Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH Tel: 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk

West Yorkshire HX3 8PL Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT Brimington, Chesterfield S43 1DQ www.cia-airsoft.co.uk

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT Tel: 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk

Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

D.T.W AIRSOFT

Near Bourton-on-the-hill

Colchester, Essex CO1 2ZF

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 01206 790046

Combat Street, Felthorpe, Norwich,

Tel: 07724629140

www.dtwairsoft.co.uk

Norfolk, NR10 4DR. Tel: 07748 023832

COMBAT AIRSOFT

HPC, York Road, Flaxby, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG5 0XJ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT

DEPARTMENT CQB AIRSOFT

Dumfries, DG12

Unit 8, Winston Ave, Croft, Leic. LE9 3GQ

cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net

Tel: 01455 285605

www.cumbria-airsoft.com

www.thedepartmentcqb.co.uk

DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT

ELITE BATTLEZONE

Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk follow signs for Combat Paintball Tel: 07703 045849 www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE OUTPOST (WOODLAND)

COTSWOLD AIRSOFT Bourton Woods, On the B4479, Blockley

www.facebook.com/combatactiongames

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE COMPLEX

www.dragonvalley.co.uk

Corby, NN17 3BB

Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk Tel: 07455 906132

COMBAT READY CQB 38 Full Street, Derby DE1 3AF

Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

Tel: 01332 493258

DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT

Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

Mobile: 07947 558433

Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN

www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 01380 728982

Email: darwaterairsofthythe@gmail.com

www.experienceairsoft.co.uk

COMBAT READY OUTDOOR

DARKWATER AFTER DARK C.Q.B, (Battlezone Building), Britannia Lane,

Bolton Wood Quarry, Bolton Hall Road

Middle Wildpark Farm, Wildpark Lane,

Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3NA

Bradford, West Yorkshire BD2 1BQ

Brailsford, Ashbourne DE6 3BN

facebook.com/afterdarkcqb

Tel: 07891 469492

Tel: 01332 493258

DARKWATER SITE

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

Dering Wood, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst,

www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

Ashford TN26 1LZ facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – RIVOCK EDGE

COMBAT SOUTH URBAN

Keighley, BD20 0LS

Portsmouth PO6 3LS Tel: 02392 655636

Tel: 07891 469492

www.combatsouth.co.uk

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS Lewisham, SE13 5SU Tel: 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk

FIFE WARGAMES St Andrews, KY10 3XL

DELTA TEAM 3 Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT

info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com

Tel: 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk www.airsoft-action.online

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

FINMERE AIRSOFT

FIRST & ONLY:

GRANGE LIVE GAMING

INVICTA BATTLEFIELD

Buckingham, MK18 4JT

THE JUNGLE – HARBURY

Bravo One Birmingham,

Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst,

Tel: 07976 184897

Bull Ring Farm Rd, Leamington Spa

93–99 Holloway Head, B1 1QP

Kent TN12 0HP

www.finmereairsoft.com

CV33 9HJ

Tel: 0121 643 2477

Tel: 01622 831788 / 07876 263290

Tel: 0161 727 8863

info@grangelivegaming.com

www.invictabattlefield.co.uk

GREENZONE COMBAT Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

FIREBALL SQUADRON

www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 07582 684533

FIRST & ONLY:

www.fireballsquadron.com

THE ARMOURY – WREXHAM

Tel: 07772 919974

Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30

Oak Road, Wrexham, Denbighshire

www.greenzonecombat.com

Tel: 07964 751047

FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP

www.islandrecon.co.uk

LL13 9RG Tel: 0161 727 8863

GUN HO AIRSOFT Guisborough, TS7 0PG

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT

Staffordshire ST13 8TL

FIRST & ONLY:

Tel: 07525 435696

Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG

Tel: 0161 727 8863

THE BASE CQC – YATESBURY

www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 0131 654 2452

www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

1 Jugglers Ln, Yatesbury, Calne, Wiltshire

Blackshaw Moor, Nr Leek,

SN11 8YA

FIRST & ONLY:

Tel: 0161 727 8863

CROSSFIRE WOODS – PRESTON Moss Lane East, Preston PR4 3SP

GROUND ZERO WOODLAND

0161 727 8863

Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 2DF

www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

www.groundzerowoodland.com

www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – TUDDENHAM Cavenham Road, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6DF Tel: 07711 774461 (Doug) or 07711 774401 (Josh) www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk/gunmanairsoft-tuddenham/

FIRST & ONLY:

FREE FIRE ZONE

STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY

Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH

Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood

Tel: 01733 247171

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS

Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA

www.freefirezone.co.uk

The Grange, Frogmore Grange, Balsall

Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY:

Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ

THE MILL CQB – WIGAN

Tel: 07730 586926

Unit S2 Mill 1, Swan Meadow Industrial

www.frvairsoft.com

Estate, Swan Meadow Road, Wigan Tel: 0161 727 8863

FULL METAL AIRSOFT Cilyrychen Quarry, Llandybie, Ammanford,

FIRST & ONLY:

Camarthenshire, SA18 3JG

THE OUTPOST – KIDDERMINSTER

Tel: 01269 850404

Drakelow Tunnels, Kingsford Country Park,

www.fullmetalairsoft.co.uk

Near Kinver, Kidderminster DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863

GASS AIRSOFT – PENN

FIRST & ONLY: SHELL SHOCK

Tel: 07907 788970

WOODS – BRIDGNORTH

www.gassairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 Tel: 07907 788970/ www.gassairsoft.co.uk

Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863

JUly 2019

17G Stationview, Dunmurry,

LEEDS AIRSOFT: THE FOUNDRY CQB Haigh Park Road, Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RX Tel: 0113 277 7707 / 07968 258952

LINDSEY AIRSOFT GUNMAN AIRSOFT – EVERSLEY The Welsh Drive, Fleet Road (A327), Eversley, Hants RG27 0PY Tel: 07711 774461 (Doug) or 07711 774401 (Josh) www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk/gunmanairsoft-eversley/

Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE Tel: 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW Tel: 07974 507166

HILTON PARK AIRSOFT Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU

MAYHEM AIRSOFT

Tel: 08000 354490/ www.paintballuk.com

Upper Harbledown, Nr. Canterbury, Kent CT2 9AX

HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT/ Tel: 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft

FIRST & ONLY: STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY

LAGAN AIRSOFT CLUB

www.giairsoft.co.uk/Skirmish-days

Uplands Coppice, Off B4363, Bridgnorth, Tel: 0161 727 8863

www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

www.matlockcombatgames.com Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10

Shropshire WV16 5LS

Saxillby, LN1 2JW Tel: 07775 877057

Belfast BT170AE / Tel: 07733128484

Common, Coventry CV7 7FP

FRV AIRSOFT

LAC AT COMBAT ZONE

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com

HUMBER AIRSOFT North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07792 680297

Tel: 07802 837440/07949 486510 Email: mayhemairsoft@hotmail.com www.mayhemsoutheast.com

MIDWALES AIRSOFT Abbey Cwm-hir, Midwales, LD1 6PG Tel: 01686 627594 www.facebook.com/Midwales-airsoft

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL

RED1AIRSOFT CQB

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK

Argyll and Bute, PA37 1

Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN

Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG

Wrightington, WN6 9PL

Tel: 07967 710185

Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069

Tel: 07984 656947

Tel: 01942 514724

www.argyllsurplus.com

www.red1airsoft.co.uk

www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3

STIRLING AIRSOFT

Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT

Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ

Coventry, CV3 6NX

Tel: 07964 990831

Tel: 07751 586781

Tel: 07831 429407

www.militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk

MILSIM UK Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS

www.op-tac.co.uk

www.riftairsoft.com

Tel: 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk

NCIS AIRSOFT

www.stirlingairsoft.com

OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM)

Anglesey, LL71 8VW www.ottairsoft.

Cambridge, CB24 8RL

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

github.io / Tel: 07895 478634

Tel: 07751 586781 / www.riftairsoft.com

Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD

Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk

NOMAD AIRSOFT Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY

Tel: 07515 937633

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

Former RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfield Park,

Tel: 07974 026517

www.nomadairsoft.com

NO LIMITS AIRSOFT Unit 4, King Street, Gatehead, NE8 2YP info@nolimitspaintballandlaser.co.uk

Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB www.s8airsoft.com

SUSSEX AIRSOFT Slinfold, RH12 Tel: 020 8150 9284

Hants, BH23/ Tel: 02380 899369

SG1 COMBAT GAMES

Tel: 07904 998250

www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA

Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road,

Tel: 07713 273102

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

Notts NG20 9JX

www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire,

Tel: 07956 587213 / 01623 812483

CH64 3TB

www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

SHROPSHIRE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

Tel: 07703 177756

PLATOON 1HQ

Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169),

TA EVENTS

Tel: 07464 482410/ 0191 441 4574

www.swatairsoft.eu

Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ

Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8

Tel: 01634 829063/ www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

Tel: 07786 192832 / www.aceairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 07894 059794 /www.ta-events.co.uk

Tel: 01845 565465

PLAYERS OF WAR

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT

www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk

High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ

Tel: 07767 203979/ www.playersofwar.co.uk

NORTHFLEET CQB PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES

Tel: 07968 448475

Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF

www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

Tel: 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com

Trickley Coppice, London Road, Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 0121 323 1000 info@npfairsoft.com www.facebook.com/npfairsoft

RAVEN’S NEST Suffolk, IP8 4 / Tel: 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ

NSC AIRSOFT

Tel: 01900 85645

Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0

www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

Tel: 07983 333521 / www.nscairsoft.co.uk

RED1AIRSOFT NTAC Durham, DL4 2ER Tel: 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk

Tel: 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA

NPF AIRSOFT, NPF BASSETTS POLE

Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX

Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETER Exeter, Devon, EX4 5/ Tel: 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

SOUTH COAST CQB Browndown Road, Lee-On-Solent PO13 9UG Tel: 07533 434203

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR Tel: 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU Tel: 07984 656947

Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB

Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS Tel: 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 0203 490 8008/07983 657093 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

TAZ AIRSOFT Farr, Inverness IV2 6XB Tel: 07848 448408

TECH BRIGADE Newgate Street, Hertfordshire. SG13 8NH Tel: 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org

TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 Tel: 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

www.specopsairsoft.co.uk www.airsoft-action.online

SITE DIRECTORY

Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

THE BUNKER

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM

XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST

FPS ACTION AIR IPSC

Aberystwyth www.aberairsoft.co.uk

Dunstable, LU6 2EE Tel: 01494 881430

24 Scarrots lane

Tel: 07841 462806

Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY

www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

Newport Isle of Wight PO30 2JD

Tel: 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

THE DEPOT Glasgow, G45 9SB Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.thedepotglasgow.com

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH

THE EX SITE Mold, CH7 4 Tel: 07840 001975

Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN

Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL305FA

High Wycombe, HP14 3NP

Info@islandrecon.co.uk

Tel: 01494 881430

www.4dsportsclubs.co.uk Facebook:@fpsiow

EAST BARNET SC MOD-approved gun club

URBAN ASSAULT

Sheffield

PP, IDPA, IPAS, IPSC, 3GUN

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1

S75 3DQ

UKPSA Coaches

Tel: 01733 247171

01226 414004 To Book

UKPSA-qualified Range Officers

www.urbanassault.org.uk

VIKING AIRSOFT Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN

THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT

www.vikingairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 01726 858613 or 07590 030887

WARMINSTER AIRSOFT

www.thunderpark.co.uk

Warminster, BA12 7RZ

Food & drinks available on site

www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

Equipment hire available

YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE PIT

01226 414004 To Book

YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE PINES Great North Road

Co Tyrone, BT71 4DY Tel: 07922 377131

F O B (Woodland), Hollington Road, Upper

Bawtry, Doncaster, DN10 6DG

Facebook: search ‘Torrent Warfare’

Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT

01226 414004 To Book

On site parking, HPA Top ups, covered safe zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch day. Site memberships.

Tel: 07428 024874

Tel: Paul – 07861427553

www.trojan-airsoft.com

Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk www.wmairsoft.co.uk

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB

PRACTICAL SHOOTING DIRECTORY GRANGE PS

WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT

Bravo One, 93-99 Holloway Head,

High Command (CQB),

Birmingham, B1 1QP

Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP

Doulton Trading Estate, Doulton Road,

Tel: 0121 643 2477

Tel: 07428 024874

Rowley Regis B65 8JQ

http://www.grangelivegaming.com

www.trojan-airsoft.com

On site parking, HPA top-ups, secure safe

Facebook: GPS

zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch

info@grangelivegaming.co.uk. Range

included, free tea and coffee available all

open for booking Wed-Sun. Club nights

day. Site memberships.

every Thursday, 6.30-10.30.

Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate,

UCAP AIRSOFT Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR Tel: 07590 818881

www.ucap.co.uk

Tel: Paul – 07861427553 Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk www.wmairsoft.co.uk

UCAP GREEN OPS Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

Arundel Road, Worthing Tel: 07877 210898 www.worthingairsoft.co.uk

JUly 2019

WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB WatfordPPC@gmail.com

WORTHING AIRSOFT

HALO MILL The Penthouse,

WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT

included, free tea and coffee available all

ebpracticalpistol@gmail.com

S72 8RE

TORRENT WARFARE

Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ

www.ebsc.co.uk

Engine Lane, Shafton, Barnsley

Bawtry Forest

TROJAN AIRSOFT

Open five nights a week 7pm-10pm

Church Lane

www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com

XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END

YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE MANOR

www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

www.theexsitewales.co.uk

THE WARGAMES CENTRE

07964 751047

DOUBLE TAP PSC StrikeForce CQB, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5RZ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Double-Tap-Practical-Shooting-Club979585958732937

Colne Valley Business Park, Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QG Tel: 01484 840554 www.halomill.com

XSITE PRACTICAL SHOOTING Fryers Farm Lane, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430

SOUTH WEST PRACTICAL SHOOTERS (SWPS) Action Air IPSC Club Based at The Tunnel Target Sports Centre near Charmouth The Tunnel, Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6BY Contact: SWPSClub@Outlook.com

TYPHOON SHOOTING ACADEMY Mondays in Braintree, Essex. Details on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/290646868310496

TYPHOON AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING CLUB Fridays in Sible Hedingham, Essex. Details on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TyphonCQB Both clubs offer Action Air, 2 & 3 Gun, IPAS and Dynamic Action Sport. Contact via FB or 07939 557029.