P L AY E R S ’
C H O I C E
B E S T
A I R S O F T
M A G A Z I N E
AIRSOFT ACTION
INTERNATIONAL FEMME FATALE IN FRANCE
ARMOURY
KWA SR10 RECOIL TOKYO MARUI UZI “ROBOCOP’S” PISTOL KING ARMS M1A1 CARBINE
EVENTS
XMAS 2017
PENTAGON TACTICAL UPDATE RESPIRATORS
|
SITE UPDATE PHOENIX AIRSOFT
WARRIORS
|
IT’S A CLASSIC
GITAG
TACTICAL AKSU BUILD |
AIRSOFT SKILLS
9 772047 348032
LOADED OR UNLOADED
33
PROUDLY SUPPORTING PILGRIM BANDITS
XMAS 2017 - £4.50
>
DIVISION WEEKENDER ASG EVO OWNER’S CLUB PRO AIRSOFT HALLOWEEN BATTLESIM
EZ Distribution is now working in an exclusive partnership with Umarex to distribute Airsoft products to businesses within the UK. Umarex manufacture the highest quality officially licensed Airsoft products available anywhere in the world.
EZ Distribution – Creating a business account with us is quick & easy.
Receive 10% off your first order, and free UK delivery on all orders over £500. Visit ezdistribution.co.uk for further details.
– +44 0 131 654 2452 info@ezdistribution.co.uk
– 44/1 Hardengreen Business Park Dalkeith EH22 3NX United Kingdom
P L AY E R S ’
C H O I C E
B E S T
A I R S O F T
ARMOURY: KSC AUTO 9
M A G A Z I N E
20
AIRSOFT ACTION
INTERNATIONAL FEMME FATALE IN FRANCE
ARMOURY
KWA SR10 RECOIL TOKYO MARUI UZI “ROBOCOP’S” PISTOL KING ARMS M1A1 CARBINE
EVENTS
RESPIRATORS
|
SITE UPDATE
GITAG
TACTICAL AKSU BUILD
PHOENIX AIRSOFT
WARRIORS
|
IT’S A CLASSIC
|
AIRSOFT SKILLS
9 772047 348032
XMAS 2017
PENTAGON TACTICAL UPDATE
33
PROUDLY SUPPORTING PILGRIM BANDITS LOADED OR UNLOADED
XMAS 2017 - £4.50
>
DIVISION WEEKENDER ASG EVO OWNER’S CLUB PRO AIRSOFT HALLOWEEN BATTLESIM
16 24
ARMOURY: TM UZI
Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant Editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic Design: Havoc Design Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter
UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk
Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL
EVENT: “THE DIVISON” WEEKENDER
34
FEATURE: TACTICAL GLOVES
48
Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.online ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2017 Distributed by Intermedia Brand Marketing Ltd. Copyright © Calibre Publishing Limited 2017. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.
FIND US ON… facebook.com/AirsoftAction
Search ‘Airsoft Action’
SITE: PHOENIX AIRSOFT
67
LETTER, IDEA OR QUESTION? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the editor (nige@airsoft-action.co.uk), write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.
TOOLS: ARMEX XPLORA
80
SKILLS: TYPES OF PATROL
Contents XMAS 2017
CONTENTS XMAS 2017 6 NEWS 10 ROGUE’S GALLERY Cool photos of Airsoft Action readers. 12 ARMOURY: KWA SR10 Jerry Noone takes a look at one of the latest “RM4” style models from KWA to see where things have gone since their launch. 16 ARMOURY: KSC AUTO 9 “ROBOCOP” Lez Lee gets his mitts on a pistol that is synonymous with manmachine, Alex J. Murphy. Time to “Serve the public trust, protect the innocent, uphold the law.” 20 ARMOURY: TM UZI Almost as rare now as a refund from the Taxman, Scott Allan recently got to play with this iconic weapon from TM. 24 EVENT: “THE DIVISON” WEEKENDER Mid Wales Airsoft hosted a weekend game based on the PS4 Tom Clancy computer game “The Division” and Iggy Roberts was there. 28 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: FRANCE Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick packs her bags and flies to Paris to meet her French Airsoft Action counterpart, Dianne Montagnier. 34 SITE: PHOENIX AIRSOFT Sometimes it’s good to go back to your roots and this month Gadge “Stone” Harvey probably couldn’t go back any further than a return trip to the guys he’d first experienced the sport with. 38 EVENT: ASG SCORPION EVO OWNERS As a Scorpion user herself, it was only natural that Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick should be at this first of a kind event, where everyone was rocking an EVO.
42 EVENT: POE OP JADE MAMBA Georaga and his squad battle scaly opponents at Pro Airsoft Events’ Halloween-themed BattleSim. 46 INSIDE AIRSOFT: SIXMIL Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick writes about an airsoft company with a unique perspective on helping new players into the game. 48 FEATURE: TACTICAL GLOVES With winter almost upon us, Lez Lee gets his hands into seven different pairs of gloves, from across the price spectrum, to help us decide which is right for us. 52 AIRSOFT HISTORY: TOKYO MARUI Tom Hibberd writes about a company that many feel was the creator of “proper” airsoft weaponry and without whom, our game would probably not be where it is today. 55 SITE UPDATE: BRAVO ONE Femme Fatale popped into this rapidly-developing site in the centre of Birmingham to see how things are coming along since it opened. 56 FEATURE: I WANT DOESN’T GET In our “have-anything-you-wantthrow-away” society there are still some things you simply cannot have, as Frenchie explains… 60 LOADED OR UNLOADED: PENTAGON Jerry Noone continues his coverage of the latest from brands old and new with a look at what Pentagon have to offer for the coming year. 64 KIT: RESPIRATORS Famed for its use by Special Forces, the respirator has become an iconic piece of kit. Paul Yelland takes up the story… 67 TOOLS: ARMEX XPLORA Nige and Bill bumped into Aran from Patrol Store and Graham from ARMEX and a casual conversation revealed something that’s going to be very, very useful to each and every one of you.
68 ARMOURY: KINGS ARMS M1A1 “PARA” As an enormous fan of historical replicas Jerry Noone is always pleased to see a new model enter the marketplace, especially when it’s a gas powered model with a realistic magazine capacity. 72 WARRIORS: BRITSH AIRBORNE While Britain came a little late to the party in organising its Airborne Forces they were, without a shadow of a doubt, the best in the world by the autumn of 1944, as Gadge “Stone” Harvey explains. 76 GITAG: AKSU TACTICAL BUILD Jerry Noone is regularly asked about game-specific AEG and GBB builds and this month he brings us a close-up look at his latest build for CQB environments. 80 SKILLS: TYPES OF PATROL Andy Nightingale has been on more patrols than some of us have had hot dinners. Here he gives us an overview of the various types of patrol. 82 IT’S A CLASSIC: SOLDIER 95 The British Infantryman was famed for being “the best trained but worst equipped soldier in NATO” but all of this would change with the introduction of the “Soldier 95” clothing system. 84 AIRSOFT ACTION STOCKISTS Where to buy your copy of The Players’ Choice Best Airsoft Magazine before it goes on sale in newsagents. 86 SITE DIRECTORY & PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUBS Looking for a skirmish site, or your local Airsoft Practical Pistol Club? Then we may have the answer, with pages of sites and clubs throughout the UK.
s w e N t f o s Air
IT’S ARMEX FOR XMAS ARMEX ARE DOING THE following Christmas gift stocking filler idea: A full size multi tool you will turn to every time, whether fishing, camping or you need something reliable to hand. The Armex Explora Multi Tool II is a premium, full size multi tool in matt bronze, featuring skeleton handles with 14 fully lockable tools and a new improved rigid ballistic nylon pouch. The tools are pliers, a bottle opener, wire cutters, wire strippers, a fine blade knife, a saw blade, small medium and large flat head screwdrivers, phillips screwdriver, a can opener, a sharp point and a file. Spring-loaded handles give this multi tool a comfortable non-fatigue grip in use and ensure a smooth operation. This multi tool has been adopted by several police firearm teams as their tool of choice here in the UK and abroad. A perfect Christmas gift, we will personalise your Armex Explora Multi Tool II with the name of your choice to give it that unique bespoke feel, for a gift that will be treasured. Place your order with your dealer and specify the name you would like on the Armex Explora Multi Tool II, please keep to a maximum of 12 letters to ensure the font is clear. Armex will etch your desired name into the Armex Explora Multi Tool II and deliver it to your dealer for you to collect. Please place your orders with your local dealer by 11th December to allow time for etching and delivery in time for Christmas. To find your local dealer please visit the Armex website www.armex.co.uk and click on dealer locator. Seasons Greetings to everyone!
NEW ASG AIRGUNS ActionSportGames announce the latest addition to their Airgun product line by introducing the new T.A.C Repeat, a CO2 powered Airgun rifle. The T.A.C Repeat extends the T.A.C family in a big way. Using 88gr CO2 cartridges the T.A.C Repeat has an output starting at 1.7 Joules, but with the upgraded drum mag (sold separately), it shoots out the 4.5 pellets out at an impressive 10 Joules, increasing both range and accuracy. For more information please visit: http://actionsportgames.com/en-gb/productcatalog/tacrepeat--co2--cal-177--12-rds
6
Xmas 2017
etonguns are back!
etonguns goes from strength to strength, with a continuous stream of new models in the three categories; two tone Blue, Clear or smoke and restricted via airsoft membership military colours. 6mm cal Pistols, spring, Gas, CO2 or Electric. Various rifles and assault weapons to suit all pockets. Lasers, green/red dots and scopes to fit most models. Bags and cases, batteries and chargers, all weights of BBs in various quantities. Eyewear and masks; holsters, and military camo pouches, belt fittings, belts; gloves and assault vests, plus pyrotechnics (smokes and flash bangs). Special orders are possible at short notice with most models and we undertake to repair wherever possible, so long as spare parts are available. Open Tuesday through to Sunday: please see our website for times: www.etonguns.co.uk. All purchasers must be over 18 and may require ID and membership status to airsoft clubs. Air rifles, catapults, pocket knives and hunting knives and dog training accessories and blank firers also available. etonguns, 103 High Street Eton, SL4 6AF. Tel: 01753 800009.
Airsoft News
FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE BOARDROOM CannaeProGear have a range of specialists tactical backpacks and luggage, tactical clothing and firearms luggage, designed by operators, to be used in the toughest environments on the planet.
CannaeProGearUK have just announced a new premier dealer in the Airsoft and Milsim sector: Patrol Base Patrol Base are located at Dale Street Mill in Huddersfield where, as well as their extensive retail premises, they also run the Halo Mill rifle range. Patrol Base are now premier stockists of Cannae Pro Gear with the full range available via their website or in store. Find out more at www.patrolbase.co.uk https://youtu.be/DQse0yV6Lbs
UK vs USA @ DOGTAG: MAY 2018 2018 SEES THE FIRST TRULY international airsoft game with our friends and allies from the good old U.S. of A - and it’s all in aid of charity. Dogtag Airsoft, near Gatwick Airport, is playing host to Britain’s first U.K. vs U.S.A. airsoft battle against a likely formidable team from the states, with D14 Airsoft from Dallas, Texas hosting the return leg in 2019. This event started out as a simple question on Facebook by creator Steve Findlay to “gather Intel” from the airsoft community by asking if anyone would be interested in an event such as this. So when his media machine almost exploded with enthusiastic responses, the wheels started turning and before he had a chance to scream “Hit!” he found himself the founder of what 8
Xmas 2017
could potentially be one of the biggest airsoft festivals we have ever seen. Steve was quick to recruit Darren Beale, who is a master of creating game scenarios and after viewing several sites across the U.K. a visit to Dogtag’s site in West Sussex “blew him away” (Steve’s words) and sealed the deal on the venue and thus Ross Beare, highly acclaimed owner of Dogtag, became the third member of the team. Ross is renowned for his outstanding professionalism and consistency in attention to detail in building one of Britain’s biggest and most varied airsoft sites and his constant reinvestment in site and game development continues to offer players fresh challenges. Dogtag holds every element needed
for a festival of this size, including on-site camping, adequate car parking and this is all just a few miles south of Gatwick Airport, with the motorway making access to the game site as easy as it gets. Event supporters so far include our very own Red Van man Trent from Nuprol, Enola Gaye and US Giants Valken are committed to driving this to success, plus other interested parties are being confirmed as this goes to print. The dates of this weekender is 25-28th May 2018 and the side events, trade stands and other attractions are too many to mention (see the Facebook page for further details) but be assured, Airsoft Action will be keeping our readers informed, courtesy of embedded journalist Lez Lee who is gathering exclusive up-to-the-minute news on developments as they happen. Anyone that is interested in taking part in this weekender in any way, can contact Steve or Ross via Facebook (search “UK v USA International Airsoft Event”), or visit the website: https://www.ukvusaairsoft.com
AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS
ROGUE’S GALLERY From Rich at Spartan Bristol
From Mid sion Wales Divi
10
december 2017
AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS
This page: AMA France Airsoft
Information Fancy seeing yourself in Airsoft Action? Send in your photos via email (nige@airsoft-action.co.uk) or share on our Facebook page (/AirsoftAction), plus a few words describing what’s going on in the image.
www.airsoft-action.online
11
ARMOURY KWA RM4 SR10
KWA HAVE BEEN MAKING BIG INROADS INTO THE “RECOIL” MARKETPLACE WITH THEIR EXCELLENT RANGE OF “RM4” STYLE MODELS. JERRY NOONE TAKES A LOOK AT ONE OF THE LATEST MODELS TO SEE WHERE THINGS HAVE GONE SINCE THEIR LAUNCH.
DON’T FEAR THE RECOIL KWA QUITE LITERALLY “rocked my world” when they introduced the first run of their “RM4” Kinetic Feedback System Electronic Recoil Guns (ERG)AEGs and it was my great delight to have one of the earliest models in the UK, thanks to my good mate John at J-Tac Custom. Although other retailers and dealers have gone on to carry the KWA “Recoils”, in my opinion it was John who really got things rolling in a meaningful way and he’s been solidly behind the brand ever since, not only bringing in the “M4” variants but also the “AK” - which I totally fell in love with!
AIRSOFT ACTION UK EXCLUSIVE
Since that point in early 2015 the RM4 series from KWA has really built up a head of steam, proving to be reliable, solid and dependable AEGs that offer not only a modicum of “felt recoil” but also have great features like last round cut-off and simulated bolt release. Their build quality has proved to be absolutely excellent and as a member of the online users group, I can tell you that many, many airsofters around the world have found their perfect partner in one of the RM4 models. When I reviewed the initial “Magpul” model I was full of praise for it and that praise has diminished in no way. I thought a couple of years ago that KWA had a right “winner” on their hands and my experience - and that of others - has truly proved this to be the case. Of course, the original models have been highly accessorised by many, so there are some pretty unique models of RM4 floating around now, from out and out “MilSpec” builds to some superb “race”-style carbines. It is really great to see, though, that KWA have not rested on their laurels and simply allowed others to do the hard work to create something very individual but have continued to develop new variants based on the original upper and lower receivers of the RM4. I was absolutely delighted when John messaged me to say that he had the very latest RM4 SR10 on the way in and chuffed to bits when he offered to send me one of the very first to arrive on our shores for test and evaluation. What I discovered was that not only have KWA been busy with new externals but they’ve also tweaked what was already a brilliant internal setup!
UPDATED AND UPGRADED!
The new RM4 SR10 is the third model in the new 3rd generation AEG family from KWA. This updated ERG model now shares the newest features of the recently introduced AEG 2.5 system; what this means is that you have at the heart of every rifle is KWA’s Second Generation Extreme (2GX) gearbox, designed to resist cold temperature failures. Structural reinforcement has been engineered into the shell strengthening
12
XMAS 2017
ARMOURY KWA RM4 SR10
“THEIR BUILD QUALITY HAS PROVED TO BE ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT AND AS A MEMBER OF THE ONLINE USERS GROUP, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MANY, MANY AIRSOFTERS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE FOUND THEIR PERFECT PARTNER IN ONE OF THE RM4 MODELS.” the overall integrity of the gearbox especially in areas prone to failure. The 2GX comes as standard with six 9mm Spherical Bearings and Heat-Treated Precision Gear Sets offering flawless performance in all conditions. Along with the 9mm bearings, KWA have also equipped this reinforced metal gearbox with their unique bushing combination and case hardened, upgraded precision metal gear sets. A heavy duty spring and a new high-torque motor are matched for optimum results. What the RM4 SR10 adds to this, is simulated recoil with KWA’s patented Kinetic Feedback System. Highlighted by a Switch Life Extender to minimise the wear and tear on trigger contacts, the SR10 combines a corking AEG rifle with a more cost-effective training solution to provide players and professionals the best airsoft experience. Additional features include magazine cut-off compatibility combined with a quickchange spring for users to customise their KWA AEG rifle to their own specifications. This updated ERG takes “professional airsoft training” to a new level of performance with a one-piece, full metal alloy upper receiver, enlarged trigger guard, a new rotary hop up and a PTS Enhanced Polymer Grip for added comfort. Rear-wired and Li-Po ready, the RM4 SR10 can still handle the extra power of LiPo batteries, while the Kinetic Feedback System gives the user felt recoil with every trigger pull. Add to this the tried and tested mechanical/electrical cut-off system (to stop firing when the magazine is empty at 30 and 120 BB intervals) and you have a real performer on your hands. Standard features of the RM4 SR10 include metal alloy receivers, MilSpec buffer tube and stock, a flat top rail, which allows users to customise their AEG configuration and an operational bolt catch feature that provides the user with unparalleled realism by mimicking fundamental AR15 weapon manipulation. Similar to real AR15 style rifles, the SR10’s modular design allows limitless customisation options to best suit the individual’s training and MilSim needs.
In a nutshell the new KWA AEG3 SR10 features: • Improved high-torque motor (new) • Enlarged trigger guard (new) • Upgraded high-speed gear set (new) • Switch Life Extender to prevent contact burnout (new) • Quick-change spring set up • 30/120rd. magazine cut off compatibility (new) • PTS Enhanced Polymer Grip (new) • Rotary hop up • One-piece upper receiver www.airsoft-action.online
13
ARMOURY KWA RM4 SR10
“ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY OWNERS OF THE RM4 THAT HAPPILY USE THEIR RM4 AS THEIR PRIMARY “SKIRMISH TOOL”, WHERE THINGS START TO GET REALLY INTERESTING IS ITS ROLE IN MILSIM AND, INDEED, REAL TRAINING.”
RANGEWORTHY
Although there are many owners of the RM4 that happily use their RM4 as their primary “skirmish tool”, where things start to get really interesting is its role in MilSim and, indeed, real training. I recently read an article on www.swatvault.com, a paragon for “real steel” shooters, that they considered the RM4 models to be perfect for training in a realistic but highly cost-effective manner and I will quote; “The Airsoft market is widely represented with products that are toys but the RM4 SR10 is, as advertised, a professional training product. The line is expanding and will be worth watching for other useful tools.” More and more I’m seeing endorsements from the tactical shooting community on the RM4 and the enhancements in the latest models that will reinforce reliability, longevity and performance will no doubt get further positive comments. From a MilSim perspective, the RM4 seems to offer all that a serious player might want: a magazine that can be set to 30BBs, felt-recoil, bolt-release when inserting a new magazine and a great “feel” that should be every MilSim players dream. Combine this with the fact that this is an AEG that will perform in pretty much any weather conditions reliably and I for one would be choosing a KWA over the GBBR models out there. In operation the new RM4 SR10 is equally as impressive as its forbears. The rotary hop is quick and easy to set and stays in place well even given the recoil element. US retailers are claiming the SR10 to be 380fps+ on a .20g BB but the test model I had on the range was almost “bang on” 1.13 Joule/350fps. I did have a couple of BBs go through the chrono at 352fps but I’m sure that most sites would allow that miniscule variance. When I brought this question up with John he told me; “They actually come in without springs and I fit them when landed as then they don’t exceed UK limits. The one I sent you was also tuned to be as consistently close to the UK limit as possible.” 14
XMAS 2017
As with the older (dare I say that already with RM4 models???) accuracy is excellent and the front and rear flip-up sites that come as part of the package means that the SR10 is eminently usable straight from the box. With a 425mm, 6.05 inner barrel, the new 2G High Performance Bucking seems to do the trick and that’s for sure, yet again enhancing what was already a fine product and one that I would most thoroughly recommend to you. At the time of writing KWA have just released the absolute latest RM4s in the form of their stunning “Ronin” series and once again one of these is inbound from John for immediate review. The SR10 however is currently priced at £399.95, although this may vary due to exchange rate; John has assured me though that paid pre-orders will not change from that price. For more information on the KWA RM4 SR10 please visit www.jtac-custom.co.uk
Technical Details Colour: Black Main Material: Metal and Polymer (mostly metal!) Overall Length Retracted: 84.45cm Overall Length Extended: 92.07cm Inner Barrel Length: 425mm Weight: 2.95kg Gearbox: 9mm bearing gearbox Battery: Maximum recommended battery by KWA is 11.1V 15C 1600mah (not supplied) Power (.20g BB): 1.13 Joule/350fps
Armoury KSC AUTO 9 “ROBOCOP”
DEAD OR ALIVE, YOU’ R LEZ LEE GETS HITS MITTS ON A PISTOL THAT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH JUST ONE MAN-MACHINE: ALEX J. MURPHY. TIME TO “SERVE THE PUBLIC TRUST, PROTECT THE INNOCENT, UPHOLD THE LAW.” DETROIT 2028: IN A CITY where crime is out of control, dedicated Law Enforcement Officer and loving family man Alex Murphy is determined to uphold the law and fight corruption in a world ruled by crime and chaos. But when Alex is critically injured by a crime lord hell-bent on revenge, a ruthless multinational company specialising in technological weaponry called OMNICORP seize the opportunity and transforms him into a virtually unstoppable part man, part robot crime fighter. OMNICORP is no enemy to the authorities but it is a private multibillion corporation that is driven by money, lots of money, however, they have been commissioned by the US government to supply drones for military operations overseas for years with a high level of success, but American law prohibits their application on home soil. So when OMNICORP gets a golden opportunity to crack the home market and rake in billions of dollars for their shareholders when Alex is faced with either certain death or a second chance as a Cyborg, his desperate wife gives consent in hope that at the very least his spirit can live on in a robot’s body and he can fulfil his duty as a husband, a father and a Police Officer. But what OMNICORP didn’t count on is that inside the machine there’s still a man who’s hungry for justice and the truth, a patriot who is willing to fight for his beloved country and his own free will.
ROBOCOP – THE MOVIE
The original Robocop movie was released in 1984 and was immediately a box office hit, winning a handful of awards and nominations, with a semi-serious insight into a lawless society speculated for a time frame a little over ten years hence. I guess we will just have to wait and see. I can visualise the recruitment advert: “Cyborgs wanted - apply at your local Jobcentre”. Perhaps I should bring myself back from a world of imaginary technological mayhem and get on with writing this 16
XMAS 2017
review about one very new (albeit a Gen 2) airsoft hand cannon from our Japanese friends at KSC, called “Auto Nine C”, aka “Robocop’s pistol”.
KSC – THE COMPANY
KSC Corporation are one of the oldest airsoft manufacturers in the world, however, they also work hand in hand with KWA in Taiwan. The difference between KWA and KSC is that KWA is a manufacturing company, while KSC has been more of a research and development company that utilises their contract with KWA. Since KSC does not actually manufacture guns, KWA produce similar products for KSC’s Japanese market. KWA, given their manufacturing, research and development and customer service capabilities have more freedom in evolving and flourishing further on their designs for the bigger markets like in the U.S. and Europe. Ultimately, KWA is the larger player in the world market while KSC is much smaller company that centres on a specific country’s market.
ROBOCOP – THE ORIGINAL 1987 GUN
The original gun for Robocop was intended to be a Desert Eagle but this was deemed too small and non-proportional. A Beretta 93R was heavily modified by Ray Williams of Freshour Machine in Texas, who extended the gun barrel to make it look bigger and more consistent to Robocop’s hand. Rather interestingly, the gun’s holster was a standalone piece that was not integrated into the suit. Off-screen technicians would operate the device on cue by pulling cables that would force the holster to open up and allow the gun to be placed inside, so there is less than no chance of finding anything remotely resembling the original holster. Sorry guys - no cool factor here! This review focuses on the gun from the original movie as there are a few subtle differences which are as follows:
Armoury KSC AUTO 9 “ROBOCOP”
1987: One of Robocop’s most iconic features was his gun holster – a mechanised compartment inside his right leg that opened to reveal a single modified Beretta 93R “Auto 9.” The machine pistol was heavily altered for Robocop (with a longer barrel as well as a reported 50-round magazine), fired in threeround bursts. 2014: Whilst maintaining the internal leg holster, the reboot Robocop takes advantage of different firearms depending on the situation – including a custom Beretta Pistol (NI-408) that fires non-lethal (50,000 Volt) and lethal (200,000 Volt) XREP Taser cartridges (meaning that, in certain situations, he can take down offenders without killing them), a heavily modified (and fictional) .50 calibre Robocop SMG, as well as a Heckler & Koch MP7A1 submachine gun. Having been affectionately nicknamed “Robocop” by inmates whilst pounding prison landings for nearly two decades, I felt it right and proper to get my hands on this beast of a handgun and see if I could do it justice (pun intended)! I’ll admit that I’m not a big fan of sci-fi or plastic guns (unless the real version is polymer like the Glock and a few other brands) and I only favour true scale and build quality of originals i.e. absolute replicas. However, it was time to step out of my comfort zone and take off my blinkers ...and I’m quite glad I did because I found something different that sets this piece aside from all others: This has to be the most intimidating pistol ever created!
THE MIGHTY 6MM VERSION
This isn’t the first Robocop pistol to hit the airsoft scene. KSC’s original version, the Gen 1 Pre-System 7 presented with minor subtle differences, one being the additional three round burst action as well as single shot and full auto, whereas the Gen 2 has just semi and full auto. There are zero trademarks relating to the manufacturer but stamped in tiny print on the top surface in front of the rear sight, are the letters OCP-POLICE 001-A9, which relates to the movie but are almost invisible to
“I FOUND SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT SETS THIS PIECE ASIDE FROM ALL OTHERS: THIS HAS TO BE THE MOST INTIMIDATING PISTOL EVER CREATED!” the naked eye. The “serial number” is stamped on the left hand side of the lower receiver, just in front of the trigger guard. Upon picking this gun up (and already knowing it was ABS ) it didn’t come as a total surprise to find that it wasn’t as heavy as it looks, (1095g unloaded to be precise) which isn’t a bad thing really because if this was made of steel, you would almost certainly be fitting a bipod ‘cause this puppy is HUGE! Nevertheless, as the weight is mostly to the rear and the magazine makes up a big part of that, it is actually very well balanced in the hand when in use.
U’ RE COMING WITH ME!
www.airsoft-action.online
17
Armoury KSC AUTO 9 “ROBOCOP”
“RACKING THIS PIECE IS AN UNEXPECTED DELIGHT AS IT HAS ALL THE INTIMIDATING UNDER-PANT FILLING “CLICK-CLACKS” OF A RIF AND IS AS SMOOTH AS SILK AS IT SLIDES BACK AND FORTH.”
I found that I had to keep reminding myself that this wasn’t a RIF and that it was never intended to be one and once my mind had overcome this factor, I began to ignore things like the plastic feel, the obvious seam down the length of the gun where both halves are stuck together and a few other anomalies. But this gun is designed and built for Cyborgs and I don’t think that they are really bothered about build quality, just so long as it does its job and shoots bad guys. Starting at the muzzle end, a (plastic) iron sight dominates the upper slide, located on what can only be described as an alignment rail to coincide with the rear non-adjustable ABS iron sights. Twin tri-vents expose the muzzle which is uniquely metal tipped but if you follow the outer barrel rearwards, the dominant part found uppermost is in fact plastic. If you take a peek down the barrel (don’t forget… mag out, clear breach, rack it a few times and if possible have it double-checked by someone else, and of course EYE PRO ON!), there is in fact an inner thread cut into the muzzle which allows a suppressor to be fitted but, of course, this is personal choice and I feel that a round suppressor would ruin the aggressive aesthetics of this angular monster. As we travel back towards the action, racking this piece is an unexpected delight as it has all the intimidating under-pant filling “click-clacks” of a RIF and is as smooth as silk as it slides back and forth. Yes, racking this slide is uber-satisfying and a deserved 5 stars on this point. Slide serrations are quite minimal and none of the control switches are ambidextrous, however, the safety, fire selector and magazine release switches are easily reached even with gloved hands and the trigger guard is plenty sizeable. The hop is accessible in the breech, just drop the mag, rack and lock the slide back then simply turn the hop-up with the included hop key. The pistol grip is smooth surface plastic on the sides with serrations front and rear which offer some purchase and, finally, the 38 round magazine is a hefty weight alone and shouldn’t be dropped on an uncovered toe.
SO HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
It’s not too shabby on the performance front and I can’t think of any reason for a Cyborg to seek any upgrades or modifications. The FPS using .20s was somewhat inconsistent jumping, between 260 and 300 at random and accuracy on both semi and full auto was just about okay - but let’s
18
XMAS 2017
not forget what we have here. One saving grace on the performance front is that the rate of fire was simply awesome due to the light weight of the non-metal slide and top marks for this. The slide lock-back on empty mag is also a cool feature.
TO CONCLUDE
Ultimately, this is a fun-gun and thus a fairly difficult pistol to assess as my passion is biased in the true centre fire world of handguns. I think it depends on every individual’s own persuasion really. Sci-fi geeks will love it as it is an iconic classic and it will almost certainly spend most of its lifetime proudly on display - after the initial safe zone admiration period at the site because of its stature and head-turning characteristics. On the other hand, some hard-core gunmen will not give it the time of day, just because... As for me, after showing it off at some games, regrettably it is joining my gun wall in my “man cave” as a monumental movie masterpiece, unless of course Robocop knocks on my door and asks for his gun back… LeZ OUT!
features Manufacturer: KSC (Japan) Length: 370 mm Weight: 1095 gm Material: ABS Plastic Round capacity: 38 x 6mm Action: Gas Blowback Instructions: 100% Japonic Muzzle Velocity: Listed 360 FPS (Actual 260 to 300 FPS on test during fair weather). Accuracy + Range: Fair to good. Special thanks to our good friends at iWholesales for supply of this pistol.
TACTICAL
get the tactical advantage FLEECE HOODIE n 250 gms polyester fleece n 1 x Front pocket n Drawstring hood Colours: V-Cam, Titanium, Coyote, Black, Green Sizes: S-XXXL
SPECIAL OPS FLEECE JACKET
SRP
n 250 gms polyester fleece n 2 x Zipped sleeve pocket with Velcro panel n 1 x Zipped chest pocket n 2 x Zipped lower front pockets n Elasticated waist draw string n Elasticated cuffs Colours: V-Cam, Titanium, Coyote, Black, Green Sizes: S-XXXL
£23.95
SRP
£29.95
THUMB HOLE
RUBBER ICON PATCH VELCRO PATCH
UPDATES / STOCKISTS / CATALOGUE
www.vipertactical.co.uk
ARMOURY TOKYO MARUI UZI
UZI NINE MILLIMETRE ALMOST AS RARE NOW AS A REFUND FROM THE TAXMAN, SCOTT ALLAN RECENTLY GOT TO PLAY WITH THIS ICONIC WEAPON FROM TM. IT’S THE 80’S HOLLYWOOD ICON, used by every hero and bad guy alike throughout my childhood and it is still the subject of one of my favourite Arnie lines from Terminator… “UZI 9 millimetre” from the gun store scene. The Tokyo Marui Uzi really is a classic of a classic. They are extremely uncommon in modern Airsoft skirmishes but I had the chance to see and use an “as new” version recently and dammit, it was exciting. Tokyo Marui is the original name in quality for airsoft products and this AEG comes from “the good old days”, when TM was pretty much the only serious name available. The sport quite simply wouldn’t be what it is today without their hard work and dedication to drag us out of the dark ages of being covered in paint and into the bright future of electric and gas powered BB wars we now live in. Sure, there are a few reasonably innovative designs out there but few will even match the ease that Tokyo Marui
20
XMAS 2017
offered. The earlier days of manufacturing were quite different to the modern AEG but looking back you can see how much is still the same. So what has changed and what has stayed the same? This AEG is nearly 20 years old, certainly it has been around longer than most people have even been Airsofting. It’s a great looking piece but it is so dated that most of the younger generations probably won’t have the same love for it as 80’s kids such as myself. That’s not a bad thing, just a sign of the times - and by that I mean I’m getting old! With so many funky firearms making their way into the gaming scene, such as the Vector and the Scorpion, it’s not surprising that the aging Uzi fell away in popularity both on the movie screen and the gaming scene …a relic from a bygone era you might say. Yet they are a very similar class of sub machine gun, albeit a whole generation and way of thinking behind the latest designs - the classic “T” shaped SMG with stick magazine just isn’t the done anymore, it’s more about angles and organic curves these days.
THE REAL STEEL VERSION
The Israeli-born UZI came into existence just after WWII by IMI, now known as IWI, the creators of the Tavor. Using the popular 9mm Luger round, it is a weighty beast in real life at 3.7 kilos. Sized 470 – 650mm it is compact but not super-tiny, this was later addressed with the Mini UZI and the Micro UZI. These smaller versions had higher rates of fire, smaller size and lighter overall weight. As you would expect lighter and faster means less effective range but the situations in which these weapons were used were generally point blank CQB, or vehicle type engagements. The UZI ended up in nearly 100 different countries around the world and seeing action in just
ARMOURY TOKYO MARUI UZI
“THE HOP UP I WOULD DESCRIBE AS “FLOATY” BECAUSE OF THE LOW FPS AND THE RANGE WAS ON THE POOR SIDE OF THINGS, GENTLY MEANDERING OUT TO ABOUT 35 METRES ROUGHLY, BEFORE SOFTLY LAYING DOWN ON THE GROUND.”
about every major conflict around since it came into service. It’s a shame that it has been side-lined in the Airsoft market as I’ve always hoped someone would make an updated version. They are still used in close protection, they pop up every now and then in news feeds and they’re still popular in the US even today. The thinking of Marui back twenty years ago was completely different to these days. Then, players didn’t need super-realistic polymers and perfected finishes, they were content with a replica that spat out BBs at some power rating over 100 feet per second, no one really thought or cared too much about it. These days everyone wants active braking MOSFETs, tight bore barrels, high FPS, stop on empty and, of course, a price that is wallet-friendly. Coming in over $250 back in the day, it was an expensive AEG and the magazines were nearly $40! For your money you got a cool replica that was lightweight at 2 kilos, much the same as a plastic MP5 and it gave you 250-260 feet per second. That’s one of the lowest powered AEGs Marui ever made. The plastics on the UZI really aren’t that exciting, they’re pretty glossy in a bad way. The upper receiver is metal but also has the same iffy/glossy look. Other metal parts include the cocking handle, magazine release, folding stock and trigger. It’s not badly made by any measure but if they had used a matt finish it would’ve looked much meaner and I like the lighter weight. The magazine options were 40 rounds or 220 round high capacity magazines, I probably would opt for a few high capacity magazines as they’re just more usable all round. The hop up adjustment is like the old Marui MP5s with the arm slider and like the MP5, it’s a fiddle too. You have to remove the top cover to adjust the hop up so give yourself 5 minutes at the start of the game day to do this. The battery compartment
is for a stick type and let’s face it, no one uses them now so you’ll be looking at 7.4v LiPo batteries but with the low muzzle power you won’t be using many batteries on a game day anyway. The Version 5 gearbox is one of the key interesting design features as it generates a bit of recoil. That’s pretty great for a two decade old design, the drawback was that it was a non standard design and you really couldn’t do much to upgrade
www.airsoft-action.online
21
ARMOURY TOKYO MARUI UZI
it, other than the spring which was a bit of a messing around you couldn’t change anything. That’s ultimately why we don’t see the UZI anymore, the market has moved so far on that it would require a complete overhaul in design. And why would you do that when the largest market is still the M4? One of the questions that irks me the most is “why do they make so many M4’s?” - and it’s very, very simple …because that’s what sells. Every Airsoft store is almost identical, they’ll sell at least 10 M4 rifles for everyone one of another design and why not, the M4 is a great design. It is very customisable and cheap parts are available everywhere. The UZI is a stand-alone platform and you can’t even fit a vertical grip or red dot to it. The UZI is interesting to shoot, the recoil doesn’t feel like a PTS ERG or a GBB, it’s almost like an arcade game rattle around. The hop up I would describe as “floaty” because of the low FPS and the range was on the poor side of things, gently
“WHILE THE CHANCES OF EVER GETTING ONE OF THESE BRAND NEW FROM A STORE IS NOW LIMITED IT DOES HAPPEN OCCASIONALLY. YOU WILL SEE THEM COME UP SECOND HAND AND THEY CAN EASILY GO FOR £200250 IN GOOD CONDITION AND, GIVEN THE RARITY, IT’S NOT A BAD PRICE.”
meandering out to about 35 metres roughly, before softly laying down on the ground. The stick magazines are easy to store in any pistol/MP5 pouches as they’re all designed for 9mm and every tactical company makes them so they’ll be cheap and easily available. The AEG is so light you don’t have to worry too much about slings either, although many love the look. Rangewise I’d be more likely to use this for CQB or FIBUA type games, rather than long range woodland events. The rate of fire is around 800 rounds per minute, again nothing startling but if you’ve only got a 40 round magazine it’ll help you out in the end. The full metal extending stock is surprisingly solid-feeling and I would most likely always use it extended personally. The biggest downside with the UZI is spare parts, if it breaks you’re pretty much stuffed and who wants something they can’t fix? All these points are pretty much why the UZI has been resigned to the collector ranks for most Airsofters. They’ll never drop in value and while I can’t see you ever making a fortune from holding on to one, it will always be a nice little investment that you can take out from time to time and be careful with it.
CONCLUSION While the chances of ever getting one of these brand new from a store is now limited it does happen occasionally. You will see them come up second hand and they can easily go for £200250 in good condition and, given the rarity, it’s not a bad price. I can’t see them ever being worth much more than this but the right buyer and the right time might see these going for more money. I do still hope either TM or another manufacturer will re-release this blast from the past, it’s a brilliant die-hard classic and deserves a better representation than a 20 year old effort. I love the Marui for what they were doing back then, it’s just a bit dated and will struggle standing toe to toe with anything else available on the market at the moment but if you see one going cheap, grab it and you won’t be disappointed!
features Weight 2 kilos Length 455 – 650mm with stock extended Standard magazine 40 rounds Battery type AK Stick Gearbox Version 5 Adjustable hop up Power 250-260 FPS Price $260 new
22
XMAS 2017
ROBO MURRAY
EG WORLD TEAM
www.enolagaye.com
UK/EUROPE dealer enquiries +44(0)118 9714470 USA DEALeR ENQUIRIES 702-409-8193
omar vega
usa staff shooter
grenade co.
EG67 wire pull frag: frag bang with frag
wire pull grenade: bang with fill
Mk7 thunderflash: bang and flash
wire pull flash 3.0: bang and flash
flash 1.0: 1.0: bang and flash
Mk5 thunderflash: bang and flash
wire pull EG18X: High output 45 sec smoke
wire pull eg18: 90 sec smoke
burst wire pull: high ouput 25 sec smoke
wire pull: 90 sec smoke
event MID WALES AIRSOFT – THE DIVISION
MID WALES AIRSOFT – THE DIVISION MID WALES AIRSOFT HOSTED A WEEKEND GAME BASED ON THE PS4 TOM CLANCY COMPUTER GAME “THE DIVISION” AND IGGY ROBERTS WAS THERE.
THE DIVISION WEEKENDER WAS ATTENDED by over 40 players from South Wales, North Wales, Shropshire and Birmingham, as well as the local regular players loyal to Mid Wales Airsoft. The game was written by “Legacy Luke” and run by himself and his team, “Legacy Airsoft”. The game ran over the course of Saturday and Sunday (with a social evening in between) and was loosely based on the computer game theme, however, rather than the variety of gangs and enemies there were just two sides. The “Agents” who are part of the Strategic Homeland Division, simply referred to as “The Division” and the “Rikers”, the gang that broke out from the Riker prison. The most obvious difference between the computer game and the airsoft game is the location and environment. Mid Wales Airsoft is a woodland site that, on this particular weekend was very wet. The game, as most of you will know, is based in New York - which is very different from the fields and
forests of Wales! So there was some adaption to make it suit the site but still follow the core plot of the computer game. The base of the game is driven by the “dollar flu virus”; a large number of infected dollar ($) bills that are littered across the site, some placed in positions where the teams have to risk exposure for reasons of tactical advantage, others in some of the yellow biohazard bags placed in locations where players can find them. If they are touched by any player then that player is infected. Both sides only have one “flu” medic per team. The reason a player would be tempted to pick up a yellow biohazard material bag and risk picking up an infected dollar bill is “gun cards”. Gun cards are the Airsoft game’s version of “Phoenix credits”. Over the weekend the yellow biohazard bags are placed throughout the site before the start of each mission and during the missions players would pick up any yellow bags they found containing gun cards. At the end of each mission the gun cards are cashed into the safe zone and
“ANY MOVEMENT WAS HINDERED OR SLOWED DUE TO THE SLIPPERY GROUND UNDER FOOT BUT EVENTUALLY, AFTER MASSING TOGETHER AND USING SUSTAINED FIRE, THEY GAINED A FOOT HOLD IN THE VILLAGE AND PUSHED THROUGH PAINFULLY.” 24
XMAS 2017
event MID WALES AIRSOFT – THE DIVISION
counted up to each player. Over the weekend, the player with the most cards wins a prize. The missions themselves follow the computer game’s key missions. Saturday started off with the Agents moving into the quarantine zone and having to fight their way into a choice of one of the two main bunkers on the site; one at the foot of the hill or the other based on the highest point in the site. This would be their main base of operations for the weekend (their HQ) and the Agents chose the bunker at the bottom of the site but to get there from their insertion point, they had to fight their way through a site that was fully-occupied by Rikers. To win the bunker of their choice the Agents had to hold the bunker for 15 minutes - timed by one of the marshals with a stop watch which they would only start when 5 or more Agents were in the bunker. It would be stopped when there was less and only continue when 5 or more occupied the bunker again. This fight took up most of the day’s game, delayed further by the weather turning the site into something starting to reassemble The Somme or more appropriate, Hamburger Hill (from the Vietnam War film) because one of the hills of the site is its namesake. Eventually the Agents secured and held the bunker, creating a HQ for the agents of the Division. Saturday Evening was spent running a pistol jungle trail competition through the lower bunkers and trench system. The winner of which received a prize of a new pistol, in time for the next day’s gaming. The rest of the night was a social but in true form, the Welsh Autumn weather was less than forgiving and it rained... and I mean really rained! If the player’s kit wasn’t wet from the day’s gaming, then it was now. The party continued in the house of the site owners; why let a bit of bad weather get in the way of a good social! The next morning (once all the baggy heads had been lifted from pillows) started off with a very welcome cooked breakfast.
Soon after that it was back to the safe zone and time to start briefing for the day, although some of the players had their fill of the damp during the night and took their leave. However, the bad weather had subsided, opening up to dry conditions, leaving a puddle-filled site fresh for the day’s anarchy and many more players turned up just for the Sunday missions, bolstering both sides. The first game of the day started off with a highly aggressive attack on the Division HQ. Although the Rikers used a variety of tactics nothing could break through. The Agents had their HQ locked down. After this unsuccessful but valiant attack, a well-earned break was had, allowing the marshals to set up the next game.
www.airsoft-action.online
25
event MID WALES AIRSOFT – THE DIVISION
This next game had a cheeky little twist of a surprise. One of the local players was nominated as the Riker’s leader, the Bullet King and the best way to describe this player’s loadout would be “juggernaut”. The Riker’s mission was again attempt to destroy the Division’s bunker, only this time with the help of the Bullet King. A bomb had to be placed into the bunker and armed and if this was achieved the Rikers win. The only weaknesses the Bullet King and Rikers had were the Bullet King was the only Dollar Flu medic on the Riker team. The other weakness and only method that the Bullet King could be killed - was by a (rubber) knife to the opening of his armour at the back of his neck. He would only stop being an active combatant after a sustained amount of accurate fire to his armour, when he would stop for a moment before being able to continue on his murderous rampage but that was the chance needed to get in the melee attack needed to kill him. After massacring many Division Agents, the Bullet King and a squad of Rikers seceded in their attack on the Division’s HQ bunker and after placing the bomb into the bunker, went up to rescue and secure a small squad of Rikers that were in a spot of bother at their own side’s bunker. After a stalemate of fire exchanges the Rikers used all around assault, aided with smoke, to close upon the bunker. The only Riker to make it to the bunker was the Bullet King and he proceeded to systematically clear the bunker, single-handedly killing Agent after Agent but he met his demise after dropping his guard while waiting for his fellow Rikers to reach him. A single Agent had remained hidden during the slaughter and waited for their moment to strike. With his back turned the Agent sunk his knife into the Bullet King’s neck and down he fell and without the bomb armed... Rikers lost the game.
“A SINGLE AGENT HAD REMAINED HIDDEN DURING THE SLAUGHTER AND WAITED FOR THEIR MOMENT TO STRIKE. WITH HIS BACK TURNED, THE AGENT SUNK HIS KNIFE INTO THE BULLET KING’S NECK AND DOWN HE FELL.”
26
XMAS 2017
Lunch was a very welcome BBQ along with a raffle using the players (Agent ID) numbers. The winning player was presented with a limited edition mug. On completion it was time to get back out into the quarantine zone for the final mission. Division Agent Aaron Keener had gone rogue and insane, killing his fellow Agents. I was hidden in the quarantine zone being protected by the Rikers as the airsofter playing Aaron Keener attempted to enhance the dollar flu virus against humanity itself. The Agents searched through the quarantine zone to terminate the rogue agent and after an extensive search they found a large group of Rikers holed up in a village on the other side of the site. After navigating around the deep pools and mud between their bunker and the village they had to muster what energy they could to enter what was going to be a bitter fight. The Agents tried to probe into the village defences from every angle, picking off any Rikers that ventured out from the core, however, they took casualty after casualty. Any movement was hindered or slowed due to the slippery ground under foot but eventually, after massing together and using sustained fire, they gained a foot hold in the village and pushed through painfully. Every corner seemed to have a waiting Riker. The game was literally blow for blow on each side, until eventually the Rogue Agent was found and taken out by three Agents working together. The weekend was wet but very wild. Every fight was a tough one enhanced by the gruelling terrain and weather. Some kit went down along with some players but overall the ones that remained had a great time. Every victory felt so much more of an achievement and added to the feeling of the weekend. Come the end of the event and after the gun cards were all counted up and a prize of an AEG awarded to the player that had found the most. Everyone went home tired and dirty but with a feeling of money well spent. The weekend cost £40 and this price included the green fee for both days, the Sunday BBQ, electricity and charging facilities for gun batteries and phones etc., while the price for a day was £25. The sense of humour from the staff was free of charge and ended up for one player resulting in being showered in mud from a stuck vehicle. Martin Phillips from North Wales said; “It was a great event, very challenging in the mud and up the hills but hey, if it’s not raining it’s not training!” Right, I am off to clean my cameras and dry off. I am just glad I survived to tell you all the tale. Mid Wales Airsoft can be found on Instagram and Facebook. Keep an eye out for their updated game dates and you can often see a lot of the site on Legacy Luke’s YouTube channel.
International FRANCE
E L A T A F E M M FE
E C N A R F EN
BACK IN SEPTEMBER, KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK PACKED HER BAGS AND FLEW TO PARIS TO MEET HER FRENCH AIRSOFT ACTION COUNTERPART. Photography by Diane Montagnier EARLIER IN 2017 A NEW CONTRIBUTOR joined the Airsoft Action team; Diane Montagnier, who is better known as “Dye Lifad” within the French airsoft community. Diane is an airsoft player, gun smith and also a gun tech at Airsoft Entrepot, an airsoft store just outside of Paris. I flew out to meet her and spend a weekend experiencing the best of Parisienne airsoft! I arrived in Paris at around 4.30 pm local time on Friday afternoon after a short flight of just an hour and a half. As I walked through Charles De Gaulle airport I was super-excited about what the weekend had in store! I was met by Diane’s smiling face in arrivals and we were off to Chanteloup, a quaint village just outside of the city. We spent our Friday evening at Diane’s home organising our gear for the weekend, drinking wine and eating cheese fondue! On my travels to different countries to play airsoft I am always very lucky to be hosted by local players who open up their homes - and also their gear collections - to me and little did I know that Diane was going to kit me out. As Diane is a huuuuge fan of 28
XMAS 2017
Gucci kit, her gear wardrobe was absolutely jam packed with the biggest names in tactical kit! My loadout for the weekend included Camouflage Europe Centrale (CEC), which is the standard issue for French Military (when in France right?), a really gucci Blue Force Gear plate carrier and a tonne of other kit from big names such as Arc’teryx and Black Hawk. Our plan for the weekend was pretty simple, good food, good wine and some awesome airsoft at Diane’s favourite haunts. On Saturday, “Dye” had organised for us to play a private skirmish with her colleagues from Airsoft Entrepot and some close friends at a private dirt bike track just a short drive out of the city centre of Paris. We arrived onsite at around 11am local time as it was a very relaxed day (which makes a change from 6am wake up calls). Once we arrived, we set up tarps so we could lay all of our kit out ready for a day of pew pew and I was introduced to all the players who were in attendance, 12 in total and we had a good natter before the game. As it was a friendly, private game, the only rule was “be a good sport” – simple and effective. As it had rained all the way through the night, the site was pretty wet and muddy but it was a pretty cool site that had winding gravel and dirt roads with high and low ground surrounded by dense forest areas. Over the course of the day we played a variety of games including team death matches, elimination and domination, however, my favourite game of the day was a team death match where we were split into teams of 3 and had to go hunt the other teams. For this game, I teamed up with Dye and Louis. Whilst Louis went to stalk out the positions of the other teams, myself and Dye quietly made our way up a large hill
International FRANCE
and set ourselves up in the brush, waiting. This is a completely different play style for me, as I usually enjoy hard-hitting CQB that is all about speed and aggression, being quiet and moving slowly in crouched positions is not something I am used to, and of course, being prone in the mud is not something I particularly fancied (I have absolutely no shame admitting that I am a fair weather airsofter). We waited for a few moments until we heard footsteps moving through the dense woodland on the ground below us. I heard fire from Diane’s position and a male voice shout “Out!” then, unexpectedly, there was incoming fire and a female voice shouting “Out! Medic!” I looked around to make sure it was clear to move to Diane’s position and as I crawled along the floor I realised Diane had moved forward so silently that I hadn’t heard her. I made my way down the hill towards her position, watching for any movement ahead of the dead player. Suddenly a player jumped out towards his position to medic him back into the game. I took him out then medic’d Diane back in. We made our way down the hill through the brambles (getting our feet caught as we went) and moved in the direction of where the players had come from, because we had only eliminated two of their team. Moving through the top end of the site we came into contact with another team which ended in an intense battle! We were flanked by a member of their team and ended up being taken out. The action that day was absolutely intense, and honestly? It was one of the best game days I’ve had! After the private game day, tired and muddy we made our way back to Diane’s home to prepare for the next day and refuel! On Sunday morning we were up super-early to drive the hour and a half to AMA France Airsoft – a large woodland site in a tiny village outside Paris. The site is located at the heart of the forest of Lainville en Vexin - and it is huge! The terrain is dense, thick ferns with towering trees. The dirt roads that run through the site lead to all the landmarks on the site – the Star Gate and laboratory, the trenches, the pallet village, the trains and the church. One thing that is really clear about AMA France
Airsoft is that they put a lot of time, effort and funds into their site. We arrived and we were directed into the safe zone, which is a large wooden complex that has gear tables under cover and a recreational area that is focused around a large fire pit which provides a way to keep warm on those chilly days but also a BBQ at lunch. There was around 70-80 players on the day. Once we had got all our kit to the gear tables and started getting ready, we went through the comprehensive safety brief, which (of course) was entirely in French but Diane graciously acted as my translator for the trip so I didn’t miss out on anything! Unfortunately GCSE French is not enough to get you through an entire game day but fortunately, most of the players spoke English to a high standard. When I go away to different countries I always try to use as much of the native language as possible and I discovered that I still retained a lot of French words, so the language barrier wasn’t really an issue! The game day at AMA was based on the film “The Fifth Element”. If you’re unfamiliar with the film, it is set in the 23rd century and the universe is threatened by an evil race called the Mangalores. The only hope for the universe is the “Fifth Element”. The Fifth Element only visits Earth every 5,000 years to protect the humans with the four elements in the form of four stones: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. On the Fifth Element’s return to Earth, the Mondoshawan space ship is destroyed by
“MY LOADOUT FOR THE WEEKEND INCLUDED CAMOUFLAGE EUROPE CENTRALE (CEC), WHICH IS THE STANDARD ISSUE FOR FRENCH MILITARY (WHEN IN FRANCE RIGHT?), A REALLY GUCCI BLUE FORCE GEAR PLATE CARRIER AND A TONNE OF OTHER KIT FROM BIG NAMES SUCH AS ARC’TERYX AND BLACK HAWK.”
www.airsoft-action.online
29
CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK
Helikon-Tex @OUTBACK LINE#AIRSOFT ACTION 11-2017
OUTBACK
WWW.HELIKON-TEX.COM
International FRANCE
the Mangalores. Later on in the film a team of scientists use the DNA of the remains of the Fifth Element to rebuild the being, and she is named “Leeloo”. Leeloo escapes from the laboratory that she is kept in and meets a taxi driver and former elite commando (Bruce Willis in the film) who helps her accomplish her mission. Her main goal is to retrieve the elemental stones from a singer named Diva – the stones are hidden inside Diva’s body. In the morning game our mission was to find the priest and Leeloo from the story and get them to the designated areas before the Mangalores could. The firefights in the morning were intense and I got to fight through a lot of the landmark areas of the site such as the trains and the pallet village. For this half of the day I ran with Dye and a lot of the players from the previous day. Our team retrieved both the priest and Leeloo before the morning game was up. Now though, my role in the story was as the singer and it really came into play in the afternoon. Obviously the stones could not be hidden inside my body (that would be an odd one!) so AMA popped them in a briefcase for me and my mission for the afternoon was to get the stones from my base at the trenches, to Leeloo’s location at the Pallet Village (which as you can imagine, like the name suggests is a village of pallets). As the other teams descended on our base at the trenches, our team sat ready in defensive positions as myself and Marc moved the Elemental stones, one by one to Leeloo in the village, which was a short walk away. After all 4 stones were transported to their final destination, I
“OVERALL OUR DAY AT AMA FRANCE AIRSOFT WAS AWESOME! THE SITE WAS EPIC, THE GAME WAS ENGAGING AND FUN AND THE LEVEL OF PLAY WAS TERRIFIC AND MY TRIP TO PARIS WAS A DEFINITE SUCCESS!“
stayed in the village with Leeloo to defend them as the other team slowly pushed forward and the day ended in a fierce firefight at the pallet village. Our team had defended the elemental stones and the universe was saved! Overall our day at AMA France Airsoft was awesome! The site was epic, the game was engaging and fun and the level of play was terrific and my trip to Paris was a definite success! I just want to take the time to thank our Editor, Nige, for flying me out, my hosts Diane and her husband Julien for their hospitality and for showing me such a great time in Paris and, of course, to the French airsoft community for giving me such a warm welcome and making my trip so memorable. I can’t wait to return!
www.airsoft-action.online
31
AN
3! G T C WL E N L AL G N MI INCO 49! 3 £ 3A3 G S 3 LC-3A REEN OD G
349! £ 3 G3A
3-S A 3 C L ACK BL
Specifications: Build Material: Steel / Nylon Fiber Gear Box: 9mm bearing Motor: High-Torque Motor 25000rpm Magazine: 140 Rds Length: 1026mm Barrel Length: 515mm ( Brass 6.02±0.01mm ) Weight: 4500g Muzzle Velocity: expected 350FPS
AA LCT G3 AK spread.indd 2
01/11/2017 14:36
AN AK EVERYDAY! - AMAZING AEGS - GREAT PRICES
LCK-47S - £599! LIMITED EDITION!
TKMS - £249!
TX-BABY - £199!
SHOP ONLINE fire-support.co.uk
AIMS CARBINE - £199!
orders@fire-support.co.uk sales@fire-support.co.uk
CALL US 01733 247171
VISIT US Mon - Fri Open 9am - 5.30pm Saturday - Open 10am - 5pm Sunday - Closed
SR3 - £299!
AA LCT G3 AK spread.indd 3
01/11/2017 14:36
Site PHOENIX AIRSOFT
PHOENIX RISING SOMETIMES IT’S GOOD TO GO BACK TO YOUR ROOTS AND THIS MONTH GADGE “STONE” HARVEY PROBABLY COULDN’T GO BACK ANY FURTHER THAN A RETURN TRIP TO THE GUYS HE’D FIRST EXPERIENCED THE SPORT WITH – PHOENIX AIRSOFT. Pictures by Tom Hibberd and Matt Flood
I’D HAD MY FIRST GAMES at Phoenix Airsoft’s old Mansfield woodland site and Clay Cross urban arena over 17 years ago (heck I’d even bought my first TM G36C off Phoenix!) and while the guys had passion and great ideas for games, it had never been the most “polished” of operations (although at the time I had very little to compare it to). And so Tom Hibberd and I set off with our work experience trainee, Matt, to Phoenix’s new (ish) site at Cuckney in North Nottinghamshire with no real idea of what to expect, after all, it had been almost ten years since I’d last gamed with them and slightly less for Tom. Luckily the site was well signposted and a doddle to find and as we drove down the long road to the safe area, our first impression was a definite “wow”. It was truly vast as a playing area and the buildings and prop elements we passed on the way looked well thought out and had us itching to get battling around them. We parked up and went to chat to head marshal and Phoenix veteran, Jeff Wiseman. I’d known Jeff for a long time and despite not seeing him for a good few years it was clear we were still friends and had a good natter about his new (to me) site and remembered some of the old faces from yesteryear, many of whom are still regulars! It was clear to see straight away that Phoenix had, over the intervening years, found that “polish” and we were shown the safe zone compound with under cover benches for kit prep, a hot food and drinks area 34
XMAS 2017
Site PHOENIX AIRSOFT
and a small shop where players could purchase BBS and pyro, charge batteries, get minor gun repairs done and, of course, get issued with any hire package needed. Hire fees varied but were largely around the £45 mark and included your day’s ammunition, full face protection and a choice of AEG, while other packages included pyro and tactical gear or, if you fancied a change of pace, you could loan out a sniper loadout. Walk on fee was a reasonable £25, which dropped to £20 for site members (I regretted letting my Phoenix membership lapse!). As we’d all brought out own kit we checked in as walk ons and after sorting our disclaimers, began to “bomb up” our mags as we saw more and more players arrive. Before long a sizable and varied bunch of ‘softers had turned up - from the beginner to veteran, modern kit to retro gamer and most pleasing of all, everyone seemed to be in the best of moods with none of the “clique” groups you sometimes see who never seem to want to talk to anyone new. Jeff then got his team to issue out day glo arm bands to the players to divide us into the “Orange” and “Yellow” teams. This made a nice change from simple tape wraps to mark out the teams, as not only was it really clear which side someone was on (each player had a band on each arm), both sides had equally visible bands and each arm band was numbered, making it much easier for a marshal to check on “Orange 57” rather than “that dude in mtp” (of which there could be many).
MORE GAME TIME, LESS HIKING
Once we’d been divided into teams Jeff gave a concise, humorous and effective safety brief. To me a good safety brief isn’t too long as you don’t want players to “switch off” and equally doesn’t have too negative a tone, telling players off before they have even got on the pitch. Here Phoenix nailed it to be honest and it was good to see even the site regulars who had heard it a dozen times before paying attention and listen in. With the brief out of the way we were then told that the day’s scenario was loosely based on the Falklands War. One side would be the Argentinians, the other British Paras trying to kick them out of the farms and villages around Goose Green. Now to many people this means nothing and they forget this stuff as soon as they are told it, but to Tom and I a little bit of “narrative” makes a big difference and it was good to see a site looking past “orange team have to capture a flag off the yellow team”. Yep, those days are largely over but you do still see it and it was nice to see more effort being made at Phoenix. The orange team went off to take position in the
compounds and villages while the yellow team were shuttled into action by “helicopter”. As with many sites the “helo” is usually a transit van but the guys at Phoenix had again gone the extra mile and equipped the inside of the van with grab rails, red emergency lighting and a sound effects generator creating the noise of the rotor blades and distant incoming fire! I won’t go into detail over the individual games as most were, as in the scenario, attempts to capture or hold various strong points around the huge site. What was interesting, however, was that players were told before game on to take out the BBs, pyro and water they needed for several games in a row and stash them in the vehicles. This meant a lot less trudging to and fro to the safe area and a lot more “game time” for your cash. It also meant the battle could progress across the site at a sensible pace and allow more of the excellent features to be used. As I mentioned earlier, we’d been impressed by the terrain on the way down and we were even more taken with it up close and personal. The site is a former British Army WWII munitions dump and the remains of the brick buildings, outhouses and fortifications are all still there in various states of decay, along with some of the underground storage bunkers. Phoenix have added to this by creating wooden shanty towns and fuel dumps and the like but perhaps most impressively, have made a number of “compounds” and “kill houses” by stacking and arranging large shipping type containers (the sort with windows and doors!) and built inner mazes to create some awesome strong points to battle over. Another great gaming area looked straight out of Mad Max, with a dozen or so burned out cars surrounded by brick fortifications and piles of tyres. Add a crashed light aircraft to the mix and it’s all very impressive - and the guys still have loads they want to build on the site.
www.airsoft-action.online
35
Site PHOENIX AIRSOFT
EXCELLENT MARSHALS
So the ground was good but how was the game? In short… pretty damn good! The scenarios were unusual in not having any artificial “boundaries” like hi-vis tapes or screens but the nature of the missions meant that sure, you could spend an hour outflanking the enemy out of range but you were wasting valuable time needed on the objective. The games, in essence, created boundaries via common sense but the marshals were always on hand to guide any player in danger of venturing too far out. Tom and I found the standard of marshalling to be on the whole excellent. Back in the day, some of the Phoenix marshals I’d known in the past had been decidedly “amateur” in their approach and clearly more interested in actually playing than making the game run smoothly. All of this was clearly well in the past. Jeff told us he’d done away with player marshals and now relied on well trained and motivated guys in easily recognisable bright orange hooded tops and carrying a bag of spare batteries, ammo and other emergency supplies to guide the game along. As with any good football referee, the marshals were “on the game” at all times and were clearly focussed on their jobs and not having a private chat while ignoring the game (as sometimes happens when marshals get complacent). As many of these “strongpoint assault” missions involved storming a kill-house, or taking out a bunker complex the guys were keen to make clear at the start of each scenario that the “up close and personal” missions were “single shot 36
XMAS 2017
only” to avoid overkill and prevent any tempers fraying. During the safety brief Jeff had made it clear that cheat-calling was not tolerated and as bad as cheating itself. Jeff told Tom and I that in the past some arguments between players had got to ridiculous levels and it was something they had stamped down hard on and quite rightly so. The safety brief stressed that anyone having an issue with another player’s conduct had to chat to a marshal about it and not start a confrontation … be it “cheat calling” or a row in the safezone. The message had clearly sunken in and it was refreshing to be skirmishing alongside one of my fellow yellow team who said to me “I reckon I’ve hit that guy about four times!” and then discretely call for a marshal to watch that player, rather than scream at him to “take your bloody hit!” In no way will I pretend that everyone did this but I think I heard “mate, I’ve hit you” or “take your hit” about three times all day. Given that after lunch when everyone is a bit knackered and full of burgers, this is a massive problem even at the most civil of sites, it was good to see cheat calling at an absolute minimum and the spirit of sportsmanship among the players was on the whole excellent. One incident neatly sums up the “good will” of the player base… During one battle the battery on my trusty AK74 died a death and I switched to my secondary pistol to stay in the fight. Despite being happy to battle on with my sidearm, I had at least three players offer to lend me their pistol as a second gun, or try to see if they had a suitable battery with them! After four or five hard-fought skirmishes we broke for lunch
Site PHOENIX AIRSOFT
and sampled Phoenix’s meal deals. For a fiver you could get a beef or chicken burger and chips and a drink (and if vegetarians pre-order in advance, a veggie option can be sorted) to refuel after a hard morning’s battling. It was pleasing to see that all the players were fed efficiently and not too much time was wasted on a “lunch hour”. I’ve sometimes found that players can “switch off” if lunch goes on too long and it was good to see Jeff quickly get the guys fired up for the afternoon’s play as soon as it was clear everyone had eaten.
BROKEN, BLOODIED AND BRUISED BUT LOVING IT
For the afternoon many of the scenarios were reversals of the earlier battles to make sure that everyone got an opportunity to attack AND defend the compounds and bunker complexes. I traded places with Tom and decided to escort our work experience lad Matt (you can read his views as a newcomer to the hobby next issue!) through the “warzone” and show him some tricks of the trade. Playing the games the other way around was just as much fun as the initial assaults and Matt and I put up a furious defence of the first village as waves of “Argentinians” attacked us from their “helo”. My super airsoft soldier skills had clearly been left in the safe zone, however, as I was quickly shot out and had to leave Matt to fend for himself. Two more defences later and I could see that it was looking like we’d broken our new recruit. He looked exhausted, my “old man’s” legs were giving up and Tom had managed to get his nose bloodied by and accurate sniper shot and so we thought it was probably best we headed for home while at least one of us was still in a condition to drive! But, make no mistake; we were not leaving because we’d had a bad day. On the contrary, we’d been worn out by the exciting and varied terrain and game play and needed to up our fitness levels to compete. It’s fair to say Tom and I didn’t know what to expect from Phoenix. Would we find the rough and ready “big boy’s rules” we’d loved in the early 2000s? Would we find a sanitised “paintball” experience? Would we even
“AS WITH MANY SITES THE “HELO” IS USUALLY A TRANSIT VAN BUT THE GUYS AT PHOENIX HAD AGAIN GONE THE EXTRA MILE AND EQUIPPED THE INSIDE OF THE VAN WITH GRAB RAILS, RED EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND A SOUND EFFECTS GENERATOR CREATING THE NOISE OF THE ROTOR BLADES AND DISTANT INCOMING FIRE!” be welcome back? It was clear from the offset that Phoenix Airsoft had upped their game, put a polish on an existing spirit of adventure and improved immeasurably since the last time we’d been. I tried hard to find anything to fault the guys on. If I were to be “hyper-critical”, I would say that despite the fact Jeff Wiseman, Dave Grogan and their team are able to safely accommodate new players, I think their real target market is veteran airsofters who want a little more than “capture the flag”. Phoenix’s site FPS limits are also very much on the higher end and will appeal to more experienced players, with AEGs being allowed 370fps with a .20g BB. This high fps level is tempered with safety though, as all guns were chronoed before play (including pistols which many sites forget), full face protection was recommended and, as aforementioned, “close combat” was restricted to single shot. One of the last times I played at Phoenix a large part of their urban site was destroyed by a fire lit by vandals. I don’t think I’ve been back since but our game day experience made it clear that Phoenix have clearly risen from the ashes. www.airsoft-action.online
37
Event SCORPION EVO OWNERS CLUB
AIRSOFT EVO-LUTION AS AN SCORPION USER HERSELF, IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK SHOULD BE AT THIS FIRST OF A KIND EVENT, WHERE EVERYONE WAS ROCKING AN EVO. ON THE 10TH SEPTEMBER, ActionSportGames and Halo Mill Proving Grounds near Huddersfield hosted the very first ASG Scorpion EVO Owners Club event in the UK (and the first game of its kind in the UK to my knowledge) – an event dedicated entirely to everything EVO and we went along to see what the crack was.
38
XMAS 2017
Early in 2016, the ASG Scorpion EVO Owners Group was created on Facebook as a forum where EVO owners could log on and show off their EVO builds, ask for tech advice, support etc. and it has grown in size to around 2,500 members. It was only a matter of time before all these players came together at one event to show their support! The game was held at Halo Mill: Proving Grounds which is run by Patrol Base and is based at the Yorkshire Paintball Centre (YPC) in Skipworth. It is a large outdoor woodland site that has a huge, impressive bridge structure at the heart of a dense fern woodland. Halo Mill: Proving Grounds is a 2 hour drive from my home in the East Midlands so I set off super early to get there in time for the festivities. The day started with participants arriving from 8am. The site had a pretty sizable car park that was already filling up by the time I arrived at 8.30am, as we dragged our kit from the car to the safe zone the route was filled with banners and flags announcing the game. At the registration desk players were given a goodie bag filled with patches, BBs and stickers to welcome them to the event. The safe zone was pretty full by the time I arrived, but there was still plenty of space for the player limit of 300! The safe zone facilities were actually very good and despite it being an outdoor site everything was under cover. After everyone had got kitted up and pumped to play, the games started at around 10am, following a safety brief that was comprehensive and covered all bases. The games for the day were points-based, objective games where players had a certain time limit to complete them in.
Event SCORPION EVO OWNERS CLUB
Our first objective was to secure the bridge and as soon as the whistle had been sounded to signal game on, players were rushing towards it from both sides. Our team made it onto the bridge first but we were contested and spent our allocated time limit having a fierce firefight over the entire length of the bridge until, eventually, we were pushed back and off. Our objectives included taking and maintaining control of areas/ landmarks on the site. Games in the morning lasted from 10am until around 1pm. I was actually super-impressed with lunch at Halo Mill: Proving grounds, on arrival we were given lunch tokens to use during the break and it included either a slice of pizza, a pasty, a burger or a hot dog along with a chocolate bar and a hot/ cold drink. After the lunch break, there was a huuuge raffle, probably one of the biggest I have seen at a game in the UK. Prizes included (take a dep breath)‌ HB Industries EVO rail (long EVO B.E.T build), HB Industries EVO rail (short EVO CQB build), Scorpion EVO Carbine, ASG Bren plus mag adapter, real steel Gen 1 iron sights, M4 stock adapter, hand stop, EVO flash hider, EVO sling, mag clamps, EVO bag, EVO peli case, MP9 14mm Adapter, Yeti patches and stickers, Yeti Wurks grip (for HPA only), Manticore patches and stickers, Green EVO owners patches, EG hoodie, two Scorpion AEPs, CZ P-09, CZ pistol case, CZ Shadow, Smoked EVO mags, EVO hi cap and others such as patches, tees and stickers. Phew! There was also a competition for the best custom Evo. After lunch and the raffle the games kicked back off with the same objective style. My team in the afternoon’s mission was to defend different points on the map from the other team, which included the bridge, bomb dump and others and play went on until 5pm.
On the day, the Owners Club had asked other retailers to attend to support the day and a number turned up, including: Patrol Base, Yeti Wurks, HB Industries, Manticore Arms Inc., 3D soft, Scorpionskinz, Viper Tactical, Wolverine Airsoft and HD Prototyping, which added another element to the event. Players could check out and purchase products specifically for the EVO and also check out new prototype products.
www.airsoft-action.online
39
with ActionSportGames Available at:
CXP-MARS Comodo
BLE-XAE Dual tone
CXP-MARS DMR
BLE-XAE Black
CXP-MARS SBR
BLE-XAE Tan
ActionSportGames® is a worldwide leader in the business of replica firearms and accessories manufacturing – including Airsoft guns, Airguns, CO2 guns and firearms replicas.
0094-1017_AirsoftAction_ICS.indd 1
0094-1017_November2017
ASG Game essentials Holster, 7.4V LiPo battery, ULTRAIR green gas & BLASTER Airsoft BBs
01-11-2017 08:56:39
Event SCORPION EVO OWNERS CLUB
It was a fantastic event but it was also quite eerie. It seemed very strange going to a game day and only hearing one type of weapon being fired and because the Scorpion EVO is a top line AEG out of the box, a lot of owners choose to forego upgrading them or changing the internals and because of this, the teams were very evenly matched in regards to firepower. I think these sorts of events are really good for the community as well. It’s really cool to see the community coming together over their shared love of a weapon. Overall I think the first ASG Scorpion EVO owners’ event was a resounding success and I am thoroughly looking forward to the next! Here’s what the community had to say: Andrew Basford: “I had a great day today met some great people from far and wide. Absolute pleasure playing with you all. A big thanks to all of the team involved. See you all again!” Carl Humphreys: “Amazing day today! A huge thanks to everyone involved with making this event happen. Also a great day’s airsoft with some great people. Look forward to seeing you all at next year’s event.” Cy Hickling: “I thought it was a fantastic experience meeting like-minded people and even though we all had the EVO, the variety of customisation was a testament of how versatile a platform the EVO is. Whether in airsoft or in the real world. I was blown away that ASG made such a big effort and had time to chat with us all, and it made a big difference to me personally that they thought that this event was important enough for them to do that. I hope there are more in the future. Such a great day.” Suzanne Toole: “Overall I very much enjoyed the day! I loved that we were greeted warmly by Paul and given sweeties (I’m easily pleased). The exclusive Owners Club patches, free lunch and free bottle of BBs were also nice touches. The selection of stores was good and I was chuffed to bits to get my EVO spring upgraded and the option of getting a Yeti Wurks mag release fitted there and then by the Patrol Base techs, who were very helpful. I also picked up a set of Scorpion Skins. The facilities
were good with a cafe window and several turdis loos that thankfully didn’t end up like Glastonbury by the end of the day! “Gameplay wise, on the whole I thought the games were quite well organised with varied game objectives and an excellent choice of site to host the day. Because everyone was using the same gun (near enough) tactics and teamwork were the order of the day. The teams should perhaps have been rebalanced after lunch as our team ended up pushing the enemy back to their spawn on a few occasions, which may have left a few players a bit demoralised but the marshals were quick to order us to fall back. Other than that I felt that the lunch (yes I know you call it dinner, you heathen) break went on a little too long but the whole day had a rather casual air to it with people wandering back to the safe zone periodically to grab more BBs or a drink. I guess I’m used to more focused skirmishes/MilSims but I think people liked the more relaxed atmosphere but occasionally it did lead to unbalanced teams. That said both myself and my partner absolutely enjoyed the event and would totally do it again.”
www.airsoft-action.online
41
Event PRO AIRSOFT EVENTS
IT’S A SCARY MOMENT FOR GEORAGA WHEN HIS SQUAD ARE FACED WITH SOME “DIFFERENT” COMBATANTS AND THE SCALES ARE TIPPED... BUT IN WHOSE FAVOUR? CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED AT PRO AIRSOFT EVENTS’ HALLOWEENTHEMED BATTLESIM.
OP JADE MAMBA IT’S COME AROUND AGAIN; that time of year where the western world all band together in celebration of the spooky, sweet and scary. Is it me though, or do kids not “Trick or Treat” as much these days? Not that I’m complaining, I always end up with a tub of sweets that I just have to eat, which for me is especially fortunate because... well... Halloween is my birthday... let’s go ahead and get that out there straight away. Anyway, Halloween is notoriously cheesy and we all know that every now and then, airsoft loves to have edam good go at embracing the gouda times (…am I sorry? Not even a bit)! This year, alongside all the novelty games that local sites run, allowing players to do combat with the Incredible Hulks, Pikachus or... My Little Ponies... I made my way out to the AWA Herts airsoft site for Pro Airsoft Events’ OP Jade Mamba – a BattleSim with a twist. Firstly, let’s just establish the term “BattleSim”... Within airsoft there are so many different facets now that it can be hard to keep up, so let’s just make sure we’re all on the same page. The best way to describe BattleSim is that it takes elements of both a regular skirmish and Milsim and mashes them together, so that you end up with a longer game day that is objective and scenario-based, often implementing some ammo/clothing restrictions but not quite taking it to the extreme of the military simulations that are much harder and taxing on the player. BattleSim has been described as “a game
42
XMAS 2017
Event PRO AIRSOFT EVENTS
style for those that want to enjoy more immersive gaming but don’t want to lose sight of the fact that it is, in fact, a game”. So by definition, this event isn’t your everyday Halloween skirmish; it still implements a level of reality that you don’t get from your Sunday sling-sesh, like ammo limits and squad objectives, as opposed to just overall team play like your usual “Capture The Flag”. Pro Airsoft Events (PAE, an off-shoot of Pro Airsoft Supplies) have been running a series of these BattleSim events called Flashpoint Moldenia. They focus on two main factions: the Moldenian Defence Force (MDF), who are dressed in Desert/ Multicam and the Moldenian Oath Keepers (MOK), who dress in Black/Green and Civvy kit and battle over socio-political revolutions in Moldenia. That, however, is where OP Jade Mamba departs from the canon of the series and embraces that ever so wonderful cheesiness we’ve already talked about. According to the story, the area of operations used to be a USSR “Black Site” back in the late 60’s, when Moldenia was a Soviet state and troops downed what was thought to be a US spy plane. Skip 58 years forward and it’s now no-man’s land between the two factions, both of which have been reluctant to engage each other due to some mysterious rumblings in the area: the night before, the MOK and MDF lines were quiet once again save for the mysterious lights that could be seen deep in the woods that separated the two enemies. Vlad, the squad commander of the MOK’s assault engineer section, was sick of the speculation and decided to go off into the woods with two of his men to finally end the mystery once and for all. Unfortunately, Vlad and his men never came back and it was down to the MOK forces to initiate a search the following morning.
GAME DAY
I arrived at 8.30am to AWA Herts, where I was met by Griff and the team who took me through a quick rundown of the day, making sure not to give away too much as things would be “evolving” throughout the day (li’l clue for you there). Bacon sarnie in hand I spoke to Theo, who would be our commander for the morning session, before getting out the Krytac Kriss Vector which I was keen to try with the 11.1v lipo instead of the 7.4v I’d been running until now …anticipation is always heightened when you’re waiting to try something new, don’t you think? Players started arriving, unpacking and kitting up in their groups and as I looked around I noticed that, with the growing seas of black and green flowing through the safezone, MOK was starting to outnumber MDF by 2:1. Either that or Multicam really does blend into everything and I just couldn’t see the sheer numbers surrounding us. Assuming I was right the first time, it meant that the MDF commander would have to plan their moves carefully to increase their chances of success. After the usual safety briefing we were split into squads and I was placed with a small bunch of really friendly guys, a few I’ve played with at other sites (hey Rob!) and we were briefed on the day’s main storyline and objectives. At this point PAE decided to drop in that there was an extra faction that we hadn’t encountered before, known as “The Third Element” and they may come into play throughout the day. The Third Element would apparently play by slightly different rules and would be able to withstand multiple shots but, thanks to a mysterious crystal, those with mortal wounds could be strung up like puppets and forced to fight for them …interesting.
“BATTLESIM HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS “A GAME STYLE FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO ENJOY MORE IMMERSIVE GAMING BUT DON’T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT IT IS, IN FACT, A GAME”.”
www.airsoft-action.online
43
Event PRO AIRSOFT EVENTS
”YOU’LL KNOW WHEN YOU SEE THEM”
So each team head out to their Forward Operating Base (FOB) and the game begins. Our objective is to search a few main locations for intel on what happened to Vlad’s squad (later to reveal the source of their power). Commander Theo led squads 1-5 as one large force into the battlefield; we heard tell that the MDF have found out about our search mission and may have ventured into No Man’s Land so we were on the lookout for contact. As this was running on BattleSim rules, a medic was in play which meant there were only a certain number of bandages to deploy and once the medic ran out and 75% of the squad were hit, the whole squad were deemed “combat ineffective” and had to return to the FOB. There was one medic assigned to each squad but as we went out as one large faction, well we only went out with one medic …do you see where this is going? After a decent walk through the woodland site, through brush and branch, dipping under and climbing over, we came to the outer edge of a town structure... things were quiet and tense... where moments before the team were joking and laughing, suddenly guns were up, voices were silent and we were edging forward; eyes scanning the woods ahead, looking for any sign of movement. Nothing... silence... until... “HIT! MEDIC!” The squad hit the ground and scrambled for the closest cover as silent sniper shots flew by the heads of teammates and shattered against the trees behind. I dropped low by some barricades and saw Tommy, the youngest on our squad and the voluntary medic, frantically panicking and running across to the first downed soldier. In the confusion, he took a hit and dropped to the floor - right in the firing line. I could hear three others go down as our team started laying down some plastic of our own; at this rate we were going to be “Combat Ineffective” way too quickly if we don’t get Tommy back up and running again, so I pelted across to his position and dragged him the few extra metres further behind cover, BBs coming in at us from across the tree-line and pulled out the wad of bandages. A bit of advice here: if you’re a medic, think about how you manage your bandages. Find a streamlined method to store and retrieve them because pulling out a big tangled ball of “OH F***!” isn’t something anyone needs when you have the repeated sounds of AEG fire getting closer and closer to the cover you’re crouched behind!! Strapped up and anxious not to get hit again, I planned his route and sent him full speed from point to point giving him some covering fire as he went. We all fought back against the incoming MDF force but it was clear that there were more of us going down, than were able to fight back. On top of that, Tommy had an impossible job; the team was far too spread out for one medic to do much good. After a tough battle, Theo called it: “COMBAT INEFFECTIVE – MOK SQUADS BACK TO THE FOB!”
It was at this moment things became very very confusing and several things happened very quickly: From behind us came three big LIZARDS!? The lizards pulled up all the downed men, including Theo and forced them back into the fight. Those MOK that were still alive abandoned the combat ineffective and continued fighting both sides now (whether we were meant to is questionable). Both forces were wiped out within a matter of minutes. The Third Element came, conquered and left. Back at the FOB we were split into much smaller squads and set off on individual missions because, clearly, the large task force approach wasn’t working. Myself and squad 3 took on the village and smoothly mowed through the MDF team hunkered down (zero casualties), as others searched elsewhere for intel on the Third Element and how to defeat them. Intel found, the rest of the day consisted of multiple intense firefights between the three factions as knowledge of the strange creatures grew. With the new information that the crystal was in the tower and was the source of the lizards power, both sides launched an all-out assault to stop it taking any more men from them and to steal the technology for their own cause. The MOK eventually shut down the tower by sending in waves of their conscripts (even though one wave fell victim to the tower during their charge!) while their more experienced fighters tied up the MDF in the town, denying them their approach to the tower. The creatures returned with their final mission. They had constructed a beacon in which the main invasion fleets could be signalled that the probe had found another planet for them to conquer. Both sides picked up this massive surge of energy and deployed their forces to stop it. The MDF were the victors with a quick decisive assault that finally put Vlad and his men(ish) down for good. The MOK though weren’t ones to let truth get in the way of a good propaganda victory and tried to dislodge the MDF from the beacon to claim responsibility for saving earth. The MDF weren’t having it though and beat back the MOK to secure their victory in the day. Pro Airsoft Events took something inherently silly like Halloween and incorporated it into a story that combined the ridiculousness of seeing three giant lizards with the immersion of the BattleSim style and for an event that’s supposed to be accessible to new players as well as challenging for those more experienced it was best use of Halloween I’ve seen in a long while …and I should know!
www.airsoft-action.online
45
Inside Airsoft SIXMIL
AIRSOFT FOR HIRE KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK WRITES ABOUT AN AIRSOFT COMPANY WITH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON HELPING NEW PLAYERS INTO THE GAME. EARLY LAST MONTH I HAD the pleasure of visiting West Midlands Airsoft: High Command in Rowley Regis and whilst I was there, got talking to Joe from SIXMIL.com, a relatively new independent airsoft rental company that aims to level the field for new players. SIXMIL is an independent airsoft rental company that aims to “level the bar” (as it were) for new players wanting to get into airsoft, and give them the weapons and gear that are on par with regular walk on players. They have been in business for around 2 years now and started with the aim to encourage more players into the sport by giving them something that new players don’t get a lot of at the hiring stage – choice! SIXMIL provide a large range of weapons, genuine military clothing sets, tactical gear and even radios so new players can get the most out of their early days in the sport. Speaking to Joe I found out that SIXMIL originally started as a favour to a local site that often needed a couple of extra hire weapons here and there, and the enterprise grew rapidly (within 4 months) into a fully-fledged separate business. It became pretty evident to him that new players craved the choices around weapons and gear loadouts that regular players enjoy, but there were no rental services that could give them that choice so he decided to take it on himself. He understood that site owners are limited on time and money, and that they need to focus the majority of their time and money on site improvements and game planning and, as a result, hire kit for 46
XMAS 2017
new players is usually limited at best and last on the priorities list. Joe thought it was clear that if you give new players the attention and choice that sites often struggle to provide, it has a massive effect on their enjoyment and player retention from day one. The first site they took over hires from usually had 6-8 rentals a game, but within 18 months that number shot up to between 35-50 hires per game as the word spread about this service. Currently SIXMIL have permanent hire shops at 3 sites in the West Midlands - Stormforce Airsoft in Rugeley, West Midlands Airsoft: FOB in Tean and West Midlands Airsoft: High Command in Rowley Regis, Birmingham. They also supply on an ad-hoc basis to other local sites as and when needed and also additional weapons for specific events. They are looking to expand into more sites on a permanent basis within the next 12 months, time allowing. In addition (and one thing that is really cool about SIXMIL), they also have a fully equipped mobile armoury which they bring and set up at sites for specific events if needed. Their current range, includes numerous assault rifle class weapons, sub-machine guns, support weapons, DMRs, sniper rifles, even GBB sidearms. Most of these weapons are also available to hire in both standard and upgraded configurations. The upgraded versions will include additions such as sights, foregrips and a few other external modifications. Kit-wise they decided that overalls and plastic masks just don’t cut it, so SIXMIL supply a range of genuine military issue combat sets including DPM, OD/Greens, MTP and so on. These sets also have options like choices between UBACS/Smock tops, adding matching headwear such as boonie hats, baseball caps and helmets. In addition to their loadouts, the service also offers tactical accessory packs that include simple but useful items such as gloves, knee pads, shemaghs and so on. Of course, they also supply a range of specifically designed chest rigs to accompany their weapons; from plate carriers to webbing sets and even light weight SMG assault rigs. The recent addition of radios and radio accessories to their range have proved really popular.
Inside Airsoft SIXMIL
One awesome service they offer is pre-designed “Loadout Packages” which combine weapons and kit into one simple full loadout package so new players can simply pick and play as no prior knowledge of what kit works together is needed. These premade packages help to get new players out on the field and kitted out head to toe as well as the regulars and have been a massive success for SIXMIL. Joe commented: “We are always adding new weapons and gear! I’m probably the last person that should be doing this job as, being a self-confessed gear junky myself, I can’t stop constantly adding new kit! There will be a new assault rifle class in the next month or two and another SMG class too, but I’m undecided on quite what yet (suggestions are always welcome). In addition to that, we are currently working on a new type of hire class altogether, something I’ve never seen a site attempt before: “The Elite Class”! Basically I want to hit a side of the hire market that has been left untouched - regular players. The idea at the moment is to stock a range to top shelf weapons (TM VSRs, TM Recoils, EVOs, AA12s) and so on and give regular players a chance to hire weapons they may just want to try, or are thinking of buying. To kick things off we’ve just invested in some of the new CA microguns and are looking into how to get this out as a hire weapon for those that just need to go mental for the day!” www.sixmil.com Thank you to SIXMIL for speaking to us. www.facebook.com/sixmil The whole Airsoft Action team wish Joe all joeskillings@sixmil.com the best and cannot wait to see what he has in store next!
Contact Details:
“THEY HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR AROUND 2 YEARS NOW AND STARTED WITH THE AIM TO ENCOURAGE MORE PLAYERS INTO THE SPORT BY GIVING THEM SOMETHING THAT NEW PLAYERS DON’T GET A LOT OF AT THE HIRING STAGE – CHOICE!”
www.airsoft-action.online
47
Military1st.co.uk GEAR UP FOR ACTION!
2
WWW. F IR ST M TA IL ITA C T IC RY1 A L .ST. C OC. OU K. U K
PRODUCTS 0 4 PA N T S 11 SHIRTS 13 POLOS 14 BELTS
WHO ARE WE?
16 OUTERWEAR
First Tactical is dedicated to serving those who serve others. Founded by Dan Costa, a proven industry leader, First Tactical strives to meet the needs of Public Safety professionals with new, innovative ideas in apparel, footwear and accessories. Costa and his team began creating apparel for public safety over 15 years ago when asked by FBI trainers at Quantico to create purpose built apparel that didn’t exist at the time. Costa’s team learned quickly that gear is most functional when it’s designed by the people using it, which is why First Tactical works directly with Law Enforcement, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Personnel and the Military to create durable products that meet their needs.
19 FOOTWEAR 22 GLOVES 25 BAGS 34 TORCHES 3 6 WAT C H E S
Military 1st is proud to present you this First Tactical catalogue, showcasing the best the renowned company has to offer. Moreover, as the UK's biggest First Tactical retailer we now stock a full range of its products. So visit our website today and discover the whole collection.
F E AT URE D N E W P R O DU C T S
VELOCITY TACTICAL PANT
TACTIX 0.5-DAY BACKPACK
VELCRO POUCH
CANYON DIGITAL COMPASS WATCH
P. 10
P.29
P.36
P.39
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 505 M ( UK) +4 9ST. ( 0C) O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
3
FIRST IN
N EW
Specialist Pants are durable and made for the field, featuring our double ripstop polyester/cotton blend fabric, and Teflon® Shield+ stain repellent finish, providing an unmatched sturdiness and functionality. Running gusset construction gives you full motion ability, while triple needle stitching at critical seams provides added strength.
Velocity Series Pants feature a light-weight, 2-way stretch double ripstop cotton and polyester blend fabric, that drastically increases breathability and comfort without sacrificing durability. This Series is perfect for warmer climates and features our Flex Action Waist™ and Teflon® Shield+ stain repellent finish, providing unmatched sturdiness and functionality.
SPECIALIST TACTICAL
VELOCITY TACTICAL
SPECIALIST BDU
114005
114008
114006
4
IR ST TAST. C T ICC OA .LU. CKO . U K WWW. MILFITA RY1
FIT AND FUNCTIONALITY
N EW
Tactix Series Pants are first in fit and functionality and are the perfect tool while on the job. Featuring our 2-way mechanical stretch fabric, Flex Action Waist™, and a running gusset, these pants are made to move. Teflon® Shield+ stain repellent with added nylon pocket lining. Including riveted belt loops for added durability.
Featuring an ultra-durable nylon-cotton stretch fabric, the First Tactical Defender Pant gives users the durability and protection they need when entering hostile situations. Featuring First Tactical’s Flex Action Waist™ and a 27-pocket configuration you will have more than enough room for your tactical needs.
TACTIX TACTICAL
DEFENDER PANT
TACTIX BDU
114002 114001
114003
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WW 2 5 W. 0 5 M( UK) +4 9ST. ( 0C)O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
5
N EW
DEFENDER KNEE PADS 142502 Defender Knee Pads
£11.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Dual density EVA foam Geometric impact shaped foam Compression molded ergo shape Texturised outer fabric
∙ ∙ Venting channels ∙ ∙ Mesh lining ∙ ∙ Fits all First Tactical pants with knee pad pocket
015-Asphalt
N EW
111004 Men’s Defender Shirt
SIZE: S-2XL REGULAR
£74.95 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Body: 6.5 oz. 100% polyester; breathable, snag and wrinkle resistant jersey with moisture wicking and anti-microbial finish ∙ ∙ Sleeve/Collar: 6.9 oz. 55% cotton, 45% Cordura ® nylon mechanical 2-way stretch double ripstop, with moisture wicking finish ∙ ∙ Side Panels: Snag Proof, 85% nylon,15% spandex 4-way stretch with moisture wicking and anti-microbial finish ∙ ∙ Comfort stretch neck band for added comfort and personalised fit ∙ ∙ Quarter zip front styling with professional fold-down collar ∙ ∙ Chin guard at zipper with simplified welt construction for comfort ∙ ∙ Performance yoke with flatlock saddle shoulder seam construction to minimise bulk ∙ ∙ Oversized sleeve pocket with loop overlay accepts patches and features a built-in pen pocket ∙ ∙ Double layer elbow is durable and accepts elbow pad ∙ ∙ Sleeves are streamlined with a modified cuff and maintain a professional look when rolled up ∙ ∙ Running gusset for maximum movement ∙ ∙ Longer length with shirttails to stay tucked in ∙ ∙ Shirt includes epaulette kit and instruction sheet for customised attachment 019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
Also Pictured: BDU Belt (pg.14); Tactix 1-Day+ Backpack (pg.29); Defender Pant (pg. 7); 8” Side Zip Duty Boot (pg. 20).
6
WWW.M F IRILSTITATARY1 C T ICST. A LC. OC O. U. UK K
Also Pictured: Defender Shirt (pg.6) Slash & Flash Hard Knuckle Glove (pg.23) Canyon Digital Compass Watch (pg.39)
N EW
114002 Men’s Defender Pant
SIZE: W: 30-40, L: 32-34
£114.95 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 6.9 oz. 55% cotton/45% Cordura ® nylon mechanical 2 way stretch double ripstop with moisture wicking finish ∙ ∙ Comfort Flex Action Waist™ ∙ ∙ Riveted reinforced belt loops ∙ ∙ Nylon reinforcement in pockets ∙ ∙ Knife clip protection pocket to prevent snagging ∙ ∙ Wicking mesh pocket bags and inside knees for ventilation ∙ ∙ Zip secure cargo pocket with internal organisation ∙ ∙ Running gusset with articulation at the knees for maximum movement ∙ ∙ Welded reinforced knees with zippered side access for easy knee pad integration ∙ ∙ Lower secure leg pocket ∙ ∙ Internal grosgrain loop inside pockets ∙ ∙ Ventilation in key areas ∙ ∙ Drainage in all pockets ∙ ∙ Premium hardware: YKK ® zippers, Prym ® snap and rivets, Duraflex ® pulls 019-Black
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 505 M ( UK) +4 9ST. ( 0C) O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
729-Midnight Navy
7
PANTS | TACTIX
TACTIX TACTICAL
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
52% polyester, 48% cotton blend 7 oz. 2-way mechanical stretch, double ripstop fabric Teflon ® Shield+ stain repellent finish Comfort Flex Action Waist™ Riveted reinforced belt loops Triple needle stitching at critical seams Running gusset External knee pad access Premium Hardware: YKK ® zippers, Prym ® snaps
114001 Men’s Tactix Series Tactical Pants
SIZE: W: 28-40, L: 30-34
£64.95 124001 Women’s Tactix Series Tactical Pants
SIZE: 2-18, L: REGULAR 019-Black 055-Khaki
TA C T I C A L PA N T F E AT U R E S
∙ ∙ Front and back magazine/mobile phone pockets ∙ ∙ Reinforced knife pocket ∙ ∙ Stay flat pocket with internal organiser
729-Midnight Navy
B D U PA N T F E AT U R E S
∙ ∙ Structured non-roll pocket flap ∙ ∙ Oversized and expandable cargo pockets ∙ ∙ Stretch cord for blousing included
TACTIX BDU 114003 Men’s Tactix Series BDU Pants SIZE: W: 28-40, L: 30-34
£69.95 124003 Women’s Tactix Series BDU Pants SIZE: 2-16, L: REGULAR 019-Black 729-Midnight Navy 830-OD Green (Men’s Only)
8 8
WWW.FMIRILSTITATARY1 C T ICST. A LC. COO. U. UK K
SPECIALIST | PANTS
SPECIALIST TACTICAL 114005 Men’s Specialist Tactical Pants
SIZE: W: 28-42, 31, 33, 35, L: 30-34
£44.95 124005 Women’s Specialist Tactical Pants
SIZE: 2-16, L: REGULAR
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
6.2 oz. 65% polyester, 35% cotton double ripstop fabric Teflon ® Shield+ stain repellent finish Triple needle stitching at critical seams Running gusset Internal knee pad entry point Premium Hardware: YKK ® zippers, Prym ® snaps Traditional fixed waistband
TA C T I C A L PA N T F E AT U R E S
019-Black
∙ ∙ Front magazine/mobile phone pocket ∙ ∙ Stay flat pocket flap ∙ ∙ Internal organiser in cargo pocket
055-Khaki 729-Midnight Navy
B D U PA N T F E AT U R E S
∙ ∙ Streamlined cargo pockets with internal organiser ∙ ∙ Blouse-ready pant leg
SPECIALIST BDU 114006 Men’s Specialist BDU Pants
SIZE: W: 28-40, L: 32-34
£49.95 019-Black 729-Midnight Navy 830-OD Green
Also Pictured: BDU Belt (pg.14).
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 5 0 5 M( UK) +4 9ST.( 0C)O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
9
PANTS | VELOCITY
N EW
KNEE PADS
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Proprietary Ultra Stretch™ double ripstop with Teflon™ Shield+ stain repellent finish, 52% polyester/48% cotton, 6.3 oz.
114008 Men's Velocity Tactical Pant
∙ ∙ Internal nylon reinforcement at inside hand pocket, knife pocket, and cargo pocket
SIZE: W: 30-40, L: 32-34
∙ ∙ Web loop in pockets for secure clipping of keys and gear ∙ ∙ Triple needle stitching at critical seams ∙ ∙ Easily accessible back pockets ∙ ∙ Mesh lined front pockets for breathability
£69.95 019-Black
055-Khaki
729-Midnight Navy
∙ ∙ Side cargo pocket incorporates hidden internal organiser pocket. Flaps are hook/loop secure, but can be easily tucked into pocket for quick access ∙ ∙ Running gusset and articulated knee for maximum movement ∙ ∙ Internal knee pad access, build for use with First Tactical knee pads ∙ ∙ Blouse-ready pant leg ∙ ∙ Bartacks at all stress points ∙ ∙ Internal locker loop and ID write bar ∙ ∙ Premium Hardware: YKK ® zippers, Prym ® snaps ∙ ∙ Comfort Flex Action Waist™ V E L O C I T Y TA C T I C A L PA N T
∙ ∙ Front magazine/mobile phone pocket ∙ ∙ Stay flat pocket flap ∙ ∙ Internal organiser inside cargo pocket
Also Pictured: 8” Side Zip Duty Boot (pg. 20).
142501 Internal Knee Pad Set S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
EVA compression molded foam Dual density construction Closed cell foam repels moisture and odour Geometric impact 3D shape Soft, moisture wicking mesh lining Ergonomic design with joint articulations Venting channels perforate foam Compatible with all First Tactical pants Set of 2 pads 019-Black
£9.45
10
WWW.M ITATARY1 F IRILST C T ICST. A LC.OC .OU. KU K
TACTIX | SHIRTS
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
51% polyester, 49% cotton blend 4.6 oz. 2-way mechanical stretch, double ripstop fabric Teflon ® Shield+ stain repellent finish Industrial strength melamine buttons Includes epaulets/buttons, badge tab, and mic loop kit Premium Hardware: YKK ® zippers, melamine buttons
B D U S H I R T F E AT U R E S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Double layer elbow (long sleeve only) Underarm running gusset Mic access at side seams Longer length with shirttails to stay tucked in Hidden button-down collar Quick closure zip front Left sleeve pen pocket (long sleeve only) Discreet active venting system Structured no roll pocket flap Hidden oversized document pockets External elbow pad access
142500 Internal Elbow Pad Set
£9.45
019-Black
111001 Men’s Tactix Series Long Sleeve BDU Shirt
112004 Men’s Tactix Series Short Sleeve BDU Shirt
SIZE: S-2XL REGULAR
SIZE: S-2XL REGULAR
£69.95
£59.95
019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
055-Khaki
830-OD Green
055-Khaki
830-OD Green
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 5 0 5 M( UK) +4 ST. 9 ( 0C)O1. 5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
11
SHIRTS | SPECIALIST
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
4.2 oz. 65% polyester, 35% cotton blend double ripstop fabric Teflon ® Shield+ stain repellent finish Industrial strength melamine buttons Double layer elbow (long sleeve only) Underarm running gusset Mic access at side seams Includes epaulets/buttons, badge tab, and mic loop kit Left sleeve pen pocket (long sleeve only) Discreet active venting system Structured non-roll pocket flap Hidden oversized document pocket Longer length with shirttails to stay tucked in Hidden button-down collar
111002 Men’s Specialist Long Sleeve BDU Shirt
SIZE: S-2XL
£44.95 019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
055-Khaki
830-OD Green
B D U S H I R T F E AT U R E S
∙ ∙ Traditional BDU Styling
112005 Men’s Specialist Short Sleeve BDU Shirt
SIZE: S-2XL
£39.95
TA C T I C A L S H I R T F E AT U R E S
∙ ∙ Front patch pocket with hook/loops
019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
055-Khaki
830-OD Green
Also pictured: 8” Side Zip Duty Boot (pg. 23 ).
111003 Men’s Specialist Tactical Long Sleeve Shirt
SIZE: S-2XL
£44.95 019-Black
055-Khaki
729-Midnight Navy
N EW 112003 Men’s Specialist Tactical Short Sleeve Shirt
SIZE: S-2XL
£44.95 019-Black 729-Midnight Navy
12
WWW.FMIRILST ITATARY1 C T ICST. A LC.OC .OU. KU K
055-Khaki
| POLOS
N EW Pen Pocket
112508 Men’s Short Sleeve Cotton Polo The First Tactical Cotton Polos feature lightweight, fade-resistant cotton knit and running side gussets for maximum movement, while maintaining a professional look.
SIZE: S-2XL
£27.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 7 oz. 100% cotton pique, fade, shrink and wrinkle resistant
∙ ∙ Industrial strength melamine buttons
∙ ∙ Traditional 3 button front placket
∙ ∙ Accepts embroidery
∙ ∙ 3 mic loops at yokes and front placket
∙ ∙ Bartacks at all stress points
∙ ∙ No roll integrated collar stays
∙ ∙ Tagless neck label
019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
055-Khaki
016-Heather Grey
SHORT SLEEVE
∙ ∙ Utility pocket in sleeve for pen or penlight ∙ ∙ Running side gusset for maximum movement ∙ ∙ Longer body length stays tucked for professional look
All First Tactical Polos feature our innovative pen pockets which accept embroidery while maintaining functionality.
Pen Pocket
112509 Men’s Short Sleeve Performance Polo
SIZE: S-2XL
£29.95 019-Black
First Tactical’s Performance Polos boast superior fabric, fit, and features and have become the go-to shirt for active professionals. The 100% polyester jersey works as hard as you do, while maintaining a classic, professional look that lasts. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
729-Midnight Navy
015-Asphalt
SHORT SLEEVE
∙ ∙ 6.5 oz. 100% polyester jersey, snag, fade, shrink and wrinkle resistant ∙ ∙ Wicking fabric with antimicrobial finish
115003 Men’s Long Sleeve Performance Polo
∙ ∙ Breathable mesh underarm panel
SIZE: S-2XL
∙ ∙ Running side gussets for maximum movement
£34.95
∙ ∙ No roll collar with integrated collar stays
729-Midnight Navy
∙ ∙ Mic/sunglass loop at bottom of front placket ∙ ∙ Utility pocket in sleeve for pen or penlight (short sleeve) ∙ ∙ Naturally tapered fit to look professional, not boxy ∙ ∙ Accepts embroidery ∙ ∙ Industrial strength melamine buttons
LONG SLEEVE
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 505 M ( UK) +4 9ST. ( 0C) O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
13
BELTS First Tactical belts are designed to work for you while maintaining advanced comfort. Featuring extra durable buckles, to pre-curved nylon webbing, our belts set the bar high.
All Belts Feature: ∙ ∙ High grade aluminium/steel buckle fabricated for enhanced durability
∙ ∙ 5 rows of stitching
∙ ∙ Internal slide bar in ergonomically curved buckle design
∙ ∙ Recurved nylon webbing with comfort edge
∙ ∙ 2 layer webbing with internal stiffener
BDU BELT
∙ ∙ Hook/loop belt tip keeper ∙ ∙ Hidden cuff key pocket ∙ ∙ Fortified webbing tip
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Metal free polymer double bar buckle for lower profile, professional look and an airport friendly wear
143001 BDU Belt 1.5” (3.8cm)
∙ ∙ Curved high density webbing for ergonomic fit
SIZE: XS-3XL
∙ ∙ Flip-tab buckle adjustment
£10.95
∙ ∙ Cut and heat treated tip for low profile and fray resistance
143000 BDU Belt 1.75” (4.4cm)
SIZE: XS-3XL
£11.95 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
RANGE BELT
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ High density polymer double bar buckle, strong and non-metallic
143004 Range Belt 1.5” (3.8cm)
∙ ∙ Pre-curved for contoured, ergonomic fit
SIZE: XS-3XL
∙ ∙ Two webbing layers stitched five times for strength and stability
£16.95 143002 Range Belt 1.75” (4.4cm)
∙ ∙ Soft, refined high density ribbed webbing with comfort edge for easy slide through belt loops
SIZE: XS-3XL
∙ ∙ Double bar on buckle for a thin profile
£17.95
∙ ∙ Flip tab near top of buckle for easy cinch and release
830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
∙ ∙ Cut and heat treated tip for low profile and fray resistance
N EW
TACTICAL BELT
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Buckle is riveted and fabricated from an aluminium/steel blend
143009 Tactical Belt 1.5” (3.8cm)
∙ ∙ Curved buckle design with internal side bar
SIZE: S-2XL
∙ ∙ Strength rated: 9Kn direct/18Kn indirect ∙ ∙ 2 layer webbing with internal stiffener
£29.95 019-Black
∙ ∙ 5 rows of stitching 060-Coyote
∙ ∙ Hook/loop belt tip keeper ∙ ∙ Last chance D-Ring attachment ∙ ∙ Precurved nylon webbing with Comfort Edge ∙ ∙ Fortified webbing tip
14
F IRILST C T ICST. A LC. OC O. U. UK K WWW.M ITATARY1
TACTICAL
BELT
Also Pictured: Tactical Belt (pg.14); Tactix Series Tactical Pants (pg. 8).
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 5 0 5 M( UK) +4 9ST.( 0C)O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
15
TACTIX OUTERWEAR | 3-IN-1SYSTEMS
TA C T I X O U T E R W E A R F E AT U R E S
∙ ∙ Fully seam-sealed, waterproof and breathable ∙ ∙ Shell: 100% nylon waterproof/breathable shell ∙ ∙ Removable softshell: 85% nylon, 15% spandex is fleece-lined with a 4-way mechanical stretch ∙ ∙ Triple adjustment Rain Gutter Hood™ Design keeps water from dripping on the face ∙ ∙ Running gusset under arm for maximum movement ∙ ∙ Features three customisable pull out panels ∙ ∙ Easy sidearm access ∙ ∙ Two vertical zip-secure front chest pockets ∙ ∙ Easy access pen pocket at front chest ∙ ∙ Mic loops integrated into design ∙ ∙ Adjustable cinch waist ∙ ∙ Stand alone Softshell Jacket included ∙ ∙ Internal locker loop and ID write bar ∙ ∙ Premium Hardware: YKK ® zippers, Prym ® snaps and Duraflex ® hardware TA C T I X 3 - I N - 1 PA R K A S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Parka Length: 32.5 (men’s large) 28.5 (women’s medium) TA C T I X 3 - I N - 1 J A C K E T S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Jacket Length: 28.5 (men’s large) 26.5 (women’s medium) Moisture vapor escapes
118500 Men’s Tactix Series Parka
SIZE: S-2XL
SIZE: S-2XL
£279.95
£279.95
128500 Women’s Tactix Series Parka
128502 Women’s Tactix Series System Jacket
SIZE: S-XL
SIZE: S-XL
019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
Rain, snow and wind stay out
Outer fabric Waterproof/Breathable
Lining
118501 Men’s Tactix Series SoftShell Jacket
SIZE: S-2XL
£109.95 128501 Women’s Tactix Series SoftShell Jacket
SIZE: S-XL S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 85% nylon, 15% spandex blend features 4-way stretch fabric and is water/wind resistant ∙ ∙ Three customisable pull out panels ∙ ∙ Soft brushed fleece inside ∙ ∙ Two vertical chest pockets and a zip secured hand pocket ∙ ∙ Articulated elbow and running gusset ∙ ∙ Easy side arm access 019-Black
16
118502 Men’s Tactix Series System Jacket
729-Midnight Navy
WWW.FMIRILST ITATARY1 C T ICST.A LC.OC .OU. KU K
019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
| OUTERWEAR
N EW
118514 Men’s Specialist Parka
SIZE: S-2XL
£179.95 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 100% nylon ∙ ∙ Fully seam-sealed, waterproof, breathable ∙ ∙ Triple adjustment Rain Gutter Hood™ Design keeps water from dripping on the face ∙ ∙ Running gusset under arm and articulated arm for movement ∙ ∙ Three customisable pull out panels ∙ ∙ Two vertical chest pockets and two lower hand pockets ∙ ∙ Mic loops integrated into design ∙ ∙ Adjustable cinch waist ∙ ∙ Easy side arm access ∙ ∙ Premium Hardware: YKK ® zippers, Prym ® snaps and Duraflex ® hardware 019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
*Compatible with 118501 to make a warmer jacket
118509 Pack-It Jacket
SIZE: S-2XL
£49.95 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 1.5 oz 100% ultra-lightweight nylon ripstop with water repellant finish ∙ ∙ Integrated mic loops at shoulder ∙ ∙ One large front chest pocket ∙ ∙ Zip secured side entry hand pockets ∙ ∙ Entire jacket packs into right hand pocket ∙ ∙ Accepts screen printing 019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 505 M ( UK) +4 9ST. ( 0C)O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
17
HATS |
142003 Adjustable Blank Hat
SIZE: ONE SIZE
£9.45 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 6.2 oz 65% polyester/35% cotton, double ripstop, Teflon Shield+ stain repellant finish ∙ ∙ 6 panel structured hat, buckrim lined crown for professional uniform appearance ∙ ∙ Embroidered tonal logo detail on back ∙ ∙ Sewn eyelets for ventilation ∙ ∙ Adjustable self fabric slider with snap closure ∙ ∙ Logo taping covers internal seams ∙ ∙ Blank cap, ready for embellishment 019-Black
N EW
142007 First Tactical Beanie
SIZE: ONE SIZE
£8.50 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
100% polyester microfleece, anti-pilling Double layer ear band to keep head warm Blank beanie, ready for embellishment Machine washable 019-Black
729-Midnight Navy
Also Pictured: Tactix 3-in-1 Jacket (pg.16).
18
WWW.M F IRILST ITATARY1 C T ICST. A LC. OC O. U. UK K
OPERATOR | BOOTS
N EW
OPERATOR BOOT 165010 Men’s 7” Operator Boot
SIZE: REGULAR 7–12
£109.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Lightweight, durable, breathable textile and synthetic upper ∙ ∙ Lightweight molded TPU upper overlay provides structure ∙ ∙ Tongue lace pocket keeps laces tied and out of the way ∙ ∙ Gusseted tongue construction keeps tongue aligned and debris out ∙ ∙ Knife Pocket on both medial and lateral sides
∙ ∙ Texturised rubber toe guard ∙ ∙ Dual compound performance polyurethane insole with built in airflow pockets for improved breathability. Ortholite ® foam top layer is breathable, moisture wicking and fungus fighting ∙ ∙ Torsion Flex™ Fibreglass Reinforced Composite shank is 75% lighter than steel, provides stability and reduces fatigue
∙ ∙ Closed lace hooks
∙ ∙ Durable rubber outsole is oil and slip resistant. Featuring an aggressive and evenly spaced lug pattern for maximum traction
∙ ∙ Strategically placed Achilles flex point allows for freedom of movement
∙ ∙ Full length compression molded EVA midsole
∙ ∙ 3D Air Mesh lining for breathability
∙ ∙ Lightweight TPU Heel Clip provides extra support and stability through the heel cup and during heel strike
∙ ∙ Stay flat pull loop
060-Coyote
OPERATOR BOOT Our designers have accomplished their mission of creating an ultra-lightweight yet very durable and breathable boot that is perfect for special operations as well as everyday wear. Boasting a Torsion Flex™ fibreglass reinforced composite shank that is 75% lighter than steel, this boot provides stability and reduces fatigue no matter the situation in hand. Also Pictured: Defender Pant (pg. 7); Scorpion Knife Tanto (pg. 25).
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WW 2 5 W. 0 5 M( UK) +4 ST. 9 ( 0C)O1. 5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
19
BOOTS | SIDE ZIP DUTY
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 45% full grain leather, 20% PU coated leather, 35% synthetic ∙ ∙ Available in 6 or 8 inch height
8”
S I D E Z I P B O O T F E AT U R E S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Heel strike window Full length EVA midsole Stay-flat pull loop Stitched reinforced toe and heel Tongue lace pocket Tight molded heel cup
165001 Men’s 6” Side Zip Duty Boot
SIZE: REGULAR 7-12, WIDE 7-12
£84.95
6”
165000 Men’s 8” Side Zip Duty Boot
SIZE: REGULAR 7-12 , WIDE 7-12
£89.95 166001 Women’s 6” Side Zip Duty Boot
SIZE: 3.5-7.5 019-Black
8” 165003 Men’s 8” Waterproof Side Zip Duty Boot
SIZE: REGULAR 7-12, WIDE 7-12
£109.95 166003 Women’s 8” Waterproof Side Zip Duty Boot
SIZE: 3.5-7.5 Waterproof lined leather construction 019-Black
20 20
WWW.FMIRILSTITATARY1 C T ICST. A LC. COO. U. UK K
| SOCKS
PERFECT FIT
Our Perfect Fit are more than just your run-of-the-mill sock. Our team has constructed a high quality sock that features a new technique allowing the sock to fit perfectly to any foot and calf of any size.
160005 All Season Merino Wool 6” Socks
SIZE: S/M, L/XL
£9.95 160006 All Season Merino Wool 9” Socks
SIZE: S/M, L/XL
£11.95 160008 Perfect Fit Duty Sock
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
SIZE: ONE SIZE
27% acrylic, 25% merino wool, 16% nylon, 21% spandex, 11% rubber
£9.95
017-Charcoal
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
9”
60% nylon, 25% cotton, 10% polyester, 5% lycra 019-Black
ADVANCED FIT
9”
MERINO WOOL WITH VENTED PANELS
6”
ANTI MOISTURE YARNS
REVOLUTIONARY ARCHBAND SEAMLESS TOE
PADDING UNDER FOOT WITH COMPRESSION THROUGHOUT VENTED PANEL AT TOP OF FOOT
160001 Cotton 6” Duty 3-Pack Socks
160003 Performance 6” Socks
SIZE: S/M, L/XL
SIZE: S/M, L/XL
£13.95
£7.95
160002 Cotton 9” Duty 3-Pack Socks
SIZE: S/M, L/XL
160004 Performance 9” Socks
SIZE: S/M, L/XL
£16.95
£8.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
25% Thermolite polyester, 25% cotton, 25% polyester, 20% nylon, 5% elastane ®
019-Black
62% cotton, 5% nylon, 28% spandex, 5% rubber
9” 6”
019-Black
LIGHTWEIGHT ULTRA-SHEER LEG
9” 3 PACK
ENHANCED ARCH DESIGN
6”
CUSHION COMFORT FOOT
NATURAL COTTON FIBRE
VENTED PANELS SEAMLESS TOE
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 505 M ( UK) +4 9ST. ( 0C)O1.5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
21
GLOVES |
SLASH & FLASH HARD KNUCKLE GLOVE The Slash & Flash Hard Knuckle Gloves are the result of operators and end-users requesting gloves that could withstand high-level operations. Featuring a Kevlar® and goatskin Level 2 Cut Resistant palm and a Nomex® flame-resistance back. These gloves are built to be sturdy and reliable without sacrificing durability, protection or comfort.
22
WWW.FMIRILSTITATARY1 C T ICST. A LC. COO. U. UK K
| GLOVES
CM XXL
XL
22
L
21
M
20
150012 Slash & Flash Hard Knuckle Glove
SIZE: S-XXL
S
£49.95
MEN’S GLOVE SIZE
∙ ∙ Flame resistant Nomex ® knit material ∙ ∙ TouchTac™ fingertips ∙ ∙ Pistol Grip Palm™ ∙ ∙ Perforated fourchettes ∙ ∙ Hook/loop closure ∙ ∙ U-Shaped thumb gusset for superior recoil control without sacrificing durability, comfort or protection
18
7
17
16
15
∙ ∙ Isolated, hidden TPR knuckle design allows for independent knuckle splay and rotation
8
19
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Level 2 Cut Resistance goatskin/Kevlar ® palms
9
GLOVE SIZE CH A RT
N EW
IN 23
6
14
∙ ∙ Leather support cuff closure ∙ ∙ Machine washable
13
5
019-Black
12
N EW
11
10
4
9
150009 Slash Patrol Glove
SIZE: S-XXL
8
£34.95
3
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
7
∙ ∙ Level 2 Cut Resistance Kevlar ®/Synthetic suede palm ∙ ∙ TouchTac™ fingertips
6
∙ ∙ Pistol Grip Palm™ ∙ ∙ Hook/loop closure
5
∙ ∙ U-Shaped thumb gusset for superior recoil control
2
∙ ∙ BezelCuff™ watch cutout 4
∙ ∙ Machine washable 019-Black
3
1 2
DETERMINE YOUR GLOVE SIZE
PLACE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PALM UP BEHIND THE PAGE AND MEASURE ALONG THE MIDDLE FINGER DOWN TO THE NATURAL FOLD AT YOUR WRIST
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 5 0 5 M( UK) +4 ST. 9 ( 0C)O1. 5U1K2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) IL ITA RY1
1
Start Here
23
GLOVES |
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Lightweight, snag proof, stretch woven materials ∙ ∙ Machine washable goatskin palm
150001 Men’s Lightweight Patrol Glove
∙ ∙ Pistol Grip Palm™
SIZE: S-XXL
∙ ∙ U-shaped thumb gusset for superior recoil control
£24.95
∙ ∙ TouchTac™ fingertip construction for unmatched sensitivity ∙ ∙ BezelCuff™ watch cutout
019-Black
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Midweight, snag proof, stretch woven materials
150003 Men’s Medium Duty Glove
∙ ∙ Machine washable goatskin palm
SIZE: S-XXL
∙ ∙ Pistol Grip Palm™ Design
£24.95
∙ ∙ U-shaped thumb gusset for superior recoil control ∙ ∙ TouchTac™ fingertip construction for unmatched sensitivity
019-Black
∙ ∙ BezelCuff™ watch cutout
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
150005 Men’s Medium Duty Padded Glove
∙ ∙ Midweight, snagproof, stretch woven materials
SIZE: S-XXL
∙ ∙ Machine washable goatskin palm
£24.95
∙ ∙ Nonporous, perforated foam knuckle padding ∙ ∙ Neoprene knuckles
019-Black
∙ ∙ Pistol Grip Palm™ for closer contact ∙ ∙ U-shaped thumb gusset for superior recoil control ∙ ∙ TouchTac™ fingertip construction for unmatched sensitivity ∙ ∙ BezelCuff™ watch cutout
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Midweight, snagproof, stretch woven materials
150007 Men's Hard Knuckle Glove
∙ ∙ Isolated, hidden TPR knuckle design allows for independent knuckle splay and rotation
SIZE: S-XXL
∙ ∙ Machine washable goatskin palm
£39.95
∙ ∙ Nonporous, perforated foam padding ∙ ∙ Pistol Grip Palm™ for closer contact
019-Black
∙ ∙ U-shaped thumb gusset for superior recoil control ∙ ∙ TouchTac™ fingertip construction for unmatched sensitivity ∙ ∙ BezelCuff™ watch cutout
24
WWW. FMIRILST ITATARY1 ST.A LC.OC.OU.KU K C T IC
TACTIX BACKPACKS First Tactical’s Tactix Series Backpacks feature our innovative Lynx™ Laser Cut Platform that is compatible with MOLLE/PALS, removable and customisable compression straps, and our Hook and Hang Thru™ system for oversized or specialised gear, which exponentially increases organisation options. These packs test 20% stronger while maintaining a lighter weight that will not be bothersome over a long shift.
r Cut P
latfor m com
pati
ble
w
stay
-
ure
-conf
or ming aluminum
yb
wit
st po
ma
h
PALS
Patent Pe
LLE/
ndin
MO
gL
x™
Lase
ith
yn
Also pictured: Tactix Eyewear Pouch (pg.35); Tactix 6x10 pouch (pg.34); Rifle Sleeve (pg.31).
dle
s
& Hang Th
ru™
Sys
t
em
Fir
s Hook ical’
d
R
r pa
o em
vabl
ed as splint, shovel o
e inter nal backboard
e us
ct t Ta
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77W 2 WW. 5 0 5 F(MIR UK) ILSTITA TARY1 C+4 T IC9ST. A( 0LC). CO1O.5U.1UK2 K3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E )
2525
BAGS | BACKPACKS N EW
180048 Tactix Waist Belt
SIZE: ONE SIZE
£22.95 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S ∙ ∙ Works with all First Tactical Backpacks ∙ ∙ Slide thru Waist Belt Tunnel and attach to Triglides
INSIDE
∙ ∙ 1000D nylon with spacer mesh ∙ ∙ Closed cell foam construction ∙ ∙ Lynx™ Laser Cut Platform ∙ ∙ Duraflex Hardware ®
OUTSIDE
019-Black
830-OD Green
060-Coyote
REMOVABLE AND REPLACEABLE COMPRESSION STRAPS 180050 Compression ACC Strap 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
£5.95
N EW
N EW
TACTIX 0.5-DAY 180036 Tactix 0.5-Day Backpack
019-Black
TACTIX 3-DAY
180021 Tactix 1-Day Backpack
180035 Tactix 3-Day Backpack
£189.95
£149.95
£129.95
830-OD Green
TACTIX 1-DAY+
060-Coyote
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
830-OD Green
∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 2470 cubic inches / 40.5 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 4.2 lbs / 1.9 kg ∙ ∙ Pockets: 7 external, 9 internal 830-OD Green
26
019-Black
060-Coyote
WWW.M F IRILST ITATARY1 C T ICST. A LC.OC .OU. KU K
019-Black
060-Coyote
HOOK & ™ HANG THRU SYSTEM The Hook & Hang Thru™ System exponentially increases organisation options as it allows users to throw their rifle across their back providing a hands free, easy carry the alternative. A spacious pocket unzips top and bottom of each pack to accept First Tactical’s Rifle Sleeve or other oversized tactical gear or hanging items.
SPECIALIST BACKPACKS ∙ ∙ First Tactical’s Hook & Hang Thru™ System
∙ ∙ Two large exterior side pockets (3 day)
∙ ∙ Removable internal back stay may be used as a splint, shovel or paddle
∙ ∙ Fleece-lined eyewear pocket
∙ ∙ HD spacer mesh with dual density foam shoulder straps and back panel
∙ ∙ Main compartment opens to 190°
∙ ∙ Interior hook/loop organisation platform
∙ ∙ Movable compression straps
∙ ∙ Dual interior drop pockets with hook/ loop cinch
0.5 DAY
1 DAY+
3 DAY
180006 Specialist 0.5-Day Backpack
180005 Specialist 1-Day Backpack
180004 Specialist 3-Day Backpack
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
£79.95
∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 1525 cubic inches/25 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 2.95 lbs/1.3 kg
830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
£89.95
∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 2200 cubic inches/36 litres ∙ ∙ Pockets: 5 external, 3 internal ∙ ∙ Weight 3.3 lbs/1.5 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77 2 5 WWW. 0 5 ( UK)M IL ITA +4 RY1 9 ( 0 )ST. 1 5C1O2 . 3U5K2 6 0 7 2 ( D E )
∙ ∙ Web platform exterior compatible with MOLLE/PALS ∙ ∙ 1000D water resistant nylon ∙ ∙ YKK ® zippers
£129.95
∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 3425 cubic inches/56 litres ∙ ∙ Pockets: 7 external, 3 internal ∙ ∙ Weight 4.45 lbs/2.0 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
27
SLEEVES | GUN PISTOL SLEEVE 180010
£19.95
Large Pistol Sleeve
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Interior hook/loop organisation platform Reinforced padded handles Padded pistol pocket Main compartment opens with 190° zip Works in conjunction with First Tactical Backpacks and Recoil Range Bag ∙ ∙ 5 elastic pistol mag pockets ∙ ∙ Locking zippers ∙ ∙ Accepts embellishments 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
RIFLE SLEEVES ∙ ∙ Padded and reinforced handles
∙ ∙ Compression molded barrel mount
∙ ∙ Movable interior compression strap
∙ ∙ Name/number tag for personalisation
∙ ∙ Interior hook/loop organisation platform
∙ ∙ Designed to work with First Tactical’s Hook & Hang Thru™ System
∙ ∙ Silent locking compression straps
∙ ∙ Exterior hook/loop patch display ∙ ∙ Locking zippers on main compartment
36" SLEEVE
42" SLEEVE
50" SLEEVE
180007 Rifle Sleeve 36” Single
180008 Rifle Sleeve 42” Single
180009 Rifle Sleeve 50” Single
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
£69.95
£79.95
∙ ∙ 38” L x 10.5” H x 1.5” D (96.5cm L x 26.7cm H x 3.8cm D) ∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 600 cubic inches/9.8 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 1.65 lbs/0.75 kg ∙ ∙ 500D Nylon ∙ ∙ 10mm closed cell foam ∙ ∙ Duraflex ® hardware 830-OD Green
28
£89.95
∙ ∙ 44” L x 10.5” H x 1.5” D (111.7cm L x 26.7cm H x 3.8cm D)
∙ ∙ 52” L x 10.5” H x 1.5” D (132.1cm L x 26.7cm H x 3.8cm D)
∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 695 cubic inches/11.4 litres
∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 820 cubic inches/13.5 litres
∙ ∙ Weight 1.8 lbs/0.82 kg
∙ ∙ Weight 2.0 lbs/0.91 kg
∙ ∙ 500D Nylon
∙ ∙ 500D Nylon
∙ ∙ 10mm closed cell foam
∙ ∙ 10mm closed cell foam
∙ ∙ Duraflex ® hardware 019-Black
060-Coyote
830-OD Green
∙ ∙ Duraflex ® hardware 019-Black
060-Coyote
F IRILST C T ICST. A LC. OC O. U. UK K WWW.M ITATARY1
830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
| BAGS N EW
180022 Specialist Rolling Duffle
£179.95
F E AT U R E S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
1000D/1680D nylon construction Collapsible internal structure for stability/storage Telescoping handle system Heavy duty oversized wheels Corner and bottom skid plates 2 external storage pockets 3 external haul handles 1 internal zip-secure pocket Hook/loop interior panels Compression straps with dual adjust buckles Mesh ID window Velcro patch display Accepts embroidery
∙ ∙ Main compartment size: 76.2cm L x 40.6cm W x 40.6cm D ∙ ∙ 22.2 H x 38.1cm W x 5.1cm D main compartment upper ∙ ∙ 73cm H x 38.1cm W x 26cm D main compartment lower ∙ ∙ 18.4cm H x 26cm W x 2.2cm D right side upper (x2) ∙ ∙ 28.6cm H x 26cm W x 2.2cm D left side pocket ∙ ∙ 73cm H x 26cm W left side flat pocket ∙ ∙ 32.4cm H x 24.8cm W flat document pocket ∙ ∙ 5514 Cubic Inch/90 litre capacity ∙∙
019-Black
180000 Recoil Range Bag
180001 Guardian Patrol Bag
180002 Executive Briefcase
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
£79.95 ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Internal padded carrier with dividers Removable shell pouch Cleaning pocket with tool storage Closed cell foam padded main compartment Rigid bottom with molded feet Non-slip shoulder strap Luggage mount Locking zippers on main compartment 019-Black
060-Coyote
£59.95 ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Stiffened dividers 3 mesh zippered lid pockets Full organiser Rigid bottom with molded feet Non-slip shoulder strap Interior hook/loop organisation platform 2 front drawstring pockets Side and back zippered pockets 019-Black
£79.95 ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Zip out water bottle/gear pockets Hidden front hook/loop secured compartment Closed cell foam padded main compartment Padded laptop compartment Interior hook/loop organisation platform 3 interior drop pockets Non-slip shoulder strap Luggage mount Back hidden CCW pocket Fleece-lined hammock eyewear pocket 019-Black
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77 2 5WWW. 0 5 F(IR UK) 9 A( 0L ST. ). C1O5C.1OU2.KU3 5K2 6 0 7 2 ( D E ) ST TAITA C+4 T IC M IL RY1
29
BAGS |
180011 Crosshatch Sling Pack
£79.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ Interior hook/loop organisation platform ∙ ∙ Repositionable compression and cross body straps ∙ ∙ HD spacer mesh with dual density foam shoulder straps and back panel ∙ ∙ Back CCW pocket ∙ ∙ Dual interior drop pockets with hook/loop cinch 830-OD Green
019-Black
∙ ∙ Removable internal back stay may be used as splint, shovel or paddle ∙ ∙ Web platform exterior compatible with MOLLE/PALS ∙ ∙ Main compartment opens to 190° ∙ ∙ Fleece-lined eyewear pocket
060-Coyote
180003 Ascend Messenger Bag
£79.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Zip out water bottle/gear pockets Back hidden CCW pocket Interior hook/loop organisation platform 3 Interior drop pockets Non-slip shoulder strap with cross body strap 019-Black
∙ ∙ Luggage mount ∙ ∙ Closed cell foam padded main compartment plus padded laptop compartment ∙ ∙ Web platform exterior compatible with MOLLE/PALS
060-Coyote
180012 Summit Side Satchel
£69.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Web platform compatible with MOLLE/PALS Side gear pockets Back hidden CCW pocket Padded tablet compartment 830-OD Green
30
019-Black
060-Coyote
WWW.M ITATARY1 F IRILST C T ICST. A LC.OC O. U. KU K
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Interior hook/loop organisation platform 2 Interior drop pockets Non-slip shoulder strap Closed cell foam padded main compartment
POUCHES | BAGS
N EW
DOTTAC NAME TAPES 3-PACK 180046 DotTac Name Tapes 3 Pack
£5.95 S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
6” x 1” (15.2cm x 2.5cm ) hook/loop name strip Use ink or paint pen to customise name 15 characters x 2 characters Hook/loop attachment or holes for cord TPU material 015-Asphalt
MOLLE/PALS POUCHES
First Tactical Utility Pouches are tough, durable, and perfect for storing smaller gear. Made with textured 500D nylon, these pouches are resistant to wearing, tearing, and dampness, keeping your gear safe and dry.
180014 Tactix Series 6X10 Utility Pouch
180013 Tactix Series 9X6 Utility Pouch
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
£22.95
∙ ∙ 15.2cm L x 25.4cm H x 7.6cm D ∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 180 cubic inches/2.9 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 0.3 lbs./0.14 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77 2 5 WWW. 0 5 ( UK)M IL ITA +4 RY1 9 ( 0 )ST. 1 5C1O2 . 3U5K2 6 0 7 2 ( D E )
£22.95
∙ ∙ 22.9cm L x 15.2cm H x 7.6cm D ∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 162 cubic inches / 2.7 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 0.45 lbs. / 0.20 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
31
BAGS | POUCHES
180018 Tactix Series Media Pouch (Medium)
180017 Tactix Series Media Pouch (Large)
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
£12.95
∙ ∙ 6.4cm L x 13.3cm H x 1.9cm D ∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 9.8 cubic inches/0.16 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 0.1 lbs/0.05 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
180019 Tactix Series Eyewear Pouch
£15.95
∙ ∙ 7.6cm L x 16cm H x 2.5cm D ∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 18.75 cubic inches/0.3 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 0.15 lbs/0.07 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
180015 Tactix Series 6X6 Utility Pouch
£19.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙ ∙ 7.6cm L x 17.8cm H x 5.7cm D ∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 47 cubic inches/0.8 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 0.3 lbs/0.13 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
∙ ∙ 15.2cm L x 15.2cm H x 7.6cm D ∙ ∙ Approx. Capacity 108 cubic inches/1.8 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 0.4 lbs/0.18 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
180020 Tactix Series Bottle Pouch (1.0 L)
180016 Tactix Series 3X6 Utility Pouch
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
£15.95 ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
10.8cm L x 21.6cm H x 9.5cm D Approx. Capacity 100 cubic inches/1.6 litres Weight 0.3 lbs/0.14 kg Holds 1.0L bottle 830-OD Green
32
£12.95
019-Black
060-Coyote
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77WWW. 2 50 5 FM(IR UK) ILST ITATARY1 C+4 T IC9ST.A( 0LC).OC1.O5U.1KU2 K3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E )
£17.95
∙ ∙ 7.6cm L x 15.2cm H x 7.6cm D ∙ ∙ Capacity 54 cubic inches/0.9 litres ∙ ∙ Weight 0.2 lbs/0.9 kg 830-OD Green
019-Black
060-Coyote
VELCRO
POUCHES N EW
9 X 10 POUCH
N EW
6 X 3 POUCH
180030 9 X 10 Velcro Pouch
180031 6 X 3 Velcro Pouch
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
£19.95
Clear mesh face for barcode scanning 15.2cm x 2.5cm name tape area 5 different zipper pull colors Quick pull access Compatible with DotTac or embroidered name tapes Size: 22.9cm L x 25.4cm W x 5.1cm D
£14.95
015-Asphalt
N EW
6 X 6 POUCH
180032 6 X 6 Velcro Pouch
£15.95
Clear mesh face for barcode scanning 15.2cm x 2.5cm name tape area 5 different zipper pull colors Quick pull access Compatible with DotTac or embroidered name tapes Size: 15.2cm L x 7.6cm W x 5.1cm D 015-Asphalt
N EW
N EW
9 X 6 POUCH
6 X 10 POUCH
180034 9 X 6 Velcro Pouch
180033 6 X 10 Velcro Pouch
£17.95
£17.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Clear mesh face for barcode scanning 15.2cm x 2.5cm name tape area 5 different zipper pull colors Quick pull access Compatible with DotTac or embroidered name tapes Size:15.2cm L x 15.2cm W x 5.1cm D 015-Asphalt
Clear mesh face for barcode scanning 15.2cm x 2.5cm name tape area 5 different zipper pull colors Quick pull access Compatible with DotTac or embroidered name tapes Size: 22.9cm L x 15.2cm H x 5.1cm D 015-Asphalt
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77 2 5 WWW. 0 5 F(IR UK) 9 A( 0L )ST. ST M TA IL ITA C+4 T IC RY1 . C1O5C.1OU2 .K3U5K2 6 0 7 2 ( D E )
Clear mesh face for barcode scanning 15.2cm x 2.5cm D name tape area 5 different zipper pull colors Quick pull access Compatible with DotTac or embroidered name tapes Size: 15.2cm L x 25.4cm H x 5.1cm D 015-Asphalt
33
TORCHES PEN LIGHTS ∙ ∙ Ultra bright LED technology ∙ ∙ Reversible pocket clip ∙ ∙ Adjustable bungee finger loop ∙ ∙ Large opening pocket clip ∙ ∙ Large and small lugs for grip ∙ ∙ Batteries included
141000 SMALL PENLIGHT
Battery included:
WEIGHT: 0.1lb (45.3g) (with battery) LENGTH: 9.2cm
£24.95
Battery included:
141001 MEDIUM PENLIGHT WEIGHT: 0.2lb (90.7g) (with battery) LENGTH : 13.6cm
£26.95
DUTY LIGHTS ∙ ∙ Ultra bright LED technology ∙ ∙ Rear button with high/low momentary-on switch ∙ ∙ Reversible pocket clip ∙ ∙ Adjustable bungee finger loop ∙ ∙ Large opening pocket clip ∙ ∙ Standard flat & strike bezel ∙ ∙ Water resistant construction ∙ ∙ Large and small lugs for grip ∙ ∙ Batteries included
141002 SMALL DUTY LIGHT
Battery included:
WEIGHT: 0.2lb (90.7g) (with battery) LENGTH: 10.9cm
£34.95
141003 MEDIUM DUTY LIGHT
Battery included:
WEIGHT: 0.3lb (136.1g) (with battery) LENGTH: 16.9cm
£39.95
34
WWW.M ITATARY1 F IRILST C T ICST. A LC.OC O. U. KU K
THE TRITAC LIGHTS First Tactical’s TriTac Lights provide a powerful yet compact light while on the job. Powered with CR123 batteries, these lights feature a smart button that allows users to flip through modes based on their needs.
TRITAC LIGHTS ∙ ∙ Reversible clip
∙ ∙ Oversized rear bush button
∙ ∙ Bungee finger loop
∙ ∙ 7075 aluminium body
∙ ∙ Standard flat bezel
∙ ∙ Type 2 black anodize
∙ ∙ Accessory strike bezel
N EW
N EW
TRITAC LIGHT SMALL
TRITAC LIGHT MEDIUM
141004 Tritac Light Small
141005 Tritac light Medium
£39.95
£45.95
Intelligent Switch Battery: (1) Duracell CR123 (included) High: 225 Lumens Run: 2.25 hours Low: 75 Lumens Run: 4.0 hours Map: 15 Lumens Run: 20 hours
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77 2 5 WWW. 0 5 F(IR UK) 9 A( 0L ).ST. STM TA IL ITA C+4 T ICRY1 C1O5C.1UO2 K. 3U5K2 6 0 7 2 ( D E )
Intelligent Switch Battery: (2) Duracell CR123 (included) High: 350 Lumens Run: 2.5 hours Low: 100 Lumens Run: 4.5 hours Map: 15 Lumens Run: 25 hours
35
CANYON N EW
CANYON DIGITAL COMPASS WATCH
144002 Canyon Digital Compass Watch
£124.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Large time readout Outer bezel second markers Vented rotatable polymer band Band denotes Morse code and in/cm ruler Bezel lugs for added scratch resistance 3 alarms, Stopwatch, Chrono Stealth mode/Mute Button Time/date WP to 10 meters
830-OD Green
019-Black
RIDGELINE N EW
144000 Ridgeline Carbon Field Watch
£159.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
Carbon resin housing First Tactical superluminova coloring First Tactical second hand Comes with webbing/polymer band Time/date WP to 50 meters
830 Black Bezel/ OD Green Band
044 Brushed Steel Bezel/ Black Band
FATHOM N EW
144001 Fathom Dive Watch
£239.95
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙ ∙∙
36
Carbon resin housing First Tactical superluminova coloring First Tactical second hand Rotating time bezel Comes with webbing/polymer band Time/date WP to 200 meters
+ 44 +( 044) 1( 57 0 ) 21 57 77WWW. 22 77 5025 F5M (IR UK) 0IL 5ST ( UK) +4 ITA TARY1 C+4 T IC9ST. A( 0LC)9. OC1(O.50U.1)UK21K531522 63 502762 0( D7 E2) ( D E )
019 Black Bezel/ Black Band
043 Titanium
Military1st.co.uk GEAR UP FOR ACTION!
+ 44 ( 0 ) 1 57 2 77 2 5 0 5 ( UK)
+4 9 ( 0 ) 1 5 1 2 3 5 2 6 0 7 2 ( D E )
37
feature TACTICAL GLOVES
TACTICAL GLOVES WITH WINTER ALMOST UPON US, LEZ LEE GETS HIS HANDS INTO SEVEN DIFFERENT PAIRS OF GLOVES, FROM ACROSS THE PRICE SPECTRUM, TO HELP US DECIDE WHICH IS RIGHT FOR US. TACTICAL GLOVES, WHERE WOULD we be without them? At the nail bar perhaps... Nah! At the first aid station? Maybe! And throughout the winter months in our green and pleasant (and usually cold) land, almost certainly with our hands caressing the tea urn in the safe zone. Yes, tactical gloves are here and here to stay and I decided that it was prudent to carry out reviews on several pairs, which may help, or perhaps influence, your choice when spending your hard earned cash. Military1st carry a huge range of tactical clothing and accessories and are one of the largest online retailers and supporters of the airsoft industry in the UK and one email later, a large parcel of gloves was heading my way so that I could compare them, taking into account: Fabric/s Fit Comfort Quality Durability Dexterity Style Price As you will see, I have selected one from each of the leading brands and kept the price range to what I consider to be favoured by my fellow ‘softers, with prices from under £20 to a little over £60 which should cover most player’s budget and performance needs.
VIPER TACTICAL ELITE GLOVES V-CAM: £22.50
Viper Tactical has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years and their product range has not only increased in choice and quality, they have kept their prices down so that customers get the best of both worlds. These particular lightweight, all-purpose gloves are suitable for either military personnel or airsoft enthusiasts. Neoprene and fleece lining makes them comfortable to wear, while
48
XMAS 2017
durable carbon fibre knuckle casing offers great protection. In addition, these gloves have multiple vent holes for easy air flow and mesh fabric with textured grip panels for extra security and safety. The low profile wrist closure is Velcro (aka “Hook and Loop”) and elasticated for a nice adjustable, comfortable fit and a small plastic hook along the side allows for safe and secure storage and transportation. Although available in various sizes and colours, only OD have covert knuckle protection, while all other colours have carbon fibre effect finish. Sizing is spot on and they are very comfortable to wear. They look great and the dexterity of these gloves is excellent as they do not “crease” in the palm. With strategically placed contact points and padded areas, this is a damn fine all-round glove and I don’t think it will disappoint. Double stitching at stress points will almost certainly give the end user the longevity which is usually found in a premium pair but for the money, these are definitely worth checking out.
Feature TACTICAL GLOVES
MECHANIX WEAR M-PACT GLOVES WOODLAND: £29.95
Seen here in U.S. Woodland, these are highly durable, multipurpose gloves for Military and Law Enforcement professionals and Maintenance Repair Operations, offering full-coverage hand protection, comfort, extra grip and optimum durability. The breathable XRD open-cell foam palm padding protects from impact, and additional (also-breathable) TrekDry material ensures that your hands stay cool and comfortable. Antimicrobial material properties are incorporated in the construction, together with synthetic suede palms featuring Armortex reinforcement for superior gripping power. Thermal Plastic Rubber (TPR) knuckle and finger guard provides excellent protection from knocks, and embossed and textured index finger and thumb ensures superb grip. These tactical gloves are machine-washable and are certificated to EN 388: 2003. I think it’s fair to say that when you are buying Mechanix gloves, you are buying quality. Double stitching secures stress points and the low profile elasticated wrist closure is secured with velcro and features a handy loop for easy fitting and storage. I had to make one criticism, it is that the palm area is a little prone to puckering-up when closing one’s grip with an empty hand. It is hardly a “choice-breaker” really.
FIRST TACTICAL MEN’S HARD KNUCKLE GLOVE BLACK: £39.95
Crafted from machine-washable genuine goatskin leather and snag-proof stretch woven mid-weight material, these gloves work well in a host of environments and activities including shooting, hunting, hiking and of course, airsoft where close
purchase is an absolute priority. They feature individual covert TPR knuckle protectors for extra flexibility, neoprene on finger knuckles for added safety and closed cell perforated foam padding on top for upper wrist protection. Additionally, they comee with a superbly tactile palm for closer contact, U-shaped gusset for extra recoil control, and TouchTac (touchscreenfriendly) fingertips for increased sensitivity and maximum dexterity. The fully adjustable hook-and-loop closure and low profile BezelCuff watch cut-out offer maximum convenience and comfort, while the thin but incredibly strong machine-washable palm construction enhances the ability to conduct searches, manipulate devices and gear and access the handgun in every way without removal, while the back-of-the-hand material is 49% Nylon, 41% Polyester & 10% Spandex which keeps these gloves supremely lightweight and fast-drying. What I really like about these gloves is their subtlety. They wouldn’t look out of place at any outdoor event or even walking the dog on these cold, wet and dreary days and nights because their appearance is uniform throughout, including the covert knuckle protection and presents the appearance of a simple pair of black gloves. They are a very snug but perfect fit so I would urge anyone to make sure that they get the absolute right size for them otherwise the primary benefit of superior tactile dexterity could be overlooked.
HIGHLANDER RAPTOR GLOVES HMTC: £18.95
These are the cheapest priced pair in the review, however, they are packed with invaluable features and come in black, olive drab and HMTC camo and are also available in fingerless guise. From the extra padding on the palm, to the rubber protective shock absorbing areas on the knuckles and extra grip on the finger tips, I cannot see any reason why these gloves would not perform well in a wide range of duties, especially airsoft and other tactical activities which require physical application whilst retaining dexterity and comfort. Manufactured using tough, durable fabrics such as amara leather, polyester, rubber and spandex. Amarastretch technology is a combination of fabrics designed for maximum comfort, which is a relative understatement as these were uber snug during use. This mix of materials creates a “faux suede” feel which is virtually indistinguishable from the original and is supremely comfortable both against the skin and when being applied on task. The shock absorbing rubber panels are almost identical to the aforementioned Mechanix and give an abundance of protection to the back of the hand and fingers. Again, they are finished off with double stitching in high stress areas and the elasticated low profile wrist closure is secured with Velcro. What really impressed me most was the fit. These gloves were beyond comfortable, there was not a single crease or constriction anywhere - it was as though these had been spraypainted on! Such was the bespoke finish as they felt simply “too comfortable” to be accredited with the title “tactical” gloves, and weighing in at just 60g per glove it is easy to forget that you have them on. The Highlander Raptor gloves really are outstanding in their wearability, value for money and will serve you well.
www.airsoft-action.online
49
TACTICAL
get the tactical advantage PATROL GLOVE
RECON GLOVE
VENOM GLOVE
n Polyester/spandex n Micro fibre palm n Webbing finger pull
n Polyester/spandex n Padded micro fibre palm n One piece rubber knuckle guard n Rubber/Velcro wrist fastening n Thumb/finger grip
n Polyester/spandex n Micro fibre palm with reinforcing n Rubber finger impact protection n Hardshell knuckle protection n Rubber/Velcro wrist fastening n Glove puller
Colours: V-Cam, Titanium, Coyote, Black, Green Sizes: S-XXL SRP
Colours: V-Cam, Titanium, Coyote, Black, Green Sizes: S-XXL
£12.95 SRP
£22.50
Colours: V-Cam, Coyote, Black, Green Sizes: S-XXL SRP
£29.95
WEBBING FINGER PULL
UPDATES / STOCKISTS / CATALOGUE
www.vipertactical.co.uk
Feature TACTICAL GLOVES
during everyday tasks. This all-purpose glove features outstanding purchase control thanks to varied grip patches located in the most strategic places, multiple foam pads for added comfort and protection located on high contact areas such as knuckles, fingers and palms. An advanced air flow system and elastic cuffs with Velcro closure incorporating a strong nylon loop for easy donning and storage. With stretchable properties of the fabric and joint slits for action movements, these gloves are a great choice for both professionals and outdoor enthusiasts of all activities, especially airsoft - when one of our biggest enemies can be a simple bramble bush hell-bent on tearing a hole in our skin whilst wielding our weapon. Available in olive, black, khaki and coyote, these are a good, accurate fit and very comfortable. One possibly overlooked feature is the “sweat wipe panel” on the outside area of the thumbs. I think it is fair to say that we all have those annoying sweaty moments during heated periods in our gunfights and a simple detail like this could keep us in the game with a simple swipe across the brow with a glove developed with this in mind. A small addition but a well thought out added bonus from Pentagon.
WILEY X PALADIN COLD WEATHER GLOVES COYOTE: £64.95
Primarily designed for colder climates, the Wiley X Paladin glove features a lightweight Kevlar weave throughout the fingers and back of hand for flame resistance and cut protection, with Drifire fleece insulation for superior wicking and fast drying capabilities. A padded knuckle protector is added for an enhanced impact and abrasion resistance. These puppies meet ASTM D 6413 flame resistance standard, ASTM F 1790 fabric cut resistance standard and NFPA 1971-07 thermal resistance standard so it’s no wonder they are in a higher price band. Custom designed to match US Military uniforms, these high quality gloves offer the best protection in the field but are also perfect for everyday use. All contact surfaces are flame-resistant goatskin for increased dexterity, durability and protection and incorporate leather reinforcement in high wear areas. A non-elasticated but fully adjustable cuff (with incorporated nylon loop for storage and easy donning) is secured by a hook and loop closure flap with an embossed Wiley X logo for that “upmarket” image that some ‘softers prefer. Once again, adjacent fabrics are double stitched for reinforcement in high stress areas and upon closer inspection, the goatskin/leather really is beautiful and soft giving freedom of movement and extreme comfort. As expected, the fit is excellent, although there was slight palm crease during hand closure but nothing worth worrying about. To surmise, Wiley X Paladins are a great glove and I feel that they are indeed worthy of the higher price tag. This is a premium multi-use glove for all colder applications - and some.
PENTAGON KARIA GLOVES OLIVE: £21.50
Made of strong and highly breathable suede leather, the Pentagon Karia provide great protection on a battlefield or
HELIKON-TEX IDW TACTICAL GLOVES: £19.90
Last but not least are the heavy duty Helikon-Tex IDW full finger tactical gloves. These are the perfect hard-core, intimidating battle glove for cold weather conditions which offer a soft and flexible feel, plus maximum protection during combat situations. The first thing which stands out is the aggressive styling there is no doubt that these are for tactical use having been designed and radically built for said purpose. Features include non-slip rubber reinforcement panels on the trigger finger and thumb and adjustable elastic cuffs with Velcro closure. Although these gloves are of a kick-ass design and comfort, dexterity has been well maintained using soft next-to-skin fabrics such as spandex and neoprene. A host of contact pads add to the bold styling on the outside and to keep your mitts all toastie throughout colder periods, C40 Thinsulate lining will keep the frostbite at bay, however, what these gloves gain in appearance is slightly lost on the fit. Not only do the palms crease up when clenched, the fingers are longer than most others and this could affect dexterity in some situations.
SUMMARY
So there we have it, just a small selection from the huge range of tactical gloves that are available from Military1st. All the gloves on review were superb and are perfect for airsoft, so if you are looking to get your mitts on new mittens, or go full hog and grab some gauntlets I would urge you to visit www.military1st.co.uk – and allow yourself plenty of time to select a pair that are right for you because your hands can be quite useful during combat, so best that they are given all the tender loving care that they deserve. So, decisions decisions.... Which are my personal favourites? If I was going to buy a pair to get THE most use out of them then it would have to be First Tactical’s Men’s Hard Knuckle Glove because they are, in my opinion, the best allrounder/value for money and can be worn for many reasons and not just airsoft.
www.airsoft-action.online
51
Airsoft History TOKYO MARUI
PLASTIC FANTASTIC WAS (IS)
TOM HIBBERD WRITES ABOUT A COMPANY THAT MANY FEEL WAS THE CREATOR OF “PROPER” AIRSOFT WEAPONRY AND WITHOUT WHOM, OUR GAME WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE WHERE IT IS TODAY. IF YOU STARTED PLAYING IN the last few years you could be forgiven for not knowing much about Tokyo Marui. Rather than the frankly bewildering choice available today, 20 odd years ago there was only one choice of manufacturer for your Airsoft Blaster - and that was Tokyo Marui! Founded in 1965 and located in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan Tokyo Marui (TM – that’s “Tokyo Marui”, not “Trademark”) are largely responsible for the creation of Airsoft as it is today, however, they started off making railway models and radio controlled cars. While they had always focused on plastic models they changed with the times and switched to manufacturing whatever was popular at that moment. Most notably, TM are very Japanese market orientated and focused on their domestic market to the extent that they don’t even have an English language website - or any other language than Japanese for that matter! Airsoft grew out of the popular survival games scene in Japan and as Tokyo Marui were making plastic models, it was a logical step for them to produce imitation firearms to cash in on this craze. The first ones were not like those we know today, any of them were gas guns using shells and the first true 6mm BB gun (as we know it) was a Luger pistol. Equally, at the time, many of the players of survival games in Japan were using gas guns with separate tanks and hoses, which was not 52
XMAS 2017
Looking through the Airsoft Action armoury we found Gadge’s original TM AK47, which is now 15 years old and has never had a service. We’ve been doing some accuracy testing for an upcoming article and were surprised to find that it is still more accurate than all of our more modern AK AEGs! aesthetically pleasing or realistic and so TM decided to combine their radio-controlled car expertise and their line of survival guns to create the first true AEG, which they did in 1991. This groundbreaking AEG would be the venerable FAMAS and while it may seem an odd first choice, rumour has it that this was chosen as it featured heavily in the computer game Metal Gear Solid. Indeed, this seemed to have been the way that models were chosen for production at the time, with films and games driving the sales.
BACK TO PLASTIC
In the early days of airsoft the vast majority of airsoft replicas were made of plastic, largely as a result of Japanese law. Their Firearms Act opens by stating “No-one shall possess a fire-arm or fire-arms or a sword or swords”. This means that in
Airsoft History TOKYO MARUI
Japan, gun-shaped objects are strictly regulated. Deactivated handguns are forbidden and what’s more, metal replicas of pistols are also prohibited. The situation is slightly different for long guns and deactivated weapons are allowed but the regulations ensure that the working parts are non-functional and include operations like blocking the barrel and welding the cocking handle shut. Further to all of this, there was for a long time a “gentleman’s agreement” amongst manufacturers of imitation firearms in Japan to only make long guns in polymer. One thing that often surprises purchasers of the relatively high price TM range, is the fairly low FPS when set against comparable models. In Japan Power limits for RIFs are lower than those in the UK. The airsoft industry in Japan had a selfregulated 0.98 Joule limit for many years, however, in 2006 this was written in law and is rigorously enforced by the police. There have been raids on aftermarket companies that produce parts and might potentially be able of taking RIFs over the legal limit. This is why Tokyo Marui RIFs are low powered compared to many on the market and their pistols are mostly polymer. While low FPS is often seen as a “problem” to many players, TM more than make up for this with their excellent hop ups, meaning a TM AEG can often outrange a higher FPS rival! Lastly, while we’re looking at the legal situation in Japan, it’s worth remembering that due to Japanese licensing laws it’s perfectly acceptable for companies to make a replica of a firearm and include all the original trademarks and markings. When they are exported out of Japan, however, this can cause problems depending on the local laws regarding intellectual properly. As aforementioned, back in the day when airsoft was starting in the UK, other than local market cheap springers the only option available to players were TM guns. Being made largely of plastic, RIFs at the time were somewhat fragile and skirmishing accidents were frequent. The shorter variants such as the G36 and Beta Spetsnaz weren’t too bad but the longer
There have been numerous versions of the AEG gearbox created as the product range grew. The most popular and familiar are the Version 2 (mainly used in M4/M16) and the version 3 (used in AKs) Tokyo Marui Gearbox Versions Version 1: FAMAS Version 2: M4/M16, MP5, G3, Version 3: AK, G36 Version 4: PSG-1 Version 5: UZI Version 6: P90, Thompson Version 7: M14 Version 8: TM Type 89 Since then there have been the variants of these fitted with the fantastic Next Generation recoil mechanisms.
“LONGER GUNS HAD A HABIT OF SNAPPING IF YOU FELL ON THEM WHILE TRIPPING, OR RUNNING INTO OBSTACLES. SLINGS WEREN’T USED VERY MUCH AS THEY HAD A HABIT OF MAKING AN ALREADY WOBBLY REPLICA EVEN MORE WOBBLY …OR WORSE, SEPARATE THE TWO HALVES OF THE GUN COMPLETELY!” guns had a habit of snapping if you fell on them while tripping, or running into obstacles. Slings weren’t used very much as they had a habit of making an already wobbly replica even more wobbly …or worse, separate the two halves of the gun completely! Stock TM guns are, however, extremely reliable and are famous for their accuracy and range, even at relatively low power levels. In general, the advice for any new owner wanting to upgrade their new purchase is to run it until it breaks – and only then start thinking about it. While TM’s use of polymers can sometimes lead to a lack of “realism”, at other times it is “bang on”. Many years ago when TM released their G36C several of our teammates had just bought Classic Army M15s. These were the first full-metal, complete AEGs commonly available in the UK. One of the new owners proudly remarked that his CA was more realistic than our TM G36s …until we quickly reminded him that the real steel G36 is also made from polymers!
CLONES R US
It’s fair to say, virtually every BB Blaster on the market today can trace a direct lineage to an original Tokyo Marui design. This is what people refer to as a “clone”, for example; a WE G17 Pistol is a clone of a TM G17. Most of the research and design in the Airsoft gun world is a result of TMs efforts and we really do all owe them a huge debt of thanks as, without them it’s unlikely the hobby would be where it is today.
www.airsoft-action.online
53
Site Update BRAVO ONE
SITE UPDATE:
BRAVO ONE KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK POPPED INTO THIS RAPIDLY-DEVELOPING SITE IN THE CENTRE OF BIRMINGHAM TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE COMING ALONG SINCE IT OPENED. THE GRANGE LIVE GAMING: Bravo One is an activity centre located in the city centre of Birmingham that hosts a range of activities including airsoft, a Rage Room, urban axe throwing and even a Virtual Reality Room! From their café for coffee and cake lovers, to their onsite shop, they have something for everyone. Although we’ll be coming back in later for a full site review, whilst I was in the area I decided to nip in and see what’s going down! Even though Bravo One is based smack bang in the middle of Birmingham, it is surprisingly easy to get to and it is well signed and simple to find and, as a nice little bonus, there is parking on the street (which is free on a Sunday!). Whilst the activity centre takes up the huge building space of 6 floors – each of which with a dedicated theme/activity - the shop itself is a large space that takes up almost a quarter of a 10,000 sq ft floor. It is roomy and well-organised, with a Polarstar .30 cal Browning M1919 sat in pride of place at the centre of the shop floor. The walls are lined with various replicas, and airsoft accessories and the store is stocked with well-known brands
for every budget, including Nuprol, ASG, WE Airsoft, Cyma, Bolt, Tippmann and on all the way up to Tokyo Marui. However, on the day I visited some of the stock was away at an event so it was a little emptier than usual. As Bravo One is heavily involved in IPSC Action Air, having just opened up their 6th floor to target shooting, they also stock a full range of Airsoft Masterpiece upgrade slides and parts for competitive pistol shooting. They currently have a pistol in the store that is made from aircraft grade aluminium by none other than the man himself, Jim Sephton, which retails for £900! The parts featured on the pistol are made by Airsoft Masterpiece but lovingly put together by Jim and it really is a work of art. The shop is not just for airsofters, it also caters to other hobby enthusiasts as it stocks a large selection of non-airsoft products such as table top gaming merchandise, L.A.R.P weapons, clothing and masks as they have a very good table top gaming community for games such as X-wing, Guild Ball, magic and many more! The store is staffed by enthusiastic members of staff who are experts in everything from airsoft, to archery, to larping. When you walk into the centre you are greeted by the smiling faces of people who are happy to advise their customers. Bravo One The Bravo One shop is open 93-99 Holloway Head Wednesday 3pm–10.30pm, Thursday Birmingham & Friday 10am–10.30pm, Saturday B1 1QP 10am–5pm and Sunday 8.30am–5pm every week. There is parking on the street www.grangelivegaming.com outside, which is free all day Sundays and 01216 432477 free past 6pm on weekdays.
Contact Details:
www.airsoft-action.online
55
feature I WANT DOESN’T GET
“I WANT DOESN’T GET!” …I can’t remember how often my mother used to say that to me as a child. The intention was absolutely clear, even to a five year old although the intervening years have suggested that, for some people in this world, the opposite is actually true. Regardless, there are some things in this world that you simply can’t have unless you are willing to either go to potentially illegal extremes, or are blessed with an unlimited bank account – and this applies to airsoft too! There are guns out there I would love to be able to use on site but the chances are slim to none, so I might as well get used to it. This month I’m going to borrow a little bit of Gadge’s thunder from the real-steel side of things and mix in a bit of technical experience and look at something I would love to be able to pew-pew with - the PPS-43.
I have been a PPS-43 fan boy for as long as I can remember, there was something about it that just looked completely right, even to the 12 year old staring at pictures of it for the first time. It was simple, brutal almost, it had great history and sort of epitomised what a submachine gun should look like. I’ll begin with a bit of backstory… WWII Soviet Russia is best known for the PPSh-41. That’s understandable as something like 6 million of them were produced during World War Two and it came to symbolise masses of Soviet infantry, leaping from T-34 tanks into the teeth of German defences. It was a crude and simple gun but it wasn’t perfect. It utilised a lot of stamped steel components but it still required a certain amount of machining, around seven hours per gun. It was heavy, as any of you who have handled a
I WANT DOESN’T GET IN OUR “HAVE-ANYTHING-YOU-WANT-THROW-AWAY” SOCIETY THERE ARE STILL SOME THINGS YOU SIMPLY CANNOT HAVE, AS FRENCHIE EXPLAINS…
56
XMAS 2017
Gabe Suarez - RIFLE GUNFIGHTING
Feature I WANT DOESN’T GET
PPSh will know, this is no lightweight at around 8lbs and that drum magazine was a proverbial pain in the a**e. It looks like a great idea - 71 rounds of Fascist-stopping 7.62mm Tokarev but like all drum magazines it was mechanically complex, heavy, difficult to insert and remove from the gun and prone to stoppages. The Soviet military were reasonably happy with the PPSh-41 but wanted something that was even cheaper and, crucially, easier to produce. Like the British Sten gun, their aim was a weapon that could be produced in light machine shops with no prior experience of firearms manufacture. They started searching for a suitable design in 1941 and in 1942 directed the designer Alexei Sudayev to improve a design first submitted by Lieutenant I.K. Bezruchko-Vysotsky. Sudayev did the bulk of the work to transform this design into the production version and it therefore bears his name. Later in 1942 it competed in a large Red Army trial against 20 other designs, including a new design from Shpagin, responsible for the PPSh and was found to be superior to all. It was adopted and went into initial limited production in Leningrad, then in the middle of its epic siege. It has been suggested that the gun suffered as a result of its association with an heroic city not named after Stalin, but there is no clear evidence of this. After some further improvements full production began in 1943 and continued until 1946, although the gun remained in service with the Soviet Union and its various satellite countries for many years after that. Final wartime production figures are in the region of two million units - the Soviet Union produced both the PPS and the PPSh side-by-side, there being no point in stopping PPSh production and retooling to produce PPS at a time when it needed as many weapons as it could get its hands on. The PPS-43 is a simple blowback submachine gun made predominantly from stamped and shaped steel sheet. It required half the raw materials of the PPSh and less than half the machining, making it both substantially cheaper and quicker to produce. It used a newly designed dual-column, dual feed magazine that held 35 rounds and it fired only in fully automatic. Its rate of fire was almost half that of the PPSh (at around 650 rounds per minute) and the infantryman therefore had about the same amount of trigger time on both guns, since the PPSh magazine held 71 rounds. However, with its lower rate of fire the PPS was far easier to control and it was not difficult to squeeze off single shots. The magazine well incorporates a solid grip and neatly recessed catch so that the feed wouldn’t be interrupted in use and the magazine wouldn’t be accidentally released. The stock was a simple folding affair made from pressed steel, resting on top of the receiver when collapsed. Stripping for maintenance was simple, the gun pivoted open when a large catch on the rear of the receiver was pressed. It had a basic safety that locked the trigger and the bolt in both the forward (uncocked) and rearward (cocked) positions. This was
“IT WAS THIS LEVEL OF DESIGN, MAKING ONE NECESSARY COMPONENT MULTI-FUNCTIONAL THAT MAKES THE PPS-43 A GUN-NERD’S DELIGHT.” crucial in blowback weapons as dropping or bashing the rear of the gun could cause a round to be chambered and fired, generally a really bad idea especially in a confined space. The recoil spring guide, which sits in a recess in the side of the bolt. served as the ejector, knocking empty cartridge cases out of the gun. It was this level of design, making one necessary component multi-functional that makes the PPS-43 a gunnerd’s delight. The crude muzzle brake was formed from the same single piece of steel as the front sight protector, the whole affair being riveted in place. As an example of functional submachine gun design it is, in my opinion, unrivalled. Quite frankly if it was any less complicated it would probably have been a stick... Like many submachine guns the coming of the selective-fire assault rifle post-World War signaled the end of the road for them as a widely-issued gun, although it persisted for many years in the hands of police, border guards and irregular forces benefitting from Soviet support. I would hazard a guess that there are still more than a few out there in working condition. Good though it was, the PPS-43 simply doesn’t have the widespread appeal that the PPSh-41 has. It isn’t the weapon that most people, airsofters included, associate with the Red
www.airsoft-action.online
57
Feature I WANT DOESN’T GET
“AS AN EXAMPLE OF FUNCTIONAL SUBMACHINE GUN DESIGN IT IS, IN MY OPINION, UNRIVALLED. QUITE FRANKLY IF IT WAS ANY LESS COMPLICATED IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN A STICK...” Army soldier and that limits its appeal. There have been a couple of variants of the PPSh made by airsoft companies both had their strengths and weaknesses but they are, like most historical weapons, niche items and they could never have been expected to sell in large numbers. That’s the first and most enduring hurdle to anyone producing the PPS-43 where’s the market? That alone will keep it on my wish list. Technically speaking, it would require a new gearbox design, something similar to the Version 4 box used only in the Marui Uzi, or a slimmed down Version 6 from the P90. The pistol grip sits so far back from the magazine that it’s not practical to fit a motor in the pistol grip and stretch a gearbox all the way to the barrel. Access to the gearbox would be easy if you retained the hinged receiver and my best guess is that the battery could live in there too. With a suitable design it could be very neat indeed. The magazine would pose no problems at all, the original is a large, chunky beast and as a high capacity mag would probably hold between 400 and 500 rounds easily. Barrel and hop would also be pretty straightforward with easy access through the generous ejection port for hop adjustment. As a design it has great potential but no-one is likely to go there without a decently large potential market. Of course if it had a
Soviet Sappers: Bundesarchive - Photographer unknown
gas engine, either airsoft gas or HPA powered, things would be easier but that’s just adding niche to niche and frankly making it even more unlikely to happen. Short of commissioning a custom builder to make one from scratch, or doing so myself, it’s just not going to happen. There are plenty of good commercial reasons for that and the only way I could see that changing would be if Hollywood made a mega-blockbuster in which Deadpool assists the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy defeat the entire cast of Star Wars whilst singing all the hits from Frozen, and everyone without exception is armed with PPS-43s. Actually, I might pay to see that movie… It’s not happening in the same way that no-one is going to produce a Bren gun at a price that makes it attractive. Whether we like to admit it or not, fashion in firearms drives the airsoft manufacturers to a large extent, players generally want what they see regularly and that means modern AR-15 or AK variants. Also manufacturers want to produce “new” models with the minimum of fuss and cost - which often means new rails on old AR-15s. I understand why they do it, I just wish that sometimes they weren’t so slavish about it. As long as video games feature relatively modern guns, and movies do the same, there won’t be any kind of demand for the (much) less well known weapons, no matter how innovative they may be - which is a crying shame. Wikimedia
www.airsoft-action.online
59
Loaded or Unloaded PENTAGON TACTICAL CLOTHING: UPDATE
PENTAGON TACTICAL CLOTHING:
Pentagon Apollo Activity Shirt
E T A D UP
TACTICAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT BRAND PENTAGON ARE GATHERING A SOLID FOLLOWING, INCLUDING SOME OF THE AIRSOFT ACTION CREW! JERRY NOONE CONTINUES HIS COVERAGE OF THE LATEST FROM BRANDS OLD AND NEW WITH A LOOK AT WHAT PENTAGON HAVE TO OFFER FOR THE COMING YEAR. A GOOD PART OF MY working life revolves around being down at my test range looking at airsoft replicas and putting them through their paces. On average I test fire ten plus different airsoft models each and every month, whatever the weather. I’m also on the range in my spare time as well, working on and training with my own RIFs, and that can be in terms of skirmishing “skills and drills” or in relation to target shooting for accuracy. Of course, when I’m not testing I still enjoy a good skirmish or ‘Sim, and these days I’m finding that I increasingly wear what I find comfortable and what works for me. As always, I look for high levels of performance from my clothing specifically, as this forms my “first line of defence” against the elements. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; it’s all too attractive to go for the cheapest clothing option and then suffer for it later. Like any outdoor pursuit, a day airsofting in the UK can mean that you face varying temperatures and conditions, and if you take things into a longer MilSim situation where you’re going to be out overnight, having the right kit will make all the difference. I really like the fact these days that many tactical clothing manufacturers are making kit that you can use both on and off the airsoft field; whilst the fabrics and technologies are still way up there in terms of performance, the design element means that you can have clothing that is not just going to give protection from wind and rain, but that actually looks kind of cool too. I’ve heard people over the last year or so referring to a thing called “The Tactical Lifestyle” and, although I’m loathe to say it, quite a lot of this follows on from “The Tactical Athlete” school and requires a certain “look” that is just as much about training, fitness, mind-set and the right kit, as it is about anything.
60
XMAS 2017
Pentagon Thespis Sweater Vest
Pentagon Amintor
Loaded or Unloaded PENTAGON TACTICAL CLOTHING: UPDATE
That, however, is a story for another day, but what I will say now is that Pentagon seem to be right at the very forefront of this. At IWA 2017 I saw some absolutely stunning kit on their stand, and I’m pleased that this now seems to be rolling out to retailers around the globe. The gear looks (in some ways) like that I use for rock climbing and mountaineering but with a “tactical” slant and extra features built in. Pentagon have also looked very closely at the colours they’ve used in the palette this year, mixing brights (should you fancy them!) with different tones of grey and some visually appealing earth tones; don’t worry, Coyote Tan is still there, but there’s a lot more choice other than this!
PENTAGŌNOS: FIVE-ANGLED Pentagon Falcon 20
Pentagon Geraki Jacket
To recap, who are Pentagon and where have they come from? Well, to start the ball rolling their name is actually pretty cool in itself. Pentagon (pentagōnos) is a noun of ancient Greek origin meaning “five angled”. In the Pentagon logo the five angles symbolise the human form itself with the head and four limbs, along with the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Pretty cool, right? In terms of making gear though, Pentagon has been active in the field of military clothing and accessories since 1991, when the company started in Germany as a modest retail shop selling new and used military surplus goods. In 1993 the business moved and expanded with the opening of a new wholesale warehouse in Northern Greece. In the late 90’s a new generation of customers were showing up searching for military and law enforcement clothing and gear with technologically advanced fabrics, new and improved pocket arrangements and contemporary fitting styles. Most of these products demanded could only be found in recognised outdoor sports brands and in colours that were not appropriate for the military and law enforcement sector. That is when Pentagon decided to fill this gap. They started by looking for manufacturers and partners that were producing for leading outdoor companies, so as to acquire a thorough understanding of the technology of modern fabric construction and material functionality. They invested in the art of patternmaking so they could achieve the perfect fit for high-intensity activities that also provided high levels of comfort and an aesthetic which was missing from the classic military and law enforcement products. Finally, after many years of research and development and working closely with Military, Police, Fire fighters, Rescue and Security teams they developed a totally new product series which came to be known as “Tactical Sportswear™”. This was their answer to an advanced military clothing and gear concept which incorporates quality, technology, design and aesthetic all in one package and their motto to complement all this is “Gear Up!™”
GOOD GEAR FOR THE GOOD GUYS
Pentagon LCP Parka
With an established presence in both the tactical and outdoor markets, Pentagon are not one to sit on their hands, and the latest models to hit take things a step further in all ways! Pretty much gone are the “square cut cargo pants” and “field jackets” of old, replaced by some really cutting edge design elements designed for fast-paced, dynamic users. One area that is often overlooked in relation to your clothing system is that of the next to skin, or “base” layer. Pentagon have addressed this with a number of updated styles but my personal favourite is the APOLLO TAC FRESH ACTIVITY SHIRT. The Apollo is a breathable, lightweight and stretchable long sleeve activity shirt made of quick-drying fabric, with slim fit and a moisture absorbing laser cut mesh material on key points. Offering maximum freedom of movement and comfort all day long, the Apollo Activity Shirt is perfect to wear as a tactical base layer during training, at the gym, range, or when out and about in the great outdoors. As I write we’re experiencing quite a mild Autumn and I’m not yet ready to move up to a full fleece as yet, so the PENTAGON THESPIS SWEATER VEST is an absolutely perfect www.airsoft-action.online
61
SKELTON BOOT • ADDED COMFORT WITH SOFTWAIRTM MEMORY FOAM SOCKLINER • EVA MIDSOLE FOR EXTRA CUSHIONING AND FLEXIBILITY • ENHANCED GRIP ON VARIED SURFACE CONDITIONS
ATTEND BOOT • ADDED COMFORT WITH SOFTWAIRTM MEMORY FOAM SOCKLINER • EVA MIDSOLE FOR EXTRA CUSHIONING AND FLEXIBILITY
AVAILABLE AT
Loaded or Unloaded PENTAGON TACTICAL CLOTHING: UPDATE
“halfway house”. Made from lightweight and breathable PolyCotton material, the Thespis Sweater Vest features a full front YKK zipper, high collar, a large hood for added protection, two seamless hand pockets and soft inner lining for added comfort. The Thespis Sweater Vest offers excellent freedom of movement with good protection against the wind and cold weather and is perfect as “off duty” casual wear as well as on the skirmish field. If you do need to start layering up against the cold though, Pentagon offers some really great options and I have two models to recommend here. The AMINTOR TACTICAL SWEATER is a comfortable tactical sweater featuring a fine fleece inner backing and an outer layer with the appearance of knitted wool. It comes with a high collar, a full-length front zipper with chin guard and internal storm flap, low profile zipped chest pocket on the left side, large zipped hand pockets lined with mesh, elbows reinforced with hard shell fabric, and elastic sleeve cuffs. The FALCON TACTICAL SWEATER 2.0 takes things up a notch, whilst it has the same fabrics and features of the Amintor, the Falcon comes with snorkel hood integrated with a high collar to keep things extra toasty! The GERAKI JACKET is a model that’s been in Pentagon’s line for a while now, but I have to say that it is one of my favourites! The Geraki is a warm and ultra-lightweight down liner jacket with duck down insulation, super soft Nylon Taslon Rip-Stop patches and genuine YKK zipper hardware. The jacket keeps warmth inside and offers superb protection against really cold and windy weather. With multiple YKK zipped pockets, elasticated cuffs and adjustable bottom hem, the Geraki Jacket is ideal to carry in your pack for those chilly safe zone moments or for extra, immediate warmth if you’re in a bivvy situation. Pentagon When things turn properly cold though, the LCP 2.0 PARKA Hermes is well worth a look. Warm and highly comfortable, the LCP Activity Pants 2.0 Parka provides exceptional protection against the Pentagon elements with a Zakros Range “Storm Tex” Cap laminated membrane and waterresistant Nylon Taslon outer shell. Additionally, it comes with a Primaloft Eco filling for added warmth, high collar with large protective hood, and a two-way full front water-repellent zipper with a chin guard. The LCP 2.0 Parka also features multiple pockets, underarm vents to help air circulate and keep the core dry and fresh, hook and loop panels and fully adjustable bottom hem for a perfect snug fit. In terms of trousers, Pentagon have been really looking at fit and function; the latest iteration of their popular HERMES ACTIVITY PANTS resembles my favourite pair of mountain trousers but if anything, the fabrics and design are even better! Crafted from durable four-way stretch mid-weight Nylon and Elastane fabric, the Hermes Activity Pants feature Ripstop reinforced two-way stretch patches on commonly worn areas, a durable YKK main zipper with Jeans rivet button, an elasticated waist for perfect fit and adjustable elastic cord on the legs bottom for extra protection. Additionally, the pants come with two regular hand pockets, two zipped pockets and compact tool sleeve pocket for added convenience. The Hermes Activity Pants from Pentagon are perfect for everyday wear as well as for Pentagon Aris Tac highly demanding outdoor activities.
If you fancy something a bit more “traditionally tactical” then the ARIS TAC PANTS have all the features you could want in a sleek design package. Crafted from durable 225gsm two-way mechanical stretch PolyCotton Ripstop fabric, the Aris Tac Pants feature multiple storage pockets including two expandable side cargo pockets with inner sleeve pockets, internal knee pad pockets, a diamond crotch for added freedom of movement, and elasticated tunnel tube waistband for perfect fit.
GROUND POUNDERS
In addition to their clothing, Pentagon also offers some pretty cool footwear and I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring the ACHILLES TREKKING BOOTS to your attention. Available with an 8” or 6” cuff the durable and lightweight Achilles Trekking Boots feature a suede leather construction with durable 1200 denier Nylon material, breathable Coolmax inner lining and a clever eyelet setup for a perfect fit. These robust trekking boots come with 4000mm Dintex water-resistant membrane, comfortable inner padding, rubberised toe cap and heel and a removable Ortholite insole for all-day comfort. The high-performance Pentagon Achilles Trekking Boots provide superb protection to the foot and ankle in every situation and are ideal for all kinds of outdoor actives. These appear to be a perfect choice for anyone who is looking for military quality footwear designed especially for extreme conditions, and I’ve requested a pair from Military1st so I can give you the full lowdown at a later date. Add to what I’ve highlighted here that Pentagon also offer a solid range of headgear, accessories, packs and luggage and all in all you’ve got a very varied yet extremely logical offering. Each year Pentagon seems to add new fabrics, designs and technologies to their range, whilst at the same time updating and improving what they already have. My Geraki down jacket has seen some really hard abuse, being used on a daily basis in the winter months and accompanying me on numerous camping trips and outdoor adventures. It’s proved to be a great investment and now it’s beginning to show signs of wear I’ll need to think about replacing it… what should I replace it with? Oh, another Geraki I think! From personal experience, and the feedback I’ve got from other members of the Airsoft Action team, Pentagon really should be a brand to put on your radar and you can check out all the very latest models by simply visiting www.military1st.co.uk
Pentagon Achilles 6-inch Trekking Boot
www.airsoft-action.online
63
Kit RESPIRATORS
BREATHE EASY FAMED FOR ITS USE BY SPECIAL FORCES, THE RESPIRATOR HAS BECOME AN ICONIC PIECE OF KIT. PAUL YELLAND TAKES UP THE STORY…
AS FAR AS CQB LOAD OUTS GO, by far my favourite is the counter terrorism ‘black kit’. The most iconic piece of equipment that is worn with this load out is the respirator. The look achieved by wearing a respirator is one of menace and intimidation, and with the addition of good room clearance drills and weapon handling, anyone wearing this kit will certainly put the fear of god into any opponents who find themselves in their sights. There have been a number of different respirators used by the British Military over the past few decades. Older veterans who served in HM forces between the 1960’s and mid 1980’s will be familiar with the Avon S6 respirator. In 1986 the S10 respirator was introduced into service with different variants of this model also being produced. These included the SF10 that is famed for its use by the Special Forces. The S10
The fragile S10 lens 64
XMAS 2017
THE S10 RESPIRATOR
The current issue of respirator in use by the British Forces is the ‘General Service Respirator (GSR). The GSR is not made available for public sale, however some do appear occasionally on internet auction sites. On the other hand, the S10 respirator is widely available from army surplus shops and online retailers and can cost around the £30.00 mark depending on age and condition. The special variation models such as the AR10 and SF10 can be more expensive. There are accessories that can be used with the S10. The most important is the filter canister which screws into the side of the mask and without this filter the mask will not keep out any gas. Some second hand S10’s will come with a filter, but spare filters are also easy to get hold of and it is advisable to only use a new filter. You could argue that a filter is not strictly needed for wearing a respirator during The six point head strap a skirmish and by not using a filter, breathing is made easier but the look is not quite the same without one. Also, although not harmful, using smoke grenades inside buildings can be unpleasant and the use of a
filter with the respirator really does keep out the stench of the smoke. The respirator is available in different sizes and has a six point adjustable head strap to ensure of a snug fit.
THE S10 LENS
The most important issue regarding the use of the S10 respirator for airsoft is that the lenses are not ballistic rated and offer zero eye protection against a BB. In fact, an airsoft BB will shatter the S10 lens resulting in serious trauma to the wearer’s eye – and in a worst case scenario, even blindness. So, before using the S10 respirator for skirmishing, a few safety modifications will need to be made. The first option could be to remove the lenses completely and wear eye protection underneath. However, it is difficult to wear safety glasses underneath a respirator and the general appearance of the S10 is lost with the removal of the lenses. The second option is to replace the original S10 lenses with 2mm thick polycarbonate ones. These replacement polycarbonate lenses can be found for sale online, so after purchasing a pair, I decided to attempt to fit them. The polycarbonate lenses arrived pre-cut to fit the S10, but before I trusted them to protect my eyes, I wanted to test the plastics resistance to BB’s so I conducted a quick range test. I fired 0.20g BB’s from an AEG that chrono’d just under 300 fps. I first fired from a distance of 10 metres on both single shot and fully automatic. The lens deflected all of the rounds without a mark being left on the plastic. Next, I closed in to five metres and fired on both semi and fully automatic. Apart from a few light marks, the lens stayed undamaged. Finally, I tested the lens from point blank range and whilst expecting to cause some bullseye type marks, the polycarbonate remained intact with only slight marks being left by the BB’s.
The replacement polycarbonate lenses
Kit RESPIRATORS
The S10 with the new safety lenses fitted
Now feeling reassured that these polycarbonate lenses were going to be safe, I went ahead and replaced the originals with the new ones. The way to change the S10 respirator lenses is as follows: 1. Using a flat headed screw driver carefully insert it between the rubber on the front of the mask and the outer black plastic securing ring that surrounds the lens and prise it off 2. Hold the respirator with the front facing you and push the lens out using your thumbs 3. Place the lens onto a firm flat surface with the black plastic rim of the lens assembly upper most. Carefully insert a very small flat headed screw driver in the narrow gap that runs around the edge of the plastic and separate it. It might be necessary to push reasonably hard with the screw driver to do this 4. Once the two pieces of plastic are parted, the lens can then be removed (4a) and the replacement lens inserted (4b & 4c)
The M04 face mask
operated de-misting fan which is located in the mock filter. The mask is secured to the head by a number of straps that I assume should be adjustable, however I did experience issues with these straps coming undone and the buckles falling off. I found the fit of the mask to be slightly uncomfortable – even when worn over a short period of time. There is a rubber face piece inside the mask – as with the S10 respirator, but even this feels hard. The M04 mask does not completely cover your face like a real respirator does so you don’t get that authentic experience. On a ballistic test using 0.20g BB’s at just under 300 fps, the M04 mask performed really well – even when the lenses took rounds at point blank range on fully automatic. I was surprised with this because I honestly thought that the plastic would fail. So this mask does look the part and offers good full face protection. At around the £20.00 mark, the M04 mask is a good alternative to converting a real S10 respirator for safe airsoft use. I personally prefer to use the converted S10 respirator purely because of the realism, but whatever option The M04 comes with a built in fan you choose, always consider eye safety before looks. Although I have tested these lenses and would be happy to wear them myself as eye pro for airsoft, please be careful and anybody who does use customised eye protection, does so at their own risk.
5. Follow the process in reverse order to reassemble the respirator 6. The last step is to re-fit the outer plastic securing ring, and this can be quite tricky to do I tested the newly fitted lenses with some further rounds fired at the respirator. The lenses deflected the BB’s without a problem, but the outer plastic retaining ring that holds the lens in place became loose and dropped of as I had not refitted them firmly enough. This could compromise the eye safety so it is really important to make sure that the lenses are securely fixed into place with the retaining ring.
AIRSOFT ALTERNATIVES
If you want a respirator for your load out but don’t want the hassle of swapping lenses, then there are airsoft eye / face protective masks available in the style of respirators. I recently purchased one that looked similar to the S10 respirator and would fit in with my ‘black kit’ load out. The model that I bought was the M04. It is made of plastic and has a battery
The S10 (left) and M04 (right) www.airsoft-action.online
65
kit ARMEX XPLORA MULTI TOOL
AT A RECENT TRADE SHOW NIGE AND BILL BUMPED INTO ARAN FROM PATROL STORE AND GRAHAM FROM ARMEX AND A CASUAL CONVERSATION REVEALED SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY USEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
ARMEX XPLORA WITH POUCH ONE OF THE THINGS I truly love about writing for Airsoft Action is that I regularly get to attend some of the biggest trade shows in the tactical and defence industry worlds. Nige and I recently had the opportunity to visit DSEI in London, which is pretty much the “Mac Daddy” of Defence shows where global buyers can buy quite literally anything from a pair of socks up to a naval fighting ship, from fuel for a cooker up to a fighter jet! It’s a massively exciting show and we came away having had some very useful meetings with numerous tactical companies. However, it is a truth that sometimes as much business gets done off the show floor as on and so it was that a chance meeting with Aran and Graham brought to light a great bit of new kit from ARMEX, in the form of the XPLORA. In the last thirty years or so I have NEVER been without a multi tool of some description, and on numerous occasions such a tool has been a real life saver. From jobs around camp or the safe zone, to performing emergency RIF repairs in the field, my multi tools have seen a LOT of action so I’m always on the lookout for new innovations! The new ARMEX Xplora with Pouch is a premium, full-size multi tool, featuring quality spring-loaded pliers and comes with a ballistic nylon pouch incorporating a belt loop. All the tools on the Xplora are lockable, giving the user a very safe and practical tool. In terms of what you get, the Xplora features: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
There’s pretty much everything you could ever need included in the tool, which weighs just 297g, so it really is a useful thing to have tucked away in your kit. I have a Multicam pistol magazine pouch on my DCS Plate Carrier which always houses a multi tool and the ARMEX version fits perfectly. The tool fits very comfortably in the hand with no sharp edges; I hate ones that don’t have this “feel” to them as when you try to apply pressure they inevitably cut into your palm! The finish is absolutely first rate too, with the “Bronze” skeleton handles looking very “tacticool” and everything functions smoothly and efficiently. The locking system for the blades and tools stored in the handles is also very, very positive, whilst the release for these is achieved by simply depressing a large lever; no fiddly release mechanism here, just a well finished lever that can easily be operated whilst wearing gloves. Everything considered, this is a very nice tool indeed and with an RRP of just £49.99 it’s certainly not going to break the bank considering what else is on the market! As a long-time fan of multi tools I have the say that ARMEX Xplora is most certainly worth a look if you’re in the market (and would make a brilliant Xmas present!). Thanks to www.patrolstore.com for sending us the samples; please do visit their website for more information on the ARMEX Xplora along with much, much more.
Fully sprung Pliers Matt Bronze Skeleton handles Bottle Opener Wire Cutters Wire Strippers Fine Bladed Knife Fish Scaler Hook Disgorger Small Flat Head Screw Driver Medium Flat Head Screw Driver Large Flat Head Screw Driver Phillips Screw Driver File Can Opener
www.airsoft-action.online
67
ARMOURY KING ARMS M1 PARA CARBINE
AS AN ENORMOUS FAN OF HISTORICAL REPLICAS JERRY NOONE IS ALWAYS PLEASED TO SEE A NEW MODEL ENTER THE MARKETPLACE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S A GAS POWERED MODEL WITH A REALISTIC MAGAZINE CAPACITY.
THE CARBINE IS KING… LONG LIVE THE CARBINE IT HAS TO BE SAID THAT I do love a properly good replica, so when I saw the new King Arms M1 Carbine variants at IWA, I knew I had to get my hands on one. I’ve owned a Marushin M1 for some considerable time but being the MAXI version it’s 8mm and not easily used as a skirmish, or indeed even Battlesim rifle; that said it is an absolutely first rate replica, although it’s more the M2 variant with the “30 round” curved magazine, so it’s not entirely perfect. I’ve been waiting for yonks for someone to do a really good new 6mm version that’s easily available and therefore you can imagine my excitement when I saw both the full stock and folding “para” stock models in their prototype form. Like many far eastern airsoft manufacturers, King Arms have been through their ups and downs. Originally a Chinese airsoft manufacturer founded in 2004 and based in Hong Kong, King Arms produced high quality airsoft guns, parts and accessories at minimal cost. In 2015 they bravely upped sticks and moved
their headquarters to Taiwan (which is fast becoming “airsoft central”!) and they’ve continued to provide excellent products of the highest quality. King Arms have always been known to look at some of the more esoteric historical weapons in airsoft form, including Mosin Nagant bolt actions, Thompson SMGs, Galils, FN FALs and even an L1A1 SLR. I once had their SLR and it was a beauty and I still own one of their classic FAL models that sits happily in my OPFOR armoury. Of course, just like every other manufacturer, they produced M4s and AKs but as the market drove inexorably forward, I had the distinct feeling that they were getting a little “left behind” in the great rush to excel. They certainly always had the quality but soon with the advancements in gas and recoil technologies their offering started to seem a little “dated”. Over the past couple of years though, they appear to have changed tack once again, not only producing a super AR in the form of their “Black Rain Ordnance” model but stepping back to what they do REALLY well and that’s their “historic” line. You might say that this type of model is really for “niche” airsofters and certainly the M1 Carbine is appropriate for WWII, Korea, Malaya and Vietnam games but I’d throw into the mix here, that with the rise of “Post Apocalypse” events the M1 is actually the perfect tool to have at hand!
CLERKS AND COOKS!
In the run up to World War II, U.S. Army Ordnance received reports that the full-size M1 Garand rifle was too heavy and cumbersome for most support troops (staff, mortar-men, radiomen, clerks and cooks!) to carry. During pre-war and early war field exercises, it was found that the M1 Garand impeded the soldier’s mobility, as a slung rifle would frequently catch on brush, bang the helmet, or tilt over the eyes. Many soldiers found the rifle slid off the shoulder unless slung diagonally across the back, where it prevented the wearing of standard field packs and haversacks. In 1938, the Chief of Infantry requested that the Ordnance Department develop a “light rifle” or carbine, though the formal requirement for the weapon type was not approved until 1940. This led to a competition in 1941 by major U.S. firearm companies and designers. The rifle originated as a design by Jonathan “Ed” Browning, brother of the famous firearm designer John Browning and the short-stroke gas piston design was further developed after Browning’s death by David 68
XMAS 2017
ARMOURY KING ARMS M1 PARA CARBINE
Marshall “Carbine” Williams who, at the time, was serving a prison sentence at a North Carolina minimum-security work farm! Upon his release from prison Winchester hired Williams on the strength of recommendations of firearms industry leaders and hoped Williams would be able to complete various designs left unfinished by Ed Browning, including the Winchester .30-06 rifle. Williams incorporated his short-stroke piston into the existing design. Winchester had contacted the Ordnance Corps to examine their rifle design and Major René Studler announced his belief that the rifle could be scaled down to a carbine, which would weigh 4.5 to 4.75 lb (2.0 to 2.2 kg) and demanded a prototype as soon as possible. The first model was developed at Winchester in 13 days by William C. Roemer, Fred Humeston and three other Winchester engineers under supervision of Edwin Pugsley and was essentially Williams’ last version of the .30-06 M2 scaled down to the .30 SL cartridge. This patchwork prototype was cobbled together using the trigger housing and lock work of a Winchester M1905 rifle and a modified Garand operating rod – and was an immediate hit with army observers! After the initial army testing in August 1941, the Winchester design team set out to develop a more refined version. Williams participated in the finishing of this prototype.
The second prototype competed successfully against all remaining carbine candidates in September 1941 and Winchester was notified of their success the very next month. Standardisation as the M1 Carbine was approved on October 22, 1941 as the “United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1”. The M1 carbine entered service with a standard straight 15-round box magazine. The introduction of the select-fire M2 carbine in October 1944 also brought into service the curved 30-round magazine, or “Banana Clip”. After WWII, the 30-round magazine quickly became the standard for both the M1 and M2 carbines, although the 15-round magazine remained in service until the end of the Vietnam War. Perhaps the most common accessory used on the M1 carbine was a standard magazine belt pouch that was mounted to the right side of the stock and held two extra 15-round magazines. After the introduction of the 30-round magazine, it was common for troops to tape two 30-round magazines together, a practice that became known as “Jungle style”.
www.airsoft-action.online
69
ARMOURY KING ARMS M1 PARA CARBINE
This led the military to introduce the “Holder, Magazine T3A1” also called the “Jungle Clip”, a metal clamp that held two magazines together without the need for tape. A total of over 6.1 million M1 carbines of various models were manufactured, making it the most-produced small arm for the American military during World War II (compared with about 5.4 million M1 rifles and about 1.3 million Thompson submachine guns). Despite being designed by Winchester, the great majority of these were made by other companies. The largest producer was the Inland Division of General Motors but many others were made by contractors as diverse as IBM, the Underwood Typewriter Company and even the Rock-Ola Jukebox Company! The M1 carbine was and, indeed, still is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that was a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and well into the Vietnam War. The M1 and later the M1A1 “Para”, M2 (select fire) and M3/T3 were produced in vast numbers and were widely used by not only the U.S. military but by military, paramilitary and police forces around the world. It is also a popular civilian firearm and rare models these days sell for some serious amounts of money!
A SKIRMISHABLE M1?
The M1 carbine ticks a serious amount of “timeline boxes” and is easily usable for all pretty much all eras of airsoft that sit “WWII” onwards. Given that many “M1s” are now in civilian hands, it also means for me that it’s a firearm you might see in the hands of a “Wasteland Wanderer” for a sci-fi themed event - but is this model from King Arms finally a skirmishable replica at last? In general terms I’d still (very sadly) have to say “no”, as the realistic 15BB CO2 magazines and semi-auto only action will put you at great disadvantage in your usual “Sunday Skirmish”, where your opponents are probably running full auto RIFs with HiCap magazines! Let’s stop there for a moment though and pause for thought… Other than a regular skirmish, many sites are now proposing limited ammo, semi auto only and “gas and spring” days. Along with these, themed historical games usually have strict limited ammo requirements and you’ll still see players with bolt-action Springfields and Kar98s… and let’s not even get into the building enthusiasm and barely-contained drooling for the Redwolf .303 SMLE! In this type of environment the M1 can come into its element and I believe become a very popular model. With all that said, what about the carbine itself? I’m going to come out and say, as an owner of the original Marushin that the King Arms gasser is pretty much a direct copy of the earlier model, down to the (incorrect) M2-style rear sight and bayonet lug. Is this a bad thing? No, in my opinion not, as my old Marushin is still working just fine and spitting BBs accurately after many years. Let’s face it, other airsoft companies out there take existing models and re-brand them with a few tweaks and that’s pretty much accepted as the norm these days.
The King Arms M1 really is a lovely bit of kit, with full metal and sumptuous wood construction throughout. It has semi-auto fire mode only but the gas blowback system driven by a C02 bulb in the 15BB magazine is a thing of pure beauty, clacking back and forth with each and every shot fired. The version I received for testing was the M1A1 “Para” version with the skeleton metal folding stock and in either open or closed position this is solid as a rock; detailing is superb, even down to the “leather” padded cheek piece, front and rear metal sling points and fully adjustable iron sights. When it comes to range and accuracy, the M1 is really up there with other gassers that I own, easily sending a .20g BB out to the extent of my 30m testing range, hitting a sandbag target time and again whilst in the prone position. Frank from Fire Support kindly sent me down a bag of ICS .20g Precision Diamond Grind and Polish Competition Grade BBs to test the carbine with and I have to tell you that these worked absolutely perfectly, although I did move up to my usual .25g BBs which also worked smoothly through the action. So, power? And yes, I’m sure that you’ve guessed what is coming here… On a 17 degree day the average chrono reading using the .20g BBs came in at 1.63 Joule/420fps and obviously, as a gas rifle, this will vary given the weather/temperature conditions.
“THE VERSION I RECEIVED FOR TESTING WAS THE M1A1 “PARA” VERSION WITH THE SKELETON METAL FOLDING STOCK AND IN EITHER OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION THIS IS SOLID AS A ROCK; DETAILING IS SUPERB, EVEN DOWN TO THE “LEATHER” PADDED CHEEK PIECE, FRONT AND REAR METAL SLING POINTS AND FULLY ADJUSTABLE IRON SIGHTS.” Whilst this would just about sit at the upper extent of most site’s power requirements for a DMR (with the associated MED), I think it would only be prudent to check with your local site to make sure they’d allow it. Again, for many “themed” games the power requirements may vary but I’d still say check with the organiser and make sure to chrono on the day! All things considered, I really do love the M1 Carbine, both as the standard and “para” version and for certain types of game I’d have no hesitation in fielding it. It’s lightweight, accurate, very appealing ergonomically and very easy to carry all day long. Yes, you’ll be seriously outgunned at your usual skirmish but if you’re up against bolt-actions then I believe you will be more than able to hold your own! As with all gas rifles spare mags are not cheap at £49 a pop but again, in the right game you’d only need a few. If you fancy something a little unique, with a rich history, that covers many eras and theatres of operation then I think you’d be hard pushed to better the King Arms M1 Carbine. My thanks go to www.fire-support.co.uk for the loan of the test model which retails at £349.00.
Tech Specs Colour: Black and Brown Wood Main Material: Aluminium, Zinc Alloy and Wood Max. Overall Length: 920 mm Inner Barrel Length: 267mm Weight without Magazine: 2480g Power Source: 12g C02 Cartridge Power (.20g BB): 1.63 Joule/420fps
www.airsoft-action.online
71
Warriors of WWII BRITISH AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE
WHILE BRITAIN CAME A LITTLE LATE TO THE PARTY IN ORGANISING ITS AIRBORNE FORCES THEY WERE, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THE BEST IN THE WORLD BY THE AUTUMN OF 1944, AS GADGE “STONE” HARVEY EXPLAINS.
BRITISH AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE: ARNHEM 1944 72
XMAS 2017
Warriors of WWII BRITISH AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE
BUOYED UP BY THE SUCCESS of the airborne operations in support of the D-day landing in which “coup de main” British parachute and air-landing troops had successfully seized key bridges and strong points ahead of the main allied army, thus paralysing German counter attacks, the allies decided to gamble on a mass paradrops once again. By the September of 1944 the massive allied advance into Nazi occupied Europe had begun to stall. The sheer number of men and machines landed on the continent meant that keeping every army fuelled and fed to a high enough standard to attack on all fronts was near impossible. While the Americans wanted a slow and steady advance into the Nazi heartland of Germany, the Brits had a more ambitious plan. Rather than a slow steady push into Germany, British field marshal Montgomery believed he could “bounce the Rhine” and seize the bridges in the Low Countries between the allied positions and the German border, by laying an “airborne carpet” to capture the key points while British tank units raced forwards… Side swiping the German defences, crossing the Rhine at the Dutch city of Arnhem and ending the war by Christmas. This optimistic plan was titled “Operation Market Garden” and while ultimately unsuccessful, has been recorded in the annals of military history as one of modern warfare’s greatest “last stands”.
UNEXPECTED RESISTANCE
The men of the recce element met heavy resistance on the way to the bridge, as the British had not realised that two SS armoured divisions were resting and repairing in the Arnhem area and failed to capture the entire bridge. While elements of “2 Para” (the 2nd battalion of the parachute regiment) managed to secure the closest side of Arnhem bridge, their position soon became untenable and the men of the 1st Airborne Division dug into the gardens of the outskirts of Arnhem and bravely fought on, awaiting the arrival of the Sherman tanks of XXX corp. While the men held on for far longer than they had been asked to, they were constantly hampered by the fact that the RAF dropped their ammunition and weapon resupply onto areas overrun by the Germans, forcing the British airborne to use enemy weapons and ammunition when their own ran dry. In contrast, the hard-pressed German defenders were delighted to have the British airdrop them tons of weapons and ammunition to repel the invaders! Our recce trooper has been in the thick of it for several days and his kit now reflects the desperate situation the remnants of the jeep-borne recce formations were in after their failure to
A BRIDGE TOO FAR
As any film buff will tell you, the allies went for a “bridge too far” and captured all the objectives except the last one tasked to the British 1st Airborne Division. It was not, however, that the plucky British troops didn’t complete their objective (they were tasked to hold their end of the bridge for 48 hours and ended up fighting for a staggering nine days without resupply) but that the ambitious plan had so many elements that could go wrong, that when one or two did, the timetable allowing the armoured units to catch up fell critically behind. What actually caused the British Airborne forces to fail to link up with the armoured troops of XXX Corp (30 Corps) is a hot topic of debate. Some say it was the failure for the armoured forces to move quickly enough to link up as they were hampered by German ambushes along a single road to Arnhem, others believe it was the failure of British radios to work effectively in the Dutch lowlands. Another theory is that too many gliders and transport planes were used to move non-essential command elements on the first day, meaning that valuable infantry were held back to be airlifted on day two or three. Perhaps the most controversial argument though, is the use of the British airborne troops. In military doctrine it is firmly believed that reconnaissance units should pull an army forwards and not be pushed by its goals. Reconnaissance “recce” elements are the eyes and ears of an armed force and the British airborne forces of WWII were primarily “leg infantry”, with next to no motorised transport to move them to the battle area and what few jeeps and trucks they could transport by gliders were allocated to the anti-tank and the reconnaissance units. While the men of the 1st Airborne division felt that their role should be to rapidly scout ahead of the main body and highlight enemy strongholds to avoid, they were horrified to be tasked with a “do or die mission” to race to Arnhem bridge and capture it and hold it until the foot borne infantry caught up. The recce elements commander protested but their arguments fell on deaf ears… to British High Command it was important to quickly seize the bridge before the Germans could realise the true scope of the threat. Knowing that their unarmoured jeeps, equipped with only light machine guns, would be no match for any German armour they might encounter, the Recce troops requested heavier support. During the D-Day landing, the 6th Airborne Division had utilised limited numbers of “Tetrarch” light tanks. These tanks could be dropped into the battle area by the huge “Hamilcar” glider and with their 40mm gun and reasonable armour they would have been a match for German armoured cars and light crewed weapons. To the dismay of the recce troops they were told they would not need them and would have to seize the bridge with jeeps alone.
www.airsoft-action.online
73
Warriors of WWII BRITISH AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE
capture the bridge. Having been in combat for over five days at this point, our man is defending the “Oosterbeek pocket”, where 1st Airborne’s survivors had holed up and has had to resort to using a captured German K98 rifle, as ammunition for his issued Lee Enfield has ran out days ago. While covered in grime, after almost a week of close combat, our man has retained much of his fighting equipment. His basic uniform consists of British airborne pattern battledress. While superficially similar to the line infantry uniform, the airborne version differs in having more capacious pockets on the trousers, lined with chamois leather to enable the trooper to carry ammunition, grenades, or documents easily. On top of the wool battledress this trooper wears the classic airborne “Denison smock”, a brushstroke pattern heavy cotton jump smock designed by major Denison for UK airborne forces. While now seen as characteristic of the British “para”, the Denison smock was actually closely modelled on the early war German jump smock of the late 30s. Rather than having short “legs” on the smock, however, the UK smock has an “ape tail” that can button between the legs to prevent the smock riding up during a parachute jump. The smock’s baggy appearance is largely due to the original intention for the Denison smock to be worn over all of the soldier’s equipment to prevent anything getting lost in a jump. Completing our man’s uniform is a camouflage face veil worn as a scarf and leather, ankle-length “ammo boots” with canvas gaiters to blouse the trousers and prevent stones and debris entering the low boots. A final touch is the prized maroon beret of the airborne divisions. While airborne recce
troops were parachute-trained and so wore jump wings, many men dropped alongside their jeeps in Horsa gliders. Fighting equipment is the classic WWII British “37 pattern webbing” coated in a preservative and camouflaging coat of “blanco” paint. His webbing consist of a waist belt and shoulder braces that support his basic ammunition pouches, his late war “sleeve”-type water bottle carrier and bottle. In addition our man also carries an entrenching tool in a webbing carrier, a “pigsticker” spike bayonet for his discarded No4 Lee Enfield and some “acquired” ammunition pouches for a 1911 automatic pistol, which is secured in a pistol case on his right hip, a common side arm among airborne Sgts such as our warrior. Final combat equipment consists of a cotton bandolier, initially for his No4 rifle, now full of captured German ammunition and a coarse “toggle rope” worn over his shoulders. On its own the toggle rope is not particularly useful but a full section or platoon of men could quickly construct rope ladders and cargo nets from multiple toggle ropes. Without a shadow of a doubt, WWII British Airborne is one of the more popular impressions on the WWII airsoft scene. A combination of fighting “élan”, mixed with effective, comfortable and practical combat kit make it’s a sure fire choice for many starting players. The good news is that these days it’s very easy to get cheap and accurate replicas of WWII airborne uniform, while original webbing is still reasonably priced at most fairs and surplus stores. One thing that has always held the British WWII airsofter back is a lack of an affordable and reliable British rifle but by representing an Airsoft Action would like to “Arnhem veteran” you can easily use a thank ‘C Troop 1st Airborne more accessible rifle, such as the excellent Reconnaissance Squadron ReTanaka 98 or even perhaps go a little enactment Group’ for their kind more “close combat” with a Sten gun or assistance in creating this article. Mp40! www.airsoft-action.online
75
GITAG AKSU CQB BUILD
JERRY NOONE IS REGULARLY ASKED ABOUT GAME-SPECIFIC AEG AND GBB BUILDS AND THIS MONTH HE BRINGS US A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT HIS LATEST BUILD FOR CQB ENVIRONMENTS – SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROBABLY MAKE “COMRADE KALASHNIKOV” TURN IN HIS GRAVE!
AKSU CQB BUILD REGULAR READERS MAY RECALL THAT I have a “penchant” for AK variants, and although I am somewhat of a purist when it comes to them, more and more I am seeing thoroughly modern Kalashnikov replicas hitting the airsoft fields of the UK. Right now there seems to be more interest in modern Russian loadouts than ever before, and with the likes of groups online such as the ever interesting and informative “Northern Pact Community” it’s easier than ever to put a cracking set of Russian gear together. My colleague Gadge is no slouch when it comes to Russian kit and has been of immense help to me as I put my own loadouts together, as has Ian “Taz” Stokes
76
XMAS 2017
who is just a walking repository of Soviet and Russian military knowledge. These guys are the first to offer assistance not only in the “look” itself, but also in where to find it and in many cases will often have a spare bit of kit lying around. There are also a number of great “e-tailers” out there like https://grey-shop.ru that source and sell genuine equipment that you can pay for in pounds and have shipped direct to your door! Although I’ve already built both a modern GBB and AEG “field AK” these are both long rifles, which although they offer a lot of benefit for longer distance engagements, they can be somewhat unwieldy when things get “up close and personal”, so I decided it was time that I looked to something more compact. I’ve always been a huge fan of the AKS 74U and although there are some cracking replicas out there with the side folding stock, I decided to keep things “in the family” by looking for a model with a buffer tube, just like I have on the field rifles. A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of reviewing one of the latest CYMAs from their excellent 0.40 range, and I was really impressed by what I saw there. The new CYMA AK range has all the usual benefits of other CYMA models, including steel and aluminium construction and internals that are renowned for their reliability. Inside the latest models have really been “beefed” up. What you get is a reinforced gearbox shell with 7mm steel bearings, reinforced spring guide, reinforced steel gears, a reinforced nylon piston and cylinder head, increased motor torque and a reinforced tappet plate, leading to a solid bit of kit mechanically and one that’s still very easy to work on should you wish to. Although there are other compact Russian “primaries” out there, such as the Bizon and the Vityaz-SN, I decided that I
GITAG AKSU CQB BUILD
really did want to stick with the SU, as much as for magazine compatibility as anything else, so I started looking in the CYMA 0.40 range for something that would suit. I also wanted to keep the price of the donor gun down, so again CYMA fitted the bill well. What I found was the 0.40H AKS 74U model which pretty much ticked many boxes from the get go. This short AEG comes with the buffer tube solidly fitted as standard, along with a very sturdy metal rail system at the sharp end, and when I spoke to my mate Chris at South Eastern Airsoft Supplies (www.seairsoft.co.uk), he managed to get hold of one for me almost immediately.
ACCESSORISE COMRADE, ACCESSORISE!
Expect to pay iro £180-190 for a CYMA SU. This is great value given how solid they now are and even with quite a small budget, by choosing the right parts you can really start to jazz things up. Although this was a “transform” and not a full “custom” project, I still wanted it to look great! On one of Ian’s own builds I’d seen the muzzle device I wanted and this came in the form of the Tactical Weapons Industries (TWI) “Zenitco” style CNC DTK-2 brake for the AKS74U. The all-steel made DTK-2 Muzzle Brake comes 24mm Clockwise (Positive) and is stated as suitable for the GHK/ LCT AKS74U models, so I took a flier and ordered one in. When it arrived it was simply a case of unscrewing the conical muzzle booster and fitting the new one. Also on Ian’s advice I looked for a TWI B-18 style sight mount that affixes directly to the rear iron sight of the SU, allowing you to fit a red-dot. This is actually a great little bit of kit as it still allows you to use the AK iron sights, although here you will need to be careful in your choice of stocks. With a standard “AR” style sliding stock the sight picture for the “irons” is just fine, but if you raise the red-dot optic further up over the bore you’re going to get yourself into some weird contortions trying to look through it. For a while I’ve been following the online page of the excellent military photographer Konstantin Lazarev and I’d noticed that a couple of stocks seemed pretty popular for AKs with buffer tubes; namely the GL-Shock model from FAB Defense and the CBS from CAA. I decided to fit a GL-Shock to my SU and immediately it became clear why they’re so popular in the real world. With the cheek riser at its lowest setting you can easily use the “irons” whilst raising it up put’s it firmly in line with the optic… BINGO! With the “transformation” largely complete there was one more item I needed and that was a foregrip, and having already built a couple of “tactical AKs” I knew exactly what I needed a Vertical Grip System (VGS) from Valken. The VGS is a shorter foregrip which comes cut away at an angle as standard and this is what makes it SO perfect for an AK build. If you think about
www.airsoft-action.online
77
Got a digital device? Then you can take your favourite airsoft magazine with you! Airsoft Action is available to read on just about every type of digital device, including iOS, Android, Windows 8/10 and PC, with apps that can be downloaded FREE from any app store. Airsoft Action is available on PocketMags, Readly and Magzter and is supported by apps for all major devices.
GITAG AKSU CQB BUILD
how you change mags on an AK, the technique is “forward and down” and I’ve found over the years that if you try to use a longer or squared foregrip this can often “foul” quick and efficient magazine changes - which is most definitely what you don’t want in a fast and furious CQB setting! Trust me, if you run an AK and want a foregrip, the Valken VSG will soon become a firm friend.
FINISHING
Of course I wanted my little AK to sit neatly in the “Tactical Kalashnikov” family along with the field rifles, so once everything was together it was time to break out the NUPROL camo paints and get to work. I’ve covered my painting process
in some depth before so suffice to say it was a quick, light coat of tan which was then overlaid with OD “stripes”. Once both these coats were dry and settled, out came the scrim net which I used to apply a tan “snakeskin” effect. The tan at this stage is quite bright, so to conclude I simply did a super-light spray of the OD to tone things down again. It’s totally up to you at this stage whether you want to “distress” the AEG a little to give it that battle-worn look but personally I like mine to “weather in” naturally over time and to me this gives a really nice feel to the whole thing, with the paint getting gradually knocked back in the correct places during use. Overall this entire project has cost me less that £300 including buying the SU itself and I’ve ended up with a really serviceable CQB AEG that’s quite unique in its look and feel; it’s short, easy to move around and with the DTK-2 brake looks nice and aggressive. I can use all the mags I already own for it which helps to keep costs down and the little “T1” style sight was simply appropriated from another build. All the parts for the build are easily found online these days but mine came courtesy of www.davescustomairsoft.co.uk as Dave also seems to be having a bit of an “AK moment” right now too. I personally really like the TWI accessories but on Dave’s website you’ll find an entire AK area, with many different parts to choose from including some lovely parts from Asura Dynamics and if you don’t feel up to building it yourself he’ll even put it all together for you! I will stress that this was a simple transformation build and although the SU looks right to me, a full custom-build might get you an even better look but again, I wanted to keep this to a budget. Therefore my thanks go out to all the “Geeks” who have helped me in my quest to build a great looking AK variant, and it just goes to prove that “geekiness” can certainly lead to good things!
www.airsoft-action.online
79
Skills TYPES OF PATROL
“A patrol is a sub-subunit or small tactical formation, sent out from a military organization by land, sea or air for the purpose of combat, reconnaissance, or a combination of both.” Source: www.thefreedictionary.com
TYPES OF PATROL ANDY NIGHTINGALE HAS BEEN ON MORE PATROLS THAN SOME OF US HAVE HAD HOT DINNERS. HERE HE GIVES US AN OVERVIEW OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF PATROL. SUCCESSFUL PATROLLING IN HIGH RISK environments calls for a very high standard of individual training, good practical team work, initiative and determination on the part of the patrol leader. Patrolling enables the squad’s defence to be conducted in an aggressive manner.
TYPES OF PATROL
In essence, there are three types of patrol that can be conducted by a section. Standing, Fighting and Recce. Here we’ll take a look at all of them in more detail.
STANDING The standing patrol has a minimum strength of 1 NCO and 3 men and is normally made up of either Charlie or Delta fire team. Their purpose is to gain as much information as possible on enemy movement and also to prevent or disrupt enemy infiltration into friendly occupied territories. The standing patrol must move into position quietly and try to remain hidden. Whilst in position they will gain information until required to withdraw or, if they should be discovered, fight their way out. Used as an early warning system, the standing patrol will watch and listen on likely enemy approaches. They will watch over dead ground in front of and between friendly forces and also watch over obstacles, mines and wire, with good coms to inform the main fighting body. Other tasks will include preventing enemy infiltration into unoccupied hides or positions, as well as securing and marking up Forming Up Points (F.U.P) and Start Lines (S.L) for night attacks. Basically in this type of patrol, you are “standing your ground”.
FIGHTING
DoD photo by Spc. Elisha Dawkins, U.S. Army. (Released)
80
XMAS 2017
Fighting patrols are organised for a particular task. The Patrol is formed with sufficient strength to back it up and achieve the mission. The role of the fighting patrol is to primarily harass and ambush the enemy and also to attack or to create a diversion. The strength of the patrol can vary according to the task to be performed and the expected combat level. It is used to deny any enemy patrols movement in no man’s land and also tasked with interfering with enemy work parties. As well as protecting its own working parties, the fighting patrol will distract enemy attention away from other such activities. Raids are a vital part of gaining ground and destroying the enemy and the fighting patrol is responsible for carrying out such raids. It can also be used for capturing enemy prisoners
Skills TYPES OF PATROL
for ID purposes. This can give vital information and intelligence on other enemy activities and also help in the planning of other such friendly missions. Ambush is another task that is part of the fighting patrol’s arsenal.
RECCE This is a Patrol of minimum strength for the given task. Usually this consists of a patrol commander and 3 - 5 soldiers. The patrol’s aim is to gain as much information as possible by observation and to operate by stealth. The RECCE patrol would normally avoid all combat situations except for self-protection or to take advantage of unusual opportunities, such as high ranking officers or activities of high value. Collecting topographical information on things such as features, roads and tracks and the state of the ground, would prove to be of valuable information for future raids, including strengths and moral of enemy forces. Obtaining details of enemy mine fields and the extent of enemy positions will also help in developing a state of ground when planning. Investigating any enemy noise and habits, along with types and quantity of weapons and equipment, will again give vital information on the enemy’s strengths and moral. Also watching the enemy’s own patrol movements and patrol routes would lead to information concerning possible attacks on friendly forces and likely Ambush locations. RECCE patrols are also responsible for checking their own wire defenses and patrol routes to make sure that they have not been compromised. It’s also responsible for recording first and last light. Acting as a listening post, the RECCE patrol would be used as an early warning system and be able to call in supportive fire should the situation call for.
ON PATROL
When patrolling it is important that each member of the patrol is responsible for their own actions. The weapon should always be held in the shoulder at all times, enabling a quick
response to a contact. The weapon should also be an extension of the eye. Wherever you look, the muzzle should be pointing in the same direction as the line of sight. Textbook really. When patrolling, it is up to the individual to make a note of the distance between themselves and the person to their front and this gap should be maintained at all times. If you are too close to the person in front, it gives the enemy a good chance of hitting more people with one sweep on full automatic fire. If you are too far apart it can take a long time for the section to come together and form up in the event of a contact. The distance is normally dictated by the state of the ground, however, in woods and such places, where viability is reduced, the section would close in. This would also be the case for patrolling at night. As well as looking around for the enemy, you should also be looking for possible places that you could use as possible cover and also be observing for any tactical signals being passed down the line. Walk at a suitable speed for the terrain but make all body movements positive. Slow the patrol down when in the vicinity of enemy activity. Patrolling is part of the bread and butter of the humble Infantry solider. It’s a simple task but one that requires discipline and control on everyone’s part. All too often I see folk walking towards an enemy position only to be lit up by a hailstorm of fire - both in real life and airsoft! Casualties that could have been avoided if the team had displayed the correct understanding of patrolling. Next time you’re out in the wilds on a skirmish, put your patrolling skills to the test and learn to survive a bit longer. Stay safe and happy Shooting.
www.airsoft-action.online
81
It’s A Classic SOLDIER 95
FOR MANY YEARS THE BRITISH INFANTRYMAN WAS FAMED FOR BEING “THE BEST TRAINED BUT WORST EQUIPPED SOLDIER IN NATO” BUT ALL OF THIS WOULD CHANGE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE “SOLDIER 95” CLOTHING SYSTEM, AS GADGE “STONE” HARVEY EXPLAINS…
SOLDIER 95 FOR DECADES BRITISH ARMY UNIFORM had been generally only just “fit for purpose”. The quite well made “68 pattern” suit was fully lined and warm but excessively heavy when wet and a nightmare in hot summers. The follow up “85 pattern” uniform used a three-quarter lining to alleviate the weight and heat issues but this was so shoddily-made that pockets could simply tear off if overladen. The “90 pattern” suit was a heavier version of the “85 pattern” and while of slightly better construction, not “ideal” by any standards. Because of these failings of the basic uniform (and we’ll not even mention the itchy and scratchy “KF” fibre shirt or the later issue chafing GS shirt worn under it) , generations of soldiers relied heavily on “private purchase” or “acquiring” and cherry-picking other NATO equipment to make life bearable. The sight of British Army of the Rhine squaddies wearing shop-bought surplus Norwegian army undershirts, German army para boots and carrying their kit around in an olive green civilian hiking ruck sack was not unusual. Many lads would try and acquire prized kit like tropical issue trousers and SAS issue smocks to ensure they could stay windproof and dry and if they did get wet, well they would dry off in no time! It wasn’t just the combat suit that was shoddy though, 1970s and 1980s water proofs were loud and warm nylon affairs that wrinkled and rustled as you moved and as they allowed no moisture to evaporate, often made you as wet with your own sweat as you would have been had you just let the rain land on you.
A “NO BULLSH*T” UNIFORM
A layered system of combat gear (often known as the “onion skin” principle) had been tried and tested since the 1940s, with the US m43 combat suit but British Army attempts had always been a bit “clunky” - until “Soldier 95” (or “C95” as its often abbreviated to) came in. C95 was a fully thought out clothing system to keep the individual warm and dry in a range of weather conditions, without being overly cumbersome or unpleasant to wear. From underwear to rain wear, soldier 95 had it covered. Almost overnight British Army forums and newsgroups no longer had new recruits and newly trained soldiers asking “what do I need to go on operations?” and if they did, instead of a lengthy answer recommending a wide variety of private purchase kit, most veteran soldiers could now safely say “don’t worry about it, you’ll get issued kit up to spec”! At its base level, Soldier 95 equipped the trooper with a soft olive t-shirt and underwear and did away with the old uncomfortable button down collared shirts and “grandad” style long johns, before covering up the “undies” with the basic combat suit, and it’s here where the best improvements were made. 82
XMAS 2017
It’s A Classic SOLDIER 95
The basic combat suit consisted of a very lightweight shirt and trousers (the shirt was actually labelled as a “lightweight combat jacket” and could be worn tucked into the trousers or loose) printed in DPM camouflage on a polycotten blend fabric. This polycotten blend was thick enough to resist tearing and damage but thin enough to dry quickly when wet. Old school “four hole” buttons were dispensed with and pockets and jackets front fastened via “Canadian buttons”; a novel way of attaching the button to the garment using a thin strip of fabric making it much easier to fix a damaged button in the field quickly, while at the same time making the buttons less likely to come free in the first place. The trouser fly was zipped, as was the shirt front, and the overall cut of the basic combat suit was stylish and smart. While being practical for combat, with copious well-placed pockets, the C95 combat suit was ideal for operations even before the smock was added. It was easy to iron and clean and suitable for both the parade ground and the battlefield. In short it was “bullshit free” and a boon to soldiers who had spent many months ironing, cleaning and polishing older uniforms to get them in a fit state for parades. Especially noticeable was the loop on the shirt (and also the smock) to attach a rank slide – a quick and convenient way to display rank and remove it when necessary and that dispensed with the need to sew insignia on each time.
EFFECTIVE FOUL WEATHER KIT
Vintage “wooly pulleys” and fibre shirts were replaced with a comfy “Norwegian army pattern” sweater (the “Norwegian” or “norgie” had long been a default private purchase for British squaddies) and a warm zip front fleece (originally in OD then later in DPM), while the old “boots combat high” were replaced with “assault boots” with eyelets for speed lacing to allow faster donning and removing of the boots. Arguably, these assault boots were perhaps the least successful change to the uniform with many preferring the older boots. The system’s smock gave “top tier” smocks like the SAS smock a run for their money and were of a heavier weight and rip-stop fabric to the shirt with capacious pockets, an attached hood and a zip front with rank slide. For once the army had cracked it with their smock design! Rounding off the system to perfection was the new lightweight rainsuit and foul weather gaiters. While the gaiters had their use in extreme mud and snow, they were generally a bit of a faff to put on and ignored by many soldiers. The rainsuit, however, was extremely well received. No longer forced to endure sweaty “crisp packet” nylon rainsuits, the C95 wet weather kit was manufactured in DPM goretex fabric, which was frankly top of the line at the time of introduction. Most notable of all was that all of the C95 system was IRR treated to reduce detection via night vision equipment (with the exception of the fleece which made the wearer, oddly, easier to see!). While it’s been superseded by the army’s more recent Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) combat suit systems, Soldier 95 has earned its place as a classic both on army deployments in the Balkans, Sierra Leone and Northern Ireland and also with airsofters across the globe. As “surplus” it’s cheap as chips these days but still perfect for UK skirmish gaming (in fact it’s arguably a better fit for UK woodland that MTP) and It is highly likely we’ll be seeing it on the skirmish field for some time to come.
www.airsoft-action.online
83
Support your local airsoft company! Airsoft Zone Unit 2, Detection House Brooklands Approach Romford, Essex. 01708 733275 www.airsoftzone.co.uk
Land Warrior Airsoft 44/1 Hardengreen Bus. Prk Hardengreen Lane Dalkeith, EH22 3NX 0131 654 2452 www.landwarriorairsoft.com
Airsoft Sniper Parts UK Unit 2, Old Station Drive Sheffield S7 2PY www.airsofsniperparts.com
Xsite Airsoft Fryers Farm Lane High Wycombe Bucks, HP14 3NP 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk
Bomb Up Airsoft 22-23 Arkwright Court Arkwright Road Runcorn, WA7 1NX 0800 131 3012 www.bombupairsoft.co.uk
DTW Airsoft B23 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
The Gaol Events Oakham Enterprise Park Ashwell Road, Oakham Leics, LE15 7TU 07976 457602 www.thegaolevents.co.uk
JD Airsoft Unit 5, Virage Park Green Lane, Cannock WS11 0NH 0845 600 5144 www.jdairsoft.net
Invicta Battlefield Airsoft Pook Hill Wood Farm Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, TN12 0HP 07876 263290 www.invictabattlefield.co.uk
Johnsons of Leeds 2, Vulcan Foundry Haigh Park Road Leeds, LS10 1RT 0113 277 5237 www.johnsonsofleeds.co.uk
TacTree Unit 3, Stag Business Park Donnington Wood Telford, TF2 7NA 01952 565670 www.tactree.co.uk
Sell Airsoft Action in your shop or on your site and get a FREE ADVERT on these pages! Contact Nige on 01684 878003 or by email: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk for details.
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
Phoenix Airsoft Gleadthorpe Breck Plnt. Budby Road Cuckney, NG20 9JX 07956 587213 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk
Stormforce Airsoft Longbarn Farm Bardy Lane Rugeley, WS15 4LD 07515 937633
Leicestershire Airsoft Unit 3 Melton Road Industrial Est. Queniborough, LE7 3FP 07526 372108
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
Gunman Airsoft Tuddenham, IP28 6DF Eversley, RG27 0PX 07711 774461 07711 774401 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk
Airsoft Plantation Goatsmoor Lane Stock, Billericay Essex, CM4 9RS 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk
Badlands Airsoft Woodberry Lane Rowlands Castle Hants, PO9 6DP 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk
Sell Airsoft Action in your shop or on your site and this space could be yours ...completely FREE! For more info, email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk
www.stormforceairsoft.co.uk
www.leicestershireairsoft.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, don’t forget to have a good browse round to see what else they can tempt you with...
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
Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing
ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER
Allt-lywd Wood Farm, outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales. Tel: 07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk
AIRSOFT ASYLUM
ALPHA 55
AIRSOFT COMMANDOS
ALPHA ELITE GAMING
North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com
Sutton, near Ferrybridge andyace@ntlworld.com
ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT
Maidenhead, SL6 3SS Tel: 07871 314951 www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk
ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES
Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169), Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 Tel: 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk
ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES
Tong Wood, Newport Road Wolverhampton TF11 8PN Tel: 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk
AIRSOFT KGB
Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com www.kgbairsoft.com
AIRSOFT PLANTATION
Goatsmoor Lane, Billericay, CM4 9RS Tel: 07534 636289 / 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk Email: apairsoftplantation@gmail.com
AIRSOFT SKIRMISH
Stoulton, WR7 4QW Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
ACE COMBAT
AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB
Kent, TN12 7DG Tel: 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk
Studley, B80 7LY Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB
ALL ARMS AIRSOFT
Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 Tel: 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com
86
Xmas 2017
Near Trawden, BB8 8SN Tel: 07909 683464 www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk
Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF www.alpha55.co.uk
Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 Tel: 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je
AMAZON EVENTS
Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL Tel: 0844 2570433 www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk
AWA HERTS
Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ Tel: 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com
BADLANDS AIRSOFT
Rowlands Castle, Hamps PO9 6DP Tel: 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk
BARNSLEY AIRSOFT
Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE Tel: 07779 236166 www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk
AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM
BATTLETEC AIRSOFT
AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON
BETTER BATTLES
Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP Tel: 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com
ARENA AIRSOFT
Grimsby, DN31 3JD Tel: 07752 404060 www.arenaairsoft.com
La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2 Tel: 07781 104068 www.battletec.co.uk
Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH Tel: 07967 940043 www.better-battles.com
BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT
Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane, Dronfield, S18 7UR www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk
BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT
Westcott Venture Park, Westcott, Aylesbury, HP18 0XB Tel: 01296 658600 www.bluestreak-airsoft.co.uk
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
BORDERLINE AIRSOFT
51 Green Road, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH Tel: 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com
BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport. PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – RIVOCK EDGE
COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND
Keighley, BD20 0LS Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
Fareham, PO17 5ND Tel: 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – SHEFFIELD WOODLAND
CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL
Sheffield, S6 6JE Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 Tel: 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk
COOL UNDER FIRE BRISTOL AIRSOFT Bristol, BS1 2HQ Tel: 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)
Off Badger Lane, Hipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 8PL Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com
CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT
Brimington, Chesterfield, S43 1DQ www.cia-airsoft.co.uk
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
CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT
Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH Tel: 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE COMPLEX Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE OUTPOST (WOODLAND) HPC, York Road, Flaxby, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG5 0XJ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)
Bolton Wood Quarry, Bolton Hall Road Bradford, West Yorkshire BD2 1BQ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
COMBAT AIRSOFT
Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk follow signs for Combat Paintball Tel: 07703 045849 www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk
COMBAT READY CQB
38 Full Street, Derby DE1 3AF Tel: 01332 493258 Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA Tel: 07703 530189 www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk
DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT
CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT
ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING
Truro, Cornwall, TR2. Tel: 07863 240153 www.cornwallseliteairsoft.co.uk
COTSWOLD AIRSOFT
Bourton Woods, On the B4479, Blockley Near Bourton-on-the-hill www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07724629140
Dumfries, DG12 cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net www.cumbria-airsoft.com
DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT C3 TACTICAL
DRAGON’S LAIR
Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL Tel: 07921 336360 www.dragonvalley.co.uk
CUMBRIA AIRSOFT Combat Street, Felthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 4DR. Tel: 07748 023832 www.facebook.com/combatactiongames
Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE TEL 01293 852 314 www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft
Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS Tel: 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk
Corby, NN17 3BB Tel: 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk
COMBAT ACTION GAMES
DOG TAG AIRSOFT
Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk . Tel: 07455 906132
Worthing, BN13 Tel: 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com
ELITE BATTLEZONE
Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN Tel: 01380 728982 www.experienceairsoft.co.uk
FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS Lewisham, SE13 5SU Tel: 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk
DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.
Mobile: 07947 558433 www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk Email: darwaterairsofthythe@gmail.com DARKWATER AFTER DARK C.Q.B, (Battlezone Building), Britannia Lane, Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3NA facebook.com/afterdarkcqb DARKWATER SITE, Dering Wood, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, Ashford. TN26 1LZ facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater
FIFE WARGAMES
DELTA TEAM 3
FIREBALL SQUADRON
Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT Tel: 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk
Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com
DOGS OF WAR
FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP
St Andrews, KY10 3XL info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com
FINMERE AIRSOFT Buckingham, MK18 4JT Tel: 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com
COMBAT READY OUTDOOR
Middle Wildpark Farm, Wildpark Lane, Brailsford, Ashbourne DE6 3BN Tel: 01332 493258 Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
COMBAT SOUTH URBAN Portsmouth, PO6 3LS Tel: 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
Houston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP Tel: 07853 195290 www.dow-airsoft.co.uk
Leek, ST13 8 Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
www.airsoft-action.online
87
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
FIRST & ONLY: BUNKER WOOD Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST & ONLY: KHE SANH
WOODS
Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST & ONLY: MANCHESTER
WOODLAND
Bolton, BL7 9TS Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE
Middleton, Manchester, M24 1AZ Tel: 0161 727 8863
FULL METAL AIRSOFT
Cilyrychen Quarry, Llandybie, Ammanford, Camarthenshire, SA18 3JG Tel: 01269 850404 www.fullmetalairsoft.co.uk
HILTON PARK AIRSOFT Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU Tel: 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com
HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT GASS AIRSOFT – PENN Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com
Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT Tel: 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft
HUMBER AIRSOFT North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07792 680297
Wrexham, Denbighshire, LL13 9RG Tel: 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6QF Tel: 0161 727 8863
Bravo One Birmingham, 93–99 Holloway Head, B1 1QP Tel: 0121 643 2477 info@grangelivegaming.com www.grangelivegaming.com
INVICTA BATTLEFIELD Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0HP Tel: 01622 831788 / 07876 263290 www.invictabattlefield.co.uk
FIRST & ONLY: THE ASYLUM Kidderminster, DY10 3PT Tel: 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY: THE OUTPOST Kidderminster, DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY: SLEEPY HOLLOW Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 5LS Tel: 0161 727 8863
GROUND ZERO WOODLAND Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF www.groundzerowoodland.com
FREE FIRE ZONE
Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH Tel: 01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk
FRV AIRSOFT
Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ Tel: 07730 586926 www.frvairsoft.com
88
Xmas 2017
ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30 Tel: 07964 751047 www.islandrecon.co.uk
GREENZONE COMBAT Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE Tel: 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com
Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG Tel: 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk
GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS The Grange, Frogmore Grange, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk www.giairsoft.co.uk/Skirmish-days
Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
LAC SITE 2 Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
MIA
Cornwall, EX23 9JL Tel: 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk
Abbey Cwm-hir, Midwales, LD1 6PG Tel: 07497 480243 www.facebook.com/Midwales-airsoft
MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Wrightington, WN6 9PL Tel: 01942 514724 www.militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk
MILSIM UK
Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS Tel: 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk
NCIS AIRSOFT
Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk
NOMAD AIRSOFT
Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY Tel: 07904 998250 www.nomadairsoft.com
NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT
Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ Tel: 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk
LAC SITE 3 Saxillby, LN1 2JW Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
NORTHFLEET CQB
Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
LAC SITE 5 Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
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/
Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 Tel: 07793 404346 1midaw@gmail.com
LAC SITE 1
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/
MAW
LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT
GUN HO AIRSOFT
Guisborough, TS7 0PG Tel: 07525 435696 www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk
Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW Tel: 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com
MIDWALES AIRSOFT
GRANGE LIVE GAMING FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY
MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES
LINDSEY AIRSOFT Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE Tel: 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk
NPF AIRSOFT, NPF BASSETTS POLE
Trickley Coppice, London Road, Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 0121 323 1000 info@npfairsoft.com www.facebook.com/npfairsoft
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
NSC AIRSOFT
RED1AIRSOFT
NTAC
RED1AIRSOFT CQB
Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 Tel: 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk
Durham, DL4 2ER Tel: 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk
Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk
Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk
OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 Tel: 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com
RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
STIRLING AIRSOFT
Coventry, CV3 6NX Tel: 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com
STORMFORCE AIRSOFT
Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD Tel: 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk
RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM) Cambridge, CB24 8RL Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07731 744471
PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION Former RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 Tel: 02380 899369
PHOENIX AIRSOFT
Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road, Notts NG20 9JX Tel: 07956 587213/01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk
PLATOON 1HQ
Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ Tel: 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk
PLAYERS OF WAR
High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD Tel: 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk
PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF Tel: 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com
SECTION 8 AIRSOFT
Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB Tel: 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com
SG1 COMBAT GAMES Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA Tel: 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk
SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY
Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX Tel: 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk
SKIRMISH EXETER Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 Tel: 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk
SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT
Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR Tel: 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com
Slinfold, RH12 Tel: 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk
Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu Tel: 07703 177756
Mold, CH7 4 Tel:07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk
THE WARGAMES CENTRE Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com
THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT
Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL305FA Tel: 07751808055 www.thunderparkpaintball.co.uk Food & drinks available on site.
TA EVENTS
Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB Tel: 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk
TORRENT WARFARE
Co Tyrone, BT71 4DY Tel: 07922 377131 Facebook: search ‘Torrent Warfare’
TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS Tel: 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk
TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk
TECH BRIGADE
Newgate Street, Hertfordshire. SG13 8NH Tel: 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org
TROJAN AIRSOFT
Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com
TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB
Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com
UCAP AIRSOFT TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 Tel: 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk
Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
UCAP GREEN OPS THE BUNKER
RAVEN’S NEST
Suffolk, IP8 4 Tel: 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk
Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
Aberystwyth www.aberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07841 462806
RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK
THE DEPOT
Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
THE EX SITE
S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH
Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ Tel: 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk
Redford, DD11 Tel: 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk
SUSSEX AIRSOFT
OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT Tel: 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk
THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT
Glasgow, G45 9SB Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.thedepotglasgow.com
Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY Tel: 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
www.airsoft-action.online
89
SITE DIRECTORY
Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing
FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
URBAN ASSAULT
Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 Tel: 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk
VIKING AIRSOFT
Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk
WARMINSTER AIRSOFT Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk
PRACTICAL PISTOL DIRECTORY AIPSC
The Grange, Frog Lane, Balsall Common, West Midlands, CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532384 www.aipsc.co.uk Facebook: A.I.P.S.C info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk. Every Monday night 7pm– 9pm (except bank holidays). £5 or £10 with pistol and shooting rig hire. UKPSA-qualified coaches. UKPSA-qualified Range Officers.
COBRA ONE ZERO AIRSOFT Unit 9 Imperial Buisness Centre Mortimer Road, Hereford, HR4 9SP www.cobraonezero.co.uk Facebook: cobra one zero Airsoft
WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB
XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST
WatfordPPC@gmail.com
XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END
StrikeForce CQB, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5RZ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Double-Tap-Practical-Shooting-Club979585958732937/?ref=hl doubletappsc@gmail.com
Dunstable, LU6 2EE Tel: 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk
High Wycombe, HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430
90
Xmas 2017
DOUBLE TAP PSC
EBSC
MOD-approved gun club PP, IDPA, IPAS, IPSC, 3GUN UKPSA Coaches UKPSA-qualified Range Officers Equipment hire available www.ebsc.co.uk ebpracticalpistol@gmail.com 07752 713 970
HALO MILL
The Penthouse, Colne Valley Business Park, Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QG Tel: 01484 840554 www.halomill.com
NORTHERN PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB (NPPC)
Tanner Street, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1NA Tel: 07816 992417 www.northernpracticalpistol.co.uk 4 indoor ranges
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
WETHERSFIELD AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING CLUB (WAT SIC)
Wethersfield Village Hall, Braintree Rd (B1053), Wethersfield, Braintree CM7 4EB. https://www.facebook.com/WATSiC/ Open Thursday & Friday evenings. Set-up from 6:30pm. Club shooting commences by 7:30pm. Pack-up starts at 9:30pm if you can stay to help. Contact via FB or 07939557029. Indoors. Club offers Action Air plus 2 & 3 Gun training and events.