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AA EXCLUSIVE NAF 2018 PG28
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GBLS DAS GDR-15
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UMAREX TAVOR GBB
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ASG STRIKE SYSTEMS
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AIRSOFT ACTION
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AA EXCLUSIVE NAF 2018 PG28
3D SRU BUILD
ARMOURY: GBLS ARMOURY
ASG STRIKE SYSTEMS
ARMOURY
S&T BERETTA M12
AIRFEST 2018 | 3-GUN | 1LEGION | SPEEDSOFT | TEKMATS
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NOVEMBER 2018
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UMAREX TAVOR GBB
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Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant Editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic Design: Havoc Design Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Photo: Georaga UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk
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EVENT: AIRFEST
EVENT: 1 LEGION CHARITY
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.
Contents NOVEMBER 2018
CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2018 6 NEWS
40 FEATURE: AIRSOFT HISTORY
8 ROGUE’S GALLERY Airsoft Action readers in airsoft action!
Gadge looks back over the last twenty years of airsoft to see just how much the game has changed… or has it?
12 ARMOURY: GBLS DAS GDR-15 Phil Bucknall got his hands on this much anticipated RIF but, for the price you have to pay, does it live up to expectations? 16 ARMOURY: UMAREX TAVOR SAR If you fancy shoulder thumping recoil and second to none performance from a compact gas rifle then Scott Allan says look no further than the Umarex Tavor SAR, airsoft’s spiciest bullpup to date. 20 ARMOURY: ASG STRIKE SYSTEMS ASG don’t just make top of the line AEGs, they also have an excellent range of less expensive rifles, as Bill Thomas found out when he took a look at their new “Sportline” range. 24 PYROTECNICS: ENOLA GAYE Femme Fatale checks out the latest (and smallest) additions to Enola Gaye’s range of smoke. 28 EVENT: NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL Nige and Bill headed to the New Forest to check out how things have grown and Bill reports on what the Festival really means to those that attend.
46 PROJECT OPFOR: MILITIA Bill delves further into the world of the “OPFOR Militias” for inspiration and tells us how a great set of modern gear can be easily and effectively created - without breaking the bank! 50 FEATURE: COMPETITIVE AIRSOFT Never one to shy away from a controversial subject, Frenchie takes a close look at a cross-over from paintball that players either love … or loath! 54 ARMOURY: S&T BERETTA M12S Bill gets all gushy about a little Italian SMG that has one hell of a history, not just in real life but also in terms of the “Silver Screen”! 58 EVENT: AIRFEST 2018 In 2017 National Paintball Fields included airsoft as part of their annual “Paintfest” weekend and the interest was so great that this year saw “Airfest 2018” gain its own identity. 62 GITAG: SRU 3D PRINTED KIT
32 EVENT: BLODSBAND RELOADED Airsoft Action is pleased to welcome Dust Monkey as our newest contributor, as he kicks off with the first part of a report from three-days of Post-Apocalyptic airsoft in Sweden.
Bill takes a look at a 3D printed body kit from SRU Precision in Taiwan to see if it has what it takes to survive a game day.
36 ACTION AIR: 3-GUN Stepping out of his “comfort zone”, Angelo Di Vito reports from a rapidlygrowing style of competitive airsoft that, in the real steel world, even the likes of Keanu Reeves has got into.
While modern kit comes in (relatively) easy to understand sizes, that isn’t always the case with older outfits. Here, Gadge gives us some advice on what to look for if you are into vintage kit.
66 FEATURE: VINTAGE KIT SIZING
70 CHARITY EVENT: 1LEGION MILSIM What happens when you get a couple of known Americans to visit Selby, in the UK for a weekend? 2 charities, 1 event and 200 players across 2 days of fun… and Georaga and Kelly went to join in! 76 TECHNICAL: TEKMATS In his regular trawl through t’interweb, looking for new and innovative airsoft items, Lez Lee came across some gun cleaning mats that really caught his attention. 78 GEAR: M65 JACKET Military Historian, Will Fowler, takes a look at a jacket that was widely used by US troops in Vietnam and has now crossed over to civilian use. 81 COMPETITION: NUPROL TANGO N96++ Win a NUPROL Tango N96 plus an Extra-Large Hard Case and four extra magazines in our simple to enter competition! 82 THE LAST POST: I AM THE LAW! The immortal words of Judge Dredd – “I am the law!” - could easily apply to a subset of the airsoft community and it is a phenomenon that has perplexed and infuriated Frenchie for years… 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 Action Air 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 KING ARMS LAUNCH NEW SHORTY PDW
King Arms are pleased to announce the launch of their new PDW 9mm SBR Shorty Official Licensed airsoft gun, available in Dark Earth and Grey. Equipped with a 4inch railed handguard and 6.05mm brass inner barrel, this lightweight PDW series is available in different lengths and comes fitted with a newly designed suppressor. The gearbox features 7mm metal bearings and spring guide and is equipped with Mosfet and Quick Spring Change system, while the 7-position tactical stock has an enlarged stock tube for batteries up to 1400MAh-12v. 100-round double stack MP5 magazines are used to make spare magazines easy to find and are compatible with any other Marui-style magazine. For more information, contact your local King Arms stockist, or visit www. kingarms.com You can also find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OfficialKing Arms
PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENT – SPEED TUNABLE CE GLOCK GEN4 TRIGGERS SPEED Airsoft new Tunable CE (Competition Edition) Triggers for the Elite Force Gen4 Glock will allow players to configure their Glock to have a much shorter and crisp trigger pull. The new SPEED Tunable CE Glock Gen4 Triggers incorporate dual set screws, which when properly tuned, allow the Glock Gen4 the ability to shoot a string of shots rapidly. This is especially ideal in competition events, where a SPEED tuned Glock will get the first and all other shots out faster than a stock Glock. The SPEED CE Glock Trigger pull distance is drastically reduced for a very crisp shot as it would be expected from a race airsoft pistol. Also available are the new SPEED non-tunable Standard Glock Gen4 Triggers with incorporated safety. The new SPEED Standard Glock Gen4 Triggers are also CNC machined for a much smoother action over the stock plastic version. The new SPEED Standard Glock Gen4 Triggers available now:SA1100 SPEED Glock Gen4 Standard Trigger w/safety (Silver) SA1101 SPEED Glock Gen4 Standard Trigger w/safety (Black) The new SPEED Tunable CE (Competition Edition) Glock Gen4 Triggers available now:SA1200 SPEED Tunable CE Glock Gen4 Trigger (Standard Silver) SA1201 SPEED Tunable CE Glock Gen4 Trigger (Standard Black) SA1202 SPEED Tunable CE Glock Gen4 Trigger (Blade Silver) SA1203 SPEED Tunable CE Glock Gen4 Trigger (Blade Black) SPEED Airsoft products are all in-house CNC precision machined from USA grade billet aluminum by SPEED Airsoft in Canada. All SPEED Airsoft products are available through your favorite airsoft dealers worldwide. For more info, visit their website at www.SpeedAirsoft.com or contact them at SpeedAirsoft@ymail.com
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KRYTAC ANNOUNCE NEW KRISS VECTOR AEG LIMITED EDITION The new KRISS Vector AEG will be available Fall 2018, worldwide production limited to 3,000 units. August 24, 2018 ñ Brea, California, USA - Today KRYTAC, KRISS USA’s brand of premium performance airsoft and training products, announce a new version of their officially licensed KRISS Vector AEG. The KRISS Vector AEG Limited Edition boasts a completely unique configuration that is akin to the current KRISS Vector GEN II 2017 firearm paired with never before seen accessories. Only 3000 units of the KRYTAC KRISS Vector AEG Limited Edition will be produced. Worldwide availability begins in October 2018. The KRYTAC KRISS Vector AEG Limited Edition differs from its standard production counterpart by utilizing the KRISS Vector GEN II 2017 one piece upper receiver. To the rear of the receiver is the new KRISS Vector Ambidextrous Folding Stock, which can be configured to fold to either the left or right side, and is telescopic, adjustable to three positions. The stock also features two quick detach sling swivel points as well as a sling loop to accommodate a variety of sling attachments. Beneath the pistol grip is a new extended battery cover, which adds 14 cm3 to the battery compartment. To front of the KRYTAC KRISS Vector AEG Limited Edition is an extended barrel, allowing for a 280mm inner barrel. The longer barrel is surrounded by an all new M-lok modular hand guard. Internally, the AEG is powered by the same vertically oriented mechbox as the standard KRISS Vector AEG. Worldwide production of the KRYTAC KRISS Vector AEG Limited Edition is restricted to 3000 units. Limited Edition AEGs will feature a unique serial number identifier and will be accompanied with a certificate of authenticity. Availability begins in September 2018 with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $595.00; final prices may vary by region. For more information about the KRISS Vector AEG Limited Edition visit the KRYTAC website at www.krytac.com.
VFC PRODUCTS NOW AVAILABLE AT RETAIL STORES BELOW
DISTRIBUTED BY RWA
AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS
ROGUE’S GALLERY PHOTO CREDIT: WA03 MEDIA FOR ALL IMAGES. IF YOU WANT COPIES OF THESE, OR ANY OF THE OTHER WA03 PHOTOS TAKEN AT NAF2018, ALL CAN BE FOUND AND ORDERED VIA THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE - JUST SEARCH FOR “WA03 MEDIA” ON FACEBOOK.
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AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS
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november 2018
AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS
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armoury GBLS DAS GDR-15
GBLS DAS
MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER AEG PHIL BUCKNALL GOT HIS HANDS ON THIS MUCH ANTICIPATED RIF BUT, FOR THE PRICE YOU HAVE TO PAY, DOES IT LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS? IF LIKE ME YOU’RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING for new things in airsoft to keep the interest alive; see where the technology is heading and to enhance your gaming experience, then I am sure you will have seen at least one social media post about the GBLS DAS GDR-15. For those who don’t know what the DAS, or to give it its full name the “Dynamic Action System” is, it appears on paper to be the holy grail for those players who want the realism of a GBBR but the reliability of an AEG. It combines all the best bits of both systems in one really nice, well put together gun. It offers training weapon abilities that match and build on its peer - the Systema PTW. Believe me when I say this is more than just another AEG! Before we get into the review proper here’s a little background. GBLS are a South Korean company that haven’t been around for a very long time but they have gone and forged a totally new direction for themselves and AEG design. From the outset they set out to produce a training weapon similar to the PTW in terms of realism but with more functionality and even more realistic features. Want a gun that strips down like the real M4? You got it! Want a gun that has a full reciprocating bolt carrier group? You’re in luck; it does! Want it to be reliable and consistent and preferably and AEG? Yep, it is all of those too! It really is an amazing concept and the GDR-15 that I received (from the official UK distributor, 12
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GBLSUK) is the third iteration of the gun to be released and the final production model that is available now through selected UK retailers (a full list is available at their website www.gblsuk. com). Any kinks and bugs that appeared in the first two versions are dealt with and what we have now is a very well polished piece of kit. With all this new technology crammed into the GDR-15 and the fact it is very much being marketed as a training weapon, you’d expect there to be a premium to pay and you wouldn’t be wrong. It is not a cheap gun; not by any stretch of the imagination. If you want one of these then you are going to need at the very least £1,500 to get the gun and one magazine! That is a serious investment over a normal AEG, or even a GBBR. I’ve been fortunate enough to own some pretty nice guns and some expensive ones too. None were as expensive but a few came close to this price point but does that mean this is overpriced or worth it? That is the big question and one I can hopefully answer by the end of this review. The gun comes in a sturdy box with a carry handle and it is split into the lower and upper. Each piece was individually wrapped in bubble wrap and secured in the box with little velcro strips which did the job admirably, keeping everything where it should be and not rattling about. The magazine is secured in the same way and a comprehensive instruction manual is in there too, along with a small allen key to adjust the hop unit and a loading adaptor for speed loaders. Usually I don’t read instruction manuals for airsoft guns because they are all much of a muchness but I would suggest that if you do get a GDR-15, please devote a few minutes of your time to familiarise yourself with how it works. It’s expensive and you don’t want to break it by doing something wrong as there are a few things you need to do that aren’t commonplace on AEGs usually. GBBR users are probably a little more familiar with some of the actions required but some are unique to the GDR-15.
armoury GBLS DAS GDR-15
“I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OWN SOME PRETTY NICE GUNS AND SOME EXPENSIVE ONES TOO. NONE WERE AS EXPENSIVE BUT A FEW CAME CLOSE TO THIS PRICE POINT BUT DOES THAT MEAN THIS IS OVERPRICED OR WORTH IT? THAT IS THE BIG QUESTION AND ONE I CAN HOPEFULLY ANSWER BY THE END OF THIS REVIEW.” I met up with Tom and Gadge at a secret test location to have a play with the GDR-15. Unfortnately the spare mags and batteries didn’t arrive in time, so we had to use a battery that was a little too big to fit in the stock with the butt pad on but it did allow us to test fire the gun and check its range and FPS. As you take the parts out of the box the quality is immediately evident. The finish is Cerakote, which is extremely durable and I have had several guns painted in this hardwearing finish over the years. The lower contains what looks like a split gearbox and is very reminiscent of a PTW, although it doesn’t use the planetary gears. The fire selector is not ambidextrous but it moves cleanly and is crisp - an ambi selector would’ve been nice on such a high quality gun but maybe that is something GBLS could take on board for future releases. The body pins are good quality and easy to push in and out and are retained in the lower so you don’t have to worry about losing them. The buffer tube actually has a buffer and buffer spring in it like a GBBR and threads into the lower a la GBBRs and real M4s. It is also mil spec and has the excellent PTS EPS fitted, which means there is ample battery storage and a deans connector to plug it all in. I’m a big fan of the new PTS polymer components and its good to see them specced as standard. The stock is complimented by an EPG pistol grip, which is again very comfy and sturdy. The piston, main spring and nozzle are contained in a very realistic-looking bolt carrier group and this is held in the upper. From what I understand, the upper can use real steel charging handles as well but the one in there seems up to the job. The inner barrel is secured in a WA-style hop up unit and runs through a 16” outer with a low-profile gas block inside a licensed PTS/centurion arms MLOK 13.5” CMR rail. The rail is really well done and has slots for accessories at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions but is completely slick as it comes, making for a very streamlined gun. Topping off the rail are QD sockets for attaching slings on both the left and right and at the muzzle as well as the receiver end, so you have options aplenty. Visually the GDR-15 hits all the right notes apart from one thing… the
flash hider. This is a £1,500 gun and yet it has a bright orange flash hider attached! It is only a small gripe and easy to replace but I would expect more for the money if I am being brutally honest.
www.airsoft-action.online
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armoury GBLS DAS GDR-15
The magazine is a grey metal shelled affair that holds around 60 BBs. The first few times loading it, it was quite stiff and I couldn’t get all sixty in but it became easier over a few reloads. Using the supplied loading adaptor is a must though. The finish is textured and could pick up mud and dirt quite easily and may prove difficult to clean but it is light, holds sufficient BBs and fits and feeds absolutely fine. Putting the gun together is easy enough. You just pull the pins out and then line the upper up with the lower and push the pins back in. Once the battery is connected and the magazine has been loaded up and inserted into the mag well you have to charge the gun by pulling the charging handle to the rear and releasing it. Then it’s time to flick the fire selector to semi and let rip. This is where the real value starts to become apparent and it is impossible NOT to smile; giggle even when you start shooting it! Hearing and feeling the bolt group flying back and forth is an experience but at this point, let’s discuss the trigger pull. Much has been made of how heavy it is on the internet and whilst it is pretty heavy and by the end of the day, after a lot of semi-auto fire, my finger was a little sore it wasn’t painful by any stretch. What is nice is how crisp the break point is! That genuinely makes it a joy shoot. The recoil is
for a little bit longer, so I’m going to get a chance to use this in a game and see how it fares, so stay tuned for a follow up piece with my thoughts after a day or two of playing is under my belt! Until then, have fun and stay safe! AA
“THE RECOIL IS DEFINITELY ON A PAR WITH MY OLD MARUI MWS (WHICH HAD A HEAVY WEIGHT BUFFER IN IT) AND ON FULL AUTO IT SHAKES ENOUGH TO THROW YOUR AIM OFF, EVEN WITH SHORT BURSTS BUT IT IS STILL PRETTY ACCURATE OUT TO ABOUT 40-45M WITH 7-8 ROUNDS OUT OF 10 HITTING A TORSO-SIZED TARGET.” definitely on a par with my old Marui MWS (which had a heavy weight buffer in it) and on full auto it shakes enough to throw your aim off, even with short bursts but it is still pretty accurate out to about 40-45m with 7-8 rounds out of 10 hitting a torso-sized target. When we tested the range we started out with 0.25g Blaster BBs but found the hop wasn’t working well with them at range and shots were flying everywhere past 45m. Switching to 0.28g Blaster Devils improved things but I think even heavier BBs could be the answer. Adjusting the hop will be familiar to GBBR users as you have to split the receivers, remove the bolt from the upper and then make your adjustments with the provided allen key in the small hole under the “chamber” before putting it all back together to check it. Once set though, it doesn’t slip so you should be good. FPS-wise, it was a little warm but I wonder if this just needs a period of time to bed in and settle down. It fell below UK limits but some sites MAY have an issue if their absolute limit is 350fps but the guys at GBLSUK will have you covered from what I’ve seen online. Also, if you have any technical issues or faults GBLSUK have appointed The Cage Airsoft as the official UK Service Centre for all repairs and warranty claims. They will also be available to carry out upgrades and modifications, thus keeping your warranty intact.
So is it worth the price?
That, ultimately, is up to you to decide. Sorry, I know that’s a bit of a cop-out but it represents a significant investment. For those who have decided that the ultimate in realism is of paramount importance, then yes, I’d say it is worth it. If you are a dedicated player, whether that’s in MilSim or just a walk on skirmish day, who is prepared to do the time in looking after it (as it needs regular care and attention, much like a real rifle), then it will reward you in spades. Luckily for me the guys at GBLSUK have said I can keep it 14
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update! After checking with GBLSUK they confirmed that any GDR-15s would come with a proper flash hider and not the orange one. They are fitted purely as a legal requirement for shipping from South Korea and are swapped in the UK.
ARMOURY UMAREX TAVOR SAR GBB
SHOULDER THUMPING RECOIL IF YOU FANCY SHOULDER THUMPING RECOIL AND SECOND TO NONE PERFORMANCE FROM A COMPACT GAS RIFLE THEN SCOTT ALLAN SAYS LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE UMAREX TAVOR SAR, AIRSOFT’S SPICIEST BULLPUP TO DATE.
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WHEN ISRAELI COMPANY IWI brought the SAR to the US market a few years back it was met with a raised eyebrow, mainly due to the bullpup configuration and shooters don’t like change. One thing IWI have always done is to manufacture the right tool for the job - regardless of the status quo. The Desert Eagle and the UZI are prime examples of this ingenious firearm production machine, not to mention how much they have become Hollywood icons over the years. The Tavor SAR is born of two companies: Umarex, the German powerhouse and license holder for IWI products and Yih Kai, the Taiwanese manufacturer for all things gas-powered.
WHO ARE YIH KAI? Yih Kai is one of the big hitters these days on the gas scene, although you will mainly know them as KWA or KSC. It is generally thought that they produce the highest quality gas blow back Airsoft products on the planet. But they also manufacture a number of items for PTS, such as the excellent GBB Masada and the rarer than hen’s teeth FPG 9. Some of you may even still remember the gas blow back KRISS Vector, before KRISS and KWA had the big huff ‘n puff fallout.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH UMAREX? It’s all about licensing in airsoft these days and these licenses cost a lot of money. It’s a difficult pill to swallow for a lot of players who were used to unlicensed versions of their rifles for years but they are the future and it is coming, whether we as an industry like it or not. Umarex have commissioned these new Tavor rifles and I was very excited to see the beast that had
ARMOURY UMAREX TAVOR SAR GBB
“THE SAR VERSION (SEMI AUTOMATIC RIFLE) WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE US IN 2014 AND, DUE TO ITS BREEDING AND HISTORY WITH THE ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCE (IDF), WAS IMMEDIATELY A HIT.” been produced. Having been a big fan of the ERG, GBB Vector and the Masada, I had high hopes for this offering. The electric Tavors previously released are… well… okay. While they shoot well they just look a bit “meh”, what I needed was something bigger and harder-hitting than ever before.
THE REAL VERSION Originally appearing in the late 90’s, the Tavor (or Tar-21) was a quite a change of pace from the considerably more conservative IWI Galil. The Galil was essentially a 5.56mm copy of a copy of an AK47 that had been the main rifle they produced for many decades. Israel had the Galil for a very long time, yet for deployment they seemed to favor the US-made M16 and M4 until the early 2000’s. While the Tavor is still a 5.56mm rifle (albeit much more modern) and it is now the issue rifle for Israel’s forces, you will still see the US M4s in news reports regularly. Israel has been an area of simmering conflict for many years and with aggressive neighbours on every border their large military has always been well-armed and is frequently engaged in clashes, probably more so than any other government in recent history. I guess what I’m getting at, is that if IWI makes something, you can guess that it is well-tested and well-used. The SAR version (Semi Automatic Rifle) was introduced into the US in 2014 and, due to its breeding and history with the Israel Defence Force (IDF), was immediately a hit. Then it won the coveted “Golden Bullseye 2014 Rifle of the Year” award giving it even more traction in the US.
THE AIRSOFT VERSION The SAR uses the highly thought of “Force Velocity system”. This is the same system used in the PTS LM4, Mega Arms MKM and KWA’s very own GBB range. This means that the very popular new gas EPM magazines available from PTS are cross compatible, which further means many types should also be readily available worldwide for players too. The external
appearance simply cannot be questioned as it replicates the real finish very accurately. While the upper is nearly monolithic with a long 20mm rail, the 16.5” barrel gives a good all-round look and feel and will ensure an accurate and powerful shot on every trigger pull. As a bullpup you have no stock adjustment, yet it has never really been reported as an issue with any of the forces that use them. The flip-up sights can be stored neatly to make way for any optics you might like to use, as well as lasers and flashlights. The gas system beating at the heart of the SAR had me with a pre-filled confidence, as I’d used many of the KWAbased systems in the past and always found them great. They are by far the most realistic and best performing systems available for airsoft players. The new PTS EPM gas magazine is the newer version of the old licensed EMAG/PMAG and I have always felt that a plastic/polymer coated magazine provides better performance, as the cover gives a protective layer that helps reduce the cooling effect of outside air temperature. This is a casual observation made by myself and could be entirely false, although it certainly does seem to help in my experience. I used my new favourite optic from Vortex during the testing, the Spitfire AR. A strange optic but I really like it. It’s almost like a 0.9 zoom rather than a 1x as it fits a lot into the viewing area. It’s perfect for airsoft use and with the Vortex unlimited lifetime warranty you can’t lose (well unless you actually lose the unit). The features and specifications produce quite a list and it is a considerable price tag, yet it is well within the normal prices for these types of rifles and certainly what I would expect to pay for a PTS or KWA system, however, the realistic action of the GBB is probably the key attraction for any player. The Tavor SAR ticks every box in this area, with gas operated recoil and an authentic-feeling construction, it doesn’t get closer to the real thing than the SAR. The bodywork from the stock to the hand guard is all tough and durable enough to put up with the hardest of fire-fights you’ll find yourself in. At a sniff under 4 kilos it certainly ain’t light, especially when you add in the extra 4 or 5 magazines that you might want to have at 45-50 quid a mag. GBB systems are definitely not for players on a tight budget! www.airsoft-action.online
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ARMOURY UMAREX TAVOR SAR GBB
If you want 1,300 rounds per minute with a 500 round magazine then you are looking at the wrong product entirely but if you want unmatched realistic performance from something different from everyone else, then the Tavor SAR should be your weapon of choice. A GBB is never about the endless spraying during a game and the Tavor would not suit the “drum-magazine-loving-white-death-machine” look anyway! What it is in gaming terms, is a high-end realism experience for those who want to operate a system as they would in real life. With a 40 round magazine you have a little more than a standard real steel Tavor. Each time you claim a kill during a game it will be worth its weight in gold as a personal achievement.
USE IN THE GAME FIELD The overall size and length of the Tavor SAR makes it equally at home in CQB or woodland environments, not to mention vehicle use. The Tavor is a bit of a purist’s rifle because it is GBB and definitely isn’t going to be filling up game sites anytime soon. The spare magazines will hurt your pocket and, as they only hold around 40 rounds, you might need four or five at least to keep you in the game - unless you play really short games. The rails are a little limiting with their locations and the lack of ambidextrous controls on this version is a shame but certainly not a major issue.
CONCLUSION I’ve fired the real version in 5.56 and 300 Blackout supressed (actually one of my most favourite rifles to date) and it’s a real pleasure to shoot. The GBB system has been authentically sculpted and Umarex have delivered a product that even IWI would be proud of. Okay, it isn’t an M4 and I for one am happy about that. I can only hope that some of the GBB enthusiasts take the SAR on and try it out at their store to see how beautiful it is in the flesh. I do hope that Umarex releases the other versions of the Tavor, if only to appease the crowds who will undoubtedly want the version that isn’t available yet. Whilst the Tavor SAR will weigh you down personally with its meaty heft and at the same time lighten your wallet, I strongly believe it’ll also tug at your cheeks, raising a big grin as you line up your next target and squeeze the trigger!
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FEATURES: • • • • • • • • •
KSC/KWA derived proprietary GBB system. Reinforced polymer receiver. Rail mounting options at the 1 and 12 o’clock positions 16.5” Carbine length barrel assembly. Stop on empty Realistic recoil 40 Round KWA/PTS/Umarex GBB M4 Magazine. Flip-Up Metal Sights Compatibility: with KWA upgrade GBB parts
SPECIFICATIONS: Caliber - 6mm BB Magazine Capacity - 40 Energy - 1 joule with Nuprol Green Gas and Blaster 0.20g BB Length - 695mm Weight - 3713g Adjustable hop-up RRP £400
armoury ASG STRIKE SYSTEMS SPORTLINE
EXCELLENCE ON A BUDGET!
ASG DON’T JUST MAKE TOP OF THE LINE AEGS, THEY ALSO HAVE AN EXCELLENT RANGE OF LESS EXPENSIVE RIFLES, AS BILL THOMAS FOUND OUT WHEN HE TOOK A LOOK AT THEIR NEW “SPORTLINE” RANGE. ACTIONSPORTGAMES (ASG) are one of the “Big Players” in the airsoft market and are probably best known for their excellent licensed replicas, that rightly have price-tags to match. Now they’ve turned their attention to newer players with a line of “Sportline” AEG models and some excellent external upgrade parts that should suit any pocket! ASG are one of those quiet companies that “punch large” in the airsoft manufacturing industry and although they produce a superb range of products, they seem to have been concentrating on their superb relationship with Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (CZ) for some time. This is not to the exclusion of other license partners in their portfolio but with some superb models like the SP-01 Shadow, the 805 BREN and especially the EVO, they’ve had a LOT to run with! Let’s face it, if you haven’t noticed the “rise and rise” of the EVO in the last couple of years, I don’t think you’ve been out playing airsoft much! The EVO has generated an almost “subculture” in the UK airsoft scene (and internationally!), with its own user group and dedicated events, some great after-market
parts and even upgrades from ASG themselves (as we saw reported last month). The EVO has been a massive success and long may that continue! I’m pleased though, that ASG have once again turned their attention to the newer player. I first saw things taking shape at the Northern Shooting Show earlier this year, when they showed some great new “Sportline” AR-style AEGs and a whole heap of very useful accessories. This had been kept very quiet but ASG do like to take their time in relation to development, only fully releasing a new model when they are 100% happy that it’s as good as it possibly can be. Looking at past performance, they did exactly the same with the EVO and that turned out to be a great, beautifully crafted replica with superb performance and durability and I for one haven’t heard anybody complaining much about it. The fact that a manufacturer takes time to get things right from the get go can only be a good thing for all of us. How often have we seen a RIF rushed to market because it’s right on the current trend and been disappointed due to sub-par performance and a lack of reliability? I’d much rather have a RIF that’s gone through all the checks and balances, thorough torture-testing, design and re-design and a carefully controlled manufacturing process before I part with any cash. I also like a properly licenced replica as I know then what I’m getting is going to be as close to the “real deal” as possible and ASG are past-masters at conforming to all of the aforementioned processes.
FRESH AND NEW What ASG have done with their new “Sportline” AEGs is to essentially bring us a revitalised “Strike Systems” brand, a name that has been lurking in the ASG portfolio for some 20
november 2018
armoury ASG STRIKE SYSTEMS SPORTLINE
considerable time. I took a good look at the full line of optics offered in this range last summer and have been testing these on and off since then. Thus far they’ve performed really well and I’ll bring an overview of those at a later date as they’re worth a look in their own right. When it comes to the new AEGs, ASG are now offering three key models in their “MX” line and all of them are right corkers! The MX18 is the real “workhorse” of the line as it’s quite straightforward in its design (nowt wrong with that)! it’s a pretty standard-looking AR-style with an “A-post” foresight, railed upper with removable carry handle and drop-in polymer foregrip which makes it an absolutely ideal “project” gun if you want to do something fancy with it at a later date. The foregrip is almost “Magpul-esque” and very usable in its own right and the new take on the venerable “CRANE” battery stock is very, very nice indeed! The MXR18 Combat is a slightly shorter version of the MX version. This carbine is tailor-made for CQB as it’s a right tidy package! A number of people have commented that it’s almost “416-like” and apart from the slightly longer barrel I have to admit that is does bear a cosmetic similarity to the popular “HK”. Benefitting from a longer free-float polymer rail system, a pair of excellent “flip-up” sights and the same new “CRANE”, the MXR18 Combat would fulfil most player’s
desires straight from the box – and I have to admit that this is my personal favourite of the new models. For many the MXR18 Assault will undoubtedly be the “jewel in the crown”. This carbine’s aggressive look makes it stand out and the long, thoroughly up to date KeyMod handguard is certainly very (if you’ll pardon the pun) “striking”. Very similar to the “wire cutter” design, the handguard features accessory rails at the 12 and 6 o’clock and with the KeyMod sections at the 3 and 9 o’clock position, you have unlimited access to placing accessories. The monolithic section merges seamlessly with the upper receiver, giving you even more real estate to add accessories and also adds a more stable platform. ASG are very well-respected for their internal parts, so everything inside is neat and tidy as you would expect and built to a standard that should stand both the test of time and
THE NEW MXS ALL COME WITH THAT NEAT, NEWLY DESIGNED “CRANE” STOCK ALLOWING FOR BETTER CHEEK WELD DURING USE.
www.airsoft-action.online
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armoury ASG STRIKE SYSTEMS SPORTLINE
“I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE MX VARIANTS ARE EVERY BIT THE RIFS I HOPED THEY WOULD BE AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NEW TO AIRSOFT, OR INDEED IF YOU NEED A WELL-PRICED BACKUP AEG THAT’S HIGH QUALITY AND REALLY DELIVERS ON THE PERFORMANCE FRONT, THEN I’D URGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THESE NEW MODELS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.” hard use. All the new MX variants come out of the box with a MOSFET unit, which improves trigger response and makes battery usage more efficient and this translates into the rifle being more durable over time. As mentioned earlier, the new MXs all come with that neat, newly designed “CRANE” stock allowing for better cheek weld during use. The compartment located in the back of the stock is easily accessible and can store different battery sizes; in simple terms the stock is adjustable and easy to use. The ergonomic pistol grip is designed to fit all hand sizes while maintaining a positive grip and also adds to feel and control, especially when you’re paying for longer durations. Both the MXR18 models come with first-rate fully adjustable front and rear polymer flipup sights; easy to deploy, the flip-up sights acts as back-ups if you’re using an optic but if you prefer to run “irons” then these are more than up to the job! Included with all models is a newly-designed 300BB polymer Hi-Cap magazine. The polymer construction keeps the magazine lightweight but it’s also very strong and has a positive, “grippy” finish. Using polymer here also keeps the weight down, so if you’re carrying a full complement of mags for a long game then they’re not going to weigh you down and tire you out! The finish of all the carbines is exemplary, with the polymer throughout a rich, deep black. They also feel massively solid with nary a creak or groan. Let’s face it, there’s a LOT of polymer in the firearms world these days and if it’s good enough for “real” it’s certainly good enough for airsoft! All in all, the MXs are fine-looking carbines and I’m pleased to report that they also perform well too! First step was, as always, at the chrono and all three models came in around 1.12 Joule/348fps using .20g BLASTERS, which makes them bob-on out of the box to just load up, power up and head out to play! I was expecting very good things in relation to accuracy as ASG RIFs that I’ve had in the past have all been great in this respect once they’ve “bedded-in” and yet again I wasn’t to be disappointed by the MX’s. As I was at my local site doing a photoshoot before I sat down to write this review, I took the carbines along with me and with the hop set I was easily sending every shot consistently through the open side window of one of the old “junk cars” at 30m using .25g BLASTERS
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and using just the standard sights of all three models. The MXs all have a 300mm/11.8inch barrel even with “cosmetic” differences, which makes them all great woodland tools too. All the MX carbines come with a 300BB polymer Hi-Cap as stated but if you want additional mags then there’s standard “wheel-wind” versions and also the new ATS Strike M. This aggressively styled polymer magazine features a high-traction textured surface and holds up to 300 BBs. Winding is easy using the innovative pull-cord; just flip the toggle handle out, pull the cord a few times and the magazine is tensioned to feed! It’s a “flash-mag” on acid that’s easy to fill and use and will certainly keep you in the fight! I’ve mentioned the new-style “CRANE” already, which is lovely but if you want to take things a step further, or indeed upgrade the stock on your existing AR, then you could do far worse than looking at the new ATS M-Stock, Retractable. Combining an ergonomic shape that provides a secure cheek weld for precision shots, the ATS Stock has a modern, angular aesthetic to give your gun a unique look. The slide-lock system allows you to rapidly switch between various stock positions and holds securely when you set it in place on the majority of AEG buffer tubes. Large internal spaces give you plenty of room to store even large batteries or accessories and they are accessed by simply removing the textured anti-slip butt pad. There’s also an innovative, yet simple, “lock” on the release lever that lets you easily remove the entire stock from the buffer tube if you need to (no more fiddling with screwdrivers!) and a neat Li-Po compartment if you’re using a “PEQ-style” battery to keep things from rattling around! Last, but by no means least, is the ATS Barrel Extension Tube. This quick-detach barrel extension tube gives your rifle a modern and unique look and finishes your barrel in up-to-theminute style. Mounting to a normal 14mm barrel thread, the included QD mount gives you the option to mount the tube at any angle you wish and remove it for storage or transport. Made from aluminium alloy, the tube is perfect for shrouding an extended inner barrel or just adding to the look of your RIF. Quick and easy to fit I’ve used the ATS BET on my futuristic SRU build and putting me somewhat in mind of those funky “Silencerco” creations, it really finishes off the build perfectly! I have to say that the MX variants are every bit the RIFs I hoped they would be and for those of you that are new to airsoft, or indeed if you need a well-priced backup AEG that’s high quality and really delivers on the performance front, then I’d urge you to check out these new models as soon as possible. They’re great-looking AEGs and with the new accessories you can quite literally build the “AR” you want… classic, military, or indeed “space age”! So what’s not to like? Expect to pay IRO £150 for MX models; they are already available from UK stockists but for further information and to see all the other great, licenced RIFs in the ASG range please do visit www.actionsportgames.com AA
The new Strike Systems ATS Magazine by ASG has 300 BB capacity with an easy access, ultra strong rip-cord winding system combined with a high traction custom moulded exterior. This allows you to bring more firepower to bear in any AR magazine compatible gun!
ATS MAGAZINE
ActionSportGamesŽ is a worldwide leader in the business of replica firearms and accessories manufacturing – including Airsoft guns, Airguns, CO2 guns and firearms replicas.
0042-0618_AirsoftAction_ATS-Strike.indd 1
042-0618_June2018
Available now from all ASG retailers in both black and tan colour options
15-06-2018 11:53:49
armoury
SMOKE THE RAINBOW!
PYROTECHNICS | ENOLA GAYE
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armoury PYROTECHNICS | ENOLA GAYE
SMOKE HAS BEEN USED ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE FOR CENTURIES BUT CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? ENOLA GAYE DON’T THINK SO AND ASKED FEMME FATALE TO CHECK OUT THE SMALLEST ADDITION TO THEIR RANGE. been waiting for, for almost 3 years! After adding black to AS THE USE OF SMOKE GRENADES has become more and their line-up of colours late in 2016 and it being a hit with the more popular in airsoft, we have seen Enola Gaye - the airsoft community, Enola Gaye are finally adding the colour I’ve worldwide leading manufacturer of pyrotechnics - release been waiting for since I began airsofting. more products to satisfy airsofters needs for concealment. One sunny afternoon, whilst attending the Midlands Usually it’s the bigger, the better, with players wanting to Airsoft Fair in early 2015 at the Gaol Events in Oakham, I heard smoke out their competition and get the upper hand. So, the shout “We don’t make pink smoke!” originate from a whenever the company releases a new product you would grinning face at the Enola Gaye booth. I turned my head and regularly get more than you did before! However, this time raised my sunglasses and shouted back “Well you should!” EG have reverse engineered their famous WP40 to give the and that was the start of my journey with Enola Gaye - and 3 consumer a whole bunch less… but why? years after that cheeky exchange the colour has finally come In game situations a thick smoke cover is what players to fruition! strive for to give them a screen of cover but there are Eventually we will see the pink smoke released in all smoke situations where “less” is definitely “more”! products including the EG25, EG18, EG18X and SD75 but we One thing I’ve found whilst working with the guys from will see the pink WP40s hitting our market first. So whether EG is that when you need a smoke effect for a photographic you are a player that needs a heavy smoke screen that lasts for shoot, you don’t always need the entire area smoked out! In minutes, or a photographer that wants just the right amount fact, sometimes the dense smoke hinders new shots being of smoke for “that shot”, Enola Gaye will have you covered. taken while waiting for smoke to clear and with this in mind, So what’s the colour like? Having a lot of experience with the new EG25 was born. smoke grenade photoshoots it wouldn’t be unusual for us in The EG25 offers users a super-compact unit (which is also the past to use red smoke as it has quite a “pinky” hue to it. absolutely adorable, being the size of a glue stick) that has a “So surely it’s just red smoke? Red smoke looks pink.” you may considerable output but for only around 30 seconds. This gives be thinking but when you put a pink and red WP40 together, photographers and players more than enough time to get the shot they’re after and also means that it clears relatively “THE EG RANGE OF SMOKES ARE VIVID AND AT THE MOMENT THEY OFFER quickly, so you can get on with EIGHT COLOURS: WHITE, YELLOW, RED, GREEN, PURPLE, BLUE, ORANGE the next shot even if it features another colour of smoke. AND BLACK. BUT WHAT ELSE COULD BE MISSING FROM THEIR ALREADY What I really, really like IMPRESSIVE RANGE OF COLOURS? I’LL TELL YOU… PINK SMOKE!” about the EG25 Micro Smokes though, is the size of them! We all know that anything in the red smoke looks far more orange and shows the pink to be miniature size is cute, be it shower gel, deodorant, whatever a true fuchsia hue. It is bright and the output is what we would the item is, it’s definitely “cuter” in miniature and these are no expect for a WP40. Needless to say I am absolutely in love with different. A big (or should that be “small”) bonus with the size, the colour and think it’ll be a big hit amongst photographers, is that it makes it easy to carry a load of them in a backpack street artists and airsofters alike. The colour also really or dump pouch without weighing you down too much. Whilst compliments some of the other colours in their arsenal, such I was testing the range of smokes they on average lasted as purple and yellow so I’m really looking forward to seeing around 26 seconds, had a good output and the smoke colour what the photographers of Instagram conjure up with this new is true to the colour of their bigger counterparts. The time/ colour-way! output combined means the smoke clears quickly and easily Pink smoke was released in Canada late last year, in the US from an area and this means less time between shoots waiting earlier this year and it looks like the UK will be set to get them for colours to clear. later this year/early 2019. The EG25 Micro Smokes are available in their full colour For more details visit the Enola Gaye website: www. range of colours and they use the Wire Pull igniter. They’re enolagaye.com or your local airsoft retailer. available as a single smoke or in packs of 10 from Enola Gaye dealers (some will even let you mix and match colours) and prices do vary but whilst I’ve been at events with the team, the prices have been super affordable. Check with your local EG stockist for deets! Overall, I think EG have done a fab job with the EG25 Micro Smoke – from the size, to the output and even price point they seem to have got it just right. I can see these becoming a staple in an airsoft photographer’s kit in the near future. It’s also awesome to see the brand catering for a different aspect of the sport.
IN THE PINK One thing that sets Enola Gaye apart from other competitors in the market, is the colours of their smoke - not just the intensity of them but also the range of colours they offer. Thanks to Doc John’s recipe, the hues we see from the EG range of smokes are vivid and at the moment they offer 8 colours: white, yellow, red, green, purple, blue, orange and black. But what else could be missing from their already impressive range of colours? I’ll tell you… PINK SMOKE! Soon to be released to the UK market is something I have
PIC: DANIEL CASTRO OF ENOLA GAYE USA.
www.airsoft-action.online
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event NAF 2018
THE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2018 THE NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL CONTINUES TO GROW YEAR ON YEAR AND NOW ATTRACTS PLAYERS NOT ONLY FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM BUT FROM EVEN FURTHER AFIELD TOO. FOR THIS YEARS’ EVENT NIGE AND BILL HEADED TO THE NEW FOREST TO CHECK OUT HOW THINGS HAVE GROWN AND BILL REPORTS ON WHAT THE FESTIVAL REALLY MEANS TO THOSE THAT ATTEND. MUCH DEBATE TAKES PLACE ONLINE about the National Airsoft Festival (formerly the National Airsoft Event) that takes place every August Bank Holiday down at the Ground Zero site in the depths of the New Forest. I have to admit that sadly, until this year I’ve been one of those that has listened to the negative comments in internet airsoft groups and blown the event off but when Nige asked me to accompany him to this years’ event I thought it was time for me to go and actually find out the truth for myself. The NAF/NAE has been running since 2007, when Ground Zero/Zero One made history by hosting what was, at that time, the largest airsoft event ever held in in the UK (and it still is!), bringing in players from all over the UK and Europe. It’s now become, for many players, one of the main airsoft events of the year. Although I constantly see “naysayers” bemoaning the event, I also have many friends who have attended each and every year and many friends who have started attending as the years go by, which really should have told me something special was going on.
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The thought of a massive airsoft game involving quite literally thousands of players is my personal worst nightmare scenario. We all know that you get the odd “cheater”, even at the very best game and the chance of that happening with so many players in one place at one time magnified, at least to me, the chance of a poor game beset by bad hit-calling. This is a mindset that has been prevalent in many of the airsoft groups that I belong to but times change and I thought it only fair to go and have a look at what was on offer. I believe that we’ve all come to learn with online groups it’s quite often “those who shout loudest” that get heard most, and when the discussion in a group we participate in (sometimes daily) is negative, we tend to veer towards the same viewpoint. I will say right here, right now that I drove towards Ringwood with the thought that I was about to waste a weekend, although it meant I would see some good folk I hadn’t seen for a while. Upon arrival at the Ground Zero site, one that in many years of airsoft I have never played, I was immediately impressed with the sheer size of the field and the diversity of terrain … and that was just as I drove in! Ground Zero is situated about a mile from the nearest road on the private grounds of Somerley Estate in Ringwood, Hampshire and boasts some 175 acres of playable terrain, with a massive 50 acres of Safe Zone. Now you may find that latter number “overkill” but I’m going to tell you that with nearly 3,000 players and all the varied entertainment/ logistics staff on site, 50 acres soon becomes very, very small and intimate! The main Safe Zone is split away from the camping area and is almost a self-contained “festival village” in its own right. We had the Airsoft Action stand on one end of “main avenue” and were joined by Craig and “Skillz” from WA03 Media, who had a marvellous set up for taking pictures of the game itself, as well as individual and team portraits. Craig even had his drone for taking some very special footage which has now appeared online!
event NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2018
Immediately beside us “UPON ARRIVAL AT THE GROUND ZERO SITE, ONE THAT IN MANY YEARS OF were Tez and his son with AIRSOFT I HAVE NEVER PLAYED, I WAS IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED WITH THE the “Pilgrim Bandits” Charity SHEER SIZE OF THE FIELD AND THE DIVERSITY OF TERRAIN …AND THAT WAS stand and then Ben and Jake from ASG with theirs. JUST AS I DROVE IN!” Running down our side of the avenue were numerous private gear-sellers, with Jo and zero-ing range was run next to and within the “Saloon” from www.flecktarn.co.uk building. Once again I saw very little in the way of uber-long and Scott from www.lowamilitaryboots.com at the far end. lines forming, in fact the “range” stayed open late into the Directly opposite us was Gav with the VIPER stand (more on evening and was in use the whole time. Alongside this a that later!) and then a whole plethora of stands that made up separate building hosted the UK heats for the “G&G Armament the “food court”. If you wanted an ice cream or a bacon bap, World Cup CQB Shooting Competition”. then it was there for the having but if you didn’t want to cook over the weekend then you had a choice of very well-priced Greek food (absolutely AWESOME kebabs!), Thai red or green curry with rice, burger and chips, wood-fired pizza and even fresh coffee and donuts! In my opinion the only thing missing was a good fish n’ chippy but if you went off-site that could be had very easily! Also on site were our great friends Vic and Owen from Popular Airsoft, and French representatives from Cybergun, which I believe is a first for any UK event and I have to admit that both Nige and I had a really good time chatting with them. Cybergun have never been the most approachable of companies but the guys at the Festival were great to talk to and incredibly interested in the UK market. There have been some quite recent changes at Cybergun and if this visit was one result of that then I’m very pleased indeed, and I certainly hope it will be the first of many visits to the UK. They also had “Kalashnikov” energy drinks which, of course, endeared them further to me and although I wouldn’t drink one myself, the can itself was definitely a very much-needed acquisition! …and I’m still not finished with what was on offer in “The Village”, as Zero One had an absolutely humongous site shop that stocked everything you could possibly need in relation to a good weekend of airsoft and way, WAY more. This huge marquee sat next to another of equal size that housed the licensed bar and the stage for evening events. GAME ON! As we arrived early to set up I was able to watch all the proceedings as players arrived and booked in and from what I saw, this was done very efficiently with an absolute lack of fuss. Yes, at times a sizeable queue formed but with SO many players that was inevitable. The queue dispersed surprisingly fast though, with each player coming away with a “goodie bag” and their player armbands, Green for “Delta”, Orange for “Bravo”, and “Blue” for the somewhat mysteriously named “Others”. Whilst the players booked in a multi-chrono station www.airsoft-action.online
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“CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME HAD TOLD ME PRIOR TO THE WEEKEND ONLINE THE HIT-TAKING THAT I SAW WAS EXEMPLARY, WITH MANY CRIES OF “GOOD SHOT” AND “WELL PLAYED” ECHOING THROUGH THE WOODS; “MYTH ONE” BUSTED I FEEL…” After a relatively quiet Friday evening (for most), Saturday dawned bright, clear and warm and “The Village” soon started to fill up with players in readiness for the game briefing. As the crowd swelled and swelled even further I have to admit to being massively impressed by the sheer number of players and the diversity of loadouts on display. There were of course modern “operator” loadouts, many of which could have easily have graced the most dedicated MilSim games, WWII and Vietnam loadouts to re-enactor standard, and even some righteous “Post Apocalyptic” setups that were frankly movie standard. There was quite literally every kind of loadout you could possibly imagine, all in one place at one time and some of the more comedic, including the stag party in full bride and bridesmaids get-ups (well done you lads!) certainly added to the “festival vibe” and gave everyone a smile. After a relatively swift and to the point safety brief (Team Briefs had happened well before this) it was time for “Game On” and players headed out to their respective start points. After a further rousing brief from the team I/C the game started properly with a rolling pyro barrage courtesy of TLSFX and it was time to get your fight on! I had rashly (preconception again…) elected not to play although many of my friends were and although I will say again that I thought it was “not my kind of game” I was pretty soon regretting that I hadn’t brought an AEG with me. Nige and I got in the thick of things to take pictures and the opening firefight between “Bravo” and the “Others” around the Church was a right corker! Suffice to say that much of the action was on semi-auto, with only the support gunners and the mini-gunners giving it some “full chat”. Contrary to what some had told me prior to the weekend online the hit-taking that I saw was exemplary, with many cries of “good shot” and “well played” echoing through the woods; “Myth One” busted I feel… As we hoofed around the site in search of “action” to photograph Nige gave me a guided tour of the highlights that Ground Zero has to offer the players and I have to say that I was impressed. Although the site is HUGE it’s also broken down into smaller “game zones” that are eminently playable in their own right and that on a regular “skirmish day” would delight anyone. There’s a small village, a “prison”, outposts, guard towers, trench systems and numerous other structures to play through, and there’s even a big concrete bunker that immediately brings to mind “13 Hours”. That particular building is an absolute maze internally and would prove a challenge to even the most hardened CQB-meister!
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Of course for the weekend EVERYTHING was in play at the same time and wherever you went there was the sound of a firefight taking place. All three teams had objectives to achieve and points to be earned from them and from what I saw every objective was hard-earned by the eventual victors. Play continued throughout the day, with some hardy souls lasting the duration, whilst others returned to the camping grounds and “The Village” for much needed R&R. Gav had on both days the VIPER “Loot Crate” which drew players back into the thick of things, with a padlock set to one player number each day and £450 worth of VIPER gear up for grabs - and I swear that the line for this was sometimes longer than that at check in! As Day 1 wound down, the evening “action” started. Although there was a night game for those so disposed, the main “action” for Saturday night appeared to be centred around the camping grounds where many groups had set up their own “compounds”, some of which featured their own “field kitchens” and even functioning bars! This was where the real “festival spirit” took hold, with tents as far as the eye could see, flags and banners waving in the breeze, barbeque smoke drifting in tendrils to the sky, and music and laughter floating through the night as darkness fell…
event NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL 2018
In “The Village” the bar rocked thanks to a live band that played an eclectic mix of numbers ranging from Led Zep, through Bryan Adams and Dolly Parton, to The Jam. Beers went down in a surprisingly convivial and sociable atmosphere, with groups from all the teams exchanging their “war stories” from the day and having a genuinely good laugh. As the evening progressed I found myself outside the bar marquee standing by a roaring fire pit discussing gear (what a shock!) with Nige, Ben and his partner Jody, Jake (Mr Four Star!) and Gav, whilst Kelly put in the occasional whirlwind visit before she headed off to “Ride the (mechanical) Bull”…
The “after game” was as much fun and as lively as I’ve seen anywhere and the bottom line is that everyone seemed to be having a thoroughly bang-on time, whether they played for the duration, for a few hours, or not at all! It was great for me to see my good friends Kim and Luna from C3, Brent and the lads from 1066, Stef and his buddies from the Netherlands and of course my “team mate” Kelly and her erstwhile gang of shooters and looters. Of course “The Village Crew”, you’re all awesome and I’m sure we’ll be laughing about “The Battle of Wounded Knee” for some considerable time to come!
IF IT AIN’T RAINING…
Whatever your style of play may be the National Airsoft festival has something to offer you. I went thinking it was just another super-big game with all the negative baggage that entailed but came away with a totally different view. The Festival is first and foremost just that, a joyful festival that celebrates airsoft in all its diverse and wonderful forms and a festival that just happens to be set on an awesome site that happens to have a game going on at the same time. I shall certainly be back next year to play and in the meantime I’ll be heading down to Ground Zero for the odd game day to really get a handle on the “lie of the land” …after all, it’s all about the preparation and planning, isn’t it?
Now many folk have told me that usually you need to make sure you have sufficient sun cream to last you the weekend at the festival but as it’s the UK and it was August Bank Holiday I took the precaution of taking my waterproofs …and boy am I glad I did! Sunday morning started overcast and got progressively worse from there and by 11:00hrs the rain was absolutely tipping down, not that it seemed to bother players at all. Despite the inclement conditions the teams obviously felt there was still more to play for and out they headed back to the game. Once again, the “naysayers” would have had me believe that that players at the festival were not “hardcore” but from what I witnessed as the rain hammered all of us, they just kept on playing, gaining objectives and points whilst having a thoroughly good game …“Myth 2” also busted! As we wound down in “The Village” play was still very much going on and for those staying on until the Monday it would do so pretty much all day. My final thoughts on the National Airsoft Festival 2018? I loved every minute and I can totally see why folk go back year after year! The site is superb and the organisation impeccable. The facilities on site were first rate and the scheduling spot-on. The play that I saw was hard, fast and in the main fair, with hits taken and compliments given where they were due.
Our thanks go to Dan, Dean, H, Steve, Neil and Alex, all of whom were exceptionally helpful, especially Neil for whom nothing seemed too much trouble. You guys run one hell of an event and I can certainly see why the National Airsoft Festival has become such a hit! All power to you and good luck with the organisation and planning for the 2019 event. Congratulations to the “Others” for your win this time but I’m certain that both “Bravo” and “Delta” will be after your hides next year! For further information for the 2019 National Airsoft Festival please keep an eye on www.groundzeroairsoft.com/ nae and I look forward to seeing you there! AA
www.airsoft-action.online
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international BLODSBAND RELOADED
BLODSBAND RELOADED POST-APOCALYPTIC AIRSOFT PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALLUM WALKER AND PIA JANSSON.
AIRSOFT ACTION IS PLEASED TO WELCOME DUST MONKEY AS OUR NEWEST CONTRIBUTOR, AS HE KICKS OFF WITH THE FIRST PART OF A REPORT FROM THREE-DAYS OF POST-APOCALYPTIC AIRSOFT IN SWEDEN. IF MAD MAX: FURY ROAD had an affair with Elysium what you’d end up with is an immersive Post-Apoc airsoft LARP called “Blodsband Reloaded”! To say I was looking forward to Blodsband Reloaded (BBR) would be an understatement! I could not attend in 2017 last minute as I went and had an accident leaving me in an enormous leg brace for 9 months. So I had 2 years of build up to this year’s event. Not only was I excited to experience an event of its scale and scope as a player but also as someone who spent 4 years running my own post apoc event, I wanted to see what I could learn from an organiser’s perspective. Both sides of me that attended left forever changed in regards to what can be achieved with the right organisation, venue and community. But before we delve down into that happened at the event, it is probably best to explain what it is, as it is not like any other airsoft event. Firstly, it is a LARP event that uses airsoft. The setting is far into the future, many years after a cataclysmic event has forever changed the world. Due to the setting it allows for a vast array of character and group types; there were full blown “Mad Max” style war boys who drove into battle atop “Mad Max” style cars, complete with roof-mounted PKMs. There were cyberpunk “Elysium” style Mercs wearing exo-skeletons; there were mutants straight out of Fallout, an entire convoy of French raiders, gangs, traders, caravans and so much more. The event itself is totally open, you do whatever you want to do. If you fancy spending your entire time in the huge Post-Apoc town wheeling and dealing, eating in the many in-game restaurants and bars and not once setting foot into the wasteland you can. Or if you’d rather spend your time exploring the wastes,
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international BLODSBAND RELOADED
“THE MACHINE DOGS ARE AS CLOSE TO FURY ROAD STYLE WAR BOYS AS YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET, BOASTING THREE MAD MAX STYLE CARS, TWO BIKES AND A QUAD. ALL THE CARS HAD ROOF-MOUNTED PKM MACHINE GUNS AND, SUFFICE TO SAY, WHEN ASKED TO GET ON ONE OF THE CARS WE DID NOT NEED ASKING A SECOND TIME!” robbing people on the road, taking part in bounty hunts etc. you can. The only limitation is your imagination and drive but pretty much anything is open. Then, of course, there is ”the wrecking”. These are pitched battles that take place one a day that can last hours. This year three factions vied for your support, “Omega 13”, the cult of the dead… and the French. Wrecking is at its core a game of “King of the Hill”, where each wrecking group gains points by capturing and holding things called LANTERNs. Each faction would try to buy your assistance with promises of Kaps (in-game currency), ammo (provided entirely by the organisers and at time you might be down to only 5 rounds) and Medbots (required to keep you in the fight if you get dropped in a firefight). These battles were a glorious confusing mess at times, as sometimes entire groups would shift sides mid-firefight in an epic act of betrayal having been paid off by another faction. Blue on blue was an ever-present threat as without any cohesive uniform and the aforementioned swapping of sides, no one was too sure who was on whose team - and this later proved to be something I made full use of. Before we get down into what actually took place over the 3 days the event runs a few words on getting there and logistics. I flew from Heathrow to Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, a pleasant and not lengthy flight. From there I met up with good friend and fellow Post-Apoc event organiser, Alessio Peruzzi, who had flown in from Rome and got our hire car along with another UK event organiser. From there we had an easy 3-hour drive to the event location, a huge old industrial area that from corner to corner was roughly 4km. We stayed in old shipping containers within the in-game town and, thankfully, friends from Sweden who also attended brought us camping beds and blankets so that we had a comfortable place to sleep. My guns, in the form of a King Arms Thompson Chicago typewriter, TM 1911 and WELL Webley were also all with the same friends, as I had shipped them over (with huge thanks to NUPROL) before the event. There was a slight alarm moment when they arrived with my friends with Border Force tape all over them, stating the box had been opened but thankfully nothing was missing and the guns all worked perfectly. We then went to gun and armour check, to make sure all our guns were within their event limits and that the armour we had all made for the event was safe. I personally was wearing 22kg of metal and leather, as my character was a Post-Apoc trench
raider - and I loved and hated that armour over the next few days. With that all done we settled in with catching up with long unseen friends and our neighbours and to get a good night’s sleep before the event-proper started the following day. The next morning we had some time before game start, so we took that opportunity to sort all our kit out, eat some food and have a little explore of the in-game town. Despite having hours to do it before the game started and then several days of living within it, we still did not see everything - a real testament to how deep and immersive the event is, thanks to the amazing community who attend it and run it. With the pre-game briefing done (and thankfully translated for us as it was mainly in Swedish), the event got underway. Our first priority was to get ourselves hired by one of the three factions for that day’s wrecking, as we had only 100 rounds each and not much Kaps to buy more. Swiflty we got hired by Omega 13 with some Kaps up front and the promise of ammo before we headed out - plus a significant bonus if it went well. Somehow - and for the life of us no one can involved can remember exactly how - we ended up as guns aboard one of the Machine Dogs’ cars. The Machine Dogs are as close to Fury Road style war boys as you can possibly get, boasting three Mad Max style cars, two bikes and a quad. All the cars had roof-mounted PKM machine guns and, suffice to say, when asked to get on one of the cars we did not need asking a second time! We were tasked with getting ahead of the French convoy and setting up an ambush, stopping them getting to the Lantern and thus not getting the points for a successful hack. The plan worked well to start; we pinned a heavy 4X4 in between our cars, itself equipped with a roof mounted machine gun. Unfortunately, when we moved further down the road having dealt with the 4x4 and its crew we found the French and their allies already in place with a well-constructed road block on the T junction we needed to capture. What followed was an hour-long firefight that saw almost all involved down to their last few rounds. www.airsoft-action.online
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international BLODSBAND RELOADED
“I PERSONALLY WAS WEARING 22KG OF METAL AND LEATHER, AS MY CHARACTER WAS A POST-APOC TRENCH RAIDER - AND I LOVED AND HATED THAT ARMOUR OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.”
Eventually - and with some very clever flanking tactics - our convoy was eradicated and began the long limp back to town to repair the vehicles and re-arm. Despite a truly amazing firefight I was concerned! We had used every round we had with no clear view of how to re-equip…. until the head of Omega 13 stomped past the Machine Dog camp, shouting of their great overall victory and that everyone should come to their camp for payment! It turned out we held down such a large chunk of the French force that Omega 13 were able to jump between the other points and for the first day accumulate the most points. So off we went to their camp, a skip in our step, to receive a hefty reward, (to us anyway) of 30 Kaps, 50 sniper rounds and 4 heavy weapon rounds. The ammo was entirely useless to us but
all sold for a good price allowing us to go and buy more ammo for our guns. That night we went to the most well-known bar, called “Shot in the Dark” …the irony being while stood outside it I was indeed shot in the dark! What followed was a fantastic cat and mouse hunt for the perpetrator, which ended in him being found and shot but not before a totally innocent woman who had the unfortunate coincidence to wear very similar clothing also got shot… And then robbed. Our friend’s logic being he had already shot her, robbing her of her ammo and Kaps seemed a small issue to add on top. With that and much hilarious retellings of the day’s activities we went to bed ready for another day in the Wasteland…. …to be continued. AA
www.airsoft-action.online
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event 3-GUN: MULTI GUN SYNDICATE
MULTI GUN SYNDICATE STEPPING OUT OF HIS “COMFORT ZONE”, ANGELO DI VITO REPORTS FROM A RAPIDLY-GROWING STYLE OF COMPETITIVE AIRSOFT THAT, IN THE REAL STEEL WORLD, EVEN THE LIKES OF KEANU REEVES HAS GOT INTO. AND NOW FOR SOMETHING completely different …for me anyway! During the years of writing about airsoft and my career at Airsoft Action, I have covered many items including sites, weapons and various accessories and consumables. Well a couple of days ago, Nige (the Editor) contacted me regarding covering something I had never written about before. The subject matter being 3-Gun competition shooting, a subject I was aware of in the real steel world but hadn’t seen in Airsoft. Ok, I’ve been fully aware of Action Air/IPSC shooting for some time and have covered such events but this was a totally different animal. So, with all the details digested I was extremely up for this – especially as I was very aware of the person running this event. The person behind this event was someone I’ve known for some time, as he has been around Action Air/IPSC events and competing for a few years and that person is Mark Farrar.
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When you first meet Mark, what comes across straight away is his single-minded focus, drive and determination to get the job done with the minimum of fuss. The work Mark has put in with his club is admirable for the main reason that it’s not just for himself, it is for other lovers of competition shooting. To add to this, he’s a damn fine shooter too! So let’s move on and give you a bit of background to 3-Gun competitive shooting. THE BACKGROUND I know from watching and covering Practical Pistol or Action Air Shooting that there are various classes to this discipline, including “Production” and “Open” classes. The Open Class being the one with various modified pistols plus various sighting options and upgrades and the Production Class comprising of standard, “out of the box” pistols. I’m not going to go any further with the class side of things, as I may get some parts of it wrong and that would be doing the sport a dis-service but I do know the origins of the 3-Gun competition are in the USA, as are many shooting sports including Cowboy - no surprise there then! There are also many safety rules that must be adhered to and the guns are treated like their real steel counterparts with the same level of safety applied. I will talk a little bit more about the rules later. The biggest and most obvious difference between pistol shooting and 3-Gun shooting is there is more than one type of weapon to master. The 3 disciplines being: • Pistol Shooting • Shotgun Shooting • Rifle Shooting • Multi Gun Syndicate “Multi Gun Syndicate” is the title that Mark and his team have christened this style of competition and due to various gun laws it had to be labelled as such to avoid any confusion with real steel 3-Gun sports. I know from speaking to Mark he had to be very careful in what words he used to promote this new venture.
event 3-GUN: MULTI GUN SYNDICATE
“THE NEXT STAGE WAS A BIT TIGHTER, WHERE THE SHOOTER WOULD FIRE AT
TIME FOR ACTION THE CLOSE-UP TARGETS WITH THEIR PISTOL THEN HAVE TO PUT THAT DOWN The day of the competition AND SET OFF RUNNING FOR THEIR SHOTGUN OR RIFLE. TO SOME THIS MAY arrived and I set off bright and early to the outskirts of LOOK EASY AS SOME OF THE TARGETS ARE QUITE CLOSE BUT TRUST ME, THIS Barnsley. The location for AIN’T NO EASY THING!” the event was an airsoft site called “The Pit”, run by Paul attacked the targets using their various styles of approach and I Jakeman of Yorkshire Tactical have to say I was very impressed. Some of the stages were just Airsoft (YTA). Now I was to be there for the Sunday but many two-gun discipline, for example just pistol and shotgun but the of the players had arrived on the Saturday to help out with action was just as frenetic. setting up and also a bit of a social as they were camping over. The stages varied in style and difficulty but was very I arrived about 8.30 as some of the other players were arriving apparent was the amount of work that had been put into the and got myself sorted for the day ahead, although I’ll admit day. that I was slightly in the dark as to what would be happening during the day. The day started off with the site safety brief, which was given by Paul as he runs the site and knows of any areas and boundaries that the players needed to be aware of. This was delivered in a very professional manner and one thing I did notice was that there wasn’t anyone shouting out or being disruptive (like you sometimes get during a skirmish brief). The next briefing was given by Mark himself, which was to cover the rules and regulations of the competition itself. The briefing obviously covered all aspects of safety during the action and also covered reloads, the number of BBs to be loaded and also the various targets being used on the day. The targets included knock over round metal discs, paper targets and even some wireless electronic targets supplied by Cloud Targets, which I was impressed with. Initially there were a few teething problems with these but that was put down to the atrocious weather. Now the way the scoring works is quite complicated, so I’ll keep it as simple as possible (as I don’t fully understand it myself). The objective is to hit all the targets in the fastest time possible, with as little time penalties as possible. Time penalties can include missing targets, non-engagement of targets and the worst-case scenario is disqualification for safety reasons, or any other breach of the rules. The shooter is asked if he is “ready” and when he hears a bleep he’s off like some possessed lunatic, popping targets on their way. The competition and rivalry was high as there were a couple of sponsored real steel gun shooters taking part, namely Ben Ducker and Oliver Broomfield, plus Alasdair Mustard who had just returned from an Action Air competition in Hong Kong. So I made my way to the first stage and we were off! The shooters started with pistols, then onto to shotguns and then finally the rifles. I watched the shooters as they www.airsoft-action.online
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event 3-GUN: MULTI GUN SYNDICATE
“THE RAIN WASN’T ABOUT TO STOP THESE COMPETITORS, IT ALMOST MADE THEM MORE DETERMINED. GUN SHOTS AND APPLAUSE RANG OUT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE STAGES, AS THESE GUYS WERE HAVING A BALL …WELL SEVERAL 6MM BALLS TO BE PRECISE!” The next stage was a bit tighter, where the shooter would fire at the close-up targets with their pistol then have to put that down and set off running for their shotgun or rifle. To some this may look easy as some of the targets are quite close but trust me, this ain’t no easy thing! After catching my breath it was time for lunch with lots of hot choices for the players but then the heavens opened …and I mean OPENED! It started to absolutely lash it down with rain which made the going much heavier - but you know what? It didn’t dampen the spirits of all involved and that attitude was something I really liked. After lunch the competition continued at the same frenetic pace with the various squads attacking the very varied stages. The rain wasn’t about to stop these competitors, it almost made them more determined. Gun shots and applause rang out all the way across the stages, as these guys were having a ball …well several 6mm balls to be precise!
SUMMARY So what did I learn about 3-Gun Competition Shooting? I learnt that the level of skill involved in this is very high, whether it be the 3-Gun or 2 gun discipline. The players themselves were highly competitive but extremely friendly and clearly loved the sport they take part in. Their determination, despite the horrendous conditions, was admirable and got my total respect, Well done to all involved - I might even have a go myself in the future. Mark would also like to thank his sponsors APS, manufacturers of the CAM870 shotgun who sponsor him in Multi Gun Shooting.
Sponsor List & Raffle Donations ASG (BBs and Ultrair for each shooter). Specna Arms (Custom rifle) APS (ball caps for raffle) Nuprol (2 Raven pistols) Airsoft Action Cloud Targets
Results Real Action Division (Gas pistol, GBBR, shell-ejecting shotgun) 1st Mark Farrar, Team APS 2nd Alasdair Mustard, The Grange. 3rd, Ben Ducker, Calibre Innovations. Non-Real Action (Gas or AEP, AEG, non-shell-ejecting shotgun) 1st David Rothenberg, ASPUK Steelz 2nd James Williams 3rd Alex Cox, The Grange
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feature AIRSOFT HISTORY
THE CHANGING FACE OF THE HOBBY
GADGE LOOKS BACK OVER THE LAST TWENTY YEARS OF AIRSOFT TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH THE GAME HAS CHANGED… OR HAS IT? ONE PHRASE WE HEAR IN THE AIRSOFT ACTION OFFICE on an almost daily basis is “game changer” but how much has the game really changed due to new inventions, AEGs, playstyles and kit? To answer this question and more I decided to have a retrospective look at my 20 years of experience with the “airsoft hobby”.
GUNS, GUNS AND MORE GUNS! We all think of airsoft (usually) as running around a skirmish field on a weekend but my first contact with “airsoft” was pretty far removed from this, in fact it was seeing kits of replicas in my local games and models shop. Essentially, if you go back twenty-odd years ago (and this will seem hard to believe today), many of us got our first “gun” by buying a build it yourself plastic kit that came on plastic sprues, much like a model tank or plane. These were pretty cheap and cheerful and didn’t last that long and were low powered but fun and many a game of “bb battles” was fought on private land by enthusiastic amateurs with kit-built springer 1911s and M92s. While these were cool enough and within our budget as kids (and later students), tucked away on the top shelves of the store were the “holy grail” of gun replicas. Full scale springer G3s, M16s and AK47s that were sold as “1:1 scale realistic replicas” and I kid you not, they cost a fortune at the time. By today’s standards the “realism” was laughable, as nearly all were entirely plastic and they were less suitable than pistols for skirmishing as they were trickier to cock for each shot and, like the kit pistols, had no hop up. Mad, you might think but these were never built for serious wargames, just for back yard tin can shooting and having as a display piece. I dropped out of messing about with airsoft for a few years in the late 90s but, by the year 2000, had been persuaded to
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give “skirmishing” a go by an old Uni friend. After being out of the loop for a few years I was amazed to see electric powered guns with this weird “hop up” thing to further your range (it would have been even better if someone had told me how to set it BEFORE I’d wasted a morning being out-ranged by every opponent!) and what’s more, there was an incredible range of guns to choose from by this “Tokyo Marui” company - at least TEN different AEGs and I felt spoiled for choice. Here we see perhaps the greatest change in airsoft over the last twenty years. Sure, in the early 2000s there were other manufacturers such as TOP, Classic Army, Shoie and the like but if you wanted something that worked every time, well TM was the only option. Some friends bought other makes and spent as much again making the thing work as they would have on a “realistic metal bodied” gun in the first place. In contrast, today there are literally dozens of manufacturers making a bewildering variety of different replicas and platforms. Whereas a skirmishable AEG would set you back around £300 in 2003, now you can get something completely fit for purpose for less than half that (and in many cases better built than some of the offerings from manufacturers with a dodgy approach to quality control). It’s not only the guns that have improved over this time, we’ve also seen incredible advances in batteries. Whereas once you’d choose and AEG with serious consideration to the size of battery it could take, the advent of better power storage solutions leading up to today’s LIPO and LIFE batteries mean that you no longer have to sacrifice “staying power” to rock a folding stock or shortened hand guard. One thing of interest to note is that HPA systems have always been there. Only previously they tended to power more obscure RIFs like Shoei’s WWII MP44, whereas now they are a “drop in” option for most popular platforms.
feature AIRSOFT HISTORY
KIT EXPLOSION While AEGs and gas guns have come on leaps and bounds, it’s also worth noting that the market for the tactical kit we carry our mags and kit in, the combat fatigues we wear and the way we protect ourselves has also literally exploded over this period. When I started skirmishing it was pretty much “normal” for players to kit themselves out with DPM or Flecktarn army surplus and ex-military webbing. While there was a small market, with companies like “flecktarn.co.uk” selling custom combats or assault vests in unusual camo patterns, there was nowhere near the plethora of custom tactical kit you see today. Players wearing top end tactical kit like Crye or Arc’Teryx for a Sunday skirmish was unheard of. If you were a bit “gucci” you might be wearing an Arktis smock or chest rig but it was very much “cheap and cheerful” for most players and, to be fair, I don’t think the kit industry had realised that airsoft was a market with “deep pockets” at that point either. On the subject of deep pockets, it’s good to know that these days you can have the most outlandish BB chucker on the market and still find a set of pouches to fit, whereas old hands will know that while the P90 was pretty popular with some players a decade or so ago, it was a total nightmare trying to find mag pouches for it! THE GAME Perhaps the biggest changes in airsoft over the years have been with respect to the nature of the game itself. Before the VCRA bill reared its head around 2005 and caused airsofters to go into a collective cold sweat, the game was much more about “military simulation”. Even the simplest open day games usually involved getting a bomb to a bunker, assassinating or protecting a VIP or perhaps simply dominating a battlefield. Regardless of the scenario, it was very clear everyone was “playing army” and dressed accordingly. As the collective industry, magazine and player concerns began to argue the point about our need for “realistic” guns in the wake of the VCRA (and be sure, for a few dark months it looked like no new airsoft guns would ever be allowed into the UK, forcing us to use our available stocks until the hobby died out), paradoxically, playstyles changed across the country to less modern “law enforcement and military” scenarios. Around this time niche play styles such as WWII Airsoft and
Vietnam Airsoft began to gain popularity (and merit their own events) and a rise in console gaming first person shooters saw more and more players to see airsoft as a recreation in real life “Call of Duty”, rather than a war film played out in the woods. As an aside, it’s worth noting that airsoft is probably more diverse now than it has ever been with styles such as WWII, Action Air, Speedsoft, MilSim, Post Apocalypse, Horror and even Wild West games being regular fixtures on the airsoft calendar. All of these “historical” styles, coupled with the Army’s experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan (which very much led a lot of airsofters loadouts despite the kit’s slight conspicuousness in UK woodland), along with the growth of the “Private Military Contractor”, saw a lot of players ditching DPM in favour of more PMC or COD based loadouts …all of these playing alongside WWII, SS and Vietnam War USMC! All of a sudden the open day was much more “open” but was it a “simulation” anymore? Another spin off of the VCRA’s regulations (and our hardwon defence) was that under 18s and those without a defence would have to use brightly coloured “two tone” guns. To many older players these were an abomination but to a generation raised on console shooters where the “premium” gun was a bright red paint job AK74, it was less of a problem. With all of these things in consideration, it was worth noticing (and as a reporter for various magazines I saw this happen across the country) that the nature of the game was changing. Many players would refer to the site as “the map” www.airsoft-action.online
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and the scenario as the “game mode”, this in itself is no bad thing and it was interesting to see players start to see the game more as “BB tag” than “playing army” …and it’s not just the player base that has changed. Sites have become much more slick and professional as the hobby has evolved. Gone are the days of some rather dangerous old wasteland being battled over after taking your AEG out of the car and transporting it a bin bag to the game area (I KNOW, it’s insane to think that was normal). Now we
pretty much expect all sites to have charging facilities, toilets, food on offer and at very least sell BBs! This may all seem to some readers as a bit “when I were young all this were green fields” but I want to leave you with one thought… As I mentioned earlier, HPA is no “new thing” to airsoft with some pre-AEG early RIFs using this system but I’d like to point out that where we are now as a hobby, is somewhere that “skirmish sports” has been before. Those of us that played paintball (yeah I know it’s a dirty word) in the 80s and 90s saw the hobby go from “playing army” (like early airsoft) to a highly organised “sport”. This move was partly due to adverse press aimed at “paintball wargames” after some tragic firearms massacres in that period and paintball knew if it was to survive it needed a clean and family friendly image. To that end the paintball industry used the term “marker” instead of “gun”, referred to “eliminations” rather than “kills” and developed the “spectator sport” of Speedball. While many woodland paintballers hated it, Speedball not only had all the trappings of a real sport, including a rule book, a regulating body, tournament leagues and the like but it was clearly not “people training people to kill people”. In a stroke paintball was saved and went from being something “Rambo wannabes” did, to being a staple stag do or work “away day” activity. Now that Speedsoft is evolving in the UK, might we be wise to learn from these lessons and promote it as the “sporting side” of airsoft and draw attention away from our “realistic” games the press love to damn? Regardless… after twenty years in the hobby I can safely agree with the guy who said “You’ve never had it so good!” AA
www.airsoft-action.online
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feature PROJECT OPFOR: MILITIA
PROJECT OPFOR:
MILITIA
LAST MONTH BILL LOOKED AT HOW YOU CAN CREATE AN OPFOR LOADOUT ON A BUDGET FOR ALL TYPES OF GAME. HE NOW DELVES FURTHER INTO THE WORLD OF THE “OPFOR MILITIAS” FOR INSPIRATION AND TELLS US HOW A GREAT SET OF MODERN GEAR CAN BE EASILY AND EFFECTIVELY CREATED - ALSO WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK! “Militia: Noun A military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency. A military force that engages in rebel or terrorist activities in opposition to a regular army. (in the US) all able-bodied civilians eligible by law for military service.” I’VE STARTED OUT THIS TIME WITH ONE PARTICULAR “dictionary definition” of where a “Militia” force actually originates and just like my take on “Team Three Stripe” last month, we’re still in the realms of the civilian population - albeit this time with a more distinctly organised and “military” feel to it. Through the ages the “citizen soldier” has featured in just about every conflict; the word militia actually dates back to at least 1590 when it was recorded in a book by Sir John Smythe,
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“Certain Discourses Military”. Throughout history though, many home defence organisations have been raised during times of crisis or perceived threat, although without the word “militia” in their title and you could easily put the venerable British Home Guard into this category. In the United Kingdom “militia” originally referred to military reserve forces after the Union in 1801 of the former Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland. The militia was transformed into the Special Reserve by the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 and the Territorial Force from 1908 to 1921. Subsequently it became the Territorial Army (TA) from 1921 to 1967 and the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) from 1967 to 2014. So, in essence, it is possible for a “militia” to become a full part of a nation’s armed forces and be equipped to a similar standard, with similar levels of training. Throughout the “modern” conflicts in Eastern Europe “Militias” have formed to fight both against and (in some sad and unfortunate cases) in support of oppression. I recently read an article online that describes this… “You’re driving down a dirt road near the village of Misa, Latvia, roughly 32 miles south east of Riga, when suddenly a dozen youngsters emerge from the woods. They’re dressed in military garb, and their faces are painted green and brown; they wear tree branches around their heads and arms - camouflage. They’ve just finished a training simulation: liberating a hostage from enemy soldiers. They are members of the Youth Guard, a section of Latvia’s National Guard. With its more than 8,000 volunteers, it is the country’s largest paramilitary group.” (www.theatlantic.com, 2017) The article went on… “Among the paramilitary volunteers are bikers, ex-soldiers, hunters, and stockbreeders. Each group has its own division dedicated to training young men and women in military tactics and patriotism; some volunteers are as young as 12 years old.
feature PROJECT OPFOR: MILITIA
These groups insist they are apolitical. They seek to defend their borders and train the warriors of tomorrow to prepare for whatever (Russia) has planned next.” So, in our context of airsoft OPFOR, a militia force made up of “citizen soldiers” that are well trained and equipped to a good standard can really make a difference to bolstering a team, without going “The Whole Hog”. Although more and more players are creating some absolutely first rate modern “RUSFOR” loadouts (just check out the “Northern Pact” group on Facebook) this, as always, requires total dedication and no little money! I’ll be looking at “Main Force OPFOR” next month with the help of my mate and fellow contributor Ian “Taz” Stokes, to see how about you can go about creating such a loadout but for now, let’s look to a simple “militia” set of gear to get you going.
comfort and mobility. Reinforced elbow areas can be equipped with removable elbow pads (available separately). The high zip collar is designed to be worn in different ways for your comfort and to prevent intrusion of dust and debris. The shoulder area is seamless to avoid pressure points when wearing a backpack, plate carrier or chest rig. The Raider Mk.IV Mission Pant has been designed to be a simple and lightweight assault pant, featuring extremely useful extras and the greatest possible comfort for today’s picky users. It features an improved waist adjustment system with elastic components for better comfort and absorption of body
GOING GREEN Within my group of friends that I loosely and fondly refer to as the “DO18” team, we made a decision that we would like to create a loadout that would tie us together “in game” as a cohesive group. Obviously there are many, many options in terms of “non-NATO” camouflage patterns but that would have meant spending a fair bit of money to kit out an entire group. Most of us already own either OD or Foliage/Ranger Green rigs and equipment, so we made the decision to look at simple green tones for our uniforms. I already have a great set of kit from Claw Gear in RAL7013 so for me this was simple. The Operator Combat Shirt has been developed for use with input from a European Special Forces unit. Clawgear implemented the latest professional thinking and combined that with the latest fabric developments and textile engineering knowledge. The final garment has been extensively field tested, further improved and subsequently issued to the unit. The feedback was so impressive that Clawgear decided to add this combat shirt to their regular product line as well. The shirt is an uncompromisingly combat-specific garment designed specifically to be worn under body armour. Its anatomic fit provides great comfort and avoids pressure points. The sleeves and sleeve pockets are of a completely new design and feature articulated ergonomic areas for even better
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NE W ONS SSI ALLMI
ER PLATECARRI
K U . O C . E E R T C A T WWW. : T WA O PN O H S
feature PROJECT OPFOR: MILITIA
movements. The pocket concept has been optimised; cargo pockets have been extended with an additional compartment which is accessible from outside and holds a 30rd magazine for rapid access. Intricate modifications have been made to the knee area which is now equipped with handy inward knee height adjustment. The modular knee pad compartment allows the use of a wide range of different knee pad inserts from different brands. The Raider Mk.IV Pant’s durability and body fit makes this it suitable for all professional users and everyday use as well. The belt area is optimised for rigger and safety belts as well as for braces. Front Pockets allow fast and easy access with gloves and generous Cargo Pockets provide a lot of space for your equipment and also include an extra zip-pocket. The inside knee area is equipped with Coolmax fabric to provide optimum sweat absorption. “YKK” zippers and “Coats” sewing threads have also been used and all main seams are triple stitched for extra durability. I’m lucky that I have a significant horde of “Green Gear” in my “kit locker” but although the guys all have some green kit, they didn’t all have green uniforms and, for obvious reasons, didn’t want to spend the earth on something just for one specific role. To this end I had a quiet word with Glenn at VIPER in relation to sorting out some team kit and he was kind enough to help with this as we needed multiple sets. For the “base uniform” we decided on the ripstop polycotton ELITE Trousers; these are well put together and specified. With multiple adjustment features these trousers can be modified to the user’s own shape for comfort and feel. The built-in (removable) ABS knee pads with neoprene lining also offer comfort, protection and durability for hard use. There’s a velcro waist closure and zipped fly, along with elasticated waist adjustment. There are two regular, angled thigh pockets which are easy to access, two buttoned back pockets, two deep cargo pockets and two ankle utility pockets. Velcro knee retention tabs keep the knee pads exactly where you need them, along with internal pad adjusters located in front two pockets; this is a neat feature as the pads can effectively be “lifted” to position them perfectly. The ankle closures are also velcro tabs which can be set to snug in around the cuffs of high leg boots keeping dust, dirt, and debris out effectively. With all the features and the level of adjustment the ELITE trousers can be set up very individually and offer great value for money, especially as the knee pads are included in the price! For the upper body we decided on a mixture of kit (militia forces don’t have to be totally uniform after all!) including the Warrior Shirt, which is VIPER’s take on the classic combat shirt and is made from Rip-stop PolyCotton in the sleeves, yoke and collar with elasticated V-Flex in the torso area. This is quite
generously cut and very comfortable to wear all day long and the sleeve lengths are nigh on perfect. It has reinforced elbow pads (removable) and two angled sleeve utility pockets with Velcro ID panels for your team or morale patches. The other options included their Mesh Tech Armour Shirt and Tactical T-Shirt, along with the new Sneaker Jacket for when things turned chilly. As a group we also plumped for the Tactical Fleece Hoody in Black to counterpoint things, as this is a lovely garment that personally I wear on a daily basis! Made of a lightweight and durable fleece it’s the absolutely perfect midlayer, and although it does sport velcro on both arms it’s very low-key. It’s quite close fitting, which is technically correct to maximise breathability but the hood and “kangaroo” pocket means that you can really warm yourself up easily.
MIXING IT UP As I said earlier, you don’t want to be totally uniform as a militia unit and this is where our existing personal gear cane into play. I already own a Warrior DCS rig in Ranger Green and simply adding my new favourite “Partizan” boonie from Giena topped things off nicely. The rest of the guys have rigs from the likes of VIPER, Warrior, and Helikon-Tex, along with First Tactical and Tasmanian Tiger packs. Mixed in with different ballcaps and boonies (you can even chuck your favourite bump helmet into the mix with a different cover) the differences made a striking counterpoint to the “all green”, making everyone’s individual loadout uniquely different whilst maintaining an overall “unit cohesiveness”. In total the VIPER clothing sets amounted to well under £100 each and by using existing kit (there’s still a couple of team members that need green rigs but that’s fine for now…) this keeps the price down nicely. We’ve steadily been building up the “team pool” of AKs so that everyone is now rocking a different variant, so our OPFOR “unit” is really coming together nicely. Hopefully this has given you some more ideas of how to get both the “feel” of an OPFOR militia unit and I’m really interested to see more of you run with this in the future. I hope that you’ll create your very own “take” on modern OPFOR militia, and please do send in your pictures so that we can get these in the gallery in the future! For more information on the clothing featured please do pay a visit to www.clawgear.com and to keep up to date with the new VIPER tactical products as they become available head over to www.viperkit.co.uk. You can also follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated. AA
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feature COMPETITIVE AIRSOFT
SPEEDSOFT NEVER ONE TO SHY AWAY FROM A CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT, FRENCHIE TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT A CROSS-OVER FROM PAINTBALL THAT PLAYERS EITHER LOVE …OR LOATH! CREDIT FOR IMAGES: STEEL CITY AIRSOFT, MAINLY HARRY MCSWAIN.
“SPEEDSOFT”… THERE’S NOTHING LIKE STARTING AN ARTICLE WITH A BIG, RED RAG! It’s still in its infancy but speedsoft is sufficiently visible to get some people’s blood pressure rocketing through the roof. The idea of “airsoft” without tactical objectives… airsoft as a competitive sport… it seems to get some within the community terribly vexed. This month I’m going to take a look at what it is and why some within the airsoft family are reacting as if the plague has just broken out. So, what exactly is speedsoft? Speedsoft is simply the paintball game, speedball, transported into airsoft. Speedball is fast and furious, an ideal spectator sport in a way that airsoft itself isn’t and is bereft of the tactical kit and considerations which suffuse “mainstream” airsoft. Take two teams, an enclosed arena with some obstacles and strict time limit - often as low as five minutes - and let them at each other. The object is simple: eliminate the other team. Cool tactical gear isn’t necessary, in fact it is problematic as I’ll discuss later; expensive camo gear is unnecessary and indeed pointless, operator affectations should be checked at the door - this is a no-holds-barred, balls-out shoot’em up. Described like that, it’s not hard to see why some players are having coronaries!
RIGHT, FIRST THE POSITIVES… Speedsoft is easily accessible; anyone can play. Rules are straightforward, gear is minimal (it lends itself of hire guns), it’s fast and action-packed and it makes for a far better spectator sport than airsoft as we know and love. “The acting out of military and law enforcement scenarios for the purposes of recreation” it ain’t! It is competitive and intended to be so. I have lost count of the number of discussion I have had about ways to make some form of airsoft competitive. Small team competitions have never really taken off, they are even more artificial than speedball. “Traditional” airsoft really is more about taking part than winning - the longer you are involved, the fewer kills players tend to count and the wide-ranging nature of most airsoft games make true competition very difficult. Not so with speedball, it’s easy to see who has won, they are the team with players left standing. Airsoft can never be a sport as it lacks the ability to clearly declare a winner, an element of real competition. Believe me, I have waded through Sports England descriptions and paperwork to see if airsoft qualifies - it doesn’t. Nor does speedball (at least in paintball) but it is far closer to the definition of a competition than military simulation. It’s fast - no hanging around when the whistle goes - you’re in and fighting. If, like me and many others, you believe that most players just want to shoot lumps out of each other, then speedsoft makes plenty of sense. If your idea of airsofting is 72 hours in a rain-filled hole in the Brecon Beacons, eating cold food and waiting for the chance to maybe shoot one other player, you probably aren’t really interested in “FilmSim” style regular games either. It’s enormous fun.
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NEGATIVES… None. Well, I can think of one - sort of…. Hits! In speedball it should be apparent if a player is hit ‘cos they get paint on them. Not so with speedsoft. For this reason plate carriers and body armour are to be discouraged, as is anything that might leave a player unaware that they’ve been shot. Running light and loose is ideal and you will be running so the fewer encumbrances the better. It also requires to be tightly marshalled if competition is to be fair and be seen to be fair. That’s not really a negative, it’s not as if airsoft skirmishing isn’t marshalled and to an extent, refereed. “What?!” I can hear some airsofters scream! Well, I see it like this - where are the negatives? In what way are there downsides to it when you consider it in isolation?
“YES, BUT…” No, no buts. The majority of objections to speedsoft are based on comparisons with airsoft as we know it and that is both unfair and invidious. Speedsoft isn’t airsoft, although since it uses airsoft equipment it can reasonably be considered as an offshoot. I think golf is a foolish waste of time but I know airsofters who love the game. I don’t decry golf as bad because
feature COMPETITIVE AIRSOFT
“THIS IS A NO-HOLDS-BARRED, BALLS-OUT SHOOT’EM UP. DESCRIBED LIKE THAT, IT’S NOT HARD TO SEE WHY SOME PLAYERS ARE HAVING CORONARIES!”
it isn’t airsoft, that would be foolish and selfish. So I shan’t decry speedsoft. I don’t feel fit enough to be competitive but I’d give it a go, why not? The existence of speedsoft doesn’t threaten airsoft in any way, unless the majority of players decide that it is a better use of their time and money. I don’t see that happening any time soon, so I’m perplexed as to why some get so exercised about it. One of the big objections is that it undermines the airsofter’s defence for the use of realistic imitation firearms (RiFs). Well, that’s debatable and if there was only speedsoft, I would probably agree with you but that’s not the case - airsoft skirmishing is widely established and the case for the exemption is well established. Speedsoft doesn’t affect that at all. If (and it is a HUGE “if”) this, or any future government, wanted to differentiate between airsoft and speedsoft they could amend the Statutory Instrument which contains the defence. It’s a relatively simple process, requiring no parliamentary time. But why would they? If all you play is speedsoft, frankly you probably care less that your gun is brightly coloured and you have arguably no need for a realistic airsoft gun. If you skirmish you have access to the defence. I am also persuaded that this (and future governments) are likely to have their hands full with far more pressing matters and are frankly unlikely to waste time on a minority pastime. No, I suspect the real reason for the upset at speedsoft is basically nimbyism. It’s not airsoft therefore it’s bad! That is not so much a bad argument as a non-argument. How does speesoft detract from your chosen pastime? If it doesn’t then I fail to see why you need to get upset about it. Is it because it dispenses with the requirement or opportunity to play soldiers? Does that make it less serious and less worthy? If that’s your opinion, then that’s fine but it is just an opinion and, again, it isn’t an argument. Back to golf - I think it’s silly and as a result I don’t play. That is the end of it as far as I’m concerned - it’s not a major issue and I lose no sleep over it. I feel the same way about speedsoft - it might not be for me, but that doesn’t make it wrong, or bad, or a threat to civilisation as I know it. If it floats
your boat, bash on - if there is a market for it, great, go make some money while letting people have fun. It is in essence the purest flowering of airsoft - grown ups shooting each other for fun. If it takes off it will spawn its own adherents, its own specialised gear and, no doubt, its own lexicon. None of this threatens airsoft as currently played and later in this issue I’m going to take a look at why airsoft contains the seeds of its own destruction - but that’s for The Last Post! There is nothing in speedsoft that I can see as a threat and nor can I see why an airsofter, if they were so inclined, shouldn’t enjoy all forms of the pastime equally - surely greater choice and opportunity cannot be a bad thing. Give it a chance, I really don’t think your world is going to end. AA
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armoury BERETTA M12S SMG
RECENTLY WE’VE HAD THE CHANCE TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT SOME OF THE UNIQUE AIRSOFT REPLICAS COMING FROM S&T AND THIS MONTH BILL GETS ALL GUSHY ABOUT A LITTLE ITALIAN SMG THAT HAS ONE HELL OF A HISTORY, NOT JUST IN REAL LIFE BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF THE “SILVER SCREEN”!
THE LITTLE SMG
WITH A BIG PUNCH! LAST MONTH I WAS VERY PLEASED when I got my hands on the “Bizon” from S&T and found it a corking little RIF both to own and to field. S&T really do have an absolute bunch of gems in their range that you’ll be hard pushed to find from any other airsoft manufacturer out there! To recap… SMART TEAM INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL LTD, or simply S&T, was founded in 2009, with their headquarters office located in Hong Kong and a subsidiary company in Japan. They are licensed to legally manufacture airguns and airsoft replicas in their factory in China. Their stated mission is to supply a wide range of quality products with the most competitive pricing for dealers and consumers. Thanks to NUPROL recently taking on distribution for S&T, these great models that until now you’d have had to import from the Far East (with all the bothersome malarkey that can entail!) are now becoming more widely available in the UK and I for one am immensely pleased about that. Obviously, there’s the “Bizon” and the “Sterling” which are both super little AEGs but in amongst the S&T range you’ll also find the “Beretta M12S”, which is one of those SMGs, that much like S&T, is a “quiet performer”. If you delve back into firearms history, you’ll find that the well-reputed Italian manufacturer, Beretta, was actually one of the first companies in the world to create (what we know as) the classic submachine gun today. Their wood-stocked 54
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M1918 9mm was probably the first conventional weapon of its type actually issued to combat troops - and that was during WWI! The MAB 38 (Moschetto Automatico Beretta Modello 1938), Modello 38, or Model 38 and its variants as used by the Royal Italian Army, were introduced in 1938 and used during World War II by the German, Romanian and Argentine armies of the time. Amazingly, this was one of the better SMGs of WWII. With a lineage like this, it was almost a foregone conclusion that in the late 1950’s the company would invent a new pistol calibre select fire weapon for the “modern age” and enter stage left, the “M12”. From the mid-1950’s, Beretta weapons designer Domenico Salza (the engineer who later modified the M1 Garand into the popular BM59 box magazine 7.62mm NATO battle rifle) looked to a cutting-edge new design in order to replace the old MAB 38. The Model 12 was the final production model and was followed ten years later by the M12S, with differences in the safety and other mechanics. Moving away from the heavy wooden stocks and milled receivers of their older SMGs like the MAB 38 and indeed the venerable Thompson, Salza utilised a simple receiver tube made of steel stamping and fitted to it a pair of pistol grips with plastic panels and a magazine well. To keep it compact, a sidefolding metal butt stock was fitted that could reduce the overall length of the weapon from 26 to 16.5-inches when needed. As both soldiers and police were moving more and more towards vehicular mobility, Salza recognised this trend and designed accordingly. Blowback in operation, it had few moving parts to break or jam and its heavy telescoping open-bolt could fire at a
armoury BERETTA M12S SMG
controllable 550-round per minute cyclic when on full auto, making it easy to manipulate when firing and therefore a hit with users. Since open-bolt designs are often prone to go off if dropped, the M12 was given a grip safety. Standard box magazines took the form of 20-rounders but 32 and 40-round models were also made. The weapon was select-fire, so it could always be switched to single-shot mode if desired, a real bonus for a weapon that it was hoped would sell well to police communities. Although at the time the M12 was somewhat shunned by the Italian military, it did find favour amongst the Carabinieri, the Italian military police force (who still keep the model in production with Beretta to this day as the PM12-S2!). Buyers across Latin America and the Middle East lined up to get their hands on the sleek new Italian SMG though; the M12 even became a bit of a status symbol in Arab countries and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia bought thousands for his military and police. Indonesia and Brazil liked it so much they had Pindad and Taurus (as the M972) set up assembly lines to make licensed copies locally for their militaries and the Croatians made an unlicensed clone of the M12 called the Agram 2000, which they used during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. It’s therefore more than possible that you’ll find the M12 still in common use around the world even to this day - not bad for a design that’s now nearly 60 years old! One interesting factoid that I came across in my research of the M12, was that in 1968 “US Marines” used Beretta M12s to repulse Viet Cong sappers at the American Embassy in Saigon! In a report from E. Allan Wendt, a Foreign Service officer who was on duty at the embassy that night (a report that was classified for years and was only finally published by The Wall Street Journal in 1981), he noted: “At this point, two men, Fisher (an Army communications specialist) and the one OSA communicator (Office of the Special Assistant, the name the CIA went under in Vietnam), remained in a stairwell just below the roof waiting for the chopper. The OSA communicator had a snub-nosed .38 revolver and a twoway radio to the OSA duty officer, who, I noted later, carried a 9mm Beretta sub-machine gun.” If you also look at the video on YouTube entitled “Tet Offensive 1968, US Embassy Saigon fighting.flv”, at around 1:31 two “Marines” are seen talking to Col George D. Jacobson through the window in his villa inside the Embassy
compound and one is clearly armed with an M12. As a bit of a “’Nam Nut” I’d debate whether these were actually Marines, or rather OSA members given the distinctly non-military clothing worn by the guy with the SMG …but who really knows?
ONE FOR THE COLLECTORS Yet again S&T have done a REALLY bang-on job in replicating this iconic little SMG and as soon as you have it in your hands you can immediately feel just why it was so sought after! The design, with the forward pistol grip, feels most distinctly “modern” and if you’re used to using a CQB-length AR it will feel very, very natural. The fire-selector on the right of the receiver and directly above the trigger is also familiar in this respect, although the angles for “Safe, semi, and Auto” are slightly different. All parts that should be metal are metal apart from the pistol grip group and this gives the S&T M12 a real “heft”, weighing in as it does at 2.2670kg. To give an indication, the real M12 weighs 3.0kg so this is pretty good in replica terms. The airsoft version comes in at 411mm (stock folded)/660mm (stock open) as opposed to 418mm/645mm so once again it’s a pretty good representation. S&T use their own “M12S gearbox” which I’m told can be a little tricky to work on (just like their Sterling!) but a simple short axle motor. The hop-up is of the rotary type and located under the cover of the ejection port which is accessed by pulling back the cocking handle as normal. The M12 is designed for use with a 7.4V LiPo which is tucked away neatly in the forward pistol grip and accessed by sliding a catch on the base forward. Again, much like the Sterling, you’ll need a “PEQ15 Micro” type battery and I found that the NUPROL NP Power 1200mah 7.4v 30c LiPo PEQ15 Micro did the job splendidly! So the M12 is tough both internally and externally, right down to the folding stock which, although minimalist, is solid as a rock in both open and closed positions. With a brass inner barrel of approximately 220mm, the M12 is never going to be a “long distance shooter” but as an SMG it’s really not designed to be. That said, using .20g RZR BBs I got a consistent chrono reading of 1.12 Joule/348fps and this transferred to good accuracy at the 25m mark. Upping the BB weight to .25g RZRs this accuracy improved a little, giving slightly tighter groupings
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0.20g
0.25g
3000pcs per bottle | 6mm | Precision Airsoft BB | www.hornettactical.com www.patrolstore.com/hornettactical
armoury BERETTA M12S SMG
“THE M12 FEELS GREAT, SHOOTS WELL, IS EASY TO CARRY ALL DAY LONG AND CERTAINLY LOOKS VERY UNIQUE. MANY OF YOU THAT COLLECT “MOVIE GUNS” LIKE I DO WILL CERTAINLY WANT ONE AS IT’S A CLASSIC “MOVIE BAD GUY” MODEL.” at the same distance and at 30m I was still able to hit a sandbag each and every time. When all is said and done the S&T M12 is a right little lovely and I have to say that I’m really pleased to have finally got my hands on one. A big bonus is that it shares magazines, a 50 BB model as standard, with both the MP40 and STEN so if you already have either of those you can share mags between models - and that also means of course that there’s a 300 BB model available for just over a tenner if you search round! The M12 feels great, shoots well, is easy to carry all day long and certainly looks very unique. Many of you that collect “movie guns” like I
do will certainly want one as it’s a classic “movie bad guy” model, as it’s the SMG that appears in the hands of “Frankie Leith” in the 1982 movie starring Lewis Collins “Who Dares Wins” when the “terrorists” take over the US Embassy (sound at all familiar?). The fact of the matter is though, that the S&T Beretta M12 is a thoroughly functional little CQB AEG and if that’s your bag and you like things a bit “retro”, then it’s a model that you should seriously consider! Many thanks to NUPROL for providing the test sample; check out what other S&T goodies are available from them by looking at www. nuprol.com.
techincal details Length: 411mm/660mm Weight: 2.2670kg Materials: Steel, ABS Plastic, Zinc Alloy Colour: Black Gearbox: S&T M12S Motor: Short Axle type Muzzle Velocity: 1.12 Joule/348fps on .20g BB
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Event AIRSFEST 2018
THE DIAMOND WARS WEEKENDER PHOTGRAPHER’S CREDITS: PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN LOUISE, THE AIRSOFT PROJECT, FIREBALL SQUADRON AND NWA IMAGES
IN 2017 NATIONAL PAINTBALL FIELDS INCLUDED AIRSOFT AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL “PAINTFEST” WEEKEND AND THE INTEREST WAS SO GREAT THAT THIS YEAR SAW “AIRFEST 2018” GAIN ITS OWN IDENTITY. THE LAST WEEKEND IN JULY saw NPF Airsoft in Birmingham host their 2nd “AIRFEST” Event. For many in the combat sports world NPF Bassetts Pole has always been synonymous as one of the largest and longest established paintballing and combat sports venues in the UK and over the last two years Airsoft has become another main part of their arsenal. With huge investment made into game areas and scenario maps, the venue itself offers a vast array of installations, woodland and CQB areas with movie-set style gameplay adding to the realism. Early 2017 saw Ged and the team at NPF Airsoft meet up with the guys that run the airsoft club Fireball Squadron – operating at NPF for the best part of 20 years. The idea?? To bring AIRFEST to life as part of the long-running and already established PAINTFEST event, which was already 8 years in at 58
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EvenT AIRSFEST 2018
this point. The idea of bringing together the two combat sports communities into one huge weekender event made complete sense and offered the chance to really showcase the venue and this fantastic festival to airsofters from all over the UK and
Europe. The combination of Fireball airsoft zones and gameplay across areas of the 170-acre NPF site meant there was huge potential to deliver fantastic gameplay ...and so AIRFEST was born!! After its inaugural year in 2017, this year saw AIRFEST standing on its own two feet – fully branded, represented and firmly in place to welcome airsofters to an event like no other. AIRFEST not only offers players the opportunity to play some unique game areas over 3 solid days but also to enjoy the massive social aspect of this weekend event. A true combat sports event combining the airsoft weekender with three days of camping, specialist trade expo, cinema night plus the festival player’s party, with full stage and PA, bar and entertainment all included in the ticket price. After great feedback from players and industry after the first year, NPF were keen to build the AIRFEST brand. The main feature game of the festival is the “DIAMOND WARS” - a themed, mission-based scenario that has been running at NPF for the past decade! One of the UK’s longest standing scenarios was now also part of the AIRFEST gameplay giving airsofters the one chance each year to play this legendary scenario and experience the almost tribal love affair that players have with the Diamond Wars story! “Set in the fictional country of the “Corimbe”, two powerful corporations, the HMC (Hoffman Minex Corporation) and the USDE (United States Diamond Exports), battle across territories to control mining rights to the country’s rich diamond ore seams. Corruption, sabotage and civil unrest are rife and with a powerful, greedy government in place, the two corporations not only have to battle with each other but also with those that run the land and the people for whom the Corimbe is their homeland. Diamond Wars is an epic battle campaign for diamonds, money, success and ultimate power.” Playing as either HMC (Reds) or USDE (Blues), Airfest players were able to become part of this epic struggle for power and, with all mission objective points counting towards the overall www.airsoft-action.online
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Event AIRSFEST 2018
event scores, every shot counted. With full command teams for both squads, some amazing props and excellent missions written by the Fireball team – AIRFEST players soon became part of the ongoing Diamond Wars legend. With a huge infrastructure in place turning the beautiful showground at NPF into the festival site, players were able to arrive from Thursday afternoon and Friday morning to set up camp in the reserved AIRFEST zone. The fabulous hot summer weather leading up to the weekend meant that many players opted to camp and the area was buzzing as they got set up and settled for the weekend – with an excited air of anticipation as to what they may expect! AIRFEST also offered the option to go “posh” for the weekend with players able to pre-book “glamping” tents ...classic canvas bell tents pre-kitted with beds, bedding and lighting in a private paddock. These proved popular with a few who travelled and that preferred the option of travelling light! Again, the glamping area, available to both PAINTFEST and AIRFEST players, meant that the two communities came together with a fantastic vibe with players from both sides of the fence quickly making great friends and socialising for the weekend.
FRIDAY... Friday, of course, was a big arrivals day with players arriving from 7am to set up and take a walk around the festival area itself. AIRFEST/PAINTFEST is supported with a large trade expo and sees some of the leading brands in combat sports represented across the three days. This year AIRFEST welcomed back Phil and the team from J.D. Sports in Cannock, who attended the launch of the event back in 2017. With 10 years of experience and expertise under their belt and being so close to the venue, NPF were only too pleased to get the JD team 60
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back onboard and represented again at this year’s event. Trade at their booth was busy with Phil and the guys making some great sales, showcasing all the latest gear but also providing great technical support to anyone needing advice on their equipment. Enola Gaye Grenade company also headlined again as a main sponsor of the event and were on site to showcase their pyro gear and merchandise, plus stands for headline sponsors Valken and Tippmann were also keen to show off their airsoft gear and equipment. Friday lunchtime and it was kick off time! Martin and the Fireball team who wrote and ran the gameplay and scenarios for the weekend have been involved in airsoft for 20+ years. They are an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team that worked hard in the months leading up to the event to get the playing areas at their peak, by installing new buildings and improving the staging areas ready for the AIRFEST event. The large turnout of players ready to get stuck in by Friday afternoon was fantastic to see. Players had travelled from far and wide to attend; a huge crew from Scotland made the trip to the event this year after hearing of its initial success in 2017. The clansmen of the Highland Hellhounds, Bowl Town Cartel and Scrub Army combined forces and led by Dave “Taz” Bradley, made the long journey from Inverness where they play regularly at Tazball Airsoft. Games on Friday were designed to give new players the chance to get to know the layout of the site and scenarios and to give regulars chance to size up the abilities of the “visitors”. As temperatures soared into the high 20’s the two teams got stuck into the missions and objectives with both sides carrying out some well-coordinated assaults. Time flew by and when the whistle blew for game over both sides had made some great moves and established a firm foothold in the playing zones. It was time to re-set gear, get some food and refreshments and prep ready for the dusk games. Players took advantage of the break by visiting the trade stands and also sampling the great food on offer at the event - five catering units offering a variety of foods from the classic breakfast, burgers etc. to specialist artisan style units offering wood fired pizza, chicken wings and strips, vegetarian asian street food and much more! Evening gameplay got underway giving the AIRFEST players some real tactical gameplay options with terrain suited to every style of play - snipers and cqb action all came to the fore during the dusk events. NPF has some of the best combat/MilSim areas in the country and is well known as one of the best sites for players worldwide. Playing for the evening in readiness for the main battle on Saturday as HMC and USDE, meant that these games were the chance to get a head start on the points scoreboard. There were some intense battles between the two squads with players particularly enjoying the opportunity to get up close and personal in the killhouse, whilst also being able to move through the dense undergrowth, bamboo compounds and buildings of the Vietnam style “Hanoi” zone. At game over it was time for players to kick back and chill out for the remainder of the evening inside the festival party zone. The AIRFEST pub was open for business and at 10pm it was time to get together for the outdoor big screen cinema night, where they enjoyed the player’s choice of film after voting online from a shortlist of movies. This year’s movie of choice was “Tropic Thunder”!
Saturday – DIAMOND WARS! Saturday morning opened with yet more sunshine but a slightly cooler breeze, giving players a little respite from the intense heat of Friday. This was Game Day with the main Diamond Wars event kicking into gear! The game had players fighting for gold coins which they would then use to buy a large diamond, “The Dragons Tear” and which they would then need to extract at the end of the day to earn maximum points.
Event AIRSFEST 2018
The morning saw both teams trading victories whilst searching for intel. They ended the morning drawn even though the USDE were outnumbered. The blues continued their strong form by taking control of the first two intel caches but only managed to cash in one of them. The HMC reds then kicked things into high gear, taking the remaining intel caches and purchasing the diamond! This left the final stand for the HMC in the village being surrounded by the USDE. With seconds to spare the USDE made their move but the HMC held their nerve, secured the diamond and won the day!! Throughout the day staff and players interacted and the staging areas, briefing zones and battlefields were lively with constant gameplay, the swopping of tactics, kit and gear conversations and an overall friendly, competitive atmosphere.
Everyone knew that at the end of the hard day’s fighting for diamonds the ultimate reward was still to come at the Airfest Player’s Party that evening!!
AIRFEST player’s party! One of the main highlights of the AIRFEST weekend is the Saturday evening player’s party. Each year the festival event has an overall theme and 2018, with it’s scorching Summer, took players to the South Pacific with a Hawaiian Lu’AU vibe! Every player and visitor in attendance at the event was greeted with a traditional Hawaiian Lei at registration and with players sporting the best in garish Hawaiian shirts, the player’s party proved to be a colourful affair!! Ticket prices for AIRFEST include entrance to all activities over the weekend as well as party entry with all drinks from the bar included at no extra cost! The party again saw everyone from both playing genres mixing together and enjoying the fun games, tug-o-war, HMC and USDE commanders rally, awards and live sets from DJs and dancers. Unfortunately, the rain gods descended on the party with the first downpour for about 6 weeks …but spirits were not dampened as players donned free ponchos and continued to party on till midnight!
SUNDAY… Games on Sunday were of a more relaxed nature with airsofters heading back into the woodland for more awesome battlesim and skirmishes with the Fireball team. As play ended mid -afternoon and the event slowly began to wrap, airsofters, visitors and traders were able to pack up at leisure and leave for home …taking with them the weekend that was AIRFEST …battle stories, new friendships and perhaps a new outlook on how a combined combat sports event, catering not just for paintballers but airsofters too, could achieve success. Dave “Taz” Bradley said “I have commanded Big Games all over the UK and Europe and have to say Airfest 2018 is definitely the Event to put in your calendar for 2019! Top staff, good safety, great fields and a party full of fun, beer and laughter …the event not to be missed next year!” And so, all attention and thoughts turn to the next AIRFEST event. With plans already forging ahead, keep up to date with the next event launch at www.facebook.com/airfest. Watch out for the AIRFEST 2018 highlights video and get ready for another weekend of AIRFEST!AA www.airsoft-action.online
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SRU 3D PRINTED BODY KIT BACK IN ISSUE 83 WE TOOK A LOOK AT 3D PRINTED PARTS FOR AIRSOFT ACCESSORIES BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU UPSCALE THAT TO A COMPLETE CARBINE KIT? BILL TAKES A LOOK AT A BODY KIT FROM SRU PRECISION IN TAIWAN TO SEE IF IT HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE A GAME DAY. I OPENLY ADMIT that I am an utter “luddite” when it comes to any form of technology, much to the amusement of my friends and colleagues on the Airsoft Action team. I like firearms in all their many and wondrous forms but to be completely frank, unless I’m looking inside an AEG or GBB for review purposes I actually don’t give a hoot what goes on inside! What I look for are solid, well-made quality parts put together in such a way that they perform day in, day out without huge amounts of work or fettling. Whilst I have been known to solder the odd connection or change out a hop rubber, my hat is off to all the techs and tinkerers who spend hours and hours eking further performance from their RIFs. I know what should be inside an AEG and what purpose it serves but I’m more likely to be found oiling steel receivers than fine-tuning gears. I’m still of the belief that if you have a problem said “gun” goes back to the armourer, a “tech” in our world, who truly understands the nuances of a V3 gearbox! When I looked at 3D printed parts a while back I was completely gobsmacked that folk are writing files to create airsoft accessory parts which can be created using a printer in 66
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their own home or workshop. I’m still slightly amazed by this but I see more and more of it, not just in airsoft terms but in other hobby groups too. I’ve spoken to a number of people about printed body kits for airsoft pistols, carbines and indeed rifles (fellow contributor Angelo DV for one is a fan) and their response has been uniformly positive in terms of quality and function. I’ve also looked at the SRU Precision kits fully assembled at shows and been (in most cases) very impressed by the finished product but the thought of wrapping up the working parts of a fully-functional GBB or AEG in plastic has always left me a little “cold”. I’ve also been somewhat concerned about the durability and longevity of the kits (given my “techno-fear”) but as I delved further and deeper into things my curiosity was certainly piqued… Now, you may be wondering what my motivation was for even looking at a body kit, given my track record with creating “properly military” replicas and I have to say that it was threefold. Firstly, I had a “Special Teams Carbine” GBBR from ASG (basically a licensed KJ Works KC-02 “10-22”) which I truly love in terms of shooting but detest in relation to looks. I
gitag SRU 3D PRINTED BODY KIT
took the working parts from the body that it came with almost as soon as it arrived. It is a thoroughly brilliant, solidly accurate GBB but I just could not get on with the ergonomics as standard and have been looking for an alternative for a LONG time. Secondly - and very sadly - one of my local sites, Darkwater Airsoft, will be shutting before the year is out and their last game will be the final instalment of their popular “Fallout” series. I’ve played a “Minuteman” in previous chapters and although a functional “Laser Musket” is beyond me, I fancied something a bit different and a bit special for this. Thirdly - and I refer back to “other hobbies” here - one of my favourite war game miniatures manufacturers has just created a thoroughly first-rate 28mm “GRU Kill Team” and amongst the weapons featured are the ShAK-12, or ASh-12 heavy calibre bullpup assault rifle fitted with suppressors. Given my love for OPFOR roles I wondered immediately how I could replicate something like this for airsoft. (If you’re a fellow gamer then do check out www.spectreminiatures.com for this awesome team!)
LOVE IT OR HATE IT, IT’S A BULLPUP! As I get regular updates via Facebook from SRU GBB (SRU Precision’s page) I was actually quite excited when they announced a futuristic-looking body kit for the KC-02 which, in principle, I believed should work for my ASG model perfectly. The “SR BUP K2” kit offered a full conversion for the base rifle, transforming it from something you might see at your local .22 Rimfire Range into a thoroughly modern “bullpup”. The very word “bullpup” sends airsofters into somewhat of a paroxysm and there’s a most-definite “love/hate” divide when it comes to the design. Personally, I am once again ambivalent as to me, if a design works, then it’s fine. I can understand that former service personnel who have become airsofters might be fully in the “hate” camp given the vagaries of the L85 but having shot other bullpup designs over the years (both real and airsoft) I have to say that I’m quite fond of them! I spoke to SRU direct online about the kit and they assured me that it should fit the ASG just fine and with that cleared up I contacted Sue at Pro Airsoft Supplies in London (who stock a wide range of SRU kits and accessories) to see if she could track me one down. At the end of the day she ordered me one in specially from SRU, which I believe is the first example of this kit to arrive in the UK. When the kit arrived it was in the form of an unassuming brown cardboard box which I found a little underwhelming. Upon opening I had to take a small step back in shock as what I found was a whole bunch of plastic parts with no clear indication other than a diagram of how they went together! Okay, admission time… once I actually took a look at the diagram it became 100% perfectly clear how I should assemble things and I felt a right tool! The diagram shows you step by step how to put your kit together, even down to the parts that should be retained from the donor rifle. It is clear, precise, and given that fact that the kit will be sold worldwide, actually incredibly clever, unlike me obviously. The fitting proved to be logical and I have to tell you that the parts are superbly made, with tolerances that would impress even the very best engineer. At no point did I need to “fettle”, shave, or trim anything, it just went together piece by piece until it was completed. I “dry-fitted” every part before final assembly and I’ve got to admit that I had to actually use some force to pry them apart again before I bolted everything in place!
FIT FOR THE FIGHT? With the donor parts and the kit fully mated together it was time to take the old gal to the range in her new clothes. The
“THE VERY WORD “BULLPUP” SENDS AIRSOFTERS INTO SOMEWHAT OF A PAROXYSM AND THERE’S A MOST-DEFINITE “LOVE/HATE” DIVIDE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DESIGN. PERSONALLY, I AM ONCE AGAIN AMBIVALENT AS TO ME, IF A DESIGN WORKS, THEN IT’S FINE.” “heft” and “feel” of the finished rifle were impressive and with everything solidly in place there was nary a squeak or groan, let alone any wobble. The “Special Teams Carbine” does have a great action but in use that didn’t phase the body kit at all. Loaded up with .25g BBs in the CO2 mag the action gives a great kick and the kit handled this extremely well.
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gitag SRU 3D PRINTED BODY KIT
In terms of accessories, I fitted the new bullpup carbine with one of the new ASG ATS Barrel Extension Tubes (which is detailed in my overview of their new parts elsewhere in this issue), which I felt added to the futuristic look, along with a simple Strike Systems Micro Red Dot sight. Although the “Special Teams Carbine”, semi-auto only as it is, is powerful and accurate enough to use as a “DMR” I felt that a magnified optic spoiled the “look” of the build overall. I also added a Hera Arms “HFG” foregrip to start with but again, I felt this “overpowered” the whole, so I sent that away to be cut down professionally. The butt of the kit comes re-fitted with a QD sling stud point, so I added another to the front rail to keep things looking “tight”.
With the build completed there is still the question as to longevity and durability but having looked into how SRU make the kit I discovered that all 3D printing is not equal! Far from being a simple print SRU use a technique called “3D Weaving” and after researching into this I found out that… “Three-dimensional composites utilise fibre preforms constructed from yarns or tows arranged into complex three-dimensional structures. These can be created from a 3D weaving process, a 3D braiding process, or a 3D lay of short fibres. A resin is applied to the 3D preform to create the composite material. Three-dimensional composites are utilised in highly engineered and highly technical applications in order to achieve complex mechanical properties. Three-dimensional composites are engineered to react to stresses and strains in ways that are not possible with traditional composite materials composed of single direction tows, or woven composites, or stacked laminate materials.” This changed my (limited but expanding!) view of 3D printing yet again. The kit feels solid and now I know what’s behind the scenes I have a new-found confidence in what I’ve put together! Overall the kit is a thing of beauty that fits the ASG “Special Teams Carbine” perfectly and looks and feels quite unique. I’m keen now to get the transformed “Special Teams Carbine” incountry and with the “Fallout” game only a month or so away I’ve got time to dial in the accuracy before I play. I just need to make a barrel adapter so I can add a PBS-1 suppressor and then the rifle will find a “forever home” in my OPFOR collection. I am incredibly impressed by the quality of the kit from SRU Precision and extremely happy with the finished rifle and given the complexity of both the design and the manufacturing process, I quite understand why they charge what they do. The kits are not cheap but now I know why and I can only say to you that if your inner “Geek” demands something different, then SRU Precision will probably have just what you desire! My thanks again got to Sue at Pro Airsoft Supplies for facilitating the safe and timely delivery of the kit. If you’d like to have a look at what else SRU Precision offer then simply head to https://proairsoftsupplies.co.uk AA
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THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT THE PITFALLS AND PERILS OF FINDING VINTAGE KIT IN YOUR SIZE.
WHILE MODERN KIT COMES IN (RELATIVELY) EASY TO UNDERSTAND SIZES, THAT ISN’T ALWAYS THE CASE WITH OLDER OUTFITS. HERE, GADGE GIVES US SOME ADVICE ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR IF YOU ARE INTO VINTAGE KIT. WITHOUT A DOUBT, we’re surrounded by a whole host of choices when sizing up our options for airsoft combat clobber but while it’s easy to go on eBay and get stuff in your size from most modern manufacturers, it’s a bit trickier for those taking part in more “retro” pursuits. To put it simply, the “standard” small-to -extra-large civvy sizing system doesn’t quite cut it when you have to equip an army of thousands with a bewildering amount of body types. Most armies tend to arrange their “sizing” so that not only is the “build” of the soldier factored in but also their “height” as well. The really annoying thing is that no two armies have ever really seen eye to eye on how this should be done, so in this article we’re going to have a look at the mysteries of some of the more popular nation’s sizing systems.
BRITAIN Wartime & Pre Nato Hands down, WWII-era Britain wins the award for “daftest and most confusing sizing system ever”! Back in the day, British Battledress – yep, that horrible scratchy wool stuff - was measured in a size chart that ran from “1” to “19”. The important thing to know is that Brit kit of the 40s, 50s and 60s tended to work around the height of the
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wearer and three “build types” and so, confusingly, a “Size 1” battledress jacket is for a soldier the same height as a “Size 3” jacket (that height being around 5’ 4”). If it went up in “threes” it would be simple but unfortunately it doesn’t! Sometimes it goes up in twos, others in fours, so to ensure your “BD” is a correct fit make sure you check on the size chart (a sample one can found at https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Battledress). This “numbered” sizing system was used for all items from parachute smocks, to the lightweight “denim” overall and even jungle and desert kit. Annoyingly it doesn’t always correspond, so do a little research and check before buying. Post-war the army used a simplified system for the 60 and 68 pattern cotton combat suits, with the smocks running from a pretty tiny “1” to a tent-like “9”. Again, it was all about variable body widths but as the smocks were made to be baggy, its less critical than it is with the more “tailored” battledress. Using my own sizing (I’m 6’2’’, 44” chest, 36” waist) I find that I’m a size 17 in “WWII Battledress” and a size 4 “68 pattern combat suit”.
NATO SIZING Given this (British) system is, quite frankly, a pain in the
feature VINTAGE KIT SIZING
posterior and would have been an epic puzzle to our allies, in the early 70s the UK standardised sizing with a much more sensible “Nato” system. The NATO sizing system works on two numbers for shirts, jackets and body armour and three numbers for trousers and these are all in centimetres. Jacket and the like will give you the “height” and “chest” of the wearer, so in my case I’m 190/120, that’s 190cm tall and 120cm around the chest. Trousers are pretty much the same but work on “inseam/waist/ seat” for their values. Given this is a pretty sensible system it’s still, thankfully, in use with Brit kit to this day! British hat sizing in the pre-NATO period is classically “English”, using inches and for example my 60cm hat size is a 7 and ¾ in “old measurements”. This does take some getting used to but luckily we adopted a much more sensible centimetre system along with the NATO sizing.
USA Across the pond our American buddies tended to use an equally sensible system that breaks down each item into the sizes extra small (or x small), small, medium, large, extra-large (x large) and double extra-large (you guessed it… xx large) and then a suitable length – in their case being short, regular and long. So if like me you‘re a NATO 190/120, you know a “large long” should do you the trick. Given our common language with our American cousins, sourcing US kit is perhaps the easiest of “foreign armies” but one thing to watch out for is shoe sizing. It’s easy to make the mistake that US sizes are the same as ours but its important to remember that the US size their shoes roughly one size up from UK sizes. So, for example, a US “size 10” Jungle boot from the Vietnam war is more like a UK size 9. Many US boots also have variable foot width as well.
In a probably unrelated move, the National Volksarmee (NVA) of the East Germany adopted a similar system which utilised a letter code for the wearer’s height and a number code for the width. Widths are like normal European sizing system widths in a limited number of sizes. For example: Chest 88 cm 96 cm 104 cm 112 cm 120 cm
Waist 76 cm 84 cm 92 cm 100 cm 108 cm
East German hat sizing is in centimetres. It may interest collectors of East German kit to know that (somewhat confusingly) the year of manufacture of an item is marked with a letter code (for example “S” is 1975) and what appears to be a date on it, such as, “1958” is actually a stores code!
WEST GERMAN
EAST GERMAN
Size 44 48 52 56 60
“HANDS DOWN, WWII-ERA BRITAIN WINS THE AWARD FOR “DAFTEST AND MOST CONFUSING SIZING SYSTEM EVER”.”
Across the Berlin wall our West German allies were keen on using one of those tricky “British-style” systems, in which jackets and trousers were made in 20 sizes. Like the WWII Brit system, their jackets for example would have sizes 1 to 5 for the same height guy (less than 170cm tall) but with different builds; sizes 6 to 11 are for soldiers with a height of 170cm to 180cm and so on.
Equivalent Small Medium Large X-Large 2X-Large
Interestingly, there is often a suffix to the width number which adds 10 or 20 cm to a sizing. For example a “-0” means an extra 10cm to a jacket and a “1” means that the chest is normal but waist is about 10 cm larger. “2” means the waist is 20 cm larger. The system translates in some way to the trousers but for some unknown reason “-0” does nothing but “1” and “2” add to the waist in the same way. Length sizing runs from “really small” to “very large” and in German these come as: SK – Schwere Kurz (very short) K - Kurz (Short) M – Mittel (Medium) G – GroB (Large) UG – UberGroB (Extra long). So, to continue our comparative sizing I’m a 48UG in NVA sizing.
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feature VINTAGE KIT SIZING
For example, if we look at jackets once we go from size 5 to size 6 and 7 we see the chest on the 6 and 7 is less than that of the 5 but the overall height is taller: Size Code Chest Height 5 110cm 160-170cm 6 90cm 170-180cm 7 95cm 170-180cm Much the same system works for the trousers with the Inseam and seat being the variables as you go up through sizes. West German hat sizes are in centimetres.
RUSSIAN Saving the best til last, we’ll talk a little about Soviet and Russian sizing. The Russian system uses a body size number and then a length number. For example, with my “NATO” 190/120 I work out at around a 54-5 in Soviet sizing. The problem with this system (and more so with Soviet era kit than modern Russian
stuff) is that the workers in the good old USSR in factories separated by thousands of miles could be horribly inconsistent! To give you an idea, I have Soviet era jackets marked up as 48-4, 54-5 and 56-7 which all fit me – this may be due to the wrong labels being stamped on clothing or inconsistent manufacture. It’s also worth remembering that oversuits are often intended to be worn over the field uniform and sized correspondingly, so if you are a 54-4 field uniform you don’t need a huge sized “gorka” oversuit, one of the same size should be of a baggy enough cut. While most modern “Rusfor” kit is sensibly and consistently sized, Soviet-era kit is something of a minefield and it’s always best if you can try before you buy. Soviet/Russian hat sizes are in centimetres but don’t forget that it was fashionable in the Soviet era to wear a smaller hat than you needed (although we suspect that was to cover up not making enough larger sizes!) AA
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event 1LEGION MILSIM
OPERATION: INVASION II WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET A COUPLE OF KNOWN AMERICANS TO VISIT SELBY, IN THE UK FOR A WEEKEND? 2 CHARITIES, 1 EVENT AND 200 PLAYERS ACROSS 2 DAYS OF FUN… AND GEORAGA AND KELLY WENT TO JOIN IN! THE END - AT THE BEGINNING Firstly, some congratulations are in order! Before I go into how this event ran and what was included, well done to the 1Legion Milsim team, who raised £2,000 for “Pilgrim Bandits”, a charity here in the UK supporting our injured ex-forces and $2,500 for “Veterans For Airsoft”, who provide all expenses paid airsoft experiences for ex-military over in the United States! Raising this amount of money for two excellent charities is a feat in itself and there should be a huge hat-tip to those that both organised the weekend and to those that contributed to its success. Here at Airsoft Action we’re big supporters of Pilgrim Bandits and are hugely thankful to the airsoft community for getting behind them as much as it has… so… additionally… a hat-tip to you too!
BACK TO THE START Right, so what prompted this weekend event?
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“1Legion Milsim” are a team that span across the globe. From what began in the US, 1Legion now have 2 factions in the US, 1 here in the UK and 1 in South Africa consisting of about 41 players and around an additional 6 affiliate teams. Last year a couple of their team came over and played and this year they wanted to come back - but with a difference. “INVASION 2” saw two of the team’s leaders, Superfly and Sheep, come, train and spend time with some of the airsoft community here in the UK, while taking the opportunity to raise money for charity at the same time. The weekend consisted of some CQB training and an Open Day and tombola on the Saturday, followed by a full day BattleSim-style gameday on the Sunday.
PICTURE THE SCENE… It’s 5.30am on Saturday morning and I’m in London. I’m supposed to be attending some training that they’re running at the Halo Mill CQB site at 11am and it happens to be a 4.5 hour drive away. My car is packed with guns and gazebos and as I lug my sad, sluggish, sleepy backside to the driver’s seat, I shed a soft tear at the sight of the delays on route, knowing how slow this mammoth journey is about to be. I set off and… in fact, I’ll spare you the details of my inability to stop for a muchneeded coffee… eventually I arrived on site at Patrol Base, with about an hour to spare and a very chirpy FierceFox to greet me and show me round. Saturday had two activities running across the two locations. Numero uno was an Open Day at Patrol Base, a very large, rustic feeling shop with some gorgeous timber floors (minus the occasional chipboard covered hole) supporting a huge array of guns on display around and in the middle of the room. It’s an odd thing to focus on but the shop was not what I’d imagined; it felt bright, warm and welcoming, with high
event 1LEGION MILSIM
ceilings and skylights flooding “AS SOMEONE WHO PLAYS EXCLUSIVELY CQB FOR 9 MONTHS OF THE YEAR, in the blazing sunlight. It was ALTHOUGH IT WAS FUN TO CRAWL THROUGH THE BRUSH AND THROUGH reminiscent of how you’d TRENCHES FOR A DAY, WOODLAND DOES REQUIRE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT think a stereotypical Texas gun shop would look like SKILL SET TO CQB, MAKING IT A CHALLENGING DAY ESPECIALLY WHEN back in the Wild West; wood SNIPERS ARE KING!” everywhere, men with beards walking around in flannel with their 9 players to learn some sharp breach and clear skills shirts and cases of “shooters” from Supe. It just went to show me that working with a regular just waiting for that lone cowboy to walk in, collect a new rifle group of people, practicing and trusting in each other can have and head out hunting for deer in the woods by their ranch. a real benefit in your gameplay. As I came down the stairs from the shop, I wasn’t exactly met by a stallion waiting for me to ride it off into the sun but instead with the stand from HR4K, a badass apparel and coffee company (I didn’t get a chance to grab that god damn coffee I needed) which was run by Ben and Reg (his extremely friendly canine companion). He was joined in the car park by the ASG team Paul and Ben, who gave me a rundown of their latest releases and talked to me more about the 2018 updated EVO (for more info check out Tom and Gadge’s video on AirsoftActionTV’s YouTube). Gavin was on the Viper stand running a tombola with some very cool prizes and Trent from Nuprol was also in attendance showing off their impressive collection of goodies.
CQB TRAINING After the 5minute drive to Halo Mill, I hoiked my jam-packed gun case up 2 flights of stairs… they chose not to warn me about this until I arrived… I could see why… and set up my kit to take part in their CQB training. Sheep, Superfly, Patriot and Fox, supported by Akey from their affiliate team JTF (several of the training group have served/are serving in the military/armed police) ran a series of drills designed to help less experienced players understand their own loadouts and how to transition from primary to secondary, to help more experienced players improve on their room clearing capabilities and show them how as individuals and teams, they’d be able to work alone and with others to increase their efficiency in airsoft for tight spaces. I hung around for both of the training sessions that day and saw two very different types of players come through. The first session in which I took part, consisted of many newer players and players that were experienced skirmishers but very few that were there in actual teams. That proved interesting due to the unfamiliarity of each other’s skills/ experience/ habits and there were more than a few clunky moments. The afternoon session, however, seemed to play host to a much more familiar line-up as Mutiny Airsoft joined the fray
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SUNDAY FUNDAY Again, it was another early morning for me as I arrived at the Proving Grounds woodland site at 6.30am to set up the Airsoft Action stall. The plan was to be around chatting to people about the latest magazine releases, to represent the new logo and to sell and give out discount codes for our digital version… hoooowever, the printing company didn’t get the goodies to me on time before I was forced to leave London. Instead then, I took about 8 of my guns and displayed them as conversation starters. I was set up next to Terry and the Pilgrim Bandits stall, who gave a truly heartfelt thanks to the airsoft community for the sheer level of support they’ve seen, following an emotional few words from Supe and Sheep. It was a great reminder for me, that airsoft is more than “just a game”. Beyond the gameplay, beyond the bravado, there’s a real sense of kinship. Just look at the prizes that Fox and Patriot were donated for the raffle: ASG donated a Bren and a few other guns, Viper donated a whole loadout in titanium grey, Nuprol donated several guns including a Nomad Alpha, shotgun and pistols, HR4K donated a Crye Precision plate carrier, the Operator Box donated a month subscription, TheChairsofterShow donated a Raven pistol, LBX donated a bunch of their gear, Vortex donated a Sparc AR, Weapon762 donated a helmet setup, Enola Gaye and HopUp donated t-shirts.
SUNDAY GAMEPLAY Over to Kelly… On Sunday 12th August 2018, I was invited up North to attend the 1Legion Milsim: Operation Invasion II at Halo Mill: The Proving Grounds, a woodland site in Selby, Yorkshire to once again play and this time it was for a charity game featuring some special guests from across the pond! The day started with players eagerly arriving on-site at around 8am, I arrived a little later but just in time for the safety brief and charity announcements. The safety brief was comprehensive and covered all the rules of the day from the FPS limits of the site, pyro rules to emergency procedures should one occur - the safety brief at Halo Mill: The Proving Grounds is always easy to follow so players know what is expected of them. During the charity announcements, players were reminded of why we had all gathered together for the day: to not only play an awesome game of airsoft but to welcome our friends, 1Legion members Superfly and Sheep and raise some cash for two charities that are close to the heart of the airsoft community 72
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- The Pilgrim Bandits, a charity that helps injured servicemen and women live their best life after life changing injuries and Veterans for Airsoft, a charity that provides all expenses paid airsoft experiences for veterans. Let’s first chat about the site itself. The Proving Grounds is a large woodland site that features a number of structures centred around a large bridge structure in a dense fern forest. The facilities onsite include a covered safe zone that has room for almost 300 players, a food counter that serves hot food and snacks all day and a couple of portaloos (which is the only thing I dislike about the Proving Grounds). The game dubbed “Operation Invasion II” had a BattleSim structure to it - it was a constant game with rolling objectives which only stopped at lunch so everyone could get some grub. As someone who dabbles in MilSims and BattleSims this was a game that was right up my alley, however, I was in for a challenge! As someone who plays exclusively CQB for 9 months of the year, although it was fun to crawl through the brush and through trenches for a day, woodland does require an entirely different skill set to CQB, making it a challenging day especially when snipers are king! I jumped onto the banded team with the 1Legion boys to start off my day and started to make my way to the first objective - and this is when I remembered why it’s so much
event 1LEGION MILSIM PICS: STUART MANKS
harder to move through a woodland site than a CQB site…the snipers! As myself and my team mates sneakily moved from structure to structure rounds flew in from all directions but no one was to be seen. We used smoke to conceal our movement and gain more ground. Whichever part of the field you were on you faced strong resistance from the other side, so it was an awesome tug of war all day to see who to take and control the different areas of the site. From crawling through the brush, to moving through the trenches and the villages it was an intense battle from both sides. The final battle was definitely the highlight of the day for me. The final objective was for the unbanded team to bring the VIPs (2 players in fancy dress) to the bridge (halfway through the day I had swapped sides to experience both sides of the gameplay). The bridge is by far my favourite part of the Proving Grounds site - it is enormous and offers an intense level of gameplay especially when all attention is focused on it. As our comrades approached the bridge with the VIPs, all hell broke loose. It was an intense firefight between both sides with players exploding into action from the brush to stop the VIPs entering the bridge and rounds ricocheting off every
surface on the bridge. As myself and some teammates were taking out players from the first level of the bridge we heard a whizzing sound, as we looked down to where the noise had come to a thud and saw an explosion - a mortar which killed a bucket load of us. As we moved off the bridge to our respawn, our team mates flooded the bridge and alongside them were the VIPs. We ran back to our respawn and started to fight our way back to the bridge whilst our teammates defended the cargo on the bridge. It was intense and an epic end to the day. Overall it was a really enjoyable day full of great gameplay/ sportsmanship from players and camaraderie. It was wonderful to catch up with friends, put faces to names that I’ve only seen on the internet and of course meet players from across the pond - it really was a pleasure to finally meet 1Legion Superfly and Sheep. The amount raised by the community was fantastic and just shows how much of a difference we can make when we band together. A huge well done and thank you is in order to the lovely guys and gals who worked super hard on making this event happen. Hopefully it won’t be long until the next invasion. AA
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tech TEKMAT MATS
TEKMAT GUN CLEANING MATS
IN HIS REGULAR TRAWL THROUGH T’INTERWEB, LOOKING FOR NEW AND INNOVATIVE AIRSOFT ITEMS, LEZ LEE CAME ACROSS SOME GUN CLEANING MATS THAT REALLY CAUGHT HIS ATTENTION. ARE YOU THE TYPE OF AIRSOFT PLAYER that spends more time upgrading, servicing or simply cleaning your prized and precious piece of hardware every time it comes into eyesight? Maybe gone are the days when sleeping with it under your pillow would fulfil that need to be close, as it was only a matter of time before your partner got a tad angry being woken with a muzzle up their nostril! Ah yes! How we love our RIFs and IFs and to not give them all the tender loving care they deserved was almost a crime. And I don’t suppose we are too bothered about leaving untold mess and damage to the family kitchen worktop or table, however, wouldn’t it be nice if you could love your weapon enough to buy it something comfortable, stylish and undeniably practical so that everything was protected (and keep everyone happy) for not a lot of money? This is where “TekMat” could be a name worth knowing. Developed for the real steal world by keen outdoorsman Daniel Beck, TekMat offer a range of neoprene gun cleaning mats, rather uniquely displaying an exploded image of various firearms. The mats come in two sizes, 36” x 12” for rifles and 17” x 11” for pistols. The AR15 3D tops the bill in the rifle images, and either the Colt 1911, the Glock 17 and the Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm are the popular choices for our handguns. So how and why did this all begin? Well, Dan would often find himself on the receiving end of his wife’s profanities after scratching tables and using the towels from the kitchen! After trying a selection of “basic” cleaning mats he soon realised that none were doing the job well enough in protecting his precious firearms (oh, and the wife’s tables), so this inspired Dan to create a whole new concept of dedicated cleaning mats that not only did the basics, but we’re both informative and inspiring to other gun crazies that valued their beloved shooters. Using a high-density neoprene with a rubber backing would give the much needed protection, eliminating any scratches to either surface and preventing water or chemicals from penetrating through and set on a soft and secure rubber underside which held the mat firmly in place, so the hardware didn’t slide around. The mat is pliable and will easily roll up for compact storage. Also, the neoprene was a lot more durable in its design and build quality, so much so, I contacted Marketing
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Director Kirk Sample for some technical specifics on the mats themselves: “TekMat has over 60 different designs. Everything from classics, like the Single-Action Army revolver and the Garand M1 rifle, to cutting edge designs like the Sig Sauer P320 and the FN Scar 17. “TekMat is different from a lot of other manufacturers. We work directly with gun manufacturers to create our designs. If the design is unavailable, we will purchase the firearm, take it apart and create our own drawings from the pieces of the gun. This is incredibly time-intensive and expensive but it gives us intimate knowledge of the firearm and a level of expertise which transfers to our product and to the customer. “All of our TekMats use dye-sublimated printing. This impregnates the ink into the fabric surface and ensures a durable and long lasting product. Many competitors use screen printing for their mats. This kind of printing does not stand up to everyday use and actually peels off. Our thermoplastic fibre surface is soft and will not scratch the surface of your firearm. We also use a direct vulcanised bond which adheres the fibre surface to the 3mm neoprene rubber backing. This makes sure that the fibre surface won’t curl or detach from the neoprene. The neoprene rubber backing not only offers padding for your firearm and cleaning surface but it also makes sure your mat won’t slide around on the cleaning surface”. As you can see, this is innovation at its finest so being curious to know what we can expect from this ever expanding range, I asked Kirk this question and he replied: “We are always working on new TekMats. We are coming out with the Scar 17 and Sig Sauer P365 in the next couple of months. We are also making some double sided TekMats which will have an exploded view or the gun on one side the 3D version of the gun on the other. This gives the customer two mats for just a little more money. We are also coming out with some “oversized” premium TekMats. These will be our most popular firearms and will be large and thicker. They will also have a stitched edge. The stitched edge gives the TekMat a higher end finish and makes the TekMat even more durable”. Now this wouldn’t be much of a review if I hadn’t actually tested the goods myself, even though a gun tech I am not but I must say I was pretty damned impressed!
tech TEKMAT MATS
“WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING ON NEW TEKMATS. WE ARE COMING OUT WITH THE SCAR 17 AND SIG SAUER P365 IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. WE ARE ALSO MAKING SOME DOUBLE SIDED TEKMATS WHICH WILL HAVE AN EXPLODED VIEW OR THE GUN ON ONE SIDE THE 3D VERSION OF THE GUN ON THE OTHER.” It made a pleasant change to find some of the small, tiny parts still in the same place that I had put them because the mat actually didn’t move at all. I would suggest, however, using a small, light coloured magnetic dish for the really small black metal pieces such as tiny screws, pins and the like, simply because black fittings on the black mat were a little hard to notice - but this is a trivial point really. Now this was just a basic service and clean on a couple of guns and therefore the mat didn’t get too mucky but it was now time for the washing machine test which might just be a deal breaker (or maker). As recommended, a gentle warm water machine wash will bring your mat up like new after removing the cleaning solvents, lubes and any other muck that will eventually build up. Price-wise, these mats will not break the bank either, with the rifle mats costing around the £25 mark and the pistol mats cheaper still at about £20 give or take, but of course the prices will vary depending what you buy and where and when you buy it. In modern day airsoft we are now heading down a road where we are forever evolving to be as authentic as can be and continue this authenticity when we get home after a hard day of plastic warfare. So when it’s time to give our guns some TLC, why not “keep it real” by using a premium quality gun mat, complete with added inspiration in its design. Also, if you are a totally crazy gun-nut like yours truly, then the pistol mats also make cracking oversize mouse pads for the PC. Check out the TEKMAT website for a full run-down of what this Utah, USA company has to offer and with so many variations to choose from, I don’t think that you will be disappointed. And as a final super-selling special, you might also be eligible for a “Trump Commander and Chief’” and his mighty military machine poster, which are bound to be a much soughtafter prize here in the UK... Ya think!! LeZ OUT!
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kit M65 JACKET
MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER, TAKES A LOOK AT A JACKET THAT WAS WIDELY USED BY US TROOPS IN VIETNAM AND HAS NOW CROSSED OVER TO CIVILIAN USE.
CAN YOU IMPROVE ON A CLASSIC? THE US ARMY M-65 COMBAT JACKET is a true classic. As the name suggests, it was introduced into service in 1965 to replace the M-1951, which with front zipper and press stud pockets was an improvement on the all-button M-1943 jacket. The style of the M-1943, though basic, was the template for many post-war combat jackets. The M65, as the M-1965 is more widely known, has a builtin hood that can be rolled up into the collar, as opposed to the separate hood that attached to the M-1951. The M-65 also has hook and pile, (better known as Velcro), fasteners on the sleeve cuffs and collar; in the 1960s Velcro was not widely used for clothing and this was an innovative application. It was popular in the cold and wet highlands of Vietnam and was later issued in woodland camouflage and two patterns of desert camouflage, before being retired from US Army service in 2009, making it something of a veteran. A copy of the M65 will cost you as little as £40, or as much as £300 for a “designer” version and commercial versions come in a multitude of camouflage colours besides the original OG-107 dark green and some include the handy button-in polyester batten liner. When I spotted the Austrian Army version of the jacket on sale for £39.99 through the online mail order company Forces Uniform & Kit, I decided that many of its improvements on this original classic made it worth checking out. The jacket I received was “Grade 1” condition – virtually as new. Austrian green combat clothing had come on the market following the decision by the army in September 2017 to adopt a new camouflaged pattern uniform. The old green jacket is superficially similar to the US M-65 but there are some significant differences. The outer shell is made from water and wind repellent Nylon, it is not OG-107 but rather a darker, almost grey-green, which is perhaps better suited to the coniferous forests of Austria. Incidentally Austria is the last European army to use a plain green combat uniform. I had the opportunity to test the jacket in light but steady rain and unlike proofed cotton drill material, the outer Nylon shell was water repellent with droplets of rain forming as beads on its surface and not soaking in. The jacket has a Velcro strip above the right top pocket for a name tag. On the left sleeve in subdued black and green is a shield with the Austrian eagle and the words “Österreich” and (below it) “Bundesheer”. With care (and should you want to) I think this could be unpicked and removed. What really marks the Austrian jacket out from the original M-65 is a breathable MVT (widely known as Gore-Tex) middle layer, which is protected by a polyamide lining on the interior,
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covering the full body and arms. Gore-Tex was invented in 1969 and its first military application was with Special Forces in the Falklands campaign of 1982. The Austrian jacket has two breast pockets which, unlike the pleated pockets on the US M65, are flat patch pockets; there are two skirt pockets and a drawstring at the waist but not on the hem. Where the Austrian jacket also differs is that it has two very useful internal zip pockets on the left and right. There are expansion pleats on upper back and shaped sleeves. The high collar has a zip open at the base facing outwards to reveal a hood which has a slight peak over the top to provide a semi-visor and can be drawn tight around the head with drawstring. The jacket zips up with central zipper covered over with a deep storm baffle held in place by press studs, however, this zipper is not as robust as the YKK zippers on the US M-65 jacket. The cuffs close with elasticated tabs with three positions for the press stud and, like the zipper, the press studs are not as heavy duty as those on the M-65 but do the job. The jacket has traditional epaulets. I think it is excellent value for a good practical and comfortable jacket but like any government surplus item it is just that, “surplus” and when it has gone there will be no more. Grab one while you can! AA
kit M65 JACKET
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N I W nuprol
TANGO N96
competition WIN A NUPROL TANGO N96
+ CASE + 4 MAGS
THE ANSWERS ARE: Regular readers may have noticed for the last few months we have had a series of awesome give-away competitions, all courtesy of NUPROL – and we don’t intend to stop any time soon! We have given away rifles, pistols, shotguns, cases and even grenade launchers and this month we complete the “collection” with a superb NUPROL Tango N96 Sniper rifle in black, again courtesy of our good friends at NUPROL, which one lucky Airsoft Action reader will win. Based on the L96 as used by the British army, the NUPROL Tango N96 is a fantastic sniper rifle that offers excellent, consistent performance out of the box and yet is easily upgradable. But that’s not all… If you have a sniper rifle you need something BIG to carry it in, so NUPROL are also adding a NUPROL Black Extra-Large Hard Case to keep and safely transport it in and, on top of that, to make sure you are not caught short of rounds while in the field, they have also added four extra magazines to keep you going. So, what have you got to do to have the chance of winning this superb prize? Simple… just answer the following five questions and get your answers in before the closing date and if yours is the entry drawn out of hat full of all the other correct entries, you win (although you might have to do a tiny bit of research to get one of the answers)! OK, so here’s the questions… 1) What type of scope mount is fitted to a NUPROL Tango N96? 2) Which nation’s army used the L96 sniper rifle on which the N96 is based?
1 2 3 4 5 Name:................................................................................................. Email:................................................................................................. Telephone:.......................................................................................... Calibre Publishing would like to keep you informed of other offers and publications. Please tick here if you would NOT like to be contacted by post or email.
3) What is the approximate FPS of a NUPROL Tango N96? 4) Is the hop-up of a NUPROL Tango N96 adjustable? 5) Name the famous sniper and occasional Airsoft Action contributor who used the L96 and wrote the book “Sniper One”. To be in with a chance of winning, send your answers in before the closing date using the form below, or by email, or via the Airsoft Action website and if yours is the first correct entry drawn out of the Ed’s hat, you’ll win a NUPROL Tango N96, plus a NUPROL extralarge hard case in black and four additional magazines, courtesy of NUPROL.
Post your entries to: Airsoft Action NUPROL Tango N96 Competition, Airsoft Action, Calibre Publishing, Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6PL, or email to: competition@airsoft-action.co.uk with “NUPROL Tango N96 Competition” in the subject line. You can also enter online, via the Airsoft Action website (www.airsoft-action.online). Entries received after midnight on 17th October 2018 will not be valid. One entry per person. The winner will be the first randomly drawn from all the correct entries. GDPR: By entering this competition you are giving explicit consent for Calibre Publishing Ltd. to retain personally identifiable information for the purposes of contacting the winner of this competition. All entries will be destroyed after the closing date. Calibre Publishing would like to keep you informed of other offers and publications. Please tick here if you would NOT like to be contacted by post or email n www.airsoft-action.online
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last post I AM THE LAW
I AM
THE
LAW! THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF JUDGE DREDD – “I AM THE LAW!” - COULD EASILY APPLY TO A SUBSET OF THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY. IT’S A PHENOMENON THAT HAS PERPLEXED AND INFURIATED ME, FRENCHIE, FOR YEARS, SO I SHALL TAKE MY SPLEEN OUT, POLISH IT OFF AND LET IT GO.
DREDD PIC: COURTESY OF LEE “SHRECK” FIELDS
WHY ARE SOME AIRSOFTERS so determined to undermine their beloved pastime and other players? This goes beyond mere chairsofting (although I suspect it might be an interesting Venn diagram) and into a form of behaviour I just do not understand. For “Last Post” this month, I’ll try (but forgive me if I fail) to eke out the milk of human kindness. What I am referring to are the self-appointed vigilantes who live and thrive on the internet. I don’t recall them being a big issue in the halcyon days of forums but those predated the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2007 (VCRA) and the Policing and Crime Act 2017 (PCA). I suppose there was less to get outraged by back then… Example: A player or retailer publishes picture of a two-toned airsoft gun. There follows a barrage of posts on Facebook and elsewhere by self-appointed experts pointing out why this particular item is so illegal that even the United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution condemning it. Or someone makes an unguarded, or poorly-worded reference to power limits of airsoft guns - out come the barrack room lawyers, the vigilantes and their supplicant hangers-on. The recent launch of the 40 Mike grenade is another good case in point; roundly, almost hysterically, condemned before anyone in the UK had even got their hands on it and been able to do some proper testing to establish how it worked, if it worked and whether or not it was actually a risk to life and limb. It occurs to me as I write this 82
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that maybe what I’m seeing and what pi**es me off so much about this, is just further evidence of the culture of outrage that is increasingly apparent on social media - I don’t like something, it upsets me (God knows why) therefore I am going to utterly lose my mind over it because, hey, feelings. If so, it is simply evidence of poor impulse control and slipping standards of evidence and proof. Often these objections come clothed in swathes of “it’s illegal”, or “that will get airsoft closed down at lightspeed” - comments made more often than not by correspondents with the thinnest comprehension of what the law actually is. Here’s a hint, based on experience of actually being involved in airsoft-related legislation: until a court makes a decision on a case brought before it under relevant legislation, no-one knows exactly what the “law” is! That is directly from the civil servants at the Home Office who deal with firearms legislation. If they won’t be drawn on these matters, maybe you should wind your neck in a little? These posts are irritating because, by and large, they are ignorant and as I suggest above, largely grounded in the writer’s personal opinions. As far as that goes, that’s fine and they can be infuriating at times, but safely ignored. I reserve one of the special circles of hell for those who go further, attempting (it seems) to attract the attention of anyone who would actually want to do airsoft harm with their illinformed rantings. Mate - if you hate airsoft that much please go and find something else to do with your life! This is where my understanding is stretched to its utter limits. Why would anyone who claims to have the best interests of a pastime at heart go to such lengths to denigrate it and to apparently draw an infraction - real or imagined - to the attentions of the authorities? Are they that desperate to be noticed? Do they really need to feel that important? I honestly do not know. What I do know is that there have been periods since 2006 when “authorities” did spend some time reading airsoft forums and websites - they wanted to see what was
last post I AM THE LAW
“HERE’S A HINT, BASED ON EXPERIENCE OF ACTUALLY BEING INVOLVED IN AIRSOFTRELATED LEGISLATION: UNTIL A COURT MAKES A DECISION ON A CASE BROUGHT BEFORE IT UNDER RELEVANT LEGISLATION, NO-ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE “LAW” IS!” going on. Personally I doubt they bother much these days and the two Acts referred to above have substantially altered the legal standing of airsoft in the UK but even so, why are some people so bloody self-destructive? I’m not advocating hiding, keeping our heads down, not causing trouble or attracting attention. I realised a long time ago that was a losing strategy; if there is an issue go at it head on, get your evidence, get support and make your point. Airsoft is not a naughty schoolboy skulking in the shadows behind the bike shed (to mangle two metaphors) and it shouldn’t behave like one. It therefore flummoxes me to see this kind of negative attack still happening. Why? What does the poster seek to achieve? Why don’t they just go and hang the washing out, or polish their car, something useful. This isn’t a case of oppressing the right to free speech, nothing so grand and this is after all just my opinion and therefore worth no more than yours but in all the crap that is written about airsoft online I still cannot understand this pathological need on the part of a few individuals to seemingly attempt to bring airsoft down. I said I would try to understand but I can’t. My mother used to say “if you cannot say something nice, don’t say anything” and I have roundly ignored that advice ever since but this is something else. In fairness, I am not aware of a single instance where anything has happened as a result of such posts (for which I’m grateful) and suggests that actually I am giving a little too much reign to my feelings. That’s probably true too. I have enormous respect for those who have worked hard to better establish airsoft in the UK, to secure it against petty politicians and ignorant fools. I think that’s why I react so badly to those who would act as if their most heartfelt desire is to bring all that work crashing down. Maybe that is my problem! AA
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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
The Mill CQB Unit S2 Mill 1 Swan Meadow Ind. Est. Swan Meadow Rd. Wigan 0161 727 8863
www.firstandonlyevents.co.uk
Eton Guns 103 High Street Eton, Nr. Windsor SL4 6AF 01753 800009 www.etonguns.co.uk
Bomb Up Airsoft 22-23 Arkwright Court Arkwright Road Runcorn, WA7 1NX 0800 131 3012 www.bombupairsoft.co.uk
DTW Airsoft A3 Moorside Business Prk Colchester Essex, CO1 2ZF 01206 790046 www.dtwairsoft.co.uk
Surplus Store Unit 2, Access House Stephenson Way Three Bridges, RH10 1TN 01293 525880 www.surplusstore.co.uk
Anzio Camp Blackshaw Moor Nr. Leek, Staffs. ST13 8TL 0161 727 8863
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
www.firstandonlyevents.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...
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 Tazball Airsoft Feyglas Woods, Farr Inverness IV2 6XB 07848 448408
Facebook: /TazballAirsoft
Phoenix Airsoft Gleadthorpe Breck Plnt. Budby Road Cuckney, NG20 9JX 07956 587213 www.phoenix-airsoft.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
308 Sniper 66 High Street Chatham Kent, ME4 4DS 01634 921278 www.308sniper.co.uk
Socom Tactical 70 Reading Road South Fleet Hampshire, GU52 7SD 01252 616 868 www.socomtactical.net
Eagle6 Airsoft Sutterton Enterprise Park Sutterton, PE20 2JA 01205 460385 07944 904604 www.eagle6.co.uk
Airsoft Plantation Goatsmoor Lane Stock, Billericay Essex, CM4 9RS 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk
Badlands Airsoft Woodberry Lane Rowlands Castle Hants, PO9 6DP 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk
The Vault Airsoft Store Brook Garden Centre Whittington Way Old Whittington Chesterfield, S41 9AG 01246 260860
Allsorts Airsoft 9 Arundel Road Littlehampton BN17 7BY 01903 714688 www.allsortsairsoft.co.uk
Red Alert Airsoft Hartshill Copse Burdens Heath Bucklebury, RG7 6SX 07941 087070 www.redalertpaintball.co.uk
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.
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
SYMBOL KEY
IS IT WOODLAND OR URBAN? CHECK THE KEY! UKARA MEMBER
SHOP ONSITE
WOODLAND
PYROS ALLOWED
URBAN
BATTERY CHARGING
DESERT
REPAIR SERVICE
INDOOR
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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
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
AMAZON EVENTS
BARNSLEY AIRSOFT
AIRSOFT PLANTATION
AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM
BATTLETEC AIRSOFT
AIRSOFT SKIRMISH
AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON
Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com www.kgbairsoft.com
Goatsmoor Lane, Billericay, CM4 9RS Tel: 07534 636289 / 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk Email: apairsoftplantation@gmail.com
Stoulton, WR7 4QW Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
Kent, TN12 7DG Tel: 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk
AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 Tel: 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com
AIRSOFT ASYLUM
North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com
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Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk
Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE Tel: 07779 236166 www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk
La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2 Tel: 07781 104068 www.battletec.co.uk
BETTER BATTLES
Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH Tel: 07967 940043 www.better-battles.com
BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB Studley, B80 7LY Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP Tel: 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com
Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane, Dronfield, S18 7UR www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk
BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT ALL ARMS AIRSOFT
ACE COMBAT
Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL Tel: 0844 2570433 www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk
Near Trawden, BB8 8SN Tel: 07909 683464 www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk
ARENA AIRSOFT Grimsby, DN31 3JD Tel: 07752 404060 www.arenaairsoft.com
AWA HERTS
Westcott Venture Park, Westcott, Aylesbury, HP18 0XB Tel: 01296 658600 www.bluestreak-airsoft.co.uk
BORDERLINE AIRSOFT
Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF www.alpha55.co.uk
Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ Tel: 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com
51 Green Road, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH Tel: 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com
ALPHA ELITE GAMING
BADLANDS AIRSOFT
BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT
ALPHA 55
Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 Tel: 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je
Rowlands Castle, Hamps PO9 6DP Tel: 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk
Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
BRISTOL AIRSOFT
Bristol, BS1 2HQ Tel: 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com
BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT
Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com
CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT
Brimington, Chesterfield S43 1DQ www.cia-airsoft.co.uk
CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT Corby, NN17 3BB Tel: 07740 165787 www.close-action.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
COMBAT ACTION GAMES
Combat Street, Felthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 4DR. Tel: 07748 023832 www.facebook.com/combatactiongames
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
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – RIVOCK EDGE Keighley, BD20 0LS Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – SHEFFIELD WOODLAND Sheffield, S6 6JE Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)
Off Badger Lane, Hipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 8PL Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
Bourton Woods, On the B4479, Blockley Near Bourton-on-the-hill www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07724629140
CUMBRIA AIRSOFT
Dumfries, DG12 cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net www.cumbria-airsoft.com
DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT
Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk Tel: 07455 906132
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
FIFE WARGAMES COMBAT AIRSOFT
C3 TACTICAL
COTSWOLD AIRSOFT
DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.
38 Full Street, Derby DE1 3AF Tel: 01332 493258 Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
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
COMBAT READY OUTDOOR
DELTA TEAM 3
Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk follow signs for Combat Paintball Tel: 07703 045849 www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk
COMBAT READY CQB
Middle Wildpark Farm, Wildpark Lane, Brailsford, Ashbourne DE6 3BN Tel: 01332 493258 Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT Tel: 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk
DOGS OF WAR COMBAT SOUTH URBAN
Portsmouth PO6 3LS Tel: 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND Fareham, PO17 5ND Tel: 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk
Houston, Renfrewshire PA6 7BP Tel: 07853 195290 www.dow-airsoft.co.uk
St Andrews, KY10 3XL info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com
FINMERE AIRSOFT Buckingham, MK18 4JT Tel: 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com
FIREBALL SQUADRON Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com
FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP
Blackshaw Moor, Nr Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8TL Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST & ONLY: DOG TAG AIRSOFT
Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE TEL 01293 852 314 www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft
CROSSFIRE WOODS – PRESTON Moss Lane East, Preston PR4 3SP 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST & ONLY: CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 Tel: 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk
COOL UNDER FIRE
DRAGON’S LAIR
Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA Tel: 07703 530189 www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk
DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT
Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS Tel: 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk
Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL Tel: 07921 336360 www.dragonvalley.co.uk
CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT
D.T.W AIRSOFT
Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4HF. Tel: 0773 153 1113 www.cornwallseliteairsoft.com
Colchester, Essex CO1 2ZF Tel: 01206 790046 www.dtwairsoft.co.uk
STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY
Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY:
THE MILL CQB – WIGAN
Unit S2 Mill 1, Swan Meadow Industrial Estate, Swan Meadow Road, Wigan Tel: 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY:
THE OUTPOST – KIDDERMINSTER
Drakelow Tunnels, Kingsford Country Park, Near Kinver, Kidderminster DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863
www.airsoft-action.online
87
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
FIRST & ONLY: SHELL SHOCK WOODS – BRIDGNORTH
Uplands Coppice, Off B4363, Bridgnorth, Shropshire WV16 5LS Tel: 0161 727 8863
GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com
STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY
Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863
MIA
Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst,
Cornwall, EX23 9JL :
Kent TN12 0HP Tel: 01622 831788 / 07876 263290
GRANGE LIVE GAMING FIRST & ONLY:
INVICTA BATTLEFIELD
Bravo One Birmingham, 93–99 Holloway Head, B1 1QP Tel: 0121 643 2477 info@grangelivegaming.com www.grangelivegaming.com
Tel: 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk
www.invictabattlefield.co.uk
MIDWALES AIRSOFT ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT
Abbey Cwm-hir, Midwales, LD1 6PG Tel: 07497 480243 www.facebook.com/Midwales-airsoft
Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30
FIRST & ONLY:
THE JUNGLE – HARBURY
Bull Ring Farm Rd, Leamington Spa CV33 9HJ Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
FIRST & ONLY:
THE ARMOURY – WREXHAM Oak Road, Wrexham, Denbighshire LL13 9RG Tel: 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY:
THE BASE CQC – YATESBURY
1 Jugglers Ln, Yatesbury, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 8YA 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
FULL METAL AIRSOFT
Cilyrychen Quarry, Llandybie, Ammanford, Camarthenshire, SA18 3JG Tel: 01269 850404 www.fullmetalairsoft.co.uk
GASS AIRSOFT – PENN
GREENZONE COMBAT Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE Tel: 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com
GUN HO AIRSOFT
Guisborough, TS7 0PG Tel: 07525 435696 www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk
GUNMAN AIRSOFT – TUDDENHAM
Cavenham Road, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6DF Tel: 07711 774461 (Doug) or 07711 774401 (Josh) www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk/gunmanairsoft-tuddenham/
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
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/
HILTON PARK AIRSOFT
GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON
HUMBER AIRSOFT
november 2018
Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG Tel: 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk
LAC AT COMBAT ZONE Saxillby, LN1 2JW Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
17G Stationview, Dunmurry,
North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07792 680297
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
Belfast BT170AE Tel: 07733128484
LEEDS AIRSOFT: THE FOUNDRY CQB
NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT
Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ Tel: 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk
Haigh Park Road, Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RX Tel: 0113 277 7707 / 07968 258952
NORTHFLEET CQB
Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
LINDSEY AIRSOFT Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk
Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU Tel: 08000 354490 www.paintballuk.com
HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT
MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT
Tel: 07955 487983
Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT Tel: 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft
88
www.islandrecon.co.uk
LAGAN AIRSOFT CLUB
Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk
Tel: 07964 751047
MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES
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
Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW Tel: 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com
MAW Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 Tel: 07793 404346 1midaw@gmail.com
NSC AIRSOFT
Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 Tel: 07983 333521 www.nscairsoft.co.uk
NTAC
Durham, DL4 2ER Tel: 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 Tel: 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com
OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT Tel: 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk
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
RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3
SUSSEX AIRSOFT
TORRENT WARFARE
RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM)
S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT
TROJAN AIRSOFT
TA EVENTS
TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB
Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
Cambridge, CB24 8RL Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com
SECTION 8 AIRSOFT
Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB Tel: 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com
Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ Tel: 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk
Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu Tel: 07703 177756
Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB Tel: 07894 059794 www.ta-events.co.uk
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 PLATOON 1HQ
Slinfold, RH12 Tel: 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk
Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 Tel: 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk
PLAYERS OF WAR
High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD Tel: 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk
Browndown Road, Lee-On-Solent PO13 9UG Tel: 07533 434203
SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF Tel: 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com
RAVEN’S NEST
Suffolk, IP8 4 Tel: 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk
RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ Tel: 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk
RED1AIRSOFT
Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk
RED1AIRSOFT CQB
Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk
Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR Tel: 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com
Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com
Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com
TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS Tel: 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk
UCAP AIRSOFT
Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR www.ucap.co.uk Tel: 07590 818881
TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk
UCAP GREEN OPS
Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
TAZ AIRSOFT
Farr, Inverness IV2 6XB Tel: 07848 448408
TECH BRIGADE SOUTH COAST CQB
Co Tyrone, BT71 4DY Tel: 07922 377131 Facebook: search ‘Torrent Warfare’
Newgate Street, Hertfordshire. SG13 8NH Tel: 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org
TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 Tel: 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY Tel: 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
URBAN ASSAULT SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH
Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
STIRLING AIRSOFT Coventry, CV3 6NX Tel: 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com
THE BUNKER
Aberystwyth www.aberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07841 462806
THE DEPOT
Glasgow, G45 9SB Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.thedepotglasgow.com
VIKING AIRSOFT
Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk
THE EX SITE
WARMINSTER AIRSOFT
Mold, CH7 4 Tel: 07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk
Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk
THE WARGAMES CENTRE
WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT
Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com
STORMFORCE AIRSOFT
Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD Tel: 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk
Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 Tel: 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk
THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT
Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL305FA Tel: 01726 858613 or 07590 030887 www.thunderpark.co.uk Food & drinks available on site
F O B (Woodland), Hollington Road, Upper Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT On site parking, HPA Top ups, covered safe zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch included, free tea and coffee available all day. Site memberships. Tel: Paul – 07861427553 Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk www.wmairsoft.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…
WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT
High Command (CQB), Doulton Trading Estate, Doulton Road, Rowley Regis B65 8JQ On site parking, HPA top-ups, secure safe zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch included, free tea and coffee available all day. Site memberships. Tel: Paul – 07861427553 Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk www.wmairsoft.co.uk
WORTHING AIRSOFT Arundel Road, Worthing Tel: 07877 210898 www.worthingairsoft.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.
WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB WatfordPPC@gmail.com
DOUBLE TAP PSC XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST
Dunstable, LU6 2EE Tel: 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk
XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430
90
november 2018
StrikeForce CQB, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5RZ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Double-Tap-Practical-Shooting-Club979585958732937/?ref=hl doubletappsc@gmail.com
FPS ACTION AIR IPSC
24 Scarrots lane Newport Isle of Wight PO30 2JD 07964 751047 Open five nights a week 7pm-10pm Info@islandrecon.co.uk
www.4dsportsclubs.co.uk Facebook:@fpsiow
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
HALO MILL
The Penthouse, Colne Valley Business Park, Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QG Tel: 01484 840554 www.halomill.com
XSITE PRACTICAL SHOOTING Fryers Farm Lane, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430
SOUTH WEST PRACTICAL SHOOTERS (SWPS)
Action Air IPSC Club Based at The Tunnel Target Sports Centre near Charmouth The Tunnel, Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6BY Contact: SWPSClub@Outlook.com
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.