Airsoft
M.A.G. 1st Issue
Product Review: Hakkotsu Thunder B State of the Industry:
Interview with Ben Martin of AONW
Team Interview: Infinity Airsoft
Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview
Letter From the Editor
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We have spent a lot of time developing this publication but finally we are proud to announce Airsoft MAG, a free online airsoft publication. It is our goal to provide you, the readers, with a online magazine that will keep you coming back for more. As our fan base grows so will our magazine as we want your impute. Please visit our web page at www.freeairsoftmag.com and check out the contacts pages, here we will have ways to contact our staff about different topics. Have an event you want published? an after action review for a recent event? do you want your team listed on our team page? have a great topic Idea? have positive feedback or constructive criticism? all these and more. You can have a hand in the content of the magazine.
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Due to the amount of time it took to file all of our licensing paperwork, government taxes, and the business submittal process we were unable to finalize any advertising contracts before the release of this first issue. So this first issue will be brought to you free of advertisements. Some would say that is a good thing as it will all be content, others like to see new and upcoming products. If you want to advertise with us please visit our advertising section on our webpage and contact us.
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We have a lot of great content in this issue. We had the privilege of being able to interview the owner and creator of bitterend airsoft goggles. We also interviewed Ben Martin of Airsoft Outlet Northwest with some follow up questions regarding the issues that they have been having with importing airsoft gear. Also check out our Thunder B Review, and our team interview with Infinity Airsoft.
Thanks for reading and I hope that you enjoy
- The Editor -
Table of Contents
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- Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview - Pg. 11
- Team Interview: Infinity Airsoft - Pg. 35
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- Gun of the Month - Pg. 9
- Thunder B Product Review - Pg. 25
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- Airsoft Outlet Northwest Interview - Pg. 3
- Video of the Month - Pg. 24
Airsoft Outlet Northwest
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There has recently been a situation developing between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and airsoft companies importing airsoft guns from overseas. Specifically we are focusing on a situation that developed earlier this year with Airsoft Outlet Northwest and the BATFE. Many of you may have read the article "Airsoft: An Industry Without Standard" that was published by Ben Martin with AONW. If you have not read the article I would suggest that you do as it addresses some concerns which can effect the future of our beloved sport. To summarize the situation in October of 2009 a shipment of WE TTI Gas Blowback M4's that AONW imported were seized at the Port of Tacoma. Shortly after that another shipment of other airsoft products were seized by Customs and Border Patrol agents in Seattle.
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The BATFE claimed that these were easily converted in to "machine guns" and that they were illegal. There have been several news releases and videos about this specific incident that praise the BATFE for taking potentially dangerous weapons off the streets. We contacted Airsoft Outlet Northwest and were able to speak with Ben as a follow up to his original article and find out where they are now.
Link to the original article: Airsoft an Industry Without Standard
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www.airsoftoutletnw.com/index.php/20100226156/Airsoft-News/AirsoftAn-Industry-Without-Standard.html
Link to a BATFE Video: (were the agent tries to put a m4 magazine in backwards) www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rEuTwYALho&feature=player_embedde d
Q. - Have you heard anything "official" from the BATFE about the WE TTI's seized back in February? do you know if you will get them back?
Airsoft M.A.G.
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Airsoft Outlet Northwest - Unfortunately they have not sent us any official statements saying that the WE TTI's will be destroyed. We filed a FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) request to see their conclusive evidence that the WE TTI M4 could be converted to a machine gun, but what we were sent was a packet of unrelated cases that was redacted to the point that we couldn't make out what they were about.
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We've basically conceded that the ATF has taken our product and will not return it.
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Kelvin Crenshaw with the BATFE Inserting the M4 Magazine Backwards
Q. - Have you received any information about the second shipment of KJW's, WE Pistols, and WE TTI SCARS that was seized by the CBP agents in the Port of Seattle? Airsoft Outlet Northwest - It took us awhile, but the KJW's, WE Pistols and SCAR's were released. We had to pay a massive holding fee which is funny considering there wasn't anything illegal about them and shouldn't of even been held.
Airsoft Outlet Northwest Q. - How has importing been since these initial two seizures?
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Airsoft Outlet Northwest - Well, to put it bluntly, we think we've been targeted by Customs because every order we bring in will get "intensively inspected". Recently we've been trying to get an order of Airsoft accessories released from customs, but they've held up the entire shipment for nearly two months because of a few laser pointers. They tell us that we need to know the "accession number" to bring them in, so we go and ask a customs agent at their office in Portland where to go and look for this and they look at us with a blank stare and say they've never heard of such a thing.
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It doesn't seem to matter what we import because Customs always seems to be able to find a reason to hold it longer then necessary, and then slap us with holding fees.
WE TTI M4 GBB, Like the ones seized by the BATF
Q. - Are you still shipping products into the Washington ports? If not where are they coming in now? Airsoft Outlet Northwest - We're trying to take as many precautions with customs as possible and are trying to work closely with "importation specialists" out of Portland, OR.
Airsoft M.A.G. Q. - Importation specialist sounds like a legal smuggler, could you please describe what this is and how they can help?
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Airsoft Outlet Northwest - Actually importation specialists work for CBP (customs and border protection) and their job is to open lines of communication between individuals who import "sensitive" items (like us), and CBP. This is to help ensure that there isn't any lack of communication between what's legal and illegal to import. Q. - Have you tried importing anymore WE TTI M4 "machine guns" since the initial seizure?
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Airsoft Outlet Northwest - We have not, and don't plan on bringing in anymore GBB M4's anytime soon since the ATF just released a memo stating that JG/WA GBB M4's were illegal as well. (http://arniesairsoft.co.uk/news2/14882)
Q. - Have you heard anything back from your Freedom of Information Act letters submitted to the BATFE about the seizure?
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Airsoft Outlet Northwest - Like I said above the FOIA we received was full of nothing but miscellaneous cases where the ATF intervened against Airsoft. We couldn't even make out what the cases were about since they were so heavily blacked out.
Q. - The Gun Owners of America is lobbying in Washington DC about the control of "toy guns", how involved are you with this? do you have any new information on this issue? Airsoft Outlet Northwest - They helped us with their inside contacts in the ATF, and that's how we found out that apparently the ATF made the WE TTI shoot a round, but we have yet to see any evidence and everything is still hearsay.
Airsoft Outlet Northwest
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Q. - I still cant get past Kelvin Crenshaw putting the m4 mag in backwards, did he actually have anything to do with the seizure? or was he just a media figure head? Airsoft Outlet Northwest - I have no idea who that guy was, he obviously must have been filling in from the Alcohol department of the ATF. Q. - Is there anything the airsoft community can do to help with this issue?
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Airsoft Outlet Northwest - The best thing the Airsoft community could do is not only listen to the issues the Airsoft industry is facing, but to also act on them. Players need to show state and federal government that there are safe and responsible Airsoft communities who promote responsibility and accountability. Anyone concerned about the state of the Airsoft industry should get involved with their local authorities and show that Airsoft players aren't ignorant kids who play in backyards with spring guns. Q. - Do you have any final thoughts regarding the uphill battle you have had to fight to be able to import airsoft products for your customers?
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Airsoft Outlet Northwest - It's not just Airsoft Outlet Northwest facing these problems; everyone who imports Airsoft has or will run into problematic CBP agents. It's unclear why, but the Airsoft industry seems to be a target for customs, and I can't be sure whether this is caused by an agency wide anti-gun mentality, or if they genuinely feel that they're protecting America. Whatever the reason the Airsoft industry in America can no longer work independently from each other. There needs to be a national organization that is focused on information sharing, public relations, and organizing defenses against attacks on the industry. Otherwise Airsoft in the U.S. will begin to face unjust regulation and biased scrutiny.
- End -
Airsoft M.A.G. Editors Note:
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- The Editor -
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I personally have been doing business with Airsoft Outlet Northwest for 2 years now. Although they are a smaller retail store compared to some of the larger online based airsoft stores, their customer service and quality of their products are far superior. If they have the product that I am looking for I will not hesitate to purchase it from them before any other store. They have an excellent staff that is very knowledgeable of the products that they sell. To hear of this happening to any store is very disheartening, and very threatening to the industry. I appreciate their willingness to participate in this interview and help bring this news to the airsoft population. They have Airsoft MAG's full support and we will help them however we can.
Written By Jacob Smith
Gun of the Month
Photo is courtesy of kiki-jiki on the ASF forums Pictured: Magpul MOE stock, Magpul Miad grip, Magpul body, Aimpoint style red dot, 3x magnifier w/ flip to side mount, PEQ 2, Magpul ladder rails, and P Mags.
Airsoft M.A.G.
Think yours is better? Visit us at www.freeairsoftmag.com and submit pictures of your gun through our contacts page.
Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview
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I recently had the opportunity to interview Mark / Bitter End the owner and creator of Bitter End Airsoft Gear. They currently manufacture stamped steel goggles and facemasks. I personally own a pair of Bitter End Goggles and think that they are the finest airsoft goggles around. Bitter End Airsoft Gear has sold thousands of goggles all over the world and have recently been featured on Airsoftology's web radio show. (http://www.airsoftchannel.com/asradio/86-ast30)
Q. - Why the name Bitter End?
My primary weapon from the beginning has been an Inokatsu M60 with a few custom mods; squeezing off some suppressive fire, breaking up a log jam on the field, or being the last line of defense is right up my alley. If you are a sailor or have been in the Navy you would be familiar with the vernacular “bitter end.” Bitter End is a nautical term meaning, “the end of the line,” the last foot or so of the line. The line of course being a natural or synthetic material woven or braided together, (you might refer to it as a “rope.”)
Airsoft M.A.G.
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My play style on the field is in your face. It will be the end of the line for either you or me; the moniker is a good fit. (I am a 3rd generation Navy Vet) When I started selling stamped steel lensed goggles; players would ask for goggles like Bitter End’s. It wasn’t long before they were referred to as Bitter End Goggles.
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Q. - Tell me a little bit about the Bitter End Airsoft Goggles I started playing Airsoft towards the end of 2006. Right away I had trouble with fogging goggles; even shooting glasses fogged right up, I couldn’t see anything… I was completely worthless. I put some feelers out about what to do about the fogging issue; conferring with my brother DEADLY of team MAG and my sons Ricochet and C4 for viable suggestions. Of course all of the usual hole drilling, cat crap, fog x, and the completely worthless “anti fog” lenses were tried.
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I think that my brother had mentioned mesh that he had seen in a mask once; so the journey started to fine some material that would work. Yes, I tried the speaker grill material. Yes, you can blow right through it with a bb. I found some heavier duty material and cut out a lens set for my goggles, then the boys and my brothers goggles. Every time we played, players wanted to try them, and once tried, wanted a goggle for themselves. The first several months I gave away or sold at cost about 150 goggles as a player evaluation to see if I was on to something. The demand was crazy! It evolved nearly on its own with little coaxing from me.
Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview Deadly, Team MAG
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Bitter End Airsoft Gear has been completely player driven from the beginning. Up until the last few months you had to really search to find my gear. I had one goggle page on my team site; word has been spread from one player to another without any advertising what-soever. You had to find me and email me a request. I have really been amazed from all of the emails that I receive from countries all around the World.
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After spending many hours a day from the beginning, personally answering each email; I decided to launch BitterEndGoggles.com and added an auto check out feature to help streamline the process. I still spend hours a day answering emails, but the process has been smoothed out for the player looking for Bitter End Gear. I build all of the Bitter End Gear from my shop here in Washington State (West Coast of the United States for the International players). My youngest son C4, has been helping since I launched the Bitter End Lower Face Mask as the primary assembly tech. I still handle the finale assembly and inspection as well as all of the goggles.
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Currently there are thousands of Bitter End Airsoft goggles and masks in use in 31 countries around the World! If you have a piece of Bitter End Gear, you are in good company!
- Pictured, sons Ricochet (left) and C4
www.freeairsoftmag.com Q. - How are these different / better than other wire mesh goggles?
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In my opinion wire mesh is very scary. It is woven together but it is not attached at the intersecting points. When a bb hits the wire, the wire slides one direction or the other. I have seen wire lenses with huge gaps from the wire being jarred out of place. The cheap wire lenses coming out of the East are stomach turning scary; they don’t stop a bb from a stock AEG from breaking the strands of wire and allowing the bb to pass right on through.
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I use stamped steel in all my gear. There are no breaks in the lens, no loose intersections of doom and even an impact from a high power sniper round at close range will not pass through. The stamped steel does a remarkable job at dissipating the energy of an incoming round; the surrounding metal aids in the diffusion, as the energy is absorbed across a larger area.
Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview Q. - What is the ANSI specification and why don’t your goggles meet this requirement?
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ANSI is the acronym for the American National Standards Institute, a nonprofit organization that serves as administrator of the United States private sector voluntary standardization system. The primary objective of ANSI is to promote and facilitate voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems. ANSI does not have authority to enforce such standards, but their standards are used by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to be sure that certain safety devices, such as eyewear, provide adequate protection for workers.
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The ANSI Z87.1 standard sets forth requirements for the design, construction, testing, and use of eye protection devices, including standards for impact and penetration resistance. All safety glasses, goggles, and face shields used by employees under OSHA jurisdiction must meet the ANSI Z87.1 standard. The eyewear standard includes the following minimum requirements: Provide adequate protection against the hazards for which they are designed - Be reasonably comfortable -
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- Fit securely, without interfering with movement or vision -
Be capable of being disinfected if necessary, and be easy to clean
- Be durable
- Fit over, or incorporate, prescription eyewear
While a loose interpretation of these guide lines could be used; it would be expected that a lens be able to protect from chemical agents, not block out 30% of the available light because it is a metal lens full of holes and allow the wind to blow right through them… hello, the lens is full of holes…I’m just sayin…
Airsoft M.A.G.
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Bottom line; for a goggle to be rated as ANSI compliant, your goggle must be submitted for certification. That won’t be happening unless they change their guidelines to include lenses full of holes. Q. - Have you had any issues with your product and bb fragmentation?
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Personally, I have been pelted in the goggs too many times to remember and have never had an issue. My problem, as well as thousands of other player’s is that if we cannot solve the fogging problem, then we can’t play. Period. Players that don’t have this issue or can resolve their fogging issues with the traditional methods want to jump up and down and tell us about how easy it is to solve our problem. This is the Bitter End! We have tried every method available to no avail. I have seen players get shot in the eye or around the eye wearing shooting glasses, right from the side. I have seen players get shot in the eye or around the eye looking over the top of their eyepro. I have seen players get shot in the eye and around the eye by the bb hitting the seal of their goggle and squiring through.
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In my opinion, there is no more risk of having a bb break into pieces and making it to your eye and causing damage than wearing any of the traditional eyepro. As I tell any player that asks me this question, “If you are not 100% sure that Bitter End Goggles will protect you from incoming rounds, do not buy them. And do not ask my opinion, it is biased! Google is your friend, do your research and you will be confident in your purchase.”
Q. - Are all of the goggles you make "full seal"? In the beginning I modified quite a few goggles that weren't full seal; they had a very cool hunting camo pattern on them and I painted the lens to match. Now they are all full seal.
Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview
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After watching a player get shot from the side wearing shooting glasses, and have the bb pachinko between is eyeball and the inside lens I knew it was time to make a push for full seal. Being and event organizer gave me and my playing partners the leverage to require full seal. As a side note; we also made bio’s required at all of the events that we organized.
Q. - How many different types of goggles do you sell?
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Through a process of elimination I have settled on 10 different styles for my product line. Over the years I have modified dozens of different styles of other player’s goggles and masks. The players that send me their turbo fans for a stamped steel lens always crack me up! I have tried to select goggles that are low profile and hug the face; giving better peripheral vision than you would get from a flat lens. Of course this leaves a gap, not covering our friends that wear glasses. I will order up a Flak or an ESS style goggle and put a custom lens in for them; or better yet, ask them to send me their own eyepro that we know already fits over their glasses. Q. - How much do your goggles cost?
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Most of my goggles are $39.95 USD. I am a Wiley dealer and often get request for Wiley products; most of them are a bit more than $40.00 ;). I also have a bargain bin that starts at $25.00 USD; goggles that I have ordered in the past that I didn’t like the fit or finish, but sill have the same Bitter End lens installed. I have several dozen kicking around the shop and hope to get a few snaps of them soon to put up on my Bargain Bin page.
Q. - Tell us about the lower face mask?
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www.freeairsoftmag.com
Players have been asking me for a face mask since early 2007. I really resisted; wanting to have a good foothold on the goggle market before jumping out with a new product line. I tested a few different styles up to and including a full face mask but settled on a lower face mask in the end.
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I enlisted the help of local Airsoft players to evaluate, wear, test and abuse several various styles of prototypes and then fill out a questionnaire about the product with all of the hits and misses. Armed with all of the data from the critiques, I revised the shape and size (offered in standard and slim) to conform with most of the positive points of feedback. I launched Bitter End Lower Face Mask to the general public in January 2010; the reception has been overwhelming!
Q. - Will the mask adjust to fit different face sizes? Because the lower face mask is built from metal; it will hold its shape very well. With a few tweaks you can manipulate the mask to fit your nose, cheeks and chin for a very custom fit. It comes in 2 different sizes; standard ad slim. The slim is narrower and shorter at the chin.
Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview Q. - How much is the mask?
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The price for a Bitter End Lower Face Mask is $49.95 USD. Each mask is built to order (size, color, pattern, trim material and color). Like my goggle lenses; each mask is built by hand. Cut, shaped, filed, degrease, primered, custom painted, trimmed, and a final reshape. Q. - Is a custom paintjob an option on either the mask or goggles?
Every order is a custom order. Each mask is built after it is ordered and built to the player’s specifications. While most players opt for a solid color with matching trim; many request particular patterns that are popular out in the field or matching their load out
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Bitter End Goggles are generally ultra flat black. A current trend is requests for a matching paint scheme when a goggle and mask are ordered together. I prefer not to paint the goggles because of the extra time involved in masking off parts that aren’t supposed to be painted, but if I can squeeze in the time I can splash some color on them for you.
Q. - Do you make custom goggles / masks?
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Over the years I have installed lenses on probably about a hundred goggles or masks that belong to other players. This requires the player to ship their eyepro to my shop for the job. It always surprises me when I open the box! You can’t believe some of the gear that has been sent my way…
Custom Bitter End Mesh Arena Flakjaks and Oakley A Frames
Airsoft M.A.G.
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Q. - Where can I go to purchase Bitter End Airsoft Gear? The best place to acquire Bitter End Gear is www.BitterEndGoggles.com
Q. - Do you have any plans to offer your products as resale items for airsoft suppliers? I think that most of the airsoft retail outlets around the World have sent me an inquiry. Right now we are not set up for mass production; I’m not sure that I want to be.
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There have been several outlets carry my gear at their local brick and mortars. I don’t know what they were charging but I understand it is a bit more than I do. There is something to be said for having gear on hand for a player to try on; if they don’t have to hassle with the shipping and customs, they apparently will pay a few more shekels.
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I don’t have a wholesale/resale program in place yet, but it is something that has been discussed.
Bitter End Airsoft Gear Interview Final Comment:
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I would really like to take a moment to thank all of the players around the World that have supported Bitter End Airsoft Gear. I know that you have many options when it comes to your personal protection and I feel honored that you have considered my gear. I would also be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to thank all of the brave men and women of the armed forces that put their selves in harms way to protect and defend our way of life and are the impetus of a sport that we all love.
- End -
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Jacob Smith Writer Airsoft MAG
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And thanks to Jacob for taking the time to put this interview together.
All pictures were taken from www.bitterendgoggles.com www.st6-airsoft.com
http://magairsoft.com/index.aspx
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Airsoft Team Directory We are going to be compiling a directory of airsoft teams. If you would like your teams information to be published in our magazine, please go to the contacts page on our website. Under user submissions there is an option for the team list, just fill out the form and we will put you in the magazine! www.freeairsoftmag.com
Video of the Month Typically the video of the month will be a reader submission but since this is the first issue of the magazine we get to pick. The video of the month we found over at GWAG Designs. This is one of the best airsoft videos we have seen as far as its production, quality, and audio we hope that you enjoy it as much as we do. Direct Link: www.gwagdesigns.com/Video/TacomaTactical/11595899_rtb5s#8022 59940_8nMU5-A-LB
Video courtesy of David Hintze Photography, www.gwagdesigns.com Video was shot at Tacoma Tactical, www.tacomatactical.com
Thunder B Review
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A teammate and I were running a fast flank around the outside of a well protected machine gun nest. Broken off from the main body of our patrol, we were either going to draw the enemy fire or eliminate the gun crew that was pinning down the rest of our team. M249 and M203 fire rained downed upon us as we raced between tree stumps and fallen logs. Carefully leapfrogging closer to the objective we were able to cut off the line of site behind a large brush pile over 15 feet in diameter that was between us and our opponents. at this point we were a mere 40 feet away from the machine gunners; we hunkered down for a minute to catch our breath and plan our assault. The whirring of the AEG gearboxes quieted down long enough for us to hear them trying to locate our position. "Where did the flankers move to?" I heard one of them ask. "Behind that large brush pile" the other echoed back in It was at that moment that I hear "Frag Out." Smirking to myself, I expected to see yet another tennis ball with a streamer attached to it. I looked around and didn't see anything. I heard a small rustle in the bushes to my 6 o'clock and quickly spun around and was on target to engage whatever was behind me. Nothing, there wasn't anything there. I had enough time to have a puzzled look on my face when a thunderous boom went off that made me jump practically out of my kit. It took a couple of seconds for me and my team mates ears to quit ringing enough to try to figure out what happened. We promptly called ourselves hit, placed our dead rags on our heads, and hiked back to respawn. After the day was over I sought out the enemy team members in the machine gun nest and asked them what it was that they threw at us. That day was my introduction to one of the finest airsoft grenades I have ever used the Hakkotsu Thunder B.
Airsoft M.A.G.
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The Thunder B is advertised as a "noise device." Simply put this means that it makes noise, a lot of noise. Hakkatsu's webpage advertises that it exceeds 130 decibels (we will see about that). It also doubles as a grenade provided that you are competing in an airsoft event with area affect rules for grenades. Typically these are anywhere from 10 to 20 feet from impact a player is eliminated.
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Also great for a training simulation device the Thunder B utilizes 12 gram CO2 cartridges. Between the cost of the spare shells and the 12 grams they average around $ 2.50 per throw. Which is much more cost effective than using real flash bangs, and adds more realism to a training scenario than yelling "Bang." They are approximately 5.5 inches tall and have a maximum width of 2.25 inches. Weighing in at just over 7 oz a piece they will not add to much weight to your kit. There are two styles of shells available both a "flash" and "pineapple" style shell. I have seen these advertised that they will fit in standard flash bang pouches. I have both a US Army issue single flash bang pouch and a Condor double flash bang pouch. The Condor double flash bang pouch will only fit the "flash" style shell as the "pineapple's" are to big in diameter, and the Army issue single will fit both styles.
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I got these Thunder B's for my testing purposes from Airsoft Extreme (www.airsoftextreme.com). I got the Thunder B Beginner Package, Thunder B Pineapple Shell 12 Pack, Thunder B Cylinder Shell 12 Pack, and Thunder B Safety Pin 12 Pack. The Beginner Package comes with 1 main unit (which includes the CO2 cylinder housing, spoon, and firing assembly), 2 pins, 2 pineapple shells, and 1 flash bang shell. Also available from Airsoft Extreme are the Thunder B Firing Lever, and the Thunder B Player Pack which consists of one firing unit and 12 cylinder shells.
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Thunder B Review
Thunder B Begginers Package
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The Thunder B main unit has the cylinder housing for the 12 gram CO2 cartridge as well as the firing mechanism. The firing mechanism has a spoon which holds down a spring tensioned hammer, which when tripped, applies pressure to a puncture device which breaks the seal on the CO2 cartridge allowing the cylinder to fill with gas until the internal pressure ruptures the outer shell. Also on the head of the firing mechanism are two pin holes, one is the main firing pin and the other is a safety pin.
www.freeairsoftmag.com
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It only takes a couple of simple steps to assemble a Thunder B to have it ready to fire. I highly recommend setting the firing lever before installing the 12 gram as it is very common for the firing lever to snap shut before the safety pin is installed and this would release the CO2 prematurely
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Step 1 - Pull back the firing lever and install a pin into the safety pin slot
Step 2 - Fold the Spoon so that it depresses the firing lever and place the firing pin in the middle pin hole. At this point you can remove the safety pin.
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Note: you may want to bend the long end of the pin (as shown) so that the pin does not easily fall out
Step 3 - Place a 12 gram CO2 cylinder inside the housing. Place the concave side of the black rubber ring facing the 12 gram and press down firmly
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Thunder B Review
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Left side is the concave side of the rubber spacer that faces towards the 12 gram. Right side is the top and should be facing the firing mechanism.
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Firmly press down the Rubber Spacer
Step 4- Thread the cylinder housing into the firing mechanism, and thread the firing assembly onto the shell tightly. Your Done !
Airsoft M.A.G.
On to the testing‌..
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A key factor we noted was the size difference between the two separate shells. They have a very different inside volume area and we were curious as to how that affected the detonation time as well as the decibel output. Logically one can assume that the "pineapple" shells with their smaller volume of 11.4 pounds per cubic inch, would have a faster detonation time and possibly a quieter "bang." Vise Versa the larger "flash" shells with the volume of 13.1 PCI, would have a slower detonation time and possibly a louder "bang."
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Another key variable in the equation is the CO2. Unfortunately we do not have any cold weather to try any testing with different temperatures, and our refrigerator results were‌. less than favorable. The other issue is with the consistency of 12 grams themselves. Through many years of experience using 12 grams we have found that Crossman brand 12 gram cartridges are the most consistent and reliable so that is what we used for all of the testing.
Thunder B Review
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First of all we wanted to test out the "130 decibels" that is very loud and while the noise the Thunder B's make is impressive we where skeptical if it truly was 130 decibels. Using our Spur Scientific decibel meter, which conveniently has a maximum reading of 130 decibels, we went to test out how loud they really were in both the "pineapple" and "flash" shells. All tests were performed outside in a quiet, serene, wooded setting with the birds chirping, and the brook babbling, well....until we got there. We placed the freshly calibrated decibel meter approximately 5 feet from the Thunder B with the microphone condenser facing the grenade. Out of 6 different trials, 3 "Flash" and 3 "Pineapple" every test yielded a decibel reading that was beyond the capacity of the meter. So we cannot tell you definitively how loud they are but we can tell you that they were louder than 130 decibels. We were unable to detect a difference between shells they were both really loud. You can view one of the "pineapple" shells detonating on our you tube page (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z9oOOMVgUs)
www.freeairsoftmag.com
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The next test was to determine the average detonation time of each different shape of shell. For this test we video taped detonating several of each type of shell. We then went back and edited the footage and recorded the start to finish times of the detonation. The average time for the "flash" shells was 8.5 seconds with a range of 1.2 seconds. The average detonation time for the "Pineapple" shells was 6.8 seconds with a range of .9 seconds. The "Pineapple" shells were a little more consistent but defiantly had a shorter time, we attribute this to the smaller volume of the shells.
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The final test we wanted to try was to help find the main unit once it has been deployed in the field. These can be difficult to find in the woods after they have been thrown, and losing a $ 25 grenade is not pleasant. We had the ingenious idea to add a little baby powder in the shell so that a visible cloud would shoot into the air upon detonation, hopefully making it easier to find the main unit. Well this failed in a couple ways. Although it did make a white cloud upon detonation when these detonate they tend to jump around and fly in different directions. So even though there was a cloud in one location doesn’t mean the Thunder B is still there, we have seen them blow as far as 15 feet away from there initial resting place. The other problem was that when the CO2 rapidly dissipates from the main units it chills the cylinder which creates moisture. This moisture and the baby powder form a nice layer of batter that completely sticks to the whole unit and is kind of messy to clean. All in all this idea is an epic fail in our book.
Thunder B Review - Lightweight - Economical
Cons
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Pros - Impressive performance - Realistic
Can be hard to find - after they are deployed
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May not fit in some flash bang pouches
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- Effective
12 gram CO2 - cartridges can be inconsistent
So if you are clearing rooms at your favorite MOUT/CQB facility, on a patrol through the forest, or conducting a tactical training exercise the Hakkotsu Thunder B is a great addition to your load out and is highly recommended due to its low cost, realism, and functionality.
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Airsoft Mag
Check out our you tube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/FreeAirsoftMagazine for videos of some Thunder B testing
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Infinity Airsoft Interview
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This editions team interview is with Infinity Airsoft. They are an airsoft team based out of Elkton, Maryland. Between their webpage, forum, and plans to start the Infinity Airsoft League, they are leading the way with an organized airsoft league in their area. They can be found at http://infinityairsoft.topic-debate.com/portal.htm
Q. - When, where, and how did Infinity Airsoft start? Infinity Airsoft was established on February 2, 2008. We are rooted in Maryland in a small town located just outside of Baltimore, named Elkton. Infinity Airsoft was always a dream for some of us. Most of our guys have been playing for a while, but knew nothing about each other. Getting together enough people for the association was tough and is an on going process. We stumbled upon most of our members by chance, starting up random conversations with friends and slowly feeling out new players. We also started sparking interest in nonplayers by inviting them to play and use some of our extra gear. It has just slowly grown from there.
Airsoft M.A.G.
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Q. - Are you more of a mil-sim team or recreational? We are mostly recreational. But if an opportunity arose, we would be more than willing to attend a mil-sim event.
Q. - How many team members do you currently have?
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We currently have thirteen players on our roster. We also have members in Havre de Grace, Maryland who play for our new affiliate team called Maryland Mercenaries. Q. - Your affiliate team, are they an offshoot of IA? Or are they just a companion team that you play with. Our affiliate, Maryland Mercs of Havre de Grace, Maryland are now an official division of the Infinity Airsoft League. We are still working on the specifics as this is a new expansion project we have been working on for the past couple of months. Expect to see more of Maryland Mercs in the near future! We hope to have many more local teams involved in the league within the next year.
Infinity Airsoft Interview Q. - Do you have a home field that you play at? Or do you travel all over to play?
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Both. We have two fields in Elkton that we practice and play. We also travel around the tri-state area in search of new fields, new teams and new players. Our members are always ready to play at new locations because it gives us a chance to challenge ourselves. By not having the home field advantage, we constantly have to adapt to each playing field and adjust our style of tactics accordingly.
Q. - Does the team get together to practice on a regular basis?
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Yes. We hold practice at least once a month. Sometimes more but we always get at least one in. Q. - What sort of things does Infinity Airsoft practice when they get together? IE just run force on force, or shooting drills, movement formations.... At practices we put our individual strengths and weaknesses to the test by taking part in different scenarios and judging each player on their performance. This keeps things fun and allows a chance to improve each of our abilities.
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One of our favorite practice scenarios is something we like to call “last man standing”. During this scenario we send one player onto the field to establish a good defensive position. Once he is set up, we send out five more players to “hunt” the single player. Obviously the odds are stacked against him/her but this is what makes this drill a challenge. Let’s face it - you will most likely encounter a situation where you need to rely on yourself to overcome obstacles. This drill allows a chance to hone in and improve on those individual skills. We won’t go into too many specifics on what or how we practice but we will say this - it takes a lot of time and determination to get things right and ultimately become successful on the field.
Airsoft M.A.G.
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Q. - Do you host any events?
We can’t say that we have. Not yet at least.
Q. - Do you have plans to start hosting events?
We have discussed hosting a small local event next year (2011) during the fall season. We don’t have any specifics though at this point.
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Q. - Have you or do you plan to attend any national events?
We haven’t yet but a few of our members have registered to attend OP: White Dragon at AirsoftCon 2010. It will be held at the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, WV. The event is going to be hosted by Team Stormblade and sounds like it will be very exciting. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play airsoft in a prison? We also have heard that Operation Lion Claws have been planning an event called ‘Northern Light’ which is supposed to be held in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania this year. There’s no word on when the event will be though.
Q. - Are you more of an outdoor or CQB type of team?
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Mostly outdoors but we have attended a few events at CQB locations such as Tactical Airsoft Arena in Rockville, MD. We enjoy both styles of play but it seems we are invited to more games that fall into the ‘outdoor’ category.
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Infinity Airsoft Interview
Q. - What is the airsoft scene like in Maryland?
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Well, we can only speak in regards to places we have played before. In Rising Sun we have met a local team there called Rapid Fire Airsoft who are a great group of guys and we always enjoy having skirmishes with them. In Havre de Grace there are many players who like to come out and also have a great time, and not get too serious about the game – since, after all, it is just a game when it comes down to it. And last but not least, in Elkton, we have noticed over time that there are a lot more players then would first meet the eye. It seems the players here in Elkton really know how to stay under wraps. As for the airsoft scene in general, a lot of the places in Northeastern Maryland are equipped with perfect playing fields because …well let’s face it… the woods are all around us. In addition, it seems that we have played with many more young players than old and many more newbie players than experienced. Overall the players here seem to be much more laid back compared to other places we’ve played which can be a good or a bad thing, depending on what kind of player you are and how you like to play airsoft.
Airsoft M.A.G. Q. - Please tell us about the most recent large scale op. Infinity Airsoft has been involved in?
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The most recent operation that Infinity Airsoft attended was during last year, April of 2009. We attended OP: Toxic Waste which took place in Newark, DE. This year a few of our members will be attending OP: White Dragon in Moundsville, WV. Q. - Does your team follow any sort of rank structure?
Yes and no.
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Over the past few years we have found that to operate as a unified team efficiently on the field you must first appoint captains of some sort. This strengthens the team many ways but to keep things short I’ll just go over a couple. First, this decreases the number of players using radios. By decreasing the number of players speaking on the radio, you lower the chances of giving away your position and most importantly minimize confusion. Secondly, it allows captains to coordinate their next move quickly and efficiently amongst each other so that violence of action can be carried out without hesitation. As far as ranks go, we don’t like to get too caught up in the details. We don’t believe in having rank titles for every player on the team because we like to keep team members united and equal. However, we have appointed two Fire team leaders, mainly for tactical purposes.
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Q. - Do you have any military or police officers on your team?
Yes sir. We have two members who have just recently been accepted into the United States Air Force. Another one of our members is a ranked cadet in the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Core) program at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He will be participating in the ranger challenge this fall – Hoorah!
Q. - What does it take to join IA?
Infinity Airsoft Interview
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To become a member of Infinity Airsoft you must first submit an application. You can do this by going to our forum page. At the top of the page click ‘Apply Now’. Once an application is submitted we will review the information and decide whether or not the applicant should be moved to the next step. We judge things like, “How close does this person live to us?”, “What makes this person a good candidate?”, “What would they bring to the table?”, ect. If you become a member, in order to hold your place on the team you must be an avid player, follow all airsoft safety rules, know how to behave in a professional manor on and off the field, and overall, you must know how to have a good time!
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Q. - Tell me about the Infinity Airsoft League, and what that is all about?
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The Infinity Airsoft League is a project we've been working on for a long while. To make a long story short, the basic idea is to unite local teams around our area into one unified league. One that will share a patch, and a rule set. As part if the league, each team will hold it's own
Airsoft M.A.G.
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identity and will operate as they normally would; however, teams will work together to advance common goals and to secure common interests. I wont go too far into detail because we are still working out the specifics. We hope to have everything listed on our webpage by January of 2011. If you, or someone you know has a team that would like to join, please contact us. We are always happy to meet new players and bring new teams on board.
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I would like to thank Infinity Airsoft for their participation in this interview. All pictures are courtesy of Infinity Airsoft. For more information please visit http://infinityairsoft.topic-debate.com/portal.htm
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Airsoft
M.A.G.
Thanks for reading I hope that you will come back for more. Issue # 2 is due to be released mid September so please stay tuned. We will have a article on how to build a hop up tracer unit, as well as a team interview with Wolf Recon. Plus more . . . . . . . . .
- The Editor -