V O L U M E 1 1 I S S U E 1
N
T
E
R
N
A
T
I
MULTICAM BLACK!
O
N
A
25
NIGHT VISION EAT YA’ CARROTS OR KIT UP HERE!
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
RECOIL AK WITH ASCU
OUR NEW STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO A SMOOTHER, FASTER, RECOIL AEG!
WE MSK!
BLANK FIRING GRENADES!
GBBR LIKE A BOSS
BIG BADDABOOM! INCENTIVE DESIGNS LATEST BFG ON TEST
KRYTAC RANGE
FIGHTING SEASON!
THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES OF A CANADIAN INFANTRYMAN FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE ANA
THE IDEAL SPRINGER?
ebcon publishing ltd.
BE IT HOT, COLD, DRY OR CHUCKING IT DOWN, THEY FORGE ON REGARDLESS!
JUN15 Cover.indd 1
£4.25
A I R S O F T
GE T GE ARED UP IN CRY E ’S L ATES T C AMO PAT TERN FIT FOR L OW-LIGHT USE
MAXPEDITION BAGS WW2 STERLING SMG! AIRSOFT BLASTING
PISTOLS ON TEST!
FILL YOUR HAND! THERE’S A PISTOL FOR EVERYONE
BACK IN BLACK!
EVERYDAY TACTICAL ESSENTIALS
L
WWII SITE REPORT!
BOOTS ON THE GROUND AT POW
TRI PRC RADIO
NEW BAD-ASS COMMS!
V O L :1 1 I S S :1
I
01/05/2015 14:34
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
07/04/2015 23:15
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
07/04/2015 23:15
FOREWORD WORD AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL VOLUME VOLUME911ISSUE ISSUE11
AIRSOFTER MAGAZINE OF CHSOIC E
CALL IT QUITS?
paul@ai-mag.com
Hello all and sundry and welcome to none other than Volume 9 of Again,International! I’m sitting here thewe finishing Airsoft Yes, putting that’s right, are into touches our ninth year of on anotherand issue of the magazine andmighty I’ve found publication it’s true, from tiny acorns oaks grow! Things myself thinking “where thea lot hellover hasthe theyears timeand we like to have changed and progressed gone?!” already on to Volume 11! To much celebrate think Ai asWe’re an entity has evolved into something more than though, we have jam-packed bundlewon’t of joy what we started outawith and we certainly beto stopping any time At thisa notable juncture like to once again thank you givesoon! you with huge and variedI’dspread of content. readers foratyour support, enthusiasm Starting theoverwhelming beginning, we are honoured to and passion every the way, it simply couldn’t happened bringstep youofexclusively, the first few have chapters fromwithout you! then, why doJonathan people decide to call it quits? I’m not talking AiSocontributor, Wade’s work-in-progress about in general. Once inAs a while you’d bookmagazines about his here, time but on airsoft the ground in Afghan. see upinfantryman at the local skirmish “Quitting Airsoft he’sa poster both an and a site combat medic, it’s Sale, All Kit Go” and now youtosee same in a digital medium. On anMust eye-opening read saythe the least. forums andcloser Facebook. What makes a person just lose interest and A little to home, Ian Stokes brings us his stop airsofting? Family situations I guess are a valid reason, kids, review of Players of War, a site with a strong WW2 finances and real life can get in the way and make it difficult to play theme up in Scotland. To compliment this little that much, but surely just once in a while even if it’s only once a theme, we also have the Beta Project AEG Sterling year, it’s good to get out in the fresh air and blow out the cobwebs? SMG reviewed a little the issue. but even then we Health is also going to be later a validinconsideration With morethat guns thanrefuse ever to before, wehave alsoactually played know of guys simply quit and bring a mightythat’s round-up no less than 25 CQB in ayou wheelchair, pretty of inspirational! gas blowback pistols, treatsbecome to usebored over and the I guess the main reasonperfect is that people summer when their performance be from at itsbecoming stale passion dies but it’s possible to preventwill things peak! Keeping the pedal the gasI we return by progressing things along. on Back when firstalso started playing, my to our worry WE MSK andtoawesome riflerunning we and biggest wasGBBR, being able afford to looking keep my gun moreover, pay for fixes. I dreaded being of action for a couple have been playing with over the lastout few months. of months and havingistoa spend the moneywe I’dare otherwise Now the weather little warmer, happyspend to on BBs and walk-on labour charges. My solution was to learn be able to givefees it a on broad review. to fix things myself andfirst it was Sincelook then if my gun Another massive fortruly us isliberating. an in-depth has gone down fixing it isn’t a big thing, £10 on a spare part and a at 4 of the new range of Krytac AEGs that are due couple of hours of my time and I’m back in. to land in the UK about the same time you might be Things are always going to get stale if youinonly to the same reading this. Not content with taking thegolovely sites week features, in, week out sobeneath make surethe youskin keeptothings fresh, external wetoo, dug visit new places and try new things. Even if you don’t really like find out what makes these things tick. If you are a what you find at another site, at least you’ll be thankful for what tech-head, make sure you check it out right away! you have at the “local”. New challenges are essential too; the For the more Mil-Sim-oriented player translation we’ve been very nature of airsoft makes for an awkward into withpastime the TRIsoPRC-152 aplaying competitive the one radio, person possibly you shouldthe really be most popular and capable functional replicas on with 5 high challenging is yourself. If you are used to playing a game the market. Wedown are to impressed what weshooting see caps, try cutting 5 mid capswith and test your skills. If andtry weand have included a guidetry toithelp thenot to get you achieve an objective, nextyou timewith but try trickier aspects of programming for use.uninterested hit at all. Push yourself and you’ll soonthem find yourself inAfter the trivialities of others complaining this you can readtaking abouthits theornew Incentiveabout games being unfair, you’ll be improving YOUR game. you don’t Designs ID-5 multi-shot impact grenade, Ultimately, progression is what want to miss out on that one!keeps things interesting and it’s theAs very thing thatyour has given its longevity. We’vespent progressed as well as all usualAifavourites, I also time hashours gone on and we’ve new challenges a few working outovercome how to shoe-horn an and made new achievements without resting on our laurels. Try doing that ASCU V3 into a Tokyo Marui Recoil AK, something yourself because it’s what makes airsoft such out an engaging that they said couldn’t happen; it turns it’s a and absorbing hobby! lot easier than anticipated and now I’m enjoying See you on the field! 3-round burst. Check it out and try it yourself with
BEN WEBB EDITOR
bwebb@ai-mag.com
A fresh face at the wheel, ready to steer Ai on to the next level.
BEN DICKIE ART DIRECTOR
designteam@ai-mag.com
The Rambo of shapes & colours.
JONATHAN WADE JAMES KENTON CONSULTANT STAFF WRITER
jonathan@ebcon.co.uk jay@ai-mag.com
A veteran of upgrading the Canadian Finding and theArmed perfectForces lends AEG ishis hisconsiderable holy grail. knowledge.
JAMES KENTON CONNOR JAMES STAFF WRITER
jay@ai-mag.com connor@ebcon.co.uk
Finding and upgrading the perfect With a wealth of knowledge under his AEG is hisa holy grail.addition. belt he’s welcome
FRENCHIE JACK BAXTER STAFF WRITER
frenchie@ai-mag.com jack@ai-mag.com
Our Frankiefor Boyle. Hethings knowsapart, what’s Has own a penchant taking what and isn’t scared todon’t speakhave his mind! he’ll break stuff, so you to.
CONNOR JAMES BILL PRYCE THOMAS STAFF WRITER
connor@ebcon.co.uk bill@ebcon.co.uk
With a wealth of his knowledge his Bill joins us with technicalunder experience belt a welcome addition. and ahe’s ‘wild’ passion for ‘Namsoft!
CRAIG ATKIN ILLUSTRATION
craig_atkin@hotmail.co.uk
With a pen in one hand and a 1911 in the other, this talented guy has us covered!
STEPHEN DEMAGALSKI AI TEAM OPERATIONS
dddemo@ebcon.co.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS Away missions and excursions, Demo is SIGN UP TODAY AND GET AI IN BOTH HARD AND DIGITAL in and88our man on point. FORMAT! CHECK first OUT PAGE FORkey MORE INFORMATION Order online at: www.ai-mag.com Or over the phone on: 01775 750005
PUBLISHING PAUL MONAF: SALES AND PUBLISHING DIRECTOR PUBLISHING paul@ai-mag.com
PAUL MONAF: SALES / PUBLISHING DIRECTOR SHARON MONAF: ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR paul@ai-mag.com
sharon@ai-mag.com
SHARON MONAF: ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
sharon@ai-mag.com EBCON PUBLISHING LTD
The Courtyard, Chopdike Drove, Gosberton, Clough
DISTRIBUTED BY -COMAG Lincolnshire. PE11 4JP United Kingdom
Tavistock road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE
Telephone: 01895 433600 / Facsimile: 01895 433605 DISTRIBUTED BY COMAG
Tavistock road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE
PRINTED BY THE MAGAZINE PRINTING COMPANY
Telephone: 01895 433600 / Facsimile: 01895 433605 Issn: 1750-8584
PRINTED BY THE MAGAZINE PRINTING COMPANY
ebcon
TURN IT UP TO 11!
our step-by-step guide!
Issn: 1750-8584
ebcon
publishing ltd.
Don’t waste another second and dig right in!
publishing ltd.
I S S U E 1
I
N
T
E
R
N
A
T
I
O
N
A
GET
GEAR ZONE! SOME!
ALL NEW!
A I R S O F T I N T E R N AT I O N A L
The publishers of Airsoft International (Ai) magazine do not condone the possession of firearms, airsoft models or replica weaponry for illegal purposes. The hobby sport of airsoft skirmishing is conducted at specialist skirmish sites or clubs throughout the world, in controlled conditions where strict safety policies are implemented. Airsoft International magazine does not publish articles on real firearms or blank firing weapons. Airsoft replicas should not be confused with real firearms, air rifles or BB Guns. In accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Home Office in the UK (overseas readers may be subject to different laws), airsoft replicas are not to be used or brandished by any individual in a threatening manner in public or in any way to cause a person to fear personal injury. Airsoft replicas are recommended for use at professionally run skirmish sites. Individuals ignoring this advice will be breaking the law and can expect severe penalties imposed upon them from their local constabularies.
THE ONLY MAGAZINE MADE BY AIRSOFTERS FOR AIRSOFTERS
9
DISCLAIMER
V O L U M E
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of articles in this magazine, but the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors contained in material from independent sources or authors. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustration in any form without permission from the publisher/editor is strictly prohibited. We welcome articles, photographs or artwork. Airsoft International cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please enclose a SAE if you wish your material to be returned. Competitions will be judged on the dates specified. No correspondence will be entered into and the judge’s decision is final. In the event of the published prize not being available due to circumstances beyond the control of the magazine, a suitable alternative of similar value will be provided.
TASTY TREATS FOR YOU AND YOUR GUN!
L
GUNS! GE A R! TECH ! W NE ION CT SE GE PA
!
72
A MIXED GRILL OF MOUTH WATERING CHOICE CUTS IN GEAR ZONE THIS MONTH TEAM WORK IN OUR NEW SECTION ‘SOLDIER SKILLS’ WE FOCUS ON FORMATION 416D RECOIL HOW DOES MARUI’S NEW REPLICA HOLD UP IN OUR FIELD TEST?
INSIDE UPGRADES WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ALL THOSE CRITICAL COMPONANTS FERRO CONCEPTS INNOVATIVE LIGHTWEIGHT GEAR FOR THE MODERN WARRIOR... STAY LIGHT! FIGHT RIGHT!
SWORDS IN THE SAND GOOD GUYS IN BAD LANDS - GOING UNDERCOVER
GET NATIVE AND GO UNDERCOVER WITH TWO ORIGINAL
ebcon publishing ltd.
LOAD OUTS THAT WILL SET YOU APART ON THE FIELD
I R I S H E D I T I O N
TRIED AND TESTED! DOWNLOAD AI NOW! TEAM SCENE! GALLERY WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! OUR HONEST OPINIONS!
WE ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO READ ONLINE! SEE PAGE 68
GET YOU & YOUR TEAM RECOGNISED
YOUR PHOTOS IN PRINT
JUNE 2013 VOL-9 ISS-1 £4.25
The man that started it all. He calls the shots behind the scenes.
OF THE 2015 POPULA AIRSOFT PLAYERS R CHOICE AWARDS
T PAGES nphoenix CHECK OU om/games/falle g.c HOW TO www.ai-ma TEST INFO AND LA OKED E BO TH FOR TEAM AND YOUR THOUGH AS GET YOU QUICKLY ARE ES IN! MOVE SID BOTH PLACES ON ATCHED UP BEING SN ! VERY FAST
PAUL MONAF
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
WINNER!
AI500 NG BOOKI EN! P O W NO OR VISIT 16 AND 17
ON THE COVER THIS MONTH JUNE UK Cover.indd 1
!
READYROOM
29/04/2013 08:41
GEAR UP & GET YOUR TEAM RECOGNISED
SWORDS IN THE SAND - CHECK OUT PAGE 22
004 003 FOREWORD.indd FOREWARD.indd 34
01/05/2015 29/04/2013 17:14 08:43
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
10/02/2015 13:33
CONTENTS INCOMING!
10 GALLERY
Reader’s images from around the globe.
12 LCT SR3M FIRST LOOK!
AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL
VOLUME 11 ISSUE 1
80
ALL NEW!
Ian Stokes gets his hands on the first one in the UK.
14-15 A HARD DAY’S NIGHT First look at super-affordable night vision kit.
16-21 ALONGSIDE THE ANA
An exclusive preview of the story of a Canadian infantryman in Afghanistan.
24-25 READY ROOM
Another new team under the spotlight this month.
28-29 LOCAL LOAD OUTS
Your kit, your rules on these pages. Get involved us and tell us how you play.
32-33 VIPER FOOTWEAR
Top quality and affordable footwear from Viper Tactical.
34-35 PLAYERS OF WAR
Ian Stokes gives us a site report from WW2 themed PoW.
14
SIT-REP
38-39 FIRING POINT
Another subject of contention discussed by Frenchie.
FEATURED
42-49 BACK IN BLACK!
Multicam Black forms the basis of our latest load out.
16
006
66
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
006-007 CONTENTS.indd 6
01/05/2015 15:14
42
HEY, DO YOU SUBSCRIBE? SIGN UP NOW AND GET AI IN BOTH HARD AND DIGITAL FORMAT! CHECK OUT PAGE 108
ARMOURY
50-51 SPRINGERS
What makes a spring gun worth while, find out here.
54-60 25 GAS PISTOLS!
No less than 25 gas pistols rounded up and ready to fill your hand.
62 KAJAKI FILM REVIEW
This underground war-flick is reviewed for you to get fired up before a big game.
66-69 WE MSK
The weather looks just about right to give the GBB a proper work out.
72-77 BETA PROJECT STERLING SMG
The second the Sterling AEG hit the shelves we had to check it out.
80-85 A NEW BREED
The range of Krytac AEGSs analysed inside and out.
GEAR LOCKER
88-92 TRIED & TESTED
TRI PRC-152 radios on test and we check out the new Incentive Designs ID-5.
94-95 TAG IT AND BAG IT!
Maxpedition packs that will make the transition from everyday to safe zone.
SKILLS
97-99 THE WORKSHOP
Jay makes a flying start on Project: Charlie!
100-107 THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL
We fit an ASCU V3 inside a TM Recoil AK, it was tight but it works!
12
INDUSTRY INSIDER 109 FRENCH LETTER
Another deep thought from our man Frenchie to round out another issue.
AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL ONLINE AND RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
PICK UP A SUBSCRIPTION TO OUR DIGITAL ISSUES AND YOU CAN READ AI ON ALL OF YOUR DEVICES, FROM PHONES AND TABLETS TO DESKTOP COMPUTERS WITH JUST ONE QUICK AND EASY ONLINE LOGIN! CHECK OUT WWW.AI-MAG.COM/SUBSCRIBE
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
006-007 CONTENTS.indd 7
007
01/05/2015 16:45
WWW.FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK
01733 247171- SALES@FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK
! E P A P CX
W ALL NE
THE ALL NEW ICS CXP-APE AEG WITH ALL METAL BODY AND ULTRA MODERN STYLING. ALSO AVAILABLE IN BLACK, TYAN AND WITH A VARIETY OF BARREL LENGTHS • • • • •
Gun Length - 716mm - 784mm Barrel Length - 263mm Weight - 2900g Muzzle Velocity - Up to 340fps Battery Type - Li-Po 7.4V (stored in stock) Magazine - M4 Hi-cap magazine Mag. Capacity - 300 rounds Motor - Infinite 2500 long pin Spring - M100 Material - Metal
• • • • •
BACKED BY A FULL RANGE OF SPARES AND UPGRADE PARTS FITTED BY THE EXPERT TECHNICIANS AT FIRE SUPPORT! BUY ICS WITH CONFIDENCE.
5 4 3 £
FROM
WWW.FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK - 01733 247171- SALES@FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK
ICS APE ad.indd 2
05/05/2015 13:43
CONTACT US FOR TRADE SALES ON ALL ICS GUNS, PART AND ACCESSORIES!
! G O H XP
W ALL NE
C
ICS’S NEW COMPACT AEG RIFLE COMPLETE WITH SLIDING STOCK AND SLEEK KEYMOD RAIL SYSTEM IS IDEAL FOR CQB GAMES • • • • • • • • • •
Gun Length - 700mm - 795mm Barrel Length - 261mm Weight - 3000g Muzzle Velocity - Up to 340fps Battery Type - LiPo 7.4V (stored in stock tube) Magazine - M4 Hi-cap magazined Mag. Capacity - 300 rounds Motor - Infinite 2500 long pin Spring - M100 Material - Metal
BACKED BY A FULL RANGE OF SPARES AND UPGRADE PARTS FITTED BY THE EXPERT TECHNICIANS AT FIRE SUPPORT! BUY ICS WITH CONFIDENCE.
9 1 3 £
JUST
WWW.FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK - 01733 247171- SALES@FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK
ICS APE ad.indd 3
05/05/2015 13:43
READERS GALLERY YOUR SHOT S IN PRINT! - YOUR SHOT S IN PRINT!
READERS GALLERY!
ACTION FROM ROD FAIRCLOTH - LAS VEGAS
FIGHTING DOWN THE RAT-RUN AT STANTA
AI’S BENNO FINALLY GETS PICKED OFF BEHIND COVER
JORDAN EDGE ISN’T SCARED OF SKULL-FACE MAN
WILL MILLS BLASTING AWAY
GRAHAM HORNER PERFORMING PRE-FLIGHT CHECKS
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS TO: BWEBB@AI-MAG.COM
010-012 GALLERY.indd 10
01/05/2015 13:39
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
06/04/2015 17:06
EXCLUSIVE! FIRST LOOK AT THE LCT SR3M
first look!
LCT SR3M THIS MONTH IAN STOKES WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO LAY HIS HANDS ON WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF THE NEW LCT SR3M ASSAULT RIFLE IN THE UK. THE RUSSIAN SUBMACHINE GUN IS PAINFULLY COOL AND OFFERES SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE REGULAR SELECTION, SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, HERE’S WHAT IAN HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE LCT SR3M... The LCT version closely represents the real world version with the detachable suppressor available separately. Out the box this feels solid and surprisingly weighty. The folding stock is locked solid against the weapon and easily deployed. The fore grip has a little switch to release the vertical grip and shoulders exceptionally comfortably. The battery fits under the polymer front and I found it is a three-handed job! I had to employ a rubber band to hold the battery in place while I refitted the guard. LCT has even developed 7.4v and 11.1v packs to fit under the hand guard, I didn't have access to these yet but found a short battery did the job effectively. The hop is accessed through the bolt cover, but I found it easier by removing the top cover and then locking it back in place. On the range I was able to comfortably hit the 60 yard marker accurately but the BBs carried onto the 70 yard marker. Fitting the magazines is an art form as any Val or Vintoritz owner will tell you, lets hope they replicate a mag well spacer for these as I think it would be very useful. Skirmishing I found it very pointable, it will be very useful in CQB as well as holding its own in the woodland. This is a pocket rocket, love it or hate the looks there is no denying its ability.
012
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
012 SR3M FIRST LOOK.indd 12
01/05/2015 13:39
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 16:47
EXCLUSIVE! PITCH BL ACK NIGHT VISION - PITCH BL A
NIGHT VISION PITCH BL ACK NIGHT VISION W W W . P I T C H B L A C K N I G H T V I S I O N . C O . U K NIGHT VISION IS WELL UP THERE ON THE WISH LIST FOR MANY AIRSOFT PLAYERS BUT ITS HIGH PRICE PUT IS OUT OF THE REALMS OF AFFORDABILITY FOR MANY. PITCH BLACK NIGHT VISION, A UK-BASED COMPANY, HAVE TAKEN THE AIRGUN HUNTING MARKET BY STORM WITH THEIR COMPETITIVELY PRICED FIELD MASTER UNIT, SO WE ARE CHECKING ONE OUT TO SEE HOW USEFUL IT MIGHT BE TO THE AIRSOFT SKIRMISHER. Night vision equipment has traditionally been very expensive because of the technology employed to produce it. Analogue intensifiers and imaging tubes are fragile and specialist kit but more recently, with improvements in image sensor technology, digital night vision has become more and more prevalent, especially in the civilian marketplace. Pitch Black have harnessed the power of this technology to bring us the Field Master, an all-in-one system capable as both a day and night scope.
THE FIELD MAS TER
The Field Master is Pitch Black’s most compact unit, measuring 8” long and around 4” in height. When opened out the unit is approximately 9” wide including the visible and IR light emitters. It features a hi-res LCD screen measuring approximately 4” x 2” upon which it the display is viewed. At the front end of the device, the 50mm lens gives a 5x magnification, about right for airsoft applications balancing a little reach with a wide field of view. The rugged casing is made from aircraft-grade aluminium and it features a minimal interface system, simply a power switch, a small number of option buttons for control and calibration, a power in point and a video out feed. The device is also fitted with a 11mm weaver rail clamp on the bottom which can be adapted to fit RIS rails and the right-hand side has dual RIS rails in order to clamp the emitters.
014
THE PIC TURE
Although the Field Master offers a myriad of functions and setting available to tweak through it’s visual menu system, it’s easy to pick up and use. The package comes with everything you need including rechargeable batteries, a charger for each and a set of spares for the emitters! The unit itself runs for up to 12 hours on a single charge which takes just 2 hours. With the screen folded out you are simply presented with the view through the lens on the front superimposed with a crosshair reticule, this is customisable and easily zeroed to the rifle the unit is mounted to. Quick access settings for brightness, contrast and colour balance allow you to achieve a pin-point image in either direct sunlight or pitch blackness.
IN USE
So far we have only been able to perform preliminary tests with the Field Master but we are impressed with the image it produces in darkness. The screen has a genuine “UAV” feel to it and we are looking forward to exploring the possibilities using the video-out link-up system and the prospect of being able to record the feed through the device. Given the size of the device, we’re not sure it’s going to be optimal for CQB use and it’ll certainly be more at home on the rifle of a sniper or spotter performing recce missions or even as a sentry device for night-time security.
Night vision is certainly one of those items that adds a new dimension to airsoft games and it will come into its own when employed in themed, Mil-Sim events where securing compounds and maintaining a perimeter the night through is important… Letting our imaginations run riot, we could see this device, used remotely, adding an awesome aspect to zombie-themed games, allowing survivors to monitor the status of their defenses at all times. Again, thinking outside the box, the Field Master might even be useful simply as a night-time capture device for game-play video editors. There’s certainly a hos of possibilities that could be tapped into. Initially we are a little worried how the unit might hold up to the vigours of a skirmish and how the LCD will respond to being shot with an airsoft gun. We suspect it’ll be a good idea to fit some kind of polycarbonate shield or cover over the screen itself because it doesn’t seem like it will be BB-proof! We are looking forward to spending a little more time fully analyzing the device and using it in different situations over the course of the summer months, so look out for a full and comprehensive breakdown of what we make of the features and functions of the Pitch Black Field Master Digital Night Vision Scope. The Field Master package show here costs just £385 including both visible and IR emitters, batteries and chargers. Head to www. pitchblacknightvision.co.uk for full specification and detail.
W W W.PITCHBLACKNIGHT VISION.CO.UK
014-015 NIGHT VISION.indd 14
01/05/2015 15:53
BL ACK NIGHT VISION - PITCH BL ACK NIGHT VISION OUTSIDE THE BOX?
“Night Vision” as we recognise it is generally based on the use of an Image Intensifier. An image intensifier effectively amplifies the available light to enhance what is perceivable to our eyes. The objective (front) lens of the NV device gathers all of the light available to it and projects it onto something called a “photocathode” of the image intensifier. The light causes electrons to be released from the cathode, which are electronically accelerated raising the amount of energy they have.
FIELD MASTER SPECIFICATIONS
✹ 300 yard digital day & night vision unit. Providing better clarity and picture definition than any Gen2 equipment currently available. Hard focus range from 15 yards to infinity.
✹ Bespoke Sony sensor allowing for use in direct sunlight and total darkness. ✹ Hi-Resolution, full colour view screen with auto level horizon feature. ✹ 50mm lens offering both 5x magnification and wide angle viewing. ✹ Custom design reticule with one shot calibration. ✹ Quality lithium-Ion polymer power cell with circuit protection. ✹ Intelligent power management providing up to 12 hours run time from 2 hours charge time. ✹ Removable Osram Olson Black T20 infra-red emitter with 3 power settings, focus feature, charger, remote switch and 2 sets of batteries.
✹ Removable 1000 Lumen visible spectrum flashlight with 3 power settings, focus feature, charger, remote switch and 2 sets of batteries.
✹ Dual Weaver rails for custom set-up. ✹ Hard anodised, aircraft grade aluminium outer body. ✹ Quick access controls for screen.
These electrons then pass through the device and are projected onto a phosphor screen which makes it glow making the image visible to the eye. Green phosphor is used because the human eye is more sensitive to tones of green than any other colour allowing for an increased level of detail in the image displayed. All analogue night vision devices utilise a similar principle of image intensifier although technological advances over the years have yielded steadily improved results and greater sensitivity.
Digital night vision devices use and image sensor and software is employed to boost the signal received from this. Image sensors can also be used to detect light, like IR light which is invisible to the naked eye, and reproduce the image on the visible spectrum. This is how digital night vision can turn night into day!
W W W.PITCHBLACKNIGHT VISION.CO.UK
014-015 NIGHT VISION.indd 15
015
01/05/2015 15:53
L LS T EE RE A
FIGHTING SEASON ALONGSIDE THE AFGHAN NATIONA
ALONGSIDE
THE ANA BY JONATHAN WADE
THIS MONTH WE HAVE A RARE TREAT FOR AI READERS AND SOMETHING WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO PUBLISH. JONATHAN WADE, AI CONTRIBUTOR AND FORMER CANADIAN INFANTRYMAN HAS EXCLUSIVELY ALLOWED US TO PUBLISH THE FIRST FEW CHAPTERS OF HIS LONG-TERM WRITING PROJECT DETAILING HIS EXPLOITS IN AFGHANISTAN DURING THE EARLY 2000S. AS A TRAINED MEDIC WORKING ALONGSIDE THE ANA, JONATHAN EXPERIENCED SOME OF THE MOST INTENSE ASPECTS OF THE WAR ON THE GROUND BUT IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE RETURNED HOME TO HIS FAMILY. HE ENJOYS PUTTING HIS EXPERIENCES ON PAPER AND PLAYING MIL-SIM AIRSOFT AS A WAY TO HELP HIM DEAL WITH HIS EXPERIENCES OVERSEAS.
In 2009, I had the honour to join the Afghan National Army (ANA) in a remote strongpoint called after the small village where we would live 7 months of hell; Howz-E-Madad. Howz-E-Madad was a small village approximately 50km west of Kandahar and had a decent mosque and bazaar. Our small team of 8 would go through more than 200 firefights, from small arms to recoilless anti-tank weapons. Our call sign was 71 Charlie or 71C. We were part of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT), a small organisation who had the huge task of training, mentoring and helping the ANA with the available NATO’s assets. Everything they did, we would follow them and help them any way we could. To this day, I consider most of them my brothers-in-arms and I would’ve taken a bullet to save anyone of them. 71C would become one of the most engaged team in the area of operation (AO). Other OMLT teams were also fiercely fighting the Taliban in both Zharey and Panjwai. We were blessed to have not sustained any Canadian casualties but our fearless ANA
016
soldiers didn't escape the harsh reality of war. More than 20 of them were wounded in action (WIA) and a handful died even with our constant efforts to keep them alive with our TCCC training. Our team was blessed to have great soldiers we could work with and it was a privilege to work with them, creating a bond that would make us a true band of brothers. In 7 months, I became so distant from my emotions that I had no reactions when we had Afghan casualties. During firefights I was laughing and I was yelling at the Taliban that they couldn’t shoot for shit. I even ‘’mooned’’ them once while they were attacking us on our strongpoint. War changes soldiers, whether they say it does or not. For some, they carry the burden back home and have difficulties coming back to a more “normal” lives. I am one of them. I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) shortly after I came back in October 2009. I decided to write this piece so you could better understand what goes through the mind of a soldier deployed in a combat zone while learning to live and understand the mentality
of a courageous bunch of soldiers who were fighting to keep a certain stability to their country. Throughout this writing, I will try to make you see the war I fought through my eyes while making you appreciate what soldiers do for their countries selflessly.
PRE-DEPLOYMENT Anyone who have seen Black Hawk Down remembers Ranger John Grimes, played by Ewan McGregor. A warrior capable of typing and using a computer who happens to be a rare gift in the infantry community, let alone the 75th Ranger Regiment. When he was called to go on the actual operation, he did outstandingly well! Well this was my case! If you ever get asked to go help for a few weeks with something less than 5% of the guys can do, don't! You'll get stuck there and be pissed about it. When I was first told I would deploy with the OMLT, I was originally in the team I finally deployed with, 71C. As the deployment structure was getting built, OMLT HQ asked for a volunteer who was able to use a computer to work on Excel spreadsheets. Of course as a good soldier knowing that it would be easy for me, I volunteered. Although I made good relationships with the HQ personnel, I am still today wondering what I was thinking. I was assigned to help the operations cell building all the spreadsheets so HQ could follow all OMLT soldiers' progress. Whether it was for a follow-up on pre-deployment courses or mandatory training, I had it all covered. It didn't really take a long time for the OMLT RSM to depend solely on my work. For him, I was a VERY valuable asset in the operation cell. I was very fortunate to have a Major who knew what I could do in the field and kept fighting for me to go back to my team. I can't thank him enough for doing that! Of course as the RSM, he wanted to keep me in that position for the duration of the deployment, trying to tell me how good it would be for my career. For me, it was a pure nightmare as I was eager to deploy to Afghanistan to get some, not to push a pen
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
016-021 ANA.indd 16
01/05/2015 13:40
IONAL ARMY - ALONGSIDE THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY were keeping to themselves during the trip. When we landed in KAF, I was told the same night I was to rejoin my old team as the OMLT was increasing the amount of guys on the teams. I could feel the relief and was really glad I would see some real actions and not only doing boring convoys.
FIGHTING SEASON STARTS
and look at the combat operation through an UAV feed on the operations TVs. I stayed until we went to CFB Wainwright where I went nuts and lost it. One of the HQ Major was pissing me off by asking me to do his damn photocopies all day long, even if I was really busy working on my own stuff. Instead of telling him to go f*** himself, I just said f*** it and left the HQ building. I had a good talk with my boss, a warrant officer who came from the armoured regiments, and he told me he would try to get me out of the HQ ASAP. After a few days, I was transferred to the SECFOR, the team who provides the logistical support for the teams on the ground and was also responsible for the CO's protection. Although I was still pissed to not be back in my original team, I welcomed the change. The only problem is that the SECFOR guys were already a tight knit team and I was not really welcome. I stayed with them for the rest of our training in CFB Wainwright and went back home as part of their team. A few months passed while I was still not welcome in their team even if I was bringing them some really useful assets such as being fully bilingual. At one point, I even directly emailed the OMLT Sergeant-Major to tell him that this was bullshit and that I really wanted to go see some actions and not be a paper pusher. He answered me that he could consider it but he would put me where the organization would need me most. Up to this point, he didn't really know what I was worth on the ground with the boys kicking
asses alongside our ANA brothers. Early in 2009, we were sent to Fort Bliss to confirm our readiness for deployment. It proved very useful that I was speaking English as most of the guys couldn't. I basically became the translator when we had to interact with our American brothers. I was still not fully integrated in the team and on our last patrol, they made me carry the C6 (Canadian version of the M240) in the mountains thinking I wouldn't be able to do so. It was a pure pleasure to prove them wrong and I was also one of the few who didn't fall asleep in the patrol base as I was manning the 6 o’clock. The patrol itself was shitty, boring and completely useless as the SECFOR was not required to do these for our pre-deployment checks. One of our sergeants, who I will keep his name for myself, wanted to punish us for some stupid reasons I will also keep secret. After the patrol, guys were opening up a bit more but not as much as I would've like. Hell, we were deploying in a combat zone where we would all depend on each other and quite frankly, I didn't know if I could’ve... I was the sent to do my TCCC course where I performed very well and it would prove very useful during my time in our strongpoint and under fire in the fields. Then came the pre-deployment vacations and I only saw the guys when we were due to fly to Afghanistan, through Dubai at Camp Mirage. All the guys were eager to go and most of them
May 23, 2009 - It was a nice quiet evening with a good breeze to keep us cool, which was nice because temperatures were already reaching 40 degrees Celsius in May and the sun was setting slowly. All we were hearing on the ICOM (a small two-way radio used by our interpreter to listen to the Taliban’s conversations) through our interpreter was that they were finally done with the poppy crops, and were talking about getting ready to start the fighting season. The fighting season normally starts right after the spring crops, and it ends normally around October/November. It is during that time that the Taliban will fight the “infidels,” aka NATO troops. The Taliban were getting organized somewhere to the south of our strongpoint. A strongpoint, called combat outpost (COP) by the US military, is normally the first line of defense against the Taliban. These strongpoints (SP) can be as close as 100 meters from the enemy. We were eight Canadians and 50 Afghan National Army soldiers on ours. It was a square of about 100×100 meters protected by four guard towers and hesco bastions (barricades filled with sand to protect from small arms fire). The third wadi (wadis are ditches dug by the Afghans to contain the rain water that they use for irrigation during the crop season) was to the far west, so they were probably around that area, approximately 700 meters south. We knew they were moving weapons, ammunition and all the things they needed to do what they do the best: IEDs. I was sitting in the C6 pit on top of our small tower, wearing my frag vest and my helmet, with Roberge, enjoying the view and having a nice Redman chewing tobacco dip with a Nescafe 3-in-1 coffee. The Redman dip was something I started using when I got in Afghanistan. It kept me alert and steady, even though I knew it was very bad for my health. The pit had a perfect view over the south up to about 400 meters and was a good place to go and seek Taliban movement. I could see some of the ANA soldiers playing soccer inside the strongpoint and having a lot of fun, especially that some of us were playing with them and they really were kicking our asses. Other soldiers were also playing volleyball a bit further alongside the Afghan civilian workers we
J O I N T H E D E B AT E W I T H 4 4 0 K O T H E R S O N O U R FA C E B O O K PA G E : FA C E B O O K . C O M /A I R S O F T I N T
016-021 ANA.indd 17
017
01/05/2015 13:40
L LS T EE RE A
FIGHTING SEASON ALONGSIDE THE AFGHAN NATIONA
had. The ANA had a “mandatory” sport session everyday where they would play both soccer and volleyball. We were told that it was good for their cohesion and to take their mind off the constant stress they had. The civilian workers were building some barracks for the ANA, but they worked so slowly that they weren’t even done before we left seven months later. Suddenly, a loud muffled sound came up from the north, followed by an echoing boom. As I looked up to see what it was all about, I could see a dust cloud going up. I immediately thought of a mortar attack and I started yelling at the ANA to go get cover. At first they didn’t even care, until a second round hit inside the strongpoint near their playground. “Holy f****** shit, they are accurate now!” I said to Roberge, who was with us for a few days. Roberge was normally with 71B but he was on a transition to his team through us. 71B was at Lakokhel, a strongpoint that was about 5 km from us right in the middle of a field. They had a rough one as well, let me tell you. The ANA was finally getting some cover in their bunkers and all of our guys on the ground were donning their frag vests and helmets to get into position. I told Roberge to stay on the C6 and to scan to find the firing point, while I would go downstairs and tell the captain that they were zeroing our position really quickly. Foggy immediately took his C7 and got up inside the tower, on the second story, to take a firing position, and also scan to find where the rounds were coming from. Poirier, who was smoking a cigarette on our balcony, ran inside the RG31 on the southern run-up and also started scanning with the RWS (remote weapon system) equipped with our .50 caliber HMG. I can tell you that he was scanning madly and if he would’ve seen someone with a weapon, that guy was done. Another round landed inside the strongpoint and it was getting closer to our CP. Up until now I was feeling a bit anxious as we didn’t know where we were getting fired from, but I knew the guys outside were working hard to find the sneaky bastard. Another round, again getting closer as I could judge by the sound. Captain RG called in the contact report and asked for chopper support to try to spot the firing position, which was quickly refused. We were convinced that it was mortar shells that were falling on top of us. I was standing right in the corridor between the main door and the CP room, where some of our guys’ bunks were, along with the radio and the maps. For some reason, something told me to move in the CP room and as soon as I did — BOOM! — shrapnel from a shell that just hit right outside the door flew through the door. Had I not moved inside the CP room, I would’ve
018
been completely peppered, as we found lots of shrapnel in the water bottle cases at the end of the corridor after they stopped firing at us. I was definitely a bit shell-shocked then, I could feel the fear going through me and wondering what the fuck I was doing there. But I told myself that fear was normal and that courage meant to keep going even if I was afraid. Anyone who says that they weren’t afraid at least once while doing a combat mission is a pure liar.
TWO MINUTES AFTER THE SHELLS EXPLODED NEAR OUR DOOR, BRUNO CAME IN YELLING “WADE, LET’S GO WE HAVE WOUNDED ANA! “HERE WE GO BOYS...” I said. All the anxiety was replaced by adrenaline, and I got my TCCC pouch ready to do what I learned back in Canada. They kept telling us on that course that it WOULD happen and they were right I guess. I got outside to help Bruno, and we picked up the ANA captain and brought him inside for a bit of safety. He was about to go on the rooftop when the shell that exploded near our door hit him on numerous spots. He was in a bad shape but he wasn’t
complaining at all. That was weird at first. The first apparent wound was a slash on his forehead that was bleeding through the bandage. Bruno, our warrant officer, did it outside before we got him inside. I reapplied another one over it and moved to the wet check. I could see his elbows were in a bad shape but I still needed to make sure there was no hemorrhaging that could be life threatening. I felt blood underneath his pants near his thigh, so I used my scissors to cut them open and I found a shrapnel wound that looked really deep. I couldn’t just apply a load of pressure to stop the bleeding as I could’ve caused more damage, so I took the decision to remove it and pack the wound with cotton packing. That made the captain moan a bit but it needed to be done quickly to stop the bleeding. I applied an olaes bandages over it and went to the elbow. The elbow was not that bad, there was a lot of blood but it looked really worse than it was. A simple bandage did the job and the same was made on his right ankle. The other ANA soldier suffered minor shrapnel wounds that Bruno treated quickly and effectively. I have to say that Bruno had already started on the ANA captain when he found him injured, and I finished the job. Once both our patients were all “patched” up, he then went outside and got the ANA to call for their medical extraction. It didn’t even take 5 minutes and it was there, so we got the two WIA ANA in and two civilian workers who were lightly wounded walked by themselves in the ambulance as well.
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
016-021 ANA.indd 18
01/05/2015 13:43
IONAL ARMY - ALONGSIDE THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
They probably called it before Bruno told them to do so. Our ANA were really proactive and knew their shit. Their sergeants were very professional and I have to say that we’ve learned more from them than we thought. We didn’t even know at first that the civilian workers were wounded. I still think that the ANA medic gave them first aid. Their medic was a very good guy and knew his stuff. He told us he was trained by the American SF medics up north near Herat, so we knew we could count on him too. Everything went quiet from there on. What we believed happened over two hours really was about half an hour. After a quick SITREP with all the team gathered, we counted 10 GP25 grenades were fired at us EFFECTIVELY but we weren’t able to get the air support. Our door was peppered and the wall just outside of it as well. So we quickly decided to work on a sandbag wall to protect our door and inside our CP from future attacks. We had a rough idea what their firing position was and our C6 fired a few hundreds rounds in the suspected compound. I am sure we were dead-on since when it started firing, the grenades stopped coming in. Late September, during an operation with the British, we found an AGS-17 and knew that this was the weapon they used on us quite a few times. It was the start of the fighting season and a very good wake-up call for us, as we had been slacking the past few days. All the boys did well and everyone got into their fighting positions and scanned. It was my first real experience with combat-related wounds and all I can say is that my TCCC course before deployment really helped me sort my shit out! Our team was already getting some combat experience that would prove very helpful during our deployment.
and already hot even if it was only 0600. The Afghans would normally start their day by doing their morning prayer, also broadcasted through a few speakers hanging on the outside walls of the Mosque, at around 0500 just outside our strongpoint, waking us up almost every morning. There was no traffic and most of the shops in the bazaar beside our strongpoint were starting to open. I hated doing these road sweeps and we were always finding some IEDs making us waiting hours for the damn QRF, ran by the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Towards the end of our deployment, the ANA were so sick of waiting, they started to take care of the IEDs by firing RPGS on them or using their truck batteries to trigger them. We knew this wasn’t right but we let them do it, giving us precious hours back in our bunks doing all kind of stuff …
Our Captain, Julien, was just back from his deployment leaves and to complete it all, it was also his birthday. He was not in a combat mood but was still taking part of the road sweep. Bruno, our Warrant Officer, was due to stay on the strongpoint for this one. We always left someone on the strongpoint in case it was attacked while we were busy doing to sweep. Knowing Bruno, he would be sitting in the C6 pit over watching our sweep until he couldn’t provide support anymore. Our trucks were idling slowly, radio checks were sent to the FOB Wilson TOC and weapons were now ready to fire at any moment. As usual, the ANA was taking their time and we rolled out about 10 minutes late. The day would be long as our air conditioner wasn’t working and I was already sweating in the driver’s seat. Metallica was playing from my
81MM RECOILESS AMBUSH It was early in there morning, earlier than we would normally roll out to do our routine road sweep. The day was pretty nice; sunny
J O I N T H E D E B AT E W I T H 4 4 0 K O T H E R S O N O U R FA C E B O O K PA G E : FA C E B O O K . C O M /A I R S O F T I N T
016-021 ANA.indd 19
019
01/05/2015 13:43
L LS T EE RE A
FIGHTING SEASON ALONGSIDE THE AFGHAN NATIONA
PSP, making me a bit more aggressive and ready to go kick some asses. We would normally let one ANA Ford Ranger open the convoy and our first RG-31, who was me in this instance, was closely following it to keep him under the protection of our ECM bubble. We rolled out at about 0610 thinking this would be another boring ride. We were wrong … Approximately 400 meters west of our strongpoint, we stopped to sweep the first culvert, where we found more than 6 IEDs on the very same spot since the start of our deployment. We were still in an area covered with compounds to the south, where we got into firefights quite a few times even if they were home for Afghan families who never knew nothing about the Taliban. Kids were normally playing around those compounds while we were doing our road sweep but it was pretty quiet
and we all felt that something was wrong. The pattern of life normally tells us if we will be getting into firefights as most civilians would be told by the Taliban to stay in their home because they would attack us. We would also do the same through our PSYOPS and CIMIC teams in case of major operations. Talk about giving a great hint to the Taliban of our future actions … This is when all hell broke loose. The following events lasted approximately 35 to 40 minutes but felt like 4 hours. A first 81mm round struck the 3rd vehicle in the convoy, one of ANA’s Force Ranger. A cloud of thick dust and black smoke was already covering the area. The Ford Ranger was hit on the left side and part of it was all over Highway 1. The ANA were stunned for a few seconds but were quickly firing everywhere, confusion was already overriding their training. Since I was driving the RG-31 who followed the
lead vehicle, I couldn’t back up so I decided to get off Highway 1 and use it as cover while we would fight our way out. Highway 1 was built higher than the ground so the road would not be flooded during the end of the winter and the spring. It also kept it from being too dusty, making it easier for traffic. Steve, my gunner, was already letting C6 bursts go down range in the general direction of the Taliban. I am convinced that he did get one as I saw a tracer hitting someone with an AK-47. Our 2nd RG did the exact same and Eric was letting his .50 caliber HMG loose. Eric was already a seasoned .50 cal gunner and he was really using the caliber to our advantage. The ANA were now in a fighting position alongside Highway 1 defending the mobility kill Ford Ranger and were also giving everything they got. RPGs were going both ways and I could see tracers hitting Highway 1 really close to our soldiers. Our Captain, Julien, was in my truck and the ANA quickly reported that 2 of their soldiers were down but no precise details were given. Julien immediately started working on getting the US Medevac choppers on site, giving me the command while he was figuring the situation out. The sound of our C6 and .50 was deafening and I could see some ANA soldiers bravely standing in the middle of the firefight to lob some GP-25 rounds into the compound where the Taliban were spotted. I was scanning the area like crazy using my binoculars and I saw a tall skinny bearded men taking sneak peeks on top of one of the compound. Steve was busy engaging other targets but I kept looking towards the men. Not even 10 seconds after, he was aiming his SPG-9 and fired a round towards my truck. I could see it coming right on us and I told myself,
“THAT’S IT, I WILL DIE IN THIS F****** SH**TY COUNTRY IN A GODDAMN BULLS**T AMBUSH...’” 020
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
016-021 ANA.indd 20
01/05/2015 13:43
IONAL ARMY - ALONGSIDE THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY
"THE SCENE WAS INTENSE, ANA SOLDIERS RUNNING EVERYWHERE, SERGEANTS YELLING ORDERS IN PASHTU WHILE THE SOLDIERS WERE FIRING THERE WEAPONS DOWNRANGE..." However, the rounds literally passed 6 feet beside our truck and landed approximately 100 meters behind us without even exploding. I felt relief but it wasn’t time to really think about it and for a second, I was really wondering what the f*** was going on. A call on the net got me back in the game, “I have one guy in a real bad shape, I can see his brains” Rondeau said. Julien was still trying to sort his shit out with the Medevac and Steve was going through his rounds pretty quickly. He originally had about 1.000 rounds and estimated he was almost halfway through. I then decided to get out of my truck to figure this mess out and ran toward the wounded ANA soldiers. Steve would keep firing and would update me through our PRRs while Julien had his face in his map. The scene was intense, ANA soldiers running everywhere, sergeants yelling orders in Pashtu while the soldiers were firing there weapons downrange. I had about a 50 metre run to get to our 2nd RG-31 who was now just beside the wounded Afghan soldiers. One of the ANA who got hit by the SPG-9 had a few pieces of shrapnel in his legs but was not severely wounded and was already in the back of the Ford Ranger, patched by the ANA medic. The second one was in a really bad shape, Rondeau was already trying to treat him and I ran toward him through the firefight to drag him to safety. An RPG then exploded about 5 feet to our left and I still was able to
carry the wounded ANA to the Ford Ranger. In a quick check, I was able to see a deep cut on his skull and part of his brain was coming out but he was still breathing. A chunk of his ass was also missing and he was completely unconscious. The ANA were still firing like there was no tomorrow and it was time to get back to our strongpoint so we could take care of the wounded in a secure place. There was empty cartridge and PKM links all over highway 1. I ran back to my RG and told Julien that we were heading back home. He nodded but was still deeply in his thoughts about the damn medevac. Meanwhile, Bruno was letting rip our C6 back at the strongpoint to cover our retreat back to the safety of our compound. He went through 2400 rounds in approximately 20 minutes, burning both our canons. Once we got back in, me and Steve started working on the ANA soldier who had a massive head trauma. Bruno took over the medevac and he told us it was inbound in approximately 10 minutes. We went through more than 5 olaes bandages, one cannula to let some air into his lungs (even if we were shown not to do this in case of a massive head trauma; we couldn’t let him suffocate!) just for his head. Steve had to cut the soldiers pants to work on the lower body wounds. The ANA who were around us were not really happy as the soldier didn’t wear any underwear. I had to yell to them, through my
interpreter, that it was the only way to work on his wounds. We didn’t give a shit if we’d see his penis but the ANA didn’t like it. I told them that we all had one and we were trying to save his live so he could use it again. This really calm the atmosphere making some of the soldier’s chuckle. Steve did an amazing job to cover the missing chunk of ass and stopped the bleeding by packing the wound. At this point, he was breathing at approximately 5 per minute and only had a radial pulse. He was in a really bad shape and we did not care if his brain was coming out, we were only trying to save a brother. It was weird to have ANA soldiers already cleaning his hands and feet so he could be received properly by Allah when he would die. I tried to make them stop but they wouldn’t so I let them do it, out of respect. The medevac Blackhawk arrived, escorted by an Apache gunship, exactly after 10 minutes and he was lifted to Camp Hero’s hospital, the ANA trauma centre just beside KAF. Steve and I went to clean ourselves as we had blood up to our elbows. We were told later during the day that he became VSA (Vital Signs Absent) and was pronounced dead at Camp Hero. I was gutted and I was beating myself down for not keeping him alive. Today, I do understand that there were no chance at all he could’ve survived but anyone who had someone’s life in their hands in a combat zone can understand exactly what I was going through.
BACK HOME When I landed at the Quebec international airport, I felt a huge relief. Our flight back home was really brutal as we had crazy turbulence from Nova Scotia to our final destination. The girlfriend I had at this time, who is the mother of my daughter, couldn’t make it since she was on a medical technician course approximately 1,000 kilometers away so my brother and his girlfriend were there to greet me, alongside my daughter. I was such a great moment when I hug my daughter as I knew I wasn’t going back anytime soon. Driving home was hard as I was still hyper vigilant and cars around me were dangerously driving close. It was nighttime and I felt like I was on a road near Howz-E-Madad where everything could be a possible threat.
J O I N T H E D E B AT E W I T H 4 4 0 K O T H E R S O N O U R FA C E B O O K PA G E : FA C E B O O K . C O M /A I R S O F T I N T
016-021 ANA.indd 21
021
01/05/2015 13:43
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 16:50
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 16:52
FA L L IN! GE T IN V OLV ED A ND GE T SEEN
TEAM SCENE! IF YOU HAVE A TEAM THAT’S BEEN KICKING ASS AND TAKING NAMES, YOU DESERVE SOME AIRTIME! WHETHER YOU ARE A LOOSE GROUP OF LIKEMINDED GUYS THAT GET TOGETHER ONCE A MONTH FOR A GOOD OLD SHOOT-UP OR IF YOU ARE A TIGHT-KNIT, WELL DRILLED SQUAD OF ULTIMATE BADASSES THAT SPENDS THEIR TIME TRAINING METICULOUSLY, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
It’s simple to get involved and become a part of Ai whether you want to get yours faces known, are recruiting for new members or simply want a memento to treasure. Step 1 is to fill out our short survey and tell us a few details about what you do, where you do it and how longs it’s been happening. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been together forever or have formed up recently, you are still valid!
■ TEAM NAME
■ FURTHER LINKS
What name you guys go by…
If you have websites, Facebook pages or social networks we can follow, hit us up with the links here! As many as you like, don’t be shy!
■ THE KEY MEMBERS Who’s who in your team organisation. What members are there, where do they come from and what roles do they play? Are some members of your team natural assaulters? Do you have snipers or marksmen or are you a full-on posse of total loonies? Also, what happens off the field? Who does the tech work? Who’s the guy that always has a spare battery and who keeps the rest organised. Go into a little detail here.
■ TEAM KIT Are you a team that uses a matching load out? If so, what gear do you know, trust and use? Do you do impressions of real world units or are you all simply in it for yourselves taking what you need, when you need it. If you use more than one style of kit, that’s great! Tell us all about it because we want to know!
■ TEAM BACKGROUND
■ PICTURES We all want to see you in action so please accompany your entry with as many good quality images as you can, ok, no need for hundreds but between 10 and 12 works. The bigger, brighter and bolder the better. Also, if you have a team logo, share it with us because it’ll look great in print!
We want to know what angle you are coming from. It doesn’t matter if you are a gang of ex-military guys looking for a blow-out at the weekends or if you are a group of computer-gamers that likes to get out and get some fresh air, it’s all cool! Tell us where you come from and what bought you together.
■ FAVOURITE SITES Give the places you love a shout-out here. Where’s the best place you’ve visited? Do you like to travel or are you happy at your local site making the most of the games there?
■ FUTURE GAMES What are your upcoming plans and ambitions? Do you have places to go and people to battle? Do you dream of going overseas to play? Tell us what is next on your team’s agenda.
■ SENDING IT TO US! It’s dead simple to send your package over to us, simply bung an email together and point it towards Editorial@Ai-mag.com - Couldn’t be easier… Once we receive it, we’ll be in touch to let you know what is going on!
IT’S REALLY AS EASY AS THAT! SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET CREATIVE AND SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!
026
EDITORIAL@AI-MAG.COM
026 FALL IN.indd 26
12/01/2015 14:18
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 16:55
SE E N - GE T IN V OLV ED A ND GE T SEEN - GE T IN V OLV ED A ND GE T SEEN - GE T IN V OLV E D
SEND YOUR LOAD OUTS TO: EDITORIAL@AI-MAG.COM
028-029 LOCAL LOADOUTS.indd 29
029
01/05/2015 13:47
ROL L C A L L ! GE T IN V OLV ED A ND GE T SEEN
AI NEEDS YOU! YOU’VE SEEN OUR “LOCAL LOADOUT” PAGES BEFORE, IT’S YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE A WHOLE SPREAD DEVOTED TO YOU, YOUR KIT AND YOUR AIRSOFT, AND TO TAKE PART, WE ONLY NEED A COUPLE OF THINGS… A FULL-LENGTH PICTURE OF YOU, BOTH FRONT AND BACK, AND A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE KIT YOU USE.
■ THE PITURES We’re not expecting masterpieces when it comes to images, unless of course you are a consummate camera man, all we need is a clear, full length shot (with your feet and head in frame) of you, from the front and the back, just like the example pictured here. Don’t worry about any fancy photoshopping, our trained monkey does that! He will take time to ‘cut’ you out of your background, like the example pictured here. Your image size needs to be as large as possible, so use a dedicated camera if possible. DSLR or Compact camera or mobile, it doesn’t really matter as long as you send us the FULL SIZE image, which may be around 5mb in size. Don’t worry, our email inbox can take the strain. Please don’t send screen grabs from your phone or tiny images because we just can’t use them based on the way digital images are printed.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO USE A PROFES SIONAL CAMERA TO TAKE USABLE IM AGES, ALL YOU NEED IS SOME DE CENT LIGHT (HEA D OUTSIDE DURING THE DAY FOR BEST RESULT CLEAN BACKGROU S) AND A ND. TRY TO STAN D ON A FIRM, FL AT SURFACE, IDEALL Y CONCRETE OR SL ABS NOT GRAS OR SHRUBBERY S AND STAND SQUA RE ON TO THE CAMERA WITH TH E CAMERA LENS AT CHEST HEIGHT MAKE SURE YOU . DON’T CROP YOUR HEAD, FEET OR ARMS OUT OF THE FRAME AND WATCH OUT FOR BLUR AS THAT WILL REALLY RUIN THE PART Y!
■ THE WORDS We don’t need a huge essay from you when it comes to words, it’s just a matter of filling in the blanks really, either copy the text from the bottom of the page, or download the document here - http://wp.me/p4Uh1B-7U
■ SENDING IN
HELMET/HEADWEAR:
When you have gathered your text and images, the next bit is simple, just attach it to an email and wing it over to us at: editorial@ai-mag.com - Easy!
Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
✓ Your name ✓ Your age ✓ Where you’re from ✓ Your airsoft Team ✓ Your home Site ✓ About Me The ‘about me’ section should be around 150 words about how you got into airsoft, where you play, your favourite game and who you play with.
UNIFORM/CAMO TOP: Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
EYE PRO: Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
PLATE CARRIER/CHEST RIG: Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
BELT RIG/HOLSTER: Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
BOOTS: Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
ANY EXTRA ACCESSORIES: Gloves, pads, comms equipment, backpacks, hydration etc… Make/ Model/Price/Why you use it…
UNIFORM/CAMO BOTTOM:
WEAPON:
Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
IT’S REALLY AS EASY AS THAT! SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET CREATIVE AND SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!
030
EDITORIAL@AI-MAG.COM
030 ROLL CALL.indd 30
12/01/2015 14:20
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
10/02/2015 13:37
EW ! ALL N
VIPER E VOLVED: THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING
ON THE RIGHT FOOT
WE ALL KNOW GOOD BOOTS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SAFETY AND COMFORT ON THE SKIRMISH FIELD SO SELECTING A SUITABLE PAIR SHOULD BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING UP YOUR KIT. YOU USE YOUR BOOTS EVERY GAME SO IT’S WORTH PUTTING A LITTLE MORE TIME AND ATTENTION BEHIND YOUR SELECTION. THIS MONTH WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT VIPER TACTICAL’S TOP THREE BOOT STYLES TO HELP YOU MAKE THE CHOICE WITH EASE.
VIPER
ELITE 5 BOOTS
The Viper Elite 5 Boots are made using both high grade durable suede leather with tough 1000D waterproof Cordura panels. They are made for extreme outdoor wear and incorporate a a Hydroguard waterproof membrane that prevents water from permeating the boot and soaking through to your socks and skin. The mid-sole is made from comfortable moulded EVA and features a rubber toe cap for protection against rocks, roots and rugged terrain. The laces are routed with rustproofed metal hardware with a full 9 eyelets and a Nylon loop is sewn on back of the boot to help you pull them on and off. The specification for the Elite 5 boot also also includes a genuine Vibram multi-sport rubber outsole that sheds mud well, grips on hard surfaces and allows for extra traction all round whilst not compromising on comfort or ankle support. These tactical/military styled boots are ideal for all manners of outdoor pursuits where comfort in extreme conditions is a must, from Airsoft, dog-walking to hiking and backpacking so you can be sure to get optimal value from your purchase. Available in Coyote Tan or Coyote Tan & Multicam combo.
✹ High grade cowhide suede leather ✹ 1000D waterproof Cordura ✹ Hydroguard membrane fully seam sealed ✹ Fully waterproof ✹ Rubber toe cap protection ✹ Vibram multi-sport rubber outsole ✹ Moulded EVA midsole ✹ Abrasion resistant lining ✹ Comfortable with inner padding ✹ Rustproof hardware with 9 eyelets ✹ Nylon loop on back ✹ Ultra Lightweight approx. 1240gms (pair) ✹ Boot height: 8.5” (21.6cm)
032
£89.95
W W W .V I P E R T A C T I C A L S H O P. C O . U K
032-033 VIPER.indd 32
01/05/2015 13:48
VIPER EVOLVED: THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING
VIPER
SPECIAL OPS BOOTS
With their range of MultiCam accessories and equipment, Viper have forged ahead with the idea that kit in an up-to-date camouflage pattern need not cost the earth. Newest to their line-up is the Special Ops boot in MultiCam. Constructed from a mixture of suede and 1000 denier cordura, the boots have an EVA rubber sole and weigh in at just 1.2kg in a Size 10. This means the overall package is easy and comfortable to wear but also tough and durable. The boots lace up to above the ankle to provide a good level of support but also feature a side-zip for easy access and removal. Lacing is taken care of by means of eyelets and metal loops and the sole itself is an all-round pattern for good traction over all terrain. Unlike Magum’s offering in the same market place, Viper’s MultiCam boot features tan suede with camouflage panels as opposed to an all-over, printed design. This makes them a little more “traditional” looking and not quite so garish, possibly a little easier on the eye. Whilst not entirely waterproof, the boot is reasonably water resistant and our tester reports that even during the first use and over extended periods they were comfortable and flexible. The days of boots that require a painful breaking-in process seem to be behind us.
✹ Double YKK nylon side zip design ✹ Very Lightweight ✹ 1000D Multicam™ Cordura ✹ Tough EVA rubber sole
£69.95
VIPER
TACTICAL BOOTS
The simple, classic Viper Tactical Boot is a no-nonsense black boot to suit all occasions and is priced to keep your wallet happy without skimping on quality. A full grain leather upper with a smooth toe cap that will hold a shine is matched with a comfortable inner liner that features a breathable membrane as well as an insulating layer to keep the temperature of your feet regulated in cold conditions.
1200 DENIER NYLON AND LEATHER REINFORCEMENT AT HIGH WEAR AREAS GIVE THE UPPER DURABILITY AND WHILST A DURABLE OIL-RESISTANT, NON-SLIP SOLE COVERS THE LOWER OF THE BOOT. INTERNALLY AN ANTI-BACTERIAL, WASHABLE CUSHIONED LINER PROVIDES COMFORT AND STABILITY FOR YOUR FOOT. A non-metallic lacing system is corrosion resistant and will look presentable and stay secure for the life of the boot, no matter the conditions it is used in. Equally at home at work, out walking on a Sunday or blasting over the strewn rubble of an airsoft site, the Viper Tactical Boot is a popular choice with players old and new and looks set to remain that way.
✹ Full grain and action leather upper ✹ 1200D Nylon ✹ Leather collar ✹ Waterproof breathable Breathatex lining ✹ 3M Thinsulate insulation layer ✹ Non-metallic speed lacing system ✹ Patent poliyou anti-bacterial ✹ Breathable ✹ Washable & odour-free cushion insole ✹ Durable slip/oil resistant outsole
£67.50
W W W.V I P E R K I T. C O . U K
032-033 VIPER.indd 33
033
01/05/2015 13:48
SITE REPORT PL AYERS OF WAR - W WII AIRSOF T - PL AYERS OF
PLAYERSW w 2 OF WAR! IMAGES BY: BETH FROM POW / WORDS BY: IAN STOKES
PLAYERS OF WAR STARTED IN JULY 2008 IN A WOODLAND AREA LOCATED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF FALKIRK. THE SITE WAS BOUGHT TO LIFE BY BETH AND ERNIE WHO STILL RUN IT TO THIS DAY. POW IS FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES A WWII THEMED AIRSOFT SITE BUT DO NOT BE PUT OFF BY THIS - REGULAR SKIRMISH DAYS WELCOME ALL AIRSOFTERS FROM WWII, VIETNAM-ERA AND MODERN THEMES.
Access to the site is good, suitable for all vehicles and with a large, hard-standing car park right next to the safe zone to make it easy to transport kit into the gaming area without tiring yourself out before you have already started. There is an on-site shop selling all the vital supplies you’ll require, from BBs, gas, speedloaders etc as well as refreshments. You’ll also see a handy porta-loo kept in good order should you find yourself caught short. The site operates a 18+ policy and is run “for the players” which means a no-nonsense approach to the game that requires honesty and sensibility. Obviously fair play is mandatory and cheating is simply not acceptable. The safe zone offers covered seating and tables, on site shop, hot food and refreshments and surrounded by a 15m green mesh fence for safety reasons. Before any games start, Beth conducts her now famous safety briefs before going onto detailed game briefs. Each game has a short WWII storyline behind it to add a nice touch to the realism. The build level of the 80-acre site is impressive with a town, gun emplacements, fuel depots to the near full-sized V2 Rocket that is under development. You can expect to find...
034
■ Numerous Bridges & Natural Trenches. ■ The “Town”, complete with a Church, Shops, “Cafe Rene”, Bank and large bridge. ■ Log Barricades & Log Bunker Village Area. ■ The “Ardennes” playing area with Log Tower & Barricades. ■ “Hurtegen” playing area with Log Tower & Barricades. ■ Missile Launch Control Playing Area. ■ “Braecourt” 88’s Base complete with 2 “88’s” & Bunker. ■ Border Checkpoint Station. ■ Ammo Dump Base. ■ Fuel Depot Base. ■ “The Bocage” Dense Forest Trails (perfect for ambush). ■ Natural Mixed Woodland & open grassy areas
Of course, the site is optimised for historical and WWII play but as mentioned previously, all good, honest players are welcome regardless of their kit preferences. Frequent players enjoy working through set scenarios but to ensure these don’t become stale, continual development and build days are carried out to advance and change things to keep the games and site fresh and exciting and as such the input of players is valued highly.
This in my opinion is a must see site for all airsofters in the Central belt of Scotland, great atmosphere, characters and an experience. Possibly the most attractive and also different aspects of PoW is simply the level of depth and immersion that goes into each game. Not only are there absorbing settings and terrain features, but the games themselves are designed to get you really into the theme of your surroundings and it’s impossible not to play back scenes from your favourite WWII movies as you move around. Some of my favourite scenarios to play through include;
BLOW THE BRIDGE (Bunker Village / Ammo Dump Area) (Allied Defence) Time: 50 Minutes Scenario: The Allied have set up a strong defence of a bridge, which is essential for movement of troops and equipment. The bridge must be held at all costs. The Germans have received orders to blow up this bridge and rob the Allied of this key means of transport.
W W W. P L AY E R S O F WA R . C O . U K
034-035 SITE REVIEW.indd 34
01/05/2015 17:16
S OF WAR - WWII AIRSOFT - PLAYERS OF WAR - WWII AIRSOFT Allied: You will begin in the Bunker Village area. You may NOT cross the river, but you may spread out in the Bunker Village area and no more than 20 metres from the Village. You must set up a defence of the bridge and prevent it being blown up. You are limited to 4 lives and you are on respawn rules, respawing at the spawn point opposite the Church (marked trees). Axis: You will begin on the Ammo Dump side of the River, about 75 metres from the base on the trail along the river. You can split any way you like and can wander anywhere you like, EXCEPT you cannot cross the trail which leads to the bridge from the top road (heading towards the Allied spawn near the Church). You will be provided with 2 bombs, one of which must be placed on either fuel drum on the bridge in order to blow it. Your bombs cannot be stolen. You are on bandage rules. If you cannot be bandaged or need to respawn with a bandage on, your respawn point is your starting point.
PROPS: Hi-Vis to mark starting/respawn point. 2X Bombs
BLOW THE BRIDGE (Bunker Village / Ammo Dump Area) - (Axis Defence) Time: 50 Minutes Scenario: The Axis has set up a strong defence of a bridge which is essential for movement of troops and equipment. The bridge must be held at all costs. The Allied have received orders to blow up this bridge and rob the Germans of this key means of transport. Axis: You will begin in the Bunker Village area. You may NOT cross the river, but you may spread out in the Bunker Village area and no more than 20 metres from the Village. You must set up a defence of the bridge and prevent it being blown up. You are limited to 4 lives and you are on respawn rules, respawing at the spawn point opposite the Church (marked trees). Allied: You will begin on the Ammo Dump side of the River, about 75 metres from the base on the trail along the river. You can split any way you like and can wander anywhere you like, EXCEPT you cannot cross the trail leading to the bridge from the top road heading towards the Axis spawn. You will be provided with 2 bombs, one of which must be placed on either fuel drum on the bridge in order to blow it. Your bombs cannot be stolen.
You are on bandage rules. If you cannot be bandaged or need to respawn with a bandage on, your respawn point is your starting point (Hi Vis).
PROPS: Hi-Vis to mark starting/respawn point. 2X Bombs
WOUNDED SOLDIER EXTRACTION Ammo Dump – Hurtegen Base Time: 45 Minutes Scenario: A wounded soldier is being cared for in an Ammo Dump. His injuries are severe and he must be transported to a doctor who has set up a temporary field hospital. The enemy, however, has the Ammo Dump surrounded and have orders to capture the wounded soldier for interrogation. Team A: Will start inside the Ammo Dump with the stretcher and body. They must break through the enemy’s defence and attempt to carry the wounded soldier to the temporary field hospital located in Hurtegen forest. You have no boundaries other than the site boundaries and the enemy’s spawn points. There must be at least two people carrying the stretcher at any time. If the carriers are shot and need to respawn, the stretcher must be left behind. Life Rules: Bandage rules apply with a 3-minute bleedout before respawn if your awaiting bandage. If you have a bandage on, you can respawn immediately. Your respawn point is the one out the back of the Ammo Dump. You can gain an additional spawn point, which is at the road just off the car park if you can clear out the enemy and capture it (put up a flag). Team B: Can start anywhere you like within site boundaries to prevent the transport of the wounded soldier and attempt to capture him. You CANNOT cross the river but you can set up a defence on your side of it. If you succeed in capturing the soldier, he must be taken to the Hurtegen base and held there until the end of the game. Life Rules: Bandage rules apply with a 3-minute bleed out before respawn if your awaiting bandage. If you have a bandage on, you can respawn immediately. Your respawn point is your starting point unless it gets captured OR the spawn at the back of Hurtegen base. IF you lose your starting spawn OR if you capture the soldier and get him back to your base, you MUST use the Hurtegen base spawn.
PLAYERS OF WAR LOCATION Loanfood Wood, Lochgreen Road, High Bonnybridge. FK1 3AD PRICE £15 Walk-On / £35 Hire TIMES 0830 - 1700 HIRE GUNS AEG or Sniper Rifle from £35 FPS LIMITS 350fps AEG or Pistol 500fps Sniper Rifle OTHER RESTRICTIONS Bio BBs only, 18+ Age SHOP BBs, Pyro, Gas. MORE INFO www.playersofwar.co.uk Whilst we make every effort to check our information is correct, please check with the site prior to visiting, in case rules have changed etc.
W W W. P L AY E R S O F WA R . C O . U K
034-035 SITE REVIEW.indd 35
035
01/05/2015 13:51
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
13/03/2015 11:48
GRIPES ABOUT CHEATING
WRITTEN BY FRENCHIE - ILLUSTRATED BY CRAIG
“YOU ASK AROUND AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE WILL SWEAR DOWN THAT THEY ARE NOT CHEATING AND HAVE NEVER CHEATED AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY TRUE. NOT MANY PEOPLE CHEAT AT ALL, BUT BASED ON THE GENERAL GRIPES ABOUT CHEATING, YOU SHOULD, BY RIGHTS, FIND THAT 95% OF PEOPLE REGULARLY DON’T TAKE HITS.”
True or false? If it’s false, then I had better find something else to write about but I suspect it’s true. I’ll go further, I suspect that this quote says far more about airsoft and airsofters than is apparently contained in the few words above. I’ll give you an example of what I mean – replace ‘cheating’ with “acting in an irresponsible manner with their guns” or “used their guns in a place they really shouldn’t have”. What’s encapsulated in that quote is the paranoia that surrounds and inhabits airsoft and airsofters. Too many airsofters live in a lowlevel state of siege with regards to their pastime, that’s the basis of the paranoia I refer to. I have covered this before, mainly focussing on the assertion that we shouldn’t cower in the face of the simple fact that we like guns and that we enjoy a pastime where gun-shaped-objects are both necessary and vital, however I think I can go further, and being me, I will of course follow that urge and go further! If you have been playing for a while, say at least a few years, I’d like you to think back to when you discovered airsoft, and when you went to your first few skirmishes. Did you revel in the fact that you could run around like a loon, fulfilling all of your fantasies involving the fact that you were an Uber-l33t soldier taking on all comers and overcoming them? Were you gobsmacked that so many different types of guns were available? Were you delighted that all of this and so much more could be yours, subject to a few legal niceties? Do you recall so clearly inculcating the basic creed of airsoft? The idea that with rights comes responsibility? That cheating was pretty much the worst sin in the book, right up there with
038
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
038-039 FIRING POINT.indd 38
01/05/2015 14:24
Deicide? Do you recall having earnest discussions regarding what was and was not acceptable behaviour for an airsofter, both on and off site? In short, do you remember becoming so serious about it all? I am not about to suggest, even humorously, that the sensible stuff isn’t important, God knows we here at Airsoft International have done our bit for getting out the “be sensible” message, but have we all, collectively, allowed it to become just too important? Are we in danger of turning into a group that is almost too busy policing itself to actually get out and enjoy shooting each other? I am going to suggest that this is indeed the case, further I am going to propose that this very desirable sense of correct behaviour has directly led to some of the much less appealing aspects of airsoft today. Let’s step back and look at cheating. I suggest that there isn’t a player out there who hasn’t been hit at some point in their playing career and didn’t realise it. I wear a plate carrier, that carrier has fake SAPI plates in it. If I don’t hear the hit on my carrier I sure as hell won’t feel it. Does that make me a cheat? If you’re trying to take me out, maybe, if you are a little more open minded you might realise the problem and either lace my legs of shoot me in the ass. Hopefully you won’t go straight into “screaming like a demented banshee” mode, but you might. I’m not cheating, I don’t even know I have been hit and cheating does require a decision on my part to ignore a hit – it is a voluntary action. The fact that so many players do seem to go straight to banshee mode, not all but many, suggests that either they are emotionally fragile or possibly that something else is at work here. I have yet to attend a site where the importance of hit taking isn’t emphasised during every game briefing. Whether it is done politely or accompanied with dire threats of banishment, it is the bedrock of our pastime. We rely on each other to be honest, and like Ben’s quote above, I actually think the vast majority of players are, basically, honest. That being the case, in the scenario outlined above surely the response to an un-taken hit should be to apply a little more force (shoot me more) or to politely point out that I had indeed been bested. I wouldn’t have argued and would have apologised for something which in truth isn’t anyone’s fault. Instead we seem to go into mistrust mode, thinking the worst of other players. This extends well beyond the skirmish field. After more than a few years I have become deeply sick and disheartened with the sort of exchanges I see on social media. Years ago, the UKAN forums could be very, very lively but I don’t recall the underlying aggression and unpleasantness that I see today. Sometimes this is just a clash of personalities, or a simple argument, but all to often the root of the argument is different interpretations of the airsoft creed. It is, if you will, self-policing gone mad. If someone makes a statement regarding airsoft which is factually wrong, I may choose to correct them, as politely as possible. If they and their buddies then decide to get all stroppy, I’ll leave them to it, why let them drag me down to their level. All too often however these arguments spiral out of control in a quite astonishing manner as both sides try to force their view of what is right on the other side, usually with a truckload of memes and insults thrown in for good measure. What troubles me is the underlying idea that we have have people who ostensibly share a passion and wish it to continue in a sane and healthy manner, tearing into each other like a bunch of
038-039 FIRING POINT.indd 39
rabid raccoons. In public. What the hell is going on? I think what we are seeing is just the cheating debate spread far and wide. Cheating is pretty easy, allowing for genuine mistakes, but everything else is a tad more complex, and screaming obscenities at each other is not the way to reach common understanding and mutual respect. We have no book of rules, certain aspects of what we do are bound by laws but there is nowhere that we can go and say “here is the definitive answer” - end of argument. What actually happens is that factions snipe, threaten and insult each other trying to win the moral high ground, trying to enforce their view of what is right. Trying to be the most pious. What underlies such behaviour is a fundamental lack of respect, and a lack of trust. It’s as if we have become so sensitive to breaches of the Airsoft Code (it’s not a code, more a loose collection of guidelines really...) that we cannot help but jump on anything that looks like it is a breach of what we believe them to be. It would be bad enough if this were limited to players trying to impose their view of how things should be, but I have seen instances of sites preaching their world-view and denigrating other sites and their players in the process. What that actual **** is all that about? I am increasingly reminded of the People Front of Judea scene from ‘The Life of Brian’ or much darker scenes from recent history where one group insists on imposing it’s view of what is right. I suggest that it’s high time we all relaxed, quite a lot frankly, and before we weighed in asked ourselves if the argument is actually worth having. Like so much in life, getting things right within airsoft is essentially down to the application of common sense. Yes, there is a valid argument that common sense is maybe not always common, but even so, do we have to police each other so viciously? Do we really mistrust each other so badly? If the answer is yes, then perhaps it’s time to do something about that, because that mis-trust is at the root of everything that most players find objectionable in our community, we usually label it ‘politics’ but really it’s a bitch-fest. Maybe this is just a natural part of human concourse but does it have to be? Yes, if we see seriously stupid behaviour we are right to intervene, whether it’s on-site or online, but have we all become so distrustful of each other and so determined to be seen to be holier-thanthou that we are in danger of policing ourselves out of existence? There are days I genuinely worry that this is the case and I despair. I have been, in my time, a little holier than thou, a bit too definitive in my assertion about what is right and wrong. I remember this with a little shame and a rueful shake of the head. These days I try to be a far more relaxed about things. While there are those who would stamp our pastime into the dust (stand up the Green Party and take a bow) by and large nobody really cares too much about what we do as long as we don’t make a nuisance of ourselves. It is time that we stopped behaving like religious zealots towards our fellow airsofters and learned to get on with the far more pleasant business of shooting lumps out of each other. Oh, you get an extra ten points if you spotted the Pirate of the Caribbean reference.
01/05/2015 14:25
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
13/03/2015 12:46
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
13/03/2015 12:47
MULTICAM W
W
W
.
H
U
E
Y
S
.
C
O
.
U
K
BLACK! GET IN GEAR WITH HUEY’S MILITARY, TACTICAL AND OUTDOORS LOVE IT OR LOATHE IT, MULTICAM IS EVERYWHERE. AT MANY SITES HALF OF THE PEOPLE THAT ROCK UP WILL BE CLAD HEAD-TO-TOE IN THE STUFF AND AS WE HAVE POINTED OUT IN THE PAST, IT’S A VERY EFFECTIVE PATTERN IN A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTS, EXACTLY THE DESIGN BRIEF IT WAS DEVELOPED TO MEET. A SHORT WHILE AGO, CRYE PRECISION, THE COMPANY BEHIND MULTICAM ITSELF, DECIDED TO EXPAND THE BRAND BEYOND JUST THE ONE PATTERN AND RELEASE A RANGE OF PATTERNS ONTO THE COMMERCIAL MARKET. ONE OF THESE PATTERNS IS THE HIGHLY SPECIALISED MULTICAM BLACK. DESIGNED FOR LOW-LIGHT OR UNIFORM USE, THE PATTERN IS STRIKING TO SAY THE LEAST, SO WE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GET BACK IN BLACK! It’s been a long time since we’ve dug out the black kit, not since all the way back in Volume 7 Issue 3 have we covered the subject but that’s not to say it isn’t a popular choice. Many select to run in black based on the old adage, “it goes with everything”, other’s quip that “it hides the dirt better” whilst many simply like it because it’s timeless and classic. Whilst just plain black has been popular for a number of years, the recent interest in black-based camouflage patterns has led to an increased amount of them on the market, A-TACS LE was one of the first, followed by Kryptek’s Typhon, both designed to offer concealment in the right situations but primarily intended to give
042
the wearer a uniformed and authoritarian look. Crye Precision were quick to respond to the demand in the marketplace by introducing Multicam Black as part of their extended and specialised “family” of patterns. With original Multicam forming the baseline for the group, extremes of environment are covered off with the variations ranging from Multicam Tropic, for verdant green areas, Multicam Arid for arid rocky areas and Multicam Alpine for use in snow and ice. Multicam Black is intended to work in low light situations and to compliment uniformed officers. The basic colouration is black with some tan/green accents taken from the original patterning.
W W W.HUEYS.CO.UK
042-049 KIT UP.indd 42
01/05/2015 13:54
W W W.HUEYS.CO.UK
042-049 KIT UP.indd 43
043
01/05/2015 13:55
BACK IN BLACK! GE T GE ARED UP WITH HUE Y ’S MILITARY, OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE SYSTEM Optimal Performance System (OPS) was established in 2005 and have rapidly developed as a well-known tactical gear brand, continuously pursuing new angles of creativity and striving for quality in their product development. OPS are dedicated to innovation and put maximum efforts into the design and functionality of their product line. The gear is made from genuine and supreme quality materials to ensure its durability and protection for the wearer. OPS customers included US Army members deploying in Iraq and Afghanistan, Law Enforcement, SWAT teams, security contractors and even the film production business behind Terminator 4.
BACK IN BLACK! Multicam Black is always going to be best suited to use in a dark, urban environment so we decided to compliment this theme with a suitable load out. Thinking about these sorts of places, you are likely going to be engaging in some serious CQB action so we tailored our selection to suit that. A compact weapon like the MP7 was chosen to aid in maneuverability and stealth and our pick of kit was made to compliment this.
UNIFORM For our uniform we have selected the OPS brand of gear from Huey’s MTO. OPS make some top kit with a whole host of modern and up to date features and also come in at a surprisingly pleasing price point. Team that with the speedy service and rapid turn-around we’ve come to expect from Huey’s and you are on to a winner.
PANTS The basis of our uniform is the OPS Integrated Battle Pants 3D in Multicam Black. Incorporating a lot of features you expect to find in super-high end gear from the likes of Crye Precision, the OPS take on thing gives you a similar package for a good deal less cash. Designed as a high-intensity combat uniform, the Integrated Battle Pants are lightweight but durable, featuring a ten-pocket design for maximum utility, including specially design tool pockets next to the regular pockets. As we have come to expect from uniforms like this, the Battle Pants also include hard-shell kneepads that are even included in the price. The height that these pads sit at can be adjusted easily and an elasticated strap is sewn in place to allow you to fit them tight to your knee to make sure they are in the right place when you need them.
044
W W W.HUEYS.CO.UK
042-049 KIT UP.indd 44
01/05/2015 13:55
ARY, TACTICAL & OUTDOOR - GET GEARED UP WITH HUEY’S
CRYE PIONEERED THE IDEA OF INTEGRATED KNEEPADS BUT OTHER MANUFACTURERS HAVE FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS. OPS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF THEIR TAKE ON THE DESIGN OPS INTEGRATED BATTLE PANTS 3D
Velcro adjusting waist, (approx 4” waist adjustment). Traditional button fly. 2.5” belt loops. Double layer seat. Slashed front and rear pocket for easy access. Two 4” x 5” pockets for small or flat items located in spots easy to access in full battle gear. Two 2.5”x 4” accessory pockets with flaps for multi-tools, pistol mags or flash lights. Slashed 9”x 8” pleated/bellows cargo pockets with Velcro flap closure. Fully shaped knees to accept molded knee pads (molded knee pads included). Double side Velcro adjustment with elastic material, more comfort when tightening the knee pads and increases the movement mobility. Elasticated adjustment strap that adjusting the height of knee pad. One piece lower leg with single seam for better fit and comfort. 10” zipper on the lower leg for easy wearing with shoes or boots. Velcro adjustment on the lower leg cuff for better fit when wearing boots or shoes. Constructed with mil-spec 50/50 nyco multicam black rip-stop fabric.
THE MULTICAM BRAND Choosing “genuine” Multicam can be a confusing prospect and that’s because you’ll find the logo on a range of products from numerous manufacturers, here’s how it works...
Crye Precision make and own the Multicam pattern, that’s literally the colours and shapes that are printed on material, it’s their Intellectual Property. Crye Precision also make their own range of branded tactical equipment, things like plate carriers, blast belts and clothing. These items are made from numerous different types of textile, made from a variety of separate manufacturers like Cordura and Schoeller. These companies partner with Crye Precision to create the raw materials to make tactical equipment. Third parties also get involved, in the context of this feature, OPS, who utilise the materials printed or woven with the genuine Crye Precision pattern to make their own ranges of products.
W W W.HUEYS.CO.UK
042-049 KIT UP.indd 45
045
01/05/2015 13:56
BACK IN BLACK! GE T GE ARED UP WITH HUE Y ’S MILITARY, GM TACTICAL: CUSTOM KYDEX HOLSTERS - ONE TO WATCH! We’ve had the privilege of checking out and including one of the pre-release products from brand new custom kydex outfit GM Tactical into this month’s black load out. GM Tactical are a small, UK-based firm with big ideas and are well on the path to making a name for themselves when it comes to hand-made, custom kydex creations. Producing goods fit for both real-steel use and also creating holsters for the quirks inherent in some airsoft pistols, GM Tactical can create a product that’s perfectly tailored to your own specification. Using industrystandard mounting hardware and high quality materials, the range of holsters includes both outer and inner waistband options. Pictured here is a simple Glock 17 ‘pancake’ version but the sky is the limit when it comes to getting the presses around whatever weapon you choose to use! Stay tuned for a full, in-depth review of the goods and interview with GM Tactical themselves in a future issue of Ai!
SHIRT For the top half of our uniform, the OPS Gen 2 Improved Direct Action Shirt is used, again in Multicam Black. Using the familiar and now commonplace “under armour” design, the shirt is made with hardwearing sleeves teamed with a close fitting technical fabric torso for comfort under armour systems, plate carriers and chest rigs. The Gen. 2 Improved shirt features a refined cut and design that compliments the pants we have selected as a uniform suitable for highoutput activity and also maintains a good level of durability in hard use. Optional elbow pad inserts, supplied with the shirt, teamed with a durable Cordura panel provide even more durability and protection for the wearer. A high zippered collar makes it easy to put on and remove the shirt also providing protection from the chaffing of slings and straps. The package is rounded out with Velcro adjustable cuffs and low profile bicep pockets with an external loop field for morale patches.
GEN. 2 IMPROVED DIRECT ACTION SHIRT
New cut & design for a better fit and comfort. New pattern on sleeves and collar with improved pocket layout. Body area constructed with cotton jersey knit material for T-shirt-like comfort. Elasticated underarm provide a better fit. Forearm 3”x 5” low profile pocket with zipper on both side for utility storage. Shaped elbows are reinforced with 500D CORDURA and accept molded/removable elbow pads (included). Upper arm pockets with large Velcro panels. High zip collar with quarter length zipper. Cuff with Velcro closure/adjuster.
046
OPS GEN. 2 SHIRT IS AN ADVANCED AND IMPROVED VERSION OF WHAT WE COMMONLY CALL THE UBACS. IT’S COMFORTABLE UNDER ARMOUR AND WORKS WELL AS A BASE LAYER. THEY ARE TIGHT FITTING SO UNLESS YOU LIKE THE SPANDEX LOOK, GO FOR A SIZE LARGER THAN YOU USUALLY WOULD
W W W.HUEYS.CO.UK
042-049 KIT UP.indd 46
01/05/2015 13:56
ARY, TACTICAL & OUTDOOR - GET GEARED UP WITH HUEY’S
LOAD CARRYING Continuing on with the OPS theme, we selected another of their products to provide us with the basic load carrying components of this lightweight, slick load out. We chose the OPS Easy Plate Carrier thanks to its compact and modern design. The Easy plate carrier comes in three sizes, Medium, Large and Extra Large. This refers to the size of the plate pouches and corresponds to the sizing of the E-SAPI plates they are shaped to fit. Across the front of the carrier, a combined MOLLE panel and Velcro field provide a chest mounted admin area allowing ID patches, utility devices and admin pouches to be attached. Below this 3 rows of MOLLE loops are sewn onto the front of a slick “kangaroo” type pouch which can be used for storage itself of kept sealed for a low profile option.
OPS EASY PLATE CARRIER Padded and adjustable shoulder strap. 6” x 4” Velcro loop. 9.5” x 5.5” front pocket for extra storage. Drag handle. Compatible with the OPS Easy chest rig. Comes with 4 ITW Nexus QASM buckle for attaching the Easy chest rig and many others. MOLLE compatible panels. Constructed with official Mil-Spec Crye Multicam Black 500d Cordura fabric. Mil-Spec webbing. ITW NEXUS Mil-Spec plastic hardware.
The rear panel of the carrier is similar in layout with plenty of MOLLE space for back panels and pouches. A drag handle is incorporated as well as webbing straps to centralize and stabilise the removable cummerbund. The shoulder straps are an adjustable Velcro design with a huge range in their design. Webbing loops useful for comms wire routing are also included. The Cummerbund is a lightweight, single layer of Cordura but it is sewn with full MOLLE coverage useful for reinforcement as well as pouch attachment points. The front and side of the carrier have properly placed loops to accept ITW QASM buckles (also supplied) which allow the carrier to be integrated with the OPS Easy chest rig as well as a growing collection of rig systems from other manufacturers.
WWWWWW. H . AUIE- Y MSA.GC .OC.OUM K
042-049 KIT UP.indd 47
047
01/05/2015 13:55
BACK IN BLACK! GE T GE ARED UP WITH HUE Y ’S MILITARY, CLONES AND COPIES Unfortunately, because of the popularity of the Multicam pattern, there are lots and lots of copies and reproductions available. Most of these are produced to a lesser standard and even if you have a well-stitched garment, you’ll find the actual patterning starts to fade over time, leaving you with a washed out, worn looking garment in no time at all. Make sure you look for the genuine Multicam labeling on your garment, regardless of the manufacturer, to ensure you are getting the highest quality gear and not a knock-off or reproduction.
POUCHES To give the carrier a suitable amount of space, we fitted it with a small selection of pouches also from the OPS Multicam Black range. A double MP7 pouch was chosen to carry ammo for our primary armament. Pouches for this SMG are few and far between but the OPS offering uses an elasticated design to passively retain the magazines, even working in the case of heavy gas weapon ones, and a more secure bungee topper to keep it in place at all times.
OPS DOUBLE SHINGLE SMG MAG POUCH Designed to fit the MP series SMG mags, works with MP5, MP7 and MP9/TP9 mags as well. Perfect for any MOLLE platform. Shock cord retention to secure the magazines with Velcro adjustment. Constructed with US-made Crye Multicam Black 500D Cordura webbing. To compliment this pouch we chose the OPS Combat Admin Pouch, which is an excellent pouch to keep all kinds off essential but irregular items organised and retained. Using numerous zippers, pouches and mesh pockets you can easily and conveniently store batteries through to tools without any worries at all. We particularly like the D-ring feature, a great place to clip your car keys to keep them safe.
OPS COMBAT ADMIN POUCH FEATURES External pockets. 4” x 4” x 1.5” external pocket with patch panel and D-ring attachment. 1.5”d x 4.5”h x 2”w external multi-tool/pistol mag pouch. 2” x 5” x 7” main pocket with 2 way zipper. One 4.5” x 7” mesh pocket with Velcro enclosure. One 4.5” x 7” pocket with velcro enclosure. Two 3.5” x 4” small pockets with velcro enclosure. Loops for chem lights or small gear. MOLLE compatible. Constructed with genuine Multicam bBack 500d Cordura fabric. ITW NEXUS D-ring.
048
MULTICAM BLACK USES THE SAME SHAPES AND PATTERN AS IT’S PREDECESSOR, BUT REPLACES THE COLOURS WITH A MUCH DARKER PALETTE. THE GREENS THAT SHOW THROUGH GIVE IT AN ALMOST OILY LOOK
W W W.HUEYS.CO.UK
042-049 KIT UP.indd 48
01/05/2015 13:56
ARY, TACTICAL & OUTDOOR - GET GEARED UP WITH HUEY’S 1 1 OPS BASEBALL CAP £16.00 2 SMITH PIVLOCK V2 £115.00 2 3 GEN. 2 DIRECT ACTION SHIRT £78.75 4 OPS EASY PLATE CARIER £105.50 5 DOUBLE SMG MAG POUCH £17.00 6 COMBAT ADMIN POUCH £18.99 7 INTEGRATED BATTLE PANTS £125.50 SIMPLE, SLEEK, EFFECTIVE AND A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. MULTICAM BLACK STANDS OUT BUT WILL STILL LET YOU MELT INTO THE SHADOWS
3 4
6
5
BUYING IN! If you are in the UK, you can get hold of the full range of OPS clothing and equipment and hundreds of other tactical treats via Huey’s MTO (www.hueys. co.uk). If you are in the USA UR-Tactical is the best place to hit up and you can find them online at: www.ur-tactical.com.
7
HUEY’S MILITARY - TACTICAL - OUTDOOR
W W W.HUEYS.CO.UK
042-049 KIT UP.indd 49
049
01/05/2015 13:56
TAL K ALL
SPRINGER TALK MY IDEAL SPRINGER - MY IDEAL SPR
MSPRINGER y /deAL The humble springer is probably the most neglected form of airsoft gun, more so since decent electric rifles can now be had for between £100 and £150 pounds. Many years ago you would spend that, or nearly that, on a decent Marui springer. I had a few, the Uzi with it's amazing forward-moving fore-grip which cocked the action and made enough noise to wake the dead in the process. The G3A3, which had more spring stretches and hop mods than was good for any rifle. A couple of AR-15s – the M16 and the XM-177, both with a neat flip-down pump action grip concealed in the fore-grip. Pistols were too numerous to mention although the 1911a1 was exceptional until finally lost by my son during a game. Shotguns – ah, that's an article all on it's own right there. You may rightly conclude that I was, and still am, something of a fan. These days, with the exception of shotguns and bolt action rifles, you'll be lucky to see any spring guns on airsoft sites these days. As suggested this is a lot to do with the falling price of AEGs and the relatively poor performance of spring guns compared to their electric cousins. For me, this is a shame and this month I am going to argue that the relative demise of the springer reduces airsoft as a pastime.
050
I cannot really make an economic argument any longer, as the price of decent gas blowback pistols nears that of a good spring pistol from Marui, it's hard to convince anyone that a plastic, single shot pistol is a better buy than a self-loading, full metal gas gun. The same issue arises with spring rifles; why spend a £100 on a plastic M16 with limited ammo and range when another £50 will get you a G&G AEG that can hold it's head up amongst all but the more rarefied denizens of your average site. No, price alone will no longer suffice as a good reason. There are other reasons, none of them overly convincing, even to me; reliability and simplicity chief amongst them. Spring guns seldom go wrong and they are largely unfazed by weather – hot or cold, dry or chucking it down, they don't much care and forge on regardless. This is due to their fundamental simplicity – spring, piston/cylinder and a method of feeding ammo into the barrel. The Maruis don't even have an adjustable hop up, just a fixed rubber optimised for 0.25g BBs. Why on earth would you choose this over electricity and what could be done to make this a more attractive option? I have touched on possible improvements in a previous article, but I will revisit those suggestions below. The
“why” is harder and so very subjective. If I could have a spring powered M4 that was capable of matching AEGs for range and build quality, would I use it? Yes, I would. I would certainly have one in my armoury. I would have one for the same reason that I have a shotgun, I have always had a shotgun, in my collection. Simplicity. Not just simplicity of construction (shotguns based on the TM triple-barrel design aren't actually that simple) but simplicity of use. It's the grab-and-go ideal. Get your gun, grab some ammo and off you go, no reliance on external power sources it's all down to you as the player. Tactics become more important, cover becomes much more vital, you have to think that much more about what you're doing since you cannot rely on superior fire-power. Shots must be picked more carefully and the ability to aim and shoot well is suddenly more important. These are exactly the same arguments for single shot over full auto, the difference being that you may not get a quick follow up shot. It's a challenge to you as the player, if you are the sort who likes to make things a little more difficult. There are advantages – lack of weight for a start, simplicity of equipment, consistency (more about that later), reliability, but I suspect
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
050-051 SPRINGER.indd 50
01/05/2015 14:30
SPRINGER - MY IDEAL SPRINGER - MY IDEAL SPRINGER
THESE DAYS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SHOTGUNS AND BOLT ACTION RIFLES, YOU'LL BE LUCKY TO SEE ANY SPRING GUNS ON AIRSOFT SITES THESE DAYS. AS SUGGESTED THIS IS A LOT TO DO WITH THE FALLING PRICE OF AEGS AND THE RELATIVELY POOR PERFORMANCE OF SPRING GUNS COMPARED TO THEIR ELECTRIC COUSINS
that for most players these would not convince. In part that's because they would be wilfully disadvantaging themselves and in part because it must seem like stepping back in time. Despite my enthusiasm for all things spring powered I'm not sure that even I could convince them. A reworking of the design of spring guns might go some way to overcoming these objections. Personally I have no problems with plastics, especially modern fibre-reinforced plastics, but there is no reason that a spring mechanism couldn't be fitted into a metal receiver. More interestingly would be a spring mechanism that occupied a case identical to current AEG gearboxes, or as identical as the requirement for manual cocking would allow. Adding quick spring change would be very worthwhile, in fact something like the current ICS split gearbox with the lower half housing just the trigger and sear mechanism would be brilliant, allowing the player to swap out uppers to increase or decrease power. Since these guns would invariably be single shot only most sites would treat them as spring powered sniper rifles allowing them up to 500 fps with 0.2 ammo. Leaving aside issues regarding whether or not players can be trusted not to swap out their uppers for a more powerful one, the
ability to decide whether to act as a rifleman or designated marksman would be a real boon. Allied to this ability to alter power output would be the advantage of running a decent, adjustable hop unit. This doesn't need to be anything fancy, a well set-up version 2 would do the job perfectly well, but it would put the spring user back in contention as far as range and accuracy are concerned. We would now have a flexible, robust weapon system that is adaptable to a variety of situations, it's starting to look more attractive. Moreover if we built this on a traditional AEG chassis, you would have access to all the other accessories available on the market which are pretty much verboten to all current spring gun offerings. Looking at what is available in spring power these day we come firmly up against the bolt action rifle. We can include the spring powered Dragunov alternatives as they are just straight-pull bolties. My biggest issue with these guns is the materials used in their construction, they are generally built from fairly lightweight stuff. This is great for the upgrade market but in my opinion selling the players short. A point I know I have made before, so forgive the
repetition, you can pick up a decent air rifle in this country for about £100. It'll be made from steel and steel will generally outlast marzac and aluminium by a considerable margin. While I accept that there are differences in terms of scale of production, I cannot see why bolt action spring airsoft guns shouldn't be made of much better, stronger materials. I strongly suspect 'tradition' all the forerunners of these guns came from Japan with their peculiar power restrictions, therefore upgrading was pretty much expected once they arrive in the UK. That doesn't explain or justify the generally poor hop units fitted to these guns, it wasn't until Marui released the VSR range that we saw a decent hop in a bolt action rifle, the Maruzen hop unit, widely copied in the Well L96 rifles from China is frankly very poor. Compared to users of AEGs, spring gunners are not well served by the world's manufacturers. I have no idea why this should be. Bolt action rifles are even simpler than spring version of modern guns, but too often manufacturers go for gas as a motive power source instead of spring. How much better would G&G's Kar98 or Springfield have been if they weren't held back by a less than stellar gas system? As it is, those who want such a thing have to resort to some serious surgery in order to shoehorn a VSR action into a traditional stock. It strikes me that this is an area where manufacturers could really produce something both desirable and commercially successful. Make sure that it's easy to either change springs, or better still, make replacement bolts a reasonable price and sort out the sub-standard hop units (tip – AEG barrels and hop rubbers would be great thanks) and you would have a rifle that would have fairly wide appeal to players as well as those whose interests include historical re-enacting. Even the iconic US M1 Garand could find a market as a straight-pull springer given it's small ammo capacity. I'd buy one! The only area where the manufacturers seem to have got it right is with shotguns, which are widely available and produced in a wide variety of styles and materials. G&P's re-working of the Maruzen 870 comes in more flavours that Ben&Jerry's ice cream and although you need to look after the piston, they are solid as a rock. Some are very reasonably priced, others however will cost you the same or more than an AEG, so you do need to be pretty committed to the concept to empty your wallet. I have felt for many years that all the makers have badly missed a trick where springers are concerned. Despite the decreasing cost of good electric guns, I'm firmly convinced that spring guns still have a place in airsoft, and not just as budget plinkers. They are reliable and generally very consistent, they make you re-think your approach to playing the game and they are massively rewarding – better to get a hit for one or two carefully placed shots rather than simply because you were willing and able to empty a 500-round hi-cap in the oppositions general direction. Yes there are guns out there, although I don't think anyone imports Marui springers into the UK these days but frankly they could and should be far better value for money and far better quality than they are. I fear that ultimately money talks and that the big boys just don't see where the market is. Unlike my ideal AEGs and gas guns, this one is likely to remain a forlorn pipe dream.
J O I N T H E D E B AT E W I T H 4 4 0 K O T H E R S O N O U R FA C E B O O K PA G E : FA C E B O O K . C O M /A I R S O F T I N T
050-051 SPRINGER.indd 51
051
01/05/2015 14:31
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 16:58
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 16:59
S! OL
25 GAS PISTOLS ROUND-UP - FILL YOUR HANDS!
PIS T
25 PISTOLS! THE SUN’S OUT, THE TEMPERATURE IS UP AND NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GET THE BEST OUT OF A GAS PISTOL! IF YOU ARE THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINES, HERE’S A ROUND-UP OF NO LESS THAN 25 AWESOME HANDGUNS TO WHET YOUR APPETITE!
gas pistol round-up
054
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
054-060 GEAR ZONE.indd 54
01/05/2015 14:00
CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK
AIRSOFT IN June 2015 vol 11 iss 1
COMBAT PATROL UNIFORM®
EUROPEAN PATENT No. 001832254-0001 U.S. PATENT No. US D696,487 S Main bottom apparel from Urban Tactical Line®. Keeping the impression of casual pants, the UTP® provide load bearing capabilities and comfort typical for strictly utilitarian constructions. Designed for Law Enforcement operators, Urban Tactical Pants® enable carrying all essential equipment around hips and thighs line. Low-profile pocket setup keeps the EDC gear and ammo close to body’s center of gravity, which, combined with stretchable fabric, leads to fluent and quick tactical movements. Furthermore, all these solutions give the outcome of clear and useful product for concealed carry tasks. UTP® are available in two raw material options, for hot and moderate climate as well.
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 17:00
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
10/02/2015 13:57
MEDIA REVIEW KAJAKI ON OUR RADAR
RELEASED IN 2014 TO GREAT ACCLAIM, AND NOMINATED FOR A BAFTA, KAJAKI TELLS THE STORY OF A SMALL GROUP OF BRITISH PARAS STATIONED ABOVE THE KAJAKI DAM IN HELMAND PROVINCE IN 2006. WHEN A MEMBER OF A THREE-MAN PATROL SENT OUT TO INTERDICT TALIBAN ACTIVITY STEPS ON A LANDMINE IT SETS OFF A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT WILL LEAVE ONE SOLDIER DEAD, AND OTHERS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. Kajaki isn’t a war film in the traditional sense, there is no grandstanding, no head-turning special effects, no poorly disguised political stances are being rehearsed. It is rather a story about a war, or a bit of a war. It tells of fear and of courage, of frustration, desperation and pain. It does so in a way that neither glorifies war nor glories in war. Someone once wrote that all war stories are, at
062
their core, just stories about people. This is true of Kajaki. There is no score, no dramatic music to sway your emotions. It is a dramatisation of true events, and the viewer is unlikely to forget that it is exactly that, a drama. All the tension the film requires comes from that story line - a group of British Paras finding themselves in a Wadi that is full of Soviet mines, mines that have lain in the Afghan soil for 25 years. Throughout the film we barely see the Taliban, there is a short inconclusive firefight at night and an illegal checkpoint which is the catalyst for the patrol. The real enemy is ground on which the Paras have to walk and therein lies the tension which underpins the film. The cast, led by Mark Stanley as Tug and David Elliot as Mark Wright, the only fatality on the day, do a sterling job but this is an ensemble piece, it’s about all of them. Beyond the banter essential to any story concerning itself with soldiers, especially British soldiers there is an underlying calm and cohesion to the cast which chimes with our experience of the behaviour of professional soldiers. There is a thankful lack of hysterics, but no shortage of emotion. Portraying events which
fall within living memory is always going to be a challenge for any film-maker, portraying events in which nearly of the principles are alive and well is much more of a challenge. Paul Katis manages to keep the film slightly understated even in it’s tensest phases and by doing so adds an element of authenticity and authority that might so easily have been lost. Chris Goodger’s cinematography also deserves mention as the viewer feels the need to squint in the intense heat and light experienced by the Paras. The on-screen depiction of the wounds suffered by the casualties are simply painful to see. Although they are very different, Kajaki reminded us of ‘Restrepo’ the documentary filmed in Afghanistan some 4 years after the events depicted in the film. There was an essential honesty about the telling of the tale which impresses on the viewer; “this was real, this happened” and asks of you a similar element of respect for the characters. It is salutatory, sobering viewing, and if you missed it during it’s cinema release you would be well advised to take the opportunity of the DVD release to catch up on what you missed.
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
018 KAJAKI.indd 62
01/05/2015 16:40
RIFLEWORKS FOR AIRSOFT AND REAL STEEL SIGHTS & ACCESSORIES
V O R T E X R A ZOR RED DOT 3 MOA DOT
V O R T E X
SPITFIRE 3 X PRISM SCOPE EBR-556B (MOA) RE TICLE
V O R T E X
STRIKEFIRE II 4 MOA RED/GREEN DOT C/ W LOWER 1/3 CO-WITNESS CANTILE VER MOUNT
V O R T E X
CROSSFIRE II ILLUMINATED RED DOT 1-4X24 RIFLESCOPE
VORTEX OPTICS HAVE UNLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANT Y INCLUDING AC CIDEN TA L DA M AGE A N D A R E B U I LT FO R REAL STEEL - AN IDEAL OPTION FOR AIRSOFT!
H O G U E
OVERMOLDED COLL APSIBLE BUT TSTOCK MIL-SPEC
H O G U E
GRIP BE AVERTAIL WITH NO FINGER GROOVES - BL ACK
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR REPLICA AND REAL STEEL SIGHTS, MOUNTS, RIS AND RAS RAILS, AIRSOFT MAGAZINES, MAG POUCHES, WEAPON LIGHTS, TELESCOPIC SIGHTS, GRIPS, HOLSTERS, SLINGS, UPGR ADE PARTS E TC.
W W W. R I F L E W O R K S .C O.U K RIFLW WORKS.indd 1
06/04/2015 16:10
GUN RE V IE W S T HIS IS HO W W E DO I T !
WHAT WE DO YOU ARE USED TO SEEING GUN REVIEWS IN AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL, FOR MANY OF YOU THAT’S THE WHOLE REASON YOU PICK UP THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH. THE REASON OUR GUN REVIEWS ARE LOVED AND TRUSTED IS SIMPLE, WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A GOOD GUN, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN WE ALSO KNOW WHAT MAKES YOU GUYS TICK AND THAT’S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
It’s not fair to review a WW2 submachine gun from the perspective of a tacticool Navy SEAL wannabe. You can’t rate something like that down for now being covered in RIS rails and lasers so when assessing guns, we take into account who is going to be interested in it and review it on that criteria. Before we put pen to paper though, there’s plenty of testing that has to be done first. And this is how we do it…
■ RESEARCH
■ TESTING
Most airsoft guns are based on a real firearm, that’s part of their charm. If a gun is made to specifically replicate a certain gun, we look into the real-steel counterpart in depth. When was it made? Who used it? What does it look like and how does it shoot? This doesn’t have any bearing on the airsoft gun as such, but it’s great to know a bit about what you have in replica form! Where it does come in handy is where airsoft manufacturers go to the lengths of putting trademarks and markings on their replicas. It allows us to see how well they have done their homework and in the end, how realistic the replica is at all.
We do two types of testing here at Ai… Firstly it’s range testing. That includes putting rounds down out 70m test range and also chrono testing with .20g BBs to work out how consistently the gun shoots. If the weapon passes these tests with a reasonable level of performance, the next step is to take it out on the field for some practical shooting. Sometimes a gun will score highly on the range and chrono but might be an absolute nightmare to haul around the field, or visa versa. Some guns don’t shoot all that impressively but on the field they are simply a riot. These are things we look out for!
■ BUILD QUALITY We give the gun a once over straight out of the box to see how well it is made. We check if it is well packaged and if it comes free of scratches, blemishes, dents and kinks. If the thing has suffered inside a box, it doesn’t bode well for how it will fare on the field, does it? We also take into account the manufacturing techniques used. Is the plastic molded well? Has the metal been machined crisply and are any threads and details cut precisely and properly cleaned up? These things are important because it generally reflects on how well the gun is assembled and how long it will last. Even with the best will in the world, you need to take something apart once in a while and if bolts and threads are stripping left and right, well, you’re not going to be a happy bunny are you?
■ INTERNALS We take a look inside the gun to see what it is made from, the quality of the components and how well they are assembled. If they are covered in horrible grease, badly shimmed or even bone dry, that’s something to take into account. If you are handy with your tools picking up a bargain gun that needs a little love and attention is no hardship, but if you want something to let rip right out of the box, well that changes everything.
■ STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY We pride ourselves in bringing you crisp, clear and high-quality images of the guns we review. An Ai review is the next best thing to holding a gun in your own hands so take your time, soak up the details and appreciate the eye-candy we give you!
■ WHAT’S A CHRONO? We use a chronograph to test our guns here at Ai. A chrono simply measures the speed of the BB coming out of the end of the gun. If each shot is at a similar power level, you can generally assume the gun is working efficiently. By measuring the speed, we can also make a calculation to work out the power level the gun fires at to let you know if it will fit into your local site limits.
LETS FIND OUT WHAT DESERVES A SPACE IN YOUR ARMOURY! 064
EDITORIAL@AI-MAG.COM
064 GUN REVIEWS.indd 64
12/01/2015 14:28
GM04.15/183/k AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 17:05
GBBR REVIEW
THE WE MSK GBBR REVISITED
REVISITED
WE MSK -GBBR REVIEW-
YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THE WE MSK FEATURED IN AI OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, INDEED WE PICKED IT UP JUST BEFORE THE ONSET OF WINTER LAST YEAR. BECAUSE OF THE FALLING TEMPERATURES, IT WASN’T REALLY FAIR TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AT THAT POINT IN TIME BUT NOW WE’VE BEEN TREATED TO SOMETHING OF A WARM SPRING HERE IN THE UK, IT’S TIME TO FIND OUT WHAT IT’S LIKE YEAR-ROUND. The MSK from WE is based on the Remington ACR, the commercially manufactured version of the Magpul Masada, a gun that took the airsoft world by storm approximately 5 years ago when the then Magpul PTS company put the officially licensed replica on the market. The WE offering comes with a critical difference though; it’s a gas blowback. It makes a lot of sense to create an ACR in a GBB form since the very concepts behind it’s design were based around ease of use, user friendliness and the ability to rapidly reconfigure the gun to perform in different situations. The GBB format allows much of these principles to be translated across to the replica and for them still to have an actual function, rather than just looking nice as they would on something like an AEG.
066
W W W.WEAIRSOFTEUROPE.COM
066-069 WE MSK GBBR.indd 66
01/05/2015 14:32
REVISITED - THE WE MSK GBBR REVISITED
W W W.WEAIRSOFTEUROPE.COM
066-069 WE MSK GBBR.indd 67
067
01/05/2015 14:32
GBBR REVIEW
THE WE MSK GBBR - RE VISITED - THE
REVISITED
WE MSK
GAS BLOWBACK RIFLE To use, the ACR isn’t a world departed from the AR platform, indeed it’s designed to carry over a level of familiarity for users to make the adjustment easier to cope with. What it adds though are a number of more advanced features built into the platform from the ground up. The AR system was something that was never really designed to be as modular, as reconfigurable or as adaptable as it presently is. Many of the advances in the AR design are a result of not quite bodges, but certainly stretches of the original design specification. The ACR started from the ground up with a clear picture of where it was intended to end up. Of course, not to detract from the AR but this could only be achieved with the benefits of hindsight and experience. We could easily fill this review with information on the developments that were put in place with the formulation and construction of the ACR and they are very interesting, but what you are here to find out about is WE’s take on it, the MSK, right?
WE MSK
Personally, I’m a big fan of building replicas of military issue rifles, I’ve got several that I’ve spent a good deal of time and effort putting together to match reference pictures but this can be quite restrictive in terms of treating yourself to something new and shiny once in a while. I really wanted something a bit different that I could trick out with all the cool bells and whistles you can buy. I owned a PTS Masada a while ago now, before I really got into TM recoils and as I did, the Masada just felt a little dead to shoot in comparison. I did however, really like the design and handling of the thing and genuinely missed it in that sense. When the MSK came along in gas format, I was very interested. It fit the bill perfectly as something that I might not use week in, week out, but would enjoy running when I fancied blowing off a little steam. It’s not a “military” gun as such,
068
meaning I could work the whole “civilian shooter load out” angle, with pretty much free reign to buy and use stuff I liked the look of or wanted to experiment with. Being gas, the old problem of feeling a little dead to shoot would not be an issue at all plus I’d be able to make best use of the ergonomic handling and operation features as mentioned above. Sorted! It was time for game on! In terms of build, the MSK doesn’t disappoint. The monolithic upper receiver is made from machined metal stretching from the stock all the way down to the front sight. Inside this there are rails for the bolt to run on and a block that holds the hop unit/breach in place in pinned and bolted firmly. The lower is a one-piece affair that’s made from nylon-reinforced polymer. The pistol grip and trigger guard are all smoothly integrated into this single unit
making for a very comfortable end result. In this sense, it’s not massively different from the SCAR-L and the folding, sliding stock design is also rather similar. A major difference though is the removable handguard. The WE MSK comes with a Remington-style metal “cage” design that allows you to bolt on rail sections when you need them to fit accessories, or as we have done, bolt the accessories on directly. Once you knock out a pin you can remove the handguard entirely and the whole barrel assembly is removable. Different length barrels are available to change depending on your own preferences, the standard one is a rather lengthy 18” variant that terminates in an AAC-style 3 prong flash hider that IS compatible with the PTS M4-2000 suppressors. The MSK comes with a selection of different length rail pieces to furnish the front end according to your requirements and a set of Troy-style flip up iron sights. It has a nice heft to it and the polymer and metal parts are finished to a high standard. The gun does use pins to hold it together which are sprung to retain them. We have had a couple of issued with the springs popping out leading to a fiddly wrestle with some needle nosed pliers to get them sorted out again. If the pins are not retained, you have the issue of the vibration of the guns shaking the pins loose. On the whole the gun is a solid feeling, nicely weighted piece of kit. Of course, it has a modular design so there is a little slop in a few of the parts, including the handguard, and it’s hard to eliminate these
W W W.WEAIRSOFTEUROPE.COM
066-069 WE MSK GBBR.indd 68
01/05/2015 14:33
THE WE MSK GBBR RE VISITED - THE WE MSK GBBR
thanks to the way they fit together. It’s by no means a huge issue though. The polymer stock, just like other polymer stocks, does need a little babying though as the catch will be easy to break if you drop or apply too much pressure to the joint. The MSK looks and feels the business if you are into your modern guns but if you are more of a “wood and steel” kind of guy, you might find it a bit “space age” for your tastes. The handling principles from the PTS Masada are carried over and being a GBBR, the MSK is even more realistic, even featuring the waterproof grip plug storage space. The fire selector is a little tough to get moving around as there is a hefty amount of tension in it but the safe, semi and auto settings are available throughout it’s short throw and on both sides of the gun. The magazine catch and bolt release are also both ambidextrous although they are easy to get confused if you are a pure AR guy. The magazine release is identically positioned to an AR but instead of a paddle, the MSK uses a bolt release positioned at the base of the trigger guard that the pull downwards with your index finger. Try as I might, I’m still not totally fluid in its operation even after owning the gun for a good period of time. The all important charging handle is something you’ll need to get a lot more familiar with on the MSK, it being gas powered. Fortunately you can position it on either side including the right, where the operation will be similar to that of an AK, or on the left like other rifles. The handle itself can be oriented either angling upwards or downwards depending on how it fits around your optics or rail mounted accessories. The one unpleasant thing about the MSK’s charging handle is how easy it is to run your finger down the edge of the upper rail when using the charging handle. It’s an unpleasant sensation at the best of times and when you have done it once, you’ll probably be wary of it in the future.
Finally, the hop unit is accessed through the breach opening and is adjusted using a single 1mm allen key to turn a small grub screw. It’s very fortunate that once tweaked, it generally stay put because it’s a real pain in the butt to actually reach. At least you don’t have to remove any hand guards or other bits though; it’s just a matter of catching the bolt to the rear.
PERFORMANCE
So we can happily conclude that the MSK looks great, feels awesome and is very comfortable, so how’s the performance? A critical aspect of the MSK is the magazines which use the WE Gen. 2 M4 design. The MSK comes with it’s own P-Mag-styled variant of this magazine, complete with a polymer shell in either tan or black to compliment your gun. As with all P-Mags, the very shape of the outer makes it easy to grip and also insulated it well. Contrary to popular opinion, the polymer magazines still has metallic internals so cool down is, in practice, just as much of an issue as with a STANAG-type, all metal magazine, you just don’t feel or see the effects externally as quickly. That said, each magazine should easily hold pressure enough to propel it’s full quota of 30 rounds out on steady semi auto and will generally just about allow you to dump most of the mag on full-auto. Another cool feature built into these magazines is the ability to disengage the bolt lock lever, making it possible to dry fire, which we know you are all going to do in the house. When we first picked up the MSK in late September, the temperature was a little cooler and we decided to fill the gun up with the highest-pressure gas we could lay our hands on. The Guarder Power-Up gas did the trick and surprisingly, at that time of year, .20g BBs only left the muzzle at 348FPS, which is remarkably sensible considering the epic pressure this gas puts out. Of course, the blowback was pretty much insane and even full auto wasn’t a big
VITAL STATS
■ PRICE: £314.99 ■ LENGTH: 875-950 ■ CAPACITY: 30
■ WEIGHT: 3,600g ■ HOP: Adjustable ■ FPS: 360fps
THE GOOD STUFF
Great feel, solid build quality.
THE NOT-SO-GOOD STUFF
A little hot for use without an NPAS, expensive mags.
issue. BBs were hammering out down our 80m range and using .28g BBs, which only left the muzzle at an equally sensible 260-odd FPS were hitting our torso-sized target with unnerving accuracy, pretty much up there with any rifle we have tested in memory. Fast forward a few months to late April and we’ve gone through the depths of winter and found ourselves languishing in an unseasonably warm springtime. Re-testing the MSK yielded some disappointing results. The higher temperature now saw the MSK rocketing out .20g BBs at 360-370FPS even on 144a gas at times, and using more powerful gas led to light-strikes and odd cycling issues. After testing a range of gasses, we found that Nuprol 3.0 worked best but was still putting out rounds a little too hot. For this reason we have to say that the RA-Tech Open Bolt NPAS device is an essential buy for the MSK user. At £15, it won’t break the bank but it will make the MSK useable with a bit of adjustment. After a few months of periodic use, the MSK is showing no signs of undue wear and tear although the hop rubber does now require re-seating around the barrel. We’ve suffered one valve vibrating loose during this time, leading to a slight gas leak, but fixing that was nothing more than a simple nip up with a valve tool. As you can see, we’ve outfitted the weapon with a number of suitable tactical accessories and we can’t wait to give it some more serious use over the summer!
W W W.WEAIRSOFTEUROPE.COM
066-069 WE MSK GBBR.indd 69
069
01/05/2015 14:33
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 17:07
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 17:07
W WII BE TA ARMS S TERLING AEG - SUBMACHINEGUN
072
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
072-077 STERLING SMG.indd 72
01/05/2015 17:19
GUN - BE TA ARMS S TERLING AEG - SUBMACHINEGUN
BETA ARMS W w2
STERLING AEG
-WWII SUBMACHINEGUN-
AIRSOFT GUNS ARE LIKE BUSSES, YOU WAIT A LIFETIME FOR ONE TO COME ALONG AND THEN SUDDENLY YOU HAVE TWO! THIS IS TRUE IN THE CASE OF AN AIRSOFT STERLING SMG. WE WAITED AND WAITED FOR AN OFF-THE-SHELF VERSION AND THEN HOT ON THE HEELS OF THE RWA VERSION COMES THIS BETA PROJECT OFFERING. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT!
073
072-077 STERLING SMG.indd 73
01/05/2015 17:19
W WII BE TA ARMS S TERLING AEG - SUBMACHINEGUN
W w 2 STERLING AEG WWII SUBMACHINEGUN
BETA ARMS
IF YOU EVER FANCIED A STERLING SMG REPLICA, YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, AGAIN! I’m not even a fan of Star Wars, I know, shock horror, right? Do I ever know there’s a new film due for release later this year though! This is a strange way to kick off a gun review but I’m pretty sure the imminent release of another movie detailing the exploits of a few rebels and some guys in white suits is to be thanked for the recent rekindling of interest in the Sterling SMG. As we all know, it’s tough to get most manufacturers to commit to something like this without a good heaping of hype assuring them that sales will be worth the effort of putting something into production. Even I though, a philistine in the eyes of Star Wars fans around the world, know that the blaster found in the hands of Imperial Storm Troopers is based on the Sterling. Putting aside the gun’s use as a prop a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the Sterling’s origins are far closer to home. In the closing hours of WW2, the Sterling was produced and trialed at the Battle or Arnhem. Initially designed as an improvement over the comparatively inaccurate and unreliable Sten gun, the Sterling can use the same magazines as well as an improved curved design that was far more reliable. The Sterling began to fully
074
replace the Sten after WW2 and was used in service all the way until the Gulf War when it was phased out around 1994 in favour of the L85A1 and it’s more powerful round. By today’s standards, the Sterling is positively rudimentary in terms of manufacturing and technology. Remember, this thing harks from a time when modularity was unheard of and if you complained about the ergonomics, it meant your hands weren’t tough enough.
BETA PROJECT STERLING
As close as we can make out, Beta Projects rendition of the Sterling is based on the L2A3/ Mk. 4 variant of the Sterling that was only superseded by the suppressed Mk. 5 variant. In terms of construction, it’s faithfully rendered in metal with a polymer grip section giving it a good weight and a solid feel. It’s a very basic design in terms of components, the main “receiver” is made from a single tubular piece that shrouds the barrel for its entire length, the front end being characteristically drilled out for ventilation. The stock, grip and magazine
well are all simply welded onto this central tube. Wit the real weapon, the bolt and spring arrangement would have been housed within the tubular section but as we are dealing with an AEG here, this is where the most part of the gearbox resides, with a portion of it extending down into the pistol grip. The external finish of the Beta Project Sterling is basic, as is only fitting in terms of authenticity. There’s very little finesse and the functional design features are rendered with as little material and with as simple an approach as possible. By today’s standards the Sterling looks pretty much home made. The finish is a simple satin black paint which looks passable from a distance but could definitely be improved upon by some distressing and custom refinishing, this would be especially welcome when it comes to the glaring silver bolt that stands out like a sore thumb, both physically and aesthetically. Careful work with some sandpaper for a distressed finish or even something like a coat of black Hammerite paint would have this replica looking more authentic under closer inspection.
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
072-077 STERLING SMG.indd 74
01/05/2015 17:19
GUN - BE TA ARMS S TERL
SUBMACHINEGUN
W w 2 STERLING AEG
BETA ARMS
■ PRICE: £335 ■ WEIGHT: 2,840g ■ LENGTH: 680mm ■ HOP: Adjustable ■ CAPACITY: 110 mid ■ FPS: 390fps
THE GOOD STUFF
It’s a Sterling!
THE NOT-SO-GOOD STUFF
It wants to chop your fingers off.
Another minor annoyance in terms of the replication here is the presence of numerous hex-headed bolts around the externals. These wouldn’t have been found on the real thing and they do make it a little obvious that this is a replica. Of course, if you are really into the finer details, you could swap this out with a more period-correct selection of flathead setscrews. The exception here is the two large hex head bolts either side of the muzzle opening which were actually found on the real thing, something of a rarity considering the age of the design. We can’t judge too harshly based on this though, this is a functional airsoft gun after all, and some compromised must be made to make it practical. Another wild quirk of the Sterling is the folding stock. I’d argue that it’s design probably made the gun as dangerous to the operator as it was to its targets, not because of failure but because at some point in the design specification, somebody must have decided that the folding and locking mechanism also needed to double as a finger-sized guillotine. Seriously, one slip and this thing is having your fingers off or at least will give you a blood blister the size of a small continent. When folded, it’s well out of
the way and at the extended position it’s useful but the manner in which it hinges around the gun and locks in either position gives you no safe place to keep your digits without them being in grim danger or being attacked. Operate at your own risk! Again, we can’t criticize the guys at Beta Project here, they were just replicating the original design!
HANDLING
It’s rare we include a subsection on the handling of a replica in our review, mostly because the guns we are working with are quite ergonomic and uneventful but the Sterling deserves a special mention in this area. The folding stock isn’t the only part of the gun that feels like it was made to attack the shooter as much as the target. Whilst the side-loading magazine allows for a lower profile when prone, compared to designs like the MP40, it’s not supposed to be used as a grip. The real thing could suffer feeding issues if held in this way and it’s likely that this replica could also struggle. This means that gripping the front of the gun is a matter of reaching
around the magazine and grasping the barrel shroud. Fortunately there is a sort of hand-stop welded on to give you some protection against covering the muzzle with your support hand, but for somebody that’s used to things like the M4, it feels rather odd. You also have to contend with quite a low sight line, meaning it’s easy to obscure it with your thumb when grasping the relatively thin diameter tube. A little adjustment to your handling procedures though, and you’ll be in the swing of things. The last thing, that no amount of handling will save you from, is the sharp inner edges on the magazine. I’m not sure if they intended the mag to be used as some sort of highly weaponised boomerang in an emergency, but the edges of that pressed metal are aggressively sharp and could cause a nasty injury if you don’t either wrap the mags or use gloves.
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
072-077 STERLING SMG.indd 75
075
01/05/2015 17:19
W WII BE TA ARMS S TERLING AEG
W w2
Additionally, the shape of the Sterling doesn’t really lend itself well to any kind of comfortable sling storage. In fact, it’s like trying to carry around a carrier bag full of wire coat hangers… There’s literally a pointy thing or sharp angle protruding from every surface. Our guess is as good as yours when it comes to ways of remedying this, but again, it’s a piece of kit from before the days of “dynamic tactical uber-high speed” slings, maybe just hold it and shoot stuff? So there you have it, a few things to bear in mind.
INTERNALS
The Beta Project Sterling is a curious beast when it comes to the gearbox. If it is anything to go by previous guns from this manufacturer, the people that make CYMA guns have done the OEM work; make of that what you will but the AK line-up is actually quite impressive given the price point. As a further bonus the components inside the gearbox are V3 compatible, meaning
076
they may well be much the same as those in the much-trusted range of AKs. We are talking about 9mm bearings, steel gears, and a polycarbonate piston with metal teeth here, so in terms of longevity, this has the potential to be a decent shooter. The motor is also held within a V3 style cage and it is a regular short-shaft model. This means the potential for upgrades is high. One major difference here is that the gun uses a very unique gearbox casing, the upper is split from the lower and due to the design, the gearbox shell actually forms the trigger guard. In principle, the functions of the gearbox are exactly the same as any other AEG. It still uses a tappet plate arrangement and regular loading nozzle and it still uses a regular style physical contact switch but the design does incorporate a quick-change spring, which is a welcome addition here since out of the box, the thing is notching up nearly 400fps. The hop unit is actually easily accessible and
reasonably discreet for a gun of this type. You simply rotate the adjuster through the ports in the barrel shroud making it incredibly easy to dial in the optimal amount of backspin on your ammo. It seems the bucking in out test model might be a little large since the amount of hop even at the lowest setting was too much to reliably shoot .20g ammunition, but moving to heavier weights solves that issue without stripping the gun down. Standard hop rubber are used so you can happily fit your preferred combo of rubber and inner barrel if you wish.
SUMMARY
Whether you are going to look at a Sterling as a weapon to match up with a period load out or you do, like many others, fancy having a bash at making a Star Wars Blaster, the Beta Project AEG makes a sound choice, even though there’s not a lot on the market by way of options. At over £300 it’s a little on the pricey side given the level of finish and other guns and tech you can get your hands on these days for similar, if not less money, but none of those are a Sterling. A couple of compromises you will have to make are the lacking ergonomics of the whole thing and also a rather small battery space. Whilst it’s easy to get to, the battery compartment in the Sterling isn’t that spacious and you will be confined to using 7.4v LiPo packs. Not really a big thing in this day and age but worthy of consideration. The gun was putting out nearly 400fps with a rate of fire of around 14-15 rounds per second, a decent output rate for a stock gun. Thanks to the QD spring the velocity can easily be bought down to site legal limits and this in turn will likely have the effect of raising the rate of fire slightly. All in all, an interesting gun that will get potential buyers excited for a few different reasons!
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
072-077 STERLING SMG.indd 76
01/05/2015 17:19
GO DIGITAL! £10.99 THREE ISSUES
3 ISSUES OF AI TO DOWNLOAD AND ADD TO YOUR LIBRARY. NO TIME LIMIT. CHOOSE BACK ISSUES OR SELECT NEW ISSUES.
£17.99 TEN ISSUES
HALF A YEAR’S WORTH OF AI FOR LESS THEN £20, READY TO DOWNLOAD NOW. CHOOSE BACK ISSUES OR SELECT NEW ISSUES.
OF AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL
OF AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL
V O L U M E
1 0
1 0
V O L U M E
I S S U E
VIEW S
• GA M
1
I S S U E 1
9
O! OG WL NE
G MA ME SA
V O L U M E
N
A
T
I
O
N
A
T
T
E
I
L
R N O N A T A L I
O
N
A
L
A I R S O F T
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
I N T E R N A T IO N A L
A I R S O F T
A I R S O F T I N T E R N AT I O N A L
■ OLD MEETS NEW WITH TWO■ TWO HEAVY-HIT EXCITING LOAD OUTS IDEAL BAT TLE-RE AD TING, BUYIL PM D CA M FOR WOODLAND WARFARE! LOAD OUTS THA K18 EASY ON THE WAT ARE LLE T JUNE14
Cover.in
dd 1
PTS
R M4
NEW UMAREX MP7 5.11 TACTICAL GEAR G&G G2010 ON TEST
NEW ASSAULT ERG PACKS! RE
IT’S BACK AND THIS TIME WE LOAD UP WITH SOME WILL FUNCTION WIN OVER ITEMS FROM THE UPDATED FORM WITH THIS QUIRKY BUT IT’S BIGGER! 1:1 SCALE GBB SUB-GUN ON TEST! 5.11 TACTICAL RANGE PRACTICAL AEG? GO TO PAGE 48 APR14 Cover.indd 1
A
OPER ATOR
THE
GREENHIRED ZONE!GUN ENTER THE
N
ebcon publishing ltd.
FIELD TOOLS CHECK!
OUR FIELD & WORKSHOP TOOL LIST! PAGE 74
CHECK VIEOUT WOUR ED P HAND-PICKED FAVOURITES ROJECT P TW IN ON PAGE 68 TE
ebcon
publishing ltd.
RVIE W
03/03/2014 13:47
ebcon
publishing
£4. 25
R
N
ltd.
ISS:1
E
R
VOL :10
T
E
TEST S
2014
N
T
E REPO RTS • HO W-TO GUID ES • GEAR
APRIL 2014 VOL-10 ISS-1
I
N
£4.25
1 1
I
I
MARCH 2014 VOL-9 ISS-11
I S S U E
Our goal in partnering with PocketMags.com was to make Ai easier to find and more compatible than before. Now it’s simple to find, sample and buy your digital magazines… Simply search the Newsstand or App Store for “Airsoft International” and follow the prompts. You’ll be able to download the application and find the latest issues on your device as soon as they are available.
Once you have created your account from any device, you’ll always be able to sign in and read them via the App or even via www.pocketmags. com on your desktop PC or Mac, using your username and password, as that annoying meerkat says, “simples!” You can buy subscription bundles from as little as £10.99 but when your subscription runs out, you’ll always be able to access your magazines, just like owning a physical copy except they don’t end up tatty, torn and dog-eared!
GUN RE
TACTI C
JUN E
WHY GO DIGITAL?
HOW DOES IT WORK?
GET THE LATEST ISSUE OF AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL AT YOUR FINGERTIPS NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE!
OF AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL
When we launched our first digital version, Ai was the largest, most established magazine to make the jump from print to pixels but we knew that our solution wasn’t the best it could be. We teamed up with the experienced team behind PocketMags.com to print you the new, improved, digital version of Airsoft International which is now compatible with iOS devices, Android, Mac and desktop PC systems so you can quite literally get your magazine no matter where you may be in the world. Using just one log-in to PocketMags.com you can sign in and access your digital library wherever you are and with the freely available apps, you can read them via a whole host of compatible devices so you’ll never be more than a few clicks away from your digital library.
As publishers, we are passionate about printed products. There’s nothing better than the feeling of opening up a fresh magazine and seeing our hard work in print and to be able to add another volume to the shelves is a satisfying experience but we realise that for many people, reams and reams of paper magazines just isn’t feasible. If you live your life on the go, have limited space or just don’t fancy cluttering up your house with piles of magazines there’s now another option. We realise the way that many people read magazines is changing. Sometimes it’s just not practical to carry a paper copy around with you on busses, trains or on holiday and with amazing devices like the iPhone, the iPad and the Kindle, reading in a digital format is now easier and more comfortable than ever, no matter where you are. We also realise that because of the proliferation of the Internet and near instant transference of huge amounts of data, people expect to be able to get their hands on things, fast and rightly so. Why should readers the world over have to wait in this day and age? With Ai’s new digital version everyone can get their copy at the same time. If you are particularly environmentally conscious, Ai Digital versions are also much greener. Even though our paper magazines are produced responsibly and from sustainable sources an application needs no freight carriage and has no wastage so it will always have a lower carbon footprint!
£3.99 SINGLE ISSUE
£4.25
HERE AT AI WE ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING YOU THE BEST AIRSOFT MAGAZINE WE CAN AND TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET YOUR MONTHLY FIX. THANKS TO SOME HUGE IMPROVEMENTS IN HOW WE DELIVER OUR DIGITAL VERSIONS WE ARE NOW PROUD TO SAY AI IS AVAILABLE IN MORE FORMATS THAN EVER!
AL TSHIR
TS
28/04/20
14 08:5 8
VISIT WWW.POCKETMAGS.COM & LOOK FOR AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL! NO WAITING, NO QUEUES. AI WHEN YOU WANT IT, WHERE YOU WANT IT!
108 Subs.indd 109
01/05/2015 17:34
V O L U M E
GUN REVIEWS • GAME REPORTS • HOW-TO GUIDES • GEAR TESTS
1 0 I S S U E 1
I
N
T
E
R
N
A
T
I
O
N
A
L
A I R S O F T I N T E R N AT I O N A L
OPERATOR
publishing ltd.
JUNE 2014 VOL:10 ISS:1
£4.25
ebcon
BUILD A MK18 PTS RM4 ERG REVIEWED PROJECT PTW INTERVIEW TACTICAL T-SHIRTS JUNE14 Cover.indd 1
28/04/2014 08:58
V O L U M E
THE WORLD’S FIRST DEDICATED SIM RACING MAGAZINE
LAUNCH
1
1
I S S U E
ISSUE #
1
WIN A MEGA BUNDLE OF STEEL SERIES KIT!
KAMUI KOBAYASHI INTERVIEW!
S I M R A C E R
CHILL BLAST! SIM RACING PC’S FULLY REVIEWED INSIDE
THRUSTMASTER GEAR REVIEWED
POSTER INSIDE!
MADCATZ PRO RACING WHEEL REVIEW
BEHIND THE SCENES
ebcon publishing ltd.
£5.99
S AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK
LAUNCH VOL:1 ISS:1
■ SIM RACER TAKE
NIVIDIA GRAPHICS CARDS TEST
SIM RACER LAUNCH ISSUE.indd 1
26/08/2014 13:53
ebcon publishing ltd.
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE ALPHA MALE
OUTDOORS - ADRENALIN - TACTICAL - ESSENTIALS - FITNESS - EXPLORE
TRAVIS HALEY
GUNFIGHTER!
WE TAKE A KNEE WITH WORLD CLASS GUNFIGHTER TRAVIS HALEY IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKES HIM TICK AND HOW THE WORLD OF HALEY STRATEGIC PARTNERS REVOLVES . . .
HARDSHELL JACKETS!
WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! 8 HAND-PICKED JACKETS UN-ZIPPED AND BARING ALL!
COMMANDO SCHOOL PAGE 25
WE GET TO GRIPS WITH TACTICAL TITANS ARKTIS AND SHOWCASE A SELECTION FROM THIER MILITARY AND POLICE RANGE
BCB DEPLOYMENT ESSENTIALS TACTICAL HOODIES ON TEST! FITNESS ON THE MOVE SEPT14 RAIDER.indd 1
EBCON HOUSE AD.indd 1
ebcon £4.25
publishing ltd.
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 5
AS SEEN ON TV!
HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPLETE ONE OF THE MOST GRUELING PROGRAMS?!
ARKTIS UNCOVERED
04/08/2014 18:31
26/08/2014 15:13
K R Y T A C
A
N E W
B
V E R V I E W
A NEW BREED!
AEG RANGE OVERVIEW
KRYTAC THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW RANGE OF AEGS FROM KRYTAC IN THE UK HAS BEEN LONG AWAITED AND IT’S OUR GREAT PLEASURE TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET A LITTLE HANDS-ON TIME WITH THEM! AS WELL AS AN OVERVIEW OF A FEW OF THE GUNS FROM THE RANGE, WE ARE GOING TO FEARLESSLY DIVE INSIDE AND SEE IF THERE’S MORE TO THIS NEW BREED THAN FIRST MEETS THE EYE.
Krytac’s range of weapons represents a broad spectrum with something to appeal to almost every type of specialist airsoft player on the field. No matter how you prefer to get stuck in, there’s going to be something here that suits your needs closely. From close ranged, high-speed action to more distant engagements over larger areas there’s a Krytac AEG that suits the mission. All of the guns are based around a specially designed gearbox system to deliver optimal performance in all conditions. On paper, these things look like they could shake up the status quo even more than the introduction of the Systema PTW. Although on sale in the USA, UK-Spec versions of these weapons will be making it into your favourite UK retailer’s shelves by the time this magazine goes on sale so if you like what you see, act fast! Without wasting any more time, let’s look at a selection of the Krytac range.
080
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
080-085 KRYTAC.indd 80
01/05/2015 17:22
I E W
-
A
N E W
B R E E D
O F
A E G :
R A N G E
O V E R V I E W
TRIDENT SDP ULTR A COMPAC T CQB WE APON
The Krytac Trident SDP represents the extreme of the compact end of the spectrum. You don’t get much more agile than this when it comes to a CQB AEG! Doing away with the usual peripheries of a stock and railed front end, the SDP is a short, sleek and uncomplicated beast bred purely to terrorise opponents in the confines of a CQB environment. Thanks to the specifically designed Krytac buffer tube system, a large battery space is provided to maximise performance from this diminutive shooter. Realism isn’t high on the agenda when in comes to the SDP, it doesn’t even include iron sights, instead with handgun-like proportions this makes for a slick primary weapon that won’t hold you back or even a highly capable sniper’s sidearm that bridges the gap between long gun and pistol.
HIGH TORQUE MOTOR
The Krytac Trident range all come equipped with a high quality, high torque motor which, teamed with the internal MOSFET system give snappy and rapid performance even under stress.
PERFORMANCE
TRIDENT SDP
VELOCITY WITH 0.20G BB
350 FPS
ENERGY OUTPUT
1 JOULES
ROF W/ 11.1V LIPO
20+ RPS
FEATURES
TRIDENT SDP
THREADED BARREL
NO
OUTER BARREL LENGTH
13.97 CM / 5.5"
INNER BARREL LENGTH
143 MM
INNER BARREL DIAMETER
6.05 MM
HANDGUARD / RAIL LENGTH
13.97 CM / 5.5"
RECEIVER MATERIAL
ALUMINIUM ALLOY
STOCK ADJUSTABILITY
N/A
STOCK TYPE
N/A
ATTRIBUTES
TRIDENT SDP
CALIBER
6MM
PROJECTILE
BB
OVERALL LENGTH
470 MM (18.5")
OVERALL HEIGHT
180 MM (7")
WEIGHT
TBD
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
080-085 KRYTAC.indd 81
081
01/05/2015 17:22
K R Y T A C
A
N E W
B R E E D
O F
A E G :
R A N G E
O V E R V I E W
TRIDENT PDW VERSATILE CLOSE QUARTERS
If you want compact but still want to maintain a level of realism and adaptability, the Trident PDW is the gun for you. Very similar in design to the H&K 416C the Trident PDW features a short, Keymod-equipped railed front and an interesting sliding stock/buffer tube arrangement for a more conventional look compared to the SDP. Much like the SDP, we are still talking light and fast but thanks to the Keymod front, extras like torches and aiming lasers can easily be fitted and the full stock makes this weapon far more conventional and capable as a fully fledged primary weapon. Again the battery is stored in a specially designed compartment in the buffer tube making for a spacious and easily accessible solution to an age-old problem. There’s also a very useful single point sling attachment to further cement this as a great primary CQB blaster.
BARREL STABILISER
PERFORMANCE
TRIDENT PDW
VELOCITY WITH 0.20G BB
323 FPS
ENERGY OUTPUT
1.1 JOULES
ROF W/ 11.1V LIPO
20+ RPS
FEATURES
TRIDENT PDW
THREADED BARREL
YES - 14X1 CCW
OUTER BARREL LENGTH
13.97 CM / 5.5"
INNER BARREL LENGTH
155 MM
INNER BARREL DIAMETER
6.05 MM
HANDGUARD / RAIL LENGTH
12.7 CM / 5"
RECEIVER MATERIAL
ALUMINIUM ALLOY
STOCK ADJUSTABILITY
2 POSITIONS
STOCK TYPE
KRYTAC WIRE STOCK
ATTRIBUTES
TRIDENT PDW
CALIBER
6MM
PROJECTILE
BB
OVERALL LENGTH
527 MM (20.75") - 610 MM (24")
OVERALL HEIGHT
180 MM (7")
WEIGHT
TBD
Krytac’s precision inner barrels feature a stabilising o-ring near the muzzle to support them inside the outer barrel.
082
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
080-085 KRYTAC.indd 82
01/05/2015 17:23
V I E W
-
A
N E W
B R E E D
O F
A E G :
R A N G E
O V E R V I E W
TRIDENT CRB SIMPLE SHORT BARRELLED RIFLE
Versatility is the purpose of the Trident CRB, fitting in the range perfectly as a mid-length rifle that is equally at home in the confines of an interior environment as it is romping across as open field. If you want something outside of the extremes, that’s comfortable anywhere, the CRB will be your weapon of choice. Featuring a conventional 10.5” barrel the CRB comes equipped with a 10” rail for maximum accessory space and a popular aesthetic. Out the back of the gun, Krytac’s own design of battery stock provides exceptional battery storage space in now only side compartments but also inside the buffer tube itself. Riding out to six positions, this set-up gives you everything you have come to expect from a mid-length AR platform and a little bit more for good measure!
PRECISION HOP-UNIT
Krytac’s hop unit features locking points of adjustment numbered 0-15 allowing you to precisely dial in the right amount of hop for your chosen BB weight and retain zero’d performance.
PERFORMANCE
TRIDENT CRB
VELOCITY WITH 0.20G BB
365+ FPS
ENERGY OUTPUT
1.2 JOULES
ROF W/ 11.1V LIPO
20+ RPS
FEATURES
TRIDENT CRB
THREADED BARREL
YES - 14X1 CCW
OUTER BARREL LENGTH
26.67 CM / 10.5"
INNER BARREL LENGTH
280 MM
INNER BARREL DIAMETER
6.05 MM
HANDGUARD / RAIL LENGTH
25.4 CM / 10"
RECEIVER MATERIAL
ALUMINIUM ALLOY
STOCK ADJUSTABILITY
6 POSITIONS
STOCK TYPE
KRYTAC BATTERY STOCK
ATTRIBUTES
TRIDENT CRB
CALIBER
6MM
PROJECTILE
BB
OVERALL LENGTH
675 MM (26.5") - 787 MM (31")
OVERALL HEIGHT
223 MM (8.75")
WEIGHT
2.5 KG / 5.5 LBS
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
080-085 KRYTAC.indd 83
083
01/05/2015 17:23
K R Y T A C
A
N E W
B R E E D
O F
A E G :
R A N G E
O V E R V I E W
TRIDENT SPR PERFEC T DMR PL ATFORM
If you are the kind of player that likes to take the vantage point of the high ground or would rather flank around stealthily to pick off critical targets from range, the Trident SPR is the long gun of the Krytac range, outfitted with a 14.5” barrel and 13” Keymod rail system. Although equipped with iron sights, this rifle would suit the DMR treatment, outfitted with an optical scope and bipod to give you that surgical precision in aim. Much like the CRB, the SPR uses the awesome Krytac battery stock, which will allow you to use larger high-output batteries if you decide to up the power of this beast for some long-range semi-auto work. Despite its longer length, the SPR is no weighty lump though, thanks to the Keymod rail system it’s still light enough to carry out on extended recce trips.
KEYMOD RAIL SYSTEMS
Where applicable, Krytac’s rail systems use the newly emerging Keymod system for a lighter, easier to handle and more adaptable modular accessory system.
084
PERFORMANCE
TRIDENT SPR
VELOCITY WITH 0.20G BB
400 FPS
ENERGY OUTPUT
1.48 JOULES
ROF W/ 11.1V LIPO
20+ RPS
FEATURES
TRIDENT SPR
THREADED BARREL
YES - 14X1 CCW
OUTER BARREL LENGTH
36.83 CM / 14.5"
INNER BARREL LENGTH
383 MM
INNER BARREL DIAMETER
6.05 MM
HANDGUARD / RAIL LENGTH
33.02 CM / 13"
RECEIVER MATERIAL
ALUMINIUM ALLOY
STOCK ADJUSTABILITY
6 POSITIONS
STOCK TYPE
KRYTAC BATTERY STOCK
ATTRIBUTES
TRIDENT SPR
CALIBER
6MM
PROJECTILE
BB
OVERALL LENGTH
840 MM (33") - 920 MM (36.25")
OVERALL HEIGHT
223 MM (8.75")
WEIGHT
2.7 KG / 5.9 LBS
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
080-085 KRYTAC.indd 84
01/05/2015 17:24
V I E W
-
A
N E W
B R E E D
O F
A E G :
R A N G E
O V E R V I E W
3
7
8
“ IT’S NOT UNTIL YOU REALLY START TO LOOK DO YOU NOTICE ALL THE INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ADD UP TO A BOUNDING STEP FORWARD FOR AIRSOFT GUN TECHNOLOGY...”
10 9
11
When the range of Krytac AEGs was announced it was met with a little trepidation in the Ai camp. It’s not like there aren’t a lot of quality M4-style replicas on the market. This reaction was completely reversed when we finally got to take a look inside one and appreciate the finer details of this advanced and refined V2 gearbox design. Krytac have really gone back to the drawing board and reworked almost every aspect to improve the weapon’s performance but also make it far easier to work on from a technician’s point of view. It’s not until you really start to look do you notice all the incremental improvements that add up to a bounding step forward for airsoft gun technology.
UNDER THE HOOD
1 Guided mock bolt cover and improved bolt release mechanism for smooth, reliable function. 2 Reinforced front section and pre-radiused cylinder window corners prevent cracking. 3 Quick release main spring system featuring strengthened bearing spring guide. 4 Sector gear/piston mesh inspection window in gearbox shell. 5 8mm precision ball-bearing gearbox shell for low-friction operation. 6 Geared, ambidextrous fire selector mechanism using a notched tappet plate for positive “lock” into each position.
1
7 Internal MOSFET board space for a compact, robust design with no fragile exposed electronics or delicate wiring. 8 Super-hardened gears with self-shimming intermediate gear axle for low-noise. 9 Plastic wiring guard to prevent the motor pinion gear damaging the insulation and shorting the gun out. 10 Fixed AR latch post and AR latch spacer to make assembly easier and improve performance. 11 Reinforced wiring at high stress points including gearbox exit holes and motor connection joints.
2 6 5
GOOD AS GOLD!
From being initially a little skeptical about the Krytac range, our in-depth insight into the finer details that make up these guns has completely turned us around. The refined gearbox design is nothing short of genius and it’s something that, when placed in front of you, makes you think “why did it take so long for somebody to put this into production?” This, matched with great quality externals and a fit and finish to match makes the whole package incredibly attractive, not only to the player that demands performance, but also to the more technically minded buyer. Working on one of these things is a treat once you get used to all the small differences to look out for.
INITIAL REPORTS FROM THE USA SUGGEST THAT KRYTAC’S TRIDENT RANGE IS BEING VERY WELL RECEIVED AND IS RESPONDING WELL TO HARD USE FROM PLAYERS. THE GUNS FEATURED HERE ARE BUILT TO THE US SPEC BUT BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, SHIELD AIRSOFT, THE UK’S EXCLUSIVE KRYTAC DISTRIBUTOR, SHOULD HAVE PRODUCT ON THE SHELVES OF YOUR PREFERRED RETAILER!
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
080-085 KRYTAC.indd 85
085
01/05/2015 17:24
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
08/12/2014 14:24
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
08/12/2014 14:25
TRIED & TESTED WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - WE TRY BEFORE YOU
TRIED AND TESTED T R I P R C -1 5 2 R A D I O H A N D S E T GOOD COMMS ARE A VALUABLE WEAPON THAT ANY TEAM SHOULD WIELD IN GAMES. WHETHER YOU PLAY SERIOUS MIL-SIM EVENTS OR MORE CASUAL WEEKEND SHOOT-UPS, WORKING TOGETHER AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE CAN ELEVATE A COLLECTION OF EFFECTIVE PLAYERS UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND THEY CAN WORK AS A TRULY DEVASTATING TEAM.
“Good comms” can be simply letting each other know what each person is doing at any point of a plan, either verbally or via non-verbal signals but shouting and waving your arms in the air will only get you so far before you should start considering a radio system. Radios come in all different shapes and sizes and although we spend a mountain of cash and effort on getting our load outs to look authentic, communications has long been an area where this level of realism falls down. We’ve all seem it; Full US Navy SEAL garb, Gucci blaster complete with lights and lazers and then the whole thing is topped off with a Bob The Builder Walkie-Talkie… That just won’t do, will it? A while ago here at AiHQ, we grew tired of not being able to fill our beloved radio pouches with something that not only did the job (there are a good few options on the market to use) but also looked the part. In the past we’ve looked at several solutions to the issue, from Toy Soldiers PRC-148 replicas to dummy radio boxes made to shroud your existing handset, but nothing really met up to our expectations. You see, effective comms need to be reliable, it’s not good using something that doesn’t have a battery to last the length of the game, or the transmission range to reach your team mate, plus, you need something robust enough to take the strain of airsoft gaming, which isn’t always a electronics-friendly environment. It looked like our prayers were finally answered when TRI of Taiwan bought their PRC-152 replica to the market.
T HE A N/ PRC -152
The Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-152 is a robust and widely used military specification radio handset that has been adopted for battlefield use by the majority of NATO forces as an individual’s radio and is commonly known as the PRC-152. The problem is, being military grade hardware, they are prohibitively expensive and somewhat over-powered for civilian use. Taiwan’s TRI announced their replica some time ago and they have been producing handsets and accessories for a couple of years now. Their PRC-152 shares an almost exact external replication of the real thing and also boasts some advanced communication features. Working from the outside the radio measures approximately 9” high, nearly 3” wide and 1.5” thick. The standard antenna in close to 14” long
and it fixed to the radio using a threaded co-axil type attachment. The main connector on the radio is a military style 6-pin bayonet fixture that allows military-spec PTTs to be connected. A combined power on/off and volume knob is also found on the top of the radio. The left hand side features chunky rubberised buttons including talk and menu navigation controls. The face of the radio features a small, backlit LCD screen, speaker perforations and also a rubber keypad including other controls. All the buttons feel solid and positive to press, with a distinct “click” of feedback each time. The right hand side of the radio features an accessory connection point where programming cables and other devices can be interfaced with the radio. At the time of writing, TRI are expecting to make these available imminently. The bottom half of the radio also twists on when a catch is released. This is the battery that can be removed so you can fit a spare. It charges when attached to the radio itself so unless you do need to fit spares, it’s not common you need to remove it. The connection point itself is sealed with an o-ring to prevent shorting when wet. The rest of the body of the radio handset is silicone sealed to provide waterproofing. There are claims that the radio will withstand full immersion for up to half an hour, but we’re not particularly eager to put this to the test, and we’ll be happy in the knowledge that it is splash proof and won’t malfunction if used in the rain or mud. Despite being a replica radio, the TRI PRC-152 is built to a high standard, beyond that of anything else we have tried and rivaling the quality of commercially available civilian radios from the likes of Motorola and Kenwood. Of course this has the added benefit of looking the part and being the right size to fit into the pouches and vest we all like to use.
■ Bands: VHF, UHF0, UHF1, UHF2 (UHF1 spans the common used PMR446 channels that most commercially available radios operate on so tuning in to your team mate’s radios shouldn’t present any issues, no matter what they use). ■ Dual channel monitoring, meaning you can listen in to two different channels at the same time and also selectively choose which one to broadcast on. ■ DCS & CTCSS privacy coding, to separate channels and keep transmissions discreet. ■ 999 preset channels positions and full programming functions. ■ Tune into FM radio stations and listen, but will also cut out when transmission is received on other channels. ■ Compatible with real antenna accessories, like whip-antenna, extensions, right angle adaptors. ■ Up to one week stand-by battery life plus the ability to quickly change batterys. ■ Up to 12 mile range on high-power, intervening terrain dependent.
FUNC TIONALIT Y
So far then, so good. The radio is externally a great piece of kit but that would count for nothing if it didn’t work very well. Fortunately, it does and it comes brimming with features. There are almost too many to list, but the most essential ones, for the majority of airsofters are as follows...
PRICE: £180.00 FROM: TACTICALGEARTRADE.CO.UK 088
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
088-092 TRIED & TESTED.indd 88
01/05/2015 14:27
E YOU BUY - WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY SO OFTEN WE HAVE TO MAKE A COMPROMISE WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING SOMETHING THAT WORKS RELIABLY AND ALSO LOOKS JUST THE WAY WE LIKE. RADIOS ARE ONE OF THOSE AREAS. IF YOU WANT TO PUT TOGETHER A CONVINCING AND ACCURATE LOAD OUT OF A MODERN MILITARY FORCE AND ALSO WANT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, THE TRI PRC-152 IS A GOD-SEND. IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE REAL THING AND ALSO HAS SOME PRETTY ADVANCED RADIO CAPABILITIES In use we have found the radio to be practical and functional, although there are a few quirks that we should expand on...
COMPATIBILIT Y
One issue to be aware of is compatibility. Since the PRC-152 uses Military style fittings, the extras you need to use with it to build a tactical radio system will also need to be similarly styled. It is possible to use real deal kit, like MSA Sordins, Comtac headsets and PTTs etc, however it’s worth noting that beyond physically fitting together, these items do not always work harmoniously and some professional modifications may need to be carried out. As well as the genuine articles being rather expensive, these modifications can add to the bill significantly. Our real deal MSA Sordins and U94 PTTs did not work with the TRI handset because they are not sufficiently amplified to transmit a discernable message. Fortunately TRI also replicate PTTs and Comtac style headsets for a reasonable price. Current indications suggest that later versions of these replicas are great quality and are reasonably priced although commonly on back-order with a bit of a waiting list. At the time of writing, we are awaiting delivery.
FRO M
£1 8 0
INI T I A L SE T-UP
One of the other quirks of the TRI PRC-152 is the initial set-up procedure. Programming the frequencies can be difficult to grasp if you do not know the procedure. Unfortunately the translated manual is not a great deal of help in the matter sine it doesn’t really make a great deal of sense. Once you do grasp the basic concept though, it’s quite straightforward and your settings can be stored in order to recall them at a later date, so technically you need only do it once.
CONCLUSION
Despite the PRC-152 being an expensive accessory to your airsoft gaming, costing as much as a decent AEG, if you are keen to take your load out up to the next level and also want a radio that is capable enough to do what you need it to, no matter how hardcore your gaming is, it’s a worthwhile investment. In use we’ve found the 4800mAh battery to last an AGE. A full day’s gaming didn’t even move the battery life indicator and broadcasts are clear. We managed to send messaged between two handsets within woodland at up to a kilometer apart with no hassle at all. As mentioned, we have unfortunately not received the TRI PTT and headset yet to test their functionality, but we are eagerly awaiting their delivery and with a bit of luck, will be able to let you know how we get on next month.
088-092 TRIED & TESTED.indd 89
01/05/2015 14:27
TRIED & TESTED WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - WE TRY BEFORE YOU HO W T O SE T UP Y OUR PRC -152
SETTING UP YOUR TRI PRC-152 IS A DAUNTING TASK BUT, ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR HEAD AROUND A FEW QUIRKS, IT’S QUITE SIMPLE. WE SHOW YOU HOW TO GET IT WORKING WITH PMR446 FREQUENCIES + SUB-CHANNELS. STEP 1
First of all, turn on the radio using the main knob on top. Ensure the radio is in Frequency Mode (where two lines of numbers are shown on the LCD at the same time). If not, hold the UP ARROW key on the left hand side of the handset when turning it on. Doing this switches the modes.
1
STEP 2
First, we need to set some parameters before we begin inputting frequencies. The first is the band. With the radio in Frequency Mode, press the UP ARROW once to enter the menu. Use the +/- PRE key on the key pad to scroll through the menu. Scroll to position 1 in the menu, BAND and press the UP ARROW once more to edit this menu setting. The small arrow on the LCD screen’s left will drop down. For PMR446 frequencies, use the +/- PRE key to select VHF, then press the UP ARROW to select this.
2
3
STEP 3
Now, still in the menu, use the +/- PRE key to scroll to menu position 6, the STEP setting. Press the UP ARROW again to edit this function and the +/- PRE key to change the setting to 6.25k. Press the UP ARROW once more to select this setting.
STEP 4
Now, press the DOWN ARROW key to exit the menu and when back on the main screen, displaying both frequencies, input your desired frequency. Select the primary or secondary frequency by using the ENT key. This is indicated by the position of the arrow on the left of the screen. In this example, we are using PMR Channel 4 which is 446.043750 (Reference the below chart to find the one you will need). When keying in the number using the keypad, you will notice that there are not enough positions although the last two digits (minus the trailing zero) are denoted in small characters. To change these characters, use the +/- PRE key.
STEP 5
So far we have set the main frequency of the radio, you will now need to enter the CTCSS frequency to set the sub channel. Once again, do this by pressing the UP ARROW to access the menu, and using the +/- PRE key to scroll through to menu position 11 R-CTCS. Press the UP ARROW to edit this menu position and select your sub channel frequency from the list below. In our example, we are using sub channel 4, which is 77hz. Press the UP ARROW to fix your selection. This has set your Receiving Sub Channel.
STEP 6
Now, scroll through the menu again until you get to position 13, T-CTCS, and follow the same procedure as above in order to set your transmit sub channel.
4
5
6
7
STEP 7
Access the menu once more and scroll to position 32, MEMCH where you can use the UP ARROW key and the key pad to select a position to save these setting. For channel 4, sub channel 4, we selected position 44. Press the UP ARROW to save this setting. Your radio should now transmit and receive of PMR Channel 4.4.
090
W W W.TAC T I C A LG E A R T R A D E . CO . U K
088-092 TRIED & TESTED.indd 90
01/05/2015 14:27
E YOU BUY - WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY PMR CHANNEL
FREQUENCY (MHZ)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
446.006250 446.018750 446.031250 446.043750 446.056250 446.068750 446.081250 446.093750
SUB CHANNEL - TONE FREQUENCY (HZ) 1 - 67.0Hz 2 - 71.9 Hz 3 - 74.4 Hz 4 - 77.0 Hz 5 - 79.7 Hz 6 - 82.5 Hz 7 - 85.4 Hz 8 - 88.5 Hz 9 - 91.5 Hz 10 - 94.8 Hz 11 - 97.4 Hz 12 - 100.0 Hz 13 - 103.5 Hz 14 - 107.2 Hz 15 - 110.9 Hz 16 - 114.8 Hz 17 - 118.8 Hz 18 - 123.0 Hz 19 - 127.3 Hz
20 - 131.8 Hz 21 - 136.5 Hz 22 - 141.3 Hz 23 - 146.2 Hz 24 - 151.4 Hz 25 - 156.7 Hz 26 - 162.2 Hz 27 - 167.9 Hz 28 - 173.8 Hz 29 - 179.9 Hz 30 - 186.2 Hz 31 - 192.8 Hz 32 - 203.5 Hz 33 - 210.7 Hz 34 - 218.1 Hz 35 - 225.7 Hz 36 - 233.6 Hz 37 - 241.8 Hz 38 - 250.3 Hz
C T CSS AND SUB-CHANNEL S
8 channels within the PMR446 range seems like a fine idea until you imagine that 120 people are all trying to use them at one game, not just that, but the radio system is also open to anyone else within the range of your radios. If you have just 8 channels through which to communicate you’ll soon find that they will all be taken up by continuous chatter and any real communication will get lost. This is where CTCSS or what is sometimes confusingly called “sub-channels” comes in. Thanks to CTCSS we are able to divide each of those 8 channels down in to up to 50 “sub-channels”. The name suggests that the “sub-channels” are more specific frequencies but they are not. All of these sub-channels will still be sent out on, for example, frequency 446.04375 (Channel 4), but the Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System will allow users to only hear the transmissions they are interested in. CTCSS works by prefixing each transmission with a sub-audible low frequency tone that the receiving radio will recognise. If the radio is set to receive transmissions with the correct “tone code” it will open it’s speaker and play back the transmission. If the CTCSS frequency does not match the one that the radio is set to receive, it may still indicate that a transmission is being received, but it will not be played back and will stay muted. If your radio is set to a certain channel, for example channel 4, but with no sub-channel it may receive and play back all broadcasts on that channel regardless of their CTCSS pre-fix. You will be able to broadcast on channel 4, but because you transmission contains no CTCSS prefix, it won’t be heard by the people at the other end. In effect, CTCSS gives us a way of “sorting” transmissions within a relatively tight bandwidth but it doesn’t give a secure network. People can still listen in relatively easily.
CTCSS frequencies are standardised but different manufacturers call the system slightly different things, for example Motorola refer to it as “PL Tone” and Kenwood refer to it as “Quiet Talk”. Regardless of what they are called, they are generally inter-compatible.
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
088-092 TRIED & TESTED.indd 91
091
01/05/2015 14:27
TRIED & TESTED WE PULL THE PIN
INCENTIVE DESIGNS ID-5 MULTI-SHO T BFG Not so long ago, blank firing grenades were something of a rarity, an obscure thing you used to encounter at the odd site up and down the country and they were only really available from a select few manufacturers. Fast-forward to a couple of years back and we began to see the BFG go through a bit of a revival with the introduction of the Ohshiboom and the TRMR. Impact detonating BFGs started really picking up in popularity and before long, nobody who was anybody would even think about entering a room without “fragging out” first. At many venues the loud “pop” of a firing pin striking a blank .209 or 9mm cartridge inside a BFG is almost as frequently heard a sound as the ripple of semi-auto AEG burst or the clack of a gas pistol. With such intense use it wasn’t long before some innovative minds began to reimagine the limits of a BFG. With most the process is simply to load a single cartridge under the firing pin, deploy, collect and then rearm. Sure, you can do this quite quickly but without numerous grenades it’s easy for this process to lose momentum, a critical aspect of CQB success. The concept of the multi-shot BFG and the ID-5 was born from a necessity to speed up the BFG and make it more dynamic. As such the idea at its most basic is a BFG that holds not just one but 5 blanks at any one time. You pull the pin, deploy, collect, move the BFG on to the next chamber and repeat until it’s empty, then you can reload another 5 blanks and keep on going. The ID-5 approaches the problem simply. The main body of the grenade is made from knurled, anodized aluminium. Through this runs the firing pin. At the top end, a large, stainless steel toggle is secured with a pin and at the opposing end the “cylinder” has 5 positions to be filled by blanks in either 9mm or .209 depending on your choice. This cylinder is secured in position with a large threaded knob that runs on an axle. When tightened down, the cylinder holds each blank
close against the firing pin, when deployed onto a hard surface, the momentum of the steel toggle drives the pin into the primer and fires the cartridge. When collected the process of rearming is a matter of re-inserting the pin, loosening the knob, rotating the cylinder around one position and re-tightening. As well as the 5 positions there’s also a “safe” position where no blank is held near the pin. Things we really like about the ID-5 is the craftsmanship that goes into each one. From the materials to the machining, they are just about as close to a work of art as you are going to get. The simplicity of the system is also a strongpoint. There’s very little to go wrong or break and the whole thing is simply strippable and serviceable without any special tools or kit. The pin can be inserted or removed easily and the chambers are precisely drilled out to accept your chosen blanks. As with all BFGs of this style, the ID-5 requires a firm and solid surface to ensure the strike is hard enough to ignite the primer of the cartridge. The only real downsides of the ID-5 are the weight, although this could be viewed as a positive, and the fact the pin could be lost, although dummy cording will prevent this. Perhaps the only thing we found that could potentially be tweaked is the pitch of the thread on the cylinder knob. As it is it requires about 2.5 rotations to sufficiently back off to allow the cylinder to be rotated but a coarser thread might allow for a slightly more ergonomic and faster half-turn to sufficiently back off from the cylinder and allow the user to change the position.
FRO M
£1 1 0
PRICE: £110.00 FROM: INCENTIVEDESIGNS.CO.UK
092
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
088-092 TRIED & TESTED.indd 92
01/05/2015 14:28
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
04/02/2014 10:26
Y1ST.CO.UK - IN ASSOCIATION WITH WWW.MILITARY1ST.CO.UK
MAXPEDITION
CENTURION PATROL BAG Made extremely durable 1000D ballistic Nylon, this heavy duty patrol bag was specifically designed for harsh usage and urban environments. Equipped with high strength YKK zippers with paracord pulls, genuine UTX Duraflex Nylon buckles and accessories, the bag offers plenty of storage space inside its large heavily padded main compartment and multiple zipped and sleeve pockets. Additionally Centurion bag features triple polyurethane water-resistant coating, DuPont Teflon fabric protector and double stitched stress points which ensure grime resistance and easy maintenance. With molded plastic feet studs on the bottom, dual grab handles, and removable and adjustable tactical shoulder slings, the Centurion Patrol Bag is a comfortable and secure storage solution for law enforcement and rescue personnel, but also for musicians or professional photographers.
MAXPEDITION
MAXPEDITION
MAXPEDITION
The Maxpedition #0605 OPERATOR TACTICAL ATTACHE is the perfect go-bag for those who need a lot of storage space. With a huge amount of compartments on show for various different items, you can be sure that you’ll have space for everything you need to carry.
The DOPPELDUFFEL ADVENTURE BAG is a unique travel bag that can be carried by hand, by shoulder strap (in 2 orientations), or by it’s concealable ergonomic backpack straps. Multiple pockets, pouches, and compartments offer plenty of space and organization, and the main interior is equipped with 2 padded dividers for splitting the main compartment into smaller sections. Perfect for use as either a bag for the gym or for travelling, we could definitely get a lot of use from the Doppelduffel Adventure Bag!
A compact version of the #0426 SABERCAT VERSIPACK. Carry it by hand, strap it around your waist, or attach it to your Maxpedition bag. The compact Proteus Versipack is all about options. Named after a mythological character that could take on many shapes and forms, the Proteus has 10 rows of exterior PALS webbing to accommodate modular accessories and comes equipped with compression straps that snap into its integral handle to secure contents. This is a great bag to have when setting forth on your odyssey.
OPERATOR TACTICAL ATTACHE
WHILST NOT NECESSARILY SUITED TO THE EVERYDAY SITUATION, WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE A RANGE OF WORKMEN AND WOMEN BENEFITTING FROM THIS MONSTER OF A BAG!
DOPPELDUFFEL ADVENTURE BAG
PROTEUS VERSIPACK
IT’S GREATEST FEATURE IS ITS ABILITY TO TRANSFORM FROM A HAND-CARRIED STORAGE CASE INTO A SELF-CONTAINED BUTTPACK IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS. W W W. M I L I TA RY 1 S T. CO .U K
094-095 MAXPEDITION.indd 95
095
01/05/2015 14:20
LATEST ISSUE OUT NOW!
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
21/07/2014 13:18
NEW PROJECT! THE RECOILLESS RIFLE
PART 2
LAST MONTH WE KICKED OFF OUR FAINTLY RIDICULOUS CARL GUSTAV PROJECT. THIS MONTH WE STEAM STRAIGHT AHEAD AND GET ON WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF THE BUILD - THE INNER BARRELS! Without further ado it’s time we cracked on with the new project, and this issue we’re going to deal with one of the most important parts of the build - the inner barrel set. Not only will we have to modify the grenade we’re going to use, in this case a King Arms 96 round XM1060, but we’re also going to have to construct the frames that hold the inner barrels in place, not to mention the Hop-up system. All in all, quite a bit of work. But why do we have to use an inner barrel set at all? Well, the truth is that we don’t. We could have just used the grenade as intended, but A: that would be too easy B: we wouldn’t get the range that we’re after. This means that we have no option but to go for an inner barrel set - but it’s well worth the hassle. The inner barrels will not only give us more range because of the increase in muzzle velocity (the longer the barrel the more space there is for the gas to expand behind the BB, therefore more power) but as we’re also including Hop-up chambers for each barrel we’ll get an increase in effective range because of that as well. There’s also another factor that installing Hop-up will deal with as well. As it stands the grenade has an O ring that retains the BB’s in the body of the grenade. As the BB’s are forced past this O ring backspin is imparted to the BB, in the same way that a conventional Hop-up system does. The problem is that with the O ring around the circumference of the grenade the BBs spread out in all directions. Some hit the ground quickly, some travel further. This really isn’t a problem if you’re
using one for room clearance as the ranges tend to be short. It is, however, a bit of a major issue when used out in the woods as dispersion is so wide - and range so short - that it’s actually relatively easy to miss a target at even a half reasonable range. As to the design of our inner barrel and Hop-up system, it’s relatively simple. Six barrels are held in four spacers that are free to slide within two brackets that are screwed to the inside of the Charlie G’s barrel. These are sprung so that when a grenade is inserted the barrels are pushed back against the body of the grenade in order to provide a decent seal (it won’t be perfect, but it should reduce gas-loss to a reasonable degree). All in all, it’s just a modification of the CAW (Craft Apple Works) inner barrel system for their old M79, so it’s hardly a new idea - but it works, and it works well. With regards to the practicality of manufacturing a Hop-up system, for the sake of simplicity, we’re going to go for a form of fixed Hop-up. A Hop-up rubber has it’s skirt cut off with a razor blade and is then positioned over a cut out in each barrel. A sleeve is then slid into place and locked in position with a pair of grub screws. Each of these sleeves has a groove around it’s circumference and a slot in the top. An O ring is fitted to each one, and where it passes through the groove it presses down on the Hop-up rubber – bingo, a fixed Hop-up system. However, as we can change the O rings it means we can increase or decrease
the pressure on the Hop-up rubber, so by a process of trial and error (different gasses, different weight BBs, different O rings) we should be able to fine tune the system to maximise our range. OK, it’s not as effective as an adjustable Hop-up, but this thing isn’t a sniper rifle, it’s a gigantic shotgun - so it’s not quite as vital to be able to twiddle with things to the nth degree as it would be with a VSR-10 or a DMR/SPR of some sorts. Then there are the modifications that need to be made to the grenade, or to be specific, six modifications. Luckily, they’re all the same - the 6 tubes that hold the BBs need to be counterbored to a diameter of 8.1mm in order to allow the end of the six inner barrels to slot into the body of the grenade, and we’ll send that out to a subcontactor who speclises in precision counterboring for that little job. That just leaves one more thing that we need to discuss before we get on with the build, and that’s materials. The inner barrels are going to be second hand brass inner barrels we’ve collected over the years. This sure isn’t a sniper rifle, so there’s no point in going out and spending a whole load of cash on six PDI or Prometheus barrels. As long as the brass barrels we have are straight they’ll do the job - but we’ll polish up the inside of the barrels in order to get rid of any muck that’s built up in them over time. As to the brackets and spacers we’ll be using a combination of PVC and aluminium, depending on just how much abuse they’ll need to withstand.
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
097-099 WORKSHOP.indd 97
097
01/05/2015 14:28
PART 2 T H E C A R L G U S T A V R E C O I L L E S S R I F L E - T H E C A R L G U S T A
Last but not least, the six sleeves are drilled and tapped for the M3 grub screws that will hold them in place.
Then it’s onto the spacers that hold the inner barrels in place, and we need four of them. A length of aluminium bar is machined down to 40mm in diameter and then drilled and bored through the centre. 4 sections are then parted off, each being 6mm in width.
The first job is to manufacture the six Hop-up sleeves. We start by turning aluminium rod down to 14mm in diameter, parting it off to produce the six sleeves, then drilling and boring them to an internal diameter of 10mm
The next job is the inner barrels. They’re chopped to the same length then one end of each is turned down to 8mm for a length of 10mm. After that, they’re polished internally and externally to get rid of all the much that’s built up on them from a few years sitting in the spare parts pile.
After that, each get’s it’s turn on the rotary table on the mill to drill six holes on the same PCD (pitch circle diameter) as the holes that run through the body of the grenade.
New slots are then cut into the outer barrels on the mill in order to allow the nub of the Hop-up rubber to project into the barrel.
The next step is to manufacture the brackets that the barrel set will slide in, and this time they’re made from 4mm thick PVC, clamped together and turned on the lathe at the same time. Just in case of mistakes, we’ve made a third at the same time (It’s always a good idea to make a spare or two!)
The six sleeves are then grooved on the lathe.
And then slotted on top in order to allow the O ring to put pressure on the Hop-up rubber.
098
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
097-099 WORKSHOP.indd 98
01/05/2015 14:29
GUSTAV RECOILLESS RIFLE - THE CARL GUSTAV RECOILLESS RIFLE
These brackets then get their turn on the mill, drilled on the same PCD as the holes on the grenade body, and a further six 4mm holes drilled close to the circumference (this is to allow us to bolt them in position inside the Carl Gustav’s barrel)
Then they’re turned inside out and slipped onto a barrel and the ridge is ground down. You could cut it off with a razor blade, but you get better results from an abrasive disc.
The rotary table and chuck are then moved from the horizontal position to the vertical and six holes are drilled in the circumference of the barrel spacers, and as with the Hop-up sleeves, are then tapped to take M3 grub screws.
Time to start putting it all together. First into place are the Hop-up rubbers, followed by clamping the sleeves in position and fitting the O rings.
The six hop rubbers are then up for some surgery. The first step is to cut the skirt off the end of it
Two of the four spacers are the fitted, one in front of the Hop-up sleeves, one behind. These are then locked in place with the grub screws.
Springs are then dropped over three of the inner barrels followed by one of the brackets
Then the third spacer and second bracket are fitted, followed by the final spacer. It’s starting to look like the front end of a minigun (no, we’re NOT going to build one of those!)
And there you have it – our completed inner barrel set and our King Arms 96 round grenade, all ready for their new home inside our Charlie G’s barrel...
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
097-099 WORKSHOP.indd 99
099
01/05/2015 14:29
LATEST ISSUE OUT NOW!
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
21/07/2014 13:13
THE DE VIL IS IN THE DE TAIL FIT TING AN ASCU TO A TM RECOIL AK
FITTING AN ASCU TO A
TOKYO MARUI RECOIL AK 45000 RPM
WITH ALL THE ATTENTION THE BTC SPECTRE V2 CONTROL UNIT AND MOSFET HAS BEEN GETTING FROM MARUI NEXT GEN. RECOIL M4 USERS, WE COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK THAT THE POOR AK LINE WAS GETTING LEFT OUT SO WE SET ABOUT CHANGING THAT AND WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY.
TM Recoil users have been snapping up the BTC Spectre V2 units in frenzy because they finally release the potential of a digitally controlled, select fire system and sector gear cycle monitoring in the Recoil M4 system. It’s been long awaited because although those features have been available for standard V2 gearboxes for a while, the TM Next Gen. gearboxes have slight differences. The AK system is a little simpler than the M$/416 system and because it doesn’t have the same bolt stop features, is a little more simple. That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t like to have that same digital trigger control though, but the thing is, there isn’t a product specifically available. You guessed it; the TM Recoil AK gearbox is SLIGHTLY different from the standard V3… It’s not THAT different though, and eyeing up a few components, we reckoned there was a way to make it work. Using an Airsoft System ASCU3 for a Version 3 gearbox gets us half way there and what follows is a step-by-step guide to doing the job yourself. Be warned, there’s a bit of cutting action and it requires you to strip down the entire gun and do a little soldering but the benefits are awesome.
You’ll enjoy improved trigger response, cycle completion and battery state monitoring along with the ability to program fire modes and access controlled burst features. Whilst we were there we decided it would be a good idea to make the most of the control and boost the power of the gun using our favorite motor at the moment, the ASG Ultimate INFINITY U-45000. Let’s not play around and let’s get the tools out!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1 TM Recoil AK AEG 2 Airsoft Systems ASCU3 3 ASG Ultimate Infinity U-45000 Motor (Short Shaft)
1
2 3
W W W.AC TIONSPORTGAMES.COM
101-107 DEVIL.indd 101
101
01/05/2015 14:22
THE DE VIL IS IN THE DE TAIL FIT TING AN ASCU TO A TM RECOIL AK STEP 1
Clear the gun, remove the magazine and disconnect the battery before removing the top cover.
STEP 2
Remove the bolt cover spring and guide rod.
STEP 3
Remove the mock bolt.
102
STEP 4
Unscrew and remove the internal bolt cover.
STEP 5
Push forward the rear top cover catch and lift it upwards to remove it from the gearbox casing. Two spring may come free.
STEP 6
Remove the mock bolt link-rod by unscrewing it from the recoil weight.
W W W.AC TIONSPORTGAMES.COM
101-107 DEVIL.indd 102
01/05/2015 14:22
THE DE VIL IS IN THE DE TAIL FIT TING AN ASCU TO A TM RECOIL AK STEP 7
Remove the three small screws that hop the hop cover in place. Note our gun here uses a modified V3 hop unit instead of the TM specific model.
STEP 8
Remove the upper and lower handguards by unscrewing the handguard end cap.
STEP 9
Remove the allen screw from inside the magazine well.
STEP 10
Remove the two allen screws forward of the magazine well.
STEP 11
Slide the entire front section of the gun and pivot it in order to separate it from the receiver.
STEP 12
Remove the grip base screw and pull the pistol grip cover off.
W W W.AC TIONSPORTGAMES.COM
101-107 DEVIL.indd 103
103
01/05/2015 14:22
THE DE VIL IS IN THE DE TAIL FIT TING AN ASCU TO A TM RECOIL AK STEP 13
Remove the retaining screw from the sides of the receiver.
STEP 14
Remove the rear screw and also the hinge pin and remove the stock. Note our gun uses a modified AIMS-style stock.
STEP 15
Remove the motor cage retaining screws and unlink the motor.
104
STEP 16
The entire gearbox assembly should now lift free of the receiver.
STEP 17
Unscrew the wiring retainer plate and the fire selector plate on the right hand side.
STEP 18
Remove the gear guard that sits behind the trigger blade.
W W W.AC TIONSPORTGAMES.COM
101-107 DEVIL.indd 104
01/05/2015 14:23
THE DE VIL IS IN THE DE TAIL FIT TING AN ASCU TO A TM RECOIL AK STEP 19
Slide off the plate from the top of the gearbox.
STEP 20
Remove all the gearbox screws from the shell in order to separate the halves.
STEP 22
Snip the Tamiya connector from the end of the ASCU unit right next to the plug to save as much wiring as possible.
STEP 23
With the gearbox shell emptied it’s a good time to give it a clean. Once it’s degreased and dried, dry fit the ASCU and notice how the forward edge of the board overhangs the gearbox casing.
STEP 21
Lift the top gearbox half off and completely strip the contents of the gearbox shell out.
W W W.AC TIONSPORTGAMES.COM
101-107 DEVIL.indd 105
105
01/05/2015 14:23
THE DE VIL IS IN THE DE TAIL FIT TING AN ASCU TO A TM RECOIL AK STEP 24
Use a Dremel or rotary cutting tool to remove a small portion of the gearbox shell as shown here, on both sides of the gearbox.
STEP 25
The ASCU board should now sit in the gearbox casing as shown. The front edge will protrude but there’s plenty of clearance inside the receiver.
STEP 26
Remove the dry-fitted ASCU and fit the black polymer cut off lever supplied with the ASCU itself remembering to re-lubricate as you reassemble.
STEP 27
Reassemble the gearbox, re-greasing and ensuring the shimming of the gears is correct as you go. You CAN remove the anti-reversal latch if you desire as the ASCU doesn’t require it to be used, although for peace of mind, we tend to leave them in place. It’s your choice!
106
W W W.AC TIONSPORTGAMES.COM
101-107 DEVIL.indd 106
01/05/2015 14:23
THE DE VIL IS IN THE DE TAIL FIT TING AN ASCU TO A TM RECOIL AK STEP 28
Before closing the gearbox shell apply a small amount of the supplied thermal paste to the ASCU as shown. This will ensure decent conductivity with the gearbox shell whish is used as a heat sink.
STEP 30
The ASCU is fitted and you will need to trim down the wiring to the right lengths and potentially extend the battery connector leads before fitting your choice of connector. This is very much dependent on your own configuration.
STEP 31
STEP 29
After refitting the gearbox, fit your motor into the cage and reverse the earlier steps to reassemble the gun.
Re-assemble the gearbox shell, refitting the components removed. When fitting the wiring guard, trace the wires through as shown.
W W W.AC TIONSPORTGAMES.COM
101-107 DEVIL.indd 107
107
01/05/2015 14:23
LIMITED OFFER! ALL SUBSCRIBERS WILL RECEIVE THESE WEBTEX PARACORD PRODUCTS! PARACORD COLOURS ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
ORDER ONLINE AT
WWW.AI-MAG.COM V O L U M E 1 0 I S S U E 4
I
N
T
E
R
N
A
T
I
O
N
A
L
A I R S O F T I N T E R N AT I O N A L
48
58
62
AUGUST 2014 VOL:10 ISS:4
38
£4.25
MARKS THE SPOT
HIS! PLUS DON’T MISS ALL T
21/07/2014 10:46 SEPT14 Cover.indd 1
£45 12 months for only
• HOW-TO GUIDES • GEAR TESTS GUN REVIEWS • GAME REPORTS
OR YOU CAN ORDER OVER THE PHONE
01775 750 005 YOU CAN ALSO PAY BY CHEQUES MADE OUT TO:
EBCON PUBLISHING LTD
PLEASE SEND YOUR CHEQUES/P.O.S TO: AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL, EBCON PUBLISHING, THE COURTYARD, CHOPDIKE DROVE, GOSBERTON CLOUGH, LINCS. PE11 4JP - UNITED KINGDOM
088-089 Subs.indd 108
09/12/2014 13:20
french letter
PLACE YOUR BETS now! There seems to have been a bit of excitement of good old Farcebook about these recently, especially where guns are offered as prizes. Let us trip lightly through the whys, wherefores and legalities of giving stuff away.. Depending on how bored you are, or want to be, raffles, which are a form of lottery, are governed by the Gambling Act 2005. I’ll keep it brief and just quote a little bit : In simple terms a lottery is a kind of gambling that has three essential elements: ■ Payment is required to participate. ■ One or more prizes are awarded. ■ Those prizes are awarded by chance.
This is set out more formally in the Act which defines two types of lottery, a simple lottery and a complex lottery. Don’t get too excited about the simple versus complex stuff, it’s really not relevant here. What is relevant is whether or not you can give away a RiF to someone without a defence. Well, yes you can, the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 is silent on the matter of gifts, which is generally taken to mean that it’s ok. Certainly that was the mood music from the Home Office back in the day. However, is something a gift when you have paid to be in with a chance of receiving it? I don’t know, and moreover it’s not that easy to find out one way or another. It seems to me
however that the answer is quite important. If it is, that’s fine as far as the VCRA is concerned, if not then you have in effect made a purchase, one which without a defence you aren’t entitled to. We’ll come back to this issue, the other matter is whether or not a lottery is legal. Again, a quick visit to the Gambling commission... These are: ■ Incidental non-commercial lotteries: Commonly held at charity fund raising events. ■ Private lotteries. ■ Private society lotteries: Only members of the society and those on society premises can participate in the lottery. ■ Work lotteries: Only people who work together on the same premises may participate. ■ Residents’ lotteries: Only people who live at the same premises may participate. ■ Customer lotteries: Only customers at the business premises may participate. In other words, you are dealing with a closed group of entrants, and it’s non-commercial, although it is legal for the organisers to
take reasonable expenses out of the money raised. Anything else requires the granting of a operating licence from the Gambling Commission. Make no mistake, raffles are gambling – you pay your money and you take your chances – and as such they are tightly regulated unless they fall within the exceptions listed above. So, just to re-cap: If you run a raffle which is limited to ONLY members of your site, everyone has a defence and the monies raised pay for the prizes and for the running of the raffle – no licence required, all perfectly legal. If on the other hand you run a raffle on-line in which anyone can participate, you will need a Remote Operating Licence granted by the Gambling Commission, as you are engaging in commercial gambling. Again this is utterly fine, providing it’s done legally. The only question remaining is the one of ‘do you or do you not need a defence’? I can’t answer that. My Google-Fu is moderately strong but I cannot find a definitive answer to what the status of a lottery prize is. Do you purchase the chance to win, in other words you have to pay to take part, or are you effectively purchasing your winnings? I have no idea. I therefore cannot answer the final part of this puzzle with any confidence. The current rash of lottery opportunities would suggest that people are going with the “gift” option or they are explicitly stating that any winner must be able to produce a valid defence. It seems to me that this is by far the safest route if everyone involved is to stay out of trouble. In fairness the greater risk if from the Gambling Commission should you run one of these without ensuring that you are doing so legally, experience suggests that no one is particularly interested in what we do with our RiFs until some moron does something spectacularly stupid and public with one. If you are one of those who is getting hot under the collar about lotteries, you may be raising your blood pressure unnecessarily. If in doubt, you can check whether or not a licence is held by the organiser on the Gambling Commission’s web site, there is no cost to search. If it’s simply your local site, or even your local shop running it, there shouldn’t be a problem as it probably counts as an incidental, non-commercial lottery. On the whole, it’s probably best to relax, getting overly stressed about this sort of thing is bad for your health!
w w w.ai-mag.com
109 FRENCH LETTER.indd 109
109
01/05/2015 14:29
NEXT ISSUE
build a dmr!
FIND OUT STEP-BY-STEP HOW TO PUMP UP THE POWER OF YOUR TOK YO MARUI SCAR-H AND MAKE IT PERFECT FOR SUPPORTING YOUR SQUAD WITH LONG-RANGE FIREPOWER!
110
W W W.AI-MAG.COM
110 NEXT ISSUE.indd 110
01/05/2015 14:30
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
01/05/2015 17:08
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1
07/11/2014 17:42