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LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT The UK’s largest supplier of Airsoft and Tactical goods. Visit landwarriorairsoft.com or speak to the team on 0131 654 2452 for further details.
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LAND WARRIOR FIREARMS RFD Suppliers of firearms, shotguns, cartridges and ammunition. Visit landwarriorfirearms.co.uk or speak to the team on 0131 654 2452 for further details.
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ARMOURY: WE GP1799
ALSO INSIDE...
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PROUDLY SUPPORTING PILGRIM BANDITS
JUNE 2019 - £4.50
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JUNE 2019
A&K PKM WE GP1799 BATES BOOTS AIRSOFT IN JAPAN IWA GEAR REPORT TANGO TACTICAL 96 XCORTECH X3000W OPERATION MERCURY
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Editor: Nigel Streeter Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Photo: Oliver Facey www.gallery.oliverfacey.co.uk UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk
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EVENT: BLIND DOGS KIT & GEAR: BATES BOOTS
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Tel: +44 (0) 1684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.online ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2019 All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print. Distributed by Intermedia Brand Marketing Ltd.
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ARMOURY: A&K PKM
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INTERNATIONAL: AIRSOFT IN JAPAN
FAMOUS RAIDS: OP MERCURY
LETTER , IDEA OR QUESTION? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea? Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the Editor: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk, write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.
Contents JUNE 2019
CONTENTS 6
NEWS
JUNE 2019
10 PLAYER’S GALLERY Airsoft Action readers doing what they do best!
45 KIT & GEAR: PIMPED DAYPACK Will Fowler is not just an expert military Historian, he also knows a thing or two about making the most of the kit you have to hand – and that “bigger” is not always “better”!
12 ARMOURY: TANGO TACTICAL 96 Not having owned a bolt-action airsoft rifle for some considerable time Bill re-enters the world of the precision BB-flinger with some trepidation!
48 ARMOURY: KWA TK45 ERG “Felt recoil” adds a large dose of “realism” to any RiF and Phil Bucknall was happy to get his hands on one of the latest from recoil specialist, KWA.
16 ARMOURY: WE GP1799 Steve Takle finds out whether a sidearm that isn’t based on a real-world counterpart is better on a Sunday.
52 ARMOURY: A&K PKM Bill brings out the big guns this month, with a look at the beast that is the classic PKM from A&K Airsoft!
20 EVENT: IWA 2019 GEAR REPORT In last month’s issue Bill gave us his overview of the airsoft new arrivals and innovations that he’d found particularly noteworthy at IWA 2019. This time he takes us into “Hall 9”, the repository of “tactical coolness” as he looks at what’s fresh on the gear front...
56 REAL STEEL: FINAL CURTAIN Bill winds up his misty-eyed look back on the action movies of his youth with a look at the armourers themselves and what they bring to each and every production they’re involved with!
26 EVENT: BLIND DOGS POST APOC Dust Monkey loads up his backpack, grabs his guns and heads into the eternal wastelands once more… 30 KIT & GEAR: XCORTECH X3300W Need an ammo counter plus chrono with rate of fire, battery monitor, burst mode and a tracer unit but only want to spend £100? Steve Takle finds out if the Xcortech X3300w measures up. 34 ARMOURY: L111A1 TRAINING GRENADE Phil Bucknall makes no secret of the fact that he is a bit of an airsoft geek and that applies equally to both the guns we use and the pyrotechnics we chuck about. 38 KIT & GEAR: BATES BOOTS Bill takes a look at an American brand that’s becoming more available “over here”, in the shape of Bates Boots. 42 FEATURE: THE COLLECTOR Frenchie has been involved in airsoft since before the dawn of time or, as we know it, “Tokyo Marui” and this is his introduction to a new series looking at “collectable” RiFs. 44 FEATURE: OPTICAL ICONS For Military Historian, Will Fowler, having a dependable pair of binoculars to hand was – and still is – essential.
62 ARMOURY: TM M45A1 GBB It seems that you just can’t keep a good thing down. Phil Bucknall takes a look at an oldie from TM that is still in service in the real world today …just! 66 INTERNATIONAL: JAPAN Japan is where airsoft started and is the “cultural home” to everything that we hold dear in the “6mm world”. Through his connections to the “PenCott Legion” User Group, Bill has been able to speak to Shoji Masaki to bring us the lowdown on what it really means to play airsoft in Japan. 70 FAMOUS RAIDS: OP MERCURY Way back in Issue 74 we ran the first part of Billy Basic’s “Famous Raids” article about Operation Mercury. We are delighted that Billy has returned, albeit briefly, to complete the story… 74 LAST POST: AIRSOFT WRITERS Every month we receive emails from players asking us if we’d like them to write about any number of subjects but, as Frenchie explains, “writing” for a magazine is easier said than done. 78 SITE DIRECTORY & ACTION AIR CLUBS Looking for a skirmish site, or your local Action Air Club? Then we may have the answer, with pages of sites and clubs throughout the UK.
s w e N t f o s Air
AIRSOFTQM OPENS FOR BUSINESS! Now you can buy your airsoft equipment from the UK’s leading Police and security retailer. www.airsoftqm.com is a new website launched by the team at www.patrolstore.com to specifically cater for their growing audience of Airsoft customers. Offering all the leading Airsoft brands as well as leading Tactical brands such as 5.11, Haix, Lowa, Blackhawk, Vortex and more! We also stock all Airsoft necessities such as BBs, batteries, eye-pro, face-pro, chronos, as well as RIFs and accessories. For team and site purchases, whether you are a team leader, a Site Manager or a procurement manager, we can help make purchasing easy. We will give you a single point of contact and can quote prices tailored to your company and budget.
After months of cold cramped conditions inside a storage locker we survived the harshness of winter and we are super excited to announce that we have moved again! Finally! The wait is over and we are now in shiny new premises in the form of a 2,000 sqft Light Industrial Unit in Tilehurst, Reading. Only a 10 minute drive away from our previous location in Reading town centre, with a local bus route landing you right across the road from us! We are only 15 mins away from the M4 J12 for those of you coming from further afield, and for those who prefer trains then we are a stone’s throw away from Tilehurst train station! We now also have parking! Gone are the days of extortionate Reading Town Centre Parking rates! Being early doors, the shop is undergoing a serious facelift and with a Mezzanine floor recently installed, our plan is to transform the new shop into two floors of fun! With the Airsoft Shop located upstairs currently in its primitive form, fully stocked with all you need to get out and get playing! Downstairs it’s time to test your marksman skills, or that shiny new gun you’re thinking of buying, as we’ve got a range coming in! Currently under construction, we will be providing an 6
JUNE 2019
Utilising extensive in-house knowledge and hands-on experience as long-time airsoft skirmishers, police officers, specialist military personnel and private security operators, AirsoftQM has developed a catalogue of specialist products designed to provide the ultimate in functionality and performance for any game or tactical situation. AirsoftQM is partnered with the UK’s leading police, security and military retailer for real steel as well as airsoft equipment, meaning that we offer the very best kit and the very best customer service! Contact us today and see what we can do for you. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, offer solutions to your product needs and give quotes. Telephone: 01737 223062 Web: www.airsoftqm.com
airsoft range perfect for competition/Action Air shooting, target practice with your own kit (such as setting your hop and zeroing optics) and even trying out some shiny new products off the field! The range itself will consists of four 15m rifle bays, accompanied by six smaller 7m pistol bays, with a variety of both paper and electronic targets for you to test your shooting skills! Or if you’re feeling competitive, then the range will also be a great place to compete against friends and strangers to see whose boss! For those of you without kit we will also be offering a small rental fleet of pistols and rifles for you to get to grips with if you’re thinking of giving airsoft a go! All of this brain exploding information will soon be available via our brand new website which is launching in the next few weeks! Until then keep your eyes posted over on our current website and Social Media for all the exciting new updates, or come visit us in store and see for yourself! Come and find us at: Unit 2, Oxford Road Industrial Estate, Gresham Way, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 6AW. Tel: 0118 956 1411 Email: info@a2supplies.co.uk Hope to see you soon!
s w e N t f o s Air New From Pentagon Tactical Sportswear - TAC MAVEN THUNDER PONCHO The Thunder poncho is a raincoat that can be used in several circumstances, for duty purpose or for civilian use over any other outfit. It can be used as a tent for protection. Specifications: • 210D Polyester Ripstop • PU Coating • 3000mm/24h Waterproof | 1500gr²/24h Breathable • Weight < 0.3Kg • Dimensions: 200 x 145 cm • Adjustable Hood • Adjustable Waist with cord • Side snap buttons for better closing • Compression pack included For more information visit: www.pentagon.com.gr
NON-TOXIC FIRELIGHTER HITS THE HIGH STREET A novel non-toxic and eco-friendly firelighter used by British soldiers is hitting the High Street. 164 year old Cardiff-based survival equipment manufacturers, BCB International Ltd, have developed the world’s first solid bio-ethanol fuel, called ‘FireDragon’. In 2015 following extensive laboratory and field trials against other leading household firelighters, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) decided to adopt the novel ‘FireDragon’ fuel as the heating source for soldiers’ operational rations. Shoppers will now be able to get their hands on the FireDragon retail range that has just been launched. The range includes solid and gel variants of the FireDragon fuel making it ideal for any shopper who is looking for a greener, cleaner and safer alternative to traditional firelighters. BCB International’s Managing Director, Andrew Howell, said: “Our FireDragon fuel delivers an excellent performance. It is non-toxic, eco-friendly, all-weather, provides a quick clean burn and can double as
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an anti-bacterial hand cleanser. It is supplied in attractive and easy to use packs and pouches. “Earlier this year, the UK Government published its Clean Air Strategy which outlined a number of measures it will take to clean up our air including the introduction of new legislation to prohibit the sale of the most polluting fuels. “It shines a spotlight on the environmental health hazards associated with traditional firelighters which can emit numerous toxic fumes. We each owe it to our environment and health to do our bit to clean up our air each time. Our choice of firelighter is an important step in that direction. “We are encouraging retailers and shoppers alike to take a long hard look at traditional firelighters and a second look at cleaner and safer alternatives like our FireDragon fuel.” For more information, contact BCB International - www. bcbin.com - Trade Enquiries: 02920 433700
AA GALLERY AIRSOFT ACTION PLAYER PHOTOS
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PLAYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GALLERY
AA GALLERY AIRSOFT ACTION PLAYER PHOTOS
Many thanks for the pictures, which were sent in by Chris “Meatshield” Charlesworth from the game day at The Pit on 30th March.
Information Fancy seeing yourself in Airsoft Action? Send in your photos via email to nige@airsoft-action.co.uk or share on our Facebook page facebook.com/AirsoftAction along with a few words describing what’s going on in the image.
www.airsoft-action.online
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armoury TANGO TACTICAL 96 PACKAGE
TAKE A CHEAP SHOT!
THE ART OF THE AIRSOFT SNIPER IS A HARD-LEARNED AND OFTEN RIDICULED THING, BUT ONE THAT FOR SOME IS THE “BE ALL AND END ALL” OF THEIR AIRSOFT EXPERIENCE! NOT HAVING OWNED A BOLT-ACTION AIRSOFT RIFLE FOR SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME BILL RE-ENTERS THE WORLD OF THE PRECISION BB-FLINGER WITH SOME TREPIDATION! ALTHOUGH I’M NOT IN ANY WAY averse to a good semi-auto DMR and in fact find myself playing more and more on “semi-only”, it is indeed a LONG time since I tried to master the arcane arts of the precision airsoft distance shooter! Back around 1999 I bought myself a cheap L96 (well, cheap for the time!), whacked a middling scope on it and thought I was going to be able to take 100m+ shots with ease, grace and some aplomb… how very wrong I was! I remember going to a friend’s house with my latest airsoft acquisition and set everything up neatly in his back garden (which was about 100m long); shooting
sold pretty sharpish to another mate and my dreams of being a deadly efficient airsoft “Hatchcock” disappeared in favour of hard and fast skirmish action. I will admit in hindsight, that as usual the problems were down to yours truly and possibly not the rifle itself but in honesty I just didn’t have the patience at the time to invest in the art of sniping - and therein lies the major issue. As with all things though, every so often you come to a bit of a “dry spell” in relation to your airsoft and even though I am knocking on a bit now I had, until recently, loved a good skirmish day or a full-on weekend of MilSim. Sadly, the year before last I had to undergo
“THAT PARTICULAR L96 ENDED UP BEING SOLD PRETTY SHARPISH TO ANOTHER MATE AND MY DREAMS OF BEING A DEADLY EFFICIENT AIRSOFT “HATCHCOCK” DISAPPEARED IN FAVOUR OF HARD AND FAST SKIRMISH ACTION.” mat, sandbag rest, rifle with bipod and optic, decent quality .30g BBs, some spotting binos and a handful of hand-made “zeroing targets”. I’d been shooting real bolt-action rifles to a competitive level for about 25 years at this point and knew all the tricks to get a decent grouping at range but when I started shooting that darn L96 things unravelled pretty fast… Suffice to say that “zeroing” in itself was a challenge, even on a non-windy day and getting a grouping… well, let’s just say that particular L96 ended up being
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some pretty major surgery and even now, shall we just say that I’m still not as quick and flexible as I once was. That surgery forced me to effectively sit on my hands for the entire summer of 2017 and although I went along to my local site pretty regularly to simply hang out with my friends, I often sloped off before lunchtime as not being able to play and get stuck in got me down in a major way. Airsoft has been a major part of my life for over 25 years now and the imposition of an enforced “time out” had me, at times, literally with my head in
armoury TANGO TACTICAL 96 PACKAGE
“THIS “SPRING RIFLE PACKAGE” IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT FOR THE “BOLT-ACTION NOVICE” AS IT COMES OUT OF THE BOX WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET STARTED, NAMELY THE T-96 RIFLE ITSELF, A BIPOD, A 4X32 SCOPE WITH SCOPE RINGS, TWO T-96 MAGAZINES - AND EVEN A SPEEDLOADER!” my hands and it was only thanks to a number of good people in our community (you know who you are and I love ya for it!), that my downtime during that long, hot summer was bearable. What does this have to do with bolt-action airsoft rifles I hear you ask? Well, it’s simple really! As I couldn’t run and jump about I looked carefully at my options and what I could still do. I shoot weekly at my local club which has a 25m indoor .22LR range and when I’m there I shoot a CZ 455 Varmint, which is superlative bolt-action “paper-puncher”. That got me to thinking again about airsoft “bolties” and whether or not I should give it a go again.
“Four Gun” simply using their skirmish gear that they own already but with a chunky element of friendly competition thrown in. With the idea in place my local airsoft group and I will be trialling a few things this summer with the aim of growing this at a later stage. With this idea firmly in mind it was, of course, all down to the RIFs! I already own a goodly collection of airsoft tools so the choice of pistol (a RAVEN EU17), shotgun (G&P M870), and carbine (WE GBBR AR) were soon made but that of course left me with what to use for the “precision” element. Whilst I considered one of my existing DMRs for this, I also decided to try a boltaction again…
FOUR GUN
CHEAP AND OH, SO CHEERFUL!
I continued to ruminate about this for some considerable time and whilst I slowly but surely got my strength and speed back and started playing games in earnest again (you may recall my trip to WarZone in Crete with Kelly came after my first surgery…), the thought of the bolt-action rifle stuck in my head. More recently (after another bloody surgery!), I was speaking to mates local and not-so-local and got round to the idea of “Four Gun” shooting; that is taking existing “Tactical 3 Gun” consisting of Pistol, Shotgun and Rifle/ Carbine BUT then adding a precision distance element! From my conversations with the likes of Ross at NUPROL, Tim Wyborn (now of iWholesales) and Tish at Mid Wales Airsoft, an idea started to take shape and whilst it is still in its infancy right now, it seems to have some “legs”. The idea is that anyone can compete in
Of course, due to my unforeseen and elongated relationship with the NHS (who have been bloody fabulous by the way!) I sadly have to admit that my income took a bit of a hit during my time out and this meant that to get into bolt-action territory I was on a pretty severe budget. I still wasn’t convinced that a “boltie” was for me, so I searched around for something workmanlike and well-priced and eventually plumped for a Tango Tactical 96 package from NUPROL. This “spring rifle package” is absolutely brilliant for the “bolt-action novice” as it comes out of the box with everything you need to get started, namely the T-96 rifle itself, a bipod, a 4x32 scope with scope rings, two T-96 magazines - and even a speedloader! All you need to do is add some BBs and you’re all set for some fun! The body of the T96 is of polymer construction which www.airsoft-action.online
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armoury TANGO TACTICAL 96 PACKAGE
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feels both durable and tough and although it’s “plastic” it honestly doesn’t feel cheap in any way. The use of polymer for the stock tube, lower receiver and “ARStyle” pistol grip results in a fairly substantial weight reduction, which means the T96 lighter than many other sniper rifles, by a considerable margin, even with the scope and bipod mounted. Bundled together with a scope that affixes to the top 20mm rail and a bipod that connects to the front mounting lug, this means that straight out of the box the T96 is an Airsoft rifle that’s excellent for those
PERFORMANCE
wanting to start sniping, for folk who don’t want to fully commit to the sniping role, or simply for those that want to be able to make more precise distance shots without breaking the bank! Also included with the T96 are two magazines, which means that you’ll have 56 rounds, saving the “PITA” of trying to reload your magazines in-game, or of running dry if you have a jam or malfunction with one of the magazines during a competition shoot. The T96 has a standard M4 style retractable stock and pistol grip, rather than a traditional rifle stock; this offers a platform which is ergonomically designed, easy to manoeuvre and is already familiar to many. It also means that both the stock itself (a bog-standard LEstyle) and the pistol grip can be easily changed out for something a little more “funky”!
Once I’d moved up to .30g RZRs and dialled in the hop it was time to zero the 4x32 scope provided and perhaps age has mellowed me somewhat, as I really enjoyed this part. Supported initially on sandbags and in the prone position, BB after BB went steadily to target at a range of 50m and after about an hour or so I was able to achieve “10p-sized” groups. Moving up to 70m this widened out to apple-sized groups which I still found strangely satisfying. I think that with a little more patience and a longer range I could probably move that up even further over time - and for a “basic starter rifle” I find that quite stunning. For this reason (and others) I can certainly recommend the Tango Tactical 96 package to you if you’re just getting started or are on a serious budget!
The bolt seems very nicely engineered, operating smoothly each time it is cycled and is easy to use. Cocking the weapon is incredibly easy and requires minimum effort; compared to other bolt actions that I’ve tried in the past, the T96 can be chambered and fired faster, as the bolt almost feels like a straightpull action, even with the resistance of the spring. If there is any failing in the package it’s with the bipod as this, although thoroughly solid and workmanlike, is a “rear folder” which means when stored it occludes the forestock and makes the rifle ungainly to carry; I’ll probably try to swap this out for a “forward folder” in due course and report back when I’ve lived with the T96 for a while…
Perhaps patience is indeed a virtue and it would seem that for distance shooting that practice does indeed make perfect. I am a firm believer that “things happen for a reason” and perhaps my enforced immobility has caused me to look at taking my airsoft in a new and exciting direction. It has certainly convinced me, going back to that ill-fated L96 in 1999, that it was actually the younger me that was a bit crap and, as usual, not the rifle itself. I still take my hat off to the Ghillie-clad stalkers of the airsoft world but I think I’ve finally found out for myself what it is that makes this so worthwhile for so many… It’s about that one perfect shot, isn’t it? AA
So, for a rifle “package” that retails for around £120 how did it perform? Well, it’s an absolute hoot! I ran it through the chrono expecting little real “grunt” as dryfiring the rifle results in a pretty inconsequential “pffft” but the chrono doesn’t lie and over ten .20g RZR BBs, it gave me a mean power of 1.59 Joule/415fps! Now I know that I would usually put that kind of power output into DMR territory rather than sniper-ready but the fact is the T96 has some hoof straight from the box, which I have to admit was slightly unexpected.
armoury WE GP1799
WE GP1799
IS AUTHENTICITY EVERYTHING? STEVE TAKLE FINDS OUT WHETHER A SIDEARM THAT ISN’T BASED ON A REAL-WORLD COUNTERPART IS BETTER ON A SUNDAY. SO, WHAT ON EARTH IS WE’s GP1799? Well, the clue’s very much in the name when you decode it: G17 and P99. Take one of the most ubiquitous sidearms today the Glock 17 - and combine it with the ergonomics of one of the most comfortable - Walther’s P99 - and this is what you end up with. They’re both models available from WE and the result is a hybrid of form and function that you won’t find anywhere in real steel. At its heart the GP1799 is WE’s G17, which may not be the last word in precision - and you should look elsewhere for authentic trademarks - but their G-series has built a strong following for reliability and affordability. WE also produces a good version of Walther’s P99, so the top brass clearly thought, “What if we combined G-build with P-comfort?” And I’m so glad they did…
GLOCK-A-LIKE
While Glocks have become a permanent fixture in the airsoft world, that’s largely down to their ubiquitous presence in active service. I think they’re just plain ugly but the real thing is built down to a budget while still being reliable, which is why they win government contracts. And that widespread usage explains their popularity on the airsoft field. Special forces hold on to their M9s and P226s after their supposed sell-by date has expired because they are “better” weapons in many ways and where Glock has become the default choice for firearms, airsoft has inevitably followed suit.
WE offers airsoft players another option though; a comfortable, contoured Glock-like-weapon. And you know what? It’s pretty damn good! The end result is that you get the size and mass of the very familiar G17 - as well as compatibility with existing airsoft magazines and parts - combined with the usability advances offered by forward-thinking firearms manufacturers such as Walther. One thing’s for sure though, you will be asked what it is on a Sunday. The GP1799 is such a distinctive looking gun that other players - especially those with an encyclopedic knowledge of sidearms - will want to know why they don’t recognise it. Reactions we’ve encountered have ranged from “Oh, what a great idea!” to “So it’s just a toy gun?” Newsflash, ladies and gents - they’re ALL “just toy guns”! With that in mind, of course there are no authentic trademarks. You’ll find WE markings in a recess at the bottom of the grip that are innocuous enough, as well as WE’s atomic logo on the top and side of the ejector port cover. We’d go so far as to say those actually look pretty cool.
GET A GRIP!
You get the usual polymer frame and metal slide with a satisfying heft to the unit as a whole, weighing in at 821g with the mag in. It’s maybe 15mm shorter than a 1911 and about the same height but where the classic beaver tail falls 1cm lower, the GP1799 offer meaty hands some welcome extra space. The trade-off is that
“AT ITS HEART THE GP1799 IS WE’S G17, WHICH MAY NOT BE THE LAST WORD IN PRECISION - AND YOU SHOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR AUTHENTIC TRADEMARKS - BUT THEIR G-SERIES HAS BUILT A STRONG FOLLOWING FOR RELIABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY.” 16
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armoury WE GP1799
there is some skin pinch when releasing the slide using the catch - obviously not an issue if you powerstroke or wear gloves. It’s about the only thing we’re not keen as a direct result of WE’s proprietary ergos. The matt-finish polymer feels decent - certainly not cheap - but we’d like to see a slightly softer, almost rubberised finish if we had the choice. Much like a Glock, there’s a satisfying recess for the length of your trigger finger towards the top of the grip, whether you’re right or left-handed. There’s a similar depression on the other side for thumbs that’s exactly where we like it but if you rest yours a little lower, one right-handed player mentioned that his thumb landed on the mag release, which he found to have a sharp edge. Low down on the grip, there are three contours for your fingers that fall in just about the right places with a flare to the mag well - that will suit the majority of players. Being picky, I personally would like to see slightly larger accommodation for the second digit but then I do have sausage fingers. There are grooves front and rear, along with textured dots and a grip strip either side, which might seem like overkill but they do a pretty good job of eliminating slippage. Perhaps the biggest improvement over the G17 is the angle of the grip and a shoulder to the rear below your thumb that positively seats the web of your hand above its bump. The result is that - if the overall size fits - your hand always falls in a natural position with excellent control and you can use a looser grip than on a less ergonomic pistol. Looking further forward, there are also effective ridges for your supporting forefinger at the front of the trigger guard, while the ski jump inner shape gives you somewhere to rest your trigger finger just that bit closer to the action. There’s an accessory rail up front too. Is it as comfortable as a P99? No. But at least my bear paws no longer hang off the bottom of the grip. This is definitely not a lefty-friendly gun though, with both slide catch and mag release only on the left side. That slide catch may be small but it’s exactly where our thumb falls, while the mag release protrudes less far than on a CZ P-09 - so preventing accidental ejections and is also less of a stretch than a 1911.
GLOCK 17
as you’d find on WE’s P99, which is a shame, but the inclusion of fibre optic sights as standard is a pretty trick move that we wholeheartedly approve of. We’re fans of the fact there’s no daylight showing from the side between frame and slide but with the slide racked back, there’s significant wobble to the outer barrel all the way back to and including the ejector port cover. Obviously, this has a knock-on effect to the inner barrel but this kind of loose fitment also holds true for real Glocks, so we’ll give it a pass. And those of you that prefer to avoid using the slide release to save wear and tear on the hardware will be pleased to hear that you can powerstroke the GP1799 after reloading to get back into the action. You’ll find fake trades etched into the slide, with that WE atomic symbol towards the rear on the right and the model number to the front on the left. They’re all tastefully done and don’t detract from the overall look of the weapon at all.
SLIDE IT IN
Glocks have a famously boxy appearance in the hand, with a square profile to the slide. The GP1799 adds angled shoulders with more of an elongated octagon when looking at the business end. While the side of the slide still only carries serrations to the rear - we’d love to see some further forward - the top has gained a whole series of chevrons, front to rear. If WE were ever to consider making v2.0, we’d trade some from the top for more on the side. There’s no live striker indicator to the rear of the slide
“BUYING AN ODDBALL RIF USUALLY COMES WITH SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT PERFORMANCE, RELIABILITY AND PARTS AVAILABILITY BUT ERGOS ASIDE, THE GP1799 IS A WE AIRSOFT GLOCK IN A FROCK AND, AS SUCH, YOU CAN EXPECT IT TO WORK - AND BE EASY TO FIX IF THERE IS A PROBLEM.” www.airsoft-action.online
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armoury WE GP1799
GLOCK IN A FROCK
Buying an oddball RIF usually comes with some uncertainty about performance, reliability and parts availability but ergos aside, the GP1799 is a WE airsoft Glock in a frock and, as such, you can expect it to work - and be easy to fix if there is a problem. Also as you’d expect, it takes down just like a G17, with a pair of small sliders under the slide either side of the frame and it’s fully compatible with WE G-series parts - including magazines - which also means it’s TM compatible too. Another thing that will be familiar to Glock fans is the scissor trigger safety that works just as you’d expect. This RIF will only fire if pressure is applied across the entire trigger, while pulling on either side will have no effect - much like the real thing. The GP’s magazine has an additional flare to the base to fill the enlarged well space, with a sculpted diamond that nicely matches the grip. It’s a nice touch that shows WE really thought about the complete package, even if those magazines are hard to come by separately. A standard G-series mag works perfectly and makes for
WALTHER P99
SUMMARY
We love authentic replicas but on a Sunday, I place the most stock in airsoft weapons that just work. And work well. That’s what we seem to have here. It has the tried and trusted G17 internals combined with a much more
“I PLACE THE MOST STOCK IN AIRSOFT WEAPONS THAT JUST WORK. AND WORK WELL. THAT’S WHAT WE SEEM TO HAVE HERE. IT HAS THE TRIED AND TRUSTED G17 INTERNALS COMBINED WITH A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE - AND STYLISH - PACKAGE.” a readily available way to reload in-game but they do look just a bit lost if that matters to you. Unexpectedly, the GP1799 mag shoots more rounds per fill than the original G-series mag - even if only by a couple.
WORKHORSE OR SHOW PONY?
We’ve all been teased by new partners only to be let down when it matters, so while it looks like a meaty hand cannon, does the GP1799 measure up where it counts? Well, pretty much, yes it does. It delivers an average of 293FPS using .20 BBs, with decent accuracy and a strong kick. We’d definitely put it on a par with other pistols from WE on both counts - maybe even slightly ahead. There is some slide wobble but the mag seats reasonably tightly while still dropping free upon release. The finish looks good but after just one outing we can already see a glint of metal appearing through the black on a corner of the mag well. It’s not the end of the world but something to think about if you like to keep your guns looking pristine. While it may not outrange an AEG, the GP1799’s reach is more than acceptable. We were hitting mansized targets regularly at 25m and drinks cans at half that range. That’s certainly not remarkable but good enough for a sidearm. We’re typically seeing two-and-ahalf mags from one gas refill, which is also about what we’d expect to see from a decent pistol. After a bunch of range work and one skirmish, the GP1799 has yet to disappoint. Gas up, refill BBs and shoot. Rinse and repeat. That’s more than we can say of airsoft pistols that cost way more.
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comfortable - and stylish - package. Of course you can get more accurate pistols - and most definitely more authentic - but you could also easily spend half as much again. I paid £99 but prices typically range from £109£120. I’m very critical - just ask my exes - but overall, I found the GP1799 to be a thoroughly useful airsoft secondary that both looks and feels good. Despite the fact that it has no real world counterpart - and so no heritage - the GP just might become my standard secondary. If you’re looking for proven reliability on a reasonable budget that won’t get lost in a sea of similar sidearms, then you could do a lot worse. AA
0.20g
0.25g
3000pcs per bottle | 6mm | Precision Airsoft BB | www.hornettactical.com www.patrolstore.com/hornettactical
event report IWA 2019 - GEAR REPORT
GEAR REPORT IN LAST MONTH’S ISSUE BILL GAVE US HIS OVERVIEW OF THE AIRSOFT NEW ARRIVALS AND INNOVATIONS THAT HE’D FOUND PARTICULARLY NOTEWORTHY AT IWA 2019. THIS TIME HE TAKES US INTO “HALL 9”, THE REPOSITORY OF “TACTICAL COOLNESS” AS HE LOOKS AT WHAT’S FRESH ON THE GEAR FRONT... I’M LUCKY IN THAT, AFTER WORKING for so many years in the outdoor performance market with some of the big names in climbing, mountaineering and general outdoor pursuits, I have a bit of a “head start” when it comes to looking at the ideas and technologies that are at last filtering through to the tactical gear market! Over the past few years I’ve witnessed some really HUGE steps forward by the tactical clothing, footwear and gear companies and some of them have really embraced the latest and greatest developments in performance fabrics, technologies and materials. Not only are they using the best materials that are available, they are also thinking “way outside the box” in terms of design for functionality. Whilst for many a “10 quid pair” of surplus combat trousers will suffice for a one-off skirmish day every couple of months (and there’s nothing wrong with that at all!), more and more of us are searching for that ideal pair of trousers, that super comfortable pack, or that properly waterproof pair of lightweight boots. Many will call this “elitist” in some way but when it comes down to being well-protected and (above all) comfortable, I’m certainly prepared to dump a couple of quid to get a solid set of kit! My personal mantra is “any fool can be uncomfortable” and whilst I understand that pennies are always tight when you’re an airsofter, scrimping on the very kit that can help keep you in the game is false economy in my eyes. The “outdoor community” went through this process years ago and frankly I see fellow dog walkers with better kit than many airsofters! Once upon a time I used to joke about “dog walkers” but now I’m one myself I know that I will be out in all weathers and it can be horrible or a joy depending on your kit choice... airsoft is no different. Most of the companies I visit at IWA are staffed by folk that I have the deepest respect for, so I do tend to concentrate on them. That’s not to say that I don’t keep an eye out for things that are completely new (some smaller companies may make just a single piece of outstanding kit after all!) but if I report on something that you’ll never be able to buy then that, sadly, is a 20
june 2019
waste of valuable page space, isn’t it?
DESIGN TWEAKS AND TECH
I do, however, expect to see innovation from those companies I believe to be good, not just once but as part of a continuous process and IWA 2019 certainly didn’t disappoint!
EVENT REPORT IWA 2019 - GEAR REPORT
UF PRO are a company who really do “get it” but in the past have been humble enough to not shout about it. This is thankfully changing, as both their range of products and their confidence in what they produce grows. Their design guru, Armin, totally understands every stitch and every piece of technology they use to achieve their outstanding clothing and UF PRO keep adding new technologies and tweaking their designs! This year saw them releasing a new generation of the Striker uniform system, “Striker X”. They were also showing “ConCamo” which was introduced as a “limited run” option. Other news worth noting were the comeback of Steel Grey and the introduction of flame retardant (FR) Pyroshell material, used in the Striker FR BDU. Staying firmly in Eastern Europe, Helikon-Tex are always on my “must see” list at IWA and in the last couple of years they have really been making some headway, not only in a “re-branding” in terms of
their product categories but in the uniqueness of their designs. They have also shown a massive step up in their quality control which in my mind is placing them high in the “tactical rankings”.
This year saw them adding a host of new products for the general outdoor and shooting communities, focusing a number of their products in more “civilian” colours and designs. They clearly aim to expand their customer base and by the look of some of their new “tacticool” shirt and gear designs, they are well on track. The military sector are not forgotten though, as they will get to see the new MBDU line and more products in PenCott Wildwood. Apart from that, we also saw some brand new polymer pouches and holsters, incredibly neat tactical gloves, as well as advanced tactical and outdoor backpacks, shoulder bags and chest packs, tactical belts and gun carriers, all part of a new line of nylon gear. Talking of nylon gear, allied, but no longer as closely linked to Helikon-Tex as before, Direct Action displayed several new items including their new Warhawk 45mm Rescue Belt, the Spitfire MKII PC and the Tiger Moth Rig, along with their Vanguard Combat Trouser. These guys are really coming on a storm at the moment and are a definite favourite amongst some of the AA crew, myself included! Personally, I was delighted to see plenty of PenCott fabric in use, this time including PenCott Wildwood, which until now was only used/offered by Helikon-Tex. Clawgear have become another “must see” for me at the show as, once again, they do tend to think “out of the box” when it comes to putting together their gear. Their clothing range is absolutely spot on now thanks to a couple of design upgrades but this year was definitely a “gear year” for them with a great range of pouches, belts and slings on show. They’ve also been working on extending their range of products for the AK and the Steyr AUG - which may seem odd for what is basically a clothing and gear company but when you consider they are Austrian it all makes perfect sense! Once again Pentagon were pushing on with their “Tactical Athlete” concept and they are a brand that (as an outdoorsman) I’ve come to appreciate more and more! Whilst their designs are not quite as “overt” as some, they do make a superb finished product. Their easily compressible vests and jackets, made with super-soft nylon fabrics and filled with 550 duck down were really nice! The company also presented more advanced tactical jackets, with Primaloft Ecofilling encased in durable and waterrepellent Nylon Taslan.
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EVENT REPORT IWA 2019 - GEAR REPORT
Also on display were brand new tactical backpacks and combat uniforms, plus a whole spectrum of combat trousers which certainly took my eye. Speaking to them at length they have some great plans for 2019/20 and I’ll be updating on these as soon as is feasible. First Tactical are fast becoming renowned for manufacturing functional and innovative gear for professionals and their cutting-edge products were very popular among visitors if the crowds on their stand were anything to go by! Their solid range of clothing, tactical packs, such as the Tactix 1-Day Plus, tactical watches and torches continues to grow and this year they had new range bags, boots and gloves to show off too. Having their head designer, Corey, present meant that we got to hear all the latest from them and it looks as if there’s going to be even more happening with their line later this year - so watch this space! No trip to a show would be complete without seeing old campaigners 5:11 and although I’ve not been “wowed” with any of their designs for a little while it is good to see them firing all cylinders again. Not only had they upgraded their clothing and footwear line but they look to have tightened up their overall design-ethos, with some pared back clothing items for “the range warrior”. These look very interesting indeed and I look forward to finding out more! Sticking with “Euro” gear folk I always drop in to see Tasmanian Tiger. The company introduced a new line of navy blue equipment for law enforcement this year, along with some new designs. Showing new packs like the Modular 45 plus and the Assault Pack 12, they also had some “limited edition” models for companies like Tacwrk in Multicam Black. The new lightweight and laser cut plate carriers looked very cool, and another new line up is the TacVec Series, which was displayed very prominently on their stand.
WRAPPING IT!
In terms of footwear there was not a huge amount to report. Seasoned campaigners ALTAMA stll seem to be having a real push - and who couldn’t love their Multicam low-cuts! Salomon and Lowa are still forging
forwards, taking their excellent “mountain heritage” and incorporating it into their tactical ranges but for them it was mostly colour updates rather than new models, although I have to say the new Salomon “low cut” looks great, and the new Lowa colours are going to work perfectly with your “urban grey” and Multicam/ MTP gear! As you’ll see in this issue, Tactree have just started rolling with their new range of US-designed Bates Boots and the new “Siege” model from them looked very sharp indeed. As always, I will make my “honourable mentions” before I conclude, an overview of things that I saw that I thought to be first rate. Out of Russia, Gienna Tactics continue to grow their excellent range of clothing and this year added some righteous looking “nylon gear” too. They still work with some properly “old skool” camo patterns which is splendid if you’re an OPFOR dude like me! Our old friends from Warrior Assault Systems had a repositioned stand this year but this is mainly because they have really “cracked the market” with solid gear
and were just showing their newer pieces like the LPC Low Profile Carrier and the excellent Low Profile Direct Action MK1 Shooters Belt which, if you’ll pardon the pun, come fully-loaded and ready to roll. I’ve just got a sample of this in so watch out for my thoughts soon! VIPER this year stepped firmly into Hall 9 “loud and proud” which was superb to see and with some new additions to their line, I believe they will continue to do solid business not only in the UK but further afield too. Each year we head to IWA hoping to be impressed and I have to say that 2019 proved to be a bumper show in relation to some of the brands we work closely with! Rest assured that we’ll be covering many of this year’s releases as they come to market and you can be certain that in the hands of the Airsoft Action team they’ll all be thoroughly “used and abused” by the time we report back on them! AA
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POST APOC BLIND DOGS
BLIND DOGS DUST MONKEY LOADS UP AND HEADS INTO THE ETERNAL WASTELANDS ONCE MORE…
Photos: Oliver Facey - www.gallery.oliverfacey.co.uk
SO ONCE AGAIN I SET OFF to the wasteland, although this time closer to home as it was only up the motorway at the Bravo One site in Birmingham! Swapping incredible wasteland vistas and Mad Max cars for a more “Metro 2033” themed experience. I was promised dark tunnels, no natural light and cold… a lot of cold! Arrival on site was easy and with the loading bay free it was simply a case of getting the kit to the lift and up to the game area. With one entire floor dressed as a post-apocalyptic underground town and the other two to represent various tunnels throughout the event. We got settled in, that is myself and my group for the event named the “Ratniks”. As we decided to go full “Metro” and all be Russians for the duration, this even extended to our food for the weekend, which consisted of around 25Kg of Russian MRE.
As we were using the prototype Vant shields made by Eldritch, we quickly found a floor to run some drills on before the event and started to familiarise ourselves with how best to use them. That done it was time for the pre-game brief and while the brief, of course, covered everything it needed to, it was without a doubt one of the longest briefs I have ever attended - which showed from the off that this was a team with largely no experience of running this type of event. I was relieved when it finally came to an end and the lights were turned off - and stayed off until the game finished midday Sunday! So, from Friday 7pm until Sunday 32
JUNE 2019
midday we were in almost pitch black, bar what lighting we had with us and the atmospheric lighting in the town itself.
FRIDAY
The overarching story for the event was that the haven (town) we were in within the world had recently stumbled across a potential goldmine, “goldmine” here meaning access to the ruins of Birmingham via a tunnel system. As such, all the big factions have begun to circle it and that’s why we as players were there. The in-game economy was batteries and barter. Although swiftly the batteries seemed to get side-lined entirely and barter trading took priority and barter was the key, as everything useful within the game was acquired via it and this included ammo. So if you were not good at barter you best be accurate with your shots as the ammo limits here were low; for an average firefight I had on me, at most, two full AK lo-caps. Although, with being one of our two Vant shield carriers, my job was to cover the shooter behind me and push forward rather than put down accurate fire. The combat was swift and fast, hit-taking was phenomenal overall and I could not think of a single instance of having any issues or witnessing anything suspect. Clearing the warren that is Bravo One with nothing but torchlight made for some tense moments as the event crew, many of them professional scare actors, really came at you from all angles - often striking and disappearing before you knew what was going on. If the costume standard for them had been higher it would have been a recipe for some fear reminiscent of Aliens, sadly the latter was not the case. At 10pm an in-game guns down curfew was called and I was hoping the organisers would take the opportunity to ramp up the fear level of living in three floors of dark tunnels and send in some stuff to start playing on our primal fear of the dark. Sadly, nothing happened and it ended up being a social evening, which, given the cold (which was -4 at times) was no bad thing. Thankfully we were wrapped in soviet era warmth and equipped with an inordinate amount of Russian ration packs, so the combined layers and 6,000 calories of Russian food kept us toasty throughout the night.
SATURDAY
9am the following morning and it was curfew lifted, eyepro on and guns to hand. Fairly soon after this we
POST APOC BLIND DOGS
had the first town assault, now with no sentries of any kind and a bit of an odd site layout to contend with, this was kicked off by said aggressors literally arriving in the middle of town and from there the shoot out commenced. The firefight was short-lived before word came up that they had retreated to the lower floors … another hunt in the dark of the tunnels it was then! This seemed to continue for the rest of the day with bad guys coming to the town and the inevitable firefight continuing down into the floors below. Which began to get stale, the firefights were always over fast and, from a story perspective, it became very difficult to know who it was you were shooting, due to the incredibly low light conditions. Even with players coming up with identification calls, the amount of friendly fire was significant. This, combined with the issue of hefty lulls with not much happening, lead to a real issue of having to chase your energy, as periods of nothing were suddenly punctuated with a lot of activity …and then back to periods of not much. This carried through to the evening where, once again, once guns-down happened the night was a social affair and again, inside the building, the evening temperature dropped to around -4 degrees. Unfortunately, many attendees seemed totally underprepared for the temperature dropping that low.
What was done well was the set dressing of parts of the site, specifically the town area, where the focal points really made you feel like you were in a Metro 2033 inspired world. The organisers had set-dressed significant areas to really evoke a certain aesthetic and mood and those areas were fantastic to explore. Overall as an event potentially ongoing it has promise but there are various elements of it that they would need to review and improve on to shift from being an “okay” first event, to a great second one. AA
SUNDAY
Sunday started very slowly with no action at all until around 11am. We were again tasked with a rolling firefight through the levels below the town - which went much as had all the other firefights. Unsure if we had achieved what we needed to, we went back up to the town level only to be informed the event was now over. There was the usual end of event chat by the organisers but with no summary of what had happened, it all ended with most seemingly totally unsure of what had been achieved and where that may lead for a second event. www.airsoft-action.online
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KIT & GEAR XCORTECH X3300W
CAN YOU
COUNT
ON YOUR CHRONO?
NEED AN AMMO COUNTER PLUS CHRONO WITH RATE OF FIRE, BATTERY MONITOR, BURST MODE AND A TRACER UNIT BUT ONLY WANT TO SPEND £100? STEVE TAKLE FINDS OUT IF THE XCORTECH X3300W MEASURES UP. YOU’RE ADVANCING ON THE ENEMY position. Both sides have exchanged heated fire and your progress on the objective has slowed to a crawl. You’re pinned down and the situation is a stalemate. The firefight has become so intense that you’ve reloaded once, twice to get back into the frey fast, picking off targets where you can. Then suddenly you see your chance - there’s a breach in their perimeter. But the window of opportunity is closing and you need to act now. Do you have enough ammo in the mag for a one-man mission? Do you go for it and save the day or will you run empty and be unable to return fire when it really counts? Will you lose the advantage if you spend vital seconds reloading? What do you do? Well, if you’re using Xcortech’s X3300W system, you just glance down at the LED display on the external rail-mounted controller, see how many rounds you have left and make the go/no-go call based on accurate information of the situation.
IS THIS THE REAL LIFE?
Is this just fantasy - or more appropriately, science fiction? Well, you won’t see an ammo counter on a
military issued M4, AK or SA80, that’s for sure. But you will find them in videogames like on Halo’s MA5B assault rifle, or in movies with weapons such as Aliens’ M41A Pulse Rifle. This is definitely more “Call of Duty Advanced Warfare” than “Ghosts”. While hobbyists have come up with similar solutions for real firearms, which are usually based on recoil, the military has yet to adopt a similar approach. As well as adding weight to your loadout - and something else to go wrong - it’s also just one more thing to think about in the heat of the moment. Operatives also have other ways to get this information that don’t apply to airsoft in the same way, such as magazine weight or even the way that feeding sounds. In the real world, magazines typically carry 30 rounds, so it’s easier to keep track of usage by counting five or six bursts of fire before changing mags but with airsoft magazines typically running from 120 to 450 BBs, how many bursts can you count?
COUNTING CRAZY
That’s where the X3300W comes in. You can set the ammo controller to count up shots fired, or count down to empty, as well as specify the number of rounds before
“IF YOU’RE USING XCORTECH’S X3300W SYSTEM, YOU JUST GLANCE DOWN AT THE LED DISPLAY ON THE EXTERNAL RAIL-MOUNTED CONTROLLER, SEE HOW MANY ROUNDS YOU HAVE LEFT AND MAKE THE GO/NO-GO CALL BASED ON ACCURATE INFORMATION OF THE SITUATION.” 30
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KIT & GEAR XCORTECH X3300W
the unit flashes a warning that you’re about to run out. It’s actually less distracting than it sounds and depending on where you mount the unit, it’s a welcome reminder in your peripheral vision. And if you want to tally up how many BBs you fire off in a day, it can do that too. The X3300W can measure a total shot count up to 65,000 - and that’s a VERY long game... So while airsoft obviously mimics real world military, the hobby has its own issues and solutions are not always shared. If you’re a MilSim purist, then the X3300W will be anathema but if you see airsoft as a sport, then it’s just another potential advantage on the playing field. I just think it’s cool watching the ammo count drop like I’m Halo’s Master Chief.
MOSFET ACCOMPLI
Whether you plug in the included inline Mosfet or not, the controller keeps a rock solid count of rounds spent. In fact, it was even more accurate than the standard burst mode on a 2018 revision Evo, which should fire bursts of three, but the X3300W reported just two shots fired more often than not. This was borne out very unscientifically by watching holes appear in a cardboard box, but matches our experience in the field. The controller can set the number of rounds in burst mode using the X3300MF inline, which worked great with a RIF that only had semi or full auto, so we could specify between two and 10 shots. It might sound like a small distinction but we found that a five-round burst was far more effective than the usual three on other RIFs. It’s a nice bonus to be able to define performance to that degree, but it does mean that full auto is no longer an option. You win some, you lose some… If your RIF lacks burst mode, then this could be an easy way to add it but the mosfet caused the Evo
- which already has this functionality - to stop firing entirely until we removed it from the circuit. You might need to experiment with your RIF to find out what works for you. There’s no manual included - not even a one-sheet to get you started - but at least there are instructions available via the Xcortech website and they’ve posted some YouTube videos that will help. Fire Support’s product page links out to the manual too. Once you get used to the interface using the data wheel, it’s actually pretty intuitive. The controller is paired with the suppressor/tracer wirelessly, so you’re free to use them even when not attached to the same gun. In fact, if your team also runs the same system, you can even run Boss Mode that limits reloads to the same magazine capacity for everyone!
CHRONO AND TRACE ELEMENTS
Not every player can justify the expense of purchasing a standalone chronograph when they can get tested free on game day. But chronos are handy things for anyone that likes to mod between skirmishes. The physical part of any chrono is a tube that the BB passes through when fired. Much like you’d find in a suppressor. More specifically, exactly like you’d find in the 14mm CCW suppressor with the X3300W. Simply by screwing this unit onto your barrel, your RIF can tell you the FPS/MPS it’s firing at throughout the day. It’s an ingenious solution. The suppressor/tracer unit communicates with the controller that easily mounts to a rail so you can monitor your weapon’s performance in real time, with no wires trailing from fore to aft on the gun itself. Or indeed, you could have the readout sat on the bench while dialling in on the range. It’s a flexible system but that counts for nothing if the measurements are inaccurate. And that could have www.airsoft-action.online
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KIT & GEAR XCORTECH X3300W
been a real possibility with such a novel system but since it’s manufactured by Xcortech - who have a solid reputation for producing reliable chronos - the results are every bit as accurate as you might expect. Measured against a standalone unit from Acetech, the X3300W measured within 4FPS on average, so we’d be happy to use this set-up to measure FPS ahead of game day with a reasonable margin for error.
more “flimsy” than we’d like our battle-ready hardware to be. Especially the plastic mechanism that secures the unit to a rail. It’s very convenient but given that users will most likely want to frequently transfer the brains across different RIFs, we have to wonder whether it will stand the test of time. We’d be willing to spend a few extra quid on a more robust premium version.
TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY?
As well as chronoing both FPS and MPS, the system can also display ROF and battery voltage to avoid low power damage to your batteries. There’s even an auto-dim setting not only to save power but also to avoid giving your position away in dark environments. Speaking of dark environments, that suppressor is more than just a chrono tube too - it’s also a highly effective tracer unit. Playing at night or in CQB corners without light and want to see where your shots land? Done! The mock suppressor “excites” phosphor-coated BBs so they give off an intense glow throughout their trajectory - and the end result looks like something out of Star Wars. Of course you can get standalone units for less than the asking price here but as another arrow in its quiver, the X3300W’s tracer is right up there with the best we’ve seen. BBs are suitably bright at night and look, quite frankly, spectacular.
THE SMARTER SOLDIER
If you use multiple AEGs, then this easily transferable unit could standardise your control interface with its ability to set burst patterns, ROF and ammo count to empty. Is that authentic? No. But it is smart. As a multitool, the X3300W represents excellent value for money. To buy separate solutions for all its capabilities would cost more than the £99 asking price from Fire Support - even if that was actually possible. Doing the maths, the cheapest XCortech chrono is the X3200, which goes for about £60 at the time of going to press. The most affordable tracer unit by the same manufacturer is the XT501 at another £60. Their XET304u Mosfet costs £15.00 - and doesn’t even include burst mode. So you’re looking at £135 - and you still wouldn’t be able to count ammo, monitor FPS in the field or have a cool-looking box on your rail. At less than £100 for three pieces of hardware, concessions have to be made and the main one appears to be in the quality of plastic used on the body of the control unit. It’s probably “fine” but it just feels a little
That is the question… We find it hard to believe that the X3300W was first released in 2014 and yet most airsofters just don’t seem to know that it exists. That seems odd given how useful this thing is for such a modest price. Of course it’s not for everyone, but with the number of features the Xcortech system offers, why aren’t more players using one? We’ll take you right back to the military viewpoint that it’s just one more thing to think about - or go wrong. And that’s borne out by our practical experience on game day. We love the space gun concept of tracking ammo, performance and setting strategy to suit but, ultimately, have to conclude that it might just cause more problems than it solves. The user needs to power on both the brains and the suppressor for the system to work. Which is fine but our RIF stopped firing even when both were up and running and the ammo count was good. That was particularly unfortunate when we were pressing forwards and had to make a sharp detour into cover as a result. A quick reset of both units fixed the issue but we could have done without the drama. We’d had no similar issues previously with the same RIF. But then again, we also benefited from knowing that we had enough ammo to move up on a flank later that same game and take out a troublesome outlier before reloading. Whether the pros outweigh the cons will depend entirely upon your demands. The X3300W offers great value for money, with a truly impressive suite of functions for the asking price. It’s normally easy to work out whether to recommend a purchase or not but in this case there are so many variables that it truly depends upon your situation. If you want a chrono, tracer and burst mode for £100? Buy one right now. If you just want to add ammo count down to your game data? We surprise ourselves, but we’d probably pass. AA
From: Fire-Support.co.uk Includes: • Command unit • 14mm CCW tracer unit • Burst ECU mosfet
Batteries (Not included): • 4x AAA • 2x AA Price: £99.00
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armoury L111A1 TRAINING GRENADE
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO
BOOM!
PHIL BUCKNALL MAKES NO SECRET OF THE FACT THAT HE IS A BIT OF AN AIRSOFT GEEK AND THAT APPLIES EQUALLY TO BOTH THE GUNS WE USE AND THE PYROTECHNICS WE CHUCK ABOUT. I’LL MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT - I love things that go BOOM! I love firework displays and, as I am a bit of a geek, it is the chemistry that interests me. However, in airsoft it is the added atmosphere, the ability to influence a firefight and change its outcome and yes, the booms and bangs that make me a fully-fledged, paid-up and proud member of the pyrotechnic fan club! Over the years there have been many, many different ways to replicate grenades in airsoft and, broadly speaking, they can be broken down into two distinct camps… Those that are single-use, which as the name suggests, are “use once and they are done” as they cannot be reloaded - mainly due to the fact that the grenade is destroyed in the detonation! The complexity of some of these and their replication of real features like pins and spoons really makes them stand out; nearly as much as the price at around £12 a go! Even some standard pea-filled ball grenades with a fuse top can come in at over £4, so although there are options, they aren’t necessarily cheap just because they are single-use. Then comes reusable grenades and there has been a literal explosion in the number of these types on the market. Two of the most common, in my experience, are the TRMR impact grenade and the Dynatech timed or impact grenade. These types utilise either a blank or a shotgun cartridge primer (commonly referred to as a .209, or just “primer”) to make the sound and flash of light as they detonate. The charges are single-use but
the bodies are made of durable materials that are very capable of withstanding the pressures generated and are good for thousands of throws, making them very cost effective (especially when compared to the singleuse options). A box of primers is roughly £9 for fifty, so although the initial investment is high, it won’t take many throws to get that back in savings by not using throwaway products. If you opt for one of the numerous gas-powered grenades then the cost comes down again, as it is highly likely you’ll already have both the fuel and the ammo, as they just use BBs when they go off, flinging them around in all directions. I’m going to leave it there for the types and their various pros and cons and move onto the subject in hand… The L111A1 training grenade.
AIRSOFT GRENADES
I met up with Tony from Airsoft Grenades along the A50 one sunny April Sunday to discuss his new business. Airsoft Grenades is Tony and Dave and, from talking to Tony, it seems it was his constant pestering of Dave (who is involved in the training division of TLSFX) to make some charges that were site-friendly for his L111A1 that led to the formation of the company. They’ve only been going for a short while but have a great product that is very easy to use and they are working on other things to add to the portfolio,
“THIS ISN’T A CLONE OR ANOTHER TYPE OF AIRSOFT GRENADE THAT’S LOOSELY BASED ON A REAL ONE, OH NO, NOT HERE! THIS IS A GENUINE UK ARMY ISSUED TRAINING GRENADE!” 34
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armoury L111A1 TRAINING GRENADE
including some of the older-style training grenades that the L111A1 replaced. The charges are small, so are sub-80db and fall somewhere between a Mk4 and Mk5 flashbang and, thanks to the partnership with TLSFX, you know they will be quality products. So far things are going great and they are selling out of both charges and grenades before the previous order has even arranged. They provide the grenades in two grades; A and B. As you can probably guess the A grade ones are in pristine condition and may have only been used a couple of times. In complete contrast, the B grade could be absolutely battered and as such they only guarantee that it will have a working safety pin. Given that it is only £15 more, most customers are opting for the A grade and I don’t blame them. This isn’t a clone or another type of airsoft grenade that’s loosely based on a real one, oh no, not here! This is a genuine UK Army issued training grenade! It is the same size and weight as the current issued live grenade and is used by squaddies to practice chucking them far enough so as not to hurt themselves. Before you fret about MPs knocking on your door, these are all legally sourced via MOD surplus suppliers and 100% legit. As it is designed to be used (abused?) by squaddies, it is damn near indestructible and consists of as few parts as are necessary to make a charge go bang. There are no valves or complex timing mechanisms; there’s no little weird sized ball bearings just aching to make a break for freedom the second you attempt to open it up (unlike some gas-powered ‘nades). The grenade itself is a small round ball of steel with the centre hollowed out all the way through. It is painted blue with a threaded section on the top of the base into which you screw the firing mechanism, with the bright orange spoon attached to this and retained by a pretty durable thick rubber strap to prevent loss. Under the spoon is a spring-loaded flat plate with the firing pin on it and finally, there is the pin. Nothing fancy but it stops it all going off in your pocket, requiring a good purposeful yank to remove it before GENTLY throwing in the enemy’s direction - under arm of course - it isn’t light and would give someone a very bad day if it hit their melon!
All of this is great but it exists solely to detonate a charge and, as you can see from the picture, they are two pieces glued together. The cardboard tube holds a .209 primer which is ignited by the firing pin, which then lights the fuse. Tony told me that it is about 4.5 seconds until the main charge goes off and my experiences with it certainly back that up. Once you’ve retrieved the grenade all you have to do is unscrew the top, tip out the used charge and go again. One thing I did (and I’m sure others would do as well) is prime the device before putting it together. So pull the firing pin plate back and whilst it is held under tension, place the spoon over it and secure it with the pin. I did this as a few times whilst I was doing it with no charges, I slipped and let the plate go - which would’ve hit the primer and set off the charge had it been together and you really don’t want that to happen while you’re holding it! I did notice that once it had been used 3-4 times there was quite a lot of carbon build up inside the body and on the firing mechanism but it didn’t stop it from working, however, it is probably advisable to clean it postgame or even at lunchtime if you’ve given it some welly in the morning.
IN GAME USE
Because the L111 doesn’t rely on hitting a hard surface to detonate, it is ideal for all game environments and the bright blue and orange make it pretty easy to locate, even in woodland games. That is the big drawback for all reusable grenades I think though; you’ve got to go and find it again and again and I’ve seen more than one or two players spend hours looking for their grenades after “game over” has been called. A definite disadvantage over the “fire and forget” singleuse ones but not insurmountable. I really see this being used in MilSim games but Tony said that the customer base is pretty much 50/50 between normal skirmishers and those that play MilSim only. We discussed what sort of player would use this and if they see it as a 100% replacement for the single-use grenades and we agreed that it is more likely to be used as well as other devices. In my own use, I found that in the woodland game I used the L111 when I was near a structure to just drop in through an opening. However, if I wanted to clear out some opposition players from a
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armoury L111A1 TRAINING GRENADE
Public”, something that could be especially useful for site owners or game organisers who want to add a more explosive element to their scenarios. I will be looking to see what the guys can bring to the market over the coming months and I can see the test sample I have becoming part of my everyday kit for games. I’m not sure if I can mention some of the developments so I’ll err on the side of caution but I for one will be hoping some of the things we discussed come to fruition …soon! AA
distance away in bushes, I reached for a pea-filled ball grenade, mainly because I was able to chuck it with some force over-arm to reach their position. With charges costing £2.95 they aren’t the cheapest option, especially when put next to a primer-firing grenade but they are still cheaper than most disposable options. For me, I like the fact it is as close to a real grenade as is possible to buy legally and the cost is not so much of an issue, as I wouldn’t be deploying it every time I want to use a grenade. For most uses I’d likely reach for a Mk5 or pea grenade and save this for room clearing, where rolling it in is easier - as is recovery postclearing. Airsoft Grenades also run P2 training courses through TLSFX, which enable people who complete said course to use larger pyrotechnic charges than members of “Joe
To order or find out more then check them out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AirsoftGrenades-909942835842832/ Photo credits to The Airsoft Project (in my opinion one of the best airsoft photographers in the UK today) https://www.facebook.com/theairsoftproject
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KIT & GEAR BATES BOOTS
WE OFTEN USE THE PHRASE “BOOTS ON THE GROUND” AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD FOOTWEAR IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON’T REALLY TALK ENOUGH ABOUT, EVEN THOUGH AS IT IS ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL BUILDING BLOCKS TO HAVING A GREAT DAY OF AIRSOFT! BILL TAKES A LOOK AT AN AMERICAN BRAND THAT’S BECOMING MORE AVAILABLE “OVER HERE”, IN THE SHAPE OF BATES BOOTS. IT’S SUNDAY MORNING, EARLY. Your gear is packed, your eyepro polished, batteries charged and your AEG is tucked away snugly in its case with pre-loaded magazines ready for you to head to the site. Outside the rain is teeming down but you’re a hardened player and this means nothing as you have your waterproofs ready to roll. Just one thing plays on your mind… will your boots be waterproof and up to the job? We often take a good pair of boots for granted don’t we? That is until the moment when it’s very hot, very wet, or there’s snow on the ground! Then all of a sudden we start to question our choices and it would be
use and airsoft without losing “The Look”. That said, military and tactical boots are made the way they are for a reason and although many manufacturers are distilling their designs to be more “athletic-looking”, these modes are built for an intended end-user and tested accordingly. Some manufacturers have been supplying military (and now “tactical”) users for some considerable time and I was very pleased recently to receive an email from the guys at Tactree (https://tactree.co.uk) advising me that they would soon be stocking boot models from American footwear giant Bates Boots.
“FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS THE “EVERYDAY”. THAT’S WHY, FOR OVER 130 YEARS, THEY’VE TRUSTED BATES TO GET THEM THROUGH - EVERY DAY.” true to say that many a day of airsoft can be lost due to overly hot, wet, or freezing cold feet. Whilst one single pair of boots won’t cut it year round, for many that’s all that they can afford, so even though hundreds of pounds have been spent on buying and upgrading an AEG and clothing, bizarrely, footwear goes somewhere near the bottom of the “must have” list! Luckily for all of us we’ve seen real-world “Tier 1” military units moving away for the overtly “army boot” and moving into more racy “civvy” performance models from the outdoor pursuits world and that’s absolutely brilliant, as you can buy a single pair of boots for general
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Although Bates have been around in the UK for some time, I’ve always been slightly saddened that they don’t turn up more often. Their range is extensive and their models extremely popular with US LE, Army, Air Force, and the USMC. When I lived in the USA you would find Bates Boots in any decent Army/Navy or tactical store and certain friends of mine, both prior service and still serving in the USMC, rate the Bates Durashock and Durashock Lite boots very highly indeed (these models are on the USMC “approved footwear list”)! But who are Bates Boots and where have they come from?
KIT & GEAR BATES BOOTS
BOOTS THAT WORK AS HARD AS YOU DO!
Andrew Jackson Bates was born in Webster, Massachusetts on June 23, 1839. When he was eighteen he went to New York City to seek fame and fortune. After gaining experience in the footwear business, he established the A. J. Bates and Company in 1866 to merchandise shoes. In 1886 the firm began the manufacture of shoes in Webster, at what was to become one of the largest shoe factories in New England. He reportedly opened the plant in Webster to control the quality of shoes that were distributed through his New York office. A believer in good value, he insisted that his shoes must wear better than higherpriced shoes because he did not sell to the “carriage trade” (retail business with wealthy or upper-class customers; those who arrive in carriages!). Bates was a pioneer in the wholesale shoe business and was closely identified with its development. While starting solely as a dress footwear manufacturer, Bates manufactured over one million pairs of shoes for the government during WWII! In the 1960s Bates took the opportunity to begin supplying dress shoes to the US Navy. This spectacular success has spurred decades long dedication to serving the uniformed services. Over the course of the next two decades, Bates expanded and specialised to provide high-performance footwear to the uniformed services of the USA and those abroad. It was in this time period that today’s first-rate footwear systems were born. Since then, a great many advances have been made in clothing technology. Bates boots, made with cutting-edge materials like Gore-Tex, offer revolutionary opportunities to create innovative designs that combine water resistance and breathability. New leather treatments and manufacturing processes create boots that can last longer and suck it up harder than ever before. This commitment to research, development and innovation has afforded Bates the opportunity to supply gear to military and civilian uniformed services in over 80 countries around the globe. As they say themselves: “At Bates, we’re committed to service and part of that service is keeping up with evolving trends. Our brand refresh is an evolution, not a revolution grounded in our tradition with a fresh, new face. The streamlined design and updated product line still reflect the commitment to quality and value we’re known for while reflecting the modern times in which our customers live. “For men and women in uniform, there’s no such thing as the “everyday”. That’s why, for over 130 years, they’ve trusted Bates to get them through - every day. With a commitment to innovative technology, quality design and durable comfort, Bates is the expert in crafting footwear that works as hard as you do.”
BEST FOOT FORWARD
The Bates Boots range of footwear is absolutely huge (as you might expect from a company that’s been involved with footwear design for over 130 years), so I wasn’t surprised to hear that Tactree will be carrying an introductory line for a while, with a view to expanding this over time. There are some key models in the line
and these have been carefully chosen to fulfil the needs of both professional and recreational users in the UK. First up there’s the MEN’S 8” TACTICAL SPORT SIDE ZIP BOOT which is one of Bates most popular styles. This classic 8” tactical boot features a side zip
for easy on and off and cushioned removable insert for extra comfort. Features include: • Durable Leather and Performance Nylon Upper • Moisture wicking mesh lining to keep your feet dry • Cushioned Removable Insert for Added underfoot Comfort • Lightweight cushioned EVA midsole to deliver flexibility and performance • YKK® side zipper for easy on and off • Slip Resistant Rubber Outsole for added traction • Cement construction providing you a lightweight and flexible platform The next model on the agenda is another side-zip variant but this time with much more “up-to-theminute” athletic styling. The MEN’S DELTA-8 SIDE ZIP BOOT offers a breakthrough in advanced comfort and technology, as Bates iCS allows you to select your level of comfort with an adjustable disc located inside the boot (if you’d like to check this out further there’s
a cracking video on the Bates website to explain the system fully!) Features here are: • Durable Leather and Non-Puncture Nylon Upper • Mesh Lining for Added Breathability • Insole Features Bates iCS Disc for Adjustable Comfort • Nylon Side Zipper for Easy On and Off • Slip Resistant Rubber Outsole for Traction With the MEN’S SHOCK 8” SIDE ZIP boots you get the newest in Bates anti-fatigue footwear. Featuring their four-part Endurance Performance System, Shock
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KIT & GEAR BATES BOOTS
delivers the comfort that you want with the durability that you need. The EPS system comprises of four elements to help with lasting comfort and these consist
of a dual density footbed with memory foam provides arch support and cushion, a dual density EVA midsole that mitigates shock and redistributes pressure, an insole with a nylon shank which adds support and stability and a durable rubber outsole which is slip resistant and long wearing with multi-terrain design for traction and stability. Full features are: • Waterproof full grain leather and performance nylon upper with protective panels • Breathable Waterproof Membrane with Moisture Wicking Lining to keep your feet dry • Mesh Tongue for Added Breathability • Nylon Side Zipper for Easy On and Off • Bates Anti-Fatigue Endurance Performance System providing you all day comfort and flexibility • Multi Terrain Slip Resistant Rubber Lug Outsole If you’re wanting a “year-round” pair of boots, then the MEN’S GX-8 SIDE ZIP BOOT WITH GORETEX could very well be what you’ve been looking for as it’s Bates’ number-one best seller! This is a durable waterproof side zip boot that is perfect for all seasons.
Featuring a strong, waterproof and breathable GORETEX lining, your feet will stay protected, comfortable and dry, which is exactly what we need in the UK if you play outdoors on a regular basis! This boot features: • Waterproof full grain leather and performance nylon upper with protective panels • Breathable Waterproof GORE-TEX membrane with moisture wicking lining to Keep Your Feet Cool and Dry • Cushioned Removable Insert for Added underfoot Comfort
• •
YKK® side zipper for easy on and off Lightweight cushioned EVA midsole to deliver flexibility and performance • Slip Resistant Rubber Outsole for added traction • Cement construction providing you a lightweight and flexible platform With a really cool look and a “mid-cut” cuff the MEN’S SHOCK FX is a cracking-looking little boot and comes in three colourways to complement different uniforms, or, in our case, loadouts! I think that this will be a real winner for the UK
market as it most definitely sits in the “tacticool athlete” category and having a waterproof and breathable membrane inside means it will perform in most weathers too. As well as benefitting from the Bates EPS system the SHOCK FX also features: • Waterproof full grain leather and performance nylon upper with protective panels • Breathable Waterproof Membrane with Moisture Wicking Lining to keep your feet dry • Mesh Tongue for Added Breathability • Bates Anti-Fatigue Endurance Performance System providing you all day comfort and flexibility • Multi Terrain Slip Resistant Rubber Lug Outsole • Cement construction providing you a lightweight and flexible platform Overall I believe that the initial models that Tactree have chosen to stock are very sensible choices as they will indeed attract both the professional and recreational end-user. What we have here is a brand with absolutely massive heritage and boot models that have been tried and tested in the most demanding of environments. Prices are yet to be disclosed but if they’re as keen as those in the USA, then there are going to be some happy users out there - and not just in terms of foot protection and comfort but also in terms of getting great value for money! There are a couple of pairs heading our way for more in-depth testing and evaluation and later in the year I’ll be bringing you my findings on numerous boot models I’ve been long-term-testing over the past few years in my annual “mountain test” and my trips overseas. I am certain that there will be at least one pair of Bates Boots in that list and I’m really looking forward to seeing which model or models it may be! AA For more information about Bates boots and all the other products Tactree supply, head over to their website: https://tactree.co.uk/about-bates
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feature THE COLLECTOR
“THE COLLECTOR” AN INTRODUCTION FRENCHIE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN AIRSOFT SINCE BEFORE THE DAWN OF TIME OR, AS WE KNOW IT, “TOKYO MARUI” AND THIS IS HIS INTRODUCTION TO A NEW SERIES LOOKING AT “COLLECTABLE” RIFS. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT REASONS for getting involved in airsoft. For some, like me, it was about the guns first and foremost – airsoft was a way to use things which otherwise (not living in Texas) I could never get my hands on. Some players are ex-service and hanker after it, other wish they were. It doesn’t matter why as long as we all rub along. Until 2007 you didn’t have to have any pretence to playing to buy airsoft guns, or other replicas but the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (VCRA) put paid to that. During the discussions with the Home Office when I was the then-chair of UKARA, we specifically asked if the exemption agreed for airsoft would apply to collectors. The answer was short and succinct – “No!” That isn’t quite how things turned out, the statutory instrument does make allowances for owners of military vehicles who might reasonably wish to display appropriate weapons at organised events and although that concession was abused to an extent in the years
Sten gun from scratch far more easily. Deacts have also become far more expensive. When I started airsofting, a deactivated Bren gun would cost you at most a couple of hundred pounds, a Sten gun a little over £100. These days expect little change from £500 for either of these guns and neither is exactly scarce.
COLLECTORS CERTIFICATE
It is possible to be granted an exemption under Section 5a (1) of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended) to allow the holding of otherwise prohibited firearms as part of a collection but since Section 5 covers all of the really interesting stuff, from pistols to tanks, you will need to convince the Secretary of State of your need for such an exemption. Suffice to say, you, me or my neighbour are unlikely ever to get such an exemption simply because we want to start a collection. That route exists only for museums and other specialists.
“UNTIL 2007 YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO HAVE ANY PRETENCE TO PLAYING TO BUY AIRSOFT GUNS, OR OTHER REPLICAS BUT THE VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION ACT 2006 (VCRA) PUT PAID TO THAT. ”
Deactivated pictures courtesy www.real-gun.com
following the VCRA, it has now been closed to all but legitimate applicants. It follows, therefore, that if you wish to collect firearms in the UK you have only a few options: deactivated weapons, a “Collectors” Firearms Certificate or replicas – of which the best and most available are airsoft guns. Deactivated firearms (deacts) are still widely available, however, their attractiveness has waned somewhat as repeated legislation from the UK government and the European parliament has progressively increased the regulations about what is and isn’t permitted. Publicly this is all about ensuring that deacts cannot be easily reactivated and, therefore, provide an easy source of illegal firearms and while laudable, it is highly doubtful in my opinion that the changes made recently will actually have any effect upon the criminal supply of weapons. Frankly, if you have the technical skill to reactivate a current deact, you could build a
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I suppose you could carve them out of wood, or if you own a metal working shop, whip up a Sten gun but the VCRA gets in the way again, making it an offence to manufacture a realistic imitation firearm. Some people just don’t want you to have a hobby…
Deactivated WALTHER PPK
feature THE COLLECTOR
“WHAT I HOPE TO DO IS TO LOOK AT NOTABLE FIREARMS AND TRY TO DETERMINE NOT ONLY WHAT IS AVAILABLE BUT, FROM THAT POOL OF AVAILABLE AIRSOFT CHOICES, WHICH IS THE BEST REPLICA OF A PARTICULAR GUN. ” You therefore reach the conclusion that if you want to collect replica firearms and you’re not a museum, your best option, in terms of cost and availability is airsoft and that means to be able to be sold to legally, the seller will need to provide a defence for the sale. The simplest route to this is to become a player, a member of a site, even if that means doing just enough to satisfy the restrictions placed by the law. That’s quite a lengthy introduction - and it is an introduction - to a series of articles on collectable airsoft guns. You will forgive my wish to get all of this out of the way now, rather than try to compress it into another article. My personal tastes run to older guns and many of those are not going to be easily available in airsoft, so I do own a few deacts to scratch those particular itches. Those interested in modern weapons are obviously far better served by airsoft manufacturers, that’s where the market is and frankly it’s easier and cheaper to do another M4 variant given it’s modularity, than it is to make a nice M1934 Beretta.
Deactivated .357 Magnum
What I hope to do is to look at notable firearms and try to determine not only what is available but, from that pool of available airsoft choices, which is the best replica of a particular gun. Functionality will not necessarily be the key consideration; finish, build quality and faithfulness to the original will matter more. In some cases, choices are going to be very limited; If you want a Sten gun there aren’t a whole lot to choose from and God help you if you want an airsoft Bren gun – you’re into custom-build territory there. There are areas where airsoft does offer a viable choice and pistols is one of those. Deactivated pistols have always struck me as overly expensive and since
successive governments have been keen to ensure that these otherwise concealable and deadly weapons cannot be easily reactivated, the process of deactivation can leave them looking less than desirable, so you wonder if it’s really worth the cost. I had a friend from my earliest days of airsofting, sadly dead now, who amassed an impressive pistol collection over the years, helped by the fact that he could swap components between guns to make one-off replicas of rarer guns. Few of his collection ever saw a skirmish field but they were all legally obtained. Given his penchant for Western Arms 1911 variants, they were not necessarily cheap either but each to their own. It should be evident that if your tastes run to what are regarded as antique firearms; muzzle-loading muskets, very early rifles and pistols, airsoft will serve you poorly, or not at all. For that reason, I will be limited in the sweep of time that can be reasonably addressed in these articles. Realistically we can look at small arms from WWII to the present day and even there the pickings can be slim - but we will do what we can. I’ll look at the original with a brief history of its inception, design and use. I’ll then go through available replicas and try and determine which most closely captures the feel, the look and the spirit of the original. The increasing involvement of firearms manufacturers, or licensees, in airsoft over recent years are going to make this far easier in some areas – current licenced Glocks for instance might just be a shoo-in simply because they are about as close as you can get to the real thing. In other areas, it’s not so clear-cut. Materials and finish can be critically important to a replica’s accuracy. Few airsoft guns use substantial amounts of steel and when you compare them side by side with the original that shows. I have been able to do this with a few older guns and the differences are marked but, when getting your hands on an original StG44 might cost you an arm and a leg, as opposed to a couple of hundred pounds for an airsoft version, choices become easier. I will start next issue with an iconic World War II submachine gun, the PPSh41 from the Soviet Union. There are, or were, a couple of reasonable airsoft versions of this gun and the differences and similarities are interesting and demonstrate the difference between real-steel manufacturing and what is acceptable in airsoft. See you next month! AA
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FEATURE OPTICAL ICONS
OPTICAL ICONS: M8 6X30 BINOCULARS
FOR MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER, HAVING A DEPENDABLE PAIR OF BINOCULARS TO HAND WAS – AND STILL IS – ESSENTIAL. SOME YEARS AGO I WAS GIVEN a pair of US Army M8 6 x 30 binoculars. They were World War II vintage, a bit bashed about but they worked fine and being made from aluminium they were light and fitted comfortably in my hands. Like all US military binoculars, they were finished in glossy black paint with the distinctive “crinkle finish” to the sides for grip in wet conditions. After they were issued, many soldiers used vehicle paint to colour them green as better camouflage, while others wrapped sand bag hessian around them or used a strip of cardboard, taped like a peak above the lens, to reduce the risk of light reflecting off the glass. The M8 binoculars were issued down to Platoon Commander level and the US Army training manual suggests that when using binoculars, the soldier should cup his hands around the eye pieces to cut out light from the sides. I tried it – it works! The more powerful M17 and M17A binoculars were issued to Artillery spotters and US Navy officers. The M17 was essentially an M15 with the addition of the M17 artillery adjustment reticule in the left eyepiece. Some 53,412 were built by Westinghouse during the war, using Bausch and Lomb or Optical Research Company glass elements. The M8 and M17A soldiered through World War II, Korea and Vietnam – essentially because they were robust and reliable. The M8 was eventually replaced by the Steiner M22 7 x 50 which are lighter, more compact and rubber armoured.
VETERAN OPTICS
On my veteran M8 binoculars the neck strap was a little worn and so I replaced it with one from Soldier of Fortune for £9.99. This excellent shop can also provide an original M17 leather case for £50, which has a “lift the dot” fastening on the flap, a strap for carrying and a loop at the back for a belt. Since the one that came with my binoculars was a bit tatty, I replaced it with one bought at The War and Peace Show at Beltring. Mine has the serial number “D44160” stamped on the outside and “Case Carrying M17” on the lid. 44
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The top of the right ocular of my binoculars is stamped “U.S. Army” above the serial number (16592) over the initials “R.L.B.” The right ocular is also stamped with the maker’s name, “Bausch & Lomb - Opt. Co. Rochester, NY.” The left ocular top is stamped “6 X 30” and “M8”. The eye cups are each marked “4 - 2 - +
0 - 2 – 4” and screw freely up and down to adjust the optics. The left ocular has the reticle lines found on all military binoculars for calculating height and range. The middle pivot screw area is stamped with measuring lines and 60 - 70. Bottom of the pivot screw joint is stamped “Des. Pat. 83,934” and “Ser. UX1481”. M8s are still around and can be found for sale on the Web and at military fairs and if you are looking for authenticity in a re-enactment scenario, or simple good robust and reliable optics, you could do a lot worse than sling an M8 around your neck. AA
KIT & GEAR SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
PIMP YOUR DAYPACK! WILL FOWLER IS NOT JUST AN EXPERT MILITARY HISTORIAN, HE ALSO KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF THE KIT YOU HAVE TO HAND – AND THAT “BIGGER” IS NOT ALWAYS “BETTER”!
I RECENTLY BOUGHT a Mountain Warehouse 12 litre Merlin day pack – and yes, small is beautiful! The pack, originally priced at £29.99, was on offer for £15.00, a handy price for what looked like a nice little workmanlike pack and the specifications from Mountain Warehouse said it all: “The Merlin 12L Rucksack is a compact and practical everyday bag, with a range of handy compartments for everything from laptops to keys. Perfect for commuters and cyclists en route to work.” Specifications: • Reflective Details - Be seen, be safe. Highly reflective detailing to make you more visible in the dark. • Padded Airmesh Back - Soft & breathable, the padded airmesh is raised and contoured to provide comfort while carrying a pack. • Laptop Pocket - A padded compartment to keep your laptop/tablet safe in transit. • Adjustable Straps - Allows extra adjustment for a better fit. • Capacity - Holds up to 12 litres. • Bottle Pocket - Elasticated mesh pocket for bottles. What the specs do not say is that the pack has four pockets. The smallest will take keys or a small wallet, the second gloves and a watch cap, while the largest has an inner pocket and will take waterproofs and a snack lunch. Finally, there is also a laptop/tablet pocket. There are D rings on the straps and small reflective patches on the back, front and sides and it has two loops on the outside that would take a telescopic walking stick or pole. The pack comes in three colours; black, charcoal and pink. Okay, pink may not be
very tactical but the black works fine and if you do not want to be seen, gaffer tape over the reflective patches does the trick. However, I am an unashamed tinkerer with kit and though I like my Merlin, I felt it could be better (to be honest, a number of these mods could be made to any day pack). The first was to have short elastic extensions sewn to the base of the straps. This ensured that the pack was a snugger fit and easy to put on. However, if I wanted to shrug it off when it was fully-laden, I had an adjustable quick release buckle fitted to the left strap. With the pack fully loaded, I checked the adjustment on the right strap and taped this down with black Tesa fabric tape. Next, I looped a strong cable tie through the left D ring and cut it off flush. To this I added a black Aluminum alloy screwgate key ring carabiner, 76mm long, 39mm wide with a diameter of 6mm and weighing 23grams. While not a climbing aid, it is chunky enough to take reasonable weights like a torch or gloves and using a cable tie ensures that the carabiner lies flat against the strap. The final mod was to have a patch of Velcro 50mm x 75mm sewn on the back of the pack. Black Velcro can be bought online or at a dressmaking counter in a larger store and olive green Velcro of various widths can be bought online from H.M. Supplies Camberley. This patch is big enough to take the Union Flag, TRF or simply a morale patch. In my case I had a square of Ultimate Survival Technologies self adhesive Glow-in-the-Dark strip attached to the hook side of the Velcro. To make it extra secure I added four staples. I can definitely be seen in the dark! I now have a pack that I use on an almost daily basis and has already become something of an old friend. AA
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armoury KWA TK45 ERG
GET YOURSELF A RONIN THAT KICKS! “FELT RECOIL” ADDS A LARGE DOSE OF “REALISM” TO ANY RIF AND PHIL BUCKNALL WAS HAPPY TO GET HIS HANDS ON ONE OF THE LATEST FROM RECOIL SPECIALIST, KWA.
I AM A MASSIVE FAN OF KWA’s Kinetic Feedback System, more commonly referred to as an ERG. I own several and have had even more pass through my hands. When KWA designed the ERG system they did a brilliant job, ending up with a platform that is more robust than the TM equivalent, harder kicking, easier to work on from a tech standpoint and cheaper for the most part. So when I get a chance to have a play with any new ERG I always jump at the opportunity and the TK45 was no different. There are two variants in the TK45 Ronin range; one is the AEG 3.0 (the ERG) and the TK45C is the shorter, tanker-stocked, non-recoil, AEG 2.5. Firstly, I must say a huge thank you to John from JTAC Customs for the loan of one of each of these hot off the presses AEGs. No small ask when you consider that the first batch sold out before they had even arrived in the UK so it is greatly appreciated, as are the spare
THE ERG VERSION
It arrived in an understated brown box, with a Japanese stylised logo on the front due to the Ronin nomenclature and it was secured within the box with some pre-cut foam pieces to protect the gun. The plastic magazine was in a cardboard box and held securely in the foam also. There was a small bag with some instructions and a KWA sticker to adorn your gun case if you so feel inclined to do so. I was pleasantly surprised to see that KWA also include MLOK adaptors in the box too, so you can bolt on any non-MLOK torches etc. you might have straightaway without having to spend more money. Well done KWA - that’s one big “brownie point” for you.
FLIMSY IT AIN’T!
Getting the gun out, it was immediately apparent that it isn’t a light or flimsy toy. It has some weight to it and
“GETTING THE GUN OUT, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT IT ISN’T A LIGHT OR FLIMSY TOY. IT HAS SOME WEIGHT TO IT AND THE OFFICIAL FIGURES PUT IT AROUND THE 7LB MARK BUT IT IS REMARKABLY WELL BALANCED - AND I DO MEAN VERY WELL BALANCED! ” 120 round magazines that John dispatched with the guns so I could run them for a whole day. If you want to learn more about the TK45C option, then pop back next month as I will be reviewing it in that issue. With the intro done, let’s take a look at the ERG version in more detail.
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the official figures put it around the 7lb mark but it is remarkably well balanced - and I do mean very well balanced! Most of the weight being in the centre, it is countered by the longer barrel than the C, as well as the custom-designed, lightweight MLOK rail to the front and the recoil system in the buffer tube. This makes it extremely maneuverable, enabling rapid transitions from one target to the next.
armoury KWA TK45 ERG
The other immediate thing you notice is the gun’s “look”… To my mind, its like a combination of an M4 and a Kriss Vector. I can see it being quite a polarising look and definitely not to everyone’s taste. It doesn’t have its origins in a real gun but rather, draws influences from others mixed in with a little creative license. Saying that though, everyone that saw it whilst I was playing, or in the safe zone, commented in a positive way about it and the vast majority seemed to like it. Maybe this is because of late we have seen an awful lot more pistol calibre carbines (PCC) being released, both in the real world as well as airsoft. However, these are not to be confused with submachine guns, as the TK45 uses fullsized billeted AR pattern upper and lower receivers but with the lower having a much smaller magazine well to take the long thin stick magazines. The mag well is also the area that looks like it borrows heavily from the vector design, with a rather chunky plastic surround which has a piece that extends back to join the bottom of the integrated pistol grip/baseplate. This gives an entirely contained pistol grip and although I quite like it, it does look a little funny at first glance due to the integral curved trigger guard that’s part of the lower receiver. Anyway, it is just a small thing that niggled me initially but, after running it for a while, I didn’t give it a second’s thought.
roses as this change comes at the cost of last round cut off; one of the features that draws people to the recoil guns in the first place. Shame, but you can still have some fun with the bolt release as it does function in holding the mock bolt cover back to facilitate easier hop access and adjustment. If you are interested, KWA are offering a limited edition with red anodising on some components, as well as a preinstalled GATE Titan. Whilst we are looking at the gearbox; it contains upgraded high speed gears matched to an improved high torque motor in the grip and a switch life extender, which is designed to address the issue of burnt out trigger contacts earlier ERGs suffered from, especially when used with 11.1v batteries. Only time will tell if this is really the case but as I only ever use 7.4v batteries I don’t think it will be an issue. My PTS C4 has the same switch life extender and it has been going like a champ for just under a year now and that’s been on semi-auto more often than not. The upgraded internals give a very satisfying rate of fire of 19 rounds per second and once the spring was “adjusted” to get it down from KWA’s usual level of approx 380fps, it clocked in at 330fps using 0.2g Blaster BBs so there shouldn’t be a site in the UK where you couldn’t use it, even in CQB/Urban games. With all that covered and the pictures showing what’s what, how does it shoot?
A CLOSER LOOK
IN GAME
Let’s look a little closer at the gun before we cover how it shoots. As I already stated, there are billet upper and lower receivers at the heart of the gun. Attached to this is the aforementioned custom MLOK rail covering the barrel, which has an internal length of 337mm - so about the same as an M4. The inner is connected to a rotary-style hop unit, giving very precise control over the amount of hop applied. The barrel is capped with a small suppressor that extends back into the rail, stopping before the gas block and gas system, all present and correct and whilst these serve zero functionality, it pains me to see any M4 that doesn’t replicate a gas system! On the receiver itself are completely ambidextrous controls for all the functions and there is a really nicely done Raptor-style ambi charging handle at the rear and a double-sided metal sling plate. All of these controls work flawlessly and the fire selector is one of my favourites. Easy to manipulate with minimal force but not so easy that it moves out of position in game. Once again, the collaboration between PTS and KWA is evident with the finishing kit being the ever-popular EP range of polymer back up sights, pistol grip and another of my favourites, the EP stock. Due to the recoil mech taking up the entire buffer tube, the wires for the battery are routed under the tube protected by a little screwed on metal plate (keep an eye on those little suckers as they have a habit of popping out due to the recoil!). They terminate in a mini-Tamiya connector and battery storage in the EPS is cavernous, easily swallowing a 7.4v 25C 2600Mah Lipo with room to spare. Internally, there is a slightly modified gearbox shell. It is different from other ERGs as it is capable of taking the GATE Titan mosfet. Yes, that’s right… this ERG will take a Titan with no modifications! Sadly tough, it isn’t all
The answer to my question is, unsurprisingly, very much like my other ERGs! With the robust rate of fire, controlled bursts are definitely the order of the day or you’ll be changing those 120rnd mags quite frequently. The mags are more than able to keep up with the reasonably high RoF, with none of them missing a beat during the day. Going back to the balance for a second; it really does help over the course of a day’s play and it is as comfortable at the end of a game as it was at the start, partly due to the balance but also the ergonomics which are spot on. I only added an Eotech to take care of aiming duties and this didn’t affect the overall weight distribution but if you have the affliction of bolting on lots of accessories like I do, then expect it to become less flickable as it isn’t a short front end.
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armoury KWA TK45 ERG
“INTERNALLY, THERE IS A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED GEARBOX SHELL. IT IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ERGS AS IT IS CAPABLE OF TAKING THE GATE TITAN MOSFET. YES, THAT’S RIGHT… THIS ERG WILL TAKE A TITAN WITH NO MODIFICATIONS!” Accuracy-wise, I must be honest and report that KWA hop rubbers are quite possibly the worst ones out of the box and although I keep repeating this to them, it seems nothing is changed! I think it is down to the lower fps limits we have here as it doesn’t seem to affect guns in countries where they are routinely used above 380fps. In the UK though, the first few mags yielded very disappointing results. The range was awful and no amount of hop could lift the 0.28g BBs I favour any further than 10-15m. It did take a fair few mags but once it was bedded in, the range shot up to in excess of 60m quite easily and accurately, so don’t give up hope. Either that, or swap it straight out for a Prommy purple or similar. In fact if the FPS is site legal, changing the hop rubber is the ONLY upgrade I recommend to anyone who buys an ERG as, for a very small investment, you get a huge increase in performance. Mag changes get a little adjustment as, having used M4s for so long, the added length of the TK45 mags took a little getting used. I don’t have any specific sub gun pouches so I just put two in each of my plate carrier’s M4 pouches and this worked but did place them a little high making aiming difficult on occasion.
SUMMARY
Overall, I am very impressed with the TK45 ERG version. It is a very capable AEG and the recoil is good, giving your shoulder a thump with each BB fired - it even feels a little stronger than my other ERGs. It’s looks won’t be for everyone but in today’s PCC-flooded world there will be plenty of folk for whom this is a must have purchase. It’ll be equally at home in both woodland and urban games and has plenty of MLOK real estate to bolt things onto. It looks like KWA have come up with another interesting design and the more options for ERG based guns the better. I will convert everyone to them one day! On that revelation…until next time! AA The TK45 can be had from JTAC Custom - www. jtaccustom.co.uk - for £415 for the TK45C and £440 for the TK45 ERG. Action shots in game are reproduced with the kind permission of The Airsoft Project - https://www. facebook.com/theairsoftproject
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armoury KWA PKM A&K TK45 ERG
BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS! AS REGULAR READERS WILL KNOW, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM (NO NAMES, BUT THEY TEND TO WEAR CHECK SHIRTS AND ADIDAS A LOT…) THAT ARE KEEN OPFOR PLAYERS AND, AS SUCH, LOOK FOR THE RIGHT “TOOLS OF THE TRADE” TO WREAK THEIR MAYHEM AT GAMES. AS ONE SUCH, BILL BRINGS OUT THE BIG GUNS THIS MONTH, WITH A LOOK AT THE BEAST THAT IS THE CLASSIC PKM FROM A&K AIRSOFT! IT MUST BE SAID THAT OPFOR is sometimes a tricky beast to pull off, especially when it comes to support guns! Although there are numerous well-priced RPK models easily available and of course, the stunning but oh, SO expensive LCT RPD, when it comes to good “soviet GPMGs” the choice is a little more limited! I often see the question raised in online groups as why anyone actually wants an airsoft GPMG, as they are usually big and very heavy compared to an LMG and offer no real additional benefit over their lighter-weight brethren when it comes to range and even magazine capacity. An RPK fitted with the “correct” long 800BB HiCap and with a 2500/3000BB drum mag tucked away for perimeter defence, offers the same range and firepower on the field as a GPMG - and is actually far more handy! That said though, there’s just something about “rolling out the big guns” at the right game that sets my excitement level to maximum, especially when the GPMG is set up to protect an overnight position or a compound! They just look and feel right and if you’re going for full BattleSim or MilSim “immersion”, then there’s nothing better than being behind the big boy when BLUEFOR come a-calling - and nothing more satisfying for BLUEFOR then taking out or capturing the support gun that’s been giving them grief! Of course the “little magpie” also raises its head when it comes to RIFs like GPMGs and any selfrespecting collector of OPFOR “weapons” will want at least one model in their collection. If, like me, you collect and hoard your AK/RPK/SVD (etc. etc.) collection jealously, then there’s just something missing if that big old chunk of BB-spewing metal isn’t displayed with the
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rest! A&K PKM variants aren’t new to the market and, from memory, Gadge looked at one many, many issues ago. The reason why I have chosen to revisit this model in its more current day guise, is due to the fact that NUPROL are now distributing the A&K brand in the UK and therefore models from the manufacturer should become easier to get hold of from your preferred retailer than ever before!
ANOTHER CHILD OF MIKHAIL!
When it comes to “soviet weaponry” then dear old Mikhail K seems to have had his hand in just about every pie imaginable… who stole all the gun pies? Mikhail did! And so it is with the 7.62×54mmR general purpose machine gun “Pulemyot Kalashnikova”, or “Kalashnikov’s Machine Gun”, most commonly known to all of us as the “PK”. Although a new machine gun prototype, developed by Nikitin and Sokolov, successfully passed field tests in 1958 and was put into production at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant in 1960, a team of Izhevsk Mechanical Plant designers, headed by none other than Comrade Kalashnikov, joined the competition and their machine gun prototype was based on the well-proven gas-operated rotary-bolt design of the Kalashnikov pattern. Online research tells me that the Kalashnikov and the Nikitin/Sokolov prototypes underwent service tests in the Central Asian, Odessa, and Baltic Military Districts, as well as at the Vystrel officer training courses in late 1960. The Main Missiles and Artillery Directorate and the Ministry of the Defence Industry preferred the Kalashnikov PK design and found
armoury KWA TK45 A&K PKM ERG
it to be more reliable and cheaper to manufacture than the Nikitin/Sokolov offering. The original PK machine gun was introduced in 1961 to replace the SGM and RP-46 machine guns in Soviet service. The PKM (“Kalashnikov’s Machine-Gun Modernised”) was adopted into service in 1969. The PKM was a modernized, improved version of the PK and the upgrades were primarily aimed at reducing the weight, simplifying production and facilitating easier operation. The receiver cover became more rigid due to lengthwise ribs; the butt was fitted with a hinged buttrest; the barrel fluting was omitted and the flash hider was changed. The skeletonised buttstock, pistol grip and folding carry handle on the barrels were originally manufactured from birch plywood laminates. Small accessories and an oil-solvent container could be stored inside butt recesses and at a later stage the buttstock was fitted with a
exported extensively and produced in several other countries under license.
BRING THE HEAVY RAIN!
So, once again an “OPFOR” AEG covers an awful lot of bases in terms of service longevity and the PKM can easily fit into numerous timelines, from “Cold War” to the current day, especially if you choose the woodfurniture version! It’s genuinely one of the things I personally love about the “OPFOR Armoury”, as one AEG or GBB can easily cover you for multiple scenarios. Whilst I couldn’t honestly say the A&K PKM fits the mould for a generally skirmish-able AEG (it weighs 7,200g and is a whopping 1,180mm long!), it’s a cracking piece of kit. If you collect “soviet-era” RIFs then it’s most definitely one that you’re going to want to consider owning.
“THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN BEING BEHIND THE BIG BOY WHEN BLUEFOR COME A-CALLING - AND NOTHING MORE SATISFYING FOR BLUEFOR THEN TAKING OUT OR CAPTURING THE SUPPORT GUN THAT’S BEEN GIVING THEM GRIEF!” hinged butt-rest. More recent PKM machine guns and barrel assemblies were equipped with a new black glassfilled polyamide buttstock, pistol grip and barrel carry handle/grip. The PK “family” remains in use as a front-line infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon with Russia’s armed forces to this day and the PKM has been
The PKM is put together almost entirely using metal (steel and alloy) throughout, with the skletonised stock, pistol grip and carry handle being made of black highgrade polymer. The bipod swivels left and right and the legs can be lifted and clipped together to hold them in place during carriage. The PKM features adjustable front and rear iron sights, which will be familiar if you’re
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armoury KWA TK45 A&K PKM ERG
already an “AK user”. Overall, the finish is very nice indeed and the AEG feels solid and well put together; you definitely know that you’ve got your hands on something that’s externally going to be durable and give you good service… but did I mention it’s heavy? The internals of the gun are also thoroughly workmanlike with a bore-up cylinder and cylinder head, 8mm steel bushings, hi-torque motor, ball bearing spring guide and low resistance wiring throughout. There’s also an adjustable MOSFET which allows you to change the ROF. The well-finished, self-winding, green metal box on this gun holds an almighty 5,000 BBs, allowing you to bring down the “heavy rain” on BLUEFOR to your heart’s content - and the box can be
no slouch in this respect and at 30m prone I was easily able to put all my BBs on target. “Walking” the PKM from target to target with controlled bursts gave me a good idea of what it’s capable of - and that’s a LOT when it comes down to suppressing your opponent’s fire and movement capability. As I said earlier, the PKM is not a new model and A&K have been with us for years but sometimes it’s genuinely worth looking at a model more than once, especially as they’re now going to be easier to find, and also because the prices appear to be stabilising. I’m seeing the PKM models in the UK around the £450£470 mark at the moment and for a big support gun that oozes “OPFOR Cred”, that’s a great price!
“WHILST I COULDN’T HONESTLY SAY THE A&K PKM FITS THE MOULD FOR A GENERALLY SKIRMISH-ABLE AEG (IT WEIGHS 7,200G AND IS A WHOPPING 1,180MM LONG!), IT’S A CRACKING PIECE OF KIT. IF YOU COLLECT “SOVIETERA” RIFS THEN IT’S MOST DEFINITELY ONE THAT YOU’RE GOING TO WANT TO CONSIDER OWNING.” filled by splitting it as per a drum, or via a neat fill port on the right hand side should you need to reload “on the fly”. The box also holds the battery and connection for the self-winding mech (I left this unconnected in the pictures as there were no BBs in it at the time) and there’s lots of space for a big battery inside. That adjustable rate of fire really fits the PKM well, as you can either set it up with a nice “AK chug”, or have it screaming BBs downrange! The test sample chrono’d very nicely at 1.04 Joule/336fps on .20g RZRs and I was very pleased to find that the box mag fed very evenly. I had an A&K M60 some time back that was a pig when it came to feeding (pun intended!) but
Having now had one in my hands and on the range I think I’ll be saving my pocket money to stick into the “fighting fund” and finally adding a PKM to the collection! AA
thankfully, the PKM doesn’t appear to share the same issues… it must be good old-fashioned “Russian Reliability” even in airsoft form! In terms of accuracy I was also happy. This is supposed to be a “full-auto support-beast” and be able to spit out BBs consistently and give an area-dominating effect, rather than being nail-on-the head accurate but I will tell you that it’s www.airsoft-action.online
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REEL STEEL ARMOURERS
REEL STEEL: MOVIE ARMOURERS “REEL STEEL” HAS (QUITE LITERALLY) BEEN A BLAST TO WRITE BUT THIS MONTH, BEFORE HE HANDS OFF TO STEVE T FOR A NEW COLUMN ENTITLED “AS SEEN ON SCREEN”, BILL WINDS UP HIS MISTY-EYED LOOK BACK ON THE ACTION MOVIES OF HIS YOUTH WITH A LOOK AT THE ARMOURERS THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEY BRING TO EACH AND EVERY PRODUCTION THEY’RE INVOLVED WITH! ONE THING THAT WRITING “REEL STEEL” over the past few months has shown me is just how important the “armourer” is to each and every action movie and TV series. It’s also shed a spotlight on actually how many “movie firearms” crossed over from film to film; the selfsame Beretta in “Die Hard and Lethal Weapon” and the exact-same M16/203 combo in “Scarface and Predator” are just two examples that I’ve come across - but there are undoubtedly more! If you look at the credits of some of the most famous “movie armourers” of the time, you can see why quite a lot of “crossovers” happened as they were all involved in one “blockbuster” after the next… • Robert “Rock” Galotti: Founder of Motion Picture Weapons; film credits include The Matrix, Starship Troopers, The Expendables, Jarhead, Black Mass, The Hateful Eight, Gangster Squad, Face/Off, The Last Samurai, Windtalkers and Platoon, as well as numerous TV shows such as Bosch, “Lethal Weapon”. • Harry Lu: Former Stembridge armourer (now freelance) and veteran of many action movies and crime thrillers; film credits include Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Batman, True Lies, Heat, The Patriot, Pearl Harbour, War of the Worlds, Training Day, Batman, Mission Impossible, Inception, Pirate of the Caribbean movies and The Lone Ranger.
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• Michael Papac: Founder of Cinema Weaponry; film credits include the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard series, Three Kings, We Were Soldiers, Red, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and xXx.
What has also been illuminating for me is the sheer number of early airsoft replicas that were based on the firearms shown on screen. When you look back on it, I can draw a real correlation between what appeared in movies of the 80’s era and what was produced by early airsoft manufacturers in Japan and the Far East. This of course is even truer today - and I’ll come back to that later! All too often we see a great movie or TV show spoilt by simple “firearm and accessory” mistakes, don’t we? That EoTech or Aimpoint on backwards, that magazine put in the wrong way... as folk that deal with “guns”, albeit replicas, every day it can be a real let-down for us when we see it done badly, whereas when it’s done right we all give a big “whoop” and an approving nod. Go on, admit it, I’m sure, like me that you’ve sat at home watching something on TV and muttered under your breath “good drills”... This is largely down to the “armourer” involved with the production. The “armourer” - sometimes credited
REEL STEEL ARMOURERS
as the weapons master, weapons specialist, weapons handler, weapons wrangler, or weapons coordinator - is the crew specialist that works with the Property Master, Director, actors, Stunt Coordinator and script supervisor. The armourer is specifically responsible for maintaining control of any weapon props (including firearms, knives, swords, bows, and staff weapons for you GoT fans!). The armourer is present whenever a scene with a weapon is to be shot. They present the actor with the weapon just prior to the scene and they take control of the weapon when the scene is done. It is the primary function of the armourer to ensure that the weapons under their control do not cause harm to the cast, crew or production property. Secondary functions include ensuring that the weapons can achieve the Director’s goals in terms of appearance and function, and that they meet the continuity requirements for the production. While some armourers work exclusively in film production, others are specialists outside of the media profession who are called in because of their familiarity, licensing and qualifications with the weapons in question. More and more we are seeing former “elite” operators
turning their hand to training screen stars in correct manipulation and use of their on-screen firearms, sometimes to an extremely high standard - we’ve all seen from the online videos of Keanu “Wick” Reeves training with Taran Butler and Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan! To get an idea of what makes a top “movie trainer” I’ll look at Taran Butler himself. Taran is the first ever USPSA Multigun National Tactical Champion. He is considered one of the most versatile shooters in the world. He is also the first and only USPSA Multigun Triple Crown National Champion by winning the Limited, Tactical, and Open Divisions. He has won the SSM 3-G Championship for eleven years in row; the longest winning streak in 3-gun competition history. Taran is the only person to ever win the Arizona Triple Crown, by winning the Western States Single Stack Championship, SSM 3-G Championship and Area 2 in Limited and Open divisions in the same year. He has won all three of these matches, three years in a row. Taran won the Ft Benning Open Championship against the best Open Division shooters in the world. Due his hard-won resume, Taran has trained movie Producers, Directors and actors including James Cameron, Michael Mann, Keanu Reeves, Johnny Depp, Shemar Moore, Michael B Jordan, Jennifer Garner, Collin Farrell, Chris Hemsworth, and Josh Duhamel. Taran has worked on location or hosted movie training at his 20-acre range for many films, including Public Enemies, Miami Vice, Transformers, The Kingdom, Avatar, and Savages. He is also a recurring guest expert on History Channel’s “Top Shot”. Some armourers though, particularly in lower-budget productions, are also responsible for training the actors. Prior to the 1980s, weapons were frequently the responsibility of the Property Master or their assistant but since then it has become increasingly common in the industry for the Property Master to a hire a dedicated armourer in order to reduce the www.airsoft-action.online
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REEL STEEL ARMOURERS COMMANDO
burden on himself. However, it is still common for the Property Master to double as the Weapons Master, as a cost-saving measure on productions where “military or “Section 5”” firearms are not being used.
All images obtained from public domain sources.
WHAT MAKES IT SING!
The armourer will usually have in his remit… Hard Rubber Guns/Hard Stunt Guns Prop guns, cast from real firearms in a hard and durable, high-density urethane rubber. These prop stunt guns are characterised by their durability, inflexiblity, and detailing. As a rubber casting, there are no moving parts but appear real from a distance. These hard rubber guns are used in scenes that don’t require a firing or functioning prop and that are not shot in close-up. Soft Rubber Guns/Soft Stunt Guns Prop guns, cast from real firearms in a significantly softer rubber. These prop stunt guns are characterised by their flexibility and softer detailing. As a rubber casting, again, there are no moving parts but can act as a substitute for a real firearm under specific filming conditions. Typically, these soft rubber guns are used in scenes that involve possible injury to the subject while filming. These are most often used in true “stunt” scenes. Function Guns Prop guns, constructed of metal, with moving parts. These typically feature a working slide, trigger, and hammer and allow insertion of magazines. These prop guns have no chamber and cannot be modified to fire “live” ammunition. These function guns are used in scenes in which a gun is manipulated by an actor during filming but not fired. These are also used by actors not legally capable of using a true firearm (let’s sadly remember that certain actors have been prosecuted for drugs, drink and other crimes and are therefore barred from even holding a firearm!). Blank Fire “Non” Guns Prop guns, constructed of metal, with moving parts, capable of firing blank cartridges. These typically feature a working slide, trigger, and hammer. These are designed to use proprietary, uniquely-sized blank
cartridges (real “live” ammunition cannot be chambered or fired). These are characterized by a solid barrel so that no flash or blast or projectile can be fired through the muzzle. Gas pressures are vented through a slot in the slide. The prop gun will fire, the slide will cycle and the expended cartridge ejects, similar to a real live firearm. Blank Fire Live Guns Real, live fire firearms subsequently converted to fire blank ammunition. As real firearms, they are imprinted with unique serial numbers at the time of manufacture. The firearm is modified in a variety of ways (dependent on the make and model of the weapon) to fire blank ammunition, which is sized to match the real ammunition. Airsoft Guns And of course, you can now add “Airsoft Guns” to the movie armourer’s arsenal and once again I’m sure you have done the same as me, laughing when you see a motor grip or a specific airsoft model that doesn’t actually exist in the real world appearing on screen! I’ve spoken to a couple of folk that we know that work in the movie and TV industries (we know two “armourer/ trainers” that use airsoft replicas very well and work with them from time to time) and the sheer range of accurately reproduced airsoft replicas gives them a lot of scope to “get it right” for the productions they work with! With the ability of the post-production experts to add muzzle flashes and flying expended cases, the airsoft replica is certainly amongst the list of viable options for the armourer and with the correct training the actors involved can develop all the “ Gucci skills and drills” appropriate to the individual platform/s chosen. You might say that airsoft has come of age in many ways but when it comes to the “Silver Screen” it most definitely has! “Reel Steel” has been a hoot to write for me and given me a much deeper insight into how and why certain firearm models have appeared. As I conclude the series before handing off to Steve, I’ll just say that I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed researching and writing it! AA
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armoury TOKYO MARUI M45A1 GBB
THE 1911 IS DEAD!
LONG LIVE THE 1911!! IT SEEMS THAT YOU JUST CAN’T KEEP A GOOD THING DOWN. PHIL BUCKNALL TAKES A LOOK AT AN OLDIE FROM TM THAT IS STILL IN SERVICE IN THE REAL WORLD TODAY …JUST!
FIRST OFF, A LITTLE HISTORY as I’m sure everyone has three-point Novak sights and an enhanced recoil mech seen enough 1911s in both real life and airsoft form using two springs to reduce felt recoil by 30%. Each to last a lifetime, so why bother with yet another one was finished with a tan cerakote paint finish and an one? Well, for me, I’ve never been a huge fan of the accessory rail on the dust cover to enable weapon lights 1911. There I’ve said it - and I feel better for it! I am a or aiming lasers to be fitted. Now it looks like the M45’s huge fan of modern semi-auto pistols but there have days may be numbered, drawing to a close the Marines been maybe two 1911s that have tickled my fancy use of the 1911 …or perhaps not though, because as over the years and they have always been the shorter of March 2019 it is still in use with Force recon and a “Commander” versions, never the full sized one …until few other MEU(SOC) forces. Who can ever tell with now. So, what grabbed my attention? It was the (not so military procurement what’s really going to happen until new) Marui M45A1 USMC pistol. it actually does! As I said, this isn’t a fresh off the presses new release by Marui, no, it has been around for quite a while now but I have to confess to having never seen one in a game, which struck me as kind of odd. Marui pistols are usually very popular and with a healthy number of players doing USMC MARSOC impressions, I was genuinely surprised that no one had one, even though the adoption of the M45 was quite widely publicised a few years ago when it was announced. However, it would appear it wasn’t accepted across the whole of the marines and the venerable Beretta M9 was still an issue sidearm. Plus, as of today the Glock 19 is being acquired as a more widespread replacement, Marines fire M45A1 pistols during purely from a logistical standpoint rather marksmanship training and qualification at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Feb.16, 2017. than because it was a bad firearm. Quite the Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jorge A. contrary, it had a five inch match barrel, Tritium Rosales
“IT LOOKS LIKE THE M45’S DAYS MAY BE NUMBERED, DRAWING TO A CLOSE THE MARINES USE OF THE 1911 …OR PERHAPS NOT THOUGH, BECAUSE AS OF MARCH 2019 IT IS STILL IN USE WITH FORCE RECON AND A FEW OTHER MEU(SOC) FORCES.” 62
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armoury TOKYO MARUI M45A1 GBB
THE TM VERSION
With that out of the way, let’s look at the Marui offering… As always, the packaging from Marui is first class and the gun is securely held in the box with the usual little box of accoutrements such as a bag of BBs, barrel plug, instruction manual and a few targets. The pistol has replicated the real M45 very well, although it represents an older issue version as it has “USMC” on the slide, which is no longer the case. The paint finish is a really nice tan and although it isn’t cerakote, it seems pretty durable and isn’t showing any signs of wear thus far. The grips are 3D printed (I believe), are a faithful rendition of the real ones and are very comfy. The mag release is where you’d expect on a 1911 and there is an ambidextrous safety that has a very positive feel to it. As is usual, the slide release is on the left hand side and the pistol takes down like most standard 1911s, so no surprises there. Overall the build is very nice with no slop and very positive controls. Weight wise, it is 830g with a magazine fitted and 640g without, so a little light in comparison with a real one. Hardly surprising given the all steel construction of a M45. This represented the first 1911 that Marui made with an integrated rail. Previous models, like the Desert Warrior, had them secured with screws, which was nice if you wanted to remove it for a sleeker look but it left you with holes in the cut cover that you either had to fill to maintain a clean aesthetic, or leave open and allow dirt etc. to ingress into the workings of the gun. As it is an older gun it doesn’t feature some of Marui’s latest innovations like the larger 15mm blow back engine. However, the slide on a 1911 is very thin anyway so it would’ve compromised the integrity of the slide if the material it is constructed out of was too thin to contain the larger unit. Add to that, the biggest issue for any 1911 is the size of the magazine and so the amount of gas it
can hold is limited. If the gas blowback unit needs more gas, then the trade-off will be less shots per charge. I’ve never actually had a 1911 that could fire all its mag with one charge unless you were doing slow firing and pausing between each shot. This leads nicely onto the things that Marui did change that are quite nice and we’ll start with the magazine. It has a slightly larger gas reservoir over previous designs - and by “slightly” I really do mean minuscule, as I could not get the damn thing to empty the 27 BBs it held with 144a gas. With propane and at room temperature it did manage but I found that the gun worked best if you only used between 15-20 BBs per load. In my humble opinion, Marui would’ve done better if they’d limited the ammo capacity to 15 so the feed system didn’t go all the way down the front of the magazine and used the extra space at the bottom for gas storage to make it a better shooter. With the gun loaded up with 0.2g blaster BBs and propane gas it achieved an average FPS of 272 and was reaching out to about 26m effectively (measured using a laser measure). When repeated with a fresh mag containing 144a and the same BBs the FPS remained about the same but the recoil was considerably more anaemic - pretty underwhelming to be frank. Disappointing to say the least but I was comparing it to my brand new G19, which has great gas capacity and kicks quite hard. The second feature that is pleasing to see is the metal slide rails extend quite a way and the slide release has an extension internally, so when it is engaged it locks onto the metal rail rather than the plastic slide. This is great as I’ve had a number of plastic pistols that’ve failed after continued use in this area. Adjusting the hop is easy enough to do, even if it does require the
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armoury TOKYO MARUI M45A1 GBB
removal of the slide. Again, being used to the new G19 (having used that for the last four months), not having the hop adjust in the breach area was a bit of a pain but it is consistent with all other airsoft 1911s to the best of my knowledge, so it isn’t out of the ordinary.
IN-GAME
In-game I found that it was more than capable of hopping my preferred pistol ammo, which is 0.3g BBs and can carry them quite a way, although after 30m or so they do start to drift off to the left slightly - but it isn’t a sniper weapon and I can live with that. With a surefire X300U fitted it adds some muchneeded weight but also negates some of the already weak recoil and so detracts from the whole GBB experience. After my earlier testing I never put more than 20 BBs into any mag and following this method I found that the M45 could happily chug through mag after mag with no issues. I never had a problem with it failing to lock back once empty but it’s still a shame that the extra capacity and modified gas capacity really don’t work as they are intended in the UK’s temperate climate. I shall try again once the temperature warms up a bit but I do have to wonder if it is worth it.
Perhaps the fact it was “just another 1911” in a sea of 1911s didn’t help. I don’t think Marui missed the mark with the M45, I just think the military world moved on faster and, as such, it limited its appeal. I also don’t recall there being much fanfare around its release in airsoft form and that’s never a good thing. If you want a slightly different pistol and one you won’t see many of, then give it a go but if you’re used to newer Marui GBB pistols I feel you may not enjoy the experience as much as you’d hope. For my part, I am glad I got it and I will use it from time to time but not as part of a specific load out. I will probably limit its use to the summer months, although I have other guns that shoot better and have a more tactile user experience which I would go for, over and above the M45. It is a good gun - just not a great gun. AA
SUMMARY
Overall, I think the Marui M45 is a competent pistol for sure. It isn’t going to set the world on fire and in all fairness its probably missed its time. It has been superseded by other, newer releases and it won’t ever really get another shot at grabbing people’s attention.
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INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT IN THE HOME OF AIRSOFT
IN REALITY, JAPAN IS WHERE AIRSOFT STARTED AND IS THE “CULTURAL HOME” TO EVERYTHING THAT WE HOLD DEAR IN THE “6MM WORLD”. THROUGH HIS CONNECTIONS TO THE “PENCOTT LEGION” USER GROUP, BILL HAS BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK TO SHOJI MASAKI TO BRING US THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO PLAY AIRSOFT IN JAPAN. AHH… JAPAN! EVEN LONG BEFORE my journey in the world of airsoft began, Japan has always been a country that fascinated me and to this day some of my favourite movies and documentaries are about Japan. I think it is the fact that our cultures are so, so different, yet so similar, that really piques my curiosity and I would certainly love to visit one day. Of course, when it comes to airsoft “history” we all know that our beloved game originated in Japan during the mid-1970s, mainly because it was illegal for private individuals to own real firearms. Japanese toy manufacturers, like Masudaya and Matsushiro, began building CO2 gas-operated airsoft guns that appealed to everyone interested in collecting real guns and who were unable to do so (legally). However, in the early 1980s manufacturers developed a BB gun that could project pellets through the use of a green gas canister. That, in turn, led to manufacturers developing replica guns that were battery powered and in the early 1990s the mighty Tokyo Marui (TM) introduced “off the shelf” airsoft guns powered solely by an electric motor-gearbox-driven-piston assembly.
thankfully removed severe injury from the equation! While Airsoft guns and games may have started in Japan, the appeal of these games was not limited. Since the internet didn’t exist in the 1980’s, news did not travel as fast as it does today and as such, the popularity of these games started from the epicenter of Japan and then slowly and gradually spread to neighbouring Asian countries. Even without the internet word spread and soon a spark became a roaring fire and airsoft, as we know it today, was born. It might be said that without the input of those groundbreaking manufacturers from Japan (although some might also say that US airgun brand Daisy had a hand in things too thanks to their relationship with Maruzen way back in the 1960’s) who were initially responsible for our RIF technology, you wouldn’t be playing and I wouldn’t be writing about it. So when the opportunity arose to speak with a fellow Japanese PenCott fan and airsofter I couldn’t pass it up - and this is what my new airsoft mate Shoji had to tell me.
“THE POPULARITY OF THESE GAMES STARTED FROM THE EPICENTER OF JAPAN AND THEN SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY SPREAD TO NEIGHBOURING ASIAN COUNTRIES. EVEN WITHOUT THE INTERNET WORD SPREAD AND SOON A SPARK BECAME A ROARING FIRE AND AIRSOFT, AS WE KNOW IT TODAY, WAS BORN.” Throughout the 1990s, TM continued to innovate, developing ways to improve accuracy and range in their AEGs; the hop-up system that is fundamental in modern airsoft guns was developed by TM during this time. At first, these guns were primarily used for target practice but of course, the use of these guns soon expanded to include “skirmish” style games and people began to shoot at each other! Through the development of BB technology, the ability to “shoot” an opponent 66
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AA: We all know the history but please can you tell me the current state of things in Japan in relation to airsoft? Shoji: “There are various forms of airsoft in Japan now as anyone will know just from checking online but mainly it is divided into three distinct groups. These are people who place importance on out and out gaming, those who really like to stick to equipment from the military perspective and those who love it simply as a shooting sport. Recently some people play more “Post
INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT IN THE HOME OF AIRSOFT
Apocalypse” style games which is really growing!” AA: Can you tell me a little more about yourself? Shoji: “I started airsoft six years ago. Now I am working on making nylon gear for airsoft with a brand called Moonshotgears. And I am doing airsoft about once a month. In addition, I am hosting a PenCott camouflage fan event called PenCottFreaks.” AA: Do you have many established outdoor sites in Japan? Could you tell me a little more about them? Shoji: “There are many small sites in the suburbs mainly in the metropolitan area. However, in rural areas, some people also play on much larger sites such as mountain areas that are privately owned.” AA: Do sites and players have any legal restrictions to contend with? Shoji: “As I am certain you know, airsoft in Japan has very restrictive power limits and the power of BB bullet is legally punished unless it is 1 Joule or less. You will see that many airsoft guns like those of Tokyo Marui are lower-powered than some of those offered by other brands as they are made specifically for the Japanese market and players. This does not bother us as long as we can play legally.” AA: What’s a normal game day like for you? Shoji: “Games are usually fast-paced and very hardfought! One game lasts about 15 minutes and this continues all day long, although of course there is a lunch break! In my case, if I am tired and I may be absent from the game but that is also good as I can rejoin for another game later in the day.” AA: What is a popular style of play in Japan, regular skirmish, MilSim or both? Shoji: ““Domination” games are common in Japan. There are many airsofters who play with a “video game” game vibe and like things to be very fast and very straightforward. MilSim rarely exists.” AA: Do airsofters train either as individuals or teams? What avenues are there for training? Shoji: “The airsofter in Japan is mostly amateur. Therefore, few people can train and little general tactical training is done.” AA: Like us, you have an unusual range of annual temperature and weather conditions (just different!) to contend with; what’s important to you in relation to your gear? Shoji: “In my case, I emphasise compatibility between my gear’s styling “coolness” and ease of use. According to the regulations of Japan, BB bullets range from 30 to 50 meters; for this reason I think that more careful camouflage effect makes little sense as it can be recognized visually and easily at that distance.” AA: What is the situation with airsoft and tactical gear in Japan; is it easy to get hold of? Shoji: “In Japan, guns do not have a very good impression (with the general public). For that reason Airsoft and Tactical Gear are not that easy to find and buy locally but you can easily get it using the internet.
Recently there are several handmade Tactical gear brands in Japan as well, so things are improving.” AA: Are there particular brands and models of airsoft replica that are important to you? What brands of gun do players like? Shoji: “Tokyo Marui is good, of course! The Most Popular! I also see VFC, G&G, ASG and many others. The gear brands that are popular with beginners are TMC, Emerson and NB and all are sold at a low price. I like handmade gear brands. Especially recommended is the brand x115xTAYLOR which you guys might want to check out (http://studio-an3.shop-pro.jp)!” AA: Do your sites have rental facilities if someone is visiting from overseas? Shoji: “There are rental facilities at many sites. You can enjoy airsoft in Japan even if you do not have anything!” AA: I recently saw that you are involved in an event supporting genuine PenCott patterns, clothing and equipment; can you tell me about that? Shoji: “PenCott camouflage is not well recognized in Japan. I thought that I wanted the same equipment with some people. I launched an event called PenCottFreaks to connect people who agree with my idea. This website is in Japanese but I’m sure people will enjoy the pictures: https://bit.ly/2UOoH7e” AA: If anyone is visiting Japan and is interested in playing airsoft, where should they head for information? Shoji: “There is currently little or no information for travellers, which is a shame. I think that I need it to change. Currently I speak personally to players and enthusiasts around the globe I met through Facebook and Instagram. If you visit Japan and want to play with airsoft, I think it would be better to be friends with Japanese players who personally respond!” Many thanks for answering my questions Shoji, it has been a real pleasure to speak with you, and I look forward to speaking more about our shared interest in PenCott gear. Perhaps one day I may actually make it to Japan… I can only dream! AA
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fAMOUS RAIDS OPERATION MERCURY - PART2
OPERATION MERCURY
WAY BACK IN ISSUE 74 WE RAN THE FIRST PART OF BILLY BASIC’S “FAMOUS RAIDS” ARTICLE ABOUT OPERATION MERCURY. WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT BILLY HAS RETURNED, ALBEIT BRIEFLY, TO COMPLETE THE STORY…
THE TAKING OF CRETE IT WAS THE DAWN OF THE 21ST May 1941, German General Karl Student had convinced the Fuhrer to let him mount an assault on the Allied held island of Crete. The Stuka dive bombers with their terrible Jericho sirens and precision bombs has softened up the defenders who were already weak and tired despite outnumbering the attackers. Approaching the island low, a vast armada of planes and gliders was now dropping paratroopers on the island, the air was full of parachutes - but they were getting a beating from the guns on the ground. On the ground General Meindl and his tactical HQ had scrambled into a river bed to get some cover, get their bearing and attempt to seize control. Spotted by a solitary machine gunner they were wiped out with one long burst. Before the launch of Operation Mercury the Army Command had been reluctant to see the assault on Crete go ahead. They were preoccupied with Barbarossa (the assault on Russia) and were worried about the diverting of valuable resources. The Luftwaffe, by contrast, were still stinging from their defeat by the RAF during the Battle of Britain and were pushing for a victory over Crete, with them providing much of the horse power. The Germans suffered terrible casualties in the first hours of the invasion, in one single unit a company of the 1st Assault Regiment, they lost
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112 killed out of 126 men - an astonishing toll. Most of the parachutists were engaged by New Zealanders defending the airfield and Greek forces near Chania. As the paratroopers hanging above the island in the updraft were being cut cruelly cut down from below, the glider borne troops must have prayed that that would fare better. But as they crashed to the ground, coming to rest in streets, church yards or abandoned ground, they were met with withering mortar fire directed accurately from “Hill 107”, which was held by the New Zealanders. Many were hit by mortar fire
seconds after landing and the glider troops who landed safely were almost annihilated by the New Zealand and
RST S”
ETE
fAMOUS RAIDS OPERATION MERCURY - PART2
Greek defenders. Back in Athens, General Student was taking stock of what was happening and he must have been extremely worried. His neck would be very much on the line, as if he were on the ground with his men under fire. The Fuhrer did not take kindly to failure and to the loss of hundreds dead. Gen Student had sold the capture of Crete as the gateway to attacking the Allies in their safe bases in Cairo, as well as taking back some of the occupied lands of Palestine. The Fuhrer would already be planning his next phase post-Crete as a spring board and the grinding casualty toll would have occupied his thoughts. The idea behind Student’s plan was to attack at four separate points along the north coast of the island. The rocky inhospitable island, covered in thorny scrub and bushes was extremely difficult to defend so the Allies had centred their defences on the airports of Malerme, Rethymno, Heraklion with their backs very much to the wall. Other senior German Officers in the Army Command were not convinced that Student had made a sensible decision to split his force into four parts, rather than attack one airfield in overwhelming numbers. I have no doubt that some of them would have been happy to see Gen Student make a fool of himself and as
the evening closed in around the beleaguered Germans paratroopers, bloodied and exhausted in the ditches and hedgerows of northern Crete, they looked as though they might be right. But the Allies were about to make a couple of miscalculations that would cost them the island and over 12,000 Allied troops captured within a week. Featured earlier there was a hill overlooking Malerme airfield known as “Hill 107”, from which the gliders and the paratroopers had been so savagely mauled. Inexplicably, on the night of the 21/22nd it was abandoned by the company holding it. During the afternoon of the 21st, the Germans had continued coming in waves. Some pilots who saw no way of landing had landed on the beaches and attempted to take off again. Others had deliberately crash landed in fields, whilst others had attempted the airfield as the mortar rounds had crumped down amongst them. At 15:00 and then again at 16:30 the Paratroopers had made valiant attempts to break out of their positions but they were too few in number and were repelled. During one of these attempts, one of the Allied communications lines had been cut between a company group dug in to the east of Malerme and another to the west. Isolated groups of German troops were by now all over the north island near the airfields and although they did not pose an existential threat in isolation, they did still require Allied troops to confront them and contain them. Not having been there on the ground with the troops, it’s difficult to say what the pervading feeling was amongst the men but I know (not from personal experience) that fear, unease and that looming taste of defeat has a way of spreading. It may well have been that looking out to sea on that early evening and seeing the ships bringing the mountain troops ashore was enough for the Commanders and the men to decide individually that the island was lost. Coupled with their already weakened fighting spirit, the defenders were a mixed bunch of nationalities with light weapons facing a powerful, motivated enemy who were building up for the next assault under their very noses. Axis powers ruled the skies overhead, Heraklion www.airsoft-action.online
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DIGITAL EDITIONS
Got a digital device? Then you can take your favourite airsoft magazine with you! Airsoft Action is available to read on just about every type of digital device, including iOS, Android, Windows 8/10 and PC, with apps that can be downloaded FREE from any app store. Airsoft Action is available on PocketMags, Readly, Magzter and Issuu and is supported by apps for all major devices.
fAMOUS RAIDS OPERATION MERCURY - PART2
after a nasty bombing run was subject to an airdrop of leaflets which the residents picked up and read after the planes had departed. The Germans threatened severe reprisals if the advance was resisted or impeded by the locals. As it turned out this did little to deter the locals - example of which was a local pensioner who clubbed a paratrooper to death with his walking stick while he hung helpless in a tree. A rather ignominious fate.
Elsewhere, the Germans whose comms plan was working just fine, were gathering loose groups of men and materiel to push on towards the Allies and regain some momentum, pushing the defenders south towards an attractive option of abandoning the island. In a model of modern combined operations, the Germans made use of what they could find, assaulting troops, engineers, artillery, mortars, machine guns and motorcycle troops to mount more and more muscular attacks on a wobbling defence. With Malerme airfield now utterly undefended the Germans reinforced their ground forces unopposed, even bringing ashore two light Panzer tanks, which must have rattled any defenders watching but did not end up getting used in anger. The roads on the island not lending themselves to tank movement and certainly not the countryside. On the morning of the 22nd the Allies mounted an attempt to recapture Malerme but it was ineffective and the Germans easily repulsed it. The rattled Allied commanders, despite knowing the island’s terrain, made grave miscalculations in terms of times for troops to get into position for the assault. What was supposed to be a pre-dawn attack turned into a mid-morning which never got off the ground. The Allies spirit and resolve, if not breaking, was being severely tested. The battle was also taking place on the seas as well as on the island. The Allies met with some success when they met a large group of Italian caiques packed with reinforcements, which they harried and sunk, diverting valuables assets to get them out of the water. Attempts we also made to shell Malerme (which was now a frenzy of activity as ships and planes poured in, disembarking men and machines) from the sea but this met with disaster. As the Allied ships, HMS Kashmir, Kelly and Kipling were rounding the headland the terrible sound of the Jericho sirens of the Stuka dive bombers screamed out of the sky. Kelly was hit by an astonishing 83 bombs but still limped on, the other two were not so lucky and were either sent to the bottom in a matter of minutes or turned turtle and went down soon after. The senior
Allied Navy men after this disaster insisted that the days of daylight use of Naval assets were over but the commanders were sent packing - there was a war on and risks were to be borne by all branches! Allied landings were also taking place, though not with any realistic chance of altering the fate of the island but to give the garrison a chance of evacuating as many fighting men as possible. Col Robert Laycock’s force had a strength of over 800 men and Laycock personally believed wholeheartedly that he and his men could turn the tide of the battle. Laycock’s group, known as “Layforce”, was lightly armed with rifles and machine guns but they were fresh and well-trained. However, as the German numbers grew in the north and the retreating Allies were being harried by ever-increasing manouveres by Axis Mountain and motorcycle troops in coordinated and daring strikes, it was an optimistic assessment. Layforce was divided into four groups of 200 men each and divided amongst the key defensive nodes of the docks and the towns in the path of the advancing Germans (and now Italians), who had been bought in. A series of sea landings had taken place towards the end of the fight for the island, with Mussolini receiving a request for troops to bolster the numbers. It is unlikely that the Germans put much faith in the Italian troops but more boots on the ground was welcome. Sadly, Layforce were not to turn the tide and as the Axis forces pressed their advantage the Allies began to evacuate their men and thousands were taken off by night while being hunted by the Stukas screaming down from the sky to seek them out. The ships that made it to Alexandria and Cairo emptied a very sorry looking force onto the docks. Layforce fared badly and of the 800 men who landed on the island, only 179 made it off. The battle was lost and the island fell to the Germans but inexplicably it was also the end of the German Airborne troops, despite the valiant victory and what you would have thought would have been a glorious episode in their history. Gen Student admitted that the losses had been terrible - and they were - but he was full of hope for their use in the war to come. Hitler saw it very differently and decided that the Paratroopers would be used in a ground roll from now on. In England, Churchill was mightily impressed and ordered the creation of our Airborne Forces and the rest, as they say, is history. Stay low, move fast. Billy out.
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last post A WRITER’S CLICHÉ
A WRITER’S CLICHÉ EVERY MONTH WE RECEIVE EMAILS FROM PLAYERS ASKING US IF WE’D LIKE THEM TO WRITE ABOUT ANY NUMBER OF SUBJECTS BUT, AS FRENCHIE EXPLAINS, “WRITING” FOR A MAGAZINE IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE. AIRSOFT CAN TAKE YOU TO funny places. I mean, some of them are genuinely funny, as in humourous, others are just odd. I have spent a few days in restricted areas because the forces who guard them were looking for a non-lethal training aid and they operated around some rather delicate items. I’ve done the odd radio interview, I met some really interesting people and had them burn
easy. I did a chunk of those and that lead onto writing reviews. I have written before about writing reviews and I won’t insult you by pretending that doing so isn’t basically a great way to get paid but it’s not without its pitfalls – 4 months of reviewing very slightly different 1911s, all from the same manufacturer? Trust me, that stretches your imagination into some strange shapes.
“BEING OPINIONATED I WAS ABLE TO USE THAT, MOVING AWAY FROM SIMPLY WRITING ABOUT PHYSICAL THINGS TO TRYING TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF AIRSOFT, HOPEFULLY IN AN ENTERTAINING MANNER - ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES WHAT RESULTED WAS A SCREAMING RANT ABOUT SOMETHING OR OTHER!” holes in my toilet roll with their never-ending roll-ups. One of the most important things I got through airsoft, however, was this – writing. Before airsoft I had written a few things, a very few things. The odd article for a student magazine, loads of statements during the Miner’s strike - although that was more a case of transcription. No, it was airsoft that got me writing regularly and I’m really rather grateful for that. At first it was technical stuff and if I remember correctly, one of the first pieces was how to deal with loose barrels on Marui M4s/M16s. That was a big thing many years ago! It used to really p*ss me off that players would whinge about it all the time when the solution was really
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AR15s? There are just so many of them that you end up obsessing, or at least focussing, on small and sometimes insignificant details just to highlight some difference from the last one you wrote about. All of this is a learning process, you learn to meet deadlines (that’s quite important and a pain in the backside), you learn to review your writing, you learn that sometimes writing anything, even if it’s utter rubbish is a necessary step because once you have something, you can edit and edit and edit until it becomes what you were looking for. You can’t edit a blank page. Being opinionated I was able to use that, moving away from simply writing about physical things to trying to capture some of the idiosyncrasies of airsoft, hopefully in an entertaining manner - although sometimes what resulted was a screaming rant about something or other! Through all of this you learn that being original, month in, month out isn’t always possible and that within any specialist area of interest there are tropes that
LAST POST A WRITER’S CLICHÉ
“SO I HAVE COMMITTED THE ULTIMATE WRITERS’ SIN AND THE MOST COMMON WRITER’S CLICHÉ OF WRITING ABOUT WRITING.” will out, whether you mean them to or not. Ultimately as long as the piece works, that isn’t as damning as a more idealistic you might have thought but the battle against cliché is real! I discovered that I could churn out pages on subjects I wasn’t well versed in, that my output didn’t have to be stuff that I knew. To this day, I spend more time reading than I do writing. I can blast out 1,000-1,500 words in a hour or so if the subject is one on which I have strong opinions, the hard work is making something readable out of a subject you don’t know a lot about, the recent article on barrels and the physical laws that govern them and the BBs passing through them was a case in point – reading for that was hard work! This isn’t meant to be a self-congratulatory lap of honour, forgive me if it reads that way, where I’m going with this is that not only did airsoft get me through a divorce and the difficulties that come with that most expensive of pastimes but it ultimately set me up to do what I now do, which is write for a living. In fairness, the technical knowledge about airsoft guns I acquired over my time in airsoft kept me gainfully occupied for a number of years but I suspect that was always going to pall, there has to a limit to how often you can gut an M4 to repair a broken piston before it just gets on top of you! I still write about airsoft regularly (well D’uh!) but I have a far wider range of clients these days for whom I write about anything - and I do mean anything. I now know far too much, at a somewhat shallow level, about marketing than I ever wanted to know and I would happily never read the guidance to the General Data Protection Regulations ever again. But - and it is a big “but” - years of writing about a subject I know well has set me up to tackle other subjects with confidence, even subjects about which I have almost no prior knowledge. Airsoft Action has a large stable of contributors, unless you religiously check by-lines you may not notice and it fairly regularly adds new contributors who have something to say. Now, while I am keen to encourage any budding writers out there, at the same time I don’t
really want more competition for a finite number of available pages! However, I cannot in good conscience discourage anyone involved with airsoft and who has a desire to write about it, or feels strongly that they have something worth saying, not to try. As I write this, I am juggling the demands of a property investment company, this article, another, nearly completed piece, the need to photograph stuff for both articles and the knowledge that, on deadline day I will lose half the day to a meeting I cannot avoid. And I just realised that I love it, for all the headaches and all the time spent in front of a screen this is still my preferred way of trying to make a living and I have been fortunate, partly through unfortunate circumstance, to have the opportunity to pursue this. I’d love to write a great novel but I have read enough awful ones to realise that it’s probably well beyond me. Hopefully, what I do in the pages of Airsoft Action bring some pleasure, diversion and occasionally stir opinions – for or against. It’s a privilege to be allowed a platform and yes, it is very different from writing a blog online and waiting to see if anyone finds your efforts and thinks them worthy of sharing.
THE ULTIMATE SIN
So I have committed the ultimate writers’ sin and the most common writer’s cliché of writing about writing. I’m only human! Let me finish with a call to action – if you think you’re good enough to contribute to Airsoft Action, or indeed any publication, try. It might work out, it might not. I wanted to be a lawyer once, it didn’t happen and that’s probably best for everyone involved but for a while at least I tried to make it happen. Airsoft has given me a lot, some fabulous memories, some great people and most of all, for me, it gave me the chance to hone a skill into something that I can now do with confidence, even if the end result isn’t always brilliant! All that from a fascination with firearms and playing soldiers? That’ll do nicely. AA www.airsoft-action.online
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Proud to support UK Airsoft Companies! Airsoft Zone Unit 2, Detection House Brooklands Approach Romford, Essex. 01708 733275 www.airsoftzone.co.uk
Land Warrior Airsoft 44/1 Hardengreen Bus. Prk Hardengreen Lane Dalkeith, EH22 3NX 0131 654 2452 www.landwarriorairsoft.com
JD Airsoft Unit 5, Virage Park Green Lane, Cannock WS11 0NH 0845 600 5144 www.jdairsoft.net
Eton Guns 103 High Street Eton, Nr. Windsor SL4 6AF 01753 800009 www.etonguns.co.uk
No Limits Airsoft Unit 4, King Street Gateshead NE8 2YP 0191 441 4574
www.nolimitspaintballandlaser.co.uk
DTW Airsoft A3 Moorside Business Prk Colchester Essex, CO1 2ZF 01206 790046 www.dtwairsoft.co.uk
Surplus Store Unit 2, Access House Stephenson Way Three Bridges, RH10 1TN 01293 525880 www.surplusstore.co.uk
TacTree Unit 3, Stag Business Park Donnington Wood Telford, TF2 7NA 01952 565670 www.tactree.co.uk
Johnsons of Leeds 2, Vulcan Foundry Haigh Park Road Leeds, LS10 1RT 0113 277 5237 www.johnsonsofleeds.co.uk
Invicta Battlefield Airsoft Pook Hill Wood Farm Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, TN12 0HP 07876 263290 www.invictabattlefield.co.uk
Looking for somewhere to buy Airsoft Action? Your local Newsagent sold out? Then why not visit any of the fine airsoft companies listed here? They all keep Airsoft Action in stock and while you are there, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to have a good browse round to see what else they can tempt you with... 92
MAY 2019
Buy Airsoft Action from any of these shops or sites - and get your copy before it goes on sale on the High Street! Combat-UK 13-15 Market Place Stevenage Herts, SG1 1DH 01438 362922 www.onlyairsoft.com
Unit 8, Winston Avenue Croft Leicestershire LE9 3GQ 01455 285605
308 Sniper 66 High Street Chatham Kent, ME4 4DS 01634 921278 www.308sniper.co.uk
Socom Tactical 70 Reading Road South Fleet Hampshire, GU52 7SD 01252 616 868 www.socomtactical.net
Eagle6 Airsoft Sutterton Enterprise Park Sutterton, PE20 2JA 01205 460385 07944 904604 www.eagle6.co.uk
Airsoft Plantation Goatsmoor Lane Stock, Billericay Essex, CM4 9RS 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk
MidWales Airsoft Unit 3, Severnside Shopping Centre Newtown, SY16 1AA 01686 627594 www.midwalesairsoft.co.uk
The Vault Airsoft Store Brook Garden Centre Whittington Way Old Whittington Chesterfield, S41 9AG 01246 260860
Allsorts Airsoft 9 Arundel Road Littlehampton BN17 7BY 01903 714688 www.allsortsairsoft.co.uk
Red Alert Airsoft Hartshill Copse Burdens Heath Bucklebury, RG7 6SX 07941 087070 www.redalertpaintball.co.uk
www.thedepartmentcqb.co.uk
Sell Airsoft Action in your shop or on your site and get a FREE ADVERT on these pages PLUS a PREMIUM listing on theairsoftdirectory.com! Contact Nige on 01684 878003 or by email: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk for details. www.airsoft-action.online
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SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
SYMBOL KEY
IS IT WOODLAND OR URBAN? CHECK THE KEY! UKARA MEMBER
SHOP ONSITE
WOODLAND
PYROS ALLOWED
URBAN
BATTERY CHARGING
DESERT
REPAIR SERVICE
INDOOR
DISABLED FRIENDLY
Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing
ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER
AIRSOFT KGB
AMAZON EVENTS
BADLANDS AIRSOFT
Allt-lywd Wood Farm,
Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com
Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL
Rowlands Castle, Hamps PO9 6DP
Tel: 0844 2570433
Tel: 07534 465589
www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk
www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk
AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM
BARNSLEY AIRSOFT
Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL
Tel: 07779 236166
Tel: 01252 315225
www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk
outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales. Tel: 07511554740
www.kgbairsoft.com
www.aberairsoft.co.uk
AIRSOFT PLANTATION ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT Maidenhead, SL6 3SS Tel: 07871 314951
Goatsmoor Lane, Billericay, CM4 9RS Tel: 07534 636289 / 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk Email: apairsoftplantation@gmail.com
www.ambushadventures.co.uk
www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk
BATTLETEC AIRSOFT AIRSOFT SKIRMISH
ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES Tong Wood, Newport Road Wolverhampton TF11 8PN
Stoulton, WR7 4QW Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
ACE COMBAT Kent, TN12 7DG Tel: 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk
AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB
robinsonm24@btinternet.com
Studley, B80 7LY Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk
North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com
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JUNE 2019
New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW
www.battletec.co.uk
Tel: 07781 104068
Tel: 01252 315225
BETTER BATTLES Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH
APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT
Tel: 07967 940043
Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP
www.better-battles.com
Tel: 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com
ALL ARMS AIRSOFT
BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane,
Near Trawden, BB8 8SN Tel: 07909 683464
ARENA AIRSOFT
www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk
Grimsby, DN31 3JD
Dronfield, S18 7UR www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk
Tel: 07752 404060
ALPHA 55
www.arenaairsoft.com
AWA HERTS Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ
ALPHA ELITE GAMING Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 Tel: 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je
BORDERLINE AIRSOFT 51 Green Road, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim
Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF www.alpha55.co.uk
AIRSOFT ASYLUM
La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2
AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB
Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 Tel: 07718 032541
AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON
www.ambushadventures.co.uk
Tel: 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk
Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE
Tel: 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com
Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH Tel: 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – SHEFFIELD WOODLAND
COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND
DOGS OF WAR
Fareham, PO17 5ND
Houston, Renfrewshire PA6 7BP
PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059
Sheffield, S6 6JE
Tel: 02392 655636
Tel: 07853 195290
www.bravo22airsoft.com
Tel: 07891 469492
www.combatsouth.co.uk
www.dow-airsoft.co.uk
BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport
www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL
DOG TAG AIRSOFT
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)
Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5
Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE
Tel: 01438 368177
TEL 01293 852 314
Off Badger Lane, Hipperholme, Halifax,
www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk
www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft
COOL UNDER FIRE
DRAGON’S LAIR
Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS
Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA
Tel: 07960 532613
Tel: 07703 530189
www.coolunderfire.co.uk
www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk
CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT
DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT
Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4HF.
Caerwent Training Area,
Tel: 0773 153 1113
South Wales, NP26 5XL
www.cornwallseliteairsoft.com
Tel: 07921 336360
BRISTOL AIRSOFT Bristol, BS1 2HQ Tel: 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com
BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com
BUNKER 51 Charlton, SE7 8NJ Tel: 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk
BUSH VALLEY AIRSOFT Runham Woods, Lenham ME17 1NQ Tel: 07786 448608 Email: bushvalairsoft@gmail.com
C3 TACTICAL Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH Tel: 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk
West Yorkshire HX3 8PL Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT Brimington, Chesterfield S43 1DQ www.cia-airsoft.co.uk
CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT Tel: 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk
Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
D.T.W AIRSOFT
Near Bourton-on-the-hill
Colchester, Essex CO1 2ZF
COMBAT ACTION GAMES
www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk
Tel: 01206 790046
Combat Street, Felthorpe, Norwich,
Tel: 07724629140
www.dtwairsoft.co.uk
Norfolk, NR10 4DR. Tel: 07748 023832
COMBAT AIRSOFT
HPC, York Road, Flaxby, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG5 0XJ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)
CUMBRIA AIRSOFT
DEPARTMENT CQB AIRSOFT
Dumfries, DG12
Unit 8, Winston Ave, Croft, Leic. LE9 3GQ
cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net
Tel: 01455 285605
www.cumbria-airsoft.com
www.thedepartmentcqb.co.uk
DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT
ELITE BATTLEZONE
Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk follow signs for Combat Paintball Tel: 07703 045849 www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE OUTPOST (WOODLAND)
COTSWOLD AIRSOFT Bourton Woods, On the B4479, Blockley
www.facebook.com/combatactiongames
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE COMPLEX
www.dragonvalley.co.uk
Corby, NN17 3BB
Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk Tel: 07455 906132
COMBAT READY CQB 38 Full Street, Derby DE1 3AF
Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
Tel: 01332 493258
DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.
EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT
Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
Mobile: 07947 558433
Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN
www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk
Tel: 01380 728982
Email: darwaterairsofthythe@gmail.com
www.experienceairsoft.co.uk
COMBAT READY OUTDOOR
DARKWATER AFTER DARK C.Q.B, (Battlezone Building), Britannia Lane,
Bolton Wood Quarry, Bolton Hall Road
Middle Wildpark Farm, Wildpark Lane,
Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3NA
Bradford, West Yorkshire BD2 1BQ
Brailsford, Ashbourne DE6 3BN
facebook.com/afterdarkcqb
Tel: 07891 469492
Tel: 01332 493258
DARKWATER SITE
www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
Dering Wood, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst,
www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk
Ashford TN26 1LZ facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater
CERBERUS AIRSOFT – RIVOCK EDGE
COMBAT SOUTH URBAN
Keighley, BD20 0LS
Portsmouth PO6 3LS Tel: 02392 655636
Tel: 07891 469492
www.combatsouth.co.uk
www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk
Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX
FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS Lewisham, SE13 5SU Tel: 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk
FIFE WARGAMES St Andrews, KY10 3XL
DELTA TEAM 3 Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT
info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com
Tel: 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk www.airsoft-action.online
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SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
FINMERE AIRSOFT
FIRST & ONLY:
GRANGE LIVE GAMING
INVICTA BATTLEFIELD
Buckingham, MK18 4JT
THE JUNGLE – HARBURY
Bravo One Birmingham,
Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst,
Tel: 07976 184897
Bull Ring Farm Rd, Leamington Spa
93–99 Holloway Head, B1 1QP
Kent TN12 0HP
www.finmereairsoft.com
CV33 9HJ
Tel: 0121 643 2477
Tel: 01622 831788 / 07876 263290
Tel: 0161 727 8863
info@grangelivegaming.com
www.invictabattlefield.co.uk
GREENZONE COMBAT Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE
ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT
FIREBALL SQUADRON
www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 07582 684533
FIRST & ONLY:
www.fireballsquadron.com
THE ARMOURY – WREXHAM
Tel: 07772 919974
Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30
Oak Road, Wrexham, Denbighshire
www.greenzonecombat.com
Tel: 07964 751047
FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP
www.islandrecon.co.uk
LL13 9RG Tel: 0161 727 8863
GUN HO AIRSOFT Guisborough, TS7 0PG
LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT
Staffordshire ST13 8TL
FIRST & ONLY:
Tel: 07525 435696
Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG
Tel: 0161 727 8863
THE BASE CQC – YATESBURY
www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk
Tel: 0131 654 2452
www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
1 Jugglers Ln, Yatesbury, Calne, Wiltshire
Blackshaw Moor, Nr Leek,
SN11 8YA
FIRST & ONLY:
Tel: 0161 727 8863
CROSSFIRE WOODS – PRESTON Moss Lane East, Preston PR4 3SP
GROUND ZERO WOODLAND
0161 727 8863
Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 2DF
www.firstandonlyairsoft.com
www.groundzerowoodland.com
www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk
GUNMAN AIRSOFT – TUDDENHAM Cavenham Road, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6DF Tel: 07711 774461 (Doug) or 07711 774401 (Josh) www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk/gunmanairsoft-tuddenham/
FIRST & ONLY:
FREE FIRE ZONE
STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY
Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH
Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood
Tel: 01733 247171
GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS
Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA
www.freefirezone.co.uk
The Grange, Frogmore Grange, Balsall
Tel: 0161 727 8863
FIRST & ONLY:
Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ
THE MILL CQB – WIGAN
Tel: 07730 586926
Unit S2 Mill 1, Swan Meadow Industrial
www.frvairsoft.com
Estate, Swan Meadow Road, Wigan Tel: 0161 727 8863
FULL METAL AIRSOFT Cilyrychen Quarry, Llandybie, Ammanford,
FIRST & ONLY:
Camarthenshire, SA18 3JG
THE OUTPOST – KIDDERMINSTER
Tel: 01269 850404
Drakelow Tunnels, Kingsford Country Park,
www.fullmetalairsoft.co.uk
Near Kinver, Kidderminster DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863
GASS AIRSOFT – PENN
FIRST & ONLY: SHELL SHOCK
Tel: 07907 788970
WOODS – BRIDGNORTH
www.gassairsoft.co.uk
Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk
GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 Tel: 07907 788970/ www.gassairsoft.co.uk
Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863
80
JUNE 2019
17G Stationview, Dunmurry,
LEEDS AIRSOFT: THE FOUNDRY CQB Haigh Park Road, Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RX Tel: 0113 277 7707 / 07968 258952
LINDSEY AIRSOFT GUNMAN AIRSOFT – EVERSLEY The Welsh Drive, Fleet Road (A327), Eversley, Hants RG27 0PY Tel: 07711 774461 (Doug) or 07711 774401 (Josh) www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk/gunmanairsoft-eversley/
Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE Tel: 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk
MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW Tel: 07974 507166
HILTON PARK AIRSOFT Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU
MAYHEM AIRSOFT
Tel: 08000 354490/ www.paintballuk.com
Upper Harbledown, Nr. Canterbury, Kent CT2 9AX
HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT/ Tel: 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft
FIRST & ONLY: STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY
LAGAN AIRSOFT CLUB
www.giairsoft.co.uk/Skirmish-days
Uplands Coppice, Off B4363, Bridgnorth, Tel: 0161 727 8863
www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk
www.matlockcombatgames.com Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10
Shropshire WV16 5LS
Saxillby, LN1 2JW Tel: 07775 877057
Belfast BT170AE / Tel: 07733128484
Common, Coventry CV7 7FP
FRV AIRSOFT
LAC AT COMBAT ZONE
GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com
HUMBER AIRSOFT North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07792 680297
Tel: 07802 837440/07949 486510 Email: mayhemairsoft@hotmail.com www.mayhemsoutheast.com
MIDWALES AIRSOFT Abbey Cwm-hir, Midwales, LD1 6PG Tel: 01686 627594 www.facebook.com/Midwales-airsoft
SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL
RED1AIRSOFT CQB
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK
Argyll and Bute, PA37 1
Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN
Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG
Wrightington, WN6 9PL
Tel: 07967 710185
Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069
Tel: 07984 656947
Tel: 01942 514724
www.argyllsurplus.com
www.red1airsoft.co.uk
www.specopsairsoft.co.uk
OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS
RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3
STIRLING AIRSOFT
Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT
Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ
Coventry, CV3 6NX
Tel: 07964 990831
Tel: 07751 586781
Tel: 07831 429407
www.militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk
MILSIM UK Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS
www.op-tac.co.uk
www.riftairsoft.com
Tel: 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk
NCIS AIRSOFT
www.stirlingairsoft.com
OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB
RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM)
Anglesey, LL71 8VW www.ottairsoft.
Cambridge, CB24 8RL
STORMFORCE AIRSOFT
github.io / Tel: 07895 478634
Tel: 07751 586781 / www.riftairsoft.com
Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD
Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk
NOMAD AIRSOFT Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY
Tel: 07515 937633
PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION
SECTION 8 AIRSOFT
Former RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfield Park,
Tel: 07974 026517
www.nomadairsoft.com
NO LIMITS AIRSOFT Unit 4, King Street, Gatehead, NE8 2YP info@nolimitspaintballandlaser.co.uk
Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB www.s8airsoft.com
SUSSEX AIRSOFT Slinfold, RH12 Tel: 020 8150 9284
Hants, BH23/ Tel: 02380 899369
SG1 COMBAT GAMES
Tel: 07904 998250
www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk
www.sussexairsoft.co.uk
PHOENIX AIRSOFT
Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA
Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road,
Tel: 07713 273102
S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT
Notts NG20 9JX
www.sg1combatgames.co.uk
Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire,
Tel: 07956 587213 / 01623 812483
CH64 3TB
www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk
SHROPSHIRE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES
Tel: 07703 177756
PLATOON 1HQ
Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169),
TA EVENTS
Tel: 07464 482410/ 0191 441 4574
www.swatairsoft.eu
Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ
Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8
Tel: 01634 829063/ www.ptt-1hq.co.uk
Tel: 07786 192832 / www.aceairsoft.co.uk
Tel: 07894 059794 /www.ta-events.co.uk
Tel: 01845 565465
PLAYERS OF WAR
TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT
www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk
High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD
SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY
NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ
Tel: 07767 203979/ www.playersofwar.co.uk
NORTHFLEET CQB PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES
Tel: 07968 448475
Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF
www.elitebattlezone.co.uk
Tel: 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com
Trickley Coppice, London Road, Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 0121 323 1000 info@npfairsoft.com www.facebook.com/npfairsoft
RAVEN’S NEST Suffolk, IP8 4 / Tel: 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk
RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ
NSC AIRSOFT
Tel: 01900 85645
Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0
www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk
Tel: 07983 333521 / www.nscairsoft.co.uk
RED1AIRSOFT NTAC Durham, DL4 2ER Tel: 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk
Tel: 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk
Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA
NPF AIRSOFT, NPF BASSETTS POLE
Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX
Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk
SKIRMISH EXETER Exeter, Devon, EX4 5/ Tel: 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk
SOUTH COAST CQB Browndown Road, Lee-On-Solent PO13 9UG Tel: 07533 434203
SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR Tel: 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com
SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU Tel: 07984 656947
Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB
Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS Tel: 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk
TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 0203 490 8008/07983 657093 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk
TAZ AIRSOFT Farr, Inverness IV2 6XB Tel: 07848 448408
TECH BRIGADE Newgate Street, Hertfordshire. SG13 8NH Tel: 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org
TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 Tel: 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk
www.specopsairsoft.co.uk www.airsoft-action.online
81
SITE DIRECTORY
Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing
FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…
THE BUNKER
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM
XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST
FPS ACTION AIR IPSC
Aberystwyth www.aberairsoft.co.uk
Dunstable, LU6 2EE Tel: 01494 881430
24 Scarrots lane
Tel: 07841 462806
Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY
www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk
Newport Isle of Wight PO30 2JD
Tel: 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
THE DEPOT
ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH
THE EX SITE Mold, CH7 4 Tel: 07840 001975
Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN
Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL305FA
Facebook:@fpsiow
PP, IDPA, IPAS, IPSC, 3GUN
URBAN ASSAULT
Sheffield
UKPSA Coaches
Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1
S75 3DQ
UKPSA-qualified Range Officers
Tel: 01733 247171
01226 414004 To Book
Equipment hire available
www.urbanassault.org.uk
VIKING AIRSOFT www.vikingairsoft.co.uk
Tel: 01726 858613 or 07590 030887
WARMINSTER AIRSOFT
www.thunderpark.co.uk
Warminster, BA12 7RZ
Food & drinks available on site
www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk
YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE PIT S72 8RE 01226 414004 To Book
Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QG
Bawtry Forest
www.halomill.com
F O B (Woodland), Hollington Road, Upper
Bawtry, Doncaster, DN10 6DG
Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT
01226 414004 To Book
On site parking, HPA Top ups, covered safe zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch day. Site memberships.
Tel: 07428 024874
Tel: Paul – 07861427553
www.trojan-airsoft.com
Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk www.wmairsoft.co.uk
TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB
PRACTICAL SHOOTING DIRECTORY GRANGE PS
WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT
Bravo One, 93-99 Holloway Head,
High Command (CQB),
Birmingham, B1 1QP
Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP
Doulton Trading Estate, Doulton Road,
Tel: 0121 643 2477
Tel: 07428 024874
Rowley Regis B65 8JQ
http://www.grangelivegaming.com
www.trojan-airsoft.com
On site parking, HPA top-ups, secure safe
Facebook: GPS
zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch
info@grangelivegaming.co.uk. Range
included, free tea and coffee available all
open for booking Wed-Sun. Club nights
day. Site memberships.
every Thursday, 6.30-10.30.
Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate,
UCAP AIRSOFT Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR Tel: 07590 818881
www.ucap.co.uk
Tel: Paul – 07861427553 Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk www.wmairsoft.co.uk
UCAP GREEN OPS Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk
Arundel Road, Worthing Tel: 07877 210898 www.worthingairsoft.co.uk
82
JUNE 2019
WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB WatfordPPC@gmail.com
WORTHING AIRSOFT
The Penthouse,
YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE PINES
WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT
included, free tea and coffee available all
HALO MILL Colne Valley Business Park,
Co Tyrone, BT71 4DY Tel: 07922 377131
Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ
ebpracticalpistol@gmail.com
Engine Lane, Shafton, Barnsley
TORRENT WARFARE
TROJAN AIRSOFT
MOD-approved gun club
www.ebsc.co.uk
Great North Road
Facebook: search ‘Torrent Warfare’
www.4dsportsclubs.co.uk
Church Lane
Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN
THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT
Info@islandrecon.co.uk
EAST BARNET SC
www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com
Tel: 01494 881430
Open five nights a week 7pm-10pm
YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE MANOR
www.ultimatewargames.co.uk
www.theexsitewales.co.uk
THE WARGAMES CENTRE
XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP
Glasgow, G45 9SB Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.thedepotglasgow.com
07964 751047
DOUBLE TAP PSC StrikeForce CQB, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5RZ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Double-Tap-Practical-Shooting-Club979585958732937/?ref=hl doubletappsc@gmail.com
Tel: 01484 840554
XSITE PRACTICAL SHOOTING Fryers Farm Lane, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430
SOUTH WEST PRACTICAL SHOOTERS (SWPS) Action Air IPSC Club Based at The Tunnel Target Sports Centre near Charmouth The Tunnel, Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6BY Contact: SWPSClub@Outlook.com
WETHERSFIELD AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING CLUB (WAT SIC) Wethersfield Village Hall, Braintree Rd (B1053), Wethersfield, Braintree CM7 4EB. https://www.facebook.com/WATSiC/ Open Thursday & Friday evenings. Set-up from 6:30pm. Club shooting commences by 7:30pm. Pack-up starts at 9:30pm if you can stay to help. Contact via FB or 07939557029. Indoors. Club offers Action Air plus 2 & 3 Gun training and events.