Airsoft Action - December 2019

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LCT AK12 GAS ON TEST LIFE WITH AN AEG INGRAM VERSUS UZI AMOMAX HOLSTERS HELIKON-TEX UPDATE T’FARGE COMFORT MASK

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AIRSOFT TAKES TO THE AIR!

LCT AK12 GAS ON TEST LIFE WITH AN AEG INGRAM VERSUS UZI AMOMAX HOLSTERS HELIKON-TEX UPDATE T’FARGE COMFORT MASK

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ARMOURY: LCT AK-12

ARMORY: JG NAMSOFT AR

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Editor: Nigel Streeter Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Photo: OV-10 Group UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE FEATURE: AIRSOFT BRONCO

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Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL 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.

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ASOS: MINIGUN

KIT & GEAR: HELIKON-TEX

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KIT & GEAR: VIPER UPDATE

KIT & GEAR: AMOMAX HO;LSTERS

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 DECEMBER 2019

CONTENTS 6 NEWS News from around the world of Airsoft.

8 GALLERY SPECIAL You asked for them so here they are, more photos from The National Airsoft Festival.

12 ARMOURY: LCT AK-12 We have a number of companies striving to give us the very latest “OPFOR” replicas in AEG form and one of the companies leading the way in this is LCT Airsoft. Bill finally gets the long-awaited “AK-12” into his hands and onto the range!

16 EXCLUSIVE FEATURE: AIRSOFT BRONCO If you think that airsoft and real, operational aircraft could never mix, then think again! Nige writes about a group in the USA that have done something that defines the word “awesome”!

FEATURE: GAS ON TEST 22 Steve t tests different gases to see if they can improve performance without hardware modifications.

26 KIT & GEAR: T’FARGE COMFORT MASK Having a smaller face can sometimes hamper finding a half-face mask that fits properly. Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick may have found just the answer…

28 ASOS: M134 MINIGUN Square-eyed ‘softer Steve T looks for sightings of the modern-day Gatling gun across movies, TV and videogames.

32 ARMOURY: JG NAMSOFT AR Bill seems to be having a return to his beloved “’Namsoft” with a view to attending more themed games next year, and this month he brings us a look at two well-priced AEGs that are great to get you into that “in country” mood!

36 THE COLLECTOR: EARLY M16 Frenchie continues his series on collectables with a first look at one of the most iconic weapons we have – both in real life and in airsoft… the AR15.

40 KIT & GEAR: HELIKON-TEX We spend a lot of time looking at gear emerging from unusual places but when it comes to HelikonTex from Poland, the quality of what they produce is nothing new! Bill takes a look at some of their latest clothing models that have the emphasis on “low key”.

45 KIT & GEAR: NIGHT COMMANDER Military historian, Will Fowler, finds a well-featured, compact torch that packs a punch and won’t break the bank.

46 LIFE WITH AN… AEG In the latest instalment looking at gameplay with different kinds of RIF, Steve T turns his attention to

DECEMBER 2019

the ever-popular battery-powered mainstay of airsoft 50 KIT & GEAR: VIPER UPDATE It’s been a little while since we got together with our good friends at VIPER to check out all that’s been happening in their ever-growing range of tactical gear and clothing so Bill delves into the new “VX Buckle Up” range and brings in his verdict!

54 THE CAGE: CAMO This month Bill got together with the team to talk about all things “camo” and the conversation turned a little heated to say the least, as apparently your personal choice of pattern is as personal as it can be!

59 KIT & GEAR: PODIUM BIPOD Steve T tests a real steel bipod bespoke to IWI’s Tavor to see if it’s worthwhile for airsoft.

60 VERSUS: INGRAM V UZI We sometimes think that small SMGs are a relatively recent development but in fact, like many military firearms, they’ve actually been around a lot longer than you might think! Bill delves into firearms (and airsoft) history to bring two little powerhouses head to head!

64 SURVIVAL: TREATING BURNS Although the chances are minimal, with the use of pyro and overnight camp fires there is always the potential for burns to occur. Survival expert, Paul Yelland, gives us some tips on what to do in the unlikely event of it happening.

67 EVENT: REAPER OPS BOOT FAIR Bill recently had chance to visit a new venue local to him in Kent, run by Reaper Ops, when they opened the doors to all with a Boot Fair running alongside their latest weekender, Dereliction.

69 KIT & GEAR: DESERT BOOTS Military Historian, Will Fowler, depended on having good boots while fighting in the desert. Although retired, he still makes sure his boots are up to scratch, especially when heading for hotter climes.

72 KIT & GEAR: AMOMAX HOLSTERS Holster choice is a VERY personal thing and there are many companies vying for your hard-earned buck when it comes to “carry options”. This time Bill gets hands-on models from emergent Chinese brand Amomax - and likes what he sees.

76 LAST POST: NO CONTROVERSY Finding things a bit quiet, Frenchie realised there was not much to write about – and that, in itself, was worth writing about, as he explains…

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.

Airsoft 2020 Surgeon Championship AIRSOFT SURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 MOVES TO THE NATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE!

In 2020 the world-renowned AIRSOFT SURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP is moving to its new home at the NEC, Birmingham, UK, to run alongside THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW. The AIRSOFT SURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP started in 2013, with nearly 80 practical shooters vying to win the first ever European Championship and has run every year since except 2018, due to the inaugural World Championship taking place in Hong Kong. The 2019 Championship was held at a custom venue on the Isle of Wight but such has been the interest, a new home was needed that could accommodate the ever-increasing number of shooters hoping to take part.

Following negotiations with FRL MEDIA, the company behind both THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW and WAR & PEACE REVIVAL, the AIRSOFT SURGEON CHAMPIONSHIP 2020 will take place in Hall 9 at THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW, at the NEC. This will not only allow for an increase in the number of shooters and stages but will also bring the highest level of airsoft practical shooting to the attention of the tens of thousands of visitors to the show.

Airsoft Surgeon, Clarence Lai, commented: “Airsoft practical shooting, also called “Action Air” by the IPSC, has grown very quickly as a competitive shooting sport and with the success of the World Championship in Hong Kong bringing nearly 600 shooters from around the world together, we needed somewhere that could accommodate a bigger event.

I am really happy that we can run the event at THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW as this is the perfect place to showcase our sport and welcome others to our international family of shooters.”

Chris Kong, the UK Organiser and brainchild behind the event, added: “When we started the AIRSOFT SURGEON EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP, we knew we had an excellent event but have struggled to find the perfect venue. Due to the nature of airsoft, outdoor venues proved to be “challenging”, with either wind or rain or, more often, both at the same time causing problems.

“We are absolutely delighted that FRL MEDIA will accommodate the championship alongside the GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW at the NEC, as this will provide sufficient space to put on a truly world-class event and, as for the location, it simply could not be more perfect – and this year, the match will be across all three days so shooters will also have time to enjoy the show! More details will be announced soon, along with information about a special “Juniors Match” for juniors who cannot compete in all three days due to school/education requirements.

To keep up to date with any new information, keep an eye on the Airsoft Surgeon Championships Facebook page and website.”

FURTHER INFORMATION THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW 2020: 14th – 16th February The UK and Europe’s premier trade and retail shooting show.

Visitors can see a vast range of shotguns, rifles, pistols, air rifles, airsoft, optics, night vision and thermal imaging equipment, hunting knives, bushcraft, wildfowling, gundogs, gamekeeping hall, country clothing & footwear. There is also ammunition and reloading equipment, historical arms collection, gunsmith and engraving demonstrations, arena displays, shooting associations and schools. www.shootingshow.co.uk

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DECEMBER 2019

AA GALLERY

NATIONAL AIRSOFT FESTIVAL - PART 2

AIRSOFT ACTION NAF SPECIAL - PART 2

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DEXCEMBER 2019

AA GALLERY AIRSOFT ACTION NAF SPECIAL - PART 2

Following our exclusive coverage of the National Airsoft Festival in the last issue, we had loads of requests to print more photos from the event - and we are more than happy to oblige.

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DEXCEMBER 2019

AA GALLERY AIRSOFT ACTION NAF SPECIAL - PART 2

www.airsoft-action.online

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armoury LCT AK12

“EASTERN PROMISE”

IT SEEMS IN THE “REAL WORLD” THAT AK ENTHUSIASTS REALLY DO COME SECOND PLACE TO THE MIGHT OF THE “AR MACHINE” BUT LUCKILY, IN THE AIRSOFT WORLD AT LEAST WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES STRIVING TO GIVE US THE VERY LATEST “OPFOR” REPLICAS IN AEG FORM AND ONE OF THE COMPANIES LEADING THE WAY IN THIS IS LCT AIRSOFT. BILL FINALLY GETS THE LONG-AWAITED “AK-12” INTO HIS HANDS AND ONTO THE RANGE!

I

have to admit that I’ve been following LCT Airsoft ever since their tremendous “Eastern Bloc” AEGs started to arrive in the UK and since that time I’ve added a couple of their excellent AK replicas to my OPFOR armoury, as well as having tested pretty much all of their range!

From the diminutive, movie-inspired “AK Baby” right up to their awesome RPD, I have had most of the models on the

evaluate many manufacturer’s offerings and the fact that when it comes to AKs a number of us rate LCT models very highly means that when you are considering a purchase it’s not the opinion of one person

weapons into the 21st century means that we can transform out battery-driven versions into modern battlefield tools, the fact is that the basic Russian Service Rifle has been largely the same for many, many years.

“ON THE EARLY PROTOTYPE MODEL, THE TRADITIONAL LOCATIONS OF THE COCKING HANDLE, SAFETY LEVER AND FIRE SELECTOR REMAINED UNCHANGED; BOTTOM LINE? IT LOOKED GREAT BUT WAS BASICALLY JUST GRANDPA IN RAVE CLOTHES!” range in the past few years and to date I have never been disappointed by anything they make! In my own personal “stash” I am very pleased to own the LCKMS and LCKS74UN and both have done me excellent service since I bought them, neither of them missing a beat… ever!

Amongst the Airsoft Action team there are quite a few other content LCT AEG owners and that must say something! We are lucky enough to get to see, test, and 12

DECEMBER 2019

but of many that will lead you in the “right direction”.

However, when it comes to “new military models” let’s face it, the humble AK hasn’t really, fundamentally changed for many years. Whilst the rise of the “tacticool AK” has been a positive one which allows many of us to upgrade our beloved Kalashnikovs and the adoption even many Russian military users of “COTS” parts to bring their service

For those wishing to fully embrace the whole “Ratnik” future infantry combat system idea, that of an up to date Russian soldier, in their loadout there has been one “missing link” until recently - and I’m not talking just about in airsoft terms!

Whilst replica (and indeed even some real “Ratnik”) gear is gaining loadout ground amongst certain airsoft OPFOR players, all of us have been waiting for someone to release an “AK-12” and, just like the

armoury LCT AK12

“ALTHOUGH I AM CERTAIN THAT SOME OUT THERE WILL FIND FAULT (LIKE THE LAUGHABLE “TRUNNION” DEBATE THAT CAME UP RECENTLY… YAWN…) BUT THE FACT IS THAT LCT HAVE DELIVERED THEIR TAKE ON THE LATEST RUSSIAN MILITARY RIFLE, AND A BLOODY GOOD TAKE IT IS TOO!” troops that have been waiting for the “real deal”, finally the day has arrived where we can own the AEH version.

RIGHT OLD SOVIET SHENANIGANS!

In May 2010, following a Russian Ministry of Defence statement, we learnt that the AK-12 rifle was to be tested in 2011.

The early prototype model (AK-200) was presented to the Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, during his official visit to inspect the products of the Izhmash arms manufacturing plant in Izhevsk but this was, apparently, a basic AK-74 with a few “twiddly bits” added, although the Izhmash prototype was fitted with a large-capacity 60-round casket magazine.

On the early prototype model, the traditional locations of the cocking handle, safety lever and fire selector remained unchanged; bottom line? It looked great but was basically just grandpa in rave clothes!

Although the Russian Deputy Defense Minister announced that the Russian Army would not be buying the AK-12 in January 2012, the Russian Ministry of Defence began trials of the rifle in November of the same year. The Russian Army stated they would not

introduce a new rifle in the near future but then state acceptance trials began in June 2013! Series production was due to begin by the end of 2013 and Izhmash prepared 30 prototypes for state trials. The company announced that they would have the capacity to produce 1 million rifles per year for buyers.

In typical “soviet” fashion, this slightlyless-then-clear situation got even more involved when, in September 2013, the Deputy Chairman of the Military-Industrial Commission of Russia said the Russian Army would start receiving AK-12 assault rifles chambered in 5.45mm and 7.62mm in 2014 and that the new rifle would be put into service, along with the new handguns, machine guns and sniper rifles.

The AK-12 was to replace three previous AK models and standardise assault rifles in the Russian military. The government’s rejection of the AK-12 was simply because senior commanders said they had millions of stockpiled AK-74 models and did not need a new rifle!

On 6 September 2016 (my birthday as it happens!), it was reported that

was chambered in 5.45×39mm cartridge and the AK-15 which was chambered in 7.62×39mm cartridge. Kalashnikov Concern also introduced a new squad automatic weapon that was chambered in the 5.45×39mm cartridge, the RPK16, which was based on the traditional Kalashnikov layout and design and had a number of technical and ergonomic features derived from the AK-12 program.

The AK-12 (Glavnoye raketnoartilleriyskoye upravleniye MO RF (GRAU) designation 6P70), alongside the AK15 (6P71), were accepted into service in January 2018 and the first deliveries of 2,500 AK-12 assault rifles began in December 2018. The Russian Ministry of Defense has signed a three-year contract with Kalashnikov Concern for 150,000 AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles to be delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Russian Airborne Troops are believed to be the first recipients of the AK-12 on a priority basis to gain operational experience with the rifle and various accessories. The AK-12 has also entered service with the military subdivisions of the National Guard of Russia and Kalashnikov Concern and Russia’s Defense Ministry signed a contract in February 2018 for the delivery of the

RPK-16 squad automatic weapon.

Kalashnikov Concern had introduced the final production model of the AK-12, which was derived from the proven AK400. There were to be two base models that were introduced: the AK-12 which

A WHOLE NEW ERA

So, whilst our good mates on BLUFOR are waiting on yet another AR (or indeed a VERY expensive Japanese-made support weapon!) we OPFORists can be happily ordering a superb replica of the very rifles www.airsoft-action.online

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armoury LCT AK12

that are heading to the Russian forces as I write!

And, as usual, the team at LCT have done a cracking job by bringing us not only the AK-12, but also the “larger calibre” AK-15 which, of course, in our world will fire the exact-same 6mm BB… I’m not knocking this as it’s great to have choice and perhaps some folk will look to the “762” as a base for some kind of DMR, but for me at least the AK-12 is the all-important one here! LCT have looked at the major design details that make the AK-12 different to its forebears and again as usual, they’ve done a pretty fabulous job! Although I am certain that some out there will find fault (like the laughable “trunnion” debate that came up recently… yawn…)but the fact is that LCT have delivered their take on the latest Russian military rifle, and a bloody good take it is too!

Like the “real deal”, the LCT “12” is built like an absolute tank and weighs in at a hefty 4 kilos (give or take…)! If, like me,

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DECEMBER 2019

you’re used to a “barebones” classic AK then this weight may come as a bit of a shock but the fact is that it feels “right”. This is a brute of a rifle indeed with steel used throughout the construction. Like the “real deal”, the receiver cover is another unique feature of the design as it has a permanently affixed top Picatinny rail where the rear sight assembly mounts directly to the cover; this of course means that the rifle is all ready for an optic should you desire to fit one and this is now mated firmly to the dust cover.

This means that the rear latch (don’t we all love that latch!) has gone and the dust cover is released instead by removing the front locking arm and sliding the entire cover off to the rear to access the battery compartment. This is easily done, although you’ll need to be careful not to drop the locking arm if you’re changing batteries “in game”. There’s also a great ergonomic pistol grip modelled on that of the real rifle, more rails on the handguard and even an extremely solid side-folding stock. The muzzle brake has been 100% designed from the real thing; the muzzles of these rifles are not threaded, instead they feature a quick attachment mechanism for mounting and removing muzzle brakes and suppressors. The muzzle devices are attached by sliding them over the muzzle, rotating to catch the QD lug and fixing in place via the spring-loaded plunger.

This means that regular airsoft brakes/ suppressors cannot be fitted and I hope LCT will address this in due course.

Internally, LCT products are usually very workmanlike and tidy and on the AK-12 this includes 9mm bearings, steel gears, a piston with full metal teeth, an aluminium bearing piston head, an aluminium cylinder head and a spring guide with bearing. The new magazines feature a slant angle on the bottom rear portion to provide a more rigid and stable contact with the ground when the rifle is rested on the magazine.

On the “real deal” these new magazines also feature side windows showing the remaining/loaded amount of ammunition (from 10 to 30 rounds, in 5-round increments), and when the magazine is fully loaded, a pin protrudes on the

baseplate providing a visual and tactile identification of the loaded magazine in the pouch. The 130BB magazine replicates this well in look if not in total function.

ON THE RANGE

So, lovely looking but it was time to get the beast to chrono and as I suspected, the test sample did indeed come in perfectly for the UK market at a mean of 1.09 Joule/343fps using .20g RZR BBs. With this out of the way it was time to set up my plates at 10, 20, and 30 metres to see what the “12” was capable of. After correctly setting the hop on semi-auto using RZR .28BBs, the thing was absolutely devastating straight out of the box; with a 435mm/6.02 inner barrel it was definitely a case of “dakka dakka, hit!”. Moving out to 20m I switched the safety lever to its full-auto mid-point (the replica AK-12 still works just as the real thing does in this respect) and I was soon knocking over those plates on controlled three-round bursts. Out to the extent of the range, shooting prone and back on semi I was still hitting the plates happily each and every time.

After a long-awaited afternoon on the range, it was time to clear, fold the stock and put the AK-12 back into the gun case and I was certainly sad when this time came. The only criticism I can make is that I wish that LCT had added the two-round burst setting of the real thing; yup, that’s it, my one and only criticism! So, if you like your Russian gear, are a regular OPFOR player, or are really on the “Ratnik” train then the LCT AK-12 will be the right RIF for you. It has all the benefits of existing AKs with the added utility of a thoroughly up-to-the-minute design, along with all the benefits of a top-quality AEG. You really can’t go wrong with this and I for one will say that the wait has been 100% worthwhile! Now we just need the RPK-16 AEG please LCT… My sincere thanks go to NUPROL for providing the LCT AK-12 for testing and now that they have distributorship for LCT, I believe that we’ll be seeing these topnotch AEGs in more and more stores. AA

SPECIAL FEATURE AIRSOFT BRONCO

AIRSOFT TAKES TO THE AIR! IF YOU THINK THAT AIRSOFT AND REAL, OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT COULD NEVER MIX, THEN THINK AGAIN! NIGE WRITES ABOUT A GROUP IN THE USA THAT HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT DEFINES THE WORD “AWESOME”!

O

K, I admit it… I really, really do not like (anti-)social media but, having said that, I also recognise that it can have an important role in our daily lives and sometimes, just sometimes, it throws up something quite unexpected that simply cannot be ignored.

A few months back I was checking the Airsoft Action page on Facebook. I received a message from a reader (I am really sorry, I can’t remember who it was and can’t find the original message - but thank you anyway) drawing my attention to what a group called “OV-10 Squadron” were doing. Coincidentally, I spotted that one of the “Suggested” boxes that appear down the right-hand side of the page was for “OV-10 Squadron” and so I clicked on it and this was the result… but first, a little background to an awesome bit of kit.

OV-10 BRONCO

The OV-10 “Bronco” was conceived as a light attack and observation aircraft developed by North American Rockwell in the early 1960s. Specifically designed to fulfil a counter-insurgency combat role, it’s forward air control capabilities were backed up with over 3,000lbs of carrying capacity and the ability to “loiter” in an area for nearly three hours. The Bronco packed quite a punch with four 7.62mm M60 machine guns, plus multi-shot 16

DECEMBER 2019

rocket pods – not something to get on the wrong end of - and was also able to carry paratroopers or stretchers internally when required.

BLACK PONIES

In January 1969 the U.S. Navy formed “Light Attack Squadron Four” (VAL-4), known as the “Black Ponies”. The VAL-4 “Black Ponies” were

commissioned to serve a specific purpose during the Vietnam War, one that both jets and helicopters of their era found it hard to fulfil.

That was mainly to provide forward air control to the front-line (sometimes far beyond it) and riverine support for SEALS and detachments of the US Army, Navy and the armed forces of South Vietnam. Simply put, the VAL-4 were meant to get up close and personal in the

face of the Victor Charlie, or Viet Cong.

Operating from Binh Thuy Air Base and Vung Tau Army Airfield in the Mekong Delta, the Black Ponies provided direct

SPECIAL FEATURE AIRSOFT BRONCO

support for U.S., Allied and Vietnamese operations until it was dis-established in April 1972.

On the cover flap of his book “The Flying Black Ponies”, Kit Lavell wrote: “The tragic, the comic, the terrifying, the poignant are all part of the story of the Black Pony pilots who distinguished themselves in the Mekong Delta between 1969 and 1972. Flying their Broncos “down and dirty, low and slow,” they killed more enemies and saved more allies with close-air support during the three years they saw action than all the

other naval squadrons combined. The U.S. Navy’s only land-based attack squadron, Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) flew support missions for the riverine forces, SEALs and allied units in borrowed, propeller-driven OV-10As.” Sent to the Boneyard in 1993 after the Gulf War, they were brought out of retirement much like John Rambo might

amazingly and often superior to modern aircraft on the battlefield.

“FLYING THEIR BRONCOS “DOWN AND DIRTY, LOW AND SLOW,” THEY KILLED MORE ENEMIES AND SAVED MORE ALLIES WITH CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT DURING THE THREE YEARS THEY SAW ACTION THAN ALL THE OTHER NAVAL SQUADRONS COMBINED.”

have been and in 2015 two OV-10 Broncos were overhauled (into what is known as the “G” model) for service with special operations in Iraq and Syria. Little has been disclosed other than they performed

OV-10 SQUADRON

The link that I clicked on took me to the Facebook page of “OV-10 Squadron” and bore out what the message I received had said… they were fitting airsoft M60s into the pods on a fully restored Bronco!

Yes, you read that right! OV-10 Squadron were not only restoring seven Broncos, they were in the middle of a project to replace the original M60s on one www.airsoft-action.online

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Bronco 155474

SPECIAL FEATURE AIRSOFT BRONCO

of them and had chosen airsoft replicas to do so. Needless to say, I contacted OV-10 Squadron immediately and they responded with offers of whatever I needed to write this article and soon information and photos started to arrive – and my jaw continued to drop!

On their website (www.ov10squadron. com) I saw the story of one particular aircraft, Bronco Number 15574, which is the first of the seven to be put back in the air again…

27TH DECEMBER 2017

“1968 - A war rages in Vietnam and the Navy needs a solution for long endurance heavy hitting escorts for Patrol Boat River (PBR), Swift Boats, and Navy SEALs. The answer was delivered by Rockwell with the OV-10 Bronco. A multi-mission counter insurgency aircraft which has had a near 50 year service life.

“Bronco 155474 fought hard against the NVA from 68-73. Her nation called her again in 1991, flying an epic 10,000mile ferry flight to Kuwait where she attacked Iraqi armor and called in the 16 inch gunfire from the USS Wisconsin. Then again in 1999, pulled from retirement and refitted for a new war, the War on Drugs.

“474” was a Cocaine Crop Duster carrying a 400 gallon herbicide tank and utilized her armor plating and heavy airframe to battle small arms fire while performing low level aerial application in the jungles of Columbia.

“2018 - Fifty years later she is tired.

Her bushings worn, wires cut, bullet holes 18

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hastily patched, corrosion setting in. As her paint fades we set out on a journey this year to bring her back into service. As our Vietnam Veterans age too, they deserve to share the story of the close air support on the Mekong Delta. Patrols around The Parrots Beak, assaults on the Plain of Reeds, the heavy hitting punches of 5” Zuni Rockets clearing the way for Navy SEALs who are surrounded.

“The Bronco in Vietnam was there for downed airmen. Troubled Infantry, reassured by the rapid response Black Ponies. Out gunned river boats. Helicopter Escorts and spotting targets for the heavy bombers and fast moving jets.”

Brian Ratliff works with California Aero Fab, a company that is no stranger to working on projects to restore and, in some cases completely rebuild vintage aircraft and are also working with OV-10 Squadron. I’ll let Brian take up the story…

“In January, 2018 California Aero Fab took on a project of Squadron proportions. Seven (or more like parts for seven) North American OV-10 Broncos arrived at their (OV-10 Squadron’s) Chino, California operations. Acquired by Mangic Corporation were six OV-10 D models in various stages of restoration and a seventh that was complete but had been disassembled and moved from the East coast prior to the finding of the six. The plan was eventual restoration and flight of the whole lot of them. A tribute to those that flew them, those that kept them flying and those they protected throughout their history, from the late

1960’s in Vietnam, through Desert Storm and other actions that the versatile aircraft operated. Equipped with many different configurations of armament the M-60 in pairs in sponsons under each side of the fuselage were usually present.

“After returning the first Bronco to flight just 18 months after the load of parts reached Chino, the empty gun ports on the proud bird needed attention. On other War Birds that have been restored, to keep from alarming the fine folks at ATF and other authorities that aircraft need to bow to for the privilege to grace the skies again, working armament is a realm best not entered. Yes, it has been done but the paperwork and regulations are enough to wither the greatest of egos and pocketbooks of all but a few. The gunports usually are filled with a replica barrel and protection around them to keep them in place - and to keep the onrush of air and things found in the air at flying speed out of the aircraft.

“The fabrication project for this segment of restoration fell to Mike Blondel, a long-time employee of the firm and very skilled at the illusion of fabrication of an item to look like the original. As sometimes in this business, the original just might not exist anymore. As is said; that store isn’t open anymore.

“Upon looking into replica M-60s to get a start on this task, resin mock-ups were located as well as castings that could have been used for replicas too.

In this crafty and resourceful lot that make up California Aerofab we have an

SPECIAL FEATURE AIRSOFT BRONCO

Photo: Will Campbell

individual that is well-versed in Airsoft and others like them. Within our company the interests range very wide, as is what is pursued after the whistle blows in the afternoon. One of Justin Nishitsuji’s interests lead us to look into a firm called Evike in Alhambra, California and the resin and aluminium castings paled and really were no match in comparison and quality to what was found in that shopping trip!

Four A&K, H.M.G., M-60s from their Heavy Machine Gun Series came home that afternoon!

Airsoft equipment to fit snuggly at home.

The stocks, heat shields and hand trigger pieces that would not be on the flying models were just unattached from the replicas with ease. The end result was four mean-looking barrels pointed at targets of opportunity.

“Sorry, the problems that would arise to make them functional on the flying craft is merely written in the laws of physics. Not enough mass of the projectiles to overcome the airspeed when in flight. Pellets in the air intakes could

THE STORY CONTINUES...

“Back to the plane, the sponsons when received had the mounting clips, feed trays and ejection chutes in most of them and the ammo boxes were still in some.

Just the business parts were removed.

The electrical and all the rods and linkage for the arming mechanisms were still in place, just a little cruddy from a few years in the Texas sun and weather from where they were prior to sunny Southern California. Surprisingly little work needed to be done to the attachment lugs for the

be a serious problem. Ground safety mechanisms in the plane will not let them fire when on the ground. But damn! They sure look good!!”

There cannot be a more fitting tribute to the crews of these wonderful aircraft to see them back in the air again and I am hugely proud to be part of an industry, albeit somewhat remotely, that has been able to contribute in a small way to the fulfilment of that desire.

If you would like to find out more about OV-10 Squadron, head over to their Facebook page (www.facebook. com/flyingbroncos), website (www. ov10squadron.com/) or YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/channel/ UCQ5rxVSycytkQRHPB5q-BMQ). You can find more information about the VAL-4 “Black Ponies” on the website www. blackpony.org AA

I cannot thank enough all the people who have contributed to this article, particularly Brian Ratliff, Jason Erdkamp and Mike Manclark who have patiently answered my questions and provided the photos you see here – but the story doesn’t end yet...

OV-10 Squadron have already received four more donated M60s which they will be fitting into a second Bronco and there is also talk of doing some ground “night fire exercises” using tracer BBs – now that is something I would really love to see!!

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19

FEATURE GAS ON TEST

GAS ON TEST... ...NOT ALL GAS IS CREATED EQUAL CONTINUING HIS HEADLONG CHARGE INTO THE WORLD OF GBBRS, STEVE T TESTS DIFFERENT GASES TO SEE IF THEY CAN IMPROVE PERFORMANCE WITHOUT HARDWARE MODIFICATIONS

W

hen my new GBBR returned disappointing numbers on the chrono, I wondered what effect different gases might have on its performance. I thought some of you might be interested in what I found out.

This is not intended to be THE definitive gas comparison - it’s just a snapshot of readily available gases in the UK on one day using one rifle and one pistol for reference. I paid for all the gas and BBs in this test and owe nobody, so rest assured that anything I say is just how I found it.

As always, Your Mileage May Vary and you’ll see very different results depending on your RIF/ammo/weather parameters.

METHOD MAN

I used the same magazine for the same gun on the same day, indoors with a temperature around 22 degrees Celsius.

The mag was purged via the inlet valve the outlet can cause flash-freezing - before every refill. It was then allowed to return to room temperature while reloading from a brand new bottle of ASG .20 BBs

(no bias; I just find them reliable and they make for a good control). The mag was then filled with each new gas in turn and brought back to room temp again.

For the rifle, I used my new Umarex Tavor Flatop made by KWA - the whole point of this exercise after all - and each gas fill was used for one magazine of 40 BBs, single fire with a 30-second rest after every 10 rounds.

For the pistol, I chose my long-term trusty backup the ASG CZ P-09 for two reasons. Firstly, the standard FPS is broadly inline with other available GBBs, instead of my low-reading Tavor, to make the results easier to understand at a glance.

Secondly, the internals can handle CO2 pressures using a different magazine, so I wasn’t concerned that I was about to blow anything up. Again, I measured one magazine - this time of 20 BBs - resting after 10 shots.

The chronograph was the Acetech AC6000, one of the most accurate and reliable consumer units available.

If you have any complaints about the

way this test was conducted, please take them up with your local councillor. Or indeed, counsellor...

JUMPIN’ JACK FLASH

All the gases on test come in metal pressurised cannisters with a metal nozzle - only the Abbey 144a and Ultra use a plastic one. If appearances matter to you, then Abbey’s range looks a bit more Homebase, while Nuprol’s has a Call of Duty videogame flare to it. The Guarder is just a paper label stuck onto a black bottle. But the important thing is performance.

Like many airsofters, I’ve used Nuprol 2.0 as my go-to gas for a long time. It’s readily available, reasonably priced and delivers about the right performance across all my sidearms.

Without experiencing any problems using Nuprol Green so far, I’d seen no real reason to try an alternative until I plunged headfirst into the rabbit hole that is GBB rifles - and any player that uses gas for their primary will have a collection of

“I USED THE SAME MAGAZINE FOR THE SAME GUN ON THE SAME DAY, INDOORS WITH A TEMPERATURE AROUND 22 DEGREES CELSIUS. THE MAG WAS PURGED VIA THE INLET VALVE - THE OUTLET CAN CAUSE FLASH-FREEZING - BEFORE EVERY REFILL.” 22

DECEMBER 2019

FEATURE GAS ON TEST

We just wish Abbey’s naming process was clearer, because the base Predator sounds more powerful than it is and Ultra isn’t so ultra after all, because Vertex is more powerful. Arguably it makes sense semantically, but commercially? Come again? Add to that the fact that Abbey’s low power gas is in a green can, while the standard green gas is in a red can and it’s just too confusing for the casual player.

3 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

By way of contrast, Nuprol has made understanding its range of gases straightforward thanks to its clear nomenclature. The 2.0 that comes in that distinctive green can is intended as the standard green gas, while Red 3.0 offers more FPS in lower temperatures and Black 4.0 is reserved for extreme cold weather performance …or sadists. Simples!

I’ve had no feed issues or leaky nozzles like I’ve experienced with less popular brands to report from any of the manufacturers here.

And one final observation before we move onto the results; Guarder Black stinks! That’s not to say it isn’t effective - it performs like a champ - but it literally smells like the eggy fart that cleared the room - and that’s not the kind of room clearance we’re looking for! gases as they search for that elusive FPS sweet spot.

This test focuses on the most readily available and commonly used gases in the UK, namely the ranges from Abbey Supply and Nuprol, with a high-powered outlier from Guarder.

ABBEY LOAD

I may have been searching for higher FPS, but there’s another difference between gases that I’d not considered before - and that’s the way they apply lubricant to your RIF’s internals. We all know that GBBs need lubrication to operate smoothly, which is why most airsofters choose green gas over cheaper propane - other than avoiding that infamous eggy smell.

Not all airsoft gases use lube in the same way though. Most manufacturers use a silicone lubricant that settles to the bottom of the magazine over time, meaning that while the fill valve stays nice and healthy if stored upright, the outlet can dry out, become brittle and fail earlier.

Abbey airsoft gases feature a lubricant that remains suspended in the gas to keep O-rings fresh and sealed while the magazine is charged. It might be worth bearing in mind if you store your gas mags for longer periods between games, but it’s less of an issue if you play every week.

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23

FEATURE GAS ON TEST

“IF WE’RE CHASING HEADLINE NUMBERS, THEN NUPROL BLACK TAKES FIRST PLACE. JUST. GUARDER BLACK MAY BE CLOSE BEHIND, BUT IT STILL SMELLS LIKE THE REMAINS OF AN EGGY BREAKFAST EVEN AFTER USING OTHER GASES THAT YOU MIGHT HOPE WOULD CLEAR THE PALATE.” as an afterthought, but an interesting counterpoint to the main objective, then the picture looks much the same for our secondary.

In Performance Table 2, you can see that Nuprol Green still returned the single lowest value, with Guarder Black only just beating Nuprol Black for highest those two could trade blows all day - but FPS DON’T LIE Guarder had the highest average figure Take a look at Performance Table 1 to again, too. The lowest variance this time see the numbers for yourself, but based went to Abbey Ultra. on the rifle results - and despite Guarder In both tests, Nuprol Red returned Black’s legendary reputation as the devil of a higher average value than its more all gases - Nuprol Black returned a higher powerful big brother, Black 4.0 thanks max FPS. That said, Guarder had the to greater consistency between shots. highest average FPS, as well as the lowest I know - I can barely believe it, too. In variance of the high power gases between maximum and minimum results, explaining fact, based purely on this data, Red would be my choice for the CZ P-09 as a why it’s used by competition shooters sidearm, because I’m less concerned about looking for consistency as well as power consistency and potential improvements to and range. reliability than with my primary.

PERFORMANCE TABLE 1 But it must Rifle: Umarex KWA Tavor (FPS) be said that if

Max Min Avge Variance you want the Nuprol Green 2.0 295 193 248 102 best outright 336 239 285 97 Nuprol Red 3.0 performance Nuprol Black 4.0 353 224 277 129 AND consistency, Abbey 144a 256 194 216 62 then none of Abbey Ultra 272 209 240 63 these gases come Abbey Vertex 322 226 256 96 anywhere close to 352 246 299 106 Guarder Black CO2 bulbs, which absolutely trounce Surprisingly, Nuprol Green recorded the the competition in every single area. By a lowest overall FPS, where we had expected large margin.

(See Table 2 again.) It’s just a that accolade to go to Abbey 144a, shame that even CO2’s lowest value with which had the lowest variance of all - only the CZ P-09 in this test is too hot for UK narrowly beating Abbey’s own “standard” That distinctive aroma reveals Guarder Black’s propane roots, but damn… I can’t deal with that stench! If you want to release every last ounce of performance and are willing to wear a gas mask as eye pro - then go for it! You’ll find the rest of us breathing freely in the safe zone...

green gas, Ultra. That kind of consistency could make the difference between landing more shots on target, more often and maybe that’s the name of the game?

If we’re chasing headline numbers, then Nuprol black takes first place. Just.

Guarder Black may be close behind, but it still smells like the remains of an eggy breakfast even after using other gases that you might hope would clear the palate.

Based on these results for this rifle as standard, then I’d probably go for Abbey Vertex. It might not be the outright best performer, but it’s arguably the best median between higher performance and consistency, plus the alluring appeal of that suspended lubrication to keep mag seals in tip-top shape.

SECOND HAND NEWS

Looking at the pistol numbers almost

option for any GBBR is still an aftermarket adjustable nozzle that can take full advantage of lower powered gas while placing less strain on internal components.

If you can find one for your RIF, that is.

Completely outside of this test and based on historical data - included for reference only - using Nuprol Green through an adjustable nozzle on my GHK 553 easily added more than 100FPS over the UK-spec nozzle. Starting at 240FPS average as standard, it yielded a max of 344FPS, min 320 with an average of 328 and a variance of just 24 once dialled in.

But on this day, with this rifle and this pistol using these BBs, it’s a two-way tie between Nuprol Red and Abbey Vertex if you want the best compromise between big numbers and small variance between shots.

It turns out the easiest nut to crack is the one I never felt the need to address; Nuprol Red is my pick for this pistol and I’ll certainly try it across others.

But coming back to the inspiration for this test in the first place, there isn’t one gas here that can break the 300FPS barrier on average with my Tavor as standard.

I’m going to have to track down an aftermarket nozzle to realise its potential; hopefully more on this in a future issue.

For the sake of convenience, I’d prefer to use the same gas across my rifles and pistols, so I might tune that nozzle for Abbey Vertex with its potential benefits to magazine longevity and use the same for sidearms, despite its lower readings. If only Abbey would introduce a Sooper-Dooper gas with just 20 more FPS...

PERFORMANCE TABLE 2 What I’ve Pistol: ASG CZ P-09 (FPS) learned is that

Max Min Avge Variance there’s no such Nuprol Green 2.0 322 213 286 109 thing as a “best” Nuprol Red 3.0 342 290 319 52 gas - even for a Nuprol Black 4.0 345 271 311 74 single application.

Abbey 144a 289 240 270 49 “Best” is such Abbey Ultra 309 266 292 43 an absolute term Abbey Vertex 328 265 305 63 when results are Guarder Black 352 301 333 51 so variable across parameters like (CO2 378 364 373 14) individual weapon, weather or even site limits of 350FPS. It’s still a great option batch of gas. I wish I could give you a in the depths of winter, though. clearer steer but instead, I humbly suggest that you might use this comparison to draw up a short list of gases to try for JUST A TEST yourself and find out what works for you.

I’ve found this a really interesting exercise, but from what I can see, the most effective AA www.airsoft-action.online

25

KIT & GEAR OTG T’FARGE COMFORT MASK

ONE TIGRIS

T’FARGE COMFORT MASK HAVING A SMALLER FACE CAN SOMETIMES HAMPER FINDING A HALF-FACE MASK THAT FITS PROPERLY. KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK MAY HAVE FOUND JUST THE ANSWER…

O

ver the last few months I’ve been testing some new kit from a company called One Tigris. OTG was created in 2014, they are a Chinabased gear manufacturer who manufacture outdoor, airsoft, EDC and K9 kit that’s great quality and is really affordable. I first became aware of OTG in 2017, when the OTG 4.5” Tactical Foldable Half Face Mask was released - they were one of the first companies to manufacture face protection specifically for women, teenagers and Asian players. The original design for this mask was 6” from the bridge of the nose to the tip of the chin and for the women’s version they shaved 1.5” off to make the

mask more comfortable for players with a smaller face. This mask became my “goto” face protection purely because it was so comfortable and fitted well.

DIVISION SIX

Fast forward to 2018 and One Tigris secured the license to make their own version of the T’Farge Comfort Mask by Division SIX. Division SIX is a one-man band from the UK who designs and makes face protection for airsoft. Nikira’s designs are unique and developed through his own experiences with face protection. Each of his masks are made by hand but with this comes a higher price tag and this is where

“IT ISN’T EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE DIVISION SIX MASK, AS IT HAS SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS INCLUDING THICKER PADDING ON THE SIDES AND IT’S ALSO A LITTLE SMALLER, TO CATER TO ASIAN, FEMALE AND TEENAGE PLAYERS.”

26

DECEMBER 2019

OTG come in; by taking on the license for this mask they have made the mask more accessible for players. The OTG licensed Division SIX T’Farge Comfort Mask is a half face mask that has padded sides and a TPU polymer bridge to protect the nose. It isn’t exactly the same as the Division SIX mask, as it has slight modifications including thicker padding on the sides and it’s also a little smaller, to cater to Asian, female and teenage players. OTG claim it offers a better fit and an excellent fog-free airsoft experience than other masks on the market - but does it do what is claimed?

The TPU material that covers the bridge of the nose has been tested to 800FPS impact resistance (tested between -10 degrees C and 42 degrees C), it also allows for breathability thanks to the cutouts and it has a rubber seal on the inside of the mask to keep player’s goggles clear.

The fabric used is nylon (for the black and green versions) and 500D Cordura (for the MultiCam version) and this is for durability as it offers great dirt, water and abrasion resistence. On the inside of the fabric is a padded mesh breathability lining for player comfort. It has adjustable double head straps for comfort and to prevent the mask from slipping. It is also a super light-weight piece of kit, weighing in at only 100g and it folds up small so it doesn’t take up a lot of space in your gear bag, so is easy to carry around.

Upon receiving the mask it comes neatly packaged in a resealable clear/ textile bag with a tag to let you know that it is a licensed product. The construction

KIT & GEAR OTG T’FARGE COMFORT MASK

materials feel of great quality and the stitching is neat and tidy and the overall construction of the mask is very good.

Aesthetically, I think it looks great and the ladies size is very much appreciated as well.

I have been wearing this mask for around 4 months now and I’ve found that the padded sides are super comfortable, however, one thing I have noticed with the ladies cut, is as it cuts away from the jawline quite sharply so it doesn’t completely protect the very bottom of your cheeks. This isn’t an area that for me gets hit a lot so it’s not too much of an issue, as the covers a lot of the face. The mask is built for player comfort and the only aspect I found uncomfortable about the mask was the fact the double strap has two buckles that can rub on your ears when wearing ear protection. This wouldn’t be an issue if you don’t wear ear protection but I always wear it so it can be a little uncomfortable during prolonged wear.

The back strap is comfortable and doesn’t bunch up during wear which is great (especially when wearing helmets).

The front slots in the TPU for breathability are sufficient and whilst I’ve been wearing it I haven’t noticed any issues. When it is really hot (temps of 27 and above for me personally) I have found it can be a little

too warm, so I wear it a little looser so I can take it away from my mouth every so often but this means the gas seal won’t work to its optimum efficiency. The gas seal on the inside works great to prevent fogging but be sure to fit it snugly to your face as the seal needs to be secure and completely seal to the face. If it’s loose it can fog.

It’s available in MultiCam, Green and black. It retails for $17.99 from the OTG website, which is around £15. For the time being it is only available in the F size, with the L size for male players on the way soon. I would love to see this mask made in a few other camouflage patterns and colourways - maybe MultiCam Tropic, MultiCam black and grey? *hopes*

Overall, this product from One Tigris is an affordable, well made and comfortable face mask that has a great look to it and I love that OTG have made it their mission to make this product more affordable for the end consumer. AA

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27

AS SEEN ON SCREEN IWI TAVOR M134 MINIGUN

AS SEEN ON SCREEN:

SQUARE-EYED ‘SOFTER STEVE T LOOKS FOR SIGHTINGS OF THE MODERN DAY GATLING GUN ACROSS MOVIES, TV AND VIDEOGAMES.

M134 MINIGUN G

E - or General Electric - is the kind of globe-spanning megacorp that has fingers in many different pies.

The multinational conglomerate was ranked as the 18th-largest firm in the U.S. by gross revenue in last year’s Fortune 500 list.

With a history that dates back to 1889 and co-founders that include America’s greatest inventor, Thomas Edison, GE was one of the original 12 companies listed on the Dow Jones stock market.

Today, you probably know them as the company that makes light bulbs. But what you might not know is that they’ve also made armaments that include the, now iconic, Minigun. It’s all a bit Tony Stark...

IN THE REAL WORLD

The M134 Minigun is a 7.62×51mm NATO six-barrel rotary machine gun with a rate of fire of up to 6,000 rounds per minute that’s often referred to as the “modern Gatling gun” - for obvious reasons.

Replacing the old hand-cranked mechanism with an electric motor, the Minigun is used by several branches of the US military as the M134 and XM196 by the United States Army and GAU-2/A and GAU-17/A by the air force and navy.

First used in the 1960s during the Vietnam war (attached to Hughes and Bell helicopters), the U.S. government procured 10,000 units. In the 1990s, Dillon Aero

designed numerous improvements that resulted in orders from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) and after passing the US Army’s formal procurement system, it was designated M134D. Usage then extended beyond aircraft to small boats and even Humvees deployed in Iraq from 2005. 50 years after it first entered service, the Minigun is still in active military duty today.

MOVIES

It’s fair to say that the Minigun is anything but “mini”.

Weighing in at 39kg and more than 80cm long, it’s no wonder that it takes actors with the presence of Schwarzenegger to wield it unmounted.

Today, that responsibility falls to the likes of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in The Fast & The Furious series or Terry Crews in The Expendables. So why does it have that misleading “mini” name? It

is simply to differentiate it from GE’s earlier 20mm M61 Vulcan.

Movie buffs will remember the M134 mounted to helicopters on-screen as far back as 1979 in Apocalypse Now, then later in 1985’s Rambo: First Blood Part II, Clint Eastwood’s Heartbreak Ridge in 1986 and even a sci-fi movie based on a Stephen King story, The Running Man, a year later.

But it was in 1987’s glorious Arnie jungle-fest, Predator, that the Minigun broke free of its mounts with Blain and Sergeant Mac. Four years later saw the Terminator himself using the very same prop in sci-fi sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. I’ll make a special shoutout for the M134’s appearance in seminal sci-fi flick, http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/User:Ultimate94ninja

“YOU PROBABLY KNOW GE AS THE COMPANY THAT MAKES LIGHT BULBS. BUT THEY ALSO MAKE ARMAMENTS THAT INCLUDE THE NOW ICONIC MINIGUN. IT’S ALL A BIT TONY STARK…”

22

DECEMBER 2019

AS SEEN ON SCREEN AS SEEN ON SCREEN IWI M134 TAVORMINIGUN

http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/User:Ben41

The Matrix, as Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, manned one mounted to a Bell 212 when Trinity piloted them down to rescue a captive Morpheus. If you have surround sound, then this has long been a demo scene to test any equipment with the rotor blades circling between speakers while spent cartridges fall below.

The Minigun continued to appear on the silver screen mounted on the Black Hawks in 2001’s seminal Black Hawk Down, as well as on numerous vehicles in 2008’s dumb but fun automotive combat flick, Death Race. Fans of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe got to see it in action in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, while the same year witnessed it in the third instalment of one of the most successful action movie franchises of recent years, The Expendables.

2015 saw the M134 pop up in South African director Neill Blomkamp’s brilliantly quirky robo-movie, Chappie, as well as movie heavyweights such as Jurassic World and Furious 7. And the Minigun is still popular today, with its most recent appearance in this year’s Woody Harrelson sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap. And one interesting quirk of making movies? Armourers slow down the M134 minigun’s rate of fire to make the spinning barrels visible for cinema goers.

TV

Maybe budget is an issue here, but TV has been less welcoming to the Minigun than movies. Of course you’d expect to see it in

documentary series like Future Weapons; Ultimate Weapons; Lock ‘n Load; Guns; and even Mythbusters, but dramatic appearances are far less frequent.

You’ll find it in classic 90s shows like Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and The X-Files, but there’s a long wait until Iris in 2009, Chuck the year after, then Revolution three years later and The Night Manager in 2016.

GAMES

Games designers seem to recognise the unfair advantage represented by the Minigun, because many of its appearances are either unplayable, such as 1999’s Crisis Zone, feature in cutscenes, or at best in scripted mounted emplacements.

Of course it’s to be seen mounted on helicopters in games such as Ghost Recon: Island Thunder, Ghost Squad, Time Crisis: Crisis Zone, ArmA and even Resident Evil 4. It would later appear in Call of Duty in 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops a year later, MW3 in 2011 and Black Ops II in 2012.

You can also find the Minigun in the most popular modern videogame series of modern times in both Grand Theft Auto IV and the amazingly long-running GTA V. More recent appearances in games include 2012’s subversive, hugely enjoyable and engaging multiplatform shooter, Spec Ops: The Line. It presents a modern interactive take on Joseph Conrad’s seminal 1899 novella, Heart Of Darkness and despite what you may experience in

the first few levels, this game really does end up being as profound as it sounds.

This is a game with more intent and purpose than most and makes an excellent case for videogames to rank alongside literature and films as an art form.

Anyone looking for a less cerebral gaming fix should look at VR gun-fest, Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades. If you have VR and enjoy guns, you need to own H3.

OUTRO

There’s no denying that while the Minigun fills screens everywhere, it’s a rare sight on the airsoft field. That’s probably down to a couple of things.

Firstly, replicas are few and far between.

Your options will be largely limited to the Classic Army Vulcan M134-A2, their M132 or the Echo 1 by Craft Apple Works - if you can find one in stock!

Secondly - even more so than most support options - the Minigun is a heavy, unwieldy weapon that offers few advantages in airsoft over and above an AEG with a drum magazine.

But all that said, the sheer bad-assery to be had with a Minigun makes it one of our favourite sights on an airsoft field and it never fails to put a smile on our faces.

To everyone with the muscles, stamina and pure bloody-minded determination to wield a Minigun in airsoft - we salute you!

AA

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23

armoury JG NAMSOFT ARS

MR COLT’S BEST GIRL

BILL SEEMS TO BE HAVING A RETURN TO HIS BELOVED “’NAMSOFT” WITH A VIEW TO ATTENDING MORE THEMED GAMES NEXT YEAR, AND THIS MONTH HE BRINGS US A LOOK AT TWO WELL-PRICED AEGS THAT ARE GREAT TO GET YOU INTO THAT “IN COUNTRY” MOOD!

T

hey do say that “what goes round, comes round” and this most definitely seems to be the case with “Namsoft”. I was lucky to be involved with a series of “Nam” themed games some years ago, and even got involved with helping to create the original “Vietnam Airsoft” forum here in the UK. Although I’d always been interested in the Vietnam War this really came to the fore when I lived in Florida, with the chance to speak directly to veterans who had served in “The American War” and I had access to lots of surplus gear that, at the time, the Army Navy Stores were selling for pennies!

Referring to it as “that smelly old webbing crap”, an M56 magazine pouch in A1 order could be had for a dollar, a Tropical Ruc (nearly always lumped in amongst the old ALICE packs) for 30 or 40 bucks, and I even found a pair of 1968 dated jungle boots which I paid the princely sum of $5 for! To say I was like a hog in a puddle of mud was an understatement.

And, as usual when it comes to airsoft loadouts, I dragged a bunch of mates along with me and even our “Saturday Skirmishes” started to look like reenactments of “Tour of Duty”. At that

time Classic Army had just released their M16A1 and XM177E2 (I’m pleased to report that I still have my original XM, now reconfigured to an E1!) but these were a pretty penny back then, too rich for many of the younger or newer players to entertain on a whim.

So we started searching for a viable alternative and came across the first run of the JG Works M16A1 that my friends at Airsoft GI had in stock, and we ordered twenty of them! Whilst it had many glaring historical errors, it did at least resemble an “A1” right down to the old-style 3-prong “Duckbill” flash hider. Although far from 100% historically accurate, the JG “A1s” looked “good enough”, came with a short hi-cap magazine and were actually insanely accurate from the box! “Mr Colts Best Girl” soon became (for most in the gang) our favourite choice of replica.

I’ve noticed that Nam games, such as the excellent ones we’ve reported on in AA run by Josh and the team at Gunman Airsoft, are on the ascendancy again so I thought it was high time to dig out the “Tigers” and M56 and gear up for another tour myself!

I’ve been working a bit recently with Kamil and the guys at Taiwangun over in Poland, and as I was trawling through

their website a couple of months ago I happened to come across not one but two JG “Nam-inspired” models; an “M16A” updated version of the “A1” that I’d owned in Florida and also quite a tidy looking “XM”, somewhat bizarrely classed as the “M-4A”.

What I received from Taiwangun really piqued my interest as both the M16A1 rifle and the XM177E2 carbine were of full metal construction and whilst they were not truly accurate “replicas”, they both looked bloody good, plus they were both priced at under £150! For anyone looking to get into early cold war or indeed Nam airsoft they looked just the ticket.

THE CHANGING BATTLEFIELD

In the late 1950s a (then relatively unknown) firearms designer, by the name of Eugene Stoner, produced the prototype of a new rifle called the “Armalite”.

Development continued through the 50’s until in 1956 it came up to Army specification using a .222inch Remington cartridge with an improved bullet. In July 1959 production of the rifle was licensed to Colt and later in that same year production started on the Colt Model 601; manufacture of this model would continue through until 1963. Approximately 14,500 Model 601s were produced, and the bulk

“AS USUAL WHEN IT COMES TO AIRSOFT LOADOUTS, I DRAGGED A BUNCH OF MATES ALONG WITH ME AND EVEN OUR “SATURDAY SKIRMISHES” STARTED TO LOOK LIKE RE-ENACTMENTS OF “TOUR OF DUTY.” 32

DECEMBER 2019

armoury JG NAMSOFT ARS

of the rifles went to the US Military with 8,500 going to the Air Force (as Frenchie mentioned in his article), 1,000 going to the Army for evaluation in project AGILE, and a handful going to the Navy SEALs. During the late 1950s and early 1960s the way the USA fought wars was changing, moving from massed “force on force” set pieces to “manoeuvre warfare”

M16 types. The Model 610 was classified as the XM177 but adopted by the Air Force as the GAU-5/A Submachine Gun (GAU = Gun, Aircraft, Unit); The Army purchased 2,815 Model 609 CAR-15 Commandos in 1966, which were officially designated Submachine Gun, 5.56 mm, XM177E1. In 1967, in response to field testing, Colt lengthened the Commando’s

with far more deployments taking place on a smaller scale; troops became mechanised and air mobile and the rifle they used needed to reflect this. It needed to be smaller and lighter in weight than the ungainly and heavy M14s, L1A1s, and G3s in use at the time by the US and other armies worldwide. Engagement distances, especially in the jungles South East Asia, were decreasing so the need for a high power 7.62mm was lessened.

Although commercial 5.56mm AR15s were first issued to Special Forces troops in spring of 1964, the U.S. Army began to issue the XM16E1, as it was first designated, in 1965 with most of them going to the newly raised and experimental Airmobile Divisions, the 1st Air Cavalry Division in particular. After many trials and tribulations the Army finally standardised an upgrade of the XM16E1 as the M16A1 in 1967 and the Model 603/M16A1 remained the primary infantry rifle of U.S. forces in Vietnam until the end of direct U.S. ground involvement. It also became the standard service rifle for all U.S. military ground forces after it fully replaced the M14 service rifle in 1970.

The CAR-15 XM177 or CAR-15 Commando was a part of the CAR-15 Military Weapons System designed in 1966 in response to the US military’s desire for a compact M16 variant to improve on the inadequacies of earlier shortened

barrel from 10 to 11.5 inches (254 to 292 mm). The increased length reduced noise and muzzle flash and allowed fitting of the Colt XM148 grenade launcher; a metal boss was added to the moderator for mounting of the XM148 and rifle grenades. The Commandos with the longer barrels were called the Model 629 and Model 649. In April 1967, the Army purchased 510 Colt 629 Commandos for use by troops assigned to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) and designated them XM177E2.

handguards on the XM out. It’s a shame that just a of simple fixes could have both models spot-on, least from a distance. replicas though sturdily made of metal, only the pistol grip, and handguards being of a nice matt black plastic. The metal parts, rather than just being a shoddily painted black, are a rich matt black and although there are absolutely no trades, finishing touches like the “duckbill” on the M16 and the distinctive moderator on the XM are nice touches.

I do wish though, that manufacturers would stop just chucking on a “duckbill” and calling it a VN, as the final Model 603/ M16A1 that was issued featured a simple

glare couple made at Both are with butt, made

GOOD TO GO!

So, there’s a LOT of history behind the M16 and the XM and for any airsofter, having an early model in the collection really does encompass many eras and conflicts. Yes, of course it can be used for Vietnam themed games but it also would be acceptable for many Cold War and Falkland War Scenarios as the M16 was used heavily by UK Special Forces and the Royal Marines during those “on/off” conflicts.

Both the JG M16 and the XM basically follow the “Nam Feature Set” in enough ways that even a purist like me can live the things that aren’t quite correct. Apart from receiver anomalies (which may be easily overlooked), the butt and the slip/delta ring on the M16 are not period-correct and the singlepoint sling point and oversized oval

“birdcage”...

Internally things are bombproof, as with both models you get a reinforced gearbox shell with steel ball bearings 8mm, reinforced spring guide www.airsoft-action.online

33

armoury JG NAMSOFT ARS

with bearings, steel gears, reinforced piston with reinforced directional piston head and a reinforced brass cylinder head, along with a tried and tested long type motor.

There’s nothing here that’s going to excite you greatly but all of the components are solid and work efficiently together.

Both models, given the price, are actually quite impressive and even on a 7.4V LiPo they really do crack away. Bear in mind that most Vietnam themed airsoft games will have strict limits and ammo you’re going to want to stick on semiauto anyway.

The metal 150 BB

magazine is the short type first issued with the M16; on both models it feeds absolutely flawlessly and once loaded snaps into place with no wobble.

ON THE RANGE

I loaded the magazine up with a full complement of my usual RZR 2.0g test BBs and got to work. 10 rounds through the chrono gave me a perfectly acceptable mean of 1 Joule/329fps on the XM and 1.04 Joule/335fps on the M16. Usually JGs come as standard with an M120 spring but Taiwangun will sort this for you prior to shipping if requested. Setting targets out to 30 metres I was able to get reasonable groupings on semi-auto for both the rifle and the carbine, with things opening out marginally when I switched the selector up to full. My thought is that with a bit of fettling you could really have very, very accurate AEGs on your hands here - although they’re no slouches straight out of the box, which bears out what I found with the original models in the USA some years back.

I’ve seen many manufacturers have a crack at an “M16VN” and the “XM” only to be let down by silly things like using the wrong pistol grip or handguard slip ring; although such things will only be noticed by a true “stitch bitch” once you know, you just can’t un-know. There are, on closer inspection, a couple of things that are needed with the JGs, namely the slip ring and flash hider on the M16 and the handguards on the XM. Luckily I was able to secure a pair of G&P XM handguards

from the lovely people at www.airsoftzone. co.uk, which immediately make me feel happier (thanks so much guys - and for the super-quick service too!), and fitting a “birdcage” was a no-brainer but, to date, I’m still searching for the elusive flat slip ring for the M16...

In a nutshell, neither of these AEGs are “Living History” standard replicas but in terms of look, feel and finish, they will both work perfectly for “Namsoft” unless you’re a real stickler - and most certainly they will look a million times better than a railed M4 wrapped in rags!

With that retail price of under £150 what you’re getting is extremely good value for money and I’d be happy to see either of these at any Nam game!

My thanks again go to www. taiwangun.com for supplying the review samples and whilst they are not the only retailer with JG Works, they do tend

to keep good, regularly updated stock levels on their website, and from my experience their service has been absolutely first rate!

“IN A NUTSHELL, NEITHER OF THESE AEGS ARE “LIVING HISTORY” STANDARD REPLICAS BUT IN TERMS OF LOOK, FEEL AND FINISH, THEY WILL BOTH WORK PERFECTLY FOR “NAMSOFT” UNLESS YOU’RE A REAL STICKLER - AND MOST CERTAINLY THEY WILL LOOK A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN A RAILED M4 WRAPPED IN RAGS!” www.airsoft-action.online

35

THE COLLECTOR

THE COLLECTOR: EARLY M16

FRENCHIE CONTINUES HIS SERIES ON COLLECTABLES WITH A FIRST LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC WEAPONS WE HAVE – BOTH IN REAL LIFE AND IN AIRSOFT… THE AR15.

EARLY M16 I

knew that at some point in this series I was going to have to address AR15s in all their various guises and the prospect filled me with a certain amount of dread.

The reason? There are simply so many variants of this iconic rifle, not just variants reflecting all the different forms of AR15 produced, but the sheer number of airsoft replicas produced. If I thought the AK was a bit of a chore this is worse by a factor of lots!

Consequently, I am going to break this down into various categories over several articles – this is the only way I can see to make any sensible comments and recommendations. I’ll therefore start right at the beginning, which also happens to be where my own preferences and interests lie – the very first M16s to see service. This covers the AR15 and the various interim models that resulted in the M16A1, specifically the Colt made models 601, 602 and 603.

601, 2, 3

Model 601 was firmly a prototype with limited production and the ones that went

to the military (U.S. and others) were largely used for testing, although 8,500 went to the Airforce and some will have found their way to Vietnam. Don’t expect to find an airsoft version of this gun.

Model 602 is much more interesting and you can find replicas of this rifle as airsoft guns. Finally, the Model 603 would be adopted as the M16A1, incorporating the changes requested by the US Army, some of those necessitated by foolishness on the part of that same army.

Production of the Model 602 started in 1963 and some 19,000 would find their way into the US Army’s inventory. Although superseded by the 603, their use would continue for years with the Air Force and with the Army itself and you will find photographs from 1967 featuring the 602.

The 602 is the original “Vietnam” M16 – duckbill flash hider, no forward assist on the

right-hand side of the upper receiver, a partial fence (the reinforcing around the magazine well) and no drain holes in the foregrip. Consequently, they should be found with chromed bolt groups lacking

“THE ONLY AIRSOFT VERSION OF THIS I CAN RECALL WAS MADE BY G&P AND I AM SCRATCHING MY MEMORY HERE AS IT WAS OWNED BY A PLAYER I KNEW YEARS AGO. IRONICALLY, HE RECEIVED SOME GRIEF FROM A COUPLE OF OTHER PLAYERS BECAUSE HIS M16 “WASN’T RIGHT”, WHICH SIMPLY CONFIRMS HIS TASTE AND THEIR IGNORANCE.” 74

DECEMBER 2019

THE COLLECTOR EARLY M16

its production. This is handy as it means that the Classic Army offering is genuinely correct because there is no definitive version.

If I recall, G&P also made a largely correct version of this rifle which represented the later 603 production with the bird cage and black bolt carrier, however, taking some time to look around for it, it seems it has joined rocking horse poo in the endangered lists.

W.E. made a rather nice gas blowback M16A1 but it was absolutely a M16A1 as issued to troops in Vietnam and beyond.

WHAT TO BUY?

the serrations later added to make the forward assist work. The only airsoft version of this I can recall was made by G&P and I am scratching my memory here as it was owned by a player I knew years ago. Ironically, he received some grief from a couple of other players because his M16 “wasn’t right”, which simply confirms his taste and their ignorance. The receiver was correct, lacking most of the fencing, the flash hider was correct, the grip was correct, and I honestly cannot recall if the bolt was correct. I think it was black, which was wrong, and I cannot recall if it had the forward assist serrations, which would have been wrong. Sadly, I have been unable to track down any images of this as it was an older G&P model and the years and trademark disputes have taken their toll. The last G&P “Vietnam” M16 I saw was so wrong as to be not worth mentioning. If you can find one of the originals, it might be worth grabbing if the price is right.

XM16E3/M16A1

When you move onto the 603, or the XM16E3 as it was in US Army service, things get a little easier. I have written previously about the shambles and nearly criminal actions of the US Department of Defence which resulted in a number of problems with the early M16s and which was paid for in the lives of US troops, there simply isn’t space here to go into all of that. This was the cause of the reputation that the M16 acquired for unreliability

and had nothing to do with Gene Stoner’s original design. The model 603 and the subsequent M16A1 was an attempt to fix problems largely of the Army’s own making.

There are a couple of hybrid models out there, of which my favourite is made by Classic Army. It incorporates most of the features of the XM16E3 with a couple of nods to the M16A1. (My apologies as we are getting into stitch counting here!) The receiver is about spot on, as is the front end. The duckbill flash hider did appear on some of these rifles but was replaced with the six-hole “bird cage” hider during production. It features the forward assist with the correct original button, and the chrome bolt carrier was found on earlier production guns, being replaced with a grey/black phosphate finish in later production. The stock is the newer variant, but Classic Army have used the M16A1 sling swivel which is inset into the stock and with which you will all be familiar. In fact, the Model 603 used a swivel that was more like a hunting rifle, having a screw-in stud to which the loop attached.

The thing about the XM16E3 is that it was very much a transitional model and therefore changed during

So – what to buy?

Frankly, if you want an early Vietnam M16, Classic Army is the best choice.

Although it is a bit of a mix of features, as I noted above that mixture did exist, was issued and was used. It has a grey finish which I personally like, and I suspect that it would weather nicely if you were so minded. Marui still make their M16 VN, but like all older Marui models it is scarce and less robust than the Classic Army while offering little else to recommend it.

G&P are simply no longer in the running here and most of the Chinese versions are cobbled together from M16A1/M16A2s with little care for accuracy.

The Classic Army will serve well as a wall hanger or a re-enactor’s prop and it is a perfectly capable airsoft gun should you wish to rock it on the field. I had one, I sold it to a re-enactor and while I don’t regret doing so, it was as close as I ever got to my ideal Vietnam-era M16.

I am indebted to https://bpullignwolnet. dotster.com/retroblackrifle/ for some much of the information concerning M16 variants. If this floats your boat, this website should be in your bookmarks. AA

“IF I RECALL, G&P ALSO MADE A LARGELY CORRECT VERSION OF THIS RIFLE WHICH REPRESENTED THE LATER 603 PRODUCTION WITH THE BIRD CAGE AND BLACK BOLT CARRIER, HOWEVER, TAKING SOME TIME TO LOOK AROUND FOR IT, IT SEEMS IT HAS JOINED ROCKING HORSE POO IN THE ENDANGERED LISTS.”

www.airsoft-action.online

75

The best watch brand you’ve never heard of.

You won’t find Nite watches in high street jewellers, department stores or marketplace websites - not because they don’t ask us to, but because we prefer to deal directly with you, our owners.

We know that by operating this way we are missing out on selling thousands more watches every year, but we don’t mind.

We enjoy getting to know our customers – hearing their stories, sharing their passions and celebrating their milestones.

It’s good for you too.

Instead of a large portion of the watch price going towards expensive middlemen, extravagant watch displays and celebrity endorsements, we’re able to invest that money and knowledge back into our watches.

The result of this means that our watches offer superb value for money whilst being tailored to our customers needs with features such as the market leading Tritium illumination, Swiss made movements and scratch-resistant Sapphire crystal found in each and every Nite watch.

Ok, so you’ve heard of us now.

Explore the full collection online and see what you think.

www.nitewatches.com

KIT & GEAR HELIKON-TEX

AT AIRSOFT ACTION WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT GEAR EMERGING FROM UNUSUAL PLACES BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HELIKON-TEX FROM POLAND, THE QUALITY OF WHAT THEY PRODUCE IS NOTHING NEW! BILL TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THEIR LATEST CLOTHING MODELS THAT HAVE THE EMPHASIS ON “LOW KEY”.

T

o my mind, the remit of our manufacturer features and articles has always been about finding kit that’s on a budget, but that is also going to be 100% fit for purpose and give a good, long “service life”. Helikon-Tex are one of those manufacturers that are constantly pushing the boundaries of garment and gear manufacture forward and 2019 saw some serious updates to the new lines that were introduced this time last year.

These new designs feature new fabrics and technologies and there is (quite literally) something for everyone!

Helikon-Tex are by no means a newcomer to the tactical clothing and gear market, as the company was established in 1983 and has been producing clothing for the military, emergency services and the police since then. When HelikonTex was established their business was mainly concentrated on military surplus sales, however, changing trends and a fast-changing market in the mid-nineties demanded a new direction for them and in 1999 they decided to start their own military and security clothing production.

The range that they now offer is proof

that their decision was the correct one, as they now offer a really comprehensive selection of uniforms, tactical clothing, backpacks, boots and equipment that have gained recognition amongst professional users, soldiers, law enforcement officers, survival and outdoor enthusiasts all over the world and each and every year their offering drives forward with new designs.

I always look forward to visiting their stand at trade shows as, undoubtedly, there will be something improved or even brand new to see. The range is absolutely huge these days and they offer all their clothing and gear in multiple colourways.

Should you need camouflage, they work with some of the most up to date, cutting edge patterns available but if your AO is such that you need to run “low key” then you’ll also find muted hues ideal for tactical situations - and this is a direction that they’ve embraced!

They also work very closely indeed with technical fabric manufacturers, so when it comes to getting real performance from your clothing system then Helikon-Tex can pretty much guarantee they will have what you are looking for (visit their website and

check out their “Partners” page you’ll see exactly what I mean). They co-operate with the best specialists, not only in their native Poland, but beyond the borders as well.

Helikon-Tex have been able to harness the considerable experience of instructors and users, to assist in co-designing the new products in their different series collections and this has led to some particularly exciting developments!

THOROUGHLY MODERN

The design team at Helikon-Tex always seem to keep their eyes firmly on current trends within the tactical and outdoor performance markets, and the “prototype” garments that I saw at shows earlier this year are now starting to hit the stores.

Helikon-Tex don’t “tease us” with new designs, they show us what they’re thinking of and then make it happen By the time we see things at shows the garments (and gear) have already been through a rigorous development and testing process to ensure fitness for purpose, and I know that when something arrives for us to look at it will be from the initial production run. We don’t get any

“HELIKON-TEX HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HARNESS THE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE OF INSTRUCTORS AND USERS, TO ASSIST IN CO-DESIGNING THE NEW PRODUCTS IN THEIR DIFFERENT SERIES COLLECTIONS AND THIS HAS LED TO SOME PARTICULARLY EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS!”

40

DECEMBER 2019

KIT & GEAR HELIKON-TEX

special treatment, just the exact gear that you’ll be able to buy yourself!

MBDU

First up is the new Modern Battle Dress Uniform, or MBDU as Helikon-Tex call it. Made of 52% Nylon, 48% Cotton and with quality YKK zippers throughout, the MBDU Shirt has an anatomical cut and comes with stretch side panels made of VersaStretch fabric for added freedom of movement.

This comfortable combat shirt features a concealed-button front closure with Canadianstyle buttons and a classic collar which can be quickly transformed into a stand-up collar and fastened with hookand-loop.

There are two expandable zippered chest pockets, zippered pockets on the upper arms with internal loops for dummy cording, mesh panels in the armpits for enhanced breathability, reinforcements on the elbows, hook-and-loop adjustable cuffs as well as front rank tab closed with hook-andloop and a set of loop panels for morale and name patches, flags or IFF patches.

The matching MBDU Pants have a relaxed, profiled cut and come with gussets made of elastic VersaStretch fabric placed on the back area and in the crotch for added freedom of movement. These comfortable tactical trousers feature a standard zipper fly and front flap fastened with hook-and-loop, and wide belt loops able to support belt up to 45mm wide. In addition, there are articulated, reinforced knees which can accommodate protective pads, and drawstring adjustment in the leg cuffs for a customisable fit.

The MBDU Pants come with classic hip pockets with strengthened edges for knife clips, back pockets with reinforced edges for larger items, roomy cargo pockets on the thighs closed with Canadian-style buttons, and smaller lower leg pockets with hook-and-loop flaps for small essentials like a field

dressing. Made of outstanding fabrics and thoughtfully designed, this uniform is not only sturdy and very functional but also provides exceptional comfort and mobility.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

As much as we all like a uniform, these days there is definitely a trend towards what I can only describe as “Every Day Wear”, or EDW if you like! Whilst many of us like the utility of a “uniform” and the features that it offers we don’t always want to look like we’re in the military, do we? In fact, for some of you out there that prefer the “OPFOR Life” the last thing you want is to look in any way like a member of the “Task Force” is it?

To this end Helikon-Tex have looked minutely at the features that we all love, and how they can incorporate this into clothing designs that blend in. For those that like a more formal appearance then there is the Defender MK2 Tropical Shirt. Available in simple, unobtrusive plain colours this shirt is made of quickdrying, elastic polyester which guarantees

www.airsoft-action.online

41

CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK

MBDU® - Shirt and Pants Advanced Battle Uniform

- Anatomical cut with adjustable cuffs and easy to adjust waist - Side VersaStretch® panels for additional freedom of movement - Reinforced knees, compatible with Low Profile Protective Pads

www.helikon-tex.com

Journey to perfection

KIT & GEAR HELIKON-TEX

breathability and thermal comfort in hot weather, along with proper UV protection thanks to the UPF30 fabric. It comes with a traditional non-rolling collar lined with skin-friendly material, a buttoned front with tough, subtly Helikon branded buttons, two flapped chest pockets closed with hook and loop, two further hidden flat pockets closed with YKK zippers, mesh ventilation armpit inserts and inner mesh panels for improved coolness, sunglasses loop and button cuffs. This is the perfect companion for summer and tropical weather.

Based on the same sympathetic design the Defender MK2 Pilgrim is an especially comfortable and exceptionally functional shirt designed to endure the harshest of changing environmental conditions. It is made of breathable and soft fabric which resembles a cotton flannel and has the addition of odour-controlling DuPont Sorona and UPF50 index for an enhanced UV protection. The shirt comes with a traditional non-rolling collar, buttoned front again with durable, subtly Helikon branded buttons, two flapped chest pockets closed with hook and loop, two additional hidden flat pockets closed with YKK zippers, sunglasses loop and button cuffs.

Combining the very best of both the uniform and EDW designs though, is the MBDU Flannel Shirt, and what can look better than a plaid shirt? The shirt is based on the classic MBDU shirt, and made of lightweight, yet durable fabric it provides proper antibacterial properties even during prolonged use, while the UPF50 index provides UV protection. Side VersaStretch panels guarantee freedom of movement

during dynamic activities, and zippered pockets with YKK zippers on the chest and shoulders will accommodate all your essentials. Additionally, the loop panels on biceps allow for easy personalization with unit patches when needed. As Helikon-Tex say themselves “this shirt is a must have for any urban operations”, and I have to say that I’m totally in agreement with them on this!

This is a very, very focussed set of additions to the already extensive range of top-quality products offered

by Helikon-Tex and is really impressive.

They’ve looked at really driving their clothing range forward, and cleverly come up with top quality, high-performance designs to do this, and I am extremely interested to see where Helikon-Tex go next with their “EDW” gear!

All the new designs are available online to look at, at www.helikon-tex.com and I am really looking forward to seeing what they have for 2020 when I see them at SHOT! AA

www.airsoft-action.online

43

KIT & GEAR NIGHT COMMANDER TORCH

MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER, FINDS A WELL-FEATURED, COMPACT TORCH THAT PACKS A PUNCH AND WON’T BREAK THE BANK.

Y

ou’ve got to admit, it is a great name for a torch and actually this powerful little torch (or flashlight in USA-parlance) made by iProtec and distributed by True Brands in the UK – a subsidiary of Alliance Sports Group of Texas - lives up to its name.

At five inches it is compact enough to fit comfortably in your hand but also features a steel clip to allow it to be attached to a belt or web gear. The head swivels through 90º making it a neat right angle torch and the base has a magnet so it is an ideal work light when you are, for example, fixing a vehicle engine, reading a map, or working on your kit. With the head at 90º it is four inches long.

However, the really impressive feature of this little torch are the three light modes.

CHIPS ON BOARD

The Night Commander utilizes COB (Chips on Board) Technology, a new innovation in LED technology that features smaller, easier clustered LED chips mounted directly to the circuit board. These LED chips, in turn, work together as one lighting module and because of the compact design, outperform traditional lighting by up to 50 times the light output per centimetre of light surface.

At a press of the button the Night Commander can be a 220 Lumens work light, press again and it becomes a 250 Lumens flashlight while a third press converts to a 15 Lumens intense red.

The flashlight and work light are also “dimable”.

Once the light has been turned on, hold the button down to dim the light between 250 - 45 lumens and release the button when you have reached the desired output. On high power (250 Lumens) as a flashlight, the torch has a run time of 3.5 hours and range of 113 metres and on low power (45 Lumens), 15 hours and 51 metres. The work light on high power (220 Lumens) burns for 2.75 hours with a range of 21 metres and on low power (30 Lumens), 22 hours with a range of 7 metres. The red light burns for 6.5 hours with a range of six metres. All this illumination comes from four AAA Alkaline batteries.

As anyone who has worked/patrolled/ fought at night will know, red light does not impair night vision so this feature is very handy – it is also useful in an emergency to signal danger.

The torch is made from anodized aircraft grade aluminium with a textured rubber grip around the barrel.

So what does this handy little flashlight cost? Best value I have found is Heinnie Haines of South Wales, where it is £25.95.

If you look elsewhere you can find the same flashlight at prices up to £34.95. AA

“ONCE THE LIGHT HAS BEEN TURNED ON, HOLD THE BUTTON DOWN TO DIM THE LIGHT BETWEEN 250 - 45 LUMENS AND RELEASE THE BUTTON WHEN YOU HAVE REACHED THE DESIRED OUTPUT.”

www.airsoft-action.online

45

LIFE WITH AN...

AEG

LIFE WITH AN...

AEG

IN THE LATEST INSTALMENT LOOKING AT GAMEPLAY WITH DIFFERENT KINDS OF RIF, STEVE T TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE EVER-POPULAR BATTERY-POWERED MAINSTAY OF AIRSOFT.

A

h, the good old AEG; the bread and butter of the airsoft world. Hasn’t every airsofter owned at least one at some point? And usually more than one at any given time if you’re anything like us…

The whole point of this series is to explore how different RIFs either dictate or enable different ways to play - we’ve already looked at bolt action snipers and Gas BlowBack Rifles, but now it’s the turn of the everyman AEG. The good old Automatic Electric Gun (AEG) is the default primary for most players and while most of us know what one feels like, many have little to no experience of other platforms, so let’s look at what sets the AEG apart from the alternatives.

SETTING THE SCENE

Bear with me, veterans, while I briefly set the scene for less experienced players…

An AEG is a RIF capable of automatic fire and powered by a battery - and we’re not talking the AAs from your TV remote! Choices are mostly between rechargeable packs of LiFe, NiMH, or LiPo cells; the kind of thing you might also use in a radio control model. We don’t have time to go into the differences here - that’s a whole article on its own - but the principles are broadly the

same.

Of course, being an electrical system, batteries need charging before every game. Depending on your combination of battery and charger, that could take anything from half-an-hour up to two hours the night before a game - or even more! That time spent waiting can be filled with bombing up mags, packing pistols and checking your loadout but it’s still a pain in the proverbial posterior!

Your loading time will be longer the night before you play compared with a gas or springer rifle, but that’s the last inconvenience you’ll face all weekend by comparison.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Regular readers of this series will recall that I’m a big fan of GBBRs. But if they’re so much - quote, unqoute -

“better”, why do AEGs continue to dominate?

The simple answer is that they offer so many benefits to most users that combine to outweigh the sheer thrill of a gas-powered RIF - especially if you’re on a budget. You can buy an AEG - typically an M4/AR - for well under £200 that will be solid in any skirmish. That’s between one-third to two-thirds the price of a decent GBBR, depending on who you ask.

We might be happy to spend two or three times that for a primary, but the sub-£200 tier is the sweet spot for a lot of players, which is why it’s so hotly contested between manufacturers.

OK, at that price you’re probably looking at plastic being used in the construction somewhere (or completely)

rather than full-metal, but not only does that not affect performance, it also has a practical benefit in that it makes an AEG lighter to carry for a full day onsite. And a less fatigued player is a more effective

“THERE’S NOTHING TO VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF PHYSICAL SENSATION. THERE’S ALSO A DISAPPOINTING LACK OF AUDIO FEEDBACK - THESE RIFS MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE REAL DEAL, BUT THE SENSATION FROM AN AEG IS DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTING …IF THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR.” 46

DECEMBER 2019

LIFE WITH AN...

AEG

player.

LACKING FEELING

How does an AEG feel to shoot? Well,

you pull the trigger, there’s an electrical connection and the BBs are sent.

There’s nothing to very little in the way of physical sensation. There’s also a disappointing lack of audio feedback these RIFs might look like the real deal, but the sensation from an AEG is definitely disappointing …if that’s what you’re looking for.

One way that premium AEGs can redress the balance (in terms of feel) with GBBRs is with Electronic Blowback Recoil, or EBR. These systems divert a proportion of the battery power from sending the BB, to moving a physical weight to imitate the recoil of a real firearm. I’ve only used a couple of these systems personally and while they add just a little sumtin’ extra, the perceived feedback doesn’t outweigh the added risk of system failure, so I can see why some users choose to disable them.

THE BEST OF ALL THINGS?

AEGs truly are the best of all things to all men. And women. There may be alternatives that outperform an AEG within specific parameters, but from the moment you start looking for your new pew and understand their ready availability, to realising the wide range of models on offer, the AEG is well established in the forefront of any airsofter’s mind for good reason.

That convenience continues after purchase, too. Typically, AEGs just work.

Barring substandard manufacture, as long as the battery is charged, all connections are good and the gearbox hasn’t shredded its innards, an AEG will shoot all day long, every day. There’s no need for a laborious maintenance regime between games. That said, however, when a gearbox does give up the ghost, it’s probably not something the average tinkerer wants to look at. AEG users trade everyday usability against the

ability for a home remedy in case of a jam.

You pays yer money...

ROUNDING UP!

There’s one immediate and obvious advantage to AEGs on game day - and that’s magazine capacity. Depending on how hard you lean on the trigger, you could legitimately head out for a reasonably short game of up to half a day with just one hi-cap mag.

With a capacity of 500 rounds plugged into your AEG and just the slightest trigger restraint, you could conceivably never run out of ammo between trips to the safe zone. That makes you an instant support weapon without the extra weight - and that’s before you even consider that some sites allow drum mags too. As long as you don’t mind manually winding-on high capacity magazines, there’s just no need to carry bulky extra mags with an AEG if you don’t want to - unless you leave the safe zone just once for a full day’s play.

And if you do choose to carry multiple magazines? Well, you could just spray and pray to your heart’s content. As advocates for a tactical approach to the sport, we’d be the first to advise against it as a strategy, but if you really can’t shoot straight for toffee, then y’know… you won’t be alone.

You’ll never be exactly popular, but you wouldn’t be the only one out there.

For my part, I carry three mid-caps for any AEG for some kind of realism, plus one hi-cap for when the shizzle hits the fan, simply to avoid even more immersion-breaking from in-game thumb-driven reloads. But it’s totally up to you just how authentic you want to make the combat experience of airsoft.

AEG GIVES YOU THE CHOICE

Beyond price and convenience, the beauty of an AEG is that the platform is so versatile that it enables airsofters to play how they want to. If you want to run ammo levels much like the real world with mid-caps, you can. Or if you want to pile in with a crazy-high videogame ammo count, you can do that too.

Unlike gas or spring powered platforms that demand concessions from players to maximise their potential, the common or garden AEG remains the best choice for most airsofters, most of the time. AA

“FOR MY PART, I CARRY THREE MID-CAPS FOR ANY AEG FOR SOME KIND OF REALISM, PLUS ONE HI-CAP FOR WHEN THE SHIZZLE HITS THE FAN, SIMPLY TO AVOID EVEN MORE IMMERSION-BREAKING FROM IN-GAME THUMB-DRIVEN RELOADS.” www.airsoft-action.online

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KIT & GEAR VIPER VX

IT’S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE WE GOT TOGETHER WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT VIPER TO CHECK OUT ALL THAT’S BEEN HAPPENING IN THEIR EVER-GROWING RANGE OF TACTICAL GEAR AND CLOTHING SO BILL DELVES INTO THE NEW “VX BUCKLE UP” RANGE AND BRINGS IN HIS VERDICT!

T

his year at the National Airsoft Festival a fabulously versatile system. The initial money if you want something REALLY I had chance to spend some time with releases really gave an indication of what distinctive! With multiple adjustment Gav from VIPER, to take a really close was going to be happening in relation to look at the very latest items the brand has VIPER gear, as they were absolutely 100% brought into the market. better than anything that had come before For yonks now VIPER have been from the brand. This is a completely new providing great entry level tactical clothing system for them, and it’s all the better for and gear but their new range takes things that! up into a whole new level. Although Before I launch into the new “VX” they have produced all sorts of gear range though, I need to first make and clothing before, it’s superb to see comment on a couple of new clothing the new “VX Buckle Up” range, which models which are pretty darn exciting! takes modularity in exciting new directions and allows you a huge amount of versatility when it comes to setting up your gear just how “NOT ONLY HAVE THEY DEVELOPED you like it. The fabrics used and the quality achieved are better than NEW PRODUCTS BUT THEY’VE anything they’ve done before in my OBVIOUSLY HAD A VERY CLOSE LOOK opinion, and the designs are bang up to date.

AT HOW TRENDS HAVE DEVELOPED Not only have they developed IN THE TACTICAL WORLD, AND new products but they’ve obviously THE LATEST DESIGNS REFLECT A had a very close look at how trends have developed in the tactical THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE world, and the latest designs reflect “LIGHT IS RIGHT TACTICAL ATHLETE” a thorough understanding of the “light is right tactical athlete” APPROACH.” approach. The change to “mission adaptable” gear takes into account different methods of load carriage and adaptability from one primary platform to another whilst maintaining a solid “base”.

GEN 2 ELITE TROUSERS

RANGE UPDATES

The updates to the range have been arriving steadily but I really wanted to wait until it was pretty much complete before commenting, as it’s really a “collection” that works seamlessly together to give you 50

DECEMBER 2019

With an SRP now topping out around the £70 mark, the ripstop polycotton Elite Trousers have now moved into Gen 2 of their design and these just keep getting better and better. Although the basic trouser can be had for less, the latest VCBK camo version is most definitely worth the

KIT & GEAR VIPER VX

of V-stretch material allows for a more athletic feel and additional comfort.

ULTIMA JACKET

features these trousers can be modified to the user’s own shape for comfort and feel. The built in, yet removable, ABS knee pads with neoprene lining also offer comfort, protection and durability for hard use. There’s a velcro waist closure and zipped fly, along with elasticated waist adjustment. There are two regular, angled thigh pockets which are easy to access, two buttoned back pockets, two deep cargo pockets, and two ankle utility pockets.

Velcro knee retention tabs keep the knee pads exactly where you need them, along with internal pad adjusters located in front two pockets; this is a neat feature as the pads can effectively be “lifted” to position them perfectly. The ankle closures are also velcro tabs which can be set to snug in around the cuffs of high leg boots keeping dust, dirt and debris out effectively.

With all the features and the level of adjustment the ELITE trousers can be set up very individually and offer great value for money, especially as the knee pads are included in the price, and the addition

Coming soon for the winter months is the new Ultima Jacket, which builds on the success of the Sneaker model and moves everything up a notch. This super jacket is a lightweight and packable design that benefits from a “Fishtail cut” to keep your lower back warm and a special Viper Tactical lining that’s designed specifically to increase comfort.

The jacket features elasticated cuffs with thumbhole, two hand warmer pockets, a concealed internal breast pocket, 2-way main zip, and an elasticated drawcord retention on the collar and waist to keep everything snugged in tight and help mitigate against heat loss. I’ve been trying to wear one of these for the last month or so, but it’s not yet really been cold enough; suffice to say this will make a superb “Safe Zone” garment for those chilly days ahead on site, and coming in at around the 90 quid mark it’s great value for money.

Overall both of these garments are a cracking addition to the VIPER range of clothing. They offer the cool look with the latest colours and patterns whilst not costing the earth; in fact you could pay as much for a jacket from another brand as you will for the VIPER jacket and trousers together! This has to be a good thing for airsofters on a budget.

solidly put together. The stitching is neat and well achieved so nothing is going to be falling apart any time soon. The individual components have been put together with full modularity in mind, All the gear is available in V-CAM, Black, Green, Tan and in some models Titanium as well, so there’s a lot to go at.

Essentially, with the “VX” system you will eventually be able to have a basic plate carrier with magazine carriage options at a great price but I understand from Gav that the carrier itself is undergoing a slight re-design before launch and I’ll be looking forward to seeing this as soon as it’s released.

Right now you can start your “VX” ball rolling with a simple chest rig in the form of the VX Buckle Up Utility Rig, which is just a simple multi-pouch affair but is basically all you need for a good day’s skirmish or a MilSim mission. Gav told

VX BUCKLE UP

In fairness, VIPER have been known in the past for their well priced tactical gear; their pouches especially have offered great “bang for your buck”. They have always traditionally offered a basic plate carrier and chest rig that are perfect for airsoft.

That has certainly changed this year though, as the new range contains some absolute corkers when it comes to thoughtful and innovative design and clever use of materials. The entire range, rigs, pouches and accessories are all (tough as old boots) 700D Polytech and are very

me that by simply unbuckling the basic H-Harness from the rig and removing a plain panel you can attach these to the planned plate carrier, giving great versatility.

MULTIPLE OPTIONS

If you need to change out the load carriage on the rig, VIPER gives you multiple options! There are three pack options…

“…THE NEW RANGE CONTAINS SOME ABSOLUTE CORKERS WHEN IT COMES TO THOUGHTFUL AND INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND CLEVER USE OF MATERIALS. THE ENTIRE RANGE, RIGS, POUCHES AND ACCESSORIES ARE ALL (TOUGH AS OLD BOOTS) 700D POLYTECH AND ARE VERY SOLIDLY PUT TOGETHER”

www.airsoft-action.online

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KIT & GEAR VIPER VX

At approximately 15L, the VX Vortex Pack is an all-purpose rucksack designed to fit various tactical situations. In the front you will find two Spandex zipped pockets and a zipped main compartment access. On the sides of the pack we added a MOLLE panel, Spandex pocket and two quick-release straps. On the back panel VIPER have used 3D mesh padding for better grip and ventilation, along with two fully padded adjustable shoulder straps.

If, however, you want to keep things “covert” then the VX Express Pack is a similar sized ruck packed with plenty of features. The main compartment can be accessed via an express opening system at the front of the rucksack and inside you will find five internal zipped compartments and a tear away internal grab bag. The interior of the bag is lined with Velcro which makes it compatible with the Viper VX range. An additional two Spandex pockets to the sides with a MOLLE attachment panel above each further expand the Express Pack’s versatility. To the back panel you will find 3D mesh padding for better grip and ventilation as well as two fully padded and adjustable shoulder straps. The style of this pack fits both tactical and urban environments.

My absolute fave in the new pack models though, has to be the VX Buckle Up Charger Pack, which takes versatility to another level. This pack consists of one main compartment and one front compartment, both of which are expandable giving you from 4 to 14L capacity; one moment it’s a simple hydration pack, and the next you open it out so it becomes big enough to keep you in the field with all your essentials for a full day of skirmishing! It is also 100% VX Buckle Up compatible and will work in conjunction with any Viper VX Buckle Up system and with adjustable/removable shoulder straps and MOLLE attachment, this pack will fit into most loadout configurations.

The other items which I was very pleased to receive for testing were the VX Buckle Up Gun Carrier (this really is a very nice bit of kit whichever way you look at it) and the VX Sling. The VX Buckle Up Gun Carrier is fully compatible with the VX Buckle Up range, and on the front

The bag can be carried with two main grab handles or it can be used as a rucksack, thanks to padded shoulder straps. At the back VIPER have used padded mesh panels to enhance comfort whilst wearing the carrier. The front zipped admin compartment will fit a 10” tablet, A5 notebook or any small valuables you may want to store there.

The VX Sling is a right little cracker of a two-point design that features a quickadjust pull system for fast transition and two removable snap clips. This is fully adjustable and it works well on all models of RIF that I own.

SUMMARY

of the bag there are four quick release buckles and three Velcro ID/Attachment panels. Inside you will find Velcro lining for weapon retention and magazine inserts.

Although it’s not the very first setup like this that I’ve come across, all in all I’m actually rather impressed with the “VX” system given the price and the quality.

I’ve been running the rig with inserts in the form of the VX Pistol, Rifle and SMG magazine sleeves (as well as the VX Shotgun Cartridge Holder and Pistol Sleeve) and it’s already stood up to the same abuse as my “gucci” gear and acquitted itself well. There are still more items in the range that I haven’t included, not because they’re not good but because they are still to be added to this growing range. All of the VX items add to an already comprehensive range that VIPER offer, a range that will quite literally allow you to choose your gear from head to toe and I know there’s even more to come!

In the meantime, to keep up to date with the new VIPER tactical products as they become available visit www.viperkit. co.uk. You’ll also be able to find full stockist details there too. You can also follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated. VIPER have also offered us the chance to let you have a set of the new VX gear so keep your eyes on the Airsoft Action Facebook page for more details of “How to Win” soon! AA

www.airsoft-action.online

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THE CAGE CAMO

THE CAGE:

CAMO

THIS MONTH BILL GOT TOGETHER WITH THE TEAM TO TALK ABOUT ALL THINGS “CAMO” AND THE CONVERSATION TURNED A LITTLE HEATED TO SAY THE LEAST, AS APPARENTLY YOUR PERSONAL CHOICE OF PATTERN IS AS PERSONAL AS IT CAN BE!

T

he dictionary definition of “camouflage”, should you care to look it up, comes as either a noun or a verb: • Noun: the disguising of military personnel, equipment, and installations by painting or covering them to make them blend in with their surroundings.

• Verb: hide or disguise the presence of (a person, animal, or object) by means of camouflage.

Basically, when we look at camouflage in an airsoft sense, you could argue that there are two purposes for it. The first is to effectively conceal ourselves in a given setting by use of a pattern that disrupts our shape and silhouette, making it more difficult for our opponent to find us. The second reason is a little more contentious, in that many players appear to choose a camouflage pattern not so much for its effectiveness but more for the fact that it is the current “thing” to be seen in!

Online sources tell me that: “Camouflage

is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see (crypsis), or by disguising them as something else (mimesis). Examples include the leopard’s spotted coat and the battledress of a modern soldier. A third approach, motion dazzle, confuses the observer with a conspicuous pattern, making the object visible but momentarily harder to locate.

The majority of camouflage methods aim for crypsis, often through a general resemblance to the background, high contrast disruptive coloration, eliminating shadow, and countershading.”

ORIGINS

Although camouflage in a military sense probably dates back to the dawn of conflict itself, it was during the 19th century that “scientific” military usage really came to the fore, driven by the increasing range and accuracy of infantry firearms. The 95th Rifle Regiment and the 60th Rifle Regiment were allegedly the first British units to adopt camouflage (in the form of a rifle green jacket),

while the Line regiments continued to wear scarlet tunics. Although, even back then, a contemporary study in 1800, by the English artist and soldier Charles Hamilton Smith, provided evidence that grey uniforms were less visible than green ones at a range of 150 yards. I guess what goes round comes round, even in terms of effective camouflage!

In WWI the French army formed a camouflage corps, led by Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scévola, employing artists known as “camoufleurs”, to create schemes such as tree observation posts and covers for guns. Other armies soon followed them but the term “camouflage” probably comes from “camoufler”, a Parisian slang term meaning to disguise and may have been influenced by “camouflet”, a French term meaning smoke blown in someone’s face.

During WWII the use of camouflage became more widespread, even at a very basic individual level. Camouflage was used extensively to protect equipment such as vehicles, guns, ships, aircraft and buildings as well as the individual soldier!

The Germans probably used more in

“…A CONTEMPORARY STUDY IN 1800, BY THE ENGLISH ARTIST AND SOLDIER CHARLES HAMILTON SMITH, PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT GREY UNIFORMS WERE LESS VISIBLE THAN GREEN ONES AT A RANGE OF 150 YARDS. I GUESS WHAT GOES ROUND COMES ROUND, EVEN IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVE CAMOUFLAGE!”

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DECEMBER 2019

THE CAGE CAMO

terms of camouflage uniforms than the other nations initially, with their family of patterns but soon British Paratroopers were sporting camouflaged Denison smocks and in the Pacific, the USMC made extensive use of the “Frog Skin” pattern, even going as far as to make it reversible in a “beach-jungle” pattern. Three- and five-colour frog-skin pattern uniforms were issued, based on a 1940 trial design, making the P42 uniforms and helmet covers theatre-adaptable! It is said that the pattern was not found to be particularly effective though in the European Theatre and it was withdrawn altogether in 1944 (in part because of anticipated friendly fire incidents after D-Day due to its similarity to the Waffen SS pattern).

VIETNAM ONWARDS

During the Vietnam War, the US fourcolour “ERDL” pattern saw limited use among specialist units in the U.S. Army, though most were issued the solid olive green OG107 sateens or jungle fatigues, while the Marines adopted the pattern service-wide after 1968. This pattern, in turn, helped in the development of the

“M81 Woodland” pattern that lasted in service for many years until, UCP and then Multicam took its place.

The British Army first used a form of DPM for the famous Denison smock issued to the Parachute Regiment and British Commandos from the early 1940s but from 1960, the British Army was issued with the 1960 Pattern field-uniform in Disruptive Pattern Material to replace earlier plain green uniforms.

A new British DPM was developed in the early 1960s, using the four basic western European temperate colours of black, dark brown, mid-green and a dark sand to make a very effective camouflage pattern that, in an updated and amended form, went on being issued until the new British Army Multi Terrain Pattern uniform for operations in Afghanistan was adopted. Initially issued to personnel deployed on Operation Herrick from March 2010, then issued more widely to HM Forces from 2011 onward replacing all DPM, including Woodland and Desert variants of the Combat Soldier 95 uniform by 2013.

Of course, it was not just the USA and

Great Britain that moved on in terms of personal camouflage uniforms, as around the world every nation decided what would work best for them and so the rainbow of camouflage patterns (some of them making you wonder what on earth the pattern developers were thinking of!) that we know today came into being.

As we have seen historically, this is often driven by far-seeing individuals thinking outside the box and taking new directions, with the fundamental starting point and understanding of “background, high contrast disruptive coloration, eliminating shadow, and countershading”.

Obviously, this is a massive paraphrasing of what I find to be a fascinating subject and as interested parties I would urge you to discover more about camouflage, the patterns and their origins if you so desire!

TEAM TALK!

So, this month I asked the AA team “what is your favourite camouflage pattern and why do you favour it?”

Callum: “DIGIFLORA FTW! It works, it’s

“…IT WAS NOT JUST THE USA AND GREAT BRITAIN THAT MOVED ON IN TERMS OF PERSONAL CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS, AS AROUND THE WORLD EVERY NATION DECIDED WHAT WOULD WORK BEST FOR THEM AND SO THE RAINBOW OF CAMOUFLAGE PATTERNS (SOME OF THEM MAKING YOU WONDER WHAT ON EARTH THE PATTERN DEVELOPERS WERE THINKING OF!) THAT WE KNOW TODAY CAME INTO BEING.” www.airsoft-action.online

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THE CAGE CAMO

not awash in the airsoft community, it looks awesome... anything Russian gives you +5 epic! I currently have Digiflora, PartiZan, ATACS FG, then more helmet cover variations than you can shake a stick at!”

Taz: “Original Spectre has the edge though! I have Digiflora winter, summer, vkbo, fleece suits; I am a fan though. SS Leto summer also an epic pattern but then Russia has more varieties of camo than heinz has flavours!”

Tom: “M81 US Woodland, nothing else looks anything like as good regardless of whatever my esteemed colleagues might say in the column. That’s purely on aesthetics though. In terms of performance I chop and change depending on the environment or the scenario being played.

“Manufacturer-wise I have clothing at all prices and quality levels and contrary to what you might read online you really do get what you pay for! My Crye and Arteryx gear is far and away nicer than my surplus army and “airsoft” brand clothing. Does that make me a snob? Probably, but I’m a very comfortable snob… I used to be all “it’s not worth it, can’t be that much difference, my £10 surplus trousers are great”. I was wrong!”

Phil: “Gen3 replica Multicam trousers with a black or ranger green polo shirt most of the time these days…”

Steve: “Anything that isn’t Multicam!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never needed to blend into arid surroundings playing airsoft in the UK. If you’re going to play in British woodland, then good old DPM’s a much better shout; I think the pattern is just a little sharp-edged though.

“I’m partial to a bit of ATACS FG, with its more organic shapes that blend into the background better. Plus, rightly or wrongly, it makes me feel like a member of the rebel alliance... Since I’m not in active service, Gucci brands seem like overkill to me for a Sunday in the woods. But at the same time, cheap Chinese knockoffs have been known to fall apart and for just a little more spend than surplus issue, you can get items with more features, more technical construction and more pockets!

“I’ve been impressed by Leo Köhler kit, but if you don’t want to spend that much, Viper Tactical’s products have improved so much in recent years. I quite often run their Elite trousers in Olive Drab for hot days as they’re lighter than many, but still seem to resist tearing.”

Paul Y: “I have recently started to wear DPM again, partly because of nostalgia, but mainly as I required a darker pattern!”

And for me? Well, that would of course depend on “timeline”! If it is WWII then it’s most definitely US “Frog Skin” and for “The Nam” it has to be Tigers, specifically the “silvers” from Moore Militaria in the USA. Moving into more recent times I still like a bit of DPM, although my time spent playing in the USA has left me with a strange kind of love for UCP… Multicam has had its day for me and is tucked away in my “dressing up boxes” but I still love a bit of ATACS AU and FG. Desert Tiger had its moment too, and there’s a Gorka in Partizan tucked away for those special moments somewhere. I have two main choices that I favour these days, PenCott GreenZone for woodland and plain Ranger/Foliage/Adaptive Green for all the “urban” style sites.

Ultimately your choice of camo will come down to you, your style of play and the sites that you play at most. There are so many patterns out there to choose from that we’re all a bit spoilt for choice, so enjoy what you chose to wear… and just avoid the Blaze Orange Hunting Patterns!

AA

www.airsoft-action.online

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The UK’s first show dedicated to Target Shooting and all its various disciplines under one roof !!

From Airsoft and skirmish to .50 Caliber long range precision shooting, this show is for you !!

The Target Shooting Show 2019 will promote, support and showcase all UK target shooting sports, including Gallery, CSR, F class, HFT, FT, Long Range Precision, Air Gun, Clay Pigeon, Simulated Game, English Sporting, Skeet, Trap, Practical, Black Powder, Classic Arms, Action Air and Airsoft to name but a few…

We want this show to be aimed at all target shooters in the UK - along with the clubs and associations representing those shooters.

Check out our Facebook page and website and we look forward to seeing you at the UK’s 1st ever gun show solely dedicated to target shooters !

Website: www.targetshootingshow.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/targetshootingshow

KIT & GEAR FAB TAVOR PODIUM BIPOD

GETTING ON THE PODIUM

STEVE T TESTS A REAL STEEL BIPOD BESPOKE TO IWI’S TAVOR TO SEE IF IT’S WORTHWHILE FOR AIRSOFT.

I

t’s always a risk buying real steel accessories hoping it will fit onto an airsoft RIF. But since KWA has a great reputation for matching its replicas 1:1, I took a punt on this Quick Deployment Bipod for Tar 21 Models by FAB Defense.

The Israeli company specialises in developing and manufacturing tactical equipment and weapon accessories, most notably for the State of Israel’s military and police, as well as special forces and SWAT teams worldwide. This is the real deal.

A PERFECT PLUG-IN

FAB’s “Podium” is a tailor-made bipod for the TAR 21 - and was even created

by Tamir Porat, designer of the original weapon.

This innovative bipod eschews the

conventional rail mount approach and plugs into the Tavor’s moulded grip instead. Simply remove the buttplate, insert the Podium and secure with tabs in the trigger

guard. It really couldn’t be much easier to install. It fit the Umarex IWI Tavor SAR Flattop GBB by KWA perfectly, but I don’t know whether the same can be said for earlier AEG versions.

Thanks to its unique design that’s bespoke to the Tavor, the result is a compact and sleek design with no protruding parts that also frees up valuable rail space for additional equipment.

Not that this matters, but it also makes this space gun look beefier too. If black’s just too dark for your tastes, then the Podium is also available in OD Green and Desert Tan. Made of light and durable high-end reinforced polymer composite, weighing in at just 160g the Podium is beautifully simple to deploy, too. Either slide your dominant hand down on the grip, or reach behind with your

supporting hand, to push the release button and the legs spring out with a satisfyingly solid action. With the magazine in place - immediately behind the grip on a bullpup, remember - we found that larger hands are better using the offhand because while it works great unloaded, space is just a little tight for the grip hand to drop down with the mag in place.

QUICK RESPONSE FORCE

Opinion may be divided whether bipods are really necessary in airsoft without having to worry about recoil - discuss! but the Podium really does provide a steady and durable platform. If you’re making a long shot, then having a stable base is only going to help. Removing human error such as stamina and muscle fatigue takes some of the variables out of the equation.

After all, that’s why zeroing in a scope is best done from a rested position at least or even better, a shooting support or rifle mount. While a bipod might not mean every hit lands on target, your kill ratio will only improve - if you have a suitable surface to rest on.

The old-skool might insist that metal is better but on this evidence, polymer is both lighter than other bipods I’ve used - and gives a steadier platform too. It deploys faster than a conventional underbarrel bipod that needs to be pressed into action one leg at a time and in about the same time as those you might find in a vertical foregrip, but with way more stability.

EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

I paid £59 online to import the Podium to the UK direct from the manufacturer in Israel. It arrived within the week, fit the KWA Tavor like a charm and works perfectly. Engineered to work with the real weapon, this bipod exceeds any airsofter’s needs - and I think it’s worth every penny.

AA www.airsoft-action.online

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versus INGRAM M14 EBR V UZI DRAGUNOV SVD

INGRAM VERSUS

UZI

WE SOMETIMES THINK THAT SMALL SMGS ARE A RELATIVELY RECENT DEVELOPMENT BUT IN FACT, LIKE MANY MILITARY FIREARMS, THEY’VE ACTUALLY BEEN AROUND A LOT LONGER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK! BILL DELVES INTO FIREARMS (AND AIRSOFT) HISTORY TO BRING TWO LITTLE POWERHOUSES HEAD TO HEAD!

I

am always genuinely fascinated when I start delving into firearms history, and as much as you think that you might know, there is always something new to discover!

I’ve made no bones about the fact that I do like super-short AEGs, and there are two models that I absolutely adore namely the Ingram MAC10 and the IMI Uzi! In my collection I have airsoft replicas of both and although I’m not usually a Tokyo Marui “fanboy”, I have to admit that both come from the unicorn-rearing Japanese manufacturer. Both are from the time when TM were obviously heavily influenced by the movie industry and both have been in the collection for some considerable time, as not only are they “iconic” models but they are both kind of unique in their own special way. They don’t get as much “field time” as they should but I’m pleased to say that both still work perfectly and finding a TM Uzi, especially in good working order these days, is a rare thing.

The benefit of holding on to certain models is that it gives you time to actually collect not only the AEG itself but also the spares and accessories to go with them. In

relation to the Uzi I’ve managed to snag a couple of non-working ones, along with spare mid and hi capacity magazines at boot fairs and shows. Although there is not one single airsoft tech I know that likes working on the Uzi (given its internal peculiarities), at least I have spares should something eventually go awry.

I’m often asked by friends and fellow players which of my collection I would hate

to part with most and if I am genuinely pushed, I have to admit that it would be the Uzi - but the “MAC” is not far behind in my estimations as both are utterly “of their time” and all the better for it!

The UZI

The Uzi for me is one of the “must have” airsoft replicas out there as it genuinely is such an iconic firearm. The very first

“FROM THE 1960S THROUGH THE 1980S, MORE UZI SUBMACHINE GUNS WERE SOLD TO MORE MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY MARKETS THAN ANY OTHER SUBMACHINE GUN EVER MADE”

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december 2019

VERSUS INGRAM V UZI

Uzi submachine gun was designed by Major Uziel Gal in the late 1940s, and the prototype was finished in 1950. First introduced to IDF Special Forces in 1954, the weapon was placed into general issue two years later. The Uzi has found use as a personal defence weapon by rear-echelon troops, officers, artillery troops and tankers, as well as a frontline weapon by elite light infantry assault forces. Uziel Gal did, in fairness, actually crib a few features from the Jaroslav Holecek-designed Czech ZK 476 (prototype only) and the production Sa 23, Sa 24, Sa 25, and Sa 26 series of submachine guns, namely in relation to the open-bolt, blowback operation. What truly makes it unique in my mind though, was the fact it was designed when Israel stood alone and it was produced entirely in that country.

Since its introduction the Uzi has been exported to over 90 countries. Over its service lifetime, it has been manufactured

by Israel Military Industries, FN Herstal, and other manufacturers. From the 1960s through the 1980s, more Uzi submachine guns were sold to more military, law enforcement and security markets than any other submachine gun ever made, so the coverage you get from this one model in relation to Vietnam, Cold War, FilmSim, and even modern day OPFOR airsoft is substantial!

BIG MAC ATTACK

Gordon Ingram, an American arms designer who previously developed several submachine guns under his own name,

such as the Thompson-like Model 6, began work on a really tiny SMG in around 1964. Designed with special operations in mind, several prototypes were made by Ingram by 1965, and in 1966 at least one prototype gun was purchased by US Army for test and evaluation.

In 1969 Ingram joined Sionics, who had previously manufactured silencers for small arms and it was as this point that the Ingram went into full production. In 1970 Sionics was incorporated into the Military Armament Corporation (or MAC), located in Powder Springs and production commenced with two versions of the Ingram, the Model 10 (M10), chambered for 9x19 or .45ACP ammunition, and smaller Model 11 (M11), chambered for 9x17 (9mm Short or .380ACP). Both versions were available with suppressors developed by Sionics/MAC. MAC ceased production in 1976 and manufacturing rights for the Ingram M10 and M11 (nomenclature-wise it was never the MAC!) sub-machine guns were transferred to RPB Industries Inc, located in Atlanta.

The M10/M11 sadly didn’t generate a lot of interest from the U.S. Military due to its small size and high rate of fire (too high it turned out for most operational uses!). It was an awkward weapon to fire and was most popular when mated with the efficient Sionics Two Stage Sound Suppressor. It is rumoured that the CIA used the M10 in Vietnam and that it also underwent evaluation by the SEALs, and Special Ops units from other countries including Israel, the UK and West Germany also evaluated versions of the M10

during that time period. Unfortunately, no major military customer ever formally adopted the weapon. Copies of the M10 were manufactured in Taiwan and Japan; original Ingrams were also sold to Chile and Yugoslavia during early 1970s, and the South African Armscor BXP was based on the Ingram Model 10 design, so again as an airsoft replica it’s one that covers many bases.

I’ve had a number of gas “MACs” over the years but my personal favourite is still the TM AEG, or realistically AEP, as the “package” contains not just the Ingram itself but also a replica of the Scionics Two Stage Suppressor, a webbing hand-strap, 65 BB metal magazine, loading tube and cleaning rod, and a special 7.2V 500mAh NiCd AEP battery with charger that powers everything along.

Other than the magazine the Marui Ingram features some metal parts such as the extendable folding stock, trigger, fire selector and safety, cocking handle and muzzle (the outer part of the muzzle unscrews to reveal a 14mm CCW thread should you wish to fit another flash hider), but the both the receivers and the suppressor are of classic TM high grade plastic. These days we tend to expect everything to be of full metal construction, but in my opinion the Ingram is no less a looker by being plastic; you have to remember that this was a model that was first launched in the UK back in 2007!

The chrono still gives a mean power output of 0.53 Joule/238fps using .20g BBs. If you have had a TM with a lower power output I’m sure you’ll join me in a little head-scratching as somehow the clever Japanese boffins manage to still get range and accuracy, as on the 30m range the little SMG is happily hitting the sandbags at the farthest extent.

AHEAD OF ITS TIME

Introduced at the back end of 1998, the TM Uzi was a long-awaited replica that proved an immediate hit with airsofters around the globe. With an EG1000R motor, and a completely unique V5 gearbox and piston design, the Uzi also offered a small amount of recoil/blowback vibration for added realism which TM christened “the recoil shock system”. Now you have to remember this was 1998, and

“BOTH ARE SUPER LITTLE AEGS, STURDY AS ANYTHING, AND EVEN AFTER MANY MOONS THEY STILL MANAGE TO RAISE AN EYEBROW WITH OTHER PLAYERS WHEN I (VERY!) OCCASIONALLY TAKE THEM OUT TO A GAME AND THEY SEE JUST HOW GOOD THE OLD TM’S ARE.” www.airsoft-action.online

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VERSUS INGRAM V UZI

TM were already talking about “recoil” so it does beg a question as to why it took them so long to bring their next one into production, doesn’t it?

Metal parts include the upper receiver, muzzle, trigger, magazine release, cocking lever, and folding stock; the stock itself is an absolute work of art, functioning exactly like the real thing, and is surprisingly solid if not exactly comfortable once it’s deployed. The plastic parts are made up of what was, back in 1998, the revolutionary “PCV Engineer Plastic” which is highly durable. In fact, if I look at my Uzi today the plastic parts have actually aged better than the metal!

So, is the old TM Uzi any good as a skirmisher I hear you ask? Well, as a CQB tool it’s absolutely ideal as (just like the real thing) it comes with semi and full auto

functionality - it also has a working grip safety which means even if you have it off safe it still won’t fire until you depress this. It’s relatively low-powered at just 0.55 Joule/245fps on a .20g BB, so again just perfect for CQB as it’s also super-accurate.

With a relatively low power output and a short 244mm inner barrel you’d probably be thinking that when it comes to outdoor games things would go a little south, but I can absolutely assure you that this is by no means the case! Admitted, you’re not ever going to get the range of even a half-way decent modern M4 but I’ve taken scalps out to 25 meters plus with it, so it’s no lightweight. In the close confines of the fern-beds we often encountered in a “Namsoft” game it was absolutely 100% the right tool for the job.

Although I’ve had other airsoft Uzis

and MACS over the years, such as the Guarder-enhanced WA/KWC CO2 “Mini Uzi” and the KWA MAC11 GBBR, these have come and gone and the TM’s have definitely proved to be the “keepers”.

Both are super little AEGs, sturdy as anything, and even after many moons they still manage to raise an eyebrow with other players when I (very!) occasionally take them out to a game and they see just how good the old TM’s are. With all the newer “military models” coming through from Tokyo Marui at the moment, I do hope that they might re-release both the Uzi and the MAC one day, or that someone makes versions that live up to the performance of the originals (oh, and a wood butt as standard would be nice for the Uzi!).

I’d have both again in a heartbeat!..AA

www.airsoft-action.online

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SURVIVAL BURNS

TREATING BURNS

ALTHOUGH THE CHANCES ARE MINIMAL, WITH THE USE OF PYRO AND OVERNIGHT CAMP FIRES THERE IS ALWAYS THE POTENTIAL FOR BURNS TO OCCUR. SURVIVAL EXPERT, PAUL YELLAND, GIVES US SOME TIPS ON WHAT TO DO IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF IT HAPPENING.

W

ith pyrotechnics being widely used in airsoft, there is always a risk of people sustaining burns. Although airsoft pyrotechnics are made as safe as possible, these devices are still explosives and can cause significant injuries if care is not taken when using them. In this article I am going to look at how to treat a burn

and explore what first aid equipment can be carried by team medics.

Burns require immediate treatment and, depending on what part of the body is involved can come with complications. The initial treatment for a thermal burn or scald is to remove the heat source and cool the wound with water for at least ten minutes.

Leave any clothing that has melted to the skin in place.

Burns are graded in severity; superficial, partial thickness and full thickness. The initial first aid treatment is the same regardless of the burn’s depth, but it is useful to understand that a minor burn that has only caused slight reddening of the skin with no other damage is superficial. A burn with reddening and formed blisters is partial thickness and when the skin surface has been completely burnt

Burns to the face and airway are extremely serious

through, is full thickness. It goes without saying that the deeper the burn the more serious it is. Also, the greater the surface area of the body covered by the burn the more severe it is. Burns that affect the face, airway and groin areas all come with their own complications.

TREATMENT

• Remove the heat source • Check the patient’s airway for signs of

“THE INITIAL FIRST AID TREATMENT IS THE SAME REGARDLESS OF THE BURNS DEPTH, BUT IT IS USEFUL TO UNDERSTAND THAT A MINOR BURN THAT HAS ONLY CAUSED SLIGHT REDDENING OF THE SKIN WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE IS SUPERFICIAL. ” 64

DECEMBER 2019

SURVIVAL BURNS

ELECTRICAL BURNS

Electrical burns are a medical emergency.

Initial treatment is to check for danger and isolate the power supply (if domestic) and check for response and breathing.

There is a risk that the casualty could be in cardiac arrest so be prepared to carry out CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation).

If the patient is conscious, treat any burns in the way listed above and be aware that there could be an entry and exit wound.

The patient will require admission to A&E because of the underlaying problems that can result. Electrical burns caused by high voltage electrocution are a different ball game. These injuries can be horrific and will probably cause a cardiac arrest. Your safety is paramount in this situation and you must not approach the scene because of the risk from arcing and being electrocuted yourself.

Stay well back and call 999.

CHEMICAL BURNS Pyrotechnics, if not used safely can cause burns

burn injury and swelling • Cool the area for at least ten minutes with cold water • Remove any clothing that has not stuck to the skin from around the burn and remove any jewellery from near the burnt area

If there is no water source available to cool the wound, a special burn dressing can be applied to the effected area. These dressings are soaked in a gel that cools and protects the burn. There are various brands but ‘Water-Gel seems to be the main one.

These dressings are available in different

• Cover the burn loosely with clingfilm (DO NOT wrap it around the injured part tightly) • Elevate the wound if possible • Give painkillers such as paracetamol (if the casualty can take them) • Consider other injuries - especially following a violent blast or impact • Seek medical advice or call 999 if the burn is serious (see below) NB: If the burn area is deep or larger than the size of the palm, affects the face, airway, genitals or limbs, medical help should be sought immediately. This is also the case for burns that cause charred skin and whitening.

sizes from small, facial to full body blanket.

Using these dressings to treat a burn is the only exception to the rule of not applying creams, oils or ointment. Remember – the recommended treatment is to use water to cool the burn.

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Over cool and cause hypothermia • Use ice or iced water • Pull off clothing which has melted to the skin • Apply oil, creams or butter to the burn • Apply adhesive plasters or dressings • Burst blisters

Burns that have resulted from chemicals are slightly more complex to treat. There is a risk of the medic becoming contaminated with the corrosive substance so PPE (gloves and eye protection etc) should be worn. Remove the casualty from any chemical source and irrigate the burn with lots of water for at least twenty minutes. Avoid being splashed by the water and make sure the water

does not run onto unaffected areas on the casualty. Cut clothing off that has not stuck to the skin rather than pull it over their head and remove any jewellery (if possible). Don’t cover a chemical burn with clingfilm – just keep flushing it with water and call 999.

With any burn, fast treatment – cooling, can limit the amount of damage caused to the body. Shock and infection risk also need to be considered, especially with the more complex and serious burns. Think about carrying some equipment in your team’s medical kit to deal with a burns incident should one ever occur and make sure everyone in the team understands how a burn needs to be treated.

www.airsoft-action.online

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Airsoft & MilSim News Blog @AMNBOďŹƒcial Airsoft & MilSim News Blog @airsoftmilsimnewsblog

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EVENT REPORT REAPER OPS BOOT FAIR

REAPER OPS BOOT FAIR

INTERESTING NEW SITES SEEM TO BE OPENING REGULARLY, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR ALL PLAYERS! BILL RECENTLY HAD CHANCE TO VISIT A NEW VENUE LOCAL TO HIM IN KENT, RUN BY REAPER OPS, WHEN THEY OPENED THE DOORS TO ALL WITH A BOOT FAIR RUNNING ALONGSIDE THEIR LATEST WEEKENDER, DERELICTION.

I

t is always great to see a new site open for business, especially when it’s almost on your doorstep! It was with great pleasure at the end of August that I jumped in the car to visit Reaper Ops. Reaper Ops is a new company bringing fast-paced, no-nonsense skirmishing to the South-East. Their site is “The Fort”, which is an intense CQB site set at a former riverine military fort in Kent. Fort Borstal was built between 1875 and 1885, to hold the high ground southwest of Rochester.

It is of polygonal design and was never originally armed, although an anti-aircraft battery was based there in the Second World War. A new venture, Reaper Ops is run by a team of airsofters with several years of experience running events and sites.

Aiming to bring something new to the skirmishing community, they have combined their knowledge to create something refreshingly different. The Fort site launched in early 2019 for airsoft skirmishes, running public games normally at weekends; they can also accommodate private events or training days on request for clubs or teams.

The last weekend in August saw Reaper Ops hosting a weekend event called “Dereliction”. Saturday saw a full day’s worth of skirmish games, C-T scenarios, a sniper competition, killhouse challenge, car boot sale, and trade stalls.

This was followed by a player party in the campsite featuring a BBQ and bar during the evening, then Sunday brought a full camo-rules, mini-filmsim game set in a UK

theatre of conflict. Camping was available on-site overnight at no extra charge, with the total cost for the entire shebang being a measly £45!

A number of my airsoft friends locally had signed up to have a stand at the Boot Fair on Saturday so it seemed rude not to pay a visit to the site, as a) I’d not been before, and b) it turned out my old mates from Platoon Stores and Virtus Training Systems would be on site too!

The journey from the coast up to Medway took me less than 40 minutes, that’s home to site in no time at all really.

The site means that you have to pass by the austere setting of the local prison but, suffice to say, it is undoubtedly good for site security! Reaper Ops is well signposted once you get close and there’s ample parking when you get there.

The Boot Fair was set in the outlying part of The Fort, and although the sun shone all day long, the stalls would have been well-protected from most of the elements even if bad weather had set in.

This area forms part of the Safe Zone for the site on normal days, with the “live area” itself neatly tucked away inside the structure of the fort itself; in many ways the safe area reminded me of the old days at Fort Amherst, which of course is just up the road and formed another part of the river defences.

The Boot Fair was very well set up, with lots of space to mingle and browse and stalls ranged from the professional shop run by Jim from Platoon Stores, to the usual rummage piles of gear, parts,

and full RIFs. Everything was extremely good natured and everyone I met was having a great time. John from Virtus was giving demos of his training grenades so this literally helped things to go off with a bang!

As well as picking up a few bargains for myself and a new AG-40 Training Flashbang from John, I was introduced

by Jim to Dan, one of the site operators.

Whilst the game was in play I didn’t want to just rock in and spoil everyone’s “immersion”, but Dan has invited me back to play at the site at a later date, an offer I will be sure to take up and report back on.

From first impressions though, it appears to me that Reaper Ops are a tight outfit, with a unique site, and as they limit player numbers, I am certain that the games are excellent! I look forward to returning to “The Fort” to play but if you like the sound of it you can check out more information by visiting https://reaperops. com AA

www.airsoft-action.online

67

KIT & GEAR DESERT BOOTS

DESERT BOOTS THEN & NOW

MILITARY HISTORIAN, WILL FOWLER, DEPENDED ON HAVING GOOD BOOTS WHILE FIGHTING IN THE DESERT. ALTHOUGH RETIRED, HE STILL MAKES SURE HIS BOOTS ARE UP TO SCRATCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN HEADING FOR HOTTER CLIMES.

I

t was said that in North Africa during World War II, that the Afrika Korps envied the British 8th Army their sued and rubber boots, which allowed them to patrol almost silently at night. The boots, or shoes, were inevitably known as “desert boots”, or perhaps less politically correctly as “brothel creepers” and became a fashion item after the war – and remain so today.

The move to Direct Moulded Sole, or “DMS”, boots in the 1960s saw the British Army adopt a version of the DMS boot in suede with beige rubber soles for desert operations. After the withdrawal from Aden in the late 1960s, politicians in London announced that we would never deploy east of Suez again. Woops – along came Gulf War 1 and, with it, a need for desert uniforms and of course, boots.

Many soldiers managed to get by on commercially bought suede boots but by the end of Operation Gramby there were new desert boots on issue. These were essentially DMS soled canvas and suede boots that drew on the design of the US Army jungle boot of the Vietnam era.

I still have mine; good solid soles but the ankle support from is not that special but hey, they didn’t let in the sand and they did the job.

Then, in 2001, came the NATO deployment to Afghanistan and every country needed robust hot weather boots. However, its not just hot in Afghan, it can be wet and really

cold and the boots for this terrain had to be pretty special. The Brits got the “Soldier 2000” desert boot - and to judge by the comments on the Army Rumour Service (ARSE) site they were not very satisfactory.

Ideally, the boots should have good air circulation, permitting the air to move openly through the boot while keeping dampness out, thereby keeping the feet dry and comfortable and should be lightweight, to reduce wearer fatigue in hot weather. An anti-microbial shield should be incorporated to avert bacterial development and the sole ought to be comfortable and impervious to temperature, so that the outside warmth is not transmitted to the feet. Finally, they should have speed lacing, be resistant to abrasion and be sturdy. It is axiomatic that they should exhibit good craftsmanship.

I had the good fortune to come by some US Army hot weather boots, which I noticed on a battlefield study tour were favoured by two members of the Special Forces. These boots have a padded collar as well as speed lacing; the collar makes for a comfortable wear and allows laces to be tied away so that they do not ride up.

The Cordura and leather uppers are tough and the soles have a good cleat pattern and are also very tough – well able to handle rocky terrain as well as sand.

However, if you are looking for the Rolls Royce of desert boots

you need go no further than the German Army’s preferred Haix Airpower P9 high boots.

They weigh only 2kg the upper material is high abrasion resistant New Line Cordura and are breathable with a GoreTex XCR membrane. They have a speed lacing system and anatomically shaped and washable interchangeable insole. The non-slip, oil- and petrol resistant multifunctional sole has a PU damping wedge and offers excellent thermal insulation.

You can’t get much better than that but they do come at a price, however, if you shop shrewdly it is possible to pick up a Grade 1 (or better) pair for as little as £50. AA

www.airsoft-action.online

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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71

KIT & GEAR AMOMAX HOLSTERS

CARRY OPTIONS:

AMMOMAX HOLSTERS HOLSTER CHOICE IS A VERY PERSONAL THING AND THERE ARE MANY COMPANIES VYING FOR YOUR HARD-EARNED BUCK WHEN IT COMES TO “CARRY OPTIONS”. BILL GETS HANDS-ON MODELS FROM EMERGENT CHINESE BRAND AMOMAX - AND LIKES WHAT HE SEES.

O

ver the years I’ve personally tried many models of holster, from leg and thigh rigs, through to concealed carry models but what should you be looking for in a good holster, as to me it’s not just a method of securely carrying a pistol, but a vital part of your “fighting kit” that will allow you to deploy your “secondary” swiftly and efficiently if you need it. To me the pistol is still a backup for the “SHTF” moments and is only really there for when your “primary” malfunctions; in this situation you need to get your pistol from secure to deployed lightning fast - and get on target!

For the past year I’ve been watching the rollout online of an emergent brand called “Amomax” and, most specifically, I was interested to see comprehensive ranges of their products being offered by Land Warrior and FUBAR BUNDY at the Northern Shooting Show earlier this year.

Both Scott at LWA and Steve at FUBAR know what goes into, not only a good product but a saleable one (ie. one that you don’t get a lot of returns of, as returns are the nemesis of any retailer) and one

that offers great performance for the money!

Emerging in 2018 in the city of Shenzhen, Amomax is the sibling of Cytac Technology Limited (who have been around since 2008) who are focused on exploring and developing within the international police and tactical products market. As one of China’s few professional suppliers of tactical products for civilian and police use, Cytac combines global technical expertise with domestic materials and labour to deliver a large volume of cutting-edge tactical products to the international market and Amomax is their brand that brings this same level of performance to the airsoft market.

Having experienced the ups and downs of the market, Cytac/Amomax has demonstrated consistent overall growth and has recently experienced a surge of sales in the European and South American markets. Their peer to peer communication has been very focused and effective to say the least; from law enforcement and military to government officials and civilians with the Cytac brand, along with

airsofters courtesy of Amomax, their products are getting attention around the world.

I’d like to concentrate on a couple of their models, to give you an idea of what

“TO ME THE PISTOL IS STILL A BACKUP FOR THE “SHTF” MOMENTS AND IS ONLY REALLY THERE FOR WHEN YOUR “PRIMARY” MALFUNCTIONS; IN THIS SITUATION YOU NEED TO GET YOUR PISTOL FROM SECURE TO DEPLOYED LIGHTNING FAST - AND GET ON TARGET!”

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DECEMBER 2019

KIT & GEAR AMOMAX HOLSTERS

“I’M PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED THAT WITHIN THEIR OPENING RANGE OF PRODUCTS AMOMAX OFFER A REALLY NICE MAKAROV OPTION, THAT IS AGAIN COMPATIBLE WITH ALL THEIR CARRY/FITTING ACCESSORIES.” they’re producing.

The AMG17G2 model has been designed to work with the Glock 17/22/31, KWA ATP Series and the APS ACP Series and at

£19.99 offers a whole heap of features, as you’d expect! It is low profile, so the holster enables a smooth draw by positioning your handgun naturally, allowing release by depressing the release lever with your forefinger prior to release on the draw, while quality construction offers reliable and positive retention. The holster also comes with a new design paddle which has been produced with updated polymer material and this rides close against the body for a better fit.

OPFOR READY!

Amomax make an extensive range of holsters for most of the popular models of handgun available in airsoft form, along with polymer magazine “pouches” to go with them. These most definitely are

airsoft-specific and not some kind of re-run of “full-size” models as the tolerances are exact. In fact I tried a couple of airsoft “Glocks” in a CYTAC holster and they didn’t fit! The Amomax versions however, they fit an airsoft “Glock” perfectly. And with my “OPFOR Head” on I’m particularly impressed that within their opening range of products Amomax offer a really nice Makarov option, that is again compatible with all their carry/fitting accessories.

The AM-MAKG2 is purpose-designed to fit Makarov PM replicas, and it’s a thoroughly lovely little thing; it quite happily accommodates my WE “Assassin” and the new ICS PM2, but my old KWC CO2 model (which in truth is more a PMM than a PM) doesn’t quite go in. I have had a “modern polymer” holster for the Maks for some time now, but this was a real one that needed some fine fettling for the airsoft versions of the pistol to fit, whereas with the Amomax model the pistols just slide on in.

I also like that Amomax offer the different carry/fitting options at a reasonable price (the Cytac/ Amomax Belt Clip sells for just £9.99!) which means that you can easily set up your Mak for concealed, regular belt, or even plate carrier use. This is true for all the models that Amomax offer, but for once I’m really glad to see that us “Freedom Fighters” haven’t been neglected!

For me? Well I’m definitely a twopiece belt kind of guy these days, so my holster is always going to be on there; Amomax offer Paddle, Belt Clip, MOLLE, and even Dropleg carry options so the carry choice is again down to you. All the carry/fitting platforms can be replaced by using just one screw, and they work well in a skirmish, when you’re just shooting, training, or even in a competition. The design means that the holster will stay firmly on your belt, leg and MOLLE system even when you’re going fast!

I’ve been training with the AM-G17G2

and AM-MAKG2 models for a couple of months, and overall I’m impressed so far as they ride well and do indeed offer a silkysmooth draw. They are nicely put together, lightweight and most models are available in black and tan, so they’ll work with most loadouts. All Amomax products also carry a one-year warranty as well, which is nice to see in the airsoft-specific market.

Thus far I can see why these products are being stocked by good retailers and they are solid, versatile, and do exactly what they have been designed to do - and that’s to carry a secondary comfortably and securely whilst at the same time offering a quick draw when you most need it.

Amomax have also just released a rather nifty shotgun-shell carrier as part of their belt-mounted system, so it looks as if there is definitely more to come from this manufacturer. Rest assured that I - and Airsoft Action - will keep you updated just as soon as new additions to the Amomax range appear!

For now, if you’d like to know more, or to check out their extensive range of carry options, simply pay a visit to www.amomax.com AA

“…THEY ARE SOLID, VERSATILE, AND DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO DO - AND THAT’S TO CARRY A SECONDARY COMFORTABLY AND SECURELY WHILST AT THE SAME TIME OFFERING A QUICK DRAW WHEN YOU MOST NEED IT.”

www.airsoft-action.online

73

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last post ITS ALL GOOD

WHAT’S THAT BIG GLOW OVER THERE? FINDING THINGS A BIT QUIET, FRENCHIE REALISED THERE WAS NOT MUCH TO WRITE ABOUT – AND THAT, IN ITSELF, WAS WORTH WRITING ABOUT, AS HE EXPLAINS…

T

he first draft of this month’s piece was fairly short, strewn with expletives and concerned with the fact that in the midst of writing about Google for Jobs, the demise of Adobe Flash and trying to blog on behalf of an urban regeneration company, I had simply no idea what to write about.

There is, to the best of my knowledge, no astounding new products to hand, not that there often are these days. I am unaware of any screaming controversy afflicting airsoft in the UK, or indeed in the wider world. No one has tried to introduce nuclear-capable grenades into the sport and while I don’t doubt that there are pockets of localised argument and outrage, they seem to have passed me by this month. Maybe I’m not looking hard enough, or maybe we’re just having a quiet period – or maybe airsoft for all the occasional flurries of excitement is actually a reasonably settled place these days.

Howling at the moon has always been something of a minority pastime in fairness, but it is magnified by social media. That tendency has been curbed to some extent as Facebook becomes less airsoft-friendly. It would appear the collection of vast amounts of data by questionable means and facilitating

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DECEMBER 2019

State-level disinformation is OK, but a bunch of (mainly) blokes having at each other with replica guns which fire little plastic balls is some kind of existential threat to civilisation. Any reasonable person might suggest that the moral

compass of some corporations is slightly off beam.

Or, and damn my eyes for suggesting it, is airsoft in reasonably good health, free

for the first time from any prospect of ill-thought out regulation, a place in which decent quality kit can be obtained without reducing a player to utter penury; resorting to eking out a miserable existence living under a berm on their local site having spent every last penny on yet another MP7 magazine? It might just be.

I have noted the lack of major technological advance in airsoft equipment over the preceding decade on more than one instance. That’s not to be confused with a lack of improvement – there has been loads of that. Guns are better built, more reliable and cheaper than they ever were.

Thanks to companies like Viper, load carrying gear is of decent quality and not outrageously priced. At the same time, the availability of seriously nice Gucci kit has never to my recollection been better. If you want something “real world” or just super sexy, it’s available – all you need are the funds.

Sites are largely run well; their owners understand the balance between good gameplay and sensible safety. Stupidity and accidents will always happen but short of locking all players in a container, that’s inevitable.

Players expect a decent standard of site, decent facilities and a good day for their money.

More niche uses of airsoft kit are more

LAST POST ITS ALL GOOD

“IT WOULD APPEAR THE COLLECTION OF VAST AMOUNTS OF DATA BY QUESTIONABLE MEANS AND FACILITATING STATE-LEVEL DISINFORMATION IS OK, BUT A BUNCH OF (MAINLY) BLOKES HAVING AT EACH OTHER WITH REPLICA GUNS WHICH FIRE LITTLE PLASTIC BALLS IS SOME KIND OF EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO CIVILISATION.” prevalent that ever they were, practical pistol, as “action air”, has an international following and international competitions.

Speedsoft is finding its feet for those wishing to combine the sheer athletic speed of paintball with the slightly less messy (and less painful) advantages of airsoft gear.

The availability of ally gear isn’t limited to tactical nylon, we are at peak add-on as far as I can see. If it can be attached to a gun, it’s available, more widely and more accessibly than ever before. Lights, lasers, cameras, coffee-makers – you name it and it probably comes in picatinny, M-lock and Velcro attachment options. You can tart your gear to an extent that simply was possible, or purely for the deep of pockets, not that long ago.

It would appear then, that we are living in a land of milk and honey as far as airsoft is concerned. However, being a naturally cautious animal, I will refrain from going that far…although it would be hard to argue that we have things particularly

hard. Could things be better? Of course.

I have argued for standardisation of sites for a long time but in the absence of legislative encouragement, I don’t see that happening. Consistent standards of marshalling, safety, first aid provision and the like would be nice, but as I noted above, most sites do this anyway as a matter of fiscal imperative if nothing else.

Proper standardisation and enforcement of eye protection would be nice to have as well. There are few serious risks involved in airsoft, leaving aside trips and slips, eyes and teeth are the two really vulnerable areas. There is such a variation of eye protection - ranging from the utterly useless to the more than adequate - that finding a way to ensure that no player goes on site wearing eye protection that will fail when tested should be high on our collective list of priorities.

I and other contributors have written about this endlessly over the years, you can still buy glasses on Amazon or eBay that will do little other than add broken Perspex to

the BB as it enters your eye, hardly ideal.

Leaving aside the ISO standards, there is no single body that can agree standards and enforce them. If it happens it will have to come from within airsoft itself and realistically that means that the sites would need to agree and enforce. With the greatest of respect, I don’t see that happening.

Overall, however, airsoft is in a reasonably healthy place. Good gear, good sites, plenty of opportunities to use your gear in different arenas such as the practical disciplines and freedom from Government interference. Two-tones are a pain in the proverbial but that was the least we could get away with at the time and not the sport’s idea. It could be an awful lot worse.

So, gear up, go forth and leave the internet ranters to their own special misery, the future’s so bright you might need to wear shades (just make sure they’re ballistic!) AA

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

Photo courtesy www.KriosPhotograhy.com

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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DECEMBER 2019

New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW

www.battletec.co.uk

Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane, Dronfield, S18 7UR

Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP

www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk

Tel: 07872 348 576

ARENA AIRSOFT

www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk

Grimsby, DN31 3JD Tel: 07752 404060

Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH Tel: 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com

www.arenaairsoft.com

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT

Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF

AWA HERTS Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ

Le Mont de Rozel, Jersey, JE3 5 Tel: 01534 733697 www.aegairsoft.je

BORDERLINE AIRSOFT 51 Green Road, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim

Near Trawden, BB8 8SN Tel: 07909 683464

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT

ALPHA 55

Tel: 07781 104068

Tel: 01252 315225

www.apocalypseairsoft.com

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

Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND

BRISTOL AIRSOFT Bristol, BS1 2HQ Tel: 07776 288826 www.bristolairsoft.com

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)

Fareham, PO17 5ND Tel: 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

Off Badger Lane, Hipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 8PL Tel: 07891 469492

CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL

www.brittacairsoft.com

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 Tel: 01438 368177

Charlton, SE7 8NJ Tel: 0870 7549653 www.wolfarmouries.co.uk

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT

www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk

Brimington, Chesterfield S43 1DQ www.cia-airsoft.co.uk

Doddington, Kent, ME9 0JS Tel: 07960 532613 www.coolunderfire.co.uk

Runham Woods, Lenham ME17 1NQ

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT

Tel: 07786 448608

Corby, NN17 3BB

Email: bushvalairsoft@gmail.com

Tel: 07740 165787

CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT

www.close-action.co.uk

Truro, Cornwall, TR2 4HF. www.cornwallseliteairsoft.com

Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

Tel: 07597 938011

Combat Street, Felthorpe, Norwich,

www.c3tactical.co.uk

Norfolk, NR10 4DR.

COTSWOLD AIRSOFT

Tel: 07748 023832

Bourton Woods, On the B4479, Blockley

www.facebook.com/combatactiongames

Near Bourton-on-the-hill

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE COMPLEX

COMBAT AIRSOFT

Tel: 07891 469492

Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

follow signs for Combat Paintball Tel: 07703 045849

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE OUTPOST (WOODLAND)

www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk

HPC, York Road, Flaxby, Harrogate,

CONTACT FRONT

North Yorkshire HG5 0XJ

Wattons Lane, Matchams, Bournemouth

Tel: 07891 469492

BH24, 2dg

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 0845 116 2830 info@contactfront.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)

COMBAT READY CQB

Bolton Wood Quarry, Bolton Hall Road

38 Full Street, Derby DE1 3AF

Bradford, West Yorkshire BD2 1BQ

Tel: 01332 493258

Tel: 07891 469492

Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE TEL 01293 852 314

DRAGON’S LAIR Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA Tel: 07703 530189

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL Tel: 07921 336360

www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk

Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP

DOG TAG AIRSOFT

www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 0773 153 1113

C3 TACTICAL

Tel: 07853 195290

www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft

COOL UNDER FIRE

BUSH VALLEY AIRSOFT

Houston, Renfrewshire PA6 7BP www.dow-airsoft.co.uk

Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331

BUNKER 51

DOGS OF WAR

Tel: 07724629140

www.dragonvalley.co.uk

D.T.W AIRSOFT Colchester, Essex CO1 2ZF Tel: 01206 790046 www.dtwairsoft.co.uk

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT Dumfries, DG12

DEPARTMENT CQB AIRSOFT

cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net

Unit 8, Winston Ave, Croft, Leic. LE9 3GQ

www.cumbria-airsoft.com

Tel: 01455 285605 www.thedepartmentcqb.co.uk

DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk Tel: 07455 906132

ELITE BATTLEZONE Bexley, Greater London, DA5 1NX Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD. Mobile: 07947 558433

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT

www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk

Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN

Email: darwaterairsofthythe@gmail.com

Tel: 01380 728982

DARKWATER AFTER DARK C.Q.B,

www.experienceairsoft.co.uk

(Battlezone Building), Britannia Lane,

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – RIVOCK EDGE

COMBAT READY OUTDOOR

Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3NA

Middle Wildpark Farm, Wildpark Lane,

facebook.com/afterdarkcqb

Keighley, BD20 0LS

Brailsford, Ashbourne DE6 3BN

DARKWATER SITE

Tel: 07891 469492

Tel: 01332 493258

Dering Wood, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst,

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

Ashford TN26 1LZ

www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater

Lewisham, SE13 5SU Tel: 07973 240177 www.firefight.co.uk

FIFE WARGAMES

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – SHEFFIELD WOODLAND

COMBAT SOUTH URBAN

Sheffield, S6 6JE

Portsmouth PO6 3LS Tel: 02392 655636

DELTA TEAM 3

Tel: 07891 469492

www.combatsouth.co.uk

Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT

www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS

St Andrews, KY10 3XL 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

Bravo One Birmingham,

INVICTA BATTLEFIELD

Buckingham, MK18 4JT

93–99 Holloway Head, B1 1QP

Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst,

Tel: 0121 643 2477

Kent TN12 0HP

info@grangelivegaming.com

Tel: 01622 831788 / 07876 263290

Tel: 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com

FIREBALL SQUADRON Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA

FIRST & ONLY: THE JUNGLE – HARBURY Bull Ring Farm Rd, Leamington Spa CV33 9HJ Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

Tel: 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com

FIRST & ONLY:

www.invictabattlefield.co.uk

GREENZONE COMBAT Tel: 07772 919974

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

www.greenzonecombat.com

Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30

Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE

THE ARMOURY – WREXHAM

FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP

Oak Road, Wrexham, Denbighshire LL13 9RG Tel: 0161 727 8863

Blackshaw Moor, Nr Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8TL Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: CROSSFIRE WOODS – PRESTON

FIRST & ONLY: 1 Jugglers Ln, Yatesbury, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 8YA Tel: 0161 727 8863

Moss Lane East, Preston PR4 3SP 0161 727 8863

Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 2DF www.groundzerowoodland.com

FIRST & ONLY: STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood

FREE FIRE ZONE Farcet, Peterborough, PE7 3DH Tel: 01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk

Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863

GUN HO AIRSOFT

www.islandrecon.co.uk

Guisborough, TS7 0PG Tel: 07525 435696

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT

www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk

Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG Tel: 0131 654 2452

THE BASE CQC – YATESBURY

GROUND ZERO WOODLAND

www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

Tel: 07964 751047

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/

www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

LAC AT COMBAT ZONE Saxillby, LN1 2JW Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAGAN AIRSOFT CLUB 17G Stationview, Dunmurry,

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS The Grange, Frogmore Grange, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532 384

Belfast BT170AE / Tel: 07733128484

LEEDS AIRSOFT: THE FOUNDRY CQB Haigh Park Road, Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RX

FRV AIRSOFT

info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

Annacloy, Downpatrick, BT30 8JJ Tel: 07730 586926 www.frvairsoft.com

www.giairsoft.co.uk/Skirmish-days

Tel: 0113 277 7707 / 07968 258952

LINDSEY AIRSOFT

Estate, Swan Meadow Road, Wigan

FULL METAL AIRSOFT

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – EVERSLEY

Tel: 0161 727 8863

Cilyrychen Quarry, Llandybie, Ammanford, Camarthenshire, SA18 3JG Tel: 01269 850404 www.fullmetalairsoft.co.uk

The Welsh Drive, Fleet Road (A327), Eversley, Hants RG27 0PY Tel: 07711 774461 (Doug) or 07711 774401 (Josh) www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk/gunmanairsoft-eversley/

FIRST & ONLY: THE MILL CQB – WIGAN Unit S2 Mill 1, Swan Meadow Industrial

FIRST & ONLY: THE OUTPOST – KIDDERMINSTER Drakelow Tunnels, Kingsford Country Park, Near Kinver, Kidderminster DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863

GASS AIRSOFT – PENN Penn Bottom, Bucks, HP10 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON

Uplands Coppice, Off B4363, Bridgnorth,

Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 Tel: 07907 788970/ www.gassairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY:

GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT

STEALTH WOODS – OTLEY

Leicester, LE9 9FP

Stealth Woods, Dob Park, Norwood Bottom Road, Otley LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863

www.gingerliberationfront.com

DECEMBER 2019

www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW

HILTON PARK AIRSOFT

www.matlockcombatgames.com

Wolverhampton, WV10 7HU Tel: 08000 354490/ www.paintballuk.com

MAYHEM AIRSOFT Upper Harbledown, Nr. Canterbury, Kent

WOODS – BRIDGNORTH

80

Tel: 07955 487983

Tel: 07974 507166

FIRST & ONLY: SHELL SHOCK

Shropshire WV16 5LS

Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE

HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT Spanby, Lincs, NG34 0AT/ Tel: 07971 560249 facebook.com/HomelandTacticalAirsoft

HUMBER AIRSOFT North Lincolnshire, DN21 www.humberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07792 680297

GRANGE LIVE GAMING

CT2 9AX 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 Wrightington, WN6 9PL Tel: 01942 514724 www.militaryoutdooradventure.co.uk

MILSIM UK Checkley, Staffordshire, ST10 4NS Tel: 07523 916607 www.milsimuk.co.uk

Tel: 07967 710185

Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069

www.argyllsurplus.com

www.red1airsoft.co.uk

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS

RED1AIRSOFT CQB

Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT

Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN

Tel: 07964 990831

Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069

www.op-tac.co.uk

www.red1airsoft.co.uk

Anglesey, LL71 8VW www.ottairsoft.

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3

github.io / Tel: 07895 478634

Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ Tel: 07751 586781

www.riftairsoft.com

NO LIMITS AIRSOFT Unit 4, King Street, Gatehead, NE8 2YP info@nolimitspaintballandlaser.co.uk Tel: 07464 482410/ 0191 441 4574

Cambridge, CB24 8RL

Hants, BH23/ Tel: 02380 899369

STIRLING AIRSOFT

Tel: 07751 586781 / www.riftairsoft.com

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

Coventry, CV3 6NX Tel: 07831 429407 www.stirlingairsoft.com

Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road,

Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB

Notts NG20 9JX

Tel: 07974 026517

www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

PLATOON 1HQ

Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 3LQ Tel: 01845 565465 www.northernallianceairsoft.co.uk

PLAYERS OF WAR High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD Tel: 07767 203979/ www.playersofwar.co.uk

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES Ballynahinch, BT24 8NF Tel: 02897565651 / 07825169631 www.predatorcombat.com

Trickley Coppice, London Road, Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 0121 323 1000 info@npfairsoft.com www.facebook.com/npfairsoft

Hetton, Sunderland, DH5 0 Tel: 07983 333521 / www.nscairsoft.co.uk

SENTINEL AIRSOFT Tel: 07535 896683 www.sentinalairsoft.co.uk

SG1 COMBAT GAMES

Tel: 07967 940043 www.facebook.com/Ravenshead-Airsoft

www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

Boathouse lane, South Wirral, Cheshire, CH64 3TB www.swatairsoft.eu Tel: 07703 177756

SHROPSHIRE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

TA EVENTS

Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169), Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

Argyll and Bute, PA37 1

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT Reynoldston, Swansea SA3 1AS Tel: 01792 473336 www.tacticalwales.co.uk

www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETER

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 0203 490 8008/07983 657093 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

Exeter, Devon, EX4 5/ Tel: 01548 580025

Tel: 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

Tel: 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk

OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL

Hemel Hemstead, Herts, HP2 7QB Tel: 07894 059794 /www.ta-events.co.uk

Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX

www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

SOUTH COAST CQB Browndown Road, Lee-On-Solent PO13 9UG Tel: 07533 434203

RED1AIRSOFT Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD

TAZ AIRSOFT Farr, Inverness IV2 6XB Tel: 07848 448408

Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ Durham, DL4 2ER

Slinfold, RH12 Tel: 020 8150 9284 www.sussexairsoft.co.uk

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

Suffolk, IP8 4 / Tel: 01473 831563

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA NTAC

SUSSEX AIRSOFT

Tel: 07713 273102

Tel: 01277 657777

www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 4LD Tel: 07515 937633 www.stormforcepaintball.co.uk

Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA

RAVENSHEAD AIRSOFT Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

Dunstable, LU6 2EE

Tel: 07786 192832 / www.aceairsoft.co.uk

RAVEN’S NEST NSC AIRSOFT

www.s8airsoft.com

Tel: 07956 587213 / 01623 812483

Tel: 01634 829063/ www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

NPF AIRSOFT, NPF BASSETTS POLE

Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM)

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

Northfleet, Kent, DA11 9AA Tel: 07968 448475 www.elitebattlezone.co.uk

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK

Former RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfield Park,

Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ

NORTHFLEET CQB

Wareham, Dorset, BH20 7EU Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION

NOMAD AIRSOFT Fenwick, Ayrshire, KA3 6AY Tel: 07904 998250 www.nomadairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH

OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB

NCIS AIRSOFT Edinburgh, EH14 4 nick@ncis-airsoft.co.uk www.ncis-airsoft.co.uk

www.southdownairsoft.com

TECH BRIGADE Newgate Street, Hertfordshire.

SG13 8NH Tel: 07841 713356 www.techbrigade.org

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR Tel: 07766 770830

www.airsoft-action.online

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SITE DIRECTORY

Email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk to add or change a site listing

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

WORTHING AIRSOFT TASK FORCE SKIRMISH Cowbridge, S Glamorgan, CF71 Tel: 02920 593900 www.taskforcepaintball.co.uk

THE BUNKER Aberystwyth www.aberairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07841 462806

UCAP GREEN OPS Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 www.ucap.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Tel: 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

Glasgow, G45 9SB Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.thedepotglasgow.com

Tel: 07877 210898 www.worthingairsoft.co.uk

Tel: 07590 818881

Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY

THE DEPOT

Arundel Road, Worthing

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD

YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE MANOR Church Lane Sheffield S75 3DQ 01226 414004 To Book

YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE PIT Engine Lane, Shafton, Barnsley

Newport Isle of Wight PO30 2JD 07964 751047 Open five nights a week 7pm-10pm Info@islandrecon.co.uk www.4dsportsclubs.co.uk Facebook:@fpsiow

EAST BARNET SC MOD-approved gun club PP, IDPA, IPAS, IPSC, 3GUN UKPSA Coaches UKPSA-qualified Range Officers Equipment hire available www.ebsc.co.uk ebpracticalpistol@gmail.com

THE EX SITE

Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH

S72 8RE

HALO MILL

Mold, CH7 4 Tel: 07840 001975

www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

01226 414004 To Book

The Penthouse, Colne Valley Business Park, Manchester Road, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5QG Tel: 01484 840554 www.halomill.com

www.theexsitewales.co.uk

URBAN ASSAULT THE WARGAMES CENTRE

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1

Lundholm Road, Stevenston,

Tel: 01733 247171

YORKSHIRE TACTICAL AIRSOFT - THE PINES

Ayrshire, KA20 3LN

www.urbanassault.org.uk

Bawtry Forest Great North Road

www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com

VIKING AIRSOFT

Bawtry, Doncaster, DN10 6DG 01226 414004 To Book

Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN

THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT

www.vikingairsoft.co.uk

Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL305FA Tel: 01726 858613 or 07590 030887 www.thunderpark.co.uk Food & drinks available on site

TORRENT WARFARE Co Tyrone, BT71 4DY Tel: 07922 377131 Facebook: search ‘Torrent Warfare’

WARMINSTER AIRSOFT Warminster, BA12 7RZ www.warminsterairsoft.co.uk

WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT F O B (Woodland), Hollington Road, Upper Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT On site parking, HPA Top ups, covered safe zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch

TROJAN AIRSOFT

included, free tea and coffee available all

Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ

day. Site memberships.

Tel: 07428 024874

Tel: Paul – 07861427553

www.trojan-airsoft.com

Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk

PRACTICAL SHOOTING DIRECTORY GRANGE PS Bravo One, 93-99 Holloway Head, Birmingham, B1 1QP Tel: 0121 643 2477 http://www.grangelivegaming.com Facebook: GPS info@grangelivegaming.co.uk. Range open for booking Wed-Sun. Club nights every Thursday, 6.30-10.30.

www.wmairsoft.co.uk

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP Tel: 07428 024874

WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT High Command (CQB), Doulton Trading Estate, Doulton Road, Rowley Regis B65 8JQ

www.trojan-airsoft.com

Tel: Paul – 07861427553 Email: paul@wmairsoft.co.uk www.wmairsoft.co.uk

UCAP AIRSOFT Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR Tel: 07590 818881

www.ucap.co.uk

WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB WatfordPPC@gmail.com

DOUBLE TAP PSC StrikeForce CQB, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5RZ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Double-Tap-Practical-Shooting-Club979585958732937

FPS ACTION AIR IPSC 24 Scarrots lane

82

DECEMBER 2019

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

TYPHOON SHOOTING ACADEMY Mondays in Braintree, Essex.

Details on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/290646868310496

TYPHOON AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING CLUB Fridays in Sible Hedingham, Essex.

Details on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TyphonCQB Both clubs offer Action Air, 2 & 3 Gun, IPAS and Dynamic Action Sport.

Contact via FB or 07939 557029.

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