Airsoft Action - April 2021

PROUD TO SUPPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY

ISSUE 124 - APRIL 2021 ISSN 2634-9515

CON ONT TEN ENTS TS

APRIL 2021

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ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS H-SERIES ISSUE 124 - APRIL 2021 ISSN 2634-9515

PROUD TO SUPPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY

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Editor: Nigel Streeter Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Deadshot Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter

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.

ARMOURY: RWA AGENCY ARMS EXA

48 ARMOURY: KWA PDW

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ARMOURY: WE (ACEND) 1911

52 ARMOURY: KRYTAC TRIDENT II

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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.

ARMOURY: EMG HUDSON H9

VORSK DIARY: DEFENDER PRO

Contents APRIL 2021

8 ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS H-SERIES For those that love a NSW loadout, one of the latest models to come from Specna Arms in going to be a “must have”, especially for those that have a limited budget to create their setup! Bill gets to grips - and to the range - with the SA-H12 ONE carbine to check out if the only easy day really was yesterday!

14 ARMOURY: ACTION ARMY AAP-01 Every so often something unsuspecting yet ground-breaking enters the airsoft community with an initial near deference level of interest - until after-action reports and accolades start flooding in, then the unlikely candidate takes the industry and player base by complete storm. “Stewbacca” reports on a pistol that certainly seems to fit that description…

20 ARMOURY: RWA AGENCY ARMS EXA This month we’re very pleased to feature the first-ever review from a veteran airsofter and member of Red Cell as a new writer on the team, so we hope you’ll welcome Jase Clarke as he puts his “virtual pen to paper” and takes a long, hard look at the new AA EXA pistol from Redwolf Airsoft to bring in a report that’s as entertaining as it is informative!

24 ARMOURY: WE (ASCEND) 1911 Boycie has been a fan of 1911’s for years, having used a .45 Combat Commander back in his IPSC shooting days, so when he saw that WE had released a new 1911 pistol that had a striking resemblance to the 2020 Kimber Rapide (Black Ice), he just had to get hold of one and give it a good look over.

26 KIT & GEAR: PACKS We’re now in a period when there the summer looks set to open up for games again - and we’re all hoping that this is the case!

Bill looks forward to happier days of airsoft ahead and, hopefully, to those longer weekenders that many of us love so much as he works through his personal kit-list and preps for the moment when the powers-that-be finally say “GO!” 32 KIT & GEAR: TIGERSTRIPE It seems like we’ve come round in “tactical fashion” again but unlike hideously flared jeans and paisley shirts, it’s a brilliant camouflage pattern that seems to be taking on new life in a thoroughly modern form. So this month we look back on Tigerstripe and how it’s still valid to this day!

36 INSIDE AIRSOFT: ARCHWICK Airsoft Action’s “Man in Taiwan”, Stewbacca, brings us an inside look into the history of a company that not many had heard of until they burst onto the scene with their highly-accurate, highperformance replicas.

40 RED CALL: SBRs Last month Red Cell took a look at PDW models that are ideal for CQB play, but when it comes to more “mil” styled AEGs for the role the choice is even wider, so this time the team have looked at SBRs and to AR models old and new that are ideal for this role as they put twelve of their favourite models head-to-head!

48 ARMOURY: KWA PDW Continuing with our look at what’s coming out of the manufacturer’s stables due to there being no shows again this spring, Boycie makes the most of his in-depth knowledge of the KWA AEG range in respect of “short and sweet” AEGs that are perfect for CQB use.

52 ARMOURY: KRYTAC TRIDENT MKII In last month’s issue of Airsoft Action, Red Cell looked at PDW models and Bill was particularly taken with one of them, the

Trident MKII PDW from Krytac, so took the opportunity to look at this little AEG in more depth and to check just how KRYTAC have moved on since he first encountered them.

56 UPGRADES: PERUN AIRSOFT You may well remember last month we announced that Airsoft Action will be working directly with Perun Airsoft and it is our pleasure to give you Jimmy’s review on what he feels is a great brand and a very strong contender in airsoft electronics. We are seeing more and more of this type of upgrade in airsoft and, in our opinion, they are upgrades which unleash hidden performance in a vast majority of platforms!

60 FEATURE: IMMERSIVE AIRSOFT James rejoins us this month with part II of his “Cold War” prop build and with a basic overview of how the Handle warning system worked covered, it’s time to move on to the creation of a functional replica and make some NOISE! 64 RELOADED: KWA USP COMPACT Our resident H&K Fanboy, Stewbacca, has been using KWA’s USP compact pistol almost since he moved to Taiwan, so knows it pretty well by now and gives us a run down of how its been doing.

68 ARMOURY: HUDSON H9 After much online speculation, the Hudson H9 pistol was first shown in the flesh at SHOT 2017 and Bill just happened to be there when it happened - and even got to shoot the real deal on Range Day! But with Hudson Mfg no longer with us, it looks like the airsoft replica might now be the only way to buy one!

70 THE CAGE: UBACS This month we’re starting a new sequence in the “THE CAGE” to look in more depth at individual items of clothing that are fundamental to our loadouts, with the aim to bring more information to you that will help you when it comes time to buy, or replace, gear that will help you stay “on point” in your game or scenario. First up is Under Body Armour Combat Shirts.

74 KIT & GEAR: SITE TO STREET It seems the line between what we wear on site and on the high street is starting to blur, with many items of airsoft kit doubling up for everyday use. Frenchie looks at an item that seems to have made the transition.

76 VORSK DIARY Another new VORSK “1911” pistol has just hit the stores in the form of the DEFENDER PRO and from what we’re hearing, they’re already causing some positive noises from both retailers and players alike! Bill gets a close first look at the new pistol and brings us up to date with the long-term testing of the existing models too!

79 RETAIL ROUNDUP Another month cranks on by and we’re still all prepping, prepping and eager for games and events to restart! We’re sure that, like us, you’ve been scouring those interwebz for cool “guns n’ gear”, and the manufacturers just keep on cranking out “the good stuff”. As usual, we’ve compiled a few items that have caught our attention this month - just in case you’ve missed them!

82 LAST POST: TERMINAL DOUBLE-BLOW As the Covid-19 pandemic runs, seemingly endlessly, onwards, Frenchie poses a simple, yet highly relevant question for UK airsoft to consider: Are Brexit and Covid a terminal double-blow?

ULTIMA JACKET BLACK / DARK COYOTE / GREEN / SRP: £89.95

armoury SPECNA ARMS H-SERIES

NEW GEN COOL

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FOR THOSE THAT LOVE A NSW LOADOUT, ONE OF THE LATEST MODELS TO COME FROM SPECNA ARMS IN GOING TO BE A “MUST HAVE”, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE THAT HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET TO CREATE THEIR SETUP! BILL GETS TO GRIPS - AND TO THE RANGE - WITH THE SA-H12 ONE CARBINE TO CHECK OUT IF THE ONLY EASY DAY REALLY WAS YESTERDAY!

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t’s an old adage that things go round in cycles and it would appear that, once again, there’s a lot of players that are back on the Naval Special Warfare or SEAL “kick”, thanks in the main to the ongoing adventures of the TV series “SEAL Team”, which follows “Bravo Team” on their missions around the globe, a show which premiered in September of 2017 in the USA on CBS but is now watched worldwide!

I’ve often said that I find it quite amazing that a movie, TV series, or even a popular game can have the impact that it does on the loadouts we come across on the airsoft field but, like it or not, this is a fundamental truth. The availability of “good and righteous kit” may go up and down a bit, with CRYEcut AOR1 and AOR2 going from in to out of stock seemingly overnight, but for those that choose to take the long path to amass the correct gear for their loadout there’s a treasure trove of cool kit out there, and the “patient watchers” will be able to find most things that they need.

Of course, at the centre of any loadout is an appropriate AEG or GBB and for a good NSW one you actually have quite a viable choice of “primaries” such as the M4A1, MK 18 CQBR, MK 16 SCAR-L, MK 17 SCAR-H and the HK416 (to name just the main models!) that have all been seen at some point in the hands of SEALs, both real and make-believe - and that’s way before you get into some of the more esoteric stuff! From their very earliest days SEALs have been known to go for primary platforms away from the “norm”, when the Stoner 63/Mark 23 Mod 0 was their weapon of choice “in country”.

It makes sense then that these “operators” will be using the latest iteration of the Heckler & Koch carbine and what we’re seeing now is the HK416A5, the “next evolution in assault rifle technology”, as it’s described. The A5 moves along development of the HK416, with the most striking changes including an improved and tool-less gas regulator for suppressor use, a redesigned, user-friendly lower receiver, which allows complete ambidextrous operation of the weapon and ensures optimised magazine compatibility, as well as numerous technical improvements to maximize the operator safety, reliability, ammunition compatibility and durability during (and I quote directly here) “over the beach (OTB)” operations.

For many wishing to replicate the A5 fully in airsoft form though, there’s another key piece to the puzzle and that’s replacing the standard rail system with a Geissele (that’s “Guys-lee” FYI) “Super Modular Rail HK 10.5inch”. This was designed to swap out with the standard rail using the stock HK barrel nut but incorporates greater strength, rigidity and modularity.

Made from 6061-T6 aluminium and finished in type 3 hardcoat anodizing, the SMR HK (and now the MK15) meets military specifications. The system features mounting options at the 3, 6 and 9 o-clock positions, as well as featuring a full rail along the top and shortened rails on the forend in the case of the MK15.

Geissele consulted with elite warfighters and their input was taken into consideration while developing the SMR.

NSW ON A BUDGET!

Bringing things bang up to date, we’re seeing more and more images of SEAL team operators with the HK416 and especially now the HK416A5, and although there are a few airsoft versions out there already, they haven’t exactly been aimed at the “starter end” of the player market with price tags heading way up over the UK£400 mark - and that’s before you start adding all those “necessary” accessories!

When it comes to CQB-length AEGs (check out Red Cell this month for more on these!), Specna Arms had an undoubted success with their “MK18 CQBR” at the back end of 2020 and they’ve moved things along nicely with two new models that step firmly into the NSW replica arena, whilst keeping things real when it comes to pricing. The SA-H11 and H-12 are without any question “416-alikes”, and as they’re both priced currently at UK£212 (black variant) and UK£240 (tan variant) respectively, which puts the “operator primary” well within the reach of those on a budget and that is fabulous!

The H-11 is pretty much a “standard” A5, with the usual railed HK system with integrated flip up sight, whilst the H-12 takes things up a notch with an “SMR” system and it’s a fabulous slimline rail that brings down the front-end weight and bulk of the carbine. Both models from there out are similar externally and internally, benefitting as they do from www.airsoftaction.net

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ambidextrous operating controls; bolt catch, magazine release, safety/fire selector lever and charging handle, the rounded “winter” trigger guard for use with gloves and cold weather clothing, contiguous top rail for use of optics and aiming accessories, a redesigned ergonomic pistol grip (there’s no storage compartment for a field stripping tool of course!), an enlarged bolt catch lever and protective barrier against accidental use and the latest slimline multi-position sliding stock.

All in all they are both VERY tidy packages!

Externally the finish of both carbines is excellent, the black being black and of course the tan being “the new black”! In fairness the plain black versions of the H-11/H-12 are priced even lower than the tan, and therefore are perfect for those that wish to give their carbine a proper “NSW” rattlecan finish.

However, like with the MK18, I forsee that the tan version is going to be incredibly popular and as good as it looks online, in the flesh it’s even better (if that’s possible)!

The overall receiver tone is very close to H&K RAL8000 (it certainly looks great to me!) and the polymer parts (selector, pistol grip, and a very detailed dust cover!) are all superbly replicated. The colour of the rail is also very cool and before anyone goes “off reservation” and says it’s not 100% absolutely right, do bear in mind that Geissele themselves say of their DDC (Desert Dirt Color) that “Geissele DDC, or Desert Dirt Color, refers to the variety of shades of desert terrain. Differing shades of DDC are desired on a military small arm to breakup the outline of the weapon… Due to the chemical process that takes place during Type 3 Hardcoat, the finish on the product can vary from one to the next, even if it is the same batch” …and if some variance is good enough for the “real deal” it’s certainly good enough for me!

So, externally the new H-series AEGs are marvellous and all the parts marry together unshakeably and perfectly, but what’s going on inside you may ask?

Both models are the same internally and are fully compatible with LiPo and LiFe batteries. Due to base muzzle velocity (1.71J/430FPS on a .20g) provided by the main spring installed by default by the manufacturer, if you don’t have this spring changed out at source (in some countries players will need to have this done for legal reasons) you’ll also find in the box an M90 spring, which allows to reduce the

muzzle velocity to 0.89 J/310FPS and as a result to adapt the AEG for legality and also to make it perfect for close-ranged and indoor games; this is a CQBlength carbine after all!

The gearbox, which is reinforced on the height of the cylinder head, hides a steel main spring guide which is the base element of the Specna Arms “Enter & Convert™” system; 8mm bearings and steel threadwheels are also fitted and placed on spacers. The system is secured with the use of four anti-reversals and there is a Type 2 cylinder. The H-series are factoryfitted with a neat, easy-to-adjust, rotary type polymer Hop-Up unit that allows very precise adjustments.

Thanks to the to the “Enter & Convert™” system it is possible to quickly and simply adapt the power of the replica to the requirements of your favourite field or site, without the need to access a workshop, without special tools and without the services of a tech! Once the gearbox has been taken out of the AEG’s body, changing the spring takes literally seconds and even a muppet like me can do it!

Given the current disparity globally on legal power limits, this system guarantees the user an AEG that can be simply adjusted, whilst not making it so easy that you can swap out springs in game; you do still need to pull the gearbox to make any spring change after all. The “Enter & Convert™” system, however, allows you to take minimal time to change the main spring, so you can set your power level in such a way as to guarantee an ideal compromise between territorial legality, effectiveness of fire, and safety for the user and other players. As someone who has played - and hopes to play again - in different countries with different laws, I like this, I REALLY do!

DOWNRANGE

I’m pleased to tell you, that in operation the H-12 that was provided for testing (and with the spring set to UK-legal limits prior to shipping by the lovely guys over at www.gunfire.com) is, if anything, even better than my tried and tested Gen1 HK416… from the box! As I’m still in “C-Virus Lockdown” I initially tested the carbine on my 10m short range, to chrono and evaluate and in terms of power I got a consistent 0.93J/317FPS on a .20g RZR BB, using a buffer-tube 900mAh 11.1V LiPo. With .25g RZR BBs the accuracy was stunning at that range, darkening

“ONCE I HAD THE HOP SET I WAS AGAIN HITTING SANDBAGS AT 30M WITH DEADFLAT BB FLIGHT TO TARGET; THIS CARBINE PUTS BBS WHERE YOU WANT THEM TO GO, SO IF YOU’RE GOING TO USE IT FOR CQB, CONSISTENT ACCURACY IS NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM ONCE YOU HAVE IT SET UP RIGHT!” 10

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the Attack Sense targets with every BB. I did take my guideline-compliant “afternoon constitutional” up to the woodland range when the sun shone though (yes, it WAS an easy day!) and ran my usual drills using the provided 300BB metal magazine which fed perfectly, along with other STANAG and polymer magazines, just using the excellent BUISs that come fitted as standard. Once I had the hop set I was again hitting sandbags at 30m with dead-flat BB flight to target; this carbine puts BBs where you want them to go, so if you’re going to use it for CQB, consistent accuracy is NOT going to be a problem once you have it set up right!

My final take is that the H-12 is a great AEG, most especially given the price.

Would I buy an H-11 or H-12 myself as I already own a really good HK416? Yup, you better believe I would as the H-series are pretty darn fine airsoft carbines and the H-12 is the latest version of the ongoing legend of this family in airsoft form (who’s going to make the A7/G95 first though I wonder???)!

Although my days of “door kicking” may be coming to a close, I still love the HK416 as a design and having allambi controls along with the stunning SMR-style front-end makes the H-12 in particular a carbine that I could come to love!

My thanks again go to Pawel and the team at www.gunfire.com supplying the SA-H12 ONE for T&E. AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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armoury

AAP-01

ACTION ARMY AAP-01

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EVERY SO OFTEN SOMETHING UNSUSPECTING YET GROUND-BREAKING ENTERS THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY WITH AN INITIAL NEAR DEFERENCE LEVEL OF INTEREST - UNTIL AFTER-ACTION REPORTS AND ACCOLADES START FLOODING IN, THEN THE UNLIKELY CANDIDATE TAKES THE INDUSTRY AND PLAYER BASE BY COMPLETE STORM. “STEWBACCA” REPORTS ON A PISTOL THAT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO FIT THAT DESCRIPTION…

armoury ACTIONCHIAPPA ARMY AAP-01 RHINO

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he Action Army AAP-01 GBB pistol… I didn’t really give it a whole lot of thought or attention when it was initially announced and started making its way into the local Taiwanese market. I’d encountered it in my other, more locally based article writing activities and had a breakdown of its features in the process. It seemed like an interesting take on the Ruger MkIV pistol, favourite of assassin movies and other such media attentions.

As many of them started showing up in the hands of my friends and others in the wider community here, I got hands on with one and was surprised with its performance and handling. The majority of my friends (and pretty much everyone else I encountered) ended up having one - somewhat thanks to my Filipino teammate who is looking to distribute airsoft guns back in his homeland, who donated a bunch of them to TaiWan Anglophone Team for reviewing and evaluation. I guess he knows if it can survive our rough handling, it’s worth selling!

So I didn’t have a dog in the fight as such, they were freebies for us to give a go that a bunch of us ended up fielding, it was initially a curiosity that joined the ranks of my other beloved gas blow back pistols.

Not being a genuine direct replica of a real steel IPSC approved pistol, there’s no way I’d be allowed to run it in Action Air officially, although I did take it along to a session to zero it at the shooting centre and let my compatriots there have a go with it.

Thus it is relegated to my skirmishing activities only, where, I am happy to report, it excels. Having lobbed it in a holster and assumed it a “last-resort weapon” for when I ran my primary guns dry on a game day, it took me a while to really get a feel for it. However, with the arrival of my Acetech Lighter S compact tracer unit, I managed to finally have an easily holstered pistol with a tracer fitted that required no adaptors or other messing about with to field.

SHOOTING FUN

Then I ended up using it in anger and it’s been on my hip most games since. Despite being a little more of a puritan in terms of carrying and using replicas of realworld service weapons in a real capacity and realistic setup or handling manner, this pistol is just too much fun to avoid using and is exceptionally accurate and consistent in terms of its firepower.

I immediately found myself making single shot or double tap eliminations with the AAP-01’s basic three dot iron sights that I’d normally need my red dot enabled KWA HK45 to achieve! No doubt the fixed internal barrel and minimalistic moving components attribute to this ease of handling and inherent accuracy. Based on the Ruger/Nambu pistol system, where there is just a small moving internal bolt rather than a more typical Browning tilting barrel action and full length slide flying back and forth, the AAP-01 just points well at the target and barely moves even during rapid shooting - it’s surprisingly intuitive and just undeniably good fun to play with.

The almost entirely polymer construction makes the AAP-01 extremely lightweight and economical for the base model, no doubt increasing its appeal or ease of entry to the market as it costs barely more than a magazine or two for some other gas guns.

But its performance and options for aftermarket accessories have ensured it continues to take the airsoft community by storm, with numerous parts kits or even full-on carbine chassis systems springing up from both Action Army themselves and other manufacturers in Taiwan and Hong Kong. With “gas pedal” attachments like those used on competition guns, red dot mounts, enhanced charging handles, magazine base plates, barrel extensions or attachment systems, the AAP-01 has driven an entire ecosystem of accessories to match its popularity and base unit sales thus far.

The fact it is compatible with apparently basically any Glock model GBB pistol magazine that is full frame sized, regardless of OEM, makes it very appealing and has allowed me to make good use of my WE G17 magazines, despite my Double Bell G34 TTI having sear issues recently (making it a little too temperamental for competition training or skirmishes).

Having so many magazines already available to me ensured I used it enthusiastically from the outset.

The trigger and internals are all based off typical Glock components, so the trigger pull is basically the same stock Glock. Somewhat creepy and long travel out of the box, it does have a very positive crisp break and reset but there’s quite a bit of take-up beforehand, although many custom shops or other parts companies are already applying the same trigger work and option parts to shorten this travel and

“DESPITE BEING A LITTLE MORE OF A PURITAN IN TERMS OF CARRYING AND USING REPLICAS OF REAL-WORLD SERVICE WEAPONS IN A REAL CAPACITY AND REALISTIC SETUP OR HANDLING MANNER, THIS PISTOL IS JUST TOO MUCH FUN TO AVOID USING AND IS EXCEPTIONALLY ACCURATE AND CONSISTENT IN TERMS OF ITS FIREPOWER.” www.airsoftaction.net

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TOKYO MARUI

L119A2 CUSTOM BUILD

NEXT GEN RECOIL SHOCK CONTACT US FOR DETAILS

THE L119A2 IS JUST ONE POPULAR EXAMPLE OF OUR CURRENT RECOIL MODELS, BASED ON TOKYO MARUI’S FANTASTIC SYSTEM - FITTED WITH THE ANGRY GUN RAIL SYSTEM AND REAL STEEL MAGPUL FURNITURE

armoury ACTION ARMY AAP-01

improve the feeling of the trigger break. But even with just the basic stock trigger the ability to put rounds down in rapid succession is nonetheless great.

As the AAP-01 is based off the Ruger MkIV/Nambu/ Luger geometry you can immediately feel comfortable pointing it and it becomes a natural extension of your

arm due to the steeper grip angle. Pointing roughly at a target with your arm and your eyes closed you’ll usually be near enough on target when you open your eyes. It just finds a natural point of aim so easily.

The three dot fibre optic sights are also excellent in the shifting or low light levels of CQB environments

and allow for rapid target acquisition - and are great if your eyes aren’t what they used to be (like mine)!

I can easily make shots on the 4” plates or G&G “dome” targets of Action Bunker given the sights, fixed barrel and minimal recoil due to the small internal bolt movement.

The magazine release is textured with a button surface and sits proud of the pistol grip allowing it to be easily actuated and comfortably, while the slide stop/release levers are ambidextrous and comfortable to use. The cocking serrations, or wings, at the rear of the upper body are easily grabbed to cycle the action, while a threaded hole in the centre of the exposed bolt body at the rear also allows for additional cocking attachments to be installed to improve it further.

The upper polymer body itself is removable from the main polymer frame by cocking the action then depressing the wide flat button beneath the cocking handles forwards, while lifting the rear of the upper body upwards and pivoting it off the frame around the front retaining axle just in front and above the cross-bolt safety button. The front muzzle has a knurled thread protector which hides a standard thread for mounting tracer or silencer accessories with ease.

A final feature is hidden on the underside of the bolt body when locked to the rear. A small, swinging lever allows the user to activate fully automatic functionality, which leads to a ludicrously fun rate of fire and sounds akin to the AH64 Apache chain gun as used for the audio backing of The Joker’s machine gun in “The Dark Knight” - a shredding high rate of fire noise! With the ever-growing availability of both the AAP-01 and the numerous accessories for it, it seems destined to be found in players hands the world over and enjoyed by myriad users, both as a sidearm in the usual manner but also with carbine kits and other advanced accessories. AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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armoury REDWOLF AIRSOFT EXA

RWA AGENCY ARMS EXA THIS MONTH WE’RE VERY PLEASED TO FEATURE THE FIRST-EVER REVIEW FROM A VETERAN AIRSOFTER AND MEMBER OF RED CELL AS A NEW WRITER ON THE TEAM, SO WE HOPE YOU’LL WELCOME JASE CLARKE AS HE PUTS HIS “VIRTUAL PEN TO PAPER” AND TAKES A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE NEW AA EXA PISTOL FROM REDWOLF AIRSOFT TO BRING IN A REPORT THAT’S AS ENTERTAINING AS IT IS INFORMATIVE!

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he snow was starting to thaw and the pavements were turning into a death trap with black ice, and the only thing putting a smile on my face was the last of my Black Rifle coffee when the phone pinged off at me. It was Bill, asking me if I wanted to try my hand at my first dedicated review and, seeing as the Red Cell articles were flowing well, I thought it a good opportunity for me to try going solo!

The following week I popped up to house of “The Wolf” (as we lovingly refer to him!) for a socially distanced handover and intel for my new assignment.

It felt all very “Mission Impossible” (cue music and smouldering fuse…) to me and I loved it and when I left, in my hand was the first UK example of the RWA Agency Arms AA (for Agency Arms) EXA pistol, that had been personally sent to us by Danny at RedWolf UK.

HISTORY TIME

Where to start? This particular pistol comprises of three company’s designs so, in order of age, we’ll start with Glock, who are the starting block for this special RWA pistol.

In 1980 the Austrian military started the procurement process to replace their WW2 era side arms. In 1982 Glock assembled a crack team of Europe’s finest to come up with a sidearm to fit the bill. Within a few months they had designed and built a prototype of their Glock 17. It was later that year

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when it was accepted by the Austrian Military and the rest, as they say, is history.

Then we have Lone Wolf, an American based company from Priest River, Idaho. They have been specialists in Glock accessories since 1998. They currently produce a wide range of Glock slides, barrels, frames and even complete guns. Last, but not least, we have Agency Arms, the youngest company of the three. They have been in business since 2015 based out of Ventura, California where they cut slides, modify frames and tune triggers. Their ethos is to produce good functionality over looks. So, with all of this in mind we should expect a special shooter from RWA.

TEST TIME!

For the duration of this test I used my go-to holster, which is a Warrior Assault Systems Universal Holster; I did have to loosen it off slightly compared to my WE17 which is my personal “daily”. I am, however, fortunate enough to have a Crye Precision Gun Clip as well and the RWA EXA fits into it very well. I did try my WE G17 mags in the EXA and they did fit and fire but the downside was they were not the easiest to get out!

For all of you avid Airsoft Action readers who have previously read my ramblings in the Red Cell section, you will know that in “The Time of Covid” I am very lucky to have a long, private and enclosed garden and

armoury REDWOLF AIRSOFT EXA

so I’m able to set up targets at 45m. As we have been recently blessed with warmer weather in the last week of February here in Blighty, I took the RWA pistol to the garden range where in the warm sun I banged off about 20 mags.

The EXA magazine holds 23 BBs, so over the course of my afternoon’s test I sent a good 460 of Nuprol’s .20gm RZRs downrange.

At 45m the RWA managed to hit a torso-size target with pretty much every BB, and consistency was good with the ability to get 46 BBs out of one fill of my gas.

However, as the pressure started to drop so did the velocity from the starting point of 0.78 Joule/290fps, but that was to be expected and I was still very happy with the results. In the sun the bright light was catching the fluorescent sight which was an added bonus to quick target recognition.

In the real world of firearms, the Glock weighs in at 625g, so I was content to find out that this RWA came in at about 700g on my scales. In comparison to my WE G17 you could feel a difference between the two as the WE G17 was a good 800g. That 100g difference could be felt when transitioning between targets. I should say that a special mention should go out to the trigger on the EXA; I’m not exactly sure what stable has produced it but it really is quite lovely.

The throw isn’t too long and has a crisp contact point.

PARTS TO MAKE A WHOLE

Now let’s talk about the pistol components in more detail and I want to break this down into two parts, the frame and the slide, as these two parts have been designed in part with Agency Arms and Lone Wolf.

Let’s start with the slide.

RWA worked with Agency Arms, taking inspiration from their slides. From my research I can see that this EXA frame has some extra styling, in the form of the United States flag displayed on the top of the slide just in front of the rear sights. I love this little touch as I hadn’t noticed for a good couple of hours of handling the pistol but now I’ve seen it, I see it all the time - and love it! When cocking the pistol your ears are greeted by an amazing metal “clink” sound as you pull the slide back, much nicer and appealing to the ear than my old WE and the slide then snaps back with great power, very snappy indeed. I really was left with a feeling of individuality when compared to my stock G17. Another positive note was that the slide wasn’t covered in Agency Arms logos, just two on the

slide and barrel; I have seen some uppers show off more brand logos than a BMW M-Sport 3 series! From what I can tell, the slide is of the cast variety, so you can grip it well with gloved hands but I feel like I was wanting more of a CNC finish for that extra bite but I know deep-down that would have incurred more cost for the final item.

With all that said, I was very happy with the upper.

Lone Wolf have some 22 years of experience in the Glock game, so you know something strong is going to be coming from them. This particular frame is based on the Timberwolf F. Its full grip is stippled for that extra grip and it has a fine finish to it, with some lovely small trades on the left side. What sets this apart from most other Glocks is that it has a straight cut rear, it sits very comfortably in the palm and when its side by side with my G17 you can see that you are looking at something very special. One small detail I missed at first, was that the front of the frame has some nice 90 degree corners unlike a standard Glock, which I feel it gives it that edgy appearance.

This Timberwolf frame did leave me wondering why RWA had split the design into two and not just run an Agency Arms frame? Hmmmm…. I decided to ask the team themselves and Max Lai very kindly got back to me with this response: “So the Lone Wolf lower serves 2 purposes.

1. This pistol is actually modeled after 1 of the sponsored instructors of Agency Arms named Paul Van Dunk. He is the gunsmith of Agency Arms and his

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armoury REDWOLF AIRSOFT EXA

personal training pistol has a Timberwolf lower.

2. If you actually grip the Timberwolf frame and compare it side by side compared to a Glock frame, you will notice the frame’s ergonomics are superior to Glock’s. If you like shooting 1911’s then you will like using the straight back-strap; if you like SIG or M&P, use the beveled one. This frame is modular so it can cater to a wider group of shooter without needing to “find the right pistol that fits your hand”. In short, the Timberwolf frame is another “upgrade” compared to a standard Glock.”

With Max explaining it to me like this, it made perfect sense as to why this was done. I personally adore the fact that the attention to detail was taken

by RWA to give the end user the best possible grip.

With the test complete I was left wondering, what next, what’s going to fill the void I’ve been left with after handing back the RWA AA EXA….? Watch this space!

My thanks go to Danny at uk.redwolfairsoft.com for lending me his personal EXA to test, so do be sure to check in with them for more information on this excellent pistol, and everything else that RedWolf have to offer! AA

“WITH THE TEST COMPLETE I WAS LEFT WONDERING, WHAT NEXT, WHAT’S GOING TO FILL THE VOID I’VE BEEN LEFT WITH AFTER HANDING BACK THE RWA AA EXA….?”

www.airsoftaction.net

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armoury WE (ASCEND) KP1911

WE KP1911

BOYCIE HAS BEEN A FAN OF 1911’S FOR YEARS, HAVING USED A .45 COMBAT COMMANDER BACK IN HIS IPSC SHOOTING DAYS, SO WHEN HE SAW THAT WE HAD RELEASED A NEW 1911 PISTOL THAT HAD A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO THE 2020 KIMBER RAPIDE (BLACK ICE), HE JUST HAD TO GET HOLD OF ONE AND GIVE IT A GOOD LOOK OVER.

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he WE (Ascend) KP1911 is a fine-looking airsoft handgun and one that I had to have, given my association with the “real deal” Combat Commander back in the day! Whilst this is not a replica of my old Commander of course, things have moved on both in airsoft and in the real firearms industry, so if I were choosing a handgun now to get on the range in a serious fashion, then the 2020 Kimber Rapide (Black Ice) would be right up there!

Kimber’s website tells me that the Rapide (Black Ice) is “a truly unique 1911 with stepped cocking serrations, slide lightening cuts for faster lock time, striking two-tone Kimpro

finish and DLC coated barrel for extreme durability. Equipped with Kimber Stiplex TM front strap stippling and new G10 grips with matching accents for extra gripping confidence.”

All these features are combined to create something that is typically (and enjoyably) identifiable as a Kimber 1911 Custom Platform pistol. The barrel is machined to critical, match-grade dimensions from stainless steel and then the barrel and chamber are hand-fitted and cut to critical, match-grade dimensions. This attention to detail allows each pistol to realise its true accuracy potential. A lowered and flared ejection port lets ejecting brass easily clear the slide and a crisp, match-grade trigger increases confidence and accuracy. A Commander-style hammer (see, a nod to my old Commander after all!) helps prevents the pistol from snagging on your clothing.

As the WE is not a licensed replica it rightly has no trademarks at all on the pistol, which is okay with me. One of the first things that caught my attention was the non-standard slide serrations

“THE SLIDE ACTION IS VERY SMOOTH AND FEELS POSITIVE WHEN IT SLIDES INTO BATTERY WITH A SATISFYING “CLUNK”. SOMETHING NOT ALWAYS FOUND IN REPLICAS IS THAT THERE IS LITTLE LATERAL PLAY IN THE SLIDE, WHICH SHOWS THAT CARE HAS BEEN TAKEN WITH TOLERANCES.” 24

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armoury WE (ASCEND) KP1911

and also the milled slots which had been put in the slide to lighten it, which gives the pistol a really sleek look. The slide action is very smooth and feels positive when it slides into battery with a satisfying “clunk”.

Something not always found in replicas is that there is little lateral play in the slide, which shows that care has been taken with tolerances.

A very nice ambidextrous safety set is fitted which is smooth and positive in its operation. On the spring housing and beavertail there are some nice, machined features which enhance the overall look of the pistol.

The magazine with the pistol is the 1911 single stack type which holds 15 rounds and loads through a hole in the front of the magazine. This design has been seen in a number of WE 1911 designs over the years and when I am using them, I prefer to load either 7 or 10 rounds to mimic the 45 ACP or 9mm capacities of the real thing.

One major improvement on the magazine that I could suggest, is that the fill valve be moved onto the back of the magazine. This would make it much easier to fill and would also mean a number of replica and real steel mag bases could be fitted in order to protect the base, which otherwise could cause problems with being able to fill the mags with gas. This is something which ProForce/VFC have done on their SIG M17, plus some other manufacturers do on their GBBR magazines and I really like it. As we are currently in a national lockdown, I will be looking at making the fill valve modification on a spare magazine.

The grips on this pistol are made from plastic, held on by stainless socket cap screws and I found them very comfortable to hold and give good grip both when both wearing and not wearing gloves. I was able to test this during the recent snowy weather, when I went onto our patio and got my hands cold, then wet from handling snow. A possible “premium” upgrade for this would be to offer a rubberised-type grip panel, as I think this would just round it all off.

Loading the magazine into the pistol is aided by a very nice CNCd magazine well. The standard magazine doesn’t have a rubberised base plate so it sits quite well into the magwell but for general use I’ll be using magazines with a bumper plate on them. This will help with positive reloading as well as provide protection should they be dropped on to a surface from the pistol when carrying out reload drills.

Something that is becoming more common on pistols both in the real world and in airsoft are sights fitted with fibre filaments. These are a good addition as they take the ambient light and provide help in finding and lining up the sights before taking a shot.

On this model they are green. It’s quite easy to change the filament if you wish to have different colours to indicate either front or rear sight in low light.

FAB DEFENSE SCORPUS

In the market for holsters there are many different designs and options for right-handed shooters but, being a left-handed shooter, it can usually be quite hard to find a suitable holster for a sidearm. I’d spent a few weeks surfing the net and looking at options available to me when I found the FAB Defense range on the Zahal website.

I knew I was looking for a Level 2 Retention holster and it needed to be in black. After a bit of time looking at the options I settled on the Scorpus model for my 1911. The holster arrived with both a paddle fitment as well as one for a belt mounting. In addition to this I ordered the MOLLE adaptor to give me a full range of mounting options.

I found that when the KP1911 was inserted into the Scorpus it was held really securely and to draw it was easy and smooth. The paddle gives the user a range of angles of through 35 degrees. In order to cover the range of user’s requirements the Scorpus is made from fibreglass reinforced polymer composite and is available in black, olive drab and desert tan.

Overall the holster and KP1911 work really well together and when I’m able to get out on site again I am looking forward to giving it a really good run out.

The WE (Ascend) KP1911 is a great entry-level option for players that want something that can give them reliable operation, a satisfying recoil impulse, modern looks and ease of use with a power of 0.83 Joule/299fps on a .20g BB. The pistol features standard 1911 ergonomics with the addition of some cool ambidextrous features such as the slide safety and with its ability to take WE or AW magazines, finding spares will not be difficult. It is available through most retailers in three variants: Black, Silver or Dual Tone Black/Silver. The FAB Defense Scorpus is available direct from Zahal or other stockists. AA

“THE WE (ASCEND) KP1911 IS A GREAT ENTRY-LEVEL OPTION FOR PLAYERS THAT WANT SOMETHING THAT CAN GIVE THEM RELIABLE OPERATION, A SATISFYING RECOIL IMPULSE, MODERN LOOKS AND EASE OF USE WITH A POWER OF 0.83 JOULE/299FPS ON A .20G BB.” www.airsoftaction.net

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READY… SET… GO!

WE’RE NOW IN A PERIOD WHEN THERE THE SUMMER LOOKS SET TO OPEN UP FOR GAMES AGAIN - AND WE’RE ALL HOPING THAT THIS IS THE CASE! BILL LOOKS FORWARD TO HAPPIER DAYS OF AIRSOFT AHEAD AND, HOPEFULLY, TO THOSE LONGER WEEKENDERS THAT MANY OF US LOVE SO MUCH AS HE WORKS THROUGH HIS PERSONAL KIT-LIST AND PREPS FOR THE MOMENT WHEN THE POWERS-THAT-BE FINALLY SAY “GO!”

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s a new “airsoft season” starts I always get a little tingle of excitement as to what it will bring me in event terms and, of course, this summer looks to be even more exciting than usual as (hopefully) the lockdowns will end and we can FINALLY get back to playing safely again… Well, as safe as any game where you shoot your friends can ever be!

Many of us would usually continue to skirmish during the winter but it’s the thought of those longer days and lighter evenings that really get me thinking about which games I’m going to sign up for. I’m as fond of a good “Sunday Skirmish” with the team as any man and the occasional, fully immersive MilSim is always good to get you on top of your game but it’s the middle ground that I enjoy the most!

I’ve played weekend games that have encompassed military training areas in the UK and USA, vast tracts of forest woodland, French mountains and even former monastery buildings on Crete and, to me, a good “weekender” is the best possible form for an airsoft game. Not only will it usually give two full days (possibly with a night game thrown in) of airsoft but it will also give me an opportunity to catch up with fellow players from different parts of the world!

There will always be a bit of a “social” element to a weekend game with good friends slinging “plastic

death” at one another all day long and then coming together for a barbeque and an “adult lemonade” when play ceases.

Tactics from the day will be analysed, new kit will be discussed and rated and new RIFs will be drooled over; it’s always great fun, especially if it’s warm and fair and the evening is mild. But of course, we must always be prepared for that “liquid sunshine” moment and the preparation of our gear, what we carry and how we carry it must always be a primary consideration. You’re already going to have all the “first and second line” gear you would normally play in and that’s a very personal choice so I won’t go into that, however, what I am going to lay out is a format for what you need in addition to your “line gear” to make your weekend fully enjoyable!

I use the same set of gear (either PenCott GreenZone/Wildwoods or Adaptive Green) whether it’s an informal weekender, or a more structured MilSim event. The real things to consider for any weekender are actually quite straightforward and can be broken down into eight key elements: Load Bearing, Hydration, Food , Cooking, Lighting, Sleeping, Hygiene and Comfort (I’m assuming here that most of us carry some type of First Aid Kit as part of our usual gear).

“THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A BIT OF A “SOCIAL” ELEMENT TO A WEEKEND GAME WITH GOOD FRIENDS SLINGING “PLASTIC DEATH” AT ONE ANOTHER ALL DAY LONG AND THEN COMING TOGETHER FOR A BARBEQUE AND AN “ADULT LEMONADE” WHEN PLAY CEASES.”

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KIT & GEAR PACKS

BEARING THE BURDEN

First up is LOAD BEARING, and what I mean by this is simply how you’re going to carry your gear. At many weekenders you’ll be able to camp directly next, or at very least close to the vehicle you arrived in so having your kit packed and organised in a large haul bag, maybe something like the Snugpak Subdivide Roller which gives you separate compartments to keep everything stored and ready to hand when you need it.

However, there are some games where you can crash out in buildings onsite overnight and this will often mean that you need to carry everything on your back. Indeed, part of the scenario itself may involve you actually making a march into a FOB area which will become your “home” for the duration, so not only do you need to haul your gear in but you need to keep it squared away too.

Therefore, your very first consideration must be some form of ruc or backpack. Over the years I’ve seen some utterly terrible sights, with guys turning up for a game absolutely overloaded with goodies that they “might need”! I’m sure we’ve all seen that meme with the guy hauling the ruc that is bigger than he is and had a good laugh at that but the truth is, that there are many players out there who really shouldn’t be laughing, instead they should be looking to their own personal admin and preparation of their load.

I usually try to look for packs that sit in the 40/50L volume range as that’s big enough (if you pack properly!) to hold everything you need without

becoming overly cumbersome. Look for a pack that offers not only a good harness system with a sternum strap, but also a good, solid belt harness too. Anyone who has spent any time hauling a ruc will tell you that you actually want most of the weight distributed onto your hips rather than hanging from your shoulders, which becomes very tiring, very quickly.

HYDRATION is the key to keeping going and keeping alert, especially when things get warmer - but equally important at all times.

I’ve been to games in the very height of summer where (even in good old Blighty) the temperature has been WAY up there. At one particular summer weekender in Florida, I recall going through some twelve litres of water during the course of the day!

Now there’s no way you’ll be carrying all of that on your back and you can usually rely on re-sup but I tend to have a two-litre bladder mounted on my plate carrier and another inside the ruc. I also carry a stainless steel wide-mouth Nalgene bottle which I keep filled when I’ve dropped my ruc off. This is a great bit of kit which allows you to get liquids into yourself far faster than a bite valve.

FOOD is also an essential. Many players heading for a weekender will always stock up on good, old fashioned ration (RAT for a reason!) packs or MREs (Meals Rejected by Ethiopians!) and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this at all, as the packs are designed specifically to provide all the necessary

“WHEN THE SHOOTING HAS STOPPED YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE LIST AND ONE OF THE BEST PHRASES I EVER HEARD TO DESCRIBE THIS, WAS FROM AN AMERICAN FRIEND WHO REFERRED TO IT AS “SNIVEL GEAR”.”

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KIT & GEAR PACKS

calories and nourishment to keep you going in the field. Camping and outdoor stores are also a great place to find food that’s prepared with hauling it in mind and many of the “boil in the bag” meals are super tasty and can be eaten straight from their foil packets. I like to carry a “nosebag” too, basically a Ziploc bag into which I crumble digestive biscuits, nuts and dried fruit which is a good way to give yourself a quick boost without the highs and lows of sweets or chocolate bars!

SNIVEL IN FOR THE WIN!

When the shooting has stopped you need to be looking at the other elements of the list and one of the best phrases I ever heard to describe this, was from an American friend who referred to it as “Snivel Gear” and the first consideration here is hot food and drink, so you’re going to need something to do your COOKING on.

I’ve tried various ways of cooking in the field over the years but have really settled on a gas system. My absolute favourite cooker is the “Pocket Rocket” from Mountain Safety Research (MSR). This is an ultralight isobutene-propane backpacking stove that weighs just 73g (2.6 ounces) with a flame that easily adjusts from a simmer to a rolling boil - in fact, if pushed, it boils a litre of water in just 3.5 minutes! Its easy-to-use design needs no priming, preheating or pressurising and serrated pot supports accommodate a range of cooking pot sizes (it’s ideal for the classic Mess Tin!) and fold exceptionally small into an ultralight hard shell protective carry case which is easily stowed in a pouch. Powered by differentsized canisters (small for in your gear and larger for when you’re operating out of a FOB) that are widely available all over the world, it’s the ideal solution for a “fast and light” gear setup.

Combined with that simple Mess Tin if push comes to shove, you can always drop your “boil in the bag” packet straight into the water and have sufficient liquid at the end of it for a hot brew. If money is tight though, there is still absolutely nothing wrong though with a hexamine cooker and that good old mess tin! I do tend to chuck in a plastic mug, bowl and plate, along with a “spork” as it’s nice to eat properly when you 28

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get the opportunity and the knife from my Gerber multitool serves yet another purpose here as well.

As darkness falls you’re going to need some form of LIGHTING, not only to go about your admin and planning with but also to find your way around (as many sites are not lit). I always carry a micro head torch in my Admin Panel but I beef that up by including a Petzl Tac Tikka in the top compartment of my ruc, as that way I’ve got redundancy should one or the other fail (don’t forget to pack a few spare batteries either!). I also tuck away a Storm Candle which comes in a lidded tin; not only can this provide light but you’d be surprised how much welcome heat one of these will give off too.

Remember to also pack some waterproof matches or a Storm Lighter (shows are always a good source for these as many companies have these on their show stands as little “giveaways).

The next element to me is a really important one - and that’s how you go about sorting out your SLEEPING arrangements. My setup works equally well in a tent, basha or chilly building. A lighter bag like the Softie 3 may suffice in the summer months but one investment I made many moons ago, was a Special Forces Sleeping Bag System from Snugpak.

The complete system gives you the Special Forces 1 Bag for use in above freezing temperatures and the Special Forces 2 Bag for use in temperatures right down to -10°C. Then, when you’re in extreme conditions, you place the Special Forces 2 Bag inside the Special Forces 1 Bag and join them together with the extra zip baffle, so you’re protected in conditions right down to -20°C. Ingenious!

To protect myself from the cold ground and to prevent losing heat by pure conduction, I place a Thermarest self-inflating mattress underneath the sleeping bag. Mine is ¾ length and weighs in at just 230g but the streamlined shape makes it highly

KIT & GEAR PACKS

packable while continuing to provide the comfort you need. Over the top of both of these I place a Snugpak Special Forces Bivvi Bag which provides an extra breathable barrier to moisture and helps to retain warmth.

The last two elements I consider for my packing list are HYGIENE and COMFORT, and I’ll take the latter first.

If you’ve had a long, chilly day playing in the rain and have the chance to get dry then having clean dry socks, thermal underwear, a good fleece hat, neck gaiter and lightweight gloves to pop on can be complete luxury! I also carry a spare combat shirt (VIPER Mesh Tech) and trousers (VIPER Elite) to change into. Added to that, if I know it’s going to be proper chilly I’ll chuck in a Snugpak MML6 smock which gives huge amounts of warmth, packs down small and weighs in at just 720g in size Medium, plus an extra set of Snugpak 2nd Skinz base layers. Again, dependant of the time of year I’ll also carry a waterproof hardshell (mine is a UF PRO hybrid model) and there’s always a HelikonTex Windrunner Windshirt tucked into my hydration pouch on the plate carrier. Of course, for the winter months you’ll want a slightly larger (50-60L) pack with an adjustable back system to give space for the additions whilst still maintaining a comfortable and stable carry.

Hygiene is one that raises eyebrows for many but, to me, it really separates the “airsoft operator” from the “game guys”. Yes, I know that most weekenders are just for a couple of days and that you can rough it out knowing there’s a hot shower waiting when you get home. I always try and look at it from the perspective that if you set yourself good discipline from the outset, then that will aid you for longer periods. When you get into a MilSim, for instance, that lasts days (such as the “WarZone” 72 hour event I attended in the mountains of Crete) rather than hours, keeping yourself clean is a very good habit to get into, not just for yourself but for those around you! I carry an old, small wash kit from Web Tex that contains the essentials, along with a small microfibre

towel. With the wash kit I stow in a tiny sewing kit as you never know when something is going to get ripped or torn.

KEEPING ORDERED

Once you’ve got all your elements gathered together it’s time to test-pack everything. Think here about what you’re going to need immediately, like “hard routine” food and what will get used later, like your sleeping system or your cooker. Necessary items stay closer to the top of your pack and in external pouches and pockets, while spare clothing and the like can be packed lower. I break all my kit down into “groups” and then all items used together will go into individual dry bags which I mark with different coloured cableties for ease of recognition.

With everything packed up, get your pack on and go for a walk; you’ll soon find out if you’ve got everything balanced correctly and comfortably. Last but not least, there are four essentials you should never head off to a weekender without: Paracord, gaffa tape, a couple of bungees and… some loo paper in yet another Ziploc bag! However you roll, when it comes to approaching a weekend game, get your kit sorted and believe me, it will be even more fun than you thought possible!

Virtually all the kit featured in this article is available from “one stop shop” www.military1st.co.uk or from www.snugpak.com so go and pay them a visit! AA

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COVERT BOOT

BLACK / BROWN / TITANIUM / SRP: £49.95

KIT & GEAR TIGER LOADOUT

IT SEEMS LIKE WE’VE COME ROUND IN “TACTICAL FASHION” AGAIN BUT UNLIKE HIDEOUSLY FLARED JEANS AND PAISLEY SHIRTS, IT’S A BRILLIANT CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN THAT SEEMS TO BE TAKING ON NEW LIFE IN A THOROUGHLY MODERN FORM. SO THIS MONTH WE LOOK BACK ON TIGERSTRIPE AND HOW IT’S STILL VALID TO THIS DAY!

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any, many moons ago, when I first discovered this funny old game we call airsoft, like many others I just went down the “national camo” (ie DPM) route as a) I already had some, b) it was cheap enough to buy as army surplus and c) it worked very well in the woods of good old England. Of course, it was designed primarily for temperate usage and even now, with so many other camouflage patterns available, it still works effectively in its intended environment.

Soon, as is the way it goes, I hooked up with some other players from the south and west of England.

We’d see each other at every monthly skirmish and inevitably end up playing alongside one another, so it wasn’t long before we decided to formalise things into a little team. Once we’d made the decision to do this, the next step was looking for a new uniform that

would give us an identity when we played together.

I had long been a fan of the Vietnam War TV series “Tour of Duty” so of course I put up my hand and said: “What about Tigerstripe?”

You have to remember that this was long before “Namsoft” really got into its swing, so Tigerstripe was still a pretty unusual pattern to see at skirmishes.

In fact, once we’d agreed to go with that as our team pattern, I was tasked with sourcing it (nothing changes in this respect!). I soon discovered that, unlike other military surplus uniforms, genuine ‘Nam era uniforms, even then, were very highly collectible and went for some serious amounts of money to collectors of such things!

So I started to do some serious homework and, luckily for me, around the time I started looking into “Tigers” a new book was published in the USA by

“I’M INVOLVED IN SEVERAL GROUPS THAT TALK IN DEPTH ABOUT CAMOUFLAGE PATTERNS, BOTH HISTORICAL AND MODERN, AND HAVE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH “NAMSOFT” OVER THE YEARS AND TO BE HONEST, IT ALL STARTED WITH TIGERSTRIPE!”

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Shiffer Press. “Tiger Patterns” by Sgt Richard Denis Johnson is probably still the definitive reference source for anything to do with genuine Tigerstripe variants, and I do mean variants! I have to admit, I became a bit of a “tiger geek” when I received a copy of this fabulous book, learning to tell the difference between “John Wayne Dense”, “Tadpole Sparse” and “Late War, Heavyweight Dense”! Then you have the different cuts and pocketing; if anyone can tell me immediately (without looking on Google!) what “C1B-EXP-2P” stands for I’ll buy them an ice cream when I see them!

Most people will have an immediate connection with the family of Tigerstripe patterns due to its use by Special Forces, SEALs, the ASAS, NZSAS and the Ranger Recon teams in Vietnam but, in actual fact, it was already in military usage WAY before the Americans got involved with it. The Vietnamese Marine Corps were already playing with the “VMX Experimental” pattern in the late 1950’s, which is thought to have had a relationship with the French Indochina “Lizard” pattern, using (as it did) a virtually identical stripe configuration. The “VMX”, in turn, was developed into the first “official” Tigerstripe pattern, the Vietnamese Marine Corps Sparse or “VMS”, which was issue from mid-1959 onwards.

See what I mean, this stuff can get seriously addictive! Personally, it started me down a route that I enjoy immensely to this day. I’m involved in several groups that talk in depth about camouflage patterns, both historical and modern, and have been deeply involved with “Namsoft” over the years and to be honest, it all started with Tigerstripe!

Finally, for the team though, I managed to track down some relatively cheap “Tiger BDUs” in the USA and an order was placed. Tigers of course were used with plain green US M56 Load Bearing Equipment in Vietnam, so we made the decision to stay with this theme but use modern day equivalents in terms of our gear. Ballcaps, bandanas, black boots and gloves were the order of the day, allied with copious amounts of cam cream! We thought we looked the “mutt’s nuts” back then and recreating this “look” again now still shows how effective it can be during the summer months in a woodland environment.

TIGER ON A BUDGET

One of the things that I always stress when it comes to creating a loadout, is to work within a sensible budget as it’s VERY easy to get carried away once you start thinking about your gear. Some of us “old gits” have a little more disposable income for certain but we also have mortgages to pay and families to look after, so it’s just as relevant to us as it is to someone just starting out. Think long and hard how much you’re going to use a particular loadout and “cut your cloth” accordingly.

To that end I started out looking to a good standard of kit, not one which in any way would satisfy a reenactor but one which wasn’t going to stretch the wallet. The first part of this was finding the basic uniform and a quick trawl online found me once again perusing www.miliatry1st.co.uk.

At £31.95 I was able to pick up a straightforward Propper “Asian Tiger” shirt. The pattern itself is a little

harsh compared with the real thing but the shirt has everything you really need from it. It’s got a simple, no-nonsense button front closure with an over flap, four front pockets with button closure and button cuff adjusters. That’s it… no mess, no fuss. The matching trousers, also at £31.95, are equally as down to

“WE’VE WORN THE URBAN TACTICAL PANTS IN THE WILD AT GAMES AND DURING TRAINING COURSES AND THEY’RE A GREAT, HARD-WEARING AND SUPER-COMFORTABLE MODEL, AS WELL AS BEING EXTREMELY DURABLE AND PUTTING UP WITH ALL MANNER OF ABUSE!”

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KIT & GEAR TIGER LOADOUT

earth. They have two hand pockets, two back pockets with button flaps, two large cargo pockets on sides of the legs with button flaps, an adjustable waist, drawstring tie bottoms and belt loops. Both garments are made from a sturdy fade, shrink and wrinkle resistant Polycotton Ripstop fabric which isn’t going to let you down anytime soon. My experience with reproductions like these is that the colours fade quite quickly, “silvering out” and actually becoming even more effective as they age, so it will be interesting to see just how that “no fade” works over time…

So, on to kit!

I thought back many years and considered what load bearing gear I first used with my Tigers; back in the day it had been the venerable South African Assault Vest in plain green. Actually, when I came to think of it, this had been a darn good vest which allowed me to carry all the kit I ever needed for a day’s skirmishing. The South African Assault Vest is an

all-round tactical vest, with pockets of varying sizes to hold virtually all your airsoft kit. The best feature of the SAAV is the large hip pouch on left and right sides, which will hold a whole array of different 28

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magazines. In fact they can be used as dump pockets, utility pouches, spares pouches or any combination of the three. The SAAV also has a long, thin dual compartment back pouch which can be used for carrying food, a hydration bladder, spare clothing and a waterproof (just in case). For just £42.99 from Military 1st, this is a lot of vest and I still know many skirmish players that swear by it as a design. If you’re new to airsoft then this style is as valid as it ever was and makes a great, well-priced alternative to a plate carrier… and they even do one in “Tigerstripe” nowadays if you want to go the whole hog!

TIGER OLD AND NEW

As I mentioned earlier, I did end up becoming a bit of a “Tiger Fanboy”, so of course I wanted to have a crack at something a bit more advanced. There is still no way in the world I would use a piece of genuine, “Nam dated” Tigerstripe to skirmish in (and I do own some now!) but since Vietnam re-enactment and even “Namsoft” have become more popular, there are a number of excellent reproductions out there.

Soldier of Fortune in Wales offer a really, really good reproduction of the “Tadpole Sparse” pattern, the shirt and Trouser set going for £79.99. This was one of the more popular patterns of Tiger Stripe used by the US troops in Vietnam. As I said, there were a lot of versions of Tiger Stripe camouflage used “incountry” but this was the one favoured by the Special Forces and would have also been popular with Recon Teams too. The design of the suit is cut in the classic “Advisor” pattern and is made from 100% cotton which is absolutely bombproof. The jacket has one sleeve and two chest pockets which are closed by buttons which are exposed, whilst the trousers have seven pockets and are surprisingly advanced in their design even by modern standards. There are two front slash pockets, two rear seat bellowed shaped pockets, two cargo leg bellowed shaped pockets and one small box-shaped pocket below the cargo pocket on the left leg. All the buttons are exposed (there are no flaps covering the buttons) and there is a zipped fly and belt loops on the waist band. SOF also offer different styles of boonie hat and bandanas as well.

But as much as “Tiger” is a much-loved and revered historical pattern, it’s also one that is more than valid in the right environments today, and if you fancy bringing the style of your “Tigers” bang up to date then (as we reported on the website recently) Helikon-Tex have just added the pattern, in a form that friends agree with me is close to “John Wayne Dense”, to their line with the excellent Urban tactical Pants and Shorts!

KIT & GEAR TIGER LOADOUT

These are both clothing designs that we’ve looked at before and rated very highly; the cut and pockets layout employed in these pants are “civilian enough” to wear every day, while retaining full functionality of combat pants, capable of supporting tactical essentials. An elastic Velcro-closed waist allows easy adjustment, whilst wide belt loops allow for up to a 50 mm belt, including all HTX tactical belts, EDC, UTL® or Cobras®. Due to the clever layout of the pockets, equipment can be placed close to your centre mass, around the hips and waist. Front and rear pockets edges are reinforced to withstand constant use of light or knife clips, and the two Velcro-closed front pockets are big enough to carry a smartphone, or even an AR/AK rifle magazine! The thigh pockets look flat, but thoughtful design allows a good load to be carried with ease. Bespoke internal pockets on the trousers allow fitting of Low Profile Protective Pads® if you need them.

We’ve worn the Urban Tactical Pants in the wild at games and during training courses and they’re a great, hard-wearing and super-comfortable model, as well as being extremely durable and putting up with all manner of abuse! The feature set is solid without being too much and all the pockets are usable in the very best way. We’ve not yet tried the shorter design but with summer just around the corner these could be the very thing we need for Range Days! These

of Tigerstripe and plain green will work well together, whilst still giving a nod to that classic mix! However, these days it’s not just OD Green that we have to play with, but all manner of foliage/adaptive/”ranger” greens too. I can see the new HeliKon-Tex Tigers mixing well with my green OPFOR gear that will let me put a new and fresh slant on existing kit I already own, like my Warrior DCS and Direct Action plate carriers and pistol belt. I still haven’t discovered a Tigerstripe FAST helmet cover, so that may have to be a little project in the future!

Overall, as you can probably gather, I had a LOT of fun putting together loadouts based on what was (and indeed still is) one of the best concealment patterns ever produced. It also took me back in time, not just with the nod to an historical camouflage pattern, but to the guys I used to play alongside in my early airsoft days. Sadly, age is a great leveller and many of the original crew have moved away from those regular skirmish days we used to enjoy so much together as a team. Thankfully new players are still flocking to airsoft and I hope that this may help those of you that are still to discover just what a great pattern classic Tigerstripe really is! AA

are two very popular garments to get things started with their “old is the new new” range of clothing and we sincerely hope that we’ll see more coming in this pattern from Helikon-Tex (such as their excellent Windrunner windshirt!), as it looks like they are most definitely giving an old tiger some sharp- and coollooking - new teeth!

Even now, in terms of gear I believe that the mix

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INSIDE AIRSOFT ARCHWICK - PART ONE

AIRSOFT ACTION’S “MAN IN TAIWAN”, STEWBACCA, BRINGS US AN INSIDE LOOK INTO THE HISTORY OF A COMPANY THAT NOT MANY HAD HEARD OF UNTIL THEY BURST ONTO THE SCENE WITH THEIR HIGHLYACCURATE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE REPLICAS.

H

aving talked online with Nelson Lau of Archwick prior to MOA2020 and then spending a great deal of time at their booth checking out their latest prototypes and discussing their origins, existing products and plans to further their range of both bolt action sniper rifle platforms as well as their upcoming Colt Canada L119A2 GBBR built off GHK internals, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to get to know them and their company well as a result.

ITS ALL IN THE NAME

So where does the “Archwick” name come from?

Like many I was curious, so during my time spent with Nelson I got to the bottom of it.

Both he and Ray, like so many of us in this industry and hobby, are avid fans of the John Wick franchise and it turns out that Keanu Reeves is also into motorcycles and has his own custom workshop brand, known as “Arch”, so the guys put the two together in homage to the character and the actor in their name.

There’s also the secondary connotation of “arch nemesis”, which plays well into their new and different dynamic which seems to be upsetting the

established order, or shaking up the incumbent industry to some extent, with them carving their own path through things.

What about the origins of those who make up the company?

Nelson and Ray both come from long-term experience backgrounds in both airsoft and paintball equipment production. Nelson is originally from Hong Kong, however, moved to Canada at a fairly young age and became involved in the burgeoning airsoft scene there at the age of 16. He became an avid player before adding his business acumen to the mix and running a sales and importation company from his parent’s home, growing from grass roots to be one of the dominating operations in Canadian airsoft, before selling his business and moving to Taiwan in 2003.

Following this shift back to the Asian sphere of influence, Nelson worked in paintball manufacturing industries, being one of the first to press for the adoption of magazine-fed systems in lieu of the older hopper-fed, less realistic-looking paintball markers.

Having achieved a wide array of goals and developed his experience in being a man of many

“…WITH THEIR COMPLEMENTARY SKILL SETS AND INTERESTS IN NICHE HIGH VALUE REPLICA GUNS, THE TWO OF THEM FELT IT WAS AN IDEAL TIME TO GO IT ALONE AND MEET THE NEEDS OF ASG AND THE MARKET AT LARGE WHERE OTHERS COULD NOT…”

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INSIDE AIRSOFT ARCHWICK - PART ONE

skills, such as handling purchasing, sales, marketing, industry internal trading and manufacturing, he decided to return to his airsoft roots to make use of his extensive industry contacts. Having “a wide face” as the Japanese would say; being very well known among the industry in various regions and making use of his fluency in English, Mandarin and his mother Cantonese tongues, as well as understanding of both East and West cultural differences.

ENTER RAY

Having studied industrial design in university before spending over a decade in airsoft-specific design - with a wealth of experience not only in clothing, tactical gear and other related products but having then moved to freelancing for an array of other industry names, on some “large calibre, long range” platforms, as well as more recently designing a variety of gas powered non-blowback and blowback pistols and SMGs and even niche shell ejecting bolt action rifles - evidently he has a vast array of supporting design engineering competencies which enable him to cover the majority of airsoft replica systems.

Having become aware of ASG and local

manufacturing subcontractors through some of his previous clients and activities, this is actually how Nelson met Ray and with their complementary skill sets and interests in niche high value replica guns, the two of them felt it was an ideal time to go it alone and meet the needs of ASG and the market at large where others could not - with well-developed and considered designs of sniper rifles for starters, before moving onto an array of other upcoming platforms of a gas powered nature.

With Nelson fulfilling the role of Archwick’s CEO and business development, while Ray heads up design and development, the company is slowly growing its wider talent base with a junior designer following Ray’s lead and a small team of dedicated operatives covering both administrative and in-house assembly and quality control duties.

Having decided to move in their own direction, they incorporated Archwick back in September 2019, already having had long enough to derive some good product ideas and long term business goals and ethos before entering the market on an official basis. With a smaller initial presence at MOA2019 displaying their earliest offerings, their beginnings seemed subdued compared to their more sudden rise and acquisition of

“ITS IMPORTANT TO REALISE THAT THE MK13 MOD7 AND “C” VARIANTS WERE A LABOUR OF LOVE AND PRECISION, REPLICATING THEIR REAL STEEL COUNTERPARTS CLOSELY NOT ONLY IN EXTERNAL APPEARANCE BUT ALSO INTERNALLY, WITH A REALISTIC CAST AND FINISH MACHINED CHASSIS WHICH THEN HAS POLYMER BODY COMPONENTS BOLTED ON TO IT.”

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INSIDE AIRSOFT ARCHWICK - PART ONE

authorisations and quality of the first products they’ve already released in such a short timeframe.

Despite the obvious drawbacks of entering the market in 2020, with all of its downturn regarding conducting and promoting a business and undertaking manufacturing and sales, plus given all the supply chain issues and, of course, distributor and end-user restrictions, Archwick made the best of Asia’s markets and local reviews and related acclaim of their Mk13 Mod7, to drive end-user desire before they were even made available through ASG in Europe and the US - to the point where all of their first batch was already pre-sold to distributors before they even arrived in destination countries!

SETTING THE BAR HIGH

This first foray into airsoft replicas was intended to set the bar very high and while some end-users found the price tag a little hard to digest, it’s important to realise that the Mk13 Mod7 and “C” variants were a labour of love and precision, replicating their real steel counterparts closely not only in external appearance but also internally, with a realistic cast and finish machined chassis which then has polymer body components bolted on to it. The precision machined and finished barrel and action being bolted to the lower and the resultant gaps in between the plastic components are actually present on the real rifles, an artefact of their requirement to operate in extremes of weather. While some may think they look badly finished as a result, they are, in fact,

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perfectly replicating the real rifles, with expansion spaces to deal with operation in both arctic or arid environments.

Their initial offering was intended to showcase their capabilities and appeal as much to hardcore collectors with their attention to detail, official authorised markings and external aesthetics, while also being very much functional and high-performance aircocking sniper platforms for those who wish to field them in games. The “C” model perhaps offering a more practical variant, with its shorter overall profile, although a mid-sized variant is under development to match the VSR10’s internal barrel length and performance. Having made such a splash with their initial entry models, Archwick are now intending to focus more on the true player’s market with their ASG sub licenced B&T SPR 300, which is of far simpler construction and more economical than the behemoth Mk13 Mod 7 platform.

Having not been adopted by any military and intended more for the real steel market comprising of SWAT or other special police and counterterrorism units, the B&T SPR300 will bring further improvements in both production and utility, building off user feedback to include a “dual feed” system allowing for both standard VSR10 magazines to be flush fitted into the magazine well, but also allowing for a bridge system to be installed that will allow the platform to feed from a magazine further rearward that more accurately replicates the real one. Thus allowing users to choose between enhanced convenience and

INSIDE AIRSOFT ARCHWICK - PART ONE

magazine compatibility with their other VSR based sniper rifles, or raw realism and user experience.

With such growing interest and acclaim in their existing products and the furore over the announcement of upcoming lines, Archwick are already delivering high performance replicas upgraded “out of the box” which need little or no investment in to put to work dominating the field, with some models capable of near 100m range and delivering accurate fire. Confidence in their capabilities is evidently growing as well, with ASG and Cybergun continuing to grant sub-licenses, which are hard won and require a lot of consideration due to the weight of the real steel manufacturers branding behind them - no small feat for a small company.

and upcoming projects are in future issues of Airsoft Action. AA

LOOKING FORWARDS

Evidently Archwick have a lot of exciting products on the horizon to look forward to, whether you’re an avid collector looking for the accuracy of the minutiae and appreciation of precision manufactured and finished platforms, or a skirmish player looking for that same attention to detail and good design applied to more practical and affordable platforms.

You can be sure that I’ll be working closely with them to bring a more in depth inside look of how the company operates and what their in-progress www.airsoftaction.net

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RED CELL SHORT BARRELLED RIFLES

RED CELL

SHORT BARRELLED RIFLES

LAST MONTH RED CELL TOOK A LOOK AT PDW MODELS THAT ARE IDEAL FOR CQB PLAY, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MORE “MIL” STYLED AEGS FOR THE ROLE THE CHOICE IS EVEN WIDER, SO THIS TIME THE TEAM HAVE LOOKED AT SBRS AND TO AR MODELS OLD AND NEW THAT ARE IDEAL FOR THIS ROLE AS THEY PUT TWELVE OF THEIR FAVOURITE MODELS HEAD-TO-HEAD!

O

nce upon a not-so-long-ago, if you were looking for a platform ideal for close quarter “work” then, in the real world, this would have undoubtedly been some form of SMG or machine pistol and, of course, the venerable MP5 springs immediately to mind. Sadly, the very same reasons of control and performance (and lack of over-penetration for hostage rescue scenarios) that made the MP5 and other such pistol calibre models the obvious choice for CQB situations, have ultimately worked against it in today’s battlespaces.

Body armour has become much more commonplace, even for the “bad guys” and the fact is that the much-loved 9mm Parabellum cartridge simply does not provide enough “grunt” to effectively deal with potential targets, so something more is needed.

Add to this that the “battlespace” itself has changed, with more emphasis on urban engagements and once again the range and at-range performance of a pistol-calibre platform, whilst good close-to, becomes increasingly questionable as longer engagement distances are encountered. It’s not unusual these days

even for dedicated “HRT” units to have to go from 20 feet to 200 meters-plus in the same encounter, so their platform needs to be able to excel in all aspects of a fast-changing contact.

Developments in doctrine and tactics mean that the carbine - and especially the SBR (Short Barrelled Rifle) - has become the weapon of choice for CQB/ CQC. In US-parlance, an SBR is an AR (or similar) that has a shoulder stock, with a barrel length of less than 16 inches, although for the purposes of this article, the Red Cell team decided to go sub-14.5-inch (“M4 carbine”) barrel length. For CQB/CQC use a shorter rifle is easier to manipulate in buildings and vehicles and a shorter rifle is also easy to use and put into action. Shorter rifles can also be lighter and better balanced if they are well set up.

In the real world this means that you can have the benefit and higher penetration of a .223/5.56mm round but of course, many SBRs can still handle the newer 6.8mm ammunition and cartridges like the 300 Blackout to give a real performance edge! However, there is a downside to an SBR, namely that “rounds

“…IN TRAINED HANDS WITH THE CORRECT “BOLT-ONS”, THE SBR COMES INTO ITS OWN AS A SHORT-RANGE PLATFORM THAT WILL DEFEAT (OR AT LEAST SERIOUSLY HINDER THOSE WEARING) BODY ARMOUR WHILST STILL MAINTAINING THE ABILITY TO REACH OUT FURTHER.” 40

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RED CELL SHORT BARRELLED RIFLES

down” from a shorter barrel are going to start losing velocity when compared to a “regular length” carbine and rifle length. Velocity loss means you are going to get a serious dent in terminal ballistic potential at longer ranges and (potentially) the “muzzle blast”, both visible and auditory, can be huge unless a suitable suppressor/muzzle brake/ blast deflector is used. Barrel length pretty much makes an SBR a medium-range weapon at best, or close quarters rifle for most but in trained hands with the correct “boltons”, the SBR comes into its own as a short-range platform that will defeat (or at least seriously hinder those wearing) body armour whilst still maintaining the ability to reach out further.

This is why we now see so many military and police units ditching (in the main) their pistol calibre models in favour of platforms like the L119A2, HK416 and MK18 CQBR and if your taste in airsoft replicas is more “mil”, then frankly there’s never been a better time as the choice has become more widespread than ever!

DOWNRANGE AND GOOD TO GO!

So, with all of that as a background, in the world of airsoft and the engagement distances we encounter, the barrel length of our replicas is not so important and although we might fit a suppressor or blast deflector for a cosmetically pleasing look, we aren’t having to deal with “signature” either, so a shorter rifle for indoor or urban use is going to be something that we always look at seriously. Why on earth would we want to drag around an EBR unless it’s properly set up as a semi-only DMR, when we can get the same performance from a well-set-up AR? With this is mind, the Red Cell team once again got to grips with a series of suitable “SBRs”, from a very old Gen 1 VFC HK416, right up to the very latest H-12 (that you’ll find reviewed in full this month) from Specna Arms and this is what they had to say…

Bill W-R: “Valken, Valken, Valken! So, I know some of these have come into the UK hot but I also understand that Valken immediately sent some replacement springs. For a cost-effective, out-of-thebox AEG, you can’t go wrong with one of these.

They simply do the job they were designed to do in a straightforward way and have an amazing no crap guarantee. Rugged and a far better AEG than the price point suggests. Many of my team have started with the Valken as it provides one of the best value for money entries into the sport possible. Reasonable accuracy and range and with an ease (unlike some) when you decide to upgrade. I simply cannot sing the praises of this little AEG enough!”

Jon: “What Bill W-R said TBH! Out the box they’re great, reliable bits of kit!”

Marcus: “These AEGs are great with a billet style plastic body and rail that’s really strong and well made, a with a good tightbore barrel they’re doing about 350fps out of the box. They have fibre-optic combat sights as well as back up sights and a 1 year “no fuss” guarantee. I wish more companies did!

The gearbox is made by SRC and is not bad, although sometimes they need re-shimming, but other than that the gears and chamber set is not bad. The piston is a plastic toothed one, however, so I’d consider changing this to a full metal toothed one for longevity, but from what Valken have told me, the new ones out this year will all have a full metal tooth piston and true quick change springs out of the box. Well done Valken, as this is a great all-round performer at an affordable price.”

Jimmy: “I chose to take on the Evolution E-416 as my focus AEG this month, as I’ve waited a long time to get my hands on an Evolution rifle since I learnt of their existence! A lot of people have likened them to Specna and I can see why but there are some major differences to be found.

“One thing especially that drew my attention to them was the use of their electronic trigger system, or E.T.S.III for short. This looks very, very similar to the BTC Spectre v2 design; this I will discover, but more on that at a later date. Out of the box you can instantly see that the E-416, which is part of Evolution’s high end range, is beaming with quality; the finish on every external part is exactly how I imagined it would be, which immediately fills me with confidence.

“Let’s start at the front and work our way back; the flash hider made from CNC aluminium is your very standard issue birdcage style and the CNC alloy outer barrel is a nice sturdy, very cleanly finished with no wobble or flex and housed inside a (what appears to be) cerakoted bronze colour handguard and looking at it screams quality! The machining is absolutely flawless and that any self-respecting 416 lover would love, plus offers a healthy amount of 20mm rail space for all those much-needed attachments. The metal receivers are solid with no wobble between the two, giving a perfect marriage and a nice touch is the unique serial number. Getting a grip on things - and while the grip is comfortable and simplistic - I feel it’s a tad thin for my grasp. It is fitted with a standard style crane stock which offers up ample battery fitment and at full extent makes the whole rifle 780mm long. I think it would look amazing with the 416 delta stock (personal preference).

“Overall it’s a very nice weight, 2,900g to be www.airsoftaction.net

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Model: VFC HK416 Price: iro UK435.00 Age: MANY years (2007)!!!

Weight: 3000g Length: 700mm/790mm Magazine Capacity: 300 - will accept all STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 1.01J/330fps Hot Chrono: 1.01 J/330fps Taclite: Standard Rail Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www. landwarriorairsoft.com

Model: Ares AM-013 Honey Badger Price: iro UK250.00 Age: 3 Years Weight: 2466g Length: 630mm/730mm Magazine Capacity: 300 - will

accept most STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 0.83J/300fps Hot Chrono: 0.78J/290fps Taclite: Dedicated Suppressor: Pre-Fitted Supplied By: www.patrolbase. co.uk

Model: CYMA CM.097B Price: iro UK£155.00 Age: 2 Years Weight: 2770g Length: 730mm/815 mm Magazine Capacity: 160 - will accept all STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 1.09J/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.09J/344fps Taclite: M-LOK Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.taiwangun. com

Model: EVOLUTION E-416 Price: iro UK£295.00 Age: New Weight: 2,920g Length: 700mm/780 mm Magazine Capacity: 130 - will accept all STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 1.09J/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.07J/340fps Taclite: Standard Rail Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: store. evolutioninternational.it

Model: Specna Arms MK18 SAE19 EDGE Price: iro UK£230.00 Age: New Weight: 2675g Length: 700mm/785mm Magazine Capacity: 125(2) - will

accept all STANAG/AR Cold Chrono: 1.07J/340fps Hot Chrono: 1.04J/335fps Taclite: Standard rail Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

Model: G&G TR16 308 SBR MK2 Price: iro UK£390.00 Age: New Weight: 2773g Length: 700mm/800mm Magazine Capacity: 40 (370BB

Hi Cap Available) Cold Chrono: 1.09J/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.09J/344fps Taclite: M-LOK Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

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RED CELL SHORT BARRELLED RIFLES

Specna Arms RRA SA-E04 Price: iro UK£175.00 Age: 1 Year Weight: 2600g Length: 700mm/780mm Magazine Capacity: 125(2) - will accept all STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 1.01J/330fps Hot Chrono: 0.98J/325fps Taclite: Standard Rail Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

Specna Arms SA-H12 Price: iro UK£190.00 Age: New Weight: 3000g Length: 730mm/820mm Magazine Capacity: 300 - will accept all STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 1.07J/340fps Hot Chrono: 1.07J/340fps Taclite: Dedicated, SMR Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.gunfire.com

NUPROL Enforcer BRAVO Price: iro UK£220.00 Age: 4 Years Weight: 2460g Length: 700mm/790mm Magazine Capacity: 370 - will accept all STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 0.95J/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.95J/320fps Taclite: Standard Rail Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

Valken KILO Price: iro UK£150.00 Age: New Weight: 2494g Length: 620mm/700mm Magazine Capacity: 300 - will accept most STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 1.01J/330fps Hot Chrono: 0.98J/325fps Taclite: M-LOK Suppressor: 14mm CCW (11mm CW thread adapter included) Supplied By: www.308-sniper. co.uk

KWA VM4 Ronin 10 SBR Price: iro UK£375.00 Age: New Weight: 2900g Length: 724mm/794mm Magazine Capacity: 120 - will accept most STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 1.09J/344fps Hot Chrono: 1.07J/340fps Taclite: KeyMod Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.kwausa.com

G&G SR30 Price: iro UK£360.00 Age: New Weight: 2760g Length: 700mm/770mm Magazine Capacity: 90 G2 - will accept most STANAG/AR

Cold Chrono: 0.98J/325fps Hot Chrono: 0.95J/320fps Taclite: M-LOK Suppressor: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

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RED CELL SHORT BARRELLED RIFLES

precise, a solid rugged rifle at a very nice price. Fire selectors are nice and positive with no real discernible free play. The quick-change spring is another modern feature which as a player and a tech makes life so much easier. Into the belly of the beast (metaphorically of course), the part that really interests me is the ETS, which offers you some fantastic modern features bringing this stock gun to life! Features such as a configurable fire selector, adjustable trigger response, pre-cocking and the like make this great fun and this is quite the package that enables you to fully personalise the rifle to your style of play/use. These are retailing at around the £300 mark and worth every penny and I will buy one without hesitation. Is it a starter rifle? I can’t really say yes or no. What I do know, is that I’ve got one in my possession and I’m hoping Bill might just forget that I’ve got it!”

Marcus: “As we’re talking “416”, then the VFC version is externally a great AEG with a very good body, rail, stock and finish even down to the safety markings! All excellent, as I would expect from VFC. The gearbox is nice and its pretty well shimmed, with a solid chamber set up, piston and piston head. Now it’s time for the 800lb gorilla in the room though… and that is the ETU system, which is proprietary. The model other than Bill’s old campaigner was Boycie’s and was not working when we got it. I did all the normal checks: terminals, fuse motor, etc. etc. but they were all fine, so I can only conclude that the ETU is to blame, which is a shame given the level of detail that VFC put in the rest of the gun. A simple change of the ETU sorted the problem and the AEG then performed REALLY well.”

Bill P-T: “Weird one that, as my VFC Gen 1 has been rocking since I first got it in 2006/7! It’s been a solid performer that has given me sterling service!

Onto the Specna MK18 though and everyone knows how much I love this! I really do like the MK18 as it’s an exceptionally tight package both inside and out and care has obviously been taken to provide something in AEG form that’s fully worthy of carrying the Daniel Defense name! I have to say that the MK18 has definitely rekindled my love for all things “NSW” and with a sub-£250 price tag here in the UK, it really provides some serious bang for your buck. It looks great, feels great, and shoots excellently, so as far as I can see Specna Arms and EMG have got this very, very right, and I look forward to seeing what they do with that Daniel Defense licence next!”

Bill W-R: “Yup, What can I say? Specna upping the game again! A great weight and well-balanced, with amazing range and accuracy out the box. This one is on my “to buy” list as with the DD rail and furniture 44

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it is “Gucci” at a lower than normal cost and can’t wait to get out on the field with one and test slightly longer term!”

Bill P-T: “I’ve really taken to the CYMA 097 too; where do you possibly start with a replica from the elusive Chinese airsoft manufacturer given that they’ve been in the market for so long? CYMA have been producing AEGs for as long as I can remember and could be rightly classed as one of the industry “veterans” but I was genuinely surprised when I got this onto the range.

“As I’m a midcap player I was delighted with the polymer 160BB model as standard and this fed flawlessly throughout testing. I tested the CYMA on all my usual AR mags, both STANAG and other and I’m also pleased to tell you that these all fed perfectly too. In terms of groupings, at 30m prone things were great and I’m certain this will improve further once the 097 has had time to bed in properly. As I prefer to shoot on semi-auto the ROF, although exactly where claimed, was of little interest to me but the trigger response is indeed crisp… VERY crisp.”

Jon: “097? Snappy, responsive, good trigger pull, manouverable, everything an ASBT should be. Very good bit of kit and one of the most impressive AEGs I’ve ever played with especially for its then price point.

I want one…”

Marcus: “The CYMA 097 is a great offering indeed! Gone are the days of cheap guns shoddily made with bad gearboxes and bodies, as these AEGs guns are really good! The bodies are full metal and are REALLY solid and well-made! They have a well thought out quick-change spring system and a nice stock that all adds up to a nice externally goodlooking AEG. The gearbox itself is a reinforced V2x with good gears, pretty well shimmed with a good chamber system, piston, head and o-ring nozzle.

For the trigger system, CYMA have made their own Mofset and ETU and I have only had my hands on two of these so far. The first one worked flawlessly, the second one within five mags blew the ETU with no clear reason as to why this happened but it did. This does seem to be a recurring problem with proprietary ETUs at the moment… still it’s generally a great little AEG, again well worth the money.

“Going on to the Enforcer Bravo, this is a nice offering from NUPROL; well made, full metal body and rail and a good power out of the box! It does have a quick-change spring, although you still have to take the gearbox out of the lower receiver to get it out… not a massive problem. The gearbox is a NUPROL proprietary one that uses a microswitch system, which is the only problem as it has a tendency to lock up

RED CELL SHORT BARRELLED RIFLES

when fed a steady diet of semi-auto. I have already brought this up with them. If you’re looking for a gun for a site that only allows semi-auto, then this may not be the best choice for you. If, however, you use a lot of short bursts, or full auto, then this gun will serve you very well for a very long time! The gears and all the rest of the gearbox internals are well made and set up. On a footnote, if you want to fit a ETU system to any of the DELTA series you need to replace the entire gearbox as the micro switch system is completely different to most… Proof that NUPROL do really do things their own way!”

Bill W-R: “I have to mention the Honey Badger… as I own one and it’s my pride and joy!

“Considering the advances in modern AEGs, Ares AM-013 Honey Badger was really ahead of its time.

Yes, it’s a bit bulkier and heavier than its modern counterparts but out of the box came a sturdy AEG. Hop adjustment was easy and it fed and fired like a trooper. With its programmable EFCS allowing you to programme the selector into a variety of shooting modes (programming box sold separately), it was an unsung game-changer that we now find in my armoury fully upgraded. The AM-013 was my first regular use AEG that I have kept and keep going back to. In fact, it started a trend in the team with a few of the Ares AM variants now souped up and on hand when needed. One, little downside, is the odd size and shape battery compartment that just fits a PEQ battery. However, with a plethora of different add-ons like a battery extender and barrel stabiliser it will easily run the latest li-ion batteries without skipping a beat and provide endless fun with little to no tinkering. Probably one of the most underrated and under-utilised AEGs in this sector and a definite go-to for anyone starting out or looking for a fun project… as Bill (no, the other one!) will testify, this little AEG with some well worked mods has outranged and kept heads down when others were not up to the job!”

Marcus: “I do like the Honey Badger too; good bodies although plastic and very light triggers due to Ares own ETU system. I don’t like the battery compartment but I have the same problem with most PDWstyle stocks, although I love the style of the AEG with the suppressor. The barrel could be better but that’s the same with

a lot of AEGs and the hop rubber is not that great, so I would consider replacing this straight out of the box to make it better. The gearbox itself is not bad at all, as it’s a modified V2 gearbox, but one which accepts Ares own ETU system, so it won’t accept a standard V2 trigger system. They are 11.1v ready but don’t be fooled you can’t just put an 11.1v battery in it, as they are set up for 7.4v battery protection out of the box. To use 11.1v you need to program the battery protection in so you’ll need an Ares programmer. On the whole this is again a nice AEG to own and work on!”

Boycie: “Okay, of course I’m going to shout out about KWA! One of the big advantages of the KWA SBR10 is that you can, if wished, interchange the uppers from variants like the T6, SBR10, RM4A1, 18” SPR, ML Recon simply by pulling the front body pin, slightly pulling back on the charging handle to release the upper and sliding it off. To fit the next upper is as simple as sliding the upper on, pushing the body pin back in and away you go!

“With the SBR being of the 2.5 (non-recoil) range it is quite a simple job to convert it to the 3.0 spec (Recoil). It’s just changing a few components and even those who don’t work on KWAs as regularly as I do can change the system in around an hour. You could, essentially, have a rifle case with a 2.5 and a 3.0 lower receiver and a number of upper receiver sets to cover most needs for games. The only disadvantage to converting an SBR10 to recoil on a “permanent” basis, is the cost of the components when bought separately. This could then make it not such a viable thought for some.”

Bill P-T: “We did include the G&G SR30, with its beautifully engraved Knights Armament Trademarks in

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RED CELL SHORT BARRELLED RIFLES

the test group but I’m going to give that more space in a future issue, so to round things out I threw in my usual “wild card” and it’s one of my favourite AEGs of late, the G&G TR16 SBR MK2, a rare thing in that it’s a short-barrelled .308 rather than a .223/5.56mm with a big old magazine! This is a super-cool and modern looking “.308” that’s light and sized to cover ground with uber-fast. Whilst it’s 100% legal for every site I play at, it also somehow has a “reach” that is potentially putting it into the “big magazine DMR” territory yet still retains a more than respectable ROF. It has some unique features that will not only protect the internals but ensure its longevity as a serviceable AEG, along with enough operating choices to keep any player happy. Although it comes with a nice but limited 40 BB magazine as standard, I’ve now tried existing Mid and Hi TR16 models and they all fit and function flawlessly, although you do lose the cut-off function. I absolutely LOVE this rifle!”

Marcus: “Like Bill, I love the G&G .308 SBR! As with most of the new generation G&G, it has a supernice full metal body and rail system and it REALLY has good range out of the box, which makes me wonder have G&G “done a Marui” on us and changed some of their internals to give better overall performance out of the box - without the need to upgrade anything? As an airsoft-smith of 30 years, this is one

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of the few AEGs that I wouldn’t touch unless it broke and there are very few AEGs I can say that about! The only thing I don’t like personally - and it’s the same problem I have with all the G&G ETU guns- is you have to use an 11.1v battery in it and although the AEG per se doesn’t need that voltage to run at 350 fps, the G&G ETU requires the extra voltage to run it.

Apart from that, I totally love this AEG too and even with the “battery thing” I would certainly own one of these beauties! AA As always, our thanks go to Red Cell partners NUPROL (www.nuprol.com), VIPER (www.viperkit.co.uk), Attack Sense Smart Targets (www.attacksense.com) and Invader Gear (www.invadergear.com).

armoury KWA PDW

KWA PDW: FANTASTIC 4

CONTINUING WITH OUR LOOK AT WHAT’S COMING OUT OF THE MANUFACTURER’S STABLES DUE TO THERE BEING NO SHOWS AGAIN THIS SPRING, BOYCIE MAKES THE MOST OF HIS IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE OF THE KWA AEG RANGE IN RESPECT OF “SHORT AND SWEET” AEGS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR CQB USE.

E

stablished in 1988, KWA’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is located in Taiwan, with an independent sales and distribution operation in the United States that services North America and Europe. From the very beginning KWA has been one of the leading innovators in airsoft replicas, not just for the player but also for law enforcement and military training. Their reputation for quality, performance and reliability makes KWA a recognized leader in top-notch products.

During a period when it seemed to be all about “looks” and airsoft “innovation” focused on external replications and logos, KWA was pushing forward the technology side and they subsequently introduced the NS2 Gas Blowback System and the 2GX Mechbox. Both product advancements increased overall performance and reliability and pushed things forward, showing KWA’s commitment to excellence and passion for engineering products that simply outperformed many AEGs of a comparable pricepoint.

So, we all know KWA, do we not? Or at least we think we do, but their extensive product range actually has multiple options that are perfect for all sorts of airsoft scenarios and this time I’d like to look at their “shorties”, which are absolutely ideal for indoor

and CQB use. As we established in last months Red Cell report, a real PDW is a class of compact, select fire, magazine fed, sub-machine gun type weapons.

Depending on the role of the user, the calibres can range from 4.6mm x 30 up to and including (but not only) 9mm, .300 BLK and 5.56mm.

IN THE RANGE

I was asked to look at the KWA range and see what would fit within what I regard as a “PDW-type” platform and immediately the KWA T6 PDW sprung to mind. This is based on a 5.56mm type platform and has a “slither” type extending stock and a Keymod 6” handguard, which helps the platform be compact and ultimately easy to use in both confined and open spaces. Using the 120 round magazine that comes with it, it’s still quite compact but a good thing with the KWAs is that they will happily use other generic M4 type AEG magazines so it is possible to utilize “20” round shorter magazines. In the real world this AR (Armalite Rifle) platform can chamber anything from a .22 Long Rifle (.22LR) up to the massive and hard hitting .50 Beowulf cartridge, with the appropriate bolt, barrel and magazine.

KWA T6 Specs

“FROM THE VERY BEGINNING KWA HAS BEEN ONE OF THE LEADING INNOVATORS IN AIRSOFT REPLICAS, NOT JUST FOR THE PLAYER BUT ALSO FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MILITARY TRAINING. THEIR REPUTATION FOR QUALITY, PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY MAKES KWA A RECOGNIZED LEADER IN TOP-NOTCH PRODUCTS.”

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armoury KWA PDW

• • • • • • • •

Length (retracted) 21.75” (552.45mm) Length (extended) 26.5” (673.1mm) Outer Barrel Length 6.75” (171.45mm) Inner Barrel Length 7.25” (184.15mm) Magazine Capacity 120 Weight 5.7lb (2.59kg) Rate of Fire 18.3 RPS (11.1v) Velocity (box std) 340 to 370FPS (Variable using the KWA VPS and the stock spring) • Average UK Price: £345.00

PISTOL CALIBRE CARBINES

In the real firearms world we are seeing a huge increase in the amount of Pistol Calibre Carbines (PCC) and their application as potential Personal Defence Weapons (PDW). There are two of the KWA QRF series which the bill quite nicely. The QRF Mod1 is much like a modern “MP5” type rifle, using the same “tanker” stock as the T6 and an MLOK type 6-inch handguard. The proprietary 80 round magazine is about 3⁄4 the length of an MP5 magazine and has a similar curved design.

KWA QRF Mod 1 Specs • Length (retracted) 22” (558.8mm) • Length (extended) 26.75” (679.45mm) • Outer Barrel Length 6.75” (171.45mm) • Inner Barrel Length 7.25” (184.15mm) • Magazine Capacity 80 • Weight 5.48lb (2.48kg) • Rate of Fire 19 RPS (11.1v) • Velocity (box std) 315-350 (Variable using the KWA VPS and the stock spring) • Average UK Price: £325.00 The second QRF is the Mod 2. This is based on a .45 type platform and in standard form from the box

utilizes a 120 round magazine which resembles a 33 round Glock magazine. For a more “PDW-esque” look, KWA also make an 80 round magazine which is based on the length Glock .45 magazine. Both the 120 and 80 round magazines are proprietary to the QRF 2 but can also be used in the KWA TK45C. KWA QRF Mod 2 Specs • Length (retracted) 21.63” (574.5mm) • Length (extended) 27.63” (701.8mm) • Outer Barrel Length 6.75” (171.45mm) • Inner Barrel Length 7.25” (184.15mm) • Magazine Capacity 120 or 80 • Weight 5.48lb (2.48kg) • Rate of Fire 17 RPS (11.1v) • Velocity (box std) 315-350 (Variable using the KWA VPS and the stock spring) • Average UK Price: £325.00

KWA TEKKEN

Last but not least is the TK45C. This is a design unique to KWA and has a loose resemblance to a Vector style rifle. It’s certainly a head turner out on sites and I’ve found it to be really good fun in both CQB and open “field” use.

KWA TK45C “Tekken” Specs • Length (retracted) 21.63” (574.5mm) • Length (extended) 27.63” (701.8mm) • Outer Barrel Length 6.75” (171.45mm) • Inner Barrel Length 7.25” (184.15mm) • Magazine Capacity 120 or 80 • Weight 5.9lb (2.68kg) • Rate of Fire 20 RPS (11.1v) • Velocity (box std) 315-350 (Variable using the KWA VPS and the stock spring) • Average UK Price: £335.00 www.airsoftaction.net

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STRETCH PANTS BLACK / DARK COYOTE / GREEN / SRP: £69.95

armoury KWA PDW

“IN THE REAL WORLD THIS AR (ARMALITE RIFLE) PLATFORM CAN CHAMBER ANYTHING FROM A .22 LONG RIFLE (.22LR) UP TO THE MASSIVE AND HARD HITTING .50 BEOWULF CARTRIDGE, WITH THE APPROPRIATE BOLT, BARREL AND MAGAZINE.”

COMMONALITY

One common thing is that these four rifles all use the same length inner barrel. With the 7.25” barrel you’d think that it’s not going to give much range but that is where the KWA’s surprise. The proprietary hop unit is a rotary type and some hop rubbers can be a task to get inserted due the slightly smaller barrel and rubber section. One of my go-to hop rubbers is the Maple Leaf 50. Prometheus and Guarder Clear hop rubbers are also popular choices. The Maple 50 is the black type with the 3 ribs on, not the Macron or Super Macron versions. Allied to the Prometheus Hard Hop Tensioner on all 4 of the rifles, in tests, we’ve been able to reach out to 75m with a .28 BB. When you add this to the standard ROF, this gives them a good punch for a short rifle. Personally, I much prefer the shorter 80rd mag in the TK45 and QRF Mod2 rifles which is much easier to manipulate when reloading and also will fit into a standard pistol-

length, Taco-style pouch. Some rigs suit carrying the magazines with the pouch upside down, allowing for a downward draw. It would be better in this case to use the extended length pistol taco to give a little more retention. This is also how I would mount the pouches for the longer magazines.

If you wanted something a little different it is also possible to swap the VPS system and stock set up for a rear wired buffer tube and install the recoil system. This does mean that you don’t have the slither stock option but it does open the door for a much wider range of stock options. Similarly, if you want to expand the stock options but not lose the VPS set up you can remove the “Tanker” stock and fit a “standard” AEG style buffer tube.

I’ll be looking at some further modifications to KWA AEGs in future issues but for now, if you want to check out any of the listed models further simply head to store.kwausa.com AA

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armoury KRYTAC TRIDENT MKII PDW

IN LAST MONTH’S ISSUE OF AIRSOFT ACTION, RED CELL LOOKED AT PDW MODELS AND BILL WAS PARTICULARLY TAKEN WITH ONE OF THEM, THE TRIDENT MKII PDW FROM KRYTAC, SO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THIS LITTLE AEG IN MORE DEPTH AND TO CHECK JUST HOW KRYTAC HAVE MOVED ON SINCE HE FIRST ENCOUNTERED THEM.

I

first became aware of the KRYTAC brand when friends in the USA started whispering about the fact that Swiss firearms manufacturer KRISS was thinking about getting into the airsoft market in their own right. Initially having partnered up with another airsoft manufacturer, KRISS made it quite clear at SHOT Show 2014 that they would be forging their own path. So it was that we saw the new range of KRYTAC Airsoft Electric Guns launched, a family of models that had obviously been under development for some time. KRYTAC, established in Southern California in 2013, we learnt was a cutting-edge product development team from the KRISS Group, and they came out with a pretty bold, no-nonsense statement: “Community – Innovation – Excellence – The foundations which the KRYTAC brand is built upon.

The shooting community is expanding every day, with new shooters and new shooting sports rapidly developing. KRYTAC’s focus is to cultivate that community with innovative products that lay the foundation for safety, for building shooting skills, and for these to evolve with the shooter. The KRISS Group’s worldwide perspective stimulates innovation in KRYTAC designs to achieve new levels of efficiency, power, ergonomics, and aesthetics in every product.

Every process of development is aimed at offering the best possible ownership experience, from beginning to end, KRYTAC strives for excellence. The KRYTAC team is comprised of highly experienced professionals who have come together with one common goal, to elevate your expectation of performance, value, and service.”

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To my ears that was a pretty big statement from a newcomer to what was already a well subscribed market, but time has moved on and KRYTAC have cemented their name in airsoft worldwide! Sure, they have their detractors but every brand seems to attract those these days for no apparent, legitimate reason but they also have a huge following of stalwart fans and that doesn’t happen if your product isn’t a good one.

So, what HAVE KRYTAC brought to the party? To my mind, in a word, originality! Although with their initial models we saw just four “M4” style variants, KRYTAC have really put their own character into things, just neat little touches like distinctive stocks and rails as standard. They’ve created carbines, rifles and even an LMG, along with a rather nice, and licenced, MK II War Sport LVOA! One thing that is for certain, is that the finish of all these AEGs is absolutely superlative and they ooze quality. There’s not a creak or rattle in evidence anywhere and they feel completely rock solid in the hand - and I know because I’ve had most of their models on the range!

SHORT AND SWEET

Last month I got together with the Red Cell team to look in some detail at PDW AEGs, some of which I’ve personally tested before and some that I hadn’t, and amongst the “had nots” was the Trident MK II PDW and rather than gloss over it, I thought I’d take a closer look at this short and oh, so sweet model!

Although I’ve looked at many KRYTAC models over the past few years, things do indeed move on and

armoury KRYTAC TRIDENT MKII PDW

the Trident MKII is one of Krytac’s most popular PDW models, giving the smallest “AR” model in their range updates for a sleeker and more aggressive look.

Externally the Trident is every bit as well put together as any other KRYTAC I’ve handled and by that, I mean that it’s meticulously made, put together with a high-quality alloy throughout, with a “Defiance” polymer pistol grip and stock plate. The Trident MK II PDW is still one of the most compact AEGs in the KRYTAC line and is designed for super-fast manipulation and control in closequarter, confined scenarios. The AEG features a short 5.5” barrel and a 5” free floating, DEFIANCE TR105, Keymod handguard and the package includes both a short rail section and iron sights as standard.

The DEFIANCE hand guard features a “barricades brace” profile, with aggressive, short tri-prongs at the sharp end behind a cool-looking flash-hider.

The alloy receivers are of a modern “billet” design with stamped KRYTAC and TRIDENT “trades” and the lower has an integrated trigger guard to make it solid as a rock, whilst the DEFIANCE pistol grip enhances the rifle’s ergonomics and ease of handling.

The sliding KRYTAC PDW-stock is adjustable to two positions and is supported by an easily-accessed, larger than average battery box to allow space for a wider range of batteries - a shortcoming with many PDW models as everyone in “The Cell” noted.

Overall, the Trident looks sharp and thoroughly up to the minute but it’s also a bit of a peach inside, as it features a reinforced 8mm bearing gearbox with integrated MOSFET to regulate electronic signals and to protect the trigger contacts. The corners of the gearbox that surround the cylinder feature a smooth radius, as opposed to a 90° angle, to prevent fracture.

Also, the gearbox shell features a small window on the left side where lubrication can be applied directly to the gears or piston, this window is also convenient

for inspecting the angle of engagement with the gearbox fully assembled.

Additional gearbox features include a modular spring guide system that will allow you to change the spring without completely disassembling the gearbox, a useful feature for the roving airsofter that heads from site to site and may need to adapt their AEG for different requirements. The KRYTAC piston is made of a durable, lightweight polymer and features four metal teeth, with the second to last tooth absent.

The cylinder head is padded with an enlarged rubber bumper to optimize the angle of engagement and to absorb energy form the impact of the piston assembly.

The material for the gears has been especially formulated to be very strong and I’m told that Rockwell test figures on the KRYTAC gears are much higher than industry norms.

READY TO ROCK

To summarise, on paper the KRYTAC Trident MKII certainly ticks all the boxes. It’s very well put together and even the finish of the polymer parts is free from blemishes and mould lines. The dual-position sliding stock locks solidly into place on both settings with nary a wobble. There’s a singlepoint sling plate fitted as standard and the solid iron sights provided in the package are workmanlike and easy to use. The AEG also comes with a 300rnd metal Hi-Cap magazine as standard, although the Trident fed from every brand of AR mag I tried it with. Additional features include an ambidextrous fire selector and a locking bolt, which makes adjusting the hop straightforward.

The hop-up itself is easily set thanks to its precise rotary design and once set stays where it should; it actually has fifteen adjustment settings and a numbered adjustment wheel for a quick reference point to determine how much hop is needed. The Trident works surprisingly well on a 7.4V LiPo, giving

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armoury KRYTAC TRIDENT MKII PDW

a trigger response that is far crisper than you would expect and when you crank things up to an 11.1 the trigger response is as good as anything I’ve tried.

Testing (as always) was carried out using .20g RZR BBs and boy does this little beauty send them downrange with purpose! Through the chrono on.20g the Trident came in with a perfectly site-happy and consistent 0.92 J/315FPS. As you’d expect, the accuracy of such a short AEG fell away at much over 30m but that’s still a fair distance and far more than you should ever need in a CQB environment, and at 10m it was on the nail each and every time!

Also (as I expected though), given my pervious experiences with KRYTAC AEGs, everything worked excellently out of the box, good to go and retailer friends in the USA who have been dealing with KRYTAC for longer than most, continue to confirm that they see very, very few returns, a record that many AEG manufacturers could only wish for and an indication that KRYTAC have lived up to the promises they made back in 2014.

If you’re looking for a CQB-specific AEG that’s read to rock, that’s going to stand the test of time, and when well maintained and looked after will give you years of service, then pick up a Trident MKII, add a decent battery and good BBs and you’re in the game.

I will say though, that if you want an AEG for both indoor and outdoor use, then check out the KRYTAC Trident MKII SPR/PDW Bundle Pack that Land Warrior Airsoft are offering to get the best of both worlds and save some money in the process!

Many thanks to Scott at www.landwarriorairsoft. com for providing the test AEG and for his patience in letting me hold onto it longer than usual in these stillchallenging times! AA

“THEY’VE CREATED CARBINES, RIFLES AND EVEN AN LMG, ALONG WITH A RATHER NICE, AND LICENCED, MK II WAR SPORT LVOA! ONE THING THAT IS FOR CERTAIN, IS THAT THE FINISH OF ALL THESE AEGS IS ABSOLUTELY SUPERLATIVE AND THEY OOZE QUALITY.” www.airsoftaction.net

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UPGRADES PERUN AIRSOFT

MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK! YOU MAY WELL REMEMBER LAST MONTH WE ANNOUNCED THAT AIRSOFT ACTION WILL BE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PERUN AIRSOFT AND IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU JIMMY’S REVIEW ON WHAT HE FEELS IS A GREAT BRAND AND A VERY STRONG CONTENDER IN AIRSOFT ELECTRONICS. WE ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THIS TYPE OF UPGRADE IN AIRSOFT AND, IN OUR OPINION, THEY ARE UPGRADES WHICH UNLEASH HIDDEN PERFORMANCE IN A VAST MAJORITY OF PLATFORMS!

P

erun was established back in 2016, their mission was to design and manufacture electrical devices and a range of other mods and upgrades to give you, the player, that “something extra”, an edge some might say. Perun have produced many devices that not only give you that “edge” you get quality and also keep your pockets happy. They have been designed to be reliable and offer you performance when you most need it and the assurance it isn’t going to fail you in your hour of need.

Design and manufacturing is carried out mostly in Poland, allowing Perun to maintain a high standard of quality and are they are constantly getting feedback, from not only the players but techs and distributors alike, in order to understand exactly what it is that is needed to make their products so effective and to stay up to date with the latest trends. I feel very humbled to be able to bring to you my findings and, as always, it has been a fun little journey I will admit.

When I heard that Perun Airsoft were sending us over a care package to have a look at, I didn’t really know what to expect and I won’t lie, I have never had the pleasure of using any Perun products up until now. I was presented with quite a haul of little white boxes and each one contained some very tidy, neatly packaged Mosfet devices which would fit a multitude of different rifles. Some were as simple as “plug and play”, whilst others were a little more involved and required me to put to the test my soldering and wiring skills, a challenge I was eager to undertake.

Let’s take a look a see what it was we were sent over.

ETU++

First off there were a couple of Perun’s ETU++, which has been designed to work in conjunction with the G&G ETU. Out of the packet you immediately see this is a nice little Mosfet and for most people

“…WITH THE HELP OF PERUN YOU CAN TRANSFORM YOUR GUN INTO THE BUTTERFLY IT WAS DESTINED TO BE. THE BEAUTY OF THE ETU++ IS THE FACT YOU DON’T NEED TO DISMANTLE YOUR GUN AND THERE IS NO NEED TO OPEN UP THE GEARBOX.”

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UPGRADES PERUN AIRSOFT

very easy to install. There is a massive difference in size against G&G’s Mosfets, so an advantage is gained with battery storage within the rifle’s battery compartment. In order to fit the ETU++ it is a simple case of unplugging the original Mosfet wire and the battery wires and replacing the prewired unit back to the appropriate wires; a little care is needed when fitting the Mosfet wire, so just be sure you have the connections in the right orientation.

Once connected you are good to go, there is no calibration needed and there is a noticeable difference in response times. The ETU++ I feel is a genius little device which unleashes the hidden performance of G&G’s ETU, which is good to start with but with the help of Perun you can transform your gun into the butterfly it was destined to be. The beauty of the ETU++ is the fact you don’t need to dismantle your gun and there is no need to open up the gearbox. If you can upgrade a gearbox without having to open it up, then that is a massive bonus, a great time-saver and a bug thumbs up from me and I would honestly recommend any player who owns a G&G which houses their ETU electronic board to get out there and invest in the Perun; you will not regret it!

To start the programme mode is a very simple process, as all you need do is flick the selector switch between semi and full twice and the ETU++ will light up and beep, indicating that you have successfully initiated programming.

First up is programmable firing modes, which can be adjusted on both semi and full auto and allows you to adjust the amount of rounds on a burst, allows you to have a burst on semi, and maintain full auto or

vice versa! You can even have full auto on both semi and full - should you feel the need to. You adjust the amount of rounds by simply pulling the trigger and the Mosfet will indicate by way of beeps how many rounds have been selected.

Next up is active brake. To select the active brake mode simply move the fire selector and the light on the Mosfet will change colour and once selected, it is as simple as pulling the trigger and you are given five different levels of brake so you can fine tune how much your particular setup requires and I believe (if I’m right) it comes pre-set on level 3.

Switching the fire selector once more then takes you on to pre-cocking mode, which also has a “spring release” mode, so once you’ve done firing your AEG the spring isn’t left in a state of tension. This mode gives you eight levels to play with and the pre-cock mode really does make a great difference in an already very responsive system, giving you a lightning-fast response making your advantage much better than that of your opponent.

The spring release is a very nice little touch, as a spring that is held compressed for a period of time can lose power and result in a drop in velocity, but Perun have thought of this so have provided a release which is a very simple process. Holding the trigger in for two seconds allows the pre-cock to release the piston, relieving the spring and thus prolonging the springs life.

With another flick of the fire selector you are then moved on to the binary trigger mode, which is my favourite mode. By turning on binary mode you transform the response of the rifle even further, now

“THIS MODE GIVES YOU EIGHT LEVELS TO PLAY WITH AND THE PRE-COCK MODE REALLY DOES MAKE A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN AN ALREADY VERY RESPONSIVE SYSTEM, GIVING YOU A LIGHTNING-FAST RESPONSE MAKING YOUR ADVANTAGE MUCH BETTER THAN THAT OF YOUR OPPONENT.”

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you get one shot on trigger pull and one shot on trigger release and, in conjunction with pre-cocking, you get an even faster follow up shot.

The next setting offers you a rate of fire reduction.

This may be used for those who don’t require a high ROF; as you may play at sites that don’t allow a high ROF, no problem, Perun has you covered and offers five levels of reduction. The rate of reduction will depend on your battery power and gearbox setup along with your motor, so it will differ from gun to gun. This brings us to DMR mode; some sites will require you to have intervals between your shots.

A DMR is only permitted to shoot in semi as it uses a higher velocity, having the option to set a delay between your shots in accordance to a sites rules is a positive thing.

Moving onward we come to the low battery voltage alarm and this is dedicated to work with LiPo and Li-Ion batteries and will alert you should your voltage drop below a safe operating level. When your battery drops to a dangerous level you will hear a series of signals, which will be repeated should you ignore it, keeping your batteries and you the player safe (I’ve seen what a compromised LiPo battery can do!). Should you feel the need (which I do NOT recommend!) you can disarm the alarm. My opinion is that this is a mode which should not allow a player to turn it off.

Another great feature within the ETU++ are the diagnostics, which unfortunately weren’t featured on G&G’s Mosfet. The ETU++ is constantly monitoring the system and itself and offers the user an indication of any problems that may arise, giving you an idea of what the fault may be and making troubleshooting quicker and easier. The Perun also incorporates an electronic fuse which alone will give your gun and battery some form of protection should a catastrophic malfunction happen. Should a malfunction occur the fuse will kill any power and render the gun inert.

I really do love how easy Perun have made the use of the ETU++; most players will get to know the 58

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functions and how it operates relatively easily and the fact Perun have added little stickers which you can discreetly affix to your gun for quick reference is an added bonus, should you need to make adjustments or troubleshoot whilst out in the field. The ETU++ will operate without any problem allowing the use of LiPo and Li-Ion from 7v right up to 17v, although why anyone would feel the need to use anything bigger than an 11.1v is a mystery to me! My own personal G&G GC16 Predator with the ETU++ is now a force to be reckoned with.

AB++

Another of the products received was the AB++ Mosfet; this operates in a very similar fashion to the ETU++ just with only one less feature (no binary trigger), and it is a little easier to operate and programme. However, due to the fact it isn’t brand specific (as with the ETU++), it does become a little more involved when it comes to installation.

Installation will require you to have the ability to solder and the ability to manage cables, as some modification of the wiring is necessary (although they are fully prewired). I installed 2 of the AB++, one into a Specna Arms Arms SA-E12 PDW, which is a relatively new rifle and one into a fairly old G&P Spec Ops M4 and boy, what a difference!

Due to the two AEGs both using the standard shuttle and contact trigger system, both were susceptible to lock-up on semi auto, especially at the rate I spam the trigger (I’m a border-line speedsofter sometimes, but shhhh… don’t tell anyone!). Both of the AB++ took a little over an hour to install into each rifle. Getting the cable lengths right is paramount as you will need to fit the motor connectors yourself, cut the cable too short and your connectors won’t fit. If you aren’t confident, I highly recommend getting a skilled technician to install this for you.

The package consists of everything you will need: connectors, heat shrink and spare signal wire. Once

UPGRADES PERUN AIRSOFT

installed programming is very similar to that of the ETU++ but without the use of the fire selector. To enter programming mode you will push a small button on the Mosfet itself to initiate programme mode, and each press of the button will move you on to the next mode. Each mode is indicated by way of a different colour LED and as stated, it will offer you the same features as the ETU++, just without the option of binary.

After a while fiddling with the Mosfet, I found that with full pre-cock the response was amazing for an AEG with a standard trigger system and the response was far better than it was previously. Plus, even after spamming the trigger and sending over 300 BBs downrange, there was not a single lock-up - which is mighty impressive.

The AB++ also offers the spring release option to preserve the life of the spring. To have an AEG with a standard trigger system to work as well as it does with the AB++ fitted is a joy if I’m honest! I can wholeheartedly say that these two AEGs will be seeing a lot more field use from now, knowing my game won’t suffer as a result of lock ups or a slow trigger response.

you installation info, operating info, and support should you need it, which I like.

I’m really very impressed with the quality and performance of the devices themselves, but as a tiny niggle… I’m just left wanting a little more when it comes to the wiring itself. I feel Perun could have used a harder insulation on the cables as it feels very soft and I feel the wiring could be easily compromised.

I’ve seen how some people force batteries in without a thought to the wiring, but honestly any problem forthcoming will be down to “pilot error” and not to the components themselves in fairness. All said though, I would like to say a massive thank you to Jakub from Perun (http://perunairsoft.pl/) for giving me my first insight to their products and I certainly look forward to seeing what else they come up with in the future if this is the standard of what they are producing right now!

And my final thought is that if you, as an airsofter, are looking for better performance from your AEG but you don’t want to be paying the prices of some of the other brands offering this kind of performanceenhancement, then I would highly recommend you take a look at Perun - and most especially if you use a G&G with an ETU! AA

TINY BUT NOT SO BASIC!

Also given for test was Perun’s (not so!) basic Mosfet and this has got to be the smallest Mosfet I’ve ever seen! I won’t lie, even I had a job to find it when I put it down on my workbench - so don’t drop it, you won’t ever find it again!

Perun state that it is the smallest Mosfet on the market; it may be small but it offers the user some peace of mind knowing that their contacts won’t be getting worn out anytime soon - and it allows the use of a higher voltage battery, as it can handle up to 14.8v! It’s hard to see how something this tiny can be made with such quality. The actual size of it is 14x6x3mm, very tiny indeed but it can cope with heavy spring weight and handle a build which can output up to 50rps. I fitted one of these to “Smooth Jase’s” KWA ERG and it seems to be holding out just fine.

IN SUMMARY

I’ve really enjoyed working with these wonderful Perun products and I must congratulate them on a sterling job. I like the fact they provide all the little items you need to install the Mosfets where needed and it’s a nice little touch that they include stickers (who doesn’t love a sticker or three?). On each package there are QR codes which, when scanned, direct you to a full manual for each product, offering www.airsoftaction.net

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FEATURE IMMERSIVE AIRSOFT

FOUR MINUTE WARNING: PART II JAMES REJOINS US THIS MONTH WITH PART II OF HIS “COLD WAR” PROP BUILD AND WITH A BASIC OVERVIEW OF HOW THE HANDLE WARNING SYSTEM WORKED COVERED, IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON TO THE CREATION OF A FUNCTIONAL REPLICA AND MAKE SOME NOISE!

D

uring my extensive online research it quickly became apparent that original components from the Handle system are now increasingly rare to come across, with much equipment scrapped after decommissioning, although some examples remain in Cold War museums or with private collectors. When items do flash up on eBay and the like they are quickly snapped up and command a high price!

Amazingly, after searching various Facebook and Cold War groups, I came into contact with Paul Lawrence, who has a remarkable collection of WW2, Cold War-era sirens and various working original WB1400 system components and it turned out that he lives just 30 miles from my home town! So, after a bit of discussion we arranged a way for me to view them in a Covid-safe way, luckliy before the “Big Lockdown” came into effect and this enabled me to check out the final small details I needed before I completed my “in-game-system”.

BUILDING BEGINS!

In making a representation of the Handle system, I decided to make its main user components (as not having room for a telephone exchange we would leave that out!) and make a direct connection between units. Cost and practicality would also make an impact, so using what I could repurpose into the system would make it a more viable project.

To start off the warning into the system of the 60

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WB1800, only two known units were made so are exceptionally rare but for our purposes we need a unit to send voice and call tone signal. After a search online I settled on a desktop bank teller comms unit to represent this part and directly connect it to the next component of the WB1400 equipment carrier that was located at the police stations. This unit would be started from scratch. After building the cabinet, two interdependent intercom systems were used. The single black handset connected to the U.K.W.M.O and sends calls on the 1st intercom system to a separate receiver, the two red handsets receive call tone and voice from WB1800 representation and also send voice on to the WB1400 receiver speech represented

FEATURE IMMERSIVE AIRSOFT

by the grey enclosure box which were located in R.O.C Monitoring posts etc., all via the second intercom system. Two 12v transformers power these intercom circuits.

An attack alarm signal can also be sent to the WB1400 receiver speech representation, via the first of the three red buttons located on the equipment carrier. The second and third red buttons activate the attack red siren signal and the attack white siren signal. The intercom components used in this system can generate voice and call tone signals required to communicate between the various unit stations but what they cannot do, is generate the wave signals the original system used.

For the control of the sirens this becomes an issue, so a different approach was needed. For us that means the WB1400 receiver signalling representation, the black box in our case, becomes a relay box. The classic air raid signal was made by 4 seconds on (siren spinning up) followed by 4 seconds off (siren coasting down) cycled for 60 seconds. By activating the attack red button on the equipment carrier, a continuous 12v signal is sent out, which is received as an activation signal on a separately 240v powered timer relay. This unit will then send out power in 4 on, 4 off cycles for 60 seconds to 240v contactor. During the 4 on the contactor closes, completing the separately powered siren circuit allowing it to spin up and opens on the 4 off to let it coast down.

The attack warning white signal of continuous running for 60 seconds, for all clear, sends a continuous 240v current, bypassing the timer relay and closing the contactor directly to complete the siren circuit, allowing it to run continuously. One extra edition was the adding of an isolator switch just before the siren with a signal light just before it. This way the output right up to the siren can be tested and proved working by the signal lamp, without the siren spinning up, a feature I may add my neighbours apparently love and say I should use more often!

were three phase 415v and made sound by two large motor-driven fans, one at each end. One end had 10 openings and 10 blades, the other end 12 of each.

This created two tones when spun up to 2,850 rpm which would equate to 475 and 570 Hz, which makes their distinct tone. They had a range of roughly ¾ to 1 ¼ miles depending on their location. For this system a smaller 240v Carters single fan from 1977, a IMI from the former GDR and a Secomak Cold War GP3 Twin fan Sirens have been used.

PRACTICAL USES IN AIRSOFT

So, after all this, where could the system find a place in airsoft events? As the last remains of the once massive UK warning system are decommissioned and scrapped, anything that keeps this part of our modern history alive would certainly be welcomed by me.

From simple uses of attack red signals to start events, rather than the “game on” shout from the marshals and the “all clear” signal for Endex, much more involved scenarios could be easily played out to add the game “feeling” and player immersion.

A tactical strike incoming signalled by the sirens could see teams running for cover as pyrotechnical mushroom clouds detonate on the battle space and yes, this IS another thing our resident “boomhound” Boycie and I have spoken about! Or the system itself would be installed in site team command posts, with the event controller putting in the initial national attack warning from the site control. Used in combination with my Ballistic Missile Launch Post and the upcoming “silo” build, the whole system can come together for a much more involved experience bringing the Cold War, or indeed and other “postapocalypse” setting, to life! AA

THE SIRENS

The UK’s air raid warning system used sirens from various manufactures including, Gents & Co and Carters from WW2, along with Secomak and Castle Castings in the later Cold War years. Most sirens

“A TACTICAL STRIKE INCOMING SIGNALLED BY THE SIRENS COULD SEE TEAMS RUNNING FOR COVER AS PYROTECHNICAL MUSHROOM CLOUDS DETONATE ON THE BATTLE SPACE - AND YES, THIS IS ANOTHER THING OUR RESIDENT “BOOM-HOUND” BOYCIE AND I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT!”

www.airsoftaction.net

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Helikon-Tex®

MCDU® Combat Shirt Unmatched Comfort on a Mission

• Two zippered bicep pockets • Sleeves made of NYCO® fabric • Torso made of TopCool® fabric

#Journey to Perfection

RELOADED KWA USP COMPACT

KWA USP: KOMPACT KOCH

OUR RESIDENT H&K FANBOY, STEWBACCA, HAS BEEN USING KWA’S USP COMPACT PISTOL ALMOST SINCE HE MOVED TO TAIWAN, SO KNOWS IT PRETTY WELL BY NOW AND GIVES US A RUN DOWN OF HOW ITS BEEN DOING.

A

s a continuing unabashed HK fanboy, the KWA USP Compact GBB pistol I acquired a few months after I first started collecting airsoft guns since emigrating to Taiwan, is not actually my first. Back in the UK while I was still playing with “The J-Team” - an airsoft focused offshoot of my Japanese society activities at university. We decided to bulk buy six of these pistols as a standard sidearm for the core of the team given that it is suitable for both male and female players alike, and we were a mixed bunch of guys and girls of various nationalities.

The compact profile and comfortable grip shape, including the “pinkie” support for the little finger built into the magazine base plates is not only still large enough to quite comfortably fit my bear paws, but is also easily handled by those with smaller hands, particularly for female players. While the lighter overall weight and shorter slide travel makes it much easier to manipulate than a full framed pistol with a heavier slide or recoil impulse, which the likes of my KWA HK45 exhibits.

These factors, along with the very crisp and snappy recoil impulse and ambidextrous magazine release and smaller magazine profiles make it ideal as a sidearm and it is a less physically intrusive or cumbersome option to carry, being compatible with holsters that will fit the full size frame USP as well. At the time, our team also bought six Blackhawk SERPA level 2 holsters to go with our pistols, as well as acquiring a load of spare magazines to suit everyone’s needs.

Having long since sold on my original example, with a shift in my team and tastes over the years in the UK, when I arrived in Taiwan and bought the KWA HK45 GBB as planned. I also decided the USP Compact would once again make an ideal addition to my pistol collection, enabling me to choose between various 64

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models for different situations or (in the case of my early issues with the KWA HK45 as mentioned in my related review), a backup for when it was inoperable while my collection here was still limited. I love the handling and aesthetics of the USP Compact.

The construction quality is typical for what you would expect from the KWA/KSC brand, with a highquality polymer frame that has a fine grain bark-like textured surface on the side panels of the pistol grip, and the typical higher grip “meat mallet” texture on the front and rear surfaces. The slide is well finished and contoured with the indented side surfaces that bear the HK logo, “USP Compact” and real steel calibre and chamfered muzzle end for making reupholstering smoother.

MAGAZINES

The magazines have been very reliable in my experience, none of them have suffered any leaks thus far. Granted, I haven’t used the USP Compact anywhere near as much as my other pistols but I’ve still had it for years and the seals have held well. They are also surprisingly easy to load into the pistol grip despite it lacking any real flaring, it seems the top profile that mimics the shape of the real 9mm double to single stack transition helps guide the magazine into place.

Despite being quite a small magazine there is ample capacity in the gas reservoir to easily and reliably feed and fire off all 22 rounds held, and it will usually manage at least three full loads on a single gassing, and the slide locks back very positively given the short sharp recoil impulse. The finger support extension also serves to help withdrawing the magazines from pouches during reloading and, along with the indents

RELOADED KWA USP COMPACT

on the bottom of the frame, can also aid remove the magazine should it fail to drop free for any reason not that I’ve ever encountered this issue.

The magazine release is ambidextrous and the typical HK twin flapper panel at the heel of the trigger guard. I actually prefer this system on the USP series of pistols as I have never had any issues with actuating it accidentally - as I have with the larger HK45 paddles - but I can also still easily actuate the release with my firing hand thumb without having to break or change my grip, due to the slimmer profile of the 9mm pistol grip rather than the chunkier 45 calibre variants.

Similarly, the slide stop-release lever is extended rearward and outward with serrated steps to give a large and easily positively actuated surface for a variety of thumb or hand sizes. On the USP Compact it is only present on the left side of the frame, whereas the HK45 and VP9 are fully ambidextrous and I have found that in the heat of games ramming the magazines in tends to inertially release the slide without the need to depress the release lever anyway.

INTERNALS

The internal system is also the same as the HK45 with many common components, providing the double action/single action trigger pull and hammer operation, as well as the safety and de-cocker in one lever on the rear right of the frame. The hammer itself is a spurless flush fit style geared towards snag proof drawing from concealment. It can be difficult to manually cock it from rest but the necessity to do this is usually minimal, as the intention is to carry it chambered and de-cocked, where it will sit slightly proud of the rear of the slide before the first double action trigger pull cocks and releases the hammer to fire the first round, with the hammer reverting to single action mode for successive shots.

In terms of range and accuracy the KWA USP Compact is surprisingly good, despite its diminutive profile and short 70mm internal barrel. I used mine to shoot my qualification exam for my Action Air AIPSC competition license and working on a 5-10m range basis, all 32 of my rounds landed in the A & C zones during the examination drills, some of which were rushed shots in time-critical stages to the testing procedure.

As yet I haven’t managed to find a suitable optic mount which would replace the rear sight, like I have for the larger KWA HK45, although, in all honesty, I like the USP Compact with its smaller slicker profile and slapping a red dot on top might lessen that somewhat. Being a less often used pistol in my collection, it perhaps doesn’t warrant the investment just yet.

TRIGGER PULL

In terms of trigger pull, the double action full travel of 20mm has minimal overtravel, with the break occurring right at the rear of travel, while the single action trigger pull is obvious significantly shorter and lighter, the hammer already having been cocked. The whole travel being 8mm from the more rearward resting place, with some take-up travel of 4mm before the wall and a further 4mm of creeping travel before the final break.

With this in mind, once the hammer is cocked (either manually or through an initial double action shot), the USP Compact is capable of surprisingly rapid follow up shots - something which made it acceptable for my AIPSC efforts (between abandoning the overly long Glock 34 and adopting the CZ75 SP01 Shadow and Shadow 2 I now use due to their fuller sized heavy frames and much lighter triggers which make them faster for follow up shots). The hop unit is adjusted by way of the typical KWA chamber key, which engages with the castellated hop chamber rear face when the slide is locked open and the chamber’s rear face exposed.

DAMAGE

During this time I managed to do the only damage to the USP Compact I have so far! I snapped the trigger during a training session, as the safety appears to have been left on during my draw (or otherwise inadvertently actuated in the process) and I managed to break the trigger connector bar itself in my hamfisted attempts to pull through the resistance of the safety. Luckily this was easily repaired with readily available spares here in Taiwan, although it did mean I didn’t have it available for training sessions leading up to my first competition, thus I hurriedly switched to making use of my WE F17/M17 replica for that leadup

“IN TERMS OF RANGE AND ACCURACY THE KWA USP COMPACT IS SURPRISINGLY GOOD, DESPITE ITS DIMINUTIVE PROFILE AND SHORT 70MM INTERNAL BARREL. I USED MINE TO SHOOT MY QUALIFICATION EXAM FOR MY ACTION AIR AIPSC COMPETITION LICENSE AND WORKING ON A 5-10M RANGE BASIS, ALL 32 OF MY ROUNDS LANDED IN THE A & C ZONES.” www.airsoftaction.net

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CHUVILLE HOODIE// £25.00

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RELOADED KWA USP COMPACT

and the event itself.

Weighing in at 730 grams with the magazine fitted, the USP Compact is in theory reasonably light but, with all the weight being concentrated in such a small package, it still makes it feel hefty in the hand. The sights are of a simple three white dot format that your eyes are guided to nicely with the chamfered sides of the top slide. The front lower frame beneath the top slide features an accessory rail suitable for proprietary weapon lights but not compatible with picatinny rail mounted systems it seems, as the front end of the rails are enclosed.

Disassembly follows the typical HK pistol procedure - remove the magazine, cock the action then withdraw the slide around 10mm so that the cutout on the bottom left edge of the slider lines up with the matching retention surface of the slide stop-release lever (which also functions as the retainer pin). This can then be pushed out to the left and the slide can then be removed and the captive recoil spring assembly and barrel can be removed for maintenance.

wants a less obtrusive option for a sidearm, or if you are taking part in the likes of IDPA or similar concealed carry training. It has a lot of power and reasonably capacity in a compact, rugged, reliable and aesthetic package. AA

SUMMARY

I’m very impressed with the KWA USP Compact thus far, it’s an ideal option if you are a smaller-handed person or a female player or otherwise someone who

www.airsoftaction.net

67

armoury HUDSON H9

GONE.. BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!

AFTER MUCH ONLINE SPECULATION, THE HUDSON H9 PISTOL WAS FIRST SHOWN IN THE FLESH AT SHOT 2017 AND BILL JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED - AND EVEN GOT TO SHOOT THE REAL DEAL ON RANGE DAY! BUT WITH HUDSON MFG NO LONGER WITH US, IT LOOKS LIKE THE AIRSOFT REPLICA MIGHT NOW BE THE ONLY WAY TO BUY ONE!

S

ome fires burn oh, so brightly for a while but then they sadly dwindle down to glowing embers and, ultimately, turn to ash. So it seems to have been with Hudson Mfg, who appeared almost from nowhere and ascended in a flare of publicity and scuttlebutt with their new pistol design. The H9 combined a 1911-style trigger and a short-recoil operated system, along with forward barrel cams in front of the trigger-guard and a sear design bringing together the popular and proven trigger with strikerfired operation.

Hudson Mfg stated: “Mankind’s collective experience as soldiers, as frontiersmen and as firearms enthusiasts have contributed to where we stand today. Taking cues from its legendary predecessors, the Hudson H9 does not stray from its roots. From its steel frame, to its straight-pull trigger, to its strikerfired design, the H9 will feel instantly familiar to firearms enthusiasts.”

Their unusual-yet-effective innovations, with the placement of the recoil spring and the pairing of an insert chassis with a steel frame, made the H9 not only a “smooth operator” but also gave it a highly distinctive appearance. It also meant that the design with the recoil spring down in front of the trigger guard was designed to give the pistol a low bore axis where the barrel is immediately above the grip, and the recoil impulse from that recoil spring is directed

into the hand, resulting in less felt recoil, less muzzle rise, and more control when shooting.

This contributed to the Hudson H9’s unparalleled precision, as well as impressive speed for follow-up shots but everything seemed to come back to that trigger! With the mind-set that a pistol is only as good as its trigger, Hudson decided to go with arguably the best trigger possible and the well-tuned 1911-style trigger of the Hudson H9 offered a short take up, a crisp break with no over-travel and an incredibly short and tactile reset. Rounding out the rest of the pistol’s impressive features was the overall feel of the gun in hand, from its ambidextrous operation to the profile.

The overall profile of the Hudson H9 was very slim and compact, almost elegant, for a full-size duty pistol and although the grips were no thicker than that of a single stack 1911, they were in fact able to house a double stack 9mm magazine!

Ultimately the Hudson H9 made an impression in the firearms industry with its undoubted performance, styling and characteristics and, from personal experience, I have to agree that it was a superb pistol to shoot and easy to keep on target, even with the “white box” ammo that was presented to me on SHOT Range Day. Perhaps, in retrospect, this choice of “bulk-buy” ammo may have been a sign that all wasn’t too happy in the world of Hudson Mfg; possibly a forewarning of things to come...

“ULTIMATELY THE HUDSON H9 MADE AN IMPRESSION IN THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY WITH ITS UNDOUBTED PERFORMANCE, STYLING AND CHARACTERISTICS AND, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I HAVE TO AGREE THAT IT WAS A SUPERB PISTOL TO SHOOT AND EASY TO KEEP ON TARGET, EVEN WITH THE “WHITE BOX” AMMO...”

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armoury HUDSON H9

After three years of development, the Hudson H9 did go on to hold multiple patent pending features in pistol design, which successfully combined the characteristics of a 1911 style pistol with that of a modern striker fired handgun. In March 2019 though, for reasons that have been described as “myriad and technical”, Hudson Mfg declared bankruptcy and production ceased. Although there is now burgeoning after-market part support for the H9 and even some reports of its phoenix-like rebirth, the fact is that if you want to buy a “new” Hudson, the only way to do it is to buy an airsoft replica!

ENTER EMG!

On their website we are told that “…the EMG vision is to manufacture products the world has never seen before; products we would put our name on and products that hit the spot!” and EMG (Evike Manufacturing Group) came from the idea that if you want something done exactly the way you want it, you need to do it yourself - and they did just that with the Hudson H9!

EMG were so impressed (like me) with how the real-life Hudson H9 felt and performed, they said that they had to bring this magnificent pistol to the airsoft market. Following strict guidelines and an emphasis in accuracy of replication to its real-life counterpart, as well as performance in airsoft, they collaborated with Hudson Mfg. directly to make this project happen.

Additional features such as a sensitive trigger and the recoil impulse carries over very well to the EMG “Airsoft Training” version of the Hudson H9.

The replica, for that is what it is, features a detailed CNC machined aluminium slide with front and rear serrations, as well as officially licensed engraved Hudson Mfg. trademarks, a CNC machined aluminium frame with front and back strap knurling and removable textured polymer grips. The ultra slim profile feels great in hand as it is 1:1 correct in every dimension. In addition to the excellent build, the controls are equally precise with an ambidextrous slide lock and an accessory rail for mounting lights and lasers. One word here though, is that this accessory rail feels too low for me when using my favourite “Surefire-style” pistol lights, forcing your support hand to drop out of line when operating the toggle switch of the light.

However, the super-crisp 1911 style trigger has a light uptake, crisp break and short tactile reset (just like I remember on the real thing) and the low bore-axis helps mitigate the pleasing amount of “felt recoil” to stay on target for rapid follow-up shots, as the EMG H9 actually has a splendid recoil impulse, something that was commented on by all my colleagues who tried it on the range!

In terms of performance on the range, the greengas-driven H9 certainly lives up to its hype when it comes to its airsoft form! The H9 initially chrono’d in at 0.95 Joule/320fps dropping only marginally through the 25BB magazine on .20g RZRs but it seems to enjoy being fed .25g best. With this weight of BB you get cracking performance at 10m, with consistent power delivery through the magazine, good standard sights that let you get on target quickly and that crisp trigger break lets you stay perfectly on target too!

With the overall dimensions coming in at 7.625” (193.67mm) long, 5.225” (132.71mm) high, 1.24” (31.49mm) wide and weighing in at just 18.9oz (535.8g), the fully-licenced EMG Hudson H9 combines everything great about 1911 and striker-fired style pistols and has been put together with the best materials and some true love! I certainly enjoyed shooting the real Hudson when I had the chance and I have to admit that the replica has just gone on my personal list on “must haves” - and that, my fellow airsofters, is the best recommendation I can give you!

My thanks go again to the guys at www. iwholesales.co.uk for the loan of the review sample and please do make sure to pay them a visit to check out all the goodies from EMG. AA

“…THE FULLY-LICENCED EMG HUDSON H9 COMBINES EVERYTHING GREAT ABOUT 1911 AND STRIKER-FIRED STYLE PISTOLS AND HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH THE BEST MATERIALS AND SOME TRUE LOVE!” www.airsoftaction.net

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THE CAGE UBACS

THE CAGE: UNDER BODY ARMOUR COMBAT SHIRTS

THIS MONTH WE’RE STARTING A NEW SEQUENCE IN THE “THE CAGE” TO LOOK IN MORE DEPTH AT INDIVIDUAL ITEMS OF CLOTHING THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR LOADOUTS, WITH THE AIM TO BRING MORE INFORMATION TO YOU THAT WILL HELP YOU WHEN IT COMES TIME TO BUY, OR REPLACE, GEAR THAT WILL HELP YOU STAY “ON POINT” IN YOUR GAME OR SCENARIO. FIRST UP IS UNDER BODY ARMOUR COMBAT SHIRTS, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS “UBACS”.

O

nce upon a time, all we wanted to do was to just get out and play airsoft with whatever came to hand! As long as we had our trusty AEG or GBB, a few spare magazines, some gas or a battery, some BBs and some eyepro we were all set! Although there were always players that would take things as close to the “real deal” as possible, and good on them for that, when I look back at loadouts that we created even ten years ago, they are extremely basic compared to what the average player now wears and carries.

The whole “tactical gear” world has exploded (in good way!) in recent years, with easier and greater availability of brands that once we would have classed as being “Gucci”, and of course the dedicated airsoft gear market has kept pace with that, and in many ways even exceeded it! Where once we would have thrown on a T-shirt or hoodie and jeans or some old military surplus gear to go out and play airsoft, we now have online debates over the technical differences and efficacy of pretty hardcore “milspec”

clothing, even down to the performance of different fabrics in diverse environments, and the placement of knee or elbow pads in a design!

To me this shows that the airsoft gear market is continuing towards maturity in terms of what we wear, understanding that “what you pay for is what you get”. Even replica gear these days though comes fit for purpose, if not for “war” then certainly for “weekend war”, but more and more I see players saving their pennies and going for “real” rather than replica and although there is always a price difference, there does seem to be a far greater appreciation that “buying right and buying once” is ultimately the way forward.

After discussion amongst the Airsoft Action Contributors group (and that’s ALWAYS going to be an interesting discussion, given the diversity of our individual “areas of airsoft interest”!) we decided that THE CAGE could be best used to highlight specific gear that we use ourselves and WHY we use it. We decided to look at our gear in a more structured way

“…MORE AND MORE I SEE PLAYERS SAVING THEIR PENNIES AND GOING FOR “REAL” RATHER THAN REPLICA AND ALTHOUGH THERE IS ALWAYS A PRICE DIFFERENCE, THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A FAR GREATER APPRECIATION THAT “BUYING RIGHT AND BUYING ONCE” IS ULTIMATELY THE WAY FORWARD.”

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THE CAGE UBACS

so that, month by month, we will build up a “kit catalogue” that is full of well tried and tested items that are worthy of your consideration.

This time we’ll start off by looking at Under Body Armour Combat Shirts, or “UBACS” as they’ve come to be known. With the increased use of plate carriers this type of shirt has really seen a surge in development and all of them benefit from hardwearing sleeves and shoulders, usually with a set of arm-pockets thrown in, high collars to protect against chafing (and BB strikes!) and lightweight body fabrics in high-moisture-wicking fabrics to aid with heat and moisture management (ie comfort) under a plate carrier, and there are countless options to choose from in any colour/camo combo you care to mention!

I’ve been collecting them over a LONG period, in fact my very first was MOD-issue DDPM for wear beneath my Osprey and I currently have models from a variety of manufacturers like CRYE, Applied Orange, Clawgear, VIPER, OpsTactical, Helikon-Tex, First Tactical, UF Pro, Emerson, Giena Tactics, and now Invader Gear, who have kindly furnished Red Cell with their new red plaid versions (and I REALLY like their short-sleeved versions too)! All of them work well for me and all have seen extensive abuse and come back for more. But what did the team have to say…

UBACS IN THE WILD!

My question to the AA team this month was “Do you use a Combat Shirt or UBACS? If yes, which do you use and why do you use it? Can you recommend the model your wear?” and this is what they told me: Robbie: “As a new airsofter, buy something that doesn’t itch and fits well while working out. Basically the same as playing airsoft lol. Look for seams that rub, hot spots, does it ride way up or stay tucked in.

Is the velcro good or that glow in the dark porcupine stuff. Does it breathe or absorb sweat no matter what temperature. And last, will my mates tease me about it?

“I tried UBACS but then went back to just a BDU blouse or just a t shirt. They’re great if you wear full armour all the time, not any use if swapping in and

out of gear in and out of vehicles and changing from chest rigs to plate carriers…”

Jase: “I’ve used a British army MTP for years now, not let me down yet!”

Chris P: “I do, only for CQB under a plate carrier for the reason they are invented.. to keep one cool. I use an Australian issue DPNU shirt by ADA, Australian Multicam (not the new stuff the actual Aussie pattern multicam) shirt

by ADA, Desert DPM (UK issue, not had a chance to use this yet) and a Viper Elite shirt in OG. For the price (although I don’t know what the new Viper ones are like) the viper Elite is perfectly adequate for airsoft and offers some decent moisture wicking under vests with more coverage and closer fitting like a PACA. Of course, the Aussie ones work well and are far more comfortable but they are hard to get so I’m not counting these for the general airsofter. The Viper was given to me yonks ago but buying wise, without trying some other cheaper brands, on I can’t really compare it. I would like to try a Pentagon one, they look pretty good!”

Boycie: “I use them depending on what kit I’m wearing.

I have First Tactical and another make of UBAC and also Propper combat shirt (for the CPD kit). I also have an MC Massiff UBACS, and which I use will depend on the weather plus the other kit I’ll be using.

The First Tactical Defender kit is part of my “Company Uniform”, but if not that and just wanting to wear jeans and a black top then I will usually throw on the FT Defender. If it’s really hot then I’ll usually elect for short sleeve UBACS.” www.airsoftaction.net

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THE CAGE OPTICS UBACS

Stef: “I use the UF PRO combat shirts, and I can definitely recommend them! Great quality, and of course the same colour as my Striker X pants!”

Björn: “I find that usually “all” shirts goes as combat shirts! But of those I use regularly they are Giena Tactics, 5.11 and UF PRO, all of UBACS style.

I feel they breathe better and I’m usually wearing some kind if functional T-shirt under it to absorb and breathe as well.”

Turgay: “I use UF PRO and Propper brand on combat shirts. They both are nearly the same quality, but for Multicam, Propper is much better; with a full pattern it looks good, but in UFPRO only the arms and shoulder are Multicam.

With Propper I feel much cooler and fresh, I use it in winter and summer and had no problem. Also, with the Propper the shoulder area is very comfortable with its original design.”

Jimmy: “I have several UBACS but I find myself using mainly my Emerson ones. Through my journey in airsoft I found I wanted something a little more gucci than an old surplus UBACS which while they are fine and very inexpensive I found they just didn’t fit me all that well, things like tight collars or the sleeves were short, fading material due to heavy use. The Emerson gear UBACS are really quite comfortable yet rugged, so will withstand a fair amount of abuse. I like that they have large bicep pockets and a generous amount of velcro for those who like to wear morale patches (who doesn’t love morale patches?). The velcro cuffs are a nice touch as I hate flappy cuffs and you don’t want to keep catching them on your gear or even on things like foliage or foreign objects. They have quite a high collar which doesn’t affect me really as I roll it over, but it does give you an amount of neck protection and let’s be honest, a BB in the neck, especially on bare skin can sting a little! I use them for the fact I like the uniform look but for practical reasons also.

“The fact that you can add padding in the forearms is paramount for if you need to go prone; nothing worse than getting stones or BB’s in the elbow. Also, I can carry my inhalers in the bicep pocket; it is a must

for me (asthmatic) as when you have things like battle belts and drop legs as part of your loadout your waist pockets are rendered obsolete, and when on site it’s recommended you carry medication in an easily accessible place. I have three Emerson G3 UBACS which I really like as the sizes come up perfect on my “Adonis-like” torso LOL! Also, they aren’t expensive.

I also have two random surplus (brand unknown) UBACS and one surplus BDU shirt; the shirt I will use for the colder weather as it’s a tad thicker than the UBACS.” AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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KIT & GEAR SITE TO STREET

VIPER TACTICAL BANSHEE PACK

IT SEEMS THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT WE WEAR ON SITE AND ON THE HIGH STREET IS STARTING TO BLUR, WITH MANY ITEMS OF AIRSOFT KIT DOUBLING UP FOR EVERYDAY USE. FRENCHIE LOOKS AT AN ITEM THAT SEEMS TO HAVE MADE THE TRANSITION.

S

ite to street may not apply here quite as much – “street to site” (maybe and quite probably) is more accurate.

Sling packs are designed to move easily around your body, allowing you to access them without removing them and having one slap your trigger hand just as you go to take that shot may not be ideal!

However, I personally love them for EDC, and I bought this along with the Maxi reviewed last month, so I’m going to give you some thoughts on it. Spoiler – this could have been brilliant, but for one, fundamental design error. Onwards!

VIPER TACTICAL BANSHEE PACK

As sling bags go, this has so much going for it.

It’s big enough to accommodate a bit of shopping, a rolled-up waterproof, books (if anyone is still using those), a tablet, snacks, a medium cat or an exceedingly small dog. In short, it is exactly the sort of bag that makes your day that bit easier.

The strap is sufficiently padded but not bulky. The fleece-lined pocket on the strap will just take a 5.5” screen smartphone in a Spigen case. Strap length is adjusted with an open-to-unlock buckle which means it is easy and there is never a loose strap end flapping about. It has a grab handle - which too many manufacturers omit. There is a typically solid Viper clip attaching the shoulder strap to a D-ring on the bag, although there is no provision to clip onto the other side to allow for shoulder swapping.

I like the Hex-Tech material, if only because it’s a bit more visually interesting than plain old nylon.

Practically it is a variant on ripstop materials and feels solid enough to take the knocks, without reaching 74

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Maxpedition levels of inflexibility. The back is padded mesh – the padding is light, but you wouldn’t expect or want super thick padding on a bag like this. The open pouch on the side of the bag is made from the same mesh as the back and although it lacks drawstring closure, it does have an elasticated hem which should keep water bottles and the like securely in place.

Above that is the second fleece lined pouch, accessed via a zipper. All the zips have seriously sensible pullers on them – full marks for this as they are easy to manipulate and Viper include a spare with the bag. Although the opening isn’t big enough to allow a tablet through, the pocket itself is surprisingly spacious. A case of “if you could get it in, it would probably fit”.

The front of the bag is equipped with Viper’s “Lazer cut” MOLLE system. I like it, it looks good but I’m not sure what you would attach here other than my pens!

Unlike a vest or other load bearing equipment, the Banshee isn’t rigid, you wouldn’t want it to be and strapping a load of pouches onto the front would, I fear, make the whole thing cumbersome. It’s nice to have the option, but it will remain just that for me.

The main pocket is accessed via a long, curved zip and is fitted with a mesh organiser pocket. Like most sling packs I have encountered, internal organisation is seldom their strong suite so don’t expect pen and card slots, specific device storage options or anything like that. What you do get is a decent amount of space especially since the Banshee has a somewhat wider than normal base panel. I’ll just mention that all the zips work exceedingly well, a small but important factor.

KIT & GEAR SITE TO STREET

A BIT OF A PROBLEM

So, materials are good, overall design is good up to a point, construction is fine on my example so what’s the issue I have with it?

It’s that main compartment. I’m right-handed so everything about this works …until it doesn’t.

You may want to refer to the photos to see what the problem is but in short, the zip for the main compartment is on the wrong side of the bag. (Forgive the following selfies!)

Normally, when you whip your sling bag around and unzip it, the bag forms an open pouch with the opening at the top, nearest to your face. This way, nothing spills out, you can safely rummage for what you need and close it up again. Here, the opposite is true. The opening is to the bottom, as is the smaller pouch. Now, add gravity. Not great is it? It “sort of” works but frankly I have found it more reassuring to take the pack off to access the main compartment and that flies in the face of what makes bags like this so damned convenient. I have maybe three or four other sling bags (I did say I really like them) and regardless of which shoulder they go over none of

them do this. If there was a second D-ring on the base, a compromise would be to wear it over my right shoulder as that would put the opening where it needs to be. That isn’t ideal and here it isn’t possible without stitching a second D-ring in place. Clipping the strap onto the material confirms that, confusion for poor right-handed me aside, this does sort out the problem.

I don’t expect Viper to correct this as I suspect it wouldn’t be worth their time, but it could stop me making from greater use of this bag.

Naturally, that was too much of an irritant for me to let it go, so I raked around to see if I had, or could nick, a D-ring from another pack. It turns out I couldn’t and there were further issues in trying to split the seam on the other side of the pack to stitch it on.

In the end I took a simpler, more direct route – a knotted loop of paracord, a single hole punched through the back and a large button inside to anchor it to. Not ideal, but it does work.

Now, apart from it going over my other shoulder, it works perfectly, and I have been making extensive use of it.

On a dog walk, when I was using it to carry a camera, I explained to my wife what the problem was. It turned out it was easier to demonstrate, and as soon as she saw the problem, she was slack jawed that anyone thought this was a good idea! It’s so obvious that I am still perplexed as to how this made it to market in its current form. It’s not even that it is left-handed, it’s not – try that and it lies with the back outwards!

Viper kit is great value and this bag is no exception.

Whether you would buy it and accept that you would have to take it off to access the contents, or like me do a bit of quick and dirty kit bashing, is a choice for you. What my fix has confirmed is that it is an excellent sling pack, well-proportioned and that ideal size between “handy for a phone and keys and “this will hold the week’s shopping”.

I can only hazard a guess as to how it found its way to market as it is and that’s a crying shame because I would wholeheartedly recommend this if it were simply the right way round! I bought this one for £11.95 against an SRP of £23.95. At twelve quid it’s a no brainer, whether you choose to fix it or live with it but, sadly, the fault is so egregious I would never pay the full price for it.

My thanks to Viper Tactical Shop for the excellent service in delivering this and the Maxi. AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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VORSK DIARY THE BEST SO FAR!

THE BEST SO FAR! ANOTHER NEW VORSK “1911” PISTOL HAS JUST HIT THE STORES IN THE FORM OF THE DEFENDER PRO AND FROM WHAT WE’RE HEARING, THEY’RE ALREADY CAUSING SOME POSITIVE NOISES FROM BOTH RETAILERS AND PLAYERS ALIKE! BILL GETS A CLOSE FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW PISTOL AND BRINGS US UP TO DATE WITH THE LONG-TERM TESTING OF THE EXISTING MODELS TOO!

A

h, the power of brand! In this world it sometimes seems like the brand is the “thing”, irrelevant of the actual product, but with VORSK not only is the brand name itself growing in strength and stature but each and every product is proving to be 100% solid and functional too!

It’s not often that I get a “manufacturer’s advisory” that a new product has launched, followed immediately by another advisory that the product in question has sold out at source but it’s becoming increasingly regular with VORSK pistols! Such is the faith on the part of retailers in the pistols that stock, although bought in depth, is gone from the warehouse delivery as soon as it arrives. Even though the guys at VORSK tell me that they try to buy sufficient stock for the market, it would seem that “sufficient” is never quite enough to meet ever-growing demand…

And so it is with the new VORSK CS DEFENDER PRO… Yup, VORSK are already out of stock at the warehouse from their first delivery of this stunning 1911, so if you fancy one, you’d better speak nicely to your local shop and trust me, if you like a cool take on a classic 1911 then you are most definitely going to want one of these!

Like all the VORSK pistols, I’ve been privileged enough to follow this model from concept through to reality and I can honestly say that the attention to detail in the Defender has been, if anything, even more scrupulous than with any of the models to date. As the first of the “VORSK CUSTOM SHOP” models it has a real statement to make and, as with the real firearms industry, the “Custom Shop” Defender is really pushing forward the boundaries of what the VORSK team can create. For many reasons I have to say I 76

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VORSK DIARY THE BEST SO FAR!

believe that this is their finest creation thus far, both in terms of construction and, indeed, performance.

The Defender has an entirely new slide featuring three forward vent ports, a top slide with rippled-V pattern and “snakeskin” slide grips. The “V for VORSK” pattern along the length on top of the slide looks great but ultimately serves another practical purpose, in that you can use it to cock the pistol against your leg! This concept is something that we saw in the real world, thanks to Kimber meeting the demands of LA SWAT with their service 1911s and I, for one, think that it’s a super-cool feature! The design “flow” of the Defender continues with the forward tri-vent and of course this also removes some weight from the front of the slide for more efficient cycling.

There’s a new design compensator (that comes as standard with the pistol) which gives it a very aggressive look but there is also, quite literally, a very clever “twist” in the design here too, as by depressing the guide rod you can rotate the compensator to one side and remove it. In the new-design box (more on that in a bit!) there’s a spare, standard barrel bushing if you prefer to run the Defender more “old skool”, like me. The finish throughout is impeccable and the frame and slide marry together with hardly any movement other than the obvious one and no rattle at all, something that you only find on a really highquality 1911 replicas in my experience! Even the pistol grips are a really attractive mix of wood and polymer, which leads to a visually striking design plus, as a first in the VORSK range, a solid trigger used, which leads to a more direct interface with the trigger mechanism.

In terms of performance, oh my golly this is a beauty!

I chose the “Complete Black” version of the Defender for myself (something that Ross at VORSK and I refer to as “The Blackout”, given both the all-black parts and the much darker wood grips) and my patient wait for this pistol has been proved completely worthwhile. Through the chrono on NP 2.0 gas and using .20g VORSK BBs (yes, the ones we announced just last month!), the Defender

kicks out the BBs at 0.69J/273FPS and does so consistently and superbly accurately at 10m!

Cycling is slick and smooth, with a great recoil impulse and the trigger is just lovely (damn, it’s good!), with absolutely minimal take-up and a crisp reset. If you like to get your shots away quickly, then the Defender is going to make you very happy indeed!

As we said when we announced the Defender on the website, although we believe that any pistol should be in a holster and not in the box, what we do like is that this new model comes in a magnetically sealed box with Velcro patch holders and a Manual sleeve. This means you can use the box longer term for display and storage at home should you wish! This is a neat little touch that will keep your new pistol safe and out of harm’s way when not in use and anything that adds to safe storage and carriage is a BIG plus for us.

As we have come to expect, the VORSK CS DEFENDER PRO pistol is available in multiple colours, Black, Chrome, and Brushed Aluminium, with a Dual Tone “Training Blue” option available. The flagship Chrome/Black and Black/ Chrome design is available as a contrasting double pack, as is the Dual Tone Blue option. It’s fabulous to see this blue variant as it means that new players and indeed nonplaying shooters of all flavours can immediately benefit from legal ownership from the get go!

MOVING ON – DIARY LATEST!

As I promised right from the outset of the “VORSK PROJECT”, I’ve been keeping notes and a running tally on the existing models to see how they perform over time and although some haven’t yet seen a game due to the ongoing restrictions we all face, they have been given a VERY hard time on the range!

All of the models have now had several thousand BBs through them and the slides and frames have been lubed after each range session. Magazines have been checked, serviced and seals/o-rings inspected to ensure continued performance. This is not in any way a negative, as any GBB magazines should be checked and serviced regularly and this is something that is a matter of routine for me.

The first models to enter my little “test program” were the EU18s and the Hi-Capa 4.3s. I’ve been running the Hi-Capas on NUPROL 2.0 gas, using .25g RZR BBs and the chrono still settles well at 1.01J/330FPS with a .20g BB, with little variance from new. The pistols have now had over 5,000 BBs down the barrel and I’ve yet to experience an issue other than the slides not locking back on empty on really, REALLY chilly mornings, which would vex any GBB! Accuracy continues to improve and at 10m I’m now keeping to 80mm groupings; thus far Hi-Capa 4.3s have

www.airsoftaction.net

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VORSK DIARY THE BEST SO FAR!

proved to be superb GBB pistols and the RDS model is STILL running on the original battery even now!

The EU18s are also doing well, although I’ve started to notice a little wear on the slide of the grey RDS version, probably as it goes in and out of an unforgiving Kydex holster on an all-too-regular basis! I’ve been running the EU18s on the suggested NUPROL 2.0 and to date I’ve had no major issues with consistency of power and the magazines are really standing up to being hammered on a regular basis with my usual “TLC servicing package”. The action of both pistols has retained the smoothness that was apparent when they first arrived with me, got smoother even and it just goes to prove that even the very best airsoft pistols need time and some use to “bed in”. I’ve now logged in excess of 5,000 RZR. 20g and .25g BBs through the pistols. Thus far the “long-termers” are still performing as new at 10m on steels and on the Attack Sense Smart Target System, with solid accuracy at that distance. The EU18s have registered highest at 0.78J/290FPS on a .20g RZR, settling in at 272fps and staying there. I’ve found that now they’ve has settled in they like .25g RZRs best.

The first model of what I called at the time “the second coming” was the Hi-Capa 5.1 Split Slide and oh my, what a super pistol this as proved to be! With a mix of high quality polymers and alloys and a custom textured grip and flared, oversized magwell which aids immeasurably doing fast reloads, it’s the slide that makes all the difference on this

pistol. As I suspected, that Split Slide design, which means only the rear half of the slide actually moves, dovetailing beautifully with the fixed front half means there is far less weight moving, making gas usage massively more efficient and the cycle time meaningfully less when it comes to taking follow-up shots. The 5.1 Split Slide has performed very well over 3,200 BBs at 10m on steels and at 5-10m on the Attack Sense Smart Target System using .20g RZR BBs. In terms of the chrono, things have stayed exactly where I hoped and expected; the pistol initially recorded a high of 1.01J/329FPS using .20g RZRs and has settled nicely in the mid-320’s on the same weight BB. It does seem to be incredibly efficient on NUPROL 2.0 gas, cycling the rear of the slide quickly and efficiently and having no problem whatsoever emptying the entire 28BB magazine time after time, even on winter mornings!

The finish and quality of the VX-9 “Hitman” still blows me away, my silver pair having possibly one of the very nicest finishes that I’ve seen and I’m pleased to report that this has stood up very well in use, with the woodwork and rubberised panels inset to frame are still looking great!

The effort that went into the extended inner barrel and the “suppressor” is still very obvious as they fit together with the main inner and outer impeccably and this continues to have a profound effect on performance too.

I’ve continuously tested the pistols with and without the extensions over some 3,000 BBs each and, using NUPROL 2.0 gas and RZR .20g BBs, I still get a consistent chrono of 0.72J/280FPS without extension and 1.07J/340FPS with!

The VX-9 really played to that, with its cool “Hitman” vibe, especially if like me you ended up with that superb twin pack with the extended magazines and the VP-X takes that exciting uniqueness forward both in look and lore!

The VP-X builds on the “lore” side of things by being quite unashamedly “Punisher” (without actually being called that) and with a twin pack available it’s already picked up a huge fanbase for that reason alone! On the short 10m range the VP-X performs flawlessly on NP 2.0 green-bottle gas and using RZR .20g BBs it still chrono’s very nicely indeed with a pretty darn consistent 0.94J/319FPS even on a chilly day! Accuracy is great too, easily ringing the Red Cell steels at 10 meters on .25g RZRs! I’m now up to 2,400 BBs on this big, bad boy and it shows no sign of slowing down!

So, thus far all is rosey in the VORSK testing program, with no real issues to report other than continued functioning even after MUCH shooting fun has been had! I am really looking forward to adding the “Blackout” to the program and, of course, will continue to report back over time! AA

“THE FINISH AND QUALITY OF THE VX-9 “HITMAN” STILL BLOWS ME AWAY, MY SILVER PAIR HAVING POSSIBLY ONE OF THE VERY NICEST FINISHES THAT I’VE SEEN AND I’M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THIS HAS STOOD UP VERY WELL IN USE, WITH THE WOODWORK AND RUBBERISED PANELS INSET TO FRAME ARE STILL LOOKING GREAT!”

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KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP!!

ANOTHER MONTH CRANKS ON BY AND WE’RE STILL ALL PREPPING, PREPPING AND EAGER FOR GAMES AND EVENTS TO RESTART! WE’RE SURE YOU’VE BEEN SCOURING THOSE INTERWEBZ FOR COOL “GUNS N’ GEAR”, AND THE MANUFACTURERS JUST KEEP ON CRANKING OUT “THE GOOD STUFF”. AS USUAL, WE’VE COMPILED A FEW ITEMS THAT HAVE CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION THIS MONTH - JUST IN CASE YOU’VE MISSED THEM!

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e’re still keeping a very close eye on newlyreleased AEGs and GBBs at the moment, due to the lack of shows this spring and the latest to catch our eye at TAIWANGUN.COM is the very latest take on the humble MP5 - and what a “take” it looks to be!

TAIWANGUN

The CM.041G (PDW stock), CM.041H (buffer-tube stock) and CM.041L (MP5K) not only update the look of one of our favourite machine pistol models with new stocks and M-LOK forends, but come as part of the new CYMA PLATINIUM series, created as a result of cooperation between two companies with many years of experience in the airsoft industry, CYMA and TAIWANGUN.COM. The metal body with the barrel

assembly and the nylon pistol grip imitate the material used for the production of real thing, whilst the compact design with the new adjustable stocks makes it easier to move around in a CQB environment, the “home of the MP5”.

The new models feature:

• External barrel with a 14mm thread CCW • Aluminum M-LOK handguard • Aluminium stocks/tubes with battery compartment • Extended top mount rail for the red dot sight and accessories • Polymer magazine with dummy ammo • Ambi magazine release • Flat “race-style” trigger • Front and rear sling attachments These new MP5s are in the new “E-EDITION” and HIGH-SPEED configuration that has a velocity of around 350-360 fps and in combination with a LiPo battery, a ROF around 25rps and a faster trigger response, so we’re told. This has been achieved with new gearbox parts with increased durability, such as: • Reinforced V2 gearbox frame • Processor unit with built-in MOSFET system • Full steel teeth polycarbonate piston • CNC machined steel gear set (ratio: 13:1) • CNC machined aluminium silent cylinder and piston head set (ball bearing piston head, double o-ring cylinder head) • High-speed motor These certainly look to us like a fabulous update to an “old campaigner”, and we understand that the first shipment of the CM.041G was sold out even before they arrived! We have though been promised a sample from our friends in Poland when the next shipment arrives, so we’ll be getting one on the range for testing soon!

www.airsoftaction.net

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FIRE SUPPORT

bolt-action layout and that is rugged enough for all environments. Because of the bullpup layout, the magazine and bolt are behind the pistol grip, and therefore the operation is slightly different from most other conventional designs but it’s a setup that a number of the AA crew love! Fire Support now have a comprehensive range of the Silverback models in stock again, from the super-sneaky Covert 16, right up to the SRS A2/M2 22, along with a whole heap of accessories including dedicated suppressors and top rails!

most skilled real gun designers with who Evolution International worked side by side to develop a ground breaking line of guns that doesn’t have equals on the market when it comes to overall design and the technological and technical content. All the GHOST models benefit from some new technology, such as: • Electromagnetic Core – Built-in Electronic Trigger Unit, with electromagnetic sensors, Active Brake Mosfets, automatic Full Cycle control and battery protection system for superior performance and peace of mind • EMR – The super-lightweight EMR™ Evolution Modular Rail is made of CNC machined billet aluminium, matte black coated, M-LOK compatible; the highest quality standard in the industry!

• CARBONTECH™ – The GHOST bodies are made of CARBONTECH™, a space-age carbonreinforced techno-polymer designed to be lightweight and strong under heavy duty use.

All in all, the GHOST variants look absolutely superb and with the component list given it looks like they’ll perform just a beautifully as they look, and the great news for UK players is that the models are already available at www.patrolbase.co.uk!

EVOLUTION INTERNATIONAL

MILITARY1ST

Good news too from Fire Support, in that they’ve recently had a BIG restock on their Silverback products! The Silverback SRS is unusual in that it is one of the few true sniper rifles that has a bullpup

No doubt by now you will have seen our “Inside Airsoft” article about Evolution International, in which Sergio mentioned that “Evolution International is entirely dedicated to innovation, so we can confirm that we are already working on new products” - and he also mentioned their new GHOST series of AEGs. We’re pleased to tell you that the new GHOST range is already available and with an initial NINE AR-style variants there’s something to catch any discerning airsofter’s eye!

The GHOST is a ground-breaking project for Evolution as the AEGs have been entirely designed in Italy in Gardone Valtrompia (the “firearms valley” that some 90% of the prestigious Italian firearms manufacturers like Beretta call home!), by one of the

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MARCH 2021

On to kit and gear and Military1st have had some new gear in from tactical and outdoor specialist Pentagon - and we’re liking the look of the new PANTHIRAS jacket! Ideal for this time of year, lightweight and practical, the PANTHIRAS Jacket is made of breathable fabrics with light insulation for added warmth.

The jacket comes with an adjustable hood with an elastic volume adjuster cord on the back, a high collar with a chin guard and a full front YKK zipper with a glove-friendly pull. There are two zipped hand pockets and one internal zipped pocket for documents, keys, or other personal belongings. The elasticated cuffs, bottom hem and hood provide excellent protection from the wind or rain. The Pentagon PANTHIRAS Jacket is ideal for the Safe Zone and also for everyday wear too!

KIT & GEAR SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP

Features include: • Adjustable hood with an elastic cord on the back • High collar with chin guard • Full front YKK zipper with a glove-friendly pull • Two zipped hand pockets • One internal zipped pocket for documents • Gusseted underarm design for ease of movement • Elasticated cuffs, bottom hem and hood • Hanging loop • Material: 88% Nylon 12% Elastane • Insulation material: 60Gsm, 3M Insulation padding Along with the PANTHIRAS there’s also some warm looking knit watch caps in various colours too; the comfortable and lightweight KORIS Watch Cap Service Beanie from Pentagon is an essential in cold weather conditions. Made from a durable blend of 70% Polyester, 30% Wool it guarantees protection against the cold, while the plain design makes the beanie pretty much universal headgear! If you’re looking to upgrade your “between game” comfort-levels, then Pentagon gear is most definitely worth a look!

and a shove-it pocket but they’ve also included tuckable logos, a travel-friendly laptop compartment and a front pocket with removable ID panels and slip pockets to tone down your profile. A flex cuff channel, zippered drop pocket and dual-access CCW compartment give the 5.11 COVRT18 2.0 Backpack another level of hidden gems you’ll surely appreciate in both game scenarios and everyday use!

TACTREE

Keeping with the “low key theme”, Tactree also now have in stock the STEALTH OPERATOR TROUSERS from our old friends at Condor. These understated pants blend into the environment with no effort and the lightweight construction of poly-cotton-spandex promotes mobility, moisture-wicking, and breathability while you’re on the go. The Stealth has a straight cut that allows for more focused movement and more fluid utility of management. They’re designed more for on-the-go essentials, rather than for a full load-out but they’ll undoubtedly make a great “range pant”.

Features include: • Stretch material for maximum comfort and mobility • Two large inlaid low profile side cargo pockets • Internal gadget pocket located inside each cargo pocket • Deep back pockets with reinforced edges • Gusseted crotch for freedom of movement • Articulated knee to maximise mobility • Elastic waistband • Inner knee pad pocket • 70% Polyester • 30% Cotton • Ripstop Finish That’s it for this time, so as usual, keep safe, stay frosty and keep pepping ready for the return of regular games! AA

Tactree (tactree.co.uk) have also had a big stock up on 5.11 and Condor gear and there’s a few new things in that ix that look god to us!

From 5.11 there’s a couple of new packs. First up is the DAILY DEPLOY 48 which is perfect for a variety of short-range missions and built with the everyday individual in mind from professionals looking to carry essential gear while on the job to the players looking for a sleek, multipurpose on-site or grab-andgo bag. The yoke shoulder strap system is designed for comfort and stability. The clamshell opening offers quick access to the main compartment with a zippered, pocketed mesh divider. The dedicated rear compartment is perfectly suited for a laptop, tablet, or hydration system. The compression and removable waist strap offers a wide range of adjustments to help create a load-bearing system that’s utilitarian, comfortable, and adaptable to any environment.

The 5.11 COVRT18 2.0 offers the versatility of a tactical pack and is described as “the next iteration in a serious of backpacks designed not to call a lot of attention to itself”! Whether you’re playing in urban environments, or just want a pack with a street-smart look, 5.11 thought about the areas required for a more discreet appearance and made the necessary improvements. On the outside you’ll find contemporary features like dual water bottle pockets

www.airsoftaction.net

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last post TERMINAL DOUBLE BLOW

ARE BREXIT AND COVID A TERMINAL DOUBLE-BLOW? AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RUNS, SEEMINGLY ENDLESSLY, ONWARDS, FRENCHIE POSES A SIMPLE, YET HIGHLY RELEVANT QUESTION FOR UK AIRSOFT TO CONSIDER: ARE BREXIT AND COVID A TERMINAL DOUBLE-BLOW?

A

t present, not very much it would seem. I’ve been chatting to some of my friends and acquaintances in the industry and their reports suggest that sales of airsoft gear have held up really well, despite the fact that no one has been able to play for most of the past year. I suspect this is due to some having more free cash because it’s not being spent on commuting, restaurants, pubs, holidays – basically all the fun stuff. A new gun or gear is a nice pick me up and cheaper than two weeks in Malaga.

So, selling gear isn’t a problem for many, but getting it is proving to be.

As you may well have seen in the news, freight costs have rocketed, partly because of Covid and partly as a result of Brexit. To give you an idea, shipping a pallet to the UK from Europe cost around £200 pre-Brexit, that cost is now nearer £550 – more than twice as much. It is not unreasonable to assume that unless those rates drop to pre-Brexit levels soon, consumers are going to have to bear some, or all, of that burden. Economies of scale matter here, larger operations are better placed to weather these storms, smaller companies may well start to struggle, if they aren’t already. If you have a decent sized warehouse and can take the additional hit to fill it, you are better placed to continue. If, on the other hand, you depend on restocking quickly and regularly because you simply don’t have the space, life may well be interesting and not in a good way.

Fortunately for most businesses, a lot of their stock already came from outside the EU and consequently they won’t be facing any increase in paperwork, 82

APRIL 2021

although they’ll still have to cope with increased freight charges. Supplies from within the EU will be more problematic, especially as many couriers are refusing to deliver to the UK because of the demand that they register with HMRC and pay any VAT required before goods are allowed entry. Time will tell whether, as consumers, we see these costs reaching us. It may be that “free” shipping will become less common as companies try to square the financial circle, or special offers become fewer and further apart.

IMPORT DELAYS

There are also reports of long delays while goods clear customs here in the UK, but that is a broader problem of which airsoft is a small part.

As an aside, I own an old East German Trabant; getting parts from Germany was simple last year, however, I fear that will also change and I’m

LAST POST TERMINAL DOUBLE BLOW

concerned that the small specialist companies I rely on there may also decide not to ship to the UK. It is possible, indeed, to be ardently hoped-for, that some of these issues will be resolved in time, but it makes for a difficult trading environment at present.

How the changed relationship between the UK and the EU might affect those wanting to travel abroad to play is still to be seen. Judging by the way musicians have been hung out to dry the current government, we may well find ourselves having many additional hurdles to surmount. Again, that’s a niche within a niche, but it will affect some players.

The bigger issue I discovered in my conversations, is the ongoing Covid pandemic. Sites have been crippled and shops shut. I chatted with Beth who runs “Players of War”, near Falkirk and they have only been able to operate for four and a half months in the last twelve. Insurance and rent continue to be payable and this has stalled investment in site development, as funds have to be put aside to cover those necessities.

Unusually for an airsoft site, PoW is registered as a rate-paying business and has been able to get some rates relief. They have also been able to claim some extremely limited assistance from discretionary grants at local level. Nationally, there is no help for sites, one of the downsides of being a niche pastime which is not recognised as a sport.

Smaller, more casual sites may survive unscathed but if they are still having to meet rent and insurance costs, their operators may well decide to pull the plug while there is no end in sight to the current restrictions. I guess some might do just that with the intention of starting up again when they can, but it will be some time before we can accurately judge the effects of the pandemic.

eventually. Covid will most likely be tamed through extensive vaccination, although it may be some time before gaming is back to what we longingly refer to as “normal”. Brexit is possibly more intractable as it depends on streamlining procedures, increases in trained personnel and a willingness on behalf of European companies to deal with the UK. It seems that quite a few have thrown up their hands and said no for the time being, in the future it’s probable that some will and some won’t and that may have some effect on supplies. That said, I wonder if any such issues might be addressed by retailers seeking alternative routes to bring goods into the UK, possibly through the countries that are already dealt with. Given that the vast majority of airsoft gear originates in the Far East, cutting out a middleman may be an improvement for some retailers, although the distributor/retailer model has never gained the prevalence in airsoft that it has in other industry sectors. That has changed a bit over the past few years but does not account for the bulk of goods entering the UK, as far as I can determine.

I hope that the tentative plans in place to open up the UK come to pass; if they do we should see play resuming later this year. Commerce is commerce and if there is a way to maintain supply at an acceptable cost, it will be found, of that I have no doubts.

Covid remains our biggest challenge, in some respects Brexit may be an issue more for the industry than the players. I can but hope that in the coming months we will not have to concern ourselves with either to the extent that we do now. Until then, stay safe and polish those shiny new guns - their time will come! AA

COMMITMENT

Another intangible that wandered through my mind was to do with the number of players. Some are obviously still committed – those who are keeping the retailers busy and amassing a tidy little armoury!

Others, of course, will have found their lives turned upside down, with jobs lost, families grieving and uncertainty over their future. Will airsoft lose these players for good? It’s unlikely that slinging little plastic balls is going to sit high on their priority list at present.

These two challenges will work themselves out “ANOTHER INTANGIBLE THAT WANDERED THROUGH MY MIND WAS TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS. SOME ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL COMMITTED – THOSE WHO ARE KEEPING THE RETAILERS BUSY AND AMASSING A TIDY LITTLE ARMOURY! OTHERS, OF COURSE, WILL HAVE FOUND THEIR LIVES TURNED UPSIDE DOWN, WITH JOBS LOST, FAMILIES GRIEVING AND UNCERTAINTY OVER THEIR FUTURE.” www.airsoftaction.net

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