Airsoft Action - June 2022

WINNER BEST AIRSOFT MAGAZINE

ISSUE 138 JUNE 2022 ISSN 2634-9515

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CONTENTS 8 ARMOURY: E&L ESSENTIALS AK12 RAF You may be wondering why this month we have chosen to have a Russian Military AEG replica on the cover of Airsoft Action. The AK-12 is purported to be the current pinnacle of the AK family, and one that currently might be shunned by many players who want nothing whatsoever to do with anything even vaguely Russian; Bill has a few words to say about this, and not what you might expect!

WINNER BEST AIRSOFT MAGAZINE

ISSUE 138 JUNE 2022 ISSN 2634-9515

Editorial Director: Bill Thomas Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing Ad Design: Deadshot Design Publisher: Calibre Publishing

18 ARMOURY: VFC 1911 ULTRA CARRY The industry surrounding the famous M1911 pistol is a huge one, with all kinds of variations and methods of accessorisation to fit all tastes. Known to most as a fairly large frame handgun, even the mighty “Colt .45” has its smaller siblings, and Bill takes a look at a new model from our good friends at VFC that’s a right little firecracker!

Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1684 878 003 Web: www.airsoftaction.net ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2021 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 publication.

24 ARMOURY: KWA EVE-ICE In early 2021 KWA teased us with a sneak peak at one of their newest series of all-polymer AEGs that were due for release that year. With the pandemic still raging, production delays became an acute reality and the release date had to be pushed back. We are beginning to see these new rifles hitting the market – first with the KO:EVE-ICE Limited Edition, AND Dan has a LOT to say about this!

FIND US ON…

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 Editorial Director: bill@airsoft-action.co.uk, write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

60 ARMOURY: RAVEN R9 Always keen to hunt out something just a little different Bill takes a look at the latest RAVEN pistol model in the shape of the R9 which may just give players an affordable “M9” style handgun, one that performs reliably, and that could be the answer for many players that love this now-venerable platform!

Contents JUNE 2022

JUNE 2022 32 FEATURE: UMAREX T4E Umarex have been looking to an area where “bigger balls” are the thing, and with their T4E range they may just have found the perfect crossover from paintball to airsoft, with a healthy margin of “training platform” thrown in! Frenchie investigates further…

64 ARMOURY: APS MANTIS X Jimmy is a “pistol fanatic” with an ever-deepening understanding of the technical side of airsoft though, we thought he’d be just the man to take a look at the new MANTIS X RMR pistol, put it through its paces, and take a good long look “under the hood”!

36 TOD: PLANNING AHEAD It may seem odd to be talking about gear for Autumn and Winter as we get into shorts and Tees, but planning ahead is a HUGE part of dealing with what Old Ma Nature can throw at you! Bill takes a look at how you can start setting up now to be prepared for when the weather changes again!

68 INSIDE AIRSOFT: LCT Stewbacca organised a visit to LCT Airsoft’s manufacturing facility down in the Southwest of Taiwan’s central Taichung city, having taken some extra time off work following a show to deal with the usual admin and aftermath, as well as spend some more time on airsoft related things!

40 RELOADED: A&K WINCHESTER Seven years ago Bill treated himself to one of the original A&K Winchester Lever Action rifles, and it truly fuelled all of his dreams of airsoft on the “wide open range”; he now returns to this western classic to give his overview on how it has performed… and continues to perform to this day!

78 GAME REPORT: UK It’s all about “operations again” at last, and with games large and small most definitely “back on” our resident MilSimmer Jase brings in a report of “OP CABRIT” run by his friends from SEO… an Op that both James and Jimmy may have had a little bit of a hand in too!

44 CAGE: TACLITES/ILLUMINATORS The Legion looks at an “illuminating topic” this month! There’s nothing better than a good urban game, and if that’s after dark it’s more enjoyable; here the crew takes a look at the taclites and IR illuminators that they run regularly!

86 GAME REPORT: TAIWAN With things opening up again in Taiwan, Stewbacca continues his personal airsoft drive forward as he heads to the 6 Highlands Airsoft site for a unique game with old mates and run by an old friend, ably supported by Acetech!

48 RED CELL: GBB PISTOLS It’s time again to look back at some of the models that Red Cell checked out first in Issue 121, and time has really flown by since then, so it’s time for the crew to get together virtually to update their findings, this time including some of our newer “Cell” members in the mix as well!

94 LAST POST While writing the T4E piece, Frenchie was aware of the limited range available compared to the vast range of airsoft guns that there are, or have been. That got him thinking about some of the models that were available and have since disappeared.

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ARMOURY E&L ESSENTIALS AK12 RAF

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SPOILS OF WAR JUNE 2022

ARMOURY E&L ESSENTIALS AK12 RAF

SOME OF YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHY THIS MONTH WE HAVE CHOSEN TO HAVE A RUSSIAN MILITARY AEG REPLICA ON THE COVER OF AIRSOFT ACTION AS WE ARE OBVIOUSLY AND OPENLY VEHEMENT SUPPORTERS OF THE PEOPLE AND FIGHTERS OF UKRAINE. THE AK-12 IS A RIFLE THAT IS PURPORTED TO BE THE CURRENT PINNACLE OF THE AK FAMILY, AND ONE THAT CURRENTLY MIGHT BE SHUNNED BY MANY PLAYERS WHO WANT NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH ANYTHING EVEN VAGUELY RUSSIAN. BILL HAS A FEW WORDS TO SAY ABOUT THIS - AND NOT WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT!

W

hilst I make no bones about my love for the AK platform in all its many shapes and forms as a piece of engineering art, I, like many of you out there have packed away my Kalashnikovs and my Russian OPFOR gear and I have no intention of bringing them out of the gear locker any time soon. And it would seem that I’m not alone as this has actually been reflected in the sales of AK airsoft replicas as I’m hearing from many manufacturers and distributors that “AKs are a hard sell right now”, and justifiably so.

Whilst we strive to keep politics, and to a degree real life itself out of airsoft it’s a fact that must be

recognised that, certainly for UK players, that our Defence in Law for ownership of Realistic Imitation Firearms (airsoft guns!) is actually intrinsically tied to the “re-enactment of military operations”. It cannot be avoided that as I write there is a “military operation”, or call it what you like but it’s a WAR, going on in Europe and it’s a bit too close to home both literally and metaphorically.

We have to be honest and admit that there is a high degree of “suspension of disbelief” in airsoft; we dress up as often elite-level “operators” and play out our dreams of glory at the weekend. Let us be under no illusion though, as much as we invest in

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ARMOURY E&L ESSENTIALS AK12 RAF

“real deal Gucci” most of us are actually nowhere strategic global one that was truly MAD or a more close to being real soldiers, let alone “operators” even tactically-based European one hung over us like some if some have actually served in the military. Part of this technological Sword of Damocles. Even our music “suspension” is that we have the luxury of “degrees reflected this, with songs like “99 Red Balloons” and of separation” as the tragic and horrific (more horrific “Two Tribes” topping the charts of the day. I rejoiced by the day right now!) war in Ukraine continues to when it seemed those days were over, and I genuinely play out, but for me those “degrees” have worn very, hang my head now not just for the brave men and very thin. women of Ukraine but for the entire human race Airsoft encompasses themed games and events that now has to begin to think about this terrifying are often driven, and sometimes sold to us as eventuality again… it IS utter madness. “inspired by real world events”, and even historicallyBut what does this all have to do with the new E&L themed games and scenarios are often driven by real Essentials AK-12 RAF AEG you may ask? Let me tell operations of the past. Many of those operations have you… taken place far, far away from us geographically and there is often a “cultural disconnect” that comes into THE BEST AK EVER? the equation. People in most of the recent conflict The AK-12 is a current issue Russian military rifle; to zones look very different from us; their style of dress, recap once again on the history and development of environment, houses and cars look different, so the AK-12, in May 2010 following a Russian Ministry somehow they have become less “real” to us. But of Defence statement we learnt that the AK-12 here is a war that is taking place where people look rifle was to be tested in 2011. The early prototype exactly the same as model (AK-200), us, they dress the was presented by same, they drive the the Izhmash arms “IT CANNOT BE AVOIDED THAT AS I WRITE same cars and use manufacturing plant THERE IS A “MILITARY OPERATION”, OR the self-same phones in Izhevsk, but this CALL IT WHAT YOU LIKE BUT IT’S A WAR, to document the hell was apparently a GOING ON IN EUROPE AND IT’S A BIT TOO that has become their basic AK-74 with a everyday life.

CLOSE TO HOME BOTH LITERALLY AND few “twiddly bits” There suddenly added, although the METAPHORICALLY... ALTHOUGH THERE WILL is no discernible Izhmash prototype ALWAYS BE EXTREMISTS I’M WILLING TO BET “disconnect”.

THAT MOST FOLK IN THOSE TROUBLED AREAS was fitted with Should this a large-capacity ARE FUNDAMENTALLY “MK I HUMAN BEINGS” matter to us? War 60-round casket is war, right? But JUST LIKE US, THAT THEY HAVE HOPES AND magazine. somehow it does, DREAMS LIKE US, AND THAT THEY LIVE, WORK After much toand it SHOULD ing and fro-ing both HARD AND LOVE JUST AS WE DO” matter to us, and developmentally perhaps we should and politically, take this opportunity on 6 September to re-evaluate how we view everything through 2016 it was reported that Kalashnikov Concern had that “disconnected lens” and realise that people introduced the final production model of the AK-12, are people wherever they may live. Although there which was derived from the proven AK-400. There will always be extremists I’m willing to bet that most were to be two base models that were introduced, the folk in those troubled areas are fundamentally “Mk I AK-12 which was chambered in 5.45×39mm cartridge human beings” just like us, that they have hopes and and the AK-15 which was chambered in 7.62×39mm dreams like us, and that they live, work hard and love cartridge. Kalashnikov Concern also introduced a new just as we do. squad automatic weapon that was chambered in the I grew up in what many view as the coldest part 5.45×39mm cartridge, the RPK-16 which was based of the Cold War, that being the 1970s and 1980s on the traditional Kalashnikov layout and design and and the threat of WWIII hung over all of us as we had a number of technical and ergonomic features went through our teens and into early adulthood. derived from the AK-12 program.

Everything that went on had a tinge of “impending We were told that the AK-12 (Glavnoye raketnodoom” as the real threat of a nuclear war, either a artilleriyskoye upravleniye (GRAU, designation 6P70), 10

JUNE 2022

ARMOURY E&L ESSENTIALS AK12 RAF

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ARMOURY E&L ESSENTIALS AK12 RAF

alongside the AK-15 (6P71), was accepted into service in January 2018, and the first deliveries of 2,500 AK12 assault rifles began in December 2018. The Russian Ministry of Defence signed a three-year contract with Kalashnikov Concern for 150,000 AK-12 and AK-15 assault rifles to be delivered in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

We were also told that the AK-12 had also entered service with the military subdivisions of the National Guard of Russia.

But in light of everything we’ve seen so graphically recently, are these dates, numbers, and the true dispersal of the AK-12 everything we’ve been led to believe, or is it more spurious “fact” coming from the Russian “propaganda machine”? I would certainly ask the question about the veracity of these “facts”, as in 2022 we are still seeing very few (in real terms) AK-12s in what has become one of the most actively and immediately documented wars I have ever seen.

Yes, we have seen the AK-12, but certainly not in the numbers suggested…

I would also ask the question, and here I go back to that heavily-mired “development process”, if the AK12 is actually the “best AK ever” as we’ve also been led to believe? Reports coming from Ukraine have indicated that the rifle has been beset by problems, with some gruesome images hitting the interwebz of dead Russian officers and NCOs where the selector lever of their AK-12 has moved past the low, semiauto point of operation which effectively makes the weapon inoperable, soon to be followed by its user.

I’ve also read on various firearms resources that there have also been feed issues, once again rendering what should be a robust battle rifle useless. Quite apart from the fact that the more motivated, more mobile, and undoubtedly to date more effective Ukranian fighters have been kicking butt, lack of confidence in what they have been told is a reliable and effective combat firearm must be having an impact on the morale of those that have actually, really, been issued with one too.

And to round things out, it is often said that “one man’s tool of oppression is another man’s tool of freedom” and this most certainly seems to be the case with the AK-12; this is supposed to be the weapon of Russia’s elite, but taken as a “spoil of war” it has

become a symbol of the robust and tenacious nature of the fighters of Ukraine! I’ve been following the numerous articles online about “captured AK-12s” and many images now show them as trophies in the hands of the Ukranians, symbols that they have faced the best that Russia can throw at them and come out on top… and I am going to bet that those “AK12 trophies” have also now been privy to the tender ministrations of the Ukranian “armourers” and are now working better than when they left the factory!

A REPLICA IS A REPLICA

So, with all this in mind I suppose the fundamental question here is “should I by an airsoft AK, especially

“...IT IS A FABULOUS AEG IN ALL WAYS, AND THE AK-12 FEELS LIKE IT’S LITERALLY JUST COME OUT OF THE ARMOURER’S HANDS, AS IT ARRIVES VERY LIGHTLY OILED SO YOU EVEN GET “THAT FACTORY FRESH SMELL”! AS I SAID WHEN I FIRST LOOKED AT ESSENTIALS AKM, JUST LIKE THAT VENERABLE AEG REPLICA THE AK-12 IS ONE HELL OF A PERFORMER”

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ARMOURY E&L ESSENTIALS AK12 RAF

an AK-12 right now?”, and my personal response to this is that a replica is indeed just that, a replica and it is a question to be answered by you and you alone as to which replica you may wish to spend your money on. What I have to say though is that by buying an airsoft AK-12 you can have a clear conscience that in no way are you supporting any Russian business as obviously your AEG is, in the case of the excellent E&L AK12 RAF, coming from E&L in China.

And it is a fabulous AEG in all ways, and the AK-12 feels like it’s literally just come out of the armourer’s hands, as it arrives very lightly oiled so you even get “that factory fresh smell”! As I said when I first looked at Essentials AKM, just like that venerable AEG replica the AK-12 is one hell of a performer; okay, I am biased because I love all the AK family so much, but this electric version is very, very pleasing indeed. The externals are absolutely perfect (read stunning!) with lots of steel and high-grade polymer, the internals are the very best they can be, and the performance is right up there with the best of them.

In terms of internals E&L “Essentials” replicas are equipped with a workmanlike and durable gearbox that has a quick spring change system, along with a stainless steel cylinder, polycarbonate piston with one steel tooth, abrasion-resistant POM tappet plate, a set of 9mm steel bearings, and durable powder steel gears. In operation-terms there’s a steel trigger (AK alloy triggers are actually a failure point, and I speak from experience!), the usual “AK-stick” space for the battery under the dust cover, a metal hop-up chamber, a useful magwell spacer insert to aid in swift magazine changes, and the AEG comes with a steel 120 BB mid-cap magazine. Once again, correctly, the rear latch has gone, and the dust cover is released instead by rotating the retained front locking arm above the cocking handle and sliding the entire cover back, up and off to access the battery compartment.

So, fully up to spec inside and out, and given my experience with other E&L models to date, the test sample did indeed come in at a tidily consistent mean of 1.12 Joule/348fps using .20g RZR BBs; with chrono’ing out of the way I reset to .28g and set up my plates at 10, 20, and 30 metres to see what the “12” was capable of. After correctly setting the hop on semi-auto using RZR .28BBs and using just the stock iron sights, the rifle performed excellently straight out of the box; with a 410mm inner barrel it was definitely a case of “see target, hit target” at 20m, and moving out to 30m I switched the safety lever to its full-auto mid-point (the replica AK-12 still works just as the real thing does in this respect) and I was soon knocking over those plates on easily-

controlled three-round bursts; the snappy steel trigger works REALLY well. Out to the extent of the range beyond the 30m backstop mark but still with a safe run-out, shooting prone and back on semi I was still hitting the plates happily each and every time.

As I said early in this review I do try very hard to keep my personal politics out of any review that I write, and indeed out of my “airsoft life” as a whole.

However, I viewed writing about the superb E&K AK-12 as an opportunity to look at things within our game that have been bothering me for quite a while, and that’s how we sometimes become desensitized to real events in what we actually do when we play.

The real world, as we’re seeing so tragically and graphically at the moment in Ukraine is both filled with horror and full of those that would take by force what they cannot take by rational negotiation. It is filled with those that would by force of arms take away the lives, freedoms, and very soul of a nation whilst vaingloriously trying to bolster their own. Please remember this when you take up whatever style of AEG (and the E&L IS a great choice) or GBB you favour to play our beloved game of airsoft… it’s not about what model of RIF you choose, it’s about respecting your fellow human beings, about honesty, integrity, fair play, and honour, and obviously these are things that we need far more of in this world right now, not less.

My thanks as always go to www.nuprol.com for the loan of the test sample, and you can expect to see E&L Airsoft “Essentials” models in all good airsoft retailers soon! AA

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ARMOURY VFC 1911 ULTRA CARRY

SIZE MATTERS! THE INDUSTRY SURROUNDING THE FAMOUS M1911 PISTOL IS A HUGE ONE, WITH ALL KINDS OF VARIATIONS AND METHODS OF ACCESSORISATION TO FIT ALL TASTES. KNOWN TO MOST AS A FAIRLY LARGE FRAME HANDGUN, EVEN THE MIGHTY “COLT .45” HAS ITS SMALLER SIBLINGS, AND BILL TAKES A LOOK AT A NEW MODEL FROM OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT VFC THAT’S A RIGHT LITTLE FIRECRACKER!

V

egaForceCompany, or simply “VFC”, are in my mind really one of the real innovators right now when it comes to GBB pistols, carbines and rifles. As their range, sadly sometimes only for the Asian market due to licencing issues, has grown VFC for me has become an international benchmark for GBBs both in pistol and rifle/carbine form. Although VFC have a hand in many GBB pistol “branded projects” I have to admit that I’m a huge fan of their own 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM pistol; over the years have owned a few different models of airsoft “.45s” from different manufacturers, but there was one replica that VFC had shown that I’d

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been waiting for expectantly until it’s release last month, namely the compact 1911 ULTRA CARRY (UC).

Now the 1911 TACTICAL CUSTOM, as I said in my review way back in Issue 120 (available in Back Issues on the website); “The “1911 Tactical Custom”, just like the real deal, is a striking looking pistol! It aims to break a few moulds in both looks and performance, and to my mind it does both very well indeed! The new pistol is beautifully finished in every respect, living up to the “Kimber” feel although thankfully VFC haven’t included trademarks; VFC are one of the

ARMOURY VFC 1911 ULTRA CARRY

airsoft companies that understand the licencing game well and hold a number of good ones, and to be frank I would have been slightly disappointed had they added spurious ones to this pistol model. I all honesty this 1911 doesn’t need any dodgy trades to help it sell, as it’s good enough, WAY good enough, without them; the VFC 1911 is totally unmarked, making it a completely blank canvas for you to place your own custom markings on it”.

I’m pleased to say that now I have the 1911 ULTRA CARRY (UC) “in hand” thanks to my very good buddy Ray, once again VFC have dome a fabulous job of recreating another truly excellent

“Kimber-style” design. However, before you go down the route that this is just a shorter version of their original full-size tactical pistol, please let me disabuse you of that… the UC, although still strikingly “Kimber” and bearing some similarities, is actually completely new, not just in terms of a shorter slide and barrel, but also in terms of the resized fame and magazine!

As a lover of compact “concealed carry” style 1911 pistols the UC really ticks all my boxes!

Although some might say that there is little need for “concealed carry” in an airsoft game, where you want your beloved AEG or GBB to be seen by

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ARMOURY VFC 1911 ULTRA CARRY

EVERYONE! For certain scenarios though, especially when you’re acting as a player character in a storyline scenario, having a neat little handgun tucked away somewhere under your shirt or jacket can really give those on the other team a nasty shock!

REALISM AT THE CORE

When it comes to “Mr Colt’s Baby” many believe that Kimber build some of the world’s finest 1911’s.

The Mighty 1911”, with many years service to back up its provenance, is, quite simply, an engineering masterpiece that has undoubtedly stood the test of time, and there are many, many veterans both from the military and from law enforcement agencies that swear by this trusted handgun; the simple fact that shooters still rate this design that has been with us for over a hundred years speaks volumes about the gun that has become a true American Icon!

When it comes to a Kimber, virtually every critical component on each and every pistol is manufactured inside their own factory. Only the finest raw materials come through the front gate, and Kimber takes care of the rest, and this ensures every component, ad indeed the finished handgun, meets unprecedented standards. In the case of the real Kimber Ultra Carry II .45 ACP it starts with a 3” barrel paired with a compact satin silver-finished frame and a satin silverfinished slide. The slide and lightweight frame are married up to extremely tight tolerances and therefore function perfectly together as you might expect… no “1911 slide slop” here!

A match grade barrel delivers superb accuracy, and a low profile fibre optic front and blocked rear sight sit on top of the slide and provide a consistent target picture. The Ultra Carry comes with a single stage, match grade aluminium trigger; again I’m told by friends in the USA that the 4.5lb pull is steady and smooth, while the reset is short and crisp. In fact, the Kimber Ultra Carry II reportedly has one of the smoothest trigger pulls of any production 1911 on the market. Other features include a clean, singlesided thumb safety, and to further minimize felt recoil, the grip safety is a high-ride designed beavertail that quickly establishes a positive grip for maximum control in stress fire situations.

Although I’m sad to say that I’ve never had the opportunity to shoot one myself (note to self… remedy this!) I’m told that the recoil on the Ultra Carry feels significantly less than that of other compact designs. This is due in part to this pistols lower centre of gravity, which is slightly below mid-slide, and very close to where your hand grips the pistol. Although the shorter single-stack magazine means that the Kimber’s capacity is only seven rounds, the relatively small diameter of the 1911’s frame still allows you to create a secure two-handed grip.

Size DOES matter in a concealed carry pistol!

Physically smaller dimensions and light weight are as important as magazine capacity and power when you need to tuck your pistol away from sight and obvious “bulge”. Kimber Ultra Carry pistols in .45 ACP (and 9 mm) appear to have it all, and put it together in a 1911 package that simply “outperforms the competition”. The Ultra Carry II is a real testament to the Kimber 1911 heritage, combining the obvious advantages of the venerable 1911 platform with the power of the .45 ACP cartridge in one small, tidy, superbly efficient package!

COMPACT COOL

In the real 1911 UC we have a compact pistol that is quite unique, and VFC do a great job in nailing it in replica form! Weighing in at 711g, it’s not exactly a heavyweight, and what weight there is comes pretty much from the magazine and solid metal construction, However, with that reduced slide and frame it’s physically smaller and 129g lighter than the full-size tactical version, which of course means it’s the ideal “.45” for smaller players or those with smaller hands although it’s still eminently usable by bigger fellows like me.

As with the “big brother 1911” the frame and slide are reproduced in a high grade alloy, and as usual with VFC the finish is absolutely impeccable, even though there are (correctly in licence terms again) no markings at all on the slide, and the overall finish is a consistent and very attractive satin black overall rather than the satin silver of the “real deal”… I however prefer the satin black as it definitely gives it a more “broody and

“IN THE CASE OF THE REAL KIMBER ULTRA CARRY II .45 ACP IT STARTS WITH A 3” BARREL PAIRED WITH A COMPACT SATIN SILVER-FINISHED FRAME AND A SATIN SILVER- FINISHED SLIDE. THE SLIDE AND LIGHTWEIGHT FRAME ARE MARRIED UP TO EXTREMELY TIGHT TOLERANCES AND THEREFORE FUNCTION PERFECTLY TOGETHER AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT… NO “1911 SLIDE SLOP” HERE!”

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ARMOURY VFC 1911 ULTRA CARRY

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ARMOURY VFC 1911 ULTRA CARRY

menacing” character.

The UC feels very, very solid in the hand and has neat black-checkered grip panels to ensure good retention; there are also some lovely finishing touches like the silvered and fluted outer barrel, hammer, and trigger. The 18 BB (rear-gassing) magazine of the replica is slightly shorter than that of the GBB Tactical 1911, but the larger magazine will fit and function in the UC although it does protrude slightly from the shorter, compact grip. If you’re used to a regular 1911, the controls of the UC are pretty much identical. The rear safety catch is placed on the left-hand side of the frame, and the hammer can be dropped to ‘Condition1’ with this applied.

The magazine release is also located on the left, just behind the trigger.

BANG ON!

For testing I ran the pistol on NUPROL 2 gas and made use of RZR .20g BBs, and a string of ten gave an average through the chrono of 0.68 Joule/271fps which is perfect for a “compact” and slightly more powerful than some of the others out there like the TM and ARMY “Detonics Combatmaster” replicas.

The UC really is deceptive though as this little beauty goes off with a real crack and the recoil impulse is really cool. The trigger is light and responsive (like the real deal!) and as there’s little weight to the reducedlength alloy slide it cycles really well; you can get shots away as quick as you can pull the trigger and VFC’s GUIDE HOP, front-end adjustable system means that it’s simplicity itself to make fine adjustments. Even though the barrel is obviously short (the whole pistol is only 176mm long after all, with a 65mm inner barrel!) it sends BBs out nice and flat; at ten metres on my usual “in game” .28g this is as accurate as I could wish for, and then some!

I ran the UC in one of my matched Bianchi 105 loprofile leather belt holsters and it was if the VFC had been made for it! These are super-little holsters that are ideal for “concealed” use and although they are “OWB” or Outside The Waistband models they are super-slim and disappear beneath something like a 5.11 Covert Carry shirt; I prefer this style of shirt when I’m playing “sneaky gangsta” in a Cartel game or the

like, as the “tearaway” nature of the design means that you can get to the sidearm underneath REALLY fast with no hangups… just sayin’ that if you’re going to buy a 1911 UC then do it right, and go the whole hog with your holster and clothing...

Overall the 1911 ULTRA CARRY is everything that I’d hoped it would be from the first time I saw it in that MOA video so long ago! VFC have taken their time with the UC, and as such the pistol is superbly built, functions perfectly, easy to dial in thanks to that GUIDE HOP, and is super fun to shoot! If you want a really gas-efficient, compact little handgun to tuck away sneakily under your clothing or in your kit somewhere and you like a “1911” then trust me, this is the one for you.

Most airsoft retailers worth their salt will stock VFC, but mine came direct from my friend Ray in Taiwan.

For more information on the 1911 ULTRA CARRY pistol and other excellent replicas from VFC please visit them at www.vegaforce.com/1911UC. AA

“...THIS LITTLE BEAUTY GOES OFF WITH A REAL CRACK AND THE RECOIL IMPULSE IS REALLY COOL. THE TRIGGER IS LIGHT AND RESPONSIVE (LIKE THE REAL DEAL!) AND AS THERE’S LITTLE WEIGHT TO THE REDUCED-LENGTH ALLOY SLIDE IT CYCLES REALLY WELL; YOU CAN GET SHOTS AWAY AS QUICK AS YOU CAN PULL THE TRIGGER”

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ARMOURY VFC 1911 ULTRA CARRY

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ARMOURY KWA EVE-ICE

COOL AS ICE! 24

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ARMOURY KWA EVE-ICE

BACK IN EARLY 2021, KWA TEASED US WITH A SNEAK PEAK AT ONE OF THEIR NEWEST SERIES OF ALL-POLYMER AEGS THAT WERE PLANNED FOR A RELEASE THAT YEAR. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE PANDEMIC STILL RAGING, PRODUCTION DELAYS BECAME AN ACUTE REALITY AND THE RELEASE DATE HAD TO BE PUSHED BACK. FINALLY, AFTER MUCH ANTICIPATORY WAITING, WE ARE NOW AT LAST BEGINNING TO SEE THESE NEW RIFLES HITTING THE MARKET – FIRST WITH THE KO:EVE-ICE LIMITED EDITION, AND DAN HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS!

F

or those unaware, the “KO” in the name stands for “KWA Originals.” These are all-new designs from KWA that draw inspiration from existing platforms, but are wholly original design concepts unique to KWA. In layman’s terms, this means they aren’t really based on a real steel analogue. The keen eye will note that the EVE series borrows some visual cues from the venerable H&K MP5, the CZ Scorpion EVO and the Beretta PMX and fuses these designs together into an attractive and compact rifle that uses commonly available M4 magazines.

One of the fundamental design features for the new KO series is that these will use an all-polymer body design. The approach here is twofold: this

both reduces costs to the end user and reduces overall weight of the platform. KWA’s proprietary polymer blend is used throughout the construction of the body, and I must say, it is solid. This is an exceptionally balanced and light rifle, weighing just 2.08 kg. (4.6 lbs), yet there is nary a wobble or creak in sight here. The screws and hardware are all high quality steel and well finished, which further compliments the aesthetics of this rifle.

Following in the same footsteps as KWA’s past releases, the KO:EVE series maintain KWA’s emphasis on modularity and utilizing standardized components across their generational lineup. As is found on the Ronin T6 and QRF series, the EVE also uses the same www.airsoftaction.net

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ARMOURY KWA EVE-ICE

adjustable FPS Variable Performance System (VPS), hop up design and gearbox, with only minor changes here and there to accommodate the unique body.

For all intents and purposes, the EVE-ICE is the same gun as the EVE-4, which is releasing later this year.

What sets the EVE-ICE apart from its mainstream counterparts is the unique color scheme, which has been offered only to a few select KWA dealers and is limited to the numbers respectively ordered. As of this time, I do not know how many were exactly made, but I would speculate it is probably less than 100…

EXTERNALLY SOUND

The upper receiver of the KO:EVE-ICE is a pseudomonolithic design that features a continuous length picatinny rail at the 12 o’clock and a “KORE 4” 101mm (4.4 in.) hand guard that can be easily removed, but is itself very securely mounted and quite rigid. This hand guard sports the now-ubiquitous M-LOK mounting interface and KWA have also included a bespoke vertical grip and two 1913 picatinny rail sections for optional attachment. I have heard rumor that alternative hand guard lengths may also be offered in the future.

Keeping with prior releases, a set of PTS Syndicate backup iron sights are included as standard. Lastly, KWA have also included a set of steel QD sling swivel sockets that can be added to the rifle. These are not rotationally limited designs, but it is pleasing to see that they have elected to use steel sockets instead of inferior cast or aluminum components. Bottom line, you can rest assured these sling points will not be failing anytime soon.

Just above the handguard rests our charging handle, which is found in a position that will be familiar to anyone who’s spent time on the MP5 or CZ Scorpion EVO. This has an interesting little feature that allows one to easily flip the charging handle to the left or right side depending on the user’s preference, and it can all be done without tools.

Beneath the handguard is full metal outer barrel, which is threaded for standard 14mm CCW muzzle devices. The EVE’s are sporting a new anodized orange metal muzzle brake, which is probably among the coolest looking of the new muzzle designs KWA has made. At this time, black versions are not yet available, but should be releasing later on. I was

happy that KWA have opted to stick with a metal outer barrel, even if it is slightly heavier. Having seen many an ICS CXP pistol have its plastic muzzle threads stripped away, a metal outer barrel is a good thing indeed. In another nice design touch, KWA have also squared off the sides of the mock gas block and forward portion of the outer barrel so as to allow for clearances when mounting MLOK accessories.

The lower receiver is a one-piece unit, with the motor grip integrated into the same frame as the magazine well. The grip itself is very much in the shape and form as the excellent PTS EPG-C motor grip, right down to the details of the motor plate itself. So much so, that I found one could use an EPG-C to mock up the shimming and it comes out perfect when using the grip frame on the EVE. On an aside, I was amused to find KWA opted to use conventional metric hardware on the motor plate unlike PTS’s tiny screw that inevitably strips out and requires medieval persuasion to remove.

Ambidextrous controls round out the lower, with the selector switches, magazine release and bolt release lever all being operable from either side.

The latter two components are full metal, with the magazine release having a large button for easy tabbing with the finger. The trigger is a nice flat style design with a decent little hook at the bottom to prevent slippage. I was delighted to find that KWA incorporated a threaded metal insert for the VPS guide, which also functions as the receiver extension.

This will offer superior strength than just relying on something threaded directly into polymer. Especially as the VPS guide housing acts as both the retainer for the main gearbox spring and the receiver extension for the stock.

Moving to the rear of the rifle, we find the same PDW “tanker style” stock as used on the hugely popular Ronin T6. This offers two-positions for length and has a decent sized battery compartment that can easily house up to a 1500 or 1600mah 11.1v LiPo. It also allows for quick access to the VPS system, which can be accessed by removing a single screw.

Extensions are available from Airtech Studios to further increase capacity if so desired.

INTERNALLY DIFFERENT

The disassembly process is nearly the same as found

“KWA’S PROPRIETARY POLYMER BLEND IS USED THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BODY, AND I MUST SAY, IT IS SOLID. THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY BALANCED AND LIGHT RIFLE, WEIGHING JUST 2.08 KG. (4.6 LBS), YET THERE IS NARY A WOBBLE OR CREAK IN SIGHT HERE.” 26

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ARMOURY KWA EVE-ICE

“THE DISASSEMBLY PROCESS IS NEARLY THE SAME AS FOUND IN EVERY OTHER KWA AEG 2.5 AND 2.5+ SERIES RIFLE, AND THUS IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE MAGAZINE RELEASE OR SELECTOR LEVERS TO ACCESS THE GEARBOX.”

www.airsoftaction.net

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ARMOURY KWA EVE-ICE KWA EVE-ICE

in every other KWA AEG 2.5 and 2.5+ series rifle, and thus it is not necessary to remove the magazine release or selector levers to access the gearbox.

There’s one additional screw to remove, but conversely there is no motor grip to remove as it’s integrated into the frame. For us Airsoft Tech’s that are in and out of guns seven days a week, any kind of reduction in disassembly steps is always appreciated!

Starting from the nose of the gun, we have a 6.05 diameter 200mm inner barrel mounted in KWA’s standard rotary hop up chamber. This uses the same split style nub bucking as the rest of KWA’s lineup.

The bucking and outer barrel are compatible with aftermarket alternatives.

From there we arrive at the gearbox, which is essentially an AEG 2.5+ series gearbox that is designed to accommodate a drop-in ETU, but with a couple of minor changes made to work with the new polymer body. Aside from some support fins and an additional screw mount and a different method of attaching the mock bolt cover, this is a near 1:1 identical gearbox to the standard 2.5+ gearbox. In fact, it would not very hard to adapt an AEG 2.5 gearbox to fit this rifle and enjoy the last round cutoff feature (with the appropriate magazines, of course). Nor would it be hard to outfit it with an ERG recoil system for that matter, either. Aside from the shell itself, the rest of the gearbox internals are identical to those used in every other current generation KWA gearbox. So with the exception of the tappet plate, air nozzle, cutoff lever, trigger switch and selector plate, the internals are V2 compatible and easily upgradeable.

The piston is KWA’s universal nylon-fiber design with a metal release tooth. This is affixed to a billet aluminum un-ported piston head that’s pretty much 28

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guaranteed to never break.

Rounding it out is the usual nylon-fiber cylinder head with rubber backer and a brass ported air cylinder.

The tappet plate is of course the newest design that fits a polymer air nozzle with an o-ring.

For the curious, the older Gen. 2 tappet plate can be dropped in which will allow the use of aftermarket air nozzles.

As mentioned, the trigger switch is proprietary to these guns, but is generally quite durable. High quality 16AWG wiring with a 25A

ARMOURY KWA EVE-ICE

inline fuse makes up the wiring loom. Thankfully, KWA have climbed aboard the Deans plug train and left the infamous mini-Tamiya behind, and all current production guns feature these as standard now. Moving a little deeper, we have our 18.65:1 ratio gears which are mounted in 9mm bearings.

Incidentally, I have personally found that KWA’s gear set remains one of the strongest OEM sets offered by any company, and I rarely, if ever, see these break.

The motor is KWA’s standard long type 19 TPA setup, albeit without the Switch Life Extender (SLE) as found on their more expensive guns. The SLE is basically a schottky diode that partially suppresses the arcing between the trigger contacts; a sort of pseudo-MOSFET, if you will. As inexpensive as these are, it’s a bit curious that the EVE is not equipped with this device like the full metal KWA’s are. But on the other hand, most users will likely be

upgrading to something like a Gate TITAN down the road, so in that respect the SLE becomes a redundancy.

Out of the box, these rifles will typically turn in around 19 RPS with an 11.1v LiPo, while the VPS guide can be adjusted between 1.01 – 1.38J/330 to 380 fps to allow for use at the majority of sites with either CQB or field power limits. Power consistency on these has been quite good for a stock gun, averaging around 2 – 3 FPS variance or less between shots, which is largely thanks to the o-ring air nozzle

design tightening things up.

If I were to have any gripes about the current system, it is that KWA still use an un-ported piston head design and the G2X bucking generally does not perform well in the North American (read generally temperate) climate. I also feel that KWA would gain a huge leg up if they started outfitting their rifles with brushless motors or at least adopted Neodymium magnet designs, as this would create a far more responsive and snappy rifle, but obviously, such changes would have a downstream effect on the final price point. Some might also argue that KWA should have long moved to offering their own ETU design like many competitor brands have. But if comparing brass tacks, none of those factory designs really compare in features or quality to commercially available premium ETU’s such as the Gate TITAN or Perun Hybrid. Indeed, they are often themselves a bit of an anachronism encumbered by obsolete or inelegant design. So that KWA does not have an OEM ETU is not really a point of negativity in my book.

Aside from these very minor quibbles, KWA has really made a spectacular first entry into the lightweight polymer gun market, with a very attractive price point to boot. The gun is lithe, but remarkably solid in the hands, and the build quality elevates it above similar polymer entries from other companies. There are many well-thought out and executed design features to be found here, while also leveraging the tried and true AEG 2.5+

system as a core foundation for the rifle. This would be a fantastic base for a “speedsoft” build or even as a field capable gun.

Builders will enjoy that it can be easily upgraded and I daresay field owners would be remiss to not consider this as a durable option for a rental fleet. All in all, I think KWA have hit it out of the park with their first “KWA Originals” entry! AA www.airsoftaction.net

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TAP/CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION

FEATURE UMAREX T4E

BIGGER BALLS? 32

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FEATURE UMAREX T4E

NEW PLAYERS CONTINUE TO FLOOD INTO AIRSOFT, AND LONG MAY THIS CONTINUE! HOWEVER, UMAREX HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO ANOTHER AREA WHERE “BIGGER BALLS” ARE THE THING, AND WITH THEIR T4E RANGE THEY MAY JUST HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT CROSSOVER FROM PAINTBALL TO AIRSOFT, WITH A HEALTHY MARGIN OF “TRAINING PLATFORM” THROWN IN! AIRSOFT INDUSTRY VETERAN AND OUR INHOUSE “LEGAL BEAGLE” FRENCHIE INVESTIGATES FURTHER…

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uring my recent visit to Landwarrior Airsoft (LWA) I spent a fair bit of time discussing the T4E range from Umarex with them, and mainly the discussion revolved around business aspects of the product range, but the T4E range itself is rather interesting and worth taking a look at in relation to effective training and the legal position!

Essentially it is a range of paintball markers...

No, it’s a self-defence system...

Sorry! It’s a training aid, hence the name “Training 4 Engagement”...

Actually, it’s an airgun!

In truth, it’s all of these things, but exactly which seems to be a bit context sensitive. In the UK, suggesting that anything might be designed specifically for self-defence is seen as somehow improper, and in fairness the idea that the T4E range is intended for this role comes mainly from online reviewers and the manufacturer, Umarex, which does appear to tout the range by leaning heavily on the ‘defence’ angle. Their range of revolvers, the HDRs, stands for “Home Defence Revolver” according to their website… there is no doubt that at short range and with reusable ammo, getting on the wrong end of one of these would be unpleasant.

Other platforms in the range are clearly offered as training aids being 1:1 reproductions of the originals, with noticeable recoil, and features and controls which exactly mimic the handling of the “real”. These can be used to develop handling skills and for forceon-force training using suitable calibre paintballs offering a cheaper and safer alternative to Simunition systems. Images on the dedicated www.t4eguns.com website would appear to show this market as, if you’ll excuse the pun, a target for Umarex.

Mechanically, the T4E range ARE paintball markers, and are widely sold as such. For airsofters, now used to the VRCA, this puts them in an interesting legal position within the UK, as every website I have checked which sells them insists only that the purchaser be over the age of 18 years, with zero defence in law for ownership required. Like airguns it seems, the fact that they are replicas is of secondary importance to their being “paintball markers” intended to use frangible ammunition.

Personally, the mention of markers conjures up a vision of plumbing with a hopper and a trigger, but I have never been a paintballer and they probably view airsofters with similar disdain! The T4E markers are about as far removed from that stereotype as is

www.airsoftaction.net

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FEATURE UMAREX T4E

possible. While the range is nowhere near as extensive as the current range of airsoft guns, there is a good selection of pistols and long arms available already and given their popularity, it is within the bounds of reason that we will see more added over time.

Qualitatively, the guns are on a par with most good quality airsoft guns, making use of highstrength polymers and metal castings and Umarex make mention of their ability to deal with rugged use. I noted on LWA’s website that service kits were actually a thing so that you can keep both markers and magazines in top condition. I wish that had been the case when I was struggling to obtain the parts necessary to repair gas blowback pistols!

MODELS FOR TRAINING

• Heckler & Koch SFP9: Striker Fired Pistol 9, internationally also known as the VP9 • Heckler & Koch HK416 D T4E • Smith & Wesson M&P 9 • M4 RIS – no prizes for guessing! .43 Calibre M4 with a RIS front end.

• Walther PPQ M2. A Walther training pistol in .43 calibre • Glock 17 Gen.5 pistol in .43 calibre

the user chooses to do so by hitting the specially designed cap. This means these models can be stored ready for action over an extended period without putting undue stress on seals and the running the danger of gas pressure slowly leaking away. The HDR models also tend not to be designed to emphasise recoil, unlike the training arms, all of which feature blowback to increase their realism when used for weapon handling drills or for force-onforce training.

Regardless of the designations applied by Umarex, all of these models are suitable for use at paintball sites!

It is possible to obtain some of these models at higher power ratings, however over 16 joules of muzzle energy (for ‘rifles’) owners would be required to obtain a Firearms Certificate in the UK, and while I’m in no way a definitive guide to UK firearms law, I’d lay a small wager that the granting of a

MODELS FOR “HOME DEFENCE”

• HDR 50 and HDR 68 – the Home Defence Revolver in both .50 and .68 calibre • Home Defence Pistol 50 (HDP 50) • Home Defence Shotgun 68 (HDS 68) – a .68 calibre double-barrelled shotgun • Home Defence Blaster 68 (HDB 68) – a doubleaction shotgun-styled marker in .68 calibre • HDX 68 – a fully functioning pump action marker in .68 calibre.

As with many airsoft GBBs and GBBRs all the models are powered by CO2, either 12g capsules or the larger 88g bottles which can be used with a couple of the long arms. The HD-X series all feature a ‘quick pierce’ feature which allows the CO2 capsule to be loaded, but not pierced until 34

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certificate would not be forthcoming!

WHY?

I find this interesting; obviously at Airsoft Action, we do have a bit of a tendency to think of airsoft first and foremost, but thanks to the restrictions of the VCRA RIFs aren’t available to everyone. If you want a decent back garden plinker in the UK, your choice is limited to airguns (not easily obtained here in Scotland sadly) or... as a result, the option to buy a high-quality, blowback replica which fires either frangible ammo or reusable solid ammo is quite attractive. All the models in the range look and feel great, and as mentioned

FEATURE UMAREX T4E

above, Umarex makes service kits available to ensure that you can keep them running smoothly for years.

As gaming markers I can see their value and attraction, although it seems to me that with limited ammo capacity compared to ‘traditional’ hopperfed markers, they will be better suited to a more tactical ‘airsoft-like’ form of gameplay. I have already confessed to an ignorance of the paintball scene here in the UK; it may well be that this already exists and that the Umarex range slots very nicely in here.

The concept of paintball markers as replicas is hardly new as I used to sell RAM markers years ago.

As a training aid, especially using chalk-based ammo these could be a really cost-effective tool.

Weight and feel of the training platforms are excellent and like all markers they deliver sufficient impact to ensure that participants know that they have been hit. I did an exercise with a branch of the UK military some time back who were looking to find a training aid to use in sensitive areas. Airsoft fitted the bill well, but there concerns that a fully geared up soldier might not feel some of the hits. Not a problem here! Granted there isn’t an L85A3 variant available but given that AR platforms seem to be cropping up more and more often in the hands of British soldiers, I doubt that’s a major issue!

It’s an interesting range and its future may well be interesting too. As products they sit across a number of interests, paintball, training, casual plinking.

They also carry an interest in these previously

separate fields with them, so you will continue to see companies who previously only sold paintball equipment dabbling in airsoft. Likewise, some retailers of airsoft replicas and gear, who have long had broader interests, are now to be found carry a range of markers. May we live in interesting times indeed…

Whether this cross-fertilisation will extend to the playing fields remains to be seen; would airsofters be more likely to try another discipline if they could use an AR with limited amounts of ammo but in more tactical or Mil-Sim scenarios? Might exposure to airsoft gear tempt some current paintballers to venture a foot into the world of full-auto and nonfrangible ammo? Attributing such things to a range of replicas is probably going too far, but anything that closes the perceived gaps between sports is a good thing as it strengthens all of us should governments decide to meddle as they have done in the past.

Those thoughts aside, if you get the opportunity, check out the T4E range. They’re high-quality, very cool in their own right and may just spark your curiosity.

For more information please go to www. t4eguns.com and my sincere thanks to www. landwarriorairsoft.com (LWA) for supplying product images; you can also buy T4E products direct from LWA if you fancy checking them out for yourself.. AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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OUTDOOR TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT

PLANNING AHEAD...

IT MAY SEEM ODD TO BE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC GEAR FOR AUTUMN AND WINTER AS MOST OF US ARE THINKING OF MOVING INTO SHORTS AND TEES FOR SUMMER RANGE DAYS, BUT PLANNING AHEAD IS A HUGE PART OF YOUR PERSONAL JOURNEY INTO DEALING WITH WHAT OLD MA NATURE CAN THROW AT YOU! BILL TAKES A LOOK AT HOW YOU CAN START SETTING UP NOW TO BE PREPARED FOR WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGES AGAIN!

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up, that’s right, it’s June and I’m going to talk about gear for colder weather! That may seem a strange thing to be doing, but it’s at this point each year that my Gear Locker hits the changeover point; the majority of my cold and wet weather gear will be cleaned, repaired if necessary, and be put safely into storage ready for the end of the year, whilst my lighter-weight gear will come out of the boxes ready for some summer airsoft

adventures… and I fully intend to get out and ingame this Summer as the last couple have been a bit of a bust!

I’m lucky that I’ve been able to amass my personal kit over many years of playing airsoft, and I fully appreciate that many of you may just be starting your own journeys and will need to build-up your kit options accordingly; however, this article isn’t just here to help you make some ideas and informed

“I’M LUCKY THAT I’VE BEEN ABLE TO AMASS MY PERSONAL KIT OVER MANY YEARS OF PLAYING AIRSOFT, AND I FULLY APPRECIATE THAT MANY OF YOU MAY JUST BE STARTING YOUR OWN JOURNEYS AND WILL NEED TO BUILD-UP YOUR KIT OPTIONS ACCORDINGLY”

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choices, but also to remind more seasoned players that planning does indeed affect performance, and that being prepared will benefit everyone, not just those starting out!

This time of year is actually a brilliant time to be looking at cold weather gear as it’s the end of “winter sale season” with many of the outdoor shops and outfitters. All the “big names” out there will be offering end-of-line deals on fleeces and insulated garments, and picking up a good shell jacket right now can save you some serious bucks; depending on your left-over-after-the-latestAEG-buy-money then shopping around now will get you something in your price range. Although camouflage gear is available think about where you’ll be wearing it. If you buy a simple block colour rather than a camo then you’re also going to end up with something you can wear every day which makes it even better value for money.

But if you do decide that you want to buy into a “camo solution” then planning really is the thing! I made this decision some years back, and I’m pleased to say that I’ve followed the rollout of A-TACS AU from the very start, and have slowly but surely built up different loadouts based on its unique design.

It does perform exceptionally well in its intended arid environment but I’ve also found that when it comes to Autumn and Winter in the UK it also has a great application for that time of year. Where I play normally in the South the undergrowth, grasses, and brackens all “brown out” to mottled hues of tan and brown as the temperature starts to drop and AU has proved to work very well when this happens. Going even further into the full Winter months things are still quite brown, and when the snow falls (just gear up and get out there, “snow airsoft is BRILLIANT!) the light background colour used in AU still helps to keep you concealed, especially at the start of the end of the day when the light is flat.

All that said, I choose AU for my Autumn/Winter pattern as between a number of manufacturers you can now create a full range of performance clothing and sleeping gear in it, and that leads me on to the question of wearing the right kit to deal with whatever the weather may throw at us on any given skirmish day. To me it’s really a matter of looking at my role within the game; my choice of role will

really dictate which way I go with my kit for the day as a Sunday run-out will need one set whilst a full weekender will mean that you need to stay more flexible in your choices. What do I mean by this?

Well, if you are going to be mostly static in a forward obs post then you’ll need to stay well insulated. If however you’re going to be involved in a little light “door kicking” then things are going to be a whole lot more dynamic and you’ll heat up fast!

From a purely physiological perspective your clothing, accessories and footwear choices will be ruled by your activity levels. If you are going to be static for long periods of time, especially on “stag” overnight in the Winter months then your body is going to be mostly dormant, and keeping your crucial body core temperature balanced is going to call for a serious level of insulation and protection. If however you’re going to be hooning around like a tactical banshee then you need to dump body heat fast and deal with moisture transfer effectively. It’s all a bit of a balancing act when it comes down to it; too cold and you risk hypothermia, too hot and your can fall foul of heat exhaustion even on the coldest day of the year.

CHOICES, CHOICES!

The first thing you will need in the Autumn and Winter months is a bigger pack because you’re going to need to haul extra water and rations, along with more clothing layers and a winter weight sleeping and bivvy bag if you’re going to be overnighting.

Now it would be lovely to have different sized packs in all the different camouflage patterns you might own but the fact of the matter is that this is one area where “buying right and buying once” really comes into play. I tend to buy my packs or specific roles, this tome for Winter use; I still really like the 5:11 Tactical RUSH packs, and the 72 is perfect for a Winter hauler and luckily my old friend Sean at 0241 Tactical in the USA made some great adjustable pack covers in A-TACS AU (along with many other patterns) which not only add to my overall scheme but also add some additional weather-proofing.

My base uniform for everything is a simple BDU shirt/pant from Propper International or some “C-style” pants with kneepads from Emerson, worn in full winter with a base layer “2nd Skinz” Shirt

“IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE MOSTLY STATIC IN A FORWARD OBS POST THEN YOU’LL NEED TO STAY WELL INSULATED. IF HOWEVER YOU’RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN A LITTLE LIGHT “DOOR KICKING” THEN THINGS ARE GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT MORE DYNAMIC AND YOU’LL HEAT UP FAST!” www.airsoftaction.net

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and Long John set from Snugpak underneath. The “2nd Skinz” have been designed specifically for use in high energy pursuits and the Coolmax element in the fabric really helps to let you keep your core temperature stable; in the cold they trap air which adds as an insulator, and when you warm up the tiny fibres in the structure actively “wick” moisture away from your skin allowing it to be transferred out of your clothing system, adding to the natural cooling effect of evaporation. The “2nd Skinz” are a comfortable, relaxed fit, and feel great against your skin, but they’re low profile enough not to bunch or inhibit movement when you’re wearing multiple layers over them.

You can achieve your insulation and protection from the elements (and here I am discounting wet-weather hardshell which is a separate beast) in two very distinct ways; usually I would always champion a layered approach as this is superbly versatile, but in this instance 38

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I’m going to just use a couple of standalone pieces from the Snugpak range of lofted garments. The absolutely classic Sleeka jacket, which many of you will know of or already own and love as I do, uses Snugpaks very own Softie Premier synthetic insulation along with a Paratex Light shell fabric which shrugs off all but the heaviest rainfall; a synthetic fill in my mind is better than down as it retains a much larger proportion of its insulative properties even when wet. In my pack I’ll also carry a pair of the matching Sleeka salopettes, also in AU and made especially for me by the Snugpak guys, which are really the ultimate in “snivel gear” but so worth their weight! Even in size XL they only come in at 840g and pack down small into their own stuff sack; believe me, if you’re on “stag” at zero dark thirty you’re really going to appreciate carrying these. If you REALLY feel the cold then check out the hooded SJ9 jacket as this is the “flagship” of Snugpak’s insulated tactical range; add this to the salopettes instead of the Sleeka and you’re not going to get cold any time soon!

For footwear here I’ve chosen a pair of MOD Brown, Gore Tex lined High Liability boots from HAIX married up with some Smartwool socks. The High Liability model is great for the wet weather months. It’s sturdy, supportive, high in the ankle, and most importantly for the UK it’s a fully waterproof model. In relation to accessories I’m going to come back again to 0241 Tactical as their fleece neck gaiter is perfect, and their fleece watch cap works very well over an AU ballcap to give great insulation.

Gloves are doubled up with a micro thin pair of “Thinnies” from outdoor brand Extremities (you’ll find these in all good outdoor stores) under a pair of Oakley SI outers; for the Winter I have a pair of the Oakleys one size up from my usual to accommodate the extra layer when needed. I’ve also thrown in a pair of standalone ALTA kneepads which can be worn over the salopettes if needed to give protection to them, and my poor old knees!

IN GAME GEAR

Airsoft, especially day skirmishing, is all about moving fast, and even in full Winter conditions

OUTDOOR TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT

carrying a combat load is really going to get your pulse racing and have you heating up fast! It could be argued that dealing effectively with moisture management in your clothing system is even more important during cold weather as if your clothing is wet when you stop moving and your activity levels drop you are going to chill down extremely fast.

I usually tend in this scenario to look for clothing that is going to perform to the maximum, and sadly this doesn’t come cheap. You can use all your usual gear for “in game”, but given the time of year I intend to use it I’m going to need a little extra to see me through, so it’s back to the Snugpak range where two garments really stand out. What I’m looking for is basic protection from wind, sleet, and even snow, but I still want to maintain maximum performance and breathability. Snugpak have taken their Paratex fabric and put it into a “Micro” version of their Vapour Active Wind Top, creating a minimalist garment weighing just 260g in size XL that is perfect for this role; when not needed it scrunches down to about the size of a phone and can easily be stored in a pouch or cargo pocket. I have one that is slightly oversized as I can just throw it on over all my kit if needed, and there’s even a rollaway hood should things turn foul.

The other garment really worthy of consideration for your game loadout ups the ante slightly and is ideal if you really feel the cold. The Vapour Active Soft Shell takes the Wind Top and adds a TS1 Thermal Suede Lining. It still stays protective and minimalist, weighing 440g in size XL, but it adds an extra thermal boost to your setup. Both garments are available in multiple colours and patterns should AU not be your

thing, and neither are going to break the bank!

Something you may wish to consider for the Winter months is a set of full seal goggles, especially if you’re going to be working from vehicles; these will keep dust and the elements out of your eyes, but please ensure that you buy a pair with a proper ballistic rating, preferably from your local airsoft store! To these I’ve added an AU Goggle Cover from 0241 Tactical, and to complete my headgear a lightweight jersey Neck Gaiter. A minimalist beanie hat is also good to stuff into a pouch or pocket for when the lid comes off, and a Coyote Tan watch cap from Outdoor Research Tactical (ORT) fits this Bill nicely. To round out the loadout I’ve again gone to ORT for gloves, choosing the lightweight “Ironsight” model which fit snugly and give high levels of protection.

A TOTAL SOLUTION

Rather than rushing at the “latest and greatest” I’ve spent an extended period researching exactly what I need and what I want it to do. All of the items that I’ve featured this month are easily available but are not cheap; if you intend to have an “airsoft career” as long as mine then they should be viewed under the heading “investment” though. Whether you decide to follow the A-TACS route like me is totally YOUR choice, but I believe this article may give you some “pointers” in what to look for.

The last word this time however is going to be about that crucial maintenance; spend some time and really research what is out there to help you keep your kit performing to the optimum standard and deal with it NOW before you store it away.

Grangers and Nikwax in Europe both have a superb range of maintenance products so you can keep cleanliness, waterproofness and breathability up to their very highest levels, and all of their treatments, whether it be for boots, gloves, fleeces, soft shells, insulated garments, or hard shells, can be carried out easily and swiftly at home.

Be the “prepared player”; choose your kit carefully and maintain it well. If you do this you’ll be able to stay comfortable in the most extreme conditions and even on the grimmest of Winter days be an absolute asset to your fellow players, your team, or any Site you are a member of… and have a lot of fun too! AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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RELOADED A&K WINCHESTER 1892

STILL SHOWDOWN READY!

SEVEN YEARS AGO BILL TREATED HIMSELF TO ONE OF THE ORIGINAL A&K WINCHESTER LEVER ACTION RIFLES, AND IT TRULY FUELLED ALL OF HIS DREAMS OF AIRSOFT ON THE “WIDE OPEN RANGE”; HE NOW RETURNS TO THIS WESTERN CLASSIC TO GIVE HIS OVERVIEW ON HOW IT HAS PERFORMED… AND CONTINUES TO PERFORM TO THIS DAY!

O

ver the many years I’ve been playing I’ve had the pleasure of trying most forms of airsoft, but one that I STILL want to give a go is “6mm Wild West”; sadly my fight with “The Big C” over the last few years has put a bit of a dent in my airsoft adventures, but now I’m thankfully in recovery mode it’s time to look again to the future!

Our old mate Josh and his great crew at Gunman Airsoft run regular western themed games under the “Flying Lead” banner, and from what I’ve heard, and seen in post-game pictures, they are very, very good.

There are some excellent airsoft “Western” revolvers out there from manufacturers like Hartford, Tanaka, Marushin, and now King Arms which have been, and are, superb; manufacturers like KTW and Marushin

have built Winchester and Randall rifles they have traditionally been very expensive, and in many cases didn’t perform very well from what I’ve been told.

And of course if you want a sawn-off double-barrelled shotgun… they are out there!

I have been lucky enough to shoot real Winchester lever action rifles and “clones”, most recently a lovely Uberti “1873” chambered in .45 Colt, and they are a part of the western “legend”. I really wanted to put together a “cowboy” airsoft loadout so a Winchester was high on my list of priorities, along with a brace of Single Action Army (SAA) revolvers; the rifle I now have and have loved for some time, but the pistols sadly still elude me. I spoke to a number of the guys involved in the “Cowboy Airsoft” scene way back

“I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO SHOOT REAL WINCHESTER LEVER ACTION RIFLES AND “CLONES”, MOST RECENTLY A LOVELY UBERTI “1873” CHAMBERED IN .45 COLT, AND THEY ARE A PART OF THE WESTERN “LEGEND”. I REALLY WANTED TO PUT TOGETHER A “COWBOY” AIRSOFT LOADOUT SO A WINCHESTER WAS HIGH ON MY LIST OF PRIORITIES” 40

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RELOADED A&K WINCHESTER 1892

and almost everyone told me not to bother with any of the older Winchester models unless I was going to put “some serious money” into getting one that worked properly and reliably so you can imagine I was overjoyed when I managed to snag a rather nifty looking lever action from A&K. This was the then-new, UK friendly replica, and to see a classic yet affordable Western themed rifle from them was a joy; those “Saturday Afternoon Westerns” of my dim and distant youth came flooding back to me!

The real Winchester 1892 was actually first manufactured after the “golden age” of the American frontier, and the true “Guns that Won the West” were the earlier Models 1866 and 1873. That said the 1892 became an icon of the Western through its use in hundreds of cowboy films and television shows, standing in for the older models. Hollywood movies studio bought up literally hundreds of the 1892 because it was in regular production during the silver screen cowboy heyday but looked sufficiently like “Old West” Winchesters to substitute for valuable antiques, and because in calibres .44-40 and .38-40 it could fire, together with the Colt Single Action Army “Peacemaker” revolver, the standard blank cartridge.

This mirrored the way that real cowboys found it convenient to carry a rifle and a revolver chambered with the same ammunition. John Wayne famously carried 1892s in dozens of his films and owned several personally, some with the distinctive oversized “loop” lever that is seen “filling his hand” in “True Grit”; Steve McQueen was also a fan, famously using his “Mare’s Leg” (so named because it kicked like one, and also now available from A&K!!!) in the show “Wanted: Dead or Alive”.

It is believed that some 1,007,608 1892 rifles were

made by Winchester, and although the company phased them out in 1945, they are still being made by companies like Rossi, Chiappa, Uberti, and by Browning in Japan. In its modern form, using updated materials and production techniques, the Model 1892’s action is strong enough to chamber high pressure handgun rounds, such as .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .454 Casull!

A&K NAILED IT!

With this absolute wealth of history and cinematic provenance in hand I was truly impressed by how the A&K Winchester performed out of the box when I bought it, and it has not missed a beat since then (although it has now been stripped and serviced a couple of times!); A&K really did nail it! They offer two “1892 Western” models in their range, the “1892” which comes with faux-wood plastic furniture and the “1892A” which has real wood, albeit somewhat “Chinese Orange”; this wood finish is okay, but a little sanding down and re-staining have this looking “just so”, so to me it’s not a problem. Alongside this A&K now offer that supersweet “Mare’s Leg” and the “tacticool (why not?)

“1873RS”. All the models are predominantly full metal in their construction including a rather nice brass buttplate for the “1892”

variants.

In terms of dimensions and weight A&K have done very well as the real 1892 measured 953mm and weighed 453.4g, and the replica comes in at 955mm/360g.

The finish on all the metal

“WITH THIS ABSOLUTE WEALTH OF HISTORY AND CINEMATIC PROVENANCE IN HAND I WAS TRULY IMPRESSED BY HOW THE A&K WINCHESTER PERFORMED OUT OF THE BOX WHEN I BOUGHT IT, AND IT HAS NOT MISSED A BEAT SINCE THEN (ALTHOUGH IT HAS NOW BEEN STRIPPED AND SERVICED A COUPLE OF TIMES!) A&K REALLY DID NAIL IT!” www.airsoftaction.net

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RELOADED A&K WINCHESTER 1892

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RELOADED A&K WINCHESTER 1892

parts is very, very tidy indeed, a nice matte black throughout which has stood up to wear well. In the hands, if you’re used to modern firearm models, the Winchester feels almost diminutive given its slender and elegant profile, but it shoulders well and is easy to move around. There’s next to no “fluff” about the 1892; there’s a small ring on the left hand side for securing it into a saddle holster, and sights are simple yet effective with a blade at the sharp end and a ladder sight adjustable for windage and elevation (Mrs Langdon!). The 1892 has no controls and no safety catch, but once cocked the hammer can be released forward by easing the trigger so the rifle can be safely carried when loaded; when you’re ready to fire it’s just a case of cocking the hammer back with your thumb and pulling the trigger.

The A&K is gas powered and gas is charged into the chamber by removing a small plate on the front of what would be the magazine on the real thing; this is quickly and easily achieved and the small plate resembling a screw head is held securely in place by a tiny spring-loaded ball. Just like the real thing the replica 1892 is loaded via a small port on the right hand side just above the front of the trigger guard; a special loading tool consisting of a tube, plunger, and angled plate is provided with the replica as the BBs actually load in at an angle which you’d be hard pressed to achieve with a normal speed loader.

This performance, with regular servicing, has remained constant over the time I’ve owned the 1892, and I have to say that I still find it utterly charming, and it’s proved to be no slouch in terms of build quality or performance either. I will go as far as saying that this is a replica I have genuinely loved owning, and as it cost just £179.00 when I bought it (they seem to be even cheaper now!) I’d say that’s money well spent!

Would you use this as a skirmish rifle on a weekend? I’d have to say no, but if you’re thinking of dabbling in “Wild West Airsoft” as one day I intend still to do now that I’m healthy again, then this is a rifle that will let you do just that at a sensible price, and you’ll have a lot of fun doing so!

Fill your hands you SOAB!!!

For further information on the A&K Winchester 1892, the “Mare’s Leg”, and the 1892RS, and many, many more fine airsoft replicas please do visit www. nuprol.com, and all models should be hitting your favourite airsoft stores again right now. AA

HOME ON THE RANGE

As new the Winchester loaded up with its full complement of 24 0.20g RZR BBs and charged with NUPROL 2.0 gas fully lived up to my expectations.

Through the chrono the rifle delivers a consistent average of 332fps over a string of 10 BBs which is perfect for all sites. With the hop set (this is situated on top of the barrel and accessed by cocking the rife, and easily adjusted using a small Allen key which is provided) at 10m unsupported I’m able to group 10 BBs within 25mm, and I can easily hit my “sandbag” at 30m. The rate of fire is of course governed by how fast you can work the lever action, but this is very smooth in operation; you do need to ensure however that you cycle the action fully as internally there is a small plate which lifts the next BB into place and if you don’t work the lever completely you’ll be left “dry firing”!

“THIS PERFORMANCE, WITH REGULAR SERVICING, HAS REMAINED CONSTANT OVER THE TIME I’VE OWNED THE 1892, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I STILL FIND IT UTTERLY CHARMING, AND IT’S PROVED TO BE NO SLOUCH IN TERMS OF BUILD QUALITY OR PERFORMANCE EITHER.” www.airsoftaction.net

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THE CAGE TACLITES & IR ILLUMINATORS

THE CAGE:

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

CONTINUING ON THE THEME OF HOW WE SET UP OUR INDIVIDUAL RIFLES, CARBINES AND SMGS THE LEGION LOOKS AT AN “ILLUMINATING TOPIC” THIS MONTH! THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN A GOOD URBAN GAME, AND IF THAT’S AFTER DARK IT’S MORE ENJOYABLE; HERE THE CREW TAKES A LOOK AT THE TACLITES AND IR ILLUMINATORS THAT THEY RUN REGULARLY! 46

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THE CAGE TACLITES & IR ILLUMINATORS

A

irsoft is a fast paced, dynamic game to play but there’s a side of it that really gets my pulse racing and that’s a good night game, especially if that’s also in an urban environment.

Not all sites get to grips with this type of game as obviously there are inherent dangers that not everyone is comfortable with, but if you get an experienced site operator that knows what they’re up to not only in terms of controlling the flow of play but also in relation to lighting and pyrotechnics then playing after dark can be absolutely exhilarating!

I’ve been lucky enough over the years to play on both urban and woodland sites after darkness falls and have to say that I absolutely love it, preferring the “grey out” of the urban setting if truth be known; everything slows down, movement becomes more considered and both situational awareness and tactical skills have to be at their sharpest edge.

Sound carries further in the still of the night so patrolling and ambush drills need to be spot on.

It’s when things “kick off” though that the adrenaline really kicks in; suddenly an explosion lights up the night and you find yourself in the middle of a firefight with BBs whizzing everywhere! Flames burn brightly from “artillery” strikes and taclites pop on and off all around, strobe-lighting up dark corners momentarily to ensure that everything is clear. It’s a joy when you get it right… and can be painful if you get it wrong!

Add to this some night vision gear, thankfully options for which seem to be getting more affordable if this is your bag, and as Jase puts it so succinctly later you’ll be “owning the night” and loving it. Kick in a tracer and some tracer BBs and you’ve got it all going on! Some of the very best games I’ve had the pleasure to play in have been

www.airsoftaction.net

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THE CAGE TACLITES & IR ILLUMINATORS

“overnighters”, and it’s an element that I, like many of you, simply adore.

But what of the “right kit” I hear you ask, and my simple response to this is that the “right kit” is what you like and what works for you; however, when I got into it with the Legion there seemed to be an awful lot of overlap to what we’ve come to use and trust over the years, and we hope that this information will help you when you come to set up your own AEG or GBB for low-light, no0light Ops!

TEAM TALK

So, as always I posed my question to the members of the AA Legion, and this month it was: “Do you use a taclite or laser module on your AEGs and GBBs (both pistols and “longs”)? Do you use an IR unit with NVGs? Which models do you use, and do you run them full-time or for specific games?”

Boycie: For me it really depends on my mood. I swap between M300, M600, Streamlight HL-1, X200, X300 and Inforce WML but also I use a black Element PEQ-15, mostly for the illumination but occasionally I use the laser too. The Inforce WML, X200, X300 and HL-1 are also used on my pistols depending on the holster I use.

Miguel: NVG? I wish... They are a bit over my price range (sad face)! During night events I use my trusty Olight M2T Warrior and I must make do!

Jase: (Whispers) Owning the night.. So I personally use a G&P DBal and a Wadsn DBal, both with IR functioning laser and flood. The G&P is better when it comes to the flood. If I’m heading down the white light route, my pistol torch is a Surefire x300 and on my longs, it’s a very old SolarForce with an LM Cree bulb; I have a few different options, they are a bit unsightly nowadays but work so well. I do have a Wadsn SF copy, its ok, but no comparison to the Solar Force.

Robbie: I have a variety of illumination tools. They only go on when needed. I have 1080+ IR illuminator and laser set (usually only Gen 4 and above can see it), and I have several clone white illuminators that are a good as any premium. I still run always thumb 48

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button style, no pressure switch as they always fail on me. I have a cheap knock off potato light Bill gave me ages ago that I replaced the module in and still use for indoor games. It’s perfect, lightweight, safe, works flawlessly!

Dan: I use a variety of Surefire: M640V, M600DF and X300UA’s. There’s a few structures at local fields that are quite dark inside (even in direct daylight) due to absence of windows or other illumination, which is where having a nice white light comes in handy for poking into the dark corners.

On the “night guns”, those will be using the M640V and the IR illuminator mode for those situations where I might need a little extra punch for my NVG’s. It’s used sparingly: just a momentary blast, then shoot and scoot. I’ve used much more powerful Modlite IR heads in the past, but found them to be absolutely overwhelming for our environment; 9 times out of 10 they’d cause my night vision to autogate.

The 640V sits in the Goldilocks zone for being “just right”, especially for the contact distances we see in Airsoft.

My general preference for switches is for the small Modlite Modbuttons so I can activate the light from either hand. And for light mounts, I’m a diehard Arisaka fan! I’ve been stepping back from the IR lasers as night vision use has started to really proliferate and passive aiming solutions have become more optimal.

Stewbacca: Aside from my LA5 replica unit that I purchased for the AW Colt Canada L119A2 “Obi Wan Nairobi” getup last year and have barely used, I only have the integral torch foregrip for my WE MP5 GBB that I got off a teammate with the gun.

For the most part we play outdoors these days and there’s little need for illumination, although we have a MilSim camping weekend coming up in June so I should probably consider that. I did have a combination laser and taclite unit on the front of my G36C but rarely used that even in CQB and the bulb shook itself off the PCB due to recoil after a while anyway!

Bill: I first came across the KLARUS brand of flashlights and tactical torches many years ago and have had a couple of models from them in my gear pile ever since. My most regularly used flashlight, whether it has been for everyday use in my pocket or rifle-mounted for lowlight situations, is an original grey bodied KLARUS XT11; this wonderful taclite has given great service all over the world and is still going strong!

Although I do own a number of “real deal” Surefires, for airsoft I make use of dedicated lighting solutions; the NUPROL NX300 is a light designed to be

THE CAGE TACLITES & IR ILLUMINATORS

fitted to a range of railed handguns, giving the ability to quickly acquire targets in low light conditions whilst allowing you to keep both hands on your pistol. The torch is constructed with an alloy body and head, a solid polymer toggle switch at the rear, and features a high power 200 Lumens Genuine CREE LED Bulb.

The lights rear switch features an Ambidextrous Textured Toggle, allowing activation by both left and right handed shooters. This is perfect for any night game or CQB situation, as you can light up an entire corridor or sweep out corners in any room with added accuracy and visibility.

On my “longs” I use the NX600 series; the two models, available in Black or Tan, are Long (L) and Short (S) variants. They follow the trend towards small, bright “scout” type tactical lights that affix solidly to the rail of your RIF; designed specifically as rifle lights they are made of quality alloy and tough as old boots. Measuring 90mm the S variant takes 1xCR123 battery and gives out a clear white light. The L variant is 125mm long and takes 2xCR123. Both lights have a very slim, low profile, and the single bolt clamp is equally minimalist. The two lights come superbly packaged with both a “rats tail” remote pressure switch and standard tailcap which makes them very versatile; NUPROL even include the velcro strip to attach the pressure switch so they really have thought of everything!

Although I don’t often use any form of NVGs I recently finished setting up my Mk18 and for that I decided that it REALLY needed a functional IR unit; I decided upon a tan PEQ-15 module and even sought out proper stickers for it! As a standalone Laser/Light Module you also get an IR laser built in, and although it’s mainly polymer-bodied, it does have an alloy rail mount, lens housing and battery cover. The torch itself is nothing to write home about, so I have a red filter over that for “admin and searches”; the red laser though is bright enough to see up to about 30m in daylight, and further out in the dark, and the IR laser works well with NVGs. The module can be activated in all settings either by using the large rubber button

on the top of the module, or via the included “rats tail, although Jimmy kindly gave me a brilliant WADSN combi pressure switch recently that lets me activate both the NX600 and the PEQ-15 from one railmounted source… SWEET! Jimmy: When it comes to illumination or target markers you’re pretty spoilt for choice but ultimately a lot of airsofters will barely use them for the intended purpose. A lot are merely to make your RIF look extra tacticool and they certainly do. For me a platform without any attachments is like chips with no salt and vinegar, very plain and boring. I love the look of a fully kitted out AR. RIS, RAS, handguard whichever it is has been designed for modular use, so use it I say! Any of these items though if put to use should be fitted correctly to gain the most out of them and to give the user an advantage which can sometimes be more difficult than you think.

My set up tends to stay the same if the rifle/pistol allows for such setup. DBAL A2 way up front, torch as far forward as possible on the right (furthest point forward as to not cast shadows) switches mid-rif on top of the handguard and T1, Eotech, Cmore, Aimpoint M2 whichever I’m running slap bang in the middle. Thus setup I find to be the best for me. I’m no hardcore milsimmer so I don’t require the use of high end real equipment and quite frankly I can’t afford it so I have compiled over time what I believe to be the best clones a small budget can buy.

Wadsn make some great DBALS and they are priced incredibly well and offer several variants from an empty battery box to a fully functioning device which even a milsimmer would be happy to use. There are heaps of manufacturers presenting us with a very vast selection of torches all offering what are good quality clones again Wadsn being one of them. I have several torches and they are all on par with each other, and all work equally well; Nuprol x600, Tomtac Scout, Wadsn Scout and all come in roughly the same cost.

I really rate Wadsn as they offer so many items for any airsofter. When it comes to pistols I don’t really use a torch if I’m honest while for the look cool I actually prefer to use just a tracer unit if said pistol allows for one to be fitted although I do like the look of a Surefire x300 which I think is probably the most popular pistol torch style. AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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RED CELL OTHER GBB PISTOLS

RED CELL COMIN’ AROUND AGAIN!

IT’S TIME AGAIN TO LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE MODELS THAT RED CELL CHECKED OUT FIRST IN ISSUE 121, AND TIME HAS REALLY FLOWN BY SINCE THEN, SO IT’S TIME FOR THE CREW TO GET TOGETHER VIRTUALLY TO UPDATE THEIR FINDINGS, THIS TIME INCLUDING SOME OF OUR NEWER “CELL” MEMBERS IN THE MIX AS WELL!

T

ime it does fly on by and I can’t believe that it was way back in 2020 when we first looked at the “OTHER GBB PISTOLS” category! The Red Cell program had really flourished during that time, with all members having triple figures of AEGs and GBBs to reference, and in turn passing that information on to you!

It is a rolling program, and as we promised at the outset we will continue to document the performance and durability of those models we first looked at, whilst continually adding new, globally popular models to the mix… sadly, as you’ll read when you get into the meat of things, not all of them have stood up to the pace of testing, and it’s sending the AA Tech’ers down some real rabbit holes in search of solutions… some say that “we break ‘em so you don’t have to” whereas WE say “we break ‘em and find a fix so you can keep on using ‘em!”

“Replica military models” are still amongst the

most popular AEGs and GBBs that we all buy, but it’s incredibly interesting to see new designs hitting the market, concepts drawn up by airsoft manufacturers themselves. Models like the G&G Armament Piranha Mk1, the AAP-01, and the WE Galaxy are far from “military” but that’s not to say that they’re not righteous 6mm creations!

I don’t know about all of you but I’ve certainly been spending more time than usual with my handgun collection in the past couple of years, and even while stuck at home I made good use of my “home range”; you only need about 20-30 feet, your eyepro, some BBs and gas, and some targets set into a solid backstop, and you’re good to go! I do have neighbours, but they’re all used to seeing me “out back” with AEGs and GBBs as I’ve taken time to speak with them and “educate” them that what they see me shooting are “6mm BB replicas, and indeed these days, especially with some of the new “non-

“IT IS A ROLLING PROGRAM, AND AS WE PROMISED AT THE OUTSET WE WILL CONTINUE TO DOCUMENT THE PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY OF THOSE MODELS WE FIRST LOOKED AT, WHILST CONTINUALLY ADDING NEW, GLOBALLY POPULAR MODELS TO THE MIX… ” 48

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RED CELL OTHER GBB PISTOLS

mil” models they’re actually very interested, and I’m pleased now that I can invite them over to have a shoot!

I’ve actually been continuing to enjoy spending more time with my GBB handguns overall on the “home range”, and although I have my favourites it’s always nice to try something new isn’t it? Recently I’ve had new models through that I’ll be adding to the “OTHERS” test pool in the form of the VORSK OSORIS and the RAVEN R9 that you’ll see reviewed in this very issue, and as things are picking up again and shipments apparently back to full flow, I’m sure that I’ll be adding more for the guys of “The Cell” to test in due course. But with all the stats in the bag once again, it’s time to hand over now to the Red Cell crew themselves to give you an idea of how the pistol models they had to test initially have fared since we first got them together!

Boycie: The M17 is getting equal use alongside my other pistols. It’s also being a big hit at the local range where we use airsoft to allow everyone to take

part in two gun competitions. It’s proving to be a really nice pistol. A number of friends have given it a run out and then said that they intend on buying one for themselves. They’d been worried about some comments in groups that they are made of cheese and that is far from the truth. I love that I can use my Glock holster for the M17 which has saved me a lot in not needing to invest in a further holster, especially as I prefer Safariland holsters. Reloading is swift and I spend a bit of time each week in reload drills, now that I have 3 spare mags for it. I’m mainly using Nuprol 3.0 or V8 gas and Valken .28’s. I also like that I can use my weapon mounted lights and still holster it, this means I can sling my primary and go to my side arm when in close quarters. It’s also been a good back up sidearm when running the Steyr Scout (reviewed in

a previous AA issue alongside “Little Stu”).

Bill: As much as I love the M17 I have to admit I’m still a sucker for another “SIG” as I’ve had it so long and played with it so much and that’s the “SEAL Mk25If pressed I would have to say that the WE pistol does look an awful lot like a Mk25 , which is going to please a lot of “Team Six” players no end!

Online research tells me that after extensive environmental trials that simulated the operating environment of SEAL units, including immersion in sand, salt water and mud, along with a thirty-thousand-round endurance test, USN SEALs adopted the Mk25 as their sidearm of choice over every other model out there!

Now my “Mk25” has been with me a LONG time and has put up[ with all kinds of abuse, so much like the real deal I can honestly say that this old campaigner will be running hard when others start to fail! . The original finish is still excellent, having stood up to countless “Kydex draws” which will test the best paintjobs out there, and it still goes through the chrono at 295fps, emptying two mags out of one fill of Nuprol’s finest “green”. I still want to find some rubberised “combat grips” for it as the “SEAL Team” grips do feel a bit “plastic” as Jase noted in our original roundup, but I also have to agree with him that this 226 does indeed have the tightest fitting slide by miles, it literally has no wobble to it, and when it comes to hitting the steel it makes light work of the task!

And to keep me in line with my love for the “226”, although there are no (absolutely none, nada!) “trades” on the RAVEN R226 other than that nomenclature on the handgrips it undoubtedly is one, and in my opinion is one of the very nicest handguns that RAVEN have produced to date (although their

“THE M17 IS GETTING EQUAL USE ALONGSIDE MY OTHER PISTOLS. IT’S ALSO BEING A BIG HIT AT THE LOCAL RANGE WHERE WE USE AIRSOFT TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO TAKE PART IN TWO GUN COMPETITIONS. IT’S PROVING TO BE A REALLY NICE PISTOL.” www.airsoftaction.net

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RED CELL OTHER GBB PISTOLS

new R9 is pretty darn close!), and even with the love I have for the Hi Capa 4.3 as a “fighting gun” I truly believe that this new model has the potential to be one of the best “fighting GBBs” on the market for the money.

With an overall length of 190mm, and weight of 845g the “feel” of the R226 is superb, and this is further enhanced by the almost-rubberised-in-texture pistol grip that’s wrapped around the rear; it gives you confidence that once you have the R226 in your hand it’s going to stay there, whatever the weather, whatever the situation. I’ve been running the R226 on NUPROL 2.0 gas, using .20g RZR BBs for testing, and the chrono settles consistently at 0.83 Joule/300fps on that weight, with little variance from new. The pistol has now had about 75 mags worth down the barrel (a mix of .20 and .25g RZRs), and to date I’ve experienced no issues. Accuracy is actually getting better the more I run it, and at 10m I’m now down to regular 75mm groupings when I try; consistently at 10m it’s a breeze hitting steels each and every time, even when I’m on the move!

Chris: (cracks knuckles, right..) If I could sum up the WE Browning Mk3 in three words I would say, A beautiful disappointment. Externally my Mk3 is solid with no rattle, and the finish is thin but looks great… and that sadly is all the good points. Internally it’s a

letdown with the whole barrel and “hop” assembly being so loose from new it was no wonder I was having consistency issues. After tightening the barrel parts and adjusting the “hop” it has been very good with range and consistency.

That said, the Hop up is a major let down, its just a small rubber patch that is topped with the weakest brass screw known to man; if you’ve ever owned the WE Mauser 712 you’ll know what I mean. I’m waiting for this to just give up the ghost any second, talking of giving up leads me nicely onto another main disappointment. The mags; not only do you have to

be extremely careful of a small spring in the magwell, (so careful in fact you have to insert and extract with the hammer back or it will bend and render the replica useless) the mag gas capacity/consumption is so bad you barely get through a whole mag before it runs out of puff, not very helpful if you’re depending on it as a reliable secondary. In conclusion, great to look at, hold and fill a pouch, awful to use. My only hope is that WE release a Gen2 with proper innards.

Stewbacca: The WE Luger is very much the same story, basically copied off the old Japanese system (Marushin or Maruzen, can’t remember which) and also has the mag insertion problem and poor efficiency. Knowing how good some of WEs kit is despite being economical I feel they have little excuse.

Bill: Yup, I had high hopes for the Mk3 as it’s basically one of my Cold War era “holy grail guns”, and I SO wanted it to be right, as good as the Mk25 has proved to be… sadly it’s not, for all of the reasons that Chris has mentioned before. The operation moves no further onward from WE’s “Canadian” and apparently if suffers from all the same weaknesses both internally and in relation to the magazine.

Externally it looks exactly like I’d wished for (the real Hi Power was a bit of dog finish-wise if I’m honest), but I’m not sure how the finish will live up to hard use as it does indeed feel very “thin”. I’ve passed mine over to Jimmy to see what he can make of the internals, so we’ll have a look at that in due course to see if there are any “fixes” he can come up with…

Dan: The WE Browning is one I took in to repair for a friend. Externally it’s pretty, but the internals are certainly lackluster and our example suffered a sear failure after the owner had only put 3 magazines through it. As it was brand new to the market at the time, replacement parts were not available in the US and it took nearly 2 1/2 months to get a new sear from some obscure shop out of Hong Kong. Rather disappointingly, the new sear immediately died within a few pulls of the trigger. At that point, we binned it and sold it as a boneyard special. Aside from that, I concur with all of the points Chris brought up regarding this platform.

I’ve run a good few mags through an AAP01 and mucked about in the internals some. Overall, I found it technically interesting, it not a little derivative to its influences, and slightly cheap feeling. I came

“IF I COULD SUM UP THE WE BROWNING MK3 IN THREE WORDS I WOULD SAY, A BEAUTIFUL DISAPPOINTMENT. EXTERNALLY MY MK3 IS SOLID WITH NO RATTLE, AND THE FINISH IS THIN BUT LOOKS GREAT… AND THAT SADLY IS ALL THE GOOD POINTS.” 50

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away with the impression that the designers knew this pistol would be an instant hit, and therefore did the minimum amount possible to refine the parts, knowing most of the meaty bits were just standing in as “place holders” for latter upgrades. And maybe that’s fine, owing to intention of the platform; that is after all why many builders purchase the JG VSR-10 over the Tokyo Marui VSR-10. If you’re going to gut absolutely everything, why start out with the more expensive product first?

Stewbacca: With regards to the Action Army AAP01, you can find my full review in April 2021’s back issues, but for the short version; it’s clearly a winning formula given the fact it took the Airsoft arena by storm, an economical, highly adaptable or customisable reimagining of the Ruger, its fixed inner barrel gave it surprising out of the box accuracy for me, especially with mid-weight ammunition such as the 0.3g region, especially useful is its integral threaded barrel muzzle section and protector, enabling you to whack a tracer on it from the get go, which I did, with great results.

It’s clearly left an impression in skirmish and speedsoft communities alike and I’ve seen countless players in Taiwan favouring it for the sheer plethora of functional and aesthetic components available to really make it your own, while the fact it takes practically any Glock mags and is also compatible with their internals no doubt lends further to its appeal.

It took Redwolf Airsoft’s top spot in terms of gas pistols, and with clear reason. I always recommend them - if you can find them - to people who want something that just shoots well, accurately, and reliably out of the box and allows you to grow the platform in future. I have numerous gas pistols and have owned countless others in the past, but few can be depended on to fire first time, every time, without many if any failures to speak of.

Jimmy: Reliability out of the box… hmm, I kinda

have to disagree sorry to say Stu. They are renowned for braking hammers and disconnectors and the BBU wears thin incredibly fast. I have worked on many all suffering the same symptoms. I have a brand new one sat in a box; it had one burst of full chat and pretty much obliterated itself! They are good after fitting some choice upgrades but as for out of the box I personally wouldn’t rate them. I agree that the market has been taken by storm and the imagination of the AAP community has pretty much exploded and it is a platform that lends itself well for performance enhancing upgrades. I think regarding custom builds it is up there with the Hi Capa if not in front.

Stewbacca: Jimmy, I do wonder if there was a downturn in quality after they saturated the local market? I see loads of guys running them here without seeing anywhere near as many problems, and from what I hear their lead design guy recently split off to become the head guy of TTI, so I’m not sure if it is a case of “too big, too fast” and they dropped quality to get the insane bulk of them out the door...

Concerning the Shadow SP01, my full review of the KJW is available in the August 2021 in back issues! I used this for a good six months in Action Air,- which is an intensive run for any gas pistol compared to the usual holster filling role or occasional up close and panicking sidearm, and it didn’t disappoint given the beating it endured. A

hefty all metal frame and slide construction does make it somewhat from another era for many - including myself - who prefer the plastic fantastic polymer framed wonder-nines and other such mid to late eighties arrivals. But that makes it ideal for competition use and steady, flat shooting, with the weight eating up a lot of the already much lesser recoil impulse of an airsoft gun, which along with its very short, light and crisp single action trigger mode lead to me stacking double alphas in short order.

“IT’S CLEARLY LEFT AN IMPRESSION IN SKIRMISH AND SPEEDSOFT COMMUNITIES ALIKE AND I’VE SEEN COUNTLESS PLAYERS IN TAIWAN FAVOURING IT FOR THE SHEER PLETHORA OF FUNCTIONAL AND AESTHETIC COMPONENTS AVAILABLE TO REALLY MAKE IT YOUR OWN...” www.airsoftaction.net

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G&G GTP-9 Model: G&G GTP-9 Price: iro £110.00 Age: 18 Months Weight: 755g Length: 21.6cm Magazine Capacity: 27 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.75 Joule/284fps Holster Compatibility: Only tested with Amomax Universal Holster Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: 12mm CCW Supplied By: www.nuprol.com G&G PIRANHA MK1 Price: iro £150.00 Age: 18 months Weight: 670g Length: 195mm Magazine Capacity: 25 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.72 Joule/280fps Hot Chrono: 0.53 Joule/240fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Adapter Required Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

ASG SHADOW SP-01 Price: iro £110.00 Age: 4 Years Weight: 1079g Length: 225mm Magazine Capacity: 26 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.77 Joule/288fps Hot Chrono: 0.72 Joule/280fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: N/A Supplied By: www.actionsportgames.com

ASG CZ75 CLASSIC Price: iro £125.00 Age: 5 Years Weight: 980g Length: 206mm Magazine Capacity: 24 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps Hot Chrono: 0.80 Joule/295fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: N/A Suppressor Compatibility: N/A Supplied By: www.actionsportgames.com

RAVEN R226 Price: iro £100.00 Age: 18 months Weight: 845g Length: 190mm Magazine Capacity: 20 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.78 Joule/290fps Hot Chrono: 0.72 Joule/280fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Good Supplied By: www.rvnairsoft.com

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WE MK25 Price: iro £130.00 Age: 5+ Years Weight: 100g Length: 195mm Magazine Capacity: 24 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.80 Joule/295fps Hot Chrono: 0.78 Joule/290fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: Adapter Required Supplied By: www.weairsoft.com

SIG PROFORCE M17 Price: iro £160.00 Age: 18 months Weight: 769g Length: 203mm Magazine Capacity: 28 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.86 Joule/305fps Holster Compatibility: Good Taclite Compatibility: Good Suppressor Compatibility: N/A Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

WE BROWNING MK3 Price: iro £120.00 Age: 20 Months Weight: 819g Length: 218mm Magazine Capacity: 20 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.75 Joule/284fps Holster Compatibility: Great in a ’58 pattern version!

Taclite Compatibility: No Suppressor Compatibility: No Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

WE GALAXY G-SERIES Price: iro £130.00 Age: New Weight: 901g Length: 220mm Magazine Capacity: 23 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.75 Joule/284fps Holster Compatibility: Bespoke Taclite Compatibility: Railed Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk

ARMY AAP-01 Price: iro £90.00 Age: 15 Months Weight: 655g Length: 230mm Magazine Capacity: 27 BBs Cold Chrono: 0.95 Joule/320fps Hot Chrono: 0.75 Joule/284fps Holster Compatibility: Bespoke Taclite Compatibility: No Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW Supplied By: Stewbacca

www.airsoftaction.net

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FRONTIER JACKET ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Chin guard Full length two-way front zip Zipped pockets Hook and loop ID patch on left arm Fully adjustable hood with elastic draw cords Vented mesh underarm panels Elasticated waist band / cuffs Stow bag

Sizes: S-XXXL Black / Dark Coyote / V-Cam / SRP: £69.95

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Eventually I supplanted it with my current Shadow 2 which has served for a year and a half and is currently in bits awaiting a major overhaul as it’s seen even more intense abuse, but that was mainly an aesthetic and handling reason, I found the Shadow 2 points and shoots a little better and fits my bear paws more comfortably, but nonetheless there’s nothing wrong with the SP01 if you want the classic lines of a Beretta like form factor in a legendary Czech package. The high side walls of the dust cover and inverted rails make for great controllability and hand placement even with tactical gloves on, and even the double action is relatively light and easy if you prefer to carry one hammer down.

Bill: As I’ve said before in use the ASG version of the SP-01 is flawless, although I have had a few issues now with magazine floorplates, thankfully easily remedied by buying some 3D printed versions “off of t’interwebz”!. The action is still very crisp indeed, although the old gal is starting to show some signs of slide wobble… not bad though after the hammering it’s taken! When cocked the safety still clicks into place firmly and solidly. The pistol uses a gas magazine with extended floorplate as standard (now replaced as mentioned) which is still positive and easy to load, and this continues to snap into place with a reassuring “clack”. Overall this is a really satisfying airsoft pistol and continues to live up to its initial promise. It still looks and feels great, shoots beautifully after a couple of services, and continues to cycle perfectly on both green gas and CO2.

Jimmy: Before any shooting commenced I wanted to chrono test the GTP9 and the first ten shots out of the box were quite impressive on the power output; using RZR 0.20g BBs the power was better than a lot of other pistols I’ve tested with a high fps of 302 and a low fps of 294. I proceeded to the range and released a whole magazine with fifteen at a slow pace and the remaining eight rapid fire and it happily emptied all of them with equal power.

With a slight adjustment to the hop up I had the BBs shooting nice and straight and hitting centre mass on the target every time at a distance of 10 metres. I managed to get through three magazines before having to re-gas, as on the fourth mag the slide wasn’t travelling far enough back to reset for a follow up shot. After putting 100 BBs down range

I went back to the chrono and found that the fps had dropped slightly, highest fps 290 and the lowest fps was 284 so if we look at the earlier readings to the recent readings we are looking at an average of around the 290 mark. Performance wise it performed much better than I had imagined it would and I actually expected it to fall flat on its face!

So now that we have covered all of the good stuff let’s take a look at the little niggles I have after a while. The trigger is very Glock-like, but it has a fair amount of take up with a massive 12mm before anything happens, then it has a reset of about 6mm. It’s not a heavy pull but it’s not what I’m used to. The magazine itself isn’t a problem and can accommodate 27 BBs at a push, the problem is in the loading. It is quite stiff on the feed lips and the mag follower has to be pulled fully down and locked in place in order to make loading somewhat easier, and should you forget to unlock it (like I did several times) it will render it useless especially when you need it most but to be honest that’s more a user error than a mag problem. I’m sure that after a fashion you will remember to unlock it without giving it a thought. I must admit I have been proven wrong, and yes, I did have to eat the whole humble pie. Out of everything regarding the GTP9 I could only really find those three little niggles which are from a personal perspective, so it’s a win for G&G at the end of the day.

Bill: Sticking with the G&Gs, and I’ll get this out of the way first; the Piranha is most definitely not a replica of a “military or police” pistol, but something far more interesting! It’s a unique design that G&G have created in house, and in my opinion it shows the very best of the current drive for airsoft manufacturers to play with their own concepts, ones that feature all their latest technology all wrapped up in a pleasing and ultimately very usable finished product! I’ve set the Piranha up with .20g RZR BBs for chrono and

“BEFORE ANY SHOOTING COMMENCED I WANTED TO CHRONO TEST THE GTP9 AND THE FIRST TEN SHOTS OUT OF THE BOX WERE QUITE IMPRESSIVE ON THE POWER OUTPUT; USING RZR 0.20G BBS THE POWER WAS BETTER THAN A LOT OF OTHER PISTOLS I’VE TESTED WITH A HIGH FPS OF 302 AND A LOW FPS OF 294.”

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.28g for normal shooting, and the 24 BB magazine is slightly larger than the magazine of the GTP-9, and sadly not compatible… I get a pleasingly consistent and perfectly playable 0.8 Joule/295fps on .20g over the course of the magazine on NUPROL 2.0 “Green”.

And as much as the Piranha is a very attractive, lightweight modern design, and a lovely thing to behold, at the end of the day it’s how it performs and if anything it shoots even better than it looks!

As I’ve stated many times before, for me a handgun is a backup, and certainly one that needs to excel on the 10m range, and as I’d hoped, at this distance the Piranha has proved to have some serious bite! Once you’ve set the “muzzle hop” with the sweet little “bullet tool” to your chosen weight of BBs (0.28g worked well for me over testing to date), at 10m it’s deadly accurate; where the accuracy of many of my pistol collection would start to fade a little beyond that distance though, the Piranha is still bang on the button. Upping to 20m using the classic three-dot sights I’m still happily hitting sandbags!

To conclude this month I’ll finish off with one of my all-time favourite pistols, both real and airsoft!

As much as I’d had high hopes for the WE Browning Mk3, if you want a great, classic-lines airsoft handgun then I believe you’d be hard-pressed to find an historical model much better than the CZ75 from ASG, which shows that licencing works perfectly as you’d be hard pressed to distinguish the replica from

very comfortably in the hand. The angle of the pistol grip (which is slightly longer than the Hi-Power and 1911) is nigh on perfect, and even the chequered plastic grips featured the embossed CZ logo. The controls are all quite similar to those of the Hi-Power and the 1911 as well so if you own one of those models the 75 will feel pretty instinctive. In use the ASG CZ75 is equally flawless. The action is very crisp indeed, the slide easily moved to the rear thanks to some deep serrations on either side of the slide at the rear. When cocked the safety clicks into place firmly and solidly. The pistol comes with a 24 round gas magazine as standard which is swift and easy to load, and this snaps into place with a reassuring “clack”.

Loaded up with .20g NUPROL BBs and gas the CZ75 send BBs downrange with astonishing accuracy giving excellent groupings at 10 metres. The pistol does have an adjustable hop-up which is accessed by removing the slide, and this is very well explained in the full colour instruction manual supplied with the pistol. On .20g ammo it has chrono’d consistently around the 300fps mark over several thousand BBs; ASG do offer a CO2 magazine as an accessory, and this works equally as well. Overall this is a really superb airsoft pistol and is worthy of a place in anyone’s collection. It looks and feels great, shoots consistently and extremely accurately, and cycles perfectly on both green gas and CO2! AA

the real thing! All the dimensions are pretty spot on with the replica coming in at 206.3mm long as opposed to the 206mm of the current 75B; in terms of weight the real thing tips the scales at 1000g and the replica when loaded with its full complement of 24, .20g BBs is pretty darn close at 984.8g.

The ergonomics of the replica also mimic those of the real thing and this is a pistol that really does sit

“IF YOU WANT A GREAT, CLASSIC-LINES AIRSOFT HANDGUN THEN I BELIEVE YOU’D BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND AN HISTORICAL MODEL MUCH BETTER THAN THE CZ75 FROM ASG, WHICH SHOWS THAT LICENCING WORKS PERFECTLY AS YOU’D BE HARD PRESSED TO DISTINGUISH THE REPLICA FROM THE REAL THING!” www.airsoftaction.net

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www.airsoftaction.net

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ARMOURY RAVEN R9

INSPIRED MAGIC ALWAYS KEEN TO HUNT OUT SOMETHING JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT BILL TAKES A LOOK AT THE LATEST RAVEN PISTOL MODEL IN THE SHAPE OF THE R9 WHICH MAY JUST GIVE PLAYERS AN AFFORDABLE “M9” STYLE HANDGUN, ONE THAT PERFORMS RELIABLY, AND THAT COULD BE THE ANSWER FOR MANY PLAYERS THAT LOVE THIS NOW-VENERABLE PLATFORM!

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R

AVEN really seem to be rolling hot when it comes to affordable skirmish pistols, and they’re slowly but surely covering off some absolutely classic designs with their usual performance twists; slow in the case of bringing a durable and reliable airsoft pistol with great levels of performance out of the box is a good thing to me, as it indicates that some thought has been given to rectifying the performance issues in “models gone by”. RAVEN seem to be especially good at looking back to models that we all love (and have found wanting from other manufacturers) and reinvigorating them with parts-redesigns and tweaks, new moulds and fresh manufacturing processes!

I’ve been running a number of RAVEN models for some considerable time now, and I absolutely adore the RAVEN Hi Capa family when it comes to sound skirmish performance. Sometimes though you need a specific model for a specific loadout so I was very, very pleased when I saw that they’d added the R9 (a “Beretta M9” inspired model in anyone’s book!) to their range. Most will be aware that the Beretta M92 pistol served the majority of the US Forces during the Gulf War and the Afghanistan years, and if you’re creating a loadout for this period (I’m revisiting it in my BLOCK 1 M4 builds at the moment, more on this next month!) then a serviceable “Beretta” is exactly what you’re going to need!

Beretta is a name that is rightly known throughout the world of shooting, from the mighty claybusting shotguns, through sporting rifles, to out and out fighting machines, and bizarrely it’s in the military world where Beretta started, and Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta, literally, Pietro Beretta Arms Factory, was founded in the 16th century making it the oldest active manufacturer of military firearm components in the world. With models used throughout the ages Beretta has a strong military history, and the Model 12 sub-machinegun has served it’s users well over through the years; I mention the Model 12 as it’s a little known fact that its debut in combat came during the TET Offensive in 1968 when the Marines guarding the U.S. embassy in Saigon repelled an assault by the Viet Cong using the smalle-buteffective Beretta SMG! What makes the Beretta interesting to me as much as the “military role” though is its role as a “cultural change model” thanks to its inclusion in two movies that changed the way firearms were portrayed in “LE-use” and in the movie-goers psyche; in 1987 “Lethal Weapon” came out, and firearms in the movie were actually very carefully chosen to tie into the characters that were using them, and rather cleverly showed another cultural trend in the change from the wheelguns of old to more modern semiautomatic handguns. Martin Riggs choice of the Beretta (92F) over the revolvers used by most of the cops, including his long-suffering partner Roger “I’m too old for this…” Murtaugh, showed a new approach to reliability and “superiority through firepower”, or as Murtaugh states “Nine millimeter Beretta, takes fifteen in the mag, one up the pipe, wide ejection port, no feed jams.” Riggs is also highly proficient with the Beretta, able to “draw”

“RAVEN REALLY SEEM TO BE ROLLING HOT WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE SKIRMISH PISTOLS, AND THEY’RE SLOWLY BUT SURELY COVERING OFF SOME ABSOLUTELY CLASSIC DESIGNS WITH THEIR USUAL PERFORMANCE TWISTS; SLOW IN THE CASE OF BRINGING A DURABLE AND RELIABLE AIRSOFT PISTOL WITH GREAT LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE BOX IS A GOOD THING TO ME” www.airsoftaction.net

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a smiley face on a silhouette target at several dozen yards with it, much to the bewilderment of Murtaugh in one memorable scene!

In 1988’s “Die Hard” (probably one of Red Cell’s favourite movies as you may well know!), the handgun used by John McClane was his trusty Beretta (again a 92F to be clear). This at the time was a handgun that would not have been on the issue list of the NYPD, but it doesn’t shock me greatly that McClane carried this model, especially a customised version with an extended magazine and slide release.

I’m proud to know a number of serving and former LE guys in the USA and believe me when I tell you that many of them carry a handgun concealed when offduty that is far from their issued “service pistol”. Bear in mind that McClane is going to see his family and is not at work during the film, but from the very first moment it’s glimpsed under his jacket when he’s still on the plane it establishes him as a police officer, one of the “good guys”. Interestingly (to me at least!) the live-firing handgun that was used in both movies has since been retired to a glass museum case and is now part of movie lore.

SOLID AND SOUND

Okay, so as a “generic M9” is the RAVEN going to tick all my boxes? I’ve had numerous airsoft “Berettas” over the years, mainly when I lived in the USA and was running an American loadout with a SOPMOD BLOCK 1 M4! Sadly I’ve retained exactly ZERO in the armoury as for numerous reasons they’ve all been thoroughly underwhelming as a skirmish pistol, if not downright bad. The reason that I’m so pleased that RAVEN have entered this territory is that I’ve been running quite a few of their existing models on a regular basis on the range during lockdowns, and they’ve all performed, and more importantly CONTINUE TO PERFORM, superbly, so I have high hopes for the R9!

What you immediately feel when you lift the R9 from its box is the sheer solid heft of this full-metal handgun, as it weighs in just over 600g; it’s a big, 215mm-long chunk of fully-functional metalwork that, if you’re anything like me, will put a big old grin on your face! The R9 has a 20mm rail on the lower front of the frame, so it’s a snap to fit a taclite for those “TORA BORA” moments. The controls will be familiar if you’ve ever had an airsoft “Beretta”,

and everything is on the left side of the pistol. The magazine release is a button-style where the trigger guard meets the frame, and the slide release can be found just above easily within reach of the stronghand thumb, and in front of this is take-down pin for slide removal, maintenance and for adjustment of the Hop. You also get an ambidextrous decocking/safety lever at the rear of the pistol; with the action cocked, a simple movement of the safety catch down will decock the hammer, allowing you to carry the R9 in “Condition1” like a 1911. However, the R9 can be fired from “Condition 1” without having to re-engage with the lo-profile hammer, as with the safety off it has an SA/DA trigger. Sure enough, the first shot will have a long pull with follow-ups being significantly shorter as the gas-efficient system comes into its own!

Other nice finishing touches include functional nonadjustable sights, angled serrations on either side of the slide to give a positive handle when cocking the pistol, and diamond checked pistol grips which offer, in combination with the backstrap, solid retention.

There’s also a threaded outer barrel as standard (for use in conjunction with a RAVEN thread adaptor) that will allow you to run a suppressor should you wish to do so.

And now to the all-important shooty bit!

DOWNRANGE

Loaded up with .20g RZR BBs and NP2.0 greenbottle gas the R9 sends a full magazine of 25 BBs downrange with astonishing accuracy thanks to the 113mm 6.03 inner barrel, giving excellent groupings at 10 metres; the sights are a simple front blade/rear notch affair although you could potentially upgrade these to “fibre dot” sights should you wish as the real-deal M9 after-market is awash with these.

On the .20g ammo it chrono’s consistently around the 0.83 Joule/300fps mark. RAVEN do tend to offer a CO2 magazine as an accessory (this is yet to be confirmed for the R9 though) and this will raise the power a little; I hope they do offer a C02 mag eventually as this as a positive and will give greater consistency in the colder months of the year for those of us in “temperate” climates.

Overall this is a really first-rate airsoft pistol and is worthy of a place in anyone’s armoury. It looks

“WHAT YOU IMMEDIATELY FEEL WHEN YOU LIFT THE R9 FROM ITS BOX IS THE SHEER SOLID HEFT OF THIS FULL-METAL HANDGUN, AS IT WEIGHS IN JUST OVER 600G; IT’S A BIG, 215MM-LONG CHUNK OF FULLY-FUNCTIONAL METALWORK THAT, IF YOU’RE ANYTHING LIKE ME, WILL PUT A BIG OLD GRIN ON YOUR FACE!” 62

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and feels great, shoots consistently and accurately, and cycles perfectly on “green-bottle” gas. Whether you buy an R9 as a simple, solid skirmish pistol, as a loadout-specific military model, or indeed just as a part of silver screen history the fact is that RAVEN’s take is going to serve you well, and as it sits at that magic UK£100 mark it is most definitely NOT going to break the bank of pocket money! I’ve wanted a

replica of this iconic model for many years, one that would offer me reliability and durability, and now thanks to RAVEN I believe I’ve finally found the one I’ve been looking for!

My thanks as always go to the guys at RAVEN for letting me check out the new R9, and you can get more information on all the models they offer by simply heading over to www.rvnairsoft.com AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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ARMOURY APS MANTIS X RMR

COMP READY!

JIMMY IS, BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, AN OUT-AND-OUT SKIRMISHER, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN HE WON’T TURN HIS HAND TO ANY KIND OF AIRSOFT GIVEN THE CHANCE! AS A “PISTOL FANATIC” WITH AN EVER-DEEPENING UNDERSTANDING OF THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF AIRSOFT THOUGH, WE THOUGHT HE’D BE JUST THE MAN TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW MANTIS X RMR PISTOL, PUT IT THROUGH ITS PACES, AND TAKE A GOOD LONG LOOK “UNDER THE HOOD”!

A

PS is a name I have heard of but alas to date I have had very little experience with their products and up until very recently had never seen an APS pistol, so for me this is virgin territory. I purchased a used RIF a couple of years back which was chock full of issues; having never seen an APS rifle from new and served any time with it I couldn’t say whether it was a result of the user or if in fact it was a result of bad quality (probably the former); however I fixed it up and sold it on so that is the extent of my experience which actually makes my

life a bit easier making this review more factual and unbiased.

APS Limited, formerly known as APS Airgun Ltd was established in 2001. APS specialize in designing and building Simulation Training Equipment (Real Action Markers and Powder Balls for training simulation). APS – the three letters stand for Accuracy - Pneumatics – Shooting; with the knowledge and experience that has been gained from making Real Action Markers and Projectiles, APS launched new lines of Electronic Blow Back (EBB) products to meet the demands of the

“APS – THE THREE LETTERS STAND FOR ACCURACY - PNEUMATICS – SHOOTING; WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT HAS BEEN GAINED FROM MAKING REAL ACTION MARKERS AND PROJECTILES, APS LAUNCHED NEW LINES OF ELECTRONIC BLOW BACK (EBB) PRODUCTS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE AIRSOFT MARKET.” 64

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airsoft market. Even though their products are made in China, all the designs, quality control and Board of Directors are managed by Hong Kong Staff.

That means their clients (us!) can purchase airsoft products at a low price (China made) but are also guaranteed a high quality item (Hong Kong production). Alongside the line of EBB products there is a stunning new line of pistols to match every airsofters needs whether it be plinking in the garden or the rigours of competition.

Back to the matter in hand we have received from the lovely people of iWholesales a fantastic looking bit of kit in the form of a pistol but not just any old pistol, a pistol designed with purpose and a pistol aimed at the competition market or IPSC shooters to be specific, although it would also be at home on the skirmish field (not in the UK sadly due to power limits, more on this later!). For those looking to make the transition from regular skirmish days to competition shooting there is a chance that you have done some research or even attended a meeting of sorts only to discover that these people take it very seriously and you will instantly notice that the equipment they use to be far different to that you will see at a skirmish!

PRACTICAL USAGE

I remember last year myself and fellow Legionnaire Jon “Posh” Mills attended a little club meeting as Jon was covering a series regarding the transition into competition shooting, so naturally we needed to experience it for ourselves at the sharp end. One of the first things I noticed was the tools of the trade being used, heavily modified and sometimes highly expensive fully customised pistols. Now before I go any further I want to put this out there, you do not need to go and spend upward of UK£1500 to go and have fun and enjoy competition level shooting as a regular out of the box pistol will suffice, trust me, and ask Posh! As you progress through such a sport you will no doubt start looking to make that out of the box pistol operate better to be a little more competitive.

The club we attended, Xsite practical shooting club is organised and run by Tim Wyborn and his son Paul Wyborn, Paul being the UK’s #1 in his discipline! The equipment these chaps are using is phenomenally good and is hand fettled by themselves; these guys know their onions and I was gobsmacked when I learnt that you can put almost THREE GRAND into competition pistols! That said as I mentioned you don’t need to go that far down the proverbial rabbit hole to get started, and this is where APS come into it as they have produced an entry level pistol with

competition in mind at a reasonably respectable price coming in at around UK£220 and it is my opinion that there is a lot of pistol here for your money!

When I first pulled it from the box my first thought was that it resembled a G34 on ‘roids and it does carry a few “Glocky” characteristics. However although it looks fantastic I did find a few little problems one of which is the heavy trigger at over 4lbs with around 7mm of travel before breaking point; it is hardly going to allow the user to get quick follow up shots and after a fashion a heavy trigger will fatigue the user which will result in slower reaction times, not something a competitive shooter needs, though no doubt though this can be fine-tuned in order to make it lighter. It would have been a nice idea to make it adjustable.

They have incorporated a manual safety just above the trigger on the lower frame which is ambidextrous and can be operated by both trigger finger or thumb, but having compared it to a Hi Capa (still the favoured choice of the “comp shooter”) it is too low profile to be effective. I can draw a Hi Cap, remove the safety and get a shot off and acquire the next target faster than with the Mantis tbh. I feel the safety on the Mantis needs to be a bit wider so you could get a better purchase on it. This thing is gas hungry, and due to the C02-driven operating system you get an incredibly prominent recoil effect and a snappy slide… but try and rapid fire and the Mantis just goes very weak. This I believe to be down to the aluminium jet nozzle getting too cold, so maybe a hard polymer jet would solve this. If left for a few seconds it will pick up again and operate as normal but the problem will persist.

There is a need also for a tad of loctite on the RMR plate as due to the impressive recoil it shakes itself loose an easy fix; niggly, but still easily dealt with during personal setup These are the only problems I see and could be remedied no doubt, but for a relatively expensive pistol it is a little disappointing, www.airsoftaction.net

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so maybe a little contradictive of my initial ‘a lot of pistol for your money’ statement but then many pistols come with small flaws, don’t they so perhaps I’m being overly harsh; what one shooter sees as a problem another may not.

SHOOTER READY

Out of the box the Mantis looks exceptional I must admit, with the RMR, cut-lightened slide, gold accents, stippling and laser etching it looks very “custom” and most would think it to be aftermarket, but the fact is APS have done a wonderful job with the aesthetics. The addition of the RMR is a nice touch and it isn’t a part still commonly seen with an out of the box pistol; it is a well-constructed red-dot utilising a 3.25 MOA dot which has adjustable brightness and the ability to power down for storage. Made of aluminium it is a durable piece which is perched on an aluminium plate so must add to the “build cost” of the pistol in production; with fibre optic irons included which sit high enough should the red dot stop working for whatever reason you have a backup, so this is well thought through… we like “sight redundancy”!

The rear irons line up perfectly with the front fibre optic iron. I prefer iron sights to be honest, as it makes it easy to find your target. All this sits very nicely on top of the CNC metal cut-lightened slide which is of alloy construction and it appears to be very strong, ensuring longevity and resilience against the powerful recoil. Coming in at 220mm it is quite a long slide with serrated details for extra grip when cocking the pistol. Encapsulated inside the slide is a 150mm gold metal threaded outer barrel which houses a 125mm steel inner barrel for added precision. This all sits very snugly on the polymer ergonomic frame which is very, VERY “glock-esque”.

The grip is very comfortable and gives you the choice to swap out the back strap depending on feel and size of your grip. Sporting some well placed stippling where needed it leaves room for quite unique laser etching and the etched APS logo. As standard you get a flared magwell for easy, fast reloads. To reload you will need to release the mag and this is made incredibly easy by way of the extended mag catch which isn’t too long to present any problems. Talking of reloads the C02 mag has quite a hefty weight to it; on the bottom of the mag you will find a base plate which is easily removed by way of a nice thumb tab, giving good access to the C02 housing .via a large brass cap which seems to have an adjustable inner section; whether this allows you to adjust the output, I didn’t see any difference 66

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after adjusting.

Coming in at around 1.33 Joule/380fps this soon drops off after about 10 shots and sits around the 1.2 Joule/360fps mark on a .20g. On the range this pistol has no problem lifting a 0.30g but that is the hop unit maxed out to the limit, but for simple, entry level competition use you don’t need to go crazy and run heavier BBs than that in my honest opinion. Shooting at around 10mtrs on a recognised size IPSC target the hits were a tad scattered and grouping could have been better but I would put that down to human error and not enough time to master the recoil effect, so I do believe the accuracy would come together with time served.

My overall thought on this new platform is that it’s a great concept, and a lovely looking pistol! Would I buy one? I’m still on the bench with that. Do I think it worthy of the price tag? Possibly, maybe, given that you do get the RMR included, but it is certainly step in the right direction when it comes to having a “compready” handgun from the box. Bottom line though, would I be comfortable using it in a competition environment? I most certainly would give it a run out!

My thanks as always go to the guys at www. iwholesales.co.uk for letting me have this striking pistol to test, and please do check out their website to have a look at all the models and accessories they provide! AA

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HAVING ONLY JUST MET THEM ONCE AGAIN AT THE MOA CAMPFEST 2022 THE WEEKEND PRIOR, STEWBACCA ORGANISED TO FINALLY GET AROUND TO VISITING LCT AIRSOFT’S MANUFACTURING FACILITY DOWN IN CHANGHUA, TO THE SOUTHWEST OF TAIWAN’S CENTRAL TAICHUNG CITY, HAVING TAKEN SOME EXTRA TIME OFF WORK FOLLOWING THE SHOW TO DEAL WITH THE USUAL ADMIN AND AFTERMATH, AS WELL AS SPEND SOME MORE TIME ON AIRSOFT RELATED THINGS!

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hile I was at the MOA Campfest I managed to get hands on with some of their latest releases and do some obligatory posing in front of their LCT Airsoft branded backdrop emblazoned with an array of pictures of their products as well as their slogan; “We sell not only guns, but dreams”! So, off to see where they made these dreams I went.

Once again I found myself making use of the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR, our version of Japan’s bullet train… well actually purchased from them in fact!) to make a rapid exit from Taipei and move South to the typically even warmer climes of the midlands around Taichung. Arriving at the station I was greeted by the boss man himself Kevin, as well as Bella andBenita and treated to my first ride in a very nicely decked out Maserati; business is evidently going well, and no doubt with good reasons we’ll get to later.

Their hospitality only intensified with discussions of our personal histories as well as the general airsoft industry and scenes in Taiwan and back in the UK, and majorly players and issues in distribution as well as the usual comparison of firearms culture and relevant legislation as well as my own playing and competitive activities and history, all over an excellent Teppanyaki dining experience which meant the team nearly had to roll me back to the car Charlie and the chocolate factory style; the introduction to the team somewhat reflected the entrance in style that the company itself made to the airsoft market.

OLD EXPERIENCE, NEW DIRECTION

LCT (Li Cheng Technology) originally started out way back in 1982, producing more typical lifestyle implements the likes of cutlery or other household wares from metals by way of stampings and machined castings; this in itself is somewhat a specialised industry and manufacturing process that typically requires a great deal of experimentation

and experience in order to turn ideas into completed products, using heavy machinery to physically fold or pound sheet metal stock into sometimes very complex shapes. This was certainly something which early modern-era real steel firearms manufacturers came to realise, with the Germans being masters of the trade and spearheading the use of sheet metal for use in more economical, lightweight and industrial scale production of small arms, with the likes of the rise of Heckler & Koch in the post-world WWII era in the remnants of the industrial heartlands of Germany with their increasing use of these methods to produce their world beating modern firearms such as the G3 and MP5; those may become relevant shortly.

With this long serving expertise in a niche manufacturing capability that few other airsoft producers had access or experience in making use of, LCT initially made a foray into subcontracting for other manufacturers as well as eventually producing a full steel construction Kalashnikov kit intended to build off a Marui platform in 2004.

This pivot towards our arguably somewhat contentious industry of ‘selling guns’ from more typical household implements was undoubtedly the result of Mr Lin’s own personal interest in firearms and toy replicas. With this initial success into an already competitive industry, especially here in Taiwan, airsoft increasingly became the focus of LCT’s activities to the point where the LCT Airsoft brand was generated as a separate entity a few years later in 2007, following some internal product development and integration of processes and components to enable LCT Airsoft to manufacture an increasing array of replica weapons along a similar theme, those with complex or predominantly stamped steel constructions.

This is where LCT Airsoft really began to make a name for itself and carve out a niche where others before would struggle to; given their own extensive competence with stamping and die technology they

“WITH THIS LONG SERVING EXPERTISE IN A NICHE MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY THAT FEW OTHER AIRSOFT PRODUCERS HAD ACCESS OR EXPERIENCE IN MAKING USE OF, LCT INITIALLY MADE A FORAY INTO SUBCONTRACTING FOR OTHER MANUFACTURERS AS WELL AS EVENTUALLY PRODUCING A FULL STEEL CONSTRUCTION KALASHNIKOV KIT INTENDED TO BUILD OFF A MARUI PLATFORM IN 2004.” www.airsoftaction.net

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could progress with product development apace without the need to engage external expertise or sub-contractors for the majority of the essential structure of their replica guns, and with a deeper understanding of the capabilities of their own equipment and processes began to make inroads into varying families of real steel equivalents rifles, particularly focusing on ComBloc / OpFor / Cold War platforms.

The LCK series was a great initial success, and already extends to over sixty separate products in the line, with an ever increasing completion of replication of the whole family of real world examples of myriad different national origins and modifications; not just from the offering of the full steel ultra-realistic incarnation of the ubiquitous Soviet/Russian origin AKM many others produce replicas of, but increasingly niche versions such as the Hungarian AMD-65 with its forward canted vertical grip, or the AKMSU specialist carbine with its distinctive thumb hole foregrip, the real world equivalent of which still remains apparently mysterious in its true origins, nonetheless faithfully replicated among its numerous other family members.

LCT Airsoft tend to follow this mentality with their product lines and direction, an all-out assault on a chosen family of real world weapons, with diligent research into existing real world variants; products, additional option components or support equipment, as well as lots of hard work behind the scenes to ensure that their replica firearms are so close to the real thing in external appearance, build quality and dimensions that they can not only remain compatible with real steel accessories or furniture, but have indeed fooled some into thinking they are their real steel counterparts.

While I was visiting the TWAAA headquarters for a previous article on their activities, their current front man Mr Zhang and I were appreciating the limited edition LCT M60 AEG LMG which forms a centrepiece of their one of their displays. He was relaying to me how an American enthusiast and buyer at one of the

shows it was being exhibited at was chatting at great length with their sales team all with the intent of purchasing an array of what he was convinced were real steel machine guns until he was informed they were replicas; evidently they are doing an excellent job of making their airsoft guns true to form!

WHATEVER YOU WANT!

With the vast majority of all Kalashnikov-based firearms already recreated in such detail, from the earliest 7.62x39 AKM rifles, as well as carbine and light machine gun derivatives, 5.45x39 AK74 equivalents and even more recently the AK9 / PP19 9mm carbine and SMG variations, the hefty PK/PKM general purpose machine gun, and now their newest addition is an excellently produced replica of the SVD sniper rifle, being made available in traditional wooden grips, modernised polymer furniture, and even soon to be joined by the SVDS side folding stock variant! They are ensuring no stone is left unturned, and basically anything you might come across in the real steel world will be available in faithful replica format from themselves.

Aside from this near obsessive provision for all existing products which enable OpFor players to find something to go with basically any loadout or historical period you can possibly imagine, LCT Airsoft are also seeking to build their brand on the cornerstone of user choice. Along with the existing standard product lines available off their shelves, an extensive and ever-growing array of support components are also available to allow end users to heavily customise the appearance and handling of their own LCT products.

With various sizes and internal capacities of magazine, standard, extended, drum even ‘jungle style’ interconnected pairs, there are numerous

“...AN AMERICAN ENTHUSIAST AND BUYER AT ONE OF THE SHOWS IT WAS BEING EXHIBITED AT WAS CHATTING AT GREAT LENGTH WITH THEIR SALES TEAM ALL WITH THE INTENT OF PURCHASING AN ARRAY OF WHAT HE WAS CONVINCED WERE REAL STEEL MACHINE GUNS UNTIL HE WAS INFORMED THEY WERE REPLICAS”

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ways to set up the feed system and user’s own load bearing gear to suit their play style or chosen loadout. Furthermore pistol grips, front handguards, rail interface systems, gas tubes, stocks and even full ‘Zenitco’ equivalent systems enable owners to really make their gun their own with exactly the look, feel and function that suits them and espouses their own play style or personal identity.

More recently LCT Airsoft’s product lines have diversified towards those aforementioned pioneers of the real world stamped steel firearms; Heckler & Koch’s products are a mainstay of airsoft the world over, and numerous media from films, TV and video games recount stories of their use in the hands of myriad counter terrorist or military forces, and LCT have turned their attention to answering the call of their fans and customers. Following a similar arc to H&K’s own releases, they furnished the airsoft community with the LC-3 to begin with, the largest and earliest rifle of the real world roller-delayed blowback series that followed work done on the Spanish CETME rifles prior to H&K’s rise in 1960s Germany. Soon further, shorter and intermediate calibre family members joined such as the HK33 (LK33), HK53 (LK53) while even their most recent LCT Fresh YouTube video alluded to the club foot stock and box magazine of the HK21 belt fed machine gun in production design drawings and 3D CAD models on screen; I imagine it’s purely a matter of time before they turn their attention to the MP5 and taking that market by storm with near indestructible replicas lovingly crafted in stamped, rolled and welded steel fabrications.

As well as already producing

a further family of AR derivatives (with twelve different models adorning the same wall as their growing H&K variants) opposite the other already full wall of AKs in their upstairs show room, LCT Airsoft are always looking to the longer term, and during our meeting their team relayed to me how most entirely new products or the first in each family tends to take a year or more to complete; thus new product lines tend to be planned on a two or three year upstream basis to account for development and testing time prior to release. Having seen for myself the extensive on-site library of dies and stamping tooling I can imagine it takes a great deal of time and effort from their engineering team to work out all the kinks, or perhaps put them into the metal itself.

“AS WELL AS ALREADY PRODUCING A FURTHER FAMILY OF AR DERIVATIVES (WITH TWELVE DIFFERENT MODELS ADORNING THE SAME WALL AS THEIR GROWING H&K VARIANTS) OPPOSITE THE OTHER ALREADY FULL WALL OF AKS IN THEIR UPSTAIRS SHOW ROOM, LCT AIRSOFT ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO THE LONGER TERM..” www.airsoftaction.net

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STAMPING THEIR NAME WORLDWIDE

This continuing theme of focusing on their strengths through their product lineage has evidently created a world-beating formula in terms of sheer variety and completeness of each different platform they turn their attention to, and they were all too happy to show me around their own manufacturing environment and let me see for myself the people and processes behind the products that come out the other end.

While precision machined and plastic components have to be outsourced to other specialists (due in no small part to the sheer vibration in their factory floor environment from all the drop stamping equipment and constant beating of metal into intricate shapes which would no doubt upset the precision of CNC machines) the vast majority of their products and key components are made in-house, from flat sheet metal stock, all the way through stamping, grinding, riveting and spot welding of parts into whole sub assembly components such as receivers, folding stocks, top covers, gas tubes, magazine bodies. Even the internal gears are stamped out of a sheet and then precision ground to thickness, while most competitors would resort to metal injection moulding or CNC production processes.

Of course electrical components such as motors, battery connectors, wiring looms and other such off the shelf parts are bought in, and the few cast or CNC machined or polymer components are supplied from outside, but the bulk of production and testing still occurs on site, with a dedicated and experienced team of technicians. We followed the process and products through the factory floor and upstairs all the way to final platform assembly, testing and packaging (with three individual layers of quality control present during the whole process to ensure that what goes into the box and comes out the other end to the hands of a waiting end user!) is stringently controlled and guaranteed to please, and last.

This strive for repeatability and quality was also accented by LCT’s employment of the latest robotic arm welding system which has not only improved their output in terms of sheer numbers made, but ensured a consistent finish and aesthetic quality to all of their welded products. I saw their operator jigging and clamping up H&K front assemblies comprising the previously spot-welded receivers along with outer barrel, cocking handle tube, and sight block, then retreat and press the go button for the robot to go to work, putting all the welds in the places it’s needed, and none where it isn’t. Having come from a background in both heavy structural and hydraulic equipment manufacturing in the UK, I could certainly appreciate the quality control and reduced human fatigue this kind of system affords them!

A CALL TO ARMS

With an ever-growing ecosystem of turnkey solutions as well as wide arrays of customisable components already produced, LCT Airsoft have some long term thoughts of moving towards the pistol market as

“THIS STRIVE FOR REPEATABILITY AND QUALITY WAS ALSO ACCENTED BY LCT’S EMPLOYMENT OF THE LATEST ROBOTIC ARM WELDING SYSTEM WHICH HAS NOT ONLY IMPROVED THEIR OUTPUT IN TERMS OF SHEER NUMBERS MADE, BUT ENSURED A CONSISTENT FINISH AND AESTHETIC QUALITY TO ALL OF THEIR WELDED PRODUCTS.”

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well, but I imagine given the sheer workload and development cycle time they’re already undertaking it might be some time yet before they take the leap.

They’re already doing a sterling job of attacking the niche and complicated platforms that many other manufacturers seem to shy away from, personally I’ve spent the last few years chewing Bella’s ear about one model in particular, in no small part due to end users in the UK and elsewhere cajoling me to ask LCT to furnish them with a replica that does the original adequate justice and would no doubt live up to the real steel durability.

For fans of the L1A1, the commonwealth service variant pattern of the FAL, LCT Airsoft are very much interested in producing a replica at some point; however to do it justice, and their usual due diligence, has been difficult thus far; trying to get hold of genuine components can be not only an issue in terms of legal pitfalls in Taiwan, but also in terms of them being somewhat rare these days, certainly in the kinds of permissive environments where civilians could purchase one and help with the required data package for reverse engineering.

Thus, along with their call for photographs or videos of end user’s exploits with their existing products for their community outreach and calendar and video feature competitions, LCT could also use feedback in terms of anyone who can help them source the appropriate information to help realise this particular dream, one that many seem to share, of an LCT Airsoft-produced true to scale L1A1 SLR AEG; if you have a deactivated or functional real one, or components thereof, perhaps you can contact them and help bring the product to realisation as laser scans or other data packages would no doubt be of assistance to them.

With the shop floor tour completed I was taken to the aforementioned showroom and got an appreciation for the sheer scale of the products and the range of them, as well as experiencing the latest in LCT Electric Blow Back (EBB) optional add-on kits in an array of their HK and PP19 platforms, getting a chance to test out and compare them on camera for an upcoming episode of LCT Fresh on YouTube, so keep your eyes peeled for that. I also had the chance to try out their second generation SVD replica; the first batch of a thousand or so have already been completed, but their next variant will also include a MOSFET enabled electronic trigger. Having owned the Real Sword SVD back in the UK, the LCT offering definitely felt familiar in the hands, but the responsiveness of the gearbox, even with a high rated spring installed, was definitely a marked improvement,

and no doubt the realistic production methodology of forged steel receiver billets which are then extensively machined removing the vast majority of their weight will please the engineering and gun geeks among you all as much as it does me.

Finally I was introduced to some of the further upcoming releases; with an innovative ergonomic grip that can be fitted under the front handguard tactical rail and removed with two push pins that allows for rapid access to (and changing out of) the battery powering the host LK74 gun, as well as a limited edition highly polished hand finished stainless steel AKM that you can literally see your own reflection in, and even an L3K carbine variant of the full sized 7.62x51 G3 replica with a shortened front handguard making it much handier.

Having had a very productive and insightful day on site with LCT Airsoft we went over my notes one last time and ensured I’d got all the in depth pictures I needed to before they saw me off at the THSR station and I headed off into the sunset, somewhat literally, back to Taipei as the day’s light faded, and I felt somewhat drowsy from the adventure and large lunch I’d been treated to, nearly drifting off on the train to some of LCT’s dreams.

I’d like to sincerely thank Mr Lin, Bella and Benita for their very much appreciated hospitality and great openness and access to their facilities, procedures and plans that’s allowed me to share with you in such depth the work going on behind their products. AA

www.airsoftaction.net

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GAME REPORT OP CABRIT - UK

ACTION THIS DAY… AND NIGHT!

IT’S ALL ABOUT “OPERATIONS AGAIN” AT LAST, AND WITH GAMES LARGE AND SMALL MOST DEFINITELY “BACK ON” OUR RESIDENT MILSIMMER JASE BRINGS IN A REPORT OF “OP CABRIT” RUN BY HIS FRIENDS FROM SEO… AN OP THAT BOTH JAMES AND JIMMY MAY HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A HAND IN TOO! 78

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S

o Christmas and New Year has been and gone and the only thing left on the calendar worth noting other than my eldest’s birthday was SEO’s OP Cabrit. The gang at SEO are a great bunch, and I’m lucky to say are good friends and teammates of mine; not only this but James and Jimmy from Airsoft Actions own ranks were running the pyrotechnics for this OP with the help of Ben. Things were looking pretty good!

This OP was being played out at Dogtag Airsoft’s site near Gatwick; now this site is about an hour and a half away from my home so I chose to travel up the night before and camp out with my boys in callsign “Spartan 2”. So with the car prepped (and yes, for the avid readers who read my article ‘’When it all goes wrong’ will be happy to know that nothing was lost, misplaced or broken!) I set off to Dogtag’s site.

With the tunes banging out some 90’s classics I rolled up at about 2100 with my pitch all ready for me next to my Welsh wingman Spencer. While I unpacked the car Spencer got the stove on and rustled up some homemade pulled pork with the most amazing sticky BBQ sauce! This is one of the things I adore about our sport, the camaraderie. I’m lucky if I see my teammates three/four times a year of late but when I do, it’s brilliant! I also relish making new friends and this OP didn’t fail me there either.

After a good shuteye, 06:30 came around way too soon and bodies started moving around me; about time I got out of my pit! Now Spencer knows I’m not a morning person, so by the time my feet had hit the floor a coffee was placed in my hand… he knows me too well! Suited and booted and with a well-known fast food chain breakfast in my belly I was ready for a full-on 24hrs of naughtiness.

WARNING ORDER SITUATION

Hostilities between an E-Bloc country and the local Government have been escalating for the last few months. A Private military contracting company known as Aegis Defence Ltd have been working in the Peski region to support the training of the local defence force (LDF) for around nine months.

The E-Bloc has increased the volume of sporadic

rocket attacks from home soil, firing medium range Missiles from launchers at targets of military value around likely points of infiltration.

G2 intelligence indicates that a confidential contract between Aegis and The Bloc’s FSB has been signed and recently leaked by a trusted source. This leads to concerns of a supported invasion over the border.

Aegis Defence Ltd employ prior-service personnel with military service from UK and Australian Special Forces who are renowned for their professionalism.

This is a highly proficient unit that will conduct similar land warfare tactics and techniques to current Special Forces doctrine.

PRIMARY MISSION

Meet and negotiate a deal with the team leader of the company known as Aegis Defence to leave the country. This will include ground exploitation of the area of operations via Recce Patrols, Covert Observation posts and Close target Recce.

Possible escalation to Deliberate Ambushes, Night raids, Full Ground War. Sam (Havoc 1) and Liam (Havoc 2) were running the Task Force side and Terry and Mikey the OPFOR. We were called in for our briefing. I find the SEO’s briefings are really well thought out and I know Sam puts a lot of work into getting this right, not only looking good but to give you the players the immersive feel we look for in an OP. Our call sign was Spartan 2 and consisted of G (TL), Noodles (2IC), James, Steven, Ryan, Harry, Spencer and myself, some new faces and some old.

With all this out of the way, we set our squad up for the first STAG of the event. My role within Spartan 2 was the team Medic, so for the first couple of hours I was making sure the welfare of the squad was ok, basically the tea bitch, ha ha! Once all our boys were squared away I took 5 minutes for myself and sat down next to Spencer. Within seconds of my butt hitting the bench our FOBs Air Raid siren went off, the air was filled with the sound of a Cold War siren (Red Cell James, Strike One!); a chill raced through me, we were under attack and rockets were inbound. Luckily for us the base had an active Sky Saber system and within seconds it fired off a load of rockets to intercept the incoming missiles from the

“AFTER A GOOD SHUTEYE, 06:30 CAME AROUND WAY TOO SOON AND BODIES STARTED MOVING AROUND ME; ABOUT TIME I GOT OUT OF MY PIT! NOW SPENCER KNOWS I’M NOT A MORNING PERSON, SO BY THE TIME MY FEET HAD HIT THE FLOOR A COFFEE WAS PLACED IN MY HAND… HE KNOWS ME TOO WELL! ” www.airsoftaction.net

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GAME REPORT OP CABRIT - UK

E-Bloc. Emergency averted (and James, Strike Two!)!

With various other scenarios playing out it kept us on our toes with the dynamic playing environment we were in. Somewhere in the 150 acre site Task Forces own negotiator Captain Saunders (Ben) had been taken hostage and his position was unknown!

ON MISSION

Shortly after things had calmed down Spartan 2 were called in for a briefing, the rescue of Captain Saunders. With new INTEL from ground call signs and drones, Sam briefed us on how our call sign and other elements were going to INFIL to the area, position up and attack directions. With notes taken and routes confirmed, we geared up and moved out on our first

mission of the day. Movement to target was slow and methodical as we had no idea what was waiting for us and to what tactics the “soldiers of fortune” would be using. We had been blessed with the weather as it was sunny and HOT for a day in mid-March. Silence was our friend as we skulked up to our holding position and waited for go time.

Once all elements were in position a line was formed and all call signs started to push up to the target building where Captain Saunders was being held. After about 100m the loud booming voice of Havoc1 broke the silence ‘Contact front, weapons free, push up’. It was well and truly GO time! Spencer and I bounced our way up the right hand side to the target area. As we got closer to the fire fight, it intensified and a few of our boys had gone down and yours truly was staged with medic duties. On my third revive, my mouth was dry, heart racing as I jumped from player to player. ‘JASE, on me’ came out of the smoke, Havoc 1 had secured Captain Saunders and I had been tasked with getting him onto the stretcher and hauling him back to base. Once the HVT was loaded and strapped in, we were off like a scalded cat, all of about FIFTEEN feet before we were all taken out by a well-placed bang! I was gutted, hanging, hot and thirsty, and we had failed. We had well and truly lost the Captain…

With that, we waited for our bleed out time and moved back to our holding area where we received the info that the mission had failed.

As we readied our call signs for a retaliation attack from Aegis, nothing came, so we were RTB. I was so glad to get back to the FOB and get some liquids down me, having used up what water I had on the mission.

After a short spot of down time it was business as usual, back to the Ops tent for another briefing by Havoc 1; this time our mission was

“ONCE THE HVT WAS LOADED AND STRAPPED IN, WE WERE OFF LIKE A SCALDED CAT, ALL OF ABOUT FIFTEEN FEET BEFORE WE WERE ALL TAKEN OUT BY A WELL-PLACED BANG! I WAS GUTTED, HANGING, HOT AND THIRSTY, AND WE HAD FAILED. WE HAD WELL AND TRULY LOST THE CAPTAIN…” 80

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to head out with Havoc3 and recce a building that could possibly contain some long-range comms kit. If our mission was successful, we were to deploy IR glow sticks to mark our infil and exfil route for what would be the second half to this mission, destruction of said equipment after dark.

NIGHT OPS

As the spring sun started to tail off, we headed out of our FOB under complete silence and under the lead of Havoc 3. Once again our movements were slow and methodical and the only communication was done by hand signals because our intended route brought us very close to enemy lines. Down hills, through streams and up hills we finally reached our intended location, just out of sight of the objective area. Once we had set up a secure perimeter, the TL was tasked with taking some covert photos of the base. Unfortunately for us, Mother Nature was not playing ball and the setting sun was causing issues for the photographer.

After hanging on for some time the TL managed to get the photo he was after, confirmation of the equipment, that could only mean one thing, some night time antics, my favourite!

Our EXFIL route took us back the same way with Havoc 3 dropping IR markers in strategic places ready to light our way come the night. Once back and INTEL was given to Havoc 1, we were stood down and told to rest up until we went back out to destroy the comms equipment. Quick spot of dinner courtesy of an MRE (stew if you were wondering!), then it was

time to get a spot of shut eye.

When I awoke, the inky dark night sky greeted me with open arms!! G, our TL had woken me up to say that we had a briefing to attend. Once out of my pit, I headed to the Ops tent. Havoc 1 informed us that Icom chatter had been intercepted and it was very likely that Aegis were going to hit us very soon and that an ambush on a known route would be the best course of action. This was the part of the Op I was looking forward to as I had a new toy to play with, a shiny Tokyo Marui MP7 with mags stuffed with Nuprol Tracer rounds to light up the battlefield.

Once all call signs were ready, we headed out into the night to take up positions along the ambush route, and with my NV on it made for easier movement through the woodland. Once at our position, we hunkered down into the foliage ready for the enemy. For once on the Op nature was my friend as I was joined by a spiky little friend who I named Horris; Horris the hedgehog. This little fellow was having a good old sniff around me as I waited for the action to kick off. Thankfully, Horris had enough of my stinky boots and scooted off into the woods, it was a nice little distraction to pass the time.

Through the murk of the night, figures started to appear into the clearing and walk into the ambush area. Moments passed when ‘BANG’ the claymores went off and ambush lights went on (James again, Strike Three!), the Aegis mercs were like rabbits in the headlights; no one knew what was going on, I started to thump BBs into targets as ‘HIT’ filled the night air!! Within moments it was all over and the ambush

“AS THE SPRING SUN STARTED TO TAIL OFF, WE HEADED OUT OF OUR FOB UNDER COMPLETE SILENCE AND UNDER THE LEAD OF HAVOC 3. ONCE AGAIN OUR MOVEMENTS WERE SLOW AND METHODICAL AND THE ONLY COMMUNICATION WAS DONE BY HAND SIGNALS BECAUSE OUR INTENDED ROUTE BROUGHT US VERY CLOSE TO ENEMY LINES.” www.airsoftaction.net

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lighting showed the aftermath of guys with hands held high, not a single OPFOR soul remained in game, amazing play by all. Task force call signs returned to base as excited chat filled the air of the ambush, and yet we still had another sexy night op to come! Time to get some food down me… and prep for more “night action”!

Not long after I managed to get something hot into my belly ‘Stand To’ was blasted into the air, cutting it like a knife. Helmet on, plate carrier donned and MP7 in hand, I darted off to the rear of the FOB with Spencer as we tried to make head or tail of what was going on; a counter attack was well and truly on! Tracer filled the darkness as it rained down into the FOB, orders pierced the air as shouts of acknowledgment rang about. From our new position, front left of the base we could hear all of the battle raging on, but oddly nothing came to greet us, and we even got the nod as part of a four man group to venture out to the area in front of the base to see what was about… but nothing, everything was happening to the rear of the base. So we stood our ground and waited for the battle to subside as the enemy’s assault tailed off. I chalked that down as a solid win.

Once all call signs had bombed up and sorted out their kit, it was time for Spartan 2 and Havoc 2 to head out on foot to take out the comms equipment we had located in our previous afternoons op. We took the same route as before. The advance to the location was very slow but well executed with not a single word being spoken; it was again a great feeling to know that we had managed to make it all the way to the staging area without a peep. Once in position, we waited for Havoc 1 to give the op the go ahead. As we sat there in the dark of the night waiting, the sweat on back started to get cold and the heat from within my clothing started to rise up and mist up my safety glasses and NV, not ideal when poised for go time!

Thankfully for me, by the time Havoc 1 called for the assault to commence

my vision was clear. Spartan 2 moved downhill towards the building we were set to assault, as we reached the bottom of the hill the enemy fire started to rain in on our position and a few of Spartan 2 called out hit. At this point for me, a human stoppage took place as one of my contact lenses had decided to leave its place on the front of my eye and take up position under my eyelid, which was very handy, now with my NV up, I couldn’t see anything as I battled to straighten out my issue! With that, I heard Noodles creep up on my left, I filled him in on my situation and he took my right arm and lead me to some cover so I could address the situation. Now from this point on, Spartan 2 consisted of three elements, Noodles, Havoc2 and myself as we could not ID the position of the remaining Spartan members.

AT CLOSE RANGE

We pushed up to the objective building with the odd exchange of small arms fire as Havoc 1 and Spartan

“HAVOC 2 SET THE CHARGE TO BLOW THE COMMS EQUIPMENT. WHILE UNDER THE DIM LIGHT FROM THE BUILDING, THE CHARGE WAS SET OFF AND WITHIN SECONDS A BRIGHT BURNING LIGHT FILLED THE COMPOUND (YUP, YOU GUESSED IT… OUR MAN JAMES AGAIN!) AS THE COMMS EQUIPMENT WAS DESTROYED. OBJECTIVE COMPLETED.” 82

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1 moved into the building securing it. Unknown to us James of Spartan 2 had pushed around further to our right securing that flank and now giving us a nice tight perimeter while Havoc 2 set the charge to blow the comms equipment. While under the dim light from the building, the charge was set off and within seconds a bright burning light filled the compound (yup, you guessed it… our man James again!) as the comms equipment was destroyed. Objective completed. Now it was time to head back to the FOB and get some shut eye and boy was I ready for it.

0600 arrived and a gentle wake up from Havoc 1 but no coffee this morning, it was up and straight into a briefing as Task Forces drone had gone down and surveillance had shown that OPFOR were making a move for it. Spartan 1 to 4 were to head to the area and provide a 360’ perimeter while Havoc 1 and 3 retrieved SSD and destroyed what remained of the drone.

Fast track to the drone site, under a cover of smoke, Spartan 1 to 4 took up position to move onto the drone. It had crashed in an area full of trenches and it was up to us to move uphill to secure it. As all the callsigns moved up, the enemy opened up and within minutes most of the call signs had been wiped out, and even after a strong second push towards the target it had been confirmed as lost, the OPFOR had well and truly fought hard to keep it, fair play!

Was it all too early in the morning to be doing this?

Never, because not long after we had returned to the FOB and had got some breakfast into us, a recce patrol radioed in to report that Aegis were massing not far from our base and that an all-out attack was on the cards. I spotted the first of the Aegis mercs making their way to the FOB as a TAG round hurtled into the base; simultaneously the FOB was under attack from three directions and it was getting hit hard! Rounds pinged off the metal roof and the sound of ‘New Rain’ deafened the surroundings as we had to shout to one another to relay messages!!

The order was given to evacuate the FOB and that a Helo was inbound to our landing position to exfil the group. Spartan 2 were then tasked with finding a secure route to the HeliPad and to make it safe!

Grabbing what gear we needed, we set off through the dense shrubs. On our way we did encounter some resistance from the off but Spartan 2 moved like a well-oiled machine pushing up and forcing our way to

the HeliPad. As we reached the pad we encountered a small group of Aegis fighters and a small fight took place.

As I peered through the foliage I noticed some movement opposite my position, with my MP7 raised, I waited to ID the target; it was a member of Aegis alright, and the poor soul got a double tap from my MP7 clearing the way for Spartan 2 to move and secure the Helipad ready for extraction. Not long after this all remaining call signs RV’d with us and with the clock counting down for Endex, the end of the Op was called and I felt very satisfied with how things had gone!

SEO’s hard efforts had paid off; Terry, Mikey, Sam, Liam and the rest of the staff, along with our very own James and Jimmy did an amazing job, getting up at all hours to set pyro, plan missions and give us what we wanted in an immersive experience. I had a blast and will definitely be heading to another of their Op’s in the future. From what I could tell, both teams played with dignity and fairness, and it’s great to experience sportsmanship like this. Big shout to all of Spartan 2, it’s always a pleasure to run alongside you guys and the new friends made!

Until next time, Ciao! AA

“I NOTICED SOME MOVEMENT OPPOSITE MY POSITION, WITH MY MP7 RAISED, I WAITED TO ID THE TARGET; IT WAS A MEMBER OF AEGIS ALRIGHT, AND THE POOR SOUL GOT A DOUBLE TAP FROM MY MP7 CLEARING THE WAY FOR SPARTAN 2 TO MOVE AND SECURE THE HELIPAD READY FOR EXTRACTION.” www.airsoftaction.net

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GOING DARK GOING DARK - TAIWAN

WITH THINGS OPENING UP AGAIN IN TAIWAN IT SEEMS THAT NOT ONLY IS THE AIRSOFT INDUSTRY BUSY THERE, BUT THE PLAYERS ARE TOO AS THE GAME TEMPO QUITE LITERALLY LIGHTS UP AFTER THE PANDEMIC! STEWBACCA CONTINUES HIS PERSONAL AIRSOFT DRIVE FORWARD AS HE HEADS TO THE 6 HIGHLANDS AIRSOFT SITE FOR A UNIQUE GAME WITH OLD MATES AND RUN BY AN OLD FRIEND, ABLY SUPPORTED BY ACETECH! 86

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A

s I cast my eyes back across my spreadsheet recording the games I’ve attended here in Taiwan (yes, I’m that much of a nerd!) it seems it had been nearly a whole two years since my previous outing to the 6 Highlands Airsoft site down in the East of Hsinchu near my initial stomping ground from when I first arrived in Taiwan. As it happens photos from that previous event were used in my article way back in issue 116, “Tropic Thunder: Playing Hot” as I was describing the sheer difference in playing in the local environment, or more so climate, here in the tropics… time flies, so it seems!

Once again I was in attendance for an event organised by my old friend Khann (n00b_soft) who has been focusing his efforts over the last few years towards growing the culture of Speedsoft/SpeedQB and competitive force on force, also organising the events I reported on at Action Bunker in East Taipei among others. This time I didn’t have to worry quite so much about the scorching heat of the day, because this event, ‘Going Dark’ was, as the name suggests, to be held in the fading evening light and into the night, with an emphasis on small squad force on force gameplay, one on one duels, and the extensive use of full-auto firepower and tracer units and relevant ammunition.

Direct support was given by local tracer manufacturer Acetech who provided numerous different models of tracer units for rent and trial by those players who have not yet acquired their own examples, a good excuse for both marketing, testing and public relations, not that their products don’t sell themselves!

With the primary focus of the evening being aimed towards a 3 Vs 3 small team, short-round, fastaction structure, a total of sixteen squads originally signed up, with a final turnout of 12 groups on site, many of them being squads derived from larger teams, with one group fielding 3 separate squads of 3 to the competition. Some split off from larger teams they had since joined to revive old team names and aesthetics to differentiate themselves for a friendly night of teamwork and high intensity action.

Myself and my old colleague and teammate Kiran were driven down to the site from our northern abodes

thanks to Harry who usually runs with OPS (On Point Squad) the SpeedQB-centric offshoot of our older skirmishing TaiWan Anglophone Team (TWAT, which the three of us reprised our role in for this event) going up against old friends and teammates in OPS, KSJV who have a reputation for their vibrant uniforms and equipment, and rolling in fast and using excellent teamwork to win out over other competitors in past events. There were also two squads from our Filipino friends of Special Airsoft Force (SAF), as well as reprised roles from 77 Free Soul and NKVS, as well as being joined by Sa B, DEW and Soland who are up and coming teams new to the scene since Khann’s work has developed interest all over the island with his events in the north such as Taipei and Hsinchu. Add to this further south in Kaohsiung where an old shopping centre has served as a great proving ground for SpeedQB and new practitioners, as well as Tainan where a purpose built arena has recently been secured, all giving players more space to practise their game style.

As we’re all no doubt aware of in various countries there’s inevitable pushback against Speedsoft / SpeedQB and the game style and sub-culture; it’s especially prevalent in Taiwan due to the heavy emphasis on outdoor tropical forest or jungle gaming, MilSim and uniformed team tactics style games using more realistic loadouts. Despite the

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entrenched or somewhat hostile environment, and the obvious lack of mixing for the most part of the game styles perhaps arguably with good reason; Khann and his friends new brand ‘PewLogic’ has sought to develop events and support the movement in isolation from more traditional MilSim, and try to avoid the culture clashes and issues when people try to force the two styles to co-exist on the same fields or at the same times with obvious problems.

At least with the growing interest and number of active teams throughout the island, as well as more purpose built or outfitted arenas and allocated times or places with which to promote the competitive and high speed close-in action as its own separate entity, it’s clearly developing some interest despite the initial malaise. While I’m an old guard and an old dog type of guy myself, and cut my teeth doing woodland and CQB skirmishing as well as hardcore weekender MilSim gaming in the UK and Spain before moving here, I’m nonetheless intrigued by all things shooting related, and likewise have taken up Action Air AIPSC and dabbled in IDPA pending more time to focus on

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both those competitive styles when time permits (as always, build that longer table, instead of that higher fence!) I’m sure we can all learn to co-exist within shooting sports regardless of your chosen poison.

With that in mind I rolled up with Kiran and we chose to run gas guns all night, despite being somewhat outgunned by the HPA powered DYE mask full-face clad or dual-sector- gear- AEG running squads, it was a change of pace and scenery, and after such a long absence from that site in particular, and with COVID related shutdowns or event cancellations in mind, it was nice just to get out of my usual scene and reconnect with people I hadn’t seen in a long time. As always, the people and friendships make the events and community what they are, the fact we were all having an excellent time partaking in the typical Taiwanese tradition of communally barbecuing large packs of meat and milling around taking photos, conversing and catching up as well as making new friends and taking a look at new equipment we’ve acquired or discussing issues we’d had with certain things.

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3X3 ACTION!

As the event progressed we started out with the 3 v 3 squad games in the daylight before it faded; having drawn bingo balls from a bag to determine our team ID numbers which were then used in conjunction with the huge pre-fabricated game scheduling board to determine which teams would face off in each bout and ensure that everyone played everyone (66 planned bouts in all!( prior to the final scores being tallied, with points awarded for each opposition team eliminated, each team member remaining on your own side, and bonuses for collection tokens littered around the game arena if possible during gameplay.

I had no such chance myself throughout any of our rounds… just staying in the game was somewhat of a task given our opposition and trying to run gas blowback guns against them, a familiar problem from when I first dabbled in SpeedQB competitions for “live and let DYE” in issue 112, my first article following the official formation of the Airsoft Action Legion.

Harry, Kiran and myself nonetheless managed to hold our own against some of the less experienced teams, or other players who were dabbling in it from

a more conventional background, relying on our marksmanship and teamwork in the face of typically much heavier firepower. I started off using my Archwick Glock USW carbine kit with the VFC Glock 18C inside and replica ACRO red dot atop as well as a vertical foregrip and a bunch of long and short magazines filling every pouch I could muster to ensure I had enough ammunition on me to at least match the 250 rounds limit which everyone else’s single mid-cap

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magazines they started each with probably held… I’m always playing hard mode, it seems.

The first round saw us starting at alternating positions distributed around the arena so everyone had two opposing team players one either side, and starting with guns unloaded and our magazines on the floor in front of us; I had just enough time at the game on signal to retrieve my mag, load my USW and charge it, emerge from cover and fire a burst into Hank of 77FS just as he broke cover and opened up on me too, we eliminated each other, but he managed to draw blood due to my lower mesh mask being seated a little too low and presenting part of my nose between it and my ballistic glasses, sod’s law eh, But certainly not the first time it’s happened.

We retired to the safe zone to tend our wounds and reload our magazines, not that we’d had chance to spend many BBs! The second round saw us go up against another squad from 77FS, this time we were entirely triumphant with no losses and the opposition entirely wiped. Through no action of my own, this time, in the time it took for me to try and retrieve my magazine, load my USW, encounter a stoppage and clear it to emerge from cover Harry and Kiran had done all the work, with the A10 Warthog like ‘BRRRT’ of his set up signalling the few bursts that ended the match

in seconds, then we emerged sights on each other and accidentally engaged before we had chance to ID each other, I guess running out of opponents is no bad thing…

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Up next we were up against team Soland; the young up and coming team I’d been following on Instagram through their formation and development at Khann’s other events previously, this round seemed to last a lot longer, again with the familiar ‘BRRT’ of DSG setups in the background and me managing to get off enough rounds keeping some opponents at bay to need to reload, and then suffer another stoppage and get eliminated. I retired again to reload and sink some more barbecue down my gullet in the brief lull before our next round; by this time the light was really fading and we started donning our flashing team LED lit armbands which would be solid during gameplay and then be switched to flashing mode upon our elimination to avoid overkill as best as possible. They did add a certain TRON legacy vibe to the whole affair, along with the green beams of high rate of fire tracers.

A MODIFY’D APPROACH

Next we went up against KSJV, having switched to my trusty AAP-01 with my Acetech Lighter S tracer unit affixed and the same Glock magazine loadout having emptied my magazines and refilled them with tracer rounds to prepare for the whole ‘Going Dark’ part of the gameplay. I managed to hold out at the rear for the most time, but could hear the continued bursts of ‘BRRT’ closing on me as the guys eliminated Kiran and Harry and then moved on me; last man standing I did what I could to empty magazines into the windows of the cover provided and keep them at bay as long as I could, but of course I succumbed to their speed and firepower a short time later. It certainly made for exciting gameplay and videos with the tracers spewing everywhere at least!

For the next bout we were up against our fast moving and stout Filipino death squad friends from Special Airsoft Force, I switched to using my Modify PP2K having recently solved the magazine reliability issues with the help of the team at the Modify booth at MOA campfest the weekend before. Toting all three

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long magazines with 56 rounds each and a great rate of fire, range and accuracy, as well as the T1 replica up top to allow ease of getting sights on in the otherwise darkened environment, I was ‘cooking on gas’ as they say, I managed to dump all my rounds from that in one of the more prolonged firefights of the evening before finally getting taken out as I switched to my AAP-01 again which was now serving as my sidearm.

Next we faced off against our old teammates from On Point Squad, OPS, who usually battle with KSJV over who will prevail in the finals of most such competitions. Suffice to say this round did not last long, and did not go so well for us! Finally, some luck and/or skill won out and in our next round against newcomers DEW I managed to hold my ground and eliminate two of the opponents in short order despite their use of cover and torches to try and dissuade me; finally I managed to survive a whole round, and did something useful!

Similarly in the next round against other newcomer team Sa B I managed to get at least one elimination as well as once again surviving the whole round. This would as it happens mark the last round our squad played, finishing on a high note at least; we had a break having managed to get through nearly 50 of the 66 originally planned 3 Vs 3 bouts, but the night was drawing on and the decision was made to switch it up to the one on one duels for those interested and begin totalling up the scores in the meantime as there just wouldn’t be the opportunity to complete all the rounds with the time remaining. I managed to fare reasonably well, surviving to my third “round robin” one on one duel, with most of our group of

volunteers surviving each engagement to the point where they split us up to balance the groups… at which point I got eliminated on my next round, must have been the bad side of the arena, clearly!

AARS AND MEMORIES OF GLORY!

With all the action dealt with people began retiring to the safe zone as their rounds were finished, and we all focused on after action reports and war stories, squaring away our equipment ready to make a quick exit, and ensuring that all the delicious barbecue meat was consumed to the best of our abilities!

The PewLogic team rounded off their tallying of each squads points to determine the winner and runners up, with Khann announcing that newcomers Soland had in fact triumphed and beaten KSJV and OPS to the first place; by this point it seemed that the winning was however very much secondary to the sportsmanship, and spirits were high all round as players had their fill of fast paced fun and food, another great event done, we helped tidy up our admin area and then Harry dropped me and Kiran off to get the late night high speed rail back to Taipei… I arrived home around midnight in the end, just in time to unpack my night shoot setup and repack for the 0700 start for my usual Sunday Skirmish shoot in the great outdoors with Team TaiJi – #EatShootSleepRepeat – out here it never ends!

Many thanks to Khann, his wife, John and the rest of the PewLogic crowd for putting on such a great event, and for everyone that participated, it was great to see familiar faces again that I hadn’t for a good long while! AA www.airsoftaction.net

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last post THIS IS MY RIFLE…

THIS IS ...OR WAS MY RIFLE…

WHILE HE WAS WRITING THE T4E PIECE, FRENCHIE WAS AWARE OF THE LIMITED RANGE AVAILABLE COMPARED TO THE VAST RANGE OF AIRSOFT GUNS THAT THERE ARE, OR HAVE BEEN. THAT GOT HIM THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE MODELS THAT WERE AVAILABLE AND HAVE SINCE DISAPPEARED, EITHER BECAUSE THEIR TIME HAS COME, OR BECAUSE THEY HAD A SOMEWHAT LIMITED APPEAL.

S

ome guns are just too niche to prosper where it is more difficult to acquire them purely as collector pieces and others were frankly not brilliant, even if they have done relatively well despite themselves. So, for this month’s Last Post I’m going to trawl my unreliable memories of guns that came and went, or didn’t really do well despite decent availability. It is inevitable that this will not be an exhaustive list, so if there is something that fits here which I’ve missed, forgive me!

I’ll begin with a couple of favourites of mine, the Sten gun and the M41 rifle from Aliens.

The Chinese-made Sten was solid, affordable and worked really well. It was built around a Marui M14 gearbox with all the troublesome selective fire bits removed. The original version, with the fixed hop, shot brilliantly, especially if you changed the hop rubber. I ran mine on 0.3s at 328 fps and it truly shot for miles. Downsides; It’s a crude gun with the ergonomics of an unwieldy pipe. Magazines could be hard to get and were limited to 50 BBs, you couldn’t

run a hi-cap sideways sadly. It was never going to challenge ARs in terms of use-ability and really only

“SOME GUNS ARE JUST TOO NICHE TO PROSPER WHERE IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE THEM PURELY AS COLLECTOR PIECES AND OTHERS WERE FRANKLY NOT BRILLIANT, EVEN IF THEY HAVE DONE RELATIVELY WELL DESPITE THEMSELVES.”

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LAST POST THIS IS MY RIFLE…

appealed to gun-nerds and re-enactors. I wish I still had mine just as a wall-hanger though.

This limited appeal has affected a fair number of airsoft replicas. MP40s, PPSH 41s, the Mosin Nagant and Kar 98s have less than universal appeal and I doubt the manufacturers expected to sell millions of them. Some were produced by small businesses and support or spares were pretty much non-existent.

They also only really work with certain loadouts and the truth is that enough airsofters care about appearances to mean that Multicam and Sten guns never really became a thing.

The M41 on the other hand is wonderful, right up to the point it isn’t? There’s a Thompson M1A1 inside it which is a great gun with a solid gearbox. It looks fantastic and it is properly iconic. As a gun that you actually have to use however, it’s sh*t. I built a few from kits for customers many years ago and later worked on a number of the Snow Wolf versions. One was fundamentally a copy of the other and therefore they all suffered from similar issues to the historical airsoft models.

Handling left a lot to be desired. Balance was non-existent, the shoulder stock was rotten, the sights were as crude as you can get (even the Sten had better sights), the plate that covered the end of the magazine tended to disappear with depressing regularity and overall it is a clumsy, uncomfortable bit of kit. It’s a film prop after all, so it was designed to look great (which it does) not to be a practical firearm.

Like the Sten, I wish I had one, but only enthusiasts and Aliens fans would buy and use them.

Again, this is true of a number of futuristic looking airsoft guns. Many were either silly or not very good, but there were a couple which handled and worked well. Their Achilles heel was the fact that they were different and just didn’t fit into an overall look for the vast majority of players. Anyone else remember the ‘Thundermaul’?! I loved that gun! Looked awful but handled and worked really well if you didn’t mind carrying a strange silver fish-shaped thing about!

HAULING A PIG!

Another class of platforms I’m going to include here might be a bit more divisive - support guns. As a preface to my comments, I owned, used and loved a PKM for a while - that’s a proper gun - and I have used a number of 249s in game over the years. The thing about support guns is that in the UK there is no appreciable difference in performance between them and their much more portable siblings. If you are willing to carry a slew of hi-cap magazines for your M4 or similar, you can perform exactly the same role as with a 249 or an M60. While most support weapons have fairly solid and reliable gearboxes, speaking as one who spent years working on airsoft guns, they aren’t inherently more reliable than most other AEG gearboxes.

If you are a ‘Namsofter I completely understand why you might want an M60, likewise if your thing is to reproduce the look of the old Eastern bloc the PKM or RPK is clearly for you. But truthfully? With no difference in performance there is zero mechanical advantage to lugging around twice the weight of a standard AEG, so you do it because you like it, which is totally fine, indeed part of the attraction of airsoft is you can use whatever platform you want. There was a period when thanks to Chinese production, support guns were hardly any more expensive than rifles, and although I have sold many of them over the years, you don’t see many of them on the field.

LiPo batteries have Photo: Twentieth Century Fox overcome the ‘big

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battery’ argument that used to be in their favour and while they are impressive bits of kit their success has always relied on some players being willing to carry a lot of extra weight compared to their teammates, essentially to look badass.

A DYING BREED

Finally there are guns which have just disappeared because the manufacturer has decided to either discontinue them or they now make so few that they never seem to make it to the UK. Foremost in my thoughts are my old faithful, the Marui FAMAS. I appreciate that the French army has now adopted the HK416F, but with all respect, the 416 is just a pimped AR and nothing to write home about, whereas the FAMAS was iconic.

Even I have to concede that compared to every modern AEG out there, the performance of the FAMAS is pretty woeful and I never managed to upgrade one to my satisfaction but it was still a wonderful gun of which I have many happy memories. I suppose it’s time has come. For reasons I won’t bore you with, I own a 1989 two-stroke East German Trabant; I could argue that it does all the basics required of a car, but would I honestly choose to take it on long journeys? No, of course not. It’s not particularly reliable, it’s uncomfortable after a couple

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JUNE 2022

of hours and it really only does 50 mph. This is sadly true of guns like the FAMAS which were the first wave of electric guns many years ago. They were far better than what was around at the time, but technology has moved on apace and with regret they have been left behind.

Airsofters often complain that our little world is full of ARs and AKs, and they’re not wrong. There is a huge variety of weaponry out there to choose from, but the simple truth, in airsoft as in the real world, is that the guns which make it easiest to do the job and which have the flexibility to tackle new challenges are the ones which will ultimately find favour. And for anyone out there, running around every week with multicam and a Mk II Sten, I say, well done and Vive la difference! AA

Photo: hyperdouraku.com

COMING IN EARLY 2022!

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