Airsoft Action - July 2018

AIRSOFT ACTION

P L AY E R S ’

C H O I C E

B E S T

A I R S O F T

M A G A Z I N E

ARMOURY

G&G L85 AFV VALKEN AVP17 UMAREX HK416 A5 NUPROL SIERRA SHOTGUNS E&L AKM GEN II PLATINUM

EVENT REPORTS

OPERATION: BATT HOUSE UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW BORDER WAR: THE BEAST SLAYER WARZONE 2018: THE FINAL ASSAULT

COMPETITION

JULY 2018

TRANSPORTING RIFS

WARRIORS

SAS AT MIRBAT

SKILLS

GROUND COMBATIVES

LAST POST

SUPPORT GUNS

SNUGPAK MML3 | 5.11 TDU PANTS | ENOLA GAYE TECH ONE | VORTEX LENS CLEANER

9 772047 348032

FEATURE

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PROUDLY SUPPORTING PILGRIM BANDITS

JULY 2018 - £4.50

>

WIN A NUPROL HARD CASE + PISTOL CASE!

EZ Distribution is now working in an exclusive partnership with Umarex to distribute Airsoft products to businesses within the UK. Umarex manufacture the highest quality officially licensed Airsoft products available anywhere in the world.

EZ Distribution – Creating a business account with us is quick & easy.

Receive 10% off your first order, and free UK delivery on all orders over £500.

Visit ezdistribution.co.uk for further details.

– +44 0 131 654 2452 info@ezdistribution.co.uk

– 44/1 Hardengreen Business Park Dalkeith EH22 3NX United Kingdom

AIRSOFT ACTION

P L AY E R S ’

C H O I C E

B E S T

A I R S O F T

12

M A G A Z I N E

16

ARMOURY

G&G L85 AFV VALKEN AVP17 UMAREX HK416 A5 NUPROL SIERRA SHOTGUNS E&L AKM GEN II PLATINUM

EVENT REPORTS

OPERATION: BATT HOUSE UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW BORDER WAR: THE BEAST SLAYER WARZONE 2018: THE FINAL ASSAULT

ARMOURY: E&L AKM

COMPETITION

WIN A NUPROL HARD CASE + PISTOL CASE!

WARRIORS

24

> 07

SKILLS

GROUND COMBATIVES

LAST POST

SUPPORT GUNS

Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant Editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic Design: Havoc Design Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Photo: Courtesy of WA03 Media UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00

INTERNATIONAL: WARZONE 2018

For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk

EVENT: OPERATION BATT HOUSE

Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: +44 (0) 1684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.online ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2018 All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

Distributed by Intermedia Brand Marketing Ltd.

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LETTER , IDEA OR QUESTION? Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea?

Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the Editor: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk, write to us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

48 63 GEAR: ENOLA GAYE TECHONE

Ed Turrell

JULY 2018

SAS AT MIRBAT

SNUGPAK MML3 | 5.11 TDU PANTS | ENOLA GAYE TECH ONE | VORTEX LENS CLEANER

9 772047 348032

FEATURE

TRANSPORTING RIFS

JULY 2018 - £4.50

PROUDLY SUPPORTING PILGRIM BANDITS

ARMOURY: VALKEN AVP17

68

76

SURVIVAL: MAPS, PLANS & MODELS

SKILLS: GROUND COMBATIVES

Contents JULY 2018

CONTENTS JULY 2018 6 NEWS 8 ROGUE’S GALLERY Cool photos of Airsoft Action readers.

12 ARMOURY: E&L AKM Some of the Airsoft Action team are true fans of the work of “Comrade Kalashnikov”. This month Bill takes a look at a classic E&L that our own dear Editor fell head over heels for!

16 ARMOURY: VALKEN AVP17 Lez Lee gets up close and personal with the AVP17 pistol to find out if it stands up to the competition – and discovers more than he bargained for.

20 ARMOURY: UMAREX HK 416 A5 As Umarex continue their waterfall of new models throughout 2018 with accurate release dates and high-end, fully licensed models, Scott Allan asks “Is this the future of Airsoft?”

24 INTERNATIONAL: WARZONE 2018 What happens when you take two British airsofters of different ages and playing styles and send them to Crete for a major game? Bill and Kelly draw their series on “Warzone 2018 – The Final Assault” to a close with their report on what turned out to be a most remarkable and unique game!

30 FEATURE: TRANSPORTING RIFS How you carry your RIFs is vitally important – both to keep them safe from damage and you out of prison!

Gareth “Gadge” Harvey takes a look at some of the many options available and offers some sound advice.

34 ARMOURY: NUPROL SIERRA STORM NUPROL have surprised us by dropping in a complete new range of pump-action “springers”, in a form that will certainly appeal to the “military-minded” amongst us. Jerry Noone takes a closer look.

38 EVENT: UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP Craig Walton joins the Airsoft Action team and reports from a rapidlygrowing event where University airsoft teams battle it out to become Champions.

44 WARRIORS: SAS BATT SOLDIER

68 SURVIVAL: MAPS, PLANS & MODELS

Gadge Harvey looks at an SAS soldier from a battle that has gone down in the annals of SAS history – but went largely unreported at the time.

Heading into a situation without a true appreciation of the terrain, street plan or building layouts can lead to confusion, disorientation and mistakes amongst your team.

Paul Yelland looks at one method of avoiding this.

48 EVENT: OPERATION BATT HOUSE Four of the Airsoft Action team head north to take part in what proves to be an awesome game in support of our favourite charity! Bill brings us his report on “Op BATT House”.

52 EVENT: NSS 2018 Supported by our sister magazine PMCI and Calibre Shooting we made the journey to Harrogate for the Northern Shooting Show. Bill Thomas takes a view on how things have developed and what there was to see there!

56 GITAG: TACTICAL TAILORING One of the challenges Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick has faced in her airsofting career is finding gear to fit her smaller frame and when she received her camo for WarZone, it was time to get the scissors out!

58 GEAR: SNUGPAK MML3

71 COMPETITION: WIN A NUPROL HARD CASE Win a NUPROL Large Hard Case, plus a NUPROL Pistol Case in this issue’s easy-to-enter Competition!

72 ARMOURY: G&G L85 AFV Airsoft Doc joins Airsoft Action team to bring us a pre-release insight into G&G’s much anticipated L85 AFV, complete with ETU and Mosfet!

76 SKILLS: GROUND COMBATIVES Calibre Shooting’s Andy Nightingale gives us an insight into a real-steel shooting method that can serve us well when playing airsoft.

81 PRODUCT: VORTEX ANTI-FOG

Following last month’s revisiting of the Snugpak Sleeka Elite, Frenchie takes us on a journey around a less obvious offering from Snugpak, one he thinks is even more relevant to airsofters.

You can’t hit what you can’t see so keeping your eyepro free from misting is a challenge we often face.

Gadge checks out a product that might help keep your lenses clear.

61 GEAR: 5.11 TDU PANTS

82 THE LAST POST: SUPPORT GUNS

Sometimes you come across a real bargain when looking for airsoft gear, as Gadge found out a few years back while rummaging in a Charity shop.

63 GEAR: ENOLA GAYE TECHONE If you are looking for a good quality, value for money softshell jacket, then Femme Fatale may have found just what you need.

64 EVENT: BORDER WAR 10 “Border War” is most definitely one of THE major events on the Euro airsoft calendar and has been recognised in the Popular Airsoft Players’ Choice Awards as the “Best Event With Over 500 players”. Bill Thomas got together with Turgay Dansik to bring us the latest from this year’s game.

We have probably all at some time been at the sharp end of a laser beam of white plastic. Frenchie, in his inimitable style, writes about the euphemistically named airsoft “support gun”.

84 AIRSOFT ACTION STOCKISTS Where to buy your copy of The Players’ Choice Best Airsoft Magazine before it goes on sale in newsagents.

86 SITE DIRECTORY & PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUBS Looking for a skirmish site, or your local Airsoft Practical Pistol Club?

Then we may have the answer, with pages of sites and clubs throughout the UK.

s w e N t f o s Air DTW AIRSOFT OPEN NEW SHOP AND CQB SITE IN COLCHESTER

D.T.W AIRSOFT ARE PROUD to say that after much hard work and planning, we are now in our new building/home.

We have moved the shop onto the first floor were we have a modern light and hopefully welcoming shop, where we are better able to display our wide range of both AEGs and airsoft accessories and equipment and is open five days a week, plus during all game times.

The ground floor is taken over by our purpose-built indoor CQB site, which is open five days a week and has been designed so we can change the layout after each game. It also includes its own safe zone with charging points and, of course, free tea and coffee.

We have also included a slot each week which we call “Nerf Mayhem”, aimed at the younger player in us all which has been very well recived.

We offer a wide range of rental packages for all ages and private hire of the site is also available.

Contact us on 01206 790046 for further details.

For more information, visit: www.dtwairsoft.co.uk or search “DTW Airsoft” on Facebook.

TP LOGIC T20 THERMAL IMAGER WARRANTIED FOR AIRSOFT The new TP Logic T20 Thermal Imager takes mini thermal imaging to the next level, incorporating a 3-6x optical magnification, providing a detection range of 150m, making it perfect for airsoft, MilSim and tactical applications.

Mount to your rifle with a 30mm picatinny mount (supplied) or use a handle for hand held use, the T20 Thermal Imager is perfect for a wide range of applications with a superb smooth 30hz refresh for fast moving object definition.

Centre fire rated, it is perfect for rabbiting and ratting on a rimfire, or on a MilSim battlefield for CQB and medium range targetting.

The fast to use 3-6x optical magnifcation is accessed via the front lens housing, providing a sharp image for quick target acquisition.

User Selectable Colour Palettes: Switch between Black Hot, White Hot, Green NV and Colour thermal for detection quarry in cover, high detail and for adverse weather conditions.

Choice of reticles: Zero the T20 quickly and easily with the X,Y axis menu system providing a fast and easy way to set up in the field.

Choose between a cross, tactical reticle and dot reticle for speedy target acquisitiion.

Warranty Protected for Airsoft use - If it gets hit by a BB and it breaks, we’ll cover it with a repair or replacement unit.

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Features: • On board image enhancement • Shutter with automatic NUC • Auto shutdown motion sensor to save power • Multiple display views: White Hot, Black Hot, NV Green, Colour • Mounted via supplied 30mm ring mount Specifications • Size: 70mm x 46mm x 39mm (2.75î x 1.8î x 1.5î) • Magnification: 3-6x Continuous optical zoom with automatic focus • Spectral range: 8-14 micron • Powered by 1 x CR2 battery • Field of View: 25 deg to 10 deg • Refresh Rate: 30hz The T20 is available to order from UK Distributors Scott Country International www.scottcountry.co.uk Tel: 01556 50 3587

SCOTT COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTE FLIR BREACH

THE FLIR BREACH PTQ136 is a tactical thermal imaging monocular built for the rigors of tactical deployment and law enforcement, allowing the operator to spot the heat of living objects and terrain in total darkness, even when traditional optics such as day scopes, night vision etc are impeded by adverse weather conditions, grass foliage etc Featuring the new 12µm BOSON core, 1280x960 HD Display and a tactical compact design, BREACH can be used hand held as a thermal spotter, or helmet mounted for hands free tactical use, allowing you the ultimate in battlefield situational awareness, but also perfect for hand held viewing when hunting, or for security and surveillance, with a zoom function for close up detail and identification.

The FLIR Breach offers unmatched visual awareness, weighing only 210grams, it can be concealed in a pocket or mounted to a helmet with its mini rail feature, while adding minimum weight to the operators heavy gear.

Additional features include onboard recording, seven colour palettes for providing high res imagery and also for detecting targets hiding in cover, providing fast detection, target acquisition and take down, day or night, in ANY weather conditions. With a digital compass system and inclinometer for situational awareness.

EXCEPTIONAL VISION: The advanced image processing of the Breach PTQ136ís internal 12um thermal core and a bright high definition display, create excellent image clarity and provide better detection and classification day and night FLEXIBLE MOUNTING OPTIONS: For hands free operation, Breach has multiple mini rail mountings designed to allow for a wide variety of head mounts, helmet mounts and to install additional equipment SUPERIOR VALUE: Breach is packed with features, document operations with on board video recording and image capture.

Choose from multiple palettes to perfect viewing during varied situations. Enhance situational awareness with a digital compass and inclinometer.

Breach is available to order from UK FLIR Distributors Scott Country International. www.scottcountry.co.uk/breach Tel: 01556 50 3587

AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS

ROGUE’S GALLERY

From Craig Walton: WA03 Media

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July 2018

AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS

From Ed Turrell – www.edturrellphotography.com

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July 2018

AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS

From Warzone 2018 – The Final Assault (see page 24)

Information Fancy seeing yourself in Airsoft Action?

Send in your photos via email (nige@ airsoft-action.co.uk) or share on our Facebook page (/AirsoftAction), plus a few words describing what’s going on in the image.

www.airsoft-action.online

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armoury E&L AKM GEN II PLATINUM AEG

ONE E&L OF AN AEG!

IT MUST BE FAIRLY OBVIOUS TO ANY REGULAR READER THAT WITH ALL THE AIRSOFT REPLICAS OUT THERE SOME OF THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM ARE TRUE FANS OF THE WORK OF “COMRADE KALASHNIKOV”. THIS MONTH BILL TAKES A LOOK AT A CLASSIC E&L THAT OUR OWN DEAR EDITOR FELL HEAD OVER HEELS FOR! IF YOU WANT A GREAT AEG for the occasional skirmish day, or something that is going to carry you through the most gruelling of MilSim events, then the sheer number of absolutely topnotch AK replicas means that you can find a model that is going to be a perfect companion for you.

Whether you veer towards the “classic” made of metal and good, “old skool” wood, or you want the very latest railed and tricked-up “FSB-alike”, then an AK RIF not only fits the bill but gives you something just a little different from the multitude of “M4s” that we usually see on a skirmish day. Just like the M4s though, if you buy into an AK you will undoubtedly want another… and possibly even another…

AKs fall into two camps ultimately, the older 7.62×39mm M43 models like the original AK47, AKM, and AKMS, or the more up to date 5.45×39mm models which started with the AK74. To date there is no airsoft version of the current issue AK12 which encompasses both cartridges, but I am absolutely certain it’s just a matter of time before someone creates this variant.

Suffice to say that 12

July 2018

amongst the manufacturers you can pick up a fine replica for just about any AK variant you can imagine!

Airsoft Action reported not long ago that NUPROL would be taking on the distribution of the E&L Airsoft brand in the UK in an exclusive agreement and this has gone very well both for them - and for us as airsofters! In fact I’ve owned an E&L “Tactical SU” for a while now and I’m chuffed to bits with both the build quality and performance; Gadge also swears by his own E&L AK and after playing a single game with one it looks like Nige will be joining this gang too!

To recap…

E&L are a Chinese company that have quite quietly been making inroads to the UK market with their fabulous looking AK variants. Although they are well known for their real firearms, namely the Type 56, they don’t take parts from real AKs and convert them to airsoft parts, which of course could be massively legally problematical in the UK, but instead they have modified their plant so the parts they make are ONLY made for airsoft guns and could have no real world application.

What they do differently is to make their airsoft guns up to real firearm standards using real wood and steel which makes them look and feel incredibly realistic!

Having now had a longer-term experience with the little SU my greedy eyes travelled to the rest of the E&L range. I own a classic AKM GBBR for MilSim games, which I love to bits and which runs like an absolute train in all weathers (unlike the trains!) but it’s pretty much a semi-auto only beast given the operating system and although it has superb range and is very accurate, when I go to a skirmish day where everyone is running HiCap magazines on “full chat” I do feel a tad outgunned. Suffice to say that I’ve been looking for an electric AKM that lives up to the feel and performance of my gasser…

Enter the E&L AKM Gen II Platinum!

armoury E&L AKM GEN II PLATINUM AEG

SERVICE WITH A SMILE!

In the real world, though, the AKM (“Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy” or “Kalashnikov modernised automatic rifle”) was the main service rifle in use with the Russian forces for many years; introduced with the Soviet Army in 1959 it was officially replaced in Soviet frontline service by the AK74 in the late 1970s but remains in use worldwide.

Compared to the AK47, the AKM featured detail improvements and enhancements that optimised the rifle for mass production. Some parts and assemblies were conceived using simplified manufacturing methods, most notably, the AK47’s milled steel receiver was replaced by a U-shaped steel stamping. As a result of these modifications, the AKM’s weight was reduced, the accuracy during automatic fire was increased and several reliability issues were addressed. The AK47’s chrome-lined barrel was retained, a common feature of Soviet weapons which helps to resist wear and corrosion, particularly under harsh field conditions and the near-universal Eastern Bloc use of corrosively primed ammunition.

The AKM’s receiver, compared to the AK47, is stamped from a smooth 1.0 mm (0.04 in) sheet of steel. To the U-shaped stamped sheet metal receiver housing a rear stock trunnion and forward barrel trunnion are fastened using rivets. The receiver housing also features a rigid tubular cross-section support that adds structural strength. Guide rails that assist the bolt carrier’s movement which also incorporates the ejector are installed inside the receiver through spot welding. As a weight-saving measure, the stamped receiver cover is of thinner gauge metal than that of the AK47.

SOLID AS A ROCK!

When delivery of the latest E&L AKM arrived at the office I was happily surprised at how heavy it seemed, clocking in at nearly 3.5kg/7.7lbs; the real AKM weighs 3.1 kg/6.83lbs but, of course, the airsoft version is carrying that slight additional weight due to the internals. The other reason for this weight is because the E&L replica is 100% full steel and real wood; not only do E&L have “real steel” plant for the metalwork but they also have a complete woodworking shop where the wood parts and scrupulously finished to the highest standard by a carpenter’s hand. The wood parts are first boiled in oil to dehydrate them and then subjected to seven different processes before final staining and a hand polish. I’m going to say it… the wood parts are probably better finished than you’d find on a real AK! Not only are the E&Ls beautifully honed externally, inside things are equally precise and this is where the latest “Gen II

“NOT ONLY DO E&L HAVE “REAL STEEL” PLANT FOR THE METALWORK BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A COMPLETE WOODWORKING SHOP WHERE THE WOOD PARTS AND SCRUPULOUSLY FINISHED TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD

BY A CARPENTER’S HAND.” Patinum” version takes things to a different level!

If you look at a “Platinum” E&L AK what you’ll find is CNC steel gears and 9mm bearings, a one piece CNC steel cylinder, a super wear-resistant POM piston with silent piston head, super tensile piston and tappet plate and a high-torque motor; all the wiring throughout is high quality low resistance silver cord.

Basically everything just oozes quality.

This AKM feels like it’s literally just come out of the Tula factory and it arrives very lightly oiled so you even get “that factory smell”! E&L go as far as supplying a green plastic oil bottle as part of the deal, which indicates to me that the externals will need to be kept maintained to avoid surface rusting. Unlike many of the “modern” models that E&L make, the AKM comes without a side optics rail but the slightly oversized, faux-“bakelite” pistol grip and superlative wood www.airsoft-action.online

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armoury E&L AKM GEN II PLATINUM AEG

furniture totally make up for that!

As I already own an E&L I had no doubt that out-of-the-box performance would be right up there and I wasn’t disappointed when I got to the range!

With a 7.4V LiPo snugly in place under the dust cover and using .20g RZR BBs the AKM delivered a massively consistent chrono reading of 1.0 Joule/329.6fps which is absolutely perfect, and spot on legally for the UK; the AKM even arrived with a certificate of compliance from the factory and that under the top cover was a sticker confirming that it was fitted with an M100 spring! NUPROL and E&L have worked tirelessly together to produce AEGs that are UK/EU compliant, making sure they are CE approved and our models are lower powered than standard, specifically for the UK/EU market and boy, does this pay off!

In my experience airsoft AKs have always been superbly accurate (maybe I’ve just been lucky!), and it’s one of the reasons why I love them so much; my gasser is good out to about 50m+ so that’s a hard act to beat! With the 120BB steel (again!) mid-cap magazine topped off it was time to set the hop, and the “slide” adjuster is easily accessed by simply pulling back the charging handle. Like all AKs the E&L has the lever fire selector with up being safe, mid-point being full auto, and fully down being semi. With semi engaged the AKM sent BBs to target at the 30m extent of my test range with a

“WHEN YOU GET AN AEG OF THIS QUALITY IN YOUR HANDS THAT IS WHEN YOU CAN REALLY START TO ENJOY THE GAME, WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER IT WILL FIRE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST.” perfectly flat trajectory, indicating to me that it has the “legs” to clock up a far greater engagement distance. Full auto just increased the number of BBs going downrange without eroding accuracy, which is of course exactly what I was looking for in an AEG model.

The AKM “Platinum” is therefore one hell of a performer.

Okay, I am biased because I love my existing AKM so much as a model but even without the “real operating system” of the open-bolt GBB this electric version is very, very pleasing indeed. The externals are absolutely perfect (read stunning!), the internals are the very best they can be and the performance is right up there with the best of them. I usually finish off

any airsoft AK review with the question “would this replace my gasser?” and I have to say that in the case of the AKM “Platinum” it’s a VERY close call!

After “Op BATT House”, where Nige used my E&L AKM, I asked him what he thought and he told me: “I have had the pleasure of playing with a very substantial number of different AEGs and every so often I pick one up that stands out head and shoulders above the rest; it has happened twice before and the E&L AKM was number three!

“From the moment you handed it to me I could tell is was a quality piece of kit - it looked, felt and even smelt “right”!

Nicely balanced in the hand, with everything exactly where it should be I had a feeling I was going to have a good day - and boy, did I! “At the chrono, such was the consistency (the first five rounds all registering absolutely identical readings) the Marshal actually checked to see if it was functioning correctly!

“Throughout the day the E&L did not miss a beat. The range was superb and once the hop had been set, the trajectory remained flat, long and without need for further adjustment.

When you get an AEG of this quality in your hands that is when you can really start to enjoy the game, without having to worry about whether it will fire when you need it most.

“I have always been an “AR-man” but an E&L AKM will be joining my personal collection very soon!”

NUPROL have been working hard with E&L in the background and have managed to reduce the price of the E&L AEG range at source. The first shipment of lower priced rifles has now come into the UK and the E&L AEGs can now be purchased at an even better price than ever! I can only recommend it to you.

My thanks got to www.nuprol.com for the loan of the test sample, and once they get the distribution rolling expect to see E&L Airsoft models in all good airsoft retailers!

features Length: 916mm Weight: 3485g Power: 1.0 Joule/329.6fps Material: Steel and Wood Outer Barrel: Steel CNC Gear Bushing: 6 x 9mm Bearing Gear Set: Steel CNC Wiring: Silver Wire Cylinder: One Piece Steel CNC Motor: High Torque

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armoury VALKEN AVP17

WHATEVER IT TAKES!

VALKEN ARE PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR PRODUCING EXCELLENT VALUE FOR MONEY RIFS BUT HERE, LEZ LEE GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THEIR AVP17 PISTOL TO FIND OUT IF IT STANDS UP TO THE COMPETITION – AND DISCOVERS MORE THAN HE EXPECTED. ”OUR FOCUS AT VALKEN EUROPE is not only servicing our customer’s needs by stocking the best quality products currently available in the market, but also providing full support and backup from our two state of the art distribution facilities in The Netherlands and UK.” Well, it doesn’t get any more straightforward than that

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statement from the VALKEN SPORT website!

Since 2008 VALKEN have been developing hobby guns by Gino Postorivo in the good old U.S. of A for a rather niche market - for people that would rather shoot their fellow humans than paper targets! In conjunction with the guns comes a vast array of accessories, clothing and consumables, all originating from The Far East and then flooding America before hitting Europe, with distribution centres in The Netherlands and the U.K. VALKEN not only supply guns and gear, they go that extra mile by supporting and sponsoring teams, sites/clubs and major sporting events connected with their products. For Valken Sports this is a valued and proud investment, in terms of thanking those that put in that extra effort to make sure that our (and the paintball) industry thrive and work together to form a formidable bond - the best working in harmony with the best in other words.

So let’s get down to business and look at the latest piece of handgun hardware from Valken Sports.

The AVP17 is the second pistol from this company. Valken are probably better known for their range of assault rifle type replicas and not forgetting the huge range of ammo, gear and accessories of the “tacticool” kind. It is often said that you buy VALKEN, you can be assured that whatever it is it ain’t gonna break down any time soon and I think it’s fair to say that after many, many years of creating their great reputation based around the .68 cal. paint throwers, stepping into the world of airsoft was merely a formality as the VALKEN structure was already well-established.

armoury VALKEN AVP17

AESTHETICS

I’m sure the majority of us know that warm, fuzzy feeling of excitement when our new gun arrives but it’s exaggerated even more when a good quality black plastic hard case is included, protecting your new shooter. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing and caressing one of these eye-catching beauties prior to this mouth-watering moment, then you will not be disappointed.

Lying on top of a bed of foam is, in my opinion, one stunning sidearm and it will come with a manual that is universal to both the AVP17 and AP92 pistols. You could be forgiven for taking a gasp, perhaps even a tingle down below, when you cradle this gun in your hands and feel the idealistic weight which is beautifully balanced throughout and created from the finest materials and finished to perfection. However, what struck me (no, not the wife for committing adultery with yet another pistol) was the superb dynamic styling. The angular bold lines of this puppy are quite overwhelming with its distinguishing features that set it aside from most others.

The AVP17 (Advanced Valken Pistol 17 Model) isn’t an exact replica of anything in the real world which makes it unique, and I just love unique! It is unlike any pistol in the firearm industry. It does however, take inspiration from many pistols, including the Halo Spartan, Timberwolf and #17 pistols.

There are three models in the range: • Black frame and black slide, with gold outer barrel and gold accents (trigger, slide release, slide catch) as seen in the accompanying images.

• Black frame with gold slide and black outer barrel.

• Black frame with silver slide and black outer barrel.

So whatever your bling thing, you should find love with one of the three.

At this time, I am reliably informed that the only aftermarket holster that will fit is the Blackhawk Omnivore. VALKEN will be releasing a triple retention polymer holster in conjunction with the AVP17 that will be compatible with both the AVP17 and AP92.

So, starting at the muzzle, what have we got?

Well, a 14mm CCW threaded outer barrel to screw our suppressors or tracers on to start with. The aluminium slide has a rather innovative set of low profile integrated sights which are recessed below the topline. A superb idea but both front and rear sights are fixed and therefore non-adjustable, but this is airsoft so it is pretty much irrelevant for a regular skirmish and bottom line – they work just fine. The heavily ported slide reveals a contrasting outer barrel to both lighten the weight

“I CONFESS, I’M THE FIRST PERSON TO BITCH AND MOAN WHEN MY DOUBLE-TAPS GO FROM “CRACKTO-CROCK” AS THE SECOND OF THE TWO QUICK SUCCESSION TRIGGER PULLS OFTEN FALLS WELL SHORT IN POWER DUE TO RAPID COOL DOWN BUT NOT SO WITH THIS PUPPY.” and enhance the good looks of this sexy sidearm. Deep slide serrations are presented front and rear to suit your preferred style of racking your RIF. The high density polymer lower hosts a 50mm long accessory rail just underneath its own unique serial number (this is how VALKEN keep track of warranty work on all of their airsoft guns). Just behind this sits a rather small and very curiously placed flush-mounted safety. Personally I prefer sizeable and conveniently placed controls but hey, that’s just me being fussy and thinking that I might break a nail during operation but, being the realist that I am, I totally respect the need for a safety on a real firearm. The trigger guard is a good size and more than adequate to cater for a gloved finger and the two-pronged trigger is both visually pleasing and a functional entity.

As we move back towards the grip, nestled either side of the slide are a pair of very robust competition thumb rests which really do feel rather good and add to the dynamics in terms of www.airsoft-action.online

17

armoury VALKEN AVP17

features Realistic gas blowback operation Metal slide with built-in sight Frame integrated accessory rail High strength polymer frame Hard carrying case with internal foam Removable ergonomic rubber grip High capacity 26 BB magazine

AIRSOFT

both looks and more importantly, performance. The grip itself has an included and removable (if you so wish) rubber sleeve which really does give terrific purchase, especially when used in conjunction with the thumb rests and really provides excellent stability and improved performance. As we near the end of this virtual tour, a flared magwell plays host to green gas magazines for this striker fired system. The AVP17 is compatible with Marui/WE green gas magazines but rest assured that VALKEN are currently testing Co2 magazine designs and compatibility.

Additionally (and a very relevant point on the internal hardware) the AVP17 is compatible with most G Series TM and WE parts, which are widely available. The adjustable hop unit is located in a typical easy take down process and access placement on top of the 100mm long x by 6.03 inner barrel so there is potential for upgrades if that kinda thing nibbles your cookies.

So how does this head turner perform?

Okay, so we have journeyed around the visuals but can it shoot?

After setting up the usual 10 and 30 metre targets, I sat myself at a bench-rested position and after a few test fires to familiarise myself with this semi-automatic, it was time to put 10 plastic balls on target for the first round of this review.

Using VALKEN’S own brand of .20s and a fresh can of green gas in good, temperate weather conditions and having already established an acceptable average of 293FPS/0.8J using .20s

over ten rounds, now was the moment of truth…… (Drum roll please……)

As the first plastic projectile pierced the air, it landed within the outer ring of a six-inch Birchwood Casey target which cannot lie (check these targets out on YouTube, they’re pretty damn good), a second round slammed into the outer ring of the bullseye and I soon established that this new shooter was sustaining shots straight and true at this distance.

Time for the thirty metres, which is really the most definitive range for establishing any airsoft gun’s performance because almost all handguns can hit a torso at short range but when your primary is down, you still need the confidence that your secondary sidearm is going to keep the plastic flying and ideally keep you in the game and a credible threat to the tangos.

Shot one was high and right - I’ll take the blame for that one but then one by one I walked the shots in with good effect until I was grouping on centre mass. Disappointed with my first couple of shots, I emptied the remainder of the clip into a nice cluster on target. Yep! I’m now happy with the accuracy but what really impressed me was the consistency of the recoil.

I confess, I’m the first person to bitch and moan when my double-taps go from “crack-to-crock” as the second of the two quick succession trigger pulls often falls well short in power due to rapid cool down but not so with this puppy. Okay, the recoil isn’t exactly wrist shattering but it is more than enough to satisfy us weekend warriors and probably the most credible double tap in a GBB semi auto that I have experienced in a very long time.

Equally impressive was the crisp and constant trigger break. Not so important in the heat of a gunfight on skirmish day but for targeting and competition standards, a fine squeezable trigger is what defines a win or lose.

TO CONCLUDE

This pistol really is in a class of its own and I’ve fallen for it! This is a stereotypical Marmite gun, you will either love it... or really, really love it! As for our army of MilSimmers, I’m not so sure it is going to compete with authentic RIFs but again, everything about airsoft is about personal choice and if we all looked exactly the same then we would look like an... erm... military unit?

Seriously though, as I said earlier, this is one extremely unique handgun. Will it perform? Absolutely! Will it turn heads at a skirmish? (let’s be honest, we just love turning heads) without any doubt – and will it keep you in the game due to its high build quality and reliability? For this answer I need to use those three little words – IT’S A VALKEN! Lez OUT!

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July 2018

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armoury UMAREX H&K 416 A5

A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN? HOT ON THE HEELS OF THE GAS BLOW BACK 416 A5 RELEASED LATE LAST YEAR UMAREX CONTINUE THEIR WATERFALL OF NEW MODELS THROUGHOUT 2018.

ACCURATE RELEASE DATES AND HIGH-END, FULLY LICENSED MODELS...

SCOTT ALLAN ASKS “IS THIS THE FUTURE OF AIRSOFT?” VFC MANUFACTURE THIS PRODUCT for Umarex under licence and they really are at the top of their game these days. VFC has the ability to apply their eye for detail and quality assurance too and Umarex has the Heckler & Koch licence. That’s a match made in heaven for Airsoft players, all the looks and all the reliability – just don’t expect a budget price tag.

Umarex, based in Germany, are armed with the Heckler and Koch license and they have created the long-awaited new 416 in AEG form. As always, they work with the excellent VFC production facility to achieve a worthy replica to pay homage to the mighty H&K rifle. Vega Force Company is fairly new in Airsoft terms but they’ve always done one thing that I’ve liked – their own thing. I feel too many Airsoft manufacturers take

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July 2018

the easy route and copy each other instead of trying their own thing. When they do try their own thing it can look a bit of a half-hearted effort.

VFC started in 2004 with a very nice 416, funnily enough I remember having one. Externally beautiful, internally a little basic but that was always okay back in the mid 2000’s. I still remember being blown away with how good that original 416 looked, given the alternatives were plastic Tokyo Marui, the first generation G&G (if you’re unlucky enough to remember those) and Classic Army. VFC’s position on which models to make was much more like an Airsofter than a normal business.

Most companies have an approach something like “how can we make it as close as possible to X, without having to pay Y for a licence, get sued for breaching Intellectual Property and make it as cheaply as possible”. VFC on the other hand say “how can we replicate this as closely as possible…. Because it’d be really cool to do that!” There are only a few other Airsoft manufacturers out there who do this but it’s none of the largest manufacturers - and that is a real shame.

The 416 A5 in the box is hit or miss for me. Strangely VFC either give you a pre moulded hardcase for a rifle, or you get a cardboard box with the rifle safely wrapped in a plastic bag. I’ve never really worked out why some come one way and some come another. Sadly the A5 comes with the cardboard box but that’s fine for most players. The rifles come in either RAL 8000 tan or Black. The black version is very nice overall but…

Oh my goodness! The RAL 8000 version is stunning! I do love the M27 and the G28 that Umarex do already, the colours are just so damned perfect and, of course, 100% accurately copied from the Real Steel versions as the Umarex 416 A5 is officially recognised and endorsed by H&K.

armoury UMAREX H&K 416 A5

REAL STEEL

The 416 isn’t new and of course it leans on the AR15/M4 design entirely but the A5 really is a substantial update for what is already an extremely well thought of weapon system. As you would expect, it uses the NATO standard 5.56mm round as most infantry weapons do these days. The most striking changes compared to its previous versions include an improved and tool-less gas regulator for suppressor use. A redesigned lower receiver that allows complete ambidextrous operation of the weapon (a left-handed shooter previously couldn’t hit the magazine release catch without difficulty) ensures optimised magazine compatibility, as many magazines such as PMAGs wouldn’t fit in the “anti wobble” magazine well. As well as numerous technical improvements to maximize the operator safety, reliability, ammunition compatibility and durability under real operating conditions. Essentially they’ve taken something that was high end and taken it even higher and undoubtedly now, more expensive.

The externals on any VFC are unquestionably pretty, their paintwork just always seems to be that “next level better” than a lot of the other companies out there. Sporting the new style A5 stock that I am particularly drawn to but it feels like I shouldn’t be. The pistol grip, as previously, is fantastically comfortable sitting perfectly in your hand. I don’t think people always appreciate how much difference a good pistol grip

can make. The magazine well has been changed slightly from the square original type to a more standard AR15 design. This allows the use of PMAGs and similar, not that this is a great deal of use to Airsofters these days. The metal flip up sights are very slim-line and the rear quick detach sight is the same one from the G28 that is truly a stunning design. The front sight drops into the RIS rail out of the way entirely. I am glad this design has stuck with RIS rails over Keymod and MLOK systems (although these rails are available separately) as I’m still pretty old school this way. As mentioned above the ambidextrous fire selector is fully functioning unlike the M27 which is a dummy on the right hand side. The magazine release catch is also fully ambidextrous to suit individual users too.

It’s all fairly standard on the specification side of things, I would’ve hoped for it to be up nearer 350-360 personally but

“ON THE LOOKS FRONT I DON’T THINK THE 416 COULD BE IMPROVED ON AND AS A REPLICA IT IS AS CLOSE AS IT GETS AND UNLESS VFC DEVELOP A “STOP ON EMPTY” SYSTEM, OR AN ELECTRONIC TRIGGER IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHERE ANY IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE.” www.airsoft-action.online

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armoury UMAREX H&K 416 A5

“GIVEN THE COMPACT SIZE AND NATURE OF THE 416 A5 IT IS COMPLETELY VERSATILE TO BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GAMING AREAS. BIG ENOUGH TO COPE BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE, IT IS THE ALL-ROUND PERFECT AIRSOFT RIFLE SIZE UNLESS YOU ARE ONE OF THESE HEATHENS WHO LIKES THOSE YUCKY LITTLE PISTOL M4S FIRING AT 80 ROUNDS PER SECOND!” it isn’t a major issue. The price is a fairly hefty one but it is in line with higher end replicas at the moment so it’s not totally unexpected and when you look at the overall design and work that has gone into it you can see where your money goes.

The new 8mm gearboxes are really very good and if you are so inclined they will take upgrades pretty well. I have become a big fan of the Gate Titan trigger systems after the ASCU triggers became a bit hit or miss. Of the hundred or so Titans I’ve seen installed only a handful have had an issue and it was always gearbox grease getting on the sensor, not an actual part failure. I am partly surprised the 416 ships with a high capacity magazine as I would see the 416 as a MilSim rifle and more inline with the mid capacity users out there.

If I could change anything about the 416 what would it?

That would really be a tough one. I think I’d have to ask for a bit more in the package, maybe a vertical grip like the G28 and a hard case, although personally I’m not keen on the VFC hard cases, as some of them don’t allow the gun to be stored with optics etc. fitted. On the looks front I don’t think the 416 could

be improved on and as a replica it is as close as it gets and unless VFC develop a “stop on empty” system, or an electronic trigger it is difficult to see where any improvements could be made. If you fancy doing the upgrades a good quality Laylax tightbore, slightly bigger spring and you are all set. Personally I’ll be fitting a Titan too which will be hard on the motor but worth the extra wear and tear.

Given the compact size and nature of the 416 A5 it is completely versatile to both indoor and outdoor gaming areas.

Big enough to cope but small enough to care, it is the all-round perfect Airsoft rifle size unless you are one of these heathens who likes those yucky little pistol M4s firing at 80 rounds per second! The standard M4 magazine works perfectly in the 416 so it means feeding it is very cost effective overall.

CONCLUSION

After asking about the A5 a couple of years ago at Shot Show, I am happy that Umarex chose to release one, so much so I’ve just bought one. The Umarex radar is filled with high end releases this year: G3s, Glocks and so many more that it is going to be a bumper year for them all round.

In short, I’ve waited a long time for this rifle and I am so glad it’s now here!!

features H&K license and trademarks Calibre - 6mm BB Magazine capacity - 300 Energy - 1 Joule / 328 FPS with 0.20g Blaster BB Length - 805mm Weight - 2870g Battery - 7.4V M4 stock LiPo Full Metal Adjust A5 Stock Metal flip up sights Full metal RIS front end Ambidextrous fire selector Ambidextrous magazine release Adjustable hop up Mosfet installed RRP £450

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July 2018

International WARZONE 2018

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE TWO BRITISH AIRSOFTERS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND PLAYING STYLES AND SEND THEM TO CRETE FOR A MAJOR GAME? BILL AND KELLY DRAW THEIR SERIES ON “WARZONE 2018 – THE FINAL ASSAULT” TO A CLOSE WITH THEIR REPORT ON WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A MOST REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE GAME!

E H T : E N O Z R A W T L U A S S A L A N FI

Bill I’VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO WarZone 6 for many, many reasons, some personal and some professional. Due to surgery last year I’ve been finding it hard to get back up to full speed in terms of my game and the thought of travelling to Crete to take part in a three day event both excited and terrified me!

Would I be fit enough? Could I hack the pace? Our preparation had been thorough in all respects, so in my mind the only potential “weak link” was me...

You can imagine, therefore, that it was with very mixed emotions that I met up with my mate Kelly to head to the airport. Kelly and I have been friends for some considerable time now and I have really seen her grow into a great airsoft journalist but, at the point of meeting to fly to Crete, we’d actually never played a game together! Such is the life of an Airsoft Action contributor as we are rarely at the same place due to covering different games and events the length and breadth of the UK! After a memorably entertaining flight we arrived safely at Chania airport, where we had arranged to be met by Stelios, the main man when it comes to all things “WarZone”. Stelios had kindly offered to put us up at his own apartment for the days immediately before and after the game and we had all already become mates over messenger and emails before we arrived. The run from the airport in the dark revealed little to us of Crete, other than after the sun went down away from the coastal strip things got dark... VERY dark!

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International WARZONE 2018

Now one thing I will tell you straight away, is that if you are ever thinking of heading to Crete for WarZone then you will get an absolutely superb reception! For our entire stay nothing was too much trouble for our hosts and we were made to feel like family from the get go, even to the point that Stelios handed us the keys to one of their vehicles, an elderly yet sprightly camo-painted Pajero and told us that it was ours for the duration of our time on the island. Kelly and I promptly named it “The Battlewagon”!

The next day was spent meeting more of the WarZone team and setting ourselves up, sorting food and water and generally getting our kit ready. NUPROL had very kindly shipped our E&L AKs and RAVEN pistols and these duly arrived in good order and of course, Stelios knowing the local UPS driver helped just a little with a super-timely delivery! After another pleasant evening where we were introduced to seasoned WarZone player Nikolas (who would be with us on the UN Team for the game and became known to us fondly as “Baggy”), it was time to head to the site. Due to the guys leaving super-early to set up we piled our kit into “The Battlewagon” and set off for the famous Arkadi Monastery, a great landmark situated right next to the site. Arriving after a somewhat hairy drive on some Cretan “local” roads we made it and proceeded to chrono and check in; all the procedures to do with WarZone are absolutely nailed, so there’s no stress at any point.

GAME ON!

From the registration point we then set off into the unknown again, making our way to the “UN Compound” which the team themselves were busy creating. Yup, you heard that right!

The team themselves got the materials and tools delivered by the organisers but then it was up to them how they created their FOB and perimeter. I really liked this aspect as it puts the onus on the players to create their own operating base... no blaming the organisers if it turned out to be wrong! This was also the first of many aspects of the game that I found quite unique but I soon learned that, in Crete, the players take responsibility for their own actions (and inactions), which makes a thoroughly refreshing change!

One challenging part of being a Brit at WarZone is that all the briefings are delivered in Greek! As

much as that sounds daunting, Nikolas and a new friend, Thomai, were on hand to help us with translation and they stayed with us all weekend, always happy to tell us what was happening and my thanks go to them very sincerely.

Thomai’s team-mate, Manousos, also turned out to be a real star as, like me, he is certainly an adherent to the “Six P’s” and had everything from snacks, sweets, cakes and coffees 100% squared away. He and I spent a lot of time talking over the weekend and he definitely comes under the heading of “a top bloke”.

The UN team leader, a serving Army officer, turned out to be quite a character too and was magnanimous in all things even when Kelly christened him “Space Commander General”!

Briefings and taskings were clear and to the point. Our role as “UN” was to mix things up a bit, making alliances with the other factions. OCTAPUS, under the command of General Kora, managed to control key positions of the Government, whilst former members of the government army, the Guard Regiment Command or GRC, objected to the new regime and repeatedly attempted to overthrow it. Into the mix came a team of US Army Rangers who were there to exploit the situation and work with whoever looked like the new rulers of the fictional island of Atlantis. There were also spies amongst the teams and a rarely-seen Spetsnaz detachment who were keeping a beady eye on the Yanks! The mix of teams is a clever one as if you want a full-on “Hardcore MilSim” experience then you can certainly get it but if you just fancy a great game with an immersive “BattleSim” style scenario this is on offer too and the balance is perfect!

Kelly Over my last 4 years in airsoft, I have played every event imaginable, from hectic Speedsoft to BattleSims and even physically/mentally demanding MilSims but I have yet to play a game that caters to multiple types of game styles in one event.

This is exactly what WarZone is! As Bill has already covered the nitty gritty of the event, I’m going to take you through my favourite engagements from the weekend and also what I have taken away from this game.

Over the course of the weekend we had some fierce engagements and firefights but Saturday for me was the day when everything really kicked off! As Friday was quite focused on the role play side of the UN forces, working out alliances and such, the action really started when the GRC attacked the UN camp Saturday morning. I had been out taking photographs for this report during the early hours and was just www.airsoft-action.online

25

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DOMINATE THE FIELD

International WARZONE 2018

having a sit down and replenishing fluid when all hell broke loose at the entrance to the camp with the shouts of “GRC! GRC! GRC! UN Medic!” I quickly grabbed my chest rig and slung it on, picked up my rifle and headed out of the tent and towards the fire. On my way to the entrance to the camp one of my UN brothers handed me a grenade, a water balloon for destroying vehicles. As I reached the front gate I took a quick peek around the camp wall to see where their armoured vehicle with the gun turret that was pinning down our troops in the woods was located. I threw the grenade as hard as I could and it hit the driver’s door destroying the vehicle (and splashing the driver in the face!). As they exited the vehicle I moved forward towards the vehicle and took out their driver and the two riflemen supporting the vehicle, thwarting their attempt at taking the United Nations camp. I also got our injured forces back into the game and we made plans to bump the GRC. It was seriously epic and left me in a “feel good” mood.

Saturday afternoon, at 5pm, we had a mission to assist the Octapus side in an attack at the Ranger Base south of the GRC. After we received our mission briefing, our forces loaded up into the three vehicles and off we went. As we drove into the entrance, there were bodies strewn about everywhere from

where the GRC had come through with an absolute vengeance.

Our vehicles rushed in, our troops dismounted and spread out through the woods. Our machine guns started to fire on the advancing GRC forces with our riflemen supporting them.

As we got closer to the GRC our troops began taking heavy casualties with screams of “UN Medic! UN Medic! UN Medic!” and as I was the only live medic on the field it was my job to get everyone back in the game. I ran from our support vehicles to the ground troops in the field and we got our troops back into the fight and continued taking ground from the GRC. Bill, our machine gunner on “top cover”, was taken out by enemy fire so I jumped into his place to start laying down the plastic and giving the UN forces covering fire in order to advance. My firefight ended with the vehicle being hit by a mortar round.

After a day of excitement Saturday night came with a lull, for the most part, it was too quiet as night fell. I sat in one of our support vehicles on STAG for a good few hours, just watching the night roll in and keeping an eye on the borders of the UN camp. As the moon reached its highest points, cracking sounds came from the woods and lasers started to appear from the trees. It was only a matter of minutes before what seemed like all of the GRC and Octapus forces had come to roll us in the night!

Our support vehicles started laying down fire onto the roads leading to the camp as anti-vehicle weapons started appearing from behind the walls. GRC breached our camp walls with a ladder and all hell broke loose inside the camp with “UN Medic!” being called and red dead lights flickering on. I jumped out of the car to support those inside the camp until I found myself walking through the back door. As I walked through the pitch black woods I heard something breathing next to me in the darkness. I whispered “UN?” and in reply I heard “No, Octapus.” In a panic I knife killed the player but got immediately slotted by his mate. A good end to a fierce day of battle.

Bill Sunday morning dawned even brighter and clearer than the previous day; it was looking like a HOT one and indeed the temperature climbed inexorably towards the 30’s! Luckily

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International WARZONE 2018

at this point we were given “guns free” and could take the fight to the enemy rather than simply waiting to see if they would engage us, governed as we were by strict ROE. This was probably my favourite part of the game as I like a good scrap as much as anyone and of course, in the woods it was a few degrees cooler too!

As the game wound down final alliances were made, and the “Final Assault” on the village began, with GRC entrenched with the Rangers and Octapus and the UN trying to remove them! I decided to view this alongside Stelios and what I witnessed was some absolutely SUPERB airsoft. Quite literally as good as I’ve seen anywhere! All the teams pushed and pushed back and as “GAME OVER!” was called everyone had given their all!

Kelly My trip to Crete was definitely a trip of firsts; from my first time driving in Europe, to the first time riding on the back of a motorbike, trying new foods and even having a go at preparing Shisha, it was only right that I tried an entirely new role during gameplay! As I was the smallest and quickest member of my squad, I was chosen as the Medic. This is a role I’m not used to playing; I prefer to be at the front of the action rather than hanging back and what I learned from playing this role is: I definitely need to do more cardio and a medic should never be the charger because if you get shot first your squad is pretty f*cked unless there is another medic nearby. It was definitely an interesting learning curve to play this role (and not to mention exhausting during the big battles) but I don’t think it’ll be a role I’d necessarily jump at in future games.

Overall, I had an amazing weekend at WarZone 6!

Although I’ve been told that this really IS the Final Assault and they have indeed gone out with a bang, I’m really hoping that Stelios and the team will run another event in the future so we can go on another Cretan adventure! I just want to take the time to thank our host Stelios for his hospitality during our stay, the WarZone team for running such a fantastic event, our translators Nikolas and Thomai for helping the two Brits throughout the weekend and of course the players on all sides for being so welcoming, generous and hospitable – this definitely won’t be the last time we visit the beautiful island of Crete.

Bill I’ve used the word “unique” in this report, and WarZone certainly is “one of a kind” and all the better for it. Safety glasses go on as soon as you enter the site and they stay on for the duration as you are “guns hot” ALL the time, even in your compound - and this is rigorously enforced. In terms of hit taking (and “HIT” is pronounced “EXO” in Greek in case you’re interested!) you are issued with an orange vest and a flashing red band at registration so when you are hit you can indicate it very clearly indeed, both during the day and at night. You are also

issued with a numbered armband and if you transgress in any way your opponent will simply ask for your number with no shouting and screaming. Now I will admit that at one point I was asked for my number and I was absolutely mortified!

Luckily as I discovered later this was just for something insignificant but at the time I was truly disappointed that I thought I’d let the side down. Believe me, this is a far, FAR better way of dealing with incidents than shouting and screaming, as yet again it puts the responsibility back on you, the player.

And to me this was the thoroughly unique part of WarZone; in their brief the Rethimno Airsoft Association (R.A Action) states clearly that you should ”play airsoft in such way so to please (your) opponents!!!” and this is a tenet that they live by, doing their utmost to ensure that all the players have a superb game. Rather than being totally fixated on who “wins”, both the organisers and players are genuinely more interested in having a super-solid event played with total honesty, honour, and integrity; they want everyone to play as hard as possible, to enjoy the event and to come away with a smile.I will tell you that after attending WarZone 2018 I will be smiling for a very, very long time and as for WarZone 2019, I look forward greatly to visiting my new-made friends again and attending another awesome airsoft event run “Cretan Style!”

Our sincere thanks go to Stelios, the rest of the WarZone team and all at the Rethimno Airsoft Association, to Nikolas, Thomai, Manousos and all our UN team-mates, to NUPROL, Snugpak, Helikon-Tex, and Military1st, and also to every single player that attended.

To you all, Kelly and I say “Thank You, and Yamas!”

www.airsoft-action.online

29

A selection of gun transportation options

feature STORING AND TRANSPORTING YOUR RIFS

AN OPEN AND S GETTING YOUR KIT TO SITE… SAFELY

HOW YOU CARRY YOUR RIFS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT - NOT ONLY TO KEEP THEM SAFE FROM DAMAGE BUT ALSO TO KEEP YOU OUT OF PRISON! GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THE MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND ALSO OFFERS SOME SOUND ADVICE. PERHAPS, ALMOST AS IMPORTANT as choosing a decent RIF (Realistic Imitation Firearm) is selecting a suitable case for your “weapon of choice”. Like it or not, in today’s climate taking your RIF to a site without the most rudimentary of gun cases is not only downright foolish but also illegal if you’re seen with it in public.

Back when the old hands on the team started playing airsoft it was a very different world, with less “worry” about domestic terrorism and the VCRA was just a twinkle in the Government’s eye. Many players would simply throw their AEG A gun in a bin bag looks like a in the boot “ready to rock”, gun in a bin bag, don’t do it! although the more cautious of us wrapped their AK47 in a bin bag to protect it from prying eyes, while using a gun bag was simply “extravagant”.

Since airsoft won its “defence” against the Violent Crimes Reduction Act (VCRA) it’s been paramount that we, as a

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hobby, are seen to be discrete and responsible and to be frank, the only time a RIF should be in plain sight is on an insured skirmish site or at a responsible event. In fact there is actually no requirement in Law that any RIF should be in a suitable “gun case or container” and not left in public view but it is clearly a question of common sense. Any RIF should, we have been

A simple gun bag is ‘sub optimal’ in today’s political climate

Feature STORING AND TRANSPORTING YOUR RIFS

A soft gun bag doesnt allow you to easily carry your AEG made ‘not ready’

advised by the police, be transported in the UK in a locked case and be seen to be “unready”.

So the question is “how do you get your RIF there?” Whichever option you go for there are some basic “safe travel” rules that we should all try to adhere to: 1.

2.

3.

4.

A standard size soft case gun bag will accomodate most AEGs

If possible make any gun case or Even in a soft gun bag under the wrong bag discrete and as “luggageconditions the contents are still clearly some like” as possible. While a tiger sort of gun stripe gun case with “Born to kill!” written on it might look cool… it also makes it really obvious you’re carrying some sort of weapon to the average man in the street.

When transporting your RIF in a case or a bag, remove the magazine and (where possible) break it down to make it clear that there is no real “bolt carrier”, or real firearms part within the receiver. For example, with an AK47-type AEG, remove the top cover so that the wiring and gear box are visible to a casual inspection.

If you have to use public transport, make sure your case or bag is within sight of you at all times. While it’s “common sense” it’s also a good idea to remind new players not to wear tactical gear and carry a gun case on public transport!

When using your own car to transport your RIF, always make sure that any military looking equipment and any “gun bag” type cases are covered by a blanket or travel

D SHUT CASE 5.

6.

A traditional shooting ‘hard case’ is capacious but hard to store.

It wont fit in the boot of most small cars

rug - especially if you intend to visit a service station or leave your car parked up in public for any time.

Ensure all magazines are empty and stored in a different location to your RIF, ie: RIF in boot, mags on back seat.

Should you have to take your RIF on an aeroplane overseas and are lucky enough to find an airline that will take your case, do NOT fasten your case up with padlocks as its highly likely customs or luggage inspectors will simply cut them off to check the contents. Check with your airline as to their carriage guidelines and regulations BEFORE booking to go on a game overseas with your RIF.

Clearly, common sense is key but you’d be surprised at how many players forget to employ these simple preventative measures. So, without further ado, we’ll look at some of the more common options available…

Bin Bag/Blanket/Tarpaulin

Let’s be straight here. This might be a cheap and a “technically” legal option but make no mistake, nothing looks dodgier than a gun wrapped in a cloth or a refuse sack. It oddly looks more suspicious than having a toy gun in plain sight! To be fair, it also doesn’t comply with common sense’s requirement for a “suitable case or container”.

Don’t use this method except in extreme circumstances!

Many soft cases have MOLLE loops to allow you to attach extra pouches like this tool kit

The original packaging

A traditional hard case does however hold a lot of kit!

This is another “sub optimal” solution in the eyes of many of the Airsoft Action team. While the original card and expanded polystyrene box will keep your RIF and the basic components safe and together, they don’t tend to last too long under extended use.

www.airsoft-action.online

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Feature STORING AND TRANSPORTING YOUR RIFS

Original packaging, turn this inside out for transport

Furthermore most RIF boxes are unsuitable for public transport as they have pictures of the firearm within printed all over them, this can be alleviated somewhat by reversing the box lid so that the plain card is facing outwards and the printed imagery within.

Fabric gun bag

These simple canvas or nylon bags should be the minimum storage/travel standard you employ. While they do allow you to comfortably and relatively discretely carry your RIF they do, unfortunately, make it very obvious that the contents are probably “rifle-like” and usually provide very little protection to your guns.

Nylon soft case

Perhaps this can be considered the real “base standard” for transporting your kit. Not only do most standard soft cases allow you to carry two RIFs or more (and any necessary ancillaries in the external pouches) but the majority of these cases are also padded and will protect your RIFs from minor accidents.

Original packaging only works if you don’t customise your AEG!

with a soft or hard case to carry your kit to games.

YOU AND THE LAW

It‘s worth remembering that airsoft has a hard won “defence” to allow us to still use realistic looking guns in our simulated wargames. It’s up to STAR military style L85a2 hard case. every airsofter to attend There is a small amount of room for games responsibly in ancillaries order to keep our sport on the right side of the law. Should you have any mishap with the authorities it’s important to stay calm. Always keep the phone number of the site you are travelling to “on hand”, so that you can allow a police officer to instantly check that you are on your way to an official event. Also bear in mind that most police officers will have next to no knowledge of airsoft and may well believe your RIF to be a real firearm (all the more reason to transport them with as much of the “internals” on show as reasonably practicable).

Military style hard case

For some time these were the “best” option for storing your weapons. Not only are they pretty “bomb proof” (being made out of nylon fibre re-enforced polymers) but they surround the RIF with expanded foam which can be cut to accommodate the exact shape of your chosen rifle, shotgun or pistols. The downside to these cases are they are often heavy and tend to only have a carry handle which makes them great for short distances but somewhat tiring for extended use.

Travel ready hard cases

In many ways these represent the holy grail of airsoft case. Hard cases such as these combine the best aspects of the Military style hard case with more “user friendly” features, such as an extendable carry handle and wheels to allow you to tow the case behind you like a modern suitcase on level ground while still allowing you to carry it over more rough terrain.

The above represents just a sample of the more popular types of carry case used by most airsofters. There are, however, a bewildering amount of storage/carry solutions out there, including specialist cases designed purely for one particular type of RIF, such as ASG’s soft case for the EVO series with specially cut foam compartments. For many “old school” RIFs you can also find authentic military carry cases from their era. The problem with many of these, however, is that they are clearly cases for firearms and so likely to cause as much alarm as the “bin bag” solution. A classic example is the very popular “drop cases” available online for the Kalashnikov series of firearms.

While these are great at protecting your rifle (being originally intended for soviet paratroopers) they are also so form-fitting to the weapon as to make the contents unmistakably some sort of “rifle”.

Furthermore, not all cases are great for all occasions. While soft cases are great for transport if you own your own car, they are less suitable for storage. Hard cases on the other hand might be a little heavier but have the benefit of being “stackable” which is something that airsofters with sizable RIF collections need to bear in mind. While logic and common sense dictate that RIFs in public have to be in a “suitable case or container”, this is somewhat nebulous and while most soft gun bags SHOULD be suitable and prevent the outline of the rifle being Soft case gun bag by Voodoo Tactical with seen, it’s probably best to “play safe” lots of storage options

This hard case can carry all my AEGs and pistols for a weekender but is very bulky

Most policemen know that a firearm (blank, deactivated or real) is an absolute “no-no” in public but WON’T know about Airsoft and our defence. Remain calm, friendly and helpful at all times and show “airsofters” in a good light. It’s better to stay calm and be a bit late, or even potentially miss your game than to “kick off” and have your kit confiscated until an “expert” can check them out.

Always remember that what is “clearly a replica” to YOU might well be terrifying to someone not familiar with the hobby. Even a two tone “sci-fi” type RIF can look real to someone unfamiliar with firearms.

AIRSOFT ACTION TV This month Airsoft Action TV have decided to check out the various storage and travel options available to today’s airsofter. If you’d like to join Anvil and Gadge as they discuss the finer points of airsoft sense and security when it comes to getting your favourite AEG safely to site then simple visit you tube and click on the latest episode.

WIN A NUPROL HARD CASE Nuprol’s range of travel friendly hard cases are a boon for today’s airsofter being both capacious and sensibly priced. Each case sports wheels and an adjustable drag handle and one of these can be yours this month if you check out our simple competition in this issue on page 71.

www.airsoft-action.online

33

armoury NUPROL SIERRA STORM SERIES SHOTGUNS

SPRING 2018 SEEMS TO BE THE SEASON OF NEW SHOTGUNS AND ONCE AGAIN NUPROL HAVE SURPRISED US BY DROPPING IN A COMPLETE NEW RANGE OF PUMP-ACTION “SPRINGERS”, IN A FORM THAT WILL CERTAINLY APPEAL TO THE “MILITARY-MINDED” AMONGST US. JERRY NOONE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.

STORMING SHOTGUNS I AM A VERY HAPPY AIRSOFTER! Like many of you out there (and even quite a few amongst the Airsoft Action contributor team), I am a HUGE fan of shotgun models and I’m always pleased to see yet more models hitting the stores, as it gives us all more choice and greater availability. A shotgun is a thing of beauty in my mind; it’s simple to use, simple to maintain and in some formats like the classic wood-furniture models, almost “elegant”.

In use it can be stunningly effective at close range and, in airsoft form, a winner even at greater engagement distances.

With the newer tri-barrel models you get three shots for the price of one, ten of those in one shell and just as with the “real deal”, I challenge anyone not to shudder when they hear that “clack-clack” of the racking action coming from outside a room you are hiding in!

The humble spring shotgun is becoming far more than

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July 2018

just a simple skirmish tool; with the rise of “three gun” style competitive shoots the “shottie” is finally coming into its own, in my opinion. This is a discipline that certainly interests me and, in fact, I’m talking to folk at the moment to see how we can make the whole “three gun” thing a little more accessible and user-friendly to the average “Sunday Skirmisher” with little budget for fancy guns and kit. More on this another day though as, hopefully, words turn into action…

For many the “competition element” will never be a an area of interest and those of you that fall into that category ultimately look at a shotgun more as a straightforward game day tool - and there’s nowt wrong with that! Even at the highest levels of MilSim, where kit quite literally verges on the “living history” scale of accuracy in terms of loadouts, then the shotgun, the “breacher”, is a very necessary bit of kit to have in your section.

armoury NUPROL SIERRA STORM SERIES SHOTGUNS

And this, my fellow airsofters, is where the guys at NUPROL have been very, very clever in their choice of shotgun to front up their latest SIERRA STORM line of RIFs, as the model they have chosen to replicate is none other than the Benelli M4, or to us Brits, the L128A1!

FORCES CHOICE!

incorporated total efficiency with complete reliability; many Benelli shotguns utilise this unique inertia operating system developed by Bruno Civolani.

On May 4, 1998, the United States Army’s Armaments Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) issued a request for a 12 gauge, semi-automatic combat shotgun for the U.S. military. In response to the request, Benelli designed and built the M4 Super 90 Combat Shotgun.

On August 4, 1998, five samples of the M4 were delivered to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, and after intense

The http://www.eliteukforces.info website tells me that: “The L128A1 Combat Shotgun is a semi-automatic 12-guage shotgun in use with British forces. Combat Shotguns are typically carried by the “JUST AS WITH THE “REAL DEAL”, I CHALLENGE ANYONE NOT TO SHUDDER point element of a section WHEN THEY HEAR THAT “CLACK-CLACK” OF THE RACKING ACTION COMING and is particularly useful when engaged in close quarter battle FROM OUTSIDE A ROOM YOU ARE HIDING IN!” such as clearing compounds in Afghanistan or operating in testing the M4 (no, this one, not the other M4!) had beaten dense vegetation. the competition. In early 1999 Benelli commercially introduced The Combat Shotgun is a Benelli M4 fitted with a Eotech the M4 Super 90, a gas operated semi-automatic shotgun 552 sight. It features a rail for mounting accessories such as intended for military and law enforcement use and the first foregrips. The weapon also features a 3-position extendable models were delivered to the United States Marine Corps in buttstock, which many users find either too long when 1999. During testing, the prototype was named XM1014 but extended or too short when retracted, or both. The L128A1 after adoption, the “X” for “experimental” was dropped and comes with a 7+1 magazine.” the weapon was officially designated the M1014 In reality this is just a summation of the shotgun that is The M4 was actually the first gas-operated shotgun in service right now and says very little about why an Italian produced by Benelli which makes this story even more sporting shotgun maker should now be providing not just the amazing! Its function was designed around an entirely new British Army, but also the USA and numerous other military method called the “auto regulating gas operated” (ARGO) and police forces worldwide! system. The short-stroke design used two stainless-steel selfIn 1911 Teresa Benelli invested in her six sons to begin a cleaning pistons located just ahead of the chamber to function car servicing company. Eventually their services expanded opposite the rotating bolt, thereby eliminating the need for the to include servicing motorcycles and even building their complex mechanisms found on other gas-actuated automatics. own. In 1967, as Benelli Armi SpA of Urbino, they acted on The ARGO incorporated only four parts: two symmetrical their love of hunting as well as their belief in the semi-auto shrouds containing two small steel gas pistons. shotgun by developing firearms. What distinguishes Benelli Additionally, the M4 was self-regulating in use with from the competition to this day, is the ultra-reliability and cartridges of varying length and power levels. It could fire quality built into every gun, based on superior technology 2.75 (70 mm) and 3-inch (76 mm) shells of differing powerand craftsmanship. Benelli’s Inertia Driven operating system

www.airsoft-action.online

35

armoury NUPROL SIERRA STORM SERIES SHOTGUNS

levels without any user adjustment and in any combination.

Low-power rounds, such as less-lethal rubber pellets, could be cycled manually.

Based on proven use with the US Military the M4, or L128A1 in UK parlance, was procured to meet an urgent operational request from troops in Helmand province who felt they needed a weapon that could engage fleeting targets at very close ranges whilst they cleared Afghan compounds, precisely the same reasons the SAS had adopted the shotgun in the jungles of Borneo some forty years earlier!

A WORTHY REPLICA

So here we have a proper, full-on, “military” shotgun model that will fit perfectly as part of any modern loadout, whether that be British, American, Australian and many, many more!

NUPROL really have pulled a blinder here as the SIERRA STORM series comprises of twelve models; in reality it’s six models to be fair as you have the choice, dependant on your budget, of either full metal-bodied or polymer-bodied, railed or non-railed versions but that’s just being picky!

What they’ve brought to us is the classic full-stock variant (ALPHA), the sliding-stock model most normally seen in the hands of British soldiers (BRAVO), and an un-stocked version for those that like this style (CHARLIE). These three variants are available with “classic” pumps or with an up-to-the-minute railed version, again which you’ll see with UK troops. If your budget doesn’t run to a metal version then don’t despair as all of these choices are replicated in sturdy polymer! All models come with fixed front and rear sights, along with a section of 1913-style Picatinny rail along the top (for mounting that “issue” EoTech 552!).

I was sent metal and polymer versions for testing and I have to say I was impressed with both. I already own other brands of airsoft shotgun, polymer and metal, spring and gas, and the NUPROL versions are as good as any out there.

I will go as far as saying that the finish of the metal SIERRA is very nearly as good as that of my rather more expensive G&P 870s! Although I tested different variants I have to say that my personal favourite is the fully-railed, sliding stock metal version (yup, the “issue” one) but for competitive shooting I’d probably plump for the full stock, plain-pump version.

All models are Tri-Shot and use standard 30BB shells (NUPROL produce their own of course!) and are loaded via the trap underneath the main body which is opened using a latch next to the trigger guard; the push-through safety is also located to the upper rear of the trigger guard. Loading up a shot-shell is of course simplicity itself, so once I’d done this it was off to the chrono. Using .20g RZR BBs I got a mean reading of 0.81 Joule/296fps which is spot-on for the intended use and of course, utterly compliant with site rules in the UK .

The SIERRA shotguns all rack smoothly - but I’d advise wearing tactical gloves to protect your tender pinkies if you’re going to use the railed versions for an extended period of time! Range and accuracy are more than reasonable and I had no problems using one at my local CQB site and this was equally true on the range, as they’d quite happily send three BBs a time onto a Fig11 at 20m. If you are going to use a SIERRA for competition or serious CQB, then NUPROL also have you covered for this with their new Shotgun Shell Magazine which is designed to store up to ten shot-shells.

A spring-loaded platform inside the magazine pushes the shells down so you can access them as needed just using your thumb and forefinger. Two rear plastic straps can be used to secure the magazine on either MOLLE platforms or just on a belt and they give you easy access to some real firepower!

I KNOW that I’ve said this before but I do love that NUPROL give us things that as airsofters we actually want! Too many times have I seen manufacturers produce something just because they like it, or it’s cool at that moment but NUPROL seem able to make us what we really need - and that’s solid RIFs at a good price and the accessories to go with them. Add to this that the new SIERRA STORM series replicates the shotgun used by our own Armed Forces and to me it just doesn’t get much better!

Thanks to the NUPROL team for once again providing test models of all the new shotgun variants, and please do visit www.nuprolairsoft.com for more information and stockist details.

“RANGE AND ACCURACY ARE MORE THAN REASONABLE AND I HAD NO PROBLEMS USING ONE AT MY LOCAL CQB SITE AND THIS WAS EQUALLY TRUE ON THE RANGE, AS THEY’D QUITE HAPPILY SEND THREE BBS A TIME ONTO A FIG11 AT 20M.” www.airsoft-action.online

37

event THE UNIVERSITY AIRSOFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

CRAIG WALTON JOINS THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM AND REPORTS FROM A RAPIDLY-GROWING EVENT WHERE UNIVERSITY AIRSOFT TEAMS BATTLE IT OUT TO BECOME CHAMPIONS. Photography by WA03 Media

THE UNIVERSITY AIRS O A SHORT WHILE AGO I was invited to attend a whole new kind of airsoft, one I’ve never experienced in all my years of playing our wonderful sport. So on a typical wet and miserable British morning I made my journey across the bridge to Cardiff University and the 3rd Annual University Airsoft Championships, or “UAC” for short. According to their Facebook page, the UAC “set out to provide a unique experience exclusive to University airsoft fanatics around the United Kingdom. Every year, players from all over the country, representing their University society, fight for the title of Champion”. They are a stand-alone events and have previously been held at Bristol Airsoft and Full Metal Airsoft – Swansea and this time it was in the student union of Cardiff University. I was intrigued, as I’ve never visited a University that has housed it own airsoft site!

As I arrived and walked through to the Student Union building, I was surprised to find a mini-CQB site had been made inside the Union itself, roughly no more than 15 meters square, where a series of chipboard barricades had been erected and arranged. I later found out that Cardiff University Airsoft

38

july 2018

Society run games like this on a regular basis for their members – a nice way to introduce new people to the sport. Shortly after my arrival the marshal team arrived; these guys had volunteered their time to help the event and provided the competition with an impartial set of referees to help keep it fair, as they had all travelled from different parts of the country to take part.

University teams taking part in the competition were: Cardiff, University of the West of England, Kent, Sussex, Lancaster, Swansea, Leicester, Bournemouth and Aberystwyth.

A team consists of 7 players with 5 playing in each game allowing for 2 subs when needed. After the normal safety brief and chrono the competition got underway!

A match consists of 3 games, each game lasts 3 minutes or until the objectives had been achieved. To win a game you have to eliminate the opposing team within the 3 minutes, with no respawns allowed. When hit, players make their way out of the game area and wait until the game is over to start the next one, with starting corners being swapped after each game. In the middle of the arena, in the centre of a small kill house was a flag, bonus points were given to be the first team to pick up the flag and more bonus points were given for grounding the flag in the opposing team’s start point. It’s almost as if this game scenario was thought up whilst watching a game of rugby as that’s what it most reminded me of. One thing to note is that only the first team to grab the flag got the points, it could be dropped any number of times as the flag carriers got hit but only the first team that picked it up scored the points.

But bonus points were awarded for grounding the flag in the opposing start point no matter how many times the flag was dropped.

Cheating was dealt with a card system, a yellow was issued for an offence and this incurred a penalty where the player would then miss the next game of that match or if it was the last game then he would miss the first of the next match. A red issued for a repeat offender along with a match ban penalty.

Thanks to the great play all round very few of these were issued during the day.

I’m not going to write a full account of games and matches as these were turned around fast and with a total of 36 matches being played, with each match being 3 games, that’s

event THE UNIVERSITY AIRSOFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

S OFT CHAMPIONSHIPS 108 games in the day! However, I will say this has got to be the fastest gameplay I “I’M NOT GOING TO WRITE A FULL ACCOUNT OF GAMES AND MATCHES have ever seen! I’ve played a lot of CQB AS THESE WERE TURNED AROUND FAST AND WITH A TOTAL OF 36 which I thought was intense and fastMATCHES BEING PLAYED, WITH EACH MATCH BEING 3 GAMES, THAT’S paced but “SpeedCQB” is something else, with players power-sliding their way 108 GAMES IN THE DAY! HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THIS HAS GOT TO BE across the game zone or into start points THE FASTEST GAMEPLAY I HAVE EVER SEEN!” with flags and diving all over the place to avoid shots or to get an advantage around barricades. Aside from Cardiff and UWE charge, others the methodical sweep and clear approach or the other 7 teams present had never played this kind of airsoft, the defensive stance to try and deny the flag reaching their in fact mostly their local sites are woodland so this was a whole start point, or in the hope of having it delivered to them by new ball game to them as well. This certainly didn’t stop them the opposing team only to eliminate the carrier and run it getting stuck in and, after a couple of games to find their themselves to score the bonus points. feet, they were soon diving around like the rest of them. A The entire competition was also broadcast live over the game begins with both teams facing away from the game area Facebook page of Cardiff Universities Airsoft Society along with towards the corner of the game zone. At the call of “game on” both teams turn around and then race to win the game. Each barricade has a letter and number on it which helps with team communication and calling out opposing players to team mates when working together.

In between matches the teams the teams not playing would be in the safe zone area, or on the balcony area above the game zone watching the next game unfold. I started to notice some were there with a white board or pad, making notes on opposing team’s tactics and it was at this point I realised how much this competition means to these guys and girls - not only how competitive it was but also how they all supported each other. You could hear the clapping and cheering from the balcony all over the game and safe zone areas throughout the day, no matter what the outcome of the matches playing out below, just supporting and congratulating whichever teams were playing. The more experienced teams showed through with their teamwork and communication, some have clearly been training a while for this competition. On the “game on” call you could hear them constantly shouting out opposing players, locations and movements to their teammates to help them close down on the opposing player and eliminate them from the game. No pyro is allowed at the event and an array of tactics were used by all teams; some favoured the full-on

www.airsoft-action.online

39

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event THE UNIVERSITY AIRSOFT CHAMPIONSHIPS

a live scoreboard that was updated as the day went on by a dedicated team sat in the corner of the balcony. A nice way to allow the supporters to tune in and watch their team compete, with plenty of them getting involved in the comments section and showing their support. At the time of writing this the video has been seen by just over 7,000 viewers!

As the dust settled after a gruelling 108 games at the end of the day and we eagerly awaited the results, I managed to have a chat with all the teams as they sat around their tables, everyone grinning from ear to ear having enjoyed a great day’s airsoft and asking when the next one would be and where the competition would move to for its next venue.

Final scores were Kent coming in at 3rd place, UWE at 2nd and Cardiff gaining the all-important 1st place, along with the Championship trophy.

As I drove home I reflected back on what had been certainly an interesting day. I’ve been to competitive days before, the kind set up by a couple of local teams hiring their favourite site for a bit of friendly competition but nothing of this calibre. The guys behind the University Airsoft Championships have put a lot of time and effort into getting this competition out there and hopefully it will continue to grow with more Universities putting teams forward to compete and more exciting venues to visit.

To find out more about the University Airsoft Championships you can search for them on Facebook or go straight to www.facebook.com/UniAirsoftChamps

www.airsoft-action.online

41

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Warriors SAS BATT SOLDIER, OMAN 1972

GADGE HARVEY LOOKS AT AN SAS SOLDIER FROM A BATTLE THAT HAS GONE DOWN IN THE ANNALS OF SAS HISTORY - BUT WENT LARGELY UNREPORTED AT THE TIME.

SAS SOLDIER: BATT HOUSE

MIRBAT, OMAN 1972

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july 2018

Warriors SAS BATT SOLDIER, OMAN 1972

THE 1980s WOULD SEE THE SAS catapulted into the public eye after the high profile Iranian Embassy Siege at Princes Gate.

However, the SAS had already been fighting secret wars against the enemies of the free world for decades.

Formed in WWII, the SAS had always been Britain’s elite strike force. The regiment conducted lightning raids against the Nazis but after WWII its role became more focussed on winning the “hearts and minds” of the locals in countries friendly to the west, while gaining intelligence on communist forces.

In Malaya in the 1950s the SAS would win the war for Britain while vastly outnumbered, using local knowledge and superior field craft to launch devastating ambushes. During the Dhofar Rebellion in Oman, the SAS would again be hoping to win over the popular support of the people but were also tasked to help train the Sultan of Oman’s military to resist soviet backed rebels and, once again, would find itself again vastly outnumbered.

The Battle of Mirbat was one of military history’s greatest “last stand” battles but, at the time, it went almost unnoticed by the world’s media as Britain’s assistance to Oman was something of a “secret war”. But for the men of the SAS, the Battle of Mirbat would become their “Alamo” and provide a battle honour that would become the stuff of legends as a section fought off almost forty to one odds!

In the July of 1972 a nine man SAS British Army Training Team (BATT) stationed at Mirbat were to have a rude awakening. Shortly before dawn, hundreds of communist trained warriors of the Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG) used exemplary fieldcraft to sneak up upon the “night picket” of local Omani soldiers and silently dispatch the sentries the SAS had trained to guard the training team at night. Major Mike Kealy, commanding the team, at first thought the advancing PFLOAG skirmish screen was the night picket returning but soon realised something was afoot and called for the team to “stand to”. One soldier, Pete Winner, ran to the radio to alert HQ that a major attack was underway.

HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT

As soon as the team and the small attached force of Omani and Pakistani soldiers returned fire, the “adoo” (as the PFLOAG were also known) hit the ground and began to put down a withering hail of fire from their AK47 assault rifles and use fire and manoeuvre techniques to get closer to the BATT house.

The training team had a single WWII era 25-pounder field gun and knowing they had to do something to balance out the disparity in firepower, one man from the team, Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba, ran across open ground to man the field gun and fire at the advancing Adoo; a heroic achievement for one man as the gun normally requires a crew of six!

Sgt. Labalaba was hit and wounded and others rushed to his place knowing how vital the gun was to their survival. As the range between the two combatants shortened the volume of AK47 fire became more and more intense and the team started to use a 51mm, 2lb mortar at almost point blank range to disrupt the enemy attack while the 25-pdr had to be aimed and sighted by looking directly down the barrel! Knowing that things were utterly desperate the SAS team called in air support from Strikemaster jets from the Sultan of Oman’s air force who attacked at almost ground level, strafing the SAS positions with cannon and rockets to sweep the Adoo off the fort. The Strikemasters flew sortie after sortie as the SAS desperately hung onto the position until at midday, with Pete Winner having successfully got the signal out to HQ, the men of G squadron came into relieve the beleaguered men of the BATT. The Battle of Mirbat was over and of the nine men stationed at the BATT house one would be killed during the battle and another die of his wounds afterwards… all would rightly go into the annals of history as heroes.

OUR WARRIOR

Our warrior this month represents one of the training team deployed to Oman and is wearing the combat equipment and

clothes more often seen on patrols and other duties, as the heroes of Mirbat were surprised at dawn and largely fought in their shorts and boots. The British Army, as we shall see, had not really updated its hot weather fighting uniform since the days of the Second World War.

WWII VINTAGE

Most noticeable in our trooper’s uniform is the WWII issue Windproof Smock. The windproof smock came with a matching pair of trousers in a hardwearing tight-weave cotton that was both “windproof” (as the name suggests) and almost somewhat showerproof. The windproof suit was a general issue cold weather item in the later years of WWII but it was www.airsoft-action.online

45

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Warriors SAS BATT SOLDIER, OMAN 1972

often seen on members of the SAS with their jeep patrols and became known to many as an “SAS windproof”. In reality this outfit was incredibly practical and by WWII (and later 50s and 60s) British Army standards very lightweight and the jacket (and often the suit) could be seen being worn by members of the SAS and SBS alike (and also many were sold to the French Foreign Legion in the 50s and could be seen in Vietnam).

So popular would the windproof suit be that sand coloured examples (the suit came in white snow camo, an off white stone colour, sand, olive green and the pictured brushstroke camouflage) would be worn by the famed “Bravo 2 Zero” patrol as late as 1991, as the regiment still had a lot of them in stores.

This trooper also wears olive green denim trousers from the short-lived 60 pattern uniform, although in pictures from the campaign both 60 pattern trousers and WWII-era “khaki drill” sand coloured trousers can be seen being worn side by side.

Under the windproof smock a simple aertex jungle green shirt is worn, also of WWII vintage. As Britain had been gearing up for a largely conventional war with Russia in Western Germany as its main priority, “desert kit” at Oman had changed only superficially from the pre-WWII sand-coloured khaki drill, or “KD”. An SAS trooper in Oman would be dressed almost identically to a British paratrooper fighting at Suez two decades previous, in the early 1950s.

Protection from the elements comes in the form of a traditional Arab shemagh, worn as a headscarf. Worn here on the head as a wrap it could also be adjusted to cover the face in a sandstorm, or even simply worn as a scarf in the chill of the desert night. While our soldier here wears rubber soled DMS (Direct Moulded Sole) ammo boots, many troopers wore “chukka boots”, ankle length sand-coloured suede desert boots with soft soles, which were both comfier and cooler on the hot sand and rock than the issue army boot. While not

The Mirbat Fort Image: Pete Winner

an item of clothing, it is noticeable that the trooper sports a beard as many troopers did in Oman. While the British Army traditionally requires soldiers to be clean shaven, SAS troopers in Oman were given considerable more latitude towards personal grooming than troopers stationed in Europe.

As a member of the British Army Training Team our trooper’s fighting equipment is minimal and consists of “reduced order” 58 and 44 pattern webbing, allowing him to carry enough to fight and survive on patrols away from base. In this instance his “belt kit” consists of two 58 pattern ammo pouches on a 58 pattern belt, with a 44 pattern water bottle attached. Lastly, a basic survival kit is contained in a binocular pouch on the belt and a bayonet for his L1a1 Self Loading Rifle is slotted into the loops of his ammo pouch. The 7.62mm SLR was the British Army’s standard battle rifle from 1956 onwards and used by the SAS in Oman alongside the M16, Sterling SMG, L42 sniper rifle, the L4 Light Machine Gun (known simply as the “LMG” and which was a rechambered WWII Bren to enable the section to share 7.62 ammo) and the 7.62 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) .

As with many of our more “unusual” Warriors features, while this is a fantastically fun impression to collect it’s of an obvious limited use outside of a themed airsoft event, however, as Airsoft Action had been lucky enough to be invited to the Pilgrim Bandits invitational charity game, we thought that this month we’d pay tribute to the brave heroes of Mirbat by recreating the look of the SAS desert warrior of the 1970s.

“THE TRAINING TEAM HAD A SINGLE WWII ERA 25-POUNDER FIELD GUN AND KNOWING THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO BALANCE OUT THE DISPARITY IN FIREPOWER, ONE MAN FROM THE TEAM, SERGEANT TALAIASI LABALABA, RAN ACROSS OPEN GROUND TO MAN THE FIELD GUN AND FIRE AT THE ADVANCING ADOO; A HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR ONE MAN AS THE GUN NORMALLY REQUIRES A CREW OF SIX!” www.airsoft-action.online

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Charity Event OP BATT HOUSE

OPERATION BATT HOUSE

Photography by WA03 Media www.wa03media.co.uk

IN AID OF PILGRIM BANDITS

IT’S A RARE THING FOR MEMBERS OF THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM TO GET OUT TO A GAME TOGETHER, AS USUALLY WE’RE DOTTED AROUND THE COUNTRY COVERING DIFFERENT EVENTS. APRIL 21ST THOUGH SAW NIGE, BILL, GADGE AND TOM ALL HEADING NORTH TO TAKE PART IN WHAT PROVED TO BE AN AWESOME GAME IN SUPPORT OF OUR FAVOURITE CHARITY! BILL BRINGS US HIS REPORT ON “OP BATT HOUSE”.

IT IS INDEED A RARE thing for the AA crew to get together, as much as we’re all good mates we all live in different parts of the UK, and have different “airsoft interests” meaning we inevitably tend to cover different games too. That changed in mid-2017 when John Turrell, from J-Tac Custom, dropped into conversation that he was thinking about organising a charity game in support of Pilgrim Bandits.

Pilgrim Bandits is Airsoft Action’s chosen charity, so it was a bit of a “no brainer” for me to drum up support amongst the team. John went on to find a site in the form of Humber Airsoft and, given that their focal point is an absolutely outstanding “Hesco” FOB, the decision was made to call the game “Operation BATT House” in memory of the epic SAS “Battle of Mirbat”. I won’t go into detail here, as Gadge is covering it as part of his “Warriors” feature this month but if you read that you’ll see just how apt the name was!

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To cut an extremely long story short John went about arranging the game, sending out invites amongst the airsoft industry to garner further support and within a very short time a date was set, and plans were made. I live way down in Kent so the journey to the game was the best part of 250 miles and as my good mates Jon and Allyssa from Darkwater Airsoft also had an invite, we decided to make a weekend of it so as best to enjoy the game itself!

As we had “time in hand” to prepare we decided to stay at a hotel close to the site and after a long, hot journey we arrived to hook up with Nige, Trent from NUPROL and no less than “Soldier I”, Pete Winner, who had actually fought at Mirbat and was scheduled to give a presentation at the game the following day! Suffice to say that a most interesting dinner and evening was had before we all headed to our room to prepare for the next morning.

OP BATT HOUSE

Our choice of hotel (Premier Inn Hull West for reference) proved spot-on, as it was literally just ten minutes back across the imposing Humber Bridge from the site – and what a site it turned out to be! Well signposted from the main road a level track took us down into the quarry where the site itself is situated and from the access road it became clear that things were going to be just a bit special! The main car park and safe zone area were scrupulously clean and tidy, with a proper booking office, shop and eating area, and soon bacon butties were in hand whilst we caught up with a surprisingly large number of friends from within the UK airsoft industry!

As well as the Pilgrim Bandits stand, manned as ever by Terry “Tez” Arnett and his crew there were also stands from NUPROL, RedWolf, The Gaol and John himself with a small J-Tac stand. John had arranged for special “Pilgrims” (the good guys) and “Bandits” (the almost good guys!) team patches along with event patches and these were on sale in support of the charity After a thorough but sensibly short safety and site briefing by the friendly Humber Airsoft staff it was off to play, with the first two games of the day being simple “attack and defend” affairs that allowed all the non-locals to get the lie of the land.

Although the Humber Airsoft site is by no means the largest that I’ve played on it was full of interest; not only was there the aforementioned and impressive FOB but some great wooded areas with “village” structures dotted throughout. There were wooded valleys, steep slopes, high and “dead” ground to contend with and throughout were various fortifications amongst the scrub. Whether your personal game “style” favours CQB or woodland, Humber Airsoft definitely have the terrain to keep you entertained!

GETTING DOWN TO IT!

After the first two games there was a short but oh, so necessary pause; April 21st turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year so far and everyone definitely needed to keep on top of their hydration! Once again though, as the invitees

“UP IN THE MAIN FOB TOWER A SMALL BAND OF “PILGRIMS”, INCLUDING GAZ FROM REDWOLF AND DAVE FROM MAPLE LEAF TACTICAL PUT DOWN DEVASTATING AND ACCURATE SUPPRESSING FIRE FROM THEIR SNIPER RIFLES, DMRS, AND JAY’S GIMPY, WHILST THE “GROUND POUNDERS” TRIED TO HOLD FAST BEHIND THE HESCOS.” to the game were all seasoned players this proved not to be an issue in the slightest.

The next scenario was a little more in depth, with the “Pilgrims” holding the FOB and needing to send out patrols to intercept a “Bandits” recce patrol, with the remaining “Bandits” trying in turn to recover their comrades. The game was scheduled for an hour and a half but after just 26 minutes the patrol was safe and the “Bandits” went a-hunting! The remaining time allowed resulted in some righteous firefights roving the length and breadth of the site, with pyro and TAG rounds going off in abundance around the FOB – I was certainly impressed with this, but there would be more, much more, to come…

Lunch was finally called and everyone returned to the Safe Zone for food and drink, a short down time and the much anticipated talk by SAS veteran Pete Winner, which was absolutely spell-binding. Dressed in his old desert smock Pete regaled us with his first-hand account of that 1972 battle where just nine men, the pride of the British Army, took on overwhelming odds and emerged victorious – even though

www.airsoft-action.online

Additional photography courtesy of Ed Turrell Photography www.edturrellphotography.com

Walton

Charity Event

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Charity Event OP BATT HOUSE

“DRESSED IN HIS OLD DESERT SMOCK PETE REGALED US WITH HIS FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF THAT 1972 BATTLE WHERE JUST NINE MEN, THE PRIDE OF THE BRITISH ARMY, TOOK ON OVERWHELMING ODDS AND EMERGED VICTORIOUS - EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THEIR NUMBER FAILED TO “BEAT THE CLOCK” DOING SO.” some of their number failed to “beat the clock” doing so. You really couldn’t listen to Pete without getting a lump in your throat and I would thoroughly recommend his book “Soldier I” to you.

After a short address by Tez and a further auction of SAS memorabilia to boost the charity fund yet further it was back on the field for all, to “re-enact” the historic stand taken by the SAS in Oman with the “Pilgrims” tasked to hold the “BATT House”. From the moment “game-on” was called it was like hell had been unleashed as thunderflashes, smokes and TAG rounds from the “Bandits” rained in on the FOB! Bearing in mind there were a LOT of very experienced players on site the general consensus from all was “Wow! We’ve never seen so much pyro go off so fast!”

The final battle raged on with an intensity that you won’t often see in an airsoft game and what made this even more

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special that the fight took place mostly on semi-auto, even at range! Both sides had limited ammo and it was as if everyone didn’t want to miss a minute of play, choosing their shots wisely. Assault after assault went in towards the FOB with yet more pyro and soon an absolute fog hung over the centre of the site. Up in the main FOB tower a small band of “Pilgrims”, including Gaz from RedWolf and Dave from Maple Leaf Tactical put down devastating and accurate suppressing fire from their sniper rifles, DMRs, and Jay’s GIMPY, whilst the “ground pounders” tried to hold fast behind the HESCOs. And hold fast they did!

Although we “Bandits” tried and tried to dislodge them it was not to be and at game end the “BATT House”, just as in real life, stood un-breached. The game had swung one way and another and for all present I am certain will remain a memory of what an airsoft game can really be like when everyone, every single player, is committed to making a great day.

BANDITS AND PILGRIMS

I thought I’d begin to bring the report to an end by garnering comment from either side and to start the ball rolling, I asked Jon from Darkwater Airsoft to speak from the “Bandits” side; “The sun shone down upon Humber Airsoft Club as seasoned players descended on the Quarry Site. Long shadows were cast to the west as weapons were readied and troops spirits were rallied. The objective, raise copious amounts of cash and awareness for Pilgrim Bandits, the Special Forces Charity.

Once the safety brief had been completed “The Pilgrims” and “The Bandits” took to the field. A simple game of attack and defend was had with a swap ends, for the morning. Simple in construct but by no means simple in execution. Hit-taking and sportsmanship was exemplary. It was a shining example of how Airsoft should be.

The lunch break also consisted of a charity auction and the main event. SAS legend, Soldier I, Pete Winner gave a talk on the Battle of Mirbat. It was a fascinating, emotional and thoughtprovoking talk. It perfectly demonstrated the tenacity, devotion and effectiveness of the Regiment in combat situations.

To conclude the day the Pilgrims were to defend the “BATT House” FOB and avoid being overrun by the Bandits. This they did with surgical precision. The Bandits managed to cover the ground and somehow through the rain of mortar fire, grenades and smoke surround the Pilgrims. That was as far as they got.

The talk from “Soldier I” had clearly lit a fire in the belly of the Pilgrims and they fought to hold off the Bandits, who could

Charity Event OP BATT HOUSE

only reach the BATT House walls until EndEx was called.

For me, this was one of the best events I’ve ever attended.

Hit taking was exemplary, Sportsmanship was so good it made the Olympics look amateurish and the overall positive feel to the day will always shine out as one of the best days Airsoft ever. Posh Out.” And from the “Pilgrim’s” perspective I spoke after the event to my old mate and “AK Hater” Phil Bucknall…

“So “the day” saw me at the Pilgrim Bandits invitational game at Humber Airsoft Site. I played on the Pilgrims side as my Adidas trackie was at the dry cleaners and I’m more of a plate carrier and M4 kinda guy than the dirty old AK! What can I say really that hasn’t already been covered?

Well, my personal opinion was that it was an amazing day with people from all over the country in attendance; some old friends, some I’ve spoken to over the years but never met and some new too.

The game play was fantastic and led to some pretty intense fire fights with the culmination in the final game of a literal down pouring of every describable pyrotechnic available for use in Airsoft today. It was torrential from both sides with explosions going off in the base; around the base; on the walls and in the air! I have never seen so much pyro being used! But even though the play was frantic and fast paced it was always fair and the level of sportsmanship on show was commendable.

From both sides. It was easily one of the best day’s play I’ve had with regards to that and the banter during and between games was fantastic. The Bandits put up one heck of a fight all day (I’d like to add that even with a mostly arid/green back drop, red lumberjack shirts aren’t that easy to spot if they’re moving at you slow and low!).

I’d like to think we gave as good as we got and The Pilgrims fought valiantly in all the games but do y’know what?

I, like many others, left there not caring who won. Just that a great day was had and a good chunk of change was raised for some very worthwhile causes. If I may to end; it was an absolute pleasure and honour to be invited and to play with some real stand up members of the community although most probably felt more sit down by end ex! I know I did! Bring on the next one.”

WORDS TO BE PROUD OF!

To conclude I also got together with John, from whose initial idea a mighty event was born and Tez who I asked to expend further on what the day had really meant to Pilgrim Bandits…

John told me: “I really can’t start to express my thanks to everyone for the way the day went. It was perfect, honourable game play, just how it ought to be. A truly memorable event in the company of Pete Winner; thank you Pete for making the trip to be with us.

I also have to thank, in no particular order; • Andrew Codd and the staff at Humber Airsoft Club for their hard work in making the event such a great one.

• Tez of Pilgrim Bandits • Nige, Bill, Gadge and Tom from Airsoft Action • Jon and Allyssa from Darkwater Airsoft • Justin of Gaol Events for organising the pyro • Trent from Nuprol • Herman from RedWolf • My “little” Bro, Ed, for coming and doing pics all day and ending up with a lobster coloured face from sunburn.

• Nicola at Stitch Me Up • Everyone who bid in the auction.

And most importantly the players for without you the event would not have been the success it was.”

Tez went on to tell me…

“A massive thank you from me for all the support the airsoft community has given to me and the charity! The money always goes directly to the people that need it! We operate with no reps like me getting paid and actually paying for their own transport! Currently the charity is working towards https:// pilgrimbandits.org/events/operation-ride/ As for the funds raised on the day; the organisers felt in view of current events in Syria and the loss of Sgt Matt Tonroe, that as a token of appreciation of the sacrifice made by personnel from UKSF a donation split would be made to the two respective associations.”

All in all “Operation BATT House” will go down as not only as one of the best days of airsoft we’ve ever played but also as a day where we “did good”. At the time of writing the funds raised stand at a whopping £1,724 and the fund continues to rise as patches are still available for sale via Tez and Pilgrim Bandits.

This game, for me, was one that I will treasure; who won you might ask? And my reply would be “who cares!” It was a superbly sunny day, on a great site, with some top-notch staff and players, with some outstanding gameplay that raised money for

PILGRIM BANDITS Pilgrim Bandits Charity was established by a small group of Special Forces veterans in 2007 with the sole aim of using their unique training and experience to help and inspire injured personnel to live life to the full.

The mantra “Always a Little Further” is core to the charity’s attitude, whether working with amputee men and women from the services directly or by utilising their experiences to inspire and encourage young people and children. Pilgrim Bandits don’t do sympathy, but offer the rewards of belonging to a team, encouragement, belief and the power of humour over pain.

Pilgrim Bandits’ primary aim is to help those in need directly, with no compromise. Soon, those who needed help become those that give it. By pushing injured men and women into physically and mentally demanding situations that they would not have dreamed possible; kayaking extraordinary distances, climbing mountains, jumping from aircraft, running races, trekking across inhospitable terrain, self-confidence is restored and self-belief instilled – Always a Little Further.

Pilgrim Bandits pushes those that have already endured so much to go beyond endurance – to embrace life again and in so doing inspire others.

For more information, or to find out about “Operation R.I.D.E New Zealand 018”, visit www.pilgrimbandits.org

www.airsoft-action.online

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event NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2018

FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM, ABLY SUPPORTED BY SISTER MAGAZINE PMCI AND CALIBRE SHOOTING MADE THE JOURNEY TO HARROGATE FOR THE NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW. BILL THOMAS TAKES A VIEW ON HOW THINGS HAVE DEVELOPED AND WHAT THERE WAS TO SEE THERE!

THE NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2018 BACK IN 2016 AIRSOFT ACTION were amongst the initial supporters of the fledgling Northern Shooting Show in Harrogate and, for the last couple of years, the “Airsoft Experience” area has been a real challenge to say the least.

Although Richard Stokoe, the show organiser, has always been a proponent of airsoft being an integral part of UK shooting sports, until this year it did feel like we were tucked away in (what became not-so-fondly known as) “The Cattle Shed”.

I’m extremely pleased to report, though, that 2018 saw airsoft coming fully into the fore, with a new and dedicated area right at the very heart of the show. Whilst we still haven’t made it into the new 4,320m2, £12m single span exhibition hall which has increased the show by a 1/3 in terms of indoor exhibition space, all the airsoft manufacturers, vendors and organisations had a standalone semi-rigid marquee in which to base themselves.

So once again expectations were high! The Great Yorkshire Showground is an absolutely stunning venue, a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces and as all the stands set up the whole area turns into a somewhat riotous carnival representing all that is good in shooting in the UK. Although the “Airsoft Experience” area is still based slightly away from the main show halls, this by no means says that footfall was any lighter, as the airsoft “hall” is right by the main square which this year saw a wonderful collection of military vehicles and an absolutely stunning

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“cold war” living history display, as well as representatives from the likes of A Squadron of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry with their landies and kit. Pilgrim Bandits also had one of their popups in this area to attract donations from the passing public.

Airsofters of course knew exactly where to head and it was superb when familiar faces started to appear. As I’m based just about as far south as you can get, “The Northern” has become a real treat for me as it lets me get together with fellow airsofters from the north of the UK and this year was absolutely no exception!

INSIDE AND OUT!

Although still relatively modest in the number of stands there was certainly something for everyone to see in the airsoft area and if you were looking for information, or an airsoft “bargain” then the “Experience” was certainly the place to visit. Ross, Hannah and Trent “The Red Van Man” were there with the NUPROL stand, and again it was filled with more goodies than ever before, including their new SIERRA shotguns, RAVEN pistols and of course now items from E&L and G&G as well. The G&G MG42 certainly raised a few eyebrows I can tell you! The NUPROL stand is always bright and inviting, and I witnessed a lot of people stopping by to chat and enjoy the products on display.

Talking of growing ranges Paul and Ben from ASG were at the forefront of things with their ever-expanding display, this time featuring models from the new “Strike Systems” AEG and pistol range; these are looking particularly interesting and we’re looking forward to getting “hands on” with test samples soon.

Matt from Ammo Drop appeared to be doing good business, as was Steve from Fubar Bundy who was showcasing

event NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2018

some rather tasty stock and custom RIFs. He also had a G&G “MET” system up and running which meant that anyone who wanted could really “have a go”. Herman from RedWolf was on hand with a few choice bits and was obviously keen to speak to everyone about their long-awaited Lee Enfield. Alan and the lads from Land Warrior were busy showing their awesome licensed Umarex Glocks (ooh, that little G42!) amongst other things!

Specna Arms were well represented by their new UK distributor Airshooters and had some really, really tasty RIFs on display; again we spoke to them at length and hopefully there’ll be more to speak about in relation to the Specna Arms brand soon. It was also great to see the guys from Cannae Pro both in the airsoft marquee and also in the main show and it looks like they have some very nice kit on the way!

Terry “Tez” Arnett was situated in the middle of things with the main stand for the Pilgrim Bandits Charity and alongside him was a great showing by Jamie and his team from First and Only Airsoft, which included a Minigun-armed Land Rover! In terms of sites, the guys from HALO Mill Airsoft also had a really nice showing, with elements of “RUS/OPFOR” on display.

Outside on the green behind the marquee our very own Andy Nightingale and his tactical boys from Calibre Shooting were running an absolutely ace “Kill House” which attracted not only airsofters but those who were genuinely interested to see (and hear given the pyro used!) what the fuss was all about. Mark Farrar, race director of UK 3-Gun Nation and The Mill IPSC European Shooters had a superb “Three Gun Challenge” that people could also try, and this drew a large number of participants in to “give it a go”.

A WHOLE HEAP OF GOODNESS

Although “The Northern” is a place for the airsoft industry to do business it’s also a grand place to get together with friends old and new

and to me this is where the Northern Shooting Show is really worth its weight in gold to the UK airsoft community! I had the chance to catch up with mates like Angelo and Matt, and also get an update on the “Technical Build” I’ve been following thanks to “Mr Legsonfire” himself! I also got to speak to many people about the legalities that face us as airsofters, and had a more than a few “real steel” shooters shocked by what these mean for us; they honestly had no idea, but went away with a new appreciation of the “seriousness” of airsoft and the hoops that we, like they, have to jump through.

It’s still my opinion that we need to continue to integrate more fully with the rest of the shooting community and I believe firmly that moving up to the main show area has really helped with that; with knowledge comes understanding, and with understanding comes acceptance. As a UK shooting community, of which airsoft in truly part, we need to stand together and the Northern Shooting Show is just one avenue to help us achieve just this!

Paul from ASG really put this in a nutshell when he said; “Thanks to Richard Stokoe for believing in Airsoft, listening and providing us with an outstanding location. We really did feel like a part of the Firearms fraternity this year!”

As always my sincere thanks to everyone that came and spent time with us over the weekend and I hope you gained as much from the show as I did; dates for 2019 have yet to be published at the time of writing, but of course we’ll let you know them as soon as we know; I hope to see you there next year!

For more information please keep an eye on www.northernshootingshow.co.uk

www.airsoft-action.online

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GITAG TACTICAL TAILORING

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK HAS FACED IN HER AIRSOFTING CAREER IS FINDING GEAR TO FIT HER SMALLER FRAME AND WHEN SHE RECEIVED HER CAMO FOR WARZONE 6, IT WAS TIME TO GET THE SCISSORS OUT!

TACTICAL TAILORING THOSE OF YOU WHO READ Airsoft Action regularly will know that at the beginning of May, myself and my fellow contributor Bill made the trip to Greece to attend WarZone 6 – a MilSim set on the gorgeous Grecian island of Crete. For this event we needed to have the right loadout and to help us out, our friends over at Military1st kindly supplied us both with a set of Helikon-Tex Combat Patrol Uniform BDUs in PenCott Greenzone (our camouflage of choice for the trip).

First though, let’s first chat about PenCott Greenzone.

Pencott Greenzone is a British camo that is a part of the PenCott family of camouflages that are referred to as “mission critical camouflage”. They are referred to as such because they are patterns designed for multiple environments that feature a distinctive hybrid 3-in-1 pattern geometry. The 3-in1 pattern is more organic and naturallooking than the run of the mill digital patterns and, because of this, it provides superior concealment at close, mid and even long ranges.

PenCott camo is designed by British designer Dom Hyde who, to date, has designed over 2,000 camo patterns for clothing, vehicles and even infrastructure installations. Dom knows that in modern operations armed forces personnel need their personal camouflage to be as effective as possible in multiple types of terrain and within any given environment, as they can encounter multiple scenarios and terrains over the course of a single mission. Camouflage that is effective counteracts the ability of the observer to detect, or recognise the shape and form of the wearer and with even a split-second reduction in detection or recognition, it can mean the difference between mission success and mission failure.

With this is mind, Pencott Greenzone 56

July 2018

is a perfect choice for the Cretan terrain in May. However, when I excitedly pulled the combat shirt and trousers out of their packaging and tried them on, I realised we had an issue… one that I’ve faced over and over again in my 4 years of playing. The smallest size in stock (small, regular) was still too big!

In conversation with some of my Airsoft Action colleagues, I mentioned the dilemma and it turns out we know a lovely lady called Jo, of www.purplepongo.co.uk, who just so happens to be pretty handy with a sewing machine and tailoring! As my dressmaking/tailoring skills are a little bit rusty, I reached out to her for help in getting my project Crete uniform ready for its big debut.

Over the last 4 years in airsoft, the biggest hurdle I’ve faced as a woman in the sport is finding kit that fits. Most battle dress uniforms are unisex sizes, and we all know that unisex sizes are primarily made to fit men, with men having the larger forms out of both sexes and this means sometimes even the smallest size is far too big for my tiny frame. As I am 5’4” and weigh around 60Kg I am not the smallest airsofter going but, as you can see from the images, my BDUs closely resembled tactical PJs! So on a dreary day in April, Jo and I spent the afternoon pinning, tucking and taking in all the excess fabric. As soon as I got to the studio I popped them on and we set about making a plan!

As the CPU shirt was a more complicated garment than the trousers we started with that. For the CPU shirt we decided to take 4 inches off the arms and lose the pit zips to give the arms a more fitted look; to take 3 inches off the sleeves but as they

gitag TACTICAL TAILORING

I would love to see an increase of smaller sizes and women’s fits offered by tactical clothing companies, as tailoring BDUs to fit can be time-consuming and a hassle – all of you who can pick camo off a rack or order it online and know that it’ll fit don’t realise the luxury you have!

It is pretty cool to have a set of BDU’s that are tailored specifically to fit my body!

were fairly long and we didn’t want to lose the adjustable cuff, we reattached the cuff! Playing in the hot Cretan mountains meant I more than likely wouldn’t need full sleeves and who doesn’t love permanent hero sleeves right? We also removed the excess fabric on the body so the shirt would fit my frame a little better and there wouldn’t be as much bulky fabric underneath my plate carrier/chest rig.

The trousers were definitely easier to alter! We took in the waist by 1 inch and removed the middle belt loop as the other belt loops were pretty close together once the excess on the waist had been taken in. Moving down, 4 inches came off the inside leg! The reason we decided to remove the excess on the inside rather than the outside was so we could keep the pockets on the outside legs of the trousers. To finish them off we took 3 inches off the hem and opted to lose the ties at the bottom to save time!

Overall, I’m SO happy with the result! They are so much more comfortable to wear and I actually feel like myself wearing them, rather than a shapeless sack of potatoes. Jo has done an amazing job fitting the fabric to my form and also of keeping a lot of the key features of the garments, such as the pockets on the trousers and the cuffs on my CPU shirt.

Although the pit zips would have been a useful feature for the environment we were playing in, the fit was my main concern and I was happy to sacrifice them for a better fit around the arms.

www.airsoft-action.online

57

gear SNUGPAK MML3

KEEPING OUT THE

FOLLOWING LAST MONTH’S REVISITING OF THE SNUGPAK SLEEKA ELITE, FRENCHIE TAKES US ON A JOURNEY AROUND A LESS OBVIOUS OFFERING FROM SNUGPAK; ONE HE THINKS IS EVEN MORE RELEVANT TO AIRSOFTERS, THE SNUGPAK MML3.

WET AND WIND

LIKE THE SLEEKA, I HAVE owned and used one of these for years, so my opinions are based on real world use - and my MML3 has had a lot of use! As we finally begin to see a hint of sunshine in the British Isles, this is maybe something that you may want to consider for the other non-summer seasons but, given cool mornings and evenings throughout the year, it’s a very versatile piece of clothing.

So what exactly is the MML3?

Essentially the MML3 is a light (590g), showerproof, windproof, insulated smock. It is donned over the head and has drawstrings at the hem and round the neck to keep warmth in and draughts out. It has a triple-layer construction; Snugpak’s Paratex Micro outer shell, a Softie synthetic filler and Paratex Light lining. It is

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highly breathable and has a high wicking factor, moving perspiration away from the wearer and out of the garment.

It is showerproof, but not water proof, although it dries very quickly if it gets wet. Although it doesn’t come with a stuff sack it can be crammed into a pretty small space. The cuffs have thumb holes to ensure that the sleeves don’t ride up during periods of heavy physical activity or if you just want to keep warm. The MML3 is rated for use from 0 degrees to minus 5 degrees. There are two alternatives, the MML6 and the MML9 which take that temperature rating to minus 10 and minus 15 degrees respectively.

The neck on the MML series is odd as it contains no insulation but is accessible; the idea is that you can roll a scarf or hat into it so that it’s there should you need it. As an idea it works really well, for years I have kept a SpecOps Recon Wrap in there. Finally the MML series starts at £172.50, so

gear SNUGPAK MML3

it’s not cheap but if you shop around you can find it for considerably less. So far the best price I’ve found is around £120. They come in MultiCam or Olive and Snugpak do a non-military version of the MML (called the ML series) for outdoor use.

So this thing costs the better part of £200, isn’t fully waterproof and has a weird neck. Why on earth would you want to buy one?

Simple… It works really, really well! The only regret I have about my MML is that it’s MultiCam. As I play far less airsoft these days I wear far less camo than was once the case. I would make more use of this garment if it was olive or blue to be honest. When I did play regularly, or when I was running games I cannot think of a time that I wasn’t either wearing it or had it in my bag. The MML is one of those garments that once you use it you find yourself saying: “Ah! Why didn’t I have one of these before now?”

It makes a fantastic mid-layer in colder weather the insulation isn’t bulky but it is more than adequate, especially when teamed with my Sleeka. On its own during more clement weather it is ideal for keeping the chill out, especially wind chill. As anyone who has run an airsoft site will attest, you spend an awful lot of time standing around keeping an eye on players and that can be a recipe for getting cold. The MML3 and a decent pair of boots were my antidote to this discomfort. In anything other than really cold weather my approach is t-shirt, MML3 and outer jacket as required. The MML3 did the job of preventing heat loss to wind and providing just enough insulation without getting too warm if I was playing. If weather proofing was required, a waterproof shell over the top is fine, if it got really cold, the addition of a further insulated jacket did the trick.

Unlike the Softie shirt I have with its oh-so-warm pile lining, the MML3 slips over t-shirts or UBACs with ease, it is literally as easy as pulling on a jumper. It’s also blessed with a surfeit of pockets; one large zipped map pocket on the chest with a smaller pocket intended for a compass below that. In fairness this is also a perfect size for most mobile phones, as the contents are secured with a Velcro strap. There are also two zipped pockets on either side of the smock, only they’re not really, it is actually one full-width pocket with zips at either side. It’s lined with a really effective soft pile material so it’s a great hand warmer but it will hold far too much kit as well.

While you can stuff the MML3 with loads of gear, I’d warn

against it unless you have absolutely no choice. The nature of the materials used to make the smock means that things tend to sag when under too much weight. You won’t lose anything but I wouldn’t try and carry my weekly shop in this. That said, the design of the MML range is intended to allow you access to the pockets when wearing rucksacks, climbing harnesses and the like.

The MML3 lacks ventilation down the side as similar garments have, including some of Snugpak’s. I’ve never found this an issue as the elasticated drawstring at the hem does the job admirably, allowing for the free-flow of air when required.

One of the problems I find when reviewing kit you are really enthusiastic about is the temptation to try and sell it, not

“NEED SOMETHING TO KEEP THE CHILL OUT OF AN EVENING? YUP. NEED A MID-LAYER UNDER YOUR CAMO JACKET? YUP. NEED A FLEXIBLE, NON-BULKY CAMO TOP TO KEEP THE WIND OFF AND SHOWERS AT BAY? YUP.” literally, but you know what I mean. For me the MML3 (and other Snugpak gear too) falls into this category. Even at the best price of £120, the MML3 isn’t a cheap jacket and it isn’t a do-it-all jacket. On its own it is not adequate for heavy rainfall or really cold weather but the truth in the UK is that we don’t actually get that much extreme weather, we’re quite mediocre in that respect.

What the MML series – and the MML3 especially – does, is cover an awful lot of bases. Need something to keep the chill out of an evening? Yup. Need a mid-layer under your camo jacket? Yup. Need a flexible, non-bulky camo top to keep the wind off and showers at bay? Yup. Need something that does an awful lot but weighs very little, has enough insulation but not too much and is perfectly pitched at outdoors pursuits?

You probably need one of these. I have one and I need a blue ML3. Looks like I need to sell a cat..! www.airsoft-action.online

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gear 5.11 TACLITE TDU PANTS

BUILT TO LAST… AND LAST… AND LAST… SOMETIMES YOU COME ACROSS A REAL BARGAIN WHEN LOOKING FOR AIRSOFT GEAR, AS GADGE FOUND OUT A FEW YEARS BACK WHILE RUMMAGING IN A CHARITY SHOP.

Wear and tear on eightyear-old TDU trousers

THIS REVIEW OF 5.11’S TACLITE TDU combat trousers is a little unusual. For a start they are not a “new” product but as you’ll see, that’s kind of the point.

For a long time I’ve been a great exponent of “if it works well enough for the military, it’s good enough for me” and generally bought my airsoft kit from army surplus stores – or at least bought “issue” kit. About eight or so years ago, however, (and it’s hard to be exact a it was so long ago) I was mooching about a charity shop looking for “surplus kit” and saw a pair of green 5.11 combat trousers , in my size, brand new and complete with tags, for around a tenner. As they retailed around £60 at the time, I thought “I don’t honestly think any combat trouser is worth £60 but for £10 I’ll give them a go!” and it was probably the best “airsoft kit purchase” I’ve ever made!

Several years on, however, my TDU trousers are (only just) starting to show their age and have a few tiny fades and nicks… clearly time for a new Item: 5.11 Taclite TDU Pants pair.

Price: £57 5.11’s TDU pants are a pretty “classic” Manufacturer: 5.11 Tactical combat trouser style that looks equally Supplier: JD Airsoft good on the airsoft field or on the streets.

Based around the classic US army BDU style (itself based around Vietnam War era “junglies”) you can expect the usual bellows thigh cargo pockets, hand warmer pockets, back pockets and re-enforced seat and knees common to most “cargo pants” but it’s the little details that make the TDU exceptional and incredibly hard wearing.

For a start they are “ripstop” which today is no unique thing but, most importantly, they are a Teflon coated poly cotton weave which means they are damn hard to damage and even harder to stain! As you can see from a picture of my old pair, almost a decade’s use has only really left minimal marks to the seat area and to be honest, I’ve almost lived in these trousers over the last few years using them for work, shopping, site visits and airsoft games alike.

Other nifty features on the TDU includes simple things like the re-enforcement strips on the prone-to-wear parts of the pockets and then more “hidden” features, like the neoprene knee pad pockets inside the leg and the concealed 5.56 NATO magazine pouches inside the cargo pockets on the thighs.

Overall I’d have to recommend the TDU Taclite pant to any airsofter or outdoors enthusiast. With almost a decade of service out of my first pair its proven to be more “cost effective” to buy one pair of quality combats rather than a new £20 surplus pair every year! The TDU trousers even managed to keep up with my fluctuating waistline as the elasticated waist comfortably adjusts to fit anything from a “younger me” 31” waistline to my current chunkier 35” waist!

I picked up this pair from JD Airsoft for a reasonable £57 but you can also buy them direct from 5.11 or other reputable 5.11 suppliers, such as Tactree. www.airsoft-action.online

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gear ENOLA GAYE TECHONE SOFTSHELL

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD QUALITY, VALUE FOR MONEY SOFTSHELL JACKET, THEN FEMME FATALE MAY HAVE FOUND JUST WHAT YOU NEED FROM A COMPANY THAT PROBABLY WOULDN’T BE THE FIRST YOU’D THINK OF. Photos: Daniel Castro

SMOKING JACKET? OVER THE WINTER MONTHS I have been searching for a lightweight softshell that is both affordable and weather resistant. After sampling a few jackets from different brands I’ve found a suitable, affordable soft shell from an unlikely source – Enola Gaye!

Enola Gaye are the worldwide leading pyrotechnics manufacturer, covering airsoft/MilSim, simulation and training - and their products have even been featured in blockbuster films such as King Kong. There’s no denying that their products are the best in the biz and their branding is impeccable! Since discovering EG in 2016, their soft goods have been pretty much my daily apparel but can a company that primarily produces things that go boom, give us practical apparel for our sport? That is exactly what they’ve done with the TechOne jacket.

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE TECHONE?

It is a windproof, semi-water resistant, softshell jacket with 2 x zip pockets to (and I quote) “keep your sh*t safe” and a high collar to protect your neck from wind and, of course, those “unexpected knife slashes”. The pockets have textured zip pulls which makes them easy to manipulate them even in adverse weather and with gloves on. The inner lining has a fleece-like feel which is comfortable on the skin and helps keep you warm and, as it is still lightweight it’s pretty comfy to wear in the British springtime when the weather is a little warmer. The jacket also features hook Velcro on both arms, ready for the player’s favourite patches.

HOW IS THE FIT?

I have both the TechTwo jacket (model with the hood) in grey and the TechOne in black and I will say the fit on the TechOne is much better in my opinion; I opted for a “Small” size and the garment is true to size. It fits well around my shoulders and is roomy without being baggy, unlike the TechTwo it isn’t too long in the body and the arms are a good length, as they end just past my wrists. It also features Velcro cuffs to adjust the fit on the wrists and keep any drafts out. Overall, I’m really happy with the fit!

The TechOne jacket comes in a few colourways including: Tan, Grey, Black and Olive so there’s a colour to suit any loadout, unfortunately they don’t come in any camouflage options yet which is a development that I would really like to see.

In regards to size, it is available in Small (which is the size I opted for) all the way up to an Extra-Large, so the size range is inclusive.

The TechOne retails at £39.00 from Enola Gaye’s webstore (shop.enolagaye. com), which is a really good price point on a windproof and semi water resistant softshell, cheap enough to have one for each loadout, which is my plan. One development I would love to see on the Tech jacket line is underarm zippers to cool down the body during game days!

www.airsoft-action.online

63

Event BORDER WAR 10 “THE BEAST SLAYER”

: 0 1 R A W R E D R O

B

T S A E THE B ” R E Y A SL

“

“BORDER WAR” IS MOST DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS ON THE EURO AIRSOFT CALENDAR. IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR TEN YEARS AND FOR SIX YEARS NOW IT HAS BEEN RECOGNISED IN THE POPULAR AIRSOFT PLAYERS’ CHOICE AWARDS AS THE “BEST EVENT WITH OVER 500 PLAYERS”. BILL THOMAS MANAGED TO GET TOGETHER WITH HIS GOOD FRIEND TURGAY DANSIK TO BRING US THE LATEST FROM THIS YEAR’S GAME.

WHEN IT COMES TO “BIG GAMES” there are few bigger than “Border War”, which draws over 500 airsoft players from across Europe and beyond to a game area 1.5 hour’s drive from Prague, in one of the former military areas of the Czech Republic. At the “Players Choice Awards” at IWA earlier this year I had the great pleasure to meet Michael Belousov, who gave me the true feeling of what “Border War” means from the organiser’s perspective and how he and his team strive to make the game better every year for the players.

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event BORDER WAR 10 “THE BEAST SLAYER”

“Border War”, for those who don’t know, is a Worldclass, large scale tactical MilSim with some LARP components that lasts a whopping 50 hours non-stop! Participants are mostly experienced European MilSim players from around 31 countries, including overseas visitors from the USA, Panama, The Philipines, and even Brazil to name just a few, although the “Border War” team pride themselves on making even new MilSim players welcome.

In relation to the site, all terrain is officially rented from the landlords, owners and authorities. The location offers hilly terrain and includes all possible types of terrain and game scenery that is available in the Czech Republic. The Game area is a challenging former military area and in some places is littered with rusty metal construction parts, bricks, rocks, and broken glass; the pathways and roads have deep holes and there are a number of demolished buildings on the site.

Fortification lines and trenches are also present in the area. The organisers offer the following advice: “We highly recommend wearing helmets and gloves, kneepads and other protection equipment. We would also like to discourage all participants from entering semi-demolished buildings in the game area to evade any accidents. Extreme caution is needed at night! Make sure that you bring flash lights and other lighting devices with you.”

Gameplay varies in style and composition but includes shortterm firefights, organised scenarios, C.Q.B. (Close Quarters Battle), field, military simulations (MilSim) and even a degree of historical re-enactment. Combat situations on the battlefield may involve the use of military tactics to achieve objectives set in each game.

For “Border War 10” the scenario was certainly a complex one, with many teams and factions in play. The website tells us…

“Previously held special operation Mist Creeper in the Southern Minacua region revealed key individuals and facilities crucial for narco production and criminal activities run by Esperanza Pura Cartel.

Increasing criminal activity triggered planning of a large scale antidrug campaign to be executed in several provinces simultaneously - due to its size it will require more than traditional Special Operation Police units. Tihuaca province is swamped by narco cartel and by Guerrillas which cooperate on coca harvest and narcotic production.

Command of the operation was given to the MEF SOCOM

(Minacuan Expedition Forces Special Operations Command) Task Force have been assembled from: MEF – 19th Marine Raiders Battalion, Special Forces Operators and part of the 12th Airborne Brigade. DEA operators will be as well supporting the operation in Raids against the drug production sites. 127 Rotary Wing have been assigned with napalm bombing missions and as well VTOL support in the operation.

Tihuaca province is expected to be a bastion of local of the criminals and enemies of government. the campaign, due to expected resistance from drug cartel operators and as well Guerillos (Movement for Independence of Tihuaca). Most

“‘BORDER WAR’, FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW, IS A WORLD-CLASS, LARGE SCALE TACTICAL MILSIM WITH SOME LARP COMPONENTS THAT LASTS A WHOPPING 50 HOURS NON-STOP!” income for the revolution funding is coming from Tihuaca province, that’s why it is a critical part of revolution in southern provinces.

Without funding from drug harvest the revolution cannot continue.

Guerrillos increased activities in Tuhuaca province right after governmental DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) announced capture of some few cartel high ranked bosses and their death sentence date…”

To paraphrase… “The Siege of Tihuaca” was about to begin!

I have long wanted to attend “Border War” as it is simply an immense game featuring numerous teams and factions, military vehicles and even helicopters! This year I had already committed to “WarZone” so sadly I was unable to get there.

This, however, is such an important game on the Euro MilSim calendar that it needed reporting and luckily my fellow “ICS Captain” and Brother in Arms, Turgay Dansik, from Airsoft Pro in Turkey, told me that he would attending and would give me a first-hand perspective from this year’s game.

Over to Turgay…

“This was the first time for me and I was very excited.

Border War is very popular in my country and a dream game for most of the players so I wanted to go and see it with my own eyes. I arrange a lot of airsoft games in Turkey and I need to get more experience and Border War was a good choice for me to see how a much larger airsoft game was organized.

The pre-game communication was good, and we understood most of the rules and game plan before we arrived.

The journey to the game was very easy for us once we arrived “in country”; after arriving, the game field is only 90km from Prague city centre. It could be seen as a very long journey for most of the people but in my country we always make this trip for “local” games. So it was easy and joyful trip for me. We did

www.airsoft-action.online

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NEW ASG

STRIKE SYSTEMS M-SERIES RIFLES

The Strike Systems range is boosted with the introduction of 4 all new rifles! Boasting MOSFET technology as standard, 300rnd magazines as standard and high quality, lightweight fibre-reinforced polymer receivers and parts, these are ideally suited for players new to airsoft.

ActionSportGamesŽ is a worldwide leader in the business of replica firearms and accessories manufacturing – including Airsoft guns, Airguns, CO2 guns and firearms replicas.

0035-0518_AirsoftAction_Strikerifles.indd 1

0035-0518_May2018

Packing fibre optic front and rear sights and various accessory rails these guns are everything you need to start your airsoft adventure!

16-05-2018 15:35:13

event BORDER WAR 10 “THE BEAST SLAYER”

“WE GOT INVOLVED IS SOME SERIOUS ACTION IN GAME ON THE FIRST DAY; WE WERE TO HOLD “POINT 7” AND MADE A PERIMETER TO DEFEND OUR TASK FORCE HQ. WE THEN UNDERTOOK SOME RECON MISSIONS TO INFILTRATE ENEMY LINES AND MADE LOTS OF HITS.” arrive on the first day but we did have some problems with our rental car. So we had to go and check in on second day. We were there late, around 1400hrs, and the registration was still crowded. But everything was well organized so we did check in very easily.

The game started at 1000hrs after the main briefing. Most of the squads started to take their positions and my squad started to move to its destination at 1100hrs. Me and my team were part of the Task Force. We were on G Company and my team was G-1. We were well-briefed before the game.

Our squad leader was good and we made some good tactical actions together. As G-1 squad we always led the way!

As Airsoft Pro we were 6 players and we were united all the time. We got into some serious action in game, infiltrating enemy lines and made lots of hits but at the end we had gone way too far behind enemy lines; we got hit ourselves and headed back to the Respawn Arena. Again, it was fun and joyful!

We got involved is some serious action in game on the first day; we were to hold “Point 7” and made a perimeter to defend our Task Force HQ. We then undertook some recon missions to infiltrate enemy lines and made lots of hits. On the second day our mission was capture some prisoners; we were on the move and ambushed some guerrilla teams and pushed them back to the forest, but again we were then hit ourselves and had to get get back to HQ. Before the game the website had made everything clear so we really didn’t need to get more briefings in game. We kept in touch with our squad leader, but if you don’t read and understand the game rules when you come to the field no one else will give an extra briefing to you in this respect! You are expected to be at your best and “switched on” from the word “GO”.

Everything went smoothly for the duration of the game, it was fine. Border War has been running for 10 years and the players are very experienced; most of the players know exactly what to do. If you need to learn something you can ask the experienced players. That’s why it all went smoothly.

Being out “on the ground” for multiple days was also fun; we’re well organised in this respect! We were so comfortable in our rented caravan, and also we rented a flat in town and a minivan so if we needed something or wanted to get a nice nap we could travel back to the city centre to resupply and make ready for the next day; if you want to stay for the complete duration you can though!

The only things I would like to see happen differently in relation to the game was for there to be some fortification of the camping area like watch towers and some walls. It could look more realistic.

Also the helicopter (Airmobile) could to me look more tactical, but I understand that this is difficult.

I think one time should be enough for me at Border War. I will seek other game experiences and look for other MilSim games so as to understand even more, which of course was my goal in attending, but it certainly was an experience!”

My sincere thanks go to Turgay for his words, and to both him and the “Border War” team for their pictures to support this report.

“BORDER WAR 11, THE PESTILENCE BLADE” is already set for April 2019 and places are limited; full information can be found by visiting www.borderwar.cz. Hopefully next year I can make it to “Border War” myself, and who knows, I may even see you there! www.airsoft-action.online

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feature MAPS, PLANS AND MODELS

, S P A M S N A L P S L E D O AND M

HEADING INTO A SITUATION WITHOUT A TRUE APPRECIATION OF DETAILS LIKE THE KIND OF TERRAIN, STREET PLANS OR BUILDING LAYOUTS CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION, DISORIENTATION AND MISTAKES AMONGST YOUR TEAM MEMBERS. PAUL YELLAND LOOKS AT ONE METHOD OF AVOIDING THIS.

Ordinance Survey leisure maps

A GROUP WHO ARE WELL prepared and briefed about the surroundings in which they are going to find themselves will be more aware of the threats posed to them and also understand an operational plan more clearly. In this article, I am going to look at various mapping and planning options that can be used to help prepare your team before intended actions.

The saying "planning and preparation prevents piss poor performance" (known as "the six Ps") serves as a reminder to the benefits of good planning. Airsoft sites differ greatly so making a map of your local site or one that you intend to visit is a great way to brief your players about what lies ahead. People interpret verbal instructions and descriptions in different ways which can lead to misunderstanding a plan. Using a map, floor plan or model will help team members to visualise and better understand what is being explained to them.

LEISURE MAPS

Printed maps like the ones produced by Ordinance Survey will give you a good aerial appreciation of the skirmish area. The 1:25,000 scale is the better detailed map and will show field boundaries as well as detail about building outlines and other general ground features. These maps are an accurate representation of the ground that it covers but can become outdated over time.

ONLINE MAPPING

OS Maps online

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Maps are available to download as part of a subscription service that is provided by Ordinance Survey.

I have found this facility really useful as it allows for an unlimited number of A3 and A4 map sheets to be printed in various scales.

This means that you only print off the area that you need and can save having to unfold / re-fold traditional full maps. The custom A3 and A4 maps can be laminated

after being printed to protect them. Having access to online mapping ensures that the map is always the latest print and the software comes with extra features such as route plotting, distance measuring and satellite views.

SATELLITE IMAGERY

Google Earth and Bing Maps can both be used to obtain satellite images of a skirmish site. Having the ability to use

Satellite imagery is a great asset to operational planning

satellite images to plan an ‘operation’ is like having a real CIA style intelligence asset at your disposal. Satellite images are a useful tool – especially when used in conjunction with a printed map as you will start to get a real feel for the ground before you even set foot onto it. Image quality seems to favour towards Google Earth with the app being a breeze to use on an iPad. The 3D function with Google Earth really does bring the terrain to life and best of all, the image is printable.

The world really is in the palm of your hand when using Google Earth on a mobile device

Feature MAPS, PLANS AND MODELS

A basic sketch map could be all that you have to work with

SKETCH MAPS

A sketch map is drawn from memory or another source of information about an area. These drawings are basic and open to a degree of error in the detail but could be your only option at short notice. Sketch maps are particularly useful for drawing building floor plans - if the building layout is known.

MODELS

There is nothing clearer than actually seeing a physical representation of an area that is being discussed during a briefing. Using a model of the terrain or a building when briefing your team will help to reinforce the detail of the plan, ensuring that everyone understands. With each person looking at the same model, every team member can mentally walk themselves through the detail of an attack.

Small assault model kits can be made up for use during a team briefing. There are a number of commercial kits available, but it is just as easy (and cheaper) to make your own and carry

it in a small tin. A model kit contains items that will represent ground features such as trees, rivers and roads. The kit will also contain marker tabs for indicating friendly assets and enemy positions. What you decide to use for these items is down to your imagination. There is some preference for keeping the kit basic and when making the model, to use natural items such as foliage, twigs, mud and stones. A basha can be used as the base for the model and heaped up to represent the hills and valleys of an area. Model making items such as artificial trees and moss can be carried in an assault model kit, but these are not essential as the items can be supplemented by using real leaves and grass.

BUILDING MODELS AND FLOOR PLANS If there is a building that you regularly use for CQB / hostage rescue scenarios, it might be of benefit to build a small replica model that includes all of the main features such as doors, windows, stairs and internal / external walls. These models are normally constructed by referring to the buildings original plan,

A model will help to explain the details of an attack

Models of buildings allow you to see inside and plan ahead before an assault

but it is unlikely that this document will be available to you so the model will need to be built from your own drawn floor plan or by estimating. Every floor of the building is a separate model and each of the floors should be stackable to form the complete building.

If building a model of a building isn’t an option, then the next best thing is to draw out a floor plan. Include the same building features that would be included on a model of the building. One of the benefits of having a floor plan is that you can carry it into the building Use the model to visualise moving with you and refer to it when needed. through the building It might seem strange, but using a compass whilst inside the building with the floor plan will help you to stay orientated when in very large and complex building layouts.

Anything that helps in the successful planning of tactical operations is certainly a benefit. Using images and models as part of a briefing certainly looks professional and will help to make the actual operation flow better and improve team cohesion.

A model kit with ribbon for representing rivers and tracks.

The markers are for indicating friendly and enemy assets

A basic handdrawn floor plan

www.airsoft-action.online

69

N I W A NUPROL Hard Case + a Pistol Case!

Using a hard case for your RIFs and pistols makes perfect sense for many reasons… transporting them safely and securely, protecting them from damage (and the weather) and having somewhere to keep them in perfect condition between games.

NUPROL manufacture a range of hard cases for just this purpose. In two different sizes and four colours, they are packed with features that have seen them become the “go-to” case for anyone looking for a solid, dependable hard case that doesn’t cost a mortgage to buy!

Thanks to NUPROL, one lucky Airsoft Action reader will win both a LARGE HARD CASE PLUS a PISTOL CASE in our easy-to-enter competition.

All you have to do is read the “NUPROL HARD CASES” advert in this issue of Airsoft Action and answer the following questions: 1) What four colours are NUPROL Hard Cases available in?

2) What is the external size (in centimetres) of the NUPROL Large Hard Case?

Competition WIN A NUPROL HARD CASE + A PISTOL CASE!

THE ANSWERS ARE:

1 2 3 4 5

3) What “IP” rating (against dust and water) do NUPROL Hard Cases have?

Name:.................................................................................................

4) How many padlock holes are on the front edge of a NUPROL Large Hard Case?

Email:.................................................................................................

5) How many handles does a NUPROL Large Hard Case have in total?

Telephone:..........................................................................................

Send your answers in before the closing date using the form below, or by email, or via the Airsoft Action website and if yours is the first correct entry drawn out of the Ed’s hat, you’ll win both a NUPROL Large Hard Case PLUS a Pistol Case, courtesy of NUPROL. It really is that easy!

Calibre Publishing would like to keep you informed of other offers and publications.  Please tick here if you would NOT like to be contacted by post or email.

Post your entries to: NUPROL Hard Case Competition, Airsoft Action, Calibre Publishing, Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6PL, or email to: competition@airsoft-action.co.uk with “Airsoft Action NUPROL HARD CASE Competition” in the subject line. You can also enter online, via the Airsoft Action website (www.airsoft-action.online).

Entries received after midnight on 27th June 2018 will not be valid. One entry per person. The winner will be the first randomly drawn from all the correct entries.

GDPR: By entering this competition you are giving explicit consent for Calibre Publishing Ltd. to retain personally identifiable information for the purposes of contacting the winner of this competition. All entries will be destroyed after the closing date.

NB: Guns and accessories are for illustrative purposes only and not included in the prize

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armoury G&G L85 AFV

AS CLOSE AS IT GETS! AIRSOFT DOC JOINS THE AIRSOFT ACTION TEAM TO BRING US A PRE-RELEASE INSIGHT INTO G&G’S MUCH ANTICIPATED L85 AFV – COMPLETE WITH ETU AND MOSFET – TO FIND OUT IF THIS THE SAME AS THEIR PREVIOUS L85, JUST IN A NEW SKIN. THE SA80… ANYONE WHO KNOWS anything about the UK military will instantly recognise this iconic rifle, that has not only been in service since 1987 but has also featured in conflicts all over the world (the Gulf War, Bosnia and the Iraq war to name a few). We have had many reiterations of the L85 in airsoft, including WE’s Gas Blowback, AEGs from ICS, Ares, Army Armament and G&G and various springers from many companies like Double Eagle, CCCP and UK Arms. Whilst all of these replicas temporarily filled our craving for an L85, there was something missing and we wanted more - G&G decided to take their L85 series back to the drawing board and come back to the market with and AEG that did this classic justice in both performance and aesthetics.

Due for release in the UK at the end of July 2018 are G&G’s new L85 ETU series. The four models (AFV, Carbine, A1 and A2) will feature a new Electronic Trigger Unit (ETU) and mosfet specifically designed for the unique gearbox, as well as enhanced realism with external features and build materials.

Thanks to iWholesales (a major distributor of G&G products in the UK) I managed to get my hands on one of the first to land in the country to see if they have managed to really reinvent the wheel – or if this is the same as their previous L85 series just in a new skin.

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THE EXTERIOR

As soon as I received the AFV I was keen to go over it with a fine tooth comb to see exactly what changes have been made, not only internally but also to the externals. When you get your hands onto the rifle you will notice that both the upper and lower receivers are made from stamped steel with all connection points riveted or welded. This makes the rifle feel very sturdy with virtually no movement between the receivers, as well as giving it a decent weight even for the AFV (the smallest in the series measuring only 22 inches from flash hider to butt stock).

Starting from the front of the rifle and working back you have a traditional L85 style flash hider attached to a 2.5 inch outer barrel. This is connected to a metal handguard (specific for the AFV) with two 3 inch rail sections along the bottom and right side, the left side of the handguard is where you will find the fixed front sling point, so there is no space for an additional rail. The blade style trigger is protected by a bent steel trigger guard. On its real steel brother this can be removed without tools and then stored inside the compartment of the pistol grip for arctic warfare (as with it attached there is not enough space for the operator to accommodate thicker arctic gloves) - in the airsoft version this can also be removed, however, you will need some tools to do so.

armoury G&G L85 AFV

The “push through” style safety is located directly above the trigger and is pushed from the right to the left side of the rifle (showing an F) to fire and then pushed back the opposite way (showing an S) for safe. The pistol grip is constructed from a high quality OD green polymer (just like the real steel) and features a removable base plate where G&G advise that you can keep tools or CR123 batteries (or half a peperami!). The base plate does feature two holes for hex keys (similar to the Ares Striker) meaning you will always have some basic tools with you on the field if you need them - very handy!

Along the top of the upper receiver you will find a 5.5 inch 19mm dovetail rail that is specific to the L85 series. The upper receiver also features venting holes that have been stamped out - on the real rifle this is to aid with cooling and G&G have very cleverly utilised this space for battery storage. As we move further back down the rifle you will find the blade style cocking handle (featured on the A2 versions of the rifle) on the right side and this is reciprocating on this rifle thanks to G&G’s innovative blowback system. Directly behind the cocking handle is the dust cover, this is constructed from the same material as the pistol grip and is spring loaded so that when you pull the cocking handle back, or fire your first shot it will flip open (just like on the M4, for example).

The hold and opening device is just below the cocking handle and is fully functional to allow you to lock the cocking handle to the rear so you can adjust the hop without having to worry about needing extra hands to keep the breach hold open (more on hop up later). At the very rear of the rifle you will find the rubberised butt pad. This is constructed from a tough OD green material that provide great grip against your shoulder, shirt or tac gear to prevent the rifle from sliding around when moving or shooting. As we move back up the other side of the rifle we come to the fire selector, featuring S (single) and R (repetition), a dummy bolt release and the magazine release.

The magazine catch is shielded (just like the real steel rifle) as the original variants just had a standard catch, however,

with its location it would rub on your tac gear and cause your magazine to eject - not great in the middle of a firefight!

HOP LOCATION AND ADJUSTMENT The hop unit on this gun is G&G’s standard plastic M4 style hop unit and the rifle comes fitted with a G&G green (cold resistant) hop up rubber and nub - adjustment is very easy using the wheel on the side of the unit. This hop unit also features G&G’s metal spacer to not only give the unit greater stability inside the receiver but to also allow the drop in of aftermarket hop units (such as Prowin or Maxx for example).

SHOOTING, RANGE & ACCURACY The shooting experience with the addition of the new ETU makes the rifle very responsive. The trigger is very snappy and with the blowback so close to your ear, it is hard to ignore the crisp “clack” after each shot. Like the rest of G&G’s ETU range, the AFV features a programmable ETU that can be switched from full auto to 3 round burst without the need for any additional programmers or apps. To do this, simply put the rifle into semi then pull and hold the trigger for 15 seconds. This will have now replaced your full auto selection with burst and will stay programmed until you either disconnect your battery or reverse the process.

The rifle chronoed in at 330fps (Just under 1J - Standard for UK spec) on 0.20g bbs and was very consistent from shot to shot (with as little as 2% variance). For the shooting and accuracy test I decided to go for something a little heavier and upped the weight to 0.25g. Hitting a torso sized target from 40m was easy with only the occasional BB going astray - and I put this down to the operator, not the rifle!

SUSAT SIGHT

1.3kg of illuminated Awesomeness!

Included in the box was one of G&G’s SUSAT (or Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux) sights. It is not confirmed if this will be

“FOR THE SHOOTING AN ACCURACY TEST I DECIDED TO GO FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE HEAVIER AND UPPED THE WEIGHT TO 0.25G. HITTING A TORSO SIZED TARGET FROM 40M WAS EASY WITH ONLY THE OCCASIONAL BB GOING ASTRAY - AND I PUT THIS DOWN TO THE OPERATOR, NOT THE RIFLE!”

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armoury G&G L85 AFV

features Stamped Steel upper and lower receiver included when they are released but after getting to use this one I really do hope so. The sight features a 19mm dovetail rail that is specific to the L85 family of rifle and offers the user a 4x magnification with an obelisk-shaped post reticle. The base of the sight features two adjustment wheels for windage and elevation and is supplied with a specialist tool to make adjustment easier. This sight is also illuminated red (with 4 brightness levels) for low light shooting and also features a set of back up iron sights along its top edge for engaging targets at closer ranges, or when magnification is not required.

BATTERY INSTALLATION

With the AFV already being such a small rifle there is not a huge amount of space for battery storage. G&G have been very creative with finding as much space as they could, however, you will need two basic tools to install or change your battery and you will not be able to use something like a 3,300 mAh block - there is just no space for it! Whilst we are on the subject of batteries, it is worth mentioning that, like the rest of G&G’s ETU series, these guns are rated for a 9.6v battery and above.

You can use lower voltages, however, this will dramatically affect the performance and will cause the mosfet to shut off when your battery is only 50% discharged (or maybe even sooner). I found that a Big Foot Heat 850 mAh 11.1v (also provided by iWholesales) fits perfectly into the You can buy this battery compartment and should keep you going for product from any most of the day. reputable airsoft retailer, To fit the battery you will need to (using a flat including: screwdriver or other flat implement) open the top of the hand guard (where the gas parts would be Crawley Surplus Store on the real rifle), remove the phillips screw that is Patrol Base underneath this cover and then remove the whole Combat UK front end of the rifle. This will give you access to Bespoke Airsoft the battery compartment and also give you enough Xsite Airsoft clearance to be able to install the SUSAT sight.

Extreme Airsoft

New G&G next gen ETU (Electronic Trigger Unit) and Mosfet Redesigned gearbox specifically for the L85 Blade style cocking handle Crisp pneumatic blowback Shielded magazine catch (Just like its real steel counterpart) SUSAT sight included with AFV (to be confirmed) “Push through” safety catch (featuring F and S) Dummy bolt catch Storage compartment inside pistol grip for batteries or tools (or snacks!)

Single, 3 round burst & full auto fire modes (thanks to new ETU & Mosfet) Ambidextrous rear sling mounts (front sling mount only on the left side) Functioning hold and opening device

CONCLUSION

To sum up - I have always been a fan of the L85 series of rifles but never had the heart to get one in airsoft as I have heard they are plagued with issues and the performance has always found them wanting, however, after getting a close look at G&G’s new take on the range I am seriously reconsidering my decision. They have combined the latest technology with great attention to detail, to produce an “as close as it gets” airsoft replica that not only feels the part but is a pleasure to shoot.

A huge thank you to iWholesales for supplying the rifle and giving me the chance to get some hands-on time with it. www.airsoft-action.online

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Airsoft Skills GROUND COMBATIVES

CALIBRE SHOOTING’S ANDY NIGHTINGALE GIVES US AN INSIGHT INTO A REAL-STEEL SHOOTING METHOD THAT CAN SERVE US WELL WHEN PLAYING AIRSOFT.

GROUND COMBATIVES T1

PAR

FOR MANY OF US IN AIRSOFT, training is usually done if and when we can find the time. If you are lucky enough to be part of a team, then training days might be part of your SOPs. This may consist, as it should, of safety and shooting from the standing positions. It takes time to master the Weaver, Chapman, Isosceles and Modern Isosceles stance positions but it’s not until we embark on an advance training that we start to delve into the world of unorthodox methods of shooting.

There are many different ways in which you can fight from the ground but it’s very important that you do it right and right first time - during a contact. That’s where training comes in. I’ve tried and used many different types of “Ground Combatives” but I have taken to a mixture of several as I find that they are not only easier for me to perform but they are also more comfortable for me with the way I fight. I’m not saying that those tactics I have discarded are bad or wrong, it’s just that I am more comfortable with the ones I have chosen.

It’s up to you how far you want to go with training so I

want to share with you some of the methods that I find work easy for me and that I feel most comfortable with. These are not the be all and end all, so I would suggest trying other methods and find out what works for you. My reasons for the tactics I have chosen include safety, simplicity, minimalistic movement, aggression and dynamic presence.

As with all airsoft tactics that we train in, safety is paramount. Sometimes, when we are fighting for mission success we tend to forget some of, if not all, the safety rules, especially when the adrenaline starts to pump. It’s easy for people to bang on about keeping the environment safe but when this could be your last chance to win, it somehow doesn’t seem to register and be your number one priority. The only way we can make a positive effort in keeping our surroundings, others and ourselves safe is to ingrain it into us by frequent training.

SAFETY

If you are reading this article then I presume you already have some kind of shooting experience. So I won’t delve too deep into all the safety rules as most sites have their own rules, except remind you of the four universal rules of safe gun handling as put together by the late great Geoff Copper: 1. Treat all guns as though they are loaded.

2. Never point a gun at anything that you are not willing to shoot.

3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you intend to shoot.

4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond.

With this in mind there are a few extra concerns that we must take note of when fighting from the ground. We will look at those as we come to them.

FUNDAMENTALS

The 7 fundamentals still apply to fighting from the ground as they do when in any standing position.

Stance: Although we won’t be in a solid standing position, we still need to have as much of a solid platform to shoot from

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Airsoft Skills GROUND COMBATIVES

as possible. Being on the ground can be very uncomfortable and at times challenging. Laying flat on the ground on your front with your head towards the target. Nothing wrong with that but if we look as to why you would be shooting from the ground, it would more than likely that you have stumbled or even been knocked to the ground. Either way the chances are that you will be on the deck and on your back. This position is known a “supine position”.

Grip: Just because we are on the ground and in an unfamiliar position, this doesn’t change how we grip or control the weapon. We still have to maintain a strong hold on the weapon, to be able to keep it within our grasp and to manage recoil effectively.

Sight alignment: This doesn’t change either. We still need to make sure that we align the sights correctly as we would do in any other position. If we didn’t then how can we expect the rounds to find our intended point of aim on the target.

Sight picture: Yep, you guessed it! This doesn’t change either. Being aware of our target, what is around and beyond it, correct sight alignment, sights super imposed on the point of aim, before, during, and after the shot all play their part.

Breathing: This is somewhat different but still important.

When shooting in the standing position we find it relatively easy to control our breathing. In the prone position, especially if you are loaded up with heavy kit, breathing can be somewhat restrictive. I’ll cover this problem later.

Trigger control: Is one of the most important parts of shooting and must me mastered no matter what position you find yourself in. Good trigger control will ensure good results.

Follow through: As with the rest of the fundamentals, follow through is important to ensure accuracy and cadence when shooting.

Fundamentals are, for the lack of a better phrase, the bread and butter of marksmanship and should in no way be compressed for anything else.

STANCE (PRONE)

If you find yourself fighting from the ground it will be either by choice or by situation. If you have taken the choice to fight from the ground then it is most likely that you are in a prone position, laying face down with your head towards the target.

Prone position is taught at many shooting schools and is very simple to do. There are a couple of safety procedures that must be taken into consideration when adopting the prone position.

This differs slightly from the traditional stance and draw that are taught in class. However it might come to the point that you may not have had a chance to draw a handgun until you are physically on the ground.

If you choose to go prone, then it’s important that you draw the handgun from the holster before you go to ground.

This will ensure muzzle safety at all times. As you go to ground make sure that the muzzle of the weapon stays in front of you and does not sweep your support arm and hand, or any other body part for that matter, as you steady yourself into position.

Keep the weapon’s muzzle orientated towards the target at all times. A common mistake is to have the muzzle pointing at the ground as you work yourself into position. As you can appreciate, if the gun was negligently discharged, you may get

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77

After years of operating in hostile territories, including the deserts of Iraq and mountains of Afghanistan, we know how it feels to be desperate for a great cup of coffee. Travelling over 40 miles through southern Afghanistan just to drink a good coffee at Kandahar Airfield is one of the many experiences that enabled us to develop such appreciation and passion for the black stuff.

The ideas and concepts born in these terrains are what led us to establish the Lincolnshire-based Bolt Action Coffee Co, so we won’t apologise for our roots. We’re proud of our ethos and background and we enjoy loud music, tattoos and guns, but our biggest passion is coffee and making it available to those keeping the UK and her interests safe and secure. That said, we do recognise that the UK has many warriors and not all wear a uniform.

In keeping with our background, every sip will support the brave. We work with organisations, charities and people of the same mind-set and are closely aligned with the Pilgrim Bandits, a charity which counts our founder among one of its trustees.

Bolt Action is run by the long-suffering wife of the Founder whose ears have been filled with endless poor coffee tales from overseas and whose kitchen holds evidence of the Founder’s unwavering coffee quest, in the form of remnants of various beans and blends from around the world. Determined to take back her kitchen and her sanity, and to demonstrate her appreciation for the sacrifices made by her husband and people like him, she made the decision to set up Bolt Action Coffee Co. and now runs the day to day regime.

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Airsoft Skills GROUND COMBATIVES

a face (and anything else in the way) full of splash. Not nice and avoidable. Once in position it is safe to assess and shoot.

When in the prone position, the way in which we manage recoil is compromised. We need to bring the sights up to the eyes and to do this we need to raise the weapon which forces us to use the elbows for support. With the elbows on the ground there is increased movement of the weapon and arms during recoil due to the lack of support. To overcome this problem raise your support side knee. This will force you to roll to the strong side. Lay your head onto your bicep and bring the weapon’s sights into line with your eyes. Although your weapon is now being fired on its side, not that that matters, you will now find that you have a much more stable platform to shoot from. It will also keep your profile lower than it would be if you were laid flat on your stomach. Raising the support side knee also aids in breathing control. Being on your side eases the pressure on your chest, meaning that breathing becomes a lot easier to control, especially if you have exerted yourself, or are wearing a chest rig or armour.

DRAWING

The safest way to adopt the prone position is to already have your weapon drawn and ready for use, if using a rifle it will already be to hand, however, if you find yourself in a situation that forces you to draw your weapon once you are on the ground then things change dramatically from the way you know and have trained for in the standing position.

There is a very real threat that you can discharge the weapon during the draw, thus injuring oneself or others in the process. Again this is from the prone position, laying flat on your stomach with your head facing the target. Drawing the weapon from the holster whilst laying flat causes many problems, mainly there is not much room to maneuver. More often than not the weapon is forced out to the side, causing unnecessary muzzle sweep, or simply planted into the ground.

To combat this common problem simply roll onto your support side with your support hand placed firmly onto your strong side shoulder. This will ensure that your support arm and hand stay well away from the weapon’s muzzle during the draw.

With your strong hand, grasp the weapon’s grip as you would normally and draw the weapon. As you do it’s very important to maintain eye contact with your intended target. This will serve two things; firstly you will be able to remain in visual contact with the target at all times and, secondly, you will be protecting your face from any splash should the weapon be negligently discharged. You can now press out to the target making sure that the weapon passes under the support arm and hand.

To re-holster, simply reverse the drawing procedure. Again make sure that you do not follow the muzzle back to the holster with your eyes. However it is a far better (and safer) option to recover from the prone position and put your weapon back into its holster once in the standing position.

POSITION MOVEMENT

To shoot towards your strong side, simply maintain the draw position and fire. To shoot towards the support side, it’s very important to pass the muzzle of the weapon underneath the support side arm and hand as you roll onto your strong side.

Once on your strong side present the weapon to the target with a two handed grip, head on bicep, assess and shoot if need be.

If your target is moving, or has moved position, you need to re-orientate your firing position. Prone position is one of the most stable platforms to shoot from but unfortunately mobility is sacrificed for stability. You must orientate your position by using your hips as a pivotal point. Use your legs and feet to spin yourself around into position. It may look a little messy but it works.

The prone position, although challenging, is not to be disregarded in your training programs. It works and works well but only if you practice and make perfect. In a future issue of Airsoft Action magazine I will look at how to overcome some of the problems found when shooting from the supine position.

Stay safe.

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tactical

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We ‘the instructors’ come with decades of operational experience within high stress theatres, working as small teams and individuals. We are current, and still, very much an operational organisation. Over the past twenty years, we have operated in 42 countries.

For more information please contact us at: info@crops.uk.com

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Product Review VORTEX ANTI-FOG

VORTEX ANTI-FOGGING FOG FREE FIELD KIT

YOU CAN’T HIT WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE SO KEEPING YOUR EYEPRO FREE FROM MISTING IS A CHALLENGE WE OFTEN FACE. GADGE CHECKS OUT A PRODUCT THAT MIGHT HELP KEEP YOUR LENSES CLEAR. AS A LONG-TERM AIRSOFT PLAYER I’ve always been aware of the compromises between visibility and protection when choosing eye pro. While I don’t feel I sweat excessively, I’ve always found enclosed goggle have “fogged” or misted up on many a game day and for a while used either quite minimal shooting glasses type eyepro or, on some days, mesh goggles.

Over the last few years, and perhaps as I’ve got older, I’ve been finding myself increasingly prioritising “protection” over “visibility” and ditched mesh goggles (over fears of some “spall” from the BB getting through the mesh) and also stopped using “glasses” type eye pro in favour of a pair of Bolle ballistic rated goggles/glasses with a full seal around the eye.

The downside though is I’m back to the fogging problem so I was seriously hoping this kit from Vortex would be the answer.

In order to give the kit a full test I decided to play at an open day and use no anti-fogging product at all in the morning games and then at lunch apply the Fog Free Field Kit and see if there was any improvement in the later battles. So was it worth it, did I notice any difference?

In short, a resounding “yes”!

During the first skirmishes of the day my goggles soon misted up, forcing me to stay static and breath carefully and “cool down” before moving on. Clearly I wasn’t able to clean or wipe my lens in play and so this was the only solution if I wanted to be situationally aware of the gameplay, able to use my weapon sights and, in some cases, even just see where I was going. After lunch was a different story, despite being perhaps more “hot” and out

of breath I found my trusty goggles had no fogging at all for some time and then, towards the end of the day just a slight “mist” was starting to appear around the edges – although I feel this might be where I didn’t fully apply the kit.

The kit itself is contained in a small zip closure black nylon carry case (with a belt loop should you need it) of around the size of a smoke grenade, meaning it should fit into most webbing pouches. The actual kit consist of a small brush to clear any dirt and dust out of the lens before applying the solution, a pump spray bottle of the actual liquid, a soft microfiber cloth and some disposable ultra fine tissues in a card “book”. Applying the kit is simplicity itself, simply clear off any debris or dust with the kit from the lens. Spray on the liquid and then slowly wipe it clear with the cloths provided. Proofing my goggles in the safe zone took just a few minutes and, as aforementioned, the results were outstanding.

Vortex are perhaps best known for their top rate weapon optics but it’s clear to see (no pun intended) that their lens care kits are also of the same calibre as their scopes and Airsoft Action have no problem in recommending the Vortex Optics Fog free Field Kit to our readers.

Price: Around £20 Available from: Vortexoptics.com, eBay & Amazon.

www.airsoft-action.online

81

The Last Post SUPPORT GUNS

LIFE SUPPORT

WE HAVE PROBABLY ALL AT SOME TIME BEEN AT THE SHARP END OF A LASER BEAM OF WHITE PLASTIC. FRENCHIE, IN HIS INIMITABLE STYLE, WRITES ABOUT THE EUPHEMISTICALLY NAMED AIRSOFT “SUPPORT GUN”.

SUPPORT GUNS… LIKE SNIPER RIFLES in airsoft they are the cause of much discussion and both have their fervent adherents and noisy detractors. This question arose when a discussion took place recently regarding the place of the minigun in airsoft but that is just an extreme version of any airsoft support weapon and any comments that apply to it apply equally to more conventional guns.

Before moving onto the arguments, what is a support gun and what is its purpose?

In the real world support guns exist to suppress enemy movement. They do this by making the chosen area a distinctly unhealthy place to be by filling the air with bullets. The purest example of this can be found during the First World War where entire areas of the Western Front simply could not be crossed except at extreme hazard, if at all. These guns, largely based on the designs of Sir Hiram Maxim, were large, heavy and not easily transported by assault troops.

During the Second World War the advent of the General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), heralded by the introduction of

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The Last Post SUPPORT GUNS

the German MG34 and later the MG42, made the support weapon far more transportable but no less effective. GPMGs were intended to be all things to all men - capable of being deployed by only a couple of troops, capable of easy movement and capable of fulfilling both a defensive and offensive role. All of the participant nations fielded some form of GPMG during the war and they have become a staple of military tactics since. There is an argument that says that the Wehrmacht essentially built its section structure around the machine gun, with everyone else there to support the gun.

I’m not going to get into arguments about whose GPMG was better but the key factor was its ability to put down a reasonable volume of fire at a time when riflemen were universally equipped with single-shot weapons, predominantly bolt-action rifles. By the end of WWII that situation was changing rapidly; the MP44 had shown an alternative by putting an automatic rifle in the hands of the infantryman.

While this didn’t supplant support weapons, it fundamentally changed infantry tactics, allowing individual soldiers to lay down suppressing fire whether or not a support gun was available.

There are clear differences between select-fire rifles and support guns and this is taking us towards their use in airsoft…

The principal difference is one of ammunition - support guns fire a “traditional” rifle round, 7.62x51 NATO is typical and this gives them considerably more clout and range than the 5.56mm round used in many rifles. The GPMG can therefore still reach out to an enemy that rifleman cannot effectively engage.

And so to the discussion within airsoft…

In the UK we now have clearly defined muzzle energy limits for fully automatic airsoft guns: 1.3 joules. This means that my M16A1 and your PKM are both limited to the same fps and largely to the same range. My M16 takes a whacking big battery in the stock and if I wished I could feed it from hi-cap magazines or even (whisper it) a box magazine. So where is the differentiation? Why lug the big gun around when you can frankly do the same job with a much more manageable rifle?

In truth, there is really no argument from a game-playing perspective. True, some events are very particular about differentiating roles - you can only use a box magazine if you are going through the pain of lugging a support gun but offerings such as the Krytac LMG throw a big spanner in those works. It is effectively an AR15 designed from the outset to run a box mag, although it will take normal AR15 magazines as well. It’s very compact and it’s capable of both semi and full auto. No restrictions in buildings then…

No, the only reason I have ever been able to see for running a support gun is to run a support gun. I owned a PKM for a short while and I loved it, it’s a tank of gun and it put BBs downrange like an utter boss. It did weigh in at around 15 pounds and was a sod to lug about but the decision to get rid of it had much more to do with an impending Christmas than anything airsoft-related.

Having spent so many years working on airsoft guns I cannot even suggest that there is an overarching reliability

argument, although I have heard it suggested. Many support guns run a variant of the 249 gearbox developed years ago to replace the old bellows system found in the Japanese Top 249s.

It’s a great gearbox and very solid but it really isn’t that much more reliable than a well set up and looked after Version 2 or 3 gearbox. It will demolish pistons if you get a substantial BB jam in the barrel and the gears are just, well, gears. No, if you choose to play with a support gun it’s because you want the big gun and I’m totally fine with that. In my ideal world support gunners would be allowed substantially higher muzzle energy than rifles but, unfortunately, it is not my call.

If I have any other thoughts on the subject it’s that I rarely recall seeing a support gun used in its proper role, to deny area to the other side. There is no good reason that it shouldn’t but mostly they are used as overly large, overly heavy rifles - this might go back to the lack of clear difference in performance or it could be that the vast majority of airsoft games are still predicated on the premise of eliminating as many of the OpFor as possible; it’s all about the kills…

What about the minigun, which is after all where we started? If you are willing to pay for it and run it, knock yourself out. I have a bit of a pedantic issue with them as they are not man-portable weapons, they require far too much electricity for one thing and you’d need a truck to carry your ammunition but this is airsoft. It already has a high degree of make believe inherent to it so I really don’t get too excited one way or t’other. I will observe that the airsoft minigun is a perception rather than a particularly excellent gun. I once watched a player squirming on the ground under direct fire from a friend of mine who owns a minigun. It took about five seconds before he was actually struck by a BB. The minigun may put out a lot of rounds, but it’s bloody inaccurate!

So, if you like big guns, bash on. Airsoft in the UK will probably never change in a way that would make the effort of lugging that weight around more rewarding but one of the joys of airsoft is our ability to decide exactly what we want to use, so use what you want.

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Bomb Up Airsoft 22-23 Arkwright Court Arkwright Road Runcorn, WA7 1NX 0800 131 3012 www.bombupairsoft.co.uk

DTW Airsoft A3 Moorside Business Prk Colchester Essex, CO1 2ZF 01206 790046 www.dtwairsoft.co.uk

Surplus Store Unit 2, Access House Stephenson Way Three Bridges, RH10 1TN 01293 525880 www.surplusstore.co.uk

Anzio Camp Blackshaw Moor Nr. Leek, Staffs.

ST13 8TL 0161 727 8863

JD Airsoft Unit 5, Virage Park Green Lane, Cannock WS11 0NH 0845 600 5144 www.jdairsoft.net

Invicta Battlefield Airsoft Pook Hill Wood Farm Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, TN12 0HP 07876 263290 www.invictabattlefield.co.uk

Johnsons of Leeds 2, Vulcan Foundry Haigh Park Road Leeds, LS10 1RT 0113 277 5237 www.johnsonsofleeds.co.uk

TacTree Unit 3, Stag Business Park Donnington Wood Telford, TF2 7NA 01952 565670 www.tactree.co.uk

www.firstandonlyevents.co.uk

Looking for somewhere to buy Airsoft Action? Your local Newsagent sold out?

Then why not visit any of the fine airsoft companies listed here?

They all keep Airsoft Action in stock and while you are there, don’t forget to have a good browse round to see what else they can tempt you with...

Buy Airsoft Action from any of these shops or sites - and get your copy before it goes on sale on the High Street!

Combat-UK 13-15 Market Place Stevenage Herts, SG1 1DH 01438 362922 www.onlyairsoft.com

Phoenix Airsoft Gleadthorpe Breck Plnt.

Budby Road Cuckney, NG20 9JX 07956 587213 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

Tazball Airsoft Feyglas Woods, Farr Inverness IV2 6XB 07848 448408

Leicestershire Airsoft Unit 3 Melton Road Industrial Est. Queniborough, LE7 3FP 07526 372108

308 Sniper 66 High Street Chatham Kent, ME4 4DS 01634 921278 www.308sniper.co.uk

Socom Tactical 70 Reading Road South Fleet Hampshire, GU52 7SD 01252 616 868 www.socomtactical.net

Eagle6 Airsoft Sutterton Enterprise Park Sutterton, PE20 2JA 01205 460385 07944 904604 www.eagle6.co.uk

Airsoft Plantation Goatsmoor Lane Stock, Billericay Essex, CM4 9RS 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk

Badlands Airsoft Woodberry Lane Rowlands Castle Hants, PO9 6DP 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk

BBGuns4Less Unit 1, Keepers Cottage Buckles Lane South Ockendon, RM15 6RS 01708 853232 www.bbguns4less.co.uk

Allsorts Airsoft 9 Arundel Road Littlehampton BN17 7BY 01903 714688 www.allsortsairsoft.co.uk

Red Alert Airsoft Hartshill Copse Burdens Heath Bucklebury, RG7 6SX 07941 087070 www.redalertpaintball.co.uk

Facebook: /TazballAirsoft

Eton Guns 103 High Street Eton, Nr. Windsor SL4 6AF 01753 800009 www.etonguns.co.uk

www.leicestershireairsoft.co.uk

Sell Airsoft Action in your shop or on your site and this space could be yours ...completely FREE! For more info, email nige@airsoft-action.co.uk

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

SYMBOL KEY

IS IT WOODLAND OR URBAN? CHECK THE KEY! UKARA MEMBER

SHOP ONSITE

WOODLAND

PYROS ALLOWED

URBAN

BATTERY CHARGING

DESERT

REPAIR SERVICE DISABLED FRIENDLY

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

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER

Allt-lywd Wood Farm, outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales.

Tel: 07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk

ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT

Maidenhead, SL6 3SS Tel: 07871 314951 www.absolute-airsoft.co.uk

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

Holbrook Coppice, Buidwas Bank (A4169), Buildwas, Telford, Shropshire, TF8 Tel: 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

North Lanarksire, ML7 5 www.airsoftasylum.webs.com

AIRSOFT KGB

Porkellis Moor near Helston, Cornwall, TR13 0 Chef1322@hotmail.com www.kgbairsoft.com

AIRSOFT PLANTATION

Goatsmoor Lane, Billericay, CM4 9RS Tel: 07534 636289 / 07771 556395 www.airsoftplantation.co.uk Email: apairsoftplantation@gmail.com

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

Stoulton, WR7 4QW Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

Tong Wood, Newport Road Wolverhampton TF11 8PN Tel: 07786 192832 www.aceairsoft.co.uk

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

BADLANDS AIRSOFT

AMAZON EVENTS

BARNSLEY AIRSOFT

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM

BATTLETEC AIRSOFT

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

Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4HL Tel: 0844 2570433 www.amazonoutdoorevents.co.uk

Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON

New Forest National Park, SP5 2DW Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

Rowlands Castle, Hamps PO9 6DP Tel: 07534 465589 www.badlandsairsoft.co.uk

Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE Tel: 07779 236166 www.barnsleypaintball.co.uk

La Couture, Guernsey, GY1 2 Tel: 07781 104068 www.battletec.co.uk

BETTER BATTLES

Ravenshead, Notts, NG15 9DH Tel: 07967 940043 www.better-battles.com

BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB Studley, B80 7LY Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7QP Tel: 07872 348 576 www.apocalypseairsoft.com

Grasscroft Wood, Barlow Lees Lane, Dronfield, S18 7UR www.blackdagger-airsoft.co.uk

BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT ACE COMBAT

Kent, TN12 7DG Tel: 01303 814803 www.acecombat.co.uk

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 Tel: 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com

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July 2018

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT Near Trawden, BB8 8SN Tel: 07909 683464 www.allarmsairsoft.co.uk

ALPHA 55

Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF www.alpha55.co.uk

ARENA AIRSOFT

Grimsby, DN31 3JD Tel: 07752 404060 www.arenaairsoft.com

AWA HERTS

Sawbridgeworth, Herts, CM23 4BJ Tel: 07732 184957 www.awaherts.com

Westcott Venture Park, Westcott, Aylesbury, HP18 0XB Tel: 01296 658600 www.bluestreak-airsoft.co.uk

BORDERLINE AIRSOFT

51 Green Road, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim Northern Ireland, BT39 9PH Tel: 028 9303 7030 or 07729219341 www.borderlinecombat.com

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT

Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport.

PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)

Off Badger Lane, Hipperholme, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 8PL Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

BRISTOL AIRSOFT

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

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT

Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com

BUNKER 51

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

BUSH VALLEY AIRSOFT

Runham Woods, Lenham ME17 1NQ Tel: 07786 448608 Email: bushvalairsoft@gmail.com

C3 TACTICAL

Longhope, Gloucestershire, GL17 0PH Tel: 07597 938011 www.c3tactical.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE COMPLEX Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE OUTPOST (WOODLAND) HPC, York Road, Flaxby, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG5 0XJ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT

Bolton Wood Quarry, Bolton Hall Road Bradford, West Yorkshire BD2 1BQ Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – RIVOCK EDGE Keighley, BD20 0LS Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – SHEFFIELD WOODLAND Sheffield, S6 6JE Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

Truro, Cornwall, TR2. Tel: 07863 240153 www.cornwallseliteairsoft.co.uk

COTSWOLD AIRSOFT

CLOSE ACTION AIRSOFT

Corby, NN17 3BB Tel: 07740 165787 www.close-action.co.uk

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

Combat Street, Felthorpe, Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 4DR. Tel: 07748 023832 www.facebook.com/combatactiongames

COMBAT AIRSOFT

Just off the A11 outside Thetford Norfolk follow signs for Combat Paintball Tel: 07703 045849 www.combatairsoftgames.co.uk

COMBAT READY CQB

38 Full Street, Derby DE1 3AF Tel: 01332 493258 Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

COMBAT READY OUTDOOR

Middle Wildpark Farm, Wildpark Lane, Brailsford, Ashbourne DE6 3BN Tel: 01332 493258 Email: info@combatreadyairsoft.co.uk www.combatreadyairsoft.co.uk

Portsmouth, PO6 3LS Tel: 02392 655636 www.combatsouth.co.uk

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

Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, CM14 5 Tel: 01438 368177 www.thefightschool.demon.co.uk

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT

Dumfries, DG12 cumbria.airsoft@virgin.net www.cumbria-airsoft.com

DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT

Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk Tel: 07455 906132

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

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

Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 0AN Tel: 01380 728982 www.experienceairsoft.co.uk

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

DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.

Mobile: 07947 558433 www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk Email: darwaterairsofthythe@gmail.com DARKWATER AFTER DARK C.Q.B, (Battlezone Building), Britannia Lane, Kingsnorth, Ashford, TN23 3NA facebook.com/afterdarkcqb DARKWATER SITE, Dering Wood, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, Ashford TN26 1LZ facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater

FIFE WARGAMES

St Andrews, KY10 3XL info@fifewargames.co.uk www.fifewargames.com

FINMERE AIRSOFT Buckingham, MK18 4JT Tel: 07976 184897 www.finmereairsoft.com

DELTA TEAM 3

FIREBALL SQUADRON

Skelmersdale, Lancs WN8 8UT Tel: 07986 053076 www.deltateam3.co.uk

Sutton Coldfield, B75 5SA Tel: 07582 684533 www.fireballsquadron.com

DOGS OF WAR

FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP

Houston, Renfrewshire, PA6 7BP Tel: 07853 195290 www.dow-airsoft.co.uk

Leek, ST13 8 Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

DOG TAG AIRSOFT

FIRST & ONLY: BUNKER WOOD

Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4SE TEL 01293 852 314 www.holmbushpaintball.co.uk/airsoft

Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA Tel: 07703 530189 www.dragonslairairsoft.co.uk

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT COOL UNDER FIRE

Colchester, Essex CO1 2ZF Tel: 01206 790046 www.dtwairsoft.co.uk

ELITE BATTLEZONE

DRAGON’S LAIR CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL

D.T.W AIRSOFT

Bourton Woods, On the B4479, Blockley Near Bourton-on-the-hill www.cotswoldairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07724629140

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

COMBAT SOUTH URBAN CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)

CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT

Caerwent Training Area, South Wales, NP26 5XL Tel: 07921 336360 www.dragonvalley.co.uk

Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: KHE SANH

WOODS

Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 2NA Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: MANCHESTER

WOODLAND

Bolton, BL7 9TS Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

www.airsoft-action.online

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SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE

Middleton, Manchester, M24 1AZ Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY Wrexham, Denbighshire, LL13 9RG Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 6QF Tel: 0161 727 8863

GRANGE LIVE GAMING Bravo One Birmingham, 93–99 Holloway Head, B1 1QP Tel: 0121 643 2477 info@grangelivegaming.com www.grangelivegaming.com

GREENZONE COMBAT Co. Armagh, BT60 1NE Tel: 07772 919974 www.greenzonecombat.com

GUN HO AIRSOFT FIRST & ONLY: THE ASYLUM Kidderminster, DY10 3PT Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: THE OUTPOST Kidderminster, DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863

FIRST & ONLY: SLEEPY HOLLOW Bridgnorth, Shropshire, WV16 5LS Tel: 0161 727 8863

GROUND ZERO WOODLAND Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF www.groundzerowoodland.com

Guisborough, TS7 0PG Tel: 07525 435696 www.gunhoairsoft.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – TUDDENHAM

Cavenham Road, Tuddenham, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6DF Tel: 07711 774461 (Doug) or 07711 774401 (Josh) www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk/gunmanairsoft-tuddenham/

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS The Grange, Frogmore Grange, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk www.giairsoft.co.uk/Skirmish-days

FRV AIRSOFT

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

FULL METAL AIRSOFT

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

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

Near Shorwell, Isle of Wight, PO30 Tel: 07964 751047 www.islandrecon.co.uk

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

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

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

LAC SITE 1

MILSIM UK

Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23 4LG Tel: 0131 654 2452 www.airsoftedinburgh.co.uk

Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 2

Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 3

Saxillby, LN1 2JW Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 5

Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

17G Stationview, Dunmurry, Belfast BT170AE Tel: 07733128484

LEEDS AIRSOFT: THE FOUNDRY CQB

Haigh Park Road, Stourton, Leeds LS10 1RX Tel: 0113 277 7707 / 07968 258952

HILTON PARK AIRSOFT

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

HOMELAND TACTICAL AIRSOFT

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

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

INVICTA BATTLEFIELD GRANGE FARM AIRSOFT Leicester, LE9 9FP www.gingerliberationfront.com

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July 2018

Abbey Cwm-hir, Midwales, LD1 6PG Tel: 07497 480243 www.facebook.com/Midwales-airsoft

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT

LINDSEY AIRSOFT

Manby, Lincolnshire, LN11 8HE Tel: 07955 487983 www.lindsey-airsoft.co.uk

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 5FW Tel: 07974 507166 www.matlockcombatgames.com

HUMBER AIRSOFT GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON

MIDWALES AIRSOFT

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

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

NCIS AIRSOFT

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

NOMAD AIRSOFT

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

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

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

LAGAN AIRSOFT CLUB

FREE FIRE ZONE

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

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

Wilden Park Road, Staplehurst, Kent TN12 0HP Tel: 01622 831788 / 07876 263290 www.invictabattlefield.co.uk

MAW

Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 Tel: 07793 404346 1midaw@gmail.com

MIA

Cornwall, EX23 9JL Tel: 01288 331748 www.airsoftsouthwest.co.uk

NORTHFLEET CQB

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

NPF AIRSOFT, NPF BASSETTS POLE

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

NSC AIRSOFT

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

NTAC

Durham, DL4 2ER Tel: 01642 281220 www.ntac.co.uk

OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 Tel: 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM)

OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT Tel: 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk

Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07731 744471

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION

Former RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 Tel: 02380 899369

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

Welbeck Airsoft, Academy, Budby Road, Notts NG20 9JX Tel: 07956 587213/01623 812483 www.phoenix-airsoft.co.uk

PLATOON 1HQ

Rochester, Kent, ME1 1 HQ Tel: 01634 829063 www.ptt-1hq.co.uk

PLAYERS OF WAR

Cambridge, CB24 8RL Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB Tel: 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

Co. Londonderry, BT45 8NA Tel: 07713 273102 www.sg1combatgames.co.uk

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

Billericay, Essex, CM11 2TX Tel: 01277 657777 www.airsoft-billericay.co.uk

SKIRMISH EXETER Exeter, Devon, EX4 5 Tel: 01548 580025 www.airsoftexeter.co.uk

SOUTH COAST CQB

PREDATOR COMBAT GAMES

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

RAVEN’S NEST

Suffolk, IP8 4 Tel: 01473 831563 www.ravensairsoft.co.uk

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

Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0LR Tel: 07766 770830 www.southdownairsoft.com

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH

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

RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ Tel: 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

RED1AIRSOFT CQB

Red1 CQB. Kings Langley, WD4 8RN Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3

Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

TA EVENTS

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

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

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

STIRLING AIRSOFT

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

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

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

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

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

TROJAN AIRSOFT

Macclesfield, SK10 4SZ Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB

Weir Mill, Viaduct Street, Chestergate, Stockport, Cheshire, SK5 7JP Tel: 07428 024874 www.trojan-airsoft.com

UCAP AIRSOFT

TAZ AIRSOFT

UCAP GREEN OPS

Farr, Inverness, IV2 6XB Tel: 07848 448408

TECH BRIGADE

Newgate Street, Hertfordshire.

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

Portsmouth, Hants, PO17 6AR Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

Linch, West Sussex, GU30 7 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – FAWKHAM Fawkham, Kent, DA3 8NY Tel: 01268 796130 www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

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

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

THE BUNKER

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

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

THE EX SITE

Mold, CH7 4 Tel: 07840 001975 www.theexsitewales.co.uk

URBAN ASSAULT

Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, PE26 1 Tel: 01733 247171 www.urbanassault.org.uk

VIKING AIRSOFT

Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0UN www.vikingairsoft.co.uk

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

THE WARGAMES CENTRE Lundholm Road, Stevenston, Ayrshire, KA20 3LN www.thewargamescentre.com wargamescentre@gmail.com

THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT SUSSEX AIRSOFT

TORRENT WARFARE

Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

THE DEPOT

RED1AIRSOFT

Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk

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

SG1 COMBAT GAMES

High Bonnybridge, FK1 3AD Tel: 07767 203979 www.playersofwar.co.uk

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

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

Luxulyan, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL305FA Tel: 07751808055 www.thunderparkpaintball.co.uk Food & drinks available on site.

WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT

F O B (Woodland), Hollington Road, Upper Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT On site parking, HPA Top ups, covered safe zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch included, free tea and coffee available all day. Site memberships.

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

www.airsoft-action.online

89

SITE DIRECTORY

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

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

WEST MIDLANDS AIRSOFT

High Command (CQB), Doulton Trading Estate, Doulton Road, Rowley Regis B65 8JQ On site parking, HPA top ups, secure safe zone, male & female toilets, hot lunch included, free tea and coffee available all day. Site memberships.

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

WORTHING AIRSOFT Arundel Road, Worthing Tel: 07877 210898 www.worthingairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT OUTPOST Dunstable, LU6 2EE Tel: 01494 881430 www.xsiteairsoft.co.uk

XSITE AIRSOFT – LANE END High Wycombe, HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430

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July 2018

PRACTICAL PISTOL DIRECTORY AIPSC

The Grange, Frog Lane, Balsall Common, West Midlands, CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532384 www.aipsc.co.uk Facebook: A.I.P.S.C info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk.

Every Monday night 7pm– 9pm (except bank holidays). £5 or £10 with pistol and shooting rig hire. UKPSA-qualified coaches. UKPSA-qualified Range Officers.

COBRA ONE ZERO AIRSOFT Unit 9 Imperial Buisness Centre Mortimer Road, Hereford, HR4 9SP www.cobraonezero.co.uk Facebook: cobra one zero Airsoft

WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB WatfordPPC@gmail.com

DOUBLE TAP PSC

StrikeForce CQB, Morelands Trading Estate, Bristol Road, Gloucester GL1 5RZ Facebook: www.facebook.com/ Double-Tap-Practical-Shooting-Club979585958732937/?ref=hl doubletappsc@gmail.com

EBSC

MOD-approved gun club PP, IDPA, IPAS, IPSC, 3GUN UKPSA Coaches UKPSA-qualified Range Officers Equipment hire available www.ebsc.co.uk ebpracticalpistol@gmail.com 07752 713 970

HALO MILL

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

XSITE PRACTICAL SHOOTING Fryers Farm Lane, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3NP Tel: 01494 881430

SOUTH WEST PRACTICAL SHOOTERS (SWPS)

Action Air IPSC Club Based at The Tunnel Target Sports Centre near Charmouth The Tunnel, Axminster Road, Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6BY Contact: SWPSClub@Outlook.com

WETHERSFIELD AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING CLUB (WAT SIC)

Wethersfield Village Hall, Braintree Rd (B1053), Wethersfield, Braintree CM7 4EB. https://www.facebook.com/WATSiC/ Open Thursday & Friday evenings.

Set-up from 6:30pm.

Club shooting commences by 7:30pm.

Pack-up starts at 9:30pm if you can stay to help.

Contact via FB or 07939557029.

Indoors.

Club offers Action Air plus 2 & 3 Gun training and events.