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8 ARMOURY: MARUYAMA SCW-9 SD2 PRO-G GBBR
One thing that comes up time and again in relation to true “replicas” is that of correct licencing from real firearm brands, and how many airsoft companies still play fast and loose with this! With the Maruyama SCW9 Bill has got hands-on with a fabulous GBBR with a great “on-screen” connection, but as always has a question about “provenance”…
20 ARMOURY: LANCER TACTICAL NEW AEGS AND GBBS
We’re always looking at new directions, both from new manufacturers and more established “industry names” too! LANCER TACTICAL are by no means a new name to many of us, but some of their new products certainly show an eagerness to create new and unique airsoft platfroms… and who better to look at these than one of our very newest “Legion” recruits, Bruno!
26 ARMOURY: UMAREX VFC WALTHER PDP
Stewbacca’s loves pistols, particularly German-made pistols and police or military service weapons in general, so when he first became aware of the Umarex VFC Walther PDP in its various guises, he found something that ticked many boxes at once! Finally after quite a wait he got hands on one for himself, so, compared to the earlier PPKS, P99 and PPQ NPA in his armoury, is this “Polizei Perfection”?
36 ARMOURY: NUPROL NEXT GEN AEGS
NUPROL continue to go from strength to strength; back in ISSUE 172 following IWA Bill introduced the latest AEG models to line up in their PIONEER range, and after getting hands-on one of the NOMAD variants and giving it some range-time abuse he now drops his thoughts on what these bring to an already-comprehensive range.
44 6MM TRAINING™: TRAIN LIKE YOU FIGHT
We’re very pleased to once again be joined by our old mate and somewhat mentor, shooting instructor Andy N, who this month turns his attention not to our primary and secondary platform setup, but to how WE as shooters prepare ourselves in readiness for our airsoft adventures!
64 TECH: PERUN TRIGGER ACCESSORIES
If you tune in to AIRSOFT ACTION each month and follow our daily web news updates you’ll know we’ve had a long and very friendly relationship with the guys over at PERUN in Poland, and they’ve been kind enough to share their new technology with us every step of the way! With our “Tech Viking” still sadly out of action though it fell on Bill to check out their latest trigger options, the SPEEDER and the CLICKER!
76 AA LEGION: USA
Our new “AA Legionnaire”, Matt, joins us from the USA to bring in another excellent report on the MilSim scene “over there”, and his latest airsoft adventure at American MilSim’s (AMS) Liberty II... and with a huge and challenging AO and some interesting mission parameters it appears he had a lot to report on!
50 RED CELL ACTION AIR SPECIAL!
It is just days until some of the very best shooters from all over the globe descend on Iloilo City, Philippines to pit their skill against one another and against the courses of fire that will face them! We thought it was time for another “Red Cell Special”, and with the help of Stewbacca and Tim W this time we delve into the pistols that are suitable for use in all the different practical shooting divisions!
70 KIT & GEAR: ACCESSORIES FOR OPFOR
We spend an awful lot of time finding the right optics and accessories for our airsoft replicas, and to date if you wanted something “combloc” for your airsoft OPFOR AKs and the like you’d mostly end up using western add-ons if you wanted something decent, or end up shelling out for “real”! Bill though takes a look at (and through!) some optics from JJ Airsoft that may just answer the prayers of many an OPFORist!
86 AA LEGION: PORTUGAL
It’s quite usual for teams to form and then fade away over time… but sometimes a team sticks together for a longer period, and although individual players may come and go, the bonds formed on the field of combat for the core members become close relationships in life outside airsoft, and this should be celebrated! Miguel tells more of his own team’s event…
92 AA LEGION: TAIWAN
Our “Man in Taiwan” Stewbacca is once again ramping up his event schedule in terms of larger games him and Team Taiji and friends are engrossing themselves in! ‘POLK’, named from the local anglophoneticisation of ‘pork’ and the centrepiece hog roast that punctuates the evening BBQ festivities of the Saturday night, was moved much earlier forwards this year and he’s already returned to share his story.
‧ Bolt-Action
‧ Stainless Steel 61cc Cylinder
‧ TDC Hop-up Adjustment Dial
‧ CNC Machined One-piece Metal Hop-Up
‧ Master Mods Inner Barrel, Gbb Rubber
‧ Inner Barrel Stabilizer
‧ Quick-Detachable Hop Up & Outer Barrel Assembly
‧ Quick-Detachable Spring Guide
‧ Top Feeding Magazine (50 rounds)
‧ Trigger Safety
‧ 3-Height Adjustable Cheek Rest
‧ Quick-Detachable Rubber Butt Pad
New Single-Point HOP Chamber & Adjustment Dial
Lock design for easier, more precise hop-up adjustment
Redesigned Loading Guide & Cylinder Head
Secures BB positioning for consistent feeding.
Master Mods GBB HOP Rubber (sidebar trimming required)
Compatible with standard GBB rubbers, offering better BB contact and stability.
MOB HANDED
have, then you can start to recognise certain ways of doing things that give a clue as to who is behind the creation of specific platforms.
And so it is with the Maruyama SCW-9 SD2 PRO-G; as an “unlicenced” replica (and a VERY cool one at that!) of the APC9K SD2 I feel the hands of established industry people in the mix. The fact is that, for the example I had to test at least, there were no spurious “trades” to cloud things, and this means at least “Maruyama” are not trying to get points by using the name of a real-steel manufacturer on their creation to try and sell more units. Even without said licence I can kinda live with that as somewhat of a compromise… and it really is a VERY nice replica!
NUTS N’ BOLTS
The marketing spiel tells me that “the Maruyama SCW-9 PRO GBB Airsoft Gun combines innovative Japanese design with premium craftsmanship made in Taiwan. Built with a robust combination of metal, aluminium-alloy, and fiber polymer, the SCW-9 offers unparalleled reliability and durability. Perfectly suited for competitive and recreational airsoft players, this gas blowback rifle delivers consistent performance and a realistic shooting experience.”
So, first tell-tale right there I feel; let’s analyse the phrase “Japanese design with premium craftsmanship made in Taiwan” a little more closely… I’m okay that the design for this GBBR may have originated in Japan, and the fact that it’s made in Taiwan is almost a badge of quality these days when it comes to GBBRs; but let’s not forget that there are only so many manufacturers in Taiwan making high-quality gas replicas, and that we know most of them, and their work! I therefore have to ask the question as to why suddenly “Maruyama”? Is this purely a cover name for an existing manufacturer that’s done a lot of the
“WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AS DO THE FIREARM MANUFACTURERS AND MOVIE ARMOURERS, THAT A PROPERLY LICENCED, WELL-BUILT, AIRSOFT REPLICA IS INDEED MORE THAN A SUM OF ITS PARTS, AND ALTHOUGH WE LOOK AT IT FROM A GAMING PERSPECTIVE, THESE DAYS THERE’S A LOT MORE GOING ON”
OEM work and then created the SCW-9 outside of licencing?
My answer is “probably, definitely”, and it’s a shame to see this kind of thing going on, especially with such a great little replica that actually in my opinion ranks up there with some of the very best. However, needs and economic drivers sometimes mean that certain actions need to take place to make a buck and recoup time and investment… and let’s face it, the airsoft industry is far from alone in this practice.
Okay, enough from me on my white charger, let’s get down to the nuts n’ bolts of what makes the little SCW-9 so good in my eyes, and it would seem in the eyes of many others! First up, it really is a beautiful replication, feeling 100% solid when you lift it from the box, and looking a million dollars… at 370mm/550mm and weighing in at just 2215g it’s a compact wee package that seems purpose-made for close-in CQB encounters… but then that’s what the real-deal was all about!
There were absolutely zero imperfections on the model I received to evaluate, with the metal upper and full-length rail and the chunky M-LOK front-end being a sleek satin black, and the polymer lower showing no mould marks or blemishes. Equally the alloy four-position sliding stock is sturdy and solid, with not a wobble in sight, and its double-sided release button ensures seamless operation for both right and left-handed users. In fact, all the controls are ambidextrous, including the folding charging levers, and are very, very positive in their actions.
Releasing the body pins in front of the magwell and at the rear of the lower lets you drop this out to access the internals and trigger group. Lifting and removing the stock assembly at the rear will then allow you to drop out the spring guide and then the short bolt itself, although the non-reciprocating charging handle will stay in place. That for me is enough to enable regular
maintenance, but of course I’m sure that some of you may wish to go further… as always…
options you actually have many as the SCW-9 ships with two integral suppressorss as standard; a short one that’s fitted to be completely hidden by the 2.5 slot rail is on the SCW-9 when you lift it from the box, and this looks pretty cool, but there’s also a longer version that looks even better in my opinion, although of course you can swap out between the two for different roles and environments. I will warn you though that initially this “swap-out” takes a bit of thought, more than a little head-scratching (there’s absolutely no information
other than a “safety document”!), and also a little force. Unless I’m getting something very wrong, when you remove the factory-fitted supershorty you need to remove the rear cap… and oh boy, this is fitted tightly! I ended up resorting to a rag and the mole-grips
“IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL REPLICATION, FEELING 100% SOLID WHEN YOU LIFT IT FROM THE BOX, AND LOOKING A MILLION DOLLARS… AT 370MM/550MM AND WEIGHING IN AT JUST 2215G IT’S A COMPACT WEE PACKAGE THAT SEEMS PURPOSEMADE FOR CLOSE-IN CQB ENCOUNTERS”
“THERE WERE ABSOLUTELY ZERO IMPERFECTIONS ON THE MODEL I RECEIVED TO EVALUATE, WITH THE METAL UPPER AND FULL-LENGTH RAIL AND THE CHUNKY M-LOK FRONT-END BEING A SLEEK SATIN BLACK, AND THE POLYMER LOWER SHOWING NO MOULD MARKS OR BLEMISHES”
to very carefully get it moving! This end cap then replaces the one on the longer suppressor, and boom, job done!
Both suppressors come un-baffled so there’s space in there to fit a small tracer unit should you wish to, and removing the rear cap exposes a “muzzle-type” thread against the receiver which in principle means that you could possibly fit a barrel extension and then any type of muzzle device you wanted… I have to admit I didn’t try this though as I didn’t have the parts at hand…
And still talking about the “sharp end” the 2.5 slot rail is easy (ish, star-head bolts on the bottom) to remove and replace, although through weak google-fu I was unable to find any factorymade extended rails… what I did find though were a number of 3D-printed extended rails of four and four+ slots, and these appear to be available as free STLs online… gotta love community spirit!
DOWNRANGE
The 50 BB magazine of the SCW-9 is quick and easy to load, and there’s even a speed-loader included in the box to make things easy in this respect. However, although the Maruyama magazine resembles and MP9 mag, the feed lip angle and the overall dimensions are different to any other MP9-compatible magazine I own, meaning that you’ll have to buy dedicated mags if you want to run more than one; sadly this is a bit of a negative point… I also hate the “bullet mag” style where fake rounds are printed on cardstock and then inserted around the airsoft magazine; this to me looks “cheap” and detracts from what is otherwise a beautiful replication.
That being said, in terms of operation I’m going to come back to positives, and the hop unit is easily accessed on the bottom of the lower just in front of the magwell, and is super-easily and precisely adjusted with a small allen key that is also provided in the box. The adjustable hop-
“THE SCW-9 SHIPS WITH TWO INTEGRAL SUPPRESSORS AS STANDARD; A SHORT ONE THAT’S FITTED TO BE COMPLETELY HIDDEN BY THE 2.5 SLOT RAIL IS ON THE SCW-9 WHEN YOU LIFT IT FROM THE BOX, AND THIS LOOKS PRETTY COOL, BUT THERE’S ALSO A LONGER VERSION THAT LOOKS EVEN BETTER IN MY OPINION”
up system ensures precise shots at various ranges while the dual firing modes, semi-auto and full-auto, enhance the overall adaptability of the SCW-9 to a multitude of AOs and game scenarios.
With a couple of mags through, the hop suitably adjusted, and with the sliding stock extended and locked solidly in place, at 10m I was easily able to clang the Red Cell steels each and every time using just iron sights (you will need to add these yourself). Taking that out I was still achieving good hits on the steels at 25m consistently, which is perfectly acceptable from such a short barrel, and of course, once again I’ll say that “up close and personal” is what the real deal was all about.
Like many of the newer and outrageously good “APC” replicas out there the Maruyama is excellent when it comes to power delivery suggesting an efficient gas system optimised for consistent performance, sending .20g BBs downrange at 1.0 Joule/329fps on regular green gas. Single shots and pairs are great thanks to a very crisp trigger with virtually no takeup, and moving up to full-auto sends BBs downrange perfectly with a nice, strong recoil impulse. It was also easy to achieve short bursts thanks to the lovely balanced trigger, and the SCW9 is really a hoot to shoot!
Now as much as I bemoaned the whole licencing system earlier in this article, the fact is that apart from the magazine-
compatibility-thing the SCW-9 really is a super little GBBR, and I’m sure with some fettling on behalf of a knowledgeable tech it could become downright devastating as a CQB tool. The build quality is absolutely first-rate, I love the fact that you can mix and match suppressor options, and the performance is cool straight out-of-the-box. It’s light, small, superbly easy to manipulate in tight spaces, and when shooting it simply rocks!
And to really come back to where I started, talking about “on screen” use, in the recent hit series “Mobland” Harry Da Souza (awesomely played by Tom Hardy) is seen to carry a B&T APC9, and I’m reliably informed that the armourers chose the Maruyama SCW-9 SD2 PRO-G itself as a prop! So if any of you fancy a bit of gangsterstyle airsoft, or indeed just want an ass-kicking “APC-style” GBBR, then this could well be just the model for you!
My thanks go to www.iwholesales.biz for the loan of the SCW-9 review sample; please do go to check them out for news from Maruyama, along with a whole range of great airsoft brands!! AA
“THE ADJUSTABLE HOP-UP SYSTEM ENSURES PRECISE SHOTS AT VARIOUS RANGES WHILE THE DUAL FIRING MODES, SEMI-AUTO AND FULL-AUTO, ENHANCE THE OVERALL ADAPTABILITY OF THE SCW-9 TO A MULTITUDE OF AOS AND GAME SCENARIOS”
“LIKE MANY OF THE NEWER AND OUTRAGEOUSLY GOOD “APC” REPLICAS OUT THERE THE MARUYAMA IS EXCELLENT WHEN IT COMES TO POWER DELIVERY SUGGESTING AN EFFICIENT GAS SYSTEM OPTIMISED FOR CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE, SENDING .20G BBS DOWNRANGE AT 1.0 JOULE/329FPS ON REGULAR GREEN GAS”
NEW DIRECTIONS
AT AIRSOFT ACTION WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT NEW DIRECTIONS, BOTH FROM NEW MANUFACTURERS AND MORE ESTABLISHED “INDUSTRY NAMES” TOO! LANCER TACTICAL ARE BY NO MEANS A NEW NAME TO MANY OF US, BUT SOME OF THEIR NEW PRODUCTS CERTAINLY SHOW AN EAGERNESS TO CREATE NEW AND UNIQUE AIRSOFT PLATFROMS… AND WHO BETTER TO LOOK AT THESE THAN ONE OF OUR VERY NEWEST “LEGION” RECRUITS, BRUNO!
For this month’s issue we welcome Lancer Tactical to AIRSOFT ACTION, being a brand that has already proven its interest in creating replicas according to the feedback from their users.
To give a little context about Lancer Tactical, this brand was established in 2012 in California, and their products are designed and developed in Southern California too, although for those of us in Europe they are now available through their distribution arm based in France! They aim to provide affordable products, while having a range of reliable and durable airsoft replicas for all tastes.
It is true that Lancer’s reputation was let a bit down with their GEN 1 line, but things have changed! They changed so much that against everyone’s advice, I bought my first airsoft Replica, a GEN 2 lt-25 interceptor; I knew that everyone was advising me not to buy Lancer, but I did it anyway because who actually publishes a new replica showing the complete gearbox open without anything to hide, for sure it may be a good indication that they are proud of the evolution.
Knowing that it was a budget-oriented replica, but with reinforced internals and light weight, it was just the perfect starting point for me. Two years passed, playing almost every weekend with it and no issues at all presented, so I was impressed and started recommending it to every new player that was asking questions about the best entry brand.
Lancer Tactical shows to show their progress by grabbing new technology and bringing it back
to their GEN 2 line, for example the Hybrid GEN 2 Hellion that comes with an ETU out of the box. From the GEN 1 to the latest GEN 4 there are big differences, so to start today I bring you their Gen 4 Predator 8” CQB with the Nebula 2 ETU!
AEG FTW!
The Gen 4 Predator 8” CQB AEG really impressed me out of the box, being that is a complete metal construction built with ambi controls and a flared magwell, and is quite impressive being that it isn’t as heavy as I thought it would be, feeling superrobust; this replica felt really good while aiming down sights!
The programmability feels a little unnatural; what I mean by this is that for you to program the ETU you will have to go through more steps than expected, even changing it mid-game to programming mode by mistake, while playing with the fire selector while hiking. This is indeed something that I would consider changing in the future.
Besides that the Optical ETU did what it was supposed to be doing, elevating the performance, really feeling the power of having an ETU instead of a mechanical trigger switch like in the first line of the GEN 2’s. Also, I would like to mention that out of the box it comes with a little allen key; why you ask, well it’s for you to tune your trigger, so not only you can tune the sensitivity of the optical ETU, but you can also do it mechanically!
So, in order for me to tell you about my experience with it I have to say that the way I put it to test was actually taking it to a skirmish one
“TO GIVE A LITTLE CONTEXT ABOUT LANCER TACTICAL, THIS BRAND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2012 IN CALIFORNIA, AND THEIR PRODUCTS ARE DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOO, ALTHOUGH FOR THOSE OF US IN EUROPE THEY ARE NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH THEIR DISTRIBUTION ARM BASED IN FRANCE!”
wanted them, using an M115 spring, and I was shooting .28g BBs at 1.15 Joules, having a good consistency at 55/60 meters. It was also in this MilSim that I fell on this GEN 4… literally! I was walking and tripped over a rock, falling right over the Lancer, thinking to myself something had broken… I was surprised to realize that the only thing broken was my ego! The replica was fine, without any scratches, showing that the full metal construction was a really good evolution!
This is a replica that really catches the eye of some players out on the field because of how modern it looks. I would risk and say it is for the price one of the best I’ve tried, because there are a lot more replicas out there, and there might be a brand that offers all this and more even with a smaller price tag. I did indeed try one like that, but it feels off, there’s no personality, it feels like you don’t have to do anything, while with this Lancer it feels different, and people could even tell it was me just by the sound of it.
IT’S A GAS!
And now I turn to their licenced Tandemkross Cthulhu! This pistol is based on the Ruger Mark 4 .22 prepared by Tandemkross for race- shooting.
with a “Game Changer Pro”
picatinny rail section, so that you can add a red dot or even a LPVO if you desire to do so. Did I also mention that it comes with a threaded outer barrel 14mm CCW, so it is easier for you to attach a silencer or a tracer unit?
The first thing I felt while gripping this replica was an amazing comfort. It really is amazing what a simple thumb rest can do, it even gives the sensation of being more accurate, which it is true! For a pistol I was plinking targets at 40m with .25g bb’s, and with such short inner barrel I have to say it was impressing me, being that it is fully compatible with Umarex Glock 17/45 GBB series, WE EU17/18/34 GBB series and Action Army AAP01 GBB. It works with the most common Glock magazine brands, and is fully TM compatible should you wish to play around further with it.
The fact is that this pistol is intended to help the shooter in relation to comfort and aim, and it is expected to be seen as a primary gun for a player, being more and more popular in the Speedsoft world… with an HPA adapter with AR/ M4 magazine and it shreds! Myself, I like the tubeless feel so no HPA on mine, but still the gas efficiency is really good for this model! What I have to point out is the Hop Up; this replica has a really good kick back, so I do believe that it messes with it a little, having an unpredictable
“USING THE PREDATOR 8” CQB IN-GAME I REALLY BUILT A STRONG OPINION ABOUT THIS NEW GEN 4, AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT PERFORMED BETTER THAN I EVER EXPECTED WITHOUT EVEN CHANGING THE INNER BARREL OR THE HOP UP RUBBER”
“AND NOW I TURN TO THEIR LICENCED TANDEMKROSS CTHULHU! THIS PISTOL IS BASED ON THE RUGER MARK 4 .22 PREPARED BY TANDEMKROSS FOR RACESHOOTING. MADE OF REINFORCED POLYMER, THIS SEMI/FULL AUTO GBB IS REALLY SNAPPY!”
shot-to-shot variation.
Regarding the aggressive textured grip, it really helps by giving a solid hold, even when your hands get sweaty, and the trigger, just like on the GEN 4 mentioned above is cool. The Cthulhu also has a tunable trigger via an allen screw, which really allows you to fine tune your trigger pull; adding that to the crisp trigger, it makes it feel really snappy and responsive! One last thing regarding the Cthulhu is about the reinforced polymer, it is true that it makes it super lightweight and the rest of the aluminum parts make it feel balanced, but having the polymer body in consideration, you might find yourself thinking it is not going to be sturdy enough for most. Although light it is indeed strong.
This is my experience with both the GEN 4 Predator 8” CQB AEG and the Cthulhu GBB thus far; there are good things to say about them but also some questions, but that is perfectly normal.
These replicas really impressed me for being affordable and having good performance out of the box.
I understand what most people think about Lancer Tactical, but as an airsoft enthusiast and player, and now having had the chance to work with platforms from so many different brands, Lancer Tactical is a brand that really does show solid development, listening to the feedback of their users and using it to improve their replicas. So, for those that had a bad impression of the brand, I do encourage you to try their new line up… you are not going to be disappointed!
My thanks go to the awesome team at www. lancertactical.eu for supplying the replicas for me to test and evaluate, and I look forward to working with them more as their models move forward yet again, which I am certain they will given time and their approach to the needs and wants of the global player community! AA
“THE FACT IS THAT THIS PISTOL IS INTENDED TO HELP THE SHOOTER IN RELATION TO COMFORT AND AIM, AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE SEEN AS A PRIMARY GUN FOR A PLAYER, BEING MORE AND MORE POPULAR IN THE SPEEDSOFT WORLD… WITH AN HPA ADAPTER WITH AR/M4 MAGAZINE AND IT SHREDS!”
POLIZEI PERFECTION
WE’RE SURE EVERYONE IS PROBABLY AWARE OF STEWBACCA’S LOVE FOR GAS GUNS, PISTOLS, AND IN PARTICULAR, GERMAN-MADE PISTOLS AND POLICE OR MILITARY SERVICE WEAPONS IN GENERAL. SO, WHEN HE FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THE UMAREX VFC WALTHER PDP IN ITS VARIOUS GUISES, HE FOUND SOMETHING THAT TICKED MANY BOXES AT ONCE! AFTER QUITE A WAIT HE GOT HANDS ON ONE FOR HIMSELF SO, COMPARED TO THE EARLIER PPKS, P99 AND PPQ NPA IN HIS ARMOURY, IS THIS “POLIZEI PERFECTION”?
Being a Brit I’m of course naturally drawn to the Walther range, particularly pining for VFC’s PPKS for a few years since its announcement back in MOA 2023 if memory serves given its obvious association with Bond, James Bond and the majority of the movie series it takes a leading role in!
However, the P99 is also a firm favourite, not only for its immediate featuring in Tomorrow Never Dies (arguably my favourite Bond film, or at least Brosnan one - Stealth Boat and Michelle Yeoh counterpart reasons), as well as also being a fixture of the local Nottingham police in the guise of the P990 Double Action Only law enforcement variant with armed officers on routine patrols in some of the rougher areas as well as response units and airport patrols, along with the range of HK MP5s, HK53s and G36Cs that also adorn my walls.
When I moved to Taiwan they were just in the process of shifting their own police force over to the PPQ NPA (which I did a reloaded review of back in Issue 160) which has backwards compatibility for P99 magazines in the real-steel realm and draws a lot of its design elements from its earlier forebear that somewhat saved the Walther brand.
While you can definitely see the lineage in the grip shape and frame, slide and trigger, the handling has become progressively better throughout the family progression; when the PDP made its debut in the real world I was also
“AROUND
salivating at the idea of a replica and assumed VFC would be making inroads to that effect… cue me bothering Ray, Ryan, Sam and Fred with ‘PDP when?’ any time I saw them at shows or their Pentagon Service Centre.
Around the same time I started my wait for the PPKS’ final release following its announcement I managed to get hands on the PDP T4E (Training for Engagement, their CO2 powered paintball/ pepperball firing variant for police and military force on force training scenario use) at the TADTE 2023 show on the Umarex booth which I covered back in Issue 155.
Suffice to say, it made an immediate impression in the hand, building on the familiar profile and controls of the P99 and PPQ NPA, but with a boxier top-slide and even better feeling pistol grip shape. As with the more recent Glock generations, they realised the folly of ‘finger channels’ or grooves on the front strap of the frame which never seem to fit anyone’s hands properly, and did not carry them over from the P99 and PPQ.
They did, however, carry over the triple teardrop shaped bumps on the sides of the grip that resemble a cat’s maul print, and seem to rest in the palm quite nicely and add more natural grip and control. The slight flare forwards at the base helps retain even my large hand nicely in the proper grip and the interchangeable backstraps make for a very comfortable overall sizing for your hand. The earlier dimples and
THE SAME TIME I STARTED MY WAIT FOR THE PPKS’ FINAL RELEASE FOLLOWING ITS ANNOUNCEMENT I MANAGED TO GET HANDS ON THE PDP T4E (TRAINING FOR ENGAGEMENT, THEIR CO2 POWERED PAINTBALL/PEPPERBALL FIRING VARIANT FOR POLICE AND MILITARY FORCE ON FORCE TRAINING SCENARIO USE) AT THE TADTE 2023 SHOW”
coarse front strap grip channels of the P99 gave way to a more organic looking swirl or ‘Monet’ pattern on the PPQ but have now given way to a thoroughly modern looking hexagonal element ‘Performance Duty Texture’ pattern that follows the contours of the back and sides, while a fine ‘meat mallet’ texture adorns the front strap and the front face of the trigger guard if you’re of a certain age and still use your support index finger to brace the front of the trigger guard like that.
Finally, the same slight undercut beneath the trigger guard and an elongated rear beaver tail make for a really superb handling experience and it immediately just feels like an extension of your body.
I immediately found myself lining the sights up when drawing and presenting, and many people in the real steel and airsoft realm also espouse the very noticeable grip comfort as a first impression upon handling the PDP in whatever guise you find it. The front end of the frame also builds on the previous generations with a slightly elongated full three slot picatinny M1913 rail for mounting accessories; the PPQ’s was slightly cropped short at the front by comparison.
ALL ABOUT CONTROL(S)
Controls-wise, the PDP inherits the ambidextrous elongated slide stop/release levers of the PPQ with long serrated thumb surfaces that allow ease of pushing them up or down to manually lock open the action or drop it on a fresh magazine after a reload; thus far I haven’t found them getting in the way as much as they occasionally did for the PPQ for some reason, and haven’t had any inadvertent lock opens without it being empty thus far.
The general shape and position of the trigger seems to carry over from the PPQ series a well, but it replicates the ‘Walther PDT’ (Performance Duty Trigger) and indeed it feels much better than
that of the PPQ which I took some time getting used to and getting to run fast on IPSC or IDPA stages. With its 6mm travel and 6lb (2.8kg) pull akin to a Glock, the PDT replicated on the PDP has a much better feel, being a little lighter at 4lb (1.85kg) and very consistent in its pull weight at that, as well as having only half the slack and takeup of around 3mm travel before a fairly clean and consistent break and reset. Indeed when I first picked mine up at the Pentagon Service Centre I started double tapping steels with ease and found it very intuitive to run fast and find a natural point of aim with right from the outset.
The magazine release is only available in a push button format; while the P99 and PPQ NPA Taiwan police edition leverage the ‘flapper’ release levers that hug the trigger guard and make for easy ambidextrous magazine release or reloading, the PDP takes a more US-centric button only approach. However, it is reversible if you prefer to set it up for left-handed-only operation, and does avoid the typical grip break to actuate it unlike flappers.
As with most of VFC’s recent pistol offerings, not only does it provide a stout and positive recoil experience that inspires confidence and further facilitates the snappy double taps and good follow up sight placement between shots. It also has a fixed barrel system that greatly improves the mechanical accuracy out of the box.
Once I had the HOP unit set using the now customary GUIDE HOP system by rotating the recoil spring guide with the supplied tool fitted on its gentle flats on the front nub that seats into the front face of the slide when fully in battery, I found it easy to shoot large singular holes into paper at 10m. I was putting all my shots in around an inch circle after a few attempts, which matches my experiences of the PPKS and Stark Arms SA320 using similar VFC internal system setups. Muzzle velocity wise, running standard 12kg/’green gas’ as I almost always do out here,
“CONTROLS-WISE, THE PDP INHERITS THE AMBIDEXTROUS ELONGATED SLIDE STOP/ RELEASE LEVERS OF THE PPQ WITH LONG SERRATED THUMB SURFACES THAT ALLOW EASE OF PUSHING THEM UP OR DOWN TO MANUALLY LOCK OPEN THE ACTION OR DROP IT ON A FRESH MAGAZINE AFTER A RELOAD”
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and chronographing on .20g BBs, I got a fairly consistent average of 84m/s with surprisingly little variance, and usually get at least two loads of the 22 BBs out of a single fill of gas without too much trouble.
SIGHTING IN
Should you need to remove the slide for maintenance the familiar drop-down tabs on both sides above the trigger carry over from the P99 and PPQ series and allow you to pinch both with your support hand and slide the top slide off the rails forward to get at the insides, all fairly standard fare in line with recent VFC pistols.
The slide itself is noticeably chunkier and more squared off than those of the P99 and PPQ that came before with its included ‘Super Terrain Serrations’, deep triple cuts on both sides and the front and rear top surface of the slide alike which allow for ease of manipulation as well as a more aggressive and modernised appearance.
Likewise, this departure also extends to the iron sight arrangement which features a more matchgrade style rear sight with twin small flathead screws on the right side for adjustment and of course in line with so many other modern pistols the inclusion of the option to mount a red dot as standard is present.
With a number of interface plates for the likes of RMR/SRO, C More, Leopold and Vortex red dot footprints, as well as a Crusader option for the ACRO footprint, I availed myself of a suitable plate in short order to put a replica ACRO P2 on top of mine, along with an optional ‘Lai Guns’ magazine well-funnel attachment that admittedly needed some fettling to fit to complete the look for the ‘KSK P14K’ German special forces service sidearm!
Service weapons are my wont as such, and it also makes it a very handy and useful system in that guise… as many found out to their detriment
when I ran it at our recently resurgent CQB Wednesday night shootfest! Our entire team was using pistols it seemed and I was making my way all the way to the opposing spawn stalking through shadowed kill house floor plans and going full ‘John Wick’ mode with close-range eliminations and some longer range shots with the ACRO P2 helping make things very reflexive while the magazine well helped with reloads.
Some reviewers like the 4UAD Smart Airsoft guys and members of the Heavy Recoil Club Discord have already encountered a small issue with the threaded retention bar section of the original slide breaking off which holds the original iron-sight-only top cover plate on for use without a red dot interface plate. While this doesn’t have a major effect on mounting and retention of any of the red dot setups, if you wanted to return to iron-sight-only use it would become an issue; I’ve already been given a second generation variant of the top slide which resolves this issue based upon such initial review feedback, so in the longer term there is already a fix if you happen to encounter this problem.
Another great aspect of the PDP is the realistic backwards compatibility with the M2 variant of the PPQ; as long as your magazines have both sets of locking tabs, they will also work with the PDP, which was excellent news for me as I already had four such magazines from my PPQ NPA, so that cut down on outlay to make it a formidable sidearm, or in the case of CQB, primary weapon. I only hope VFC end up making a P99 as well so I can replace another of my WEs with their kit and further reduce the magazines I have to maintain and make space for!
In terms of holstering options I initially defaulted to my Safariland 579 which I tend to use for most new pistols as it’s adjustable to suit the vast majority of what I encounter. However, I also thought it would be good to invest in a more specialised solution, so as with my
“I AVAILED MYSELF OF A SUITABLE PLATE IN SHORT ORDER TO PUT A REPLICA ACRO P2 ON TOP OF MINE, ALONG WITH AN OPTIONAL ‘LAI GUNS’ MAGAZINE WELL-FUNNEL ATTACHMENT THAT ADMITTEDLY NEEDED SOME FETTLING TO FIT TO COMPLETE THE LOOK FOR THE
earlier Walther PPKS I decided to engage ‘Beans Workshop’ a local custom Kydex manufacturer who supplies a few of my friends and teammates as well as local law enforcement and military personnel. I ended up with very nice passive retention inside-the-waistband holster and two magazine carriers for concealed usage in case I find time for IDPA in future, as well as just generally being comfortable and useful for skirmishing where it prevents the pistol snagging on things as much as an outside the waistband alternative usually will. It definitely looks the part and works excellently giving me a secure and convenient way to carry the PDP close to my 2, 3 or 4 o’clock position depending on my gear setup at the time without interfering with upper body equipment or other kit I have to make use of.
Overall I’ve been extremely happy with my
experience thus far of the Umarex VFC Walther PDP pistol, and given the holstering option I’ve acquired and the fact I already have the magazines to carry over from the PPQ it’s highly likely to become a firm favourite if not my new standard sidearm for gameplay given how notably comfortable it is to handle. It certainly seems like the design has reached a pinnacle thus far… so if you’re in the market for something a little different, maybe you can try a slice of Polizei Perfection as well.
Many thanks as always to our good friends at VFC (www.vegaforce.com) and their Pentagon Service Centre for facilitating this and many other reviews, I’m looking forward to putting a lot more BBs down with this offering and coming back with an update in the longer term. AA
“OVERALL I’VE BEEN EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH MY EXPERIENCE THUS FAR OF THE UMAREX VFC WALTHER PDP PISTOL, AND GIVEN THE HOLSTERING OPTION I’VE ACQUIRED AND THE FACT I ALREADY HAVE THE MAGAZINES TO CARRY OVER FROM THE PPQ IT’S HIGHLY LIKELY TO BECOME A FIRM FAVOURITE”
PIONEER SPIRIT
NUPROL CONTINUE TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH; BACK IN ISSUE 172 FOLLOWING IWA BILL INTRODUCED THE LATEST AEG MODELS TO LINE UP IN THEIR PIONEER RANGE, AND AFTER GETTING HANDS-ON ONE OF THE NOMAD VARIANTS AND GIVING IT SOME RANGE-TIME ABUSE HE NOW DROPS HIS THOUGHTS ON WHAT THESE BRING TO AN ALREADY-COMPREHENSIVE RANGE.
Looking back to IWA 2025 Jase and I saw some pretty darn-cool AEGs destined to hit the market, and the new range of polymerbodied AEGs that made up their new PIONEER line that the NUPROL crew showed us most certainly looked the business, and illustrated clearly that they are still driving forward with the same spirit that they’ve always shown in the past! They were quick to confirm that examples of the new models would be for us for testing as soon as they arrived in the UK, and good to their word we had them in-hand just as soon as the container landed.
Sometimes though when I come to look at the latest AEGs and GBBRs that come our way for
testing, and indeed at what is being released to market, it seems that we’re constantly looking at what advances have been made, about the newest shiny internal tech, who has gained what licence with real-world firearm manufacturers, or about what is just downright cool, and that to me is right and proper.
However, there’s one area of the airsoft market that we, none of us, should lose sight of, and that’s the “entry level”, the area that’s still dominated by well-priced, good looking and durable platforms with good performance from the box, that may well tempt a player new to the whole world that is airsoft. Most normally these will be of the AR/M4 variety, and although there are other “operating systems” out there, it’s still most common for a “new recruit” to go down the AEG route as these are simply the most accessible and cheapest still of the platforms that we all love.
Virtually every single manufacturer will offer some form of “entry level AR”, and this is as hard-fought an area of the airsoft market as any battle that we’ll ever fight in-game. Some take the approach of offering AEGs with slightly higher spec that cost a bit more money, whilst others
to be full metal” I tend to scratch my bald old head a bit and ask “why?” Let’s face it, there’s now many, many polymer-bodied real firearms out there, even up to military standard so why should we as airsofters not embrace this if all the other constituent parts and are up to par?
Let’s also not forget that many of the “old and bold” who now run-out with shiny alloy and steel AEGs and GBBRs once started with a Tokyo Marui (because that’s pretty much all there was at the time, and not so long ago!) and those were all, in the early days at least, wibbly-woobly plasticfantastic creations… that we all loved, and all had some righteous airsoft adventures with!
Polymers now used in AEG and GBBR bodies have also developed forward over the years, giving strength and stability that we once thought were in the realm of science fiction, but have now become science fact. When built correctly, with the correct amount of metalwork sued in all the right places, there’s no reason to stop you embracing a polymer-bodied AEG as your first platform of choice, and there’s also no reason whatsoever to stop you owning one as a backup, eben as a seasoned player.
What I look for in this area of the market is yes, something that looks cool and is “up to the minute” in terms of external features, but that first
having to pick up your backup is something that happens to every single one of us at some point in our “airsoft life”. Fact is that a so-called “entry level AEG” is a million miles away from where it once was, and when I get together with my fellow greybeards we regularly comment on just how good the latest AEGs are compared to what we started with!
NEXT GEN NUPROL
Back in ISSUE 172 it gave me great pleasure to introduce the latest AEGs from our friends at NUPROL, and I said at the time “I’ve been very happy with the NUPROL AEG that I got some years back now, and I believe that the new range of DELTA PIONEER AR models will set a new tone for NUPROL in-house AEG models going forward from here. One thing that I know is that I’d be happy to have any of the new models in my armoury, and I’m sure that any of you will be too… NUPROL AEGs are back, and they’re back with a bang!”
The new models in the revamped DELTA PIONEER range most certainly fulfilled my criteria of looking cool, and over the ensuing month Jase and I have had two of them to live with and get to know more intimately. Somewhat bizarrely given that Jase is an out and out MilSim enthusiast,
“THIS IS AS HARD-FOUGHT AN AREA OF THE AIRSOFT MARKET AS ANY BATTLE THAT WE’LL EVER FIGHT IN-GAME. SOME TAKE THE APPROACH OF OFFERING AEGS WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER SPEC THAT COST A BIT MORE MONEY, WHILST OTHERS WILL CHOOSE TO OFFER A BARE-BONES AEG THAT JUST SPITS BBS”
CRANE-style sliding stock… it even come with an older style foregrip and slide-over rail covers! He told me that although he has fully embraced all the more modern accessories and styling on his MilSim platforms he wanted something “classic” to have as a base carbine for a “project”… again, this is where a well-priced AEG can shine! I decided to go all “modern” though which rather turned our usual position on its head! Normally I’m the one droning on about “classic styles” and rifles/carbines from the past, and my personal armoury reflects this. This time though I fancied something more up-to-date, more “BCM” than “Colt” so I went for the Delta Pioneer Nomad AEG Rifle 10”! This, with its M-LOK style rail, flipup sights, and QD sling points is a thoroughly modern-looking carbine, and the only things that I’ll think of replacing are the A2 motor grip and the older-style CRANE…
Yes, there are commonality of parts across the new PIONEER range, some external (which makes perfect sense from a manufacturing perspective as it keeps the price down for all of us!), but more importantly internally as there ain’t nothing wrong that I can see with this particular mix! Pretty much all the new models share the same internal setup, and it’s a solid one to get you rolling, or back into the game, whichever you want or need!
and all the inner barrels (there are numerous different lengths in the range) are 6.03mm tightbores with a rotary hop unit and 50° hop rubber as standard, and everything is driven along by a 21,000 RPM high torque motor. There’s nothing earth-shattering or ground-breaking internally, just good, durable performance parts that will let you maintain a good rate of fire with a crisp trigger response.
DOWNRANGE
No matter what your style of play, or indeed your budget Nuprol have once again delivered what players want and need, and that’s solid, wellperforming and highly accurate AEGs, and they look great too! Even though the new PIONEER range is polymer throughout there’s been some real attention to detailing externally so that you know what you’re getting looks as close to the “real deal” as possible.
Jase is still in the process of testing his SOPMOD, but speaking to him in relation to performance, his findings are almost identical to mine after spending some “quality time” on the woods range with the NOMAD, and that’s all positive thus far, but the proof of the pudding as always is in the performance!
Now NUPROL have a solid reputation for
“THE NEW MODELS IN THE REVAMPED DELTA PIONEER RANGE MOST CERTAINLY FULFILLED MY CRITERIA OF LOOKING COOL, AND OVER THE ENSUING MONTH JASE AND I HAVE HAD TWO OF THEM TO LIVE WITH AND GET TO KNOW MORE INTIMATELY”
making AEGs that perform straight out of the box, and I’m pleased to say that the NOMAD doesn’t differ. Okay, you are not expecting to get the same “out of the box” performance from an entry level model as you would from a more “premium” AEG, but let me assure you that the NOMAD is no slouch when it comes to chucking BBs, and is actually very good indeed.
The 120 BB mags load, fit, and feed superbly well, but that’s no great surprise as I use pretty much all NUPROL midcap mags these days and have never had any problem at all with them… in fact they’re my “go to” for testing and in-game as they really do appear to work well with virtually any AR AEG! Up in the woods with the mag safely fitted, for testing I used an 11.1V LiPo inside the buffer tube, and it was time to check things out!
The NOMAD chrono’d very nicely, and consistently, at 0.99 Joule/327fps using .20g BBs. This AEG has a mid-length inner barrel so I expected both decent range
and accuracy, and it certainly delivered, hitting the Red Cell steels easily at 30m using just the flip-up sights; both the power level and the range make the NOMAD pretty bob-on for any site that you’ll want to play at.
So to recap, with the NOMAD specifically what you get for not a lot of money is a thoroughly strong and durable, polymer-bodied AEG that ticks all the modern “style” boxes. It performs more than adequately out of the box and is easily upgradeable should you wish to as it features workmanlike internals. And the best bit is that price looks to be around the UK£120 mark, with the SOPMOD coming in for even less!
Yup, that’s right you can have a solid little AR AEG for about the same price as a decent GBB pistol…
Now you might think that the new PIONEER AEGs are purely for “new players”, and any of the new models would certainly make a great first AEG for anyone, but I’d say you’d be totally wrong if you discount it for that reason! The number of times I hear even seasoned players bemoan “I’d love to have an AEG of a different style, but that means buying into a lot of new kit I can’t afford and might not use” makes me shake my head sadly. If you want to try a different style of airsoft (and you should!), perhaps something like a “Act Of Valour” scenario, then all you need to do is grab yourself a SOPMOD, some cheap M81, AOR1 or 2 and a chest rig and you’re good to go! If however your tastes are more “Wick” then one of the M-LOK variants would be a good starting point for a really cool, creative build…
Whatever your style of airsoft may be I believe that with the latest PIONEER line-up NUPROL have moved things forward in a very positive way, with some great-looking AEGs in black, or black/tan, offering creditable performance from the box. They come with a “irons” as standard, a decent magazine, various sling options (including a singlepoint plate on most models), and even a speedloader, so all you need to get to move into your next airsoft adventure is a battery and some BBs.
Nothing other than positives thus far my airsoft friends, and I’m very pleased to see that the PIONEER spirit is still well and truly part of the NUPROL ethos!
For more information on the entire NUPROL PIONEER AEG range, and for stockist details, please do pay a visit to www.nuprol.com AA
TRAIN LIKE YOU FIGHT
WE’RE VERY PLEASED TO ONCE AGAIN BE JOINED BY OUR OLD MATE AND SOMEWHAT MENTOR, SHOOTING INSTRUCTOR ANDY N, WHO THIS MONTH TURNS HIS ATTENTION NOT TO OUR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PLATFORM SETUP, BUT TO HOW WE AS SHOOTERS PREPARE OURSELVES IN READINESS FOR OUR AIRSOFT ADVENTURES!
Many individuals and teams engaged in the art of shooting, be it firearms or airsoft, military, law enforcement or civil, live by the old saying “train like you fight, fight like you train” but what does this really mean?
There is much more to this saying than many people think. Hard work, dedication, and studying are just a few facts that we must take into consideration when we embark on a combative or defensive training program.
In this article I hope to help you become more efficient and effective during your training sessions, whether you are an individual training for a competition or part of a team battling it out. I also hope that I can open up a few doors on how to “train like you want to fight”.
During my military career and also as part of a Private Security team, I have attended and studied many combative and tactical training sessions with some of the world’s elite fighting forces. Although these training programs are well designed and planned by some of the world’s greatest combative minds (with supportive evidence that their tactics work), I have found, like all things in life, there could always be something a little better that suits my own
personal needs. But as you are the student and they the teacher you have to take what is given to you.
Airsoft plays a big part in my training sessions as it is the only legal way that I can train with handguns in the UK… and also my targets can shoot back at me unless I’m in-game! Because of the lack in ballistics (or should I say the increase in safety over live rounds), training with airsoft platforms enables me to train as realistically as possible without the dangers real firearms pose. To the weekend airsoft skirmisher though, such professional training package contents need not apply. I’m not saying that professional training is bad; I’m simply saying that because we have no restrictions on training, or protocol to follow, we can simply make those fine adjustments in our training to suit our individual fighting needs.
INTEL GATHERING
There is a wealth of information on combative training on the good old internet and also in print and this is where the study part comes into play. If you study a training program on tactical carbine for instance, you may well find it very informative and, if it has been delivered correctly, all should
“IN THIS ARTICLE I HOPE TO HELP YOU BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DURING YOUR TRAINING SESSIONS, WHETHER YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL TRAINING FOR A COMPETITION OR PART OF A TEAM BATTLING IT OUT. I ALSO HOPE THAT I CAN
OPEN UP A FEW DOORS ON HOW TO “TRAIN LIKE YOU WANT TO FIGHT””
make sense.
Next you should study the same subject again but this time by a different instructor or author and you will start to find some differences in training style and also you may also come across some contradictions between the two. A simple example being: “Which is the best handgun stance to use when in a handgun fight; Weaver, Chapman, Isosceles, or modern Isosceles?” They are all good shooting stances in their own right and each instructor will have their own favourite method, possibly because it has worked for them and they are still around to tell the tale!
Don’t stop here though, study as much as you can on a single subject from as many different sources as possible. This will give you a bigger picture as to what is used by other operators and you can make your own mind up as what works for you or your team. No two gun fights are the same and they never will be. You can train in the Isosceles stance until you become a Grandmaster with that stance, but it will be no good to you at all if you have to shoot from a moving vehicle. So my advice would be to be as proficient in as many tasks and skills as you can and not rely on the one that you think will work best under all conditions.
This is easier said than done, as a lack of spare time is a big factor concerning most of us with families and full-time jobs, but the more you and your team practice the better you will become when the need to fight arises. This will of course not happen overnight; to learn, hone, and maintain shooting skills takes time and as we all know all shooting skills are perishable skills and you will have to go back to basics regularly. Take your time when training especially when you are learning something new as mistakes can and will become part of the final outcome. Don’t try to go fast in the early days. If you make your training slow and positive every movement will become smooth. It is this smoothness that will lead to speed.
“THERE IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON COMBATIVE TRAINING ON THE GOOD OLD INTERNET AND ALSO IN PRINT AND THIS IS WHERE THE STUDY PART COMES INTO PLAY. IF YOU STUDY A TRAINING PROGRAM ON TACTICAL CARBINE FOR INSTANCE, YOU MAY WELL FIND IT VERY INFORMATIVE”
SLOW = SMOOTH = SPEED
Don’t try to learn too many skills at once as you will only get confused with the many different movements. Once you have mastered one skill move on to another, but remember these skills will perish in time so take the time to go back now and then and practice what you have already mastered to keep in top form.
Once you have studied several training drills you will need to sit down and scrutinise each one to find the best points that suit your training needs and discard the rest. The good points can then be amalgamated and become your own personal training program that you and your team can work with, but don’t stop there. Although you have taken all these good points from several training drills to make your own, criticise your own drills and fine tune them until they are perfect and work every time with maximum effect. This will help you better understand the mechanics of the drill and in turn you will better understand how to
win a gun fight.
If you are training as part of a team then all of the team members will have to be of the same standard using the same drills. Set a minimum standard by which you and the rest of the team must reach before you embark on advanced training skills. Once you are all at the minimum standard then talk about what you need to do to practice advance skill sets. Again, don’t rush this process, think of all the possibilities then discard then that are irrelevant to your needs.
Training is all about being able to make mistakes and experimentation under controlled conditions. You can’t afford to make mistakes in a game setting so that’s what training sessions are for, to make mistakes and have the time and ability to rectify them. Use your training time wisely. Your kit is also a factor in “training like you fight”. Many operators training use their full fighting kit complete with helmet and ballistic plates - but is this necessary?
“TRAINING IS ALL ABOUT BEING ABLE TO MAKE MISTAKES AND EXPERIMENTATION UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS. YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO MAKE MISTAKES IN A GAME SETTING SO THAT’S WHAT TRAINING SESSIONS ARE FOR, TO MAKE MISTAKES AND HAVE THE TIME AND ABILITY TO RECTIFY THEM”
Maybe, it depends on how serious you are about your training. It is a good idea to train loaded, but don’t carry everything you have. Just load up with the kit you intend to fight with and that will get the job done efficiently and effectively.
I spoke to a team recently that had been together for around five years and I must say they all looked, communicated, and worked well together. When I asked them about their training program they said that they all try to get together once a week to train in full kit. When they went in depth with the contents of their training program the seemed to take training with full load outs too far, and I somehow felt they misunderstood the meaning of “train like you fight”.
They zero the weapons in full kit. Zeroing weapons is an important part of all our training, but it took too long to do it in full battle rattle. This time could have been reduced dramatically and the spare time allocated to other training skills. I for one zero my weapon slick (without full kit on); I have never, nor do I ever intend to, zero my weapon during a gun fight, so what would be the point of me spending valuable training time kitting up in full battle gear on something I will never do?
Train with just the kit that you use during a fight and keep it in the same location on your person every time. If your team has dedicated roles for individual team members then of course these members should excel in their allocated departments but also all the members of the team should be cross-trained in other roles not allocated to them, just in case your expert has gone down.
THE RIGHT TOOLS
Training with the right platforms for the right job also needs to be addressed. I trained with a team from Israel a few years ago that had spent many hours in the art of room clearing with handguns. There was nothing wrong with this but the rooms
they were clearing were approximately 20 foot wide by 30 foot long. Their clearance drills were fantastic, dynamic, and successful. When I gave them a task to clear a room a few days later they did all the respective planning and started the execution with long guns.
This was fine until they all transitioned from handguns for the entire phase. The room was an old aircraft hangar that needed long protection not short-range, low-round-capacity handguns. They had got too complacent with training with one type of platform. Handguns should be used as secondary or emergency backup platforms and not primary, unless this is all you are carrying. Think about the fights that you get yourself into and train mainly with the platform that suits the task.
Don’t forget to train with a secondary though, just not as much. Long guns can (and should be) used as room cleaning tools, unless the room that needs to be entered by the operator is too small to swing a long gun round. With the use of airsoft training platforms we can afford to use an airsoft long gun in most room clearing scenario. Long guns have a greater range, greater rate of fire, greater accuracy, and greater round capacity than a handgun so this should be all you need to clear rooms.
So “train like you fight” takes more than just turning up and running a few drills. Time to plan and study will make a big difference in the overall outcome of your training sessions. Take notes on what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be auto, experiment and try new things no matter how well or bad it goes. If you don’t try them you won’t know. Have fun when training and remember to take all the usual safety precautions when training. Also keep a record of all the training that you do; both the good points and the bad. If a certain type of training skill works for you and your team then make a record of that drill so you can run it again in the future as a standard drill. AA
“HANDGUNS SHOULD BE USED AS SECONDARY OR EMERGENCY BACKUP PLATFORMS AND NOT PRIMARY, UNLESS THIS IS ALL YOU ARE CARRYING. THINK ABOUT THE FIGHTS THAT YOU GET YOURSELF INTO AND TRAIN MAINLY WITH THE PLATFORM THAT SUITS THE TASK”
RED CELL PRACTICAL COMPETITION TOOLS
WITH THE ACTION AIR WORLD SHOOT SET FOR JULY 26 – AUGUST 3, 2025 IN ILOILO CITY, PHILIPPINES, IT IS QUITE LITERALLY JUST DAYS UNTIL SOME OF THE VERY BEST SHOOTERS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE DESCEND TO PIT THEIR SKILL AGAINST ONE ANOTHER AND AGAINST THE COURSES OF FIRE THAT WILL FACE THEM! WE THOUGHT IT WAS TIME FOR ANOTHER “RED CELL SPECIAL”, AND WITH THE HELP OF STEWBACCA AND TIM W THIS TIME WE DELVE INTO THE PISTOLS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR USE IN ALL THE DIFFERENT PRACTICAL SHOOTING DIVISIONS!
Although it may not be “the thing” for all airsofters, as it’s not really “my thing” either, I can quite understand why Airsoft IPSC or “Action Air” is such a well-respected and growing part of our shared airsoft world. At various shows and events I have watched closely as airsoft shooting competitions took place, and perhaps more importantly how these were viewed by the non-shooting public; what I noted was that people actually enjoyed watching competitive airsoft shooting, and at one particular show a few years back the crowd on Saturday lunchtime watching the “three gun competition” was some five people deep with kids on their shoulders, and I’d say that the majority were not airsofters!
Here in the UK, the United Kingdom Practical Shooting Association (UKPSA) is the official governing body for practical shooting in Great Britain including Action Air, and they are a registered charity dedicated to promoting the sport of practical shooting. Their website tells me that: “As the recognized regional affiliate of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), the UKPSA proudly represents the global vision of practical shooting in the UK. Since 1977, we have been committed to advancing, developing, and regulating this dynamic and challenging sport.
“Practical shooting is a sport that pushes the boundaries of accuracy, power, and speed, requiring competitors to demonstrate precision, agility, and strategic thinking. Each competition features unique courses of fire that include
multiple targets, moving elements, and obstacles, all designed to test a shooter’s ability to adapt and perform under pressure.
“At the heart of practical shooting is the IPSC motto: Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas—Accuracy, Power, Speed. These principles guide the sport, making it a true test of skill, determination, and athleticism.”
The UKPSA also go on to explain Action Air in more detail: “IPSC Action Air is a thrilling and accessible discipline that brings the excitement of practical shooting to a wider audience. Designed for use with airsoft pistols, Action Air replicates the challenges of traditional IPSC matches, including speed, accuracy, and dynamic courses of fire, but without the need for live firearms.
“This makes Action Air an ideal gateway into the world of practical shooting. With no requirement for firearm ownership or licensing, it provides an opportunity for enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds to experience the sport. Whether you’re training for competitive shooting or just getting started, Action Air offers a safe, affordable, and inclusive way to develop essential skills.”
If you’re interested in finding out more then head over to https://ukpsa.org
I’ve dabbled in Action Air, and of course we ran our own informal “Airsoft Multi-Gun” competitions for fun amongst members of the AA Crew which culminated in a few “Project Precision” articles back around the “pandemic days” as we all set up our rifles, carbines, shotguns and pistols. I hadn’t actually realised
“AT VARIOUS SHOWS AND EVENTS I HAVE WATCHED CLOSELY AS AIRSOFT SHOOTING COMPETITIONS TOOK PLACE, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW THESE WERE VIEWED BY THE NON-SHOOTING PUBLIC; WHAT I NOTED WAS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY ENJOYED WATCHING COMPETITIVE AIRSOFT SHOOTING”
it in full at the time, but my own choice of for the pistol element of this would see my in tip-toeing into both Action Air Classic and Open Division territory, but to be honest my choices of the VORSK Split-Slide and then the awesome ICS Carnotaurus (Open Division) and the VFC 1911 Tactical Custom (Classic Division) were more about how about their efficiency, accuracy, and how I like to shoot.
However, we’re extremely lucky at AIRSOFT ACTION and among the members of Red Cell to have a number of airsoft Action Air/IPSC shooters in-house, and none more so than our very own Stewbacca who’s soon to head off with his teammates from Taiwan to the World Shoot, and of course he’s had major input to this “special” and I’ll return to his comment on “suitable tools” shortly.
I’ve also been able to call on my old friend from the Action Air world (and now of course of iWholesales) Tim Wyborn, and my sincere thanks go to him for his valued input here. As well as being a very well-respected Range Officer, Course-setter, Action Air shooter and now-veteran-level competitor Tim is a devoted practical shooter with many years of experience in both handgun and Action Air/IPSC shooting, having originally founded XPSC and dedicated himself to the club’s members.
Not only this, he’s Action Air National Squad Director, and he told me “That’s basically a posh name for dealing with everything Action Air! I deal with all aspects of Action Air in the UK, and form and choose the national squad, and we are shortly taking the current UK Squad to the Action Air World Shoot in Philippines!” Watch this space for full coverage of the “Worlds” at a later date in AIRSOFT ACTION, and of course I will be rooting for our national shooters!
Modesty aside though, Tim is actually one of the most important individuals to have helped develop the Action Air discipline in the UK, and
I’m very pleased and privileged that he took time to work with me to highlight some models for this article… without further ado I’ll hand things over to him!
Tim: The specification for Action Air guns is they do not exceed 2 joules, they fire 6mm plastic projectiles, the gas and ammunition is contained within the magazine and they have a blow back action, so pretty much most out-of-the-box gas blow back airsoft pistols fit that description! The only other criteria are the individual divisions which have different requirements.
“HERE IN THE UK, THE UNITED KINGDOM PRACTICAL SHOOTING ASSOCIATION (UKPSA) IS THE OFFICIAL GOVERNING BODY FOR PRACTICAL SHOOTING IN GREAT BRITAIN INCLUDING ACTION AIR, AND THEY ARE A REGISTERED CHARITY DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE SPORT OF PRACTICAL SHOOTING”
They are Classic, Production, Standard, and Open.
Classic is pure 1911 variants, with quite a few restrictions, so no fancy slide cuts or added extras. It is the purest of variants and you are only allowed 10 BBs in a Magazine.
For Production there is a list of approved real-steel pistols on the IPSC website. If there is a replica of that then it is allowed. The gun has to be used as it comes out-of-the- box with very few modifications, and these are only allowed if manufacturer-approved and available as a manufacturer option. You can load magazines with maximum 15 BBs
Standard is pretty much any which fits into a standard IPSC box for size. Modifications are allowed, but not compensators, electronic sights, or the like. You can load 18 BBs into your magazines. Open is an “everything goes” division, so any gun, any combination. You can run compensators, red dot sights, racking levers and have 28 BBs in your magazines.
Of the four divisions, three are more popular than the rest, Production, Standard and Open and in the UK, Standard and Open are the go to divisions.
Production guns out of the box vary enormously, but a lot comes down to personal preference, but the Glock is enormously popular in production division. Many use the Tokyo Marui variant, but in the UK purchasing one due to trade marks can be difficult. Umarex distribute Glock in the UK and offer two Glocks often used in production. Both are Glock 17 Gen 3’s. One is produced by GHK and the other by VFC, and both are fully licensed by Glock. They are different in operation and feel
and if you are looking for one, I would try both and see which one you prefer.
Within Standard division there is a huge variety; if you are looking for something to purchase, and upgrade as things break and you get better you can’t go wrong with the Tokyo Marui Hi Capa, and out-of-the-box, many use the Gold Match which I understand is already a bit of a favourite with the AIRSOFT ACTION team.
The TM internals are widely offered as upgrades and many custom Hi Capas are built around this system
For an out-of-the-box pistol that is preupgraded and you don’t have to do anything to, the Armourer Works Hi Capa series is spot on. They have fibre sights, enlarged magwell and are competition-ready once you have put gas and BB’s in them. Some TM upgrade parts fit, like sears, springs, barrels safeties and hammers, but the nozzle system is a slightly bigger size. If you just want to pick something up and use it, and not bother with upgrades, these are extremely good.
Open is usually the home of custom-made guns costing several thousand bucks with red dot sights on top of them from top-of-the-line manufacturers. There are however a few pistols out there that out-of-the-box fit right in.
“AT THE HEART OF PRACTICAL SHOOTING IS THE IPSC MOTTO: DILIGENTIA, VIS, CELERITAS—ACCURACY, POWER, SPEED. THESE PRINCIPLES GUIDE THE SPORT, MAKING IT A TRUE TEST OF SKILL, DETERMINATION, AND ATHLETICISM…”
TOKYO MARUI HI CAPA 5.1
Price: iro £150.00
Weight: 895g
Length: 222mm
Magazine Capacity: 31 BBs
Standard Power: 0.70 Joule/290fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Open or Standard
Available From: www.iwholesales.biz
ARMORER WORKS BLACK ACE
Price: iro £185.00
Weight: 735g
Length: 235mm
Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs
Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Standard
Available From: www.iwholesales.biz
JAG PRECISION SAND VIPER
Price: iro £150.00
Weight: 1077g
Length: 241mm
Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs
Standard Power: 1.05 Joule/337fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Open
Available From: www.weairsoft.com
TOKYO MARUI GOLD MATCH
Price: iro £160.00
Weight: 850g
Length: 222mm
Magazine Capacity: 31 BBs
Standard Power: 0.74 Joule/283fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Open or Standard
Available From: www.iwholesales.biz
VFC TACTICAL CUSTOM
Price: iro £130.00
Weight: 840g
Length: 224mm
Magazine Capacity: 20
Standard Power: 0.83 Joule/300fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Classic
Available From: www.vegaforce.com
The Armorer Works Dragon with a split slide and pre-drilled frame for a sight mount and sight is a great basic pistol with a longer barrel that makes full use of the regulations allowing guns to be used that don’t fit in the IPSC box. They are available in silver and black, but you can’t beat a bit of bling!
The Jag Precision Sand Viper, licensed by Taran tactical is a very capable Open pistol too. It comes with a red dot mount, is great out of the box but also has the benefit of being mostly based on the TM system, meaning any sort of internal upgrade is very possible not that they are needed; out- of-the-box they are well made, durable, accurate and ready to go. They also look pretty good!
Your pistol-choice largely comes down to the division you want to shoot, how much you are willing to spend on a pistol and do you want all the bells and whistles straight away, or are you willing to build up to them. For those that like to tinker as they go along and change and improve things there are plenty of options, as there are for those that don’t care what goes on inside the pistols, they just want to pick them up and shoot!
Stewbacca: When it comes to deciding on a pistol with which to compete in Action Air/Airsoft IPSC, there are additional considerations as compared to real steel shooters (the key one to my mind would be spare or upgrade components availability) given the round counts and general wear and tear. Back in my earlier ‘So You Wanna Shoot Action Air’ article in Issue 127, I recounted my own journey through various pistols I tried before settling on the KJ Works CZ Shadow series which has served me for the last four years or so; most of my competition shooting experience thus far, with the KJW Shadow SP01 and Shadow 2 reviews both following immediately after in Issues 128 and 129 respectively.
Even with that choice of pistol, I initially painted myself into a corner of sorts as there were issues getting replacement stock/OEM components for a few years due to KJ Works’ other focus on contracting for other manufacturers rather than their own brand product lines. Indeed, when I first made the switch there was only one other competitive shooter I knew of using the Shadow 2 at the time in Taiwan, and it wasn’t until our good friend Clarence moved to Taipei and began his
“CLASSIC IS PURE 1911 VARIANTS, WITH QUITE A FEW RESTRICTIONS, SO NO FANCY SLIDE CUTS OR ADDED EXTRAS. IT IS THE PUREST OF VARIANTS AND YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED 10 BBS IN A MAGAZINE. FOR PRODUCTION THERE IS A LIST OF APPROVED REAL-STEEL PISTOLS ON THE IPSC WEBSITE”
VORSK HI CAPA SPLIT SLIDE
Price: iro UK£140.00
Weight: 900g
Length: 250mm
Magazine Capacity: 28 BBs
Standard Power: 0.92 Joule/315fps
Holster Compatibility: Standard Hi Capa Division: Open
Supplied By: www.vorskairsoft.com
ICS CARNOTAURUS
Price: iro UK£195.00
Weight: 962g
Length: 220mm
Magazine Capacity: 30 BBs
Standard Power: 0.91 Joule/313fps
Holster Compatibility: Standard Hi Capa Division: Open
own focus on the upgrade and option parts for the Shadow )and more recently TS series) that their popularity jumped somewhat, with more people locally in Taiwan running them for both IPSC and IDPA, as well as of course huge adoption further afield and with his own sponsored shooters all over the world.
With that in mind, obvious options are the Marui Hi Capa spec which still dominates the Open category, with vanishingly few competitors running anything besides some form of Hi Capa pistol, typically with a drilled and tapped frame to mount a static cantilever optic upon, as well as extended inner barrels shrouded by compensators affixed to the front of the frame.
This clearly gives you a vast ocean of options in terms of upgrade components and customisation options to personalise and optimise your own pistol to your heart’s content. Indeed, even just in Taiwan aside from Clarence there are quite a few custom pistol gunsmiths churning out open gun components or bespoke solutions which find their way into the competition circuit, although admittedly a lot of SpeedQB guys n gals also make use of them for the same underlying reasons of excellent trigger response and fast firing, customisation, durability and ease of finding replacement or custom component support.
You can of course, almost equally use the same base guns in Standard division if that’s your preferred are of interest. Of course magazine capacity is restricted to 18 BBs here, but that’s a procedural rather than practical difference, and likewise you won’t be allowed optics or too many other bells and whistles, but the base gun and some level of customisation will still serve you well in this division. I haven’t personally seen anyone run much else in Standard division in my time thus far, although in reality any singleaction-only gun with a double stack magazine and iron sight only without a compensator should
be OK to use, typically hammer fired, although some people do still use Glock or Walther striker fired options in this division.
Glock is another obvious choice on that note, given again the vast support network of various custom component manufacturers and cross compatibility. A lot of the Taiwanese competitors in Production and Production Optics divisions rely on VFC Glocks for their base guns, with usually only minimal modification. I haven’t seen anyone really run them in Standard division as that tends to be the aforementioned slightly restricted customised Hi Capa-style guns for the most part, but you could use a Glock or similar striker-fired counterpart such as the PPQ, or even the more recent PDP which I have used myself to run IPSC and IDPA stages well in the past.
A further consideration is also the weight and ease of movement; YiJun (one of the other aforementioned competitors in Production Optics running a Glock) was trying my teammate JiaCheng and mine’s CLPD Shadow 2 Oranges and was shocked by the weight of them. Having a steel or aluminium-framed gun is great in real steel IPSC as it helps to soak up any recoil and keep the muzzle from flipping too much as a result, making it easier to maintain a sight picture with optics, or settle the irons back on target faster otherwise. However, the added weight is also a drawback in terms of movement, transitions between targets and other aspects; holding a housebrick at arms-length makes wider swinging between targets more of a strain in terms of moving the gun up to speed and then slowing it down as you get it on target is no small consideration. You can see from my own headcam videos when using the PPQ in the past I am noticeably faster and sometimes more accurate even with a polymer-framed service handgun, versus my beloved Shadow 2 and its more recent Orange replacement. Horses for courses, as they say, or perhaps more a case of
“STANDARD IS PRETTY MUCH ANY WHICH FITS INTO A STANDARD IPSC BOX FOR SIZE. MODIFICATIONS ARE ALLOWED, BUT NOT COMPENSATORS, ELECTRONIC SIGHTS, OR THE LIKE. YOU CAN LOAD 18 BBS INTO YOUR MAGAZINES. OPEN IS AN “EVERYTHING GOES” DIVISION”
UMAREX GLOCK G17 GEN 3
ice: iro £155.00
Weight: 649g
Length: 204mm
Magazine Capacity: 23 BBs
Cold Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Production, Standard or Open
Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com
GHK G17
Price: iro £260.00
Weight: 492g
Length: 204mm
Magazine Capacity: 20 BBs
Standard Power: 1.01 Joule/330fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Production, Standard or Open
Available From: www.landwarriorairsoft.com
ASG P10C
Price: iro £150.00
Weight: 730g
Length: 190mm
Magazine Capacity: 22 BBs
Standard Power: 0.99/328fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Standard or Production Available From: www.actionsportgames.com
ASG SHADOW 2 ORANGE SPECIAL EDITION
Price: iro £330.00
Weight: 975g
Length: 218mm
Magazine Capacity: 17+1
Standard Power: 0.99/328fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Production or Open
Available From: www.actionsportgames.com
VFC (UMAREX) PDP COMPACT 4”
Price: iro £170.00
Weight: 740g
Length: 215mm
Magazine Capacity: 20 BBs
Standard Power: 0.94 Joule/319fps
Holster Compatibility: Good Division: Standard or Production
Supplied By: www.vegaforce.com
pick your poison.
Another major consideration, and one that explains a lot of the dominance of Hi Capas and related models across competition shooting, is barrels. The Shadow 2 Orange has a fixed outer and inner barrel which are locked to the frame with the slide stop/release lever, likewise the more recent VFC SA320 SIG based pistols also have fixed barrels, while many airsoft replicas maintain the ‘Browning Action’ system where the outer and inner barrel drop slightly as they ‘unlock’ from the slide and ejection port. Later VFC pistols such as the PPKS, PDP and SIG replicas have either fixed outer and inner barrels, or at least fixed inner barrels within the floating outer barrel in the case of their M18. This can have a major impact on the ‘mechanical accuracy’ or base capability of the gun on its own; as soon as I switched from Shadow 2 to Shadow 2 Orange there was a noticeable increase in my accuracy due to the tightening of groupings as a result of its fixed outer and inner barrel design, likewise the SA320T, PPKS and PDP have all proven to be veritable tack drivers at the typical 10-15 metre ranges of Action Air stages and training spaces. So despite the reduced ranges over real steel IPSC due to the limitations of airsoft pistols, having a fixed barrel can certainly make things a lot easier, especially for a beginner.
‘Fuel’ choice can also be something to consider. Many KJWorks models are ‘dual fuel’, and increasingly other manufacturers are adopting this approach with ‘green gas’ and CO2 capsule compatible magazines being made available for a growing number of manufacturer’s offerings. Indeed, Bear Zhan, one of the more experienced shooters from our neighbouring team Spring Rain in Southern Taipei was using not only a highly customised VFC Glock in Open division, but also extended MAX TACT CO2 magazines to run it on, which offer a very stable option in terms of consistent gas pressure output
for better efficiency and accuracy over the course of a whole magazine load of shots.
If you intend to run an optic-enabled pistol in Production Optics division, then the manner of attachment is also a further consideration; many pistols offer simple rear-sight-replacement blocks which allow you to pick up on the dovetail in the slide that the iron sight would usually slide into, and gives you an RMR or similar mount footprint on a thin adaptor plate that replaces the rear sight and gives a simple alternative to the more involved specialist slide cut or adaptor plate cut options which are typically from third party manufacturers like Clarence. In more recent models such as the VFC’s SIG series and Walther PDP the real steel pistols’ standard optics readiness are carried across into their replicas. Of course your choice of optic may be determined by available footprints or adaptor plates, and the overall weight is also a consideration in terms of the added mass to the slide for it to have to move with its blowback engine, which can obviously change its dynamics, speed or reliability.
So, with all that in mind, here are a few picks from me!
Tokyo Marui HiCapa 5.1
• ideal for Open or Standard divisions and already dominant
• myriad custom and upgrade components for function and aesthetic alike
• stock trigger is short and crisp, and can easily be modified with spring adjustments
• magazines are large capacity for ammunition and gas as well as durable and lightweight aluminium alternatives as well as MAX TACT regulated CO2 variants are available
• large grip can be comfortable for most, optics can be added to cantilever mounts
“PRODUCTION GUNS OUT OF THE BOX VARY ENORMOUSLY, BUT A LOT COMES DOWN TO PERSONAL PREFERENCE, BUT THE GLOCK IS ENORMOUSLY POPULAR IN PRODUCTION DIVISION. MANY USE THE TOKYO MARUI VARIANT, BUT IN THE UK PURCHASING ONE DUE TO TRADE MARKS CAN BE DIFFICULT”
RED CELL
for open
VFC Glock 17
• adaptable to Production divisions in stock form
• can be used for Standard and Open with further modifications
• green gas & CO2 magazines available
• Stock trigger is harder and longer breaking so may need modification
• good support and parts compatibility
• ease of use, no external safeties, consistent trigger pull
• lighter overall weight, easier handling, no hammer, decocker/ double action to consider
VFC Glock 17 + RMR slide (Tril Tactical?)
• good base gun with parts and support
• green gas & CO2 magazines available
• good for Production Optics or Open with G34 or standard without optics fitted
• ease of use, no external safeties, modified straight trigger with lighter pull
• lighter overall weight, easier handling, no hammer, decocker/ double action to consider
VFC Walther PPQ
• good base gun with parts and support
• good for Standard or Production divisions
• Stock trigger is harder and longer breaking like a Glock so may need modification
• ease of use, no external safeties to deal with
• rear sight optics plate could make it workable in production optics, but no direct mounts
• lighter overall weight, easier handling, no hammer, decocker/ double action to consider
• optics ready out of the box with numerous red dot footprint adaptor plates
• lighter overall weight, easier handling, no hammer, decocker/ double action to consider
• magazine cross compatibility with V2 PPQ
CLPD CZ Shadow 2 Orange
• improving ASG licensed custom components availability from CLPD
“WITHIN STANDARD DIVISION THERE IS A HUGE VARIETY; IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO PURCHASE, AND UPGRADE AS THINGS BREAK AND YOU GET BETTER YOU CAN’T GO WRONG WITH THE TOKYO MARUI HI CAPA, AND OUT-OF-THE-BOX, MANY USE THE GOLD MATCH”
• rear sight optics plate could make it workable in production optics, however, a direct RMR slide would be preferable due to weight and geometry considerations
• no decocker means loaded and chambered but double action start manual of arms is more of a consideration for action air competition use
• heavy metal frame makes the gun slower to move and handle, but less prone to recoil
• magazine design has lateral base plate pins which can be more prone to leaking CLPD CZ Shadow 2 Orange + RMR slide
• improving ASG licensed custom components availability from CLPD
• fixed external barrel and wide porting makes for lighter slide and snappier movement
• double action/single action trigger and decocker makes for usefulness in ALL divisions
“OF COURSE WE’LL HAVE COVERAGE OF THE 2025 WORLD SHOOT COURTESY OF STEWBACCA IN DUE COURSE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU’VE ENJOYED THIS PARTICULAR “SPECIAL”… I’LL CLOSE THOUGH BY WISHING ALL THE SHOOTERS THE VERY BEST OF LUCK IN ILOILO CITY!”
• optics mounting limited if at all available in airsoft
• heavy metal frame makes the gun slower to move and handle, but less prone to recoil
• magazine design has lateral base plate pins which can be more prone to leaking CLPD/ARES Revolver - Hard Mode
• excellent build quality and fit and finish
• Revolver class does exist but tends to attract fewer competitors so makes for a good niche
• fixed internal barrel affords better mechanical accuracy, although barrel length can suffer
• limited ammunition capacity will make it more challenging
• double action single action trigger capabilities
• single CO2 capsule in grip and lack of blowback unit gives reasonable capacity between requirement to replace capsule
• full moon clips make reloading easier but require specialist load bearing belts and fixtures
Bill: Please note that all the pistol standard power levels are quoted on Green Gas unl;ess specified!
Of course we’ll have coverage of the 2025 World Shoot courtesy of Stewbacca in due
course, and I hope that you’ve enjoyed this particular “Special”! My sincere thanks go to both Stewbacca and Tim for helping to shed a little more light on exactly what we all should be looking at if we’re considering a foray into Action Air, and I’ll close though by wishing all the shooters the very best of luck in Iloilo City, and leave you with the words of Myro Lopez, Match Director of the 2025 IPSC Action Air World Shoot:
“Dear IPSC athletes, Range Officers and friends: Welcome to the second IPSC Action Air World Shoot! The match will be held at the Iloilo Convention Center in the Philippines, a worldclass facility that will accommodate this exciting match. We are confident that competitors will be tested on all levels of their sport abilities and shooting skills.“ AA
Red Cell is supported by:
TRIGGER TIME!
REGULARS OUT THERE THAT TUNE IN TO AIRSOFT ACTION EACH MONTH AND FOLLOW OUR DAILY WEB NEWS UPDATES WILL KNOW THAT WE’VE HAD A LONG AND VERY FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GUYS OVER AT PERUN IN POLAND, AND THEY’VE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO SHARE THEIR NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! WITH OUR “TECH VIKING” STILL SADLY OUT OF ACTION THOUGH IT FELL ON BILL TO CHECK OUT THEIR LATEST TRIGGER OPTIONS, THE SPEEDER AND THE CLICKER!
Okay, I’m no tech, you all know that, and I make absolutely no claim to be one as I’m still of the mind-set that if something goes badly wrong with your AEG or GBBR you should hand it off to the “armourer” for some TLC and not try to bodge it up yourself! Airsoft techs (good ones that is), just like “real deal” armourers in the firearms world, spend many an hour learning the intricacies of their trade, often passed on to them by an older colleague.
But this mould has been changing, and over more recent years we’ve seen some absolutely brilliant self-taught-techs sharing their secrets online so that we can all learn things, and although it’s not something for me, many have grasped the nettle, watched and learned, researched and fettled and become great techs in their own right, and I would definitely put our usual in-house worker-of-magic Jimmy amongst them.
Sadly as some of you will know Jimmy has been ill and out of action for a while now, and I’m sure he won’t mind me telling you that it was a bit touch and go for a while… I won’t go into details,
but suffice to say that his condition was serious enough to warrant lengthy hospitalisation, and although thankfully he is finally on the mend he has a long road ahead of him before he’s fully back in action.
And Jimmy has been the one that has always looked after all-things-PERUN in-house, so when Jakub offered to send us over the latest V2 Hybrid MOSFET along with the SPEEDER and CLICKER trigger modules to test I have to admit that I was somewhat in a quandary as I hate to accept samples knowing that we can’t do them justice…
“MOSFET’S AND TRIGGER MODULES IN HAND ALONG WITH MY OLD GEN 1 EMG/DANIEL DEFENSE-LICENCED MK18 FROM SPECNA ARMS AND A DOUBLE BELL “HK416” AS “DONORS” IT WAS OFF TO THE WORKSHOP WITH MARCUS TO GET THESE BAD BOIS FITTED AND SEE WHAT THE FUSS WAS ALL ABOUT!”
However, I was lucky enough that I could turn to my old mate Marcus at All Ages Airsoft (my local airsoft store) who was a part of the original RED CELL many moons ago now and is still quietly plying his trade through the thick and thin of a volatile economy. He’s still one of the very few people that I will let touch my own AEGs and GBBs, so I approached him and asked if he had time to help me out… which thankfully he was delighted to do.
So, MOSFET’s and trigger modules in hand along with my old GEN 1 EMG/Daniel Defenselicenced Mk18 from Specna Arms and a Double Bell “HK416” as “donors” it was off to the workshop with Marcus to get these bad bois fitted and see what the fuss was all about!
WHY CHANGE?
So, the question you’re probably asking yourself right now is why change things, as I’m usually the one that says “leave well alone until something fails” and both the Specna and Double Bell have both been working well in the test pool… Fact is that I should probably qualify my comment about potential upgrades and change it to “leave well alone until something fails OR you see an upgrade that you feel will enhance your AEG to YOUR liking”.
So what does the PERUN tech bring to the party that so interests me? Well, first off PERUN
have been doing their thing for a good while now, and having tested a lot of it, we know it works, and works well! Founded in 2016 with the goal of developing and producing MOSFETs and other parts for our replicas, years of design and testing have allowed PERUN to offer products that will not fail even in the most extreme situations and will enhance performance. Each stage of the design process and most of the production takes place in Poland. This allows PERUN to achieve their main stated goal, which is maintaining the highest possible quality. They are in constant contact with players, technicians, and shops, consulting with them to ensure that PERUN products meet strict requirements and that they address the needs (and wants!) of players worldwide
Of course before we get to the trigger modules I need to talk about the MOSFETs themselves, as you’ll need one of them to replace whatever is inside your AEG as standard before you can access the benefits of the trigger setups. The PERUN V2 and V3 Hybrids replace the mechanical contacts in your AEG and provides lots of useful features. Optical and magnetic sensors allow you to eliminate many moving parts that are prone to damage, thus increasing the reliability. Adaptive trigger control allows switching from a very short trigger travel to a long one even in the field, with almost any trigger, including stock ones. This works without the need for any modification with most V2 gearboxes in Tokyo Marui standard configuration.
TRIGGER TIME
PERUN say that... “our trigger accessories are solutions designed for airsoft enthusiasts who seek realism and precise adjustments in their devices. These accessories offer the ability to adjust the trigger resistance, allowing for a better replication of real firearm functionality
“SO WHAT DOES THE PERUN TECH BRING TO THE PARTY THAT SO INTERESTS ME? WELL, FIRST OFF PERUN HAVE BEEN DOING THEIR THING FOR A GOOD WHILE NOW, AND HAVING TESTED A LOT OF IT, WE KNOW IT WORKS, AND WORKS WELL!”
or customization to the player’s individual preferences. They’re perfect for those seeking greater sensitivity, precision, and customization in their airsoft gear.”
If you are lucky enough to have an AEG with the superb PERUN V2 Hybrid MOSFET installed (or indeed you fit one as an aftermarket solution), here is how you make it more realistic! The CLICKER is designed to work with the V2 Hybrid MOSFET and provides a tactile click when the trigger is pulled, along with a tactile reset. This gives the trigger a far more realistic feel, and while not close to the feel of a real trigger, is far more exciting to use than a normal “dead-stick” AEG trigger.
In use, the CLICKER actually introduces a “break” to the trigger action, which needs to be felt and overcome to fire a shot, somewhat similar to how a trigger in a real firearm works; the CLICKER is fundamentally designed to please those that know real firearms, those that want a tactile feel on the trigger, and just like the “real deal” the weight of the trigger “break” is adjustable!
In more detail the CLICKER V2 PRO is designed for use with PERUN drop-in devices for V2 gearboxes like the V2 Hybrid or HPA Trigger Board V2. It introduces up to 3kg (6lbs) break to the
trigger action, which needs to be overcome to fire a shot, again similar to how the trigger works in a real firearm. The CLICKER can be adjusted in five different ways to best replicate a real firearm or simply suit your personal preference, and in the new Clicker V2 PRO, the mechanical safety is retained. The CLICKER V3 has been designed for use with V3 drop-ins, including the PERUN V3 Hybrid and Arcturus replicas with PE V3 PERUN MOSFETs, and also allows adjustment of trigger pull, pretravel, overtravel and return spring force. The CLICKER has now been thoroughly and positively tested to work with a wide range of gearbox shell and trigger combinations, so there’s a lot to work with here whatever platform you own.
Moving over to the SPEEDER, now this, although somewhat visually similar, is a totally different beast! Once again the SPEEDER has been designed for use with PERUN drop-in products for any V2 gearbox, like the V2 Hybrid and HPA Trigger Board V2. However, unlike the “real feel” of the CLICKER the SPEEDER has been purpose-built for speedsofters and CQB players, as well as any other airsofter who wants to set their trigger exactly according to their taste thanks to adjustable overtravel, pretravel, spring tension, and break (including no break at all!). The
“THE CLICKER IS DESIGNED TO WORK WITH THE V2 HYBRID MOSFET AND PROVIDES A TACTILE CLICK WHEN THE TRIGGER IS PULLED, ALONG WITH A TACTILE RESET. THIS GIVES THE TRIGGER A FAR MORE REALISTIC FEEL…”
SPEEDER also makes the trigger more sensitive… like WAY MORE SENSITIVE!
FITTING OUT
So, with the two donors in hand I asked Marcus to fit the CLICKER into my MK18 (realism wanted here!) while the SPEEDER went into the HK416. Marcus explained...
“The V2 Hybrid is actually a very good programmable Mosfet, but if you fit it with the PERUN CLICKER system you really need to read and follow the instructions because with the CLICKER you need to not fit the magnet trigger piece and use the dedicated CLICKER piece instead.
You also have to pay attention to setting the safety set up; you need to set it up by taking everything out of the gearbox including the trigger block that goes through right hand side of the gearbox, then you have to fit the CLICKER system with your chosen trigger then look through the square hole in the gearbox where the selector plate sits and adjust the small grub screw to set the safety. At this point it’s a good idea to measure how much the grub screw sticks out and write it down; this is because you need to take all this out again to fit the selector plate and the rest of the gearbox.
Once the gearbox is back together then you need to set the safety catch grub screw to the measurement that you wrote down earlier, and at this point you can reassemble your AEG and program it to your preference.
Fitting the system is not difficult, and the SPEEDER is even easier as it doesn’t require the modification for the safety, but you really do need to fit both in the order in the instructions and be aware that some of the small parts appear to be 3D printed and are a bit fragile. If you over-adjust some of the screws in the trigger modules you can damage them, but other than that they’re both great system. I particularly like the fact that
used in conjunction with the programmability of the Hybrid V2 MOSFET the CLICKER does give a pretty good real trigger feel!”
And yes, it does, I can attest to the fact as both and airsofter and a “real steel” shooter that the CLICKER certainly put a smile on my face, but to be honest so did the SPEEDER which I tried at the shop but left with Marcus to play around with more… suffice to say that the SPEEDER gave the HK146 what I would term to be a “hair trigger” and I can totally see why our friends in the speedsoft fraternity like that one!
The CLICKER though has given my old Specna Arms MK18 a totally new feel and after spending so much time with my VFC MK18 GBBR coming back to the AEG with the CLICKER in place has made it exciting all over again! The AEG MK18 was always a bit of a tack-driver but was starting to feel a little tired after nigh-on five years of hard use and abuse with all the original parts in place, so I had Marcus give it a wee service while it was apart and fitted a new 4UANTUM AEG hop rubber and suffice to say it is once again absolutely BOMBER!
With its accuracy and range right back up there, and with the reset-feel of the PERUN CLICKER each and every time I pull the trigger it was totally worth upgrading the MK18, as I genuinely feel it will give me joy again every time I use it, and hopefully it’s now good to go for another five years! AA
“UNLIKE THE “REAL FEEL” OF THE CLICKER THE SPEEDER HAS BEEN PURPOSE-BUILT FOR SPEEDSOFTERS AND CQB PLAYERS, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER AIRSOFTER WHO WANTS TO SET THEIR TRIGGER EXACTLY ACCORDING TO THEIR TASTE…”
OPFOR ADD-ONS!
WE SPEND AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME FINDING THE RIGHT OPTICS AND ACCESSORIES FOR OUR AIRSOFT REPLICAS, AND TO DATE IF YOU WANTED SOMETHING “COMBLOC” FOR YOUR AIRSOFT OPFOR AKS AND THE LIKE YOU’D MOSTLY END UP USING WESTERN ADD-ONS IF YOU WANTED SOMETHING DECENT, OR END UP SHELLING OUT FOR “REAL”! BILL THOUGH TAKES A LOOK AT (AND THROUGH!) SOME OPTICS FROM JJ AIRSOFT THAT MAY JUST ANSWER THE PRAYERS OF MANY AN OPFORIST!
Okay, I like AKs, I think that anyone that has ever read AIRSOFT ACTION will know this to be true, and as much as I have a fine collection of ARs, when it comes to skirmishtime I do love an AK! And of course the AK, most recently one of the newer AK-12-style AEGs, has been my game-go-to, but there’s always been a bit of an issue when it comes to finding suitable accessories, especially optics that look right when you get into MilSim territory.
Of course there are many optics out there that will stand-in, and I’ve been running T1-style red-dots on my tactical SU’s for many a moon to good effect. However, when it comes to the AK-12 the longer NPTech 882 Holo Sights have done great duty and look fine, but I know in my heart of heart’s that they’re not IP87s and that offends my attention to detail more than I’d like to admit!
On all my ARs and western-world replicas I run the correct optics (or clones thereof when they’re any good) for the model in question, often after a great deal of research to ensure that what sits on top, and on the rails, of the replica is as correct as it can be to the real-world. On my SVD
“THERE
(when it’s on display as I tend to field it with just “irons”) I have a nice PS01 4x24 that I picked up many moons ago for a song at the War & Peace show and that always makes me smile as I know it’s “correct”, and having that optic has always rankled a little when I look at my AKs and know what’s mounted works (and works well!) but is “incorrect”.
Cal me a “purist” but when I create a platform to use I want it to be right, and if it’s not I always know this! Thankfully on my last visit up to our friends at iWholesales Tim was kind enough to show me the latest optics from JJ Airsoft that had just arrived with them, and my OPFORist heart beat a little faster!
There in front of me were some well-built, awesome-looking replicas of the VZ-1, DK-9, PKAW, IP76, and most importantly the IP87 optics and oh boy, I wanted all of them! As it was I came away with samples of the IP76 and IP87 to try out, and mounted on any of my AK-12s the IP87 looks the absolute business…
Now I have to admit that I’d not come across JJ AIRSOFT before, but I was advised that they’re a
IN FRONT OF ME WERE SOME WELL-BUILT, AWESOME-LOOKING REPLICAS OF THE VZ-1, DK-9, PK-AW, IP76, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE IP87 OPTICS AND OH BOY, I WANTED ALL OF THEM! AS IT WAS I CAME AWAY WITH SAMPLES OF THE IP76 AND IP87 TO TRY OUT…”
company based in Hong Kong (but manufacturing in China) that designs and manufactures airsoft accessories, parts, and upgrade components, particularly for replicas of real-world firearms. Their product range includes red dot sights, scopes, and other accessories, and it appears that they are becoming particularly wellknown for their replicas of Russian and other international firearm optics.
DOWNRANGE
So, after coming back to AAHQ I wasted no time in mounting up the modern-style IP87 holosight to my LCT AK-12, whilst the seriously-old-skoollooking IP76 went onto one of my older CYMA SU’s and getting them to the woods and onto the range for some serious testing! I know that both the LCT and the CYMA are dead-on when it comes to accuracy as they’ve been dialled-in over a considerable period of time, both in-game and on the range… at 30m on the steels they are bangon, so I knew that zero-ing would be all down to the optics themselves, and I’m very pleased to report that both really delivered!
The glass on both replica optics appears to be of good grade, and both are very clear. Once you have a simple AA battery placed inside the IP87 the red-illuminated reticle (two bars, two dots) controlled by a large wheel on the right side of the body is extremely super-crisp, and there’s a little adjustment tool included in the box for elevation and windage adjustment to make life easy. The IP76 in real life is a non-magnified collimating red dot style which uses a “German Post” reticle instead of the traditional dot that we see on a T1 style, but I have to say that I actually like this a lot. “IRL” the “German Post” IP76 requires no batteries and is tritium illuminated for lowlight shooting, but thus far I’ve not been able to replicate this function with the airsoft version, although the reticle is extremely clear even in lowlight conditions.
“BOTH OPTICS WERE VERY EASY TO ZERO-IN JUST USING MY PACK AS A REST ON THE OLD TABLE THAT I HAVE ON THE RANGE, AND AFTER THAT IS WAS BACK TO THE STEELS IN EARNEST; THREE STEELS, ONE AT 10M, ONE AT 20M, AND FINALLY THE 30M, SHOT FROM THREE SHOOTING POINTS APPROXIMATELY 5M APART”
Both optics were very easy to zero-in just using my pack as a rest on the old table that I have on the range, and after that is was back to the steels in earnest; three steels, one at 10m, one at 20m, and finally the 30m, shot from three shooting points approximately 5m apart. There was a reason for this as I wanted to engage the steels both straight on and from occluded left and right, first stationary at each shooting point and then moving between them to give a proper feel for ingame use.
As I said, both optics delivered. While stationary, unsupported, it was easy to get BBs on target at all three ranges with both sights. I then started moving from firing point to firing point, engaging the three plates randomly, and this is where I found the IP87 to be a real winner, the clarity of the red illuminated reticle was extremely easy to acquire without effort. Don’t get me wrong, the IP76 worked just fine, but for my older eyes the 87 was just easier…
DETAIL, ALWAYS DETAIL
So, with all that in mind, let me illustrate some further differences in the two optics.
The 1P76, although a modern optic, looks thoroughly “old-skool” and somewhat “agricultural” with a side-rail mount (the bronzed metal of the latch looks awesome!) and looks a little like a smaller version of my old PS01, and it is built like an absolute tank! Sitting slightly higher over the bore than many red dot optics, the IP76 hid the irons on the SU completely meaning a cowitness with this optic is not possible… that said, the glass is so clear that you can use it “ghostring” style for a pretty good aim.
Given its robust nature, and not needing any batteries, the IP76 appears to be an excellent choice for airsoft players who want realism, build quality, and performance in-game; it faithfully replicates the combat optic used by various military units so it gets big points from me for “the
look” too!
The IP76 is what is known as a “collimator design”, and for those unfamiliar with the term this simply means that it allows the user looking into it to see an illuminated aiming point aligned with the device the sight is attached to, regardless of eye position (with little parallax). This in reality allows for faster and more precise target acquisition, both during dynamic CQB scenarios and at medium to long distances.
The IP76 also offers a 13-degree field of view, which significantly facilitates aiming in various conditions, and the reticle is designed for effective targeting of both stationary and moving targets. Adjustments are made via two precision turrets; the top turret (vertical adjustment) and the side turret (horizontal adjustment), and both are protected by dedicated caps to prevent accidental changes during in-game use.
Thanks though to its solid construction and ease of use it is a sight that I believe would please any OPFOR airsoft player. The IP76 is designed to be mounted on a standard AK side rail, but although I fitted it easily to my CYMA SU for testing (and it is compatible with a number of AK brands I own) as I have seen noted elsewhere it did struggle to fit my Arcturus models.
The IP87 though is “the bomb” for me, especially as I had this tagged for my AK-12s, and it does look 100% modern and up-to-date, somewhat resembling a squared-off EoTECH 512, but actually easier to use! The IP87 looks to be a precisely replicated (down to the markings!) replica optic inspired by the real-deal military design seen in images (like those here found in the public domain) on the AK, AK12, and AKSU rifles. Just like an EoTECH it combines easy target-acquisition, a cool, tactical aesthetic, and easy functionality, offering airsoft players a durable and practical sighting tool.
The optic is made from robust aircraft-grade alloy with a scratch-resistant matte finish, and it’s a standard rail-mounting system so it offers a
“GIVEN ITS ROBUST NATURE, AND NOT NEEDING ANY BATTERIES, THE IP76 APPEARS TO BE AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR AIRSOFT PLAYERS WHO WANT REALISM, BUILD QUALITY, AND PERFORMANCE IN-GAME; IT FAITHFULLY REPLICATES THE COMBAT OPTIC USED BY VARIOUS MILITARY UNITS”
closer-to-the bore fit, quick-to-mount and stable, that’s perfect for most rail-top AEGs and GBBRs, and a perfect match for AK-12 replicas.
As I said earlier, adjustment is simple thanks to the included tool. The sight features no magnification, and just like its US-counterpart you’ll often see it used with a standalone magnifier, but on its own it’s ideal for lightningquick target acquisition at short to mid-range ranges. With 12 brightness settings (including 3 specifically designed for night vision use) the IP87 allows precise aiming even in low-light environments. It runs on a single easy-to-find AA battery, and thus far the original I fitted it still going strong after about 12 hours constant on and off.
NIGHT OPS
As I mentioned that the IP87 has three settings for NV-use there was one other thing that I saw on my visit that I thought would be good to mention in relation to AKs and the like too, and that’s the WoSport Smokey Tracer Suppressor - Type A!
Looking every bit the PBS-1, the Smokey Tracer Suppressor Type A (also known as the Smokey Wolf) offers a combination of tracer, flash, and smoke effects! It’s designed to again enhance realism not only in its “look”, but also by simulating muzzle flash and smoke, while also tracking BBs with a tracer unit.
It’s a solid old unit with good build quality and looks realistic, but I believe that you’re going to need to be on top of your maintenance regime to keep it clean and 100% effective to get the most from it, as you’ll need to remove residue building up over time from the smoke effect. That said, it’s a well-weighted alloy design with an aggressive muzzle that gives a really realistic appearance, and I believe that combined with the IP87 you’d have a great OPFOR “Night Ops” setup that would certainly get you a lot of attention, both positive and negative depending on which side of the muzzle you find yourself!
So, thus far I am loving the JJ Airsoft OPFOR optics, and although the IP87 is not the cheapest option out there it simply looks “correct” on my 12’s, and the fact that performance appears to be excellent as new is a real bonus! Okay, I’m exaggerating here as any optic I buy for myself needs to perform first and foremost, but the fact is that in combination with the new tracer unit the IP87 works every bit as brilliantly as it looks, and given the testing on this and the IP76 I am of the firm belief that JJ Airsoft will soon become a firm favourite of OPFORists everywhere!
As always my sincere thanks go to www. iwholesales.biz for the loan of the IP76 and IP87, and do be sure to check them out for the entire range of JJ Airsoft Optics, the WoSport Smokey Tracer Suppressor, and much more too! AA
“THE IP87 LOOKS TO BE A PRECISELY REPLICATED (DOWN TO THE MARKINGS!) REPLICA OPTIC INSPIRED
BY THE REAL-DEAL MILITARY DESIGN SEEN IN IMAGES ON THE AK, AK12, AND AKSU RIFLES. JUST LIKE AN EOTECH IT COMBINES EASY TARGETACQUISITION, A COOL, TACTICAL AESTHETIC, AND EASY FUNCTIONALITY”
IP76
IP87
AMS LIBERTY II: BREAD AND BUTTER MILSIM
ONCE AGAIN OUR NEW “AA LEGIONNAIRE”, MATT, JOINS US FROM THE USA TO BRING IN ANOTHER EXCELLENT REPORT ON THE MILSIM SCENE “OVER THERE”, AND HIS LATEST AIRSOFT ADVENTURE AT AMERICAN MILSIM’S (AMS) LIBERTY II... AND WITH A HUGE AND CHALLENGING AO AND SOME INTERESTING MISSION PARAMETERS IT APPEARS HE HAD A LOT TO REPORT ON!
You could drink the air, trap the heat, feel every mile in your soul; a battle of attrition, without relief or respawn point. Death means a march home, and then the march back beneath a wood canopy so absolute it shades the world a darker summer colour. Everything aches, but it is on that day when my muscles burn and I pant for breath… I crave it, I know it, I pay for it.
I wipe my hand of paint from where I lean on cover to steady myself, even as the BBs fly overhead, and when I centre myself, I fight on under order and command.
A familiar scene, feeling, and then fight.
For the most part, Airsoft Action’s writing cadre is across the ocean in cold, damp Europe, or in Asia, where the humidity melts nylon against the players of our great game. I am new. I am the anomaly of experience. The sweet continental air of these United States of America has been kind to me, nestled in New England climate. I get every single season in its best form, and I think that maybe I should never move from here based on that, how even when I move from New England to just next door to Pennsylvania in the name of American MilSim (AMS) I am submitted to summer, sweaty warfare.
June 7th to June 8th, 2025. Albrightsville, Pennsylvania. 70 degrees Fahrenheit averaged, clear skies.
For another weekend in my life I go to war as a part of the green Coalition of Sovereign Territories against the Tans of the United Federal States and their mercenary and corporate dogs beneath the story of American MilSim’s Liberty II for what would turn out to be swamp-bound slugfest that tore through boots, gear, guns, and people in a territory-control and objective hunt conflict that has for my part, caused me to start a revamp on gear.
In my previous reporting for an Airsoft MilSim event that was American MilSim’s Arsenal II in the Muscatuck Training Centre, I described it as a tent
pole event taking place in a “prestige” location that would otherwise be unavailable for daily play. For the vast majority of airsofters however, their game days often take place where, for Liberty II, AMS has hosted, a paintball field.
Skirmish Paintball, nestled in the woods near the Poconos Mountains (an area I now understand Bill knows well too), is perhaps in all my years of playing the largest paintball field I’ve ever visited or played at in my time in these type of action sports, both for its benefit, and Liberty II’s mild detriment, decked out in multiple fields that become Points of Interest during big games, ranging from multiple giant castles to sizable villages with elevated buildings. 750 acres and we knew it immediately.
The field itself was cut in half by the running of power lines, hovering over us all like a view below Golgotha itself, crosses on crosses, shadows giving way to a bright strip between wooded land that for multiple times in the day fighters in their fighting would have to cross beneath covering fire or the tense dare of rapid movement; a manoeuver inversed again and again, in game and in war of the back and forth that defined the day, played by people, cursed by all, for the love of the mission.
I remember these crosses well. Cold and damp in shadow on one side, looking out to the other side and peering for shifting shapes, knowing that the sun baked divide must be crossed, and must be crossed fast, or else I would die in a no-man’sland.
MISSION FOCUSSED
A quiet professional, whom I figure for a Marine of particular grade, leads us in one outing past the wire. I dash as the first one across and underneath the sun, only then do I realize how wet I was for the boot sucking swamp of it, the sweat of myself. Tensions are high. No more than five minutes prior, we took contact around two
“FOR ANOTHER WEEKEND IN MY LIFE I GO TO WAR AS A PART OF THE GREEN COALITION OF SOVEREIGN TERRITORIES AGAINST THE TANS OF THE UNITED FEDERAL STATES AND THEIR MERCENARY AND CORPORATE DOGS BENEATH THE
II”
hundred feet to our right side, and in calling contact, two of us were killed off the rip, and left behind. I watched them stand for their bleed out, I watched them walk back that mile it took for them to go to where they died, left behind as we cleaned up the fight by flowing through “Tippman City”, an urban location in the AO, and then moved on, our boots sucking up mud, every single step.
We were given orders, given set points and directives, American MilSim’s Control Point system where fighting can be general and directed of note here, where control is defined by the physical raising of a flag. Otherwise props from the field, boxes, kits, reported in and then delivered back to the HQ on our side. These things are as usual common and not particularly worth elaborating on other than they were AMS’s usual attention to gameplay tools to make a game of the day. Sometimes the mission would require some of us to remove ourselves from the game to carry a literal box of rocks back to HQ. Sometimes we were set up to die, the enemy team sent against us and we a bulwark to at least slow them down.
In the middle of the fighting, a torrential rainstorm comes down as if this were The ‘Nam, and I huddle beneath a giant castle with several other of my teammates, looking out at rain so thick it’s like a curtain. But the fighting doesn’t pause. We all listen, for no more than two hundred yards away fighting goes on, punctuated by on field propane cannons meant to scare
“NO MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES PRIOR, WE TOOK CONTACT AROUND TWO HUNDRED FEET TO OUR RIGHT SIDE, AND IN CALLING CONTACT, TWO OF US WERE KILLED OFF THE RIP, AND LEFT BEHIND. I WATCHED THEM STAND FOR THEIR BLEED OUT…”
taken on. Those who would be able to take them down and secure their positions would be able to find tickets at the end of the game to have the chance to win a set of NODs. Wordlessly, the tripartite factions of COST, UFS, and the corporate mercenaries stop their fighting and direct in union onto these night stalkers, whose IR lasers paint through the darkened trees like evil gazes.
We want them dead, but they are masters of their trade, killing us like we are blind men in place. A tactic that we formulate then; we send out a single man without NODs to the killing fields as bait to find their firing positions, a lamb to the slaughter, and for those of us with night vision, we see at once those laser lines converge on them and a killing is witnessed. Each time, in between these more, I see them again, the ghosts of the dead standing with their red rags draped over their heads in shame. There’s no reason to talk to them. Dead men don’t talk after all, but I always see them linger for longer than they should, but I know why they do. They have a long walk ahead of them, after all. 9.38 miles walked in one day, our DMR of all people tells us after the event when I’m writing this article… another reports 12.7… 19,000, 27,000, 18,000, 23,000 steps; all of these approximate steps tracked by people who I ask on one day alone… for me, just over 10 miles
“I SEE THEM AGAIN, THE GHOSTS OF THE DEAD STANDING WITH THEIR RED RAGS DRAPED OVER THEIR HEADS IN SHAME. THERE’S NO REASON TO TALK TO THEM. DEAD MEN DON’T TALK AFTER ALL, BUT I ALWAYS SEE THEM LINGER FOR LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD, BUT I KNOW WHY THEY DO…”
between massive events at decommissioned airbases or American MOUTs or some other once in a lifetime location. Nestled on the bottom rung of organizational awe, with just above it being abandoned malls or mills or similar, and then at the top being the aforementioned government facilities. American MilSim, no surprise given its longevity and being a known factor in American MilSim, runs the gamut, and has made their operations regular.
“A lot of players are having fun, they’re all jazzed, we’ve been able to complete a lot of objectives.” Russel, COST’s commander, also one of American MilSim’s administrative staff on support for Liberty II, tells me as he gestures to a gargantuan stack of boxes and props that just a few seconds earlier I was sitting on without remembering that they were objectives. Russel was the commander of COST/Green forces that day, a relatively gargantuan task for him given recent developments in his life… his house burnt down just over a month prior to that game, and he had shown up in heroic form.
It was 75% through that first day that I figure I talk to him not as a grunt but rather as a reporter for Airsoft Action. There was nothing particularly pressing to me that could be an interrogation, but Liberty II as already stated is a bread and butter op, and this was a bread and butter conversation with someone who was partly operating a machine that was somewhat semiautonomous.
were directed as per direction of the staff and
“WE WANT THEM DEAD, BUT THEY ARE MASTERS OF THEIR TRADE, KILLING US LIKE WE ARE BLIND MEN IN PLACE. A TACTIC THAT WE FORMULATE THEN; WE SEND OUT A SINGLE MAN WITHOUT NODS TO THE KILLING FIELDS AS BAIT TO FIND THEIR FIRING POSITIONS, A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER”
new to AMS, what I heard between movement and fight had been a promising standard.
As I have stated previously in reporting Arsenal II, the game did not have to be thought about to the point of detriment by the average player, that is, the gameplay rules were designed well, which is, of course, a huge boon. There is, however, further comment to make on Liberty II, it is when the format itself frays a bit from design.
“This a big field.” I tell Russel, not exactly as a new fact but just as a statement.
“It is a big field.” He agreed, and I pressed on, and I asked perhaps my one particular question for the day.
“What happened to the mobile respawn points?” I asked.
For AMS, mobile respawn points are as they say on the tin, places for players to respawn after they bleed out on the field. They’re a tool for both sides of the game, that is, both for the players and the game managers. (I do make a point here that my day job is as a video game developer who is read into such game theory.) For the are a way to stay “in” the game. That is not being exiled from death all the way back to HQ, and thus keeping individual morale engaged and high, avoiding FOMO. For the game managers, the placement of respawn points helps dictate where the action is, thus directing a certain controlled variability to the day.
“So that (respawn points) was not issued to us today, it was something that we were supposed to be able to unlock, and I think that’s got something to do with the checkpoints.” He explained to me in a way that I had to think about as
well, a game admin not particularly knowing the conditions of the game required to add in something very changing to the experience. “We haven’t been able to get there yet. Maybe tomorrow.” They were not available the following day.
It was something I did want to keep asking about, however, both as I knew AMS rule set pretty well that the exclusion of a gameplay feature that had made other ops so well-feeling had been absent. “It’s a long walk. A mile out there to CP2.”
I refer to the control point on the other side of that power line divide, through swamp and flies and Tans. “It is a different type of gameplay to know that your life matters so much when you have to walk all the way back, but people are just wondering.” I reported to him. Because it was not the only feature of AMS ops absent.
At the beginning of the event, “intel packets”
“PEOPLE AT THIS EVENT KNEW HOW TO PLAY MILSIM. LOCATIONS WERE PUSHED AND HELD AND PUSHED AND HELD AT VARIOUS POIS, AND MISSIONS WERE CALLED FOR AND REINFORCEMENTS WERE DIRECTED AS PER DIRECTION OF THE STAFF AND COMMANDERS AND SQUAD LEADERS TO SIMULATE THE FLOW OF WARFARE”
This was another layer to the fighting in AMS that kept people, even outside of the immediate action of the firefight, engaged, as well as opening up to a social camaraderie factor of having to interact with the dead enemy. It’d be far away for me to say that this is strictly unique with AMS, however it was a welcome feature that, like respawn points, was missing. This revealed as up and down the line, dead and alive players both saying that no intel packets were ever distributed.
A trend, then. He had an answer to, at least the respawn point’s absences, immediately:
“You can’t treat this like open play. If you treat it like open play, you are going to be walking forever.” He gestures to me, the velcro patch on my chest bearing the Yankee Husky that denotes my unit. “Now, with you being a part of UConn, UConn does really good about staying together, so you guys get a different experience.”
The implication there I know; what remains then of AMS’s gameplay features is their medic rule, that at best, a single player has three lives to expend, two revives total based on bandages that they carry, and assuming that a medic gets to them. The idea that players have at hand medics to save both their lives and their removal from the action in theory does rectify these issues, but in practice today, and as far as I’ve observed, it is not as tight a tourniquet as assumed.
I came with a platoon of 23 of my fellows; M81 bottoms, Ranger Green tops, half established milsimmers, other new blood hot shots not even twenty yet. A platoon unique to AMS, Husky, hailing from the University of Connecticut’s Airsoft Club, but that is another article waiting to be written. What it means here is that my experience, as Russel knew, was different because we had that organization and the available medics to have that best experience.
But even then in the course of events, in micro the contact I described earlier, being led by the Marine to CP2 to capture it, taking a fight, having
to fall back. Two of my friends were killed and left behind, and in the fighting, unable to be attended to by medics. These two had to be left behind for a sizable chunk of the day, having not even fired a shot as our element went ahead, and they had already gone back beyond bleeding out.
This happened to me eventually as well, a few times in that day, separating me from my group, and in those times I had to imagine what it was like for people who did not have their own groups available to them. To Russel’s credit, he did speak of spending a lot of time trying to get these less organized players together to emulate the UConn experience, but people, without the bumpers of either the game or each other, were like “squirrels” he described.
NOT SO PRIVATE THOUGHTS
It’s no wonder to me why these problems happened; a massive field larger than the size of a regular college campus, exacerbated by terrain conditions, with the added strain of being a relatively accessible event. This is not to say that AMS, nor its players, were flying by the seat of their pants or not enjoying themselves, but these are cracks seen and felt, even as I find myself in combat and fighting well enough to justify the hours of travel it takes me to get to Pennsylvania.
Questions on whether an event is worth one’s time will always be there given rising costs of both airsoft and the general economy, money to time spent engaging in the true meat of a milsim event, and that is, active movement and manoeuvers and fighting, becomes a smaller and smaller ratio when down time spent traveling to HQ to simply respawn is factored in. Because those moments are not gameplay, or participating in the event insofar that you are active or a part of overall planning. Your death is a consequence, of course, but walking a mile back to spawn knowing that you are dead is not an ideal experience, and one that AMS knows it can rectify.
“AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT, “INTEL PACKETS” ARE DISTRIBUTED RANDOMLY TO RANDOM TROOPS ON BOTH SIDES. SHOULD SOMEONE DIE WITH AN INTEL PACKET, AND SHOULD THEY BE SEARCHED BY THE SURVIVING PARTY, THESE INTEL PACKETS WOULD REVEAL MISSIONS OR ADVANTAGES”
In my other quick interviews, for as much as the giant map is worth for all of its interesting, built up locales, the UFS, the Tans, tell me that they never saw the more interesting of them. This too could have been remedied by a mobile respawn point on their behalf, letting them push, letting the fights concentrate on these monuments. Give me my castle clashes, my airfield fights, my town wars.
Missed opportunities, I can’t help but think, seeing the attrition of players over hours, and then hearing of the loss of people the next day who never showed up. This was just one more game, after all, and one of lesser consequence of leaving than, say, one that takes place on a MOUT, once in a lifetime, etcetera.
But that’s not the point.
AMS has the tools, has the knowhow, to push the experience of being a premier MilSim organizer even further, and yet when this fails I am left not questioning, but rather, wondering.
“It’s been a good day,” Russel tells me. “Everybody’s spirits are up, so I can’t complain.”
Do not mistake these preceding paragraphs as weighty complaints; they are the only complaint that can be leveraged on an otherwise good day of airsoft for me. In the end, the walk back is also a game theory question weighed by AMS as a matter of subjective practice. Sometimes the suck is the point, after all, (for every game has a winner and a loser) and
“I
I don’t mind the walk, as I’m sure people would find beneficial in its own draw. I do not mind how Liberty II proceeded that day, into the night, and into the next day, because I am ready to go to the next AMS Op with no complaint or expectations other than to also have a good time there.
I just wish, as I’m sure the transient ghosts would agree, that the definitions of the game tailored here, that would otherwise be more accommodating, let us be in it more. Airsoft is changing, by the average player’s capability, and by the maturation of the entire field from organizer to field to economy, and how AMS handles its regular games now will foretell its future.
I’d like to thank all sponsors and distributors present at American Milsim’s Liberty II, including Amped Airsoft, Nocturne Industries, Phatco Customs, Rhodius Labs and Skirmish Paintball for their participation and support.
I would also like to thank KtBeeMedia for their kind assistance with the first-rate photography used in this report. AA
CAME WITH A PLATOON OF 23 OF MY FELLOWS; M81 BOTTOMS, RANGER GREEN TOPS, HALF ESTABLISHED MILSIMMERS, OTHER NEW BLOOD HOT SHOTS NOT EVEN TWENTY YET. A PLATOON UNIQUE TO AMS, HUSKY, HAILING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT’S AIRSOFT CLUB, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER ARTICLE WAITING TO BE WRITTEN…”
GHOST-LY CELEBRATION
MANY OF US BELONG TO AN AIRSOFT TEAM, OR HAVE IN SOME CASES BELONGED TO MANY OVER THE YEARS, AND IT’S QUITE USUAL IT SEEMS FOR TEAMS TO FORM AND THEN FADE AWAY OVER TIME… BUT SOMETIMES A TEAM STICKS TOGETHER FOR A LONGER PERIOD, AND ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS MAY COME AND GO, THE BONDS FORMED ON THE FIELD OF COMBAT FOR THE CORE MEMBERS BECOME CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN LIFE OUTSIDE AIRSOFT, AND THIS SHOULD BE CELEBRATED! MIGUEL TELLS MORE OF HIS OWN TEAM’S EVENT…
Seventeen years of airsoft... it’s a big number, and when we look back, there are so many memories and adventures that we’ve been through as a team.
From the first games, still green and trying each other’s gear, learning the basics when it came to tactics and talking via radio, up to commanding factions with hundreds of players and organizing games. Airsoft really is an unpredictable adventure.
So this year, like the others before, we couldn’t miss organizing our birthday event. I guess it has even become a mandatory event for many teams with whom we’ve built up a friendship along the years. And, keeping in mind that at this time of the year the schedule is filled with other games, we started sending out direct invitations to most of the teams that we have a let’s say, strong connection with. Unfortunately, we can’t invite everyone we wished... our field is limited to a max of around a hundred players, and we need to keep things tight if we want to have a balanced game between movement and confrontation.
As we moved towards the event, we also announced the brands that were sponsoring our special day this year, because it’s not a GHOST OPS birthday game without some good giveaways! And for that I really want to thank Viper Tactical, Specna Arms, Victoptics, Cygnus Armory and Dino Productions for sending over some great products to giveaways. We had tactical gear, BBs, accessories, sights and so on! But, before getting into that, there is still plenty to talk about in relation to preparation!
Before the game day itself, there is always a lot of work to do, creating the game factions, Red ONE and Blue SEVEN (1-7), deciding the faction commander (with an off-the-field-mission), designing the Ares Alpha map and other smaller details. If you have ever organized a game, you
know what I’m talking about! There is always a lot of work behind the scenes.
SCENE SETTING
As we reached game day, everything was going well, we had everything pretty much ready, and now it was time to focus on the field work. We arrived early, and all team members knew their tasks, so we got to work! Set up the check in and chronos, prepare the HQ locations with the respective tents, table, chairs and maps and place the missions in their respective coordinates. Not much after the first players started to arrive, but we already had people managing the parking, or else players would end up making a mess out of it!
During this time, and as always, I took some time to speak with the players, many of who I’ve known for years, so it’s always great to catch up for a bit, trade some stories and talk shop. At this time, we pressed the players to complete the check-in and the chrono. We’ve learned from the past that players tend to pile up closer to briefing time, so it’s better to give them a push.
Briefing time arrived fast, and we do like to keep the schedule, so at 0845, we gathered the players and started, firstly about safety, with focus on the players who never played in our field, mainly about the limits and the dangers. Although these dangers are marked in the Ares Alpha map, it’s never enough just to mention them, so this is a focus for player safety. And after all that, I touched some of the game’s points, but it was a light review. The players had the responsibility of knowing the game module, since it was shared several times in their respective faction group chat.
With the briefing behind us, the factions started moving to their respective HQ points. The Red ONE faction moved south, with the Blue SEVEN players moved North. Each faction had a faction commander, which had to be chosen
“FROM THE FIRST GAMES, STILL GREEN AND TRYING EACH OTHER’S GEAR, LEARNING THE BASICS WHEN IT CAME TO TACTICS AND TALKING VIA RADIO, UP TO COMMANDING FACTIONS WITH HUNDREDS OF PLAYERS AND ORGANIZING GAMES. AIRSOFT REALLY IS AN UNPREDICTABLE ADVENTURE”
in the off-the-field-mission, and a staff member present for the whole game.
GAME TIME!
Now, what was the game module, you ask? It’s simple. The game can be divided into three parts. The first part is the main mission; in the field the players had four fixed boxes that at a specific time would start to beep for one minute (yes, just ONE minute!) and during that minute the players had to swipe an RFID chip and the box would drop a metal coin. Each of those coins had to then be delivered to their HQ, and counted as one point. But, besides that, there was a mobile box, attached to a small trailer that followed a specific path. The mobile box coins were different, and would count as two points. In the end, the faction with most points wins.
The second part was made up of secondary missions, which would be available every thirty minutes. In these missions,
“WITH
the players had to find small cones in a specific area; there was always one blue, one red and one yellow. The players could not touch the cone with the enemy’s colour, and if they wanted to find the yellow cone, they would have to waste more time looking for it, since they were well hidden. With each cone delivered to their HQ, the faction commander would receive money. With this money, the faction commanders could “purchase” certain actions of the mobile box.
They could stop it for ten, twenty, or thirty minutes, depending on how much was paid. They could order it to start moving (countering an enemy stop order), or they could invert its path (the box would start moving in the opposite way). With this, the commanders could play a bit with what was happening in the field. For example, they could order the mobile box to
THE BRIEFING BEHIND US, THE FACTIONS STARTED MOVING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE HQ POINTS. THE RED ONE FACTION MOVED SOUTH, WITH THE BLUE SEVEN PLAYERS MOVED NORTH. EACH FACTION HAD A FACTION COMMANDER, WHICH HAD TO BE CHOSEN IN THE OFF-THE-FIELD-MISSION”
which would give them a significant advantage defending it.
The last part, were the “special missions” of which were only three. At 1000, 1100 and 1200 a new marker would appear in Ares Alpha, and in that coordinate the players would have to fight to find a small crate, and then transport it safely to their HQ. Each crate successfully delivered would offer the faction commander the option to sabotage one of the fixed boxes. A sabotaged box would not give any metal coins for twenty minutes which would force the enemy to waste time defending an offline box, or move to another.
The game was well-disputed, and only after the final counting, was the winner announced.
THREE normal coins!
The end of the game was followed by our traditional BBQ, a moment for the players to
come together, talk, have a laugh and enjoy some food and drinks. A little after the food was made available for all, the moment that all were waiting for arrived and we started the giveaways. This is always a fun moment, with many players leaving with great prizes! Once again, my thanks to the brands that sponsored the event.
So, another year of GHOST OPS, and another superb year of airsoft! Who knows exactly what 2025 will bring as we move through the year, but I know that the close friendships and wider alliances formed both on and off the field will mean that the next twelve months are as exciting as ever… and who knows, perhaps we will see YOU at a game in Portugal too, you would be made very welcome amongst new airsoft friends!
AA
“SO, ANOTHER YEAR OF GHOST OPS, AND ANOTHER SUPERB YEAR OF AIRSOFT! WHO KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT 2025 WILL BRING AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE YEAR, BUT I KNOW THAT THE CLOSE FRIENDSHIPS AND WIDER ALLIANCES FORMED BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD WILL MEAN THAT THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS ARE AS EXCITING AS EVER”
Airsoft
“ WHAT IF” there was an alternative?
WHAT IF...
You could use your gas blowback system all year round
Winter and Summer, the same way? Imagine consistent performance regardless of the weather, no more struggling in the cold or worrying about performance dropping in the heat of battle.
You will not have cool down effect and can shoot full auto at the same fire rate?
Sustained fire rates without performance degradation would be a game-changer, especially in scenarios requiring rapid engagement.
You could shoot at any angle, even upside down?
Shooting at any angle, even upside down, adds a new level of tactical flexibility and dynamic gameplay possibilities.
Your mags will be lighter weight?
Reduced weight would decrease fatigue and improve handling, especially during extended games.
You will have multiple ways to fill your mags?
More convenient filling options would increase efficiency, and reduce cost, making it a more accessible, viable solution.
Temperature will not impact your gun's performance, same output?
This translates to reliable power across all conditions, meaning more accurate shots and consistent groupings, improving gameplay significantly.
MONSOON MILSIM –POLK 5
AS WE NEAR THE MIDDLE OF 2025, OUR “MAN IN TAIWAN” STEWBACCA IS ONCE AGAIN RAMPING UP HIS EVENT SCHEDULE IN TERMS OF LARGER GAMES THAT HE, TEAM TAIJI, AND FRIENDS ARE ENGROSSING THEMSELVES IN! ‘POLK’, NAMED FROM THE LOCAL ANGLO-PHONETICISATION OF ‘PORK’ AND THE CENTREPIECE HOG ROAST THAT PUNCTUATES THE EVENING BBQ FESTIVITIES OF THE SATURDAY NIGHT, WAS MOVED MUCH EARLIER FORWARDS THIS YEAR AND HE’S ALREADY RETURNED TO SHARE HIS STORY.
POLK 4 was an epic waterfront battle I brought to you back in Issue 168 due to deadline schedules although the event itself was executed in early October, and it saw a large group of around two hundred players and organisers descending on the west coast beaches of Taiwan. POLK 5 was somewhat sprung on us this year with the usual group behind it deciding to return to the same east coast campsite used for POLK 2 and 3, albeit pulling the event half a year forwards again, as each iteration acts upon the feedback of prior events.
With POLK 3 held in July on the same site it was a heatwave that saw one of the guys hospitalised by heat stroke after the first round while I myself managed to drink twelve litres of water in a single day and got drenched with the garden hose halfway through! Trying to accommodate the learning outcomes and player feedback means each new event plan has to balance the site available, and it competes with other large groups or general public peak time bookings of the camping grounds as well as trying to fall outside of the murderous heat of the July-August window that sees temperatures really soar in Taiwan.
Thus May 24-25th was settled on for POLK 5, just before the long holiday weekend for ‘Dragon Boat Festival’ which would see most players tied up with the family-related events that dominate national level holidays in Taiwan’s cultural calendar. This also avoided being too late in the year as the mercury rises, but unfortunately that meant Team Taiji’s turnout was half what it normally would be as many already had other
or plans in place.
Nonetheless the turnout overall was not far off the typical group size, with each of BluFor and RedFor having eighty odd players signed up for the shoot.
As usual our command ‘head shed’ were planning well in advance, taking advantage of the regular players who could commit to the event to scaffold additional non-team friends into squads and imbue them with our typical regimented structure, communications and planning to allow our thinner playing member numbers to nonetheless operate effectively by bringing extra folks along and directing them under our historically very effective command umbrella.
Team practise was somewhat thinned out with the reduced notice and resulting planning time as well as the reduced team member turnout, with a few of the weekends beforehand seeing the core group do the usual general briefings and brushing up on squad tactics, communications protocols, command structure, custom internal use team
“TEAM TAIJI’S TURNOUT WAS HALF WHAT IT NORMALLY WOULD BE AS MANY ALREADY HAD OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES OR PLANS IN PLACE. NONETHELESS THE TURNOUT OVERALL WAS NOT FAR OFF THE TYPICAL GROUP SIZE, WITH EACH OF BLUFOR AND REDFOR HAVING EIGHTY ODD PLAYERS SIGNED UP FOR THE SHOOT”
maps of its prominent features and other such general preparations before the deeper scenario and intel were available for the actual event.
ROLLING OUT
As the weekend itself rolled around we all had our equipment and ideas squared away ready to attack whatever came our way! I would be travelling with our newest additions, my friends Tobie and Samuel who I know through our pistol training classes, along with one of our new local recruits Dustin, all of whom have recently joined Taiji. Tobie drove us all to the site in his VW van, and we left the
east end of Taipei as 101 and the old airport sailed by as we entered the hills between coastlines, with the ominous clouds setting in joined by our own disquiet. The only downside of bringing the event earlier in the year to avoid the heatwave is catching the tail end of the rainy season…
We arrived on site just after 0830 and parked up at a camping spot in our team’s designated area; with the rain being very light or otherwise holding off for now we raced to pitch our tents while the getting was good! Tobie had wisely elected to sleep on a fold-out stretcher
“WE LEFT THE EAST END OF TAIPEI AS 101 AND THE OLD AIRPORT SAILED BY AS WE ENTERED THE HILLS BETWEEN COASTLINES, WITH THE OMINOUS CLOUDS SETTING IN JOINED BY OUR OWN DISQUIET. THE ONLY DOWNSIDE OF BRINGING THE EVENT EARLIER IN THE YEAR TO AVOID THE HEATWAVE IS CATCHING THE TAIL END OF THE RAINY SEASON”
unpacked the van into them just before the rain set in and began getting progressively heavier! I finalised my own preparations of my gear and filled my hydration backpack with its two Camelbak bladders… one of which apparently still has a slight leak, as it started filling my tent with water when I left it in it for a while… not a great start, but on brand, it seems…
I sorted myself and my tent out and changed into my BDUs and then we began congregating at the roofed mess hall area at the top of the hill to chrono our guns and finalise our radio comms setups. I had been running the VFC FNC pretty hard over the past
guts once again and I had to resort instead to the backup VFC M16A2 I’d recently upgraded with the 4UAD Smart Airsoft Magnus Pro HOP unit and which has been a dependable and comparatively light, albeit long, GBBR which served me well at POLK 4 and otherwise since acquiring it.
The usual included lunch arrived, hearty Taiwanese lunch boxes of rice with various meat and vegetables which were wolfed down along with bottles of near frozen plum juice drinks; evidently everyone was planning for the worst in terms of the potential heat,
“THE USUAL INCLUDED LUNCH ARRIVED, HEARTY TAIWANESE LUNCH BOXES OF RICE WITH VARIOUS MEAT AND VEGETABLES WHICH WERE WOLFED DOWN ALONG WITH BOTTLES OF NEAR FROZEN PLUM JUICE DRINKS; EVIDENTLY EVERYONE WAS PLANNING FOR THE WORST IN TERMS OF THE POTENTIAL HEAT, BUT AS IT WAS THE RAINS CONTINUED AND KEPT THE TEMPERATURES DOWN”
but as it was the rains continued and kept the temperatures down. Most of us had invested in plastic camo ponchos to wear over our gear, but in the end I decided to just go without as the problem with doing so in the tropics is that you just sweat anyway and get drenched in your own humidity within the non-permeable membranes, so I figured it would just be easier to embrace the suck and be drenched in rain instead of sweat for a change! It actually made it pretty comfortable for all of us in the end, however the dread ‘foggles’ endured and I was reminded of the ballache of the PengHu MilSim in similar humid and wet conditions, trying to use my electric chest mounted fan to keep my eyepro and 4x optic lenses clear during the game.
DROP-IN ROLE
Team Taiji were functioning as paratroopers, a new game dynamic we will likely be incorporating in future events, where the command can elect
a position to put us as a smaller force already in theatre away from the team HQ and spawn points to be ‘activated’ later after game on. Thus we lay in wait on a key corner of the main road running through the site towards the beach pavilion looking both ways up the road and waiting to see who or what descended upon us as game-on reached us at 1441. My group were watching North towards our own main team’s spawn and covering off the road from our counterpart RedFor paratroopers and their likely insertion point, although in the end our own team advanced to our position and filed in to our cover position while our other group behind us was laying heavy fire uphill toward the RedFor main team coming out of their own spawn.
We were communicating well and the addition of more of our own main force and their designated machine gunners started really turning the tide and laying waste to the RedFor advance, and one of our machine gunners managed to secrete himself behind a huge chesthigh boulder at the apex of fork in the road that flanked our position and dropping around half the RedFor team along with around 4000 BBs during the first action! I eventually redeployed beside him to make use of the tall cover that allowed me to get the M16A2 supported nicely and I also began lobbing single accurate aimed shots 6070 metres up the road and seemingly got a few eliminations with people throwing up their hands after I loosed some shots and followed them in through the scope. To be fair there was such
“TEAM TAIJI WERE FUNCTIONING AS PARATROOPERS, A NEW GAME DYNAMIC WE WILL LIKELY BE INCORPORATING IN FUTURE EVENTS, WHERE THE COMMAND CAN ELECT A POSITION TO PUT US AS A SMALLER FORCE ALREADY IN THEATRE AWAY FROM THE TEAM HQ AND SPAWN POINTS TO BE ‘ACTIVATED’ LATER AFTER GAME ON”
a cacophony ensuing trying to claim ‘kills’ was probably a bit moot in terms of knowing whose BBs in particular were doing the work!
Eventually the RedFor broke through and flanked us, apparently using a path that wasn’t supposed to be in play, so the cat was set among the pigeons at that point and we took significant losses, me included. As the fire intensified upon us and or surviving guys had to redeploy to form a new slightly retreated line I wandered up to the BluFor HQ and respawn point, reloading and re-gassing my magazines as I went, topping off my combat load of 8 x 30 round AR mags just as I arrived.
We decided to make use of a squadding regen rule in this instance, which is something we have experimented with among other teams at CQB games where eliminated players have to wait at spawn until a predetermined amount of ‘dead men’ have arrived (four in this case) to then
re-joining forces more useful as they appear in some force and can work as a unit and represent reinforcements arriving in theatre as such. The number of regens was limited to the total number of players on each team, so once everyone had been eliminated once, or otherwise some had respawned more times while others avoided elimination altogether, the total force would only be replenished once in real terms, regardless of who did the respawning.
Eventually endex was called as we neared 1600 while neither force had managed to break through the natural midpoint lines that occurred as the two teams moved through the various avenues of attack across the site to try and leverage their respective opportunities for cover. We recouped and rearmed to begin the second round, swapping ends as such and redeploying to suit; this time our group deployed along the road near what was now the RedFor’s deployment spawn point. Unfortunately the ongoing downpour as well as dying batteries was playing havoc with our otherwise squared away comms, and I was having trouble coordinating with our team leader as both our PTTs seemed to have taken on water so I could receive but not transmit, and his was also working intermittently.
As game-on was called just after 1700 we waited until the front element of RedFor was almost upon us before opening up and wiping out a good number of them before their compatriots following shot out a lot of us out from further up the road. I saw myself off to the BluFor regen (now on the opposite end of the site), stopping off for a drink on the way through the mess
“ONE OF OUR MACHINE GUNNERS MANAGED TO SECRETE HIMSELF BEHIND A HUGE CHEST-HIGH BOULDER AT THE APEX OF FORK IN THE ROAD THAT FLANKED OUR POSITION AND DROPPING AROUND HALF THE REDFOR TEAM ALONG WITH AROUND 4000 BBS DURING THE FIRST ACTION!”
hall area. I’d already ditched off my hydration backpack as it just wasn’t proving necessary given the fact I was drenched anyway, and made my way to the front end of the campsite where BluFor were now using as our HQ, and I waited for the requisite four bodies to arrive before we wandered up the road towards the top of the hill we were holding at the bottom of in the prior game.
We moved left to cut through the ‘high road’ pass back toward the RedFor spawn, there was already a group of our guys holding the area and picking off odd guys on the road ahead. Once again we got flanked while we were lying in wait and our regen had apparently moved to right there due to our HQ being compromised. Eventually our team leader reappeared and respawned there and we decided to go and resecure our flag from the nearby cliff overlooking it, only to find that occupied by another of our BluFor teams, so we left them to cover off the spawn flag, and moved back to the high road to move with the other group through the dense foliage either side of the road, gradually grinding forwards and inflicting and taking losses, eventually we neared the RedFor respawn point near the mess hall area and endex for the second round was called.
We were just metres away from overwhelming them, unfortunately it seems somehow RedFor had managed to capture our flag despite us seeing the substantial force of other teams within BluFor and deciding to leave them to it as they seemed to have it covered… we should have stayed to secure
“WE DECIDED
it in retrospect… what were they even doing? we lamented…
We were all feeling pretty spent from the action; even with the benefits of the wet weather keeping our temperatures down, it can still be hard going running around back and forth up and down hill and navigating the dense and sometimes cutting foliage. I found myself using colourful language a few times tripping over creeper vines or other such ankle-biter plants amid all the other challenges of the terrain, coupled with the ‘foggles’ once again making aiming with optical sights a bit of a ballache all round.
DOWNTIME
Ditching off our gear and taking stock we had about an hour until dinner would be served, and
TO MAKE USE OF A SQUADDING REGEN RULE IN THIS INSTANCE, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE HAVE EXPERIMENTED WITH AMONG OTHER TEAMS AT CQB GAMES WHERE ELIMINATED PLAYERS HAVE TO WAIT AT SPAWN UNTIL A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF ‘DEAD MEN’ HAVE ARRIVED (FOUR IN THIS CASE) TO THEN REGEN AND RE-ENTER THE GAME AT ONCE”
in a warm shower and clearing all the crap out of it as you go before cleaning the grimness off yourself and feeling massively refreshed. Having showers on- site for a MilSim really is a godsend; at least we have such facilities available along with the general great camping places that will allow us to overtake their whole sites and go to town with the mock battle and gunfire! Some ‘civilians’ or vehicles had to make their way through very occasionally, and others gave puzzled looks to us standing at regen near the camp entrance as they walked down from the northern half of the site we used way back at POLK 2; luckily people in Taiwan continue to be pretty chill about the whole guns in public thing unless you’re causing an issue for them directly.
Throughout the day’s action our team leaders mobile phones had been paired to the ATAK system which one of the tech guys who attended site was demonstrating; this is similar to the Ares Alpha system that airsofters (including our own Miguel and friends in Portugal among others) already make use of, and this enables the command elements back at the HQ with suitably set up laptops, tablets or phones to track the real time movements and deployments or actions of subordinate unit leaders or even individual players with the APP set up on their own devices in the field. Going forward we will also be implementing this within Team Taiji with upcoming training sessions from the same guy demonstrating the system planning to give us a team-specific demo so we can roll the system into our own weekend games as well as team only
“AS GAME-ON WAS
course cuts of the spit roast pig we also enjoyed some of the adult beverages that had been hiding in a pile under a camo net before being put in the customary large tubs of iced water while we were playing the final round, and of course began to tell our war stories, deal with the after action reports and digest the action and lessons of the mock battles as we did the top notch grub.
On site throughout the first day stalls from Bolt Airsoft and Amarok Sports were also present, showcasing their latest products; Bolt are still on track to release their own MWS-inspired system of GBBRs with their own gas router magazine and bolt carrier design which produce likely the strongest recoil impulse of any system I’ve experienced yet, with licensed Daniel Defense examples, as well as their cooperation with FROG gear distributing their various tactical gear solutions.
CALLED JUST AFTER 1700 WE WAITED UNTIL THE FRONT ELEMENT OF REDFOR WAS ALMOST
UPON
US BEFORE OPENING UP AND WIPING OUT A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM BEFORE THEIR COMPATRIOTS FOLLOWING SHOT OUT A LOT OF US OUT FROM FURTHER UP THE ROAD. I SAW MYSELF OFF TO THE BLUFOR REGEN…”
Amarok likewise were displaying their growing range of durable 250 round midcap-style polymer magazines in various styles and colours, as well as newer products like their MLOK handguard rubberised peel and pick grip covers as well as recently announced MLOK hand stops and vertical grips in various sizes and configurations. They also had a new more wolf-like dog brandmascot in tow; more on them yet to come from me in future.
As the night wore on the weather continued somewhat, and we eventually ran out of beer and whiskey and relented to the dark of the night; I slept not so great due to the state of my tent and equipment, although at least I wasn’t too hot for a change, so that was a pleasant change in itself. Around 0600 I awoke to the sound of rain on my tent, which at the time was soothing in its usual manner, but then I realised it would also likely mean putting it away wet and/or in continued rain… we all congregated once again at the mess hall area as the mass order of McDonald’s breakfast muffins, hash browns and drinks was backed in via SUV with box loads of all the contents being human chained out and stacked in a pyramid fashion ready for the gannets to descend.
With the rain continuing, the second day’s gameplay slot was queried and a show of hands as to how many would want to carry on came up very small, so we all took the opportunity to leave a lot earlier than planned and avoid getting back into our wet gear from the previous day or make another set wet and have to deal with more mess later. Wrapping up and breaking camp after we finished breakfast, we all said our goodbyes and slumped away under the continuing rain clouds that followed us around; at least we ended up getting home by midday as a result, and I immediately got to work laundering all my dank gear, hanging up my tent and equipment and unpacking everything to make sure it dried
out in short order thanks to my hard working dehumidifier.
Despite the horrific weather we all enjoyed the action and how well new game dynamics and equipment interwoven with the more typical aspects we have well practised by now, and look forward to making use of them in future games as a result, with our own team MilSim likely being the next significant event to do so in, more on that later in the year.
My thanks as always go to the POLK organisers for another memorable event, to my colleagues on Team Taiji both old and new who make every game and event so enjoyable, and as always to Jerry Cheng Yi Wu for his awesome photography!
“DITCHING OFF OUR GEAR AND TAKING STOCK WE HAD ABOUT AN HOUR UNTIL DINNER WOULD BE SERVED, AND THE ROAST PIG WAS WAVING INVITINGLY AT US AS IT SPUN ON THE SPIT… TIME ENOUGH FOR A GOOD SHOWER AND CHANGING OUT OF OUR DANK GEAR AT LEAST!”
“WRAPPING UP AND BREAKING CAMP AFTER WE FINISHED BREAKFAST, WE ALL SAID OUR GOODBYES AND SLUMPED AWAY UNDER THE CONTINUING RAIN CLOUDS THAT FOLLOWED US AROUND; AT LEAST WE ENDED UP GETTING HOME BY MIDDAY AS A RESULT”
