Airsoft Action - March 2017

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ASG DAN WESSON VALOR ASG SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE NUPROL FREEDOM FIGHTER CSI S.T.A.R. XR-5 FG 1508 A&K ENTRY LEVEL HEAVYWEIGHT

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ASG DAN WESSON VALOR ASG SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE NUPROL FREEDOM FIGHTER CSI S.T.A.R. XR-5 FG 1508 A&K ENTRY LEVEL HEAVYWEIGHT

ARMOURY: NUPROL FREEDOM FIGHTER

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Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant Editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic Design: Havoc Design Ad Design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter

UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk

Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.online ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2017 Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Calibre Publishing Limited 2017. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express permission of the publisher in writing. The opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit submissions prior to print.

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INTERNATIONAL EVENT: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. IN RUSSIA

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52

KIT: OPTIROD CLEANING ROD

LOADED OR UNLOADED: GOING DARK

72 FEATURE: 80 AIRSOFTING IN WINTER

Letter, idea or question?

Got something to say? A question for our experts? An article or article idea?

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

KIT: HOLSTERS

CONTENTS MARCH 2017 2014

CONTENTS MARCH 2017 8 NEWS 10 ROGUE’S GALLERY Cool photos of Airsoft Action readers.

11 THE ADVENTURES OF MAG Airsoft Action’s exclusive cartoon.

12 ARMOURY: NUPROL FREEDOM FIGHTER Forever the sceptic, Frenchie wasn’t convinced by the hype surrounding the launch of NUPROL’s Delta Series, so what did he think when he finally got his hands on one? Read on to find out…

16 ARMOURY: XR-5 ABR Gadge likes things “a little out of the ordinary” and when it comes to AEGs, it doesn’t get more “out of the ordinary” than the XR-5 from CSI – but is it any good?

20 ARMOURY: ASG DAN WESSON VALOR Self-confessed pistol-nut, Les Lee, knows a thing or two about pistols and was keen to get his hands on ASG’s version of this classic shooter.

24 INTERNATIONAL EVENT: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. IN RUSSIA Gamers will no doubt recognise the name as Maria Litvinova reports from Russia on how the computer game crosses over with airsoft.

30 SITE: COMBAT READY AIRSOFT It’s not every day you find an airsoft site on your doorstep... Although a touch embarrassing when you discover it has been there two years!

Over to Gadge...

34 INSIDE AIRSOFT: UNIFORM BRAVO SURPLUS Airsoft Action’s roving reporter, Les Lee, heads to Uxbridge in Middlesex, to visit a new airsoft retailer and discovers a veritable “Aladdin’s Cave” of airsoft goodness.

38 EVENT: SHOT SHOW 2017 With Trump about to take the helm and lead the self-proclaimed Free World, Scott from Airsoft Action headed over to Las Vegas, aka Sin City, to check out one of the largest gun shows in the World.

46 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: IRELAND Just a few hours on the ferry and you can be in Ireland! Bill Thomas talks this time to his old mate Jonathan at Sim-Tac Simulation and Tactical Airsoft to get the very latest on developments taking place on the “Emerald Isle”.

49 KIT: OPTIROD CLEANING ROD The OptiRod cleaning rod leaves Frenchie lost for words… but in a good way.

50 SITE: STRIKEFORCE REVISITED StrikeForce CQB has gone through a fair few changes since its opening game day two years ago, so this month Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick gives an update on the site.

52 LOADED OR UNLOADED: GOING DARK Always keen to try another form of airsoft and inspired by the work of DUST MONKEY featured in last month’s issue, Jerry Noone looks at setting up a set of kit that is absolutely spot-on for a “Post Apocalypse” scenario.

56 ARMOURY: ENTRY LEVEL HEAVYWEIGHT Angelo DV is used to answering questions about kit and one of the most common is “what is the best RIF to buy if you are just starting out?”

58 TRAINING: A SQUADRON Paul Yelland reports from an A-Squadron course that can benefit you in everyday life, not just whilst playing airsoft.

61 GEAR: EDC VIPER BAGS Wouldn’t it be nice if you could use your gear outside of airsoft? Frenchie look at a range of bags from Viper that are equally at home off the airsoft site, as on it.

64 ARMOURY: ASG SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE Jerry Noone gets to grips with the “Special Teams Carbine” from ActionSportGames and finds a RIF that has a character all of its own.

68 GITAG: STRONGARM AIRSOFT Over the years Jerry Noone has seen builders of custom airsoft guns come and go but one has always been on his radar as he finally speaks to one of his fellow “Geeks”, Jez from Strongarm Airsoft.

72 FEATURE: AIRSOFTING IN WINTER With winter well and truly upon certain parts of the country, Frenchie turns his thoughts to what happens to our kit when the white stuff hits the fan.

76 WARRIORS: PARA IN THE FALKLANDS Gareth “Gadge” Harvey continues his “Warriors” series with a look at one of the most famous British Regiments, in a War where their courage and determination was tested to the limit – and beyond.

80 GEAR: HOLSTERS We all know that a handgun can be a vital part of the game but not too many of us think about how best to carry them. Andy Nightingale looks at this most under-rated bit of kit in the first of a two-part series.

84 FAMOUS RAIDS: OPERATION CHARIOT Some raids take guile, some take courage and there are those that take bravery the likes of which we will probably never see again. Billy writes about just such a raid…

88 FEATURE: BATTLEFIELD TOURS KIT With the anniversary of WW1, many airsofters have been on Battlefield Tours, so we asked Military Historian and Battlefield Guide, Will Fowler, to tell us about the kit he takes with him when conducting a tour.

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

Then we may have the answer, with over four pages of sites and clubs through the UK. 98 DEALER LISTING: AIRSOFT ACTION’S ADVERTISER INDEX Find who you are looking for in our listing of all the adverts that appear in this issue.

s w e N t f o s Air

AIRSOFT SHOWCASE 2017 ANNOUNCED

The date for this year’s Airsoft Showcase has been announced – and so has a new venue!

THE AIRSOFT SHOWCASE 2017 will take place over the weekend of 10th and 11th June and will be hosted by BadgerTac Events at their awesome new site Phoenix College, at Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.

“Airsoft Taster” sessions for those who want to come along and see what airsoft is all about, as well as demonstrations and “hands on” practical shooting sessions.

Event Organiser, Chris Kong of RedWolf Airsoft, said “We are delighted to be running the Airsoft Showcase over a weekend at Phoenix College.

We have been looking for somewhere suitable to run a much larger event than previously and Phoenix College is both big enough and offers an almost perfect location, being close to London and only 10 minutes off the M25.”

Phoenix College is on the site of the old MoD Language School and the Airsoft Showcase will be centred on the Officers Mess, a superb building that offers a great location for visitors to wander round the stands and stalls in comfort.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with a host of new attractions as well as airsoft retailers, wholesalers, sites and even an Airsoft Boot Fair. There will be mini games, team events and

At the time of writing ticket prices are yet to be fully confirmed but are expected to be £10 for a day Ticket and £25 for the weekend. Weekend tickets will include the evening entertainment on Saturday, accommodation on site if required (on a first come first served basis) and an entry into the “Airsoft Showcase Raffle”.

Ratty from BadgerTac Events told us “As this is a weekend event, we hope to have some great entertainment lined up for Saturday evening, along with a Bar and there are also accommodation blocks here if you want to stay on site.”

For more information, or to book a stand or space at the event, contact Chris Kong at RedWolf Airsoft. Telephone 01684 273070 or email chris.kong@redwolfairsoft.com. All sites, shops, clubs, wholesalers, manufacturers and other organisations are welcome – there is more than enough space for everyone!

ActionSportGames sales team goes from strength to strength ASG have strengthened their UK Sales Team with the appointment of Jake Lacey, who joins ASG as the new UK Area Sales Manager, Southern Region.

Photo: Guy Butler.

Jake comes from a professional retail/sales background with a solid understanding of the airsoft world, having been been part of the Stirling Airsoft Team for the past three years.

Paul Wignell, ASG’s UK Country Manager, commented: “We are very pleased and excited to have Jake on board as part of the UK Sales Team. Jake brings with him a young, fresh approach to ASG and will start his new role towards the end of February, before joining us at IWA in Nuremberg.”

He went on to say: “All of ASG wish Jake the very best in his new position and a very warm welcome to ActionSportGames.”

I would also like to add a welcome to Jake from Airsoft Action. He joins ASG at a very interesting time for both ASG and airsoft in general and we look forwards to working with him over the coming years.

See you at IWA Jake!

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March 2017

US distribution deal for Nuprol Nuprol is proud to announce that after many months of hard work and planning, we have appointed 101 Tech USA as our sole distributers in the USA. 101 Tech are also the sole distributers of G&G products in the USA and this unique alliance will mean our American friends can now acquire NUPROL products from all USA stores that sell G&G products.

This is a great start for our 2017 here at NUPROL HQ and we have much, much more to come this year – so keep a look out for some exciting projects!

Happy Airsofting!

AA GALLERY

SPONSORED BY

READERS’ PHOTOS

ROGUE’S GALLERY

From Strikeforce

10

march 2017

AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS

From SHOT Show

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

THE ADVENTURES OF MAG

CARTOON

www.airsoft-action.online

11

Armoury

FOREVER THE SCEPTIC, FRENCHIE WASN’T CONVINCED BY THE HYPE SURROUNDING THE LAUNCH OF NUPROL’S DELTA SERIES, SO WHAT DID HE THINK WHEN HE FINALLY GOT HIS HANDS ON ONE? READ ON TO FIND OUT…

FREEDOM! UNLESS YOU ARE DEAD IT will have been impossible for anyone involved in airsoft to miss the fact that NUPROL have launched their own range of AEGs. Up until now they have been manfully trying to sell us WE AEGs, probably without the success they hoped for, which is a shame as there was the basis of a pretty solid gun in all of the WE offerings. I often wondered if the WE electric rifles suffered from a lack of marketing push - one cannot say the same of the Delta series!

The media campaign pre-release became so intense that I actually banished a couple of NUPROL employees from my Instagram feed, mainly because I have very clear ideas about what I want to see and full-bore selling isn’t it! No foul - the guys were simply doing what they had to do. As readers of Airsoft Action will be aware, the full Delta series has been talked and written about extensively and the danger is that too much hype can run around like a hysterical hound and then bite you in the bum. Given my generally cynical nature, I was that guy, sitting back, going “Alright - impress me..!”

Let’s see if they did.

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March 2017

armoury NUPROL DELTA FREEDOM FIGHTER

I selected the Delta Freedom Fighter to review because it’s cute… in a vaguely Honey Badger/416C sort of way. It’s all metal with NUPROL claiming a CNC’d aluminium front end.

It has what looks like a replica of the Troy industries M7A1 stock, a short, six-position unit with the butt running on two substantial rods. The buffer tube forms the battery storage NUPROL claims the Delta series is “LiPo-ready” (a meaningless claim not limited to NUPROL - my iPhone is LiPo ready) but you can definitely get a 7.4v LiPo pack in there no problem.

When I took the gun out of its colourful and well-protected box, the stock was the first thing that attracted me. I have seen quite a few variants of this stock and here it has been done well. I particularly like the battery storage which is functional and neat. Kudos as well for the construction of the stock unit overall, as it is pretty solid which is not always true of other versions I have seen.

So, the back end piqued my interest, what about the rest of the rifle? The dark earth receiver is entirely standard, M4A1 stuff with a Safe, Semi, Auto fire selector, magazine and bolt release and plenty of stickers - those are going to be fun to remove! The pistol grip, likewise, is a variant of the M16A2 unit with the finger rest - I really dislike this grip but that’s me, not NUPROL and it’s the one thing I would actually change on this rifle. The front end is a copy of the Knight’s Armament URX rail and I really like this. I like it because although it is railed for its entire length top and bottom, the sides only have a short 4-notch length of rail at the muzzle end. That’s exactly where it’s needed, leaving the rest of the front end clean and far more comfortable than guns with rails on every single inch of space.

Big win right there for me. The short barrel is capped with a Copperhead “suppressor” - yeah! Read “non-suppressor” right there, it’s a “loudner” (is that even a word?) and it works really well. If you fancy this as a short, silent weapon you’ll be wanting to change that out sharpish as this rifle has a really distinctive “blat” to each shot. It’s quite funky in a noisy sort of way and I like it but I think I would have a suppressor in my kit bag just in case I had a headache.

So far, so good. I really like the stock and the front end, the receiver is well cast but unremarkable and I dislike the grip.

At this point the ••••Freedom Fighter is weaving a weak spell and I quite like it but I’m an airsoft gun geek; what’s inside can make or break it for me so let’s grab some tools and see what’s in there.

This is where things get interesting - not quite in a “Krytacooh-I-like-what-they’ve-done-there” way - but close. The inner barrel is steel and the M4 hop unit is plastic, mated to a plastic air nozzle. This is one of my favourite combinations as it is lowfriction and tends to give a good airseal. This is aided by a long spring around the barrel which keeps the hop pressed back against the front of the gearbox. Happy with all of this.

The gearbox is a reasonably standard Version two unit

with a quick-change spring guide. Once again this is a bit of a misnomer as to “quickly” change the spring you need to remove the gearbox from the receiver. For some players this is not big deal but for others it’s a step too far. If manufacturers really want to include this as a feature it should be accessible without many tools and even less specialist knowledge. I recently saw another new M4 variant in which the spring could

“THE SIDES ONLY HAVE A SHORT 4-NOTCH LENGTH OF RAIL AT THE MUZZLE END. THAT’S EXACTLY WHERE IT’S NEEDED, LEAVING THE REST OF THE FRONT END CLEAN AND FAR MORE COMFORTABLE THAN GUNS WITH RAILS ON EVERY SINGLE INCH OF SPACE. BIG WIN RIGHT THERE FOR ME.” be changed easily after removing only the stock - that’s how it should be done. Other makers take note.

Internally things are, well, they’re good. Although I spend a certain amount of my working life upgrading AEGs, I never really do it to my own. There is probably an article in there but that’s for the future. What I do, however, is a bit of tweaking to ensure my gun’s longevity - so the piston will get changed, occasionally the gears and motor. I’ll change out the hop unit and rubber if I think it’s necessary. My Classic Army XM16E1 is a good example; reinforced piston, NUPROL rotary hop unit and a Madbull blue hop rubber.

Piston for strength, hop unit and rubber to improve range and consistency with heavier ammo. The velocity on that gun is about 330 fps and it chucks 0.28g ammo a long way.

Inside the Freedom Fighter you will find a steel-toothed piston, steel gears, reinforced removable spring guide, plastic air nozzle and the most important bit (and the Gold medal feature for me) a microswitch trigger. We will pass over the “reinforced

www.airsoft-action.online

13

Armoury NUPROL DELTA FREEDOM FIGHTER

selector plate” claim as it is meaningless, just like “LiPo ready”.

It’s not, it’s just metal and it’s one of the seldom-broken components of an AEG. Why is the trigger switch a winner for me? I am actually quite ambivalent to microswitch triggers - they are a favourite of Ares and I cordially dislike their guns - but on the whole they work well and cause few problems. That’s not the reason I like this though. I like it because of the trigger pull. And I like it a LOT. Elsewhere in TechTalk I witter on about improving trigger response and how mushy AEG triggers are generally - not here though. This rifle has a proper first-pressure, where there is a point in the trigger travel that the shooter can feel a slight resistance just before the gun fires. So you take aim, squeeze and you know exactly when the trigger is going to break and the gun will fire. I don’t know if this was a design intention but this is brilliant - you can hold the trigger at first pressure

“AT THIS POINT THE FREEDOM FIGHTER IS WEAVING A WEAK SPELL AND I QUITE LIKE IT BUT I’M AN AIRSOFT GUN GEEK; WHAT’S INSIDE CAN MAKE OR BREAK IT FOR ME SO LET’S GRAB SOME TOOLS AND SEE WHAT’S IN THERE.” and rapidly and predictably rattle off rounds in semi auto. This isn’t limited to the Freedom Fighter, as far as I can see all of the Deltas do this and I love it. Even if it wasn’t intentional, it gets full marks.

At this point in the testing of this rifle I am now cemented to the range, squeezing off round after round and loving it.

Over the chrono the Freedom Fighter was delivering pretty much bang on 350 fps with Blaster 0.2g ammo. Each shot went where it should thanks to the barrel/hop combination and although loud, it was a glorious noise. Happiness ensued.

In the box you will find a cleaning rod, an instruction manual, a metal hi-cap magazine and a folding fore-grip. There are iron sights attached to the rifle, both are removable but they are of decent quality and work well. Irons are badly underrated in airsoft - they can be very fast for target acquisition and they never run out of batteries. Optics are nice but for me - meh…

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March 2017

SO, MY CONCLUSIONS…

By the time NUPROL launched the Delta series I was sick to the back teeth of their marketing. That’s fine as that’s on me, not NUPROL. The danger was that the product simply wouldn’t live up to the hype leading to disappointment all round and I am genuinely relieved that this isn’t the case. There is little truly ground-breaking in the Delta series but what there is, is well done. Build quality is good, possibly very good (time alone will confirm that), engineering is better than many and performance out of the box really cannot be faulted. There is no MosFet nonsense designed to blind with science without actually delivering much of value. In the case of the Freedom Fighter for your money - and remember that it’s recommended price is £249 in the UK - you get a well-made, all metal AEG that features good quality, well-matched components which you can literally take out of the box and go skirmish. I know that really that should be true of any airsoft gun but when I write that I am specifically doing so because there is nothing in there that I personally would change, even to satisfy my particular tastes. The velocity out of the box is spot on, the internal components are exactly where I would wish them to be and of a quality that I’m happy with. Changing the pistol grip is a minor job and a purely personal thing. It looks good and it feels good, everything is solid.

The acid test for me is always “would I buy one?” and the answer here is an unequivocal “Yes!” - with my own money. I am a fan of shorter weapons as there is no real need for long airsoft guns, it’s an AR-15 derivative so fits in with my load out (such as it is). It feels and looks good but crucially for me, I am as confident as I can be in a new gun that it will deliver and keep on delivering. Tech (nearly) always sways me more than aesthetics and the tech here is good, better than many of a comparable price and frankly as much as the vast majority of players need. Could it be tweaked? Of course it could but it doesn’t need it and if I were to buy one I would run it exactly as it is until such time as something needed replacing. I suspect that day could be a long way off and this is gun in which you can be confident.

Final thoughts? Well played NUPROL… very well played indeed!

My thanks as ever to Landwarrior Airsoft for allowing me to sneak off with one of their guns. I’ll bring it back …sometime …promise!

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Armoury CSI S.T.A.R XR-5 FG 1508

AIRSOFT ACTION UK EXCLUSIVE!

XR-5 ADVANCED BATTLE RIFLE GADGE LIKES THINGS “A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY” AND WHEN IT COMES TO AEGS, IT DOESN”T GET MORE “OUT OF THE ORDINARY” THAN THE XR-5 FROM CSI – BUT IS IT ANY GOOD? SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET IT RIGHT first time - and this is certainly the case with CSI. Given the current community propensity for spot on replicas made out of as many “real” components (steel, wood, polymer) etc. as their military counterparts, it”s certainly a brave move for Cool Summer Inc. to release a “sci-fi” shooter as their first AEG. But is it a move they've managed to pull off?

The short answer is “yes” but I’m sure to paraphrase “Starship Troopers”, you’ll want to know more…

I have to admit that I may never have noticed this new entry from Cool Summer Inc. (CSI for short) if I had not been involved in a few “sci-fi” based airsoft events lately, where customised guns with a Star Wars or Aliens feel were the order of the day.

By sheer chance I found a picture of what looked to me like the perfect near future assault rifle and decided I probably needed one. To my dismay, however, it was only available as a pre-order from the USA. Not to be held back by anything that trifling, we at Airsoft Action decided to get directly in touch with Alex Yang at CSI and see if they’d be kind enough to send us a review sample of the S.T.A.R XR-5 FG 1508 Advanced Battle Rifle (bit of a mouthful eh?) direct from the factory. After a rather frustrating wait in customs - oddly the least “real” looking gun we’ve ever imported for review was held by some helpful soul in Customs as a “firearm” – we’re proud to announce we’ve got a UK exclusive review on this sci fi shooter for you!

UNIQUE DESIGN

For a start, normally we’d discuss the “real steel” version of an AEG in a review, clearly a real version of the XR5 doesn’t exist but it’s probably worth mentioning a little about “newcomers” 16

March 2017

CSI. Surprisingly CSI are not actually that new to the game, they have in fact been operating since 2000 but initially as exporters for well-known Chinese brands like JG, D-Boys and the like before deciding that they could probably do as good a job themselves. One of the big “issues” in manufacturing airsoft guns is often getting the authorisation to make a licensed replica of a real firearm. CSI neatly decided to avoid these hurdles by making a totally unique design that retailers can sell without worry and by avoiding expensive licencing keep the cost down for the end user. Alex told me that CSI were determined to prove that “low cost” doesn’t have to mean “cheap” in terms of quality and that CSI intend to put Taiwan on the “manufacturers map”.

So with all this info under my belt you can imagine how frustrating it was waiting for the XR5 (I’m honestly not going to type its full name out each time!) to clear customs over a six week period over the Xmas and New Year holidays. Eventually the postie knocked with a suspiciously large parcel that just had to be an airsoft gun and without further ado I had it signed for and in my grubby mitts!

As I previously mentioned, the XR5 is mainly plastics, nylon fibre and polymers with very little “metal” outside of the internals, so I was in all honestly expecting something a little like an old Marui AK or G3 in weight and “creaky” build… what’s more, it could have been really dire, like my old plastic Uzi. With this in mind I was overjoyed to pick the XR5 out of the box and feel a substantial amount of weight in it. This is because (unlike other plastic guns made out of cheap ABS) the body of the XR5 is made out of nylon fibre, almost like that used in modern combat helmets. If I had to give a direct

armoury CSI S.T.A.R XR-5 FG 1508

“THE ODD THING ABOUT IT NOT BEING A “STARTER GUN” IS THAT IT’S CERTAINLY PRICED ALONGSIDE “STARTER GUN” SETS AND A LUDICROUSLY LOW PRICE OF $107 IN THE STATES… FOR US IN THE UK THAT’S ABOUT £84. YES YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY… LESS THAN EIGHTY FIVE POUNDS!”

comparison, the build quality feels as solid (if not more so) than a Tokyo Marui G36C. The box contents themselves are fairly Spartan. You get the rifle, an ergonomically shaped XR5 magazine of around 200 rounds high capacity (more about this later) and a manual - I say “manual” although it’s the usual two pages of safety and operating info with an exploded parts diagram. It’s fair to say this is no “starter gun” as you”re going to need batteries and chargers etc. Now the odd thing about it not being a “starter gun” is that it’s certainly priced alongside “starter gun” sets and a ludicrously low price of $107 in the States… for us in the UK that’s about £84. Yes you read that correctly… LESS THAN EIGHTY FIVE POUNDS! Has that sunk in? Good, because it took a while for me to get my head around it. So for £85, even if it is built solidly you’d expect it to be a bit ropey right? Well again prepare to be surprised. The Airsoft Action office team took it out fully expecting it to be “ok” and were pleasantly surprised that it is, quite frankly, “very, very good”.

Sliding forwards the front lower RIS rail reveals a spacious battery compartment that could easily take a large NIMH and after loading up the high cap supplied, we decided to give it a “live fire test”. Control-wise it’s clear to see that the basic model underneath all that futuristic nylon fibre is an M4 but CSI have done a great job of concealing the classic M4 base while keeping its functionality. In my conversations with Alex while waiting for the XR5 to arrive, I discovered this was a deliberate move by CSI, with the M4 being the most popular airsoft platform around it made sense to make the XR5 load, fire and adjust in the same way and ease transition to the new model.

Firing with a 9.6ma battery and magazine of .20 blaster BBs gave consistent and pleasing results. Rate of fire was perfectly adequate for the skirmish field and trigger response was excellent in both semi and fully automatic mode. The supplied XR5 mag fed excellently and as the upper part of it is based around a Marui-type STANAG M4, magazine we decided to try a few other M4 mag brands out and found that STAR/ARES and Marui metal mags fed and fitted excellently - although STAR

“disposable” real caps had trouble locking in. On the subject of locking in the mag, it’s fair to a say that while the XR5 will allow you to “slam” in a magazine in the way one would with an M4 or L85, it feels a lot better to hold in the mag release button while fitting a new mag.

The magazine release itself is in a similar place to that of an armalite but is a much bigger button on the side of the magwell. Above the mag release button is a non-functional, hinged “ejection port” that allows access to the hop up unit. Again, the hop up unit is a fantastic piece and was responsive to changes in BB weight and uses the “rotary”-style common to Tokyo Marui AKs, G36s and M4s. The XR5's hop resulted in very few “flyers” despite putting magazine after magazine through it. I can only hope CSI make affordable XR5 magazines as, while it looks OK and works fine with standard

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Armoury CSI S.T.A.R XR-5 FG 1508

M4 mags, it does lose a little of the future aesthetic.

Kicking out the BBs is a venerable version 2 gearbox with all metal gears. Our initial fear over the XR5 was that at such a low price it was certain to have low quality parts and possibly even plastic gears and once again we were pleased to be wrong!

FUTURE PERFECT Chrono tests with .20BBs were somewhat surprising. And it’s here that I can find my only real fault with the XR5… it’s a little TOO punchy for UK skirmish fields, kicking out between 398 and 405 FPS (approx.

1.5J) consistently both individually and in bursts. For sure, unless you play at VERY “big boys rules” sites or intend to use the XR5 only for backyard plinking, you’re probably going to need to downgrade the spring. Airsoft Action did bring this issue up with CSI and they have assured us that UK export models will be downgraded in power, so fingers crossed they hit the sweet spot and don’t go too far the other way.

So, while we have a solid and dependable M4 under the bonnet it’s probably the “bodywork” that you’re either going to love or hate about this AEG. My first reaction was that it looked a little like a “las rifle” from Games Workshop’s “Warhammer 40k”, a little like a “Pulse “CSI’S SLOGAN IS Rifle” from Aliens and a bit like the rifle from the film Oblivion. It’s safe to say it’s a unique look and literally “FUTURE PROOF”. covered in RIS rails to accessorise the rifle. The model PERSONALLY I’D we were supplied came with a long top rail, two side SAY IT’S CLOSER rails and a short under-barrel rails (the 20mm rails are the same high strength nylon fibre) with flip up TO “FUTURE iron sights mounted on the top rails. CSI have eight PERFECT”!” versions of the XR5 due to hit the market, internally all the same rifle but with variations in the barrel shroud, a variable foregrip with long under barrel rail and a version with a deeper “butt” stock. Not only this but the upper body work and cheek rest will be available in white (for that “Star Wars” look), tan, forest green and the grey of our sample model.

The stock is fully adjustable to accommodate the shooter’s

arm length and the eye relief required for the chosen optics.

Adjusting the stock is as simple as pushing in the circular black button and pulling the stock out to the desired length.

Releasing the button locks the stock in place. I personally found the short “depth” stock a little tricky to keep “in shoulder” but as aforementioned, there is a “deeper” version of the stock available.

The XR5 is certainly not for everyone. Purists and MilSim types will no doubt hate it but for those wanting something a little different, coupled with the versatility and upgrade ease of an M4, it’s a winner. For the airsofter not too fussed about “real world” weapons and kit this could well be a fantastic way of avoiding looking “too army” and for sci-fi fans it’s a dream come true.

The bad news is that currently the XR5 is only available for pre-order in the USA and in Spain but hopefully before long CSI will have a UK distributor.

CSI’s slogan is “future proof “. Personally I’d say it’s closer to “future perfect”!

I think it’s safe to say they have a bright future ahead of them if future products are as consistently good as the XR5 (and they can hit the UK FPS limits). For under £100 I honestly cannot think of a better AEG. The question will be whether or not you like the style!

features Length: 790mm-870mm Adjustable Weight: 7.75 LBs Inner Barrel: 363mm Magazine Capacity: 200 rd Hi-Capacity. Works with Matrix, G&G, Tokyo Marui and other compatible M4 / M16 Series Airsoft AEG Magazines Muzzle Velocity: 400 FPS/1.48J (Measured with 0.20g BBs) Thread Direction: 14mm Negative Gearbox: Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable Motor: Long Type Fire Modes: Semi/Full-Auto, Safety Battery: 9.6v recommended. Able to take a large variety of battery size.

Hopup: Yes, Adjustable Manufacturer: CSI Price $105

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March 2017

Armoury ASG DAN WESSON VALOR

“THE BEST BUILT PRODUCTION 1911 ON THE MARKET” SELF-CONFESSED PISTOL-NUT, LES LEE, KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT PISTOLS AND WAS KEEN TO GET HIS HANDS ON ASG’S VERSION OF THIS CLASSIC SHOOTER. Photographs by Lisa Strasburg Photography.

A SHORT TIME AGO, Paul Wignell of ASG announced the new ASG Dan Wesson “Valor” 1911 CO2 Blowback Pistol on Facebook… “Introducing the all new, licensed, Dan Wesson “VALOR” 1911 6mm CO2 Pistol by ActionSportGames.” The Valor series is the DW flagship line, meaning it’s the best Dan Wesson have to offer. Simply put, Dan Wesson feel it is the best built production 1911 on the market.

A bold statement indeed but what we, the end user, need to know is if this does in fact hold merit and more importantly, if this new 1911 airsoft pistol does in fact kick butt where it counts. Fortunately I have been offered the privilege to conduct this new sidearm evaluation to find out if both Paul and Dan Wesson (same fame - different time zone) have made an astute call of judgement.

For any of my fellow airsoft pistol pundits, this may at first seem to be “yet another” Colt 1911 replica but my knowledge and more predominantly, my instinct for ASG products tells me that this is going to be different - and probably quite a lot different from any stock out-of-the-box 1911s that have gone before.

This is the brand new Dan Wesson 1911 from Danish giants ActionSportGames, aptly named “The Valor”!

HISTORY

Valor definition: “Boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery: a medal for valor...” the list goes on and on, just like the glorious reputation of this iconic and often decisive piece of percussive history.

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March 2017

From its birth way back in the late 1890’s, when designer John Browning prefixed the numbers with an “M”, the trials and tribulations began in earnest when the U.S. military decided that it needed a self-loading (or semi-automatic) pistol to replace service revolvers which were the current day standard issue sidearm.

Following the 1904 Thompson-LaGarde pistol round effectiveness tests, Colonel John T. Thompson stated that the new pistol “should not be of less than .45 caliber” and would preferably be semi-automatic in operation. This led to the 1906 trials of pistols from six firearms manufacturing companies, namely: Colt, Bergmann, Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), Savage Arms Company, Knoble, Webley, and White-Merril.

Among the many (and slightly controversial) areas of success for the Colt, was a test at the end of 1910 attended

by Mr Browning, a test where six thousand rounds were fired from a single pistol over the course of two days. When the gun began to grow hot, it was simply immersed in water to cool it.

The Colt gun passed with no reported malfunctions, while the Savage designs had 37.

The “M1911” is the best-known of his designs to use the short recoil principle in its basic design. The pistol was widely copied and this operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. Compact variants are popular civilian concealed carry weapons, because of the design’s relatively slim width and the stopping power of the .45 ACP cartridge.

armoury ASG DAN WESSON VALOR

“THERE WAS A TEST AT THE END OF 1910 …WHERE SIX THOUSAND ROUNDS WERE FIRED FROM A SINGLE PISTOL OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS. WHEN THE GUN BEGAN TO GROW HOT, IT WAS SIMPLY IMMERSED IN WATER TO COOL IT. THE COLT GUN PASSED WITH NO REPORTED MALFUNCTION.”

THE ASG VALOR GBB

The ASG Valor GBB has the same aesthetics and similar qualities as its centrefire brother and is finished in a rather striking glass bead blasted, matt silver steel, which only enhances the ambiguity of this piece. The name is proudly incorporated along the upper slide in fancy laser engraved script, which also hosts the sight system of a single white dot up front and twin white dots at the rear. Slide grips front and rear and in addition to the grip safety, a secondary safety is located above the thumb grip.

The pistol grips are exquisite on this model, having a “double diamond G10 snake skin” design that works so well, I can’t imagine anyone wanting to swap-out these beauties.

We all know that ActionSportGames don’t put their name to just anything. Their reputation is synonymous with premium craftsmanship of the highest quality materials, so why would this be any different? Only a thorough evaluation in a variety of testing grounds would really offer up some answers, so on that note, it was time to take this puppy to the range.

FIELD TEST

The test was conducted in a moderate 38° temperature over two distances (10 metres and 30 metres) using .20 Blaster BBs. It is recommended that at least .25s should be used, as the primary out-of-the-box magazine is CO2 - which is quite unusual but I wasn’t going to complain because when I buy a pistol, the first thing I do is buy CO2 mags. However, some airsoft sites still have a CO2 restriction in place but from my experience, due to the ever increasing popularity and choice of CO2, particularly for colder climates, more outdoor sites are dropping this ruling providing the FPS is consistent and within site limits. BB capacity is a little restricted (as with any 1911) and tops out at 14 max with an easy-to-use bottom load access point in the magazine but what you lose in rounds, you certainly gain in efficiency and the “feel good” factor.

After loading the mag. and CO2 (using the included hex

key) I racked the slide which felt solid and smooth - this was oozing superior quality already and I hadn’t even pulled the trigger yet. Slowly, I squeezed the trigger and at around 4-5 pounds, this baby cracked a round down range with power… a lot of power and the felt recoil was just wickedly satisfying for an airsoft pistol. It hit 102 on the decibel metre - which is pretty damn loud for any GBB when you consider a .22LR round from a rifle is in the 135-145Db region. So during normal skirmish use there is no need for hearing protection but for indoor AIPSC I don’t think it would be a bad thing to protect your ears if you are using lots of ammo.

Unsurprisingly this gun was accurate, very accurate indeed.

At 10 metres I was putting BB after BB in the same fifty pence size hole from a fixed bench and grouping incredibly well at 30 metres, more than enough to get the job done with a very consistent hop. With regards to the FPS, I averaged 362 over ten shots paced out slowly so that cool-down wasn’t a factor during this test, which is in line with the 361 FPS/1.2 joules of energy stated by ASG so my test matched the figures that accompany this pistol.

Now I know what you might be thinking... When it comes to chronograph testing on game day, this extra 11-12 FPS will probably be a problem for most sites, however, fear not, as Fearmasters/Urban Airsoft Megastore have the answer.

Urban Airsoft Megastore have a simple downgrade modification which resolves this. These guys have already premodified some of their stock (obviously at no extra cost) which completely resolves this issue and makes it 100% “field legal”.

And if you want something really special, you might want to check-out the ASG Hera Arms CPE (Colt Pistol Extension) carbine kit (pictured scope and fore-grip not included), available in black and OD at the very reasonable price of around £55.00 at UAM. As much as it pains me to secrete this stunning 1911, I would be failing if I didn’t make you aware that this is available because there are favourable variables with this easy to fit accessory. The first is that for not a lot more money, you

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Armoury ASG DAN WESSON VALOR

have got yourself a perfect SA gas blowback CQB gun which, when shouldered, will give you a host of enhancements such as better accuracy, a more effective stance and of course, you will feel “the kick” with more satisfaction. In addition to this, due to the semi-auto only function, this should qualify as a “short” DMR, thus eliminating the need for a downgrade in power. Indeed, there could also be scope for a small power upgrade to make it (typically) site legal, however (and this is important), any and all new pistol modifications MUST be made by a qualified and endorsed ASG technician, otherwise you can wave bye bye to your warranty.

CONCLUSION

This model 1911 truly is in the thoroughbred class. It won’t come as a surprise when I say that in my opinion (and a selection of fellow ‘softers that I gathered opinions from), this Dan Wesson 1911 Valor GBB pistol ticks every box on the list - and some! The only exception (that may be a personal preference issue for some) is that it is standard issue CO2 and not gas. Obviously being this “THIS MODEL 1911 particular model of handgun will make it TRULY IS IN THE compatible with many aftermarket parts but in all honesty, why would anyone want or THOROUGHBRED need to change anything that this sidearm CLASS. IT WON’T doesn’t already have? It looks exquisite in its subtle finish, even the surface is replicated COME AS A SURPRISE authentically. This achieves not only a stunning WHEN I SAY THAT IN look but also provides the perfect real steel MY OPINION (AND A “sound” most airsoft pistols lack. However, The DW Valor’s eye-catching appearance is just SELECTION OF FELLOW a part of the package because, unsurprisingly, ‘SOFTERS THAT I it feels perfectly balanced in the hand (over GATHERED OPINIONS a century in production has fine-tuned this), it is a joy to pull the trigger, the recoil is most FROM), THIS DAN definitely feisty and satisfying and I’m sure WESSON 1911 VALOR it would put a smile on anyone’s face (other than the poor recipient of the round). It is also GBB PISTOL TICKS a super solid build quality with every movable EVERY BOX ON THE part sitting firmly in its place without a single LIST - AND SOME!” rattle, no matter how hard you might shake it around. Of course this is a new weapon, so although the longer term prognosis is uncertain regarding the longevity of the “shake” test, two factors give me zero concern that long term use will not cause any noticeable wear and tear. The first being the actual 22

March 2017

features Length: 216mm Mag Capacity:14 rounds Standard Mag: 18529 Velocity: 110ms/361fps Weight: 894gr/lb Energy: 1.2 Joules Adjustable Hop Full metal construction Unique serial number Double action Full open chamber blowback Very powerful blowback kick Short throw trigger Non-tool slide removal for service and hop Chromed barrel for durability and that uber-cool look!

premium quality materials used in its overall construction and the second is that I know for a fact that ActionSportGames would not commission and/or endorse ANY piece of equipment that would not uphold their super-high standards.

With a recommended retail price of around a hundred pounds, this, in my opinion and after researching far and wide, is worth every penny. It looks great, the performance is outstanding and the associated accessories are endless so I would not hesitate in going into airsoft battle with this as a secondary I could confidently rely on and, if the opportunity arose, I would certainly give the Hera Arms CPE an outing because a semi auto GBB for a little over £150 quid is a small price to pay for such an awesome combination that will get the job very well done.

Les OUT!

0147-1216_DECEMBER2016

Made in Denmark

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20-12-2016 08:06:39

International RUSSIA - S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. RUSSIANS REPLICATE RADIOACTIVE DISASTER GAMERS WILL NO DOUBT RECOGNISE THE NAME AS MARIA LITVINOVA REPORTS FROM RUSSIA ON HOW THE COMPUTER GAME HAS CROSSED OVER WITH AIRSOFT. WHAT LIFE COULD EXIST IN a post-apocalyptic world? More and more Russian fans of role-playing games have raised this question. Over the last eight years the game “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.” has become very popular in Russia. In all the major cities across Russia, the young (and sometimes not so young) people arm themselves with their airsoft gun and dress up in zombie costumes and leave their town at least once during the year.

They go to a forest, or the ruins of an abandoned building, or industrial plants. There they create a different reality: How the world would be after a nuclear explosion.

“Exclusion Zone,” which was formed after the Chernobyl accident, became a source of inspiration for writers, the creators of computer games and now for roleplayers.

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March 2017

The tragedy in 1986 has been told in many books and documentaries. In addition, the idea of radiation disaster has been a frequent theme used in literature, movies and video games.

We talked with the organizers of the largest in the Russian role-playing club “Stalker Northwest”. In our discussion we tried to understand how Stalker fascinates players and how is it different from the classic airsoft.

The club “Stalker North-West” is based in the cultural capital of Russia - the city of St. Petersburg - and is one of the oldest Stalker clubs in the country. For the past eight consecutive years (starting in 2008) they organize outside role events with airsoft weapons based on the computer game S.T.A.L.K.E.R, created by GSC Game World.

Usually all participants came to the site in the Leningrad region. Covering an area of six square kilometers, the players feel all the beauty of the post-Soviet chaos. It is an authentic world with lots of buildings, roads, woods, ditches, hangars, underground bomb shelters, brick chimneys, roadblocks, military equipment and electrical substations. Sometimes the club organizes events in the nearby cities of Northwest Russia.

Usually there are weekend events. Each game lasts for three days and two nights without a break. All participants are divided into ten groups. Each of them has its own goals and objectives, as well as strict requirements for appearance and behavior. The main gear and camouflage of the groups are clothes in colors of different armies of the world (mainly the Russian Federation and the UN), the Russian and American weapons (airsoft replicas). The Mutants group has the most striking appearance, they are monsters who had undergone

International RUSSIA - S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

radiation and live in the Zone. Scientists is a peaceful group who studies the Zone and, as expected, wear the white robes.

So what are the uniqueness and attractiveness of the project? We talked with the representatives of the club, who are engaged in the organization of the games. The oldest of them is 34 years old, the youngest being 27 years old. So what makes young men to run through the ruins and to take responsibility for active leisure of others?

When did you organize your first Stalker? Who created this idea?

Eugene Plus: “In itself, the phenomenon of Stalker-realplay first appeared on the initiative of game developers in Ukraine.

There was an ambitious cosplay festival. There were a lot of people, big area, nice costumes, sponsorship from the developers of computer games. The first Stalker game in Russia took place in 2008. The first scenario was not much different from the original script of a computer game. The area was 2x3 km, there was approximately 100 players. I must say, in those days Stalker was more like a costume theme party in nature.”

The events today: how often are they held, the number of participants?

Alexsander Rise: “At the moment, our club organizes six great games per year. The season is from May to October, one game per month. It is very often for the major role-playing events. On average, “opening” and “closing” events get 250300 participants. Usual games – 150 gamers – and it is cool! If we increase the number of participants, it can directly decrease the quality of individual game for each participant. Such is the specificity of the Stalker. Games with 1,000 participants is simply not possible without compromising gameplay.”

Who invents scenarios for games? The Universe of the computer game Stalker is not unlimited, whether you have enough ideas for the scenarios?

Alexsander Rise: “Basically I’m working at scenarios. In our events the story plays a very big role. One story we amplify the

whole season. This creates a great story and we begin with basic input data and tasks. Further, we take into account all the players reactions that influence the course of the game.

From the event to the event the story can take on new twists or deviate from the original plan because the player can make any decisions according to his role. He can, for example, kill some monster that will fundamentally change the further development of the story. So you have to constantly create something new, based on all the player’s decisions.

“In our events the linearity is almost absent. The main thing is to give people the basic idea of the season and to prevent a slide of the plot into a mess. All this is very difficultly regulated and we have to act carefully so as not to nullify any action of players. It’s like a theatrical performance where actors can play the way they want and the director is obliged to change everything “in live mode”. This “chaotic presentation” should not go beyond the logic and the basic idea of the story. How this is done, I will not say as it’s a secret! The last plot took exactly the length of the season. Before that, the story lasted three seasons.”

What is the selection process for participants? Whom is not welcome to participate?

Alexsander Rise: “We have the most rigorous selection of participants. Each and every new player must pass an interview with the organisers. In St. Petersburg and Moscow we meet in the real world, for gamers from other cities we hold a Skype conference. It takes a lot of time, especially before the opening of the season as beginners are so many and each should be given about 15 minutes of dialogue. However, it allows us to screen out inappropriate people, alcohol lovers and players who come to stupidly shoot and do not know anything about the universe of our games. A person can be adequate but if he came to the interview and does not know the basics of the Stalker world, we offer him to study our Universe and to come another time. For the interview, everyone must be 18 years old.”

“IT’S LIKE A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE WHERE ACTORS CAN PLAY THE WAY THEY WANT AND THE DIRECTOR IS OBLIGED TO CHANGE EVERYTHING “IN LIVE MODE”. THIS “CHAOTIC PRESENTATION” SHOULD NOT GO BEYOND THE LOGIC AND THE BASIC IDEA OF THE STORY”

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International RUSSIA - S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

Why is it strictly adults? For example, if a father and his young son want to take part in the event?

Alexsander Rise: “Because the law of the Russian Federation suggests that the use of airsoft weapons and fireworks are permitted strictly over 18! This is the same, what to buy your child a traumatic gun and said that he would use it only when parents are near. Also our games are a certain kind of extreme.

Sometimes there are injuries, mostly for inadvertently players. If the injured player is 18+, then there is no question, he signed the official paper of the waiver. But if a child got an injury, the parents complain in all instances. We are all strictly according to the law.”

Evgeniy Plus: “It is not our whim. Our games are official and have the status of youth military-patriotic events. We do not have the legal right to work with minors. Moreover, they are not responsible for themselves and license from the parents lose all value if a child violates safety and fall off the roof.”

What is your main goal in organizing these events? Is there a supergoal (give people a holiday, to realize fantasies, etc.)?

Vladimir Fokus: “In addition to the general patriotic education, instilling people with survival skills in the harsh conditions, forcing communication skills, we create a club where everyone helps each other. We can rely on each player and accordingly, each player can count on our help.”

Andrey Visotnik: “This is a separate world, where people can take a break from everyday life, to behave as they want and forget about weekdays for three days.”

Typical Russian Stalker player - what similarities do all players have?

Alexsander Rise: “Everyone is different. To characterise all the players in one fell swoop is not possible. From poor students to the US dollar millionaires, from urban fashionistas to warlords.

Age is also different - from 18 to 55. Half of the top players are 45+ years old.”

Vladimir Fokus: “All players have the desire to find new friends and become part of something bigger. Plus implementation of team skills. Each contributes to the game, it is as a kind of theatrical performance with randomly cast, the result of which depends on the each actor.”

Evgeniy Plus: “Determination, attentiveness, awesomeness.

That’s what our project brings in the human in the first place.

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March 2017

Judging by myself, perhaps someone has other qualities. A common feature... Weak spirit game eliminates itself, or brings.

Weaklings do not belong in the Zone.”

A well-prepared player – who is he?

Vladimir Fokus: “A good player is able to come up with his behavior on the fly and join any game action.”

Alexsander Rise: “Firstly, it must be familiar with the Universe of Stalker. Secondly, he must be ready for the physical and moral difficulties. We do not just play and you can be cold and hungry, get some lite injuries and hear some curse words.

A newbie must to be prepared and know where he is going.

We warn everyone of this in the interviews, deliberately discouraging such players to participate with us. If the newcomer withstands the first game, makes new contacts, then the world of our game opens for him in its entirety.”

Evgeniy Plus: “We have all the players well prepared. To do this, we make some selection. Entourage, knowledge of fandom, often experience role-playing games, the ability to act out their role, all of these factors are necessary for our participants.”

Andrey Visotnik: “A quality costume is necessary. Experience in overnights in the open air is good and a willingness to dive into a three day role-play with your head.”

What is the average cost to prepare for the event?

Vladimir Fokus: “For beginners it is realistic to spend from 7,000 - 10,000 rubles (currently £95 - £135). However, to join the group, the player will have to buy new equipment, clothing and so forth.”

Alexsander Rise: “In this matter, Stalker can compete with airsoft. Dress code for the beginner is simplified and the first game, with proper luck, could cost somewhere around 30,000 rubles. The main costs being for a gun, a radio and good ankle boots. After the first game a beginner decides that he needs. The camo, equipment and other “bells and whistles” cost minimum 20,000 rubles. And you can go far beyond the average monthly salary!”

Andrey Visotnik: “Armament in crisis is particularly expensive.

But I would say that a beginner can spend 10,000 rubles easily.”

Evgeniy Plus: “Yes, a gun is the most expensive. A beginner

International RUSSIA - S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

is going to play in gray jacket and blue jeans. In fact, it requires only a rubber knife, walkie-talkie and good, sturdy shoes. The rest is already in the cabinet or from friends. Even the gun is not necessary, you can play without it. So, the starter Stalker kit can cost 3,300 rubles: radio + knife. Other stuff is optional, within the established dress code.”

Regarding Stalker vs Airsoft - What is the same, what is different? We understand that you are strictly prohibited to use the bunkers. And at the same time be sure to clearly and realistically show the death.

Andrey Visotnik: “Basic rules of the battle, defeat and speed of the ammunition are from airsoft. In other aspects, we differ: we do not have clear sides and constant fighting. A lot of talk, a little shooting.”

Evgeniy Plus: “The similarity is only the use of airsoft equipment, some tactics. Nothing else is the same. If a computer game did not have guns, Stalker and airsoft did not have anything common. Stalker is role-playing field game using airsoft weapons. Not the other way around! You can play for three days, without firing and dying and get the most fun!

However, there are militant groups who have shooting as a main goal.”

Now we managed to understand, the airsofters and Stalkers, in actual fact, are not particularly fond of each other.

Why? Vladimir Fokus: “Most of airsoft players spend huge sums of money for the reconstruction of units for which they play: for guns and kits. Beginners in Stalker satisfied with the simple gun, and the dress code is very humane. With the growth of the population of the Stalker Universe, there was a huge number of airsofters who do not spend a lot of money on clothing and use the simplest service. In other words - airsofters are annoyed that they had to make a wild cash infusion into their hobby, and stalkers don’t need to do it.”

Andrey Visotnik: “We do not like airsofters for pride and primitive approach to the game (come-shoot-drink-photo). They do not like us for game fees and patchy appearance.”

Alexsander Rise: “To be honest, in recent years I have seen a reverse trend. In our club we have a lot of airsoft masters.

These people comprised the top teams. They all come to us for the variety and almost all stay with us. But there is no reverse outflow from Stalker to airsoft. Personally, I have never had a problem with someone from the airsofters. Previously, only a few years ago, many airsofters just liked to joke viciously on equipment and appearance of the Stalkers. They spent 150,000-200,000 rubles for kit, we do not. However, our

club have never had the direct conflict with airsofters. We have our own site, half of our players have the same cool equipment as “true” airsoft teams. The only thing is our little bias on interviews to airsofters because half of them want to come just to shoot out of the bushes at people who act out the role or entourage. We do not allow such persons and with the rest we have a pleasant chat.”

Is Stalker roleplay game a whole industry? Is it profitable to create and sell equipment and other things?

Alexsander Rise: “There are small shops that make equipment and entourage for the games. But it’s more like a handmade product.

Basically they sell small custom orders. The most common are suits that copy protection from a computer game. What about me – I buy all I need in airsoft stores. The entire entourage for the game (mutants, masks, artifacts) we do ourselves, we have our own production and workshop.”

Eugene Plus: “Yes, we prefer to do everything with our hands because no one can do it better. It is not profitable. Since 2008, no one could make it as a business. So it’s just a hobby “to zero”.”

Are you ready to meet players from abroad?

Vladimir Fokus: “Foreigners periodically come to our games.

Ukraine, Belarus and the countries of the former CIS, as well as England, Germany and Turkey.”

Alexsander Rise: “A player that speaks only English will have some difficulty - but it is possible. At the main points during the event we have people who speak English well. Some players speak English (or German, French) freely and not throw friend from abroad without communication and information.”

Russian Stalker is not just a role-playing game. This is the whole fraternity - with its history, its jokes, foundations, folklore and tales. During the event participants can be on opposite sides but in real life they are all friends.

Maria Litvinova

www.airsoft-action.online

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site COMBAT READY AIRSOFT

ARE YOU

COMBAT READY? “IT’S NOT EVERY DAY YOU FIND AN AIRSOFT SITE ON YOUR DOORSTEP... ALTHOUGH A TOUCH EMBARRASSING WHEN YOU DISCOVER IT HAS BEEN THERE TWO YEARS! OVER TO GADGE...”

Pictures: Tom Hibberd AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I’ve been part of a longrunning airsoft team called “The Lenton First and Only” for some time (LFO for short) and recently the lads have got me out gaming for the hell of it again. And let’s be honest, when you review sites every month for your job it’s a little odd going out just to play - but it’s still fun. I was fully intending to go to Combat Ready just for the fun of it and perhaps take some pictures… but it was so good I just HAD to tell you all about it.

As with most of you, my weekends are for airsoft. Saturday or Sunday is game day, Sunday night is for post-game tall tales in the Pub and Friday has traditionally been “kit prep” night… that is until now. Normally, my teammate Tom and I would spend Friday in the Pub after hastily throwing the required weekend kit in our “go bags” but by sheer chance, I happened upon a YouTube video of an airsoft site just down the road from me (that would be Derby in the Midlands and I live just outside, between Derby and Nottingham) that was oddly bang in the centre of the City. I know Derby pretty well and was wondering where on earth this site could be and, being in the centre of a City, how they got away with it? Well it couldn’t be THAT big a site could it?

So a quick phone call later to Combat Ready Site Owner “Crafty” and Tom and I were frantically packing for a CQB game in unexplored deepest, darkest Derby. We really didn’t 30

March 2017

know what to expect other than it would be close quarters, so the short AKs and the full face masks went in the bags and without further ado we put on civvy-looking jackets over our combat gear, put the AEGS in sports holdalls and got the train to Derby (Why drive? Its minutes away on the train and I can have a post-game pint then!). The sat nav post code directions meant a short ten minute walk from the station towards the “Assembly Rooms” show venue, where the site is tucked away behind the venue car park. It’s not that obvious or easy to find but walking up a side street behind the car park soon took us to a nondescript five story office block. Well that’s one question answered then. It IS a fairly big site!

As Tom and I checked in we spoke to the marshals about “Combat Ready” and found out that the site had been going for about two years, which made it even more staggering I’d not heard about it yet. It is run under the leadership of ex-squaddie “Crafty”, who leant his military skills to both the organisation of the site and the game plans (it’s worth noting that Crafty’s team also run FIBUA and room clearance training days for the more MilSim minded). Checking in was pretty straight forward, with the usual disclaimers being signed and a modest £15 green fee for non-members taken to allow us to take part in the three to four hour evening gaming session…

Bargain!

site COMBAT READY AIRSOFT

EXCELLENT FACILITIES

While setting up our kit (we’d wisely decided not to get on the train wearing knee pads and body armour, looking like a SWAT team) we also popped into the site’s shop. A well-equipped area with everything from bottles of BBs to combat gear to sweets and drinks – and with a battery charging service to boot!

Site safety rules were held in a novel way. All the players were ushered into a comfy “ready room” with chairs and sofas and given a short “site safety” presentation on a large screen with loud speakers. This seemed to work really well with visual examples of certain rules and for some unknown reason, everyone stayed totally silent throughout with none of the usual “Oh I’ve heard these rules a hundred times!” rabbiting from regulars. So with site rules explained and a comprehensive chrono test for EVERYONE with site limits at sub 350fps with .20g bbs and on today’s gaming only single shot settings were allowed (although some events allow full auto) we were ready for the off.

As I mentioned earlier, the site is a large five floor office block. The ground floor is the ready room, shop and safe area which leaves four floors to battle over. Before getting stuck in, Crafty’s marshals gave Tom and I a whistle stop tour of the complex in “daylight”, as most the games would be played in near total darkness with the odd red emergency lighting - so make sure you pack a torch, NVGs or eat a lot of carrots before you go!

Each floor had been sectioned off to divide the larger rooms into “kill zones” and many of the rooms were themed as “prison cells” , “laboratories”, “morgues” , “armouries” and even a bar with a pool table! The themed rooms had lots of fun props in them, from computers to ammo tins, to hazardous

waste containers and many had dressed shop mannequins that looked perfectly harmless in the daylight but could certainly put the wind up you in a low light environment!

The evening was “player’s choice”, so each scenario was voted on by the players before we started from a choice of three or four possible options. The first game the guy selected was “zombie”. One player started as an infected “zombie” and was un-killable, if he shot someone or melee killed them, they became a zombie too until only one human was left. This would have been a nerve-wracking game at the best of times but in a brand new site in the pitch black with only a flashlight taped “Soviet style” to my AKSU it was terrifying! Before long the zombies had infected all the players and it was time for a short reload and hydration break before playing the next game.

LASER SIGHTS AND TRACER FIRE!

Next up was a “floor domination” game, in which the players had to take each floor out of hostiles as quickly as possible before moving to the floor above. The defenders

“I WAS FULLY INTENDING TO GO TO COMBAT READY JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT AND PERHAPS TAKE SOME PICTURES… BUT IT WAS SO GOOD I JUST HAD TO TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.”

www.airsoft-action.online

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site COMBAT READY AIRSOFT

could be “killed” once and then had to move up a floor, while the attackers could regen. While I was happy taking snaps for this game I could see my teammate hard pressed to repel the assaulting grey team (we were on red armbands). I’d like to say it’s just “not knowing the ground” but to be fair, we had a great group of players who played fair but played hard and used plenty of aggression (in the sense of “let’s keep moving” rather than “I’m going to punch you” type of aggression) to carry the game.

Tom took pics while I tried the turnaround game of floor domination that was next and it was fantastic, if a little disorientating fun. Grenades were the order of the day with resounding MkV flashbangs echoing down the corridors and players diving for cover. For safety reasons smoke grenades are not allowed as it’s hard to ventilate the venue but even the smoke from BFGs and “bang” pyro was creating an atmospheric haze as tracer BBs and laser sights penetrated the gloom, seeking out targets.

The last game of the day was a rather fun battle called “Bar Room Brawl”. Each side had a “home floor” that could not be taken out but the middle floor with the bar area was “No Man’s Land”. The idea was to control the bar but in a novel twist, you couldn’t shoot in or out of the bar and could only use melee weapons (a lot of plastic “bottles” were provided for those without melee-safe weapons) and some hilarious “Mexican Stand-offs” ensued in the bar while brutal firefights to keep the enemy from re-enforcing the corridors took place either end of the floor. For me this was certainly a “pistols” game and with a knife in one hand and a Makarov pistol in the other I was able to move quickly and quietly, pop out of a door way, blaze away with the Makarov or sneak up for a melee kill!

With “End-ex” called at the end of the bar room brawl,

“COMBAT READY EVEN DO SATURDAY GAMES WHERE YOU CAN BOOK ON BY THE HOUR AT £5 AN HOUR… A GREAT IDEA FOR THOSE OF US ON LIMITED TIME AND BUDGET, OR JUST FANCYING AN ALTERNATIVE TO A GYM WORK OUT AT THE WEEKEND.”

Tom and I were thoroughly bushed but still in high spirits and could probably have played another hour. And this, to us, is the great thing about “Combat Ready Airsoft’.

With an evening game you can just play after work for a few hours and avoid that “burn out” you often get on a Sunday skirmish, when its 3pm and you’ve been on site since 9am! What’s more, Combat Ready even do Saturday games where you can book on by the hour at £5 an hour… a great idea for those of us on limited time and budget, or just fancying an alternative to a gym work out at the weekend.

For those of us trying to juggle our hobby with family and “real life” Combat Ready Airsoft constraints, being Full Street, Derby (Behind able to get a game Assembly Rooms Car Park) and a in on the weekend ten minute walk from the train without being station. out the house for the entire day is a Green Fee: £15 evening games, £5 godsend. per hour Saturday play.

All in all we Check website for other event felt Combat Ready Prices.

Airsoft was a bit of a hidden gem of the Midlands and we’ll certainly be going back. An honest and fun player base comprised of a broad spectrum of airsofters, from MilSim-kitted MTP warriors, to jeans and hoody-clad bikers with a pistol and a sword! Facilities were utterly top notch and the marshalling staff incredibly “on the ball”. Not only were the site marshals constantly moving to likely “hot spots” but they also had another marshal watching all the games main areas via infra-red cameras on a huge “bond villain” type multi-screen display in the office!

Perhaps Combat Ready’s finest point (other than the “drop in, drop out short game system”) is that it is slap bang in the City centre of Derby and not in some remote forest, making it fully accessible by public transport… just don’t get on the bus or train looking like you’re destined for Syria!

So if you’re in the midlands and looking for some short and sweet airsoft gaming… You’d better get Combat Ready!

Contact Details:

www.airsoft-action.online

33

Inside Airsoft UNIFORM BRAVO SURPLUS

UNIFORM BRAVO SURPLUS AIRSOFT ACTION’S ROVING REPORTER, LES LEE, HEADS TO UXBRIDGE IN MIDDLESEX, TO VISIT A NEW AIRSOFT RETAILER AND DISCOVERS A VERITABLE “ALADDIN’S CAVE” OF AIRSOFT GOODNESS. HERE AT AIRSOFT ACTION, one subject that we like to focus on is our own, new and upcoming airsoft retailers. Contrary to many opinions, it is my understanding that opening up a new airsoft shop is relatively easy - but developing it into a profitable and flourishing business is quite challenging!

I suppose this underlines the fact that almost all areas of our sport/hobby are done out of passion and that includes retailing airsoft and related goodies. I remember an industry friend and well-respected member of our community, Billy Gumbrell, once saying a few immortal words to me “The only way to become a millionaire in airsoft, is to start out as a billionaire!”

Wise words from an experienced man and I have no reason to doubt this, as it takes a lot of ingredients to make a successful business in airsoft but is it all about making big bucks? I don’t think it is personally. My opinion is that it is the sheer determination to serve our big and ever growing family of enthusiasts by providing equipment and a service that helps our fellow ‘softers, irrespective of whether or not the till is overflowing at the end of the day. This is the kind of devotion that is held by many who wish to share their knowledge, their enthusiasm and their 34

March 2017

resources to others in need, be that guns, gear or simply good old advice and guidance and I strongly believe that we should keep our investments on home soil!

Anyhow, I digress yet again because this “Inside Airsoft” feature isn’t a license for me to rant about being patriotic and keeping our buying British, this feature is about a new airsoft retail shop based in Uxbridge, just a ten minute drive from Heathrow Airport, called UNIFORM BRAVO SURPLUS. Uniform Bravo has just celebrated its first anniversary and is enjoying a rise in custom and popularity day by day, week by week, so for all intents and purposes, these guys are doing well, very well. I put this down to their sheer enthusiasm and determination to give the airsofter everything that they need.

When I use the generic term “guys”, two thirds of the team behind the shop are Jess and Courtney, two smashing young ladies that really know their stuff and let’s not forget poor Luke, Jess’s partner in life and business and who I’m told by Jess, that she lets Luke work with her if he pulls his weight (Ya gotta love these type of work/love relationships). Courtney, the shop Manager, makes sure that the day to day running of the shop is managed effectively and that every customer is treated like a friend (and no doubt referees Jess and Luke if the need arises)

Inside Airsoft UNIFORM BRAVO SURPLUS

but joking aside, ultimately these three airsoft pros know their onions and are leaping from strength to strength.

So I decided to pay Uniform Bravo a visit and I am happy to say that in a busy area the shop was very easy to find and free parking is less than 30 metres away. On the day of my visit I was greeted by Jess and Courtney as I stepped into an Aladdin’s cave of not only airsoft guns, tac vests and scopes but also a selection of genuine army surplus equipment, with an abundance of genuine premium quality MTP gear, which is favoured by many.

So after a mouth-watering recce around the store and taking a bunch of photos, I decided to interrogate Jess and Courtney and gather intel (in other words, sit and have a brew and chat with them) about this relatively new and upcoming airsoft shop.

Les: Thank you for inviting Airsoft Action along to your shop and it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I have been hearing

Les: What brands do you stock and why, and can you give me some general information on best sellers, what is trending at the moment, and any preferred brands and reasons?

good things about Uniform Bravo so perhaps you might like to tell me how it all began?

Jess: “Luke originally came up with the idea to open the shop in January of 2015. He has a passion for airsoft, having played for just over 11 years now and wanted to move away from his corporate background and branch out into a new industry.

Before I met Luke I had not heard of airsoft if I’m honest, however, after I played my first game at the Mall in Reading I was hooked. We sat down and discussed our direction and five months later we opened the doors on Uniform Bravo.”

Jess: “We stock a wide range of tactical clothing and equipment including Viper, Milcom, Kombat, Webtex, Impact, FMA, CCCP, Nuprol and Magnum to name a few, so we have a great range of kit. Whether you are looking for a basic chest rig or a fully loaded plate carrier and pouches, we have something for everyone. On the weapon side of things we stock all the big names including G&G, Classic Army, Ares, Bolt, Tokyo Marui, KWA, WE, Nuprol and A&K so we have most weapons from pistols to 50 cal machine gun RIFs. We are looking to add more suppliers to our shelves and are in talks with ASG, 5:11 and Valken currently. We are finding that there is a real buzz around the A&K K5 Mod 0 at the moment and we were lucky enough to get one of only eight units in the UK as a sample. We have secured ourselves access to the first shipment that is due to land in the UK in

Les: Can you tell me about the team and strategy behind the business?

Jess: “Luke is the boss (well he thinks he is) but Luke and I are 50% Shareholders so he takes care of the day to day running of the shop and I take care of the back office and finances.

Courtney is our store manager and although she has only been playing airsoft for six months, she has a passion for the sport and is the one who is on the front line. She is there to make sure that our customers find what they are looking for.

“Matt is our technician (a true airsoft Gandalf) he works remotely and runs our workshop dealing with all repairs, upgrades and tuning.”

Les: Are you a “one stop shop” for example, can you supply everything a player might need for a weekender?

Jess: “At the moment, we have a moderate selection of most things and it’s likely that we could kit some players out fully but there are also some items that we can’t stock due to our limited shop floor space, so to answer this question I would have to say “maybe”.”

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Inside Airsoft UNIFORM BRAVO SURPLUS

February 2017 and are currently taking pre-orders for it.”

Les: Do you have anything exciting planned for the future, such as stocking new brands or expansion?

Jess: “We have some big plans for 2017! We want to expand on our current shop lay out to make room for a truck load of new lines. We are also trying to work out if we can even fit a small 10 or 15 meter range in the shop so that the customer can try before they buy. Outside of the shop we have just launched Hurricane Airsoft, a brand new site in Redhill, Surrey and have some big plans for the site including the development of a fortress, fuel dump, sheltered safe zone, toilets, battle bridge and an Afghan village – it’s going to be a busy one!”

Les: Can you give me a little more info on your gun repair facility. Do you have a gunsmith and their experience, etc. Do you two tone?

Jess: “We have a technician (Matt) who works remotely (we just don’t have enough space in the shop for him and all his tools!) and he takes care of upgrades, repairs, tuning and two

“HAVING A FEMALE STORE MANAGER PUTS OTHER FEMALES COMING IN AT EASE AS THE INDUSTRY CAN BE VERY MALE-DOMINATED AND SOME STORES YOU GO IN CAN MAKE FEMALES FEEL UNWELCOME. WE LIKE TO SEE OUR CUSTOMERS COME BACK TO US, WE DON’T JUST WANT TO MAKE A QUICK SALE AND GET THEM OUT THE DOOR.” tone. He has over 8 years of experience and I have seen him turn a box of bits into a fully functioning weapon many times.

We do offer a two tone service so if you don’t have a UKARA or British Airsoft Club membership then we can customise your weapon to comply with current UK Laws.”

Les: What is your after-sales policy?

Jess: “We make sure we take care of our customers. We appreciate that they have lots of choice these days, with both other local stores and online.

If there is an issue with a product we have sold we will make sure we get to a positive resolution even if it means locking horns with a manufacturer to get to the end result. Our business is

here to take care of customer and not the other way around!”

Les: Do you have any connections with any other parties such as sites, any local teams or organisations, charities, etc.?

Jess: “As I mentioned, we have just launched our new airsoft site in Redhill, Hurricane Airsoft. The site is only 4 weeks old (at time of writing) and consists of 12.5 acres of mature woodland, a gated entrance, parking area and a speedball arena. We have big plans for the site and have already started to invest capital to start construction on the safe zone and facilities, so watch this space. We are also in talks with another party about a CQB site in South West London but I can’t really say much about that at this point... Shhhh!

“We work closely with local charities (including poppy appeal and the Royal British Legion) as well as national charities like Help for Heroes.”

Les: So tell me, in your opinion, why should airsofters buy from you - because I think that this might be a rhetorical question for me.

Jess: “We have a great deal of knowledge between the three of us and we can appeal to both male and female customers.

Having a female store manager puts other females coming in at ease as the industry can be very male-dominated and some stores you go in can make females feel unwelcome. We like to see our customers come back to us, we don’t just want to make a quick sale and get them out the door. For us it is more about forming a relationship and developing the airsoft community locally.”

Les: That’s what I thought. Okay, if an item isn’t in stock, how long before it can be sourced and sent to the customer and also some info about web orders?

Jess: “We place orders with our big suppliers every week, so if an item is out of stock in store then our customer will have to wait no more than five days before the item is back in stock and ready to be shipped. We call our customers as soon as the items arrive and then if they want it shipped to them we can offer a next day service and if they Uniform Bravo would like to come and collect it, we 5 Whitley’s Parade can put it in reserve for them. We aim to Uxbridge Road have our web orders packed and out the Hillingdon door within 48 hours of receiving them UB10 0PD and again, most of our shipments are Tel: 01895 234369 next day.”

Web: www.uniformbravosurplus.co.uk Les: And lastly regarding the shop, is there anything that I have missed or Mon–Sat: 09:00–18:00 more importantly, that you would like Sun: Closed included in this “Inside Airsoft” feature?

Contact Details:

Jess: “The aim with our shop is to build a brand that we can roll out across several stores, kind of like Millets but for airsoft and surplus equipment. We feel that there is a space in the UK airsoft market for a company that has stores nationally, so that everyone has a local, one stop shop airsoft store.”

Thanks Jess for that candid insight into Uniform Bravo.

As I stated in the beginning, Airsoft Action is always keen to support our own UK airsoft businesses, whether that is a retail shop, a site or anything that is home-grown because each and every one of us here at the AA office are totally airsoft bonkers and we will do whatever it takes to promote and enhance our own family of ‘softers... because we are a part of this awesome family.

Les OUT!

www.airsoft-action.online

37

Event SHOT SHOW 2017

SHOT SHOW WITH TRUMP ABOUT TO TAKE THE HELM AND LEAD THE SELF-PROCLAIMED FREE WORLD, SCOTT FROM AIRSOFT ACTION HEADED OVER TO LAS VEGAS, AKA SIN CITY, TO CHECK OUT ONE OF THE LARGEST GUN SHOWS IN THE WORLD. WITH OVER 65,000 VISITORS to the SHOT show each year, it is a Mecca for all things shooting and hunting. From Crossbows to Tasers and every conceivable firearm in between, the show is a truly eye-opening experience and I often found myself in awe (and occasionally a little surprised) by some of the products.

The trade of firearms and the associated equipment and apparel is obviously colossal in the land of freedom and supersized food. With hundreds of exhibitors at the show there is a hugely diverse market and yet Airsoft is only a very small part of it. As we booked in we saw pass numbers over the 107,000

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mark, clearly it was going to be busy!

So where does Airsoft fit into the world’s largest gun show?

Admittedly, Airsoft is the poor cousin at the SHOT Show but that has definitely changed since I first started attending the show. For example, I spoke to companies this year who offer SWAT team training purely with Airsoft rifles for certain drills because it is quicker and safer to use. But you know all this already.

One of the great things at the show is the things you see to catch your eye and it is often something Star Wars in Boba Fett colours. You start to understand that weird and wonderful is often what sets you aside from everyone else, so companies start to push it and the show becomes all the more fun. I’ve met a host of actors and military celebrities in past years, from Rudy Reyes (ex-Marine Recon and actor from the hit TV show Generation Kill) to Lee “Gunny” Ermey from Full Metal Jacket. Then you spot people like Marcus Luttrell, the real Lone Survivor and Jerry Miculek, who set a new world record this year. In short, it is a who’s who of shooting and with a huge TV following of shows in the US based on hunting and shooting, there are plenty of celebrities to go around. It’s not uncommon to be passing an area and someone will say “We’ve got Billy Bob McRedneck (okay that name has been made up) on, from America’s Most Dangerous Swamp Frog Hunter (made up that one too)”. I don’t know who half of these people are and you’ll rarely have time to find out. There was a fun fact I saw that if you visited every stand at SHOT Show over the four days you would be able to spend a maximum of 22 seconds at each stand. 22 seconds?!

Now that there is growing recognition from many real firearms manufacturers that the Airsoft market does show potential, it’s only going to get better …or worse depending on where your opinions sit. The shooting industry is heavily profit-

Event SHOT SHOW 2017

W 2017

driven in the US, not that it is a bad thing entirely. With colossal government contracts in the mix, some people stand to make a huge amount of money if they play their cards right. This is partly why the NRA is so powerful, they have large sums of support and money. You think if Donald Trump was an average Joe he would be running for President? Of course not! If you throw enough money at anything people begin to listen and it no longer is about being right or wrong. All men are equal but some are more equal than others - if your wallet is thick enough.

Like any pastime, hobby or business, from golf to building model aircraft, the more money you spend the more desirable a product you will get. Spend a little and you will get a product that is largely available to the masses. If you spend a lot of money you will get a better quality and often artificially priced product. So walk along to the huge specialist firearms manufacturers and you will see high-end prices being endorsed by big names such as ex-Magpul stars Chris Costa and Travis Haley, as well as dozens of pro shooting teams, Larry Vickers, The Gunny and many more I don’t even recognise. Names,

advertising and marketing are the driving force that each of the big manufacturers use daily to punt their products in every walk of life these days. You see droves of people walking around from Team Glock, S&W and all the others. If you thought sponsored players in the UK were an oddity check out the US. The SHOT Show allows all the different walks of life within the shooting/hunting trade to pour into one great crucible and cross-connect. This is why it is a great thing for Airsoft as a sport. Oddly this year, if anything, I would say was a smaller representation of Airsoft. Notably missing were ICS and I had expected to see Classic Army there after their large presence at IWA in 2016. Why ICS wasn’t there was anyone’s guess.

Many big names such as Colt, Samson, H&K, Mega Arms, Fortis, Knights and in previous years Magpul, take large sums of cash from Airsoft manufacturers to use their names and you can understand why. Airsoft really does ride on the coat tails of the greatness that events like the SHOT Show have created. The civilian shooting market in the US is giant to say the least, well over 300 million weapons are in the general public domain it is believed. This means that the industry is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and Airsoft is another string to their bow - or coin in their purse. What was partially showing is over previous years the licensing game seems to have slowed down. G&P no longer produce Colt, Magpul or many of their other licensed products.

PTS no longer have any of their Magpul ERGs or the PDR. It all just felt a bit more generic this year.

So why does SHOT Show bother with Airsoft?

Well a nice clear example is the UK. We can’t own many firearms due to our draconian laws that dictate that individual

www.airsoft-action.online

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CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK

WOLFHOUND #Airsoft Acion, JAN 2017

Outback is our technical clothing and accessories line concept. From baselayers through all intermediate levels of insulation for both dynamic and static activities to outer layers including windshirts, softshells, hardshells and Climashield® parkas.

You’ll find there both solid classics and new “light&fast” style designs – everything to fit your activity profile and specific needs.

Accessories developed for Outback line will focus on travel, gear packing and outdoor expeditions.

, GERMANY

G NUREMBER

3-6.3.2017

hall 9 booth 222 Wolfhound Jacket is a lightweight & insulated mid layer that can be used stand-alone or underneath outer layers. Hydrophobic properties of Climashield® Apex™ keep user warm and dry in cold weather conditions. If exposed to moisture, textile dries immediately.

Nylon outer layer provides durability, secures insulation material and provides crucial wind and water resistance without blocking the breathability. Two bottom side slash pockets are lined with fleece and provide protection for hands against cold. Wolfhound is highly compressible – can be stuffed in a pack or cargo pouch, without any damage to its properties.

Event SHOT SHOW 2017

Police firearms officers have the right to deny anyone they see fit from having firearms if they do not think they need them.

If you live in Scotland that now extends to Air Weapons too (freedumb?). Which means the chances of ever having a civilian range course is nigh on impossible, unless you are willing to dig around to find a non-cliquey club that will actually accept you and travel possibly to the other end of the country once a year to poke a hole in a piece of paper. Our government would rather you went out every Saturday and get plastered whilst watching football, throw up all over the street and cost the NHS tens of thousands of pounds.

That said, Airsoft replicas, both licensed and unlicensed, give us a chance to own and collect. It gives certain companies a chance to practice real world scenarios and train to overcome obstacles they may face in the real world. Look at California now, they have laws not dissimilar to the UK for rifles (although pistol caliber rifles are unaffected). So you cannot have more than a 10 round magazine for an AR15 but you can have a drum magazine for your Sig MPX – because pistol ammunition never hurt anyone.

You know it makes sense!

The SHOT Show is the mixing

bowl where the ideas are born, deals are made, impressions are given and new products are launched. Sometimes they do well, other things you see nose dive spectacularly. One brilliantly funky product I saw was the Blue Force Gear MARCO, which was a small kydek holster for little chem lights. The idea is you pop them out like a Pez Dispenser to mark a trail. This is for real world use and not so much airsoft obviously.

So what was the low down this year?

It was a solid set of stands from G&G, Umarex and PTS, showing the good side of Airsoft. The stands were nice and professional looking; PTS showed some of the stuff coming like the replacement for the Magpul ERG, it’s just a shame there was no official announcement that it was soon to be discontinued. G&G had some brilliant new items lined up, although the Umarex stand was average - and nowhere near as cool as their IWA stand. I believe the show itself is partly to blame due to the costs. SHOT Show is fantastically expensive due to tied up union contracts that means you need three men to change a light bulb – that’ll be $500 please. That’s serious too. One distributor had some signage fitted on the wall and on Day Three of the show someone walked onto their stand and handed them a bill for $750 …and I thought the British Shooting Show was a rip off!

UMAREX

Speaking with Umarex, who distribute all of the H&K-branded Airsoft rifles was eye-opening. They seem to be stuck in limbo for distribution at the moment. I think a key issue is H&K tell them “we want the highest end manufacturer” which means

“THERE WAS A FUN FACT I SAW THAT IF YOU VISITED EVERY STAND AT SHOT SHOW OVER THE FOUR DAYS YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND A MAXIMUM OF 22 SECONDS AT EACH STAND. 22 SECONDS?!” www.airsoft-action.online

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Umarex can’t move away from VFC, who cannot keep up with the demands. It is a crying shame because after the success of the insanely expensive G28 (that apparently H&K insisted on it being crazy high end) the only new rifle will be the updated 416. Updates are good but new models are better. Even though the G28 has now been updated with the H&K M110A1 CSASS for the US Military, I wouldn’t expect to see an Airsoft version any time soon. The possibilities for updated MP5s and G36s are there but nothing is on the radar.

GUAY GUAY (G&G)

“KRAKEN TACTICAL ARE THE NEWEST BIG CHEESE IN AIRSOFT ALSO HAPPEN TO BE FROM KRISS ARMS WHO MAKE THE REAL VECTOR. THEY ARE CURRENTLY THE ONLY FIREARMS MANUFACTURER WHO MAKES THEIR OWN AIRSOFT GEAR AND IT BLOODY SHOWS BIGTIME!”

The G&G stand always pales compared to their IWA effort which boasts a largely interactive floor showing off a great number of products past, present and future. Admittedly some of these products seem to remain in the future or disappear entirely before ever being released.

This year the stand was situated in the same place as last year and G&G seem to have finally heeded some advice - stop releasing 10-15 models at once. This may seem great but the issue is they struggle to supply them out to everyone quickly, the distributors struggle to get them in, then the player has to choose one out of the 10-15 leaving a store with 9-14 other models. There is just too much guesswork …do I want the 10” barrel with the 9” or the 7” rail?

Anyway, the G2 system was launched and it’s not too far from the old gearbox. Double O ring cylinder heads and air nozzles for increased efficiency, thicker padded cylinder head, bolt lock, ETU with MOSFET which is now half the size, 74% thicker gearbox cases, new bevel gear for increased engagement efficiency, power cut off when the magazine is removed (only with the G&G G2 magazine), ambidextrous fire selector and more. The new G2 rifles, the TR16 MBR 308WH and SR which are SR25 type rifles. Full length Keymod rails, one a wire cutter style and the other with a silencer integrated.

G&G’s very own GBB pistols with a new magazine valve and a whirlwind valve design (I’ll reserve judgment on that one).

New rifles with MLOK rails including the Sig MPX style ARP 9 Sub Machine Gun and the Honey Badger-esq PDW 15 AR. Not forgetting their own G&G Helmet Mounted Night Vision - more details to follow on that.

KWA

Who? There still isn’t anything firm at the moment for distributors in Europe other than importing from the Far East or now the Far West, which doesn’t help anyone in the UK. KWA USA are able to provide stock to Europe but it may not be the most cost effective path, meaning the end user pays twice the price of a WE pistol. Taiwan to US then back to Europe seems to be a long trip.

AK ERG and other ERG M4s. The AK does look very good too but without the ability to test it we couldn’t say for sure.

KWA had their own take on a Magpul PDR two years ago that again didn’t appear this year but then neither did the

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“prototype” Thompson GBB from last year.

KWA the last few years seem to have stood still almost completely. I am unsure if the joining and then unjoining with Kriss Arms has caused a financial, technical or staffing problems but it certainly smells that way. All in all a little disappointing but at the same time fairly typical of the KWA brand. It is a crying shame because their pistols are by a country mile some of the best out there. They announced their AEG 3 system that had a variable power and switch life extender - neither sounds terribly new.

PTS SYNDICATE

PTS have had one of the most varied and troubled pasts of any manufacturer. Originally Magpul PTS was their bread and butter and then it was gone in one swift stroke. It would be like the NFL losing the right to use their “football” mid-season.

In the last couple of years they released the Mega Arms MKM gas blow back rifles, the ERG rifles and a variety of their own branded Enhanced Polymer range. Their rifles are all being built by the same OEM manufacturer as KWA (hence the confidence in the KWA AK ERG) and the quality has always been very high. What didn’t appear from last year’s show was the Mega Arms .308 GBB platform – the coolest version by far.

There was also a Centurion Arms M4 GBB and ERG style rifle range being released that replaces the Magpul rifles. While it will not perform any differently I personally like the Magpul version better. Accessories seem to be increasing from PTS across a multitude of licenses as well as their own near real steel versions. PTS are a great company and I wish there were more like them out there, I can’t wait to see what else they can pull out of the bag.

ACTIONSPORTGAMES

After the successful launch of the EVO ASG and the CZ Bren they are on a little bit of a high.

Last year they showed off EVO with a Wolverine HPA kit with an imminent release date. Apparently it didn’t work and needed a redesign of the hop unit so is now closer to being released. There are new Bren and longer EVO versions coming out soon too and finally the magazine adaptor for the Bren, so you can use regular M4 magazines instead of video tapes. The ambidextrous fire selector, swappable cocking handle and fully adjustable stock will all carry over onto the new versions of the Bren. It is an unusual looking rifle but by no means is it ugly and it shoots like a beast.

KRYTAC

Kraken Tactical are the newest big cheese in Airsoft also happen to be from KRISS Arms who make the real Vector. They are currently the only firearms manufacturer who makes their own Airsoft gear and it bloody shows bigtime! They have the right staff that is experienced in the Airsoft and firearms industries, which means they don’t waste time and money on licensing and loopholes.

Their stand only had firearms as they were launching their new .22 rim fire range, which are all the same looking rifles as the Krytac ARs. We were invited to the exclusive aftershow launch to check out the new Krytac

www.airsoft-action.online

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Event SHOT SHOW 2017

range for 2017 and the electric Vector we told you about in 2015 and then a sneak peak in 2016? Well there was a final pre-production sample! Full sized gearbox, 350fps with 120 round mid cap magazines. It’s due out at the end of March this year but probably more like April if normal delays are anything to go by. Also the previously shown SR47 design will be released, which is exciting and a completely new shotgun!

The Origin 12 shotgun looks amazing. The Krytac version will have a 10” barrel, firing more than six BBs at a time at 350 fps!

It will be electric and fed from a high or mid capacity magazine so will be a direct contender for the AA12. They only had the real version on hand (which was fantastic as it fires faster than the AA12) so I don’t think we’ll be seeing the Airsoft version until the end of 2018, maybe.

REDWOLF

We caught up with RedWolf, their stand is more of a showcase about their licenses and their own manufactured products these days. They had their ever-funky KG9 on display, which is quite nice but only does full auto which is a shame for some indoor sites. Also on display were some crazy 3-Gun cut away rifles

by Airsoft Surgeon. Stunning but out of the average player’s price range. A new licensed pistol type with Agency Arms was on show too, it looked very nicely made but definitely wasn’t in the budget category. It would seem that everything pretty at RedWolf is going to come with a chunky price tag which is a shame. Mass production isn’t always the easiest but I’d love to see more of their products during game days.

produced but at the same time very desirable. I still love their Salient Arms rifles, it’s just the colour that is slightly wrong.

SUMMARY

“THE ORIGIN 12 SHOTGUN LOOKS AMAZING. THE KRYTAC VERSION WILL HAVE A 10” BARREL, FIRING MORE THAN SIX BBS AT A TIME AT 350 FPS! IT WILL BE ELECTRIC AND FED FROM A HIGH OR MID CAPACITY MAGAZINE SO WILL BE A DIRECT CONTENDER FOR THE AA12.”

To wrap up, the show felt busier.

It seemed to take longer to get anywhere and meetings took longer than normal. I got the general feeling of lacking from last year’s Airsoft presence. I get the impression (reading between the lines) that high end stuff is struggling, if not dying. Shifting in the Airsoft demographics and buying trends happens every 18-24 months in my experience; no one cares that you’ve played for 15 years, the consumer wants the latest and greatest from the game or film just out. Gone are the Black Hawk Down loadouts and we see the arrival of the speedball style player; all jeans, hoodie and a high speed rifle …because it’s cool not to try. It’s basically like listening to Nirvana all over again… and if I have to explain that, you don’t get it.

ZOXNA

This Spanish company/distributor were at the show. I love their stuff, their game bomb is brilliant and they have some more new affordable versions in the pipeline. This means sites and even players can purchase the equipment easily making games more fun. They also had their funky grenades and C4, micro gun, shooting sensor thingy. It looks like C4 and shoots BBs at you when you walk past it. It’s also magnetic just for extra Hollywood effect.

EVIKE

This Californian company seems to be playing the license game like RedWolf. They have some very attractive replicas with largely unattractive price tags. Definitely high end stuff being www.airsoft-action.online

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International IRELAND

THE

EMERALD ISLE JUST A FEW HOURS ON THE FERRY AND YOU CAN BE IN IRELAND! BILL THOMAS TALKS THIS TIME TO HIS OLD MATE JONATHAN AT SIM-TAC SIMULATION AND TACTICAL AIRSOFT TO GET THE VERY LATEST ON DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE ON THE “EMERALD ISLE”.

LET’S FACE IT, MANY OF US have travelled to Ireland and especially to Dublin, for non-airsoft related events and for many our “beautiful game” is not the first thing that springs to mind when you do visit; packed with attractions and entertainment, the cobbled streets of Temple Bar in “The Fair City” have a mixture of great venues where you can seriously let your hair down! As much as this is a great reason to visit, should you wish to get some airsoft in then I’d like to introduce you to an old mate who runs his own site just over an hour’s drive from the city.

SIM-TAC Airsoft, run by Jonathan Leonard is a very well established site that caters for all styles of airsoft. Jonathan has

been running games for some considerable time now and like many of us, has been actively involved in making sure that poor legislation doesn’t restrict what we do.

Ireland has had a pretty tough time of it in relation to airsoft (as you’ll see in Jonathan’s answer to one of my questions to him) but I have to tell you that every time we speak he is massively upbeat and positive. We need people like him to ensure that what we do is seen as professionally and safely run and he‘s a great proponent when it comes to that side of things.

On a personal note, Jonathan and I, along with the evereffusive Paddy Carroll, are regularly involved in conversations among MilSim groups as these boys do get over here to participate as players in some of the bigger games on the MOD sites. Both of these great guys are members of my OPFOR group and participate fully and usually with a lot of very good natured banter; they are airsofters first and foremost which is just superb to see.

So without further ado, I’ll let Jonathan give you an insight to airsoft in Ireland!

AA: Hi Jonathan! Please can you tell me a little about how airsoft has developed in Ireland?

Jonathan: “Unlike most countries, airsoft was only ten years old last August as the Government enabled the 2006 Act that allowed airsoft to be played in the Country. Since then it has steadily progressed and in the past three years we’ve seen a huge jump in both technology and gaming events.”

AA: Do you have many established sites in Ireland; could you tell me a little more about them?

Jonathan: “We currently have about seventeen recognised sites, of which 10 are based in Leinster on the east coast of Ireland, with a further 7 based in and around County Dublin.”

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AA: Do sites and players have any legal restrictions that to contend with?

Jonathan: “With the Current legislation we are restricted to of a ceiling FPS of 328, whatever platform you use; also there’s a blanket ban of the use of pyro within the Republic, which we all feel is a huge disadvantage to the sport. Only in the last 28 Months have we even managed to get authorisation to use BFG grenades which has being a game changer for the sport here.”

AA: What’s a normal game day like for you?

Jonathan: “Given the fact that I own and operate Sim-Tac Airsoft, it’s a little different from a normal gamer’s perception!

We put a huge emphasis on our Game Style and Tactical Awareness for our customers; we're constantly changing our games, upgrading our Site and running cutting edge events that suit our target customer base.

“From a personal perspective on my game day, I’ve played with a bunch of lads for the last six or seven years and during this time we’ve developed into a team called ISOA. We love getting out to play whether it’s a MilSim or a simple skirmish.”

AA: What is a popular style of play in Ireland, regular skirmish, MilSim or both?

Jonathan: “Gameplay has drastically (and for the better) changed as within the last three to four years, with Irish gamers looking for more challenging games and events, more tacticalbased games with multiple tasks and objectives, during games on any site. Basically the “Thinking Man’s Game” where each player is challenged to choose what way they want to approach an objective.”

AA: Do airsofters in Ireland train either as individuals or teams?

Jonathan: “There has always being a huge influx of teams in Irish airsoft which is the backbone of the sport; this factor causes the huge competitiveness, as like in every sport everyone wants to be the best.”

AA: What’s important to you in relation to loadouts?

Jonathan: “My team run a number of loadouts, however, we only run “real steel” equipment. We base this on the face that “Less is More” and we only carry what we need. It’s important

you feel that all your equipment is functional, not just there for show. We pay a lot of attention to dialling our platforms in, with kit strategically placed for easy access and quick deployment. We use a lot of Crye, LBT Systems and many use PTW platforms.”

AA: What is the situation with airsoft and tactical stores in Ireland; do you have particular favourites?

Jonathan: “We do have a large number of shops around the country. Personally I purchase equipment from three stores in Dublin; (in no particular order) Hobbyairsoft.ie, mainirishairsoft. com and airsofteire.com, which are the main retailers in the country.”

AA: Are there particular brands and models of airsoft replica that are important in Ireland?

Jonathan: “It changes so often with current trends coming and going but TW, TM, CYMA and G&G are popular brands in Ireland; recently there’s being a huge influx of HPA Units, DGI Units, etc.”

AA: Do sites have a rental facility if someone were visiting from overseas?

Jonathan: “Yeah, most sites will have rentals as it’s an important part of its business model to introduce new blood to the sport, this and to give new players a chance to try airsoft out without buying gear. This service is available to anyone whether they are local or coming from abroad.”

AA: If anyone is visiting Ireland and is interested in visiting a site for a game day, where should they head for information?

Jonathan: “There’s no one source of information but Facebook is a huge media tool within the sport, or you can Google it.

“If you’re heading our way (Gibstown, Co. Meath) then you can always contact us via our website http://www.sim-tac.com or via our Facebook page. We have a mix of woodland forest and CQB buildings which are accompanied by large courtyards.

We cater for the everyday skirmisher and the MilSim player with wide and ever-expanding games and story lines for our conflicting factions.

“Whatever your style of airsoft you can be assured of a warm Irish welcome!”

www.airsoft-action.online

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TRG

INTRODUCING THE LATEST INSTALMENT OF THE VALKEN TACTICAL BATTLE MACHINE SERIES

TRG-M & TRG-L

• Updated gear box with new improved gear set, improved trigger and shuttle • Upgraded piston with six metal teeth • Improved barrel mount with C-Clip for improved accuracy • New orescent hi-visibility ip up sights – front and rear • Integrated ring mounts for sling attachments • Airsoft Spec Keymod for attachments

valken.com

kit OPTIROD CLEANING ROD

D O R I T OP

THE OPTIROD CLEANING ROD LEAVES FRENCHIE LOST FOR WORDS… BUT IN A GOOD WAY. WRITING FOR AIRSOFT ACTION BRINGS its challenges and this is one of them. Some reviews are pretty easy and gun reviews are pretty straightforward - but cleaning rods? What on earth can you write about cleaning rods?

Err, they clean things and you can use them to unblock jammed BBs from your barrel… and… Well you see the problem.

The reason for this conundrum is the OptiRod, developed by Charles Jackson and currently sold by MilSpec. The OptiRod is intended as an alternative to the original rod provided by your gun manufacturer, or not as the case may be. Cleaning rods are easily broken or mislaid and they are difficult to buy. I’m not aware of any reliable supply of them anywhere and judging by the state of some barrels I see, many players struggle to either find them or use them! So the first major plus for the OptiRod is that you can actually buy them for cash money, without having to buy another gun (tempting although that might be).

The second benefit is that the OptiRod is both thicker and tougher than traditional cleaning rods, being made from a more flexible nylon polymer. I make them 5.5mm in diameter and the rifle length one can be bent into a U-shape without snapping, although I would probably avoid doing the too often.

There is only one business end to the OptiRod; you won’t

find the typical angled unblocker at one end and a slot at the other. I’m quite cool with this for a couple of reasons. Firstly the thicker rod really doesn’t need the unblocking end as the wider rod applies better pressure on jammed BBs while at the same time making it harder for the rod to flex inside the barrel.

Additionally with a squared off end the tendency for the rod to try and move around the obstacle is removed.

So far, so good but what of the “cleaning” part of the equation? There is no slot so how do you wind a cleaning patch round it?! Well, for some airsofters the very idea of a cleaning patch is an utter mystery and for the rest of us, the OptiRod doesn’t use patches, it uses cotton buds.

Ok, I did a bit of a double take myself when I realised that.

The rod is hollow and the centre is exactly the correct diameter to firmly hold the head of a cotton bud. In case anyone is in any doubt or confusion, you have to snip the head of the bud leaving a short tail. Push the tail into the rod and away you go.

I like the thinking but I had a concern that I raised with Charles - don’t the cotton buds leave traces of cotton in the barrel? A tiny bit won’t cause a major issue but any more could be a problem. His answer was that cotton buds are designed not to leave fibres as they are intended for cleaning “intimate” areas of the human body and sure as eggs are eggs, in testing I could find no trace of residual fibres, either in the barrel or the hop chamber. I would normally start will a little squirt of aerosol silicon oil on the bud and then follow up with a couple of dry ones to prevent an excess of OptiRod Prices: oil in the bore and chamber but it is possible to use metal polish if the barrel £4.95 for a 200mm pistol rod needs a really serious clean (This is £6.95 for a 400mm rifle rod the only case where I would strongly These are currently available from advocate disassembling the barrel from Milspec Solutions. the hop unit for cleaning).

The OptiRod does pretty much what Custom rods (longer than 400mm) it claims, it dislodges BBs with aplomb are also available made to order, and the cleaning function works really however, the cost of postage tends well. to be almost the same as the item, so My thanks to Charles for the best speak to MilSpec Solutions first. opportunity to try this seemingly simple but worthwhile product. If you are www.milspecsolutions.co.uk happy with your current cleaning rod, fine, I shall be investing in a custom rod Tel: 01257 453689 in the very near future.

www.airsoft-action.online

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site STRIKEFORCE CQB

STRIKEFORCE REVISITED

STRIKEFORCE CQB HAS GONE THROUGH A FAIR FEW CHANGES SINCE ITS OPENING GAME DAY TWO YEARS AGO, SO THIS MONTH KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK GIVES AN UPDATE ON THE SITE. Photos by Andy Snook STRIKEFORCE CQB IS SITUATED on the Morelands Trading Estate, in the heart of Gloucester City centre, around 90 miles from where I’m based in the East Midlands. It takes me on average around an hour and fourty minutes to make the journey, taking the M42 and M5 – the site is surprisingly easy to get to. The site itself isn’t too well signposted but luckily the estate that houses the site it is. Through the archway of the trading estate there is a car park that is shared between the businesses so spaces are limited! The site doors open at 8.30 but I always get there a little early to make sure I get a parking space. StrikeForce itself is through a sign-posted purple door and up a large staircase – so don’t bring too much gear in case you can’t get it up the stairs. My plano case is always an interesting item to get up those stairs!

The site itself is a 52,000 square feet Victorian warehouse, full to the brim with “kill house” style structures that are swapped, changed and moved approximately every two months to keep the game day fresh for regular players. At first glance it does look like just a warehouse full of plywood but on playing the site it becomes clear that it is so much more than that!

The site is split into two definite sections that are separated by pillars, one side of the site has large open spaces and kill house structures with a variety of cover to hide behind and the other half is a close quarters maze – both sides of the site are utilised to give players the rush of CQB. The safe zone is a long rectangular room that has a player’s lounge with hot drinks

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facilities and a prep area that is lined with desks and wheeled office chairs that can accommodate around 90 players. The safe zone can get busy at times so if you’re going with friends, it’s always a god idea to get there on time so you can all prep together. My only complaint in regards to the safe zone is that there are no toilets on site – there are however toilets within the trading estate, a short walk down the stairs and across the road so they are convenient but like most fair-weather airsofters, I hate being out in the cold!

Recently, Swindon Airsoft has moved from their store in Swindon and taken up permanent residency at StrikeForce so players can browse the guns walls, pick up pyro and other consumables and get any essentials they need for the day. The store itself is open 7 days a week, not just on game days.

The cost of a walk on game day fee is £35, this doesn’t include lunch but the site is in close proximity to a Burger King

and a variety of supermarkets. If you drive, KFC, Maccies etc are within a 5-10 minute drive. I do think the game fee is a little on the expensive side but it is in line with a lot of other UK CQB sites. Spaces can be booked by either calling the shop or on their website and they also do rental packages.

The gameplay at StrikeForce changes regularly as the team change the site around every two months or so and are always adding new games into the mix, meaning no game day is ever the same. The day will always start with a game of “infection” to help sort players into teams but after this initial game is out of the way, the days are swapped up and are a mixture of objective based games and team death matches. My favourite game is “Collapse and Defend”, which sees one team defend

the site and the other team take attack. The game is started just off the briefing zone and ends just outside the doors to the safe zone, it makes for some fierce defence and scathing attacks. Another fond favourite is “Postal”, a game where five red “Postie” bags are deployed in the game zone and both teams must collect as many bags as possible and get them to the other team’s spawn area. The gameplay is always face paced and intense! Now don’t get me wrong, although I always enjoy my visits to the site, I have had a couple of days where the gameplay hasn’t been the best; I’ve found that 80 plus players makes the day a little crowded, creates a fair few clusterf*cks and the site can be difficult to manoeuvre around.

I definitely have to mention the staff as they are one of my favourite aspects of StrikeForce CQB. From the guys behind the StrikeForce brand, to the management team and team of marshals, they do their utmost to make every player feel welcome and valued. From my very first visit to the site in 2015 I have always felt very welcome. They are also very fair and run a great game day and are more than open to suggestions from players if they feel a particular game isn’t working.

As we all know, airsofters LOVE to get snapped during their games (I am certainly no exception!) and StrikeForce has a photographer on site each week to give players something to remember their day by. Andy Snook of Snook Snaps gets right into the action and you’ll see him out there in his hi-vis and shorts capturing the best images of the day and uploading them to the StrikeForce CQB Facebook group. He also does private team shots and individual player shots on request.

Overall, I would say that StrikeForce CQB is my favourite CQB site so far. I love the kill house style layout and how fast-paced and intense the gameplay is and because the team Strike Force CQB change the site around every couple of 39 Morelands Trading Estate, months and new games are added all Gloucester, GL1 5ZR the time, it keeps the game days fresh!

The facilities are very good and the staff www.strikeforcecqb.co.uk always do their best to give punters an 01793 435999 awesome game day.

I am looking forward to seeing how SNOOK SNAPS the site develops over the years to For private shoots message Snook come.

Snaps on Facebook or email asnook0@icloud.com

Contact Details:

www.airsoft-action.online

51

Loaded or Unloaded

G N I GO RK… DA GOING DARK

ALWAYS KEEN TO TRY ANOTHER FORM OF AIRSOFT AND INSPIRED BY THE WORK OF DUST MONKEY FEATURED IN LAST MONTH’S ISSUE, JERRY NOONE LOOKS AT SETTING UP A SET OF KIT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SPOT-ON FOR A “POST APOCALYPSE” SCENARIO.

I’M A GREAT READER OF “Post Apocalypse” science fiction, whether it be a zombie infestation or how survivors fare in a dystopian future but up until recently I’d never participated in an airsoft game fully based on such a scenario myself. After speaking to Callum at DUST MONKEY though I was enthused to create a loadout of my own and find a game!

I was interested to read that the team at Darkwater Airsoft (www.darkwaterairsoft.co.uk) down in Kent are running such themed games on a monthly basis now and as that’s not far from me on the South Coast I decided to sign up for one of their “The Day The Earth Went Dark” series. This also coincided with them launching their new “Dark Earth“ site which is on an old pit/quarry site; the site itself is huge and although largely undeveloped, being of a “post-industrial” nature sets the tone perfectly.

The game itself was not your usual skirmish, in that it was an uninterrupted eight hour scenario and there were numerous objectives to be achieved; first we had to establish a base of operations, send out a patrol to find a weapons dump that would give us full-auto capability, send out scavenging parties to retrieve food and water from caches, use this food to cook a meal for the entire team and try to capture the enemy commander. All of this had to be achieved whilst at the same time we were liable to be gassed, napalmed, or simply irradiated!

The team I opted for intrigued me in that “The Townsmen” had a cracking backstory which I’ll share with you now…

THE LEGEND OF THE TOWNSMEN

Things escalated so fast; first the Balkans and then Apocalypse!

The week before the World went dark and the bombs rained down, Major Letitia Towns of the US Army Medical Corps had taken her convoy of nurses, mothers and children from the airbases of Odiham, Fairford and Lyneham and entered the old, mothballed bunker known simply as “Site 3: Burlington”.

Decommissioned in 1991, “Site 3” was hidden away near the village of Corsham in Wiltshire. Originally designed to serve as the alternate seat of Government during the Cold War years, the bunker was made up of some 10 miles of underground tunnels covering 35 acres and had many rooms

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Loaded or Unloaded GOING DARK

including an infirmary, bakery, laundry, two large kitchens and serving areas, telephone exchange, store rooms, office space, living accommodation, maintenance areas and workshops and an area for the storage and charging of the bunker’s electric buggies.

Created to accommodate up to 4,000 personnel, the convoy of mere hundreds was easily swallowed up. “Site 3” had all the facilities the inhabitants would need to survive over a sustained period of time, including a small but comprehensive collection of books holding a database on which it was hoped would help the devastated country rebuild - this included maps, scientific and technical manuals, law books and acts of Parliament and was supplemented by an extensive DVD collection.

The bunker’s storeroom had racks of metal shelves with everything from butter-pat makers to glass ashtrays; from toilet brushes to teapots. The bunker was also packed with tinned food, office equipment and enough fuel to run the generators for years. The bunker was so large that all the main corridors were signposted using American-style names such as “First Avenue” and “The Strip”. The Armoury had not been restocked but contained some ancient 1911 pistols, shotguns and even one Thompson SMG. A small stock of M16 rifles was in place and although 5.56 ammo was in short supply, there

“THE “TOWNSMEN” STARTED TO ENCOUNTER OTHER GROUPS AS THEY SEARCHED FURTHER AFIELD, SUCH AS THE SEEMINGLY FRIENDLY, FORMER GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY “FIGHTING”, THE MADDENED AND ENRAGED “CRAWLING” AND THE EVER GRASPING, NEVER SATISFIED “SCORCHED”; ALLEGIANCES WERE FORMED BUT FOR HOW LONG?”

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Loaded or Unloaded GOING DARK

were copious amounts of .45 and 12 gauge.

Major Towns had expected an Army Task Force to join her at “Site 3” but they never arrived; it was just as though they had never even existed. When the World went dark she marshalled all the adults together to advise them that they needed to become self-sufficient. Telephones, radios and the internet were all out and without leaving the safety of the bunker they could not know what remained. She gathered all the women together, setting tasks and making plans… and so “The Matriarchy” came into being.

Years passed and as children became adults they were sent out into the Wasteland in meticulously stored MOPP/NBC suits to scavenge. They found radiation and contamination levels in many rural areas were low, although cities remained hotspots and strictly off-limits without protective equipment.

Named after the original commander of the bunker they became simply known as “The Townsmen”. They’d grown into adulthood raised in an atmosphere of organisation, fairness, tolerance and the word of law and all these attributes they held in high esteem.

They’d also grown up watching old cowboy shows and action movies and their dress reflected this. As the stockpile of uniforms wore out “Townsmen” adopted a mix of camouflage and civilian attire. Blue jeans and dust coats were particularly popular and some even took to wearing Stetsons retrieved from old fancy dress shops. MOPP/NBC suits were exchanged for simple respirators and re-breathers. Encountering crazies, cannibals and survivors the “Townsmen” quickly brought law and order back to their area of the scorched earth; they also brought back supplies, new people, weapons and ammunition and the community grew and thrived.

Come 2016 they were ready to re-surface once and for all, to reclaim their new world and the Matriarchs wanted this more than anything as the people were now outgrowing “Site 3” and they needed to expand operations and start to grow crops from the seeds that had been hermetically sealed and stored.

The best and the brightest of the “Townsmen” were sent out to reconnoitre further afield for possible survivors, other communities and sources of supplies, new weapons and ammunition. When such stocks were found larger, well-armed “Townsmen Teams” were sent out to secure them and they did so efficiently and in an orderly manner. The “Townsmen” started to encounter other groups as they searched further afield, such as the seemingly friendly, former government and military “Fighting”, the maddened and enraged “Crawling” and the ever grasping, never satisfied “Scorched”; allegiances were formed but for how long?

And so a brave new world began, with the “Townsmen’s” musket and lightning bolt banner shining like a beacon of hope in the darkness that the world had been plunged into…

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

With such an interesting and involving back-story, which gave some great hints as to what a “Townsman” would look like, I started to piece together my gear. Firstly, as is usually the case it was all about the guns; we are airsofters after all! Finding the right combination for me was quite straightforward as I already have a number of WWII and ‘Nam era replicas in the armoury; the 1911 was a no-brainer as I’ve had a WE GBB for years and it’s a tried and tested favourite. As a backup, given that there was “copious amounts of .45” ammo available I added a TM Detonics. I thought that the ability to do some “quiet work” might be advantageous so a Ruger “Hush Puppy” went onto the belt too. Choosing a primary proved quite tricky until I remembered my WWII CYMA Thompson, which again fitted the theme nicely.

With all that sorted I then thought about how I would carry both guns and ammo and although I’ve got a good collection of period webbing and LBE, I decided that I wanted to really follow the “western” theme, so what I wanted was a set of brown leather gear. Starting with a simple brown leather belt I added a WWII 1911 holster, a custom holster made by my mate Paul for the Ruger, a small multi-tool pouch and a custom

“TO “ACCESSORISE” MY LOADOUT I ADDED A BANDANA (GOOD NECK PROTECTION AS WELL AS STAYING WITH THE “COWBOY” THEME!), SOME WWII STYLE LEATHER PARATROOPER GLOVES AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A “STETSON” WHICH I DID INDEED FIND FOR A FIVER AT THE LOCAL FANCY DRESS SHOP. TO GIVE THE FINAL BIT OF PROTECTION I VISITED MY LOCAL SCREWFIX AND ADDED A HALF-MASK RESPIRATOR; NO WAY WAS I GOING TO FALL VICTIM TO THOSE RANDOM GAS CLOUDS!” 54

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Loaded or Unloaded GOING DARK

leather scabbard for my rubber “survival knife”. I “umm’d and aah’d” about how to carry the Thompson mags until after a bit of searching online I came across a cracking vintage leather AK four-cell pouch which cost me the princely sum of £10!

I really also liked the idea of a mixture of civilian and military gear and given that the back-story indicated a “US” bias, I decided that I would take that as my cue and started digging in my ‘Nam boxes for something suitable. After a bit of a think I again realised that I had the perfect thing in my “SEAL box” in the form of a pair of blue jeans with ERDL cargo pockets attached and an ERDL hoodie, which my wife made for me from an old poncho liner (great birthday pressie that!). The hoodie is actually lined with green silk so is both warm and windproof.

To dress things up further I decided to look for a Dust or Drovers Coat but even online these were too much money for me to justify so I made a trip into town to check out the charity shops. I returned home with a long tan raincoat which I then proceeded to dye a darker brown; the dye took in a bit of an uneven pattern which actually worked very well indeed.

Price of the coat and the dye? £11!

To “accessorise” my loadout I added a bandana (good neck protection as well as staying with the “cowboy” theme!), some WWII style leather paratrooper gloves and last but not least, a “Stetson” which I did indeed find for a fiver at the local fancy dress shop. To give the final bit of protection I visited my local Screwfix and added a half-mask respirator; no way was I going to fall victim to those random gas clouds! All my other gear I needed for the day such as brew kit, cooker, ammo, water and a spare fleece (it is UK winter after all!) along with the team cooking pot went into an old Lowe Alpine 40L mountain rucsac.

the WWII 1911 holster and move that pistol into a leather shoulder holster and, as I didn’t need the “Hush Puppy” as much as I thought, this will be mounted on the side of my pack.

I’m going to pick up another TM Detonics and a couple of leather micro holsters and run these on the belt to aid manoeuvrability and as I’ve decided to run the ASG “Special Teams Carbine” as my primary, I’ll swap out the leather AK pouch for an over-dyed five cell Thompson mag pouch. I’m also going to build a “Book of Eli” style shotgun which will also ride on my pack; this is the thing with “Post Ap” loadouts, once you start your imagination just takes over!

I have to say that if you’re on a budget but really want to try some themed airsoft then “Post Ap” is certainly one avenue to explore. You can get a simple pair of blue jeans at your local supermarket for as little as £5 and an old US Woodland shirt is also an inexpensive purchase. Be sure to look around those charity shops for bargains and quite literally think outside the box when it comes to belt gear and accessories.

I’m set for now and keen to get my gear weathered up and when the next instalment of “The Day The Earth Went Dark” comes along this particular “Townsman” is good to go!

DID IT ALL WORK?

Of course, when you put together a new loadout the question is always how will it perform on the skirmish field and I’m pleased to tell you that in this case everything worked together very well indeed.

As we had a fixed base of operations (objective achieved!)

I could stash my rucsac there and just run with the bare minimum. I did find that as good as the “dust coat” and Stetson were when around camp, when it came to getting stuck in these also stayed with the pack and I resorted to just another bandana as headwear.

The blue jeans and hoodie combination proved to be very comfortable to wear all day long and of course, with a good deal of loose gravel and rubble underfoot, the durability of the denim proved to be a real bonus. The minimalist belt kit, after minor “field adjustment”, was also comfortable to wear all day, although I have made a decision to change this out a bit for the next instalment of the game series. I’m going to drop

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55

Armoury A&K M4

ENTRY LEVEL HEAVYWEIGHT ANGELO DV IS USED TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT KIT AND ONE OF THE MOST COMMON IS “WHAT IS THE BEST RIF TO BUY IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING OUT?” MY USUAL ANSWER IS THIS… If you’re just starting out and have never played before, I always advise people to hire a gun for the first couple of games to see if it’s the hobby for them. If, after playing a couple of games, you decide airsoft is the hobby for you then it’s a good idea to take some advice before jumping in with your first major purchase.

There are many platforms out there but the most popular, certainly with entry level guns, would definitely an M4 or AK platform and, as many players will tell you, the CYMA AKs seem to be the place to be when you are looking for any entry level AK. They are very solid and usually built like tanks and available in polymer or full metal; I think pretty much every player I’ve ever spoken to have had a CYMA AK at some point.

On the flip side there is the M4 platform if you fancy going for 56

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a more “traditional” loadout.

The G&G Combat Machine range of M4s has usually been the go-to RIF for beginners and experienced players alike. The Combat Machine M4 was the first RIF I got, painted 50% in bright green (I never lost it) and it kept going for over two years without any problems. When you see an entry level product being used in their hundreds as hire guns, there must be something good about them. As you gain more experience in the sport it’s natural to want to buy better kit, more realistic and full metal. This where you have to make the choice on whether you stick with a lightweight, polymer Combat Machine or go for something heavier made of metal to give that more realistic feel. In effect it could be described as moving from a “Sportline” product up to a “Proline” but there is a slight catch… the price. There is usually quite a difference in

armoury A&K M4

price when moving from a Sportline spec RIF and a Proline spec but what if there was something that bridged the gap? I think I may have found a product that can do just that.

A&K are a manufacturer that is usually synonymous with their hugely popular M249 SAW and also they dipped their toe in the water with a version of the once very popular Masada. I owned one of the Masadas and apart from the poor hop unit, it was a nicely finished and very functional rifle, so when I saw they had a full metal MOE style M4 on the market I thought it deserved a closer look and arranged to get one to test out.

UNBOXING AND TEST

On opening the box everything is very neatly laid out as expected in the usual blow moulded plastic base.

Included was the rifle, the magazine, the manual and the sample bbs and also a cleaning/unjamming rod. My first impression was how good this rifle looked with its tan-coloured furniture, which was in the style of Magpul MOE. I will say at this point that I cannot vouch for the authenticity of the Magpul furniture but it certainly looked great. So I got the rifle out of the box and was immediately impressed with the weight and balance and the overall finish of the rifle. No mould flashings on the plastics or sharp edges on the body anywhere. The MOE style furniture included was a CTR style stock, MOE front handguard and pistol grip which were all very solid. On closer inspection I noticed that there was a metal hop unit included, along with a precision barrel which I am presuming will be the usual 6.03 affair and also a very sturdy flip up rear sight.

After the initial inspection it was time to put a battery on and do some shooting. The battery I was using was a 7.4v LiPo with a 35c output which was easily installed into the front handguard. As I was installing the battery I noticed that the wiring was good quality silver and silicone coated, which I thought was a real bonus. The magazine included with the rifle was a metal high-cap with the usual winding wheel at the bottom and with virtually no rattle in the mag well.

First of all I thought I would test the power by putting it through the chrono and on blaster 0.2g bbs and the results

I got were extremely consistent. The power ranged from 325-335fps with very little variants, the results you normally associate with a much more expensive or upgraded rifle.

One thing I did notice was the trigger felt a little bit laboured on single shot, not the fastest trigger I’ve used.

On the same note, the full auto fire rate seemed to plod on a little and seemed too slow. Now this could be put down to the fact that a lot of the gearboxes are packed with thick grease when the leave the factory and I’m sure this would start to loosen up with use.

Next it was time to take the M4 to a game so I could put it through its paces and I wasn’t disappointed.

Due to the fire rate and trigger response not being as snappy as I expected, I decided to run it on an 11.1v LiPo which wouldn’t be a good idea in a lot of entry level rifles normally.

But you know something, I ran the 11.1v LiPo all day and the rifle never missed a beat; the trigger was snappy and the bursts of full auto were a delight. Also, once the hop rubber had bedded in, I was getting some great range and it was very accurate. Basically I gave this rifle a real testing in the field, which was bordering on a beating really but it lapped it up. A really nice crisp crack on each shot which brought a nice smile to my face. During the day I handed the rifle to several people to have a go and the unanimous verdict was very good, with most of them very surprised when I told them this rifle for all intents and purposes was an entry level bit of kit. I would like to add at this point that since the initial testing on the 7.4v LiPo the gearbox seems to have freed up quite a bit. I think the 11.1v LiPo gave it the shock of its life (pardon the pun) and helped to loosen things up a touch.

IN SUMMARY

For quite some years now the G&G Combat Machine range of M4s and the every-ready CYMA AKs have been the go-to rifles in the entry level sector. After that players would be looking at Proline products that carry a much higher price tag, usually because they are full metal as opposed to polymer, with the addition of more precise internals. But here is the shocker, you can now own a proline spec rifle that is full metal and has a precision barrel, metal hop unit and silver silicone coated wiring for little more than the price of a Sportline polymer M4. In my opinion A&K are offering real value for money with this M4, it looks great with the Magpul stlye furniture and shoots very well, whilst offering you the weight and feel of much more expensive product.

Spot on!

Spec & Dimensions: Version 2 Gearbox, precision inner barrel (240mm), metal hop unit, MOE Style furniture, full metal upper and lower receivers Length collapsed stock 690mm, Length extended stock 770mm Test rifle was kindly supplied by iWholesales.

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57

Training A SQUADRON

PAUL YELLAND REPORTS FROM AN A-SQUADRON COURSE THAT CAN BENEFIT YOU IN EVERYDAY LIFE, NOT JUST WHILST PLAYING AIRSOFT.

PERSONAL SECURITY AND SELF DEFENCE COURSE AIRSOFT EVENTS ARE OFTEN THEMED on real world issues such as civil war and terrorism. We live in a world that is full of violence and danger, with the UK being no exception. In this day and age, being complacent about your personal security can leave you exposed and at risk of being harmed. We simulate violence when on the skirmish field but how do we defend ourselves against a real life attack or prevent one from happening in the first place? I recently attended A Squadron’s latest course on Personal Security and Self Defence to find out.

The course was going to be delivered over one day by A Squadron’s Bob Podesta and Faith Cowling. Bob has served in many conflict zones during his service with the SAS and it

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is because of his knowledge and the real life application of personal security drills that made this course so appealing.

There were a good number of people attending the course who all came from different walks of life. The one thing that we did all have in common was a determination to not let ourselves, or family members become victims of violence and general crime. The first part of the day involved an informal gathering over a brew that gave people the opportunity to introduce themselves and have a chat amongst some familiar faces. This helped everybody to relax, ready for the start.

As Bob and Faith presented the opening topic, it soon became obvious that every person in that room had some previous experience of being a victim to some form of crime – including violent situations. It was stressed during this part of the course that alertness and vigilance were the most important qualities when it comes down to personal security.

Common sense plays a massive part in staying safe and it was made clear that sometimes people really do silly things that make themselves so vulnerable to criminals. The avoidance of potentially violent situations is the best way to prevent an attack and it was made clear that there is no shame in running away. In fact, staying around for a fight after having an opportunity to escape a violent situation actually defeats the object of the course, as you would be putting yourself unnecessarily in harm’s way. There was also considerable emphasis placed on being the “grey man”. Alpha males with big mouths and big egos are going to provoke trouble.

Personal safety and self-defence is not about being the big hard man and swinging punches but instead being intelligent and knowing when to turn around and walk the other way.

Criminals are turning to more sophisticated ways to catch their victims, so it was explained by Bob how prevention and protection helped to keep your personal surroundings a harder target for criminals. It seems that in this day and age, nothing is safe from the clutches of criminals who will use the most cunning of plans to breach your security and trust. From telephone scams to distraction burglaries, we should always be mindful of the fact that what might at first seem an innocent and genuine encounter with a stranger, could in fact be a wellrehearsed deception plan. Bob’s experiences during operational tours with the Regiment overseas meant that he was able to give some very good travel advice to everyone on the course.

Some of the advice really was unique and could only come from a person who had first-hand experience of dealing with foreign security threats.

The afternoon presentation moved on to the more physical aspect of the course – self-defence. The legal considerations of what constitutes “self-defence” were discussed before Bob introduced us to the techniques which are taught within the Special Forces. Surprisingly, the techniques were not from traditional martial arts but instead were best described as “Dirty Fighting”. It was explained about the most effective target areas to strike on an attacker’s body, with the aim of creating enough time to break away from the attack and make an escape and when the crash mats were brought out, I knew that it was time for the training to get physical!

Bob talked us through techniques for breaking free from

Training A SQUADRON

different grabs and holds. After each demonstration we were able to practice in pairs whilst under Bob’s watchful eye.

Further instructions were given on how to deal with an attacker who has a weapon and this was followed by further practice.

I have to say that everyone seemed to be enjoying the physical activities, which did have a serious purpose but at the same time, was taken in good spirit by everyone involved.

It was emphasised that it was important for us to regularly practice these self-defence techniques after returning home.

A half-hearted execution of a defensive move on a real life attacker would be ineffective and dangerous, so it was made clear to everybody about the importance of staying alert and mentally prepared whilst incorporating this frame of mind into our everyday lives.

By the end of the course, it was clear to me that your personal security relies on a lifestyle which has the security of you and your loved ones very much at the heart of all the choices that you make. It was mentioned that there is a fine line between being security-aware and paranoid of becoming a victim.

On a personal note, attending this course taught me a lot about myself and how I need to deal with aggressive situations.

There is no shame in turning around and walking away from trouble but at the same time, if there is no way out of a violent confrontation, I now know what to do.

“IT WAS EXPLAINED ABOUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE TARGET AREAS TO STRIKE ON AN ATTACKER’S BODY, WITH THE AIM OF CREATING ENOUGH TIME TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE ATTACK AND MAKE AN ESCAPE AND WHEN THE CRASH MATS WERE BROUGHT OUT, I KNEW THAT IT WAS TIME FOR THE TRAINING TO GET PHYSICAL!”

For more information, or to contact Bob and Faith, visit their website: www.a-sqn.com, send an email to: trainingwing@a-sqn.com or call 07762 507146.

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59

MINI MODULAR PACK

LAZER GARRISON PACK

A multifunction load carrier which can be attached to a MOLLE or used independently. Can also serve a civilian with the day to day practicality and features such as convenient sized pouches, bladder holder and general size.

Mesh helmet hammock located on front with compression straps for adjustment

n n n n n n n n n

Size: 19 ltr (approx) Material: 600D Cordura Colour: Titanium SRP: £45.00

Lazer MOLLE Panels on front/sides Fully mesh vented back Internal Nylon hood closure 2 x Main compression straps Sternum strap with QR buckle Padded shoulder straps Elasticated rim on lid 1 x Grab handle Velcro ID panel

LAZER SHOULDER PACK

LAZER RECON PACK

A lightweight and conveniently sized shoulder pack, ideal as a travel/grab bag. Its exterior and internal pockets are capable of bearing most personal belongings and padded straps add the comfort factor.

With padded shoulder straps and foam Ventex back panel this makes a comfortable load carrier. The pack can be reduced using the compression straps or added to with the LAZER MOLLE attachment panels.

Size: 10 ltr (approx) Material: 600D Cordura

Size: 35 ltr (approx)

Size: 35 ltr (approx)

Colour: Titanium

Material: 600D Cordura

Material: 600D Cordura

SRP: £34.95

Colour: Titanium SRP: £45.00

Colour: Titanium SRP: £27.50

>GET THE

TACTICAL ADVANTAGE

TACTICAL

STOCKISTS / CATALOGUE

www.vipertactical.co.uk

kit EDC VIPERÅ BAGS

A BAG FOR ALL SEASONS WOULDN’T IT BE NICE IF YOU COULD USE YOUR GEAR OUTSIDE OF AIRSOFT? FRENCHIE LOOKS AT A RANGE OF BAGS FROM VIPER THAT ARE EQUALLY AT HOME OFF THE AIRSOFT SITE, AS ON IT. AIRSOFT IS AN AFFAIR OF KIT, in case you hadn’t already noticed. There is much that we buy and use that is really quite specific to our pastime – it’s difficult to think of exactly how you might use your AEGs in your day job (OK, not that difficult but let’s keep it legal shall we?) but some of our gear can double up beyond the skirmish site. Where that’s possible it’s surely a good idea to have kit that can cover more than one purpose, if only in terms of getting value for money.

This month I’m going to cast my eye over three rather different bags from Viper, all of which can be put to practical use in our day to day lives. Viper is well-known to all UK airsofters; it has a reputation for value-for-money stretching back to its earliest days. There are those who still regard it as no more than cheap and disposable, fit only for newbies but I disagree. While it is true that some earlier Viper kit was clearly made to a price, they have looked, listened and learned over the years and while their gear is at the “value” end of the price range, it would be foolish not to look at what they offer given its great pricing.

A slightly off-topic example is their current Special Ops Chest Rig. Ok, I also think that “special ops” is a way over-used adjective but the truth is that for around £30 you can pick up a solid, lightweight rig that will do pretty much everything that the vast majority of airsofters need. It’s similar to the Haley Strategic D3CR range chest rigs but about £140 cheaper. Now Haley gear is rock-solid and professional but is it really £140 better when it’s going to be used not in a hostile environment but on the skirmish field? That’s a question for the purchaser and there is no right answer.

The same design and build philosophy is to be found in Viper’s bags – they may not be 5.11 or Maxpedition but they are available for a fraction of the price. For all but the mostheeled that has to be a consideration. The three bags I’m going to cover here are all items that I own. Two of them I have had for many years and have seen reasonably active lives, the third is new to me. That fact, that I both own them and that I still have all three of them should tell you something about them straight away – these bags don’t quit easily.

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kit EDC VIPERÅ BAGS

The three bags are the Viper Shoulder Pack, the TacPac and the newer Special Ops Pouch. All three have a place in-game, all three can equally hold their own away from the sound of plastic death. I have a favourite but I’ll keep that til the end!

VIPER TACPAC

I’ll start with the TacPac as it’s the simplest and cheapest. Made of 600D polyester this is a design that has been widely copied – I have a Maxpedition version that costs a lot more than the Viper one – and it’s the cheapest and simplest of the three. The TacPac has four pockets, all zipped. Inside the main pockets are dividers to help with organisation. It has four MOLLE straps on the back to facilitate its use as in-field and it comes with a simple shoulder strap attached by a pair of steel spring clips.

The carry handle is part of a compression strap system that allows you to tighten things up nicely.

Recommended retail price is £19.95 and as I write it appears only to be available in black, although my own example is olive green.

I’ve had this for years and I confess I blow hot and cold about it for everyday use. At present its holding my Go-Pro and associated crap which it does with aplomb. Where it falls down is when you need to carry larger or bulkier items, it’s just not big enough. Mobile phone? Notepad and pens? Wallet?

Sweets? No problem. Bottle of wine? Naw, sorry. Tablet?

Not happening unless it’s really small. Now being small has its advantages; it’s easy to carry and easy to store and unless you’re lugging a house brick or depleted uranium it should never be too heavy but that lack of flexibility might well be an issue and it’s the reason that this isn’t my first choice from the three bags.

Very shortly after buying this I removed the MOLLE straps from the back with my trusty Stanley knife. I tried it on my plate carrier but like all large pouches I found that without the weight and stiffness of really heavy material to keep it in shape it tended to sag. This isn’t exclusive to the TacPac but

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it is a nuisance and for me it made much more sense as a bag than a pouch. The underlying issue is the simple design and the single thickness of 600D polyester. Although the next bag uses the same material its design makes it more applicable to a mounted role as well as that of an everyday carry bag.

VIPER SPECIAL OPS POUCH Pack Highlights: • • • • • • • • • • •

MOLLE webbing attachments located on exterior front External mag/phone pouch.

Fold out compartment Removable shoulder carry strap Compatible with Plate Carrier 1 x Large Velcro ID panel 2 x V-Lock 1 x D-Lock Capacity: 5.4 L (approx) Material: 600D Cordura.

Dimensions: 20×15×18 (cm)

I thought I would just start with the specs for this as, well, it saved me typing them all out. This is an oddity, almost too small to be an everyday bag but well suited to be a versatile pouch. The design and layout is interesting. It’s a single flap design with both MOLLE loops and Velcro on the outside.

There is a zipped pocked on the flap which is handy for items that you need ready to hand. Opening that flap reveals another zipped pocket, this time with a smaller mesh pocket, also zipped on the front of that. The larger pocket is ideal for wallets and the like, reasonably secure but easily accessible.

Behind these pockets is the largest pocket on the bag, which is a simple open-topped pouch with a thin pocket sewn into the rear face. Insofar as you can, this is your “dump everything else” place… and then it gets a little strange.

If you grip the zipped pockets and pull, the front panel opens out to reveal what I can only describe as a series of card slots. Only they’re not, as the sizes are completely wrong.

There is an additional zipped document pocket in here which is more useful than the slots. Finally there is a magazine/torch/multi-tool pocket on the side and a reasonable shoulder strap attached by a couple of solid plastic clips.

I have used this a few times as a small bag but frankly it almost feels a little silly. I have no issue with man-bags, indeed I love them but this is almost minimalist.

As a multi-purpose admin pouch it may well come into its own but I confess I haven’t had the chance to try this out at the time of writing.

kit EDC VIPER BAGS

VIPER SHOULDER PACK

I kept the best until last, at least as far as I’m concerned. The shoulder bag is a veritable workhorse. You still won’t get your laptop in there but it will take an 8” tablet no problem. In fact it has so many storage options that I keep finding things in it that I thought I had lost! The stated capacity is 10 litres but like so much else in life, the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

It is a single strap, slinger-style bag and it is the work of seconds to swap the strap from left to right hand carry. It comes supplied with an additional anchor strap to secure it should you need that – I have no idea where mine is, binned it years ago. If I need to carry kit but don’t want to use a rucksack, this is my go-to choice. There are three main zipped pockets, as you can see and inside each of these there are more (and more) storage options. There is a mesh back secured at the top with a hefty popper. I used to carry my 8” HUDL tablet in there. As with the Special Ops pouch it comes with a couple of V-Locks (Grimlocks) and a D-ring. I removed the D-ring but the V-Locks have proven very useful over the years.

There are MOLLE loops on the front and both sides, I use them for clipping things like radios to but you could attach more pouches if you really feel the need. It’s comfortable in an “easy-on, easy-off” sort of way, can be swung round to rest on your front for either security or access, will withstand reasonable amounts of rain without leaking and doesn’t look too military. A bag full of win frankly!

As I mentioned earlier, the TacPac is only available in black and has an RRP of £19.95. The Special Ops bag weighs in at £24.95 and comes in coyote, olive, black or Vcam (that’s Mu***cam to you and me). Finally the Shoulder bag is also available in black, green, coyote or Vcam at a RRP of £29.95. As is often the case with Viper gear, shopping around can sometimes save you a bit off these prices.

Final thoughts…

Space, or the lack thereof has made this a bit of a skip through these three bags. All have their place and all do what they do well. If you want an EDC that’ll do airsoft, or vice versa, the shoulder bag wins hands down. As you can see in the photograph, the shoulder strap has a sizeable clip on it so if you need to dump your bag as you suddenly find yourself in a firefight it couldn’t be easier. The available colours, with the exception of Vcam, are all perfectly acceptable for nonairsoft use and the capacity and storage options make it an out and out winner.

If I ever manage to break mine, I promise I’ll write a short obituary in Airsoft Action!

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Armoury ASG SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE

ASG SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE JERRY NOONE GETS TO GRIPS WITH THE “SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE” FROM ACTIONSPORTGAMES AND FINDS A RIF THAT HAS A CHARACTER ALL OF ITS OWN. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I really, really like RIFs that are a bit different and the gas blowback “Special Teams Carbine” from ASG is most certainly one of a kind! Whilst the majority of airsoft rifles and carbines are based on “military” styles, this neat little rifle is actually modelled on the classic .22LR calibre Ruger 10/22 which is an absolutely iconic rifle in the world of civilian shooting sports.

Since 1964 the Ruger 10/22 has been one of the most successful small calibre rifles ever made and sales of this diminutive yet superb firearm have topped the five million mark worldwide! Upon its introduction over fifty years ago, the 10/22 was immediately popular; it was designed as a quality adult gun with adult ergonomics and not a cheap “kids” rifle, although its ease of handling, negligible recoil and inexpensive ammunition make it ideal for young or inexperienced shooters. It has been and still is, very popular with small-game hunters and those who want an inexpensive rifle firing cheap ammunition for target and plinking use.

This popularity has led to many after-market modifications being available to improve performance, augment the rifle’s looks, or increase its magazine capacity, leading the 10/22 to

be one of the most customisable firearms ever made. Custom manufacturers also make “clones” of the 10/22, which are similar in design (most parts will interchange) but built to much higher specifications. The 10/22 barrel uses a unique two-screw, V-block system to attach the barrel to the receiver, making removal and replacement of the barrel, which would require a gunsmith’s work with most other rifles, very easy. This, when combined with the simple construction of the rest of the components, means that the average person can easily replace any part in the gun with nothing more than a screwdriver, a hex key and simple punches.

There are many types of magazines for the Ruger 10/22.

The standard 10/22 comes with a black 10 round rotary magazine. Ruger has also produced a clear, polycarbonate 10 round magazine as well as a 5 round rotary magazine. In 2011-2012 Ruger came out with the Ruger BX-25, a 25 round box magazine with a black composite frame and steel feed lips. Aftermarket options include 25, 30 and 50 round box magazines, 50 round teardrop-shaped rotary magazines and 50 and 110 round drum magazines.

Ruger have been quick to board the current “Tactical .22” train as well, by introducing the SR22 model which is basically the 10/22 on tacticool steroids; it’s a rifle that is affordable, is loaded with features including a Mil-Spec buffer tube with six position sliding stock and a Hogue Monogrip, that faithfully replicates the dimensions of the AR style platform!

MILITARY USE OF THE RUGER 10/22

The concept of using civilian firearm models for certain specialist tasks is by no means a new one. If you look back to the Vietnam War for instance, the US Navy stood up their SEAL teams in 1962 and quickly sent them “in country” to search out the enemy and to train indigenous local forces. The SEALs realised a suppressed pistol would be ideal for many of their secretive missions.

Most commonly, SEAL Teams used either the Smith & Wesson Model 39 without modification or a modified version, the Mk 22 Mod 0, which was called the “Hush Puppy”. The modified pistol had a suppressor with a slide lock (which 64

March 2017

armoury ASG SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE

“TO ME IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A REWORKING OF THE SUPERLATIVE KJW 10/22 SYSTEM, WHICH IN TURN WAS BASED ON THE MASSIVELY EXPENSIVE TANIO KOBA REPLICA. THE ASG REPLICA BRINGS US THE SAME STYLE OF GBB SYSTEM IN THE FORM OF THE “SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE” WITH UP TO THE MINUTE TACTICAL STYLING.” kept the slide from moving backwards upon firing, thereby decreasing produced noise) and the gun’s purpose was to eliminate sentry dogs or guards without alarming the main target. It is rumoured that the Ruger .22LR pistol was also suppressor modified to fulfil the same role and that these have been used by the SEALs and the Israeli Mossad for concealment reasons as the preferred weapon to quietly take out targets of choice during clandestine missions where the outside perimeter needs to be as quiet as possible.

And once again it was the Israelis that took this a step further by suppressing the 10/22 rifle. In the late 1980s, riots in the Occupied Territories broke out and involved violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians protestors.

As a result, the Israeli security forces needed a weapon with more power than the standard riot control “rubber bullet” but that was, at the same time, less lethal than the standard

issue 5.56mm round of their M16/Galil assault rifles. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) searched for an accurate .22LR rifle that could be used to take out the key targets …by shooting them in the legs!

The Ruger 10/22, fitted with a X4 day optic, a full length suppressor and a Harris bipod was selected for this role and was due to be issued to all infantry oriented units, including both special and conventional forces. However, financial problems prevented the rifle’s mass distribution and it was mainly issued to Special Forces units.

As well as the financial constraints, its use in this role was also highly controversial. After several incidents involving the death of protestors the IDF conducted a field experiment at the IDF Sniper School in Mitkan Adam, under the supervision of the IDF Judge Advocate General (JAG). The test

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armoury ASG SPECIAL TEAMS CARBINE

same style of GBB system in the form of the “Special Teams Carbine” with up to the minute tactical styling.

The carbine weighs in at a modest 2.6kg /5.8 lbs with a length of 782mm/31 Inches to 860mm/34 Inches with its adjustable, sliding M4 style “LMT” stock. The rifle uses an M4 style stock tube which allows it to take any compatible stocks; it also uses a “gas M4” style pistol grip which allows fitting of many “real steel” aftermarket options. The carbine is mainly of a sturdy metal construction which rests in a polymer body; this combination affords it an incredibly sturdy structure yet low weight.

The carbine comes with a long tw-component top rail along with three front accessory rails; the top rail measures 315mm/12.5 whilst those at 3, 6 and 9 0’clock are 150mm/6 inch. This gives you a lot of options in using optics and a whole host of accessories, although there are full-length rail covers included in the package. The carbine also comes with

“UNUSUALLY, THE HOP-UP ADJUSTMENT DIAL IS ON THE OUTSIDE, RIGHT ON TOP JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR IRON SIGHT. THIS MEANS YOU CAN ADJUST THE HOP-UP WHILE AIMING AND FIRING, SO IT’S ACTUALLY A SUPERB LOCATION.”

showed that the Ruger was more lethal than first thought, especially in relation upper body injuries. As a result of this test, the JAG reclassified the Ruger as a lethal weapon and the deployment of the Ruger in riot control is much more limited today.

CRACKING ON!

When ASG decide to go on a mission they certainly don’t muck about, as we’ve seen with the releases in their excellent and ever-expanding range of CZ replicas and the same can be said of the “Special Teams Carbine”. Although it’s not, unusually for ASG these days, a licenced product and carries no trademarks, it is undoubtedly an airsoft 10/22 style rifle that forms the backbone of this great little package. To me it looks very much like a reworking of the superlative KJW 10/22 system, which in turn was based on the massively expensive Tanio Koba replica. The ASG replica brings us the

detachable pop-up polymer front and rear sights which are adjustable for windage and elevation; the front sight also features nifty fibre optic illumination. The outer barrel is finished with a cap that can be removed to expose a 14mm CCW thread to fit a suppressor should you desire.

The safety is built into the trigger guard as a side-to-side push button right in front of the trigger. The magazine release catch is a large tab between the magazine and trigger guard.

This setup makes the carbine’s handling fairly ambidextrous but still favours the right-handed shooter as the charging handle is on the right side; this locks to the rear when your magazine is empty, a really nice feature.

Unusually, the hop-up adjustment dial is on the outside, right on top just in front of the rear iron sight. This means you can adjust the hop-up while aiming and firing, so it’s actually a superb location. The carbine also has sling swivels on the stock and front end.

The carbine offers you three magazine choices; a short, curved 22 round gas magazine, or a 29 round models either gas or C02. Through the chrono the carbine clocked in at 1.65Joule/422fps on DEVIL .20g BBs and ULTRAIR gas which is absolutely perfect for a replica that is locked permanently to semi-auto! The-out-of-the-box accuracy of this little rifle is utterly astounding, as it’s capable of landing tight groupings out to 30m using 0.30g BBs. As a semi-automatic gas rifle, it also allows you to consistently loose highly accurate shots with a very decent cycle rate.

I have to admit that when I first saw the “Special Teams Carbine” I was actually very taken with its unique and quirky looks but what has REALLY impressed me is that performance; what a cracking little shooter it is! It‘s a neat little package which runs like a train and offers superb accuracy; it’s most definitely a “keeper”. As you’ll see from this months “Loaded or Unloaded” I’ve been working up a new “Post Ap” loadout and up until this point I’ve been scratching my head as to what to use for my primary, as “modern” or “WWII” military styled models just seem somehow wrong. This is no longer the case as the carbine is the absolutely perfect base for such a project build, so expect to see this worked up in “Geek” in a future issue!

Expect to pay about £250 for the “Special Teams Carbine” and for more information on this model (and many, many more) please pay a visit to http://actionsportgames.com

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gitag STRONGARM AIRSOFT

OVER THE YEARS JERRY NOONE HAS SEEN BUILDERS OF CUSTOM AIRSOFT GUNS COME AND GO BUT ONE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON HIS RADAR AND THIS MONTH HE FINALLY SPEAKS TO ONE OF HIS FELLOW “GEEKS”, JEZ FROM STRONGARM AIRSOFT.

STRONGARM IN MY MANY YEARS OF being involved in airsoft, it’s been an absolute pleasure to meet some truly gifted airsoft technicians. Most of us tinker away with our replicas to some degree but there are those out there that are absolute masters, upgrading and even scratch-building replicas that are absolutely perfect in form and function.

A few years back I was lucky enough to meet a fine young man called Jez Armstrong who was, at the time, the man behind some excellent tech work and custom creations for Pro Airsoft Supplies in London. Since then he and I have spoken nearly every week and he’s most definitely one of the people that I turn to when I need some technical advice and what he’s shared with me has always been spot-on!

Not only this but it transpired that we both share a love of all things “H&K” and his own personal collection of G3 style rifles and carbines is just mouth-wateringly good. I own a custom “MC51SBS” which has been an excellent field rifle since I had it built nearly ten years ago but Jez has explained a few tweaks online that has resulted in the creation of a true high performance RIF – and one that’s pretty darn unique to boot.

If you have a project in mind, or a gun that needs a service and some “TLC” then trust me when I say that it’s well worth speaking to Jez at Strongarm Airsoft; he’s now gone out on his own so I asked him what his plans were for the future.

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AA: So Jez, in your own words please tell me what led you to set up Strongarm Airsoft?

Jez: “Well it was always the plan to start up my own business in the beginning. Some people may remember from years back that Tim Riddoch and I started out as “AR Armouries” and were doing repairs around our day jobs. I didn’t want to be in the job I was in at the time and luckily got the job at Pro Airsoft Supplies and enjoyed a few years there. Life progressed and I left Pro Airsoft Supplies in search of other opportunities, which I am in now.

“Unfortunately, as cool as working for an airsoft shop is, you won’t get rich from it (unless you own it maybe!) but the bug to still own something of my own and still do work on guns was itching away and there was only so much I could do to my own stuff! So I went about building a small workshop at home so I could still continue with what I love doing.”

AA: When did you start putting together custom RIFs and what was your inspiration?

Jez: “Probably from the moment I bought my first RIF, headed straight to Google images and sought out what I could do to it in order to make it cooler or different but nowadays I like to try and build things that people won’t have. Let’s face it, everyone runs an AR but not everyone runs a HK51k (cue people heading to Google that!). Don’t get me wrong I still love a nicely modded AR but when you pull out a random rifle from your kit bag and someone walks over and asks “What the hell is that?”, that’s what inspires me.”

AA: I see that you have regular updates to what you’re working on via your Facebook page; what are you working on right now?

Jez: “At the moment I’m still working on perfecting my HK51k and also putting my personal high speed setup into my MP5k

gitag STRONGARM AIRSOFT

M AIRSOFT and building another G3 DMR (can you sense the H&K theme here?).”

AA: In your experience what are the key features for a well set up RIF?

AA: I know that you’re a BIG fan of airsoft G3 variants; can you tell me more about that?

Jez: “Number one is a clean barrel; so many players ignore this fact and it can be the biggest major contribution to a failing RIF. I religiously clean mine after a game, many people complain of loss of fps and that’s probably because they don’t clean their barrels!

Other than that I always recommend a decent high torque motor and everything else inside should be left stock unless it breaks then upgrade it for something better. Too many people buy new guns then jump straight into ripping them apart and upgrading every component when it’s totally not necessary!”

Jez: “God, aren’t they beautiful! It kind of goes back to what I was saying before that everyone runs an AR and I wanted something different. The thing about the G3 platform is that it can be heavily modified like an AR so you can really customise them, plus the hop unit in a G3 smashes any other hop unit out of the water. Hutch from PAS did some minor mods to his G3 and was hitting over 80m at the sandpit with it. What’s not to love about the G3!”

AA: Who do you see as your target customer for your service?

Jez: “The majority of players to be fair! I don’t work on HPA, Tippmans or Polarstars but I do work on 99% of AEGs and gas rifles and pistols. I go from basic services and boneyard revival jobs, to full-on strip and rebuilds, DMR builds and high speed builds.”

AA: Can players contact you directly with their custom needs or service requests?

Jez: “Absolutely! My Facebook page is “Strongarm Airsoft” and you can message me there with your issues; you can let me know what you need or hope to achieve from a build and we can go from there.”

AA: How do you see Strongarm Airsoft evolving in the future?

Jez: “Well it would be lovely to have my own place one day, where I can do repairs and stock little bits to sell but for now I’m just happy with how I am. My goal is to have as many spares to hand as I can so jobs can get done quicker.”

AA: If someone reading this article likes the sound of what you offer, what should be their next step?

Jez: “Just drop me a message via the Facebook page and we can go from there: www.facebook.com/ Strongarmfirearms.”

AA: A pleasure talking to you as always Jez and I shall certainly keep tuned in to your Facebook page for more of your fabulous builds!

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feature AIRSOFTING IN WINTER

WITH WINTER WELL AND TRULY UPON CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, FRENCHIE TURNS HIS THOUGHTS TO WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR KIT WHEN THE WHITE STUFF HITS THE FAN.

WINTER WARS Pictures courtesy of Tier 1 Events

HERE AT AIRSOFT ACTION the perils of playing in the cold have been covered previously but the emphasis has been on the effect the weather has on players, rather than on their equipment. This month, given that in the UK the nastiest weather tends to occur in January and February, I thought I would have a look at the effect weather can have on your kit and what, if anything, you can do to ameliorate those effects.

Although the UK isn’t prone to arctic conditions it can get bloody cold at times! Cold, clear days can be a delight for airsofting but that cold can seriously affect the efficiency of your kit, more than you might expect. Given that I live in Scotland I possibly see a bit more of this than more southerly players but it can affect us all.

Low temperatures can affect our guns in a variety of ways. The dramatic failure of gas guns is well known, the Glock 18c which makes a pathetic “whooooosh” of discharging gas instead of blasting plastic death downrange is almost an airsoft standard but all guns that use expanding gas (as opposed to High Pressure Air (HPA)) are going to be affected, not even Co2 is exempt. The reason for this is based in simply chemistry…

We fill our gas mags with liquefied gas and in order to power the guns that gas has to vapourise very rapidly when we pull the trigger.

This is an endothermic reaction - it requires that the liquid gas takes in energy from the environment to change from the liquid to the gaseous state. This is why gas mags get colder as they are used and in very cold weather there simply isn’t the energy available for that reaction to happen reliably or quickly enough.

There are a number of approaches to combat this, most of which are predicated on

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keeping the magazines as warm as possible. Carry them in your pocket rather than in a pouch, possibly add a handwarmer (chemical ones are safer where inflammable gases are involved) to increase the temperature of the magazine and the liquid gas within. You can also use a higher powered gas which has a higher pressure rating, so instead of 144A you might use Green gas. Chemically they are different; Green gas has a much higher proportion of propane - which has a higher vapour pressure. If your gun’s manufacturer doesn’t recommend Green gas, that’s a decision you have to make but most Marui pistols, for instance, can handle Green gas at typical UK temperatures and this is even more true when it’s cold. To give an idea of the effects of temperature, the vapour pressure of propane at 32 degrees Celsius (unusually hot for the UK) is 149 PSI. At -1 degrees, that falls to 51 PSI, a threefold decrease. As a comparison, good old 134a gas manages just 26 PSI at -1 degrees…

The other factor you should be aware of is magazine size - a 1911 mag will cool down much faster than a Hi-Capa.

This is because the surface area to volume ratio on the smaller magazine is far greater - similar amount of magazine but much less gas. If you want me to put it in simple terms - in winter, if it was really cold, I’d run a Marui Hi-Capa on Green gas. If that fails you should probably be watching out for hypothermia anyway!

Electric guns are not immune either. It’s well known that batteries perform worse the colder they get - capacity (measured in milliamp hours) decreases as the temperature falls so your battery, which might be rated at 1500mah, will perform more like one with, say, a capacity of 1000mah. In short, it will not last as long so you’ll need more of them as it is difficult to protect them from the cold once they are in your gun. Prior to that, keep them in a pocket where they can benefit from your body heat. Batteries aren’t the only victim of cold, however. If your AEG has become decidedly chilly in the boot of your car, expect the fps to drop like a stone as the piston o-ring becomes

Feature AIRSOFTING IN WINTER

far less flexible and forms a much poorer seal. I know of some airsofters who have used this as a way to sneak hot guns through the chrono station but fortunately, a burst on fullauto will usually fix this as friction heats the o-ring up again.

Site owners should be aware of this and get players to give their guns a run on full auto before putting them through the chrono on really cold days.

This hardening of rubber and silicon will also affect hop rubbers, so don’t be surprised if your range is less than you’d expect.

The same problem can affect single-action guns, like shotguns and bolt action rifles. In theory the approach is the same, fire them repeatedly to let friction warm up the seals but in practice this is exhausting for the player and it’s not the way these guns are used. We just have to accept that if there is snow and ice on the ground, these guns will not give their best.

A final thought on temperature - metal guns get colder and stay colder. Plastic guns are more likely to heat up with handling and use, however, the difference is going to be marginal at best.

Rain... We get lots of that up North and the UK, being temperate, sees its fair share. This is less likely to cause major problems than severe cold but if there is enough of it, things will start to go awry.

The most common concern, that rain will cause AEGs to short out, is largely unfounded. The design of most guns means that it is difficult for sufficient water to penetrate and to pool inside the gun to cause such damage. Obviously, if you nosedive into a ditch full of water and your gun becomes submerged I would avoid using it until you have had a chance to dry it off properly but it is likely that water in the gearbox

and cylinder will cause more problems The Pressure Law than wet wiring.

“For a fixed mas of gas, at a Where I have seen serious effects constant volume, the pressure due to rain it’s as a result of massively is directly proportional to the increased moisture in the air. In really absolute temperature.” heavy rain the amount of water vapour in the air increases and this is being fed Source: GCSE Physics through your gun with each shot. While it can make for dramatic “muzzle blast”, it also gets onto the surface of the barrel and onto the hop rubber, not to mention your ammo. This can have a noticeable negative effect on range and frankly, there is not a whole lot you can do about it. Cleaning your barrel regularly will help but as long as the rain is tipping down that improvement won’t last.

Assuming that you just live with this and play on, rather than hiding in the (hopefully covered) safezone, make sure you dry your gun thoroughly before putting it away. I have lost count of the number of guns I have worked on that show signs of water ingress and damage as a result. I’ll be quite honest and say that the damage caused is seldom terminal and most

“TO GIVE AN IDEA OF THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, THE VAPOUR PRESSURE OF PROPANE AT 32 DEGREES CELSIUS (UNUSUALLY HOT FOR THE UK) IS 149 PSI. AT -1 DEGREES, THAT FALLS TO 51 PSI, A THREEFOLD DECREASE. AS A COMPARISON, GOOD OLD 134A GAS MANAGES JUST 26 PSI AT -1 DEGREES…”

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Feature AIRSOFTING IN WINTER

“THE FACT IS THERE REALLY ISN’T THAT MUCH YOU CAN DO. OBVIOUSLY, PEEKING OUT THE WINDOW AND GOING “**** THIS FOR A GAME OF SOLDIERS” RATHER THAN BRAVING LESS THAN IDEAL CONDITIONS WILL WORK EVERY TIME BUT MANY PLAYERS ARE NOT THAT FAINT-HEARTED.” components in an airsoft gun are made of non-ferrous alloys so they don’t rust (strictly speaking) but they do corrode to varying degrees. Wipe down the outside of your gun and if possible put it somewhere warm like an airing cupboard before returning it to your bag or case. I would clean the barrel properly and fire a squirt of silicone oil into the hop unit before putting it away, just remember to clean the barrel and hop before its next use.

If you are running a gun with a steel receiver than treat it like a real gun - dry it and give it a good wipe over with silicon oil to preserve and protect the metal.

Rain of this magnitude will affect single action guns just as much, I have seen some of my shotguns lose substantial range

simply due to heavy rain and again, there simply isn’t a lot you can do assuming you like playing in all weathers.

It would be nice to conclude this piece with some neat advice about how you can avoid these weather-related pitfalls but the fact is there really isn’t that much you can do.

Obviously, peeking out the window and going “**** this for a game of soldiers” rather than braving less than ideal conditions will work every time but many players are not that fainthearted. You really just have to prepare as best you can and be aware that your guns will love you a little more if you take time to look after them after they have had a thorough soaking.

Beyond that? Dream of warm summers and dry autumns!

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warriors 1982 FALKLANDS WAR PARA

GARETH “GADGE” HARVEY CONTINUES HIS “WARRIORS” SERIES WITH A LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS BRITISH REGIMENTS, IN A WAR WHERE THEIR COURAGE AND DETERMINATION WAS TESTED TO THE LIMIT – AND BEYOND. Pictures by Tom Hibberd

WARRIORS:

1982 FALKLANDS WAR PARA 76

March 2017

warriors 1982 FALKLANDS WAR PARA

IN THE SPING OF 1982 few could believe the news that Argentina had invaded the Falkland Islands and forced a humiliating surrender on the small garrison of British troops stationed there. Few more could believe that our small island nation were prepared to send a war fleet halfway across the world to take back a barren rocky group of islands that even less people had ever heard of!

Despite the threat of the cold war and the British Army being much larger than it is now, the Falklands War caught the British Government by surprise. Previously, relations with Argentina had been excellent and plans were in hand to eventually release the Islands to Argentinian control but a surprise coup by a military junta changed those cordial relations forever. Unpopular with the people and with questionable civil rights standards, the Junta needed a PR stunt and decided taking back “The Malvinas” (as the Argentinians call the Falklands) would be a perfect way to gain national support.

Britain had sold off its arctic patrol ships and they believed the UK would be insane to prosecute a war thousands of miles away for the sake of a few sheep farmers and kelpers… history would show the Junta quite how wrong they could be!

Britain soon assembled a “Task Force” to retake the Islands (in some way hoping the mere show of strength would force the Argentinians to back down) and assembled the cream of the British Army to take part in “Operation Corporate”. Its main infantry force would come from the Welsh and Scots Guards, the Ghurkas, the Royal Marines and the most feared non-special forces unit the crown possessed, the Parachute Regiment. Despite being one of the newest regiments in the British Army of the time, “The Paras” had already made themselves legendary in WWII, Suez and hotspots around the world but the “trip down south” would cement their place in military folklore.

“Tom” (as paras are often called) carries his fighting and living essentials in a mix of 58 and 44 pattern “complete equipment marching order” or CEMO webbing.

While 58 webbing was practical and serviceable for its time, many soldiers customised it to be more personally suited to their needs by adapting older webbing and foreign load carrying equipment into the 58 system. In this case our Para has undertaken some very common “airborne” modifications to his webbing.

Firstly, he has substituted the hard to access 58 pattern water bottle pouch with a more convenient model from the 44 pattern jungle webbing system. The 44 pattern holder is roomier than its successor model and far easier to access while wearing the webbing; furthermore the metal 44 pattern bottle and cup are superior to the plastic versions issued with 58 pattern webbing as they can be directly heated over a fire, negating the need to carry a mess tin. The second and more noticeable modification (although obscured by his bergan), is the substitution of the two “kidney pouches” of the 58 webbing with a set of three “water bottle pouches”. While the 58 pattern water bottle pouch was a tight fit for the issue canteen and mug, arranged in a set of three across the back of the belt it provided a more secure and convenient carriage for ancillaries such as rations, washing and shaving kit and other necessary items.

Weighing our paratrooper down is the SAS/Para variant of the GS bergan. Made in green butyl nylon it replaced the 58 pattern systems “large pack” - a pack neither large nor able to pack much into it and universally hated by soldiers of the time. Again though, the “surprise” of having to deploy at short notice to the South Atlantic meant the MOD had to both issue older pattern WWII bergans and buy up civilian camping bergans as an expedient measure! The SAS/Para bergan is

ACHIEVING THE IMPOSSIBLE

The exploits of the Parachute Regiment in the Falklands would take a series of articles of their own but suffice it to say, after a relatively unopposed landing, things went somewhat awry when skilful Argentinian pilots sunk the Atlantic Conveyor transport ship and, along with it, most of the Task Force’s transport helicopters and vehicles. Things looked bleak for the British. The objectives that they must take to dominate the islands were 50 or 60 miles from the San Carlos Bay staging area. Military advisors around the world said that the campaign would have to be abandoned. The idea of moving an infantry formation on foot, each man carrying loads of around 40kg and some over 60KG seemed an impossible task. The Parachute Regiment (and to be fair, the Royal Marines) had other ideas… they would walk it and then fight the battle.

As mentioned, to truly do justice to their exploits, readers are advised to buy any of the excellent books on the Parachute Regiment in the Falklands War (see “Further Reading”) but none of these fantastic feats of arms would be possible without the aggressive and harsh training the Regiment pushes all of its recruits through. Each potential Para must complete the training of a regular infantry soldier before going on to undertake the arduous “Pegasus Company” (also known as “P-Coy”) that puts the recruit to the ends of their endurance through route marches, assault courses, parachute jumps laden with kit and a terrifying aerial assault course known as “The Trainaysium”.

While most Regiments in the British army can be viewed as “elite” by world standards, it’s fair to say the Parachute Regiment train with an exceptionally ferocious ethos and it is this “controlled aggression” that enabled them to carry the fight to the enemy, where lesser forces would have given up long ago.

AIRBORNE EQUIPMENT

Our “Para” this month is preparing for a long advance to battle, or “tab” as the Paras call it. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about our “warrior” is how heavily laden he is compared to many of the lightly equipped units we have portrayed in the past. Fully equipped for days, or even weeks in the field, our www.airsoft-action.online

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warriors 1982 FALKLANDS WAR PARA

reinforced with a removable steel frame (which it shared with the infantry “GS” bergan) and allowed the airborne or specials forces soldier to carry quite considerable loads. While his extra ammunition, rations, water and spare warm clothing are safely stowed inside the bergan we can see his 58 pattern sleeping bag tied under the top flap of the bergan and an issue roll matt strapped to the side with elasticated bungees. In actuality the paras would often have to leave their bergans before advancing to battle and survive for several days with just the contents of their webbing and what they were wearing.

One additional notable item of carrying equipment is the tan bandolier of spare 7.62mm ammunition slung over his shoulder for his L1a1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR). During the protracted and confusing night battles of the Falklands War the paratroopers ran perilously low on ammo and could never carry enough (in fact in some instances 7.62mm ammunition had to be looted from dead and captured Argentinean soldiers).

These khaki cotton bandoliers are of WWII vintage and carry 50 rounds of ammunition each, which could be later loaded into spent magazines.

The combat uniform of our paratrooper is distinctive of the British Max Hastings – Battle for the Army’s elite airborne forces. Perhaps Falklands (Pan Military Classics) most noticeable is the nylon fibre para David Gibbons – The Paras 1940 helmet. At the time of the Falklands War -1984 (Osprey Publishing) the nylon helmet was a very new piece of kit and not all paras had been issued Will Fowler – Battle for the it. It is quite common to see groups of Falklands (1) Land Forces (Osprey paratroopers wearing a mix of this newer Publishing) helmet alongside the WWII era “MKIII Ken Lukowiak – A Soldiers Song, Para helmet” of steel construction with True Stories From the Falklands a webbing chinstrap. The helmet itself is

covered with some spare DPM fabric from an old smock and has a camouflage net for local foliage (also from WWII stocks) stretched over the top.

The perishing cold and wet conditions of the Falkland Islands caused many problems for the ill-prepared and hastily deployed British task force. One of the worst problems encountered was caused by the standard boot of the time, the DMS or Direct Moulded Sole combat boot. The boot’s construction prevented water from draining easily and contributed to many cases of immersion foot, or “trenchfoot” as it is known and again, many British soldiers “acquired” better made Argentinean boots when they could. Preventing stones and debris from entering the tops of the short ankleheight DMS boots are woollen puttees wrapped around the ankle. Puttees like this would be familiar to any British squaddie who had served in the army over the last 100 years but would have their “last hurrah” in the Falklands, as the newer high leg “Boots Combat High” brought in in the aftermath of the war would make them surplus to requirements.

Our warrior’s combat uniform is also designed to protect him from the worst of the South Atlantic weather. He wears artic windproof trousers with a heavy weight “KF shirt” and net scrim scarf alongside a DPM camouflage “Para smock”.

The Para smock is an item of combat clothing with an almost legendary significance to Paras and dates back to the WWII Denison pattern jump smocks.

During the 60s and 70s the paras had worn a Denison smock in a slightly different camo pattern to the DPM worn by the rest of the army but, by the 80s standardisation of camouflage patterns had been attained - although the smock still had its distinctive “jump” features. The Para smock is noticeably different from the infantry “68 pattern” smock of the time by its knit cuffs and “ape tail” crotch cover, both designed to prevent and inrush of air when making a parachute decent (the button-through crotch flap is tucked away inside the smock but the securing press studs are just visible on our man’s smock). As a final protective element to his uniform our Para wears the popular leather “Northern Ireland gloves”, which were found to be warm and comfortable as long as they were kept dry.

Without a doubt the “Paras” of the 1980s epitomised British professional soldiering but it can be a controversial loadout to take onto the skirmish filed. Many serving and former paratroopers are justifiably proud of the sweat and blood required to earn jump wings (worn on the right sleeve of the smock), the “Cherry Beret” and cap badge of the Regiment and the Battalion’s unique drop zone flashes and to this end, out of respect to the Parachute Regiment, Airsoft Action have chosen not to represent these features in this article.

Further Reading:

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Kit HOLSTERS

HOLSTERS

PART ONE

WE ALL KNOW THAT A HANDGUN CAN BE A VITAL PART OF THE GAME BUT NOT TOO MANY OF US THINK ABOUT HOW BEST TO CARRY THEM. ANDY NIGHTINGALE LOOKS AT THIS MOST UNDER-RATED BIT OF KIT IN THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES. AS ANY GOOD TRADESMAN would tell you, the tools they use are what makes the job good and with all tools there are accessories that compliment them. The handgun is by far no exception to this rule. The handgun, for those that chose to arm themselves for airsoft skirmish games with a handgun, has many after-market accessories to better the standard factory

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model. Such accessories include advance sighting systems, better ergonomic grips, custom trigger works and even advance coatings to name but a few. One of the most over-looked and underestimated accessories is the holster.

The holster, in my opinion, is part of the handgun. For all intents and purposes the holster is a means to carry the handgun in a safe and convenient way whilst on duty, or for everyday carry. It’s essentially a pocket specially designed to carry the handgun which affords quick and effective access when the handgun is needed in a hurry. Holsters can be minimalist, offering only a simple sleeve that covers the muzzle and trigger guard, or complex enough to offer full protection and a high security retention system. Size and colour is, in today’s market, a matter of choice for the individual but no matter what holster you go for, it’s important that your choice is one that fits the handgun and is comfortable to wear throughout the day - and meets the standard required for either skirmish or competition.

When choosing a holster there are many considerations to take into account. Hot humid environments would play havoc with a good old traditional leather holster but would be best-suited to one of the more modern materials, such as Kydex. Normal duty wear in temperate conditions may best suit leather, rather than a bulky synthetic holster. Holsters can be found in leather, Kydex, Spandex, Rayon and Polyester to name but a few. The method of construction is also a consideration for durability and even the possibility of maintenance in the field. Such builds can include rivets, thread, glue and even Velcro can all be found in the manufacturing process.

Although the holster is a pocket to hold the handgun there

kit HOLSTERS

must be a suitable system in place to ensure that the handgun does not fall out of, or move around in, the holster during use.

There are many retention systems that are built into holsters that facilitate this.

FREE RETENTION HOLSTERS

Free retention holsters offer no retention whatsoever. Holsters like the pocket and kidney holster offer no protection from the handgun being taken, or from falling out when being carried.

Although speed of the draw is the number one factor here we do sacrifice security for speed.

FRICTION HOLSTERS

Friction holsters tend to be gun specific. That is the holster is designed for one specific make and model of handgun, although there are universal fitting holsters available. The holster is moulded to the shape of the gun and holds the handgun securely by the contours of the gun’s trigger guard, barrel and slide cut-outs and also by the use of retention screws and clips. This type of holster is minimalist and can be found in natural materials as well as man made.

STRAP HOLSTERS

Strap holsters can be made from any suitable material and offer a much better retention than the friction kind. The use of a strap, that wraps around the rear of the slide/hammer and is fastened via a press stud or Velcro, offers a more secure platform. The strap usually has a stiffened brace, known as a “thumb break”, on the end to help release the strap during the draw.

HOOD GUARDS AND BUTTON HOLSTERS

This type of holster offers maximum security and are often found in situations of conflict and high risk environments.

The hood of the holster rides over the rear section of the slide on a semi auto handgun and over the hammer of a revolver, preventing it from being taken by undesirables. Whereas the button holster secures the handgun in the holster by the trigger guard and can only be released by the operator indexing a button that releases the locking mechanism. These holsters are found in both plastic and leather built on a solid frame.

There are so many holsters on the market today that it can be a minefield of choice.

Before we purchase a holster we need to know exactly what role it’s going to play. Although some manufacturers claim that their holsters are “universal”, this only applies to the fit of the handgun and not the use. As time goes by you will come to realise that you will probably need more than one holster, even if you only own one handgun. A full retention holster may be great for duty carry but is totally useless for concealed carry, or competitions. If this is the case then you will find that you have one gun and three holsters, one for duty, one for CCW and one for competitions.

There are two main areas we need to address when considering job roles: “On Body” and “Off Body”.

“Off Body” refers to a holster that is not going to be worn when the gun is in place. Such off body holsters can make use of a Fanny Pack. This is a small bag that is secured around the waist and gives access to a holster secured inside. These are very popular with plain clothes operatives and CCW. Briefcases can also be used as off body carry. The briefcase offers

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kit HOLSTERS

maximum space for a large frame handgun and also enough space for extra magazines and ammunition. Purses are also a popular choice for off body CCW, these are usually carried in a larger bag or in the hand during travel. The off body method is mainly used when the threat levels are low or the handgun is not being used and in transit. This method is slow on the draw and is of no use for immediate defence.

“On Body” refers to the handgun being carried in the traditional way, on person. Usually the holster and handgun are secured by a waist belt secured to the trousers. This is a much quicker method of carry for drawing the handgun in times of need. Once more though, we need to think of what role the holster has to play in our routine of daily carry. There are so many different holsters to choose from that it is quite easy to purchase the wrong holster for the wrong job. I have listed here some of the more common holsters and a brief description of their use.

A Shirt Holster is a snug fitting shirt, usually worn under a dress shirt that has a small pocket sewn in under the arm pit.

This small pocket is suitable to house a small semi automatic handgun with ease and with minimal printing of the handgun if worn with loose-fitting over-garments.

Shoulder Rigs are designed to home the handgun under the armpit area. Due to the configuration of the shoulder straps used to secure the holster, the holster is more than adequate to hold heavy, large-frame, semi-autos. There are two methods of carry with the shoulder holster; horizontal and vertical carry and this refers to the direction the muzzle points during carry.

Shoulder holsters are “cross-draw” only, are comfortable to wear for long periods and ideal for use in vehicles where the more traditional belt carry holster causes problems when seated. Although shoulder holsters are considered CCW they do tend to be bulky and have a habit of printing unless they are used in conjunction with loose or baggy clothing.

Chest Holsters are more of a duty carry holster and we see a lot of these on the skirmish field. Wearing the holster on the chest frees up room on the duty belt for other items. The use of some body armour can hinder the draw of a handgun being carried on the belt due to the thickness of the armour causing the handgun to catch or snag during the draw. Securing the holster and handgun on the chest can also reduce the weight of equipment on the belt, especially if the hand gun is a heavy, large-frame, semi-auto. The chest holster is only suited to Overt Carry and plays no part in Concealed Carry.

Belly Bands are a kind of holster that is simply a band of elastic material that wraps around your middle. The band itself has many sections sewn into it and uses the elastic friction to hold the handgun in place. There are many other pockets sewn into the band that can carry extra magazines and other accessories, such as a small torch and small personal items and ID. This system is slow on the draw and is best suited to loose or baggy outer garments as the contents of the band have a tendency to print if many items are carried.

That’s a brief run down on some of the holster types and their uses. I’ll finish off the rest in Part 2.

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Famous Raids OPERATION CHARIOT

OPERATION CHARIOT: THE RAID ON ST. NAZAIRE SOME RAIDS TAKE GUILE, SOME TAKE COURAGE AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT TAKE BRAVERY THE LIKES OF WHICH WE WILL PROBABLY NEVER SEE AGAIN. BILLY WRITES ABOUT JUST SUCH A RAID…

IT HAS BEEN A REAL PRIVILEGE over the past two years to bring you these retellings of daring raids and I have learnt a great deal in the process, despite having been in uniform for some 25 years. Some of the raids were incredible in their audacity, some used the very latest technology and wizardry to gain that crucial time, speed advantage over the enemy. Others, like this one, illuminate the sheer courage of men who know that the chances of them escaping are slim and yet the job had to be done so they cracked on.

I have been aware of “The St. Nazaire Raid” or Operation Chariot, the raid on the St Nazaire docks in Western France, for years but it wasn’t until I started this article that I discovered the unbelievable bravery. A full 86 awards for gallantry were awarded including 5 VCs. The raid itself was a fully amphibious assault by a force of Royal Navy vessels ferrying a group of Royal Marines across the channel to take out the massive dry dock at St Nazaire.

If they could wreck the dry dock, which was located on the Loire River a few miles in from the Atlantic coast and put it out of action, it would

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deny the Germans a safe haven for their huge warships like the Tirpitz and the Bismarck. These giants would then be forced to return to their home ports in Germany, which meant running the gauntlet along the heavily defended English Channel. Hitler was desperate to keep these beasts safe as their loss would be dent to morale, the Navy were keen to send them to the bottom …for obvious reasons.

The planning of the operation, which would be codenamed “Operation Chariot” was not without its difficulties, there were numerous options available to the Combined Operations team given responsibility. Some departments were not keen because they were stretched elsewhere, others were keen to help but not sure it they were going to get a score or an own goal (nobody liked to be associated with a failure in those days, especially as they were thinking in terms of their longevity after the conflict was over).

The RAF were offered the opportunity to bomb the docks to achieve the aim, they declined. Bomber Command were very busy elsewhere as well as being mindful of Churchill’s wishes to keep civilian casualties to an absolute minimum. The Special Operations Executive (SOE) replied that the amount of explosives needed to destroy the docks was too great an ask for their spies. In the end it fell to the Royal Navy and her seaborne

Famous Raids OPERATION CHARIOT

infantry, The Royal Marines, to carry out the task.

As heads were put together a favourable plan started to take shape which made sense to all around the table. Given the estimated strength of the defenders (which was guessed at over 5,000) the best way to disable to dry dock was to ram a boat into it, packed with explosives and then for a team of Marines to pour from the ship to overcome the Germans defending it and to do as much damage as possible before retreating aboard their landing craft and making good their escape.

The planners were fortunate to have access to a Royal Engineers officer who as a boy had worked on the railways in England, whose father was a dock manager at the port of Cardiff and who had undertaken just such a survey of St Nazaire in the early days of the war should the need arise. His expertise, guidance and notes indeed confirmed that the floating bomb was the only sure-fire way to get the job done.

Ideally the craft that entered the Loire River would not be a British ship, for obvious reasons. The shoreline was bristling guns and the Germans were aware of how vulnerable the dock was and also how valuable it would be for the British to render it useless. The French were not keen to let one of their ships be used, so it had to be a British ship.

The short straw was drawn by an old US Destroyer, given to the Royal Navy as part of the ships for bases agreement.

HMS Campbeltown was to find her place in history alongside the men who died on her. Campbeltown was worked on for a full ten days to prepare her for her final mission. She was fitted with 20mm Oerlikon guns fore and aft to give the crew something to return fire with and the bridge was seriously reinforced with plate steel to accept the beating that was going to be aimed at it as she approached the dock gates.

Built into her hull as the killer blow for the lock gates was a whopping payload of 4.5 tonnes of high explosive, set in concrete with a timer set to go off after the Marines and everyone else had got safely clear of the ship. One of the obstacles to approaching the St Nazaire docks was the way that the Germans had used the topography of the Loire River to channel the incoming craft into the barrels of their defences. To follow this natural channelling would have spelt disaster for all the ships involved.

Across the wide mouth of the river were several huge sand banks that were a barrier to larger ships, if the men working on Campbeltown could get as much weight as possible off her it was possible that she could make it over the banks and could

approach the dry dock from a direction that would give her the best chance of success.

The Campbeltown would be accompanied by two other destroyers, HMS Atherstone and HMS Tynedale, who would escort her and the flotilla of Motor Torpedo Boats (MTB), Motor Launches (ML) and Motor Patrol Boats (MPB) to the mouth of the river and who would gather the surviving craft under their wings and escort them back to Blighty.

Planning and rehearsals were carried out by the Royal Marines under their CO, Lt Col Charles Newman. His Commando teams were parcelled off between the boats with specific targets to take out; some would disable vital machinery and pumps, others would hit defences and anti-aircraft guns which could be fired horizontally at incoming ships. Upon

“THE SHORT STRAW WAS DRAWN BY AN OLD US DESTROYER, GIVEN TO THE ROYAL NAVY AS PART OF THE SHIPS FOR BASES AGREEMENT. HMS CAMPBELTOWN WAS TO FIND HER PLACE IN HISTORY ALONGSIDE THE MEN WHO DIED ON HER.�

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MAG STOCKISTS_Layout 1 30/01/2017 15:41 Page 1

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

They all keep Airsoft Action in stock and while you are there you can have a good browse round to see what other airsoft goodness they can tempt you with.

If you would like to stock Airsoft Action in your shop or on your site and get a FREE ADVERT on this page at the same time, contact Nige on 01684 878003 or by email: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk for details.

Famous Raids OPERATION CHARIOT

All images used are believed to be in the public domain or freely licensed for re-use, unless otherwise stated. Most British images are Crown Copyright expired, being created for the Crown before 1st June 1957. Images shown as from the Bundesarchiv are from the Commons:Bundesarchiv under a Creative Commons license. Other images are licenced under the IWM Non Commercial Licence.

completion of the mission and if retreat by sea was impossible, they planned to assemble as a body of survivors on the hard and literally punch a hole through the town, out into the countryside and make good their escape. In the end only 5 men returned to the UK via this route.

The three destroyers and 16 small boats eventually left Falmouth, Cornwall, at 14:00 on 26 March 1942, they steamed south and headed towards France. The task force of 611 men and craft encountered a couple of French fishing vessels as they sailed on, which they were forced to sink for Op Sec reasons. The fishermen were taken on board and returned to France later.

HMS Campbeltown was captained by Lt Cdr Stephen Halden Beattie, it had not only been stripped so it could sail over the sand banks but the engineers had removed several funnels and cut down the remaining funnels in the German style. But they knew this would buy them only so much time and as they moved into the valley the RAF began a mock bombing raid to distract the defenders. Sadly, this did not seem to afford them much surprise, as the German Officer in charge sussed it out as a diversionary raid and had anticipated that if an attack came it would come from the sea. What they did not anticipate was the sacrificial nature of the attack.

Campbeltown, bearing the German flag, flanked by her small and more vulnerable flotilla of MTB, ML and MPB and laden with Marines and Sailors moved purposefully towards the gates down the channel and over the banks scraping the bottom twice, then a searchlight lit the ship up. A challenge was hailed via Morse code but when the incorrect response was given she was engaged. Fire peppered the bow but then abruptly stopped. The quick-thinking signaller had signalled that they were a friendly ship being engaged.

Everyone held their breath for a full minute hoping against all hope that this would do the trick but it was not to be. The banks and shore erupted tracer and the crew were blinded by searchlights as the flotilla was raked with deadly fire from the 5,000 defenders. Many of the small boats were sunk on the way in and two helmsmen were killed on the Campbeltown before she struck the gates, another leaping forward to take the wheel as his comrades body was pulled off the wheel. But

strike the gates she did… with a hellish crash!

Once it was safe to do so the Marines poured onto the hard to do as much damage as they could. The Cdo groups were split into three groups that worked in concert; an assault team, demolitions and defenders and because of their slick drills and momentum they were able to hold the much larger German force at bay for long enough.

The following couple of hours was an insane melieu of attack and counter-attack on the jetty, as the Germans and the Marines fought over the docks. The ship was well and truly stuck in the gates with the explosives primed and ticking. But to Lt Cdr Stephen Halden Beattie’s dismay the charge did not function as planned.

With the dawn of the 28th the Germans were interrogating the Marines who had surrendered only after every round was expended. Cdr Beattie himself was being grilled by a smug Naval Intelligence Officer, who was bragging that they’d have the docks operational in a week when at precisely 12:00 the windows were shattered with debris as Campbeltown was blown sky high.

Beattie smiled at the German and probably said something like “Like to see you try that!”

It’s estimated that over 360 soldiers and civilians were killed when the charges went off.

After the raid only 228 men of the force of 611 returned to Britain; 169 were killed and 215 became prisoners of war.

“CDR BEATTIE HIMSELF WAS BEING GRILLED BY A SMUG NAVAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, WHO WAS BRAGGING THAT THEY’D HAVE THE DOCKS OPERATIONAL IN A WEEK WHEN AT PRECISELY 12:00 THE WINDOWS WERE SHATTERED WITH DEBRIS AS CAMPBELTOWN WAS BLOWN SKY HIGH.”

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WITH THE ANNIVERSARY OF WW1, MANY AIRSOFTERS HAVE BEEN ON BATTLEFIELD TOURS, SO WE ASKED MILITARY HISTORIAN AND BATTLEFIELD GUIDE, WILL FOWLER, TO TELL US ABOUT THE KIT HE TAKES WITH HIM WHEN CONDUCTING A TOUR.

BATTLEFIELD TOURS KIT ALL INSTRUCTORS KNOW THAT the more senses that can be engaged in a lecture, the better the chance that the contents of the lesson will be absorbed and understood.

The worst thing to do is just stand up and talk – the simplest teaching tool is a blackboard, or Powerpoint if you have the kit and the technical skill. This engages both hearing and sight and it is even better if the class can touch or handle something… feel its weight and size. When we get into smell and taste then cookery and chemistry would be among the few areas that could engage these senses.

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It was with this in mind that as a Battlefield Guide working with soldiers, school students and the general public, I put together what I call my “bag of tricks” and you would be excused if you thought that only junior soldiers or school students were interested in a hands-on encounter with this kit. Actually, anyone who has loaded up and tabbed, yomped or hacked over rough ground or thick cover and done so in all weathers, looks at the kit carried by soldiers between 1939 and 1945 and has a real respect for them.

Feature BATTLEFIELD TOURS KIT

BAG OF TRICKS

So what does my bag of tricks contain?

A set of 1937 pattern webbing with small pack and its contents including mess tins, washing and shaving kit, sewing kit, socks, clasp knife and mug. A rolled ground sheet cape stowed at the top of the pack. The webbing has a No.4 Rifle spike bayonet, entrenching tool and, in the ammunition pouches, a bandoleer with clips of deactivated .303 ammunition and a drill No 36 Grenade. A “Respirator Lightweight Mk2” with all the anti-gas ancillaries is of interest to anyone who has had to endure NBC training or, as in Gulf War I, the threat of the real thing. Other bits and pieces include a collarless KF shirt and woollen cap comforter.

You will have noticed there is no rifle and in part this is deliberate. Post-Brexit and in the current threat condition, taking a deactivated weapon to the continent can be inviting trouble!

In addition to the webbing I have a battledress jacket badged as a Lance Cpl in “The Hampshires”, the first British troops to land on D-Day, coming ashore at GOLD Beach. It has the distinctive “Double T” flash of the 50th Tyne Tees Division that can be seen on the statue of the Green Howards soldier at Crepon, inland from the beaches.

The whole lot is topped off with a Mk 2 steel helmet with hessian scrim in the netting cover.

WHERE TO GET IT.

There was a time, not so many years ago, when kit like this could be picked up in surplus stores at knock down prices – partly because it was obsolete and in part because there was a lot of the stuff around. Not anymore. It is hard to find and in many cases when you, do it’s not that cheap. It was as I was putting together my collection that I was recommended the North Wales-based company, Soldier of Fortune.

Re-enactors and airsofters will know it, not only for its variety of kit – both World Wars, the armies of the Allies and Axis as well as the Vietnam War – but also for the speedy despatch of purchases and the helpful staff.

They have an excellent online catalogue with detailed explanations of the kit. It includes both World War I and II, from almost all the participating nations so if you have some handy sandy beaches with dramatic dunes, the 8th Army can take on the Afrika Korps or, if there is somewhere green and soggy, the 14th Army can slog it out with the Imperial Japanese Army.

Airsofters will also know Soldier of Fortune for its range of practical kit, from boots to load carrying systems via camouflaged jackets and water proofs. There is an overlap to soldiers where this range of good quality equipment supplements issue items.

Finally, good old fashioned travellers will find such handy items as a universal bath plug among a range of non-military, non re-enactor items that will make their travels that much smoother when they find themselves in remote and ill-served locations.

SHOW AND TELL

The kit comes in handy as an interest lesson at the end of a day in the open, walking the ridge lines, looking at the rivers and canals or the open expanse of D-Day invasion beaches.

The 1908 Pattern entrenching tool, which British soldiers carried through World War I and II, is a simple two-part design, with a metal head and a wooden handle, the metal head consists of an adze/spade blade and a pick spike. With the spike as a handle it could be used as a basic spade. Between the blade and the spike was a ring into which the handle could be inserted at right angles to the head. With the handle inserted the tool could be used as a pick/mattock.

In World War II, soldiers were trained to dig a shallow 1 foot deep trench with width of their shoulders that was (and still is) called a “shell scrape”. This had to be done in 60 minutes using their entrenching tool. Easy? No, it wasn’t as it had to be done from the prone position. It was a real eye-opener to young soldiers as they hacked away at the soil, often with their mates laughing – until one of the NCOs picked the noisiest to take over the digging!

The current entrenching tool is a much more versatile design, however, everyone knows if you really want to shift soil and dig in fast, the best bit of kit is a GS shovel backed up with a pick.

It has been around since World War I – it worked then and it still works now.

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Feature BATTLEFIELD TOURS KIT

KIT

All this stuff takes up space and you need a bag (or bags) to cart it around. It’s OK if you’ve got a car into which you can dump it but once you start taking trains and planes and boats its needs to be more portable.

A bergen is a handy bit of kit for toting the stuff around, however, grips that have rucksack style straps have less of a “signature”… in other words they do not attract unwanted attention in places like airport terminals or railway stations.

One bit of kit that comes in handy on a battlefield tour is a map. OK you’ll say GPS does the trick fine and is often faster and more accurate, however, if you are showing a group how a battle developed a map is much more practical. As anyone knows who has handled maps in bad weather they have a way of falling apart, which why you need a Map Case. They come in roughly three sizes; little “patrol sized” ones with slots for pencils, pens, a compass and protractor, medium and gigantic.

The Bulldog Field Map Case is a bit of an old friend that was designed for Military use and is made from 1000 Denier Nylon to provide durability and performance. With a folded size of 14 x 25 cm is takes up very little space, can fit in most thigh cargo pockets and also has a removable shoulder strap. These nifty map cases cost £13.95 from UKMC Pro and are pretty useful for just that – patrolling. However, battlefield studies often range over wider areas, from the D-Day beaches to the fifteen mile frontage of the Somme.

I have found that the next size up, the two-sided 52 x

68cm clear map cover (also sold by UKMC Pro at £7.49) is an excellent investment. It not only protects your map but, being two-sided, allows a larger area to be covered, or a modern map to be positioned back to back with one from World War I or II. But if you are looking for the mother of all map covers, the place that stocks the third option is HM Supplies. Their retail stores sound like a role call of British Army bases and training areas: Camberley, Brecon, Aldershot, Catterick, Cheriton and Tidworth. HM Supplies make a massive 51 x 39 ins map cover that is large enough to accommodate an OS Map and comes in at £15.50 . There is a good range of clear map covers including 36 x 19 inch at £8.00, a 19 x 22 inch at £6.00 and a handy little 12 x 10 inch at £5.00. For the very tactical, the map covers come with a DPM nylon backing or one that is clear on both sides. With some careful trimming and fixing I have been able to fit the French 1:25,000 IGN set of maps that cover the Somme into the large HM Supplies map cover.

Of course, maps are incredibly useful when you are doing the “They were there and we were here and this is how the battle developed…” bit, however, in the past I have been interrupted when in full flow by British holiday tourists who had lost their way in the country back roads of Normandy and was able to say “You are here.”

And that’s about it. All I can add is that if you really want to get the maximum out of any battlefield tour you take part in, do a little research first and grab a few bits that will help you get the most out of it.

www.airsoft-action.online

91

HALO MILL

SITE DIRECTORY

Taking you beyond 350fps!

Tel: 01484 840554

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

Sponsors of the AIRSOFT ACTION Site Directory

SYMBOL KEY

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

SHOP ONSITE

WOODLAND

PYROS ALLOWED

URBAN

BATTERY CHARGING

DESERT

REPAIR SERVICE

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

ATROOP AIRSOFT

AIRBORNE 101 AIRSOFT CLUB

ALL ARMS AIRSOFT

ARENA AIRSOFT

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

ALPHA 55

AWA HERTS

Clocaenog Forest, LL16 4SP Tel: 07967 394976 www.atroop.co.uk

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

Tel: 07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk

ABSOLUTE AIRSOFT

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

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

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

ACE AIRSOFT WAR GAMES

Downpatrick, Co. Down, BT30 Tel: 07718 032541 robinsonm24@btinternet.com

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

AIRSOFT COMMANDOS Sutton, near Ferrybridge Tel: 07723 061386 andyace@ntlworld.com

AIRSOFT KGB

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

AIRSOFT PLANTATION

Goatsmoore Lane, Billericay, CM4 9RS Tel: 07534 636289 / 07771 556395 www.theofficialairsoftplantation.co.uk theofficialairsoftplantation@gmail.com

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

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

ACE COMBAT

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH CQB

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

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March 2017

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

Studley, B80 7LY Tel: 07764 587410 www.airsoftskirmish.co.uk

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

Halkyn Wood, North Wales CH8 8DF Tel: 0845 257 6937 www.alpha55.co.uk

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

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

AMAZON EVENTS

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

AMBUSH ADVENTURES – CHOBHAM Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8SL Tel: 01252 315225 www.ambushadventures.co.uk

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

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

BADLANDS AIRSOFT

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

BARNSLEY AIRSOFT

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

BATTLETEC AIRSOFT

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

AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON

BETTER BATTLES

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

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

APOCALYPSE AIRSOFT

BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT

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

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

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)

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

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

COOL UNDER FIRE BORDERLINE AIRSOFT

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

BRAVO 2-2 AIRSOFT Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow, Southport. PR46JX Tel: 07790 715059 www.bravo22airsoft.com

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

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

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)

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

BRIT-TAC AIRSOFT Sheffield, S2 5TR Tel: 07795 631331 www.brittacairsoft.com

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT

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

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

CORNWALLS ELITE AIRSOFT

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

COTSWOLD AIRSOFT

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

BUSH VALLEY AIRSOFT

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

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

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

C3 TACTICAL

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

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

DOG TAG AIRSOFT

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

ELITE ACTION GAMES – WORTHING

Worthing, BN13 Tel: 01784 433023 www.eliteactiongames.com

ELITE BATTLEZONE

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT

EXPERIENCE AIRSOFT

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

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

DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT

FIREFIGHT COMBAT SIMULATIONS

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

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

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

DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.

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

TN26 1LZ facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater

FIFE WARGAMES

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

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

COMBAT AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

BUNKER 51

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

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT

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

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND

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

DELTA TEAM 3

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

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

DOGS OF WAR

FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP

DRAGON’S LAIR

FIRST & ONLY: BUNKER WOOD

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

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

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

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

www.airsoft-action.online

93

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

FIRST & ONLY: KHE SANH

WOODS

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

FIRST & ONLY: MANCHESTER

WOODLAND

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY

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

GASS AIRSOFT – PIDDINGTON Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1 Tel: 07907 788970 www.gassairsoft.co.uk

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

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY

GUN HO AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – CAMBRIDGE

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 Tel: 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – MIDLANDS

RAF Honiley/The Grange Frogmore Grange, Frog Lane, Balsall Common, West Mids CV7 7FP Tel: 01676 532 384 info@suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk www.shop. suspensionofdisbelief.co.uk

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

FREE FIRE ZONE

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

GUNMAN AIRSOFT– NORWICH Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 Tel: 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

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

FRV AIRSOFT

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

LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT

MILSIM UK

LAC SITE 1

NCIS AIRSOFT

LAC SITE 2

NOMAD AIRSOFT

LAC SITE 3

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

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

LAC SITE 5

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

LINDSEY AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NORTHFLEET CQB

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

NSC AIRSOFT

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

NTAC

MAW

OBAN AIRSOFT – ILL ARGYLL

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

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

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

MIDWALES AIRSOFT HUMBER AIRSOFT

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

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES

MIA

FULL METAL AIRSOFT

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

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

GREENZONE COMBAT

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

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

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

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

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

Argyll and Bute, PA37 1 Tel: 07967 710185 www.argyllsurplus.com

OP-TACTICAL UK – TEAN-OPS Tean, Staffordshire, ST10 4JT Tel: 07964 990831 www.op-tac.co.uk

OVER THE TOP AIRSOFT CLUB Anglesey, LL71 www.ottairsoft.co.uk Tel: 07731 744471

www.airsoft-action.online

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SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

PATHFINDER GROUP AIRSOFT MILITARY SIMULATION Former RAF Camp Sopley/Merryfield Park, Hants, BH23 Tel: 02380 899369

PHOENIX AIRSOFT

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

PLATOON 1HQ

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

PLAYERS OF WAR

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

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

RAVEN’S NEST

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

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT

TA EVENTS

TORRENT WARFARE

SG1 COMBAT GAMES

TACTICAL WALES AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT

SKIRMISH AIRSOFT BILLERICAY

TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB

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

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

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

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

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

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

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH

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

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

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

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

Wigton, Cumbria CA7 3SZ Tel: 01900 85645 www.airsoftcumbria.co.uk

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

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

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

TECH BRIGADE

Newgate Street, Hertfordshire.

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

UCAP AIRSOFT

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

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

UCAP GREEN OPS

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

THE BUNKER

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

THE DEPOT RAW WAR AIRSOFT CUMBRIA

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

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

UCAP SANDPIT

Bean, Kent, DA2 8 Tel: 07590 818881 www.ucap.co.uk

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

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT RED1AIRSOFT

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

RED1AIRSOFT CQB

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

RIFT AIRSOFT COM’S SITE 3 Chipping Warden, OX17 1LZ Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

RIFT AIRSOFT (COTTENHAM) Cambridge, CB24 8RL Tel: 07751 586781 www.riftairsoft.com

96

March 2017

STIRLING AIRSOFT

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

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

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

SUSSEX AIRSOFT

Redford, DD11 Tel: 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk

Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0RH www.ultimatewargames.co.uk

THE EX SITE

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

URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13 Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN Tel: 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com

THE WARGAMES CENTRE

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

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

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

THUNDER PARK AIRSOFT

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

ULTIMATE WARGAMES – LIMPSFIELD

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

URBAN6AIRSOFT – THE BLOCK

Wood Street, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 3AB www.urban6airsoft.com

URBAN ASSAULT

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

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

VIKING AIRSOFT

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

WARMINSTER AIRSOFT

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

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

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

PRACTICAL PISTOL DIRECTORY AIPSC

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

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

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

WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB WatfordPPC@gmail.com

DOUBLE TAP PSC

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

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

EBSC

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

HALO MILL

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

NORTHERN PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB (NPPC)

Tanner Street, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1NA Tel: 07816 992417 www.northernpracticalpistol.co.uk 4 indoor ranges

XSITE PRACTICAL SHOOTING

SOUTH WEST PRACTICAL SHOOTERS (SWPS)

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

WETHERSFIELD AIRSOFT TARGET SHOOTING CLUB (WAT SIC)

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

Set-up from 6:30pm.

Club shooting commences by 7:30pm.

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

Contact via FB or 07939557029.

Indoors.

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

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

www.airsoft-action.online

97

DEALER LISTINGS

ADVERTISERS INDEX Land Warrior Airsoft

Inside Front Cover

RedWolf Airsoft Airsoft Zone

3 7 + Inside Back Cover

JD Airsoft NUPROL iWholesales ActionSportGames Fire Support

19 + 44 23 28 + 29 36

Helikon-Tex

40

Valken Airsoft

48 60 + 82

BadgerTac

70

Crawley Surplus Store

71

Silvermans

71

Pro Airsoft Supplies

74

Northern Shooting Show

78

Airsoft Action Stockists

86

Airsoft Action Digital Editions

90

Dragon Valley Airsoft

97

Military Outdoor

97

Military 1st

2014

15

TacTree

Viper Tactical

106

9 + 66 + 94

Outside Back Cover