Issue 63 - July 2016

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Editor: Nigel Streeter Assistant editor: Gareth “Gadge” Harvey Graphic design: Havoc Design Ad design: Havoc Design Publisher: Nigel Streeter Cover Photo: Courtesy Accuracy International UK 13-issue subscription rate: £46.50 UK 6-issue subscription rate: £24.00 For overseas prices email: subs@airsoft-action.co.uk

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Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Upper Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 6PL Tel: 01684 878 003 Web: www.airsoft-action.online ©Calibre Publishing Limited 2016 Distribution: Distributed to the newstrade by Comag Magazine Marketing, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE T: 01895 433 800 Copyright © Calibre Publishing Limited 2016. 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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CONTENTS MARCH JULY 2016 2014

CONTENTS JULY 2016

6 NEWS What’s happening in the World of Airsoft 10 ROGUE’S GALLERY Cool photos taken by Airsoft Action readers.

11 THE ADVENTURES OF MAG Mag continues his adventures in Airsoft Action’s exclusive cartoon.

12 ARMOURY: G&G GMG42 If you are in the market for a piece of heavy WW2 action, then maybe Scott Allan can point you in the right direction.

16 ARMOURY: G&P FREE FLOAT RECOIL SYSTEM “MAGPUL M4” If you’re looking for a little more realism in relation to your AEG, Jerry Noone takes a look at a rather unique replica from G&P featuring their Free Float Recoil System!

20 ARMOURY: CYBERGUN COLT 1911 There are more 1911s in airsoft than you can shake a pistol at and now Cybergun have released yet more. Scott Allan straps on his holster to find out if they are any good.

24 FEATURE: ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL Nige took the opportunity to make a rare visit to this recordholding arms manufacturer, based near Portsmouth.

29 EVENT: NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2016 Following the apparent demise of the British Airsoft Show, we report from a new event that has the potential to be bigger and better.

34 EVENT: HUNGER BATTLES Gadge travels to Tuddenham, in Norfolk, to take part in a Gunman weekender with a difference.

63 LUL: NEW FROM OLD! These days there are so many camouflage patterns to choose from that it’s often difficult to know where to start, so this month Jerry Noone takes us on a trip down “memory lane” as he brings a classic pattern bang up to date.

68 EVENT: MIDLANDS AIRSOFT FAIR As Airsoft Boot Fairs become more popular, Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick reports from one held in an ex-prison-turnedairsoft-site.

70 SITE: HAVOC AIRSOFT Angelo DV and Team Rhino head to Wakefield to check out one of the many new sites opening up in the North of the country.

74 DEBATE: WEAPON OF CHOICE There are literally thousands of different airsoft guns to choose from so in this issue’s debate Gadge asked “What is your weapon of choice?”

78 ARMOURY: ICS CXP CAPTAIN Being a fan of the earlier model, Team Rhino’s Angelo DV was happy to get his hands on this new offering from ICS. 81 GITAG: ASPUK UPGRADE PART 1 This month Jerry Noone thought he’d delve into what exactly goes into creating a one-off sniper rifle from “just an idea” through to fruition.

84 BIG BOYZ TOYZ: SHERMAN TANK PART 2 Ratty finishes his look at the ubiquitous Sherman Tank and even gives us some tips on buying and owning one of the bestknown tanks of World War Two. 89 TECH TALK: GIVE ME POWER! Frenchie continues his Tech Talk column with a look at what powers our AEGs.

36 FEATURE: TRIPLE ECHO Frenchie has a penchant for things a little less ordinary and here he delves into the world of triple-barrelled, spring shotguns.

92 WARRIORS: SCUD HUNTERS In the first of his new column, looking at post-Cold War Warriors, Gadge Harvey focusses on the elite soldiers sent into Iraq to destroy enemy missiles.

40 KIT: VIPER “TITANIUM” LAUNCH Kelly “Femme Fatale” Hardwick headed up to Edinburgh for the launch of Viper Tactical’s new “Titanium” clothing range and got to play at Land Warrior airsoft at the same time.

97 COMPETITION: ASG-ACCURACY INTERNATIONALASPUK As Competitions go, they don’t come much bigger than this!

Win our Once-In-A-Lifetime competition and walk away with a prize that money simply cannot buy!

44 ARMOURY: HECKLER & KOCH USP A firm fan of compact and sub-compact pistols, Jerry Noone gets to grips with the smallest of the H&K USP models from Umarex.

98 SURVIVAL: MINOR INJURIES Survival expert, Paul Yelland, explains how to deal with some of the more common types of injury that can occur on the skirmish field.

46 INSIDE AIRSOFT: URBAN AIRSOFT MEGA STORE Roving Reporter, Les Lee, peeks behind the doors of a relatively new airsoft retailer and found far more than he expected.

102 FAMOUS RAIDS: OPERATION FLIPPER Billy writes about a WW2 action which, had it been successful, might have changed the course of the war in North Africa.

52 INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT: RUSSIA – ISAF 2015 Airsoft Action’s Russian correspondents, Marty and Marta, write about a game based on real events in the Helmand River valley, Afghanistan.

106 SKILLS: SHOULDER HOLSTER Calibre Shooting’s Andy Nightingale gives us the low-down on a piece of equipment rarely used in airsoft but with a part to play nonetheless.

56 ARMOURY: A&K PKM LMG Gadge is no stranger to playing a Soviet role, so when the chance came to review one the Soviet’s foremost LMGs, he was first in the queue!

108 SITE DIRECTORY & PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUBS With the ever-growing popularity of Practical Shooting, we thought it was about time we started listing where you can go and take part - as well as over four pages of awesome airsoft venues!

60 EVENT: AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR Last month Jerry Noone took some time off the skirmish field to pay a visit to a twice-yearly airsoft event in Bexley, Kent that keeps on growing and growing, the Airsoft Boot Fair.

114 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 AIRSOF ASG AND CYBERGUN JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT FOR AIRSOFT AIRSOFT ACTION RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING Joint Status Report from ActionSportGames and Cybergun, regarding proposed EU Legislation that could have severe implications for airsoft throughout Europe.

Joint Status Report from ActionSportGames A/S (ASG) and Cybergun regarding the proposal for amendments of the EU firearms directive: As promised, we will keep you informed of the ongoing discussions in Brussels on the European directive that threatens the future of airsoft and airgun devices.

As informed in the beginning of this year, the European Commission on November 18th, 2015, released a proposal with the primary objective to better regulate the acquisition and possession of firearms in Europe.

Unfortunately for all airsoft players and airgun device users, our practice, sport and hobby was a collateral damage of this proposal, since it proposes that replica firearms are categorized in category C (purchase and possession subject to registration). Such a change – if it were to be approved and applied – would be the end of the practice of airsoft and airgun devices as we know it today. This is unreasonable and therefore ASG and Cybergun – despite being both rivals and competitors – have decided to work together to take strong actions both in Brussels and in Member States to make our voices heard and defend our passion.

From our first meetings in Brussels back in January it was obvious that very few members of the EU parliament were aware of the existence of airsoft and 6

July 2016

airgun devices. It became clear very soon that in trying to regulate the acquisition and possession of what they refer to as “replica firearms”, the members of the Commission wanted above all to address the de-activated firearms that could have been again re-activated. Obviously airsoft and airgun devices have absolutely nothing to do with such de-activated firearms!

We spent the first phase of discussions on the proposal to meet representatives of the Commission, Members of Parliament and the Council to explain who we are, what we are doing and that obviously owners of airsoft and airgun devices pose no threats to the European society.

This was indeed a challenging task, but we believe that we have succeeded in increasing the awareness in Brussels about airsoft and airgun devices and the related sports. In addition it seems that the politicians we have met now have a better understanding of the passion that drives the airsoft and airgun community within Europe. We therefore consider that our initial actions have been successful.

Whether we are talking about the Commission, Council or Parliament, the actors we have met and who actually have power to influence the text have heard our arguments and are - for some - ready to exclude airsoft devices from the text. At this stage we have several draft documents that go in the right direction and in particular the contributions of the Council of the European Union and the main rapporteur on the subject, Vicky FORD. These texts are not perfect but we keep on proposing improvements to the different draft documents.

The airsoft devices seem to be on track to be excluded from this text, and we must

now work equally hard in order to exclude the airgun devices too. Our interlocutors’ lack of technical insight of the subject matter sometimes makes it hard to discuss the important details, which are a deciding factor in the text. It is now up to us to offer them the right “wording” and explain why they should hear the approach we propose and exclude both airsoft devices and airgun devices from the scope of the directive.

We remain fully motivated to continue our strong efforts and to make our voices heard in Brussels. We will fight until the very last minute in order to have our beloved hobby and sport excluded from the text. The fight does not stop until the final decision- the vote in Parliament - has been taken and at that time - and only at that time only - we can hopefully declare “victory”. It is too early for now.

ASG and CYBERGUN will move forward on this matter shoulder by shoulder, with the sole purpose to save our practice and it seems we are the only two airsoft/airgun companies within Europe, who actively try to influence the process within the European institutions in Brussels. But for us the future is priceless.

We will keep you informed of the situation, especially during the various votes that will happen very soon.

Hugo BRUGIERE (for CYBERGUN) Christian Trolle ANDERSEN (For ASG)

Airsoft Action also acknowledges the input and effort made on behalf of airsofters by both the European Airsoft Association (EAA) and United Kingdom Airsoft Players Union (UKAPU).

For more information, visit the UKAPU website: http://ukapu.org.uk

AIRSOFT NEWS ARE YOU TOUGH MAD BRAVE ENOUGH? 3D ZOMBIE HEAD TARGETS: APOCALYPSE PREPARED! UK-BASED WALKING DEAD? Eat your heart out… literally!

Prepare for the apocalypse with these 3d zombie head targets, complete with exploding eye and blood effects.

Made in the UK by Nether Designs from a 6lbs density foam, the 3d zombie targets are ideal for airsoft or as a traditional Archery target. Nether Designs also offers the option of denser foams for more high powered weapons of choice.

New heads and body/torsos (which will act as stands and allow for interchangeable heads) are in the making. This means they’re ideal for personal use as well as site owners who want to offer a new experience (Trade

accounts are welcome).

There’s nothing more satisfying than shooting a zombie in the head and let’s face it, we all need some practice. Blood effects, exploding eye effects and general all round good apocalyptic fun for all the family.

Nether Designs Ltd, is a UK based company founded in 2012. Specialising in unique concept and design, we’re always looking to offer new products as well as custom creations.

For more information, contact Nether Designs ltd. at info@netherdesigns.com or check out the website at www.netherdesigns. com and on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/NetherDesigns

UKAPU Re-Launch Website and Membership System!

UNITED KINGDOM: Matthew Furey-King, Chairman of United Kingdom Airsoft Players Union (UKAPU), announced that UKAPU will introduce an enhanced and re-designed website. The new website, alongside UKAPU’s Facebook and Twitter, will allow the organisation to directly communicate with airsoft players around the United Kingdom.

The website will also include an updated membership system, allowing players to sign up for free and become a member of UKAPU. Included in the membership system is the ability to donate to UKAPU, giving players the chance to claim up to two UKAPU patches, as well as other membership benefits.

“I’m very proud to announce that UKAPU’s new membership system is now open,” said Chairman Matthew Furey-King. “Our volunteers have had to build a completely new membership system and

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website over the past month, and as you’ll see, they have done a cracking job. Membership is now free, so there’s no reason not to sign up, and tell you friends to do the same. Every extra member gives us a little more strength when we need to stand up for airsoft.”

• Bronze UKAPU Membership is free, includes a UKAPU membership number.

• Silver UKAPU Membership has a donation fee of 5GBP, includes the choice of a tan or green patch.

• Gold UKAPU Membership has a donation fee of 10GBP, includes both the tan and green patches.

• Membership lasts for 12 months from the date of sign-up.

About UKAPU: UKAPU is an unincorporated non-profit association formed by a dedicated group of airsoft skirmishers to help protect and strengthen our hobby. By providing a united and official organisation that represents players, we can far more effectively engage in discussion with the government, other organisations, and the press when skirmishing comes under threat.

For more information and updates, visit: http:// ukapu.org.uk

SOME TIME BEFORE 29th August this year, Airsoft Action’s very own Roving Reporter and all-round good guy, Les Lee, is going to chuck himself off the Spinnaker Tower in Porstmouth. No, not because he got taken out by a kid with a bright orange gun but because he has a big heart and wants to give back to those who have already given far more than most of us ever will.

Les will be abseiling 100 meters down the Spinnaker Tower in order to raise funds for Pilgrim Bandits, the charity set up by ex-members of Her Majesty’s Special Forces to help and inspire wounded soldiers to live life to the full.

The mantra “Always a little further” is a core principle of the charity’s attitude and it is certainly something Les will need to hang onto (as well as the rope) when he swings himself out over open space and starts his descent! The Pilgrim Bandits “don’t do sympathy” so don’t offer any to Les either, instead please give him your support by digging deep and making a donation.

If every airsofter pledged just £1, imagine how much good that would do for all those that have given everything they have to help defend us – and who we emulate every time we get kitted up and go out to play airsoft. It would be the least we could do.

If you would like to donate, please let Les know by phone (07709 426609), or by emailing him: les@airsoft-action.co.uk For more information about the Pilgrim Bandits, visit their website: http://pilgrimbandits.org

AA GALLERY READERS’ PHOTOS

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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.

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All this month’s gallery images are from The Northern Shooting Show

THE ADVENTURES OF MAG

CARTOON

www.airsoft-action.online

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G&G BUZZS IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A PIECE OF HEAVY WW2 ACTION, THEN MAYBE SCOTT ALLAN CAN POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR YEARS AIRSOFT FANS WANTED a MG42 that didn’t break the bank and we saw the AGM version a little while ago that was nice but it didn’t really do the original machinegun the proper justice. So G&G decided they would have a crack at it and all I can say is… “das ist wunderbar”!

World War II weaponry in Airsoft has slowly expanded over the years, too slowly for my liking and it is surprising that the MG42 hadn’t been produced earlier. G&G spoke about their version for a few years; if you remember my report from the 2014 Shot Show it went something like “MG42 banner on the stand but no official details of.... well anything at all about it”.

That was pretty much how the 2015 Shot Show was too. Then in mid-2015 the GMG42 was released with no real build up, it

just appeared. What also appeared was a £1,500 price tag! This overly impressed no one, including myself and so the GMG42 sat on shelves in Taiwan until recently.

SO GUAY GUAY WHAT WAS THE PLAN?

Well G&G, the Taiwanese masters of Airsoft, have been slugging out brilliant model after model for the last few years.

Yes they have been innovating like mad and yes, they’ve made a couple of wrong turns (don’t ask about the VSS… ever) but all in all they are excellent. They listen to their customers and the end user and that means they are very “finger on the pulse”, unlike companies such as G&P who seem to have lost their way a little in recent years. G&G wanted an MG42 that outshone and outperformed every other model on the market in every way. It’s a tall order and they have to be careful because if you reach for the sun, sometimes your wings melt and you end up a red smudge on the scenery.

SO WHY THE MG42?

The MG42 is an iconic piece of engineering, so good that it is still used today by a few different armed forces. This is a monster steel-constructed replica that sports real wooden parts, so it certainly pays tribute to its real cousin in every respect. The heavy and long design of the MG42 should set pulses racing on both sides of the Airsoft field that’s for sure - and quite rightly so!

THE REAL STEEL

The real MG42 is a 7.92mm, 1,200 rounds-per-minute machine of precision death. With quick change barrels and small crews required to operate it, it ensured that fewer troops could carry more weapons which could lay down more fire. When you run 12

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Armoury G&G GMG42

ZSAW

simple maths like that you can see why the German forces did so well for so long. Having had the pleasure (and sheer joy) to fire the real version at the 2014 Shot Show, I can tell you which end I’d rather be on…

The range warden did say, “lean right into it” and after pumping out a few belts on the brilliant M240B and then the mighty M60 E4, I figured I easily had this in the bag. I was wrong! I leant right into it, bipod straining forward onto the lip of the firing point and unleashed what I expected to be a 3-5 round burst. Before I could blink the bipod was raising and I was being driven back. I eased off the trigger, holding my aim to count around 15 shells still bouncing around the range. I smiled, tightened my grip and leaned in even further.

The MG42 was not only a more efficient design of the already great MG34 but it was a leap forward in warfare. The contending Allied weapons were seriously out of date from slow to change military forces. Safe to say it was a pivotal weapon in the history of warfare and redefined the general purpose machine gun role. Even to this day it is a standardsetter, given that many designs are said to have come from the mighty “buzzsaw”.

THE G&G VERSION

Externally it is a hulking steel beast as you would naturally expect but when I assembled the whole thing, what did surprise me was the care and attention to detail from G&G. It arrives in a very unassuming cardboard box, it is almost a disservice that the box is plain cardboard. Then when you try and pick it up it becomes apparent what G&G have achieved.

At 10.5 kilos it is only a kilo lighter than the real version – and

that isn’t exactly light to begin with. The finish on it is discreetly stunning too, the parkerised finish is a realistic grey matt effect.

The wood is solid real wood and again, seems stunning quality and pleasantly finished. The AGM MG42 cocking handle I likened to a dead floppy fish, the G&G version I would only liken to the real steel MG42. The cocking handle is actually a functioning part of the rifle for barrel removal and that is deeply satisfying.

Performance for a support weapon is paramount. No one wants to be gunned down struggling along to get closer to an enemy base only to be out-ranged by a short-barrelled M4. Sadly this is where so many Chinese mass made weapons fall down generally. Cheap production means corners are cut (sometimes whole sides) and AGM are as guilty of this as any of the others. The G&G on the other hand is a beast on every level. From the six-part break down design, custom CNC gearbox (which is well thought out and upgradeable), to the dummy belt of ammunition G&G provide. Okay at the end

“THIS IS A MONSTER STEEL-CONSTRUCTED REPLICA THAT SPORTS REAL WOODEN PARTS, SO IT CERTAINLY PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS REAL COUSIN IN EVERY RESPECT. THE HEAVY AND LONG DESIGN OF THE MG42 SHOULD SET PULSES RACING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AIRSOFT FIELD THAT’S FOR SURE – AND QUITE RIGHTLY SO!” www.airsoft-action.online

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Armoury G&G GMG42

of the day it is still an Airsoft rifle and we are governed by power limits but the look and feel of the GMG42 can never be denied.

Internally there are a few things I’ve come to expect from G&G. I would expect a solid gearbox and this version is uniquely CNC that is highly unusual. CNC means it will be quite possibly the strongest gearbox you’ll ever own.

Building the rifle only takes a few moments (admittedly I had to check the manual quickly to understand the box magazine attachment) but the six pieces all slot together well. The one piece removable inner and outer barrel is as per the real version and although I cannot think why you would need this, is “THE ONE PIECE REMOVABLE does give you great satisfaction knowing if the zombies come INNER AND OUTER BARREL IS you can beat them with it.

AS PER THE REAL VERSION On paper and to look at, AND ALTHOUGH I CANNOT the MG42 is a legendary bit of kit and if you want to go down THINK WHY YOU WOULD NEED a legitimate WWII German THIS, IS DOES GIVE YOU GREAT Airsoft route I’d be sorely tempted by this. You would SATISFACTION KNOWING IF THE want to consider sharing it ZOMBIES COME YOU CAN BEAT with a team mate or two THEM WITH IT.” though, to help lug it around the battlefield. Okay the cost is high, really high… but then is it? A Systema PTW is far more expensive, mass produced and not made entirely of steel. This is one of those rare rifles you can drop and it’ll break the ground. Plus G&G have the best warranty of any Airsoft company hands down, which means if something goes pop you’ll get help from a local dealer.

I did half expect the shooting experience to be a let down, after all, how could anything look this good and feel anything like the real one? Well it can’t stand up to the savage recoil and high rate of 7.92mm fire of the real version, which means you’ll have friends at the end of a game day and a working shoulder. I can see this being used a lot by reenactors too, the finish is just soo good and the price is far less than a good deactivated MG. The shooting, whilst slightly average in Airsoft terms, was good but the sustained burst provided by the magazine coupled with a near realistic rate of cycling rate would make it a cracking fixed position piece.

IN THE FIELD

I’ve had a few heavy rifles over the years, VFC Barrett & Inokatsu GPMG to name but a few and this is up there with them. It is easier to carry than the GPMG and has full auto, unlike the Barrett so I guess it is better in some ways. Setting this up to defend a fixed position is really going 14

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to be its strong point, especially if your site has some kind of pillbox-type defensive areas. I would probably give an indoor site a miss with this big boy unless you want to just show off. The real MG42 needed a three-man crew but you should happily be able to pad around your site if you’re a burly bloke or lady, setting up and moving whenever you see fit. It’s not un-doable on your own, it’s just a bit of extra lugging. When you think some players run a pistol, rifle, helmet, rig etc. the combined weight of those isn’t so far off the single MG42. It really depends if you dare to make it that bit more crazy for yourself.

CONCLUSION

It is an utterly ridiculous, long, expensive, heavy and iconic support weapon and I don’t play WWII Airsoft. You probably won’t use it nearly as much as any of your other rifles and it is in some ways a very useable collectable.

The AGM version is around a third of the cost but it isn’t anywhere near the quality of the G&G version. It is strange that G&G would go to this level but then they have done it before with their “Gold AK”. Sometimes they can so they do.

If you want bragging rights on an excellent quality MG42 this is definitely the one for you, now has anyone seen Kyle….

He’s this high…. (sorry, bad German joke!)

features Steel – lots and lots of steel Excellent parkerised metal finish Realistic heavy weight Real Wood Stock Accurate detail Folding steel bipod Adjustable “anti-aircraft” sights Fast swap barrel Functioning charging handle Drum magazine Length 1.23 metres Weight 10.5 kilos FPS 340 with Blaster 0.20g BB – 1.07 Joules RRP £1,500

RAGING MAGPUL

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE MORE REALISM IN RELATION TO YOUR AEG, JERRY NOONE TAKES A LOOK AT A RATHER UNIQUE REPLICA FROM G&P FEATURING THEIR FREE FLOAT RECOIL SYSTEM! WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH-QUALITY airsoft replicas there is one company that I know I can rely on for top-end components and materials, superb build quality, and excellent performance; that company is G&P from Hong Kong.

G&P started making airsoft replicas in 1995, so this makes them one of the most established military-simulation and training airsoft manufacturers in the world. They started out making tactical lights for law enforcement and military agencies around the world and then branched into airsoft manufacturing with the same core principle to never sacrifice quality for a lower price. You can see this belief in every G&P product; every G&P replica rifle is hand-assembled and individually fine-tuned by top technicians in the industry to give unparalleled quality.

G&P utilise CNC precision machining and real-steel finish/ coating processes on many of their products, so you really do get your moneys’ worth when you buy one of their replicas.

Today, the company is one of Hong Kong’s most important airsoft manufacturers. In addition to its own complete production line in China, the company also possesses an extensive production network for related products and accessories. Taking full advantage of Hong Kong’s special geographic location, the company employs a production system in which products are designed in Hong Kong, produced in China and assembled and inspected again in Hong Kong. This enables the company to offer high-quality products at lower prices whilst maintaining superb quality control.

And they’re not content to just keep churning out the same old thing year in and year out. Whilst many airsoft manufacturers are happy to sit on a base model and simply jig about with fancy externals, G&P quite literally go back to the drawing board and start from scratch, ensuring that every part

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of their replicas are nigh on 100% accurate.

Weirdly though, I have never owned one of their full length M4 models and I can’t really understand why, as a number of custom carbines in my collection are based on their M4 CQB variant. A number of my custom carbines are based on the CQB body and have given years of service, being serviced every so often by Fire Support to keep them at their best levels of performance.

What I received from Fire Support for this review though piqued my interest; when Frank asked me if I would like to take a look at the latest full-length M4 offering from G&P featuring

Armoury G&P FREE FLOAT RECOIL SYSTEM “MAGPUL M4”

“WHEN I LIFTED THE CARBINE CLEAR OF ITS UNASSUMING BROWN BOX I HAVE TO ADMIT TO DOING A BIT OF A DOUBLE TAKE, AS IT WAS COMPLETELY BEDECKED IN MAGPUL PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND SIMULATION (PTS) GOODNESS!”

a fully functioning recoil system, of course I was keen to see it. When I lifted the carbine clear of its unassuming brown box I have to admit to doing a bit of a double take, as it was completely bedecked in Magpul Professional Training and Simulation (PTS) goodness!

CORPS PRINCIPLES!

These days Magpul Industries are very, very well known, not just for their excellent firearm accessories and parts but also due to a range of cutting-edge training videos that they put out back in the days when Chris Costa and Travis Haley were involved with Magpul Dynamics. Almost overnight when “The Art of the Tactical Carbine” DVD was released, Haley and Costa became “tactical rock stars” and brought in what would be a new era of access to first rate firearms training. The association with Magpul worked very well for all parties and even though Haley and Costa have moved on to pastures new, there will be people like me out there that will still see both the brand and the individuals as being inextricably linked.

Magpul Industries Corp was founded in 1999 by Richard M. Fitzpatrick, a Sergeant who had served with distinction in the elite United States Marine Corps Force Recon. The company currently has two divisions: Magpul Industries, which manufactures firearms accessories and Magpul Core (formerly Magpul Dynamics), founded in 2008, which delivers firearms training, including instructional videos.

Magpul started small, with the intent of developing a simple device to aid in the manipulation of rifle magazines while reloading under stress. The company’s name comes from this original product called “The Magpul”. Over the last decade Magpul has continued to grow and develop.

To understand Magpul, you must first understand the root principles that formed the foundation of the company culture and design philosophy. As Magpul themselves state: “There is something to be said for great ideas; however, ideas are nothing more than dreams until they are realized in a form that is accessible to the marketplace. Magpul is known

for its creative design solutions, and we are proud of our accomplishments in this arena not only because they are novel, but because we have successfully turned many of our dreams into reality.”

Unnecessary complexity and expensive construction are the hallmarks of mediocre design. It is almost always easier to design a product that is complicated, confusing and expensive rather than simple, intuitive and affordable. Although it is more difficult, Magpul has chosen to take the latter of these two approaches to product development. From the onset of every project, Magpul uses a list of mission-driven requirements to dictate design, material construction and the manufacturing methods that will be most efficient - without sacrificing quality or performance. The goal of the design itself

www.airsoft-action.online

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Armoury G&P FREE FLOAT RECOIL SYSTEM “MAGPUL M4”

The metal parts, rather than just being a shoddily painted black are a rich, deep black. The MOTS (Multi-Objective Training System) metal body is beautifully formed, although personally I’m none too fussed about the “Navy SEAL Team” trademarks.

From the “Magpul” side of things the carbine comes pre-fitted with a Professional Training System (PTS) MOE handguard, a PTS MOE pistol grip and a PTS MOE Stock as standard. All three of these components are pretty much identical from what you’d see on the Magpul website and all of them work extremely well in ergonomic terms. There’s a whole range of accessories, such as different length rails and foregrips that can be purchased as accessories for the MOE handguard, so you can easily set this up exactly as you like it.

Internally things are no less impressive. The hop-up adjustment is exactly where you would expect it to be, behind the fake bolt which is accessed by pulling back the charging handle. This is an excellent unit that once set stays steadfastly in place. The motor is G&P’s latest M140 high torque model and the gearbox is a new 8mm bearing “Free float Recoil System” design. This gearbox has been specifically designed to take the extra stresses generated by having to move the counterweights for the recoil system back and forth in the buffer tube.

With the G&P the battery goes in the MOE handguard and neatly disappears when things are closed up. Changing the battery is simplicity itself as you simply pull back on the is to be both simple and intuitive. By incorporating ergonomic delta ring and drop the bottom half of the handguard down considerations, a proper user interface and subtle visual and and clear. The wiring runs right to the front of the battery tactile features, the product itself should actually instruct the compartment and is fitted with a Deans connector for user about its operation and function. Although every Magpul maximum efficiency as standard. G&P recommend though that product comes with clear, concise installation and usage you run nothing more than a 7.4V LiPo in this carbine though, instructions, their aim is to design products so self-explanatory so as not to overstress the system. that instructions become unnecessary.

This really is an impressive carbine and even on a 7.4V it Due to strict export laws on real firearm parts and really does crack away; bear in mind that many airsoft games accessories, real Magpul parts were never readily available these days will have strict ammo limits and you’re going to outside of the US, although a number of UK RFDs do bring want to stick to semi-auto anyway. I mention this as the M4 the real parts in to this day. The PTS components are marked comes with a single, polymer 120-round magazine, which is “for professional training use only” and are made specifically a nicely replicated “P-MAG” and feeds absolutely flawlessly to fit airsoft replicas - and they are NOT approved for use on and which, once loaded, snaps into place with no wobble. real firearms. PTS components are not directly produced by One feature of the “Magpul M4” that I really, really like is the ambidextrous magazine release which really speeds up changing mags. I did try the M4 with “THE THING THAT REALLY GIVES THE G&P THE EDGE OVER OTHER various Hi-Cap and Mid-Cap magazines and all M4 REPLICAS IN A SIMILAR PRICE-RANGE THOUGH IS THE RECOIL. functioned perfectly.

I loaded the magazine up with a full SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER AND YOU GET A THUMP IN THE SHOULDER! complement of my usual 2.0g test BBs and got SQUEEZE AGAIN, THUMP. THEN SWITCH THE SELECTOR UP TO to work… 10 rounds through the chrono gave me a perfectly spot-on mean of 1 Joule/329fps; FULL AUTO AND GIVE IT SOME BEANS AND I DEFY YOU NOT TO the trigger is crisp and responsive. Setting HAVE A HAPPY GRIN ON YOUR FACE IN SHORT TIME.” targets out to 30 metres I was able to get reasonable groupings on semi-auto using the flip-up rear sight, with things opening out just a little when Magpul themselves but instead manufactured by a close knit I switched the selector up. My thought is that with a bit of group of properly licensed airsoft manufacturers. Due to some fettling you could really have a very, very accurate rifle on your mix-ups in supply chains though and with the ever-increasing hands here, although it’s still no slouch straight out of the box. prevalence of cloned parts, in 2013 Magpul decided to distance The thing that REALLY gives the G&P the edge over other themselves from the airsoft market entirely, so what we see on M4 replicas in a similar price-range though is the recoil. replicas now could be the dwindling end of PTS parts, which Squeeze the trigger and you get a thump in the shoulder! personally I find very sad.

Squeeze again, thump. Then switch the selector up to full auto and give it some beans and I defy you not to have a happy grin 100% RIGHT on your face in short time. I have to admit that I did give it a try So, there’s a LOT of history behind both the M4 and indeed using an 11.1V LiPo and all I can say is “Oh my goodness me!”

Magpul Industries.

I can completely see why G&P recommend just a 7.4V as on the It’s the attention to detail, even the tiniest of things, that higher power the carbine positively jumps in your hands! really makes the G&P stand out from the crowd though. I’ve In a nutshell this is a first rate replica in terms of look, feel seen many manufacturers have a crack at a “Magpul M4” only and finish and it works perfectly. You get everything that G&P to be let down by silly things like using the wrong pistol grip have always been great at, with the added bonus of a perfectly or stock; although such things will only be noticed by a true functioning recoil system. The G&P “Magpul M4” has a retail “stitch counter” once seen, you just can’t un-see it! price of £379.00 which (for what you’re getting) is extremely The G&P follows the entire feature set down to the smallest good value for money. detail; it truly is a work of art and no little research has gone My advice? If you’re in the market for a full-length M4 then into getting everything completely right. The replica “Magpul definitely check out the G&P “Magpul” version!

M4” is made entirely of metal, with only the pistol grip, butt, For more information on G&P products please visit and handguard being made of a very nice matt black plastic. www.fire-support.co.uk

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THERE ARE MORE 1911s IN AIRSOFT THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A PISTOL AT AND NOW CYBERGUN HAVE RELEASED YET MORE. SCOTT ALLAN STRAPS ON HIS HOLSTER TO FIND OUT IF THEY ARE ANY GOOD

THE PISTOL THEY FORGOT TO STOP MAKING EVERYTHING CHANGES IN LIFE, sometimes they get much better and other times they get far worse. So when I heard about the brand new CO2 1911s from Cybergun I was a little pessimistic to say the least.

I often joke that 1911s are the pistols they forgot to stop making; it’s over one hundred years old these days and yet it still looks great. It has been reincarnated, rebadged and remade more times than James Bond and this time it’s the turn to have the Colt 1911 produced under licence by Cybergun and manufactured OEM by KWC. With US legends like Larry Vickers loving the 1911 it isn’t going to go away for a long time.

As a general rule, 1911 pistols have one problem in Airsoft… they suck a lot in the cold weather and as you may have noticed, we’re now in the cold season known as British Summer. There are two ways around this for me normally;

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Option 1: I just don’t use a pistol in the UK or, Option 2: (my favourite) buy a Walther P99 or Socom MK23 non blow back.

Players do seem to get humpy when a pistol is non blow back yet have no issue with their rifle most often not having any – an odd observation. However, players do really want a back-up side arm but what is the point if the last line of defence is going to fail you? For me the answer has been firmly a no.

I always preferred taking three seconds to do a reload on a primary than risk my pistol failing.

FROM COLT’S WEBSITE:

“Colt pistols have long represented the gold standard in magazine-fed semi-automatic handguns.

Modern semi-automatic pistols all trace their roots to the

Armoury CYBERGUN COLT 1911

nicely. Actually the finish on these has grown on me so quickly, in particular the Stainless version, which is quite possibly one of the loveliest pistols I’ve seen for some time. It’s just a shame about the grips.

The trigger action is nice and smooth, as you would expect from any pistol. That aside, it is not until the blowback cycle starts that the real fun begins!

CO2 powered pistols have always provided a great blow back action but the rather large downside is the fact that they are often putting out a higher feet per second than your standard AEG! You could always (generally) expect a CO2 pistol to chronograph over 400 fps with a 0.20 BB and in lots of cases this would be even as high as 450fps. This is why to date you haven’t seen so many CO2 Airsoft pistols actually being used in the UK. The Cybergun Colt 1911 series is designed with playing Airsoft in mind, at a less face shattering 330fps (1.01 Joules) with a Blaster 0.20g BB. So it’s perfect for

famed Colt M1911 pistol, designed by John Browning and the standard-issue U.S. military sidearm from 1911 to 1985.

Colt 1911 pistols and their descendants were in the hands of confident World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam-era servicemen. Colt customers today can purchase reproductions of these weapons, each faithfully manufactured to the original specifications from factory blueprints.

“Despite Colt’s storied history, we know that our legacy for the 21st Century will rest on our continuing responsiveness to customer needs and the same inventiveness, innovation and commitment to quality and excellence that made Colt firearms famous 150 years ago. Accordingly, while we continue to offer classic model Colt pistols, we are proud to offer new pistol models designed to meet all the needs and to exceed “CERTAINLY IT TAKES A LOT LONGER THAN GASSING A MAGAZINE AND the highest expectations of the most WOULDN’T BE VERY PRACTICAL WHILST UNDER FIRE, ON THE FLIP SIDE demanding customers.”

YOU GENERALLY GET TWO FULL MAGAZINES FROM A SINGLE BULB AND So it boils down to them being very serious about their 45 ACP-slinging LET’S FACE IT, IF YOU ARE RELOADING A PISTOL IN THE FIELD YOU ARE 1911. The 45 round is far from new IN SOME PRETTY SERIOUS POO.” but it is still very popular. It’s like firing a large brick at your target and this is why still to this day it is equally loved indoor and outdoor alike. between civilians and law enforcement alike – even the US What this means for you is that you have a pistol that is military still revere this pistol and the calibre. less effected by the cold and damp and which provides you So “old” definitely doesn’t always mean “out of date”! with all year-round functionality. It is site FPS-friendly that gives you a secondary for all occasions and has a colossal level of recoil! Oh and the noise, don’t forget the excellent crack from THE AIRSOFT VERSION the slide as it punches the rounds out.

There are five versions in total: Stainless, Silver Slide, Tan, Dual So this is everything you will ever need from a pistol? It Tone and Black and each pistol is exactly the same only with a looks great, works all year around and you can fit whatever you different finish and pistol grip. need to the 20mm rail. Is there a catch? Well there is always a The balance and weight feel very good and accurate. The slight catch… finish of the paintwork is very nicely done, I would say to a The magazines need a CO2 bulb that is a bit of a pain to slightly better standard than the similar Nighthawk Custom. change. Certainly it takes a lot longer than gassing a magazine The grips are all plastic (which is a bit of a shame) and I would and wouldn’t be very practical whilst under fire, on the flip side certainly look to swap them off for higher quality real versions you generally get two full magazines from a single bulb and as quickly as possible. The Colt markings are clear and crisply let’s face it, if you are reloading a pistol in the field you are in lasered onto the slides, which really sets the whole thing off www.airsoft-action.online

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Armoury CYBERGUN COLT 1911

some pretty serious poo. The magazines are a reasonable price and are generally found for around £30. Okay it’s not crazy cheap but would you rather spend an extra few pounds on a magazine you can use all year around, or one that you can only use on a warm day? It’s a fair price for the performance you can expect anyway.

Almost every 1911 I have ever used really did toil in the cold weather. Part of the issue with the GBB types is the thin single stack magazine that just doesn’t hold enough gas. As the body and magazine cools the compression falls from the

“THE COLT 1911 WILL SERVE YOU WELL FOR THOSE CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WHEN ALL YOU HAVE LEFT IS YOUR PISTOL, A GRIN ON YOUR FACE, THE ENEMY ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND YOU’RE ALL READY TO GO ALL JOHN WOO ON THEIR ASSES!” gas expansion. This gives you sluggish and poor performance.

CO2 does work better but you have the additional cost of bulbs, anywhere from 30-50p per bulb. It makes the running cost higher than a standard gas blow back pistol undoubtedly.

Holster-wise, the 1911 will easily fit the real steel common holsters such as the SERPA that is good news but if you want a pistol torch fitted, you will probably need to get a custom Kydex holster made or look for a more open hard type.

The range on the Colt 1911 is not to be sniffed at. I found that running Blaster 0.30’s gave the best range but also upped the power slightly (.30s at 330fps is 1.58 Joules) so you will have to be careful you don’t slip over your site’s limits.

Also worth noting that the first 2 or 3 shots tend to be more powerful with a CO2 pistol before it settles down, so always good to fire off a few shots dry before using it in game with a fresh bulb.

There isn’t much you can really do with a pistol in terms of changing it up but I think if you had one of these, change the grips for a real set (around £30 depending on the type), a nice LED X300 clone flashlight like the newer NUPROL types which are great value and a custom Kydex holster, you would be a happy man for a long time.

CONCLUSION

So a pistol is something everyone loves and wants but so few of us ever get around to using. The sad fact is they are a little bit extra hassle and therefore not used as often. Yes this works better in the cold weather, much better than a standard GBB. You do have to take into consideration the 12g bulbs you will have to buy and keep a stock of until the wonder reusable bulb appears. Loading them into the magazines is an extra faff around but worth it.

Do a little personal admin first thing on a game day and the Colt 1911 will serve you well for those close encounters when all you have left is your pistol, a grin on your face, the enemy are just around the corner and you’re all ready to go all John Woo on their asses!

Classic 1911 Design 20mm Rail for torches or lasers Colt Licensed Trademarks Heavy weight full metal Realistic blowback Realistic takedown Plastic Grips Adjustable Hop Up CO2 powered via 12g CO2 bulb Power 1.01 Joules/330fps with a Blaster 0.20g BB Weight 970grams Length 220mm RRP £130

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THE BEST

SNIPER RIFLE IN THE WORLD 24

JUly 2016

NIGE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A RARE VISIT TO THIS RECORD-HOLDING ARMS MANUFACTURER, BASED NEAR PORTSMOUTH AS THE OWNER, EDITOR AND Publisher of Airsoft Action my days are pretty full-on but every so often something happens that really grabs my attention and, on this occasion, it was a phone call from ActionSportGames (ASG), in Denmark.

If you have been involved in airsoft for more than five minutes, you will know that ASG are one of Europe’s foremost airsoft manufacturers and distributors and the company behind the awesome CZ EVO 3. They have also been very actively involved, along with a number of other companies and organisations, in representing airsoft at the highest levels in the European Parliament so when I recognised the number showing on my phone, of course I stopped what I was doing to answer it – and boy am I glad I did!

I won’t bore you with the details of the call but when Christian asked; “Nigel, we would like to invite you to accompany us on a visit to Accuracy International on the 3rd of May, would you like to come?” my metaphorical hand was in the air in less than a nanosecond! I just hoped that Christian wouldn’t notice the excitement in my voice as I answered in the affirmative.

ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

Believe it or not, the company that was to go on to produce the best sniper rifle in the world started when shooting buddies, Dave Walls and David Caig, decided to see if they could make working replicas of two 19th century Colt pistols by using

Feature ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

just photographs for reference. To say that they were “good” would be a massive understatement, so much so that a Colt revolver expert later told them “If you built these from just pictures, you should be in the business of making guns!” In fact, it was only when the expert noticed a notch (used for mounting an optional shoulder stock) was missing from the right hand side of one of the guns, that “the Daves” had to ‘fess up and admit that they were not original but had been manufactured by them in their spare time, using machines where they worked.

Dave and David were not only co-workers but also extremely proficient target shooters at the same club and both had represented their individual countries (David Caig being Scottish) at international level. Together they repaired and tuned the club’s rifles and pistols and subsequently created “C&W Products” to cope with the business (working out of Dave’s garden shed), however, it wasn’t long until the pair turned their attention to target rifles and set about designing their own “long”.

It was about this time that they met Malcolm Cooper, who was later to become a World Champion and Olympic Champion (twice!). When shown the replica pistols, Malcolm was so impressed he commented that they obviously had the skills to design their own rifle. “But we have already done that” was the reply and this lead to Malcolm using a C&W rifle in the 1978 World Championship in Seoul, where he came away with a Silver Medal.

1978 was also the year that Accuracy international was established and by 1981 they had designed their third prototype rifle, which already carried features that would typify future designs, including their “signature” thumbhole stock.

Until this time, most “sniper” rifles were actually hunting rifles that had been customised for use in the sniping role but, based upon their experience with target shooting rifles and taking input from actual snipers, AI designed a rifle specifically for the role. The first customer for the “Precision Marksman” rifle was none other than the Special Boat Service (SBS) who, following a successful evaluation in 1984, acquired 8 rifles the following year. This was closely followed by the SAS, who purchased 32 of the same rifle later that year.

Feedback from both the SBS and SAS was instrumental in refining the rifle further and, as a result of the rifle’s colour and its ability to deliver first round hits on target, it quickly became known as “The Green Meanie”. It was not long after this that Malcolm Cooper learnt that there was to be a competition to

find a replacement for the (now past its prime) L42A1 sniper rifle, which had been in service since 1970. Malcolm’s reputation as a target shooter was such that it resulted in an invitation from the MoD to submit a proposal based on AI’s 7.62mm target rifle – and the now-famous L96A1 was born.

In 1985 it was announced that the AI PM rifle had defeated the Parker Hale Model 85, the H&K PSG-1, the SIG Sauer SSG 2000 and the Remington 700 to become the standard sniper rifle for the British Army and, on the 11th March 1985, Accuracy International received a contract to supply 1,212 rifles. Clearly the garden shed would no longer be a suitable place to manufacture the rifles, so after a false start when they sub-contracted the work, CNC machines were acquired along with a facility in Portsmouth and production of the L96A1 contract continued until 1992.

The reputation of the L96A1 grew rapidly and, in response to an enquiry from Swedish armed forces, the L96 was adapted to operate with equal reliability in cold environments and given the designation “AW”, standing for “Arctic Warfare”. In 1991 the modified design (AW308) resulted in an order of 1,100 www.airsoft-action.online

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rifles from Sweden and, under the designation L118A1, has subsequently been taken into use by over 60 military and law enforcement agencies.

Further development saw numerous configurations being developed, including being chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum and .300 Win.Mag (a variant of which was purchased by the German BWB as the G22 and which was also the first AI rifle to feature David Caig’s folding stock design).

Success followed success until 1999, when 90% of Accuracy International was sold to an investment group, saddling the company with an unsustainable debt load and by 2004 AI was is serious financial difficulty. In February 2005, having failed to re-capitalise the business, the company started to sell off its assets and by the 18th of that month, all employees had been laid off and AI had ceased all operations… but that was not the end of Accuracy International.

Tom Irwin, an independent contractor working for AI in the USA, along with Dave Walls, Dave Caig and Financial Director, Paul Bagshaw managed to put a last-minute rescue plan together and on the 3rd of May business was restarted.

Dave Walls later commented that the bankruptcy was “a blessing in disguise …because it gave [me] the chance to be part of the management team once again and to assist in radically changing the way we manufacture products.”

This new approach rapidly brought success in gaining new business and in 2007 the MoD awarded AI a contract to supply 582 systems in .338 calibre to replace the L96A1. The new rifle, designated L115A3, entered service with the British Army in April and it was with this rifle that, in November 2009, CoH Craig Harrison recorded the longest sniper kill in combat when he killed two Taliban insurgents from a distance of 2,474 metres (8,120 feet or 1.54 miles in old money!). There is a Guinness World Records Certificate hanging in AI’s conference room to attest to the fact and also something that you maybe didn’t know… Craig also took out the insurgent’s machine gun with a third shot!

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JUly 2016

ASG

Based in Denmark, ActionSportGames have been a prolific manufacturer and distributor of airsoft products for many years and Airsoft Action has been very privileged to visit their Head Office on a number of occasions.

There cannot be many regular airsofters in the UK that have not used ASG’s famous “Blaster” bbs but is was with the release of the stunning CZ EVO-3 A1 Scorpion that ASG really put their stamp on the hearts of many players – and there is a clue in the name as to why “The Evo” (as it is affectionately known) has been so successful; the letters “CZ”.

Companies spend millions on creating what is called “Brand Awareness”; sometimes this is by using a distinct logo, such as the “Nike Tick”, or Rolls Royce’s “Spirit of Ecstasy” and they go to great lengths to protect their intellectual property and rights. For example, a certain pistol manufacturer is currently sending legal documents to companies requesting they “cease and desist” copying their products (or even selling them) and while companies in some parts of the world will simply ignore the request and carry on (because they have no legal jurisdiction there), others like ASG have chosen a different route: “Licensing”.

Put very simplistically, “Licensing” is where one company has a contract with another (usually for a not inconsequential fee) to produce products “Under License” that copy the original. Many airsoft companies do this, the most prolific probably being Cybergun and Umarex and ASG too hold the licenses from a whole range of manufacturers, including ArmaLite, LMT, Steyr, CZ and, of course, Accuracy International.

Of course, these licenses don’t come cheap and that obviously reflects in the price of the products produced, so what (you may be asking yourself) is the point of it? Why don’t they, like some other manufacturers, make something that “looks” kind of similar and just give it an odd name?

Avoiding the obvious repost of “Would you rather play with an original or a copy?” (which can sometimes be dictated by financial constraints), it comes right back down to the basic premise on which we play airsoft… the “suspension of disbelief” (The Grange even uses this as their web address).

Whether you are taking part in a full-bloodied MilSim, fighting Zombies in a post-apocalyptic hell-hole, or simply attacking “The Fort” at a Sunday skirmish, you are playing a part… acting out a fantasy… taking on an imaginary role… and how it makes you “feel” is as much a part of the enjoyment as anything else. How you look and what you shoot are all part of what makes you the player you want to be and if you want to be “stitch perfect”, then your weapon of choice plays a massive part in that process.

Think about it. How many times have you been speaking to a mate who has just bought a new aeg and is proudly showing

Feature ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL

off the “Trades” stamped into the body? In airsoft we will never shoot the real thing but if we want to get as close to it as possible, then having “H&K”, “CZ”, or “AI” markings stamped into your weapon is just as important as having the right rig or loadout for the scenario you are playing.

Licensing also brings something else with it; a relationship with the original manufacturer that simply would not exist otherwise. Take ASG for example, their relationship with the likes of CZ and Accuracy International has allowed them access to a level of support and information that has led to the creation of some simply stunning pieces. I have never had the pleasure of shooting a real Evo but I understand that in looks and weight it is practically identical in every respect – and no wonder, it was created from the original plans of the real steel version!

While visiting Accuracy International it was obvious to me that the relationship goes way beyond (what I would term) a “normal B2B relationship”. Both Tom Irwin and Dave Walls spent a large proportion of the day with us, while we were shown around the entire facility by Alice Bond, who had been AI’s primary USA Dealer/Importer - and that translates to the production of products that truly reflect the very nature of Accuracy International. Nothing was too much trouble and all

“COH CRAIG HARRISON RECORDED THE LONGEST SNIPER KILL IN COMBAT WHEN HE KILLED TWO TALIBAN INSURGENTS FROM A DISTANCE OF 2,474 METRES (8,120 FEET OR 1.54 MILES IN OLD MONEY!). THERE IS A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS CERTIFICATE HANGING IN AI’S CONFERENCE ROOM TO ATTEST TO THE FACT AND ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU MAYBE DIDN’T KNOW… CRAIG ALSO TOOK OUT THE INSURGENT’S MACHINE GUN WITH A THIRD SHOT!” our questions were fully answered, often with a fair amount of humour where Dave was concerned.

I have to say that sitting in Accuracy International’s Conference Room (known as “Sniper”), talking with champion shooters while surrounded by medals, plaques and, of course, a wall full of awesome rifles (including “C&W 003”, the original 3rd prototype) was an amazing thrill – but even that was surpassed when I was allowed to get behind an AX 308 and put some real rounds downrange!

The man in charge of the range (where they also test every single rifle for accuracy and consistency before it leaves the factory) was an ex-Royal Marine sniper and both Christian and Paul from ASG are proficient shooters (Paul having shot for the Army Team GB), so it was with some trepidation that I seated myself behind the AX and pulled the butt into my shoulder for the first shot. The last time I fired a bolt-action rifle was as a Cadet down on Purfleet ranges, with my RSM standing on my feet so that I didn’t get shoved off the line by the recoil and offering me words of encouragement, such as “Streeter!

If you don’t hold that bl**dy rifle properly you’ll be taking it home somewhere where the sun don’t shine!!” So, as you can imagine, as I brought the rifle up and peered through the scope at a target that looked scarily small 100 metres away, I was determined not to make a hash of it.

Remembering everything I could from those early “lessons” (I was actually one of only two “Marksmen” on the Squadron, the other being my elder brother) I concentrated on the target and tried to ignore everything around me. Bring the cross hairs up… settle on the intended point of impact… control your

breathing… gently “squeeze”, don’t “snatch” the trigger… and “bang”! Don’t de-focus… check the point of impact… re-load and go again!

Well, that was the theory anyway!

I don’t know how I managed it but the first four shots were all within the diameter of a five-pence piece however, annoyingly, all were slightly high and to the left of centre, which is where I was actually aiming. So for my fifth shot I decided to ignore the grouping and prove to myself that I controlled the rifle, not the other way round and promptly put my final round straight through the centre of the target! Boy did that make me feel good!

I was very proud as I stood up but secretly I knew that it probably had more to do with the quality of the rifle than the skill of the shooter but what the heck, the target was still destined for my office wall!

TIME TO LEAVE

Back in the Conference Room, Christian and Paul presented Accuracy International with a range of their own weapons, only this time the airsoft versions and I have to say that they were genuinely impressed with both the quality and accuracy of the reproduction. I also had the opportunity to ask about the possibility of running a competition through the magazine and whether there would be any chance of bringing the winner for a tour of the factory – and if you want to know what their answer was, turn to page 97 and enter our once in a lifetime, never to be repeated ASG/Accuracy International Competition.

I promise you will be amazed at the prize!

In conclusion, I have to say that I found the visit very, very enjoyable – and not just because I got to shoot an AX 308 but also because of the openness and willingness of everyone we met to take an interest in what we do and why we were there.

All that remains is for me to say a huge thank you to Christian and Paul from ASG for the invitation and everyone at Accuracy International for making me one very happy bunny!

www.airsoft-action.online

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MORELANDS TRADING ESTATE, BRISTOL ROAD, GLOUCESTER, GL1 5RZ, UK

18TH JUNE 2016 / 9AM - 5PM ENTRANCE TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT UK.REDWOLFAIRSOFT.COM

Event NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW

NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW 2016 FOLLOWING THE APPARENT DEMISE OF THE BRITISH AIRSOFT SHOW, WE REPORT FROM A NEW EVENT THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE BIGGER AND BETTER Photos by Andy Nightingale, Jerry Noone and Kelly Hardwick WAY BACK IN ISSUE 8 of Airsoft Action I reported on the 2012 British Shooting Show, where I said: “Judging by the crowds surrounding the airsoft retailer’s stands at this year’s British Shooting Show, airsoft is making a big impact on the UK’s hunting community.

“Almost from the moment the doors opened at 8am on the first day, right up until just a couple of hours before the show closed the next day, Lincolnshire/Arena Airsoft, JD Airsoft, BadgerTac and The Shop at the Grange were surrounded by a crowd that (at times) was up to three or four people deep.

Edgar Brothers were also displaying a selection of weapons, including the new KWA Electric Recoil Guns.”

Back then the show was held at Newark Showground, before moving down to Stoneleigh Park in 2013, where it was very successful, although not without one or two “challenges”.

2014 saw the show extended by a day and although it didn’t seem as busy, we probably saw as many people, just spread across three days instead of two. Unfortunately, during the show we also learnt of the untimely death of John Bertrand, the show’s founder and organiser. Subsequently the British Shooting Show was acquired by a different company and, of course, The British Airsoft Show went with it.

The show was again held at Stoneleigh in 2015 and for reasons not apparent to us, it just didn’t “feel” right. Maybe it was the large increase in cost that the new owners had introduced (which persuaded many previous airsoft exhibitors to stay away), or maybe it was that the major area was taken up by a small display of military vehicles and stands like JD

Airsoft and Airsoft Zone were consigned to the outer edges of the display space? Whatever the reason, the show just didn’t gel as well as it had before and this led to a decision by all the major companies not to appear at the 2016 show – and then we received news that a new show, “The Northern Shooting Show”, was being created and it would include an area called “The Airsoft Experience”. Not only that but it was being put together by Richard Stokoe, who worked with John Bertrand on the original shows and when he called to ask if we would support the event, I was pleased to be able to do so.

So, over the weekend of 7th & 8th May, the Airsoft Action Crew headed up to Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, to check out the Northern Shooting Show and Airsoft Experience and where I was joined by Jerry, Kelly and Andy. Andy and I manned the AA stand (actually Andy did most of the work while I was chatting – thanks buddy!), while Jerry and Kelly went “walkabout”, so it’s over to them for a roundup of what they saw…

JERRY

One of the things I truly love is the chance to get together, not only with other members of the Airsoft Action team but with the wider airsoft community as well and the 2016 Northern Shooting Show really provided a great opportunity to do so!

Set in its own dedicated building, the airsoft area was right by the main entry/exit point to the larger show which meant that everyone coming through the gate was actually greeted

by AIRSOFT! With some great stands set up by ASG, ASPUK, Dave’s Custom Airsoft, iWhloesales, Pro Airsoft Supplies, JD www.airsoft-action.online

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Airsoft and NUPROL, visitors were truly able to check out some of the best and most recent releases in terms of replicas, consumables and gear. Not only that but with so many expert heads in attendance, virtually any technical question could also be answered.

Also in support of the retailers and distributors were the likes of UKAPU and Airsoft Great Britain which was excellent to see and the fact that Stirling Airsoft were running a “Play For Free” taster area was superb. Calibre Shooting were on hand to discuss training and with the Practical Pistol guys giving it large there really was something for everyone to see.

There were a number of “jaw

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July 2016

droppers” for me at the show; the first of these was the “Salient Arms” licensed APS 870 shell-ejecting shotgun on the iWholesales stand, along with a full range of handguns from Armourer Works and “BOLT” carbines, which Herman cheerfully talked me through (there’ll be more on these to come in due course). Paul from ASG had the all-new “BREN 805” rifle for me to look at which is excellent; it was my first hands-on with this model and one has been booked for review as soon as they come available.

As always, speaking to Ross and Danny from NUPROL was a pleasure and they let me in on some future plans that are very exciting indeed. I’m sworn to secrecy right now but let me assure you that there is more, MUCH more to come from NUPROL this year and I’ll be tracking new releases and developments just as soon as they are announced.

Along with Nige, Kelly, and Andy I was really pleased to see so many Airsoft Action readers in attendance and it was absolutely superb to see so many non-airsofters visiting the area to see what airsoft was all about. With so many different genres of airsoft being “shown off” so well I am certain that all those who exhibited and attended have moved things forward very positively in the wider world of shooting sports and I’d be very surprised indeed if we didn’t make a few converts over the weekend!

With the dates for the 2017 Northern Shooting Show

Event NORTHERN SHOOTING SHOW

already set for the 6th and 7th of May, all I can tell you is that I’ve already booked my campsite and look forward to returning to Harrogate next year. I hope I’ll meet even more of you then!

KELLY

Airsoft has been gaining speed in the world of shooting sports at an enormous rate in the last 5 or so years and with this growth comes an Airsoft presence in the world of events. The very first Northern Shooting Show was held at the Yorkshire Events Centre in Harrogate, Yorkshire and was a mix of real steel, Airgun and “The Airsoft Experience”, all in one show.

Whilst not the first show of its kind, it had been highly anticipated by the Airsoft community since it was announced last year!

The Airsoft Experience was designed to introduce members of the British shooting scene to our sport and the team at Airsoft Action pitched up a tent to show our support! In true Airsoft community fashion there was a varied display to be seen, as within the experience we saw Airsoft stores such as JD Airsoft, The Grange, Pro Airsoft Supplies and ASPUK, some of our favourite brands like Nuprol and ASG. Stirling Airsoft providing fee taster sessions within their mini inflatable Airsoft skirmish site and a Practical Pistol course was hosting a preliminary event for the 2017 Action Air World Shoot, so the punters could try another side to our sport to name a few.

There were many highlights of this event – seeing the highly anticipated ASG CZ 805 Bren in person for the first time, checking out some of the new products from Nuprol such as their new range of magazines and testing the latest generation of Alpha Tec Hex Grenade – 2016 is sure to be a great year for Airsofters and their kit.

The main highlight of this show for me, however, was definitely having a taster session of Practical Pistol with the team at the Grange and dare I say it, since then I’ve been trawling the internet looking at competition pistols and shooters belts – all in the trademark pink! (Shifting the blame onto you there Herman!) What I love about this side of the sport is that Practical Pistol is all about accuracy and speed - and

the loadouts! They are brightly coloured and completely different to the Skirmish aspect and I enjoyed this so much I definitely think it will become a new addiction for sure!

As well as the Airsoft experience skirmishers could try their hand at new activities such as clay pigeon shooting, archery, plinking, shooting real steel .22s and also attend gun safety talks.

Overall, the Northern Shooting Show was a resounding success, with tickets priced from £9 per day the event was also great value for money! It was great to catch up with old friends and make new ones! Although I would’ve liked to have seen more retailers and brands at the show, it was great to see such a large Airsoft presence and try new aspects of our sport/hobby and experience what the rest of the shooting industry has to offer us.

I anticipate that the turn out next year will be even better!

Here’s to the Airsoft Experience 2017!

NIGE:

I can only re-iterate what Jerry and Kelly have said. I truly think the show provided a great platform to show off airsoft to the shooting sports community and I cannot tell you have many visitors I heard say as they saw/picked up/handled and, in some cases, caressed our “toys”… “I didn’t realise they were this good!”

Thanks to everyone who came to see us and to my Team for their help and support. Airsoft Action is already booked into next year’s show, so we hope to see you there.

www.airsoft-action.online

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HUNGER BATTLES GADGE TRAVELS TO TUDDENHAM, IN NORFOLK, TO TAKE PART IN A GUNMAN WEEKENDER WITH A DIFFERENCE I'VE ALWAYS HAD A SOFT SPOT for Gunman Airsoft events.

Gunman nearly always manage to pull off exciting airsoft weekenders with enough features to keep you hooked but not so many you end up needing a 200 page rulebook and once again they played a blinder at “Hunger Battles”.

Truth be told, it wasn”t an event I was expecting to cover but I”d asked Gunman”s head honcho, Josh Smith, if I could pop down to the Tuddenham site to do a few field tests for some gun reviews and he said “Why not come along and have a go at the Hunger Battles”… and why not?

Hunger Battles, it was explained, was an event based loosely on the popular books and movies “The Hunger Games” and while no one was expected to turn up in a lycra outfit with a bow and arrows, there would definitely be a “survival of the fittest” meat grinder of an event, with players competing for

possession of supplies “air dropped” into the battle area.

It”s a simple enough idea but perhaps it”s best to explain it in a little more detail.

As I watched the multitude of players check in and chrono, Chief Tuddenham marshal Doug explained the premise. The game itself would be using Gunman”s popular “FilmSim” rules… not quite MilSim, not quite open day and somewhere in between. For example, fixing up a player as a “medic” required roleplaying fixing a bandage to their arm and, likewise, players were expected to scream and drop to the ground when hit rather than just stand around with their arm up after a call of “hit”.

Players would start out with only one main weapon and 100 BBs and if they wanted a sidearm or extra ammo they would need to find the elusive supply drops. Getting shot out after taking your first bandage wound means a trek to your team’s respawn (or “re-cloning” point as it is in the game setting) but finding a portable medic station backpack allows your faction to set up a temporary (and movable) respawn point. Capturing an ammo crate would not only allow players to reload at the crate (any other reloads had to be done by hand, no speed loaders, in the field!) but to also up their ammo limit to 600 rounds per “clone”.

BRUTAL REALITY TV

Understandably there were a few more rules than normal to get to grips with and while these had all been put online prior to the event, they were recapped by Doug and his team after the initial safety brief and gun chronoing. With everyone clear on the rules of the game it was time to divide the players into

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JUly 2016

Event Report GUNMAN AIRSOFT: HUNGER BATTLES

three different factions (red team, blue team and yellow) and take them to their starting areas.

So with the game rules established, it’s time to explain the setting a little more clearly. Each player represents a “contestant” on a brutal “Reality TV” show (like “The Running Man” , “Battle Royalle” or the aforementioned “Hunger Games”) where contestants fight for their lives on a deserted island and the surviving team winning a multimillion euro cash prize and the losers going home in a coffin!

With all three teams ready to go and in position there was tension in the air as everyone waited for the first twohour round to begin. The day would consist of several of these two-hour bouts, with an Ante for gathered resources at the end of each round. Each team gained points for getting items on their Ante and lost points for ones they didn’t get, with the team with the most points winning.

For example, Team Alpha must hand in 2 Blue and one Yellow item. Team Bravo must hand in hand 2 Red and one Blue and Team Delta must hand in 2 Yellow and one Red. Each team got 1 point for each item collected correctly and a bonus of 2 points if they managed to get all the ones they needed; but each team lost 1 point for each item they failed to locate.

All of these colour-coded items were “airdropped” into the centre of the battle area by the marshals at random intervals, creating a flurry of activity as soon as a new crate hit the zone.

To add even more chaos to the carnage, teams were allowed to raid each other’s bases in short five minute “raids” to capture any stores they were missing!

Exhausting stuff, more so due to the beautifully hot and sunny day gracing the Tuddenham area and by lunchtime all of the teams seemed to be feeling the strain. After lunch the rounds began again and the frantic search for resources continued. It would be pointless to give you blow by blow account as the action was so fast-paced across each round but suffice it to say, the airsoft was nonstop!

Gunman Airsoft run their Hunger Battles games pretty regularly and if you fancy taking part in the next one it’s worth checking their Facebook pages to see when the next event is scheduled for.

Walk on costs £25 per day (Saturday or Sunday) or just £40 for the whole weekend. Rental guns are available for an extra £25 per day or £35 for the weekend. While the games begin on Saturday morning the Gunman team are onsite from the preceding Friday from 4pm if you want to camp on site.

“CONTESTANTS FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES ON A DESERTED ISLAND AND THE SURVIVING TEAM WINNING A MULTIMILLION EURO CASH PRIZE AND THE LOSERS GOING HOME IN A COFFIN!” www.airsoft-action.online

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FRENCHIE HAS A PENCHANT FOR THINGS A LITTLE LESS ORDINARY AND HERE HE DELVES INTO THE WORLD OF TRIPLE-BARRELLED, SPRING SHOTGUNS

TRIPLE ECHO HAVE YOU ANY IDEA HOW difficult it is to find out when a particular Tokyo Marui model was introduced?! It’s a real pain in the backside unless someone has found and posted that information before. The TM website is no use as it’s helpfully nearly all in Japanese, a language in which I am singularly incompetent.

Not to worry, I was merely trying to set a start date for when the world was introduced to the triple-barrelled spring shotgun, the subject of this piece. Why these guns? They’re significant and possibly underrated. For many players they represent one of the cheapest entry points into airsoft, one where you have at least a chance of holding your own. They are reliable, with a couple of caveats which I’ll come to in due course and although they struggle to match or out-range any but the worst AEGs, they can still be potent weapons in a skirmish if used with a little thought.

My first triple-barrel was the awesome Tokyo Marui SPAS 12, bought as a birthday present for me by my now-wife. It was at the time (and for a long time afterwards) my primary airsoft gun. It also started a long-term love affair with these airsoft guns and there have been very few periods since then when I have been without one in my armoury. Why I have formed such a strong attachment with them is a story in itself...

The triple-barrelled shotgun (I hate the term ‘tri-shot’) is 36

JUly 2016

at once devilishly simple and technically complex. Expressed simply, it is three single-barrel spring shotguns crammed into the space normally occupied by a single action. I’ll come the to the technical consequences of that later but the upshot is a gun that is reliant on nothing more that the muscle power of the user and a supply of suitable ammo and which delivers considerable bang for the buck.

Let’s start with some basics; most triples develop around 270-300 fps at the muzzle with 0.2g ammo (0.68 – 0.84 Joules). In terms of muzzle energy you could argue that you should multiply that output by three but in truth that only holds good at very short ranges, as the spread of shot means that you are very quickly dealing with three separate projectiles. The argument itself is dubious, it’s equivalent to taking the muzzle energy of an AEG and insisting that it is multiplied by the measured rate of fire. Let’s set that aside. I will say that at very close range, those three BBs can get your attention!

Being spring guns, the triples are essentially very reliable and I don’t think that I have ever actually broken one. In part that is because being a gun tech I have dealt with the results of others breaking them and identified the cause, which once known and understood, is easily avoided, even in the heat of battle. The other reason is that despite the three-into-one design, they are still pretty simple. There are three barrels, three pistons, three

Feature TRIPLE-BARRELLED SHOTGUNS

cylinders, a hop chamber that holds three BBs at once and one or two springs. The TM SPAS 12 has a single mainspring, but the Benelli models have two concentric springs (one inside the other) as do the M203 grenade launcher variants. This, more than any other single reason, is why I always try and dissuade players from trying to upgrade these guns. I don’t doubt that there are a few out there who have managed to improve the performance of their triples but I remain unconvinced that it’s worth either the effort, or the inevitable degradation of their lifespan.

As ever, range varies from gun to gun, but 40m aiming dead-on is easily achievable, using it like a shotgun and holding over or leading the target will see it go further. Another utterly intangible but very real advantage is the fact that it’s a shotgun.

Many players genuinely shy away from them despite the fact that their AEGs out-range them by many metres. Why this should be I honestly do not know but I am more than happy to take any advantage offered!

Right, let’s get technical and look at the guts of these guns.

The following applies equally to the Chinese made copies, which uniquely have one serious advantage over the Marui originals.

The guns are made predominantly of ABS plastic, with alloy outer and inner barrels. Triggers and the action bars that connect the pump grip to the piston are mild steel and seldom break. Internally pretty much everything apart from springs is plastic. The piston is a moulded block which has three “arms” and the end of each has a plunger on it to compress air within the cylinder. The cylinder block is a single moulding with, as you’d expect, three separate cylinders each with its own air nozzle. I can’t recall ever seeing a cylinder failure but the air nozzles are a different matter. In Marui triples the cylinder is moulded from ABS, the Chinese clones use a more fibrous

plastic which appears to be a deal tougher. This is important as the most likely damage you can do to a triple is to the air nozzles; break those and you’ll have to replace the cylinder. It goes like this: You’re banging away and you notice that the pump hasn’t gone fully forward. You force it and then notice that the top barrel is only throwing a BB ten feet while the other two are OK. What’s happened is that a BB has failed to feed properly into the upper barrel. If you force the pump into battery that BB gets jammed between the rear face of the breech and the air nozzles. In nearly every single instance when this happens the jammed BB causes the upper air nozzle to

“IF THE PUMP DOESN’T GO FORWARD, STEP BACK INTO COVER, DROP THE SHOT SHELL OUT OF THE GUN AND PULL THE PUMP BACK, OPENING THE BREECH AND SHAKING OUT THE TRAPPED BBS. PUSH IT FORWARD AGAIN AND IT SHOULD GO INTO BATTERY. PULL THE TRIGGER, RELOAD AND RE-JOIN THE FRAY.” either break or collapse, restricting the airflow. It is so easy to do. Fortunately avoiding it is equally easy – if the pump doesn’t go forward, step back into cover, drop the shot shell out of the gun and pull the pump back, opening the breech and shaking out the trapped BBs. Push it forward again and it should go into battery. Pull the trigger, reload and re-join the fray.

In Marui guns this nearly always requires the replacement of the cylinder. In Chinese guns I have found that the air nozzles deform more often than they break and using a little heat and a mandrel they can be reformed and will carry on without

www.airsoft-action.online

37

Feature TRIPLE-BARRELLED SHOTGUNS

further problems. One up to the Chinese.

The breech is relatively complex compared to most spring guns but like the cockpit of a multi-engined plane, that’s because of duplication - there is three of everything. The triples feature fixed hop on all barrels and it was interesting to note that on the new AA-12, Marui have managed to make the hop on that gun adjustable. I confess I have never felt that it was worth the effort to find a way to modify the stock hop unit.

There is a mechanical gate below the chamber which opens and closes with the movement of the pump grip admitting BBs into the chamber.

Taking triples apart isn’t impossible but I would advise caution as they are... erm… fun! Generally you start from the front and work your way backwards but there is lot that needs to be disassembled and removed so if this is your first attempt, please have some way of noting what goes where.

As I suggested previously while upgrades, especially power upgrades, are possible, I cannot see any good reason to perform them given that they will most likely reduce the gun’s longevity.

On the skirmish field the triple is a potent weapon, sometimes a surprising one. One of my favourite kills of all time was a player who hid behind a fairly large tree. I fired at him and was delighted to see one of the three BBs swing round the trunk, shortly followed by the emergence of one very surprised player with his hand in the air. *Kisses fingertips!

They can be hard work over a day, my preference is generally to hold the pump grip and push the gun away from me rather than trying to constantly pull the grip back. I find this wears out my left elbow more slowly but it will still hurt at the end of the day. Judge your terrain and cover properly, take account of wind and you’ll be surprised just how far a triple will chuck those BBs. Like all spring guns, once cocked, trigger response is instant, no pause while the gearbox cycles and

players not familiar with the gun will often badly underestimate their range to their detriment.

There is little difference in range and performance between the long Benelli M3 and the short, 203-based, Marui Tactical Launcher, one my favourite airsoft weapons although very rare these days. Most of the full-sized shotguns share the same inner barrel layout and length so you can cut down the outer barrel with impunity should you wish. Maintenance is simple, clean the outside, clean the barrels, if it’s wet, let it dry out thoroughly. That’s pretty much it. The Chinese made variants are still excellent value for money as you can get them for around £50-70, Marui guns will be much more expensive so don’t be surprised to see price tags of around £180.

As most of you know, the triples all use a 30-round shot shell style magazine, giving ten shots. Marui shells are faultless unless damaged and interestingly, the Chinese made shells with the very shiny bases tend to work well too but I have had nothing but trouble with the Chinese made shells sold by ASG. I don’t know exactly what the problem is but for me they suck.

Your experience may be different.

Speaking of shells, I used all sorts of devices to carry them over the years until I realised that two pockets or pouches were the simplest and most functional solution – one for loaded, one for empties. I also don’t go wild with numbers; generally I run 6-8 shells and I find that after using a few I often find myself in a position to quickly reload the used ones – a standard speedloader will fill three shells. The worst option I have used is the combined sling/shell holder, which snags on everything and ensures that when you need a fresh shell it’ll be dangling and swinging out of reach.

Although we may well see more electric triples based on the AA-12 mechanism, don’t count on the basic player-powered shot gun disappearing any time soon. It’s solid, potent and you can rely on it come what may.

www.airsoft-action.online

39

KIT WITH BITE KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK HEADED UP TO EDINBURGH FOR THE LAUNCH OF VIPER TACTICAL’S NEW “TITANIUM” CLOTHING RANGE AND GOT TO PLAY AT LAND WARRIOR AIRSOFT AT THE SAME TIME.

“IT MY FIRST TIME VISITING SCOTLAND AND TRYING LOCAL DELICACIES SUCH AS HAGGIS PAKORA (YES, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS WEIRD AND WONDERFUL FOOD EXISTS BUT IT IS DEFINITELY BETTER TO EAT IT BEFORE ASKING WHAT A HAGGIS IS!)”

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JUly 2016

TE!

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ON THE 9TH OF APRIL Viper Tactical kicked off their “UK Titanium Tour” at Land Warrior Airsoft in Scotland, to celebrate the launch of their new “Titanium” tactical clothing range and kindly invited me along for the ride.

The trip from my home in the Midlands to Edinburgh took around 6.5 hours in “VP-02” (Viper’s battle bus) and was a massive 600 mile round trip for myself – closer to 800 miles for poor Gav from Viper! It is easily the furthest I have ever travelled for Airsoft. After hours and hours of travelling (I think we got through the Kaiser Chiefs album at least 3 times on our drive), we arrived in Edinburgh – the city is bursting with life and culture! We checked into our respective hotels (I would really recommend The Cherry Tree Villa, which is a quaint B&B in the city centre) and set about seeing the city and trying one of Edinburgh’s finest Indian restaurants, the Bombay Lounge in Dalkeith which, if you love a good curry and a flaming sambucca as an alternative to the conventional after dinner drinks, I would also seriously recommend!

Anyway, back to Titanium!

Over the last year we have seen a rise in popularity of grey loadouts, with brands such as 5.11 Tactical, Mechanix and Pentagon being at the forefront of the charge. Viper Tactical joined the pack of brands leading the way forward with their new Titanium grey clothing range. Unlike Wolf Grey, Titanium is a much darker gun metal grey shade and perfect for CQB and urban battle environments. You can find a full review of the Titanium Clothing range by my fellow Airsoft Action colleague Jerry Noone in the previous issue of Airsoft Action, so be sure to check that out!

Admittedly, after seeing the original image I was dubious about the colour (Sorry, Gav!) as for around 6 months I have slowly been introducing wolf grey into my loadout, which compliments my MultiCam rig and battle belt but I wasn’t so sure about this new colour and how well it would go with all

my existing kit. However, after trying the gear on with all my kit, I was soon a fan!

Viper very kindly supplied me with the Elite trousers, the Elite jacket and the Viper Tactical T shirt all in the new Titanium colourway to sport over the weekend and in future skirmishes. The clothing is no doubt extremely comfortable, fits women very well and is made from rip stop fabric so it is really durable. It is also water resistant, so getting stuck in, in the mud and rain wasn’t an issue and most importantly, it goes well with all of my MultiCam tac gear – a girl has to accessorise!

On the day of the launch we rocked up at Land Warrior Airsoft and was greeted in their reception by a 6 foot tall scrap metal Alien statue acting as tea lady and this set the tone for the day!

Land Warrior Airsoft is one of the UK’s leading Airsoft suppliers based in Dalkeith, Scotland. The company was started in April 2007 by their Managing Director and my fellow Airsoft Action writer, Scott Allan. The company has grown exponentially over the years, going from a small startup company in Scott’s spare room, to the well-known brand/ shop that it is today. Land Warrior currently inhabits a 1,000 square foot shop, with a 4,000 square foot warehouse space that is full to the brim with Airsofter’s favourite brands and manufacturers, for everything from boots to rifles and has 6 paid members of staff including one hell of a techie. Their warehouse even boasts an armoury commissioned by Scott himself to enable the store to move into the world of real steel – very exciting!

The shop, although not the largest Airsoft store in the UK, is well equipped, full of tactical goodness and is an airsofter’s paradise. Gav lovingly set up the Viper stand outside the store and we all clobbered up in the new Viper Titanium gear. The store was busy during the day and was abuzz with people

www.airsoft-action.online

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asking questions and trying the new range. What I think is excellent about events like this is brands getting out there and seen

by Airsofters – that presence makes a huge difference in the Airsoft community and the relationship between brands and their consumers.

The following day we attended the Titanium launch skirmish at Airsoft Edinburgh - a 70 acre woodland site made up of mixed plantation and natural woodland that overlooks Edinburgh castle. Now I will be the first to admit that woodland isn’t my favourite and when I arrived on site during heavy rain I was wishing the day away but the rain didn’t faze the Scots one bit. Due to the nature of the trees in the woodland the ground is relatively dry with ferns and pine needles soaking up the rain, which makes game play much more enjoyable. This being said, it wasn’t long before I was crawling through the dirt to gain objectives!

The site boasts 2 FV432s, a rapier missile system and 3 snatch Land Rovers which are all used in game. This site actually has some of the best facilities of any woodland site I’ve visited – along with a large car park with space for 40 cars. Its safe zone is a large square compound that is lined with sheltered booths with table space for players and their kit, toilet facilities and free tea and coffee. Walk on prices for non-members is £20 and £15 for members which is extremely competitive and a lot cheaper than any woodland site I have visited in the more southern regions of the UK. The site also offers rental packages, the price doesn’t include lunch but there are shops nearby where you can grab something – or if you’re more organised than myself, a packed lunch is a very good shout!

The Airsoft Edinburgh site is massive and LWA utilise all areas of the varied terrain that ranges from a fern forest, to the rolling Scottish hills in their game modes. They play a variety of game modes from the classic team death match, to objectivebased games and my favourite of the day was definitely the Tank escort game!

In this game my team had to escort an APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) through the site whilst the other team fiercely defended their ground and stopped our progress by placing prop explosives in our path. As we gained ground it was a fierce firefight, as the opposing team put in play their explosives which slowed our advances but thanks to the efforts of some crazy Scots, the explosives were moved and we continued our advances. The players I met over the weekend were extremely friendly and no doubt excellent players.

One of the key things over the weekend for myself was adapting to target acquisition in a woodland environment and being a predominantly (if not exclusively) CQB player it took me time to get used to having so many obstacles in between

myself and the targets. One of my only niggles of the game play was that neither team was wearing armbands, so it was difficult at times to ascertain exactly who was on your team and who was enemy but the fact that I wasn’t a regular at the site and therefore didn’t recognise anyone played into this. I found the safest option was definitely to shoot first and ask questions later – luckily enough if it was your own team, a giggle would ensue and we’d both walk back to respawn.

This weekend was a memorable one for me for sure, not only from an Airsoft perspective as the woodland gameplay was something completely different to what I have previously experienced but from the social aspect as well. It was also it my first time visiting Scotland and trying local delicacies such as Haggis Pakora (yes, I can assure you that this weird and wonderful food exists but it is definitely better to eat it before asking what a Haggis is!), trying flaming Sambucca, visiting one of Edinburgh’s well renowned bars (Frankensteins), seeing the sites of the city such as the castle and driving an APC was absolutely amazing. The Land Warrior crew definitely know how to show a lass a good time!

Overall, the Viper launch weekend was a resounding success in my opinion; from the busy launch day at the shop to the awesome gameplay during the skirmish at Airsoft Edinburgh the following day. The Titanium range for me is a definite winner and the social aspect of the event was fantastic!

I’d just like to say a massive thank you to the Viper and Land Warrior teams for giving me the opportunity to take part in this great event – I had a fantastic time and I am grateful for the experiences I got to take part of!

For full details of the remaining dates of Vipers Titanium tour, head to the Viper Tactical Facebook page!

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A FIRM FAN OF COMPACT AND SUB-COMPACT PISTOLS, JERRY NOONE GETS TO GRIPS WITH THE SMALLEST OF THE H&K USP MODELS FROM UMAREX!

HECKLER & KOCH USP I DO LIKE HAVING A DIMINUTIVE handgun tucked away discreetly; some games, especially MilSims, will require you to operate “under the radar” in order to achieve your objectives, so having a small, easily concealed handgun can be a real winner. Most compact, and even sub-compact, pistols are available in airsoft form but the licenced Heckler & Koch (H&K) USP compact has always taken my fancy.

Obviously H&K are much better known for their rifles, such as the HK416, HK417, G36, M27 and of course, their iconic MP5 SMG but they’re no slouch when it comes to handguns. The MK23 SOCOM developed for the US Special Forces was (and still is) a real beast but the USP line of handguns are quiet performers in their own right.

The Universelle Selbstladepistole, or “universal self-loading pistol”, is actually a family of pistols developed

by Heckler & Koch GmbH in Germany.

Design work on the USP began in September 1989 and was initially focused on the US commercial and law enforcement markets. USP prototypes participated in rigorous testing alongside H&K’s entry in the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) program solicited by the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), which would result in the MK23 Mod 0.

The USP prototypes were refined in 1992, based on input from the

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OHWS trials and the design was finalised in December of the same year. The USP was formally introduced in January 1993 with the USP40 model chambered for the popular .40 S&W cartridge, followed soon after by the USP9, using the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge and, in May 1995, by the USP45 in .45 ACP. In addition to a wide selection of trigger/firing modes, the USP has an ambidextrous magazine release lever that is shielded by the trigger guard from inadvertent activation. The rear of the USP grip is stepped and works very well with a tapered magazine, making magazine changes faster and more intuitive.

On 9 mm and .40 calibre USPs, magazines are constructed of polymer reinforced with stainless steel, while magazines on the USP .45 are of all-metal construction. An extended slide release lever is positioned to allow easy operation without changing the grip of the shooting hand.

The USP has been designed and developed especially for military and law enforcement applications and the results speak for themselves; the USP is extremely reliable in operation and guarantees high consistency and precision when firing. As a modular system, it allows individual tailoring of safety and trigger mechanisms to suit any user.

The first USP Compact models appeared in 1994. These are essentially scaled-down USPs and are available in all the same calibres as the full size version, adding .357 SIG to the mix as well. Due to the smaller size of the frame, magazines for the Compact variant may have a handgrip extension to better accommodate the shooter’s hand, although standard flat floorplates are also available for the USP Compact magazines.

Despite its small size, the USP Compact is a fully-fledged USP, with the same capabilities. Compared to the USP, the USP Compact provides an additional advantage; it is inconspicuous because it is compact enough to use as an every-day concealed

Armoury HECKLER & KOCH USP

carry firearm whilst still offering light weight and highperformance.

ON THE MONEY!

One of the things I really love about properly licenced replicas is that you know you’re going to be getting something as close to the real firearm as is possible due to the fact that the airsoft manufacturer will have direct access to the real specifications.

Looking at the USP Compact the “real deal” weighs in at 727g and is 173mm long and the airsoft version comes in at 730g/171mm - and if that’s not “close enough” I don’t know what is!

Even the trademarks on the Umarex replica are absolutely 100% spot on, right down to the “H&K 9mmx19” on the block and the individual serial number. In terms of finish this is a stunning handgun with beautifully finished metalwork and seamless polymer; the detailing on the full-metal slide is simply fantastic. In the hand the weight and balance are superb and the stippled and grooved grip sits comfortably and securely in your palm. As with the real pistol, the replica comes with both the handgrip extension and the standard flat floorplate which is a very nice detail; the extension and plate are easily interchangeable.

The airsoft version of the USP Compact also replicates all the features and controls of the real pistol as well. The safety catch sits on the rear left of the USP, is clearly marked “S&F” in red and white in the trademark H&K fashion and is easily activated using the thumb of the “strong” hand. The oversized slide release sits mid-left above the trigger and once again operates smoothly and positively. The magazine release is semishrouded at the lower rear of the wide trigger guard. Sights are very straightforward and easily acquired with a “U” at the rear and a post at the sharp end; both sights benefit from wellpronounced white dots. To round things out the replica also benefits from a short accessory rail on the lower front so that you can fit accessories like tactical lights or lasers should you wish to.

The magazine, correctly of metal and polymer construction, holds 22 BBs which is a goodly amount and should be enough to get you out of a tight spot! This I charged up with branded H&K green gas and a full complement of UK Distributor’s ARMEX own excellent “Hardball” .20g BBs and headed to the range.

First off was the chrono test and the “ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LOVE ABOUT PROPERLY LICENCED REPLICAS IS USP performed just THAT YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO BE GETTING SOMETHING AS CLOSE TO THE as I expected, with an extremely consistent REAL FIREARM AS IS POSSIBLE… LOOKING AT THE USP COMPACT THE “REAL DEAL” mean of 0.84 WEIGHS IN AT 727G AND IS 173mm LONG AND THE AIRSOFT VERSION COMES IN AT Joule/301fps which 730G/171mm – AND IF THAT’S NOT “CLOSE ENOUGH” I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS!” means this pistol will be welcome on any UK site straight out of the box. In terms of accuracy, once I had the hop (which is located inside the slide and is adjusted with a special tool provided in the package) properly dialled in, I was easily hitting a small “Shoot N C” target at 10m and still hitting a sandbag consistently at 20m; if you’re using a handgun at engagement distances in excess of this then I think you must be “living the dream”!

Overall the USP Compact is a really super little (and I mean small) handgun that performs incredibly well but again this comes as no shock to me as the OEM work was carried out by Taiwanese airsoft pistol giants KWA. Whilst not cheap, retailing in the region of £175, the USP is one heck of a handgun and I personally would always pay a little extra for something that is properly licenced.

I’m sure, however, that like me the outright quality and performance of the USP would give you more than enough reason to want one!

For more information on the USP Compact and all the other H&K models in the Umarex range please do visit www.armex. co.uk. You’ll also be able to find full stockist details there too.

www.airsoft-action.online

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AIRSOFT GOES MEGA

ROVING REPORTER, LES LEE, PEEKS BEHIND THE DOORS OF A RELATIVELY NEW AIRSOFT RETAILER AND FOUND FAR MORE THAN HE EXPECTED Photos by Andy Davies THERE’S A NEW KID IN town......and this kid is MEGA!!

These guys weren’t kidding when they called their shop a “Mega Store”. My, oh my, oh my, what a fun palace they have created in just one year. To get to where they are in such a short space of time is nothing short of outstanding and they have certainly hit the ground running - and that is why we at Airsoft Action, want, no… we NEED to tell our loyal readers all about Urban Airsoft Mega Store in Yorkshire.

Urban Airsoft Mega Store was officially launched in April 2015, following a 12-month search for the ideal property in the right location at the right price. Entrepreneurs and business partners Chris and Andy (AKA Fluffy) wanted to buy a large property that would house both their Airsoft store and head office for their hugely successful Fear Masters Studios Entertainment company, which was launched in 2010 and has continued to grow from strength to strength.

They had almost given up hope of finding the right place when a property suddenly came on the market, in an ideal location and had a vast amount of space, ideal for everything they needed. In the heart of Normanton in West Yorkshire, near all the major road networks and motorways. A former carpet and furniture showroom with more room than they needed, it had so much potential. The property was quite run down so a lot of work was needed to bring it up to a standard ready for opening. Before Urban Airsoft was launched, a small onsite shop at FMA Airsoft was run which was only open on game days. The demand for products and the limitations of the on-site store meant in order to expand a much bigger store was needed.

The store has a mixture of full and part time staff, all with a very keen interest in (or should I say “obsession with”) Airsoft!

Andy has the overall responsibility of the store management and the day to day running of things, he does all the ordering and research for new and exciting products. Chris, as well as working on the shop floor does all the marketing and promotions, accounts, etc. James the assistant manager and avid Airsoft player runs the store when Andy’s not around and 46

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also heads the technical department “The Airsoft Doctor”.

Alex, another avid player, runs the armoury side of things and all things technical. Craig, also an experienced player, works with Alex on the armoury and looks after the clothing and accessories side of things. Curtis, who is a very keen player, works the whole shop floor and customer sales and service. The company has also taken on trainees and apprentices and also offers work experience placements.

The store is easy to find and is located just minutes from the M62 junction 31, ideally located in the heart of West Yorkshire within in easily travelling distance from Leeds, Wakefield and other major towns and cities in the surrounding area. There is plenty of off street parking and pay and display car parks. In the near future they are looking to extend their opening hours, with some late nights – dates and times to be confirmed later, but at the moment Urban Airsoft is open 09.30 to 17.30 and

inside airsoft URBAN AIRSOFT MEGA STORE

closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The store frontage is huge so unless you forget to take your eyeballs, you just cannot miss it. When you enter the store you will probably feel that whoosh of adrenaline take over which usually overpowers sensibility and you will most probably, out of habit from shopping in large superstores, find yourself looking for a one pound coin to put in the shopping trolley. I speak hypothetically of course but I am trying to give you some idea of scale of this mega store and the stock within.

The shop has over 5,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, is well laid out and everything is organised into departments. They have a huge army surplus section, armoury, bags and tactical luggage, camping and outdoors, tactical gear, eyewear, boots and even children’s military wear. They stock a huge range of batteries and chargers and some great deals on pyro from Enola Gaye. The Airsoft Doctor (the UK’s version of the legendary Airsoft Surgeon), is located centrally in the store and is very popular with customers who have any technical questions. The store layout works really well, with a walkway which loops around the store with aisles which lead off from this so it is easy to walk every aisle without the risk of missing that piece of kit that you have looked everywhere for. I am a prime example of going into an Airsoft shop and planning my systematic route around so that nothing gets overlooked.

If you are out with a partner that is less than thrilled about standing around in a store in which they may have no interest, then they have a chill out lounge with comfy leather sofas where they and/or the shopper can sit and relax and browse the latest copy of Airsoft Action magazine. Toilet facilities are available as well as a changing room where customers can try on the latest gear from their tactical clothing range.

Another great feature is a custombuilt, 2-lane shooting range with interactive targets where customers can practice or try before they buy the weapon of their choice and the staff are more than happy to chronograph customer’s guns free of charge.

When it comes to brands stocked, obviously most major brands are in-store but if they haven’t got it they will go out of their way to source products for customers. Main brands stocked are ASG, G&G, Bolt, Ares, Krytac, WE, Nuprol. Viper, Helikon-Tex and Highlander with new products arriving every week. Top sellers at the moment are the CZ-SP-01 Shadow, the ASG Devil Series, the G&G Firehawk and also the Krytac range gets a lot of interest. All these products are very good quality, reliable and reasonably priced. Trending at the moment is the Viper Titanium range of clothing and tactical gear, along with their premium range from Helikon-Tex and, just as a point of general interest, Urban Airsoft’s biggest seller at the moment is their special offer on Ultrair gas from ASG which is only £8 each or 3 for £20.

Show me an Airsofter that doesn’t like a bargain and I’ll show you a Paintballer!

When I asked Andy if Urban Airsoft is a one-stop-shop for all things for a weekender, he confirmed that other than bacon, eggs, tea bags and bog roll they stock everything that you would need for a wild woodland weekend of bush craft and biscuits.

I managed to corner the in-house gun technician for disclosure of the specialism’s and skills that he had to offer.

I asked him to tell me a bit about himself because I was beginning to realise that James is more than your basic gunsmith.

“My name is James Wokes, AKA the Airsoft Doctor. I joined the FMA team in 2012 as a technician making props and bombs for the players to use during game play. Through this avenue I slowly began playing Airsoft.

“I spent 11 years as an electrical mechanical maintenance engineer working on anything from large plant machinery to small delicate electronics, so it felt natural to me to start opening AEGs to see how they work and upgrading them to work better. I then began to service and fix the FMA rental guns so I had an infinite source of problems and technical fun at my fingertips. I then www.airsoft-action.online

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New face – same power gas

Ultrair has been at the forefront of Airsoft propulsion and lubrication since the start of airsoft in Europe

0021-March2015

It remains the player’s choice due to its powerful and stable performance across wide temperature ranges.

The strong and sturdy construction of the gas still makes Ultrair the most reliable Airsoft choice – players’ choice!

0021-0215_AirsoftAction_Ad.indd 1

26-02-2015 08:33:35

inside airsoft URBAN AIRSOFT MEGA STORE

began to buy more and more Airsoft guns to open them and see how different they were inside.

Other Airsoft players at FMA then began coming to see me for small technical work on guns and from here I started my fan base.

“Once Urban Airsoft opened, a dedicated tech room was built for me to take care of the rental and client guns. With Urban having a good relationship with ASG, they offered to send me and my colleague Alex to Copenhagen with the ASG rep Paul Wignell for the Service Engineer Training course, which we completed in February this year and by the time you read this, we would have visited the WE Headquarters to check-out the whole range, especially from a technical PoV because our WE and Nuprol stocks and sales are nothing short of spectacular.”.

If one particular service stood out more than most (apart from their ridiculously cheap prices and their price match policy) is their relentless customer service. Andy explained; “We pride ourselves on our exceptional customer service which our customers always comment on. Our after sales policy is, if an item is genuinely faulty we will replace it there and then without any hassle, or offer a repair. If it’s something that has been man-handled by the customer we can quote for any repair work needed. All our staff are fully versed in the art of Airsoft and all its associated products and uses. Every member of our team can confidently share with all our customers their experience of the sport and are happy to show any novice how to get the best out of their Airsoft equipment. We can offer our knowledge and experience to each customer. Our staff in addition to receiving in-house training, attend externally held courses in retail and customer service. Our staff will go that extra mile to offer the customer the best shopping experience.”

I knew that Andy wasn’t just “talking the talk” when he made that statement, this guy pulled those words from the heart.

In addition to all of this they have their own Airsoft site - FMA Airsoft which is a 5-minute drive from the shop.

The site is 24 acres with various game zones i.e. Woodland, Village and CQB areas with excellent on site facilities which include on site store, luxury flushing toilets, reception area, safe zone and car park for customers.

They have their own team “The Ghost Squad” which utilises the site for training and game play. One point that did impress me is that they do lots of charity work each year and also work

with students on the military preparation course who have helped with woodland works to gain skills and experience and also Airsoft days and overnight campouts and, just to round things off, they also run events in conjunction with West Yorkshire Police.

And lastly, I asked Andy what plans Urban Airsoft had for the future, he replied; “We are passionate about the service we offer our customers and are dedicated to providing an exceptional shopping experience for them. Our continued investment in the store will see regular improvements. The next stage of the refurbishment will see the shop front repainted to compliment the new windows, with stunning window displays, new wood flooring, ceiling and wall areas with new coverings and our new chill out lounge will be open soon. This was originally located centrally on the shop floor but is now being relocated to its own room, providing a central hub where teams can meet up, have a chat and relax! On the first floor is Saturn Photographic studios who offer a great service for team photo shoots, or anyone wanting some great shots with their new load-out”!

So as they say in the movies “that’s a wrap”, I can’t help but feel that I could write about this Mega Store forever as the photos, editorial and indeed their website doesn’t even begin to give you any idea of the sheer volume of this amazing store. It doesn’t use the term Mega Store without good reason, because it truly is and the stock that they carry is, well, “Mega” too. I would urge anyone to pay them a visit, just make sure that you allow enough time because you’ll need it if you want to see everything and you might as well read your credit cards the Last Rites before you go because if they don’t have it then you don’t need it.

Les OUT!

Contact: URBAN AIRSOFT Exchange Buildings Exchange Street Normanton West Yorkshire WF6 2AA Telephone: 01924 899109 Email: info@fearmasters.co.uk Web: www.urbanairsoftuk.com

www.airsoft-action.online

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CYAN, MAGENTA, YELLOW, BLACK

OUTBACK LINE_OTP Pants Airsoft Acion, June 2016 issue

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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.

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AIRSOFT ACTION’S RUSSIAN CORRESPONDENTS, MARTY AND MARTA, WRITE ABOUT A GAME BASED ON REAL EVENTS IN THE HELMAND RIVER VALLEY, AFGHANISTAN

ISAF 2015 GRENADE EXPLOSIONS, INCESSANT CRIES of Afghans and clear commands of ISAF troops has for 5 years been breaking the silence of the desert land near one of Russia’s largest southern cities, Rostov-on-Don. Every summer since 2011, the “ISAF” airsoft event gathers the best airsofters of southern and central Russia. The main demands are strict checking of equipment and guns for every individual person, high-quality acting, strict adherence to rules and frenzied passion. Airsofters begin to prepare for this event months before the start of the game.

Alexander Prokhorov, participant of “ISAF 2015”: “For me ISAF is the game that I wait for a whole year, where you are fully immersed and are able to recount everything that happened vividly. This event is so different from all the other games that I don’t want to participate in any other airsoft event after ISAF.” The team who organizes ISAF events from 2011 till 2014 is called “Delta 61” and is one of the largest and most skillful teams in the South of Russia. The club has about 50 players from five cities in Russia.

Airsofters replicate the 82nd airborne division of US army.

Each division of “Delta 61” holds weekly training in the city and gathers several times a year for games with teams from other cities. For such a major airsoft team it is not difficult to organize such a long (4 days) event. Organizers do not focus on the number of players, they instead focus on the quality of the gameplay and immersion in a war-like atmosphere.

Helgi, the commander of “Delta61”, chief organizer of the ISAF event (2011-2014): “ISAF has never been a large-scale project. Originally, I had hoped for a maximum of 200-250

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people. More in my opinion are simply not needed. Lots of participants in our ISAF games are people from the south of Russia, Moscow and St. Petersburg. There are strict criteria to select participants who are allowed to take part in ISAF. Of course, this is due to the fact that one irresponsible player is able to spoil the whole game. Therefore, we are reluctant to allow people without a recommendation.”

Beginning with the first game, ISAF is based on real events.

According to the script the action takes place in Helmand province of Afghanistan, in the Helmand River valley. Each year there is a new scenario, for example, the strengthening of democratic institutions and the holding of elections in the Afghan countryside. It is based on real events that occurred in previous years. All participants receive their own tasks that they need to carry out before the end of the game. At the same time a lot of attention is paid to everyday life during the event.

Helgi: “Non-combat episodes take an important place in the event. The base of the ISAF contingent has a life of its own; there are daily routine activities from boxing events, shooting, briefings, even a common area for the watching of movies. The village of peaceful Afghans also lives its own life, with a teahouse, the elders, clan feuds, elections, houses constructions, etc. There’s also the Taliban that have their life with special tasks to perform during the entire game. The interweaving of these lines gives this game a truly unique atmosphere.”

There are four game locations, each of which are based in playing fields in the Rostov region.

Base ISAF (Forward Operation Base “Geronimo” or just FOB) is the location of the military contingent. It is considered a secure facility. Entrance is strictly by passes. There are strict daily routines and discipline inside the FOB. The entrance for Afghans is strictly forbidden. NATO units are located in the FOB. NATO unit replication is quite popular in Russian airsoft. British and Americans, Germans and French. Selection of the country and of the armed forces is determined by the availability of

International RUSSIA

equipment in second-hand stores and on the Internet. The more accurate replicating of certain kind of troops (along with “combat skills”), the higher level of the team in the eyes of fellow airsoft.

The main task of the military contingent is the creation of a positive image of peacekeepers and reducing tension in the province. They bring order to the area where the Taliban are active. Tasks of ISAF forces include destruction of the militants, searching of caches, patrolling and joint operations with special-purpose forces.

Yuriy Sychev, participant of “ISAF 2014”: “The Taliban fired on an army patrol and took hostages. It was necessary to urgently take the group and chase the Taliban.

“Coming immediately to the outskirts of the village, with the help of a scope we discovered a Taliban camp with hostages and armed guards. I took the decision to storm the base. The venture was dangerous but we couldn’t leave the hostages with the Taliban fighters. We walked around to the north and came to the base in a semicircle. The assault was powerful and dangerous! Walkways were littered with tree trunks with branches sticking out, there were almost no places to take shelter and the fire fight flared up from someone’s grenades, men dumped into the abyss after the shots in the chest. We had to leave the corpse to the aircraft. I was shellshocked during the assault.

“While breaking through the buzzing in the ears and the crackling radio, I was trying to get clear guidance from headquarters. Unfortunately, one of our fighters had already been killed. We went back in a large group and detained one suspicious masked Taliban-miner. The Base greeted us as always - with the bureaucracy and confusion on the PPC. We passed the wounded to the medical team, returned prisoner to platoon, passed the Taliban to commandos and went to have a rest.”

Alexey Karlyuk, participant of “ISAF 2014”: “I was surprised by the Marines, who have shown the most politeness, respectfulness and courtesy when checking documents.”

In addition to NATO fighters, there is a UN mission located in the ISAF base. The UN staff are civilian personnel who have to listen to all complaints of Afghan civilians, and need to take all measures to provide solutions.

Security of UN mission and reporters is provided by PMC soldiers. Relaxed, mercantile and restless, however, they never openly clash with the army. This is followed by the Military Police. The purpose of the police is to suppress war crimes and violations of military service.

The main opponent of military forces is the Taliban. They are proud, cruel and fanatical, reluctantly surrendering, preferring to die. The location of their base is unknown. The task of the Taliban is to derail the peace process at any cost. They try to inflict maximum damage on coalition forces, preferably

with video of attacks on soldiers.

Organizing Group of “ISAF 2013”: “There was probably the best Taliban reenactment during ISAF 2013. They were everywhere and were very good. Tireless, cunning, daring. There was a night assault on the base, when Taliban threw a grenade in the commander’s tent and killed half of the soldiers who were sleeping at the time. The losses were about 60 people killed against 4-5 Talibans. After that the remaining Taliban lurked away into the night trying to inflict more damage on the remaining garrison.”

The terrorists actively recruit civil Afghans to its ranks. For this, they would train people in the Taliban base.

Pavel Zakharov, participant of “ISAF 2015”: “I must say, the military from FOB have themselves pushed the civilian population to actively join the Taliban, when the police was canceled and military started to shoot at civilians because of every sound. On the first day of training the Taliban camp was empty. But on the second day, when the Taliban took control of the village, all the villagers already wanted to be trained.”

The peaceful Afghan population during the event lives in their village, where the laws of Afghanistan operate. There are four Afghan Clans in the village, each of which is controlled by an elder, who has unquestioned authority. The village runs a common life.

Alexey Kursakov, participant of “ISAF 2015”: “I’m glad that I was able to play in role-play during ISAF. During the game I earned 46 thousand in Afghan currency. In fact it was my goal.

I got income by trading goods from Pakistan (thanks to the ISAF contingent, they allowed me to do it), as well as transporting goods by boat. I also got the fee for the interview from the press and as well as an invitation to a wedding.”

Stanislav Galochkin, participant of “ISAF 2015”: “I was first on the other side, I participated as a civilian. Of course it was difficult. Therefore, I strongly advise everyone to watch movies about Afghanistan before the event. It helps to understand how you should behave. But overall, my wife is very happy for my participation and I got some great experiences. I saw that my airsoft team should still do a lot of things that we were like

“COMING IMMEDIATELY TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE, WITH THE HELP OF A SCOPE WE DISCOVERED A TALIBAN CAMP WITH HOSTAGES AND ARMED GUARDS. I TOOK THE DECISION TO STORM THE BASE. THE VENTURE WAS DANGEROUS BUT WE COULDN’T LEAVE THE HOSTAGES WITH THE TALIBAN FIGHTERS.”

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an army. Sometimes the outside view is very important. “ Proud and reserved Afghans are conventionally friendly but foreigners without protection are extremely not recommended to be on base.

Civilians cannot use guns under any circumstances. If civilian Afghan wish to shoot, they go to a nearby Taliban emissary and joins the militants.

Maxim Dergaus, participant of “ISAF 2013”: “Joining the Taliban – this task I have done, although it was not easy. I met one of the Taliban, who came to woo our village. I became the Taliban and had an explosive belt.”

However, if a peaceful clan “declares jihad” during the airsoft event, then all men of this clan are armed and fighting, without joining the Taliban. After a firefight they again become civilians.

The fourth style of participants is journalists. They live in the press center, which is guarded by soldiers of PMC. Reporters in the ISAF are active. They shoot photos and videos, create videos and photo essays and even publish newspapers. Reporters, as in real life, are very careful and in case of danger flee or hide in the shelter.

Alexander Levchenko, a participant of the series “ISAF” games: “During my first ISAF I was a journalist for CNN and

as well as the flavor and quality acting of each participant.

Before each game the organizers check a lot of photos and videos of real conflict in Afghanistan to make the game as close to real events as possible. And many participants grow beards specifically for the event.

From 2015 there is a new organizers of ISAF events. It is big team “MPRI” also from Rostov-on-Don city. They use Multicam camo and replicate according to the spirit of the group L3.

Alexander Prokhorov, participant of “ISAF 2015”: “The scenario of the game reminds me of major war movies, where the atmosphere builds to a point where everyone is just about ready to burst. And it was not a third-rate thriller, not a movie about bored soldiers... this time it was real drama.

Sometimes frighteningly similar to the truth or to life. It’s not entertainment, sometimes, for a few seconds, it was almost a real war.”

The organizers strictly enforce the moral and ethical standards and respect feelings of all believers. They endeavor to make sure that Russian airsoft is a game of friends regardless of nationality and religion. The next ISAF will take place in the territory of the Rostov region at the end of August 2016.

All titles and descriptions refer only to gameplay during ISAF airsoft event, held every year in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation.

Alexander aka Marty Levchenko, Maria aka Marta Litvinova.

according to the rules we were not allowed to use guns. We were guarded by employees of PMC. This had its drawbacks because sometimes I desired to shoot. But the next time I played the role of an Afghan independent journalist, who also could move freely, shoot anything interesting in the daytime but at night I took out of my caches and rebuffed invaders. This style of play was much more interesting.”

Entry requirements to the ISAF event are enhanced by stringent requirements regarding the appearance and behavior of the participants. Before each game organizers hand out photo IDs for each participant, both for military forces and civilians. Players who decide to play the role of Afghans sew their own shirts and trousers, though they do buy skullcaps and turbans. Women in the event also do their best to look authentic: you can see only their eyes under the veil.

To add flavor, Afghans and ISAF forces communicate only in English or with a help of an interpreter who know Pashto. This adds authenticity to the simulated attacks by actors playing the dreaded Taliban.

Organizers stress that the main feature of the ISAF is the profound immersion in the atmosphere of the Afghan conflict,

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GADGE IS NO STRANGER TO PLAYING A SOVIET ROLE, SO WHEN THE CHANCE CAME TO REVIEW ONE THE SOVIET’S FOREMOST LMGS, HE WAS FIRST IN THE QUEUE!

PKM LIGHT MACHIN WHEN THE SOVIETS BUILD SOMETHING they build it to last, from assault rifles to tanks... it was always a no frills but lots of firepower endeavour. So it came as no surprise to find that A&K’s rendition of the classic Soviet PKM light machine gun feels as rugged as the real steel!

It’s not sleek or pretty but the PKM has a certain “soviet chic” that appeals to players like myself, so much so that on a recent visit to Cannock’s JD Airsoft, A&K’s modernised PKM caught my eye and it wasn’t long before I was persuading the guys to let me take it for a test drive; purely you understand for your benefit dear reader. I took no pleasure in mucking around with a classic support weapon for a weekend… honest… (cough, cough).

Before we dive into my assessment of this rugged, rapid fire squad automatic it’s probably a good idea to look at the history of the real steel version to get an idea of what A&K were aiming for.

MULTI PURPOSE MACHINE GUN

The original model light machine gun first came into service with the Soviet army as the PK model, in 1961, after a request from the Red Army for a light machine gun firing the long 7.62x54mm round. This was the same round as used by the Dragunov SVD but a longer round than that used in the AK47 in service of the time; the longer casing giving greater velocity due to more propellant. Utilising elements of the Kalashnikov design wedded to a non-disintegrating metal ammo belt,

rather than the AK47s box magazine, the PK proved practical and popular with the troops. In addition the PKM fires from an open bolt to aid cooling and cycles the rounds gasses via tube below, rather than above, the barrel – the bolt is in essence “upside down” compared to the AK47 or AKM. The PK can be used as either a light machine gun with a 100 round belt (often stored in an ammo container under the receiver), or be tripod-mounted with a larger ammo belt for sustained fire roles as a medium machine gun, in much the same way as a UK GPMG. Regardless of the role, the PK/PKM is capable of a respectable 650 rounds per minute and of lengthy bursts without overheating, although the barrel is removable and needs to be changed regularly.

In 1969 the venerable PK became the PKM (M for Modernised) and this model featured improved flash hider, lightened weight and receiver ribbing for extra strength.

Around 2005, footage of Russian troops fighting in Chechnya began to show PKM LMGs with modern black plastic furniture replacing the old laminated wood and it’s precisely this model that A&K have beautifully realised.

So, getting a fresh boxed PKM out of the JD Airsoft stores I was instantly hit by the “no frills” packaging from A&K. You get a plain brown cardboard box, devoid of any logos or content description, containing the PKM encased in sturdy dark grey expanded polystyrene foam. Aside from the PKM itself, there is the ammunition box, a small battery, a spare spring and the usual basic battery charger. Getting the PKM home

“WHILE SETTING UP THE PKM THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IS ITS BLOODY HEAVY. IT’S NOT QUITE THE 7.5KG OF AN UNLOADED REAL STEEL PKM BUT IT’S NOT FAR OFF, IT’S CERTAINLY NOT THE SORT OF AEG YOU’LL BE FIRING FROM THE SHOULDER MUCH AND YOU’LL BE GLAD OF A GOOD SLING OR THE INTEGRAL BIPOD.”

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Armoury A&K PKM LIGHT MACHINE GUN

HINE GUN I decided in the interests of fairness to test the AEG with the supplied battery (an 8.4 mini Nimh) and charger but to give it a decent “field test” with different BB weights.

PUTTING THE PKM THROUGH ITS PACES While setting up the PKM the first thing you notice is its bloody heavy. It’s not quite the 7.5kg of an unloaded real steel PKM but it’s not far off, it’s certainly not the sort of AEG you’ll be firing from the shoulder much and you’ll be glad of a good sling or the integral bipod (or for that matter just resting it on the ammo box). The ammo box itself is a delight and nicely modelled on the real steel version, holding a whopping 5,000 bbs. I loaded it up with .20g Blasters for the first test and fitted the battery into the provided space in the ammo can (you can

also, if you chose, mount a battery in the receiver… but not both at once!). The ammo can itself was a bit stiff to fit at first and somewhat “clunky” to lock on (blame the Russians on that one not A&K... it uses the same system!) but after a bit of fiddling about we were locked on and ready to rock.

Taking the PKM out on site the next day I decided to put it through its paces at a variety of ranges and in a variety of firing stances. As I said, firing it from the shoulder is both tiring and somewhat awkward but then again it was never designed to be used this way. Firing from the hip was fun and certainly the best way to be mobile but for best result you’ve got to bite the bullet, drop down the bipod and get down on your belt buckle.

Rate of fire was more than adequate even with the average quality 8.4 1200ma battery supplied and I found that after

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Armoury A&K PKM LIGHT MACHINE GUN

tweaking the hop a little, a very pleasing and consistently accurate fire could be achieved with the .20gs. It was, however, a pretty windless days and I still got a few “flyers” in each burst so after belting few a few hundred .20gs, I unloaded the ammo can and restocked with .25g Blasters instead. The results were as expected, with a minor hop up reset, it was just as accurate but slightly more consistent. The thing is though, I’m a great believer that LMGs shouldn’t actually be THAT accurate, you really want to be able to provide a “danger zone” of suppressive fire with a good spread to allow your buddies to move forwards, to this end I can’t help but wonder whether it might be more fun to use the .20s or even mix a few .20s and .25s together to get an unpredictable spread. For the purposes of chronoing the PKM I used .20g blasters in a controlled indoor environment and found the FPS to range from 310 to 330 FPS (0.89 to 1.01 Joules), somewhat less than some adverts proclaiming it to kick out at around 380FPS but in my opinion, perfectly respectable for playing without a minimum engagement range.

One thing that I did notice, however, was that you have to switch on the auto winding ammo can pretty frequently and it’s pretty damn noisy, certainly you’re going to want to stack up the feed tube before trying to sneak up on someone… although carrying a PKM is never the best “stealth option” anyway. A quite useful feature, however, is a mosfett circuit that allows you to regulate the rate of fire of the PKM depending on which type of battery you are using. It was probably the less than brilliant “starter” battery and charger but I did find that such a small battery powering both the gearbox and the ammo feed meant that the PKM soon drained the 8.4 dry – if you’re picking one of these up invest in some good quality high MA batteries and a decent charger!

version of the PKM, A&K’s construction method rest heavily on the “real steel” and the buttstock and carry handle are easily removable and, while I’ve not tried, should be a cinch to replace with laminate wood versions if that’s your bag.

While I absolutely loved the A&K PKM I think it’s safe to say I’m a big fan of Soviet design so I might be a bit biased.

I’m also a big fan of MilSim/FilmSim gaming, where support gunners carry more ammo than riflemen and so play a real “support fire” role… I think for those sort of games this AEG excels, but if you were just using it for open day “capture the flag” skirmish you may find it a little heavy and unwieldy.

Saying that, however, support weapon fans are like sniper players, you sort of “get it” or you “don’t” and it’s pretty safe to say all the LMG gunners I know LOVED this baby.

It’s not cheap, retailing from JD at around £449 but in fairness you’re getting a re-enactment quality replica. While it may not spit out real bullets it’s certainly tough enough to club someone to death with and not leave a scratch on it, it’s THAT solid.

So if you dig that soviet chic or fancy an “insurgent fighter” look this PKM may well be worth saving the pennies up for... I know I didn’t want to hand this one back!

SOVIET STYLE

The electrically-wound ammo can is a near perfect replica of the real steel and the rest of the LMG is well, very “steel”.

The few bits of this beast not made out of matt black painted steel are made from a tough zinc/aluminium alloy and feel very sturdy and certainly very “soviet”. While it’s quite a “modern”

Made of: steel, aluminium, plastic Length: 1,185 mm Weight: 7240 g Muzzle velocity/energy: 310 to 330 FPS/0.89 to 1.01 Joules Powered by: 8.4, 1200ma NIMH battery (supplied) Magazine capacity: 5000 BBs Manufacturer: A&K Price: £449

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AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR SPRING 2016

LAST MONTH JERRY NOONE TOOK SOME TIME OFF THE SKIRMISH FIELD TO PAY A VISIT TO A TWICE-YEARLY AIRSOFT EVENT IN BEXLEY, KENT THAT KEEPS ON GROWING AND GROWING, THE AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR! I FIRST ATTENDED THE AIRSOFT Boot Fair back in March 2012, and it’s an event that’s been running twice a year since then.

The events are run early in the year around late March or early April and again later in the year around the end of September.

Entry to this event is just £2 per person which includes a free Raffle ticket. A seller’s pitch is only £10 and includes entry for two people and pre-Booking guarantees a covered pitch in the main arena which is roughly 3 meters long. Children of 11 years or under, OAP’s, serving members of the Armed forces and Emergency Services get in for free.

The event was the first of its kind and was designed to be a place that both players and trade could meet on an equal footing to buy and sell new and used goods. Obviously as

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the event name implies the day is centred around the players setting up stalls and selling their used or unwanted kit but there are now a number of trade sellers who bring lots of new kit for players to buy and look at and is a great way for those traders to get a sense of what their customers want in a less hurried environment than in the hustle of a game day safe zone.

The main covered central area is devoted to the player’s pitches whilst the trade stands have dedicated space on the adjoining courtyard; it was great this year to see trade friends like Pete and the team from Platoon Stores, Airborne Airsoft, Darkwater Airsoft, SEAS, Dave’s Custom Airsoft, and Adriano and his merry crew from RDX Tactical with their tactical battlewagon. Airsoft Great Britain were also in attendance and it was superb to finally meet Trent, who is working so hard to promote airsoft in a really positive way and not to mention “Stretch” from Super Mega Tactical Airsoft News would be a crime!

Anyone may attend the event regardless of age or experience so new players can mix and mingle with the more experienced. The organisers have very few restrictions on what may be sold at the event, although the venue have asked them that they do not allow the sale or display of any “Nazi” memorabilia (still a touchy subject even after all these years ) and they also restrict the sale of bladed instruments to those with a military theme only. Apart from that, if it has a military or Airsoft theme and is legal to sell in the UK then you can take it along and place it up for sale!

As well as the buying and selling aspect there are always some competitions running throughout the day. First and foremost is the Big Raffle, which is self-funding with the

event AIRSOFT BOOT FAIR

proceeds from one allowing some swish new prizes to be bought for the next. Everyone who visits the event gets a free raffle ticket upon arrival. The Raffle prizes are donated by the event organizers and in the past additional prizes have been kindly donated by the Trade attendee’s as well. These prizes are mostly made up of new guns and tactical equipment with a few surprises thrown in along the way.

The organisers also run the “Best Loadout” Competition for those people who attend the event in full tactical gear or their favourite “character” kit. It’s a very simple concept; just turn up in your skirmish gear and around 12 noon all contestants will be gathered in the trade square and the judges who are picked from attending sellers and customers who are known skirmishers themselves, will look at and ask questions about your kit and why you have decided on what you have. A single winner is picked by majority vote and announced later in the afternoon. The winner is presented with a bag of Airsoft goodies usually worth around £200 so it’s well worth getting stuck in! They also have small games running like “Build a Rifle” or “Guess the BBs in a jar” just to add a little fun to the day. At the next event in September they will also be hosting a live auction before the raffle, where anyone can place an item to be auctioned off there and then on the day.

The event organisers, Phil Bromley, Martin Hopkins and John Reddington, are all long-time proponents of Airsoft as trade suppliers, shop and site owners and as players themselves. So the event has a real feel of for the players by the players. The venue itself is excellent, being held in school grounds with excellent facilities. Parking is free all day, the main sales area is covered and there are excellent toilet facilities, so no muddy fields at this event. There is a snack shack, ably attended by Emma and John, who prepare all food fresh and have the bacon and burgers on from the get go.

The event has gone from strength to strength and has inspired other events around the county. The organisers really do have a passion for the sport and the players and try to make the whole day about Airsoft, not just how much they can charge for coffee. In the words of Phil Bromley; “We are always looking for new trade customers who would like to show off their latest wares and all groups or teams are welcome.”

He also stresses, however, that they could not host the event without the amazing support of the volunteers who man

the gates, direct parking and sell raffle tickets throughout the day, or the players who support the event and make the day what it is.

If you’re looking for a bargain, or just fancy a cracking day out in the company of fellow airsofters then you really should put the Airsoft Boot Fair on your calendar. The next event will be at the end of September 2016 and more information along with booking forms can be found on the www.airsoftbootfair. com website or on the Airsoftbootfair Facebook page.

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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

Loaded or Unloaded NEW FROM OLD!

NEW FROM OLD! THESE DAYS THERE ARE SO MANY CAMOUFLAGE PATTERNS TO CHOOSE FROM THAT IT’S OFTEN DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHERE TO START, SO THIS MONTH JERRY NOONE TAKES US ON A TRIP DOWN “MEMORY LANE” AS HE BRINGS A CLASSIC PATTERN BANG UP TO DATE! I’VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO have been involved with the airsoft scene for many years now and have built up a right old collection of gear. I usually work on a theme with different camouflage patterns and, with the aid of reference pictures, try to build a loadout that is as accurate to “the real world” as possible. Many of you who are starting out though will want to put together a set of gear or two without breaking the Bank, although some I know go to quite extreme lengths and spend wads of cash to get their setup exactly how they want it!

And it’s absolutely amazing what you can use to get your loadout together; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with good old surplus DPM (which you can pick up for pennies these days). I remember starting out with just some DPM and my old ARKTIS chest rig to carry some mags for my MP5 and that served me faithfully for some considerable time.

If you’re going to have a good hunt around for budget-priced gear that’s a bit different, then you can easily look to surplus coming from the European armies with older patterns like Flecktarn and Tropentarn, Danish M84, French CE and Italian Vegetata all now available at good prices if you know where to look. If you go to the US market you’re going to be spoilt for choice too, as you can have “choc chip”, tri-colour desert and M81 woodland at knock down prices, along with all the gear to go with it!

In fact some of the older camouflage patterns are actually having a bit of a resurgence right now, not just in airsoft terms but also in “real world” settings, as we’re seeing pictures of western troops embedded with local units embracing whatever pattern is being used, with updated styles in M81 Woodland seeming to be a firm favourite with certain US Special Forces.

Taking M81Woodland as a starting place I decided to have a look at bringing some older patterns bang up to date and a trawl through my collection resulted in me choosing US ERDL, which was a forerunner of the US four-colour woodland pattern.

In 1948, the US Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (ERDL) designed a general purpose jungle camouflage consisting of mid-brown and grass green organic shapes with black “branches” on a lime green background.

The early versions were made in cotton poplin and the colours were officially known as “Dark Green Army Shade 355, Yellow Green Army Shade 354, Brown Army Shade 356 and Black Army Shade 357”; initially these colours were quite bold but use in the jungle soon meant that they took on much more subtle and muted hues as they “bleached out”.

Although the pattern was designed far earlier, the ERDL tropical combat uniform was first used in Vietnam and is

most commonly associated with LRRP units. On December 10th 1965 the US Army requested 300 ERDL uniforms for evaluation in Vietnam.

It then requested over 18,000 sets for Pathfinders, LRRPs and scout/recon personnel on the 6th February 1967. By mid-1969 there was enough ERDL in country to begin outfitting selected line Infantry!

Strangely though, after Vietnam the US Army decided to return to the Olive Drab uniform and the ERDL camouflage pattern was largely consigned to history and hoarded by collectors; these days you can pay absolute top-dollar for original ERDL gear even if you are lucky enough to track it down! It wasn’t until 1981 that the US military adopted M81 and that lasted until 2006 when it too was replaced.

Woodland pattern is identical to ERDL but is printed as an enlargement of the original. The ERDL pattern was enlarged and the borders of the splotches were re-drawn to make them less regular.

“LEAF PATTERN ESSENTIALS”

The term “leaf pattern” (with respect to camouflage design) generally refers to the US ERDL camouflage pattern and the many derivatives that have been produced since. Many army uniforms around the world have, in part at least, been based on the original 1948 US

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pattern so it just goes to show how effective it was in the first place.

As I’ve been involved in Vietnam Airsoft for some considerable time I am lucky enough to own a set of 1968 dated “Green Dominant” ERDLs which have been “SF Modified”; base pockets of the jacket were removed and re-sewn onto the upper arms for extra storage, a design that survives to this day on many modern tactical/combat shirts.

As much as the originals do come out for living history events I certainly won’t ever use them in a skirmish environment though, that’s for sure!

Luckily though Soldier Of Fortune (SOF) based in North Wales have manufactured a couple of sets of top-notch reproductions of the ERDL pattern uniform in both cotton poplin and cotton ripstop, along with a cracking boonie hat and even a beret!

The jackets are both replicas of the most popular and common pattern which was used. The ERDL camouflage tropical combat jungle jackets are basically the 3rd pattern tropical green combat jacket made in the ERDL camouflage.

They feature: • Two upper chest pockets.

• Two lower front pockets.

• Button front closure.

• All buttons are covered.

• ERDL camouflage.

• Cotton fabric either poplin or ripstop weave.

Once gain the ERDL camouflage trousers are again basically the 3rd pattern tropical green combat trousers made in the ERDL camouflage. These feature: • Two cargo leg pockets.

• Two rear pockets on the seat.

• Two front slash pockets.

• ERDL camouflage.

• Leg ties.

• Cotton fabric either poplin or ripstop weave.

Of the two fabrics the ripstop version offered by SOF is almost identical to the dated set that I have both in the feel of the fabric and the boldness of the colours. That said the poplin versions are much more subdued in terms of tonality and look as if they’ve done a “tour of duty” already!

GOING GREEN!

So with the basic uniform decided upon, I then had to work out what gear would best go with them. Back in the day the ERDL uniforms would of course have been worn with OD M56 LBE and depending on which fabric you go for, a basic, plain green colour for gear and accessories works very well indeed; I found that olive green works very well with the ripstop uniform, whilst Ranger green tones in beautifully with the poplin.

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In terms of essentials and accessories it was an easy choice to simply use some Mechanix Original gloves in foliage green, an OD base layer shirt and an olive shemagh. Dependant on environment I would decide whether to use an ERDL boonie or my olive green VIPER “FAST” helmet. Whilst ERDL uniforms would have been used mostly with the classic green/black jungle boots I decided to modernise this aspect by using a pair of plain black AKU “SEAL” boots; these also give a bit of an “SF feel” to everything.

It’s all very well simply stuffing spare magazines into the pockets of your cargo pants but most of us want something just a little more “user friendly” and there are two simple options if you want to carry your ammo on your torso; a plate carrier or a chest rig. If you go for the out and out military look then you’re probably going to want to run a plate carrier which will let you set up a modular system of pouches for magazines and equipment just the way you like it; this is also a great setup for indoor “CQB” use as well, as with some replica plates fitted it will offer you some protection against close range BB strikes.

As part of their “ELITE” range Bedfordshire based VIPER have recently introduced the Special Ops Plate Carrier. This is a great looking bit of kit featuring MOLLE webbing panels and some distinctive shock band shoulder strapping which nicely mimics some of the “Gucci” big-name brands out there at the moment. The carrier has three magazine compartments a front chest admin compartment and three robust webbing

Loaded or Unloaded NEW FROM OLD!

side panels. There are front and rear armour compartments that will accept smaller replica plates.

It has Velcro sizing adjustment on the front, a bungee retention size adjuster on rear and fully adjustable padded shoulder straps which makes it a “one size fits most” affair. Internally, comfort is achieved with the use of padded Ventex and external durability comes courtesy of the 600D Cordura which is used throughout.

If, however, you prefer to run a little more “Light is Right” then a chest rig of some description is going to fit the bill perfectly; chest rigs are minimalist and lightweight, don’t overly restrict movement and allow you to carry a good load of magazines. VIPER know all about chest rigs but I have to say that the new Special Ops version is one of the very best designs they’ve ever come up with!

With built in quad mag capacity and numerous utility/ pistol mag pouches, the Special Ops Chest Rig is capable of bearing a substantial load in a minimal design. This low profile setup allows the rig to be worn beneath outer layers of clothing, like tactical jackets or smocks and also allows great manoeuvrability in confined environments. Once again it’s a case of “One Size Fits Most” as the rig is fully adjustable.

The fitted pouch configuration features a four capacity mag sleeve, a GPS or small radio pouch, two pistol mag pouches (which can also be used to carry a multitool) and a Velcro ID Panel. All the straps are unpadded but wide enough to be comfortable even when under load and durable quick release buckles mean it’s easy to get on and off. Although it’s made of super-durable 600D Cordura the Special Ops Chest Rig weighs in at just 670g.

If you want to “up-armour” a bit though, you might like to consider another option for gear and you need go no further than the DCS Plate Carrier in Ranger Green from Warrior Assault Systems (WAS) which works extremely well with the poplin uniform set. If you want to stick with plain olive green then WAS offer a comprehensive range of plate

carriers, chest rigs, packs, pouches and accessories in that colour too!

Although a relative newcomer to the UK I managed to get hold of one of the first Tactix One Day Plus Packs from US brand First Tactical to come into the country. Available in Black or Green, at 40.5L this is a well-sized pack that gives you more than enough space for one days-worth of gear; in fact with careful packing if could be used for multi-day use if you’re going to be re-supplied in the field. The Tactix Pack benefits

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Loaded or Unloaded NEW FROM OLD!

WHERE TO BUY www.sofmilitary.co.uk Soldier Of Fortune really are a “one stop shop” when it comes to everything military, historical or tactical!

There shop in North wales is stocked floor to ceiling with all the very best gear from brands worldwide and if you’re at any of the major living history shows you really can’t miss their marquee! www.viperkit.co.uk To keep up to date with the new VIPER tactical products as they become available please visit www. viperkit.co.uk. You’ll also be able to find full stockist details there too. You can also follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook and Instagram pages which are regularly updated. www.tactical-kit.co.uk Go to Tactical Kit for Mechanix gloves and 0241 Tactical accessories in ERDL… as well as just about most other good gear you can imagine! www.uktactical.com UK Tactical offer a full range of clothing and Warrior Assault Systems nylon gear in multiple colours and they are always adding to their already extensive range! from a Lynx™ Laser Cut Platform compatible with MOLLE/PALS, First Tactical’s Hook & Hang Thru™ System and repositionable or removable compression straps with side release buckles.

There is a divided front stash pocket for longer items, concealed drop pocket with hook/loop lining for utility pouch or holster, interior dual use hook/loop and a web platform for unlimited pouch placement. There’s an innovative removable internal backboard with a postureconforming aluminium stay that may be used as splint, shovel or paddle, positional shoulder straps for the right fit, HD spacer mesh with dual density foam shoulder straps and back panel and a fleece-lined eyewear pocket.

Made from a combination of 500D/1000D Cordura with a double layered base and featuring YKK zips and Duraflex hardware, the pack is absolutely bomber-tough and thus far shows no signs of wear even after use in some pretty foul weather and being thrown in the footwell of the truck on many occasions! The back panel and shoulder straps are super-comfy even under load and as the Tactix weighs in at just 1.9kg, you’re not adding much weight to your overall load. I’ve been testing this versatile little pack for a while now and have been very impressed thus far. First Tactical are soon to open their very own retail outlet in the UK so expect to hear more about them soon!

NEW FOR OLD

So, that’s it for another month and I’m really quite chuffed at how my little project of breathing “new life” into “old gear” has turned out. It’s always fun to look with fresh eyes at something you’ve actually owned for a good while and repurpose it by just juggling around with gear and accessories.

I also love the fact that a camouflage pattern originating from 1948 is still a completely valid one for the skirmish field of 2016, especially now that summer is almost upon us and the woodland sites are really filling in with vibrant new foliage. The ERDL is close enough to M81 to be effective but also unique enough to stand out from the crowd which makes it kind of cool in my eyes.

That said, whatever camouflage pattern you decide to run with is perfectly okay if you like it and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise! Just get your gear on, grab your RIF and get out there and play airsoft!

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July 2016

www.trekitt.co.uk Trekitt in Hereford are sole distributors of the excellent AKU boot range in the UK and also stock the very best in outdoor gear that you can imagine! www.firsttactical.co.uk First Tactical are a well-established and respected brand in their native USA and soon they are going to have their very own store in the UK. They’ve got some great kit on offer so in the meantime do go and check out their website to check on all the tactical goodness they offer!

MIDLANDS AIRSOFT FAIR APRIL 2016

AS AIRSOFT BOOT FAIRS BECOME MORE POPULAR, KELLY “FEMME FATALE” HARDWICK REPORTS FROM ONE HELD IN AN EX-PRISON-TURNED-AIRSOFT-SITE TWICE A YEAR THE GAOL, a CQB site in the heart of Rutland, hosts the Midlands Airsoft fair: an Airsoft boot fair event where retailers and Airsofters can sell new products and second hand gear. On the 23rd of April 2016 The Gaol Events hosted their 5th Midlands Airsoft Fair and I made the trip to see what was new for this year’s event as the event is growing year by year.

First though, let’s chat a little about the venue itself…

“The Gaol” was once known by the name of HM Prison Ashwell and was a Category C men’s prison, it was first opened

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in 1955 as an open prison for adult male prisoners. Built on the site of a World War II US Army base (home to part of the 82nd Airborne Division), in late 1987 it was converted to a Category C for adult males. The Prison eventually closed in 2011 and in 2013 it was redeveloped as the Oakham Enterprise Park – a business park for offices and light industrial use. Part of the Prison still remains and this has been acquired by Justin and Charlotte of the Gaol events to bring players one of the most intense CQB sites in the country. The playing area includes 4 former wings of the Prison to fight through and the outside yard areas, all surrounded by high prison fencing with barbed wire on top – all adding to the feel of the Prison. The site has a fully functioning kitchen and toilets but for the event is equipped with clean portaloos – much appreciated! The site itself is very impressive, as this was a completely new site for me I decided to make a weekend of it and play their open day the very next day - and I wasn’t disappointed.

The cost of the fair is just £5 and the price includes entry to the event, a bacon or sausage cob (roll for anyone outside of the Midlands!) and CQB games in wings of the Prison. The fair runs from 10-3 so is a great day out for Airsofters and their families. Every event there is a raffle and although the raffle ticket prices this time had increased from £2 to £5 a strip, the prize fund itself had jumped to over a whopping £2,000, including some amazing prizes such as a full Tippmann set up, a Scorpion EVO 3A1 kindly donated by ASG, a SWAT VTG grenade and a game day at the Gaol – a very, very awesome prize draw indeed! Although the event is all fun and games, it does support a very worthy cause; The Pilgrim Bandits. The

event MIDLANDS AIRSOFT FAIR

Pilgrim bandits are a charity set up by Special Forces Veterans to help injured service men and women believe that life is worth living again, by using their unique skills and training.

During the event I had the pleasure to meet Terry and Michael Arnett who are a father and son team and part of the team at the forefront of this fantastic charity. The sacrifices our Armed Forces personnel make is unrepayable and it is wonderful to see charities out there who are giving something back to these amazing people.

The fair was set in the safe zone, a wing of the prison, the kill house and inside the prison courtyard and this time around it attracted some very well-known brands and retailers indeed!

Amongst the booters were well known and well-loved brands and retailers such as ASG, Enola Gaye, RS Airsoft Supplies, ASPUK, Ammo Drop and Incentive Designs. The events are always great to see what the brands are developing and the new products that they have. My favourites by far were seeing the long awaited and highly anticipated ASG Scorpion EVO Hi-Cap magazine - Airsofters reached out to ASG regarding this and ASG, in true form delivered! The new hi cap magazine, although not suitable for MilSims, which is what I primarily use my own Scorpion EVO for, is going to be a big hit with skirmishers for sure – enabling the player to stay in the game

longer! I was also really intrigued with Incentive Designs and their new hardware for Tippmann M4s – although not the only product on display from the makers of the I.D 5 (a 5-shot BFG), the Venom (a flash hider that creates a flash of light to mimic that of a real firearm muzzle flash) was also a big hit! And the new custom CNC’d free floating rail systems were definitely a looker! I also had a lot of fun on the day testing smokes and bangs with Enola Gaye – their purple EG18 was to die for!

As well as buying new gear, there is also the opportunity for Airsofters to sell second hand gear which means there’s always a bargain to be had and you can pick up those rare finds! There are always plenty of booters at the fair, with the pitch prices being extremely reasonable starting at £10 and an extra £3 per table hire (all done through their website).

In conclusion, the Midlands Airsoft is a great day out and excellent value for money – £5 won’t get you far at a lot of events these days, so it is nice to see the Gaol events catering for the player, no matter what the budget! It also means a bigger budget for new kit but I do feel that the event is aimed at relatively new players, rather than those who already have all the gear but there is always something for everyone and it is a great day!

“THE COST OF THE FAIR IS JUST £5 AND THE PRICE INCLUDES ENTRY TO THE EVENT, A BACON OR SAUSAGE COB (ROLL FOR ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE MIDLANDS!) AND CQB GAMES IN WINGS OF THE PRISON. THE FAIR RUNS FROM 10-3 SO IS A GREAT DAY OUT FOR AIRSOFTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.” www.airsoft-action.online

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ANGELO DV AND TEAM RHINO HEAD TO WAKEFIELD TO CHECK OUT ONE OF THE MANY NEW SITES OPENING UP IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY

CRY HAV O DURING MY MANY YEARS of playing our beloved sport I have played at many sites travelling the length and breadth of the country. In the early days good sites were quite small in number, so when new sites opened it was welcomed by the community in general. That is a stark contrast to the multiple choices of sites we have now, certainly in the north of the country. The competition for your hard-earned is fierce, which can only be a good thing for consumer. With this in mind I decided to gather a few of the boys from Rhino and head over to one of the new kids on the block, namely Havoc Airsoft.

The Havoc Airsoft site is on Birkin Lane, just off the A1 near Wakefield and as with many sites currently, it is based on a paintball site. On arrival in the glorious sunshine we parked up in what was quite a spacious car park, unloaded and headed into the site. As the players arrive they are directed through to a signing in desk to fill out the disclaimers and pay etc. and I managed to catch a few words with Simon, one of the guys who runs the site and who also pointed us towards the ready areas.

The ready areas are the usual paintball site affair; rows

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of tables under cover with plenty of room to get all the gear ready. At this point as I had been driving a while I decided to take advantage of the bacon butty and coffee for £2 offer. We got service with a smile which we all like and I met Liz, who I believe is co-owner of Havoc and also of “The Unit”, which is their airsoft retail unit. Liz greeted us all with a very warm smile which made us all feel extremely welcome.

So let’s crack on and get kitted up in preparation for a good shoot, which is what we were there for.

So all kitted up and ready to rock and roll amidst all the harsh but fair banter between the boys and some of the regulars. We then headed to the chrono to get our guns checked and I really liked the system they used. They had everyone’s name on a list and they wrote in each chrono reading they got, which I presume was to refer to should the need arise. Then as the banter died down I noticed we hadn’t had the safety brief, I asked Mark from the team what time it was and it was approaching 10:30. I asked Simon when the brief would take place and he told me it would start in ten minutes or so. The safety brief actually started at about

Site Report HAVOC AIRSOFT

10.45 which, for me, was medic rule scenario but during the game there was a twist an hour later than it should to the medic rule. They called it “blue on blue medic” which have been. The safety brief basically meant that to medic a team mate, all you had to do was delivered in a very was shoot them. I really liked this as it was a load of fun and professional manner by added a different dimension to the usually mundane rule.

Simon and covered all the I would just like to point out that Mark from Rhino clearly necessary points. One thing I enjoyed this it little more than anyone else. Mark, I think the would like to point out, was general idea of the blue on blue medic rule was perhaps to that during the safety brief a shoot your team mate in centre mass or somewhere near. I got group of about four or five of them in the back of the head, butt cheeks and even on the the players on the other side neck… he knows I will get my revenge! But this was a laugh a of the briefing area began minute and was very popular with the players. to take group selfies. Now I Second game of the day was a very similar affair but the know that Simon who was objects to be collected on this occasion were gold and silver conducting the brief knows blocks. Again it was frenetic and a good old fashioned skirmish the lads in question, as I scrap, the odd echo of cheat calling etc. rang out in the trees believe they form part of the home team. I knew that but to but I will add this was very minimal during our day (and we like someone who didn’t, or someone new to the site (including first time players) that could have come across as being “WE WERE ON A NORMAL MEDIC RULE SCENARIO BUT DURING THE a little bit rude. But the main problem GAME THERE WAS A TWIST TO THE MEDIC RULE. THEY CALLED IT with it was the possible distraction away “BLUE ON BLUE MEDIC” WHICH BASICALLY MEANT THAT TO MEDIC from the safety brief, the hires and new players may have missed something key TEAM MATE, ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS SHOOT THEM.” critical. Personally it didn’t bother me but be aware that not all perceptions are the same. that). 13:00 came along and it was time for lunch.

At 11:00 we were split into two teams and given the game Lunch was a very tasty sausage casserole with lashings of brief and, seeing as it was Easter, we went on an Easter egg fresh bread and butter, all washed down with a hot drink. hunt. One team at each end of the site with various golden Other drinks and nibbles were available and I’d like to say they eggs hidden. The team with the most eggs at endex wins. Now were very reasonably priced and again, this was all served with the site itself is a very compact woodland site, with quite a few a smile. basic structures for the purposes of cover, so off we went.

Just after I had finished my lunch I noticed a young lad The fighting was absolutely full-on from game-on through sprawling across the main safe zone area with his pants to endex, with bbs flying everywhere. We were on a normal down and in handcuffs. At this point he was led around by

A

V OC!

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Site Report HAVOC AIRSOFT

(what I presume were) his team mates. Now I thought this was hilarious but again, my perceptions are the not the same as others and I overheard one or two comments from other players that were less than favourable. To me it was just harmless fun.

After what seemed like an absolute age we were briefed on the afternoon game, which was a hostage rescue scenario as featured in the event when posted up on Facebook. Now this game started at 14:40 which, when endex is 16:00, is in my view not acceptable. An hour and fourty minutes from breaking for lunch to starting the afternoon’s play is way too much standing around.

The game brief: Three girls needed to be rescued from the home team who were acting as the bad guys and the remaining players were split into two teams. So you had to fight the other team and the bad guys to get to the hostages, then escort them into the other team’s base. At one point the bad guys were out of the game allowing the opposing teams to battle for the hostages. We managed to capture them but for some completely bizarre reason, members of our team took them in the wrong direction. This lead to a real scrap near our regen point between us and the bad guys, it was really full

on and I do love a good scrap. Endex came at approximately 16:00, so it was to the safe zone to pack the kit up.

SUMMARY

Overall our day was a good one, good fire fights and good marshalling with a great bunch of people. But take the issues I have raised on board, some players will simply not be kept hanging around for such a long time before and in-between the days play. I think I am being very fair in this assessment and I’m absolutely certain that Liz, Daz, Simon and the rest of the team will take this on board.

But let me say this, the team at Havoc have got all the important things spot on, especially the customer care. Nothing was too much trouble, the team were more than happy to help wherever they could. They put you, the customer, first which in my opinion is where some sites get it totally wrong. The issues I have raised are easily fixed and I have no doubt they will be addressed.

Thank you to all at Havoc for looking after us.

For more information about Havoc Airsoft and The Unit, visit their website at: http://www.havocairsoft.co.uk or ring 07432 801268/01977 679041.

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R U O Y S ’ T A H W

F O N O P A WE ?

E C I O CH

THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT AIRSOFT GUNS TO CHOOSE FROM SO IN THIS ISSUE’S DEBATE GADGE ASKED WHAT IS YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE?

THIS MONTH I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH to be reviewing the impressive A&K PKM light machine gun and, while it’s a bit of a beast, it did give me cause to consider that support weapons are an acquired taste.

With this in mind I asked some of the team if they ever felt a preference for type of Airsoft weapon and after canvassing the views of the staff, we decided to throw the question out to you the readers. So we asked you, “What’s your poison”?

Some people stick with an assault rifle type AEG throughout their playing “career”, others opt for the role of the stealthy sniper, while some mad types masochistically enjoy lugging around 10kg of support weapon in the summer sun. It would seem that most players try either the sniper or support gunner role at some point and that a very small, select group dive into the game straight away knowing that they want to be laying

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down suppressing fire, or become part of the “one shot one kill” sniper elite.

Quite often the nature of your site can determine your playing style and choice of “gun”. There is little point in having a 500 FPS sniper rifle with a 20 metre minimum range if your local site is room to room close quarter battles! In a similar way, your country’s (or even site’s) laws (or rules) can make some playstyles non-starters. If you’re only allowed semi auto AEGs then it’s largely pointless having a GPMG machine gun and if the site or national FPS limit is 320FPS, then it seems somewhat self-handicapping to take a bolt action sniper rifle with no more power, range or accuracy than a well set up assault rifle. Unless of course you’re one of those players that value style over substance and don’t mind taking a “sub-optimal” gun if it suits your loadout, or image!

Debate WEAPON OF CHOICE

This month though we wanted to know what your “weapon of choice” was and why? It was no surprise to find that many of you favoured an all-rounder AEG but would try out more specialist roles - but only if the scenario provided a good reason (or ruleset) to make them worthwhile. For many of you sniper rifles were too limited by minimum engagement ranges and an “extreme range” little better than a well-tuned AEG and support guns were just too heavy and unwieldy to balance out against the extra ammo capacity (especially if “realism” isn’t an issue and a 3000bb Cmag on an M4 gives you pretty much the same effect. But in MilSim events the unique rules on varied FPS, ammo limits and even the rules that determine how the weapon can be used can suddenly open up massive possibilities for specialist role players.

I know that I personally prefer the DMR marksman’s role.

I’m not really patient enough for full-on sniping and I’m no longer fit enough to be up front and assaulting positions all day, so being able to hang back and add harassing fire to the attack works for me in both open day and MilSim play. Equally, for health reasons (mainly a shredded back) I find lugging excessively heavy AEGs around draining after a while but enough about my play style, let’s hear what you guys had to say.

Jethro Holberry: “I’m packing a support gun, running at 380 Fps (following MED regs.) and I need assaulting elements around me or I quickly get bogged down and over run. It encourages team work, communication and helps keep everyone aimed at the objective.”

Chris Simmons: “I’ve been lucky enough to have had most gun types across my 3 years as a player and I’m happy that I’ve reached a happy medium between most of them. I currently rock the Tokyo Marui Aug High Cycle. It’s deceptively long barrel and magical TM hopup is more than a match most M4 types in terms of range. The compact bullpup layout is perfect for any cqb site. The high cycle rate can hose an area as good as any machine gun. And finally, because I run mid-caps, I have to be selective with my targets and I take great satisfaction in picking off individuals with single shots or controlled bursts, which in my opinion is one of the greatest joys of a sniper.”

Paul Bennett: “Now just found my style which is CQB. I use a custom G&P aeg with electric trigger but mainly end up with my two pistols (P226 and G18c) and just run around like a headless chicken!”

Dave Clark: “At the moment I run with a Silverback SRS Compact and either the TM P90 or a G&G M4 in pink.”

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Debate WEAPON OF CHOICE

Brendan Robb: “I used to only run a pump action trishot but that was playing with guns locked to semi in New Zealand, so it wasn’t that bad of a disadvantage. Nowadays playing in the UK I rock a SCAR L and an AKMS as my main rifles, both good for CQB and open spaces and it means I can play both sides in milsims if I need to. I also have an RPK for support, it’s good as I can flick it onto semi for CQB (unlike most support weapons) and clear rooms with it, not the most practical but it does the job and puts a bit of fear into people.”

Matthew Philpott: “Well I’ve played with a variety of load outs and sadly will always come back to a standard electric aeg.

Support weapons are just a really heavy and expensive aeg, sniper weapons are just too limited in range and in all fairness I know a lot of situations where a single bb is going to be ignored even with high fps. If a sniper could triple the range of an aeg then I might be willing to try them again but sadly that’s just not going to happen.

“For general gaming terms the aeg can have the rate of fire and range to match any support weapon for a fraction of the weight penalty.

“Twin pistol load out is a lot of fun for a decent CQB site though, I’ll give it that.”

out with G&P M4 or my 2008 MSV Russian load out with E&L AK74e” David Careful Hastead: “G&P M4 carbine with a flat hop.

Does everything well and reliable. Year in year out. For CQB I use a G36c with folding skeleton stock, aeg blowback. With a tight bore carbine inner barrel. Both guns re-wired to gain a better trigger response off 7.2 lipos. Both are internally modded to get very consistent fps.”

Conor Coley: “I’m a brave soul with a Marui M870!”

Evo Von Himmel: “I’ve done every role in my time and always end up reverting back to the standard rifleman. The problem with both support weapons and sniper rifles is that they just don’t offer enough difference in a game to a well-adjusted AEG. Support weapons are just a heavier and more unwieldy version of a standard gun and snipers don’t really have enough power to outrange AEGs, so you can’t get the “real world” experience of either a support gunner or sniper.”

Adam Buxton: “I’ve cycled through the roles, Support and sniper and come back to an AEG shooter/marksman. This has me now shopping for a gas feed and midcaps loadout. WIth a fall back to gas pistols. It’s just a good all round load out weapon wise.”

Robert Keppel-Spoor: “As said above, for me personally there just isn’t enough of an increase in either range or rate of fire with snipers and support weapons to make me want to move away from an AEG. However, the way they are used (if deployed and used as they would be) can add to the feel of a milsim type game, if not necessarily the outcome. The single shot from a (relative to an AEG) quiet unseen sniper flying past your ear, or the flood of bbs from a support weapon give the game something a bit different.

“Whenever I do open days I tend to find a civilian type loadout and shotgun and pistol more fun, though not necessarily more successful!”

Callum Scott Walker: “I’ve bounced all over the place but the last few years have been assault rifles, either my PMC load www.airsoft-action.online

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THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN CALLING! BEING A FAN OF THE EARLIER MODEL, TEAM RHINO’S ANGELO DV WAS HAPPY TO GET HIS HANDS ON THIS NEW OFFERING FROM ICS AS I START TO WRITE, I CAN almost hear the cries of “Not another M4!” - but will the new ICS CXP Captain be any different? Read on, dear reader and find out.

Over the last 12-18 months ICS appear to have upped the ante on their European/UK marketing, offering the general airsoft community the chance to actively get involved in their future plans and strategy. ICS called out for people to become “ICS Champions/Captains” and some of the candidates were collated from a Facebook marketing campaign. You could also send your details directly to ICS for consideration. If you were successful in being given this great opportunity, you would in return receive lots of ICS goodies, including the occasional RIF to test and review. One really nice touch was the fact even people who weren’t successful received a goodie-bag (a nice touch, that).

So the ICS CXP, I myself was a huge fan of the previous CXP incarnation, whether it be the Concept version or the Sopmod/

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Crane stock one. For me it was possibly the best all-round M4 on the market, with cast-iron reliability and great out of the box accuracy, range and overall usability. Everything about the rifle just worked as it should do and had a great hop system which kept the shots nice and consistent. And not forgetting the split gearbox system, which made it much easier to change the spring and also maintain the lower gearbox. One thing I have never understood is why more manufacturers never went down this route with the gearbox.

UNBOXING AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS

So let’s see if the latest addition to the CXP family is in keeping with the previous models. On opening the box you are greeted with the usual quality packaging you would expect, with everything nicely laid out in the blow moulded plastic base. The first thing I noticed is there was only one magazine with the rifle; one thing I always liked about buying a brand new ICS rifle was that you normally get two magazines. I’m not sure why that policy has changed but I’m sure there is a perfectly logical explanation for this. Also in the box are the ever-present free bbs and also the user manual and additional technical data, including a stat sheet giving you the details of FPS etc.

The model I had been sent was running at 395fps out of the box so a quick spring change was required before testing it at a site. I have to also say that the user manuals ICS package with their rifles are easily some of the best out there. Clear, concise

Armoury ICS CXP CAPTAIN

and in English that you can make sense of, it even tells you how to perform a basic strip down.

Now let’s get this thing out of the box and have a play with it. First impressions was this M4 was being directed to what appears to be quite an emerging market in small M4s, aimed for use in CQB environments.

There are various models on the market currently from the King Arms Tanker through to the G&G Firehawk, so it makes sense for ICS to enter that arena with the CXP Captain and personally, I think the original CXP Concept was great for CQB. In hand the CXP feels great, very solid build quality with a nice neat finish, it’s quite heavy too. Now one thing ICS has changed from the original CXP, is the addition of a blowback system. In my personal opinion, if you want the feel of blowback then buy a gas blowback rifle as not even any of the recoil systems out there come close… in my opinion. It also comes fitted with a new keymod rail system which again is very solid and looks great. Another change is a metal hop unit, replacing the previous plastic one, so we’ll see if this affects the rifle in the colder weather. There is also a new stock that looks similar to a CTR - but a little bit nicer if I’m honest. The rifle is fitted with the usual Turbo 3000 motor and there are no rattles from what is a very solid rifle. The battery space is limited as this goes in the stock tube. To access this, simply remove the stock, slide in the battery and connect it. One thing I didn’t like was the horrible wiring and fuse assembly; the wiring is rigid stiff and makes getting the stock back on with a battery in a little tricky. ICS come on, flexible silicone wiring would be much better.

SHOOTING TEST

With a quick spring change I headed off with some of the Rhino lads to a game at Havoc Airsoft to put it through its paces.

As the rifle was brand new and had very few bbs put through it the hop took a little while to settle down but once it had, it was absolutely rock solid with no slip whatsoever.

The range was what I have come to expect from a CXP, as the range on my previous one was outstanding for a standard rifle.

The blowback system “kind of” worked but for me the slide

doesn’t come anywhere near far back enough; it comes back about half an inch. It gives you more of a rattle than the effect of a bolt flying backwards and forwards.

I found that the trigger response on single shot was a touch laboured if I’m honest and not as zippy as I have had from Turbo 3000 motors I have previously used in ICS guns.

The full auto rate of fire was acceptable and every bb was in line on short bursts. The accuracy of the Captain was outstanding from a totally standard gun, with it hitting pretty much everything you pointed it at. It sounds great too due to the mad cast iron flash-hider, which resembles the turret on a castle and acts a little bit like a sound hog, similar to the Firehawk.

Now, going back to the trigger response… In previous versions of the CXP the single shot trigger response was very sharp and snappy but, for some bizarre reason, the Captain seemed weary. As this is a smaller M4 many players will buy this to be used in CQB games where, as most of you know, is usually a single shot environment. I personally think I would replace the motor for CQB for a High Torque motor, which would give it a much needed zip on single shot. Another route to go down might be to fit a MOSFET allowing you to use an 11.1v LiPo with minimal risk.

SUMMARY

So in summary, is this new ICS CXP Captain any good, is it as good as its predecessors?

For me it’s a really tough call. I absolutely loved the original CXP and have always regretted selling it but times were hard.

The build quality is fantastic, it looks absolutely terrific, it shoots really well with the great hop system but I feel the Captain just needs a couple of small tweaks and it will be as good as it gets.

Replace the motor with a high torque one, much better wiring and perhaps a MOSFET, maybe even a programmable one and it will be even more popular that it’s concept cousin. But you know it I’ve had this rifle for about three weeks now and it has really grown on me, I love the look and feel of it and I’m sure hundreds of players will buy this as their go to gun.

Huge Thanks to Richard Cairns (ICS Captain 7 & Section 8) and also Alice Chen (ICS Marketing) for supply of the review rifle.

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GITAG ASPUK SNIPER UPGRADE PART 1

ASPUK SNIPER UPGRADE PART 1

THIS MONTH JERRY NOONE THOUGHT HE’D DELVE INTO WHAT EXACTLY GOES INTO CREATING A ONE-OFF SNIPER RIFLE FROM “JUST AN IDEA” THROUGH TO FRUITION!

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OVER THE YEARS I’VE TOYED with airsoft sniper rifles but I have to admit that, through my own lack of commitment, I’ve always fallen short of my intended goal. It takes an awful of time, practice and patience to truly become an outstanding airsoft sniper and as in the real world, there seems to be a certain mindset required to really excel in the role.

There are some truly inspirational videos online showing airsoft snipers at work; with their custom “ghillie” suits and a real understanding of fieldcraft, situational awareness and operating environment these guys can truly become “force multipliers” for any team they play with.

Now I’m no slouch at creating custom rifles and I’m not for a moment suggesting that this is what you must have to become an airsoft sniper but let’s face it, having a first rate rifle is a part of the equation that just can’t be overlooked and as with all things airsoft, there are guys out there who make it their life goal to create the absolute best.

At IWA earlier this year I was privileged to be introduced to Paul from Airsoft Sniper Parts UK (ASPUK) and we started talking. I’d already taken the decision to re-visit the world of the airsoft sniper and his passion for this subject was such that I was enthralled by our conversation; it really put me back on track with my own project. In the very nicest way Paul and his team are true “geeks” when it comes to airsoft sniping so who better to team up with to run through what goes into a topquality custom build?

Airsoft Action: Firstly, thanks so much for speaking with us!

Could you tell me a little about the history of “ASPUK” and what you do?

ASPUK: “ASPUK was first set up in July 2011; it was basically the original owner looking for parts for his own rifle but there the concept was born. Over the coming 3 years the goal was to become the UKs leading airsoft custom sniper/precision rifle builders.

“The previous owner decided he had taken Airsoft Sniper Parts as far as he could and started looking for a new home for the business and that’s where I came in. We purchased Airsoft Sniper Parts in April 2015 and the adventure began.

We already had a small online airsoft retail business and the acquisition of APSUK was the break we were looking for.

“In the last twelve months we have opened our First

1,000sqft retail unit and now employ four members of staff.

We have expanded and although we still specialise in spring precision rifles, parts and upgrades we are now also a retailer of all aspects of airsoft including AEG, GBB and HPA parts and rifles, as well as offering a full upgrade and maintenance service.”

Airsoft Action: What is the usual process in creating a custom sniper build? I know I supplied an initial brief and then you came back with suggestions very swiftly but once an order is placed, what happens next?

ASPUK: “The most common rifle and the one that achieves constant performance is the Toyo Marui VSR. Here we’ll be upgrading a TM VSR GSPEC but the exact same principle is applied with all VSRs, only the barrel length is changed.

(Pic 1) “The stock internals use a 45 degree trigger and piston system which is renowned for being weak and unreliable. Also the 45 degree plastic piston and spring guide are not very good at withstanding the high FPS outputs that we wish to achieve. We always choose to use 90 degree zero triggers and CNC Piston and cylinder sets with all our builds and these offer far better consistency against the dreaded slam fire issues.

Firstly, we need to build the new cylinder up with its new internal components. (Pic 3,4,5) “For this you will need to use some none oil based Silicone grease; grease the head of the spring and the

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bearings on the spring guide. If your spring has tighter coils at one end, then this is the end you need to slide the spring guide into. (Pic 6) “Once the spring and spring guide has been greased you can slide them into the cylinder spring guide first. Now we take the piston and grease the O Ring and two white Teflon rings.

(Pic 7) Insert the piston over the spring and into the cylinder; at this stage we always use Teflon/PTFE tape on the threads of the cylinder head to ensure the best air seal possible. You

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will need to wrap around 2–3 complete wraps of tape around the cylinder head threads. (Pic 8) Screw the cylinder head into the cylinder and set aside, for this you will have to apply downwards pressure to the piston to compress the spring as it is tightened. We find using a pair of long nosed pliers helps when tightening the head and then give the head a final nip up with some adjustable pliers. (Pic 9).

“Next it’s time to strip the rifle; remove the two Allen head screws from the body using a 2.5mm Allen key (Pic 10) Lift the body from the barrel and receiver, it is advisable to lift from the barrel end and then slide towards the cocking lever as you lift and once removed you can now set the body to one side. Now remove the trigger guide screw and remove the trigger guide (Pic 11). Once the trigger guide has been removed we can remove the spring guide stopper and the two screws that hold the trigger set in place. Once these have been removed we can now disconnect the trigger mechanism from the upper receiver (Pic 12).

“Now simply slide the bolt back as you would when cocking and the bolt will slide free of the receiver. Now it’s time to remove the cocking handle from the standard cylinder; this is quite easy to do but just be sure to hold the two parts of the cocking handle together so you don’t lose the locating nub and spring (Pic 13). It is advised to install the Cocking handle straight on to the new cylinder at this stage, this will save you losing any small components. Rub a thin film of oil free silicone grease over the whole of the cylinder and Insert the new cylinder in the upper receiver and align ready to fit the new 90 degree zero trigger (Pic 14).

“The new Zero trigger is quite a bit different from the standard trigger when it comes to fitting to the upper receiver.

All brands seem to differ slightly but they all generally use the same system. The one we are using requires you to remove the four hex key screws at the back of the trigger which will allow you to remove the brass plate (Pic 15).

“You will also need to remove the safety lever and the spring guide stopper; please note the one we are using has a hex screw that needs to be removed first (Pic 16). Once the rear brass plate has been removed it’s now time to install the new 90 degree zero trigger. Start by screwing the rear brass plate to the rifle using the screw provided and then locate the trigger block over the brass plate, align and fix the front mounting screw install the four rear hex screws before fully tightening the front screw. Last but not least reinstall the safety lever and spring guide stopper; don’t forget to fit the spring guide stopper retaining screw (Pic 17, 18).”

That is all the power work done; you now have a rifle that is shooting 2.31 Joule/500fps consistently and reliably but what about accuracy? Next month in Part 2 we’ll find out that now the standard hop arm is no longer adequate to keep the BB stable in flight and how to remedy this!

In the meantime if you want to check out more about ASPUK then all the information is on their website www. airsoftsniperparts.com and they are contactable through the “Contact Us” section. You can also email the team directly at aspukenquires@outlook.com.

GITAG ASPUK SNIPER UPGRADE PART 1

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M4 SHERMAN:

PART 2

RATTY FINISHES HIS LOOK AT THE UBIQUITOUS SHERMAN TANK AND EVEN GIVES US SOME TIPS ON BUYING AND OWNING ONE OF THE BESTKNOWN TANKS OF WORLD WAR TWO

IN ALL, 37 COUNTRIES USED the M4 Sherman series and derivities. Many were post-World War II acquisitions but it has seen service in just about part of the planet. Apart from the obvious users like us Brits, who took over 80% of Lend-Lease Shermans, Nations such as India, Japan (post war supply), Paraguay, South Korea and Uganda all had M4s on their fleet.

SECOND WORLD WAR

So we have looked at the characteristics of the Sherman based upon the 3 principles but where did it serve, what did it do and why is it such an important tank?

There were 2 different doctrines for the use of the Sherman.

The Americans viewed the M4 more as an Infantry support vehicle, having separate Tank Destroyer (equipped with M10 or M36s) assets attached to the main units. The British set up was different in the fact that their Tank Destroyers (Sherman Fireflys) were part of the unit set up and a normal M4 was still good enough in a tank vs tank battle.

The Sherman first saw combat in October 1942 at the 2nd Battle of El Alamein, with the British 8th Army. The British added some sand skirts and some other bolt-on modifications 84

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to cope with desert warfare. It was clearly a much better tank then the German Panzer II (armed with a 50mm gun) and Panzer IV tanks fitted with an older 75mm gun. Although the Sherman faired very well against them, there were still losses, many to the German 88s and other anti-tank guns.

It was in the European Theatre that the Sherman was to really cut its teeth and make a name for itself. Serving with every nation of the Allied forces, the Sherman was seen in abundance all over Europe. Before the Normandy Landings, the Allies had invaded Southern Italy at both Calabria and Salerno.

Often overlooked, the Germans put up strong opposition and it was really the first time that the Sherman would come head to

Big Boyz Toyz SHERMAN TANK PART 2

head with the Tiger 1, unfortunately with the Sherman coming Shortly after D-Day, off worse. Although the Russians were mass producing their on the push out from the T34, they still had Shermans sold to them on the Lend-Lease beaches, virtually an entire scheme. squadron from 3rd Royal Tank The intelligence gathered in Italy was put to good use for Regiment was wiped out in those troops preparing for the big invasion of Europe. There one tank battle. were tanks highly modified, with just one specific role, whether In another instance, a it be mine clearing, obstacle crossing or whatever the tasking. tank commander in the Irish These were to become known as “Hobarts Funnies” and many Guards used his Sherman were based on the M4 platform. One design that was to help to ram a German Tiger 1 to with the initial landings was the DD (Duplex Drive) tank. This disable it. The sergeant then was a Sherman that had been adapted to swim! Fitted with a dismounted from his now flotation screen and a giant detachable exhaust duct, the DD immobile Sherman, used tank employed a system to allow the drive mechanism to turn his sidearm to have a gun battle with the Tiger crewmen and a propeller. Nicknamed “Donald Duck tanks”, they had mixed then, in the midst of the ongoing tank battle, ran around the success on the actual landings. Due to rough conditions some battlefield to find a Firefly (Tank Destroyer) in his unit to finish DD tanks, after being despatched 2 miles from the coast, failed off the Tiger!! to make it to the beaches after being swamped by waves. One After years of speculation, it was only in 2006 that it was detachment of British DDs, due to incoming fire, despatched 4 determined that it was a Sherman Firefly from A squadron, miles from the coast. The sea was far too rough and 8 of the 9 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry that knocked out and killed DDs sank almost immediately, taking their crews with them. the crew of Tiger #007 of 2 Kompanie schwere SS-Panzer Those Shermans that only had to wade ashore proved much “MANY OF THE REMAINING JACKSONS WERE DESTROYED BY AIRSTRIKES more of an asset. Due to the tight French lanes with high hedgerows WHERE THEY HAD BEEN SET UP AS DECOYS. WHAT A SAD ENDING TO A (brocages), it had already been TANK SERIES THAT PLAYED SUCH A BIG PART FREEING MOST OF EUROPE, identified that whilst going over these obstacles, the underbelly SHOULD HAVE ITS LAST “HOORAH” BEING DESTROYED IN THE BREAKUP OF was exposed to enemy anti-tank A PART OF THE SAME CONTINENT.” guns or panzerfausts. To combat this, a modification was done to some Sherman by fitting a giant “hedge cutter”, which took Abteilung 101 (part of 1st SS Panzer Division) on the outskirts the hedgerow out thus meaning the tank wasn’t as exposed to of the village of Gaumesnil near Cintheaux on 8th August enemy fire. These were nicknamed the M4 “Rhino”.

1944. This Tiger was commanded by none other than the Both the US and British invested quite heavily in tank German tank ace, SS-Haupsturmfuhrer Michael Wittmann. recovery (using Sherman based recovery tanks) and repair units.

Although all 3 Tigers in his troop were knocked out in this Due to the numbers being produced, spare parts were quite action, it was only the 2nd Tiger engaged that managed to plentiful, allowing many disabled vehicles to be repaired and return fire before being hit. The fatal round penetrated the back in the battle in a short turnaround time. port armour of Wittmann’s tank and ignited the ammo rack, There are many, many stories of bravery involving the tank which exploded and incinerated Wittmann and his crew. crews of Shermans. In fact, far, far too many to go into here.

The resulting explosion blew off the Turret which ended up I will give you a couple of quick stories that show what these laying in the field a few yards away. This was Wittman’s tank. guys were up against…

The argument still raged for some time thereafter and some historians have suggested that a Sherman of the Canadian Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment may have been responsible instead.

With newer, up-gunned and up-armoured variants, such as the M4A3E8 or “Easy Eight”, being supplied the closer the Allies got to Germany, along with depleting amount of German armour available, meant that these Shermans were rarely tested to their limits.

However, Europe wasn’t the only place that the Sherman saw service in World War II; America still had the Pacific to contend with.

Tanks are for the most part unsuitable for jungle warfare.

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The Japanese only deployed their 2nd Tank Division to cover the whole pacific region. Armed with very light tanks that were smaller and agile given the terrain but were very poorly armed with only light armour, the Americans armed initially M3 Stuart Tanks. The M4, albeit bigger than the M3 worked well in these conditions and outgunned anything that the Japanese fielded.

Many were fitted with flamethrowers, nicknamed the “Zippo” to burn the jungle to flush out Japanese troops. The Chinese had 100 Shermans on lend lease from the USA.

KOREA

At the end of the Second World War, there were Shermans in use by just about every allied nation. However, as we all know, during times of war, there are huge leaps in technology (and medical) advances. Tanks and tank warfare had evolved massively. So by the time the Korean War happened (1950 -1953), the M4 was no longer the US Army’s primary battle tank. The M26 Pershing and M46 Patton were both bigger,

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heavier, packed more firepower and quicker across ground.

However, the Sherman M4A3E8s (Easy Eight) were still were a common sight and were as good as the T34s on the opposite side. There were even some M36 Jackson Tank Destroyers deployed there too. The M26 Pershings were quite unreliable, whereas there were parts a plenty for the Easy 8s and they were damn reliable. Eventually, the inevitable happened and all the M4s left in service were replaced with M46 Pattons.

The British by then had the Centurion (itself introduced in 1945), which is widely regarded as the first ever Main Battle Tank, bringing a whole new concept to tank warfare.

POST KOREA As the US was replacing the M4 Sherman, they were sold off to “friendly” nations. Israel, took some 300 of these. In 1956, they were used in the Suez crisis. Afterwards, as we have already spoken about, started on the M50/M51 “Super Sherman“ programme. They saw active service in both the 6 Day War of 1967, fighting alongside Centurions and M48 Patton tanks. Surprisingly, they faired well against the T54/55 series of tanks being used by the enemy. They again saw limited service in Yom Kippur War of 1973 and again as a reservist vehicle in the Lebanon in 1982.

You might think that was the end of the road for this tank that was getting on in years. Think again! The M36 Jackson Tank Destroyer would make more appearances.

Between 1991 -1995, during the Croatian war of Independence, all manner of kit was utilised. There was no split of East-West kit, with one side being supplied by one superpower and the other side the other superpower. All factions were desperate for kit, no matter what its origin.

There was a number of M36 Jacksons used in this bloody conflict.

Shortly after the start of the war in Croatia, it spilled over into Bosnia. From 1992 – 1995, this was perhaps the bloodiest of the wars in the Balkans, with Serbia backing one side.

Once again, armour of all types was used by both sides, T34s, T54/55s and M36 Jacksons once again were in use. This was

Big Boyz Toyz SHERMAN TANK PART 2

possibly the last time that the M36, based on the Sherman platform, was in active use.

By the time the conflict in Kosovo came around, most of the M36s had been retired. Many of the remaining Jacksons were destroyed by airstrikes where they had been set up as decoys.

What a sad ending to a tank series that played such a big part freeing most of Europe, should have its last “Hoorah” being destroyed in the breakup of a part of the same continent.

from $300,000 to would you believe $800,000!!! Then, lastly, one in the UK, a 1944 example that was actually used in the film ”Fury” in grade 1 condition and yours to drive away for just £300,000.

Check out Milweb, tanksforsale.co.uk, Armyjeeps.net and Auctions America. Many of these that require restoration are being done for private collections or good ones get sold from one collector to another and never actually make it to market.

BUYING AND OWNING AN M4

SUMMARY

The Sherman series has to be one of the most popular vehicles for military vehicle enthusiasts but probably the least collected.

Why is that? Everyone says they want a Sherman tank; that is, until they see what one costs to buy and maintain!

Like any classic vehicle, military or civilian, you will have to be prepared to stick your hands deep into your pockets to keep it in the state you bought it in, never mind any restoration work or upgrades that you will need to do. Unlike a Jeep that can sit in your garage, it will need somewhere larger to be kept, preferably with a workshop and even more preferable, a workshop with people who know how to work on one!!

Parts will be getting thin on the ground with even specialists struggling to find original parts. I know of tracks having to be imported from Israel. Then you have insurance, transportation to and from events you want to show off at, fuel to run it, servicing afterwards and so on. On the upside, you will be the owner of a piece of history, “the tank that won us the war” and as the years go by, they will only ever go up in value.

When looking around, vehicles like this tend to be graded from 1 – 6, 6 being beyond restoration but might be suitable as a parts donor, 5 being a full restoration required to 1, which is as it came off the production line (or better), is in full operational working order and looking as it would with its unit.

I found several for sale whilst researching this, one in Europe requiring full restoration at 65,000 Euros. There is even a “Fury” tank double that requires full restoration, “Price on Application” sounds rather daunting though. Then there were two in the US, oddly both 1943 Canadian built (under licence) M4 Grizzlys. These were both turnkey and ready to show, yours for a mere $275,000 and $310,000 respectively.

On Auctions America, there are a few listed with prices varying

Like many of you, I first saw the Sherman on film and I might have mentioned this before, this was perhaps the main reason for me choosing my vocation in the Army. The M4, although being so massed produced, had perhaps the best mix of the 3 principles over any other tank of its day.

The original goal for the Sherman was to produce a fast, dependable medium tank that could not just support infantry but also provide a striking capacity and defeat any tank in use

by Axis forces at that time. Its mobility, mechanical reliability, superb crew ergonomics, ease of repair, gun stabilising system, being able to pack a punch and take some hefty blows herself, coupled with, as the war went on, support from growing air superiority and the decline of German armour actually being able to fight on the battlefield all helped make the Sherman so iconic. It may not have been the best tank on the battlefield, even in its day but a good crew could turn this deadly weapon into a devastating one. There were so many variants made, there was pretty much a version to suit your specific role – and that’s another article waiting to happen!!

Without the Sherman the outcome of the war may have been very different! Some less-educated people think that the life of a “tankie” is an easy one but get talking to some of these old boys before they all pass on and they will tell you a very different tale.

The recent film “Fury” just adding more to the Sherman’s status of being THE Allied tank of World War II. Let’s face it, today, £300k is a small price to pay to be able to grow a beard, wear a leather bomber jacket, cruise around and phone your friends saying “Woof! Woof! That’s my other dog impression!” So “why don’t you knock it off with them negative waves” and get saving???

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E M E V I G

Tech Talk GIVE ME POWER

R E W O P FRENCHIE CONTINUES HIS TECH TALK COLUMN WITH A LOOK AT WHAT POWERS OUR AEGS

LAST ISSUE I TOOK YOU on a wander through the mechanical components of an AEG gearbox, this time we are going to look at what makes it work… Goblins! No… electricity!

I hope there cannot be anyone reading this who doesn’t know that AEGs are dependent upon a supply of electricity to function, the clue is in the acronym - Automatic Electric Gun after all.

This power is supplied by a battery pack and is used to drive an electric motor, providing the motive power for the gearbox.

This is true of nearly every single AEG ever made, although the designs vary to a greater or lesser degree.

Originally NiCd (Nickel Cadmium) was the power source of choice, indeed the only choice. NiCd was dull but reliable but the energy density was poor – mini packs frequently only held 600 Mah and large packs might manage 1800-2000 Mah (I’ll come back to all these numbers later). A bigger problem

was the presence of Cadmium, which is a heavy metal and not one you really want ending up in landfill so the introduction of RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations saw a rapid decline in the availability of NiCd packs.

They were replaced by Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) packs – same dimensions far greater energy density – current NiMh mini packs can hold up to 1800 Mah while some large packs claim 5000 Mah (although that’s fanciful and I don’t believe NiMh ever really exceeded 4000 Mah for all practical purposes).

NiMh is still with us but has been largely superseded by LiPo – Lithium Ion Polymer.

Lipo had a slow start in airsoft – the advantages were clear – massive energy density compared to what had come before and much smaller physical size. It was finally practical to fit a battery with decent power into the stock tube of an M4, or even into a Real Sword type 97. The problem with Lipo was

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one of perception as much as anything. The “polymer” refers to the container which holds the electrolyte and which, unlike NiCd and NiMh is flexible. This made the packs easier to damage and if damaged a LiPo pack can be spectacular as the escaping gas fuels the flames, this is not something you want under your chin. You also had to be careful about charging them as overcharging could cause the same sort of catastrophic failure.

It happens. Finally, unlike NiCd and NiMh you can damage the pack by over-discharging it. If you run a Lipo completely flat it may not recover and will need to be replaced. Damn!

Overcoming these issues is fairly simple and really requires nothing more than care on the part of the user – charge them using a proper Lipo dedicated charger and swap them as soon as you notice a reduction in rate of fire.

You can also use solid-state circuits that will detect voltage drop and cut off the power or sound an alarm and many MosFet devices include this feature, the ASCU for instance.

Despite a hesitant start, Lipos are becoming the go-to power source as we can fit them into spaces that no other battery technology can, allowing our airsoft guns to look even more realistic as the battery pack hides inside “CHARGE A LIPO WITH rails or stock tubes.

A NIMH CHARGER AND Right, those pesky numbers...

YOU MAY WELL HAVE Voltage, capacity, Mah, AN EXPLOSION OR A ‘C’ – what does it all mean HOUSE FIRE ON YOUR and how much do you really need to know?

HANDS. THE CHEMISTRY A bit, but not too much is my AND TECHNOLOGIES ARE honest answer.

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT Voltage is a measure of how much work the electricity can do, a simple – THIS IS NOT IDLE demonstration is the higher the voltage SCAREMONGERING, IT of the battery pack, the faster the motor spins and the higher your rate of fire.

REALLY HAPPENS.” There is a commonly used analogy, that of water flowing through a pipe. Voltage is the speed at which the water travels, current, measured in Amps, is the volume of water flowing, and the tap is a tap..

Voltage multiplied by amperage gives you the power of the circuit expressed in watts, not something we use in airsoft very

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much. What we are interested in is how long a battery pack will last in use and that is expressed in Mah – Milliamp hours.

A 1600 Mah pack will deliver 1600 milliamps for one hour before exhausting itself, or if you prefer 1.6 Amps for one hour. Unfortunately this is (at best) a very rough guide to what you can expect. Airsoft guns actually draw a decent amount of current, moreover how you use them directly affects how long the battery lasts. Lots of semi-auto? Expect the pack to deplete more quickly as the system starts, stops and starts again repeatedly. Lots of long full-auto burst? Same thing – a chunk of that available power is being wasted in heat as your pistol grip will attest to. Fitted a load of upgrades? Buy more batteries, seriously.

High speed set-ups which use big motors to pull big springs (common in short-stroked set-ups) will monster your batteries compared to say a bog-standard Tokyo Marui AEG. I would treat all those “XXXmah batteries will give you YYYY rounds”

claims as highly dubious unless there is some very specific information about the test set up included. Even then, it will apply solely to that set up. There is a genuine element of “suck it and see” with this. Batteries, especially Lipos are pretty cheap these days, for your own peace of mind an extra one or two is a wise investment.

Finally in this section, what on earth is “C”? It’s a rating found on Lipo batteries and indicates the continuous discharge rate of the battery pack. To illustrate; a 7.4 volt, 1400 mah 20C battery pack will provide a discharge rate of 1.4 amps x 20 = 28 amps. This is the level that can be drawn by the device without damaging the pack. Like most batteries, Lipo packs can deliver much higher peak outputs if necessary for very short periods.

Now you have batteries you will need a suitable charger. This isn’t rocket science – make sure your charger is appropriate to your batteries; Lipo for Lipo, NiMh for NiMh. It seems so obvious but people still get it wrong. Charge a Lipo with a NiMh charger and you may well have an explosion or a house fire on your hands. The chemistry and technologies are completely different – this is not idle scaremongering, it really happens. There are plenty of multi-function chargers capable of handling multiple battery types out there and although a bit more expensive if you run a mixed bag of batteries they are a sensible investment. Read the instructions and understand what you’re doing and all should be well. Play fast and loose at your peril.

SWITCHING

As mentioned in the last article, switching – turning the current off and on as the trigger is pulled and released – is largely electro-mechanical. The original AEG trigger switch as designed by Marui is a simple beast comprised of a set of fixed contacts and a sliding contact moved by the trigger. It’s a design that has been with us for a long time and we are likely to see it in many guns for years to come. Like most simple things, this switch works pretty well and is fairly robust. It can be prone to arcing at the point when the contacts touch and the more powerful the battery, the greater the arcing. This can lead to a build-up of carbon on the contacts and in extreme cases, the physical erosion of the metal of which they are made. These issues are real but they tend to be overstated, especially on the internetweb, where you could be excused for thinking that failing to use a MosFet will lead to the collapse of civilisation as we know it. More on MosFets shortly…

MICRO-SWITCHES

Championed by Ares but used by some others, the microswitch is just a different form of electro-mechanical switch. It tends to be self-contained and despite its name is not actually much smaller than the Marui design. In my opinion they are neither better nor worse than “traditional” switches.

MOSFET: METAL OXIDE SILICATE FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR

MosFets are genuinely different, although they still require a physical switch to operate. Traditional switches are high current devices and it’s this which can damage them. In a MosFet set up the switch handles a very low current flow and it is the ‘Fet which, on receiving this signal that actually does the switching electronically.

I am thoroughly undecided about ‘Fet switching. It works and it does do what is claimed. Unfortunately there is far too much confusion surrounding what ‘Fet switches actually do and how necessary that is. The basic switch found in most guns will handle even 11.1v Lipo power fine, although they will wear out faster. The thing is that they are relatively cheap to replace and it’s up to the individual to decide what their priorities are.

Don’t confuse simple MosFets with programmable fire control units which offer far more functions, such as burst fire, “sniper mode” and such like. These functions have nothing to do with the switching function. Fitting a MosFet is a choice for the player. They are not essential, you gun won’t melt without them. If you like the idea of additional functions a plug and play option like the “Burst Wizard” may be a better option.

A final thought on Fets… They are not necessarily more robust than a traditional switch. I have dealt with plenty of failed switches over the years but I have also encountered many failed MosFets too. Personally I don’t use them but if customers really want them, fine, I’ll fit them.

MOTORS

We love motors and even if we didn’t, our guns wouldn’t work without them.

This isn’t the place to get into an involved discussion about how they work, you can find all that information on the web but very quickly, they involve an electromagnet mounted between two fixed magnets. As current is applied to the electromagnet the rules of opposites attracting/like repelling (were you paying attention in Physics at school?) comes into play but the trick is to reverse the magnetic polarity of the rotor every half turn – otherwise the motor will come to a dead halt after half a turn. This is achieved by using a split-ring commutator and a pair of fixed bushes through which the current is fed to the motor.

Utterly confused? Don’t worry about it. Motors are supplied in three lengths; Short (AK variants, G36s, most guns with a version 3 gearbox), Long predominantly found in AR15s using a version 2 gearbox and irritatingly, Medium for the hybrids out there like Sig 552s, which use a version 3 box but without the motor cage often found in other Version 3-based guns.

Additionally your motor may be badged as high speed or high torque, both terms should be self-explanatory. High

speed motors rotate faster than high torque motors but do not generate as much mechanical force and therefore cannot in theory pull large springs. As mentioned last month, however, it is common practice to use high torque motors in high speed builds which involve short-stroking (removing teeth from sector gear and piston) because these set ups require larger than normal springs. I know, it doesn’t really make sense on the face of it. I will try and find space at some point to come back to all of this as it is reasonably interesting stuff.

I would be wary of installing either extremely fast or extremely torquey motors in stock guns – they generally don’t need them and damage can result. I had a customer whose rifle constantly destroyed pistons, often on the first shot. I eventually traced the problem to a high torque motor that spun up so quickly and with such force that the poor piston didn’t stand a chance, no matter how strong it was. Changing the motor resolved the problem permanently.

Next issue I will look at everything else that makes up the AEGs we all love so much, internally and externally.

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SCUD HUNTERS

PERSIAN GULF 1991 IN THE FIRST OF HIS NEW COLUMN, LOOKING AT POST-COLD WAR WARRIORS, GADGE HARVEY FOCUSSES ON THE ELITE SOLDIERS SENT INTO IRAQ TO DESTROY ENEMY MISSILES AS THE MIGHTY COALITION ARMIES gathered on the Iraqi border, about to unleash Operation Desert Storm upon Saddam Hussein’s forces, they were forced to confront a desperate Iraqi gamble to break up the multinational force before it had time to begin the offensive.

The United States of America, Great Britain and France (among other NATO nations) had joined forces with Arab armies across the Middle East, to form a 34-nation coalition of armies aimed at thwarting Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein’s, military designs on Kuwait. Knowing he was vastly outnumbered and outgunned, yet unwilling to accept surrender, Saddam Hussein elected to try and break up the alliance by forcing Israel into the war, something the Arab nations were unlikely to be happy about and would cause them to defect from the coalition rather than fight in partnership

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with the Israelis.

Saddam’s plan involved using his fleet of SCUD missile launchers to stage indiscriminate attacks on targets in Israeli towns and cities to infuriate the Israelis and goad them into one of their trademark lightning strikes. Missiles were also launched at Saudi Arabia but Hussein’s main intent was to drive a wedge between the allies by getting the IDF into the upcoming war.

CHEMICAL WEAPONS

The Iraqi SCUD missile launchers (originally Soviet R-17 ballistic missiles which had been modified by the Iraqis to be faster while sacrificing accuracy) could be launched from ground sites or mobile “transporter-erector-launcher” (TEL) vehicles, which were either Soviet purpose-built launcher trucks or converted civilian truck trailers. The limited range and accuracy of these

Warriors US ARMY DELTA FORCE: SCUD HUNTERS

modified Soviet missiles was of little consequence to the Iraqis, to get the standard Soviet launch time of around an hour and in truth they were launched purely as “nuisance weapons” to a half down to a mere 30 minutes! By the time ground attack infuriate the Israelis and in the opening week of January around aircraft had been scrambled to the site the TEL was often long 26 missiles fell into Israel. These caused little real military gone. damage but created panic and a fear that future warheads might contain chemical weapons (the Iraqis had demonstrated SCUD HUNTERS a willingness to use nerve gas indiscriminately against civilians To counter this elusive threat the US and UK decided to commit in the long Iraq/Iran war of the Cold War period). elite special forces teams to find these missiles on the ground, The US and British Governments were keen to keep Israel combing the desert either on highly mobile dune buggies, out of the war, or even from flying over Arab airspace to launch jeeps and bikes or by parachuting into likely launch areas and retaliatory strikes, as this was exactly what Iraq wanted. Instead, conducting recce patrols on foot in the areas used by the Iraqi’s the coalition reassured the Israelis by stationing “Patriot” air “Main Supply Routes” (MSRs). While most UK readers know defence missile systems on the border and committing their of the UK endeavours in this area (thanks to the popularity of massive resources into “scud busting” the Iraqi threat.

While the allies had a “CANNY IRAQI CREWS HAD MANAGED TO GET THE STANDARD SOVIET reasonable idea of where the LAUNCH TIME OF AROUND AN HOUR AND A HALF DOWN TO A MERE 30 fixed launcher positions were and could deal with them with MINUTES! BY THE TIME GROUND ATTACK AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN SCRAMBLED conventional airstrikes and TO THE SITE THE TEL WAS OFTEN LONG GONE.” cruise missiles, the TEL systems were a completely different problem. Iraq had gained much experience in disguising these the SAS and the books “Bravo 2 Zero” and “The One That Got launchers, transporting them via routes in which they could Away”), the role of the US Delta Force in Scud Hunting is less be concealed and kept under cover (for example in dry river well known. beds or under motorway underpasses) and had also developed While the UK patrolled “Scud Alley” , an area to the South many sophisticated decoys. All of this made finding, let alone of the Ar Rutbahj to Baghdad Highway, the US 1st Special keeping track of a TEL truck akin to finding the proverbial Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force) were needle in a haystack. The SCUDs launch program could give off assigned a roughly 1,000 square mile hunting ground to the tell-tale telemetry and its launch itself could be detected by the North of this road, nicknamed “Scud Boulevard”. naked eye for kilometres but canny Iraqi crews had managed Unlike the SAS long-term patrols, the Delta operators would

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䤀吀 圀䤀䰀䰀

䈀䤀吀䔀 夀伀唀 ℀ 䤀一匀倀䤀刀䔀䐀 䈀夀

䨀唀刀䄀匀匀䤀䌀 圀伀刀䰀䐀

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Warriors US ARMY DELTA FORCE: SCUD HUNTERS

from the biting cold of the desert at night (and in winter) the team wear the padded “night camo” parka. This came as part of a matching trousers and parka combination with removable cold weather liners and pockets that opened straight through to allow access to the BDU underneath. As a compromise to mobility over warmth only the parka is worn here, with the trousers stashed in ruck sacks on the team’s vehicles.

The somewhat odd camouflage pattern is often believed to be an attempt to fool night vision equipment of the time by further breaking up an already pixelated image!

Load carrying equipment is varied and consists of a mix (set up according to personal choice) of army issue ALICE LC2 nylon and webbing equipment, mixed with commercial items such as Bianchi pistol holsters and mag pouches. Both operators carry a plethora of pouches containing water bottles, first aid kits, compass and ammunition. Further ammunition is slung over the shoulder in an old claymore antipersonnel command detonated mine carrying bag. Our operators have US CPF90 patrol packs on their back (no doubt in order to carry the laser designators and communications kit needed to call in an airstrike) and clipped to these bags are carry cases for their eye protection, which in this case is US army issue ballistic glasses of the period!

FIREPOWER

often conduct short, high-intensity operations. Inserting at dusk by helicopter or HALO parachuting, operating during the night with their superior night vision equipment and then lying up during the day, preparing for another night’s hunting at sunset.

While the British teams would often plan to engage the TELs with MILAN missile systems on their vehicles, the US strategy was to call in an airstrike on the launcher systems; by day these strikes would be conducted by the highly armed and armoured A10 attack aircraft and by night by the F15 Eagle, with its advanced night fighting avionics.

WARRIORS

This month our warriors represent two men of a Delta Force “Scud Hunter” team checking out an abandoned building as a potential place to “lie up” for the day.

Both soldiers wear the US Army’s standard desert combat uniform of the time, the six colour desert uniform, affectionately known as “choc chip” pattern for obvious reasons! This uniform had actually been in service with the US army since the late 1960s and was frequently seen on joint US/Egyptian “Bright Star” exercises but in the Persian Gulf its pattern was found to be conspicuous in the Iraq and Kuwait deserts. The uniform itself shares the cut and many of the features of the regular woodland battledress uniform (BDU) but is in a lighter weight of fabric and is topped off with a matching patrol cap and a US government issue cold weather neck gaiter (although boonie hats, wool watch caps and headscarves were also popular with Delta teams).

One of our operators wears the standard US black leather combat boot designed for temperate operations, while the other wears the “desert boot”, a tan variant of the popular Vietnam war ear “jungle boot”, which many found less hardwearing but more comfortable and less sweaty. Both operators wear gloves to protect their hands from the harsh desert cold and abrasive sandy winds; many types were popular but Nomex pilot’s gloves are worn here. To further protect

Our warriors are both armed with assault rifles, although they intend to accomplish their mission via stealth rather than direct assault. While the TEL would be destroyed by an A10 or F15 airstrike, the team would go in prepared to fight in case they were ambushed or had to fight through an enemy position to escape. To this end one of our operators carries an M16 with an under barrel M203 40mm grenade launcher, enabling him to take on light armoured vehicles, dug in emplacements or simply to suppress personnel.

Our second man carries a lighter, more compact Colt Carbine with an attached torch (in our example this is an M4a1 carbine but during Operation Desert Shield/Storm it would most likely have been a Colt M727). Both men carry hand grenades and bayonets for their personal weapons. As a last resort both men carry a sidearm, in this case the Beretta military version of the M9.

While the Scud Hunters were successful in their purpose of keeping Israel out of the war, it is still a matter of contention as to how successful their combat missions actually were. While many SCUDs were reported as destroyed by UK and US teams during the conflict, there is popular opinion today that many of these may well have been decoys or support vehicles. However, when you consider that the Scud Hunters were looking for no more than around a dozen vehicles in a 1,000 square mile area, even finding and destroying one or two is somewhat remarkable.

And so there you have it, the first in our new look “Warriors” series appropriately begins with a look at perhaps one of the first “post-Cold War” military operations by the US Army. It’s a fantastic and practical look for airsoft and more importantly won’t break the Bank, as much of this kit is still easily available (although stocks of 6 colour choc chip BDU are beginning to dry up and you may have to find a repro version) and what’s more it looks great!

■ Airsoft Action would like to thank Josh Foden and Vieri Giannotti for demonstrating their personal kit and for their kind assistance with this article. www.airsoft-action.online

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Competition ASG-ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL-ASPUK

A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME COMPETITION! AS COMPETITIONS GO, THEY DON’T GET MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS…

FOLLOWING NIGE’S RECENT VISIT TO Accuracy International (which you can read about in this issue, starting on page 24), Airsoft Action has teamed up ActionSportGames, Accuracy International and Airsoft Sniper Parts UK to bring you a truly Once-In-A-Lifetime Competition!

This Competition will never be repeated and the winner will not only walk away with a prize that money simply cannot buy but memories that will last a lifetime.

This is what the winner will receive: Overnight dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation close to Portsmouth, where they will be joined by Airsoft Action, Paul Wignell (ASG’s UK Sales Manager) and Sniper One, Dan Mills.

The next day they will travel to Accuracy International at an undisclosed location, where they will be met and given a fully guided tour of the facility.

Included in the tour will be a visit to Accuracy International’s underground range, where they will be given a few tips on sniping by Dan before getting behind one of Accuracy’s awesome rifles and putting a few rounds downrange.

Back up in the Conference Room they will have the chance to chat with Dave Walls, the co-founder and designer of Accuracy International’s world-beating rifles (he is also a pretty damn good shot and is taking part in this year’s .50 Cal World Shoot). Dave will present the winner with a one-off, custombuilt, ASG AI AW308 that has been upgraded and tuned by ASPUK – and signed by Dave himself.

They will also receive two tickets to a private, invitation-only game taking place in September, before being taken back to the accommodation for their homeward journey.

OK, so what do you have to do to be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize?

Well, first up you have to be at least 18 years of age and a UK resident (proof of both will be required for security purposes) and then all you have to do is send in your entry before the closing date. All the answers are in this magazine, so you won’t even have to hit up Google or Wikipedia – it really is that simple!

Here are the questions:

1) In metres, what distance was recorded as Craig Harrison’s world record?

2) In which year did Malcolm Cooper win a Silver Medal using a C&W rifle?

ANSWERS:

1 2 3 4

3) What does “ASG” stand for?

4) How many Precision Marksman rifles did the SAS buy in 1985?

5) Name the two shooting buddies who started C&W? Post your entries to: ASG-Accuracy-International-ASPUK Competition, Airsoft Action, Calibre Publishing, Wyche Innovation Centre, Walwyn Road, Malvern, Worcs, WR13 6PL, or email to: competition@airsoft-action.co.uk with “ASG-Accuracy-International-ASPUK Competition” in the subject line. You can also enter online, via the Airsoft Action website (www.airsoft-action.online). Entries received after midnight on 30th June will not be valid. One entry per household. The winner will be the correct entry pulled from the Ed’s hat. The winner must provide proof of UK residency and age (minimum 18 years old).

5 Name:.................................................................................................................

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

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

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

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MINOR INJURIES:

WOUNDS AND BLEEDING

AIRSOFT CAN BE AN ACTION-PACKED AND FULL-ON PASTIME. SKIRMISHES TEND TO BECOME QUITE PHYSICAL AND THE AREAS OF PLAY CAN RANGE FROM FORESTS TO DERELICT BUILDINGS. THEREFORE, IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY THAT, JUST AS IN ANY OTHER PHYSICAL SPORT, AIRSOFTERS WILL SUFFER CUTS, KNOCKS AND SCRAPES. SO, IN THIS ARTICLE, I AIM TO EXPLAIN HOW TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE MORE COMMON TYPES OF MINOR INJURIES THAT CAN OCCUR ON THE SKIRMISH FIELD TREATMENT FOR MINOR CUTS AND GRAZES • Check the wound for any foreign objects such as dirt or gravel • Clean the wound under running water • If the wound is still bleeding, it can be controlled by raising the injured part above the level of the heart and applying direct pressure • Gently dry the wound • Apply a first aid dressing • Seek further medical help if required Incised wound

Laceration

Abrasion

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A first aid dressing secured with a bandage. This will help to control any bleeding and will protect the wound

Survival MINOR INJURIES – WOUNDS AND BLEEDING

PROTRUDING FOREIGN OBJECT

STAB WOUNDS

If there is a deeply embedded foreign object within the wound such as a piece of glass, then it is important that the object is not pulled out from the injury, but instead left in place to be removed by medical staff at hospital. The wound should be bandaged in a way that avoids any pressure being placed directly over the embedded object.

Stab wounds can look very small and minor with the cut on the skin surface possibly being only 1 cm long and very little external bleeding. However, there can be massive internal damage to organs with internal bleeding developing as the sharp object cuts its way deep into the body, especially if the stab wound is on the torso. So, just because the cut looks small and insignificant, there is a fair chance it isn’t.

Control any external bleeding by raising the injured part and applying direct pressure. Treat the casualty for shock. Monitor their vital signs and dial 999.

Treatment Glass embedded in a wound • Bleeding can be controlled by raising the injured site above the level of the casualty’s heart and applying pressure to either side of the protruding item – do not press directly down onto it • Place a light dressing such as a piece of gauze gently over the foreign object • Use rolled up bandages to build up padding on both sides of the object, ensuring that the padding is high enough so that the foreign object can be bandaged over without being pressed down onto • The casualty will need to go to hospital

Build up padding on either side of the object

Bandage over the padding

It might not look serious, but when inflicted in vital areas of the body, a single stab wound can be fatal

PUNCTURE WOUNDS Puncture wounds are small in size, but the damage can run deep A puncture wound is caused by an object which pierces the skin and travels inwards. Accidents such as standing on a sharp spike or putting your hand onto barbed wire will result in a puncture wound.

The actual size of the wound is often extremely small, but the wound can be deep causing damage to internal tissue and organs. Also, dirt can be pushed far into the wound, which increases the risk of infection. The wound should be cleaned under running water, dried and a dressing applied. Bleeding can be controlled by elevation and direct pressure until it stops. Seek medical advice and make sure that the casualty is up to date with their tetanus immunisation.

Puncture wounds are small in size, but the damage can run deep

A stab wound can cause massive deep internal trauma

EYE WOUNDS Wearing eye protection is one of the golden rules when playing airsoft and the safety brief before any game should make this clear. Players should not be removing eye protection during game play because of the risk of being shot in the eye. However, as with all things in life accidents do happen, often as a result of poor judgement or lack of concentration and a player being shot in an unprotected eye can be the result of this. But it is not only an airsoft BB that can cause an eye injury. Walking into a low hanging branch of a tree and catching your eye on a sharp twig, or having the surface of the eye scratched by dirt and grit can also be very painful and extremely serious. I am reluctantly including eye wounds in an article about minor injuries more for importance than anything else.

I certainly would not classify any wound to the eye as a minor injury due to the risk of loss of sight and life changing potential.

Treatment • • • • • •

Encourage the casualty to sit or lay down Ask them to keep both of their eyes still Do not attempt to remove any object that is embedded in the eye Apply a first aid dressing over the injured eye Do not bandage directly over any object which is protruding from the eye The casualty needs to be sent to hospital

Cover the injured eye with a first aid dressing

Secure the dressing over the eye in place with a bandage

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Survival MINOR INJURIES – WOUNDS AND BLEEDING

KNOCKED OUT TOOTH

NOSEBLEED

I have been witness to a player having part of a front tooth shot out by a BB. You always think that it will not happen to you – until it does.

If a tooth is broken off or completely knocked out and the missing tooth can be found again, it is important to observe the following steps.

A nosebleed can be spontaneous, or as a result of an injury to the nose or face. A large amount of blood can be lost through a nosebleed if it is not controlled, with the problem being made worse if the casualty is taking medications such as aspirin and warfarin as these drugs thin the blood. Sometimes a nose bleed can be the sign of a more severe underlying head or facial injury, so if the bleeding follows significant head or facial trauma, and the blood is thin and watery in nature call 999 at once.

Treatment • If the tooth is dirty, gently wash it in milk or tap water. Do not touch the root of the tooth and do not let the tooth dry out • Try to reinsert the tooth back into the socket (Adult tooth only) • If the tooth is reinserted, ask the casualty to bite down onto a piece of gauze or a clean pad • If the tooth cannot be put back into the socket, either store the tooth inside the casualty’s cheek or keep the tooth in a glass of milk • If the tooth is missing and there is bleeding from the open tooth socket, fold up a piece of gauze or a clean pad and hold it over the socket and ask the casualty to bite down onto it • If the tooth is only broken or chipped, store the part that is broken off in a glass of milk • Visit a dentist straight Bite down away onto a gauze pad to stop bleeding from a tooth socket

Treatment • Sit the casualty down and tip their head forwards to prevent the blood flowing down the throat • Encourage the casualty to only breathe through their mouth and to avoid sniffing • Ask the casualty to pinch the top of Tip the head forwards and pinch the fleshy the fleshy part of part of the nose their nose firmly for ten minutes • If after this time the nose is still bleeding, re-apply the pressure for a time of up to twenty minutes, then release the pressure and check again • If the bleeding has stopped, advise the casualty to rest and avoid blowing their nose • If however, the bleeding cannot be stopped and has lasted for a period of thirty minutes, the casualty needs to be taken to hospital

SCALP WOUNDS

ABOUT SHOCK

Even small cuts to the head can bleed considerably which can make the wound look more serious than what it actually is. However, if the injury has been caused by a significant force such as from falling from height, suspect a more serious head and neck injury and call 999.

Clinical shock is the body’s response to a loss of fluid – in this case blood. People die from shock, so it is important to recognise the signs and symptoms, and know how to treat it. Not all blood loss is external, so the following signs and symptoms may be your only indicator.

Signs of a serious head injury

Shock Signs and Symptoms • Pale, cold and clammy skin • Initial rapid pulse but becoming weak • Fast breathing • Weakness and dizzy • Nausea / vomiting • Thirst • Skin becomes grey / blue in colour with cyanosis of the lips • Blood pressure drops • Becomes unconscious • Cardiac arrest

• Loss of / reduced levels of consciousness • Confusion • Dizziness • Vomiting • Headache • Unequal pupils • Convulsions • Bleeding from the ears or nose • Bruising around the eyes

Minor Scalp Wound – Treatment

Shock – Treatment Dressing a minor scalp wound

• Sit the casualty down • Replace any skin flaps around the wound • Apply firm direct pressure over the wound • Secure the dressing in place with a bandage • Seek medical help • If the casualty shows any signs of deteriorating, call 999 immediately

• Treat any cause of shock • Lay the casualty down, ensuring they are insulated from the cold ground • Raise and support the legs above the level of their heart • Loosen any tight clothing • Keep the casualty warm and reassure them • Monitor their levels of response, breathing and pulse whilst help is on the way

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BILLY WRITES ABOUT A WW2 ACTION WHICH, HAD IT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, MIGHT HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE OF THE WAR IN NORTH AFRICA

: R E P P I L F N O I T A R E P O

L E M M GET RO FANS OF THE FILM “The imitation Game”, in which Benedict Cummerbatch plays the brilliant mathematician Alan Turing who cracks the Enigma code, will remember the dreadful moment when he realises that to win the war for Britain they can’t reveal that they’ve cracked it, thus condemning many soldiers, sailors and airmen to their fate.

With knowledge and power also sometimes comes a terrible responsibility. This dilemma is repeated in our retelling of the story of Operation Flipper, an audacious plan to kill Rommel in his HQ in Libya on the eve of a major British offensive.

On the night of the 10th of November 1941 with no fanfare or send off, two British submarines of the Royal Navy, HMS Torbay and HMS Talisman both slipped out of their moorings in Alexandria in Cairo. They headed into the dark waters, sinking

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below the cold winter Mediterranean waves. Their destination was a beach near a village called Hamama, on the coast of Libya to the West.

Further inland from Hamama was a settlement called Beda Littoria, where it was believed the German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, the famous “Desert Fox”, was in his headquarters.

Nowhere in official records does it state that Rommel was the target of the raid but one of the Commandos later confirmed that in the orders aboard the boat he has been told they were going to “Get Rommel”.

It’s important to consider here that even if Rommel wasn’t actually the target, this may well have been an attempt by the commanders to get the morale up. After all, anyone that’s been on a submarine will tell you that they’re claustrophobic, terrifying places for those that are not used to them.

The boats carried a force of 50 men led by Lt Col Robert Laycock and Lt Col Geoffrey Keyes, both men had been involved in the planning of the operation and had insisted on leading their parties from No11 (Scottish) Commando themselves. Also aboard was a small number of SBS canoeists who, with their folding boats, would lead the raiders from the subs onto the beaches and provide protection at the final RV and signal the subs to pick the men up.

But what or who would await them on the beaches?

Weeks earlier a couple of weird-looking vehicles containing dusty and weary British soldiers had emerged from the featureless deserts to the south of Beda Littoria. With a driver, commander up front, gunner atop behind a Lewis gun and jerry cans attached to every available strong point, the jeeps pulled up in a covered wadi and made sure they hadn’t been followed either on the ground or in the air.

A hooded, bearded figure stepped out, holding a walking staff he shook the hand of the driver and strode away towards the nearby town. What was this Arab doing in a British Army jeep, he was dark-skinned but looked somehow out of place here. He was in fact none other than Captain John Haselden and his escort was a patrol from the Long Range Desert Group, or LRDG, who had been tasked to deliver him to Beda Littoria.

Billy Basics FAMOUS RAIDS

The British had heard that the Desert Fox was in Beda Littoria in his HQ. They decided on an audacious plan to strike a blow the night before Operation Crusader, a British operation to drive the Germans out of North Africa. Rommel was a charismatic and much admired leader, the effect of his assassination on the eve of an assault by the British and their allies would have been dramatic; it was worth the risk.

Haseleden spent the next few weeks disguised as an Above: Laycock at that they were in difficulty, not used to such appalling weather Arab in and around Hamama and Beda Littoria watching the combined ops by conditions they were having serious problems getting from the movements of Rommel. This sounds simple enough to you and War Office official subs. photographer I, but in a crowded, bustly North African town with all the dust, Haseleden watched and waited from the shore wrapped dirt and comings and goings all Haseleden could accurately up against the wind and driving rain, no doubt wondering if report was the presence of Rommel’s staff car, not the man anyone would make it ashore from the darkness. But soon his himself. It wasn’t certain if Haseleden even knew what he patience was rewarded and the shadowy boats emerged from looked like. The undercover British Officer had to carry out this the storm but far fewer than he was expecting. difficult task at the same time as remaining concealed himself, In the (and end despite their efforts), only seven of the not raising suspicions of the Germans, their Italian allies or the twenty five men were able to get off HMS Talisman with Col locals.

Haseleden reported back that Rommel’s staff car was indeed Robert Laycock. Lt Col Keyes and his team made it off Torbay with all his men. When they got to shore the two CO knelt routinely to be seen in and around the HQ in Beda Littoria and in the sand dunes and put their heads together. They were it was decided to go ahead with the attack. The raiding party consisting of the 50 men aboard the two submarines was to further split down into “WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS UNCLEAR BUT AT SOME POINT KEYES four raiding parties to take on four separate targets. A nearby Italian HQ, Intelligence ORDERED ONE OF HIS MEN WHO SPOKE FLUENT GERMAN TO POUND centre and a wireless rebroadcasting facility ON A LOCKED DOOR, IT WAS SWUNG OPEN FROM WITHIN AND TO were on the hit list.

KEYES’ HORROR IT WAS FULL OF ARMED GERMAN SOLDIERS.” One of the founding principles of any attack by a Special Forces or Commando unit is to use secrecy, surprise and concentrated forced to ditch one of the targets, Laycock, Keyes and the other firepower to fool the enemy into thinking they’re facing a comrades from 11 Commando wished one another well, shook much larger foe. The legacy of which will be that troops will hands in the darkness and parted for their destinations. be drafted in to guard it in the future drawing them away from Laycock was left with securing and defending the beach more important front line duties. landing site with the SBS men and this must have been On the night of the 14-15th November somewhere off the particularly galling for Laycock. He and his men had made it coast, the conning towers of Torbay and Talisman broke the to the coast of North Africa and now he was stuck on a beach surface, the weather was bad and getting worse by the minute. while Keyes headed off toward the enemy.

First off were the SBS guides in their folding boats to shepherd Keyes and his men set off for a gruelling march into the Commandos to their landing sites. As the SBS soldiers the mountains led by an Arab guide arranged for them by bobbed (I’m sure it didn’t feel in the least like bobbing to the Haseleden. Training that pushes men to and beyond their limits lads in the folding boats) around near the two subs, waiting for is an important part of selecting the right individuals and you the 11 Commando raiders to disembark, it became apparent never really know someone until you’ve seen them operate

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Billy Basics FAMOUS RAIDS

Laycock by War Office official photographer, Evans, J L (Capt).

in the cold, wet and when they’re completely chin strapped.

As it turned out when the going got tough the local Arab jacked on them refusing to continue in the bad weather. The team left him and pressed on regardless, holing up in a cave by day away from the main supply routes to avoid passing Axis patrols.

At dawn on the 17th November Keyes and his men laid up a few hundred metres from their target, the HQ where they believed Rommel and his staff would be the following night.

The day passed slowly and the men tried to get what sleep they could, they knew that whatever happened the following night was going to be a firework display so they needed to rest up. The sun slowly sank and the men prepared to move off. At first Keyes’ men made good going, they passed by several patrols undetected and morale amongst the raiders was high. They crept closer and closer to Rommel’s quarters.

What happened next is unclear but at some point Keyes ordered one of his men who spoke fluent German to pound on a locked door, it was swung open from within and to Keyes’ horror it was full of armed German soldiers.

It was swiftly slammed shut by a member of the British team, a grenade was prepped, the door flew open and a panicked fire fight raged.

Keyes was struck by German gun fire and sank to the ground, his 2IC took over, dragging their commander’s stricken body away from the gunfight but sadly momentum was quickly lost in the face of determined German resistance and the shout went up to withdraw.

Keyes died where he lay and had to be left at Beda Littoria. He was later posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross the citation written by Laycock himself.

What the team didn’t know was that Rommel was actually at that moment in Rome with his wife Lucy.

He had flown back a few days prior to discuss further resources from High Command after losing shipping to Allied bombing success. It is also claimed later upon finding out about the raid that he was infuriated that the British thought he would be so far back from the front line.

Rommel was known to favour getting right up close to the action and he’d been wounded or come close several times. He was clearly impressed with the British Col’s guts however and Keyes was later given a full military funeral with honours by the Germans.

Over that night Keyes team retreated to the beach pursued by the Germans and Italians, the weather was still raging about them and they were thus unable to either raise the subs or to board the boats to get off the beach. As the Axis enemies closed in on them Laycock made the desperate call and ordered his men to scatter and to make their way back to their lines as best they could.

They were at this point several hundred kilometres behind enemy lines, with the unforgiving desert before them. Laycock and his remaining men fled into the desert or along the coast trying to avoid capture.

It took Laycock 35 days alone in the desert and one of the SBS managed 40 days but they both made it back to the Allied lines.

Many of the other raiders were not so fortunate, being captured or perishing in the sand. It is known that at least one of them drowned trying to swim to the sub.

It is today still unconfirmed but it is highly likely that the boffins at Bletchley knew that Rommel was not at his HQ (being able to read the Enigma signals from North Africa) and also that Keyes and Laycock’s men were chasing shadows in the desert.

Occasionally in our lives we have to make big decisions that will affect others but I truly hope that I don’t ever have to carry that sort of knowledge on my conscience.

Stay low and move fast everyone.

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CALIBRE SHOOTING’S ANDY NIGHTINGALE GIVES US THE LOW-DOWN ON A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT RARELY USED IN AIRSOFT BUT WITH A PART TO PLAY NONETHELESS

THE COLD SHOULDER WE HAVE ALL SEEN SHOULDER holsters being used in the movies and read about the likes of James Bond and our favourite detectives saving the moment when they draw their trusty side arm from what seems like thin air but on the range, the shoulder holster is banned from almost every civilian range and sporting event.

This is down to the fact that, even with all the safety features on modern firearms and the advancement of holster design, shoulder holsters in the past have a terrible reputation for being unsafe. One of the biggest concerns is the orientation and direction that the muzzle points when the gun is being carried in a shoulder holster. Some shoulder holsters carry the gun with the muzzle down (vertical carry) and others carry the gun with the muzzle pointing to the rear (horizontal carry).

When it comes to Safety, Rule Number Two states: “Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy”, so we can understand why most ranges have banned them. So why, if shoulder holsters break safety rules and are banned from almost every range, are they still made and why do we still use them? The answer to this is down to necessity of carry and correct training in the practice of drawing and presentation of the gun.

There is no better way to conceal carry, other than inside

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the waistband, than to use a shoulder holster. The shoulder holster is suited to almost all everyday use and is better suited when seated or driving, as this lends better and easier access to the gun. Shoulder holsters can also be worn all day long in relative comfort. The downside to the shoulder holster is the way in which it is used by the untrained shooter.

The shoulder holster “due to its design and the way the gun is carried” needs to be used with the upmost care and attention. The biggest problem when drawing the gun from the holster is “muzzle sweep”. As the gun is pulled from the holster the muzzle will sweep not only everything from the holster to the target but it may also sweep you. This is where training in the correct use comes in. As most ranges have banned the shoulder holster, not many training programs in its correct use exist to the general public. So I am going to share some of the secrets of using a shoulder holster safely and effectively.

First of all we must still abide by all the usual safety rules and to respect the rules of any range or site that you are using.

If you do intend to use a shoulder holster on the range (I think that all skirmish sites will allow them) let the Range Officer or Marshal know before you do, as they might not allow you to do so due to their own rules on safety. I am going to cover the

Airsoft Skills SHOULDER HOLSTERS

use of the rear muzzle facing holster (horizontal carry), as this is the most frowned upon type due to the muzzle orientation whilst in the holster and the one most likely to cause muzzle sweep.

With safety in mind the best way to carry the gun is unloaded. That is with no magazine and no round in the chamber for semi-automatic handguns. This, however, may not be acceptable in some circumstances, such as on the skirmish field when you may need to react swiftly. If this is the case then the gun can be loaded but not made ready… magazine in but not cocked (on a double-action handgun the weapon may be made ready but then “de-cocked”). This will allow you to carry the gun with a magazine loaded into the gun but you would still have to cock the hammer, or pull the heavy DA trigger before shooting. If you do carry the gun loaded and made ready, even with the safety devices applied, extreme caution must be observed. I for one do not recommend you carry the gun in a ready state. If you intend to carry a revolver then you can carry ammunition in all the chambers. However, the hammer on some single action only (SAO) revolvers, such as the Colt Single Action Army, have been known to discharge when the hammer is resting on a round in the chamber. In this case the hammer of the revolver should rest on an empty chamber.

In this condition there is a greater reduced risk of the gun being discharged.

In the pictures the shooter is using the ASI vertical shoulder holster for a G17 semi-automatic handgun for demonstration purpose.

When you intend to draw the gun from the holster you can do so by adopting the “Guard & Fend” stance. This is done by raising the weak hand up to your head, as if to guard and fend off a blow to the head. This will lift the arm high enough to enable you to gain access to the gun and keep your arm clear of any muzzle sweep. At the same time, twist the weak side hip as far towards the target as possible. This will orientate the

muzzle closer towards the threat thus creating minimal muzzle sweep as the weapon leaves the holster. If it is at all possible do not draw the weapon until the rotation of the hip is complete.

What you are trying to achieve is getting the muzzle of the weapon to point towards the target as much as possible before the draw.

Once the turn is complete, reach across and draw the weapon from the holster.

Once the weapon is out, “WHEN YOU INTEND TO DRAW punch the gun out towards THE GUN FROM THE HOLSTER YOU the threat and gain a twohanded grip whilst adopting CAN DO SO BY ADOPTING THE your desired shooting stance.

“GUARD & FEND” STANCE. THIS You should, if you have done this correctly, now have IS DONE BY RAISING THE WEAK the gun on target without HAND UP TO YOUR HEAD, AS IF TO sweeping yourself and others GUARD AND FEND OFF A BLOW TO around you.

Just as with drawing the THE HEAD.” weapon there is a trick to re-holstering.

Run the re-holster in reverse of the draw. Raise the weak hand to the head and twist the hip towards the threat and reholster the weapon.

This type of draw takes a lot of time and practice to get right. Take your time and get it right every time. Remember: SLOW = SMOOTH = SPEED. Have fun and stay safe.

CALIBRE Shooting provide tactical training courses for the Security Industry and Air-Soft community. If you would like more information on the courses we provide visit www.calibreshooting.co.uk

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HALO MILL

Taking you beyond 350fps!

Tel: 01484 840554

Sponsors of the AIRSOFT ACTION Site Directory

SYMBOL KEY

IS IT WOODLAND OR URBAN? CHECK THE KEY!

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

ABER AIRSOFT – THE BUNKER Allt-lywd Wood Farm, outside Llanrhystud, nr. Aberystwyth, Wales.

Tel: 07511554740 www.aberairsoft.co.uk

ACE COMBAT

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

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

AIRSOFT ASYLUM

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

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

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

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

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

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UKARA MEMBER

SHOP ONSITE

WOODLAND

PYROS ALLOWED

URBAN

BATTERY CHARGING

DESERT

REPAIR SERVICE

AIRSOFT SKIRMISH

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

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

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

AMBUSH ADVENTURES SOUTHAMPTON

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

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

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

ALPHA 55

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

ARENA AIRSOFT

ALPHA ELITE GAMING

AWA HERTS

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

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

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

BADLANDS AIRSOFT

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

SITE DIRECTORY

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

FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

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

C3 TACTICAL

COMBAT AIRSOFT

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE COMPLEX

COMBAT SOUTH URBAN

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

Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4RP Tel: 07891 469492 www.cerberusairsoft.co.uk

BETTER BATTLES

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

BLACKDAGGER AIRSOFT

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

BLUESTREAK AIRSOFT

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

BORDERLINE AIRSOFT

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

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

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

BUNKER 51

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

BUSH VALLEY AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

COMBAT SOUTH WOODLAND

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

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

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

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

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE WORKS (URBAN)

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

CHESTERFIELD IMPERIAL AIRSOFT

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

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

COMBAT ACTION GAMES

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

DELTA TEAM 3

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

DOGS OF WAR

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

DRAGON’S LAIR CONTACT! FIGHT SCHOOL

CERBERUS AIRSOFT – THE SANDPIT (DESERT)

DARKWATER SITE, Dering Wood, Church Lane, Shadoxhurst, Ashford.

TN26 1LZ facebook.com/darkwaterairsoftdarkwater

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

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

DRAGON VALLEY AIRSOFT COOL UNDER FIRE

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

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

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

CUMBRIA AIRSOFT

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

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

DANGER CLOSE AIRSOFT Ellough Lark Raceway, Benacre Road, Ellough, Norfolk Tel: 07455 906132

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

DARKWATER AIRSOFT LTD.

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

FIFE WARGAMES

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

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SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

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

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

FIRST & ONLY: ANZIO CAMP Leek, ST13 8 Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: BUNKER WOOD Kidderminster, Worcs, DY11 5SA Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: KHE SANH WOODS

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

FIRST & ONLY: MANCHESTER WOODLAND Bolton, BL7 9TS Tel: 0161 727 8863 www.firstandonlyairsoft.com

FIRST & ONLY: THE HIVE

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE ARMOURY

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

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

FRV AIRSOFT

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

FULL METAL AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

GREENZONE COMBAT

FIRST & ONLY: THE ACADEMY

GUN HO AIRSOFT

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

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

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

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

LINDSEY AIRSOFT

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

MATLOCK COMBAT GAMES

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

MAW

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

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

ISLAND RECON AIRSOFT COMBAT

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

FIRST & ONLY: THE ASYLUM

Norwich, Norfolk, NR10 Tel: 07854 277264 www.gunmanairsoft.co.uk

FREE FIRE ZONE

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

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

GUNMAN AIRSOFT – NORWICH

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

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

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

MIDWALES AIRSOFT

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

MILITARY OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

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

MILSIM UK

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

LAC SITE 1 Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 2 Gainsborough, North Lincs, DN21 4JH Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 3 Saxillby, LN1 2JW Tel: 07775 877057 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

LAC SITE 5 Kirton Rd, North Lincs, DN16 www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk

NCIS AIRSOFT

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

NOMAD AIRSOFT

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

NORTHERN ALLIANCE AIRSOFT

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

NORTHFLEET CQB

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

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111

NSC AIRSOFT

RAVEN’S NEST

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

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

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

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

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

RED1AIRSOFT Chislehurst, Bromley BR7 6SD Tel: 07956 522691/01727846069 www.red1airsoft.co.uk

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

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

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

SECTION 8 AIRSOFT Shotts, North Lanarkshire, ML7 5AB Tel: 07974 026517 www.s8airsoft.com

SG1 COMBAT GAMES 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

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

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

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

SOUTHDOWN AIRSOFT

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

TECH BRIGADE Newgate Street, Hertfordshire.

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

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

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT – BLOXWORTH

THE BUNKER

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

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

SPEC OPS AIRSOFT– THE ROCK

THE DEPOT

Portland, Dorset, DT5 2EG Tel: 07984 656947 www.specopsairsoft.co.uk

STIRLING AIRSOFT

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

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

THE DESERTERS AIRSOFT Redford, DD11 Tel: 07751 878175 www.thedeserters.co.uk

STORMFORCE AIRSOFT

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

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

SUSSEX AIRSOFT

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

S.W.A.T. AIRSOFT

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

TA EVENTS

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

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

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

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

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

TROJAN AIRSOFT – OLYMPUS CQB TACTICAL WARFARE AIRSOFT Warlingham, Surrey, CR6 9PL Tel: 020 8665 1299 www.tacticalwarfare.co.uk

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

SITE DIRECTORY FIND SOMEWHERE TO BE THIS WEEKEND…

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

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

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

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

URBAN6AIRSOFT – ZONE 13 Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0QN Tel: 07432 291729 www.urban6airsoft.com

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

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.

DOUBLE TAP PSC

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

EBSC

MOD approved gun club PP, IDPA, IPAS, IPSC, 2GUN 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

WATFORD PRACTICAL PISTOL CLUB Watford WatfordPPC@gmail.com

XSITE PRACTICAL SHOOTING

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

www.airsoft-action.online

113

DEALER LISTINGS

Advertisers Index Land Warrior Airsoft

Inside Front Cover + 3

Airsoft Zone

7 + Inside Back Cover

JD Airsoft

9 + 23 + 104

WE Airsoft Europe

15

Urban Airsoft Mega Store

19

Airsoft Showcase

28

Fire Support

32 + 33

BombUp Airsoft

38

Viper Tactical ActionSportGames

48

Skirmish Cup

50

Helikon-Tex

51

A2 Supplies

54

iWholesales

58 + 96

Soldier of Fortune

67

Tactical Airsoft Shop

67

Pro Airsoft Supplies

72

ProPell

76

Gunman Airsoft

80

BadgerTac

88

Heritage Airsoft

94

Crawley Surplus Store

94

Airsoft Surgeon European Championship

100

2017 IPSC Action Air World Shoot

110

Dragon Valley Airsoft

113

Military Outdoor

113

Military 1st

106

2014

42 + 62

Outside Back Cover