Airsoft Action - September 2021

PROUD TO SUPPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY
ISSUE 129 - SEPTEMBER 2021
ISSN 2634-9515

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CONTENTS
8 ARMOURY: ARCHWICK L119A2
Having spent a great deal of time at Archwick, AA Legionnaire
“Stewbacca” has had a very privileged inside view on the longerterm
development of a few of their ongoing projects. In particular,
one that has caused quite a stir: the L119A2 GBBR!
PROUD TO SUPPORT PILGRIM BANDITS CHARITY
ISSUE 128 - AUGUST 2021
ISSN 2634-9515
Editor: Nigel Streeter
Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing
Ad Design: Deadshot Design
Publisher: Nigel Streeter
16 ARMOURY: ASG STEYER SCOUT
All of us at Airsoft Action are genuinely delighted to see something
that’s just a bit different and, in a departure from his usual
preference of airsoft RIFs, Boycie takes a long, hard look at the
Steyr Scout bolt action rifle from ActionSportGames.
Wyche Innovation Centre,
Walwyn Road,
Upper Colwall,
Malvern,
Worcestershire,
WR13 6PL, UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1684 878 003
Web: www.airsoftaction.net
©Calibre Publishing Limited 2021
All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise without the
express permission of the publisher in writing. The
opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those
of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit
submissions prior to publication.
FIND US ON…
22 ARMOURY: ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE
There are some little “gucci” gems out there for those that don’t
want to spend the earth on their “skirmish gun”. Bill has been on
the range A LOT with the latest PDW from Arcturus that’s built for
performance without a massive price-tag, the KARAMBIT LITE!
64 ARMOURY: ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA
Jimmy normally bring us the lowdown on innovations and
advances in his regular “Tech” column but now we’re letting him
out of his special dark room and into the light of day as he talks
about a new handgun model from ICS that ticks all his boxes!
LETTER, IDEA OR
QUESTION?
Got something to say? A question for our
experts? An article or article idea?
Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the
Editor: nige@airsoft-action.co.uk, write to us at the
Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to us on
Twitter or Facebook.
88 SHOP DROP: RETAIL ROUNDUP
Manufacturers around the globe are shaking off the cobwebs and
re-appearing with some absolutely fabulous new “guns n’ gear”!
Sadly though, there is still one shadow on the horizon that will
affect us all and that’s where we’ll begin our round-up…

Contents
SEPTEMBER 2021
30 KIT & GEAR: OPFOR
Bill has found himself on all manner
of teams but he does say that it has
been the time that he’s spent playing
opposing force, or OPFOR, where
he’s enjoyed himself the most.
From humble beginnings, he finally
starts to look at OPFOR “Main
Force”!
62 VORSK DIARY
Since the “VORSK PROJECT” started,
Bill has been keeping detailed notes
and a running tally on the existing
models to see how they perform over
time and continues to give all the
models, including the latest releases,
a VERY hard time on the range in his
weekly sessions!
36 FEATURE: TACTICAL OUTDOORS
As 2021 moves forward it seems like
the world is finally reawakening and,
as it does, the spirit of adventure has
most definitely kicked back into high
gear amongst the AA crew, as Jon
starts looking at gear that can turn a
great airsoft experience into a truly
memorable one!
68 RELOADED: WE EU17 CUSTOM
Think of a military or law
enforcement situation in the last
couple of decades and the chances
are that they use a Glock. Steve
T challenges his Glock prejudices
with a custom model to see if most
airsofters have it right, most of the
time, after all...
38 KIT & GEAR: DIRECT ACTION
It’s been a little while since we spoke
about new gear from the team over
at Direct Action in Poland. Bill has
been keeping a very close eye on their
latest developments and innovations
for the true tactical user and brings us
an update of kit that he’s already tried
and tested extensively!
70 PRACTICAL SHOOTING
Jon “Posh” Mills has started his
journey into all things “practical”
as he documents his first steps into
a whole new world of airsoft and,
along with other members of the AA
crew, takes a step back to “Project
Precision” and sees how true “Airsoft
Multigun” is being looked at.
42 THE CAGE: GLOVES
We’re constantly looking for good kit;
not simply gear that’s 100% fit for
purpose but equipment that’s going
to give you good service and great
value for money!
The AA Legion take a look at gloves,
so you can really get “hands on” in
any situation!
76 RELOADED: KJW CZ75 SP-02
Airsoft Actions’s “Man in Taiwan”,
Stewbacca, takes a look back at how
and why he ended up using a KJ
Works CZ75 Shadow 2 for his Action
Air exploits and asks: “Why did the
Shadow 2 capture my interest over
the SP01 I already had?”
46 RED CELL: COLD WAR SPECIAL
The Red Cell Crew are constantly
looking at different AEG and GBB
platforms that are “good to go” from
the box but what’s the situation when
it comes to period-specific models?
With a love for NATO models from
the Cold War era, “The Cell” have
put together their favourites.
84 AIRSOFT COMMANDER
We have all taken part of unique
airsoft games, with different stories,
missions, scenarios and everything in
between but, in most cases, there is
one thing in common and that is the
faction commander; someone willing
not to play so that others can have
fun and enjoy themselves!
58 TECH: AIRSOFT PROPS
With the first “Operational
Deployment” of his Missile Launch
System well and truly under his belt,
James embarks on a new series of
articles investigating how the correct
use of “scene setting” can turn a
good airsoft game into an awesome
one!
86 KIT & GEAR: LEATHERMAN
Frenchie has written about multitools
on more than a few occasions in
Airsoft Action and this month he’s
going to add to that growing pile,
by taking a closer look at one of his
favourites - the Leatherman Style PS.
60 TECH: KEEP IT CLEAN!
Any self-respecting ‘softer owns
and uses frequently a GBB pistol
but owning any GBB pistol requires
a certain amount of maintenance,
somewhat more than an AEG. In this
instalment of “Tech”, Jimmy covers
how to go about looking after your
pistol.
92 LAST POST
Now that a publicity moratorium
has been lifted, Frenchie brings
us an overview of the latest BB
development, one that will surprise
- and possibly startle - airsofters the
world over (either that, or he’s been
sniffing his Pritt Stick again)!

ULTIMA
JACKET
BLACK / DARK COYOTE / GREEN
/ SRP: £89.95

DESIGNED FOR
PROFESSIONALS
maromx.com

armoury
ARCHWICK L119A2
PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN UNDER STUDIO CONDITIONS - GBBR CHECKED CLEAR - MAG EMPTY
8
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armoury
ARCHWICK L119A2
LABOUR
OF LOVE
HAVING SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AT ARCHWICK, AA LEGIONNAIRE “STEWBACCA” HAS
HAD A VERY PRIVILEGED INSIDE VIEW ON THE LONGER-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF A FEW OF THEIR
ONGOING PROJECTS. IN PARTICULAR, THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS UNDERTAKEN TO REALISE
ONE OF THEIR UPCOMING CENTREPIECE ITEMS, ONE THAT HAS CAUSED A FURORE AMONG THE
UKSF IMPRESSION COMMUNITY - IN THE UK IN PARTICULAR - BUT WHICH ALSO HAS A HUGE
FOLLOWING IN THE WIDER INTERNATIONAL AIRSOFT COMMUNITY: THE L119A2 GBBR!
www.airsoftaction.net 9

armoury
ARCHWICK L119A2
The Colt Canada
L119A2 Armalite
derivative rose to international fame in the real steel
arena with its employment by the Special Air Service
(SAS) and, in particular, the Nairobi terror incident in
Kenya, where a lone operative (who happened to be
training nearby) single-handedly strolled into the foray
and resolved the situation to great media and political
plaudit, with L119A2 in hand and clad in a mixture of
civilian and Multicam equipment (which has become a
go-to impression for many avid fans of special forces
and MilSim games).
Recognising the clear popularity of the platform
(and realising that it sits in the specific niche typical of
their chosen projects), the team at Archwick decided
to undertake a somewhat leviathan task for their first
GBBR product - a genuine licensed replica, with a truly
monolithic upper receiver akin to its real counterpart,
authorised and detailed to the most realistic extent
possible. As with all their products, this would be
produced with typical fastidiousness and attention to
minutiae, no doubt in order to satisfy the increasingly
pernicious discerning collectors and shooters within
their customer base who will find any faults if present.
Bearing this in mind, it is clear that Archwick’s
L119A2 project and its resultant array of products and
components - including
the presentation
style transport cases and even
the required installation tooling
included - are, like all their products,
a labour of love.
Announcing their intent to roll
out the product with social media
releases just prior to the Military
Outdoor & Airsoft exhibition in
late 2020, in Taipei (MOA 2020)
and then showcasing their
prototype along with some
real steel optics mounted
and a bilingual information
pack on display sporting “Obi
Wan Nairobi” himself, “Christian
Craighead” (as he has made himself known
as on social media), kicking in Kenyan doors as
advertising for the L119A2 - similar to operation
Nimrod’s effect of catapulting the HK MP5 into
popular culture.
Aside from being the only officially authorised
and trademarked version of the L119A2, what
else sets Archwick’s offering from the rest of the
replicas, from a variety of
manufacturers who have
scrambled to answer the end
user’s desires? Archwick are
ensuring they not only have
collector level buyers satisfied
with their level of detail,
appropriate trademarks,
surface treatments and of
course their build quality, they
are also ensuring as broad a
user base as possible, with a
variety of models compatible
with frontline manufacturers
ARs.
The first production release
to hit the market will be a
complete gun built off the
well-proven GHK internal
operating system, with GHK
dealing direct with Archwick
to supply the internal
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armoury
ARCHWICK L119A2
components
and “raw” basic
lower receivers. These are
then finish machined externally
and surface treated to give the
markings and appearance
of a Colt Canada lower
which, once populated
with the GHK fire
control components,
is then fitted with the
Archwick-produced
aluminium buffer
tube, related spring and
buffer, an ASAP style ambidextrous sling mounting
ring plate, ambidextrous charging handle, polymer
ergo-pistol grip, CTR telescopic polymer stock which,
upon completion, is then joined by the upper receiver
assembly.
This Archwick upper assembly comprises the
centrepiece monolithic aluminium upper receiver,
locally produced and well regarded A-Plus CNC
machined hop unit and inner barrel, as well as the
Archwick produced steel outer barrel. The outer barrel
has to be installed with the included tubular tool due
to the lack of access near the front of the receiver, as
the external picatinny rails are of course integral and
thus the barrel requires a long tool with a castellated
end to aid tightening of the barrel nut from the
barrel’s front end during fitting.
Being released in July 2020 and already with
multiple hundreds of units accounted for in the order
books, the Archwick team really have their work
cut out for them in terms of volume to be produced
and the obvious demand for the product. The GHK
versions will be supplied with the upper & lower
receivers individually completed but separated within
the kit cases.
Following on from this premium level full gun
assembly,
will be the
Tokyo Marui
MWS GBBR platform
compatible kit. This will
comprise the same upper
receiver assembly and barrel
installation tool, as well as Archwick
produced CNC lower receiver bodies, the same
ergonomic pistol grip, ASAP style rear buffer plate,
machined buffer tube, buffer and spring, all of which
will be supplied separately in the cases, with either the
end user or dealers performing the final installation of
the required Marui internal or cosmetic components.
Once this version is completed the next platform
in their sights is the Tokyo Marui NGRS recoil AEG
range. Looking to cater for the more foul-weather
player base (in terms of those who just can’t get along
with GBBRs where they live and play, or otherwise
just prefer the electric life), clearly there’s something
for everyone who wants to get their special forces
gear on, regardless of whether they prefer to run on
gas or electric. The kit cases not only ensure that the
guns arrive at the end user in pristine condition, they
also provide an excellent carry solution to and from
sites, allowing the user to break the upper and lower
receivers apart and store them in the cases, which
look very “grey man” and thus ideal for those who
have to move through public spaces or transport to
get to games.
Along with the external components and detailing,
Archwick even went to the extent of having curved
and knobbled heat shields stamped from aluminium
sheet to really add the little details and finishing
touches to the replica, while their buffer tubes also
“THE COLT CANADA L119A2 ARMALITE DERIVATIVE ROSE TO INTERNATIONAL FAME
IN THE REAL STEEL ARENA WITH ITS EMPLOYMENT BY THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE
(SAS) AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE NAIROBI TERROR INCIDENT IN KENYA, WHERE A LONE
OPERATIVE (WHO HAPPENED TO BE TRAINING NEARBY) SINGLE-HANDEDLY STROLLED
INTO THE FORAY AND RESOLVED THE SITUATION TO GREAT MEDIA AND POLITICAL
PLAUDIT…”
www.airsoftaction.net 11

armoury
ARCHWICK L119A2
buck the typical industry trend of taking an extrusion
and slapping a base plug in the end. They actually
machined them entirely from solid; a near insane level
of investment in time and effort to ensure the finished
article not only looks as close to the real thing as
possible, but even mimics its build process and quality
by making use of a level of production that will surely
spoil skirmishers, and satisfy the most discerning
aficionados.
Similarly, the attention to detail in terms of polymer
component production is evidently a hangover
from their prior Mk13 Mod 7 products, which
made extensive use of separate external polymer
components all bolted to the chassis in a manner true
to form of the real steel counterpart, even though it
made it a much more expensive to produce. Although
the pistol grip is the only Archwick made polymer
component, the type of rubberised material used and
the realistic two-part construction of hard mechanical
liner with mounting hardware and softer ergonomic
outer skin that gives a pleasant feel in the hand and is
textured for extra grip, ensuring that every level of the
process extols their capabilities.
In terms of the prototyping and pre-production
efforts, there were numerous iterations and minor
issues I witnessed which were all dealt with to a great
deal of attention, ensuring the end product would
meet the end user’s standards. Making use of another
manufacturer’s internal components entailed repeated
tweaks of the upper receiver internal geometry and
related CNC programming to ensure proper fit and
function, as well as avoiding any machining marks
in the finished article, which is then shot blasted for
further smoothness.
The function of the internals also required a process
of tuning and tweaking to ensure a reliable and
consistent recoil of the gas parts and accurate coaxial
fitting of the machined Aluminium buffer tubes. At
times the cadence during full auto fire would alter
due to friction or imbalances, but the team worked
hard to reiterate the combinations of spring rates
and buffer weights to get the L119A2 running like a
sewing machine, while also giving it quite a pleasant
recoil impulse - less abrupt than some of the other
GBBRs I’ve used.
Similarly, attaining the perfect surface finish lead
to a move away from the initially intended genuine
Cerakote painting of components, as this was found
to chip from the sharp edges of the stub Picatinny rails
too readily. The decision was made to instead hard
anodise the receivers; the next challenge thus became
colour matching of the lower and upper receiver
bodies, which initially posed a minor nuisance as the
two are made from dissimilar Aluminium alloys (7075
and 6061 for upper and lower respectively). Therefore,
the initial experiments with anodising resulted in
slightly different shades which then required repeated
treatments until the appropriate process and colour
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armoury
ARCHWICK L119A2
matching was obtained.
Throughout all of these trials and tribulations I
saw the Archwick team apply their experience and
problem-solving abilities well and strive to give
the end user the level best in quality of both the
appearance and function of their L119A2 GBBR series,
producing a platform that looks and feels the absolute
business, which shoots straight and reaches out far,
especially on heavier BB ammunition weights. I’m sure
the upcoming Marui NGRS AEG system will be given
the same consideration, although, hopefully, won’t
present the same internal balancing issues due to its
electric operation.
With this ever-expanding range of signature top tier
products to entice end users, whether they’re a
discerning collector of replicas of service weapons,
or the avid MilSim skirmisher who has to have every
minor detail of their kit up to par, Archwick look
set to keep turning out top notch airsoft guns and
accessories that will have people reaching into their
pockets.
I’d like to once again extend my thanks to Nelson,
Ray & their team for accommodating me so often and
continually being so open with their production and
development process, so I can bring their attention to
detail to our reader’s attention. AA
www.airsoftaction.net 13
PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN UNDER STUDIO CONDITIONS - GBBR CHECKED CLEAR - MAG EMPTY

armoury
ASG STEYER SCOUT
“A SHOOTER
NEEDS ONLY
ONE RIFLE!”
16
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armoury
ASG STEYER SCOUT
...SAID NO AIRSOFTER
…EVER!
www.airsoftaction.net 17

armoury
ASG STEYER SCOUT
NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF PLATFORM IT IS, ALL OF US AT AIRSOFT ACTION ARE GENUINELY
DELIGHTED TO SEE SOMETHING THAT’S JUST A BIT DIFFERENT AND IN A DEPARTURE FROM HIS
USUAL PREFERENCE OF AIRSOFT RIFS, BOYCIE TAKES A LONG, HARD LOOK AT THE STEYR SCOUT BOLT
ACTION RIFLE THAT’S COME TO MARKET COURTESY OF ACTIONSPORTGAMES (ASG).
The Scout was designed to fill the role of a
versatile, lightweight, all-round rifle that was
specified in Col. Jeff Cooper’s Scout Rifle
Concept. His concept was that the rifle should be less
than 1 metre (40”) long, weigh less than 3 kg (6.6lbs),
have iron sights, be able to accept optical sights
and be able to accept practical slings to aid in both
shooting and carrying the rifle. Also, it should be able
to hit a man-sized target at 450m (1476ft) without
optics.
The real Steyr Scout is made in Austria by Steyr
Mannlicher and its primary calibre is 7.62 NATO. Some
also call this the .308 but although the dimensions
are close enough to allow them to be chambered
and fired, the chamber pressures of .308 are usually
significantly higher. Other calibre options for the real
steel are 5.56 NATO/.223 (again different rounds),
.243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .376 Steyr and
7mm-08 Remington.
The fully-licensed airsoft version of the Steyr Scout
is a collaboration between ASG and Modify, to
provide an out of the box rifle that needs no further
“upgrades”. When you open the box, the rifle is wellprotected
with foam packaging and also visible is the
32 BB magazine and a bottle of 680 x Modify .40 BBs.
Also included is a plastic bag with a simple and clear
instruction booklet, a Modify Allen Key for adjusting
the hop and a Modify PVC patch. I’ll get the basic
stuff out of the way first…
SPECIFICATIONS (FACTORY)
• Length - 1000mm
• Weight - 2950g
• Magazine Capacity – 32rnd
• Velocity – 450 FPS (with .20g BB)
• Joule Output - 1.82
FEATURES
• Metal piston with dual rotary rings
• Silent cylinder head and piston head with airbrake
• 9 mm stainless steel spring guide with rotary ring
• Integrated bipod
• Enlarged volume steel cylinder
• Pressure lever and TDC for dual hop up adjustment
system
• Upgradable to M190 spring power
• Hop up bucking for 0.36g or above heavy BBs
• Trigger with lightweight trigger pull
• Adjustment tools stored inside the fake magazine
• Backup magazine storage
• Flip-up sights
• QD Points
• 14mm CCW Thread for Airsoft Suppressor/Muzzle
Brake
• VSR compatible inner barrel
OVERVIEW
Before setting up to shoot, a good look round the rifle
reveals a dummy magazine (where a real rifle would
have one) which holds the hop adjustment Allen Key.
A really good feature is that you can adjust the hop by
a slider, which is accessible when the bipod legs are
deployed. The stock is really comfortable and the butt
can be adjusted for length by removing sections to get
it to fit naturally and comfortably into the shoulder.
The foreend of the stock is really comfortable in the
hand and is great for both unsupported and bag-rest
firing.
Under the butt there is another dummy magazine
cover (in the real Scout this is storage for a further 5
round magazine) which opens to reveal storage for
a spare 32 BB magazine; I really like this feature as it
means you can carry 65 BBs on the rifle. Under the
fore-end of the stock is a button with releases the legs
of the integrated bipod; the length of the integrated
bipod can take some getting used to as they are
non-adjustable but then, as with the real rifle, there
is a dovetail section where you can fit a section of
Pitcatinny Rail to hold an adjustable type bipod.
At the butt and on each side of the dummy
magazine well and under the foregrip are QD points,
totalling 5 positions, to allow the end user to fit the
sling set up that most suits them. Up front is a really
nice-looking fluted outer barrel in which sits a VSRcompatible
inner barrel, meaning you can, if you
wish, change the length of the inner barrel and even
run it into a dummy suppressor. One thing I found
when using the spare Modify 30 BB magazines, is that
they don’t release properly from the rifle, however,
the magazine (32 BB) that comes with the rifle drops
out far enough to allow you to grab it and withdraw
it fully. After a quick look it seems that one of the
18
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armoury
ASG STEYER SCOUT
pins on the magazine is a little too long and after
a light filing, allows the magazine to fit and release
perfectly. Laying prone behind the rifle it sits in the
ideal position for you to get a great cheek-weld and
eye relief. When firing you get the usual VSR type
thwack of the piston hitting the front of the cylinder
but it’s not bad and as I shot more BBs through it, this
seemed to lessen.
ON THE RANGE
For the longer-range tests, both fellow Red Cell
member Stuart and I travelled over to Humber Airsoft
Club, where we can test out to 100m plus. We got
to the Safe Zone, grabbed a coffee and waited for
the safety brief before we were permitted to drive
down to the area we had been allocated to do the
testing. This was away from the areas that the players
would be using during the morning games, so we’d
be undisturbed (other than hearing the boom of pyro
from the games!).
We set up our table and after unpacking, the first
job was to conduct a base line chrono test:
431.44 fps average (432.5, 432.2, 432.5, 430.9,
429.1) using Nuprol RZR 0.20g
For the test we used 60% scale IPSC targets, which
are roughly the size of the “centre mass” of a target,
or about the size of the front of a plate carrier. The
rifle was fired using the integral bipod for support.
The ammo used for the tests was:
• Nuprol Rzr 0.20g & 0.25g
• Valkyrie 0.32g
• Vorsk Bio in 0.36, 0.40 & 0.43g
Aluminium IPSC 1/3rd scaled targets were placed at
20m and 25m along with an IPSC 60% card target at
25m for grouping.
After a chrono check of 5 BBs we engaged the 20m
plate and then the 25m plate. The aluminium was
being hit hard enough by the ammo to not only make
it “ring” when hit but provided a dint in the surface
which showed the grouping made by each weight.
Next was a 10 BB group on the card target. From this
we measured the tightest group of 5 BBs and also the
max spread of the 10 rounds fired.
Rzr 0.20
431.44 fps average (432.5, 432.2, 432.5, 430.9,
429.1) = 1.73J
Result 3.75” (95.25mm) group of 5, max spread of 5”
(127mm)
Rzr 0.25
411.52 fps average (411.2, 410.4, 408.7, 419.3,
408.0) = 1.96J
Result 2” (50.8mm) group of 5, max spread 4.25”
(108mm).
Valkyrie 0.32
385.48 average (392.1, 381.3, 386.3, 387.3, 380.4) =
2.07J
Result 2” (50.8mm) group of 5, max spread 3.5”
(89mm).
Vorsk 0.36 Bio
358.28 average (360.4, 361.8, 355.6, 355.6, 358.0) =
2.15J
Result 1 3/8” (35mm) group of 5, max spread 3.25”
(82.5mm)
Vorsk 0.40 Bio
349.36 average (347.7, 349.8, 347.7, 349.6, 352.0) =
2.27J
¾” (19mm) group of 5, max spread 2.5” (63.5mm)
Vorsk 0.43 Bio
342.76 average (342.6, 345.4, 341.5, 343.8, 341.3) =
2.35J
1 ¼” (31.75mm) group of 5, max spread 3” (76.2mm)
These groups were all shot with a breeze from
the right of approx. 6-8mph, low humidity, air temp
approx. 22 degrees.
We then set out aluminium targets at 35m, 50m,
60m and 75m. We would fire 10 BBs at each distance
and could hear the target “report” a hit with a
“ding”. For this test we only used the Vorsk 0.40 Bio
BB.
The first BBs at most distances were to gauge the
breeze. On the 35m target 8 shots sounded, then we
moved back to 50m (prone) gave 9 hits on the target.
On the 60m (prone) distance I guessed the hold over
for the target and got a hit on the first shot, so as
time was getting short (and after Stuart called me a
“smart ar*e!”), I moved straight back to 75m prone
where 4 shots actually hit the target. However, I could
observe the BB path and it would be easy to hit a
human size target at 75m. When spotting, Stuart was
calling that the BBs were hitting in a smallish area
out to approx. 85m at this point. We are confident
that with the breeze we were experiencing hits out to
100m+ should be possible. This is rather impressive
for only a 360mm inner barrel. To be fair to the lighter
weights of ammo, the hop rubber is stated to suit
0.36 and higher BB weights. We took a picture of
the aluminium target after shooting the 50m string
and saw that 5 of the hits were in the “headbox” of
approx. 2.5” square.
Having been a real steel long gun shooter from the
mid-80’s through to the present day, I never really got
into shooting airsoft bolt action rifles but I’m really
impressed with the Scout and am looking forward to
putting it through its paces at the skirmish sites in the
coming weeks and months.
www.airsoftaction.net 19

armoury
ASG STEYER SCOUT
SUMMARY
For a rifle which, from Redwolf HK, costs $469.99
(approx. £340, plus shipping and import charges), all
that is needed is to add BBs and go out and play. The
rifle comes with integral iron sights which are good
enough to use but if you want to kick it up a gear
then you can fit a reasonable scope, like we used
in the tests, for approx. £50. Compare this to the
TM G-Spec which costs approx. £200 in the UK and
would need a fair chunk of cash spending on it to
bring it to a similar level as the Scout, it would likely
cost about the same all in all. In my view this is a great
“out of the box” rifle that needs nothing more than
BBs and a couple of spare mags, possibly a scope and
sling in order to make it skirmishable.
STUART’S STANDOUT POINTS
It’s reeeeely good! For an out of the box, pre
“upgraded” bolt action rifle, this was a revelation to
me. Everything works and works very well too. The
bolt is really smooth when travelling and despite the
quite heavy spring it is really easy to cock. There is
none of the “clunkyness” which can often be felt on
other rifles. The trigger was nice and once I got used
to it, I really found it very user friendly. Although this
trigger isn’t adjustable like a zero trigger for example, I
don’t think it needs any change made, it’s just a really
nice break point.
The rifle in itself is short, well-balanced and
pointable. The weight also is really good, I’d be happy
carrying this all day, either slung or unslung. Even
with the test scope and suppressor fitted it didn’t feel
unwieldy. I couldn’t fault the bipod; the fact that it
is integral is brilliant and despite being fixed height
I quickly found it to be really helpful and there was
no need to compensate by hunching myself to get a
good sight picture.
At the time of writing we’re unsure when the Scout
will be readily available in the UK but it’s already out
in the wild in the Far East and we’d certainly say keep
an eye out because when they land here they will be
really popular. Our thanks go to Herman at RedWolf
UK for sourcing the Scout Rifle for us, to Andy and
Harry at Humber Airsoft Club for allowing us to test
the rifle at their site and to Megan at NUPROL for
rushing through the Vorsk Bio BBs for us to use in the
tests.
We would also like to make it 100% clear that all
photos were taken when the rifle was unloaded and
cleared, which is why, in some photos, normal glasses
were being worn. Always wear appropriate eye
protection whenever you are playing, or testing with a
loaded RIF or IF. AA
www.airsoftaction.net 21

armoury
ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE
PREMIUM
PERFORMANCE...
BUDGET PRICE!
22
SEPTEMBER 2021

armoury
ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE
NEVER LET IT BE SAID THAT AT AIRSOFT ACTION WE ONLY EVER LOOK AT THE EXPENSIVE END OF
THE AEG MARKET, AS THERE ARE SOME LITTLE “GUCCI” GEMS OUT THERE FOR THOSE THAT DON’T
WANT TO SPEND THE EARTH ON THEIR “SKIRMISH GUN”. BILL HAS BEEN ON THE RANGE A LOT
WITH THE LATEST PDW FROM ARCTURUS, THAT’S BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE WITHOUT A MASSIVE
PRICE-TAG, THE KARAMBIT LITE!
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
www.airsoftaction.net 23

armoury
ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE
If you’re starting out in your personal “airsoft
journey” then believe me, I totally understand that
the pennies may not stack up for what
you would really like to buy…
I know, I’ve been where
you are… always broke
and broker still when I
discovered the joy of
6mm! The differences
now though, from when
I started in airsoft, are
massive in all respects and even
at the “cheaper” end of the market
there are some totally righteous AEGS
available that offer both looks and performance
which I could only dream of 27 years ago!
I’ve highlighted the word “cheaper” as it often
appears we’ve all come to the conclusion that the
more money we spend on an AEG, or the more
money that we throw at it, will somehow mean we
become better players. However, as I always say to
those I play alongside: “It’s not what you’ve got, it’s
how you use it” and I would much rather be playing
alongside someone who plays hard and with honour
and has a rental, than someone with a mega-shootyupgraded-AR-ikov
who sits in the Safe Zone all day or
walks obliviously through a hail of BBs without once
calling their hits!
The fact is that airsoft, to me at least, was summed
up by my friend Stelios and his team when I played on
Crete at WarZone 6. They had the approach that you
should play the game “to give your opponent the best
possible experience” and I truly love that! They’re not
saying for one moment that you shouldn’t play hard,
take ground and smash the objective, but they are
saying that you should do so in a way that makes the
game enjoyable for everyone, by simply playing fairly.
In that scenario, with that mindset, it REALLY
doesn’t matter what AEG you have in your hands;
if YOU are enjoying your game of airsoft and you’re
playing in such a way that those around you are
enjoying it too, then the “platform” you use becomes
almost secondary. I’ve turned up to do a Site Report
with no intention of being an active participant, been
offered a game and handed a rental AEG, and actually
had some of the best skirmishes of my airsoft “life”!
But the fact is that if I were to buy another AEG
of my own today, I would have SO MUCH CHOICE!
I could pick a dedicated “woodland” model with a
great long barrel, I could pick an historic model just
because I love it, or I could choose from a vast array of
short and super-short CQB/CQC variants that would
also see me well in most games. If I already owned a
“woodland” rifle these days I could actually afford to
buy a “shorty” too as prices have become (for now at
least) quite ridiculously low!
And this leads me neatly on to the latest
Arcturus model, the KARAMBIT LITE as,
at the time of writing, you can pick up
one of these super little “PDW-
Style” AEGs for well-under
UK£120!
WHAT’S
IN A NAME?
As someone that has a
healthy respect for blades I
was immediately struck by
the choice of name for
Arcturus’ new line of
AEGs, as the “karambit”
is a diminutive curvedblade
knife believed
to originate in
Indonesia. The
karambit was
originally a tool
for those
toiling in
the rice
paddies,
smaller
and
more
nimble
than
their
larger
scythes, a
than a fighting
However, the
has become
tool rather
implement.
“karambit style”
increasingly popular
in knife-fighting
circles and as a “hideaway” for “operators”. If you
are inclined to look you will find models of this style
amongst the offerings of many of the finest blademakers
around the world today.
It’s the handling characteristics of the blade that
appears to have influenced the choice of name for
24
SEPTEMBER 2021

armoury
ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE
the Arcturus AEGs, as they too are (in terms of price)
available to even the poorest amongst us but as
small, lightweight, perfectly formed and effective as
their bladed forebear! There are three models in the
Arcturus “Karambit” line (all with MOS Manufacture
in the shadows…); one full-metal and two nylonfibre-bodied
“LITE” models with different barrel
lengths. I chose the smallest and cheapest of the lot,
the AT-NY05, to check out - and I’ve been delighted
by what I received!
This is indeed one sharp little AEG! The upper
and lower receivers are made of durable nylon-fibre,
which is actually very sturdy with no bend or flex in
evidence. Thanks to the nylon body, the weight and
the price of the replica have both been kept low
and the former, especially for
a super-short “PDW”,
is spot on! At
just 2,300g
this is an
AEG
that you
can
carry
all day long, almost
without noticing it
until you need it.
Arcturus have been
clever when it comes
to overall strength of
the AEG though, as
there’s a socket for
the buffer tube tube
and a barrel socket
with a thread for
the handguardring,
both of which
are reinforced with
a metal threaded sleeve; no
breaking or cracking above the pistol grip (an age old
problem with “plastic” ARs) here!
However, the majority of the external parts in the
LITE, such as the handguard, outer barrel, muzzle
device (very cool!), fire selectors, magazine catch,
ejection cover, bolt catch, and receiver extension tube
are alloy and all these parts have been suitably treated
to protect against corrosion.
Inside the story is also good, as the LITE features a
V2 gearbox finished off with a sealed nozzle, a quick
spring change system, a bearing spring guide and
bearing piston head. The polymer piston is equipped
with steel teeth that work with high-quality gears
and the gears themselves are mounted on 8mm steel
bushings to cope with high load. The bevel gear is
bearing-mounted to ensure that it is free to spin at
high speeds and there’s even a microswitch trigger
with low-resistance wiring, so everything comes “Li-
Po ready”. As always, an electric trigger eliminates
the problem of burned out contacts and improves
the trigger response. In terms of precise BB-in-flightadjustment
and overall performance, there’s a metal
rotary hop-up chamber and a hardened 6.03mm
precision steel barrel as standard too.
ROCKIN’ THE ‘BIT!
There are also some elements of the Karambit’s
construction that I have to comment on as I REALLY
like them, especially considering the price of this
AEG. The magazine catch, bolt catch and fire
selector are ALL ambidextrous. The
handguard is a very, very nicely
achieved alloy M-LOK
140mm but it
still has a
top-rail
that
marries
up
perfectly
with
the railed
upper and
the sliding
“PDW-style”
stock is sold
as a rock (and
has QD slingstud-points
both
left and right)
- although it does suffer from
a tiny battery
compartment,
which means you
have to pick your
battery carefully,
especially as it’s
T-Plug wired. I
found that small
11.1V 800mAh 15C works very well indeed.
I also like the pop-up polymer “irons” that come
pre-fitted and that the carbine comes with a pair of
pistol-grip backstraps! This is quite a rare thing with
a “standard” AEG at this pricepoint and it means
that even those with small hands (or a slighter stature
overall as this AEG is perfect for smaller players!)
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ARCTURUS KARAMBIT LITE
can get a really positive hold when shooting. I also
totally LOVE that Arcturus provide a very “old skool”
towelling wristband in the box to deal with “shooting
hand sweat”! The net result is that although the
Karambit is priced VERY competitively, you still feel
you have something a little bit special!
So, what’s it like to shoot? Being a big chap I do
struggle a little with really short AEGs and even with
the stock at full extension the LITE is only 604mm
long! It is, however, a very tidy little package that
shoots well, straight and surprisingly far! The LITE
comes with a 340 BB polymer magazine which
is ridged and textured, making it very tactile and
positive and the magazine is designed for smooth and
uninterrupted feeding of BBs even at a high ROF. I
did, as usual, try a whole load of different brand “AR”
mags and all of them worked perfectly.
So, all set up it was off to the woods for some
range time and the Karambit LITE performed just as
positively as I expected it would, as I’ve had much
experience now with their AK variants. It’s a great little
AR to work with, with great ergonomics and a very
positive cheek weld (even with the minimalist stock).
Adding a finger rest makes it very easy to drive the
muzzle from target to target, and the overall length
of the rifle, the full 604mm for me, makes it easy to
work with, especially in tight spaces! Once the rotary
hop was set, an easy control to adjust, the LITE was
shooting straight out to the end of the 30m range at
a site-friendly 1.09 Joule/344fps average on a .20g
RZR BB. The microswitch trigger is light yet crisp, with
very little lag so it’s easy to get consistently accurate
shots away time after time. Switching it up to full
auto sends a nice stream of BBs downrange in quick
time at a rate nobody would moan about, apart from
perhaps the airsofter on the receiving end!
I would say that if you are looking for a supercompact
“PDW-Style AR”, then the Karambit LITE is
certainly worth looking at… and looking at hard! It’s a
great, modern-looking replica and it performs just as
well as it should out of the box; it’s light yet solid and
at the price it’s pretty much a no-brainer! If you fancy
something longer, or with a metal body, then there’s
the 5.5” AR15 Dwarf, the 5.5” AR15 Karambit, or
the 8” AR15 Sword AEGs to choose from in the latest
line-up from Arcturus and I am certain that there’s a
model for YOU somewhere in the mix. Although I’ll
stick with the Karambit LITE if it’s all the same to you!
Many thanks indeed to TAIWANGUN who kindly
provided me with the AEG sample for this review. You
can check out more details on the KARAMBIT LITE and
the rest of the extensive range of Arcturus models by
simply visiting www.taiwangun.com AA
www.airsoftaction.net 27

KIT & GEAR
OPFOR OPERATOR
DURING HIS TIME PLAYING AIRSOFT, BILL HAS FOUND HIMSELF ON ALL MANNER OF TEAMS AND EVERY
SINGLE ONE HAS HAD ITS OWN PARTICULAR PLUS AND MINUS POINTS, BUT HE DOES SAY THAT IT HAS
BEEN THE TIME THAT HE’S SPENT PLAYING OPPOSING FORCE, OR OPFOR, WHERE HE’S ENJOYED HIMSELF
THE MOST. FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, HE FINALLY STARTS TO LOOK AT OPFOR “MAIN FORCE”!
I’ve been following the OPFOR path for some
considerable time now, as to me it brings back
some of the freedom of the old days. Like
many, my loadout has become progressively more
“operator” over the years and guess what? These
days I find myself running about in a simple chest
rig and simple belt kit once again… I’ve been trying
to play more and more regularly following my
major surgery a couple of years back and (due to its
nature) I’ve found wearing a plate full carrier quite
uncomfortable. This has forced me to step back
to simpler kit, as I still want to get out and play, to
have fun with airsoft again and regain the fitness I’d
lost (and drop come C-Pounds too!). Playing more
regularly locally means that I’ve also reconnected
with some superb “grass roots” airsofters at local
skirmishes and the social aspect is re-emerging too!
I’ve been lucky enough to meet more and more
players who live locally to me again. First amongst
them was James (who has gone on to become
a valued member of the AA Legion and regular
contributor), who I met through our shared love
of “Post-Ap” style board and video games. Whilst
at first we met to play with “tiny warriroz” on
the tabletop, he too was missing belonging to an
“airsoft team”. At this point the seeds of what was
to become “DO-18 OPFOR” were planted; “DO” for
Dover where we both live, and “18” for the year we
set things up. Our initial discussions were about what
type of team we wanted to create and, after much
back and forth and some soul-searching, we agreed
that what we missed were the games where we took
on interesting missions on a very “small unit” scale,
and this led to me suggesting that we follow the
OPFOR route.
OPFOR is often viewed as being “cannon fodder”,
a force which is always set up to lose against the
better armed, better equipped BLUFOR and I’ll say
yet again, that if this is how you view OPFOR then it’s
not for you. As I’ve also said before, a decent OPFOR
to me is a team that has multiple challenges. Yes,
BLUFOR will have their mission and, in turn, their
taskings to fulfil this mission but they will also have
to contend with a fairly rigid command structure
and rules of engagement. Being a part of BLUFOR
at more carefully constructed MilSim events will also
mean quite a rigid uniform and equipment element
and I know that this can seem prohibitive for newer
“OPFOR IS OFTEN VIEWED AS BEING “CANNON FODDER”; A FORCE WHICH IS ALWAYS SET UP
TO LOSE AGAINST THE BETTER ARMED, BETTER EQUIPPED BLUFOR AND I’LL SAY YET AGAIN,
THAT IF THIS IS HOW YOU VIEW OPFOR THEN IT’S NOT FOR YOU.”
30
SEPTEMBER 2021

KIT & GEAR
OPFOR OPERATOR
players.
For OPFOR though, just like any airsoft loadout,
you need to still think ahead before you set up your
“to buy” list and (unless you’re unlike any airsofter
I’ve ever met) the first considerations will inevitably
be driven by what primary and secondary you want
to use! When it comes to OPFOR work, of course
the AK is king and thankfully there seem to be more
choices in terms of airsoft AKs than ever before!
There are excellent models available from the likes of
GHK, VFC, E&L, LCT, ARCTURUS, TM and soon G&G
too if the “12-alike” comes to fruition… I could go
on and on now, which, for me, is sheer heaven!
My personal choice OPFOR work is either the WE
AKS 74U or ACE SVD GBBRs (for MilSim events) or
the superb E&L AKS74UN-A Tactical (for everything
else!), although I have added an Arcturus AK-12 for
potential “main force” use. I use Real-Caps in the
gasser and Mid-Caps in the AEGs, so I need to carry
six mags in total for either variant as ammo limits
will vary given the “realism” of the game. My choice
of “secondary” is usually a WE Makarov, just as a
backup, or now an upgraded RAPTOR GRACH (we’ll
come to the upgrades on this with Jimmy at a later
date!). If my DO-18 team-mates and I are running
“ambush heavy” then there’s also usually an ASG
B&T GL06 launcher with a few MOSCARTs in the mix
too, along with an A&K PKM!
GETTING YOUR GEAR ON!
If you have followed my “OPFOR Adventures” in AA,
you will know that I advocate simplicity and for my
personal “militia” setup I have my much-loved black
Adidas tracky top. This works surprisingly well in the
winter months either on its own, or as a layering
garment underneath a plain coloured waterproof
as, being an athletic garment, it has inherent
performance characteristics like wind repellence and
breathability. For the summer months I picked up
two black Adidas “Climalite” wicking performance
t-shirts from my local sports shop, just £20 for the
two in the sale. James also found a really nice polo
version in blue for much cheapness online! In terms
of trousers/pants, it’s easy enough to marry up a pair
you already own, a pair that you might already use in
another loadout and find comfortable.
All I really add to this is a black “ChiCom” chest
rig, a small black pack, black gloves (in my case First
Tactical …coz I love ‘em!) and some form of hat. I
do like a simple BUFF worn “pirate style” as this is
very low profile and also helps to mop up any sweat
before it gets down into your eyes. At a summer
game where the sun was out full force I wore the
“Partizan” Boonie that I got some time back from
Giena Tactics; not only did that shield my face and
neck, but the Russian pattern also gave a properly
OPFOR feel to the whole outfit.
For many moons though, I’ve wanted to take
the leap and create a full set of “main force”, or
more Russian Military “feel” gear to my OPFOR
wardrobe. Amongst my collection I already have
in hand various items of Russian tactical kit from
various manufacturers, but it just so happened that
we’d also been discussing equipment and uniforms
from Invader Gear, so this seemed an ideal time
to get some of their latest gear in to try as they’ve
recently added full sets in both “Partizan” and “Digi
Flora” to their clothing range. Invader Gear, based in
Austria, is a brand of tactical clothing and accessories
made specifically for airsoft. Providing a range of
combat shirts, trousers and smocks as well as gloves,
pouches and vests/plate carriers, Invader Gear offers
superior quality with the use of great fabrics and
components that are ideal for airsoft, built to last
both on and off the field. We’ve used the original
gear before and as it now appears to be coming
generally more available we thought it was high time
to check out the updates!
First up were the clothing pieces and, as we
have slightly different styles of play, I went for the
www.airsoftaction.net 31

KIT & GEAR
OPFOR OPERATOR
Combat Shirt and Predator Combat Pant, whilst
James chose the Revenger TDU Shirt and Pant
combo. The Invader Gear Combat Shirt features
high quality standard fabrics and components and
as the shirt is usually worn under body armour, it
is designed to avoid pressure marks and to provide
good moisture wicking properties. The modern cut
is well balanced for a not too tight - but also not too
loose - fit and the collar is equipped with a quality
the Combat Shirt perfectly. Where the MKII Combat
Pant differs from the original is the careful placement
of yet more stretch elements and these are really
quite remarkable! Over the top of the knee and in
the small of the back behind the comfortable high
waistband, the clever designers at Invader Gear have
placed panels of a new stretch construction; it looks
almost “concertina-like” in construction but work
superbly well. These panels are also made in the
same camouflage pattern as the rest of the trousers
to give a better overall “total camo solution” and
the one in the small of the back works SO well I had
zip by YKK and can be worn open or closed to avoid
intrusion of debris. Large upper-arm pockets provide
quick and convenient storage, and the elbows are
reinforced with an additional layer of fabric which
is also intended as a
compartment for elbow
pads. The sleeves, collar
and shoulder area of
this shirt are made of a
sturdy 65% cotton/35%
polyester rip-stop
woven fabric for great
comfort and fast drying
properties, whilst the
torso is made of an
incredibly comfortable
80% cotton/20%
polyester knit fabric
with good moisture
wicking performance.
Made of the same
rip-stop fabric, along
with durable stretch
panels and integrated
(removable) kneepads,
the Predator Combat
Pant is Invader’s “take”
on the modern combat
trouser and matches up to
to check a couple of times that the trousers weren’t
actually falling down, so great is the movement!
This is a brilliant step forward, so well done Invader
Gear guys for this! I personally find the kneepads
that come as a part of the set quite bulky but I’m
pleased to say that my “go to” CRYE pads fit the
new Predator pants perfectly (sorry Jase, for all my
p-taking, I guess I am a proper gear tart too!) and
bring down the bulk.
The Revenger gear is more a classic Tactical Duty
Uniform (TDU) but with some thoroughly modern
twists! Featuring two breast pockets, two angled
arm pockets, all of which feature “stress part”
reinforcement, there’s also a pencil pocket on left
forearm make the design complete. The shirt has
a velcro and button front closure, with a mandarin
collar that can be worn up or down to ventilate, or
protect the neck from BB strikes. The fabric here
is again a tough-as-old-boots mix, 35/65 ripstop
polycotton. The trousers make use of the same
tough fabric and benefit from good storage; the
front pockets are strong and roomy, whilst the
angled side pockets are large enough for maps and
32
SEPTEMBER 2021

KIT & GEAR
OPFOR OPERATOR
all those accessories you may need to lug around,
but access easily. There are two additional dressing
pockets, one on each lower leg, and two rear
pockets round out the feature set nicely.
FIELDING IT
Now, as much as I would love to own a living history
standard loadout for “main force” and perhaps one
day I will, I’m an airsofter and one that knows what
works for me in the field and in game! I already own
a lovely Partizan Gorka suit from Grey Shop, so I’ve
tailored the Invader Gear kit to match up with that
and their “take” on the Partizan pattern is excellent
if I lay it next to my “real”. For this set of gear I
already have a super SSO/SPOSN “Jaeger” chest rig
that I bought from “Tovarisch Taz” (who writes for
us from time to time) and has been a positive mine
of knowledge when it comes to all things “Ratnik”.
My GRACH currently rides in a simple black leather
holster which I will upgrade to a polymer “ALPHA”
when I have the money and the only other thing
on my belt is a plain green dump pouch. I have a
number of plain green packs that I can use if I need
more “load-lugging” space, one of which closely
resembles the SSO/SPOSN “ADLER” so that feels
right enough.
The Digi Flora pattern from Invader Gear is also
an excellent reproduction, so their FAST helmet
cover will work with the lids I already have. I believe
it will be safe here to go with some of Taz’s other
“Ratnik Recommendations” though (you can find
his excellent full article on Ratnik Gear in the Back
Issues section of the AA website, Issue 117!) like a
Digi Flora 6B45 Body Armour Carrier (Plate Carrier),
although I’m in two minds about the 6SH117 load
bearing system and may well stick with another
chest rig to keep the weight and bulk down.
Again, I’d stress here that this is meant to be gear
to play airsoft in and not a reproduction of current
Russian “service dress”, so mixing and matching
for effectiveness on the field, as has always been
my way, will be the way I will go - no doubt much
to the absolute horror of the “stitch bitches” out
there! As long as my total loadout is obviously very
different from that of BLUFOR, I’ll be good to go!
Thanks to the new clothing and accessories
from Invader Gear both James and I are one step
closer to building our very own “main force” set of
gear for our ongoing “DO-18 OPFOR” project, and
although I’ve always said that going OPFOR can be a
cheaper option for getting into MilSim territory, I’ve
also never for a moment suggested that you can’t
be OPFOR and have all the very latest gucci goodies,
as of course sometimes BLUFOR will encounter
opposition every bit as well kitted out as they are!
Let’s just reiterate that as OPFOR you are not there
to lose, you are there to adapt, overcome, roll with
the undoubted pounding you will get from BLUFOR
and ultimately thrive and survive to take on your
next bit of skulduggery, sabotage, or downright
naughtiness! With a little imagination and some help
from companies like Invader Gear you can now also
look as cool as your NATO Task Force counterpart
while doing so!
Many thanks as always go to my friends at Invader
Gear and you can be sure I’ll update you on their
gear as more becomes available and updates are
made to existing models. Meanwhile, you can keep
an eye on their clothing and gear ranges yourself by
simply heading on over to www.invadergear.com AA
“…AS OPFOR YOU ARE NOT THERE TO LOSE, YOU ARE THERE TO ADAPT, OVERCOME, ROLL
WITH THE UNDOUBTED POUNDING YOU WILL GET FROM BLUFOR AND ULTIMATELY THRIVE
AND SURVIVE TO TAKE ON YOUR NEXT BIT OF SKULDUGGERY, SABOTAGE, OR DOWNRIGHT
NAUGHTINESS!”
www.airsoftaction.net 33

HI-CAPA
• TDC Hop-Up Chamber
(Compatible with TM spec)
• MASTER MODS R-Hop System
• REVO.II High Performance Valve System
• Steel made fire control system components
(Compatible with TM spec)
• SUS301 Stainless Steel Searing Spring
(Compatible with TM spec)
• Adjustable Trigger
• RMR & DOC Mount
• 3-dot Luminous Sights
CHALLENGE MORE
The HI-CAPA CHALLENGER which is right the beast born to challenge. During the
developments, ICS integrated our most delicate and advanced GBB pistol making
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Hi-Capa products.
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FEATURE
OUTDOORS
AN AIRSOFTER’S
GUIDE TO TACTICAL
OUTDOOR
DEVELOPMENT
AS 2021 MOVES FORWARD IT SEEMS LIKE THE WORLD IS FINALLY REAWAKENING AND, AS IT DOES, THE
SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE HAS MOST DEFINITELY KICKED BACK INTO HIGH GEAR AMONGST THE AA CREW! AS A
GROUP OUR AIRSOFT ADVENTURES HAVE TAKEN US ALL OVER EUROPE AND THE USA AND NOW, WITH OUR
ESTIMABLE LEGIONNAIRES, EVEN FURTHER AFIELD. HERE, JON STARTS LOOKING AT GEAR THAT CAN TURN A
GREAT AIRSOFT EXPERIENCE INTO A TRULY MEMORABLE ONE.
2020… What a year that was! I, for one, am
glad it’s over as it’s given me time to sift, sort
and de-clutter all my kit. It also gave many
of us the time to kick back, relax, spend time with
our close loved ones and work on areas of our lives
that, maybe, we had neglected. One thing it didn’t
let us do, was play our beloved airsoft. This time out
became apparent when I wanted to use items I’d
forgotten to take to a recent outing with my fellow
Red Cell contributors and, even more so, when I used
the Attack Sense System that had been set up there
(No, I don’t want to talk about it and yes I AM the guy
that will be writing a newbie guide to Practical and
Competition Shooting)!
All of the skills and drills I had learned over the
years had gone out the window. While it was
somewhat frustrating, I managed to pilfer those
missing items from my colleagues and had a great day
of airsoft.
My utter unpreparedness got us recalling (as a
group) all the daft things we had done over the years
at games - and there are many, MANY of them,
especially when it comes to the years that the likes of
Nige, Bill and Boycie have been involved with airsoft
and where Nige and Bill’s travels have taken them!
How we’d forgotten kit, over-packed and struggled
to carry our gear through a scenario, got soaked
to the bone and almost frozen solid. You know,
light-hearted, generalised tales of misery, stupidity
and most often, ignorance. That’s not to say we are
arrogant or overconfident in our abilities, we (mostly
me) hadn’t considered something and had to learn
the hard way that we should have. It was an amusing
conversation!
That got us pondering on the common mistakes
that we ALL make at one point or other during our
time in the game. “We” decided that it might be
an idea if “I” (notice how “we” became “I” there!)
wrote a series of columns where “we” take a look at
some common mistakes, misunderstandings, things
that never cross your mind to take with you and how
to have the best experience you can at a game day, a
“MY UTTER UNPREPAREDNESS GOT US RECALLING (AS A GROUP) ALL THE DAFT THINGS
WE HAD DONE OVER THE YEARS AT GAMES - AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY OF THEM,
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE YEARS THAT THE LIKES OF NIGE, BILL AND BOYCIE HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED WITH AIRSOFT AND WHERE NIGE AND BILL’S TRAVELS HAVE TAKEN THEM!”
36
SEPTEMBER 2021

FEATURE
OUTDOORS
weekend event, or a scenario that lasts even longer.
Along the way we will point you in the direction of
suppliers and manufacturers who offer up various bits
of kit that can and will help you out. That’s not to say
you HAVE to take our recommendations, it’s just that
in our collective experiences of airsoft, bushcraft and
outdoor pursuits, these bits of kit have served us well.
We will take a deep dive into what you REALLY
need as a minimum and why you need it, then onto
the things that are nice to have to compliment these
basic items.
SO WHERE TO BEGIN?
It’s all in the planning. We’re civilised folks here
at Airsoft Action (unless there’s a CQB scenario
involved… looking at you again Bill!) and in the
interest of being polite, I’ll direct your attention to the
“5” Ps:
• Proper.
• Preparation.
• Prevents.
• Poor.
• Performance.
What kind of game are you
playing? Is it a skirmish, BattleSim or
MilSim? Is it a series of short games
with a break between each one, a day
with a lunch break or are you out in
the A.O. for 12/24/36/48/72 hours?
If you are playing a long game, will
there be a F.O.B, will you be operating
roaming patrols or will you be part of
a Q.R.F. squad?
Before you even start to look
at your kit, you will want to be
considering a whole host of factors,
some of which I touched upon above
but other things that none of us
have had to consider before due to
the pandemic. If you’re planning on
a skirmish game or a “broken day”
game, you don’t really have a huge
deal to worry about but you do have
certain things to consider to insure
you have a comfortable day.
• How will you be traveling there
and will you be going alone?
• Is there a sheltered Safe Zone
or are you working from the
boot of your car?
• Is there food and drink available
from the site or do you need to
take your own?
• In this newly emerging post Covid World, will
the site take cash or do you need to pay by card
for the game day and on site items?
• Are there toilet facilities?
• Do you need a face mask and hand sanitizer
when moving around the safe zone areas?
• Is there an on-site shop to replace the BBs or
gas that you may have forgotten?
• Is this a new site to you? It may be that there
is a site map available online that you can print
out so you can find your way if you get lost.
See where I’m going with this?
There are a myriad of factors and things you
SHOULD be considering before you even look at what
kit and gear you will be taking. We’ll be working
again with some of our long-term friends and partners
in the industry like Snugpak, Helikon-Tex, VIPER,
and Military1st to find gear that’s affordable and
fit for purpose - not just for airsoft but for all our
adventures - and putting things together in a way
that’s straightforward and easily digestible.
In the next instalment we’ll take a look at the 6,
sorry, “5” Ps in more detail and start breaking down
what you need and why you need it. AA
www.airsoftaction.net 37

KIT & GEAR
DIRECT ACTION
DIRECT
ACTION:
2021 UPDATES!
IT’S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE WE SPOKE ABOUT NEW GEAR FROM THE TEAM OVER AT DIRECT
ACTION IN POLAND. AS ALWAYS THOUGH, BILL HAS BEEN KEEPING A VERY CLOSE EYE ON THEIR LATEST
DEVELOPMENTS AND INNOVATIONS FOR THE TRUE TACTICAL USER! WITH SOME GREAT NEW MODELS
AVAILABLE HE BRINGS IN AN UPDATE OF KIT THAT HE’S ALREADY TRIED AND TESTED EXTENSIVELY!
Let’s face it, 2021 has been a challenging year for
businesses in many industries and the tactical
gear manufacturers and innovators have had
just the same hoops to jump through as everyone
else. Raw material costs, fabric costs, and especially
“goods inwards” costs have all spiralled - and
continue to do so. Add to this problematic shipping
and outrageous lead times for raw materials and
specialist parts/components and I’m amazed that
anyone has got anything meaningful done during
the last twelve months!
However, as I’ve often noted in my AEG and GBB
reviews, there ARE manufacturers that have got a
complete handle on all these disparate elements, and
they have not only continued to do good business
but have actually thrived in adversity. Given the folk
involved behind the scenes with Direct Action, I am
not at all surprised that they have come out of the
“Days of C-19” at the head of the pack. As I said
when I last wrote about Direct Action: “…as with
any relationship, the backbone is one of mutual trust
and respect and over the past few years I have really
come to respect and trust the guys at Direct Action
immensely” and, if anything, their output during
a time when lesser companies have faltered and
wobbled has increased my respect for them even
further!
To recap for those that haven’t come across them
before; Direct Action is a Polish company set up
in 2014 that, from the outset, sought to combine
great design and manufacturing capabilities with
an up-close-and-personal understanding of the
specific end-user needs. From the very beginning
Direct Action have been a very tight unit, and their
“…THE GUY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR INNOVATION AND TESTING IS A PRIOR-SERVICE GROM
COMBAT MEDIC WITH ALMOST 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, PLUS SEVERAL TOURS OF DUTY IN
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN!”
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SEPTEMBER 2021

KIT & GEAR
DIRECT ACTION
R&D team in Poland consists of just a few good
people; each member has his or her own area
of expertise and is responsible for the tasks and
projects that relate to that. As an example, the
guy responsible for their innovation and testing
is a prior-service GROM combat medic with
almost 20 years of service, plus several tours of
duty in Iraq and Afghanistan!
This combination has created the approach
of an “individual-as-a-system” that is
open and flexible to all necessary options,
yet remains streamlined and avoids overburdening.
Each part of the system interfaces
with the other components; weapons, load
bearing equipment, backpacks, jackets, duty
uniforms and even camouflage patterns,
each of these is a part of a whole and a key
component that’s critical to mission success.
When creating Direct Action gear every
detail is rigorously thought-out using a
systemic perspective; there are no random
choices, no compromises, no “same-old-stuff”
design approach and no shying away from new
technology - all items are based on first-hand,
real-world experience of elite special operations
units.
Direct Action uses the highest quality materials
available and the production process itself is subject
to rigorous control. The whole line of combat
equipment is designed and manufactured in Poland.
SPITFIRE
My first exposure to Direct Action came in the form
of a couple of their excellent patrol pack models and
I’m going to tell you, that as someone who worked
with cutting-edge pack manufacture in a “previous
existence”, this is an area in which I am hypercritical!
Direct Action packs continue to impress not
just me, but others that I work and play with. I am
a user of Direct Action gear, both for airsoft and
training and I’ll be straight and say that I love it!
Although these days I’m more of a chest rig and
pack kind of guy and not usually in need of any kind
of “armour protection”, I still love the fact that all
Direct Action gear is designed to work together and
that it fits neatly in a fully modular fashion, not just
with their own range but also with that of other
industry leaders! My go-to plate carrier solution for
a couple of years now has been the SPITFIRE MKII
PLATE CARRIER –(the Adaptive Green rig that you’ll
see in many of my range pictures).
The Direct Action SPITFIRE takes its name from
a famous WWII fighter plane and, just like this
aviation icon, it’s a streamlined and dynamic platform
designed to carry ballistic plates with modular
accessories, on or off the battlefield. At just 672g
in a Size Large, it’s lightweight and non-restricting
and one of the lightest carriers in its class. The MK
II looks simple but in fact it is much more scalable
and mission-configurable than its predecessors.
The Direct Action team have stripped the carrier of
unnecessary PALS slots under the flap and on the
back, as well as enlarging the loop panel on the front
for larger unit patches, plus they’ve even made it
lighter!
The SPITFIRE is beautifully made and cut and the
materials and components are absolutely first rate!
Put together using proprietary laser-cut laminate,
Cordura 500D and softshell materials, the carrier
benefits from front plate only configuration using
the chest rig interface, optional pads on front, back
and shoulders area for improved airflow, a zippered
chest admin pocket and PTT and comms wires/
antenna routing attachment points. There’s even an
accessory armour package for heavy configuration in
development!
www.airsoftaction.net 39

KIT & GEAR
DIRECT ACTION
The back panel zipper attachment system is
compatible with Crye Precision AVS, whilst the
chest Rig attachment system is compatible with
Mayflower/Velocity Systems, offering you even
further options!
Thanks to numerous new design elements,
back panels and optional side armour compatible
cummerbunds, you are able to set up the carrier
the way you actually need it. It’s at the same time
and incredibly durable platform and unique in its
modularity, converting to a cut-away rig in just a
few simple steps, thus allowing for quick donning,
doffing and medical access thanks to Hypalon
pullers.
carbine mag pouches, pistol mag pouches, along
with space for bangs and admin items. If you need
to carry more load as part of your modular system
Direct Action offer a number of excellent back panel
add-ons like the SPITFIRE MK II BACKPACK PANEL or
SPITFIRE MK II UTILITY BACK PANEL so you’re all set!
BEARCAT
As always though, time moves on and Direct Action
have added another superb carrier to their line,
this one called the BEARCAT (the Grumman F8F
Bearcat was a lightweight WWII carrier-launched
fighter aircraft FYI!), which is an ultra-light plate
carrier designed to be the foundation for a durable,
yet versatile system. Reduction of the amount of
laminate and Cordura fabric to bare minimum has
resulted in a significant weight cut and the main
platform weighs only 290grams! Made from cuttingedge
softshell fabric and laser-cut laminate, the
Bearcat offers a skeletonized modular system with
fully interchangeable front panels (DA call them
“flaps” and think a full-on MilSpec version of the
buckle up
systems I wrote about not
so long
ago).
Even
though
I’ve put the Spitfire through its paces with
my usual medium plates fitted and thus far I’m
impressed. Although the Spitfire is certainly smaller
than the carriers I usually work with, the plate
support is excellent and the pressure exerted, both
around the torso and over the shoulders, is nicely
balanced and spread evenly. The “captured” female
buckles for the front carrying system are tidily
achieved, meaning that you can easily change out
your load carrying options.
Say you want to set up your plate carrier for
light use? Simply attach a SPITFIRE MK II SLICK
CARBINE MAG FLAP, SPITFIRE SMG FLAP, or SPITFIRE
SHOTGUN SHELL FLAP to the velcro and buckle it in
place.
Running hot and heavy with a full fighting load?
No problem! Simply use the CHEST RIG INTERFACE
(which also means you can use the Spitfire in Front
Panel Only mode) and you’re all set with rifle/
“…AS SOMEONE WHO WORKED WITH CUTTING-EDGE PACK MANUFACTURE IN A “PREVIOUS
EXISTENCE”, THIS IS AN AREA IN WHICH I AM HYPER-CRITICAL! DIRECT ACTION PACKS
CONTINUE TO IMPRESS NOT JUST ME, BUT OTHERS THAT I WORK AND PLAY WITH.”
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SEPTEMBER 2021

KIT & GEAR
DIRECT ACTION
Bearcat is designed mainly with Swimmer Cut plates
in mind, it will also fit SAPI or Shooter plates (so I
could easily use the same set of SAPI plates I have
in my existing Spitfire). Due to the use of highly
stretchable softshell fabric, the Bearcat offers a great
fit, no matter what kind of plate cut you choose. The
inner velour Velcro panels are designed to work well
with COMFORT PAD of the Spitfire System too and
the Bearcat continues the “full modularity” story,
as it will work seamlessly with other Direct Action
system components.
So, not only the COMFORT PAD will suit the
Bearcat well, its the same with the other Spitfire
System accessories, like the CUTAWAY set, flaps
and back panels - and vice versa! That makes this
carrier a great choice for those who, like me, already
have the elements of Spitfire System but seek an
even lighter platform. However, the Bearcat has
been launched together with specifically designed
products to extend its functionality. Amongst them
is one of the lightest back and chest panels on the
market, along with an all-new SKELETONIZED BACK
PANEL and SKELETONIZED PLATE CARRIER FLAP, as
well as a minimalist SKELETONIZED CUMMERBUND
SLIM, and the SKELETONIZED COMMS WINGS
SET made to carry your communication system.
With them, you’ll be able to compose a perfectly
functional and incredibly comfortable set of gear that
will last you a lifetime!
The latest gear from Direct Action certainly shows
that they have not been idle in the last twelve
months and, to me, it shows that they still 100%
mean business in the future. I did see them briefly at
the last SHOT Show I attended but I missed seeing
them at IWA this year (sadly that show was never
going to happen). However, 2022 is a whole new
year and by the look of what they have in the form
of the new BEARCAT system, they’ll undoubtedly
have more to come soon and I’ll look forward to
reporting back on it all as usual when I see it!
For more information on the extensive range
of top-notch tactical gear offered by Direct Action
please check out https://us.directactiongear.com/
in the USA and https://eu.directactiongear.com/ in
Europe. AA
ROUNDING UP
As I said when I started, it’s incredibly exciting to
watch a brand grow from the ground up and from
humble beginnings Direct Action have grown in
the very best way possible, enlarging their offering
sensibly, and moving things on when new ideas or
technologies become available. I’ve been very, very
impressed by the Spitfire with its original range of
modular pouches and panels and I’ve recently added
the advanced, skeletal Bearcat .556 and .308 panels
to my personal setup, where they interface perfectly.
Both of these panels offer space for three magazines
(sized for the appropriate calibre) which are secured
from the top via a bungee cord. Due to the skeletal
construction, the panels are not only minimalistic
but also some of the lightest modular panels on the
market. The panels are covered with the same laser
cut modular system, which is fully compatible with
MOLLE/PALS. The panels are attached to the carrier
via top buckles and all the panels available (there’s
quite a few of them) can be easily transformed
into a compact chest rig using the FRONT FLAP RIG
INTERFACE.
www.airsoftaction.net 41

THE CAGE
GLOVES
THE CAGE:
GLOVES
AS WITH EVERY INSTALMENT OF THE CAGE, WE’RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR GOOD KIT; NOT
SIMPLY GEAR THAT’S 100% FIT FOR PURPOSE BUT EQUIPMENT THAT’S GOING TO GIVE YOU GOOD
SERVICE AND GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY! THIS TIME THE AA LEGION TAKE A LOOK AT GLOVES,
WHAT THEY’VE WORN IN THE PAST AND WHAT THEY’RE WEARING NOW, SO YOU CAN REALLY GET
“HANDS ON” IN ANY SITUATION! AS USUAL, BILL LEADS OFF…
Gloves are tricky things to get right, aren’t they?
How often have you parted with money for
a pair of “tacticool” gloves that offer you
entrance to the “operatorz world” and found that,
in reality, they are sub-standard, poorly fitting, and
frankly an absolute waste of your hard-earned dollarbucks?
When I first started out, gloves were not such a
“thing” and an old pair of black leather “NI Gloves”
from your local surplus store were probably your best
bet! When I moved to the USA in 2006 though, my
eyes were opened to the possibilities of what I could
use to cover my hands safely, as every tactical store
seemed to be offering cool models designed both for
law enforcement and the military.
For a while I was like a fat boy in a donut shop
and every couple of months I’d pick up another
model; online forums were “de riguer” for the
discerning tacticalist at the time and it seemed to me
that someone was ALWAYS posting about gloves!
Of course, the dissemination of information about
which unit is using which glove model has accelerated
with the rise of social media and now new gloves
seem to come along on an almost daily basis (or so it
seems!). For me, my “go-to gloves” are First Tactical
Lightweight Patrol Gloves, Helikon Range Tactical
Gloves (because PenCott!), HWI Combat Gloves 500
(Multicam), and OR Ironsight Sensors for general
range work.
But, with so many glove models out there, how the
hell do you decide on the right glove for you? What
considerations should you take into account? For me
there are three main areas to look at:
Grip
The most important thing for me is grip. A glove is
of no use to you if it hinders the ability to grip your
AEG/GBB, or restricts access to using technology
(especially these days!). Because of this, many users
choose to go with “old skool” fingerless gloves but
not me! Of course, grip is related to handling and
before you take every shot you have to have the
feeling of contact with your trigger, or it can become
a distraction from getting the shot. There are now
designs which feature special finger tips to provide
superior grip perfect for using technology, handling
small items, plus shooting needs.
Dexterity
Another thing I look for in tactical gloves, is to find
an option that allows not just grip but also dexterity.
Some tactical gloves are designed to protect your
hands from damage by way of padded knuckles,
but if the material over the knuckle is too thick it
will impede your dexterity. Likewise, if a glove is the
wrong size, it can get in the way of movement. When
it comes to finding the right sizing to ensure ease of
movement, remember that phrase, “fits like a glove”
as your guideline; the right fit of a glove should feel
natural.
Comfort
When it comes to fabrics and technology many
gloves still use leather (or “manufactured leather”)
exteriors, or specially bonded synthetic blends.
While this certainly has its place in relation to overall
comfort, a better option is to choose one that
42
SEPTEMBER 2021

THE CAGE
GLOVES
incorporates both in expertly designed ways. For
instance, gloves should have leather for exceptional
durability, contouring and waterproofing abilities, but
you also want materials that offer some breathability,
either through the use of specialist lined interiors
which are absorbent or through breathability features
built in to the glove. The matter of comfort is
important since you will be wearing these gloves all
day!
TEAM TALK
As usual - and with my criteria in mind - I asked the
members of the AA Legion “Do you use tactical
gloves, and if you do what model? Do you use them
for protection from cuts, scrapes and BB hits to the
knuckles (ouch!), or do you want more from them?”
and this is what they had to say:
Boycie: “As many will know, I also run a pyro
business and gloves for me are an essential item of
PPE. We use a range of types depending on the job
and the dexterity we need to safely carryout the job.
If using hand-deployed pyro a good pair of gloves
are essential. All you need is for something to go off
prematurely or fail and the damage that even a Mk5
can cause could be catastrophic to your hand. For this
part of the pyro side, we use the First Tactical Slash/
Flash Glove. These proved to be an excellent glove and
the right thing to be wearing when there was a failure
in a pyro unit. The actual glove involved was returned
to First Tactical so they could see the damage, along
with a “Thank You!” for making such a good product.
Without doubt, the appropriate glove for the job
saved me from major injury. In general use I tend
to wear something like the PIG or Mechanix glove,
which is thin enough to allow me good dexterity for
manipulating RIFs and other items within the “game
zone” and protection against scrapes, cuts and minor
injury.”
Miguel: “Well yes, gloves are a must, not so much
against BBs but more to protect against cuts and such.
Our woodland here in Portugal is quite “spiky”, a
lot of bushes have small thorns and such, so having
gloves helps to protect. Brands? Me and the guys
mostly use Mechanix and Armored Claw.”
Stu: “Mechanix! After a number of years trying
other makes/styles I got a pair of Mechs; comfy, loads
of knuckle protection!”
Turgay: “I am using PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT)
Alpha Gloves. They can be used in all weathers. They
are very, very durable (more so than Mechanix) and
also you can use touch screen products. It protects
you from most of the hard surfaces but it has no extra
knuckle guards.”
Robbie: “For me, gloves are to prevent getting
burned mostly and avoiding scrapes and cuts second.
I wore them in airsoft for the second reason but also
to keep the habit for training. LA Police Gear Core
Shooting Gloves are hard to beat for cost, fit, function
simplicity IMO but I have had all sorts of good ‘n
bad off-brand ones too. For me, the glove has to fit
perfectly, have no seam-hotspot issues, not stretch
out and/or bind and not be too bulky. Touch screen
compatibility doesn’t hurt either!”
Stewbacca: “I’ve been through all manner of
gloves over the years, starting with old school Viper,
then Warrior Assault Systems, Oakley SI gloves and
most recently Mechanix MPact. All of the former types
fell apart after a few years of light use skirmishing or
doing MilSim - bearing in mind I used to manage once
or twice a month for the most part back in the UK
- usually opening up at the seam between the palm
and back, and the velcro wrist straps would inevitably
break away too. Since playing in Taiwan - far more
often than in the UK - I’ve just had one pair of the
Mechanix MPact and they have lasted by far the best
out of any type, only losing the velcro from the wrist
straps thus far, but otherwise being entirely intact,
if a little worn on the surfaces. So, buy MPacts. And
the knuckle protection on the likes of the Oakleys can
also cause discomfort unless your index finger has
a separate piece to the others, due to the different
angling of your other fingers forcing single piece
protector types across the knuckle of your trigger
finger.”
Jon: “Well... I’ve had a few pairs over the years.
I’ve been through cheapo unbranded jobbies and
more expensive well-known brands such as Clawgear,
Oakley, Mechanix and so on. In my opinion, gloves are
not essential but do offer a smidge of protection from
brush and knocks. Let’s face it, we’re not rappelling
or fast-roping in so we don’t need Kevlar lined and
Carbon knuckled gloves. Yeah, they look cool but
they’re not necessary. With that in mind, I have opted
to switch over to a pair of First Tactical Lightweight
Patrol Gloves. Nice and thin, nice and tactile and as
they’re First Tactical, I shouldn’t need to buy any more
for several years.”
Jonathan: “I’ve always worn gloves while playing
and working. I’ve tried them all… Oakley, Pig, etc,
etc, but I’ve always returned to MECHANIX as I find
them brilliant! I always buy a medium as I like a tight
fit for that tactile feeling. Good story: I was playing a
36hr game and my hand was bitten by a mossie after
Endex… I was stripping down and couldn’t get the
glove off, didn’t my hand swell up so much the lads
had to cut it off! Waste of a good glove!!”
www.airsoftaction.net 43

TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

THE CAGE
GLOVES
Bill W-R: “So… glovage... Being in the motor trade
I have known the Mechanix brand for many years,
using them for impact protection etc. I then saw they
did some slightly less bulky versions in black, tan and
Multicam, so started running those and never had
anything bad to say about them. Until... Red Cell’s first
meeting and out come some Gucci-looking Claw Gear
Armoured Claw gloves in tan that are my now my
go to digit protection. As an added bonus I can even
operate my smartphone whilst wearing them.”
Dan: “Even though I was a 90’s kid, I’ve always
been a fan of fingerless gloves myself. I like a bit of
palm protection but prefer to have full dexterity for
my fingers. Surprisingly, there are very few quality
options for “tactical” fingerless gloves on the market.
For many years I co-opted gloves from my cycling
days; usually North Face cycling gloves. These had a
tiny bit of foam or gel padding in the palms and were
surprisingly durable despite the thin construction,
breathable and offered a lot of dexterity. I’ve also
tried various brands of climbing glove but these were
typically thicker leather and therefore not as pliable or
as comfortable to wear over the long term. The last
couple of years, I have been running the Blackhawk
SOLAG fingerless gloves and those have been holding
up pretty well. There’s a few things I’d probably
improve on them, like a shorter cuff and reinforced
edges on the fingers. Like a lot of gear, I’m still on the
hunt for the “perfect” fingerless glove that ticks off all
the boxes.”
Björn: “I always use gloves for whatever reason;
sharp objects, bbs (have seen people with cracked
fingers even at low joule) , dirt, you name it! Then of
course it can add some coolness to your kit!”
Hana: “I think gloves are important to protect
our knuckles from BB hits in the game. Most of our
friends in the game use gloves. The glove design I
like to have a soft adhesive protection to strengthen
the knuckle area of the hand, but a flexible choice on
the index finger when I need a quick reaction. The
only drawback of the pair I’ve used so far is that the
smallest size available on the market is still large for
me, I’d like to buy one more if they have a size for
female players.”
Allyssa: “Erm, they’re all too big! They’re obviously
for men and as such I ended up buying weight-lifting
gloves from Sports Direct, eBay or Amazon. The
added bonus with a weight-lifting glove, for me is
that they often come with wraps to support my wrists.
It’s a shame manufacturers don’t account for women
airsofters. Gloves, clothing and so on, everything, is
for men. It’s a shame really, guys get some great kit
and that just doesn’t work for us women as a rule!”
Chris: “US Nomex Pilots Gloves have been my
staple go to glove for over 20 years. They are thin and
have no padding unlike like all these flashy modern
gloves but they offer great dexterity, and reasonable
palm protection and I find my hands don’t overheat
on hot days. A great no frills glove with an attractive
price point.”
Jase: “Only ever had two pairs of gloves for airsoft,
both where/are Mechanix. Enough said, lol!”
Overall all of the gloves detailed completely match
our individual and personal requirements in terms
of Grip, Dexterity, and Comfort and many are even
touchscreen compatible should you wish to use them
in conjunction with your phone or other device (okay
I have my own phone now to test this, but I am after
all still a techno-luddite!). In my opinion they all offer
great levels of performance for a good price and what
more can a cash-strapped airsofter ask for?
However, once again the question of correct
fit for female shooters becomes an issue here!
Manufacturers… as more and more female players
start hitting the sites and games the Airsoft Action
team believe that you’d better start paying this some
serious attention! AA
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RED CELL
AEGs OF THE
COLD WAR
THE RED CELL CREW ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT DIFFERENT AEG AND GBB PLATFORMS THAT ARE
“GOOD TO GO” FROM THE BOX BUT WHAT’S THE SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO PERIOD-SPECIFIC
MODELS? WITH A LOVE FOR NATO MODELS FROM THE COLD WAR ERA, “THE CELL” HAVE PUT
TOGETHER THEIR FAVOURITES TO BRING IN THE FIRST OF THEIR “SPECIAL REPORTS”!
For some of you reading this, “The Cold War” is
just another part of history but for some of the
older members of the Red Cell crew, memories of
the later Cold War period - and the 1980’s specifically
- are the time when they were taking their first
tentative steps into the “military realm”, and their
knowledge of the weapons platforms, uniforms and
equipment used are still from first-hand experience!
The Cold War period (generally acknowledged as
the late 1940’s through to the start of the 1990’s) saw
some really profound changes in military doctrine,
with a move towards highly mobile, mechanized units
and fast-moving battlefield formations and equipment
moved along with the changes. The “Western Bloc”
was largely built up of (what became) the NATO
(North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries that
came together as an inter-governmental military
alliance to implement the North Atlantic Treaty, which
was signed in 1949. These countries allied to support
one another in face of external aggression and faced
off against the “Eastern Bloc”, which was led by the
Soviet Union and its Communist Party. At this time the
US supported right-wing governments and uprisings
across the world, while the Soviet government funded
communist parties and revolutions! As many fledgling
states achieved independence they became Third
World battlefields in the Cold War and emergent
national power-bases started to flex their muscles…
Focussing on the later years of the Cold War, an era
of “small wars” globally but thankfully one that never
saw the much-feared WWIII, the fighting soldier still
retained many trappings of their forebears from earlier
conflicts. Although there had been huge advances in
military gear and hardware, your average “grunt” was
still wearing belt-mounted load-bearing equipment
and carrying a big old battle rifle! This was the time
of the L1A1 SLR, the FN FAL and the H&K G3. SMGs
were still the issued weapon of support and special
operations personnel, although the US forces (and by
proxy their NATO allies) had adopted the M16 over
the M14 as pretty much a “one size fits all” solution.
It was still the time when “7.62” reigned supreme,
although moves were already afoot to standardise to
“5.56” amongst the NATO partners.
And these days, although some of the period gear
is becoming scarcer, there has actually never been a
better time to put together a “Cold War” loadout, as
virtually every one of the necessary weapon platforms
is available in 6mm form! To this end “The Cell” now
presents their personal favourites and, using a slightly
different format incorporating some history and their
“user comments”, we bring you, with the help of
“guest star” Frenchie (plus Bill and Jimmy playing
“Dress Up” - which we’ll come back to in a future
issue!), “Red Cell - AEGs Of The Cold War Special”!
L1A1 SLR
The L1A1 SLR was a British variant of the Belgian
FN FAL battle rifle, produced under licence and
adopted by the British Army as the L1A1 in 1954.
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The L1A1 SLR incorporated modifications developed
by the Allied Rifle Committee. The weapons were
manufactured by the Royal Small Arms Factory
Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms, Royal Ordnance
Factory and ROF Fazakerley. After the production
run ceased replacement components were made
by Parker Hale Limited. The SLR was designed using
Imperial measurements and included several changes
from the standard FN FAL. A significant change from
the original FAL was that the L1A1 operated in semiautomatic
mode only, the MOD stating that every
British rifleman was a trained marksman and would
only take single, well-aimed shots and that support
weapons such as the L4A1 LMG and L7A1 GPMG
would provide significant fully automatic fire as
needed.
The first run of rifles was fitted with walnut
furniture, consisting of the pistol grip, forward
handguard, carrying handle and butt. The wood was
treated with oil to protect it from moisture, but not
varnished or polished. Later production weapons
were produced with synthetic Maranyl furniture
(often referred to incorrectly as “Bakelite”), a nylon
and fiberglass composite. The Maranyl parts were
“stippled” with an anti-slip texture. In addition to four
lengths of butt, sized to suit individual users, there
was also a special short butt designed for use with
Arctic clothing or flak jackets, such as those regularly
seen in Northern Ireland. After the introduction of the
Maranyl furniture, as extra supplies became available
it was retrofitted to older rifles as they underwent
armourers maintenance, and this resulted in a mixture
of wooden and Maranyl furniture within units and
often on the same rifle. Wooden furniture was still
in use in some reserve units until 1989. The SLR was
officially replaced in 1985 by the L85A1 and by 1994
the L1A1 rifles were gradually phased out.
Bill: “I will sing the praises of the L1A1 SLR to
anyone who will listen, as it’s one of the rifles I learnt
to shoot with as a youngster, courtesy of Her Majesty’s
Armed Forces! The SLR has been seen in airsoft form
several times as both King Arms and the STAR Airsoft
Company issued a classic, semi-auto only version
of it with synthetic furniture; in fact, if you visit the
STAR website you’ll still find a picture of the original
model there! I was lucky enough to buy one of the
originals and even then it felt as if I were returning
to a younger life! Can I say that the re-released ARES
airsoft L1A1 SLR had been updated and upgraded?
Not really is the answer, as it feels and performs
just like my original STAR, but I can tell you that the
accuracy and performance are absolutely first rate;
the ARES SLR shoots like a laser, and the “wood kit”
version is simply drool-worthy!”
L2 STERLING
Speaking to many who served in the UK Armed Forces
during the 1980s, the thought of a Sterling brings
a kind of misty-eyed reverence, obviously returning
them to a very specific place and time in their lives.
Based on the Patchett machine carbine first produced
in the 1940s, the Sterling L2A1/C1 first entered
service with the British and Canadian forces in 1953
and was produced in the UK by the Dagenham-based
Sterling Armament Company. The Royal Ordnance
Factories also manufactured the Sterling purely for
the British Forces and over 400,000 were produced.
Going through minor modifications, the L2A2 and
finally, the L2A3 had a long and distinguished service
career until it was finally phased out in 1994, when
the L85A1 was fully introduced. There was also a
suppressed version of the Sterling, the L34A1, which
was used to some effect by the ASASR and NZSAS
during the Vietnam War, as well as by UKSF and even
the Argentinians during the Falklands War.
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COLD WAR SPECIAL
ARES L1A1 SLR
Price: iro UK£470.00 (£560.00 Wood Version)
Age: Two Years
Weight: 3900g
Length: 1160mm
Magazine Capacity: 120, Hi-cap available
Cold Chrono: 1.24Joule/366fps
Hot Chrono: 1.31Joule/377fps
Taclite Compatibility: Zero - and all the better for it!
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW (but a
bayonet is better!)
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk
S&T STERLING L2
Price: iro UK£320.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 2850g
Length: 490 - 680mm
Magazine Capacity: 110 and that’s your lot!
Cold Chrono: 1.10 Joule/345fps
Hot Chrono: 1.11 Joule/347fps
Taclite Compatibility: Nope!
Suppressor Compatibility: Not a chance!
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
CYMA CM.009C MOSFET EDITION (M16)
Price: iro UK£125.00
Age: New
Weight: 2640g
Length: 998mm
Magazine Capacity: 160, will accept all STANAG/AR
Cold Chrono: 109 Joule/344fps
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Taclite Compatibility: No again!
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
LCT LC3A3 (G3)
Price: iro UK£400
Age: New
Weight: 4410g
Length: 1026mm
Magazine Capacity: 140, Hi-cap available
Cold Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps
Hot Chrono: 1.04 Joule/336fps
Taclite Compatibility: Nada!
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
LCT LK-33A2
Price: iro UK£450
Age: New
Weight: 4080g
Length: 929mm
Magazine Capacity: 300, Mid-cap available
Cold Chrono: 0.91 Joule/314fps
Hot Chrono: 0.91 Joule/314fps
Taclite Compatibility: Mmmm… No!
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
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UMAREX MP-5
Price: iro UK£290.00
Age: New
Weight: 1635g
Length: 465 mm (675 mm Full Stock)
Magazine Capacity: 30 - Mid/Hi-caps are available
Cold Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340fps
Taclite Compatibility: Dedicated Forestock can be
mounted
Suppressor Compatibility: Dedicated
Supplied By: www.landwarriorairsoft.com
KING ARMS FN FAL
Price: iro UK£300.00
Age: Old!
Weight: 3300g
Length: 970mm (“Para” variant)
Magazine Capacity: 90, Hi-cap available
Cold Chrono: 1.0 Joule/328fps
Hot Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps
Taclite Compatibility: Nope.
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
TOKYO MARUI UZI
Price: iro UK£200.00 (original price!)
Age: VERY OLD!
Weight: 1800g
Length: 470/655 mm
Magazine Capacity: 40 (220 Hi-caps were available)
Cold Chrono: 0.63 Joule/262fps
Hot Chrono: 0.64 Joule/264fps
Taclite Compatibility: Hmmmm, possibly not.
Suppressor Compatibility: VERY dedicated!!!
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
JG STEYR AUG A1
Price: iro UK£100.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 3200g
Length: 809mm
Magazine Capacity: 300, Mid-cap available
Cold Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps
Hot Chrono: 1.03 Joule/333fps
Taclite Compatibility: What do you think… NOPE!
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
TOKYO MARUI FAMAS
Price: iro UK£200.00
Age: New
Weight: 2900g
Length: 757mm
Magazine Capacity: 60, Hi-cap available
Cold Chrono: 0.74 Joule/283fps
Hot Chrono: 0.74 Joule/283fps
Taclite Compatibility: Not a hope!
Suppressor Compatibility: VERY dedicated!!!
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
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The Sterling was a simple beast, that’s for
sure. Many who used it in anger described it as
the “scaffold gun” due to the simplicity of its
construction. It was entirely put together from steel
and plastic with a curved, 34-round, 9mm SAA Ball,
side-feeding magazine and collapsible stock; the
latter made the Sterling perfect for vehicle mounted
and airborne troops where the lengthy L1A1 issued
at the same time proved to be unwieldy. The issued
Sterling was a carefully machined firearm in spite
of its somewhat rudimentary appearance, which
made it more expensive to produce than many of its
contemporaries but it was generally reliable and stood
up well to “squaddie abuse”.
James: “I first came across the S&T Sterling online,
from pictures posted by a friend who happened
to have attended the big show on Hong Kong. I
questioned him immediately and he was kind enough
to send me some video of the Sterling in action and
I was hooked from that moment on. Pictures were
taken and I began to circulate these quietly amongst
other friends who I knew shared my passion for
firearms of the Cold War and their reaction was
exactly the same as mine… WANT!”
Bill: “I love the Sterling but is the S&T version an
ideal skirmish-ready replica? I’d have to say that finally
we have an airsoft Sterling that absolutely is! The
components and the finish are superlative, although
personally I will eventually have the metalwork
reworked for that classic look, but the performance
is great. Overall, it’s a winner as far as I’m concerned
and as it has both semi and a safety setting, this
would make a perfect CQB tool. As I’ve recently
picked up the suppressed L34 there’ll be a review
coming on that in due course!”
M16
In the late 1950s, a (then) relatively unknown firearms
designer by the name of Eugene Stoner produced
the prototype of a new rifle called the “Armalite”.
Development continued through the 50’s until,
in 1956, it came up to Army specification using a
.222inch Remington cartridge with an improved
bullet. In July 1959 production of the rifle was licensed
to Colt and, later in that same year, production started
on the Colt Model 601. The bulk of the rifles went
to the US Military, with 8,500 going to the Air Force,
1,000 going to the Army for evaluation in project
AGILE and a handful going to the Navy SEALs.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s the way the
USA fought wars experienced a paradigm change,
moving from massed “force on force” set pieces to
“manoeuvre warfare”, with far more deployments
taking place on a smaller scale; troops became
mechanised and air mobile and the rifle they used
needed to reflect this. It needed to be smaller and
lighter in weight than the ungainly and heavy M14s,
L1A1s and G3s in use at the time by the US and other
armies worldwide. Engagement distances, especially
in the jungles of south east Asia, were decreasing and
the need for a high power 7.62mm was lessened.
After many trials and tribulations, the US Army finally
standardised an upgrade of the XM16E1 as the
M16A1 in 1967 and the Model 603/M16A1 remained
the primary infantry rifle of U.S. forces in Vietnam
until the end of direct U.S. ground involvement. It also
became the standard service rifle for all U.S. military
ground forces after it fully replaced the M14 service
rifle in 1970.
In March 1970, the USA recommended that all
NATO forces adopt the 5.56×45 mm cartridge, and
this shift represented a change in the philosophy of
the military’s long-held position about calibre size. By
the mid-1970s other armies were looking at M16-style
weapons systems and indeed, there is much evidence
of the “M16” in various guises being used by UK and
other European forces during the Cold War period.
In fact, the “M16” became a kind of “de riguer”
weapon for SF units across the globe and British
Forces, such as the Royal Marines, liked the “M16”
series (in reality more likely to be Colt export models
such as the 711 and 715), as did the SAS from their
time in the jungles of Borneo.
The M16 was the most commonly manufactured
5.56×45 mm rifle in the world and, at its height, was
in use with fifteen NATO countries and more than 80
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countries worldwide! Numerous companies in the
United States, Canada, and China have produced
more than 8,000,000 rifles and variants on the
original pattern and it is alleged that some 90% are
STILL in operation!
Iggy: “I started my airsoft life with a TM MP5 (a
dream choice from seeing one on the cover of a Janes
book of guns!) when I was 14 but when I grew big
enough I hurried to buy a TM M16 Vietnam! I had
it for 14 years and got it rebuilt upgraded and had
Hobbs, sprayed it in tiger camo, the lot, and I loved it.
Sadly it had to go before I emigrated to Australia…”
Bill: “Airsoft replicas of US “period-specific” rifles
and carbines has become better and better and with
the current drive in technology in relation to internals,
they actually perform excellently too these days!
Externals have also improved, with many re-enactors
that I know owning AEGs and GBBs because they are
just “right” and you’ll see many of them at shows like
War & Peace or Military Odyssey. Although I’ve owned
many “period ARs”, the full length M16 has never
really been my preferred model. That said, most of the
Cold War airsoft players I know revel either in the role
of the lowly “grunt” or some form of “SF”, where “Mr
Colts Best Girl” is most definitely their favourite choice
and thankfully now there are many excellent models
to choose from!”
G3
The “Automatisches Gewehr G3” was a 7.62×51mm
NATO battle rifle, developed in 1956 by the German
armament manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K)
in collaboration with the Spanish state-owned design
and development agency CETME (Centro de Estudios
Técnicos de Materiales Especiales). Germany bought
the manufacturing license for the CETME rifle and
transferred it to Heckler &Koch, who slightly modified
the CETME design and, in 1959, the Bundeswehr
adopted the CETME/Heckler & Koch rifle under the
designation G3 (Gewehr 3 – Rifle, “Model” 3). From
1959 to the current day the G3 has served, in different
variants, as the issue rifle not only for German Armed
Forces, but also for many other countries.
Initial production of the G3 rifles differed
substantially from more recent models; early rifles
featured closed-type mechanical flip-up sights
(with two apertures), a lightweight folding bipod, a
stamped sheet steel handguard, a wooden buttstock
(in fixed stock models) or a telescopic metal stock.
Before delivery to the Bundeswehr, each G3 went
through functional checks, zeroing the sight line
and undergoing a shooting test at the factory. In the
process, five shots were fired at a target at 100 metres
with particularly accurate sighting-in ammunition.
Although several companies were involved on the
production of the rifle, in 1977 the West German
government ceded ownership of G3 production
and sales rights exclusively to H&K. The rifle proved
successful in the export market, being adopted by the
armed forces of over 40 countries. The G3 was (and in
some cases continues to be) produced under license
in France (MAS), Greece (Hellenic Arms Industry),
Iran (Defense Industries Organization), Luxembourg
(Luxemburg Defense Technologie), Mexico, Myanmar,
Norway (Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk), Pakistan (Pakistan
Ordnance Factories), Portugal (FBP), Saudi Arabia,
Sweden (FFV), Thailand, Turkey (MKEK) and the United
Kingdom (Royal Ordnance).
Boycie: “The G3 was one of my first skirmish rifles.
I think it appealed to me as it was a little like an SLR,
with its big mag, decent length barrel and “cool” look.
Even though it was a long rifle, it was still quite easy
to swing about and employ in CQB back in the day at
the famous Lightfighter Urban site in Sheffield.”
James: “With the current “Airsoft Trend” towards
close quarter encounters in “urban” settings, I
could say that anyone choosing a full-length,
1026mm/4.5kg “battle rifle” had gone in the wrong
direction, but I think I’d be lying! “Sunday Woodland
Skirmishes” are every bit as popular as they have
always been, and for this setting a G3 can be
absolutely devastating. For me this would be an AEG
to use in a DMR role though, where picking your
shots and accurately achieving them is of paramount
importance.
“Overall, the features are excellent as these days a
G3 will come with a full steel construction, and the
upper can accept any standard claw mount for optics
intended for use on a G3 or MP5. The rifle also has
a comfortable, slimline forend and the furniture is
available is either black or green (the issued colours).
With high quality externals, scrupulously achieved
internals and extreme attention to detail, the airsoft
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G3 is a strong, reliable rifle for those interested
in something with a definite history, and that is
stunningly different from most AEGs out there!”
HK33
Along with the G3, Heckler & Koch also began
developing new firearms for military and police use
and in 1968 introduced the 5.56mm HK33 assault
rifle series. Essentially a re-scaled G3, the HK33 was
produced in several different variations, including
a fixed stock (A2) and retractable stock (A3) rifle,
a carbine (HK33K) with either a fixed stock (A2)
or retractable stock (A3), and a “Scharfschutzen
Gewehr” (sharpshooter rifle) with a bipod, precision
trigger and telescopic sight, known as the HK33SG/1.
A licensed US-made copy by Harrington and
Richardson (called the “T223”) was tested in combat
by the US Navy SEALS during the Vietnam War and
the HK33 was also extensively and favourably tested
by the French Army in the 1970s. Mostly for political
reasons, the French Army adopted the FA-MAS
instead of the HK33 and the Bundeswehr also showed
no interest in changing from the 7.62mm G3 they’d
invested heavily in. Nonetheless, the HK33 did very
well internationally for H&K. The rifle was adopted
by the Brazilian Air Force, the Chilean and Ecuadoran
Marine Corps, the Thai, Turkish and Malaysian armed
forces, as well as law enforcement and military units
in more than 40 other countries including the US and
the UK. Standard magazines for the HK33 series were
25- and 40-rounders made of pressed steel.
Bill: “I’ve always personally fancied an “HK33” to
add to my collection and thankfully LCT have provided
a really good one now. As a Brit it’s an important
model to me, as it’s believed that “The Regiment”
used the HK33KA3 carbine variant for close protection
duties, usually keeping the rifle in their vehicles,
so it sits perfectly alongside my SLR, Sterling, and
Browning! Given the “real-like” feel, the quality and
the outright “BB performance” of the LCT, this is most
definitely a rifle to own and cherish. If you like a bit of
“old school” that’s just a bit different, then you really
should get your hands on an HK33!”
MP5
During the early to mid-1960s it became apparent
to security forces worldwide that the rise in terrorist
atrocities was a trend that they had to counter and,
for this reason, many police and military units started
the hunt for a lightweight, accurate, pistol calibre submachinegun
(SMG). The Germans, of course, had a
bit of a history with SMGs and “machine pistols” and
two companies, Carl Walther Waffenfabrik in Ulm-an-
Donau and Heckler & Koch (H&K) GmBH in Obendorfam-Necker,
were at the forefront of the development
process. Initially, the Walther MPL and MPK (basically
a long and short version of the same firearm) seemed
to have the edge, as the design was already finalised
in 1963. In 1964 though, the first designs of the MP5
from H&K started filtering through - and the rest, as
they say, is history.
H&K looked at the successful G3 rifle designs and
then adapted things so make use of the 9×19mm
Parabellum pistol cartridge. The MP5 was created
within this group of firearms and was initially known
as the HK54. First created in 1964, the H&K MP5
was developed as a pistol-calibre, blowback operated
roller-locked member of the H&K weapons system
and in 1966 it was officially adopted by the German
Federal Police, border guard and army special forces.
In repeated and exhaustive testing the MP5 has
proven capable of firing more than 30,000 rounds
without a single stoppage or parts failure and it is not
uncommon to find MP5s still serving with in excess
of 500,000 rounds through the original barrel and
receiver! Still regarded of as one of the most reliable
and effective submachine guns in the world, the MP5
has become the choice of the worlds’ most famous
elite anti-terrorist, special operations and special law
enforcement organisations.
Stewbacca: “I had a whole array of MP5 AEGs
from various manufacturers back in the UK. When I
was still playing with the J-Team (and basically arming
the whole team), me and my flatmate acquired four
different MP5 AEG models. These included a Galaxy
MP5k and MP5k PDWs, a JG MP5J and MP5A4 (all
of which I tended to lend to the ladies due to their
lightweight and the fact they looked pretty badass
wielding them) and I’d make use of the “WMag”
high-cap magazine units to avoid the need for
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reloading as such. These ready-made twin MP5
magazine stuck together set ups were basically a
single manufactured unit which allowed you to fill BBs
by pushing the fake rounds of the left side forwards
to gain access to the hopper, then winding the wheel
across the bottom of the unit to feed up the right
column.
“These all worked excellently for the most part,
providing a lightweight, simple and fun solution
for new players or physically smaller ones and the
magazines were great as a no fuss way of carrying
and feeding as much as 500 rounds in something that
added to the realism. Eventually my friend managed
to strip the gears of the MP5A4 but aside from that I
never had any issues with any of them.”
Stu: “MP5… possibly one of my faves. TM/JG/CA/
Cyma, I’ve run at least one of each make! Sliding and
fixed stock. SD fore-ends, tac versions (jubilee clip,
M4 RAS section) even fitted a real H&K slim foregrip.
I loaned a JG MP5 to a mate who’s own highly tec’d
m4 had lunched itself; he was highly sceptical of
said MP5, until he returned it to me later. He was
somewhat at a loss to see how cheap-soft MP5 had
rinsed his M4! My only grumble was with the external
HOP slide adjuster, but a bit of tape usually solved
that. Of them all, I’d say the CA B&T SD was my
favourite, accurate, pointable and an excellent range.”
Boycie: “I’ve loved a few models of MP5 over
the years. Being compact and giving the ability to
carry plenty of mags, 100rd Mids or 50rd Lo Caps
depending on the game and my mood at the time,
it’s a super, compact, lightweight platform. A big
advantage was that I could use the M4 closed
pouches to hold 4 x MP5 mags and this saved much
profanity when considering the need to change over
mag pouches to better suit each platform format!”
FN FAL
The FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger) has to be one of
the most pictured rifles of the Cold war Era after the
Russian AKM. The first FAL prototype was completed
in 1946 and it was designed to fire the intermediate
7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge developed and used by
the forces of Germany during World War II. After
testing this prototype in 1948, the British Army urged
FN to build additional prototypes, including one in
bullpup configuration. However, after evaluating the
single bullpup prototype, FN decided to return instead
to their original, conventional design for future
production. Designed by Dieudonné Saive and Ernest
Vervier and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale
d’Herstal (FN Herstal), it might truly be said that FN
created what is possibly the classic post-war battle
rifle!
There are many, MANY, variants based on
the original FAL design and they have also been
manufactured with both light and heavy-barrel
configurations, with the heavy barrel intended for
automatic fire as a section or squad light support
weapon. Most heavy barrel FALs are equipped with
bipods, although some light barrel models were
equipped with bipods and a bipod was later made
available as an accessory. During the Cold War it was
adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) countries, with the notable exception of the
United States. It is undoubtedly one of the most
widely used rifles from the period, having been used
by more than 90 countries, and it’s STILL seen to this
day!
Bill: “Although I own a number of RIFs that are
completely correct for the 1980’s I decided that I’d
really like to create something a bit unique for a
“merc” role, so set about researching what weapons
that were most popular with them and of course,
other than the venerable AK there was one that really
jumped out - and that was the FN FAL, so a FAL it had
to be! Luckily my initial search for an airsoft variant
led me to an old King Arms FAL with a battery and
four Mid-Cap magazines for £100; a bargain that
has proved to be a formidable shooter! King Arms
have always been known to look at some of the more
esoteric historical weapons in airsoft form and there
has been much talk about the re-introduction of the
FAL AEG line, which encompassed a number of FAL
variants. Although I’m yet to see any solid evidence of
this at retail I can only hope it is, or will be, true, as I’d
dearly love another full-length one brand new from
the box as it’s actually a darn good AEG!”
UZI
The Uzi is such an iconic firearm! Uziel Gal, the
designer, did actually crib a few features from the
Jaroslav Holecek-designed Czech ZK 476 (prototype
only) and the production Sa 23, Sa 24, Sa 25, and Sa
26 series of submachine guns, namely in relation to
the open-bolt, blowback operation. What truly makes
it unique though, was the fact it was designed when
Israel stood alone and was produced entirely in that
country!
The Uzi was made primarily from stamped
sheet metal, making it less expensive per unit to
manufacture than an equivalent design machined
from forgings. With relatively few moving parts, the
Uzi was easy to strip for maintenance or repair. The
magazine is housed within the pistol grip, allowing
for intuitive and easy reloading in dark or difficult
www.airsoftaction.net 53

RED CELL
COLD WAR SPECIAL
conditions, under the principle of “hand finds hand”.
The pistol grip is fitted with a grip safety, making it
difficult to fire accidentally.
Initially, the Uzi came with a wood stock with a
metal buttplate and three variations of this were
used by the IDF. In 1956 IMI developed a downwardfolding,
twin-strut metal stock with two swivelling
sections that tucked under the rear of the receiver
- and the “look” of the Uzi that most will recognise
was born!
Since its introduction in 1954 the Uzi has been
exported to over 90 countries. Over its service lifetime
it has been manufactured by Israel Military Industries,
FN Herstal and other manufacturers. From the 1960s
through the 1980s, more Uzi submachine guns were
sold to more military, law enforcement and security
markets than any other submachine gun ever made.
Bill: “Although I’ve had other airsoft Uzis over
the years, such as the Guarder-enhanced WA/KWC
CO2 “Mini”, these have come and gone and the
TM is the only model that’s been with me for the
duration. I love it to bits and these days I’m extremely
careful with it as I know if it breaks, parts are now
almost impossible to find. It is a super little AEG,
sturdy as anything and even after many moons (and
a few services) still manages to raise an eyebrow
with other players when I (very!) occasionally take it
out to a game and they see just how good it is. Like
many of you, I too hope that Tokyo Marui (or some
other capable manufacturer who may read this!)
might re-release this little gem; I’d have another in a
heartbeat!”
James: “Introduced at the back end of 1998,
the TM Uzi was a long-awaited replica that proved
an immediate hit with airsofters around the globe.
With an EG1000R motor and a completely unique
V5 gearbox and piston design, the Uzi also offered
a small amount of recoil/blowback vibration for
added realism - which TM christened “the recoil
shock system” - and to this day the end result is quite
unique! Like Bill, I hope that someone produces a new
airsoft Uzi and that it’s as good - and as much fun - as
the old TM!”
STEYR AUG
The Steyr AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56×45mm
military rifle, which was originally developed and
designed in the 1960s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH
& Co KG. The AUG (“Armee Universal Gewehr” or
“Universal Army Rifle”) was adopted by the Austrian
Army as the StG 77 (Sturmgewehr 77) in 1977 to
replace the 7.62×51mm StG 58 automatic rifle (a
licence-built FN FAL) and became the standard small
arm of the Austrian Bundesheer and various national
police units. Designed as a family of rifles that could
be quickly adapted to a wide variety of roles (with the
change of the barrel to a desired length and profile),
the AUG is a modular configuration and employs a
high level of polymer and advanced alloy components.
The primary variant of the rifle, designated the AUG
A1, consisted of six main parts: the barrel, receiver
with integrated 1.5x telescopic sight made by
Swarovski Optik, bolt and carrier, trigger mechanism,
fiberglass-reinforced polyamide 66 stock and
magazine.
Many believed the AUG rifle to be revolutionary
in many respects when it first appeared but, in fact,
the AUG is a clever combination of the various
existing ideas, assembled into one sound, reliable and
aesthetically attractive package. Since its inception
the AUG gained great popularity, being adopted by
the armed forces of Australia, Austria, New Zealand,
Oman, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Ireland and some
others. It was also widely purchased by various
security and law enforcement agencies worldwide,
including the US Coastguard. The Steyr AUG can be
considered probably the most commercially successful
bullpup assault rifle to date.
Stewbacca: “Ah… the AUG! I acquired one from
a teammate which I believe was a JG, the AUGA2
civilian style in black with the rail. I always quite liked
the handling and feel of the dual stage trigger and
the long internal barrel offered excellent performance;
I’ve always been a fan of bullpups!”
Chris: “The Steyr AUG is a later addition to my
collection but one I sit and think “Why on earth did I
not pick one up sooner?” I’ve owned two for about
four years now (ASG and JG) and I’ve fallen for the
platform hard. The ergonomics, the modularity and
the general classiness of a design that must have
seemed out of Sci-Fi at the time of its conception,
but still holds its own against any modern firearm
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RED CELL
COLD WAR SPECIAL
design like the FN2000. Being Bullpup it’s very much a
Marmite gun, either you get on with the bullpup style
or you don’t, but I especially find the AEG versions
well balanced, fairly light (unlike various L85s - yes,
I’m looking at you ICS) and pleasantly comfortable
with no sharp angles to snag on kit or woodland
foliage.
“Modularity is a massive plus of the AUG as, with
a flick of a switch, you can change barrels and with a
push of a pin you can change uppers, so having one
gun for all situations is absolutely a plus. With 3D
printed parts now available that turn it into the 9MM
version it just adds a little “something different” to a
collection. If you haven’t had the chance to pick up an
AUG yet I suggest you do.”
FAMAS
The FAMAS (Fusil d’Assaut de la Manufacture d’Armes
de Saint-Étienne or, in English, “Assault Rifle from the
Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory”) and known by French
troops as Le Clarion (The Bugle) due to its distinctive
shape, saw service for many years! Operational
conditions proved the weapon to be reliable and
trustworthy and gave rise to its long service life.
Development of the bullpup FAMAS began in 1967
under the direction of General Paul Tellié and the
first prototype was completed in 1971, with French
military evaluation of the rifle beginning in 1972.
However, developmental and manufacturing delays
meant that the final model was not delivered and
issued to French troops until 1978.
to rely on the FAMAS F1 as their primary rifle. The
successful design remained fundamentally unchanged
from what it was originally and the legendary but
old-fashioned FAMAS finally bit the dust in 2017, with
French troops now being issued the Heckler & Koch
HK416.
Stewbacca: “At the dawn of time, when the world
was still young, there was only Marui and Classic
Army. They were the best of times. They were the
worst of times. Excel were the only BBs, and 3,700
BBs in a bag seemed like hard currency. All batteries
were NIMH or NICD, Lithium was the stuff of Star Trek
- and the FAMAS was the bestest gnu!”
Frenchie: “To hold the Marui FAMAS F1 is the have
a piece of airsoft history in your hands. It was the very
first electric airsoft gun (AEG), it featured adjustable
hop up and the Version 1 gearbox is - and remains -
unique.
“The problem with history is that it gets left behind
and although the FAMAS had a silly rate of fire in
its time, it will seem a bit tame these days. Range is
also an issue, that hop unit may be adjustable but
it’s not the most efficient and the very uniqueness of
the gearbox militates against meaningful upgrades.
Churning out a modest 250 feet per second
approximately, the ability to add another 70 fps would
make a significant difference. And it creaks! That big
plastic foregrip where the battery lives isn’t particularly
stealthy.
“But… I love them so much I have owned SIX of
them over the years. They have a good weight, not
too heavy; the bipod is useless in the field because
it can’t be slewed but great in the safezone for
keeping the gun out the mud. Finally, the gun is
stupidly reliable. I don’t know if Marui still produce
these, probably not, it would be nice if they would
give it a much-needed upgrade but I doubt they
will. France has moved on and adopted the HK 416,
understandably, but good though the 416 is, it will
never be as cool as the “Clarion”. Vive le FAMAS!” AA
This rifle served, without its fair share of
complications, through until 1994 when the FAMAS
G2 was developed to comply with NATO standards by
accepting standard NATO magazines. The French Navy
purchased the FAMAS G2 in 1995 and issued it to
their Fusiliers Marins and Commandos Marine but the
French army refused to purchase the G2, preferring
www.airsoftaction.net 55

COVERT
BOOT
BLACK / BROWN / TITANIUM
/ SRP: £49.95

FEATURE
AIRSOFT PROPS
SETTING THE
SCENE:
SETS AND
PROPS
WITH THE FIRST “OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENT” OF HIS MISSILE LAUNCH SYSTEM NOW WELL AND
TRULY UNDER HIS BELT, JAMES TURNS TO THE MORE GENERALISED USE OF “SET AND PROPS”.
THIS IS WHERE IMAGINATION MEETS REALITY, AS HE EMBARKS ON A NEW SERIES OF ARTICLES
INVESTIGATING HOW THE CORRECT USE OF “SCENE SETTING” CAN TURN A GOOD AIRSOFT GAME
INTO AN AWESOME ONE!
Themed games have been around for a long while
in airsoft and add an extra layer of immersion
and excitement to the player experience.
Whether it be WWII, Cold War, or even scenarios
based on video games such as Tom Clancy’s “The
Division”, finding the right loadout look beforehand is
all part and parcel of the “fun” when attending these
events.
Whilst the players are busying themselves getting
their loadouts perfectly in theme though, what of
the game play environment? This is where the use of
props and even sets comes in to get the event location
looking as good as the player’s loadouts and, when
done right, can make for a truly memorable event for
all!
All that said, it doesn’t have to come at massive
cost to event organisers and simple ideas are often
best. Smaller props can be made for specific objectives
within the event; for example, for a Task Force sent
to recover items from an aircraft, one item hot on list
would be a Flight Data Recorder. The one pictured
was easily repurposed from an old avionics module,
purchased from eBay second hand for £10. A quick
spray orange, some hazard tape and a couple of
custom ordered “Flight Data Recorder” vinyl decals
and good to go for under £20.
The second example pictured shows the original
unit displayed in a museum; the red “Self Destruct”
unit is an original from the WWII and was used in
the “Chain” home radar stations around the coasts
of the UK. In the event of a German invasion, the
operators could destroy sensitive equipment to save
it falling into enemy hands. The second picture is
the home-made version (awaiting lettering at time
of publication), has been made from an empty
aluminium junction box, some metal “sauce dip” pots
“OTHER SMALL DETAILS ALL ADD TO THE EFFECT, WITH OLD BROKEN LIGHT FITTINGS
AND BENT MESH AND, AS MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE OLD SCRAP, THIS KIND OF SET
PIECE CAN BE MADE FROM OLD BITS YOU HAVE LAYING AROUND, KEEPING THE COSTS
DOWN.”
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SEPTEMBER 2021

FEATURE
AIRSOFT PROPS
and push buttons found online. This unit will fit in
perfectly at a FOB or command post and can be wired
to electronic Mk5 maroons for in game purposes.
When it comes to larger set pieces, the first
example is a
“CERA Medical
Post” as featured
in “The Division”.
This entire set
piece came in at
less than £100;
the principle
material is blue
tarps to make the
rear walls, the
decontamination
tunnel is made
from PVC pipe
and clear plastic
dust sheets, with
a UV strip light
sourced online.
The camping
put-up bed and
some home-made
missing posters
and biohazard
signs all add to
the immersion.
Biohazard waste bags are available from pharmacies
and online and a building site flood tower gives
the impression of a city without power running on
backup. This area could be used in game as a capture
objective or make a very cool respawn point.
Sticking with the video game theme this month,
the second example is a “Rustion Coffee” shop, as
featured in “The Last of Us”. This area was used just
as background for some of our AA pictures a while
back and is made from a 2.5 x 1.5in CLS frame and
MDF boarding as the walls. A mix of artificial and real
plants give the “abandoned” vibe along with spray
paint, broken conduit, plastics and paint effects. Other
small details
all add to
the effect,
with old
broken light
fittings and
bent mesh
and, as
most of the
items are
old scrap,
this kind of
set piece
can be
made from
old bits you
have laying
around,
keeping the
costs down.
What I’ll
be aiming
to do in
the coming
months is
to show
you how
easily an
objective,
room,
or even
area can
be created quite cheaply and easily to really add
“gravitas” to any scenario. It may be something small
and simple like the Flight Data Recorder, or something
on a larger scale altogether, but by adding props - and
even entire sets - to your game scenarios, you’re going
to give everyone a far more “immersive” experience
and a game that will be remembered and talked
about for years to come! Watch this space! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 59

TECHNICAL
KEEP IT CLEAN
KEEP IT
CLEAN!
OWN A GBB PISTOL OF SOME DESCRIPTION? WE BET YOU DO! ANY SELF-RESPECTING ‘SOFTER OWNS
AND USES FREQUENTLY A GBB PISTOL BUT OWNING ANY GBB PISTOL REQUIRES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
MAINTENANCE, SOMEWHAT MORE THAN AN AEG. IN THIS INSTALMENT OF “TECH”, JIMMY COVERS HOW
TO GO ABOUT LOOKING AFTER YOUR PISTOL, WHETHER IT BE OUT OF THE BOX OR HEAVILY USED. ARE YOU
SITTING COMFORTABLY? IF SO, HE’LL BEGIN…
It can be a real let down (and sometimes infuriating)
having to swap to your secondary only for it to
fall flat on its face in your hour of need, letting an
opponent get the drop on you and giving you that
“long walk” back to the Safe Zone, can’t it? However,
much of the time, a pistol failing to do the job is
primarily down to lack of maintenance. I’m not about
to start pointing fingers but some people might not
understand the importance - nor even how to - go
about basic pistol maintenance and this month I’ll
pass on a few tips for those that don’t know. Some
pistols require a little more love than others and one
thing you will need to become familiar with is how to
strip your pistol.
For basic maintenance you don’t need to be
stripping it down to every single component but
knowing how to separate the slide from the frame
is a must in order for you to clean and lubricate
it effectively. Most pistol’s takedown is relatively
straightforward, by way of a lever or a frame pin.
When it comes to maintenance everybody has their
preferred method and likes to use their favoured
products, which is absolutely fine as there’s more than
one way to peel a potato and there’s a wide variety of
products available (each claiming to be “the best”).
When it comes to new pistols, I like to remove
the slide and do away with the heavy thick grease
commonly used by manufacturers. Grease should not
be used on any part of a pistol. No grease? I hear you
ask …correct, no grease! While grease is a lubricant,
it is thick and heavy and can slow your pistol down,
even making it inefficient. A good oil or lubricant is
far better to use as it is much lighter and it allows
everything to move easier with less effort, making
your cycle time quicker and maintaining gas efficiency.
So, with an out-of-the-box GBB, I will clean and
remove as much grease as possible and lubricate only
the places that are needed.
For example, when it comes to any contact points
between the slide and the frame, you don’t need a
lot of lubricant. With a good oil, a few drops properly
placed properly will go far. My choice of oils/lubricants
are GHK silicone oil and Maglube oil. Both are very
good lubricants and perfect for use on all aspects of
your pistol and can be purchased fairly cheaply.
GETTING DOWN TO IT
Here is my process for cleaning and lubricating my
pistols:
I start by cleaning any old oil or grease from
the slide, inside the rails and around the blowback
housing and nozzle using cotton buds, as they can
reach the smaller areas and they are inexpensive.
Next, I will inspect my barrel and hop rubber to
check for any grime down the barrel and check for
wear on the hop rubber. I also look for any signs of
lubricant on the hop rubber. Contaminants on your
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TECHNICAL
KEEP IT CLEAN
hop rubber will have adverse effects on accuracy and
range.
Using a cleaning rod and small squares of cotton
t-shirts which I cut up myself (old t-shirts of course!)
I then clean the barrel. It may take three or four goes
before your barrel is clean but repeat the process
until the wipe comes out clean. For this I use either
isopropyl alcohol, or Zippo lighter fluid. The trick
here is to clean the grime from the barrel and leave
it oil and grime-free, while being mindful at all times
of your hop rubber. Try not to push the rod too far
as you may damage your rubber. It’s amazing the
difference a simple clean of the barrel makes on both
range and accuracy.
Once you are happy that your barrel is clean, turn
your attention to your mag. Your pistol is nothing
without an efficient mag. Using a cotton bud with
some oil on, wipe around the release valve (the oil
helps to pick up any debris) making sure there is no
dirt or dust around the valve, as this could cause
problems when the knocker strikes the valve to release
gas.
This next step isn’t vital but it’s something I do to
be sure the BB can feed up the mag and that the mag
follower doesn’t jam. By removing the feed lips on
the mag, I then remove the follower and the spring
followed by the base plate and, using another cotton
bud with some alcohol, I clean the channel from top
to bottom, ensuring no contaminants are present. Grit
and dirt can get into your mag and jam BBs. Give the
spring and the follower a wipe over with some rag
or workshop towel. All of these sections should be
free of obstructions and contaminants as this
can cause feeding issues and any oils will be
picked up on your BB and then sent through
the barrel.
At this stage we now have three sections of
your pistol cleaned and ready for oil but before
you do this inspect your pistol, check for any
signs of wear, check for any breaks or cracks.
If you see any screws or grub screws just give
them a check making sure they are tight, along
with the gas valves; release and fill and just
check they are tight.
with the condition of things, now is the time to get
the lube out (ooh matron!) if you have ever seen
Evolution’s “there’s always time for lube” …sorry got
a bit distracted there!
With the oil we don’t want it dripping out
everywhere, we just want to administer enough in
the areas needed. So, the railed sections on both the
slide and the frame, add a few drops at points you
know are contact points. Next add a drop or two on
the disconnectors, pull back the hammer if you have a
hammer and add two drops to the hammer and sear
contact point and (if you can get to it) add two drops
to the valve knocker; also draw open your nozzle and
add a drop or two onto your piston o-ring. At this
point you can replace your slide and by hand, cycle
the slide a few times so that the oil becomes evenly
distributed.
Next is the mag and the only point on your
magazine to add oil is around the release valve; two
drops should suffice and one drop on the fill valve.
I mentioned about a hammer. Some pistols aren’t
hammer action but, instead, are known as strikerfired;
Glocks for example. With the slide removed you
can see pretty much all of the action, so look for any
point of pivot or component contact and just add a
drop in these areas.
I believe this concludes the process of basic pistol
maintenance.
Always remember that a well-maintained pistol is a
happy pistol! Look after your gear and your gear will
look after you. Now get out there and enjoy taking
down your opponents! AA
TOOLS FOR THE JOB
If you plan on regularly maintaining your
pistol(s) yourself, I highly recommend investing
in some valve tools. These make life much
easier than trying to do it with ill-fitting
screwdrivers.
After the inspection and you are happy
www.airsoftaction.net 61

VORSK DIARY
DIARY UPDATE
VORSK:
DIARY UPDATE
SINCE THE “VORSK PROJECT” STARTED, BILL HAS BEEN KEEPING DETAILED NOTES AND A RUNNING TALLY ON THE
EXISTING MODELS TO SEE HOW THEY PERFORM OVER TIME AND ALTHOUGH SOME STILL HAVEN’T YET SEEN A GAME
DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS WE HAVE ALL FACED, HE CONTINUES TO GIVE ALL THE MODELS, INCLUDING THE LATEST
RELEASES, A VERY HARD TIME ON THE RANGE IN HIS WEEKLY SESSIONS!
VORSK just keeps on rolling, even during the global
pandemic when others faltered and what a joy it is
to have access to each and every one of the new
models as they are released! Some of you may think that
VORSK is “just another GBB pistol brand” but I have to tell
you that if it is, it’s most definitely in the very, very top tier
and giving some of the brands that have been with us for
longer a REAL run for their money!
VORSK now encompasses not only the superb pistols
themselves, but now also high-grade BBs and even “Fuel”!
The BB ranges comprise 5 styles, across 8 weight classes,
with 6 different size options, resulting in 96 unique
products that come beautifully and precisely packaged!
Instead of being forced to buy over 3,000 BBs for each
desired weight, VORSK’s new, smaller container sizes allow
you to buy exactly what you need: 2,000 .25g and 1,100
.25g Tracer BBs for your AEG? No problem! A small bottle
of .36g for your DMR? Easy! The convenience of having
smaller bottles gives the ability to carry them onto the field
to match your choice of primary, with the 2,000 BB bottle
fitting nicely into a 40mm grenade pouch. VORSK’s range
of Bio-Degradable BBs is broad to say the least, as .20g to
.43g BBs are on offer, as well as Bio BBs infused with Tracer
Green for those night-time battles!
And it has to be said that the VORSK team do
know a thing or two about gas airflow mechanics and
performance! Born from a desire to fine-tune their replicas
with their own in-house formulation for improved shotconsistency
and gas efficiency, they have worked with
leading Airsoft Gas manufacturers to produce their own
“GBB Fuel”: V6, V8 & V12. At its heart, VORSK “Fuel”
is a propane-based mix with Silicone lubricants and
treatment additives, formulated at a ratio designed to give
you enhanced FPS and better felt recoil. The silicone and
further additives provide protection to the GBB platform to
maintain its performance shot after shot.
I was kindly sent test samples of the three new “fuels”
and found that they do indeed have a profound effect on
performance levels. Using a VORSK Vengeance pistol with
three separate VORSK 23BB Hi-Capa magazines, we first
vented each mag to ensure it was empty. Using VORSK
.20g performance BBs we then topped off the mags to
the extent of their 23BB capacity and filled one each with
V6, V8 and V12 fuel. The results were immediately obvious
just given the difference in “kick” between each magazine
and this was borne out by the means calculated after each
magazine was emptied (they all emptied on one single gas
fill):
• V6 = 0.99 Joule/327fps
• V8 = 1.09 Joule/343fps
• V12 = 1.22 Joule/364fps
The V12 is fabulous if you want a big “kick” but may
put some pistols over the site limit, so you have been
warned! All three “fuels” have been designed specifically to
give optimum performance from your VORSK pistol and I’ll
be using it in my testing as the “Diary” continues to fill!
RUNNING TOTAL TIME!
All of the models have now had thousands of BBs
through them, far more than any of the other pistols in
my collection and the slides and frames have been lubed
after each range session. Magazines have been checked,
serviced and seals/o-rings inspected to ensure continued
performance. This is not in any way a negative, as any
GBB magazines should be checked and serviced regularly
(as Jimmy outlines in his article this month) and this is
something that is a matter of routine for me.
The first models to enter my little “test program” were
the EU18s and the Hi-Capa 4.3s. I’ve been running the Hi-
Capas until now on NUPROL 2.0 gas, using .25g RZR BBs
and the chrono still settles well at 1.01 Joule/330fps with
62
SEPTEMBER 2021

VORSK DIARY
DIARY UPDATE
a .20g BB. The pistols have now had over 8,000 BBs down
the barrel… Accuracy is excellent and appears to have
settled at 10m but that, of course, could be put down firmly
to the skill of the user! The Hi-Capa 4.3s really are superb
GBB pistols but I’ve FINALLY had to replace the battery in
the RDS… Jeez, I thought that was never going to run out!
The EU18s also continue to rock and the muzzle wear I
noticed on the slide of the grey RDS version seems to have
stopped, so now I know it was indeed just down to the
sharpness of my Kydex as it’s not appeared anywhere else.
I continue to run the EU18s on the suggested NUPROL 2.0
and still have experienced no major issues with consistency
of power; apart from replacing one set if feed lips they are
all good to go for a while longer. The action of both pistols
has retained the smoothness that was apparent when they
first arrived with me. I’ve now logged in excess of 7,400
RZR. 20g and .25g BBs through the pistols and thus far
the “long-termers” are still performing as new at 10m on
steels and on the Attack Sense Smart Target System, with
solid accuracy at that distance. The EU18s have registered
highest at 0.78 Joule/290fps on a .20g RZR, settling in at
272fps and staying there. I’ve found that now they’ve has
settled in they like .25g RZRs best.
The first model of what I called at the time “the second
coming” was the Hi-Capa 5.1 Split Slide and oh
my, what a super pistol this is; the more I use it,
the more I love it! It’s the slide that makes all
the difference on this pistol and, as I suspected,
that Split Slide design, which means only the
rear half of the slide actually moves (dovetailing
beautifully with the fixed front half), means
there is far less weight moving, making gas
usage massively more efficient and the cycle
time meaningfully less when it comes to
taking follow-up shots. The
5.1 Split Slide has
performed very
well
over
5,000
BBs at
10m on
steels
and at
5-10m on
the Attack
Sense
Smart
Target System using
.25g RZR BBs. In terms of the chrono,
things have
now settled with it recording nicely
in the mid-320’s on .20g BBs.
Okay, the VX-9 “Hitman” duo!
This is STILL an awesome pair of pistols anyway I look
at them and I do look at them regularly, as they are
gorgeous! The finish on these has stood up very well
in use and the woodwork and rubberised panels inset
to frame are still looking great! I personally still prefer
them “sans suppressor” but the effort that went into the
extended inner barrel and the “suppressor” is becoming
more and more obvious as they have a profound effect on
performance too. I’ve continuously tested the pistols with
(and without) the extensions over some 6,000 BBs each,
and using NUPROL 2.0 gas and RZR .20g BBs I still get a
consistent chrono of 0.72 Joule/280fps without extension
and 1.07 Joule/340fps with!
The Vorsk VP-X nails the
“Punisher Pistol” look perfectly
but of course, looks are not
everything and as cool as
the VP-X undoubtedly looks,
that’s backed up by quality and
performance in testing so far.
Vorsk tell us regularly that “all of
our pistol designs are passion
projects” and the VP-X is no
exception to this rule. A full metal
construction with an anti-porous,
electrostatic finish means that the
VP-X is standing up to my abuse
so far and as it inevitably wears
it’s going to look great as it does
so! With 3,200 BBs down the
barrel on the short 10m range
the VP-X performs flawlessly on
Nuprol 2.0 gas, and using RZR
.20g BBs it chrono’s with a pretty
darn consistent 0.94 Joule/319fps
even when it first comes free of
the holster! Accuracy is great too,
as it easily rings the steels at both
5 and 10 meters on .25g RZRs!
Coming to the newest model
in the test pool, using NP 2.0
gas and the new .20g VORSK
Precision BBs, from the box the
VENGEANCE chronos consistently
at 0.98 Joule/325FPS after 1,400
BBs. The pistol feels great, cycles
smoothly, has a super recoil
impulse. The flared magwell and
extended magazine base plate
help with swift changes when
you run dry and with the red
dot fitted it’s supremely easy
to track from target to target if you’re
shooting plates or spinners. I’m not alone in
running the VENGEANCE, as Jon has also added
one to his “practical armoury” and thus far it’s serving
him very well on a regular basis!
So, things continue to move along and to date all of the
original pistols are cranking along sweetly! Performance is
still great on the older models and the newer ones continue
to raise the bar each and every time! I’ve just got hands on
the new VP-26X and have started testing on this to report
fully in Issue 130, but my initial impression is “WOW!” -
not just in terms of performance, but also in the uniqueness
of its “look”. So watch this space for ongoing updates on
VORSK as there’s a LOT more to come! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 63

armoury
ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA
CHALLENGER IN
NAME...
...CHALLENGER
BY NATURE!
64
SEPTEMBER 2021

armoury
ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA
FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS JIMMY HAS BEEN LABOURING BEHIND THE SCENES TO BRING US
THE LOWDOWN ON NUMEROUS INNOVATIONS AND AIRSOFT ADVANCES IN HIS REGULAR “TECH”
COLUMN BUT NOW WE’RE LETTING HIM OUT OF HIS SPECIAL DARK ROOM AND INTO THE LIGHT OF
DAY AS HE LANDS HIS FIRST EVER REVIEW IN AA AND TALKS ABOUT A NEW HANDGUN MODEL FROM
ICS THAT TICKS ALL HIS BOXES!
I
think it’s safe to say that the Hi-Capa pistol in airsoft
is to date one of, if not the most popular handgun
platform out there - and it’s most certainly the
most upgradable pistol on the market. For me it has
become a pistol I know I can rely on and therefore it
is also the most used pistol in my collection. With so
many manufacturers all producing their own “take”
and all claiming them to be the best, I can imagine
that to create something better and to have it stand
out in the crowd would be quite a challenge, plus
you would need to create something none other
has. It is my personal opinion that the mighty TM are
the producers of the finest Hi-Capa pistols and to
compete with such a name would need something
special indeed.
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!
ICS have now brought something very new - and very
special - to the table with their new “Challenger”
and it has honestly got my juices flowing! It comes
in my favourite colour (black) and although I feel it’s
a bit too glossy (and would look amazing in a matte
finish!), that doesn’t detract from what is inside, or
its superb performance. It is the first of its kind to
come out of the box with an R-hopped stainless-steel
barrel, making it quite the beast. The ergonomics of
the pistol feel “just right” and it sits nicely in my hand.
It really is a nice design but then I’m not surprised, as
this is ICS we are talking about. But it isn’t ICS alone,
as internally Master Mods have had their chance to
work in some rather lovely components. You may
remember a few issues back I had the immense
pleasure of reviewing some new Master Mods internal
parts and I loved them. There is almost a heavy scent
of Japanese cherry blossom about this pistol, as it
has been designed with TM spec and compatibility in
mind.
This new pistol, as the name says, is a “Challenger”
and will indeed challenge other manufacturers to be
this good and I do think it could easily follow the in
the giant footsteps of TM. It is a first for me to see
an out-of-the-box pistol adorned with so many great
features, features no other manufacturer are fitting as
standard!
BOX FRESH
The pistol is presented in a simple “picture” cardboard
box, which I was a little unenthused about if I’m
honest. It would have been nice for such a pistol
making such a statement to come in a nice hardcase
but that doesn’t reflect on the pistol itself and again,
is just my personal opinion. I just feel the presentation
deserves “more”. At first glance it looks like a
competition pistol and you know what, it feels like a
competition pistol! ICS have made it so you can either
run open sights or easily attach a RMR of your choice
on the pre-fitted RMR plate and even with a RMR
fitted the slide had no trouble cycling.
The grip is a nice size, fitting neatly in my large
hand, although, sadly, there is no stippling on the
grip but it does work well with or without a gloved
hand and it sits at a comfortable angle. The grip
also sports a large flared magwell for swift, precision
changes. The mag itself is a Hi-Capa style and I can
confirm it does fit and operate in both TM 4.3 and 5.1
pistols and vice versa. The magazine capacity is 30BB
which you’d expect from any Hi-Capa, and where
some struggle to empty a full mag this beaut empties
with ease and locks back on every last BB. Gas
consumption would see one and a half mags emptied
before it wouldn’t cycle enough to load the next BB;
it’s full metal so this is to be expected, as it takes more
gas to move a heavy slide.
The trigger pull is completely adjustable, thus
allowing for fine tuning and for a personal feel and
at its shortest its just over 1mm before it fires, which
“INSIDE THERE ARE SOME SUPERB FEATURES WHICH I HAVE NEVER SEEN IN AN
OUT-OF- THE-BOX PISTOL, SUCH AS THE R-HOP BARREL, TDC HOP UNIT, FIXED HOP,
STAINLESS TIGHT BORE BARREL. THESE FEATURES COMBINED MAKE FOR A VERY
ACCURATE PISTOL WHICH WILL ALSO OUT-RANGE MOST STANDARD NEW AEGS …AND
THAT’S NO EXAGGERATION!”
www.airsoftaction.net 65

HI-CAPA
• TDC Hop-Up Chamber
(Compatible with TM spec)
• MASTER MODS R-Hop System
• REVO.II High Performance Valve System
• Steel made fire control system components
(Compatible with TM spec)
• SUS301 Stainless Steel Searing Spring
(Compatible with TM spec)
• Adjustable Trigger
• RMR & DOC Mount
• 3-dot Luminous Sights
SAR 9.II
BLE-XMK
BLE-009-SB-2
SMART TACTICAL
BLE-010-SB
MARK X
BLE-010-CB

armoury
ICS CHALLENGER HI-CAPA
makes for fast follow-up shots. Inside there are some
superb features which I have never seen in an out-ofthe-box
pistol, such as the R-hop barrel, TDC hop unit,
fixed hop, stainless tight bore barrel. These features
combined make for a very accurate pistol which will
also out-range most standard new AEGs …and that’s
no exaggeration!
Due to the Master Mods R-hop and barrel it can
lift a heavy weight BB with ease and there was a nice
little note on the slide telling you to use 0.30g BB.
I have never seen an unmodified pistol lift anything
heavier than a 0.28g BB effectively, so I was amazed
when the first few BBs span off into the distance to
a point I lost sight of them! Don’t panic though, as
you’re not forced to use 0.30g as there is a separate
hop rubber included for a lighter-weight BB should
you choose to run lighter.
The Master Mods TDC hop unit is very well made
and can be adjusted using the allen key provided,
which allows for very finite tuning. Because ICS have
made certain parts TM compatible I just had to see it
for myself and the hop unit does definitely fit in the
competitor and works incredibly well. I did manage
to fit the outer barrel in a TM slide but it was a tad to
tight for it to cycle, so I gave up with that!
Also, as previously mentioned, the mags are TM
compatible, so if you own a Japanese Hi-Capa you
don’t really need to buy anymore magazines. Included
in the box are a suppressor/tracer adaptor which
allows the use of 14mm attachments; I tested with
an Excoretech XT301 and it worked fine and cycled
perfectly. Also included is a little spring guide locking
tool which makes life very easy for you should wish to
remove the spring and guide (which I really like and
have never seen before).
Let’s now look at a few specs shall we?
• Overall length of the pistol is 220mm
• Barrel length is 113mm
• Mean muzzle velocity is 0.95 Joule/320fps on
0.20g
• Gross weight is 962g
• Mag capacity is 30 BBs
ICS have built most of the body using high-grade
aluminium, which keeps the weight below the 1kg
mark but have opted for a more robust steel for the
fire control system, making it incredibly tough and
much more durable than others who use cast alloy.
You can rest assured it’s going to last and SUS301
stainless steel springs have also been used to give
superior spring power and longevity.
Here is a list of the awesome features for this
fantastic new pistol:
• TDC Hop-Up Chamber (Compatible with TM
spec)
• MASTER MODS R-Hop System
• REVO.II High Performance Valve System
• Steel fire control system components
(Compatible with TM spec)
• SUS301 Stainless Steel Searing Spring
(Compatible with TM spec)
• Adjustable Trigger
• RMR & DOC Mount
• 3-dot Luminous Sights
• Steel CCW 14mm Barrel Adapter, Sight Cover
Plate, Reverse Plug Retention Clip
Before closing I will tell you that I tested all of my
holsters with the Challenger and unfortunately it
would not fit any of my hard case holsters. However, I
can confirm it does fit in the Warrior Universal Holster
and the Viper Universal Holster. No doubt once the
Challenger hits the shop shelves there will be all
manner of holsters cropping up but to be clear, it does
not fit in CCCP, Nuprol, or Ammomax holsters.
I really do feel ICS have hit the proverbial nail right
on the sweet spot with this pistol. The only thing I
could be critical over was the glossy finish, so all in all
they have produced something that I believe is going
to bode well with many an airsofter and I predict they
will sell out very fast, faster than hot cakes! If you are
looking for a high-level contender which offers superb
performance, I recommend you take a look at the
new ICS Challenger pistol - if you buy one, you WILL
be the envy of many!
Our sincere thanks go once again to our good
friends at ICS Airsoft for sending over the sample
of the new Challenger for test and evaluation and
you can be sure that we’ll continue to test this new
pistol and report back when we do. For regular news
from ICS be sure to check out their busy social media
channels or go direct to www.icsbb.com AA
www.airsoftaction.net 67

RELOADED
WET FORCE EU17 CUSTOM
WHEN CUSTOM
COMES AS
STANDARD
STEVE T CHALLENGES HIS GLOCK PREJUDICES WITH A CUSTOM MODEL TO SEE IF MOST AIRSOFTERS
HAVE IT RIGHT, MOST OF THE TIME, AFTER ALL...
Yes, I see you, Glock aficionados. I see your Gen
3/4/5 knowledge and raise you an I-don’t-givea-damn.
They’re all just so blocky-Glocky that
unless you really want to run a standard issue sidearm,
they’re easy to dismiss. Even the Gen 5 update
amounts to little more than a finger-bump delete and
beveled edges to the slide. Hardly ground-breaking
now, is it? But maybe that’s the point.
The real arms manufacturer has done very well
out of incremental upgrades - thank you very much
- as well as a long history of blocking “Glocking” in
the airsoft world. But that eased recently in a trade
agreement with Umarex, which saw fully-licensed
Glocks finally reach the airsoft market, manufactured
by long-term makers VFC.
Which is great. Unless you a) don’t rate VFC, or
b) don’t want to pay extra for the licence. And while
we think the latest range of Umarex/VFC Glocks are
brilliant, we can understand why you might look for a
more affordable alternative. Check out our very own
Red Cell roundup from the November 2020 issue for
more Glock options.
WE ARE FAMILY
I really don’t think we need to recap the history
of Glock pistols, do we? Think of a military or law
enforcement situation in the last couple of decades
and the chances are that they use a Glock. That
explains why they’re so popular - omnipresent almost
- on airsoft fields today.
It is understandable that players want to replicate
the firearms they see in use. Many of the longestrunning
and most oft-recommended “Glock-a-likes”
at skirmish sites everywhere must be from WE.
Originally a TM clone, over the years, the Taiwanese
manufacturer has established a reputation for
affordability, reliability and parts availability whether
you want to repair, replace or upgrade its offerings.
But, to be honest, they do tend to be a bit…
vanilla. However, when an experienced new recruit
to my squad said how much she has loved her EU17
Custom over a couple of years, I felt obliged to
investigate further.
CUSTOM AS STANDARD
Yes, this is a Glock you can purchase new - just as I
did for this review. No, it isn’t “standard”. Unless you
qualify “standard” as supplied by the manufacturer, in
which case…
Just look at the thing! It’s basically a hundred
“I REALLY DON’T THINK WE NEED TO RECAP THE HISTORY OF GLOCK PISTOLS, DO
WE? THINK OF A MILITARY OR LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATION IN THE LAST COUPLE
OF DECADES AND THE CHANCES ARE THAT THEY USE A GLOCK. THAT EXPLAINS WHY
THEY’RE SO POPULAR - OMNIPRESENT ALMOST - ON AIRSOFT FIELDS TODAY.”
68
SEPTEMBER 2021

RELOADED
WET FORCE EU17 CUSTOM
quid all-in and looks like a completely custom pistol!
From the flared magwell and engraved slide to the
aggressive stippling on the grip and the red safetyscissor
trigger, there’s no mistaking this for a standard
Glock.
But it isn’t all about the looks. This is based on WE’s
platform that has been in use for years now and has
proven its worth in skirmishes everywhere. It’s high
time to see whether tried and trusted tech can match
newer releases with the latest trade markings to
match.
FLASH FORWARD
The WE EU-17 Custom will feel instantly familiar to
anyone that’s used the platform before - it just works!
Previous models may have lacked the flashier touches,
but it’s all based on the same old tried-and-tested
formula. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, after all.
This legacy system is still as effective now as it was
on first release. Umarex and VFC may have the rights
to the Glock trademarks now - and their later releases
feature a much more convenient hop adjustment
system too - but is this WE every bit their match in
terms of FPS and accuracy?
At the risk of deflating the build-up? No. It’s really
- REALLY - good but WE’s aging EU17 Custom just
can’t measure up to more recent releases. It’s such a
shame because it looks so Gucci. More “PMC with a
slightly sci-fi flair of the Mandalorian” about it. But,
as ever here at AA, appearance takes second place to
performance.
If first impressions count, then the WET Force wins
big. With its aggressively stippled Gen 3/4 grip, deluxe
trigger and cut-down slide, this feels like a sidearm to
be proud of from the moment you pull it out of the
ever-so-slightly-underwhelming cardboard box.
There are truly luxurious - albeit fictional - markings
on the slide, outer barrel, flared mag well and more.
This is not mil-sim territory but it doesn’t half look the
part of a sidearm for the very richest private operator
that any quarry would fear. The trademarks are
suitably specialist and don’t give the game away that
this is an airsoft replica at 20 paces.
PRACTICE MAKES NOT PERFECT?
Putting the luxurious EU17 through its paces,
we achieved two magazines out of each gas fill,
averaging 300FPS, which is about on par for a GBB
pistol. The high was knocking on the CQB ceiling at
349, with the lowest at 280 at the end of the second
full mag. The remaining dozen or so viable shots from
mag three averaged 250 FPS, which is exactly what
we’d expect.
The “fiber-optic” sights work really well and remain
clear to see even after dark. It’s easy to ignore the
functional safety under the barrel - unique to WE’s
airsoft incarnations - while the conventional Glockstyle
scissor trigger safety still works just great.
In terms of accuracy, the WET does… OK. With
the hop set for .25s at 25 metres, it hits an A4-sized
target more often than not. But with its wibblywobbly
outer barrel, this EU17 Custom is not the
match of other, more exacting pistols in the same
price range.
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: UK£109 (approx)
Weight: 820g, inc mag (tested)
Length: 202mm
FPS: 300 average (tested)
Hop: Adjustable
Construction: Metal/polymer
Full auto: No
Recoil: Yes
Power source: Green Gas
Magazine type: Metal/Polymer
Capacity: 25 rounds
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AFTER
ALL
I’ll readily admit that I’m not a Glock fan but I fell in
love with the officially licensed Umarex G19X by VFC
last year and I’d field one all day long. But it also costs
half as much again as this “Custom” model from WE,
which feels more special, while costing less.
If you want to wow people in the safe zone, then
the WET EU 17 is a safe option. It’s very cool and
works just fine. But I’d choose the officially licensed
version from Umarex as the better performer, despite
the additional cost - which as it turns out, is not just
for that expensive license after all... AA
“IF FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT, THEN THE WET FORCE WINS BIG. WITH ITS
AGGRESSIVELY STIPPLED GEN 3/4 GRIP, DELUXE TRIGGER AND CUT-DOWN SLIDE,
THIS FEELS LIKE A SIDEARM TO BE PROUD OF FROM THE MOMENT YOU PULL IT OUT
OF THE EVER-SO-SLIGHTLY-UNDERWHELMING CARDBOARD BOX.”
www.airsoftaction.net 69

ACTION AIR
PRACTICAL SHOOTING
PRACTICAL
MAGIC
IN THE FIRST PART OF YET ANOTHER NEW SERIES, JON “POSH” MILLS HAS STARTED HIS JOURNEY INTO ALL
THINGS “PRACTICAL” AS HE DOCUMENTS HIS FIRST STEPS INTO A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF AIRSOFT AND,
ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AA CREW, TAKES A STEP BACK TO “PROJECT PRECISION” AND SEES
HOW TRUE “AIRSOFT MULTIGUN” IS BEING LOOKED AT WITH FRESH EYES!
70
SEPTEMBER 2021

ACTION AIR
PRACTICAL SHOOTING
I
don’t
know
about
you, but
after several
years of
skirmishes
and MilSim
games, I
feel kinda
“meh”
about it
all. Having
run sites you
get to see the
underbelly and
sometimes it’s not as
nice as you would like. I
have met some amazing
people and forged some
lasting friendships that I’m truly
grateful for; I just need something more from
Airsoft…
I was always aware of IPSC and Action Air and
I’d loosely kept an eye on the situation but I’d never
really moved forward with it in any productive way.
That was until late 2019, when I purchased myself
a budget setup with the view to giving it a go. Then
Covid happened. In the real world, I work in Health
and Social Care so, as I’m sure
you can imagine, I was a touch busy and my focus has
been elsewhere. Now though, as we were due to be
released from the clutches of restrictions in the UK, I
decided to start looking at it again.
I’m not the first to express an interest in practical or
competitive shooting here at Airsoft Action. Bill likes
a bit of “Airsoft 3 Gun” and keeps going on and on
about it. Nige is, of course, intimately involved (and
very good friends) with the master Airsoft Surgeon,
Clarence Lai and the Airsoft Surgeon Championships,
plus we have our AA Legionnaire, “Stewbacca”, who
writes regularly about his escapades in the practical
shooting world. As a result, I have access to a wealth
of knowledge, individuals and experience from those
who are in the know.
That, though, is not a resource that I am going
to tap into! I want to try and explore the interesting
world of IPSC and Action Air under my own steam. I
want to do my own research. I want to discover and
experience all the wonderful and woeful elements for
myself, without being pre-warned or being given a
leg up. I want to buy the wrong kit, fail and fumble
miserably and learn what’s needed. I want to put in
the training and learn from my mistakes. I want to
enter a competition only to come last. That’s where
the fun is.
And so, I invite you to join me on a journey. A
journey that demonstrates just how terrible a shooter I
www.airsoftaction.net 71

ACTION AIR
PRACTICAL SHOOTING
am. A journey that demonstrates the pros and cons of
the IPSC and Action Air World. A journey that you can
walk – and, if you wish, shoot - with me. A journey
from the start.
I guess that the first question I should answer is,
what is Practical Shooting?
The UK Practical Shooting Association states: “The
dynamic marksmanship discipline of Practical Shooting
requires a blend of accuracy, power, and speed so that
you acquire a winning combination. The discipline
includes multiple targets, moving targets, targets
that react when hit, penalty targets, or even partially
covered targets, obstacles, and movement. These
all play a part in the challenging sport of practical
shooting”
…and “The idea is simple. The shooter tackles
competitive ‘stages’ requiring varying numbers
of rounds and using different shooting positions,
against the clock. The appeal of the sport lies in the
diversity of the courses of fire available to the shooter
– they are different for every match. Targets vary in
size, shape, position and material – metal, paper or
frangible – from a variety of distances (from 3 to 300
metres)”.
It’s worth pointing out that frangible targets and
300 meters are only for real steel shooting. Action
Air is using close range targets. In layman’s terms,
shooting at targets along a course, with the most
accuracy in the shortest time. Seems simple enough to
me. This is gonna be easy! (I’m predicting a “famous
last words” moment here).
Those of you not residing in the UK may not be
aware that we have some fairly strict rules relating
to firearms (especially pistols) and, as such, Airsoft
Replicas replace their real steel counterparts in the
IPSC recognised Action Air discipline. That’s what I’ll
be doing or, at least, trying to.
Finding out where to start is actually a bit more
difficult than you’d think. The UKPSA website has a
lot of information about the disciplines (most of which
are real steel) but it does mention Action Air and has
a link to the fairly weighty rulebook and oh boy, what
a rulebook that is! What it doesn’t immediately show
you, although I’m sure it’s on there somewhere, is
where you can go to do it. Back to Google I go. A
good search term is “Action Air UK” as this pinged
up a Facebook Group in the UK run by UKPSA and
“ACTION AIR IS USING CLOSE RANGE TARGETS. IN LAYMAN’S TERMS, SHOOTING AT TARGETS
ALONG A COURSE, WITH THE MOST ACCURACY IN THE SHORTEST TIME. SEEMS SIMPLE
ENOUGH TO ME. THIS IS GONNA BE EASY! (I’M PREDICTING A “FAMOUS LAST WORDS”
MOMENT HERE).”
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SEPTEMBER 2021

ACTION AIR
PRACTICAL SHOOTING
it has links to several related articles and one name
pops up again and again, “XSite Practical Shooting
Club”. They are the home of the UK’s ranked Action
Air afficionados, “the Wyborns”. Father Tim and two
sons Matt and Paul are very well known in the Action
Air circles with plenty of number one spots under their
belts.
BOOTS (OR TRAINERS!) ON THE
GROUND
XSite is a two-hour drive away from us but it’s the
nearest club to me so I had to pay them a visit. I took
Red Cell Jimmy along as he’s a super competitive fella.
Upon arrival we were greeted by Tim and the team.
Tim ran Jimmy and I through some history of IPSC,
Practical Shooting and Action Air.
Turns out it came from military and law
enforcement as there was a lot of friendly fire within
the various departments/units. This spurred a drive for
a more positive attitude toward safety and training.
Shooting at targets under a strict rule-set became
the norm and common practice. For example, your
pistol must always point down range, failure to do so
will result in disqualification from any competition.
Another rule that at first glance seems unnecessarily
harsh is that you must take your finger off the trigger
when you move more than a single step. When you
think about it, if you were to trip, fall or stumble you
could discharge the weapon and cause injury or worse
(remember, everywhere else in the world this sport
is done with real firearms). We were also shown the
basic targets and had the scoring system explained to
us. I’ll be honest, I’m writing this TWELVE hours later
and I’m still none the wiser.
So, after being bombarded with a huge amount of
information and safety we were called to the “Course
of Fire”.
A Course of Fire is a series of targets laid out in a
manner that requires you to move in a dynamic way
to hit them. Each target needs TWO shots and you
move through the course as accurately and fast as
possible. You’re given the opportunity to walk the
course a few times before starting. A range officer
asks you to “make ready” which is to load, charge
and holster your pistol. After that they call out and
a timer will beep within FOUR seconds. As soon as
it beeps you complete the course and hit a closing
target to end the timer.
I flew through my first run and was super proud
of myself. Turns out however I’d only hit the targets
once, not the required twice. That meant that with
penalties I scored a solid zero. It didn’t get much
better from there on. In fact, it took a complete
nosedive! We ran a couple more technical courses
over the rest of the session and I fumbled and failed
my way through. With that, the evening is over and
done with. Our scores were given. I came in at an
awesome last place. Jimmy came mid-table, beating
some of the regulars! That aside we had a great
evening and it was an awesome experience. I am
super-excited about this journey and next time will
talk about what kit you’d need to start, what class
that’d put you in and try to provide you with some
clubs that are UK based.
P-AMG THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS
After my first (pretty abysmal if I’m honest!) foray into
things practical, I got to thinking again. Fact is we all
love Airsoft. There’s nothing quite like running around
the woods with your mates on a weekend shooting at
each other. The laughs, the tales of kills, misses, epic
moves and friendly banter. It’s something quite special.
You might be interested in Speedsoft for that all out
adrenaline rush and attend a few competitions or
events. Then from there you might take the decision
to participate in something a little more immersive,
a BattleSim or a MilSim. It’s different, it’s tactical, it’s
cool.
For many, that’s more than enough but for some of
us, as I said earlier, something is missing. Some of us
crave the competitive environment but want a tactical
feel thrown in for good measure. So, where do you go
from there? IPSC Action Air is definitely an option and
one I will continue with and report back. It requires
training, it requires practice, it requires dedication
and its great fun. There is one drawback, however, it
doesn’t account for rifles and shotguns and longerrange
rifles. These are the staples of airsoft. They’re
the fun factor in our beloved sport and many will look
away from this awesome discipline because it, for
them, lacks something.
A good while back now, Bill wrote a column called
“Project Precision” and as usual he was well ahead of
the curve. Most of us are familiar with the John Wick
movie franchise, how it encompasses how most of us
like to see ourselves when we’re on the field. It’s fastpaced,
there’s some incredible Gun-Fu and of course,
Mr Wick is a total badass! But how did Mr Reeves get
there and gain those skills that he has or displays in
the movies? Well, he learned, amongst other things,
to become a competition level 3 Gun shooter and this
was the basis for “Project Precision” but using airsoft
and with a twist!
For those who don’t know, 3 Gun is a hugely
popular discipline of completing a course, again
with the most accuracy in the fastest time but this
www.airsoftaction.net 73

ACTION AIR
PRACTICAL SHOOTING
IMAGE FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCE
time using 3 Guns: Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun. A quick
Google search will show you just how popular a sport
this is around the world and there are some superb
YouTube channels dedicated to it. It looks awesome.
The only problem can be, again, those pesky firearm
laws. The pistol law for us in the UK specifically
prohibits us from being able to even participate in it
and, as such, is a very niche area of shooting sports.
Yes, there are some places offering it but it’s super
rare and really unachievable for many of us.
That’s where a new discipline that is now my
beloved brainchild (Bill helped a bit to be fair!) comes
in. For years Bill and I have chatted about wanting to
create an airsoft version of 3 Gun. Ideas were batted
around, many were canned but this idea eventually
grew and morphed into a 4 gun, or multi gun idea,
more specifically, Practical Airsoft Multi Gun (or
P-AMG).
So, what is P-AMG? Essentially, it’s an airsoft version
of 3 Gun plus a bit more. Competitors will navigate
courses of fire using a Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun, with
an optional Long Gun section added to the end. You’ll
be scored on accuracy and speed, with penalties for
misses and rule infringements. Safety is also a huge
part of P-AMG and competitors can be disqualified
from matches for relatively minor infringements. The
most positive and encouraging thing about P-AMG
is that you don’t need to run out and buy specific or
“MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE JOHN
WICK MOVIE FRANCHISE, HOW IT ENCOMPASSES
HOW MOST OF US LIKE TO SEE OURSELVES WHEN
WE’RE ON THE FIELD. IT’S FAST-PACED, THERE’S
SOME INCREDIBLE GUN-FU AND OF COURSE, MR
WICK IS A TOTAL BADASS!”
new equipment (you can if you want too though!).
Most of us have three out of the four platforms
already. This opens the sport up to pretty much
everyone that skirmishes and that’s the great thing. It,
alongside disciplines such as IPSC Action Air, will help
shine a better light on our much-loved airsoft, which
often gets a bit of unfair negative publicity (due to the
fact we actually shoot each other!). This, in my, and
our, opinion, is only ever going to be a good thing.
At the moment, rules are being written and
courses are being designed, so you won’t be able to
compete just yet but keep your eyes on forthcoming
issues of Airsoft Action Magazine and the website
for more information and potential event dates. In
the meantime, for more information about IPSC
Action Air, our man Stewbacca regularly writes
about his experiences in Taiwan and I’ll continue to
chart my personal journey, reporting from a newbie’s
perspective as I progress, so keep “eyes on” as we
start to explore yet another aspect of the joyous thing
we call “AIRSOFT!” AA
“AT THE MOMENT, RULES ARE BEING WRITTEN AND COURSES ARE BEING DESIGNED, SO YOU
WON’T BE ABLE TO COMPETE JUST YET BUT KEEP YOUR EYES ON FORTHCOMING ISSUES OF
AIRSOFT ACTION MAGAZINE AND THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND POTENTIAL
EVENT DATES.”
www.airsoftaction.net 75

RELOADED
KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2
CZECH MATE
AA’S “MAN IN TAIWAN”, STEWBACCA, TAKES A LOOK BACK AT HOW AND WHY HE ENDED UP USING
A KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2 FOR HIS ACTION AIR EXPLOITS.
I
have experimented at great lengths in Action Air
since my initial forays into it with my HK45 back
in early 2019, then joining team SPPT in Taipei in
February 2020 using my Glock 34 TTI, then switching
to the KWA USP Compact for my qualification in
March 2020, before trying out the WE M17 clone
for my first competition in April 2020 and eventually
settling on using the KJWorks CZ75 SP01 Shadow
for my competitive shooting efforts. However, my
teammate Ming came along to try out a session in late
May 2020 and brought his KJWorks CZ75 Shadow
2 along to use, as well as letting me try it out in the
practise stages. I found it more comfortable to use
than my current SP01 and it also seemed somewhat
of a tack driver in terms of accuracy by comparison,
from that point on it was only a matter of time before
I made the upgrade.
So, in August of 2020 I decided to invest in yet
another birthday present to myself and stopped off
at KIC Airsoft a few MRT stops away from home and
took home a shiny new toy to put to good use. The
advantage, of course, being magazine commonality
with the SP01 magazines I’d already had trouble
acquiring previously, as well as not needing to adjust
my IPSC holster, as the external profile of the two
pistols are largely the same.
WHAT’S NEW?
So what’s new? Why did the Shadow 2 capture my
interest over the SP01 I already had?
The handling of the Shadow 2 just feels faster
and slicker - the grip panels of the updated version
are far flatter than those of the SP01 with an overall
size of 28mm, versus the rounder footprint of the
SP01 grips at 35mm. While this might make it seem
smaller in terms of its overall circumference and
thus feel smaller in the hand, coupled with the more
exaggerated heel of the backstrap of the frame, I find
it actually fits better in the strong hand, sitting a little
higher and pointing a lot more intuitively. Also not
slewing around in the hand as much during firing and
movement due to the flat sides of the grips - making
it easier to put retaining pressure on - than the more
curved profile of the SP01’s grips. I really find it just
ends up on the target a lot more readily and shoots
and moves a lot faster as a result, while the inherent
accuracy advantage I found with Ming’s example
earlier in the year was still present in my own example.
The issues I found with the earlier SP01 had also
largely been addressed with the Shadow 2 - this
is unsurprising, as the real steel equivalent was
developed with feedback from competitive shooters
to ensure it handles more favourably in on-the-clock
use. The ambidextrous safety levers are much flatter
and lower profile to the frame, yet are still easily
controlled with the side of the strong hand’s thumb
with a sweeping motion enabling or disabling them
consistently if the safety is required. However, the
lesser emphasis on use of the manual safety in IPSC
relevant manual of arms obviously drove the decision
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KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2
to keep them out of the way of the slide stop/release
lever, which retains the same form of the SP01.
The magazine release is improved and enlarged
over the original SP01, with a greater overall footprint
that’s 3mm longer and wider than the original, as
well as squarer in profile and also 3mm prouder from
the frame than the original as well, thus making it
significantly larger and more easily actuated in a hurry.
I’ve personally found it much more helpful for speed
reloading.
The trigger is slightly re-profiled to make it flatterfaced
and further forward than the SP01, which
seems to make it more comfortable to actuate, as well
as slightly shorter to enable the bottom edge of the
trigger guard to be squared off without sacrificing the
indent at its rear that allows the strong hand middle
finger to ride higher into the frame. The front edge
remains fairly square vertically and retains the serrated
front surface of the SP01 for support hand grip if that
style of handling is preferred and likewise, the deep
scallops in the frame above the triggers are retained,
allowing the support hand to achieve the same thumb
drive grip or higher on the frame. The front and
back straps of the frame are also more textured than
those of the SP01, with all round meat mallet style
checkering that improves grip over the predecessor’s
thinner patches.
The top slide follows largely the same footprint,
although the serrations are much more pronounced
and coarse covering a longer area front and rear, with
the front sets being pushed closer to the muzzle end
and the top side faces of the slide being chamfered
more heavily and angled inward, as opposed to the
filleted and rounded off profile of the SP01. The slide
looks and feels more aggressive, as well as being
easier to manipulate during loading.
With the more slender frame and reduced safety
levers, I had to adapt my grip somewhat to make
effective use of the Shadow 2 as it lacks the thumb
rest shelf option that the SP01 larger safety levers
provided. Now I tend to point my strong hand thumb
upward in a more exaggerated fashion and rest its
inside edge against the lower profile safety lever.
The accessory rail on the underside of the frame
is slightly simplified, with only a single transverse
accessory retention slot present and moved further
rearward instead of the three found at the front end
on the SP01. While the front sight is slightly shortened
(but still features the collimating fibre optic style insert
to improve its clarity and ease of acquisition), the rear
sight is much improved and can not only be drifted
left and right for windage adjustment in its mounting
dovetail by loosening of the two vertical grub screws
that retain it, but also has a spring loaded rear block
that is held down by a flathead screw which can allow
fine elevation adjustments.
Only recently I finally got around to properly
adjusting these, having struggled with consistency
in previous months of training. Using heavier 0.3g
BLS ammunition and also switching to black rounds
to prevent me relying on visual tracking of my shots
instead of my iron sights as I should, my general usage
of the Shadow 2 had greatly improved. However, I had
a high left bias of shots which I eventually got around
to correcting by adjusting this rear sight properly and
now the Shadow 2 will carve out the “A” embossed
into the A zones of a cardboard target at around 10
metres.
OBSERVATIONS
The takedown procedure is largely unchanged; the
retention of the slide is still by way of the slide stop/
release lever and the slide must still be retracted
slightly to align the notch in its left rear portion with
the corresponding one on the frame. The reinsertion
of the stop/release lever can still be an issue due to
the hairpin spring as with the earlier SP01. The recoil
spring now includes an improved spacer buffer at
the rear end where it interfaces with the frame when
installed, however, remains a loose component rather
than a captured or unitised affair.
The magazines are basically identical to the SP01
offerings, aside from the profile of the baseplates
having slight indents in them which allow for stripping
forcibly from the magazine well should the need
arise, although again this is less of a concern in airsoft
pistols as the kind of failures or malfunctions that
necessitate such features in real steel pistols just won’t
occur. However, the magazines also suffer the same
cool down drawbacks as their earlier predecessors
and, along with having to use the hair dryer or
air heater unit methods to try and increase their
“WHILE THIS MIGHT MAKE IT SEEM SMALLER IN TERMS OF ITS OVERALL
CIRCUMFERENCE AND THUS FEEL SMALLER IN THE HAND, COUPLED WITH THE MORE
EXAGGERATED HEEL OF THE BACKSTRAP OF THE FRAME, I FIND IT ACTUALLY FITS
BETTER IN THE STRONG HAND, SITTING A LITTLE HIGHER AND POINTING A LOT MORE
INTUITIVELY.”
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RELOADED
KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2
temperature between rounds of shooting at training,
I have also resorted to purchasing CO2 magazines
more recently as well as a bulk box of 50 12g capsules
to enable me to make effective use of the Shadow 2
even in the cooler months here in Taiwan (where the
winters drop below double digit temperatures which
is enough to cause problems at times).
The use of CO2 definitely gives a noticeable
increase in slide recoil impulse and snappiness of
the action cycling, as well as a more visceral muzzle
report. In general, the whole experience using CO2
is much improved and each capsule can deliver
around 75 rounds consistently, thus allowing three full
magazine loads to be fired during more open practise,
or 5 loads in terms of stages where I am limited to
loading 15 rounds anyway due to production division
rules. Thus, they offer a very effective, reliable and
easily trusted manner of operation especially in
competitions when speed and dependability are
everything.
I made use of the two CO2 magazines I purchased
as my front line options for the most recent
competition (as featured in my Action Air article
in Airsoft Action Issue No. 125 - May 2021) and
they performed flawlessly. The only downside to
using them occurred immediately afterwards at the
next training session I attended. Even though I had
switched back to using green gas magazines as the
weather improved somewhat, I found that the outer
barrel had been overstressed and outright cracked
during one of my drills while doing individual training.
Evidently all that extra impulse from the CO2 usage
translated to greatly induced stress on the slide and
outer barrel. I imagine it was a result of the brass cross
pin - which retains the inner barrel floating within the
outer barrel and limits its travel - hammering against
the rear portion of the outer barrel at the limit of its
rearward travel during recoil, thus causing a crack that
propagated throughout the outer barrel and sheared
off the rear chamber section as a result.
Having pushed the Shadow 2 to breaking point,
I feel that this is not a terrible drawback given the
sheer abuse and tens of thousands of rounds it must
already have put down range. Most sessions entail
firing around 400-500 rounds including the individual
practise drills we do on our own and then running
through training stages or drills in turns as a team
later. The wear and tear on an Action Air competitor’s
pistols are immeasurably higher than your average
skirmisher.
This mishap put my Shadow 2 out of service for
a few weeks while I awaited replacement parts. I
bought a spare SP01 barrel from KIC thinking it might
be compatible, but they are in fact slightly shorter and
have a different profile to their locking lugs at the rear
end near the chamber which prevent them operating
properly in a Shadow 2. So I ordered two spare barrels
through Chris Leung at SPPT’s home training field and
we installed one, as well as taking a look at my double
action operation issue with my SP01 of my previous
review.
The new replacement outer barrels have been
redesigned to remove one side of the cutouts that the
brass retention pin runs in. I imagine this has been a
recurring problem with European users who favour
CO2 powered magazines for cooler weather and
thus have encountered fractured outer barrels often
enough for the feedback and warranty issues to effect
a design change on the part of KJWorks. Suffice to
say, the new outer barrel design looks less likely to fail
in the same manner and has a lot more meat left in it
by comparison and, hopefully, that will be the end of
this issue. To be fair, the only real one I’ve found with
the pistol so far and somewhat of an extreme case
due to the wear and tear I’ve imparted on it.
Magazine availability and reliability issues aside,
if you can forgive the more minor drawbacks of the
Shadow 2 and enjoy its improvements in handling
and appearance over the SP01, then it’s definitely a
more solid contendor than all of the other pistols I
trialled to get to this point. Despite my teammate’s
efforts to try and convince me to come over to the
dark side of fudd guns and race queen HiCapas,
you know I’m stubborn and don’t want to be like
everybody else. I’ll keep running my beloved Shadow
2 into the ground against the clock, eventually I might
stick a longer barrel, compensator and red dot on it
and run it in open then switch to my newly acquired
birthday pistol - a VFC Walther PPQM2 National Police
Authority (Taiwanese police standard sidearm) - to
run production class with a more typical style of carry
pistol.
Maybe... AA
“USING HEAVIER 0.3G BLS AMMUNITION AND ALSO SWITCHING TO BLACK ROUNDS
TO PREVENT ME RELYING ON VISUAL TRACKING OF MY SHOTS INSTEAD OF MY
IRON SIGHTS AS I SHOULD, MY GENERAL USAGE OF THE SHADOW 2 HAD GREATLY
IMPROVED.”
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RELOADED
KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2
www.airsoftaction.net 79

FEATURE
THE NEED FOR SPEED: PART I
THE NEED
FOR SPEED:
PART I
ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT SEEM THAT WE ARE ALL CONSTANTLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE “LATEST AND
BESTEST” INNOVATIONS THAT WILL MAKE OUR AEGS AND GBBS UTTER DEVASTATORS AND BRINGERS OF
DOOM, IN PART 1 OF A TWO-PART FEATURE, BOYCIE TAKES A LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE’VE COME FROM
AND HOW WE CAN USE THE SIMPLEST OF “FIXES” TO OUR BEST ADVANTAGE!
I
started my interest in airsoft in 1994, before that
building the LS pellet firing kits …and if anyone
of you calls me “grandpa”…! The progress of
engineering and design has risen stratospherically
since the first AEG “automatic electric gun” was
made by Tokyo Marui way back at the start of the
1990s! There were only one or two AEGs available
and after a few years it seemed that TM and Classic
Army were the only makers out there which were
regularly seen on skirmish sites.
Fast forward 30 years and FAMAS is no longer the
only AEG out there but it still is “the bestest gnu”,
as Frenchie and Bill so eloquently argue in Red Cell
this month. Nowadays though, we have a wide range
of manufacturers offering a vast range of replicas
and their own designs of RIFs. We can see things
ranging from a simple M4 or MP5, right up to the
Pulse Rifle seen in the Alien series of films. One thing
that perplexes me to a point though, is the apparent
“need for speed” within airsoft.
RISE OF THE MACHINE
We can liken the rise to modern levels of technology
to that of Formula 1. Players wanting to push for
every fps and cm of range they can get from a RIF
and, like in Formula 1, just because you have the most
expensive and technologically advanced equipment, it
doesn’t always mean you have the best kit on the day.
It also means you need to pay a lot of money for all
the “upgrades” needed to achieve those gains. You
can have a rifle firing bang on 350fps consistently and
reaching 70m to hit an A3 sheet of paper on a still
day - but come the weather and the effect on the BB
means you may not be able to hit the same target at
35m. Back in the day of EG700 type motors and 7.2v
batteries, the play style was more “spray and pray”.
One way to increase this slow rate of fire was to fit
“High Speed Gears”, which would bring the ROF up
to something half way between running an 8.4v and
9.6v battery on a standard motor.
Then Marui released the EG1000 motor and this
“YOU CAN HAVE A RIFLE FIRING BANG ON 350FPS CONSISTENTLY AND REACHING 70M TO
HIT AN A3 SHEET OF PAPER ON A STILL DAY - BUT COME THE WEATHER AND THE EFFECT ON
THE BB MEANS YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HIT THE SAME TARGET AT 35M.”
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SEPTEMBER 2021

FEATURE
THE NEED FOR SPEED: PART I
lump of a battery needing a lot of space to be stored
in the AEG. We’d regularly be shooting full auto all
the time and it wouldn’t be unknown to run 10 plus
x 450rd M4 or 600rd AK type magazines - and even
having to refill them - during a game. Ammo counts
back then for a day could easily reach 20,000 per day
and Excel was about the pinnacle of BB manufacture,
costing around £8 for a bag of 2,200. Nowadays, play
in the style of play I enjoy means a bottle of 3,300, if I
played each fortnight, could last me up to 3 months.
became one of the first “upgrades” we would fit to
our AEGs. Also around this time, 8.4v NiCad batteries
of around 1600MAh made of Sub C cells were the
norm. Some would even fit 10.8v or 12v batteries,
hoping that their rifle would last the day. I even
remember one guy using two 7.2v batteries to make
a 14.4v. Needless to say, the gearbox lasted a few
hundred rounds before it lunched itself but it was fun
while it lasted!
UPGRADES “OLD SCHOOL” STYLE
Back in the day, upgrades to the FAMAS would
be (maybe) running an 8.4v NiCad in place of the
recommended 7.2v and also cramming in the heaviest
spring possible and hoping the gearbox would last the
day. In the early days there were no adjustable hop
units, plethora of hop rubber compounds etc. It really
was mostly “plug and play”. Life was simple and we
didn’t even have any FPS limits!
Further progress came when Marui brought out the
EG1000 motor in place of the EG700 which was, for
the time, a huge increase in performance. That and
added to the more prevalent 8.4v NiCads and some
9.6v, 10.8 and even 12v batteries were beginning to
be seen. Back then the 9.6v (for example) was a hefty
Modern levels of technology and materials
performance mean that higher speeds, higher FPS and
range are achievable with pretty impressive reliability
from the lower end models. Pushing the envelope of
performance will always be the aim of some players;
this is great and should be applauded as without this
innovation the sport would still be using the same old
tech 30 years later. As with motor sport, there are the
top-flight formulas which are at the cutting edge but
also some people still enjoy racing the older cars like
in the Classic series.
www.airsoftaction.net 81

FEATURE
THE NEED FOR SPEED: PART I
Progress in any sport is inevitable but like in motor
sport, there are some of us “old school” players who
have evolved over time to be leading the charge for
innovation and engineering advances. But there are
still a number who like running “old school” type
rifles where, jokingly, FPS is known as “Faulty Player
Syndrome” and ROF is known as “Rate Of Fail”.
They don’t chase every fps that they can, it’s just fit a
battery, fill with BBs and play.
Don’t get me wrong, every facet of the sport (yes I
do regard it as a sport) has its place and I’m more than
happy to see “speedballers”, hard core MilSimmers,
Skirmishers and those who just don’t care that they
just pick up a pistol, put on their safety glasses and
go out bare chested, wearing shorts and boots. The
ultimate aim is to have fun, blow off cobwebs/steam
and go home to our families afterwards with a sense
of enjoyment in the time spent with like-minded
people. No one part of the “sport” is any better than
another, we can all co-exist, play and have fun. There
are specific events which have tighter rules on what
kit can be worn and used, but general open skirmish
days can find MilSimmers wearing accurate Military
Kit and replicas, playing alongside Speedballers
dressed in bright clothing, multi-coloured RIFs and
Dye Masks, and down to the new players using twotone
Ifs, to “rentals” who are trying out the sport for
the first time. To quote Shaun, who some old school
players will remember as “Eznugud”, co-owner of
Lightfighter Urban in Sheffield… “At the end of the
day you’re grown-ups, dressed as soldiers, playing
with toy guns.... Just how seriously should you be
taking it?”
I’m not, in any way, against innovation and
performance “upgrades” but my philosophy is to
buy a rifle, run it for a few game days then approach
how to improve parts of the performance to reach
what I need. Other players will buy an already quite
expensive rifle and then splash 1-2 times its value on
“upgrades” …before they even use it on site. That, as
well, is fine. It’s what they want to do with the budget
that they have available.
A lot of players who are either starting out or on
a lot lower budgets, don’t have the cash available to
spend £600 on a rifle and then another £600-800 (or
more) on upgrades, so this part of the article will look
at getting the most from what you have on a budget.
KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!
The thing I hear a lot from new players is: “I want
moooooaaar range!”
Well, for this you don’t need to throw hundreds of
pounds of parts into a RIF. The first thing I suggest is
to take the inner barrel and hop assembly out of the
rifle, take the standard inner barrel out and clean it
properly. This can be as simple as using the cleaning
rod and a couple of sheets of kitchen roll to clean the
inside of the barrel. Pulling it through until the kitchen
roll is clean. You can also dampen the cloth/kitchen
roll with some warm soapy water.
Once this is done and fully dry, the next thing to
look at is the hop rubber. Some manufacturers fit
hop rubbers to their rifles to suit their primary market
and with the ambient weather conditions this means
a harder rubber compound will work better, say, in
Taiwan than it will in a more temperate climate. For
the UK and much of Europe the “best” compound
for around the 1 joule (328fps) is a soft or 50 degree.
Before fitting the hop rubber it’s a good idea to clean
off the release agent from the inside of the rubber,
this will mean less time needed to “break in” the
rubber and get the best level of performance from it
more quickly.
I still hear from time to time, the old wife’s tale
that using a spray of silicone up the feed nozzle will
affect range. Well, yes it will - but only to drastically
decrease it! The whole idea of the rubber is to grip
the BB and help impart the spin which stabilises it in
flight. Putting silicone oil on the rubber will be akin
to pouring oil on a wet road surface. The more grip
you have on the BB the better. Fit the clean rubber
and bucking (now referred to as a “nub”) back to the
clean inner barrel and reassemble into the rifle. I find
it best to still run a few hundred BBs through the rifle
before the best performance becomes noticeable.
Next month we hand over this section to one of
our newest “Legionnaires”, Dan in the USA, to carry
things forward into more modern times, so stay
tuned, and look forward to some fireworks in Issue
130!. AA
Attribution: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gearbox_de_una_aeg.jpg
Licenced under Creative Commons 3.0
www.airsoftaction.net 83

FEATURE
COMMANDING AIRSOFT TEAMS
COMMANDING
AIRSOFT
TEAMS
WE HAVE ALL TAKEN PART OF UNIQUE AIRSOFT GAMES, WITH DIFFERENT STORIES, MISSIONS, SCENARIOS
AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN BUT, IN MOST CASES, THERE IS ONE THING IN COMMON AND THAT IS THE
FACTION COMMANDER; SOMEONE WILLING NOT TO PLAY SO THAT OTHERS CAN HAVE FUN AND ENJOY
THEMSELVES! BUT WHAT’S LIKE TO COMMAND A FACTION? WHAT DOES ONE NEED - AND WHAT ARE THE
MOST COMMON OBSTACLES? AA LEGION MEMBER MIGUEL OLIVERA, FROM PORTUGAL, GIVES US AN
IDEA…
Well, let’s talk about the obstacles first and
let me tell you straight away, except a few
extremely organized events where the
teams sometimes are hand-picked, it’s impossible
to prepare for everything. You will find teams that
you will see at the start of the event, they will
receive a mission or an objective and after that they
will disappear! There will be teams with no way
of communication amongst themselves, so when
they start going back to respawns it will be hard
to regroup with their own, so after that, they will
probably join other groups or wander off aimlessly
looking for their team. Sometimes the organization
can make mistakes, like handing out wrong
coordinates to objectives, placing mission items in
the wrong place or just giving information that can
have multiple interpretations and this may lead to
confusion. So, it’s important to keep in mind that
nothing will go 100% as planned.
Now let’s go over what one needs to command
a faction, or even a large team. The first and most
important resource that you will need is reliable a
communication line with your faction, this will be the
most important aspect of your “job”. Information
needs to be spread out, missions need to be handed
out and players need the feeling of an active chain of
command, so they don’t feel “lost” or “abandoned”
which could lead to demotivation.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a radio, phone calls or chat
apps, what’s important is to have a two-way system
of comms the whole game. I would recommend the
use of chat apps; everyone has a smartphone these
days but not everyone has radios, sometimes they
might not be within range and there’s always the
“IT DOESN’T MATTER IF IT’S A RADIO, PHONE CALLS OR CHAT APPS, WHAT’S IMPORTANT
IS TO HAVE A TWO-WAY SYSTEM OF COMMS THE WHOLE GAME. I WOULD RECOMMEND THE
USE OF CHAT APPS; EVERYONE HAS A SMARTPHONE THESE DAYS BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS
RADIOS…”
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COMMANDING AIRSOFT TEAMS
issue of many players in the same radio channel. If
you have access to the list of players before the event
I recommend grouping teams in sections, squads or
whatever you may call it, this way you can have a
couple of people (Squad Leaders) in charge of each
group, instead of having to command each individual
team or independent player.
One thing that might also help, especially at
larger events, is having a “comms officer”, someone
helping you handle radio chatter, phone calls or chat
apps. This way you can focus on other aspects of the
event, handle information and planning ahead while
not missing any important communications. These
are the bases of that you need to handle a faction,
of course games will differ, scenarios will vary and
the teams present will be wildly different from each
other. But with these bases you can adapt to each
challenge.
Of course, commanding factions has a lot
involved. You get to know a lot of teams and a lot of
players, learn how they play and which ones commit
to the event until the very last BB is fired. Of course,
if the event goes wrong it’s always the commander’s
fault, even when things go out of his control -
and I’ve learned this throughout the years while
commanding factions for many games. So I can say
that not every experience will go well, so it’s better to
prepare for it. But if you think you are up for it, take
the challenge!
You can keep up to date with Miguel’s airsoft
adventures, along with those of his “GHOST” teammates
via their regularly updated Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/GhostOpsPortugal. AA
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KIT & GEAR
LEATHERMAN STYLE PS
SOMETIMES
SMALL IS
BEAUTIFUL
FRENCHIE HAS WRITTEN ABOUT MULTITOOLS ON MORE THAN A FEW OCCASIONS IN AIRSOFT ACTION AND
THIS MONTH HE’S GOING TO ADD TO THAT GROWING PILE, BY TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT ONE OF HIS
FAVOURITES.
I
was given my Style PS as a gift; one I had requested as I was trying to reduce the weight of metal I was
lugging around daily on the off chance that I would be called upon to fix something. On the face of it, the
Style is rather limited but living with for several months has revealed just how damned useful and competent
it is. So, sit back and allow me to explain what it is and why it might be your best friend - both on and off site.
Leatherman appear to have designed the Style PS with travellers in mind and one eye of the styling of their
Skeletool. With the increased restrictions on what can (and cannot) be carried on flights since 9/11, anything
with a blade has been problematic unless it is in hold baggage. There are exceptions within the European Union
but since we no longer are, we’ll leave those aside. Consequently, the Style PS has no blade, which might seem
to be a bit of a deal breaker for many but the scissors it does have go a long way to outweigh any perceived
fault.
I’ll list the tools Leatherman claim for
this tool as it will help when discussing
what it can do:
1 Spring-action Needle nose Pliers
2 Spring-action Regular Pliers
3 Spring-action Wire Cutters
4 Spring-action Scissors
5 Flat/Phillips Screwdriver
6 Tweezers
7 Nail File
8 Carabiner/Bottle Opener
Assuming that most of you are familiar
with multitools, you will also be aware of
just how often one feature is described as
(Image courtesy of Leatherman Inc)
four, so this list isn’t wrong, it’s just a bit “advertise-y”. There are a set of sprung pliers which have a reasonably
narrow nose, a larger centre section and a wire cutter. That’s three separate tools according to Leatherman!
The carabiner has the weakest spring I have ever encountered and should not be trusted to secure your Style
to anything, the bottle opener should work fine though. I suspect the poor carabiner is a direct result of
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KIT & GEAR
LEATHERMAN STYLE PS
prioritising a functioning bottle opener.
Construction is predominantly bead-blasted
stainless steel with the screwdriver/nailfile housed in
a glass-filled nylon panel. I honestly don’t know why
this one part isn’t steel as well, but it’s all very robust
as is typical of Leatherman tools. The tweezers are
also housed in the nylon side plate, and they are as
tight as a tight thing celebrating Ultimate Tight Day in
Tightsville! You might lose a bit of nail getting them
out, but they do come out and work as well as any
tiny tweezers. Although all-metal, they are quite like
those found in a Swiss Army knife.
Closed, the Style PS is slightly under three inches
and weighs less than two ounces – it’s a “keychain”
tool. You aren’t going to loosen a stubborn barrel
nut with this but, as is often the case in airsoft, if you
need to remove an outer barrel, you have problems
that probably aren’t going to be resolved on site.
I appreciate that I’m possibly sounding far from
super enthusiastic about the Style PS thus far, so let
me redress that. Despite my cynicism this is a very
accomplished tool, one that I reach for every single
day, it is just so damned handy. Those pliers are not
going to win prizes for sheer strength but they are
easy to use thanks to the handle shape and the
spring action and perfect for holding or manipulating
small items one handed. To give you an example, I
have used them several times to hold a needle when
sewing bits of kit for the dog. Some of those leads
are made of really tough webbing and my fingers are
just not up to forcing a needle through it. I can sew
sufficiently well using the Style to grip the needle, not
something I could do with many other tools.
They happily cut wire and cable ties, and accepting
that they have limits because of their size, are largely
faultless.
The scissors probably get more use than anything
else and they are excellent. Victorinox are rightly
lauded for the quality of the scissors in their knives,
these are right up there. If you do a bit of searching
online, you will find lots of complaints about the
spring for the scissors breaking. The thing about the
internet is that it’s a bit of a time machine; content
that is many years old remains accessible along with
more current reviews and opinions. As best I can see,
all the stories about spring failures are from many
years back and there are few reviews mentioning
this as a problem these days. I have absolutely no
complaints – I find them easy to use, very precise in
their cutting and utterly invaluable. While it is simply
not possible to truly replace a blade with two blades
(I carry a basic Swiss Army Cadet for blade duties), I
have no qualms whatsoever about going away and
leaving my knife at home, safe in the knowledge that I
can cope with pretty much anything.
The nail file is, well, a nail file. It’s fairly coarse but
does the job and the screwdriver end works fine,
both as a driver and as a pry tool although I wouldn’t
attempt to lever a tin of paint open with it! I’ve
already mentioned the tweezers – they work fine, and
the poor carabiner is what it is. I simply added a better
one to the tool.
I’m sure it’s been said before that the best gun in
airsoft is the one you have in your hands at any given
moment. The same is true of multitools. You can
watch hours of video (try YouTube if you doubt me)
and read acres of print comparing the minutiae of
which tool is better than other tools, but the truth is
that if you only have one with you, that’s the best one
at the moment.
Being so small, the Style PS can go with you
anywhere and everywhere. There is no weight penalty,
you could frankly wear it round your neck on a bit of
paracord and forget it’s there. The key thing is that
if you need it – it is there - and within the limitations
of its design it should sort you out. I’m sure I made
the same observation about the Swiss Army Classic
knife; but for me the Style PS wins because of those
pliers. For airsofters, the ability to crimp a wire, to pull
a bit of forest out of their gun is more important than
having a fine, short-bladed knife. You could carry both
to be honest, but if it’s got to be just one – get the
Leatherman!
Prices vary quite largely in the UK – expect to pay
between £30 and £40 GBP which isn’t super cheap
although it does come with Leatherman’s 25-year
warranty. Cheap or not, it’s worth the cost because it
is simply so useful. You won’t build a house with one
but you may just be able to keep it runningl. AA
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KIT & GEAR
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP
SHOP ‘TIL
YOU DROP!!
IT SEEMS THAT AIRSOFT IS NOW, AT LAST, COMING FULLY BACK TO LIFE, RISING PHOENIX-LIKE FROM THE
ASHES OF THE C-VIRUS AND ALTHOUGH WE ARE STILL NOT COMPLETELY BACK TO FULL SPEED, IT WOULD
APPEAR THAT MANUFACTURERS AROUND THE GLOBE ARE SHAKING OFF THE COBWEBS AND RE-APPEARING
WITH SOME ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS NEW “GUNS N’ GEAR”! SADLY THOUGH, THERE IS STILL ONE SHADOW
ON THE HORIZON THAT WILL AFFECT US ALL AND THAT’S WHERE WE’LL BEGIN OUR ROUND-UP THIS
MONTH…
Shops, sites, games and events are all restarting
slowly but surely around the world and in many
ways airsoft is positively thriving! New players
have been drawn to airsoft, all of them wishing to
take part in a group activity with their mates that gets
them out of the house, away from their screens and
as far from lockdown as they could possibly imagine.
And they’re entering a world that is has never been
better to be a part of than right now, with more guns,
more gear, and more choice than we have ever had
before! But - and this is a BIG BUT - things they are
a-changin’!
CHEAP AS CHIPS
In recent years we have seen the price of AEGs and
GBBs come tumbling and, as we’ve often said, you
can pick up a “starter AEG” for almost silly money
at the moment. Competition (sometimes unfair and
unscrupulous) amongst manufacturers and retailers
particularly (we’re looking hard at you, “bedroom
resellers”!) has seen the price of AEGs, GBB pistols,
and all kinds of gear come crashing down and these
days a UK£100 AEG will get you in the game with
performance to spare.
Sadly, for many it looks as if these days are well and
truly numbered. We’ve been speaking to numerous
manufacturers and retailers and everyone is telling
us that 2021 into 2022 is the time we will see these
prices changing. Some manufacturers have already
increased their trade prices by as much as 30%, which
means that the item is now more expensive to the
retailer and although we are sure some retailers will
try to swallow some of the increase, doing so is not
sustainable in the long term, so we ARE expecting to
see prices rise across the board.
However, before you start screaming “Rip Off!!”,
let’s try to understand the reasoning behind this; the
fact is that raw material prices have rocketed in the
last year - and don’t even get us started on shipping
costs! To put it in a nutshell, we’re hearing that the
price of a 40-foot container from the Far East (IF you
can find one!) has soared from U$2,500 to almost
US$18,500! Although you can fit a lot of AEGs in a
40-foot container, that still means an incremental per
unit rise.
Border regulations have, for better or worse long
term, also changed within the EU and for UK players
that does mean that (currently) some brands are now
almost beyond our reach. However, although this
is now calming down and “mainland retailers” are
finding logistical solutions, it does mean additional
duty for the buyer and, as such, that UK£100 AEG is
now going to cost you significantly more! The bottom
line is that we will see AEGs and GBBs climbing back
to higher price levels but, as airsoft prices have been
almost artificially low for quite some time, this is in
some ways just balance being restored… Perhaps
Tokyo Marui have had their prices right all this time
after all!
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KIT & GEAR
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP
Which brings
us very nicely to more exciting and
positive news, as the first thing on our menu of airsoft
delectability this month is the new TM AKM GBBR!
TOKYO MARUI
We were lucky enough to get our hands on a
sample of this lovely new GBBR earlier this
month and as we have some real AK-lovers
amongst the AA crew, it was both eagerly
anticipated and very warmly received! As we
expect from TM, both the construction and the
performance of the AKM are first rate and even their
“faux-wood” looks to be of the highest grain! We
particularly liked the finish of the metal parts and the
attention to detail, right down to the “Bakelite” pistol
grip that mimics the real perfectly and we’ll be getting
“range hands on” with one of these as soon as we
can! These are now arriving with stockists and as we
hear that mags are currently in short supply, we’d
advise that you buy a few extra where possible!
Staying with TM, there’s also news that their latest
Next Generation Recoil Shock (NGRS) model should
be hitting the Asian market later this month and, of
course, it’s their eagerly-awaited MP5!
As we reported on the AA web news page, the
MP5 NRGS also features the new “M-System”, which
has been newly developed so that a microcomputer
(MCU = microcontroller unit) comprehensively
monitors and controls FETs, FC (Fire Control), batteries,
and motors. There’s also an Ambidextrous Fire-
Selector that includes a Burst function, improved
Trigger Response with FET and more! This is looking
to be a truly special AEG and we are seriously looking
forward to getting one on the range! We hear from
Scott and the crew at Land Warrior Airsoft (LWA)
that they are expecting this model to be with them
in October, so if you fancy one then you’d better get
your order in soon!
We are STILL just on AEG news here, as things are
shaping up for a bit of a tussle when it comes to new
P90s!
EVIKE MANUFACTURING GROUP
Again, as we reported via our web news, Evike
Manufacturing Group (EMG) have collaborated with
KRISS USA Inc.’s premier brand of airsoft products,
KRYTAC, under a license granted by Cybergun SA,
to create a new P90 model and this promises to be a
superlative AEG. We further know that the
EMG P90 AEG will be a 1:1 representation
of the FN P90 Tactical SMG, with MIL-STD
1913 Picatinny top rail. The body will be made
of a durable, impact resistant, polymer, with
an aluminium upper receiver and an ambidextrous
magazine release, charging handles, and selector
switch. The P90 will be a select fire SMG with a
compound trigger in Auto mode; a “half press”
fires one round, while a “full press” fires automatic.
The EMG P90 will be fed through a 200 BB mid-cap
magazine, with selectable 50 rounds capacity switch.
TITAN BATTERIES
We also just got word from our mates at TITAN that
they’re in with the rollout too when it comes to
batteries. They told us; “Fitment and performance,
we got you covered! We did extensive battery fitment
and performance testing together with KRYTAC.
What do these batteries have in common? We can
already confirm they all fit the new Krytac FN P90;
only the 11.1v nunchuck will need the additional
battery extender!” We understand that the extender
will also be released with the AEG in September and
we’ll have more news on that soon…
Although we’re still not 100% convinced that the
P90 is the model we would have chosen from the
FN licence agreement with Cybergun, what we do
find exciting is the level of support that this new AEG
appears to have from multiple industry partners all
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KIT & GEAR
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP
working together! So often we see fabulous AEGs
and GBBs that go unsupported by anyone other than
the original manufacturer and it really is GREAT to see
so many quality brands coming together to work and
support each other, and ultimately benefit the players
that do buy the new P90!
BUT it would seem that EMG, KRYTAC, Cybergun
et al have some immediate competition - and it’s
come again from the airsofter that some love to hate,
Novritsch!
NOVRITSCH
The SSR90 Electric SMG has a pre-order on now, with
an ETA of February 2022 and this is going to come
into “direct contact” with the FN P90! Given that the
SSR90 will come “in a completely redesigned, preupgraded
package tailored for the most demanding
players out there” we’re very interested to see what
the fallout of this may be in licensing terms as, let’s
face it, there’s some mighty big names in play here!
This may be one to grab that “Michael Jackson Bucket
of Popcorn” for, to sit back to watch…
Also coming soon will be a model that is sure to
please all the “bolty” users out there!
SILVERBACK AIRSOFT
Fresh in the airsoft world and fresh in the door at
LWA HQ (who personally gave us the news) is the
Silverback Airsoft TAC-41P Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle,
complete with a myriad of awesome features. A very
capable long gun that is surprisingly light and short,
weighing at around 2.65Kg locked and loaded and
measuring 110 cm long, it’s ideal for both urban and
woodland environments. Each rifle is individually
serialised, with a CNC Aluminium Receiver and
Fibreglass Reinforced Nylon Stock, and comes in
four colour options: Black, FDE, Wolf Grey and Olive
Green. What’s more, LWA have plenty of each colour
in-stock now but they expect these to sell very quickly,
so don’t hesitate!
VORSK
We are also over the moon that VORSK have just
dropped yet another fabulous GBB pistol model, in
the form of the VP26X!
We’ve been biting our tongues until recently as
we REALLY wanted to shout about the very latest
handgun model from VORSK but were sworn
to secrecy on the new VP26X until the official
announcement came. As Bill has already mentioned
this model in VORSK DIARY this month we won’t go
into huge detail here, but there’ll be a FULL review on
the way of this model in Issue 130 next month!
And to round out we’ll stick with pistols and shout
a bit about the latest RAVEN R226!
RAVEN
As much as we love the original RAVEN R226 Railed
GBB pistol (and we do love it as it’s a great pistol with
super performance!) there are some instances where
you just feel the need for a bit of a “classic” and the
latest R-Series non-railed, full-metal pistol really sings
to us in that respect!
The R226 is of full metal construction. RAVEN’s
experience with other GBB models ensures first-class
gas efficiency, easily emptying the standard 20 BB
magazine when unloading downrange. You have the
option of R226s with or without the 20mm rail now,
allowing for the attachment of a range of accessories
such as torches or laser units of you wish, or the
ability to “run clean” is you’re a bit of a classicist! All
furniture is functional including the de-cocking lever
for returning the hammer to a safe position without
discharge. With the introduction of the non-railed
version you now have many, MANY options when it
comes to
owning an R226!
You can have a
Railed or Non-Railed
Version, an Iron Sight or BDS Sight
Version, and you can choose from
Black, Blue, Tan, Tan-Black, Grey, Grey-
Black, Green - and even Chrome or
Gold if you really want to out-bling the
opposition!
So, that’s it from us for another month! We realise
that this month we’ve been a bit “gun heavy” so we’ll
catch up with all the superb gear that’s come to our
attention recently next issue! For now, keep safe - and
go play airsoft! AA
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last post
SQUARE IS THE NEW ROUND
SQUARE IS THE
NEW ROUND
NOW THAT A PUBLICITY MORATORIUM HAS BEEN LIFTED, FRENCHIE BRINGS US AN OVERVIEW OF THE
LATEST BB DEVELOPMENT, ONE THAT WILL SURPRISE - AND POSSIBLY STARTLE - AIRSOFTERS THE WORLD
OVER (EITHER THAT, OR HE’S BEEN SNIFFING HIS PRITT STICK AGAIN!)
Change is not something that comes quickly
in airsoft, it has taken decades for us to
see proper electronic triggers, despite their
inherent advantages for instance. One area where
that has been only one significant change has been
ammunition and that change was the widespread
acceptance of biodegradable ammo, mainly driven
by landowners and sites. The venerable BB (Bullet
Ball according to Marui) has been around forever
and there was little to suggest that this was going to
change.
Airsoft guns are fundamentally muskets, projecting
a sphere down a smooth tube. Hop up was developed
to dramatically improve the range you can achieve
from this basic setup since the alternative, massively
increased power behind the BB, is simply not
viable if we are to avoid injuring each other. Some
experimentation with “rifled” barrels has been
attempted but this is more to do with creating a
spiralling airflow around the BB as it moves down the
barrel and does nothing to improve the seal between
the BB and the barrel. In real firearms the base of
the bullet is forced into the rifling by the massive
gas pressure release when the round is fired, and
this seals the bullet against the barrel and the rifling
imparts spin which stabilises the flight of the bullet.
It is not possible to do this in airsoft guns, although it
would make the whole process more efficient and the
resultant trajectory more stable all without resorting
to backspin to keep the BB in the air for longer …until
now.
INVESTED INTEREST
To understand what’s going on and why there has
been – and this is unusual – almost no pre-launch
publicity, it’s worth understanding the nature of
the production of BBs. Yes, obviously they come
from factories but there are very few companies
who produce our ammunition. If my memory serves
correctly, there are or were only three in Taiwan and
a few in China. Given the enormous variety of brands
available you might reasonably (and correctly) assume
that these few foundries produce ammo for many
brands, big and small. The important thing here is
that the production of BBs is vested in the hands of
a few specialist firms who have made the necessary
investment in tools and equipment.
We have been extremely fortunate to see advanced
samples of a new system designed to address all these
issues, which has been in development between one
of the largest BB foundries in Taiwan and a major
Japanese airsoft manufacturer. Although we have
had three months to play with, test and evaluate the
system, the embargo on writing about it only ended
on the first of August this year.
The heart of what could be a truly revolutionary
development is the ammunition and the barrel.
Imaginatively dubbed the Bullet Square (BS) the
new projectile is just that – essentially a cube. This
has been married to a barrel which has a matching
internal structure with a low, one-in-five twist ratio.
This has proven optimal in balancing flight stability
with acceptable levels of friction between the barrel
“ANYONE ENTERTAINING THOUGHTS OF JAMES PUCKLE’S SQUARE BULLETS FOR USE AGAINST
“INFIDELS” CAN REST EASY. THE BS ROUND IS SQUARE IN CROSS SECTION, HOWEVER, DURING THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IT WAS REALISED THAT CHAMFERING THE OTHERWISE SHARP CORNERS
WAS HIGHLY DESIRABLE FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE…”
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LAST POST
SQUARE IS THE NEW ROUND
and the projectiles. What does this mean in simple
terms? In indoor testing with the supplied rifle (a
plain vanilla M4A1), range without any holdover
was consistent to point of aim at 70 metres with a
measured muzzle velocity of 295 feet per second.
Using holdover, whether guessed or dialled into the
optics, would see us putting rounds out to 100 metres
without problems.
Consistency was nothing short of stunning. The
ammo weights are different from current standards,
so we were using 0.26g (all that was supplied to us)
and the grouping at 70 metres from a bench rest
was slightly over 70mm. Despite some concerns, the
BS rounds were maintaining sufficient energy to
penetrate the paper targets we were using.
PUCKLE UP!
Anyone entertaining thoughts of James Puckle’s
square bullets for use against “infidels” can rest easy.
The BS round is square in cross section, however,
during the development process it was realised that
chamfering the otherwise sharp corners was highly
desirable from a safety perspective, and it was found
that this also greatly improved feed reliability and
appears to ease the passage of the round through
the barrel. It’s not a true dodecahedron, being closer
in shape to a gaming dice. The barrel in the supplied
gun was made of brass with an internal diameter of
6.001mm between flats. Apparently, Teflon lined, and
polished stainless-steel barrels were trialled but found
to offer no appreciable improvement to offset the
increased cost and complexity of manufacture.
Speaking of manufacture, it will surprise none of
you that this system requires very tight tolerances to
run well. Airsoft guns are not tolerant of muck in the
barrel, and this is going to be even more marked in
the BS design. We cleaned the barrel as directed
using the rod supplied with the gun. Apart from the
slight rotation of the cleaning rod as it follows the
rifling it is no different to cleaning a current barrel and
we believe that existing rods can be used for cleaning
with acceptable results.
The initial complexities encountered during tooling
up are part of the reason that nothing has been
announce before now. The basic design work on the
ammo and the barrel was relatively straightforward,
however, designing the chamber and tooling up for
production was a major challenge. For this reason,
we have been told not to expect a sudden shift to the
new system, it will be gradual and phased, the M4
leading the way for electrics, followed soon we hope
by a promised bolt action rifle based on an established
design.
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE
One of the benefits of this system to the gun maker is
that apart from the barrel, feed system and barrel seal
(chamber), there is no requirement to redesign the
mechanics of the gearbox. The geometry within the
chamber is impressive and is designed to ensure that
each round presents correctly to the barrel, regardless
of its orientation while being fed. Imagine the feed
system from the P90 magazine but in a component
only 9.5mm in diameter.
The increased efficiency of the BS round in the
barrel also means that there should be less demand
for upgrades which might strain the box over time
as the range increase is achieved through massive
efficiency improvements rather than brute force.
Unlike the Tanio Koba system, BS maintains its
effectiveness regardless of muzzle velocity, so snipers
will be able to run their guns somewhere between
350 and 370 fps depending on ammo weight and be
rewarded with greatly increased range and accuracy.
The days of taunting the opposition because you’re
safely out of range may be coming to an end.
We have no idea when the system will officially
be launched as both companies are awaiting the
granting of patents. These are expected late 2021 but
the global pandemic has touched even these arcane
activities.
Airsoft Action, along with a select few airsoft
commentators have been promised sight of a
full technical package with test results from the
manufactures once the patents have been granted
although we were informed that the results we
obtained from the prototype BS M4A1 should be
largely indicative of production results.
So, after years of complaining that there have been
no truly innovative developments in airsoft, it seems
that those who were in part responsible for the sport
as we know it today are about to change everything
all over again.
The future’s bright, the future is BS! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 93

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