Airsoft Action - September 2022

Manufactured by EMG Under License from Daniel Defense INC Licensor
WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
ISSUE 141 - SEPTEMBER 2022
ISSN 2634-9515

TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION
TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTENTS
8 ARMOURY: ICS DDMK18
If you’re going for a thoroughly modern “SEAL” or generic USSF
loadout and you want one of the very best platforms to complete
your “look” then you need search no further than the MK18
CQBR! As a huge fan of this platform, Bill turns his attention to the
very latest replica to (just about!) hit the market, and that’s the DD
MK18 from ICS!
WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
ISSUE 141 - SEPTEMBER 2022
ISSN 2634-9515
Editorial Director: Bill Thomas
Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing
Ad Design: Deadshot Design
Publisher: Calibre Publishing
18 ARMOURY: VORSK HI-CAPA UPDATE
Bill started keeping his detailed VORSK Diary at the back end of
2019 and when he first saw the initial pistols though, he knew
that he was witnessing the manifestation of a project that he’d
seen to from the initial concept through to reality… and then keep
on rolling! With some new variations of the VORSK HI-CAPA now
available, Bill now looks back, and forward at the program.
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…
26 ARMOURY: ARES G39 EBB IDZ
When Jimmy first started playing airsoft, just like many of you one
of his first AEG purchases was a G36, and that same rifle is still
with him to this day! Now of course he’s had his hands on just
about every AEG model you can think of, but when he had chance
to get his hands on the much newer, much more “tacticool” ARES
G39 EBB, you can bet he jumped at it!
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
Editorial Director: bill@airsoft-action.co.uk, write to
us at the Calibre Publishing address above, or talk to
us on Twitter or Facebook.
96 RELOADED: EVOLUTION LONE STAR RANGER SBR
Way back in 2013 Bill treated himself to a new AEG, the Lone Star
Tactical (LST) Ranger Short Barrelled Rifle (SBR) from Evolution and
he’s been running it pretty much stock since then with regular
maintenance! Why is this AEG so important to him, and how is it
running after nine years of use?

Contents
SEPTEMBER 2022
SEPTEMBER 2022
32 INSIDE AIRSOFT: SHIELD
SPORTS
In our “INSIDE AIRSOFT features we
always try to give you a little insight
into the people and companies that
drive our beloved game forward, and
SHIELD should be a name that many
of you will recognise already, but
perhaps not in the format of SHIELD
SPORTS that brings them fully into
“our world of airsoft”!
64 TECH: WETECH L85A2 GBBR
There are few firearms in the
real-steel-realm that are as divisive
and storied than the UK’s homegrown
L85 series of rifles! With an
undeniably bad first iteration that
has led to notoriety among the many
players including those in Taiwan (yes,
he’s even seen the typical memes but
in Chinese!) how does the airsoft
replica hold up to the real deal?
36 TOD: TENTS & BIVVIES
Last month we took a long, hard
look at “fast-set shelters” and how
the ability to get one up and running
quickly can be a major benefit when
you’re in a MilSim environment. This
month Bill takes this another step
forward in his development program
as he looks at bivvys and small
tents that are ideal for hitting your
favourite weekender!
72 TECH: SHADOW 2 UPGRADES
Stewbacca has been making progress
on overhaul of his KJ Works CZ75
Shadow 2 GBB competition pistol.
In line with our article on SHIELD
SPORTS, he shares the upgrades
he’s completed with the support
of “Airsoft Surgeon”, Clarence Lai,
through CL Project Design and KIC
Airsoft who helped him with the
excellent external refinishing work!
40 KIT & GEAR: PENTAGON
TACTICAL
Clothing and equipment brand
Pentagon are one of the “quiet
performers” when it comes to their
athletically-inspired yet practical
tactical gear! Bill takes a close look
at what Pentagon have been up to
recently and dives into some of their
latest models as well as some tried
and tested classics!
78 AA LEGION: TAIWAN
Since heading to Taiwan Stewbacca
has not only seen the prevalence of
hardcore MilSim players who border
on re-enactors or cosplayers, but also
got involved in competition shooting
in various guises and has even
dabbled in SpeedQB. But what about
when MilSim players want to hold
something more competition-styled
too? Enter 3QB…
44 THE CAGE: MAGAZINES
We’ve been looking at what the
members of The Legion look for when
they come to set up their own AEGs
and GBBs and why they choose what
they do. We’re going to draw this
CAGE-cycle to a close now and to
conclude we’ll look at possibly one
of the most important accessories to
keep you effective in-game, and that’s
MAGAZINES!
86 AA LEGION: JAPAN
Earlier this month we shared the
news that LayLax in Japan are
branching out, both geographically
and with their new Channel!
Thankfully one of the benefits for
us is that our old mate Marck West
has agreed to share his experiences
in the Land of the Rising Sun via the
AA Legion now that he’s been living,
working and playing airsoft there!
50 RED CELL: TACTICAL AK
UPDATE
It’s a little over a year ago that Red
Cell first looked at their pick of
“Tactical AKs”, and in the interim
we’ve seen yet more modern variants
come into being! The width and
breadth of what’s available for the
die-hard OPFORist just keeps on
getting better, so now the team
brings their evaluations up to date!
90 AA LEGION: SWEDEN
Things are really returning to normal,
whatever normal might be for
airsofters, and this means that finally
everyone in the AA Legion is heading
back on out to play on a more regular
basis! We’re really pleased to see that
our good friend and “resident viking”
Bjorn is back out to games, and this
month he tells us all about one of the
biggest fields in his native Sweden!

ARMOURY
ICS DDMK18
THE ONLY
EASY DAY...
8
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
ICS DDMK18
IF YOU’RE GOING FOR A THOROUGHLY MODERN “SEAL” OR GENERIC USSF LOADOUT AND YOU
WANT ONE OF THE VERY BEST PLATFORMS TO COMPLETE YOUR “LOOK” THEN YOU NEED SEARCH
NO FURTHER THAN THE MK18 CQBR! AS A HUGE FAN OF THIS PLATFORM, AND AS SOMEONE WHO
HAS TESTED JUST ABOUT EVERY AIRSOFT REPLICA OF THIS ESTEEMED AR DESIGN AVAILABLE IN
AIRSOFT FORM, BILL NOW TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE VERY LATEST REPLICA TO (JUST ABOUT!)
HIT THE MARKET, AND THAT’S THE DD MK18 FROM ICS!
It’s going to come as no shock to anyone that I’m
a HUGE fan of the MK18 CQBR as I’ve tested and
reviewed many of them in airsoft form, and thus
far I haven’t found one that I’ve
not liked! Over the years I’ve
had many, many AR AEGs
through my hands both
do still see the MP5 and the MP7 in the hands of USN
SEALs for CQB purposes, but it’s the MK18 that really
sets the tone for USSF hard chargers and door kickers!
As I’ve commented before, the MK18 is even
shorter-barrelled than the M4A1 carbine with that
10.3 in (262 mm) barrel, and upon introduction the
upper receiver
was designated
the Close Quarters
Battle Receiver
in game
and on the test range,
and although I do own a
number of mid and fulllength
models these days, I
still have a profound love
for a “shorty”.
And the MK18 really
is, at least to me, the absolute
epitome of what makes a good
“shorty AR”, as of course IRL this is exactly what the
platform was designed for, and as Daniel Defense (DD)
don’t do things by halves at any point, their “shorty”
has undoubtedly become one of the most successful
“SF” AR designs out there! Yes, again of course we
(CQBR),
while the entire
weapon system was
designated the MK18
Mod 0 by the United States
Navy, and became a common
sight amongst the USN VBSS units,
NCIS, and USN SEALs.
The purpose of the CQBR was to
provide operators with a weapon of compact size, but
one still capable of firing a rifle cartridge, intended for
urban warfare and other close quarters battle (CQB)
situations; one of two proposed “special mission
receivers” that were planned for inclusion into the
SOPMOD Block II kit, the CQBR has proved incredibly
popular amongst its users.
Even though I’ve also said this before, there is
still confusion amongst many, as for some reason
Daniel Defense also made the decision to call the
RIS II the “MK18”! It’s beyond doubt that the RIS
II was designed at the request of the United States
Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for the
Block II program, as they had a specific requirement
“THE MK18 REALLY IS, AT LEAST TO ME, THE ABSOLUTE EPITOME OF WHAT MAKES A
GOOD “SHORTY AR”, AS OF COURSE IRL THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PLATFORM WAS
DESIGNED FOR, AND AS DANIEL DEFENSE (DD) DON’T DO THINGS BY HALVES AT ANY
POINT, THEIR “SHORTY” HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
“SF” AR DESIGNS OUT THERE”
www.airsoftaction.net 9

ARMOURY
ICS DDMK18
for a free float M203 solution, and Daniel Defense
responded, designing a revolutionary product to meet
the government’s and user’s need. Don’t get the two
mixed up; it’s possible to have a “MK18 RIS II” on any
AR platform, but that does not make said platform a
“MK18 CQBR” as the latter is an entire carbine that
is the sum of all its constituent parts, and all the more
effective for that!
REAL STEEL DD MK18 ON THE RANGE
IMAGE FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN SOURCE
It could be said that the MK18 AR15 style firearm
is unrivalled when it comes to size, weight, and
performance, and even the civilian spec model that
you’ll see on the Daniel Defense website features
the exact-same unique quad rail that they provide
to USSOCOM; the RIS II, CNC-machined of 6061-T6
Aluminum and Type III Hard Coat Anodized, features
a Bolt-Up System that has been rigorously tested at
the sharp end by some of best military personnel
out there, and the 10.3 inch Cold Hammer Forged
barrel is the same length as that in use for the MK18
upper most commonly used for CQB operations. The
civilian carbine also comes with the latest ergonomic
Daniel Defense Buttstock and Pistol Grip, and the
last time I visited SHOT I spent some time on the
DD stand checking these out, but up until the ICS
take on the MK18 I hadn’t seen these replicated in
airsoft form (more on this later!), even though other
manufacturers have created their own MK18’s under
licence.
SPECCED RIGHT
As anyone who reads my reviews and articles will
know, I’m also a huge fan of ICS, and indeed have
been an honorary “ICS Captain” since 2015, but
as much as I love their AEGs my own tastes have
changed a little over the years, and I’ve become
incredibly picky about the AEGs and GBBs that I add
to my personal armoury. I like my “replicas” to be
exactly that, replicas of real world firearms down, if at
all possible, to the smallest detail.
Now it is beyond doubt that ICS make some of the
finest, high-performance AEGs out there, and their
split gearbox has now become part of “airsoft lore”.
They also go their own way when it comes to design,
and as much as I love to see this (I mean, their ARK
is a beauty!) as it’s a healthy direction for any airsoft
manufacturer, it does mean that it is not always
to my own personal taste, although I love it when
they create something like the PAR Mk3/PROARMS
ARMORY rifles. Every ICS AEG though is built with
masses of QC and a lot of love, and they shoot
brilliantly, it’s just that I do like my own platforms to
be “real” these days… and their new certainly MK18
certainly ticks all my boxes, and more!
ICS could have decided to make a replica of
an out and out “mil” carbine and called it the
“SpecNavWarrior” or some such, but they haven’t,
and another point of interest here is a collaboration
with EMG ARMS in the USA; the new ICS DD MK18
has been created under the EMG Daniel Defense
Licence and as such is 100% fully-branded, and I do
mean FULLY, even down to the correct font in the
trademarks! It’s genuinely, drop-dead gorgeously
RIGHT, and I’m basing this on those real rifles and
carbines I saw at SHOT.
Everything is where it should be on both the upper
and lower receivers and 9.55” RIS II rail, right down
to the NSN numbers, and along with these the overall
finish of the AEG is just splendid, replicating the
“chocolate tan” of the receivers and furniture that
“THE NEW ICS DD MK18 HAS BEEN CREATED UNDER THE EMG DANIEL DEFENSE
LICENCE AND AS SUCH IS 100% FULLY-BRANDED, AND I DO MEAN FULLY, EVEN
DOWN TO THE CORRECT FONT IN THE TRADEMARKS! IT’S GENUINELY, DROP-DEAD
GORGEOUSLY RIGHT”
10
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
ICS DDMK18
I was so taken with when I first saw it on the real
models, and the “SF Bronze” of the rail is impeccable.
Beauty, as they say, is in the eye of the beholder, and
to me this is just gorgeous, although Jimmy is drooling
just a little over the grey version!
I said I’d come back to the furniture later, so here
it is… and this is definitely a first in the airsoft world
to the best of my knowledge as the ICS AEG features
some super replications of the latest ergonomic DD
Buttstock and Pistol Grip, both of which are colourcoded
to the receivers, but with a two-tone black
inset that frankly looks the absolute business.
On the real civilian-spec carbine these are “Glass
Filled Polymer with Soft Touch Overmolding”, whilst
on the ICS they are very high-grade polymer. Once
again the finish if these parts is splendid, but with
the grip accommodating the motor and the buttstock
giving lots of battery space that is easily accessed
via a “twist and turn” buttpad; the MK18 is rearwired
with Deans. ICS call their take “ZETA” and the
newly-designed “20°-Vertical” pistol grip offers both
comfort and control; the QD bottom cap allows you
to perform motor maintenance more easily too. With
the real deal “iron” sights are sold separately, but ICS
have been kind enough to fit their excellent flip-ups
as standard so that the AEG just needs a battery to be
field-ready.
INSIDE TRACK
What can I tell you about the internals that we
also haven’t talked about before? Both Jimmy and
I have sung the praises of the latest ICS internals
from different perspectives, but the fact is that with
minimal attention these days they are solid, reliable,
and perform very, very well from the box.
However, let me run down a few facts on what’s
going on inside the MK18 as there’s a few points
worth of note here. The unique ICS-designed Split
Gearbox is still at the heart of this new AEG, and
many of us have
loved this since it
was first introduced;
it’s now a thoroughly
tried, tested, and
trusted setup
that mimics the
disassembly of a real
AR but also allows
easy disassembly for
maintenance and
upgrading if you feel
that is necessary. It
also makes it supereasy
to access the
QC spring function
if you need to, so it’s
easy to change to
adapt to different field and game-day requirements.
Inside you get what ICS refer to as “Performance
Grade Reinforced Internals”, and these are composed
of a Metal Cross Air Nozzle, Master Hop Tensioner
Nub, 6061 Aluminium Cylinder and 6061 Aluminium
Piston Heads, Full Steel Teeth Piston, and MIM Pinion
and Bevel gears, and everything is driven along
efficiently by an EVO motor that has high heatresistant
magnets and ball bearings; ICS tell me that
this has greater heat dissipation, offers increased
power savings, and is able to achieve a higher RPM
than before.
The MK18 I received for testing also benefits from
the ICS SSS.III (Self-diagnostic Shooting System)
E-Trigger that looks after all manner of internal
functions, and protects your AEG from accidental
“THE MK18 I RECEIVED FOR TESTING ALSO BENEFITS FROM THE ICS SSS.III (SELF-
DIAGNOSTIC SHOOTING SYSTEM) E-TRIGGER THAT LOOKS AFTER ALL MANNER OF
INTERNAL FUNCTIONS, AND PROTECTS YOUR AEG FROM ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE.”
www.airsoftaction.net 11

ARMOURY
ICS DDMK18
12
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
ICS DDMK18
damage. The “smart trigger” is also able to distinguish
whether it is time for Burst Mode (light touch) or
Full-Auto Mode (long, deep press), and it’s also shortstroked
with a pre-cocking mechanism that makes
your shots-away lightning quick; I won’t dwell on the
full functionality of all this clever wizardry, as although
I’m most definitely a “greybeard” I am no “internals
Gandalf”… I have “men for that” these days!
Now I have to admit that I’m not usually an EBBfan
as I had some horrendous experiences with older
AEGs that frankly convinced me that EBB was a “bad
thing”; I’ll just point you to the original ARMY L85
that would strip its piston during the first game you
used it in… you hear what I’m saying? However,
I’ve been monitoring this technology and it would
certainly appear that it has come on leaps and
bounds, and ICS are one of the manufacturers at the
forefront here. Their EBB system does indeed bring
a little more realism to your shooting experience,
but these days without sacrificing durability and
performance; as the MK18 now enters the long-term
test pool we’ll see how that continues over time, but
Jimmy assures me it is now a more robust system
altogether.
DOWNRANGE
So, externally lovely, internally sound, but how does
the ICS DD MK18 actually shoot?
In use the MK18 is every bit as good as I
expected it to be, with performance living up to
the promise offered by the stunning externals and
solid, workmanlike internals. The MK18 comes with
an ICS “Metal Mid-Cap Silent Magazine”; this is
a super design as well as the magazine features a
sound-suppressing mechanism that is just perfect for
sneaking about in tight quarters quietly. Loaded up to
120 BB capacity with .20g RZR BBs and with an 11.1V
LiPo battery fitted into the buffer tube I chrono’d the
MK18 through my Xcortech at an incredibly consistent
1.03 Joule/334fps.
With the hop set for .28g BBs the BB trajectory was
incredibly, and I do mean utterly, incredibly, flat; at
10m I was easily hitting small spinner targets and at
the maximum of the 30m range I was hitting “dinner
plate” metals unerringly. There was zero drop-off at
30m so in my mind I think you’ll be hitting targets at
far greater distances than that, and that’s with the
gun straight out of the box. Switching up to full-auto
saw BBs heading off downrange with alacrity and that
“soft-touch” trigger function is just awesome!
After each session of test-firing was completed I
used the built-in ICS Spring Release mechanism; this
actively protects the spring, piston and your hardearned
buck! Whenever the SAFE mode is selected,
the spring is automatically released, reducing wear on
the spring and other internals, and I have to admit this
is an ICS feature I have always loved.
Overall I am massively impressed with the ICS DD
MK18. Although I’m yet to see a retail price at the
time of writing I expect this to be competitively placed
in the market, and it looks, feels, and shoots like
something that will be worth the money whatever
that may be! ICS replicas have always been good
“bang for your buck”, but I honestly believe that the
MK18 takes this to a new level. It’s got a cracking
story behind it, and would be equally at home in a
woodland setting as on a CQB site.
Some airsoft companies seem content to just
follow a single line of progression in relation to their
designs but I have to say in the past few years ICS
have not done this in any way. I’ve always been a fan
of their split gearboxes which are reliable and easy to
work on, and personally I’ve never had an AEG from
them that has been anything other than exemplary.
ICS have pretty much always provided attractive and
sturdy full-metal performance AEGs with first-rate
internal parts and mechanisms.
But as I commented earlier, ICS could have easily
gone down a route and created something to look
“similar to a MK18” in house, and they are 100%
more than capable of this; it would have been a great
little AEG. But they decided that indeed “the only easy
day was yesterday” and have done things right rather
than easily with their thoroughly-of-the-moment DD
MK18, and it is, like the real deal better than just the
sum of its parts! By working with EMG and obtaining
permission to work under the Daniel Defense Licence
the externals are completely righteous, and their
internals, as ever, are as good as ever if not better
than those we’ve seen before!
I have to commend ICS for once again for creating
something that sings to me in every way possible,
and if the need for “NavSpecWarGru” is strong with
you, then this is one AEG that you will most definitely
want to own. If you’re in the market for a new AEG
generally though, then I would certainly take a very
good look at the ICS DD MK18; if this is the shape of
things to come from ICS in the future then I’m superexcited
to see what they come up with next!
My sincere thanks as always go to the lovely team
at www.icsbb.com for providing the test sample as
early as they did, and it is genuinely a pleasure to
work with people that have such a passion for airsoft!
AA
www.airsoftaction.net 13

ARMOURY
ICS DDMK18
14
SEPTEMBER 2022

LIGHTER. STRONGER. BETTER...
Facebook (Global):
ICSBBAirsoft
Twitter (Global):
icsbbairsoft
Youtube:
ICS AIRSOFT
Instagram:
icsbbairsoft

PT-R
FITNESS
SHOP NOW
5.11 A/T TRAINERS
SHOP NOW
5.11 MULTICAM TACTEC
TRAINER WEIGHT VEST
SHOP NOW
5.11 PT-R WEIGHT KIT
SHOP NOW
5.11 PT-R FORGED HOODIE
SHOP NOW
5.11 PT-R HAVOC PRO SHORTS
SHOP NOW
5.11 PT-R CONDITION KNIT
JOGGERS
SHOP NOW

ARMOURY
VORSK HI-CAPA UPDATE
LIVIN’ THE
BIG “V”
LIFE!
18
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
VORSK HI-CAPA UPDATE
A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE BILL STARTED KEEPING HIS DETAILED VORSK DIARY AT THE BACK END
OF 2019, AND TIME SEEMS TO HAVE STRETCHED BEYOND BELIEF IN SOME WAYS! WHEN HE FIRST
SAW THE INITIAL PISTOLS THOUGH HE KNEW THAT HE WAS WITNESSING THE MANIFESTATION OF A
PROJECT THAT HE’D SEEN TO FROM THE INITIAL CONCEPT THROUGH TO REALITY… AND THEN KEEP
ON ROLLING! WITH SOME NEW VARIATIONS OF THE VORSK HI-CAPA NOW AVAILABLE, BILL NOW
LOOKS BACK, AND FORWARD AT THE PROGRAM.
I
do believe that every airsofter must dream of
being involved, even if it’s just in a small way, with
the development of something new in our wide
world of 6mm shooting, and I’ve been very lucky
and privileged to have had such an opportunity with
VORSK.
Now it
seems that
more and
more regular
airsofters like
yourself are also
now enjoying
the opportunity
provided by
VORSK with plenty
of positive voices on
skirmish days and on
social media, and it truly
gladdens my heart. When
VORSK first appeared on the
scene there were detractors
aplenty, but let’s face it, there are
many out there in unsocial-medialand
with vested interests and agendas
(often paid for) of their own, and a small (at the
time!) UK-based company having the audacity to
enter the GBB market was a lazy and easy target for
their “Dane geld” purchased ire.
But my good friend Ross and the team behind
VORSK did have the audacity, passion and the belief
in their products to challenge the status quo, and if
we look at the vast range of VORSK pistols now on
offer it certainly appears to me that they were right
to do so, and I’m not alone in believing this. If you
check player conversations online they are almost
exclusively positive when it comes to
VORSK pistols amongst the user-base,
from airsofters who actually play airsoft
most weekends with an almost religious
fervour.
VORSK has undoubtedly become
one of the leading GBB pistol brands throughout
Europe, with its sights firmly set of the wider world,
and it rightfully deserves its place there. I’ve been
hammering every single model since their release,
especially during the dark and lonely days of the
pandemic when our airsoft adventures were curtailed
and pushed back to simple, solitary range work if we
were lucky, and with many thousands of BBs down
their barrels they are all still performing exceptionally
well with just minimal maintenance.
And the VORSK range has caused me to have a
little bit of a personal epiphany in that I have reembraced
the Hi-Capa after many years of being
a dedicated Glock and “not a” fanboi. I guess my
personal airsoft tastes have changed as I’ve got older,
and although I don’t skirmish or take part in MilSim
games like I used to I still love to shoot, and as I’m
lucky enough to have an outdoor 30m range that
I use for all my testing in some private woodland
owned by friends just 15 minutes-walk away
across country from my front door, even during the
lockdown I was able to get there without meeting a
soul along the way, and once there I’m able to shoot
for as long as I want to stay out!
Nowadays I’m not going for that out and out
“IF YOU CHECK PLAYER CONVERSATIONS ONLINE THEY ARE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY
POSITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO VORSK PISTOLS AMONGST THE USER-BASE, FROM
AIRSOFTERS WHO ACTUALLY PLAY AIRSOFT MOST WEEKENDS WITH AN ALMOST
RELIGIOUS FERVOUR.”
www.airsoftaction.net 19

ARMOURY
VORSK HI-CAPA UPDATE
“Mil” look that I ran for many years on the skirmish
field enabling me to have a lot more choice when
selecting my sidearm. Although I still love my Glock, if
you were to catch me on the range these days you’ll
often find me with a VORSK Hi-Capa in holster, or
in hand. This is down to the continued reliability and
performance I’ve seen from these models and I don’t
see a change coming anytime soon.
MORE VORSK, MORE!
Of course the VORSK Hi-Capa range continues to
grow and grow, and at the same time it moves
forward as tweaks and improvements are made at
source as new materials and technologies become
available. Over the years I’ve seen a “norm” where a
manufacturer creates a new GBB pistol and brings it
to market… and that’s it! Its then down to companies
producing after-market parts (lawd bless ‘em!) and
you, the airsofter, to make improvements on that
basic model.
Not so with VORSK as development and
improvement is a fundamental tenet of the entire
program. Yes, of course existing older models are
as they are given the materials and technology that
were available at the time of their creation, but
even existing models in the VORSK range are
“tweaked” as new things appear, and newer
models benefit from these improvements from the
get-go.
I spoke to Tom about this and he told me;
“We’re rather proud of the VORSK Hi-Capa
range. The 4.3” & 5.1” models were part of VORSKs
launch and as you know they’re excellent, consistent
performers. I remember when we first put them in
the hands of the public at the British Shooting Show
in February 2020 (the last bit of fun before COVID
shut everything down); we had a handful of these Hi-
Capas being put through their paces again and again
and again all weekend by the public and they never
missed a beat.
“Since then, we’ve grown the range with the
introduction of the shorter “3.8” and the two “Split/
Slide” models, the 5.1 Split Slide and the 7.0 TITAN.
Now we are starting to see customers modifying their
VORSK Hi-Capas with aftermarket pieces from other
companies and this makes us very happy, although we
strive to create pistol models that are as good as they
can be from the outset.
“Although we designed the Hi-Capas to be great
performers out of the box, the vast selection of
models and colour finishes we’ve offered have been,
and are, so everyone could find THEIR VORSK Hi-
Capa, and seeing that extra desire for personalisation,
well… it’s a special moment for us…”
And so it should be! With a host of new colours in
the VORSK Hi-Capa range that offer everything from
extreme “tacticool” to “comp ready” you really now
can make one of their Hi-Capas your own, and in fact
I’m in the midst of creating something myself with a
new VORSK 5.1 that I’ll return to at a later date!
ON THE RANGE
Bottom line though is that there is genuinely
something for everyone in the VORSK Hi-Capa range
if that’s your platform of choice. My favourite from
the line is still the Hi-Capa 4.3 and I’ve now been
able to spend some really meaningful time with it.
It’s been out with me in all weather conditions, from
frosty early mornings to some hoofingly hot days
this summer so
far, and I now have
a bunch of extra
28BB magazines for the pistol, so
my Direct Action belt is now all set
up with a holster made by Kydex
Customs locked in place; this has
proved to be an excellent addition
to my setup that works well with all
1911 models including the VORSK Hi-
Capas, and Taig kindly set the holster
up with a belt clip so that I can easily
transfer it from belt to belt if I wish.
I’ve been running the Hi Capa on VORSK V6 FUEL,
using .25g VORSK PRECISION BBs, and the chrono still
settles well at 1.01 Joule/330fps with a .20g BB, with
little variance from new. Accuracy is actually getting
“ALTHOUGH WE DESIGNED THE HI-CAPAS TO BE GREAT PERFORMERS OUT OF THE
BOX, THE VAST SELECTION OF MODELS AND COLOUR FINISHES WE’VE OFFERED HAVE
BEEN, AND ARE, SO EVERYONE COULD FIND THEIR VORSK HI-CAPA, AND SEEING THAT
EXTRA DESIRE FOR PERSONALISATION, WELL… IT’S A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR US…”
20
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
VORSK HI-CAPA UPDATE
better the more I run it, and at 10m I’m now down to
regular 75mm groupings when I really try; consistently
at 10m it’s a breeze hitting a “Figure 11” each and
every time, even when I’m on the move. Thus far the
VORSK Hi Capa 4.3 has proved to be an exemplary
and wholly worthy fighting-partner, and only recently
did I need to change the original battery in the RDS!
When I first got the 5.1 Split Slide in my hand I
thought it to be a most eye-catching design, and at
900g it certainly feels solid and weighty, a pistol made
to “get business done”. On the fixed, front part of the
slide the “venting” is not only visually pleasing as a
design feature, but serves a purpose too, in that you
can mount a micro or mini-RDS on this fixed section
for excellent target acquisition and retention of zero.
When compared to VORKs standard 5.1 Hi-Capas,
the CS VENGEANCE features an adjustable rear
iron-sight, an extended magazine base plate and
the inclusion of a floating BDS option. Using VORSK
V6 FUEL and .20g VORSK BBs, from the box the
VENGEANCE chrono’d at 0.98 Joule/325FPS,
and it has stayed pretty
much right
there!
The pistol feels
great, cycles smoothly, has a
super recoil impulse, and the scaled
polymer VORSK grip keeps it firmly
in your hand. The flared magwell and
extended magazine base plate help
with swift changes
from the outset; the pistol recorded a high of 1.01
Joule/329fps using .20g VORSKs and has settled nicely
in the mid-320’s on the same weight BB. It does seem
to be incredibly efficient on VORSK V6 FUEL, cycling
the rear of the slide quickly and efficiently, and having
no problem whatsoever emptying the entire 28BB
magazine.
It also rocks when you fit it with a suppressor, and
given that the front of the slide remains fixed in place
it seems purpose designed for this! This is another
fine example of how elegant and unique design can
be married to the total understanding of how a GBB
pistol works to create a pistol model that if anything
shoots even better than it looks!
And so to the “big boy” of the gang, the Titan
7! At over 9 inches long with a threaded inner and
outer barrel (yes, the VORSK Agency Silencer does
fit… beast-mode engaged!) this pistol is a real
hand-filler designed in the same vein as the 4.3 and
5.1 counterparts, and I mean, c’mon, who doesn’t
occasionally feel like running a proper “hand cannon”
every so often at a fun Sunday Skirmish!
The Titan 7 features a split-slide design that offers
super-efficient performance for its size, and
the pistol offers a truly LONG full-body
length under-barrel rail with multiple
optic mounting options; the optic rail is
another VORSK development for this model that
looks awesome and functions just as it should.
Big as it is, the Titan 7 initially chrono’d in at 1.08
Joule/342fps on .20g VORSKs/V6 FUEL, but it seems
to enjoy being fed .28g best. With this weight of BB
you get cracking performance at 10m, with consistent
power delivery through the magazine, and the
excellent standard sights let you get on target quickly,
and a crisp trigger break lets you stay on that target
consistently too!
when you run dry,
and with the floating red
dot fitted it’s supremely easy
to track from target to target if you’re shooting plates
or spinners. If you want to run a suppressor then
it’s no bother at all, and fitting a taclite such as the
NX300 is simplicity itself!
The 5.1 Split Slide has also continued to perform
very well at 10m on steels, and at 5-10m on the
Attack Sense Smart Target System using .25g VORSK
BBs, even on cooler days. In terms of the chrono,
things are exactly where I hoped and expected
You’ll see
I’ve mentioned
Suppressor compatibility a
few times here, and this not
only comes from them being an
excellent addition to the VORSKs
Hi-Capa’s themselves, but also
it’s like the designers knew this
from the start. Well they did
www.airsoftaction.net 21

ARMOURY
VORSK HI-CAPA UPDATE
know of course, every VORSK Hi-Capa is supplied
with a 12/14mm thread adaptor that comes fitted
to the outer barrel. This functional, yet also aesthetic
inclusion comes fitted to every sidearm supplied but
can obviously be removed should you wish – another
sign of VORSK understanding the player’s needs.
THE FULL PACKAGE
Amongst the AA Crew there are now a number of us
that favour a VORSK pistol, a testament to the brand
given the “time-in-airsoft” for some of us, and even
Jimmy now has one in his armoury; I’ll be working
with him on that “special project”, but ultimately our
choices for this have been influenced by aesthetics
initially as much as performance; we know we’ll get
the performance we’re looking for from VORSK,
but sometimes, let’s face it, we all want “The Look”
too… you’ll see what I mean when we reveal things
later, but the fact that VORSK offer SO MANY colours
means that you can go a bit “Gucci” in your loadout
easily!
But these days it’s not just about the pistols
themselves, something that I again asked Tom about,
and he told me;
“VORSK is an airsoft brand that has grown
consistently through the troubling times of COVID-19,
and it is through the support of the airsoft community
that this has happened, so we are very grateful to the
love being given to these replicas. But it is not just
replicas nowadays as VORSK has an extensive listing
of BBs available in all different weights, types and
counts.
“As you’ve mentioned we also offer VORSK GBB
Fuel to power these replicas. Designed and tested
alongside the replicas themselves, we’re bold enough
to say this is one of the best airsoft gasses on the
market. Like most gasses, we’re supplying 300g
of content within our cans, but unlike some other
options available on the market, this is squeezed
into a smaller 600ml container. The same amount
of content in a smaller container means increased
pressure, and therefore a faster expansion rate,
exactly what you need in your GBB platform, VORSK
or otherwise! Not to mention our gas has its own
trade secret “KFC gravy” recipe, designed for peak
performance whist maintaining all the seals and
contact areas within the replica.”
I have to say from personal experience that
although the VORSK FUEL is a little more expensive
than some of the competition out there, it most
certainly does deliver, and having now tested a
number of “bigger cans” against it I can attest to
the fact that the smaller VORSK FUEL cans continue
to deliver longer, and apparently better; this is also
something that I’ve asked the AA “Techs” to look at
in more depth and we’ll report on this at a later date.
What I can tell you is that I’ve genuinely had fewer
seal and O-ring failures using the VORSK FUEL than
usual, so obviously their “special sauce” works; so
again, bottom line, if you want to get the best from
something then why not uses the full package it was
designed to excel with?
So, more models, more colours, increased
performance and greater longevity… what more could
you ask for? VORSK have 100% delivered thus far
with their Hi-Capas (and indeed their other models!),
and I can tell you for sure that there is more, MUCH
MORE, to come.
Overall this is another fabulous update to the
VORSK GBB pistol line, and I believe that they have
shown yet again that the VORSK range continues to
move positively forward in many exciting directions,
and I’m keen to see just where they move things on
next… and of course I’ll report back when they do.
For now though it’s another hard-earned WELL DONE
to the VORSK team, and long may you continue to
push design and performance for the benefit of all
airsofters who love a Hi-Capa!
For more information on the extensive and exciting
line of VORSK HI-CAPAS, along with their other
excellent GBB pistols, accessories and consumables do
pay a visit to www.vorskairsoft.com. AA
“SO, MORE MODELS, MORE COLOURS, INCREASED PERFORMANCE AND GREATER
LONGEVITY… WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR? VORSK HAVE 100% DELIVERED THUS
FAR WITH THEIR HI-CAPAS (AND INDEED THEIR OTHER MODELS!), AND I CAN TELL YOU
FOR SURE THAT THERE IS MORE, MUCH MORE, TO COME.”
22
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
VORSK HI-CAPA UPDATE
Vorsk 4.3 Hi-Capa
Vorsk 5.1 Hi-Capa
Vorsk 5.1 Hi-Capa Split Slide
Vorsk 7.0 Hi-Capa Titan
Vorsk Vengeance 3.8 Vorsk Vengeance 5.1
www.airsoftaction.net 23

TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

ARMOURY
ARES G39 EBB IDZ
ALTER
WELPE...
NEUE
TRICKS!
26
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
ARES G39 EBB IDZ
WHEN JIMMY FIRST STARTED PLAYING AIRSOFT, JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU ONE OF HIS FIRST AEG
PURCHASES WAS A G36, AND THAT SAME RIFLE IS TILL WITH HIM TO THIS DAY! NOW OF COURSE
HE’S HAD HIS HANDS ON JUST ABOUT EVERY AEG MODEL YOU CAN THINK OF, BUT WHEN HE HAD
CHANCE TO GET HIS HANDS ON THE MUCH NEWER, MUCH MORE “TACTICOOL” ARES G39 EBB
THOUGH, YOU CAN BET HE JUMPED AT IT!
Upon my daily peruse through the internet I
happened to come across a platform I had
never seen before, the ARES G39 EBB IDZ
which looked suspiciously similar to the newer
HK233! Instantly grabbing my attention I just had to
know more about it, so I sent in a request with HQ
to see if we could acquire one
a G36 of some flavour and they are a very common
platform used by sites as rentals. There is a reason
behind this they are cheap but they are also very
reliable, especially the JG branded models. This is
not a JG model under scrutiny, but an ARES so I had
to wonder if it would be as reliable? Well, sit tight
you’re about to find out exactly what I think.
I do appreciate a G36 and I also like ARES
products so the two go hand in hand naturally. This
is an ARES and it has EBB, it has the EFCS, and it is
for the purpose of review.
Now I know some of you may turn your noses
up at this as it is a Heckler & Koch G36 variant and
the G36 is a very common platform. The real world
version of the Gewehr 36 5.56mm, designed back
in 1990, was the Bundeswehr replacement to the
very well-known G3 7.62mm battle rifle and would
serve its purpose well both with police and military
across the world right up until 2022 when it was
announced that the HK416A8 (but most definitely,
and somewhat controversially NOT the Haenel
MK556!) would replace it following the System
Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr program. I think had
the G36 not suffered from overheating and related
issues it probably would have served a lot longer.
In the airsoft world every mother and her son has
fully trademarked,
so what’s not to like? I guess being an H&K fan,
Mr Stewbacca may like this also even though it isn’t
gas blowback, but judging by his last H&K review I
believe he secretly likes an EBB!
My initial impression was ‘it’s a bit longer than I
first thought’ and at 980mm, nearly 1 metre, yes it
is long! It is quite slim in comparison to other G36’s,
the handguard significantly slimmer. The polymer
used is a stiff rugged polymer and sports the worldfamous
Heckler and Koch trademarks which some
airsofters strive for. From research and what others
users have found there is a sticker on the side which
is physically covering up one of the main H&K
markings. As we do not own the rifle cannot remove
said sticker therefore I am unable to confirm 100%
this to be true.
The handguard does look great, sporting both
20mm picatinny up top and giving up to 300mm-
“I DO APPRECIATE A G36 AND I ALSO LIKE ARES PRODUCTS SO THE TWO GO HAND
IN HAND NATURALLY. THIS IS AN ARES AND IT HAS EBB, IT HAS THE EFCS, AND IT IS
FULLY TRADEMARKED, SO WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE?”
www.airsoftaction.net 27

ARMOURY
ARES G39 EBB IDZ
plus of rail, and the KeyMod offers up a vast amount
of room for tactical accessories; being made of CNC
alloy makes it much stronger than the standard
plastic counterpart. Because the handguard is much
thinner than normal, battery choice is crucial as there
isn’t much room in there. I struggled to fit a Turnigy
1400mah 7.4v in and get the handguard back on, so
maybe a dummy PEQ battery box might be a good
option here.
NIGGLY THING
Removing the handguard to access battery storage
is done by way of a flat tool to remove one screw
and the handguard simply slides off. Housed in the
handguard you get a 450mm one-piece aluminium
outer barrel featuring a realistic mock gas block and
piston. The inner barrel provided in this is a whopping
500mm which is made from brass, so let’s talk
barrel shall we? Now it always pains me when I find
problems with items that I like because I expect them
to be good, and it is difficult knowing that I have to
report my findings.
Now what I found was a niggle that truly amazed
me, that this could and did in fact happen! When
test firing I discovered that the BBs were immediately
dropping with little to no distance, so I attempted
to adjust the hop up. To my dismay I was getting no
change in the BBs trajectory which I found a tad odd
seeing as though this is a box fresh item. I had to see
what would cause this, and what I found was not a
flaw in materials nor was it a flaw in the design, but,
and this is a first for me, I have to say the barrel and
the hop rubber were installed upside down strangely!
There could be several explanations here, but
it obviously happened during the manufacturing
process. A part or parts like these will be handassembled,
so it is human error sadly. We are humans
after all, and we are not perfect, with the exception
of me of course! It was a simple solution just spin it
180 degrees and reinstall; unfortunately due to the
mishap the original hop rubber had been slightly
damaged and for the purpose of testing I had to fit a
new hop rubber which I conveniently had available.
After discussion within the team and subsequently
with the guys at iWholesales, we believe this to be a
one off and no other stock item has been affected like
this… it seems like even the mighty ARES suffer from
“Friday Afternoon Syndrome” just like the rest of us
mere mortals!
NEATLY FEATURED
The CNC KeyMod handguard in conjunction with
the unique and interesting IDZ adjustable stock gives
the dated design a much more modern twist, I think
that is why it appealed to me as much as it did with
its modern appearance. The IDZ stock gives two- way
adjustment both in length and height so you can tailor
the overall length and set the cheek rest. You can still
fold the stock but even with folding the stock it’s still
fairly long. As I said earlier, perched up on top you get
that 330mm of 20mm picatinny section, so there’s
plenty of room for all manner of sights/dots/ optics
and incorporated are iron sights, although these are
very basic and non-adjustable so I would recommend
“I HAD TO SEE WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS, AND WHAT I FOUND WAS NOT A FLAW IN
MATERIALS NOR WAS IT A FLAW IN THE DESIGN, BUT, AND THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME,
I HAVE TO SAY THE BARREL AND THE HOP RUBBER WERE INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN
STRANGELY!”
28
SEPTEMBER 2022

ARMOURY
ARES G39 EBB IDZ
a red dot of some form at the least.
There are lots of features I do like on this platform,
one of which is the EBB (electric blowback). Although
opinions differ, even within the AA Crew, I personally
think all AEG’s should have it for that added bit of
realism, something all airsofters dream about LOL!
This for me is a first on a G36 variant, a locking
bolt, and it took me a while to figure it out but it
works and makes hop adjustment easier. Just rack
the charging handle and push the little button in the
trigger guard to lock it open and to release pull the
charging handle and let go, quite satisfying actually!
Another little feature I appreciate is the fire mode
which many platforms do not offer, and that is the
two BB burst; this is made possible due to the ARES
EFC System which unlike the Amoeba platforms sits
on the exterior of the gearbox. The gearbox being
a V3 design looks to be quite a solid construction,
almost over-engineered, and has a quick change
spring for easy velocity adjustment, although it does
require some level of disassembly to get to the spring,
but it is very easy and comes apart just like the real
thing.
This is powered by what ARES claim to be a high
torque flat motor, but upon inspection is just a
standard ARES short shaft motor. Velocity stated was
0.8 Joule which is equates to around 290fps, but
again this was not the case. Due to the barrel and
hop rubber being incorrectly inserted it was down
to around 230fps. After I had reinstalled a new hop
rubber and got everything in the right way thankfully
it was up to 315fps on a 0.20g Bushido BB.
DOWNRANGE
Using a 7.4v 1400mah LiPo battery it is pretty
responsive due to the EFCS making semi-auto shots
faster and on full-auto it will pump out 15 BBs per
second. The two BB burst is great giving a double
tap on one trigger pull, and is convenient just in case
that first BB doesn’t contact. When firing there is the
very satisfying electric blowback which operates the
mock bolt; it would be nice if it were a bit louder and
heavier like the EBB on my ARES UMP45; now THAT is
very satisfying and gives a nice metallic sound.
I haven’t been able to game test this yet sadly but
the testing I have done in a controlled environment
has shown that even though there are areas I am
not 100% happy with, but even with the little issues
surrounding the barrel and hop rubber it actually
performs very well once properly set up. Due to the
500mm barrel it can really stretch a BB out there; on
my 50m range it will easily hit a man-sized target all
day long, but the downside is the 45BB magazine
supplied as standard runs out very quickly which is
very annoying! I am unsure at this stage as to whether
there are higher capacity mags available. Range
testing was done using 0.25g and 0.28g bushido BBs
and both performed well, both finding the target
although the 0.28g was considerably slower due to
the amount of hop needed to get it flying straight.
Would I own an ARES G39 EBB? Yes, it would
make for a great outdoor rifle and with a little work I
could squeeze much more distance from it and really
utilise the length if the 500mm inner barrel. A massive
“thank you” to the guys at www.iwholesales.co.uk
for letting me check out this platform, and thanks for
listening to my feedback as always when I reported
the barrel/hop issue!
I know it isn’t a “new hot” release, but as a G36
user already I liked the look of it; if you do too and
you’re in the neighbourhood then pop on down to
Bespoke Airsoft and check one out for yourself! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 29

INSIDE AIRSOFT
SHIELD SPORTS
IN OUR “INSIDE AIRSOFT FEATURES WE ALWAYS TRY TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO THE PEOPLE
AND COMPANIES THAT DRIVE OUR BELOVED GAME FORWARD, AND SHIELD SHOULD BE A NAME THAT
MANY OF YOU WILL RECOGNISE ALREADY, BUT PERHAPS NOT IN THE FORMAT OF SHIELD SPORTS THAT
BRINGS THEM FULLY INTO “OUR WORLD OF AIRSOFT”!
So, SHIELD? Who are they, and why are they
important when it comes to airsoft now?
Any of you out there that are seriously into
your MilSim or Action Air will know their name as
SHIELD produce some of the very finest optics in
the world, optics that grace the firearms of military,
professional, and competition shooters alike! This is
very much “real deal” territory folks, with prices to
match, but anyone that owns a SHIELD optic knows
just how very good they are, and understands that
money spent equals some SERIOUS performance; a
couple of the Red Cell crew run Reflex Mini Sights on
their G-Series MOS pistols and love them!
We spoke directly to Justin, their Business
Development Manager (and a pretty darn impressive
IPSC shooter too!) and he explained that SHIELD as
an entity was was formed in the early 1980’s in Great
Britain, and have developed a proven track record
in providing SF Advanced Shooting Training and in
developing innovative products, including specialist
suppressed weapons for Special Forces, suppressor
and folding stock capabilities for the Accuracy
International British Army sniper rifle , electronic
target systems and range construction, and of course
their very own Mini Red Dot Solutions.
30 Years on they are now a market-leading
innovator, manufacturer and provider who are
passionate about rapid target acquisition and
ultra-efficient engagement… and indeed all things
shooting for both the recreational and professional
user! In recent years they have built Mini Red Dots
for companies including JP Rifles (JPoint) and Trijicon
(REDDOT), marketed under their own brands, and
they were the first importer to bring in the hugely
popular .22LR 15/22 Smith & Wesson Rifle to the
UKin a meaningful way (again, there’s a couple of
32
SEPTEMBER 2022

INSIDE AIRSOFT
SHIELD SPORTS
the AA crew that own these excellent rimfires!). They
also work with other top-tier brands such as Dissident
Arms, JP Rifles, Vudoo Rifles, Nordic Rifles, RMT
Triggers and Doveplates!
We think it’s fair to say that if you are looking for
“performance” in virtually any area of shooting sports
then SHIELD have genuinely “got your six”, but the
SHIELD team never stand still and they continue to
design, implement, manufacture, and ably represent
products that enable shooters of all flavours to “Hit
the Target Earlier”, and for a fast-paced shooting
sport like airsoft this is exactly what we are looking
for!
As always though, time moves forward and given
the growth of performance shooting in airsoft, both
in tactical and practical terms, SHIELD SPORTS was
created to allow them to expand their portfolio of
brands represented away from the core business
of SHIELD and provide them with better visibility
to their wider customer base… US! Having strong
relationships outside of their red dot business has
always been vital and through the SHIELD SPORTS
Brand it has allowed them to increase and expand the
company with exciting new brands coming on board
regularly. Their aim is to be able to offer all customers
the best products from the very best brands all
conveniently located in one place. Representing some
of the biggest names in the industry and including
them alongside their range of airsoft products is
testament to the level of quality they are able to bring
to the table.
By offering premium brands all in one place, the
guys at SHIELD SPORTS felt it gave customers who
may not have something specific in mind the ability
to browse all the products, some of which they may
not have considered in the past. At SHIELD SPORTS
they are always on the look out for new and exciting
brands to work with from all over the world and by
doing so offer us the opportunity to buy kit otherwise
much harder to source.
years with KMR Precision Arms on the development of
the newly released to the UK Market S01 Long Barrel
pistol. In choosing to partner with an industry leading
firearms manufacturer they gained the ability to bring
to the UK a product with levels of support, and quality
rarely seen in our small and very specific marketplace.
SHIELD SPORTS now carry the long line of accessories
and customisable products for the KMR Precision
Arms line of firearms for those with a FAC.
With a background in innovation and engineering
it was just a matter of time before SHIELD decided to
launch their own range of products, manufactured
in the UK. To complement the ever popular KMR S01
they decided to offer a range of “Go faster” parts
and make them available for sale. Traditionally parts
required for .22RF versions of firearms had to be
bought overseas and then worked on to make them
function correctly. With the designs and specifications
for their own products it enabled SHIELD to make
parts that were ready to fit from the outset and
needed no work.
Moving on though, probably the name that we as
airsofters will also recognise immediately is that of
KRISS USA; in choosing to work with KRISS the SHIELD
team felt it was a simple and extremely valid choice to
bring into the UK market their range of innovative .22
Rifle Products. We’re told that their Vector and DMK
rifles are a firm favourite for customers in the UK and
sales continue to do well with the rifles often seen on
the UK dynamic shooting scene.
And of course with a direct line to KRISS USA,
SHIELD SPORTS also have a fabulous connection with
KRYTAC! As a division of KRISS USA and producer of
some excellent airsoft replicas that have a huge player-
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Let’s be under no illusion that SHIELD SPORTS still has
a foot very firmly in the “real steel world”, and we’ve
included all the brands here to give this overview
some fullness, and whilst not directly pertinent to
airsoft, the fact that they offer a fabulous portfolio
for the .22 shooter as part of their offering really
shows that what they have for airsoft has a very solid
backstop in shooting sports overall, and it’s refreshing
to see a company acknowledging that airsoft is exactly
that, a bona fide shooting sport!
For example, SHIELD have been working for many
www.airsoftaction.net 33

INSIDE AIRSOFT
SHIELD SPORTS
following globally, the decision to offer their premium
range of AEGs was a simple one for SHIELD SPORTS,
as with versions of their real firearms now available
in an airsoft platform the move to offer them as well
was a no brainer. SHIELD SPORTS offer the full range
of products available under all of the KRYTAC brands.
A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
As shooters themselves at the highest level, just like
all of us at Airsoft Action the guys at SHIELD SPORTS
recognise “upgrade excellence” when they see it,
not just in the real firearms world, but also in respect
of airsoft replicas, and in the airsoft market “Airsoft
Surgeon AKA Clarence Lai” is a legend! Regular
readers of AA will know that we have a deep and
long-term friendship with Clarence, but we love his
creations and products not because of who he is
(although this undoubtedly helps as he’s an awesome
guy!) but because of the performance they endow on
our GBBs and AEGs!
His top-shelf pistols and rifles have for years been
both inspirational and aspirational to most and
cherished by those lucky enough to own them, and of
course now after several years the brand has moved
on to Clarence Lai Product Design (CLPD). Along
with that change comes a host of new and exciting
upgrade parts and even rifles from the man himself;
we’ve already featured some of the new offerings
both in terms of reviews from Stewbacca and Jimmy
as parts and excitingly fresh RIFs have appeared, and
we’ll continue to do so as the depth of the CLPD
range develops forward.
Again like us, the team at SHIELD SPORTS have
recognised the innovative nature of CLPD products,
and as the UK and European distributor they are able
to offer the full range available from stock in the
UK; this will undoubtedly be of HUGE benefit to all
players in Europe as it removes some of the pain of
international shipping, which quite frankly is still a
major issue for many of us. Obviously we’re delighted
by this arrangement, and we look forward to working
even more with both Clarence and SHIELD SPORTS
when it comes to thorough testing of all the products!
Stewbacca and Jimmy will continue to look
at parts for pistol upgrades as this range gets
bigger, and as it’s no secret that we’re fans of the
VegaForceCompany (VFC) GBB rifle and carbine
models (there are several users of these within the
AA Crew!) thanks to our friendship with Clarence
we’ve actually had the A+ STUDIOS/CLPD drop-in
upgrade kit in hand for a while, along with a rather
splendid floating valve and a Crusader Tech 2-Stage
that Clarence sent Bill as a gift for his BCM MCMR
GBBR… and oh, boy, are they cool! The guys at
SHIELD SPORTS tell us “we consider this upgrade kit
a must have for anyone using the VFC platforms in
airsoft games or Action Air”, and
we couldn’t agree more!
FIELD READY
With their initial offering SHIELD
SPORTS seem to have covered
off many important areas of
airsoft; obviously they have
optics of the very highest quality,
they have high-standard AEGs to
offer, and some seriously good
upgrade parts too! As far as we
can see, if they find the right
GBB brand to work with they’ll
have an offering that is 100%
killer, with no filler!
34
SEPTEMBER 2022

INSIDE AIRSOFT
SHIELD SPORTS
But what about gear we hear you ask? Yup, they’ve
got that covered too! Grey Ghost Precision have been
making custom firearms for the US Military for many
years with their origins dating back to the creation
of their GGP S Series Heavy in .308. From there, and
multiple rifle and pistol builds later, the decision was
made to create Grey Ghost Gear (GGG) in order
to apply those same manufacturing qualities and
produce unique equipment tailored to the needs of a
specific market. At SHIELD SPORTS they’ll be carrying
a selection of GGG Field Kit and load bearing systems
and hope to grow these lines to be able to offer their
full range of products!
For those that don’t know (and you really should,
shame on you!) on their old website (it’s currently
being updated) Grey Ghost Gear tells us that:
“Grey Ghost Gear is a Service Connected Disabled
Veteran owned manufacturer of Tactical Equipment
for the individual operator. We remain relevant to the
customer by being in constant contact with military
front line users and first responders. Their feedback is
the most important aspect in price point, gear design,
and manufacturing.
We specialize in utilizing new fabrics
and emerging camouflage patterns to
ensure that our customer is afforded
cutting edge designs and construction.
Grey Ghost Gear realizes that we have
the best customers in the world, with the
most important job in the world.”
This is righteous kit used by those at
the “sharp end” that has been made
available for more general use, and the
quality shows no compromise for the
tactical user. Bill has had some if their kit
in his gear locker for a number of years,
and if you see him out in his PenCott
loadout he’ll undoubtedly be carrying his
much-loved Lightweight Assault Pack, so
we can already say that Grey Ghost Gear
has been tried, tested, used and abused
by us for some time, and has NEVER been
found wanting in an airsoft setting!
So, in conclusion the team at SHIELD
SPORTS have small but beautifully formed
collection of airsoft related products for
us to take notice of, and if like some of
us you’re also a rimfire shooter, then this
offering is doubly important!
Airsoft continues to grow and expand
on a global basis, so you could ask if this
is another instance of a company from
the “real steel” side of things trying to
jump on the back of a closely-related growth area?
We’d have to say a categorical NO as although
SHIELD are undoubtedly at the “tip of the spear” in
the professional-user arena, what they have chosen
carefully to offer in their airsoft range shows clear
direction and real commitment along with a true
understanding of an associated yet very different
market!
Their continued support and sponsorship for events
like The Airsoft Surgeon Championship shows that
they are genuinely interested in what we do, and
not just coming at it from a wholly “all business”
standpoint. Behind SHIELD SPORTS are guys that
actually care about shooting in all its myriad forms,
and they bring to the party a portfolio of products
that will be of benefit to all of us as airsofters, and
with so many “wannabes” appearing on an almostdaily
basis it’s fabulous to see someone relatively new
to our market doing it so right!
For more information on SHIELD SPORTS and
what they offer please do keep an eye on their social
media channels for regular updates, and visit www.
shieldsports.net @shieldsportsdist.AA
www.airsoftaction.net 35

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
HOME FOR THE
WEEKEND(ER)!
LAST MONTH WE TOOK A LONG, HARD LOOK AT “FAST-SET SHELTERS” AND HOW THE ABILITY TO GET
ONE UP AND RUNNING QUICKLY CAN BE A MAJOR BENEFIT WHEN YOU’RE IN A MILSIM ENVIRONMENT.
THIS MONTH BILL TAKES THIS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN HIS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AS HE LOOKS
AT BIVVYS AND SMALL TENTS THAT ARE IDEAL FOR HITTING YOUR FAVOURITE WEEKENDER!
C’mon, who doesn’t love a good weekender?
As I write I’ve just started getting the team set
for the National Airsoft Festival (NAF) 2022
here in the UK, and we’re all really looking forward
to spending some quality time camping over the
Bank Holiday down in the New Forest at Ground
Zero! Whilst this is by no means a “survival setting”
(although some would no doubt disagree, but
that’s “survival” in a very different way!), we will be
creating our home for the duration when we arrive,
and this will include everything you’d expect for
three nights camping under the stars!
Returning to my old adage that “any fool can be
uncomfortable” I’ll be ensuring that the guys and I
have everything that we’ll need in hand before we
set off; okay, “fighting kit” is down to the individual,
but I will make certain that everyone has somewhere
sheltered and dry to sleep, a decent sleep system,
food, and above all lots of fluids. We’ll be looking
at “team roles” in issues to come as a CAGE topic,
but one of the most vital in my mind, and one that
is often overlooked to the detriment of the team, is
that of “quartermaster” or “the guy that looks after
logistics”.
As I get older I like to bring my experience of
many battles fought and many games played to the
team; whilst I may not charge as hard as I used to,
or indeed have the energy to kick doors at will, my
experience of attending many games both at home
and abroad can now be valuable to my younger
team members who are now finding their own path
in this respect. Add to this my many years in the
outdoor pursuits/performance industry and I believe
it’s fair to say I have a pretty good grasp of “outdoor
living skills”.
Now whilst this is not overtly “tactical” those
same skills do cross over into a game situation, and
some of the basic decisions as to which bivvy or tent
to choose, how and where to pitch said shelter, and
how to operate from it effectively over an extended
period of time all have a bearing on how well you
as an individual will perform. Being able to get your
game on for one day is fine, but how are you going
to perform without decent rest, and a stable base
where you can police up all your necessary kit?
“WE’LL BE LOOKING AT “TEAM ROLES” IN ISSUES TO COME AS A CAGE TOPIC, BUT ONE OF
THE MOST VITAL IN MY MIND, AND ONE THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED TO THE DETRIMENT OF
THE TEAM, IS THAT OF “QUARTERMASTER” OR “THE GUY THAT LOOKS AFTER LOGISTICS”.”
36
SEPTEMBER 2022

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
IN GAME SHELTER
The fact is, in my experience that games where you
are required to camp out overnight tactically are
actually very few and far between unless you’re
getting into the realms of full-on, hardcore MilSim.
For many weekend games your camping site will
either be out of game entirely, or at the very least in
an area where the majority of the action will not be
taking place. Even if your camping area is a quieter
one “in game” where eyepro will still be required,
for the majority of the time once you are actually
inside your tent or shelter this will be inviolate,
and “out of bounds” as long as you keep the door
zipped up.
When you head to a more social weekender like
the NAF then the camping area is physically removed
from the game area, and 100%-not-tactical-in-the
slightest, but although you’re not going to need any
form of cam and concealment the possibility of bad
weather means that your requirements for a tent or
bivvy are largely the same as if you WERE in game, so
one actually equals the other in many ways.
So, what IS the difference between a tent and a
“bivvy”? These days the term “bivvy” is a bit of a
catch-all description that covers everything from a
simple fast-set shelter up to and including what is
basically a single person tent. I looked at the classic
“bivouac” last month, so this month I’ll look at the
more hi-tech solution to the same problem, and
that’s the hooped bivvy.
The Airsoft Action team and I have worked with
Snugpak a LOT over the years, and have huge
respect for what they create, and as their gear is
used, and much loved, by serving military personnel
you can rely on Snugpak to get the job done each
and every time. This is something we know to be
true, as we’ve used the gear extensively around the
globe in differing environmental condition ourselves,
and we’ve never found Snugpak gear to be anything
less than exemplary. To this end the bivvy I use
personally is the Ionosphere. This is effectively an
extremely compact and lightweight two pole, one
person tent. The Ionosphere has an extremely low
profile and is great for those looking for a stealthy
sleeping solution sturdier than a basha, tarp, or bivvy
bag but not as bulky and heavy as a traditional tent.
The Ionosphere flysheet is a lightweight 210t
Polyester RipStop pu with a 5000mm waterproof
polyurethane coating, whilst the inner is constructed
of 190t Nylon and 50D Polyester No-See-Um-Mesh;
all seams are tape sealed. Both poles are high-quality
DAC Featherlite NSL anodized models with easy and
quick to use pressfit connectors, made from TH72M
aluminium, and there’s also some great alloy stakes
included. Both inner and outer feature a single,
angled door with two way zips. There’s also a small
Repair Kit included should you need to make repairs
can be made on the move (or indeed any time you’re
away from home!).
The weight of the basic tent (Fly, Inner Tent &
Poles) is a measly 1.2kg/2.64lbs with the total weight
(Fly, Inner Tent, Poles, Stakes, Repair Kit & Carry
Case) coming in at 1.52kg/3.35lbs. The Ionosphere
takes up little space in your pack but offers a
luxurious 240cm x 111cm x 96cm sleeping space
once erected.
SNUGPAK IONOSPHERE
www.airsoftaction.net 37

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
The black inner is pitched first, and can be used on
its own in dry, hot weather environments where you
still need protection from biting bugs and nasties,
and it’s simply a case of pushing the two individually
marked poles through corresponding, colour coded
pole sleeves and then pegging it out with the alloy
stakes. If the fly is needed it has velcro attachment
points which are affixed to the poles, and then this
too is pegged out as well. Once you’ve practiced
a few times you can get the whole thing up in a
matter of minutes.
Once up this is exceptionally sturdy, and although
I haven’t yet used it in very high winds, given the low
profile and amount of pegging/guy points I guessing
that it would stay put once properly set. The angled
inner and outer doors make ingress and egress
straightforward, and there’s even enough space to
drag in your pack with you. The minus side of the
low profile though is that you’re not going to sit up
straight once you’re in, but there’s certainly enough
length for me to lay out flat, and I’m 6’2!
This is a very impressive small and compact tent
by anyone’s standard, and the design allows a free
flow of air, negating condensation build up; for this
reason only I’d have to say this is a three rather than
four season design, but the fly certainly shrugs off
even the heaviest of rainstorms as I found out in the
Brecon Beacons on a number of adventures!
BASECAMP LUXURY!
Now as good as the Ionosphere is if you’re more “in
game” than out, I do like a little more space to play
with if I’m going to be out more than a couple of
nights! This is where my Scorpion 3 tent comes in,
and this is most certainly what I’ll be taking to the
New Forest with me!
The Snugpak Scorpion 3 weighs in at just 3400g
and is a nominal three-person base camp and
expedition tent for when a semi-permanent camp is
required. The Scorpion design is a ‘fly-first’ pitch that
allows quick and easy set-up using an opposing pole
design, protecting you all year round from severe
weather conditions.
A tried and tested design that is a favourite
of mountaineers, climbers and adventurers, the
Scorpion 3 has an impressive floor space, measuring
2.25m long and 1.75m wide, as well as 1.1m of
headspace, creating ample room for three people in
a top-toe sleeping arrangement, or enough space for
two people and all their gear; indeed, just for me it
will be somewhat luxurious!
In terms of “fabric technology” the Scorpion 3 is
SNUGPAK SCORPION 3
38
SEPTEMBER 2022

OUTDOOR
TACTICAL OUTDOOR DEVELOPMENT
right up there with some of the best; the Flysheet
is 210t 100% polyester ripstop with (5000mm HH)
waterproof polyurethane coating, whilst the Inner
tent is 190t 100% nylon inner fabric, with a 50D
polyester No-See-Um-Mesh (1600 holes per square
inch). With a high standard of outer protection the
Groundsheet is 190t 100% nylon with (5000mm
HH) waterproof polyurethane coating in a “bathtub”
style, which means that water is not going to get in
and soak you from underneath! Rounding things out
the Scorpion 3 comes with industry-leading DAC®
Featherlite NSL® Anodised Aluminium Poles with
pressfit connectors, and these are colour-coded for
ease of pitching.
The design also offers a spacious front porch for
storing equipment and cooking in really bad weather.
As it comes in simple olive green the Scorpion 3 is an
ideal, fully waterproof and windproof design that’s
ideal for airsoft weekenders, even during the winter
months.
BOTTOM LINE
On both these models I’ve gone quite heavily into
detail on the fabrics and components as I believe that
what’s used by Snugpak is currently amongst the
best you’ll find out there unless you get into full-on
expedition-level gear. I hope that this will give you a
few pointers on what to look for when it comes to
buying a really serviceable hooped bivvy or tent for
yourself.
The bottom line of course is that neither of these
models is what you’d class as “cheap”, and of
course if you’re only going to use this type of kit very
occasionally then a simple, cheap-as-chips “pop-up
festival tent will probably do you! However, if you
have any intention of using your shelter regularly
for airsoft, and indeed for other outdoor adventures
then you need to look at your shelter as a longerterm
investment.
Even an Ionosphere or Scorpion 3 is going to set
you back LESS than a baseline TM NGRS AEG, but in
the right situation will mean that you’re going to be
able to USE that cherished AEG more than you might
think, for longer durations as you visit more sites,
further away from home, and stay comfortably the
night before, and even after, a game.
And now when it comes to “camo solutions”,
Snugpak has a whole collection of products featuring
the brand’s best-selling “Terrain Pattern”. You
can now mix and match products to offer both a
simple camping setup, and a more tactical one! A
“Terrain” flysheet is now available for anyone like
me who already owns an Ionosphere so that this
really becomes an “in-game item”, and I’m hoping
that Snugpak will soon also offer an upgrade for
the Scorpion 3. I’ve just got the new flysheet and it
marries up perfectly with my existing bivvy, and at
a quarter of the cost of a new Ionosphere it means
that my old bivvy now has a new lease of life… I just
wish the same could be said of its user!
I’ll be taking a break from “TOD” next month
as we have another special issue planned, but in
October I’ll be back to talk about sleep systems that
can serve you year round, but for now, for more
information on the Ionosphere, the Scorpion 3 and
all the other great kit offered by Snugpak please pay
them a visit at www.snugpak.com AA
“... IF YOU HAVE ANY INTENTION OF USING YOUR SHELTER REGULARLY FOR AIRSOFT, AND
INDEED FOR OTHER OUTDOOR ADVENTURES THEN YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOUR SHELTER AS
A LONGER-TERM INVESTMENT.”
www.airsoftaction.net 39

KIT & GEAR
PENTAGON TACTICAL
MAX-ED
TACTICOOL!
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT BRAND PENTAGON ARE ONE OF THE “QUIET PERFORMERS” WHEN IT COMES
TO THEIR ATHLETICALLY-INSPIRED YET PRACTICAL TACTICAL GEAR! BILL TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT WHAT
PENTAGON HAVE BEEN UP TO RECENTLY AND DIVES INTO SOME OF THEIR LATEST MODELS AS WELL AS
SOME TRIED AND TESTED CLASSICS!
A
good part of my working life revolves around
being at the range in the woods I’m constantly
looking at gear and putting it through its
paces. I’m on the range every week, testing new AEGs
and GBBs and training too, polishing my “skills and
drills” or getting in some target shooting for accuracy.
Of course when I’m not testing I still enjoy
“getting out there”, and these days I’m finding
that I increasingly wear what I find comfortable and
practical, and what works for me, both for airsoft
and for more general “outdoor pursuits”. As always I
look for high levels of performance from my clothing
specifically as this forms my “first line of defence”
against the elements. I’ve said it before and I’ll say
it again; it’s all too attractive to go for the cheapest
clothing option and then suffer for it later. Like any
outdoor pursuit a day (or indeed multiple days!)
playing airsoft or training can mean that you face
varying temperatures and conditions, and if you take
things into a longer operational situation where you’re
going to be out overnight having the right kit will
make all the difference.
I really like the fact these days that many tactical
clothing manufacturers are making kit that you can
use both for playing and for use on and off the range;
whilst the fabrics and technologies are still way up
there in terms of performance, the design elements
mean that you can have clothing that is not just
going to give protection from wind and rain, but that
actually looks kind of cool too!
Pentagon seem to be right at the very forefront of
this; way back at IWA 2017 I saw some absolutely
stunning kit on their stand, and I’m pleased to say
that their focus on “hi-speed, lo-drag” clothing and
gear continues to drive forward. The gear looks in
some ways like that I have used for rock climbing
and mountaineering, but with a “shooters” slant
and extra features built in. Pentagon also look very
closely at the colours they used in their palette,
mixing brights (great for the “practical shooters”
and PAMG crowd!)!) with different tones of grey and
some visually appealing earth tones, giving us massive
choice when it comes to “rangewear”.
“PENTAGONOS”, FIVE-ANGLED!
So for newer players that may not have come across
this brand before, let me recap a little if I may; who
are Pentagon and where have they come from? Well
to start the ball rolling their name is actually pretty
cool in itself. Pentagon (pentagonos) is a noun of
ancient Greek origin meaning “five angled”. In the
Pentagon logo the five angles symbolise the human
form itself with
the head and
four limbs, along
with the five
senses of sight,
sound, touch,
smell, and taste.
Pretty cool,
right?
In terms
of making
gear though
Pentagon has been active in the field of military
clothing and accessories since 1991 when the
40
SEPTEMBER 2022

KIT & GEAR
PENTAGON TACTICAL
company started in Germany as a modest retail shop
selling new and used military surplus goods. In 1993
the business moved and expanded with the opening
of a new wholesale warehouse in Northern Greece.
In the late 90’s a new generation of customers
were showing up searching for military and law
enforcement clothing and gear with technologically
advanced fabrics, new and improved pocket
arrangements and contemporary well-fitting styles.
Most of these products demanded could only be
found in recognised outdoor sports brands and in
colours that were not appropriate for the military and
law enforcement sector.
That is when Pentagon decided to fill this gap,
and they started by looking for manufacturers and
partners that were producing gear for leading outdoor
companies so as to acquire a thorough understanding
of the technology of modern fabric construction
and material functionality. They invested in the art
of pattern making so they could achieve the perfect
fit for high-intensity activities that also provided
high levels of comfort and an aesthetic which was
missing from the classic military and law enforcement
products at the time.
Finally after many years of research and
development and working closely with Military,
Police, Fire Fighters, Rescue and Security teams they
developed a totally new product series which came to
be known as “Tactical Sportswear”. This was their
answer to an advanced military clothing and gear
concept which incorporates quality, technology, design
and aesthetic all in one package and their motto to
complement all this is “Gear Up!”
GOOD GEAR FOR GOOD PEOPLE!
With an established presence in both the tactical and
outdoor markets Pentagon are not a manufacturer to
sit on their hands, and the latest models that Jase and
I saw at IWA take things a step further in all ways!
Pretty much gone are the “square cut cargo pants”
and “boxy field jackets” of old, replaced by some
really cutting edge design elements
designed for fast-paced,
dynamic users.
One area that is often
overlooked in relation to
your clothing system is that of
the next to skin, or “base” layer.
Pentagon have addressed this with
a number of updated styles but my
personal favourite is the LEVANTES
CREW NECK SHIRT. The Levantes
(along with the accompanying
Levantes buttoned Henley) is a breathable, lightweight
and stretchable short sleeve activity shirt made of
quick-drying 190 g/m2 Micro-Pique cotton material,
with comfortable fit. Offering maximum freedom of
movement and comfort all day long, the Levantes is
perfect to wear as a tactical base layer, at the gym,
range, or when out and about in the great outdoors.
A relatively new addition to the line, the RANGER
TAC-FRESH SHIRT is a classic UBACS style with
the Pentagon slant! Designed to provide maximum
comfort while wearing heavy
body armour
systems and assault vests, the
shirt features a classic
collar, quarter zip
front closure, forearm
pockets secured
with zippers, hookand-loop
adjustable
cuffs, and fully
articulated elbows
and underarm
gusset provide
remarkable
freedom of
movement.
Made from a highly breathable 215gsm Ripstop
material that incorporates mechanical stretch yarns,
it provides enhanced performance and agility during
periods of increased activity, while the flexible main
65% Polyester 35% Cotton body ensures enhanced
moisture control and a compressed fit throughout the
day. The Ranger Tac-Fresh Shirt was explicitly designed
for use in a variety of environments and seasons
which make it a perfect partner for your airsoft
adventures!
As I write we’re experiencing a milder period after
the intense heat of the past few days, and I’m most
definitely not needing a full fleece, so the PENTAGON
THESPIS SWEATER VEST is an
absolutely perfect “halfway house”
for cooler evenings. Made from
lightweight and breathable
PolyCotton material, the
Thespis Sweater Vest features
a full front YKK zipper, high
collar, a large hood for added
protection, two seamless hand
pockets and soft inner lining
for added comfort. The Thespis
Sweater Vest offers excellent
freedom of movement with
good protection against the
wind and cold weather and is
www.airsoftaction.net 41

KIT & GEAR
PENTAGON TACTICAL
perfect as “off duty” casual wear as well as on the
range. Although this is not a new design, it’s one I’m
pleased to see still in the line as it’s proved to be a
real winner year-round.
If you do need to start layering up against the cold
though, Pentagon offers some really great options
and I have two models to recommend here. The
ARKOS FLEECE SWEATER is a comfortable tactical
sweater featuring a double backed super-fine fleece
for added warmth, high collar and durable full YKK
zipper with a chin guard. The HERCULES FLEECE
JACKET 2.0 takes things up a notch, and comes
with double-backed super-fine
fleece
for high levels of warmth,
a high
collar with large protective
hood, and a two-way
full front YKK zipper
with a chin guard.
Additionally, the
Hercules Fleece 2.0
features multiple
pockets, gusseted
under arms with
ventilation zippers,
adjustable cuffs and
bottom hem, and
soft-shell reinforced
forearms and elbows for added durability!
The GERAKI JACKET is a model that’s been in
Pentagon’s line for a while now, but I have to say
that it is one of my favourites! The Geraki is a warm
and ultra-lightweight down
liner jacket with duck down
insulation, super soft
Nylon Taslon Rip-
Stop patches and
genuine YKK
zipper hardware.
The jacket
keeps warmth
inside and
offers superb
protection
against really
cold and windy
weather. With
multiple YKK
zipped pockets, elasticated cuffs and adjustable
bottom hem, the Geraki Jacket is ideal to carry in
your pack for those chilly moments or for extra,
immediate warmth if you’re stuck on a cold,
windswept range.
Made of a lightweight and breathable fabric, the
MONLITE JACKET comes with a high collar with
chin guard, three-point adjustable hood and a full
front YKK zipper with a glove-
friendly
pull. The jacket feature two large,
zipped hand pockets with mesh
lining and two internal sleeve
pockets for documents,
keys, or other personal
belongings. A TPUlaminated
membrane
with a waterproof rating
of 8000mm/24h and
breathability 5000g/
m²/24h makes this
shell jacket suitable
for rainy, windy, and
even snowy weather
conditions, while the
underarm ventilation
zippers offer optimal comfort and temperature
management. Ideal for adventures and everyday
outdoor use as well as airsoft, the Monlite Jacket
provides great protection against internal moisture
build-up and inclement conditions while remaining
highly functional and comfortable.
In terms of trousers Pentagon have been really
looking at fit and function; the latest iteration
of their popular BDU 2.0 PANTS are the ideal
counterpart to the Ranger Tac-
Fresh Shirt; these upgraded,
heavy-duty and comfortable
classic BDU 2.0 Pants
feature triple stitching for
extra durability, multiple
storage pockets, reinforced
knees and seat, as well
as genuine YKK zipper
hardware and heavy duty
PRYM snap buttons.
Made from hard wearing
215gsm Ripstop fabric
these are definitely pants
that will stand up to all
you can throw at them!
If you fancy something
a bit more “technical”
with a real hardcore-PMC
look then I’d recommend
you check out the HYDRA
CLIMBING PANTS! These have been designed
to be strong enough for highly demanding outdoor
42
SEPTEMBER 2022

KIT & GEAR
PENTAGON TACTICAL
applications yet comfortable and stylish enough for
casual everyday use. The trousers feature two deep
hand pockets with reinforcement, two rear pockets
with zippers, and spacious side cargo pockets for
spare mags, maps, tools or personal accessories.
What’s more, the pants come with internal ventilation
system with mesh protection for extra breathability
and comfort. With the main body made of 100%
Polyester soft-shell and additionally strengthened with
Nylon Ripstop fabric with 2way stretch elasticity, the
Hydra Climbing Pants are a must-have gear for those
who are interested in getting tough jobs done and the
mission completed!
In addition to their clothing, Pentagon also offers
some pretty cool footwear and although they have
numerous outdoor and tactical style on offer like
the excellent ACHILLES models that a number of
the AA Crew swear by, I have to talk about the
HYBRID TACTICAL BOOTS as Jase recently got
himself a pair! These “fashionable” (really
Jase?) and lightweight boots
have a durable, breathable
lining and anti-slip, rubber
outsole. Resembling
high-top trainers
they feature a
reinforced
heel patch and rubberized ankle protection which
makes them absolutely ideal for rangework, although
I feel they might struggle support-wise on harsher
terrain… although Jase tells me that they’ve worked
well for him in most conditions so far!
NEVER STOP DEVELOPING
To conclude I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention
“GRASSMAN”, Pentagon’s latest camo! Pentagon
say that “other camos Blend... PentaCamo®
GrassMan “ Fuses “ with the environment...” and
it certainly looks very effective from the images I’m
seeing! Based on, but evolving from, their existing
PentaCamo® pattern GrassMan is another “multiterrain”
pattern that looks to highlight the greener
end of the spectrum, and from the images I’ve seen
it is definitely very good in a verdant woodland
environment, which should make it ideal for use in
many countries. The range of products in the new
pattern is still small but features some of Pentagon’s
best tactical designs and a couple of items of field
gear right now, but I’ll be watching this carefully to
see how they roll things out!
Add to what I’ve highlighted here that Pentagon
also offer a solid range of headgear, accessories,
packs and luggage, and all in all you’ve got a very
varied yet extremely logical offering. Each year
Pentagon seems to add new fabrics, designs and
technologies to their range, whilst at the same time
updating and improving what they already have.
My Pentagon Geraki down jacket has seen some
seriously hard abuse, being used on a daily basis
in the Winter months, and accompanying me on
numerous range days, camping trips and outdoor
adventures; it’s proved to be a great investment, and
now it’s beginning to show signs of wear I’ll need to
think about replacing it… and I will most certainly be
replacing it with another Geraki, perhaps this time in
tacticool Coyote Tan!
From personal experience, and the feedback I’ve
got from other members of the team Pentagon really
should be a brand to put on your radar, and you can
check out all the very latest models by visiting www.
military1st.co.uk AA
www.airsoftaction.net 43

THE CAGE
MAGAZINES
THE CAGE:
MAG
UP!
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS WE’VE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGION
LOOK FOR WHEN THEY COME TO SET UP THEIR OWN AEGS AND GBBS AND WHY THEY CHOOSE
WHAT THEY DO. WE’RE GOING TO DRAW THIS CAGE-CYCLE TO A CLOSE NOW AND TO CONCLUDE
WE’LL LOOK AT POSSIBLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ACCESSORIES TO KEEP YOU EFFECTIVE IN-
GAME, AND THAT’S MAGAZINES!
So, you’ve finally got the AEG or GBB that you’ve
always wanted, you’ve set it up just as you like it
with a decent optic and all the accessories that
you ever dreamed of having, and you’re good to go.
You load up with BBs of your favourite weight, and
you’ve chorno’d and tested your new love and joy
with the magazine that came with it, and everything is
set for the best day of airsoft EVER!
Now you’re on the field and having a ball, and your
new baby is performing like no other airsoft platform
you’ve ever owned, and you’re getting kills aplenty!
You blaze through that new mag, scream “MAG!”
and then “UP!” to your team-mates and prepare to
re-engage, and then… nothing happens or you just
hear that deadly “thunk” rather than a solid “pew”.
C’mon, it’s happened to all if us in our “airsoft life”,
and if it hasn’t happened to you yet, one day it WILL!
The fact is that not all airsoft magazines are equal,
and whilst some will fit and feed perfectly in one AEG,
they don’t feed at all in another, or wobble about like
a mad bobblehead! Should we therefore just give up
and buy proprietary or “same brand” magazines to
feed our shooty-beasts, or is there another way?
There sure is, but it takes time and effort to get
right, and means that you’ll have some disastrous
failures as well as screaming successes. Over the
course of my time playing airsoft I’ve tried magazines
from just about every manufacturer out there, and
my own collection for a multitude of platforms is
quite vast. But, and this is a big old but, I know from
experience just which magazines work best with
which platforms, and if I’m taking a particular AEG
out then I know just which mags to load up and place
in my pouches for that day; I totally understand that
this isn’t a luxury that everyone has, especially if you’re
new to airsoft.
“THE FACT IS THAT NOT ALL AIRSOFT MAGAZINES ARE EQUAL, AND WHILST SOME
WILL FIT AND FEED PERFECTLY IN ONE AEG, THEY DON’T FEED AT ALL IN ANOTHER, OR
WOBBLE ABOUT LIKE A MAD BOBBLEHEAD!”
44
SEPTEMBER 2022

THE CAGE
MAGAZINES
My personal advice to you is not to go for the
magazine brand that appears the most “Gucci” on
that particular day, or that which has been endorsed
by an “influenza” of dubious provenance because
they’re getting paid by Brand X this month… go
back to that old adage of “try before you
buy”, and work out which brand fits
with YOUR AEG the best. When
you go to site and have a
range to play with ask
other players politely
which brand they
use, and ask them
if you can spin a
few BBs downrange
with their mag to check
it; most airsofters I know
will be happy to let you kick
out a few BBs, especially if
you’re admiring their mags and
are interested in getting some
yourself.
Big tip though; don’t try a
mag,
find it doesn’t work in YOUR AEG and then
tell the owner that “those mags are sh1t mate” as
the mags in question probably work flawlessly in
THEIR AEG… this has actually happened to me, and
it’s a real “DBAD moment” where your behaviour
can lead to making new friends… or new enemies!
Bottom line here is take the darn time to find out
what works best with your own AEG; my AKs all
love the old MAG 120 Middies, and I generally use
NUPROL 30/125 N-MAGS for my ARs and I use these
both as a benchmark for testing as they fit and feed
in pretty much anything! That said, I have mags from
so many manufacturers, a collection that’s built up
over 25-plus years of playing, and I can normally
find something to fit and work in even the most
recalcitrant and picky platform… apart from that one
CYMA AK “waffle” that doesn’t fit ANYTHING other
than the AEG it came with.
For my GBBRs I do tend to stick with buying
mags from the platform creator, as sadly there still
seems to be next-to-zero commonality across the
gas systems out there! Hopefully one day this will
change, but given that the manufacturers in this
specific arena are all chasing performance through
their own innovation, I don’t see it anytime soon…
If you’re going to avoid that dreaded “thunk”
moment though, trust me when I tell you to test ALL
your mags with the SPECIFIC platform you’re going
to be running before you hit the field… you’ll thank
me when those around you are running dry!
TEAM TALK
As always though I don’t expect you to take my
word as gospel any more than I’d advise you to just
check online to find out which mag am bestest, so
as usual I’ve thrown some questions out to the AA
Legionnaires, and this month it was “What are your
go-to magazines? Do you prefer Drums, His, Mids,
or Realcaps? Do you stick with one brand, or do
you shop around for different mag brands/models,
especially for different platforms?”
Larri: As a dedicated CQB Hi-Capa user I use
ProWin aluminium-made magazines with around 40
BB capacity.
Robbie: I prefer reduced midcaps (reduced in
that I’d add a bit of extra spacer to increase the
spring tension some). In the end I
was running 90BB Mids for the
AK, and or Realcaps. As for
brand or whatnot, it
always depended on what
ran best in which replica.
Pistol and GBB mags; again
what worked in the replica,
but in almost every single case
I found I had to redo the valves.
I guess my question to go along
with this... gas mags, factory,
stock, or aftermarket, they all
mixed well. At the end of my
active playing time in Florida I
was only into GBB replicas. If
I return to airsoft (now I’ve
moved) I’m pretty sure it will
be only gas tuff… but if I
bust into the UK next spring
I’ll use whatever I can borrow!
“MY PERSONAL ADVICE TO YOU IS NOT TO GO FOR THE MAGAZINE BRAND THAT
APPEARS THE MOST “GUCCI” ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY, OR THAT WHICH HAS
BEEN ENDORSED BY AN “INFLUENZA” OF DUBIOUS PROVENANCE BECAUSE THEY’RE
GETTING PAID BY BRAND X THIS MONTH…”
www.airsoftaction.net 45

THE CAGE
MAGAZINES
Boycie: I use standard mags of between 30 and
120 BBs depending on what rifle they are for. For the
KWAs I use their mags and for my other AR-based
platforms I use HexMag or Lancer AWM. For me half
the fun is reloading and having to be aware of how
much ammo is left rather than carrying a huge
maraca of a Hicap. Also I only tend to carry five
or six primary mags, mostly not using them
all in a one hour or so game
Miguel: Well, in Portugal a lot of bigger
events don’t allow Hicap mags, except
for LMGs, so from early on we got used to
using Mid or Lowcaps. I’ve been using the Specna
Arms S-Mags for a while since they feed all my SA AR
replicas; I never had issues and I even have spares. A
good way to keep things simple!
Stewbacca: For me there isn’t much of a choice.
With the exception of Glock-based things there is
rarely any interchangeability with GBB mags, so it’s
a case of real or low capacity sticks or bananas for
everything. Yeah, you can get drums for some GBBRs
but they’re just a bit of a ballache to my mind, not
exactly easy to store or utilise with gear if you do end
up having to change between them or reload, and for
most of my gaming a few hundred BBs on me at any
one time is fine.
Also, I hate tactical maracas like Boycie, so in the
event I do touch an AEG it’s Midcaps all the way! I
basically have at least four mags for every gas gun
I have, some like the WE L85, T91 and HK416 can
share AR mags as they’re interchangeable, as are my
WE MP5s, but everything else is basically proprietary
to each platform. They REALLY should make a
STANAG-style gas system arrangement for gas mag
compatability though…
All my gear is basically stock until something
breaks. I’ve had a few mags I’ve had to reseal every
so often, and sometimes the valves wear, shear off or
the floating bit gets jammed so they need replacing,
but otherwise things tend to work reasonably well. I
do find narrow mags like the PP2K or Vz61 have issue
feeding and firing a full load in some cases, guess
there just isn’t enough gas volume in them. But it
does vary by age/maintenance at times too. Some will,
some won’t… basically we inject gas in and hopefully
our hopes and dreams don’t leak out!
Turgay: I use mid cap. 70-120 BB cap. My brand
choice is like this; 1- AMOEBA, 2- KRYTAC, 3-
NUPROL. I also like KWA mags, but they sometimes
have a problem fitting on other brand AEGs
Dan: For my shop, I have a bit of everything on
hand. So, if a customer has some specific requests
and says they need it to run with Elite Force
mags or BAMF’s, etc. I can be sure to
fully test it with such. But sometimes
it’s often the inverse and I’ll have to
come up with some alternative
magazine options for their
gun that will play nice with
it. Much like in real steel,
bad magazines can be
the source of so many
woes. To my never
ending amusement (and
exasperation), I have
always found
recommending that
customers repair or upgrade
their mags
to be like asking for the blood of their first
born lol. They get weirdly attached to them and
it never occurs that they can wear out or be of such
poor quality as to inhibit feeding.
For my personal use, I’m strictly a Midcap kinda
guy. I use PTS EPM’s or Ares AMAG’s for anything that
takes an AR-style mag, though I also run the original
PTS P-Mag 30/60’s in my KWA guns that have the last
round cutoff. The AK’s are typically running CYMA
Mids because they just plain work. I still am sitting on
a nice stack of unobtanium Real Sword Mids for the
47 pattern stuff. The VFC MP7 takes it’s own mags,
which are modified with PTS springs and followers.
The only “hicap” I use is on the PKM, where I have
the Bullgear insert providing a 7000 BB capacity; go
big or go home as they say!
Chris: Midcaps, Midcaps for all! The only gnu
I have a boxmag for is the Stoner. For the AUG I
use Standard TM 80 BB mags or the 170 BB MAG
midcaps, and generally I take a mix of both out with
me. For my ARs I have some NUPROL 120 BB Mdcaps
Jimmy: I have a mountain of mags, all of which
differ in capacity. First off I like to carry a large
“TO MY NEVER ENDING AMUSEMENT (AND EXASPERATION), I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND
RECOMMENDING THAT CUSTOMERS REPAIR OR UPGRADE THEIR MAGS TO BE LIKE
ASKING FOR THE BLOOD OF THEIR FIRST BORN LOL. THEY GET WEIRDLY ATTACHED
TO THEM AND IT NEVER OCCURS THAT THEY CAN WEAR OUT OR BE OF SUCH POOR
QUALITY AS TO INHIBIT FEEDING.”
46
SEPTEMBER 2022

THE CAGE
MAGAZINES
quantity of BBs as I love playing the role of support.
It doesn’t
matter what the
platform
is, I
WILL give support for my team members. In order to
do this you will need either a good amount of Hicaps
or my favourite, the drum/box mag. I have a drum/box
mag for most of my platforms ranging from 1500BBs
right up to a whopping 3000 count! Drum mags,
because reloads are stooped haha!
I occasionally run with Midcaps which can house
150 BBs but it isn’t often that happens if I am honest.
The major bane of airsoft, the reason I own so many
magazines is due to the vast collection I have compiled
over the years and there doesn’t seem to be any kind
of standard, so there is no such thing as “one mag
fits all”. So many manufacturers are adopting their
own designs so you have to buy more! I am thankful
for the G&G M4/M16 drum mag as this thing just fits
every M4/AR platform I own… which is a bonus and it
is cheaper to buy one drum mag than EIGHT Hicaps at
£30 each… that’s my logic anyhoo! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 47

VENOM BOOTS
■ Lightweight
■ Rubber toe protector
■ Moulded TPU heel stabiliser
■ Internal nylon stabiliser shank
■ Integrated EVA midsole
■ Aggressive, multi-directional grip, rubber sole
■ Moisture wicking lining
Material: 1000D Cordura upper
Sizes: 7-12
Black / Dark Coyote / SRP: £89 .95

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
RED CELL
FREEDOM
FIGHTERS!
IT’S A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO THAT RED CELL FIRST LOOKED AT THEIR PICK OF “TACTICAL AKS”,
AND IN THE INTERIM WE’VE SEEN YET MORE MODERN VARIANTS COME INTO BEING! ALTHOUGH
THE AR IS UNDOUBTEDLY “KING” STILL WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT AIRSOFTERS BUY, THE WIDTH
AND BREADTH OF WHAT’S AVAILABLE FOR THE DIE-HARD OPFORIST JUST KEEPS ON GETTING
BETTER, SO NOW THE TEAM BRINGS THEIR EVALUATIONS UP TO DATE!
50
SEPTEMBER 2022

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
I’m going to keep my intro short for once, as the
Red Cell Crew strangely had a LOT to say about
the modern AK variants they’ve been using and
abusing since we first looked at them in Issue 127! Of
course we’ve seen some new members join the ranks
of our testers like Dan and Stewbacca, and some new
models come into the mix like the excellent ICS AEK
and G&G GK-12 that I looked at in depth recently,
and already love! These new Red Cell members
are proving their depth of knowledge in “all things
airsoft”, and the new models have been added to the
long-term “torture-testing” program, and we’ll no
doubt return to them in due course!
As many have noted the “tacticool AK” has really
opened the doors for more general fielding of what
was perhaps seen as only an “OPFOR gnu”, and
although recent events in Ukraine are still horrifying
out in the real world, what we have seen is some very
good guys doing very good things… with a modern
AK!
No longer is the
humble yet venerable AK
relegated to those who wish to
create a back-to-basics OPFOR
loadout, but instead it is once again
being viewed as a tool of those
modern-day warriors taking up arms to
protect their own freedom, and from
my perspective there is no better
reason than that to fully embrace
the “AK Life”. However, with that
said, Red Cell have really got into
it this month with twelve AK AEGs
coming under the spotlight in one
of our biggest reports to date!
Although we’ve not been able to go into tiny detail
on every model that’s in the test pool this time, we
will come back to them all as the program moves
ever-forward. For now though, if you want the real
lowdown on some of our faves, read on!
Dan: Of the “Big 3” who manufacturer AK-12
replica’s, LCT, E&L and Acturus (I’ve not mentioned the
G&G as obviously this is only just hitting stores!), the
Arcturus is the more unique version amongst these.
This modernized AK replica features a full stamped
steel body, with cast steel accoutrements. Where
it departs from its competitors is in the use of an
aluminium outer barrel, which will be disappointing to
some looking for more authentic detailing. The muzzle
brake is an interesting design that can be removed
to reveal a threaded crown for directly attaching
14x1mm muzzle devices. Unfortunately, many
examples that have come across my bench have these
brakes jammed on severely tight from the factory
and they require some fine hand-fitting in order to be
easily removed without the assistance of tools.
The stock assembly is based off an AR-style buffer
tube, and folds nicely to the left, while locking in
place securely in both the folded and unfolded
positions. It is also adjustable for length of pull and
has a nicely textured rubber buttpad that grips the
shoulder well. This is where Arcturus has a nice leg up
on the competition as their receiver design allows for
a true quick-change spring guide that doesn’t require
lifting the gearbox out to access.
The magazines are nicely made from molded
polymer and have clear viewing windows with round
count markings on the exterior. Overall, these feel
slightly larger than conventional 74 style magazines,
but do seem to feed well and lock in solid to the gun.
The bottom of the magazine was redesigned to have
a flat base for better using the magazine as a support
when firing from the prone.
Much like the real AK-12, this replica features a
4-position selector switch. On the real version, this
would be safe / full auto / burst / semi, but on the
Arcturus, the burst position is actually full auto as the
gearbox lacks any hardware to create an actual burst
function. I personally am not a fan of the selector
design on the Arcturus as it is indistinct and too loose.
The backside uses a piece of tack-welded metal with
a stamped detent, which is technically supposed to
index into the notches on the side of the receiver. It’s
not a very positive and tactile feeling arrangement. On
“NO LONGER IS THE HUMBLE YET VENERABLE AK RELEGATED TO THOSE WHO WISH
TO CREATE A BACK-TO-BASICS OPFOR LOADOUT, BUT INSTEAD IT IS ONCE AGAIN
BEING VIEWED AS A TOOL OF THOSE MODERN-DAY WARRIORS TAKING UP ARMS TO
PROTECT THEIR OWN FREEDOM”
www.airsoftaction.net 51

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
a traditional AK, you would simply slightly bend the
selector to apply more pressure against the receiver
and increase the positivity of indexing. But on the
Arcturus, this is not recommended due to the metal
of the detent plate being rather brittle. It’s also not
something that can be easily swapped out to say, the
LCT selector, without changing all the selector linkage
and axle in the process too.
Unfortunately, much like soldiers have been
dismayed to discover in the field, the replica shares
the same design defect as the real AK-12 in that you
can overshoot the final selector position and render
the gun inoperable. In this case, what happens is the
internal selector axle will fall off the selector plate and
can’t pick it back up, despite rotating the selector to
any other position. In order to remedy it, you have
to pull the gearbox and realign the selector axle and
selector plate. Airsoft manufacturers have a golden
opportunity here to address this design defect and
implement a simple fix, which could be as easy as a
travel limiter on the gearbox or a flange that comes
up the side of the receiver such as on a standard AK-
47/74 style platform.
Love em’ or hate em’ the Arcturus comes equipped
with a Version 3 “hybrid” style gearbox. This uses a
microswitch in lieu of the more traditional mechanical
trigger switch and is basically a copy of the setup
found on the Umarex UMP. The big downside to the
hybrid gearbox design is that it prohibits one from
fitting an aftermarket Electronic Trigger Unit, such as a
Gate TITAN or Perun. Fortunately, most any traditional
Ver. 3 gearbox will fit inside the body. So while it does
incur the additional expense of a gearbox shell swap,
users desiring an ETU do
have options available to
them.
The rest of the gearbox
internals are standard Ver.
3 components. I would
say the gears, piston and
compression components
are very reminiscent of
King Arms internals in
general quality and
finish – or ‘above
average’ . I find the
motor to be slightly
better than the
LCT’s, with more
torque and
responsiveness,
though it’s
slightly muted
by the mushy
trigger design.
In my experience,
these tend to shoot a
little hot out of the box,
with most seeming to
clock in around 1.6 –
1.7J (420 – 430 FPS)
with .20g bbs.
The newest
versions of these
are now sporting
an excellent
rotary style hop
up chamber
that has
a built in
block to
assist in
properly
locking
in the
magazines.
The bucking
is little
better than
“OVERALL, I FEEL ARCTURUS HAS ITS FEET FIRMLY PLANTED IN THE MIDDLE BETWEEN
REASONABLY SOLID BODY CONSTRUCTION AND HAVING BETTER INTERNALS THAN
CYMA, BUT IS PERHAPS MORE LIMITED ON UPGRADE POTENTIAL WITHOUT INCURRING
ADDITIONAL EXPENSE”
52
SEPTEMBER 2022

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
a placeholder and benefits from
replacing. The inner barrel is a 6.02mm
diameter bore and made from steel
that is QPQ processed – a sort of
nitrocarburizing hardening that inhibits
corrosion. With a quality aftermarket
bucking or R-Hop it turns in great
results.
Overall, I feel Arcturus has its feet
firmly planted in the middle between
reasonably solid body construction and
having better internals than CYMA,
but is perhaps more limited on upgrade
potential without incurring additional
expense, namely a gearbox swap if one
wants to use an ETU. On the whole,
the platform will be more eminently
accessible for the user who might need
to immediately downgrade their
spring to meet site limits and isn’t
familiar with the process of
removing a
gearbox
as with
competitor
designs.
Bill: Now in
fairness I have written
about the AK-12 history
before, and Dan has really
commented fully on what he’s
seen on the workbench now
this model has been around for
a while. From my perspective
as a user, and l like the “real
deal” the Arcturus AT-
AK12 is solid as a rock,
and weighs in at a hefty
3480g; if like me you’re
used to a “classic AK”
then this weight feels “right”; this is a bruiser of a rifle
with steel and alloy used throughout the construction.
Like the “real deal” the receiver cover is another
unique feature of the design as it has a permanently
affixed top Picatinny rail where the rear sight assembly
mounts directly to the cover; this of course means that
the rifle is all ready for an optic should you desire to fit
one, and this is mated firmly to the dust cover.
As an AEG it shoots fast, well, and accurately, it’s
built like a tank, and it’s a great length for both CQB
and woodland use (700mm stock folded/880mm
stock open/950mm stock fully extended). With the
two magazines that come with it you’ve got enough
capacity from the box to get in a game straight away,
and in my opinion you would have to go a LONG way
to find as good a thoroughly modern AK for under
UK£300.
Dan: Standing as direct competitor to the Arcturus
in the same pricing bracket, the LCT AK-12 is perhaps
the most prominent and well-known example on the
market as it was amongst the first replicas of the AK-
12 available. These are outfitted with a stamped and
riveted steel body, and a mixture of cast and stamped
external fixtures, including the outer barrel, which is
made from a solid tube of steel. The fit and finish of
the externals is top notch, with everything being tight
and nary a wobble in sight. It soon become apparent
that this is a replica that can take a serious beating
and brush it off like it’s “just another Thursday.”
The stock assembly locks up very securely, and
the release button tends to require some extra force
until it’s truly broken in well. Unlike the Arcturus,
there is no access to the spring guide from back here,
however. While the gun does come with a quickchange
spring guide, there is a reinforcement bar
extending across the top of the receiver, prohibiting
one from accessing it without lifting out the gearbox.
LCT’s AK-12 magazines are probably the main
weakness of this replica, being not as nicely made
as Arcturus and possessing LCT’s traditionally weak
magazine springs. They lack the bullet window design
and the body material feels more like plastic than
polymer. In my experience, most end users of these
typically swap to different brands of magazines in
order to rectify feeding issues.
Moving to the selector switch, we again have a
“FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A USER, AND L LIKE THE “REAL DEAL” THE ARCTURUS
AT-AK12 IS SOLID AS A ROCK, AND WEIGHS IN AT A HEFTY 3480G; IF LIKE ME YOU’RE
USED TO A “CLASSIC AK” THEN THIS WEIGHT FEELS “RIGHT”; THIS IS A BRUISER OF A
RIFLE WITH STEEL AND ALLOY USED THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION.”
www.airsoftaction.net 53

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
CYMA CM.076A
Price: iro UK£135.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 3000g
Length: 530/740mm
Magazine Capacity: 450, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 1.0 Joule/328.9fps
Hot Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332.9fps
Taclite Compatibility: KeyMod
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
E&L ELAKS74UN-A MOD A PLATINUM
Price: iro UK£440.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 3140g
Length: 495/735mm
Magazine Capacity: 120, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 0.92 Joule/315.1fps
Hot Chrono: 0.94 Joule/318.2fps
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
ARCTURUS AT-AK01
Price: iro UK£185.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 3300 g
Length: 800/880 mm
Magazine Capacity: 120,will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 1.03 Joule/334fps (After Spring Change)
Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/331.8fps (After Spring Change)
Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
NUPROL ROMEO NOMAD BRAVO
Price: iro UK£299.00
Age: Four Years
Weight: 3500g
Length: 805/875 mm
Magazine Capacity: 500, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332.9fps
Hot Chrono: 1.03 Joule/333.5.9fps
Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
ICS CXP-ARK
Price: iro UK£365.00
Age: One Year
Weight: 3365g
Length: 638/884mm
Magazine Capacity: 520, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 0.87 Joule/307.4.1fps
Hot Chrono: 0.88 Joule/307.8fps
Taclite Compatibility: Railed Polymer Foregrip
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.icsbb.com
G&G RK74E ETU
Price: iro UK£299.00
Age: Three Years
Weight: 2980g
Length: 690/810mm
Magazine Capacity: 115, Proprietary Magazine
Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps
Hot Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps
Taclite Compatibility: KeyMod
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
54
SEPTEMBER 2022

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
SPECNA ARMS SA-J10 EDGE
Price: iro UK£140.00
Age: One Year
Weight: 3370g
Length: 800 - 885mm
Magazine Capacity: 130 (2), will accept most AK style
Cold Chrono: 1.08 Joule/342.3fps
Hot Chrono: 1.09 Joule/343.9fps
Taclite Compatibility: None (AK105-Length Rail Will Fit)
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.gunfire.com
DYTAC SLR AK105
Price: iro UK£320.00
Age: One Year
Weight: 3200g
Length: 625/800mm
Magazine Capacity: 500, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 1.06 Joule/338.1fps (After Spring Change)
Hot Chrono: 1.07 Joule/340.2fps (After Spring Change)
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail and M-LOK
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk
ARCTURUS AK-12
Price: iro UK£220.00
Age: Two Years
Weight: 3480 g
Length: 700/880/950 mm
Magazine Capacity: 30/130, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 1.13 Joule/336.3fps
Hot Chrono: 1.1 Joule/337.9fps
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail Sections
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com
LCT LCK-12 EBB
Price: iro UK£480.00
Age: Two Years
Weight: 4215 g
Length: 865 - 955 mm
Magazine Capacity: 130, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 1.08 Joule/336.7.9fps
Hot Chrono: 1.08 Joule/338.1fps
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail Sections
Suppressor Compatibility: Dedicated
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
TOKYO MARUI AK102 RECOIL
Price: iro UK£450.00
Age: Seven Years!
Weight: 2960g
Length: 602 - 848mm
Magazine Capacity: 90, 480 Hi-Cap Available
Cold Chrono: 0.95Joule/320fps
Hot Chrono: 0.97Joule/324fps
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail Sections
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
G&G GK-12
Price: iro UK£480.00
Age: New
Weight: 3585g
Length: 880-985mm
Magazine Capacity: 120, will accept most AK-style
Cold Chrono: 1.06 Joule/339fps (After Spring Change)
Hot Chrono: 1.06 Joule/339fps
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail Sections
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: www.guay2.com
www.airsoftaction.net 55

RED CELL
D-DAY TACTICAL SPECIAL AK UPDATE
4-position safe / auto / burst / semi design true to
the real AK-12, with the last two positions actually
being ‘auto’ and ‘semi’, respectively since there is no
provision in the gearbox for an actual burst mode.
This selector functions much like a true AK selector
does in that it slightly curved to apply tension against
the receiver. Thusly, it enjoys distinct and positive
indexing, while being a superior and simpler design to
Arcturus’s offering.
Regrettably, however, our design defect is also
readily apparent here, as the LCT version can also
have a selector plate failure induced by overshooting
the selector position. This issue also exists even if
equipping the gearbox with an ETU, such as the Gate
TITAN – although I feel it’s exacerbated as the change
in wiring position allows the selector plate to slide
forward even more. To wit, if you have the selector
switch just slightly past the last semi-auto notch,
and tilt the rifle muzzle down or give it a light tap
on the buttplate, you can cause the selector plate to
slip out of position. I’ve largely fixed this by gluing a
physical stop to the side of the gearbox shell to limit
the amount of forward travel possible by the selector
plate. But ideally, I would like to see LCT and Arcturus
implement a long-term fix by incorporating a hard
stop into the gearbox molds or changing the trigger
guard design to have an extended flange like the 47/
74 series have.
Moving to the interior, we have a traditional Version
3 gearbox design with the inclusion of a quick-change
spring guide and we’ve bumped up to some beefy
9mm bearings vs. the usual 6 and 7mm stuff more
commonly found in Version 3’s. Upgrade-oriented
individuals will be happy to note that these can accept
pretty much any aftermarket ETU’s too. LCT’s sport
a strong steel gearset, albeit they still suffer from
overly thick axles that require a good deal of leverage
to extract from the bearings. The compression parts
are honestly quite good for a stock gun, featuring a
CNC aluminum piston head, aluminum double O-ring
cylinder head and a POM air nozzle, which also has
an O-ring. These all greatly contribute to the largely
excellent air seal and FPS consistency of LCTs. The
piston is of reasonably good quality and has a sintered
steel rack. A ball bearing steel spring guide is also
standard. I would like to see LCT incorporate a thin
backer plate to prevent spring guide tilt, which is a
problem on these, but for now, users can use the flat
screw from Retro Arms to address this. The motor is
an old design and pretty lackluster in light of modern
Neodymium and brushless fare.
LCT has greatly improved the quality of their inner
barrels since their first inception and now feature a
6.02mm bore diameter with reasonably good internal
finish. Like essentially every AEG ever, the stock
bucking is nothing to write home about. That being
said, it’s balanced out by what I feel is the best OEM
AK chamber made, aside from Real Sword.
At the same price point as the Arcturus, it would
be understandably hard to pick between the two.
The LCT is probably the “best buy” for the end user
who wants something eminently upgradable with
lowered expense as you can retain many of the stock
components. It also has a more genuinely constructed
steel body, and realists will appreciate the steel outer
barrel. It’s held back from true greatness due to
various minor quibbles, most notably the magazine
and anemic motor, as well as the selector switch
flaw. Fortunately, these are all addressable after the
fact, and amongst upgraded AEG’s, the LCT can be
fashioned into a true beast, easily harnessing the
intrinsic accuracy of the Version 3 design.
Bill: Again Dan nails all the crucial points when
it comes to the LCT “take” on the “12”, and my
experience to date with the LCK-12 has been largely
positive. As usual the team at LCT have done a
cracking job by bringing us not only the AK-12, but
also the “larger calibre” AK-15, which of course in
our world will fire the exact-same 6mm BB… I’m not
knocking this as it’s great to have choice, and perhaps
some folk will look to the “762” as a base for some
kind of DMR, but for me at least the AK-12 is the
all-important one here! LCT have looked at the major
design details that make the LCK-12 different to its
forebears, and again as usual, they’ve done a pretty
fabulous job! Although I am certain that some out
there will find fault (like the laughable “trunnion”
debate that came up when the AEG launched…
yawn…) but the fact is that LCT have delivered their
take on the latest Russian military rifle, and a bloody
good take it is too.
The only criticisms I can make is that I wish that
“DAN NAILS ALL THE CRUCIAL POINTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE LCT “TAKE” ON THE
“12”, AND MY EXPERIENCE TO DATE WITH THE LCK-12 HAS BEEN LARGELY POSITIVE.
AS USUAL THE TEAM AT LCT HAVE DONE A CRACKING JOB BY BRINGING US NOT
ONLY THE AK-12, BUT ALSO THE “LARGER CALIBRE” AK-15, WHICH OF COURSE IN OUR
WORLD WILL FIRE THE EXACT-SAME 6MM BB…”
56
JULY 2022

RED CELL
TACTICAL D-DAY AK SPECIAL UPDATE
LCT had added the two-round burst setting of the real
thing and fitted a slightly more robust motor; yup,
that’s it, my only criticisms from a user perspective! If
you like the OPFOR role then the LCT AK-12 will be
the right RIF for you; it has all the benefits of existing
AKs with the added utility of a thoroughly up-to-theminute
design, along with all the benefits of a topquality
AEG!
Stewbacca: As it happens I acquired
my TM AK102 EBB 7 years ago
to the day from
writing this. My
teammate Lewis
and I did a
large order
gas tube and accessed by swinging up the takedown
lever used on the real rifle to release the gas tube.
Thankfully the small batteries I already had were also
a perfect fit for this space so I had interchangeability
between my main guns in terms of power
source.
direct
to Echigoya
in Japan to
directly import
two AK102s one for each of us,
and he also got the M4 NGRS as
well, just arriving in time for a big
Copehill weekender which was also
somewhat of a team reunion for
some of our further flung members
who had moved countries since
our heyday.
I ran my AK102 EBB all
weekend without any issues as
such, I had already acquired four
very small 7.4v LiPo battery units
to fit in the pistol grip of my QBZ97
which is also a pain for battery space.
With the TM AK102 EBB the battery
compartment is in the front of the upper
“THE ONLY CRITICISMS I CAN MAKE IS THAT I WISH THAT LCT HAD ADDED THE TWO-
ROUND BURST SETTING OF THE REAL THING AND FITTED A SLIGHTLY MORE ROBUST
MOTOR; YUP, THAT’S IT, MY ONLY CRITICISMS FROM A USER PERSPECTIVE!”
www.airsoftaction.net 57

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
Running a 6094 style plate carrier with a shingle
magpouch I carried the eight 75 round midcap
magazines in pairs taped together at the bases to
make “jungle mags” which worked excellently for
fast reloads and making the most of a triple mag
shingle by storing three pairs of mags with the front
ones hanging out in free space and the rear ones
fully retained in the pouches which made for stable
carrying and very easy retrieval seeing as I had the
whole front mag exposed, obviously if you were
using this setup in a less CQB environment you
might worry about messing up your mags
or going prone either due to the sheer
bulk, or getting the exposed mags dirty,
but for my purposes this wasn’t an issue
and I tended to use the setup from
then on until I left the UK as it was
very convenient and comfortable.
There are also 300 round hicap
mags available and I had two black
and one of the classic orange
AK74 style ones to supplement
or replace the mid-caps should
their more limited ammunition
prove insufficient.
The recoil mechanism was
somewhat of a novelty for
me at the time, and having
not had any gas guns aside
from pistols back then it was
something I quite enjoyed,
however in hindsight it wasn’t
all that strong or convincing now
when compared to the likes of
LCT’s more recent offerings with
much heavier recoil weights inside,
or a gas gun of course. Performance
wise I continued to use the AK102 at
the likes of The Gaol and regularly posted
0.2g rounds through roughly A4 paper
sized holes in the cover available there from
as much as 30-40m without too much
difficulty.
The side folding stock was relatively
stable and comfortable, and the
addition of the sight mounting shoe
did enable me to make use of an
ACOG style scope to reach out and
stretch the legs of the platform
effectively in many cases, I also
had an RMR mounted the rear sight
replacement rail as well as a torch and laser on the
side stub rails of the tactical grip.
58
SEPTEMBER 2022

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
Aside from the typical issues with getting used to
the AK mag reloads (as this was the only one I ever
owned throughout all my time in airsoft so I never
really acclimatised to rock and lock mags aside from
when using the SVD as well) I did however find it to
be a very consistent and effective AEG, unsurprising
from Marui, I suppose, and it was ideal for MilSim
weekenders and CQB room clearance with its shorter
overall profile and folding stock along with the optics
and illumination I added to it.
Certainly not a bad gun by any measure, although
the charging handle did eventually shake loose from
the bolt body on mine as it was a separate piece
rather than an integral piece of the geometry, but
aside from that failure it never had any other issues to
speak of in my years of fielding it.
Bill: Love them or hate them Tokyo Marui are still a
name to be reckoned with in the airsoft market, and
woe betide any manufacturer out there that doesn’t
keep a careful eye on what they’re doing. Although
TM are notoriously bad at speaking to airsofters
outside their native Japan (although these days at
least they are trying…), many players love them for
good reason; somehow they imbue their AEGs with a
little “unicorn dust”, performing stupendously out of
the box even if the power level seems low.
I’ve always found that TM AEGs perform amazingly,
and to this day I STILL have NO IDEA how they
manage to get the range and accuracy they do! I
‘ve been running the TM 102 through the chrono
regularly on .20g RZR BBs and recorded a massively
consistent and site friendly 0.95Joule/320fps over an
extended period. Using just the iron sights, which are
indeed easily adjustable, and .28g I am easily able to
hit targets and group pretty tightly at the limit of the
30m range!
Now I don’t know exactly what refinements TM
have made to the 102, but the system does deliver a
far stronger recoil than their “74” and indeed other
EBBs I’ve had from them in the past. Is it up to the
par of a GBBR? No, not even close, although with
each “generation” TM seem to coax just a little more
from their internals! The real plus of the TM system v
a GBBR though is that even when it’s warm, firing a
GBB rifle will eventually have cool-down effects that
will affect your overall performance, rate of fire and
range; with the TM 102 you get all the benefits of
the gasser WITHOUT the cool-down which makes it a
year-round rifle!
Boycie: The RN47 I reviewed, thank you again
KWA, is still going strong! I really like the AR feel with
the way the AK style mags lock in to the magazine
well. Since the review, back in issue 119, November
2020 of Airsoft Action, internally it remains the same
as when I received it, except for a hop rubber change
to suit our UK climate. I’m regularly getting good
range and accuracy from the RN running my currently
preferred RZR .28 BBs. My usual preference is to carry
only four of the KWA 120BB mags, with an AE-sized
speedloader as back up for the longer games.
I also really like that I have the ability to swap
uppers with other rifles in the KWA range like the
TK45 & TK45C. This gives me the option to pick
whatever set up appeals for the days play. I only have
one AEG with a ‘fet fitted but I think after a good
amount of use it’s time to open the gearbox to have a
look at how the internals have held up, but also that
may be the opportunity to fit a Titan inside and give it
a few other light tweaks
Externally the RN now sports a longer rail and
outer/inner barrel; this only adds a couple of inches
over all to the rifle in standard form. The balance,
to me, feels better with the change of front end
components. I’ve also changed the muzzle device. It
still runs a PTS MOE foregrip and Element PEQ15. In
order to slim the RN47 down from the original review
build, I now rarely run the Nuprol NX600S light.
Where I need some light indoors usually the PEQ light
is enough or I will switch to my trusty Umarex Glock
17 with taclight if I need that little more illumination.
Over the lockdowns I have been quietly working on
a new addition for the RN47 which is the KWA recoil
effect. Some may have already added recoil with the
standard RM4-type recoil set but this is where I made
something a little different. I really like the slither-style
stock and this is where the challenge came in… more
to come on that modification in a future issue!
Bill: From the moment the “white prototype”
version of the NUPROL ROMEO came into being Ross
kept me fully in the loop with development, and it
was more than exciting to see his “Project AK” take
its first faltering steps into the light of day. Once
“LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM TOKYO MARUI ARE STILL A NAME TO BE RECKONED WITH
IN THE AIRSOFT MARKET, AND WOE BETIDE ANY MANUFACTURER OUT THERE THAT
DOESN’T KEEP A CAREFUL EYE ON WHAT THEY’RE DOING.”
www.airsoftaction.net 59

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
again, Ross, Mark and I pored over details, and I know
for a fact that the two of them argued over even the
tiniest parts!
Fast forward to November 2018 and, knowing that
the container from the Far East was finally due in, you
could cut the tension with a knife. “Nuprol Project
AK” had finally come of age, and the “ROMEOs”
were born! Again, Ross sent me a picture of the very
first ROMEOs to be unpacked from the container at
the Nuprol warehouse and I sat back in my office
chair and breathed a sigh of relief as the finished
production models looked to be absolutely stunning!
Are the ROMEOs what I hoped to see from
NUPROL? Yes, they are, and more! If I still lived in the
USA this is pretty much exactly what I would build for
myself in 7.62x39mm, right down to the neat little
sling plate under the buffer tube! The models feature
superb high-strength and high-quality parts that have
been used to the very best effect, and the net result,
in my mind, is a stunning, up-to-the-minute AK. I
100% believed at the time of release that the ROMEO
(the BRAVO NOMAD for me!) Series would be another
roaring success for NUPROL, and I’ve been proved
right in this given the number of friends I see rockin’
these splendid “tacticool AKs”; in the words of my
favourite AK meme, “Nyet! This isn’t the 1940s any
more Grandpa!”
Jimmy: There was a time when I loathed an AK,
I will not lie, and I would have happily chosen an
AR platform over one any day of the week without
hesitation. They say over time the human palate alters
and food you once disliked will eventually become
something you enjoy, and well, this for me has come
true on both the food side of life and my approval of
an AK platform!
That said I’m still not completely converted mainly
because I am not really a fan of the old skool styling
of what many know to be an AK. By old skool I mean
AK’s in the original form. I prefer a more modernlooking
rifle and my love today for an AK is focused
mainly on the modern tactical styling which appeals
heavily to me. Give me a buffer tube with a sliding
stock, a monolithic tactical rail system and a chunky
grip and you’ve sold it to me.
I recently acquired my own “tacticool” AK in
the form of Nuprol’s Romeo Recon Bravo and I can
honestly this thing is a great bit of kit, as it looks the
business and gets the job done. Having owned it now
for nearly a year I very happy with its performance;
there are a few small changes I have made but
nothing that will detract from what it really is. The
main body is rather heavy and with that weight comes
rigidity; I have felt some AK’s which don’t give any
confidence in strength.
Having the fixed buffer tube allows me to fit any AR
stock that I desire and gives an amount of adjustability
that’s perfect to get that “feel” just right. I love the
handguard it is a chonky piece of CNC alloy with a
top 20mm Picatinny and KeyMod mounts on the sides
and underneath allowing for whatever attachments
you see fit to use. The dust cover offers a full length
20mm Picatinny rail also for mounting dots or optics.
On the left side of the receiver you will see an offset
bracket allowing for another mount giving the user a
slightly higher mount, so should the dust cover need
to be removed your zero will not be affected as it is
fixed to the receiver.
One thing in particular I am not a fan of is
magazine wobble in any platform, and I have
experienced a fair few AK variants that have very
wobbly magazines. This is not the case with the
Nuprol Romeo and the mags sit very snug thanks to
a very neat little spacer plate that comes as standard!
I’ve found that the Romeo does not accept some
mags although it’s happy with most, but then this is
airsoft and no two mags are the same! I can confirm
STAR 90BB midcaps fit in it perfectly, but it’s just a
shame they are 90BBs lol! I do however have a CYMA
drum mag which fits very well now it has been slightly
modified… of course I do, I have a reputation to
uphold!
Bill: I’ll bring things to a close this month by
focussing on what must be my most regularlyused
AK, and that’s the E&L ELAKS74UN-A MOD A
PLATINUM! Although I’m a huge fan of all of the
family “Automat Kalashnikova”, and as much as I like
my custom-CYMA (which is still a brilliant skirmish-AK
itself!), I have to say that my personal favourite both
in real and replica form is the smallest member, the
AKS 74U. Over the years there has always been one
of these in my personal airsoft collection, although
the one that I find myself returning to time and again
for “in-game” is the little E&L. With a retail price iro
UK£300 this is one hell of a performer; okay, I am
biased because I love the SU so much as a model,
but after owning many I have to tell you that this is
genuinely one of the very best AEG versions I’ve ever
encountered. The externals are absolutely spot-on and
rock-solid, the internals are the very best they can be,
and the performance is first rate; in truth I can say
that I will never buy another modern SU-style AEG
as this has seen me through many a game and is still
every bit as good as when I first got it! AA
60
SEPTEMBER 2022

RED CELL
TACTICAL AK UPDATE
Red Cell is supported by:
www.airsoftaction.net 61

TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

TECHNICAL
WETECH L85A2 GBBR
LIFE
WITH THE
MARMITE
ARMALITE!
THERE ARE FEW FIREARMS IN THE REAL-STEEL-REALM THAT ARE AS DIVISIVE AND STORIED IN THEIR
ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF SERVICE WITH A NATION’S MILITARY THAN THE UK’S HOME-GROWN L85 SERIES
OF RIFLES! WITH AN UNDENIABLY BAD FIRST ITERATION THAT HAS LED TO NOTORIETY AMONG THE MANY
PLAYERS INCLUDING THOSE IN TAIWAN (YES, HE’S EVEN SEEN THE TYPICAL MEMES BUT IN CHINESE!)
HOW DOES THE AIRSOFT REPLICA HOLD UP TO THE REAL DEAL? STEWBACCA FINALLY RELENTED AND
SUCCUMBED TO NOSTALGIA AND BOUGHT HIMSELF A WE L85A2 GBBR TO FIND OUT!
64
SEPTEMBER 2022

TECHNICAL
WETECH L85A2 GBBR
The SA80 (Small Arms of the 1980’s programme) was intended to
modernise the British Armed Forces Individual Weapon, or primary
service rifle, towards a more controllable and usable assault rifle,
especially given the trends in urban conflict such as that seen in Northern
Ireland where the venerable 7.62x51 L1A1 was reliable, but perhaps
oversized and more importantly overpowered for use in essentially
civilian environments. Use with vehicles and in buildings and with people
you don’t want to be shooting in the AO, given its greater penetrating
capability the SLR proved a bit of a pain to wield in close quarters or when
being ferried around in APCs land rovers or helicopters; it made the SLR
somewhat the wrong rifle for that environment.
Despite its reputation for being much loved (especially by my old man
who served in that whole situation which is essentially how I came to be,
like many other children of that conflict) the times were a-changin, and
the UK defence establishment had already been looking at low calibre
high velocity solutions as far back as the end of WWII with the EM1
and EM2 systems which then moved towards .280 British and 4.85mm
cartridges. This is suspiciously similar to what we’re all apparently headed
back towards now seventy odd years later following the whole political
debacle of the US defence establishment forcing all and sundry to switch
to 7.62x51 before promptly realising their own error and coming up with
the new 5.56mm anyway and leaving everyone else holding the bag of
overpowered cold war battle rifles; not that they’re at all bad as such, just
not ideal for urban combat you might argue.
Thus the earlier concept of the Enfield Weapons System was revisited
with new zeal and eventually the L85 platform was borne of considerable
development, albeit not always focused on the right places, as anyone
who’s watched Forgotten Weapons’ long episodic saga of the whole
process will be well aware! Personally I also had a former colleague
who worked for Royal Ordnance at various facilities prior to being at
one of my previous employers and we had many a conversation about
his apprenticeship and motions through the company and its various
www.airsoftaction.net 65

TECHNICAL
WETECH L85A2 GBBR
departments and projects, especially regarding the L85
and the eventual engagement of Heckler & Koch and
how they went about upgrading and fixing the thing
with the A2 series.
Personally I may have been marred even earlier
by dad’s vociferous dislike of being forced to hand
over his SLR in favour of the new back to front
paperweight, often derisively referred to as the
‘civil servant’ as ‘it never works and you can’t fire
it!’, coupled with my own experiences in the RAF
Cadets during my latter school years where we were
introduced to the A1 iterations; the L98 cadet GP,
L85, and L86 LSW along with the Lee Enfield No.8
which I was always quite fond of given its more classic
appearance and manual operation.
In short, the L85 has been around as long as myself,
and I wonder which one of us has had a more irksome
long term effect on the old man! Undoubtedly for
many, it will always be the ‘Marmite Armalite’; you
either love it or hate it, depending on when you
were introduced to it, whether you had the L1A1
beforehand, and which iteration you experienced. I
remember jokingly adding a “made with pride in the
UK” to the end of one weapons handling instructor’s
“don’t forget to tap the bolt handle forwards to
make sure it’s fully in battery” ...evidently my cheek
preceded my airsoft shenanigans.
Nonetheless, many would argue that the original
Armalite series also suffered numerous setbacks and
a horrendous reputation and public relations disaster
with the US forces during and after their involvement
in Vietnam, and arguably as a result of people up top
cutting corners, costs, or otherwise interfering with
our lord and saviour Stoner’s wonderful contraption;
it just had a two decade head start on the L85 series!
Much the same as the familiar AUG of Austria which
was adopted in numerous other countries, and the
FAMAS of France, the L85 was intended to be a more
wieldy bullpup solution that would rationalise and
replace the infantry rifle, carbine and submachine
gun all in one, and thus reduce the supply chain and
overall costs and greater ease logistics, deployment
and training.
GIVING IT GAS
So, fast forward two decades and I was finally
allowing the nostalgia of my days in a blue beret and
Soldier 95s to overcome my perhaps overly bitter
resentment of the backwards boat anchor, and at the
tail end of January 2022 I purchased a GBBR L85A2
from KIC Airsoft, my usual go to gun shop, in the
West of Taipei. Amusingly enough, it lived up to my
expectations of realism, experiencing a stoppage on
its very first magazine load and string of fire as I was
test firing it at the shop’s small firing range. Well, at
least the weight and handling are true to real steel!
An immediate benefit, however, is the compatibility
with the rest of WE’s AR range; I had already had
the HK416 and T91 for over a year and was not only
very familiar with their insides (and the issues they
present as per my reviews of them in AA issues 125
and 136 respectively) but also had a decent number
of magazines they were already sharing, so the initial
investment was at least less of a pain for me. With the
L85A2 itself just shy of 10,000 NT in country, which
translates to around 250 of your pounds Sterling
directly, I soon insisted on adding a ruggedised ELCAN
optic for a further 80 quid or so which thankfully just
dropped onto the proprietary optic rail and tightened
up nicely, I had contemplated the G&G SUSAT but it
wasn’t in stock at the time and I figured the ELCAN
was what was being used more recently anyway,
albeit not the exact version I’d chosen, it seems.
Soon enough, the old ways came flooding back to
me, and despite the teething issues and having to get
used to not transitioning it fully into my left shoulder,
or at all if possible (I heard at least one story of a
cadet gouging their teeth out by being big and clever
and trying to fire the real deal left handed despite
warnings!) I was actually quite enjoying the handling
and performance of WE’s incarnation, especially in
the CQB environments it was ostensibly intended to
work well in, although of course I always had to try
and take the right hand corners on room clearing or
corridor work!
The bullpup configuration and elongated barrel
certainly have a visible effect in a GBBR replica, its
460mm internal barrel is actually a good 100mm
longer than that of their T91 I elected to use for rifle
competition shooting here in Taiwan when I had the
chance to partake in it. During my first few outings
with it I managed to throw BBs down fairly far and
fast, soon running my magazines dry and having to
“PERSONALLY I MAY HAVE BEEN MARRED EVEN EARLIER BY DAD’S VOCIFEROUS
DISLIKE OF BEING FORCED TO HAND OVER HIS SLR IN FAVOUR OF THE NEW BACK TO
FRONT PAPERWEIGHT, OFTEN DERISIVELY REFERRED TO AS THE ‘CIVIL SERVANT’ AS ‘IT
NEVER WORKS AND YOU CAN’T FIRE IT!’”
66
SEPTEMBER 2022

TECHNICAL
WETECH L85A2 GBBR
do the familiar duck behind cover and high port to
strip the empty and put in a fresh one. The standard
threaded muzzle also allowed me to affix my Acetech
Lighter S tracer unit and make use of it to help with
tweaking the HOP unit and zeroing the ELCAN to the
point of impact.
This in itself was not the easiest undertaking, with
the HOP unit and general internals following those
of WE’s AR system, the small grub screw at the top
of the barrel extension and mock trunnion that the
aesthetic bolt head ‘locks’ into can be a pain to access
with a small Allen key, and I would typically break
open the HK416 or T91 and pull the bolt carrier group
out to get easier access to it. In the case of the L85A2
however it’s basically a case of field stripping the
gun each time and trying to dial the HOP in between
strings of fire, unless you have a nifty tool of some
sort to reach in through the ejection port and turn it
with some form of universal joint like action; I’ve seen
such ideas floating about and have my own in mind
too.
This of course reminded me of the proper handling
and use of the not-as-captive-as-you’d-like Trigger
Mechanism Housing (TMH) pins. There are many tales
told of active service personnel field stripping the L85
and forgetting to cup their hand over the rear as they
separate the TMH (or lower receiver, essentially) from
the upper receiver, and the recoil spring assembly
subsequently goes careening out of the rear, usually
into some unsuspecting compatriot, or in the worst
case scenario out of the window of a moving vehicle
never to be seen again!
The whole process is at least as realistic as you’re
going to get; that is one of the things I love about
GBBRs, the field stripping procedure is as close to
real steel as you’re likely to find and it makes them
somewhat easier to work on compared to AEGs
that can sometimes require detail stripping from
around a troublesome gearbox depending on how
long you have been playing or how well thought
out the manufacturer’s design intent was. This recoil
mechanism was one of the first operational issues
I encountered, however, with considerable recoil
and related vibration being experienced in the L85
the retention pins of the two main rods eventually
worked their way loose and fell into the fire control
mechanism incurring stoppages and ultimately getting
totally lost. Not ideal, but not a deal breaker as such,
I personally would have had them inserted and biased
from the top of the assembly so that they couldn’t
fall out during use and would be passively retained
by the very nature of being inside and under the
upper receiver body itself. In the end I just hammered
in some spring pins the guys at Archwick had lying
around and they’re unlikely to come loose any time
soon at least.
The real steel tales of plastic woes related to the
furniture were soon revisited with the cheek piece
finding its way loose all too easily if caught slightly
or otherwise pushed forwards; again not a dreadful
show stopper, and if you were that bothered or
inclined you could no doubt permanently glue it in
place or secure it internally somehow with additional
fasteners or retention wires that wrap around the
plastic locking tabs, it was just somewhat surprising
when it happened the first time to me during a
www.airsoftaction.net 67

TECHNICAL
WETECH L85A2 GBBR
game. The safety bar is somewhat stiff to begin with
which ensures you do your ‘idiot’s wave’ safety drills
appropriately and are very deliberate with taking it
off safe when ready to fire, although I also found
the trigger and transfer bar don’t always reset fully;
you sometimes have to push on the back face of the
trigger body to fully seat it forwards, and while this
doesn’t affect the operation during firing, it can make
it even harder to push the safety cross bolt back to the
safe position without manually reseating the trigger
forward.
OPERATING SYSTEMS
The operation of the firing mechanism is at least crisp
and consistent, and of course also reminiscent of the
other WE ARs I have, albeit the recoil may be a little
more pronounced due to the different shape and bulk
of the bolt carrier, and the fact that the ejection port is
right next to my ear so it can be pretty loud at times!
I’m grateful I managed to dig out my in-ear throat
mic comms set for the last game I used this at, it’s
probably saving my hearing somewhat, but that’s all
‘part of the fun’ for me I suppose… you have to get
used to the smell of gas too, I might add!
The bolt head and gas blowback parts themselves
are basically the same as the other AR platforms I
have, I haven’t put my callipers on them as yet but
visually there’s nothing much between the HK416
and L85A2 bolt heads aside from the carriers they’re
mounted in. The L85A2’s does, however, seem to have
a habit of sticking or binding more perhaps due to
the carrier’s shorter body and thus likely its less stable
movement compared to the smooth telescoping of
the HK416/T91’s within the machined surfaces of
the AR15 style receivers, the upward force of the
magazine in place and movement of the bolt carrier
on the guide rods makes the nozzle slew upwards
and bind a bit, liberal use of low viscosity silicone oil
can help, although I’m also considering an RA Tech
magnetic locking NPAS adjustable bolt unit to improve
not only the cycling and feeding function but also
allow better power output adjustment.
In terms of stock power output I chronographed
the L85A2 using a variety of ammunition weights and
the same somewhat industry standard ‘12kg’ green
gas I use for all my GBBRs here in Taiwan. Running a
10 round string of BLS 0.2g BBs resulted in a range
from 121.3m/s - 132.2m/s (398 fps - 433 fps) with the
majority of shots in the 127m/s region (416 fps) - this
translates to around 1.5 Joules. Using 0.3g BLS BBs
the velocity dropped to 98.6m/s - 111.6m/s (323 fps
- 366 fps) again around 1.5 Joules on average, and
finally 0.4g BLS BBs gave a range of 83.0m/s - 96.1m/s
(272.2 fps - 315 fps) again around 1.5J - somewhat
odd that I didn’t experience more Joule creep with
the reasonably long barrel and heavier ammunition,
as I have seen be far more pronounced in the VFC
PSG-1 during my testing of it with similar ammunition
weights. Nonetheless, a throttle nozzle or NPAS valve
would likely be required to make it more compliant for
fielding.
The slewing bolt head is what seemed to cause
the very first failures or stoppages, and also tends to
wreak havoc with any magazines that develop even
slightly loose feed lips. As anyone who’s seen the 12th
player’s choice awards by Popular Airsoft will have
seen, I opened my video segment with a stoppage
that saw my entire magazine load of rounds spewing
out of the ejection port; the sticking of the bolt gas
nozzle causes it to rest right against the rounds in
the feed lips at times and facilitate them all flying out
loosely at once, or sometimes individually during a
firing cycle, which then leads to stoppages and other
issues being incurred. The latter caused a pretty messy
stoppage at one of my more recent games fielding
the L85A2 for this reviewing process, and I ended up
having to drop the mag, shake a few loose rounds
out, and then rinse and repeat when it still didn’t
work properly after I thought I’d cleared it. At least
I had plenty of good cover and teammates, and bad
language!
Again this is also an issue I’ve encountered in the
other WE AR’s and largely a case of keeping an eye on
your magazine feed lips and changing them as they
wear out. The benefit of the L85A2 at least is that due
to its AR18 heritage rather than AR15, it has a boxy
stamped sheet steel receiver with plenty of free space
around the barrel extension and trunnion, so at least
those loose BBs floating around in the bolt carrier’s
workspace have some chance of escaping more
68
SEPTEMBER 2022

TECHNICAL
WETECH L85A2 GBBR
benignly down the sides of the barrel instead of being
mashed into the trunnion and preventing the bolt
closing at all… although I have had them land on the
edge of the ejection port and get mashed and lodged
there too, somehow.
Similarly, even if that does occur, the receivers
aren’t prevented from being disassembled as a result,
because the bolt doesn’t have to be fully in battery
to clear a buffer tube and allow the receivers to be
hinged open ala an AR15; that whole setup does at
least make it somewhat easier to clean and maintain
in that respect as well as better avoiding those
horrendous hard failures that eventually require detail
stripping to thoroughly clean the bolt and trunnion
faces of all the utterly mashed and pulverised BBs that
end up jammed in the small spaces.
Another minor note from the outset is the lack of
a functioning manual bolt hold open lever, I’m not
sure if it’s just a case that WE didn’t do their research
and know what that lever is for, but it was originally
spring biased to turn the wrong way and not attached
to anything mechanical inside anyway. I had already
considered designing a fix myself when thankfully
Ben over at TheEnglishKiwi channel sent me his own
design files to allow me to 3D print his own solution
in the form of an additional arm that attaches around
the otherwise non-functioning axle of the manual
bolt hold-open lever on the right hand of the receiver,
and then kicks up the hold open stopper on the left
side, thus allowing you to do the appropriate drills
and clear your chamber or otherwise lock the working
parts to the rear when required. Of course the integral
automatic bolt stop and manual release on the left
side were properly replicated so it will lock open on
empty and allow you to reload and drop the bolt
without reaching over to grab the charging handle
again, again it’s essentially only a small detail, but it’s a
creature comfort to have it function.
The dust cover is another source of irritation at
times, the metal pin it’s mounted upon has a tendency
to move too easily within the folded metal retainers at
either end, especially under recoil or repeated use, and
thus the plastic dust cover itself can get a bit gnarled
up or cause stoppages by inhibiting the full and
free movement of the bolt, I’m looking at fixing this
properly with an S shaped piece of wire that won’t
unseat as easily, and there’s really no reason to remove
it in the long term anyway so hopefully I can retain
it in place properly and maintain the full and proper
functionality.
DOWNRANGE
Mounting the ELCAN definitely stretches the legs
of the platform, allowing you to clearly see targets
out further with the 4x optical magnification, and
the familiar single obelisk-like pointy-post indicating
your point of aim. At Linkou CQB I did manage to
nicely post some long shots through small windows
in the killing house style structures and get some
eliminations, so it can certainly perform well enough
when it functions properly, I did however have to jam
the optic all the way to its left extreme of adjustment
in order to get the sight picture and post on target, so
I’m not sure if the barrel is misaligned or the mounting
shoe on the top is, but you might need to use up a lot
of your range of adjustment to get the thing zeroed
depending on your optic.
Being from a somewhat international team here
in Taiwan a few of the other guys like going full Brit
battle rattle, and I was fortunate enough to grab
some pictures with Barrie and Lu at one of my more
recent outings with all three of us sporting L85A2s.
They both have the G&G AEG variants, but for the
photo ops it was nice at least to have us all visually
matching, and I’m also aware that our friend Well of
PAF Airsoft has a personal penchant for Brit Kit among
some other players on the island, and he was one of
the first to start bringing in such things and meet the
“BEING FROM A SOMEWHAT INTERNATIONAL TEAM HERE IN TAIWAN A FEW OF THE
OTHER GUYS LIKE GOING FULL BRIT BATTLE RATTLE, AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH
TO GRAB SOME PICTURES WITH BARRIE AND LU AT ONE OF MY MORE RECENT
OUTINGS WITH ALL THREE OF US SPORTING L85A2S.”
www.airsoftaction.net 69

TECHNICAL
WETECH L85A2 GBBR
market desires of others; when I first met him on the
initial PengHu MilSim I covered for CKM magazine
he was decked out in head to toe MTP with a Mk6
on top and his usual mischievous moustached grin to
boot!
Whilst there’s clearly a market for impressions
and impersonations for the L85A2, regardless of
my personal hang ups and history with it, would
I recommend the WE GBBR? A new teammate
recently asked me that question in fact, as he was
contemplating bullpups in general and I told him I
haven’t had problems with the other ones such as the
P90, F2000, AUG, QBZ97 or Tavor that I’ve owned
or used just because they’re bullpups, it’s a case of
training and they can have real benefits even in airsoft
as this one has proved to me with its increased range
and performance, despite the drawbacks of not being
able to fully shoulder it left handed.
I was discussing the matter with Scott from
Landwarrior as well and he related that he refuses to
carry and sell them, and that sometimes people will
purchase them by other means, and bring them in to
show him, before the inevitable despairing failures
that he isn’t obliged to fix having not sold the guns
to them. I think it’s difficult to say, personally, I have
only seen one other player fielding the WE GBBR
version in all my time out here, and to be fair all my
WE ARs have similar issues (as do many gas guns in
general) but if you are a hardcore enthusiast of both
British guns and gear, and GBBR platforms, I wouldn’t
dissuade you from purchasing what is actually a very
fun gun to run, I begrudgingly admit! But buyer
beware of the typical failure points I’ve mentioned,
and if you’re relying on a new gun purchase as
your first or only GBBR, I’d be inclined to send you
somewhere else personally as it really is somewhat of
a Marmite Armalite! AA
70
SEPTEMBER 2022

TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

TECHNICAL
CLPD KJ WORKS SHADOW 2 UPGRADES
THE
SURGEON
IS IN!
STEWBACCA HAS FINALLY BEEN MAKING PROGRESS ON THE LONG OVERDUE OVERHAUL OF HIS LONG
SERVING AND SUFFERING KJ WORKS CZ75 SHADOW 2 COMPETITION GAS BLOWBACK PISTOL THAT HE’S
USED SINCE HE ACQUIRED IT IN LATE AUGUST 2020, AND REVIEWED HIS OPERATIONAL WINS AND WOES
RELATING TO IT IN MORE DEPTH BACK IN ISSUE NO. 129!, IN LINE WITH OUR ARTICLE ON SHIELD SPORTS
HE NOW SHARES THE UPGRADES HE’S COMPLETED WITH THE SUPPORT OF CLARENCE LAI, “THE AIRSOFT
SURGEON”, THROUGH CL PROJECT DESIGN, AS WELL AS KIC AIRSOFT WHO HELPED HIM WITH THE
EXCELLENT EXTERNAL REFINISHING WORK!
72
SEPTEMBER 2022

TECHNICAL
CLPD KJ WORKS SHADOW 2 UPGRADES
As anyone who’s followed my “Fresh Prince of
Action Air” exploits either in Airsoft Action
or on my social media will know, I’ve been
staunchly resistant of my teammates continued
cajoling to “just buy a HiCapa” or at best “get a
Glock” and be like everyone else in the local circuit!
Successful, I suppose, but, I’ve always had a leaning
towards European pistols and particularly service
weapons from the likes of H&K, Walther and CZ,
with a plastic fantastic modernist mentality, and
just want to avoid “fudd guns” (forgive me Bill!)
and just do my own thing in general; as with Jon’s
own PAMG efforts, I want to add more to the sum
total of knowledge, and try something different and
learn something new that I can also share with the
community at large through my efforts, rather than
just win through already thoroughly treaded paths.
As a result I’ve always tried to stick to ‘service
www.airsoftaction.net 73

TECHNICAL
CLPD KJ WORKS SHADOW 2 UPGRADES
sidearms’ in both my skirmishing and my action
air exploits; yes, the Prague police run Shadow 2’s,
apparently, so I can still get away with that one! Until
Clarence recently released his turnkey Shadow 2
solution, it seemed me and only one other competitor
in the entire of Taiwan have been fielding them for
Production division, but since Clarence arrived and
I told him all of the problems I’d been having with
the stock pistol he’s set about diligently working the
same magic he’s applied to HiCapas and Glocks for a
lot longer, and has been very generous in supplying
me with an array of his prototype and production
components to try out in my own weathered example
and ensure product effectiveness and suitability;
increasingly I’m getting the idea that if I can’t break
it, nobody can, and perhaps that’s my calling in life…
#IBreakShitSoYouDontHaveTo!
INTERNAL SLICKNESS
So, what has the Airsoft Surgeon done to the original
platform that KJ Works released?
Clarence has produced an evergrowing array
of internal upgrade components that address
the extreme wear and tear I informed him about
experiencing with mine, addressing issues such as
the double action system failure, magazine bumper
plates flying off when dropped and the more difficult
to acquire stock front sight which doesn’t have a true
fibre insert as such but a plain plastic version. He’s
also lightened and strengthened a lot of the internal
components, adjusted and optimised spring rates, and
worked his magic to improve accuracy and efficiency.
CLPD reinforced CNC machined steel hammer
connector hook
This is Part No.11 on the parts diagram and is a
hook that is connected to the right side of the main
body of the hammer and interacts with the trigger
transfer bar to enable double action functionality,
Clarence has created a reinforced steel version with
a better surface finish that should hopefully reduce
the wear and tear on it seeing as my original sheared
off during one training session and unceremoniously
dropped out of the magazine well upon unloading.
KJS2ISS: complete factory internal spring set
Clarence was good enough to give me not one but
two entire sets of the internal springs which obviously
will fatigue over time and lose their ability to exert the
required force on the components they’re fitted to for
reliable functioning; each set includes Part Nos.
64 - trigger return spring
65 - sear return spring
66 - trigger transfer bar support spring
67 - magazine release spring
68 - striker arm return spring
69 - striker head return spring
70 - magazine release retention spring
71 - safety selector lever retainer spring
75 - gas valve return spring
92 - gas nozzle return spring
KJS2TRGB: reinforced CNC machined steel trigger
transfer bar (‘bow’)
One of the early issues I encountered with both my
Shadow 2 and earlier SP01 was wear on the trigger
transfer bar or ‘bow’ as Clarence terms it, Part No.10
which is the stirrup device that goes around both
sides of the magazine and connects the trigger to
the sear system behind. This is initially a shiny cast
alloy component that soon wears out on its rear
upper faces and then lessens the effectiveness of the
double action function coupled with the breakage
of the hammer axle bearing chassis, Part No.4, and
the weakening of the transfer bar support spring,
aorementioned Part No. 66 as well as Part No. 11
all of which break or wear down and prevent the
double action functionality from working properly.
Since replacing all these parts it has returned to full
functionality so now I can use the Shadow 2 properly
in production division.
KJS2CTRIG: CNC machined competition trigger
“...AN ARRAY OF HIS PROTOTYPE AND PRODUCTION COMPONENTS TO TRY OUT IN MY
OWN WEATHERED EXAMPLE AND ENSURE PRODUCT EFFECTIVENESS AND SUITABILITY;
INCREASINGLY I’M GETTING THE IDEA THAT IF I CAN’T BREAK IT, NOBODY CAN, AND
PERHAPS THAT’S MY CALLING IN LIFE… #IBREAKSHITSOYOUDONTHAVETO!”
74
SEPTEMBER 2022

TECHNICAL
CLPD KJ WORKS SHADOW 2 UPGRADES
Along with the internal functional components
Clarence has also produced a new flatter form of
trigger for competition use - to replace original Part
No. 9 - which dramatically improves the general feel
No. 15, is a single die cast piece, which is somewhat
heavy at 28g, so Clarence has provided a 75%
reduction in component weight with his 7g CNC
machined aluminium equivalent which is in fact in
two separate pieces which are then held together by
the insertion of the replacement firing pin channel
bolt Part No. 76. This allows for a much lighter overall
slide weight and thus reduced gas consumption and
of the trigger pull as well as allowing its travel to be
controlled through use of the twin grub screws in its
face. The lower grub screw mimics the action of the
original trigger’s similar screw Part No. 113, which
allows control of the over-travel of the trigger after
the break point by screwing it in or out. The additional
upper grub screw can also be installed if desired
to allow the user to limit it to single action only by
preventing the full forward return movement of the
trigger to its point of reset, so for standard or open
divisions the trigger pull can be made a lot shorter
and faster as a result. Available in both black (BK) and
silver (SV) versions.
KJS2SSS: reinforced CNC machined steel slide stop/
release lever
a smoother and faster cycle time due to the lowered
reciprocating mass involved, especially in conjunction
with the optimised magic recoil spring and magazine
feed lips. He’s also given me his re-contoured rubber
piston seal unit that fits on the front of this unit
and provides a better seal effect due to its more
complicated front geometry where the gas impinges
upon it during firing.
KJS2INB: CLPD A+ Studio 6.01mm inner barrel and
HOP rubber
The slide stop release lever in the Shadow 2, like
in a large number of Browning action style pistols,
holds the barrel and slide onto the frame, and can
thus experience quite a bit of wear as the slide
cycles rearward and the barrel tilts up and down out
of engagement with it, so Clarence has designed
a reinforced steel replacement equivalent for the
original Part No. 13 available in both black (BK) and
silver (SV) variants.
KJS2ALSLBBH: enhanced CNC machined
lightweight anodised aluminium blowback unit
The original blowback unit in the Shadow 2, Part
One of the easiest and most immediately effective
upgrades to basically any airsoft gun is the HOP and
internal barrel, and in conjunction with A+ Studio,
a well-known name in Taiwan whose HOP units and
rubbers are well regarded here and also used by the
likes of Archwick and other high end manufacturers
in their own OEM products, the 6.01mm tightbore
brass inner barrel and the A+ revolution HOP rubber
are undoubtedly going to improve your range and
consistency, judging by the use of similar components
in the CLPD 10/22 and Archwick L119A2 GBBRs I’ve
experienced. I will of course do further more in depth
gun science tests over the long term comparing the
www.airsoftaction.net 75

TECHNICAL
CLPD KJ WORKS SHADOW 2 UPGRADES
stock barrel and HOP rubber with and the CLPD/ A+
setup with with both standard BLS and CLPD Bushido
rounds for comparison, but this should certainly be
high on your priority list for easy and early upgrades
should you run a Shadow 2 competitively.
KJS2CUK: CLPD magic recoil spring
To further improve gas efficiency and cycle speed
of the top slide in general, Clarence has redesigned
the main recoil spring to use a progressive or noncontinuous
pitch of spring along with a different
softer overall rating to allow for lesser force to
push the top slide rearwards and cycle the action,
improving efficiency and cycle time for faster double
taps - however please note that this MUST be used
in conjunction with his hand polished OEM feed lip
units to allow proper function as these have a lower
resistance to rounds feeding from them.
or ‘bumpers’, Part No. 37, which are fitted to the
bottom of the magazines and are retained by Part
No. 38 in the bottom of the magazine’s ammunition
channel and have a tendency to fly off or break all
too readily when they are dropped on the floor during
rapid reloading, thankfully Clarence has come up
with anodised alloy replacements that are not only
retained positively by a grub screw that locks into the
magazine feed channel, but also have a much better
geometry and texture with slide serration style ridges
that allow for easier handling during reloading, which
are available in black (BK), silver (SV), red (RD), gold
(GD) and purple (PP).
KJS2ALMB: CLPD CNC machined 7075 aluminium
anodised magazine release button
KJS2HPML: CLPD hand polished OEM magazine
feed lip units
In conjunction with the softened magic recoil
spring, Clarence has given me enough of his hand
polished OEM feed lips to replace all of my 8
magazine’s original Part No. 34, which have noticeably
widened front apertures where the BBs feed from
during the loading cycle - this increased opening
drastically reduces the friction and resistance to
feeding and thus allows a weaker recoil spring to
overcome such resistance and thus allow for higher
gas efficiency.
KJS2BPAD: CLPD CNC machined 7075 aluminium
anodised magazine baseplates
One of the most common and irksome failings
of the Shadow 2, particularly in a competition
and training setting is the magazine baseplates
Along with the base plates and slide stop/release
Clarence also has replacement magazine release
buttons, in anodised aluminium available in black
(BK), silver (SV), gold (GD) and purple (PP) - while
these are primarily aesthetic and just a replacement
for the original Part No. 145 they nonetheless add a
finishing touch along with the other coloured control
components.
KJS2ALGRP: CLPD CNC machined 7075 aluminium
grip panels
76
SEPTEMBER 2022

TECHNICAL
CLPD KJ WORKS SHADOW 2 UPGRADES
As with the magazine release button, the grip side
panels are largely an aesthetic choice but do provide
a further personalisation to your competition gun -
personally I went with the purple finish for these and
the magazine release button and baseplates although
I have always liked the original electric blue of the side
panels - Parts No. 30 & 31.
KJS2FFS: CNC machined 7075 aluminium front
sight blade with 1mm fibre insert
A final functional addition to the KJ Shadow 2 is
the replacement front sight blade and insert, which
replaces the original Part No. 84 and 84-1 which
actually has a narrower 1mm fibre collimator insert
provided, with both pink and yellow-green inserts
provided to allow the user to fit and crop their
preferred colour upon installation. This improves the
aiming capability of the Shadow 2 by using a finer but
more visible front dot on the front sight post.
for competitions and could detail strip it on camera
to produce my own maintenance video before
sending the frame, slide, rear sight block and all eight
magazine bodies for shot blasting and cleanup as well
as Cerakote refinishing in matte black thanks to KIC
Airsoft where I tend to buy the majority of my guns
and components these days.
With the external finish redone to a very nice
degree and all the required upgrade internal and
external components from CLPD I set to work
reassembling my own gun on camera to produce
detail reassembly videos for my channel, and will
soon be back to regular practise with my IPSC team
following a few injuries and having to move place and
workplace over the last few months; I’m very much
looking forward to fielding it again and getting back
into the swing of things.
I’d like to sincerely thank Clarence for not
only taking on board all my concerns, ideas and
experiences of using the Shadow 2, but also
furnishing me with so many of his excellent upgrade
components for trial and evaluation, as well as KIC
Airsoft for supplying my gun and magazines in the
first place but also refinishing them to such a great
standard after well over a year of utter abuse in my
competition exploits. Feel free to visit them at https://
kicbbgun.com.tw/; KIC are also the local dealership of
CLPD parts, as well as selling internationally, but for a
local supplier local to yourselves please check https://
clprojectdesign.com/ for dealers. AA
BUSH: CLPD Bushido Master Grade BBs
One final but readily transferable upgrade to the
Shadow 2, or in fact any of your airsoft guns is what
you feed it - Clarence has released a whole range of
Bushido master grade BB rounds of various weights -
0.20g, 0.30g, standard types, 0.32g, 0.40g bio BBs,
and 0.20g and 0.25g tracer BBs there’s something
for every end user, personally I standardised the vast
majority of my guns on 0.3g as I can get BLS white,
black and tracer in the same weight, so I acquired
some sample packs of CLPD Bushido in 0.3g for a
direct comparison, these all have a much tighter of
5.95mm +/- 0.01mm tolerances allowing for much
better consistency.
BACK IN THE GROOVE
So with all of these components made available to
me as Clarence was developing and releasing them I
finally found time where I didn’t need my Shadow 2
www.airsoftaction.net 77

EVENT
AA LEGION TAIWAN
IT’S ALL GOING
SOUTH...
3QB IN
TAICHUNG!
THE EVER-SHIFTING TIDES APPLY JUST AS MUCH TO OUR HOBBIES AS THE WORLD AND ECONOMY
AROUND US DO, AND AIRSOFT IS NO EXCEPTION! SINCE HEADING TO TAIWAN STEWBACCA HAS NOT
ONLY SEEN THE PREVALENCE OF HARDCORE MILSIM PLAYERS WHO BORDER ON RE-ENACTORS OR
COSPLAYERS, BUT ALSO GOT INVOLVED IN COMPETITION SHOOTING IN VARIOUS GUISES AND HAS EVEN
DABBLED IN SPEEDQB AND OTHER BURGEONING STYLES. BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN MILSIM PLAYERS
WANT TO HOLD SOMETHING MORE COMPETITION-STYLED TOO? ENTER 3QB…
Airsoft, if nothing else, seems to be ever
evolving and diversifying, as are the tastes of
its players and thus the manufacturers serving
their interests and developing products pertinent to
such shifts; G&G certainly seemed to land things well
with not only their ARP9 and SSG1 AEG platforms,
likewise Action Army with their AAP-01, all of which
seem to have rapidly become the mainstay platforms
for SpeedQB players worldwide but particularly
noticeably in Taiwan where they’re produced and
Speedsoft or SQB is a growing, albeit as everywhere
else contentious, demographic.
More recently SpeedQB has seen further division
in its playing style and the rise of purpose-built or at
least more dedicated and suitable arenas in Taipei in
the North, Tainan in the Southwest and Kaohsiung in
the very South of the island, all ideal indoor fields for
fast-paced close-range 5v5 or even more recently 3v3
and 1v1 competitions in a similar vein to PewLogic’s
‘Going Dark’ outdoor tracer night game I covered
back in June 2022’s Issue No.138 that saw us lighting
up the skies in the midlands of Hsinchu with a green
glow.
But what about players who are still rooted
in MilSim equipment and platforms, as well as
tactics and arenas, who want to do something a
bit competitive or small squad based, but don’t
fancy stretching to all new equipment and the
powersliding fence hopping antics of the SQB
crowd? This idea certainly appeals to me, with my
ageing knees, focusing on personal marksmanship
and our team’s increasing training in small unit tactics
and making good use of communication and cover.
Thankfully it seems yet another slice of the pie that is
airsoft culture has been cut out for such people; I’d
recently seen QMoer, a prominent local Taiwanese
airsoft Youtuber who I’ve met numerous times when
covering the same events across the spectrum of our
interests and industry shows, mentioning his push
in the southern counties and cities of Taiwan for
‘Airsoft Battle Matches’ which take the concept of
SpeedQB and short, fast and close-range competitive
small team force on force game modes, and open
them up to the more typical crowds of MilSim players
78
SEPTEMBER 2022

EVENT
AA LEGION TAIWAN
or casual airsofters.
I was more than happy to divert my attentions
away from our usual team Taiji MilSim activities for
one Sunday in late July after having been invited
along to cover just such an event at a relatively
new (or at least previously unknown to myself) site
in Taiping, right down at the south east corner of
Taichung, Taiwan’s central and second city and its
surrounding area where a large amount of airsoft
manufacturers such as ICS, G&G, LCT, KWC, and
King Arms are all based, in the foothills of Taiwan’s
central mountain range, not far from where some
of my AIPSC and other skirmish exploits have taken
place a little further north in the past.
‘Military Anny’ is another prominent airsofter and
media representative here in Taiwan, having recently
appeared on local television discussing national
service and training in light of the growing threat
of cross-strait relations, a story I’ll be digging into in
more depth in due course as well, but you may also
have seen her appear in at least the last few Popular
Airsoft player’s choice awards; she’s well known
and liked on the island and further afield and has a
wealth of experience in both replica and real firearms
usage so makes an ideal spokesperson as well as
being our local Specna Arms representative.
MAKING TRACKS
Anny was good enough to drag me along (kicking
and screaming, obviously!) with her as she was
already planning on covering the event for her own
blog and media activities, and it seemed like a good
excuse for me to get out of town and do something
different as well as cover a new topic, try out a new
site, and of course meet old friends and make new
ones. So I took my leave of our usual Sunday team
outing and planned my weekend around leaving
work immediately on Saturday evening with my
5.11 Rush 72 pre-packed to the gunwales with my
‘lightweight’ gear options in the form of my Modify
PP2K GBB PDW, VFC PPQ NPA GBB pistol and
associated tac gear, helmet, GoPro and other support
gear, in case I could get stuck in to the action myself
(spoiler; he did, in fact, get stuck into the action after
the main competition was finished!). Straight onto
the MRT then the HSR bullet train halfway down
the country in no time at all, and out for dinner with
Anny and the first of my new friends I’d meet, her
local policeman pal Chien, who would be joining us
the next afternoon and providing some assistance
with transport.
Having stuffed ourselves with Japanese food
and talked shop about ourselves and our personal
histories, we all retired to our respective hotel rooms/
home and finalised our prep for the morning; it
would be a fairly early doors start as we had to grab
breakfast and taxi it out to Taiping out on the city
limits where the ‘BaoDao’ (Treasure Island) airsoft site
is located.
A warm welcome awaited us, both from the
people and the weather; it was already hitting the
mid thirties by around 0800 and Anny and myself
dropped our bags and grabbed our eyepro, cameras
and some hi-vis vests to start our walk-around of
the site and competition area. The site itself is fairly
expansive despite being wedged in by the foothills
to the east and an industrial estate surrounding the
rest, with an array of structures, fences, drum stacks,
abandoned vehicles of various shapes and sizes,
containers with doors and windows cut out of them
and even killing house style rooms created from
metal frameworks and corrugated fence panels; the
operators have certainly invested a lot of time, effort
and money into making an excellent gaming arena!
This is sadly not always the case here in Taiwan
where things are a lot more fast and loose in general
due to the lack of regulation and player’s arguable
tight-fistedness in terms of pay-to-play attitudes;
they tend to spend a lot on guns and gear and play
for free in abandoned places that you have to be
‘in the know’ about or get referrals regarding and
our own team TaiJi cycle between such places on a
weekly basis and rarely play at paying or officially
organised sites. These are definitely the exception,
rather than the rule here in Taiwan, or certainly in
the north at least; many of the midland and southern
sites tend to be operated by gun shops or with the
support of manufacturer’s or other entities behind
the scenes, with many of our past games in the
area being hosted and operated by the KUI Airsoft
shop team I cut my teeth with in Zhubei when I first
arrived, or ICS’ own staff team who I haven’t seen in
far too long, and many of whom have since moved
on it seems.
“ANNY WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO DRAG ME ALONG (KICKING AND SCREAMING, OBVIOUSLY!)
WITH HER AS SHE WAS ALREADY PLANNING ON COVERING THE EVENT FOR HER OWN BLOG
AND MEDIA ACTIVITIES, AND IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD EXCUSE FOR ME TO GET OUT OF TOWN
AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT”
www.airsoftaction.net 79

EVENT
AA LEGION TAIWAN
This well maintained and laid-out setting proved
ideal for the game style and themes planned, the
Airsoft Battle Match, or ‘3QB’ as I coined to simplify
the concept, is basically what the portmanteau
of acronyms sounds like; 3 Vs 3 CQB competitive
gameplay! The Treasure Island regulars had formed
their own sub-teams of three players each and turned
out in force, fielding a total of 32 initial squads all
competing in a typical elimination tree until the
remaining two squads would battle for the ultimate
champion title.
BLACKED-OUT OPS
Using around a quarter of the total site which had
been cordoned off as well as had a large black sheet
fence erected down the long edge of it to keep it
separate from the remainder of the field which would
continue operating the regular morning skirmish
during the competition; there were ample angles and
obstacles to hide behind and perform small team fire
and manoeuvre tactics with, without getting ‘lost
in the weeds’ or stalemated too easily. The whole
setup seemed very well thought out and proved to
force the action well and keep rounds from running
on too long, although there was an upper time limit
established just in case the last men standing were
feeling overly cautious, this didn’t seem to happen all
that often however.
Throughout the day the atmosphere remained
jovial and good-spirited; the whole operation ran very
smoothly with squads prepping in the main safezone
area and players rarely being late or disorganised as
their team names were called to the entrance over
the loudspeaker. The organisers ensured fairness and
controlled conditions by supplying the AEGs to be
played with; a mixture of the site rental guns, many of
which seemed to be Arcturus AK variants along with
your typical ARs; everyone was issued a gun of their
choice, and a single midcap of 150 BBs to last each
bout, with some BBs usually being expended in testing
and ensuring magazine function and sighting in as
the guns went between players constantly and the
organisers had boxes of midcaps and Odins on the go
to keep them reloaded and game rounds progressing
smoothly.
With all six players of each bout having tested their
AEGs there’d be a paper-scissors-stone (or the local
Taiwanese variation thereof) to decide who chose the
starting ends, and whichever team was going slightly
uphill would then retire to their start point at the far
end of the arena from the entrance area. Marshalls
would accompany them and ensure everyone was
prepared before the ‘game on’ was announced, whilst
Anny, myself and two other photographers were
ambling around in hi-vis vests to get the best action
shots of squads moving together or the last men (or in
some cases women, there were some in attendance!)
standing circling each other as quickly or quietly as
possible to gain the advantage and land the final
killing stroke.
Games continued unabated for most of the
morning, with a brief break to rearm and ensure
everyone had taken on fluids after each of the
elimination stages between heats where the victorious
half of the previous rounds would progress to fight
off each other and get to the next stage. The sun was
getting high overhead by the time the final rounds
arrived and everyone was looking fairly well cooked,
myself very much included! Bear in mind I hadn’t even
donned my own gear yet as such and had already
saturated my lightweight t-shirt and 5.11 trousers in
sweat, not that that’s anything new for me here, but
some of these lads and lasses were clad head to toe
in BDU’s, plate carriers, and even balaclavas or in the
case of one girl an EOD suit, complete with shield,
although I think she was helping organise things and
wasn’t taking the shield in game as such… they don’t
do things by halves out here!
All in all, around thirty rounds later the final two
teams ‘SAB’ and ‘HT’ were facing off as the lunchtime
siesta was very much ready to kick in for everyone
else, and after some excellent and hard fought final
gameplay ‘HT’ squad walked away as the final victors.
I have to say I hadn’t seen any issues whatsoever
throughout the day, everyone was in great spirits,
playing and working together well as both teams and
opponents, and taking everything in their stride, all
this despite the top prize being 10,000NT, basically
100USD for each of the three players on the winning
team, with other not insignificant cash prizes for the
runners up.
Typically in the competitive shooting I’ve been
involved in cash prizes are expressly forbidden due to
the obvious corrupting influence they pose, and yet
everyone involved seemed to just get on with it and
take the decisions and outcomes without a second
“THROUGHOUT THE DAY THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINED JOVIAL AND GOOD-SPIRITED; THE
WHOLE OPERATION RAN VERY SMOOTHLY WITH SQUADS PREPPING IN THE MAIN SAFEZONE
AREA AND PLAYERS RARELY BEING LATE OR DISORGANISED”
80
SEPTEMBER 2022

EVENT
AA LEGION TAIWAN
www.airsoftaction.net 81

EVENT
AA LEGION TAIWAN
thought or any protest, which I must say was excellent
to see. I’m not sure if that’s an artefact of everyone
involved being well known to each other, as regular
players of the same site, an artefact of it being early
days in the game format, or the fact perhaps the
prizes weren’t announced beforehand, but regardless
of the motives or lack thereof everything seemed
to be organised and executed very well with the
minimum of issues throughout; pretty good drills, for
my mileage and the things I’ve seen over the years.
With the last heat decided everyone retired to
the fairly comfortable covered safezone to enjoy the
typical ‘bian dan’, a Taiwanese rice lunch box with
meat and veg atop, as well as copious bottled water
or energy drinks to stave off the perpetual risk of
heatstroke. By the end of the day I was still feeling
a bit of a headache despite the guys telling me their
fridge was my fridge and I’d sunk about 5 litres of
various fluids as a result; welcome to the tropics,
fellow shooters!
With everyone else’s appetite for battle (and
my clothing) thoroughly whetted the winners and
runners up were announced and trios of trophies
handed out along with the red envelopes of prize
money to the top four teams, followed swiftly by
the somewhat customary prize draw supported by
local manufacturers and retailers, with many players
walking away with a raft of TMC tactical gear in the
shape of plate carriers, chest rigs, hats, gloves, as well
as BDUs; one team seemed to get outfitted entirely
with new Flecktarn trousers by the time all the ticket
numbers were called! While others walked away with
an array of gas pistols, AEG AKs, and even a few
bolt action rifles and oversized pillows in the shape
of grenades and radios, again, spirits and banter
remained high throughout it all.
NEW FRIENDS; GAME ON!
With that all done with, many of the teams and also
the players who had been doing the morning session’s
skirmish alongside began filtering out again, and the
remainder were our media group, the site organisers
and the true hardcore players who were hanging
around also joined in the afternoon skirmish session,
soon to be joined by Chien I’d met the night before
and a few others.
As 1400 rolled around about eight to ten of us
geared up with our own equipment and headed out
to ‘enjoy’ (or endure?) the insanity of the afternoon
heat; I threw on my plate carrier and helmet and
began GoPro filming our exploits. As with the
morning session, I found the standard of play and
sportsmanship of the regular guys to be excellent and
devoid of any drama, we all just got really stuck in,
communicated in a mix of English, Chinese and hand
signals to call out or opponents locations and just
had some all-round great fun moving and shooting
in pairs or four man teams through the vehicles and
containers littered around the site.
The PP2K really has been playing on form since
my friends in the know took a look inside with
me, and I’ve since set up a specific placard for my
interchangeable rig that nicely holds all four of
my stick mags for it that were previously an utter
embuggerance to store and reload on the fly with,
so I was in my element and even managed to singlehandedly
wipe out most of the opposing team in one
round.
Finally as the numbers of players still able to stand
and fight dwindled and the clock hands moved
toward 1700 four of us decided to just use our pistols
and play 2v2 in the same cordoned off arena the 3v3
players had used in the morning and again my long
standing adventures in gas pistols and more recently
IPSC & IDPA paid off with me getting some excellent
double taps in on the guys… albeit accidentally on my
own teammate at one point that kind of hamstrung
myself and left me alone against the other two!
All the adventuring, photographing and sheer
sweating done with we packed our gear up and Anny
looked into organising exfil out of Taichung; as it was
most of the HSR trains had gotten booked up so she
decided to stay in the city overnight and I took my
chances and took the train out to the high speed rail
station and got an unreserved seat ticket; I was lucky
enough to land a seat despite the Sunday night rush,
but I am truly sorry to the unlucky folks who had to
share the neighbouring seats with me… I was less
than fresh by the end of all that, homeward bound
into yet another sunset and with more war stories to
share!
I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the
organisers, and regular players at BaoDao; as always
the welcome in Taiwan is as warm as the weather and
the language barrier seems to be ever-reducing as I
spend more time here, even QMoer was commenting
on my ability to share my ideas in more depth as
we’ve progressively happened upon each other over
the years, so I guess I’m going native eh? And of
course many thanks to the lovely Anny for inviting
me along and organising the accommodation and
transport, as well as Chien for helping us back to
the train station and just for being an all-round solid
player and person.
‘Til next time! AA
82
SEPTEMBER 2022

EVENT
AA LEGION TAIWAN
www.airsoftaction.net 83

VIRTUAL-SHOT
THE REVOLUTIONARY NEW SHOOTING SYSTEM THAT IS TAKING
THE SHOOTING WORLD BY STORM.
TURN YOUR PHONE INTO
THE MOST AFFORDABLE
VIRTUAL SIMULATION
SHOOTING SYSTEM.
WORKS WITH REAL FIREARMS,
GEL BLASTERS AND AIRSOFT.
VIRTUAL-SHOT.COM
EU.VIRTUAL-SHOT.COM

AA LEGION
JAPAN
A JAPANESE
AIRSOFT
ODYSSEY!
EARLIER THIS MONTH WE SHARED THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT OUR FRIENDS AT LAYLAX IN JAPAN ARE
BRANCHING OUT, BOTH GEOGRAPHICALLY AND WITH THEIR NEW CHANNEL! THANKFULLY ONE OF THE
BENEFITS FOR US IS THAT OUR OLD MATE MARCK WEST HAS AGREED TO SHARE HIS EXPERIENCES OF
AIRSOFT IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN VIA THE AA LEGION NOW THAT HE’S BEEN LIVING, WORKING
AND PLAYING AIRSOFT THERE!
86
SEPTEMBER 2022

AA LEGION
JAPAN
Airsoft in Japan has always been slightly
shrouded in mystery for me. Even though for
the past many years I lived in Hong Kong, the
thought of coming to Japan and playing has always
been one of those things you talk about. When 2019
came along and I had a chance to go to the Krytac
Owner’s Meeting as a guest, my eyes were truly
opened!
Airsoft in Japan; well, the hobby has been around
for many years since it’s the birth place of airsoft as
we know it. Due to this fact, the community as we
see it today has developed into a relatively mature
subculture with different branches. There are those
that love cosplaying and use airsoft as an outlet to
play in their costumes, there are those that love the
Speedsoft and sporty aspect of the game, there are
those that love more MilSim style of play, and there
are those that are very much into their impression
kits and load outs.
Much of this is very familiar to us who have
played airsoft for any significant amount of time
but there’s something about how the player base
or community does it here that exemplifies how far
airsoft has come. No matter what people do or what
they enjoy, take cosplaying for example, they are very
comfortable in doing or being themselves while they
www.airsoftaction.net 87

AA LEGION
JAPAN
play. For many of the people I have come to know,
it’s truly escapism at its finest. They get to, for a
few fleeting hours of their week, dress up and be
something or someone else.
I think it’s this feeling of escapism that really
allows the players here to dive deep into what they
do. This also applies to the ladies as well, not just
our fellow dudes. Many ladies I have seen play take
what they do quite seriously and often times dole
out the pain just as proficiently as the guys (take
my word on this one, I have been on the receiving
end!). There’s a real sense of empowerment for
them and they are quite confident when adorning
their gear.
GETTING YOUR GAME ON
With all that said, I am sure by now you all probably
want to know the most important aspect of my
experience, gameplay itself. Many of the sites I
have played at so far are essentially “CQB” sites,
inside warehouses or similar facilities; it’s quite
fun, especially for a guy like me who actually quit
CQB in HK (maybe this is a topic for another day).
Corners were not always tight and there was a
good variety of rooms and locations within each site
that made the fighting interesting. There was never
at any point a feeling of “well that lane is camped
so we are not going anywhere” and the sites I’ve
been too lent themselves well to having good flow.
The players themselves are usually quite friendly
but typically shy at first. However, going back to
the feeling of escapism, they quickly open up and
88
SEPTEMBER 2022

AA LEGION
JAPAN
fist bump you on a good hit or laugh with you if
they missed a shot. The honour system is adhered
to strictly and rarely do you see people not call their
hits. Most of the time people who do not call their
hits are due to the low power limit; many times
you just can’t feel it! This has not happened much
though in my experience; if someone doesn’t call
their hits right away, I will just shoot a few more
times until they feel it and they do promptly leave
the zone. All in all playing here feels very familiar but
doesn’t at the same time.
Many of the rules and game types are the same
but just how the people play makes its uniquely
“Japanese”. What sets the Japanese community
apart is probably the bar of entry is a bit higher than
what we see in the West or other countries because
you need to be 18+ before you are able to buy an
airsoft gun.
Not to disparage younger players or kids in our
sport, but airsoft here is simply a far more mature
hobby; when you go and play airsoft in Japan you
will not see children or people incredibly younger
than you are. For me personally, it’s quite refreshing
being able to play with adults, not because I don’t
like spending time with the younger base, but
sometimes it’s refreshing to be around people of
similar ages and walks of life.
So, airsoft in Japan. It’s about what I expected it to
be.
It’s great escapism and a great community to be
a part of. There’s something for the casual player
and something for the ultra-hardcore! Much of the
toxicity we often see in the West or other countries
doesn’t exist as prevalently here because if you don’t
like one group or style of play, there’s so much more
out there for you to try and be a part of. Airsoft here
truly has something for everyone, and I think this
is something we should be able to do better in the
West! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 89

AA LEGION
SWEDEN
NEXT LEVEL
ARMAGEDDON!!
THINGS ARE REALLY RETURNING TO NORMAL, WHATEVER NORMAL MIGHT BE FOR AIRSOFTERS, AND
THIS MEANS THAT FINALLY EVERYONE IN THE AA LEGION IS HEADING BACK ON OUT TO PLAY ON A MORE
REGULAR BASIS! WE’RE REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT OUR GOOD FRIEND AND “RESIDENT VIKING”
BJORN IS BACK OUT TO GAMES, AND THIS MONTH HE TELLS US ALL ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST FIELDS
IN HIS NATIVE SWEDEN!
90
SEPTEMBER 2022

AA LEGION
SWEDEN
Stråssa is one of the biggest fields in Sweden and
its based at an old sintering plant. It’s owned by
a Company called Batalj (www.bataljevent.se)
and has been in the industry for more than 20 years!
To give you an idea of what they do here’s some info
directly from their page that gives you an idea of
how big the area really is!
”The scenario facility at Stråssa mine consists of a
large number of old industrial buildings and service
buildings, where the mining office (>6000 sq m)
and the ball sinter plant (>15,000 sq m) stand out
as the largest. In the area, we also own over 4 ha of
land, where the track is built and the service parts
are located. Additional land is leased and used at the
larger events.
In the facility you will find a lot of exciting things.
For example virus labs, morgues, office landscapes,
machine rooms, power stations, warehouses,
residential quarters, trenches, bunkers and much,
much more. For the larger houses, we currently have
about 95 40-foot containers and concrete houses,
many with several floors. The facility is developed
to be able to arrange battle scenes from smaller
groups in scenario games to large-scale games with
hundreds of participants. The facility is particularly
well suited to Apocalyptic Lives.
Construction is ongoing all the time in Stråssa and
is therefore increasing both in size and service level.
www.airsoftaction.net 91

AA LEGION
SWEDEN
TV series such as Dystopia and Hide and Seek have
been recorded here and of course a lot of music
videos.”
They usually have as many as 500 players at
the field on a Saturday game, and this field has
everything! High ground perfect for sniping, sneaky
dark areas where you need a light to manage
because it’s pitch black, tight CQB areas, dunes of
sand, forest areas, small roads… I could go on, but I
think you will get the picture!
So, last month I went to Stråssa together with one
of my old friends, and I was hoping there would be
more people but as Berget “Broken Arrow” 2022
was still running the amount of players was greatly
reduced. About 60-70 players showed up, which
is small for Stråssa as the last game there was over
300! Of course that ,eant there was more space for
those of us playing, and the organisers really made
that work…
Everybody has to chrono their weapons with
the BB weight they use and get a coloured tape to
show what class their primary falls into and its safety
distance. Inside the big Sinter-plant you are only
allowed to fire CQB Class (max 1 joule) but you are
allowed to shoot out through the windows from the
second floor and up with any gun you like as long as
you keep the safety distance. If you know you have
a stronger primary or sniper rifle I highly recommend
you bring a sidearm.
The conditions were excellent, cloudy but
warm with high humidity that made us sweat! I
was running steel plates in my plate carrier from
OneTigris and a Geigerrig water system, so I wasn’t
running light!
GAME ON!
The games consisted of some really fast and tight
“capture the flag” games that every airsofter loves;
three games with three teams, red, blue and yellow
all trying to reach the other teams nest to snatch
a flag! If you lost one of yours you could still try to
take it back and also take another, so it was constant
attack and defend all at once! In this game you really
have advantage if you know the area as you can
92
SEPTEMBER 2022

AA LEGION
SWEDEN
sneak up and around the opponents, but it’s also
a great game to show newcomers a lot of the site
too. I must say I had a few good runs because of this
“prior knowledge” ha ha…
As a bonus there was a flagpost near the centre
that if you held it when the end signal blew you
could get 5 extra points, but this was more difficult
than you’d believe! At one point we had “dead”
players from all teams laying around that pole at the
end signal. Everybody was 100% giving their best!
Then we also tried something new that they called
“Fortnite”. Only CQB Class (1 joule) were allowed for
this game as you had to get really close-on on each
other. You teamed up in pairs and then scattered
over the field and every time a signal sounded the
field shrunk, and if you didn’t move to the next level
within 60 sec you were out! This got really messy in
the end, but was a fun game!
Although we had a great day of airsoft as
usual at Stråssa, it’s no wonder they regularly host
one of the biggest post-apocalyptic LARPS over
there, “Blodsband Reloaded” (or BBR), with Mad
Max-inspired cars and bikes, people in awesome
costumes, and a mad-good storyline! I had the
opportunity to be let inside on the game area as a
photographer during the 2019 BBR LARP just before
the Rona struck us; usually nobody gets in without
being in the game as a character but they lent me
some clothes so I could blend in better, and on boy,
was it a BLAST!
If you’re a fan of apocalyptic role-playing/LARP
you definitely should check this out by visiting www.
bbreloaded.se They try to arrange one LARP per
year at Stråssa and one is coming up soon; don’t be
afraid to go there just because you’re not Swedish
as we already had some friends from the UK and
the USA visiting over here, but do be aware that
although airsoft guns are a part of the event, it is not
an airsoft game in itself… it’s FAR BIGGER than just a
game, it’s a whole new world!
If you ever come to Sweden and want to play
airsoft then I strongly recommend you to make a
visit to Stråssa, and let us know if you are as we will
arrange a big old Swedish welcome for you! AA
www.airsoftaction.net 93

TOKYO MARUI
L119A2 CUSTOM BUILD
NEXT GEN RECOIL SHOCK CONTACT US FOR DETAILS
THE L119A2 IS JUST ONE POPULAR
EXAMPLE OF OUR CURRENT RECOIL
MODELS, BASED ON TOKYO MARUI’S
FANTASTIC SYSTEM - FITTED WITH
THE ANGRY GUN RAIL SYSTEM AND
REAL STEEL MAGPUL FURNITURE

RELOADED
EVOLUTION LONE STAR RANGER SBR
OLD BUT
GOLD!
WAY BACK IN 2013 BILL TREATED HIMSELF TO A NEW AEG, THE LONE STAR TACTICAL (LST) RANGER
SHORT BARRELLED RIFLE (SBR) FROM EVOLUTION AND HE’S BEEN RUNNING IT PRETTY MUCH STOCK
SINCE THEN WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE! WHY IS THIS AEG SO IMPORTANT TO HIM, AND HOW IS
IT RUNNING AFTER NINE YEARS OF USE?
Evolution Airsoft’s range
consists of some very, very
high quality AEGs these
days, many of which I’ve been
privileged to test and evaluate
The Lone Star replicas proved to be top-quality
items, meeting strict quality control standards which
over the years, but not that long
ago in real terms they were “the new
kid on the block”… how things change!
Back in 2013 I was very much taken with the look
of one of their first “Lone Star Tactical (LST)” carbine
models that were introduced as an integral part of
their initial “Hardcore Series”. The LSTs were official
airsoft replicas of the real Lone Star tactical rifles
produced under a worldwide exclusive license granted
to Evolution International S.r.l. by Lone Star Tactical
Supply in the USA, and these airsoft replicas were
made then in Hong-Kong under very close scrutiny!
Evolution have
insisted on since “Day1”,
but let’s get the basics as to
what you got out of the way
first! Licensed trademarks and
design, with a unique serial
number, check. Anodized
aluminium body and CNCmachined
one piece barrel,
yup. High torque motor, steel
gears in a sturdy V2 gearbox,
“HEFTING THE RANGER SBR YOU WERE
THAT YOU WERE HOLDING ONTO SOMETHING
LAST, AND THIS HAS TOTALLY PROVED TO BE THE CASE!”
IMMEDIATELY AWARE
THAT WAS BUILT TO
96
SEPTEMBER 2022

RELOADED
EVOLUTION LONE STAR RANGER SBR
reinforced piston, 7mm radial bearings, metal Hop Up,
yuppity-yup, again all present a correct. All in all the
LST’s were internally a pretty tight package; agreed
nothing was going to set the airsoft world alight as
Evolution have done with some of their more recent
models, but everything was functional and hard
wearing, just what you want from a gun that’s going
to be used week in, week out.
What none of this addresses though is what you
really got for your money and there was a lot more
going on here if you looked closely. One of the
pre-requisites in the licencing agreement between
Evolution and Lone Star Tactical in the USA, who
made top-notch real firearms for competition level
use, was that any replica bearing the Lone Star logo
should be constructed to the very highest level of
quality in their build. Hefting the Ranger SBR you
were immediately aware that you were holding onto
something that was built to last, and this has totally
proved to be the case!
EXTERNALLY UNIQUE
The upper and lower
finished in a nice
per the real firearm,
receivers,
dark grey as
were, and
are extremely
and all logos and trades were very well achieved. The
external parts were where things really started to get
interesting though, because what you got was pretty
surprising and somewhat unique at the time!
Essentially the front rail system was a replica of
the CASV-EL system from VLTOR; there were no
trademarks on this but the setup was unmistakeable,
and the CASV system for you youngin’s out there was
a freefloat dropin accessory “rail”, and the smooth
main body allowed mounting points to be easily set
up in multiple configurations. As with the real deal the
replica came with a set of rail sections which could be
simply screwed onto the main body just as you liked.
At the back end of the carbine it was a similar story
as there was a very nice take on the VLTOR ModStock
as well. Again this was unbranded but it was definitely
a copy of the AIB-MCB IMod with a QD sling swivel
included. This came with two sets of cheek pieces
which were easily changed out to give a very personal
fit. Even now there is next to no movement between
the stock and the buffer tube, which offers six
positions so once again it’s easy to personalise.
The last components which made the Ranger SBR
look a little different to other ARs on the market
at the time were the pistol grip, a replica of the
ergonomic Tango Down Battle Grip, a Tango Down
style foregrip, and on the sharp end a replica of
the Noveske KFH Sound
solid with no
movement or
gaps discernible
between them. All
of the other parts
were finished to uniform
matt black (a version with
FDE furniture was also available), which
gave the carbine a visually stunning look,
Amplifier.
Starting to add all
of these bespoke
external parts up,
the Ranger SBR really did
give great value, as a real CASV-EL alone cost
about US$240 at the time, and you’ll pay far more
for one these days! In essence the Ranger SBR
was a solidly built carbine with some workmanlike
internals and some eye catching externals.
ALL THE NUMBERS
Okay, the Ranger SBR has had some love over a hard
www.airsoftaction.net 97

RELOADED
EVOLUTION LONE STAR RANGER SBR
“service life” so far with me, and I’ve had it
professionally serviced twice with the usual
hop rubber and seal replacements, but other
than that and some attention to the electric
components it’s still going strong! Testing now
with .20g BBs still results in a respectable and
usable average of 0.97 Joule/324fps through
the chrono which means this AEG has been
usable at virtually every site local to me, and a
good few further afield too!
Once the hop is set this little carbine will
“range” accurately out to a good 40+m on
.28g BBs, and has proved to be great for
CQB where engagement distances are lower,
though it’s eminently usable in a woodland
setting too. All accessories have slotted on
perfectly to the supplied rail sections, and the
only real change I made to the carbine was
a personal one in that I fitted a singlepoint
sling plate; this was easily done in about ten
minutes by simply releasing the buffer tube
and replacing the standard plate.
I’ve had my own Ranger SBR for some
considerable time now and over the course of
many a-days gaming I’ve experienced no issues
with it whatsoever; at no point has it stuttered
or misfed, each and every BB leaving the barrel
with a satisfying “crack” courtesy of the sound
amplifier. If you didn’t fancy this then the outer
barrel was threaded 14mm CCW which means
that any suppressor or flash hider could be
easily substituted, and I’ve done so when the
scenario called for it, but of course this is just
“aesthetics”
My years to date with the Lone Star
Ranger SBR have proved to be a very positive
experience; I’ve a number of SBRs which are
pretty heavily upgraded and the Ranger SBR
gives them a run for their money as a stock
gun, so I can’t really say anything negative
about this super little AEG. I will say well done
to Evolution Airsoft, as the growing reputation
that they had in 2013 for starting to build
quality airsoft replicas has certainly been
cemented and indeed surpassed by their latest
creations, although even by today’s standards
the Ranger SBR is still a kick-ass little AEG! AA
“OVER THE COURSE OF MANY A-DAYS GAMING I’VE EXPERIENCED NO ISSUES WITH
IT WHATSOEVER; AT NO POINT HAS IT STUTTERED OR MISFED, EACH AND EVERY
BB LEAVING THE BARREL WITH A SATISFYING “CRACK” COURTESY OF THE SOUND
AMPLIFIER.”
98
SEPTEMBER 2022

TAP/CLICK IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION