Airsoft Action - July 2025

#STANDWITHUKRAINE

ISSUE 175

ISSN 2634-9515

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TAP/CLICK THE IMAGES AND HEAD OVER TO THE MILITARY1ST WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO

8 ARMOURY: SPECNA ARMS SA-J82 CORE

Bill has been tracking the development of the SPECNA ARMS J-SERIES

models since 2020, in fact as far back as Issue 113 of Airsoft Action,

and as you know he’s a bit of a fussy old comrade when it comes to his

AKs! Thankfully Miguel has been “hands on” with the very latest SA-J82

CORE, so they’ve joined forces to advise OPFORists everywhere of their

thoughts.

#STANDWITHUKRAINE

Editorial Director: Bill Thomas

Deputy Editor (Asia): Stu Mortimer

Deputy Editor (USA): Dan Whedon

Deputy Editor (EU): Miguel Oliveira

Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing

Ad Design: Deadshot Design

Publisher: Calibre Publishing Limited

ISSUE 175

ISSN 2634-9515

16 ARMOURY: NEW VORSK MODELS

It’s been so short haul so far for the team at VORSK to finally have a

pretty complete line-up of their Modular Platform, but now that the

latest models that we saw at IWA have been released into the wild, Bill

steps back to reflect on what it has taken to launch an entire family of

totally unique GBBR platforms into an already busy market, and what

the new VMP-2’s are bringing to the party!

Web: www.airsoftaction.net

©Calibre Publishing Limited 2025

All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be

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opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those

of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit

submissions prior to publication.

26 ARMOURY: VFC PPSH41 GBBR FIRST LOOK

Last year, during MOA 2024, VegaForceCompany (VFC) showed off

their “PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB SMG” which has not yet been released,

but provided it to visitors for trial use; finally it will be officially launched

worldwide! Thanks to our Legion associate “Military” Anny we can now

drop the scoop from the official launch event!

Find us on our Socials...

32 ARMOURY: LAYLAX TM MK23 NBB UPGRADES

In 2022 Stewbacca was very lucky to make his way to Japan to take

part in the then recently re-commenced Krytac Owner’s Meeting in

Chiba, supported by Laylax, and came back with some goodies to put

to the test! Now he’s finally had more than ample time behind the base

Tokyo Marui MK23, and after upgrading and running it with the Laylax

components, he now shares his better-informed thoughts!

04

AIRSOFT ACTION - ISSUE 175

CONTENTS

ISSUE 175

42 OPTICS: REDWIN KUIPER 1.2-6x24 SFP

Choosing the right sight for your replica can sometimes be a bit of a

challenge; with so many options on the market, all promising top-tier

performance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, after using the

same optic for over four years nearly every weekend, Bruno, in his first

“solo” article for AA, feels confident sharing his thoughts.

48 RED CELL: MP5 UPDATE

Once again it’s time for the core members of RED CELL to turn their

attention to one of the most enduring replicas out there, the venerable

and much-loved MP5! With a rich heritage and much-respected

history in both the military and law enforcement sphere, the little

“Maschinenpistole 5” is has constantly reinvented itself over many

years, and nowhere so much it would seem than in airsoft-guise!

62 KIT & GEAR: KINETIXX GLOVES

The team at Airsoft Action are constantly looking for good kit to hit the

market, not simply gear that’s 100% fit for purpose, but equipment

that’s going to give you good service and great value for money… Bill

takes a look at the very latest tactical gloves from German brand

Kinetixx, to see if they make the cut!

68 KIT & GEAR: VIPER 2025

It’s the start of the long summer season for airsoft, when even the most

un-hardy of chairsofters head out to actually get some games in! For

many hardier players though it’s time to fully switch-out heavier winter

gear for something a bit more lightweight and warm-weather functional,

so Bill looks at some of the great clothing and equipment from VIPER

TACTICAL that the AA Crew have been using themselves!

74 INSIDE AIRSOFT: G&G AIRSOFT REVISIT

Stewbacca realised it had in fact been nearly five years since his last

visit to our friends at G&G, and this time he returned to a renovated

facility along with our local lady AA Legionnaire “Military” Anny Wu.

With her native language approach to things they found out more about

the beginnings of the people behind the brand, and how it got to where

it is now, and where it is going in the near term.

80 GETTING TO KNOW YOU: AIRSOFTGIRLS PORTUGAL

So, with new members of the AA LEGION it’s time to bring something

back to the magazine, and that’s a focus on players that bring

something fresh and new to our global community! Sara has been

speaking to some of the female community members out there, and

now brings us insight into Maria Almeida, also known in her native

Portugal, and to the airsoft world, as “Primeira Dama”!

88 AA LEGION PORTUGAL: SALAMANDRA

Salamandra is one of the biggest airsoft events in Portugal, which

happens once every other year organized by the Portuguese National

Airsoft Association (ANA). Depending on which team you entered, you

had the possibility for having fun at three different levels… using boats

on the river, skydiving-in, or ground operations. As Miguel was “away on

other missions” Bruno stepped in to tell us more…

98 AA LEGION TAIWAN: SPECIAL REPORT

Stewbacca has been involved in the competition circuit in the guise of

“Action Air”, as well as reporting on - and even dabbling in - adjacent

IDPA Taiwan activities and other civil defence related efforts since late

2019. Having attended nearly 250 training sessions and fifteen local

competitions of various levels and scales over the years, he now gives

us a bit of a background into the whole game and how it’s played.

www.airsoftaction.net 05

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ARMOURY

SPECNA ARMS SA-J82 CORE

OPFOR

(DE)LITE!

8


ARMOURY


BILL HAS BEEN TRACKING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPECNA ARMS J-SERIES

MODELS SINCE 2020, IN FACT AS FAR BACK AS ISSUE 113 OF AIRSOFT ACTION,

AND, AS YOU KNOW, HE’S A BIT OF A FUSSY OLD COMRADE WHEN IT COMES

TO HIS AKS! THANKFULLY, MIGUEL HAS BEEN “HANDS ON” WITH THE VERY

LATEST SA-J82 CORE, SO THEY’VE JOINED FORCES TO ADVISE “OPFORISTS”

EVERYWHERE OF THEIR THOUGHTS. BILL LEADS OFF…

It’s nigh-on five years ago that I started looking

at AK AEG models from Specna Arms, and

although they are now best-known for their

ongoing technical and performance advances

with their AR-inspired AEGs, thankfully (and

somewhat behind the scenes) they’ve actually

had a very creditable “AK Program” running with

their J-SERIES AEG models too.

When I first looked at the SA-J04 back in Issue

113 (you’ll find that in Back Issues on the website)

I concluded that:

“With solid performance out of the box,

reasonably cheap accessories and magazines

should you need more, and an introductory price

of just €159 at the time of writing the SA-J04 is

a great bit of kit, and if you’re in the market for

something other than the “M4” then I’d really

suggest you take a good long look at this new

model from Specna Arms; I’m just keen to see

exactly where they take “Project J” next!”

But the “J-SERIES” models have, in my mind,

always played a little “second fiddle” to the

ARs; at the same time the program has also

been one of constant development, updating

existing Specna Arms AK-style models with the

same awesome technology as the ARs, but more

quietly, and certainly without all the fanfare of

product launches at trade shows and online…

Until now that is, as thankfully they’ve been

shouting pretty loud about the latest polymerbodied

J-SERIES CORE AEGs, and rightly so!

Over that five-year period though I can

truthfully tell you that Specna Arms AEGs in

general have just got better and better, with levels

of personalization and performance as standard

that even a couple of years ago I wouldn’t have

believed possible in an AEG! As I continue to say,

much as I have slight concerns that we are all

getting just a little TOO fixated and reliant on all

the shiny electrical “wizard shizzle” and gizmos

that go inside our favourite RIFs, Specna Arms

continue to impress even the most seasoned

of players, including a number of the Airsoft

Action Crew, with their current external build

quality and what is included in the package with

internals as standard, featuring components

such as the ORION gearboxes, GATE X-ASR and

ASTER Mosfets, and their “Enter & Convert” quick

change spring function.

As I’ve said before, they’ve forged some

fabulous strategic alliances with real firearms

manufacturers, first with Rock River Arms, then

with Daniel Defense and Strike Systems, and now

with their newly licenced KPYK accessory line for

AK variants (more on this later!)!

Add to that the fact that they are constantly

designing and innovating “in house” too, and I

truly believe that Specna Arms are amongst a

core group of manufacturers that are leading

the way, bringing value, great builds, and

performance to players worldwide!

Quiet yet constant development has been the

keynote of that “PROJECT J” though, consistently

moving these AEGs into new territory, bringing the

AK-style AEGs most assuredly up to par with their

very latest AR models, and as I’ve had several of

the models to play with (and indeed add to our

long-term test pool) as that line has been updated

“THE “J-SERIES” MODELS HAVE IN MY MIND ALWAYS PLAYED A LITTLE “SECOND

FIDDLE” TO THE ARS; AT THE SAME TIME THE PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN ONE OF

CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT, UPDATING EXISTING SPECNA ARMS AK-STYLE MODELS

WITH THE SAME AWESOME TECHNOLOGY AS THE ARS, BUT MORE QUIETLY”


ARMOURY


I can assure you that the J-SERIES is

as good as anything they produce.

Not only have Specna Arms

constantly reinvigorated their

original J-SERIES with new “tech”,

they’ve also taken the opportunity

to do it across a range of different

variants, some classic and some

most thoroughly “modern” with

different levels of internal “spec”,

and they continue to put great

AEGs into the hands of OPFOR

players worldwide,

and at a sensible

price too!

Now,

although I’m

about to hand over to

Miguel to talk about his

first impressions of one of

the latest J-SERIES AEGs, I

said I would comment

more on

the newlylicenced

KPYK

accessory

line for AK variants a little

more, and this really is very

fine stuff indeed!

For those of you not yet

aware, this is a BIG deal

for AK fans, as KPYK is a

Ukrainian manufacturer

specializing in highperformance

AK47/

AK74/AKM firearm

components and

accessories designed to boost the capability and

reliability of real AKs.

With a laser-focus on precision engineering,

KPYK delivers a comprehensive lineup of custom

gun parts, tactical gear, and performance

upgrades. Drawing from extensive combat

experience, KPYK‘s stock and handguard designs

ensure superior performance when it counts

most; trusted by professionals and firearms

enthusiasts alike, every product meets stringent

standards for ruggedness and functionality.

And it must be said that the KPYK accessories

I saw on the Specna Arms stand at IWA looked

truly wonderful, and I am 100% keen to get my

grubby little OPFOR hands on a few sets to

modernize my own AK AEGs… I certainly hope

that these hit stores soon!

And even better, among the new J-SERIES

models are some that come pre-accessorized

with different KPYK components as standard…

that said I WILL now hand off to Miguel for his

thoughts on the all-new SA-J82 CORE!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS!

Are you a fan of AK replicas? So am I. And are you

also a fan of short AK replicas? Well, so am I!

And since Specna Arms launched their first AK

replicas I’ve been waiting, patiently I might add,

for the AKS-74U models, either classic or more

tactical. For a couple of reasons, first the shorter

AK models have always been a personal favourite

of mine, either in video games, movies or airsoft.

Secondly, due to our laws in Portugal, a short

replica must “only” be painted in the grip and with

a 50mm yellow tip, instead of a full stock and a

100mm tip, for a long replica. I say “only” but we

are fighting to have it changed… no one likes to

paint their replicas... Fingers crossed.

But, our wishes have been granted, and

Specna Arms have launched a few new models

of AK replicas in their CORE range, and among

“AND IT MUST BE SAID THAT THE KPYK ACCESSORIES I

SAW ON THE SPECNA ARMS STAND AT IWA LOOKED TRULY

WONDERFUL, AND I AM 100% KEEN TO GET MY GRUBBY LITTLE OPFOR HANDS ON A

FEW SETS TO MODERNIZE MY OWN AK AEGS… I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THESE HIT

STORES SOON!”

10


ARMOURY


“OUR WISHES HAVE BEEN GRANTED, AND SPECNA ARMS HAVE LAUNCHED A FEW

NEW MODELS OF AK REPLICAS IN THEIR CORE RANGE, AND AMONG THESE I FOUND

THE J82 AND THE J83. A COUPLE OF TACTICAL TAKES ON THE AKS-74U, WITH MORE

MODERN FURNITURE”


ARMOURY


these I found the J82 and the J83. A couple of

tactical takes on the AKS-74U, with more modern

furniture. Now, I know a lot of players prefer a

more classic AK, and they are available as well,

both AK74 and AKS74U, so please, don’t shoot

the messenger!

The CORE series have been around for a while,

and they are a beloved range here at Airsoft

Action. Yes, it’s a range aimed at players who

have already started playing, but want to keep

airsoft budget-friendly. But they’ve been tried and

tested, and they are one of the best deals around.

And of course, we’ve shown them here plenty

of times, especially since Specna Arms have

updated them a couple of times…

But, for those who don’t know this range, or

for those that are interested in more details, at

the heart of the CORE series is a robust gearbox

featuring 8mm slide bearings and reinforced steel

gears. There’s a polycarbonate piston, equipped

with a full steel rack, which enhances durability

and allows the replica to handle stronger springs,

up to M140 (although I don’t really recommend

it!), without immediate upgrades. You will also

find the normal 6.03mm barrel and 16:1 steel

gears.

But, one of the newest upgrades compared

with the previous CORE AK replicas is the new

MAGNUM hop up chamber that changes the

typical AK slide-style adjustment to a rotary one,

similar to the ones found in the PRIME replicas.

And, of course, the HAL electronic trigger unit

GENII, offering a magnetic trigger sensor instead

of an optic one, and that makes a big difference

in countries with a lot of sunlight. This ETU also

comes with active break, five levels of trigger

sensibility, six levels of pre-cocking adjustment

(not that I really use it...) and several firing modes,

like three or five BB burst, AUG style trigger and

binary. And it can all be programmed via the

trigger, just follow the instructions on the card

that comes with the package!

Let’s now look at the exterior, which for

me brings the most changes, and it’s easy to

understand why, since we are talking about the

first tactical short AK models.

First we find a slim SOPMOD stock, a model

that I’ve never interacted with before, and my first

impressions are positive since it helps a bit to aim

while using headsets (like I did during my tests).

The J82 also comes out of the box with a more

modern trigger, aimed to work with the HAL ETU,

but for me the main focus goes to the M-LOK

handguard. This positively screams “modern AK”

and lets you accessorize your replica out of the

box, with several rails and QD points for slings.

And, like it’s mentioned on Gunfire’s website:

“The most critical parts, such as the barrel

stock, dummy slide, barrel base with the sights,

handguard stock, barrel and musket, are made of

zinc and aluminum alloy.”

While a few parts are made of steel, like the

lock chamber cover, safety wing and trigger

guard, the rest is made from durable polymer

reinforced with nylon fiber, and makes the replica

light, at around just 2,700g.

All that combined creates a light replica with

good ergonomics, but with a solid build on top.

The only thing that I can do without are the two

hi caps that it comes with the AEG... come on

Specna, just add MidCaps like in many other

ranges!

Overall though, I’m in love with the J82! I know

it’s not a high-end replica, but that’s not the goal

here. Specna Arms’ CORE range aims to offer

maybe the best price to quality ratio out there,

and adding that to dropping their first tactical

short AK... Oh boy! Me happy!

Thanks as always to https://gunfire.com for

supplying the test/review sample for Miguel.

Please do though visit https://specnaarms.com

to check out this model and the comprehensive

range of Specna Arms models on offer! AA

“OVERALL THOUGH I’M IN LOVE WITH THE J82! I KNOW IT’S NOT A HIGH-END REPLICA,

BUT THAT’S NOT THE GOAL HERE. SPECNA ARMS’ CORE RANGE AIMS TO OFFER

MAYBE THE BEST PRICE TO QUALITY RATIO OUT THERE, AND ADDING THAT TO

DROPPING THEIR FIRST TACTICAL SHORT AK... OH BOY! ME HAPPY!”

12


ARMOURY



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ARMOURY

NEW VORSK MODELS

NO SHORT

HAUL

16


ARMOURY

NEW VORSK MODELS

IT’S BEEN NO SHORT HAUL SO FAR FOR THE TEAM AT VORSK TO FINALLY HAVE

A PRETTY COMPLETE LINE-UP OF THEIR MODULAR PLATFORM, BUT NOW THAT

THE LATEST MODELS THAT WE SAW AT IWA HAVE BEEN RELEASED

INTO THE WILD, BILL STEPS BACK TO REFLECT ON WHAT IT HAS

TAKEN TO LAUNCH AN ENTIRE FAMILY OF TOTALLY UNIQUE

GBBR PLATFORMS INTO AN ALREADY BUSY MARKET,

AND WHAT THE NEW VMP-2’S ARE BRINGING TO

THE PARTY!

I

make absolutely no

secret that I’ve been

pretty intimately

involved in the epic

journey that Ross and his

team at VORSK undertook

some years back, or that

I’m a complete fanboi

when it comes to their

creations.

It has most definitely

not been in any way a “short

haul” to the point that they’ve

reached right now, as the VMP-

2 SD, S, and C variants have now

joined the MD, M, and D models in the range,

alongside the initial and now much-loved-bymany

VMP-1 SMG!

I take no umbrage whatsoever at any criticism

that I’ve over-featured the VORSK MODULAR

PLATFORM in all its glory here in the pages of

AIRSOFT ACTION either… these days I’m “da

boss”, so I decide what goes in and when, and

this is too big, too exciting, and too important a

story not to cover in its rich fullness.

I, and we, as I’ve commented before have been

exceptionally privileged to have been along for

the entire ride when it comes to the VMP variants,

literally from the point that Ross floated the idea

of a fully modular gas blowback family of rifles,

carbines and SMGs. His concept was to create

a group of platforms that covered off virtually

every possible role we have in airsoft, and given

his own personal knowledge gained as a player,

marshal, and tech I can safely say he knew what

he was talking about, and his vision (backed up

ably by tech-guru Mark) was to create a platform

that would encompass everything from a DMR,

through field and “recce” rifles, carbines, and

even CQB-ready shorties!

And all of these variants would be based

around one specific “operating system”, created

in turn with select-fire and semi-only options, but

that would be utterly and completely modular

and interchangeable! With both internal and

external parts that could be easily swapped and

changed this was one tall order, and it would take

time to achieve. First of course we saw the VMP-1,

that loading hand-meets-hand that captured the

hearts of both established GBBR friends and new

“I, AND WE, AS I’VE COMMENTED BEFORE HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY PRIVILEGED TO

HAVE BEEN ALONG FOR THE ENTIRE RIDE WHEN IT COMES TO THE VMP VARIANTS,

LITERALLY FROM THE POINT THAT ROSS FLOATED THE IDEA OF A FULLY MODULAR

GAS BLOWBACK FAMILY OF RIFLES, CARBINES AND SMGS”


ARMOURY

NEW VORSK MODELS

users both, and I’m going to be blunt and simply

say that this REALLY put VORSK on the airsoftmap,

not just as producer of fine and fun pistols,

but as a true contender in the GBB market.

And it was the VMP-1, and the conviction and

belief of the entire VORSK team in their first

GBBR, that really convinced “Higher Higher” in

the company to carry on investing in the project,

and enable the program to drive forward!

Work was already well underway in the “Vorsk

Skunkworx” on the first three VMP-2 variants even

whilst the VMP-1 was hitting the market, with the

factories in the Far East already tooling up for

production…

But then, and it would be totally remiss of me

not to mention this, potential calamity appeared

to have struck as manufacturing issues (tracked

back to source at one specific factory eventually!)

resulted in a small number of VMP-1s developing

cracks in the receivers… of course then “the

chairborne warriors” of the interwebz got all fired

up and started chanting complete nonsense as is

the norm on social media!

On one hand we had a great British company

doing amazing things, creating something

completely unique and affordable that

performed superbly, whilst

out to be cosmetic, not in any way interfering with

the operation or performance of the VMP-1.

To all of you out there that criticised, I will say

again… my own VMP-1 which has been absolutely

hammered is still blazing away, and shows no

sign of developing any blemish whatsoever!

To all of you out there that fired-up the

interwebz as nay-sayers whilst I appreciate you

have every right to get the very thing you paid for,

and for that to give good service, I think you need

to take a long, cold look at yourselves as your

small-mindedness could easily have relegated

the VMP program to a “what might have been…”

MOVING ON

So, rant over, but once again, my ball and I make

the rules here… and just like you, I’m perfectly

entitled to say what I think!

And what I say is “Bloody well done Vorsk!” as

the VMP-2 really is the rocking gas-platform that

I’d hoped it would be… and then some!

I’ve written already about our experiences

with the VMP-2s that both Jase and I have, and

thus far they have all been 100% positive. A

very few players have reported

on the other hand we

had a bunch of British

idiots slagging off their

every effort… it was

completely awful to

watch what could have been a

complete derailing of a visionary project,

but thankfully the VORSK team responded to

everything professionally, took it on the chin, and

DEALT WITH IT!

Let me reiterate, the numbers of problem VMP-

1s were minimal, and ultimately the crack turned

issues with gassingout

on the first run of 2’s, but that

has already been tracked back

to source (factory again…) and

rectified, and once again I would

stress that this IS NOT something

that we’ve experienced with our

own rifles… and before you ask, as

always they’re from the middle of a

production run, so we don’t have

anything that’s different to what all of you have…

I do keep an eye on the VORSK user groups

“I DO KEEP AN EYE ON THE VORSK USER GROUPS ONLINE, AND THUS FAR IT APPEARS

THAT THE MAJORITY OF PLAYERS ARE MORE THAN HAPPY WITH THE FIRST-RUN VMP-

2S, WITH LOTS OF POSITIVE COMMENTS AND TALES OF DERRING-DO USING THEIR

NOW FAVOURITE-IST GAS PLATFORM”

18


ARMOURY

NEW VORSK MODELS

online, and thus far it appears that the majority

of players are more than happy with the first-run

VMP-2s, with lots of positive comments and tales

of derring-do using their now favourite-ist gas

platform. As the initial 2 MD, M, and D models get

more time in-game it’s very interesting to see just

how many of you have also become invested in

the platform itself, and it’s true modularity, and

even with the three initial variations in receivers,

stocks, barrel lengths, and rail systems I’ve

already seen some truly wonderful (and some

quite shockingly bizarre!) mash-ups!

Scene set, and now that the 2 SD, S, and C

variants are now out there too, along with a

whole raft of new accessories to go with them,

I’m expecting to see some utterly mind-boggling

mixin’ and matchin’, and that’s something that I

WILL come back to at a later date!

Of course I introduced the three new variants

not so long ago in ISSUE 173 immediately after

IWA so I won’t go into the fine detail of each and

every model yet again as that would indeed be

boring, but I will concentrate on what I’ve found

after some serious range-time with all three,

what I’ve experienced, how I’ve juggled things

around, and indeed what I don’t like… in fact I’ll

get the latter out of the way first as thus far there

ain’t nothing that after a goodly time behind their

triggers I don’t like!

What I DO like though is that each of the three

new variants has character very much of its

own, and although they do share commonality

of “OS” (and of course magazines… WIN!), they

are very different beasts from one another. Let’s

take the SD and the S first, as you may think that

they’re very similar to one another… both the

models I had to test were the nominal “330fps,

Select Fire” variants which means you get semi

and full, although I can easily swap things out

with my 2D “Semi Only” trigger group to give me

a CQB-friendly version of either! The SD has a

223mm inner barrel which runs inside the integral

suppressor whilst the S is 195, but

both have 14mm threads; the SD

comes with a short suppressor

installed, where the S has the

muzzle brake designed to work

perfectly with that lovely, chunky

can that we all know from the VMP-1.

Both have full-length top rails and

M-LOK-style handguards , although

you may struggle to fit accessories

into the rail of the SD; the S is

more “traditional” and although it

obviously bears the “Mark of Vorsk”

with some interesting cutouts

and details it’s still very

friendly in the hand,

whilst the SD is more of a

squared profile. Both have

fully ambidextrous

controls (including

the cocking

handle), and the

new VORSK FIBRE

V-SIGHTS fitted as

standard… and then

there are some differences…

The S comes with the same

“1991-style” pistol grip that I have

on my 2D, but the SD has the new

PDW grip which I like immensely.

It’s a similar story with the folding

stocks as the S has a picatinnymounted

version similar to that

seen on the VMP-1, whilst the SD

has the new Skeleton Stock; both

the new grip and

stock are soon to

“WHAT I DO LIKE THOUGH IS THAT EACH OF THE THREE NEW VARIANTS HAS

CHARACTER VERY MUCH OF ITS OWN, AND ALTHOUGH THEY DO SHARE

COMMONALITY OF “OS” (AND OF COURSE MAGAZINES… WIN!), THEY ARE VERY

DIFFERENT BEASTS FROM ONE ANOTHER”


ARMOURY

NEW VORSK MODELS

be available as accessories

too!

Now to the 2C as

this… THIS… is most

assuredly

one of a

kind!

standalone accessories… I can also

see this model with an HPA-adaptor

screaming out to the speedsofters

amongst us, and what a hoot that would

be to see!

When I first

saw the C I was

immediately love-locked to it! At just

360mm long, with the PDW grip, no stock but

a picatinny-mounting rail at the back, and the

absolutely awesome, cylindrical 80mm V-RAIL

and chunky muzzle device at the sharp-end, it is

without doubt that the 2C will be utter “marmite”

as I’m certain some will avoid it like the plague

whilst I would run barefoot over burning coals to

get to it! In terms of options there’s a 235mm top

rail for mounting an optic, and L and R-side QD

stud points for attaching a sling… what more do

you need on such a tiny GBB?

It really is, in my mind at least, a thing of

absolute beauty, so small, so light , and SO easy

to manipulate; it also shows just how small you

can make something whilst still having all the

benefits of the full-sized “OS” that’s in every other

VMP model! Again, I’ve got the select-fire version

but it strikes me that this would be perfect to use

with the semi-only trigger group for a dedicated

CQB-beastie, and do bear in mind that VMP-2

series complete trigger groups are available as

DOWNRANGE

So, let’s get to the meat of it… the new

“shorty” VMP-2’s look the absolute

business, all three are well-featured

and ready for use; the SD and S come with the

shrouded 48 BB long magazines, whilst the C

has the short, also shrouded 20BB magazine…

thankfully all VMP mags work between every

single model, and the C fitted with the 48 BB mag

looks insanely wicked!

So, with ALL my VMP mags loaded up, a bag

of VORSK .20g and another of .28g BBs, and a

can (or two!) of VORSK V6 FUEL in hand it was

off to the woods for me… and what a thoroughly

FUN afternoon I spent clanging steels! All three

models chrono’d perfectly at between 327 and

328 fps (0.99 Joule!) on a .20g just as intended, so

no issues whatsoever there.

And the VMP-2’s do have some grunt to them

for sure; I’ve tested pretty much entirely on

VORSK V6 FUEL, and even after a few woodssessions

the “OS” appears to be bedding in very

nicely indeed! In terms of BB’s “for real” I’m using

VORSK .28g BBs as this gives me the best all-

“AT JUST 360MM LONG, WITH THE PDW GRIP, NO STOCK BUT A PICATINNY-

MOUNTING RAIL AT THE BACK, AND THE… CYLINDRICAL 80MM V-RAIL AND CHUNKY

MUZZLE DEVICE AT THE SHARP-END, IT IS WITHOUT DOUBT THAT THE 2C WILL BE

UTTER “MARMITE” AS I’M CERTAIN SOME WILL AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE WHILST I

WOULD RUN BAREFOOT OVER BURNING COALS TO GET TO IT!”

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NEW VORSK MODELS

Select Fire Trigger Group

Semi Only Trigger Group

DMR Stock Assembly

Retractable Stock Assembly

“WITH THE .28G WEIGHT THOUGH ONCE YOU’VE GOT THE HOP SET RIGHT (EASY

BY FINGER GIVEN THE TDC WHEEL ON THE TOP), THEY’RE’S BANG ON! WHAT A

THOROUGHLY FUN AFTERNOON I SPENT CLANGING STEELS! ALL THREE MODELS

CHRONO’D PERFECTLY AT BETWEEN 327 AND 328 FPS (0.99 JOULE!) ON A .20G JUST

AS INTENDED, SO NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER THERE”


ARMOURY

NEW VORSK MODELS

round performance given the gas, although like

the VMP-1 the short 2’s will most certainly hop a

.30g if you so desire.

With the .28g weight though once you’ve

got the hop set right (easy by finger given the

TDC wheel on the top), they’re’s bang on... I’ve

continued whacking the 300mm x 300mm steels

on the woods range at 30m regularly with the SD

and S, and recently I had the C also hitting “Fig

11s” at that range with no issue, although with

the super-short 100mm inner barrel ringing the

steels is far easier and more intuitive at 10m CQB

ranges… don’t get me wrong though; I swapped

out the Skeleton Stock from the SD to the C, and

with it set up this way and a micro-RDS fitted it

WILL reach out very nicely too!

One thing I did find was that with the Skeleton

Stock fitted to the highest point on the picatinny

mount it was nigh-on impossible to use the

cocking handle on the RHS, my usual positioning

with the VMP-2 models. Of course I just switched

out the cocking handle to the LHS and this

worked perfectly with the stock open or folded to

the side… something was twitching in my apebrain

when I did this, and it took me a while to

work out what it was… with the cocking handle on

the LHS of the VMP-2C (something I’ve done now

with the other VMP-2s as I actually like it on the

left!) it struck me that it was very MP5k-like, and

now I love the 2C even more that I did, especially

with the big mag in… does this mean I now do a

“V-Slap”? Yes, yes it does!

So, that’s brought things up to date with a bit

of a look back at what’s been achieved by the

VORSK bois so far, and I have to admit that I’m

darn proud that mates of mine have created

something that’s just so much fun, and sure to

bring in-game joy to players that favour something

different and unique, but that still delivers

accuracy and performance! Ross, and Mark (and

Matt too given his hard work behind the scenes!),

chapeau my friends, you have done yourselves

proud, and I believe written your names into GBB

lore…

To the nay-sayers and online doom-mongers,

go get a life while I simply wave you on your way

and I continue to enjoy my own VMP variants!

Although I am strangely smitten with the C, for

general gaming the SD has got to be the one for

me, although it’s a toss-up between that and the

S as I really like them both! When I can though I’m

going to lay my hands on a few more of the rails

and accessories to give me a choice in how I set

things up for specific scenarios… and perhaps

even another semi-only trigger group… and a

couple more stocks… and most definitely another

PDW Grip… I haz gnus to configure… and reconfigure

ad nauseam!

The aim of the VORSK MODULAR PLATFORM

program was to deliver something that was

indeed TRULY modular, and once again I have to

say that from what I now have in my hands with

the three new variants adding to what’s already

on offer (and what I know I can create from those

specific stock platforms) I’d say again that it’s a

case of “Mission Success”.

I’d also say that the VMP-2 is most definitely an

instance of the whole being far, far greater than

the sum of its parts… I cannot wait to see what

comes next! AA

“WITH THE COCKING HANDLE ON THE LHS OF THE VMP-2C IT STRUCK ME THAT IT

WAS VERY MP5K-LIKE, AND NOW I LOVE THE 2C EVEN MORE THAT I DID, ESPECIALLY

WITH THE BIG MAG IN… DOES THIS MEAN I NOW DO A “V-SLAP”? YES, YES IT DOES!”

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NEW VORSK MODELS

Vorsk VMP-2C

Vorsk VMP-2S

Vorsk VMP-2SD

“THE AIM ...WAS TO DELIVER SOMETHING THAT WAS INDEED TRULY MODULAR, AND

ONCE AGAIN I HAVE TO SAY THAT FROM WHAT I NOW HAVE IN MY HANDS WITH THE

THREE NEW VARIANTS ADDING TO WHAT’S ALREADY ON OFFER (AND WHAT I KNOW I

CAN CREATE FROM THOSE SPECIFIC STOCK PLATFORMS) I’D SAY AGAIN THAT IT’S A

CASE OF “MISSION SUCCESS””


ARMOURY

VFC PPSH41 GBBR FIRST LOOK

AN ICON

ARRIVES!

LAST YEAR, DURING MOA 2024, VEGAFORCECOMPANY (VFC) SHOWED OFF

THEIR “PPSH41 AIRSOFT GBB SMG” WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED,

BUT PROVIDED IT TO VISITORS FOR TRIAL USE. FINALLY IT WILL BE OFFICIALLY

LAUNCHED WORLDWIDE! THANKS TO OUR LEGION ASSOCIATE, “MILITARY”

ANNY, WE CAN NOW DROP THE SCOOP FROM THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH EVENT!

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I

was honoured to be invited to participate in

the launch of the world’s first mass-produced

“PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB” held by VFC on April

the 11th; VFC dealers and YouTube celebrities

also came along that day.

VFC brand spokesperson Sally Chou served as

the host to kick off the new product launch - First,

VFC founder Vega Kung invited Ryan, the project

manager in charge of this “PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB”,

to introduce this new product to everyone on the

scene, and we were told:

“The PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB is a submachine

gun developed and produced by the Soviet Union

during World War II. Ryan took over the project

and it took him more than a year, from initial

drafting, planning, sample production and then

product finalisation. There are very few World War

II related guns on the market (except VFC’s BAR),

so the PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB is a test to gauge the

market reaction; if the response is enthusiastic,

we will further plan a product line related to World

War II.

The PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB is similar to a real

gun in terms of appearance and weight. Let’s

begin with a look at the engravings.

The German army had already fought outside

Russia, and at that time the arsenal was

stepping up the production of PPsh41 real guns. I

happened upon information about a real PPsh41

submachine gun abroad, so I designed our replica

based on the information of that gun.

The engraving details of the PPsh41 AIRSOFT

GBB will amaze you; there were some differences

from when the earlier prototype was displayed

at MOA! The classic engraving and serial number

were not reproduced at that time. The new

product launched will completely reproduce

the classic engraving on the PPsh41 real gun,

from the upper gun body, barrel, trigger guard,

each gun has the same engraved serial number,

which avoids errors in the reproduction process

and satisfies collectors and players who like this

replication. The VFC markings are located under

the magazine release and includes a hidden

manufacturer’s serial number that can be used to

track the condition of the gun.

The packaging design is clever, and the original

cardboard box of the PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB is

similar to the prior VFC AK74 GBBR release;

however this time the predominant gun silhouette

in the middle of course resembles the PPsh41,

along with bullet outlines that match the real

steel gun’s ammunition.

Some key points to note:

• Solid wood stock: Each solid wood stock

of the PPsh41 AIRSOFT GBB has a unique

colour and grain pattern and replicates

authentic specifications, should the user

locate and wish to install an original stock.

• Barrel shroud: Made of 3mm thick steel

plate, stamped and welded in a realistic

manner.

• Bolt: Made of CNC Aluminium alloy (and

thus very lightweight), the cyclic rate can

reach 20 rounds per second.

• Magazine: Internally is housed a plastic

magazine tray, with a capacity of 120

rounds – prior to installing the magazine,

lock the bolt back to avoid damaging the

first BB. Once fully loaded with gas, the

magazine can deliver 240 shots – two full

loads of its internal ammunition cassette –

before needing reloading with gas.

• A selector button is located on the

magazine cassette itself, with the switch set

to the number ‘0’ on the magazine, when

the last bullet is fired, the bolt will be locked

rearward ready for. When the same switch

is moved to the position marked ‘1’, the dry

fire mode is activated and the gun can be

fired without BBs loaded. At present it is a

green gas powered GBB SMG, however an

“THE PPSH41 AIRSOFT GBB IS A SUBMACHINE GUN DEVELOPED AND PRODUCED BY

THE SOVIET UNION DURING WORLD WAR II; RYAN TOOK OVER THE PROJECT AND

IT TOOK HIM MORE THAN A YEAR, FROM INITIAL DRAFTING, PLANNING, SAMPLE

PRODUCTION AND THEN PRODUCT FINALISATION”

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HPA fed version will be released later.

• TDC HOP group: Downward pressure

applied by the HOP unit is applied with

clockwise adjustment.

• Safety lever: Different from common

modern examples, the safety operation is

very simple. Pull the bolt back and press

the safety button on the charging handle

inward, so that the gun cannot be fired.

• Fire selector lever: Push it back for single

shot, push it forward for continuous fire.

• HOP rubber and tube are all compatible

with VFC’s VFR series HOP buckings,

which is very convenient for subsequent

modification, however disassembly of the

HOP requires the included dedicated tool,

to undo the two retaining screws holding

the HOP unit together.

I believe many people will ask whether there

will be related accessories for PPsh41 AIRSOFT

GBB? Many people are currently asking about the

magazine; currently, we use a drum magazine.

The real PPsh41 gun also made use of a

35-round box magazine, which is currently under

development consideration. In fact, the PPsh41

does not have many variants to consider, so

first we produced the Russian classic. However

during the 1990s, the US military went to the Gulf

War and captured some examples, and made

some tactical accessories, so we also have some

related ideas! We will make some adapters; you

can see that the barrel of PPsh41 and other heat

dissipation holes are very large so we will look to

make use of them with the adaptors. In the future,

players can choose according to their needs;

replacement sights, lights, grips, etc.

Because the way the PPsh41 is traditionally

held is not particularly ergonomic, if there is

an angled grip in the front, like that of the AK, a

45-degree angled grip, it will be easier for players

to operate and shoot.

“THE NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHED WILL COMPLETELY REPRODUCE THE CLASSIC

ENGRAVING ON THE PPSH41 REAL GUN, FROM THE UPPER GUN BODY, BARREL,

TRIGGER GUARD, EACH GUN HAS THE SAME ENGRAVED SERIAL NUMBER, WHICH

AVOIDS ERRORS IN THE REPRODUCTION PROCESS AND SATISFIES COLLECTORS AND

PLAYERS”


ARMOURY


This is the direction in which the production

will be extended in the future. There are already

prototypes and samples, and it is hoped that

these will be officially unveiled at MOA 2025 later

this year. Those who own the PPsh41 AIRSOFT

GBB will have the opportunity to exhibit the

extended accessories at MOA. We

are currently taking pre-orders.

that only a select few have been able to get their

hands on the real thing as yet.

However, the PPsh 41 is an important model

without doubt! Firstly for lovers of WW2-era

airsoft platforms the PPsh was massively

important not just as an iconic

We will see if

the market acceptance

and response in May this year

are good, and then we will start developing new

products in this direction.”

BILL’S TAKE

Our sincere thanks go to Anny for sharing all

the details of the VFC launch in relation to their

new PPsh 41 GBBR, and from what we can see

it is genuinely now moving from a show-ready

prototype to a full production airsoft platform,

and this is something that I am certainly very

pleased to see!

Let’s take a look again at features...

• Weight: empty gun weighs approximately

4500g

• Magazine capacity: 120 BBs

• Inner barrel length: 208mm

• Overall length: 843mm

• Initial velocity: 100m/s (0.20g BB)

• Note: It is recommended to use 12kg gas.

Sadly, although “the word” was April 2025, and

subsequently May, here we are in June and the

PPsh 41 is still showing up as “Pre Order” from

what we can see with many stores. That’s by no

means a million miles away from the initially

stated deliver-to-retailer date, but it does mean

SMG, but as a platform that

initiated a new style of combat,

most especially in urban

confrontations. So well-liked was

it, that during the Battle of Stalingrad

many German soldiers would ditch even their

MP40s in favour of the PPsh, and that big old

drum mag, and subsequent delivery of rounds

downrange, proved devastating in the hands of

both sides!

Many WW2 movie aficionados will no doubt

think immediately of “Steiner” in “Cross of Iron”…

But then there’s the “airsoft innovation” side of

things, and if anything this excites me more, as

there’s an innovative, efficient gas drum magazine

design that could well prove to be applicable

tech-wise to many other drum-fed GBBRs. Then

there’s the full steel construction, real wood

stock, and CNC-machined internals, this SMG is

undoubtedly built for realism and performance!

VFC have really become one of the real “go

to” GBBR creators at the moment, and it strikes

me that by going in different directions they are

REALLY looking to dominate this area of airsoft!

If at the same time that VFC are developing new

ways of doing things with unique and clever

design, matched up with top rate materials and

components, and strictly-monitored quality

control, AND they are looking at new areas where

“IN FACT, THE PPSH41 DOES NOT HAVE MANY VARIANTS TO CONSIDER, SO FIRST WE

PRODUCED THE RUSSIAN CLASSIC; HOWEVER DURING THE 1990S, THE US MILITARY

WENT TO THE GULF WAR AND CAPTURED SOME EXAMPLES, AND MADE SOME

TACTICAL ACCESSORIES, SO WE ALSO HAVE SOME RELATED IDEAS!”

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GBBRs aren’t yet prevalent so as far as I can see

Vega and the team are on to something special.

And WW2 replicas? Yup, it may appear to be

a small market, but there’s something about

“vintage” pistols, SMGs, and rifles that just

sings to the hearts of many an airsofter, and let’s

not forget the fact that many players are also

interested in re-enactment… So if you can have

one GBBR that you can play airsoft with and then

take to the next living history event too, then that

has to be a win in everyone’s book!

I am most definitely one of the shooters out

there that wants the VFC PPsh 41 GBBR to be a

HUGE success, and if I’m totally honest I cannot

wait to get my hands on one!

Once again, my sincere thanks go to Anny for

bringing us her account of the VFC launch, and I’ll

leave the closing words of this article to her too!

“Interesting things shared from YouTube!

Someone on YouTube put the PPsh41 AIRSOFT

GBB into the sand; are you afraid to replicate this?

Basically, it can still operate after taking it out of

the sand, but it is not recommended because it

will take a long time to clean and maintain the gun

afterwards!” AA

“VFC ARE DEVELOPING NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS WITH UNIQUE AND CLEVER

DESIGN, MATCHED UP WITH TOP RATE MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS, AND STRICTLY-

MONITORED QUALITY CONTROL, AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT NEW AREAS WHERE

GBBRS AREN’T YET PREVALENT SO AS FAR AS I CAN SEE VEGA AND THE TEAM ARE

ON TO SOMETHING SPECIAL”


ARMOURY

LAYLAX TM MK23 NBB UPGRADES

CLASSIC

UPGRADES

WAY BACK AT THE TAIL END OF 2022 STEWBACCA WAS VERY LUCKY TO MAKE HIS

WAY TO JAPAN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND TAKE PART IN THE THEN RECENTLY RE-

COMMENCED KRYTAC OWNER’S MEETING IN CHIBA, SUPPORTED BY LAYLAX,

AND CAME BACK WITH SOME GOODIES TO PUT TO THE TEST! NOW HE’S FINALLY

HAD MORE THAN AMPLE TIME BEHIND THE BASE TOKYO MARUI MK23, AND AFTER

UPGRADING AND RUNNING IT WITH THE LAYLAX COMPONENTS, HE NOW SHARES

HIS BETTER-INFORMED THOUGHTS!

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Casting your mind back to Issue 149 of May

2023, you may well recall my review of

the Laylax “Breakout” Mk23 NBB-specific

side-swinging holster and my experiences of

using it alongside the stock Marui version I

acquired here in Taiwan shortly after my return

from Japan.

Among the intervening years I’ve been busying

myself with numerous pistol and rifle reviews,

and following an unrelated failure of my Mk23

I had to put the continuation review on hold.

Luckily thanks to some of my teammates and

friends in Japan I managed to finally source spare

parts and can complete the review of the upgrade

components I was generously furnished with

during my time visiting Laylax and recording a

quick explanation video with Ryan Sensei in the

rooftop studio there.

It’s been a fair while since I got hands-on with

this system… unfortunately I had been testing the

Breakout holster and stock

game. I’d then gone ahead and stripped it down

to successfully install the Laylax replacement

lightweight trigger system (which they have a

great instructional video for on their Youtube

page by the way!) only to have the gun knocked

out of the holster twice in the space of a few

minutes by some of my teammates running past

and catching their gear on my gun and causing it

to smash on the floor! Apparently this had with

enough force to break the trigger transfer bar

inside, which promptly put pretty much exactly a

year’s delay on my review as I only just managed

to source replacement parts after all this time.

That is one addendum I might add regarding the

Breakout holster; I recently had the gun knocked

out of it again during CQB gaming and it’s getting

pretty infuriating to be honest. Luckily it didn’t

break this time, but I would imagine the target

market for any Mk23 NBB is more likely to be as a

stealthy sniper’s sidearm or backup gun for close

in ranges inside the minimum

Mk23 NBB

for a while to

get baseline

experiences

of the system

and the triggerweight

and use in

engagement distance required by

most sites that allow more powerful

bolt action guns.

With that in mind I’d strongly

advise wearing the holster a lot

further back than your typical “3 o-clock” position

that most holsters would reside in, tucking it fully

behind your own silhouette is no doubt preferable

for both CQB use and for the aforementioned

ghillied-up types that would otherwise drag it

through the undergrowth. You can then release it

from a more rearward position which is probably

“AMONG THE INTERVENING YEARS I’VE BEEN BUSYING MYSELF WITH NUMEROUS

PISTOL AND RIFLE REVIEWS, AND FOLLOWING AN UNRELATED FAILURE OF MY MK23 I

HAD TO PUT THE CONTINUATION REVIEW ON HOLD. LUCKILY THANKS TO SOME OF MY

TEAMMATES AND FRIENDS IN JAPAN I MANAGED TO FINALLY SOURCE SPARE PARTS”

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easier when prone in the leaf-litter or grassy

knolls you will likely find yourself working from…

STRIPPED AND READY

With the spare parts finally in hand I once again

stripped down my original Marui Mk23 NBB,

as well as the donor cheap-soft knockoff one

teammate gifted me to try and resurrect the

project just before another teammate managed

to grab the original parts for me during a trip to

Japan… many thanks to Rob, Bern & “Defrowe”

Stu for their support on that front!

The Laylax kit comprises drop-in components

to lessen the spring weight of the double action

non-blowback trigger system and make it easier

to fire more accurate initial shots, or likewise

faster strings of multiple rounds in quick

succession without the usual prevalent missing

or jams you might encounter with a stock spring

setup.

Included in the “SOCOM Mk23 Light Trigger Pull

Kit” is a replacement hammer body, red anodised

valve striker arm, reduced-force hammer

butterfly spring, and one replacement lightweight

adjustable magazine valve. You will need to

source as many separate magazine valves as you

have additional magazines for them to work with

the reduced spring power trigger system.

However, their adjustment system also allows

you to better tune the gun to favour either

maximum output power and range with a larger

gas volume, or a throttled gas volume to give a

more consistent output pressure shot to shot

and greater efficiency or endurance overall. This

is achieved by removing the top feed lip unit to

expose the top of the main outlet valve, thereafter

loosening the valve’s main body at the rear with

an appropriate wrench and rotating the now freed

up internal valve spigot within the main body

using an allen key or similar, to open or close the

gas router facing opening in this rotating inner

shell; essentially this is to give more gas flow with

“THE LAYLAX KIT COMPRISES DROP-IN COMPONENTS TO LESSEN THE SPRING

WEIGHT OF THE DOUBLE ACTION NON-BLOWBACK TRIGGER SYSTEM AND MAKE IT

EASIER TO FIRE MORE ACCURATE INITIAL SHOTS, OR LIKEWISE FASTER STRINGS OF

MULTIPLE ROUNDS IN QUICK SUCCESSION”


ARMOURY


a wider gap, or a tighter gap for more throttled gas

flow. Re-tightening the outer body while the tool

is left in place to hold the rotating inner part in the

desired orientation and it’s a job done, and again,

all of which is adeptly explained in their related

Youtube instructional video.

After installing all of the components I got

back to testing the Mk23 NBB at home on the

chronograph with a variety of ammunition

weights, and my Lymann trigger gauge as well.

The trigger pull reduced from an average of

2.6kg (5.65 lbs) down to 2.3kg (5 lbs) and made it

noticeably easier to make faster follow up shots

with less hang-ups I have become accustomed

to with NBBs… in fact back in the UK I wrecked

my P99 NBB trying to run it as fast as my GBB P99

at one point in CQB, and since then have never

really been a fan of the systems. They really are

better suited to snipers or sneaky-beaky types

taking lone well-considered shots than yours truly

with a vastly over developed trigger finger from

years of GBB use and abuse!

I elected to set my lone modified magazine

up for the maximum output valve, setting with

the inner shell rotated to give the widest throat

opening to the gas router, and using .20g BBs I

achieved an average muzzle velocity of 93m/s

or 0.8 joules, with .30g BBs giving 81m/s or

1.1 Joules, and .36g BBs giving 71m/s or 0.9

joules. These values were all fairly similar to

the original stock configuration’s output on the

same ammunition testing scheme, so the output

remains somewhat consistent to the stock gun

at the highest setting, despite the reduction in

spring rate, no doubt a testament to the clever

design of the replacement magazine valves.

GETTING IN-GAME

Having run the upgraded gun in a few different

game scenarios now, ranging from as a sidearm

for quiet or closeup work in otherwise longer

range outdoor games, as well as in CQB settings

where we have to switch to a pistol within

ten metres to avoid overpowered rifle or SMG

eliminations up close, the Laylax upgrades have

made a definite difference in terms of reducing

the hangups or short strokes of the trigger for

initial shots or rapid strings with the reduced

resistance and pull weight leading to a smoother

rapid fire experience when running in close

quarter scenarios and encountering multiple

opponents in a short space of time.

A further upgrade I was furnished with during

my visit to Laylax was the replacement outer

barrel kit, which allows for a very easy drop-in,

swap-out of the original outer barrel unit that has

the proprietary thread for the included SOCOM

themed suppressor.

The Laylax take replaces this with a standard

airsoft accessory thread through the use of

an internal thread with a double ended thread

adaptor; this allows for the installation of other

standard-threaded suppressors for a different

aesthetic, or if you wanted to add a longer internal

barrel and permanently mask it with a more

convenient suppressor length to better match

it… or, as I more interestingly deployed it, using

an Acetech blaster unit threaded on the front for

the CQB games I used the Mk23 NBB in, running

green tracer BBs and delighting in “lighting up”

the OpFor in a double-entendre fashion!

If, however, you want to dispense with the

suppressors altogether, the double-ended and

threaded adaptor can be removed entirely and

replaced with a threaded plug that screws into

the internal thread of the replacement outer

barrel unit and use the Mk23 NBB without any

sound moderation whatsoever. This trades

the louder report with a more convenient and

wieldy solution without the added length of the

suppressor making it cumbersome to holster, but

without the potential worry of an exposed thread

being damaged in the process.

“USING .20G BBS I ACHIEVED AN AVERAGE MUZZLE VELOCITY OF 93M/S OR 0.8

JOULES, WITH .30G BBS GIVING 81M/S OR 1.1 JOULES, AND .36G BBS GIVING 71M/S

OR 0.9 JOULES. THESE VALUES WERE ALL FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE ORIGINAL STOCK

CONFIGURATION’S OUTPUT ON THE SAME AMMUNITION TESTING SCHEME, SO THE

OUTPUT REMAINS SOMEWHAT CONSISTENT”

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This would certainly be a

worthwhile consideration if you

are using an alternative holstering

option as well, given that having the

suppressor fitted would likely preclude the use of a

rigid polymer solution such as a custom Kydex like the

ones I’ve been acquiring for my recent Walther GBBs as of

late.

Regardless how you intend on deploying the Tokyo Marui

Mk23 NBB SOCOM or similar derivatives, the application of

the Laylax Breakout Holster, replacement Laylax Nine Ball

Metal outer barrel SAS kit, and/or the Laylax Nine Ball light

trigger pull kit are bound to bring you added functionality,

deployability and enjoyment of the platform.

Many thanks again to Laylax and their team for their

hospitality during my time in Japan, as well as their

components for testing and review. AA


TAP/CLICK TO HEAD OVER TO THE NAF WEBSITE - AND DON'T FORGET TO USE THE DISCOUNT CODE!

WANT MORE INFO?

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OPTICS

REDWIN KUIPER 1.2-6X24 SFP

THE RIGHT

SIGHT

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIGHT FOR YOUR REPLICA CAN SOMETIMES BE A BIT OF A

CHALLENGE; WITH SO MANY OPTIONS ON THE MARKET, ALL PROMISING TOP-TIER

PERFORMANCE, IT’S EASY TO FEEL OVERWHELMED. HOWEVER, AFTER USING THE

SAME OPTIC FOR OVER FOUR YEARS NEARLY EVERY WEEKEND, BRUNO, IN HIS

FIRST “SOLO” ARTICLE FOR AA, FEELS CONFIDENT SHARING HIS THOUGHTS.

42


OPTICS


It’s always tough finding the right optic, and of

course it must be the right optic for you! Before

diving into the details of my go-to optic, let me

introduce you to the brand behind it… say hello to

Redwin Optics, a brand that deserves a moment

in the spotlight.

Redwin Optics, founded in 2020, is not

just another rifle scope and red dot sight

manufacturer, it’s the embodiment of a lifetime

of passion and experience from its founder, a

seasoned hunter named Jose. Jose’s hunting

journey began at the age of 13, chasing wild boar

through the rugged terrain of Northern Spain.

Over three decades later, his passion has taken

him to the plains of South Africa for solo hunts

and shaped a brand that reflects his philosophy

on optics, quality, and durability.

Even at 52, Jose maintains a rigorous daily

fitness routine, showing his enduring dedication

to the sport and to the pursuit of excellence. That

same drive is clearly evident in Redwin Optics,

a company built not only on knowledge and

expertise but also on the core principles that

matter to hunters and airsoft enthusiasts alike.

Jose’s mindset is rooted in the thrill of

overcoming adversity, and this mentality is central

to Redwin’s product philosophy. But Redwin

Optics isn’t just for hunters, it’s also crafted with

the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of airsoft

skirmishes in mind. Whether you’re tracking a

target through dense brush or moving through a

close-quarters battle (CQB) arena, Redwin equips

you for victory.

The company stands on four main pillars:

practical design, efficient use of materials,

high-precision machining, and minimized, ecoconscious

packaging. Redwin isn’t just selling

gear, it’s providing reliable tools for those who are

passionate about precision, performance, and

pushing limits. That philosophy rings true in every

product, and most of all in the optic I’ve come to

trust: the Redwin Kuiper 1.2-6x24 SFP.

WINNER, WINNER!

Let’s get into the good stuff. The optic I’ve used

for more than four years is the Redwin Kuiper

1.2-6x24 SFP. While it may not be the LPVO (Low

Power Variable Optic) that everyone thinks of

first, since it starts at a base magnification of 1.2x

instead of a true 1x it quickly won me over. In fact,

I fell in love with it the very first time I used it, and I

haven’t looked back since.

Now, for those unfamiliar with LPVOs, it’s

important to know they require a bit more

adaptation than a standard red dot sight; they

aren’t just plug-and-play. There’s a learning

curve, and for me, it took about two months of

consistent use to really get comfortable. But once

I did? Total game changer.

The Kuiper’s 1.2x base magnification may not

be true 1x, but it offers what I believe is a slight

edge in target acquisition speed. The tradeoff,

of course, is a reduced field of view, at 100

metres, it ranges between 32 meters (at 1.2X)

and 6.4 meters (at 6X). However, given the 36mm

ocular lens and 24mm objective lens, that’s still

incredibly impressive, especially considering

Redwin’s modest pricing.

Once I got used to it, the Kuiper quickly became

my primary optic, even for CQB scenarios. That’s

not something I say lightly.

At the heart of the Kuiper lies a fully multicoated

lens system. This advanced coating

maximizes light transmission and improves image

sharpness, offering incredible clarity even in lowlight

conditions. The reticle, which features a dual

red or green illuminated center, is ideal for fast

target acquisition and precise shooting.

One of the most frustrating parts of airsoft

is zeroing a sight, especially when the turret

markings say “right” but turning them left is what

actually makes the adjustment. Not with the

Kuiper; it features reliable 1/2 MOA, (Minute of

Angle), windage and elevation turrets that deliver

smooth, accurate adjustments. These are vital

“REDWIN OPTICS ISN’T JUST FOR HUNTERS, IT’S ALSO CRAFTED WITH THE FAST-

PACED, UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF AIRSOFT SKIRMISHES IN MIND. WHETHER YOU’RE

TRACKING A TARGET THROUGH DENSE BRUSH OR MOVING THROUGH A CLOSE-

QUARTERS BATTLE (CQB) ARENA, REDWIN EQUIPS YOU FOR VICTORY”


OPTICS


when making precise long-range shots.

The zero-lock system is also a standout feature.

It completely eliminates the fear of accidental

adjustments mid-game or in your gear bag. Just

pull to unlock, make your adjustment, and push

it back in to lock. It even has a large, conveniently

located screw on top for quick zero resets. This

level of usability in a mid-range optic is rare and

highly appreciated.

Durability is another area where the Kuiper

shines. Like many high-end optics, the Kuiper

is nitrogen-purged and built from a rugged

aluminum alloy in a 30mm mono-tube format.

It’s sealed with an O-ring and offers IPX6-rated

water resistance. That means it’s shockproof,

waterproof, and fog-proof. I’ve used it in heavy

rain and sweltering heat, and it’s never fogged,

shifted zero, or let me down.

The Kuiper isn’t just made for airsoft either,

it’s been tested to withstand up to 650 Joules of

energy. That means it’s tough enough for firearms

like .45 ACP, 10mm, and even 6.5mm Grendel!

I can even testify to its toughness firsthand;

once, while testing the zoom function at home, it

slipped from my hands and fell from a first-floor

window straight onto a paved surface. The result?

Just a minor scratch. It still performed flawlessly

afterwards... now, that’s what I call tough!

Another highlight is the reticle. This isn’t your

standard crosshair. The Kuiper boasts a highly

informative MOA+ range-finding BDC (Bullet

Drop Compensator) etched into the glass. It also

features wind-hold marks. This system enables

you to quickly estimate range, adjust for bullet

drop, and compensate for wind drift, all without

needing additional gear or references. Depending

on local airsoft power limits or even for real

firearms, this system can be a game-changer for

long-range accuracy.

As the name suggests, the Kuiper 1.2-6x24 SFP

is a Second Focal Plane (SFP) optic. That means

the reticle remains the same size throughout the

zoom range. For me, that’s a huge plus. Having

“DURABILITY IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE THE KUIPER SHINES. LIKE MANY HIGH-END

OPTICS, THE KUIPER IS NITROGEN-PURGED AND BUILT FROM A RUGGED ALUMINUM

ALLOY IN A 30MM MONO-TUBE FORMAT. IT’S SEALED WITH AN O-RING AND OFFERS

IPX6-RATED WATER RESISTANCE”

44


OPTICS


ADHD, I found First Focal Plane (FFP) optics

distracting, the constantly changing reticle size

was more of a hindrance than a help. The fixed

reticle on the Kuiper keeps my focus where it

should be… on the target.

Zooming in and out is a breeze, thanks to the

included zoom lever. It feels solid, responsive,

and intuitive. The diopter correction range is

+2/-2, making it easy for users with various vision

needs to fine-tune the image to perfection.

And yes, the eye relief is excellent too, between

90mm and 105mm, providing a comfortable and

consistent shooting experience.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After more than four years of regular use, the

big question remains; would I recommend the

Redwin Kuiper 1.2-6x24 SFP?

Absolutely!

This optic has never let me down, not once.

From torrential rain to humid heat, it has

remained crystal clear, durable, and reliable. It

holds zero, takes a beating, and looks good doing

it. Sure, it doesn’t have a true 1x magnification,

but in practice, that’s hardly noticeable. Most

players who’ve tried mine say the same thing:

“I love that reticle”. And I agree. It’s simple,

informative, and effective.

Of course, there’s always room for

improvement, no optic is perfect. But for the price

you pay and the features you get, the Kuiper is

one of the best value-for-money sights out there.

Whether you’re a hunter, an airsoft enthusiast, or

someone looking for a dependable LPVO without

breaking the bank, the Redwin Kuiper delivers in

every category that counts.

I would stress that this is my own optic, and as

such this is an unbiased “player” view on a great

sight… for more information though do be sure to

check out www.redwinoptics.com. AA

“AFTER MORE THAN FOUR YEARS OF REGULAR USE, THE BIG QUESTION REMAINS;

WOULD I RECOMMEND THE REDWIN KUIPER 1.2-6X24 SFP? ABSOLUTELY!”


TAP/CLICK IMAGE TO LEARN MORE...


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

RED CELL

Image courtesy Krios Photography

SMALL YET

DEADLY

48


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

ONCE AGAIN IT’S TIME FOR THE CORE MEMBERS OF RED CELL TO TURN THEIR

ATTENTION TO ONE OF THE MOST ENDURING REPLICAS OUT THERE, THE

VENERABLE AND MUCH-LOVED MP5! WITH A RICH HERITAGE AND MUCH-

RESPECTED HISTORY IN BOTH THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SPHERE,

THE LITTLE “MASCHINENPISTOLE 5” HAS CONSTANTLY REINVENTED ITSELF OVER

MANY YEARS, AND NOWHERE SO MUCH IT WOULD SEEM THAN IN AIRSOFT-

GUISE!


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

Yup, it’s time to re-visit one of our favourite

categories in the RED CELL program for

the last time before we bring everything

together in our big final report that will

encompass all the platforms that we’ve tested

over the last four and a bit years, and the “MP5”

category it must be said has a real place in many

long-term airsofters hearts, including ours!

The MP5 has been around as an AEG and GBB

for as long as most of us remember, and there’s

a good reason for that! Much loved by specialist

military and police units the world over since the

1960s, and although there have

been many “pretenders to the

throne” in my mind at

least

it’s the

courtesy of “Die Hard”!

Although there have been many attempts at

replacing the MP5, even by H&K themselves

with the UMP, the MP5 has remained steadfastly

in place as “king of the hill”, and nearly sixty

years on after its first official adoption by the

Bundeswehr it’s still seen widely and publicly in

the hands of professional users worldwide.

It’s no surprise then that an MP5 has been in

the armoury of many thousands of airsoft players

all over the globe too, and has been in one shape

or another for many, many years; most of RED

CELL have owned at least one MP5 replica during

their time in-game, and some have owned many

more than just one! It’s been a solid companion

in many “BB Warz” for so many of us,

and if truth be

epitome of

the SMG! Of course it first came

to my personal attention long

before I started playing airsoft

(so that

officially makes it a LONG-

ass

time!) when it appeared for

all to see

on TV in the hands of the

SAS during

“Operation NIMROD” back in May 1980…

“Those on the balcony” (of which allegedly

there are many more than is feasible!) took the

MP5 into a hostage situation that again, as far

as I see it, transformed the special operations

community and how it was viewed by the

public, and the myth of the apparently almostindestructible

“special forces operator” was

born… But of course the MP5 had already been

in service for some considerable time by 1980,

not only with the SAS but with other specialist

units like GSG9 and the USN SEAL teams… and

of course it became even more famous and

cemented its place as a movie-favourite in 1988,

told a lot of the “old

and bold” out there will still

have one lurking in their gun

rack, including me…

So, to wrap up the MP5 category,

once again I asked the CELL to

comment not on the performance of

the individual models we’ve been testing, but to

share how the MP5 in all its wonderful 6mm forms

has put joy into their gameplay, and to share their

memories of games and airsoft adventures past

where the little “maschinenpistole” has truly

been the right thing, at the right time…

TEAM TALK

Li’l Stu: MP5 you say? Well then, let’s see...

A while back I had to sell-off a lot of my RIF’s

due to a sudden attack of poverty; still wanting to

go ‘softing, I bagged a JG MP5 A3 and some midcaps.

Not having used any JG stuff before, I was

stunned at just how good it was. Light, pointable,

“THE MP5 HAD ALREADY BEEN IN SERVICE FOR SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME BY 1980,

NOT ONLY WITH THE SAS BUT WITH OTHER SPECIALIST UNITS LIKE GSG9 AND THE

USN SEAL TEAMS… AND OF COURSE IT BECAME EVEN MORE FAMOUS AND CEMENTED

ITS PLACE AS A MOVIE-FAVOURITE IN 1988, COURTESY OF “DIE HARD”!”

50


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

accurate? Like a nail driver. It had fantastic range

for such a small AEG , more than held its own; I

even managed to “annoy” a PTW M4 user with my

plastic-fantastic MP5, he was a little taken back

to find that despite his belief that the PTW was

“am sooeprrior gnu” he was getting bested by a

cheapsoft MP5! After that, I went on to own/run

several MP5 variants.

They were mainly the old CA B&T ones, but

they were rock solid, didn’t ever stop and just

simply worked with no issues, solid and sliding

stock, suppressed and non- suppressed. The

SD versions were surprisingly quiet, muting

the sound to a dull noise when fired. The MP5

is possibly one the AEG’s that I miss the most,

having sadly sold them on a long time ago. There’s

just something about an MP5, it always feels

right; yes, the external HOP adjusters were a pain,

as was the clam-shell design, but it all added to

the appeal.

Rich: I can only comment on working on them as

I haven’t really used one in-game, not my thing. I

do have a TM MP5 with a Swordfish kit but it’s not

been out for years. In terms of working on them

they’re relatively simple if not just a bit different.

Matt: When I was 19 I handled an EF Sportline

MP5 that was to be raffled off at a field. I slapped

that rack n’ slap cocking handle, broke it, got run

off the field and had to pay for it! The owner of

that field still refers to me as “that oriental” to this

day!

Dan: I’ve been around many an MP5 over the

years, from the old clam-shell Tokyo Marui’s to

G&G’s, Classic Army’s, JG’s, ICS, VFC and more.

Despite being an ardent fan of the MP5, I’ve

only had a few actually wind up in my personal

collection, the earliest being a mint B&T licensed

MP5A5 with the Surefire foregrip that was made

by Classic Army. For some reason, this largely

ended up being a wall hanger, perpetually sidelined

in favour of hauling out the SVD or one

of my other guns. Then when I pared down my

collection, it was amongst the

casualties to be sold. Later on, I

picked up an ICS as part of a trade

deal. Unfortunately, this particular

AEG proved to have come with a

bevy of gremlins, many of which

were never fully exorcised and it

too was sold off for parts.

After that, my desire to own an

airsoft version was somewhat

dampened and I

put the idea of

owning an

airsoft

MP5 on the

backburner. I own a

real steel HK SP5K,

so admittedly part

of it was that almost

nothing on the

market really

matched

up

externally

to the real

thing. VFC’s

Avalon Elite’s came

close, but the bodies were a

bit brittle and having worked

on a lot of them over the years, I

am cognizant of how often these

have issues with cracking exterior

bits and bobs. The venerable old

TM’s seem a bit crude now, and the

clam-shell design in particular is

not something I am keen to work on

anymore. ICS makes me shudder

with the memory of

days spent trying to

eke out something

“I EVEN MANAGED TO “ANNOY” A PTW M4 USER WITH MY PLASTIC-FANTASTIC MP5,

HE WAS A LITTLE TAKEN BACK TO FIND THAT DESPITE HIS BELIEF THAT THE PTW

WAS “AM SOOEPRRIOR GNU” HE WAS GETTING BESTED BY A CHEAPSOFT MP5!”


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

JG MP5 JG069 J

Price: iro UK£140.00

Age: Current Model

Weight: 1725g

Length: 550-735mm

Magazine Capacity: 240 BBs

Cold Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps

Hot Chrono: 0.99 Joule/328fps

Taclite Compatibility: No

Supplied By: www.taiwangun.com

TOKYO MARUI MP5 NGRS


Age: Three Years

Weight: 3100g

Length: 500-660mm





Supplied By: www.allagesairsoft.com

WE MP5A3 APACHE GBBR


Age: Five Years

Weight: 3240 g

Length: 500-660mm





Supplied By: www.weairsoft.com

VFC (UMAREX) MP5A3 GBBR


Age: Seven Years

Weight: 2820g

Length: 495-660mm





Available from: www.airsoftworld.net

WE MP5K PDW GBBR


Age: Five Years

Weight: 3200g

Length: 330mm/629mm





Supplied By: www.weairsoft.com

52


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

that would run reliably. I certainly did not want

anything with a plastic receiver either. It’s a bit

harder yet, because the MP5K is what I *really*

want, and there are even fewer examples of that

which hit all the criteria.

However, this was before TM dropped their MP5

NGRS series, which have finally bridged the gap

of exquisitely matching the externals of the real

deal. Alas, these are quite expensive and have

some quirks of their own, namely the sensitive

ETU and inability to use anything other than 7.4v

batteries. Still, the SD6 version in particular hits a

certain retro vibe and calls back to my days spent

playing classic Rainbow Six (before Siege turned

it into another Fortnite expansion pack) and

running the SD variant as my main squeeze. Ya’ll

can keep your fugly Kriss Vectors, P90’s and AR-9

abominations. For me, peak SMG will always rise

and set with the MP5 series.

Stewbacca: My first MP5(s) were cheapsoft AEGs

way back in the days of Proteus and the first Ms

Stewbacca and our friends from our Japanese

Society adjacent team that I’d arm the whole lot

of with my guns and gear!

MP5J, MP5A4 and MP5k PDWs adorned the

venerable gun rack MkI back in my first place

after graduating in Nottingham, so back in the

2008 era. Many good times were had with those,

and they were lightweight and ideal for the ladies

or anyone else with a smaller frame, although

maintenance was always a bit of a pain in the

rear as the old AEGs were basically built around

the gearbox… some of my teammates had the

hallowed ICS split gearbox alternatives around

the same time which seemed a godsend.

I got rid of all my “cheapsoft” stuff a few years

later and whittled my collection down to higher

quality but less numerous guns just for myself

and a few guests prior to escaping blighty over

here, and eventually I acquired a second-hand

WE MP5k PDW GBB SMG a year or so after

arriving. This was followed by another secondhand

WE MP5A5, and a further one more recently,

all of which are in the current collection but out

on loan to other newer players as I’ve replaced

them with the top of the range, licensed VFC

alternatives.

The WE mag cut-out system is a nice idea

when it works reliably by comparison to the stop

on empty/hold half-open of the VFCs that many

complain about; honestly if you don’t absolutely

have to have an MP5 most people on the Heavy

Recoil Discord would suggest the much better

HK53, the 5.56mm equivalent of a slightly

stretched MP5, and I would be inclined to agree

for a serviceability and magazine convenience

aspect of using the same load-bearing gear as

your inevitable AR or AK platforms.

That. Being. Said… The MP5SD3 I acquired and

reviewed in Issue 166 has nonetheless served me

very well and sports a longer inner barrel that fills

the length of the awesome integral suppressor

and thus matches that of an M16A1’s inner barrel,

giving it ludicrous range and consistency that

allowed me to double tap people at 50m during

a Pewniversity outing! Since then I’ve acquired a

further four magazines and stuck them together

with clamps to form WMag pairs which fit in the

same AR mag pouches sideways, allowing me

more “rounds on board” with faster reloads, and

then easier use of common magazine pouches on

my plate carrier placards.

The MP5 is a timeless and iconic marriage

of post-WW2 German stamped-steel and

roller-delayed blowback angry sewing machine

that always sings to me, regardless of how

cumbersome and outdated the manual of arms

admittedly is compared to the speedy boi setups

of ARs or APC9 series these days… but boring

blowback weapons don’t have the same tune, to

my mind... long may the MP5 be the yardstick by

which all others are held… “And all because the

lady, loves Milk Tray”

Ben: So I have the JG works MP5K to which I’ve

“THE MP5 IS A TIMELESS AND ICONIC MARRIAGE OF POST-WW2 GERMAN STAMPED-

STEEL AND ROLLER-DELAYED BLOWBACK ANGRY SEWING MACHINE THAT ALWAYS

SINGS TO ME, REGARDLESS OF HOW CUMBERSOME AND OUTDATED THE MANUAL

OF ARMS ADMITTEDLY IS COMPARED TO THE SPEEDY BOI SETUPS OF ARS OR APC9

SERIES THESE DAYS”


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

TOKYO MARUI MP5K

Price: iro UK£200.00 (High Cycle Version iro UK£260.00)

Age: Eight Years

Weight: 1490g

Length: 345mm





Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

ICS CES SD6


Age: Three Years

Weight: 2300g

Length: 600-741mm





Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk

BOLT SWAT SD6 SHORT


Age: Three Years

Weight: 3000g

Length: 550-700mm




Taclite Compatibility: Yes, on Lower Rail

Supplied By: www.nuprol.com

VFC MP5K GBBR


Age: One Year

Weight: 3120g

Length: 403/638mm (with stock)




Taclite Compatibility: N/A

Supplied By: www.vegaforce.com

CYMA CM.041H SWAT UPGRADED VERSION

(MP5)


Age: Two Years

Weight: 3280g

Length: 550-710mm




Taclite Compatibility: Yes, M-LOK


54


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

modified ever so slightly to fit some CYMA parts

to give me that more modern tactical look, as

I’m afraid JG didn’t really make their MP5k with

after-market parts in the design. I’ve slowly come

round to loving the MP5 series as for me it was

just too much everywhere, iconic as they are and

used by SF they were always the bad guys in our

favourite movies it was never in the mind of “I

need one in my life”…

However, now I have it I do secretly love it!

I’ve only had it for a short time and already had

some epic memorable kill and moments, the

very first of which was when and Bill and I were

about to play alongside one another, so I locked

and loaded with a HK slap... Bill’s response was

“Oooh you tart!” … it was hands down the best

moment of the day...so I’m now renaming it “The

HK tart slap!” Lol!

The only issue I’m having with my MP5k

right now is BBs keep clipping the end of my

suppressor, so I’m having a extended tight bore

barrel to give me that slightly better accuracy and

range and BBs will no longer clip the suppressor.

Once I’m finished with all that I want done to it, it

will be one of three guns that I’m having as a day

or night-time game-ready set up, so expect to see

a fair bit more of this beaut in future video!

Boycie: My relationship with the MP5 started last

century, far too many years ago, likely around

1994-5!

My first proper airsoft MP5 was one of the

Marui MP5SD with fixed hop up which was used

to shoot into a cardboard trap in the garden. I

increased my collection with a couple of other

AEG’s before starting to attend Lightfighter Urban

in Sheffield.

By then I had joined a team, SG1, as Stargate

was all the rage then, and by now I had

progressed to the MP5A4 due to part of the team

requirement to use replicas of firearms used

in the show. Over the next few years, more and

more brands/types of MP5 were released and

I’d added the MP5J and a number of variants to

my collection. A change of team then brought

about some changes of variants and set ups,

then I heard about the Systema TW5 which I felt,

why not, there are all these M4 variants around,

I wonder if the TW5 is as good as it says it is?. It

was!

That MP5 was the first AEG I had really seen

with semi, burst and auto as firing options. I

owned one of the first to be in the UK and it

certainly drew a lot of attention, especially at

places like “The Mall” in Reading. One of the big

things with it was when the mag ran empty, it

stopped firing, then you had to remove the mag

and “recharge” it by using the charging handle to

reset the electronics before carrying on.

In addition to those models it wasn’t

uncommon for me to be rocking an MP5 PDW

or MP5K in CQB at places like Lightfighter,

FireSupport and Stirling games at Catterick. Over

all the years, I’ve owned TM, JG, Cyma, Systema,

Bolt and a number of other brands. I would say

of them all, the fun factor was from the TM as it

seemed to have magic inside and could outrange

other “more powerful/expensive” models, but for

realism the TW5 PTW would come in first, as you

could fit a lot of RS parts onto the outside.

It’s always fun to rock out with your Koch out…

not sure if that bit will make it to print… (Yup, it

certainly will haha! – Bill Da Ed!)

Miguel: Waiting on the Specna Arms MP5…

Bill: Oh my, where to begin with my love for the

MP5?

Pretty much every airsofter I know either

owns, or has owned and MP5 replica during

their airsofting “career” and said ownership is

somewhat a rite of passage. I have owned early

plastic versions, sold them, moved up to full

metal versions, played with both AEG and GBB

variants, and there are still “a few” MP5s in my

gun cave to this very day….and there always will

be!

“BILL AND I WERE ABOUT TO PLAY ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER, SO I LOCKED AND

LOADED WITH A HK SLAP... BILL’S RESPONSE WAS “OOOH YOU TART!” … IT WAS

HANDS DOWN THE BEST MOMENT OF THE DAY... I’M NOW RENAMING IT “THE HK TART

SLAP!” LOL!”


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

CYMA CM.041L UPGRADED VERSION

(MP5K)


Age: One Year

Weight: 2700g

Length: 556mm






CYMA CM041J HIGH-SPEED


Age: One Year

Weight: 2950g

Length: 550/720mm






CYMA CM041K BLUE EDITION


Age: Two Years

Weight: 2145g

Length: 407mm

Magazine Capacity: 65/200 BBs





CYMA CM041G UPGRADED (PDW STOCK)


Age: Two Years

Weight: 3400g

Length: 640/710 mm






CLASSIC ARMY CA5 SD3


Age: Five Years

Weight: 2960g

Length: 590 - 740 mm





Supplied By: www.classicarmy.com

56


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

Over the last thirty or so years there’s pretty

much always been an MP5 (or several!) in my

personal airsoft armoury, and each one has many

tales to tell of airsoft adventures not only in the

UK but also on far-flung “battlefields” around the

world. Although I owned my first MP5 AEG back

in the late 90s (yes, a TM MP5A3 that superseded

my FAMAS as it was just better in every way),

and then one of the first ICS models in the early

noughties, my most fond memory of the platform

is when I moved over to the USA in 2006 and

started playing airsoft in the mangroves and

paper-tress of Florida.

The ICS MP5 was the perfect platform for such

a close-in and personal environment, and for my

first year or so I saw no reason to change what

worked for me… of course over that first year I’d

got involved with local team or two, so “loadout

requirements” for bigger games meant that an

AR/M4 variant was required, and the MP5 was

relegated to the armoury, only coming out for very

specific games and scenarios…

When I returned to the UK I brought my armoury

from the USA home with me, and once again that

little ICS MP5 came out of storage and saw some

serious game-time at the fledgling CQB sites

that were beginning to appear, and during some

righteous encounters among the buildings of

Rype Village… however, as my personal armoury

once again grew, and my airsoft interest firmly

turned in the direction of OPFOR, the MP5 was

side-lined for a good while until in 2017 I got my

hands on the Umarex GBB version!

Although I’d already started my journey into

the “gas life” it was most definitely that MP5A3

that truly cemented for me that “this was the

way!” As always when you have a superb looking

replica you can’t help but mentally wince in case

the performance doesn’t live up to the good

looks; in the past I’ve seen some truly stunning

looking replicas that ultimately spat BBs with

all the venom of a lazy worm, and the accuracy

of a ballista! The Umarex (even then with VFC

input) MP5A3 looked great though, was superbly

finished and put together and functioned

flawlessly. It was honestly as close to the real

thing as you’d find in a replica at that time and I

loved it.

Oh my goodness me! That thing was a little BBspewing

beast! Believe me, the first time you used

full-auto it was a shock compared to an AEG, both

for the rate of fire and the “recoil thump” you got

in the shoulder; it would however blow through

gas if you went burst or full-auto all the time, one

charge being just enough to get through the thirty

BBs in the mag in this mode!

That one, along with my ICS SD6, was definitely

a “keeper” though, and I still have it with a bunch

of mags to this day… time moved on though,

and after a number of “modernised” and frankly

excellent CYMA 041 models I didn’t really touch

an MP5 again in earnest until I got my hands on

the then-new G&G R5 last year… and once again

the joy of the MP5 AEG was rekindled in me!

Externally the R5 looks and feel 100%; the

lower is polymer, but it’s here that you can see a

bit of G&G magic as this area has had a re-design,

and looks a little blockier and more modern than

the “classic” lower; there’s some been a reworking

to give a slim and comfortable motor-grip

with an enlarged trigger guard to start, but then

things get really interesting with full ambidextrous

control features. The fire selector has FOUR

settings in G&Gs world, safe/semi/three/full…

yup, you get a three-BB burst setting as standard!

The upper group is all metal which gives the

R5 a really nice feel and weight, and everything

feels completely solid, rock-solid, and a short

claw-mount for fitting optics comes as standard.

The cocking handle tube features some nice cutouts

which are aesthetically pleasing, and below

this is a very modern M-LOK rail which gives you

accessory-mounting slots at 2, 3, 6, 9 and 11

o’clock, along with QD stud points both left and

“THAT MP5 WAS THE FIRST AEG I HAD REALLY SEEN WITH SEMI, BURST AND AUTO

AS FIRING OPTIONS. I OWNED ONE OF THE FIRST TO BE IN THE UK AND IT CERTAINLY

DREW A LOT OF ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY AT PLACES LIKE “THE MALL” IN READING.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WITH IT WAS WHEN THE MAG RAN EMPTY, IT STOPPED

FIRING”


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

GOLDEN EAGLE SWAT RAS (POLYMER)


Age: New

Weight: 2243g

Length: 540/700mm





Supplied BY: www.iwholesales.biz

SECUTOR VIRTUS IV (POLYMER)


Age: New

Weight: 2120g

Length: 525-695Mm




Taclite Compatibility: N/A (Taclite Included)

Supplied By: www.iwholesales.biz

VFC MP5SD3 GBBR


Age: One Year

Weight: 3160g

Length: 610/765mm


Cold Chrono: 1.01 Joule/330fps (UK Spec)

Hot Chrono: 1.02 Joule/332fps (UK Spec)


Supplied By: www.airsoftworld.net

ICS CES-P MP5 MX5-P A5 S3


Age: One Year

Weight: 2600g

Length: 500/650mm





Supplied By: www.firesupport.uk

G&G TGM R5 ETU


Age: Six Months

Weight: 2800g

Length: 424/684mm





Supplied By: www.guay2.com

58


RED CELL

MP5 UPDATE

right… add to all of this a cool floding astock with

the G&G “condictive hinge” and there are lots of

options here!

As I said when I did my initial review of the R5,

on the outside it really is a very cool take on the

classic MP5, but the goodness keeps on coming;

in terms of “OS” you have some very tidy

electronic components, a reinforced gearbox

frame, 8mm bearings, full steel piston, Ifrit 25K

motor… yadda, yadda… Ultimately the R5 looks

superb, is brilliantly finished and put together,

benefits from massive updates inside and out,

and functions flawlessly with solid range straight

from the box; the on-board programming is easy

even for an old duffer like me, so that’s a bonus

too. G&G are no newcomer, and their AEGs have

been tweaked and refined, and their latest take

on bringing a classic completely up to date has

proved a winner.

After many years living and playing with this

fabulous little platform, between advances both

in AEG and GBB technology and the associated

reliable and impressive performance, as far as

I can see and as I have said before, the FIVE is

ALIVE all over again, and all the better for it! AA

Red Cell is supported by:


TAP/CLICK THE IMAGES FOR MORE INFO

KIT & GEAR

KINETIXX GLOVES

SAFE

HANDS ON

THE TEAM AT AIRSOFT ACTION ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR GOOD KIT TO HIT

THE MARKET, NOT SIMPLY GEAR THAT’S 100% FIT FOR PURPOSE, BUT EQUIPMENT

THAT’S GOING TO GIVE YOU GOOD SERVICE AND GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY…

BILL TAKES A LOOK AT THE VERY LATEST TACTICAL GLOVES FROM GERMAN BRAND

KINETIXX, TO SEE IF THEY MAKE THE CUT!

62


KIT & GEAR

KINETIXX GLOVES

Gloves are tricky things to get right, aren’t

they? How often have you parted with

money for a pair of “tacticool” gloves that

offer you entrance to the “operatorz world” and

found that in reality they are sub-standard, poorly

fitting, and frankly an absolute waste of your

hard-earned buckeroos?

When I first started out in airsoft gloves were

not such a “thing”, and an old pair of black leather

“NI Gloves” from your local surplus store were

probably your best bet! When I moved to the

USA in 2006 though my eyes were opened to

the possibilities of what I could use to cover my

hands safely as every tactical store seemed to

be offering cool models designed both for law

enforcement and the military! For a while I was

like a fat boy in a bun shop, and every couple of

months I’d pick up another model; online forums

were “de riguer” for the discerning tacticalist at

the time and it seemed to me that someone was

ALWAYS posting about bloody gloves! Of course

the dissemination of information about which

unit is using which glove model has accelerated

with the rise of social media, and now new gloves

seem to come along on an almost daily basis (or

so it seems to me!).

So with so many glove models out there, how

the hell do you decide on the right glove for

you? What considerations should you take into

account? For me there are three main areas to

look at:

1. Grip

The most important thing for me is grip.

A glove is of no use to you if it hinders the

ability to grip your AEG or restricts access

to using technology, which is increasingly

important. Because of this many users used

to go with “old skool” fingerless gloves,

but not me (BBs on the knuckle HURT!)! Of

course grip is related to handling your RIFs;

before you take every shot, you have to have

the feeling of contact with your trigger or

it can become a distraction from getting

the shot, and there are now are designs

which feature special finger tips to provide

superior grip perfect for using technology,

handling small items, and shooting needs.

2. Dexterity

Another thing I look for in tactical gloves is

to find an option that allows not just grip,

but also dexterity. Some tactical gloves

are designed to protect your hands from

damage by way of padded knuckles, but if

the material over the knuckle is too thick,

it will impede your dexterity. Likewise, if a

glove is the wrong size, it can get in the way

of movement. When it comes to finding the

right sizing to ensure ease of movement,

remember that phrase, “fits like a glove” as

your guideline; the right fit of a glove should

feel natural.

3. Comfort

When it comes to fabrics and technology

many gloves still use leather or

“manufactured leather” exteriors or

specially bonded synthetic blends. While

both certainly has its place in relation

to overall comfort, a better option is to

choose one that incorporates them in

expertly designed ways. For instance,

gloves should have leather for exceptional

durability, contouring, and waterproofing

abilities, but you also want materials that

offer some breathability either through the

use of specialist lined interiors which are

absorbent or through breathability features

built in to the glove. The matter of comfort

is important since you will be wearing these

gloves all day!

KINETTIX, GOOD TO GO

With all of the above in mind, when our good

mate Lukas from Military1st contacted me a few

years back to say that they would be carrying the

German glove brand Kinetixx I was very glad to

“WHEN I MOVED TO THE USA IN 2006 THOUGH MY EYES WERE OPENED TO THE

POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT I COULD USE TO COVER MY HANDS SAFELY AS EVERY

TACTICAL STORE SEEMED TO BE OFFERING COOL MODELS DESIGNED BOTH FOR LAW

ENFORCEMENT AND THE MILITARY!”


KIT & GEAR

KINETIXX GLOVES

hear the news, as W+R, the company behind the

Kinetixx brand, have some 90 years of expertise in

the manufacturing of gloves. The family business

was established way back in 1928 by the tanner

Jakob Weiblen and his brother-in-law, the glove

maker Theodor Rümmelin in Neuhausen an der

Erms. W+R then moved to the neighbouring town

of Metzingen in 1936 where the first glove factory

was built. The factory first produced leather

driving and work gloves with the first syntheticfabric

gloves arriving on the scene later.

Gloves by W+R are characterised by technical

innovation and reliability. As a sought-after

supplier to the police and armed forces,

customers all over the world rely on their decades

of experience and their in-house development

department, with its modern laboratory, cutting,

stitching and quality control sections. Kinetixx

Tactical gloves have become part of personal

protective equipment (PPE) for some police

forces, military units or Special Forces and are

therefore now part of their basic equipment.

Fast forward to right now, and my good mate

Chris over at the AIRSOFT & MILSIM NEWS blog

very kindly put me in touch with the current team

at Kinetixx, and they also very kindly sent me over

me three pairs of the new gloves to physically

test (although the range is comprehensive!).

These were the KINETIXX X-LIGHT COYOTE, the

KINETIXX X-MISSION PRO COYOTE, and the

X-PRO in their take on MC. All three glove models

are well-priced for well-made technical tactical

gloves, although their top-of-the-line models can

set you back a pretty penny, although as always

you do get what you pay for!

The X-LIGHT is a lightweight and extremely

tactile glove that offers a maximum of comfort.

Due to its ergonomic cut perfectly adapted to

the hand, the glove fits like a second skin and

offers excellent freedom of movement. Even in

challenging operating conditions, you can always

maintain control and a secure grip. The palm

of the X-Light tactical glove is equipped with

synthetic leather reinforcements that provide

additional robustness and protection. Thanks to

the breathable material, the glove is comfortable

to wear, and a highlight of the X-Light deployment

glove is the touchscreen function, which makes it

possible to operate devices with a display without

taking off the glove. The loop for attachment to a

karabiner ensures quick and easy storage.

A comfortable

yet secure fit

is ensured

by the

hookand-loop

fastener,

which

can be

individually

adjusted to

any hand

size. The

X-Light tactical glove is a reliable companion for

all types of operations where high tactility and

freedom of movement are important, and one

that is most certainly going to stand up to use

on the airsoft field, and give you good levels of

both comfort and protection!. The gloves are

available in the colours black, coyote or MC-style

camouflage.

The X-MISSION PRO is the ideal tactical glove

for all those who require maximum tactility and

dexterity, as their ergonomic cut adapts perfectly

to the hand and ensures an exceptional comfort.

The robust construction of synthetic leather on

the palm and backhand gives the glove excellent

grip and protects the hands even during intensive

use. Thanks to the integrated cut-protection

lining in the palm, the X-MissionPro offers reliable

protection and the reinforced digital leather in

the crook of the thumb, lined with cut protection

material ensures maximum stability in high-wear

areas.

Here you get touchscreen capability on all five

“W+R, THE COMPANY BEHIND THE KINETIXX BRAND, HAVE SOME 90 YEARS OF

EXPERTISE IN THE MANUFACTURING OF GLOVES. THE FAMILY BUSINESS WAS

ESTABLISHED WAY BACK IN 1928 BY THE TANNER JAKOB WEIBLEN AND HIS

BROTHER-IN-LAW, THE GLOVE MAKER THEODOR RÜMMELIN”

64


KIT & GEAR

KINETIXX GLOVES

fingers which

lets you

use digital

devices

without

having to

remove the

glove; an

eyelet for

a carabiner

and the

adjustable

hook and loop fastener for an optimal fit round off

the practical details. The X-MissionPro combines

breathable materials with robust cut protection

and is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a

lightweight, highly functional glove that meets the

requirements of demanding applications. These

are available in coyote or black.

Finally the X-PRO is an out and out “tacticool

beast”, a cool-looking model that combines

maximum comfort with optimum functionality.

The ergonomic cut, perfectly adapted to the

hand, ensures a comfortable fit and excellent

freedom of movement.

The palm is synthetic leather, which ensures

excellent grip, but reinforcements made of digital

leather in the palm provide extra protection and

durability. In addition, the glove is once again

touchscreen capable, so you can operate any

electronic device

while wearing

them.

For

enhanced

protection

and shock

absorption,

an

anatomically

pre-shaped

soft protector

is integrated on the back of the hand. Thanks to

the eyelet on the glove, you can attach it securely

to the carabiner when you’re not wearing it.

The glove is rounded off with a hook-and-loop

fastener, which also ensures a perfect fit and

easy putting on and taking off. The gloves are

available in the colours black, coyote or MC-style

camouflage.

FAIR WEAR

I’ve been using all three models on the range for

a little while now, and as a pretty bog-standard

“Size Large” I will say that the fit is excellent, with

little excess fabric and certainly no “bag” in the

palm area when you make a fist; this can cause

issues if you’re using a slim pistol grip as the

extra fabric acts as an unwelcome buffer to solid

retention rather than aiding it!

As we’ve had a little warm weather recently

(haha!) I believe that most gloves would have

struggled to keep your hands comfortable, but

given the price of the Kinetixx models I was pretty

impressed with how they dealt both with heat and

getting rid of sweat. Yes, they did get wet from

sweat, but equally they were very fast drying once

I removed them and hung them to air.

Overall they completely match my

requirements in terms of Grip, Dexterity, and

Comfort, and they are even touchscreen

compatible should you wish to use them in

conjunction with your phone or other device.

In my opinion they offer great levels of

performance for a great price, and what more

can a cash-strapped airsofter ask for?

For more information and to view more

models in the Kinetixx glove range please do

pay a visit to www.kinetixx.de, or check out

www.military1st.co.uk. My sincere thanks to

Chris at www.airsoftmilsimnews.com for the

hookup, and for the awesome images of the

X-PRO! AA

“OVERALL THEY COMPLETELY MATCH MY REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF GRIP,

DEXTERITY, AND COMFORT, AND THEY ARE EVEN TOUCHSCREEN COMPATIBLE SHOULD

YOU WISH TO USE THEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR PHONE OR OTHER DEVICE; IN

MY OPINION THEY OFFER GREAT LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE FOR A GREAT PRICE”


KIT & GEAR

VIPER 2025

VIPER

STRIKE!

IT’S CRACKING ON INTO THE START OF THE LONG SUMMER SEASON FOR AIRSOFT,

WHEN EVEN THE MOST UN-HARDY OF CHAIRSOFTERS LEAVE THE COMFORT OF

THEIR INTERWEBZ-FUELLED GLOOM-CAVES AND HEAD OUT TO ACTUALLY GET

SOME GAMES IN! FOR MANY HARDIER PLAYERS THOUGH, IT’S TIME TO FULLY

SWITCH-OUT HEAVIER WINTER GEAR FOR SOMETHING A BIT MORE LIGHTWEIGHT

AND WARM-WEATHER FUNCTIONAL, SO BILL LOOKS AT SOME OF THE GREAT

CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT FROM VIPER TACTICAL THAT THE AA CREW HAVE BEEN

USING THEMSELVES!

VIPER TACTICAL continue to move on

forward time and again as far as I,

and indeed many of the AA Crew are

concerned, and as I’ve noted before when

they add something to their extensive range of

clothing, footwear, and kit it’s worth taking note

of, and although their range is stocked by most

good retailers in the UK, I am very pleased to

see that the brand is now reaching players much

further afield too!

For many years VIPER have provided great

entry-level tactical clothing and gear but their

changes in the last couple of years, and the reworking

of their ranges of clothing and gear in

an extremely focused way has paid dividends,

not just for them in terms of sales, but for us in

relation to the ubiquity and quality of the kit we

can add at sensible prices to play airsoft!

From really quite modest roots, the VIPER range

has condensed and crystallised into something

special, and have taken things up into a whole

new level of performance and choice. Whilst

not as widespread as their range once was they

really seem to have concentrated on looking at

what players really NEED, and set about creating

unique items that 100% meet that criteria.

And their method of getting news of their gear

out to players, not just in the UK but indeed

worldwide, has been equally unique, somewhat

of an “outreach program”, and it’s an approach

that I personally very much approve of as it’s

similar to that which we have here at Airsoft

Action! Yes, like all modern companies they make

good use of social media to put word out, but via

their regular appearances at games and events

they interact directly with their customers to hear

what they like, and equally what they don’t!

It’s great for me, as a fellow “survivor” to

see that Ratty is back out and about (after his

own battle with “The Big C”) with the “Viper

Roadshow”, interacting as always directly with

players, and singing the psalm of the VIPER

TACTICAL brand.

It’s equally cool to see the “Viper

Ambassadors” doing their thing, and once again

interacting with players in their own communities

“FROM REALLY QUITE MODEST ROOTS, THE VIPER RANGE HAS CONDENSED AND

CRYSTALLISED INTO SOMETHING SPECIAL, AND HAS TAKEN THINGS UP INTO A WHOLE

NEW LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE AND CHOICE”

68


KIT & GEAR

VIPER 2025

to ensure that information on new gear is

effectively and accurately disseminated… Our

very own Miguel is one of this group, and it’s

always good that I can get his take when I come to

look at new and existing VIPER kit in detail.

And that’s really what this update is all about!

VIPER TACTICAL continually drip-feed choice

new items into their range, and thankfully we

get to look at that all given the long, trusted, and

friendly relationship with have with another great

UK-based company like our own. We’ve seen

a few new things like the COVERT SOFTSHELL

JACKET creep into the mix in recent months, and

we’ve also seen new colours arriving for popular

items like the PCS 95 trousers.

Of course the VX BUCKLE UP system is a

fave for many of us, and the three “uber lo-drag”

magazine panels that were introduced after

the main system have really proved incredibly

useful to me. VIPER have obviously looked again

to functional new technologies and designs

that show “current best practice” in the tactical

gear market, and they developed the panels,

elasticated and lo-profile, one each for PISTOL

MAGS (5 cells), for SMG MAGS (4 cells) and

for AR/AK MAGS (3 cells)… very sweet, and a

godsend for someone like me that spends many

hours on the range each week testing different

AEG and GBB platforms!

All three elasticated panels fix solidly to the

velcro and twin-buckle arrangement of the

VX BUCKLE UP PLATE CARRIER GEN II and

are VERY close fitting, something that I 100%

approve of, and of course this means that your

plate carrier setup become even MORE missionadaptable

than ever before! I’ve used and abused

all three, and they work brilliantly, and I even

managed to squeeze a couple of M110-style

“big-boy mags” into the AR/AK version although of

course this will deform the elastication over time,

so I hope that a dedicated panel for this style of

magazine may be forthcoming in the future.

If you already own a VX BUCKLE UP PLATE

CARRIER GEN II these panels are available in

Green, Tan, Black and V-CAM and are a great

addition to your personal “gear cage”; and if you

don’t own one a VX set yet then it may well be

worth considering one when it comes time to

change out your kit, as it’s now, in my opinion,

one of the most versatile rigs out there… whether

you’re on a budget or not!

“UPDATES TO THE VIPER CLOTHING RANGE HAVE BEEN ARRIVING STEADILY, BUT AT A

SENSIBLE PACE THAT SHOWS THAT THE GUYS ARE REALLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT

WE NEED, AND HOW BEST TO CREATE THIS IN A USABLE AND AFFORDABLE WAY!”


KIT & GEAR

VIPER 2025

REGULAR UPDATES

Updates to the VIPER clothing range have been

arriving steadily, but at a sensible pace that

shows that the guys are really thinking about what

we need, and how best to create this in a usable

and affordable way!

A favourite of virtually every member of Red

Cell, we’ve talked at length on many occasions

about just how good the ripstop-poly-cotton

ELITE TROUSERS are now that they’ve moved

into GEN II of their design; these just keep getting

better and better! Although more basic trousers

like the classic PCS 95’s can be had for less, the

ELITE’s are most definitely worth the money if you

want something REALLY distinctive and these

continue to prove popular with us “in-house”!

The members of Red Cell - and indeed some

of the AA Legion - are also fans of the VIPER

SPECIAL OPS SHIRT which has been specifically

designed to

be worn under body

armour and

elbow

plate carriers. With

pad pockets and

hook and

loop panels

on the

shoulder

pockets,

you can

customise

the shirt

according

to your

specs

and taste.

The shirt

features

100%

cotton

material

for the

body part allowing for maximum breathability

and comfort. The sleeves are made of ripstop

fabric providing enhanced performance during

the activities. The ¼ neck zip and adjustable cuffs

with hook and loop tabs allow for a perfect fit of

the shirt. The new shirt can be used throughout

the year in a variety of environments which makes

it perfect for airsoft; I’ve been wearing one for

a while now, and thus far it’s stood up to some

properly hard use well!

Two absolute classics have also proved

to be winners with all of us when it comes to

lightweight “tech tops”, and those are the MESH-

TECH T and MESH-TECH ARMOUR TOP. These

kind of crept into the

VIPER range with

little fanfare,

but both

have proved

to be

absolutely

excellent,

and

superb value for

money! Wearing

layers of clothing

during any outdoor

activity allows

for easy control

of the body core

temperature,

and the MESH-

TECH shirts are

versatile garments that

can be worn

as an outer layer during warmer months or as a

base layer in autumn and winter.

They’re both made of fast-wicking mesh fabric

that draws moisture away from your body, helping

you to maintain a stable core temperature and

providing comfort as it helps keep skin dry; not

only do they provide additional temperature

control but they’re also comfortable as hell and

for many of the AA Crew they’re pretty much every

day wear… in fact I’m wearing a zip-neck MESH-

TECH shirt as I write this!

“NOT ONLY DO THEY PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL BUT THEY’RE

ALSO COMFORTABLE AS HELL AND FOR MANY OF THE AA CREW THEY’RE PRETTY

MUCH EVERY DAY WEAR… IN FACT I’M WEARING A ZIP-NECK MESH-TECH SHIRT AS I

WRITE THIS!”

70


KIT & GEAR

VIPER 2025

As we’ve moved from winter in to spring,

some of us have been wearing the TEHNICAL

MID LAYER FLEECE and it’s proved to be a real

favourite too, but VIPER have also added to that

with a full fleece jacket, the GEN II SPECIAL

OPS model, that works perfectly with their

LIGHTWEIGHT and COVERT SOFTSHELL

JACKETS as an insulating layer… and both look

pretty sharp for “off duty” wear too!

I’ve been wearing the LIGHTWEIGHT

SOFTSHELL JACKET to death so far this year,

both on the range and indeed “off duty”, and it’s

standing up to all my abuse superbly! It’s made of

a stretchy and breathable fabric, making it a great

outdoor jacket that won’t take up too much space

in your Safe Zone pack, and with four-way stretch

fabric and gusseted underarms, this jacket offers

flexibility and a lot of

freedom of movement.

It has hook-and-loop

adjustable wrists

and a bottom

hem with an

elasticated

cord and

stoppers.

It features

two large

front

hand

pockets

and one

utility

chest

pocket,

all with

glovefriendly

zips,

providing valuable storage space

for accessories or essentials. The jacket is

functional and comfortable, ideal for any outdoor

adventures, including airsoft, and it’s become

a real favourite with the all of us, especially as

we head towards the warmer months of the year

but still need that little extra protection from the

elements!

Last but not least I need to comment on the

VENOM BOOTS, which both Miguel and I have

been wearing extensively and are bang-on with all

the latest performance and comfort technology!

Starting with the soles

which are aggressively

styled and have 7mm

deep, multi directional

treads, these are durable

yet flexible so you can

move around with

confidence even when

carrying a load. The

heel of the boot

has a moulded

TPU heel

stabiliser and internal nylon stabiliser shank

which actually work well to support your ankle

and the combination doesn’t hinder movement

one bit.

On the foot they are SUPER comfortable thanks

to the EVA foam midsole. The upper is 1000D

Cordura and the sole comes up over the toe

so you can be confident that they’ll take a fair

battering traversing through all kinds of terrain.

Internally there’s a moisture-wicking lining

and a waterproof and breathable hydroguard

membrane. This means you can be confident that

you’ll have cool, dry feet in those hot-weather

months, and even when things get a little moist

“I’VE BEEN WEARING THE LIGHTWEIGHT SOFTSHELL JACKET TO DEATH SO FAR THIS

YEAR, BOTH ON THE RANGE AND INDEED “OFF DUTY”, AND IT’S STANDING UP TO ALL

MY ABUSE SUPERBLY!”


KIT & GEAR

VIPER 2025

underfoot! Overall we’ve found that these have

stood up exceptionally well to regular wear in

rugged and pretty unforgiving terrain, and kept

both our feet and ankles well-protected… what

more do you need?

All of the latest gear and garments are a

cracking addition to any collection of VIPER kit

you may already own, and all of them have really

stood up well to all the abuse we’ve thrown at

them. Their kit continues to offer a cool look with

the latest colours and patterns whilst not costing

the earth, which has to be a good thing for any

airsofter on a budget, but 100% does not mean

that you won’t be getting righteous-looking and

totally serviceable gear!

There are obviously more items in the range

that I haven’t included, not because they’re not

good, but because we’ve concentrated on the

clothing and gear that we’ve actually used most

extensively ourselves! All of the gear adds to the

already focused, yet comprehensive range that

VIPER offer, a range that will give a total solution

of excellent quality, at a sensible price.

To keep up to date with the new VIPER tactical

products as they become available please visit

www.viperkit.co.uk and you’ll also be able to find

full stockist details there too. If you’d prefer you

can follow VIPER TACTICAL via their Facebook

and Instagram pages which are regularly updated.

Thanks to VIPER TACTICAL Ambassador and

AA Deputy Ed, Miguel, for some great “in-game”

images of the gear - rest assured, there’ll be more

to come! AA

“THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY MORE ITEMS IN THE RANGE THAT I HAVEN’T INCLUDED,

NOT BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT GOOD, BUT BECAUSE WE’VE CONCENTRATED ON THE

CLOTHING AND GEAR THAT WE’VE ACTUALLY USED MOST EXTENSIVELY OURSELVES!”

72


INSIDE AIRSOFT

G&G AIRSOFT REVISITED

STRANGER

THINGS

WITH HIS HIGH TEMPO RIGHT NOW, STEWBACCA REALISED IT HAD IN FACT BEEN NEARLY

FIVE YEARS SINCE HIS LAST VISIT TO OUR FRIENDS AT G&G, AND THIS TIME HE RETURNED TO

A RENOVATED FACILITY ALONG WITH OUR LOCAL LADY AA LEGIONNAIRE, “MILITARY” ANNY

WU, WHO’S BACK IN CIRCULATION AFTER SOME PERSONAL TIME AWAY! WITH HER NATIVE

LANGUAGE APPROACH TO THINGS THEY FOUND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BEGINNINGS OF

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BRAND, AND HOW IT GOT TO WHERE IT IS NOW, AND WHERE IT IS

GOING IN THE NEAR TERM.

74


INSIDE AIRSOFT


Life out here in “the wild west, out east” has

a habit of zipping by in short order; I keep

myself pretty busy with gameplay, product

testing, review and now even design, as well as

the day job and other things, but even I had lost

track of just how long it had been since my initial

Inside Airsoft article “Daring to be Different” in

Issue 117 regarding the airsoft manufacturing and

exporting powerhouse that is G&G (or “Guay and

Guay” meaning “strange/weird/different” when

translated from Mandarin), so Anny and I returned

to find a much-changed facility since my last visit.

It also just so happened that Amanda Liao

was in country at the time, the youngest of the

three children helping to run the airsoft business

empire. She usually resides in the USA and deals

with sales and operations over there as well as

in Europe, while older sister Joanna handles

Japanese operations and eldest son Peter

overseas production in Taiwan and the domestic

market. Of course their father and company

founder James Liao continues to oversee things at

the top level, and both he and Amanda were good

enough to sit down with us and answer all of our

questions about G&G and what’s been happening

since we last saw them.

Anny took the lead in terms of native language

interviewing as it often makes people a lot more

at ease in our experience and she tends to get a

more in depth and personable result due to her

approach and background, so I’ll pass things over

to her…

G&G Founder James Liao not only turns 71

this year, but will soon also be celebrating other

important milestones, his 40th anniversary of

G&G operating as a business in 2026, as well

as the upcoming release of his own memoirs

titled after a local saying “eating sugar cane from

the bottom up”, which translates into English

as things continually improving over time; this

certainly applies to his life trajectory and resulting

business and family life.

Born in Yunlin, in the more southern midlands

of Taiwan, his father ran a grocery store which

ensured the family was relatively comfortable at

the time, and James was the sixth of his siblings;

as he approached elementary school age he

joined his father in a move to Taipei where he

subsequently established a knitwear factory.

However, by this time fortunes were changing due

to internal family politics and with his father’s

older sister and brother in law taking charge

of money, with two older brothers not having a

particular acumen for business either.

Following high school graduation, enlistment

in the RoC marine corps ensued, with James’

father caught up to his leaving son on a bike and

stuffed the last of his cash into his hand to see

him through things as best he could, but this

bittersweet moment, while proving there were

still good folks in the family, would also be his

final memory with his father, who sadly passed

away from cancer just after James had passed

his marksmanship examinations, so naturally he

immediately rushed home and dealt with funeral

proceedings.

Unfortunately his mother would pass away

a few months later from a stroke; his life and

fortunes were definitely in a changeable and

formative period of his life, but he endured.

Following retirement from the military, he

returned to the business world and assumed

control of his brother’s printing factory which

was already in millions of debt at the time, and

eventually had to be wound down, after which

James joined the United Pacific Advertising

Company as an accounts executive.

Rising to the role of assistant manager within

less than a year, and gradually managing to

clear all his debts and purchase his first home,

a disagreement with his supervisor eventually

pushed him back towards the path of running

a business of his own, opening with a humble

collection of three glass display cabinets.

“I HAD LOST TRACK OF JUST HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN SINCE MY INITIAL INSIDE

AIRSOFT ARTICLE REGARDING THE AIRSOFT MANUFACTURING AND EXPORTING

POWERHOUSE THAT IS G&G (OR “GUAY AND GUAY” MEANING “STRANGE/WEIRD/

DIFFERENT” WHEN TRANSLATED FROM MANDARIN)”


INSIDE AIRSOFT


After taking his daughter Amanda (around six

at the time) to Ximending (a major tourist and

retail area in the Western part of central Taipei)

and to the Lions’ Plaza Commercial Building, he

came across an art store on the first floor and

got chatting to the proprietor and learned that

he could help facilitate renting of a premises

with the same landlord in what was a very good

location; and so the beginnings of the business

were set, with three friends being the proprietors

and naming the store “Three Friends” as a result!

However, following eight months or so the other

two decided to withdraw and James and his wife

had to borrow nearly half a million dollars to buy

out their shares, and renamed the store “One

Quarter Weird” due to selling strange toys and

gifts, stationery and prank toys!

Through the 1980s and 1990s a further five

stores were opened around Taipei as well as

further afield in Taichung and Koahsiung, most

of which have since been closed down as the

business shifted to focus on exporting airsoft

guns and avoiding the pricing conflicts of

competing with other similar brick and mortar

airsoft gun stores (of which there are many in

Taiwan), with just the Xizhi store remaining in

Eastern Taipei which was later supplemented

with the newer and larger main production facility

down in Changhua county south of Taiwan’s

central city of Taichung.

Business continued to boom and having moved

production south due to the Xizhi facility being

insufficient to deal with the international orders

that poured in, the initial Changhua facility of

300 square meters also gave way to a larger 500

square meter factory which itself soon showed

itself as insufficient too, so the present 1500

square meter five storey headquarters which also

has a separate warehouse as well as their third

floor multi-use space that serves as a showroom,

museum, pattern room, presentation space and

target range area.

James continued to soldier on through

various trials and tribulations, but also obvious

successes, with G&G generating seven million

Taiwanese dollars a month he had conquered

“JAMES CONTINUED TO SOLDIER ON THROUGH VARIOUS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS,

BUT ALSO OBVIOUS SUCCESSES, WITH G&G GENERATING SEVEN MILLION TAIWANESE

DOLLARS A MONTH HE HAD CONQUERED MANY OF THE ADVERSITIES OF BUSINESS!”

76


INSIDE AIRSOFT


many of the adversities of business! However,

his personal health suffered with a prognosis

of stage II lymphoma, but, clearly having seen

enough adversity in his earlier years, was made

of stronger stuff, praying to live to see his children

reach their 20s, he seems to have succeeded in

that and then some! They are now grown and have

their own children, as well as being set to inherit

one of the largest operations in the otherwise

niche airsoft industry.

RECENT ADVANCES

More recently their operations have spread to not

only turn out an ever growing wealth of electric

and gas operated airsoft guns in all shapes and

sizes (indeed their pattern room/museum takes

up most of the third floor with multiple thematic

wall displays, cabinets and a leviathan doublesided

full-length central divider wall completely

crammed with myriad past and current market

leading products) but also electronic target

systems which are not only present on their own

internal ranges, but have formed the basis of their

G&G World Cup CQB which was covered fully in

the pages of Airsoft Action!

In the past paper targets have typically been

used for measuring shooting, BUT this requires

consumable targets and pasting/use of stickers

to repair them between groupings, a less

environmentally friendly and scientific approach.

However, BB projectiles can nonetheless impart a

reasonable force on metallic targets and quickly

lead to their cumulative damage, as well as

varying power levels making reliable detection

of hits a tough problem to crack in general, a

problem James contemplated while flying to

Japan with Joanna and gazing out at the engine

and contemplating the airflow through it and

over the wings, and inspiring a solution to all the

previous technical problems

With initial models of the G&G target system

appearing in 2012 these developed continuously

“WITH INITIAL MODELS OF THE G&G TARGET SYSTEM APPEARING IN 2012 THESE

DEVELOPED CONTINUOUSLY TO THE LATEST FOURTH GENERATION METAL PLATE, IN

SIX, NINE OR TWENTY FIVE TARGET GRIDS, MANY OF WHICH ARE NOW BEING USED

AS PART OF THEIR SKILL AT ARMS OUTREACH PROGRAMMES”


INSIDE AIRSOFT


to the latest fourth generation metal plate, in six,

nine or twenty five target grids, many of which

are now being used as part of their skill at arms

outreach programmes.

This latter aspect was of particular interest to

myself, so I focused my own questions on this

arena, having taken an interest in the growing

self-training, civil defence and military civilian

cooperation efforts within Taiwan these last few

years since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine

and many Taiwanese locals and foreigners based

here taking a keen interest in the events and

parallels of our present defence situation. G&G

have certainly put themselves at the forefront of

defence education over the last four years or so

since my previous visit.

At present there are approximately forty

facilities across Taiwan that range from military

training facilities with James himself being a prior

member of the Reserve Officers Training Corp, or

ROTC, where he met Mr Tse-Chun Pu who helped

set about making use of the targets along with

G&G AEG replicas of the Taiwanese T91 service

rifle to instil basic initial weapons handling and

marksmanship principles before progressing to

gas blowback equivalents and then live fire with

real rifles.

Add to this encompassing high schools or

universities such as the first academic outreach

beneficiary in the form of the Chinese Culture

University, with their systems regularly being

maintained back at G&G’s facilities due to

the highly sulfurous and corrosive volcanic

environment around the school.

Many other schools have begun renting or

permanently installing target systems on their

own firing ranges, or visiting outreach training

outfits, giving numerous Taiwanese youth a

healthy and controlled entry into shooting,

whether it be for sport or future national defence,

and further defunct educational facilities being

considered for more permanent and full-time

specialised facilities where any of the nearly

half a million reservists can come in their own

time to train! Some facilities are even set up for

use with night vision equipment to instil proper

light discipline and skill at arms in darkened

environments.

This outreach is also spreading beyond the

borders of our island home, with Republic of

Korea armed forces, LAPD SWAT and even the

Swiss police already making use of airsoft for

force on force training, target shooting and even

mixed fitness challenges, while G&G’s latest

L85A3 AEGs are set to fulfil a UK MoD demand

for around three hundred replicas to be used for

initial early-phase troop training, as well as their

own public recruitment outreach activities to get

people interested in their own potential military

“REPUBLIC OF KOREA ARMED FORCES, LAPD SWAT AND EVEN THE SWISS POLICE

ALREADY MAKING USE OF AIRSOFT FOR FORCE ON FORCE TRAINING, TARGET

SHOOTING AND EVEN MIXED FITNESS CHALLENGES, WHILE G&G’S LATEST L85A3

AEGS ARE SET TO FULFIL A UK MOD DEMAND”

78


INSIDE AIRSOFT


service.

Further interest from Italian, Czech, Japanese,

Mexican, Brazilian and other US units for the

same kind of setups are a clear indication that

the world is waking up to the genuine training

value of airsoft for much safer and cheaper

weapons handling and force on force activities

that eradicate the still potentially dangerous use

of simunitions or similar UTM ammunition, which

can still be fatal if it hits the right body part such

as the temple.

With local forces and students also

participating in regional and national level

competitions to further instil some urgency and

recognition in the more widespread adoption of

the practise (something I’m personally an equally

ardent proponent of), for everyone a rifle, fellow

shooters…

Furthermore, G&G are looking to continue

attending and supporting numerous international

events, with our good friend and Bill’s somewhat

“airsoft mentor”, John Lu, continuing to cooperate

in the USA with his ‘Operation Lion Claw’ games,

and similarly “American MilSim” being regular

fixtures stateside for over a decade, while this

year’s Atlanta-based NRA trade show will further

allow G&G’s youth outreach efforts to spread!

And, at the time of writing, the German based

Dark Emergency event should also be occurring in

May 2025 which G&G will similarly be supporting

and giving away products as prizes as well as

meeting and gathering feedback from fans of their

products.

Issue 155.

There’s also a growing cooperation with GATE

to implement their Aster units in AEGs produced

by G&G, more variations of their now-proven and

well-received lever action gas rifles and double

action shotguns, as well as an ever growing range

of gas blowback pistols and rifles making use of

their own patented precision HOP units, some of

which also have integrated hidden adjustment

tools secreted in the recoil guide rods in the case

of their latest pistols, and all of which can be

used in conjunction with their own brand of tightly

quality controlled BB ammunition to ensure a

consistent shooting experience.

As 2026 rolls around, G&G are poised to

celebrate their 40th anniversary with a further

locally-held, family-friendly outreach event

to mark the occasion, and already being the

recipients of many local school field trips, it’s

clear that all of us, young and old, we have a lot of

“stranger things” to look forward to!

Many thanks as always to G&G Armament,

James and Amanda Liao and their staff for their

generous time and great hospitality. AA

FURTHER NEW DIRECTIONS

In terms of new products, we have their growing

AR GBBR range, as well as its dual AEG/GBBR

drop in convertible system I saw at TADTE 2023

hopefully coming to fruition soon! Likewise,

TADTE 2025 will also see the return of G&G which

I will of course be covering as I did at the previous

iteration of the biannual local defence show in

“AS 2026 ROLLS AROUND G&G ARE POISED TO CELEBRATE THEIR 40TH

ANNIVERSARY WITH A FURTHER LOCALLY-HELD FAMILY-FRIENDLY OUTREACH EVENT

TO MARK THE OCCASION, ...IT’S CLEAR THAT ALL OF US, YOUNG AND OLD, WE HAVE A

LOT OF “STRANGER THINGS” TO LOOK FORWARD TO”


GTKY

AIRSOFTGIRLS PORTUGAL

PRIMEIRA

DAMA

80


GTKY


SO, WITH NEW MEMBERS OF THE AA LEGION IT’S TIME TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO

THE MAGAZINE, AND THAT’S A FOCUS ON PLAYERS THAT BRING SOMETHING FRESH AND

NEW TO OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY! SARA HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE FEMALE

COMMUNITY MEMBERS OUT THERE, AND NOW BRINGS US INSIGHT INTO MARIA ALMEIDA,

ALSO KNOWN IN HER NATIVE PORTUGAL, AND TO THE AIRSOFT WORLD, AS “PRIMEIRA

DAMA”!

Obviously being from Portugal myself I

thought to start with my own part of the

worldwide airsoft community, and Maria

was most certainly a good place to begin; it was

my pleasure as always to speak with her, and I

thank her for answering my questions to share

with you all here!

Maria Almeida, also known in the airsoft

world as Primeira Dama (First Lady), is a very

energized player, recognized by her good mood

and as the founder of the Portugal’s AirsoftGirls

community. She truly represents the good spirits

and enthusiasm that gets people together to be

involved with, and play, airsoft!

AA: So, Maria, who are you outside of airsoft?

Maria: I’m Maria. I have three children. I work

as an administrator, and I don’t have much more

time besides airsoft; lately, airsoft has been

consuming a lot of my free time! All of the free

time I have is for airsoft-related stuff, team,

projects, and so on. Outside of airsoft, my life

is majorly being a house wife, a mother, and

everything that is related to managing a home

with three kids!

AA: How did you learn about airsoft and how

did you begin playing it?

Maria: I did my first game in October of 2019,

by my husband’s challenge. When I met him,

he would ask me for a ride to airsoft fields, so I

understood the vibe, but never really wanted to

try it. Then, he would ask me to take him to the

airsoft store which was when I started to see what

airsoft really was… I did become more curious…

he was always telling me to come try, but I would

refuse. Then, it became a “one day I will”, until I

did. And it was super fun!

The first game he took me to was really cool, I

had a blast! With borrowed gear, I started to go to

trainings, games between friends… until he asked

me if I would go to AVOC, and I thought “that’s

a big game, I don’t know if I’m prepared…”. As

he insisted, I ended up agreeing. We bought my

own gear to go prepared for that game, boots, a

replica… and I went. It was a very cool adrenaline

rush, and I never stopped.

AA: What’s the best memory you have of all

games you’ve been part of?

Maria: Wow, the best… that’s difficult... There

was a time when the team was huge and it was

great fun because there were many different

personalities; there was always someone who

was willing to joke around.

I don’t remember any in particular, but we had

in fact many funny moments… There are always

stories, like being shot out by a friend... when

there’s fair play, it always gives some big laughs.

Sometimes, when you’re in the game it’s a serious

simulation, and a very focused atmosphere.

I recall once I was one of the characters...

I remember that I created my character, and

her story, but I didn’t create a personality, so

I improvised… it came out as an extremely

annoying girl who was constantly talking. Once

the enemy attacked our village; so, I’m there

handcuffed, but I don’t shut up, continuously

talking. As I wouldn’t shut up, the other faction

wasn’t able to concentrate. Then one of them

turns to the guy who was about to take others on

a pickup and says “Take her! Take her with them,

please!”

“MARIA ALMEIDA ...IS A VERY ENERGIZED PLAYER, RECOGNIZED BY HER GOOD MOOD

AND AS THE FOUNDER OF THE PORTUGAL’S AIRSOFTGIRLS COMMUNITY. SHE TRULY

REPRESENTS THE GOOD SPIRITS AND ENTHUSIASM THAT GETS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO

BE INVOLVED WITH, AND PLAY, AIRSOFT!”


GTKY


They put me inside the vehicle…I kept talking!

Once they arrive to their destination, the guy

driving the pickup asks “Where am I supposed

to put her?”. As I never broke out of character,

I kept talking the whole time, explaining it was

a misunderstanding, and had to go back to my

village. They were all looking at each other superconfused

and thinking “...but what do we do

with her?”, because this wasn’t a mission, or an

objective. What’s so funny is that the other guy

just told them to take me because he wanted to

get rid of me. Everyone was completely at a loss. I

think it was a really fun scene!

AA: What did airsoft bring you?

Maria: A lot of work, but it’s very good to

clear your head. It’s also good to disconnect.

My husband and I are always involved in a lot

of things, ending up overloaded, tired… but

it’s an anti-stress. On the field you disconnect

from everything, your head is only there. You

don’t think about anything else; you’re in the

conversation, in the parody, focused on the

adrenaline, on the strategy. You’re completely

disconnected from everything... it helps you

disconnect, and that’s very cool.

AA: Do you belong to any team? What’s it like

being part of it?

Maria: It’s very cool, we have a team called

FOE. We’re very united, we respect each other a

lot. I’ve been there since the beginning, and who

came after had to accept it. Despite me being

part of the team, I only took care of bureaucratic

parts. With this role, the pressure started for me

to start playing airsoft; “if you’re already part of

it, might as well start playing”. Being part of the

team, before playing, I felt distant from the group.

With time that passed, we are all equal. We get

along very well, we are spectacular!

AA: As a woman, what were the biggest

challenges you’ve faced in airsoft?

“SO, I’M THERE HANDCUFFED, BUT I DON’T SHUT UP, CONTINUOUSLY TALKING. AS I

WOULDN’T SHUT UP, THE OTHER FACTION WASN’T ABLE TO CONCENTRATE. THEN ONE

OF THEM TURNS TO THE GUY WHO WAS ABOUT TO TAKE OTHERS ON A PICKUP AND

SAYS “TAKE HER! TAKE HER WITH THEM, PLEASE!””

82


GTKY


Maria: I’ve fortunately never personally dealt

with unpleasant comments in game, but I’ve

faced two big challenges. You easily find some

guy peeing in a corner… as a woman, you really

have to isolate yourself, you have a lot of clothes

to take off… it’s a challenge! Plus, when you

get to the cars after the game, you look around

and there’s a bunch of men in underwear… you

think “I’m soaked too. I’m full of mud too, how

am I going to do it?” Most of the time you don’t,

you can’t change. Or you really have to reinvent

yourself because you’re really uncomfortable.

Once it rained so much that we were completely

soaked… I finished the game earlier, as I wanted

to take advantage that there was no one around

the cars to change… it didn’t go as planned, as

there were already a lot of men on the parking lot,

undressing. A teammate and I started looking for

towels and shirts to put over the car’s windows so

I could undress inside. I had to adapt… there are

many places that are already prepared for this,

but most of them aren’t…

AA: Do you play with your husband/partner?

How’s that experience for you?

Maria: That experience is very cool! As I said,

we have three children so, in our day-to-day

life we don’t have time for each other, or to be

together... having airsoft in common brings us

closer. At first, we always want to play together, “I

am where you are”. Now, it always gives a certain

pleasure to play against one another, as a tease.

But I still really like playing alongside him; he has

a lot of energy, and he’s always playing forward,

so sometimes I can’t keep up with his game so

much, but when I can it brings us closer and gives

us that sense of doing something together.

AA: Have you ever had a bigger part on a

game, like a faction commander? How was that

experience?

Maria: I have, and I liked it! It was the first

“I’VE FORTUNATELY NEVER PERSONALLY DEALT WITH UNPLEASANT COMMENTS IN

GAME, BUT I’VE FACED TWO BIG CHALLENGES. YOU EASILY FIND SOME GUY PEEING IN

A CORNER… AS A WOMAN, YOU REALLY HAVE TO ISOLATE YOURSELF, YOU HAVE A LOT

OF CLOTHES TO TAKE OFF… IT’S A CHALLENGE!”


GTKY


time they put me in a leadership role and my

experience was spectacular! I didn’t win the

game, but I had amazing people on my side. We

played a hell of a game! It was spectacular, I had

no idea what it was like to lead. I sent them to on

missions and then thought “this is too crazy”, but

they went anyway. I told a guy: “we have a minute

to exchange this for money and come back”. I

thought it was impossible, but he did it! The team

aligned in everything requested. We didn’t win,

but it was very cool. I had a lot of fun.

AA: I remember you were apprehensive when

they made the proposal…

Maria: Yes! In a WhatsApp group, we received

“first mission, you have 24 hours to elect a

commander and whoever elects a commander

wins I don’t know how many points”. Everyone

started passing the hot potato to each other…

someone said that Almeida should be the one,

so I agreed, teasing him, but he replied saying I

should be the one doing it instead! Then someone

made a poll to vote… everyone voted for Maria

and I was so annoyed… I think everyone realized

that I was very distressed and I wouldn’t stop

denying it... so they said: “you have a bunch of

spectacular people here”, “we’re all on your side”,

“it will be cool for you”. That wave of good energy

was taken to the field… despite being nervous

and very scared, we played a good game. It was

very cool!

AA: What message would you like to send to

other women playing, or thinking about playing,

airsoft?

Maria: Airsoft’s a very masculine world... some

women fear trying it because they don’t know

another girl that plays. It’s not just in airsoft that

you’ll hear something you wouldn’t like to hear…

we shouldn’t avoid trying something new because

of it. There are more women playing airsoft every

day. We’re respected, treated the same, so don’t

“IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY PUT ME IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE AND MY EXPERIENCE

WAS SPECTACULAR! I DIDN’T WIN THE GAME, BUT I HAD AMAZING PEOPLE ON MY

SIDE. WE PLAYED A HELL OF A GAME! IT WAS SPECTACULAR, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT

WAS LIKE TO LEAD”

84


GTKY


feel afraid to try it out just because it’s a sport

mostly practiced by men. Try it out, I’m sure you’ll

love it, and you will meet amazing people.

AA: What motivated you to start the AirsoftGirls

community?

Maria: It started as a joke during the pandemic;

not going out to shop, or play with the kids, gave

me a lot of free time. The quarantine generated

many airsoft repost pages on Instagram, and I

noticed most publications were men, and when

women were published, they were models just

using a plate carrier... There was this girl from

the north that actually played airsoft, having so

many followers possibly due to this. I didn’t know

her, but I followed her posts as she made me feel

more comfortable in such a masculine world.

Once, she reposted her picture and I

commented on it: “at least, you didn’t need to

show your boobs to appear”… so, we started

talking that all reposts seen are from girls that are

sexualized with airsoft gear… I jokingly suggested

creating a repost page of actual Portuguese

girls who are airsoft players. The page started

to be very shared by everyone. I decided to do

livestreams every Saturday nights with different

players… I had just created a page that was a

joke, and suddenly, we had forty or so people

watching. For us it was really a lot of people,

because it’s Portugal, a small country… it really

started with a joke... This was in 2020 and we still

have a page that everyone still talks about it and

still ask for livestreams!

AA: Has it been developing as you’d like?

Maria: It grew much bigger than I ever

imagined... it stopped being a repost page, and

became a real community, a safe space for girls

to ask for help, for guidance. That’s really cool.

There are games with four or five girls, and they all

know each other, or have already heard about the

community, and come to you because they have

already heard about it.

We were present at the Expo with our own

stand, we have a flag, t-shirts, patches... and

you notice this evolution on our Instagram page;

we would repost photos sent by girls, now you

find group photos with thirteen girls together in

a game. This was unthinkable once! It’s not my

hard work, but the importance of AirsoftGirls that

makes us unite. And these thirteen are able to

be all together because we already knew each

other. This has already gone much further than

I ever imagined, because that wasn’t the goal; it

became the goal. So, we turned a repost page into

a community of support, of union, of spreading

that we are here and that we exist. I think that’s

so important! I’d like the community to keep

expanding. We’re currently sixty-ish girls now!

Once again my thank go to Maria for answering

my questions, but now it’s time to look beyond my

homeland and see who else I can talk to and bring

to your attention for the positive things they do in

our big world of airsoft! AA

“WE WERE PRESENT AT THE EXPO WITH OUR OWN STAND, WE HAVE A FLAG,

T-SHIRTS, PATCHES... AND YOU NOTICE THIS EVOLUTION ON OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE;

WE WOULD REPOST PHOTOS SENT BY GIRLS, NOW YOU FIND GROUP PHOTOS WITH

THIRTEEN GIRLS TOGETHER IN A GAME. THIS WAS UNTHINKABLE ONCE!”


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

AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

SALAMANDRA

88


AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

SALAMANDRA IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST AIRSOFT EVENTS IN PORTUGAL,

WHICH HAPPENS ONCE EVERY OTHER YEAR ORGANIZED BY THE PORTUGUESE

NATIONAL AIRSOFT ASSOCIATION (ANA). THIS YEAR, BEING THE FIRST VERSION

OF THE NON-STOP GAME FOR BRUNO, PROMISED A 36-HOUR-LONG MILITARY

SIMULATION OPERATION WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND

PSYCHOLOGICAL. DEPENDING ON WHICH TEAM YOU ENTERED, YOU HAD THE

POSSIBILITY FOR HAVING FUN AT THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS… USING BOATS ON

THE RIVER, SKYDIVING-IN, OR GROUND OPERATIONS. AS MIGUEL WAS “AWAY ON

OTHER MISSIONS” BRUNO STEPPED IN TO TELL US MORE…


AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

First let me explain that this is a BIG game,

and as such is split between three different

teams, each with its own experience...

• SpecOps - a very restricted group that

starts the game at 2am on Saturday in an

unknown location with a highly important

mission for the beginning of Salamandra

• Marines - the alliance of Salamandra,

will be in game from Saturday 10am

until Sunday 12pm, commanded by

headquarters

• Salamandras - the rebels that occupy

the area, known by the shemaghs, who

conduct their activities through several

camping villages and are commanded by

their leaders

Despite being a non-stop game and no matter

which team you chose, everyone had

the possibility to return to

a Safe Zone

whenever needed,

where they could eat, chill or

recharge their energy before going back into

the game.

With that background established, the third

Salamandra game took place on the 10th and

11th of May of 2025, however the event started

way before!

With a teaser released on the 18th of February

and a new episode released every month since

then, it was a great way to keep every player on

their toes and hyped for the actual game. Miguel

and I were actually part of the character-creation

in these teasers that were being treated as if it

was an action movie!

This year was actually my first time playing in

this huge event, being in the Salamandras faction

I went full in with the kit, buying a black thobe

and a big shemagh! After all the action we had

with the teasers, it was time for the Salamandra

experience.

GAME ON!

On Friday the 9th we arrived at the village where

we assembled our camp. Once that was done, we

got everything ready for the big game and went to

rest.

On the morning of 10th, after getting equipped

we went ahead into the game area, where we

hiked to our HQ. There we received our first

mission: move to the coordinate Kilo 29 to find

the “Anthrax”, having as a side mission to find a

Petroleum mine. After retrieving the “Anthrax”

and giving it to our commander, Al Geraldi, the

next mission was to capture the Petroleum

mine that we had found previously.

Once we got there, finding no resistance,

we knew that it wouldn’t be long until the

Marines arrived, so we created a perimeter.

After only ten minutes we heard a vehicle

coming. Having a scout ahead, he informed

us that it was an enemy movement to capture

that mine. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but

we waited… Once they were close enough, we

started shooting!

This battle lasted two hours! We suffered

casualties, but since we were able to be revived

by our team-mates, we had a bigger chance to

defend the mine. Despite having the enemies

“THIS YEAR WAS ACTUALLY MY FIRST TIME PLAYING IN THIS HUGE EVENT,

BEING IN THE SALAMANDRAS FACTION I WENT FULL IN WITH THE KIT, BUYING A

BLACK THOBE AND A BIG SHEMAGH! AFTER ALL THE ACTION WE HAD WITH THE

TEASERS, IT WAS TIME FOR THE SALAMANDRA EXPERIENCE”

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AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

coming

in from all the

sides we still stood our ground.

Using a friendly drone, we gathered

intel that there was an enemy FOB just a few

kilometers away from that mine; after making

sure that the Marines knew that we weren’t

playing around, we guaranteed the mine was

ours, and then another Salamandra squad got

to the mine to switch out with us, because we

had another mission.

We received info that there was an injured

pilot that needed to be rescued and taken to

the coordinate “Papa 14”, so we went on our

way, stopping in our HQ to refill with water

and ammunition. With 26ºC heat we knew

we had to be careful.

After packing up all the gear, we hiked

to the rescue zone, where we found the

pilot. Checking the map, we knew from

that point we needed to be extra careful,

because there were no friendly forces

anywhere close, so we moved carefully

avoiding contact with Marine forces. It

is true that we hiked three kilometers instead of

two, but with that we were able to drop the pilot at

Papa 14 without suffering any casualties!

From there we received information from Al

Geraldi that there was an enemy HQ nearby,

having then a new mission… get close enough to

recon the base, and find if there was a chance

that our spiritual leader, Al Pestawari, was

being held prisoner there. So, we went moving

through the Alentejo hills, always aware of our

surroundings. We reached their base. At this

point we could hear Al Pestawari screaming.

We knew we had to do something! So, without

being detected we surrounded the enemy

base and launched an attack! Leaving no

Marines alive, we dominated their HQ.

At that point we found our spiritual

leader tied up with a bomb around his

chest; we couldn’t leave him like that! We pushed

through the Marines leader tent where we found

their Commander seated, almost like he was

expecting us already. We found it odd, so we

began looking for intel, taking photos of all the

maps and codes we could find, while others were

trying to disarm the bomb around Al Pestawari’s

chest. After many failed attempts we were able

to force information out of their

Commander.

Although it

was super hard, we did get a

break!

“USING A FRIENDLY DRONE, WE GATHERED INTEL THAT THERE WAS AN ENEMY

FOB JUST A FEW KILOMETERS AWAY FROM THAT MINE; AFTER MAKING

SURE THAT THE MARINES KNEW THAT WE WEREN’T PLAYING AROUND, WE

GUARANTEED THE MINE WAS OURS”


AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

In the meantime we received information that

we had another squad doing a mission that would

give us the code to disarm the bomb, and

there was another mission

with higher

priority. Move

to a FOB we had near the dam,

where we had to take our squad lead to a

really important meeting.

We went on the move, and once we got there,

we noticed that an enemy force was coming up

close to our FOB. They pushed us through the

dam. I believe that their objective was indeed to

stop that meeting at all costs, so we went full

force protecting the exit of the dam. We weren’t

allowing any Marine or SpecOps through that

point! We defended it until the end… we had

made it!

The meeting had reached the end and we

had to take more “Anthrax” to our HQ, leaving

other squads to distract the enemy forces.

Once we got to our HQ, we received the

order to rest because at 23:00 we would

start moving again, to a night mission!

NITE OPS

The time had come, I mounted my flashlight and

my thermal scope on my replica and we went off

into the night!

While on the move we were ramming against

more Salamandra squads; clearly they had

different missions to take care of, but after

radioing our Commander Al Geraldi, we

received a different command, to gather forces,

because we had to raid the Marines HQ, the

one where we had been before. On the way we

gathered the needed forces, and we reached

a temporary FOB, which was only 300

meters away from the enemy HQ.

We all gathered to talk about our tactics

of engagement. Using 4x4 vehicles, we

rammed their defenses and pushed

through it! The Raid had begun!

Somehow, they might have discovered

our plan, because their defenses were

strong too! They suffered casualties, and

so did we, but they had the higher ground making

our push a lot harder. We fell back gathering

more forces for a second try. This time we had a

different plan; while most of our forces

were ramming heads on

with them, we went

around, jumping fences in the dark.

“THE TIME HAD COME, I MOUNTED MY FLASHLIGHT AND MY THERMAL SCOPE

ON MY REPLICA AND WE WENT OFF INTO THE NIGHT! WHILE ON THE MOVE WE

WERE RAMMING AGAINST MORE SALAMANDRA SQUADS; CLEARLY THEY HAD

DIFFERENT MISSIONS TO TAKE CARE OF”

92


AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

Using

the technology

we had, the thermal scopes,

we could guarantee there wouldn’t be an

enemy expecting us.

The distraction worked! We got right behind

their base and sandwiched them, leaving no man

alive!

Our focus was to rescue Al Pestawari, who was

injured, so we called an evac, and once it arrived,

we jumped in and took our spiritual leader to

be treated, being that at 02:00 our mission was

already completed successfully, so we took a

well-deserved rest.

On Sunday we got up at 7 am. I hadn’t slept

much because of the adrenaline, so I was tired. I

drank an energy drink and so we went on our way

to our HQ. We had a new mission; the petroleum

mines we had captured previously had to be

blown up with explosives.

We went ahead to blow them up, so that the

Marines couldn’t use them. After planting the

explosives on three mines, and blowing them

up, we went on our final mission, that being not

to allow the SpecOps to capture our HQ nor kill

our spiritual leader, Al Pestawari. Being that the

SpecOps didn’t finish their final mission, it was

up to the Marines to make it through, but our

Salamandra Forces were way too organized,

not allowing them to complete their missions

as well, reaching the end of this edition of the

Salamandra.

Once the game was finished, it was time to

relax and chat about our experiences, being

that the true mission was to have fun in a

MilSim adventure and most importantly to get

home safe!

Overall, it was a one-of-a-kind experience

for me, as it was my first time attending

Salamandra. The game was unique by the

way the whole story develops through the

military simulation, the number of missions

and the unparalleled views of Alentejo. Having the

company of a great team and well-prepared gear,

it’s a great recipe for a good time! And definitely

one to repeat!

My sincere thanks go to all the players that

made SALAMANDRA 3 such a great airsoft

experience, and to the ASSOCIAÇÃO NACIONAL

DE AIRSOFT (ANA) for allowing us to share images

of the event; check out https://anairsoft.com to

find out more about the great work that they do!

AA

“WE ALL GATHERED TO TALK ABOUT OUR TACTICS OF ENGAGEMENT. USING 4X4

VEHICLES, WE RAMMED THEIR DEFENSES AND PUSHED THROUGH IT! THE RAID

HAD BEGUN! SOMEHOW, THEY MIGHT HAVE DISCOVERED OUR PLAN, BECAUSE

THEIR DEFENSES WERE STRONG TOO!”


Airsoft Gas Blow Back (GBB) users often struggle with

year-round reliability due to gas power constraints.

“WHAT IF” there was an alternative?

WHAT IF...

You could use your gas blowback system all year round

Winter and Summer, the same way? Imagine consistent performance regardless of the weather, no

more struggling in the cold or worrying about performance dropping in the heat of battle.

You will not have cool down effect and can shoot full auto at the same fire rate?

Sustained fire rates without performance degradation would be a game-changer, especially in

scenarios requiring rapid engagement.

You could shoot at any angle, even upside down?

Shooting at any angle, even upside down, adds a new level of

tactical flexibility and dynamic gameplay possibilities.

Your mags will be lighter weight?

Reduced weight would decrease fatigue and improve handling,

especially during extended games.

You will have multiple ways to fill your mags?

More convenient filling options would increase efficiency,

and reduce cost, making it a more accessible, viable solution.

Temperature will not impact your gun's performance, same output?

This translates to reliable power across all conditions, meaning more accurate shots

and consistent groupings, improving gameplay significantly.

W H A T I F I T D O E S E X I S T . . .

R I G H T N O W !

The future of airsoft, today.

Regulated CO2 system.

Safety of Regulated CO2: Regulated CO2 ensures controlled power, eliminating the risk of overpowered output that

could damage your gun or cause it to exceed field safety regulations. The MaxTact system is regulated and set to

8kg (competition version/Japan standard) or 12kg (combat version/ commonly used green gas) power, and can’t

be adjusted.

AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

SO YOU

WANNA

SHOOT

ACTION AIR?

98


AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

STEWBACCA, OUR “MAN IN TAIWAN”, HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMPETITION

CIRCUIT OVER THERE IN THE GUISE OF “ACTION AIR” (IPSC BUT WITH AIRSOFT

GUNS), AS WELL AS REPORTING ON - AND EVEN DABBLING IN - ADJACENT IDPA

TAIWAN ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS OTHER CIVIL DEFENCE RELATED EFFORTS SINCE

HE MOVED TO TAIPEI IN LATE 2019. HAVING ATTENDED NEARLY 250 TRAINING

SESSIONS AND FIFTEEN LOCAL COMPETITIONS OF VARIOUS LEVELS AND SCALES

OVER THE YEARS, HE HAS, AS YET, NEGLECTED TO GIVE A BIT OF A BACKGROUND

INTO THE WHOLE GAME AND HOW IT’S PLAYED… SO, YOU WANNA SHOOT ACTION

AIR? WITH THE WORLD SHOOT 2025 IN THE PHILIPPINES COMING UP SOON, READ

ON…

Looking back at the spreadsheets once

again, Action Air IPSC Taiwan coverage

articles were hot on the heels of my first full

time report for Airsoft Action regarding SpeedQB

in Taiwan. Having dabbled first with the 2019

‘Ding Ding Cup’ on the invitation of my Filipina

skirmish teammate, Belinda, I gave it a go.

Belinda, back then, was a member of team

“Spring Rain” who you have no doubt seen

the name of cropping up in any number of the

previous 14 “Fresh Prince Of Action Air” article

series covering my competition circuit mischief

and experiences out here.

The Ding Ding Cup was a more informal

“taster” competition which we since revisited

post COVID and which I reported on with Anny

back in Issue 154. Basically, a less official IPSCthemed

shoot which isn’t sanctioned as such and

doesn’t require a local licence or qualification

to join in, something all practitioners otherwise

have to acquire prior to sanctioned TPSA (Taiwan

Practical Shooting Association) matches and

allowed me a taste of the competition scene to

see if I liked it before committing to the training

and qualification regimen. Practising weekly has

pretty much been “de rigueur” for me ever since,

having passed my certification back in early 2020

and joining my first official match in April down in

the hills outside Taichung.

Back in Issue 127 I also put together my

first “So you wanna shoot Action Air?” article,

focusing on choosing an appropriate pistol with

which to compete, depending on which of the

divisions you choose to do so under.

I originally qualified with my KWA USP

Compact, then switched to a Double Bell Glock

34 TTI before realising its slide and barrel were too

long for the production division rules, switching

to a WE M17 clone before that became damaged,

and finally moving into the realm of the KJWorks

CZ Shadow SP01, then Shadow 2, and more

recently Shadow 2 Orange. The latter three

variants have represented most of my shooting

experience of the past five years since mid-2020

and more recently, since Clarence Lai arrived in

Taiwan from his previous native Hong Kong, we’ve

been working together with me crash testing all

of his resulting custom and upgrade components

to support my own shooting journey and related

articles and reviews.

From the outset I gravitated towards

“Production Division”, for essentially out-of-thebox

service sidearms which are mass produced

(by real steel IPSC rules in excess of 5,000 units

made if memory serves), basically cutting out

all the usual “race gun” cheat features of the

more lax “open division”… no “gas pedals” or

other grip improvement geometric add-ons, no

flared magazine wells, extended magazines,

compensators or other such customisation…

You can amend the trigger and the standard grip

panels within certain limitations, but basically

“THE DING DING CUP WAS A MORE INFORMAL “TASTER” COMPETITION WHICH

WE SINCE REVISITED POST COVID AND WHICH I REPORTED ON WITH ANNY

BACK IN ISSUE 154; BASICALLY A LESS OFFICIAL IPSC-THEMED SHOOT WHICH

ISN’T SANCTIONED AS SUCH AND DOESN’T REQUIRE A LOCAL LICENCE OR

QUALIFICATION”


AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

Production Division is where you will find a lot

of sponsored shooters or armed forces/law

enforcement personnel competing with their

service weapons, Glocks, SIG,s HKs, Berettas,

and of course CZs predominantly.

All are limited to fifteen rounds in the

magazines across the board, regardless of

physical capacity, but basically anything that is

a regular production pistol is applicable, either

striker fired, or double action/single action

capable with double action requiring decocking

on the first shot of any condition one start… but

we’ll get back to that later.

More recently, as demand has finally grown to

justify it, “Production Optics” division has now

opened up here in Taiwan, which both myself

and my SPPT Teammate Ou JiaCheng are now

training in, using CLPD Shadow 2 Orange pistols

ready for the World Shoot 2025 in the Philippines

in July/August later this summer. Basically all the

same rules, but slide-mounted red dots are now

permitted as well, which are a

big help in terms of speed!

UNDEVIDED DIVISONS

If you’re a fan of old school,

single-stack 1911s then

“Classic Division” allows for

eight round magazines… and

will likely require lots of them!

Our friend Jordan down in

Kaohsiung, who now runs his

own club and team “DejaVu

1911”, used to compete,

usually alone, in this division

locally just for the challenge

to himself, and tended to

carry a whole belt load of

magazines given the roundcount

requirements and the limited capacity of

each one! More recently he has decided to shift

into more typical HiCapa/2011 style guns and

compete against others rather than just himself,

but it was certainly different to see him running

in hard mode and just trying to better himself

despite the trials and tribulations previously.

“Standard Division” allows for single action

only pistols, such as basic HiCapas without too

many frills, and has a magazine limit of eighteen

rounds per “stick” as such. Our SPPT teammates,

Dang Ding Ray and Yang Kai Hung, tend to

train and compete in this and run a basic gun

very quickly with fierce reloads and movement

throughout.

Most competitions have a reasonable turnout

for this division as well, pitting competitors

against each other with iron sights and fewer

bells and whistles.

“Open Division” is, of course, the more

popular and “anything goes” group, which many

of my teammates and our counterparts train and

compete in. Anything up to twenty-eight rounds

in a magazine (matching the maximum sized real

steel 38 special extended HiCapa magazines

of IPSC regulations) is good here, as well as all

the bits and pieces competitors could dream of

“IF YOU’RE A FAN OF OLD SCHOOL, SINGLE-STACK 1911S THEN “CLASSIC

DIVISION” ALLOWS FOR EIGHT ROUND MAGAZINES… AND WILL LIKELY REQUIRE

LOTS OF THEM! OUR FRIEND JORDAN DOWN IN KAOHSIUNG WHO NOW RUNS HIS

OWN CLUB AND TEAM “DEJAVU 1911” USED TO COMPETE, USUALLY ALONE”

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AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

adding on… funnel magazine

wells for easier reloads, grip

textures or panels, or even

custom-sculpted grips that

fit their own hands perfectly,

“gas pedals” or other thumbrests

that help keep the gun

from muzzle flipping under

recoil (of course this is much

reduced in airsoft guns, but

nonetheless upsets your sight

picture), while longer inner

barrels are usually hidden

inside oversized outer barrels

or even muzzle mounted

compensators, giving you

the most performance and

consistency available.

Speed cocking levers can be mounted to the

rear iron sight dovetails and thumbed back with

the support hand for speed cycling on the draw

with “Condition Two” starts, and cantilevered

optical sights or red dots tend to be standard fare,

not moving with the slide as it recoils and thereby

suffering less sight picture interruption.

Many tune their guns to the edge of reliability

for minimal recoil stroke and force, as well as the

most consistent HOP units, buckings and internal

barrels, with most of us zeroing our guns on a 1”

metal square flap at the 10m range without much

issue… especially if you have a platform sporting

a fixed inner barrel.

So, once you’ve decided on the division you’d

like to train and compete in,

the gun of choice and related

personal equipment needs

preparing, usually specialised

shooter’s belts, model specific

holsters and magazine carriers

set up for each individual

competitor (see also my

review of the Double Alpha

“Lynx” belt and holster system

in Issue 132). These are a

fairly typical investment for

a habitual shooter, although

people can and do use

universal equipment to be

less “gamified” and replicate

their service sidearm setups

““OPEN DIVISION” IS OF COURSE THE MORE POPULAR AND “ANYTHING GOES”

GROUP, WHICH MANY OF MY TEAMMATES AND OUR COUNTERPARTS TRAIN AND

COMPETE IN. ANYTHING UP TO TWENTY-EIGHT ROUNDS IN A MAGAZINE IS GOOD

HERE, AS WELL AS ALL THE BITS AND PIECES COMPETITORS COULD DREAM OF

ADDING ON…”


AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

for better training value in terms of carrying a gun

for work, and genuine police and armed forces

personnel are welcome to compete in uniform

with their service equipment if they so choose!

For anyone else, however, as in France,

camouflage is seen as a faux pas in general and

you are to dress yourself more like a golfer than

a combatant, to maintain a distinction between

sporting and service shooters. Most teams have

themed lightweight jerseys, normally refreshed

or redesigned on a rolling basis over a year or two

as new competitors join teams and require fresh

orders of clothing making.

Similarly, larger events also offer themed

jerseys to compete in and as mementos of the

competitions themselves, along with many

offering velcro patches or stickers to put on your

gear or patch walls.

So, once you have your gun, gear and have

potentially joined a team or club with which to

train (unless you are lucky enough to have your

own training space!) you’ll need to get licensed

under IPSC regulations, typically with each region

or country having an RD (Regional Director) who’s

in charge of signing off on your certification,

even if the actual testing procedure is done by

subordinate local ‘X’PSA (x - your country name

Practical Shooting Association) representatives

who are also range control officers and/or in

charge of training. I did a few mock tests with

Mars, my team leader, before joining a large signup

session at our previous old shooting centre in

Sanchong, with multiple local teams represented

with other new competitors alongside me joining

up and certifying.

MATCH READY

Once you have your local licence you can apply

online to join any pertinent matches, including

occasional rifle competitions, or a mix of pistol

and rifle, albeit never at the same time. “Two

Gun” or “Three Gun” are different animals in

that regard, we only ever stage with one gun at a

time under IPSC regulations, but back in Issue

147 you can see my “Shootout in a Downpour”

article of the Kaohsiung Level

3 competition, where a few of

our team were juggling rifles

and pistols and redoing the

same stages multiple times,

with me running my typical

Shadow 2 and switching out

to my VFC FAL in a shortened

barrel configuration just for

“S&G” when everyone else

was running ARs ...of course.

On the day you’ll need to

sign in at the admin table

with your competition licence

to acquire your individual

“shooter card” which bears

your personal shooter number

for this match, as well as your

name, picture and a map of your gear setup and

stages completed on the rear. Normally they

give you ID card holders to hang them off your

“SO, ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR GUN, GEAR AND HAVE POTENTIALLY JOINED A TEAM

OR CLUB WITH WHICH TO TRAIN (UNLESS YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE

YOUR OWN TRAINING SPACE!) YOU’LL NEED TO GET LICENSED UNDER IPSC

REGULATIONS, TYPICALLY WITH EACH REGION OR COUNTRY HAVING AN RD

(REGIONAL DIRECTOR)”

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AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

belt, or the back of your hat

if you’re wearing one. These

are handed in en masse at the

beginning of every stage to

ensure roll call of all shooters

present, and then usually

shuffled by the individual

stage’s Range Officer to

randomise the shooting

order each time, with first/

current shooters “on the

line” and “standby”/”second

standby” shooters being

announced as people

progress through. This is so

that upcoming competitors

can prepare themselves and

their equipment, especially

(increasingly) their head/hat/glasses camera

setups, which help them record their own

performance, as well as teammates or other

friends from the same squad filming third person

on a phone from behind being pretty standard

fare these days.

Each stage is a fixed array of light brown

octagonal cardboard/”paper” targets, some with

“no shoot” white counterparts stuck to their front

obstructing some portion of the target to simulate

a high value “hostage in front of hostage taker

shot”. Hitting any portion of the white area will get

you a ten point penalty per shot… sometimes I

double tap them, just to make sure!

Furthermore, there are “poppers”; metal plate

targets with a slightly bulbous head shape at the

top end which will fall over when shot in the right

place. Sometimes they can be more resistant

if you shoot them low, or are pointing your gun

at a steeper downward angle, which is always

an issue for me to bear in mind being so tall

compared to most shooters out here! Sometimes

it’s an advantage for seeing over things or through

barricade openings, sometimes it’s a hindrance.

The Stage Briefing will introduce the stage

number, the incumbent Range Officer and any

assistants, the nature of the course, its round

count, starting position and condition, and

there will typically be a computer generated

map printout or basic layout of the target arrays

and separate shooting bays or areas they are

presented in put up on a board or barricade

for everyone’s reference. Usually, each of the

shooting bays/positions are separated by barriers

or barricades that prevent you seeing every target

from one position and force you to plan your

movements for maximum speed, efficiency and

accuracy depending on your division, equipment

setup and limitations.

For instance, I have to be mindful of reloading

more regularly as I only have fifteen rounds per

magazine, so typically I aim to reload every ten

rounds or so, depending on the groups of targets

presented in each array, and how much distance

or time there is between each shooting position,

giving me a few extra in case of misses or other

“make up” shots I might have to do. Thankfully,

these have reduced massively over my years

and now my accuracy is pretty consistent, it’s

“PEOPLE CAN AND DO USE UNIVERSAL EQUIPMENT TO BE LESS “GAMIFIED”

AND REPLICATE THEIR SERVICE SIDEARM SETUPS FOR BETTER TRAINING VALUE

IN TERMS OF CARRYING A GUN FOR WORK, AND GENUINE POLICE AND ARMED

FORCES PERSONNEL ARE WELCOME TO COMPETE IN UNIFORM WITH THEIR

SERVICE EQUIPMENT IF THEY SO CHOOSE!”


AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

the movement that needs more focus… old man

knees, and being twice the mass or height of

some of these fast movers from Taiwan, Macau

and Hong Kong who always clean up on the

podiums certainly doesn’t help!

Each “paper” target is divided into concentric

regions with the “A-zone” being in the centre and

around 10cm wide by 21cm high with the corners

cropped and the whole zone biased more toward

the top of the target (with ‘no shoots’ typically

obstruct the lower half of the target or one upper

edge). Outside this is the “C-zone”, which is a

further stretched octagon of 30cm high by 20cm

wide, and outermost is the “D-zone” of 38cm high

by 30cm wide.

Each paper

target is

scored by its

best two hits,

so if you have

at least two

rounds in the

“A-zone” each

shot is worth

5 points, so

at least two

“alphas”

gains you the

maximum of

ten points per

paper target.

You can

do the aforementioned “make up” shots if you

miss entirely or see your rounds land in the C or

D zones and think it’s worth the time to put more

rounds on the target to get a higher score. C zone

hits are two points each and D zone hits are a

solitary point each.

If you see and shoot at a target and still don’t

land at least two shots somewhere on the brown

A, C or D zones you lose 5 points per missed

shot, and again if you hit the white no shoot it’s

a ten point penalty per shot… So messing up on

those can quickly erode your good score from

elsewhere on the same stage!

Furthermore, if you totally fail to visibly

engage a target because you neglected it during

your planning or otherwise just forget it under

pressure, you not only get the two five point

misses penalty per paper target or one per

popper, but also a further “procedural” penalty

because you failed to complete the course

correctly; missing a single paper can really eat

into an otherwise good score… ask me how I

know!

Stage planning ensues after the briefing and

the shooters

will be given a

few minutes in

total to queue

up behind the

start position

and “air gun”

walk through

the stage to

plan their

stopping/

standing or

shooting

and moving

positions

to give the

most efficient

footwork and

shooting capability given the targets presented,

obstructions, barricades or no shoots causing

problems. All of these target presentations or

bays will also be bounded by “fault lines” which

you may not shoot while your feet are outside of.

Some form a path throughout the stage, other

instances there will be islands of smaller square

or triangular fault line boxes that you must run

between and are only allowed to shoot certain

target arrays from certain boxes, it’s all down to

“EACH STAGE IS A FIXED ARRAY OF LIGHT BROWN OCTAGONAL

CARDBOARD/”PAPER” TARGETS, SOME WITH “NO SHOOT” WHITE COUNTERPARTS

STUCK TO THEIR FRONT OBSTRUCTING SOME PORTION OF THE TARGET TO

SIMULATE A HIGH VALUE “HOSTAGE IN FRONT OF HOSTAGE TAKER SHOT””

104


AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

the creativity (or perhaps cruelty!) of the stage

designers.

Further challenges, such as “swingers” (paper

targets fitted to arms of various lengths) or

“sliders”(ones on rails which drop along them

from one side to another) which are actuated

usually be a designated falling popper or a pull

string/toggle or other stage prop which shooters

must knock over or stand on add a moving target

challenge to the mix. Some of these are “visible

on stop”, so if they reach the end of their travel

or run out of swinging energy will at least still be

visible, although the time

penalty for waiting for

that is usually not worth

the wait for a still target.

Some will be “invisible

on stop”, which means

they only pop out and

expose while moving and

will either slide or swing

behind barricades or

cover at rest, meaning

you only have a limited

time window to hit

them, usually with them

passing behind other

barricades or even noshoot

targets to really up

the ante on your speed

and accuracy.

Each stage has a “start

position”, usually marked

by a red spray painted or

similar mark at one (or

occasionally multiple)

point/s on the fault lines bounding the whole

stage. Occasionally you may also start seated

on a stool at some position, or even have your

gun and or magazines staged on barrels or tables

and have to safely retrieve them after you begin

the stage. Furthermore, you may be hampered

by limitations such as “strong/weak-hand only”

targets or entire stages where you must use one

hand only, obviously limiting them to shorter

stages as you can’t reload.

Sometimes you must grab a prop such as a

case, box or bag to occupy one hand (and in

some cases even throw off your balance to add

to the challenge) when you know you only have

one magazine and no chance to reload, and are

using your weak hand only, you will learn to shoot

carefully!

Each stage also has a “Start Condition”,

numbered 3, 2, and 1

in order of readiness.

A “Con 3” start is gun

holstered, no round

chambered and no

magazine fitted, the

safest starting situation.

“Con 2” is a magazine

fitted, but no round

chambered, while “Con

1” is magazine fitted and

round chambered, with

either the hammer safely

dropped if you have a

double action gun, or

the hammer cocked and

locked by the manual

safety if you have a 1911,

HiCapa, or other single

action only gun. Striker

fired equivalents are thus

the easiest to manage,

without the need to apply

any safeties or de-cock

anything during preparation.

On that note, typically, discarded magazines

should not be revisited as far as I’m aware,

certainly at actual competitions, so if you run out

of ammunition due to a lack of magazines, badly

planned reloads that leave partial magazines

“A “CON 3” START IS GUN HOLSTERED, NO ROUND CHAMBERED AND NO

MAGAZINE FITTED, THE SAFEST STARTING SITUATION. “CON 2” IS A MAGAZINE

FITTED, BUT NO ROUND CHAMBERED, WHILE “CON 1” IS MAGAZINE FITTED AND

ROUND CHAMBERED, WITH EITHER THE HAMMER SAFELY DROPPED IF YOU HAVE

A DOUBLE ACTION GUN, OR THE HAMMER COCKED AND LOCKED”


AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

lying in your wake that drop your total available

count, or just poor marksmanship or technical

issues that rob you of useful rounds, you may

expend all useful ammunition before you hit

the “stop plate”. This is usually at the rear of the

stage, an electronic target which is linked to the

timer system that beeps to initiate your run and

measures your overall time.

A DNF (Did Not Finish) is a bit of a nightmare

and one I have suffered in the past due to those

poppers that won’t go over due to the angle I

shoot them at, or technical gun issues that make

shots weak or cause so many feeding problems

that you lose a lot of rounds during repeated

clearance drills.

ROUNDING OUT

When you’re all done, the Range Officer will ask

you if you have finished, usually emphasising the

phrase “if you have finished” if they see you have

missed something to give you another chance to

remedy things, but if you either have, or think you

have finished, this will be followed with “unload

and show clear” .

Many airsoft guns won’t

eject unspent rounds in the

chamber so usually we all

have 6mm chamber flags

hanging off our belts to push

the round out the front of the

chamber and drop it on the

floor, then the RO will inspect

the chamber and tell you to

“hammer down and holster”.

You drop the action closed,

fire off the action/”ease

springs” and then re-holster

the pistol safely and lock it in

place.

Anyone found manipulating

their guns, or with a magazine

fitted when not under direction

of the RO on a live stage will be disqualified… so

many shooters will put a specialised “tea cosy”

style cover over their guns while they’re holstered

to prevent any damage or interference and related

potential for being “DQ’d”.

Similarly, if you break the “180 rule” - with

the muzzle of your gun sweeping behind 90

degrees either side of the stage centreline - you

will similarly be firmly told to “Stop!” and then

“unload and show clear” followed by being

“DQ’d” for violating the safety rules. I’ve seen it

happen a few times, especially on rough or loose

ground. Similarly, if your gun hits the floor at any

point it’s a DQ. You can fall over and remain in

control of the gun and get yourself back up… *if*

you don’t let it hit the floor, or sweep yourself or

anyone else or break the “180 rule”. Your time will

be much worse, but at least you can recover and

finish.

Assuming all went well, you’ll re-holster and

lock your gun in place, then the RO and other

staff will announce your total time, then assess

your hits on targets, calling out “two alpha” for a

perfect score on a target, “alpha charlie” for an

“IF YOU BREAK THE “180 RULE” WITH THE MUZZLE OF YOUR GUN SWEEPING

BEHIND 90 DEGREES EITHER SIDE OF THE STAGE CENTRELINE YOU WILL

SIMILARLY BE FIRMLY TOLD TO “STOP” AND THEN “UNLOAD AND SHOW CLEAR”

FOLLOWED BY BEING “DQ’D” FOR VIOLATING THE SAFETY RULES; I’VE SEEN IT

HAPPEN A FEW TIMES…”

106


AA LEGION

SPECIAL REPORT

A&C zone hits, “two charlie” for 2 C zone hits,

“charlie delta” for a C&D zone hit, “two delta” for

two hits in the D-zone, or any misses or no shoots

with “mike” or “no” respectively, and “one P” for

any procedural errors, and also “popper (down)”

to count steel targets knocked over.

The best shooter is the fastest yet most

accurate, i.e. “shoot fast, don’t miss”!. Your total

points score is divided by your overall time, to give

you your “hit factor”, and the highest hit factor

takes the top spot on that stage in their chosen

division with a “100% of stage score”, with other

competitors having reducing percentages of

the winning score depending on their hit factor.

Basically, how well they shot, and how quickly

or how many times they screwed the pooch and

accumulated penalties.

These individual stage scores are then

accumulated to contribute to the overall scores

at the end of the competition, giving you the

possibility to recover from one or two bad stages

depending on the length and complexity of each

stage and how many there are in the overall

competition.

In the end, the top three shooters in each

division are awarded Champion, First Runner

Up/2nd, and Second Runner Up/3rd place

trophies, assuming there are enough competitors

signed up to have more than three participants.

Sometimes solitary champion trophies are

awarded for smaller turnouts, similarly ‘high lady’

is usually awarded to the best female shooter in

general, due to the continued male dominance

of most shooting competitions. Hopefully, this is

something we can change over time.

There are certainly more women and kids

getting involved in IPSC, particularly with the fine

folks of the Hong Kong and Philippines teams

who always have a great turnout, and in general

despite the competitive nature of the sport,

the general pleasant nature and camaraderie

of the events and community is surprisingly

consistent, with practitioners rarely having any

issues with others and largely competing mostly

against themselves and seemingly just wanting

to do their best rather than necessarily beating

others per se. Indeed, even as the only foreigner

licensed and practicing (that I know of) in IPSC in

Taiwan (we aren’t a huge community compared

to IDPA Taiwan), I’ve always felt welcomed in and

accommodated and the language barrier shrinks

year on year as I become part of the furniture and

can joke around with people in Mandarin.

That’s about the size of things on the basic

overview side.

At present we’ve booked our hotels, flight

tickets, Taiwanese gun re-import police

documentation and are waiting on our Philippines

gun import permits, all in preparation for the

World Shoot 2025… with as many as EIGHT

HUNDRED practitioners from all over the world

set to descend on the small island city of IloIlo in

late July. More on that to come! AA

“WE’VE BOOKED OUR HOTELS, FLIGHT TICKETS, TAIWANESE GUN RE-IMPORT

POLICE DOCUMENTATION AND ARE WAITING ON OUR PHILIPPINES GUN IMPORT

PERMITS ALL IN PREPARATION FOR THE WORLD SHOOT 2025… WITH AS MANY

AS EIGHT HUNDRED PRACTITIONERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD SET TO

DESCEND ON THE SMALL ISLAND CITY OF ILOILO IN LATE JULY”



Airsoft Action - July 2025

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