Airsoft Action

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ISSUE 182

ISSN 2634-9515

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8 ARMOURY: CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

Although the big trend seen at the shows so far has been to do with

GBBRs, we kick off 2026 by getting back to airsoft-roots and straight

into some of the latest AEG models to hit the market, and to get things

rolling Bill looks back to just how far industry-veterans CYMA have

come with their AR line-up as he gets under the hood, and sends tracer

BBs downrange, with the CYMA CM.006R 10.5”!

#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 182

ISSN 2634-9515

18 ARMOURY: SILVERBACK AIRSOFT TAC-41 LR

Bruno is back with us again this month with another look at the latest

models shaping the face of airsoft fields around the world, and after

spending some time on the “tech” side of things he’s got back in-game

and back on the range with a longer-range option from Silverback

Airsoft… bring on the TAC-41!

Web: www.airsoftaction.net

©Calibre Publishing Limited 2025

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

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted

in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording or otherwise without the

express permission of the publisher in writing. The

opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those

of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit

submissions prior to publication.

26 ARMOURY: DOUBLE EAGLE M914A AEG

For the last year and a half Bill has been working up, and working on

his GHM9 Gen II from Lamda Defense and it has become one of his

favourite CQB tools. As we all know an SMG, especially a GBB version,

is not the ideal tool for all eventualities or scenarios so he’s been

searching for something to fit a wider, more generalised role… and he

finally believes he’s found it in the form of the DOUBLE EAGLE M914A!

IMAGE COURTESY OF KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY

Find us on our Socials...

34 ARMOURY: PROJECT STACATTO PIII

As we head into a New Year and SHOT Show beckons Boycie is looking

forward to hooking up with our “real steel” friends in the USA… and

to again meeting the man that created his new carry setup for the

STACATTO P! This month he gets together with another old mate, John

from SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL to highlight just what goes into

creating a great holster for an equally great pistol!

04

AIRSOFT ACTION - ISSUE 182

CONTENTS

ISSUE 182

42 TECH: ANGRY GUN CONVERSION PARTS

Among the many, many things seen at MOA EXPO in Taiwan Bill was

very, very taken by the MWS conversion kits offered by airsoft-parts

veterans ANGRY GUN, especially the Knights Armament Company

(KAC) components offered under their licence with EMG which will

allow you to transform a TM donor into a fully-realised KS-1… and much

more besides!

50 THE AA CELL: BEST RIFLES OF 2025

It’s a whole new year, and as we prepare for new AEG and GBBR

releases, new technology, and new directions it’s time to look at, in our

opinion of course, what have been the best “longs” of 2025! AIRSOFT

ACTION, and particularly the members of THE CELL, are always on top

of things as they happen, but what are their top picks of the last twelve

months?

62 GEAR: ALTAMA OTB MARITIME LONG-TERM REVIEW

Never let it be said that the AA Crew don’t test their gear “long-term” -

and it’s something that we pride ourselves on doing! As “airsoft trends”

come and go there are some items that reside in our gear lockers for

a reason, and after years of use and abuse Dan returns to his ALTAMA

MARITIME footwear models to see how they’ve stacked up!

70 AA LEGION: USA

Once again Matt rejoins us with his MilSim tales from American shores

that show just how similar, yet different, this style of airsoft is in the

USA, and just how much effort goes in to running a flagship event of

this type. In his usual style he takes us all deep into the action (and the

psyche!) during American Milsim’s (AMS) “Eastern Front”!

80 AA LEGION: TAIWAN

Stewbacca has been getting thoroughly back into the fold on the

skirmish shooting front, and with POLK 5 being held earlier in the year

than usual in 2025, the team Taiji MilSim swapped places with it and

occurred on the first weekend of November, returning to the beachside

playing area of Qiding on the West coast of Taiwan; SO how did things

shake out?

90 AA LEGION: PORTUGAL

Back in 2024 Bill joined Miguel in Portugal for the first-ever AIRSOFT

EXPO and what an event that turned out to be, a scene-setter for just

what a national airsoft community could do when they all pull together!

After the success of that event 2025 proved to be even bigger and

better, and jnow Miguel and the crew tell more…

www.airsoftaction.net 05

CLICK/TAP ON IMAGES OR LOGOS TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

LIGHT ‘EM UP!

ALTHOUGH THE BIG TREND SEEN AT THE SHOWS SO FAR HAS BEEN TO DO WITH

GBBRS, WE KICK OFF 2026 BY GETTING BACK TO AIRSOFT-ROOTS AND STRAIGHT

INTO SOME OF THE LATEST AEG MODELS TO HIT THE MARKET, AND TO GET

THINGS ROLLING BILL LOOKS BACK TO JUST HOW FAR INDUSTRY-VETERANS

CYMA HAVE COME WITH THEIR AR LINE-UP AS HE GETS UNDER THE HOOD, AND

SENDS TRACER BBS DOWNRANGE, WITH THE CYMA CM.006R 10.5”!

8


ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

Over the past couple of years I’ve had

some brilliant and thoroughly consistent

results with the CYMA “09” series of AR

AEGs, and they’ve proved absolute workhorses

whilst at the same time delivering excellent

range and accuracy… and not breaking the bank

while doing so. CYMA have been producing AEGs

for as long as I can remember, and could be

rightly classed as one of the industry “veterans”.

CYMA have been around it seems to me...

forever and a day!

Recently my personal view on CYMA has

changed quite dramatically, and I’ve been

hugely impressed with their AK AEGs since they

released the 040 series; yes, they still make the

original 028 series of AKs and they are still cheap

as chips (under UK£80 for an AEG!), but for me

the 040 series really put them in a very different

place. I’ve been using on and off an externally

upgraded 070 series AK for a while now, and

it’s a super little AEG that often gives rise to

comment as it performs beautifully. On the

“OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS I’VE HAD SOME BRILLIANT AND THOROUGHLY

CONSISTENT RESULTS WITH THE CYMA “09” SERIES OF AR AEGS, AND THEY’VE

PROVED ABSOLUTE WORKHORSES WHILST AT THE SAME TIME DELIVERING

EXCELLENT RANGE AND ACCURACY… AND NOT BREAKING THE BANK WHILE DOING

SO”


ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

strength of this I got myself an 077A AK, and then

a 040I Tactical model to use as a project base,

and these too have been wonderful.

After having such positive experiences with

the CYMA AK family, when they dropped a new

line of AR-style AEGs back in 2018/19 I was very

interested to see where they were taking things,

and I got myself one of the then-new “097 556”

carbines to try out, followed by the “098 762”

variant… and I’ve been battering them ever since!

The “09” series of AEGs was created as the

result of a long cooperation between CYMA and

TAIWANGUN.COM, and these carbines and rifles

were produced to a different specification than

those that preceded them. The lower receiver, the

upper receiver, the stock tube, the external barrel,

the fire selector, the magazine release button, the

trigger, the charging handle, and the front and rear

sight were all made in high-grade alloy rather than

plastic-fantastic, which immediately made them

feel stronger and more realistic.

The “09s” also came in a new “E-EDITION &

HIGH-SPEED” configuration that in combination

with a LiPo battery achieved an as-standard ROF

around 25rps and a really fast trigger response.

After much (MUCH!) testing I can tell you that this

is 100% true, and this seems to be largely down

to gearbox parts that offered increased durability,

such as a reinforced V2 gearbox frame with quick

spring change system, a polycarbonate piston

with steel teeth, a CNC machined steel gear set

(ratio: 13:1), 8mm bearings, a CNC machined

aluminium silent cylinder and piston head set

(ball bearing piston head, double o-ring cylinder

head), and a high-speed motor. There was even a

processor unit with built-in MOSFET system!

The 098A I got next was the then-new

“E-EDITION” configuration too with a stock

velocity of around 410fps , and this came with

a processor unit with built-in MOSFET system

although I’ve largely left that alone. I wasn’t

sure what to expect straight from the box, but I

now rate this rifle as one of my all-time favourite

ARs; my 098A chronos consistently at 1.57

Joule/412fps on a .20g, although I mostly use

.30g in it and with that weight of BB I get superb

accuracy and solid range. The only thing, which

I noted at the time was that the 098A is clearly

marked as “Safe/Semi” only, but with a little effort

it was possible to move the selector all the way

onto “Full”, which was a problem as this put it

into “over the limit” and “on the edge of UK Illegal”

territory. Once I’d carried out my initial shoot test

it was off to the workshop where Marcus simply

placed a permanent pin into the lower for me, to

ensure that there was physically no way that this

AEG could be used in anything other than “Safe/

Semi”! It’s a simple fix for any good airsoft tech to

“THE LATEST SERIES HAS MOVED FORWARD ONCE MORE, AND I’VE BEEN HAVING

GREAT FUN ON CLEAR, COLD, AND CRISP DAYS OVER THE LEAD-UP-TO AND

CHRISTMAS PERIOD WITH THE 10.5” M-LOK CM.006R, ANOTHER MODEL FROM THE

CYMA PLATINUM LINE THAT NOW OFFERS A BUILT-IN MOSFET AND TRACER HOP-UP

AS STANDARD!”

10


ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

carry out, and makes it very obvious on site that

the 098A is a semi-only DMR.

After extensive use the “09” series really

cemented their place in my heart, it appears that

CYMA are keen to move things on yet again! The

latest series has moved forward once more, and

I’ve been having great fun on clear, cold, and crisp

days over the lead-up-to and Christmas period

with the 10.5” M-LOK CM.006R, another model

from the CYMA PLATINUM line that now offers a

built-in Mosfet AND Tracer Hop-Up as standard!

The “official spiel” tells me that the CM.006R

offers:

• “Precision Performance: Equipped with

a precision CNC machined slim M-LOK

handguard, this rifle offers an array of

mounting points at 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11

o’clock positions, allowing you to customize

your loadout with ease. Attach accessories,

grips, and more for the perfect setup

tailored to your needs.

• “Firepower and Control: The CYMA

Platinum M4 features a TM-compatible Ver.

2 metal gearbox with a built-in MOSFET.

This means you’ll experience consistent,

high-powered shots with improved trigger

response. Whether you prefer semi-auto

precision or full-auto mayhem, this rifle

delivers.

• “Optics and Accessories: With a full-length

Picatinny top rail, you have the freedom

to mount optics and accessories with

confidence, ensuring your aim is always

true.

• “Comfort and Adaptability: The adjustable

SOPMOD style stock ensures that this rifle

is comfortable for shooters of all sizes, and

its low-profile flip-up front and rear sights

make target acquisition a breeze.

• “Total Control, No Matter Your Dominant

Hand: The CYMA Platinum M4 is designed

for ambidextrous use, featuring fire

selector, magazine release, and bolt stop

controls that cater to both left and righthanded

operators.

• “Tracer Technology: What sets this rifle

apart is the built-in tracer hop-up unit,

allowing you to illuminate your BBs for an

eye-catching and tactical advantage during

night games. The tracer system in the CYMA

CM.006R airsoft rifle is a built-in tracer

hop-up unit that uses ultraviolet (UV) lights

to charge special phosphor-coated BBs as

they are fired.”

This all sounds to be quite to move forward on

a platform-base that was already pretty darn fine,

and everything in the new model continues with

the high-standard previously illustrated in the

“WITH AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 750MM/832MM AND WEIGHING IN AT 2580G

THE CM.006R 10.5”IS A GREAT, MODERN-LOOKING LITTLE AR THAT’S EASY TO

MANIPULATE AND CARRY ALL-DAY-LONG, AND THINGS START TO STACK UP IN ITS

FAVOUR VERY QUICKLY INDEED!”


ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

“09s”. With an overall length of

750mm/832mm and weighing

in at 2580g the CM.006R

10.5”is a great, modernlooking

little AR that’s easy to

manipulate and carry all-daylong,

and things start to stack

up in its favour very quickly

indeed!

QUALITY BUILD

The new line of carbines are

put together solidly with a

high-quality alloy receiver set

featuring a weather-resistant

matte black finish, so not

only do they immediately look

good, but they should also be

durable.

The new models also have a

precision CNC machined free

float slim M-LOK handguard

(length varying by exact model,

in my case 10.5”), so you really

can very easily overload it

to your heart’s content with

kinds of gucci accessories,

and the full-length picatinny

top-rail just adds to this space.

An ergonomic pistol grip and

adjustable SOPMOD-style

stock (which provides ample

battery space for a Deans/T-

Plug-connected LiPo stick in

the buffer tube) ensures that

this carbine is comfortable for

players no matter their stature,

and its low-profile flip-up front

and rear sights make target

acquisition a breeze…. and I

REALLY like the CYMA flip-ups I

“INTERNALLY THERE’S AN UNREMARKABLE YET SERVICEABLE LONG-TYPE MOTOR TO

POWER THINGS ALONG, AND A TM-COMPATIBLE V2 METAL GEARBOX WITH A BUILT-

IN MOSFET PROVIDING SHOT-TO-SHOT CONSISTENCY, WITH AN AGAIN-IMPROVED

TRIGGER RESPONSE; WHETHER YOU PREFER SEMI-AUTO CONTROL OR FULL-AUTO

LUNACY, THE NEW ARS SHOULD DELIVER”

12


ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

have to say!

The new CYMA is designed for ambidextrous

use, and has fire selector, magazine release bolt

stop controls, and even QD sling-points that cater

to both left and right-handed shooters.

Internally there’s an unremarkable yet

serviceable long-type motor to power things

along, and a TM-compatible V2 metal gearbox

with a built-in MOSFET providing shot-to-shot

consistency, with an again-improved trigger

response; whether you prefer semi-auto control

or full-auto lunacy, the new ARs should deliver.

So far so good as the CM.006R lives up to the

look, feel, finish, and component quality of those

“09s”, but this time we get even more with the

built-in Hop-Up Tracer Unit! This is an obvious

addition as you can see the electrics just ahead

of the rotary hop-wheel when you open the dust

cover… it’s not rocket science as Hop-Up Tracer

Units have been “a thing” for some considerable

time as an after-purchase tech job, but I have to

say that everything is very neatly and tidily put

together so that the CYMA comes with this prefitted

which to me just brings extra value for the

player.

It’s not a hard thing

to explain for those that

haven’t come across this

setup before, and the

system simply requires the

use of dedicated tracer

BBs as you would expect

with any other tracer unit.

When you fire the carbine, a

sensor inside the integrated

hop-up unit detects the

passing BB, and that sensor

triggers a rapid flash of

intense UV light (LEDs)

inside the unit. This light

“charges” the phosphor

coating on the surface of the

BB, and the now-charged BB exits the barrel and

glows brightly, creating a visible, streaking effect

in low-light conditions, similar to real-world tracer

rounds.

Now many of you will be conversant with

muzzle-fitted tracer units, and there are some

very cool ones out there to add to the sharp-end

of your AEG, with even more to come this year!

However, the CM.006R’s system is integrated

into the hop-up unit itself, meaning it doesn’t

add extra length or weight to the outer barrel

of the rifle, or mean that you have to lose the

cool muzzle device that CYMA fit. The unit is

also powered by the main AEG battery, so no

separate batteries are needed for it, and there

is a dedicated on/off slider switch for the tracer

function, located under the dust cover on top of

the obvious electronic chip, allowing you to use

it only when desired. Unlike some external tracer

units, the built-in unit doesn’t have constant

flashing lights to determine on/off status, so it

flashes only when the trigger is pulled and a BB

flies, which can be massively useful for afterdark-play…

“THE CYMA TRACER UNIT REALLY IS VERY GOOD DUE TO ITS INTEGRATED DESIGN,

WHICH ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR AN EXTERNAL TRACER UNIT AND A SEPARATE

BATTERY, KEEPING EVERYTHING SLICK AND SIMPLE. OBVIOUSLY THIS GIVES YOU THE

OPTION TO ENHANCE YOUR NIGHT GAMEPLAY WITHOUT ADDING ANYTHING TO YOUR

EXISTING DAYTIME SETUP”


ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

The CYMA tracer unit really is very good due to

its integrated design, which eliminates the need

for an external tracer unit and a separate battery,

keeping everything slick and simple. Obviously

this gives you the option to enhance your night

gameplay without adding anything to your existing

daytime setup.

Overall, if you want a built-in tracer that doesn’t

add extra bulk or require a separate battery,

the CM.006R is a great option; it’s a unique

feature that should enhance any night-game for

players who want to keep their setup clean and

streamlined. The only potential downside I can

see is that since the tracer unit is integrated, it

may require more specialised care or be more

difficult to repair compared to a standard external

model, but a good tech should be able to look

after this for at service-time.

DOWNRANGE

In terms of performance I was keen to see what

the CM.006R was capable of straight from the

box given my previous positive experiences with

more-recent CYMA ARs, and I was genuinely

pleased yet again when I got onto the woods

range… even if it was cold, darn cold!

The 10.5” model I received for testing came in

at 1.07 Joule/340fps on a .20g and this remained

pretty constant through my range sessions.

As I’m a midcap player I was delighted with the

150BB metal STANAG-style model as standard,

and this fed flawlessly throughout testing; I did

test the CYMA on all my usual AR mags, both

STANAG and other, and I’m also pleased to tell

you that these all fed perfectly too. Moving up

to .28g BBs, in terms of hitting the steels at 30m

things were great with just the flip-ups, and

I’m certain this will improve further once the

CM.006R has had time to bed in properly. As I

prefer to shoot on semi-auto the trigger response

is indeed super-crisp which is perfect, but I did

note that on full-auto the ROF has indeed climbed

just slightly from that of the “09’s” as I registered

28 RPS as opposed to 25… not too shabby for you

“spray and prayers” out there...

Taking another couple of magazines and

loading one up with red tracer BBs, and another

with green, I waited until dusk (even colder!) to

see how the on-board unit would perform. I have

to say that I do love a tracer unit for night games,

even when the “NODS-brigade” are out; if you’re

properly hunkered down in an ambush position

and they moon-walk into your killzone then

there’s no better feeling than literally lighting up

BLUFOR, and the CYMA unit certainly delivers on

that front, brightly illuminating both red and green

tracers as well as most muzzle-mounted units.

So, overall another win and another step

forward for CYMA, who let’s face it these days are

known for commitment to higher quality; this neat

little carbine appears to be no exception, and the

truth is that the days of “CYMA old” are behind

us, and the fact is that you can now be investing

in a trusted brand with a reputation for both

performance and durability as the “09s” have

shown. As a part of the CYMA Platinum M4 series

I have to say that the CYMA CM.006R wins for me

again with its exceptional value and numerous

performance features.

It just goes to prove that we really do need

to put the past behind us and look at what is in

the here and now. At the end of the day this is

a carbine that you can currently buy for around

the UK300-mark that looks utterly superb, feels

as solid as a rock, and is more (way more!) than

adequate in terms of performance. If you’re in

need of a new AR, and most certainly if your enjoy

night games, then the CYMA CM.006R is most

definitely worth a look!

My thanks go to www.iwholesales.biz for

providing the test sample, and please do go and

check out what they have that’s available via their

extensive retail partners… which is A LOT! AA

“IF YOU’RE PROPERLY HUNKERED DOWN IN AN AMBUSH POSITION AND THEY MOON-

WALK INTO YOUR KILLZONE THEN THERE’S NO BETTER FEELING THAN LITERALLY

LIGHTING UP BLUFOR, AND THE CYMA UNIT CERTAINLY DELIVERS ON THAT FRONT,

BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATING BOTH RED AND GREEN TRACERS AS WELL AS MOST

MUZZLE-MOUNTED UNITS”

14


ARMOURY

CYMA CM.006R 10.5”

“SO, OVERALL ANOTHER WIN AND ANOTHER STEP FORWARD FOR CYMA, WHO LET’S

FACE IT THESE DAYS ARE KNOWN FOR COMMITMENT TO HIGHER QUALITY; THIS NEAT

LITTLE CARBINE APPEARS TO BE NO EXCEPTION, AND THE TRUTH IS THAT THE DAYS

OF “CYMA OLD” ARE BEHIND US”


ARMOURY

SILVERBACK AIRSOFT TAC-41 LR

TAC DRIVER

BRUNO IS BACK WITH US AGAIN THIS MONTH WITH ANOTHER LOOK AT THE

LATEST MODELS SHAPING THE FACE OF AIRSOFT FIELDS AROUND THE WORLD,

AND AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME ON THE “TECH” SIDE OF THINGS HE’S GOT

BACK IN-GAME AND BACK ON THE RANGE WITH A LONGER-RANGE OPTION FROM

SILVERBACK AIRSOFT… BRING ON THE TAC-41!

18


ARMOURY


For over a decade, the landscape of highperformance

airsoft sniping has been

fundamentally shaped by a few key

innovators. Among them, Silverback Airsoft

stands out not just as a manufacturer, but as a

driving force behind the sport’s most significant

advancements. Born from a dedication to

precision and durability, their latest platform,

the TAC-41 LR (Lite Chassis, Recon Stock),

represents the culmination of years of experience

and a bold commitment to redefine what a

modern airsoft bolt-action rifle can be.

This article and review explores the history

of Silverback Airsoft, the foundational design

philosophy that led to the TAC-41 LR, and the

specific engineering choices that have cemented

its status as a must-have rifle for the serious

airsoft sniper.

The Silverback story begins with a clear, laserfocused

mission, established at its inception. It’s

a company built from the ground up by players

who understand the demands of the field.

“Established in 2008 by airsoft addicts and

serious wargamers in Hong Kong, our goal is

to better serve our fellow mates in this unique

sport with the most innovative and high quality

products that one will require in any airsoft fields

situation.”

This philosophy, innovation and quality driven

by the players themselves, is the blueprint

for every product that leaves their facilities.

Operating out of Hong Kong, a global nexus

for airsoft and manufacturing excellence,

Silverback positioned itself to swiftly identify

emerging needs within the community and

respond with technically superior solutions.

Their early success with highly realistic and

high-performance rifles demonstrated a mastery

of combining mechanical reliability with sleek,

functional design.

The core challenge for any high-end airsoft

manufacturer is bridging the gap between milspec

durability and the unique requirements

of the airsoft mechanism. For Silverback, this

“SILVERBACK POSITIONED ITSELF TO SWIFTLY IDENTIFY EMERGING NEEDS WITHIN

THE COMMUNITY AND RESPOND WITH TECHNICALLY SUPERIOR SOLUTIONS… WITH

HIGHLY REALISTIC AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE RIFLES DEMONSTRATED A MASTERY OF

COMBINING MECHANICAL RELIABILITY WITH SLEEK, FUNCTIONAL DESIGN”


ARMOURY


has always meant utilizing premium materials

like CNC-machined aluminum and high-fiber

reinforced polymers, and designing systems that

prioritize consistency and user-friendliness. This

foundational commitment to excellence provided

the perfect backdrop for their next great leap…

the creation of the TAC-41 platform.

TAKING IT TAC

The reason I delve into the details of Silverback

Airsoft today is to examine the rifle that

has become a phenomenon in the sniping

community… the TAC-41 LR. This rifle is not just

an iteration on an existing design, it is a fullscale

architectural overhaul, driven by the desire

to push past inherent limitations of historical

platforms.

The story of the TAC-41’s creation is a

fascinating case study in design evolution, as

revealed by a member of the Silverback team:

“So back in 2019, we’re sitting around, throwing

ideas. We were deep into Desert Tech replicas,

SRS starting to be very popular among the Airsoft

Sniper community. Good stuff it is, but we start

thinking that maybe we could develop our own

take on the VSR-10 and make it better. The original

VSR-10 is a wonderfully designed platform for the

purpose it was serving: an airsoft bolt action rifle

designed to fit Japanese market legal limitations

in terms of muzzle energy and materials used for

imitation firearms. But for other places, where you

can push more power, it’s like… not enough, you

know?”

This observation identifies a critical global

divergence in airsoft; the VSR-10, while iconic,

was fundamentally constrained by its original

purpose. While it served as a robust, upgradeable

foundation, trying to push its performance to

“THIS DECISION TO ABANDON THE INDUSTRY STANDARD OF VSR-10 COMPATIBILITY

AND COMMIT FULLY TO A PROPRIETARY SYSTEM WAS AUDACIOUS. IT REQUIRED

SILVERBACK TO DESIGN, MANUFACTURE, AND SUPPORT AN ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM OF

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTS”

20


ARMOURY


modern global standards (where muzzle energies

are significantly higher) exposed its structural

weaknesses and mechanical inefficiencies.

“We talk about upgrading the VSR-10, keeping

it compatible so it works with original parts.

But problem is, we hit a limit. You get some

improvement, okay, but not the big jump we

want for performance, for durability. And the

cost? It starts going up, too much. So, after much

reflection, we decided to give up on the VSR-10

architecture all together. Let’s build our own thing,

from scratch.”

This decision to abandon the industry standard

of VSR-10 compatibility and commit fully to a

proprietary system was audacious. It required

Silverback to design, manufacture, and support

an entire ecosystem of internal and external

parts. However, it was the only way to achieve the

quantum leap in performance and reliability the

team desired.

“We took what we learned from the SRS, kept

the 41cc air volume in the bolt, nice and solid.

We made a trigger box, super strong, like a real

gun. Added a TDC hop-up, quick-change barrel,

so you can tweak it easily. That’s the TAC-41,

classic look, but our way. It was a big risk, going

all proprietary like that. We put in a lot—parts,

accessories—so players can make it their own.

Four years later, we’re so glad we took the bet.

The TAC-41, it’s a performer. People love it. We

added more things—new barrels, chassis, stocks,

all kinds of upgrades. The line, it’s grown big now,

and we’re not done. More stuff is coming, you’ll

see.”

This quote perfectly encapsulates the TAC-

41 philosophy; maximal performance through

proprietary, purpose-built architecture. The

legacy of their successful SRS-A1/A2 line,

specifically the emphasis on a high-volume

cylinder, was directly ported over, resulting in a

system engineered to handle high-power setups

reliably and efficiently.

ENGINEERING THE NEXT GEN

The TAC-41 LR (Lite Chassis, Recon Stock) is

a symphony of purpose-built components,

resulting in a rifle that is both lightweight (only 2.5

kg with magazine) and ruggedly over-engineered

where it counts. Its total length ranges from

936mm to 966mm, folding down to a compact

678mm.

The powerplant offers 41 cubic centimeters of

consistency, and at the core of the TAC-41’s

exceptional performance is its unique bolt

system.

• Bolt Usable Volume: The rifle utilizes an

impressive 41 cc of usable air volume. This

high volume is critical for efficiently propelling

heavy BBs down the 330mm, 6.05 brass AEGtype

inner barrel while maintaining extreme

shot-to-shot consistency (low FPS variance).

• Premium Materials: Durability is ensured by

the stainless steel cylinder featuring a PVD

coating (Aluminium Titanium Nitride Physical

Vapor Deposition). This coating dramatically

reduces friction, resulting in a bolt pull

that is both smooth and highly resistant to

wear. The system includes a quick-change

bolt mechanism for easy spring swaps and

maintenance.

• Trigger Group: The performance is backed

by a robust trigger unit featuring a stainless

steel trigger box, piston sear, and spring guide

stopper. The 90° piston sear slides on two

ball bearings, which is the mechanical source

of the rifle’s buttery-smooth cycling, even

under heavy spring loads. The trigger itself

offers dual-stage adjustment and preload

adjustment for a perfectly customized break

At the heart of accuracy is the TDC Hop-Up

system; precision airsoft sniping relies entirely

on the hop-up unit’s ability to apply consistent,

repeatable backspin. Silverback addressed this

with a high-end, purpose-built system.

“AT THE HEART OF ACCURACY IS THE TDC HOP-UP SYSTEM; PRECISION AIRSOFT

SNIPING RELIES ENTIRELY ON THE HOP-UP UNIT’S ABILITY TO APPLY CONSISTENT,

REPEATABLE BACKSPIN. SILVERBACK ADDRESSED THIS WITH A HIGH-END, PURPOSE-

BUILT SYSTEM”


ARMOURY


• CNC

Aluminum TDC

Design: The hop-up chamber is a CNCmachined

aluminum body featuring a TDC

(Top-Dead-Center) design. This ensures

the pressure is applied perfectly vertically,

minimizing the chance of side-spin and

maximizing consistency.

• Micro-Adjustment: The TAC-41 allows for

micro-adjustments with 50

• Unique Feeding: The rifle uses a unique

system combining a 48 BB magazine with

a 20 BB feeding ramp buffer, providing high

capacity and reliable feeding, complete

to clear the

with a quick-release button

feeding tube.

indexed

positions,

each moving the hop- up arm by a

precise 15 µm (micrometers). This extreme

level of fine-tuning allows the sniper to dial

in the perfect trajectory for any BB weight or

environmental condition.

• Compatibility and Reliability: The unit is

compatible with common AEG-style hop-up

rubbers (it comes stock with a 60° rubber)

and includes an anti-double-feed system,

ensuring reliable loading.

The TAC-41 LR model features the Lite Chassis

made from fiberglass-reinforced nylon and the

PA6 polymer Recon Stock, providing a balance of

lightweight construction and stability.

• Ambidextrous Design: The rifle is a true

modern platform, featuring an ambidextrous

mag catch, safety, and hop-up adjustment,

with a reversible bolt handle and hinge.

• Tactical Flexibility: The chassis includes

multiple M-LOK slots (three on each side, two

underneath) and QD sling points. The CNC

Aluminium receiver is topped with a high

Picatinny rail for comfortable scope mounting.

STURDY AND SMOOTH

The technical specifications of the TAC-41

LR translate directly into an exceptional user

experience, one that is often described in terms

of raw mechanical satisfaction and reliability.

For those who have fielded the rifle, the

feedback is overwhelmingly positive, centered on

the rifle’s tactile qualities:

“This replica is amazing to use, the bolt is

smooth and it feels super sturdy!”

• The “Smooth Bolt”: This is the direct

result of the PVD cylinder and ball-bearing

equipped sear, allowing for faster cycling

and reducing shooter fatigue. A smooth

bolt pull means maintaining sight picture

and focus is easier, leading to better overall

accuracy and speed.

• “Super Sturdy” Feel: The sturdy feeling

comes from the high-quality CNC

Aluminium receiver and the reinforced

polymer chassis, which virtually eliminates

flex and creaks. This provides a rock-solid

platform for optics, ensuring the sniper

maintains zero and has confidence in the

“THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE TAC-41 LR TRANSLATE DIRECTLY INTO AN

EXCEPTIONAL USER EXPERIENCE, ONE THAT IS OFTEN DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF RAW

MECHANICAL SATISFACTION AND RELIABILITY. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FIELDED THE

RIFLE, THE FEEDBACK IS OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE”

22


ARMOURY


system under harsh field conditions.

• The Amazing Usability: The high-volume

air system provides the consistent velocity;

the TDC hop-up allows for perfect, toolless

dialing; and the adjustable, ergonomic

Recon stock ensures a comfortable, stable

shooting position. The ability to fold the

stock and quickly change the barrel adds

to the rifle’s overall utility and ease of

transport.

The Silverback Airsoft TAC-41 LR is therefore

more than just a successful product, it is a

tangible representation of the company’s original

goal to deliver the most innovative and highestquality

products to serious wargamers. By

bravely casting aside the constraints of legacy

platforms and leveraging their experience from

the celebrated SRS line, Silverback has created a

rifle that sets a new industry benchmark.

The TAC-41 LR, with its 41cc air volume, microadjustable

TDC hop-up, and highly durable,

ambidextrous chassis, proves that taking the

risk of going proprietary can yield extraordinary

results.

It confirms that the path to true innovation in

airsoft often requires building a new architecture

from the ground up. As the team member

promised, the TAC-41 line is already “grown big”

and with the promise of “more stuff coming”

Silverback Airsoft continues to lead the charge,

ensuring that the next generation of airsoft

snipers are equipped with nothing less than

world-class precision. AA

“BY BRAVELY CASTING ASIDE THE CONSTRAINTS OF LEGACY PLATFORMS AND

LEVERAGING THEIR EXPERIENCE FROM THE CELEBRATED SRS LINE, SILVERBACK HAS

CREATED A RIFLE THAT SETS A NEW INDUSTRY BENCHMARK”


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

ARMOURY

DOUBLE EAGLE M914A AEG

SPECIAL

PURPOSE

26


ARMOURY


FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF BILL HAS BEEN WORKING UP, AND WORKING

ON HIS GHM9 GEN II FROM LAMDA DEFENSE AND IT HAS BECOME ONE OF HIS

FAVOURITE CQB TOOLS; HOWEVER, AS WE ALL KNOW AN SMG, ESPECIALLY A GBB

VERSION, IS NOT THE IDEAL TOOL FOR ALL EVENTUALITIES OR SCENARIOS SO HE’S

BEEN SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING TO FIT A WIDER, MORE GENERALISED ROLE…

AND HE FINALLY BELIEVES HE’S FOUND IT IN THE FORM OF THE DOUBLE EAGLE

M914A!

So, the GHM9, what’s not to love? It has

proved to be an absolutely splendid little

GBBR, and now that I have it settled-in and

set-up it’s an absolute pleasure to own and run,

and it’s one of the models that sits full-time on

the office wall as I just love the look of it.

I’ll say straight away that it’s not going to please

everyone aesthetically as B&T firearms could

best be described as “blocky and functional”,

but despite this the ergonomics are absolutely

spot on, and manipulation is straightforward in all

settings. B&T favour a fully modular approach to

the firearms, and say themselves;

“A standard or generic service weapon is no

longer demanded by police, militaries and special

operations groups. In these days of specialization,

one size does not fit all. It has been replaced by

weapons systems as are more tailored to the

specific missions and even to specific operators.

”

“I’LL SAY STRAIGHT AWAY THAT IT’S NOT GOING TO PLEASE EVERYONE

AESTHETICALLY AS B&T FIREARMS COULD BEST BE DESCRIBED AS “BLOCKY AND

FUNCTIONAL”, BUT DESPITE THIS THE ERGONOMICS ARE ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON, AND

MANIPULATION IS STRAIGHTFORWARD IN ALL SETTINGS”


ARMOURY


And this is totally true. Of course the GHM9

is a great replica of the real B&T APC9, and with

a whole host of dedicated accessories you can

build it up just as you want it. Mine is now a longer

SD version with the longer barrel and handguard,

but I’ve retained the sliding stock as it’s actually

one of the very few that accommodates my

“positive ape index” (look it up!) and is a super

option for physically bigger players that still want

a small, compact SMG.

But for a couple of reasons the GHM9 doesn’t

tick all of my boxes all of the time (although it’s

close!) as it’s a pretty “task-oriented” platform

that I’ve configured to be superb in a CQB/urban

setting but may lack the true legs for “greenside

ops”. It is, of course, also a GBBR and even

though I can pick and choose the gasses I run

through it year-round, sometimes the utility of an

AEG is unquestionable.

There’s the question of mag compatibility and

the sheer eye-watering price of setting a up a full

combat load of additional gas magazines to take

into account; I already own boxes full of “5.56”

AEG mags so being able to use some of those

rather than dedicated gas mags is a serious cost

consideration!

Given that I do like the design and ergonomic

aspects of the GHM9 I wanted to add an

additional platform for the same “B&T ecosystem”

for woodland use, preferably a longer rifle but

benefitting from some of the design elements,

especially the sliding stock. As I already had the

GBBR I also wanted to head down the AEG route

for ease, with “5.56” compatibility so that I could

make use of my existing mags.

After checking out the real B&T website I came

upon the APC556 which appeared to fit the bill

(quite literally, the Bill!), as they describe it thus;

“Designed to meet the future needs of Police

and Military forces worldwide, the APC556 is a

rugged but light carbine. It perfectly covers the

demands of urban or rural police work as well as

the challenges the Special Forces operator faces

in today’s asymmetrical conflicts.”

Although there was not an obvious “real” model

with the sliding stock other than a PDW (which

of course would kind of be too similar to the

GHM9), the real APC556 comes in various barrel

lengths, with common options including a 16.5-

inch barrel for civilian rifles (like the PRO model)

and shorter barrels like 222mm (8.7 inches) for

the PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) variant,

plus other lengths like 308mm (12 inches) for

professional users. Looking to the PDW platform

that did indeed feature the sliding stock I wanted,

so marrying two designs from “the real”, the

PDW and the 12-inch barrelled models, gave me

exactly what I was looking for!

TAKING IT ELECTRIC

After a bit of searching around I finally found the

AEG I was looking for in the form of the Double

Eagle M914A, which is basically an APC556 and

a licensed B&T replica to boot, developed in

collaboration with ActionSportGames (ASG).

Not only did it have the design elements I was

looking for, with a solid CNC-machined metal

body, but it also featured the now tried and tested

Falcon EFCS 3.0 system that I, and we, have seen

in other Double Eagle models that we’ve reviewed

positively in the past. With a great ergonomic

design and all the features I wanted, the M914A

AEG with the longer barrel appeared to neatly

cover off my requirements for taking a “B&T” from

CQB scenarios to more wide-open spaces.

Thanks to the lovely folk at iWholesales I was

quickly able to lay my hands on the that exact

AEG, and when it arrived I was pretty darn pleased

with what I found in the box! As I mentioned

earlier the M914A is produced under license

from ActionSportGames (ASG) and Double Eagle

have done a pretty bang-on job of replicating the

functional yet appealing (at least to me!) Swiss

“GIVEN THAT I DO LIKE THE DESIGN AND ERGONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE GHM9 I

WANTED TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL PLATFORM FOR THE SAME “B&T ECOSYSTEM” FOR

WOODLAND USE, PREFERABLY A LONGER RIFLE BUT BENEFITTING FROM SOME OF THE

DESIGN ELEMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE SLIDING STOCK”

28


ARMOURY


“THE TWO PIECE UPPER/HANDGUARD COMBO IS CNC-MACHINED AND LOOKS PRIMO,

AND GIVEN THAT IT’S A METAL CONSTRUCT IT’S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE DURABLE

AND ABLE TO TAKE SOME BATTERING IN-GAME! LIKE THE GHM9 IT APPEARS THAT

THERE MAY BE LONGER HANDGUARD OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE WHICH WOULD MAKE

THINGS EVEN MORE INTERESTING”


ARMOURY


design,

from

trades

and

markings

right

down to

the correct dimensions.

At the sharp end you get a

longer 308mm (12 inch barrel)

which replicates that of one of the real

options with a dedicated muzzle device. The

two piece upper/handguard combo is CNCmachined

and looks primo, and given that it’s a

metal construct it’s definitely going to be durable

and able to take some battering in-game! Like

the GHM9 it appears that there may be longer

handguard options in the future which would

make things even more interesting. The lower,

again true to “the real”, is high-grade polymer with

an integrated pistol grip and trigger-guard… again,

nothing much that can go wrong here!

The top of the replica has a pretty-much fulllength

picatinny rail with factory-mounted front

and rear sights, and is ideal for mounting optics

and LAMs. There’s a 14-slot lower rail and 8-slot

picatinny sections at 6 and 9 for accessories

like taclites and lasers. The three-position

“PDW” stock is almost identical to the one that

I like so much on the “9”, and open or closed

it is absolutely rock-solid. Controls are what

you might expect, and very clearly marked for

fire-mode-selection, and these, along with the

magazine release and charging handle are fully

ambidextrous and extremely easy to use.

Externally the M914A is very, very neatly

finished and I have to say that I believe Double

Eagle have done full credit to the licence

collaboration, but it’s what they bring in addition

internally that really seals the deal as the AEG

benefits from that great Falcon Electronic Fire

Control System (EFCS) 3.0

The Falcon EFCS 3.0 system sits at the heart of

things, and of course it enables full customisation

and personalisation of settings! What’s on offer

is;

• Mode 1: Burst Fire -3 to 6 BBs in AUTO

mode, with AUG Mode option.

• Mode 2: Trigger Sensitivity adjustment —

three levels to set as you like.

• Mode 3: Binary Mode — reacts on trigger

press and release.

• Mode 4: Pre-cocking — preloads the spring

after each shot to minimize trigger response

time.

The M914A is fitted with a V2 gearbox featuring

a quick spring-change system, 18:1 steel gears

mounted on 8mm bearings and a steel cylinder

which ensures smooth operation. A hybrid piston

with a nylon piston head improves sealing, while

a rotary hop-up enables fine levels of adjustment,

resulting in solid range and accuracy. Driven by

a High-Torque 21K motor, the internals deliver a

responsive trigger response and easily-controlled

operation.

There’s also a really neat and decently-sized

stick-style battery compartment at the rear of

the AEG which is accessed via a “trap-door”,

and this leads to really quick and simple fitting

of both 7.4V/11.1V LiPo batteries. It’s so simple

that it would be lightning-fast to change batteries

in-game which is always a bonus, and although

it comes as standard with a Deans/T-plug

connector Double Eagle also include a converter

“WITH A 308MM INNER BARREL THE M914A CAN HOLD ITS OWN AGAINST THE M4

CROWD WITH NO PROBLEM; AT 10M IT HAPPILY EATS UP PAPER TARGETS, AND

PUSHING THINGS OUT TO 30M YOU’LL STILL BE HITTING YOUR STEELS EASILY AND

CONSISTENTLY”

30


ARMOURY


to Tamiya

if that’s what you have on your existing

batteries.

DOWNRANGE

In operation the M914A is a very

smooth rifle; mine came with a super

“B&T-style” trademarked 180 BB

magazine, but if you shop around some

shops are offering this model with two magazines

as standard. I also tried the AEG with a selection

of AR-style magazines and I found that some work

better than others, so do check out if what you

have fits and feeds well.

With the “B&T” magazine filled to capacity it

was off to chrono and I was pleased to see the

M914A put nicely consistent .20g BBs through at

1.05 Joule/337fps. The neat battery compartment

gives more than enough space for an 11.1 LiPo

battery, and using this as a power source gives a

crisp trigger and a very nice rate of fire too.

With a 308mm inner barrel the M914A can hold

its own against the M4 crowd with no problem; at

10m it happily eats up paper targets, and pushing

things out to 30m you’ll still be hitting your steels

easily and consistently. The AEG as I said before

comes with some tidy front and rear flip-up sights

as standard; these are more than adequate but

that massive top rail just cries out for an optic

setup!

The Beretta M914A/APC556 is something

that is a little different and unique, and as it

uses AR-style magazines it’s a model that could

be added to most airsofters armoury quite

straightforwardly; available with black or tan

furniture, it’s priced within the (just) sub-UK£300

mark it’s not going to break the bank either.

In collaboration

with ASG for the B&T

licence, as the spiel goes

“bringing together realism,

advanced electronics,

construction durability and

ergonomics, the Double Eagle

APC556 meets the demands of even the most

demanding players”.

I can’t in any way disagree with this statement

as from what I see there’s an awful lot present

that suggests to me this is a great valuefor-money

AEG, and it performs more than

adequately out of the box… with a very few

choice upgrades the M914A could be made into

a complete tack-driver, and alongside my GHM9

it most certainly gives me all the “B&T” options I

could possibly want!

As always my sincere thanks go to the guys at

www.iwholesales.biz for sending over the M914A

for me to work with. AA

“THERE’S AN AWFUL LOT PRESENT THAT SUGGESTS TO ME THIS IS A GREAT VALUE-

FOR-MONEY AEG, AND IT PERFORMS MORE THAN ADEQUATELY OUT OF THE BOX…

WITH A VERY FEW CHOICE UPGRADES THE M914A COULD BE MADE INTO A COMPLETE

TACK-DRIVER, AND ALONGSIDE MY GHM9 IT MOST CERTAINLY GIVES ME ALL THE

“B&T” OPTIONS I COULD POSSIBLY WANT!”


PRRIIM

OORR

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Ennnnnnnnssssssssuuurrrrrrrreeeeeeeessssssss ssssssssmmmmmooooooooooooooootttttttth ggggeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrbbbooooooooxx ooooooooppppppeeeeeeeerrrrrrrraaaaaaaattttttttiiiiiiiioooooooonnnnnnnn,,,

fffffffaaaaaaaasssssssstttttttt ttttttttrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiggggggggeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr rrrrrrrreeeeeeeessssssssppppppoooooooonnnnnnnnsssssssseeeeeeee,,, aaaaaaaannnnnnnndddddddd eeeeeeeexxtttttttteeeeeeeennnnnnnnddddddddeeeeeeeedddddddd

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Immmmmpppppprrrrrrrroooooooovveeeeeeeedddddddd aaaaaaaaiiiiiiiirrrrrrrr sssssssseeeeeeeeaaaaaaaallll aaaaaaaannnnnnnndddddddd eeeeeeeefffffff fffffffiiiiiiiiccccciiiiiiiieeeeeeeennnnnnnncccccy

fffffffoooooooorrrrrrrr cccccoooooooonnnnnnnnssssssssiiiiiiiisssssssstttttttteeeeeeeennnnnnnntttttttt glc aaaaaaaannnnnnnndddddddd ssssssssuuuppppppeeeeeeeerrrrrrrriiiiiiiiooooooook

ppppppeeeeeeeerrrrrrrr fffffffoooooooorrrrrrrrmmmmmaaaaaaaannnnnnnnccccceeeeeeee....

NN

WANT TO KNOW MORE? TAP OR CLICK THE IMAGE TO FIND OUT!

ARMOURY

PROJECT STACATTO PIII

SAFE CARRY

AS WE HEAD INTO A NEW YEAR AND SHOT SHOW BECKONS BOYCIE IS LOOKING

FORWARD TO HOOKING UP WITH OUR “REAL STEEL” FRIENDS IN THE USA…

AND TO AGAIN MEETING THE MAN THAT CREATED HIS NEW CARRY SETUP FOR

THE STACATTO P! THIS MONTH HE GETS TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER OLD MATE,

JOHN FROM SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL, TO HIGHLIGHT JUST WHAT GOES INTO

CREATING A GREAT HOLSTER FOR AN EQUALLY GREAT PISTOL!

34


ARMOURY


John Philips has been a part of my SHOT Show

experience for the past two years and this

coming January we hit the floors as a duo to

report on all things SHOT Show for Airsoft Action

and also we’ be contributing to our very good

friend and “brother-from-another-mother’s”

publication, Armed Lifestyle Magazine.

2025 has been a busy time for us all and

coming to the end of the year John from Survivor

Creek Tactical (SCT) has already been involved

in our Project Staccato series. This part of the

series will showcase John’s skills with Kydex as

he makes the holsters and mag holders for L’il Stu

and I to hold our Army Armament fully-licensed

Staccato 6mm replicas.

Before we get to the holsters and mag pouches

though, I should give you some background

on John and SCT, his business making Kydex

products for Military, Law Enforcement and

Civilian use, and I’ll put this into a Q&A format for

ease!

SCT Q&A!

AA: Hi John, this seems a bit strange being friends

and now me interviewing you for a feature but

let’s put on a fresh pot of coffee and get down to

it... can you tell me what made you decide to start

making Kydex products?

SCT: Well, what’s the old saying, “necessity is the

mother of invention?” In this case I guess it was

more “inspiration.” I went looking for a holster at

a local shop. I must’ve stopped by there three or

four times. The sticker on the door said it should

been open then, but the door was always locked.

So, that last time, I decided to just go home and

order a “cheap plastic holster” off eBay. At the

time I really had no idea what Kydex even was.

I pull up eBay and start looking around. I keep

seeing sellers in my actual town! So I reached

out to a couple; I figured I could just go pick

one up instead of waiting for shipping. Instant

gratification is practically my mantra Lol.

One guy replied so I went by his place. He was

building them from his garage. He asks me if I

want one that’s already made or if I’d like to see it

made? I’m like, “are you kidding me?” I was raised

a devout DIY’er...

I should also mention that I was seemingly always

looking for something I could do in my free time

to make a little extra spending money. With the

kids in sports and various activities, I was always

thinking how great it would be to have something

to do that would make “my” activities more

financially.... possible. And I had a friend at work

who did boats! I would hear him talk to customers

on the phone, set up appointments to do repairs

or general maintenance after work during the

week or on weekends when he wasn’t traveling. It

really had me on alert.

Next thing I know, I’m sitting there talking with this

guy for an hour or two... Looking at a G42 he had

(really new at the time), and feeling the trigger on

his AR. Great guy. All I can tell you is I had this

“lightbulb moment” that you hear everybody talk

about. I was in my mid-forties and had never

experienced it. It seems like I knew exactly what

was happening.

I start selling hardware to drum up a little capital.

I start thinking of a company name. I hire a lawyer

and do the licensing and paperwork for the LLC.

I’m even drawing logos on napkins. It was a crazy

time!

I’ll never forget sitting at the house having a beer

with my wife and a good buddy. They actually

asked me, point blank, “John, you’ve been putting

a lot of time and money into this.... but don’t you

think you should MAKE a holster before you go

further?” And I remember looking at them and, as

sure as anything I’ve ever known to be true, I told

them “I don’t know how to explain it, I just KNOW I

can. No question about it.”

I cleared out a little spot on the middle of the

garage... enough room for my toaster oven, a

“JOHN FROM SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL (SCT) HAS ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED IN OUR

PROJECT STACCATO SERIES. THIS PART OF THE SERIES WILL SHOWCASE JOHN’S

SKILLS WITH KYDEX AS HE MAKES THE HOLSTERS AND MAG HOLDERS FOR L’IL STU

AND I TO HOLD OUR ARMY ARMAMENT FULLY-LICENSED STACCATO 6MM REPLICAS”


ARMOURY


chair, a Dremel, and a drill, and a pair of tin snips.

I built a book press from a couple scraps of

plywood, some door hinges, and a foot long piece

of 4x4. And, I remember going to Starbucks with

my wife overnight and telling her that I may have

made a small error in judgement. Hahaha!

I had reached out to an admin on a local

2A(Second Amendment) Facebook page to get

added to their list of businesses that offered

discounts to members.

The learning curve went pretty fast after that....

Lol. I was building holsters, taking orders, and

talking to guys in the garage seemingly constantly.

I was working four-tens at my day job and getting

up at 7am the other three days of the week...

going to bed well past midnight the night before

my weeks started all over again. Man it was crazy!

The rest, I suppose, is history… almost 12 years

now.

AA: Is this your only job or a side line to your day

job?

SCT: I’m actually a lineman for a communications

company during the week. These days I do

holsters mainly on weekends.

AA: Where are you based?

SCT: I’m in Northeast Florida (Jacksonville)

AA: Do you have a background in the military or

Law Enforcement?

SCT: I actually don’t have any military or LE

background. My father was retired Navy and even

my little sister became a Marine. I took the test at

the Marine recruiter’s office almost 40 years ago,

but the restaurant I had worked at in high school

asked me to be a manager and I was convinced

I was on the fast track to becoming a business

exec. Lol.

AA: What’s the best compliment you’ve received

about your Kydex work?

SCT: My best compliment was when a guy

asked me to build a holster for his father the first

Christmas....I guess six months after I started

the company. He brought me a picture of his

grandfather sitting on the sofa with a tattoo on his

forearm barely visible.

He said his father always told him that if he ever

got a tattoo, it would be that same image; it was

a hand of cards. He asked me if I could build a

holster with that image on it. He had friends in

the graphics department at a local university who

were able to have the image enhanced enough

to use. I had a company put it on a piece of tan

kydex. I cut it out, tapered the edges, made the

holster out of black kydex and heated the print up

to get the shape. I affixed the image to the front

using PVC cement. Anyway, he said his father...

cried.

Almost 12 years, and that’s the biggest

compliment I think I’ve ever gotten. To this day,

whenever somebody asks me to build something

for their father, it takes me back.

AA: What’s your strength?

SCT: I have spent decades in customer service.

Before I became a lineman I was actually in the

business office. I was an operator before that. I

have learned to listen. That is probably my biggest

strength. Listening.

AA: What makes you feel inspired?

SCT: Honestly, I think my inspiration comes

from my customers. Every time somebody picks

up a rig I’ve spent time building, and they seem

to RADIATE that energy of gratitude.... genuine

appreciation for something I’ve made with my

own two hands....I feel like my little green power

meter recharges and I’m ready to go!

AA: Where do you see Survivor Creek Tactical’s

direction going over the next 5 years?

SCT: I mentioned the 3D printer... Well, I’ve really

enjoyed the reputation I’ve built for building

custom holsters.... holsters you can’t just go

pick up off of a shelf somewhere. The downside

to that has always been the availability of the

firearm to build off of. With such a huge local 2A

community, I typically don’t have any problem

getting something dropped off so I can use it to

“NEXT THING I KNOW, I’M SITTING THERE TALKING WITH THIS GUY FOR AN HOUR

OR TWO... LOOKING AT A G42 HE HAD (REALLY NEW AT THE TIME), AND FEELING THE

TRIGGER ON HIS AR. GREAT GUY. ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS I HAD THIS “LIGHTBULB

MOMENT” THAT YOU HEAR EVERYBODY TALK ABOUT”

36


ARMOURY


form the holsters around. But I always think it

would be so amazing to be able to recreate that

rig for somebody on the other side of the country.

In the next 5 years, my direction is going to be

to get to a point where I can scan a firearm and

create my own molds, so I can do just that. I

want to be able to build a holster just like I built

for a local customer for someone on the other

side of town or the other side of the world... And

not have to worry about fitment, because that

would all have been figured out when the mould

was designed.

AA: Do you play music when you work and if so

what is/are your go to artist(s)?

SCT: Sometimes? Lol. My wife complains that

every time I turn on music in the garage, I end up

down the rabbit hole of 80s ballads. Hahahaha.

I will tell you tho, Toto, Supertramp, Phil Collins,

Boston.... Oh yeah!

AA: Having hung around with the Airsoft Action

crew at previous Shot Shows, what do you like

about airsoft/6mm training platforms?

SCT: I think safety is probably what I like the most

about airsoft. It seems like every time you turn

around you’re hearing that somebody had an ND.

I’m talking about people who KNOW firearms...

PROs! The idea that you can train with such

realistic hardware and limit the inherent dangers

that come with live ammunition is a huge plus in

my book. Nothing will ever replace training with

the real thing, but you can do so much more with

airsoft when you don’t have to worry where a live

bullet might end up.

AA: Quick Fire Question Mag Dump; Favourite

color?

SCT: Blue

AA: Favourite non adult beverage?

SCT: Coca cola, the real thing!

AA: Name three things you cannot do without?

SCT: Sugar, Alcohol, Gasoline (Not necessarily in

that order? Lol)

AA: Window or Aisle seat?

SCT: Window please!

AA: What is in your EDC list?

“HONESTLY, I THINK MY INSPIRATION COMES FROM MY CUSTOMERS. EVERY TIME

SOMEBODY PICKS UP A RIG I’VE SPENT TIME BUILDING, AND THEY SEEM TO RADIATE

THAT ENERGY OF GRATITUDE.... GENUINE APPRECIATION FOR SOMETHING I’VE

MADE WITH MY OWN TWO HANDS....I FEEL LIKE MY LITTLE GREEN POWER METER

RECHARGES AND I’M READY TO GO!”


ARMOURY


SCT: I’m a terrible EDC example, but the Sig

Sauer P365 X Macro Tacops is my current carry. I

also carry a $60 Kershaw. No lights, no Paracord,

no first aid. Like I said ...a terrible EDC example.

AA: Who is your hero?

SCT: My wife

AA: Favorite book/author?

SCT: Lol. The last book I read was probably 30

years ago. John Grisham

AA: Favourite vacation location?

SCT: Lake Lure, NC

AA: What job did you want to do as a kid?

SCT: Fighter Pilot.... But alas... My eyes betrayed

me.

AA: Lots of businesses these days have a mission

statement or similar. What would you say in yours

if you had one?

SCT: I would say that Survivor Creek Tactical

strives to instil and encourage safety and

confidence in firearm carry by offering quality

holsters built specific to the firearm and specific

to the end user. One size....never....fits all.

AA: Now we know more about you and Survivor

Creek Tactical, let’s get into the holsters and mag

pouches that you are making for myself and L’il

Stu.

PROJECT STACATTO FOCUS

When I was planning the holsters I discussed

with L’il Stu that we ought to have something a

little different to the normal colours/patterns

on the Kydex. He loved the idea and so I had a

chat with John and he put me in touch with his

Kydex supplier, Jared who owns H3 Customs in

Murrieta, California.

Within a couple of hours, I had a reply from

Jared and we discussed our requirements. In no

time at all he came back to me with not only a

great suggestion but a graphics mock-up of the

print pattern for our Kydex. I showed L’il Stu and

he loved it also and I went back to H3 and placed

“I WOULD SAY THAT SURVIVOR CREEK TACTICAL STRIVES TO INSTIL AND ENCOURAGE

SAFETY AND CONFIDENCE IN FIREARM CARRY BY OFFERING QUALITY HOLSTERS BUILT

SPECIFIC TO THE FIREARM AND SPECIFIC TO THE END USER. ONE SIZE....NEVER....

FITS ALL.”

38


ARMOURY


the order. Within three days the Kydex had been

printed and shipped out and delivered to Florida,

on the opposite side of the US!

John kept me up to date with each stage of the

construction of the holster and magazine carrier

combo that he was making for me; this style of

build has a two piece design. First we needed to

select a material for the back panel that would go

best with the custom Kydex that was created by

Jared at H3 Customs. We had options of a plain

black backing or John suggested that he had a

couple of sheets of red which might be better. I

agreed with him that the red would complement

the red of the Airsoft Action Red Cell logo that

was on what would be the outer side of the

holster and pouches. As there’s a few hours time

difference between myself and John, he picked

the better red and set to work on the construction

of the holster.

My colleague and our very good friend Trampas

had loaned John his Staccato P to mould from

and John fitted his own Surefire X300U-A to

replicate the setup that I will use.

Next step was to prepare the pistol set up for

the moulding process. John will tell you that the

better the prep, the better the holster. He starts

by covering the pistol in blue tape to prevent

any damage to it, paying extra attention to the

optic. Then it’s a matter of filling in spots like

the ejection port and areas around controls that

might cause problems with retention. With my

setup, he actually had to design a channel for the

light to travel thru similar to building the tunnel for

the front sight.

Prep-work is the most important part of a

holster build, and he says it often takes the most

time, but that it pays off when you take the time

to do it right. He’s likens it to paint work. It can get

tedious. The devil is in the details.

Next, he placed the pistol and the Kydex in a

vacuum press and the two sides of the shell were

created. The next photo I received was of the

moulding process having been completed. After a

while the photo of the holster after being drilled,

riveted and having been through the first of the

finishing stages. Next would be the fitting of the

hardware and final finishing.

The whole process for just the holster took

around three hours to complete. Then there’s the

magazine carriers, which are a little simpler to

mould but still take up to two hours.

I have to say that considering that John is

in Florida and I’m in the UK, the process of

discussion and production has been flawless.

I’m really pleased with the finished holster and

magazine carrier set and so is L’il Stu who has

also asked for a similar set, but for him, without

a light bearing option. By the time you read this,

I will be beginning the journey out to Las Vegas

for Shot Show, where I’ll take delivery of the set.

Once home in the UK I’ll make time to get on

range with L’il Stu, Tim and Steve to have some

practice before hitting a local urban site to play a

day using the rig.

My thanks to Trampas for the loan of his

Staccato, to Jared at H3 Customs (Kydex) for his

assistance in making a unique Kydex print for

us and of course to John, “The King of Kydex”, at

Survivor Creek Tactical for a great product and for

all of his help with this feature. AA

“I HAVE TO SAY THAT CONSIDERING THAT JOHN IS IN FLORIDA AND I’M IN THE UK,

THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSION AND PRODUCTION HAS BEEN FLAWLESS. I’M REALLY

PLEASED WITH THE FINISHED HOLSTER AND MAGAZINE CARRIER SET AND SO IS L’IL

STU”


AIRSOFT TECH

ANGRY GUN CONVERSION PARTS

GET YOUR

BRIT ON!

AMONG THE MANY, MANY THINGS SEEN AT MOA EXPO IN TAIWAN BILL WAS

VERY, VERY TAKEN BY THE MWS CONVERSION KITS OFFERED BY AIRSOFT-PARTS

VETERANS ANGRY GUN, ESPECIALLY THE KNIGHTS ARMAMENT COMPANY (KAC)

COMPONENTS OFFERED UNDER THEIR LICENCE WITH EMG WHICH WILL ALLOW

YOU TO TRANSFORM A TM DONOR INTO A FULLY-REALISED KS-1… AND MUCH

MORE BESIDES!

42


AIRSOFT TECH


Okay, we all know and respect the Tokyo

Marui MWS (Modular Weapon System) as

a highly-efficient gas blowback platform,

also known for its realistic operation, durability

(thanks to the ZET system), and excellent

performance. MWS models are often considered

a benchmark in the airsoft world for their highquality

metal construction, effective gas

efficiency, and compatibility with

real-steel

M4/AR-15

parts,

catalogue from ANGRY GUN!

Most will already know them, but for newer

players and readers ANGRY GUN is a popular

Asian brand in the airsoft world, known for

manufacturing high-quality, custom aftermarket

parts and

accessories,

and the

system

offers up a

series gaspowered

variants that

simulate

real firearm

recoil and

function, making

them popular for

both serious skirmishing,

MilSim-users, and collectors

alike.

But what happens when you

want to recreate a very specific

platform, one that takes a very cool airsoft

platform into the realm of total accuracy

of replication up to and including a living

history/re-enactor standard? Well, one

solution for me would be check out the

latest “2026 Q1 NEW PRODUCTS”

specializing in upgrades for Gas

Blowback (GBB) rifles like the Tokyo Marui MWS

platform, offering enhanced silencers, receivers,

charging handles, and conversion kits to boost

performance and aesthetics for players and

collectors globally.

ANGRY GUN focus on meticulous design,

craftsmanship, and durability for their parts,

ensuring reliability and replication of “the

real”, and as MWS platform experts they are

particularly respected for their extensive range

of upgrades for the TM MWS M4/AR-15 platform,

including full receiver sets and internal parts.

Their full catalogue includes silencers, tracer

units, barrels, rail systems, stocks, charging

handles, HPA parts, and even their own “Angry

Gas” for GBB platforms, and they aim to enhance

not only the look of your beloved GBBR, but also

performance.

They often produce custom parts under

license, adding to their authenticity, and this

was obviously a focus from what I saw when I

was speaking with Director Andy at MOA, and in

essence, the latest offerings from ANGRY GUN

“WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WANT TO RECREATE A VERY SPECIFIC PLATFORM, ONE

THAT TAKES A VERY COOL AIRSOFT PLATFORM INTO THE REALM OF TOTAL ACCURACY

OF REPLICATION… WELL, ONE SOLUTION FOR ME WOULD BE CHECK OUT THE LATEST

“2026 Q1 NEW PRODUCTS” CATALOGUE FROM ANGRY GUN!”


AIRSOFT TECH


will provide serious airsoft players with premium

upgrades to customize and enhance their

replicas, especially with the licence agreement

now in place with EMG for Knights Armament

Company (KAC) components!

CURRENT DAY COOL

This, of course, is massively important to UK

players or those who wish to create a current-day

UK Forces loadout based around the MWS

platform, as among the

KAC parts list is a fullspectrum

conversion kit

to create a KS-

1, or L403A1-AIW as it’s

now known in service.

We all know that the KS-1 was

specifically selected by the UK Ministry

of Defence as the L403A1 Alternative Individual

Weapon (AIW) system for its specialized forces,

such as the Army Special Operations Brigade and

Royal Marines Commandos, and it’s a platform

that Stewbacca and I have been enjoying thanks

to the off-the-shelf VFC GBBR version that

dropped in late 2025.

However, if you’re an MWS devotee, buying

into the VFC (beautiful as it is!) replica of course

means also buying into a whole new magazine

load, and that gets expensive fast, but the ANGRY

GUN KS-1 MWS conversion kit will enable you to

create a cracking replica service rifle based on

the system you already know and love… and in

addition ANGRY GUN also offer a conversion kit

for the KS-3 which offers a shorter, more compact

platform, making it ideal as a primary system for

players wanting a platform specifically for CQBuse!

“IRL” the Knight’s Armament KS-1 and KS-3 are

variants in KAC’s new KS (Knight’s Stoner) series,

designed for the UK military; the main difference

is barrel length and intended role, with the KS-1

(L403A1) featuring a longer 13.7” heavy barrel

for general/longer range use (a general service

rifle), while the KS-3 has a shorter 11.5” barrel

and carbine-length gas system, making it more

compact for close-quarters or specialized

roles, sharing modern features like the

URX6 handguard and ambidextrous

controls.

For those wishing to replicate one of these

platforms (or both!) the key differences amount

to:

• Barrel/Length: KS-1 has a 13.7” heavy

barrel; KS-3 has an 11.5” barrel, making it

shorter.

• Gas System: KS-1 uses a mid-length gas

system; KS-3 uses a carbine-length system,

matching its shorter barrel.

• Role: KS-1 (L403A1) is the standard rifle;

KS-3 is a more compact, likely special

forces-oriented, variant.

Of course there are shared features within the

KS Series, and these can be summed up as:

• URX6 Handguard: A rigid, easy-to-install rail

system.

• Ambidextrous Controls: Improved controls

for both left/right-handed users.

• QDC Muzzle Device: For quick-detach

suppressors.

• 3.2 Bolt Carrier: With a dual ejector for

enhanced reliability.

• Trigger: 4.5-pound two-stage trigger.

Basically the KS-3 is a shorter, lighter, and more

compact version of the KS-1, built on the same

modern platform for different operational needs

“ANGRY GUN FOCUS ON METICULOUS DESIGN, CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND DURABILITY

FOR THEIR PARTS, ENSURING RELIABILITY AND REPLICATION OF “THE REAL”, AND

AS MWS PLATFORM EXPERTS THEY ARE PARTICULARLY RESPECTED FOR THEIR

EXTENSIVE RANGE OF UPGRADES FOR THE TM MWS M4/AR-15 PLATFORM”

44


AIRSOFT TECH


within the British forces tender, and although

we’ve not seen much of the KS-3 yet “in the wild”

with UK forces it has been seen in the hands of

the elite units in South Korea, including the Korea

Coast Guard SSAT, and the ROK Army’s 707th

Special Mission Group (SMG).

MWS CONERSION TIME!

So, what do you get in the comprehensive

conversion kit from ANGRY GUN to enable you to

transform your vanilla MWS into a

fire-breathing, ass-kicking L403A1?

1pc

• CNC Steel MWS Trigger Set x 1pc

And that, right there, is a LOT of parts! Of

course there is a separate MWS conversion

which will let you build the KS-3 based around a

commonality of parts just like the “real deal” but

with that shorter, more easily manipulated sharpend.

When I visited Taiwan, thanks to

Stewbacca I was finally able to pick

up the correct suppressor for my VFC

L403A1, and I’m pleased to tell you that

ANGRY GUN offer another

The list is long and full…

• CNC Aluminum 6061-T6 MWS Upper

(Cerakote Magpul FDE) x 1pc

• CNC Aluminium MWS 6061-T6 Lower

(Cerakote Magpul FDE) x 1pc

• CNC Ambi Charging Handle (Cerakote

Magpul FDE) x 1pc

• CNC URX6 Rail System (Cerakote Magpul

FDE) x 1pc

• CNC Buffer Tube (Cerakote Sniper Grey) x

1pc

• CNC Aluminium Outer Barrel Set x 1pc

• CNC Steel Gas Block x 1pc

• Steel Gas Block Wrench x 1pc

• Stainless Steel Gas Tube x 1pc

• Steel Mag Release x 1pc

• Steel Ambi Mag Release x 1pc

• Steel Bolt Catch x 1pc

• Steel Ambi Bolt Catch x 1pc

• Steel Ambi Safety x 1pc

• Steel Forward Assist x 1pc

• Steel Dust Cover (Cerakote Magpul FDE) x

1pc

• Steel QDC 3-PRONG FLASH HIDER - 14mm

CCW x 1pc

• CNC Aluminium End Plate Sling Mount x

option here

in the shape

of

their KAC-licenced

QDC/

MCQ PRT can which

is

available as an add-on to the

conversion kit, and looks fabulous!

They also offer a package that mimics

the L900A1 Optics Suite that’s most commonly

seen on the L403A1, which includes a primary

magnified optic, a secondary red dot sight for

close quarters, and backup iron sights. ANGRY

GUN can provide a Toxicant RZ HD3 1-10 x 24

FFP SCOPE with an AUS style 34mm 1.54” Scope

Mount, and ACRO P1/P2 Mount which looks very,

very close to the real thing, and finishes off the

build beautifully.

AND THERE’S MORE!

And if having access to parts to correctly replicate

the KS-1 and KS-3 weren’t enough then ANGRY

GUN have REALLY gone to town on their KAC

licenced-parts to provide another comprehensive

conversion kit which will allow you to transform

your MWS into an SR15/SR16 MOD 2.1 “Secret

Service Duty Rifle”!

“THIS OF COURSE IS MASSIVELY IMPORTANT TO UK PLAYERS OR THOSE WHO

WISH TO CREATE A CURRENT-DAY UK FORCES LOADOUT BASED AROUND THE MWS

PLATFORM, AS AMONG THE KAC PARTS LIST IS A FULL-SPECTRUM CONVERSION KIT

TO CREATE A KS-1, OR L403A1-AIW AS IT’S NOW KNOWN IN SERVICE”


AIRSOFT TECH


“ANGRY GUN HAVE REALLY GONE TO TOWN ON THEIR KAC LICENCED-PARTS TO

PROVIDE ANOTHER COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSION KIT WHICH WILL ALLOW YOU

TO TRANSFORM YOUR MWS INTO AN SR15/SR16 MOD 2.1 “SECRET SERVICE DUTY

RIFLE”!”

46


AIRSOFT TECH


This is another cool direction as it lets you create an SR-15/SR-16

Mod 2.1 which is a specialized, high-end 5.56mm KAC carbine used

by the U.S. Secret Service, particularly its Emergency Response Team

(ERT). Featuring a very distinct profile, lightweight design, and enhanced

controls, although for obvious reasons the KS-1 kit sings to me it’s

without doubt that I’d love to build another GBBR along the lines of this

one… shades and black suit in-game… annnnd GO!

Overall my take from MOA and speaking

to Andy is that ANGRY GUN have really

ticked all the boxes with their latest

range of conversion kits and properly

licenced parts, and now if you’re

an MWS-user you can more

straightforwardly “get your Brit

on”, and much more too!

If this is the standard of parts-replication

and full conversion kits we can expect from

ANGRY GUN in the future then I for one will be

watching very, VERY closely as they continue to roll out their program!

You can keep up to date by following ANGRY GUN on their socials, or

head over to www.angrygun.com to find out more. RM images found in

the public domain. AA

“OVERALL MY TAKE FROM MOA AND SPEAKING TO ANDY IS THAT ANGRY GUN HAVE

REALLY TICKED ALL THE BOXES WITH THEIR LATEST RANGE OF CONVERSION KITS

AND PROPERLY LICENCED PARTS, AND NOW IF YOU’RE AN MWS-USER YOU CAN MORE

STRAIGHTFORWARDLY “GET YOUR BRIT ON”, AND MUCH MORE TOO!”


TAP ANYWHERE TO VISIT AIRSOFTMANIA.EU AND CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT!

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THE CELL

BEST RIFLES OF 2025

BRING ON

THE BEST!

IT’S A WHOLE NEW YEAR, AND AS WE PREPARE FOR NEW AEG AND GBBR

RELEASES, NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND NEW DIRECTIONS IT’S TIME TO LOOK AT,

IN OUR OPINION OF COURSE, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE BEST “LONGS” OF 2025!

AIRSOFT ACTION, AND PARTICULARLY THE MEMBERS OF THE CELL, ARE ALWAYS

ON TOP OF THINGS AS THEY HAPPEN, BUT WHAT ARE THEIR TOP PICKS OF THE

LAST TWELVE MONTHS? AS ALWAYS, BILL LEADS OFF!

50


THE CELL

BEST RIFLES OF 2025

So, 2025, what another superb airsoft year!

Last year was full speed ahead when it

came to new AEGs and GBBRs from most

the big manufacturers, and if the majority of what

has already been promised at MOA EXPO lands

in 2026 then it’s going to be a BIG year for GBBRs!

However, we’ve yet to see what comes up at

SHOT and IWA in the next couple of months, and I

have no doubt that both AEGs and HPA platforms

will soon follow on from what we saw in Taiwan.

As I said last year, HPA may be making in-roads,

gas is still cool and obviously already a “trend” for

2026, but when it comes to the a regular skirmish

tool for many the AEG is still very much king of the

hill!

2025 was

again a fabulous

year for the

GBBR

side

of things, and

HPA systems continue

to get more and more

interesting; this of

course is very much set

to continue, but although

the focus appears to have

been

elsewhere at the end of the

year, let’s not forget it’s also been a superb

year for new AEG models! LCT, Specna Arms,

CYMA, BOLT, ASG, and EMG to name but a few

have all had some very noteworthy and exciting

things going on, and we’ve seen the continued

march forward of brands like Double Eagle and

Double Bell. Others like G&G, NUPROL and ICS

have been a little quiet, but from conversations

had at MOA EXPO I believe that 2026 will see

them all coming back strong.

But MOA EXPO and MaruiFest in Japan have

now gone by, with Marui dropping the new EVOLT

system, whilst SHOT and IWA are now peeking

their heads over the parapet, and I am 100%

certain that some of the manufacturers will have

saved up new airsoft-goodness to wow us with

at the shows to come… and as always, as you’d

expect, the AA Crew will be there to cover the

news and stories off as soon as they possibly can,

starting with Boycie’s “dailies” from SHOT later

this month!

But for now, for us 2025 is a wrap, and once

again we’ve shot a multitude of rifles and

carbines collectively; as I reflect on all the

AEGs and GBBRs that I’ve had the privilege and

pleasure to shoot and evaluate, 2025 was a

great year, and I spent more time on the range

even than in 2024, testing half a dozen or so new

models each and every month; when you add to

the mix what Stewbacca has seen

and had “hands on” with,

what Dan in his workshop,

what Miguel and Ben have had

in-game, and now what Bruno is

seeing too it REALLY stacks up! The rest of the AA

Crew are shooting just as many airsoft platforms

as they can get their hands on, and I believe that

we’ve yet again increased to depth of knowledge

of the current state of airsoft technology within

our ranks to a meaningful degree.

Once again, this is NOT meant to be a “this am

bestest gnu” kind of deal as we all love different

things for different reasons, but simply an

overview of what we have found exemplary during

our testing, once again another year of great

platforms, and a continued celebration of “stuff

what works for us”!

THE CELL FTW!

Obviously, as I said last month, the RED CELL

program is now complete, and our findings are

being collated… and that’s a LOT of findings! But

“BUT FOR NOW, FOR US 2025 IS A WRAP, AND ONCE AGAIN WE’VE SHOT A

MULTITUDE OF RIFLES AND CARBINES COLLECTIVELY; AS I REFLECT ON ALL THE AEGS

AND GBBRS THAT I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE TO SHOOT AND EVALUATE,

2025 WAS A GREAT YEAR, AND I SPENT MORE TIME ON THE RANGE EVEN THAN IN

2024”


THE CELL

BEST RIFLES OF 2025

as one thing ends another begins and for the

foreseeable future I’m going to pull on that everincreasing

“depth of knowledge” within the AA

Crew as we bring our heads together to discuss

new directions as THE CELL.

With that said, let’s get into the meat of things

for this, our first issue of 2026, as we get into the

AEGs and GBBRs that we’ve personally found to

be “the best for us” during 2025!

For me, even though more and more I find

many thousands of BBs downrange, my respect

for what ICS continue to create has grown even

further, and that’s saying something as I’ll admit

I’m a long-term fan of the brand!

As I’ve said many times before I do like an

ICS AEG, especially the Mk18 variants, and all I

can suggest to you is that if you’re in the market

for a thoroughly up-to-the-minute, beautifullyreplicated

Mk18 is that you get down to your local

store as soon as you see them in stock and try

one for yourself!

myself edging ever more into the realm of

GBBRs the models that I’ve really enjoyed

have been both gas and AEG, and the first

for me is the ICS EMG X DANIEL DEFENSE

DD4 MK18, a cracking electric model! As

with their original Mk18 from what I can

see ICS have got the DDM4 version 100%

right, as the new AEG looks amazing!

What you get with the new MK18 “RIS

III” is an EMG-Licensed Daniel Defense DD4

MK18 RIII 9.55” Handguard, EMG-Licensed

Daniel Defense DD4 MK18 RIII Body Lettering,

and the EMG ZETA Grip/Stock combo which

faithfully replicates the unique Daniel Defense

buttstock and pistol grip… the DD4 MK18 AEG

really does look a million dollars, and EMG/

Daniel Defense must be extremely happy

and satisfied that the “real” has

Next up I’m sticking with Daniel Defense (spot

a trend here anyone?) and it’s the GBBR version

of GOLDEN EAGLE DD4 M4A1 FSP RIII S 14.5”!

This is a classic “M4” option that’s been updated

with both the newer RIS III FSP along with some

other cool-guy accessories, and I have to tell you

that it looks absolutely stunning! Although I have

the plain black version for range-testing there’s

also an alternate model that comes with that “SF

Bronze” rail, and having had hands on that

been so faithfully replicated

in airsoft-form. Nearly a year into testing, and

too that is 100% the one I would buy for myself.

The seven-slot M-LOK rail (actually I’d call it

7.5 as there are two smaller cut-out L and RHS)

is long and slim, and feels great in the hand

for a classic grip, but I think I’d be heading

for a foregrip here. The adjustable EMG “ETA”

“FOR ME, EVEN THOUGH MORE AND MORE I FIND MYSELF EDGING EVER MORE INTO

THE REALM OF GBBRS THE MODELS THAT I’VE REALLY ENJOYED HAVE BEEN BOTH GAS

AND AEG, AND THE FIRST FOR ME IS THE ICS EMG X DANIEL DEFENSE DD4 MK18, A

CRACKING ELECTRIC MODEL!”

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stock with an integrated storage compartment

and cheek pad closely resembles the Daniel

Defense adjustable buttstock which is designed

to keep from snagging when shouldering the

rifle, and there’s a QD swivel attachment point

for ambidextrous sling connection. Again,

the EMG pistol grip looks amazingly close to

the new Daniel Defense pistol grip which is

an improvement to the old standby A2. This

has been designed with ergonomics and

controllability in mind, and shares the angle

of the classic 1911 pistol for “the most natural

hand position and a comfortable feel.” The grip

marries up to an oversized trigger that easily

accommodates for gloves

Internally everything looks tidy and durable

enough, and although older Double Eagle gassers

have relied effectively on the old Western Arms

system, to my non-tech eye it looks like the BCG/

nozzle has been updated a little, and is somewhat

more “GHK”… although of course this system

was also influenced by Western Arms too! The

trigger group looks solid enough, and provides a

nice crisp break… other than that there’s not a lot

to talk about as it’s a GBBR, and unlike an AEG

there’s only so many moving parts to contend

with.

The Double Eagle FSP is undoubtedly a greatlooking

AR, and is equally nice to shoot, and other

than perhaps some minor barrel-related changes

I can see absolutely nothing to alter. Bottom

line is that the FSP looks stunning, manipulates

easily for a full-length carbine, and shoots very

well indeed. Although the “OS” may seem a little

dated given what else is out there, it is tried and

tested, and solidly built too; this is a GBBR that

given proper maintenance will give you great

performance for an extended service life.

Back to AEGs now, and for “airsoft tech

reasons” I have to include the latest EVOLUTION

GHOST 3.0 VIPER M! There’s definitely one

manufacturer that I expect uniqueness from, and

that’s EVOLUTION INTERNATIONAL, and

my friends in Italy do things differently,

not only in the AEGs that they create, but

also in the way that they approach the

industry, and the community in general.

From the get-go, each of the three

models in the Ghost 3.0 Viper series

has an identity of its own, from the

diminutive but aggressively style XS,

through the CQB-style S

variant, to the Ghost 3.0

Viper M which I’ve had to

test, a model that’s ready

for just about any airsoft encounter

you can imagine. All of the variants are

built on a full-metal base but feature

exclusive Evolution-designed upper and

lower receivers made from Carbontech,

a high-tech

polymer that is

lightweight

yet ultraresistant,

further

reinforced

with an alloy core for

superb levels of strength

and durability without

adding unnecessary

weight.

Inside the

Ghost you get a

reinforced alloy

gearbox with 8mm

self-lubricating steel bushings,

PM steel gears with delayer for

a high ROF, a high-speed

piston with full steel

teeth, and a spring

guide with a forged

steel core. The rotary

hop-up system allows

precise tuning while

“THE DOUBLE EAGLE FSP IS UNDOUBTEDLY A GREAT-LOOKING AR, AND IS EQUALLY

NICE TO SHOOT, AND OTHER THAN PERHAPS SOME MINOR BARREL-RELATED

CHANGES I CAN SEE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ALTER. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE FSP

LOOKS STUNNING, MANIPULATES EASILY FOR A FULL-LENGTH CARBINE, AND SHOOTS

VERY WELL INDEED”


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BEST RIFLES OF 2025

maintaining shot-to-shot consistency with

most BB weights, and the 6.01 precision barrel

with flared muzzle ensures consistent

accuracy. Quick, tool-free access to the

motor compartment and easy spring guide

extraction without removing the gearbox

make upgrades a simple affair should

you wish to go down this route. The VIPER

Electronic Trigger provides advanced fire

control management; unlike many other

ETU systems, the VIPER is fully integrated

and doesn’t require apps or external

connections for programming… all the

settings are managed directly through the

trigger in a fast and intuitive way, even ingame.

In a nutshell, and as I expected, the

3.0 VIPER M is a first rate AEG in terms

of its unique look, feel and finish, and

it works perfectly. You get everything

that EVOLUTION have always been

great at with the

added bonus

of a perfectly

designed and

smoothly

functioning “OS” that you

can set up just the way YOU like

it. The EVOLUTION GHOST 3.0

VIPER M is exceptionally

well-priced for what it

offers, which means for

what you’re getting is

extremely good value for money.

And finally from me, yup, you

guessed it already, as it’s the VFC

L403A1 GBBR! Both Stewbacca

and I have written a lot about this

Brit-centric beast of a GBBR (see

ISSUE 178 in BACK ISSUES on

the AA website) that I won’t

go into it all over again, but

suffice to say now I’ve got VFC’s KAC QDC/MCQ-

PRT replica to go with the rifle I’m a VERY happy

boy indeed, and as I said in my initial

review:

“To be perfectly honest the new gas

L403A1 is by no means your average

“airsoft gun” and for this reason I don’t

believe you’ll be seeing it regularly at

Sunday Skirmishes in the UK, although

I could be wrong, and I will be sure to

give it a run out just to see if my old-man

drills and accuracy are still as good as I

think they are! In truth though the L403A1

hasn’t been designed and made for

skirmishing per se, it’s been designed and

made for those that truly want a platform

that looks and operates exactly like the

real thing, but that shoots as well, if not

better, than other GBBRs

out there!”

Who would have

thought that I’d be

basically picking ARinspired

models for 2025, but

frankly they’re all superb in their

own way… nuff said.

STEWBACCA

For me rifle of the year

this time probably has

to be the VFC FAL OSW

GBBR; yeah I know, their FNC took

my fancy last year and has been a

continued fixture throughout this

year too, but the OSW was a bit of a

sleeper for me.

I didn’t take to it as readily at MOA

when it was announced with it

being all tacticool and newfangled

unlike the awesome

classic lines of the full-size

FAL. But. When I got hands

“AS I EXPECTED, THE 3.0 VIPER M IS A FIRST RATE AEG IN TERMS OF ITS UNIQUE

LOOK, FEEL AND FINISH, AND IT WORKS PERFECTLY. YOU GET EVERYTHING THAT

EVOLUTION HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GREAT AT WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF A PERFECTLY

DESIGNED AND SMOOTHLY FUNCTIONING “OS” THAT YOU CAN SET UP JUST THE WAY

YOU LIKE IT”

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on with one and fired it in action, my mind was

swiftly changed.

It certainly handles very nicely; the M-LOK

handguard is surprisingly light and comfortable,

the overall length is perfect for my arm length

and the handguard’s overall dimensions make it

comfortable and easy for me to ‘C-clamp’ with

my support hand, being slightly narrower than

the original FAL’s handguard due to the lack of

bipod channels and the general closer fit typical

of modern M-LOK slotted accessories. I took to

installing Amarok’s rubberised stick and peel

attached M-LOK grip panels; these are simple and

quick to press fit into the slots and come in 2 or

3 slot variants, with a serrated grip surface that

really allows you to pull the platform they’re fitted

to into the shoulder and help control it, whether

using bare or gloved hands.

The folding stock necessitates the use of

a different bolt carrier system, given that the

original FAL has the recoil spring retained in the

fixed stock (somewhat like an AR system) in the

case of the folding stock airsoft variant, the spring

is mounted to the back of the bolt carrier and the

somewhat more diminutive spring size and length

and the lack of a ‘rat’s tail’ extension redirecting

the recoil impulse downward and rearward. It

all makes for what feels like a much snappier

recoil and cyclic rate in general and I’ve managed

to stack quite a few double or triple taps on

people at 15-30 metre ranges through windows

or around corners, moving quite easily with the

reduced footprint of the OSW, but loving every

minute of the action given the chonkeh 762 mags.

I already had eight of my own of, with previous

use of my own FAL, and in this setting I used a

clone SRO sight, with the picatinny mount and

a polycarbonate lens protector, giving me a very

responsive sighting setup that also allowed for

much better situational awareness and reactions

in the closer quarters.

I like it for a lot of the same reasons I love

the FNC. It’s handy but still has heft, looks a bit

industrial and rugged and suits my frame and

aesthetic well I feel, and just slaps with

visceral firepower once you get past the

minor HOP and flash hider interaction

issues and over chambering problem

easily enough fixed with a bit of work

on the gas nozzle. It just kicks ass and

looks and feels great doing it, and it has

totally won me over despite my earlier

‘meh’ dismissivess of its less puristpleasing

aesthetic.

DAN

This was a hard one for me to settle on

because I’ve had several rather good

platforms pass through my hands this

year, from the PTS Radian MOD 1 to the

surprisingly impressive KWA ATP-Z and

more.

But I think the standout on pure

out-of-the-box performance

would be the

Arcturus

AK-12U FE,

which was

reviewed in the

April issue of this

year. While I generally

prefer a Zenitco’d AK-105 as the

“Eastern MK18”, the Arcturus

AK-12U has been the first AK-12

series AEG to make

me appreciate the

platform. It stands out

for its beautiful external

construction, high quality

magazines and feature set. I

especially liked the feel of

the new grip module and

stock, which are great

improvements over the

older design most are

“FOR ME RIFLE OF THE YEAR THIS TIME PROBABLY HAS TO BE THE VFC FAL OSW

GBBR; YEAH I KNOW, THEIR FNC TOOK MY FANCY LAST YEAR AND HAS BEEN A

CONTINUED FIXTURE THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR TOO, BUT THE OSW WAS A BIT OF A

SLEEPER FOR ME”


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BEST RIFLES OF 2025

familiar with. And my opinion that Arcturus rest

among the “best buys” in AK series platforms

today still stands. Perhaps the only thing I can

grouse about is the use of an aluminum outer

barrel vs. a more correct steel version. But then,

nobody would really complain about a reduction

in weight. Aside from which, this also contributes

to these pointing better than an LCT or CYMA too.

The FE version pares back a handful of the

upgrades found on the more expensive PE

versions, but you still retain the beautiful true

quick-change-spring guide out the back of the

receiver, an optical ETU, adjustable trigger travel,

TDC rotary hopup chamber, 6.02 QPQ finished

steel barrel, and excellent compression parts

set. For someone intending on upgrading this

straight away, the FE version is probably the best

place to start from the price standpoint. Truthfully

all you really need to consider is swapping the

gears, motor and bucking and maybe the spring

depending on your site limits. With a set of shortstroked

13:1’s, a 30K brushless motor and a

Gen. 3 TruHop, it’ll sing the songs of destruction

against your foes. That being said, as it comes out

of the box you actually have a *very* skirmishable

replica that can put in the work, which I feel

also makes this among the rare few AEG’s I’d

personally recommend to a first time Airsofter

too. Feed it a steady diet of .30g - .32g’s and 11.1v

LiPo’s and it’s aces.

Incidentally, the AK-12U I reviewed was later

arranged to be given as a gift to a new member of

a local Airsoft team here. I managed to catch up

with the new owner at this last event and inquired

as to how he was finding it. He reported it has

been “nothing but flawless.” I’d say that’s as good

a testimony as any other.

MIGUEL

I would go with the Specna Arms CORE J82! It’s

their first take on shorter tactical AKs and it was a

replica that

caught my

heart.

First, I’m a HUGE fan of these models, even

before playing airsoft; I’m a gamer and for

years the tactical short AKs always caught my

attention. Secondly, this replica caught me by

surprise with its performance. When I first got

it, I was planning to transplant the internals and

motor from the PRIME J series into this one. But

the replica performs so well that I didn’t change a

thing!

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

“I THINK THE STANDOUT ON PURE OUT-OF-THE-BOX PERFORMANCE WOULD BE THE

ARCTURUS AK-12U FE, WHICH WAS REVIEWED IN THE APRIL ISSUE OF THIS YEAR.

WHILE I GENERALLY PREFER A ZENITCO’D AK-105 AS THE “EASTERN MK18”, THE

ARCTURUS AK-12U HAS BEEN THE FIRST AK-12 SERIES AEG TO MAKE ME APPRECIATE

THE PLATFORM”

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

Specna, just add MidCaps like in many other

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. Now this 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 2700g.

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

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.

Matt

If there is a rifle calibre replica that I would talk

about that came out this year it would be the

E&C’s apparent GBLS-competitor, the E&C Airsoft

(EBS) E-Bolt system carbine that is just barely out

of my United States-ian hands due to the tyranny

of regional licensing.

Any replica that brings us closer to real manual

of arms is something worth looking out for, and

with the system closely resembling gas-powered

designs and even the operation of firearms, the

E-Bolt/EBS system is designed to offer realistic

bolt operation from a full steel bolt assembly!

Although it appeared in 2025 it’ll be something I

want to get my hands on for 2026!

Boycie

Like Bill, the thing for me this year has to be the

Brit-kit KS-1.

Over the past couple of years I’ve had hands on

and fired the real thing but yet to have got hands

on the airsoft version after its release. With the

challenges of this year personally, I’ve not had

the opportunity to make the purchase….yet! After

Shot Show and maybe IWA visits then I’ll be able

to look at getting one sorted! The KWA ATP-Z

“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”


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BEST RIFLES OF 2025

really interested me when we were at SHOT this

year

too though….

Bruno

Well... For me it is for sure the

Lancer Tactical Gen 4 Predator!

It ain’t expensive for what it

offers, comes with the Nebula 2

programmable ETU out of the box

or for a little more you can get the

Aster II version.

The Gen 4 Predator 8” CQB

AEG really impressed me out of

the box, being that is a complete

metal construction built with

ambi controls and a flared

magwell, and is quite

ever expected without even changing the inner

barrel or the hop up rubber. It was putting the

shots really precisely where I wanted them, using

an M115 spring, and I was shooting .28g BBs at

1.15 Joules, having a good consistency at 55/60

meters.

So, it’s got amazing build quality for the price

and a unique look! It shoots lasers; I’ve loaned

it out in-game the guys were absolutely stunned

with its performance! Hands down at least for

what I’ve tried, the best of the year!

Bill

So, there you have it, “tips from the top” as to

what we feel are the best rifles of 2025… for us!

Whether you’re a multicam-clad “OPR8R” or a

“sneaky beaky” OPFOR-ist there’s something in

the list for you, and if you don’t like any of these

models then just check on back through all the

2025 issues of AIRSOFT ACTION and take your

pick from many, many more!

Roll on 2026! AA

impressive

being that it isn’t as

heavy as I thought it

would be, feeling

superrobust;

this replica

felt really

good while

aiming

down the sights! Using the

Predator 8” CQB in-game

I really built a strong

opinion about this

new GEN 4, and I

have to say that

it performed

better than I

“IF THERE IS A RIFLE CALIBRE REPLICA THAT I WOULD TALK ABOUT THAT CAME OUT

THIS YEAR IT WOULD BE THE E&C’S APPARENT GBLS-COMPETITOR, THE E&C AIRSOFT

(EBS) E-BOLT SYSTEM CARBINE THAT IS JUST BARELY OUT OF MY UNITED STATES-

IAN HANDS DUE TO THE TYRANNY OF REGIONAL LICENSING”

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“THE THING FOR ME THIS YEAR HAS TO BE THE BRIT-KIT KS-1. OVER THE PAST

COUPLE OF YEARS I’VE HAD HANDS ON AND FIRED THE REAL THING BUT YET TO HAVE

GOT HANDS ON THE AIRSOFT VERSION AFTER ITS RELEASE. WITH THE CHALLENGES

OF THIS YEAR PERSONALLY, I’VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE

PURCHASE….YET!”


GEAR

ALTAMA OTB MARITIME LONG-TERM REVIEW

OVER MANY

BEACHES!

NEVER LET IT BE SAID THAT THE AA CREW DON’T TEST THEIR GEAR “LONG-TERM”

- AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON DOING! AS “AIRSOFT

TRENDS” COME AND GO THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT RESIDE IN OUR GEAR

LOCKERS FOR A REASON, AND AFTER YEARS OF USE AND ABUSE DAN RETURNS

TO HIS ALTAMA MARITIME FOOTWEAR MODELS TO SEE HOW THEY’VE STACKED

UP!

62


GEAR


It’s been about eight years since the Altama

OTB Maritime Assault shoes hit the shelves

and the gear market, a shoe that many have

colloquially termed the “tactical Chuck Taylor”,

or as my wife sometimes belabors “Camo

Converse.”

Altama have been a long-standing name in

military footwear, perhaps best known for the

original jungle boot design that saw service with

thousands of US soldiers in Vietnam and beyond.

For decades, the lineup has never really strayed

from the proven traditional style military boots, So

it was that when the visually striking Maritime’s

were released, they were met with equal parts

keen interest and mocking jibes.

The original version of this shoe was reputedly

designed for maritime use, with the specially

designed SEAL Rubber sole giving indication

as to who the original target market was for. As

well, the OTB moniker itself stands for “Over The

Beach” and these are explicitly designed with the

ability to be worn with swim fins and

feature design aspects that facilitate

the rapid draining of water.

The Maritime’s are offered in both

low and mid-height versions in a

variety of colors and some select

retailers carrying collaborative or

special run versions in camouflage

patterns. Make no mistake: these

should not be considered a boot in the

slightest. Rather, the description of an

“improved Chuck Taylor” is probably

most appropriate when describing

these, and if you keep that framework

in mind you will be able to more

accurately assess the use-case for

these.

Regardless of one’s opinions,

these shoes have proven to be

pretty popular, which has certainly

contributed to their rapid proliferation

across the tactical gear space. The

airsoft space has also taken notice too, but while

I have seen plenty of “are these any good?” types

of posts online, I have yet to encounter another

player actually wearing a set of these in my

travels!

As for myself, I have now logged around five

and a half years of use on both the low and midheight

versions, enough that I can feel confident

in describing and judging their long-term use in

proper context. My first pair were the original

low-cut version in Coyote Tan, purchased then at

the original introductory price of US$80. Having

just worn through a pair of Lowa Zephyr’s that

I’d gotten several years of hard use out of, I was

still keen on the idea of maintaining a lightweight

shoe for both weight savings and running. While I

would have been content to just buy another pair

of Zephyr’s, I opted to trial the Maritime’s instead

and see if the hype was really warranted. Of

course, this was all with an eye towards general

airsoft use.

“THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THIS SHOE WAS REPUTEDLY DESIGNED FOR MARITIME

USE, WITH THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED SEAL RUBBER SOLE GIVING INDICATION AS TO

WHO THE ORIGINAL TARGET MARKET WAS FOR. AS WELL, THE OTB MONIKER ITSELF

STANDS FOR “OVER THE BEACH””


GEAR


ROUND 1: THE ORIGINAL OTB

My first outing with the OTB’s was at a new

field that consisted mostly of some hastily

constructed scrap barricades arranged in a loose

diamond pattern, what we might have called a

speedball arrangement back in the paintball days.

This was also the kind of small compressed field

that favours rapid movement and the ability to

run from cover to cover with maximum speed. At

a dry weight of just 14oz per shoe, the OTB’s feel

positively like air on your feet. If you’re coming

from a heavier boot or shoe, these will almost feel

toylike in a way.

The terrain was a mixture of bumpy dirt patch

and tall grass with a lot of pockmarked divots

and holes from burrowing rodents. The soles of

the shoe seemed to grip decently well on in the

dirt, but proved to be a little slippery in the tall

damp grass areas. Over the course of the day, I

managed to roll my ankle several times on some

sections, but avoided more serious injury by

just rolling my body into the fall. The most useful

takeaway I think I gained from several years of

taking Tae Kwon Do classes was learning how

to move your body into a fall as opposed to just

throwing your hands out front and hoping for the

best. After the first spill, I took it a little easier on

the sprints, but of course, once you’ve laid the

groundwork for an injury, the subsequent ones

tend to come easier. After the second and third

time this happened, my ankle was beginning to

sing songs of pain and I had to opt out of further

play. Of course, the low-rise version simply does

not have any ankle support at all, and with the

pockmarked terrain, it was no surprise to have a

lot of rotation to contend with.

Based off of this experience, this was actually

the last time I fielded these shoes in an outdoor

game environment. I would later use them in

an indoor CQB arena, to which they performed

quite substantially better. The SEAL Rubber soles

are a unique design, featuring a tread pattern

that is reminiscent of tire siping; there aren’t any

thick lugs to be found here, but rather the entire

sole is a flat surface. On concrete, this gripped

beautifully, and being that it was uniformly flat,

I didn’t experience any problems with rolling. I

can also attest that for boulder hopping, these

are awesome for the task. As the rocks heat up,

the soles stick like glue to them. There is an ABS

shank inside the sole which provides more foot

stability, but this is also flexible enough to allow

the sole to flex as opposed to feeling like you’re

standing on a board set over a pivoting point.

When it comes to rough terrain, you do feel a

bit more than other shoes, however. Large, rough

gravel will be noticeable through the sole, but

not uncomfortably so. As a normal day-to-day

shoe for getting around, I actually rather liked

the comfort of the footbed and found I can easily

walk on concrete all day long without any pain.

The insoles are made from Ultron PU, which is an

interesting material that somewhat reminds me of

neoprene; it’s a rubberized sticky material which

naturally will catch on your socks a bit, so putting

on the shoe can be a little more effort.

As there are many large and small lakes nearby,

I was actually very curious to try this out in an

actual (non-salt bearing) maritime environment,

and subsequently gave them a tour of duty over

the course of two summers. To that degree, I can

affirm that this is indeed an excellent boat shoe…

but conversely is absolutely lousy for sand. The

low-rise version especially is awful for sand, and

unless I was deliberately miming a high march, a

typical walk across the sand would result in the

toe of one shoe depositing sand in the back of

another. Running these without socks therefore

became an uncomfortable experience as the

sand and Air Mesh lining chaffed the skin a little

raw.

I discovered it was necessary to have to stop

to remove them and walk over to the water to

flush them out, and eventually deciding to ditch

“I HAVE NOW LOGGED AROUND FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OF USE ON BOTH THE LOW

AND MID-HEIGHT VERSIONS, ENOUGH THAT I CAN FEEL CONFIDENT IN DESCRIBING

AND JUDGING THEIR LONG-TERM USE IN PROPER CONTEXT. MY FIRST PAIR WERE THE

ORIGINAL LOW-CUT VERSION IN COYOTE TAN…”

64


GEAR


them altogether and run barefoot. While these

do in fact drain water rapidly, owing in part to the

non-metallic drain ports, the mesh interior also

tended to act as a hundred tiny pockets to trap

and collect sand particles. I felt like these were

possibly harder to flush clean than some other

shoes I’ve both advertently and inadvertently

gotten sandy and soaked. In my opinion, the

inclusion of some water socks is a must if you

plan on using these on an actual beach. The

sock will at least save your bare feet from the

sandpaper treatment they’ll otherwise endure!

One thing I can definitely appreciate is just

how fast these dry; if you set them out in the hot

sun, you can have a slightly damp to nearly dry

shoe in about 30 - 45 minutes. On the subject of

the drainage ports, this is a double-edged sword.

The ports do indeed allow for water to rapidly

exfil from the shoe, but this also works the other

way, meaning water more easily penetrates the

shoe too. This basically means that any shallow

puddle you splash through is going to have water

immediately penetrating the interior of the shoe.

It is, of course, designed with this in mind as

the entire emphasis is on rapid drainage and

quicker-drying. The question then will really be

down to whether you the user would prefer your

shallow puddles to get your socks wet or be

more satisfied with a Gore-Tex or similar waterproofed

shoe instead; ultimately, your climate

and environmental factors will probably dictate

what is the better choice here. Suffice it to say,

I believe the OTB’s to be better geared to the

tropics or other hot-weather climes as opposed

to say, wading around a cold wetland or damp

coniferous forestland. As mentioned, the interior

of the shoe is lined with Air Mesh material, which

promotes good moisture wicking properties and

breathability; this breathability factor is nice for

mitigating sweat and expelling more heat from

the shoe. Conversely, this works against the

shoe once the temperature plummets… these

are absolutely frigid in the midst of

winter and if there is the slightest

bit of wind you’re going to feel it.

ROUND 2: THE LAND

WARRIOR MOD

Being a sucker for all things

MultiCam Arid, I just had to have

the exclusive OP Tactical “Land

Warrior Mod” version that came

in this pattern, and despite my

reservations for use as an outdoor

shoe, I still enjoyed the OTB’s for a

day-to-day urban shoe, so I bit the

proverbial bullet again and ordered

up a pair!

In addition to the exclusive

camouflage pattern, the Land

Warrior mod version is a mid-rise height and

omits the mesh drainage vents and the sticky

SEAL Rubber outsole the normal OTB’s have. The

footbed insole has been swapped out with the

version from the Altama Urban Assault, which is a

somewhat more traditional insole design that has

a bit more padding without the rubberized grippy

“THE TERRAIN WAS A MIXTURE OF BUMPY DIRT PATCH AND TALL GRASS WITH A LOT

OF POCKMARKED DIVOTS AND HOLES FROM BURROWING RODENTS. THE SOLES OF

THE SHOE SEEMED TO GRIP DECENTLY WELL ON IN THE DIRT, BUT PROVED TO BE A

LITTLE SLIPPERY IN THE TALL DAMP GRASS AREAS”


GEAR


construction. As such, these

are a lot easier to put on in a

hurry as you’re not fighting

with your socks getting hung

up on the insole material.

Hindsight being 20/20, I

have come to feel the Land

Warrior Mod is best iteration

of this shoe to date, and

actually steers the design

towards what it’s actually

better suited in some

respects. Being mid-rise,

there is both better ankle

support and the taller profile

also helps to mitigate some

of the intrusion of sand

too. I did not really miss

the removal of the vents

and the shoe still expels

water decently well and

dries quickly. I also think the

slightly different sole material

wears a little better too.

Durability wise, the body of

both shoes are constructed

from 1000D Cordura quarter

panels and I’ve yet to actually

tear or wear through the

upper on either pair of shoes.

1000D Cordura is known for

its high abrasion resistance,

and that is certainly the

case here. It’s also relatively

easy to clean with some

minor scrubbing and dish

soap being able to lift out

most stains, though I tend

to just let them wear their

scars as is. I have also found

the Air Mesh interior to be

surprisingly hard-wearing as

“I JUST HAD TO HAVE THE EXCLUSIVE OP TACTICAL “LAND WARRIOR MOD” VERSION

THAT CAME IN THIS PATTERN, AND DESPITE MY RESERVATIONS FOR USE AS AN

OUTDOOR SHOE, I STILL ENJOYED THE OTB’S FOR A DAY-TO-DAY URBAN SHOE, SO I

BIT THE PROVERBIAL BULLET AGAIN AND ORDERED UP A PAIR!”

66


GEAR


well, and gratefully have not experienced any heel

blowout as I have on other shoes.

I have experienced some minor separation of

the sole from the body by the drain port area on

my original pair, but it’s been relatively contained

and has not spread beyond. This is incidentally

also where the shoe flexes the most when you

take a knee, or are running. The sole itself is

stitched to the body, except in the area directly

below the drain vent, where it appears to be

glued, so I’m not surprised that the glue would

give out before the stitching. The non-metallic

vents have developed some small perforations

and abrasions. This has been my experience with

this style of vent of other brands of shoe too, so

no surprises there.

As with the sole, the same material envelopes

the toe-box area and provides some light

protection against damage, but if you dropped

a hammer on your toe, you’re still going to feel

it. These are not apocalypse-proof like my Lowa

Desert Elites are, but you can feel confident

kicking some light rocks and debris out of the

way. The flat laces are also excellent and I’ve not

broken a set yet either; being flat laces, they of

course also tend to stay put better than round

‘sausage’ laces that simply don’t grip as well.

Once I tie them off, they pretty much stay put the

rest of the day. The eyelets are made from what

I assume is finished aluminum. Suffice it to say,

they don’t rust, and the finish has been relatively

hard-wearing.

Really, the only thing holding back the overall

durability factor is actually the sole itself. On

my original pair, the soles have worn more

dramatically, which I would attribute to the

stickier and softer SEAL Rubber compound.

The Land Warrior Mod version have held up a

bit better, but both have in some respects worn

unexpectedly fast. I would say I get approximately

two years of use on the sole (excluding the

winters, where I have to store them away for

warmer options). I would like to see these

potentially offered in a different sole pattern that

was a little more aggressive or harder-wearing,

and maybe with an additional increase of 1” or so

on the shaft and a some additional reinforcement

around the ankle.

Long story short, I would rate the Altama OTB

Maritime (specifically the Land Warrior Mod

version) as a great day-to-day shoe for bumping

around the city or such, with some seasonal

caveats for those of us who reside in northern

climates. For airsofter’s seeking to adopt a new

shoe, you may find it a great fit for indoor CQB

venues and will likely enjoy the lightweight feel

and superb traction on concrete.

However, players looking for something for field

use would be advised to opt for something that

offers better protection against the elements and

greater ankle support, especially if you’re rucking

at MilSim scenarios or carrying more weight than

what your lightweight Speedsoft ensemble might

entail. Ultimately I feel the OTB’s are technically

more of a specialized ‘urban assault’ shoe than

what their advertising would belie. They have

a niche, but whether that niche is worth it to

you will depend on where you live and what you

actually do with your shoes! AA

“ULTIMATELY I FEEL THE OTB’S ARE TECHNICALLY MORE OF A SPECIALIZED ‘URBAN

ASSAULT’ SHOE THAN WHAT THEIR ADVERTISING WOULD BELIE. THEY HAVE A NICHE,

BUT WHETHER THAT NICHE IS WORTH IT TO YOU WILL DEPEND ON WHERE YOU LIVE

AND WHAT YOU ACTUALLY DO WITH YOUR SHOES!”


AA LEGION

USA: AMS EASTERN FRONT

GREENER

GRASS

70


AA LEGION


ONCE AGAIN MATT REJOINS US WITH HIS MILSIM TALES FROM AMERICAN SHORES

THAT SHOW JUST HOW SIMILAR, YET DIFFERENT, THIS STYLE OF AIRSOFT IS IN THE

USA, AND JUST HOW MUCH EFFORT GOES IN TO RUNNING A FLAGSHIP EVENT OF

THIS TYPE. IN HIS USUAL STYLE HE TAKES US ALL DEEP INTO THE ACTION (AND THE

PSYCHE!) DURING AMERICAN MILSIM’S (AMS) “EASTERN FRONT”!

I’ve listened to Bo Stewart, cofounder and

on-the-field event runner for American Milsim

(AMS), do his safety speech for about two

years now since I started attending American

Milsim events. Perhaps after the half-dozenth

time it’s not entirely necessary for a well-meaning

and upstanding airsofter like myself, but it

remains a good touchstone to centre everyone

along the same baseline. I can only imagine

how passive it is for those who have more than

a few dozen showings at AMS events as we near

their 50th event in their history, but I respect it

nonetheless and make it a game to see what

changes from event from event.

One line, among others, does make me

think that even then it would be a case of

foreshadowing; speaking about dead men, about

those caught in a continuing fight and who are

otherwise in the line of fire, he says this:

“Some people will just turn to face the fire and

take it and because they like it!”

That garners a few laughs and chuckles, me

included, because at the end of the day the idea

of masochism is something that may more likely

than not be a common fixture between every

airsofter; this is a sport that presupposes pain

as a method of transaction and communication.

Pain is controlled and regulated between the

bounds of FPS and joule, 400 feet per second, 1.5

joules, medium engagement ranges, rate of fire.

These are metrics of pain, but not the only ones,

and as I stand there, one month after one of the

greatest MilSims ever held by AMS at Ironhorse

7 in a government military training facility, to

now the rebuilt and repurposed lands of a golf

course turned into the Zulu24 Airsoft & Mil-Sim

Tactical Park. I stand not in my green regulations

of the Coalition of Sovereign Territories (COST),

but rather the uniform of tan, the United Federal

States (UFS).

I have written nearly half a dozen reports for

Airsoft Action so far regarding my participation

in AMS events, and each time I have attended as

COST, AMS’s partition for the Green faction. This

time, however, I have decided to step over the line

with my squad and become a Tan…. with that, I

know that I will most likely lose.

November 8th and 9th, 2025, New Windsor,

New York. American Milsim, hosted at Zulu 24,

has opened up Eastern Front IV (EF). I thought

about pain as I walked the field to our FOB

spawn, because it is something advised by my

time participating in AMS events as COST; my

participation as UFS means that I will be in a

world of hurt, because my fighting underneath

COST has always been a victory both technically

and in the gameplay experience.

Duff Yoder, AMS regular and sometimes

command element, explained this phenomenon

to me. COST is dominant on the US East Coast,

where I live and primarily attend AMS events,

whereas on the US west coast it is the UFS.

“Copperhead,” he tells me with a grin, describing

an AMS event in New Mexico (west of Texas for

those unaware), “is where (UFS) is the ones

dominating.”

They say the grass is greener on the other side,

but not this time, so I went Tan after this string of

victories propelled by my curiosity about why East

Coast Tan was the way it was in their opposition.

I originally intended to do so alone as a surprise

to my regular airsoft platoon, but circumstances

“THAT GARNERS A FEW LAUGHS AND CHUCKLES, ME INCLUDED, BECAUSE AT THE END

OF THE DAY THE IDEA OF MASOCHISM IS SOMETHING THAT MAY MORE LIKELY THAN

NOT BE A COMMON FIXTURE BETWEEN EVERY AIRSOFTER; THIS IS A SPORT THAT

PRESUPPOSES PAIN AS A METHOD OF TRANSACTION AND COMMUNICATION”


AA LEGION


and the notions of a good idea meant that a full

squad of my fellows followed, and soon enough

the 20+ strong troop of airsofters that were COST

regulars for a handful of years now in the east

coast AMS events, were split, facing a mini civil

war much like the fictional framing of AMS events.

BEARS V HUSKIES

Bears vs. Huskies, the alumni of the University

of Connecticut’s Airsoft Club versus the current

cadre; We called ourselves the URSA group, and

surely, we all reasoned, with our developed knowhow,

access to “adult” money, and enthusiasm to

break bad, that we were going to maybe bring that

same COST-level victory, in some part, to UFS in

EF, in AMS’s trademark, capture point defined,

FRAGOP (side mission) supplemental conquest

game mode.

By the end of the day, COST was twenty

seconds outside of our FOB, crumpling most of

our defensive lines, smoking, fragging us out,

and reverting most of the gains we had during

the night section, which generally favoured UFS

completely. A three-minute head start on the

second day bought us

ground in the same way the

sand breathes from the tide

in their intervals.

Every push met with a

concentrated firing line,

and every offensive was

overwhelming and speedy.

LMGs in defilade, buildings

taken and firing positions

set up that reminded me

of the monolithic buildings

that served as fortresses

at Operation Iron Horse.

Forest fights, Tans retreating

as a choice, few remain

in disappointment, what

it feels like to be on the

other side of a team that pushes intensely with

support. Frustrated team mates, tensions running

high, and our own worth as airsofters called into

question as we realized maybe we ourselves

don’t really matter all that much in the grand plan

of battle like Russel, COST’s CO, often confided

in us (or at least in being go-getters and good

bludgeons). Every flank we went on, every push

we forced, nothing stuck, nothing won, nothing

panned out.

“Bro, you’re ----- hit!”, something I’ve heard

for years playing airsoft, and said again in my

face, but not to me; the accusational UFS player

and I are fighting angles in New Town, one of

Zulu 24’s lanes that make up 1/6th of the field

with flat, level, building to building fights where

alley ways are ten feet tight, and windows are

everywhere. He has disbelief in his eye, but at

least the wherewithal to concentrate it toward

who he thinks might not be calling their hits:

“Yo!” he looks at me between shots at the corner

of a building, seen through a slim angle of our

doorway we’re holding. “Do you have a nade?”

I toss him a nade and hope for the best

“THEY SAY THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE, BUT NOT THIS TIME, SO

I WENT TAN AFTER THIS STRING OF VICTORIES PROPELLED BY MY CURIOSITY

ABOUT WHY EAST COAST TAN WAS THE WAY IT WAS IN THEIR OPPOSITION…

CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE NOTIONS OF A GOOD IDEA MEANT THAT A FULL SQUAD OF

MY FELLOWS FOLLOWED”

72


AA LEGION


(“You’re dead, buddy” he says as he tosses it),

and five minutes later as we try to push across

to gain space, we’re all dead in the streets; a

consolation, a UFS medic named Mike, seconds

after I’ve been hit, dives for me, putting a bandage

over my arm to get me back in the game: “Don’t

worry brother, I got you, everybody’s alive here.”

On Zulu 24’s upper lane, a long wooded section

where a tribal hut village lies outside of a row

of two-story houses packed together becomes

UFS’s last frontline, my squad’s on the far left

flank trying to find a way to pincer the COST

offensive. Before we can make a move up into

these row houses, a COST counter-flank comes,

and I am stuck in a foxhole ankle-high as two

other UFS abandoned me to it, and I am shot

down and dead as twenty Greens pass me over

toward the village and collapse on it too.

A COST platoon leader searches me, and I give

them superlative intelligence, a gameplay feature

that AMS pushes for, emergent information that

could open up missions and opportunities for

both sides. I admit, my squad, URSA, may have

printed wanted posters of COST’s Hotel platoon

leader, our PL for when we are fully beneath

COST, denoting that he was an HVT. Xvrynus, as

says on his command patch, reads it into the

record, amused to their leadership.

In this Op, I never am able to get into Zulu24’s

greatest point of interest, the town centre of the

field spanning nearly its entire length known

simply as “CQB”. Bridges and cars and buildings

packed in tightly, promising dynamic urban

warfare, taunting all of us for fights that never

were, because UFS was never able to organize

a push and a hold in the daytime of it. Lost

gameplay opportunities, taunting us all.

“We either push forward and meet them, or

fall back, and I’m not falling back!” I tell my halfdead

group. Bo is doing his duties as game admin

several feet away, and Jordan, one of Zulu 24’s

staff and the main pointman for the RDX B.O.S.S

Unit, whose camera work is a lot more involved

than many professional photographers, also

talking with him idly as we decide to trade our

lives for just a few feet more. Every fight was a

lost fight, and even before the initial calling by

official AMS reports, I can reasonably assume

we’ve lost by the amount

of territory we don’t have,

and therefore our ability to

gain points in the overall

metagame of the event by

doing objectives in those

territories.

IT’S ALL “THE GAME”

I was killed at least a

dozen times, and what

personal fights and kills I

had didn’t seem to matter

much, even when acting

in concert with command

taskings. But I had fun. Not

in a consolation way or a

mundane way. But I had

“EVERY PUSH MET WITH A CONCENTRATED FIRING LINE, AND EVERY OFFENSIVE WAS

OVERWHELMING AND SPEEDY. LMGS IN DEFILADE, BUILDINGS TAKEN AND FIRING

POSITIONS SET UP THAT REMINDED ME OF THE MONOLITHIC BUILDINGS THAT SERVED

AS FORTRESSES AT OPERATION IRON HORSE”


AA LEGION


fun getting my ass beat. (“Some people will just

turn to face the fire and take it and because they

like it!” resonates). Because I know what it takes

for us to be in the situation we’re in, and I know

what it does on both sides. I’ve seen the tensions

run high, of cheating either assumed or seen,

confrontation that go beyond the game in mean

words, slurs said and hatred meant.

It is very easy to be a sore loser, or an

ungraceful one, and at worst to break the rules of

the sport in order to assuage what feels unfair or

wrong. But if I had a victory today, it was making

sure that the same grace I had on COST, was the

same grace I had on UFS.

I did not view an overwhelming offensive and

a failure of a defence as an outright personal

failure; I viewed it as having been a part of a

fight that was hard and well-fought regardless of

my own expression of my ability. I did not view

the embassy building that kept us so bunkered

in our FOB spawn as against the spirit of the

game, because as COST, this is something I have

done, and game is game, fair is fair. I viewed it

as an opportunity to get experience in attacking

buildings and CQB in an

unfamiliar space, live fire.

I did not view, at least

outright, the spawn trapping

of COST to the UFS team as

outright bull, questionable

maybe after a certain

time, especially with game

admins very present in the

COST blockade line.

My favourite thing about

the spawn trapping was that

all I had to do was respawn

after the five-minute bleed

out, and I was immediately

back into the fight. Yes, I

understand this viewpoint

might be very passive or

even supremely demeaning that I would accept

any positive out of it; I am a game developer in

my professional job, I understand that this is a

mistake of game design that this much spawn

trapping, over half the day of it, is a mistake that

must be addressed and is unfair after a certain

point. However, as a player, and as someone

who would like to go to sleep happy and fulfilled

in my actions, I viewed it as an opportunity to do

what I came here to do: play airsoft by sending

rounds down range, and to show that I have to be

put down in the ground in order to stop despite,

despite, despite.

Zulu24’s staff, who participate in their own

airsoft podcast, released an episode the day

of EF, whose opening bylines follow up on

comments they had made regarding negative

player behaviour during Operation Ironhorse just

the month prior, and also covered by me:

“The community matters, and the only way a

community changes begins with you… be the

better community.” Not to be too masturbatory

regarding my own self, but I believe, and I act on

this.

“IT IS VERY EASY TO BE A SORE LOSER, OR AN UNGRACEFUL ONE, AND AT WORST

TO BREAK THE RULES OF THE SPORT IN ORDER TO ASSUAGE WHAT FEELS UNFAIR

OR WRONG. BUT IF I HAD A VICTORY TODAY, IT WAS MAKING SURE THAT THE SAME

GRACE I HAD ON COST, WAS THE SAME GRACE I HAD ON UFS”

74


AA LEGION


Because UFS on the East Coast at least, they

have a behavioural reputation issue, accusations

of cheating and rule breaking, that multicam drip

allows them real BB-shrugging armour. I’ve heard

it on the COST side, and I’ve seen the behaviour

that leads to such a reputation now as a UFS

Tan. Perhaps this is downwind of the belief that

multicam users who are fully kitted out like a real

SF operator are “too high speed” to call hits. To be

“too cool” or perhaps able to get away with rule

breaking, and I admit I have seen UFS shrug off

shots more than COST (however, my sniper, a 300

foot kill confirmed to his credit this Op, can attest

to seeing his .45s bounce off unaffected Greens).

People become, in some part, what they

are believed to be, a recursive loop. Tans are

cheaters, so you might as well, right, both in

opposition and in being? When you’re being

locked in, beaten up, losing, trapped. Why not?

It’s the least you could do.

BE THE BEST ENEMY

But for Eastern Front, I have become my own

enemy, an enemy I know, which loses time and

time again to a dominant, as Duff said, Green

regional sub-faction. It hurts to lose, and of

course, in airsoft, that process of losing, of being

shot, blown up, pressed upon and overcooked.

But pain cannot be made an excuse. It can only

be made beneficial. I want a good enemy, so I

have to be a good enemy myself. If I want good

games, a good healthy airsoft community, sport,

and culture, I have to be a good enemy to myself.

And therefore as said, perhaps more insightful

than he means, not that I doubt Bo’s ability to

corral Airsofters, pain is something to embrace.

Although I am not particularly masochistic, it

does give me pause to at least explore the idea,

that pain when applied right is, unfortunately,

pleasure, or at least an indicator that the wider

game is going well.

Normally at this point in the article I would

have quoted the CO of our faction regarding how

the game was going and specific points. For me

this mostly means quoting Russel Lawrence

as COST’s commander. In this case, UFS’s

CO is Rich Gulley, an older man that my first

experience with was at our faction brief prior to

the start of the exercise,

who compared to COST

had certain impressive

overhead organization

preparing us for the event

from constant emails to

full usage of Ares Alpha,

the app that helps organize

airsoft events on our

phones like a much easier

ATAK or tracker. Rich is

quite funny, as men who

don’t have time for BS often

are in how they level with

their peers or subordinates.

“Go make new rules.” He

says during faction brief,

urging a certain level of

“IT HURTS TO LOSE, AND OF COURSE, IN AIRSOFT, THAT PROCESS OF LOSING, OF

BEING SHOT, BLOWN UP, PRESSED UPON AND OVERCOOKED. BUT PAIN CANNOT BE

MADE AN EXCUSE. IT CAN ONLY BE MADE BENEFICIAL. I WANT A GOOD ENEMY, SO I

HAVE TO BE A GOOD ENEMY MYSELF”


AA LEGION


creativity or maybe rambunctiousness for us

Tans.

I approached him in the middle of the day

asking for an interview. “Well, usually,” he

quickly says, “interviews mean cameras and

setting up lighting.” Given UFS’s condition on the

battlefield on the back foot and his organizing

the faction to fight, I might’ve used the wrong

word, but I insist. “Do you mind if I ask several

questions?”

He lets me, I ask him how he’s doing, and

he’s okay, if not pressed, obviously not wanting

to deal with me, so I just go for blunt of it after

he says UFS is doing okay: “If we’re doing okay

then what about the embassy building being

held by the enemy just outside of our spawn?”

Not a beat passes; He tells me my questions vex

him (direct quote: vex), they annoy him, and he

doesn’t want to answer. Fair enough, so I mount

up with my squad, and fight that losing fight very

gladly. He has bigger things to worry about, an

uphill battle with demotivated and increasingly

frustrated troops.

Airsoft Action magazine would like to thank

American Milsim for hosting Eastern Front IV,

and Zulu 24 for hosting and working with AMS

consistently to allow airsoft to breathe and play

in the US in our New England corner. I would

also like to personally thank Jordan of Zulu 24 for

continuing to head the RDX B.O.S.S Unit efforts

and return them to stock and sale, for they

added so much to the battlefield experience

during this op, as well as the fact that three

times in one month, pressed for time and after

hours, he was able to fix critical issues with my

personal B.O.S.S to bring it back fully to working

status for hard use MilSim.

I would also like to thank Evike, Elite Force,

Enola Gaye, Body Armor Vent, Titan, HOPUP,

Primary Arms Optics, G&G Armament, PTS

Syndicate, PHATCO Customs, Bloc Tactical,

Amped Airsoft, Zulu Outdoors, and Nocturne

Industries, for their patronage and support

of both the airsoft community and American

Milsim, as well as Eastern Front IV. Images used

in this article were kindly provided by Krios

Photography (www.kriosphotography.com), all

taken by the reporting photographer Billy. AA

“ALTHOUGH I AM NOT PARTICULARLY MASOCHISTIC, IT DOES GIVE ME PAUSE TO AT

LEAST EXPLORE THE IDEA, THAT PAIN WHEN APPLIED RIGHT IS, UNFORTUNATELY,

PLEASURE, OR AT LEAST AN INDICATOR THAT THE WIDER GAME IS GOING WELL”

76


AA LEGION



TAP/CLICK THE PAGE FOR MORE INFO

AA LEGION

TAIWAN

HAPPY

LANDINGS

WITH THE WORLD SHOOT AND ALL ITS RELATED MUSINGS AND WRITINGS

FADING INTO MEMORY, “OOR MAN IN TAIWAN” STEWBACCA HAS BEEN GETTING

THOROUGHLY BACK INTO THE FOLD ON THE SKIRMISH SHOOTING FRONT, AND

WITH POLK 5 BEING HELD EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAN USUAL IN 2025, THE TEAM

TAIJI MILSIM SWAPPED PLACES WITH IT AND OCCURRED ON THE FIRST WEEKEND

OF NOVEMBER, RETURNING TO THE BEACHSIDE PLAYING AREA OF QIDING ON THE

WEST COAST OF TAIWAN; SO HOW DID THINGS SHAKE OUT?

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The end of May and our POLK5 MilSim was somewhat of a washout on the first day, let alone us

all binning off the second day after breakfast due to the perpetual downpour. It really is a bit of

a test each time for the Taiji Alliance leadership in coordination with Keelung team leadership

on the east coast and other invited friendly teams from the greater Taipei area and further afield.

We’ve used MilSim locations on opposite coasts and the central hill areas south of Taipei with mixed

results, thanks to the terrain and climate of our island home, enduring the dense jungle and jagged

foliage inhibiting our movement at all back in POLK 2, scorching heat in POLK 3 and 4, along with

heavy rains at POLK 5…but every iteration seems to address concerns of past games and make

the logistics and gameplay ever-improving for all involved, and that certainly seemed to be my

experience and that of many others this iteration.

“HELD AT THE QIDING BEACHFRONT RESORT JUST SOUTHWEST OF MY OLD HSINCHU

STOMPING GROUND AND WHERE WE PREVIOUSLY HELD POLK 4 AT THE TAIL END

OF LAST YEAR, THE 2025 TEAM TAIJI MILSIM LANDED ON THE FIRST WEEKEND OF

NOVEMBER, AND ACCRUED QUITE A LARGE TURNOUT COMPARED TO OUR PREVIOUS

OUTINGS”


AA LEGION

TAIWAN

Held at the Qiding beachfront resort just

southwest of my old Hsinchu stomping ground

and where we previously held POLK 4 at the

tail end of last year, the 2025 Team Taiji MilSim

landed on the first weekend of November, and

accrued quite a large turnout compared to our

previous outings. While POLK are intended as

the main event locally and open to many teams,

our own team MilSims are usually just for our

own 100 strong membership, with usually at

least 30-50 of our more active members being

present at them to form both opposing teams, or

at least half of one entire side at POLK outings.

This year we invited a few closer friendly teams to

act as RedFor/OpFor to our Taiji BluFor, with

around 45 players per side

in the end,

and minimal

footprint in terms of staff/

organisation, with our leadership acting as

coordinating HQ elements on our team and

roving photographers throughout.

Alongside the increased participation the

logistics were also much improved; previously

we had had to camp out on the old paintball field

of the expansive seaside resort, but this time we

managed to secure the accommodation blocks

that a bunch of students had been using on our

last visit! There’s a lot to be said for rocking up

and having rooms with two double beds and a

bathroom for each four man brick to make use of;

no need to carry all your tents, bedding or other

camping equipment as well as avoiding having to

spend time making and breaking camp! As nice

as it is to camp in large groups and have the big

communal barbecue meal that forms the core of

POLK outings, it is nice to trim down everything

we have to carry and not worry so much about the

weather and rushing to set up everything before

we even get to donning our BDUs and plate

carriers to prepare for the shooting.

HEADING OUT

I got a lift with Colin who lives near

me again and we set off quite early

on the morning of Saturday the 1st of

November, driving down to Qiding and

arriving on site around 0815 before

most of the others. We managed to

settle into our room, and had plenty of

time for me to do some gun science

with the gun vise, laser rangefinder,

laser boresight unit and IPSC target

I brought along which meant I could

get some real work done that I’d

been waiting to find time for as

well as sight in my VFC FNC which

would be my primary choice for this

outing, having tried to use it at POLK 5 but having

technical issues of my own meddling’s making

and defaulting back to the VFC M16A2 again at

that time.

As other teammates and our OpFor friends

began trickling in over the next hour or so we did

final checks over our gear back in our rooms and

topped off magazines, filled our hydration setups

and normalised our comms channels while the

“AS ALWAYS WE PLANNED OUR TEAM STRUCTURE AHEAD OF THE GAME DAY SO

EVERYONE KNEW THEIR SQUADMATES, LEADERS, REPORTING LINES AND LIKELY

ACTIONS IN GAME, ALL CO-ORDINATED BY RADIO COMMS ACROSS SQUADS AND

TEAM HQ, WITH OTHER MEMBERS BEING DESIGNATED SNIPERS, MACHINE GUNNERS,

OR MEDICS”

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squad leaders of each of our sub units. As always

we planned our team structure ahead of the game

day so everyone knew their squadmates, leaders,

reporting lines and likely actions in game, all coordinated

by radio comms across squads and

team HQ, with other members being designated

snipers, machine gunners, or medics. With eight

fire teams averaging six players with three team

leaders overseeing each grouping of them under

three larger elements, then the Taiji leadership

serving as top level co-ordination and HQ.

Unfortunately due to the reduced footprint and

another major MilSim occurring further south

on the same weekend we didn’t have the usual

ATAK system in operation on everyone’s phones,

although we deployed it to good effect at POLK 5

and other skirmish days since to good effect so

can hopefully integrate it more in future. Similarly

due to local airspace restrictions we were not

permitted any drones in this case either, many

teams have been using these to increasing effect

over past outings but of course game areas

and their local restrictions sometimes

limit us.

After a quick midday lunch in the mess

hall of the typical Taiwanese lunchbox of

rice, meat and veggies which certainly

got wolfed down in short order by many

and gave us a welcome energy boost,

we went for a brief recce walk of the

site around 1230 for those of us who

hadn’t been previously, and in general

just to refresh the rest of us who

might not have seen everywhere on

our last outing. Then eschewing the

usual chronographing of everyone’s

guns for expediency (which was

only decided on the day) and

coupled with the fact everyone

should be a trusted member or

friend, and that power limits are

already fairly generous in Taiwan and Taiji

games in general, we all began forming up at the

outdoor stage and auditorium area around 1300

and got everyone together in columns of their

squads for the final overall briefing and fine tuning

before RedFor departed north to the top end of

the beach and site at 1330 while we of BluFor

prepared to deploy along the beach and through

the central jungle pass as with POLK 4.

Charlie element consisted of my fireteam and

two others and would be advancing along the

beach until we met resistance before forming a

line to hold then redirect inland up the dunes. I

was the designated medic for Charlie 2, meaning

I had to hang back a little more than usual as

anyone else eliminated would have to come and

find me. The medic system for this outing would

be a ‘selfie medic’ arrangement with the Line

messenger app used commonly in Taiwan and

Japan; a central group chat was created with

each medic and the HQ in, and we would send

a selfie with each casualty revived to add to the

overall body count until a pre-determined limit

was reached for each team, usually

a total matching that

“DUE TO LOCAL AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS WE WERE NOT PERMITTED

ANY DRONES IN THIS CASE EITHER, MANY TEAMS HAVE BEEN USING THESE TO

INCREASING EFFECT OVER PAST OUTINGS BUT OF COURSE GAME AREAS AND THEIR

LOCAL RESTRICTIONS SOMETIMES LIMIT US”


AA LEGION

TAIWAN

of the starting strength giving you effectively a full

reinforcement of the initial team size overall.

GAME ON!

The first such instance for my squad came shortly

after we began; game on was just after 1330

and we began moving up the beach as planned,

lead element Charlie 1 composed of the more

athletic guys and led by our Israeli team mate

Eilon charged up the beach as fast as they could

to prevent the OpFor from advancing too far

south, but it seems they had already started on

the beach or where even faster than our forward

elements! They soon engaged OpFor around

a third to halfway along, and Charlie 2

and 3 elements settled in

behind to

reinforce them

and take up their positions on

one of the higher dunes overlooking the OpFor

position. I took the lead out of habit and got to

work dumping rounds through the FNC while

eyeing the trajectories with the ELCAN replica

atop. I managed to eliminate one of the early guys

who popped up, but we were struggling with the

southbound winds streaking down the beach and

whipping up the surface sand into shimmering

airborne lines, so eventually I had to fall back

and reload the eight 30 BB mags I had on me and

re-gas them. While I was doing so I began getting

visits from the other squad members for medic

revives, but at least I got some cool selfies of us

working on the beach with the sun shining off the

sea and the windfarms in the background.

All the while I could hear the comms chatter

of our other elements moving further north

along the top edge of the beach cliff edge and

further in to the jungle area another thirty or so

metres in. Eventually we managed to encircle

the high ground and move over it to their

flag and capture it within around an hour

of fire and movement tactics between all

our elements; End Ex was called across

the comms net and Charlie 2 gathered

ourselves and began walking back

down the beach having not moved

much further from our initial defensive

position. We quickly returned to our

nearby rooms to fully re-arm and sort

out any minor issues with our gear

then reconvened around 1500 to swap

things round and have BluFor move

south towards RedFor at our previous

start point.

We commenced around 1530

and we charged up the more open

hillside of the high ground and

into the jungle on the other side,

moving down towards the south end and some of

Charlie element branching off west towards the

beachfront to cover it off as the OpFor advanced

north and ran very wide to avoid incoming fire.

Again Charlie 2 were tasked with holding the

middle ground and harassing the elements that

approached through the more dense foliage of

the central area. With thick coiled trees, vines

and roots atop the small undulating muddy and

“GAME ON WAS JUST AFTER 1330 AND WE BEGAN MOVING UP THE BEACH AS

PLANNED, LEAD ELEMENT CHARLIE 1 COMPOSED OF THE MORE ATHLETIC GUYS AND

LED BY OUR ISRAELI TEAM MATE EILON CHARGED UP THE BEACH AS FAST AS THEY

COULD TO PREVENT THE OPFOR FROM ADVANCING TOO FAR SOUTH”

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sandy hills that gave ample cover to fire from

while we heard the continued chatter with HQ;

I had to help relay messages a few times as

the radios were struggling more on the second

round due to the denser jungle and terrain we

encountered as opposed to the more open

ground we covered on the first round’s assault.

Eventually comms become totally ineffective

as our various elements spread out along the

beach and in the jungle areas towards the RedFor

start point, struggling to find their flag which had

apparently been placed by them somewhere out

of sight! In the meantime our HQ somehow came

under attack despite the redeployment of some

of our rear elements to try and secure it; whatever

happened we lost comms and the otherwise

effective teamwork fell apart somewhat, RedFor

victory… eventually we were informed of End Ex

after I sent a medic selfie to the group chat to the

reply that it was already over but we hadn’t heard

it through normal channels.

Once again we gathered ourselves and

exfiltrated out to the north and back down the

eastern hillside and paved road at its bottom that

we had come up at the beginning of the second

round deployment. All in all it felt like a not

terrible time, each round only lasted an hour or

so, largely due to our effective fire and movement,

prior planning, coordination, communication

and teamwork. This is something Team Taiji is

increasingly known for due to the sheer size of

the team roster and core element of ‘windtalkers’,

us foreigners of course use English or bilingual

comms which makes it harder for some of the

non-anglophone opponents to understand

any comms which may be intercepted (but we

usually keep our structure, own team maps and

location callsigns or co-ordinates to ourselves) or

overhear us in closer proximity.

All in all it had felt like a better experience than

some in the past, although we didn’t move around

as some of the other squads we also didn’t suffer

from the weather as much (wind affecting our

marksmanship aside). I only got through two of

the four litres of water I was carrying, and none of

my equipment seemed to have any of the minor

annoyances of past outings. Eventually everyone

gets their setup squared away to suit their own

needs and avoid discomfort or a lack of utility…

I’ve certainly managed to thin out my clip on

backpack to only water and lightweight additional

thing, with all my loaded magazines and spare AR

mag sized speedloader, small gas can for top ups,

and comms gear all distributed comfortably and

close to my body for best mobility and comfort. I

was very happy with the VFC FNC’s performance

as well, and evidently my teammates could tell

I was laying down the hurt as they later reported

hearing the distinctive loud metallic clack of its

action operating over the chatter and everyone

else’s gunfire… good times.

R&R TIME!

Back at the accommodation we all ditched our

gear and hung our BDU’s up to dry in the air

conditioned rooms (most of which were happily

better by the next morning); mine remained a

little damp, but not as unbearable or dank and

sweaty as previous outings where they had to

be on drying lines from the tents in the humid

outside air. We stowed all our gear and put our

plate carriers over the backs of chairs to dry out

likewise before filtering through the showers in

turn and breaking out the feeding implements.

Big Mike and Colin had prepared awesome

curries and Irish stews respectively for our core

element which we gorged ourselves on outside on

the picnic tables while the majority of the others

returned to the mess hall for more traditional

local offerings, and of course more “adult

beverages” started getting passed around too.

All in high spirits and well fed we shared our after

action report thoughts and discussed what could

be improved next time, as well as celebrating

“THE MEDIC SYSTEM FOR THIS OUTING WOULD BE A ‘SELFIE MEDIC’ ARRANGEMENT

WITH THE LINE MESSENGER APP USED COMMONLY IN TAIWAN AND JAPAN; A CENTRAL

GROUP CHAT WAS CREATED WITH EACH MEDIC AND THE HQ IN, AND WE WOULD SEND

A SELFIE WITH EACH CASUALTY REVIVED TO ADD TO THE OVERALL BODY COUNT”


AA LEGION

TAIWAN

little Mike’s birthday with the now customary

team whip around present. Normally we progress

through utility knives, M18 pistols and related

holsters or optics and other such things we all

find useful, with him getting a decent pistol

holster with weapon light mounting capability

in this instance; it’s always nice to feel a part of

something larger, especially if you’re a foreigner

living overseas, and we all club together to treat

each other to something useful for our kit bags

and have birthday dinners and drinks as a team

tradition in general.

We also watched ‘28 Years Later’ on the foyer

wall of the accommodation thanks to Colin’s

netflix and portable projector, then decided

to turn in before too much of the midnight oil

was burnt. The vast majority of the RedFor guys

actually left for home on the Saturday night, as

is usually the case a lot of guys have other plans

for Sundays with them being family activity days

here in Taiwan, or they have their own home team

games to get involved with.

Sunday morning consisted of dragging

ourselves out of bed and eating a quick local

breakfast around 0930 before getting back into

our thankfully not too dank gear for a quick

morning skirmish of an hour or so switching ends

on the paintball field with the around fifteen a

side remnants of both teams who felt like playing

a little more. Then we all ditched our gear back

at our cars and changed into more comfortable

civilian attire ready to depart; Colin drove us

back north and we chatted about the event and

other upcoming plans, with me getting home

around 1230 and getting stuck in to the post

MilSim cleanup of laundry, guns n’ gear. All told I

was pretty happy with how everything had gone,

nothing is ever perfect, but the weather was

certainly more bearable with the comparative

mildness of November and the lack of rain this

time. I didn’t feel anywhere near as dehydrated

in the field and the only downside is perhaps

the lower efficacy of gas guns due to the cooler

air and winds causing deflection of the BBs

in flight and magazine cool down and related

performance drops we normally wouldn’t

experience in Taiwan.

Many thanks as always to the Team Taiji and

Keelung shooting association leadership and

members for putting on an excellent game, and

to our friends from further afield who turned up

in force to be OpFor/RedFor. I’m certainly looking

forward to what the next POLK or Taiji MilSim

have to offer now that we’re getting ourselves

pretty well ironed-out with our own experiences,

improved gear and tactics.

Until the next game on… AA

“EVENTUALLY COMMS BECOME TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE AS OUR VARIOUS ELEMENTS

SPREAD OUT ALONG THE BEACH AND IN THE JUNGLE AREAS TOWARDS THE REDFOR

START POINT, STRUGGLING TO FIND THEIR FLAG WHICH HAD APPARENTLY BEEN

PLACED BY THEM SOMEWHERE OUT OF SIGHT!”

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“ALL IN ALL IT HAD FELT LIKE A BETTER EXPERIENCE THAN SOME IN THE PAST,

ALTHOUGH WE DIDN’T MOVE AROUND AS SOME OF THE OTHER SQUADS WE

ALSO DIDN’T SUFFER FROM THE WEATHER AS MUCH (WIND AFFECTING OUR

MARKSMANSHIP ASIDE). ...AND NONE OF MY EQUIPMENT SEEMED TO HAVE ANY OF

THE MINOR ANNOYANCES OF PAST OUTINGS.”


AA LEGION

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EXPO-NENTIAL!

BACK IN 2024 BILL JOINED MIGUEL IN PORTUGAL FOR THE FIRST-EVER AIRSOFT

EXPO AND WHAT AN EVENT THAT TURNED OUT TO BE, A SCENE-SETTER FOR

JUST WHAT A NATIONAL AIRSOFT COMMUNITY COULD DO WHEN THEY ALL PULL

TOGETHER! AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THAT EVENT, 2025 PROVED TO BE EVEN

BIGGER AND BETTER. MIGUEL AND THE CREW TELL MORE…

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Last year, the Portuguese community tried

something a bit new here, a gathering that

aimed to bring together several parts of

airsoft together. The challenge was launched to

everyone; sign-up, build your booth and show

what you do in airsoft, it doesn’t matter if you

are a shop, a team, an association, a club or any

other project related to airsoft, just come! And

if you can’t have a booth, comes and visit, bring

your team, your family and your friends, meet

other players, create new contacts. And it went

really well, especially if we take into consideration

that it was all done by a handful of volunteers!

But, if you want to know more about last year’s

edition, check out ISSUE 169! Now it’s time to

focus on AirsoftExpo 2025!

This year the same group joined and wanted

to make something bigger and better, but for

that they needed more people! More hands to

help and more tools available! So the first step

towards the AirsoftExpo was to assemble a team.

And it was no surprise to me that I was invited

to be part of this group; I guess being an active

member of the community and knowing the

people involved makes it normal!

But I wasn’t the only one; we tried to have

a team composed of players from different

backgrounds, different associations and different

connections. I guess it was a way to defend

ourselves from those who like to point fingers but

do nothing... sorry about the rant…

With a good group gathered, it was time to get

to work. And there was a lot to do, authorizations,

location, floor plan, dates, marketing, social

media, group management, you name it. So that

meant a lot of online meetings, and we did spend

a few hours on those.

But, slowly, the results started to appear, and

the community was getting hyped. We showed

that this year we were working towards something

bigger and better, and many heads turned

towards the Expo.

PREP FTW!

At the start of October, we opened the

registrations, there was still a lot of work being

done behind the scenes, but it was crucial to

give those interested time to think and prepare.

Soon we had many interested in having their own

stand, even some entities from outside the airsoft

bubble; in these cases, we decided to accept

their presence if there were free slots after close

the registration. Our main goal is airsoft, and we

wanted as many stands directly related to it as

possible.

This year the Expo was going to take place in

the same location as last time, mostly because

we already had a good contact with City Hall, and

it was an open door. There were other locations

on the table, and there was one which was really

interesting, with much better parking, better

access, coffee shop and a better presentation.

But we decided to play safe. As time moved

on, we also kept making contacts, with the

authorities, armed forces and other important

entities, since airsoft can be an entry point to

these careers. But in the end, only the Portuguese

Navy showed interest and ended up being present

at the Expo.

Another important aspect implemented

this year was a different challenge thrown to

the community. Organizing the Expo involves

expenses, especially with the licensing from the

authorities, which in my opinion is a complete

rip-off... we are talking about airsoft, not firearms.

I’m OK with some rules, like no shooting, replicas

locked with steel cables, but paying over €1000

for a simple OK from the authorities, plus the

presence of two agents, is just too much. So the

challenge was to have teams organize games that

would help fund the Expo. The idea came from a

previous game this year, organized by our friends

at the Ravens Airsoft Club, which had already

raised some money to help with the costs. And

some teams did meet the challenge, my own

“THE CHALLENGE WAS LAUNCHED TO EVERYONE; SIGN-UP, BUILD YOUR BOOTH AND

SHOW WHAT YOU DO IN AIRSOFT, IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU ARE A SHOP, A TEAM,

AN ASSOCIATION, A CLUB OR ANY OTHER PROJECT RELATED TO AIRSOFT, JUST

COME!”


AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

among them, and with their help we were not only

able to pay for everything mandatory, but we had

enough to invest in publicity, banners, polos and

other small but also important items. My heartfelt

thank you for those who helped the Expo evolve!

As we approached the date of the event, we

closed the registrations and started divulging

those who were going to have a booth. Here

Cabral did a great job, he took care of pretty much

everything related to marketing, which gave the

Expo an extra professional look. The weeks before

the Expo, it was pretty much spam everywhere!

Everyone had to know about it, we wanted

people to visit, not just airsofters, but the local

community as well. The team launched images,

information, teasers, TV announcements and

even food menus. It was crazy!

The day before the Expo, most of the guys in the

work group travelled to the location in order to lay

out the pre-designed floorplan, set up banners

and everything needed, and of course, welcome

those who wanted to build their stand the day

before. Like last year, we had players coming from

different parts of the country, so it was important

to have a bigger time window for everyone.

And although I was part of the staff, my team

was also going to have a booth. The Expo is a

great chance to make new contacts, have people

learn about the team and of course, showcase

some novelties from the brands that support the

team and me, like Specna Arms, Viper Tactical,

Cygnus Armory, and most recently Vector and

Victoptics.

EXPO DAY!

Now, Expo Day! Saturday morning we arrived

early to start setting up everything. This year we

improved on our booth, with a gun wall, inside

LED lighting and even a giveaway wheel, where

the visitors could win patches, trinkets and even

discounts or free entries to our games. The doors

opened to the public at 1000 and from there on

out it was the normal running, welcoming people,

visit other booths, meet new and old players, you

name it.

The Expo was a success, with more booths and

more visitors compared to

last year when Bill visited

to support our very first

event! We had challenges,

giveaways, talks, live

interviews, podcasts and

even a two-part piece for the

national television (RTP)! It

was great to spend time with

so many people that I’ve

come to know throughout

the years, and of course,

meet other players, connect

with other teams and talk

shop with so many members

of the community. And, like

I mentioned above, it was

also a great opportunity

to show first hand some

“CABRAL DID A GREAT JOB, HE TOOK CARE OF PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING RELATED

TO MARKETING, WHICH GAVE THE EXPO AN EXTRA PROFESSIONAL LOOK. THE WEEKS

BEFORE THE EXPO, IT WAS PRETTY MUCH SPAM EVERYWHERE! WE WANTED PEOPLE

TO VISIT, NOT JUST AIRSOFTERS, BUT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS WELL”

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new products, like the new Specna Arms Vapor

gas shotguns, in this case de VSG2, the Cygnus

Armory XP helmet and Defender mask, the

Vector Optics Paragon Prism and Frenzy, and the

Victoptics SRD VOD and PRISM Acog (full review

to come soon!).

AAR

But I don’t want to bother you much more, so I

asked for some questions and feedback on the

Expo from the three guys in charge, Nuno Tavares,

Paulo Cabral and José Elias, and the other two

members of Airsoft Action Crew present, Dino

and Sierra (Bruno and Sara).

BRUNO: Another year, another fantastic Airsoft

Expo in Portugal, and this edition genuinely felt

like a level‐up on all fronts. The event was better

structured, better publicized, and the steady flow

of visitors throughout the day clearly showed

that word is spreading fast within and beyond the

community. From an exhibitor’s point of view,

it was a long, intense day, but absolutely worth

every minute.

Preparation, as always, had

its share of chaos in the week

leading up to the Expo, and our

booth was a perfect example

of that “organized chaos”; we

showed up with a fully custom,

top‐of‐the‐line prize wheel built

from wood, bolts and 3D‐printed

parts, with the “ball bearings”

made out of airsoft BBs. It

looked a bit mad on paper, but in

practice it worked flawlessly and

became a conversation starter

with visitors, players and curious

newcomers alike. That DIY

spirit is exactly what makes this

event feel authentic rather than

corporate.

What truly sets the Airsoft

Expo apart, though, is its purpose. It is not just

a place for players to showcase home‐made

props, custom replicas and wild technical builds;

it is also a platform to show how big, diverse

and active the Portuguese airsoft scene really is.

Almost every weekend, games across the country

bring players together not only to enjoy the sport,

but also to support important causes, and the

Expo follows that same philosophy.

Entry is simple; bring essential goods to

donate, bring friends and family, and bring an

open mind about what airsoft actually represents.

This year’s edition even made it into national

news, which is a huge milestone for everyone

involved. That kind of visibility helps break

stereotypes, shows the broader public that airsoft

is a structured, responsible and beneficial sport,

and highlights the community’s commitment to

charity and social impact. The hope now is that

next year’s Expo attracts an even wider audience,

gives more visibility to teams, shops and creators,

and continues to prove that airsoft in Portugal is

far more than a hobby… it is a positive force in the

“THE EXPO IS A GREAT CHANCE TO MAKE NEW CONTACTS, HAVE PEOPLE LEARN

ABOUT THE TEAM AND OF COURSE, SHOWCASE SOME NOVELTIES FROM THE BRANDS

THAT SUPPORT THE TEAM AND ME, LIKE SPECNA ARMS, VIPER TACTICAL, CYGNUS

ARMORY, AND MOST RECENTLY VECTOR AND VICTOPTICS”


AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

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PORTUGAL

community.

Bruno out.

SARA: While airsoft in Portugal is steadily

expanding, we remain a small nation where many

are still unfamiliar with the sport’s true essence.

ExpoAirsoft serves as a vital bridge, fostering

community growth and strengthening the bonds

between enthusiasts, all while championing

charitable causes for those in need.

The progression from the first to the second

edition was remarkable. Exhibitors invested

significantly more creativity into their presence:

stands were meticulously detailed, showcasing

a wider array of high-quality gear; many booths

introduced interactive games, successfully

capturing the interest of visitors across all

generations.

My deepest admiration goes to the organizing

team for their commitment to seamless

integration. By providing a comprehensive

activity schedule, they ensured guests never

missed a highlight. One standout initiative was

the sticker collection card given at the entrance.

By encouraging visitors to “fill” their cards for a

giveaway entry, the organizers turned networking

into a fun challenge. This was particularly

effective for younger guests and served as an

excellent icebreaker, allowing newcomers to

engage with exhibitors in a natural, comfortable

way.

Ultimately, ExpoAirsoft proves that this is more

than just a hobby. It is a family-oriented event

where players, spouses, and children come

together, hopefully showing that Portuguese

Airsoft is a remarkably inclusive environment that

prioritizes community over competition.

ELIAS: when asked how I would evolve the

concept of ExpoAirsoft, my answer focuses

on one core principle: community immersion.

We want to move from a simple exhibition to a

complete experience that celebrates the sport

and the people who make it happen.

To achieve this, I envision five strategic

changes:

* A Two-Day Event: Extending the expo to a

full weekend format. This allows for a more

relaxed pace, giving visitors

ample time to explore every

booth, attend workshops,

and network without feeling

rushed.

* A Social Dining Hub:

Creating a dedicated food

court equipped with tables

and seating. This wouldn’t

just be a place to eat, but a

“Networking Zone” where

players, teams, and industry

professionals can sit down,

share stories, and strengthen

the bonds of our community.

* Player-Led Entertainment:

Introducing live entertainment

and tactical demonstrations

performed by selected male

“THIS YEAR’S EDITION EVEN MADE IT INTO NATIONAL NEWS, WHICH IS A HUGE

MILESTONE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. THAT KIND OF VISIBILITY HELPS BREAK

STEREOTYPES, SHOWS THE BROADER PUBLIC THAT AIRSOFT IS A STRUCTURED,

RESPONSIBLE AND BENEFICIAL SPORT, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE COMMUNITY’S

COMMITMENT TO CHARITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT”

96


AA LEGION

PORTUGAL

and female players. By showcasing talent

from within our own community, we ensure

the entertainment is authentic, engaging,

and truly representative of the sport.

* The “Team Gallery”: A central exhibition

feature displaying photos of every team

that submits them. This serves as a Hall of

Fame to honour the backbone of our sport,

the teams, giving them the visibility and

recognition they deserve.

* Military Presence: expanding our roster of

exhibitors to include more official Military

Forces. This bridges the gap between the

sport and real-world tactical units, adding

a layer of prestige and educational value to

the event.

CABRAL: At the next edition

of ExpoAirsoft, I would like to

see more stands from teams,

clubs, shops, and projects,

but also to have it in a larger

space, with better conditions

and the possibility of having

vehicles outside.

Above all, I would like it to

be possible to attract more

people from outside the

airsoft community to promote

and introduce the sport,

perhaps through a shooting

range where they can try

out the weapons. In a way,

attract more players to the

community.

To achieve a massive

presence of entities, such as

the police, army, air force...

In short, a bigger Expoairsoft

in every way.

Go big or go home!

STUNTMAN: After the first

Expo Airsoft, we prepared for

LIST OF BOOTHS

Clube Bear - Brigada Especial

de Airsoft Radical

BlackHawk Airsoft

ALCATEIA AIRSOFT CLUBE

Cenário Raia Aventura

3Dimension

DDT - Clube de Praticantes de

Airsoft

Phoenix Tactical Team

APACORP APD

Clube Legião Estrangeira AT

Associação Lusitana de Airsoft

SANDSTORM DIVISION

[H.O.T.] - Hostile Operations

Team

Ghost Ops Airsoft Team

Sigmaveterano

Grupo Português de

Reencenação da Segunda

Guerra Mundial

Bordaecia Bordados

Nemesis

Armada da Costa Alentejana

the second edition to be even better, not only in

terms of content, but also with a greater number

of exhibitors and visitors, a number that was

largely surpassed.

The 2025 Airsoft Expo was a huge success

and what was presented to visitors further

showcased what Portuguese airsoft is all about.

The exhibitors were very well prepared, displaying

good equipment for airsoft games. APDs, many

clubs, teams, and projects related to our sport

were present.

The final assessment was that after the great

quality displayed, for next year we want an

even bigger third edition, and if possible, with

international exhibitors. AA

Irmãos de Armas

AIRSOFT GIRLS PORTUGAL

ASA-Aragão Survival

Awareness/PortugalPreppers

Combate Virtual

FEPA “Forças Especiais

Portuguesas de Airsoft “

Sakura Close Protection

Meshtastic/ATAK

CHC

Clube AT Santa Susana

Instinto Militar

ANA APD

6MM Safezone

SHOT ZONE

Shot Zone TV

Marinha Portuguesa

Clube F.O.E.

Airsoft Clube L13

APAP-APD

B.O.J. - Batalhão Operacional

de Javas

Apma

Raiders 21

“AFTER THE FIRST EXPO AIRSOFT, WE PREPARED FOR THE SECOND EDITION TO

BE EVEN BETTER, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF CONTENT, BUT ALSO WITH A GREATER

NUMBER OF EXHIBITORS AND VISITORS, A NUMBER THAT WAS LARGELY SURPASSED.

THE 2025 AIRSOFT EXPO WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO

VISITORS”



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Airsoft Action - Issue 182

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Airsoft Action - Issue 182

Transform your PDFs into Flipbooks and boost your revenue!

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