Airsoft International - November 2017

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THE WORLD’S BEST SELLING AIRSOFT MAGAZINE

PHOTO BY STU MANKS


CHRIS TIBBOT
THE GREY
READER’S
LOAD OUTS
NAILING THE DETAILS
GEAR UP ON PAGE 40

AI500: AFTER
ACTION REPORT
PLENTY OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS!
WERE YOU THERE?! GO TO PAGE 40
TO SEE IF YOU CAN SPOT YOURSELF!

JG G36
STRIPPED DOWN AND
READY FOR UPGRADES
PAGE 28
HR4K
MERCHANTS FOR
THE MOTIVATED!
TACTICAL LIFESTYLE PAGE 70

CASE
FACEBOOK.COM/AIRSOFTINT

CLOSED!
£4.50
V O L :1 3 I S S :7

NUPROL’S NEW HARD


CASE RANGE REVIEWED
SEAL UP ON PAGE 58

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CONTENTS AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL
VOLUME 13 ISSUE 7

09 FOREWORD
It’s the end of an era as Airsoft International makes a big announcement.

12-15 PHOTO SPOTLIGHT


Ai500 Action! See if our lenses caught you in the act.

22-23 KNOW YOUR LIMITS


Airsoft gun power levels, how to find them and the law, all covered right here.
46
26-31 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Check the after action report from Ai500 Unfinished Business

28-29 NUPROL PEQ-15


Go-to accessories from Nuprol and a little history of the military applications
of laser and lights.

32-37 SIDE ARM ROUND UP


A bulk round up of side arms, which one will you fill your holster with?

FEATURED!
40-47 CHRIS TIBBOTS’S CTSFO KIT!
An amazingly well detailed, thoroughly researched reader’s load out 82
46-47 PACK YOUR BACK-UP!
Phil talks about side arms and why you should make more effort to use yours.

50-53 JING GONG G36


A classic starter gun with bags of potential that is sorely overlooked.

54-55 SOLDIER SKILLS


More essential tips and tricks to make you and your team more effective on
the skirmish field.

58-59 CASE CLOSED


Nuprol’s hard-case range is reviewed and rated, from small to extra large,
there’s one for your gun!

26 75

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HEY, DO YOU
SUBSCRIBE?
SIGN UP NOW
AND GET AI IN
BOTH HARD
AND DIGITAL
FORMAT!

40
62-63 SNUGPAK REVIEW WWW.AI-MAG.COM
A versatile and competitively priced sleeping bag.

64-65 SIGHTS
Select a sight for your rifle and get your shots on target! revolution!

HR4K!
70-71 TACTICAL LIFESTYLE
With HR4K the fun doesn’t have to stop when
the game is over, join the tactical revolution!

75-79 JG G36 TAKEDOWN


Strip your JG G36 down for upgrades and maintenance with our easy guide.

82-83 WARRIOR GUNFIGHTER BELT


This ‘Gunfighter Belt’ setup brings new features to a classic system.

86-87 MARSHAL LAW


Jacob tries his hand at marshalling and finds out what it’s like on the other side.

90 READER’S LETTER
You write in, we answer... simple! Get in touch on [email protected]

58

86 SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
IT’S EASY!!
ONLINE AND RIGHT
AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
PICK UP A SUBSCRIPTION
TO OUR DIGITAL ISSUES AND
YOU CAN READ AI ON ALL OF
YOUR DEVICES, FROM PHONES
AND TABLETS TO DESKTOP
COMPUTERS WITH JUST ONE
QUICK AND EASY ONLINE LOGIN!
CHECK OUT WWW.AI-MAG.COM/SUBSCRIBE

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FOREWORD
AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL VOLUME 13 ISSUE 7

PAUL MONAF
PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
[email protected]
THE SYSTEM WORKS...
The man that started it all. This month we are pleased to showcase the
He calls the shots behind the scenes. hard work and dedication of a reader in our
longs-running “KIT UP” section. Chris, inspired
BEN WEBB
EDITOR by our recent CTSFO load out feature, decided
[email protected] to assemble his own. Working closely with
A fresh face at the wheel, ready to
myself over the last few months he’s managed
steer Ai on to the next level.
to assemble a kit that is probably even more
BEN DICKIE detailed and authentic than our example, we
ART DIRECTOR hope you enjoy seeing Chris in his kit and learning
[email protected]
The Rambo of about how he, as a reader, managed to nail down
shapes 'n' colours. the look. It’s great to see it done and if you have
achieved something similar, don’t keep it to
S23: GEAR MONKEY
STAFF WRITER yourself. Drop us a line at [email protected]
[email protected] and let us know!
Our answer to The Stig, you can count on
our Gear Monkey to be at the cutting edge! Now, on to other matters… If you are a regular
reader and follow our Facebook page, you might
PHIL BUCKNALL notice that indeed, I am leaving the position
STAFF WRITER
[email protected] of Editor here at AiHQ. After almost 7 years in
An experienced airsoft player bringing a control of the mag it’s time to move on. It’s been
selection of practical experience. an amazing experience and it has been wonderful
JACOB MILLER to interact with, inspire and play along side many
STAFF WRITER Ai fans over the years. I’ve learned a massive
[email protected]
amount from my time as Editor and I have enjoyed
Jacob is our youngest contributor but he has
wisdom and insight well beyond his years! running our Ai500 events over the last couple of
years. At this point I want to say a massive thank
CRAIG ATKIN you to everyone that has supported me and the
ILLUSTRATION
[email protected] magazine during my time here, along with my
With a pen in one hand and a 1911 in the colleagues it has been an amazing experience that
other, this talented guy has us covered!
I will always look back on fondly.
Enough about me though… You are probably
more interested in what will happen to the
magazine, right? As far as you should be concerned
Airsoft International is continuing on with business
as usual. Of course there will be room for new
SUBSCRIPTIONS contributors with new ideas which promises to
SIGN UP TODAY AND GET AI IN BOTH HARD AND DIGITAL be an exciting shake-up for the publication. I am
FORMAT! CHECK OUT PAGE 88 FOR MORE INFORMATION
Order online at: www.ai-mag.com
certainly looking forward to seeing what the future
Or over the phone on: 01529 488 100 holds and you should be too!
PUBLISHING So, it’s with pleasure that, for one last time
PAUL MONAF: SALES / PUBLISHING DIRECTOR I introduce you to another issue of Airsoft
[email protected]
International magazine. Get stuck in, enjoy it and
SHARON MONAF: ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
[email protected] get out there and get your finger on the triggers
as soon as you can.
DISTRIBUTED BY:
WARNERS GROUP PUBLICATIONS PLC
The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire. PE10 9PH
See you in the safe zone!
Tel: 01778 391135 Ben Webb
PRINTED BY THE MAGAZINE PRINTING COMPANY
Issn: 1750-8584

ebcon
publishing ltd.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of articles in this magazine,


but the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors contained in
material from independent sources or authors. Reproduction in whole
or part of any text, photography or illustration in any form without
permission from the publisher/editor is strictly prohibited. We welcome
articles, photographs or artwork. Airsoft International cannot be held
responsible for any loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please
enclose a SAE if you wish your material to be returned. Competitions
will be judged on the dates specified. No correspondence will be entered
into and the judge's decision is final. In the event of the published prize
not being available due to circumstances beyond the control of the
magazine, a suitable alternative of similar value will be provided.

DISCLAIMER
The publishers of Airsoft International (Ai) magazine do not condone the possession of firearms,
airsoft models or replica weaponry for illegal purposes.
The hobby sport of airsoft skirmishing is conducted at specialist skirmish sites or clubs
throughout the world, in controlled conditions where strict safety policies are implemented.
Airsoft International magazine does not publish articles on real firearms or blank firing weapons.
Airsoft replicas should not be confused with real firearms, air rifles or BB Guns.
In accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Home Office in the UK (overseas readers may
be subject to different laws), airsoft replicas are not to be used or brandished by any individual in a
threatening manner in public or in any way to cause a person to fear personal injury.
Airsoft replicas are recommended for use at professionally run skirmish sites. Individuals
ignoring this advice will be breaking the law and can expect severe penalties imposed upon them
from their local constabularies.

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YOUR SHOTS! Y O U R S H O T S I N P R I N T ! - Y O U R S

HERE IS AS MANY IMAGES OF ALL


YOU FAITHFUL AI500: UNFINISHED
BUSINESS ATTENDEES AS WE COULD
FIT IN ONE ISSUE! TO READ THE
FULL ‘AFTER ACTION REPORT’ AND
BREAKDOWN OF THE WEEKEND AT THE
FORMER PLEASURE ISLAND SITE, OUR
LAST AI500 EVENT TO BE HELD THERE,
TURN TO PAGE 26 WHERE YOU’LL FIND
EVEN MORE EXCLUSIVE IMAGES. SEE IF
YOU CAN SPOT YOURSELF IN PRINT!

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U R S H O T S I N P R I N T ! - Y O U R S H O T S I N P R I N T !

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YOUR SHOTS! Y O U R S H O T S I N P R I N T ! - Y O U R S

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U R S H O T S I N P R I N T ! - Y O U R S H O T S I N P R I N T !

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A I L RC ASL L !O GE
ROL F T TIN V OLV
I NEDT AENDR GENT SEE
A TN I O N A L W H A T W E D O

AI NEEDS YOU!
YOU’VE SEEN OUR “LOCAL LOADOUT” PAGES BEFORE, IT’S YOUR CHANCE TO
HAVE A WHOLE SPREAD DEVOTED TO YOU, YOUR KIT AND YOUR AIRSOFT, AND TO
TAKE PART, WE ONLY NEED A COUPLE OF THINGS… A FULL-LENGTH PICTURE OF
YOU DON’T HAVE
TO USE A PROFES
TO TAKE USABLE
SIONAL CAMERA
YOU, BOTH FRONT AND BACK, AND A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE KIT YOU USE. NEED IS SOME DE IM AGES, ALL YOU
CENT LIGHT (HEA
DURING THE DAY D OUTSIDE
■ THE PITURES FOR BEST RESULT
CLEAN BACKGROU S) AND A
We’re not expecting masterpieces when it comes to images, ND. TRY TO STAN
SURFACE, IDEALL D ON A FIRM, FL AT
unless of course you are a consummate camera man, all Y CONCRETE OR
OR SHRUBBERY SL ABS NOT GRAS
we need is a clear, full length shot (with your feet and AND STAND SQUA S
head in frame) of you, from the front and the back, CAMERA WITH TH RE ON TO THE
E CAMERA LENS
just like the example pictured here. Don’t worry MAKE SURE YOU AT CHEST HEIGHT
about any fancy photoshopping, our trained monkey DON’T CROP YOUR .
does that! He will take time to ‘cut’ you out of your OR ARMS OUT OF HEAD, FEET
THE FRAME AND
background, like the example pictured here. OUT FOR BLUR AS WATCH
Your image size needs to be as large as possible, THAT WILL REALLY
so use a dedicated camera if possible. DSLR or RUIN THE PART Y!
Compact camera or mobile, it doesn’t really matter
as long as you send us the FULL SIZE image, which
may be around 5mb in size. Don’t worry, our email
inbox can take the strain.
Please don’t send screen grabs from your phone
or tiny images because we just can’t use them based
on the way digital images are printed.

■ THE WORDS
We don’t need a huge essay from you when it comes to words, it’s just a
matter of filling in the blanks really, either copy the text from the bottom of
the page, or download the document here - http://wp.me/p4Uh1B-7U

■ SENDING IN HELMET/HEADWEAR:
When you have gathered your text Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
and images, the next bit is simple, just
attach it to an email and wing it over EYE PRO:
to us at: [email protected] - Easy! Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…

✓ Your name PLATE CARRIER/CHEST RIG:


✓ Your age Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
✓ Where you’re from
✓ Your airsoft Team BELT RIG/HOLSTER:
✓ Your home Site Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
✓ About Me
The ‘about me’ section should be BOOTS:
around 150 words about how you Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…
got into airsoft, where you play, your
favourite game and who you play with. ANY EXTRA ACCESSORIES:
Gloves, pads, comms equipment,
UNIFORM/CAMO TOP: backpacks, hydration etc… Make/
Make/Model/Price/Why you use it… Model/Price/Why you use it…

UNIFORM/CAMO BOTTOM: WEAPON:


Make/Model/Price/Why you use it… Make/Model/Price/Why you use it…

IT’S REALLY AS EASY AS THAT! SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET CREATIVE AND SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!

016
030 EE DD II TT OO RR II AA LL @
@ AA II -- M
M AA GG .. CC OO M
M

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14:20
D O A N D W H Y W E N E E D Y O U - R E V I E W S

REVIEWS
YOU'RE USED TO SEEING GUN REVIEWS IN AI, FOR MANY OF YOU THAT’S THE
WHOLE REASON YOU PICK UP THE MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH. THE REASON
OUR GUN REVIEWS ARE LOVED AND TRUSTED IS SIMPLE, WE KNOW WHAT
IT TAKES TO CREATE A GOOD GUN, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN WE ALSO KNOW
WHAT MAKES YOU GUYS TICK AND THAT’S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
It’s not fair to review a WW2 gun from the perspective of a tacticool Navy SEAL wannabe. You can’t
rate something like that down for now being covered in RIS rails and lasers so when assessing guns,
we take into account who is going to be interested in it and review it on that criteria. Before we put
pen to paper though, there’s plenty of testing that has to be done first. And this is how we do it…

■ RESEARCH
Most airsoft guns are
based on a real firearm,
that’s part of their
charm. If a gun is made
to specifically replicate a certain
gun, we look into the real-steel picking up a bargain gun that needs a little love
counterpart in depth. When was it and attention is no hardship, but if you want
made? Who used it? What does it look like and something to let rip right out of the box, well
how does it shoot? This doesn’t have any bearing that changes everything.
on the airsoft gun as such, but it’s great to know
a bit about what you have in replica form! ■ TESTING
Where it comes from is handy though - airsoft We do two types of testing here at Ai… Firstly
manufacturers go to the lengths of putting it’s range testing. That includes putting
trademarks and markings on their replicas. It rounds down out 70m test range and also
allows us to see how well they have done their chrono testing with .20g BBs to work out how
homework and how realistic the replica is. consistently the gun shoots.
If the weapon passes these tests with a
■ BUILD QUALITY reasonable level of performance, the next step
We give the gun a once over straight out of the is to take it out on the field for some practical
box to see how well it is made. We check if it is shooting. Sometimes a gun will score highly
well packaged and if it comes free of scratches, on the range and chrono but might be an
blemishes, dents and kinks. If the thing has absolute nightmare to haul around the field,
suffered inside a box, it doesn’t bode well for or visa versa. Some guns don’t shoot all that
how it will fare on the field, does it? impressively but on the field they are simply a
We also take into account the manufacturing riot. These are things we look out for!
techniques used. Is the plastic molded well? Has
the metal been machined crisply and are any ■ STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY
threads and details cut precisely and properly? We pride ourselves in bringing you crisp, clear
These things are important because it reflects and high-quality images of the guns we review.
on how well the gun is assembled and how long An Ai review is the next best thing to holding a
it will last. Even with the best will in the world, gun in your own hands so take your time, soak
you need to take something apart once in a up the details and appreciate the eye-candy!
while and if bolts and threads are stripping,
well, you’re not going to be happy are you? ■ WHAT’S A CHRONO? FOLLOW US
ON FACEBOOK!
We use a chronograph to test our guns. A chrono @AMMODROP
■ INTERNALS
01949 728 628
simply measures the speed of the BB coming out
We take a look inside the gun to see what it of the end of the gun. If each shot is at a similar
is made from, the quality of the components power level, you can generally assume the gun
and how well they are assembled. If they are is working efficiently. By measuring the speed, s a l e s @ a m m o d r o p.c o. u k
covered in horrible grease, badly shimmed we can also make a calculation to work out the
or even bone dry, that’s something to take power level the gun fires at to let you know if it A M M O D R O P.C O.U K
into account. If you are handy with your tools will fit into your local site limits.

FA C E B O O K . C O M /A I R S O F T I N T 017

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AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 26/05/2017 11:03
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IS YOUR GUN
WITHIN THE 5F0P0
S
0 10
FPS

SITE LIMITS?
LAST MONTH WE LOOKED AT THE PROCESS OF BUYING YOUR FIRST GUN LEGALLY
IN THE UK AND WE REVEALED THAT IT’S PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX
WHAT TO TEST?
When testing these limits, the convention in the UK is
to take a reading of “feet per second” or what we have
THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. THIS MONTH, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE NEXT referred to here as “FPS” because it is the simplest and
STEP, SOMETHING WE TOUCHED UPON LAST MONTH BUT ALSO SOMETHING THAT most realistic way of measureing the output of the gun,
however a velocity reading can be a little misleading.
DESERVES A LITTLE MORE TIME AND ATTENTION. THIS MONTH WE ARE LOOKING AT Because BBs come in a variety of weights, the speed
THE VELOCITY OR FPS OF YOUR GUN, HOW TO MEASURE IT AND HOW TO CHANGE IT. of the projectile is often irrelevant and it’s the energy
level it is propelled at that is of most interest. Are you
confused yet? Don’t worry, we’ll explain…
WHY HAVE LIMITS? just about the standard model for the country but A lighter BB will travel faster when fired with any
In the UK and certainly all around the world, airsoft in the last 5 years, it’s fair to say the levels used by given airsoft gun than a heavier one, but that gun is
guns are subjected to limits when being used in some site operators have crept up. For simplicity’s still firing with the same energy level. FPS readings are
skirmishes to shoot at each other. These limits vary sake, some use a simple upper limit of 350fps where historically taken with a .20g BB but with players using
considerably depending on where you are in the as others have jumped up to 370fps but enforce “semi up to .43g BBs, the limit in FPS changes dramatically.
world, but generally, they are there. auto only” rulings in close quarters. Using our above assumed averages we’ll convert the
Firstly, limits are there to prevent any terrible The limit here is the one used for the “regular” FPS readings into slightly more manageable readings
kind of injury. If airsoft guns only output BBs up to types of airsoft gun, assault rifles for instance. For using one of the many online airsoft FPS calculators
a certain level, we can be assured that even from certain types of gun, like bolt action sniper rifles or and converters, although the math behind the
close range, nobody will go home with a leg hanging semi auto-only electric rifles, the limits might be conversion isn’t massively complex.
off or worse. This isn’t to say the limits we currently higher. It’s not uncommon for them to be as much as
use are below the point it takes to cause an injury. 500fps but with a “Minimum Engagement Distance” UK Average Site Limits Using Differing BB Weights.
Even with guns well inside the site limits imposed, or simply an agreement not to fire at players within, 0.20G BB 345FPS 1.1 JOULES
we’ve seen teeth knocked out and BBs embedded in for example, 20m. 0.23G BB 322FPS 1.1 JOULES
soft skin from time to time. It’s rare but it happens. 0.25G BB 308FPS 1.1 JOULES
Coincidentally, the level of energy it takes to 0.28G BB 291FPS 1.1 JOULES
irreparably destroy a human eyeball is around the “1 UK AVERAGE SITE LIMITS 0.30G BB 281FPS 1.1 JOULES
Joule” mark or in airsoft terms, 328fps on a .20g BB. ■ Full auto rifle, sub-machinegun or pistol: 345fps 0.36G BB 257FPS 1.1 JOULES
That’s precisely why proper eye protection is a vital ■ Semi auto (DMR): 400-420fps 0.40G BB 244FPS 1.1 JOULES
and essential part of airsoft. ■ Bolt action sniper rifle: 500fps 0.43G BB 235FPS 1.1 JOULES
The limits in airsoft are not just imposed to keep
things safe and on the whole, bearably comfortable.
The limits imposed are also a great addition to the
game to keep things sporting. With time, effort and 360
money invested, a game of airsoft with no limits
would quickly become uninteresting because it would
simply become dominated by players or teams with 320
more money to throw at more upgrades. Who would
willingly want to play a game like that? I can’t imagine
MUZZLE VELOCITY

many would.
So in terms of relative safety, insurance and to 280
preserve a level of sporting participation for the
experienced and new-comer player alike, site limits
are a very good idea, but what are they? 240
FULL AUTO
WHAT ARE THE LIMITS? RIFLE, SUB-
As mentioned in the opening few lines, site limits vary MACHINE GUN SEMI AUTO BOLT ACTION 200
slightly up and down the UK and the only way you can 20 23 25 28 30 36 40 43
OR PISTOL “DMR” SNIPER RIFLE
be totally sure of them is to talk to your site operator. BB WEIGHT
Generally speaking, the limits we use are loosely 345 400-420 500
FPS FPS FPS
based on the principle of a 328fps (1 joule) limit with As you can see, as the weight of the BB increases, the
a variance allowance of 5%. This gives an upper limit velocity decreases, but the energy remains the same.
of around the 345fps mark. A few years ago this was

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SO WHY USE DIFFERENT WEIGHTS?
The golden question then must be, “Why do people use different weights of
BB?” With little knowledge of the subject, it’s easy to see why somebody would
come to the conclusion that you simply use a heavy BB to bring the velocity
down. That’s largely the fault of convention because so much emphasis is
placed on the “Feet Per Second” reading and so little is placed on the “Joules”
reading. Without knowing a little more about it though, the
worst case secanrio could conceivably be a player filling his
magazines with 0.43g BBs and tuning to the 345fps limit.
That would result in a gun with 2.36 joules of energy,
over double what the actual limit sits at!
The actual reason many players will opt for
heavier BBs is for greater accuracy and in some
cases, more range. A BB with more weight will
be less influenced by factors like wind and air
resistance and although it sets out slower at the
muzzle, might actually be travelling faster towards
the end of the trajectory because it will loose speed
more slowly as it travels through the air.
This is why players sometimes assume that
a heavier BB hurts more than a lighter one. It’s
simply that at longer ranges, heavier BBs retain more
momentum than a lighter one.

HOW TO TEST VARIANCE


Chronoing or testing your gun is something you There are some variables that can have an
need to get used to doing as an airsoft player. It’s influential effect on your chrono results.
a great indication of not only the power of your One BB brand sold as .20g may well vary
gun, but also how healthy it is. A decent gun with very slightly from another brand and the
consistent, quality ammo shouldn’t have a variance same applies to all BBs. In fact BBs can
of more than around 20fps from shot to shot, if it vary from batch to batch so we wholly
does, this is a telling sign that something is wrong. recommend factoring this into your upgrade
It could be anything from a dirty inner barrel to a plan. It’s pointless tuning a gun to fire at
worn piston or poor airseal, but consistency is the 344.9fps on a .20g BB if the natural variance
key to a good gun and accurate shots. of BBs will more often than not take your gun
Testing should be carried out with the type of over the 345fps limit. That’s why the traditional
ammo you wish to use at the time, and the hop set variance of 5% was factored in and wise players
accordingly to achieve a reasonable flight pattern. take this into account. Essentially, 345fps is the upper
If you are using heavier BBs, it’s important to make limit and shouldn’t really be considered a “target” to aim for.
this known. Failure to do so is essentially cheating There are very few instances where a 330fps gun user will be
and could result in you being ejected from the site. disadvantaged by a player using a 345fps gun so you should
certainly weigh up the pros and cons of taking it to the max.

THE HOP-UP
Because of the way the hop-up unit in your gun HOW NOT TO TEST?
works, generally, the more hop you apply, the If you venture online, you’ll probably find a few suggested
more resistance the BB has to overcome when ideas for a “poor man’s chrono”, most of which are
pushing past the “nub” and the slower it will ideas about using an empty drinks can as a target and
leave the barrel. The effect can be as much as measuring the amount and area in which a gun can shoot
30-40fps. Setting your hop-up in a realistic manner a BB clean through. These ideas are nothing more than a
is something that should be done when chrono waste of time and are very inaccurate even when it comes
testing and if you crank on the hop to pass through to getting a vague idea of the power of your gun. In
with a lower reading, it will soon be evident to the terms of testing a gun, the way to do it
marshal. is to fire it through a chrono.

THE LAWS
With the practical side of things cleared up, there’s now the murky
subject of the law surrounding the power limits of an airsoft gun.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no legal upper limit to the power of an airsoft gun that
fires BB ammunition and fortunately, there have been no court cases to decide if this
level needs defining in law. As the laws governing RIFs stand, they are based around the
outward appearance of the item, disregarding its ability to fire any sort of projectile and
whilst it’s true that a study was commissioned to distinguish the threshold of beyond-trivial
damage caused by an airsoft gun, nobody has yet managed to use one in a violent crime or an
assault. In our eyes this is based on the success of self-policing. The above mentioned study was
commissioned to ascertain at which point “lethality” was achieved in an airsoft gun firing BBs.
The basic study found that this was at around 370fps although it did not test comprehensively
and the definition of “lethal” is merely the level at which a BB may break the skin. A misconception
is that beyond the limit of 370fps, the authorities will view your AEG as a firearm, which isn’t at all
true. Should you be tinkering and happen across an unexpectedly efficient combination of parts
you won’t be viewed as building a firearm. Should you wish to keep the gun for plinking or simply as
a show piece, there is no reason not to, however using such an airsoft gun in a criminal manner or
on an airsoft field with it well beyond the limits, MAY cause the authorities to rethink matters in the
legal upper limit of power.

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AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 24/07/2017 13:18
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 24/07/2017 13:18
A F T E R A C T I O N R E P O R T A

cleethorpes
nd
pleasure isla
a fter a ction report
SEPT' 22-23-24 2017
WITHIN THE ROARING SUCCESS THAT WAS AI500: THE GATHERING EARLIER IN 2017, THE CHANCE TO RUN A SECOND
EVENT AT THE FORMER PLEASURE ISLAND SITE WAS SOMETHING WE, AS GAME ORGANISERS, JUMPED ON. UNFINISHED
BUSINESS WOULD ONCE MORE PIT TASK FORCE VIPER AGAINST THEIR AGE-OLD FOES, THE MONGOOSE CLAN.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON GREEN, SVEN PETERSON AND BEN WEBB

AI5O0: UNFINISHED BUSINESS


As a site, the former Pleasure Island theme park is an interesting
prospect. Throughout 2017 parts of the infrastructure and the
attractions have been sold off and removed, leaving the site itself
with a rather post-apocalyptic vibe. The owners of the park have
preserved the bar and entertainment facilities in good order, having
them open regularly throughout the summer months. This leads
visitors on a strange journey with a tidy and presentable, not to
mention fully featured bar and restaurant acting as the gatehouse
to a bizarre semi-derelict, self-contained arena, perfect for playing
airsoft in! Once you cross through the turnstiles of the park, there’s
no need to leave until the call of “end ex!”

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A I 5 0 0 : U N F I N I S H E D B U S I N E S S 2 0 1 7

The Setting business TIME


In the wake of the carnage that For the Ai500 team the event
enveloped the AO at “The Gathering” began on the Thursday morning.
neither Mongoose nor Viper factions Learning from our experiences at
fell back feeling that the site had the previous event we identified that
been properly explored, there must a number of changes needed to be
be something greater to exploit… made to the site physically and also
Like a scab, neither group could some rule adjustments would be
leave the thought of returning alone, needed. During the previous event
scores needed settling and after all, we felt that not enough of the site
there was “Unfinished Business” had been explored by all the players
itching to be settled. and the meat of the action had
To test the waters the Viper been confined to a few hotspots.
commander sent forward a small To broaden the line of battle and
scouting party, hoping in vain to go to lessen the chance of a deadlock
undetected by the watchful eye of between the two teams we decided
the ever vigilant Mongoose sentries. to install and erect as many barriers
Of course in his heart he knew this and areas of extra cover as possible.
was a risky move and as soon as the The intention was to allow more
forward team entered the airspace, tactical movement through a wider
warning alarms screamed as missile area of the site and break up the
locks were detected; they were engagements a little more freely and
targeted by heavy and accurate fire. naturally. We didn’t want to have to
Their aircraft riddled with shrapnel, rely on mortar strikes to loosen up a
the scouts were forced to crash land stalemate and if we could encourage
but not before sending a distress a natural movement of the line of
beacon up. Viper command received engagement, that would be ideal.
a faint and garbled message… To help players find a natural
contact point, we moved the
“Many injured, spawn points to create a horseshoe

casualties
shaped area of play that would
rotate around the central pond.

sustained, Ammo
Players would only enter play via
the “long route” and couldn’t clash

running low. across the shortest point which


would of course mean a little more
Request immediate leg work but we hoped would allow

QRF! How copy?!”


for some more variety in play.
Other adjustments allowed for a
simplification of the ruling on cover
Wracked with the guilt of sending and “keyhole” shooting, meaning
his troops into the fray, the that provided players could take
Viper Commander mobilised a responsibility for their fall of shot,
rescue force which he would lead they could fire through small holes
personally... Of course this action in barriers. The offset for this was
would never have gone unanswered that they would also have to accept
by the Mongoose clan. If they could hits through these small holes. As
reach the crash site first, what could organisers we hoped this would
be more valuable than taking Viper loosen up a few areas of the site
hostages alive? including the infamous “pig pens”.

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A F T E R A C T I O N R E P O R T A I 5 0 0 : U N F I N I S H
When players began arriving on site
on the Friday, we were confident
our adjustments and learnings from
the prior event would add a little
more variety to the gameplay and
perhaps make it different enough
for returning players so they felt
the gaming was fresh and not just
a rerun of the last event. With just
over 300 players, 100 less than the
last event, it looked like the whole
thing was primed to be something of
an epic. With big expectations and a
high bar set by The Gathering, this
was what was needed!

The Objectives
When 300 players are on site even
simple game objectives can be
difficult to keep track of so in our
experience we know that solid,
simple game mechanics work best.
Primarily both teams would be
required to dominate the ground as
much as possible. Three locations,
namely “The Tunnel” (a newly
opened up area for this event) “The
Barn” and “The Yellow Fun Hut” were
the fixed points and within them a
dual timer in each location. The idea
was that each team had to hit the
timers and defend them to rack up
a time count over the weekend, the
team with most accumulated time
on the clocks would be the winner of
that objective.
A secondary objective, albeit
an important one, was to collect
anti-personal mines that were employ a dedicated extraction team over the previous event that went
hidden around the site. The mines to collect them, under the covering underway with fairly heavy rainfall.
were deemed to be unstable and fire... Each team enjoyed a mixed Both teams had an advanced
could only be extracted one at a amount of success in organising element, Task Force Viper having
time using a dedicated ammo tin themselves in this way. a downed helicopter team to push
that each team held. Once ferried The last persistent objective was forward to and relieve or reinforce
back to the Command Point, these built around each team having and the Mongoose Clan having a pair
mines could be “banked”. We had a suite of 13 playing cards, from of two-man sniper teams inserted to
hoped this objective would test the ace all the way through to jack, harass the opposition.
team-wide communications skills of queen and king. These cards were As it transpired the small Viper
both factions by requiring them to issued out to members of each element were fairly quickly
log the locations of the mines and team known as HVTs (High Value overrun, not without fighting but
Targets) and the idea was that unfortunately without the rapid
the opposing team should try and reaction from the rest of their
capture as many of the opposition’s team that was really required. The
HVTs as possible. This was probably Mongoose team played it safe and
the toughest objective as both deployed the sniper teams under
teams had no idea who the players cover and attempted to prevent them
carrying the cards actually were. from being eliminated, something
they achieved some success in.
Saturday Some confusion with the timers
The first day of the event kicked off led to the Mongoose team giving the
rather promptly at just after10am Viper team over an hour of time on
with a light drizzle in the air that one clock but in the grand scheme
soon cleared, an improvement of things they dominated enough to
make sure they were hours ahead
by close of play on Saturday.
The Mongoose team also made
major headway with the collection
of mines, having almost double
the amount the TF Viper guys
managed to haul. In terms of HVTs
the Mongoose team were also fairly
well ahead, with two pieces of item
successfully “interrogated” out of
the opposition. TF Viper sadly had
none at all…

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R A C T I O N R E P O R T
Sunday
Sunday AM kicked off with a
continuation of the same objective as
Saturday with the addition of a few
deposits of cold, hard (pretend) cash
to extract. The Mongoose team found
two packets and the TF Viper guys
bagging one. TF Viper had a chance
to go for a big prize by pushing the
battle line through the village and
extracting a huge cache of currency
but were unable to make it so in the
hour before the lunch break.
Thanks to the Mongoose Clan
having collected, dismantled and
harvested enough explosive material
from the mines the Sunday PM saw
them assemble a pair of bombs that
would be used to blow the infamous
bridges along the railway line in the
centre of the site. In a sweet twist
of convenience this would be the
opposite of the final mission of the
first game; TF Viper being tasked
with the stalwart defence of the
bridges, a task they were utterly
successful in, perhaps due in part to
the Mongoose Clan loosing a bit of
focus and simply trying to shoot as
many of the opposition as possible
with running rampages.
At close of play, it was quite clear
cut that the Mongoose Clan had once
more been the victorious faction but
the most essential thing was that both
teams had had a lot of fun and that
for the most part, play had been well
matched and plenty of trigger time
had been had by all.

In Conclusion
This being the fourth Ai500 I have
had the pleasure of orchestrating, a
familiar feeling of butterflies in the
stomach is always present right up
until the moment the call of game on
is shouted out. Thankfully, this time
round with the support of a great
marshal team and some amazing
players any nerves were soon eased.

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A F T E R A C T I O N R E P O R T A I 5 0 0 : U N F I N I S H
The game flowed as expected with
very few hiccups or unexpected
actions.
Of course it is very difficult with
the number of players on site and
the logistics of establishing usable
spawn points, to really explore
the site as much as I would have
liked and even with the additional
cover in place, play was confined
to roughly the same areas as
previously, although without the
frustrating complete deadlocks of
the last game. In that much, I was
pleased and feedback over the
course of the weekend was that
the play was far more free-flowing
and less confined.
Changes to the rules regarding
keyhole shooting worked as we
anticipated and solved a lot of
the rules disputes and hit-taking
confusion encountered in the last
event. There were a few moans
and accusations of players ignoring
hits, of course this is part and
parcel with any airsoft game and
definitely peaks out as you cross
through the dreaded 3:30pm
“grumpy hour”. The marshal team
remained on top of it and although
it can’t be ruled out that a few
individuals might have slipped
through the net, they reliably
reported that anything was acted
upon and monitored which is really
all you can reasonably ask.
In regards to “grumpy hour”
we had optimistically slated an
ultimate 6pm finish for play on
the Saturday but, as tempers
started to fray, feet began to
ache and the bar beckoned we
made the decision to call time at
4:30pm. As before this is never
a decision that is taken lightly
but with a tight monitor on the
general mood and atmosphere
of the players, we always feel it
is better to go out on a high than
grind down to the point where
somebody loses their temper and
the day is spoiled for somebody.

The Bar
It would be remiss of us to not
mention The Bar and the effect
it has on game play. On one hand
it is absolutely amazing to have
such great facilities on site at a
game, including hot and cold drink
vending (of the adult and also
non-alcoholic kind), and also a fully

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R A C T I O N R E P O R T
featured restaurant. On the other
it proved a little too tempting for a
few individuals who unfortunately
seemed to have over indulged.
We’re not mad, we were just a little
disappointed…

What’s next?
After “Unfinished Business” it
feels like the familiar setting of
the Mongoose Clan vs TF Viper
may have run its course for
now. A natural conclusion to the
game setting seems to have been
reached and it would perhaps
be a refreshing change to push
future events into a new area of
the imagination and perhaps a
new setting. At present, we aren’t
entirely sure what this will be but
to keep things fresh, we certainly
feel like a bit of a shake-up is in
order. After announcing this on
our Facebook page we realise
that many events regulars might
be worried this change might
mean they won’t be able to play
in their established teams, rest
assured this won’t be the case,
you’ll still be able to rock up and
play down some plastic alongside
your familiar battle buddies, we
just might have a slightly different
uniform stipulation and maybe
a different selection of themed
objectives and a new storyline to
flesh out. Stay tuned and we will
keep you updated!

Thanks
The Ai500 staff would like to take
the opportunity to thank all of
the players that have attended
our events from far and wide,
the owners of the Pleasure Island
facility, the retailers and industry
supporters that have backed
the games and entertained the
players, without your help the
Ai500 could not be a success.

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F IL L Y OUR H A ND! G A S P I S T O L R O U N D - U P ! F I

25 PISTOLS! NOTHING COMPLETES A LOAD OUT LIKE A GOOD SECONDARY


WEAPON AND THERE’S A PISTOL TO SUIT EVERY TASTE. HERE WE
HAVE ROUNDED UP A SELECTION OF OUR FAVOURITES; A FEW
CLASSICS THAT NO ARMOURY SHOULD BE WITHOUT!

gas pistol
round-up
PRICES OF PISTOLS MAY
VARY FROM THOSE SHOWN

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F I L L Y O U R H A N D ! G A S P I S T O L R O U N D - U P

£129 TAHSE GC Z 7 5
ASG’s CZ75 is a faithful replica of the Česká zbrojovka Uherský
Brod CZ75, as made in the Czech Republic. It’s the most popular
handgun in the country of its origin and ASG’s replica is an
all-metal, full blowback, gas powered beast! If you fancy a
civilian load out or a practical pistol that is a little different from
the norm, the CZ75 has it all.

■ All metal ■ Adjustable hop ■ Full blowback

£189 SKI GS CS P 2 0 2 2
The SIG Pro is an interesting handgun in that it was the first
polymer-framed pistol offered by the Sig-Sauer company and also
one of the first on the market to offer interchangeable grips and an
integrated accessory rail. The SP2022 model featured is the variant
designed for use by French authorities back in 2002 and intended to
serve for 20 years.

■ ABS construction ■ Adjustable hop ■ Accessory rail

£139 MK KWI VA1 9 1 1 PTP


KWA’s 1911 PTP series is a Professional Training Pistol designed
to closely simulate the form and function of the modernised line
of 1911-style pistols that dominate a large sector of the handgun
market. The MKIV features a full metal build with ready-installed
modernised features including skeletonized hammer and trigger
components and a custom-style slide.

■ All metal ■ Adjustable hop ■ High blowback

£120 TKH W A
E TT33
The TT33 or Tokarev as it is commonly known is a basic and stripped down
Soviet pistol first put into service during WW2. As is a common trait with
weapons designed in this part of the world, the Tokarev is designed with
ease of manufacture and limited ergonomics but this is made up for
with a solid, no-nonsense functionality that is hardy and simple.
KWA’s all metal version is ideal as an insurgent or period sidearm.

■ All metal ■ Adjustable hop ■ Full blowback

£125 TTHOE KC OYL OT 1 9M1 1AA 1R U I


If there ever was a classic semi-auto pistol the venerable 1911A1 would
be it. The side arm of US Armed Forces through WW2 and Vietnam,
the A1 is basic and functional to the point its fundamental design is
unchanged despite numerous rounds of modernisation over the
years, Marui render this one beautifully as a true classic that is
a great collectors piece or sidearm for a historical load out.

■ ABS build ■ Adjustable hop ■ Single stack magazine

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F IL L Y OUR H A ND! G A S P I S T O L R O U N D - U P ! F I

£125 TTHOE KD EYS OE R TME AAGRL EU I


For when bigger is better there is no better option than the monstrous Desert Eagle
and quite unlike most airsoft replicas, this one’s performance very nearly makes
up for the inconvenience of its massive bulk. With a brilliant hop unit and
superb gas capacity, there is very little that slows the beasty Deagle
down, not even an aftermarket metal kit. If you want to turn
heads with both looks and performance, it’s the gun for you.

■ ABS build ■ Massive gas capacity ■ Biblical performance

£119 TTHOE KD EYS OE R TMWAA RRRUI OIR


Part of Marui’s “Warrior” series, the Desert Warrior is a hybrid of the Hi-Capa
and the 1911, using the former design for the slide and the later for
the lower. This gives the curious arrangement of a single stack
Hi-Capa. Aesthetically, it works, especially thanks to it’s modern
“tactical” looks but in terms of practicality, it’s an odd one. Still,
thanks to the lightweight build, performance is more than ample.

■ ABS build ■ Singlestack mags ■ Tactical RIS rail

£129 TTHOE KF NY 5O- 7 M A R U I


The FN 5-7 is a weird gun. It’s made to be the companion to the widely known P90
and is chambered to accept the same round. The 5-7 itself is predominantly
plastic, making Marui’s replica technically one of their most accurate.
This design boasts a HUGE mag gas reservoir and a very lightweight
slide, making it the ideal winter pistol. Be careful in summer though
as 5-7s can be a little self destructive if you use high pressure gas.

■ Unique looks ■ Efficient design ■ Great hop unit

£129 TTHOE KF OYL OI A GM ARUI


E WARRIOR
Another of the “Warrior” range of custom-style pistols is the Foliage Warrior.
In essence it’s identical to the Desert Warrior except in a more… Well,
grey colouration. Although TM probably set out to make it Foliage
Green, the end result in a far more grey tone than a temperate
green and the overall image is further set by the presence of what
look pretty much exactly like UCP camo grips.

■ Camo grips ■ Singlestack mags ■ Tactical rail

£119 TTHOE KG LYO OC K M


17
ARUI
It’s hardly new and if there was ever going to be a “standard issue” pistol in
the world of airsoft, the Glock 17 replica would be high in the running. They
are simple, easy to use and they shoot damned well and have a fairly solid
amount of accessories and upgrades you can fit to them. This is coupled
with the fact that they are one of the most widely used real-steel
pistols the world over goes a long way to explaining their popularity.

■ Easy shooting ■ Good performance ■ Includes night sights

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F I L L Y O U R H A N D ! G A S P I S T O L R O U N D - U P

£109 TTHOE KG LYO OC K M ARUI


26 ADVANCE
Fancy something with all the practicality of a Glock 17 but with
something a little different? Well the Glock 26 Advance might be the
one for you. Another of Marui’s own takes on a custom-style gun,
the 26 Advance builds on the standard 26 compact and adds a cool
compensator and an extended pistol grip on top of the magazine,
making it a mix of futuristic and competition-styled weapons.

■ Lightweight ■ Super efficient ■ Unique styling

£119 TTHOE KH IYC O MARUI


APA 4.3
We’d happily go as far as saying that the HiCapa 4.3 is one of the best shooting
pistols Marui have ever made and the only real criticism you can make
is that it’s not technically a real gun (although it bears a lot of
resemblance to the STI custom weapons available.) It shoots well
straight out the box and the HiCapa range boasts probably the most
extensive range of performance and styling upgrades available.

■ Top shooter ■ Great price ■ Upgradable

£129 TTHOE KM &YPO9 M A R U I


Complete with a high quality ABS construction boasting Marui’s improved
surface finish, the M&P9 looks realistic and benefits from a super light
slide. Inside you’ll find a 15mm large bore blowback cylinder, which in
a reasonably compact gun results in epic performance and massive
blowback fun. Interchangeable backstraps and a great modern design
make the M&P9 not only lovely to look at but comfortable to use too.

■ Ergonomic and modern ■ Great blowback ■ Realistic finish

£109 TTHOE KM 1Y9O2 . M


5”
ARUI
Fancy something a little different to the plethora of semi-auto handguns?
A snub nosed revolver gives you a compact package that’s fun and
a departure from the norm. The 2.5” barrel on this stubby little
shooter fires the full compliment of 24 BBs that are easily loaded
into the cylinder via gas propulsion, which is stored in the grip. The
fill valve is hidden away at the bottom where it can barely be seen.

■ Compact ■ Quiet ■ Great in cooler conditions

£105 TTHOE KM 1Y9O6 ” M A R U I


If you fancy something a little more “classic” the M19 6” is a bad-ass revolver from the
‘60s… There’s a good chance your Dad will probably remember it from some old cop
movies. With a blued look frame and faux wooden grips, this version of the M19
looks… Well, totally boss. It doesn’t really matter what load out you are
going for it will make you look like a fully fledged ass-kicker, but we
recommend pairing it with a pump action 870 shotgun. Yessir!

■ Bad-ass looks ■ Bad-ass feel ■ Bad-ass price

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F IL L Y OUR H A ND! G A S P I S T O L R O U N D - U P ! F I

£135 TTHOE KM KY IOV SM ARUI


ERIES ‘70
Can you hear that funky baseline? Are you wearing aviators? Does the collar of your shirt
look like Harry Hill’s? If so you will probably find yourself drawn to the Colt MkIV
Series ’70. No, this image has not been digitally manipulated; it really does look
that awesome. You can’t go far wrong really though, it’s a 1911 and it’s got
added ‘70s funk and looks the part sliding across the “hood” of a car
or slamming down on a wooden desk in front of the State Governor.

■ Classic 1911 cool ■ Blue‘d finish ■ Available in Nickel Plate

£139 TTHOE KP XY- 4O C M ARUI


USTOM
The PX-4 is a snub nosed, rounded pistol with a rugged, snag free design.
The genuine article was purportedly in the trials to become the service pistol
of the UK Armed Forces but was beaten by the Glock 17 based on cost levels
and training requirements. Marui’s version is a faithful and accurate replica
that even includes the rotating breach lock action as the slide moves to the
rear. Overall a well detailed choice that’s effective and comfortable to shoot.

■ Rotating breach detail ■ Multi back-strap design ■ Quality build

£122 TTHOE KC OYL OT P M ARUI


Y THON 2.5”
It’s a stubby, discreet weapon that’s ideal as a back-up or even tertiary
weapon. Thanks to it’s non-blowback system, it’s quiet and sneaky
in use, allowing you to pick off enemy players cooly and calmly. It
holds 24 rounds and takes gas in a reservoir in the handgrip. If you
want epic handcannon performance, look elsewhere, but if you want
something cooler than your average back-up gun, this is your man!

■ Diminutive proportions ■ Very quiet ■ Great in all weather

£125 TTHOE KS IYG OP 2 M ARUI


26R
A staple pistol used by Special Forces teams worldwide, including the SAS and
the US Navy SEALs. It’s famed for it’s reliability and dependability and TM
do a great service to the real thing with their classic replica. Simply
a quality blowback handgun that will be highly regarded for years to
come. There’s also the revised E2 version on the market that features a
number of modernisations and slightly improved one-piece magazines.

■ Solid design ■ Plenty of upgrades ■ Tactical rail

£139 TTHOE KS TYR OI K EMW AA RRR UI OIR


Another of the “Warrior” series of pistols from Marui, the Strike
Warrior is a little different as it’s based on the super-compact Detonics,
a pistol loosely derived from the 1911 design but compacted. The Strike
Warrir features a fierce, serrated strike face compensator along with
competition style sights. It’s not a gun for the faint-hearted but its
“striking” looks have surely won it quite a few fans.

■ Compact size ■ Custom styling ■ Aggressive strikeface

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F I L L Y O U R H A N D ! G A S P I S T O L R O U N D - U P

£139 TTHOE KX -YD MO M A R U I


The Tokyo Marui X-DM was one of the first of a new generation of
TM pistols that elevated the level of finish and performance beyond
the heady heights we had already come to expect from the Japanese
giants. The XDM is brimming with lovely details like the functional
condition indicator on the back of the slide and it’s got a finish
unlike any other ABS pistol.

■ Excellent details ■ Awesome performance ■ Beautiful finish

£145 TUHM AREX


E HK USP 45 MATCH
Umarex’s HK USP 45 Match might be a familiar sight to fans of Tomb Raider,
with Lara Croft infamously wielding a pair of them with seemingly endless
ammo on tap. This replica is a solid rendition, complete with a flaired
magazine well and fixed, slotted compensator. It’s not a gun for the
discreet shooter thanks to it’s overall size, but if you believe bigger
is better, you’ll be happy with this model. Definitely one to try out.

■ Flared magwell ■ All metal slide and comp ■ Hard blowback

£139 TUHM AREX


E L U G E R P. 0 8
The Luger is unmistakable as a pistol with it’s characteristic thin barrel and
checkered grip. Harking back to before WW1, the luger’s operating principles
and designs seem positively antique compared to modern weapons but if
you are a history buff, you’ll no doubt want to add one of these replicas
to your collection, whether as part of a German load out or even
as a trophy piece in your historic British or American kit.

■ All metal build ■ Usable performance ■ Hstorical design

£135 TUHM AREX


E P38
Visually similar to the Luger, the P38 was the successor and was introduced shortly
before the end of WW2 as a modernised and more cost effective alternative.
The P38 used operating principles that led to the development of the
Beretta M9 and M92F as used by the US Military to this day. check
out the P38 if you are a collector or a player with a taste for the
historical side of things or simply want to add something unusual.

■ ABS build ■ Adjustable hop unit ■ Late WW2 era

£125 TUHM AREX


E WALTHER PPQ
The Walther PPQ is a truly modern handgun design for defensive use.
Featuring a metal slide and polymer lower the PPQ is comfortable and
has a snappy and realistic blowback action. Along with enhanced
slide serrations for better grip in adverse conditions, the PPQ
features an accessory rail and ambidextrous magazine release for left
and right handed users.

■ Ambidextrous magazine and slide release ■ Ergonomic lower shape

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RE ADER'S KIT T H E G R E Y B Y C H R I S T I B B

THE GREY
READER'S KIT!
BY CHRIS TIBBOT PHOTOGRAPHY BY STU MANKS
IN AIRSOFT INTERNATIONAL YOU ARE USED TO SEEING FLASHY KIT,
“FULL LOAD OUTS” AND IMPRESSIONS. HERE AT AIHQ WE ARE USED TO
ASSEMBLING THEM AND THANKS TO 13 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS AND
OUR MORE MILITARY ORIENTED SISTER TITLE, RAIDER, WE HAVE A FEW
RELIABLE CONTACTS WHEN IT COMES TO ACQUIRING THE REQUIRED
KIT. ONCE IN A WHILE THOUGH, A READER REALLY COMES THROUGH
WITH SOMETHING THAT TRULY BLOWS US AWAY, AND CHRIS TIBBOT,
THE GUY BEHIND THIS AWESOME LOAD OUT, IS ONE SUCH PERSON.
Chris here has blown us away with an amazing display of attention to detail and
sheer tenacity to “get it right”. Of course this level of stitch-counting is a habit more
suited to pure re-enactment activities and isn’t 100% necessary on the airsoft
skirmish field but to those that share a similar eye for detail, it's an awesome
achievement. It takes research and dedication akin to an obsession, not to
mention long hours scouring the ‘net for the right kit and a wedge of cash. So,
without further ado, we’d like to present Chris’ amazing effort at recreating
the now rather easily recognised CTSFO load out, something we have
attempted recently, taken to the extreme… Over to the man himself.

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I B B O T - T H E G R E Y B Y C H R I S T I B B O T

AI-MAG.COM 041

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RE ADER'S KIT T H E G R E Y B Y C H R I S T I B B

CTSFO
You may recall an article a few months ago in Airsoft International [Vol.13 Issue 2]
about new elite counter-terrorism units being utilised by police forces across the
country. These squads of kitted-up, highly trained officers are known as CTSFO
(standing for 'Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers).
The kit that Met CTSFO units were equipped with first caught my eye online,
when brand-new images of their updated apparel were released to the public.
Sporting a previously unseen array of Arc'Teryx LEAF, C2R and High Cut
Ops-Cores, the CT units of the Met appear to have strayed away from the
looks of conventional Armed Police and have instead adopted a much more
High Speed 'Operator' look, to accompany their enhanced training and
seemingly Special Operations tactics.
The prompt to start my impression came when Ai writer Jacob alerted
me to an offer on the AMTactical page, discounting the C2Rmor Lite
Plate Carrier and Groin Panel in Wolf Grey: two essential components
for any Met CTSFO kit. This is probably the point where I decided
I wanted to have a stab at a 100% 'Kosher'
impression using all the legit kit I could find.
Thinking it would be pretty easy to replicate
seeing as it's all relatively available on the
internet in the UK; I took the plunge.
As a side note, I think the rarity of this
particular impression was the biggest pull
factor towards taking my own spin on it.
You only have to flick open Instagram to be
greeted with realistic impressions of CAG,
SEALs, and Alfa Group. For me, this was
different: nobody had yet attempted the
CTSFO look to such intricacy.

HEREFORD'S OWN THE C2R 'C2RMOR LITE'


PLATE CARRIER, PICTURED
The C2R rig is kept as slick as it can be, in HERE IN 'WOLF GREY'
line with how CTSFO operators keep theirs.
An inverted ITW Fastmag, C2R radio and roll
up Dump Pouch on the front; a Blackhawk!
Dual 40mm Pouch on the back is all I need
for most events, and also keeps it in line with
the impression I’m trying to create. Most
operations involving the unit aren’t spent up
a mountain or deep in enemy territory, so
there’s no need to bear as much equipment
as your general Militaristic assaulter would.
Arc'Teryx is possibly the most surprising
brand to be featured in the Counter Terror
catalogue. It's not a common sight ‘in
theatre’; so when an entire force is suddenly
decked out head to toe in Arc' apparel, it's
immediately noticeable. Sadly, it was also
extremely noticeable to my bank balance!
The Assault Shirt and Talos Pants make up
the basis, with accessories such as Arc’s
Kneecaps and the fire retardant Assault
Balaclava. The pads aren’t as comfy as the
likes of the Crye Airflex pads, but the rest of
the setup is extremely comfortable.

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I B B O T - T H E G R E Y B Y C H R I S T I B B O T

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL IF YOU CAN FIND


THEM, DANNER'S
I did struggle finding the occasional item. DFA BOOTS ARE
For example, the boots that appear to be SEEN PICTURED
the most common are Danner DFAs, boots IN USE BY THE
(pictured on the right) which are designed MET. ALTHOUGH
with rope access in mind instead of fast THERE ARE A LOT
paced combat. Presumably, they came OF ALTERNATIVE
in to use with the Met for fast roping OPTIONS OUT
exercises using their Eurocopters; or when THERE TO GET
they were seen training with the Royal CLOSER TO
Marines at their CUTAC platform (Centre THE LOOK
for Urban Tactics and Climbing).
The same could be said of the issued
eye protection: I spent hours looking
through pages of Bollé goggles to
eventually find that the brand was JSP, a
company whose products you can find in your
local hardware shop opposed to an Airsoft
megastore. I’ve decided to use the Smith Optics
bungee kit to mod the goggles so they can quick
detach from the helmet- this kit has
been confirmed in reference
photos, so I’ve not had to stray
too far from the impression
to use it.

CTSFO TEAMS DON’T TEND


TO LOAD UP HEAVILY BUT
THERE IS USUALLY SOME
SORT OF FLASHBANG OR
MEDICAL POUCH IN PLACE,
SO FAR THESE HAVE ONLY
BEEN SEEN EMPTY - BUT
WE CAN THINK OF MANY
ESSENTIAL SKIRMISHING
ITEMS THAT COULD BE
EASILY STOWED AWAY
IN THESE POUCHES.

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RE ADER'S KIT T H E G R E Y B Y C H R I S T I B B

THE EXTRAS
Once I'd made a very generic impression, I started looking into
ways in which I could individualise it using the many reference
pictures available through resources such as the UK Armed
Police Impressions Facebook group and, of course, Google Images.
Whilst only small changes, they do change the whole look from
pristine to something more 'battle-hardened'. Despite the fact
there is the overwhelming tactical display shown with the plate
carrier, Peltor hearing protection and bulky assault gloves; the
basic foundations of policing remains with a Training Baton, Nitrile
Glove Pouch and Plasticuffs on the belt. Minor additions such as
a Mini UK Flag patch alongside the IR Police patch on the back of
my helmet, and the 5.11 shotgun bandolier on the Groin Panel allow
me to differentiate the equipment from the norm, but nothing looks
incongruent to the rest of the loadout.

After much time, and even more expense, I’m happy to say that this loadout
is almost finished. Some small items like an S&S Precision Manta Strobe or an
Axon helmet camera for the Ops Core are still on the list. Unfortunately as
was mentioned in the previous CTSFO Article, some of these items are
currently unavailable to civilians; so I'll just have to wait a bit longer for
pieces like the C2R Helmet Cover and Rapid Access Medical Pouch. At a
later date I also wish to change out my current TMC Ops-Core for a genuine
counterpart. That, however, will be a fairly long way down the line!

THE GUN
The primary assault rifle used by
the CTSFO teams is the Sig MCX.
Unfortunately there isn’t yet an
airsoft replica available and there are
very few guns that can pass as an MCX
at a glance, they look rather unique.
A replica is on the cards though,
having been previewed earlier in 2017
and likely to be manufactured by VFC.
We have heard of a confirmation of
this via several reputable industry
sources although, as with most gun
releases, there does seem to be some
sort of delay and no fixed release date
as of yet has been decide on.
To fill the void CTSFO enthusiasts
have turned to using stand-ins
including railed M4 carbines and even
HK416C replicas, both of which have
seen limited use with armed Police
units. It is suffice to say though, many
CTSFO fans will have little money
aside to pick up the MCX as soon as it
is finally released.

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I B B O T - T H E G R E Y B Y C H R I S T I B B O T

HAVE A GO, HERO...


HELP IN THE COMMUNITY For anyone wanting to start an accurate CTSFO
Impression, the three websites I found the most
Building this Impression didn't come without help admittedly. Before starting it I didn't have
any interest in Police gear, in fact it wasn't until after I'd bought my rig that I joined the UK useful were Edgar Brothers Online, the best
Armed Police Impressions Page and began to collect the other bits. One of my main sources place for the Arc'Teryx LEAF gear in the UK that
of information was Tom of E27(G), the UKSF Impression Group. Not only did he find the correct I’ve come across, AMTactical, the go-to for the
boots, but also the ex Police Safariland that fits my Glock with its Surefire X300U. Jay, who’s C2R equipment- and finally Tactical-Kit, which
also a member of E27(J) was a great asset when it came to reference photos, finding a myriad is the place I'd use for all the miscellaneous
of images that suited any particular item I wanted to find. items such as the Blackhawk! SOLAG gloves,
5.11 shottie shell holder and even the occasional
Blue Force Gear VCAS sling!

Again I'd like to thank Tom and Jay from E27


IMAGE FEATURING E27 COURTESY OF SNOOKS SNAPS
for all the help with general information and
sourcing the more 'unicorn' items; Dave from
This loadout, however, is not something I’d ever really run at normal skirmishes. There's PoliceLot for providing me with the opportunity
always the whole impersonation of a Police Officer debate bearing down on us, so I can only to join him as an on screen Police extra; Mike
really afford to use it at private or themed events. It does however come into more use than from AMTactical for keeping me updated with
I imagined it would be. I had a query on a piece of hardware I'd seen from photos, and got in all the latest C2R bits as well as providing me
touch with Dave from PoliceLot on Instagram (@policelot). They are a company who provide with the basis for the kit, Jacob for kickstarting
Supporting Artists and uniforms for TV programs such as Eastenders and Hollyoakes, plus the impression, Stu from PewPewPatriot for
many other dramas on air at the moment. They were even in James Bond: Skyfall a couple taking his time out to get the majority of the
of years back too! Through this I ended up attending a training event with them which has photos you see in this article, and the chaps on
progressed to me being a member of the team. It's really great to get with likeminded people UK Armed Police Impressions for the support
who collect not only CTSFO gear; but also AFO (Authorised Firearms Officer), SFO (Specialist and help where I need it. And on a final note a
Firearms Officer), and even some more ‘usual’ PC uniforms and equipment, from Response massive thanks to Ben for allowing me to bore
Officers to Tactical Support. you all with my kit!

A JOB WELL DONE!


As mentioned Chris has done a great job
of creating this load out and has probably
outdone our effort in terms of detail.
The door here at AiHQ is always virtually
open though and we love to hear about
what you have been collecting or building
so remember to drop us a line and let us
know ([email protected]), you never
know, next time it could be you in all your
glorious kit on these pages!

As far as the helmet is concerned there wasn’t


really much I needed to do to bring it inline.
Callsign patches are in an abundance in the
reference photos plus the ‘POLICE’ patches on
the back of their lids. Something I found pretty
interesting about these patches is that they’re
both IR Reflective as well as Glow in the Dark.
After all, they have been spotted carrying
out raids with UKSF in recent months. These
were courtesy of Keystone Tactical Supply, a
company who make an expansive selection of
custom patches. I topped the helmet off with a
miniature UK Flag Patch from Gun Point Gear.

045

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SECONDS COUNT! S I D E A R M S A N D S E C O N D A

SECONDARIES
TYING IN NEATLY WITH OUR BUMPER ROUND-UP OF SIDEARMS STARTING ON
PAGE 32, PHIL REITERATES THE JOY OF A PISTOL. BE IT THE UNSURPASSED BLOW
BACK REALISM OF A GOOD GBB OR THE PRACTICALITY OF A FIXED SLIDE MODEL,
BOTH WILL EXTEND YOUR GAME AND KEEP A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
opposition players with a well timed and placed
double tap is just the best reward for the time
spent getting proficient with “small arms”.
I’ve witnessed players walk back to safe zones
saying they’re out but they have a pistol with
spare mags still on them; unused. Some mumble
about not wanting to use it yet and carry on
WRITTEN BY PHIL BUCKNALL others go “oh yeah! I forgot about that” and
then run smiling back into the fray to and others
Okay, so you get to the safe zone for your game So I have taken quite an extreme example look nervously at them like they will bite then
and you’re getting all of you gear sorted; mags and pushed it here but why don’t we use pistols draw it gingerly before firing it a couple of times
loaded; batteries in guns; chronoing to ensure more? I am a self confessed lover of GBB pistols. and going into the safe zone after all.
your guns are site legal (safety first remember!) I had at one point over 40 and it got to the point Some people feel they will be outgunned by all
etc etc and then you go to the briefing packing where I wasn’t entirely sure what models I owned the other players using AEGs and I understand
enough mags for the game and some pyros for a as they were in boxes overflowing with guns. that concern but with a little adaptation to
little added fun but wait! What do you do if your I have since rationalised my collection down to your playing style there is no reason you can’t
gun fails mid game? Do you quit and walk back five - it took ages and lots of deliberating I can hold your own. Some of the best players I’ve
to the safe zone and spend an hour tinkering tell you! But I would never leave the safe zone seen have gone out with a rubber knife and two
with it or do you reach for your trusty side arm without a loaded pistol and at least two spare handguns and thats it. They had a great time and
and carry on? You DID bring a secondary out magazines for it. Even in the depths of winter it worked hard for their kills but they weren’t the
into the game with you didn’t you? Uh-oh. You would either be in a pouch on my best or a kydex first players to get hit either; quite the contrary.
didn’t did you? Oh dear oh dear oh dear! holster just waiting to be used. They oftentimes were the last to come in.
Side arms, secondaries, back up; call them For me a GBB pistol is the single closest thing Don’t be afraid of your pistols! Get to know
what you will but it is not just fun to have a we have to the equivalent real steel items. They how they work, what gas gives you the best most
different gun with you besides the main one it operate in the same way even if the power consistent performance. Find the weight of BB
can also mean the difference between staying source is different and they offer the most that gives you range AND accuracy and then
in the game or not. Getting that death or glory tactile experience of any RIF bar the GBB rifles practise drawing and reholstering it.
charge and winning the final objective or and the recoil AEGs out there. Heck, they sound Practise going from long gun to side arm.
trudging back to the safe zone defeated - okay, I a load better than your average AEG too! You Heck, film it if you want so you can watch it
may have used a little creative licence there! get that BLAM and the kick in your hand of back and see what you’re doing right and what
For most of us our primaries are the main the moving parts slamming back and stripping you need to work on. Even if you don’t do any of
focus and it’s as it should be. It is the one gun another BB from the mag or the click as it locks that just grab your pistol, rack the slide and get
that can do it all from CQB to long range shots back and you’re scrabbling for the spare mag to stuck in. I have seen games won by a single guy
so it stands to reason that we spend most of reload before you get hit! holding off an attacking force with only a pistol.
our time and focus on getting it as reliable and A lot of the players I know got into airsoft The same guy walks out after game over is
consistent as possible but that doesn’t mean we after having a go with a friends pistol and yet called with a grin that looks like it’ll never fade;
should overlook a back up weapon. I always see some players load them and just a dump pouch full of empty mags and a pistol in
Airsoft snipers especially regularly go into leave them the bench in the safe zone or never his hand - slide locked back empty.
game zones with a secondary gun that is just draw them during a game. I don’t get it?! You I guarantee if you ask him what the best bit
as important to them as their main gun. Whilst are missing out guys. Really! of his day was it won’t be where he suppressed
this is down to safe MEDs for high powered Maybe it’s the transitions from rifle to pistol? an assault for 10 mins with heavy automatic fire
rifles meaning they cannot engage anyone It can be difficult to switch between the two and from his AEG. It will be those last 30 seconds
within a radius of X-meters, as per the game a little practise can go a long way to making it of the last game where he was taking fire and
rules, with their sniper rifle they are one of smoother and more natural. The other factor I giving it everything knowing he perhaps had 40
the few groups who devote as much time to a think is that players don’t think very highly of shots and then he’d be overrun.
secondary as their primary. their sidearms. This is a fallacy in the most part With the plethora of GBB pistols out there
You will see them discussing silent non blow as the GBB pistols today match the power output to cater to every taste and almost every time
back pistols with amazing range and accuracy or of most AEGs and aren’t far off the range. period now plus the number of CO2 powered
a little compact PDW like a MP5K for those “oh I had a Marui Desert Eagle and it would ones; ideal for cold winters there is no excuse
Sh&t!” moments and they will make sure it works accurately hit targets over fifty metres away so not to have AND USE a sidearm. It will add
as well as there amazingly accurate sniper rifles. they don’t have to be a close in weapon only. to your game experience and may even
Another group that tend to focus on pistols Obviously, this is where they excel though and extend your time in game so next time you’re
(for sake or argument I am going to interchange if you do a lot of CQB games by using a long gun bombing up and debating whether to take
pistols and secondaries throughout this article) only you really are missing out on both the fun your Glock into the game or leave it on the
are the impressionados. They will have a period element but also the chance to increase your bench DON’T! Take it with you and use it!
correct replica of the units issued handgun. It will skill set in both weapon handling but also tactics. If you still don’t like using a sidearm
look amazing and be the best replica they can Clearing rooms with a pistol drawn as then…I call DIBS!
get. It will also never leave its holster a lot of the opposed to say an M4 is a very different Stay safe and have fun folks;
time! Such a waste of a good blow back pistol. experience in my mind and taking out until next time.

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CL ASSIC AEG JG G36K REVIEW - CL ASSIC AEG - JG

CLASSIC AEG
JG G36K REVIEW
THE FAMED AND RESPECTED M40, NOW IN IT’S A5 ITERATION IS NOW AVAILABLE thoughtfully provided holes to store the
pins on the underside of the folding stock.
FROM TOKYO MARUI. WHO KNOWS WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO FINALLY GET This system also allowed for quick changes
between the various option available,
ROUND TO MAKING IT, BUT IT’S NOW DONE AND AVAILABLE BUT UNLIKE THE especially the pistol grip which houses the
REAL GUN, HAS THIS ONE MISSED THE MARK? IS IT A CASE OF TOO LITTLE, TOO trigger unit. Thus users could swap easily
between a semi-auto only trigger and a burst
LATE? WE PIT IT AGAINST THE ASG M40A3 TO SEE WHICH ONE IS KING. / full auto unit should they need to.
The G36 has earned a reputation for simple
The G36 was born out of the cancellation of then it has spawned a legion of variants and reliability and can be expected to be around
the G11 and G41 projects in the early 1990s, been widely adopted by both military and law for many years to come.
following the re-unification of Germany and the enforcement users world wide.
realisation that as a result, money was going Built from polymer with steel inserts (so REPLICAS
to be a bit tight... This left the Bundeswehr please, please stop emailing airsoft retailers Almost every replica of the G36 in airsoft is
without a main battle rifle other than their and asking for a metal body!) the G36 used based on the original Marui G36C, and the
tried, tested and rather tired G3s. Heckler and the common gas piston operating system JG G36K is no exception. At it’s heart it is
Koch were tasked with developing a modern instead of the delayed-blowback system the TM G36C with a replica of the Star “K”
rifle chambered for the now standard 5.56mm H&K had favoured up until then. All major kit pre-fitted, giving the longer fore-grip and
NATO round. The resulting rifle, the G36, components of the rifle were held together barrel, but leaving the shorter stock of the C.
was adopted in 1995 by Germany, with Spain with push-pins allowing it to be stripped and In fairness nearly every G36 suffers from this
adopting the export version in 1999. Since reassembled without the use of tools. H&K and if you want the correct and slightly longer

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- JG G36K REVIEW - CL ASSIC AEG - JG G36K REVIEW

stock that should be on both the K and 350fps mark that most sites accept as a limit. G36 magazines is finding pouches to hold
the E variants, you’ll need to go a-hunting. The supplier we sourced this from gets them them comfortably. The rifle may use a STANAG
Construction is predominantly black ABS, downgraded to suit UK sites prior to delivery, round in the real world, but those magazines
in fact it’s fair to say that it’s almost entirely so you may even be saved that task. are anything but. The large magazine catch
black ABS. Flash hider and outer barrel are The finish was exactly as expected, solid sits behind the magazine well just like that of
metal, as is the trigger and fire selectors. and black, neither exciting nor disappointing. the AK 47, and although not as convenient as
Apart from the gearbox everything else is There are mould lines to be found but frankly the AR-15 magazine release, it works very well
plastic yet the G36 has acquired a deserved they are no worse than those to be found on and seldom drops magazines accidentally.
reputation for ruggedness on the skirmish the Marui. There is a danger of my leaving you The battery sits inside the fore-grip which
field which just goes to show that alloy isn’t underwhelmed at this point, but bear with me. is held in place with a single push pin. I
the be-all-and-end-all. Although I have a The JG G36 has over recent years become a strongly recommend investing in one of
personal penchant for the version with the common replacement for tired CYMA AK 47s the after-market locking pins for this as
carry handle/scope combination (pictured) the as site hire guns and that alone should tell it is too easy for the supplied original can
standard rail and iron sights combo fits my you all you need to know about reliability and go walkabouts to easily. Designed to take
needs just as well. ruggedness. The fact that the standard hi-cap a mini pack, the space is big enough to
Performance out of the box is adequate, magazine holds just short of 500 rounds (470) accommodated both 7.4v and 11.1v Li-po
running at about 360 fps with 0.2g ammo. A is also a big attraction for those who simply packs as well.
simple swap of the main spring (a very easy need lots of ammo. You can clip magazines That’s the stock gun, but when I acquired
task to do thanks to the gun’s construction and together, but I wouldn’t recommend doing that this I had no intention of leaving it stock.
out step by step guide starting on page 75) has with more than 2 hi caps, if only because of Mods are very specific and not for the
the gun firing comfortably below the magical the weight. The other issue you’ll have with inexperienced in some cases. The first change
was the magazine well which I swapped
out for one that takes M16 /M4 magazines.
Although slightly less convenient in use than
the original, carrying M16 magazines is much,
much easier and my gear was already set up
for them. In addition it’s much easier to find
someone willing to lend you a M16 magazine
in the middle of a fire-fight!
The second mod was something I had in
mind right from the start; short-stroking
the gearbox. In simple terms this process
reduces the length of the piston cycle which
has a number of advantages, chief amongst
being a radical increase in rate of fire. It
also dramatically improves the speed of the
semi auto cycle for the same reason – the
piston is travelling a shorter distance. I’m not

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CA SL AG SASRI CM A LE IGT EJ G G36K REVIEW - CLASSIC AEG

The JG G36 is a simple, solid,


reliable airsoft gun in any of VITAL STATS
it’s various guises. It’s not PRICE: £150 (approximately)
expensive and whilst it isn’t WEIGHT: 3000g
the most exciting airsoft CONSTRUCTION: ABS
rifle out there, if you are on LENGTH: 865mm
a limited budget and need HOP UP: Adjustable
performance and reliability, FPS AVERAGE: 360fps
it should be very close to the MAG CAPACITY: 470 hi-cap
top of your shopping list.
PROS
✔ Cheap
✔ Reliable
✔ User friendly

CONS
✗ Not very exciting
✗ Basic features
✗ Awkward mag shape

£150.00 GETPROYOURS FROM


AIRSOFT SUPPLIES
going to give you a how-to in this review, it’s to compensate for the loss of swept volume more than up to the hefty spring.
not the place for it, but it involved grinding (the amount of air compressed in the cylinder) The well-tried version 3 gearbox found
three teeth off the front of the piston, one and the result was a solid and reliable 25-30 in the G36 was largely responsible for me
off the rear to improve pick-up; three teeth rounds per second at pretty much bang-on choosing this gun for these modifications.
off the sector gear; one at the start, two at 350 fps. Before anyone starts moaning about I can reasonably expect it to soldier on
the end. A sector chip was fitted to improve such a rate of fire being unnecessary please without incident despite the upgrades for the
feed by delaying the tappet plate slightly, remember I run 70 round mid caps, so the foreseeable future. It’s more common to see
this gives the ammo a change to get into improved response in semi-auto is much more AR-15 variants being chosen as subject for
the chamber between cycles. The cylinder important. The gun runs just as happily at a upgrading, but there is no reason to overlook
head had a new, thicker buffer pad fitted to much lower rate of fire on a 7.4v Li-Po. other airsoft guns, and some positive
push the piston back slightly to ensure that I did replace the hop unit as the original reasons to do so.
it and the sector gear mesh correctly. The was perfectly functional but didn’t inspire The JG G36 is a simple, solid, reliable airsoft
original nylon bushings were replaced with confidence and the hop rubber and bucking gun in any of it’s various guises. It’s not
steel alternatives. Bearing would have been are now both Marui originals. Although not expensive and whilst it isn’t the most exciting
preferred, but I won’t use bearings of less the best available these days, the Marui is airsoft rifle out there, if you are on a limited
than 8mm diameter and the gearbox was less likely to cause a jam, and at that rate of budget and need performance and reliability,
6mm. Oh, I also chucked in a 13:1 ration high fire a jam in the hop unit or barrel almost it should be very close to the top of your
speed gear set, although on their own the instantly translates into a shredded piston. shopping list. There is no need to perform the
gears made almost no appreciable difference. Best avoided! I didn’t have to replace the sort of radical surgery that I did – I was looking
Deep breath – take all that, add in an 11.1v motor, which I thought I might as it performs to do that even before I got the rifle – but if
Li-po power source and a much bigger spring admirably with an 11.1v power source and is you feel the need, it will reward your efforts.

IN SOME WAYS, LIKE THE AK,


THE G36 IS THE 1911 OF RIFLES –
SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD AND
RELIABLE. IT DOES EXACTLY WHAT
IT SAYS IT’S GOING TO DO AND
GENERALLY WON’T LET YOU DOWN.
IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD A LOOK AT ONE
RECENTLY, DO SO, IT DESERVES A
PLACE IN MOST ARMOURIES.

052 W W W.AI-MAG.COM

050-053 G36K.indd 52 16/10/2017 15:33


THE ULTIMATE WOODLAND AIRSOFT EXPERIENCE!
75
ACRE
D
WOODLAN
ITE
AIRSOFT S E
RN
NEAR BOU
IN SO UT H
LINC S

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!


AT 75 ACRES FREE FIRE ZONE IS A SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE
WOODLAND SITE THAT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO GET LOST IN
YET IT’S CRAMMED FULL OF AWESOME FEATURES TO GIVE
YOU NUMEROUS GAMING ENVIRONMENTS.
Free Fire Zone is an award winning airsoft site, situated near
Bourne in Lincolnshire and is an established and ancient area filled
with mature trees, undulating terrain and meandering streams.
Once you’re a few yards into the deep and varied undergrowth,
you could be 1000 miles from anywhere, so it’s easy to let your Hire bookings must be mad
e
in advance by telephone
imagination quite literally run wild!
01733 247171
Add to that a village, bridge, border crossing, 5x bunkers, a
mortar pit system and the ammo dump at ‘Camp Dutch’ - Free
Fire Zone also features a massive Firebase! On its own it boasts Emailing to book walk-on places is essential
4x fortified bunkers, a radio hut, battery HQ tower, ditch defences [email protected]
and 2x working 105mm guns! In the summer months we run 3 hour
WWW.FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK
afternoon games for those more strategic players that want more
objective based gaming with less spray and pray.

■ SOUTH LINCS LOCATION (PE10). BOOK! Y


■ BURGER VAN ON SITE.
F ULL DAN
HIRE GUES
■ TOILET FACILITIES. PACK AG
■ 75 ACRES OF ANCIENT WOODLAND.
FROM
■ LARGE VN FIREBASE.
■ 4-5 BUNKERS.
£ 40
■ BRIDGE AREA.
■ MORTAR PITS.
■ 345 FPS AEG’S ( FULL AUTO SITE).
■ 500 FPS SNIPER ( LIMITATIONS APPLY).
■ MK4 BALL GRENADES OKAY.
■ £20 WALK ON FEE.
■ £40 HIRE GUN PACKAGES.
■ AMMO, GAS AND PYRO AVAILABLE.
dates and details
■ CAMPING AVAILABLE BY ARRANGEMENT. Check our website or email for
.CO.UK
■ SHOP ORDERS FROM FIRESUPPORT WW W.FREEFIREZONE
CAN BE DELIVERED TO GAME DAYS.

W W W.F REEF IRE ZONE.CO.UK

FIRESUPPPORT SITE ADS.indd 3 02/05/2017 13:45


IQUES
SEARCHING TECN

SOLDI ER
IN THIS EDITION OF SOLDIER SKILLS WE WILL BE CONSIDERING HOW TO
SEARCH EFFECTIVELY IN A PATROL. SEARCHING TECHNIQUES CAN BE USED
FOR MANY DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS, ANYTHING FROM LOOKING FOR
SKILLS
■ Plan RV’s along the way in your patrol.
■ Set sentries whenever a halt is made.
■ Set ambush if stop is greater than 10 minutes.
■ Try to disguise any sign you leave behind.

ENEMY POSITIONS TO TRYING TO LOCATE AND RESCUE A DOWNED PILOT. TIMINGS


You can allow the patrol to have flexiblity as to
When searching patrols must be symmetrical used more often in arid environments but as with when you halt but plan all RVs to be temporary
and not overly ambitious. To put this into context all single file patrols can be vulnerable to ambush. and open for only limited time periods.
a platoon sized unit which consists of around 30
men will take around a day to through search
an area 4km square. There are four recognized ■ CROSS GRAIN SEARCH HALTING
methods used for searching; This is a system used where single teams search If you are stopping for your patrols main meal
across the features of the landscape and not this should normally be carried out around an
along them. It’s usually used to try and locate hour before last light. You can use this time to
■ FAN SEARCH enemy positions and camps on high ground send a SITREP to the head shed. The procedure
This technique is best used in flat featureless and for tracks on ridges and spurs. The patrol for this halt should go something like this; the
terrain, you will need to split your unit into search starts from a designated start point but it patrol IC should post a sentry overlooking the
teams, the number of which will be dictated by usually involves negotiating difficult terrain and original line of advance, the sentry should have
the size of your unit and the size of the area you is usually very slow. If the team is unsuccessful direct comm's with the patrol IC. The rest of
wish to search. Each team will patrol outwards on they should be moved to a new harbour area. the men should form a well-spaced all round
a given bearing creating a fan pattern, hence the Thorough briefing and tight control is essential defence pattern. The patrol IC should make sure
name. Each team should patrol for no more than to prevent clashing with other patrols. noise does not interfere with the sentry’s ability
1000m at which point they should turn 90 degrees to detect a possible threat. If cooking is to be
to the right and patrol for around 100m before allowed a main meal should be prepared, cooking
returning on a back bearing. This type of patrol COMMAND AND CONTROL should be carried out in pairs with one man on
is easy to control from the off as all teams leave Patrolling in all theatres and environments watch while the other cooks and eats. The sentry
from the same start point, the main potential requires careful co-ordination and planning. should be relieved half way through the stop.
disadvantage being that teams could clash. Patrols may be deployed for extended periods and
it is essential that they have accurate information
on the location and specifics of any other tasks THE OVERNIGHT HALT
■ BASE LINE SEARCH being undertaken in the area by other units, they If patrolling for extended periods it will of course
This method is also good in flat featureless should know about any patrol boundaries plus be necessary to stop and rest. After a main meal
country. Each team starts at 200m intervals available support and illumination protocols. halt the patrol should continue onward until it
along a base line, kind of like sprinters on the Common signal and identification codes must be becomes dark at which point track can be broken
starting line of a running track. The base line used to allow different patrols to identify, support and the patrol will form an around defence. As
can be anything such as a ridge, track or stream. and interact with one another if need be. before a sentry should be posted along the line
Each team patrols outwards from the base line of advance and the rest of the patrol will stand
for a distance of approximately 1000m at which to until complete darkness falls. The patrol
point the teams turn right, patrol for 100m and MOVEMENT should then split into pre-determined pairs and
return on a back bearing. Movement is carried out using these SOPs: sleeping gear plus bivvis if required should be
■ Avoid all civilian areas. erected. Overnight each pair should have a one
■ Try to avoid using tracks, paths or roads. man on, one man off sentry system in place
■ RIVER LINE SEARCH ■ Always return by a different route. until just before first light when equipment will
This is simply patrolling along the axis of a river or ■ Do not form a repetitive pattern be packed away. Before leaving the area the IC
stream to search for signs of enemy. It tends to be ■ Combine patrols with OPs and ambushes. should complete a check for sign.

SEARCHING TECNIQUES
SEEK AND DESTROY THE ENEMY, NO
MATTER WHAT THE TERRAIN WITH
THESE ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND DRILLS

054 W W W.AI-MAG.COM

054-055 SOLDIER SKILLS.indd 54 16/10/2017 15:10


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W W W.AI-MAG.COM 055

054-055 SOLDIER SKILLS.indd 55 16/10/2017 15:11


AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 26/05/2017 11:05
AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 24/07/2017 13:23
N U P R O L G U N C A S E S O N T E S T

HARD CASE CLOSED!


CASES NUPROL ON TEST TRANSPORT YOUR SHOOTERS IN SUPREME STYLE AND ULTIMATE PROTECTION
WITH NUPROL’S GREAT NEW RANGE OF HARD GUN CASES. COMPLETE IN
NUMEROUS COLOURS, THREE DIFFERENT SIZES AND TWO DIFFERENT STYLES
OF FOAM INLAY TO CHOOSE FROM, YOUR GUNS HAVE NEVER HAD IT BETTER!
Here at AiHQ we have long extolled the virtue of a foolproof, failsafe manner of carrying your
RIFs, be it simply from your garage to your car or all the way across the country using public
transport, at the very least you need a good bag to keep things out of sight.
Nuprol’s growing range of protective hard cases takes this concept one further and creates
a robust and protected space for your prized possessions. With multiple catches, hard locking
points and several carry handle options, plus drag-along wheels these cases make it easier
than ever to transport your guns with the confidence that they will be in one piece when you
get to your destination. In a selection of different sizes and with more options on the way,
there’s the right case for your needs, no matter what they are.

PICK ‘N’ MIX LARGE HARD CASE


Nuprol’s case range come with a The more capacious “Large Hard Case” is Nuprol’s first and most popular case at the moment. Not
selection of either “Wave” foam, the only is it a great option for storing your assault-rifle sized weapons but it’s also intended to aid in
hobby egg-box looking stuff you might their transport. The hinged design is supported by some beefy hinges and there are a total of 4
be used to seeing in protective cases or catches to keep the case shut in use.
“Pick ’n’ Pluck” foam, which is a layer There’s a folding handle along the long edge of the case and this is also complemented by a
of flat foam pre-perforated with a grid secondary folding handle on the short edge, this is furthered by two roller wheels at the opposite end
that allows you to simply pick chunks of the case making the whole thing easy to drag along. Because it weighs 5.5kg, with a couple of guns
out to form inlays for your kit. It’s not as inside it’s easy to get up enough weight for this to be the most comfortable method of carriage.
accurate as specifically laser cut foam The internal dimensions of the case are just over 1000x320mm and the depth is a decent 125mm
but it certainly is a lot easier to customise with double layers of foam in each half of the case for extra protection. The case apparently meets
when you don’t have a laser cutter and is IP67 Dust and Water Protection standards although it has to be said that the example we tested here
far simpler than trying to cut foam with doesn’t appear to have a very well aligned seal. In fact we found the catches to be a little weak and
a knife or scissors! Pick ’n’ Pluck inlays at one point they came undone, very nearly depositing a RIF onto the floor. We spoke with another
are available separately to retrofit into user who had picked their case up at around the same time and they reported a similar concern over
wave-equipped cases, or as spares. the tenacity of the catches’ holding power. We’re not sure if it is a batch production issue but we will
certainly be using the dual locking points on the case to add extra security in public places.
Available in green, grey, tan and black - with a choice of either wave foam or pick and pluck foam.

£59.99

058 W W W. N U P R O L A IR S O F T. EU

058-059 NUPROL.indd 58 16/10/2017 15:13


S T - C A S E C L O S E D ! - N U P R O L G U N C A S E S

SMALL HARD CASE


Nuprol’s smallest case is the aptly named “Small Hard Case” and is designed to carry pistols
or other valuable/fragile items to and from your destination. With a simple clam-shell
design and an integrated carry handle the case features two slide-closures and dual locking
points for security. £11.99
With an internal size of approximately 300x190mm and a depth of just over 70mm there’s
more than enough room to accommodate pistols, magazines and a couple of accessories.
Available in green, grey, tan and black versions with a choice of either wave foam or pick
and pluck foam, the small case can be modified to your own requirements.
In use we found the small case to be more than adequate for protection and organisation
of your guns and kit, allowing you to immediately take stock of how much and where all
your kit is. Although not really up to being run over by a truck or chucked out of a plane, the
small case is more than enough for the realistic requirements you will be throwing at it.

XL HARD CASE
The XL Hard Case is currently the big
daddy of the case range and is designed
to fit your longest rifles for storage and
also transport. Featuring an upscaled
design very similar to the large case, the
XL takes it to the next level with 6 rugged
clasps that fit a lot tighter than the ones on our
Large Case. Complete with the same dual handle
system and roller wheels the XL case is still easy
to carry around despite being a good kilogram
heavier and bigger in size.
Dual foam layers in both halves again provide
optimal protection for the contents which are the same
as the Large Case but with another 300mm in length
making it ideal for sniper rifles and longer shotguns. This
case is also rated for IP67 Dust and Water protection and
our example did a much better job of convincing us of this
with a generally far higher standard of finish.
Available in tan and black versions with other colours to
follow and with a choice of either wave foam or pick and pluck
foam, the XL case can be modified to your own requirements.

£98.99

W W W.JUSTBBGUNS.CO.UK 059

058-059 NUPROL.indd 59 16/10/2017 15:13


AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 18/09/2017 15:36
THE ULTIMATE AIRSOFT EXPERIENCE!
ONE OF THE LARGEST PERMANENT URBAN AIRSOFT SITES IS CLOSING THIS
SUMMER, SO WE HAVE HERE A SELECTION OF PHOTOS TO SHOW WHAT FUN WE
HAVE HAD ON THIS GREAT SITE OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU
THAT HAVE ATTENDED AND MADE THE SITE THE GREAT LOCATION IT HAS BEEN.
IT HAS BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT ALSO VERY REWARDING RUNNING IT.
Check our website or email for dates and details
If you wish to still attend this 40 acre site with over 15 two storey building then see our WWW.URBANASSAULT.ORG.UK
website for future game dates. www.urbanassault.org.uk
Bookings must be made for walk on or hire places. Other site visits by prior arrangement.
The site is packed full of perfect gaming features, numerous staircases to try and clear.
Small and large rooms everywhere you look. Large buildings, small buildings, courtyards,
alleyways, you name it, this site has all of it!

■ NORTH CAMBS LOCATION (PE26).


■ BURGER VAN ON SITE.
■ TOILET FACILITIES.
■ 40 ACRES OF IN AND OUTSIDE GAMING.
■ NEARLY 20 TWO-STOREY BUILDINGS.
■ 300+ ROOMS TO CLEAR.
■ 345 FPS AEG’S ( FULL AUTO SITE).
■ 400 FPS SNIPER ( LIMITATIONS APPLY).
■ SITE ONLY PYRO TO BE USED.
■ £25 WALK ON FEE.
■ £50 HIRE GUN PACKAGES.
■ AMMO, GAS AND PYRO ALL
AVAILABLE ON SITE. Hire bookings must be ma
de
in advance by telephone
■ SHOP ORDERS FROM
01733 247171
FIRESUPPORT CAN
BE DELIVERED

BOODKA!Y
TO GAME DAYS.
Emailing to book walk-on places is essential
[email protected] FULL
HIRE GUENS
WWW.FIRE-SUPPORT.CO.UK PACK AG
FROM
£5 0

W W W. U R B A N A S S A U L T. O R G . U K

FIRESUPPPORT SITE ADS.indd 1 06/03/2017 18:50


SNUGPAK S N U G P A K ’ S E L I T E 4 S L E E P I N G

GOOD SLEEP EASY!


NIGHT SNUGPAK TESTED
snugpak SNUGPAK ARE ONE OF THE FIRST NAMES IN “SNIVEL” GEAR, THE STUFF THAT
KEEPS YOU WARM AND DRY DURING THE NIGHT. THEIR “SOFTIE RANGE OF
elite 4 INSULATED CLOTHING IS A BENCHMARK AND THEIR SLEEPING BAGS ARE
sleeping SIMILARLY RENOWNED. HERE WE TEST THE ELITE 4, A BAG THAT WILL KEEP
bag YOU WARM ON THE COLDEST NIGHT.
There are very few times of year, especially to the Thermal Suede in the tactical bag) so
here in the UK, that you could sleep comfortably my thinking was that it would be a little better
without a sleeping bag to insulate you. It gets suited to less extreme temperatures.
cold at night and when you are lying still, close
to the ground it gets even colder!
Personally I made the mistake of not bothering ELITE 4 DESIGN
to pack a sleeping back to head to a mid-summer The Elite 4 uses a simple “mummy’ shape
weekend event. Despite it being July and well design that tapers down towards the foot to
over 20C during the day, the night was very minimise wasted space and excessive material,
long, very cold and very uncomfortable. I ended most effective at reducing the weight and pack
up borrowing a sleeping for the next night and size of the bag. Inside the foot area the bags
slept a lot better but suffice to say I will never are reinforced for durability, they claim you can
repeat that mistake again. sleep with your boots on but I’m not one to try
For some time now I have trusted my Snugpak this out, I’d always remove my boots if you have
Tactical bag. It’s kept me warm in conditions long enough to get your sleeping bag out!
down to -14C overnight which although not that The large hooded top encloses your head but
cold in the grand scheme of things, is pretty cold critically leaves your face exposed, no matter
to cope with at a Mil-Sim event! how cold it is you shouldn’t cover your face in
After several years of service I decided it a sleeping bag. Not only does this massively
might be best to compliment my rather extreme elevate the risk of suffocating yourself but
sleeping bag, rated down to an extreme of you will also breathe moisture into your bag,
-17C with something a little more moderate for decreasing any technical fabric ability to wick
better conditions. The Elite 4 is rated down to this away, in turn reducing the effectiveness of
-15C which, although not vastly different, uses the insulation. For comfort the bag does have
a different design and also a different texture an adjustable baffle around the head and neck
material as a liner, (Paratex Light as opposed to seal off your body and hold heat in.

NEXT LEVEL TECH!


“Snugpak EPS (Expanda Panel
System) bags give versatility to
tackle any adventure. The key is its
£104.95
ability to control temperature and
comfort by being able to transform
from a warm, snug sleeping bag into
a cool and spacious one.
The bag boasts all the features of
traditional sleeping bags but the
jumbo zip baffle can be opened
out to give much more ro om when
needed. The extra space within the
bag allows more air to move around
keeping the bag cooler.
This temperature management
gives your bag much more flexibility
allowing you to confidently select a
product that can perform in a range
of conditions, so that when the SNUGPAK’S SLEEPING BAGS WILL KEEP YOU WARM AND COSY IN ALL SEASONS,
temperature drops, you can zip the
sleeping bag tighter and instantly
NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER CAN THROW AT YOU. TEAMED WITH A DECENT
boost its performance.” BIVVI BAG OR TENT THE ELITE 4 WILL BE SUITABLE FOR ALL BRITISH SEASONS.

062 SNUGPAK .COM

062-063 SNUGPAK.indd 62 16/10/2017 15:15


N G B A G - S N U G P A K ’ S E L I T E 4 S L E E P I N G B A G

OUTER FABRIC (100% NYLON)


Paratex Micro is tough, lightweight,
highly windproof and water repellent.
Paratex Micro utilises closely constructed
fabric and is exceptionally hard wearing
but still remains soft to the touch.

INNER FABRIC (100% NYLON)


Paratex light is lightweight, highly
windproof, water repellent fabrics,
exceptionally breathable and able to wick
moisture away from source.

INSULATION (100% POLYESTER)


This is the brand name for our
Snugpak’s Expanda Panel System (EPS) The Elite 4 comes complete with a
exclusive synthetic (Polyester) filling.
gives you the most flexibility here though. compression sack to compact it down for
It utilises superfine yarns bound with
Essentially a built-in expansion panel, the EPS transportation and weighs in at just under
special resins to produce a luxurious
design allows you to open out the bag in cooler 2kg, making it easy to carry. That said we
down like feel. It is created from staple
conditions and add a few more inches of space have always found it far easier to ditch the
yarns which mirror the compositions
internally. This makes the bag cooler for use compression sack and simply stuff your bag
of natural insulations.
in warmer conditions but it’s also quick and into the empty space inside your back. You can
easy to simply zip the bag in tighter to provide
better insulation all round. In addition to this,
often squeeze it all in even when you through
there was no space available at all. INNER FABRIC (100% POLYESTER)
there are a selection of simple hook clasps I have found the Elite 4 pack to be exactly as Reflectatherm, this metallised fabric is
and D-rings on the lower section of the bag, advertised. I’ve not yet used it in harsh cold designed to retain heat and warmth. A
these pull a double duty in that they can be conditions but it was certainly easy enough highly breathable material, which adds
used to shorten the overall length of the bag, to open out and keep comfortable in warmer little to the weight or pack size.
again making it suited to a wider selection of conditions. I actually prefer the Paratex Light
environments and users, plus they can be used internal fabric over the Thermal Suede found
for hanging, drying and airing purposes when inside the more expensive Tactical 4 through
it comes to cleaning and maintaining the bag. personal taste and also that it is less prone to
Part of the tactical features of the Elite getting jammed in the zipper.
bag are a neat chest pocket that allow you to To all intents and purposes, the Elite 4,
keep essentials like a headlamp, flash light, retailing with an RRP of just over £100, but
mobile phone or even a sidearm for the really available for way less from selected retailers,
hardcore Mil-Simmers, near by. This pocket is is a solid choice for year round weekender use.
a simple velcro closure so doesn’t cause any There might be fancier and far more expensive
discomfort if not used but beware of rolling “tactical” bags out there but for the hobby and
over onto the contents of anything you choose occasional user, you will find this bag more
to store in there! than meets your requirements.

airsoft international
recommends!
✪✪✪✪✪

W W W.SNUGPAK .COM 063

062-063 SNUGPAK.indd 63 16/10/2017 15:15


TARGE T ED! REPLICA SIGHTS ON THE MARKET - REPLI

SIGHT PICTURE
WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO AIM EFFECTIVELY, GUNS ARE LARGELY USELESS. THE FIRST THING
MOST BUYERS WILL DO IS PICK UP A SIGHT TO FIT TO THEIR WEAPON. IN DAYS GONE BY
DOING SO WOULD HAVE REQUIRED RATHER SPECIFIC CHOICES BUT NOW, THANKS TO THE
MODULAR AND LARGELY UNIVERSAL STANDARDISATION OF PICATINNY RAILS OR “RIS”,
YOU HAVE A MASSIVE NUMBER OF SIGHTING SYSTEMS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR ANY
GIVEN WEAPON. HERE’S AI’S ROUND-UP OF SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR AND
EFFECTIVE REPLICA SIGHTS ON THE MARKET.

ACOG - RMR
The ACOG sight, originally designed by Trijicon, is
ubiquitous and seen on many military weapons
the world over. Commonly it provides
an illuminated reticule with a 4x
magnification, ideal for combat shooting. As
a package the sight is compact and has an
integrated mount. In many models the mount is
removable and the ACOG can be fitted directly to
the foxed carry handle of AR pattern weapons.
The ACOG is best used with one eye closed,
much like a traditional riflescope, which limits the
peripheral vision of the user. To combat this issue, a
secondary red dot sight can be seen “piggybacked” onto
the top of the ACOG, giving a “both eyes open” shooting
experience more suited to close quarters battle. The ACOG also
commonly features rudimentary fixed iron sights on top in case of
extreme electronic disruption.

PROS
Commonly seen on military weapons.
Great zoom level for general airsoft shooting.

CONS
Very limited eye relief.

SPECTER DR
The SpecterDR is a relatively new sight and has been
adopted by US forces as well as British troops fitting
them to the L85 individual rifle. Much like an ACOG,
the SpecterDR offers a 4x magnification and
a partially illuminated reticule. A throw lever on the side of
the scope switches the sight into a simple 1x magnification
mode wherein it functions much more like a regular red dot
sight and can even be aimed effectively with both
eyes open. This makes the sight suitable for both
precision shooting but also CQB environments,
hence the DR moniker, which stands for “Dual Role”.
Some SpecterDR sights have been seen fitted with a
secondary red dot, much like the ACOG to allow for a
more rapid transition and they also come with back- up
iron sights in the event of damage to the optics or
electronics contained.

PROS CONS
Versatile and adaptable. Large and heavy.

064 W W W.AI-MAG.COM

064-065 GEAR FOCUS.indd 64 16/10/2017 15:17


EPLICA SIGHTS ON THE MARKET - REPLICA SIGHTS

RMR
The Trijicon RMR or Ruggedised Miniature Reflex sight is often seen perched on
top of other sights to be used as a secondary optic, but it’s capable enough to
be used as a sighting system by itself and is compact enough even to be used
on a handgun. With a simple red dot projected onto the window of the sight, the
shooter can quickly and effectively acquire targets in a CQB environment and maintain a high level
of situational awareness thanks to the minimal intrusion into the field of view. This is great on both
handguns and other smaller weapons including SMGs or carbines. The dot can be zero’d to achieve
accurate fire and also has multiple brightness levels to be used in a variety of lighting scenarios.

PROS CONS
Compact and lightweight Prone to smashing or damage.

SRS
The SRS or Sealed Reflex Sight is another Trijicon product and is a
relative newcomer to the market. As a larger red dot sight, the SRS
is in direct competition with Eotech or similar sights. Likewise, it
features a 1x magnification and a simple illuminated dot reticule with a
spectrum of brightness setting. The viewing window is large and the exterior of the sight
is designed to be slick and snag-free, giving comfortable and unimpeded use. Although a
feature not included on replicas, the real sight also features a solar powered system that
is augmented by a single AA battery, making for reliable and dependable use at night.

PROS CONS
Great to aim and snag-free. Bulky compared to other 1x red dot sights.

COMP M4
Aimpoint’s line of red dot optics has a long heritage,
and one of the more recent updates to the line was the
Comp M4. Replicated here for airsoft guns, the comp M4
has a rugged and robust build with a large battery compartment
to power the single, simple red dot projected inside the sight for aiming. Unlike
previous Comp models, the M4 comes complete with an integrated mount which
can be adjusted with different stackers to set the height for co-witnessing. As
always and even in replica format, the Comp M4 is a rugged, reliable and versatile
weapon sight at home on many different types of rifle. With no magnification as
standard, it’s obviously best used for closer engagements, however with a flip-to-
side magnifier, it can easily be called into service for more precise shooting.

PRO CONS
Simple and rugged. Sits rather high on the weapon.

T-1 MICRO DOT


Aimpoint’s T-1 Micro Dot is a very popular sight on all manner of
weapons. Capable enough to be used as a compact standalone sight
and also small and light enough to be used as a secondary sight they
have been fitted on everything from pistols all the way to heavy
machine guns. As an airsoft accessory though they are most commonly seen on SMGs
and carbines to achieve a lightweight, easy to manage weapon package with minimal
bulk. Mounts range from low-profile RIS clamps to raised co-witness packages that
raise the center of the viewing window up to the same height as the iron sights fitted to
the weapon. T-1 micro Dots do not have any level of magnification, but have been seen
mounted in conjunction with a flip-to-side magnifier.

PRO CONS
Small and compact but very capable. Very small viewing window.

W W W.AI-MAG.COM 065

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TH E MAGAZI N E FO R TH E ALPHA MALE

OUTDOORS - ADRENALINE - TACTICAL - ESSENTIALS - FITNESS - EXPLORE

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■ PAGE 15 ■ OPEN UP ON PAGE 34 ■ GO TO PAGE 39

FITN ESS ESSENTIALS! WALTH ER PPQ REVIEW N EW U F PRO ' U RBAN LIN E' REVEALED!

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AD TEMPLATE.indd 1 16/10/2017 16:00
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MERCH A N T S F OR T HE MO T I VAT ED HR4K TAKING CA

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE NAME OR IF


YOU’VE ATTENDED ANY OF OUR RECENT
AI500 EVENTS, YOU WILL HAVE SEEN
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that fresh roasts were ready to go down range for
FOR THAT PAY-DAY PURCHASE, fellow Special Operators.  During this time, he had
the unique opportunity to experience many different
PERSONAL TREAT OR EVEN GIFT coffees from SE Asia, Africa, South America and the
Middle East.  Evan has prided himself on ensuring the
FOR THE TACTICALLY MINDED best quality product available.  Evan has been roasting
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THERE’S A GREAT RANGE TO roasts to the American public. You’ll never find a better
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THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAIL DO IT YOURSELF

THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAIL


G36 TAKEDOWN!
AS REVIEWED ON PAGE 50 THIS ISSUE, THE HUMBLE G36 IS AN OFTEN
OVERLOOKED CHOICE WHEN IT COMES TO ASSAULT RIFLES IN THE AIRSOFT
MARKETPLACE. OFTEN TARRED WITH THE “NOOB” BRUSH, THE G36 USES
A PROVEN AND RELIABLE V3 GEARBOX AT ITS HEART AND IS JUST AS
CAPABLE OF STELLAR PERFORMANCE AS ANY OTHER PLATFORM. HERE
WE BREAK ONE DOWN TO SHOW YOU WHAT TO EXPECT...
You’ll see a lot of G36 variants at to cut down on bulk and weight and
airsoft sites in the hands of hire users to improve ergonomics… Sound
and first timers. As AEGs they are familiar? It should… The G36 was
simple, robust and there aren’t many already doing what Magpul wanted
things to mess up on them. Their to do with the Masada and their MOE
externals are simple and user friendly kits for the AR platform, and what
and their internal configuration is endless “slick” rail systems have
robust and full of potential. subsequently sought to achieve.
The G36 is sorely overlooked and The G36 is lightweight, modular
at the time of its introduction was and ahead of its time, but
actually so far ahead of it’s time nobody really credits it for
nobody really realised. Using a what it is, especially not in the
dependable and reliable HK devised airsoft world, because far too
operating system, the real firearm is often is it associated with “noobies”…
reliable, simple and robust but it is Perhaps now is the time we gave this
externally where the G36 platform highly capable weapons platform a
really shines for us airsofters. closer look?
The G36 features a polymer “body”
using modular sections held together THE TAKEDOWN
with cross pins. The forehand is also There are a number of AEG replicas on
modular and made from polymer the market but most are based around
and can be “hot swapped” with other a very similar design. Once you have
fore ends. Natively, the gun has one worked out you will be familiar with
removable rail sections that can be all of them. Here we are going to strip
added where required and removed down the essential parts of a JG G36…

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THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL OUR G36 TAKEDOWN!
STEP 1 STEP 3
Remove the magazine and ensure the gun is clear of BBs including those Next, slide the hand guard forward very carefully and disconnect and
inside the hop unit. remove the battery.

STEP 4
Begin disassembly by removing the three screws as shown here.

STEP 2
Remove the hand guard retaining pin.

STEP 5
Carefully slide the outer barrel assembly forward an inch or so.

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THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL OUR G36 TAKEDOWN!
STEP 6 STEP 8
Return to the receiver section of the gun and push out the mag well pin. Disconnect the wiring extension.

STEP 9
Fold the stock to the side and remove the screw as shown.

STEP 7
Remove the mag well by pressing the magazine release.

STEP 10
The gearbox should now pivot free from the upper receiver.

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THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL OUR G36 TAKEDOWN!
STEP 11 STEP 13
Push through the cross pin indicated here. Lift the gearbox free of the lower receiver. Take care to retain the spring
for the bolt release catch.

STEP 14
With the gearbox now separated from the gun, you can begin disassembly.

STEP 12
Remove the three screw on the base of the pistol grip.

STEP 15
Remove the plastic clip on piece that shields the exposed sector gear.

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THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL OUR G36 TAKEDOWN!
STEP 16 STEP 18
Remove the motor cage retaining screws. Remove the remaining gearbox shell screws.

STEP 17 STEP 19
Slide the top clip off of the gearbox shell. Finally remove the gearbox casing taking care to release the main spring
tension. You can now work on the inside of the gearbox. Simply reverse
these steps to reassemble.

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WHAT A BELTER! IN ASSOCIATION WITH WWW.UK TA

£83.95
BELTS KITS, YOU EITHER LOVE THEM OR YOU HATE THEM. WARRIOR ASSAULT built. In fact, it could be argued that it’s pretty
modular beyond just the MOLLE system.
SYSTEMS BRING US THEIR GUNFIGHTER BELT SYSTEM. THIS BEAUTY BOASTS As a bridge between the currently popular
“Mini-MOLLE” belts you’ll find on the market
FEATURES THAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT TO FIND ON MORE EXPENSIVE PRODUCTS and the more traditional battle belt design, the
FROM FURTHER AFIELD, EXCEPT THIS IS A WAY MORE AFFORDABLE £83.95! “core” of the belt consists of an inner panel
that is slightly stiffened and covered in Velcro
loop. Instead of being a sleeve that slots onto
W W W . U K T A C T I C A L . C O M a belt, the Gunfighter system actually comes
equipped with two loose belt “ends”. These
sections can be velcro’d in place to form the
Many major complaints regarding belt rigs are These complaints were the very reason fastening system. They can also be easily
based on bulk and how the whole things can slip, that Warrior Assault Systems developed the adjusted for a perfect fit.
rotate and generally feel like you are wearing Gunfighter belt and it’s innovative design. This belt core can then be fitted with
an adult sized nappy. Many also don’t really like See, it’s not just a sleeve with a belt that runs segmented velcro pieces that wrap around and
the idea of having to change the sort of holsters through it like many others. These can be a bit fasten into place. These are of course where
used, plus a MOLLE system means whatever you of an issue as they end up bulky and difficult to the MOLLE compatibility comes in, which
do choose will project out further from your adjust when loaded with kit but the Gunfighter segments coming in 4, 2 and 1 column widths
body regardless. system is far more segmented and intelligently to cover the entire core length. These sections

1 2 3

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K TACTICAL.COM - THE GUNFIGHTER BELT ON TEST

THE BELT CORE CAN BE FITTED WITH SEGMENTED VELCRO PIECES THAT WRAP
AROUND AND FASTEN INTO PLACE. THESE ARE OF COURSE WHERE THE MOLLE
COMPATIBILITY COMES IN, WITH SEGMENTS COMING IN FOUR, TWO AND ONE
COLUMN WIDTHS TO COVER THE ENTIRE CORE LENGTH OF THE BELT SYSTEM ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY
are totally independent and can be removed Gunfighter is a very capable belt system and WAS Kit is made from only the highest
and refitted as required but can also be left the innovation within the system is brilliant. quality, US-sourced, Mil-Spec materials,
out entirely. This means that, provided your Whether set up as solely a gunboat system or from the very threads of each items to the
pouches are only MOLLE strapped onto one even paired with a harness to form the basis of plastic hardware used, no corners are cut
“segment” piece at a time, they can be added, a full belt order-based load out, the Gunfighter and no expense is spared.
removed and reordered with ease. If they are is equally comfortable and indeed can be rapidly
left out altogether, this creates ample room reconfigured to your needs or weapon options. Thread quality is fundamental to the
for traditional belt loop or even paddle style construction, durability and strength of
holsters and accessories to be strapped under tactical equipment.
the belt ends that form part of the sandwich WARRIOR’S GUNFIGHTER BELT
that makes up the Gunfighter system.
Presently the Gunfighter belt is available only IS AVAILABLE IN MULTICAM, Two factors have a negative impact on the
life Span of threads...
as a complete kit solution at a very reasonable PICTURED HERE, ALONG WITH
£83.95 in sizes Medium, Large and Extra Large
with the specific sizings available on the Warrior COYOTE TAN, BLACK AND ■ Mildew is one of the most common
factors in the deterioration of military kit,
Assault Systems website. Definitely watch OLIVE GREEN TO SUIT ALL causing it to rot and ultimately results in
out for those UK Tactical sales emails though
as they regularly put out short, time limited ENVIRONMENTS AND LOAD OUTS. unacceptable failure.
promotions on these items! As it stands the
■ Sunlight has a harmful effect on the
performance of threads, and over time
causes their deterioration.

Warrior only uses the highest quality US


Mil Spec nylon threads imported from the
USA which are threated against both UV
and Mildew.

All our Clips, Fabrics, Plastic Hardware,


Threads and MultiCam/Coyote Webbing
are treated at source to deliver the lowest
I.R. Signature possible.

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K
TAL A I R S O F T A P P L I C A T I O N S M A R S H A L L I N
ALL

MARSHALLING
AN INSIGHT

JACOB MILLER
WRITTEN BY
At the two AI500 events I’ve been able One of the downsides to being a marshal
to attend - The Gathering and Unfinished is that, quite often, we see and hear far
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR MUCH- Business - I’ve been part of the marshal team. more of the negative points of the gameplay
LOVED HOBBY OF AIRSOFT, I’M As someone who’s far more used to playing
Airsoft than watching the game unfold from
than, perhaps, players do. Unfortunately it
is normally the marshal team who are on the
FUNDAMENTALLY A PLAYER. a third-party perspective; I got a fantastic
insight into the work that actually goes into
receiving end of the cries of “he’s not taking
his hits!”, “he bled out early!” or, in some
I LOVE THE FAST-PACED, making a day of ‘Plastic Deth’ (to use the cases, “why is the game biased against our

HIGH-OCTANE FIREFIGHTS OF phrase coined by our very own S23) happen.


As ‘types’ of games go, the AI500 is probably
team?”. Generally speaking, I think it would
be fair to say that somewhere between half
WALK ON GAMES ON A SUNDAY one of the toughest to marshal: skirmish-style
gameplay with a vast number of players over
and two-thirds of ‘hit taking’ allegations are
mistaken. Due to the low velocity that Airsoft
MORNING; SO TOO THE DEEP a large area, over a considerably longer time guns are permitted to shoot at, and the

IMMERSION AND SUSPENSION than many players are used to being in the
field for. This means that the marshal team-
lightweight nature of our ammunition, Airsoft
RIFs are inherently inaccurate.
OF DISBELIEF THAT COMES WITH although in good numbers- are stretched over
quite some distance, and as such could do with
In the heat of the action, it can become very
hard to tell when your BBs are dropping off a
LONGER MIL-SIM OPS I’VE HAD being in several places at once! few feet in front of your target; when they’re
Although it’s sadly not possible to be entirely being blown off course by an unforeseen gust
THE CHANCE TO ATTEND. ubiquitous, one thing that took me by surprise of wind further down the path towards an
Although on surface it may seem like was the amount of ground I had to cover opposition player… or indeed if one’s optic is
over the course of the event! Although not not as well-zeroed as they had thought!
no two Airsoft game days are ever
always moving at the same pace as I would However, for those unfortunate times when
identical; there’s one (very important)
when playing the game, due to the nature of alleged hit-taking is obviously happening, it is
factor which stays consistent across
the event, and the style of play; the intense paramount that the marshals on the day deal
every game... Be it a speed-soft CQB
firefights that occurred sporadically required with cheating players effectively. In order for
game; somewhere out in the woods close attention from marshals. Because of the this to be possible, however, marshals have
where you’re employing all your ninja size of Pleasure Island- the AO for the event- to be able to identify players who have been
skills to outflank the opposition; or a not to mention many other sites that are the accused of breaking the rules. One observation
Mil-Sim game where you’re immersed same size or even larger; this required much I made at the AI500 was that is almost
in an AO for up to 72 hours; there is, running around- almost to the point where we impossible to take action on an allegation of
without fail, a very important group of each covered as much or even more ground rule-breaking if the description of the accused
people involved in making your game than some players! player is not detailed...
run smoothly: marshals.
I’ve been quite lucky in that (with one
or two exceptions), all the marshals WE ALL KNOW THAT AT
at sites I’ve frequented over the years LONGER EVENTS, PLAYERS
have been helpful, easy to deal with BECOME TIRED, HUNGRY AND
and driven to make the game as good
IRRITABLE. IT’S JUST LIFE,
as it can be. Indeed, the marshals at
one of my local sites are amongst the AND I’M SURE WE’VE ALL
hardest-working, most service-driven BEEN THERE AT ONE POINT
guys I’ve come across in any walk of life. OR ANOTHER. ALTHOUGH
MARSHALS COME TO EXPECT
"MARSHALS, THE SO-CALLED ‘ANGRY
AIRSOFTERS O’CLOCK’, IT
THEY'RE EITHER STILL BECOMES MUCH
HARDER TO KEEP THE GAME
SPINNING PLATES RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND
WITH POSITIVE VIBES IF
OR THEY'RE PLAYERS BECOME GROUCHY
AND HARD TO DEAL WITH.
EATING CAKES.."
Benno - Airsoft international

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L I N G - A N I N S I G H T - M A R S H A L L I N G T A L K

“Marshal!” All of a sudden, the marshal who’s had the


“Hi, what’s up?” conversation with the player or players making
the accusation can easily go over and watch
“There’s a player over there who isn’t taking
the alleged cheater- and then deal with that
his hits. I’ve hit him like 5 times and he’s just
player appropriately should they continue to
not taking them.”
cheat when the marshal is watching them.
“Okay, can you give me a description of the The overwhelming majority of the time,
player? Where were they and what kind of kit or marshal teams also carry radios allowing them
gear were they wearing?” to communicate. If you raise an issue with a
“They were in front of me, wearing MultiCam, marshal; be it about the game, another player,
hidden behind some bushes”. or something else altogether, then don’t be
perturbed if the marshal you spoke to doesn’t
Unfortunately, at a game where there are 200+ immediately run over to where you said the
players wearing MutiCam in some capacity, issue occurred! Almost always, the issue you
it borders on the impossible to even find the raised will have been sent to all the other
alleged cheater, let alone deal with them in such marshals over the radio, and the one who is
a way that an effective resolution is reached. the closest to the alleged issue will be the one
to head over and try to rectify the situation.
“Marshal!” We all know that at longer events, players
“Hi, what’s up?” become tired, hungry and irritable. It’s just
life, and I’m sure we’ve all been there at one
“There’s a player over there who isn’t taking
point or another. Although marshals come to
his hits. I’ve hit him like 5 times and he’s just
expect the so-called ‘Angry Airsofters o’clock’,
not taking them.”
it still becomes much harder to keep the game
“Okay, can you give me a description of the running smoothly and with positive vibes if
player? Where were they and what kind of kit or players become grouchy and hard to deal
gear were they wearing?” with. Marshals are only human, and therefore
“He’s about 6’ tall, wearing multicam trousers mistakes and errors in the administration of
and shirt with a holster on the chest of his their roles may occasionally happen. If players
plate carrier. He’s also got a helmet and a show some willingness in these situations to
mesh mask on. He was about 25m in front of accept and move on when such problems do
me when I was in my position over there and arise, it makes everyone’s day much better
half-in half-out of cover.” and a lot easier.

REMEMBER THAT MARSHALS, NEARLY


ALWAYS, ARE AIRSOFTERS TOO. THEY
WANT THE GAME TO BE JUST AS
ENJOYABLE, JUST AS SMOOTH-RUNNING
AND JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS PAYING
PLAYERS DO. THEY WOULDN’T BOTHER
TO GET UP EARLY, BE AT THE SITE BEFORE
THE PLAYERS, SACRIFICE THEIR DAY
OF ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO PLAY THE
FOLLOW US
GAME AND INSTEAD TRY TO MAKE IT A ON FACEBOOK!
@AMMODROP
SUCCESS FOR OTHERS THERE IF THEY
DIDN’T LOVE THE HOBBY AND FEEL THAT 01949 728 628
THEY COULD DO THEIR BIT TO MAKE IT A s a l e s @ a m m o d r o p.c o. u k
SUCCESS- EVEN ON THE MACRO SCALE A M M O D R O P.C O.U K
OF ONE GAME, AT ONE SITE, ON ONE DAY.

FA C E B O O K . C O M /A I R S O F T I N T 087

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[email protected]
SPRAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER!
If you thought packing your bags for airsoft the
next day involved a lot of check lists try packing
for your girlfriend too!
I must make the point now, I’m definitely not
moaning, in fact quite the opposite and how
exciting it all is!
I’ve played for the best part of 14 years with
friends and now I have my girlfriend by my side
and she absolutely loves it, no one gets stuck
in more than she does you just point her in one
direction and she’s off like a wind up toy, running
into the woods giggling.
Lads, if you ever want to try and get your other
half into the game and they aren’t sure, just take
it from me, my girlfriend now gets more excited
about going than I do and the best part is, you
can kit them out with all your spare gear and
what’s even better is when they start ordering
their own gear and getting excited for it!
The only downside is, I can’t order myself a
new gun without having to get her something too
but it’s definitely worth it!

J. Armstrong

AI SAYS…
What a great positive message to round out this issue with. it’s great to hear that airsoft has become something that you can enjoy as a couple
or even a family. We’d love to hear more stories like this… Do you have a partner or even a relative that you take along to games with to share
the fun? Drop us a line…

A CHANGE OF HANDS
Dear AI,
Having recently found out that long standing Editor Ben, is standing down from his position as Editor, I’d like to know what the future of Airsoft
International holds?
I understand that AI is a team effort, and is all the better for it, but Ben seems to have been the ‘face’ of AI for some time now, especially on
social media and the AI500 events. Having been airsofting for many years now, the magazine has grown in to what it is today, and I’m sure, in
no small part, some of that credit must go to Ben, because of the knowledge he has, not just about playing, but the airsoft industry as a whole.
So, without trying to blow too much smoke up his behind, what are AI’s plans to replace him? Will the new person be as enthusiastic and
knowledgeable in regard to airsoft? Will it even be just one person that takes on the role, or are there plans to make other changes?
I’m sure it will be reassuring to all your readers to know that it will be ‘business as usual’ going forward, and to Ben, I wish you all the best in
your future endeavours.

Mark F.

BEN SAYS…
Yes, the rumours are true, I’ll be standing down as Editor of this magazine as of November 10th 2017 after around 7 years at the helm. Time W
flies doesn’t it?
I have been a large part of the magazine for a long time but Airsoft International, as you mention, is the sum of many parts and was around S
before I took up the position and will be around after I leave.
Who fills the position and the way in which things will be structured in the future hasn’t yet been cemented, but I have no doubt that there
ED
will be no shortage of eager, willing and able volunteers to take up the position, perhaps even within the existing contributor base.
All things must change though and whilst I thank you for your kind words, new challenges await and the future is promising for both myself
and also the magazine.

090 SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: [email protected]

090 READERS LETTERS.indd 90 16/10/2017 15:34


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