Airsoft Action 02.2024

ISSUE 158
WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE ISSN 2634-9515

CLICK/TAP IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

CONTENTS
8 ARMOURY: KWA F90 GBBR
With a seemingly never-ending stream of AR and M4 variants
being released to market, is it possible in 2024 for an airsoft
manufacturer to deliver us something entirely, well… different? To
quote the iconic poster hanging in Fox Mulder’s basement office
Dan says: “I want to believe” as he takes a deep dive into the KWA
F90 GBBR…
ISSUE 158
WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE ISSN 2634-9515
18 ARMOURY: AA/APFG MCX RATTLER

Keeping a focus on different GBBR styles that are available right
now Bill has been having some fun with the AA/APFG MCX Rattler,
and believes that he’s finally found a “SIG” that suits him down
to the ground! After extensive range testing he now shares his
thoughts on a little handful of gas-powered joy!
Editorial Director: Bill Thomas

Deputy Editor (Asia): Stu Mortimer
Graphic Design: Calibre Publishing
Ad Design: Deadshot Design
Publisher: Calibre Publishing
28 ARMOURY: EMG/CYMA NOVESKE N4 GEN III

Web: www.airsoftaction.net This month we’re looking at GBBRs, many that are perfect for CQB
©Calibre Publishing Limited 2023
play, and there was one that we wanted to spend a little more time
All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be with due to its unique character! Best known for their licenced
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted models, Bill now takes a look at the fully-loaded “Noveske-
in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise without the
Licenced” N4 Gen III GBBR from EMG… with a little help from
express permission of the publisher in writing. The CYMA!
opinion of the writers do not necessarily reflect those
of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit
submissions prior to publication.
FIND US ON…
LETTER , IDEA OR 38 TECH: ACETECH ACEHIVE X SPAWNER

QUESTION? Bill takes us back to simpler days when the MOSCART was king,
Got something to say? A question for our and puts a case as to why it still is in certain situations… especially
experts? An article or article idea?
when it’s something quite unique and innovative like the ACEHIVE
Drop us a line and let us know. Either email the
Editorial Director: bill@airsoft-action.co.uk, or talk to
X SPAWNER!
us on Twitter or Facebook.
Contents
ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024
44 THE CAGE: NEW YEAR, NEW 70 AA LEGION: JAPAN

GOALS Our great friend in Japan, Tama,
Just like all of you out there setting visited two of the most anticipated
up for a whole new year of airsoft airsoft related shows in Tokyo in one
the members of the AA LEGION are weekend, and he had some more
making plans, servicing their AEGS and stories to share and interesting new
GBBs, and getting their gear in order! products to share his thoughts on!
So what have the team got in their In the last issue of AA he covered
own planning for 2024, and what are the Tokyo Marui Fest 2023, now he
their resolutions? reports in on the ‘Bakuretsu-sai’, or
“Explosion Festival” from the same
weekend in a different part of Tokyo!
48 RED CELL: GBB AR UPDATE 80 AA LEGION: PORTUGAL

As we move into a whole New Year of As we continue to round-out 2023
testing, in Year 3 of RED CELL we’re Miguel joins us again to report
beginning to really feel at home with on another big game in Portugal
our long-term test pool models, and organised by the ANA (Associação
many of them have had some serious Nacional de Airsoft) that brought
range and game time! And we’re together players from all over the
kicking off 2024 by looking back (and country to battle it out in a whole new
forward) with the GBB ARs that are game-setting, that of DYSTOPIA!
still giving us some very positive vibes
with some new additions and some
old campaigners too, and as always Bill
takes the lead…
62 ACCESSORIES: LCT HK 88 AA LEGION: TAIWAN

MODULAR SYSTEM As many of you around the world
Towards the tail-end of 2023 our good were sitting down to some form of
friends at LCT Airsoft offered to fill the festive feeding and funtimes among
gaps in Stewbacca’s HK-themed AEG friends and family, Taiwan is largely
accessories collection to let him take immune to such Western Christmassy-
another look at the modularity of their ness, one of the many pull factors for
platform… of course he was more Stewbacca in fact as he’s a grinch like
than happy to get some more ‘grown that… as usual the end of the year
man Lego’ in the mail from Bella to meant cramming in a lot of events,
finish off the collection and allow the G&G World Cup and MOA, and
himself to fall into the ‘product matrix’ while he didn’t have time to observe
of components that can be rapidly the IDPA nationals again this year, he
switched out between base receivers! nonetheless took part and shot the
Kaohsiung Level 3 all-weekend IPSC
competition with his same Team SPPT
squadmates from last year!
ARMOURY
KWA F90 GBBR
ANTIPODEAN
U
G!
WITH A SEEMINGLY NEVER-ENDING STREAM OF AR AND M4 VARIANTS BEING RELEASED TO

MARKET, IS IT POSSIBLE IN 2024 FOR AN AIRSOFT MANUFACTURER TO DELIVER US SOMETHING
ENTIRELY, WELL… DIFFERENT? TO QUOTE THE ICONIC POSTER HANGING IN FOX MULDER’S
BASEMENT OFFICE DAN SAYS: “I WANT TO BELIEVE” AS HE TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO THE KWA F90
GBBR…
8 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

ARMOURY
CYBERGUN/BOLTKWA
BRSSF90
SCAR-SC
GBBR
A
ppearing on the scene like one of the (380+ FPS) and a low-velocity model, which utilizes
fantastical UFO’s from the X-Files comes a low-power bolt to reduce velocity to around 1
KWA’s Lithgow Arms F90. Perhaps in a – 1.14J (330 – 350 FPS). Of interesting note, the
bit of derring-do, KWA has elected to replicate a development of the KWA F90 arose because they
somewhat unusual choice for their latest airsoft were contracted by Thales / Lithgow to produce the
release… and in gas blowback format, no less! F90 specifically to supply an inexpensive training
For the unfamiliar, the F90 is essentially a analogue to the ADF’s EF88 rifles.
significantly improved version of the Australian
Defense Forces (ADF) F88 rifle, which is domestically NAILING “THE LOOK”
produced by Thales Australia under license with As appearances go, I would say KWA have expertly
Steyr Mannlicher, whom are better known for their replicated the look and feel of the F90. The receiver
famous retro-futuristic Steyr AUG platform. Thales is full metal, with a one-piece outer barrel that is
Australia is a part of the Thales Group, a large securely affixed inside the receiver in a manner that
French multinational company that develops and makes it very rigid. The body is made from a polymer
manufactures equipment for defense, transportation, material and is by far the best feeling ‘AUG’ body
aerospace and security. So you might say this I have handled to date. There is absolutely zero
particular breed of rifle has a rather interesting mix creak or wobble and the F90 simply feels exquisite
of flags flying beside it, now to include Taiwan’s as when compared to any of the AEG replicas we have
this is where KWA replicas are manufactured. available. With magazine, the rifle is clocking in at
As used by the ADF, this goes by the EF88 3.24kg / 7lbs 15oz. with a point of balance situated
designation, with the “E” representing “Enhanced.” where the web of your firing hand would sit. Despite
The F90 is the designation given to the export the presence of a long barrel, the overall package is
version for sale to markets outside of Australia, only a mere 114mm / 4.5” longer than a MK18 with
and are essentially modernized versions of the the stock fully collapsed. Yet with most of the weight
AUG, chambered in standard NATO 5.56x45mm concentrated towards the rear, the F90 maintains the
ammunition. The EF88/F90 brought many notable intrinsic ability of all bullpups to be held aloft with
improvements over the older F88 rifle, which had one hand with little fatigue.
been in service with the ADF since 1985. Among As mentioned, the main body of this gun is
these improvements were a reduction in weight and superbly crafted. Even with trying to flex and twist
design alterations to the body of the weapon to things with my hand, I can’t even so much as
improve balance and comfort. A full-length picatinny produce a single creak of exasperated plastic. The
rail adorns the top of the aluminium receiver, along buttplate is made from grippy rubber with raised
with some ambidextrous controls and enhancements edges, and it secures against the shoulder better
made to increase reliability. The trigger guard was than the smooth buttplate on the classic AUG. Much
also updated to allow for fitting of a Steyr SL40 like the real version, the ejection port cover can
grenade launcher, which is a side-loading launcher be switched from the right to the left side of the
expressly designed to fit this platform. gun. KWA has also replicated the removable trigger
Much like the Steyr AUG, there are several guard insert for allowing the trigger mechanism of
variants of the EF88 / F90 rifle manufactured, a grenade launcher to pass through. Unfortunately
including CQB and marksman versions. The at this time, we do not have any replicas of the SL40
version replicated by KWA is the standard launcher available, but one can hope the aftermarket
length model, which has the 407mm (16”) steps in to provide us one.
length barrel. Presently there are two While the magazine release is ambidextrous and
models offered from KWA: the full accessible from either side, the bolt release lever is
power field version rated at 1.84J+ not. That being said, I did not find it problematic
“AS USED BY THE ADF, THIS GOES BY THE EF88 DESIGNATION,

WITH THE “E” REPRESENTING “ENHANCED.” THE F90 IS THE
DESIGNATION GIVEN TO THE EXPORT VERSION FOR SALE
TO MARKETS OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA, AND ARE
ESSENTIALLY MODERNIZED VERSIONS OF THE AUG”
www.airsoftaction.net 9
ARMOURY
KWA F90 GBBR
to operate off my weak side; it’s only slightly slower it to full auto. There is also a small semi-auto lockout
to hit the release if operating the rifle off your left switch in the base of the trigger that can be pulled
shoulder; you can just reach behind the magazine and out to make the gun capable of only firing in semi-
toggle the bolt release fairly easily, and users of the auto.
Real Sword Type 95 series will understand this concept Moving a bit further forward, we have a beautiful
implicitly. The charging handle cannot be switched fluted barrel, which comes with a bayonet lug and
to the right side of rifle, so for you lefties out there, standard 14mm CCW threads. The flash hider is
I’ve found the easiest way of manipulating it is to actually a two-piece affair, with the base section
rotate the rifle horizontally the right, then racking the working like a jam nut in similar fashion to what you
handle straight back. This also positions the rifle so find on the CZ 805 Bren. I was curious if KWA opted
the handle is within your immediate visual area, which to design a two-piece barrel that would allow for
makes it less likely to be missed or fumbled. You could converting the rifle to the shorter variant, but I cannot
also do it in the inverse, with the base of the grip find any physical evidence of this or any evidence of it
rotated horizontally to the right, but you do have to in the parts diagram. As a future accessory, this would
feel around for the charging handle’s location in this be among one of those I’d like to see offered. Owing
position. to how it’s designed, it would be a simple matter to
Speaking of the charging handle, prospective have a machine shop chop and thread it, however.
owners will be pleased to note it has full length of The magazine that is furnished with the rifle is the
travel and folds upwards when it is allowed to ‘run “waffle” type unique to the AUG platform. KWA’s
home’ after drawing it back. True to form, it is also version has an interesting design, with the lower
non-reciprocating and can also be locked to the rear portion being encased in metal, whereas the topmost
too. section that inserts into the rifle is made from a
Off the right side, there is a picatinny accessory rail, polymer. I suspect this was done for strength reasons
which would be a good space to mount a laser or and to ensure the magazine doesn’t split apart if
flashlight. We of course have the full-length picatinny dropped. These are also “real cap” magazines, in that
rail on top of the platform here too, which has more they hold 30 “rounds”, just like the real thing. There
than enough space to accommodate any manner of have been some reports of the feed lips cracking with
optical arrangement one would desire to use. There’s use, but so far my test example has held up fine.
even space enough to run a PEQ style laser off the 12
o’clock too. Just fore of the trigger guard is a shorter BUSINESSLIKE INSIDE
section of picatinny, which takes the place of the Disassembly or field stripping of the rifle follows in
folding foregrip one would have on the classic AUG. the same vein as the real version, which means it is
This is just large enough to accept a vertical foregrip, sublimely simple. Just fore of the magazine well is
and as such, one of those feels like a natural addition a captured cross-block that can be partially pressed
to this rifle. The old school Knights Armament “broom out. Once that is shifted to the right, you can slide
handle” felt right at home in this space. the entire barrel assembly off the body of the gun in
The grip itself retains the usual AUG styling and one single unit. This section will contain the hop up
feel, albeit the trigger (grip) guard has some distinctive chamber and the bolt carrier assembly, which leaves
differences. In lieu of the folding vertical foregrip, the just the trigger mechanism contained within the
front of the guard will also work as a place to rest receiver. The bolt carrier appears to be a fairly robust
your support hand. The safety switch is a simple push- assembly that rides on a pair of long aluminium tubes,
button, which is very positive and tactile. As for the with the tube on the right technically being our faux
trigger, it feels very much how I remember an AUG gas piston, while the left is what the charging handle
trigger feeling on the real steel version I’ve fired. It’s engages when it is cocked back.
a true dual-stage trigger, where a short press will fire The ease of disassembly continues, as our hop up
the gun in semi-auto, with a longer press switching chamber and inner barrel can be removed from the
“AS APPEARANCES GO, I WOULD SAY KWA HAVE EXPERTLY REPLICATED

THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE F90. THE RECEIVER IS FULL METAL, WITH
A ONE-PIECE OUTER BARREL THAT IS SECURELY AFFIXED INSIDE THE
RECEIVER IN A MANNER THAT MAKES IT VERY RIGID”

ARMOURY
KWA F90 GBBR
“WHILE THE MAGAZINE RELEASE IS AMBIDEXTROUS AND ACCESSIBLE FROM

EITHER SIDE, THE BOLT RELEASE LEVER IS NOT. THAT BEING SAID, I DID NOT FIND IT
PROBLEMATIC TO OPERATE OFF MY WEAK SIDE; IT’S ONLY SLIGHTLY SLOWER TO HIT
THE RELEASE IF OPERATING THE RIFLE OFF YOUR LEFT SHOULDER”
ARMOURY
KWA F90 GBBR
receiver via a single screw, which allows it to be slid for your given BB weight, I found I didn’t have to
out. The hop up chamber is a rotary-style design with touch it again. I don’t think it would have been
a top-down-centre (TDC) nub holder. By now, the possible to allow for adjusting it through the ejection
merits of both features are without question, and this port area without significant redesign of the internal
makes for a superior chamber design from the days of workings. So while some may consider the manner of
old. KWA has said the bucking is based off the pre- adjustment a mild inconvenience, on the plus side I
existing LM4 design, but I have not had opportunity to can remark that it doesn’t require any tools at least.
try any aftermarket LM4 buckings for fit. It has a split
style nub design, similar to KWA’s AEG buckings. BELIEVE IT!
All that being said, my one and only issue I Throughout my testing, the KWA functioned
encountered with this gun were actually with the absolutely flawlessly, locking back on empty every
hop up bucking itself. Upon first testing the rifle, I time and with zero malfunctions. The dual-stage
was registering a rather low 0.84J/282 fps with a trigger takes a bit of getting used to for someone
.20g on the chronograph. It’s not uncommon to need coming from traditional platforms, but locating the
to “reset” a bucking sometimes on a new gun, so ‘break’ or border between the two firing modes is
I disassembled the chamber and redid the bucking distinctive and easy. I was also pleasantly surprised
installation. Checking against the chronograph at how well the gun was functioning despite the
again, I was still getting a low reading and the cold. As it is the dead of winter here, temperature at
occasional double feeds. After some closer inspection time of testing was a brisk 1.1C / 34F. Obviously in
I determined the bucking lips were too loose and warmer temperatures, gas efficiency and performance
simply weren’t gripping the BB adequately. The fix will enjoy much more favourable conditions, but the
was fortunately easy; a single wrap of Teflon tape F90 certainly proved itself up to the task of some
around the bucking gave it just enough lip tension wintertime fun!
to eliminate the double feeds and also bumped the I am admittedly not a big GBB guy; I don’t even
FPS up to 1.64J /420 fps with .20g’s! This was more possess a single GBB rifle in my collection, though
of what I was expecting as this was the full power I do prefer GBB sidearms to AEP’s because of the
version of the rifle, but it may be a little spicy for some added realism. The KWA F90 could just about make
countries so make sure you get the right version for me a convert, though. It was a lot of fun to use and
local legal compliance. I couldn’t help but crack a smile every time I took it
After this little fix, I set about to giving it some out. I appreciate the functional realism it brings to
proper range testing. Accuracy was good and I was the table and the satisfying clack of the bolt as it runs
able to lift .28g and .32g BBs with ease, still with home. In some ways, it takes me back to my “paint”
room to go on the adjustment wheel. My testing days when I forced myself to use 30 or 50 round
range is a full 82 yards deep, and I had no issues Tac Caps. The limitations (artificial as they were) in
getting the gun to reach out to the maximum distance capacity forced you to become a better player and
available. I owe this largely to the excellent TDC evolve your skills and tactics to handle situations
design applying consistent top-down pressure against where you find yourself up against players with high
the bucking. capacity magazines at their disposal. Sometimes it’s
One thing to note when needing to adjust the hop good to give yourself new challenges – reinvent the
up is that you have to partially separate the upper to game, if you will.
access the adjustment wheel. You just need to slide As bullpup platforms go, I have always been a fan
it forward just enough so you can rotate the wheel of the AUG for it’s svelte form factor, handling and
through one of the large ports on the side of the history. Amongst its contemporaries that I have used,
receiver. This is quick to accomplish given the ease of both real steel and airsoft (the P90, FN2000, Tavor,
removing the upper from the body of the gun. Once Type 95, etc) the AUG still takes top billet in my book.
the chamber is properly set to the desired trajectory
“MOVING A BIT FURTHER FORWARD, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FLUTED BARREL, WHICH

COMES WITH A BAYONET LUG AND STANDARD 14MM CCW THREADS. THE FLASH
HIDER IS ACTUALLY A TWO-PIECE AFFAIR, WITH THE BASE SECTION WORKING LIKE A
JAM NUT IN SIMILAR FASHION TO WHAT YOU FIND ON THE CZ 805 BREN”

ARMOURY
KWA F90 GBBR
“THE BOLT CARRIER APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY ROBUST ASSEMBLY THAT RIDES ON A

PAIR OF LONG ALUMINIUM TUBES, WITH THE TUBE ON THE RIGHT TECHNICALLY BEING
OUR FAUX GAS PISTON, WHILE THE LEFT IS WHAT THE CHARGING HANDLE ENGAGES
WHEN IT IS COCKED BACK”
ARMOURY
KWA F90 GBBR
But relatively few airsoft releases have really scratched begs the question… will we see an AEG version
the itch for high build quality, and the KWA F90 coming down the pipe? When I asked KWA’s sales
certainly has this in spades; however, and I must say director Tony Lin at SHOT 23 this very same question,
I am pleased that KWA elected to bring something he remarked... “If the GBB version does well!”
so unique to close out 2023 with. Personally, I would Which means to you fellow players… I want to
love to see the F90 followed up with an AEG version BELIEVE! AA
incorporating KWA’s VPS system. Which of course
“ACCURACY WAS GOOD AND I WAS ABLE TO LIFT .28G AND .32G BBS WITH EASE,
STILL WITH ROOM TO GO ON THE ADJUSTMENT WHEEL. MY TESTING RANGE IS A FULL
82 YARDS DEEP, AND I HAD NO ISSUES GETTING THE GUN TO REACH OUT TO THE
MAXIMUM DISTANCE AVAILABLE”

ARMOURY
KWA F90 GBBR
“AS BULLPUP PLATFORMS GO, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF THE AUG FOR IT’S
SVELTE FORM FACTOR, HANDLING AND HISTORY. AMONGST ITS CONTEMPORARIES
THAT I HAVE USED, BOTH REAL STEEL AND AIRSOFT, THE AUG STILL TAKES TOP
BILLET IN MY BOOK”
ARMOURY
CYBERGUN/BOLT
AA/APFG MCX RATTLER
BRSS SCAR-SC
BEWARE
THE
RATTLER!
IMAGE COURTESY reddit.com/r/GasBlowBack/
KEEPING A FOCUS ON DIFFERENT GBBR STYLES THAT ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW BILL HAS BEEN
HAVING SOME FUN WITH THE AA/APFG MCX RATTLER, AND BELIEVES THAT HE’S FINALLY FOUND
A “SIG” THAT SUITS HIM DOWN TO THE GROUND! AFTER EXTENSIVE RANGE TESTING HE NOW
SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON A LITTLE HANDFUL OF GAS-POWERED JOY!

ARMOURY
CYBERGUN/BOLT
AA/APFG BRSS
MCX RATTLER
SCAR-SC
I
’ve said it many times before but although I’m a warehouse in the form of the MCX Rattler, and I
big guy I do have a bit of a “thing” about short, was immediately drooling a little… could this finally
super-compact “SBR” type platforms, and the be the MCX I had been looking for, the model that
first time I saw the MCX Rattler I thought “that’s a would tip me over the edge to adding one to my
bit of me right there”! A number of the guys in the armoury?
AA Crew and friends already own MCX and MPX Of course I picked one up there and then, and I’ve
platforms and love them, but I’ve stayed away from been giving it a proper seeing-to over the last couple
that particular rabbit-hole up until now, waiting for of months; you may question my sanity here given
someone to create the SPEAR (which of course is a that we’re pretty much in the coldest part of the year
totally different platform entirely!)… no good reason here in the UK, and the Rattler is of course a GBBR,
why, I just have enough similar carbines and rifles but I say why not test in the most adverse conditions
already is all… said no airsofter, ever! to see how it performs? If it performs at 7 degrees
However, when I paid a visit to our friends up at C and below then it’s only going to get better… but
iWholesales back in November ’23 I was introduced more on that later!
to something that had recently arrived in their Now over the course of the past couple of years
“IN NOVEMBER ’23 I WAS INTRODUCED TO SOMETHING THAT HAD RECENTLY ARRIVED
IN THEIR WAREHOUSE IN THE FORM IF THE MCX RATTLER, AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY
DROOLING A LITTLE… COULD THIS FINALLY BE THE MCX I HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR,
THE MODEL THAT WOULD TIP ME OVER THE EDGE TO ADDING ONE TO MY ARMOURY?”
ARMOURY
AA/APFG MCX RATTLER
we’ve followed the MCX and MPX airsoft models there…

coming onto the market, and both Boycie and Dan With that out of the way, let’s have a very close
have kept things right up to date in this respect; we’ve look at the platform itself, and externally it is
looked at the stock models, and also at custom builds, impeccable. Put together in high-grade, robust nylon
so isn’t the MCX Rattler just more of the same… well, with steel/alloy elements, this Rattler looks great and
yes and no to be honest. In essence it’s still an MCX, appears to offer a perfect balance of weight/durability
albeit the shortest CQB-focused and (in my opinion) which of course means it will be easy to run with and
punchiest of the bunch so far, there’s a few things manipulate and still take a pounding; its compact
going on that make this particular model a little bit design, with an overall length will guarantee pinpoint
special. control, even in tight spaces. With an overall length
If you head on over to Youtube there’s another ranging from 400mm to 740mm, the Rattler will
excellent video from Garand Thumb entitled “US provide lots of options in any tactical situation; the
Special Operation’s Smallest Assault Rifle” where he inner barrel measures 138mm, providing the accuracy
has some serious shooty-times with the real Rattler you need in close-quarter engagements, and weighing
chambered in .300 BLK, and from his comments and in at just 2800g, it won’t slow you down either.
those on the SIG website, this is one fun-sized firearm The finish to all external parts is first rate, a really
that really packs a punch: deep matte/stain black that oozes quality. With a full
“Featuring a 5.5” PDW barrel, the MCX platform length 290mm railed upper there’s space to easily
has never been more compact or accessible. Ready to mount your optic of choice, and the two-slot M-LOK
go where-ever it’s needed, the MCX Rattler has a thin, rail offers further accessory option-points and 3, 6,
foldable stock for easy concealment and stowage. and 9. Controls are ambi and suitably “AR” so no
This gun was designed from the ground up to be as issues there at all, and I like the slightly oversized mag
discrete as possible while retaining all the capabilities release a lot. The M-LOK system at the sharp end
of the MCX. Free-floating M-LOK handguards also offers QD sling points L and R-side, and these
matched with a PDW upper and a PDW Ultra-Thin are replicated at the rear in the lower, in a position
Folding Aluminium Stock, the MCX Rattler SBR is the just forward of the super-neat CNC minimalist
ideal choice for fast-moving operators.” folding stock that will be ideal if you choose to run a
That again sings to me, as do like an SBR, and as singlepoint; you do get a single QD sling swivel in the
Mr Thumb says this is currently “in inventory” with box, so I’m thinking here that a singlepoint would be
USSOCOM so it actually has some military/MilSim legs the thing.
which is a complete bonus as far as I’m concerned, The muzzle device is chunky and aggressive, and
and makes this model even more desirable. actually to me looks far better than that shown
on the “real”, and a plus here is that this mates
COOL OUTSIDE AND IN perfectly with the titanium-grey SIG-style can that
Now there does seem to be some confusion as to you get as a part of the airsoft deal; this quick-detach
exactly who AA/APFG are; it’s obvious that they’re suppressor (really, truly quick-detach!) really enhances
based in Taiwan, and the overall build quality and the rifle’s aesthetics and is beautifully put together,
the internal configuration suggests to me that the and it replicates the style originally seen with the
company behind this particular Rattler know what MCX perfectly! I have an old SIG-style “training-blue
they’re about when it comes to GBBRs. That narrows suppressor” from J-TAC that I know was made to the
the field a bit, but without 100% confirmation I won’t specifications of the real, and the AA/APFG version is
speculate as I believe we may well be into the realm of true to that, and looks great too. Overall the Rattler is
gun politics and licencing here, a topic best left well a great little platform, and looking at detail images of
alone… Let’s just say for now that the Rattler is very the “real” the only thing that screams out to me is the
competently replicated in airsoft form by someone difference in the pistol grip on the AA/APFG take…
who knows their way around gas systems and leave it however, that “could” be an easy fix “of” you could
“IF YOU HEAD ON OVER TO YOUTUBE THERE’S ANOTHER EXCELLENT VIDEO FROM
GARAND THUMB ENTITLED “US SPECIAL OPERATION’S SMALLEST ASSAULT RIFLE”
WHERE HE HAS SOME SERIOUS SHOOTY-TIMES WITH THE REAL RATTLER CHAMBERED
IN .300 BLK, AND FROM HIS COMMENTS AND THOSE ON THE SIG WEBSITE, THIS IS
ONE FUN-SIZED FIREARM THAT REALLY PACKS A PUNCH”

ARMOURY
AA/APFG MCX RATTLER
ARMOURY
AA/APFG MCX RATTLER

ARMOURY
AA/APFG MCX RATTLER
lay hands on a real SIG grip… if… favour of the Rattler; it’s beautifully manufactured,
Internally things look pretty darn stunningly finished, and features a cool gas OS and
cool too, as the OS is sweet! Running a some nice components internally, but as always the
full-travel BCG and an efficient gas blowback big question is how does it perform?
system, the Rattler delivers some excellent I decided to run the Rattler on VORSK V6 initially
results both in terms of gas efficiency and overall to gauge performance, and loaded up with .20g
operation, even in cold weather. The trigger pack BBs it was off to the chrono and the first shot out
is neat and crisp, with a very positive reset, and with the suppressor attached registered at 1.05
operation between Safe, Semi-Auto, and Full Auto Joule/337fps!
is very crisp indeed. The front-end adjustable Hop-Up That raised my eyebrows a bit as I really didn’t
system is also very crisp and easy to use; adjusted in expect that for such a “shorty”, but then I removed
the “gas block” using a 5mm hex key it’s massively the suppressor and things settled to a mean of 0.87
easy to dial in precise BB/shot placement. Joule/306fps which is far more where I thought
The Rattler comes supplied with a 30 BB metal things would be; it does prove however that fitting
“STANAG” style magazine that’s solidly put that awesome suppressor does nudge the power
together and features a “hidden” rear-high fill valve, delivery up a bit, so I’d urge you to chrono for game
something that I’m seeing from some of the best with that in place! Running it on VORSK V8 in the
manufacturers in Taiwan that mean that the valve cold keeps that power output pretty steady although
disappears when in use. I did try the Rattler with a it does chuff a bit on full-auto when the temperature
couple of different gas mags, and I can confirm that really plummets; on semi it seems happy though
VFC “STANAGS” and standard “BCM” mags will fit which is what I’m looking for.
and function, but GHK, WE and VFC V-MAGS sadly Next up of course was range and accuracy; the
will not. Rattler comes with the 30 BB mag mentioned earlier
as standard, which charges through the upper rear.
DOWNRANGE With the “gas block hop” dialled in and the mag
Now as you know, when it comes to GBBR CQB loaded with .30g it was onto the range, testing solely
platforms my #1 choice is the Mk18, but I have to using one of my EoTECHs; sadly the Rattler doesn’t
say that the Rattler may well give that a run for its come with any kind of iron sights, but a good red
money! On the face of it everything is going in the dot or holo works perfectly, although some of you
“THE MUZZLE DEVICE IS CHUNKY AND AGGRESSIVE, AND ACTUALLY TO ME LOOKS

FAR BETTER THAN THAT SHOWN ON THE “REAL”, AND A PLUS HERE IS THAT THIS
MATES PERFECTLY WITH THE TITANIUM-GREY SIG-STYLE CAN THAT YOU GET AS
A PART OF THE AIRSOFT DEAL; THIS QUICK-DETACH SUPPRESSOR (REALLY, TRULY
QUICK-DETACH!) REALLY ENHANCES THE RIFLE’S AESTHETICS”
ARMOURY
AA/APFG MCX RATTLER
might wish to add a riser as the folding stock is quite

low. Racking the action produces a solid thump as the
bolt slides forward into battery; the fire selector switch
is the standard AR style and as with most GBBRs if the
selector is in semi-auto, it can only be switched to safe
if the charging handle is pulled just like the real deal.
Over the years I’ve come to expect some unusual
things accuracy-wise from airsoft platforms with
super-short barrels and the Rattler sits on the positive
side of that I’m pleased to say; at 10m I was able
to clang 300x300mm targets each and every time
which is perfect for a CQB-oriented platform, and
supported I was able to achieve sub-60mm groups at
10m too. Punching things out to 30m I was getting
“centre mass” on some old Fig11-style targets, which
is perfectly respectable, and of course with each BB
down you get that lovely recoil effect; it’s not quite
such a hard kick compared to some of my other
higher-powered DMR GBBs but you certainly know it’s
there.
So, have AA/APFG brought something tasty to
the GBBR table? I’d have to say yes, as the quality
of the finish throughout is sublime, everything fits
together perfectly, and the internal system works like
a dream. My belief is that behind the “AA/APFG”
MCX RATTLER is a manufacturer, or even possibly
a conglomerate of manufacturing expertise, that
we already know, but one that is constrained by
“licencing politics” from stepping into the light and
taking a well-earned bow in relation to this super little
GBBR.
At a nudge over the UK£600 mark for the rifle,
suppressor, and single mag combo the AA/APFG MCX
RATTLER is not a budget option when it comes to
a GBBR, but oh my, it is outstanding! Would I have
one myself? Yes, actually I would as I love the weight,
size, shooting performance and downright utility of
it! Would it replace my trusty Mk18 GBBR for “close
encounters”? Mmmmm, we’ll have to wait and see;
perhaps I need to get them “head to head” but I will
say that if you come on the receiving end of one I’d
definitely advise you BEWARE THE RATTLER!
For more information on the AA/APFG MCX
RATTLER and much, much more please pay a visit to
www.iwholesales.biz AA
“OVER THE YEARS I’VE COME TO EXPECT SOME UNUSUAL THINGS ACCURACY-WISE
FROM AIRSOFT PLATFORMS WITH SUPER-SHORT BARRELS AND THE RATTLER SITS
ON THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THAT I’M PLEASED TO SAY; AT 10M I WAS ABLE TO CLANG
300X300MM TARGETS EACH AND EVERY TIME WHICH IS PERFECT FOR A CQB-
ORIENTED PLATFORM”

ARMOURY
AA/APFG MCX RATTLER
“MY BELIEF IS THAT BEHIND THE “AA/APFG” MCX RATTLER IS A MANUFACTURER,

OR EVEN POSSIBLY A CONGLOMERATE OF MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE, THAT
WE ALREADY KNOW, BUT ONE THAT IS CONSTRAINED BY “GUN POLITICS” FROM
STEPPING INTO THE LIGHT AND TAKING A WELL-EARNED BOW”
ARMOURY
CYBERGUN/BOLT
EMG/CYMA NOVESKE
BRSSN4
SCAR-SC
GEN III
NOTABLE
NOVESKE!
ARMOURY
EMG/CYMA
CYBERGUN/BOLT
NOVESKE
BRSSN4SCAR-SC
GEN III
THIS MONTH WE’RE LOOKING AT GBBRS, MANY THAT ARE PERFECT FOR CQB PLAY,
AND THERE WAS ONE THAT WE WANTED TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME WITH DUE
TO ITS UNIQUE CHARACTER! BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR LICENCED MODELS, BILL NOW
TAKES A LOOK AT THE FULLY-LOADED “NOVESKE-LICENCED” N4 GEN III GBBR FROM
EMG… WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM CYMA!
ARMOURY
EMG/CYMA NOVESKE N4 GEN III
D
uring the past few years the airsoft community continued use and testing can be found in Red Cell
has seen more and more real firearm this month, and the more he writes about it, the more
companies join the bandwagon to protect their I WANT ONE, even with the hefty pricetag!
company’s trademarks by setting up their own airsoft This is because I’ve long been a vocal “Noveske
divisions, or teaming up with large airsoft companies Fanboi”, right from the day I first set my eyes on the
to produce their “own” product, be it for use in the “Diplomat” and thought that it would be an ideal
6mm training environment or on the skirmish field. platform for airsoft CQB encounters; if you are a self-
When it comes to “brand appeal for many of us, you confessed “gun bunny” like me then you will already
cannot get much more desirable that Noveske in my know the Noveske brand, and when it comes to
opinion! airsoft, the licensed NSR Rail System and KX3 “Hog”
Now I have to admit being somewhat (read have been on the market for years, and so have some
MASSIVELY!) envious when Stewbacca got his hands mighty fine AEGs like the “Infidel” and the “Space
on the RATech version of the Noveske N4, the carbine Invader” just to quote a couple of my more recent
model that appears to be turning up in the hands favourites.
of DEVGRU and others in the US Special Operations And those, my fellow airsofters, are both models
community if the images coming out are to be that have come about under the licence agreement
held by Evike Manufacturing
Group (EMG) in the USA in
collaboration with the likes
of APS in the case of the
“Infidel”, one of my all-time
favourite AR AEGs! Regarded
as one of the truly big
innovators behind correctly
brand-licenced airsoft replicas
in the world, I won’t go on
too much about their history
either as we’ve spoken about
them so many times before,
but it is a grand one that
stretches way, WAY back
now.
EMG are constantly striving
to push the boundaries
in terms of design and
production, apparently
carrying along a whole host
of collaborative partners on
the way, and it’s been my
great pleasure over recent
months to have been able to
have a really good look, and
much shooting time, with the
believed! The RATech N4 though really is a cutting- latest in this lineup which just happens to be Noveske-
edge, high-performance and top-of-the-tree GBBR inspired…another take on the N4 GEN III GBBR that’s
and no mistake; Stewbacca’s further comments on driven along by the all-new CYMA GAS SYSTEM!
“NOW I HAVE TO ADMIT BEING SOMEWHAT (READ MASSIVELY!) ENVIOUS WHEN

STEWBACCA GOT HIS HANDS ON THE RATECH VERSION OF THE NOVESKE N4, THE
CARBINE MODEL THAT APPEARS TO BE TURNING UP IN THE HANDS OF DEVGRU AND
OTHERS IN THE US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMUNITY IF THE IMAGES COMING OUT
ARE TO BE BELIEVED”

ARMOURY
WAIT… WHO? release, muzzle device, buffer tube nut, rear plate,
Yup, you heard that right … CYMA… GAS… bolt stop, ejection port cover with latch, and trigger
SYSTEM! Known already simply as the CGS the group retaining pin!
internals for the latest N4 are pretty sweet, and The 30BB magazine I’ve discovered is based on the
they’ve essentially been developed in yet another real-deal Lancer Systems L5AWM® 300BLK which
collaboration, this between CYMA and T8 (SP has been specifically engineered for use with subsonic
System); I know from “my mates what know” in .300 Blackout ammunition (200+ grain), the Lancer
the Far East that T8 products are “china-made” L5AWM® 300BLK magazine has distinctive .300
(no bad thing these days…) and have some G&P Blackout markings and the a contrasting FED floor
heritage (another good thing…), although now they plate for easy visual identification, and in the case
concentrate on extras for the Tokyo Marui MWS of the gas replica mag this matches toe main colour
among other things. This “new” gas system does perfectly too! Although the real AWM is indeed
draw inspiration from the popular and already heavily translucent, and this has been carried over to the
field-tested MWS series, so it should be fully cross- airsoft version, the obvious card “bullet” insert looks
compatible with most standard MWS-spec parts so as cheap to me, and it’s the only thing on the N4 I would
to serve as an excellent base that can be sensibly and have liked to have seen done differently. That said,
easily upgraded and modified (should you so desire!), with an seriously oversized knocker (is this now a
and the new model introduces an adjustable trigger “thing”?) the gas magazine functions perfectly well,
pull for enhanced adjustment too! so it’s purely a visual “eye-of-the-beholder” thing
After picking up the N4 from iWholesales I made Being the lucky boy I am, and also being part
my way home for the “unboxing”, but actually of Red Cell, I’ve been treated with plenty of well
there wasn’t a box as this gorgeous carbine arrived trademarked RIF’s in recent years so I was eager to
as an unboxed early-production sample in one of see how well EMG/CYMA had engraved this N4.
iWholesales own super rifle-slips! There were also no Talk about a good job, from what I can tell this is the
glossy pamphlets, an owner’s manual, catalogue, or spitting image of the real thing, even down to the
associated paperweight gubbins, just the N4 and a “300 BLK” legend on the dust cover! The trades and
magazine! all markings are super-crisp, I’d go as far as to say laser
As I took the N4 from the slip though my first engraved as they look so sweet. When I compared this
thoughts were “oh my, this is lush!”. The immediate with photos of the real N4 this is a damn fine Noveske
quality of this RIF was excellent; it felt solid, really replica.
solid! Giving it a thoroughly scientific “darn good Finished in a really, really nice and totally even Tan/
shake”, the whole platform did not make a noise, not FDE colour the EMG/CYMA take on the N4 is a real
a creak or rattle evident anywhere! I wasn’t expecting looker! Every single part is perfectly colour-matched;
this; in all the years I have been a player in the M-LOK Fore-end, Upper and Lower Receivers, Pistol
community, and then a reviewer, I have fettled with Grip, Sliding Stock and even BUIS are the same tone
my fair share of AEG’s and GBBRs from expensive to giving the N4 a striking “real world” appearance; the
cheap so I usually expect something to wobble, even if silver barrel and black muzzle brake/buffer tube just
it’s just the stock. act as attractive counterpoints to this. Weighing in at
With the N4… nothing, and even when you pop a very usable 2700g, and at 725/800mm long this is a
in the magazine there’s only the tiniest amount platform you could run all day with, and as I see it as a
of movement, so all the tolerances appear to be serious MilSim platform that’s absolutely bang-on!
extremely fine, and to increase the durability and
strength of the platform overall CYMA have included BBs DOWN!
in the mix steel parts such as the bolt carrier, complete With a watery sun lighting up the winter woods, I
trigger assembly, hammer, bolt catch, magazine ventured out to my homemade range with the N4, my
“AS I TOOK THE N4 FROM THE SLIP THOUGH MY FIRST THOUGHTS WERE “OH MY,
THIS IS LUSH!”. THE IMMEDIATE QUALITY OF THIS RIF WAS EXCELLENT; IT FELT
SOLID, REALLY SOLID! GIVING IT A THOROUGHLY SCIENTIFIC “DARN GOOD SHAKE”,
THE WHOLE PLATFORM DID NOT MAKE A NOISE, NOT A CREAK OR RATTLE EVIDENT
ANYWHERE”
ARMOURY
ready bag and plate carrier. What could be nicer? As was reset, at 30m unsupported it was easy to get
some of you now know, I’m a big GBBR fan, mainly hits on a torso-sized target with each BB flying
because of their “realism”, recoil, mag cut-off and straight and true. I also took the N4 down to the
reliability these days, so I was SERIOUSLY looking 10m indoor range where we have the Attack Sense
forward to getting some BBs downrange with the Target System set up, and it performed superbly,
N4, and I wasn’t to be disappointed. again in reality down to the overall light weight and
Time to bomb up! Only having one Lancer the responsiveness of the superb trigger when the
Systems magazine was going to slow down my test targets were flashing on the highest, fastest setting.
but would give me more time to get a feel for this
magazine which holds 30 BBs. The first magazine ZERO ISSUES
was used to chrono; power started at a very solid The EMG/CYMA Noveske N4 really is nice to look
316fps (0.95 Joule), but the N4 was “box fresh” so I at, and equally nice to use, I have zero issues or
expected some rise in numbers as testing progressed gripes. The N4 has REALLY made me fall in love
and things settled a little. Magazine two was used with all things Noveske all over again, and I do
to set the hop and after a further two magazines, I believe it really gives a massive amount of quality
was hitting a plate at 30m without issue. Magazine and performance for the money. It looks great,
five chrono’d at 320 to 323fps (iro 0.92 Joule), and feels great, and shoots like a dream so as far as I
magazine 10 came in at a solid 323/325 fps (iro can see CYMA and EMG have got this 100% right.
0.98 Joule). At this point I’d started to bang off I can simply just recommend this GBBR to you as I
BBs in semi and full auto, switching between both believe it is a model that, given proper maintenance,
flawlessly. Rate of fire in both modes is fantastic, and will give you great performance for an extended
both the trigger and selector switch on the N4 are to service life. It’s very much a model of its time, with a
my liking, just the right amount of resistance, and in fabulous nod to the “real”; so, my conclusion?
terms of the trigger a very positive break and reset. After spending quality time with this fine GBBR
By magazine fifteen, I was feeling at one with the on the ranges my closing comments would be these.
N4 and how it fired. I chose not to put any optic on Here in the UK the EMG/CYMA N4 looks as if it
it and get a feel for the “irons”, and once set, I was will retail somewhere around the £600 mark, not
very happy with sight acquisition. I’m increasingly cheap, but in line with many other fine GBBRs and
a fan of M-LOK rails, although I personally still find it is a solid, well-made, beautifully “traded” replica.
them a bit on the skinny side, but like my other I need to try some different magazines in the beast
M-LOKs this light, slender front end really made as my own MWS mags have been in for servicing
the N4 feel nimble when transitioning from target and “should” work (a bonus!), and right now I
to target. As I banged in the twentieth magazine, I don’t know the price of the “Lancers”. But would
ran a few more BBs through the chrono, resulting I recommend the EMG/CYMA NOVESKE N4 GEN
in 326/328fps (iro 0.99 Joule), so given another 20 III? So far, it’s an unqualified YES. If you are looking
magazines, I’d go as far to say you would be getting to step up your playing style, especially for MilSim,
a very solid 1 Joule/330fps on a .20g, maybe even a then take note as this might well be the GBBR you’re
tad higher, a perfect power for most skirmish fields looking for.
and most CQB sites around the globe. In total I fired Thank you to the guys at iWholesales who
forty magazines without a hitch throughout the supplied the N4 for test, and do be sure to check this
afternoon, moving up to .30g for accuracy testing... model out with your local retailer if, like me, you like
The flip-up sights that come fitted as standard a GBBR that’s good to go from the box (or slip as the
to the N4 are indeed more than adequate, and so case may be!), and that has the full-blessing of the
the Noveske is ready to roll straight from the box “real deal” manufacturer! AA
just by adding gas and some BBs! Once the hop
“I’D STARTED TO BANG OFF BBS IN SEMI AND FULL AUTO, SWITCHING BETWEEN BOTH
FLAWLESSLY. RATE OF FIRE IN BOTH MODES IS FANTASTIC, AND BOTH THE TRIGGER
AND SELECTOR SWITCH ON THE N4 ARE TO MY LIKING, JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF
RESISTANCE, AND IN TERMS OF THE TRIGGER A VERY POSITIVE BREAK AND RESET”

ARMOURY
TOKYO MARUI
L119A2 CUSTOM BUILD
NEXT GEN RECOIL SHOCK CONTACT US FOR DETAILS
THE L119A2 IS JUST ONE POPULAR

EXAMPLE OF OUR CURRENT RECOIL
MODELS, BASED ON TOKYO MARUI’S
FANTASTIC SYSTEM - FITTED WITH
THE ANGRY GUN RAIL SYSTEM AND
REAL STEEL MAGPUL FURNITURE
TECHNICAL
ACETECH ACEHIVE X SPAWNER
HIVE-
MINDED
IN THE DAYS OF TAG ROUNDS AS A REGULAR GAME-DAY “FORCE MULTIPLIER” AND WITH VARIOUS
AIRSOFT GRENADE-LAUNCHER DESIGNS STILL CAUSING DEBATE AMONGST THE AIRSOFT COMMUNITY
WORLDWIDE, BILL TAKES US BACK TO SIMPLER DAYS WHEN THE MOSCART WAS KING, AND PUTS A CASE
AS TO WHY IT STILL IS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS… ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S SOMETHING QUITE UNIQUE AND
INNOVATIVE LIKE THE ACEHIVE X SPAWNER!

TECHNICAL
J
ust before Christmas I was in my local airsoft store, up at either end of the ambush to unleash perhaps
All Ages Airsoft, and having my normal shoot and a huge cloud of BBs in one “ploomp” usually solves
catchup with owner and some-time contributor either problem!
Marcus; like me, Marcus has been around airsoft on I’m not personally keen using MOSCARTs in
and off for longer than either of us care to remember, building clearance though as engagement distances
and when we’re shooting we all too often fall into can get very muddled, very fast, but I have seen
talking about the “old days of airsoft”, and of course launchers used to great effect in this scenario too;
about people we knew in common, and some of you again, if you’re at a medium engagement distance
among the “old and bold” like us may remember a and use one against the building itself it’s a great
character we all called “MOSCART Mick”. deterrent to the other side popping their heads up at
Now bear in mind that we’re talking here about inopportune moments…
the original “40mm” MOSCART grenades like the
Mosquito Molds Cartridge that were selling back in INSIDE ACETECH
the day for about £90 apiece; Mick, as both Marcus But even the best-maintained MOSCARTs can be a
and I recall had somewhere in the region of 28+ of pain as we all know, and if you only own a couple the
them, and wasn’t shy about putting them to use in time it can take to reload and reset them can mean
the field… everyone thought he was slightly mad, but minimal use of quite an expensive bit of kit in-game…
we were also a little jealous if I’m honest! until now! When I was in Taiwan with Stewbacca,
Of course time moves on, the economies of scale Nonocat and Romain one of the companies we visited
kick in, and prices fall which means that a decent set was ACETECH, and very welcoming they were too… I
of MOSCARTs (and I use this here as a generic term) won’t be forgetting the sumptuous lunch they treated
for the launcher of your choice isn’t going to need us too, or indeed the good company that we shared
you to take out a second mortgage, and with better with them!
build quality, more reliable performance, and more Acetk Corp Ltd. (Acetech) is an airsoft accessory
consistent gas to power them there’s never been a manufacturer who specialises in a myriad of
better time to own a launcher and some grenades, oustanding tracer units, chronographs, control
although shells can still be hard to “live with” if you’re systems and even a first-rate auto-target system, one
not 100% on top of the maintenance. It does seem that we all tried at their HQ and enjoyed immensely.
to me though that the humble MOSCART is now Acetech tracer units are designed for a whole
playing “second fiddle” to the likes of the TAG family host of different platforms and even to enable users
of grenades, but in some situations the gas-powered to install them inside suppressors making unique
multi-BB-chucker still has a very, very valid place in tracer units like some awesome “Surefire” versions
anyone’s airsoft armoury as far as I’m concerned. that I so drooled over. Using thoroughly professional
I still think of any 40mm MOSCART launcher as techniques Acetech also provides the technical
being essentially the airsoft equivalent of a shotgun; consulting services for well-known AEG and GBB
at medium engagement distances they can be manufacturers and assists them design their electronic
devastating. Over the years I’ve tried and tried to run control systems, giving superb performance and
a proper Linear Ambush in a game, and from time to ensuring that all Acetech products are CE and FCC
time it’s even worked. Whilst I place a support gun in certified.
the “Kill Group” I still like to have at least one of my One of the things that took my eye in their
“Cut Off Group” guys at either end with a launcher. If showroom was an odd-looking (to me), see-through
done right the ambush will trigger and you’ll catch the grenade with what looked like a coffee cup on
main body of your targets in the centre and decimate top… as I was somewhat fixated on their range of
them. Undoubtedly there will be a few stragglers at suppressor/tracer units I didn’t pay it much heed…
the back of the target group, or runners that try to until Marcus put the self-same thing in front of me
make off from the front, and having someone pop last month when I visited his shop, and oh boy, the
“IT DOES SEEM TO ME THOUGH THAT THE HUMBLE MOSCART IS NOW PLAYING
“SECOND FIDDLE” TO THE LIKES OF THE TAG FAMILY OF GRENADES, BUT IN SOME
SITUATIONS THE GAS-POWERED MULTI-BB-CHUCKER STILL HAS A VERY, VERY VALID
PLACE IN ANYONE’S AIRSOFT ARMOURY AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED”
TECHNICAL
ACEHIVE X SPAWNER then REALLY got my attention! screw-on lid and an orange button on the side to
Having popped some of the ACEHIVE 80 BB shells unlock the tool and load the shell! Moulded in the
through my “pirate gun”, the cut-down M79 that I bottom there is a section that accepts the “hive” shell,
love so much, I was seriously impressed both in terms and when it comes to this the whole body is very well
of the spread of shot and the ease of “one second made and extremely well thought out .
reloading”. I asked Marcus his thoughts on the system “The shell itself has an orange machined base with
as a tech, and he told me: a black aluminium gas chamber with the ACEHIVE
“It’s very rare I find something in airsoft that is truly emblem in white on the side. Then you have the top
new and innovative there’s a lot of kit that has been part of the shell which is made of clear, completely
released recently that is just a re-mash of an old piece solid polymer/plastic and has the fill valve at the top
of kit but with the ACEHIVE I am genuinely impressed!
“ACETECH appear to have found the inherent
problems with the old MOSCART shells and designed
something that performs excellently. So, what are the
main problems we traditionally see with MOSCARTS?
Well, number one is they are a pain in the butt to
load, and number two is that they weren’t always
reliable and of course they were a pain to strip and
replace the seals that tended to go all too often.
“Well, as far as I can see ACETECH have sorted out
those issues very well; to start with the system comes
in the middle. Around that is the retention system

for holding the BBs, then around the circumference
are ten tubes moulded into it each of which holds
10 BBs so the total that the unit holds is 80 BBs. At
the base of the shell is the firing plunger, and that’s
more or less it. It’s a very well-designed, well-made
and attractive shell that together with the “spawner”
works insanely well!”
A CLOUD OF BBS!
To load a shell all you need to do is unscrew the lid
with what ACETECH calls the “spawner” which is the of the “spawner”, fill it with BBs then replace the lid
loading tool for the shells that are called the “hive”. then fill the shell with gas just like you would any GBB
The “spawner” unit (Bill’s “coffee cup”) hold about mag; the only thing you need to make sure is that the
300 BBs and is made of tough grey plastic with a firing plunger is flush with the base plate, and after
“HAVING POPPED SOME OF THE ACEHIVE 80 BB SHELLS THROUGH MY “PIRATE GUN”,

THE CUT-DOWN M79 THAT I LOVE SO MUCH, I WAS SERIOUSLY IMPRESSED BOTH IN
TERMS OF THE SPREAD OF SHOT AND THE EASE OF “ONE SECOND RELOADING””

TECHNICAL
that you can fit the shell in the base of the “spawner” In terms of innovation ACETECH have really done
unit. a great job! The whole system is very well thought
You need to hold the shell with the “spawner” on out and extremely well made; I’m looking forward to
top with the orange button facing you, then while seeing what ACETECH release this year!
holding the shell press the orange button and twist I can only second what Marcus has described; I
the lower half of the “spawner” to the left and you own about 25 MOSCARTs myself now, and they sadly
will see all the tubes in the shell will fill in an instant! never really see the light of day as I’m just fed up
constantly maintaining and loading the darn things!
With the ACEHIVE though everything is simple, super
(lightning!) fast, and the spread a five/ten meters is
certainly good enough to carry out the “cut-off” role
that I mentioned earlier. Of course the best bit about
the ACEHIVE system though is that it’s RELIABLE.
Suffice to say having used it on the basement range
at the shop I was sold, an early Xmas pressie to self,
so well done Marcus for your superlative selling skills!
ACETECH offers a cracking starter pack consisting of
THE “spawner” unit and two ACEHIVE gas grenades,
and although this isn’t super-cheap I do believe it
offers great value for money. You can also buy the
shells separately and the “spawner” on its own…
If you’re fed up with the shortcomings old-skool
MOSCART shells then go try the ACETECH ACEHIVE X
SPAWNER setup for yourself… while your wallet may
groan a little, you as player will thank me, and I do
believe you’ll have just as much fun with the system as
us!
Release the button on the “spawner” and this in turn Check them out by visiting www.acetk.com or
will allow the “spawner” to reset itself. Then you check with your friendly local shop as the ACETECH
simply remove the “spawner” and push down hard ACEHIVE X SPAWNER should now be widely available.
on the star shaped retention unit on the top of the AA
shell; this will push an o-ring out enough to stop any
BBs falling out that’s it… the shell is good to go, put
it in the launcher of your choice and have fun… a pull
of the trigger will send out a cloud of BBs with a big
“crack” that’s sure to turn some heads… and then
keep those heads down behind cover!
Once you’ve used the shell all you have to do is
check the plunger is flush with the base and then
gas and reload, and again, that’s it! The spread you
get out of the shell at about five meters distance is
about three meters wide, so not too bad for this type
of shell; the power will depend on the gas used, but
with a gas fill of five seconds with green gas I’d say it
would be around 0.37 Joule/200fps in a large shotgun
pattern.
“WITH THE ACEHIVE THOUGH EVERYTHING IS SIMPLE, SUPER (LIGHTNING!) FAST, AND
THE SPREAD A FIVE/TEN METERS IS CERTAINLY GOOD ENOUGH TO CARRY OUT THE
“CUT-OFF” ROLE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. OF COURSE THE BEST BIT ABOUT THE
ACEHIVE SYSTEM THOUGH IS THAT IT’S RELIABLE”
Technikraum 1
3,5
VegaForceC 60,4 qm
2-107
21,0
Uebergang/to
Halle / hall 1
FM 2,0 5,
2-108 2
4, 0
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06
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11,6
Shooting Jolly S 50 q
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etk 20
qm
5, 0 Networking
2-2 49,67 qm
4,0 05
7,9
Uebergang/to
Halle / hall 1 10,0
FM
Airsoft Shooting
3,0
4, 0 Range
2-2 30 qm
04
10,0
Airsoft Shooting Air

3,0
SR Range - Novritsch 30 qm
R
60C qm
15
,0
0,4 5,0 10,0
2-304 2-306 2-308

KING ARMS
5,0
AIRSOFT
Y
HFC
9,2 Novritsch 50 qm
OR
airsoft 8,0
21,52 qm
Airsoft
40 qm
Wolverine
RM
3,0 Grepow 3,0

12 qm
Airsoft
2-407 18 qm
2-409
A
5,0 4,0 6,0

14
,0
LTA
3,0 7,0 5,0 4,0

2-402 2-404 2-408 2-410
DE
3,0 PUFFDINO Ares Alpha 3,0

12 qm
TRADE
2-4 15 qm
4,0 00 12 qm
LANCER REPLICA
9,0 APS 9,0 9 qm
GUNS 3,0
27 qm
TACTICAL
63 qm
2-509a
(Altin
3,0 Finances) 18 qm
3,0
9 qm
Anlieferung 2-507 2-509

3,0 6,0
Delivery
Halle / hall 2
Tor / door 1 15,0 6,0
FM
2-504 2-508
00
2-5
Airsoft Shooting Parcour
10,0 10,0 60 qm 10
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www.delta-armory.com
THE CAGE
NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS
THE CAGE:
HITTIN’ ‘24!
JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU OUT THERE SETTING UP FOR A WHOLE NEW YEAR OF AIRSOFT THE
MEMBERS OF THE AA LEGION ARE MAKING PLANS, SERVICING THEIR AEGS AND GBBS, AND
GETTING THEIR GEAR IN ORDER! SO WHAT HAVE THE TEAM GOT IN THEIR OWN PLANNING FOR
2024, AND WHAT ARE THEIR RESOLUTIONS?
A
t this time of year I always feel a little tingle of passionate, hard core of individuals who are
excitement; airsoft has been a part (a BIG part!) committed to making AIRSOFT ACTION truly the #1
of my life now for so long that I know that monthly airsoft magazine in the world, but that’s not
each and every year will bring new challenges, new to say that every single contributor doesn’t have this
airsoft adventures, and new experiences with friends “front and centre” too and we’re aiming to bring in
both old and new! more new recruits this year to report from even more
So, another year, and it’s another exciting year for, countries! As we’ve reset for the coming year there’s
and of, AIRSOFT ACTION too! As we head into YEAR masses to look forward to, and we’ll continue to
13 of continuous monthly publication the team, it make new friendships and add new contributors as
must be said, is stronger than ever and the levels of we move on forward… again.
commitment shown by everyone to producing the It’s a new year that kicked off early again with MOA
best, most insightful and hopefully in December, and what a huge amount of goodness
entertaining we saw in that single show as Stu highlighted in his
airsoft report just last month! Boycie, L’il Stu and Dan are all
content set for SHOT Show later this month, and we’ll have
has just coverage of that as it’s happening as usual! Jase and
continued I will be heading again to IWA in March, and again
to grow! we’ll bring you updates of new directions at the show
As as we see them!
with any But for me there’s already a couple of things that
group are exciting me for this year like the new Gen of the
there VFC BCM MCMR, and I already KNOW that there
is a will be more from VORSK, LCT, Specna Arms, EMG,
ARES, VFC, G&G, ICS, DELTA and a number of our
manufacturing friends for 2024 as I’m privileged to
be able to know just a little of what’s in their design
“THERE IS A PASSIONATE, HARD CORE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMMIT-

TED TO MAKING AIRSOFT ACTION TRULY THE #1 MONTHLY AIRSOFT MAGAZINE IN THE
WORLD, BUT THAT’S NOT TO SAY THAT EVERY SINGLE CONTRIBUTOR DOESN’T HAVE
THIS “FRONT AND CENTRE” TOO AND WE’RE AIMING TO BRING IN MORE NEW RE-
CRUITS THIS YEAR TO REPORT FROM EVEN MORE COUNTRIES!”

THE CAGE
NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS
I’ve said quite enough, so I asked the members of the

AA LEGION “WHAT ARE YOUR AIRSOFT NEW YEAR
RESOLUTIONS, AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING
FORWARD TO?” and the overwhelming consensus
was to shoot more, and play more, especially on the
MilSim side of things.
However, some of the crew went into more detail,
and this is what they had to tell me;
Stewbacca: More of the same for me,
#GetShitDone with ever-increasing intensity. I have
a laundry list of new guns to review on the horizon,
and some in hand already, along with more long term
planning efforts afoot here, exciting times. Also want
to try and keep up a more regular ISPC schedule and
potentially even start IDPA along with my teammates
Ou and Peter who train in both circles. Civil Defence
things are also increasing with conferences and more
training on the horizon, our skirmish team want to
pipeline, start pushing more of the core group to do TCCC or
but I’m also curious to see what similar medical training among other tactical things
happens with some of the less well-known names in we’re already amidst
the industry.
For my own resolutions… simple really, continue
to shoot more (MORE!) AEGs and GBBs but this year
actually get out and use them more in-game too!
Sadly I’ve had a bit of a kick back in my personal
battle with the “BIG C” but that ain’t slowing me
down… this time last year I made a resolution to get
my fitness back up and I did so, so I’m raring to go
again and with OP SCORPIO lining up I’m REALLY
looking forward to that!
I also pondered if 2023 might be the year I made
it Taiwan, and I did… OH YES! Sadly though I
missed “Snackfest” in Portugal again last month
with Miguel and Matt B… who knows, perhaps I’ll
make this happen with my airsoft buds in 2024…
What I do know is that 2024 is shaping up to be an
absolutely cracking year, with more shooting, more
games, more events and more airsoft adventures
yet to be had… I hope you’ll join the AA Crew
and I as we make the leap into the New Year, and I doing or planning…
sincerely hope that yours will be as thrilling as ours getting in better shape is a personal goal, can’t fight
promises to be! off the Marxists when you’re phat!
I have a few visits already done before with Anny
TEAM TALK to tidy up the articles for and hopefully she will have
As usual, like a cantankerous relative at Christmas the opportunity to do more of her own autonomous
“LIKE A CANTANKEROUS RELATIVE AT CHRISTMAS I’VE SAID QUITE ENOUGH, SO I

ASKED THE MEMBERS OF THE AA LEGION “WHAT ARE YOUR AIRSOFT NEW YEAR
RESOLUTIONS, AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?” AND THE OVER-
WHELMING CONSENSUS WAS TO SHOOT MORE, AND PLAY MORE, ESPECIALLY ON THE
MILSIM SIDE OF THINGS”
THE CAGE
NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS
contributions as before so we can keep working gucci AirBnB

together but also separately to cover more ground in the heart of
and let me focus on gun reviews while she does the Nuremberg
people/company-oriented things; lots to be done, we are 100%
fellow shooters. good to
Dan: I think I say this every year, go! I did
but I’d like to
manage
to secure a SCAR H in
2023, one of my resolutions this time last
year, along with a couple of pistols that I’m looking
attend more events! forward to fielding too! Like many of the crew though
Between work, the oldest starting my main resolution is a simple one, to get out and
Kindergarten, then having every cold, flu, COVID play more non-MilSim-based games; let’s wait and see
and whatever stopping by for a cup of coffee and a what happens throughout this year!
chat, I only managed to get in three major games last Chris: Happy New Year chaps! As the others have
year, so I’m beginning to suffer serious withdrawal said, definitely play more airsoft for me; play more,
symptoms now! Aside from that, I’ve set about doing get involved a bit more, and attend a MilSim! The
some deep reorganization and cleaning of the shop, KWA F90 hands down
clearing out a lot of old parts and stock that’s just
been collecting dust and making the space more
efficient and organized has already been paying
dividends. I’ve had a lot of requests to start making
some video content, so I’ve been idly researching
what might be involved with setting that up, while
simultaneously wondering where the time will come
from to actually do it. Onward and upward as they
say... even if it’s a bit of a grinding crawl sometimes…
Jase: My year is already looking good as I’ve just
put the final plans in place from our trip to IWA at
the end of February; flights are booked and airport
parking sorted, and as Bill has already secured us a
“BETWEEN WORK, THE OLDEST STARTING KINDERGARTEN, THEN HAVING EVERY COLD,
FLU, COVID AND WHATEVER STOPPING BY FOR A CUP OF COFFEE AND A CHAT, I ONLY
MANAGED TO GET IN THREE MAJOR GAMES LAST YEAR, SO I’M BEGINNING TO SUFFER
SERIOUS WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS NOW!”

THE CAGE
NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS
has got me buzzing for the coming year; I have my of course, carry my weight as a member of the AA
own now, and I want to use the hell out of it! Legion!
Boycie: Resolutions for me are go to the USA for To my fellow players, remember that airsoft is
SHOT Show (tick), shoot even more, and get out and just airsoft. In the end, we play to have fun and
play more too! decompress from the stress accumulated during the
week. Airsoft lets us play as we want, no one has
to please other players or follow random trends. To
our industry friends, start looking at the community
without “social media lenses”; influencers and pretty
pictures come and go, but the communities are still
(and always will be) there. AA
Miguel: My airsoft resolutions... I’m already looking

at the calendar being filled with airsoft events, and
that’s pretty much what I want, to keep airsoft in the
field, have fun, attend amazing events and exchange
experiences with players from all over. Outside the
field, I want to keep my work as ambassador for Viper
Tactical and Specna Arms, maintaining my focus on
one gear and one replica brand, being close to the
community and
“AIRSOFT LETS US PLAY AS WE WANT, NO ONE HAS TO PLEASE OTHER PLAYERS OR

FOLLOW RANDOM TRENDS. TO OUR INDUSTRY FRIENDS, START LOOKING AT THE
COMMUNITY WITHOUT “SOCIAL MEDIA LENSES”; INFLUENCERS AND PRETTY PIC-
TURES COME AND GO, BUT THE COMMUNITIES ARE STILL (AND ALWAYS WILL BE)
THERE.”
RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
RED CELL
STILL
IMAGE CURTESY OF KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY
GASSIN’!
RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
AS WE MOVE INTO A WHOLE NEW YEAR OF TESTING, IN YEAR 3 OF RED CELL WE’RE BEGINNING
TO REALLY FEEL AT HOME WITH OUR LONG-TERM TEST POOL MODELS, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE
HAD SOME SERIOUS RANGE AND GAME TIME! AND WE’RE KICKING OFF 2024 BY LOOKING BACK
(AND FORWARD) WITH THE GBB ARS THAT ARE STILL GIVING US SOME VERY POSITIVE VIBES WITH
SOME NEW ADDITIONS AND SOME OLD CAMPAIGNERS TOO, AND AS ALWAYS BILL TAKES THE
LEAD…
RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
T
hey’re the AR platforms that many love to hate, continue to strive to get the fundamental driving
and a considerable number of spurious tales force behind a GBBR, namely the gas itself, as good
are told about how they perform year-round, as it can be, and I have to say that the guys at VORSK
but when it comes to gas-driven carbines and rifles have done a cracking job here. Although their “FUEL”
personally I LOVE ‘EM, and it will take an awful lot to itself is slightly more expensive than some, the fact
dissuade me that in many ways they are the perfect is that VORSK FUEL works in all my GBBRs, and as
airsoft tool, especially when it comes to the thing that the gas has become more reliable and stable, so
many again say they want…realism. the performance of the platforms themselves has
I’ve written extensively over the years about my improved in terms of operation and consistency.
passion for “gassers”, and I will always ensure that Add to this that the base “gun tech” has constantly
new models have equal weighting in Airsoft Action improved when it comes to something as simple as
when it comes to reviews! However, I will be the a nozzle, seal, or hop unit, and things begin to really
first to admit that in order to get the best from a come together in a totally meaningful way; more and
gas carbine or rifle platform you are truly devoting more of us own and use a GBBR, perhaps not in a
yourself to a style and form of airsoft play that has regular weekend skirmish setting, but certainly when
historically meant you had to have mega-deep pockets
and match that up with some serious commitment!
But things move on, don’t they, and they seem
to move on right now when it comes to my beloved
“gassers” at a pace that I’ve certainly never seen
before, and to be honest I’m loving every minute of
that too. The good airsoft-times that I’ve experienced
with them has completely sold me on gas carbine
and rifle platforms, but I continue to search for that
“perfect platform” that is close in function to a real
firearm but is still reliable enough to actually use in-
game on a regular and sustained basis. It has been
a long and often frustrating journey that has led
me from Western Arms GBBRs, on past VIPERTECH,
through KJW and KWA, and onto both WE and
VFC, with a smattering of TM, Umarex (I still love
their 416) and GHK along the way, but it’s a journey
that ultimately here in 2024 I believe is reaching its
conclusion.
I have indeed, and I’ll say it again, cried tears of
anger and frustration when parts have failed (all too
regularly in the past!) or when I’ve simply tried to
set the hop (who thought placing a tiny hex-screw
OVER the barrel, inside the upper was any kind of
good idea???), and the sheer number of insta-vent
magazines I’ve had to contend with beggars belief!
But, and it’s a BIG BUT, things have indeed moved on,
and these days when I go to test a new GBB AR they
all seem to work… and some work pretty darn well
too!
There’s a whole host of airsoft companies too that
“I WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE BEST FROM A
GAS CARBINE OR RIFLE PLATFORM YOU ARE TRULY DEVOTING YOURSELF TO
A STYLE AND FORM OF AIRSOFT PLAY THAT HAS HISTORICALLY MEANT YOU
HAD TO HAVE MEGA-DEEP POCKETS AND MATCH THAT UP WITH SOME SERIOUS
COMMITMENT!”

RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
it comes to a MilSim, and understand that just like a of their M4A1 MWS GBB in late 2015 was another
real firearm a “gasser” needs both love and regular testament to this.
maintenance to get the very best from it, and we’ll The thing with Tokyo Marui is that, just as with the
touch on this later… introduction of their first AEG, they must have their
With ammunition prices, especially in the USA, we very own system and the M4A1 MWS, which stands
continue to see the inexorable rise of “6mm Training” for “Modular Weapons System” just to get that out of
in the professional users market too, and as what are the way, is powered by what they call the ZET System.
essentially airsoft platforms gain greater acceptance It took me a while to get to the bottom of this but
for training purposes we are likely to see even greater basically ZET translates as (Z) Final/Ultimate Endurance
reliability and durability from our game tools; for this Technology.
reason we’ve added a couple of “AR PCCs” to the But what does this actually mean? Simply put
mix. TM looked at all the existing gas blowback AR
In my mind, overall the future of the gas AR-style technologies out there, and scrutinised what they
carbine and rifle in airsoft is looking really, REALLY perceived to be their inherent flaws. With this
good, and I hope that our update here on some great information in hand away to their inscrutable and
gas airsoft ARs will give you something to ponder on. secret drawing boards they went, and the ZET System
Should you buy a GBBR? Ultimately that is your call, was born. They decided to work on the weakest
but we’ve carried on testing “head to head” so at point, the bolt carrier group, or BCG; they wanted this
least you’ll have a bit of an idea on what to look at, to be very durable and better than the other existing
and for, and most importantly, WHY. GBBs that were available and the ZET features a shock
As always all the models featured here are either absorbing system for durability and a roller system to
held in the AA Long Term Test Pool or are owned by ensure that the bolt travels smoothly. The new system
members of “The Cell”; you’ll see that we’ve added also employs a larger piston with a diameter of about
a couple of new models recently as we’re really 19mm, and the bolt operates in conjunction with the
interested to see how these stack up as we hammer cylinder to give superb felt recoil.
each and every one to catch them up on “BB Count”. Essentially the ZET System was, and is, all about
All models are power-tested using .20g precision BBs, durability by preventing wear and damage to the bolt
but range and accuracy testing will of course use and catch, utilising piston-absorbers and a friction-
something heavier of the users choice. relief bolt roller to reduce the burden on the internal
parts during operation. The air nozzle is plastic and
TEAM TALK stays longer in position than others out there which
Bill: Unusually for me I’m going to kick things off TM assert gives a more reliable seal to prevent the
with Tokyo Marui, as many of you out there think I’m escape of gas. Working together this ensures the
a “hater” when it comes to the venerable Japanese safety and longevity of the BCG; TM originally torture-
“airsoft daddies”; not so my airsoft friends, not so! tested the bolt lock for over 10,000 cycles to prove
I’m just VERY picky with what I have in my personal how durable the ZET system is and you can’t really
armoury and just because a thing comes from a argue with that, can you?
certain brand doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be So on the face of it everything looked great for
great! the TM M4A1, and this has indeed proved to be
However, I’ve had an original TM MWS AR in my the case over the time I’ve owned it. It’s beautifully
armoury since 2016, which makes it rather like me… manufactured, stunningly finished, and features some
a grand old campaigner! The fact of the matter is that more “magic” TM technology internally.
generally TM will only do things when they are ready, Traditionally TM rifles and carbines as “stock” are
and in their hearts truly believe that they have the a little underpowered given the lower power limits in
best product they can possibly offer, and the launch Japan; yes, they can be upgraded but of course that
means even more money thrown at what are normally
“ESSENTIALLY THE ZET SYSTEM WAS, AND IS, ALL ABOUT DURABILITY BY
PREVENTING WEAR AND DAMAGE TO THE BOLT AND CATCH, UTILISING PISTON-
ABSORBERS AND A FRICTION-RELIEF BOLT ROLLER TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THE
INTERNAL PARTS DURING OPERATION.”
RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
VFC BCM MCMR

Price: iro UK£600.00
Age: Two Years
Weight: 2142 g
Length: 710/790 mm
Magazine Capacity: 30
Cold Chrono: 1.28 Joule/372fps
Hot Chrono: 1.2 Joule/368fps
Taclite Compatibility: M-LOK
Suppressor Compatibility: 14mm CCW
Supplied By: uk.redwolfairsoft.com
GHK URGI
Age: Two Years
Weight: 2750g
Length: 690/770mm
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.co.uk
VFC SR16
Age: Four Years
Weight: 2740g
Length: 758/870 mm
Taclite Compatibility: Picatinny
Suppressor Compatibility:14mm CCW
WE M4A1
Age: Eight Years
Weight: 3050g
Length: 768/850mm
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
KWA LM4
Age: Three Years
Weight: 3260g
Length: 730/815mm
Supplied By: store.kwausa.com

RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
not the cheapest of replicas in the first place. TM the strength of my (and his own) experiences with the
recommend the use of HFC134A gas so the M4A1 N4 and my recommendations, while he was visiting
will consistently shoot around .72 Joule/280 fps us again during summer, he bought them and left
(below the legal limit in Japan) consistently, but I’ve them with me for safekeeping while he is back home
been running mine recently on VORSK V8 just to see before his next airsofting holiday, so when I find the
what would happen, and thus far things have gone opportunity between all the other guns I have lined
well… VERT well! Loaded up with .20g it registered up for review, I want to compare their performance as
initially at 1.06 Joule/339 fps, but things have settled well.
down at a mean of 0.89 Joule/310 fps which of The construction quality, out of the box
course is perfectly acceptable for pretty much any site performance and just worry free sewing machine
(outside Japan that is!). I’ve more recently added my like operation of the RATech line really make you see
favourite AR platform in the form of the TM Mk18 where the money is well spent and I still have no
(yes, ANOTHER Mk18!) and so far I’m loving this too, problem recommending them to people who just
although TM recommend only low-pressure gas 144a want ‘one good gun’ that does everything, and if I
(Nuprol 1.0) with this! were to thin my own collection back at any point like
The TM is never going to be the cheapest option I did in the UK to buy fewer but nicer things just for
when it comes to GBB ARs, but oh my, they actually myself or lending to close friends, you can bet there’d
are outstanding! All I can say is had the MWS been on be more of their products among the resulting list!
the market when I bought my first GBBR, like many I’ve used it in competition for the Ding Ding
of you I probably wouldn’t have moved on, and I Cup - Steel Challenge match (featured in Issue 154)
understand why they’re loved so much by users!
Stewbacca: I’ve had the RATech EMG licensed
Noveske N4 Gen 3 10.5” GBBR since June (see my
earlier review in Issue 152) and although I haven’t
spent as much time behind it since I finished my initial
review as I would like to, it has become a standard
that I both measure everything else against, as well as
something I will lend to some of the new players I’ve
been helping recruit to the ranks of Team Taiji.
It may seem a bit excessive handing over an 1100
USD piece of kit to a total noob, but honestly it makes
it less of a worrisome day for me, because I know
that the RATech gun will just work, be extremely
hard-wearing and less prone to breakages, no doubt
function flawlessly all day long, and pound BBs out to
ridiculous distances, making people’s first experiences
awesome and uninhibited by equipment issues. I
can focus on my own gameplay and not have to
‘nanny’ the gun as much as I do with some others in
my collection, so everyone has a better experience
all round, and they see what is possible if you are
willing to invest in a single solid platform rather than
collecting endless guns like I do!
As a result I now also have the RATech M14 and
M4A1 GBBR which our visiting Australian teammate
Julius bought direct from their facility in Hualien; off
“I KNOW THAT THE RATECH GUN WILL JUST WORK, BE EXTREMELY HARD-WEARING
AND LESS PRONE TO BREAKAGES, NO DOUBT FUNCTION FLAWLESSLY ALL DAY
LONG, AND POUND BBS OUT TO RIDICULOUS DISTANCES, MAKING PEOPLE’S FIRST
EXPERIENCES AWESOME AND UNINHIBITED BY EQUIPMENT ISSUES”
RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
VFC VR16 CQB II (MK18)

Age: Three Years
Weight: 2500g
Length: 696/777mm
Taclite Compatibility: 14mm CCW
GOLDEN EAGLE MC6595M

Age: Two Years
Weight: 2700g
Length: 720/800 mm
Supplied By: www.allagesairsoft.com
S&T M4 KEYMOD 13”

Age: Two Years
Weight: 2600g
Length: 770/850 mm
Magazine Capacity:50
Taclite Compatibility: KeyMod
Supplied By: www.nuprol.com
TOKYO MARUI M4A1 MWS

Age: Eight Years
Weight: 3470g
Length: 777/854 mm
Cold Chrono: 0.89 Joule/310 fps
Hot Chrono: 1.06 Joule/339 fps
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail System
Supplied By: www.fire-support.co.uk
VFC VR16 URG-I 14.5”

Age: Two Years
Weight: 3050g
Length: 823/903 mm
Taclite Compatibility: Standard Rail
Supplied By: www.vegaforce.com

RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
along with Anny’s awesome photography of it in you’re likely to see our team leader sporting his (or his
action, I’ve used it on numerous skirmish sites or AEG BCM set up in exactly the same way if he isn’t
let others go ham with it, and taken it as a reliable, in a gas gun mood) and I’ve been on the receiving
lightweight, easy to handle and long range ‘backup’ end of his well-aimed single shots posted through
gun I know I can depend on if whatever else I’m using windows across the tile factory site while I was trying
in preference for gameplay or review reasons gives to take him out with the VFC M733 GBBR I had on
me any issues, and even after all this time using it loan.
and introducing it to others, everyone still comments In general the BCMs are exceptionally well put
on the excellent trigger, recoil impulse, accuracy and together and the more recent internal updates
range and just how much fun it is to shoot. simplify and improve things further for long term use
Besides my own review of the A-Plus CLPD version and ease of maintenance, but even the earlier versions
of the BCM MCMR GBBR I’ve also had hands on with I have had experience of haven’t garnered any major
the standard variants, as a few of our core teammates complaints and we run everything hot out here in
use them as a reliable go-to GBBR AR in team Taiji; the tropics. They handle really nicely and running the
shorter variants of them after time spent lugging a
quad rail HK416 or my PSG-1 around really woke me
up to just how comfortable and easy to manouever
they are with the M-LOK handguards by comparison.
I haven’t gotten hands on with TWS9 besides at
MOA where I didn’t get chance to fire it, but I was
told there is also a polymer-body version of it on its
way which will be a lot more affordable at not that
much more than some pistols! It should be around the
8000NT mark (roughly 200GBP), so when that drops
you can bet I’ll be interested in throwing my multitude
of various Glock magazines through it and going to
town on IPSC stages and in the field.
Ben: So, the WE M4 A1 GBBR; I’ve had my gas
rifle now for several years and although it is not in
the top tier or bottom tier platforms of gas rifles it
works rather well; obviously for it to function well
the key is to maintain the moving parts (i.e cleaning
and lubricating it fairly regularly)… I’ve mostly used
my gas rifle for MilSims and drilling manual of arms,
and it was slightly modified before it brought it, with
a shortened barrel so O turned it into a mk18-styled
carbine.
Now WE GBBRs do have a tendency for the trigger
box system to have issues with parts wearing out
fairly quickly which leads to single shot not working
properly… as in you will get burst fire! But this is an
easy fix with just a couple of screws to take out the
trigger box and replace with new. The real issue with
the WE system is the adjustable hop screw, it is set in
the most awkward place above the barrel well inside
the bolt chamber; I would love to see WE address
“IT IS STILL MY BELIEF THAT EVERY AIRSOFTER NEEDS TO HAVE A GBBR, TO

APPRECIATE HOW REALISTIC THESE ARE, AND TO LEARN TO TAKE THE TIME AND
EFFORT INTO MAINTAINING ONE’S RIFLE PLUS THE SKILL LEVELS WITH TRAINING AND
DRILLING TO MAKE YOU MORE EFFICIENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD... PLUS WHO DOESN’T
LOVE MORE REALISM!”
RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
TOKYO MARUI MK18 MOD1 MWS

Age: New
Weight: 3210 g
Length: 715/790mm
Supplied By: www.allagesairsoft.com
G&G MGCR 10”

Price: iro UK£TBC
Age: New
Weight: 3135g
Length: 730/773mm
Supplied By: www.guay2.com
RATECH NOVESKE N4 10.5”

Age: New
Weight: 2500g
Length: 725/810mm
Supplied By: http://en.ratech.com.tw
WE M4 PCC
Age: New
Weight: 4000g
Length: 768/850mm
Cold Chrono: 0.88 Joule/309 fps
Supplied By: www.iwholesales.biz
KING ARMS TWS9

Age: New
Weight: 2111g
Length: 690mm/772mm
Hot Chrono: 1.06 Joule/ 338fps
Supplied By: www.airsoftworld.net

RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
this easy fix with their hop units, and that aside I do also won’t personally go into the new G&G MGCR as
love my gas rifle as it has served me well and got me this only got its first formal review last month, but oh
many a good kill! I have plans in future to get some boy, I do love these “gassers” one and all!
upgrades done, and it is still my belief that every However, another gas AR that I truly rate is the
airsofter needs to have a GBBR, to appreciate how GHK M4 URG-I GBBR, and I have to say it’s as
realistic these are, and to learn to take the time and awesome as their AKs! This lovely 10.3” short-
effort into maintaining one’s rifle plus the skill levels barrelled “M4” has really took my fancy as it has
with training and drilling to make you more efficient authorized COLT engraving (via Cybergun, correctly)
on the battlefield... Plus who doesn’t love more on the receiver, and some super Geiselle trades on the
realism! Super Modular Rail (SMR)! It feels great, weighing in
Chris: Historically I’ve had a love/hate with GBBR’s; at 2980g, and the overall length of 715mm-800mm
I love the idea of them but hate how they operate in suits me perfectly for a CQB-tool. If you are more of a
the UK weather. Yes we have hot summers that help regular carbine than a shorty-soul though there’s also
with reliability, but I’d like to be able to use them all a 14.5” version at a similar weight that comes in at
year round. When we started testing one truly stood 820mm-905mm.
out for me, the then-new BCM by VFC. Not only was Everywhere you look there is attention to detail;
the hop design a breath of fresh air for those on the the M-LOK system is beautifully finished, and apart
fly adjustments, but the recoil was sharp even on low from the trades and the low-profile gas block inside
power gas pointing to good gas efficiency with very it, the colour is a very close mimic to the new “Desert
little expelled from the ejection port on cycling even Dirt” colour of the real deal. This is a far more muted
when the mag was cooler. The trigger was crisp and tone than FDE, and I have to say I rather like it; the
positive; the build quality of the receiver was also “Geissele Airborne” charging handle is also fabulously
superb, nice with good, tight fitting parts. replicated and is finished “Desert Dirt” too. Overall it
But… WE GBBR’s! I’m rather late to the party with is stunning, from the “Crane Stock” right up to the
owning GBBR’s and since kicking off my own builds four-prong flash hider at the sharp end. Inside I’m told
mid-way through 2023 I now own FOUR! Three are that the URG-I benefits from a CNC heat-treated V2
WE-based AR’s I picked up in good second hand deals all-steel bolt carrier, along with a V2 new magnetic
with a mountain of mags. The fourth is the F90 by bolt lock set improve the system stability
KWA which I’m delighted to have had delivered earlier The URG-I comes with a thirty-six BB “polymer-
this month. style” magazine and a speedloader with which to fill
The three second-hand AR’s were in reasonable it, and it’s solid and heavy as obviously there’s a lot
shape but some new parts were needed to just tweak going on with the gas valves and the like. The open
the reliability. I renewed the trigger pack on two of bolt system in this carbine makes the operation pretty
them, using standard parts; I could have gone full much identical to the real thing in that you must cock
steel and may well do at some point when finances the rifle before you fire. Once the magazine has been
allow, but I feel this isn’t needed just yet. One bolt emptied the bolt locks to the rear and when you insert
and a nozzle had to be replaced due to some ham- a fresh, fully loaded magazine you need to hit the bolt
fisted work by one of the previous owners, but the release to let it slam forward again, just like the “real
only other addition internally was giving all three new deal”. Please note that once again like the real world
Maple Leaf Hop Bucking’s. They all now shoot to counterpart you cannot engage the safety until the
within my preferred parameters. carbine is cocked; trying to force the fire selector into
Bill: We won’t go into huge detail again on some the safe position with an uncocked rifle could lead to
of the platforms in the list as you’ll find in-depth damage!
and “over time” analysis of models like the VFC In operation the GHK is an absolute cracker, and
Mk18,SR16, BCM MCMR, and the King Arms TWS9 in if you’re buying it as a training tool then you’ll need
RELOADED in the back issues section of the website. I to do absolutely nothing to it other than charge the
“EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THERE IS ATTENTION TO DETAIL; THE M-LOK SYSTEM IS

BEAUTIFULLY FINISHED, AND APART FROM THE TRADES AND THE LOW-PROFILE GAS
BLOCK INSIDE IT, THE COLOUR IS A VERY CLOSE MIMIC TO THE NEW “DESERT DIRT”
COLOUR OF THE REAL DEAL.”
RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
magazines with green gas and load up your BBs. you wish to run it short.
As others have talked about the WE M4A1 then The PCC comes with a completely new, and
I’ll check in here with another “PCC”; WE’s gas beautifully manufactured lower receiver that houses
system has really now come into its own, especially a 50 BB “G-style” metal magazine; sadly, contrary to
since they released their open bolt technology, and what I’d first heard the PCC is not compatible with
the M4 PCC comes with their open bolt system any G-Series pistol magazines I own. It’s also NOT
pre-installed. The PCC is a full metal and polymer compatible with WE “AR” magazines as the new
carbine, and it feels very solid and robust. The build lower is a dedicated version. The 50 BB magazine is
needs to be utterly solid as unlike AEGs the receivers solid and heavy as obviously there’s a lot going on
are built to contain the real mechanical forces of a with the gas valves and the like, and the profile on
fully functional bolt and are not just there to hold the top of the magazine is flat rather than angled
a gearbox. The finish of all parts throughout is very like a G-Series pistol mag, and my feeling is that this
nice indeed; with a mixture of matte black and grey has been done so that it will work efficiently with the
metal and well finished black plastic in the pistol grip existing “AR” bolt setup.
and “LE” style sliding stock the carbine really stands In operation the PCC it must be said is an absolute
out from the crowd. cracker, and if you’re buying it as a training or
The particular version of the M4A1 PCC in testing “practical rifle” tool then you’ll need to do absolutely
is the “base” model, but it still comes with a two nothing to it other than charge the magazines with
piece outer barrel which means that you can run gas and load up your BBs. In testing I get an average
it with a full length barrel or as a CQB short barrel fps of 0.88 Joule/309fps and that’s including cold
similar to that original Model 635. The inner barrel days!
however will need cropping and recrowning should I have to say that I really want to love the M4A1
PCC, and if you’re looking for
a training tool to keep your
skills and drills up to date then
it works perfectly for that, BUT
I cannot help but think that WE
have really missed a trick here…
given complementary mags, any
airsofter considering moving
to “full gas” in their loadout
that already owned a G-Series
pistol would find a “PCC AR” a
cheaper option, and although the
superb new lower for the PCC is
a piece of “airsoft art”, the fact
that proprietary magazines are
still needed is, I feel strongly, a
real loss for both training-users
and potential “gas carbine”
skirmishers.
Dan: Bill asked me to wrap
things up this month on the
care/maintenance side, and the
same principles one uses for GBB
“STORE YOUR MAGS WITH A SMALL CHARGE OF GAS TO KEEP THE SEALS FROM
DRYING OUT, LUBRICATE YOUR O-RINGS OFTEN, CLEAN YOUR BORE FREQUENTLY,
LUBRICATE YOUR SLIDING SURFACES (BOLT CARRIER, HAMMER AXLES, ETC.), AND
CLEAN THEM WELL TO PREVENT THE INTRUSION OF FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS FROM
CAUSING EXCESS WEAR AND DAMAGE”

RED CELL
GBB AR UPDATE
gas. That way there are

no surprises awaiting
me when it’s time to use
them.
On a related vein, my
experience with GBB
magazines has been
that they are by and
large heavier than AEG
mags and much more
expensive. They are also
a bit more fragile, so you
typically want to avoid
dumping them on the
ground as the exposed
plastic feed lips are often
damaged through this
action. Dumping them
in the dirt also exposes
them to grime and other
contaminants, which
if not cleaned off can
make its way into the
workings of the platform
itself.
While I don’t normally
work on GBB platforms
in my day-to-day, I do
quite often repair broken
magazines and aside
from fixing bad seals,
the number one item I
am replacing is broken
feed lips. Therefore I
firmly believe procuring
a good dump pouch
pistols largely apply to carbines and rifles as well, and
should also be within the GBB users consideration too.
is just as straightforward. Namely, store your mags
As with anything Airsoft related, it’s attentiveness, not
with a small charge of gas to keep the seals from
negligence, that carries the day and ensures your guns
drying out, lubricate your O-rings often, clean your
and gear stay in top form! AA
bore frequently, lubricate your sliding surfaces (bolt
carrier, hammer axles, etc.), and clean them well to Red Cell is supported by:
prevent the intrusion of foreign object debris from
causing excess wear and damage.
IMAGE CURTESY OF KRIOS PHOTOGRAPHY
Your maintenance schedule for your “gasser”

will be dictated largely by frequency of use and
the environment you use it in. Dry, dusty or sandy
climates will require you to invest more care than
an indoor CQB site, which is relatively “sanitary” as
environments go. With my GBBs, I clean those after
every event as we primarily play outdoors and some
of the fields can be pretty dusty. Pre-event, I do a
quick inspection and ensure that necessary parts are
lubricated and the seals on all magazines are holding
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ACCESSORIES
LCT HK MODULAR SYSTEM
BUILD
YOUR
OWN
WEHR!
ACCESSORIES
TOWARDS THE TAIL-END OF 2023 OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT LCT AIRSOFT OFFERED TO FILL THE GAPS IN
STEWBACCA’S HK-THEMED AEG ACCESSORIES COLLECTION TO LET HIM TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE
MODULARITY OF THEIR PLATFORM… OF COURSE HE WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET SOME MORE
‘GROWN MAN LEGO’ IN THE MAIL FROM BELLA TO FINISH OFF THE COLLECTION AND ALLOW HIMSELF
TO FALL INTO THE ‘PRODUCT MATRIX’ OF COMPONENTS THAT CAN BE RAPIDLY SWITCHED OUT
BETWEEN BASE RECEIVERS!
L
ife is clearly horrible for me, fellow shooters; our final handful of shoots with team Taiji in December
great industry friends just keep throwing high- 2023 I took to fielding the LK53, LK33 and LC3K to
quality replica firearms and accessories at me to take a further look at the more handy HK variants,
see what I make of them and I’m *forced, kicking with some of my teammates also trying them for
and screaming* to put time behind things and share a few BBs within all of that; a couple of them are
my thoughts and experiences for the benefit of the interested in testing them out longer term and LCT
community and for the “GunScience” in general. have already said they’re more than happy for them to
LCT Airsoft are no strangers to my, and our, efforts do so to help share the load from me… they might as
and have been exceptionally generous over the last well ‘suffer’ too!
year or two in sending me their whole HK-themed
range of AEGs (as well as the SVDS featured as cover GETTING SOME GAMETIME
model of issue 155) along with a plethora of different The LK001 - slimline LK33/LC3K front handguard,
interchangeable components that make up the wider LK003 - picatinny LK33/LC3K triple railed tactical
ecosystem that allows the customisation of your LCT handguard and LK006 longer version 130BB LK33/
platform of choice to best replicate a particular era LK53 midcap magazine arrived with me on top of
or unit of its usage should you want to achieve or basically the whole range of other LC/LK series stocks,
replicate a specific ‘look’ or deployment of them. magazines and handguards previously supplied and
If you cast your minds back even further I already reviewed, and I began musing on what configurations
took a look at their LK53 EBB AEG as a standalone to try out.
unit in Issue 140, as well as the LC3 series full length The first game I switched out the LK33A2 fixed
AEG and its different buttstock and front handguard stock variant to use the LK001 slimline handguard
options in Issue 150 and of course their most recent along with the long midcap and immediately we
addition in the guise of the LC3K ‘SAS’ variant in Issue were all drawing parallels to the STG44; the general
152. I’ve also had their LK33 which I acquired back aesthetic and heritage of the stamped steel assault
at the end of 2022 via a deal with another reviewer rifle progenitor really shone through with this
along with some other samples, and had since sold it configuration and a few of my teammates really took
on to my teammate Kevin who then returned it to me a shine to it, especially when using a raised red dot
when he left Taiwan for Canada… with me having not reflex sight. You can get away with obstructing the
even had chance to make use of it in the intervening iron sights with an over the barrel C-Clamp grip which
time! coupled with the very slender early style handguard
So, I was now presented with the long and short made for a superbly-handling rifle profile along with a
7.62mm and 5.56mm styled HK platforms, and Bella very useful magazine capacity boost over the shorter
had been good enough to send me the remaining midcaps I’d acquired three units of previously.
handguard and magazine options I was previously Kevin had also fitted a custom MOSFET and third-
missing; it was evidently time to get busy! Over the party barrel and HOP along with the reflex sight
“LCT AIRSOFT ARE NO STRANGERS TO MY, AND OUR, EFFORTS AND HAVE BEEN
EXCEPTIONALLY GENEROUS OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO IN SENDING ME THEIR WHOLE
HK-THEMED RANGE OF AEGS ALONG WITH A PLETHORA OF DIFFERENT INTERCHANGEABLE
COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP THE WIDER ECOSYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE CUSTOMISATION
OF YOUR LCT PLATFORM”
ACCESSORIES
between buying it from me and selling it back, so large roots of a huge tree I was using for cover, and
the whole setup was an absolute laser of a gun on managed to sit there quite comfortably for a good
the Xindian field, allowing me to achieve multiple while in cover and picked off a couple of the OpFor as
eliminations over the first few rounds before Big they tried to slowly advance on our lines…
Mike insisted on wrestling it from me for a round as I was having a whale of a time not having to hold
he’s been eyeing one up to supplement his own LCT up the whole damned weight on my back or elbows
LC3A3 which he was pictured with alongside me in for once, and throughout the day both platforms were
the article covering that platform… I’m sure we would highly effective at cutting through the light brush and
all like to hear his thoughts on the system over the planting BBs on hidden opponents.
longer term, and I can free up some gun wall space by On the next outing to our flatter but more dense
loaning it to him! terrain Longtan jungle site I decided to put the LK003
At that point I swapped out to the LK53A3 tactical handguard onto the LK33A2 along with a
which I’d fitted the LK013 short picatinny triple stubby vertical foregrip at arms-length out on the
rail handguard to, as well as the PK406 horizontal front underside which helped support the whole
ergonomic grip and battery box, which I then used system and pull it back into my shoulder during
the long LK006 midcap magazine with; Mike prefers moving through the foliage and taking shots through
Hi Caps so I slung him my LK005 300BB short 5.56 it; again the snappy response and decent barrel length
magazine for use with the LK33A2. In a largely enabling me to land rapid double taps on opponents
static defensive action I made great use of the long a few times. My support arm did seem to fatigue a
magazine to monopod off when nestled in the bit as a result of the outstretched pose, so I decided
“OVER THE FINAL HANDFUL OF SHOOTS WITH TEAM TAIJI IN DECEMBER 2023 I TOOK TO
FIELDING THE LK53, LK33 AND LC3K TO TAKE A FURTHER LOOK AT THE MORE HANDY HK
VARIANTS, WITH SOME OF MY TEAMMATES ALSO TRYING THEM FOR A FEW BBS WITHIN ALL
OF THAT”

ACCESSORIES
to unbolt and reattach the foregrip further back to style collapsible stock variants for storage or saving
around the rear third portion of the rail, allowing for gun rack space, when I thought about it further, I also
control but with less strain. I also found my thumb realised I could easily interchange the identical fire
naturally tended to sit into the space between rails on control groups over too, allowing me to easily switch
the upper left diagonal portion when using a C-Clamp between front and rear wired as well as AEG/EBB
style grip with the lower fingers pressed back against systems… which I later did.
the upper end of the vertical foregrip, all of which
allowed a lot more comfortable manipulation and STOCK OPTIONS
shouldering of the whole system as well as allowing There’s also nothing stopping you from unpinning the
the support hand to take more of the load and rest solid stock and carrying it separated from the main
my dominant arm when lying in ambush during a receiver, which I also did to carry it in my backpack
prolonged round where we eliminated all but one when taking the LK53 to SPPT’s training facility for
opponent and had to slowly fire and manoeuvre to running it in an IPSC training environment using
flush him out. the VTAC barricade I made for the team as well as
In the later rounds of that game day I also decided our usual steel targets, In a more training-oriented
to try switching the stocks between the LK33 and environment, I was managing to easily land single
LK53; of course the rear-wired fire control group shot hits on small poppers and double taps on the
of the LK33 meant I couldn’t use it with the LK009 c-zone sized targets thanks to the solid stock cheek
telescopic stock, but there was nothing stopping me weld, even when firing through awkward positions or
trying the LK008 fixed stock on the LK53, turning it ports on the VTAC.
from an A3 to an A2 variant, again with the LK013 This approach also helps mitigate the biggest
tactical rail handguard along with the PK406 to carry bugbear I have with AEGs in general, and the modular
the battery. I found the fixed stock is a lot more systems in particular; where to place the battery and
preferable for decent and comfortable cheek weld wiring. Now I have both front and rear wired fire
that is more repeatable, and despite liking the A3 control/gearbox and pistol grip groups I realise I can
“THE FIRST GAME I SWITCHED OUT THE LK33A2 FIXED STOCK VARIANT TO USE THE
LK001 SLIMLINE HANDGUARD ALONG WITH THE LONG MIDCAP AND IMMEDIATELY WE WERE
ALL DRAWING PARALLELS TO THE STG44; THE GENERAL AESTHETIC AND HERITAGE OF
THE STAMPED STEEL ASSAULT RIFLE PROGENITOR REALLY SHONE THROUGH WITH THIS
CONFIGURATION”
ACCESSORIES

ACCESSORIES
easily switch them out to favour telescopic or fixed the ecosystem of components that supports it; of
stock variants, in theory switching them out along course as before with the LC3 there are also an array
with the stock, although you still have to remove of other spares and different coloured components
the retaining pin as it goes through the trunnion on available on their website www.lctairsoft.com or
the rear of the receiver. But, nonetheless this added through your local stockists, allowing you to truly
dimension makes it much easier to carry the decent personalise your chosen LCT HK themed AEG (or
sized battery in the fixed stock, or route the front indeed wider family of them if you acquire more
wiring loom through the handguard and use the than one) and build a complete system allowing you
ergonomic battery box grip or an external bag as I to rapidly and conveniently swap out subsystems.
did with the LC3 before when running the tactical Indeed you could, as I have, acquire AEG or EBB
rail setup. gearboxes, or even have them set up for different
On the final shoot of the year I decided to field the power limits and swap the whole unit over readily
LC3K along with the LK33, both with the fixed stock by dropping out the body pins without ever
variants attached, and with the wide handguard and having to interfere with the quick change spring
bipod fitted to the LK33 and the slimline handguard system; it really opens up possibilities even I hadn’t
on the LC3K to try it out as it has the same front end contemplated much until the whole system was laid
configuration as the HK33 and the same rear end as out in front of me and I got to work.
the G3. The LC3K has always seemed the heaviest Many thanks as always to Bella and the wider LCT
out of the whole family for some reason, with Airsoft Team for entrusting me with all their products
the hollow plastic fixed stock instead of the metal and the review process, and entertaining my whims
telescopic variant it was at least a little more wieldy in such an accommodating fashion; we have lots
as well as providing a better cheek weld, and again more planned for 2024!
the slimline handguard allowed me to get a much Maybe it’s time you also invest in such flexible
more comfortable grip around it, although I had to opportunities, fellow shooters…
use a battery bag as both of my G3 gearbox/ fire Our thanks as always do indeed go to our friends
control units are front wired. at LCT Airsoft and you can check out the entire “HK
So, with all that mischief dealt with I’ve managed Infrastructure” as well as all the other great airsoft
to develop an even greater appreciation for LCT models and accessories they offer by visiting www.
Airsoft’s modular HK-themed AEG/EBB platforms and lctairsoft.com AA
“THE REAR-WIRED FIRE CONTROL GROUP OF THE LK33 MEANT I COULDN’T USE IT WITH THE
LK009 TELESCOPIC STOCK, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING STOPPING ME TRYING THE LK008
FIXED STOCK ON THE LK53, TURNING IT FROM AN A3 TO AN A2 VARIANT”
ACCESSORIES
“SO, WITH ALL THAT MISCHIEF DEALT WITH I’VE MANAGED TO DEVELOP AN EVEN GREATER
APPRECIATION FOR LCT AIRSOFT’S MODULAR HK-THEMED AEG/EBB PLATFORMS AND THE
ECOSYSTEM OF COMPONENTS THAT SUPPORTS IT; OF COURSE AS BEFORE WITH THE LC3
THERE ARE ALSO AN ARRAY OF OTHER SPARES AND DIFFERENT COLOURED COMPONENTS
AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE”

things to see and do
5 days airsoft GAME ZONE WITH
4 nights camping MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES
Traders & Exhibitors AMUSEMENTS/CARNIVAL GAMES
street food & BAR SHOOT OUR ARMOURY
pyrotechnic DISPLAYs CAVE ASSAULT
Entertainment faST ROPE/ABSEIL
Day and night games Plus much more…
All of this plus our £100,000 MilSim Style Tournament

Tickets from just £75
OFFICIAL MEDIA
PARTNER
www.operation-scorpio.net
© OPERATION SCORPIO 2024 IS OWNED AND MANAGED BY PROJECT ZODIAC LTD REGISTERED IN ENGLAND &
WALES REG NO. 14777537 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2023
AA LEGION
JAPAN
BAKURESTU-
SAI 2023
OUR GREAT FRIEND IN JAPAN, TAMA, VISITED TWO OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED AIRSOFT RELATED SHOWS IN
TOKYO IN ONE WEEKEND, AND HE HAD SOME MORE STORIES TO SHARE AND INTERESTING NEW PRODUCTS
TO SHARE HIS THOUGHTS ON! IN THE LAST ISSUE OF AA HE COVERED THE TOKYO MARUI FEST 2023, NOW
HE REPORTS IN ON THE ‘BAKURETSU-SAI’, OR “EXPLOSION FESTIVAL” FROM THE SAME WEEKEND IN A
DIFFERENT PART OF TOKYO!
H
ey, it’s your man Tama again delivering the Africa, fan art illustrators making their favourite
news from Japan! In my last report I talked anime girls into tactical waifus, and also a booth that
about the Tokyo Marui Festival held on 11th sells weird stuff from communist countries… one of
and 12th of November, now I’ll tell you about the the things that they sold were Xi Jinping’s favourite
other big airsoft festival in Tokyo; the Bakuretsu-Sai, cigarettes! I was tempted to buy them, but when I
held on the very same day, the 12th of November touched them I could only imagine kissing Winnie the
which was a VERY busy day for airsofters, me being Pooh, so I decided against them.
no exception! The event is held in a convention centre inside a
So what is Bakuretsu-Sai? To put it simply, it’s an mall called the Sunshine City mall, in Ikebukuro, a
expo of everything airsoft related in Japan besides district in Tokyo; the mall is located a bit far from the
Tokyo Marui; because they of course already have nearest big train station, which is Ikebukuro Station,
their own festival, it’s a festival you don’t want to miss from which it’s a 14 minute walk. There is a closer
on your visit to Japan either, because there’s going station - Higashi-Ikebukuro Station, but the only train
to be everything you want from airsoft in Japan, you that stops there is the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, so
can get anything you want there, from small Japanese you have two options, the healthy one or the normal
airsoft AEG makers, local distributors of Taiwanese- person one, pick your poison. But either way it’s still
made AEGs, US-made military-spec airsoft kits, located in the Tokyo Metropolitan area with easy
3D-printed gun prototypes, anime patch makers, and access, there’s also a lot of reasonably priced hotels
much more! around, which is another bonus point. The entrance
There’s not only airsoft stuff, however; there are fee is 1000 yen ($6.68 USD or 6.16 EURO) and it’s
military surplus stores selling international army BDUs, recommended to come in the morning to get eyes or
from Ukrainian BDUs to boonie hats from South hands on all of the limited stuff before it gets snapped
“SO WHAT IS BAKURETSU-SAI? TO PUT IT SIMPLY, IT’S AN EXPO OF EVERYTHING AIRSOFT

RELATED IN JAPAN BESIDES TOKYO MARUI… YOU CAN GET ANYTHING YOU WANT THERE,
FROM SMALL JAPANESE AIRSOFT AEG MAKERS, LOCAL DISTRIBUTORS OF TAIWANESE-MADE
AEGS, US-MADE MILITARY-SPEC AIRSOFT KITS, 3D-PRINTED GUN PROTOTYPES, ANIME PATCH
MAKERS, AND MUCH MORE!”

AA LEGION
JAPAN
the camouflage is formed like a

European Adder’s skin and reflects
its capability to be hidden within
its surrounding environment, only
being seen when it chooses to be.
Other than that, the ghillie with
the Kreuzotter looks very radicool,
especially the fact that the suit
is modular and can be modified
with bushes or other attributes to
your liking. While the Kreuzotter
is designed predominantly for the
European wilderness (I think during
the autumn where there are going
to be more brown colours and
leaflitter) even if you’re a Japanese
ghillie airsofter, this might be a suit
to be put onto your wish list, not
only as its made by Novritsch, but
up, but there’s gonna be people lining up from the also that it’s very functional and cool.
early, early morning! Alternatively if you aren’t set on
sourcing anything in particular and just want to enjoy
the atmosphere it’s better to come after lunch, when NEXT GEN OPTICS
the crowds have hopefully died down a bit; that’s it Another rare encounter was a company that is very
for the less exciting introduction part of the festival, well known in the real firearms community and loved
let’s see the highlights of Bakuretsu-Sai this year! for its cheap prices but superb performance; Holosun,
an American/Chinese optic company synonymous with
red dot sights. You could say what’s rare for a red dot
OUR FRIENDLY AUSTRIAN! sight company opening a booth in an airsoft event?
For the first time landing in Japan was our friendly It’s rare because one, it’s not a Japanese company,
neighbourhood Austrian, Mr. Novritsch! Finally usually in Bakuretsu-sai you can find Novel Arms
he came to the mecca of all things airsoft and its and Sightron’s booth, because both are Japanese
historical homeland that is Japan. Novristch opened companies, but Holosun is an American company,
up a booth in Bakuretsu-Sai to
showcase his products, it’s not the
first time that Novristch’s products
have made their way to Japan in the
form of his sniper rifle, the SSG10,
the very silent and sharp shooting
SSX23, and of course his lineup of
high performance gas blowback
pistols. They have been around in
the Japanese market for some time,
but to think that Novritsch himself
would be here showcasing his own
products, made it super special.
The highlight of his booth was his
newly developed and very hard to
pronounce ghillie suit camo system;
the ‘Kreuzotter’, if my pronunciation
is correct. Which is the German for
Adder (the snake), which is much
cooler than the English name in
my opinion! As per the name,
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and secondly, it’s a standalone booth; usually for far cheaper to get the DRS-NV. For milsimmers who
other optics companies like Sig Sauer, if they wanted play into the night or people who want to enjoy night
to open a booth, they had to rely on sharing their games, this might be a good choice for you. In Japan
local distributor’s space, which for Sig Sauer is Laylax’s they’ll be selling the thermal version which is the DRS-
booth, however Holosun had a standalone booth TH for 303,237 Yen (2,030.54 USD or 1,867.03 EURO)
showing their wares. a rather high price, but in Japan for a good monocular
Holosun came with their state of the art, Holosun NV, such as the PVS-14, it would cost much more than
DRS series night vision or thermal vision capable red the DRS-TH, so it might be better to get the DRS-TH -
dot sight! In the booth they showcased the DRS-NV, I’d certainly do so if I had the pockets deep enough!
which is the Night Vision version of the DRS family,
an optic beyond human understanding! I was blown KOREAN TYPE 89
away with the DRS-NV. They managed to cram the In the gun department, one of the highlights of
Night Vision or Thermal sight components into a the day was the Korean variation of the Japan Self-
compact closed reflex optic, the size itself feels just Defense Forces main service weapon, the Type 89
like any typical box-shaped red dot sight such as the rifle, and it’s based on the DAS system. Yes, this year
EOtech or an Elcan, it’s not that big, the scope for the GBLS is releasing their Type 89 DAS; using the same
Night Vision probably felt a bit high, but compared to platform as their K1 and K2 series, which is an AR-18
other competitors like the Infiray or Armasight, it feels based rifle. They did plan to release it last year, but
much more compact. because the development got postponed, they instead
Also the fact that you don’t need to have anything decided they’d release it by the end of this year… and
but a 20mm rail on your gun is big plus in my opinion, exhibited the completed prototype at Bakuretsu-sai!
unlike normal monocular or dual tube night vision, My first impression of the gun is that it felt very
where you need a good helmet, a mount for it, NV solid and pretty light knowing that the gun is mostly
compatible red dot sight, and sometimes you need made out of steel. It felt much better than the Tokyo
an additional battery for it, if you think about it, it’s
“IT’S RECOMMENDED TO COME IN THE MORNING TO GET EYES OR HANDS ON ALL OF THE
LIMITED STUFF BEFORE IT GETS SNAPPED UP, BUT THERE’S GONNA BE PEOPLE LINING
UP FROM THE EARLY, EARLY MORNING! ALTERNATIVELY IF YOU AREN’T SET ON SOURCING
ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR AND JUST WANT TO ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE IT’S BETTER TO
COME AFTER LUNCH”

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Marui GBBR replica, the trigger and

the blowback also felt amazing, you
can feel the trigger has a proper
wall and pull weight to it, while the
blowback has a good impulse as
well, like shooting a steel modified
CO2 rifle. It felt more like you
weren’t holding an airsoft replica,
but a real gun. For DAS fans who
want not another M4 and more
variety or people who want realism
but the performance of an AEG,
this is the gun for you; GBLS plan
to sell it into Japan for 348,000 Yen
(2,325.56 USD or 2,140.03 EURO),
so for the people eyeing up this
up with a Japanese company called Kadokawa, and
gun, it should easily make it onto your wish list.
opened a booth in Bakuretsu-Sai, and of course an
Other than Novritsch, DAS, and Holosun, other
airsoft replica maker that I’m going to mention.
international airsoft/firearm companies were also
making their presence felt in Bakuretsu-sai; with
the likes of La Capa a very well-known parts maker THE RISE OF CO2 AND GBB
in the SpeedQB community, an AAP01 and TM As I’ve seen mentioned in Airsoft Action before, this
Glock conversion kit maker called YMS Airsoft from year of Bakuretsu-sai was the year of Gas Blowbacks,
Taiwan, and the weird one of the bunch… Call of and we could see a lot of companies showcasing their
Duty Modern Warfare 3… yeah, Activision partnered new or prototype blowback replicas; Carbon8, which
is the distributor for KJ Works’s CO2 pistols, came out
with the Steyr L9A2 and a new variant of their family
of 1911 pistols, the Hellcat 4.3.
The Hellcat is basically an all blacked-out 1911,
with a super-ribbed-grip, decked-out furniture, and
it looks cool, other than that it’s another CO2 1911.
But the L9A2 is very different, like the Steyr AUG its
screams uniqueness; it looks like a modern Luger P08,
but it feels like holding a Walther PPQ and a Glock
at the same time, and has a trigger like an AEG AUG
(somewhat mushy and pretty heavy), not to my liking
in all honesty.
Baton were also showcasing their love for John
Wick with their prototype CO2 BT-Sand Viper, a
desert coloured TTI Pit Viper based replica, but with a
modified slide so now you can install a Trijicon RMR
without needing a converter plate, which is very
helpful for those who want to install a real steel RMR;
other than the cool factor though, it’s pretty much the
Baton Pit-Viper but with a new paint job.
Laylax were also showcasing not one but two GBBs;
“FOR THE FIRST TIME LANDING IN JAPAN WAS OUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD AUSTRIAN,
MR. NOVRITSCH! FINALLY HE CAME TO THE MECCA OF ALL THINGS AIRSOFT AND ITS
HISTORICAL HOMELAND THAT IS JAPAN. NOVRISTCH OPENED UP A BOOTH IN BAKURETSU-
SAI TO SHOWCASE HIS PRODUCTS…”
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for those used to fielding the Kriss

Vector AEG, you won’t feel much, if
any difference.
THE SPEEDY AEG BOIS

Even though the GBB market had
a big presence in Bakuretsu-sai,
the AEG department wasn’t giving
up ground by any means! G&G
were showcasing their new high
performance AEGs, their new AR
lineups, the TGM R5 ETU and the
FAR9. The TGM R5 ETU is basically
a high-end AR replica with new
furniture; they also have the G&G
ETU, which makes it very responsive
and rapid-cycling out of the box.
the hyped new GBBRs from Krytac, the GBB Kriss The FAR9 is very compact, not
Vector and SilencerCo Maxim9 integrally silenced only does it have a foldable stock with a battery
pistol. I was surprised with both because I can see compartment in it, but the handguard is also foldable,
people fielding these two GBB replicas. The Maxim 9 they managed to make a retractable chamber system
is surprisingly light, and easy to handle, and have a that can separate from the mech box and the upper
very good cycle, the fact you can put a tracer inside when the handguard is being collapsed, and it retracts
the gun and an RMR red dot sight on out of the box back automatically when you put it back together.
are big plus points (see Stewbacca’s full review of the That is one very advanced AEG, and with the G&G
deployment pack Krytac were good enough to send ETU system, it’s super responsive and runs very fast
him back in Issue 151). Even though it
has a very big boxy front end, for people
who use pistols as a primary weapon, it’s
a replica you might want to buy!
As for the GBB Kriss Vector, it felt a
lot like its AEG brother, weighing almost
the same, with the same furniture and
controls, it all felt surprisingly familiar;
heck, even the trigger felt almost the
same as its AEG counterpart, a slightly
heavy but firm pull, the only difference
being the hammer drop wall, it’s there,
not too heavy but you can feel its
presence. The blowback also felt good,
it’s a modest blowback, felt very crisp,
and cycled pretty well; it’s not at the
level of a CO2 platform, but it’s good
enough to bring a smile to your face.
Although the magazine made the gun
a bit heavier, due to the gas reservoir,
“ANOTHER RARE ENCOUNTER WAS A COMPANY THAT IS VERY WELL KNOWN IN THE REAL
FIREARMS COMMUNITY AND LOVED FOR ITS CHEAP PRICES BUT SUPERB PERFORMANCE;
HOLOSUN, AN AMERICAN/CHINESE OPTIC COMPANY SYNONYMOUS WITH RED DOT SIGHTS”

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straight out of the box. It’s perfect for people who day… if you’re a fan of him, I guess go ahead and get
don’t like bringing a huge rifle case to a game, and involved.
can travel light and more discreetly (see Bill’s in-depth Baton also came out with their prototype of the
review of its larger 556 sibling in Issue 153 for further Noveske GEN4 Devgru Ryusoku-AEG; the Baton
details). Ryusoku AEG family is basically a high performance
G&G also did a collaboration with a Japanese modification of Noveske GEN4 AEG replica by Baton;
airsoft Youtuber and an owner of a well-known airsoft they installed a 6.10 Ryusoku loose inner barrel,
field called Osumi-san; he is 50 or so year old airsofter Ryusoku hop-up seal, a sector gear that makes the
whose really famous in Japan, and he collaborated gun capable of running 11.1v battery out of the
with G&G to make a special gun in his honour, called box, and a customisable ETU system that allows you
the Love Machine No9, an AEG rifle based of the ARP- to change the firing modes, making the Ryusoku
9 3.0 with a modified furniture! Basically they painted Noveske a high performing gun out of the box!
some parts with the colour dark pink, and called it a They also gave the same treatment to the F1
Firearms AEG replica from EMG; they’re
going to release the Ryusoku Noveske by
the end of this year, for around 54,800
Yen (366.47 USD or 335.61 EURO), so for
anyone who wants a high-performance
Noveske GEN4 AEG replica in Japan, this
might be your best choice.
Next up were Laylax; as Japan’s official
Sig Sauer distributor, they showcased the
Sportline Sig Sauer MPX-K AEG replica;
basically an economical version of the
MPX-K AEG replica by Sig Sauer, but
unlike the standard version, the Sportline
is made out of cheaper plastic, this
actually being a slightly weird advantage
over the standard version, as a result of
its lightness, just 1.53kg to be exact. So
for anyone whose tight with their wallet,
but wanted the MPX-K, the Sportline is
“BATON WERE ALSO SHOWCASING THEIR LOVE FOR JOHN WICK WITH THEIR PROTOTYPE CO2
BT-SAND VIPER, A DESERT COLOURED TTI PIT VIPER BASED REPLICA, BUT WITH A MODIFIED
SLIDE SO NOW YOU CAN INSTALL A TRIJICON RMR WITHOUT NEEDING A CONVERTER PLATE”
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we don’t know when it’s going

to be released as yet here in
Japan, nor its retail price in
Japan, most likely it’s going to
be retailed in the 40-60,000 yen
range, (267.50~401.24 USD or
245.04~367.46 EURO) but do
keep an eye out for more news
about it other than Boycie’s report
last issue.
And finally, an airsoft shop
by the name of Airsoft97 was
showcasing one of the guns they
also helped to develop; the C.A.T
AEG replica series (or what I like
to call the CAT, without the dots).
The CAT is basically another high-
a good choice for you; it’s now being sold in Japan end AR-15 based AEG replica,
for 38,500 Yen (257.46 USD or 235.85 EURO), with but with skeletonised furniture and body, a 20mm
the standard version being sold for 71,500, it’s thus rail on the stock like the Sig MCX rifle, a mech box
33,000 yen cheaper, a steal and I would grab one that can split into two during takedown, and the
quickly if I were you. only AEG replica in the market with a mechanical
ASG were also present with their much loved and pre-cocking system; it doesn’t have an ETU or any
fast-selling CZ Scorpion EVO 3; every time I’ve shot of that digital stuff inside the gun, it uses a strictly
this gun, it never fails to surprise me, the build quality, mechanical pre-cocking system, which is somewhat
performance, lightness, ease of use, compactness and weird and surprising. This gun is a collaboration
overall amazing all around features. between Arcturus and Airsoft97 and represents a
But it was not just the Scorpion on show as they versatile line up. What’s the difference? Now you can
were also showcasing their
brand new Hybrid family of
AEG, the H-15. The H-15 is
the ASG answer to the ever
growing competition within
the high-performance AEG
market, unfortunately it’s
going to be based off an AR-
15, but the H-15 is equipped
with all the high end bells
and whistles; ASG’s custom
handguards, HERA ARMS
CCS buttstock, PTS pistol
grip, high end trigger, ETU,
rotary hop-up, and a quick-
change spring, this might
be an AEG replica worth
eyeing up, unfortunately
“THE CAT IS BASICALLY ANOTHER HIGH-END AR-15 BASED AEG REPLICA, BUT WITH
SKELETONISED FURNITURE AND BODY, A 20MM RAIL ON THE STOCK LIKE THE SIG MCX
RIFLE, A MECH BOX THAT CAN SPLIT INTO TWO DURING TAKEDOWN, AND THE ONLY AEG
REPLICA IN THE MARKET WITH A MECHANICAL PRE-COCKING SYSTEM”

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change the magwell, the handguard attachment and airsoft, so you can play in places that aren’t suitable
the stock with ease! You want to use AK mags? Yes for BBS to be flying around in!
you can! You want to have M-LOK and 20mm rails Inspired by the movie Elysium and futuristic FPS
at the same time? Of course why not! You want an games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops and Battlefield
MCX style stock? Oh hell yeah! The word versatility is 2024, a small company in Japan with the name
an understatement with regard to this gun; the limit of ZER0 (with a red 0), have made a functional BB
is just that of your imagination. They also showcased counter for airsoft replicas. Called the VullCoS it’s
their prototype MP5 magazine magwell for the CAT a digital display for your airsoft replica that gives
versatile, so for people who like customising their you your round count and your kill to death ratio!
guns on a daily basis, this CAT might be for you. The VullCoS is very easy to install, only requiring a
14mm counter-clockwise screw thread and 20mm
THE FUTURE OF AIRSOFT? rail; the VullCoS comes with three parts, the display
In the same booth of the CAT AEG replica, they screen, the sensor, and a cable, the display screen
showcased what might be the future of airsoft; meet and the sensor is made out of 3D printed plastic.
the B2I, basically turning airsoft into a laser fight, You attach the sensor to your 14mm screw thread
they turn your airsoft replicas into laser guns through on your muzzle, attach your display to your 20mm
merely attaching a special suppressor and then rails, connect it with the cable, set up your display,
attaching a related sensor to your body, and its game and then you’re done. It’s a fast and simple process.
on! You can set it to real count or set it up with the same
quantity of BBs as your hi-cap magazines,
you can also change the display to your
liking. They also showcased their AK
special prototype called the ES2D, which
mimics the AK47 from the movie Elysium
minus the HE rounds, so if you want your
gun to be futuristic looking and functional,
this is the setup for you.
That wraps it up for the highlight of
the 14th Bakuretsu-sai, which had a lot of
new stuff and some stuff that you might
already have heard of, but finally you
could see it with your own eyes. But of
course the highlight was the International
airsoft community that showed their
presence in Bakuretsu-sai, with Novritsch,
So how you play this game is you attach the La Capa, Holosun, GBLS, and many more showing
infrared laser-emitting suppressor to your replica, you what airsoft is like outside of Japan, and Bakuretsu-
attach an infrared sensor onto your helmet with a sai equally introducing to them what airsoft in within
Gopro attachment, attach secondary sensors on your Japan;-it was a very good opportunity to connect with
kit, and finally connect to the B2I app on your phone the wider world of airsoft at Bakuretsu-sai!
via bluetooth. With the B2I app, you can join games, That’s all from me; it’s been a very busy and
access your kill ratio, and your achievements. There’s very fun one day experience, from Tokyo Marui to
also a server app for organisers, with which they can Bakuretsu-sai… it was a hell of a day!
set up games, balance teams, manage the game, This is Tama in Tokyo, Japan, signing out! PEACE!
and more. It’s basically laser FPS with airsoft replicas Additional thanks to Victor Chalim (IG hazelx24) for
and FPS game nuances, it is a much safer game than photographic support. AA
“IN THE SAME BOOTH OF THE CAT AEG REPLICA, THEY SHOWCASED WHAT MIGHT BE THE
FUTURE OF AIRSOFT; MEET THE B2I, BASICALLY TURNING AIRSOFT INTO A LASER FIGHT,
THEY TURN YOUR AIRSOFT REPLICAS INTO LASER GUNS THROUGH MERELY ATTACHING A
SPECIAL SUPPRESSOR AND THEN ATTACHING A RELATED SENSOR TO YOUR BODY, AND ITS
GAME ON!”
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DYSTOPIA!

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AS WE CONTINUE TO ROUND-OUT 2023 MIGUEL JOINS US AGAIN TO REPORT ON ANOTHER BIG GAME IN
PORTUGAL ORGANISED BY THE ANA (ASSOCIAÇÃO NACIONAL DE AIRSOFT) THAT BROUGHT TOGETHER
PLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO BATTLE IT OUT IN A WHOLE NEW GAME-SETTING, THAT OF
DYSTOPIA!
T
his year the national association that my team sneak peeks into what was coming, a Telegram
is a part of, ANA, the Associação Nacional de group for the players to ask questions, coordinate
Airsoft, added a new event to their calendar, rides if necessary, among other things, and of course
called Dystopia. A game with a story around a an online briefing about the event itself, rules,
character called Tech Merch, who the association has indications and preparations.
been teasing us for a while now, but I’ll get back to In my opinion, the national association tries its
him in a bit. Dystopia started as many other events best so the player arrives at the event knowing what
from ANA, with some great marketing work, some they will find, who they will be playing with, the
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rules and other important aspects that, of course, BBs and spare battery in my Viper Shoulder Bag
change from event to event. For some months now, (since we couldn’t come back to the cars), along with
we knew that it was going to take place in the some snacks and an extra pair of eye pro with clear
Complex 516 of the Armada Alentejana Team, a lenses, because the game was going to end around
field that has gained some fame for being a great 1800, with very little light available. Time to hit the
scenario setting for urban games. check-in to get our Joules checked and receive the
We departed Saturday early morning toward game’s goodies (patch, meal tickets and so on), and
Sines, the location of the field, with a small coffee still with some time in our hands we checked the
break on the way. When we arrived, the gates were Drone Crew spot, where the teams could get a small
still closed, so we mingled a bit and until we were clip done by using drones overhead, awesome detail.
able to enter and park. It was great to see many
faces from all over the country once again and share ZOMBIE DAWN
our latest airsoft adventures, game insights and, of A little after, the organization called the players, held
course, the game at hand, Dystopia. A bit after 0930 a small welcoming briefing, and it was time to get
the gates opened, so we queued to enter, got our into the field. The guys and I were part of the Yankee
tickets checked and parked, and then it was time to Faction, and I was commanding a small group inside
gear up! the faction, the Alpha group, along with the guys
This time, the guys and I were using our ATACS- from F.O.E. and Víboras, teams that we have known
AU uniforms, along with a helmet and face for years now. Our first stop was a workshop, where
protection, since we were up against mostly urban we got to meet, in person, for the first time the
and close quarters combat, along with my Specna main villain of the event, Tech Merch, a hacker from
Arms mk18 EDGE 2.0 and my Viper Tactical VX OD the future who got stuck in our timeline due to a
Plate Carrier with a Ready Rig. And of course, extra botched time leap after stealing
crypto coins from the world’s
largest crypto bank. But due to
his mistake, now the crypto coins
that he stole got dispersed and to
get them back he’s forcing several
groups to find them for him, using
a viral weapon as leverage. So we
were all infected, and seeing the
wandering zombies already around
the complex, we could guess
our future. With this, we headed
towards our HQ in order to get
our first missions.
As soon as the game started,
we headed towards our first goal,
find and retrieve crypto coins in
order to unlock the first main story
mission. We were up against two
other factions, X and Z, and that
meant that danger could come
from many angles. We started by
getting the crypto closest to our
HQ, but it didn’t take long before
“AS SOON AS THE GAME STARTED, WE HEADED TOWARDS OUR FIRST GOAL, FIND AND
RETRIEVE CRYPTO COINS IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE FIRST MAIN STORY MISSION. WE WERE
UP AGAINST TWO OTHER FACTIONS, X AND Z, AND THAT MEANT THAT DANGER COULD COME
FROM MANY ANGLES”

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that good old urban combat chaos kicked in, with team (who are known for their Escape Room
enemies popping up in a lot of places, also looking scenarios). The location for the mission was in the
for crypto, BBs flying around and everyone trying old mess hall of the complex, there we would find
to get into positions, pushing or moving towards one of the members of the Task Force with medical
objectives. With some good effort and coordination, knowledge, able to help us get rid of this infection.
we were able to get the required number of crypto We moved towards our goal as soon as we were
coins to unlock the first mission, so we returned to ready, the Alpha group would try to approach from
our HQ to learn more about it. the Western flank, while Bravo and Delta would
Our first goal was to meet with the Captain of move in from the South. This time we found much
the Task Force that followed the Tech Merch through more resistance, from both enemy factions, but little
the time jump, without his knowledge. Their mission by little we were able to gain ground, the other
was to stop and capture him, and to do this they factions were also trying to complete objectives, so
needed our help with some missions. He handed there was no point in standing in a location for long.
two missions to complete, the first was to find and When we were able to reach the medic, and she told
retrieve four disruption goblins, and plant them us that in the building there were three keys needed
outside the Tech Merch’s workshop, in order to to deactivate the Tech Merch’s viral bomb, but these
create a dome that blocked all signals. The second were guarded by a Juggernaut robot created to
was to plant explosives and destroy the generators to protect the device.
cut the power and scramble the satellite connections.
The Alpha group volunteered to complete the
first mission, with our other two groups (Bravo and
Delta) would advance through the main part of the
complex towards the generators. Since we knew that
we were the first faction to unlock the first mission,
we decided to rush toward the location of the
goblins (the administrative building), and it worked,
while the other two factions were still finding crypto
or going back to their HQ to get the mission we
arrived at our goal with no resistance at all. We
searched the building, found the goblins and quickly
moved and surrounded the Tech Merch’s workshop,
the goblins had to be placed in the four corners
of the building and activated. The mission was
successfully done with no issue, and now it was time
to return to our faction commander to learn about
our next steps. On our way back, we found another
crypto, since these would “spawn” from time to
time in their locations, and as soon as we arrived at
our HQ we learned that the other two groups also
got their hands on a couple more crypto, so with the
one we found we were able to unlock the second
mission quite fast!
VIRAL CURE We started searching the building, trying to avoid

Our next mission had the goal of finding a cure for the juggernaut or taking advantage while it was
the viral weapon that the Tech Merch released, this powered down. After finding the keys, we returned
weapon would turn us all to zombies in a matter to the medic and deactivated the device, but those
of hours, and there were already a few in the AO, infected would still need to take the antidote directly.
wandering around, chasing players to kill them, or Since the members of the Task Force were busy with
if they were calmer, they could be used as a mobile the juggernaut, we advanced toward the old tool
respawn, a great touch from the organization, and a shop, where we could find the keys and the box
great performance from the “Produções Imersivas” containing the antidotes.
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We found heavy resistance inside the main buildings, meanwhile Bravo and Delta searched
complex building, which had access to the tool shop, around the main building (the crypto appeared in
but since time wasn’t on our side we had to push the Ares Alpha app). Since the other two factions
fiercely, even if it meant taking heavy “casualties”. were still doing the previous mission, we had little
As we pushed, we were able to create a path for confrontation while searching for our objectives.
some members of the faction to rush to our goal, With the crypto in our pocket, we returned to the
find the key and the box with the antidotes! After HQ once again to get information about the mission.
bringing the box back to our HQ, we found that the This time we had to meet Tekkie, the third member
antidotes were energy gels for us all to take; it was a of the Task Force, who was going to help us cripple
good little detail. the Tech Merch’s systems.
We headed towards a small building annexed to
the main complex, there we found the Tekkie, and
in another great piece of role-play he gave us two
missions. My group was charged with hacking the
Tech Merch’s systems, by placing a disk in a device in
the old administrative offices, while Bravo and Delta
had 15 minutes to place an explosive in the cooling
systems, due to the miss activation of the C4 by
the Tekkie. Even with some confrontations with the
X-Ray faction, our group arrived at the designated
area and completed the mission. The Tech Merch
wasn’t going anywhere!
There was still a small part of the event to be
done, but there was no more confrontation. Each
faction would blow the door to the Tech Merch’s
work shop, where we would see another great
role-play moment, as the Tech Merch, in panic, tried
to get the systems to work, and, as a last, resort,
detonated a belt of explosives, while the players
evacuated the building. And with that the Dystopia
game part was done. Now it was time to remover
our gear, store our replicas and hit the BifANA’s
Bar, to eat some good soup and bifanas! And after
doing around 17km in an urban scenario, with many
missions and confrontations, the food tasted great!
So now, with our bellies full, we bid farewell and
headed home, another event done!
A PERFECT FINALE TO 2023!

In my opinion, Dystopia was probably the best event
that ANA organized this year; the story, the scenario,
the gameplay and role-play all came together to
After taking our “antidotes” it was time to get create a memorable event, filled with BBs flying
back to the field and find a few more crypto coins around and missions.
to unlock the last mission of the event. The Alpha And as always some words from the organization
group moved towards the deposit and painting behind Dystopia:
“WE FOUND HEAVY RESISTANCE INSIDE THE MAIN COMPLEX BUILDING, WHICH HAD ACCESS
TO THE TOOL SHOP, BUT SINCE TIME WASN’T ON OUR SIDE WE HAD TO PUSH FIERCELY, EVEN
IF IT MEANT TAKING HEAVY “CASUALTIES”. AS WE PUSHED, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE A
PATH FOR SOME MEMBERS OF THE FACTION TO RUSH TO OUR GOAL”

AA LEGION
PORTUGAL
“Across all year, he menaced... someone had

taken system control and hacked us! Since March,
we experienced strange failures, obviously made
by some system glitch (wink,wink) !.. For the past
months, we saw a strange entity in airsoft forums.
A character had hacked itself into social media and
engaged players to his challenge! Finally, TECH
MERCH revealed itself, a futuristic thief who did
the biggest heist of crypto-currency of his time. On
escape, something glitched, and he landed in 2023,
Sines, Portugal! Tech Merch’s Request was simple:
collect his cryptocoins so he would leave this time
and free ANA’s systems. But our plan was different.
Let’s capture that motherfuc*er!
The Stage was set for Dystopia!
And what a stage it was; in this ANA event, we
blended airsoft, theatre play immersion, escape room
challenges and lots of action, in one of Portugal’s
gems of Airsoft Fields, COMPLEX 516, from Armada
da Costa Alentejana [Airsoft Crew].
Professional actors did the roleplay and
storytelling, supported with NAJA FORCE [Airsoft
Crew] electronic props, players had a very futuristic
and modern play-set. We all like games with cartel
stories, or any military operation theme. But how
about blazing through the future? The missions and
submissions had several electronic and futuristic
props that engaged players in Dystopia’s story. It
culminated in the big finale at the final mission of
the game, after having resolved the other three
character missions. And escaping from some traps
from TECH MERCH . . (zombies, wink wink...)”
Check out the ANA social media and
Youtube channels (https://www.youtube.com/@
associacaonacionaldeairsoft) to know how all went
down that day! Dystopia was a multi team project
led by ANA but supported by:
• Armada da Costa Alentejana who presented a
beast of a field for Airsoft Action,;
• Drone Crew, who captured drone footage for
players;
• Produções Imersivas, who elevated the roleplay
experience;
• Ryot, shopping partner for this event;
• Da Costa, Photographer who captured his
perspective of the game;
• And all ANA Staff who brought their love and
energy to a fantastic match day.
Dystopia was more than an airsoft game, was a
truly immersive and digital airsoft experience, with
great action and friendship!
“Porque o futuro é agora, juntos!” AA
AA LEGION
TAIWAN
A TALE OF TWO
SHADOWS
AA LEGION
TAIWAN
AS 2023 DREW TO A CLOSE AND MANY OF YOU AROUND THE WORLD WERE SITTING DOWN TO SOME FORM
OF FESTIVE FEEDING AND FUNTIMES AMONG FRIENDS AND FAMILY, TAIWAN IS LARGELY IMMUNE TO SUCH
WESTERN CHRISTMASSY-NESS, ONE OF THE MANY PULL FACTORS FOR STEWBACCA IN FACT AS HE’S A
GRINCH LIKE THAT… AS USUAL THE END OF THE YEAR MEANT CRAMMING IN A LOT OF EVENTS, THE G&G
WORLD CUP AND MOA, AND WHILE HE DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO OBSERVE THE IDPA NATIONALS AGAIN THIS
YEAR, HE NONETHELESS TOOK PART AND SHOT THE KAOHSIUNG LEVEL 3 ALL-WEEKEND IPSC COMPETITION
WITH HIS SAME TEAM SPPT SQUADMATES FROM LAST YEAR!
“
Merry Xmas, ya filthy animals” as he pulled the a busier and more international affair than last year,
door off its hinges (more on that second day’s and thankfully felt a lot more relaxed, certainly for our
stage prop later), but suffice to say the Taiwan team, as a result of the better weather and the lack of
Practical Shooting Association (TPSA) were trying to juggling pistols and rifles, both on the travelling aspect,
instil a little festivity into their returning Kaohsiung and in terms of shooting stages! I had a lot more time
Level 3 international competition. to appreciate the surroundings and take photos and
Held a week later this year it landed right on videos of the various proceedings on this occasion, at
Christmas Eve day and the day before, so our least, as well as spending more time catching up with
team leader Mars, along with Rex, JiaCheng (TW_ distant friends from the south.
TacticalCat) and myself took a long weekend off work After settling in on Saturday night and venturing
to drive all the way to the Southern end of the country out into the town to explore local food options
from Taipei on the Friday afternoon, staying over at we prepared our gear and did some final dry-fire
the same B&B as last year just across the river from practice, and turned in fairly early for the night; it’s
the TPSA’s shooting ground in the shadow of a huge always a long and tiring experience doing any form
temple there. of competition, especially when you have to travel far
As I mentioned in my previous report on the Tainan from home turf to take part… memories of university-
Level 1 competition (featured in Issue No. 156), 2023 aged bleary-eyed Taekwondo Stu’s experiences come
was a bit devoid of competitions aside from the flooding back too…
PengHu islands shoot in July I missed due to work, and
the aforementioned Tainan Level 1, so, with that in CHANGE IS INEVITABLE
mind we were all quite keen to get a fix of shooting Up bright and early, after a quick bit of breakfast
on the clock. Being a Level 3 comp again meant 12 we once again took the short drive to the shooting
stages of mixed length and round counts split over ground and started to get ourselves ready. Signing in
the two days of the weekend; however this year there I came across my first problem; less than two weeks
were no TSMOC rifle variation of some of the stages, prior there was some change and confusion over the
in large part due to the expected increased number of rules for TPSA and/or IPSC which caused a great deal
competitors visiting from overseas now that lockdowns of online consternation, of course all of which was in
and travel restrictions are becoming a thankfully more Chinese so I had to rely on translations or second hand
distant memory (hopefully one we don’t have to information, but the long and short of it is that all of a
revisit!). sudden the KJ Shadow 2 I’ve used in most if not all my
With a bus load of Hong Kong’s finest practical competitions before was now not allowed to be used
shooters flying over to join their domestically-based in Production division!
compatriots who have been training alongside us all With the announcement not being particularly
here over the past few years since they moved over, as obvious, and in Chinese, and on very short notice after
well as some shooters and staff visiting from Macau, I’d signed up, paid and taken the time off work, as
Japan, South Korea, Singapore & the Philippines it was well as in the middle of moving place and not having
“WITH A BUS LOAD OF HONG KONG’S FINEST PRACTICAL SHOOTERS FLYING OVER TO JOIN
THEIR DOMESTICALLY-BASED COMPATRIOTS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINING ALONGSIDE US ALL
HERE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS SINCE THEY MOVED OVER, AS WELL AS SOME SHOOTERS
AND STAFF VISITING FROM MACAU, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, SINGAPORE & THE PHILIPPINES IT
WAS A BUSIER AND MORE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIR THAN LAST YEAR”
AA LEGION
TAIWAN
much free time to source spare parts (which have shots minimum to score, I managed 10 Alphas and
been sporadic in general over the last few years due 2 charlies in 9.35 seconds with 12 shots fired and a
to KJ Works’ other manufacturing priorities), I was (as it happens unnecessary) swift reload midway, no
somewhat up s%*t creek, as they say… luckily divine misses… I certainly seem to be improving, or perhaps
intervention and some of my good friends in the it’s the new gun doing the heavy lifting already? That
industry here aligned to provide a Christmas miracle to put me in the pack for production on the first effort.
warm even the cold grumpy heart of this shooter… a
shiny new KJ Works Shadow 2 Orange special model, STAGE 3 - Doughnut of Death
released early especially and gifted to me to mitigate Next up was our first long course; a square ring
the rule changes from affecting me. A surprise all fault line to start anywhere we chose in, with 8 bays
round, and an early Xmas present for me! arranged inside, at the sides and at the rear, with the
With the shiny new fixed barrel, improved design three adjoining rear ones having only small (and for
and fresh-from-the-factory pistol approved and my lorge self, low lying) windows to shoot through,
holstered in my Double Alpha X holster affixed to my 14 papers, 3 with no shoots, a lone popper in the
DAA Lynx Belt, it was off to the test range to tweak back left bay, and the stop plate at the far rear,
the HOP unit with the latest bag of .30g Clarence Lai accessible through any of the 3 small windows. Like
Project Design Bushido BBs the fine man himself had most, I started at the rear left corner and worked anti-
supplied me with when we met for breakfast while Bill clockwise, taking on the four poppers accessible left
was in town; thankfully it just required a single tweak and centre from there, then the two low ones as I ran
to get it shooting dead on, so I must be getting good past the front, reloaded, took on the two low ones at
at guessing adjustments after all this time beating on the far right, then worked my way forwards to finish
its more established sibling. off the rear three bays. Condition one start again, 30
With the nearly 70 shooters divided into 6 squads, shots minimum to score, 28 alphas and 2 charlies,
we rotated through the first stages of the first day’s although I had 4 additional make-up or missed shots
morning, with the odds first, 1, 3, and 5. For once and two reloads among all that in 25.72 seconds.
we actually started on stage 1; with squads 1 and 2 Almost clean, at least…
paired off throughout proceedings
we had 22 shooters in our
combined group of predominantly
local Taiwanese competitors with
me and a handful of locally-based
Hong-Kongers and some of their
visiting friends thrown in for flavour.
STAGE 1 - Hourglass
To warm things up we had an
amuse bouche of a short course
consisting of two V shaped
barricades nosed towards each
other and 4 low or medium papers’
the furthest right having a no shoot
obstruction on either side of both
barricades, and three poppers, two
on the front right and one on the
back left, with the stop plate dead
centre rear. Condition 1 start, 12
“DIVINE INTERVENTION AND SOME OF MY GOOD FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY HERE ALIGNED
TO PROVIDE A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE TO WARM EVEN THE COLD GRUMPY HEART OF THIS
SHOOTER… A SHINY NEW KJ WORKS SHADOW 2 ORANGE SPECIAL MODEL”

AA LEGION
TAIWAN
STAGE 5 - Windows of Opportunity way to the next medium course; a 7-shaped fault
The first medium course was a V-shaped fault line line setup with barricades on its inner angled faces,
box flanked by a wall of barricades with only a few with an opening to shoot through on the left face,
narrow slots between them and one large opening as well as an L shape dividing the right bays with an
at the right end, and an open left end to access the open rear bay. 9 paper targets, the front right one
rear of the bay. 7 paper targets - 3 having no-shoots, with a no-shoot, one popper at the rear right, and the
one popper at the rear right and the stop plate at the stop plate at the rear centre. Starting stood face-to
rear centre again accessible from any of the barricade the rearmost barricade, 20 shots minimum to score,
openings. 16 shots minimum to score, I shot it nice I managed 20 rounds with a reload, however I think
and clean in 15.89 with 19 rounds and a reload the low obstruction in the right bay must have taken
required… at least the height advantage allowed me one of my rounds as I ended up with an alpha miss on
to get the A zone of the centre right target between that one, overall 17 alphas, 2 charlies and the miss, in
13.13 seconds.
STAGE 4 - Side to Side

Another short course, this
comprised of a wide fault line box
to move around in with barricades
radiating from the sides and a low
wall at the front, 4 paper targets,
the rear right one having a no-
shoot, and a popper at the front
right, with the stop plate at the rear
behind the wall where you start
from, 10 shots minimum to score,
I did a few makeup shots and fired
12 without the need to reload,
and in the end had 8 alphas and 2
charlies in 11.03 seconds.
STAGE 6 - Off the Cuff

The final course of the first day
was a fun departure from the
the tops of the two barrels obstructing it from most norm, a short course with a very small bounding box
shooters! of fault lines, not that they mattered so much as your
With the first quarter of the shoot done it was hands were tied (quite literally!) with the shooter
lunch o’clock, and although we’d already seen and loading to condition 2, leaving their gun and all their
smelt the obligatory boar on a spit roast getting magazines in the bounding boxes on the table in front
barbecued and blowtorched, that was to be the post of them, before the ROs handcuffed both wrists to
shoot dinner later in the afternoon and evening. The lanyards attached to the table legs limiting each hands
usual Taiwanese lunchbox nonetheless provided good range of movement. This would force us to change
sustenance until we got to go.. ham… with the hog, hands and shoot one-handed with at least one, if
on with the evens; 2,4, and 6. not both hands at some point. 3 paper targets, the
furthest back with no-shoots, 2 poppers one on each
STAGE 2 - Lucky 7 side of the central divider, and the stop plate at the far
With refilled bellies and magazines, we found our rear accessible from either side. 9 shots minimum to
“TO WARM THINGS UP WE HAD AN AMUSE BOUCHE OF A SHORT COURSE CONSISTING

OF TWO V SHAPED BARRICADES NOSED TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND 4 LOW OR MEDIUM
PAPERS’ THE FURTHEST RIGHT HAVING A NO SHOOT OBSTRUCTION ON EITHER SIDE OF BOTH
BARRICADES, AND THREE POPPERS, TWO ON THE FRONT RIGHT AND ONE ON THE BACK LEFT,
WITH THE STOP PLATE DEAD CENTRE REAR”
AA LEGION
TAIWAN
score, I ended up missing the right popper once and stage 2, but with the end of the bay divided into three
the central paper and the end plate once a piece so bays, and the left barricade being more complete
had 12 rounds total, 7 alphas and 2 charlies in 9.87 with only a small window to shoot the left paper
seconds for this nonetheless amusing effort. targets through. The start position was a pinned down
With that rounding off the first day’s shooting we stool with all the shooter’s magazines being left on
ditched off our gear and guns in the usual fashion and the barrel to the front left, with the pistol holstered
proceeded to pig out on the now carved-up wild boar unloaded. 10 paper targets with only the centre
that had been tempting us since lunchtime, then Team rear one having a no-shoot, and just a lone popper
SPPT retired early to have local style lamb hotpot to on the left of the rear right bay. My old man knees
finish warming and filling ourselves up and returned never help when it comes to stages with sitting or
to the B&B to collate our thoughts over some post kneeling (more on that later) so just getting up at the
game beers and prep our gear for the final day. start is ‘a thing’ for me! 22 shots minimum to score,
I ended up doing some make-up
shots, largely as I stood up, threw
the first mag in and charged the
gun to start shooting right handed
only through the left window as I
grabbed another two mags from
the drum and tried to get them in
their pouches as I moved, panning
right and finally getting my second
hand on the gun just in time to
need to reload anyway, before
moving to the left in the leg of
the 7 shaped fault lines. I ended
up with 28 rounds spent, 19.14
seconds, 19 alphas, 1 charlie…
and 2 misses and a procedural for
totally missing the back left target;
I counted the centre rear one twice
in my stage plan and there were
so many shooters we barely got a
second run through and the narrow
spaces made planning difficult. That’s my excuse and
RINSE, REPEAT I’m sticking to it. Not a great start to the day…
Rinse, repeat for Day 2, and after the breakfast run we
made our way to the shooting ground and prepared STAGE 9 - Slicing the Pi
ourselves and our equipment for the next 6 stages, Next up was a medium course on the previous day’s
doing 8,9 and 10 in a row this time due to the setup stage 3 Doughnut of Death ground, but with the
still required for some of the other stages; each day’s bottom leg of the fault lines closed up to make a Pi
stages were reusing the same 6 bays with some shape to move within, with barricades in the enclosed
reconfiguration of the barricades and targets, but with space with targets either side, and open targets left
the same layouts otherwise. and right with two small windowed bays along the
rear and a more open central gap in between with
STAGE 8 - Take a Seat low papers and the stop plate. Shooters were again
The first run of the second day was another free to start anywhere, but that practically meant the
medium course using the same 7 layout of day 1’s
“LAST STAGE OF THE MORNING WAS A LONG COURSE IN THE SAME PLACE AS STAGE 4,
WITH A WIDE BOX TO MOVE IN, THIS TIME FREE TO START ANYWHERE, WITH PAPERS AND
POPPERS BEHIND THE LOW WALL AT THE FRONT, AND BAYS RADIATING TO BOTH SIDES
FORCING YOU TO MOVE AROUND A BIT”

AA LEGION
TAIWAN
end of either the left or right legs; 9 paper targets, opened outward by the shooter to access the left and
with the three of them having no-shoots, and just centre targets, with a lone no shoot obstructed low
two poppers on the front right and back left, 21 paper on the outside right, along with a popper, and a
shots minimum to score, I ended up with 27 shots high and low paper inside along with the stop plate at
and a reload at the halfway point, all clean in 18.81, the rear. 8 shots minimum to score, with a mandated
at least that made up for the misses on the last stage start on condition one with your heels on the back left
somewhat. of the fault line box. Most elected to yank the door
open on the way past to engage the right targets in
STAGE 10 - Low Blow the open then move and shoot through the opening. I
Last stage of the morning was a long course in managed it in 8 shots only with 7 alphas and 1 charlie
the same place as stage 4, with a wide box to move in 7.06 seconds, and thanks from the RO for being
in, this time free to start anywhere, with papers and more gentle with the door!
poppers behind the low wall at the front, and bays
radiating to both sides forcing you to move around STAGE 11 - Pineapple Express
a bit. The front right target was also hidden beneath A further short course on the same ‘V’ shaped
a low opening that forced many to squat, kneel or layout of stage 5, but with the barricades replaced
otherwise get low somewhat ungracefully; I initially by pineapple cut-out props and a more open
contemplated doing an ‘N’ pattern of movement arrangement aside from the small windowed
and finishing on my knee with that target being last barricade at the back left, 5 paper targets, 2 with
before the end plate, but in the end realised I could no-shoots, on popper at the far back right and a
make the shot more easily from the back left starting minimum of 12 shots to score. Starting in condition
point, avoiding such inconvenience to myself. 27 one with both hands on the drum at the point of the
shots minimum to score, with 10 papers, 3 no-shoots ‘V’, I went right first and shot it clean in 11.71 but
and 6 poppers, I ended up doing a few extra shots to required a reload after the first leg and 17 rounds in
make sure and shot 31 rounds with a reload midway all due to missing the stop plate awkwardly shooting
and another before the stop plate, 25 alphas and 2 through the window at the end and another few
charlies in 26.10 seconds. strays or makeup shots.
This year the weather was
surprisingly warm; there had been
some threats of light rain on Day
1, needing the ROs to continually
cover and uncover the paper targets
with plastic bags until it finally made
its mind up that it wouldn’t rain
properly, whereas on Day 2 the sun
was very much out and beginning
to barbecue me in its usual way! We
broke for lunch, meatball soup and
vermicelli noodles, before rearming
and getting ourselves to the last
stages to be shot, 7, 11, and 12.
STAGE 7 - Knock Knock

A short course with a twist, or
rather a pull; a large Christmas-
themed door prop had to be
“A FURTHER SHORT COURSE ON THE SAME ‘V’ SHAPED LAYOUT OF STAGE 5, BUT WITH THE
BARRICADES REPLACED BY PINEAPPLE CUT-OUT PROPS AND A MORE OPEN ARRANGEMENT
ASIDE FROM THE SMALL WINDOWED BARRICADE AT THE BACK LEFT, 5 PAPER TARGETS, 2
WITH NO-SHOOTS, ON POPPER AT THE FAR BACK RIGHT AND A MINIMUM OF 12 SHOTS TO
SCORE”
AA LEGION
TAIWAN
activated before doubling over

somewhat and dealing with the
low front paper and finishing on
the stop plate with slide lock. 9
shots minimum to score, 3 papers,
2 poppers and the stop plate, I
spent all 15 on makeups, getting
5 alphas, 3 charlies and a delta…
damned moving targets… and did
it in 13.86 seconds.
All told I ended up with 887
points, in 3 minutes and 4.67
seconds, with 175 alphas, 17
charlies, 1 delta, 3 misses and a
procedural. I managed to avoid
tagging any Tiffanies (no shoots)
which was a nice departure given
that quite a few people dropped
points for that! Aside from only the
one stage planning error missing
that target on stage 8, I didn’t
STAGE 12 - Jazz Hands really make any mistakes as such; either the Shadow
The final stage of our day and the overall shoot 2 orange is a really straight shooter, or I’m getting
was another short one of 9 shots minimum to score, progressively better, and also seem to be moving more
with an activated swinging paper target triggered efficiently, albeit still slower than some of the skinny
by a low popper only visible through two stacked speedybois, but I was pretty happy overall with my
barricade windows from a particular angle, as well performance, especially given the last minute gun
as a paper to its left only visible under the starting change and lack of training time on the lead-up due
table. The shooter started from the rear of the fault to all the other things going on in my life as of late.
line box, with the gun
in condition 2 and spare
mags on the table in the
bounding boxes again.
I decided to lunge left,
acquire my pistol from
the left box and take on
the left popper before
skipping all the way right
and taking on the low
paper behind the barrel at
that side, skipping a few
rounds off the barrel and
requiring some makeup
shots, then taking on
the hidden popper and
the swinging paper it
“STANDARD DIVISION SAW LAM SIU CHU OF HK TAKE THIRD PLACE, “JOPHY” LEUNG MING
CHUN TAKE SECOND AND LOCALLY BASED “EDMOND” SAO CHI MIAN TAKE FIRST PLACE,
WHILE OPEN DIVISION SAW “TANGO” NG WAI KIN OF HK TAKE THIRD, TAIWAN’S TSAI YU QI
TAKE SECOND PLACE AND WONG HO CHING OF HK TAKE FIRST PLACE”

AA LEGION
TAIWAN
ROUNDING OUT With that all dealt with we once again had to make
We all retired to make safe and stow our guns and a quick exit, this time TacticalCat had to get back to
gear before the closing dinner commenced, with Taipei for work, so we dropped him off at the high
many rounds of local dishes getting bussed by our speed rail in Kaohsiung then the rest of us went to
tables and everyone enjoying the festivities and war our other hotel nearby for the night to chill out and
stories before the announcement of the victors in drive back the next morning after a bit of a welcome
each division. lie-in!
We had a few folks fall on the gravel trying to run Many thanks as always to the staff and ROs for
too fast, as well as some DQ’s due to minor mishaps, organising and administering the event very smoothly,
as well as Zheng JiaHua breaking his trigger spring as well as all the competitors from nearby and
on his Glock ending up with a DNF on one of the overseas for making it the usual excellent show of
stages, despite that mishap he still managed to take sportsmanship and good natured humour I’ve come
third place in production division, with his Spring Rain to expect and enjoy being a part of. And of course
teammate Lai Yu Chen taking second and visiting thanks to my teammates for doing all the leg work
Hong Konger Chin Chu Hei taking first place. of organising our travel arrangements and driving us
Standard division saw Lam Siu Chu of HK take third all the way there and back, as well as our industry
place, “Jophy” Leung Ming Chun take second and partners for their continued support in terms of
locally based “Edmond” Sao Chi Mian take first place, keeping me well stocked with spare parts and new
while open division saw “Tango” Ng Wai Kin of HK guns to break for GunScience!
take third, Taiwan’s Tsai Yu Qi take second place and Until next time, fellow shooters… AA
Wong Ho Ching of HK take first place.
“MANY THANKS AS ALWAYS TO THE STAFF AND ROS FOR ORGANISING AND ADMINISTERING
THE EVENT VERY SMOOTHLY, AS WELL AS ALL THE COMPETITORS FROM NEARBY AND
OVERSEAS FOR MAKING IT THE USUAL EXCELLENT SHOW OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND GOOD
NATURED HUMOUR I’VE COME TO EXPECT AND ENJOY BEING A PART OF”
AA LEGION
TAIWAN

AA LEGION
TAIWAN

Airsoft Action 02.2024

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ISSUE 158

WE STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE ISSN 2634-9515

CLICK/TAP IMAGES FOR MORE INFORMATION

18 ARMOURY: AA/APFG MCX RATTLER

Editorial Director: Bill Thomas

28 ARMOURY: EMG/CYMA NOVESKE N4 GEN III

LETTER , IDEA OR 38 TECH: ACETECH ACEHIVE X SPAWNER

44 THE CAGE: NEW YEAR, NEW 70 AA LEGION: JAPAN

48 RED CELL: GBB AR UPDATE 80 AA LEGION: PORTUGAL

62 ACCESSORIES: LCT HK 88 AA LEGION: TAIWAN

WITH A SEEMINGLY NEVER-ENDING STREAM OF AR AND M4 VARIANTS BEING RELEASED TO

8 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

“AS USED BY THE ADF, THIS GOES BY THE EF88 DESIGNATION,

“AS APPEARANCES GO, I WOULD SAY KWA HAVE EXPERTLY REPLICATED

10 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

“WHILE THE MAGAZINE RELEASE IS AMBIDEXTROUS AND ACCESSIBLE FROM

“MOVING A BIT FURTHER FORWARD, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FLUTED BARREL, WHICH

12 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

“THE BOLT CARRIER APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY ROBUST ASSEMBLY THAT RIDES ON A

16 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

18 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

we’ve followed the MCX and MPX airsoft models there…

20 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

24 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

“THE MUZZLE DEVICE IS CHUNKY AND AGGRESSIVE, AND ACTUALLY TO ME LOOKS

might wish to add a riser as the folding stock is quite

26 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

“MY BELIEF IS THAT BEHIND THE “AA/APFG” MCX RATTLER IS A MANUFACTURER,

“NOW I HAVE TO ADMIT BEING SOMEWHAT (READ MASSIVELY!) ENVIOUS WHEN

30 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

34 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

THE L119A2 IS JUST ONE POPULAR

38 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

in the middle. Around that is the retention system

“HAVING POPPED SOME OF THE ACEHIVE 80 BB SHELLS THROUGH MY “PIRATE GUN”,

40 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

Airsoft Shooting Air

0,4 5,0 10,0

2-304 2-306 2-308

3,0 Grepow 3,0

5,0 4,0 6,0

3,0 7,0 5,0 4,0

3,0 PUFFDINO Ares Alpha 3,0

Anlieferung 2-507 2-509

“THERE IS A PASSIONATE, HARD CORE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMMIT-

44 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

I’ve said quite enough, so I asked the members of the

“LIKE A CANTANKEROUS RELATIVE AT CHRISTMAS I’VE SAID QUITE ENOUGH, SO I

contributions as before so we can keep working gucci AirBnB

46 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

Miguel: My airsoft resolutions... I’m already looking

“AIRSOFT LETS US PLAY AS WE WANT, NO ONE HAS TO PLEASE OTHER PLAYERS OR

50 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

VFC BCM MCMR

52 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

VFC VR16 CQB II (MK18)

GOLDEN EAGLE MC6595M

S&T M4 KEYMOD 13”

TOKYO MARUI M4A1 MWS

VFC VR16 URG-I 14.5”

54 ISSUE 158 - FEBRUARY 2024

“IT IS STILL MY BELIEF THAT EVERY AIRSOFTER NEEDS TO HAVE A GBBR, TO