It is official. Pacific Solutions Airsoft Club is now a registered association and team within the AGAS network. AGAS stands for Airsoft Association of Geneva and is a well respected organization in Switzerland. The association counts many independent players and teams as well as hosting events every week of the year across their forest and CQB terrains. We look forwards to play airsoft with their members and engage in the association. This is a great opportunity to test our training.
Good to know: associations and their members get significant membership discount. This encourages independent players to create teams or join existing ones for better cohesive gameplay. It has taken us a little over a year to set thing up, get a terrain and all our gear. Finally, we feel it is time to grow the team slowly and integrate every new member as best we can. This is why we devised a simple PMC styled uniform that is both affordable and made from real deal military grade materials. Hence our recommendations for clothing for Helikon Tex (from Poland) and Pentagon (Greece). HeadHeadwear depends on the weather. We allow three standard items: baseball caps and boonie hats for summer as well as fleece caps for winter. Our team members can choose from Black, Olive Drab, Foliage Green, Ranger Green, Coyote Brown, Dark Earth and Khaki. We do prefer the green tones as they blend in better in our region. Torso
HandsSince we often play in dense forests, muddy fields, makeshift wooden constructions or abandoned buildings, it is very important to protect our hands. This is why all our team members wear sturdy gloves like the Mechanix M-Pact model. We usually wear CB, OD or black ones. ChestWe favor mobility over protection as it allows us to better manoeuvre around opposing teams whilst minimalising hits taken. Our favorite techniques range from hit & run tactics to flanking enemy units. This is why we wear chest rigs and light vests, to minimise weights. This allows us to run, hide and crawl faster than if we wore full battledress and bulky tactical vests. We allow for any chest rig or light tactical vest as long as it comes in a unified green color scheme such as Olive Drab, Foliage Green or Ranger Green.
WaistWe strongly advocate the use of tactical belts. With plenty of space to fit a holster, spare mag pouches and essentials such as a first aid kit or a dump pouch, belts are an Airsofter's workhorse. They allow for quick pistol type replicas to be drawn if the primary replicas runs out of ammo or into a malfunction. Belts also speed up reloads for primary and secondary replicas if you place your pouches correctly. We recommend a very thick, sturdy belt that is comfortable to wear even when you're wearing a pistol replica and extra mags from speed pouches. Our team members' belts can be Black, Olive Drab, Foliage Green, Ranger Green, Coyote Brown, Dark Earth or Khaki. If they wish to be even lighter and faster, some team members can even opt to wear just the belt instead of belt + tactical vest or chest rig. For those that decide to keep the vest, most belts have suspension rings to link the belt to the vest to alleviate weight on the hips. LegsAll our members are required to wear a non camouflaged set of tactical pants, either in CB, Khaki, OD, FG or RG. From experience, we recommend the SFU (special forces uniform) or UTL (urban tactical line) cut from Helikon Tex or any other brand so long as they are made from ripstop cotton. Knees
Feet
Total costHead: € 15
Torso: € 50 Chest: € 80 Waist: € 80 Legs: € 40 Thighs: € 40 Knees: € 15 Feet: € 180 Total: € 500 Pacific Solutions Airsoft Club is proud to announce that we finally have our very own airsoft field to train in. This is our first training and it has given us many ideas for future terrain developments! After months of hard work we have opted for an 2m high FFA approved protective net on Direct-Filet.com and installed it 60m away from neighboor houses to avoid any accident. We attached the net with a special cable kit onto solid wooden poles planted 50 cm in the ground. Furthermore, we have planted 10 colored targets mid-field to create our first race shooting track. Needless to say, as soon as everything was installed we had a great time testing it out. Stay tuned for more information about future developments!
We have just received a new batch of 10 patches for our new team members. Every patch is made of a thick vinyl layer where the design in printed and a male velcro scratch on the back. They are weatherproof and are so sturdy you can leave them on your clothes when its time to machine wash them.
We'd like to thank Mutiny Shop for their excellent work! Good news!
We have secured a terrain in Ségny for 2015 and have the authorisation to build a protective fence to protect non-airsoft players from any flying BB. Work has already begun to plant 2,5 meter poles in the ground: 7 down and 7 to go. Will you help us? If you are available Saturday January 10th 2015, please contact Mattia or Thomas beforehand via e-mail or WhatsApp. All help will be greatly appreciated! Happy new year to all our members and readers, may 2015 fulfill all your Airsoft dreams!
We have just received the first batch of official 2015 FFA member cards. As of today: Mattia, Thomas, Anne-Marie, Oskar and Paul are registered and benefit from the MAIF insurance. We are still waiting for David and Nicolas' confirmations and contributions. As a reminder, FFA membership with insurance is 10,40€ for 2015 for small teams. An order for new team patches has been placed and should arrive within January 2015. Stay tuned for more information! As of 2014, Pacific Solutions Airsoft Club has been a member of FFA. In 2015, we are renewing our membership and have applied for a full package for all our association members, including an insurance policy with the MAIF. I invite you to check out their new policies here and check out the news section to stay updated.
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For more information, please view Techmoan's extensive full video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wmIyD1fM4M you can buy one yourself for about US $69 here: http://ebay.to/1qSdH3b Don't forget to grab a 32 Gb micro SD card to record all your favorite Airsoft sessions! |
Replica & Modifications
My favorite replica for CQB is my trusty M4 CQBR. I have had this replica for over a year now and so far, it has performed extremely well in many different situations.
I initially bought it as a basic M4 RIS Katana System because of its pragmatic fast cylinder switching system, allowing the user to tailor the replica's FPS in seconds before a game to comply with terrain regulations.
From there, I removed the external barrel extension to shorten the replica's length. I installed a CNC hop-up unit, a new soft hop-up rubber and a 300mm 6.01 precision inner barrel. These modifications have boosted its effective range from 50m to about 60m. To increase the rate of fire and reactivity, I also installed a hi-torque motor coupled with a MOSFET unit. The replica runs with a 7.4V 25C 2000mAh nunchuck li-po battery with sturdy T-plugs (deans) connectors. With a red cylinder it shoots at 375 fps at a rate of 1000 BBs per minute and with the blue cylinder it shoots at 315 FPS at a rate of 1200 BBs per minute.
I simply love its reactivity in semi-auto, its precision, range and the impressive rate of fire in full-auto. It is short enough to work well in CQB and has enough range to hit targets in closed and open areas alike. As I am very familiar with AR platforms, for me, it's ease of use and flexibility are valuable attributes.
I initially bought it as a basic M4 RIS Katana System because of its pragmatic fast cylinder switching system, allowing the user to tailor the replica's FPS in seconds before a game to comply with terrain regulations.
From there, I removed the external barrel extension to shorten the replica's length. I installed a CNC hop-up unit, a new soft hop-up rubber and a 300mm 6.01 precision inner barrel. These modifications have boosted its effective range from 50m to about 60m. To increase the rate of fire and reactivity, I also installed a hi-torque motor coupled with a MOSFET unit. The replica runs with a 7.4V 25C 2000mAh nunchuck li-po battery with sturdy T-plugs (deans) connectors. With a red cylinder it shoots at 375 fps at a rate of 1000 BBs per minute and with the blue cylinder it shoots at 315 FPS at a rate of 1200 BBs per minute.
I simply love its reactivity in semi-auto, its precision, range and the impressive rate of fire in full-auto. It is short enough to work well in CQB and has enough range to hit targets in closed and open areas alike. As I am very familiar with AR platforms, for me, it's ease of use and flexibility are valuable attributes.
Accessories
Troy flash hider: this flash hider is very handy indoors as its spiky front side can be used to break a window and clear glass debris.
Magpul MOE Rail Vertical Grip: this sturdy vertical grip allows me to grab my replica in different positions depending on the terrain configuration. I mainly use it as a handstop to have maximum stability, especially in open field areas.
Ergo ladder rail covers: I like these rail covers because they are low profile and do not fatten the replica's RIS. Their soft rubberry texture protects my hands and gear from the abrasive rails and also provides more grip when I'm using gloves, especially when wet.
AN/PEQ 15 replica: this fake laser designator is just for show as it is an empty case. I will probably replace it with a green laser / flashlight combo box in future.
JJ Airsoft Micro T-1 red dot sight: a very handy reflex sight that comes with lens covers and a nice meshed kill flash. I love the QD mount and the tool-less dot adjustment systems. The dot is very bright and definately helps with follow up shots in low light environments like indoors CQB.
Troy Backup rear iron sight: a beautiful CNC machined iron sight that I have used a lot as a primary sight before buying the red dot. It is very sturdy, easy to configure and locks nicely into place.
Magpul ASAP sling mount: I am not a fan of the standard M4's sling mount options, so I removed the noisy front sling attachement and replaced the lower receiver's back plate with this handy ambidextrous sling mount. It allow me to perform faster shoulder transitions and thus shoot with both right and left hands on the fly - a useful skill in CQB, since transitions allow you to reduce your body's exposure to opponents.
E&C Real Cap magazines: for realism's sake, I replaced the flimsey metal hi-cap mag that came with the replica for a boxed set of 5 real cap 30 BBs magazines. They are lightweight, silent and, in truth, shoot about 27 BBs - the last three fall out of the hop-up unit when you reload which is typical with most AEG replicas. I really love using these magazines as they force me to count my rounds, perform tactical/admin reload and conserve ammunition. Overall, they are great for training and skirmishes alike.
Magpul MOE Rail Vertical Grip: this sturdy vertical grip allows me to grab my replica in different positions depending on the terrain configuration. I mainly use it as a handstop to have maximum stability, especially in open field areas.
Ergo ladder rail covers: I like these rail covers because they are low profile and do not fatten the replica's RIS. Their soft rubberry texture protects my hands and gear from the abrasive rails and also provides more grip when I'm using gloves, especially when wet.
AN/PEQ 15 replica: this fake laser designator is just for show as it is an empty case. I will probably replace it with a green laser / flashlight combo box in future.
JJ Airsoft Micro T-1 red dot sight: a very handy reflex sight that comes with lens covers and a nice meshed kill flash. I love the QD mount and the tool-less dot adjustment systems. The dot is very bright and definately helps with follow up shots in low light environments like indoors CQB.
Troy Backup rear iron sight: a beautiful CNC machined iron sight that I have used a lot as a primary sight before buying the red dot. It is very sturdy, easy to configure and locks nicely into place.
Magpul ASAP sling mount: I am not a fan of the standard M4's sling mount options, so I removed the noisy front sling attachement and replaced the lower receiver's back plate with this handy ambidextrous sling mount. It allow me to perform faster shoulder transitions and thus shoot with both right and left hands on the fly - a useful skill in CQB, since transitions allow you to reduce your body's exposure to opponents.
E&C Real Cap magazines: for realism's sake, I replaced the flimsey metal hi-cap mag that came with the replica for a boxed set of 5 real cap 30 BBs magazines. They are lightweight, silent and, in truth, shoot about 27 BBs - the last three fall out of the hop-up unit when you reload which is typical with most AEG replicas. I really love using these magazines as they force me to count my rounds, perform tactical/admin reload and conserve ammunition. Overall, they are great for training and skirmishes alike.
Conclusion
As you can tell, I really enjoy playing with this replica. It is both accurate and dependable . I never have to worry wether it will shoot or not as BBs feed nicely into the hop-up chamber and are fired away with the regularity of swiss clocks.
1. Tactical Glasses
For the untrained newbie, one of the hardest things in Airsoft is spotting the ennemy. Whether you are operating in dense forest or dark urban environments, figuring out where friendlies and baddies are is not that obvious, especially when everyone is applying camouflage and moving from cover to cover in a stealthy manner.
This is where your protection glasses comme into play. In Airsoft, eye protection is of the utmost importance, and it would be stupid to opt for a cheap option as you might loose your eyesight! However, most airsoft players are content with the one pair they bought and have always worn since.
There is a lot to gain by choosing different lenses or pairs according to weather conditions. Dark of smoked lenses allow you to see better when the sun is balzing in summer time. That way, you can better spot ennemies, even when you face the sun and tis blinding rays. Alternatively, darker lenses also work great in the snow during sunny winter days; they prevent reflexions on the snow's surface.
Yellow and Pink lenses are better for low visibility conditions like fog, rain and dusk/dawn scenarios. The particular treatment on these glasses allow for better target definition as they appear distinct from the background environment. Clear glasses are for high visibility, normal light conditions, such as partly cloudy days in mostly open terrain where targets are easier to spot anyways.
This is why we recommend that you get good sturdy glasses from a recognized brand with at least 3 lenses, so that you may adapt better to each weather condition, spot targets faster and gain tactical advantage.
This is where your protection glasses comme into play. In Airsoft, eye protection is of the utmost importance, and it would be stupid to opt for a cheap option as you might loose your eyesight! However, most airsoft players are content with the one pair they bought and have always worn since.
There is a lot to gain by choosing different lenses or pairs according to weather conditions. Dark of smoked lenses allow you to see better when the sun is balzing in summer time. That way, you can better spot ennemies, even when you face the sun and tis blinding rays. Alternatively, darker lenses also work great in the snow during sunny winter days; they prevent reflexions on the snow's surface.
Yellow and Pink lenses are better for low visibility conditions like fog, rain and dusk/dawn scenarios. The particular treatment on these glasses allow for better target definition as they appear distinct from the background environment. Clear glasses are for high visibility, normal light conditions, such as partly cloudy days in mostly open terrain where targets are easier to spot anyways.
This is why we recommend that you get good sturdy glasses from a recognized brand with at least 3 lenses, so that you may adapt better to each weather condition, spot targets faster and gain tactical advantage.
2. Tactical Gloves
Did you ever stumble upon a fat tree root popping out of the forest floor? Fall over flat onto a rocky terrain? Or even jumped into a bush to find out it was full of thorns or worse, spiders crawling all over your arms?
Let's face it, during an Airsoft game, if unprotected, your hands will suffer! If your hands are not good after a fall or untimely enounter with nature, you won't be able to hold and shoot your replicas properly.
This is why we recommend that all team members get themselves a nice pair of tactical gloves with Kevlar reinforcement on the fingertips and palms. For urban terrain, knuckle protection is a must as players will often slam themselves into cover during firefights and bang their hands on hard concrete walls. You get the idea, gloves are not there to look pretty, they are a must have.
Let's face it, during an Airsoft game, if unprotected, your hands will suffer! If your hands are not good after a fall or untimely enounter with nature, you won't be able to hold and shoot your replicas properly.
This is why we recommend that all team members get themselves a nice pair of tactical gloves with Kevlar reinforcement on the fingertips and palms. For urban terrain, knuckle protection is a must as players will often slam themselves into cover during firefights and bang their hands on hard concrete walls. You get the idea, gloves are not there to look pretty, they are a must have.
3. Waterproof tactical boots
Protecting your hands and eyes is the top priority, but if you don't take care of yoru feet you won't get very far...quite litterally. Whether sprinting in dangerous staircases, leaping under a tree log, splashing into a river, hiding behind a boulder, climbing into a fort or even crawling in the mud, you will always solicit and rely on your feet to get you from A to B, no matter how bad the terrain is.
The airsofter's ankles are his weak spots since he runs, looking out for ennemies, and not necessarily looking at where he's threading. This is why tripping, falling and splashing are quite common during any game. To avoid ankle injury, it is very important to select good 6 inch or 8 inch high combat boots that are built to protect your ankle articulation.
Furthermore, good airsofters are always on the move; if your shoes are uncomfortable, soggy, slipping from the ground or not laced properly, chances are you will get awful blisters, probably paralysing you within a couple hours or at least the next day. If you can't walk, you're a sitting duck.
This is why we recommend waterproof (not water resistant, big difference) boots, preferably in Goretex, so that your feet stay light and dry. We also recommend that you pick a sound manufacturer that includes anti vibration and anti shock technology into the shoe sole. This preserves yoru foot plant and absorbs impacts from irregular terrain. Ideally, the shoe's sole should also be designed so that it does not slip on wet rocks or flat terrain so that you can keep your balance whilst running or shooting, improving your aim.
The airsofter's ankles are his weak spots since he runs, looking out for ennemies, and not necessarily looking at where he's threading. This is why tripping, falling and splashing are quite common during any game. To avoid ankle injury, it is very important to select good 6 inch or 8 inch high combat boots that are built to protect your ankle articulation.
Furthermore, good airsofters are always on the move; if your shoes are uncomfortable, soggy, slipping from the ground or not laced properly, chances are you will get awful blisters, probably paralysing you within a couple hours or at least the next day. If you can't walk, you're a sitting duck.
This is why we recommend waterproof (not water resistant, big difference) boots, preferably in Goretex, so that your feet stay light and dry. We also recommend that you pick a sound manufacturer that includes anti vibration and anti shock technology into the shoe sole. This preserves yoru foot plant and absorbs impacts from irregular terrain. Ideally, the shoe's sole should also be designed so that it does not slip on wet rocks or flat terrain so that you can keep your balance whilst running or shooting, improving your aim.
4. CQB Mesh Mask
Don't be that idiot who believes no one will shoot close range in CQB and that broken teeth. Sadly, it happens every year and usually, its mostly due to reflex shooting when a player is surprised by another player at a corner.
Mesh masks will save your teeth during close range encounters and prevent your cheeks from bruises; you might not want to explain to coworkers why your face is full of red and violet spots mondya morning.
We prefer the simple half face mesh masks that cover cheeks, mouth and nose. You can easily bend them so that they adapt to your morphology and don't disrupt too much your shooting stance: getting your mesh covered cheek to sit properly on a rifle's buttstock does take practice and is not always comfortable - such is the price of safety.
We do not recomment full face mesh masks as they obscure visibility and are dangerous: unlike glasses that cover yoru eyes properly; there is always a risk with mesh masks that a poor quality BB might explode upon impact and that tiny BB fragments will spread on your face and might get into your eye.
Mesh masks will save your teeth during close range encounters and prevent your cheeks from bruises; you might not want to explain to coworkers why your face is full of red and violet spots mondya morning.
We prefer the simple half face mesh masks that cover cheeks, mouth and nose. You can easily bend them so that they adapt to your morphology and don't disrupt too much your shooting stance: getting your mesh covered cheek to sit properly on a rifle's buttstock does take practice and is not always comfortable - such is the price of safety.
We do not recomment full face mesh masks as they obscure visibility and are dangerous: unlike glasses that cover yoru eyes properly; there is always a risk with mesh masks that a poor quality BB might explode upon impact and that tiny BB fragments will spread on your face and might get into your eye.
5. Sturdy Kneepads
You may still feel young and invulnerable until you're fired upon and are forced to duck behind cover and crawl in the prone position on a rocky irregular terrain. Not only might you rip your expensive combat pants, you may also scratch and bruise your knees. No decent weekend warrior can operate with shabby knees.
This is why Knee pads are always a great addition to any Airsoft loadout. Whether you pick EVA reinforcements that slip into your pants, integrated or scratch-on kneedpads, these will save you a world of pain post game.
Moreover, if you are a good player and practice many different shooting stances to exploit ever inch of cover, you will heavily solicit your knees in the crouching and prone positions. The kneepad will be an idispensable battle ally, making the whole airsoft experience more pleasant and comfortable.
We definately recomment the thick padded soft kneepads as they provide the best protection, absorb shocks perfectly and be silent when crouching in urban concret terrain - the hard plastic ones will make a recognisable sound as they slam on the ground, giving away your position to a knowledgeable opponent.
We hope that these 5 tips help you enjoy a better and safer overall Airsoft exeprience!
This is why Knee pads are always a great addition to any Airsoft loadout. Whether you pick EVA reinforcements that slip into your pants, integrated or scratch-on kneedpads, these will save you a world of pain post game.
Moreover, if you are a good player and practice many different shooting stances to exploit ever inch of cover, you will heavily solicit your knees in the crouching and prone positions. The kneepad will be an idispensable battle ally, making the whole airsoft experience more pleasant and comfortable.
We definately recomment the thick padded soft kneepads as they provide the best protection, absorb shocks perfectly and be silent when crouching in urban concret terrain - the hard plastic ones will make a recognisable sound as they slam on the ground, giving away your position to a knowledgeable opponent.
We hope that these 5 tips help you enjoy a better and safer overall Airsoft exeprience!
Team Zero Drills Feedback
The Reel Drill
A very fun drill based on cooperation and communication with a team mate. The aim is to consistently deliver rounds downrange by switching between shooting and reloading whilst on the move.
The Yoyo Drill
This speedy and physical drill is a good way to practice different shooting stances: standing, prone, crouching and urban prone.
The First Shot Drill
A very demanding drill that forces the shooter to focus on his first shot post reload. It sharpens the mind and helps avoid sloppiness in-game.
The Yankee Hostile Drill
A stressful drill where cardboard tangos are hidden behind friendly cardboard hotages. We practiced delivering two headshot rounds on each baddie in the shortest time possible without scratching the hostages.
A very fun drill based on cooperation and communication with a team mate. The aim is to consistently deliver rounds downrange by switching between shooting and reloading whilst on the move.
The Yoyo Drill
This speedy and physical drill is a good way to practice different shooting stances: standing, prone, crouching and urban prone.
The First Shot Drill
A very demanding drill that forces the shooter to focus on his first shot post reload. It sharpens the mind and helps avoid sloppiness in-game.
The Yankee Hostile Drill
A stressful drill where cardboard tangos are hidden behind friendly cardboard hotages. We practiced delivering two headshot rounds on each baddie in the shortest time possible without scratching the hostages.
The Exterior
The exterior of the replica is completely made in polymer; the only metal parts are the selectors, the rails, the barrel, the stock's lock, the sights, the bolt catch, and the charging handle. When touching the replica, you can really feel the good quality of the polymers, and there are no signs of melting or soldering, which means it was built in one block. The really short barrel (only 125 mm) is in metal with a 16 mm CW thread, so if you want to use standard barrel attachments (like silencers or muzzle brakes) you need to have an adapter. There is no stock muzzle brake, because, like the real steel, the bolt system (called super V system) is able to reduce so much the recoil and the muzzle climb that makes the muzzle brake useless. There are two different selectors (both ambidextrous): one for the safety and one to select the mode of fire: single, 2 rounds burst (not really common) and full auto. From the ejection port you can adjust the hop up without opening the replica: you just need to use the specific metal key included. The trigger and the trigger guard are quite generous, so it is easy to handle for an operator with gloves and big hands. The foldable stock is adjustable in four different positions. In the lower part you will find the metal charging handle (that is not moving when you are firing like the real steel), the bolt catch and the magazine release. A front grip is included and fits on the front RIS rail, but unfortunately is made in cheap plastic, not the nice polymer used for the body.
The Interior
The takedown of the replica works the same way as the real steel: by removing 4 pins, the replica will be split in 3 main parts:
- The upper receiver with the selectors and the trigger mechanism
- The lower receiver with the bolt rails, the barrel with hop up unit and the impact hammer
- The nozzle and bolt mechanism (Aka “Super V system”)
All the internal parts are in steel, excluding the nozzle the bolt percussion base and the hop up ring which are in plastic (where you connect the hop up adjustment key). Except the hop up ring that already shows some signs of wear and tear after few attempts of hop up adjustment, all the internals are giving the sensation that they are built to last. However, all the internals were dry like the desert. The key point of all GBBRs is that they need to run “wet” with grease and lube like real steel if you don’t want to have any breakdowns or malfunctions. I did check for any sign of wear and tear or damage on the steel parts but found none, another evidence of the good quality of the internals. I did a full cleaning and then I lubed everything with three different lubes:
- Spray Silicon (with small nozzle) for the parts that are difficult to reach with normal lube
- Teflon Lube (a really tiny coat) for all plastic moving parts in contact with metal
- Lithium Lube (a really tiny coat) in all metal moving part in contact with metal
After the “treatment” the cycling was much more fluid and the sound of the moving parts smooth, like saying “thank youuuu”. Cheeking the hop up unit, I noticed that the bucking was all the way down even with the hop up set to 0. The hop up bucking was deformed because it was stored and left for a while on the high setting. On top of that, the previous user sprayed a lot of silicon oil inside the hop up, and the joint had inflated like a pizza! Not a big deal, the inner barrel is really easy to remove from the lower receiver (only 3 screws) and I have changed the bucking with a new one (Guarder) and now works flawlessly.
Shooting test
The KRISS Vector is my first GBBR so I will base this part of the review on “feelings” because I can’t talk about “experience” yet. I was impressed with the reactivity in semi-auto fire: the replica is shooting as fast you can move your trigger finger. The 2 rounds burst I think is an amazing feature for a GBBR: you can save a lot of gas and BBs and still use a “burst” mode for moving targets. In full-auto, you can empty a full magazine with one gas charge of green gas (the ambient temperature was around 18/20°) but then, as you can imagine, the magazine started to be very cold, risking a valve freeze. I think that using the 2 rounds burst and a good propane gas, (at least 90% like the AEG green Gas) you can shoot up to 2 magazines with one gas recharge if you are not trigger happy. The recoil of this replica is a big topic were you can find tons and tons of posts on internet (in all languages): Basically you can feel the kick, but it's not so strong that it affects your aim (like other GBBRs), specifically in semi or 2 rounds burst. The reason is the super V system that is transferring the shock of the recoil not in your shoulder but downward. In the real steel this design helps to reduce the muzzle climb.
There are aftermarket kits in order to increase the “downward” recoil, but I didn’t find any long term reviews to check if the extra weight of the bolt and the stronger spring could affect the overall strength of the replica. For sure, it will increase the gas consumption. In my humble opinion I think this replica was not made to “kick” but to be as close as possible to the real gun, at it achieved this right out of the box.
FPS wise, it shoots at 340 fps with ASG Ultrair green gas. If you are using the angry guns’ suppressor with barrel extender you can reach 420/430 fps (for target practice only).
The range is pretty good considering the really small inner barrel: you can hit a human target at about 40 meters in semi-auto. In burst and full auto you, you will spray BBs everywhere, but this might be due to the hop up bucking not being broken in yet as 2nd and 3rd BBs tend to climb.
With the barrel extender the range goes beyond 50+ meters. Unfortunately my test fire wasn’t to last: the temperature dropped below 13° with high moisture; The gas started to freeze inside the magazine, So I stopped the test and will start again next spring.
First Impressions
Positive:
- Unique design
- The Realism
- The construction quality
- The range compared to its barrel
- The performance out of the box
Negative:
- The hop-up design that causes fast wear & tear
- The fragile and cheap front grip
- Not good for outdoor games, especially if the temperature drops below 13°
Thank you for reading my review!
- Nibbio
Today, the Pacific Solutions team is going to practice Team ZERO style following instructor ZERO's rigorous special forces training drills and advice. This will be a great way to keep moving and stay warm as the cold days are upon us. Here a four videos of what awaits us:
Working in pairs with the pistol to keep the ennemy suppressed
Quickly adapting your stance according to cover configuration
Ensuring the first shot counts... every time
Precision shooting on tango behind cover or hostage
Team Communication
Communication is paramount in order to achieve team efficiency. Here is a short analysis of the above video to illustrate this point:
At the begining of the video, Travis yells "Contact" to signal ennemy presence and rushes to cover, whilst sending lead towards the target. Chris joins in immediately, and asks for cover fire when he says "Moving". Travis replies "Move" to confirm he understood the request and promptly delivers rapid cover fire.
Chris then moves carefully behind Travis' gun, tapping him on the shoulder as he goes by to confirm his departure, and runs to the next available cover in direction of the ennemy. As soon as he is in position to shoot and provide cover, Travis joins him.
Then, Chris shoots "reloading" to signal he is out of amo. Travis replies "check" to confirm he understood the request and provides cover fire while his teammate performs a speed reload. When done, Chris says "ready" to signal he is back in the fight. Once Chris' gun is fed with a full magazine, Travic can now move forwards, knowing his buddy will be able to cover him.
This sequence perfectly illustrates how a team of only two members can use a simple communication system under stress to keep every one informed and moving forwards until the threat is neutralised.
At the begining of the video, Travis yells "Contact" to signal ennemy presence and rushes to cover, whilst sending lead towards the target. Chris joins in immediately, and asks for cover fire when he says "Moving". Travis replies "Move" to confirm he understood the request and promptly delivers rapid cover fire.
Chris then moves carefully behind Travis' gun, tapping him on the shoulder as he goes by to confirm his departure, and runs to the next available cover in direction of the ennemy. As soon as he is in position to shoot and provide cover, Travis joins him.
Then, Chris shoots "reloading" to signal he is out of amo. Travis replies "check" to confirm he understood the request and provides cover fire while his teammate performs a speed reload. When done, Chris says "ready" to signal he is back in the fight. Once Chris' gun is fed with a full magazine, Travic can now move forwards, knowing his buddy will be able to cover him.
This sequence perfectly illustrates how a team of only two members can use a simple communication system under stress to keep every one informed and moving forwards until the threat is neutralised.
Fast and Accurate Execution
When responding to an ennemy attack or preparing for assault, it is important to keep everyone on the team focused and ready to respond. Any lack of attention or failure to respond in time usually leads to unnecessary casualties and accidents.
Once a contact has been identified, the spotter has to clearly indicate where ennemy fire is comming from. This allows the team to take cover to avoid incoming fire and counter-attack.
From experience, the team with the fastest and most agressive members in terms of fire power delivery quickly gets the upperhand. The trick to reverse the situation is to respond to the stress of incoming fire by getting into a mental state where you decide to go get the ennemy and attack them with all you've got.
This is where all your good shooting techniques and reflexes kick in after countless drills, allowing you to efficiently deliver accurate rounds onto the ennemy position. Whilst their heads are down, your team mates can move and get to cover.
However, if you are too slow in your execution, the ennemy will pin you down first and flank you. Morevover, if your shots are too innacurate, the ennemies wil quickly notice and dare take pot shots at your running team mates to out them when most vulnerable. That is why the team has to constantly lay down cover fire until the ennemy is down or fleeing.
Once a contact has been identified, the spotter has to clearly indicate where ennemy fire is comming from. This allows the team to take cover to avoid incoming fire and counter-attack.
From experience, the team with the fastest and most agressive members in terms of fire power delivery quickly gets the upperhand. The trick to reverse the situation is to respond to the stress of incoming fire by getting into a mental state where you decide to go get the ennemy and attack them with all you've got.
This is where all your good shooting techniques and reflexes kick in after countless drills, allowing you to efficiently deliver accurate rounds onto the ennemy position. Whilst their heads are down, your team mates can move and get to cover.
However, if you are too slow in your execution, the ennemy will pin you down first and flank you. Morevover, if your shots are too innacurate, the ennemies wil quickly notice and dare take pot shots at your running team mates to out them when most vulnerable. That is why the team has to constantly lay down cover fire until the ennemy is down or fleeing.
Maintaining Momentum
In Airsoft, it is a very common problem even for experienced teams. Even if you respond properly to a contact, maintain cover fire whilst movign to cover yourself, the team usually finds a wide tree, trench or wall to hide behind and stops moving altogether, locking down into a bitter long lasting firefight. Lack of solid or obvious cover or losing sight of a target is usually enough for most players to stop in their tracks and become vulnerable to another ambush or flanking maneuver.
This is why most drills should focus on momentum. The team has to keep moving forwards and simply use heavier cover fire when moving into more open terrain. The momentum should be kept strong with communication and fast movement to avoid a long lasting engagement with the ennemy.
If your team becomes pinned down or locked into a fixed position, then it is urgent to plan a slight retreat, luring the ennemy into a trap or position where they will have less cover andthen re-launch a new attack momentum to break their will to fight you.
This is why most drills should focus on momentum. The team has to keep moving forwards and simply use heavier cover fire when moving into more open terrain. The momentum should be kept strong with communication and fast movement to avoid a long lasting engagement with the ennemy.
If your team becomes pinned down or locked into a fixed position, then it is urgent to plan a slight retreat, luring the ennemy into a trap or position where they will have less cover andthen re-launch a new attack momentum to break their will to fight you.
A big thanks to Mutiny shop for delivery our first patches so fast! Compared with embroided patches or PVC ones, the vinyl print guarantees a longer lifespan and no deterioration when washing the patches. This means we can keep them attached on our battlegear without fear of losing our logo to the washing machine. We ordered 6 as a test run and 4 are reserved so far. We will order them in bulk as new members join us.
Last weekend, we practiced speed reloading according to Travis Haley's advice detailed in the video below. It was great fun and we had a few misses at first. Eventually we got it right and filmed ourselves. This is definately the kind of exercice we'll include regularly in our training and during drills. We are definately thinking about recording our progress to see how much we can improve over time.
This week, we wanted to try out a new shooting drill and Travis Hakey's venti 100 shot video caught our attention. We downloaded and printed his recommended targets and set everything up. We took turns in performing the drill and video taped the first part of our efforts to emulate the master's performance:
Feedback
Even though the shooter is 'only' three yards away from the target, it is surprisingly tough to hit the small circles consistently; it takes great concentration and muscle control to get it right.
The first 5 shots are fired while closing one's eyes and this exercice helps the shoter feel his gun, anticipate recoil and instinctively reset the sights on target.
Then the shooter has to hit the top left black circle, delivering 5 slow shots. We counted as Travis suggests "1001 - shot - 1002 - shot - 1003" etc. This gave us an initial rythm that we were comfortable with as it allowed to aquire the target efficiently.
Things get harder when shooting the top right circle. The pace is quicker as we delivered shots by counting "and 1 - shot - and 2 - shot and 3 - shot" etc. This drill forced us to work on proper trigger reset and constant focus on the target during shooting.
For the bottom left circle, we accelerated our rythm and counted each shot: "1 - shot - 2 - shot - 3 shot" etc. This let us work on stabilising the gun during rapid fire. It's usually how we shoot when operating in woodland environments as tree branches, leaves and bushes have a tendency to deviate BBs from target.
The bottom right circle was pure fun. We had to deliver 5 shots on target as fast as possible which challenged us as our replicas jerked around while we struggle dto apply all our shooting fundamentals. This is where Nibbio's experience with real steel guns kicked in. He aced the drill and was kind enough to share his tips: "since we're so close to the target its good to remember our iron sight's height over the barrel and aim at the top of the target".
Grips were tightened, hop-ups were adjusted, holsters were fastened and many BBs were fired. All in all great fun!
We did not film the second part of the drill as it was quite long and we felt it might be tedious to show on camera. It took us a good hour to get through the "feel, eyes, finger drill". The exercices are very well described on the target itself and it truly helped us to understand our replicas better.
The first 25 shots make the shooter focus on his grip. The second set of 25 shots made us focus our eyes on the front iron sight: this proved a great tip as it improved our accuracy! The third set of 25 shots was the toughest; we had to focus purely on the target, barely seeing our iron sights. It made us feel the gun and focus downrange as our eyes would during a stressful skirmish. The fourth set of 25 rounds helped us stabilise our replicas by focusing on keeping our index fingers flat. This simple exercice reduced our trigger slamming and gun jerking which translates into more consistency and accuracy when firing. The last row of 5 targets was a great way conclusion to this drill: we practiced all our fundamentals and had much better results.
We woudl definately reoment Travis' training method as it delivers tangible results and left us feeling great. His drills recquire a lot of mental focus and icnreases the shooter's presence and thought, something that is rarely mentionned or emphasised in Airsoft.
Even though the shooter is 'only' three yards away from the target, it is surprisingly tough to hit the small circles consistently; it takes great concentration and muscle control to get it right.
The first 5 shots are fired while closing one's eyes and this exercice helps the shoter feel his gun, anticipate recoil and instinctively reset the sights on target.
Then the shooter has to hit the top left black circle, delivering 5 slow shots. We counted as Travis suggests "1001 - shot - 1002 - shot - 1003" etc. This gave us an initial rythm that we were comfortable with as it allowed to aquire the target efficiently.
Things get harder when shooting the top right circle. The pace is quicker as we delivered shots by counting "and 1 - shot - and 2 - shot and 3 - shot" etc. This drill forced us to work on proper trigger reset and constant focus on the target during shooting.
For the bottom left circle, we accelerated our rythm and counted each shot: "1 - shot - 2 - shot - 3 shot" etc. This let us work on stabilising the gun during rapid fire. It's usually how we shoot when operating in woodland environments as tree branches, leaves and bushes have a tendency to deviate BBs from target.
The bottom right circle was pure fun. We had to deliver 5 shots on target as fast as possible which challenged us as our replicas jerked around while we struggle dto apply all our shooting fundamentals. This is where Nibbio's experience with real steel guns kicked in. He aced the drill and was kind enough to share his tips: "since we're so close to the target its good to remember our iron sight's height over the barrel and aim at the top of the target".
Grips were tightened, hop-ups were adjusted, holsters were fastened and many BBs were fired. All in all great fun!
We did not film the second part of the drill as it was quite long and we felt it might be tedious to show on camera. It took us a good hour to get through the "feel, eyes, finger drill". The exercices are very well described on the target itself and it truly helped us to understand our replicas better.
The first 25 shots make the shooter focus on his grip. The second set of 25 shots made us focus our eyes on the front iron sight: this proved a great tip as it improved our accuracy! The third set of 25 shots was the toughest; we had to focus purely on the target, barely seeing our iron sights. It made us feel the gun and focus downrange as our eyes would during a stressful skirmish. The fourth set of 25 rounds helped us stabilise our replicas by focusing on keeping our index fingers flat. This simple exercice reduced our trigger slamming and gun jerking which translates into more consistency and accuracy when firing. The last row of 5 targets was a great way conclusion to this drill: we practiced all our fundamentals and had much better results.
We woudl definately reoment Travis' training method as it delivers tangible results and left us feeling great. His drills recquire a lot of mental focus and icnreases the shooter's presence and thought, something that is rarely mentionned or emphasised in Airsoft.
This week, we're try out Travis Haley's Venti 100 Shot wake up drill - how tight will your grouping be?
Get your target packs here:
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Our good friends at ISH Logics created an amazing logo in just a few days for our association!
Official Vinyl patches are on the way. We just ordered them from mutinyshop.com at an amazing price and they should arrive withint 5 to 15 business days!
We cannot wait to see the end result!
If you want to see how Widow Maker's handles a GBB, watch the video! We would like to thank Adrien Chanel for lending us his Ghost Action Camera. Check out his airsoft photography works here.
What an amazing day! We sided with SF 74 vs. Delta Force 74 and had so much fun playing scenarios like: team death match, capture the flag, defuse the bomb, GBB pistol death in Douvaine's kitted out terrain.
A big thanks to Delta Force 74 for inviting us!
A big thanks to Delta Force 74 for inviting us!
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