I thought I’d put up an update to round off the day’s updates.. okay so technically it starts today’s updates but who’s counting? I thought I’d mention that the present offer mentioned on the promotions page for site member’s to pickup IveryMusic’s music album at a reduced price is only going to continue for the next two weeks, so if you are interested best grab a copy now. There’s samples of all the music online over at Tim’s site so you can listen to the music the music before you buy. With the popularity of downloading MP3s it’s even harder for developing artists and musicians to break into the music scene, so if you do like the music grab yourself an issue of the CD over at IveryMusic. 
I’ve been meaning to code up something like this for a bit, but never quite got around to it. Just added to the site is a new "portal" style page. Some folks like lots of images, and some don’t so the news page itself may not be suitable for all. The new portal page isn’t a replacement but gives you perhaps a more suitable place to bookmark should you like it.
The new page pulls in the latest news, featured content, upcoming events, forums threads, and newly added web links all onto one page for dead easy viewing. The page is cached so whilst it’s live it won’t update every second simply to reduce the load on the server.
I’ve added a Google search facility to the site now that allows you to search the site quickly and easily through Google’s servers. Just use the search box on the portal page to see what you think Please do leave feedback and your thoughts in the forums here if you’d like to.
Let me preface this review by stating a simple fact, I despise the AK47, I think like the VW Beetle, the AK is simple and ugly and there are a lot of them out there. Now that I’ve offended all of the AK fans who are reading this, let me say that anyone who has ever talked with me knows that there is one AK out there that can warm my cold dead heart, that gun being the AKS74U.
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Two years after Western Arms introduced their Beretta M92FS Premium Edition models (commemorating their anniversary with Beretta) they have followed up with another set of premium edition series, but this time these models are based on their widely popular Colt M1911 line. Like the Beretta models the SCW M1911 premiums are limited production run and feature a special metallic-like finish.
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So you finally bought your first AEG, gas, or bolt airsoft gun and the next thing on your mind is shooting it. Before you can do that, you’ll need some bbs, but which weight should you buy? There are numerous weights of bbs out there available for purchase starting with weights as low as .12 gram all the way up to .88 gram carbon steel bbs. The majority of the bbs sold today are .20 gram. As you go up in weight, you will go up in price and down in quantity of your bag of ammo. But who cares about the weight of the ammo you buy? Most people want the most for their money, so why not go with the cheapest .20 gram bbs you can find?
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Well you might have heard about it, but have you tried one yourself? The propane adapter from Airsoft Innovations has taken the Airsoft world by storm this year. Now you can choose to use straight propane for your GBB should you choose. Carl sent over one of his new adapters over to me to have a play with so I put it through a heap of tests. Checkout the full review for details on how it performed and how propane compared to other gases that are available off the shelf.
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The guys at UN Company have sent me an email with all their latest updates and news in it. Rather than just rattle off what they’ve sent over I thought I’d do some digging through their latest updates and pull out the interesting items for you.
They are now stocking the Marushin 8mm “Chief Special” 3 inch in silver. I’m quite a fan of the 8mm range, although it’d be nice if Marushin improved the pivot points for the trigger mechanism and also uprated the gas seals in the grip. If the three inch model is a bit small for you there’s always the Constrictor MAXI in silver which is a blooming huge slab sided cannon.
In the more technical side of things there’s the Guarder Speed-2000 shooting chrony. I’ve yet to see one myself int he flesh, but equally never yet seen a poor Guarder product so don’t doubt that it’s a worthwhile purchase. In my own opinion though at 120USD though there are other chronographs in the same price range that should be considered before you jump after one.
For any hardcore players out there (or jsut for folks that like new toys) King Arms are producing pace counters in OD and black. It’s not much more than a piece of para-cord with some beads on it, but to those in the know it’s useful when you need it. If you’re after the new Tanio Koba parts for the Hi-Capa 5.1 range UNCo have most of them in stock at the moment, including the compensators and “one touch joint” parts. There’s more there, and it’s all listed on their front page, so do have a look through it all if you’re after something.
Airsoft Scotland have two new playthings on their pages. First up is the CO2 powered mini UZI that everyone’s after, and secondly there’s a prebuilt G36K based on the TM AEG:
KWC Mini Uzi – Export Version
This is genuinely scary!A full metal, CO2 powered Mini Uzi from KWC. Very heavy at approx. 3 kg, with stunningly realistic recoil this is truly a collectors item.
Powered by 12g CO2 powerlets, which are readily available, this has to be one of the best version of any Uzi variant available.
Please be aware that, due it’s design and it’s unstinting use of CO2, this gun produces at least 450 fps at the muzzle with 0.2g BBs, which means that most UK sites will feel it’s a little, ‘hot’ for skirmishing. Moreover, it will use a full powerelet to empty a single magazine on full auto.
The above suggests (to us at least) that this may not be an ideal skirmishing weapon, however as a replica of this famous sub-machine gun it is hard to beat, and as a plinker it is, quite simply, awesome. The recoil and muzzle crack have to be experienced to be believed, and bear in mind that all of this can be yours for less than £155!
It is supplied in its’ own hard case with full instructions, a loading rod, and all necessary tools to load the CO2 powerlets and adjust the hop up
Price: £154.95
TM G36K with optical carry handle
Here is a chance to get your hands on a stonkingly nice G36 with a bunch of extras.Starting with a TM36C, this has a Star K kit fitted, which includes an extended foregrip, longer
outer barrel with 4 prong flash hider and a full-length tight inner barrel.
To this, we have added a G&P carry handle with fitted 3.5 magnification optical sight.The result we think is rather special.
Not only does it look good though, with a high stock muzzle velocity allied to the longer, tighter barrel, this is something of a nail driver.
Not to be missed!
Price: £375.00
(Airsoft Scotland)
The guys at Airsoft Retreat have added some more new content to their site of late which is always nice to see. New up over there is an article covering how to make your own BB trap, a review of the TM G36c, CA CA36c large battery foregrip review, a review of the S.C.W. M1911A1, an article that covers the Y&P Glock series, and an article about radio accessories. Check out their site for more on the latest updates.
Pat over at Airsoft Hawaii has dropped me a quick email to let everyone know that the April issue of Ballistic is online now over at their website. The new issue covers all the usual news announcements and specials, details on ‘gear up for AshBash’, a review of the TM G18 AEP, an article on how silencers work, X-Fire’s new SPRII springs, and news from Hawaii. Checkout the latest issue for all the latest info.
I’ve just been sent a press release from AS4L (Airsoft 4 Less) concerning a new type of Airsoft grenade that’s coming from Escort Co. of Japan:
Ehime, Japan (March 2005): Escort Co. LTD to release revolutionary airsoft grenade. The Escort Co. of Japan, known for their development of the Shoei blowback system, has announced they’re development of a new revolutionary gas powered airsoft grenade. The new grenade uses a completely new gas system. Using the gas of your choice the grenade is able to fire 30 6mm BBs, 15 8mm BBs, or a powder load of your choice at a range of over 30 feet. The mechanism is simple and designed to mimic the real unit. When the pin is pulled the spoon is flipped upward on a hinge, as to not become lost, and the grenade begins its countdown. The countdown is adjustable between instant mode for booby traps, impact mode, or time delay mode. The delay is adjustable between 1-30 seconds.
This new system is very robust and is built to withstand the forces exerted during average airsoft activities. This new airsoft grenade will be available for sale outside of Japan in early Summer 2005. The initial model will be based on the US M26 “Lemon” style grenade with others to follow, including smoke units and shock grenades. Price is not available at this time. Contact: Paul at sales@as4l.com for more information.
Specs:
Hyper-realistic pull-pin design,
reusable,
able to fire 30 6mm BBs / 15 8mm BBs or powder,
adjustable timer,
30-foot range (on 134),
gas powered (134, r22, propane),
metal fuse construction,
plastic safety shell,
safe. AS4L
KSC have decided that there’s not enough STi pistols out there are the moment, and are launching three new varients of their own including a 4.3in Sea Hawk, 5.5in Eagle (with a purple grip?) and a competition style Hybrid Eagle complete with compensator.
Actaully in fairness it looks like it’s a 10 year anniversary of some type, although I can’t make out more than that from the logo. The Sea Hawk 4.3 will retail at 20,475 Yen, the Eagle 5.5 Longslide at 21,000 Yen, and the Eagle 5.5 Hybrid SL at 24,150 Yen. There’s no details on performance and any other specs yet, but I don’t expect them to be any different from what you’d expect really.
If you want to watch it, there’s a flash movie over at KSC that covers the promotion of the new range.
Marushin have updated their pages with three new variants on current designs of theirs. Firstly there’s a new chrome M500 8mm Mossberg replica (I love the M500s myself) and then there’s two different 8mm revolvers. The two revolvers are both M36 variants but with differing barrel lengths (there’s a 2 inch and a 3 inch model), both take the fake 8mm shells and are thus limited to the capacity of their real counterparts.
ICS have added a new product to their pages and are joining the many folks that make their own versions of the ANGS/Moscart styled gas grenades, plus their own branded launcher which should be good for anyone in the USA with import issues over the other Colt branded models out there:
M4 & M16 series are filled in Airsoft Electric Gun market and its peripheral parts and redecorate assembly are also repletion. And in all assembly, M203 Grenade Launcher is the most attractive product in nowadays.
In the real war, M203 Grenade Launcher can provide more effective fire support than other guns; therefore, the M203 Grenade Launcher is well-known and popular in special forces.
In order to provide you an efficient attack while the enemy hides in back of the ditch with good cover, we strongly believe ICS M203 Grenade Launcher is your best choice to solve your problem.
The main body receiver of ICS M203 Grenade Launcher is cut by a piece of aluminum alloy and the barrel is made by plastic. The length is 12 inch. There are 9 wholes in grenade and it is cut by whole aluminum alloy as well. Each whole can load 5 BB pellets inside. You can shoot 45 BB pellets at one time.
One of the best advantages of ICS M203 Grenade Launcher is that you can load less BB and have greater shooting range. The shooting range has reached 30~50 meters to hurt the enemy far away. Furthermore, the other good advantage is that before you load the ICS Grenade, you only need to unscrew the grenade 2~4 circle and it will close the piston automatically. This is the advantage that others without it. ICS M203 Grenade Launcher is your best choice! (I Chih Shivan)
Hudson have updated their pages with details of their gas operated blowback M1 Garand, plus some shots and a video of it operating. Featuring a new gas operation system of their own design the rifle ejects the full capacity of eight shells in the same format that the real rifle does, and then finally spits out the clip at the end of the action.
The rifle runs on compressed air (6-6.5kg/cm3 according to their pages) supplied from an external source. As far as I’m aware this is only a model gun, and not an Airsoft but for any reinactors or avid collectors out there this is one M1 you might not want to miss. The sound of the clip ejecting certainly sounds very authentic, although obviously the realistic sound of rounds being fired is lacking.
The full video is available for download here and will require Windows Media player (or something that can play .wmv files). It’s only a 600kb download and quite worth watching. The rifle will debut on Sunday March 27th at the Victory Show with 30 units up for reservation/grabs (more details here).