Going Out With a BANG - Part 2

In Part 1 we discussed Airsoft Pyrotechnics. To add realism to Airsoft games, these provide a weaker version of the "real steel" smoke grenades and flash-bangs, that are used in real life situations by law enforcement agencies and the military.  Like fireworks, these are activated by an igniter of some description and emit smoke, light or bangs until the chemical mix is used up and they burn themselves out.

In this post, we are going to cover the subject of Reusable Grenades.

These are grenades which go bang (rather than the smoke or flash type) and as the name suggests, they can be used again and again. Their main advantage is a lower "through-life-cost", although some initial investment is required to buy the hardware.

There are many types and variations but they all commonly use some form of explosive cartridge or propellant, loaded in the grenade, to create the bang.

Some players feel that reusables are also more realistic-looking than their cheaper pyro counterparts.
The main disadvantage is that once your grenade has gone bang and you have achieved your desired "kill", you have to go and retrieve the unit. Sometimes this isn't easy in the heat of battle and occasionally they do go missing or get lost in the undergrowth. If you are careless, the high replacement costs do not necessarily make them a cheaper option.

For the purpose of this comparison, we are going to focus on grenades requiring an initial outlay of less than £100.

Reusable grenades can be powered by gas (usually Carbon Dioxide or Propane) or primer cartridges.

In terms of detonation, some work on impact (by striking a hard surface such as a wall or floor inside a building) and some work on a timer basis. It should be noted that the impact type often need a hard surface, so they aren't always a good choice if you intend to play on grass, the forest floor or soft indoor flooring such as carpet tiles or crash mats.

This blog post will also concern itself primarily with grenades that you throw. There are also grenade launchers and mines which although related, are a slightly different subject and probably best left for another day.


PART 2

OHSHIBOOM - IMPACT BFG

The OSB Shock is a relatively new Blank Firing Grenade or BFG, designed by a couple of British Airsofters.
This is an impact grenade and so has to strike a solid surface. It can work with either shotgun blanks or 9mm blanks and is available in a wide range of colours.

The head is designed to wobble on its mounting and it can be a bit fiddly to get the safety pin in. The makers suggest using a coin or expended blank to help.

Cost: £65 - £78

TRMR - IMPACT BFG

The TRMR or Tactical Reloadable Maritime Ready is a real steel device designed for use by maritime boarding crews countering piracy and other bad guys at sea. It can withstand being submersed in salt water and can carry a range of munitions from the real stuff down to Airsoft blanks. The UK supplier, JD Airsoft offers shotgun primers for airsofting use.

Although still an impact grenade, intended to be thrown on to a ships deck,  one of the advantages of this design is its simplicity. There are no pins to lose or spoons to worry about. The unit opens into two parts, allowing the blank to be inserted. It is then armed by just twisting the two halves. Reloading is therefore easy and rapid re-deployment can be achieved.

Some users have stated that it's easy to get the material of your gloves or skin caught between the two halves if you are a bit enthusiastic with the twisting, so care is needed. However, on the plus side, they say the mil-spec quality provides a solid, well engineered product.

Cost: £80

THUNDER-B TIMED GRENADE

These grenades use CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) 12g cylinders and they work on a timed basis once the pin is pulled. These are more cost effective than the BFGs and they operate like a real grenade in that you have to pull the safety pin, release the spoon and throw them. They usually detonate about 3-5 seconds after release.
As shown in the photograph above, you can buy them as a kit comprising of one mechanism (one striker head, cylinder cover and pin) with 12 disposable plastic outer shells. The mechanism is reusable but you will destroy the plastic shell  with each detonation and have to replace the CO2 cylinder each time.

The Thunder-B grenades are very loud (130dB) and you will need to be very careful of damaging peoples hearing if you plan to do CQB in confined spaces with them - they are possibly better for open air games. I have also heard comments about them being a little temperamental.

Cost: £40 for 12 plus approx £7 for the 12 x CO2 cylinders

TORNADO IMPACT GRENADE

These are powered by the same type of gas as you would use for a GBB Airsoft weapon and scatter around 200 BB's at your enemies with each detonation. They are reusable and you just have to charge them with gas each time and load the BB's.
These aren't very loud when compared to the previous type of reviewed grenades but the BB's disperse typically around 5m from the detonation point. If you believe the reviews you see on You Tube,  they should also explode on softer surfaces like grass . The trigger mechanism takes a little time to reset and the process is a bit finicky so this is probably best done in the safe zone rather than the field. You need to ensure you don't lose the pin and keep them scrupulously clean for reliability.

Cost: £80

Note: There is also a timed version at the same cost.

SWAT BFGX IMPACT GRENADE

This is another BFG. Its very simple to load - you simply unscrew the top, insert the blank (9mm), replace the cap, take the pin out and throw !!

This SWAT model is made in the UK and needs a drop of 1-3 feet on to a hard surface. Once discharged, the pin is easy to get back into the cannister. The BFGX needs to be struck on the nose end and I've heard reports of these not going off if they land on their side. It's also worth attaching the removable pin to a lanyard connected to your body (not supplied with the unit) - this will avoid you losing the pin.
An ejection tool is usually included with each BFGX to help you get the spent cartridge out.
Don't let these get wet or lubricate them as this will affect reliability.

Cost: £80



NOTES:

1. Unless it expressly says so, the costs shown above excludes the gas or blanks required for detonations.

2. Costs are taken from various UK retailers at time of writing and are designed to provide a comparative guide. You may pay more; you may pay less.

3. Reusable grenades are quite expensive compared to primary devices. Its worth sticking reflective tape on the outside to make them easier to recover in low light and dark corners (if you use a torch, the light should reflect off the tape !!).

4. Timed grenades aren't much use if the enemy can see you about to throw it - they will try to run - use an impact grenade instead !!
It's better to use the timed type if they do not see you. As the timed type don't need to be dropped on to a hard surface, you can stealthily roll them into a room and catch everybody unprepared.

5. Do check with your Airsoft site to see if you will be allowed to use specific grenade products. It can vary.

6. Give some thought as to how you will use your grenade - will you always have two hands available ?
If your Airsoft rifle or SMG is not attached to you on a sling, will you be able to activate your chosen grenade type, one handed ??

After reading this brief description of the different types, its worth drawing up a short list of the models that appeal most and then watch all the You Tube reviews online in order to hone your opinion, before placing orders.

Happy Hunting..

Going Out With a BANG - Part 1

Pyrotechnics (or Pyro's as they are affectionately known by "softers" everywhere) is an interesting facet of the hobby. Although not directly connected to the Airsoft weapons themselves, they are used to enhance game-play and the Airsofting experience.

In the real military world, explosives generally take the form of a measured explosive charge. Many explosives are pretty inert until they are matched with something like another chemical substance or a form of detonator.

In Airsoft we have a more basic range of non-lethal things that fizzle or go bang. Prior to Airsoft, I thought of the word pyrotechnics as being primarily related to fireworks, distress flares or the things that special effects guys use on movies or on stage.

The Airsoft industry has developed and adapted a range of pyro's to meet the growing need for realism.

These range from smoke grenades, through to thunderflashes that go bang and on to fragment grenades that spray BB's or dried peas around them when they explode.

The main conundrum with these is juggling the need for realism and effect with the requirement to be safe. Airsoft is about fun - there is no point having pyro's that are so powerful, they pepper you with BB wounds like buckshot or make your ears bleed with the percussion.

Here is a guide that I made for my own education which sifts and sorts the various types of Airsoft pyrotechnics available in the UK where I live and play Airsoft.

Part 1 covers pyrotechnic devices which are designed to be used only once.
Part 2 which will come at a later date, will cover devices which can be reloaded and reused.

PART 1

DISTRACTION

Flash Pyro's make a bang and sometimes a little light. Many sites count these as having the same effect as a grenade and will impose an imaginary kill radius. For example, you might consider yourself hit if one of these goes off 5m or less from you.

Examples:
Mk5 Thunderflash - loud bang (typical 120dB at 10m range) using a friction igniter
Flash Grenade - white flash and  loud bang (typical 120dB at 5m range) using a friction igniter

Typical cost £2-3 each

FRAG GRENADES

Sometimes also called a Ball Grenade, these explode and shower clay BB's or dried peas all around.
Some products are bio-degradable.  Grenades tend to use either a friction igniter where you have to strike the inside of the cap (striker plate) across the fuse on the top of the main body or a ring pull igniter.
Typical range of 4-5m. Most sites will impose a kill radius of 5m, irrespective of whether you get "fragged".

Typical cost £3-4 each

THERMOBARIC

By definition, "real steel" Thermobaric devices typically use the surrounding Oxygen to "stoke" the chemical reaction. Thermo = Heat; Baric = Pressure. In Airsoft these low power versions are typically used indoors in a CQB environment as they produce more of a thud, but they have the benefit of a bright flash.
Apparently, they're ideal for room clearing. The igniter is also of the friction type.
Some manufacturers also produce a multi-bang version which provides the initial thud and flash followed by some thunderflash bangs which are similar to a Mk5 response.

Typical cost £3.50 each or £5.50 for the multi-bang.

MULTI-BURST

These are more expensive than the Thermobaric devices mentioned above, but they have a realistic spoon pull, just like the real thing and provide smoke, flash and multiple bangs. Again these are primarily designed for room clearing in CQB. They are about £12 each, so more for the hard-core or wealthy Airsofter.
Just to confuse the issue, it is also possible to buy the standard Thermobaric in this cannister type (i.e. with the spoon) but the cost is still over £10 each.

Don't confuse multi-burst and multi-bang.

SMOKE GRENADE

Smoke Grenades are designed to provide cover and effectively smoke screen you from the other team. Some sites also use the coloured ones as poison gas and if you come into contact with the smoke as it drifts downwind, it can be regarded as a hit. Alternatively and to save confusion, some sites just use a kill radius to define a poison gas hit.

There are different colours, intensities and ignition types available on the market.

It is often crucial to make smoke quickly, especially in the heat of battle when an assault or escape is needed and different models have variable make smoke delays and different burn duration times.

Be aware that smokes can be single or twin sided. The single side ones vent smoke from just one end while the twin side devices vent smoke from both ends. Normally the twins start smoking quicker and are more intense in their smoke generation.

You can also buy burst smokes which erupt smoke very quickly and some high output ones which are designed to bridge the gap between a standard smoke and the real military ones (e.g Enola Gaye EG18).

As well as the standard friction cap igniters, It's also possible to get wire or ring pull igniters.

Typical cost £2-5



On July 4th 2013, CE marking came into force and now any new pyrotechnic product has to be CE marked before it can be sold in Europe

CE marking means that samples of the product have to be physically tested by an independent body who declare that it:

* Conforms with the declared design
* Contains only chemicals that have been declared in the design
* Is safe
* Functions correctly and safely even after being submitted to thermal and mechanical stresses.

Some manufacturers and importers have been obliged to modify their products to get them CE approved.

From a safety point of view, it could be a good idea to check for a CE mark before you buy, especially if the price seems cheaper than expected. Also, different skirmish sites have different rules for pyro's, so always check they will allow you to use your chosen device before you waste your money.

COMING UP in Part 2 - Reusable Grenades

The Rifle That Doesn't Know Left From Right

The Beretta ARX160 Assault Rifle is part of a new breed of automatic weapon.

Developed in 2008, it is part of the Soldato Futuro program and is the result of joint collaboration between the Italian Army and and Italian company Beretta. Beretta are famous for their type 92 pistol and their tactical shotguns.

Umarex are now selling an Airsoft AEG version of the weapon, which is made for them by S&T Arnament.

The real steel version is still quite new to the arms arena but is slowly gaining ground outside the Italian military. The ARX160 has some interesting features which set it apart from the other kids on the block.

Weighing just over 3Kg, this largely polymer rifle has dual ejection ports, which means the user can determine which side the spent cartridges are ejected from. Similarly, the charging handle can be operated on either side. Together with an ambidextrous magazine release and fire selector, the ARX160 is ideal for either left or right hand shooters, as the standard rifle can be adapted in less than a minute by the user.

In addition, barrels can be swapped by the user in a similar time frame which makes it possible to quickly switch between the shorter 12" barrel for close combat and the longer 16" barrel for more open engagements.

The rifle needs minimal lubrication and can be stripped down without special tools. There are no retaining pins to fall out or get lost.

The iron sights are spring loaded so flip down when not needed or to avoid damage when struck and the stock is retractable and can be swung to one side for CQB work.

Available in 5.56 x 45mm or 7.62 x 39mm NATO calibres, the ARX160 comes with four mounting rails and a wide range of accessory and mission options including the underslung Beretta GLX160 Grenade Launcher, a bayonet and what Beretta call their Tricompensator. This is a suppressor-looking device which is attached to its own barrel section and is fitted when needed just like a new barrel. As the name suggests, it has three purposes - that of suppressor, muzzle brake and flash hider.

The Umarex Airsoft version is officially licensed by Beretta so it has the trades and is available in black only.
It is currently being offered by eHobby Asia in the longer barrel version (which takes 14mm CCW attachments) at USD 325. Lets hope it makes it to the UK retailers.

The Airsoft version

Demonstration of the real thing on You Tube

The SCAR - a Marmite Rifle ?

The FN Herstal SCAR has been with us for about five years. Originally developed to take advantage of a US requirement to replace their M4 and older M16 rifles, it found itself in a shoot-off with two other manufacturers.

The US eventually purchased a quantity of what they call the MK16, the 5.56mm version of the SCAR. In a slightly baffling set of events, the deliveries were eventually halted and the MK16's replaced. The authorities suggested the order cancellation was a funding issue.

However, the American forces have since continued with the Mk17 which is the 7.62mm SCAR variant and there is even talk of a mod kit which allows the MK17 to handle both calibre's of ammunition.

The SSR or MK20 Sniper Support Rifle is a derivative of the Mk17 and is capable of a sub-minute angular accuracy out to and beyond 1,000 yards. The Real Steel SSR features an extended receiver rail for mounting in-line night vision and thermal devices with standard/sniper optics. It also has an enhanced adjustment-free trigger that is rugged enough for field use but precise enough for long-range target engagement.

The cosmetics of the SCAR seem to make it something of a Marmite rifle amongst Airsofters - you either love it or hate it.
Often an initial weapons choice for "softing" is based on looks or perceptions and the appearance of the SCAR could be considered to be an acquired taste.

A number of manufacturers produce a SCAR replica and these include varied offerings from G&G, Umarex/VFC, WE, D-Boys, Tokyo Marui and CA.

As you can see above, VFC also produce a replica of the SSR.

Certainly the ergonomic benefits of the SCAR make it a winner in my book. I particularly like the side mounted charging handle as opposed to the rear mounted one on the M4. While VFC have added reality by designing their weapon to strip down like real steel, all makers offer the elephantine SCAR signature stock with its extendability and adjustable cheek rest. Some models also provide the facility to switch the charging handle to the opposite side, just like the real thing.
It's interesting that some like the G&G allow the stock to be swung to the side and locked into position, which is added reality.

Despite the bitter-sweet tale with US SOCOM, FN have sold their rifle to the military users of a number of other nations which includes the French and Belgian special forces, the Chilean Marines, the Peruvian and New Zealand armies and even the German Police in the back yard of messrs Heckler and Koch.

From an Airsofting perspective, it must be said that the SCAR poses a viable combat assault rifle alternative for those players who like M4 and HK416 loadouts.


Now its just a question of choosing which Airsoft maker ??

Who said "softing" was easy..........

The Pink Riot

Plethora of Pink Airsoft Guns - photo courtesy of Deskpoper.com 

Girls have played Airsoft for years.
In the far east where Airsoft started, they even air Animé movies about it.
In Japan, a TV channel broadcast Stella Women's Academy, an animated movie about a schoolgirl who joins her school Airsoft club.
Stella and her classmates are cute wide-eyed animé girls who play in pink jackets and pleated skirts.

So Airsoft is officially cool and an increasing number of female players are regulars at UK Airsoft sites.

Why ?

Do girls play for the same reasons as the boys ?

Its a difficult question and one can easily drift into sexism in trying to answer it. I can only reply from my personal observations and opinions.

There are some really good female players out there and why shouldn't they be. Many of the successful female players I've seen pose a smaller silhouette than the guys they shoot with, they are more agile and often quite ruthless when it comes to winning - I've seen situations when a guy will momentarily hesitate to shoot a girl player at short range, running some fairer sex stuff in his head and she just lights him up.

In my own experience, I've seen few women over the age of thirty playing unless they are there with spouses or boyfriends. Teams of girls in the 18-25 age group seem quite popular, but they seem to be focussed differently. While the guys are dressing like a US Navy SEAL in the latest CAM and high tech head gear or skirmishing rigged out as a Russian WW2 sniper, the girl teams seem to tone down the military associations and go more for the matching team look. Perhaps girls see Airsoft more as a competitive team sport rather than a chance to play war ??

Pink and purple airsoft weapons seem to be gaining in popularity and my local retailer was telling me recently how they are selling pink M4 variants like hot cakes.

Personally, I am grateful for those ladies who fight with pink guns and their hair and faces uncovered - it gives me a chance to see something of the other team in the dark recesses of the local woodland site. Their desire for chic apparel and looking good out on the battlefield often means that pink guns, shiny faces and trailing blonde hair often helps my old eyes discern them from the foliage. Mind you, I've still been rinsed by a few, which probably says more about my playing skills than them.

For the final opinion, I asked my wife why she thought that there weren't so many mature women playing Airsoft.

She said it was because men have bugger all else to do on a Sunday and women are always busy having to do something more important.

Fair enough...

Courtesy of Gainax Company

Medic Rules OK

Medics of the Norwegian Royal Guard - Thanks Kjetil Ree

The medic rule is often woven into the fabric of Milsims. Not only does this introduce further realism to the game, it can also save a lot of walking to the "Respawn" area, especially in large area games.

The actual rules vary from site to site and there is some imaginative leeway for organisers to embellish the basic application. However, most sites work on the understanding that when a player is hit, an appointed medic may attend and get them back into the game, without the player having to move from where they fell.

It is usual for a certain number of players on any milsim team to be ordained as medics in a kind of dual fighting role. This often means that the loadout for medic can be slightly different - after all, carrying a long assault rifle isn't always that easy when you are trying to tend the wounded, is it ?

Typical game rules involve the medic having to attend the player for a minimum amount of time or perform a task such as tying on a bandage to the wounded player.

Variations of this include but are not limited to:

* The medic having five minutes to attend the wounded soldier, after which time they are dead and have to manually respawn
* Players only having one medic respawn opportunity, after which they have to trudge back to the respawn area
* The medic having a limited number of bandages
* The medic doesn't use bandages and has to hold the patients arm up, drip like, for 30 seconds
* The wounded player has to be taken to a place of cover to receive medical attention by a medic. To avoid stretcher scenarios and the risk of dropping people, the rescuing player has to put two hands on the wounded person and walk back with them (or if there are two rescuers, they each lay a hand on and escort back). Once the wounded person is out of the line of fire, the team medic can use any of the above to revive the player.

Crying Out Loud

If you watch videos of Airsoft milsim games, the two things that usually make the action unrealistic are the pathetic noises that many Airsoft weapons make when fired - something like a Singer sewing machine and that when people are hit and put their hand in the air, they just look like they need the toilet. Although practical and accepted in a skirmish, they tend to erode the realism that milsimmers adore.

Its hard to do anything about the noise of AEG weapons (another post, another day) and many GoPro movies on You Tube have pounding rock music background soundtracks to cover this up. However, is there a case for the wounded to drop to the ground with "hurt" sound effects and at least lie still ?? - some games have their "wounded" players place a red cloth over their head so the other players don't keep lighting them up !!
Of course its debatable and probably a subject for Facebook groups, but I think I would rather see soldiers dropping with a blood curdling scream or just an "Aargh" rather than a traditional hand-raising and calling out hit in a usually tired and slightly irritated voice (especially if you've just been hit for the 97th time that day).

Loadouts

Although many players in the medic role just wear their normal garb, maybe with the addition of a red cross armband, some really get into the role and build up their own medic loadout.
Not all players want or are able to run around like Arnie on Steroids and being a medic can be a great role for those who want to be in the game but play more of a support role than being in the front line all the time.

Although many "real steel" combat medics wear the same uniform as the rest of their squad and are only differentiated by their medic rucksacks, there is nothing to stop a player going for the full heli-medic look or choosing weapons and sidearms to assist with the role. For example, personal defence weapons and sidearms are a lot easier to handle when you need both hands free to dish out medical aid.

Whatever you decide to be, participating in milsims can often be more realistic and enriched with some players fulfilling support roles such as medics, support gunners and sappers. Isn't that one of the things that separates milsims from shoot-em-up's ?

To take part in discussion about this subject, join our Airsoft SOFSIM group on Facebook @

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BattleTac for Milsimmers

Blue Force Tracking is a largely US inspired  system which allows a military force to see the location of friendly units. At its simplest, it comprises of a screen terminal, GPS and some form of data communications such as a secure radio or satellite link. Each BFT equipped unit, whether it be a soldier, vehicle or aircraft, periodically transmits its location to all the other friendly units on the comms network. Friendly units are displayed on a map screen.

BFT has been in use for around ten years and has proven invaluable in improving communications between units and reducing the incidence of Blue on Blue casualties.

Inspired by this, some enterprising Hungarian individuals developed BattleTac a few years back.

This is effectively simplified BFT for Airsofters.

How Does it Work

BattleTac is designed as an app which will run on iOS or Android devices like tablets and smartphones.
The device to be used needs to have internet connectivity through a SIM card and either a buiilt-in or external Bluetooth connected GPS.

The principle is that all or selected players in your Airsoft force have the app on their smartphones while they are playing. If they each type in a password known only to you and them, they will share secure communications through their data-links. Each BattleTac equipped player types in a user name and chosen icon and this will allow them to see each others location on the map. In the example above, you can see that there is one player (sofsim) located on the parade ground and the commander has identified two key objects; the safe zone (also marked in blue as it is friendly) and the anticipated position of the enemy - the red team.

If you had six equipped players on your team, you would see six blue icons, showing their identification and their location on the map.

Very often, commanders in larger milsims are equipped with a larger screen tablet like an iPad and sit in a command centre bunker or field tent, monitoring their smartphone equipped troops.

Custom maps can be made and uploaded as shown in the example above or players can choose to use default Google mapping or satellite imagery. The later can put a greater data loading on the smartphone as it will try to refresh the digit hungry imagery as the player moves around.

To provide greater realism, the icons represent the NATO APP-6A military symbols for land based units.
An infantryman is a blue square with a cross inside, Special Forces is a blue square with SF inside it and so on.

In all fairness, BattleTac is more suited to a slow paced milsim rather than a skirmish, but it adds an extra level of realism to missions.

It is also possible to have the Head Up Display or HUD selected. This provides the player with a compass and ranging presentation which will show the range and bearing of friendly players by placing their icon in the correct place. If the player looking at his HUD places his smartphone vertically and spins round 360 Degrees, he will see where his team mates are in a three dimensional sense. Some players have even secured the smartphone on a bracket on their Airsoft rifle, in order to assist them to avoid friendly fire when aiming their weapon.

"Radio" Messages

Another useful feature of BattleTac is the incorrectly termed radio messages. Incorrect because it enables players to communicate silently with each other by using data communications, similar to a form of SMS messaging rather than true radio communications like we are familiar with on PMR446.

As it's quite difficult to type on a small smartphone screen when you are taking cover from enemy fire, the system contains a series of templates. These are short messages preloaded by the player which allow the player to just click on them to send a message to his or her team mates, thus saving laborious typing on a small virtual keyboard. Although not a complete replacement for PMR446, it does have the benefit of being rangeless, secure and silent. As we know, PMR446 has a very poor range, can be eavesdropped by the other team and radios are not the quietest of devices.

Settings

Each BattleTac equipped device has the ability to be programmed with a number of settings. This is done by the user through a simple Menu (the button for this is seen above in the top left of the screen photo).
Typical settings include user name and password, the chosen data channel (8 are available for each team), the security code to provide secure comms for your team, position update interval and custom screen detail including mapping choices.

During a game, it is also possible for a player to indicate if they are wounded, dead or in trouble (SOS). This can be very useful if you have medic rules in your game or need to be casevac'd.

It is also possible to post orders on the shared map such as instructions to proceed to a highlighted destination or to indicate enemy movement, perhaps based on just received intel...


Protection

We all know what BB's can do to hard objects like our teeth, so it makes sense to protect your valuable smartphone. There are various trains of thought on this, but one idea is to wear a wrist mounted map case, which allows the terminal to be studied effortlessly, but still maintains some physical protection when the BBs fly.
This is the Warrior Tactical Wrist Case sold in the UK by companies like UK Tactical.

Link: Warrior Tactical Wrist Case

To take part in discussion about this subject, join our Airsoft SOFSIM group on Facebook @

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