Airsoft International

27/01/2025

It's meme Monday!

Funny story about this one. This photo has kind of swept the Internet for years in various memes, and is hardly a new one.

That said, did you know that the photo is actually one we took? Rewind some 20-odd years and the team at AI played at a site called Ambush Adventures in Cobham. This photo was taken around that time, when AI was in its fledgling years and the photo is of the guy who ran the on-site store at the time. If you're a long time reader of AI, you might even recognise the GPMG in the background as it was featured in one of our very first 'So You Wannabe...' articles.

The site is no more, but this photo will no doubt live on forever!

24/01/2025

UKTactical (www.uktactical.com) have a great range of UF PRO gear in now!

Before the company started the UF PRO brand, they were known only under their company name UNI&FORMA. UNI&FORMA was founded 1997 in Slovenia with the vision to make high-performance garment systems for large organisations. They soon started to supply the biggest government organizations in Slovenia, such as the Slovenian Military, Police, Customs and many others.

With almost two decades of experience of manufacturing outdoor clothing systems for professional end-users, UF PRO started to work with smaller LE and military units, who approached them with even higher demands for qualitative and functional tactical outdoor apparel.

Out of these projects the idea of the UF PRO brand was born.

With new product concepts, innovative technologies and never before seen features, UF PRO soon became one of the most innovative brands in the high-end tactical clothing industry. Today they are extremely proud and honoured that highly specialised military and LE units, whose lives depend on their gear, choose UF PRO.

Check out UK Tactical's UF PRO range here!

https://www.uktactical.com/uf-pro

20/01/2025

Monday would usually be a time for memes... but today, today its time to announce that the AI-500 tickets are up for general sale! Head over to https://www.ai-mag.com/product-category/events/ to get yours!

The Early Bird tickets are available for £110, and will be available for a short period of time. Once these are sold out the remaining tickets will be available at £120.

16/01/2025

As we mentioned on Tuesday, things were progressing with the AI-500 and a potential site. Well, things progressed a lot quicker than we thought following a site visit this week, and we're pleased to announce that this years' AI-500 will be held at Flambards Theme Park in Helston, Cornwall on the weekend of the 11th April!

The site is honestly breath-taking, sitting at around twice the size of Cleethorpe Amusement Park; a previous location for the AI-500.

Pricing for the event will be tiered. Those who attended Anzio Point and AI subscribers will be eligible for a ticket at £100. These tickets will be available until the 20th January, however can be extended provided we are given the heads up. All information about these tickets will be available on the Discord page that was set up for Anzio Point.

Tickets for new players will begin at £110 as an Early Bird price, rising to £120 after the first 100 tickets have sold.

There will be ample space for on-site sleeping, along with power, a canteen running on the Saturday and Sunday, and a fully licensed bar on the Friday and Saturday nights.

For more information, head over to our website - https://www.ai-mag.com/ai-500-confirmed-for-april-location-flambards-theme-park-cornwall/

15/01/2025

Ever been in a situation where having a little First Aid knowledge may have been beneficial? I think the majority of us have.

While over half a decade ago, a gentleman suffered a heart attack at The Gaol. Thankfully, the marshall team were trained, and were able to administer First Aid to ensure the gentleman was alive to tell the tale. However, this event could have ended up with the loss of a life. With that in mind, the event sparked us to write a feature on basic First Aid over the course of thirteen issues within AI, written by now editor CJ who has experience within the field having taken part in training on two occasions; first in his youth when working as a Lifeguard, followed up by a refresher course with St. John's Ambulance some years later.

We've recently revisited this series of articles, with the first appearing in Volume 20 Issue 7 of Airsoft International. If you're interested, head over to our website for a snippet of the first article.

DISCLAIMER
This is not a training qualification or any form of certification for First Aid, but a quick overview. The following information should be used only to accompany information provided in a certifiable First Aid course. It is always recommended that individuals gain an official First Aid certificate through the correct and current channels.

14/01/2025

With 2025 comes the promise of a new AI-500 event. We've had a lot of questions in regard to when the next event may be and where it is. Rest assured we're already planning with a provisional date in April looking to be the go ahead provided everything goes to plan.

We're already in talks with a couple of quite frankly INCREDIBLE sites, and with the success of Anzio Point in terms of it being based around objective led gameplay, you'll be pleased to know we'll be continuing with that going forward.

Moving on to Anzio Point, unfortunately we weren't able to get much imagery of the event (CJ's camera died a horrible death on the Friday), but what we did get is below!

We look forward to releasing more information on the next event, so keep your ears and eyes peeled!

13/01/2025

We spent some time this weekend with the team from Stirling Airsoft who were putting on a training event focusing on undercover surveillance in a live environment, urban close-quarters techniques, and rappelling.

While we were unable to get stuck in with them, we took great appreciation from the level of organisation, quality of drills and generally the appreciation from each and every member attending in regard to what the guys at Stirling Airsoft offer.

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it definitely appeals to a whole heap of airsoft players who are looking to take the next step in their airsoft journey; either by getting involved with the high quality training drills on offer, or to get stuck in at one of Stirling's MILSIM events.

If the above sounds like its up your street, head over to www.stirlingairsoft.com to find out more!

11/01/2025

The voting period for the Popular Airsoft Players' Choice Awards closes on Monday!

It's been a while since we've sat at the top of the pile, but we'd definitely love to get back there. That said, that is only doable with the help of you!

The voting is done here - https://survey.popularairsoft.com/limesurvey/index.php?r=survey/index&sid=955658

Head over and give us a vote if you think we're worthy winners, and don't forget to vote for the other great UK-based airsoft manufacturers, retailers and everything else in between.

10/01/2025

Things are changing on the AI website! We've completely revamped our Subscription service on the website, making the process much easier to navigate.

Simply head over to https://www.ai-mag.com/product/subscribe-now/ and you can subscribe on a monthly basis for £3.50 p/m.

Furthermore, we currently have a sale on for January, meaning it'll only cost you £2.50 this month. There will also be a range of benefits for AI subscribers such as discounts to the AI-500, giveaways and much, much more!

Head over to the website now and get involved!

09/01/2025

Multitools are usually associated with emergency fixes and getting yourself out of a scrape. The general conception though is that most situations would be better served with a dedicated tool, but the 'Jack of all trades' Multitool can get you out of a tight spot but will come at a compromise.

However, Ge**er Gear looked to break this idea with the release of their Center Drive Multitool. Made in the USA the Centre Drive features a stamped 1.5mm stainless steel chassis with a massive oversized hinging system and cut outs for weight saving and styling; all the tool bits are made from hardened, blackened steel
for contrast.

The combined plier system is deployed easily with one hand on the slider and the spring system makes one-handed use straightforward. The jaws lock in to place with precision and form a rock solid tool when in use, there’s no flex from the hinge or the arms even under heavy load so you can use the needle nose, conventional pliers or removable/ replaceable carbide wire cutting teeth with confidence.

The Centre Drive is undoubtedly premium priced but to soften the blow it does come with a good quality pouch that can be mounted
vertically to horizontally on a belt or strap and with the addition of a MALICE clip, onto a MOLLE platform. This is a premium multi-tool
that truly redefines the term “heavy duty”.

Read the full review in Volume 20 Issue 9 of Airsoft International. Furthermore, head over to Thomas Jacks Limited for a full range of Ge**er products!

08/01/2025

In a market that is widely dominated by our friends from across the pond, it is often hard to forge a legacy without being constantly compared to the latest and greatest inventions in the United States. That said, when it does happen, you usually find that the company in question has done so through hard work, determination, and a back catalogue of incredibly well thought out products. One such example of this is the Australian born PLATATAC, who quite simply keep on creating hit after hit, and the Peacekeeper Chest Rig is a fine example of this.

Now in its fifth iteration, the Peacekeeper has long been a firm favourite within both military and airsoft circles. Those who play airsoft appreciate it due to its ability to carry a wide range of different equipment while maintaining a lightweight profile. Simply put, the Peacekeeper is platform that will carry a whole heap of equipment while doing so in a form-fitting silhouette that doesn't weigh you down quite as much as a plate carrier.

With Platatac recently releasing the 5th iteration of the Peacekeeper, this month we took a quick look at its predecessor; the PK4, and then went over the various changes to the product, looking at how Platatac has improved on an already top-tier piece of tactical equipment!

Read the full article in Volume 20 Issue 9 of Airsoft International!

*Pictures featured are of the PK4

07/01/2025

Another issue of AI, another brilliant Kit Up feature from us! This month we rewind to the 90s, taking inspiration from America's Navy SEALs and their VBSS unit. With our review of Tokyo Marui's MP5 SD6 on the way, we wanted to put together something that would compliment a 9mm sub-machine gun, and this VBSS loadout definitely does that.

Furthermore, if you're not entirely sold on the MP5, there's plenty of reference imagery that sees VBSS teams using M14s, M16s and shotguns. A big part of putting together these Kit Up features is research, looking for a range of reference imagery, and these photos show the differing weaponry used within the unit - we specifically like the one with the shotgun and axe!

Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) is the term used by United States military and law enforcement agencies for maritime boarding actions and tactics. VBSS teams are designed to capture enemy vessels, combat terrorism, piracy, and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections.

You can look at our loadout in Volume 20 Issue 9!

06/01/2025

It's Monday again, meaning its time for memes!

Being a GBBR player, this one definitely gave me a laugh this morning while browsing Twitter with the morning coffee... HPA players beware, the trees are coming for you ;)

To keep up with all things related to Airsoft, and Airsoft International, head over to our website - www.ai-mag.com

04/01/2025

Its no secret that we love what the guys at Viper Tactical are doing, having worked with the UK-based manufacturer for around two decades now. 2024 was a big year for the company, releasing a whole range of product that really caught the attention of near on every airsoft player around the world. From their high quality VX Range through to various items of clothing, Viper Tactical really set the bar in 2024, so when they post, we tend to listen.

And to close out 2024, Viper teased a little something coming for 2025 -

"2024 has gone by faster than a break contact on a Friday afternoon.
Thanks to all that support us and are stoked to use our gear. We can’t wait to share what we have in store for 2025. 🚨New Kit Alert! 🚨We think you’re going to like it.
See you in 2025!
Ciao."

We can't wait to see what they have in store, and no doubt, you'll hear it here first when they release whatever this little tease is!

02/01/2025

With the Christmas period and New Years' out of the way, you may have seen that Volume 20 Issue 9 went live yesterday, with cover imagery from Partridge Photography!

This issue has the same AI goodness for you to sink your teeth into, kicking off with a group test on some of the best performance trousers to get you through the winter month, including products from brands such as - Arc'teryx, Haglöfs, Crye Precision,
Helikon-Tex, 5.11 Tactical, Triple Aught Design, and VERTX.

We also spent the month scouring the secondhand market for some age-old classics, and in doing so managed to get our hands on Actionsportgames AWS Ashbury; a brilliant snipers' rifle with a striking silhouette that looks quite frankly badass. Jason also got hands-on with a brilliant M870 from Classic Army, another second-hand pick up, proving you can pick up some great products for a fraction of the price of a new rifle.

If you're looking to lower your weight carriage when playing, you'll definitely want to check out our 4-page feature on PLATATAC's incredible Peacekeeper Chest Rig. The Australian powerhouse have consistently put out solid products, and their Peacekeeper is no change from that.

Kit Up takes a look at an 'old skool' version of the US Navy SEALs, specifically the VBSS. This is a brilliant look for those of you who want to rock an MP5!

Finally, our Devil in the Detail feature looks to take Tokyo Marui's incredible Recoil system and turn it into a bonefide DMR system.

All of that and more, in this months' issue of Airsoft International!

19/12/2024

In Volume 20 Issue 8, we introduced Stoirm Tactical and their quite frankly, brilliant 40L Rucksack.

Born in the fusion between the Edinburgh metropolis and Scotland's most arduous mountain regions, Stoirm Tactical have accumulated a plethora of experience when it comes to creating outstanding equipment, designed to withstand all four seasons.

Wanting to ensure the 40L Rucksack was put through its paces, we passed it over to CJ, who has had it on test for the last year! Below is a small section on his thoughts.

"The 40L Rucksack has been near on everywhere with me in the last nine months; from daily visits to university crammed full of text books, to trips up into the Peaks lined with bottles of water and snacks. It has seen the little heat we get in the Summer months, torrential rain through the Autumn, and a nice dusting of snow in November. Now while that might not quite be the mountainous regions of Scotland, its definitely a nice mix to see how it stood up."

If the Stoirm Tactical 40L Rucksack looks up your street, you can get it directly here - https://stoirm-tactical.com/collections/packs/products/stoirm-40l-pack?variant=42983955562743

13/12/2024

Volume 20 Issue 8 saw us get hands on with the incredible MCX SPEAR from SIG SAUER. Following a trip to Edgar Brothers HQ, they kindly agreed to let us take this fully dolled up MCX directly from their armoury, and needless to say we fell in love with the rifle. To fully put the rifle through its paces, we handed it over to CJ and let him rip at this years’ AI-500. Below is a small section of the review, which spans over a whopping 10 pages!

“In the real world, the SIG MCX blew onto the scene following 2015’s SHOT Show. Designed for use by the American Special Forces, SIG SAUER looked to create a platform that leant itself to the plethora of different operations undertaken by American’s elite operators. This meant it had to be as manoeuvrable in tight spaces as an MP5 with the stopping power of an AK-47… a rather hard task if you ask us. The rifle pandered a heap of interest within the airsoft world thanks to its aesthetics; placing a spin on the dated M4 silhouette and creating a more pleasing looking rifle thanks to the implementation of a lightened handguard, modified body and skeleton stock.

As always, as soon as something gains traction in the real-steel world, the airsoft world starts drooling over the possibility of seeing something similar in the airsoft market, and it wasn’t long until Cybergun began importing the rifle into the market. Manufactured under license by VFC, Cybergun saw great success with the rifle, and we originally reviewed it when it came on the market some six years ago in Volume 14 of Airsoft International. Since then though, a lot has changed; both on the real world models and within the airsoft sphere. Cybergun lost a heap of licenses some years back, and in that loss included the SIG SAUER license. However, having seen the success of the platform within the airsoft market, SIG SAUER took the SIG brand in-house, launching SIG AIR.

Sig Sauer officially launched its SIG AIR division in 2019, marking its entry into manufacturing airsoft products and airguns under its own brand. SIG AIR produces realistic replicas of Sig Sauer fi****ms, catering to training, recreational shooting, and competitive airsoft markets. The first notable product in this lineup was the SIG AIR ProForce M17, an airsoft replica of the U.S. Army’s M17 service pistol. This was followed by other models such as the MPX and MCX airsoft replicas, emphasizing authenticity and high-quality construction to mirror their real steel counterparts. Fast forward to 2024 and SIG AIR offer a wide range of products, including the stunning MCX SPEAR.

Now, the version you see here isn’t what you’d expect of a ‘bog standard’ SIG AIR MCX SPEAR, in fact, there are a number of key differences. These differences are thanks to the brilliant team over at Edgar Brothers. Following a trip up to Edgar Brothers HQ prior to the AI-500 held at Camp Anzio in September, they took us for a little tour around the premises. Obviously, with us all being gun nuts, the crown jewel of this tour was to their in-house armoury. Among some other incredibly Gucci products (of which we’ll reveal more on in the near future), one item stood out – a custom MCX SPEAR that had been dolled up to the nines. Having seen Paul and Jason absolutely enamoured with the rifle, and also mentioning the AI-500 to them, the team at Edgar Brothers agreed to let us take the rifle with us to put on test; emphazising the want for us to “completely put it through its paces”.

With that in mind, we knew there was simply one man for the job – AI’s very own, CJ. Now CJ has a… shall we say interesting history with rifles. At the AI-500 at Rype Village some ten years back, he managed to break two Systemas within the space of an hour and a half. He also managed to snap an upper receiver in two. He’s also the kind of idiot that will break himself for a week after an event because he’s ran around like a 12-year old with ADHD after having consumed five cans of Red Bull. So the general train of thought here was if the MCX can survive for two days in CJ’s hands, then it’ll at the very least be bomb proof, and it would have seen some serious rounds down range in the process.”

Read the full review, spanning over a whopping 10 pages in Volume 20 Issue 8 of AI!

13DecDecember 13, 2024 CJ Gets Hands On With the Stunning SIGAIR MCX! Paul2024-12-13T17:32:43+00:00 By Paul Uncategorized 0 Comments Volume 20 Issue 8 saw us get hands on with the incredible MCX SPEAR from SIGAIR. Following a trip to Edgar Brothers HQ, they kindly agreed to let us take this fully do...