6MM ACTUAL | JULY 2019!

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to the blog! If you follow me on social media you will have seen that a couple of weeks ago I released the July issue of 6MM ACTUAL! (Late blog post, I know!)

6MM ACTUAL is all about giving you - the readers of FFA - more value from Femme Fatale Airsoft. I've designed 6MM ACTUAL so you can read the best of the monthly blogs and also get bonus content exclusive to our monthly downloadable. Online or offline, and for free! Whilst I love writing the blog, creating IG & YouTube content and writing for publications, I felt like something was missing and this is where our monthly downloadable bridges the gap. Truly International airsoft, from guns to gear, to events, it’s in 6MM ACTUAL.

In this issue we have - a review on the MTEK FLUX CARBON S from Tallin, a review on the Specna Arms Edge AEG, a write up of Stirling Airsoft: Op Horus from Hiu, a site review on Southcoast CQB and for our bonus content, there is a review on the Viper Tactical VX Buckle Up Charger Pack!

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YOUTUBE | LATEST UPLOADS!

Hey everyone, and welcome back to the blog!

I get a lot of questions on my socials asking if I have a YouTube channel, and the answer is I do! - www.youtube.com/femmefataleairsoft! Although YouTube isn't my main platform, I try to upload weekly vids so you guys and girls can get your airsoft fix - my channel is a mix of airsoft content from gameplay, to first impressions, unboxings, reviews and set-ups! If you're looking for gameplay, you can check out my latest gameplay uploads here:

DFE: Battle for Lost Angeles 2!

Airsoft Girl Gets CAPTURED...Then WRECKS everyone - Operation Breakpoint game play

I fell on my face a LOT - Red Alert Paintball & Airsoft game play

If you're looking for something more informative, such as first impressions, reviews and set-ups, check out my latest informational vids here:

Gucci looking kit without the huge price tag? 👀 Viper VX Buckle Up Chest Rig!

G&G ARP9 BLACK ORCHID BUILD FT. PTS SYNDICATE

One Tigris T'Farge Comfort Mask first impressions!

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GUNS | £1600 AIRSOFT GUN?! GBLS GDR-15 CQB REVIEW!

Hey everyone and welcome back to the blog!

Today I have another review for you, and this is one you’ve been waiting for - my thoughts on the GBLS D.A.S GDR-15 CQB! DAS stands for Dynamic Action System, the prototype for the DAS was developed 10 years ago but was kept under wraps until the M4A1 beta version was released in 2016, then the GDR-15 production model hit the UK market in 2018, and this year we saw the release of the GDR15 CQB. When the GBLS DAS GDR-15 hit the market, we saw the release of the most realistic AEG yet and one of the most expensive airsoft platforms ever. But is it over hyped? Or is it absolutely worth the hype and more importantly, the £1600 price tag?

So what are the features of the DAS? The most notable feature is the functioning Bolt Carrier Group which allows 100% realistic action from loading and charging, to stoppage and reloading drills, making it a perfect training weapon. The cycling of the functioning Bolt Carrier Group generates the recoil and it genuinely is nothing like I’ve ever experienced with an AEG before. The Bolt locks back when the magazine runs out of BBs and will fire upon hitting bolt release when a fresh mag is inserted. Inside the D.A.S is a WA style hop-up chamber, a steel toothed bolt and at the very centre of the system is a proprietary gearbox. The system runs on a 11.1v LiPo, and is wired to a deans connector.

How did it perform: Admittedly, when I got the gun out of the box I was absolutely terrified to use it - I have never used a gun THIS expensive and you hear a lot about ‘not using soft BBs’but you know every BB that's ever hit you has been pretty hard! It took me a game or two to get used to the system itself (and to stop worrying that I’d break it by just looking at it) - filling the mags is fiddly and time consuming but the included tool makes life easier for sure, the battery is easy to install in the PTS EPS stock, slap a mag in, pull the charging handle back, and you’re good to go. The recoil is the closest thing to a real rifle I’ve experienced in an airsoft gun - it gives you a good solid kick in the shoulder which adds so much realism. I did have a couple of issues with batteries (namely getting my batteries mixed up and plugging in the batts that needed to be charged instead of the charged batts) - when there isn’t enough power stored in the batt, the DAS will make a couple of funny noises and not cycle fully - always make sure your batteries are fully charged to get the best performance possible. The real functions such as the way it stops firing when the mag is empty isn’t by any means new for an AEG but reloading is cool AF - slapping the catch back and hearing the bolt is awesome. The range and consistency out of the box is comparable to some of my upgraded weapons systems.

What I did like: aesthetically the DAS is a VERY good looking rifle - yes I know ANOTHER M4 but the rail, the markings look great and I love the Cerakote finish. It’s simple and slick. All of the realistic functions and recoil make me happy bunny - the upper and lower receiver disassembles like a real AR15, the stoppage and reloads, the sound it makes and the recoil are WHY you buy this gun. The fact its an AEG is awesome - it doesn’t have heavy mags, it isn’t affected by cold or too hot weather, and out of the box it has PTS furniture which is awesome (I actually think more companies should follow GBLS in this aspect because PTS furniture is some of the best after market furniture available).

What I didn’t like: filling the mags up is an absolute mission! As it is a proprietary system you need a mag adapter to fill them that hooks over the top of a mag and directs the BBs into the mag. It’s fiddly and can be time consuming - I learned just after writing this review that there is indeed a mag adapter for the Odin speedloader from their service partner thecageairsoft.co.uk, I would also LOVE to see a PTS EPM for the DAS. The trigger has quite a heavy pull, and this is one of the most common complaints of the GBLS DAS, but it simply takes time to get used to - as someone who’s specifically upgrades their guns to have a super light and responsive trigger, when I first started using the platform I wasn’t pulling the trigger hard enough and so the gun wouldn’t fire and it was frustrating. I quickly learned that I just needed to pull it a bit harder (that’s what she said - I’ll get in there before you lot do!). The hop-up is also changed by a little tool which can be a right faff - to change the hop-up you need to take the BCG out and turn the tool in the hop-up - not ideal for quick changes but once you’ve set the hop, it doesn’t need adjusting too often.

In the box, you get the rifle, 1 x propriety magazine, Speed Loader Adapater, a Hop-up Tool and the all important manual, but what is the cost? So the DAS is pricey, at £1600 for the gun itself and at £42 per extra magazine it isn’t an investment to be made lightly. If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful AEG that you use every few months, the DAS isn’t for you but if you want a reliable and realistic training weapon that you can use every weekend without needing to upgrade it out of the box, this is definitely a system you need to check out and test. This AEG is unlike anything I’ve ever used before, and I’ve tried a lot of systems including ERGs! I’ve seen and heard a wealth of comments along the lines of ‘get a TM Recoil, it’s cheaper’ or ‘just get a GBBR, it’s cheaper’ but, the TM Recoil range doesn’t quite replicate the action of the DAS and in respect to GBBRs, I love the plug and play ease of an AEG. What I want is a precise, accurate training weapon with the plug and play ease of an AEG, and this is what the D.A.S delivers. After using one of the D.A.S systems I definitely think the system warrants its high price tag when you consider the time and money spent to develop the system! It is worth noting however, that they also offer a bare bones model (a kit without the handguard and stock) for players who want to put something different on.

Photography thanks to Henry Nicholson
Sponsored by GBLS UK

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GEAR | ALTAMA ABOOTTABAD MID TRAIL HIKING SHOES!

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to the blog! Today I have another review for you and we’ll be looking at the Altama Aboottabad mid-trail hiking shoes. Whilst I was in the States, my trusty Pentagon Achilles Trekker boots finally gave in to wear and tear - they’d lasted me just over two years and they’ve travelled with me to numerous countries on my airsoft travels! Although the outer of the shoes were saveable, the insides were trashed so I took to Instagram and asked you lovely lot for your opinions on what my next boots would be - there were SO many suggestions but Altama got in touch and wanted to know my thoughts on a pair of their hiking boots which are now available from their European store, so here we are!

The hiking shoes I decided to test out were, of course, the Altama Aboottabad Trail - Mid WP in green, these are described as being ‘Rugged Trail Runners having tactical features starting with Altama's legendary Panama Sole technology. Using sticky SOFROC™ rubber that wraps up in the arch to aid in fast roping, we've turned a typical trail runner into a tactical machine!’ I’ve worn these since my return from the US and tested them in all environments that I play in - urban, CQB and different woodlands so now I feel like I can give an accurate account on how they’ve performed. This it what they looked like when I got them:

This is what they look like now:

First, let’s start with the features! The Altama Aboottabad Trail - Mid WP have Panama Sole Technology using SOF ROC™ rubber, a dual-density EVA midsole, full-length Rock 'n Roll Plate™, quick-drying nylon mesh and microfibre PU upper, moulded external rubber toe, injection moulded TPU Heel Counter support, nylon loop lacing system, Alta-lite™ blown PU insole and a waterproof membrane construction so these boots were made to perform in tough environments.

I usually wear a 4 UK shoe, in tactical shoes such as these a UK 5 is normally the smallest size so I’d usually opt for that but this style comes in a USA 5 which works out to a UK 4 so I opted for the US size 5. The fit on these is snug in all the right places but gives my toes room to move. They are also SUPER comfortable. With thicker socks, they are a little snugger and don’t go on as easy but they have loops on the back to help you pull them on. One thing that I really like about them is that they don’t make my feet look out of proportion like other tactical boots!

The boots themselves, feel sturdy but still have plenty of flexibility in the sole. They offer good ankle support but are still flexible enough that they didn’t cause any blistering on my heel when I wore them for the first time. The nylon mesh fabric has a lot of movement in, so it bends easily with the feet and the tough sole featuring SOF ROC rubber™ provides a good amount of grip and has no damage considering how hard they’ve been hammered so far. Unfortunately, I’ve not had a chance to test their waterproof qualities as it’s been pretty dry in the UK.

From the European retail store, they retail for just under £115 - which is pretty much in line with other brands such as Lowa and Salomon which make similar products and that are also favourites amongst airsofters. I have a firm belief that your footwear is something you shouldn’t skimp out on because of the environments we play in and how hazardous they can be - protection is worth the price tag in my honest opinion.

Boots gifted by Altama.

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GEAR | MTEKUSA FLUX CARBON S

Hey everyone, welcome back to the blog! 

Today we have another review for you, one that has appeared in this months 6MM ACTUAL (if you haven't read it already, what are you waiting for?!) from one of our contributors Tallin. Here's Tallin's review on the MTEKUSA FLUX CARBON S.

MTEK is a small company mainly comprised of veterans that have used their experience in the field to help drive them for over 10 years to create the new revolutionary FLUX helmet design. MTEK currently offers two types of FLUX at this current point, namely the Flux ballistic and Flux carbon though both variants are identical aesthetically and only differ in the material they are constructed from and both models come with a Wilcox L4 shroud for all your night vision goodies.

The flux ballistic as the name suggests their ballistic model rated at level 3A meaning it is designed to stop up to a .44 magnum round though the chances of you encountering a .44 at an airsoft game/milsim are quite unlikely so this is a model more suited for the real steel/law enforcement market. The Flux carbon, on the other hand, is again as the name suggests their carbon fibre model giving you all the perks of their innovative design with the lightweight bonuses of a full carbon fibre outer shell.

Both of these models sport a boltless design meaning nothing is drilled into the shell even the Wilcox shroud and Flux M-LOK rails are simply mounted using an incredibly robust locking system that simply locks them to the shell, don’t let this dishearten you as this mounting system is very strong allowing you to mount extremely heavy points onto these areas without the worry of things suddenly breaking off. Over the top of the helmet, you will find a very well laid out Velcro system allowing you to mount any kind or IR strobes or counterweight pouches to your helmet. The helmets side profile is rather high in comparison to other similar helmets this coupled with the M-LOK side mounts allows you to comfortably mount a multitude of ear defenders/coms to your Flux and with the addition of the multi-layered inner padding system they include with your Flux it is very easy to make the helmet fit your head comfortably.

When ordering my Flux carbon from MTEK I was surprised at the amount of sizing options available allowing me to personalise my helmet to my head shape and I also knew once receiving the item the double layered pad system would help the lid fit tightly and comfortably onto my head.

Upon arrival at my home after an unfortunate 6 weeks waiting period and opening the parcel I found assembling the extra parts of the helmet like the Wilcox shroud and mlock side mounts extremely easy and only required a Allan key and flat screwdriver to complete the build, overall I found the build quality to be very similar to the RS OPS CORE bump helmet but felt the weight was slightly better distributed even when I started adding things to my helmet I didn’t feel as if there was an aggressive amount of weight on any part of my head which was a nice surprise, my first day running this helmet involved a lot of aggressive sprinting and jumping from spot to spot meaning I was able to give the helmet a good opportunity to test how comfortable this helmet would be in a simulated combat scenario and thankfully it passed with flying colours, the retention system was extremely easy to adjust on the fly and was comfortable on my face not causing any rubbing or scratching even with my beard, the padding proved to not only be very comfortable but very absorbent as well due to how hot that day was I was worried I would have sweat running down my forehead nonstop but this was not the case and I ended up finishing the day with a head that was fairly cool and had 0 complaints of aching on any areas around my head unlike other models I have used in the past.

Overall this item is phenomenal and well worth the price tag IF you are looking for an actual bump helmet that can protect your head and also help you look extra good on the field then I wholeheartedly recommend the MTEK Flux carbon, if however your budget is lower but you still like the aesthetic of MTEKUSA’s design then you will be happy to hear that they have also partnered with PTS to bring the average consumer a replica of their design at a more realistic price point so perhaps consider waiting for this if you just plan on using the helmet for Sunday skirmishes.

Hogan, T. (2019). MTEKUSA FLUX CARBON S. 6MM ACTUAL. 4 (July), 6-9.

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SITE | SOUTHCOAST CQB!

Hey everyone! 

Welcome back to the blog! Today I have another site review for you, this time on Southcoast CQB in Lee-on-Solent!

On the 23rd of June 2019, I was invited to Southcoast CQB to play at one of their open days. The site is located in Lee-on-Solent on the South coast of England, and as I live in Derby it took me just under 3 hours to get to the site (I left my house at 5.15am!). As the site is on a main-ish road, it is easy to find and signposted. On arrival, there was a friendly Marshall to greet incoming cars. The car park is pretty small so arrive early if you want a decent space.

Southcoast CQB is an urban/CQB site that has a lot of buildings to fight in, around and through, that mixes quite well with the challenging outdoor spaces. Some of the buildings are two stories which are accessible to players. In its early days, the site was used by the Royal Marines Arms Corps between 1922-1959, the South East District Small Arms Corp as a minor training facility in 1961 and a weekend training centre up to the mid-1970s for army cadets. Now it hosts airsofters every Thursday evening and two Sundays a month.

The facilities on site are good - the safe zone is spacious as it is a two-story building - we had a double room upstairs which was big enough for seven of us and our kit. You have to go to another room to fill in an insurance waiver and you pay in the main foyer - it is worth noting that payments are cash or PayPal, I think it would be a great idea for the site to invest in a PayPal card reader so players can pay on card as well! The sign in desk is also the shop that sells snacks/beverages and all the game day essentials such as BBs, pyro and gas. The site also has portaloos that are unisex - this is one of the only aspects that let the site down. Although they were well stocked with loo roll and anti bac, I would describe them as clean-ish. On Sundays there is a hot food wagon that is on site for lunch - I paid £6 for a cheeseburger, fries and a can of coke which was reasonable. The safety brief was comprehensive and the staff were welcoming.

We played a variety of games throughout the day, including team deathmatches and lots of objective based games. One of my personal favourites was the game where the teams had to collect the pegs from a basket in the centre of the site and take them back to their respawn - this game made for some REALLY intense gameplay and I had a great time slotting players from the showers with Names Nicco. The gameplay was quite evenly spread out around the site as the games utilised all areas. The site also has some cool props such as the bomb which also made for a great game.

Throughout the course of the day, I did notice some questionable hit taking - which I let the staff know about at the time and will be sending them the footage, and the staff got on the case pretty quickly. Unfortunately, none-hit taking is apart of airsoft, and reflects more on the player rather than the site and its staff.

Overall, I had a really good day at Southcoast CQB - the games were fun, engaging and run well by the staff - although the game where teams need to get a certain amount of players in the range needs a few tweaks. The playing area itself is a great mix of indoor and outdoor spaces that play really well, the variety it offers is great! The facilities available were good, but the loos could use some work. Food was great, staff were friendly and most importantly we had a great day of shooting. Looking forward to the next visit!

Photography thanks to Ioan Roberts.

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