GEAR | VIPER VCAM VX BUCKLE UP PLATE CARRIER SET-UP!

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to the blog! Many of you will know that I visited Viper Tactical HQ near Luton, UK and I picked up a few bits and bobs to put together two new plate carrier set-ups - one in VCAM and the other in VCAM Black. In this post, I’m going to give you the details of what Viper products I’ll be using for my VCAM plate carrier set-up. Thanks to the Coronavirus lockdown in the UK, I haven’t had a chance to play in this set-up yet so the review will come when we’re able to play airsoft again!

For the base of the build, I’m using the new VX Buckle Up Carrier Gen2. The Viper VX Buckle Up Carrier Gen2 is the newest version of their modular vest that is designed to be used with the Viper VX System and other MOLLE compatible accessories. It is a one size fits all carrier that is fully adjustable by way of the vented mesh sides and shoulder straps. It has laser-cut MOLLE on the front and back panels, quick-release buckles throughout and multiple hook and loop panels for pouches or patches. The adjustable shoulder pads are padded and feature a bladder/comms retention system. On the front of the carrier there is a zipped admin pouch and hook and loop ID panel - which is the perfect size for my iPhone (screen facing inwards cause no one needs that). It has a removable laser cut MOLLE panel which I’ve removed to use the VX Chest Rig. On the back, there’s another MOLLE panel, which is compatible with the VX Charger Pack. It is also worth noting that the carrier comes with two removable EVA dummy plates - great value for money!

On putting the carrier on, as expected I had to adjust it at the shoulders and the cummerbund to ensure a snug fit, but it was easy to adjust. The MOLLE when it’s new is quite stiff so it did cause some problems when I had my pre-quarantine long nails but I got around this by using a pair of pliers. It was much easier with quarantine short nails! The material feels durable (more than durable for airsoft) and it is comfy to wear (from what I’ve tried on so far). The only thing I don’t like about it is the excess clips that have nowhere to go when you clip a new front panel on.

The Gen 2 Carrier is available in Black, Coyote, Green, Titanium, VCAM and VCAM Black. It retails for around £89.95.

To hold my mags I'm using Viper VX Buckle Up Mag Rig. It holds three rifle mags and three pistol mags. It is attached by two clips and the Velcro attachment panel at the back of the rig. To keep the magazines in place, Viper have added quick release bungee retainers to each magazine pouch. It is worth noting that the bungee cord is quite long, I prefer the cords to be shorter so the set-up looks tidier so I cut the cords and burned the ends with a lighter to clean them up.

It is easy to attach to the Gen 2 plate carrier, but there are a couple of extra clips that you need to tuck away. When the bungee retainers are pulled tight the mags are held firmly in place, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of movement (when jumping up and down). The mags are also easy to get out. One improvement I think could be made on this is to reinforce the pouches a little more - when no mag is inserted they do look quite and feel flimsy. I am keen to see how it holds up to consistent use during a game.

The Mag Rig is available in VCAM, Black, Coyote, Titanium and Green and retails for £26.95 from Military 1st.

Next in the set-up, is the Viper SCROTE pouch, this is a tactical fanny-pack pouch Velcro attachment for plate carriers and chest rigs that has webbing straps on each side and a Velcro ID panel on the front for all of your favourite patches! As well as looking good it’s also super utilitarian - inside the pouch, it has elasticated internal loop holders and a Velcro front internal pouch to keep all your bits and bobs safe during gameplay. I use mine to store my .209 primers and impact grenade accessories during games so they are easy to reach in a hurry. It has a Viper firm draw zip puller to give the user more grip whilst unzipping/zipping the pouch closed especially when wearing gloves or when your hands are wet/cold. 

It is available in a great range of colours including VCam, black, green, coyote and titanium so there is a colour to suit most loadouts. It is stocked at most Viper retailers in the UK and the best part? It retails for around £11.50! This is fantastic news for those who want the look of Gucci kit on a budget or have multiple loadouts to fill with pouches.

Lastly in the set-up is the Phone Utility Pouch which is a MOLLE Compatible multi-purpose pouch that has a fleece lined & elasticated front compartment for a phone etc. Funny story, I actually grabbed this out of my kit box to use in this set-up being unaware of its name, and when I opened the front compartment I thought 'my phone could probably fit here, oh it does, I wonder if they realise' and text one of my friends at Viper to get an ID on the pouch and it was indeed made for a phone haha. I have an iPhone XS and it fits great inside the compartment, and what I really like about it is that the fleece lining protects it from getting all scratched up! It also has a zipped rear compartment with an internal nylon sleeve.

The Phone Utility Pouch also comes in Coyote, Black, Titanium, Green and retails for £11.50.

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LOADOUT | GREENZONE!

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to the blog! Today I have another loadout post for you and in this post we'll be looking at my Greenzone loadout that I wore for Warzone 6 in 2018 on the Greek island of Crete.

As I was playing the on the UN Team, I wore a UN Blue beret for the weekend so I was easily recognisable to the other teams.

The glasses I'm wearing for this loadout (and the ones I wear for most of my loadouts) are the Wiley X Saber Advanced. They're made from Shatterproof Selenite Polycarbonate lenses that meet the MIL-PRF-32432(GL) ballistic standards: ANSI Z87.1-2010 high velocity and high mass impact standards. I opted for the set with amber, vermillion and tinted lenses but I usually wear the vermillion lenses. They feature a T-Shell Lens coating that prevents scratches. They also offer 100% UVA/UVB protection with distortion-free clarity. I've been using these for around 3 years and they've never let me down. On the Wiley X EMEA website, you can get money off by using the code 'AFAIRSOFT' (affiliate code).

The team over at Military 1st kindly sent over a care package of Pencott Greenzone goodies for my trip to Crete which included a Helikon cap, the Wisport Sparrow 2.0 Pack, the Helikon CPU Shirt and the Helikon CPU Trousers, all in Pencott Greenzone.

First, let’s look at the CPU shirt! The Helikon CPU shirt is a heavy-duty combat shirt made from NyCo (Nylon and Cotton blend) Ripstop that has a two-way front zipper, a pleated back with a slit to enhance the range of movements, 6 pockets for optimum storage, elbow patch reinforcements on each arm for durability and Velcro plates for attachment of patches.

It is a piece of utilitarian clothing that combines functionality with comfort, as it features a mandarin collar with Velcro closure - there is a soft fleece on the inside of the collar which makes it super comfortable to wear, it has a zipped front with Velcro flap closure that makes it easy to put on/take off. As for pockets it has two on the chest with Velcro top closure and zipped side entry, an upper arm pocket on each sleeve with Velcro flap and zipped side entry, it also has two forearm pockets of various sizes on each sleeve with Velcro closures. And my favourite aspect of the shirt? The underarm zippers for ventilation., although these had to go in the alteration.

Next up we have the Helikon CPU Trousers in Pencott Greenzone:

These are a pair of heavy wearing and comfortable Combat Patrol Uniform (CPU) cargo trousers that are also made from NyCo Ripstop that feature 10 pockets and a double layer on the knees and on the backside (yay for butt protection!)

They have a button fastening and fly - for quick and easy fixes on the field should the button fail, durable belt loops to hold those weighty shooters belts, side waist adjusters to personalise the fit and drawstring bottoms on the legs too. As for pockets, the CPU trousers are laden with them including two large front pockets, two small open pockets at the front, two cargo pockets with a Velcro closure, two rear pockets with button flaps and one lower side pocket with Velcro flap on each leg.

What’s the quality like? The fabric is thick, has a nice weight to it and feels sturdy and durable. The features such as the fleece-lined collar and double-layered knees and backside reinforce this!

So how do they both fit? Well, here’s the thing – they didn’t. Even though I was sent the smallest size that was in stock in both products (small in the shirt and 32L in the trousers), it’s clear from the before photos that the uniform drowned my tiny frame – now these would more than likely fit a dude but I’d say for women and younger players they’d probably be a bit of a miss. My wonderful friend Jo at www.purplepongo.com helped me tailor mine just before I flew out, and you can read all about the process and see the finished images here! Once these items were tailored, they were perfect.

How much do they retail for? Both the shirt and trousers are available from Military 1st for £62.40 each. Overall, I love the features and quality. The only thing I was disappointed with is the fit.

My chest rig of choice for War Zone 6 – the Hurricane Hybrid Chest Rig from Direct Action in Pencott Greenzone!

It is a low profile, adjustable rig made from laser-cut laminated, 500D Cordura so you know it’s built to endure tough environments! The softshell interior construction also makes it a comfortable rig to wear for extended periods. The harness is well constructed and feels sturdy even when the rig is loaded up. It has a reinforced drag handle which is more applicable to real-world scenarios rather than airsoft but it’s a handy feature.

Not only is it comfortable and well-constructed in general but it is also full to brim with essential pouches including integrated, adjustable mag pouches with paracord retention that adjust to fit: eight (!) AR mags, four AK mags or even four SR magazines. It also includes several fixed external pouches for other mission essentials: two adjustable pouches, a sealed zipper pouch and a Velcro flap pouch for when you need to access items quickly.

What I like about the Hurricane is that you aren’t just limited to the pouches on the chest rig! As it not only features the integrated and fixed pouches but 9 PALS slots on the sides of the rig which are perfect for radio, medical, utility pockets and horizontal PALS slots under the ammo pouches for items such as tourniquets, pistol mag pouches and 40mm pouches etc. If you choose to run comms, the fixed pouches are a great size for a Baofeng radio and the rig has comms/antenna routing to keep everything tidy and prevent wires getting caught.

Is it easy to adjust to fit? The harness is completely adjustable via the buckles and to keep the excess material tidy it has Velcro wraparound straps – bonus! It has a split front, zipper design as well so you don’t need to adjust it every time you remove it which is handy. After adjusting, I found it fit well and was comfortable to wear even when loaded up with mags and radios. My only gripe was that the laser cut material was quite rough and did rub my inner arms when I was only wearing a t-shirt because of the hot weather. I didn’t have this issue wearing my combat shirt and I suspect it was because it was brand new, out of the packet. I would expect the material to soften over time and this to subside.

The Hurricane comes in a fair few different camouflage options including Adaptive Green, Black, Coyote Brown, Crye MultiCam, Pencott Badlands, Pencott Greenzone and Urban Grey so there is a camo option for. How much does it retail for? €239 which is around £210 at the current exchange rate so it is pretty pricey but the quality warrants the price in my opinion.

My airsoft rifle of choice for Warzone 6 – the AKS-74UN Tactical Mod A from E&L kindly supplied to me by Nuprol! For our loadouts, myself and Bill (my fellow Airsoft Action writer) chose to run tactical AK’s and I needed something compact and had plenty of rail space, and this is where the E&L AKS-74UN Tac Mod came in!

First, let’s talk about the aesthetics, it is a classic AK style that has the tactical goodness of a rail system for accessories. The construction is mostly steel with some reinforced polymer components. I like the aesthetics of the AKS74UN Tac Mod as it combines the classic look of the AK and the utilitarian rail systems of the M4 platform there’s only one thing I would change – it comes with a collapsible skeleton stock which I found to be a little uncomfortable when shouldering the weapon, I think it would look even better with a carbine stock!

Other useful info? As it’s constructed of mostly steel it weighs in at just over 3kg, which is pretty heavy compared to the polymer AEGs I would usually use. The weight is comfortable to carry, but during extended games, I would recommend a sling to prevent your arms from becoming too tired. It has semi and full auto firing modes with the Russian markings (pretty cool). The battery is easy to install – just pop the button near the stock, flip up the compartment and install – stick lipo batteries fit well in this compartment.

FPS and performance? When we got to Warzone 6 I excitedly grabbed my new AK out of the box and headed to the Chrono line – looking at the documents inside the case, it should have been shooting around 330FPS with a +/- 5% (which is around 346 FPS) but when it came time to Chrono, mine was sitting at a steady 353 FPS - 3 FPS over the site limit (and a big difference in what the documents said). As it was a brand new gun I figured the spring just needed to be worn in a little, so I decided to put a couple of mags through and sure enough, the FPS dropped down to around 348 FPS. I expect with time that the FPS will continue to fall as the spring gets worn in.

How does it shoot? I was impressed with its performance! It had pinpoint accuracy once the hop-up was adjusted (which was easy to adjust by the way), groupings were good and overall it was very pleasant to use. I did bring a Vortex SPARC AR to accessorise my AKS-74UN with but didn’t have the right mount for the job but this wasn’t an issue as it was easy to use just by sight.

Let’s talk about internals! It has a CNC’d steel outer barrel, 6 x 9mm steel gear bush bearing, a CNC’s steel gear set, silver wiring, Air Seal nozzle, a one-piece CNC’d steel cylinder, the spring guide is a silver latch with a Rotary Washer, and It has a high torque motor. The internals are of high quality and I feel this is reflected in the performance of the AEG.
Overall, I enjoyed using the AKS-74UN Tac Mod A at Warzone. I’m looking forward to customising it with some badass attachments and a new stock when it finally arrives back in the UK. I think it makes a great tactical AK addition to the armoury.

The E&L AKS74UN is available from a few UK retailers and is on average between £400-£420.

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6MM ACTUAL | MAY 2020!

Hey everyone! Welcome back to the blog!

One the 1st of May another issue of 6MM ACTUAL went live! In 6MM ACTUAL you can read the best of the monthly 'Femme Fatale Airsoft' blogs and get bonus content exclusive to our monthly downloadable. Online or offline, you can get your airsoft media fix! In the May issue, we have a review on the Haley Strategic D3CR-X, a review on the Valken Vertical Grip System, a player spotlight on Sniperbuddyfabi and a Viper VCAM Black set-up!

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MILSIM | FAVOURITE MILSIM SNACKS!

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to the blog. So lockdown measures are slowly easing in the UK and we'll hopefully be back playing in the near future so I want to share with you my favourite snacks to take to weekend and MilSim events just in case. Drop any suggestions you have in the comments and remember to always read the ingredients before purchasing if you have intolerances or allergies.

PC: Poi Apeles

Jack Links Beef Jerky Original 12 Pack (12 x 25g)

Let's kick off with the OG - beef jerky! For those that don't know what beef jerky is: it's thinly sliced beef seasoned with spices and air-dried until it becomes a chewy snack. It's high in protein, doesn't need to be refrigerated, gives you energy and can be enjoyed on the move. My personal favourite is Jack Links but there are tonnes of different brands and flavours out there. This got me through MSW Objective Stavropol and I've sworn by it ever since.

Happy Belly Dried Fruit Mix - 500g

This Dried Fruit Mix from Amazon contains dried Pears, dried Pineapples, dried Prunes, dried Apricots and dried Apples. These are super tasty, chewy snacks that provide a quick boost of energy. They're high in sugar so are perfect for when you need a little pick me up.

King Size Bombay Badboy Potnoodle (12 x 114g)

If I want a cheap, quick and easy meal to eat at an event when I don't have time for a big meal, a Potnoodle is my number one choice. It's a carb heavy, hot, brothy snack. Simply boil some water, pour the boiled water into the pot, wait 3 minutes, and you have a hot meal. My favourite flavour is Bombay Badboy because it's a spicy curry flavour. It's even better with sriracha added!

Nature Valley Crunchy Bars Variety Pack (40 x 42g)

The Nature Valley Crunchy Bars are a sweet, crunchy snack that are great for breakfast on the move. They come in a bunch of different flavours but the Honey and Oats for me are the ones. High in carbs and sugar, they'll definitely give you a boost of energy.

Kellogg's 42 Nutri-Grain Mixed Fruity Breakfast Bars

Another breakfast bar favourite of mine! My Mum used to put these in my lunchbox when I was a kid and I still eat them to this day. They're a soft cake/fruit bar that are sweet and high in carbs/sugar. My personal favourite in this pack is the strawberry flavour.

This post contains affiliate links, as I am a member of the Amazon Associates Program - an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com to products I have used, tested, trust and recommend.

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