FEMME FATALE AIRSOFT'S FAVOURITE REPLICA'S 2019!

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to the blog and the last of our 2019 round-ups! SHOT Show 2020 is right around the corner and today I'm looking back on the airsoft replicas I've enjoyed using the most over the last year. Again, these are just my personal favourites (yours probably will be different) that I have used in 2019 - meaning they more than likely aren't groundbreaking or the newest releases, simply the ones I've enjoyed using the most.

Specna Arms Edge SA-E01

At number 5 is the Specna Arms Edge AEG from Gunfire that has been manufactured under the license of Rock River Arms. Rock River Arms is a well known American firearms manufacturer and what makes the Edge special is not only the RRA license but that it is also equipped with GATE technology.

The SA Edge has an Orion Gearbox, which is based on a reinforced shell and is equipped with a mainspring release function. Out of the box, it has a reinforced piston with full steel teeth, an Aluminium seal nozzle & double sealed cylinder head, steel gears, 8mm ball bearings, a rotary hop-up chamber, a 6.03mm precision barrel, a quick change spring system and a QD pistol grip which gives the player quick access to the AEG’s engine without the use of tools. All these features make this one of the best Specna's yet - durable and ready to get to work.

One of the Edge’s most notable features is the GATE X-ASR MOSFET as standard! The MOSFET X-ASR unit will ensure the safety of the components, increase the trigger response and extend the life of the electronics and battery. It has been a fun and reliable gun to use during airsoft skirmishes and its aesthetics are on point. Great work Specna!

Read my full review here

PTS X Centurion Arms CM4

At number 4 is the PTS X Centurion Arms CM4, which is an Electric Recoil Gun system that is based on the latest generation KWA AEG 3 system from PTS Syndicate that features a Centurion Arms rail! The ERG simulates recoil via a proprietary Kinetic Feedback System. When used with the proprietary ERG magazine, it has a cut off to make it even more realistic. However when I used this awesome GAT at DFE: Battle for Lost Angeles 2 I decided to use the original PTS EPM for AEGs and I used it as a regular AEG - which is one of the awesome features of the CM4. It has a quick change spring system and included as standard equipment for the CM4 ERG, are PTS’ highly popular proprietary design Enhanced Polymer Grip, Enhanced Back-Up Sight, Enhanced Polymer Magazine and Enhanced Polymer Stock.

The CM4 has one of the most realistic recoils of any AEG that I've used which made it a really fun replica to use during the event - it definitely added an extra element to my game, it has a great weight to it and looks awesome.

RWA Agency Arms Urban Combat Slide Kit for the TM G17

The Agency Arms Urban Combat Slide Kit for the TM G17 from RWA isn't necessarily a replica per se, but it has improved my experience with the Tokyo Marui G17 so I'm going to include it! The Urban Combat Slide Kit is a return to the classic Agency Arms styling but is designed with serious gamers in mind.

This Urban Combat slide comes in a rich back anodized finish and features all the windows, serrations, and attention to detail known from an RWA Agency Arms offering,  It's lightweight and made from CNC aluminium. In the box, the slide kit comes with the RWA Agency Arms Urban Combat 17 Slide Set 2.0, a stainless steel outer barrel, recoil spring and a fibre optic front sight. It comes with a scannable QR code for installation instructions and is easy to install. 

Once installed it takes the boring look of the TM G17 and elevates it to a more curated look, but it's not all about aesthetics - in my experience, it has improved the performance of the pistol, making it more snappy.ar sight 

GBLS DAS GDR-15 CQB

The GBLS DAS GDR-15 CQB AEG takes the number 2 spot this year. The DAS is one of the most controversial airsoft replicas to hit the market because of its £1600 price tag. Why does it have this price tag though? It comes with a hefty price tag because of its most notable feature - 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.

It also comes with a PTS EPS as standard.

Read my full review here

Krytac MKII CRB LEOTEK'd

My LEOTEK'd Krytac MKII CRB from Landwarrior in Dalkeith, Scotland takes the number one spot because it is STILL my favourite AEG to use. The techs at LWA took a standard Krytac MKII CRB (which is a great AEG out of the box anyway) and gave it a full upgrade service which included a Laylax barrel, flat hop, ultimate piston, ultimate 40K motor and a GATE Titan MOSFET which gives you the option to adjust trigger sensitivity, pre-cocking boost, fire selector mode, burst mode, rate of fire and it also provides a low battery warning and battery protection.

It's snappy and fires like a dream. It also looks the tits.

Although this isn't a 'standard' AEG, it isn't completely custom. The LEOTEK option is available to all of LWA's customers.

0

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

0