Wolf Armouries

Somewhere, hidden under deepest darkest London is an airsoft site designed for CQB (close quarter battle) – and your first challenge? Finding it!

I had been invited down to Wolf Armouries to have a go at some hardcore CQB at their underground airsoft site Bunker 51, which is tricked out to look like a post-war nuclear bunker complete with missile silos and spooky lighting this looked like it was going to be fun!

Introduction To CQB

The first thing you notice is how much trouble Wolf have gone to for their players – there is a shuttle bus service available to collect you from the nearest tube station (North Greenwich Underground Station) and all briefings are to the point to maximize playing time, as there is a limit set as to how long the site can stay open for – well it is in the middle of London!

I have never really experienced CQB before as I have a marked preference for the woodland sites, and I can tell you by god its loud in there, close quarters really do mean what they say, twisty-turny tunnels, dead ends and firestorms coming from every direction - now this is playing airsoft!

I noticed that almost all the players were wearing mesh full face protection rather than glasses or goggles which makes a lot of sense. In a CQB environment you are running and sweating loads, so your goggles will steam up, never good when you can’t take them off! Also being hit in the face from 100 yards away hurts like hell, so can you imagine that at close quarters that’s going to sting, so best stick to the full face stuff just in case. The players are wearing an abundance of black special forces kit and not much in the way of DPM, which makes sense as there is no woodland here to be camouflaged against.

The Players

There seemed to be mostly regular players at Bunker 51 with a few people entirely new to airsoft, there to ‘have a go’ for the first time. We were all catered for with teams being split into experienced and new players, so there is not any unfair advantages. Guns on site are chronoed to 328 fps to prevent any “hot” weapons being used (can imagine that would hurt) and the hire weapons are Mk 2 AK’s.

We were given a series of really challenging games, designed to fit the highly individual surroundings, such as fighting our way to missile silos and deactivating warheads with my personal favourite being ‘black van down’ (they couldn’t fit a helicopter in there – or no doubt they would). In this kind of environment a torch or light is essential and I was extremely glad that I had brought my XT10 with me – on the strobe mode the opposing force didn’t know what hit them!

Everything’s Here

Wolf Armouries really do think of everything, there is a shop on site selling snacks and refreshments and just down the road is the Wolf Armouries shop itself which is a complete treasure trove, stocked high with everything you could ever need including some fabulous collectors pistols such as the MZM Walther PPK – James Bond eat your heart out or a tiny little MZM 2 shot Derringer, fabulous!

I had a wonderful afternoon rummaging around at wolf armouries and highly enjoyed myself over at bunker 51, game dates are available online at www.wolfarmouries.co.uk and with a full hire game day costing just £29.99, I recommend that you have an entire day to see these guys – a morning at the shop trying to make your mind up what kit you would buy after a lottery win (that PPK is definitely on the list) and the afternoon and evening at the site finding out what you’re really made of.

Wolf Armouries can be contacted on 0870 754 9653 or visit their website at www.wolfarmouries.co.uk

Two New Guns From ASG

ActionSportGames® (ASG) has recently launched another two exciting new 6mm BB airsoft guns. The first is a new realistic shooting simulation (RSS) pistol from ASG is based on the STI 1911-A1 design, which in turn is based on the world famous Colt Model 1911-A1 designed by the legendary John Moses Browning.

ASG STI 1911-A1

The 6mm Airsoft replica of the STI 1911-A1 with realistic shooting simulation from ASG is based on the original STI 1911-A1 designs and made under license by STI. Therefore the pistol is made with the correct design and dimensions as well as authentic markings. This updated version of the Mod.1911-A1 features many improvements for better handling and a flared mag well for fast reloads. The technology behind the realistic shooting simulation is based on the patented technology of Marushin Kogyo Co. LTD, Japan. The magazine holds 8 cartridges loaded into the magazine like a real firearm - each cartridge holds one 6mm BB. When fired, the spent cartridge will eject like a real cartridge, and a new cartridge is automatically loaded into the chamber of the pistol. The spent cartridges can be used over and over again by simply loading them with a new 6mm BB. The STI 1911-A1 pistol is powered with gas, stored in the magazine.
 
Features include an ambidextrous frame mounted safety, flared magazine well, grip safety, large magazine bumper, accessory rail, light weight hammer and original markings.
 
M1 Carbine

The second new model from ASG is the authentic looking M1 Carbine featuring a semi-auto gas-blowback system with realistic action that closely mimics that of the real weapon, right down to the rotating bolt when firing.

The original M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. The M1 carbine was not originally intended to serve as a primary weapon for combat infantrymen. Nevertheless, the carbine was soon widely issued to infantry officers, American paratroopers, NCOs, ammunition bearers, forward artillery observers, and other frontline troops. It gained generally high praise for its small size, light weight and firepower, especially by those troops who were unable to use a full-size rifle as their primary weapon. The M1 carbine was also widely used by foreign military, paramilitary and police forces, and has also been a popular civilian firearm.

ASG claim that their M1 Carbine airsoft model has the look, feel and weight so close to the real M1 Carbine, that it is hard to tell them apart. The stock is made from real wood, and it feels great to the touch. The barrel, magazine, trigger/trigger guard and bolt/receiver are made from metal too. Because of this it weighs a realistic 2400g with magazine, making it a great gun for skirmishes and reenactments.

Features include authentic markings, simulated rotating bolt, bayonet lug, safety switch, bolt catch, adjustable rear sight, real wood stock, metal barrel and bolt assembly.

Both these models are available now – ask at your local airsoft retailer for prices.