GraniteFraggle

My full review is up,chrono & 15m target results are up. Skirmished with her Sunday - 18 shot - 8 kills. Yes I was sad enough to count https://fraggle-soft.co.uk/ares-686-3-5-co₂/

Ares have confirmed to me the the 6" - what they're calling the Combat Magnum will be released in May. Take.My.Money.

So a quick & dirty report now my 3.5" is here, thanks to Red Wolf. The bad - no manual or hop adjustment key. No markings, unless you have them done yourself. My local guy is primed .... The good - everything else! Hop is a bit fiddly to set - clockwise for more, anti-clockwise for less. *EDIT****** Chrono'd again with my Acetech 6000 Mkiii - I thought the values were way too high. Its absolutely beautiful - from the grips (unstained in my case - which is fine, I'm looking forward to working some bees wax into her), to the spinning chamber action (no other revolver really touches this) is stunning. Trigger pull I can't give you figures on but having shot a lot of real steel (pre-ban in the UK) it feels right. Very smooth, very smooth indeed. Its loud - anecdotely similar to the wingun. The shells make a lovely sound if you slot them in one by one into the chamber. Consitency is way and above wingun - see FPS below as a result I would happily take and get a body shot at 30m, maybe 40m. I need to test her in the field really Looks like that new shell design has paid off. Shells are lovely (R-P 357 Magnum - "Remington-Peters" 357 Magnum). I haven't tried the moonclips - I'm running her with HKS 586-A speedloadeers on my belt as a secondary sidearm loadout. Love the way they resemble a copper plate bullet. The shells fit in a wingun speedloader but .... you end up with some shells in your chamber/some not. I could play around with them and work out how to get everything lined up ... but why dress lamb as mutton? Fits my 686 leather holster with thumb snap for the hammer perfectly. Hops .3s with no problem - I think you could go heavier but I don't see any advantage as 0.3 means I use the same weight in all my sidearms. For my use, I think the 3.5" is a perfect balance between portability,weight & accuracy. I'd love to see what the 5/6" versions are like (possibly with a different finish although the silver is really special) & the other grip options. The longer barreled models are going to be (legal!) hand cannons I think. Quite excited by the prospect! Very happy with her - I'd say this is by far & away the best revolver I've used in a long line from Tanaka, Marushin & Wingun. Shells are a must for me - you really cannot beat the feel & buzz of using them in combat. Hopwise this is best I've seen, closely followed by the old 8mm Marushin, Tanaka SAA adjustable then coming a fair way behind, Wingun. Further behind still, Tanaka fixed. So 6 shots, .3 ASG Blaster Devil BBs, 19°C, slow count of 5 between shots. 1: 227 2: 235 3: 229 4: 230 5: 231 6: 233 Average = 230 which is 282 FPS with 0.2 equivalent. So sight legal & really consistent Some rubbish camera phone pictures attached, full review post skirmish day (or 2) to follow.

You can use DW shells but there's a reported drop in power and consistency. Not sure how it works the other way round.

Beautiful. Looks like an HKS speedloader - the 586-A? I've got plenty of DW715 ones but this beauty deserves the nicer HKS models. You planning on skirmishing her?

My 3.5" is on its way! I love taking a revolver out for a bit of style on the field. The Rhinos are eminently skirmishable - much more consistent than the DW 715. I get a lot of fun from both - but at over a kilo each and chunky I'd like something smaller on the belt as a tertiary. You really cannot beat the look/feel of a shell loader - plus the style of getting kills is something else. The different design of the shells & chamber looks like it'll be a much more efficient seal - the wingun models suffer with consistency thanks to this - the DW being the worst. They're fine for sub 20m but anything over this is a bit hit & miss. At the moment I'd say the H8R gen 2 is probably the best revolver. You're not getting hi-capa/1911 range but its good out to 30m, maybe a little more. Ares have confirmed that these 2 models will hit the UK in April, with the combat (assuming these are the ones with rails) & hopefully alternative grips in May. If they've sorted out the consistency & have a decent hop (I've had it confirmed its a TDC style one) then its a game changer. There's a youtube video of a chap who had an early copy & he has found its superior to the wingun platform in everyway. Currently investigating getting the S&W trades laser engraved on mine. The HK retailers that offer this at the moment are very reasonably priced but their shipping to the UK is extortionate, so I'll get that done here.

Out in HK now, more models and sizes on the way. Adjustable hop, gorgeous wood grips. I have a 3.5" on the way. Site legal, beautiful shells (although you can use wingun 715s). Initial reports suggest it's much more consistent and accurate than the wingun models. We'll see. BBs held in rubber hollow point end. No trades. I suspect the wingun 715 speedloaders will work.

Been a little while, but I've started adding the next swathe of reviews in, starting with what is, IM not very HO the best MP5 out there - the pre-MOFSET ICS MP5. The delay is because unlike most of the reviews out there, I like to actually use something for a few months, rather than stand looking sexy for a publicity shot & say "BEST GUN EVAR". So yes, the ICS CES-A4 (MP5A4) : https://fraggle-soft.co.uk/ics-ces-a4-mp5a4-ver-3/

This time looking at the Arcturus x C.A.T. - mechanical pre-cocking & polymer body. Yep, polymer not metal. Did I like it? https://fraggle-soft.co.uk/arcturus-x-c-a-t-ar-15-versatile-8-5/

Personally I'd avoid Specna. We've experienced 3 - two Edge 2.0s & a core. The externals are poor - even with maintenance/tightening we experienced parts falling off & shedding pins/screws/bolts. Internally they performed well - I'm not an airsmith but my wife is. I had no problems gearbox/hop wise but her take on the Edge 2.0 is that the gearbox/shimming is not premium at all but rather budget. Lots of barrel wobble unless you want to go down the route of spacers & the 6.03 (I may have misremembered the exact size) inner is thin with poor polish/finishing. The core wouldn't keep hop for any length of time & had major issues with feeding with hi or midcaps (Specna or other marques). Our supplier after refunding on the core and providing a replacement Edge 2.0 (the first when it turned up they told us was unsaleable) later told us that roughly 50% of their first batch of RIFs had severe QA issues. Obviously other people may have had a good one from a good batch but based on our experiences I wouldn't touch one with someone else's bargepole. We've had 2 Arcturus M4/AR15 since - a CAT x Versatile & a Lite ME. Both are rock solid & been brilliant for the money with great internals. They do seem to be sold out everywhere though.

Two new reviews - The PTS EMP Gen 1 M4 mag. The Umarex (Wingun) H8R Gen 2 One's expensive, the other is cheap .... but I really enjoyed both. Its actual words you'll have to read rather than watch a video.

First review of a piece of tactical kit, the Emerson FCS Style Vest is now live. https://fraggle-soft.co.uk/emerson-gear-fcs-style-vest/

Good question ... Currently : SA Edge-15 ICS Sig 552 Commando BO Fabarms STF-12 WA S&W 1911 Tanio-Koba VP-70 Marushin Rehawk 7.5" 8mm Tanaka two tone SAA detachable cylinder cavalry KWA M93R ASG DW 715 6" BO Rhino Chiappa Black 60DS BO Rhino Chiappa Nickle 60DS KWC 1911 Rail Two tone KWC 1911 Rail Silver 13 total. Next on the list - Arcturus M4, possibly an M629. In the past - I dread to think. Various Western Arms SV Infinities, a WA Wilson Combat - upgraded inners/metal slides. ICS M4, ICS MP5 (wish I'd kept her), Classic Army CA33, Tokyo Marui Beta Spetz, Tokyo Marui SR-16, Tokyo Marui M4A1, Tokyo Marui Super 90, KWA M93RII, Maruzen M1000 Gas Defender, Tanaka M66, Tanaka M29, Tanaka/Zeke full metal M629. I think that's the list of shame. Recently added - review & guide on KWC 1911 models. Review of Chiappa Rhino Coming soon : Review - Emerson FSC Type Vest Classic look at - Marushin Redhawk & a potted history of 8mm

Hello lovely people, When I previously 'softed I wrote a series of (at the time) well received reviews and guides as part of Team KGB. Since moving up north I started 'softing again and decided to start these 9nce more My hope is to provide honest, useful scribblings about kit, loadouts etc. I don't pretend to be an expert so if you find something wrong please let me know. I personally prefer to read stuff rather than videos. Lots of content planned so please keep checking back https://fraggle-soft.co.uk/

This is a blast from the past - I remember Spirit of the West mainly because the site I used to play/marshal/write games at KGB was there for a decade. It was a brilliant site - large, mixed woodland with a 'Nam firebase, treebase (think mini Ewok village) & island. We'd vary it between shorter hour ish long assault/defend type games with mini day long light roleplay/milsim and in summer overnighters. You could seriously get lost in there which was part of the fun for me! So many great memories and of course muppets. I still remember having to "rescue" a "leet" sniper from getting stuck in brambles in ghillie suit and of course the resulting fallout on various forums. Apparently our site assualted him & he never forgave us (or it). And then there was the day we had armed police turn up (they were lovely) after the owner of the now defunct MIA (he is or was involved in UKARA) called them to try and shut us down after he told them we were shooting people with air rifles. Happy days! Spirit was run by these seven foot beast of a guy called "JB" & was a strange place. They'd run the midday shootout with blank firing guns even when the park was empty and the staff were full time old west re-enactors who lived there full time in return for peopling the park. He used to keep a couple of alsations chained up outside - poor pups - so I used to make sure I had a pocket full of dog treats for them when we dropped off his take from the green fees. It got shut down after I quit and is now this place : https://www.retallackcornwall.com/ - so Spirit will now be well and truely bulldozed into history. Found some photos - the crosses on the island were from when we had a team over for a summer overnighter (First & Only IIRC). We put the names of the players on the crosses which completely freaked them out when they reached that objective.

My old Sig's just had a bit of an overhaul - it may be an antique but do love playing with her. I've found a few old ICS mags in stock but they're getting very thin on the ground. Do the JG Sig mags fit/feed ok does anyone know?

Hello all, spring is just about here so we're finally reaching the time in the UK where we can pull out our GBB toys and have some serious fun with them (in between sessions fixing mag leaks of course). Red gas is around £15 and green £12 at my local site. Coleman's propane when you get it (for use with adapter) is around the £19/£20 mark. Looking at size really doesn't help here as everything is under different pressure (and physics is my weak point) so what's the consensus? Propane with some silicon or just stick to bottle airsoft gas? Propane used to be cheaper (hence my adapter) but I haven't seen anyone using it since I returned. Any thoughts/recommendations guys?

Don't know - feel free to ask them! That's what my local fasteners had in on the shelf - I'm guessing they're the same specifications? Fits perfectly.

Thanks- good call @Speedbird_666- just in case anyone has a similar problem they're Tippman screws.

Doing an external clean on my Specna Arms SA-E15 I noticed I've shed a hex screw from where the two halves of the RIS are joined together at the point next to where it joins to the receiver. Annoyingly, SA don't include a parts list/diagram like TM do in the manual & I can't find anything either via Google or their website. Can any of you wonderful people enlighten me? (See attached photo).

I'm particularly after two models that arent copied or rebadged. I have a cheap CYMA already (yuck - awful build quality) and a BO Fabarms shorty. The Fabarms is nice - very nice actually - pretty comparable to a TM M3. I've played with shotguns for years so I know what's about Yeh I had a good chuckle at that too. One of those sites that I see and immediately add to the "wouldn’t touch with someone else's bargepole" list 😀

Hello, I wondered if anyone out there can help? Trying to find a Secutor tri-shot springer in the UK - Everywhere seems out of stock. I have found a couple "in European warehouse" however when in enquired I got a non committal reply along the lines of "place an order then if we have them for definite then we'll let you know" which just sets off alarms customer service wise. Looking at their Web sire it looks like a newer version has been released with an improved adjustable hop although in a throwback to the airsoft world of my dim distance past there's no concrete information. A Web dealer with an awful reputation has one on "pre-order " but I trust that about as much as untrustworthy pie with shifty gravy. So first off - is there anyone I may have missed in my search? Second, how's importing a rif now? That's my other choice. I used to pre VCRA import happily so is this a safe option now? I'm PASS registered? Thanks.

Having picked up the ASG SW 6 Inch - well it's not a Marushin Redhawk(!) but then nothing is. For the money it's fine and once I got the hop adjusted its fairly consistent - fine for using it as "fun" piece out past the 20m min engagement distance. Not good enough for a pocket sniper - but great for getting some stylish kills. Some would also suggest it would also be great on teflon timmies closer than that but I couldn't possibly comment. With the Co2 though it does mean I can holster it and not worry about recharges but we'll see. Suspect it'll be more of winter long range bit of kit when the temp is too cold for the old 'hawk and I'm out of range with the shotgun but the shot is too tempting. My favourite style of play is still sneaky, get in close with odd long range shot along the way. The AEG is for when I'm too knackered to do that Back to the revolvers tho' - the drop in FPS isn't an issue with the Tanaka's - are they finally consistent and usable? I love a bit of CQB and it would be fun to pull one out that isn't going to hurt people. I don't know - it's always been something I enjoy when everything else is out. A last stand weapon - preferably with a BFG to take everyone out (including you!) if you're the last person in a room. WRT to the other kit I am finding it streets ahead of what I'm used to. The consistency & accuracy of a modern AEG in particular makes me feel a bit like I'm in cheat mode. Now if only I could find a short Secutor tri shot spring shotgun in stock somewhere I'd be in kit heaven.

Woah first proper day with kit that isn't 20 years old falling apart! Lessons learnt - a 1000maH LiPo isn't enough (or I'm charging it wrong) for 600 rounds on a single shot DMR running an M120. Second I need a better holstering solution for a 6 inch DW 715. Tried a miltech shoulder holster - again maybe I set it up wrong but wasn't secure enough and I couldn't access the shells as they were tucked in too deep. So I either belt holster and swap holsters between that and the Redhawk ... or continue as now to take either one out and get a better holster for the 715. Any other decent shoulder options? Third the TTI JW 4 is easily as good as any fully upgraded WA 1911/2011. Easily. Fourth I mounted a red dot, set it to circle with cross and spent a happy few hours absolutely loving using a spring tri barrel shotgun. Was absolutely brilliant. So currently I'm toying with the idea of abandoning my much loved OMON vest for some kind of bare bones MOLLE which I can mount the 2011 on (chest height), revolver on belt and whatever pouches for mags/shells/grenades. TLDR - Loving being back. Spring shotguns rule. Rig confusion 😕