VictorFourTwo

Gridwall ftw. 20241211_215609.mp4

What's a bank balance?

Happiness is a well stocked toy gun room

I'd like to extend my thanks to you guys for coming today, and @Colin Allenfor the review. I have taken it on board and we shall continue to improve into 2025. Also big thanks to @Jez_Armstrongfor assisting with marshaling, coypdnt of done it without you x now, its time for a pint of Doombar!

Hi all - regarding the weather tomorrow - we are expecting wind and rain, and the ground is pretty wet. Changes of clothes and footwear advised (for most of us that's standard anyway, so that asvice is for those who don't prepare!) I can also confirm the cafe will be open for some hot grub (cash only, order when checking in!) If the winds get to a point where safety becomes a concern we will endex early, and everyone will get a discounted return ticket for the next event. Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.

Don't forget guys, we are running events both Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th, just in case the 7th isn't an option for some

here's a really sh**ty how to. It's only sh*tty because it lacks any detail of measurements, and I wrote it with my sad lonely humour.

Some folks were curious as to how I did it, so here is a how to :). Materials I used: S&T Spring Remington 870 35mmx20mm steel box section. I used 3mm thick stock. Random barrel mount from an M203 3 M6 x 10 countersunk machine screws 2 M6 x 25 countersunk machine screws 5 x m6 nylon bolt and washers. Tools used : Kentucky Measure (eyes) Pillar Drill, Hand and bench grinder, Various Vices, Vernier Caliper, Dremel, Hand files Tap & Die, Permanent marker, Club hammer, 45mm diameter steel pipe, Ignorance. 3ml of my own blood. Tools I should of also used : Centre punch, Tape measure, THE RULER ON MY VERNIER CALIPERS. Firstly, I obtained some source material from the Google. and then placed my rifle, barrel mount, steel box section, and destocked shotgun on the bench. After about 20 minutes of staring at it, making thoughtful noises, looking at the source material, I decided to make a start. Let's start with the big issue. The shotgun. The S&T 870s are single shot pump actions based on the Maruzen CA870, much like the G&P Wingmaster line... so much like it's identical. I mean, carbon copy identical. However, the S&T is not a smooth action out of the box. It's got sticky points and notches everywhere, the action over-extends causing the right side pump arm to disengage and jam, and lubricant was clearly lacking. Dealing with the action was a simple strip and clean, cleaning up any burrs on edges, or casting lines (of which, there were many!) in the areas where friction is a thing, cleaning up the edges of both pump arms with a file, and finally a polish of the metal surfaces where the pump arms slide in the rails of the cast chassis. I also took the time to modify the inner barrel and hop chamber, it now runs a VSR bucking. After reassembling, it's as silky smooth and easy to rack as my old G&P, and can lift a .32 with ease. So it's definitely suitable to mount. Action still over extending though - we will come back to this. The receiver shell ended up straight on the Pillar Drill for mounting holes. I ended up drilling and countersinking a total of 5 holes. 2 for the barrel mount, and 3 to spread the rest of the shotguns mass along the chassis. All 5 holes and fittings are not pictured as it was done at the end of the process. The rearward machine screw corrospondes to the barrel mounts rear screw orifice. Front hole countersink was done with an unusual but required approach. Onto the receiver chassis! more marker pen followed by using the Vernier calipers to edge my 'measurement', and off to the vice and grinder! First, off with stock fitment followed by material from the top of the chassis to make space for the machine screw heads. Despite the countersinking in the reciever shell, I also wanted to fit a steel insert between the chassis and shell with holes and countersinks to mate to the reciever shells, again to spread the load as evenly as possible. So accounted for this during loud grindy times with a medium grit bench grinder. Always wear eye protection!! Due to how the chassis fits into the reciever shell, the 'bump' at the rear needed to be ground down further towards the back end than i had initially done. So a bit of trial and fit and trial and fit was in order, made worse by my choice to reinforce the fitment with the steel insert. Minor adjustments made with more permanent marker and a dremel. Once enough material had been removed the chassis snugly slides in and out of the shell as it should, with no excess play, with the steel plate and machine screws in place. (This was the point the 5th fitment was decided upon, but this was a 20 second job and worth doing!). Now, those who are still with us - the mounting rail!! Let's start with cutting out material for the barrel mount. Permanent marker and Verniers to action, marked and etched, followed by a disgustingly convenient find of a jig from an old project that needed zero adjustment to achieve both cuts - it was meant to be! A quick clean up of the edges with a file followed by some tappy taps with the hammer to profile those edges in toward the mount slightly. After offering up the mounts chassis I marked the locations of handgaurd cap, bayonet lug, and sling swivel, and transfered those marks using a square, making sure to account for the rearward fitting motion of the mount as I wasn't bothering cutting out the top of the chassis on my first attempt making one. mock fitting prior to the Great Ignorant Beating, as wecan see, shotgun reciever has a curve. My box section does not. Long story short, dismantled the assembly, made a holding jig, and a spacing /centering jig, placed the rail in the holding jig, then on goes the centering jig, filled with a steel pipe with a 45mm diameter. I proceeded to smash the b***ocks out of it with a club hammer until I had achieved the desired profile. - this is something I'll do differently come the MK2 version 😅 Finally, drilling the holes in the chassis rail to corrospond with the shotguns reciever holes. Chassis fitments holes were tapped, and then everything cleaned in prep for a good application of hammering in a can. Once dry , the reciever shell was fitted to the rail and barrel mount. Washers and nylon thread nuts applied. Cutting down the barrel and ammo tube is pretty self explanatory. But the pump needed cutting down and a new recess cut out at the front for the ammo tube support ring. By combining my brain and my hands I was able to feel out the exact moment the action was at full forward extension without over extending. I marked the required location of the ammo tube support on the outer barrel, drilled and tapped fitment holes I then modified the pump handle accordingly, removing just right amount of material to allow the action to be tighter then a really tight thing with a tight schedule on a busy day. No more over extension of the action as its not physically possible without smashing the ammo tube support off (or proper dismantling procedure). I will soon begin a mk 2 chassis, where I actually use a tape measure, get the internal curvature done in a proper manner, and open the chassis rails top surface up to make it lighter, as well as get access to the shotguns hop unit 😅 In my defence I was excited and impatient. Thanks for reading. Enjoy. G&P Prime M653 GBB G&P M4A1 Prime GBB

That was actually my source material! I'll post a thread in the appropriate area once I've retrieved photos

Same homebrew masterkey on an M4A1

M653 with masterkey.

Good to put a face to the forum name! I need a g3 too!

Happy to be of assistance, what platform are you using? I use gas rifles all year round - granted on an old hat system thay does struggle more than others 😅

We do have red gas in stock if that's of any use.

That's pretty much what I've been doing at the lakes since I started managing it. The only difference between the Zed Adventures days and the Gunman days is the ammo limits and filmsim rules. I have always tried to maintain a more tactical, sandbox style of gameplay. The site doesn't lend itself to the fast sprintery of a typical skirmish due to its terrain and natural hazards. Sometimes players get confused by the briefings, because there was either too much going on or they weren't paying proper attention during the brief (Admittably, I am the kind of player that has a pen and notepad in my rig, despite not being a milsim player). I will also soon be trying out a 'real cap' event next year for those that want the extra bit of realism in thier airsoft, as well as plans for a bootfair. For everyone's information, here is a link to our filmsim rules, should you wish to have a read. https://gunmanairsoft.co.uk/rules-for-filmsim-open-days/ Please note some rules may vary across sites (At the Lakes, DMR ammo limit is the same as boltaction for example), but all is briefed at the start of the day. Whilst I don't enforce people to fall to the ground and roll about larping it up, I do try to encourage Players to have a bit of fun with it. Thanks for reading

Silent hit calls don't work - at regular events if players aren't calling thier hits then the shooter doesn't know they've been hit, therefore shoots more, then we start getting overkill, and players simply cheating. The standard filmsim rules keep you quiet if you are knife killed, as well has having a mandatory wait time before you can call 'dead man' and go to regen. We have done all those types of games as well. Night games are a no go at the Lakes - far too hazardous unfortunately.

Appreciate your assistance, bud.

Hey folks, Val/Tony, Site manager of Battle Lakes (not owner). First of all, I'd like to acknowledge and say thankyou for your kind comments in this thread - it means a lot at this time for unrelated reasons. As some of you already know I have been part of Battle Lakes for a considerable amount of time, through the good patches and the not so good patches, driven on purely by my love for the game/hobby/spobby. I have written many games and themes over the years that have been held at Battle Lakes. Ever since it's original inception by my predecessors, Battle Lakes has always been a site that 'offers more than a regular skirmish', with a staple of that being the 2x 2 hour game times, with the second half being either a reversal, or a continuation of the mission/storyline as opposed to having 4-6 shorter based plays. It has also long been 'a semi only unless LMG' site in order to provide better Firefights and reduced overkill through less hosing of BB'S. I think the only reason The Lakes has seen such a slower and sneakier rate of game play is down to the lower number of boots on the ground, than the filmsim playstyle itself. I have been told in the past the term 'filmsim' and the different ruleset can be off putting to players - (especially the LARP aspect) but also rules such as the semi only rule (n/a LMGs), the ammo limits per deployment, where you can/cant reload your mags, box mag restrictions. Feedback has also shown that players find some of the game briefs confusing, with too much going on. For this reason we opted to run the faster paced Battle Field event (domination followed by fall back) one week and then a more story line driven, slightly more mind working event the next. Despite this, numbers have still been low on both counts and we were forced to drop to one event a month. Whilst I know Battle Lakes isn't as developed as many other sites structure wise, there are materials on site that I am slowly working through in order to bring it up to date to meet players needs, and I'm always willing to listen to suggestions from players. In regard to social Media, I'm not the best at it (having only just joined this airsoft forum), But I do intend to implement this forum more, starting with getting a Battle Lakes forum up and running in the appropriate channel. Our dedicated Gunman Battle Lakes Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/share/15RAdYzKne/ Our new players hub group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/959490256013175/?ref=share And we have Instagram - @Gunman.battle.lakes (for ease of uploading pictures I take on site during events). And @gunmanbattlelakes (managed by other gunman staff). I have always been, and will always be appreciative of the players that play at and support Battle lakes as a site. I shall put the question to the forum - What do you guys want to see from Battle Lakes? What sort of games/events would you prefer to see happening? Thankyou for reading.