Let's Talk Tactical AKs

 

(this guy is from G&P - who we know makes great products)

Some people love tactical AKs, some hate them.  Me - I like them a lot.  As a guy who usually runs support, I am more biased toward a MK46 or a MK43, and of course - the M249 is always fun too.  BUT I am becoming more and more open to the AK-family, and the tactical AK is the kind I tend to like best.  I do get that some people are "AK purists" - they need a wood stock, nothing 'tactical', and that's the end of the discussion.  I suppose there are people like that with their AR/M4s too, but in my experience AK fans are more often purists than the M4 peeps are.

I think that the tactical AK is growing on people though.  Probably with the conflicts in the Middle East we are seeing more real contractors running AK-platforms, and we all know that a good part of airsoft is looking the part/looking cool.  Thus, if some professional contractor has one, more airsofters are going to want them too.

 

This one above is from Magpul PTS and I love it.  Partially it's just the 'it looks cool' factor.  Part of it is because I'm a Costa fan and he has run this one before.  But the other side of the equation for me is what this one offers.  Adjsutable stock - huge benefit to me.  Rail space - another great benefit.  When I run anything other than support, I love to have a vert grip or AFG on my gun, so this gives me that option.  And because of my style of play, a red dot is always nice.  That's one thing about this one - the rail doesn't allow you add a red dot closer to your face, but you can't win them all I guess (and yes I know you can add a scope mount, but I am not a huge fan of them).  The ICS AK (below) offers you more rail space closer to your face for optics, but it's almost impossible to find these days. 

One nice thing is that if you like tactical AKs, they are becoming more and more reasonable in cost.  JG (below) makes one and it's less than $200.  It's not going to be the quality of the G&P, but it'll save you some cash.

If you want to take a step up from JG, the Echo 1 Contractor AK is a good option (below).

And APS makes some as does Javelin - and you can get them with the blowback feature too.

With more and more coming to the market, the tactical AK has a future it seems, and to me - that's a good thing.

- Carp 

CQB Radio - Episode 4: It's Been A While

Episode 4 is ready to be downloaded. You can find us at:

http://www.apple.com/search/ipoditunes/?q=cqb+radio
And we're at http://cqbradio.libsyn.com/ at the Libsyn site.

E-mail: CQBRadio@gmail.com or leave comments on the blog.
We’re also on Twitter - CQB Radio.

CQB Radio - Episode 4: It's Been A While...
- Welcome and Introduction
- Word on the Street: The latest New England airsoft news
- Word on the Street Focus: D-Day with Savage from Maine Airsoft
- Assessment: 2 reviews: The Echo 1 E90 and the TSD SD45 UMP
- Tricks of the Trade, Part 1: Moving Quietly In The Woods
- Tricks of the Trade, Part 2: Talking with Scout the Doggie
- Loadout: Airsoft Optics
- Retailer Review: AirsoftGI
- Just In: New sites, great sites, new items

I heard from Airsoft Korea via e-mail. Great to know that airsoft is being played all over the world, from the U.S. to South Korea - we've got some world-wide plastic slingin' going on.

Here's the Jing Gong M16A4 with an M203 and heat shield. This was originally the JG DMR with a full-length, all-metal rail system. Mods took a while, but it's finally completed. E-mail me if you're interested in hearing about how the these mods are done.

The Bio BB Breakdown is going on now. I started June 1 and one month later, still nothing worth reporting. I'll let you know when the BBs start to break down, and I'll post pics on the blog when the images are worth taking a look at.

COYOTE BROWN COMPETITION: Last month's winner of the TRUE coyote brown contest was Midwest Jay. He's scoring a free pair of Mechanix gloves.

AIRSOFT HANDLE'S FOR MY DOGGS: This month's competition - come up with airsoft names for my two doggs - Griffin (on the left as you are looking at this picture - the all-black Lab/Terrier mix) and Caroline (on the right - the brown and black Shepherd/Lab/Hound mix). The contest ends on July 21st, one entery per person.

WORD ON THE STREET: Here are a few link for up-coming events in the airsoft world.
- In Massachusetts - Resident Eval: Return to Racoon City -
http://www.neasg.org/forums/showthread.php?t=25951

- In Vermont - Joint Field Training Exercise - http://www.gmsog.com/
- In New Hampshire - Operation Serpent's Sword -
http://www.neasg.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26378
- In Maine - Operation Northern Fist -
http://www.maineairsoft.com/forum/index.php/topic,1453.0.html
- In Rhode Island - Warzone Paintball - http://www.warzoneri.com/
- In Connecticut - Operation Burning Sun IV - http://www.airsoftct.com/

- In New York - Evike Practical Pistol Competition -
http://www.evike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&p=70534
- In New York - Operation Pine Plains III - http://www.oppineplains.com/
- In New York - Operation Lightning Strike -
http://www.oplionclaws.com/lightstrike/index.php

WORD ON THE STREET: FOCUS
An A.A.R. of D-Day: Operation Failed Drop from Maine Airsoft

Some of the players (myself included) were paratroopers, and of those paratroopers, some of us were wounded right from the get-go.

ASSESSMENT: Review #1 was of the Echo 1 E90, and JP from Alleyway airsoft gave us a hand on this review. Check out his page on YouTube.

The E90 - a strange-looking but great gun.

Here's the M4 mag adapter JP spoke about.

The E90 all set-up.

ASSESSMENT: Review #2 was of the TSD SD45 (UMP)

The box I recieved from AirsoftGI.

In the box you get the gun and these items.

The stock folds like a G36.

The fore grip and charging handle.

The TSD SD45 with a verticle fore grip and an NC Star red dot scope.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE, Part 1: We talked about moving quietly in the woods and how to be a more stealthy airsoft player.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE, Part 2: We spoke with Scout the Doggie about video recording your airsoft games. Check out his page on YouTube - www.youtube.com/scoutthedoggie.

LOADOUT: We talked about optics in loadout - what they are, how to set-them up, and the different kinds often used in airsoft.

Your basic red dot tube sight.

Another red dot with a sun shade.

Another more open red dot.

A holo sight on my SCAR-L by DBOYS.

A reflex sight.

A non-magnified ACOG sight.

A 3-9X40 magnified scope.

That same scope on my KART M14 EBR.

Another magnified scope. This one is smaller in size and is a 4X32 and is just about right for most airsoft players who want a magnified scope.

RETAILER REVIEW: AirsoftGI - http://www.airsoftgi.com/.

JUST IN: New items and websites worth checking out.

CQB Radio was on Airsoftv.com - check them out at http://www.airsoftv.com/.

- http://www.depot53.com/ - check them out, especially the links.
- http://www.gunnerairsoft.com/ - new items like the JG GBB Glock.
- http://www.ebairsoft.com/ - the DBOYS full-metal PDW

That's Episode 4. Vote in our polls and send me some airsoft names for my 2 doggs - Griffin and Caroline. Leave a review for us on iTunes, and check back often to see updates here on the blog.

Thanks, and keep on firin',
Carp