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[align=center]Gun and gun picture (CYMA AK74) by Beowolff
Cover creation/production and graphics by Raven[/align]
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[align=center]JAM Copyright November Vol. 1 Issue 9 Edition
JAM staff members and contributors:
Editor in chief: Beowolff
Co-editor: Mags
JAM state logo: Clinkman
JAM cover art: Raven
Feature article: Beowolff
Special articles: Zbear/Clinkman/Beowolff
Beowolff/Jackson Field production[/align]
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[align=center]Happy Thanksgiving![/align]
Welcome to another special edition of Jackson Airsoft Magazine, or JAM! Thanksgiving is coming up on us fast, and my mouth is already watering at the thought of turkey and stuffing. I hope everyone gets to spend the day with their families in some way or another, because that’s one of the biggest things I look forward to every Thanksgiving. In that regard, we have a special interview with a local airsoft family. There are a couple of other Thanksgiving related articles on top of that to further get you in the turkey mood. We also have a special Vietnam airsoft article about the growing trend of Vietnam-based games. Plus find out what can be accomplished with a little PVC and wood. And we’ve also got some updates (with pictures) of Jackson Airsoft Field improvements and a good ole gun review on the CYMA AK74. We here at JAM are very thankful for each and every one of you for giving us your time in reading this and your commitment to helping the Jackson airsoft community thrive and grow. We can’t do this without you!
[align=center]Mags
Co-editor JAM
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[align=center]Thanksgiving Day![/align]
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[align=center](by Beowolff)[/align]
Thanksgiving...yep! Almost here...again. Another year has almost come and gone. And I don't know what Thanksgiving means to you fine folk. I only know what it means to me.
Now these days and to these modern times, it does not seem to be much of a big deal. After all, I saw stores and malls putting up Christmas decorations, Christmas toy displays, and even playing Christmas music a month or more ago! G'ah! And that's not to say that Christmas (Christ's celebrated birthday and ole Saint Nick's fun time) isn't important---it is.
Very important!
And if I thought that the stores and malls and what-not were doing all of that JUST in celebration of Christ's birthday or for the 'goodness' expressed by ole Saint Nick's giving...well, I'd be proud. ---Ah, but I know better!
The stores are doing it out of greed, pure and simple. Each one trying to get the jump on the other and sell a few more Christmas items to make some more cash and they've done this for so long that putting up their Christmas decorations and playing Christmas carols over their loudspeakers means entirely NOTHING to them any more...only cash in their pockets. And not only has that degraded the reason and spirit of Christmas and it's special meaning...it's also rudely SHOVED the poor ole Thanksgiving holiday (and it's reason for being) near completely to the side!
These days, most people hardly celebrate Thanksgiving at all. And if they do, it's just an excuse to eat a big meal, have some friends and or family over, watch a few ball games on TV. They REALLY don't know what it's about or even care.
Well, I'm old school (go figure) and I DO REMEMBER what it's all about.
Heck, when I was a kid back in the day (lol,) Thanksgiving was darn near as celebrated as Christmas. I know, hard to figure 'these' days...but it was. My home town even had Thanksgiving Day decorations that they put on the streets...the stores all had HUGE Thanksgiving Day decorations in and on their windows and doors...there were even Thanksgiving Day parades down main street. Wow! Exciting stuff! Especially for us kids!
In school the last three or four weeks before Thanksgiving were days filled with coloring pilgrim/turkey/native American cutouts and then pasting them to the blackboards/walls in our classrooms. The teachers would tell us ALL about the beginning of America, about the pilgrims...the Indians...the first Thanksgiving Day and how it all began. And we'd read exciting stories in our classroom books. They'd usually be a big, school Thanksgiving play put on by us kids. At home and on TV, they'd be wildly entertaining TV specials and movies...ALL about Thanksgiving. At church, they'd usually decorate (at least the Sunday School rooms) and we might have a play...and naturally the Pastor's main message/sermon would be about Thanksgiving in some form or fashion.
It was a very special time of the year...almost magical.
It was way more than just a day to stuff our guts and kick back in front of the TV...it was a day of history, a day of remembrance, of how American came to be, of past sacrifices made not only by the original Pilgrims...but also by other Americans...sometimes even our own families. And most of all---it was a day of thanks. Of how we were entirely thankful that we had a roof over our heads, food for our bellies, friends and relatives nearby, freedom from oppression/the right to worship as we pleased/the right to vote...doctors and life-saving medicine available and schools to go to and paved streets to ride/drive on and ALL the OTHER good things that we loved and held dear.
And that was Thanksgiving Day back then...
Compare it to now.
Well, we can't go back in time, and maybe we shouldn't, for this world is a different one from the way it was when I was a kid. Time moves on, things change. But the original Thanksgiving Day concept was a good one...and really folks...if you can, please try and find at least a mere moment 'sometime' during the holiday to give thanks for all that you have, and all that you're gonna' have.
And all that America...land of the free and home of the brave...has.
It won't hurt you a bit...and in some small way...it might even help.
Please, enjoy your holiday. Eat some good stuff and visit some friends/neighbors/family members. Tell them you love them---better yet, show it in some small way.
And from us here at Jackson Field and JAM magazine...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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[align=center]JAM Humor![/align]
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[align=center]Family Ties [/align]
[align=center]An interview with "Blane" of OpForce[/align]
clinkman: I’m here with “Blane” of OpForce, to speak with him about how his whole family has become involved with airsoft. This being near the Thanksgiving Holiday, and one of the things we are thankful for and reflect on is family, we thought an example of how airsoft and family go together might be in order.
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Barry Key of OpForce, aka "Blane"[/align]
Blane: I am honored that you would want to speak with me.
clinkman: Blane, some reading this may not know you and your team that well, perhaps you can give us a bit of background information. Can you tell us where you are from (born and raised), what area of the mid-South you're presently living in and where you play? Present and/or "Real Life" employment?
Blane: I am proud to be called a member of OpForce, one of the finest groups of individuals I have had the pleasure to call “brothers”. I was born in Glasgow, Kentucky and raised in a little place just outside of Glasgow called Temple Hill. I spent 11 years as an Firefighter/EMT and Paramedic. We just finished our first year of play at our Tomplinsville, KY airsoft field and also I play regularly at the Bad Karma field in Lebanon, Tn when time permits. I am currently employed as the I.T. Director for Span Tech LLC.
clinkman: That's pretty interesting...especially the EMT/Paramedic experience. It’s always good to know someone with computer experience as well… So, are you a “PC” or “MAC”? Just kidding… Any other experiences along the way that perhaps led you to be interested in airsoft?
Blane: I guess the biggest thing that drew me to airsoft is the camaraderie. That is the biggest thing I have missed about EMS. In that world we took care of each other, watched each others back. We lived by a simple set of rules. 1. If I get dirty, you had better be dirty. 2. If I am bleeding, you better be bleeding. 3. If I wind up in the hospital, you better be in the room across the hall. I have been able to find that type of commitment among my fellow OpForce members. Airsofters, for the most part “Get it”. They understand honor, integrity, and have a respect for our country and each other.
clinkman: Now, as we know, you are a member of the airsoft team OpForce, along with your son CJ. I also understand the whole team is a “family affair” of sorts, with 4 separate father-son tandems (including you and CJ), as well as a brother-brother-step-father combo. However, how did the rest of your own family become involved with the game?
Blane: You’re correct! My son C.J. is a member of the team, also. He started as a junior member at age 13. My Daughter Kristin first got involved just to see what it was all about. Later she started helping out by doing some role playing at our regular SKAA (Southern Kentucky Airsoft Association) games. She helped us out this year with Operation Irene. She served as a staff member and a role player. She just asked me last week if she could start playing regularly. I am blessed to have an understanding wife. Stephanie not only puts up with me playing but also comes out to help with game setups, take pictures, and helps officiate.
clinkman: Has this enhanced your relationship with them in some way?
Blane: Yes it has. I knew that as my son progressed into his teens that our relationship would change. Sometimes communications can become strained during the teen years. I wanted us to have something in common that we enjoyed. Airsoft has proven to be just that “thing”. In addition it gives Kristin and I some Father / Daughter time. I have certainly grown to appreciate my wife more for her willingness to participate in my hobby and make the effort to help out. It has made our relationship stronger.
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Left to right: John Lu of the Operation Lionclaws Military Simulation Series; Todd Blackburn, US Army Ranger (ret.), the Ranger that fell from the Blackhawk in Somalia (Blackhawk Down); CJ Key, Blane's son and member of the Operation Irene Staff; Col. Danny McKnight, US Army Ranger (ret.), leader of the convoy in Somalia (Blackhawk Down); Kristin Key, Blane's daughter and member of the Operation Irene Staff; MSG Howard "Mad Max" Mullen, US Army Ranger (ret.), former lead hand to hand combat instructor for 3rd Battalion 75th Rangers. The photo was taken at this year's Operation Irene VI after Col. McKnight's speech.[/align]
clinkman: What does your family enjoy most about airsoft, and what are some of their experiences?
Blane: I think what we enjoy most is the fact that we can share something in common. Swap stories and perspectives form the events. It has drawn us closer and we have had a lot fun. As far as my kids go, I think it has been an excellent object lesion for them to see their mother and I sharing something like this. She does not care about playing the game but cares enough about my interests to be willing to share in the experience. In turn they see me sharing in her interests as well.
As far as experiences go . C.J. and I have had the opportunity to attend several of the Lionclaws events as well as numerous local games. We have also shared in hosting and organizing the SKAA events in our area and worked on developing our field as well. Kristin has been a great help at our local games as a role player and assistant. In addition she got to attend Irene 6 this year and help out with staffing and role playing. Stephanie has helped with building on the field, staffing events, and being the event photographer.
clinkman: Getting back to you personally, what’s the most “exciting” airsoft game/event you’ve ever been to? And why was it the most exciting?
Blane: It would be hard to label one event the most “exciting”. My first event was Operation Silent Fury II and I loved every 96 degree in the shade minute of it. It was my first time out with OpForce and I felt like I was able to hold my own as a rookie. It also cemented my love for airsoft. Irene III was off the hook. This was the first time we were at the Zussman Urban Combat center at Ft. Knox, KY. All the role players, vehicles, buildings, explosions and M113 transports were amazing. Getting to be around Col McKnight and MSG. Mullen and some to the best airsoft teams in the country was a privilege. However I have to say my proudest airsoft moment to date was the day the team voted to promote my son to a full member. That is something he worked hard to earn on his own and the only thing that has topped my being voted on to the team.
clinkman: I imagine with your whole family involved, you have a few extra AEGs….what are your personal airsoft weapons? Fill us in on your armory.
Blane: My hardware
1: Classic Army m15-A4 S.P.C. upgraded spring (420 F.P.S.)
1: Classic Army G36 C Upgraded spring (400 F.P.S.)
1: Star L-86 fully upgraded for speed.
1: Tm MP-7 stock (CQB gun)
1: ICS MP-5 with full systema speed upgrade
1: ICS M4 stock (backup gun)
1: Echo 1 M4 stock
1: Piper Mark 4 Strafer AKA Painless (400 F.P.S. 10,000 RPM)
1: Classic Army SCAR-L Upgraded Spring(400+ F.P.S.)
1: Classic Army M15-A4 Tactical Upgraded Spring (400+ F.P.S)
1: KJ Works M700 Gas Sniper Rifle Stock (550 F.P.S. Stock)
2: Echo 1 AK47s Stock (“Haji”/opfor Gun)
I also have 4 various gas pistols 2 C02 2 Green Gas
clinkman: WOW! You could not only outfit your whole family, but a small army it sounds like Do you have a favorite?
Blane: My Favorite has to be the Piper Mark 4 Strafer. It is the most fun to shoot. I also get a kick out of watching the reactions of people around me when I pull the trigger. The sound alone makes people duck for cover.
clinkman: What about your family, do they have favorites? Or particular things they prefer to do like role play?
Blane: C.J. has 2 guns of his own now an Echo1 MP5 and a CA AK-47. He really likes the AK. My daughter Kristin loves to role play. She really gets into character. However she has played a couple of times and likes the G36 C because of the collapsible stock.
clinkman: On a more serious note, what do you think is the biggest challenge facing airsoft today?
Blane: I think cheating is the biggest issue facing the sport today. Over the past four years I have seen the sport grow. However along with the growth in numbers I have see the amount of cheating increase as well. The effect that this is having may result in far reaching repercussions for the sport. Not only does it show a complete lack of honor and respect for the game but it also causes people to become hypersensitive to the issue. I am hearing a lot more people shouting and arguing about hit calling. This has a very negative effect on the game.
clinkman: Any ideas on how the average airsofter, field, team, and event can meet that challenge?
Blane: As far as the individual goes, simply call your hits and let the other player worry about his hits. Assume innocence and give the other person the benefit of the doubt. Anyone that hosts events needs to make it clear that neither not calling hits or arguing about hits will not be tolerated. Then they must be willing to enforce the rules. I think everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt. However if it becomes apparent that an individual or team is not willing to play with honor and abide by the rules then they should be invited “to not come back.” We have never had to ask someone to leave one of our SKAA events. However I will not hesitate to do so if it becomes necessary. If our games get the reputation of allowing this type of thing people will begin to avoid them.
clinkman: Where do you see, and where would you like to see airsoft in 5 years?
Blane: That is hard to say. If the anti-gun people stay out of our sport then I see it only getting bigger and better. I think that we will see more and larger scale regional games. I also think we will see more game type options i.e. hard core milsim, era themed events, standard airsoft and “paint-soft”. I would like to see more events along the line of the Lionclaws events. That caliber, but with events to suit the different players tastes. Most of all I would like to see the game maintain what I love about it. Honor, respect and camaraderie.
clinkman: What advice would you have for others thinking of asking family members to participate or get involved with airsoft in some degree?
Blane: Consider what your family members like as individuals. Don’t try to force airsoft on them. You need to be willing to allow them to see all the aspects of the sport and find something in it they can enjoy. I am very lucky that my family has supported me playing the game. I am even luckier that they have been willing to find something about it that they could enjoy. Not everyone likes pulling a trigger or getting shot. However they may enjoy sharing a common interest with you enough to get involved as some level.
clinkman: Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say to your fellow airsofters out there right now on this subject or any other?
Blane: Thanks to all of the players that make this game great. I have had the opportunity to play alongside and against some of the finest people I have met. I hope to continue to continue to have such opportunities for many years to come.
clinkman: Blane, thanks for taking the time to speak with us, and may you, your family, and your team have a happy and joyous Thanksgiving! We can all be thankful as well for each other and for the freedom to participate in a sport/hobby/pastime/game that we love with our friends, family, acquaintances, and fellow enthusiasts.
Everyone have a great Thanksgiving and until next time...
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Airsoft Safety Tip[/align]
[align=center]As we get deeper into the fall, remember there are still ticks, mites, and chiggers, so make sure you protect yourself. Smelling like bug spray is a whole lot better than getting bitten or sick.[/align]
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[align=center]The Turkey Shoot[/align]
[align=center]by Beowolff[/align]
Back in the day when a dollar was really worth a dollar, and back when a man’s word was his bond, when more people went to church than didn’t, before TV, videos, CD players, X Box and computers occupied most everybody’s time, when gas was .38 cents a gallon and the U.S. of A. didn’t count on any other country for anything... there was a thing called family get-to-gathers.
These events were pretty frequent during those olden times, and unlike the so-called get-to-gathers we have these days—we actually looked forward to them and us kids especially could hardly wait for ‘em. After all, we not only got to see family members (and spend time with them) that we rarely saw on a day to day, week to week, month to month (or even longer) basis, we also got to eat great home-cooked meals (complete with fab desserts) and run around like chickens with our heads cut off...you see during family get-to-gathers our normally strict parents usually cut us a little slack. You know, allowing for the excitement and being around a large group of people and all. And naturally we misbehaved accordingly. lol!
And since TV back then was a newfangled contraption (many folk didn’t even have them at that time) and gave skittish service at best, we kids were mostly stuck with either listening to the radio a lot (bummer for kids because the grownups ruled over the stations and a kid can only handle so much Jack Benny or local farm news,) or listening to the older fogeys talk a lot about how it was in 'the day,' or running around outside like wild Indians (which was great fun but eventually got somewhat boring) or hopefully talking at least one or two of the grownups into going hunting with us.
Yes!
Hunting!
Now that was the ticket!
After much pestering, eventually we’d get somebody talked...a father, a grandfather...or perhaps an uncle or older cousin...into the hunting idea. And man that was EXCITING!
Anyway, to make a long story short, one of my favorite get-to-gathers was a Thanksgiving Day get-to-gather and involved such a hunt...a turkey hunt, mind you. Which was ‘very’ exciting because wild turkeys had at that time (early 50's) mostly been hunted to extinction around the Chester County region. Yeah, funny to think about that now what with wild turkeys re-introduced several years ago and now all over the whole area...but back ‘then’ hardly any of us had ever seen a wild turkey (or a deer) at all. And when my Uncle Tiny told about spotting a couple while cutting firewood on the back forty of Grandpa’s farm, everybody shut up and listened to the incredible tale. He had all of our attention, let me tell ya.
So Grandpa, Uncle Tiny, Uncle Wayne, a couple of older cousins and some of us younger lads, all decided to go after those turkeys and bag ‘em if we could. There ended up being about eight or nine of us all total, wrapping up in our warmest coats and caps (back then, it was cold as all get-outs in the early Winter, about 15 or 16 degrees, which is damned cold by anybody’s book. And quick as we could while it was still light, we headed out into the woods. A heavy snow had fallen the day before (yes, back then it often snowed here in West Tennessee ‘before’ Thanksgiving) and it was rough business, especially for us younger kids, pushing thru the nearly knee-high (to us) white stuff. The woods was pretty leafless, just a few red and brown hanger-on leaves remaining on trees...and most of the treetops and limbs were also snow-covered and or covered with long icicles. We saw rabbit tracks all over the place, and a few coon/squirrel tracks too...but after tromping all the way to the back forty where Tiny had spotted those turkeys, we saw nothing that looked like big bird prints.
We were a bit disappointed, but pressed on anyway, hoping to come up on one of the fat (according to Tiny) birds. (Remember, we had no clue as to how to properly turkey hunt...we’d ‘never’ seen one in our whole lives let alone hunted one!)
Now, it might seem scary/dangerous to some of you thinking about a bunch of folks (and some of them kids only ten years old or so) all walking around the heavy forest with guns and live ammo in them...and yeah, it sort of seems a bit funky to me too in this more modern time and age...but you have to remember that back then, we ALL had been raised with firearms...practically ‘born’ with a rifle and or shotgun in our hands...and had been shooting them AND hunting with them since we were old enough to pick them up and hold them to our shoulders long enough to sight down the barrels. We were all, even us kids, crack shots...and as a matter of sensible, early training, we handled our guns with the utmost care...so much so...that it was second nature for us to be naturally gun-safe with just about any weapon ALL the time.
There was no fear for us to be out there with guns, because we knew and ‘trusted’ everyone in our party to BE COMPLETELY careful and safe. ‘Nuf said.
Anyway, we stomped around out there for a bit longer but as night was setting in and the temp was dropping rapidly...we decided to give it up and head for the house. Besides it was about suppertime and nobody wanted to miss the upcoming GREAT meal we knew that the women folk was putting on the table for us. Most of the older guys backtracked towards the house the exact same way we’d come in earlier...but me and Matt (a first cousin of the same age) decided to go a slightly ‘longer’ route back so we could come up by one of Grandpa’s big livestock watering ponds and see the thick ice on it (maybe even get in a minute or two of skating on it’s super-slick surface before heading back on to the house over the big hill on the other side of it.)
We cut thru a couple of hollows, climbed a few small hills, re-entered the pasture by climbing over a rusty ole fence or two, passed Grandpa’s older (only used for hay storage by then) log barn and were almost to the pond—and when we worked our way thru a small, cedar tree thicket—came right out in the open on two of the biggest, fattest birds strutting along right in front of us that we had ever seen in our lives!
“T-turkeys ‘ya think?” Matt finally stammered out to me, his breath making a big fog of condensation in front of his face in the very cold air. (By then it was probably only about 10 or 11 degrees!)
“Damned right!” I hissed back in my own breath cloud, being proud of recognizing the big birds instantly (from pictures in a book at school) and also being quite proud of my cussing abilities out of earshot of my parents.
“Let’s nail ‘em!” I urged.
And so we both threw up our guns (I had my Dad’s .22 Stevens Singe-Shot bolt-action, and Matt had an uncle’s 16 gauge Savage Single-Shot shotgun) and we both fired almost together. ‘Crack/Boom!’ the two weapons sounded loudly in the dim light and freezing evening air.
But in our excitement to bag those fantastic wild turkeys, we had made a couple of bad mistakes...
Mistake 1.) The evening light was playing hell on our distance judging or ranging abilities—and the very cold air no doubt multiplied that error...ie, the two turkeys looked a lot closer to us than they really were. We thought they were right in front of us...maybe twenty to thirty yards away...but in reality, I’d guess them more like sixty yards plus, away. Consequence? We shot too low. Neither my .22 caliber short round...nor Matt’s 16 gauge rabbit load, came close to hitting the two wild birds that were strutting along there in front of us.
Mistake 2.) Well the explosions of our gunfire shook the hell out of several of the huge ole cedar trees we were still standing way too close to...and that shook loose and dumped about fifty pounds of cold as hell, wet snow right down on top of our heads.
G’ah!
The impact of the falling snow actually knocked both of us to the ground and seemed to bury us in an avalanche of the icy stuff. I've got to admit...it scared the hell out of the both of us. (I think we both sort of thought the wild turkey god had jumped out of a tree on top of us in revenge for trying to kill a couple of his loyal followers...hehehehe! I dunno’, maybe we thought we were gonna’ get ‘pecked’ or 'flogged' to death or something!)
Anyway, sputtering and spewing, we clawed our way out of the snow and there ahead in the distance were those two turkeys just looking at us like we were fools. “I’ll get you yet!” I cried angrily as I realized what had happened...only when I’d fallen, I’d lost hold of my rifle and couldn’t quickly find it there in the snow. And Matt couldn't find his either. A few minutes later when we ‘did’ find our guns...we looked up and the turkeys were long gone.
Go figure.
Well, we were thoroughly soaked to the skin from the abrupt ‘snow’ dunking, and there was nothing left for it but to head back to Grandpa’s house and a warm fire, some dry clothes, and big meal. And so shivering and shaking and with our teeth chattering like jackhammers, we called it a day and headed to the house.
Our big turkey shoot was over.
It’d be damned near forty plus years before I’d ever see another wild turkey again in these parts.
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[align=center]MORE JAM Humor[/align]
[align=center](Thanksgiving humor gone terribly wrong! lol)[/align]
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[align=center]Building a MG42 from scratch
(or Fun with PVC and wood)
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[align=center]by ZBear[/align]
Let’s set the way back machine to 1990. November to be exact.
At that time I was involved in World War 2 blank fire re-enacting, 5th SS Viking. At one event we had someone come out with an Mg42 that he had rebarreled to 7.62 NATO and blank adapted. I got to run a belt through it at the end of the day.
Amazing feeling, almost godlike. I can smite anything as long as the ammo lasts!
Then the group got together for a live shoot several weeks later. Again I got to run a belt through it. Cut a small pine tree down with a good burst. The roar of the gun vibration of the recoils and the brass spilling out of the bottom ejection port was a visceral experience. I smiled for a week. Every since then I have wanted one.
The only problem is that I have never had the money to buy the ammo let alone the gun.
History of the real Mg42
(Copied from the Military Factory) http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarm ... arms_id=64
MG42 (Maschinengewehr Model 42)
The cheaper-to-produce MG42 was much loved by its Wehrmacht users and respected by the Allies who faced it.
The MG 42 (full designation of Maschinengewehr Model 42) was a direct result of the small arms shortages that plagued Germany through the middle and later years of the war. The system was designed from the outset to be easy to manufacture and produce in large quantities. As such, the weapon borrowed heavily from the visual appearance of the equally successful MG34 system with some of the manufacturing breakthroughs encountered in the development of the MP40 submachine gun.
The MG42 was a large suppression weapon that was engineered to fire an impressive 1,200 rounds per minute. Because of this rate of fire, the system was also developed with the ability to change the barrel in less than six seconds for a trained machine gunner. Firing the Mauser 7.92x57mm cartridge, the MG42 could let loose a lethal volley of hot lead from its 50-round ammunition belt. Designed as both a portable bipod-mounted or tripod-mounted system, the MG42 was a deadly portable weapon. The bipod mounting was prone to degrade the accuracy of the weapon whereas the tripod mount offered up great stability.
Between the MG34 and the newer MG42, the MG42 improved on the internal working components with an entirely new locking mechanism. The MG42 still retained the use of the same ammunition belts and ammunition so the two weapons could feed off of one other from a logistical sense very capably. By the end of the war, the MG42 was the weapon of choice over the MG34 for the German Army. Equally, the Allied forces grew so conscious of the lethality inherent in the MG42 that the very sound of the machine gun firing was noticeable to any trained infantryman - and the sensing of impending danger ahead. If the MG42 system had any drawbacks, it was in that the system required an awful lot of attention in terms of maintenance. Dirt and battlefield debris would regularly cause jamming if left unchecked.
The MG42 would later be used as the basis for the post-war MG3 General Purpose Machine Gun for use in the new modern German Army - but this time firing the NATO-standard 7.62mm round. The American-made M60 General Purpose Submachine Gun would also owe some of its design development to captured German MG42s in post-war.
Airsoft Project
My Airsoft project started with some drawings. Originally I wanted to do an mg34 based on the drawings here:
http://empireprops.freeservers.com/mg34break.html
However I did not think a mechbox would fit, so I did some more searching and found these drawings:
http://www.imperial-fleet.com/BBC/commu ... ?f=26&t=72
About the same time I found some square PVC tubing listed on the McMaster Carr website. It is just under 2 inches square and came in a lovely side of gunmetal gray. So I printed the drawings out legal size paper, 8 1/2" by 14" took them to Kinkos and had them enlarged to full size. It was funny to watch the little hippy looking girl, wrinkle her nose in disgust at having to make a gun blue print.
First the donor gun that will be cut up and mutated into my vision of carnage:
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(Speaking of which if anyone wants the folding stock and carry handle they are for sale...)
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Then I put blue masking tape on the PVC and marked the vent holes in the barrel shroud and the rough, okay very rough location of other holes.
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Then I started the drill out the holes I out a piece of wood inside to make sure I did not drill all the way through to the other side. Remember, when working with PVC to use a dust mask. The dust produces as it is cut or sanded is fine and probably not the best for your lungs.
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Here is the start of the right side of the receiver with the barrel change slot:
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This is the top side of the barrel shroud as the cooling holes get more defined:
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(Also in the picture above you can see my first attempt at a recoil booster/flash hider made from PVC fittings. It didn't look the best.)
Booster and bipod rough built:
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Booster:
The booster is made from a cone thread spool from a tailor shop and pvc fittings from Tractor Supply Company and Lowe's warehouse. Basically, I put fittings together in many different configurations until I got something that looked like a MG42 booster.
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Bipod:
The Bipod was made form a g36 airsoft bipod, aluminum Channel and 2 shelf brackets. I cut the legs off the bipod the epoxied it into the aluminum channel. Then I cut the shelf brackets down and epoxied them in place as well. (Bipod legs opened.)
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Both receiver portions rough cut and test fitted:
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Time for fitting sanding grinding and getting the parts to line up better. It is starting to look like a MG42 at this point
The Screws are used to duplicate the rivets that held the bolt rails in the original gun. on mine they also hold the gray pvc in position inside the white pvc. That way if I need to I can disassemble it for repairs or upgrading. Since the receiver is small, it will use LiPo batteries. I am using a 7.2 volt 2200 mah 20c battery pack. It should give performance on par with an 8.4 v NiMH but be about half the size.
The sight bases are aluminum channel glued on the pvc. I had to try several epoxies until I found one that worked. I tried Gorilla glue but it did not stick. The one that finally held was Locktite 5 minute gel epoxy. The rear sight is made from a piece of plastic I found at work. Not sure what it was originally. The rear sight will be glued in place on the finished gun. The front sight may fold like the original, if I can make it work. Eventually, I want to try and make the mount for the ring anti-aircract sight out on the barrel shroud. I already have a ring sight that will work with it.
Receiver test fit with stock top cover and bipod:
The top cover is a section of the same PVC as the receiver cut to shape, it is coming together
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The stock is two pieces of 1 inch thick ash cut to shape sanded and glued together:
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First fitting of all the major components:
The sound activated drum arrived and I got the Echo 1 M4 back from Nashville Airsoft. They installed a type 0 cylinder and slightly stronger spring
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(Finished the first top cover latch, not 100% satisfied but it works.)
Here it is after a coat of Krylon ultra flat black:
I made my stock too big so it needs to get cut down a little. I also still have to put on the sights and finish the stock. Otherwise it is complete
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I chronoed it at Nashville Airsoft shoots 360 to 370 and 13 bb's a second.
(By the way, due to booster configuration it sounds different from most aegs.)
Was it worth it to build?
I think so. It is a one of a kind and it looks like a MG42.
Once I have played with it some I may get high speed gears installed and see if I can get closer to 20 bb's a second like the real one. With the 5000 round drum and a little trigger discipline it should be able to provide a lot of support to any squad I am on.
I am going to use it at the Assault on Anzio game in Athens Alabama. Be on the look out for an after action report and future improvements here
Time spent?
Well that's very hard to add up. I spent 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there. I would set it aside for a week if I needed to think about how something should fit together, then work on it some more. So maybe a total of 20 to 30 hours over a 5 month time frame.
Total cost:
(I did not keep the receipts so I am guessing on some prices.)
-Echo 1 m4 i got in a trade for an M14. It came with a m2034 and a cqb barrel set that I sold. So it actually funded the project made $120.00 on it
-Gray 2 inch Square pvc $30.00 from McMaster Carr
-White 2 1/2 inch PVC free. It was out of the scrap box at TruValu. I tried to buy it and the manager gave it to me. Bonus.
-5000 round sound activated drum $40.00 from Airsplat. No problems with the order and excellent service
-LiPo Balancing charger $20.00 same order as above
-7.4 volt 1600 MAH LiPo battery $60 from Nashville Airsoft
-7.4 volt 2200 MAH LiPo $10.00 from Ebay no one else bid on it and I got it rigth before the auction ended
-Taimaya small connector for the Battery above $5.46 installed at Nashville Airsoft
-Upgraded cylinder and spring from Nashville Airsoft $60.00
-Various epoxies and Gorilla glue $15.00
-Aluminum channel $10.00
-Shelf Brackets $7.50
-Various screws and hinges $7.00
-Drill bits $5.00
-Krylon ultra flat black spray paint already had 2 cans in the garage. So I consider that a freebie.
So roughly it cost me about $300.00 for parts give or take. If you factor the parts and accessories I sold from the m4, it was only about $180 spent on the project. Not a bad deal.
Big Question, was it worth it?
Not only yes, but hell yes!
I now have a one of a kind custom airsoft. It can be taken apart easily for repairs or upgrades. I learned how to solve problems and could make another one much easier. In fact I plan to do another one some day using an AK or P90 for the internals.
Finally I think it looks very much like a mg42. I admit it doesn't look as good as as a Shoei but it only cost a fraction of the price of a Shoei.
Will I build you one?
Maybe.
However It will cost you an obscene amount of money but in the end you will have a gun build around your internals that will be unique.
As the old saying goes I may be easy but I sure ain't cheap.
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Your sling... That's right, an often overlooked but very important addition to your AEG that can make or break (yes, I meant break) the weapon. Most airsoft guns come with cheap slings, and a good rule of thumb is that the cheaper the gun, the much cheaper the stock sling. That may not always be true, but it is 'most' of the time. After all, clone or low cost gun makers have to cut corners somewhere, and they may turn out a fair to good gun for a low cost, but you can bet they're not gonna toss in (basically for free) a good sling for it too.
Now is a sling a 'have to have' for airsoft? No. Certainly not. But, it does come in handy if you're doing a lot of ground pounding/trekking around large airsoft fields and it certainly is handy if you need to do something with your weapon while you use your hands for other things (like drinking from your canteen, fixing your vest or other gear, adjusting your goggles, setting a fuse, etc, etc.) And I'd certainly rather have my weapon slung across my back or hanging from my shoulder than lying on the ground where some klutz (namely myself) might step on it and snap it in two. lol! Also, a sling just LOOKS military-like and I think, really adds to the realism of the G.I. feel, for I will tell you right now, no self-respecting dog face would have a rifle without a sling... nuff said.
And I'm telling you from prior experience...using a stock sling can make you cry REAL tears of pain! Especially when...not if...but when, it breaks and lets your nice, new AEG slam into the floor or ground barrel end first and snaps it clean in two! Trust me, been there! It's a sickening feeling to see your new gun smashed apart over a cheap sling. And many times it's not the sling itself, but the sling hardware...the buckle or retaining ring, or snap hook...that fails. After all, most of those slings use a really thin, really cheap, pot metal for that hardware.
So, if the stock slings on the lower priced (and some upper priced) guns are no good...what to do? Simple...throw them away. That's right, toss 'em. And go aftermarket and get you a GOOD one. But beware, many places sell the SAME cheap bit of garbage that came off your gun...so spend the money to get a nice one. Personally, I've found G&G, G&P and TM slings to be superb...but that's your choice. Heck, even most real steel gun slings will fit your very authentic-sized AEG's, so you might want a nice real steel sling.
But whatever you do...replace that stock sling...FAST. It's not worth the chance that it will fail. And 99 percent of the time...it will at some point, fail.
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[align=center]CYMA AK74
(Stuffed Turkey or Soaring Eagle?)[/align]
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Beowolff[/align]
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Yep...excellent question...is the CYMA AK74 a stuffed turkey or a soaring eagle of a gun? Is is 'just' another clone gun? Is it even serviceable and suitable for use in a hard fought airsoft skirmish? ---Or is it a good solid weapon worthy of spending your hard-earned bucks on and one you can carry into battle without fear of problems and without being ashamed of people seeing it in your hands or slung across your back or hanging from your shoulder?
Read on and decide for yourself.
Real world gun facts for the AK74: *Courtesy World Guns*
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Caliber: 5.45x39 mm
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt with 2 lugs
Weight: 3,3 kg (with empty magazine without bayonet); 3,6 kg (with loaded magazine)
Length: 943 mm (AKS-74 with folded butt - 690 mm)
Barrel length: 415 mm
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds standard
Effective range: 500 meters
Rate of fire: 600 - 650 rounds per minute
The idea of the reduced caliber ammunition for military shoulder arms was played with for a very long time. Each time the technology leaped forward, the standard calibers were reduced - from the 0.45 - 0.50 inch (11.4 - 12.7mm) of the mid-1800 to the .30 of the mid-1900s. The idea of further reduction of the caliber down to 6.5 - 5.6 mm (.240 - .220 inch) was also considered in many countries since the beginning of the XX century, but it was not until the 1960s when the idea of the low impulse, small-caliber, high velocity round came up to something real. When US Army adopted the M16 rifle in the mid-1960s, everybody else eyed Americans with interest. And as soon as the idea of small caliber rifle was found worthwhile, the total rearming began.
Soviet army started the development of its own small-caliber ammunition in the late 1960s. After some years of development, a new round was created. This round featured a bottlenecked, tapered case, slim bullet with nominal caliber of 5.45mm (actual bullet diameter is 5.62 mm). The bullet featured a combined steel and lead core with the hollow nose, muzzle velocity from the 415mm barrel was about 900 m/s. As soon as the new ammunition was available and accepted by the Soviet Military, it was decided to develop a new family of small arms around this cartridge. The fastest way to do so was to simply adapt the existing 7.62mm AKM assault rifle and the RPK light machine gun for new ammunition. This "new" arms would serve as an intermediate, temporary solution until the new, more effective and modern arms would be developed. The task of adaptation of the AKM/RPK family for the new round was relatively simple, since the new round was designed with this conversion in mind (case length and the overall length of both 7.62mm and 5.45mm cartridges are almost the same).
Basically, the small-caliber Kalashnikov assault rifle, officially adopted by the Soviet Army in 1974 as the "5.45mm Avtomat Kalashnikova, obraztsa 1974 goda (AK-74)", was no more than the older AKM, re-chambered for a new round, with very minor modifications. The most visible modification is the large and effective muzzle brake, which further reduces already moderate recoil of the new round, and improves the controllability of the rifle in the full automatic mode. Rear sight, while being of the same old design, was accordingly recalibrated for the new cartridge with much flatter trajectory. The wooden buttstock was slightly lightened by two oval cuts on both sides. The pistol grip was made from plastic, and the forend initially was made from wood. The stamped steel magazines were replaced by the plastic magazines of the very distinctive red-brown color. The airborne version of the new rifle, AKS-74, also introduced a new pattern of the folding butt. This was made from stamped steel, and folded to the left side of the receiver instead of being folded down on the 7.62mm AKMS, and was of more comfortable and robust construction. Otherwise the AK-74 retained all features and construction of the AKM/AKMS, and, surprisingly, the key deficiencies of the AKM were not cured in this improved version. For example, AK-74 retained the same less than ideal safety - selector lever, and the same crude sights. Like the AKM, the AK-74 can be fitted with special silencer (requires subsonic ammunition) or the 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher GP-25 or GP-30 (improved and lightened model).
During the production AK-74 was slightly improved. The mixed wooden and plastic furniture were replaced with the black plastic furniture, and the red-brown magazines were supplemented with the black plastic ones. The "Night" version AK-74N had been developed with the night IR scope rail added to the left side of the receiver. The latest variation of the AK-74 breed, that was introduced circa 1991 and consequently replaced in production both AK-74 and AKS-74, is the AK-74M. The AK-74M externally differs from the AK-74 of late 1980s production by the side-folding, solid black plastic buttstock and by the scope rail, mounted on the left receiver as as a standard. Some minor improvements also were made in the production process and external finish of the new rifle. AK-74M retained almost all advantages and disadvantages of the earlier Kalashnikov designs, including reliability, simplicity of operations and maintenance, and less than ideal "human engineering" and ergonomics. At the present time the AK-74M, along with earlier AK-74/AKS-74 is the standard shoulder arm of the Russian Army. The plans of replacing it with the widely advertised Nikonov AN-94 assault rifle were not carried out to any significant extent - the AN-94 is (and most probably will be) issued only to most elite units of the Russian Army, police and the Internal Affairs Ministry troops. The AK-74 type, 5.45mm assault rifles also were manufactured in the East German, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. Most of these designs after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact were converted to the 5.56mm NATO ammunition.
AK74 CYMA Airsoft AEG or CYMA CM031 Factory designation:
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Metal parts include:
Muzzle flash
front sight assembly
"cleaning rod"
outer barrel
rear sight assembly
upper receiver
selector switch
trigger
trigger guard
mag release
front and rear sling rings
*Lots of metal!
Specifications:
Gearbox type: Type 3
Magazine capacity: 600 rounds
Muzzle velocity: 330fps
Accuracy: 100 feet
Battery pack size: 8.4v Mini Battery
Package includes: Battery, Charger, Manual, Magazines, Sling, Cleaning Rod
Features: Adjustable Hop-up systems
Adjustable metal front/rear sight
New generation full metal gear box
Metal bolt carrier, metal trigger, metal receiver cover
Country of Origin:
China
And this is what "I" say about it all:
I actually bought this gun to have as a Rental Gun here at Jackson Field...it was very inexpensive---I mean 'really' inexpensive, and to tell you the truth, even though I had had GREAT experience with other CYMA products, such as the AKS74U, the CYMA M1A1 Thompson, and the CYMA M14...I was just a tad leary of purchasing it for a main battle rifle because of it's low, low price...ie, less than a hundred bucks and Airsoft G.I.
Anyway, I ordered the gun for a rental...but when I got it, I'm going like...wow, this is a good looking gun! And when I test fired it, I was impressed with it's abilities. However, I have many battle rifles already and really didn't think I'd need or use it in combat. I was wrong!
What happened was that our last meet here at Jackson Field, my trusty Classic Army M4 let me down...almost to the last game and I hadn't had a single kill yet...whereas I said, okay, I'll try my own rental gun...the CYMA AK74. And wow! It was a monster...a berserker! Immediately (ask the lads that was at the game) I was knocking out hits from long ranges...in semi and full auto, I was popping Zombies right and left. I actually ended that mission with about 8 kills (the Zombies were respawning in a minute or two and had four lives before finally dying.) Boy howdy was I impressed!
I had chrono'd the gun earlier...it was shooting 375fps...very respectable for a low cost stocker. It had great range in combat, I got kills up to about 200 plus feet. It was accurate, and had a great rate of fire (again for a stock weapon.)
Heft, swing, feel of the gun is good...handles and aims/points very well. My ONLY gripe about the gun? It seems a tad light to me, which kills the realism a bit. But in combat later, I was sorta' glad for that lightweight at the end of a very long day of heavy airsoft fighting.
None of the AK's (even real steel AK's) seem to fit my gun hand just right...the CYMA '74 is no exception, yet as I mentioned, it handled well for what it was...an AK.
Mister Crazy from Memphis can testify as to the guns raw power...shooting at him from about 200 to 220 feet in our last Zombie Game, I accidentally face-shot him and left a huge welt on his lip. "Sorry, Dude!"
But that's great range and power for any stock AEG. This gun looks good and performs even better. CYMA is on top of the low cost AEG market!
Is this gun a Turkey or an Eagle? Well...from what you've read above...what do you think?
For me, I'd definitely say it's worth the money and very much a soaring Eagle of a gun. I highly recommend it especially for budget minded airsoft players!
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[align=center]Jackson Field Update[/align]
For you folk that maybe haven't seen it already;
Jackson Field has some new and important additions..
Start of the NEW Command Post:
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Rafters going up:
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Finished! Our mascot, lil' Peter, checking out the finished product:
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Here at Jackson Field, we're committed to keeping the field fresh with constant upkeep and new construction!
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. The only thing that is missing is advertising and letter to the editor. I guess with this reply you have a letter to the editor, and I'll plug 
