A red rag is just that, a red rag. In the case of the Rag Pull however, the red rag or “dead” rag, has been reinvented to accommodate easy of storage and deployment. When it has been deployed, it’s velcro allows it to be attached to any point on your person or gear that allows for velcro placement.
The Boogie Regulator by Smith Optics was introduced to use at Shot Show by Wallace Lau of zShot, and has been an impressive set of goggles. Well, maybe glasses….or both. They were designed with the Mil-Spec rating of a military goggles, but with the visibility and comfort-ability of shooting glasses. The were designed around goggles used typically by sky divers, and offer vents in the lens that minimize fogging and can be adjusted as needed.
Specs:
Like we mentioned before, they are Mil-Spec goggles, so they exceed ASNI rating for projectiles, and provide the added bonus of full seal capabilities. They do not however, come with the same bulkiness that a Mil-Spec goggle would come with, and do not require a turbo fan to make them fog free.
I did mentioned earlier that they “minimize” fog. While they are advertised as fog free, I found that they do slightly fog in the Florida heat (where everything usually fogs) during twilight hours. Keep in mind, this is without any fog spray or wipes, and is so minimal, I still make the mistake of calling these fog free.
The Boogie Regulators also come in three different lenses: Gray, Ignitor and Clear. While the Gary and Clear are self explanatory, and really warrant little mention, the Ignitor lenses steal the stage. While they are a deep purple/pink in color, it’s what they do that makes them stand out. Dark enough to protect your eyes from the sun, but light enough to allow you to see in the shade and in dark areas, the Ignitors are the best of both worlds, and provide any player with the ability to use one goggle in multiple settings. It also allows for easy transitions from indoor situations to outdoor situations, and reverse.
Fit:
These goggles fit to my face like every pair of sunglasses I’ve ever owned. Being that I have a unique face, in the sense that its more narrow then most and I find lenses hang over my cheeks, I found that the Boogie Regulators still provided a full seal protection for my eyes. While using them to admin at MindGame Production events this spring, I was struck several times in the glasses from the side, and suffered no injury.
My main complaint would have to be the straps. While the Boogie Regulators do come in a “sport” addition with a wider nylon strap, and there are after market straps that Smith Optics offers for you to be able to integrate your goggles into any helmet with a rail on it, the rubber band strap that comes with the regular Boogie Regulators fit uncomfortably. Smith Optics would better server there customers if they offer a goggle with the integration system only or the Boogie Sport with the Nylon Strap.
Pricing
To me this is the biggest deal. You’ll find that many of the Mil-Spec goggles on the market are in and around the $100 mark, and then some. On top of that, you have to purchase an additional turbo fan to make them fog free as advertised.
Conclusion
Even when you purchase the additional integration straps, these goggles are at least half the cost of the bigger, full seal goggles. I highly recommend these goggles, as they are comfortable, slim, HIGHLY fog resistant, and can be integrated into any head system.
With the communities support, the US Airsoft Expo could easily be the Shot Show of the Airsoft/Milsim communities. An entire expo dedicated to just the vendors and manufacturers of Airsoft and Tactical Gear specifically marketed to our community. If you missed it, Merlin’s Blog Spot covered all the excitement at last year’s Expo, and will be there again this year to do more of the same!
The US Airsoft Expo originated from the Weekend of Heroes, an expo for Military Action Figures, and was started after 9/11 in order to promote moral and continue the American Spirit. This year, it is OLCMSS President John Lu’s hope to spread to the LARPing, Re-enacting and Cos-play communities, as so many who attend airsoft and milsim events also participate in these other hobbies.
If you missed out on any of last years excitement, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered as we were there to bring you all the action from the convention center floor and we’ll be doing the same this year. For more information on the Us Airsoft Expo go to: www.aweekendofheroes.com
Vendors & Manufacturers List:
OLCMSS
Elite Force
G&G Armament
Amped Airsoft
Steel City Airsoft arena
Savephace.com
Urban Ops Armoury/BB Bastard
Action Fan.com
Cory’s Toys
Fields of Armor Tank LLC
Blackstone Creations
Out of the Box Industries
Airborne Milsim is back as promised and has announced that the next Tactical Primary MC-4 Course (Thats right, it’s a week long course, not a single milsim event) will be June 11th-June 16th, 2013 in Dunnellon, Florida. While the Saturday Op has yet to earn a name, MindGame Productions will be creating another in-depth Op. for Jumpers to face.
Those who attended Operation Varsity faced numerous challenges, from the elusive drug dealer who was finally captured with no time to spare, to the massive jungle environment and soft sugar sand that reminded ground forces that this was no day at the beach.
From jungles to drug dealers and more, Course participants will get the gambit of scenarios they may face in a true-world Recon force. Only those who bring their A-Game are encouraged to participate, as this class is grueling and not for your average weekend airsofter. Of those who attended the course in March, few earned their “wings.” Can you?
The Tactical Primary MC-4 Course is designed for those who have not jumped before and want to combine jump training with modern military simulated tactics. This will qualify the student on the MC4 Canopy as well as participation in military simulation training. The MC4 canopy is the U.S. Army’s high performance steerable ram air parachute for high-level assault.
In the military simulation scenario you will operate as a small recon unit. You will be given specific missions in which you will be inserted in to hostile territory with no support. You will have the opportunity to make several additional jumps at $50.00 a jump, if you so desire.
This course includes includes:
Primary Airborne Training for Students
Dynamic Shooting Techniques
Small Unit Movement
Infiltration and Reconnaissance Tactics
MC4 Qualification and Packing Instruction on the parachute system
5 Jumps from a C180, 1 jump into a mil-sim event, additional jumps are $50.00 ea
Jumps will start at 5000 feet, unless there is a weather problem.
The minimum jump altitude is 3000 feet.
Items provided:
MC-4 Training manual
Tactical Training manual
Main, MC4
Reserve
A 6 inch Hook Knife (yours to keep)
Equipment Bag for Equipment Jumps.
Lunch, catered on the DZ, Mon-Sat.
Certificate of Accomplishment
NPTC’s distinctive “Xperimental” Jump Wings
NPTC’s distinctive cloth “Xperimental” Jump Wings
20% Discount on any NPTC, in stock equipment purchased during the course
Opportunity to strap hang on the Fri thru Sun of any Airborne MilSim or NPTC courses
Required Equipment:
Rifle (For safety reasons we will only allow Airsoft simulated weapons)
Full seal goggles
Woodland BDU’s – Mission Requirement but you can train in any pattern.
Military Style Gloves
Camo Face Paint
Military style Field Gear
Hydration System
Military style Helmet
Military style Boots
Additional Services:
We will have Video available at a nominal charge.
Additional jumps will be $50.00 each
Camping in the Military Temper Tent or the Hanger at $15 a day with access to full bath, shower, refrigerator and microwave.
Cost: $875.00
Note: In order to register you must fill out the registration form and pay a $100.00 deposit. Your registration is not considered complete until the deposit is paid. There must be a minimum of 6 students to hold the course.
Past Media for the March Course & Operation Varsity:
The Enola Gaye Pull Wire Smoke Grenade is an excellent tool to complement your Milsim load out.
Enola Gaye is a UK based pyrotechnic manufacturer that started off manufacturing and selling small smoke grenades in 1996. They have since expanded to various forms of pyrotechnics for both airsoft and paintball. While many of their products have been restricted from the US, they have recently introduced their Pull Wire Smoke Grenade, and yes, it has crossed the pond.
The Wire Pull Smoke Grenade is about the size of a toilet paper tube, maybe a little skinner, and almost just as light. It is constructed of “Military Technology” as boasted by the people at Enola Gaye, and comes with a plastic cap at the top which protects the pull wire from being accidentally being pulled.
To activate the smoke, simply remove the plastic cap and discard, and pull the ring. There will be a slight spark, and then the smoke will begin to emit from the top at which point it is safe to throw the grenade. While the grenade is a “cold burning” grenade, the smoke itself is “warm” as indicated on the grenade. There is still combustion occurring on the interior of the grenade, and while the shell does not become hot enough to create a fire through conduction, it still becomes warm to the touch.
While there is not alot of ways to review a smoke grenade on paper, we put them through three tests; Flammability, duration and coverage.
Flammability
Please take note, this was done under the supervision of the local fire department at their facility.
We took a smoke grenade and pulled the wire directly over dry palm frowns and dropped them on top prior to the smoke emitting. While sparks rained over the dry brush, there was never an open flame, and the grenade did nothing but stain the leaves a deep blue. The palms were cold to the touch as soon as the smoke grenade stopped producing smoke.
Duration
We timed all three colors that we were provided by Stampede Airsoft (Red, Blue, Purple), they all three last right around the 60 second mark. If you check out the review video, we set up the red to stand alone and unimpeded, along with a timer; almost 1 minute to the second.
Coverage
We took the purple grenade and threw it between to storage containers in order to protect the smoke cloud from wind. The smoke screen that filled the small ally provided a thick screen, and would prevent accurate targeting even if a target could be acquired. After testing all three grenades, we found that the purple was definitely the most effect when it comes to putting out a thick, dense smoke screen.
Conclusion
In closing, your gonna find cheaper smoke grenades at the local fireworks tent on the 4th of July, without question. What your gonna get is 20 seconds of ineffective smoke that is nothing more then a show. The Enola Gaye Wire Pull Smoke Grenades are effective, long lasting, light weight and cost effective. I’ve had the chance to see these in action at several events at our local airsoft field, and they are both impressive as they are flat out “cool.” A most for your Milsim Load-out.
http://thisweekinairsoft.com/2013/04/07/twia-ep-31-playing-mind-games/
Operation Sovereign Fury is in the news again, this time with the guys over at This Week in Airsoft. If you haven’t heard, maybe because you haven’t had the Internet for a week, or socialized with a fellow airsofter, Operation Sovereign Fury is MindGame Productions re-introduction into the hardcore MilSim community. The op will introduce a brand new AO, Guardian Center, a 51 building, 850 acre private training facility that boasts that hard to get “any town” USA feel.
Labels such as “Bank” and “Hotel” are not just suggestions for the imagination, but designations for what you will ACTUALLY find inside the building. GC didn’t go out a simply bought a few things from the Goodwill, they bought a Goodwill and moved it in.
Find out more as the guys from TWiA interview all the guys from MGP as well as the author.
Check out This Week in Airsoft w/MGP
Operation Sovereign Fury Information/Registration Page (Opens May 1st)
MindGame Productions Presents…
Operation Sovereign Fury
Labor Day Weekend
August 31 – September 1, 2013
Guardian Center, Perry, Georgia
MindGame Productions is proud to debut the Guardian Center of Perry, Georgia, in a national-level, military simulations event on Labor Day Weekend. South-eastern MilSim will never be the same! This amazing private facility spans 350 acres in central Georgia with a 75-acre urban operations training city. Fifty buildings fill the city, themed with props and furniture. Cars line the streets and countless other surprises await in this incredible facility built for the military and federal and state emergency response personnel.
This is an event you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS! Registration for Operation Sovereign Fury will open on May 1 and close on August 1. Walk-ons will not be accepted at the event. Teams will be structured into company, platoon and squad level units with commanders assigned well in advance for unit coordination and planning. More details on the event, rules and requirements will be forthcoming!
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In the Summer of 2016… War came to America.
For the past several years, Russia conducted one of largest arms build-ups since the Cold War, using its new-found wealth from Siberian natural gas and mineral reserves. The US economy continued to flounder with high unemployment and reductions in defense spending to maintain government operations and basic social programs. The United States still possesses a strong industrial base, largely in mothballs from the continued recession, and abundant farmland and food production capabilities that are hungrily eyed by Russia after several disastrous years of crop failure.
The attack came swiftly. A cyber-attack on an unprecedented scale shut down American early-warning systems and nuclear launch capabilities. The US communications infrastructure was corrupted, leaving the nation wide open and unable to coordinate an effective response as Russian troops struck major population centers on the east and west coasts. The American military is fighting back hard but the paralysis of communications nodes and satellites have crippled the traditional high-technology advantages of the American warfighter. Clumsily coordinated partisan attacks and sabotage harass the occupying Russian military as it pushes deeper into the heartland. The outcome is anyone’s guess.
Stay tuned to Merlin’s Blogspot for updates, photos of the site and more…subscribe to our YouTube channel and don’t miss out on Reviews, AAR Videos and more..
Doral, Fl – There’s a facility in South Florida’s premiere neighborhood of Doral, that could be mistaken as a covert Police Training facility for Miami-Dade County’s SWAT team. However, those who do not wear a badge as part of their uniform are not turned away, but openly invited to participate in high quality training. Moreover, those who participate in Military Simulation (MilSim) Events have found a safe home for team training and skill building in a judgement free environment.
Top Tactical Solutions is open to students and instructors alike, making for an endlessly evolving training tool. Guest instructors can utilize the facility to offer courses outside of where they normally would teach, while students can learn from in house instructors on a regular basis, or bring in a fresh perspective.
One such example is the recent SWAT class, targeted specifically towards MilSim Teams and individual members. Hosted by Ofc. Madruga, who has served 15 years with MDPD (the last 12 with MDPD’s Special Response Team), the class offers an introduction into the basics of SWAT operations, Hostage Resude Operations, as well as weapons manipulations and applications in a CQB Environment.
The 8 hour class will be held at Top Tacitcal Soluations indoor kill house in Doral, Fl April 6th at a cost of $100. For more information on Ofc. Madruga and the SWAT class visits:
Top Tactical Soluations
TTC’s In door kill house allowes for real world training in a controlled, safe environment. An intricate maze of halls and rooms tests both MilSim Teams and real world Law Enforcement Groups alike, and gives instructors the means in which they can throw multiple different scenarios at the students.
It’s not all about team tactics however, as TTC also offeres a variety of self defense classes for various situations such has Tactical Hand Gun: 1-3, CCW courses, Tactical Shotgun, as well as a Technon Tactical Gun Disarming Workshop (April 3rd.)
So for those teams looking for dlasses to strengthen team unity, tactics, and skills, or even just for an area to work together in a controlled environment away from the public’s eye, TTC is a solid and cost effective choice to facilitate all your training needs.
Operation Varsity, a Mind Game Productions/Airborne Milsim Event, marks first “battle” jump for graduates of the Airborne Milsim Course.
Dunnellon, Fl March 16th, 2013 – “Mark, Mark, Mark” cracks the radio, as gray triangular canopy’s begin to appear 5,000ft over head.
They sure look like they might miss the airport completely…a few S-turns, a couple flares and Jumpers and Jumpmasters alike are safely on the ground, on target, met by their pathfinder squad on the ground (the recon Cessna only affords so much space, and gear had to be “dropped” prior to the jumpers and collected by their squadmates on the ground.)
Without anytime to collect their thoughts, or to soak in the amazing feat that so few MilSim Participants can claim to have achieved, they are off into the woods, faces painted, dressed in the uniform of the enemy cartel whose ranks they are now attempting to join without notice. The target are 3 high value targets (HVTs, members of FKM Airsoft), one of which must be collected and escorted back to the run way for the recon Cessna to exfile out of the AO.
Meanwhile, Milsim teams such as the Sheepdogs (Miami), Spectre VI (Tampa), Dakota Milsim, Suicide Kings, East Coast Tactical Squad and more, push their way into cartel lines, many not aware of the secret insertion that just took place.
While the AO did not offer anything spectacular in the way of structures or human made objectives or obstacles, the terrain itself offered a challenged not often encountered by milsim participants. “Sugar Sand”, a soft sand that slows the run of any marathon runner to a crawl and quickly swallows trucks not equipped for a safari in the Sahara combined with dense brush and swamp dwelling plants combined forces to challenge both forces.
Mid afternoon saw the arrival of another plane, this time belonging to a cartel drug runner who proceeded to airdrop in several 10s of Kilos of coke. The cartel swiftly moved in and transported the drop deep into the woods, and was never recovered by US forces.
As the day trucked along, so did US forces, eventually cornering the Drug Cartel to the North East. By chance, and much skill, the US forces led by the Sheepdogs, captured the Drug Lord, and in dramatic fashion, through a hailstorm of gun fire and attempted pushes by reinforcing cartel fighters, the US Forces were able to push out to the awaiting recon team. The Drug Lord, infamous for his antics with knives, was stripped of his gear and searched on the landing strip while the plane awaited, engine running wide. Recon forces then dumped him in the Cessna, and a round of high fives were exchanged as the Cessna lifted off the runway back to the states.
Operation Varsity was the culmination of a 6 day school where participants learned static line jumping using the rectangular MC-4 parachute. While originally, the class was to be a Mass Static Line Jump (MassTac), the class was adjusted to accommodate 5-8 students, instead of the 14-20 students needed to rent the C47 aircraft. Stay tuned to Merlin’s Blog Spot for the After Action Report on the Airborne Milsim course, as we will be talking to participants and jumpmasters on their thoughts on this course, and what to expect for July’s course.
For more information on July’s course, go to:
Airborne Milsim
Whether you are a chairsofter, a “COD Kid”, a veteran Airsofter, or a hardcore Milsimer chances are you either started off or went through a phase in which you wanted to become a sniper. For those starting off or whom tie their Airsoft roots into the FPS world, bolt action sniper rifles provided a cheap way of getting into the Airsoft community with little investment. Loads of gear was not needed, you didn’t have to overcome the learning curve on battery varieties, and the “sexiness” that the real steel sniper exudes is more then enough to convince an outsider that this weapon class is for them.
That fantasy soon gives out to frustration and the realization that the Sniper class from COD or the real world, just doesn’t translate to the Airsoft/Milsim community as we might like. Often snipers find themselves on the outskirts of the battle, with spring rifles that are just not quite able to reach out and touch someone from more then a football field away. Other times, they rely on their side arm in order to engage the enemy who is armed with AEGs in CQB situations.
Alas, enter 6mm Militia with their 6th Annual Sniper Competition at the Gunny’s Warfare Center in Western North Carolina. They have provided the perfect environment, and in competitive form to say the least. Much like the Ultimate Sniper Competition as seen on TV, 6mm Militia has brought the art of the Sniper Class to the Airsoft Community in an accessible fashion.
History
7 Years ago, members of 6mm Militia attended a sniper competition who’s competition consisted of only one other team. Despite the poor turnout, the event itself as well as all the preparation they put into competing in the event lead them to host their very own sniper competition.
The 1st Annual Sniper Competition was born shortly after with a few simple objectives such as ranging targets, a pistol course, and a stalking portion in which non-of the teams score a single point due to not communicating with HQ on when to take a shot. The majority of the lessons learned that year went to the production staff.
The following year, having moved the competition to Rutherfordton, NC, production staff increased the anti by throwing in am endurance factor. On top of the some sniper objectives you would already expect, teams now face a half-mile run to test their conditioning. In addition to that, teams were given a 15 minute window during the stalking portion, to engage an HVT from a 360 degree angle, while not being seen by the production staff. If spotted, teams were forced to hump back a quarter-mile to the start line.
Year three saw a change in theme from the production staff. No longer was it just about stalking and ranging targets, but now teams had the additional responsibility of convoy protection. Teams were put in a vehicle and driven to various locations and forced to engage targets from inside the vehicle. Communication between teammate became a factor as well. Spotters would have to relay target information via radio to their respective sniper. The stalk also changed, requiring that the HVT be engaged while surrounded by 10 body guards. Team TAG from Raleigh took their second win.
The last two years saw another change in AO, this time relocating to the Command Decisions Warfare Center in Taylorsville, NC. The Command Decisions Warfare Center is toted as one of the premier fields on the East Coast, having hosted over 1,000 players during Fulda Gap in 2012. Much like the previous year, land Navigation opened the competition, followed by range estimation and target qualification. Many of the objectives were taking straight from the Army’s Sniper Competition. Endurance again played a part in the competition, with shooting on the run being thrown into the mix. Teams were then assigned 5 HVTs that they would have to memorized and taken out while amongst a mob of people. Team Valhalla out of Charlotte, NC and Rock Hill, Sc took the win both years.
2013 Sniper Competition
The 6th Annual Sniper competition however will see a new AO and a new set of objectives. Gunny’s Warfare Center in Waxhaw, NC will be the back drop to a completely changed competition. The traditional two man team will be accompanied by a rifleman and a support gunner, increasing the squad to four. This is not unheard of, as many of the US Military branches have began to increase the size of their sniper teams, some increasing to six man squads.
Each weapon class will get a chance to qualify in a range specific to their weapons class. A kill house will provide an opportunity for the new additions to clear and secure a shooting position for the sniper/spotter team, and then provide 360 security. The communications challenge sees a comeback, as the sniper/spotter team will be separated, and forced to communicate via radio the various targets.
The minefield, the newest objective being introduced, will force the 4 man team to extract a causality while avoiding the mines and becoming a causality themselves. The poker shoot, a traditional game of poker via sharpshooter skills gives the teams to physically relax, while testing their mental endurance.
For the first time, the stalk will not be making an appearance to the sniper competition. Instead, 2 members of each team will run a course, make their way to a Remington 700 and hit a target laced with Tanerite. Big Boom with little time will win the finishing round.
6mm Militia has this to say about their competition, “Each year this competition gets better and better and more teams enter it. This year we have partnered up with Raptac (Raptor Tactical Applications Group) which is a production company whose members are on an Airsoft team called Raptor 1 which consists primarily of active duty Marines. I have known these guys for many years and am proud to call them friends. I brought them in to help because of their dedication to Airsoft and their professional attitude. Raptor 1 members have competed in the last two years of this competition and the addition of Raptac to the production team will only make this year better. We have had some great sponsors as well over the years. The last five years Big Boy Toys Airsoft has been a big supporter of our events, and the last two years Stampede Airsoft has been on board. These two companies have been instrumental in making this event as successful as it has become. Did I mention we will have even more booms this year?”
Raptac FB link https://www.facebook.com/#!/RaptorTacticalApplicationsandOperations?fref=ts
6mm Militia FB link https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/6mm-Militia/139853942693945
Gunny’s Warfare Center FB link https://www.facebook.com/#!/GunnysWarfareCenter?fref=ts
6mm Militia homepage www.6mmmilitia.com
Stampede Airsoft FB link https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Stampede-Airsoft/261284853944511?fref=ts
Big Boy Toys Airsoft webstore http://www.bigboytoysairsoft.com/
Big Boy toys Airsoft FB page https://www.facebook.com/BigBoyToysAi
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