LOADOUT WEAPONRY
It’s come to the point in my loadout creation where I am having to decide about my primary and secondary weapons to complete the ‘look’.

Right: Bulgarian Special Forces (SOBT), armed with what appears to be Polish Beryl AK74U variants. despite the rather odd name, this is an excellent example of a tactical AK in real use. Ironically, however, the Polish Special Forces seem to have adopted the MP5 for CQB operations. Photo credit: Mitch Rapp from Militaryphoto.net

Obviously, some people start with a particular primary weapon and build a loadout from there, others start with the idea for a loadout based on a real military unit and buy the AEG to fit this recreation. I am, on this occasion, of the later persuasion.

As this is a Russian loadout – and to paraphrase Mr. Ford – ‘you can have any weapon as long as it’s an AK’!

BUT WHICH AK?
The fact that this is a loadout intended solely for CQB means I need something short and maneuverable within the confines of an indoor area. Something like a Russian equivalent to the H&K MP5 would be ideal.

Sadly, while the Russian arms industry does – in fact – produce several SMG weapons specifically for Russian Special Forces, none of these weapons have been replicated in airsoft form (except for a very expensive GWS ‘Bizon’).

ENTER THE 'SPETZ’
The main recourse for Russian loadout fans who want a short CQB AEG is the TM ‘Beta’ or one of it’s ‘Spetz’ clones. The ‘Spetz’ is a ‘made up’ weapon replica, as it does not exist in real steel. It was designed by TM exactly to fill this hole in the airsoft market, and is simply a sawn off AK47 with black plastic furniture.

Clones of the TM model are abundant and available from JG, CYMA, AGP and a host of others. But one particular variant caught my eye, this is the SRC 'Krinkov'. What I liked about this is the nice touch of integrating the Russian style thumb-hole grip.

GO TACTICAL
Another avenue to explore is the ‘Tactical’ AK. There are many of these about, sporting very ‘Western’ RIS and RAS accessories, in various barrel lengths and stocked and folding stock versions.

Of these, one in particular looked to fit the criteria of a CQB friendly assault weapon; this is the new SRC ADV. Again it is a shortened AK47 (AKS47 in this case), with black plastic furniture, a rather nice folding front grip and torch attachment (rather handy).

Once again, this is – technically – a ‘made up’ gun. Although, this exact gun could be made in real steel terms (although I haven’t found one like it anywhere), it does not exist in the Russian inventory

REAL STEEL AND HYBRID
There is, however, a real steel alternative out there that fits the bill exactly. The AKS74U is a shortened 5.54mm AK that was especially designed for Russian armored troops and Special Forces units.

I happen to already possess one of these in airsoft form (the Kalash AKS74U), and it’s a lovely little baby AK74 with folding stock and short barrel. It does – however – have standard Russian wooden furniture, and that really doesn't fit in with my ideal of a all black tactical look.

Above: My current conversion project. From Kalask AKS74U 'Bitch' to tactical hybrid 'Super Bitch'. This modification includes the VFC Tactical Grip Stock, Army Code Bulgarian style Krinkov flash hider and Bulgarian 'waffle' magazine. It's a real AK, Jim - just not as we know it!

A hybrid version of this weapon, in black plastic furniture, can be made up, however. This IS cheating slightly, as the Russian Army hasn’t produced a model of the 74U in black stock – though the Polish Army has (The amusingly names 'Beryl' - information about which can be found at www.ak-74.us).

It’s a compromise, balancing a modicum of authenticity with tactical coolness.

(I will make the final choice of the primary weapon from these three contenders in the last of this series, where I pull all the parts together and show the final complete loadout.)

SECONDARY WEAPON
Again, no modern Russian pistol has been replicated in aisroft form, so once again a compromise is needed.

The Czech VZ.75 pistol is the often preferred airsroft pistol when creating a Russian loadout. Another pistol that is used to impersonate a Russian counterpart is the Walter PPK or SIG 120 – both of which have a passing resemblance to the Russian Markarov pistol.

One final possibility is the Czech VZ.61 Skorpion machine pistol (pictured above). Tokyo Mauri have recently released a very nice AEP of this gun, and it makes a wonderful back-up weapon for snipers and RPK support troops. It is also a nice secondary weapon choice for CQB, and although not Russian there is a very (supiciously) similar looking machine pistol in the Russian inventory called the OTs-02 'Kiparis' (pictured to the right).

None of the above are ideal, and it will be a while longer before I can decide just which will fit the purpose the most - though the sheer cuteness of the Skorpion, and it's inherant suitability for CQB airsoft, makes it a front runner.

I'm pretty much a Kalashnikov nut. The simplicity and rugged functionality of the design contrasts in a very satisfying way when I look at the plethora of Armalites at my local airsoft field - with more rails on them than Network Rail!

But I do have a line which I don't like to cross. For example, I generally don't like so-called 'Tactical' AKs, unless they are done properly as a replica of the US Special Forces SOPMOD - as at least that is portraying an authentic field weapon. I also don't particularly like 'made up' AKs, like the 'Beta' or 'Spetz' AK...

Laylax have managed to add another AK I dislike to this very short list (well done!). They have produced an accessory which shortens the barrel of TM's new AK74M, to make it more convenient for urban/close quarters presumably. 

Credit: This picture and the source comes from Airsoft-News.EU

The Laylax mod creates a sort of sawn off AK74, taking the flash hider right down to the gas port. Now, what I object to is that there is already a real AK (AK105/105D) that is designed to do just what Laylax are trying to do, but the 105 does it oh so much more elegantly.

In fact, the only reason I can think of that you would want to ruin your TM AK74M by doing this ridiculous mod (you only save 5.5cm btw) is that TM don't produce a AK105 replica themselves at the moment (Classic Army, Guay Guay, Unicorn and CYMA do though).

The TM AK74M is a beautiful looking replica, and is not cheap, so why would you want to deface it? If you want an short version of the '74, go buy yourself an AK105 (I am)! 

Above: The CYMA CM031D, a far more elegant and authentic solution. This is the folding stock version of the Russian AK105, currently in service with Russian Special Forces units. Photo credit: RSOV.com

 One of the larger parts of the loadout is the BDUs, the actual basic uniform. Bearing in mind my plan to keep this loadout to a reasonable budget this meant a little creative buying.

The real Russian tactical BDUs are, of course, the BEKAS two piece set or the one piece equivalent - both available from Redsoldier.com in the USA. The Bekas set will set you back $99, including shipping, this breaks down to about £50 - so can I do any better than this, but still retain some semblance of an authentic look?

Left:  No - not me in a catalogue pose! This is the Dickies boilersuit, available at pratically all work wear stores at around just £15. It's a pretty utilitarian piece of clothing that looks exactly like those one piece suits used by tactical units the world over. (Photo: Dickiesstore.co.uk)

My first idea was to buy a plain one-piece 'boiler suit' in black. That's a fairly generic tactical uniform look, and is something that is easy to get hold of. Sure enough I found what potentially was a real bargain at UKprotective.com - a black XL boiler suit at only £9.99! Sadly, on delivery, I found the one real disadvantage of a one-piece suit - if you are above average height (I am 6' 5") the 'average' body height in the suit tends to cut you in half! (Or at least it did for me, but the purchase wasn't wasted as I passed the item along to a team-mate who it fitted perfectly!) 

Left: The Dickies Redhawk Warehouse work suit. My bad flash photography makes this suit look shinny. but it isn't. Click on image for larger version.

So, next I looked around for a two piece work suit and was duly rewarded with a nice find at Dickiesstore.co.uk. The Dickies Redhawk warehouse jacket is almost an exact match for the Russian Bekas style BDU jacket. Not only that, but at just £11.20 (ex. VAT) it was half the price of the real Russian jacket. So I ordered the jacket, but bought the matching Redhawk Action Trousers, which have the added benefit of being able to take a set of Dickies safety knee pads in integral pockets, from a local work wear store.

Left: The Dickies Redhawk trousers come with built in pockets which take their knee pad inserts (£5.40). This is a nice idea, as some people don't like the military style knee pads, which constantly slip down (photo: Dickiesstore.co.uk)

The whole outfit cost me about £30, compared to the £50 for the real Bekas. 

Finally, I added the team badges which really set the outfit off nicely. I saved a bit more cash here by daring to sew on the badges myself (the local seamstress was going to charge £20 to do the job). So overall, I saved myself £40 at this stage, not bad and enough to put towards some of the load carrying kit I want next...

Next time I will be looking at the load bearing kit; the assault vest, holster, pouches and belt.

< Click here to go back to Part Two 

Now this is what all us DSA Inc. SA58 fans have been waiting for since Classic Army released their original SA58 Carbine. The 'OSW' (Operational Specialist Weapon) is actually the DSA replica we all wanted in the first place, but CA decided to make us wait (and wait and wait)!

 
Click on image for enlarged version

I am hoping that, like the RIS, Classic Army will release the folding stock as a separate item, so I can upgrade my carbine. Additionally, it will be nice to have the long mag - just to make the package look even more meaner! 

The differences between my SA58 Carbine and this model it that the OSW comes as standard with the DSA front RIS and the FN style folding stock, just like the real steel DSA Tactical models. The CA CArbine SA58 has plastic furniture and a fixed stock.

Here's a link to the DSA Inc. website so you can feast your eyes on the real thing(s): DSA Inc. SA58 Tactical Series 

I've wanted a GP-30 launcher for some time, but those available in the UK are very expensive (STAR and Classic Army), so AirsoftNews.EU brought a smile to my face this morning with news that a Chinese manufacturer has produces a hopefully low-cost replica.

I intend to use my CYMA AK74 (CM0.31A) as part of an 'Assault' role loadout, and this would be the ideal accessory. It will give me a chance to add on one of those Russian rubber recoil pads too. I should think the cheapsoft GP-30 will be available from RSOV or UNCompany of Hong Kong soon.