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.