Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Some of you may have noticed that I skipped a few steps. You know, the part where I show you how to disassemble the WE Hi-Capa GBB Pistol up to this point...

How to shorten the WE Hi-Capa Airsoft Gas Blowback Pistol trigger Tom Harris for the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Well, as it turns out, if you are to the point where you care about the distance you have to pull the trigger before it releases the hammer and causes the gun to cycle, then you already know how to take down your Hi-Capa. You probably also know that this modification works for not only WE Hi-Capa Pistols (7.1, 5.1, 4.3, 3.8), but also the Tokyo Marui & Socom Gear versions as well.

So yea, one of the issues with WE pistols, if you want to get real super picky, is that there is a lot of excess distance between the point the trigger sits at rest and the point it must reach in order to start cycling the pistol.  As you can see below, in the space on the right, in between the metallic silver trigger band and the green Hi-Capa grip, that is a general approximation of the amount unnecessary distance traveled by the trigger on a stock WE Hi-Capa 5.1.  I should note that there is much less of this excess on Tokyo Marui pistols, but that is....of course...why Tokyo Marui pistols own it 9 out of 7 days of the week.

How to shorten the WE Hi-Capa Airsoft Gas Blowback Pistol trigger Tom Harris for the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Find out how to shorten your Hi-Capa GBB pistol's trigger pull after the jump...

Yesterday on the Pyramyd Airsoft Facebook Page, I asked our growing fan base what they'd like me to talk about on the blog today, and one fan, Mr. Ken Janelle, Jr. from Middleburg Florida, simply replied, "Me"  So I said, "Sure, why not?"

So I asked Ken what gun from PyramydAir.com he'd like me to discuss here on the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog and he replied that the Bravo RDW was of particular interest to him.

This was an excellent choice on Ken's part for a few reasons, but primarily because the RDW is a sick looking gun.  But we'll get to that in a minute.  Let's talk about Ken.  First of all, we're a big fan of Ken because he's a fan of us (on our new Facebook Page).  Did I mention we have one? 

So anyway, here's a little Player Spotlight on Ken for ya:
Name: Ken
Age: 21
Stats: Been playing Airsoft for roughly 3 years
Fields Frequented: "AWG," in his hometown of Middleburg, Florida
Weapons currently owned:

• 2 A&K M249 Para's, upgraded for high ROF
• A&K Magpul Masada with upgraded high-torque motor
• TM MP5 PDW Clone, upgraded for high ROF
• Echo1 MP5
• UTG L96, soon to be fully upgraded

Here are some of Ken's current and former guns:

KWA SR10 Airsoft AEG w/C-Mag Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

KWA SR10 Airsoft AEG Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Custom M249 Para Airsoft Light Machine Gun Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Loadout:
Day:

• U.S. Army Digital ACU uniform
• ACU Tac Vest 
• 6x Double Stack M4 pouches

Night:

• Basic dark jeans 
• Black Tac Vest.

Real Steel Gun he'd like to see in an Airsoft version: The KRISS Super V (TDI Vector)

Ken also asked to hear a bit more about the Bravo RDW, which is available from www.PyramydAir.com.

Therefore, after the jump, I have provided some intel on that very gun...

I'm having a hard time thinking of anything that looks better, is built better, AND performs better than the Echo1 M240 Bravo Airsoft Medium Machine Gun RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. Notice that I used the word "and" instead of "or," so before you trolls get on here and start rattling off your various contentions for a better AEG, make sure that it has ALL of those three attributes I mentioned (beauty, build quality & performance), not just one or two of them.

Peep the video of me dominating with the Echo1 M240 Bravo after the jump...

Today is Wednesday.  On Wednesdays, I discuss topics that will help you become an Airsoft Champion, or simply further the degree to which you are already a Champion, as part of my Airsoft Health & Safety Series for Airsoft Champions.

My homies, Cliff & Andy over at Elite Force Airsoft have released a sneak peak at their new M1911 Gas Blowback Pistol.  There have been contentions on the Elite Force Facebook page that this is just another WE rebrand.  Well, sports fans, while I have yet to confirm anything with Elite Force officially, I did receive some reliable intel a few months back that Elite Force was partnering up with a rather unexpected, but legitimate & well-known manufacturer to handle this project.

Check out the new Elite Force 1911 after the jump...

When I got an email announcing the new Echo1 Modular Tactical Carbine (MTC) AEG, I decided that since I don't really live that far from Echo1 USA's headquarters that I would just invite myself over for a little party celebrating the rebirth of a familiar AEG. I took some photos and shot a quick & dirty (no, not that kind of dirty) video of the new G36/M4-style hybrid and convinced Brian Holt from Echo1 to stand next to me while we filmed, which he later regretted.

Check out the Echo1 MTC video after the jump...

I literally just received an email with the deets on the new AEG that Echo1 has been hinting at over the last few days. Some of you may have seen the picture of a dismantled AEG sitting on Brian Holt's workbench on some of the news sites out there and there has been speculation that it was just another G36 or something.

Brand New Echo1 Modular Tactical Carbine Airsoft AEG Photo by Echo1 USA Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Well, this new Echo1 airsoft gun definitely has some G36-ness in it, but that's not all. Check out the new Pyramyd Airsoft Facebook page to check out the unique new concept my homies at E1 have come up with...

I happened to come across an opportunity to get a hands-on introduction to the new ATAC Flashlights from 5.11 Tactical two weeks ago and luckily I had my camera with me like a good little Pyramyd Airsoft Blogger.  So I snapped off a shot (with permission) of the five new torches from my favorite tactical gear company.  They are not the final production models, so some features (form or function) may change between the time this photo was taken and the time they are released for sale to the public.

I am told from a most reliable source that at the time I took the photograph, this was one of less than five sets in the world.  Talk about bein' at the right tactical place at the right tactical time!  WOW!

Check out the new 5.11 ATAC Flashlights after the jump...

Well, for those of you who were dying to see what Crosman thinks are appropriate options for branding with the United States Marine Corps logo, Pyramyd Air has a couple up on their website, plus Crosman updated their Twitter feed this evening with a picture of an upcoming third release.  Here they are.  What do you think?

Check out the new Crosman USMC Airsoft gun photos after the jump...

Well go check out our brand new Pyramyd Airsoft Facebook page while you wait.  I'm currently editing some sweet GoPro footage of the Echo1 M240 Bravo AEG in action as well as some more photos from last weekend's Operation: Route 66 at the abandoned Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark.

*whisper voice* Airsoft.  

Operation: Route 66 - Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark Airsoft HDR Photo by Tom Harris for the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Check out the whole photo gallery and the DIRTY details of the Operation: Route 66 after the jump...

It's been a long day. So I don't have much to report other than later today (it's 2:20 AM & I'm still up), there's going to be some incredible Airsoft games going down.

I had my brother-in-law set his GoPro on top of our truck as soon as we arrived and take a time-lapse video of the sunset and campsite. Why not, right?

Check out the Route 66 campground time-lapse video after the jump...

Hokkatsu Thunder B Airsoft Sound Grenades (Cores and Shells) Photo by Tom Harris for the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

Today's Airsoft Question comes from Seamus O'Toole from Blarney, California.

Seamus writes,

"Top of the mornin' to ya, Mr. Harris.  Perhaps you might enlighten me on how to increase the consistency and reliability of getting my Hokkatsu Thunder B Sound Grenades to detonate after I toss 'em into a room I'd like to clear out.  Sometimes when I toss them, they don't explode for one reason or another."

This question could not have come at a more perfect time, considering that I'll be heading out to Operation: Route 66 - The Battle for California tomorrow, where I'll have many opportunities (hopefully) to throw these beautiful Airsoft grenades into dark rooms & corridors filled with lots of Tangos. 

For those of you just checking into Airsoft, Mr. O'Toole is referring to an Airsoft Close Quarter Battle (CQB) scenario where he knows there are some bad guys in a room or building and he'd like to toss his sound grenade into the room to either disorient the OPFOR or obtain a direct kill, depending on the rules of the game.

So anyway, back to those reasons these Thunder B grenades don't always go off.

#1: One common reason is that the striker pin did not sufficiently pierce the Crosman 12 gram CO2 powerlet cartridge inside the core unit.

#2: The other common reason Thunder B's don't go off is due to a poor air seal between the top of the core unit and the disposal shell.

I've personally experienced both of these issues and have witnessed others as well.

The good news is that I've decided to share the solutions with you, rather than leave you to your own devices to try and figure it out.  Turns out, it's not rocket surgery though.

Check out the Thunder B Sound Grenade fixes after the jump...

Last weekend, my brother-in-law, Jordan, wanted to test out his new GoPro HD helmet cam, so I gave him the new M4A1 AEG I got from Elite Force and told him to take it out to our favorite Airsoft CQB arena here in Southern California to get some footage of the gun in action to see how it performs.  Turns out, the gun performs pretty well, the camera performs pretty well and Jordan?  Well, Jordan just pwns the crap out of the other team! Combine all three and you've got a pretty phenomenal Airsoft POV HD Cam Video.

Watch Jordan do a BUNCH of winning with the Elite Force M4A1 in HD after the jump...

Operation: Route 66 So this weekend marks a pretty big event in Airsoft history. A group of a couple hundred players are going to embark upon an Airsoft journey which takes place at an abandoned waterpark in the high desert of Barstow, California. You know, that old, rundown place on the way to THE VEGAS! I love The Vegas.

Yes, so I'll be attending, along with my crew of high speed Airsoft operators, on behalf of Pyramyd Air. We will be fighting on the California Militia side, wearing Woodland Camo pants, OD Green battle shirts and OD Green Voodoo Tactical Plate Carriers.  We will also have a booth/tent set up, so stop on by and say hey. We may just have some goodies for you to take home with you as well. But we'll see how well you play your cards.

For now, check out the video of the AO that John Lu put together a few months ago after the jump...

Elite Force Competition Series M4 CQB Airsoft AEG (ARES OEM) Tom Harris Media for the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

I've now had a chance to play with the two Competition Series M4 series AEGs that Elite Force sent me and can now provide a few thoughts on their performance.  For all practical purposes, they're essentially the same gun internally, so I'm just going to talk about the M4 CQB for today.

Check out the full review with a few hot body shots after the jump...

Hello, sportsfans. Happy Friday. We made it through the week together! And what a week it was.  If I'm lucky, I'll be able to compartmentalize the memory of it way back, deep into the dark depths of my mind and never have to think of it again.  That's how good it was.  Therapy session over.

Today, I thought I'd share some photos with you, featuring the WE Hi-Capa 5.1M Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol, which features a unique, sort-of-spaceage-futuristic design on the slide.

As some of you may know, I currently use the WE and Marui Hi-Capas exclusively as my sidearms of choice for Airsoft games because of their insane reliability and outstanding practicality. On top of all that, you can upgrade the crap out of them (literally, you can take the crap parts out and put any number of good parts in).

Check out today's Hi-Capa 5.1M Photo Gallery after the jump...

Today's Airsoft Question comes from Sean Carter from Brooklyn, NY.

Sean writes:

"Wassup?  Just wondering what you do to prep your Airsoft AEG piston for installation inside the gearbox?"

Wassup, Sean.  This is a great question for me right now because I just happened to have stripped a piston in one of AEGs a couple weeks ago and I've been meaning to replace it anyway.

Check out my Airsoft answer plus the death & destruction that went on in my AEG gearbox after the jump...

Trophy Image: Julie Rybarczyk

Remember when Spiderman's Uncle Ben taught him that "with great power, comes great responsibility?"

Well I do.

And I think that concept most certainly applies to the weapon-mounted lasers many of us use on our Airsoft guns for aiming assistance during Airsoft games.

Actually, that phrase applies to Airsoft guns in general because of the potential dangers they pose when not used properly or responsibly.

Remember SB 798?

Oh yea, that could have really sucked, huh?

So anyway, back to these weapon-mounted lasers.

I like 'em.  However, depending on their power, they can actually be quite dangerous, so I thought I'd enlighten you about those dangers so that you are then aware of the reason(s) why it's important to use them responsibly.

First, I'll start us off with a question:

True or False?

You can put pilots and their passengers at risk by shining a laser at an aircraft passing by in the sky, possibly resulting in your arrest.

Answer after the jump...

Cybergun A&K Magpul PTS Masada Airsoft AEG Image: Palcosports.com Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

For today's installment of my Tuesday Newsday series here on the Pyramyd Airsoft Blog, I thought I'd share a few items I personally found to be a bit interesting around the interwebz.  Perhaps the most eye-catching piece has been on this Cybergun Magpul PTS Masada situation.  The current sit rep appears to be that A&K is rumored to have handed over one of their signature replicas to Cybergun, who as many of you know, is trying to take over the fully-licensed replica world, one Chinese clone at a time.  While I haven't actually seen anything official on either Cybergun's site or their American distribution friends over at Palco Sports, I think I have seen enough around the web to believe the OEM rumors about A&K being true.

Cybergun A&K Magpul PTS Masada Airsoft AEG Image: Palcosports.com Pyramyd Airsoft Blog

So, what I'm hoping is that with the new trademarks, Cybergun will have had A&K up the quality of the internals from the unlicensed version, which has received a number of negative marks from users out there.   But I suppose only time will tell.  I've got a question to you three readers out there:

If so, just post up in the comments section and if I can muster up enough interest, I'll see about getting my hands on one to tear down and scrutinize, hopefully laying any rumors about quality to rest, good, bad or ugly.

Check out the rest of today's Tuesday Newsday after the jump...