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NewsRally 'Round The Troops Raffle Winners - Contributors & Troops All Win Rally 'Round The Troops Raffle Winners
We would especially like to recognize Tactical Airsoft & Milsim magazine for co-sponsoring the effort, as well as all our sponsors and supporters. Without prize donations from companies like Team SD (ICS/TSD), SoftAir Direct (CyberGun), J-Sports USA (KWA), Advanced Action Sports (WE GBB's), JBU (Tactical Accessories) and SuperCell Development (ASC7 Claymore) we couldn't have done it. Special credit is also due to airsoft forums around the country like Airsoft Arizona, Airsoft El Paso, Airsoft Core, Amplified Airsoft, AirSoft Retreat, and North Eastern AirSoft Group (NEASG) for helping raise awareness. Our congratulations to the winners and everybody who contributed to this effort. Never Forget
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Of all the gifts you can give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is one of the simplest and very best. Big Raffle / Great Prizes / Excellent Cause
100% of every dollar contributed will be used to send phone cards to deployed units of the 82nd Airborne Division. To enter, simply click on the 82 Airborne Raffle link. Winners and results will also be announced in our News Section plus the next edition of Tactical Airsoft Magazine.
While there are many causes that ask for help, few are more worthy than giving troops in harms way a chance to talk directly to their families back home. Please enter the Rally 'Round The Troops Raffle and join other airsofters in giving a little to those who are sacrificing so much. Operation Balkan Hammer
With backgrounds in military history, reenacting, survival / leadership training, professional film consulting, and an ever growing military vehicle collection, Chad Lares, and Chris Kalhert along with Mark Anderson bring a wide range of fresh ideas to the development of this new style event.
The Airsoft Challenge - Operation Balkan Hammer will be conducted October 26th thru 28th, 2007 near Flagstaff, AZ. Registration opens August 15th. A portion of the proceeds will be used to help wounded soldiers and the families of those serving overseas in an effort to give back to the military community. Learn more about Operation Balkan Hammer at www.opbalkanhammer.com. Great KWA Promotion
KWA just announced a 'Free Extra Mag Offer'. Purchase any new KWA GBB Pistol, or AEG Rifle from a KWA 'Authorized Reseller' like Depot 53 between August 1st and September 30th, 2007 and receive an additional magazine FREE! After purchasing your gun, simply fill out the downloadable Claim Form (click on link) and complete the following:
Mail completed claim form, proof of purchase, receipt, & payment to:
Its just that easy. In 4 to 6 weeks you'll recieve your free extra mag. Take advantage of this great offer today! New Kid On The Block
Issue #1has 88 full-color pages of explosive articles from a variety of contributing writers, military experts and industry insiders! Here's a list of the articles in featured in the premier issue: News
Reviews
How-To
Tactics
Humor
All these amazing articles, plus one lucky customer will win an ICS-29 CQB Pistol, courtesy of Airsoft Arms and Team SD (details on page 33)! For more information on the magazine and visit their Forum, check-out their website at www.tacticalairsoftmagazine.com. You can get your copy right here at Depot 53. We expect a shipment from the publisher by Wednesday, July 18th. If you are serious about airsoft, you'll definitely want to grab a copy of the newest airsoft magazine on the market! Classic Army Seeks World Domination
For example, prior to June 1st the MAP on a CA36C was $295.00. Under the new MAP pricing plan the same CA36C can be advertised for as little as $234.99, or 20% less than the old price. But the really big change is pricing for SAW's. The old MAP for a CA249 MK-II was $825.00, while the new MAP is $579.99, or 30% less. The only guns that will not see significant price reductions immediately are new additions to the product line. This includes the recently released M14 Match and Scout. The old MAP on these guns was $255.00 and $275.00 respectively, while the new MAP only lowers their prices by $5.00 or 2%. At this time Classic Army has not announced its policy on when, or if, it will lower the MAP on new releases after they have been on the market for a while. This move will undoubtedly help Classic Army dominate the high-end airsoft market by giving it superior pricing power over ICS and Tokyo Marui products. New Classic Army pricing should hit I Chin Shivan particularly hard because in May ICS initiated a MAP Pricing Policy that put its products in the same price range as Classic Army's old pricing. And while Tokyo Marui continues to make some of the highest quality products on the market today, the company's refusal to license trademarks (which makes importing into the US difficult), combined with less than 300 fps performance, and ABS plastic construction, CA's lower prices will make it even harder for them to compete effectively. New MAP pricing should also help Classic Army combat the recent flood of mid and low-priced Chinese clones. By offering a much higher-quality product than the generally poor-quality clones, buyers will now have an opportunity to get a Classic Army AEG that's a lot more gun for not much more money. The bottom line to all of this is consumers will benefit from new lower prices immediately. However, if Classic Army's bold move forces other manufacturers into a price war this could be a one of the best things that has happened to the sport in years. Deadrag Airsoft Radio
Based in North Texas, DeadRag staffers cover the local airsoft scene in-depth with extensive coverage on teams, games, and retailers. They also cover regional and national OP's the staff attends. Listen to the show at www.deadrag.com Gas Is Back
At this time distributors still have NOT received shippable containers of HFC134a, but we anticipate these will be available in the near future. 53 Commando Forum
We appreciate everyone who had visited and contributed to the forum. If we can find a more effective system to prevent unauthorized spamming and exclude known regions of the world where these attacks originated we will reactive the forum. Kiss Your Gas Goodbye - Solution!After reading our article about the looming airsoft gas crisis one of our readers, William Morrison, sent us this information.
While this is a solution, keep in mind that if you use propane in your gun you are going to need to lubricate it more regularly. This is because 'airsoft' gas already has silicone infused in the propane which keeps internal parts nicely lubricated. When using straight propane internal parts and seals will dry out much more quickly, which can reduce performance or lead to failures. Depot 53 just received a shipment of Airsoft Innovations Propane Adaptors and Silicone Oil. Get yours today! Kiss Your Gas Goodbye
Following the ban major airsoft distributors in the US were contacted by the DOT and told they can no longer ship gas even by ground. As a result Depot 53 and other airsoft retailers cannot obtain new shipments of gas to replenish their inventories. At the moment some retailers have stockpiled gas and can still ship it because they have not been officially notifed by the DOT that it can no longer be transported. Gas can also be sold legally over the counter in local retail outlets. But ultimately, you, the consumer, are going to have a much harder time finding gas very shortly, because unless a retalier is within driving distance of a distributor and can pick-up gas in their personal vehicle they are not going to be able to obtain new inventory. At this time none of the distributors we talked to had any idea on how long it was going to take for the government to approve existing HFC-22, HFC-134, Red Gas or other containers, or if a new design was going to be required to meet DOT specifications. With this uncertainty, we recommend you stock up on enough gas to last until this crisis is over. Airsoft Safety - In the Wake of the Virginia Tech Tragedy
Concern over copycat crimes and people with weapons is certain to draw attention to anyone carrying a firearm (airsoft or real), and especially people running around in camo or tac gear in neighborhoods, or wooded areas looking like they are shooting each other. To ensure your safety, here are some simple precautions you should take:
If someone does report your activities to local authorities and law enforcement officers are dispatched, they are going to take the call very seriously. Because your weapons look real, the outcome of the situation and possibly your life will depend on how you react. When approached by a law enforcement officer, do the following:
It is also important to note that Federal Law requires the first 1/4" (quarter inch) of the barrel of the gun be blaze orange. If you have removed the orange tip, it has worn off, or been lost, go to a local hardware store buy some orange plastic tape and put it on your gun. Failure to do this can result in your airsoft weapon being confiscated because it doesn't comply with Federal Law. The bottom line to all of this is YOU have a responsibility to your community and for your own safety. Be Smart . . . Be Safe! 82nd Airborne . . . Phone Home
While there are many organizations that ask for donations for a myriad of causes, I can think of few more worthy than giving troops in harms way a chance to talk directly to their families back home while stationed in Iraq. There is also a certain symmetry between this effort and the airsoft industry. Based on our sales history I'm confident many airsofters who buy Depot 53 products have joined the military, or are currently serving in the armed forces.
If you would like to join us in giving a little to those who are sacrificing so much, it would mean a lot. Send your contribution to:
Do it today, so a soldier can call home tomorrow!
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The Rally 'Round The Troops Raffle concluded Saturday. The effort to raise money to send phone cards to members of the 82nd Airborne Division serving in Iraq and Afghanistan had 423 entries and generated $1,172. That's enough money to send 117 phone cards to soldiers so they can stay in touch with their familes back home. The drawing was held on the 15th to select winners from all the entries we received over the past few months. The winners list includes a cross section of airsoft enthusiasts and patriots from across the country.
While most of us continue to live our lives with little impact from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan other than what we see on the nightly news, thousands of men and women serve in harms way every day. The price that they and their familes back home pay cannot be measured in words, but their sacrifice for our country is immense. Please take a moment from your day to remember that their efforts are ultimately for all the comforts we enjoy and so easily to take for granted. 
Joe Mazur, father of the 82nd Airborne Division's Jake Mazur currently serving in Baghdad, forwarded a prayer request for the troops as a way of keeping them in our hearts and minds.
From the beginning the airsoft community has rallied around the effort to raise money for troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. From July 15th to September 15th, you can help support the troops and enter to win one of 35 great prizes: 
Tactical Airsoft & Milsim magazine and Depot 53 are proud to join the effort by co-sponsoring the Rally 'Round The Troops Raffle. Sponsorship for the Raffle has grown to include national distributors of airsoft products, airsoft forums, and individual airsofters. Companies like Team SD (ICS/TSD), SoftAir Direct (CyberGun), J-Sports USA (KWA), Spartan Imports (Classic Army) and BFX Imports (Excel BB's) have joined with manufacturers like JBU (Tactical Accessories) and SuperCell Development (ASC7 Claymore) to support the effort. 
Airsoft forums around the country like Airsoft Arizona, Airsoft El Paso, Airsoft Core, Amplified Airsoft, AirSoft Retreat, and North Eastern AirSoft Group (NEASG) are also pitching in to help raise awareness, while retailers like The Wargame Room in Milwaukee and individual airsofters like Staff Sergeant Arnel Udani and other members of the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Morgantown, West Virginia are contributing personally.
US military units have a long history of serving their country under arduous, hostile conditions. The current conflict in the Middle East sees soldiers, sailors and airmen deployed 7,000 miles from home in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, unlike previous wars, today's deployments are significantly different in both good and bad ways. On the downside troops are being redeployed to combat at an unprecedented rate and combat tours are longer than they have been in decades. But unlike other conflicts troops in the field have access to technology that keeps them connected to home like never before. Through the Internet and the global phone network forward-deployed units can stay in touch with family and friends in real time. As a retired Marine put it, "There is nothing like a phone call home when you're in the #$@*".
Earlier this year Joe Mazur began contacting people across the country asking for help with a fundraiser he was involved in for members of the 82nd Airborne Division serving in Iraq. Donations were needed to purchase phone cards for troops so they could stay in touch with their families back home. Joe was involved because his son, PFC Jake Mazur, is currently serving with 82nd in Baghdad. As a result of his efforts, over $10,000 worth of phone cards have been shipped to the troops so far. According to Joe, "the response has been overwhelming and donations are still coming in from all over the country". In addition to the Raffle, tax-deductible contributions can also be mailed directly to: D.A.V. - La Strada Phone Card Drive, P.O. Box 356, Lake Lure, NC 28746. 
Operation Balkan Hammer is based around real-world events in unstable Bosnia Herzegovina, where another Serb uprising may be inevitable. Lead by suspected war criminals, Bosnian Serbs are supported by the Serb military. To counter the threat the United Nations has increased IFOR operations along the border in an effort to discourage any attempts to cross the safe zone. The UN has also once again asked the US Military to help reinforce Camp Navajo on the edge of the safe zone. With tensions on both sides high, this confrontation could reach a flash point at any moment. Are you ready for the challenge?
In a bid to further dominate the world airsoft market, effective midnight July 1st Classic Army authorized its dealers lower their Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) on all CA AEG's and Sniper Rifles. The move will lower prices significantly on nearly all guns currently in production and dramatically so on Squad Automatic Weapons like the CA249. 
The US Department of Transportation has approved a newly designed can of HFC22 Green Gas for shipment. In the end the solution was pretty simple, by removing the filler nozzle from the can the potential for an accidential discharge during transport was eliminated. The new shippable containers now come with an easy-to-install filler nozzle attached to the outside of the can. Once your gas arrives simply attach the nozzle and you are good to go! 
"I was just reading your article about the pending shortage of airsoft gas and I wanted to let you know that there is a solution. I used to play airsoft in Canada before moving to Texas and we for some time now have been using propane instead of green gas (Green Gas actually is propane with silicon oil in it). We also use Duster gas(for cleaning computers) instead of 134A (they are the same as well). There is a company in Canada that has designed a series of adapters to fill airsoft guns using the regularly store bought product, like the Green Coleman cylinders. I have one of the propane adapters and it works great. You may want to check them out and maybe you can start carrying their product. Their website is 
In case you haven't yet noticed HFC-22 and HFC 134a gas doesn't seem to be as plentiful as it once was. The problem is the US Department of Transportation recently banned the shipment of airsoft gas because the containers have not been approved for transport. Up to this point distributors and retailers were restricted from shipping gas by air because it was categorized as a hazardous subtance. However, transporting it by ground via the Post Office, UPS, FedEx and other common carriers was permitted.
In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings, public and law enforcement sensitivity to anyone with a firearm is justifiably at an all time high. As such it is extremely important that you, as a responsible airsofter, are aware your activities are going to receive extra scrutiny. 
Last month Depot 53 was contacted by Joe Mazur in North Carolina asking for our help with a fund raiser they were holding for members of the 82nd Airborne Division serving in Iraq (see original article in this News Section). Donations were going to be used to purchase International Phone Cards for the troops so they could stay in touch with their families back home. Joe was involved because his son Jake, was currently serving with 1/504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Baghdad. Joe ask for a D-53 contribution because, prior to joining the Army, Jake was an avid airsofter and Depot 53 customer.
Other members of the airsoft community are also getting involved by posting information about the drive on their websites and forums. These include 
Staff Sergeant Arnel Udani and other members of the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Morgantown, West Virginia are pitching in to raise funds for the drive as well. SSG Udani, a former member of 2-505 PIR, is also an avid airsofter.
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