WORKSHOP
“…the VVD is a direct
replacement for your original
piston and shouldn’t present
any major challenges”
slide the pistol grip off the bottom of the
gearbox.
Next, remove the mag release catch and
push out the small body pin (which holds
the gearbox into the lower receiver), then
extract the gearbox.
To open the gearbox itself you will need
to remove all the screws, starting with the
four along the ridge then working from the
rear of the gearbox to the front (see the
picture above). Now open the gearbox but
be mindful of the piston return spring and
spring guide, as they could pop out. The
only thing you need to remove is the spring,
guide and the piston itself.
Now replace the piston with the VVD,
then put the spring and guide back. Check
that everything else is still in place and
replace the side of the gearbox.
The first screw to be replaced is the
one nearest the front of the gearbox. After
that one work towards the rear, and lastly
replace the four along the ridge. Place
the gearbox into the lower receiver and
push the small body pin back through the
receiver and gearbox.
Put the pistol grip back in place and
screw it down, but don’t over-tighten them
or you will strip the thread. Place the motor
back inside the pistol grip and reconnect the
two cables. Put the end cap back over the
motor and screw the two screws back in
place (at this point I like to connect a battery
and give the weapon a quick test fire).
Refit the upper receiver and replace the
body pins. Refit the stock tube and screw it
back down firmly. Now it’s time to test its
operation.
The test was carried out using a standard
magazine loaded with 0.20g Blaster Devil
BBs over a Madbull V1 chronograph.
Prior to fitting the VVD, the chrono
reading was 340fps. The first readings after
fitting the device were at 355fps – not
a huge difference but perfectly within
reason. I then removed the magazine and
fired the weapon to clear it and put the
VVD fully forward within the gearbox.
Lowering the adjuster into the barrel, I
gave it a gentle twist and it dropped into
place inside the locator hole in the VVD; a
second gentle twist and the unit located
into the second position. With this done
I removed the adjuster tool and refitted
the mag.
This time the reading came out at
305fps. I adjusted the VVD to its third and
final position, refitted the mag and, having
test fired for a third time, was quite
happy to see another drop in velocity, this
time to 265fps.
For field testing I started with the
VVD in its first position and found there
was no real difference in range to that
of a standard weapon – and I was very
surprised to find that the range in the
second and third position was not a lot
different to that of the first!
With all tests completed I can
happily say this is a very good piece of
equipment, and useful if playing at sites
with varying scenarios such as woodland
(where a higher fps would be an
advantage) and CQB (where a lower fps
would be required). However I can also
see misuses of this device, as you could
ramp up your fps while out on site before
turning it down to its lowest setting for
chronographing. But I guess if you’re the
kind of person who would do that, you’re
probably already one of those players
with the special BB-repellent camo! ■
SAT VVD is manufactured by Soldat
Airsoft Taiwan (www.sat-gunshop.com)
Distributed by Redwolf Airsoft,
www.redwolfairsoft.com
Expect to pay about £70 for the VVD
www.airsoftactionmagazine.com
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