Category Archives: Airsoft

Airsoft, Milsim, and Combat sports

May 14 Contest: Monstrum Tracer

May 8, 2023 moondog

MAY 14 PRIZE: Monstrum Tracer EDC

The contest Prize will be chosen from all entries submitted from May 7, 2023 through May 13, 2023. Entries must be received no later than 12pm EST on May 13, 2023.

CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS

1. Subscribe to my YouTube channel or TikTok

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@moondogo
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moondogreviews

2. Take a screen shot of the channel screen showing you have subscribed/followed and email it to me

3. Email me with the Subject: May 14 Contest
• Attach the JPG or PNG screen shot
• Include your full name and ship-to address in the email (so I can confirm you live in the US or Canada)

Use the button email below or email me directly at: contest@moondogindustries.com

4. BONUS: Share this with a friend and get them to enter the contest too. Ask them to reference your name and email address in the body of their message ie. “My buddy johndoe@gmail.com clued me into the contest”, and I’ll award you an extra-bonus entry to the contest. It’s important that they reference your email so I can easily look up your entry. Each friend that subscribes and refers to you in their email will earn you another bonus entry for a maximum of 10 entries (including yours).

EMAIL ME YOUR ENTRY

RULES

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER. YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING DO NOT INCREASE WITH A PURCHASE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

1. Eligibility

Void where prohibited by law. Must be legal resident within the USA or Canada. Moondog Industries employees, subsidiaries, affiliates, suppliers, advertising and promotion agencies, employees’ immediate family members, are ineligible participate in the contest/giveaway.

Entrants must be willing and able to appear on YouTube to discuss the contest and post images of the prize on their social feed should they win the contest.

2. Sponsors and Platforms

Moondog Industries (known as the SPONSOR) is a video Edutainment producer and game promotor based in San Francisco, CA. YouTube, TikTok, Rumble, and online video platforms (known as PLATFORMS) are not SPONSORS or in any way affiliated with the contest or content.

3. Agreement to Rules

By entering your contest, participants agree to abide by the SPONSOR’s Official Rules and decisions. The SPONSOR retain the right to refuse, withdraw, or disqualify entries at their sole discretion. By submitting an entry, the participant agrees to accept the decision of the SPONSOR as final and binding.

4. Entry Period

Contest email entries must be received between:
12:00pm EST 30 April 2023
and
12:00pm EST 13 May 2023

5. How to Enter

This contest requires your skill in navigating your phone or computer controls to screen capture an image of the following YouTube channels/Social Media accounts. Subscribe or Follow and make a screen capture of those pages showing a greyed out Subscribe button or indicator that your account is Following that page. Send a screen capture image file of any of those sites to contest@moondogindustries.com . One entry per person or per Social Media account. Fraudulent methods of entry, photo retouched, or other methods of circumvention of the rules may result in the SPONSOR invalidating a participant’s entries.

6. Prizes

Winner must be able to receive the prize by e-mail or by physical mail. Prize may be substituted at the sole discretion of the SPONSOR. Acceptance of the prize grants SPONSOR permission to use the Winners entry, name, and likeness for advertising, promotion, and trade without further compensation or remuneration unless prohibited by law.

7. Odds

Odds of winning is dependent upon the number of eligible entries received.

8. Selection and Notification of the Winner

The winner will be chosen at random by the SPONSOR from among the entrants that demonstrated the skill to navigate the electronic entry and have met the minimum requirements. Winners will be contacted via the email used to enter the contest no later than December 31, 2023.

SPONSOR are not liable for the winner’s failure to receive notification of winning if he or she provided a wrong email address or if their email security settings caused your prize notification to go into the spam or junk folder. If a winner does not respond within 24hrs of sending a notification, the SPONSOR will select an alternate winner. Receipt of the prize is upon the condition of compliance with federal, state, and local laws.

9. Rights Granted by the Entrant

The SPONSOR, upon submission of an entry into the giveaway or contest, has the right to use the participant’s submission, voice, likeness, image, statements about the contest, etc., for publicity, news, advertising, promotional purposes, trade, and so forth, without any further notice, review, consent, compensation or remuneration.

Participants shall defend or settle against such claims at their sole expense, and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the SPONSOR from any suit due to damage of or by the prize.

10. Terms & Conditions

The SPONSOR reserves the right to modify, suspend, cancel or terminate in the event that non-authorized human intervention, a bug or virus, fraud, or other causes beyond your control impact or corrupt the security, fairness, proper conduct, or administration of the contest/giveaway.

11. Limitation of Liability

Entry into this contest constitutes the participants agreement to release and hold harmless the SPONSOR and PLATFORMS, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, etc., against all claims liability, illness, injury, death, loss, etc., that occurs directly or indirectly from participation in the contest or use/misuse of the awarded prize.

12. Disputes

As a condition of participating in the promotion, the participant agrees to resolve all disputes with an arbitrator designated by the SPONSOR in the state of California, without resorting to any form of class action. Entrants waive all rights to punitive, incidental, or consequential damages, and waive all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

13. Privacy Policy

Participants agree to abide by all privacy and NDA laws in the State of California and any federal laws of the United State of America.

14. Winners List

Participants may request a list of winners by submitting a request in writing to Moondog Industries for up to 30 days after the contest ends.

15. Social Media Platform Rules

Winners will agree to post a photo of the prize on their social media channels in such a way as does not violate any rules of that platform. The winners also agree to appear for an interview where they will discuss the prize and its performance. If there are functional problems with the prize, the winner agrees to make a good-faith effort to resolve all issues with the SPONSOR prior to posting reviews or opinions about the prize.

16. Affirmation of Acceptance of and Agreement to All of the Official Rules

By entering the contest, the entrant has affirmatively reviewed, accepted, and agreed to all of the them.

Airsoft, Travel

OP: Bad Blood Rules

May 1, 2023 moondog

Operation Bad Blood is a MilSim-Lite game with unique game rules designed to support an immersive experience. This video helps explain those rules to visual and auditory learners for whom a printed rule packet is TLDR. I strongly encourage all participants at this event to download the player packet from the Evike ticket page and follow along to this explainer video.

Key Rules Concepts

Body, clothing, gear, and gun hits count.
When hit, get out of the line of fire, then wave a red rag.
After calling your hit, go to your Triage to respawn.
The Triage/Respawn moves with your army so keep tabs its location.
The goal of your team is to safely get your Ebola sample collectors to each sample stamp.
The game is a 5-hour non-stop moving battle; prepare accordingly.

Airsoft, Travel

Join OP:Bad Blood 2023

April 29, 2023 moondog

Operation: Bad Blood is an annual JDRF charity airsoft event that I created to raise money to help find a cure for diabetes. The game is produced at EMR Event Park in Pennsylvania and is also the official East Coast Customer Appreciation Event for Evike.com. The event attracts 1000 players from all over the country.

My dedicated staff of volunteers help me plan and execute the event every year. We’ll be starting weekly Sunday Q&A Livestreams to help players get the most out of the event. I posted this video to answer some basic questions about our gun and gear requirements for the event. The biggest change for this years game will be a switch from FPS chrono measurements to Joule based limits.

Be sure to subscribe Moondog Go my new travel channel on YouTube to get notified of our upcoming videos. https://www.youtube.com@moondoggo

TICKETS

https://www.evike.com/products/108249/

FACEBOOK

https://www.facebook.com/groups/343065087856288

EMR Camping Reservations

https://emreventpark.com/event/bad-blood-2023/

Airsoft, Shooting Sports

Hawke Prism Sights for 2023

March 9, 2023 moondog

UK based Hawke Optics is the worlds largest maker of airgun rifle scopes and offers a broad line of hunting scopes and field optics. They’ve applied this expertise in designing a new line of Prism sights. Utilizing a similar optical prism used in binoculars and spotting scopes, prism sights offer the simplicity, illumination, and fast target engagement of a red dot but with the fine etched reticle that can never fail due to a dead battery. For those of us with astigmatism the etched sight on a prism dot doesn’t distort or bloom like a red dot.

Prism scopes can also come fixed magnifications for longer range shooting (or old eyes). The USMC’s ACOG is a famous example of this a 4x combat prism sight. Hawke offers 3 new models in 1x, 4x, and 6x magnification respectively. The magnified prisms are ideal for action shooters or small game or fowl hunters.

Airsoft, Product Reviews, Shooting Sports

Don’t be afraid of the Monstrum Spectre 1-6×24

December 7, 2022 moondog

Chances are if there’s a scope on an AR at the range, that scope is going to be an LPVO (Low Power Variable Optic). LPVO’s are a cross between a traditional 6-10x magnified rifle scope and a red dot because LPVO’s have a low end of 1x, 1.2x, or similar. An LPVO allows you to use them with both eyes opened to quickly engage targets up close at 1x and crank up the magnification to engage targets at 200yrs or more (and especially helpful for older eyesight).

Monstrum is a Southern California based importer and designer of tactical accessories and red dots. I’ve helped install one of their scope rings on a friend’s rifle and was impressed that it had features like Torx screws and recoil lugs. I was aware of the Monstrum brand but didn’t know much about it so I was surprised when Monstrum reached out to me and offered to have me test and evaluate their newest LPVO, the Spectre 1-6x24mm.

The Spectre ships with some nice accessories like flip up lens caps, a kill-flash filter, and one of Monstrum’s excellent cantilever offset mounts. The scope has a 30mm tube, is made of 6061 aluminum, and is nitrogen purged. On initial inspection, the body and components appeared solidly constructed and well made, though I did find some nicks and rough edges on the magnification wheel which was disappointing.

The other big disappointment was that the elevation turret’s MOA markings didn’t line up with the the scope center indicator. This is common with budget scopes and has even been known to occur with better known scopes but it’s always disappointing when it happens. The windage was spot on to the zero so it’s not like Monstrum’s factory couldn’t make better built turrets.

The turrets are 1/2 MOA per click and the clicks were moderately audible and tactile positive though soft. There was a bit of slop in the elevation clicks but when pushed down, they did lock solidly. Both turrets are resettable with a coin.

The magnification dial turned smoothly but was difficult to turn. An LPVO’s central benefit is that it is the word “variable” so not being able to change you magnification easily is beyond frustrating. Thankfully it does have a large fin that helps assist in leveraging the dial but only time will tell how quickly it will loosen up?

The scope has an illumination knob opposite the windage. It is CR2032 powered with 5 brightness settings in red and green which illuminates the center octagon and dot of its MX1 Reticle. The reticle has thick outer T-style hunter crosshair lines a very thin and fine central crosshairs with MOA hashmarks. I found this central reticle structure too faint to use for action shooting without full illumination.

The scope itself performed quite well in my range tests. It has a decent 4″ eye-relief and the forgiving eye-box typical of lower power scopes. It returned to zero in my box test and probably passed my nipple-twister turret test but my results were not definitive.

In target testing at 25yrds it was able to hold its zero after being subjected to repeated hits from my polymer ammo can to simulate heavy recoil. In practical tests with rapid fire on steel plates, I was able to quickly and accurately place my shots (any misses were entirely shooter error). But as mentioned earlier, I found the reticle was too thin to use without illumination.

I came in with low expectations because I really didn’t know Monstrum’s optical products. In overall build and performance the Spectre lives up to the quality and value of Monstrum’s scope mounts and accessories. If you’re hesitant of trying a Monstrum because of their lack of reputation in optics, consider that the Spectre has a street price under $200 and a lifetime warranty from a US based company, and don’t be afraid of this monster value.

This scope is available on Amazon through my affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3EOPEN1

RESOLUTION (50yrds)
Element: 2 / Group: -2

OVERALL RATINGS (out 5)
Build: 4
Glass: 4
Reticle: 3
Holds Zero: 5
Box Test: 4
Turrets: 2
Eye Box: 4
Value: 3

Airsoft, Shooting Sports

UTG 2-7×32 Scout Scope

August 21, 2022 moondog

The KelTec Sub2000 is an unusual rifle in many respects. It is a pistol caliber carbine that is designed to split and fold in half for easy and compact transport as a ‘backpacking rifle’. But because of this design, the built-in Picatinny rail for optics is located on the top of the handguard and not the top of the receiver.

That’s fine for red dots but the far forward position means that the only magnified scope you can use on a Sub2000 is a long-eye relief scout scope or pistol scope. Only a handful of companies seem to make scout scopes with variable magnification over 4x: Burris, Hi-Lux, Vortex and a few dubious no-name models “made for Mosin”.

I thought I’d try out a pistol scope instead, which have slightly longer eye-relief than scouting scopes. I chose the UTG/Leper 2-7×32 because it was the only scope in it’s price tier with something other than a duplex reticle (a BDC reticle has it’s issues but can be worked with if you learn its dope).

The turrets are old-school and small. They are meant for hunters and not competition shooters, featuring capped turrets without a zero stop. I’ve owned this scope for about 5 years and it’s held its zero after hundreds of rounds of 9mm.

Mounting on the Sub2000 was not without challenges. The Sub2000 has unusually tall front sights for which even high scope rings were not sufficiently tall enough to clear. I had to add a Quick-Detatch 1″ riser (the Sub2000 is designed to fold when stowed so I needed a quick and easy way to remove the scope). I had an oddball riser in my spare parts bin but if I had to get one today, I’d probably go with a wing nut style QD riser.

The 2-7 variable optic scope was a welcome aid for my old eyes on 100yrd targest. While the optics are not in the same class as a Vortex or Burris, this scope is quite effective and usable. I could easily see and aim at 3″ targets from 100yrds.

If you’re interested in buying a UTG 2-7×32 scope they’re available on Amazon through this link: https://amzn.to/3PvDLiM

For a Quick Detach riser, I recommend the Ohunt 1.1″: https://amzn.to/3ACTRCt

Airsoft, Shooting Sports

Matrix Limited Edition Alien Pulse Rifle

August 14, 2022 moondog

Evike.com sent me an a Matrix Alien Pulse Rifle to test an evaluate before its November 2022 release. It came in a styrofoam and plain cardboard brown box. It’s not clear if this is the standard packaging or if this was a pre-release generic box cover?

This is a fully-functioning airsoft rifle styled after the iconic Armat M41A Pulse Rifle from the 1986 Sci-Fi classic, “Aliens” by James Cameron. This is the fictional rifle and grenade launcher used by the doomed Colonial Marine platoon sent along with Ripply to fight off a hive of Aliens and their Queen. Like the original movie prop this airsoft replica is custom shell encasing to a Thompson submachine gun.

The rifle was nicely crafted but obviously plastic in construction. Evike sells 5 different color/finish options. I was sent the black and grey version. In the box was the fully assembled pulse rifle, a packet of 0.20g test BB’s, a clearing rod, and a 190 round short Thompson Hi-Cap magazine.

As with most airsoft guns, the user has to supply their own battery. The main battery compartment is located in the mock grenade launcher/shotgun hand guard. I had to drill out a plastic panel designed to hold a smaller 7.4v LiPo blocky stick to make room for 11.1v round stick LiPo. The Matrix uses a small Tamiya connector.

The Pulse Rifle’s mock magazine plate covers a magwell chamber into which houses the Thompson style magazine and a smaller side box to fit a 9v battery cell which powers the functional round counter LED display, which is arguably the coolest feature of the rifle. The LED counts down from 95 to 00 accurately (as far as I could tell), though once at 00 round the rifle can continue to fire due from its 190 round small Hi-Cap magazine. As far as I could tell, the only way to reset the counter is to remove the magwell cover and reset the on-off switch on the LED counter.

The rifle can use extended Thompson magazines, but the magwell cover would have to be left off and the 9v round-counter battery would have to be secured. Still, the Thompsons slot and rail style magazine design makes for slow reloads made even slower hidden within the enlarged shell of the Pulse Rifles magwell. High Speed/Low Drag, this rifle is not.

One other consideration keeping me from recommending this as a skirmish gun is its lack of real sights or a means to add on sighting optics. The top rail/handle has a wide sighting groove but no front sight post or any means to adjust. For those used to walking their shots instead of aiming this may not be an issue.

Overall this airsoft Pulse Rifle in certainly a talking piece if not quite practical as a skirmish gun. It would make a perfect base gun to craft a more realistic Cosplay level costume prop. Hopefully if this rifle proves to be a success, it could encourage airsoft makers to create more working Sci-Fi weapons. E-11 Imperial Blaster anyone?

Purchase this airsoft gun on Evike.com: http://www.evike.com/#a_aid=moondog&a_bid=b467b403

“Aliens” Pulse Rifle Contest ENDED 9/4/22

*CONTEST COMPLETED 9/4/22* Enter to win an airsoft “Aliens” Pulse Rifle (MSRP $389). Subscribe to Moondog R&D for a free entry. Donate $5 and get 5 bonus entries, 100% of the proceeds of this raffle will benefit the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA.

The winner will be chosen at the Evike Outpost at Gamepod Combat Zone at 3pm September 4, 2022. Winner will be contacted using the contact information they provide. Winner does not have to be present to win but must pay for shipping if not present.

UPDATE

Congratulations to Tom S. of Florida on winning this contest

CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS

1. BONUS ENTRY: Donate $5 or more to the Hiller Aviation Museum center using this link and providing your name and contact information.

2. FREE ENTRY : Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: Moondog R&D

YouTube: Moondog R&D https://www.youtube.com/moondogR&D

3. Take a screen capture of the channel screen showing you have subscribed/followed and email it to me

4. Email me with the Subject: “Pulse Rifle Contest”
• Attach the JPG or PNG screen shot
• Include your full name and ship-to address in the email (so I can confirm you live in the US or Canada).

NOTE: If you win, pick up your prize at Gamepod Combat Zone at 3pm Sunday, September 4, 2022 and join me to create a play video in the arena. If you are not present, you can pay for shipping and I will mail you your prize.

Use the button email below or email me directly at: contest@moondogindustries.com

SUBMIT SCREEN CAP