Airsoft
 

I play Airsoft and I was wondering if anyone else out there does too.
I just want to share ideas on games, guns, equipment, upgrading, ect.

To start, I have a Tokyo Marui SR-16 upgraded with TN Barrel, Metal Body, M100 Spring, Systema gears, shims, metal bushings, spring guide, and piston head. All in all it shoots about 350 fps. I also have a Guarder Aimpoint replica, tac light, and laser.

I play airsoft. I, too, have a TM SR-16, upgraded internals (M120 spring, etc...) w/ a shorty barrel and a red dot sight on top. I also have a real steel riser mount that I use to bridge the gap between the receiver and the forgrip. Doing that eliminates any barrel wobble.

It's a great hobby. I really get into all of the other gear, too, not just the weapons.

Yea I get into the gear too. The gear makes it seem much more realistic. I just hate it when people go overboard on the gear.

What's Airsoft? Is that like when you shoot your friends with a bb gun?

Airsoft guns shoot BB's but they are 6mm plastic BB's not metal ones.
The guns are powered 1 of three ways, electrical, gas, or spring.
Spring guns must be cocked each time they are fired. Gas guns use a special gas (most common is green gas). Most gas guns are pistols. Gas is used in pistols because when you shoot a round the gas causes the slide to blow back like a real handgun.
Electric guns or AEG (Automatic Electric Guns) are the assault rifle, submachine guns, and light machine guns you can use.
All airsoft guns are replicas of the real steel guns.

Airsoft seems like such a cool sport, but I paintball and don't have the money for both. I'm not willing to drop paintball cause my friends are paintballers as well and I know of only one person who would try out airsoft with me... and plus the guns' realism seems like it would be problematic; is it? Hell I may get a pistol just for fun... those things look so cool.

I have been thinking about joining a friends airsoft team. It would be a blast, but since they make the weapons look as real as possible, and they play in random, dark, public places, I can't help but be a little worried about the potential for a disaster.

I have never had any problems playing. The key is to make everyone around aware of what is going on.
The people in my neighborhood aren't concerned when they see people wearing full camo and tactical gear carrying assault weapons. They know its just the airsoft team.
The safest place to play is in the woods behind a friend's house or at an actual field. The worst place to play is random public places. That is, unless you notify all the people in the area and the emergency services.
I just got back from an indoor game yesterday in West Virginia. We played in a community field house in the middle of Huntington. We didn't have a problem because the organizers notified the business and the emergency services that we were holding an event there. They also go the permission of the community to use the field house.
The worst thing to do is to try to not be seen when playing the game. Make sure you let people know what's going on and that will reduce your chances for trouble.

airsoft is worth giving up paintball for, if anything for the weapons and how much easier they are to carry than paintball guns. Another good thing about airsoft is that the fields that hold airsoft events only require you to wear gear that will cover your eyes, which is cool for a person like me who prefers to wear goggles alone over a BMX mask.
Here is a link to the best gear: http://www.botachtactical.com/
Here is a link to the best goggles ever: http://www.botachtactical.com/goggles1.html (I like the paulsons the best.. never.fogged.ever)

I've been looking into the sport as well, can anyone here reccomend a good online store and a good starter weapon, probably a pistol so I could get a feel for the game.

i have been thinking about getting an airsoft gun , specifially and AEG pistol or machine pistol...... well i looked around and i havent really found anytihng worth it in terms of an AEG pistol.........arg. is it just me??

can anyone recomend a good AEG pistol for me, id appreciate it

at this rate im going to have to just get a gas pistol (which isnt bad, but i like the convinience of batteries)

http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/Home

im not into airsoft, no money, but i know many people who are. thats one of a couple sites that deal with airsoft

I've heard that ordering from out of country places like Redwolf can be kind of risky due to government crack downs on shipments to the U.S. (not sure about other areas).

http://www.airsoftextreme.com is located in the U.S. but again I have only read about the troubles and have never tried ordering from either, but really wanting too.... It seems the biggest problem is money and actually finding a group to participate with...

I personally stick to poaintball markers, however the airsoft items have a huge appeal just because they look so real.

www.airsoftshop.com is a good one i've worked with them before
also www.combatdepot.com is a good site as well. It's based out of Ohio. I've met and played with the guy who runs combat depot. He's a good guy and his prices are reasonable.

As for a starter gun, go with an AEG to get a feel for the game. Gas blowbacks or GBBs are just as much as an MP5 and they don't allow you to get a feel for the game.
The best starter gun is an MP5. Almost everyone who plays airsoft started out with an MP5.
If you want a more pistol type AEG get a TMP or MP5k.

As for shipments being seized, that doesn't happen very often because of the care taken in shipping. Trademarks on the guns are covered and so are the boxes. Most places will guarantee shipments if they get siezed. Also, most places take the precautions so they dont' get siezed.

Playing in random public places is NOT a good idea. I personally have had SWAT called on me before and that was all it took. Once they figured out what was going on, everything was fine, but still something you would rather avoid. In that instance, we were on private land and someone saw us from adjoining private land.

There are organized groups around the country that get together and play in areas that are safe from that kind of thing. http://www.kcairsoft.com is a group near me. If you're interested in finding out more, or locating players/organized games in your area, check out: http://www.airsoftplayers.com and http://www.airsoftretreat.com

It is a great sport, but if people start getting busted in public w/ these weapons, it's only a matter of time before it will be illegal.

I've been in airsoft for a few years now, and would be happy to answer questions, etc. for anyone interested in the sport.

www.airsoftohio.com is the organization i belong to and its similar to Kansas city airsoft.

Infact, Sen, I think both Airsoft Ohio and Kansas City Airsoft both had a run in with Chris Beals.

I've got a baretta airsoft pistol....its pretty fun to shoot paper and stuff with...what are the rules on an airsoft game?

There are a variety of different ways to play an airsoft game.
The easiest and most common way is pure elimation one shot one kill. Basically it says no matter where you are hit you are out. All of airsoft uses the honor system for calling out. Its pretty much like paintball really as in a paintball player has to call himself or herself out.
You can also play that only torso and headshots are kills. Some people use a point system so that when you are hit you subtract points from your total depending upon what part of your body got hit.
You can play with medics as well.

Hey a point system, that sounds good =)

I frequently get hit in the hand, and i have to call myself out, which is i really don't like.

I have a m4 that's really souped up, a mp5 PDW SAS, and a CA mp5 sd3.

You can see my baby m4 @ my site www.freewebs.com/kirsheng

The point system is hard to keep track of though. I like playing kill zones where headshots and torso shots are the ones that kill.

Although, right now I'm tryign to develop a more realistic system using medics. Right now what I have is a headshot is an instant death. Torso shot you are incapacitated and must lie down and wait for a medic. You cannot shoot and cannot move. If a medic reaches you he then gives you field care (symbolized with a bandage which there are limited numbers of) and then you must be escorted back to the staging area for "further medical treatment" aka you sit out for 15 minutes.
If you get hit in the leg you cannot walk but you can crawl and shoot your weapon. When a medic finds you he gives you a bandage and you can either crawl or be escorted back to the staging area where you remain for 10 minutes.
If you are shot in the arm or hand, you may walk and fire your weapon but no may not use the injured arm. Again with the medic and finally you go back to the staging area for 5 minutes.

Supersix, you are correct. We did have a run in w/ Chris Beals. I was personally involved in that situation. Very few people have made me as livid as that guy did. In our situation, I physically seperated several near physical altercations. In retrospect, I almost wish I hadn't.

Note to everyone in Airsoft, or looking to get into Airsoft: Stay away from and don't deal w/ a guy named Chris Beals from PA.

My son and his friends play often. I just bought him some saftey goggles and a gun from our local sporting goods store. Most of the kids he plays with all have similar gns bought from the same sporting goods store.

They play in the park in our neighborhood, he seems to enjoy it a lot...

Tokyo based: http://www.wargameclub.com/WGC_Shop/

you yanks prolly wont worry about this one too much, but me and my New Zealand airsoft club have ordered from here a number of times with no problems

I too have done a lot of business with wargameclub. And I'm a yank.

I've ordered from wargameclub too, and i'm a yank!
I just forgot about them.

Hehe, i can vouch for WGC, some of the best customer support there is.

Also www.airsoftextreme.com is pretty nice....but it's mostly from "thumper," basher, his parther is kinda mean :(

i just thought you guys had heaps of dealers in the U.S. and didnt need to order from overseas thats all :P

saw "real " airsoft for the first time at a convention(sci fi) at springfield MO- shot a full auto h+k very neat- for a while saw cheapo spring guns in bud k catalog- but havent recently

I ordered my gun from Redwolf and didn't have any problems. Just make sure to tell them you need the barrel painted orange and the trademarks covered. I'm not sure why the trademarks have to be covered, but they put some putty in there that peels right off so it's not a big deal.

I have a stock Tokyo Marui MP5SD5. They're not as fun to shoot as the real thing, but they're definitely a whole lot of fun.

I need a place to play in Northeast Ohio.

hmm thx for all the site, im checking them out now, maybe ill get that gas pistol after all

frenik, there are a TON of players in Ohio. Check out www.airsoftohio.com and register. There are always people putting games together.

I've been into airsoft for about four years now. I enjoyed paintball a great deal, and when the paintball field I play at started hosting airsoft events and selling the guns, I was sold in a heartbeat. The realistic look of the guns and the awesome outfits were enough to get me hooked on first glance. Within a few weeks, I had bought myself an m4a1 (the pre-RIS system version) and the corresponding accessories to go with it. For almost a year I hung out on the airsoftcanada website and enjoyed the company of the people there, but then things started to change.

The airsoft community I had been a part of suddenly became altogether more serious than I was interested in. People started forming teams that wore uniforms and played exclusively together. Tactical vests, kevlar helmets, frs radio systems and ski masks became the normal attire at an airsoft event. Myself, I just like to go out in a t-shirt and camo pants and mess around in the woods having fun shooting each other for a few hours in a safe and controlled environment. Suddenly with the addition of all this tactical gear, people were getting very uptight about who was allowed to play and who just didn't have cool enough gear to be invited out anymore. Also, people wearing several layers of clothing would often not be able to tell when my stock gun was hitting them. Without spending money on upgrades, my gun was bouncing off of their vests and helmets without them noticing. To me this seemed ridiculous. We were often playing in temperatures reaching into the high 90s, and here were guys wearing ski masks and 2 or 3 layers of restrictive clothing. The sport that I had previously enjoyed had become pretty frustrating to play, and events often turned into several cliquey groups squaring off against each other more off the field than on. Those of us who weren't part of a team were quickly turned off by the bickering and the name calling that flew back and forth between the more dedicated players.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy airsoft for what it is. I still have my m4, and it sits in a display case in my house awaiting the day when I find some sane people to play with. My advice to anyone planning on getting into airsoft is to go out to an event before you even buy a gun. Talk to the players, see how the community works together and how often you'll actually be using your gun. It's also a good idea to buy your gun locally. You might pay an additional $50 or $100 for your weapon, but you've then eliminated all risk of having your gun seized by customs. For me, a Canadian, this is a HUGE issue. Privately importing airsoft guns is virtually impossible in Canada these days, so it's advisable to buy your gun from a local retailer. This also gives you the added bonus of having someone you can talk to face to face about things. Upgrades, accessories and advice are all that much easier to get when you buy your gun in person.

Think hard about what you're buying an airsoft gun for before you get one. Paintball can be played virtually anywhere, anytime. There's always someone out there on a recreational field having a paintball game. Airsoft events are often few and far between, and sometimes invitation only. Learn what is the norm in your area BEFORE you drop a big wad of cash.

oh, the other thing I would advise would be to get an AEG before a GBB. The GBB guns are great for cqb games, but if you only have a GBB you probably won't be able to play in any outdoor games without being at a huge disadvantage. An AEG is a better starter gun because it allows you to be competitive right off the bat. You can add a sidearm to your arsenal at a later date, but if you want to play now, grab yourself an aeg.

Airsofts look real good and all, but why are they so expensive? I've seen Airsoft AR-15's that cost more than my real Colt AR-15A3 did.

I'd just like to know what the basic gear and weapon (mabye an additional sidearm) runs, from what i figure around 800 bux... This about right?

Has anyone tried overlapping laserforce type equipment and airsoft? The company I work for at the moment is in the unusual situation of having money to burn and a large disused warehouse........

Airsoft vs. Paintball
 

Over the years I have spent a small fortune on paintball guns. I had a TS1 full auto with nitrogen rig which was stolen from my garage. I have owned around 14 other guns, and currently have an Autococker and a Tippman. My big beef with all the guns, and what frustrated me the most is the inherent inaccuracy of the .68 cal paintball and it's inabillity to penetrate soft cover.
My friends and I play on private property in central Texas during the cooler months. There is a lot of brush that thwarts marksmanship. My question is:
Will an airsoft round penetrate brush and score a hit on someone using "soft cover"?

You figure is fairly close to what you need, however I can suggest some things that to save you some money.

1. Shop around for your AEG. There are many online stores that sell AEG's and the prices usually vary. Also make sure you check what shipping is going to cost.
2. Buy the type of gun you really like, although it might not be the cheapest. What I mean is MP5's are about 50-80 cheaper than an M4 or M16 however if you don't like the MP5 don't get it because you will lose money when you re-sell it.
3. An AEG averages at about 320 with shipping.
4. Buy Hi-Capacity magazines. Hi-Cap mags are usually about 5 dollars more than standards and they hold anywhere from 150-400 rounds depending on the type of gun. You will only need 1 or 2 of these mags for an entire round of play.
5. Woodland Camo is your best bet because its cheap and easy to find. Full woodland camo, blouse, pants, and a hat will run about 60.
6. Buy army webgear (belt, suspenders, canteen, mag pouches) You can get all of that for under 30.
7. Don't feel obliged to buy a sidearm. Out of the 3 tournaments and countless open games I've been to I've pulled my sidearm maybe twice. I've gotten killed instantly both times. GBB's are not reliable to depnd on. Stick with an AEG it will almost never fail you.


Elegant Holmes, to answer your question:

Airsoft rounds can penetrate brush; however, it depnds on the weight of the ammo.
The standard ammo weight is .2 grams however .25's and above can penetrate brush fairly easily. The heavier the round the better penetration power.

Airsoft rounds can penetrate brush; however, it depnds on the weight of the ammo.
 

Thanks for the reply. Can one use both types of ammo in the same gun? Which lower priced models would you recommend?