YoYo-Pete
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Posts: 250
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Post by YoYo-Pete on Aug 28, 2012 10:13:04 GMT -5
Hello everyone... I'm YoYo-Pete. A little about me first. I'm 36 years old and live in Ypsilanti. My housemate is getting into airsoft and turned me on to it. I think it would be an awesome hobby/sport to get into. I'm into electric RC stuff and play video games (lately seems mostly Battlefield 3). I have some fancy tech job in the University of Michigan Health System. I have a dog. I love music. I drive a jeep. I like technology. I've been almost pulling the trigger on a real steel AR for the past couple years, but have not due to the practicality of things). Enter Airsoft. I like how realistic it is from the guns to the gear to the scenarios (more or less). Investing in airsoft opposed to real steel, I feel like I'll go out and use it as often as I can as running around playing war is something I (everyone) have done since I was a child. Now with the n00b stuff.... So.. As with all my hobbies, I tend to go all in (once I've pondered it forever and decided to commit). That's where I'm at now. Unfortunately for me, my tastes and the hobby are both expensive. So I'm going to have to stagger purchases with pay periods before I can get everything I'd want. I.E. I gotta start small. I want to play CQB and field. Tactics and what nots. Run and Gun. Hide in the bush. Flank the OpFor. Right?!?!? So I've decided on a gun: Umarex H&K Full Metal 416 CQB AEG (made by VFC) As far as I know (this is where ya'll should chime in) this is a gun which realism I will love and will perform very well and is good quality. I'm going to wait on a side arm as I want to get some gear to go with the rifle. Initial Purchase:Gun: Umarex H&K Full Metal 416 CQB AEG (made by VFC) Angled Front Grip Red Dot Sight (probably Eotech style or Reflex) <-- Might be budgeted to a later date purchase depending Mags Speed Loader BBs Goggles of some sorts Fatigues hopefully as I'd rather not dress like some plain clothed insurgent. I have nothing else to say At this point, I'm probably at my monthly budget of airsoft gear. Maybe I can squeeze in Knee Pads and a Helmet and hopefully some Fatigues. Questions: Going to go with MidCap Mags... How many should I have for a game? I figure a 5 pack will be good to start out with, but how many do you like to carry into a game? For Fatigues, I was thinking of going with ATACS FG? Or Marapat/woodland as my gaming will be in Michigan, cover is green and brown depending. Is there a recommendation, or is this really just what everyone's preference is? (I know some scenario games require you to be on a colored team, but all and all ) What about BB size/weight... I mean is it a consistent size and the weight varies? If I go play in Michigan at established fields, do they require .20 or is that only to clock the speed and in game I could use a .25? Where should I start with all that for my initial purchase? Just buy some small bags and shoot and see what I think works best for me? And what about shooting/practice? Where can I go to do that on a week night or weekend? I'm guessing real steel ranges dont really want airsoft folks? I've read about all the stickies on this site and have been reading everything I can find on the internet, but could use some help with specifics above.
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Post by UAD Airsoft on Aug 28, 2012 10:21:00 GMT -5
We run Marpat and we find that it works very well with most areas in Michigan.
On average, I run 8+ midcaps for a game. I tend to choose shots instead of shooting all willy nilly.
If you do get the replica EOTech, please get a protector for it so it won't be shot out.
0.20 BBs are used for chrono, most of us use 0.25+ for games.
Welcome to the site
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Post by Sniper Wolf on Aug 28, 2012 11:24:49 GMT -5
First off, welcome!
To answer your questions: 1) The gun. While I've never owned a VFC 416, I've heard some really great reviews, and it's definitely on my wishlist. Only downside is they're a little pricey. If that doesn't phase you, go for it. But if you're lookin to get a feel for the game before investing a ton of money, the G&G combat machine line is pretty affordable and an excellent beginner gun (and very easily upgradable down the line. I got one some time ago and of all my guns it's still my go-to). 2) Goggles! This should probably be number one, as a good set off goggles is the most important piece of gear you'll ever purchase. You can't put a price on your eyesight, so don't be afraid to spend a pretty penny on goggles. Personally, I'm a huge fan of revision's desert locust and bullet ant line. They're Exoshields are garbage, mine fell apart quickly. Others on the forum will probably suggest the Bolle and ESS route, also solid choices, but I don't have any experience with them, I'll let those that do recommend those. 3) Ammo. What good is a gun without the ammo? The majority of airsoft guns out there will run the 6mm ammo, only marushin as far as I know runs 8mm. The weight is going to vary, and that will become a matter of personal preference and depend on the power of your gun as well as the hop up unit on your gun. I'd recommend fiddling around with some .20s and .25s, see what you like best in terms of accuracy and distance, then go from there. 4) Midcap Magazines... There's always going to be someone who tells you to run 4 and someone else will tell you don't run less than 12. Again, it's a personal preference. I run anywhere from 5-7, including the one in my gun (with a handful more in the storage part of my hydration pack, just in case). It'll depend on how long the scenarios go, how often you feel like reloading each mag and the weight you want to carry on your person. 5) Cammies. Best advice I can give would be to get one set green and one tan. Multicam is a good choice, but you can't go wrong with good old woodland. Having a green and tan set will allow you to be on either side of a scenario and not have to worry about not having the right camo.
Beyond that, best of luck to ya, and welcometo both the game and the boards! -Wolf
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YoYo-Pete
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Nunquam?Imparatum
Posts: 250
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Post by YoYo-Pete on Aug 28, 2012 14:01:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the feed back guys... Hopefully you'll be seeing me on field in September.
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Post by Dallas on Aug 28, 2012 14:24:00 GMT -5
Welcome to the forums! Here are my answers to your questions: 1. The VFC HK416 is definitely a great gun, but you may want to look at something a bit less pricey as your very first gun. VFC has some of the best externals out there, but I've heard that the internals need a bit of work and can be iffy. G&G is considered one of the staple "good starter gun" companies, so I'd say go with them first. Everyone here will clamor for you to get the G&G Combat Machine, but since you are willing to go a few steps further than a sport line, I would recommend looking at G&G's Professional Series. Link: www.airsoftgi.com/index.php?cPath=139_24_107G&G does make an excellent HK416, albeit without the authentic HK trademarks. 2. As Sniper Wolf said, goggles should come first 100% of the time. Desert Locust and ESS are great. 3. The 6mm is the most common BB size, and there are various weights. The most commonly used ones for AEGs (that I've seen) are the .2, .23, and .25. There are heavier BBs, but those are most often used by guys with DMRs and sniper rifles. There are also two main colors that BBs come in, which are white and black. White is easy to see where you're shooting, but it works both ways. Black adds a stealth factor because you can hardly see them flying through the air. 4. Carry as many mid caps as you think you'll need. A simple formula is Number of Mags x Magazine Capacity = Time in Fight. I would say get the 5 pack first to sample them, and then you can decide if you need more from there. 5. A-TACS is excellent if you can get it. You can't really go wrong with a set of both Woodland and Arid MARPAT either. I run Multicam since that's because that's what my team uses. Don't get me wrong, Multicam is excellent, but it's sometimes in an awkward spot in Milsim. Be sure you get camo neutral gear, though. Coyote Brown or Khaki work well. I hope this helps!
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Post by Knief on Aug 28, 2012 14:28:22 GMT -5
I've never understood the mindset that a new player should buy a cheap gun just because he's new. The VFC 416 is solid as fuck. If he's got the cash, there's no reason not to get it.
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Post by Dallas on Aug 28, 2012 15:12:46 GMT -5
I was just pointing out other options. If he wants to get the VFC, fine, it's his money, but it's still an expensive piece of equipment.
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Post by Knief on Aug 28, 2012 15:22:58 GMT -5
I don't know, I'd say a P* or a PTW is an expensive piece of equipment. Plenty of guns, be they stock or mildly upgraded cost in the $450 neighborhood. It's not cheap, but it's right on par with a lot of other higher end AEGs.
I don't mean to take this out on you Dallas, but I'm getting sick of player acting like spending more than $250 on a gun is absurd. When I started playing, that was just about the bare minimum, and putting up to $450 into a gun with some basic upgrades was the norm. Clones have widened the window of entry cost, but they don't have to lower the reasonable ceiling. It just lowers the bottom end.
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Post by Dallas on Aug 28, 2012 17:04:02 GMT -5
Maybe it's just me. A $420 stock gun is a bit pricey in my book, but then again, I don't have a steady income like the OP.
I say go for it. It's a fine gun and will treat you right if you care for it.
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Sieve
New Member
Posts: 96
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Post by Sieve on Aug 28, 2012 18:16:21 GMT -5
Definatly invest in a smart charger and a quality battery. 7.4v lipos are pretty nice, But a 9.6v Nimh battery is a good option also. Take some time to look up some of the information on Lipo's and decide if you would want to use them or the normal Nimh/Nicd batteries. If you decide to go lipo there is a much cheaper and better selection on Hobby/RC websites.
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Post by AtsJason on Aug 28, 2012 18:21:50 GMT -5
Nice gun Sir.
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Fear Roback
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Referee @ futureball.com
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Post by Fear Roback on Aug 28, 2012 18:31:25 GMT -5
Welcome Brother.
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bobbunny
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No long fishing.
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Post by bobbunny on Aug 29, 2012 0:19:08 GMT -5
Great gun.
Alright, 5 Mags will usually last you every REC game unless you like to just keep full auto constantly, and I mean that literally.
Goggles - Don't cheap out. Usually, you can get a pair of those Surplus goggles for under $20, and those work fine as long as you tear out the foam. I've found JT goggles from Paintball masks work too.
Face Mask - Not listed, but if you like your teeth, it never really hurts to get one. (http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=9861) Example of what everyone loves and uses. Not needed, but it doesn't hurt to get one. You're over 18, so it's not required (Some games will though). If you plan to do CQB though, it will most definitively suck to take a BB to the teeth 10 feet away.
Camo - You can never go wrong with good old M81 Woodland. MARPAT is alright, but I personally think ATACS FG would work better.
BB's. Don't use crap BBs. With your gun, I might just buy a small bag of .2's (Few thousand), but the best bb weight for you would be probably .25/.28
Games and Range - You live in Ypsilanti (?), which if memory serves, is close to Ann Arbor, which in turn is some distance closer than me to Detroit. Needless to say, most games will be an hours drive depending on how far you live, +/- an hour if they get further north. Check Events for games.
Knee Pads - Get them. Once you start taking BBs to the knee and kneeling on BB's and concrete and every other thing, you'll want them.
Helmet - Meh. Don't need it. If you want, feel free though. I would recommend a FAST style helmet cause it looks kewl and has rails, but if you're going for a MICH, feel free.
PC/Chest Rig/Kit - If you're going to run more than a hi-cap, you're going to want some load bearing stuff. I'm not fluid with all the brands or styles, but I hear good things from Tactical Tailor. Most everyone here will also direct you to Pantac for stuff. Word of warning, stay away from Condor/OE-Tech. Most of the lower tiered stuff isn't that good in quality. Pantac and above is what everyone really recommends.
Hydration Carrier - Not as needed for CQB REC games, but any field game or Op, get one. You're going to love it after walking a mile outside in the heat. Were going into Fall/Winter, so less sun and warmth, but it's still good to keep hydrated.
Boots - Get a pair. Nothing sucks more than running around a field, and then rolling your ankle on some rocks. A nice durable pair will do you good. They're what, $40 at a surplus store?
Gloves - Finger shots hurt. I used some remington utility gloves and those worked fine, but you can't beat a good pair of Oakleys or Mechanix.
IMO, Order of Kit
Gloves -> Knee Pads -> Hydration -> LBE Course, you can run most REC ops with just a Hi Cap.
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YoYo-Pete
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Nunquam?Imparatum
Posts: 250
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Post by YoYo-Pete on Aug 29, 2012 8:55:16 GMT -5
Wow.. Thanks everyone.. I feel like I'm right on track with what I think I need and what you all think I need. First purchase is gun and goggles which I'm making this weekend (if I get it all figured out by then I have nothing else to say) Will have gloves and knee pads before I play as well. Now Dallas's post has made me consider (and find) the G&G 416 (which I missed somehow).... Here's a thread to debate between the two: miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=aeg&thread=44628All and all, really excited to start playing.
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Post by Crapshoot on Aug 29, 2012 9:03:09 GMT -5
There are two things you should never cheap out on: eye protection (as already stated), and boots. Spending some more money to get a quality pair of boots is well worth it.
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