Z3RO_Panzer
New Member
If only every problem in life could be solved by the careful placement of high-grade explosives...
Posts: 28
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Post by Z3RO_Panzer on Apr 12, 2010 22:58:48 GMT -5
I know how I got started in airsoft. My cousins and I enjoyed reenacting scenes from movies using toy guns that simply made noise. Later it evolved into using cheap dollar store airsoft pistols. I finally saved some money and bought myself a nice thirty dollar spring MP5. My cousins were stunned. I got together with some of my cousin's friends and began playing small skirmishes in the woods behind my cousin's house. Later, I grew away from both airsoft and my cousins even though they lived right down the street.
Later, I met a group of people I loosely knew from other friends and we all quickly became acquainted. I had told them some of my experiences in airsoft and some had admitted to hearing or even participating in small backyard airsoft events. The conversations quickly grew until all we talked about at the lunch table was airsoft, video games, and of course girls... Everyone eventually got some cheap spring gun and I knew I had to up them by a bit. I tossed out some money for a brand new L96 sniper rifle. I was the king of the field.
One of my friend's brothers became interested and got our groups very first AEG. It was simple and affordable but nothing compared to what we use today. After years of topping each other in what seemed to be an airsoft arms race, most of us finally have the guns we've always wanted. Of course now we are getting into the toughest part of the race for the best airsoft guns... upgrading. I currently have a KWA KM4 SR10. Soon I will get a 6.01mm EDGI Tightbore and a vertical grip. I already put my scope and bipod on it from my L96. Its strange to think back on how far we've come from simple spring pistols.
I was just thinking that I want to hear about how other people have heard of and became interested in airsoft. Also include how you have evolved through better and better guns to get where you are today. I am sure many others would be interested as well.
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Post by O'Dwah on Apr 12, 2010 23:25:24 GMT -5
My friends and I had airsoft pistols from the age of twelve or so, just because everyone else had them. We played in our backyards and what not, never really taking it too seriously (Seriously enough to use eye protection at least), but it was fun none the less. As time went on, my friends grew out of airsoft and didn't play much, I too did the same, as I had also played paintball since I was ten, so I had that to occupy my time. While playing paintball, I was always interested in the scenario type gameplay, speedball was never really my thing. So knowing that airsoft guns where much more realistic looking, some friends and I (If anyone of you older guys from SEMIA remember EEAT, this is what I'm talking about), decided to actually get some spring rifles and form a "team" of sorts. We were all around thirteen or so, and had fun playing on our friends farm. As our interest progressed, we would peruse through countless airsoft retail websites, wanting what we couldn't afford in AEG rifles. In 2005 I joined up with SEMIA and here, trying to expand my knowledge, and network a bit. I quickly learned that airsoft was much more vast than myself or any of my friends thought. I saved money and purchused my first AEG, a Classic Army M15 Tactical Carbine from Nynja on here back in 2005, and played my first game, Operation: Redout, March of 2006. I gained many friends that day, which I have become good friends with over time. I built up my M15 into a SPR, eventually parted it out to purchase my first sniper rifle. I'll be honest here too, Livonia was my inspiration into sniping. He was one of the first people I met playing, and that I am now good friends with. So from parting my rifle, I purchased my first sniper rifle, A Classic Army M24, I didn't actually get to use it in a game, Livonia did though, evidently. After I sold the M24, which has taken its rounds around MiA (I believe Devil had it last? I know Ehlers was talking about purchasing it from Spy Ops), I purchased a TM VSR G Spec from a friend of mine. I eventually built that up into one of my favorite rifles I have ever used, and also the most expensive.... I ended up trading that two years ago to Dutton for a built up SR16, which I parted out and sold to buy a G&P SAM-R. I built up a counter sniper type loadout from that, but ended up trading it to Hunter for my last AEG, which was a G&G M4. This was my favorite AEG, and lead to my best assault type loadout I have had. In June 2009 and throughout the summer I sold my gear and my guns, and have been somewhat dormant in the sport. I hope to get back into it someday, as I have made many good friends, and memories that will last a life time, plus I miss seeing Canto in a dress.
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Z3RO_Panzer
New Member
If only every problem in life could be solved by the careful placement of high-grade explosives...
Posts: 28
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Post by Z3RO_Panzer on Apr 13, 2010 14:15:24 GMT -5
I think that most people started playing using spring pistols just as pranks or for the fun of simply shooting your friends. I think that it's interesting to watch as people become fond of a certain lifestyle or hobby. Sadly, many people do grow out of it and move on. I hope you do come back to play again. As airsoft gets bigger, we will need everyone we can get to help promote it and it's great teaching opportunities.
Also... You saw Canto in a dress?
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Post by Knife on Apr 13, 2010 14:23:25 GMT -5
The picture exists. There was a thread years ago where Canto asked what people wanted to see at Armory Airsoft events. One of the poll options was See Canto In A Dress. Couple days later, Canto posts a picture of him in his girlfriends dress. I bet if you look back a ways, you could find that thread.
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Post by Dahm on Apr 13, 2010 14:26:22 GMT -5
The picture exists. There was a thread years ago where Canto asked what people wanted to see at Armory Airsoft events. One of the poll options was See Canto In A Dress. Couple days later, Canto posts a picture of him in his girlfriends dress. I bet if you look back a ways, you could find that thread. Its easy to see Canto dressed in women's clothing. He does it quite often. I remember specifically one time seeing him in what I believe was a skirt and a spaghetti strap tank.
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Post by Canto on Apr 13, 2010 15:09:07 GMT -5
I love you guys... In all seriousness the crazy shenanigans like that, makes Michigan Airsoft the place it is... (Hugs and Kisses) I started airsofting when I was a senior in high school (2004). I was invited out by a few friends to try it. Not knowing what I was getting into at all... Note to self, never wear khaki shorts on a field full of thorns... I became instantly hooked. The adrenaline high that I had experienced from my first game/battle/war made me come back for more... I immediately went out and bought a set of woodland camouflage and an HFC spring pistol from the local army surplus store; then I figured I would be set and ready to play. During this time period, I also joined the MiA community, which in all honesty rates as one of my best life decisions to date, next to getting engaged and higher on the list than college... About six months and zero kills later, I decided to upgrade to an even better gun... A Cyma Spas-12 shotgun. I was hott shit, I'll tell you what. At the same time as this, we moved from field to field, all owned by friends or team mates (I was part of Team AMAS) during this time and eventually one of the best deals ever, landed in our lap. After one team game, my friends decided to stop out at this little paintball pro-shop called Hole In The Wall Paintball... Not a lot of airsoft related items, a few guns, but I remembered the staff was amazingly friendly. They invited us to go and play at their outdoor field location, some 25 miles away. Enter my first AEG... A UTG MP5 A5 and my first event, Operation: Red Out, March of 2006. Best memories: being shot in the face at the embassy by two upgraded MP5's... Munin: "Canto... What the hell happened to you?" Our first trip to Hole In The Wall Paintball was an eventful one... I broke my newly acquired Tokyo Marui M16 A2, by slipping down a muddy slope on the edge of 'Deadwood' and what would become our own airsoft field... Barrel plugged it in the dirt, while falling backwards. Broke all the locking pins in the receiver... $200.00 down the drain, Yay!! But it did one thing, it gave us the idea of hosting an event... Since Bangor (in all honesty) seems to be one of Michigan's more popular fields (see milsim thread and trying not to have ego) it's a highly gratifing experience for all of us who have worked on it. In July of 2006, when we did the field tour, that land was a completely blank slate. There was nothing there... When we host an event and I see people using what we have made and built and enjoying it. It's an an awesome feeling. We have you guys to thank for that. I'll try and skip all the boring and dry parts. Airsoft and more specifically Michigan Airsoft has taken what started as a side hobby and turned it into a passion. I've met hundreds of amazing people, got the chance to play on dozens of different airsoft fields, and made enough friends and memories to last a life time. After college, even if I move and join another airsoft community. It won't be the same, the people and camaraderie is what makes this community what it is. Oakey, I will never forget Tex kicking you in the balls so hard, that he lifted you off the ground... Jack Squat, Yes. I occasionally dress in drag. As Dahm and Knife have said, it started as a joke in this community. Now, people from other states recognize me as the one who wears women's clothing on occasion.
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Post by Knife on Apr 13, 2010 17:13:37 GMT -5
My airsoft journey started in 2002. I was 11, about to turn 12, and had found airsoft springers on ebay. I tried to convince my parents to buy me one, however, that did not fly. Fast forward a year, to 2003, I attempted to get some more springers for my birthday. This time, I was successful. I bought 2 Y&P USPs, and a HFC XM177E2. First USP broke within three days of my birthday. My buddy and I started to play with them in my basement, yes, we used mesh goggles. I was pretty hooked by this time, I had also just found MIA.
In 2004 I bought a used KJW M9 on here for 60 bucks. I had gotten my friends hooked, and it was by far the highest quality weapon any of us owned. We mostly owned spring pistols, with an HFC MP5 and other assorted rifles. The M9 dominated those games pretty hard. That summer, I worked my ass off at my uncles construction shop. I managed to save up enough for a TM SR16, a mag, charger and battery from the now defunct zorks.com. I was once again pushed the boundaries of weapons being used. Everyone was still using springers while I had a GBB and AEG. I remember that this greatly changed how the game was played. Between the next two years, I got rid of the SR16 under suspicious circumstances (Thanks 21st Airsoft....) and got a CA M15A4 SPC. That was then sold and I bought a STAR M249 a bit later. This did not fit me at all, as I was small and this was a big weapon. Traded that for a TM M4 and a KJW M9 (What a terrible deal I got in all of this, didn't know it till years later however). I still use the TM m4 to this day, and its been four years probably.
I attended my first major game in 06? I think, at the ACO CQB facility. What an absolute blast I had. I stayed off the scene for a long long time however, until 08 when I attended Farmington CQB when Opdoc ran it. That summer I started attending more events and joined the Hellfish. Since then, I've been regularly attending and hosting games.
I suppose the more interesting thing for me is that rather than collecting guns, I'm more into gear. This didn't really start until 2007 when I got my first vest, a shitty UTG Plate Carrier. That thing was awful, about the same time I got my first set of Tru Spec Multicam. Shortly there after I bought a HSS Gear PC which I used for a long ass time, even though it sucked. From there, I've bought a ton of gear, mostly Eagle Industries gear, and I've spent on a ton on it. Lately I've expanded my collection of gear a lot further and can easily say I have too much now. I've got three vests that I rotate between right now, and a bunch of pouches/random stuff. I personally like having gear rather than guns. The total retail on the gear I have, namely vests + pouches and a couple of other things is about 2800. If you add in camo, boots, and things like that, it'd be closer to 3300. I've paid quite a bit less than that however, but a lot of the stuff I have is considered collectible, so I suspect I could reach the retail pricing, if not higher, on the gear bits. Never really added how much shit I had up until now, but goddamn.
I dig airsoft, and will probably play it for years to come. Quite spendy though...
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Post by O'Dwah on Apr 13, 2010 18:07:28 GMT -5
Oakey, I will never forget Tex kicking you in the balls so hard, that he lifted you off the ground... Is that video still around? I remember saying something along the lines of "I didn't even feel it," although I do remember leaving terrafirma. Jack Squat, you'll probably see me at some upcoming games. I'm role playing at Black Eagle III (This will be the best event you will attend in Michigan this year), and I'll most likely make it to a few others too. I just don't have the time to keep up a arsenal and kit.
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Post by kaboose1 on Apr 13, 2010 18:48:38 GMT -5
Since I was young, I always enjoyed military stuff and police stuff to a point of obsession. In high school, my friend was talking about one of his backyard battles that he did and I wanted in. After a year of negotiating with my parents I was finally allowed to purchase an airsoft gun. It was a double eagle m83 that shot 200 fps and the accuracy was good for about 5 inches. I formed a team that began to practice at my private property in Indiana and I then purchased a clone AEG (JG m177) and some gear and I decided to look for events. I went to Flash Fire II and haven't looked back since.
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Post by Barrett on Apr 13, 2010 19:16:17 GMT -5
My airsoft addiction began when I was 11 years old and my mom unknowingly put a springer in my Easter basket . I was playing with it in my basement one day when one of my friends (chaffin13) told me he thought it was an airsoft gun. A week or so later after begging my parents I went out to Dunham's and picked up another pistol: a Crosman Stinger P30, an M9 knockoff, still use it today if my sidearm breaks and things get really hairy. I threw on a pair of woodland pants, brown t-shirt, and shooting glasses and played some backyard games with my friends. My birthday arrived and after a bit more begging I bought a Double Eagle M83 (welcome to the club, kaboose). I Googled 'Michigan Airsoft' and stumbled upon this nifty little site. I quickly went out to Joe's and bought a set of woodland camo, VN K-pot, and a black MOLLE tac vest, which I also use today with a slightly different pouch arrangement. My first official game was the 6/8/2008 No Limits rec game, and I found my cheap M4 was vastly inferior to even a JG clone. Kilo to the rescue, he let me borrow his JG 416 for the day. I got home and hopped onto the internet in search of a better gun. After this I've grown out of backyard airsoft. Somehow I ended up with a Galaxy MP5K that winter from mopedman. A while after that I traded that for a KJW USP.[insert $30 Dunham's shotgun here] Later I bought a UTG M3L to hold me over the summer of '09, with a JG AK being tossed in there somewhere. Eventually, I ended up with the TM M4 I have today. Made it out to some Phoenix CQB games over the winter, with plans to attend some field rec games this summer. Overall, I've met some great people, and MiA has become a great experience for me. The people here are amazing, and I've never regretted hitting the 'Submit Registration' button.
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Post by Chaffin on Apr 13, 2010 19:35:20 GMT -5
Hey Barrett you forgot about that spring shotgun you had before your M3L. We thought those things were so cool. I have nothing else to say. Remembering back then make me laugh.
And now for my history.....
Gun History
My airsoft "hobby" too started when I was 11. After seeing Barrett's Double Eagle m83, and playing in his backyard with it, I realized I just had to have something. So, I went out to Dunham's and bought a single shot spring shotgun. And a spring Desert Eagle. I think they both were crossman.
When Barrett showed me MIA, I realized how big and complex airsoft was, and I realized I needed a better gun. I later bought a KJW USP, and for Christmas of 08' I received a JG AK-47.
I traded the USP to Barrett for his MP5k. I later sold both the MP5k and the AK-47 to buy a CA m15 a4 carbine. After a while of debate and money to try to get it to work properly, I decided to sell it. This was just last fall. Now, as side arms go, I have had quite a few to find the right one. I am sure many of you know this. I have owned (not in order) a KJW USP, a KJW 1911, a KSC m9, and what I thought would be my final side arm, a KWA/KSC G18c. I later sold that to buy something else that you will read about in the next paragraph.
That brings us to today. Today I own a DMR rifle that I bought from Koko Krisp just last month some time. I also just purchased a mp5k from emuguy1849. That will be here within the week. That pretty much sums it up for my guns, read on for my gear.
Gear
After starting airsoft, and getting my JG AK-47, I realized that I needed something to carry my extra mags in. I went out to the endless knowledge of the internet, and here on MIA, I found a crossdraw vest (it had the pouches sown in place, so as you can probably guess, it didn't take long before I ran into problems.) I then went to Joes army navy supply store, and picked me up a pair of woodland BDU's that I still own and wear today.
After realizing that my crossdraw vest wasn't going to work, I got rid of it and purchased an OD UTG PC. I had that for up-wards of a year and then decided I was going to buy a DMR or something like that and I found an RRV that fits my taste. I recently got that in the last 6 months and I plan on keeping it for quite a while.
I guess that is it. In all, airsoft has been a great experience for me, and I am planning on staying in the sport for a very long time.
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Post by Barrett on Apr 13, 2010 19:38:04 GMT -5
The Dunham's $30 spring shotgun, ah, good times..... DOOD WE GOTS T3H SHOTGUN WERE SOOP3RLE3TD3L7ORZS3ALZSPACERANG3RS!!!11!!1eleven You need to post your story of how many GBB pistols you switched between before just giving up.
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Post by Chaffin on Apr 14, 2010 7:29:16 GMT -5
Turns out it would take longer than expected, but I got it finished. I wrote my airsoft story. It is two posts above.
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Post by BALLISTIK on Apr 14, 2010 10:03:02 GMT -5
It's really interesting to read these stories about how each of you got into the sport of Air soft. Reading these I realize how young some of your actually are I have nothing else to say. As for me not so young (36 going on 37) and I feel like a little kid getting into the sport of air soft. I have always been into different hobbies than my main friends; yes I always played sports in high school (Baseball, Roller Hockey, and Volleyball) and even afterwards up to about 28 years of age. Then I got married to my loving wife and we had a son. So the hobbies had to stop for a couple of years (selling the 4 wheelers, Jet skies, and motorcycle) and do the right thing and put the child first. Well after he turned 5 I got into Racing RC cars for about 2 years and he liked that but it was not really an activity i.e. you just sit around and work on the car and then stand and race it. I mean I loved the competition and friendships but I am some what ADD so I have to be doing something all of the time. Well he is now turning ten and has for a couple of years loved air soft. He plays a lot with his buddies around the yard and at there houses. So I have had all winter to think about what I want to do to bond with him, and I gave him the option to pick what ever HE wants to do (Golf, Fish, Hockey, Baseball) anything but it had to be his choice so he would show interest and want to do it and he came up with air soft. Personally Air soft is my second Choice only to Fishing because I am a very avid Bass Fisherman and I love doing tournaments. But I think I burnt him out on fishing. But I have always been interested in Air soft and Paintball. I got into paint ball about 11 years ago with my brother in-law who at the time was 15. That was short lived due to getting married and then having a son. I know this is not my Air soft Life Overtime buts this is the beginning of my Air soft Life and I hope it’s a long life. I am really looking forward to this because first and foremost its with my son, second I like meeting new people, third I love learning about new things so if I ever have the opportunity to meet any of you (which I hope I do) I will be picking your brains asking a ton of questions and I love to share knowledge if I have any to offer. I don’t think I know everything what so ever I just like to share and converse. I am also excited about customizing a collection of guns as I am the type of person that can get obsessed with a hobby (i.e. my fishing rod and reel arsenal) so this gives me the option to do something else. Well I have bored everyone enough so I will stop typing, and I will say it again that I can’t wait to meet people and get into this GREAT COMMUNITY. And finally Props to the MIA web site. One of the best if not the BEST forum I have had to chance to join. Great moderators for keep the BS to a minimum and making sure that it does not become one of those forums that just becomes over ridden with idiots. Everyone here seems to fallow the rules and I myself find it a relief to be able to read intelligent conversations.
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Post by Talisman on Apr 14, 2010 11:28:56 GMT -5
Ballistik, you're a cute newbie =D
Guess I'll add to this thread.
I started playing airsoft back in '03, after highschool. Trauby started playing with some guys he worked with, and showed me and xaos and some of my other friends some guns. We promptly went and purchased our first guns (I accidentally overdrafted my bank account buying my first gun. Whoops!).
After purchasing our guns, we decided we should probably form up a team, and thus, Silent but Deadly was formed. We started going to ops, back in the good 'ol ACO days, and eventually started to run around with GK. Friendships were formed that exist to this day (<3 GK get out to more games I'm too lazy to spell a full word out. Please mock me.).
Around this time we also started some epic relationships - ex. I will always know the old SOCOM guys as the dudes that wiped us out in one ambush.... even tho we were on the same team. ACO, as always, classy dudes that I didnt know too well because we tried to be on opposite sides of the field to balance things out. (back in these days, 30ish players was average, 50 players was a big game, getting 100+ to a game was unheard of.)
Fast forward a bit, Xaos decided to move downstate, Trauby moved down south, Other teammates left for whatever (Talon for EEERACK and Ironman for california), so I decided to basically take what was left and merged with MTASC. Probably one of the best moves of my life, even considering the drama that became of that (eventually - that's another story tho.).
After we joined MTASC I got to meet some great dudes, most of which I have the pleasure of having as teammates on the asshats. Being able to hang out late nights with Jump, Major, Pathfinder, etc. over at devildog's shop, playing airsoft all day, drinking and playing Flames of War, CPU lan parties, or whatever all night, those were the days.
Now's the "alas all good things come to an end" part of the story, but really it's not. While some of the guys left/had to move or whatever (miss you Path and Jump!) we're still largely together, and even those that are gone still hang around and shit up our forums every once in a while.
After some stuff happened with MTASC, a large portion of the team left, and Major, Jump, and I decided to forum up the asshats. I didnt expect everyone that left MTASC to join up, but everyone did. Kinda goes to show you the sort of community we had built up.
Post-formation, we had to prove that we were real, so we went out and kicked ass. We were able to recruit some great guys all in one shot from the west side of the state - honorable mention for Rogue, cuz that dude was at like every op I've ever been to since I started playing, and I was floored that he wanted to join (not to belittle the rest of you west coasters =D)
We're forming some great relationships with other teams, also - From a personal standpoint, I don't have very many, but FLAK and Canto have my respect/admiration. I don't talk about anyone else because I only really play at bangor anymore =p
Now we're at the present, battling against inactivity, the economy, and people getting older. Still kicking ass, chewing bubble gum, and having fun.
It's amazing the changes that have taken place in the last 7 years since I started playing MiA airsoft. Back in the day, like I mentioned, 30-40 players was a good turnout. Hado was resident geardo, and people didnt spend more on their vest than on their weapon. We didn't have clones, everything was a discussion on TM vs CA vs ICS. Under 18 games just about didnt exist, unless the hosts knew you and you were a pretty cool dude. Women didn't play (now I see women at like every event I go to - not a bad thing).
You had like 50 guys that posted regularly on the forums, and just about everybody knew everybody else when you went out to an event. You could ask someone "who are you on the forums?" and realize they were a dude you had an argument with, or someone you had a good discussion in a thread with, or whatever.
People (at ACO events at least) role-played getting shot - nothing quite like mowing down a patrol to have em all jump around like bullets were hitting them =D
There were only like 2-3 snipers that went to events regularly (Hai frostee start playing again) and only 2-3 SAW gunners also (when we saw jacko, we either ran away or cheered.) SAWs also cost like 2 grand back then, too.
So when you kiddies hear us talk about the golden days of MiA, read the above paragraph to understand what we're talking about, and why some of us are more chairsofters now.
:words:
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