New airsofter with a lot of questions.

[paul202]

Hi, I just got into the game of airsoft, I am not new to airsoft guns but I am new to the actual game. I have never played before, but before you assume I am a massive No0b, I assure you that I am only a little No0by. First off, I have never owned a cheap, plastic Walmart springer. My first gun was an HFC G17, and although it is not the best, it is actually pretty good for what it is. Soon after, my collection expanded and I now currently own an HFC G17, KSC G18C, GHK AKS74U, and a Well G55. As you can probably tell, all of these guns are GBBs. The main reason I got into airsoft was because for as long as I remembered, I have always liked guns. Not for what they were designed to do, but for their function. The only way to tell if an AEG is firing is by the Horrible sewing machine noise, but with GBBs, the sound is IMO, a lot better, the magazines actually hold realistic amounts of ammo, not go mention the fact that there is felt recoil and the bolt blows back after each shot. Anyway, i have never played airsoft before, so i have a few questions.

1.) What is the recommended gear that you should wear? So far the only thing is know about is some ANSI rated goggles, some boots, and maybe some magazine pouches. What do you experienced players recommend?

2.) What are some good Airsofting sites? I live in South Lyon, and I don't know of any places nearby. Ideally, I don't want to drive for more than 1 hour to get to a place.

3.) How many magazines are recommended? Keep in mind that I only am using GBBs, so I won't have 500 round HiCaps. I am considering getting a KWA KMP9, and about 2-4 extra mags, depending on how much I need.

5.) Does anybody wear a full face mask, kind of like the ones they use for paintball? From Airsofting helmet cams I have seen, most people just wear some goggles and a helmet. My dad's a dentist and he has spent a lot of money in braces to get my teeth looking nice, so he wouldn't be happy if I came home one day with me of my front teeth missing. I don't want to wear a mouthguard because they make it really hard to talk, so instead I was considering a full face mask.

5.) Now this is the question that many of you reading this will probably look at and exit out of the page because you don't want of have to deal with a No0b; I am only 13. Now, I am kind of confused about why the age limit is 14 and not 13 for most places, but going to a public school, I have a few reasons. Keep in mind these examples are an average from what I have experienced, and not all 13 year olds fit this description.
i. 13 year olds aren't really that smart
ii. 13 year olds might start crying if they got hit.
iii. 13 years are disrespectful, ignorant, and might cheat.
iiii. Nobody wants to play with a whining kid.
Now, my birthday isn't until November, and I don't really want until then to play airsoft. Some things to keep things to keep in mind are that i fully a understand the risks of playing airsoft, I am currently taking 8th grade courses for Math and Language Arts while I am in 7th grade, I have a high school+ reading comprehension level, I am about 5'9", I passed all my physical fitness exams in Gym, and I am almost always a straight A student. I am not sure if these facts really help anything, but I figured I would just throw them in their to prove I am not your average 13 year old. Anyway, I was wondering if there are any places that allow 13 year olds to play, or will I just have to wait until November.

If you actually read this entire article, then I respect you and I look forward to hearing your answers.
Sincerely,
Paul

[Blitz]

Welcome to the forums man. Most (if not all) of your questions can be answered in the stickied threads in the various sections. Also, it's nice to finally see someone who is willing to spend the extra dollar to get a quality replica. If you're dead set on GBB's then KWA or KJW are definitely the way to go.

[helmet]

Welcome aboard paul202! Yes I did read your entire article and I must say I'm very impressed by the maturity of your post. As far as some answers to a few of your questions I will provide some short answers as I am sure there are others that will comment here with much more detail then I like to get into (mostly because I hate typing).

1) As far as some gear goes, most people will wear some sort of camo, although in a lot of CQB games it is nearly dead split between street clothes and camo. You might want to invest in some sort of vest (crossdraw, fixed, MOLLE, etc.) it's completely up to you and depends on how much you want to spend and what sort of realism you are looking to achieve. Some people will invest in helmets (mostly for outdoor field games), protective padded/armored gloves and elbow and knee pads in addition to what you already named.

2) Some good airsofting places by you: Farmington CQB ~ 25min, Eastside Airsoft ~ 50min, not sure of any that are closer unfortunately

3) Depends on how you like to shoot, do you like down lots of covering fire? Do you like to conserve ammo for when you have a good shot? If you only want to use GBBs then you are kind of limiting yourself unfortunately, but I generally run with 4-6 mags for CQB (maybe only use 1-2 per round) and about 8-12 for field (depending on ammo cap for game).

4) Most places will REQUIRE you to wear a full face mask if under a certain age (typically 16) so plan for it. I'm sure this will make your father happy as he won't have to shell out money if a tooth gets chipped (haven't seen it happen, but I have heard of it happening). You can also get the full-seal ANSI goggles and get a half-mask for the lower portion of your face.

5) Age limit yes is 13-14 for most places, but exceptions can be made at the owner's discretion. As far as your sections i.(1) through iv.(4) goes, as long as your are respectful of others and act in a reasonable, mature manner during games, none of us should have a problem with you.

That's all I have the patience to respond with. So good luck to you and I hope to see you out at some events (check the Airsoft Events section on the main page)!

[alexbuechel]

paul202.

As Blitz mentioned, most of the sticky threads will cover 90% of your questions. You don't need to worry about making nob statements. Remember that people who aren't noobs don't make statements about not being noobs.

You have many good points and I have to admit I have been guilty of not wanting to play with younger players at times. For me mostly it's a dependability. So lets say that in a game I need help, cover or some other situation where reliability and trust is needed its harder to think younger players capable sometimes. I have been proven wrong before but not often.

You ask about guns and I think you have a grasp on that. I like aegs myself due to the price. A GBB is awesome but most players need something reliable and affordable. I would say play the game first before dropping large amounts of money. Everyone gets excited at first and wants to go all in and many drop out. Test the waters and then upgrade as needed to improve your game.

1) Gear. There are really no perfect load outs. Each load out even is custom molded to the player. Yes you want to be able to carry amo. You also want to make sure that you have your basis covered. I usually recommend against buying anything that is not customizable, like those ready vests with a pistol holder on them already. MOLLE as mentioned is probable the best option. However this is where you will come in. Find what you can carry, what is comfortable, what keeps mobility and what doesn't overheat you or lets you freeze. But above all keep your conditioning in mind. Many buy for the look and find themselves tired half way through an event. Or they realize that they have so much stuff that they can't run, hide, climb, etc.

I like ciras personally and I carry 8-1 Mid Caps with only about 50 rds each. I try and keep it as real as I can as I play with many ex military friends. We usually cap it at that.

Camo is not really necessary unless you plan on going outside. At first I would focus more on the necessities.

Goggles
Face Protection
Gloves
Head Gear of some sort.
BOOTS ! or comfortable foot wear. This is critical for out door events
Hydration packs for me are a must.
Magazine Catcher... its hard to find them at times so its best to just keep them close by.
Elbow/knee pads come in handy if you are outside on rocks, grave, branches. etc

2) not from around there sorry.

3) "Depends on how you like to shoot" Helmet said it perfectly.

4) Yes, nothing really to add to helmet's answer.

5) I've been to places that allow younger than 13 as long as parents are present but I think since these little bb's can zing pretty hard this is a good policy. Most places will offer release forms


Hope that helps.

[Overkill]

Feb 9, 2012 17:26:26 GMT -5 paul202 said:

Hi, I just got into the game of airsoft, I am not new to airsoft guns but I am new to the actual game. I have never played before, but before you assume I am a massive No0b, I assure you that I am only a little No0by. First off, I have never owned a cheap, plastic Walmart springer. My first gun was an HFC G17, and although it is not the best, it is actually pretty good for what it is. Soon after, my collection expanded and I now currently own an HFC G17, KSC G18C, GHK AKS74U, and a Well G55. As you can probably tell, all of these guns are GBBs. The main reason I got into airsoft was because for as long as I remembered, I have always liked guns. Not for what they were designed to do, but for their function. The only way to tell if an AEG is firing is by the Horrible sewing machine noise, but with GBBs, the sound is IMO, a lot better, the magazines actually hold realistic amounts of ammo, not go mention the fact that there is felt recoil and the bolt blows back after each shot. Anyway, i have never played airsoft before, so i have a few questions.

1.) What is the recommended gear that you should wear? So far the only thing is know about is some ANSI rated goggles, some boots, and maybe some magazine pouches. What do you experienced players recommend?

2.) What are some good Airsofting sites? I live in South Lyon, and I don't know of any places nearby. Ideally, I don't want to drive for more than 1 hour to get to a place.

3.) How many magazines are recommended? Keep in mind that I only am using GBBs, so I won't have 500 round HiCaps. I am considering getting a KWA KMP9, and about 2-4 extra mags, depending on how much I need.

5.) Does anybody wear a full face mask, kind of like the ones they use for paintball? From Airsofting helmet cams I have seen, most people just wear some goggles and a helmet. My dad's a dentist and he has spent a lot of money in braces to get my teeth looking nice, so he wouldn't be happy if I came home one day with me of my front teeth missing. I don't want to wear a mouthguard because they make it really hard to talk, so instead I was considering a full face mask.

5.) Now this is the question that many of you reading this will probably look at and exit out of the page because you don't want of have to deal with a No0b; I am only 13. Now, I am kind of confused about why the age limit is 14 and not 13 for most places, but going to a public school, I have a few reasons. Keep in mind these examples are an average from what I have experienced, and not all 13 year olds fit this description.
i. 13 year olds aren't really that smart
ii. 13 year olds might start crying if they got hit.
iii. 13 years are disrespectful, ignorant, and might cheat.
iiii. Nobody wants to play with a whining kid.
Now, my birthday isn't until November, and I don't really want until then to play airsoft. Some things to keep things to keep in mind are that i fully a understand the risks of playing airsoft, I am currently taking 8th grade courses for Math and Language Arts while I am in 7th grade, I have a high school+ reading comprehension level, I am about 5'9", I passed all my physical fitness exams in Gym, and I am almost always a straight A student. I am not sure if these facts really help anything, but I figured I would just throw them in their to prove I am not your average 13 year old. Anyway, I was wondering if there are any places that allow 13 year olds to play, or will I just have to wait until November.

If you actually read this entire article, then I respect you and I look forward to hearing your answers.
Sincerely,
Paul

Good questions. When I was a massive noob I made tons of mistakes (and definitely still make them, I'm a slow learner ), and feel that I can answer a few questions

1. Goggles. Full seal goggles. No half-assed mesh, cheapo off brand stuff, no popping vents out of FlakJaks, etc. Your eyes are worth more then $20 and some discomfort from fog. In relation to question number 5(#4?), I've seen plenty of people with full face masks. Issues some people have: can't make a solid cheek weld to see down their sights, and fogging. Solution: Find the right mask type, or get some scope risers. For fogging, there are various degrees of protection from sprays (probably wont work always), wipes, thermal lenses, or just overkill it with a nice cheap goggle fan and some 9v batteries. Also, various half masks exist, such as:

origin.kaboodle.com/hi/img/b/0/0/19d/a/AAAAC2XWYnwAAAAAAZ2gRA.jpg?v=1321437281000

Other gear that is VERY important.
Boots. Good boots. Like goggles, DO NOT COMPROMISE. If you will run around for 12+ hours some days on slippery concrete floors or through water sodden forests, you need good, breathable, waterproof boots.

Hydration. Without it, you will most likely keel over and die in some foxhole in the summer. BDU's + burning heat + no wind and you will be wishing for an oasis, let me tell you! Camel-backs are a great investment, near guaranteed return, are usable elsewhere, and are protected by a lifetime warranty. Now, if you are playing solely indoors I guess just get some water bottles.

Radio. Airsoft is maybe 25% shooting, 25% teamwork, 25% communication, and 25% sheer luck. (pulling these numbers out of my ass, but bear with me good sir!). A radio lends you communication and the ability to be a more effect team member. Its the difference between running around and being mad because you got shot 5 times in a row, and actually knowing where the enemy is at so you don't go do that! Motorola radios on Amazon are like $40 for 2 radios, 2 headsets, a charger, etc.

Vest (IMHO, Function over Form). Unless you are really trying to perfect a load out or impression, don't bother with the flashy stuff. Find something that can hold your crap in a way that you like it, while still being comfortable.

Gloves. Indoors, they will save your fingers from immense pain. Outdoors, they may do the same, while also providing other protective services. I personally use Mechanix wear M-Pact 2 gloves. Cheap, durable, they work, and my fingers can still move. Its really your preference though.

Clothing! Being naked = bad. Obviously this is an obvious point. If you do decide to buy gear, try to get ambiguous colors for items like vests, knee pads, goggles, etc that can go with either a green or a tan load out (the typical team division in games).

2. The boards should be able to answer that, just look around a bit in the events section.

3. I currently use a KWA MP7 (very similar in performance to the MP9). The magazines can be expensive, and I wouldn't use it as a field gun (but it is possible if you are into real cap limitations or just like a really really big challenge I guess). As an indoor / CQB gun, you have the potential to dominate if you play correctly. No spraying half your mag. Short aggressive bursts works best. I currently use two mags, wishing I had a third. I reload the others while they are not in the mag well. They hold enough gas to shoot 2-3 fills of BB's per fill of gas (on a good day).

5. Most of the reasons for age limitations set by fields are insurance purposes. You SHOULD be playing on legit fields that are actual business's and carry their own insurance (hopefully!). Some insurance companies even set FPS limits, face protection requirements, parent/guardian supervision, etc. Unfortunately most insurance companies don't deal with outliers who may be perfectly mature and respectable young adults, and so they may just exclude everyone to cover all of their bases.

Final note: Gear only gets you so far. Don't go and buy a whole bunch of stuff at first. Try EVERYTHING before you buy it (if possible). Don't let anyone sucker you into purchases. Teamwork and communication are the biggest components of airsoft. Last summer I went to a game a Futureball paintball, just to check it out (they do airsoft at their fields as well). There were about 15 regulars and there was a party of about 15 8-10 year olds. I somehow got picked as a team captain, and (because I couldn't live with myself if I shot some little kid) picked every single little kid to be on my team. None of them had played before, so I told them that if they communicated and teamed up on the big kids, they would win. To my surprise (words cannot describe really how surprised I was) we won all but two of the dozen or so games that day. They yelled every enemy position and teamed up on every single opponent. None of them wanted to be "the guy" that goes and destroys everyone, because together as a team they were collectively stronger than any one man. (if nobody believes my story, go ask the refs about it, they were laughing their ass off the whole time).