What Do U Need for Airsoft

Beginner's Guide - Introduction

Airsoft skirmishing, often referred to equally just 'airsoft', is a alive combat simulation in which 2 or more than teams are pitched against each other in a game of fitness, skill, determination, tactics, psychology and wits. Players battle with each other with replica firearms which burn small, lite plastic pellets at high speed (usually firing around 15 BBs per second and upwardly to 350 feet per second muzzle velocity).

The realistic playing area, mission, equipment and habiliment all add to the intensity and break of disbelief; in an airsoft game you lot tin can get a genuine sense of a real battlefield. If you take always wanted to play out the excitement of a war movie or computer game for real and then this is your chance! Airsoft is excellent fun but it also builds confidence, fitness, teamwork, introduces you to new friends and most importantly gets y'all out of the house.

Airsoft is the perfect respond for the modern British lifestyle; it allows you the rare opportunity to release pent upward energy, escape the pressures of everyday life for a few hours and gain a sense of community. These positive ideals of discipline, physical exercise and squad spirit far outweigh any concerns over simulating real firearms.

This guide has been written past the players that run Great britain Airsoft Players Union, so all of the information in this guide has been gleaned from decades of start hand experience. It has been written to help new British players get involved in the airsoft hobby. The survival of any sport or pastime is dependent on the continual consecration of new enthusiasts. About players know this and are more than happy to welcome and propose beginners. The British airsoft scene is bigger than it has ever been, just with anti-gun sentiment in the media, convoluted laws and a public which is wary of anything firearm related, new players can detect it is difficult to get into the hobby.

Much information in this guide will be of utilise to new players from exterior the U.k., just please comport in mind that the emphasis is on helping people get into the British skirmish scene.

Costs

Surprisingly, airsoft is a relatively cheap hobby to get involved in, specially when compared to other outdoor activities. Enough armament for a total days play (about 3000 BB's) volition toll £viii-£12, and a very effective airsoft replica (a Chinese 'clone' AEG) can be bought for £150. It usually costs £twenty-£30 for admission to a day game. To rent a replica and face protection usually costs another £20. For such a fantastic total day out this is a very favourable toll. All you need to turn up with is some dark or military-style clothing and we recommend being study boots with ankle protection equally well equally gloves. When you get into the hobby you could easily find yourself spending thousands each year on posh replicas and kit, but this is personal preference; in reality skill will ever win the twenty-four hour period and this high end equipment only gives you a marginal advantage over someone who has spent the bare minimum.

Basic Rules

The cadre of airsoft is honesty. When you are 'dead' yous count as having been killed or incapacitated so that you may no longer participate in the battle until 're-spawned' or 'tagged in'.

You must shout "HIT!", raise your arms and return to the respawn point, where generally you will be able to rejoin the game after a flow of time, significant new players needn't worry virtually being killed early in the game and spending the twenty-four hours sat around similar you oftentimes practise in paintball. Sometimes y'all must stay 'dead' on the spot until healed by a 'medic'. Other times you will take to wait for the next game to play again.

Respawn points (where you rejoin the game from afterwards being hit) and medics can too be combined with allocating the player a limited number of 'lives'. All rules are at the discretion of the game organiser and y'all'll come up across many variants and combinations, which keeps the games different and interesting.

The most common manner of existence 'killed' is when a BB fired from some other person'south airsoft replica strikes your torso. It does non count if it rebounds off of another surface, just a direct shot always counts. Whether it hits yous hard or soft, or hits kit or limbs or armour, information technology's however, y'all are dead.

There is no physical evidence that yous have been hit, and then information technology is down to yous to acknowledge information technology and remove yourself from the game. People who habitually crook soon get found out, equally experienced players have a expert idea of when they have hit someone. They will report the fact to a marshal who will and so monitor the offender closely (although a more than usual trouble in airsoft is people assuming they have hit someone and making false accusations!)

Another fashion of being 'killed' is by pyrotechnics such equally booby traps, simulated artillery or more commonly, grenades. Airsoft grenades are unremarkably thrown devices which detonate a blank cartridge or are small single use pyrotechnics produced for airsoft, which you lot purchase on site for about £2.50 each.

If you are inside a set radius of an explosive when it detonates, you are out. You will exist informed of the radius past the marshals before the game begins, but is usually 3 meters. In a edifice, a grenade will usually count equally eliminating all of the people in a room regardless of distance or cover.

Smoke grenades are available, when ignited these produce a cloud of smoke which you can utilize to cover yourself from enemy sight.

Does information technology hurt?

One of the first things people want to know nearly airsoft is how much information technology hurts.

The corporeality of pain you receive from a hit is totally dependent on your distance to the firer and where the BB hits you lot. If hit on exposed skin at shut range it won't penetrate your skin simply it can draw blood, leave a cerise marker or really sting! At longer ranges yous tin be difficult pressed to even tell y'all have been hit so must get aware of what a light hit sounds and feels like. Most of the time a hit to a vulnerable area feels like getting whacked on the skin by a rubber ring; quite a sharp pain that can make you lot jump, simply fades almost instantly, certainly a striking which you are nonetheless enlightened of a infinitesimal later is unusual. Unlike paintball, airsoft will non leave huge sore bruises. You volition find that having to "accept the initiative" and charge into an enemy position in the face of potentially painful return fire is what makes airsoft feel a thousand times more real than playing a computer game!

It's non unheard of for people to suffer broken bones or bear on injuries from falls but this is merely to be expected in a high intensity game played over sometimes arduous terrain. Injuries are far less mutual than in mountain biking or football game, for example. Airsoft game organisers practice make every effort to mitigate run a risk, as such injuries are rare merely when information technology comes down to information technology airsoft is an arduous outdoors sport that favours tough people!

Fitness

A practiced standard of fitness in airsoft will certainly help you to win games. There are many people who are concerned that they might be too unfit to play airsoft, but this is not the instance. If you lot are struggling to continue upwards and then yous can always decide to hang back and defend a static position, or in the worst case scenario you can drop out of play for equally long as you lot want to and accept a breather in the safe zone. Plenty of unfit people come to games and of course they are improving their wellness every fourth dimension they exercise and then, even more so if they button themselves, so poor personal fitness isn't something which should discourage you from coming along.

Scenarios

Airsoft games are limited but past the game organiser's imagination. They can range from live action part-play, weeklong continual games, science fiction games, fighting off zombie hordes, to banking company robberies, historic re-enactments, full simulation of modernistic operations and everything in between. Great britain sites commonly play 40 infinitesimal games with a prepare objective to hold or retrieve and a start/respawn point for each team.

As information technology happens the UK has some of the highest standard of airsoft sites in the world – lucky yous! Even in the Us and Hong Kong, where they take very well founded airsoft communities, they consider British airsoft games to exist some of the all-time. So when you lot plough upwardly at a UK site you can never really know what the game organiser, and the enemy team, has in store for you!

Airsoft Playing Sites

Organised game areas are almost unlimited in their scope and terrain. Traditional 'woodland' sites are usually based in a private wooded area in the countryside, with a few temporary structures and objectives to fight over. Woodland sites can become dirty and sometimes involve backbreaking terrain, but offer great opportunities to blend into your surroundings and use field craft skills to outmanoeuvre and engage the enemy.

Y'all will also find 'urban' sites, which may be based in old warehouses, office blocks, hospitals, military machine camps, power stations or even nuclear bunkers. These require a dissimilar fashion of play, and some special equipment such as torches tin be of bully help.

Near games will be typically held on a Sunday from 9am to 4pm. Games will very rarely be cancelled because the weather condition, so in this country y'all must e'er be fix to play in the rain and cold!

In that location are over 150 skirmish sites in the United kingdom, and this number is always increasing. Sites will either be operated by a team of local airsoft enthusiasts or a franchise that owns multiple sites and/or shops.

Sites can exist plant throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and on the Crown Dependencies of the Isle of man and Guernsey. In that location are sites bachelor in nearly every European land, if you wanted to play abroad.

Well run sites take public and employers liability insurance, toilets, water replenishment points, defended experienced marshals, a covered safe zone and first aid facilities.

It is legal to organise your own game on privately endemic land that is away from the public, merely at that place are many laws and risks which have to exist considered. UKAPU recommends that you play at organised sites, peculiarly when you are new to the hobby and unaware of all the issues. If you were to brand a mistake in organising your ain game, which resulted in an injury or criminal charges, or offence to local people, then it could easily be picked up by the media and hurt the whole hobby.

Airsoft Shops

There are many dedicated airsoft retailers in the UK, some focus on on-line sales and others have concrete shops. They may also also sell surplus, airsoft specific, subsequently market or reproduction military gear. Have a look on the member benefits tab on this website for a list of smashing retailers who will provide UKAPU members with discounts and offers.

The United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association (UKARA) is a body which represents airsoft retailers. They administrate a database which you lot tin be registered on once you lot have become a skirmish site member. UKARA retailers can then check this database when you lot desire to buy a RIF (a Realistic Simulated Firearm), which upholds their legal obligation to ensure that they only sell RIFs to airsoft skirmishers. It is also common for UK players to purchase airsoft equipment from big shops in Hong Kong.

Players

Players often casually affiliate themselves with their local site and likewise form teams who play and fight together. Teams can exist vary from existence well drilled and with coordinated compatible to just a group of friends who go to games.

Players are represented by our organisation, the United kingdom Airsoft Players Union (UKAPU). Nosotros stand up for players rights and let their views to be taken into account.

The media, government and public can be surprisingly hostile to airsoft and many people want to run into airsoft banned for spurious reasons. UKAPU can and does successfully work to counteract this negativity, but nosotros are only strong when nosotros have lots of members, which is why we enquire that y'all join us when you start playing.

Since y'all're here, reading an article on the UKAPU website, why don't you consider joining once y'all find your anxiety?

Online Resources

Another important role of the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland airsoft customs is the web. There are half a dozen large web forums, some popular news sites, Reddit and Facebook communities. The large amount of traffic on these web forums can exist deceiving; in actual fact the large bulk of airsoft players don't use them. Still, they are a swell way to find out near the hobby and inquiry equipment before purchasing.

Please view UKAPU'south links page for a concise list of peachy web links.

Global Airsoft

The honor based and high tech game of airsoft unsurprisingly came from Japan. In the lxx's they started using 6mm automatic airsoft replicas powered by external gas bottles as an alternative to paintball. The hobby'south popularity increased in Japan throughout the eighty's and several manufacturers started producing skirmishing equipment.

In the early on ninety'due south Tokyo Marui produced an automatic electric gun (AEG) that ran on radio command car batteries, the convenience and effectiveness of which opened the doors for airsoft to spread globally. The Hong Kong airsoft scene is one of the largest outside Nihon and virtually airsoft trading around the world is done through the many HK warehouses and distributors. In the early 00's other manufacturers began to copy Tokyo Marui's AEG design. This, plus advances in computer blueprint and production techniques, has allowed Taiwanese, Chinese and Japanese manufacturers to turn out a bewildering array of airsoft replicas to conform all budgets. If you can call up of a existent gun, there is probably an airsoft version or conversion kit available to replicate information technology.

Airsoft had been played somewhat nether the radar in the Britain since the early lxxx'south, only in the mid 90'due south lots of organised sites were created, the profile of airsoft increased and since and then the hobby has grown at an exponential rate, despite hostile legislation.

Buying Airsoft Replicas and the VCRA

Chances are you are very bully to buy an airsoft replica (if you lot have not done then already). In 2007 a pecker was enacted chosen the violent crime reduction act, or VCRA. Earlier this act you could walk into a shop and purchase an airsoft replica. Now things are a little more complicated merely RIF's (Realistic Imitation Firearms) are even so available to nigh everyone, if they get involved in airsoft.

A few sections of the VCRA focus on banning the auction and buy (but non ownership) of RIFs, a category which includes realistically coloured airsoft replicas. After the airsoft community won the long battle against the authorities and because the abuse of replica firearms was nothing to do with replicas sold to airsoft skirmishers, the regime immune airsoft skirmishers and a few other groups a 'specific defense force' confronting the act which immune the states to go along ownership RIF's. So if you are a skirmisher, you are allowed to buy airsoft replicas without restriction. You tin can get them from retailers in the UK, import them from overseas and purchase them from to beau skirmishers.

There are a number of interpretations equally to what a skirmisher is. The most commonly accustomed and safety method of becoming one is to nourish 3 games at the same site over a time menstruum of more than 2 months (and so all 3 games tin't be within 2 months). In one case y'all have done this, you may become a member of that skirmish site. To register on the UKARA database yous must practice the above at a UKARA registered site. You tin send an application form off to a UKARA retailer once it has been stamped by your site and you will so be placed on the database. Y'all can then purchase airsoft replicas from whatsoever UKARA retailer as they can instantly check that yous are a site member by logging in to the database. UKARA registration is absolutely not mandatory for those wishing to purchase RIF'south, but it there is no cost to add your details to their database (not to be dislocated with the membership fees which are charged by your site, if whatsoever). Just remember, site membership is the just thing that counts legally speaking, UKARA registration is meaningless in law.

Buying your beginning airsoft replica from a specialist UK airsoft shop is a practiced idea every bit they tin can assistance yous choice the right replica and you lot are legally entitled to a refund if it is faulty and breaks inside the first few games. Many shops will sort new players out with a starter package of magazines, batteries, a charger and a mask and so be certain to ask them if they will practice y'all a special deal. If non, store around (remember to take a look at the list of shops which provide UKAPU member discounts and offers)!

Skirmishers can import airsoft replicas from overseas shops, but you lot must exist able to evidence that you are an airsoft skirmisher. UK Border Agency are able to cheque the UKARA database but if you lot are not registered with UKARA and so Border Agency will frequently check directly with the owner of the site of which you are a member.

2nd hand airsoft replicas can often be bought from web forums and at sites. These are, more than often than not, in good condition and tin exist bought for a significant reduction from the new price. Over again, the seller can ask a shop to check the UKARA database, but the verification which the seller volition take is entirely their decision. The seller could face up criminal charges if they sold the RIF to a non skirmisher. Verifying entitlement to the specific defence is something which must exist taken seriously. Many fantabulous 2d paw replicas can exist plant on the web forums listed on our links page. Ownership a replica at a playing site is easier than doing it over the internet as the seller tin see you playing a game and can see that you lot are buying it to utilise in a game, so they don't won't require further verification.

Keeping a diary of games you take attended, signed by the game organiser, may help to prove that you are a skirmisher. It certainly doesn't injure to have your ain paper record to refer to. A 'skirmish diary' is also a nice record to keep.

If y'all are non all the same a skirmisher then you are able to purchase 'IFs', which is an simulated firearm. IFs are regular airsoft replicas, but with the bodies painted in a bright colour or with a transparent body. These are ofttimes chosen ii-tones. Once you are officially regarded as a skirmisher, yous are allowed to paint them a realistic color, or replace external parts with those which expect more than realistic. Equally you just take to nourish 3 games, during which fourth dimension y'all tin make an informed decision virtually which replica you want, it is a much better thought to put off buying an airsoft replica until you are allowed to purchase a RIF.

If you are nether 18 you lot cannot legally purchase a RIF or IF, no exceptions. Yous can withal, at whatsoever age, legally be given a RIF every bit a gift past an adult who is entitled to the specific defence. Y'all can likewise be gifted an IF by an adult who is not entitled to the specific defence, hence the tendency for younger players using IF's gifted to them past non skirmishing parents, to avoid having to hire a replica until they turn 18. Nether 18's are allowed to 'manufacture' RIFs in one case they are entitled to the defense, that means to say that they themselves can paint their ii tone black once they accept go a skirmisher (many sites have junior membership schemes).

Being a member of the Police or armed forces changes nix as regards the VCRA if yous volition be purchasing them for private utilise at skirmishes. Firearms licence holders are also no more entitled than anyone else. The exception is if they are being purchased past a police enforcement arrangement for training purposes.

UKAPU members are encouraged to transport an electronic mail to ane of the addresses on our contact page if they are yet unsure of how to comply with the VCRA.

Ability Limits and the Firearms Act

In England, Wales and Scotland, with the starting time of the Policing and Crime Human activity 2017, the Firearms Act 1968 has been amended to ascertain maximum power levels that Airsoft replicas are immune to have.

Exceeding whatsoever of these limits could ultimately result in a prison judgement, depending on what has been exceeded.

In Northern Republic of ireland, in that location is no specific exception for Airsoft – in this locality the maximum is 1J (as in Japan, Italia), although information technology is the intention of UKAPU and other organisations to resume lobbying/campaigning for a 1.3J/2.5J once the Stormont crisis has been resolved.

Locality	Max FPS for auto		Max FPS for semi
England, Wales	ane.3J	374fps ﹫ 0.20g	2.5J	518fps ﹫ 0.20g
Scotland	i.3J	374fps ﹫ 0.20g	2.5J	518fps ﹫ 0.20g
Northern Ireland	1.0J	328fps ﹫ 0.20g	1.0J	328fps ﹫ 0.20g

Other Applicable Laws

Most importantly to usa skirmishers, information technology is an offence to brandish a replica firearm in a public place, or get out it in a place where it may be seen by the public. This still applies if the general shape of the replica can be deduced through its packaging, which is a very skillful reason to buy a gun case (too this will protect information technology in transit). You lot tin can use the original box that your replica came in, just these are bulky and of course have a picture of a gun on the exterior which must be obscured. When transporting an airsoft replica you must accept a valid reason to accept information technology in public (even when it is fully covered). Taking it to a game, or to a shop to fix it are examples of valid reasons. You lot should bear the contact number for the airsoft game manager so, if you are stopped, the police officer can verify that y'all are on your style to a game. Showing a replica in public will cause warning and will assist the people who desire to ban our hobby.

Needless to say information technology is a criminal offence to fire an airsoft replica at a non consenting person, or at an animal. Y'all volition also more than likely be banned from sites and ostracised from be a source of mockery for the community.

Information technology is non illegal to display your airsoft replicas in your business firm, just if they tin be seen through a window information technology could lead to you lot being reported to the police by a worried passer by, or you house existence burgled and your equipment stolen.

If you have a run in with the Police which involves airsoft replicas it is quite possible that they will be ignorant of airsoft related law. Sadly, poorly conceived new laws are introduced past politicians at a fast rate and often officers are not adequately trained on how to implement them. It is nevertheless extremely rare that skirmishers draw the attending of the Law through legitimate activities. When police officers do get involved they are highly likely to exist amicable and off-white if you are cooperative and polite in render. If you do find yourself unfairly persecuted, which does happen, go far touch with UKAPU. Nosotros can't e'er find time to assist non members, only we always take our members backs.

All of the above laws use to IFs (two tones) equally well. They may look like toys merely they are not toys in the optics of the police force.

If you would like to learn more than almost said legislation, please feel gratis to have a look at our Legislation FAQ, or if you would like to see formal definitions of the laws that embrace Airsoft in the UK, delight refer to our drove of legal documentation.

Types of Airsoft Replica

In that location are 4 main types of airsoft replica available, known as bound, electric, gas and high pressure level air.

The vast majority of airsoft replicas are loaded with ammunition via magazines, in the same manner as real guns. Nigh modern airsoft replicas have the power organisation mounted internally and then there are no wires or pipes connecting you to the replica and hindering your movement.

Jump powered replicas

The about basic are spring powered replicas. They use a hand operated mechanism to pull a piston against spring force per unit area and lock it back, whilst loading a BB into the hop unit. The trigger releases the lock and allows the spring to push the piston through a cylinder, rapidly expelling the air inside the cylinder through the hop unit and accelerating the BB down the butt.

This category includes cheap single shot pistols like the 2 tones y'all will meet in hobby shops, only as well include skirmishable weapons, such equally shotguns and sniper rifles.

Spring shotguns are a feasible culling to an AEG, they can be effective and fun to apply but require a college skill level than automatic replicas.

Sniper rifles are the most common spring weapons found at skirmishes. These may fire BB's to the same or greater range than a regular airsoft replica, depending on many factors, but the main reason to apply them is that they tin can fire with greater accuracy than other airsoft replicas. It is appropriate to forget about sniper rifles until you are able to use an AEG well. Nearly new players harbour a fantasy of being an elite sniper, but new players will neglect miserably if they try and learn how to use a bolt action weapon before they have the skill to use an attack rifle in airsoft.

Automated Electrical Gun

The almost common replica institute at skirmishes is the AEG, automatic electric gun. These are powered by a rechargeable RC car/plane type battery. They operate in the same manner as a leap powered replica, except that the piston is pulled back past a set of gears driven by an electric motor. As such the only input required from the histrion to unleash fully automatic fire is a pull of the trigger. They all have safety catches and nearly are capable of firing in fully automatic and semi automatic modes. Some can burn down bursts of three or more than rounds. They are unproblematic to apply and inexpensive to run, requiring you to just recharge the battery at the terminate of the game solar day. Near are very reliable and low maintenance. These factors make AEGs past far the most popular blazon of airsoft skirmish replica.

Virtually every well known assault rifle or sub machine gun in the world has an AEG counterpart available. Typical AEG's take a range of near 40 feet and fire fifteen-xx BB's per second.

Electric pistols also be and office in the same fashion, just they are relatively low powered.

Gas powered replicas

Gas weapons store compressed propellant gasses and use a series of valves to release the gas into the hop unit. The BB is then propelled up the barrel as the gas expands. The gas is ofttimes contained in the magazine and so that a fresh accuse is placed into the replica at the aforementioned time equally the BB reload. Gas weapons do non role well exterior of British summertime as the gas will be at lower temperature (and thereby pressure level) than was expected by the airsoft designers in East Asia. Gas weapons can likewise suffer from leakage in the magazine seals and require regular cleaning to function properly. Gas enthusiasts assert that the increased realism of the gas weapons role and its instant trigger response brand up for these shortfalls.

The most common type of gas weapon is the gas blowback (GBB) pistol. These appear to function like a real pistol, the top slide moves sharply back when the trigger is pulled and yous feel a certain amount of recoil. You will besides encounter GBB rifles, which are less practical, more expensive and by and large less reliable than AEG'south but offer an enjoyable firing experience.

You also observe 40mm 'grenade launchers', often mounted under an AEG, which fire 24-yard BB'south (dependant on size) in i shot from each grenade trounce. These are simply really effective in close quarters but the weight of burn down will certainly intimidate your opponent!

Gas sniper rifles, not blowback (NBB) gas pistols and gas shotguns are also bachelor simply are less mutual.

The dissimilar propellent gasses available are usually divided into 134a (lower power), light-green gas (higher power, increased strain on replica) and red/blackness gas (fifty-fifty higher ability). Gas tin be bought from shops or at the playing site. Different replicas are designed to use dissimilar power gasses. Some players use propane (normal camping stove gas) by using a special airsoft adapter on the can.

Hop Up

Whatsoever good airsoft replica is fitted with hop upwardly. This clever mechanism is a chamber which forces an adjustable corporeality of backspin onto a BB when fired. When hop is correctly adjusted the BB will fly in a straight line for a long distance until information technology loses momentum and drops to the ground very quickly, rather than dropping in a constant arc over distance. Unlike a paintball marker yous do non need to aim up and lob your shots onto your target, you tin can shoot straight and employ the weapon sights (or even employ a telescopic scope) to make accurate shots.

Magazines

Airsoft replicas can exist fitted with standard or mid chapters magazines, which feed sixty-150 bb'south, (dependant on magazine size), via a spring, like a real magazine. They are loaded past putting BB'south in the height of them with a loading tool. Magazine capacity is often proportional to mag external size, so a larger calibre weapon similar a 7.62 G3 has an airsoft mag that holds more than than a small calibre 9mm MP5 mag. Some players prefer mags which agree the same number of BB'southward every bit the real thing, known every bit real cap mags. Gas weapons use standard type mags simply have a reduced chapters every bit some of the space in the magazine is occupied past the gas reservoir.

The almost popular mags for AEG's are high chapters magazines, which hold a reservoir of 200-600 BB's and feed them via clockwork style mechanism. 'Hi-cap' magazines are loaded by pouring BB'south into the opening at the height and crave the player to wind the clockwork spring via a bike on the lesser.

Closely related to Hi-caps are drum or box magazines, which are oft found on support weapons. These employ the same machinery equally how-do-you-do-caps but have a bigger reservoir of 2000-6000 BB's. Some of these magazines wind the feed leap by an electrical motor.

Batteries

The stock or fore grip of an AEG unremarkably contains the battery.

The physical size of the cells in your battery usually determines how much charge it is rated to hold and thereby how many times it will burn down your replica earlier it runs out. Accuse capacity is measured in milliampere hours (mAh).

The number of cells determines the force that the replica can extract from that bombardment at a given time and thereby determines rate of burn and trigger response (measured in volts).

NiMH (nickel-metallic hydride) are the 'standard' batteries which crave a bones charger and are very safe to utilize. The disadvantage is that the large NiMH batteries are beefy and crave a big space inside the AEG to store them (such as inside a solid stock). Pocket-size NiMH batteries overcome the size outcome but do not last for long then you volition detect the battery will run out subsequently 1000 rounds or so and you have to swap it mid game. AEG's are ordinarily designed to run on 8.four volt NiMH batteries.

Lithium bombardment types (Li-Po, Li-ion, Li-Atomic number 26 etc.) have combined the size of mini bombardment with a capacity of a big battery. Lithium batteries are somewhat volatile; if they are incorrectly charged or shorted out or punctured they will rapidly 'airship', discharging baneful gasses and enough heat to outset fires and melt plastics. As long as you are careful when handling the battery, plus yous buy a quality bombardment and a quality charger with a cell balancer, you lot are unlikely to feel any problems. Lithium batteries will exist permanently damaged if you run them till empty. You can fit an alarm in your replica which lets you know when your battery has dropped to critical capacity. Every bit well as volts and milliampere hours a li-po battery has a C rating, the high C rating cells take a greater power to satisfy rapid summit power demands.

Exercise not make the error of thinking that AEG range is afflicted by battery or motor power, but rate of fire and trigger response is affected. The bound moves the piston forward at the same altitude at the aforementioned speed and is non related to the force supplied by the motor.

Some AEGs employ a 'proprietary' bombardment, which is to say that the shape of the battery must be tailored to the space available in that particular replica.

Ammunition

Most skirmish quality ammo (BBs) is similar but you lot must always utilise skirmish quality ammo that tin can be bought from airsoft sites and shops. Sometime you tin discover cheap ammo in supermarkets and high street shops, only y'all should never utilise this as it will nigh certainly jam in the barrel of a expert quality replica, and tin can crusade damage equally a result. Some brands of skirmish quality ammo will withal give erratic flight paths and some brands do non feed from magazines very well, simply if you ask your swain players you lot volition shortly find out which good brands are available and cheap at the moment (it changes year by year). You lot tin always purchase ammo on site simply volition be more than expensive than if you buy it in bulk from a store. Never ever reuse ammo that has been fired already; even if it looks undamaged it will take internal cracks and is likely to break autonomously in your replica when y'all try and burn down it. Different weights of ammo are available but stick with 0.20g or 0.25g BBs; heavier ammo doesn't really help you when using stock replicas at UK power limits. Airsoft Bbs are available in annihilation from 0.12g to 0.50g.

6mm is the industry standard merely a handful of 8mm replicas exist. AEG's are almost e'er 6mm but may be advertised with 7mm and 8mm gearboxes. This is the size of the gear axle bearings and non the ammunition used.

Upgrades

Most airsoft replicas can be fitted with internal upgrades which may enhance the durability, rate of burn or range. Players will absolutely not need upgrades to exist competitive and they can be difficult to fit. In add-on a new replica will be reliable for a long fourth dimension if yous do not mess with the internal parts, and then for those two reasons we recommend that you forget about upgrades until yous accept been playing for a while.

Your first replica

You don't demand a replica right away and won't be able to buy i right away either. We suggest you get to a site, hire a replica, ask people if you tin can expect at theirs (they will oftentimes exist keen to evidence off their shiny toys!) and make a decision based on first mitt data.

That said, you are probably browsing websites for your offset purchase already! Guns are cool and playing soldier is fun, you want to own a replica firearm ASAP and there's nada incorrect with that, but if you accept a little patience you will be able to get an awesome replica as opposed to rushing in and having to buy one painted up similar a child's toy!

Choosing your offset replica is an important determination. First off, it needs to be an AEG. They are the most versatile and reliable type you lot tin purchase. Yous will need every reward you can get when y'all are learning how to play! In that location are few bad AEGs, merely different AEGs for different situations and different personal preferences. Your first replica should meet the following requirements –

hi-cap magazines bachelor
large type battery compartment (unless you lot are going to invest in a lithium battery and charger)
Short enough overall length to use in urban games (not much bigger than a carbine)
Long enough butt to work well in woodland (no machine pistols or micro SMGs)

Most chiefly, you must savour the look and feel of your chosen replica!

Nearly assault rifles and SMGs fit into the above requirements, such as AK47, G36, MP5, SCAR, bullpup rifles (rifles with the magazine behind the pistol grip) and M4.

The quality of each brand tin can range from near perfect replicas to crude knock offs, and there are far besides many brands to talk about here. If you can only afford a Chinese clone such as JG, D-boys or CYMA then that's not a trouble every bit mostly they look good and the gearboxes are very durable. Be sure that any replica you purchase is under the legal limits for airsoft replicas in the jurisdiction you're in, we recommend getting information technology chronographed at the shop when you buy it.

Something to remember well-nigh is the 'weapon organization' concept. In the British Regular army your rifle is role of a weapon system, that is to say that it is not just the burglarize, it is also magazines, ammunition, magazine pouches, sights and cleaning kit that are all essential to laying down effective fire. If you lot look at your airsoft kit in the same mode you tin see that bringing a new AEG 'weapon system' to a game ways not just buying a replica but likewise possessing the appropriate

Battery
Charger
Magazines
Magazine pouches
Carrying case

Safety in the dwelling

If you lot've bought an airsoft replica, you are going to be keen to go it out of the box and loaded up so you lot can shoot upwards some coke cans in the garden! The vast majority of airsoft replica injuries occur in the home (every bit the editor of this guide volition testify), not on airsoft sites, and that includes the loss of an centre on a few occasions. Y'all can virtually eliminate this gamble by setting simple rules and never making exceptions.

Never insert the mag and release the safety until you are completely gear up to burn down at a target.
Do not touch the trigger until you lot have aimed at the target
Never leave your replica loaded and unattended.
Don't e'er point or burn down your replica at someone who is not wearing protective equipment, fifty-fifty if you think it is unloaded.
When firing in your back garden, be aware of overlooking neighbours who may be alarmed by seeing your replica.
The shooter and observers should all article of clothing eye protection in instance of rebounding Bbs (shooting against a draped towel will reduce mess and rebounds).
Consider what is behind your target
Exist aware that BBs may harm things similar furniture, plants, plaster and drinking glass.
A few BBs often stay in the replica afterwards removal of the mag; it must be fired a few times in a safe direction after removal of the magazine, to clear them out.
Never under whatsoever circumstances look down the barrel of the replica or hold the end of the muzzle when pulling the trigger.
Pay item attention to weapon safe when repairing and testing your replica as it is very easy to lose track of the safety condition afterwards a jam or breakage.
Do not trust anyone with your replica when it is loaded if they have never been taught how to handle a firearm.
When placed in storage, disconnect the battery

The thought is that in the abode yous should treat an airsoft replica like a real firearm. The cadre concept of firearms prophylactic is to always treat a replica as if it information technology is loaded and ready to burn. Stupid accidents will happen to all players who become also casual with airsoft safety. Also, e'er fire your AEG on semi-car with no magazine fitted before putting information technology away. This resets the firing machinery and volition help prevent your jump being weakened over time.

Eye and Face up Protection

Your chief concern, the first item you should buy, is a face mask. Mesh goggles consist of a steel mesh which stops the BB and the but vision damage is that the mesh makes the surround appear slightly darker. Lens masks and shooting glasses have a clear plastic viewing lens which allows greater visibility but tend to fog upwards during physical exertion. Thermal lenses and fan units in your goggles can reduce fogging. Not all heart protection y'all find in the world is BB proof then purchase eye protection rated for shooting, airsoft or paintball. Some ballistic glasses on some people's faces will leave a gap which could let BBs in to your centre expanse then goggles may be preferable.

Equally you are probably aware, wrong/dangerous use of an airsoft replica volition hands cause catastrophic damage to optics, but what almost people don't realise is that they will too shoot out your teeth with ease. For this reason, and to preclude cruddy hit marks on your face, y'all should wear a full confront mask. These sometimes have goggles with integrated solid lower face up protection, or you lot tin purchase a lower face up mask (often mesh) which straps to your face to compliment your goggles. You can vesture a scarf or soft mask over your lower face just this may notwithstanding not slow a BB plenty to relieve your teeth. Information technology is fashionable to wear eye protection with no lower face protection as it looks more authentic, however if you play similar this for long plenty then the risk of losing teeth becomes much higher and shattered teeth are non an uncommon sight at skirmishes, even though it is easy to prevent and can be extremely painful.

Too remember that you lot are provided with but one set of eyes – and then make your condom purchases very advisedly.

Boots

It is appropriate to pick up a pair of army issue assault boots, perhaps from a surplus store. Soldiers who apply them daily criticise them for being uncomfortable, but you volition probably be using them once a calendar month then they will exist entirely tolerable. Once broken in they will give you dandy traction and talocrural joint protection and will last for years if cleaned and stored correctly. Afterwards market (not military effect) boots in the same price range as assault boots will barely concluding a twelvemonth earlier they autumn apart.

Boots are worth the investment to continue your feet dry, warm, increase you grip and protect your ankles. Trainers are a poor choice, especially in woodland games; they ruin your camouflage, look stupid and significantly increment the chance that you will sprain or intermission you ankle (painfully sprained ankles are the nigh common injury in airsoft). It is the aforementioned as buying a mask; if you purchase a gun before yous buy boots then yous have fabricated a big mistake.

Wear

For you first few games a dark coloured hoodie and some old jeans will be sufficient, simply the big attraction of airsoft for many people is dressing upwardly in absurd kit and mostly looking like a badass.

Shallow? Probably. Fun? Definitely!

You can obtain the equipment and compatible of practically any army in the world, past or present, if you are willing to pay for it. You can even have your kit custom made. There are always sheep-like uniform trends which come up and go but you are not obliged to wearable anything in detail unless yous go to an unusual scenario 24-hour interval where you have to represent a detail fighting strength.

You may be tempted to become a full set of uniform and kit earlier your first game but you may then observe that your local site or you play style doesn't fit what you had in mind, and then information technology is much more than sensible to get something cheap from an ground forces surplus store and upscale your gear later on.

The best stuff you can become in the UK is British DPM. Information technology is cheap, hard wearing, good cover-up and comfortable. The market place is flooded with excellent quality DPM due to the introduction of MTP to the British armed services a few years ago. You should start by getting a shirt or jacket and a pair of trousers. If you are not buying a set of load carrying equipment (LCE) wait for a jacket with pockets that you tin can put your spare ammo and magazines into.

Load Carrying Equipment

Probably the nigh circuitous item to select outside of which replica to choose would exist your LCE, or "kit". This is the gear you use to acquit your magazines, loose ammo and grenades. Depending on personal preference and the game scenario you might also carry a sidearm, radio, h2o, clothing, a combi tool and food. The main types of LCE are:

Chest rig: Strip of pouches which sits beyond the front of your torso, ordinarily held by crossed shoulder straps
Assault belong: Covers your entire torso like a regular vest, maximising expanse available for pouches.
Plate carrier: So named because they are designed to hold armour plates in the real globe, these normally wrap effectually your waist and sides like a large chest rig with an boosted small panel higher on your chest.
Belt kit: The more traditional method of conveying gear, this is a waist belt with the pouches mounted on it, unremarkably with a 'yoke' over the shoulders to support the weight

In the final decade 'Molle' has go a firm favourite organisation for real and airsoft LCE. It takes the form of vests and carriers with no pouches; instead they are covered with horizontal loops of material at set spaces to which you lot attach special pouches. Pouches of every conceivable size and shape are bachelor, these have matching loops and vertical strip of material which is woven through the pouch and vest loops. The finish result is that you can constantly re-configure your entire LCE for personal preference or endlessly alter information technology to suit each game or weapon organization.

It is a good idea to buy LCE in a solid colour such every bit black, brown or green. When yous purchase jacket/trousers in a new camo blueprint you may so need to supersede your LCE likewise, if y'all accept bought LCE in a specific camouflage pattern.

All players, peculiarly new ones, should too be wary of wearing all enclosing or thick skinned LCE such as assault vests as it is very difficult to feel hits through them. You must larn to tell when you have been striking from sounds and other signs, not and then easy if you don't yet know what it's like to exist hit!

Other Kit

Wearing a pair of gloves is a good thought as information technology hurts when you get shot on the hand, cheap ones volition suffice in the short term so long as y'all can still safely handle your airsoft replica.

A lid or head wrap is advisable every bit headshots tin hurt. Headgear will also improve your camouflage, merely it is not mandatory. Be conscious of how a hat may interface with your goggles.

When y'all start playing more than seriously you may desire to buy a waterproof 'Gore-Tex' jacket and a warm clothing layer, in case yous go caught out in the rain or take to look for game starting time in the cold. You will shrug off most of the effects of cold and damp when you exert energy in game, but if you actually get caught out and become uncomfortable then y'all will discover that your performance drops dramatically. Worst of all, you might cease to enjoy the game.

Going to a Game

First, find an airsoft site to go to. There are many excellent directories out there, including the one provided by Airsoft Nation.

Next, volume yourself in, usually past emailing the game organiser from their website.

Information technology is highly recommended that you lot drag a friend or 2 along to split fuel costs (yous might get lucky and your friend might get into airsoft equally well). Don't worry about bringing a big group of people like you lot often take to with paintball, in airsoft you will always team up with other players on site. If your group doesn't have access to a car, then unfortunately information technology may be difficult to play airsoft long term as airsoft sites are unremarkably in the middle of nowhere.

Typical Game Twenty-four hours

Then it's a Sun morning, and you are off to your offset game. This is the nigh important footstep y'all can have. So many people just never go as far as going to a game. There are thousands of people who waffle incessantly about how they are going to play airsoft, simply lack the enthusiasm to go to a game! Once yous go at that place you will want to go once again and again, simply the thought of getting upwards early on a Sun and spending £40 on a day out can stop many people coming, even if they have booked in. If you sacrifice one otherwise wasted Dominicus and commit less greenbacks than a night out, you will apace notice yourself role of an enriching, rewarding hobby where yous will meet (and shoot) some slap-up people and have some memorable adventures!

Bring a bottle of h2o and some lunch if food isn't provided. You lot will certainly need to potable water throughout the day fifty-fifty if information technology's common cold out.

Try and turn up before 9am. Game briefings usually embark at 10am, so this gives you an hour to chat with the local players, and if you've requested a "hire gun" – be issued with your replica for the day, load upwards and fire a few times on the range. At effectually 10am, the head marshal will brief everyone for the day. It is very important that you pay attention to this brief, as they may mention game and safety rules that are unique to that site. Safe briefing and first game setup should take no longer than half an hour. Ordinarily you volition take an hour pause for lunch, food is sometimes provided. Depending on how difficult games accept been the staff will usually call information technology a twenty-four hours between 4pm and 5pm. The players are usually tired by this point and offset to pack up anyhow!

At a minority of sites yous will stay away from the safe surface area all day, or more than oft non return to it till lunch. Enquire ane of the Marshall if this is will be the case, if it is then you will have to accept all of your stuff with y'all. At a few pocket-size sites you lot will may be returning to the safe area after every game.

Site Rubber

Never load your replica in the safe zone, and e'er vesture goggles when in the playing area. Marshals will directly yous and you must e'er obey their commands. If in doubtfulness, accept your goggles on and replica unloaded. When testing an unloaded AEG to see if the battery is working e'er comprehend the muzzle by poking it into your kick or your kit.

We will refrain from explaining in great detail the rules about sites employ, only the one affair to comport in mind is to not shout "Man downwards!" whenever you have been eliminated in a game.

"Human down" is an emergency phone call near always reserved for when a player has go injured during a skirmish, and requires medical attention past the on-site outset aider. When this is chosen, you will often hear a shout for "ceasefire" which will require you to make your replicas safe.

You lot must follow the management of the marshals when it comes to safety.

Summary and Credits

To take the next footstep into airsoft skirmishing please take a look at the links on our website and await at joining UKAPU. We can't continue to support and encourage new players without players supporting us. All of us at UKAPU are out there fighting for airsoft players rights.

If you have any comments on this guide please do not hesitate to let us know. Whatsoever positive comments volition happily be accustomed and any negative comments will be begrudgingly accepted and we'll try to effigy out how to have those comments on board.

Although many people volition brandish an involvement in airsoft, very few of them actually take the confidence and motivation to plough up to a game. We at UKAPU hope you have the plunge and nourish an airsoft game one day – and who knows, maybe you'll stay, perhaps you won't, maybe yous'll get a rather valued member of our amazing community.

Originally by Matt Furey-King and painfully curated by David Weston and the remainder of the UKAPU commission, with images from UKAPU members past and present (including the curator and his friends), Graham and Darwin from Airsoft Nation, Snoopys Snaps and Airsoft Addict. We promise y'all take not fallen asleep too many times.