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That was your first mistake

I love VFC mp5's so much but there's a lot of negative feedback out there on them and it seems mostly revolving around the magazine. The problem your having looks exactly like Explosive Enterprises problem, he recommends rounding off the leading corner of the nozzle but he does state it will only reduce not eliminate the wear.

Some preliminary research. Perhaps not precisely down to every detail, but should be the outline of how it goes. 1. Skimming through some gov.uk pages it seems carriers use something called a Customs Declaration Service (CDS) electronic system to do declarations. This is what UPS uses (https://www.ups.com/assets/resources/webcontent/supplychain/media/UK-Importer's-Guide-Preparing-for-the-CDS-System.pdf). • CDS is pretty boring stuff and mostly entering codes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLnf76xyVCg). Gov.uk has some guidance on how to complete a declaration on CDS (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-trade-tariff-volume-3-for-cds--2#imports:-guidance-on-completing-an-import-declaration-for-the-customs-declaration-service). • Carriers like UPS handle this because they are "Third-party representatives applying for authorisation" "Using someone to make declarations for you" (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-simplified-declarations-for-imports). • The precise codes do not really matter, at this point it appears to be a bunch of codes for some basic sorting, and codes can change. Let UPS handle this, we cannot streamline this for them externally. 2. After the carrier submits a declaration in the CDS, HMRC will send a response, and may ask for "supporting documents for a customs check to clear your goods" (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-an-import-supplementary-declaration). • "Border Force monitors and controls imports of firearms (including their component parts), ammunition and offensive weapons into the UK across all modes of transport and international mail." (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-controls-on-offensive-weapons) So naturally it would be Border Force who looks at this declaration. • UPS (or any carrier) are not firearms expert. Judging by the formatting of the UPS version of RIF declaration form, I am guessing UPS sends the PDF directly in CDS as part of the declaration process. (Papers/certificates can be scanned as PDF.) I don't think CDS software would have fields for UPS to enter the colour of an IF etc., I think the RIF declaration.pdf is for Border Force to read, by a human. • It is then up to Border Force to determine whether it is firearms or RIF and act accordingly. (Firearms Act or VCRA) ◦ Border Force may or may not want an inspection. How inspections are done is unknown but I am guessing a firearms expert from Border Force is gonna ask for some pictures from UPS to identify if it is airsoft (or as stated in the declaration). I don't think the firearm experts are running between warehouses checking stuff in person, they don't need to do that unless necessary, I mean, a firearms expert can probably tell apart airsoft from real firearms just from photos, and they probably do that first. And they probably don't check every single import, but by random sample or anything suspicious or if the firearms expert has nothing else to do. ◦ If it is an RIF (VCRA), they want to see defence. ◦ If it is firearms (Firearms Act), they want to see certificates and whatnot. ◦ If it is an RIF and you have no defence, it will probably be seized and you might get a visit. (Because suspected VCRA offence.) ◦ In a way, the RIF declaration for a VCRA import should be functionally equivalent to a "certificate" for a firearm. 3. There is a time limit for making declarations. After which perhaps it increases the chances of inspection, and again, if they found an RIF and no defence, you might get a visit. (Because suspected VCRA offence.) 4. How Border Force decides how to proceed after receiving the RIF declaration should follow this chart https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/983345/Notice_to_importers_2944_-_firearms_and_ammunition.pdf • To help guide them to the correct procedures, the declaration should make clear it is not firearms but an RIF under VCRA. And has defence i.e. UKARA#. • Again judging by the UPS version of RIF declaration form, it does exactly that. • Border Force should be the one checking UKARA#. 5. Normally, UPS emails you to ask for the RIF declaration. You fill it in, send it back, they file it, job done. 6. There are several ways this process can be disrupted, and how it can be solved. • At any point, it is only a problem when the parcel is without declaration and defence. • UPS losing your parcel: nothing you can do, but a missing parcel with declaration and defence on it can possibly save you time and visit from police if UPS finds it, alerting Border Force about firearms, and having no firearms certificate / no RIF declaration and defence. • UPS forgetting to ask you for declaration / defence, leading to seizure by Border Force who can't find a declaration or defence: Attaching the RIF declaration solves the problem. • UPS being late: having it attached saves them time and yours. • UPS totally missed your RIF declaration attached, leading to Border Force inspecting parcel: Border Force finds the paperwork, problem solved. • UPS lost your RIF declaration but not your parcel: Include your phone and email on the address so UPS can contact you for it. • UPS or Border Force seizing your parcel despite having the RIF declaration: unlikely unless your RIF is overpowered or otherwise illegal, nothing you can do other than telling the seller to check the joules. And don't fill in a wrong answer (over legal limit). • UPS and Border Force somehow all missed your RIF declaration, despite you clearly displayed your email and phone, and clearly attached the declaration: very unlikely, perhaps tell the seller to include an extra copy INSIDE the parcel, so there is no way it can get lost and end up not having a declaration/defence during inspection. • All the anecdotes seem to suggest they don't seize your stuff unless there is a reason, i.e. it is not by chance. If you have the declaration and a defence, and they seize your stuff, you can challenge them. 7. I suspect UPS's internal procedures are poorly documented. They probably have a post-it somewhere that says "airsoft -> get RIF declaration form -> put in CDS." This could be verified if somebody can get in touch with them. 8. I would not expect UPS (or any carrier) to be firearm experts. But they are the ones talking to Border Force, who deals with firearms. ---- Therefore: 1. The general strategy would remain. • Pre-attach the RIF declaration form (which includes your defence). • Include your email and phone somewhere obvious. • Put an extra copy inside the box. 2. We can even refine the method: • The UPS version of RIF declaration form is the baseline, and should be universal across carriers, because it is Border Force who actually reads it. • A paper version of the RIF declaration.pdf should therefore be: ◦ Obvious to see when attached to the parcel. ◦ "UPS compatible" so it doesn't confuse UPS's post-it notes. It needs to be as foolproof as possible for UPS to fill in their tracking number before uploading. ◦ Easy to read, be very clear about it being RIF/IF/etc. and not firearms. Helps Border Force follow the correct procedures. ◦ Contains the VCRA defence. Contains UKARA# and address etc. for Border Force to check on the UKARA database. ◦ Probably helps if the declaration form has formatting with less chance of accidentally putting in "wrong answers" like too high a joule output. Perhaps in the form of hint boxes of UK power limits. ◦ Easy to be scanned into PDF. Helps UPS submitting their stuff. Bonus point for accurate OCR to save the poor guy at Border Force some typing. ◦ Includes your contact details, so UPS or Border Force can contact you for any reason. ◦ Includes extra copies inside the box alongside the actual RIF, for helping with inspection. ---- Quick link: the current (?) UPS RIF declaration "RIF DEC Aug22.doc": https://airsoft-forums.uk/topic/53821-ups-rif-declaration-for-parts/?do=findComment&comment=511495 ---- Looking forward to more information in either direction to push this along. But so far, the UPS form seems to be solid.

I'd just go with an AEG to be honest. That Cyma Platinum SR-25 that @Tackle linked is a great platform; I have one myself and the v2.5 gearbox is basically designed for DMRs with its higher air volume. The only benefit of a well-tuned HPA setup over a well-tuned AEG setup is that the HPA setup will be quieter and will be easier to set up. However, it will probably be significantly more expensive and comes with the drawback of a line and tank unless you go with some sort of HPA stock, but that is mega expensive and comes with its own drawbacks. My MTW 308 has an air stock and all in including external accessories that build probably cost me around £1500. Yeah, but gas is a lot more fun! And it's consistent enough to be a good DMR; my main DMR is my MWS built as a mk12 and my bolt actions are KJW/Tanaka m700s, all gas guns. If someone can't hit targets accurately with a gas gun, that's a skill issue, but it is probably not great for a first DMR I will admit!

Making things and machining is kinda part of my job though. 🙃

Ah, but the closest I've gotten to 'making' something was ripping the guts out of a stanag to house the AR57 battery.

VFC MP5K-PDW with its new silencer/tracer:

I don't think i'll ever rival your collection. 😂 Another quick job, added a short rail to my MP5SD silencer to attach an X400 clone. The silencer has a small grub screw to index it so i can still keep zero when i have to remove the silencer. Spare rail piece had a suitable radius cut into it to match the silencer: Small section of the ribs were cut off the handguard to fit a remote switch, which is held on with 3M VHB tape.

A KS-3 to go with my KS-1 🤷

Helps if you actually listen in the first place when someone tells you something then I won't need to spell it out for you

FFS M8, you're making us/ME look bad.

Yes, the site's rules will definitely help as some sites permit a minimum of an electronic means of limiting yourself to safe and single-shot fire only whereas some insist that you also have a mechanical means to prevent your firing selector being switched to full auto even if your MOSFET or whatever electronic firing system is limited to single shot only. The Vorsk model is only in its first iteration of production but as others pointed out, its low temperature performance has yet to be seen. I suspect ChatGPT has suggested it only because it is by, for want of a better a term, a box shifter brand rather being a model that has been extensively field-tested as a DMR.

Somewhat productive day in the SkunkWorks. Started off by modifying a silencer/tracer unit, wasn't so fond of the grooves in it and decided to copy the Specter one, but with 12 smaller flutes. Before: After turning the OD down, it was put in the rotary table and flutes were cut with an 8mm ball-nosed end mill. Bit of lousy paint.. And now it looks so much better. Very happy with the result. Next up was a silencer that i bought for my MP5K-PDW. It's some specific type that i didn't realise at the time, but that didn't matter. I made an insert that'd screw on to the threaded outer barrel, but go over the 3-lug QD and sit closer to the front sight block. Turned from 38mm ally, bored to clear the 3 lugs, threaded inside, with an external male thread to fit a tracer and hex flats milled too. It's secured to the outer body with a grub screw. Finished + fitted:

Though the broken part of the upper receiver doesn't affect the red dot, you've essentially lost your right-hand iron sight so some functionality has been impaired. You could see £120-150 because it's a TM though I wouldn't be surprised to see people bartering toward the bottom end because of the upper damage.

It would help if we knew your site's rules for DMRs Your profile says you have an SVD. The real one are a DMR so why not use that?

It's entirely up to the site(s), you'll have to look into that. Some fire control systems actually let you program in a DMR delay to limit the rate of fire. There's a significant degree of trust involved in DMRs given the minimum engagement distance, and the potential for abusing them by spamming. One of my locals just disallows them completely (everything has to either be <1.2J or bolt action), and frankly I agree with them given how hard it is to marshal DMRs. HPA makes Baby Jesus cry.

Hpa has feck all to do with accuracy, but more consistent than gas, but everyone with hpa cheats anyway 😜

No, single shot only. No binary triggers, no burst. One BB fired per trigger pull and release only. As Tackle said, sites may insist on either a 2-second delay between shots or for there to be only one BB in the air when you're firing. It goes against the idea of a marksman if you need to spray a target to hit them. Not only does shooting above the site limit invalidate the site's insurance and make them liable if they were to allow you to play, you could be charged for committing assault if you use an illegal airsoft weapon and injure a player.

Wow… that’s some very good help already. Thanks everyone! hopefully more people will come and comment too!