Shizbazki

TBH i would have been happy to fill a mag of his, 350 BBs out of 3000 from a single bag isnt going to break the bank, but if the same guy kept coming to me then i might have been a bit pissed.

TBH i would have been happy to fill a mag of his, 350 BBs out of 3000 from a single bag isnt going to break the bank, but if the same guy kept coming to me then i might have been a bit pissed.

TBH i would have been happy to fill a mag of his, 350 BBs out of 3000 from a single bag isnt going to break the bank, but if the same guy kept coming to me then i might have been a bit pissed.

I suppose it depends as well as who you get at security.
 
An example was:
I was recently sent to a call from neighbour of a young lad, the neighbour was panicking because the boy was shooting fully automatic pellet guns in his back garden, knowing that air guns in the UK are very rarely automatic I quickly summed up that it was an airsoft AEG or GBB.
 
He was a nice enough lad when i met and spoke to him, his parents were home too and I didn't disclose immediately that i too was an Airsofter and was lucky that i responded to the call as had it been another officer not in the know of Airsoft the lad would have had the police helicopter, Firearms etc would have bared down on his home address before he knew what had happened. That said several of my team members also play airsoft regularly and our team knows this.
 
Nonetheless he showed me what he had (all within limits) and showed me his setup for chronoing and testing. TBH he had a pretty safe set up to ensure no BBS left his back yard, heck he even showed me his Mancraft SVD Dragunov which got me thinking and i got the Mancraft parts for my TM VSR-10, lol.
 
Spoke to his neighbour and gave him re-assurances and had a hard time trying to explain (might have been a bit patronising to him though) that Airsoft guns are legal even in full auto.

I suppose it depends as well as who you get at security.
 
An example was:
I was recently sent to a call from neighbour of a young lad, the neighbour was panicking because the boy was shooting fully automatic pellet guns in his back garden, knowing that air guns in the UK are very rarely automatic I quickly summed up that it was an airsoft AEG or GBB.
 
He was a nice enough lad when i met and spoke to him, his parents were home too and I didn't disclose immediately that i too was an Airsofter and was lucky that i responded to the call as had it been another officer not in the know of Airsoft the lad would have had the police helicopter, Firearms etc would have bared down on his home address before he knew what had happened. That said several of my team members also play airsoft regularly and our team knows this.
 
Nonetheless he showed me what he had (all within limits) and showed me his setup for chronoing and testing. TBH he had a pretty safe set up to ensure no BBS left his back yard, heck he even showed me his Mancraft SVD Dragunov which got me thinking and i got the Mancraft parts for my TM VSR-10, lol.
 
Spoke to his neighbour and gave him re-assurances and had a hard time trying to explain (might have been a bit patronising to him though) that Airsoft guns are legal even in full auto.

Just make sure to buy his face mask from some where half decent and not an ebay cheapy. A decent mask is the single best investment for you for your sons safety

Ok so this thread was never answered specifically and probably never will be, i'll explain why now having done some info dredging for another thread on this here forum.
 
It looks like if the OPs friend picks up a firearm with his ban then he will be contravening Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968: Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.
 
This states that anyone sentenced to any form of custodial sentence of three years or more has an automatic firearms ban for life, if he has served 3 months or more but less than 3 years then he is banned from any firearm for 5 years from the date he is released.
 
It can done Trial by Either Way (TEW) so if summary only, max sentence 6 months, if indictable then max is 5 years
 
See below CPS guidance
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_21_firearms_act/
 
HOWEVER there is a bullet point here which says: VCRA provisions re minimum terms in certain circumstances DO NOT apply to this offence but leaves it at that.
 
THEN the Sentencing Guidelines finally makes mention of imitation firearms!
 
So in conclusion, contrary to my first post here your friend is indeed banned from the world of Airsoft as it appears that Section 21 of the Firearm Act 1968 which regards the banning of persons ever owning or using a firearm due to previous conviction also includes imitation firearms as a firearm.
 
I mentioned why it won't be specifically answered though, because UK Law works on tested cases and as to date (via google search), no one has been convicted of having a firearms ban and playing a lawful game of Airsoft.
 
So the advice from all firearms licencing officers were correct and if he wished to err on the side of caution he will never touch anything (assuming he has had a more than 3 year sentence) resembling a firearm.
 
However the real world are shades of grey, not black and white law books.
 
If he did go to a legit Airsoft site, borrowed a gun from the site or friend, enjoyed, behaved himself then went home quietly then who's to know chances are you will find that some players at most Airsoft Sites are police officers themselves (may or may not be firearms officer but just enjoy the sport). As far as they would be aware he is a legit Airsoft Player and they are unlikely to know his personal background unless he starts shouting it out loud or does something really silly.
 
End of the day he is an adult who can make his own decisions, its only if he is caught (doing something silly whilst playing airsoft).

Ok so this thread was never answered specifically and probably never will be, i'll explain why now having done some info dredging for another thread on this here forum.
 
It looks like if the OPs friend picks up a firearm with his ban then he will be contravening Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968: Possession of firearms by persons previously convicted of crime.
 
This states that anyone sentenced to any form of custodial sentence of three years or more has an automatic firearms ban for life, if he has served 3 months or more but less than 3 years then he is banned from any firearm for 5 years from the date he is released.
 
It can done Trial by Either Way (TEW) so if summary only, max sentence 6 months, if indictable then max is 5 years
 
See below CPS guidance
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_21_firearms_act/
 
HOWEVER there is a bullet point here which says: VCRA provisions re minimum terms in certain circumstances DO NOT apply to this offence but leaves it at that.
 
THEN the Sentencing Guidelines finally makes mention of imitation firearms!
 
So in conclusion, contrary to my first post here your friend is indeed banned from the world of Airsoft as it appears that Section 21 of the Firearm Act 1968 which regards the banning of persons ever owning or using a firearm due to previous conviction also includes imitation firearms as a firearm.
 
I mentioned why it won't be specifically answered though, because UK Law works on tested cases and as to date (via google search), no one has been convicted of having a firearms ban and playing a lawful game of Airsoft.
 
So the advice from all firearms licencing officers were correct and if he wished to err on the side of caution he will never touch anything (assuming he has had a more than 3 year sentence) resembling a firearm.
 
However the real world are shades of grey, not black and white law books.
 
If he did go to a legit Airsoft site, borrowed a gun from the site or friend, enjoyed, behaved himself then went home quietly then who's to know chances are you will find that some players at most Airsoft Sites are police officers themselves (may or may not be firearms officer but just enjoy the sport). As far as they would be aware he is a legit Airsoft Player and they are unlikely to know his personal background unless he starts shouting it out loud or does something really silly.
 
End of the day he is an adult who can make his own decisions, its only if he is caught (doing something silly whilst playing airsoft).

This is a long read (TL:DR) but i am trying to cover as many bases here as possible rather than give you a one liner yes or no.
 
Lets get one thing straight here UKARA is only a database retailers use to verify if you have a legal defence to buy an Airsoft weapon in order for them to comply with the VCRA 2005, it is not in anyway like a firearms licence, you do not need one to own, transport or use an Airsoft weapon.
 
Any persons can own an Airsoft weapon regardless of age however there are certain legal restrictions in their sale between retailers or persons as well as how the can be adapted.
 
Your brother (who is over 18) may purchase any Airsoft gun WITHOUT UKARA so long as the gun is painted in a bright colour which covers more that 51% of the gun.
 
IF he has a UKARA number (NOT LICENCE) then he may purchase any Airsoft gun in any colour he wishes.
 
Your brother can then turn and gift you this gun (regardless of colour) to you to keep, own, transport and use at an approved Airsoft site so long as that Airsoft gun meets that sites rules (ie an AEG no more than 350FPS etc).
 
If it is two toned and you cover it with camo tape for a days play which you then remove after the day has ended, as the camo tape is deemed a temporary modification you have NOT committed any offences.
 
Offences are only committed IF:
Your brother purchases the gun (regardless of colour) and gives it to you demanding an exchange of payment (money, goods, etc) then HE (not you) commits the offence of a sale of an Airsoft weapon to a) a person under the age of 18 and b ) if it is of a realistic colour he has not complied with the S.36 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 by selling an under 18 an Airsoft weapon and ensuring that you have a legal defence to buy the gun from him if it is of a realistic colour.
 
or
 
If you or your brother purchases a two toned Airsoft weapon and then spray paints it a realistic colour the you could be committing the offence of manufacturing or converting an Airsoft weapon to a real fire arm or intend it to look real even if it does not fire lethal projectiles.
 
or
 
Lastly (and this should be a given) you take said Airsoft weapon regardless of colour into any public place (ie somewhere the public have easy access) without a reasonable excuse (such as going directly to or from an Airsoft event) the you commit an offence under Section 19 Firearms Act 1968, if you cause another member of public fear of violence then you will contravene Section 16a Firearms Act 1968. Whilst it may appear that even transporting the gun is illegal so long as you dont draw attention to yourself and are going to or from an Airsoft event then you will be fine.
 
I hope my above explanation answers most of you "What if" questions.
 
I used Google, found and read the following reference material regarding Firearm Offences, mostly from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who are the ones who do the "pressing charges" and mainly from the Firearms Act 1968, if you are arrested for any of these offences chances are your case will be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service who will then decide your fate, whether it is to no Further Action (NFA), caution, charge and bail, charge and remand to court, bail with or without conditions pending further enquiries.
 
Fun Fact: no one in England or Wales has the right to decide if they want to press charges or not on any offence, its an American (ie US) thing, only the CPS has the right to press charges or not hence why are all cases are Regina (the queen) Vs "insert your surname here" more commonly written as R vs Shizbazki (if i had been naughty).
 
Reference material with annotations bare in mind the below offences are for England and Wales only as Scotland has slightly different laws which i am NOT familiar with.
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/firearms
This page more or less tells you what a firearm is deemed as and the differences between a real firearm, a RIF and an IF as well as the part about converting guns (even if to look real and nothing else)
 
The following parts below regard the points to prove for each offence mentioned above as well as the maximum sentence or fine and whether it is a summary only or indictable offence, for most RIF and IFs its is summary only meaning that the maximum prison sentence is only 6 months
 
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_19_firearms_act/
Not having a reasonable excuse to have an Airsoft gun in public, ie just going out with it for s**ts and giggles. Summary only, max sentence 6 months
 
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_16a_firearms_act/
Regards the same as above but this is for intent to cause fear so don't show your Airsoft gun to your mate who you meet down the street on the way back from an air soft game or you take it out for said sh**s and giggles, if someone sees it and thinks its a real gun, fears for their life and calls the police, the offence is complete. Indictable only, max sentence 10 years
 
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_36_violent_crime_reduction_act/
This regards our lovely UKARA, if your brother gets a gun for you and gives it to you but demands payment he commits this offence, it has yet to be tested at court (ie no one has ever been done for it) yet nonetheless it is Summary only with a max sentence of 6 months.

This is a long read (TL:DR) but i am trying to cover as many bases here as possible rather than give you a one liner yes or no.
 
Lets get one thing straight here UKARA is only a database retailers use to verify if you have a legal defence to buy an Airsoft weapon in order for them to comply with the VCRA 2005, it is not in anyway like a firearms licence, you do not need one to own, transport or use an Airsoft weapon.
 
Any persons can own an Airsoft weapon regardless of age however there are certain legal restrictions in their sale between retailers or persons as well as how the can be adapted.
 
Your brother (who is over 18) may purchase any Airsoft gun WITHOUT UKARA so long as the gun is painted in a bright colour which covers more that 51% of the gun.
 
IF he has a UKARA number (NOT LICENCE) then he may purchase any Airsoft gun in any colour he wishes.
 
Your brother can then turn and gift you this gun (regardless of colour) to you to keep, own, transport and use at an approved Airsoft site so long as that Airsoft gun meets that sites rules (ie an AEG no more than 350FPS etc).
 
If it is two toned and you cover it with camo tape for a days play which you then remove after the day has ended, as the camo tape is deemed a temporary modification you have NOT committed any offences.
 
Offences are only committed IF:
Your brother purchases the gun (regardless of colour) and gives it to you demanding an exchange of payment (money, goods, etc) then HE (not you) commits the offence of a sale of an Airsoft weapon to a) a person under the age of 18 and b ) if it is of a realistic colour he has not complied with the S.36 Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 by selling an under 18 an Airsoft weapon and ensuring that you have a legal defence to buy the gun from him if it is of a realistic colour.
 
or
 
If you or your brother purchases a two toned Airsoft weapon and then spray paints it a realistic colour the you could be committing the offence of manufacturing or converting an Airsoft weapon to a real fire arm or intend it to look real even if it does not fire lethal projectiles.
 
or
 
Lastly (and this should be a given) you take said Airsoft weapon regardless of colour into any public place (ie somewhere the public have easy access) without a reasonable excuse (such as going directly to or from an Airsoft event) the you commit an offence under Section 19 Firearms Act 1968, if you cause another member of public fear of violence then you will contravene Section 16a Firearms Act 1968. Whilst it may appear that even transporting the gun is illegal so long as you dont draw attention to yourself and are going to or from an Airsoft event then you will be fine.
 
I hope my above explanation answers most of you "What if" questions.
 
I used Google, found and read the following reference material regarding Firearm Offences, mostly from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) who are the ones who do the "pressing charges" and mainly from the Firearms Act 1968, if you are arrested for any of these offences chances are your case will be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service who will then decide your fate, whether it is to no Further Action (NFA), caution, charge and bail, charge and remand to court, bail with or without conditions pending further enquiries.
 
Fun Fact: no one in England or Wales has the right to decide if they want to press charges or not on any offence, its an American (ie US) thing, only the CPS has the right to press charges or not hence why are all cases are Regina (the queen) Vs "insert your surname here" more commonly written as R vs Shizbazki (if i had been naughty).
 
Reference material with annotations bare in mind the below offences are for England and Wales only as Scotland has slightly different laws which i am NOT familiar with.
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/d_to_g/firearms
This page more or less tells you what a firearm is deemed as and the differences between a real firearm, a RIF and an IF as well as the part about converting guns (even if to look real and nothing else)
 
The following parts below regard the points to prove for each offence mentioned above as well as the maximum sentence or fine and whether it is a summary only or indictable offence, for most RIF and IFs its is summary only meaning that the maximum prison sentence is only 6 months
 
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_19_firearms_act/
Not having a reasonable excuse to have an Airsoft gun in public, ie just going out with it for s**ts and giggles. Summary only, max sentence 6 months
 
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_16a_firearms_act/
Regards the same as above but this is for intent to cause fear so don't show your Airsoft gun to your mate who you meet down the street on the way back from an air soft game or you take it out for said sh**s and giggles, if someone sees it and thinks its a real gun, fears for their life and calls the police, the offence is complete. Indictable only, max sentence 10 years
 
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/section_36_violent_crime_reduction_act/
This regards our lovely UKARA, if your brother gets a gun for you and gives it to you but demands payment he commits this offence, it has yet to be tested at court (ie no one has ever been done for it) yet nonetheless it is Summary only with a max sentence of 6 months.

I wish I knew skirmishes where happening when I bought my first gun wayy back in 1998.
 
I didn't find out about skirmishes until 2012'ish

Well i suppose i should bust out the guns from the Armoury then:
 

Not shown in the list below is also my Mancraft Powered TM VSR-10, still some stuff to do to that like getting a wooden stock and a proper more secure bipod.
 

WE M9 Beretta in Resident Evil STARS logos etc, have about 3 Gas and 4 CO2 Mags for this thing
 

KSC M93R in all metal construction, have about 4 x 39rds mags for this, looking to get the stock sometime later
 

G&G G733 Revolver, got about 18 shells for this and one speed loader, got for the s**ts and giggles and is only used for back yard plinking as reloading this in a skirmish would be annoying as hell
 

Krytac Trident CRB, just an M4, used mostly as a loan gun to friends and family when they come Airsofting, some cheapo KAC QD Silencer, Clone MAGPUL MBUS Sights and Clone MAGPUL Angled foregrip
 

G&G MP5 A5 modified to have a different RAS Rail at the front with a PEQ box attached, got about 4 mags for this and a clone EoTech 551 holo sight, again another loan gun for friends and family
 

KWA Kriss Vector, a heavily modified Vector, custom spray paint job done by me (and properly too disassembly, primer, paint, lacquer etc etc), got about 7 mags, ModelWorks RAS hand guard, clone SureFire Scout light, 300mm TBB inner barrel with external barrel to go with too, NPAS, Right hand Mag release set
 

G&G TR4-18 (HK 416) This is my gun, the one that will always go with me to games, this nobody borrows, has a Gleissel Rail at the front end, KAC QD Silencer by G&P, front Vertical grip, (not shown) Real steel SureFire Scout Light, Contour ActionCam mount, Real Steel EoTech 552 Holo Sight
 
The future, plan on getting a longer barrelled M4 like weapon using M4 Mags (so that mags can be interchangeable), Polarizing it and using it as a DMR with maybe a real steel Leupold Sights.

Whoops
 
It was late and the real one does, must have been confused lol

The Tokyo Mauri FA-MAS doesn't take stanag mags

L85, FAMAS, SCAR -L, FN2000 and the huge multitude of M4 variants all have one thing in common in the real and Airsoft world.
 
They all use STANAG magazines:
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STANAG_magazine
 
So yes if your L85 was made by either one of the big brand Airsoft companies chances are its TM compatible so a decent midcap mag from say G&G will fit nicely.
 
see here: http://www.zerooneairsoft.com/product_info.php?cPath=272_327_443&products_id=9153

Krytac is a nice brand and their CRB and SPRs are good however, when you buy it make sure you buy an after market pistol grip and flash hider as the ones fitted on Krytac's guns are made of cheapo plastic, first things i changed on my Krytac CRB anyway, oh BTW the flash hider is glued in place so even when you remove the grub nut you have to practically destroy it to remove it.
 
On the other hand at the price range you're talking about have you considered G&Gs GT Advance weapons?
 
I have a G&G TR4-18 Light (CQB version of HK416) which has performed well for me and is generally my go to gun, i choose this over my Krytac given the choice but then again it is more modified than the Krytac which i have left practically stock.

Lets be honest its always going to be seen as a bit sad by a lot of people no matter what its called.
I am surprised you dont see guys coming out of airsoft shops with their new toy gun in a brown paper bag and trying to hide it under their raincoat.

Sorry dude forgot to mention lol
 
The battery is an 11.1V Lipo rated at 2600mAh at 25C.
 
The gun gets around 18 - 19 rounds per second last i checked, this was before going on Sunday and since then i have made modifications to the motor adjustment so it may be slightly faster.
 
I will give the AEG a few bursts through the chrono to see the RPS again and see how hot it gets and if need be pop down to Airsoft Zone today or tomorrow.
 
that said if something breaks its likley to be the motor and its not a obscenely expensive part

Hi guys, looking for a second opinion
 
Okay over the weekend on Sunday I popped down to Dragons Lair in Essex and play for the day there using mainly my G&G TR4-18 Light (CQB version of HK 416) for those that havn't been there this site is very full auto friendly and one can rinse BBs in that field. I mainly stick to full auto but only fire in bursts of 5 or 10 shots.
 
However probably about the second game in i notice that the pistol grip of my gun was getting very hot, to the point i could feel the heat through my mechanix gloves and touching bare hand or cheek to the pistol grip proved that it was as hot as cup of very warm tea (i guessed it to be about 60 or so celsius), it would have been impossible to hold the grip with bare hands.
 
When i got home i too the motor out of the pistol grip, connected it, held it in my hand and ran it for about 20 seconds and found it got barely warm, however when i pulled and released the trigger several times in quick succession i found the motor got very hot very quickly, BTW it is the stock G&G motor that came with the gun.
 
I think i know what is causing the issue but want a second opinion, the fact that the motor gets very hot even when out of the gearbox means its not a gearbox issue so i have eliminated that, i think the onus falls on my MOSFET, it is a GATE Electronics PICO AAB which has been installed by me correctly, it has ACTIVE BRAKING and i know that this causes heat build up in the motor but seriously this MUCH I have only experienced that much heat on Sunday just gone, previous game days the pistol grip always stayed just warm what could have changed?

TBH guys I haven't really looked into the legality of blank firing guns as i only know mostly about the VCRA in terms of Airsoft like most of you.
 
Now if your asking me to trawl the legal database about this then you will need to seek a lawyer, trust me the database is huge and is never black and white with various laws contradicting each other and amendment after amendment, trust me even most officers struggle to keep up with the changes.
 
That aside I believe that if you wish to purchase a blank firer then you are perfectly entitled to, I don't know if there is a minimum age requirement but would at a guess say that there probably is and that it is set at 18 and above, likelihood is that the blank firer must be of a two tone colour such as bright orange if purchased after the VCRA was put in place, those purchased prior to the VCRA may be of a normal gun colour.
 
An example of the above is the Bruni Gap 8mm blank firing Glock pistols, prior to VCRA they were black but afterwards good luck finding one not fully bright orange, I purchased one many years ago prior to VCRA for Air Training Corps use and it is fully black, though now it never leaves my house.
 
The only blank firer you cannot own is the Bruni Olympic .380 Blank firing revolver as that is readily convertible.
 
Please note guys don't take my word for gospel as like most PCs i only have a working knowledge of the law
 
Lastly don't take and wave any of your guns around blanks or Airsoft ones heck even cap guns and cheapo crappy toy ones for kids, the UK public are so jittery around guns they call us saying shots fired when the likelihood was a car engine misfiring or some boy racers silly exhaust.

TBH guys I haven't really looked into the legality of blank firing guns as i only know mostly about the VCRA in terms of Airsoft like most of you.
 
Now if your asking me to trawl the legal database about this then you will need to seek a lawyer, trust me the database is huge and is never black and white with various laws contradicting each other and amendment after amendment, trust me even most officers struggle to keep up with the changes.
 
That aside I believe that if you wish to purchase a blank firer then you are perfectly entitled to, I don't know if there is a minimum age requirement but would at a guess say that there probably is and that it is set at 18 and above, likelihood is that the blank firer must be of a two tone colour such as bright orange if purchased after the VCRA was put in place, those purchased prior to the VCRA may be of a normal gun colour.
 
An example of the above is the Bruni Gap 8mm blank firing Glock pistols, prior to VCRA they were black but afterwards good luck finding one not fully bright orange, I purchased one many years ago prior to VCRA for Air Training Corps use and it is fully black, though now it never leaves my house.
 
The only blank firer you cannot own is the Bruni Olympic .380 Blank firing revolver as that is readily convertible.
 
Please note guys don't take my word for gospel as like most PCs i only have a working knowledge of the law
 
Lastly don't take and wave any of your guns around blanks or Airsoft ones heck even cap guns and cheapo crappy toy ones for kids, the UK public are so jittery around guns they call us saying shots fired when the likelihood was a car engine misfiring or some boy racers silly exhaust.

I do! and so do several other people on my team at work, but then again i am here and those several other people also make up our fledgling airsoft team.

Welcome aboard
 
Everyone's a noob at some point, but not for long, so don't worry about asking stuff, there's no dumb questions. So ask away.
 
If you're doing CQB, obviously light and maneuverable is the thing. So gun-wise, small is good: UZI, Mac 10/11, MP5K, P90, AKS74U, Skorpion, short M4, tactical shotgun etc. Keep in mind that some CQB sites are semi-auto only, and those that aren't may still have a semi-auto only rule at short ranges, so avoid anything that can't go semi-auto, such as the ASG STEN gun (well, not without modification anyway), which would otherwise be a good CQB choice. Also be aware that many small SMGs such as the UZI and the Skorpion have high rates of fire and comparatively small mags, which can easily leave you out of ammo at an awkward moment, whereas most things like an AEG MP5K or AEG AKS74U, will come with a high cap mag (typically something like 300 rounds), so there's less expense initially in not needing to buy spare mags straight away, and the likelihood is that the one high cap mag will last the entire fight without the need to reload.
 
Most people and most guides will tell new players to not worry about a pistol until later, and whilst that is generally good advice, in CQB, a pistol is a good thing to have to hand, and you could even go pistol only at some small CQB sites. But, it being winter, gas blowback pistols can be iffy choices, since they can struggle to work well in cold temperatures, so if you are considering a pistol, then either a non-blowback gas one is a better choice, since they are cheaper and more efficient on gas, or more preferably, an electric semi-auto pistol, since they'll perform okay all-year-round whether it is hot or cold. At a push you can use a cheap cock and fire springer pistol, but it's slower and not ideal, although they do have the virtue of being reliable and inexpensive.
 
A plastic knife is also a good thing for CQB, since although you can touch someone with your hand and say 'knife kill' at most sites, and it will count, one thing you cannot do is throw your hand, whereas obviously you can throw a plastic knife, and as with a BB, a hit anywhere on someone with a thrown knife will count as a kill. Make sure anything you do buy has a bendy plastic/rubber blade though, or you will not be able to use it.
 
Similarly, grenades can be a game-changer in CQB. But be sure to check with your regular site as to which kind are permissible (typically that will be BFGs - blank firing grenades - but check anyway). they can be pricey, so make sure that if you do get one, you don't get one that is something you cannot use at your local site, for example, some pyro grenades cannot be used at sites where there is combustible material such as curtains in the place.
 
If you get a tactical vest or webbing, be sure to get something that you can easily open and close the pouches on when it's cramped and dark (as it often is in CQB). Practicality wins over cool looks every time. Ebay and Amazon are the place to look for inexpensive ones. Worry about getting cool top notch crap later on.
 
Get a small portable torch. You can mount a tac light on your weapon, and that's a good idea in CQB, but a small torch is also good to have for things like reloading and such.
 
Make sure you wear full face protection and cover your neck, a helmet is good too, but a baseball cap will suffice. You will take more hits to the head than anywhere else in CQB, and at those kind of short ranges, even a sh*tty cheap springer pistol will fire a BB fast enough to smash a tooth out. An Arabian Keffiyah (shemagh) scarf will provide good neck protection, and you really do want to cover your neck, because a BB hit on your Adam's Apple will make your eyes water, and it will also draw blood.
 
Take a small water bottle, even in winter you will dehydrate when running and diving about all over the place.
 
Consider knee and elbow pads. CQB sites invariably have hard concrete floors, and that will hurt your knees if you kneel down behind cover. failing that, consider wearing long johns under your combat pants, they will help to stop hits hurting so much, will keep you warm in the present winter and will also provide additional protection from hit, bumps and bruises.
 
Gloves are not a bad idea too. Your hands will take hits, since they are generally exposed to fire because you are holding your weapon with them, and a BB hit on the fingernail in cold weather will hurt like a motherf*cker. Any old thin leather gloves from a cheapy shop will do, but make sure they are a snug fit so that you can operate your weapon's safety catch easily.
 
Hope some of that helps. You'll be an old hand in no time, but when it comes to buying gear, think carefully and don't let your heart rule your head. Almost everyone who starts out ends up buying some crap that they later don't use or regret having bought, so be sure to ask on this site if you are unsure about whether anything is a good or bad choice. Airsoft gear may not be free, but good advice is, and there is plenty available from the people on here.
 
Have fun and enjoy it. It's a really cool hobby to have and one which will let you do many cool things.

Well i suppose i should bust out the guns from the Armoury then:
 

Not shown in the list below is also my Mancraft Powered TM VSR-10, still some stuff to do to that like getting a wooden stock and a proper more secure bipod.
 

WE M9 Beretta in Resident Evil STARS logos etc, have about 3 Gas and 4 CO2 Mags for this thing
 

KSC M93R in all metal construction, have about 4 x 39rds mags for this, looking to get the stock sometime later
 

G&G G733 Revolver, got about 18 shells for this and one speed loader, got for the s**ts and giggles and is only used for back yard plinking as reloading this in a skirmish would be annoying as hell
 

Krytac Trident CRB, just an M4, used mostly as a loan gun to friends and family when they come Airsofting, some cheapo KAC QD Silencer, Clone MAGPUL MBUS Sights and Clone MAGPUL Angled foregrip
 

G&G MP5 A5 modified to have a different RAS Rail at the front with a PEQ box attached, got about 4 mags for this and a clone EoTech 551 holo sight, again another loan gun for friends and family
 

KWA Kriss Vector, a heavily modified Vector, custom spray paint job done by me (and properly too disassembly, primer, paint, lacquer etc etc), got about 7 mags, ModelWorks RAS hand guard, clone SureFire Scout light, 300mm TBB inner barrel with external barrel to go with too, NPAS, Right hand Mag release set
 

G&G TR4-18 (HK 416) This is my gun, the one that will always go with me to games, this nobody borrows, has a Gleissel Rail at the front end, KAC QD Silencer by G&P, front Vertical grip, (not shown) Real steel SureFire Scout Light, Contour ActionCam mount, Real Steel EoTech 552 Holo Sight
 
The future, plan on getting a longer barrelled M4 like weapon using M4 Mags (so that mags can be interchangeable), Polarizing it and using it as a DMR with maybe a real steel Leupold Sights.

Well i suppose i should bust out the guns from the Armoury then:
 

Not shown in the list below is also my Mancraft Powered TM VSR-10, still some stuff to do to that like getting a wooden stock and a proper more secure bipod.
 

WE M9 Beretta in Resident Evil STARS logos etc, have about 3 Gas and 4 CO2 Mags for this thing
 

KSC M93R in all metal construction, have about 4 x 39rds mags for this, looking to get the stock sometime later
 

G&G G733 Revolver, got about 18 shells for this and one speed loader, got for the s**ts and giggles and is only used for back yard plinking as reloading this in a skirmish would be annoying as hell
 

Krytac Trident CRB, just an M4, used mostly as a loan gun to friends and family when they come Airsofting, some cheapo KAC QD Silencer, Clone MAGPUL MBUS Sights and Clone MAGPUL Angled foregrip
 

G&G MP5 A5 modified to have a different RAS Rail at the front with a PEQ box attached, got about 4 mags for this and a clone EoTech 551 holo sight, again another loan gun for friends and family
 

KWA Kriss Vector, a heavily modified Vector, custom spray paint job done by me (and properly too disassembly, primer, paint, lacquer etc etc), got about 7 mags, ModelWorks RAS hand guard, clone SureFire Scout light, 300mm TBB inner barrel with external barrel to go with too, NPAS, Right hand Mag release set
 

G&G TR4-18 (HK 416) This is my gun, the one that will always go with me to games, this nobody borrows, has a Gleissel Rail at the front end, KAC QD Silencer by G&P, front Vertical grip, (not shown) Real steel SureFire Scout Light, Contour ActionCam mount, Real Steel EoTech 552 Holo Sight
 
The future, plan on getting a longer barrelled M4 like weapon using M4 Mags (so that mags can be interchangeable), Polarizing it and using it as a DMR with maybe a real steel Leupold Sights.