Jedi_Master

The ambidextrous one is useful for when you transition from right shoulder / hand to left shoulder / hand. Although most times I am on semi-auto so once the selector is set there is not mush need to move it.

The TM HK416 has proprietary magazines, for the bolt stop to function. I have only used TM mags but believe some other brands can be used with an adaptor, but will not have the bolt stop function. Always good to look around and expands your M4 horizons.

Ever the fan of Tokyo Marui I would recommend their HK416D, upper limit of your budget but no spare for batteries, extra magazines, etc. The German take on the AR15 platform, M4 equivalent, and has lots for rails for adding tactical kit. Good for CQB and woodland. Good straight from the box, solid build, quality parts, reliable, accurate, and not too much needs doing to it (there have been several threads regarding internal upgrades). The low fps means you can take it anywhere to play.

No, I still have not sent the UKARA form off to UACP to get it stamped (they do not have the stamp at their sites on game days) and then submitted to a retailer. I will get around to it eventually. On the plus side it stops me being tempted with buying guns from abroad, although on the downside it stops me buying guns from abroad.

Do you mean having the German lettering, S (sicher), E (einzelfeuer), and F (feuerstoss) on the fire selector for safe, semi auto and full auto instead of the icons of bullets?

Find a site you like, play your 3 games there in no less than 2 months to get membership (or whatever their rules are) - defence sorted. You can then apply for UKARA if you want.

Now a real n00b is noremac on the Z1 forum - http://www.forums.zeroin.co.uk/showthread.php.?264945-which-stock-spring-sniper-to-get

If you follow the hyperlink in my earlier post (#15 above), then under heading Locations select CQB Blitz London, and scroll down to games dates, you will see they are only being run every Sunday in November.

It also looks bloody horrible, makes me think of a slightly less garish two-tone rifle. I love H&K guns but it is a limited addition abomination.

Depends when you made your order with UK Tactical, they have been giving away various coyote brown pouches for the last few weeks on spends over £30, so probably a free one on their part.

I will second that.

You can post site reviews in the section called 'Other Airsoft Stuff' under title 'Skirmish Sites, Stories & Reviews'. Some sites are already listed, if not hen just create a new thread.

Welcome to the forum. You have some good sites to play in your neck of the woods, so any review of your experience at them would be useful.

There are at least 3 other US based sites (i.e. www.airsoftmegastore.com) selling the C Mag, with stock, all around same price. I have imported airsoft items (not RIF) from the US and had no issues with customs, although you may need to email the store to check on international shipping to the UK. As an aside, while searching I came across this http://www.airsoftforum.com/board/topic/167513-drum-mag-for-mp5-suggestions-please/

I would not recommend taking a RIF out in public. Hypothetically - a concerned member of the public sees you carrying a gun and phones the police, armed response is deployed, you are detained, waste police time. A journalist picks up the story, airsoft is brought into disrepute, pressure to have more restrictions on the sport, everyone suffers. It is not worth the risk for a bit of posing. Of course the YouTube video of the police takedown could be good to watch, and 15 minutes of fame

UKARA is a retailer database, a way that they (the retailer) can verify that the person they are selling a RIF to is legal (within definition of the VCRA) over 18 and with a valid defence. By law only a person over 18 may purchase a RIF. Parents are not always responsible for their children, or the children themselves are irresponsible and their parent(s) cannot manage them. A gift of a RIF can be made by an adult to a child. Even if there was an under 18's register, the kids would still not be allowed to buy a RIF. The rules protect the sport, and allow airsoft to continue, and I would not want to change the under 18 ruling. An advantage of being classed as an adult is that you can buy alcohol or vote, and with defence buy a RIF.

Having goggles fog up is a recurring problem experienced by most of us at some time, and frequently asked here, so type the word 'fogging' into the search box and read through those threads. Mesh often popular as they have good air flow and heats dissipates but like you I am not keen on them as the mesh plays havoc with my vision. Randymanpipe has a good point about wearing helmets, they do cause more fogging as they make heat harder to escape, not so bad outside but indoors can be a pain. Nothing worse than not seeing what you are doing or where you are. I started off with the face mask and goggle combo with Fast helmet but still fogged using Bolle X1000. I now use the Dye I4 facemask which is best solution for me so far. The mask is shaped to keep breath away from eyes/lens but can still fog under a fast helmet as the top vents do not work as efficiently. No issues over a balaclava and beanie hat, where the mask is outside and the top vents are clear. Fans can help with airflow, and the best goggles will be £100+ but worth it in the long run.

The Mk23 is a great gun, and as DEF says, they are large guns which means that options for holsters are more limited. On the plus side, an adjustable Viper holster is sub £15. Being non blow back, they are gas efficient and quiet.

I appreciate that you are only 14 years old, hence the gentle responses and less sarcasm than usual. However, you really need to think about what you are asking. Members here are answering your questions and offering help so will get frustrated when it appears that you are just not paying any attention and their advice is ignored. Use the search function, read old threads, make some effort to research before just jumping in.

I can recommend The Mall. It is professionally run, Luke the head marshal gives a very though safety brief and site rules, and it is a good place to learn. The marshals are friendly, enforce the safety rules, and will help newcomers. There are lots of players with a whole range of experience and knowledge who go there, and even attending solo you will get talking to other players and shown around the site. Being indoors means easier to play throughout the year, and has a multi levels and lit and unlit areas to challenge you. Being located very close to Reading station makes it a short walk to and from The Mall. I have only been on a couple of Sundays, so no idea what it is like on the Thursday evening. Many members of the forum play there, or have been, so you should get a fairly good range of views about it. Two months can seem an awful long time but it is worth it, and we all go through the same process

I do not think that you have actually thought any of this through, or done any searching on the forum for previous threads or information. A sniper rifle is a specific and specialist weapon platform. A semi-auto Dedicated Marksman Rifle (DMR) has a different role. The increased fps limits of these guns incur a Minimum Engagement Distance (MED) for a simple reason, safety. Site fps limits are the maximum limit for weapon types, all based on 0.20g BB. You do not load heavier BB into your magazine at chrono to lower your fps to the site limit, that is called using a 'Hot Gun' and is against the ethics of airsoft sportsmanship (we are not here to cheat, and we take our hits) and would break the site fps rules. As for causing more pain, playing CQB with 0.20g at close range can really hurt, break the skin, cause welts, split lips, etc. So deliberately loading heavy BBs just for shits and giggles (lol) and trying to use a hot gun is both irresponsible and potentially dangerous.

You may need to raise your budget though, and do not forget the extra magazines.

School is out for half term, so getting the kids to do any homework or research themselves is going to be hard.