Tommikka

Absolutely hit the target A pistol carried as a sidearm is just another gun in the collection that you carry around for added weight But a pistol in your hand makes you the biggest and baddest on the field - even (especially) if you’re constantly being out gunned - enjoy the disadvantages of a pistol vs everyone else - and seek out the advantages of a light, compact and mobile setup

This is a much discussed topic in paintball over at the last year as well. The origins of ‘walk on’ come from the sense of just turning up to play, and covered those with all their own equipment as opposed to a ‘rental’ player so had ‘few’ needs from the site. Throughout my playing life ‘walk on’ meant a day or session dedicated to players with their own equipment These tended to be run by a keen player and would have a fairly regular crowd. Marshalling as a matter of safety requires a reasonable ratio of player to marshall to keep an eye on unpredictable rental players - but in practice could turn out to be just one marshall per side - sites ought to be planning their staff for any particular day so would have needed pre bookings for rentals to judge the numbers Walkons could be expected to be better behaved and not need constant eyes on them for goggle removal etc so could run a walkon day for any numbers on minimum staff - a few extra players made no difference That was in theory fine if the walkon was guaranteed to have someone playing, and if you were allowing bring your own paint - but a nuisance for a site to know what stock they needed and walkon paintballers don’t want to play with basic rental paint - a site would not want to stock up on a higher grade paint which would go ‘off’ if held over time and in uncontrolled conditions Now there are very few paintball sites catering for walkons, and those that do tend to post up every now and again about attendance levels One site that we have been involved with must pay a fee to the landowner whenever people are on site - this included me turning up alone or a couple of us site walking or event preparing Fine if it was a day with rental bookings, but a prohibitive expense for one or two people to wander or to run a walk on based on the off chance that people might turn up Then add staff costs - the site should be paying out at least minimum wage to someone for the duration of the day plus an hour or so either side for opening up and shutting down - I am aware that airsoft can often be relying on the voluntary side of player marshals (and that is also how the hey day of walkons happened due to ‘keen’ locals willing to put in the work to make them happen To a player today it does mean that you should plan to play, sort your admin out to book and also turn up - if you’ve paid a deposit and don’t turn up because it’s wet then that is something to compensate the cost but demoralising for staff to open up for nobody or a handful ……… Much of the recent conversations in paintball have been to try and rename ‘walkons’ into something more meaningful, but even the sites involved in the conversations still have ‘walkon’ on their websites / social media

My science knowledge is misty as it goes back many decades - and also my barrel / projectile experience is with paintballs, which have the added effect of distortion under pressure whilst inside the barrel All the theories mentioned ring true with my recollection & experience, particularly the bent barrel which seems very wrong at first but effective when right (this was the Tippmann flatline) it does exactly as per the theory - drag in the curve causes backspin Next we had the Apex tip which is pretty much the same thing as an airsoft hop An adjustable rubber element gives backspin, but the tip can also be rotated to change the angle of the backspin (spoiler in the following video but he rated it as ‘it sucks’ - it does give backspin and additional range, but can impact on consistency - I have a team mate who puts in all the practice, he was an apex ninja and as a result could place a ball where he wanted it to go - though this was courtesy of numerous factors with the Apex as just one of them to adjust the spin) https://youtu.be/Vfgi_AwdTR8 Flatlines and Apexes have had their day, some will still use them, but most will go for bore matching a barrel / insert with the ball - and everyone has a different preference that they swear by of bore match, overbore or under bore Still to add are the consistency of the gun itself to reliably send the ball out of the chamber, and the length of the barrel which must be long enough to allow the ball to accelerate but not so long that any drag/bounce along the barrel is so much that it loses the energy that was gained in acceleration Consistency and practice are key - consistency gives you a reliable benchmark and practice let’s you first understand the combined effects and fine tune each in turn

Just a throwaway spin on the name & weave, and perhaps an old joke a few years past it’s best before date (MOLLE needs to be weaved, but weavers not so much)

This is the common mistake of MOLLE users. When the first ‘consumer’ MOLLE pouches came out they would have ‘standard’ 25mm webbing straps and would very obviously flap around, if the user didn’t notice at first when fitting then they would soon realise something was wrong as their gear flapped around Thicker multi layer straps from better quality consumer pouches or surplus pouches make it less obvious (and harder to weave) but still with flappy results On another tack, have you ever managed to bend a weaver rail sight mounting system between weapon and sight?

Some extra general awareness on air cylinder safety: The HPA1 air safety document was originally produced by the UKPSF (UK paintball representative body), and the version below is as distributed in 2010 by the UKSPC (a collective of event organisers), and has some additional comments of my own

Regulator internal maintenance: Regulator removal: Alternative types & elements: Before you fill on site do please let the staff know that you’ve done some maintenance, for a little bit more care and awareness in case of potential issues

What o’ring needed reseating, and where was the leak? If from your description the whole regulator has been unscrewed from the cylinder and replaced it should not require any sealant, PTFE etc Regulator threads are tapered and recessed in a manner that if you manage to unscrew whilst pressurised then the recess allows air to safely escape while the threads still grip. PTFE / sealant / threadlock can interfere with the taper (and seal it) which keeps pressure as the regulator unthreads and can result in a flying regulator if it manages to unscrew enough without easing pressure Provided there is no damage to threads in the regulator or cylinder and the taper is unblocked it would be safe The regulator should be screwed on hand tight then tightened to a manufacturer specified torque, but without that torque is better hand tight then over tight (I’m going to post up a maintenance video but need to just rewatch for content before I commit)

You’re surely not saying that UKSF will want something because someone else has it and it’s Gucci, rather than based on suitability for a requirement ??? If it fits a role, then they would source it Unless the government deems it beneficial the current equipment details for UKSF are not published. General resources such as wiki, bloggers etc will publish what people believe to be held by UKSF, and they may or may not be identified from photos at ‘incidents’. But these may or may not be correctly identified such as CTSFO being misidentified as UKSF - unless of course UKSF blending in among CTFSO etc

No worries Either way you have captured the imagination of the members here Pyro editions have the other safety standards to apply Powered ones also have safety standards - but an explosion isn’t one (unless of course there’s major battery damage etc)

@ParHunter If you feel the hit then take the hit The difference with bounces etc is that if you see it ricochet off the ground/wall/object then you know that it’s an indirect hit which can be disregarded

……… Sparks etc are not necessarily a bad thing - filming any of the disposable pyrotechnics under slow motion would expect to reveal sparks Actually the ‘right’ way to use a striker smoke is to strike it, hold to one side for the sparking until the smoke kicks in, then throw. The different chemical mixes of each colour can give variations in the level of sparking The concern comes from how much sparking and burning etc and how it is harnessed / directed A product used on site in the UK will need to comply with safety regulations Even compliant pyro can have issues Those in the know or with a search around my posts will be able to identify my sponsors. Their scientist contributed to the drafting of EU pyrotechnic standards and they have vigorous quality assurance processes, of which of participated in a few times with the batches as they arrive in the UK - every production batch number has a percentage of cases pulled at random as the container is unloaded. Then every item from those batches is set off (not at the pyro storage, but at a different location). These are tested against a checklist including timing of each stage of burn for each product design - any failure to comply with the Doctors specifications withdraws the full batch run ………. We experienced a failure in game (and on camera) with a different manufacturer. The photo sequence and burnt glove were put on display in the factory They had become complacent on the production line, and contaminated the fuse with the main payload. As soon as he struck the fuse a whole Mk9 exploded in his hand This was a ‘standards compliant’ factory production piece, let alone a custom DIY design

I’m still not convinced there isn’t something pyrotechnic in there @Miêu Anh-Nguyễn The vapour effects as noted by @Chev Chelioswould show a flame like effect as the vapour cloud ‘flows’ But screen grabbing from the slow motion appears to show sparks and a smoke like grey cloud as well as flames It looks like their is a pyrotechnic element plus LED lights that still glow after the bang

Am I right from your description that the grenade is releasing fog which is lit up by LED? The explosion videos do look like flames which was worrying to watch. If they look the same in reality it would still have concerns for sites - if seen without knowing details not would be an immeadiate no, but could still be a worry to a receiving player If it’s just a very realistic effect based on lighting up fog then it would be fine

Retailer and site discounts for UKAPU came out about a decade ago Whether or not they remain or there are others is up to the retailer. Just ask But do bear in mind that margins are narrow, and dare I say it - technical support / after care are an expense to the retailer without income (unless they have an add on tech support service) If a retailer can give a strong discount then consider whether they can offer any decent technical support (Let alone certified technical support which costs money to obtain - unless they are a big enough customer to the manufacturer gaining free tech courses) https://www.ukapu.org.uk/articles/membership-benefits/jd-airsoft-members-discount/

At a woodland game, during the day I announced to the team that I was going to have some fun running around with my SLR for the next session. Then a volunteer was requested & I found myself tasked with clearing and searching the cowboy & Indian western village doing almost CQB waving a full size SLR between all the tight angles

Any Special Forces worth their salt will tailor to the role but also be able to use whatever they have. Whether that’s compact weapons accompanied by flame retardant suit or vest & jeans, rag tag bunch of cut throats, all the gear with some idea, or just baguette and beret ‘Special forces’ means many things. Paras, airborne, commandos were the SF of their day. The SAS originals were named by intelligence to worry the Germans that the paras were around. My father was part of the UKs special forces in the Cold War (nuclear capable artillery) but not what would be regarded as UKSF - perfect if you are sat around the woods at a game SF do have choice in how they equip, as a unit and as individuals. Individuals need to know what they are doing to be able to self equip - passing selection and getting badged is only day 1 of their specialist training (‘Normal’ soldiers also have a degree of personalisation available to them - depending on getting it past the shouty man and / or where they are - MTP was adopted by the British Army as some infantry dyed their desert cam) …………: Eithet build your own concept themed around your choice of SF, or look for photos of specific operations / deployments (taking care to avoid posed recreation photos)

I missed that, having skimmed. One sentence each will need to cover most things with the size of it

I’ve subscribed and obtained a copy which I’ll go through later in the week But on first glance I was about to say how poor a history they have shown starting with the French (if we exclude nature) but the document itself doesn’t claim to be a history - just “camouflage in a nutshell” The French have a valid claim to the term ‘camouflage’ as it’s their word. But camouflaging combatants dates further back to pesky colonials, and far back to ancient times for ships etc long before dazzle patterns No mention of ghillies, only one reference to snipers (without context on their camouflage needs and no reference to the origins of Snipe/sniper which would give a handy circle back to nature) It still looks interesting though

“Marshall coming through” is a good phrase to call …… if you’re a Marshall I try to remember this as the first person I shot in game was a Marshall - his own fault for walking through bushes

There should be no ‘unwritten rules’ There are so called ‘unwritten rules’ among the regulars of a site. But if you ask them what they are then they may be surprised about how each player thinks they vary The rules ought to be the rules and the staff should provide them in the brief If in doubt then ask - particularly about sneaky knife kills etc and look around for the groups of players who think they do and do not apply This depends on the rules A player that can’t get out of respawn can tend to get grumpy and frown upon it Its not spawn camping if you arrive at a spawn area then shoot everyone at it It would be spawn camping if you are camping upon the spawn. If the site layout causes a situation where a player can dominate the spawn point then the site need a rule to allow it, disallow it or to have a point under which the spawners are being destroyed and a form of reset or temporary relocation are required If you’re hit then you’re hit - unless local rules say otherwise (and I would think such a rule is a bad rule unless justified for specific circumstances) A ricochet is not a hit - unless local rules say otherwise (and I would think such a rule is a bad rule unless justified for specific circumstances) Depends on local rules - either by contact or saying ‘tag’, ‘knife kill’ etc It needs to be specified if the rule applies and how it applies (eg the original barrel tag required contact with a barrel - so sneaky players carried a barrel in their hand, and a sensible barrel tag rule is to require that you are not stabbing with the tip of a barrel or conducting a negligent discharge with a barrel tip pressed into a player) They need to notice that you have tagged / knived them. But if they notice you and let you walk right up to them then they deserve to be eliminated Local rules apply Sounds very much like blind firing - you need eyes on, such as stepping around the corner - but of course local rules apply This brings us back to my two versions of surrender and tag - the local rules will apply If I walk up to you but you shoot me first then that would be a legitimate kill If I ask you to surrender but you shoot me then you have a legitimate kill - I should have made sure that I could enforce it (or i was bluffing) * If I comply with tag/knife rules eliminating you and you then shoot me then unless it was in the same moment then you have cheated * at one game I was playing with my pistol, I spent too much time chatting and failed to change my co2. My pistol burped and I was ineffective Rather than just walk off I made myself a distraction target running directly at the castle - I made it to the castle alive Sat for a moment deciding what to do, then stood up, leant over the wall, waved my pistol about and asked “Do you guys want to surrender?” I captured the front wall of the castle The balance is very important on the type of game A group of rentals aren’t going to have a good day out if the regulars appear to be ‘ cheating’ But an event is on the other side of the spectrum ‘Fair game’ is a good description - Not ‘fair game’ to rip into players ‘just to be sure’ But ‘fair game’ to challenge or shoot one or a small burst Tricky ground (plus ladders etc) should come with common sense - but clear rules should also apply Such as - do not shoot players climbing/descending ladders I like the idea of ‘dead flags’ - they can keep you hands free for obstacles, long walks etc A dead flag does not need to be a fancy flag that pulls out of a pouch, but could be a piece of fabric Arm band rules can also apply where you remove your armband (this won’t work with taped arm bands) Velcro arm bands can be removed (though a few players will drop them) I played a couple of events which had paper armbands - part of the scoring system was the number of armbands issued - medics were given a counted number and could therefore heal a set number of players before obtaining more A site that does not have clear surrender/tag/knife rules can be heading to grumpy disputes

I played a tunnel game, got through, got into the enemy base …… and because I’m far too cocky attempted to get all the way in until someone on my side turned on a torch which sillouhetted me creeping up against the wall to keep my glow stick out of site —— plus the shape of my Angel wings ——- which was a very good indication that the leader of the angels was sneaking in I got shot

Sneaky kills are encouraged in the majority of my rule sets. I classify two valid forms of ‘non shooting’ kills: 1) Surrender - I get the drop on you and OFFER the opportunity to surrender. You are not obliged to surrender If you accept that you would have been shot by me catching you by surprise then you accept and take the kill, if you don’t want to then you can choose to shoot back. If I have sneaked up behind you then I should be able to shoot you first (I may or may not have been bluffing with an empty gun) 2) Tag / barrel tag / knife rule. I don’t require a knife/melee weapon. If I sneak up on you and tap you on the shoulder then I have managed to be able to take a kill, but not opted to shoot up close. If the rule is live then that’s an enforced kill But sneaking must not be cheating. If you walk around with your hand up then drop it you are a cheat If someone from the opposition or unidentified is wandering around without their hand up then shoot them or challenge them. If you shoot them then you know for sure If you challenge an unidentified player and they lie about what side they are on - then they are cheating. If they tell you they are eliminated then you know they are out If they ignore you then you know that they are being sneaky so you need to shoot them first

This is a thing that I use when airsoft or paintball get referred to as expensive to play (alongside the tangent that I will take when someone has spent so much on equipment but complains about the cost of a day or weekend) Cost up entry plus consumables to shoot apply that to a whole day and the ratio of ‘£ per minute of fun’ turns into a bargain up against other days out

Archery is a thing here One of my ‘gun’ cases is an exes archery case As usual it’s a thing that can cost as much as you’re willing to pay & take up as much time as you are willing to put in Board gaming does seem to be quite a thing I go to comicons with friends who trade at them and one of the event series is primarily a gaming event - which covers anything from general board games & table top gaming to arcade machines It also means that I spot things such as ‘gaming cafes’ and ‘gaming bars’ popping up in places - sit at a table buying drinks and playing board games or card games