Tommikka

1) When buying in the UK the retailer is liable under the VCRA. if they sell a RIF to an individual who does not have a valid ‘defence’ then they are liable to a fine in £thousands When importing you are liable. Many Hong Kong retailers are aware and ask for you UKARA number to put on the label If you are over 18 you can buy an IF without a defence 2) Look through the forum for feedback on retailers, and buy from a UK retailer to support the industry, pay only the price they list with all taxes included, and you have someone more local to deal with issues 3) Hong Kong’s favourite customs fraud is to label as commercial samples valued at $0.01 Customs / Border Force know every trick If you import then expect to pay an extra 20% import VAT, fees from the carrier that hold the item from £8 to £20, and depending on total value and item classification there may be import duty (All calculated on full value including postage, and they will look at the invoice which differs from the $9.01 declaration or reassess the value themselves)

PMRs will suit you, then each of you can buy whichever manufacturer & model you prefer Go for digital PMR and you have the greater choice in frequencies. Original analogue PMR handsets had 8 primary channels, later more were added giving 16 analogue channels Digital PMR had 16 and also doubled giving 32 digital channels. (The channels are also supplemented by numerous sub frequencies) Analogue old and new can communicate and digital old and new can communicate. https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=digital+pmr446+radios&sprefix=digital+PMR&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11 You can choose handsets with the classic black walkie talkie look, or choose from different sizes & bright colour schemes (handy if you carry in a pouch then realise you dropped it in game) A useful side effect of original cheap analogue PMRs was when they only had the 8 primary channels but not the sub frequencies. I could allocate sub frequencies to people, monitor from a cheapie and speak on the particular frequencies with a ‘better’ handset. Similar to running a handset on scan, but I’d pick up all chatter rather than it focusing on the first to speak.

Who are you going to talk to? Are you buying for your group ? If so I’d recommend a PMR If to others at your local site then what are they using?

To select a radio you need to decide who you are going to speak to and on what frequencies. PMR446 radios can be used with no licence and can communicate with anyone who is using PMR446 frequencies. Most PMR446 handsets can dial into any of their frequencies, some need to be programmed with a set of your chosen PMR frequencies enabling you to instantly dial between your pre-set PMR446 frequencies Radios such as Baofengs operate on different frequencies and you need to register for a licence, this provides you with licence frequencies that you may use and then programme the handsets. You can then communicate with anyone using the same frequency. The Baofengs and similar handsets can often be programmed to PMR446 frequencies but transmit at a higher strength and are illegal to operate as PMR 446

I have two eyes, but only one red dot* (((* I’m lieing - I have a few red dots)))

Pre loaded magazines that are packed in your kit are fine. Slotting one in the gun could be heading to ‘transporting a loaded air weapon’ (but would also breach the rules of loaded guns in the safe zone as you unpack, and as you’ve thought about it enough to ask the question I’ll classify you as not a dick) ((Technically airsoft guns are no longer low power airweapons with a new(ish) entry in firearms legislation that exempts compliant airsoft guns from being a firearm))

I don’t know if this would work for airsoft, but I have a suppressor that is purely a carbon sleeve on a barrel. Originally it had a more traditional suppressor as an outter tube with baffling. The underlying barrel has more than the normal amount of porting so it would vent well into the baffling. So I had a heavily ported barrel for maximum airflow, and a slip on tube lined with green scourer material. After I dropped it a few times I finally lost it, and with some attempts to unsuccessfully recreate it (presumably without the right mix of materials and tolerances) I asked the guy to make me a new one. He was then testing out carbon fibre alternates. The original was very quiet but the upgrade beats it. With a close fit of the carbon fibre there seems to be just enough space for the air to disperse and the carbon absorbs vibration. Like many things there’s the fun factor of which includes just having look a like parts. So effectiveness of a suppressor isn’t everything. If you’re after noise reduction (or just changing the sound) then a functional suppressor will work upon barrel exit only with the rest being down to the guns action.

Corrected your typo Hi John, as others have covered this is an airsoft forum. For paintball you want the p8ntballer forum that has been linked I’m a moderator over there, so feel free to join and post up some more about you (where have you played, what do you like about paintball etc - there’s an abundance of choice on paintball styles in the UK) Though there is ‘banter’ between paintball and airsoft, most people understand that these are similar hobbies shared by like minded people who enjoy a day our shooting their mates without being arrested. Age is irrelevant to both activities, if you can go out and have a sense of humour then you can get on in paintball or airsoft

No. That would be fraud

I read that as a spawn point manned by a Marshall - they can count eliminated players for the scores, count the times individuals have respawned if they are able to identify individuals or have a system such as multiple armbands, and they can enforce any time limit such as waiting a few minutes before spawning. An additional faction is another matter. They can be used to adjust the balance of a game switching allegence, giving extra firepower & aggression or being almost invincible. They do need some special rules to be applied (even if they are some ‘secret’ rules or guidlines they use that the paying players don’t know) This type of faction or group should not go so far as winning but give strong support to a side

Back in the day when I found big game scenarios the respawn was your starting point. This would mean walking out of the woods safe zone on the middle of one side of the field, then walking half the length of a field to spawn and half the length of a field to find a firefight. If then walk was shorter then you were losing. If one side has the major advantage and is constantly winning then it’s for the organisers to balance things out. Players are paying customers, there is no value for money in the fun to £ ratio for both winners and losers if it’s a landslide a stalemate. You need different objectives and different scoring methods, for example stopping counting kills saves the need to count them. If owning land and locations is the be all and end all then it goes stale. Instead of ‘blue held 5 locations, red held 5 locations and nobody managed to capture the one in the middle’ Mix up the locations so when one is captured the next points are somewhere else, also look at time points such as scoring who has an objective at a fixed time - you battle for it, but half an hour before scoring it’s not worth the battle to just hold it - as people are hit drop back to spawn, form up a strong group and recapture 5 or 10 minutes before scoring. Then once the Marshall allocates the score head off to the next objective. This moves the game flow around and can change a single losing battle into a more interesting swing between sides It was common back then to count eliminations, you were either counted as you left or as you rentered. This loses one or two marshalls to doing the admin of counting. I very much dislike the spawning method of going back a short distance and turning around, it’s open to ‘cheating’ ( not much point as it’s a matter of seconds, but I’ve seen it) or people who don’t know the distance so they do a quick turnaround or a long stroll. I prefer additional spawn points: flag stations spaced out across the field - someone needs to flip the flag first whilst live, then you just go to the nearest location with your flag. Mobile spawn Marshall’s - they stand around with a flag, and will follow the action. They may choose where to go themselves or they may be directed by a faction commander. The Marshall is able to spawn players as if they are a medic, count them if they are being scored and watch the game for safety A similar thing can be done with an appointed player medic - that saves on using a Marshall and the faction leader has more of a choice on where to place them. eg if you are in the big front line firefight then you are among many and can go looking for the medic or a spawn location (even walking back to the start). The mobile medic can be put in a ‘valuable’ location such as where there is a push or a smaller group trying to break through the line or to a specific objective Normally you want to keep medics out of the direct line of fire but they could be sneaking as close as possible I’ve experimented with many different medic rules, they all have advantages and disadvantages in how we want gameplay to flow. For a couple of events we had ‘combat medics’ with a hole punch who can mark your player card a set number of times. When you were hit you had the choice of walking to a nearby mobile spawn point (Marshall flag) or you stay where you are and call the medic. They then had to successfully get to you, but in a hot spot you could keep the ground that you had gained

There is the common sense method of declaring sporting goods and the idiot method. The idiot method of posting air cylinders whilst under pressure caused changes to TPED regulations and legislation. Now it’s difficult to legitimately post even a cylinder with the regulator removed, and they still end up in domestic air mail

Not through the Royal Mail https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/uk-what-can-i-send Certain types of batteries can be sent, but have limitations on their type, whether they are new or not and the number of battery cells. Other carriers may be able to send them via specific services You will need to check the prohibited and restricted list of each carrier and each method they have available.

The date is set for next sunday https://facebook.com/events/s/airsoft-test-walkon/352574002428036/?ti=icl

I have one of these from a few years back. It’s aimed at paintballers, and it looks like it might now only be available from the US and as just a bottle. Mine has an alternative lid and a camelback style drinking hose. (Which is far more sensible for use with full face goggles, to make it possible to drink in the field) Even if without the drinking hose, if you have part face or a removable lower to allow drinking from the bottle, then this is more rugged than a bottle of water. Obviously airsofters won’t be wearing a paintball pod belt, but they do fit in certain magazine pouches Definatley However - It can make you look a bit stupid when you take out a crate of water, nag everyone to keep drinking, and then not drink yourself. In the heat of July I put the water on the overhead gantry of a CQB kill house for the guys running the game and giving safety overwatch. I was running around inside photographing during sessions, bossing everyone around and giving game briefs to the next batch of players. By the end of the sessions I was fit to collapse and ended up in a camping chair in the shade of our gazebo having bottles of water thrown at me. Not only do I now drink properly, but just like a reformed smoker I’m the worst nag for hydrating

You should just drink, so have water available. I use SiS or High5 electrolyte hydration tablets. Crack a tablet in half and pop the two halves in a 500ml water bottle. The water prevents dehydration, and the electroclytes keep my body in order. No more muscle aches in the week afterwards

That’s part of the issue of the argument for ‘food voucher’ based child benefit or benefits. Its a class based dinner party & daily mail argument. Yes - selfish (or neglective) parents are that problem, not their class or how much money they have. State support vs individual responsibility is also a complex matter. You can take on all your responsibilities and still fall into the need for support from the welfare state. There are those that abuse it, but also there are those who it is designed for

This is a route that is destined to fail. Those who are going to spend their child benefit elsewhere are going to find a way of abusing the vouchers. At best they will get to spend the equivalent value in a shop that will take the vouchers in exchange for anything, at worst they will be traded with others for cash below value. They may also be used for food but not contributing to properly feeding the children. The end goal won’t help those children who really need it The other avenue is the alcohol and cigarettes, you could outlaw them outright - and stop everyone from drinking alcohol and using the drug nicotine, or you could tax them more - just take more money from being available to those children. You can put a higher tax or set minimum pricing on poor people’s drinks like white lightning - so it’s harder for the poor to have the vices that the better classes are allowed to have. Minimum pricing hits the poorer harder - the middle classes can have their wine and champagne for occasions, but the poor people aren’t allowed to Particiularly those poor people who do put their children first and would have the cheap drinks It’s similar to saying not to give money to the people on the streets, they will only spend it on alcohol or drugs - so again it’s OK for the middle classes to have vices to let off steam after a hard day at the office but not OK for someone living on the street to get an outlet from their day to day life

It’s up to you to act as you feel comfortable, but pre VCRA possession remains valid The VCRA covers the sale, import, manufacture or modification of IFs and RIFs The UKARA isn’t a licence or certificate, so isn’t required for a pre VCRA RIF until you decide to sell However there is the other legislation that covers a valid reason for possessing in public, get stopped with a IF or RIF and you may need to explain why you are carrying it. If transporting to or from an airsoft venue then that’s your good reason for carrying it (properly packed of course)

Pretty much as everyone has already covered: You are the person responsible for the sale, you don’t want a criminal record and you don’t want the fine that comes from a VCRA offence. But - the buyers ‘defence’ is their intent to use the RIF for one of the approved activities in legislation (museum, theatrical etc) or the additional skirmisher defence under Statutory instrument: They intend to play airsoft skirmishing at an insured site. UKARA is a way of reasonably proving intent due to past activity. You don’t need to insist on UKARA but are well entitled to stick to that as your personal policy. You can accept other matters such as ‘recent’ photos of them skirmishing, proof of age etc The odds of you having to prove it in court are low, but you also don’t want to be the test case. If you feel the buyer can present something that could be reasonably accepted as intent to skirmish (on an insured site) then you have your reasonable defence in court If you’re not happy then don’t sell

Forward your PayPal details plus the matching email account and I’ll ‘look after’ it for you

Yes, worth showing what’s underneath to show the suppressor rather than it looking like just cosmetics on top

Put a suppressor cover on?

Specifics may differ depending on device, but on my phone the ‘edit’ under the first post of a thread allows the title to be amended as well as the post

I can’t help you on the best option for buying or converting (((in theory buying puts the work to someone who knows what they are doing, whereas converting can be better at getting personal needs))) It might be worth amending the thread title to include HPA to attract someone more experienced in converting airsoft HPA or buying