Asomodai

To do all of the above would take more people and funding that UKAPU currently generates. It's a chicken and egg scenario. UKAPU supports it's members first and have the resources to do so. But are currently not large enough or have the clout to represent the site owners or the commercial interests. However attempts have been made in the past to work with organisations like ATB, UKARA and UKPSF who have represented site owners and the commercial arm of Airsoft. ATB collapsed due to power struggles/inactivity (And has been reborn as the UKAF under the tutelage of one of the people involved at the time). UKARA still exists but will only cooperate to further their commercial aims. At one point Frank at FS wanted sole control of ALL of the importation of Airsoft RIFs (Making Fire Support and friends the only game in town) so that the average person and small retailers not a part of UKARA could not import. https://airsoftodyssey.blogspot.com/2013/11/vcra-reboot-proposals.html?m=1 UKPSF represents a number of sites that run both Paintball and Airsoft. Whom UKAPU do have communications with. But (This is my own personal guess) UKPSF as the larger organisation tend to only communicate when legal issues threaten both sports. There have been many more organisations that have collapsed, mostly due to inactivity and power grabs by individuals. As to who should be the governing body of Airsoft? Players? Commercial entities? Sites owners? UKPSF got it right, whereas Airsoft is too fragmented. Ideally it would be all three, but they tend to be in conflict with each other. (Unless there is a threat on Airsoft as a whole, see VCRA etc) I tend to side with UKAPU because they at least seem to have a legal head on them and they have AGMs where members voices and suggestions are heard. UKAPU are not perfect and have had a chronic shortage of volunteers to fill committee positions which results in some mistakes, but they do have players interests at heart.

I think one of the biggest issues is that very few sites wants to beholden themselves to someone else calling the shots regarding a set of defined rules on how sites should be run. The idea of self-policing is rife in Airsoft. If the Airsoft community cannot present itself as a unified entity following a basic set of principles to present to the Government, then we will never get recognised as a legitimate activity/sport and be tied down this grey area where we could be considered illegal with the stroke of a pen.

The definition of Preservation is to stop is from decaying or something being eroded. There are instances where BF for example have tried to confiscate RIF's even with a valid Defense. UKAPU has managed to prevent that from happening. It happened to one other lad, whilst they weren't able to get the RIF's back, he did get a full refund. Keeping up to date on the relevant legislation but also how government bodies apply that is not exactly easy. UKAPU have recently discovered that BF have started testing RIFs for joule rating and have seized goods to that effect where they didn't before. Also discovered is that the new Firearms Act 2023 bill that is in progress could affect the way we use Primers and blank rounds. This is being monitored. UKAPU monitor press articles that mention airsoft and contacted editors and to acquire redactions. (One example being the Plymouth shooting back in 2021) UKAPU contacts the home office when in need for clarification of the VCRA. The HO took UKAPU's, Tim from ATB and UKARA concerns into account and put an exemption into an amendment through to the House of Lords back in 2016. UKAPU have attended meetings with the EAF to foster an shared rules and values between other European Airsofting countries. This could set the groundwork for legitimisation of Airsoft. During the pandemic UKAPU were in contact with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in regards to whether Airsoft could be considered for reopening during lockdowns whereas paintball was able to. I am sure there are many other things that I am not aware about that UKAPU have done. I would also say at the moment there are no threats to Airsoft as a whole. However this could change with one politicised incident. But if you have an organisation that is on the look out for those threats and ready to jump in, that would be far better than something that is formed ad-hoc. Having UKAPU ready to defend Airsoft at a moments notice (With the funds to back it up), is better than a ragtag group of Airsofter's with no funds only being able to respond reactively. I would suggest the UKAPU is the best and most experienced group to defend Airsoft from a legal position.

Border Force confiscated a Real Sword T97B from Greece and marked it for destruction despite having a UKARA number on the package. It was one of the first instances of that happening (With a valid UKARA on the package). David at UKAPU advised me on what to do in terms of chasing up, the wording I should and (Crucially) should not use in my communications. I managed to eventually get my T97B. If I didn't follow the advice given it would either have taken me longer or the T97B could have been destroyed. More detail on what happened here.

I feel your bias against UKAPU means that regardless what I say that is positive, wouldn't make a lick of difference to your opinion. I see nothing that they are lying about on their page. People ask for help and UKAPU give it. You're seeing what you want to see. UKAPU helped me when I had my own problems with Border Force, hence why I joined and pay for a membership. I couldn't comment on anyone else's experiences.

There is an argument to be had that proactively trying to protect airsoft by getting it fully recognised as a sport/hobby (A-la paintball) Can also lead to the downfall of Airsoft (Peeking up above the legal parapet). Many Airsofter's prefer to just deal with legal issues as and when they arise so UKAPU has more often than not been reactive rather than proactive. When a problem has presented itself that UKAPU can solve, they have worked to deal with it. Also I would like you to correct the "Monthly fee" as it is categorically false.

Out of interest, what is this monthly fee you speak of? Bronze membership is free, silver and gold has a small yearly fee.

The help is directly to the person, I couldn't say if any contact was made directly to a lawyer, BF or to the police from UKAPU. I think an offer has been made to contact a solicitor directly but it was not taken up by the person who's solicitor it was.

It's not public information unless the person who had the problem gives permission for it to be posted (When the issue has concluded).

Quite possibly. No one in UKAPU is a lawyer and being in the committee is completely voluntary. But I would suggest that UKAPU; considering they have decent legal texts, are probably better suited to dish out advice on a voluntary basis than the UK Airsoft Federation. UKAF appear to be more about what they want to be, but have little about how. Ian Lawrence was one of the guys behind the defunct ATB. He has said multiple times that he want's UKAF to be Governing Body of Airsoft.

Depends what you mean by case (Court, Importation, Police). Legal representation in court has not been provided (Haven't been asked/not been needed). However UKAPU has helped guide people through first steps through importation/travel/police issues. Including when to go to a lawyer and to provide direction for the lawyer. In fact UKAPU have a form you can fill out. Ask for legal help — UKAPU

They do support actual cases.

Ignore

Hey all. How much would you appraise these two? The Xcortech is in good working order with some minor rubbing and scratches on the casing. The ICS is an ex Transparant M4 with metal gearbox that people used to use for sleeper builds. It's been painted and appears to be bone stock otherwise. FPS is around the 310/315 mark. Cheers!

It's broken to the potential buyer if it doesn't work properly. Also, is the AIMS a Gen 2? If an essential or Gen 1 then that will also lower the value.

Mines a TM. Also there is a design flaw with the AEG Famas with the hop unit. It has a characteristic with bb's heavier then .25/.28 (Dependent on individual example) Where the BB will not travel in a straight line, but rather has a "Lobbing" characteristic. There is no known fix for this. The hop design was literally the first mass produced popular hop unit equipped Airsoft Rifle, so it does have intricacies!

Or you can just stop your worrying and buy a Prometheus for Fa-mas nozzle at Fire Support. Mine has one and works like a... nozzle! Prometheus Air Jet Nozzle for FA-MAS Series - Airsoft Shop, Airsoft Guns, Sniper rifles, Airsoft pistols, parts and bbs by FireSupport (fire-support.co.uk)

It's well worth fixing the LCT RPD considering how much they cost new. Even if you get a professional to do it. Otherwise it will be boneyard price vs premium rare second hand price. E&L Aims in abused condition, Maybe £140? Need pics. Also depends if its the short barrel no stock version, the short barrel stock version or the long barrel stock version.

The reason why the Dyes might be better than the Bolle is the Dual Pane lens. Which goes some way to negate fog. Truth is if you are a sweaty bastard naturally there is very little you can do unless you keep moving, use anti fog or get some decent fan based goggles that are powerful enough.

2. Tracer Unit's are much brighter these days. Go with a new one. 5. Anything will fog up with someone determined enough, but it's probably a good choice. 6. The issue is finding a threaded barrel. Detonator made one but they are long discontinued and very expensive. Due to the rotating nature of the barrel it's not the greatest platform to run a silencer either. Use a different pistol.

Picked up a brand new Viper Plate Carrier Gen 2 Buckle up thing. To buckle up my Haley Copy chest rig in DNC. Chest rigs look tiny on me so felt this would be the best option and to keep it DNC and in budget. Managed to get the Plate Carrier for £50 brand new as well as some cheap Viper Soft plates for a new Tan Chest rig I got that came without as well as some neck warmers.