Rogerborg

Yup. They're cheap because they make a gojillion of them. My CM.516 starter-M4 has a really nasty toytown plastic body, but the internals are cockroach tough, and it's always in the bag as a last-resort backup. Sure, just about every part is crying out to be upgraded, but every part works, and it puts BBs downrange just fine.

"My VFC works just fine."

An “airsoft gun” is not to be regarded as a firearm for the purposes of [the Firearms] Act. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/27/section/57A Any common sense interpretation would mean that they shouldn't be regarded as firearms for the Highways Act. But if the law operated on common sense, lawyers wouldn't drive Range Rovers.

Ahoy and welcome. I'm not familiar with the sites there, sorry. It's not impossible to get yourself a RIF if you're willing to buy used (same law and defences apply to private sellers, but fewer are bothered about it) or to support the retailers who accept some spurious or bogus defences that you can just pay for. Either way, you're not committing an offence by buying or attempting to buy a RIF. It might be worth renting once first though to check that you're not remembering airsoft with rose-tinted safety glasses.

The Specna Arms Edge 2.0 range is metal and has a decent GATE-ASTER fire control system. They keep dicking around with the branding, and the QC isn't what it ought to be, but - if you can find them in stock - they offer reasonable value for money. G&G sat on their laurels for too long, I wouldn't buy anything now without a QC spring and rotary hop. Of course...

I'd say it's worth trying both. I enjoy woodland too, especially when I'm not in the mood to get battered harder than a haddock.

But only for the purposes of the Firearms Act. I agree that the most common-sensical interpretation of the Highways Act would be to use the Firearms Act definition. However, we've seen both the police and prosecuting authorities get the red mist on regarding airsoft guns, and push on with at least one "hang him, then let the charges be read out!" prosecution that resulted in exculpation only by the grace of God (and the Fiscal's incompetent evidence tampering). I wouldn't want to be a test case, is my point, and would urge being very circumspect with anything that looks remotely like a firearm, on or near any public place, lest the statute book be thrown to see what sticks. Mmm, TAG launchers in particular seem to be getting up towards the upper ~16J limit of airgun energies based on the claimed velocity and mass. And then there's HPA brrrrt-cannons that can shoot over 1.3J with just a nudge of the regulator. Paintballers never imaged they'd fall foul of the law until they did, best let it happen to someone else.

Ahoy and welcome. I prefer CQB too, more intense, less walking around, (generally) drier. Where are you playing?

I've never seen UKARA and Bruce Wayne in the same room together.

Did you genuinely think I was being serious about that? 🤔 ☝️ 👇 ☝️ 👇 The only certainty going into a legal case is that the lawyers will win.

But there's no definition of firearm in the Highways Act, nor a reference to the Firearms Act. The intent is to prohibit dangerous distractions to road users: I caused a pedalist to crash by stepping out of woodland dressed as a medieval knight and his brain short circuited. If under 1.3J / 2.5J, and only for the purposes of the Firearms Act, not the Highways Act. I'd argue it the other way: if the prohibition is intended to apply to sound, why would it apply to air guns? If it's appearance, why wouldn't it apply to RIFs? We're probably OK, but I wouldn't be sure. But they didn't have loicences! 😮

If we're turning this into a "wut rane geer" thread, I'd always say: synthetic underpants, MVP/GoreTextm socks or lined boots, Merino base layer top and bottom, and then any surplus gear you want over the top of it. You'll get wet, but - except in extreme conditions - not cold, and you won't pickle in your own sweat. If it's lashing sideways hard enough that you actually need a waterproof layer over the top, then most of the players will be gone by lunch anyway.

Ahoy and welcome. This is a great site for bants and advice, but for finding friendly locals, you may have more luck on those site's Facebook groups. It's absolutely fine to rock up and play solo, rental or with your own guns. We're (mostly) there for the (mostly) same reason, and it's super easy to get talking to folk - just ask someone about their gun(s), and see if you can get them to shut up. I prefer going solo, to be honest, there's far less faffing around.

Soldier 95 DPM. vs US Woodland camouflage

What brand are you looking at? I don't have personal experience of them. Owners can be observed to have huge grins on their faces when they're gassed just right and cycling properly, but I wouldn't get one as a first-and-only gun. Mags are eye-wateringly expensive, and gas is more expensive to run versus just slapping mid or high caps into a basic AEG and hosing. We always recommend renting and playing at least once first before buying anything, as you may find that the reality of playing airsoft doesn't match the YouTube promises. The classifieds are full of "never skirmished" regret purchases.

etc etc

Eh, what? No, there's no "law", it's entirely down to the site and their insurer's terms. You'll need to ask the site(s) where you play. What's typical (but not universal) is that under 16s need a single piece full face, like a paintball mask, while 16-17 can have two-piece eyepro + lower face protection. But we can't guess what your site will allow, either in principle, or in practice on the day. [EDIT] Beat me to it by seconds.

He wouldn't be breaking the law if his intent was to oil it up and finger the mag release all night long, since (at 18+) there's no offence being committed by purchasing and so no defence, declaration or intent needed by the buyer. Fraud or conspiracy, eh, maybe, but it'd be a huuuuuge stretch and it's never, ever going to be prosecuted unless the RIF has already been used for extreme naughtiness. Their site seems to be down at the moment, very sadness.

I highly doubt that BBgunz4U are scouring this forum and matching up usernames to purchasers. That's a bogus scheme set up by AirsoftWorld to give themselves the appearance of a defence. It's hard to see why they bother, since it's not one. However, that's their problem, not yours. Only the seller is committing an offence. If you're 18+ then you're not committing any offence by purchasing or attempting to purchase a RIF (within the UK), for any reason or for none. Pay your £20 tithe, buy whatever you want, find out that airsoft isn't for you, and flog it on the classifieds. I'd echo what @Tackle said, be careful with the use. Don't take it to the local dogging wood or round your mates to show it off, only have it in public when you're on the way to or from an airsoft site, and be prepared to show that in the (very) unlikely event that anyone takes an interest. UKARA (or equivalents) have no bearing on possession either way, although it probably couldn't hurt to flim-flam a copper at the roadside by talking about your "licence number".

Well, its 2nd owner will thank you. I can only speak to my JG G36C. It's tough (they're a common rental choice) has worked just fine and takes upgrades well. I bought it as a backup-backup but have ended up using it (and abusing it and upgrading it) more than anything else. The plastic doesn't feel great though. Not as bad as the cheapest CYMA M4 toytown stuff, but not nearly as nice as G&G. It works just fine though, it keeps the outsides out and the insides in, and you won't be bothered by dropping it. The stock hop on mine works OK. It's maybe a little fragile, and mine is glued back together - it still works OK though. If you're bothered by the externals, I'd suggest that you try some in person rather than taking anyone else's word for it. I'm perfectly content with the JG body, especially for the price, but I know some people would recoil in horror exclaiming "That's nothing like the real-steel-polymer one that I used all the time when I was in the Kommando Spezialkräfte, but I'm not allowed to talk about it."

I lolled, then I sadded. @Steff assuming you're legit, do be aware that there are scammers out there happy to prey on airsofters. Some of them are very good at it, and will seem completely plausible. If in doubt, walk away, or ask here for an opinion.

Ahoy and welcome, great to hear that you're infecting the next (next) generation with the bug.