Madhouse

Seems the main issue with AEPs is their lack of power, which is down to the small form factor and the associated difficulties in squeezing all the stuff into a pistol-sized package. First AEP to go over 300fps will sell out in no time, until then GBB pistols and their cold weather issues will prevail.

Glad you spotted it and also posted a warning to others. It’s also a message to all selling in the classifieds/elsewhere to put their username & the date in the pics where they are difficult to photoshop out.

Hi and welcome! Think most of us probably have a few 'lockdown pounds' to lose, I've a few pre-lockdown ones too Airsoft's a great way of getting out for the day or evening, but it won't make up for a bad diet and no other exercise. It's a part of the bigger picture but it sure ain't a silver bullet. I'm probably just regurgitating what you already know so enough of that. I'm also new here and what I've learned so far is that airsofters are the same as everyone else (just with more camo) and also that the world of the RIF is one full of acronyms and more choice than you ever thought possible - which on one hand is great, but on the other a nightmare if you're choosing your first RIF and finding it all a tad baffling (like me right now).

what @alxndrhll said. When it all boils down, weight loss is simple maths - put less fuel in than you burn and you'll lose weight. It can be whatever kind of vegan/keto/fast food diet you like but as long as you're burning more than you put in you'll use those fat reserves that we all want to get rid of. It's the focus on calories and the knowledge that it gives you that'll help loads, when I first started using an app to track them I was amazed at exactly how many calories a large bowl of cereal could have, at how easy it is to have used up a days calories by lunchtime and also how portion control is a really useful thing to keep an eye on too. Biggest thing is willpower though, it'll be tested and tested again both in terms of food (we're all guilty of late-night nibbles!) and also any kind of exercise you do, the hardest part of exercise is always getting out the door / starting - you feel great after but sometimes when you ache or it's raining or there's something good on the tv it's far easier to not do it. Training buddies help a lot so why not arrange something with a mate and have a catch up over a ketlebell or run rather than a pint? or have the pint afterwards, you gotta rehydrate after all 😉 Get some scales, but don't use them too often and don't get down when they go the wrong way. Weighing every day does no good at all, weigh yourself on the same day each week at the same time. General consensus is first thing in the morning after you've been to the loo, but the same time (whenever that is) helps to reduce the variables. The scales will go the wrong way, don't ignore them after that and don't throw them out the window, it's just a reset - ok, what did I do this week that's caused that? what am I doing differently this week? Losing a load of weight can be daunting, so those weekly targets can be good as stepping stones along the way, losing 20kg is a big number but making that 200g a week, well that sounds more achievable. About 200 calories a pint. Just factor them into a weekly meal plan, or do some extra exercise to balance it out. For me, a pint is about 15mins of cardio.

I’m doing Southampton marathon in September - that count? Normally I’m out on the mountain bike but wanted to tick a marathon off the list. Need to lose a few lockdown pounds though but I think half my problem is a love of beer, I only drink at weekends but it’s a shed load of calories. Very enjoyable calories mind 🍻

Can’t offer much advice as I’m as new as you! Both look very similar and from what I understand both are decent brands. So after that it all comes down to what you want to spend. If your budget’s €300 then the G&G is a good buy as it’s a full setup, as long as your mate’s not stitching you up - why’s he selling it anyway? €270 for the Specna becomes much more if you’re wanting accessories too. Unless what you really want is a shiny new RIF in which case the Specna wins.

Yep, can certainly see how it gets expensive - I need this one for outdoors, this one for CQB, this one for that loadout ……… 😁

Welcome 👋 Am sure you’ll have a great time getting back to your old hobby. As I have found, you only really need UKARA to buy online, pop to a local shop and as long as they are satisfied you’re using it for Airsoft you’re good to go!

my sentiments exactly, just need to stop endlessly looking at RIFs and actually decide what to buy!

Today I learned the retailers don’t seem to be particularly bothered about UKARA, seemed to be that just showing that I’ve been/booked to go Airsofting is fine for them. Caught me a bit off-guard as I hadn’t planned to buy anything so was only going for a look as I had a spare 20 mins. Did have a good chat with the guy running the place though and now have more of an idea regarding what to buy when I’m getting my first rifle.

that’d take one variable out of the equation 👍

I believe they chrono'd on what people claimed to be using, I say that as one guy was told he was running hot but he couldn't understand why - turned out he thought he was using .25's but he was actually using .2's. As far as I know they didn't weigh any BBs, that said, as a rental I didn't go to chrono.

There's certainly a reason behind the name!! 🤢 Can see how there'd be some real close hits there & at any CQB. Although it was hot enough for T-shirt and shorts I'm glad I kept all my skin covered!

So I popped my Airsoft cherry last night at Zmart Newbury and what can I say, I'm hooked! First off everyone was welcoming and friendly and happy to chat about whatever, handily I wasn't the only one flying solo which meant the 3 or 4 of us kinda formed our own group which was good. One of them leant me a torch which was very kind and also very useful (didn't see the replies to my status post till this morning!) and another had a very handy scoop for loading the mag too. The marshals were great all the way through, keeping things fun while also ensuring everyone followed the rules. There was a couple of issues I noticed, one where a couple of guys were arguing about taking hits which they seemed to sort fairly quickly and another where they noticed a guy who had a hot gun mid-game - looked like they did in-game chrono and were walking off to the safe zone so he could make adjustments to his gun. The guy with the hot gun was rumoured to be slinging .3's which is pretty heavy for CQB, what I can say for sure is he was the only one running HPA. Now I know with most things that require kit there's an element of faffing before you start but it did seem to go on forever, the marshals did note it at the pre-game briefing and said they'd be stricter on it in future. We got started with a couple of infection games which were a good way of getting to know the site and also in my case the gun, which was an M4 I believe (i really should have taken more notice of manufacturer etc), then a game where three marshals were essentially targets and each side had to revive them with the side with the most primary's at the end won and finished with a game transporting a bomb to the enemies spawn point. Can't remember if there was another or not! The games were pretty much the right length and as you'd expect with CQB there wasn't much waiting around between the start of the game and being in the thick of it. Overall it was a great evening, I'm peppered with marks where I was hit, but getting hit isn't half as bad as I thought it would be, took a couple at really close range (6ft) and they really stung for a bit but actually CQB is probably the worst it's going to be in terms of the sting of a BB hit. I was also really surprised at how few BBs I used actually - less that the thousand included in the rental - but I definitely saw people going through way more than me, there were guys using tracers too which I can certainly see the benefit of although they do give away your position.

holy thread revival batman! Guessing it was the aforementioned bot:

Welcome 👋 Red Alert's my local site but I've not actually been yet (weekends are a logistical nightmare), heard lots of good stuff and @GAMBLE keeps posting YT videos of it to keep showing me what I'm missing 😂. Am sure you'll have a great time there.

Hi & welcome! You may be able to tempt your mates back with a trip to your local site, you're paying them to make it fun and provide a challenge which will (hopefully) be a step up from messing about in the woods. Alternatively if you've a few acres of woodland and no local site you could always start your own .... if you build it they will come .......... (bonus points for naming the movie) Oh and @GAMBLE's got a YouTube channel, gameplay as well as other tips & useful info in it.

Any rifle where the mag is behind the trigger. Could be the best gun in the world but I'll still dislike it just because I don't think it looks right.

Being new to this I’ve learnt that there’s a minefield of acronyms I need to get my head around before I even think about buying anything - starting to wonder if that’s what the UKARA rules are really for 🤔 I’ve also discovered there’s more midweek games around than I initially thought. Not tried CQB but it’ll make life easier if I do as weekends are fast becoming a logistical nightmare. Oh and I like Beretta’s, specifically the M9 A3. No idea if they’re any good. Still navigating the sea of rifles …….

Going on from the Rate of Fire comments, quite a lot of sites have a 'no full auto' rule, also with it being CQB it'd be worth thinking about FPS limits and a chrono policy too. Liking the idea of easily moveable walls to keep it fresh as well as upping the realism with a few extra props etc. Also, go and have a chat with the competition, they may or may not be receptive but if you're all within a sensible distance of each other then you'll all be after the same players and their cash. It's all business at the end of the day and a bit of competition is healthy, but it's definitely worth making it 'friendly' as you never know who you'll need a favour from in the future. May be worth looking at when their midweek evening sessions are (if they have one) and doing yours on a different day? Having a shop selling incidentals and stuff that people have a tendency to forget to pack will provide a nice bit of additional income, you could come to an agreement with a local store or do your own thing. Selling snacks and drinks is always going to be popular and you'll get brownie points from the local business community if you can get local lunch van to pop by - just make sure you agree times and also that the session is over in good time for everyone to get their kit stowed and be ready when the van arrives. I've always wondered about the on-site store carrying a demo fleet and doing RIF rentals in a try-before-you-buy capacity (sort of), eg rent a RIF for £20 for the day and if you buy one you get the money back. No idea if that'd actually work. Carry enough spares to ensure you can keep your rentals happy, no-one wants a game day ending with a broken gun. Also rentals are future regulars, you need to make sure they have a good day as you've the least goodwill built up with them, flip-side of that is don't forget the regulars as they are a reliable income stream - it doesn't take much to keep people happy. If you've a local technician doing gun servicing on site for your rentals then why not re-sell that service on? or maybe set up as a range once in a while for people to come and test that new spring to ensure they're not running hot or set up their new sights or hop-up in advance of a game day. Final point, make sure the parking's covered. You'll lose customers and sour relationships with your neighbours in no time if parking's a hassle.

Am about as west as you can get without being in Hampshire - Newbury. Currently navigating the diary nightmare that is having two kids that play football at the weekend (roll on the summer break). Could really do with a midweek skirmish if anyone knows of such a thing - just not Thursdays, that’s bike night. (I know I have a local CQB in town, just happens to be Thursday night though!).

You know that film they have over cameras at the motor racing where it scrolls so never gets dirty? That, but on the inside of goggles. Seriously though, it’s all about airflow, but there won’t be much of that when you’re hiding out behind a barricade taking fire from all sides. So that leaves us with forced air or heated lenses.

Hello & welcome. Surely for the price of a two-tone you could just rent for the required 3 games and then use your own kit? That’s my plan anyway. Equally, as has been said, what’s the likelihood of anyone asking about your UKARA defence? Just get yourself a violin case to transport those RIFs on the train.