Emergencychimps

Does the heat set have a mic or aux input? My sordins have an aux input, I can run it from a speaker mic (Kenwood, smc34 I think) and there's a 2.5 mm to 3.5mm cable that's pretty standard that can be used. You hear from the sordins and talk into the speaker mic

I've been using a 5.56 strip clip that I bent a bit smaller (narrower) with some pliers. Makes the strikey side of the primer covered in metal and with a hole drilled in one end, it's tied onto a pouch it's stored in. As they are quite firmly in place, makes it easy to just take one when needed and I top it up between game days, it can take around 12 at a time

I'd agree with the general consensus on here. Do some basic tests yourself and see what's working well. Get enough to see you through a game day or 2. If you haven't, I'd suggest picking up a new rif and offloading anything you don't absolutely love. Having a tech do proper checks will cost a fortune. All the rifs etc are just extra weight on the mind and a distraction from actually playing (which I think is the good bit) get stuff you love and can use. Keep anything you love and move anything you don't love on to pay for the new bits and free up head space. I always think a high quality item is better than 3 cheap ones. Unless teching is a side of Airsoft you love (and by the fact you even asked this question, I guess you don't) the whole tech side can be a slog that takes away from the pure joy of our sport and I've seen people get so wrapped up in it they forget the objective is to have fun playing army soldiers.

That elite guy was me.... certainly wouldn't describe myself as "elite". 1. Pretty sure I only used the word fucking once (I could be wrong, it wasn't a part of the evening that was memorable for me). Apologies that it upset you. 2. I told you for your benefit, not mine. That little ir light onboard is just about useable indoors, outdoors all it is pretty useless other than having a shining light on your head to tell the enemy where you are.....like a target. You'd have zero chance of sneaking round on anyone with it on. 3. Telling you, disadvantaged me. I could have not told you and you then could have been a nice early warning system for when we were under attack by being the first person to get hit when the expected attack started. By you knowing an turning it off, it meant that was less likely to be the case and upped my chances of being the first target. 4. Telling you exposed my position more, by making me move each time I spoke to you, talking at an above whisper volume etc. It was already quite an exposed spot. I knew that the guys in the other team are pretty darn good. If I'm such an elite/elistest person, why tell you? And when you responded that that it was off, why would I tell you it's on, if its off? All of the above aside, I am genuinely sorry that something I did took the shine off of an otherwise good evening for you. I was trying to help and obviously it didn't land well, it wasn't the way it was intended. I've been using night vision for airsoft for around 10 years now. Check out this video (from about halfway through) with some good suggestions on how to get more comfortable with yours. It's weird but shooting is only a small bit of using them. If you'd like, more than happy to meet up and do some practice bits and pieces, chat through gear, practice etc using your nods out of a game environment. Just DM me if this is of interest.

These look great, not something I need but very impressive. You may not want bump level protection now, but it might become a factor for you in the future. I can't tell you the number of times I've bought kit that was fit for what I wanted right then, didn't care about some element of it, only for that feature to become very important to me later. It's been the case with optics, rifs, clothing, helmets, chest rigs etc. Sometimes the change in need has just been for the larp, sometimes it's been a feature that's been required. When spending any sum of cash, I'd always recommend some well rounded consideration. Also, while these are responses to your initial question, as a forum this acts as a repository of information that others may find interesting

Well, it sounds like you have enough knowledge to make informed decisions. Theres so many new players that splurge money on kit and gizmos and then they lose the bug for the sport, times are hard and it's hard to see the wasted money time and time again.

For me, thats a good enough reason on it's own. I just don't want to bang on about a super good team wendy/ops core if you want to do namsoft! I miss the days of people doing impressions and even the most casual player dressing semi like a soldier.....where have my rose tinted glasses gone!?!?! If you're planning on NVDs in the future, spend the money and get something good now. Or you'll spend a small amount now and then a bigger chunk later as well vs just doing a bigger chunk now. A PTS flux is good enough for NVD usage. As always though, your opening comment says you're newish to Airsoft. Unless you've done a good 5+ games I'd advise holding off until you do. I love airsoft (generally) but it has a few inherent not so great bits and its easy in the first few months/games to overlook them, sometimes choosing to do so. If you're still into it after 5+ games and you're still convinced etc then yeah, spend the cash.

My question would be why? They get sweaty, in summer they get very sweaty. That sweat will encourage your glasses to fog (assuming you don't wear mesh) and can cause pressure headaches. They can get hot and quite uncomfortable, they also can act as nice little targets behind trees, hedges, bramble patches etc. that are hard to conceal and make you an easier to spot target. Unless you make them look great (and each style that is something different) then they can be pretty dorky/brand new airsofter look. They aren't generally rated, so while anecdotally they help in a tumble, walk into a branch, bashing heads on windows while climbing through, they can also cause these by adding an extra inch or so to your height. If your answer is you want to wear nods or you think they look cool or you want that extra security they bring, want to mount a face mask, all are valid but the recommendation of what is likely to change. The PTS flux is brilliant, owned one before and sold (regret it), have a genuine ops core carbon at the moment but just picked up another pts flux as they very good for the money. They can suit big heads 60cm plus, so if you're smaller, then they can look a bit spaceballs helmet esque (google if you're too young to get it). They are nice and rigid so do the protection thing well, they look cool, don't need a lot of dressing up to look good. But there is little to no ventilation, smaller headed players look silly, they aren't cheap and accessories (ear attachments, covers etc) are harder to source and more expensive. Real opscore carbon/bump. They're super comfortable, light, ventilated, rated for bumps, knocks etc, come in a variety of sizes to suit. but they are expensive, £150 plus second hand if you're lucky for an old bump, £350 plus for carbon. New prices are silly (£600+). Legit accessories then add on as well (cost wise) FMA do a good set of clones, they come in multiple sizes and colours. Haven't owned one so can't comment anymore but heard good things, if the cheap mtek flux didn't just come up then I'd probably have got one. I think getting a UK source isn't easy. I have owned Emerson and dragon red(no longer exist), if you have a larger head, then they'll be tight. Anything cheaper than £50 and I'd probably avoid to be honest.

The vortex crossfire red dot is a great red dot. You can get the holy warrior T2 with a nice mount for around 50% of the price and it's very good as well. If you like the eotech size window then the holy warrior S1 is great. Holy warrior is much cheaper if imported, mine came in around £40 including the scalar works clone mount and postage and I've see UK retailers charging £75. Another option would be an lpvo with a red dot mounted directly on top, check out the new ks1 optic that is being issued to special forces as an example, there are Airsoft clones of similar available. Other than for PID, magnification ok optics in Airsoft for me is a bit pointless.

Always empty them after games. I think leaving them tensioned for a day or 2 is fine, but generally there is a week or 2 between games and I think that's too long. I ran the same set of pmags for around 8 years and they never skipped a beat, but they were well looked after.

I've had my TM recoils for around 8-9 years now, in that time they've had minimal down time, been great performers and have held their value (in my opinion). Before that I had other TM recoils (but a bit battered!) As for your question, why are they always for sale? People come into and leave this sport on weekly basis. Some of these people have ok to decent incomes and after their first budget rif (or even their first RIF altogether) a TM is often on the want list. Those that can afford it go for it and then 6/12 months later they have lost the bug and they are the next people to leave the sport. It's an ever spinning circle of players, some stick for a while, some a few months, some even a few years but very few stick with it 5+ years. and why hang onto a rif at all? Especially when they retain their value and it's not something you plan to use again? Essentially you could ask, why are there always specnas etc available for sale?

Don't quote me, but I find the .209 primers, 9mm and mk5s around the same volume of bang. These I'm happy to do events without ear pro. 12g and tag frags are louder and more likely to do damage. These really need ear pro.... especially if indoors.

I've seen sites not consider this and it's broken what would have otherwise been a great game. If the punishment for being hit is too great, the desire to shake that one of is too great and it can ruin games. Also seen it go the other way. Gunman have a field medic pack, so you have a hard respawn, all the way at the back so it can be a bit of a trek......but the field medic pack can be placed anywhere, the downside is it can also be destroyed by the enemy if it's too close/obvious etc.

If you rock up to a stirling airsoft event on your own, you'll be put with a group or a group is made from people like you who are on their own or in smaller groups. It's an easy way to get chatting. As for chatting at games, can be hard. I have found a few tips help. Compliment people on their game play, good shots, nice move etc all increase the game play. Ask about their gear/guns, (be warned, some never shut up if you do that.) I have my first name on a velcro tag on my chest, I think it just makes it easier for people to chat to me etc as they don't have to remember my name or feel awkward if they have forgotten it. Also, remember other people are often on their own, know as much or as little as you do and basic questions etc such as "how long do we have for lunch", do we come back between games etc all help to break that ice.

To add to the others....go to the events you want to do and chat to people. Find people you get on with that are interested in similar events and stick with them. Trying to drag skirmishers to milsims, training or night games just isn't worth the hassle of the effort. The easiest way to find people who are motivated to do the things you like are by meeting them at the events you like/want to do and having a good attitude. In fact, I'd encourage you to be more wary of a team proactively recruiting....they try to hard, over commit and if they're so keen they'll consider anyone, it'll be filled with anyone....not vetted people.

Yes, it's changed and not all for the worse. Speedsoft and the gear for speedsoft (HPA, masks etc) have become much more popular. Rifs have evolved with some tech and the brands generally seem better. The snobbish elitism of milsim seems to have reduced, (a lot of "milsim" people now seem to like structured skirmishes) as has the reverse snobbism. The people playing are people who haven't been watching the gwot/Afghanistan/iraq on the news or war movies, they have more experience with cod and Fortnite so the guns, gear etc are more that way inclined. The whole impression scene seems to have gone (with the odd exception) but it's been replaced with speedsofters and people who just want stuff that works and that seems to be very disperate. At my last skirmish I regularly came up against the same player, he was using speedsofter type stuff and he was very good, getting the better of me several times. Made the day a bit more challenging etc but he could have worn anything and he'd have been good. I'd like to see more specialist events (ruleset wise) Defiant Airsoft seem to be doing that, gunman are to a degree.

Nothing wrong with being financially frugal, all the people "flexing on the Poors" can do one, having good financial sense and not getting into debt is a much bigger flex. Of the options referenced, the surefire ear plugs would be my go to, this is both on a budget and considering more expensive options. I won't do catterick again without ear pro (tag 67 frags are loud!) But the idea of even running sordins puts me off. I'll try my surefire ear plugs.

Personally, I'd say go for something better than Howard leights. They are great for the range, bit of clay pigeon shooting etc but the ambient noise (the ability to hear people near by) isn't good enough. Surefire do a range of ear plugs that are meant to be very good, so you can hear, chat etc but they protect against loud noises. Or look for some sordins or contacs. Yes they're more expensive but 1) any hearing damage is permanent 2) they will retain their value, if you decide to stop wearing them, you'll probably get your money back. 3) you'll hear more "tactically" and have a better experience. I tried Howard leights (had some already) and they just didn't cut it for me. I struggle with the sordins I have and they have some super powerful ambient noise amplification so you can hear more than without them.

Did the standard skirmish day at gunman tuddenham today with a mate, in previous years the after Xmas skirmish has seen over 100 players.....today started around 40 and dropped as the day progressed to around 20, which is super low for tuddenham. I loved the day though, pure skirmish great hit taking and sportsmanship. The games were different, used areas in ways I haven't seen them before and new to me games. For some reason, it all just clicked and the day felt like it was on easy mode. Some good positioning, lucky shooting and some blind luck just made everything go my way. Most fun day of airsoft for about 12-18 months.

Not bought anything of substance from them, but I've been in their shop and the guy was very friendly, the range they had was pretty awesome and their prices seemed reasonable. I'd buy from them

So, imagine you're having a firefight with another player, 40-50 metres away, they have a a similar level of cover as you. They have effectively unlimited ammo from their 8 high cap magazines, you have 210 bbs before you are effectively are out of action. You're firing 3-4 single shot groups at them with a rifle that recoils....they are sending 20 bbs back in a single burst, every few seconds..... While the aeg user can fire continuously you have to stop every 35 bbs to change your mags, ensuring they're reindexed cause a dump pouch with that much weight will bounce around making movement hard. The noise from your rif is attracting the attention of other enemy players that are nearby, the noise of their aeg is barely detected by other players on your team. Everytime you change mags, you need to make sure you aren't double feeding, you need to ensure the bolt is forward....if the aeg player has to change mags, it's simple one out one in, very little to go wrong. Moving from position to position takes more effort from the weight of the mags (I'm comparing my mws to my recoils), crouching takes more effort etc. While your position is getting hammered with bbs, you're changing your mag, your admining your kit, you're keeping an eye out for other players you aren't focused on the guy shooting at you......all while you're his singular focus. Who is more likely to win that firefight? There's so much more to think about with a gbbr. I'm not knocking aeg users, I've had to sell my gbbr and only have aegs but it is like being on easy mode in comparison. It's such a different experience, but that's the great thing about the sport, we all play for our own reasons, some like to rack up kills, some like to snipe, some like the challenge of using a gbbr.

The mags are generally limited to 35-44 bbs (the mags contain gas, which power the gun), the mags are much heavier, so it's harder to carry a bunch of mags, so generally you have 5-6 mags at most, so your total amount of loaded bbs is 210 vs someone with a 400 round hicap or dudes rocking 5-6 250 round "midcap" magazine and the guns are louder, so it's easier to pinpoint where the gas gun user is. In addition to that, the performance varies based on the temperature, it's kinda easy for mags to vent all the gas which generally happens at the worst time and any recoil (some aegs recoil) is generally stronger, so aiming is harder. Why do people use them is probably what you're wondering.......the shooting of them is more enjoyable, feels more realistic, the recoil is nice, the constant mag changes is more realistic, the maintenance can be enjoyable and the sweet feeling of hitting a high cap hero etc while on "hard mode" is something else. I may have of got fewer "kills", but the overall experience was richer for it.

Sorry to hear this dude. Rough times, all the best and hope she kicks that shit disease in the arse. You generally maximise your cash selling seperately and it generally sells faster as well. If you just want it out the way and don't care about the cash, sell as a bundle.