ASP383

With my Brother-in-Law and his wife coming over from Oz this weekend, he wanted to go shooting, however, my dive bottle is empty and out of test date, so no air rifles, so airsoft it is, which happens to mean needing a third pew. Not having much of a budget due to double birthday party for my girls, meant going cheap and cheerful, so checking my local RFD website and checking them out on YT for reviews etc to try to find best "bang for buck", I nipped into the shop this morning and picked up a Specna Arms SA-F02 and red dot optic. Have to say, for only £120, it appears to be punching above it's price point, with rotary hop and tight bore barrel (looks brass?), finish looks good and going by the various reviews, should be better out of the box than my G&G SM16 Raider, which I had to change the hop rubber and barrel for it to shoot OK. already fitted the optic and lense protector, so all I need to do now, is set the hop, which depending on B-i-L's schedule, will either be at our local airsoft site or at my woods, along with my lad. If my younger daughter wants to take up airsoft, then at least we've got a pew available for her or even use as a base for a custom build.

As has been said, the UK isn't as big a market as some other countries (not sure where we would rank), so most retailers wouldn't be able to put in big enough orders with each brand to be a priority for delivery, they want to ship at least a container and a small crate of a dozen by air freight won't really interest them, hence most UK retailers going through official importers and wholesalers, who will be able to put in an order for a container full of stock. Another issue is, the global chip market, still hasn't fully caught up from both the halt in production due to covid and a large % of stock was destroyed in a warehouse fire a couple of years ago. Airsoft isn't the only hobby to be suffering these issues though.

Got my first kills there, saw some enemy players the other side, so used it for cover, making sure my legs were behind the wheels, then shot through the chassis to take out 2 players ... never forget your first kill lol.

Where the 6 wheel Zil box truck was, between tower 1 and bridge tower (walk onto game zone, turn left, then right). With the clearance work, as well as being able to fire to both towers, there's now line of sight to CQB and looks like you can also see to the original bus.

I had been planning to go to Driver Wood for the afternoon session (which is as much as my lad has been managing so far, unfortunately, ended up having to head over into East Sussex this morning, so knowing I would have been too late getting back, I chucked my kit in the car and took my younger daughter and middle lad with me, so when I was done, we nipped into the woods I manage for a mate and we had some fun with the guns, it also let me set up my new TM mk23, without having to rush things and others wanting the range before chrono. On the plus side for the hobby and a negative for my wallet, both the kids want to join my oldest lad and myself on the field, my daughter is 12, so old enough for quit a few sites, but my middle lad will have to wait until he's 10 in July. I've noticed hit and miss with team sizes too and those joining in the afternoon have their briefing out near the car park, while those that are there all day wait in the safe zone, we're then split up, can't say for sure if there are any regulars that only do afternoons, as we only do once a month, however, that doesn't prevent the total numbers of players in the teams being out of balance. Can't say I've noticed much spawn camping, regardless of which tam I'm on and to be honest, my view is that it spoils the game, not only for the team being spawn camped, but surely those doing the camping would rather a decent game? due to spawn points moving game to game, can't even put some sort of coloured markers/barriers x distance away, other than to tell players spawn camping isn't allowed?

Agree, I had my concerns too, especially with how my game play has evolved over the year I've been playing, where I've been purposely venturing out into the wilds to flank the opposing team, although to date, I've only had my M4, but now I've got a TM mk23 too, for those sneaky shots. I'll only be doing the afternoon, as my lad can't manage a full day with his leg issues

Couple of years old, I know, but more work has been going on the last few weeks, with moving a Zil to their Exeter site to make room for an open top double decker in it's place, will be ready to use in morning, cut back a lot of Rhododendron bushed, opening up more lines of sight into game play areas, other things relocated too, hopefully make players use more of the site. Plenty of update posts an videos over last couple of weeks on their Facebook page. should be there for tomorrow.

Undecided, will get some game play with it first. My local RFD sells the upgraded mk23, which was in stock a short while back, but was still saving up and since sold out of both the upgraded model and the parts. I'm not sniping or running DMR, so will see how things go as I use my M4 as main weapon, but like to sit in ambush, so want something I can do sneaky shots with and hope they think it's a sniper further away,

Bit of retail therapy today ... TM mk23, 2x spare mags, DTD mk23 holster with molle attachment and some green gas. might try getting out this weekend to break it in.

I'm trying to aim for once a month, but then again, it is my oldest lad and myself doing airsoft and apart from my wn hobbies having 5 kids who like different tings, plus my Mrs, I try not to push my luck with budgeting or the Mrs.

Thanks for the replies Looks like it'll be the TM then. My local RFD sells them stock and modified, although the latter isn't in stock as much, but reading the description saying parts availability, I'm guessing their tech does the upgrade in store? I now what you mean @Steveocee, having come from the world of air guns and knowing a few gunsmiths who specialise in air, as opposed to SG and FAC, I know even the "best" will have problems common with other brands, which is why I like to try to check out customer service and ease of obtaining parts.

Crawley Surplus Store is showing TM hi capa 5.1 silver in stock, but back mags are out of stock Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 Silver Gas Magazine (surplusstore.co.uk)

Looking to get a gas gun, personal preference is non GBB, which restricts my options more than if I wanted GBB. As my game play is evolving, I'm finding myself trying to flank the field and set up to ambush somewhere between (but not in sight of) their spawn point and objectives, but without being a bush, currently using an AEG which is fine until I'm in position, where its quite noisy for ambushing. I'm liking the look of the mk23 platform, so have been looking at quite a few new, long term ownership and tech reviews to try to hep me chose, now, they all have their issues, which I'd expect from any mechanical equipment. Price point, the pistol with some spare mags is obviously more attractive than the SSX303, however, the latter, if on lower power, can be used without need for a second firearm, but with the higher price point and requiring either more mags than I'd need with the pistol as a secondary, or carrying additional BBs and speed loader, it makes it a lot more expensive. With regards budget, either option won't be a problem, although in time I may look at DMR or sniper rifles. For me, of more importance is customer service and parts availability. My local RFD lists quite a few brands of my mk23 platforms, including the SSX303 and I'm seeing lots off issues regarding Noveritsch's customer service and long lead times for parts., which seem to be worse than others. What are members experience of various brands of pistol and SSX303, as well as ease of parts and customer service?

Will do, The gun club I was a member of used Dogtag' site for HFT competition, think there was only 1 porta-loo for us all. Certainly no complaints about Driver Wood, plus easier to pop into Surplus Store on way home, if can't get what you want on site.