TheFull9

2nd half of 2022 acquisitions, list available below. A good few of these have been made space for by having to sell the previous incumbents (as it were), I'm fighting for every bit of space saving efficiency these days, but you can only squeeze out so much juice from the orange 😆😬

I had a think back and I did indeed get a customs bill from my last order with WGC a few months back, so yeah definitely a toss of the coin type situation. I only mention it as I've long been a fan of importing most stuff given the much wider product range available outside of the UK, but I do want people to do it properly and have the extra 20-25% cash set aside. If you do have that and you get lucky then hey mega bonus, you're in the money, treat the mrs - but if you don't have it and you bring in a £500 parcel then an extra unplanned bill of well over £100 is going to be horrendous.

That sounds like luck tbh, I had a quick flick through their site and couldn't see them saying they pre-pay import VAT for the UK (unless it's really buried in some document I couldn't find). I've used them many times and one occasion was only a few months back; I might've gotten lucky once or twice long ago but mostly I've paid import VAT and fees etc. As with any import the chances of that and associated cost all varies by the time of year, courier used, paperwork, who at customs gets your package and how much they care if they do in fact decide to open or do anything with it at all. Obviously it should always be the same every time legally speaking, but that's been my experience having imported stuff a few times a year for longer than I want to admit 🧓 Personally I've switched to mostly getting RIFs in the UK, where possible anyway (if it's not here and I still want it then I'll happily import). Varies case by case of course but it's usually worked out to be right around the same price or sometimes cheaper here. Right now I want an ICS DD Mk18 and the 2 best prices I've found are WGC or F-S: https://www.fire-support.co.uk/product/ics-dd-mk18-s3-black-airsoft-gun-aeg https://www.wgcshop.com/products/ics-180s3-1 After shipping and the likely VAT the F-S route is a good deal cheaper, will get here a lot quicker with less chance of loss or damage, better warranty practicalities and no chance of kevin the world's coolest man at customs ringing you up to have an argument because he doesn't know the VCRA.

As is/was usual, the film gun is a real mash up, but I think most of us who want this look just want 'an M16' with the relevant issued heatshield type handguard and the longer barreled M203; most of the details aren't noticeable to the vast majority of people. This is something I'm working on myself atm (in AEG form). It's definitely an awful lot cheaper to do as an AEG I'll say that. If TM released an MWS line M16 it'd cut an awful lot of cost to say the least, but it's hard to say if that'll happen. They haven't done a 20" AR in a very long time far as I can recall, but they're pretty unpredictable and the M16/M16+203 combo has had some big exposure of late. I actually had some of the handguards (real and replica) bookmarked on a few sites and watched them almost in real time vanish from being in stock after a garand thumb aired video a short while back.

Not correct, just watch a few YT videos of competition shooters in the US hosing down stages with no issues, then look up a 'melt down' video to see the crazy volume of non-stop automatic fire it takes to actually break something on even a commercial firearm that's not designed or built to be used in automatic. The info/evidence is widely available.

Pics through the mag would be much appreciated please and thanks 😁 (from Opp tac store?)

Do let us know how it is.

As always with such things it depends how close you wanna get. Within the ballpark? Literally easier than falling off a log, it's a tan AR with keymod and magpul furniture. 100% exact replica? Impossible far as I can see.

Every camo combo works. Just not skinny jeans, trex arms caps, pit vipers, skate shoes and plaid shirts.

The HWO T-1s and 2s I've got are pretty spot on overall, look right, clear lenses, overall decent build standard and cheaper than their good EoTechs. I've got one on a TM EBB and it's not shaken any connections loose so far on that specific example at least (which is a problem I saw a long time ago on the cheaper T series china clones). I've tried a few different EoTech clones over the years and for whatever reason the chinese factories just don't seem to be able to pump them out to a good standard in the same way they can with Aimpoint micro copies. The format is just harder to replicate it seems, I suppose it's just a bigger object overall with more going on vs a T-1. More wires, longer connections, bigger windows etc, so to make one that's not blue tinted or with a terrible reticule or electronic functional problems costs more money. I love the look and the big window for up close so personally if I do put one on a gun I'll just bite the bullet on the more expensive copy (maybe a used real one some day), but most of my shooters have ACOGs when I want magnification or T series red dots.

To me it's that combination of availability and budget. There are a lot of airsoft guns that exist (especially 90s stuff) that look real cool and are valuable to collectors, but they're made of shit plastic and you'd never ever find an original replacement part no matter how much money you have because they've been out of production for many years. As I think about it, the number of airsoft guns that are out of production vs currently available is probably huge actually. Obviously a discontinued version of a plastic G&G AR is probably not something anyone will cry over if broken so there are levels and that's a personal choice, I wouldn't let anyone else dictate that for you. If something is fixable/replaceable but you can't really afford to fix or replace it, then that's the other consideration and only you know your budget so again, not something for others to dictate.

For possessing camouflage clothing?

Lots of very unnecessary accessories dropped in from WGC that are giving me a lot of joy lol. Back in late '06 I bought my first airsoft silencer which was also a copy of the KAC NT4, but it was a Classic Army rendition. Having a CA AR I thought surely it'd fit, but it didn't, my dad took a hammer to it which essentially cold welded it on to the muzzle device when it should have been, you know.. QD. Finally getting a good one and mounting it up all good and proper now that I (mostly) know what I'm doing is a similar feeling to being able to buy the games now that I only had the demos of as a kid and had to play through the same level over and over.

Fair, fair. Have to say I've got one too and have also only added a single accessory part with no plans to do anything more, so zero disagreement here. I did a simple plastic flared magwell rather than the sights but either one is a decent shout and doesn't mess with the TM magic pixie dust so that's a winner in my book.

I do love it.

And besmirch that all that beautiful 2010-ness?? I shall hear none of it sir.

lol, I've just been editing the shots of mine literally a couple of minutes ago. I don't know how many years I'd wanted one, was back before they had adjustable hop, but even when the A1 came out I held off as it was a pure 'want' since I had 2 of the 226s already which are all you'd need in a skirmishing sidearm. After waiting so many years though I'd saved enough to say 'fair enough' on the buy and I have to say it's one of TMs best lookers imho. Between Die Hard and The Matrix (just for starters) and tons of games I think it's one of the most iconic handguns there is is for anyone between about 25 and 50 probably, but I rarely see them anywhere on forums/socials or at games for whatever reason. Which is weird when I think back as I had to setup a stock alert at F-S as they don't seem to be in stock anywhere that much, at least from what I've seen myself. Then again I suppose it's neither super modern nor historic and there's very little if anything you can do to change them, plus the A1 isn't actually the famous variant looks wise, but to me it has 99% of the aesthetic I love, it's got plenty of gas capacity and just the little bit of rail adds a lot of functionality vs the smooth dust cover. Like for me having the Blackhawk omnivores it totally eliminates an entire holster purchase, plus the obvious easy light mounting. Whether the metal ones like the WE are any good I don't know, they're probably a more appealing purchase for many but I'd pit the stock TM performance against the lower priced metal versions with a fair bit of confidence. My personal experience has been that the slightly increased at-home-handling satisfaction of the metal vs plastic vanishes rapidly in the face of actual getting in game. Personally I've lost count of the number of pistols I've seen doing the death putt-putt, just venting the whole mag or only shooting 10m; but everyone's experience will naturally vary. Just crossing my fingers for an A4 version now as that'd be different enough to warrant a purchase while also sharing the mags. Probably slim odds though, haven't seen much in the way of sneak peeks on upcoming pistols the past couple of years.

It's certainly an option, I'd never tell anyone to not carry some water, does all depend on site size/game length as you say. I used to have bladders on my back more because that was haute couture in the late 00s, but what I do these days is drink loads between games and I'm fine at sunday skirmishes; the drinking matters more than the carrying. However I'm a bit of a water addict (I know, shocking) and always get through 2-4L on any normal day in work anyway so my routine is solid (no brews, nothing fizzy). For some folks they might get chatty between games and forget, whereas nobody likes me so that's not an issue. Put it this way, there's plenty of folks at almost every game with maybe a pistol and a hi-cap on a belt, their gun in hand and that's literally it. Sometimes not even that. At most games in the UK that's more than enough to actually participate. Now I love a bit of cordura as do most so some kit is fun, but do try and keep it slick. I mean there's equally some out there who love nothing more than lumbering around like the proverbial juggernaut, 1 bb still takes you out but they look pretty cool sometimes and that's their thing and I enjoy seeing what they put together. Unless you personally really wanna be that guy though, keep it light and simple, learn to appreciate that minimal aesthetic.

If you've played a couple of times and had enough boolets and h2o, don't add a thing. PCs are for the look, all of mine are setup as if they were a chest rig anyway - some mags in a placard on the front and then just flanking the mags there's a small GP (phone, wallet and car key) and a smoke grenade pouch for a smoke or BFG. If you add stuff so it doesn't 'look bare' you'll spend the money, it'll be awkward and pointless and you'll most likely take it right back off again sooner or later. If you eventually *need* a radio or some pyro etc then get a couple of pouches if and when that time comes around, but not before. Where you are right now is what people often come back to after gradually ramping up what they carry, so just skip out the middle man if you can. I'd recommend to most folks for average skirmishes to just get the basics as you have, then over time put the money in to upgrading and replacing to 'move up' a fancy rig or camo etc if they happen to so desire and if they stick in the game long enough. Much better plan than carrying around a larger mass/volume of budget gear.

Optics are a big thing for me. I'm a smidge short sighted and PID/searching through the brush for armbands is a big deal imho. At a game this weekend I was using a new setup and was pretty let down I have to say. Went all fancy, got a Holy Warrior EXPS3 and G33, got them on the gucci riser mounts (FTC for the 3x mag) and I'm thinking 'sweet' since up to now I've had this clone aimpoint 3x mag which is really purple and tiny and hard to look through. I thought the magnifier I had was also HWO and would be good (aliex job).. but no, it barely magnifies, I'd move my head away and honestly had better view of those 50-70m enemy players with my naked eyes. I think my 10 year old magnifier (back when clone optics were far worse) is actually better. After your experiences and recs please folks. I like my old replica ACOGs and Elcan, no clue on brands but they work well. The HWO ones are hopefully good and they're reasonably priced. When you get to LPVO clones though they get kinda pricey for airsoft items, nudging in to the realm of the budget-end real scopes. I've got loads of red dots and I'd like to pick up a couple more good magnifiers, though feedback on any of the HWO line of magnified options would all be welcome.

I thought I'd be spot-on in the PC over a BDU shirt as it would probably stay cloudy and sub-15. It did not, but the gats worked great so that's the main thing 🤙

Airsoft Plantation yesterday, first time I think I've been back to a site twice within a year for.. many years. The fact it's big, big safe zone, loads of parking and no need to book; just so darn simple. It's rare that I'll know I'm 100% not working a given weekend until right before it happens. They really, really need to do a little fixing of their track and the lunch options are still very 'meh' indeed, but that's all my negatives frankly and they're not all that negative. The dozens of other things that make or break are place are all thumbs up really which explains why it gets so many people in week after week, year after year. I've encountered way too many marshals in the past with this inexplicable shouty fat-kevin-did-2-years-in-the-TA demeanor, but they have a team of just, you know.. normal nice blokes far as I could tell, when you ask about the layout etc they just politely answer like a normal human being. Props to the owner in particular, just a really solid bloke, happy and enthusiastic. Sadly had one super salty sailor that was upset I'd setup in a good n' hidden flanking defensive spot and was holding his lot back for a bit in the last game, whinged I wasn't supposed to be there after I'd been told by the owner 3 minutes earlier that place was in very much fully play, but there we go. 'Winning' your sunday skirmish really matters right?

I think SOCOM Gear is/was WE stuff rebranded? Something along those lines. As schnitz said, the two latest TM M9 variants including this A1 are pretty much fully in line with all TM's latest with various updates, so I'm fully expecting the same sort of top performance I get from my P226E2 and G17 Gen 4. Plenty of original MW, though the M203 on the M16 is something I just saw a lot in all sorts of films and games growing up, used it a ton in Battlefield 2. The chrome Eagle was obviously big in MW '07 and MW2 iirc, plus a million other things ha. The M9, again is in many many games but the thing that sticks in my head is a demo I had for Max Payne, which I must've played 100+ times through (in secret at first as I wasn't allowed shooting games). Berettas are obviously staple weapons throughout those games, but the original was probably the first game I had where you could really see the slide cycling and 3D models of brass cases and bullets coming out, which is accentuated by the slide having it's signature open top. Plus of course you could watch it all in slo-mo; blew my mind. America's Army in a later iteration also added a ridiculously well animated M9 that just fascinated me frankly.