LMKipper

Just bought myself something new that's old - a 1968 Norton P11. Because I've basically always wanted to be Clint Eastwood.

It's such a shame. I've got an early V4 GHK M4 set up as a 119A2 and it's a lovely thing. Vey reliable, shoots well most of the year and a real joy to shoot. It's a shame they've lost that. If VFC produce a carbine variant, I'll be all over it.

Ah I’m well pleased this has prompted something! In hindsight @VictorFourTwo I should have realised you were managing it not owning it, as no one would be a glutton to both own a site and a collection of WA Primes… FYI, I was the chap with the sad Systema last week.

Yes the lack of any real social media isn't doing them any favours.

I puzzled on this quite a lot on the drive home. The only thought I had was that they favour slower ‘filmsim’ games, rather than all out skirmish action. And that maybe, there’s just less interest in it? They also don’t have many structures built, like huts or trenches. Also with games only once a month it will be tough to build up regulars. But Imperium (not that far up the road) is the same on all three counts and they seem to pull in 100+.

A large pink carnation pinned to our collars?

Yep it's still Val running it. I'm free the 7th too, so I'll stick it in the diary and see you all then.

Went to Gunman Battle Lakes on Saturday with @Asomodai. We'd both been once before (myself about a month ago, Asomodai about four years ago) and it was a bit of a mixed bag. The elephant in the room was that there was only 12 people playing, which included two player marshals. They did cut the site down and the owner apologised in the briefing for the low numbers but it did make it tough at times. I enjoyed the morning, with some sneaky action, but there were long portions without seeing anyone from the other team. The afternoon was more difficult. The other team had three or four people in ghillies, which with just six a side made progress all but impossible. The site owner joined our team but with about an hour to go on the main objective, and two of our team out with broken rifles it was a slog. I had a bit of a chat to the owner and he said the site has been struggling for about six months with player numbers slowly dwindling. It's a shame as it's otherwise a really excellent site, the owner is a nice guy who runs the site well and I've never even heard whispers of cheat calling. Their next game is early December, so if you're reading this and local I think we should all make an effort to get there before they're forced to throw in the towel.

It's interesting the things that people justify to themselves - myself included. I was a PTW owner my first time around and I am again now for when it's too cold for my GBBRs. Dry firing is a big mood killer for me, can't quite explain why. I've always seen the value in RS optics (or the posh repro ones now available) as cheapo airsoft ones seem to lose zero instantly and it does my head in. Same for holsters (they're cheap compared to replacing pistols), ear defenders (cheap compared to ears) and eye pro (cheap compared to eyes). But lots on plate carriers/helmets etc has always gone over my head. Ps. If you think you might trim down @Impulse let me know if a gas sniper rifle is on the cards. I've wanted a nice one since I played alongside Doc and his Tanaka at LFU.

Having watched a few videos, this is 100% going on the wish list...

Not that I've seen in the UK. Action have sold out already charging £399 (not inc import fees, shipping etc.) compared to the £679 I've seen they're asking in the UK. There's no NPAS as standard as far as I can make out, unlike VFC ARs, and they've been chronoed around 380 on green gas, so will need restricting for here.

I am also in. Faces to names etc.

I've seen a few places allowing home made mortar tubes and honestly it gives me the chills.

Of the few times I have been 'overkilled' it has been a bloke with an AAP-01 on HPA, who has run around a corner trigger spamming in the hope some would hit me. It's tough isn't it because ultimately people do 'speedsoft' because it's a very effective tactic when attacking. If you just run in and trade, that's a defender down. Rinse repeat. I guess the only thing I would add is that perhaps long respawn times are a way of preventing this. If it's a long walk to respawn or there are timers, then it's not in your interest to get knocked out instantly. Come to think of it one CQB place I played it did their attack/defend on how many respawns were taken to knock out the defenders, rather than how long it took. Encourages slightly more conservative gameplay - if that's what your site and your customers want.