Baz JJ

Its a fallacy that you have to upgrade everything in sight to have fun in airsoft. Lots of people run stock guns. Unfortunately, things get competitive and players like to squeeze the last bit of goodness from their kit. The problem with sniper rifles is that the concept is to hit a long range target accurately with a single shot. Airsoft rifles dont do this well which is why they need upgrading for power and stability and consistency. Either accept that you will need a few shots from a stock sniper, by which time you might be compromised or look at stock assault rifles or AEG DMRs which are a compromise.

The £75 cost is for 3 or 4 years and can cover a whole team.

The VCRA is imperfect in so many ways. It is complicated and few people understand it fully, The legisllation quoted above doesnt even mention Airsoft. Every day I see people refer to it as a licence and the questions that get asked on forums and Airsoft Facebook groups just illustrate the complexity. The shop might be bending the rules, but have you ever considered how many private swopping and sale transactions go on every day? I dont believe that all these sellers, keen to get cash back on RIFs that they now need for car repairs, this months rent etc worry that much about a UKARA registration... Its an imperfect compromise legislation, but it allows normal responsible people to have the freedom of airsoft as a hobby. We could live in a country that just bans it because its all too difficult and for that Im grateful. What irritates me are ignorant airsofters who scream blue murder if somebody dares to talk about painting a two tone but yet run high power radio sets on illegal frequencies at skirmishes, potentially interfering with other legal users and emergency services because they dont think OFCOM can come after them. People who refuse to buy a licence that costs £20 per year. Ive actually seen airsofters say when challenged "nobody tells me what to do - I will do what I like" - these people also own RIFs. Like all things, the shit will only hit the fan once some damage is done. Like often happens in the caring, sharing, theres no blame without a claim western world, there will be a witch hunt post mortem and somebody will have to pay the price. Lets hope its not airsofting as a whole.

Its largely up to the retailer how they interpret "defence". If he chooses to sell to you on that basis its up to him and we can debate if its right or wrong but its just words. The defence is for him not you, Its not illegal to buy and own airsoft RIFs for adults. However, you might find that most of the airsoft trade will want a UKARA registration as defence so your choice of supplier will be limited. In my experience, its only gun shops who sell firearms, air rifle and dabble in fringe airsoft that consider firearms licences suitable for airsoft.

I would just use the standard hinged shield. I did a selection of different sizes and shapes online the other day, but cant find them now.

You might want to consider protecting that front lens. Its too good a scope to have it shot out by a stray BB

There seems to be a disconnect in this thread because the OP is coming at the subject based on what rifles he likes from a non- Airsoft point of view. Most of the responders, being airsofters are being practical in terms of what is reliable and works. Largely the answers are different. To the OP: Decide whether you want to be a collector of a specific rifle that can be used for airsofting or whether you want to be a good sniper. Does it matter to you that you will never be a hot sniper - is it more important to own a cool looking rifle ? Another route as suggested by Samurai is going the DMR path. P.S. as you are new to airsoft and maybe didnt grasp the jokes, they are taking the p*ss because its a UKARA defence not a licence - you just have a number to denote you meet the criteria for retailers to sell you RIFs.

have just bought some Magpul XTM covers. Once they are on, tend to never take them off, so dont know about paint loss.

Thanks everybody. I appreciate what is being said and I know probably more than anybody that you get what you pay for. Ive checked out the various makes proposed and will see how much I can push my budget in order to compromise between cost and quality.

Thoughts on decent sniper scopes and bipods. Looking to spend £50-60 on a scope and am looking for a tilting(pivoting) and transversing bipod.

Not my part of the world, but a quick google came up with this http://www.firstandonlyevents.co.uk/manchester-store/

PS One of the weapons on that webpage has the optic and a suppressor

Hard to tell without the gun in front of you. Something can be jury rigged - Id buy the pistol and sort it out when you physically size it up

Look at the Skorpion at the bottom of this web page - holographic with sight rings http://www.oktarget.cz/armada_en.html

More or less there and still over 2 and a half months to go. Can still fit some players in though if people want to play.

Classic Army I think - para model.

Welcome to the forum. Airsoft is great for meeting people. Ive met lots of people since I started playing a couple of years back. Its not necessary to run about and there is a good social scene once you get established. I discovered within a year or so that I prefer milsims to skirmishes and I belong to a group that plays three milsims a year around the M25 orbit with the option for other stuff in between.

Latest from storyline:

Ebay - tactical torches

We play at Eversley at the top of the M3

Depends what you mean by inexpensive but Cyma are the best budget AKs.

http://www.evike.com/products/30805/

Dropped my CZ75 CO2 on to a concrete floor and now it just vents when the mag is inserted. I just wondered if you can buy a normal gas magazine for this model of pistol ?

Our milsim group Okto Eight Milsim operate from Eversley which is just near Farnborough. Next game is in August.