Lozart

I think it's fair to say that the ergonomics are somewhat subjective. Personally (and I've since learned I am not alone in this) I hate the very upright grip angle on the MP7.

https://bfy.tw/RU6I https://www.tactical-kit.co.uk/ferro-concepts-slingster-19772-p.asp https://www.tactical-kit.co.uk/blue-force-gear-push-button-sling-swivel-6727-p.asp

Aftermarket springs are invariably longer than OE ones. Don't worry about it.

Might be easier to change the stock to a CTR one instead. That has built-in qd sockets. Or maybe a qd sling plate? As for better quality swivels, anything sold for actual firearms will be fine. Of course if your qd fittings are cheap, what is your sling like?

Ah, gotcha! Shame that Hueys don't have the RRAPC in stock, then you'd save on import duty and you can get discount codes from the likes of THG.

I have no direct experience of either but I do have the OPS ADVANCED MODULAR PLATE CARRIER SYSTEM and I can attest to the quality of it. It's a shame the new one doesn't come with all the buckles etc for using placards though. The AMPCS does (it also comes with a blank MOLLE panel and all the straps you'd need to run it as a leg rig!). Direct Action are the parent company for Helikon so again, no issues with quality. Someone else on here has just bought the Bearcat one so maybe wait and see what they think of it? EDIT - hang on, wasn't it you that's just ordered the DA carrier?

I take it you're talking about a second hand pat. 83 chest rig? Although even then you're still looking at upwards of £50 for a genuine one.

OK, so having a bit of a google it seems it should be something along these lines: https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/6210#notes which would be 12% duty, but digging into it a bit further "bullet proof vest" comes back as 6210400000 which is 0% as an import from the EU https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/commodities/6210400000#import Again, it ENTIRELY depends on what they put on the CN22.

OK, so you could ask them what they've put on the CN22 declaration. That would let you calculate what duty you'll be due but work on 5% (that's 5% of the total of the goods plus shipping) plus whatever UPS slap on top as a "handling" fee. Assuming they don't just lose it somewhere for three months.

+1 for the above! Also, I joined that group a while back and have been lurking on a semi regular basis. Just seeing the shite some people have to deal with helps me get a bit of perspective!

Running costs are a concern for any past time worth doing. If you're buying stuff because you want them and can afford them, that's fine. If you don't want to run them for fear of breaking them, that's fine too (just look at Negative Airsofts collection for a good illustration of that!). Forget about the law changing though, that's out of your control. Deal with it if it happens, don't fret about it now. Maybe pick up a couple of reasonably cheap guns and run about with them so you don't worry about them breaking? Thing is though, it's just stuff at the end of the day. I have a bunch of guitars, some of which are quite expensive now. One of them is a US Gibson Explorer that I've had for 30 years. It's been gigged, it has dings and scratches all over it and if it breaks it'll be expensive to fix but is it hanging on a wall or sat in a case? No, because it was made to be used. Same with those airsoft toys, unless you buy one that is specifically designed to be a wall hanger, go use it. Get some joy from pwning noobs with that creaky as fuck PSG-1, soak up the admiration of all around as you majestically light up a bunch of folks with the Uzi (with obligatory Austrian accent while doing it). If you have a gun that works reliably and you just prefer the ergonomics of, use that and let the others sit on the wall, it just doesn't matter! And if you're ever around the north Hampshire kind of area, give me a shout and come airsofting with us. We take very little too seriously!

Are you sure you've paid UK tax at checkout? If so then it may be shipped as UK Duty Paid in which case you wouldn't be liable for more duty at import. If you've paid in GBP but actually only paid the local taxes then yes you would probably be due for import duty. If the plate carrier in question is a legit one then it may be classified as textile products for industrial use or possibly PPE. Both of which have different HS codes. If it's a knock off then it could be leisurewear or something similar. Totally depends on what the seller puts on the CN22 declaration though.

Unlikely. Probably be worse! 🤣 Ewww, Teachers!

Is it just the airsoft or is something else driving this? I played on Sunday and to be brutally honest, Saturday night I just wasn't feeling it. Work is stressful right now, my Dad has dementia and has been getting worse, my new permanent working from home is driving me up the wall and it's all contributing to an overall lack of motivation. I went though with three good friends and a couple more of their regular crowd and had a blast. Different site for me, different bunch of faces, it can work wonders! Nobody says you HAVE to play until you drop or how often you have to do it. You don't need to justify the money you've already spent as long as it isn't holding you back (NEVER go into debt just to play toy soldiers). Maybe you just need to find a different site or a new bunch of people with a similar mindset. God knows that I have fallen out of love with many a site thanks to one bad day but going back with a bunch of like minded mates has changed all that. At least when you get that one argumentative prick you can walk away and go chat with your buddies. Of course, if your buddies are the argumentative pricks...you may need to get new buddies.

I think the question we ALL need answered is...what size bag of Maltesers?

That really does depend wholly on your budget and how much of it you want to sink into one item. All the legit gear that's out there is designed with professionals in mind. Some of it is made for range days (Helikon TMR for example) but most of it isn't. None of that gear is designed purely for airsoft with the exception of WTF gear as that started out as Paintball kit. If your actual survival depends on the performance of your gear then absolutely, buy good kit. Buy the branded stuff. If your gear just needs to survive a Sunday skirmish once a month then sure, buy it if you want to but if you have other priorities in life like family, mortgage, eating, then Chinese gear is absolutely fine.

See now, this is my point. If all you need is a few M4 mags then that's exactly what those micro style rigs are for. If you have an M14 running midcaps and the game scenario requires you to take more than 4 with you, you're stuffed.

Good point. That is assuming he's setting up using the software on PC or phone and not just bolting it in and hoping for the best.

Hop rubbers will wear out from use before they crack through drying out. The only place you need to get any oil on is the OUTSIDE when you're putting it into the hop unit to help ease it in (if it's a bit tight). The main issue is that getting silicone oil INSIDE the hop rubber will screw up it's ability to properly apply spin to the BB which can result in shots going all over the place. Some folks maintain that you need to apply some silicone lube to your rubber to keep it supple, I'm not convinced. I've had airsoft guns since the original non-blowback TM Desert Eagle and the TM SPAS 12 were released back in the 90's and I can honestly say I've never needed to lube my hop rubber! Hop rubbers are a consumable item, they will wear and need replacing at some point, if a rubber is YEARS old and has sat doing nothing it may go stiff but at that point, throw it away and use a new one. Give you hop rubber a bloody good clean out with water and detergent, dry it off and see if you still have the inconsistency issues. Better yet, replace it with one that hasn't been dunked in oil.

Yes.

Yay! I'm a bad influence!

Phone is usually best for UK Tactical, I've always had good response from them when I do. They even offered to make me a set of straps for a chest rig I'd bought second hand!

Not always a downside. If you can't spend hours fucking about with rearranging pouches and falling down the rabbit hole of trying to find the exact PERFECT pouch for your specific widget then you'll be able to concentrate on just, y'know, having a life.

OK, I have 4 in Ranger Green (on the right) which came from an Emerson Mayflower rig so the bungees are quite short, or 4 on the left in Coyote Tan which I'm fairly sure came from a Warrior chest rig. None in Multiglam though I may have more in tan, I definitely have some in grey and black but that really will look dumb. Otherwise you could get the S&S pull tab kit (if you can find it in stock) as that is about a tenner for a pack of six. Alternatively you could try giving UK Tactical a call and see if they might have some they could sell you?