A few questions

[Insanityx]

Hey everyone

I've mostly just lurked here every now and then to learn a thing or two seems I've only just started and don't have much to share. I've only had the chance to get to one skirmish and got some advice from the guys their but I have a few questions about a couple of things before I go back again.

Most of the guys I talked to recommended me away from Mesh eye protection and I agree on that seems I struggled to see/breath in that mask (The teammates I accidently shot at would agree too).

I was looking at these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160808528485

I was wondering what you all think of these. Also should I maybe go for the yellow lenses?

For the sake of my teeth I was thinking of getting mesh, that said, I noticed at the skirmish several of the guys wearing scarf's or shemagh's. Are the scarf's a good trade off? I can imagine they are more comfortable and easier breath in.

Finally a few of questions about getting my own AEG.

Firstly should I wait for after the next 2 skirmishes to get one? I'm going to the same place so I should be able to get my UKARA after that. My reason for asking is, it costs £17 each time to rent their guns. My last experience is even though I enjoyed the day my gun was clearly outmatched by everything by a lot(It was only me and 2 others with rentals). I'm not very bothered if I have to use a bright green gun for a couple of games, from what I've read once I have the UKARA licence I can re-paint/camo tape it up.

That said, either way I'm looking at what gun to get. Its hard to tell what to look for. So I'm wondering what everyone thinks a good first gun would be? I hear good things about the combat machines. I'm a bit skeptical considering their price and weary that people are going to say good things about almost anything they just spent money on.

My last question is about getting the UKARA license. Although somebody else payed by card for my trip my name was written down. So will that be on record so after my 3rd they will know I am eligible to become a member/registered?

Thanks for reading and responding <3

TL;DR:
1. Are bolle tracker 2's any good?
2. Clear vs Yellow lenses
3. Scarf's vs Mesh
4. Should I get a two tone or wait and pay £34 more on rental guns I don't like?
5. What guns would you recommend to a newb?
6. What do you think of combat machines?
7. How will they know I'm eligible for UKARA? (I do know I need to fill a form in)
9. Did you notice I missed 8?

 

[PhillipR34]

I would wait till you get your UKARA then get a combat machne. They're really good.

 

[Insanityx]

I would wait till you get your UKARA then get a combat machne. They're really good.

Makes sense. Only have to deal with the rental gun 2 more times.

 

[bornleverpuller]

Going into this hobby you have to accept that saving money isn't an option really, personally and I'm close to the same position it's worth waiting. From what I've found gaming so far how good your gun is plays a small part in how you do on the day.

 

[Insanityx]

Going into this hobby you have to accept that saving money isn't an option really, personally and I'm close to the same position it's worth waiting. From what I've found gaming so far how good your gun is plays a small part in how you do on the day.

Yeah, its just a matter of patience I guess. It just bothered me on my skirmish day when I had quite a few situations where I was let down by the gun. Thing like being only 20-30m away and my bb's flying every direction other than where I need them. Maybe I'm just that bad.

I enjoyed the day anyway, just had to spend my time hitting bits of corrugated iron to stop the other team shooting back.

 

[PT247]

TL;DR:
1. Are bolle tracker 2's any good?
2. Clear vs Yellow lenses...... I'd avoid those goggles, they will steam up faster than a fast thing on fast day with an amphetamine habbit. I modded my mesh goggles by adding an extra layer of foam which makes them more comfy. I have some more expensive lensed goggles which open out to give more venting but they still steam up if I am not on the move even with anti-fog spray.
3. Scarf's vs Mesh...... If CQB then wear a mask, out in woodland I tend to take the risk of face shots (which hurt and have drawn blood on occasion, but means I can come up on aim easier so more likely to shoot them before they shoot me).
4. Should I get a two tone or wait and pay £34 more on rental guns I don't like?...... wait and pay an extra £34, get your UKARA and then spend all your money on guns and upgrades!
5. What guns would you recommend to a newb?..... Depends on the areas you play in tbh, if CQB then get a shorter gun like a carbine, if large play areas then a full length assault rifle, if a mixture then a bullpup assault rifle would be a good compromise for size.
6. What do you think of combat machines?
7. How will they know I'm eligible for UKARA? (I do know I need to fill a form in)...... you'll hand your form to the site you play at and they will have a record of who has attended and when, you will have had to sign a disclaimer so they will have a record.
9. Did you notice I missed 8?

 

[Insanityx]

Thanks PT247.

My worry is I struggle with seeing through the mesh. To be honest the mask felt pretty cheap though.

I'm mostly going to stay woodland so I'll prob get some kind of scarf then. I don't mind a little pain. Do you think something like the combat machines would suffice? even if temporary. My thinking is even if it lasts 6 months or so that would give me time to save up for something a bit more pricey.

Good to know about the UKARA. Didn't want to show up with the form and them wonder what the hell I'm doing.

 

[PT247]

don't know much about them, but the M4 mags fit loads of different guns so is a good starting place

 

[proffrink]

Thanks PT247.

My worry is I struggle with seeing through the mesh. To be honest the mask felt pretty cheap though.

I'm mostly going to stay woodland so I'll prob get some kind of scarf then. I don't mind a little pain. Do you think something like the combat machines would suffice? even if temporary. My thinking is even if it lasts 6 months or so that would give me time to save up for something a bit more pricey.

Good to know about the UKARA. Didn't want to show up with the form and them wonder what the hell I'm doing.

In no particular order because I'm a lazy sod:

• I must say that's not really excellent advice on the mesh goggles; if you play on a site where biodegradables are compulsory, then get glasses as people will use cheap bios that shatter on contact with your mesh and send hundreds of little bits of plastic into your eyes. Buy some anti-fog and they should last a while before you need to de-mist them (although obviously this depends a great deal on the time of year and the fit of the goggles, and so sometimes you might find them steaming up very regularly).
• Combat Machine and G&G are good starters' choices as already said.
• Remember that with UKARA, you must play 3 games within a space of time no shorter than 2 months - however, a 'valid defence' for an RIF just requires you to be a regular player at a skirmishing site and so you may be able to purchase an RIF early from the site you play at if it has a shop (but many online retailers will only accept UKARA) - it's all here - here's a link to the form you need too
• Yellow lenses if it's really bright outside (will stop some of the glare); clear for all other times
• (Massively opinionated) Mesh for your face as cloth slips/rips and (very rarely) won't actually stop a BB. Also, sweaty scarfs are not fun scarfs.

 

[PT247]

fair enough re the mesh goggles, Have only come across (in a limited time of playing) most folk with a gun that has cost them a few quid invest in good quality BBs, those that have cheap BBs usually have cheap guns which are not so accurate or powerful to be an issue.

But a good point and good advice.

 

[trinityadam]

only been playing for 4 months but

1. Are bolle tracker 2's any good-not used them
2. Clear vs Yellow lenses- i play with yellow as i cycle and use them less glare .dappled lights have less effect on reflection traversing from open to woodland to buildings.
3. Scarf's vs Mesh-use mesh lower
4. Should I get a two tone or wait and pay £34 more on rental guns I don't like?-depends on your budget you can get a two tone and swap out the painted bits when you have a defence.
5. What guns would you recommend to a newb?-one that works and fires at over 250 as a minium
6. What do you think of combat machines?-got one love it

 

[sp00n]

TL;DR:
1. Are bolle tracker 2's any good? I use either ESS ICE or my Heroshark's, so i cannot say
2. Clear vs Yellow lenses - clear or tinted in bright sun
3. Scarf's vs Mesh - i use a mesh lower, it works well
4. Should I get a two tone or wait and pay £34 more on rental guns I don't like? - thats your choice i couldn't wait lol
5. What guns would you recommend to a newb? - Any G&G Combat Machine
6. What do you think of combat machines? - Best guns in the world i have one, no complaints, great price, seems solid, good ROF (ok its not brilliant but you dont wanna waste too many bb's when you start out), great range, and a year warranty (depending upon the retailer/seller)
7. How will they know I'm eligible for UKARA? (I do know I need to fill a form in) - once you have filled in your form, have it sent to a ukara retailer, you will get emailed notification
9. Did you notice I missed 8? - did you notice i was naked.... oooh wait

 

[Insanityx]

@Proffrink

I'll probably go to Combat South Woodland mostly. I'm tempted to try out the Urban site some when, so mesh is probably the wisest choice. I might grab a shemagh and try it out at woodland one day. The sweat thing was a good call. I didn't even think about that side of it.

As for the goggles bio problem the BB's at the site weren't biodegradable. Thanks for the info though will be useful if I go elsewhere where they use bio.

@Adam

I'd mostly be playing woodland. So maybe yellow would be good. Sounds like its very dependent on the weather with what I'll need. I'm on the side of mesh at the moment. At least until I hear of something that's not too expensive and doesn't get too foggy.

I'm liking the sound of the combat machine

@Sp00n

Do you have a link for those Herosharks? I did a quick google search but couldn't find anything more than a review. They look much better than the alternatives I've seen.

I'm really tempted to go ahead and buy. I'm trying my best to hold on though.

Oh, and I did notice. Please put some undies on.



Thanks for the advice everyone

 

[sp00n]

@Sp00n

Do you have a link for those Herosharks? I did a quick google search but couldn't find anything more than a review. They look much better than the alternatives I've seen.

I'm really tempted to go ahead and buy. I'm trying my best to hold on though.

Oh, and I did notice. Please put some undies on.

Thanks for the advice everyone

unfortunately his site is down, but you can still get them, contact him on face book

undies are for wimps ... free ball all the way :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

(the statement above is in no way true )

 

[PT247]

if you go with lens goggles, these are the ones I mentioned earlier.... come with three sets of lens and a anti-fog wipe. Look into a anti-fog spray, but get advice of what spray to get as some are useless

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESS-VI2-ADVANCER-GOGGLES-SAS-SPECIAL-FORCES-PARA-GRADE1-/270578076185?pt=UK_Sporting_Goods_Sports_Clothing_LE&hash=item3effb5ca19

 

[Tariq]

Those glasses fog up really easily. They are slightly better once you remove the foam lining but still not great.

I just use my pair (tinted) as regular sunglasses now. Fed up with applying anti-fog every game and them still fogging up.

 

[M_P]

I think it varies from.person to person to be honest. A lot of people recommend them but equally a lot don't. I've got a couple of sets, and don't have issues so long as I use the anti fog cloth.

That said I'd still recommend glasses over goggles as like I said above, some people struggle with fogging more than others. Down to sweating I guess?

 

[jcheeseright]

tracker 2's fogged like crazy on me, regardless of what I did, cut some of the foam out.... fog. use really good (FogTech DX) antifog on the lenses... fog. Drill small holes around the edge of the lens for more airflow... fog. Combine all of the above... still foggy!

ESS ICE or ESS Crossbows are my suggestion as an alternative, the lenses come with an antifog coating called 'flowcoat' which is very effective.

As for the rest of it; wait, then buy a combat machine when you can get it in a realistic colour. if you want a gun for all seasons (woodland & CQB) get the combat machine MP5 or a carbine length M4 variant.

 

[Ian_Gere]

Here is most of my opinion.

It's a fact that any lens can and, in the right circumstances, will fog. It's also a fact that the larger the holes in the mesh, the higher the chance of a fragment of BB making it through. It is also a fact that even the most expensive BB's occasionally shatter on impact with something hard and more frequently with each other (when fired on full auto so a stream of them hit one another from behind).

However, having had a fragment of BB in the eye through my Hero Sharks (which have the largest holes of any available mesh goggles I've come across), I can tell you that it isn't anywhere near as bad as it might sound. In fact it's just like getting sand blown in your eye at the beach - it's irritating and will get worse if you rub it - you have to wash your eye out with water IN THE FCUKING SAFE ZONE AND NOWHERE ELSE.

That is also the experience of other members here. If you consider the physics involved, it makes sense. If the BB shatters then it has dissipated much of its energy, so there isn't much left as velocity. Also the force which will be applied to your eye is a function of mass x velocity and each fragment which, while tumbling its irregular shape through the air, can fit through mesh without bouncing off (even if it is theoretically small enough along a particular axis to fit through the holes) is some small fraction of the sphere. Furthermore, any contact which a fragment makes with the mesh on its way through will also slow it down a bit.

Lastly on this topic, there never has been anybody blinded, or even injured badly enough to be worth reporting, by a BB either penetrating or fragmenting through even cheapo mesh...

Yellow lenses are specifically made for anti-glare, not as general shades. So they are good for oncoming vehicle lights, torches, environments where sunlight from any angle is being reflected into the eyes, and dusk/dawn where the angle of the sunlight puts it in your eyes. The compromise is that they alter your perception of colour, and for our purposes green most importantly, which can make spotting camouflage in foliage more difficult.

For the love of all that's funky, do whatever you need to do and buy a realistic looking AEG. Really mate. Two-tones are an abomination and the sooner we, as a community, reject them en mass, the sooner the likes of JustBBGuns will be unable to prey on the young and/or inexperienced would be airsofter and the sooner the flaws of the VCRA, as it stands, will become apparent to the police, who will respond as they always do with bad law and cease trying to enforce the bits that make no sense.

Edit: oh yeah, and imo scarves/shemaghs are not sufficient to prevent BB's knocking teeth out and, as has been said, they make you sweat. Mesh can be uncomfortable, but you can add foam to the inside along where it sits on your cheekbones and/or nose to make it just fine (like mine).