Blank Firing Gun Kills

[Shamal]

I have seen youtube videos of players with machine guns that fire and you see the muzzle flash. Thats the sort of firearm that I refer to in the reenactment scene, which is where they belong and not on a game field.

I use my spitfire with muzzle flash on night games. It all adds to the realism. 

 

[Tommikka]

Something like spitfire tracers is fine - it’s just a light

Players using blank firers in a game are an absolute no. (Even if they are UK legal with sealed barrels etc)

I don’t like the slippery slope trope (ban this today and they will take everything)

But for airsoft skirmishing the ‘realism’ factor is the only reason why the skirmisher defence was added, establishing skirmishing as a level of ‘playing reenactment’

Stating that we don’t need any realism means there is no need for RIFs

Definitely no to flame flashes out of a barrel, yes if you want it with light up flashes, yes to appropriate recreational pyro and yes to suitably managed ‘display’ pyro

 

[AirSniper]

I have seen some US airsoft games where there are players with real machine guns firing blank training rounds...

What people don't realise is that a blank trainer has a wadding in it that is like a projectile, so you shoot someone with a training round at close quarters, you risk maiming the person.

You have this issue where the wad plug in a "Bang and Scare em" cartridge, usually home made, ejects at velocities that can seriously hurt or kill someone.

As things take off in the US, they catch on here.

I see no need for this level of realism, Airsoft has it all that is needed and in a safe format, unlike people wanting to bring formats that are potentially lethal to a game, sorry, not up for that. If you want more power or bigger bangs then get a shotgun licence and go clay shooting. 

 

[Rogerborg]

What people don't realise is that a blank trainer has a wadding in it that is like a projectile

That's the thing, I'd be astonished if most airsofters don't know that.  I'd be pretty certain that site owners will, and the gun owners certainly will, so why they're allowing it boggles the mind.  I imagine it's: "My intention is to aim over their heads, it'll be fine because accidents never happen."

As things take off in the US, they catch on here.

Fortunately we don't have a profusion of live firearms here from which to shoot blanks.  Even if someone does turn up with a blank firing gun, it should have a blocked barrel and the best they can do is to blow their own nose off through a top vent.

But I completely agree, keep that well away from airsoft fields.  I don't even like TAG rounds, as on a back of the envelope calculation of the claimed 32m/s and 30g I make that 15.36J, running pretty close to the 16J air gun limit.  They are certainly not airsoft guns by any stretch of the imagination (so need an air gun licence in Scotland), and are far beyond what EN166F eye protection is rated for.  I await "But, but, I only intend to lob them, and accidents only happen to other people."

 

[Samurai]

Don't worry. In the UK half the players would faint hearing the first blank shot and the next day youtube would be full of videos of "REAL STEEL GUN SHOT MADE MY EAR BLEED".

 

[Rogerborg]

the next day youtube would be full of videos of "REAL STEEL GUN SHOT MADE MY EAR BLEED".

Well....

I am developing very mild tinnitus, and it's not from work or concerts.

It's either from motorcycling air noise or from airsoft pyro.

I almost always wear (and have almost always worn) earplugs when setting out to ride at over 40mph. Still, it could be that.

Or it could be pyro. I don't wear ear protection in airsoft, but I'm coming round to think that I should.

Personally I think that a .209 primer or Mk3 is sufficient indoors. If folk don't hear and take those, they're unlikely to take a 9mm or Mk5 either.  That's earball overkill.

And 9mm or Mk5 is all you need outdoors.

Even then, a 130dB-at-1-inch Mk5 going off right by your ear outdoors will do just as much irreversible damage as if it goes off indoors.

I will now tune back in to my scheduled "eeeeeeeeee" sound.

 

[hitmanNo2]

Lots of blank firers used at games likes MSW in the US.  Always used responsibly from the footage I've seen.  They're treated as a LARP element with a significant MED.  I think they add massively to the vibe and would be fine with them.

 

[EDcase]

Personally I don't think BFGs or pyro should be louder than a 209 primer.  Definitely not indoors.

There's no need to go louder than that as everyone in the 'kill' zone will definitely hear it.

Blank firing guns at airsoft events may add to immersion for milsim games but not necessary for general game days.  I think UK has more noise restrictions than the US sites.

I'm sure there would be resident complaints if sites had constant semi and auto blank fire.

 

[Tommikka]

Well....

I am developing very mild tinnitus, and it's not from work or concerts.

It's either from motorcycling air noise or from airsoft pyro.

I almost always wear (and have almost always worn) earplugs when setting out to ride at over 40mph. Still, it could be that.

Or it could be pyro. I don't wear ear protection in airsoft, but I'm coming round to think that I should.

Personally I think that a .209 primer or Mk3 is sufficient indoors. If folk don't hear and take those, they're unlikely to take a 9mm or Mk5 either.  That's earball overkill.

And 9mm or Mk5 is all you need outdoors.

Even then, a 130dB-at-1-inch Mk5 going off right by your ear outdoors will do just as much irreversible damage as if it goes off indoors.

I will now tune back in to my scheduled "eeeeeeeeee" sound.

I used to dance up amongst the speakers, I was there for the peak of walkmans and preferred in ear headphones, I’m fond of blowing things up 

Im not deaf, but my hearing is very selective 

 

[Rogerborg]

Always used responsibly from the footage I've seen. 

They will be, until they're not.  Given that the purpose is to create a dakka-dakka-dakka noise, is there any argument for doing that using devices that can and have killed people, when you could achieve the same result with an mp3 player and a speaker?

If the critical immersion element is that they're creating muzzle flashes out of an open barrel, they can get sodded right off, because that's the bit that kills you when a pebble, shell sliver, wadding, or rogue live round joins the game.

For context, I was at an English Civil War reenactment when a small smoothbore black powder cannon cooked off while being rammed.  Poor show on the sponging, but the rammer was lucky/smart enough to be using good technique to "throw" the ramrod down it without gripping it tightly, which is why he didn't lose his hand entirely.  However, the wad of grass that he was stuffing it with came out fast enough to turn his hand into cooked hamburger.

Clear barrel "blank" firers are bloody dangerous, and I have no desire to be anywhere near them.

 

[Eugene59]

Are blank gun collections allowed to be displayed here?

Forward venting ones?

 

[Rogerborg]

Are blank gun collections allowed to be displayed here?

Forward venting ones?

This is an airsoft site. Why would you want to show us anything other than airsoft guns?

 

[Tommikka]

Are blank gun collections allowed to be displayed here?

Forward venting ones?

Depends on what you mean by “displayed here”

This is an airsoft forum.  Blank firing guns are not relevant.

No matter what form of venting 

If you however are referring to physically ‘displaying’ blank firers in a location in the UK (eg mounting them on a wall display) then UK LEGALLY COMPLIANT blank firers are legal to possess, without legal controls other than common sense (they do not need to be stored in gun cabinets etc) But should not be accessible to minors or in sight from inappropriate locations - hung up on the wall near a window could result in police at the door to investigate 

Most importantly, forward venting blank firers are not UK legal, and would be treated as a Section 5 firearm.  You would need a firearms licence, which is unlikely to be authorised for a blank firer, and would need to be stored in an approved gun cabinet 

 

[Tackle]

Are blank gun collections allowed to be displayed here?

Forward venting ones?

Welcome, the likely answer is no, it's a dedicated Airsoft forum & while privately many of us have interests in most associated kit, displaying such stuff, especially section 5 kit, may bring unwanted attention on the forum, as well as Airsoft on the whole, from the "authorities", some of whom may dislike all gun hobbies, especially in an election year?

 

[EDcase]

Are blank gun collections allowed to be displayed here?

Forward venting ones?

If you're in the the UK then either get rid of it or never show it to anyone as its illegal.

If the vent is not straight through from the breech then its a film prop and can ONLY be owned with a Film/TV Armorer certificate.

If the vent is straight from the breech like a normal barrel then its totally illegal and would be treated as a section 5 firearm so VERY bad to own.