Kids- how old?

SSD · Oct 26, 2024

Hi all,

I am looking for some advice. My son wants an airsoft gun for Christmas but I’m concerned he’s just too young. He will be eleven years old in March and from what I can see most clubs starting age is 12, but I’m unsure if that’s twelve without a parent. I have tried phoning four clubs in the central belt of Scotland and nobody has picked up.

To give a little background he has shot my shotgun at a few clays with my help so he has had experience with a live firearm.

I would appreciate feedback and from your personal experience, i.e. do kids too young ruin the game of airsoft? feedback from this topic will determine if I go ahead with this present.

Thanks

Impulse · Oct 26, 2024

I wouldn't say it's too young, but yes, most sites start at 12 years old and that's with a parent present, however one of my local sites in the south also starts at 10+. That being said, I've seen some kids at my local airsoft sites who are definitely under 12 and I assume they lie about their age when they sign up, much like I'm sure a lot of people in this country have lied before about being old enough to get an alcoholic drink!

If you don't have any sites near you that he can play at until he's 12, it might be worth highlighting that to him and asking if he still wants one or would rather get one next year, ready to start on his 12th birthday, or even for his 12th birthday. Alternatively, if he does really want one, you could always get one and then shoot targets or run drills with him. I think I started shooting at about 9 years old myself, when my parents bought me an air rifle and taught me all about firearm safety and also how to shoot, and I didn't start airsoft until I was 14. I would just sit in the garden with my father and we'd shoot cans on the weekend sometimes.

SSD · Oct 26, 2024

Exactly my thought presses regarding the targets ?? there’s a public footpath at the end of the garden so shooting there’s a no-no for me.

Do clubs usually have ranges in them? I’ll check myself but if anyone knows of anywhere in the central belt with ranges please let me know.

thanks for the speedy reply.

cant wait for myself until he’s old enough ?

Enid_Puceflange · Oct 26, 2024

I’d guess that most sites wouldn’t have an issue if you arrived on a game day and explained the situation, and asked if you could use the target range when it was free/available.

Also in Edinburgh is “Edinburgh Action Air Club”

An indoor organised event using Attack Sense electronic reactive targets

That would probably be my go to for him, as it’s indoors with nobody shooting back at him to allow him to get use and a feel for a replica

(run at Edinburgh College - Sighthill)

Find the group on FB ?

ButcherBill · Oct 26, 2024

Area 66 near Kirkintilloch do kids only games, check them out on FB or their website for details. I've inly been once but is a well laid out site & was well managed when I was there.

Enid_Puceflange · Oct 26, 2024

ButcherBill said:
Area 66 near Kirkintilloch do kids only games, check them out on FB or their website for details. I've inly been once but is a well laid out site & was well managed when I was there.

Oh yeah!

A66 kids days do seem to be growing in popularity

Kids n parents play side by side, bound to be good fun

Tackle · Oct 26, 2024

SSD said:
Hi all,

I am looking for some advice. My son wants an airsoft gun for Christmas but I’m concerned he’s just too young. He will be eleven years old in March and from what I can see most clubs starting age is 12, but I’m unsure if that’s twelve without a parent. I have tried phoning four clubs in the central belt of Scotland and nobody has picked up.

To give a little background he has shot my shotgun at a few clays with my help so he has had experience with a live firearm.

I would appreciate feedback and from your personal experience, i.e. do kids too young ruin the game of airsoft? feedback from this topic will determine if I go ahead with this present.

Thanks

Apologies if I missed it, but do YOU play ?

SSD · Oct 26, 2024

Don't play myself but a great opportunity for us to do something together.

BigStew · Oct 26, 2024

The Depot at port Glasgow has started some sort of target shooting day maybe worth looking into. Can't say for other sites but I know Section 8 the min age is 12 and the minor player must always be with in sight of their guardian and a full face mask is mandatory. With contacting site you will be better off emailing most airsoft sites are run as part time gigs and are generally one man shows.

Tackle · Oct 26, 2024

SSD said:
Don't play myself but a great opportunity for us to do something together.

Definitely.

Reason I asked if you played was:

1. If you get three games under your belt at your nearest site, you'll have your ukara, so you won't have to buy, & then gift, your son an abomination two-tone, he'll love his dad even more if he's got an all black rifle, cos don't forget.......

View attachment 138816

2. Get to know your local site, including the staff & owner, once they see you are a sensible, responsible player, it'll make broaching the subject of your son coming along to play much easier.

i pretty much started out playing at a number of sites all run by one guy, who I got to know quite well, as long with his staff, so when I approached him to ask whether my son could try a gameday, as well as a friends kid (the friend was also a regular player), he had no problem allowing it, on the understanding that the boys had to stick with us all day, & we were expected to ensure the safety aspects were drilled in to them.

My son was 9 (I think ?), the other lad was probably 8, & both had a great day with no issues.

My son just turned 27, is a dad himself, & still plays when he gets a chance, along with his gf.

"The family that airsofts together, stays together"?

SSD · Oct 26, 2024

Absolute magic feedback guys, thanks.

I'm completely sold, going ahead with the Christmas present with the plan of going to Edinburgh Action Air Club and Area 66 as the guys have advised above, then progressing into full matches when he's old enough. His gran has also given him the green light to put as many targets in her garden as he wants.

We just visited Land Warrior Sports for a wee look and just wanted to ransack the place ? Yeah and there's no way in hell I'll be gifting him a two-tone ?

Obviously, I have to get one as well ?

Rogerborg · Oct 26, 2024

A solid plan. I'd echo the recommendation for Area 66, it's a friendly and well run site, with good facilities and a decent access road and parking - the significance of this will become instantly apparently if you try Section 8 or Players of War instead.

They do rental package if you don't want to make a big investment until you've tried it. If you go ahead and buy yourself before you try, the only other thing you'll need is eye and face protection. They'll want to see a single piece full face mask on your son, i.e. a paintball style mask like a Dye, or Valken MI-7. You'll only need eye protection.

SSD · Oct 26, 2024

SSD said:
Yeah and there's no way in hell I'll be gifting him a two-tone ?

Two-tone it is, I can't squeeze in three matches weeks before Christmas. ?

ButcherBill · Oct 26, 2024

There are plenty decent AEP's & gas too in the classifieds

SSD · Oct 27, 2024

Enid_Puceflange · Oct 27, 2024

SSD said:
That’s his equipment sorted and ordered, think that's a very good start. Area 66 doesn’t do anything for his age but will allow us to use the range on game days, that’s great as it will let him see what goes on day to day, plus will let me spark a relationship with the staff.

Empire VFORCE™ Armor Full Face Mask Gen.3 View attachment 138860

G&G Armament ARP9 2.0 Enhanced Combat Machine AEG View attachment 138861Two Tone: Two Tone Red

ASG 11.1V 900mAh 15C LiPo Stick Battery

ASG Balance Charger w/ Auto-Stop - LiPo / LiFe

Giant Power LiPo Safe Charging Bag

Big Dragon 100rnd Magazine Speed Loader

Delta Armory Combat Gloves

Evolution 0.20g Target BIO BBs; 1kg Bag

Tbh, the guys at A66 are always good.

Good marshalling and a decent atmosphere on site

Glad to hear you are on the path to financial oblivion ?

Tommikka · Oct 27, 2024

SSD said:
Empire VFORCE™ Armor Full Face Mask Gen.3 View attachment 138860

I don’t want to diss the VForce Armour

They were my first set of goggles, remained in my lending set until they never came back one day - they will be in the back cupboard of one of my mates , they are pretty much the standard for site rental goggles (A version of the VForce Armour was released as the ‘VForce Rental) and my favourite production set of goggles is the VForce Grillz (I own a number of sets)

But - has he tried them on ?

They are a good all rounder, but all goggles are dependant on the head that they are put on

As he is 11 knocking on 12 he might have a smaller head. I have a big head, and though they are a good all rounder they may be loose on a small head, or as time goes on the strap elastic may loosen

Keep a check on the goggle fit over time

Like most entry level / rental goggles the main goggle of the Armour is a hard plastic, as you go up in the ranges the Grills etc are rubberised. This can provide more ‘give’ to press tighter or looser for head fit

If not already, take him out to a shop if you can to try some on

The standard go to in airsoft has been the Dye range. They aim for lower profiles which can often work better for small heads

My second goggle set was the i3, and the i4 went even smaller.

The i3 was about the smallest that I could take without exposing too much chin

The i4, i5 etc do command a higher price in the Dye range though

SSD · Oct 27, 2024

Ordered online so hasn’t tried them on, these are just for starting out as no one will be shooting at him until he’s old enough to attend a proper match.

The boys head is masssssive so there won’t be a problem fitting, I think ??.It’s me with the peanut skull ?.

Cheers

Enid_Puceflange · Oct 27, 2024

SSD said:
The boys head is masssssive so there won’t be a problem fitting, I think ??.It’s me with the peanut skull ?.

Cheers

View attachment 138875

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