Old, fat and broken - loadout advice

[Loki7491]

I have been involved in airsoft for a little over 30 years, between that and my day job, my body is old and broken and I have expanded in girth.

But I have no intention of stopping, merely adjusting.

I am of the opinion now that I need to be slower and further from the action, so sniping is on the cards (maybe DMR in a ghillie)

I am looking at the Novvi SSX303 (a Mk23 carbine) as a primary and maybe a Mk23 as a secondary for mag.compatability. My issue is previous Novvi experiences have been bad. The SSQ22 (KC02 copy) was awful and I don't fancy the disappointment again.

Does anybody have firsthand experience with the SSX303? Will it work as a DMR / sniper platform?

Are there comparable alternatives i should be considering for a stealthy option?

 

[Baser]

Have a mate with a SSX303 and he raves about it.  I’ve looked at getting one to supplement my LCT G3 DMR which is beast to carry around all day. I liked the mag compatibility with the MK23 as well. It was a good gun from new but the upgrades available make it very accurate. 
 

Other popular option would be the Vorsk VMP2D as the DMR and a VMP1 for under 30m as they use the same mags as well.  

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

I have had the SSX303 for around 3 years I think. My first game with it was in temperatures around 10C (i.e. not really cold, but not hot either), and I found it horribly inconsistent due to cool down of the mags. I then purchased a shot shell HPA magazine adapter from Airtac, a tank, regulator, and line (the aliexpress regulators+ lines are cheap and fine) - all in it probably added another £130 to the purchase price of the gun or so (and I use the HPA kit now with lots of other guns). That instantly solved the consistency issue.

I have a cheap foam filled suppressor that I use with it - this is essential really if you want to make the most out of the gun - they are super quiet with one.

Accuracy wise, I originally found it only 'average' - I added a tridos cnc hop arm and mini DC thumb screw which solved that.

I now have a super quiet semi auto gun, that is accurate out to a good range, and I can perfectly tune to be bang on the sites DMR power limit. It's a really fun alternative to AEG's/Sniper rifles to choose for the odd game, and the quietness is a nice dimension that occasionally can be devastatingly useful.

 

[Impulse]

A guy at my local site has the exact same issues as you (older, wider, and broken) and he uses an SSX303 as a DMR and loves it. His has the shot shell HPA adapter as @The_Lord_Poncho stated above as that makes carrying ammo a lot easier and a lot lighter.

I personally don't like it because the trigger pull is horrible due to the double action trigger, and it's harder to cock the hammer (teehee) manually, but if you get the right parts they shoot well and with the HPA adapter they can be tuned very easily.

Another popular option that goes more towards sniping (as it's a bolt action) would be a Tac41 lite. They're very light and very easy to carry, with a single extended mag holding 110rds you may even get away with not carrying any spare mags for it and just reload the mag between games.

 

[Tackle]

Hey Loki, I think there's a few of us on here experiencing similar issues, well done for not letting it get the better of you.

I get your reasons for mag compatability etc, between rifle & pistol, but cant help but think that the benefits of the lighter carbine will be offset by the weight of the numerous gas mags you'll need to carry, especially if you want any kind of reasonable ammo capacity ?.

Obviously a dmr role puts you midway between assaulter & sniper, bit more limited on fps, & probable range, than a fully set up sniper.

Why not consider something like an m14 socom, light & not the full length rifle, but excellent range, especially if you can get it to the dmr limits (& ive heard good things about players insulating inside the body for further sound reduction), aeg so good all year round, & technically you'd probably get away with just one mag if you run a hi-cap, meaning you can slim down your load carrying kit to the bare essentials,  & a well set up nbb mk23 or Nov equivalent & 2 or 3 mags should cover your sneaky sidearm needs.

Obviously im not trying to teach you to suck eggs lol, you've been at it at least 5-6 years longer than me, but being equally broken means ive had to drastically rethink what i use.

Worth considering ?

 

[Loki7491]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

I am anti-HPA so that option is out for me, I'm afraid. (In engineering terms, it is a fantastic method to sling plastic balls down a brass tube, i just don't like additional stuff and the evolutionary step backwards)

I've had the DMR powered AEGs out this evening, testing various set ups for noise. Also found my old MK1 Ruger Carbine. Made a custom suppressor for it with 3d printed baffles and foam. The trigger click is louder than the muzzle noise. With 5x 17rnd mags, I'm gonna give that a go (because I already own it)

Tried my son's Ares boltie. I could get used to that i suppose.

I note the weight issue with the mags for the Novvi. I'll put that on hold for now.

I used to have a Cyma M14 SOCOM, all tricked out by the previous owner. I loved it. Range, accuracy, quietness (still at 340fps) but to use an optic on it i needed a neck like a giraffe!

Just took a look at the Tac41... I'll do some more research into that as it could be a winner. 

Thanks again.

 

[The_Lord_Poncho]

Good luck! The other advantage going down the M14 route is the opportunity to trick it out and give it the classic Black Hawk Down look. Do beware though that stripping them down to upgrade is a bit of a pain if you are tempted to go down that route.

Be good to report back how you find the Ruger - a quirky gun for sure, but super cheap! If you get good results, I might be tempted to try one out myself for something a little different.

 

[Lozart]

I used to have a Cyma M14 SOCOM, all tricked out by the previous owner. I loved it. Range, accuracy, quietness (still at 340fps) but to use an optic on it i needed a neck like a giraffe!

As a fellow M14 enthusiast, there are many ways to skin that particular cat: cheek risers, low profile sight mounts etc.

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[Impulse]

As a fellow M14 enthusiast, there are many ways to skin that particular cat: cheek risers, low profile sight mounts etc.

View attachment 154253

... That is one nice lookin' m14. I love what you've done with that!

I am cursed with a love of the m14, but I don't like using AEGs as I've fully taken the GBBR pill.

 

[Lozart]

... That is one nice lookin' m14. I love what you've done with that!

I am cursed with a love of the m14, but I don't like using AEGs as I've fully taken the GBBR pill.

WE it is then!

 

[Impulse]

WE it is then!

That's the plan! But my god is it expensive... and I need to buy a car first, which is also expensive.

But I will get one. Eventually. I want a GBBR m21 for regular use and 'Namsoft!

 

[Loki7491]

As a starter for 10 points, all made up from gear i already had.

1. Crafted Novvi cape in everglade.

2. Cheap micro chest rig in ATACS-FG

3. Walther P99 with suppressor

4. KJW Ruger Mk1 cabine with a 2-7x32

EDIT: the suppressor on the MK1 is made from a pool cue extension handle, 3D printed baffles, foam inserts and an aluminium over tube. The actual suppression is only about half of the tube.

Currently set up for 5 KJW mags (4+1) and the same for the P99.

Primary can be swapped out for M4 based mags for AEG DMR if required.

Ruger is currently doing circa 475fps so a good starting point in terms of power. Garden isn't long enough to dial in hop for max range test, so that'll have to wait.

Also got an option for carrying Ares Stryker mags so I can steal my sons boltie if required.

I had a WE M14 with 7 mags on a belt kit. Weighed a frigging tonne but when I'd fine tuned it, it sent Madbull .36 for miles. Apart from the weight, cost and inconvenience of 20 round mags in such a beast, I loved it.

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