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Old School Airsofters.

My old man grabbed the CA M249 and it was phenomenal. 

STAR released a plastic model which started to appear at our site and I don't think I ever saw one work well.
Weirdly enough, I had one & it was awesome, only time it played up was when the trigger microswitch burnt out, apparently a very common problem, but a microswitch from maplins & 30 minutes fiddling & it never failed again. 

In fact I remember a game at Fort Amherst, 6 249's were in play, 5 lightweight stars that performed flawlessly & 1 CA heavyweight, & mid game the CA jammed on full auto, causing its owner to rip it open to remove the battery before the motor burnt out. 

BUT that owner was a guy affectionately known as the "Hand of M", a legendary tech?, any wonder it packed up?

 
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It's amazing what you used to get away with pre vcra. I remember going down to wolf armouries with a hard guitar case and buying whatever. Left the boxes in store and put them in the case as it was less obvious on the tube. Different times. Actually the ritual was walk in with my brother, try some stuff on the range, pop next door for an epic kebab and think. Then go back into wolf to purchase the one we chose. Good Times! 

 
I started in 2001, when I went a bit nuts with the whole Black hawk down look at that time.  It is amazing how technology has improved the guns and gadgets in airsoft.  I have definitely calmed down over the years with buying all sorts to start off with just because it was the “thing” at that time.  This is apparent seeing new airsofters now.  After going through the M4, HK phases, I’m more than happy with my limited gear and load out, which works for me.

 
I started in 2001, when I went a bit nuts with the whole Black hawk down look at that time
If people like you didn't we wouldn't have gotten the M733 and M14 from TM!

Trying to think of all the craze weapons now. There was the blackhawk down stuff. 

Classic army m15cqbr builds. I remember that having the magic gearbox (apparently). 

Western arms infinity race guns. 

 
@Sneaky Black Hawk Down got me into airsofting too! A mate at army cadets had replicas of the M733 and an M16 of the Bravo Two Zero variety. Went round their house to have a blat with them in the garden and next thing I was running about the woods at the local skirmish site.. haven’t looked back since!

 
If people like you didn't we wouldn't have gotten the M733 and M14 from TM!

Trying to think of all the craze weapons now. There was the blackhawk down stuff. 

Classic army m15cqbr builds. I remember that having the magic gearbox (apparently). 

Western arms infinity race guns. 


@Sneaky Black Hawk Down got me into airsofting too! A mate at army cadets had replicas of the M733 and an M16 of the Bravo Two Zero variety. Went round their house to have a blat with them in the garden and next thing I was running about the woods at the local skirmish site.. haven’t looked back since!
Yeah I remember my TM M733.....

 
I'm feeling like I'm the only one who didn't get into airsoft because of a film. For me it was a case of flicking through a copy of gunmart looking for my next air pistol when I saw an article about skirmishing at Electrowerkz. I'd tried paintball but found it rediculously expensive so this appealed to me straight away. A couple of weeks later I'd spent 2/3 of my tax rebate on guns and gear and I haven't looked back

 
I'm feeling like I'm the only one who didn't get into airsoft because of a film. For me it was a case of flicking through a copy of gunmart looking for my next air pistol when I saw an article about skirmishing at Electrowerkz. I'd tried paintball but found it rediculously expensive so this appealed to me straight away. A couple of weeks later I'd spent 2/3 of my tax rebate on guns and gear and I haven't looked back


I got into airsoft guns pre-VCRA, because I like guns. The shop where I bought my model aeroplanes sold a LOT of airsoft pistols which is where I got my first one (a NBB TM Desert Eagle). That shop closed down but a comic/model shop opened up and they were selling airsoft guns too. So I bought a TM SPAS (like you do). Me and my mate that shared a house used to use our guns to run around the house shooting each other when were drunk!

Skirmishing came quite a bit later when a buddy of mine persuaded us to go to The Mall. And the rest is (expensive) history!

 
The shop where I bought my model aeroplanes sold a LOT of airsoft pistols which is where I got my first one (a NBB TM Desert Eagle). That shop closed down but a comic/model shop opened up and they were selling airsoft guns too.


My first airsoft gun was a TM USP Springer that I had to cut out and fill in a form from GunMart magazine and send a cheque to mail order. Took 3 weeks to arrive as the cheque has to clear first before it shipped. I was 15-16 so around 1996-97. We didn't even have the internet at home then.

My second Airsoft gun was a TM Glock 17 springer from a Toy Shop in Bournemouth when I was around 17, so 1998 ish. They had them behind the counter, right next to a Sylvanian Families display. Interesting mix there.

The first AEG I set eyes on 'in the real' was a TM Steyr AUG in a Comic Shop also in Bournemouth. It was in a glass display case and it looked the coolest thing ever.

I got into Tournament Paintball shortly thereafter so shelved any notion of playing Airsoft for 5 years or so as it zapped every penny (and them some) that I made in employment.

But those pre-VCRA days were awesome. Good times  - life felt so much simpler.

 
my first AEG was a TM MP5K £150 + battery + trickle charger. this must be 2003-2004

being fps obsessed i bought a new spring and tried to upgrade it myself.

i could never get it to work again and within a month and maybe 1k rounds i sold the lot for £60 posted.

i bet with the youtube videos these days i could of done it. 

i also remember buyng a TM boys m4a1 - living room skirmishes.  never know what happened to the boys series

 
I remember when these and WA were the only 1911 style pistols. Pre hi-capa and WE days.

But WA were too nice to skirmish and JAC too expensive.

So i went with a KSC USP compact, and loved it (around 2002-2003 i think)

 
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