The 'How Did Your Airsoft Day Go? Thread

[The_Lord_Poncho]

By 'gun sock' I presume you mean one of these

View attachment 113536

An actual sock wouldn't stop a BB at all.

That's the one good thing Absolute Airsoft insisted on having.

Driver Wood too - strongly enforced, and the safe zone feels so much, well, safer as a result. One of the reasons I take mates to Driver Wood for their first experience of the game. I find it bonkers that all sites don't do it.

For something so cheap (I knocked up four of them on the sewing machine for pennies, but should be free to borrow from sites with a small deposit put down), there really is no excuse. Unless people are lunatics about the sleek lines of their gats fore ends being disrupted....

 

[Cannonfodder]

That's the one good thing Absolute Airsoft insisted on having

We all know why that is

Sunday's trip down to Ambush started off badly as the gods of public transport were clearly in a bad mood that morning. One bus that was replacing a train was a no show and another train being 25 minutes late meant that I missed the first couple of games.

Fortunately things did start to pick up and the rest of the day went well with some well fought games and no obvious cheating or people playing silly buggers. To top it off I also managed to get caught on film by the site photographer so that's always a bonus 

View attachment 113673

 

[Rogerborg]

Very harsh; I have never been to a site that penalises players for shooting in the game zone.

Yup, I'll now rant the other way about having a not-safe-not-game zone.  The delineation should be absolutely clear to everyone, including and especially first timers.

I'm baffled by why so many sites seem to make such an absolute hash of the basics.

 

[EDcase]

Very harsh; I have never been to a site that penalises players for shooting in the game zone.

Wycombe Airsoft ask players not to shoot walking on the way to the game area (out of the safe zone) because they also have junior paintball games nearby.

 

[Colin Allen]

Yup, I'll now rant the other way about having a not-safe-not-game zone.  The delineation should be absolutely clear to everyone, including and especially first timers.

I'm baffled by why so many sites seem to make such an absolute hash of the basics.

Probably because a lot of site owners/managers would be incapable of looking after a piece of gravel.

It really is quite easy, isn't it?  There is the safe zone and areas where BBs might be flying (chrono/range and game zone).  All of my regular sites manage this well; there is good signage and the delineation between the areas is very clear.  In addition, the transitions between safe and non-safe are designed such that a random BB shot towards the safe zone gate from non-safe cannot make its way in without making at least one 90 degree turn.

Wycombe Airsoft ask players not to shoot walking on the way to the game area (out of the safe zone) because they also have junior paintball games nearby.

Which is absolutely reasonable if that is made very clear to players and there is highly visible signage.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

a site can have all the clear signage, shouty marshalls and mandatory things you stick on the end of it.

the question is:

do we trust the average airsofter to do it?

the answer?

 

[Colin Allen]

the question is:

do we trust the average airsofter to do it?

No, which is why sites need to deal far more robustly with the fuckwits.

At one of my regular sites, part of the safety brief warns players not to shoot towards the few adjacent properties and sets out the consequences.  They can only be shot towards from a very small area of the very large site and are situated such that they are not in the line of fire for any games; you have to make a conscious decision to shoot at people's homes.

Just before the last game, a player started shooting towards them; a very angry site owner told him rather forcefully to leave the site.  One of the things that I like about the site is that they are not afraid to throw out people who are behaving like idiots or ruining the day for other people.

 

[Beorn]

No, which is why sites need to deal far more robustly with the fuckwits.

At one of my regular sites, part of the safety brief warns players not to shoot towards the few adjacent properties and sets out the consequences.  They can only be shot towards from a very small area of the very large site and are situated such that they are not in the line of fire for any games; you have to make a conscious decision to shoot at people's homes.

Just before the last game, a player started shooting towards them; a very angry site owner told him rather forcefully to leave the site.  One of the things that I like about the site is that they are not afraid to throw out people who are behaving like idiots or ruining the day for other people.

You probably know yourself @Colin Allen but there are playing fields very near to Red1 Chislehurst and there will often be kids playing footy on a Sunday morn, both times I've been down there marshals made a point during briefing of telling players not to shoot out into the playing fields on purpose. The fact people need to be told (and will still subsequently ignore it if they think they can get away with it) does indicate the generally pitiful state of the moral and intellectual playing field.

As a relatively new player I find the 'safe' zone to feel quite unnerving most of the time and I do find myself worrying about how blasé other people are r.e safety. Making those barrel socks mandatory in the safe area seems like a no brainer. It almost seems like the sort of thing that airsofters and site owners should throw their weight behind en masse. Seems like such a simple and effective solution to make things safer

 

[Colin Allen]

You probably know yourself @Colin Allen but there are playing fields very near to Red1 Chislehurst and there will often be kids playing footy on a Sunday morn, both times I've been down there marshals made a point during briefing of telling players not to shoot out into the playing fields on purpose. The fact people need to be told (and will still subsequently ignore it if they think they can get away with it) does indicate the generally pitiful state of the moral and intellectual playing field.

As a relatively new player I find the 'safe' zone to feel quite unnerving most of the time and I do find myself worrying about how blasé other people are r.e safety. Making those barrel socks mandatory in the safe area seems like a no brainer. It almost seems like the sort of thing that airsofters and site owners should throw their weight behind en masse. Seems like such a simple and effective solution to make things safer

The less said about Red1 Chislehurst, the better.  In my opinion, it is a potentially excellent site which is ruined by very poor management, organisation and marshalling.

The boundary with the sports field is a case in point.  The site owners need to put up a proper barrier to prevent BBs straying onto it; it is their responsibility to take every action possible to ensure that it cannot happen.  Not only is there a potential risk to the football playing children and their families, but shooting BBs onto or over someone's property without their permission is potentially a criminal offence.

Unfortunately, airsoft does seem to attract a fair few people whose knuckles drag across the floor when they walk and who struggle with basic morality and empathy.  A little while ago, I was berated by a group of players for pointing out that one of them had just pulled the trigger in the safe zone for the third time in a few minutes, after I had already told him not to on the previous two occasions.  Apparently, pointing it out in a rather pissed off tone was disrespectful and out of order, but repeatedly pulling the trigger in the safe zone was not.

Having encountered barrel socks, I am also convinced that they should be mandatory.
 

 

[Cannonfodder]

Being good mates with the guys who basically set up the school for the owner of Red1 and were subsequently screwed over by him, I'm not surprised that they don't have a clue about running a bath let alone a decent airsoft site. There's reasons why I don't shop at his store despite it being the closest to me

 

[Colin Allen]

Being good mates with the guys who basically set up the school for the owner of Red1 and were subsequently screwed over by him, I'm not surprised that they don't have a clue about running a bath let alone a decent airsoft site. There's reasons why I don't shop at his store despite it being the closest to me

The sad thing is that the playing area is really rather good; it has lots of interesting structures, including a great trench system.  

 

[Tommikka]

do we trust the average airsofter to do it?

the answer?

I don’t trust anyone

I look both ways on roundabouts, in all directions at mini roundabouts and both ways in one way streets 

An an event many many years ago (I’ve a feeling maybe 2009 due to venue Im picturing in my mind - Swynnerton) ……

The game zone was open for site walking on the pre game day, with some activities such as laser tag

So masks were not required - which makes sense, though there was a casualty that year or the next year with a  laser tag player who face planted a breeze block wall (extra embarrassing for his ambulance trip as he was/still is a nurse)

On game day masks were not required before x time.  Allowing players to walk the long distances to the starting rally points.  
For me this lasted only a couple of minutes when those in front of me strolling along without masks on decided to shoot up a bush.  For me that triggered dropping my mask over my face and attempting to explain the inconsistency of a lack of goggles plus random shooting 

Other than that I have permitted masks off when on sites for pre game works - but with rules.

We must have ‘control’ of that area, know what game zones and routes will be in use for rentals etc, be in contact with Marshall’s, have distance / physical objects between us and any areas etc

Goggles must be at the ready for instant covering 

 

[Tommikka]

Permitting players to remove eye protection is a major disaster 

It should be totally clear what is and is not a safe area.

Sites that have remote game areas and may therefore have players out for multiple games can have in field safe zones which means you can permit players to enter a safe area and remove goggles without contradicting basic safety rules 

 

[MrTea]

First day back at NTAC in a long while. Around 20 or so players which is quite low for the site which was probably caused by A. NAF being on this weekend and B. The predicted torrential rain.

First issue of the day before games even began; "chronos are available on the table". Surely you should have zip ties etc. ready at the ENTRANCE to the play area and chrono people as they come through as mandatory thing? It takes 10 minutes tops.

Teams were sorted and the first game started and the old problems that bothered me with the site began to rear their head. The first game was bands attacking a small village area with unlimited lives. Defenders (non-bands) have 4 lives. Teams will be reversed after the game was over and fastest time wins. The attackers objective, we were told, was to get the flag up at the back of the village and kill defenders in the process which seems simple enough.

The first game was competitive and eventually the attackers got the flag up however the marshall said that the game isn't over as the non-bands were still alive... several of the non-bands who ran out of lives were at the side discussing the rules; surely the game is over when the flag is up otherwise it's just Elimination with a twist? Regardless, we swapped sides and non-bands attacked. We managed to beat the bands attack time convincingly. Queue some """BALANCING""" with the teams.

Next game was just the previous game mode in another area of the site without the flag. Non-bands got spanked on both attack and defence, not even remotely competitive. Interestingly there was no team balancing after this. Teams were only rejigged after lunch as some players on half-days left and some new players arrived.

Game after that was "body parts" in a recently remodeled area of the site. Game mode consisted of attackers having to recover mannequins on a stretcher from a van and bring them back to spawn. Stretcher must be carried by two players at all times. Most mannequins wins. Sounds interesting right? Sure but now consider that the only entrances to the objective area are two doorways barely bigger than your average person so I think you can guess where this is going.

Two of the players that arrived at lunch came with a bolt action sniper and a 417 styled DMR and were both put on bands. Both of these people found a position outside any real danger from our team and picked us off the second we got into the doorway. The only way through was sacrificing a player at the front but then you were hampered by a lack of cover. The left flank had an unobscured view of the team and the right side was a long lane where the sniper/DMR guy was nailing everyone. Another poorly thought out area in my opinion, there should have had another way of attacking other than through two choke points.

Once the first leg of this game ended, I and another arrived to the conclusion that this was, and I quote, "wank" and left.

The level of gameplay was quite high and never noticed or heard of any non-hit taking or moaning about other players with the exception of one guy who was "keyholing" in one game.

NTAC is an amazing site with huge potential ruined by lazy marshalls, shit team balancing and poorly thought out game modes that are too similar. My main gripe is team balancing as the marshalls appear to balance the teams on numbers not player experience & loadout capabilities unlike other sites i've been to. In addition, the marshall who was directing us for the day got the game started and just sat at the spawn closest to the parking area so he didn't have to walk as far. He never walked through the game area once.

The Mk18 performed well for the first half of the day, at one point I sniped the actual sniper, it was lifting BBs out to an absurd range. Occasionally it would double feed in semi auto but a quick burst in full auto would fix the issue in semi. I turned down the precocking a bit which appears to have fixed the issue. There's something causing issues with the gun however. Over the course of the day I began to lose accuracy and would sometimes get flyers. Not too sure what the issue is but I might try changing to a different barrel to see if the 6.02mm is a touch too tight and is causing issues.

 

[Haru]

Just had my 2nd game tonight, didnt charge my batteries and they both happened to die out in middle of the game, lesson learned there. Anyways I got to hold someones MWS and I was surprised by how light the gun is like DAMN I could probably spin it on my finger like a basketball, I wouldn't dare hold my mp5 in one hand

 

[gavinkempsell]

Just had my 2nd game tonight, didnt charge my batteries and they both happened to die out in middle of the game, lesson learned there. Anyways I got to hold someones MWS and I was surprised by how light the gun is like DAMN I could probably spin it on my finger like a basketball, I wouldn't dare hold my mp5 in one hand

I got several mini lipo's which fit 90% of my rifs, I change the battery for every game just in case I'm a bit 'hose happy'.

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

Just had my 2nd game tonight, didnt charge my batteries and they both happened to die out in middle of the game, lesson learned there. Anyways I got to hold someones MWS and I was surprised by how light the gun is like DAMN I could probably spin it on my finger like a basketball, I wouldn't dare hold my mp5 in one hand

So once you get your UKARA it's 'Guns: fixed Cyma Platinum MP5, MWS' and a sore wallet...

 

[Haru]

So once you get your UKARA it's 'Guns: fixed Cyma Platinum MP5, MWS' and a sore wallet...

implying my wallet isnt already sore

 

[Tactical Pith Helmet]

implying my wallet isnt already sore

Touché Sir!  ?

The next step is taking over the spare room/corner of the living room/bedroom with loadouts and kit.

Seriously, there's a PHD for someone writing a thesis on airsoftitis....

 

[Dan Robinson]

implying my wallet isnt already sore

Welcome to Airsoft 

corner of the living room

How about the Sofa, dining table, dining chairs and a whole wall of my office?  When SWMBO comes back in the new year I'm screewed  ??