Thinking of starting Airsoft in Northern Ireland

[Kealimo1713]

Hi my name is Karl and im from Antrim in Northern Ireland and I would really like to know where I can go and play at. Also is there any shops new Antrim that I can go to for buying guns and gear, if not which would be the best website to go to for all my gear?

Id really appreciate the help.

 

[Ian_Gere]

Welcome to the forums, Karl there are some people from Ireland on here: maybe a good idea to edit NI into your thread title (use the full editor, where it says "More Reply Options"). Also have a read of this for some help on what to get and where to get it from.

 

[Kealimo1713]

From some of my Research alot of the sites are quite far away from me so id have to use some sort of transport. I cannot drive so this would mean id have to use public transport. Becasue of the past here am I able to carry my gear and gun in a gun bag ofc with me in public and take it onto a train or bus? Thanks for the reply Ian, if looked though you guide and it was very helpful.

 

[Ian_Gere]

Well, I carry my kit on public transport regularly, but it's not exactly the same kettle of fish as doing so in your neck of the woods. I expect that if you're dressed in camo, you're an obvious skirmisher/re-enactor b/c I doubt terrorists draw attention to themselves like that and if you buy an AEG with a folding stock, or that is short anyway, it can go inside a sports bag without its shape being noticeable. Just get a site membership so you can whip it out in case you did get any hassle.

I'm sure some of our Irish members will have more idea than me though...

 

[Kealimo1713]

I was thinking of going to my local police station and asking them about this, also I wear glasses so would I need to use contact lenses or would I still be able to use my glasses with a full face mask? The problem I'm having is that due to me being unable to drive it will take me on average 85 mins to get to a site via 2 buses and a taxi drive or an hour walk from after the second bus.

 

[Ian_Gere]

Yeah, I often spend 2hrs on 2 buses to get to my local site, but I can get a lift sometimes also. Once you get to know people, maybe you'll be able to do so too. The thing with asking the old bill first is that they are then involved. If you get a right jobsworth of a copper, s/he will find a reason to say no, and then if you go ahead anyway and something dodgy happens, you've got no leg to stand on. What you are proposing to do, ie carry an imitation firearm in public completely covered from view, is not illegal, therefore the old bill's opinion is superfluous. It may be against the bus company's rules however, which is why you might want to think about some way of covering your AEG that doesn't leave its shape visible...

What people don't know wont hurt them.

 

[Deej]

I'm a glasses wearer, and I strongly recommend getting some contact lenses to skirmish in. I strongly recommend contacts to anyone unfortunate enough to need corrective eyewear though, it just makes you more... Actiony. Does me, at least.

Then there's the practicals: keeping spectacles on under solid eye-pro is multiplying the number of mistable surfaces that will up and ruin your experience; only select eye-protection will even fit over your glasses without interfering with them; should your specs get knocked off-kilter under your headwear, you'll have to disengage and find safety everytime you want to adjust your eyes, and taking off your eye-pro during a skirmish is not a good thing, even if you are huddled facedown in a corner all alone - you never know who's been out on the stealth, lost the frontlines and could rush up on you at any time blatting like a dick.

Having said that I know of a fair few players who - for one reason or another - do go out there in their glasses. Astigmatism can stop you wearing lenses and some guys can't afford or just plain don't like em.

In summation yes you can wear glasses in a skirmish (under normal face-pro) but I strongly recommend trying lenses, I know I couldn't operate the way I do without them.

As for gun transport... I always feel a bit sketchy when talking about concealing these things But Ian's on the money, shorter guns or folding variants can comfortably fit in sports bags or rucksacks: when I'm en-route to a skirmish I just look like a guy in DPM trou with a huge bag, my bag carries my gun and my jacket - inside my jacket is just about everything else I need. Goes without saying but if moving your gun in a rucksack, make sure there's no bending or twisting force being exerted on your gun by the other things you've packed - turning up with a bent barrel, there'll be tears before bedtime!

 

[Kealimo1713]

Iv tried using contact lenses and they always move around my eyes and annoy me, also its not fun poking your eye to get them set. Ill defenantilly talk to the bus company to see if they would allow me to carry the gun case, If not then im gonna have to pick a folding stock gun.

 

[Ian_Gere]

If you get a black bear style wire mesh full face mask (the ones that look like a fencing mask), you'll be able to wear specs under that, and they don't fog* - otherwise there are prescription inserts available for some military goggles: ESS Advancer V12's, ESS ICE, Revision Bullet Ant, for eg. but they're not cheap (if your prescription is for varifocals which you cannot do without, like mine, then basically you're stuffed b/c the price is 'kin ridiculous). Fortunately my distance sight is ok, it's close up I'm blind, so I just leave 'em off and do my best not to need to see details close up.

Have a search around here though because it's a topic which comes up from time to time and people have gone into plenty of detail in some of them. Keep an eye out too, because a fair few of us are wrestling with the same issue and as new ideas crop up, they'll get posted.

*but you can't get anything in your mouth, such as drinks, sweets, and fags without taking these masks away from your face, which could be a major problem. It may be just about possible to get a camelbak tube under there without compromising eye safety, but even so, some site marshals would freak at you regardless (and there are damn good reasons for that too)!

 

[Namaco]

I use ESS ICE for my eye protection with lense inserts, I really recommend it they are good but better get some anit-fog stuff because that will annoy the shit out of you

Im sort of not a fan of a full mask, I actually never had a mask when on skirmish but when I heard stories from veterans I decided to buy only half mask to protect my teeth However as I aint a fan of masks and how they look I decided to buy a balaclava so if u dont like it either u can do the same xD

But yea ESS ICE is what I use, I wear glasses so you can always get lense inserts if u dont want contacts.

 

[remus]

so any other airsofters can see heres a link to the irish forums where you can find the northern and southern sites http://www.airsoftireland.com/forums/ as for transporting guns i cant really help as i keep everything in my boot...

 

[Russe11]

I cycle to and from Skirmishes and use a backpack. This limits me to smaller guns (MP5 with collapsible stock). There should be no problem transporting guns as long as they are in a bag or case. In NI I would guess the law is the same, but the police may be a bit more worried about people with guns. Just remember to be open about what you're carrying and why if you ever do get stopped. Don't wait for them to open your bag and see a gun before mentioning you are carrying an imitation firearm.

I also wear glasses to skirmish and can confirm it is a pain to stop them misting. I often have had to return to the safe zone to sort my eyewear. I now coat them with an antifog coating (washing up liquid, 1 drop and rub in til creamy white then polish off) and use goggles with good ventilation.

 

[Kealimo1713]

Thanks everyone, ill have a look at those ESS ICE. Also remus do you know of any sites close to Antrim, only ones I can see is greenzone and predator, but they are both a long way from home.

 

[remus]

check your pms, but anyway check this map http://www.airsoftmap.net/Skirmish/

theres apparently 2 in belfast, which i wouldnt fancy public transport with an if,, or sg1 combat games in belagahy which, imho is probably your best bet, should be possibly a bus ride away? or they have an indoor site in ballymean hi. http://sg1combatgames.co.uk/gamesites.html

 

[Mack]

Thanks everyone, ill have a look at those ESS ICE. Also remus do you know of any sites close to Antrim, only ones I can see is greenzone and predator, but they are both a long way from home.

In Belfast you have Trigger happy and Combat range, battlefield sports aswell but im not sure if its still open. Then there is 2 in Bangor but forget their names. Ive heard rumors of a site somewhere in newtonabbey but dont know for sure. Lisburn Airsoft in Ravarnet aswell, Think the SG1 ballymena site is now closed.

 

[Russe11]

I have just tested my new goggles.

http://www.taiwangun.com/en/goggles-type-desert-locust-olive-acm

By the end of the evening I had sweat getting in my eyes but they didn't mist up. I actually bought 2 pairs, olive drab ones and coyote mesh ones. That way I have the option of mesh if I have to swap out due to misting and the lenses are interchangable so I can match my goggles to my gear. You can wear them over glasses, just. Its a tight fit.

 

[Kealimo1713]

In Belfast you have Trigger happy and Combat range, battlefield sports aswell but im not sure if its still open. Then there is 2 in Bangor but forget their names. Ive heard rumors of a site somewhere in newtonabbey but dont know for sure. Lisburn Airsoft in Ravarnet aswell, Think the SG1 ballymena site is now closed.

I saw most of these from the map remus posted, But the only problem I have really is the transporting of my gear. Also im looking for more of an outdoor site to play at. Thanks for your input Mack, Do you know of any airsoft shops I could go to because id like to handle a few guns before I buy one.

 

[Kealimo1713]

I have just tested my new goggles.

http://www.taiwangun.com/en/goggles-type-desert-locust-olive-acm

By the end of the evening I had sweat getting in my eyes but they didn't mist up. I actually bought 2 pairs, olive drab ones and coyote mesh ones. That way I have the option of mesh if I have to swap out due to misting and the lenses are interchangable so I can match my goggles to my gear. You can wear them over glasses, just. Its a tight fit.

These seems really cool! what is the time from purchase to receiving items from taiwangun.com?

 

[Ian_Gere]

I have just tested my new goggles.

http://www.taiwangun.com/en/goggles-type-desert-locust-olive-acm

By the end of the evening I had sweat getting in my eyes but they didn't mist up. I actually bought 2 pairs, olive drab ones and coyote mesh ones. That way I have the option of mesh if I have to swap out due to misting and the lenses are interchangable so I can match my goggles to my gear. You can wear them over glasses, just. Its a tight fit.

And that was using washing up liquid as anti-fog? Which brand, just so we're totally clear

OP, it takes about a week or less to get a package from Taiwangun - they are in Poland, not Taiwan, so you pay no duty or VAT.

 

[Kealimo1713]

Ah nice iv seen a few nice things on there im thinking of getting.