What Drew you to airsoft?

[Win Dage]

I like the designs and tech but in the end its all about pipping the ace in the backyard and keeping the neighbors sweet with the relative low noise of the rifle....must be getting considerate in me old age,eh.

 

[Tiercel]

Guns are cool, and I cant shoot people with real guns without going to prison.

 

[gasman]

Even with the rise in its popularity this past decade, airsoft is still a pretty niche hobby. Just curious what it is that drew any of you to it. For me it was a number of things, and suspect pretty similar to what attracted many of you. Im an active person who enjoys guns and shooting, active and strategic games, and living in the UK with our gun laws airsoft at least allows me to have an airsoft arsenal similar to what real steel collection I might have if I lived somewhere like the USA. 

Also if anyone cares to share their views on why airsoft as a hobby seems to have such a negative image from those outside the hobby Id be interested to hear them. I have many hobbies, but only airsoft raises eyebrows when I tell someone its how Im spending my Sunday. Muay Thai, oh you like to punch and kick people, cool. Motorbiking, you like to tear around on 2 wheels strapped on top of an engine, cool. Airsofting though, people either have no clue what it is, or if they do they generally thinks its an odd think for an adult man to want to do. Interested to see what other peoples opinions and take on this are. Do you think its because most people in this country are not use to guns of any sort and don't understand that aspect of it. Do you think people find it a bit silly than grown men (and women) want to play army as they see it???

I was up to 5 firearms, 4 for target and 1 for pest control when I decided to surrender my fac. The police were making it harder to keep firearms and kept reducing the amount of ammunition I was allowed to hold to levels that stopped the purchase of batch tested and matched ammo for target shooting usually a minimum of 5,000 but normally 10,0000. The grounds I used to pest control for farmers also became encroached by housing and people so no longer suitable for an FAC weapon. Of course pistols are not available to the shooting fraternity after Dunblane when Thomas Hamilton shot 16 children and a teacher. We were all vilified and freaks for wanting pistols but we only shot paper targets. I have never felt the need to kill or inflict pain on a fellow human being, having shot firearms from an early age and during most of my life, I am 65 this month. I do at times miss the death penalty for certain criminals and traitors to this country ( I was taught religious education at school by an ex hanging judge, a man I respected) at a time when police were respected.

There is no bang rule at the site I use but I still at times choose not to shoot rather than hurt  at close range. The problem is anything that looks like a gun scares people, I know the local police used to train the firearms team by sending them out to my brother & I when we were rabbiting after we informed them where we would be shooting. The team actually had loaded weapons pointed at us on more than one occasion, very scary. I was camoed up one night and 4 of them almost walked on me, was tempted to shout boo as they past but decided it was safer not to, they did not find me that night and had I been a terrorist we would have been 4 plod down.

Ooh forgot to say how else would I get to shoot my son in law

 

[StayOnTarget]

The short version? 

My 10 year old self(that would have been 1982) would have loved this,so on a Sunday I let him come out and play for 7-8 hours,then I put him away and go back to being me

I think this has been my favourite topic so far I've read all your comments fellas and find you all a top bunch of lads (where are the lasses at?) that I'd be only too happy to shoot/be shot at,we all have our opinions on things to do with the sport but we all have one thing in common we love airsoft and long may that passion continue 

Peace ? 

 

[gasman]

My son in law has been known to phone my wife to ask if I can come out to play!