New Airsofter, London, Pros/Cons Starting Airsoft with GBB Pistol

[Sacarathe]

Ok, been down to wolf armouries, had nothing put positive experience and will do an on reflection review of wolf armouries in detail in two months if I still feel their negative rep is undeserved (and outdated).

 

I bought a TM Glock 17, nuprol holster(right), 2 spare mags, 3k bbs, ex display blade tech dual glock mag holster (£20), maintenance gas, TM bb loader

 

£255 (all other purchases were not from WA)

 

they price matched the glock down £1.04

 

I've spent £140 on safety equipt and a further £250 on a disability aid for airsoft, which I otherwise would not require in ordinary life.

 

Hope someone can bail me out if I don't like it. ^^

 

 

sh*t post formatting - not at pc, will format when in get home.

 

Note to all, the WA site is erroneous regarding their hire purchase, the saving is £65 not £75.

[Sacarathe]

TL;DR - I'm going to document my drop into airsoft, mainly because I have had to sink a lot of money into this venture.

 

 

So, my first game next weekend at bunker 51 - I've not heard that many positive things about this site and I am quite concerned that 40 players seems like a lot, but its £1.5 on the bus each way and I can get my UKARA for 3 £25 games and don't need to hire due to wolf armouries hire purchase. I'm not saying I'll just abandon Wolf and B51 when I have ukara, but I will be able to try other sites at that point(without hiring). WA is registered with the British Airsoft Club so I will join that too.

 

 

 

Unfortunately due to a congenital disability I have had to fork out £280-£350 on specialised sports (price orthopaedic modifications and boots combined) footware before even touching airsoft - its important to note that while I otherwise would not have done this, and this money would have been saved I have found my new boots to be the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn - not entirely due to the boots but rather because I went private for the modifications, rather than free (NHS).

 

I have also spent far more money that I care to advertise (I have kept records accounting for every penny other than on TFL) on airsoft.

 

I suffered 3 unexpected charges when buying from Evike.com - not unpredictable charges but nevertheless annoying - paypal currency conversion £5, UPS brokerage for customs (£11), and paying VAT on postage*. Of course I should have thought of these and non of them are unpredictable but alas I had not at the time I clicked buy.

 

Here is a picture of my starting gear minus the g17:

(the holster is nuprol)

 

I did buy other things including two things I now see I really really did not need. Balaclava was a great ideal, I've never worn one before and it satisfied numerous issues I had .

 

I bought a blade tech single mag pouch from evike to put the TM speed loader in as it falls out of the one Wolf sold me, fits perfectly.

 

In this picture, there is (including the gun), £350

 

The only downside of everything I have done how much starting with a pistol has actually cost (listing only items exclusive to the pistol):

Gun: £120

Holster: £20

Spare Mag*2: £60

Storage for 4 mags: £40

 

However a good AEG would have been at least £200 (gun, battery*2, charger, red dot sight) - and thats without a pack of midcaps and mag storage.

 

 

 

I also bought one of the V2 mesh masks, which I am now trying to return via amazon - the workmanship was shoddy for £20 and I picked up an emerson FAST helm as they are popular in youtube videos and I could not find the advanced version on sale in the uk. Not going to use the hat until I have learned about hits, would be silly to start playing like that I think.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*emphasis added so I don't get people talking about import duty/vat "you should have expected",

 

I just did not factor VAT on postage into my calculations before buying - that said, many of the items I got from Evike I could not find for sale in the UK, though I am discovering new retailers daily. This sport seems rather overpopulated in this regard particularly if there really is only 1% of people in the countries that play(based on US statistics).

[Sacarathe]

While I have dumped a lot into this hobby/sport startup I am not going to buy BDU, nor a plate carrier or chest rig (for at least 15 weeks), the next thing to buy is knee pads, while I know I want a TM p90, I will not discount the possibility of discovering a more interesting AEG when I play.

 

All money will now go into gas,bbs, skirmish costs.

 

One last thing I would say is that I have been a little railroaded by the WA hire purchase, I wont turn my nose up at saving £65, but as they would not buy in a G&G brand AEG started with GBBp - but for that I would have started AEG - at this point I dont know which would have been cheaper - until I buy an AEG to play at other sites I wont know.

[Sacarathe]

So, played my first games tonight. Out of the 6-8 games (i was not counting) I only really had a good time on the last two, and had to walk off in the 3rd from last, goggles were fogging too much, but there just happened to be someone (of two people in the safe zone) who had, and offered, me some spray which worked wonders.

 

 

(it was my own fault my goggles were fogging)

 

 

Games went okay, ricochets were a big problem though, there were about 4 occasions when I failed to call my hits correctly (in two of these I walked -silently- to respawn anyway). All in all a good intro to the sport, cant wait now for 59 days to pass so I try other sites.

 

I was going to do a bigger write up, but i think I will wait.

 

Though I will list the things I learned:

 

Get knee pads (integrated) - Were quite a few times i'd have liked to kneel.

" Anti-fog solution ready.

" picatinny light for headgear.

" some glow sticks - look great on helmets

" action camera - well I learned I was not put off airsoft - I can pull the trigger on this.

" pistol red dot sight.

" pistol bungee.

 

 

 

Also, my first pull of the trigger after chrono was a hit at about 12 metres. Used only 75 BBs over the nights games, hit rate was good when I was aiming properly.

[ImTriggerHappy]

Glad you enjoyed your first game.

Couple of things to think about though:

 

Knee pads are a good idea for general protection but if your playing CQB try to crouch on your feet you can use your front leg as a stable platform by putting your elbow on it and if you need to move quick its easier to launch off your feet, especially for older players like me.

 

Light on your helmet is not always a good idea. If I see a light I shoot straight at it so if its on your helmet you are more likely to get shot in the face. Same for glow sticks.

 

If you struggle with fogging goggles it might be worth trying mesh ones, not everbody likes them but I think they are ok.

 

At the end of the day though run what load out you want and play how suits you we are all different.

[Sacarathe]

Glad you enjoyed your first game.

Couple of things to think about though:

 

Knee pads are a good idea for general protection but if your playing CQB try to crouch on your feet you can use your front leg as a stable platform by putting your elbow on it and if you need to move quick its easier to launch off your feet, especially for older players like me.

 

 

I found myself doing just this, with an elbow on one knee - would have liked the other knee on the ground - I felt unstable, but my gun held level.

 

My goggles did not fog after someone helped me out. I don't think it's going to be a problem ever again.

[Sacarathe]

Hey everyone, so another night at wolf armouries bunker 51 skirmish, allegedly there were less attendees than booked, and the bunker 51 venue had their garage doors open so there was good lighting and ventilation, it was a much better night than my first game out.

 

However I did break my Glock 17 (not permanently I hope). Got my first welts too :/

 

Had a lot less fogging, but alas my anti-fog spray was delivered to the wrong address, so i'll have that for next time.

 

Also, power-sliding is so much fun, and ye dont get shot because ye get low so quick, knee/elbow pads are yet to arrive alas.

 

EDIT:

 

Chrono was done only to 20% of guns tonight. There seems to be a problem with other events over running but because they're at the end of the day it cuts off at 10 regardless.

[Sacarathe]

Played my third game last night, and my first game with a camera. The event organisers failed to chrono the guns yet again.

 

A few things i've learned:

 

Don't drop (or place in lap) gas mags - one of my mags broke last night. Don't use broken mags - caught a clip of the mag depleting itself on one shot with gas pouring from every orifice on the gun.

 

Turn off auto low light - I set the camera to 120 fps, but most of the evening has been recorded in 30fps by the default setting.

 

When taking out multiple people at close range(more degrees to turn) hold the gun with both hands to avoid overturn - as caught by the camera where it appears I shot a wall (fps too low to be sure). I always hold the gun two handed for firing over 5m, but I rounded a corner and was startled.

 

EDIT:

Deleted half the post.

[lafta]

Liked reading through this.

 

Keep the updates coming!

[Sacarathe]

And, in addition to the above, when playing with first timers don't assume 1bb will be enough to stop them, and position yourself accordinly so you can still continue when they don't acknowledge a hit/ or you miss(being new myself).

 

Wolf have changed their schedule, so no UKARA for an extra week.

[Dannn]

The right hand left eye thing might work as it sounds like it'll be a pain shooting left or right handed, learn both...

For shooting from left and right handed cover if you know what I mean, if you are taking caver to the left and shoot left handed your body is exposed and vice versa...

[Sacarathe]

Played my 4th game over the weekend, learned a valuable lesson:

 

(Do not expect hit players to not shoot back).

 

Do not step out around a corner and shoot two people and expect them to not shoot back, after having already hit them. It was a valuable lesson because it was one of the first games of the night and a few people we using auto when they should not have been, as a result I took at least 6 BBs to the hand from one guy and several to the head from the second, this was after having hit both of them. Not after having hit one, after hitting one, and turning 45 degrees and hitting the other.

 

Little finger is very bruised with a blood blister and both knuckles swollen. Next time, I should either lean, or keep moving, or dodge and weave, but just standing there expecting people to not shoot because i've hit them (in the sternum) is a bad idea.

 

I just shot them both centre mass, and then started searching for new targets but I got hosed by them before I could continue.

 

I think I could have continued without being out, as I clearly hit them first, but i was in so much pain I could not concentrate on the game.

 

Scathing review of Bunker 51 and separate review of wolf armouries incoming, UKARA this week.

[Sacarathe]

I have decided not to do an in depth review wolf armouries, however I have a little to say: They need to work on their customer service policies and their distance communication, however, when I was in the store, the staff were extremely knowledgeable, talkative, and helpful when I asked about products and guns, they talked with me for a few hours on a few occasions, and I spent around £300 with them and attended bunker 51, 5-6 times.

 

I'm still a little sour over their losing my unjamming rod between games, but they offered to replace it if I came down to the store, I as yet did not, as that costs money too.

 

They certainly influenced my first foray into airsoft, I bought my first airsoft gun with them, after having had a test shoot with a TM Glock at http://www.airsoftrange.co.uk/ - I could not buy from the range due to UKARA, and I do regret that, I bought a Tokyo Marui Glock 17 on wolf armouries bunker 51 hire purchase scheme.

 

I bought a G&G Rifle from Landwarrior (excellent CS) which I would have bought it from Wolf armouries, but they declined to order one, and stated that going a few years now they did not support the G&G's product QC.

 

Overall, I would mark Wolf Armouries 7/10, and of the other airsoft stores I have dealt with:

 

Land Warrior Airsoft 8/10

The Range (London on Edgware Road) 9/10 (I did not spend any money)

http://store.specwarfare.com/en/ - HK - 8/10

 

 

If I would advise Wolf about anything, it would be take notice of how Land warrior apply their price matching, and try to be less blunt in dealing with requests of that nature. I would suggest fully reviewing how they approach price matching, they definitely lost £100 of my custom, because of the way they said "no", not the fact that they said no.

 

I would also suggest they reduce the number of breaks in the bunker 51 skirmishes by trying a few nights with the players split into four teams. Playing the games in a rota with two teams on, two teams off. Set game lengths carefully and ensure the other set of players were not waiting more than 20 minutes between game end and game start. That is to say, the brief all four teams at once, and then two teams play, for up to 15 minutes, and after the game get those teams out and the new teams in within 5 minutes.

 

Obviously start and end the day with all players in the arena.

 

On one occasion LWA pricematched an item after I bought it - though I requested a price match twice in the week previously.

 

 

I would buy from Wolf Armouries again, I do check their prices from time to time, as a trip down to their store is cheaper than ordering online from pretty much any other retailer.

 

 

When asked about Wolf Armouries and Bunker 51, I remain generally neutral to positive on Wolf, and recommend people avoid Bunker 51 if they can, as I lived only £3 return travel from the venue it was very convenient, and for its location priced ok, though TWA is not that far off and they are much better value for money (as a site).

 

Bunker 51 is okay if it is convenient, but if you have a choice, and you're not interested in a hire purchase from Wolf, I advocate avoiding the Bunker 51 Skirmishes and hiring or buying two tone to play elsewhere. Wolf do Two-Tone guns.

 

I will recommend wolf armouries to airsoft newbies, but I will also warn them to check the prices of magazines and other items peripheral to the guns with other online retailers, though for guns Wolf's prices are competitive whenever i've looked.

 

 

 

I recommend Wolf armouries for people new to airsoft - but like with all brick stores, be sure to check prices with other online retailers. And while I think there is a lot of room for improvement at the B51 skirmishes, I think that for the purposes of the hire purchase scheme it is worth while. However, i cannot recommend the Bunker 51 Skirmishes for any other reason. I certainly advocate hiring, and two tone, for new players.

 

Here is my airsoft collection now:

 

http://imgur.com/a/hC529 (album)

 

[proffrink]

Needs more high capacity Glockazines. Otherwise, 8/10.

[ImTriggerHappy]

Am I the only one who doesnt like to have loads of kit. 2 guns and the minimal loadout is about it for me. Anything else gets sold or binned or even blown up.

[Jedi_Master]

Am I the only one who doesnt like to have loads of kit. 2 guns and the minimal loadout is about it for me. Anything else gets sold or binned or even blown up.

That is because you are functional and prefer form over aesthetics. Keep it simple works. I have too much kit due to lack of willpower to not buy something online.

[Sacarathe]

Needs more high capacity Glockazines. Otherwise, 8/10.

 

I actually lost my 3rd mag, the one which came with the gun, at an event, personally I think it was nicked, but its not worth thinking about any more.

 

Am I the only one who doesnt like to have loads of kit. 2 guns and the minimal loadout is about it for me. Anything else gets sold or binned or even blown up.

Actually, I only got the Plate Carrier and the UBACs because they were cheap, but both have saved me from pain. I normally have the PC bare just for protection, but i'm trying having the mags on the front instead of the battle belt BARE - incidentally i'm not going to be using the battlebelt like that, I just put it in the picture.

 

Normally I use plate carrier OR battlebelt with all the pouches.

 

That is because you are functional and prefer form over aesthetics. Keep it simple works. I have too much kit due to lack of willpower to not buy something online.

I'm still finding my feet, i've also bought quite a few things that I didnt like.

[ImTriggerHappy]

Protection!

Its airSOFT you dont need protection other than on your face.

Try just wearing a T-shirt its good for you.

I always say if your not bleeding your not playing hard enough.

[Jedi_Master]

Protection!

Its airSOFT you dont need protection other than on your face.

Try just wearing a T-shirt its good for you.

I always say if your not bleeding your not playing hard enough.

Having seen your bleeding and scared arms, no thanks. No pain, no pain. Long sleeves for me, hard enough passing off injuries as gardening accidents at work

[Sacarathe]

I played bare armed in bunker once, and at TWA, sometimes its good.

[Sacarathe]

Well, now that I have checked the chrono on the Mp5. I can head off the indoor sites further afield with just my headgear and gun. A lot less to carry.

[Jedi_Master]

Well, now that I have checked the chrono on the Mp5. I can head off the indoor sites further afield with just my headgear and gun. A lot less to carry.

I was thinking of just taking my pistol and i4 mask, and when the mag is empty filling it with any spare BBs laying around (reminds me of a thread about reusable BB)

[Esoterick]

Am I the only one who doesnt like to have loads of kit. 2 guns and the minimal loadout is about it for me. Anything else gets sold or binned or even blown up.

 

I guess it partly depends on if you play at different sites. I try to avoid getting what I consider novelty guns now, which i'd class the Breacher as(so I sold it), because even in CQB some sites seem to promote massive volumes of fire which it just can't counter effectively. To me it all comes down to whether you are going to be really limited as to where you can use it to the point you put yourself at a notable disadvantage.

 

The biggest issue for me is if I run guns that use different magazines or use something like a MOLLE belt which completely blocks my duty belt that my holster is mounted to. To me the best solution is to have multiple loadouts as opposed to compromising on how I mount kit. The upside is I can do things like run a MOLLE belt setup which holds a spare LMG mag and is very lightweight, even with the hydration pouch attached. Downside is it costs money and takes up room

[ImTriggerHappy]

 

I guess it partly depends on if you play at different sites. I try to avoid getting what I consider novelty guns now, which i'd class the Breacher as(so I sold it), because even in CQB some sites seem to promote massive volumes of fire which it just can't counter effectively. To me it all comes down to whether you are going to be really limited as to where you can use it to the point you put yourself at a notable disadvantage.

 

The biggest issue for me is if I run guns that use different magazines or use something like a MOLLE belt which completely blocks my duty belt that my holster is mounted to. To me the best solution is to have multiple loadouts as opposed to compromising on how I mount kit. The upside is I can do things like run a MOLLE belt setup which holds a spare LMG mag and is very lightweight, even with the hydration pouch attached. Downside is it costs money and takes up room

I think its just that I like everything to be simple. I have played indoor cqb and woodland and still use the same kit. Simple belt rig or vest, unless its a 8hr long milsim then dont think you need to carry much anyway. I would never wear a lid because that just not me.

Just destroyed my pistol and dont know if I will bother replacing it. I find by the time I have thought about it that its usually all over and the pistol never comes out.

Dont feel the need for lots of guns either just a main one and a back up.

I think it boils down to the fact that I like playing airsoft but have never wanted to play soldiers.

But each to their own, I sometimes think that my philosophy sets me apart from your average airsofter.

[Esoterick]

I think its just that I like everything to be simple. I have played indoor cqb and woodland and still use the same kit. Simple belt rig or vest, unless its a 8hr long milsim then dont think you need to carry much anyway. I would never wear a lid because that just not me.

Just destroyed my pistol and dont know if I will bother replacing it. I find by the time I have thought about it that its usually all over and the pistol never comes out.

Dont feel the need for lots of guns either just a main one and a back up.

I think it boils down to the fact that I like playing airsoft but have never wanted to play soldiers.

But each to their own, I sometimes think that my philosophy sets me apart from your average airsofter.

 

I like to keep my loadouts simple as I just encounter issues I hadn't expected otherwise. At the Mall I'm happy with 4 mags in my trouser pockets as they fit almost as well as mag pouches. However as they don't fit as well so I'd rather use proper mag pouches anywhere it could be harder to find them if they do fall out. I will probably switch over to a chest rig at some point as it's lighter than a plate carrier and I just don't need all the MOLLE space.

 

Helmets look cool to me but I'm quite happy wearing a boonie and have no interest testing whether a helmet would cause issues with my eyepro, facepro or headset.

 

I definitely find pistols an asset if used right. I can switch to my pistol far quicker than I can reload my HK416 and i'm not exactly slow at doing that. They are also much faster when it comes to popping out from behind cover or rushing people. This seems to apply to woodland more in my experience but it absolutely works.

 

As far as guns go i'm trying to focus on having a good set that fulfill a different role. Using my LMG is completely different to my HK416, it's very enjoyable but also physically and financially draining as I can get through 2-3 bottles of BBs a day.

 

I think the playing soldiers for me is closer to the "bang bang I shot you, not you didn't!" mentality than going for recreations of specific armed forces. Either way I think it makes Airsoft all the more interesting as there's such a wide variety of players. Also comparing my LMG and HK416 I wouldn't say one is better than the other. The closest you would come is that the HK416 can be used more consistently over a number of scenarios, to me that becomes a bit boring whereas to others it means they know what they are getting 100% of the time.