Where do I begin?

[Cloudpuncher305]

Hello, I am looking to get into Airsoft to put all my excess energy (and apparently my not so excessive amount of money) into. However.... I have no idea where to start! 
 

is turning up to an area and registering for an UKARA solo worth it? I’m more of a team player so soloing doesn’t really appeal to me. I’ve done my research and I’ve got a basket full of gear ready to purchase on various sites I just don’t want to make the plunge if it’s not going to live up to what I expect it to be.

 

thanks in advance for any Advice you fine people can give me.

[Philby21]

Find a local site, book onto a skirmish day with a rental gun and jump in!  Oh, and welcome to the forum! 😂

 

Take extra cash for more ammo and I'd recommend trying more than one game, just to be sure.  Plus, if you like it and both games are at the same site then you're already 2 games towards your UKARA (but they need to be over at least 56 days from the first to the last, you can play more in between but it's to prove that you're actually interested more long term).

 

Have a browse through a lot of the pinned posts, there's some good tips for helping make your day/introduction more enjoyable.

 

Most of all - have fun! 👍

[Nick G]

Hi and welcome,

best way to start is to go along to a local site , rent the kit and play a few games to see if you enjoy it. Going on your own isn't a problem, airsofters are a friendly bunch , so you'll soon get chatting and bear in mind most games will be red team against blue team so you will be on a 'team'. If you have fun , play the minimum of 3 games in not less than 2 months and get your UKARA, then say good by to your spare cash !

It's worth getting yourself some decent eye and face pro so its yours rather than rented and some decent  boots. 

[Philby21]

@Nick G I must have hit submit about half a second ahead of you! 🤣

[Cloudpuncher305]

Just now, Nick G said:

Hi and welcome,

best way to start is to go along to a local site , rent the kit and play a few games to see if you enjoy it. Going on your own isn't a problem, airsofters are a friendly bunch , so you'll soon get chatting and bear in mind most games will be red team against blue team so you will be on a 'team'. If you have fun , play the minimum of 3 games in not less than 2 months and get your UKARA, then say good by to your spare cash !

It's worth getting yourself some decent eye and face pro so its yours rather than rented and some decent  boots. 

Thanks do I have to register or anything at the site so they can record my attendance? And I’m currently serving in the military so boots and eye pro won’t be a problem  thanks a lot!

2 minutes ago, Philby21 said:

Find a local site, book onto a skirmish day with a rental gun and jump in!  Oh, and welcome to the forum! 😂

 

Take extra cash for more ammo and I'd recommend trying more than one game, just to be sure.  Plus, if you like it and both games are at the same site then you're already 2 games towards your UKARA (but they need to be over at least 56 days from the first to the last, you can play more in between but it's to prove that you're actually interested more long term).

 

Have a browse through a lot of the pinned posts, there's some good tips for helping make your day/introduction more enjoyable.

 

Most of all - have fun! 👍

Thanks a lot for the advice! Buzzing to see if it’s the sport for me!

[Nick G]

1 minute ago, Cloudpuncher305 said:

Thanks do I have to register or anything at the site so they can record my attendance? And I’m currently serving in the military so boots and eye pro won’t be a problem  thanks a lot!

You may need to book in advance to make sure they have rental kit for you. Have a chat with them once you get there about weather you need to 'join' the site. Most seem to just start to recognise you 😂

[Cloudpuncher305]

Just now, Nick G said:

You may need to book in advance to make sure they have rental kit for you. Have a chat with them once you get there about weather you need to 'join' the site. Most seem to just start to recognise you 😂

Ah right cool thanks 😂 

[Nick G]

3 minutes ago, Philby21 said:

@Nick G I must have hit submit about half a second ahead of you! 🤣

Great minds ! 🤣

[Philby21]

In my experience most sites register their "members", so if you join a site (usually not expensive and you'll get cheaper game days) they'll register you on the UKARA database when you join or as soon as you're eligible (whichever is later).

 

Around that time is when you'll hear this mysterious high pitched noise start - don't panic, it's just your bank balance screaming.

[Cloudpuncher305]

3 minutes ago, Philby21 said:

In my experience most sites register their "members", so if you join a site (usually not expensive and you'll get cheaper game days) they'll register you on the UKARA database when you join or as soon as you're eligible (whichever is later).

 

Around that time is when you'll hear this mysterious high pitched noise start - don't panic, it's just your bank balance screaming.

Is it weird that I’m looking forward to that sound?

[Philby21]

Nah, you get used to tuning it out, or whistle along. 😉

[Tackle]

Welcome, regarding finding a team, don't bother, unlike the Military, Airsoft teams tend to be better if they "evolve" naturally, with players getting to know each other on gamedays, getting the measure of each other so to speak.

That's not to say don't try to get any like-minded mates involved, most will probably love it .

[Iceni]

Your typical hire is about £50.

That covers everything. Gun, Camo, Eye protection, and normally about 3000 bb's.

Extra BB's are normally £8-12 for another 3000.

Some sites provide a free lunch.
Most sites provide free tea and coffee.
Soft drinks and snacks are usually extra.

If you plan to run take hydration. You will sweat even more if you are in full kit, with a helmet. Most sites are pretty small, and you will get killed often. Every kill you tend to head back to a respawn location and run back into the game after a short countdown. It means you can spend a lot of time on the move and it'll take it out of you.

If you already have shooting glasses then make sure they are rated to take impacts (they should be).

Teeth can get shot, and do get smashed. If you don't want to go to the dentist then lower face protection is advisable. Mesh is fine, You can get all in one eyepro and lower face protection, but don't get the cheap ones. If you want a decent set have a look at the Dye i4 and i5 masks.


Book a day with the full hire kit. It doesn't matter if you are alone, Airsofters are friendly, and you will probably find some ex-services or cadets there anyway. The Marshals at most sites will also look after you. Learn their names and spend some time chatting them up for site information and where the good locations are.

Chat to the players about the guns and gear. Most of it you will know but airsoft isn't like the real thing. The guns have no recoil, are lighter, and have significantly less range. If you chat up the walts in the safe zone there is a good chance a few will let you look at the guns and have a shoot. Been friendly will get you very far, most of us think we have the best gun ever made and will tell you all the good points about it as if it was significantly better than everyone else's. Generally, the guns are pretty evenly matched and everyone is energy limited by law and site rules.

Equally, the guys with the best gear might not have a clue on how to move on the battlefield. This is a game of open wallets, and because of that some of the best players are the ones in jeans and a T-shirt with a gun that looks like it has been built from scrap.

Make sure you ask a marshal to set up your "hop unit". It's a bit of rubber in the barrel that puts backspin on the BB. Having it set right will give you better range, A lot of hire guns will just be thrown in a corner and won't be set up from the last 13year old fingering the moving bits.

It's also worth having a small pack of wet wipes. Some sites are pretty shy on amenities. And running water can be a luxury they didn't pay for! I've never seen a long drop, but there must be a few sites with them! If they have porta-loo's don't expect them to be clean. Some sites are fantastic the one I usually go to even has showers, So just be prepared literally for anything!

 

[Cloudpuncher305]

3 minutes ago, Iceni said:

Your typical hire is about £50.

That covers everything. Gun, Camo, Eye protection, and normally about 3000 bb's.

Extra BB's are normally £8-12 for another 3000.

Some sites provide a free lunch.
Most sites provide free tea and coffee.
Soft drinks and snacks are usually extra.

If you plan to run take hydration. You will sweat even more if you are in full kit, with a helmet. Most sites are pretty small, and you will get killed often. Every kill you tend to head back to a respawn location and run back into the game after a short countdown. It means you can spend a lot of time on the move and it'll take it out of you.

If you already have shooting glasses then make sure they are rated to take impacts (they should be).

Teeth can get shot, and do get smashed. If you don't want to go to the dentist then lower face protection is advisable. Mesh is fine, You can get all in one eyepro and lower face protection, but don't get the cheap ones. If you want a decent set have a look at the Dye i4 and i5 masks.


Book a day with the full hire kit. It doesn't matter if you are alone, Airsofters are friendly, and you will probably find some ex-services or cadets there anyway. The Marshals at most sites will also look after you. Learn their names and spend some time chatting them up for site information and where the good locations are.

Chat to the players about the guns and gear. Most of it you will know but airsoft isn't like the real thing. The guns have no recoil, are lighter, and have significantly less range. If you chat up the walts in the safe zone there is a good chance a few will let you look at the guns and have a shoot. Been friendly will get you very far, most of us think we have the best gun ever made and will tell you all the good points about it as if it was significantly better than everyone else's. Generally, the guns are pretty evenly matched and everyone is energy limited by law and site rules.

Equally, the guys with the best gear might not have a clue on how to move on the battlefield. This is a game of open wallets, and because of that some of the best players are the ones in jeans and a T-shirt with a gun that looks like it has been built from scrap.

Make sure you ask a marshal to set up your "hop unit". It's a bit of rubber in the barrel that puts backspin on the BB. Having it set right will give you better range, A lot of hire guns will just be thrown in a corner and won't be set up from the last 13year old fingering the moving bits.

It's also worth having a small pack of wet wipes. Some sites are pretty shy on amenities. And running water can be a luxury they didn't pay for! I've never seen a long drop, but there must be a few sites with them! If they have porta-loo's don't expect them to be clean. Some sites are fantastic the one I usually go to even has showers, So just be prepared literally for anything!

 

Incredible advice and very helpful thank you very much

[Rogerborg]

Well, it's already been covered above.  I'll just re-iterate that renting at least once is smart.  It might look expensive, but you'd be paying for the BBs anyway, and the site should see you right if you run into any issues with the rental gun.

 

You'll likely get a huge buzz from the first game, but I wouldn't max out the credit card straight away until you've done your 3 game / 8 week UKARA purgatory.

 

If you decide that you can't wait that long and have to buy your own two-tone IF, then I'd suggest buying a basic but decent AEG like a G&G CM16, although even the cheapest CYMA AKs and M4s are quite usable with a bit of a clean out and setting the hop correctly.  If you stick with it, you'll have that as a backup or loaner gun, or worse case you can punt it on without much of a loss.

[Tommikka]

1 hour ago, Iceni said:

Note that Dye i4s gained a reputation due to good marketing that they are the ‘best’ goggles, much of this was due being a small giggle marketed as low profile.  Other parts of their ‘better’ status, such as pretty much fully rubberised google and ‘higher’ spec lenses as default are the same as any other premium goggles.

Being smaller means less face coverage - and less warm air to fog.  It can also mean not covering your chin / mouth and not breathing inside the goggle.  If your face isn’t covered in full face goggles then they don’t fit your face!

 

i3s were good for me, and I still have mine, but i4s leave my forehead, chin and lip exposed, if I talk then that’s also my teeth exposed.

Look at what’s available, spend your rental days chatting with people and asking to try their gear & for their thoughts.  But remember that everyone has an opinion and everyone has personal preferences

 

My preferred goggles on the market are VForce grills, the best goggles to fit me are Angel Eyes (but don’t meet international standards due to the unique design, and have never gone into production beyond prototypes)

[Adolf Hamster]

11 hours ago, Iceni said:

Equally, the guys with the best gear might not have a clue on how to move on the battlefield. This is a game of open wallets, and because of that some of the best players are the ones in jeans and a T-shirt with a gun that looks like it has been built from scrap.

 

*flashback intensifies*

 

when you're stuck between one of these people you describe moving through tall grass like he's re-enacting predator and one of your mates on the other team who can just about reach you you're glad you end up getting tagged by the latter as it saves you fighting the former.

 

as has been said op get your time served before thinking of buying kit, and you don't need to invest heavily to be that effective, hell there's a lad runs around with our crowd who can consistently get kills with a goddamn nerf gun.

[Nick G]

I do like the term UKARA Purgatory ! it so accurately describes those weeks of drooling over the airsoft gun porn but knowing that it is out of reach 😂