Help needed - Really want to start Airsoft BUT..

[Rogerborg]

2 hours ago, WillMidz said:

Specna Arms Flex 
https://www.patrolbase.co.uk/specna-arms-sa-f05-rl-flex-tm-hal-etu-tm-m4-ar-15-aeg?pv=26812

 

That's a phenomenal amount of features for the money.  It would come down to how good the plastic is, I haven't handled one.  But a fully featured fire control system, quick change spring, and rotary hop are strong arguments.

 

 

1 hour ago, Mik3F said:

Will that charge a battery with a Mini Tamiya connector?

 

Doesn't look like it comes with a mini-Tamiya connector, but Deans-to-mini-Tamiya converters are readily available.

 

Although if you're any way technically inclined, I'd always recommend binning off Tamiya in favour of soldering on Deans, if you buy a gun that's still pre-wired for VHS.

 

I know, I know, XT-60 is even betterer, but I run an eBike on Deans, 36V and a sustained 250W / peak 400W hauling 100kg of metal and meat around, without any heat or hassles. It's fine for airsoft.

[pyromancer6]

That Specna Flex looks like a real winner at that price - sure you could look into DE's lineup of Falcon Fire M4s for around the same budget but honestly I don't think you can go too wrong with one of those - kinda dig the olive too tbh

[Cannonfodder]

 

11 hours ago, WillMidz said:

people online kept shouting about what parts to replace immediately like the gearbox ! 

Ignore these people, they're idiots. Unfortunately there seems to be a vocal minority of people, particularly on places like faceache and reddit, who think that you need to totally gut any airsoft gun to make it usable and this couldn't be further from the truth. The most I've done to my AEGs is changing the hop rubber.

 

The specna arms guns are a great choice and even the most budget friendly Core range are solid guns which are better quality than some similarly priced guns, eg the cyma 5XX lines with their bodies made from recycled ready meal trays

 

 

One the subject of PPE, get some gloves too especially for cqb as hits to the hand/knuckles bloody hurt 

 

Edited yesterday at 07:25 by Cannonfodder

[The_Lord_Poncho]

8 hours ago, Rogerborg said:

Doesn't look like it comes with a mini-Tamiya connector, but Deans-to-mini-Tamiya converters are readily available.

Indeed, or a banana plugs to mini tamiya connector- e.g https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283864354843?

 

The plastic on Specna flex is not too bad actually. Solid, with a good texture.

[Mik3F]

8 hours ago, Rogerborg said:

 

That's a phenomenal amount of features for the money.  It would come down to how good the plastic is, I haven't handled one.  But a fully featured fire control system, quick change spring, and rotary hop are strong arguments.

 

 

 

Doesn't look like it comes with a mini-Tamiya connector, but Deans-to-mini-Tamiya converters are readily available.

 

Although if you're any way technically inclined, I'd always recommend binning off Tamiya in favour of soldering on Deans, if you buy a gun that's still pre-wired for VHS.

 

I know, I know, XT-60 is even betterer, but I run an eBike on Deans, 36V and a sustained 250W / peak 400W hauling 100kg of metal and meat around, without any heat or hassles. It's fine for airsoft.

 

That was going to be my next ask, so its safe to charge a battery using an adaptor as long as its the right kind ie LiPo, NiMH ect

[WillMidz]

@DanBow

 

I would not of guessed those scars came from BBs ! Jeeezzz 

 

@TheFull9

 

This is consistent advice across the forum. Thank you. 
 

@Cheeky vimto

 

yeah I can see me ending up down the sniping route. I’ve always loved the idea of a sniper. 

@Rogerborg

 

Wow okay! The SA Flex seems like the winner then for my first Airsoft gun! 

 

@pyromancer6

Yeahhh the olive drew me in straight away. For the UK I’d rather have an olive gun in a forest than a black/ tan one. 
 

@Cannonfodder

 

Thanks for that Cannon. There’s a lot of noise on places like Reddit that almost derailed my interest in starting this amazing sport. 
 

PPE will be on the list the same time I order my gun . I’ve got some gloves from mountain biking for my first rental sesssion CQB but I will definitely buy some that suit my Airsoft outfit . 
 

 

Next question: 

 

What do you guys recommend for safety goggles / mask to cover your eyes and face where anti fog works well? 

[Mik3F]

Check out the link I posted earlier for a full face mask

 

I use it and have had no issues at all

[Rogerborg]

1 hour ago, Mik3F said:

 

That was going to be my next ask, so its safe to charge a battery using an adaptor as long as its the right kind ie LiPo, NiMH ect

 

Sure. A balance charger is going to charge each cell through the balance connector anyway: it's only using the main power connector to measure the total voltage.

 

One thing to be aware of is that radio-control (RC) Tamiya and airsoft Tamiya have opposite polarity on the connectors, for ritual reasons  It's easy enough to remove the connectors and swap them over if you end up with one that's barse ackwards.

 

 

[Mik3F]

35 minutes ago, Rogerborg said:

 

Sure. A balance charger is going to charge each cell through the balance connector anyway: it's only using the main power connector to measure the total voltage.

 

One thing to be aware of is that radio-control (RC) Tamiya and airsoft Tamiya have opposite polarity on the connectors, for ritual reasons  It's easy enough to remove the connectors and swap them over if you end up with one that's barse ackwards.

 

 

What about if you dont have the balance connector though, safe to still charge using an adaptor

[The_Lord_Poncho]

10 minutes ago, Mik3F said:

What about if you dont have the balance connector though, safe to still charge using an adaptor

Lipo batteries always have a balance connector attached in addition to the main plug. Or are you referring to your charger not having a socket for the balance connector? If so, time to upgrade your charger. Whilst you can charge a lipo without balancing the charge between cells, it's not great for battery longevity, and ultimately batteries are the difference between a good game day, and leaving halfway through disappointed.

[heroshark]

Aegs are boring. Skip the middle man. Get yourself an mws and be done with it😄.

[Cheeky vimto]

I've tried all kinds of PPE over the years; Bolle glasses, WARQ helmets and I've settled on HeroSharks. Sure, they're mesh and they come with a slight risk. I've been playing since 2012 though and have yet to see for myself shard of plastic getting through mesh. 

 

I didn't get on with bolle, especially in a CQB environment. I would fog up no matter what I tried. 

 

The WarQ helmet was really good. I had the internal comms to chat to friends. Only down fall to it is it's really bulky. Trying to look over objects meant your head popped up a good distance before your eyes. Trying to look down sights meant your sights had to be on a silly height raiser. 

 

HeroSharks were the one for me 👌

[Anonymoose]

2 minutes ago, heroshark said:

Aegs are boring. Skip the middle man. Get yourself an mws and be done with it😄.

 

The NGRSs are pretty good. 

[heroshark]

6 minutes ago, Anonymoose said:

 

The NGRSs are pretty good. 

Mws all the way if you want to be a real man child. The lack of recoil or feedback returning the bolt lost it for me.

 

8 minutes ago, Cheeky vimto said:

HeroSharks were the one for me 👌

 

Never heard of her.

[Cheeky vimto]

1 minute ago, heroshark said:

 

Never heard of her.

 

She can be a bit of a moody cow but her gear is 2nd to none. 

[Mik3F]

30 minutes ago, The_Lord_Poncho said:

Lipo batteries always have a balance connector attached in addition to the main plug. Or are you referring to your charger not having a socket for the balance connector? If so, time to upgrade your charger. Whilst you can charge a lipo without balancing the charge between cells, it's not great for battery longevity, and ultimately batteries are the difference between a good game day, and leaving halfway through disappointed.

 

What about for NiMH batteries though that don't have them, can you sue a dean to tamiya connector to charge those

 

Im getting a new charger either way, just want to make sure I can still use soem of the older batteries

[The_Lord_Poncho]

20 minutes ago, Mik3F said:

 

What about for NiMH batteries though that don't have them, can you sue a dean to tamiya connector to charge those

 

Im getting a new charger either way, just want to make sure I can still use soem of the older batteries

Yes of course - if you are using NiMH batteries, there is no need (or possibility) to balance charge them. That charger that i linked to earlier in the thread can happily charge NiMH batteries as well (just via the main connector), and has a specific programme for it.

[heroshark]

27 minutes ago, Cheeky vimto said:

 

She can be a bit of a moody cow but her gear is 2nd to none. 

If I've never told you to f-off, or your gun is shit. Or thrown a rattle can at you, you are not a true herosharker.

[Cheeky vimto]

23 minutes ago, heroshark said:

If I've never told you to f-off, or your gun is shit. Or thrown a rattle can at you, you are not a true herosharker.

 

They say never meet your heros... 

[Rogerborg]

2 hours ago, heroshark said:

Aegs are boring. Skip the middle man. Get yourself an mws and be done with it😄.

 

Just springer it, bro.

[Anonymoose]

2 hours ago, heroshark said:

Mws all the way if you want to be a real man child. The lack of recoil or feedback returning the bolt lost it for me.

 

I have a mix of GBBs and NGRSs. I like the GBBs more but the NGRSs are a good compromise. Don't have any standard AEGs, they don't interest me at all with no feedback.

[heroshark]

30 minutes ago, Anonymoose said:

 

I have a mix of GBBs and NGRSs. I like the GBBs more but the NGRSs are a good compromise. Don't have any standard AEGs, they don't interest me at all with no feedback.

Aye It's better than nothing. Seems most the other electric tw systems are more finicky. Das sounded good to start but they seem to have a few too many flaws for my liking especially for the price. Mws is a pretty solid option. But on the gbb front I've always found them easier to work on than AEG. 

Edited yesterday at 14:04 by heroshark

[Lozart]

7 hours ago, WillMidz said:

yeah I can see me ending up down the sniping route. I’ve always loved the idea of a sniper. 

 

Everyone loves the idea of it until they actually try it.

 

 

Fun parallels with MTBs - I used to be a pretty keen MTBer until I developed "downhill specific geometry" if you see what I mean. Now, when I started doing it vaguely regularly I picked a decent starter bike at the time (a KHS if I recall). Nothing fancy, Shimano STX groupset, butted steel frame etc. By about 6 months in it had titanium skewers, V brakes, a mix of XT and LX parts and a new triple butted frame that weighed less than my right nut. Did it need it? Not really. Did it make me a better rider? God, no. Was it unnecessarily expensive? Absolutely. Just like airsoft.

 

I still wear my old Endura Humvee top for airsoft when it gets really warm!

[Cannonfodder]

11 hours ago, WillMidz said:

yeah I can see me ending up down the sniping route. I’ve always loved the idea of a sniper. 

 

3 hours ago, Lozart said:

Everyone loves the idea of it until they actually try it.

 

This. Unfortunately video games and YouTube give many newbies the impression that sniping is just putting the crosshairs on target and pulling the trigger when the reality is very different. Fieldcraft and knowing exactly where your shots will land are way more important as the lower rate of fire is a serious disadvantage when you're within range of those with full auto

[Anonymoose]

9 minutes ago, Cannonfodder said:

 

This. Unfortunately video games and YouTube give many newbies the impression that sniping is just putting the crosshairs on target and pulling the trigger when the reality is very different. Fieldcraft and knowing exactly where your shots will land are way more important as the lower rate of fire is a serious disadvantage when you're within range of those with full auto

 

At my last game i took a bolt-action sniper and an MP5 out with me. Worked pretty well, switching between the two as desired.

 

I wouldn't bother taking two with anything bigger than the MP5 or anything with a fixed stock, nor would i do it with a sniper rifle that isn't really light. Not ideal, but fun.