New to Airsoft
 

Hey

I'm new and considering getting into airsoft since owning the real stuff is A, even more restricted then airsoft and B, cost way too much for gun safes and ammunition, not to mention actually require a range or a private piece of land to shot.

I've been surfing 007 Airsoft and their gear.

Are there any major differences between the brands other than full metal body and metal/plastic bodies?

I was looking into an M4A1 model to begin with.

Anything else I should know about before jumping in with both feet?

Well as everyone would say, get verified, read the FAQ's.:rolleyes: The difference between the full metal and part metal body's is mainly price.

That's like asking if there's any difference between cars, because they all have wheels and an engine.

In short, there are some brands that are better than others in terms of quality or machining/assembly, and quality control. TM might be plastic, but in 8 years of airsoft I have NEVER seen a TM gun be an "out of the box lemon" - their QC is excellent. Newer Classic Army guns are good, too. I haven't owned any ICS in the last 6 years, so I can't speak to their quality. With some of the cheap "chinese clone" model guns you will spend less up front, but pay more in repairs/maintenence/upgrades.

The best thing to do is research some gun reviews. Then get out to a game and handle as many as you can. The owners will be able to give you the ins-and-outs of their particular gun.

This is an expensive hobby. You'll need $800-1000 minimum to even be competitive. Your gun, battery, charger, extra mags, and ammo will eat up most of that budget. Just be sure to spend quality money on 2 things - boots and eye protection. IMHO those 2 things are more important than the gun itself. You can still have fun with a "lesser" gun - you won't have as much fun missing an eye of with a broken ankle....

it can't be more expensive than shooting live rounds!!!

I read the FAQ section, its starting to make more sense, but yes, I do understand these are very basic and ignorant questions. We all had to start off somewhere.

No worries, I used to play paintball so I know all about and care for eye protection.

Now, time to search for more information regarding gatherings in Toronto/GTA to play.

Thank God it isn't, or my wife would make me sell the couch that I sleep on to pay for it all.

Actually getting an airsoft gun these days is WAY more difficult than getting the real thing. I bought a new shotgun last weekend and the transfer took 5 minutes, and I had several models/options to chose from and walked out of the store with it. You would have to buy online for airsoft, wait for awhile if the make/model you want is not in-stock anywhere, and you can't shop for price as there is really only 1 or 2 places in all of Canada to get one anyways.

Good luck!!

I guess it depends on your perspective...

...a day with real steel.

http://content.answers.com/main/cont...achine_gun.jpg

VS.

...a day with airsoft (and this is a small load out too!)

http://www.teamblackjack.com/gear.jpg

Is that your Ma Deuce? Man would that be some fun on a lazy Sunday, or gopher huntimg maybe!!

I fire more than that at a game

and its hella expensive

I'm starting to see the difficulty in getting a model I really want.

That being said, what are the benefits and drawbacks between a metal body and a plastic body, namely CA vs. TM for the M4A1 type models.

I've read some reviews and they said a metal body is more trouble then its worth in terms of function, but for looks, metal is hands down a winner.

Just trying to pick a primary weapon right now is tough, do I go Carbine or full rifle, add all the bells and whistles or just go stock.

The combinations are endless.

Also, do those scopes really make a difference in your play and aiming?

The newbie questions are endless!

There are absolutely no benefits to having a plastic bodied gun. It'll break on you pretty quick. Not to mention all the scratches/dents you'll put in it from having it slung on yer back..

There are several benefits to a plastic-bodied gun. They are lighter, cheaper to buy initially, cheaper to replace when they break (and metal bodies DO break - look in our buy + sell at the number of people selling either metal uppers or lowers, because the other half broke), and they usually fit with absolutely no modifications required. I have a TM M4 that's plastic-bodied and 7 years old and a plastic-bodied P90 that's 5 years old......both bought new, both still work like new, and look pretty close.

The main way to break a plastic bodied guns is if you are a hamfisted moron with no sense of balance who dives/falls on their gear on a regular basis. This behavior will also break metal-bodied guns, by the way. If you treat quality guns with even the slightest modicum of respect, they will last for years. There are a number of gun docs, myself included, who run stock-bodied TM Armalites as their primary weapons. Try and find a stock TM plastic Armalite body in the buy and sell - they are rare as hell, because all the gun docs want them, myself included. When people who know these guns inside and out leave them stock, that in itself should tell you something.

Two different opinions regarding plastic bodies. Interesting.

Well I should also consider what is in STOCK, so the choices are slim if I want something within a week or so.

get age verified and your choices are hardly slim.

Well, unless you get age verified, nothing is in stock (well, I know of no retailer who keeps any AEGs in stock anymore).

This age verification thing everyone keeps mentioning, is it like a network where all dealers in Canada share a database?

For crying out loud, buying one of these things is harder then buying a real firearm at the moment for me! hehe Will my PAL be sufficient age verification??? ;)

I'm trying to get a hold of AirSoft Canada Armoury to see if they are a walk in store front but no answer, probably out shooting it up having fun.

ASCA is busy moving (or something like that).
Age verification: http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=11474
It would be ideal for all dealers in Canada to share the database, however some don't (which was what I was refering to by saying unless you get age verified nothing is in stock, since all the dealers who don't use the database keep no form of airsoft gun in stock). Mostly, it's used to let the good people of the board know you're of age to purchase things in the classified forums (or at ASCA).

Hey i am just getting started and m on a tight budget ($150 trying to afford college in the fall) but still looking for a good reliable gun preferable a mp5. Anyone got any ideas were i can get one with out having to try and smuggle across the boarder. I bought some cheap gun off ebay and it broke the day i got it (actually second day had to charge for 12 hours fist).

Thanks

Kyle

Did you read anything in this thread before you posted?

BTW, I'd charge for a 12 hour fisting, too.

LMFAO. You won't get a good, reliable MP5 for less than $500 dude.

OMG! I laughed so hard when I read that. Priceless.

Slowne

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/3...ttsecksth5.jpg

Too subtle?

what? hidden message? I totally did not get that... :rolleyes:

Hahahahahahaha.....
I just dropped more than $700 on my MP5. When you find a nice reliable MP5 for $150 let me know, ok? Thanks.

What never ceases to amaze me is that there is a spell checker built into the god damn board, and people still write like drunken chinchillas...

I did not realise that until you mentioned it....

Apparently it's a download though....

It's quite light as a download, if I recall correctly. One and a half megabyte I think? Totally worth it at any rate.

Chinchilla's are so leet.

Trader I'm in the same boat you are, noone seems to have anything in stock, I can't decide between M4 or M16, metal or no...etc etc. But really, no one has anything to offer, really quite frustrating, so I'd like to pose where exactly do most people get their AEG's? Do they smuggle em in or someting cause seriously I could go pick up a real rifle right now with less hassle. God.

Go to a game, network with people, get age verified. You'll have acces to a world of used guns and group orders.

Even getting age verified is just as difficult. :p

Right now, I am leaning towards CA M15A4 to use both in and outdoors, but mostly indoors.

Work schedule not the greatest for a social life.

Waiting for my next 5 day vacation to head down to TTAC3 to get verified and check out what goes on before dumping a pay check into it.

TTAC3 is always great fun. Tuesdays tend to be a quiet, good for a new player. Also the TTAC3 regulars tend to bring a whack of stuff so you will have a chance to try out a few different guns.

nice i joined the forum in 2005 and i still havent gotten age verified yet lol.

Maybe that's because your profile says you're 21 but you told a verifier that you just turned 18. lol!!!!111orz

Any idea on average how many regulars show up for the other nights?

I've already placed my order for the M15A4 Carbine through A&A.

Now the fun part, sitting and waiting for the shipment to arrive.

No, the fun part is when you look at your bank statement after you decided to trick out your gun, then get loads of gear, then decided you need more guns to fill other roles, then trick out those guns, then decide "I need a pistol" and so on and so forth.

Fridays tend to be at least 10 people. Although this friday many of us are headed to quick pass so i cant give you a very good idea of turn out.

Hey Skruface, You dont need 800$ to have a competitive/professional gun, i bought an ak 47 that shoots 370 fps with a .20 and its made up of steel( not including butt fore grip and clip) And the gun was only 200$ in canada!

It seems you don't understand what I wrote (I never said you needed an $800 gun), so I'll quote myself:

$800 for a gun, eye protection, boots, charger, extra mags, and ammo. Assuming you don't buy crap, goggles will run you in the $50 range or more, good boots will be over $100 and as much as $300 (unless you buy surplus boots, in which case your feet will hate you), mags are gonna cost you at least $100, and a charger is gonna be $50 or more.

Just because it has a higher out-of-the-box velocity and a cast pot-metal body (steel body? I doubt it for $200) doesn't make it "professional" quality. Let me ask you this - how many airsoft guns have you owned in order to make your opinion on what airsoft "quality" is valid? How many have you repaired? Will this "steel" gun of yours still be running in another 5 years after 100,000 rounds or so, without replacing ANY parts between now and then? I know my plastic TM M4 will, and all I did was drop in metal bushings.....

You can find good surplus boots. I got a pair of surplus CF issue goretex boots from Army Issue last year and they are the most comfortable boots I have ever worn throughout all seasons and totally waterproof to boot.

Coincidence? I think not.

his AK isn't steel, it's the pot metal top cover that all AKs have. The rest is crappy plastic as what he has is a rebranded CYMA clear body.

if you are looking for a cheaper alternative try echo1, from the reviews of there guns they are a more decent alternative to the china air companies. echo1 is a usa company which re brand's JG models and upgrades the internals, you can probably purchase an echo 1 m4 for around 300-400 dollars. I'm not quite sure how an echo 1 stacks up against a tm or ca but out of the box they usually have a higher fps, and echo1 is compatible with tm parts aswell. so upgrading the model should be fairly easy in terms of finding what you want