What is a good first buy?
 

I am a total noob,

I would like to start playing AirSoft and I would like to know what kind of gun I should get for starter. I want to put between 300-400$ and I want to be able to upgrade it overtime (scope, metal parts, etc...)

I know the rules, I don't want you to give links on where to buy but specs on what to buy, like I guess to play I need electric, but what FPS? What brand? Etc...

Thanks

Well, make a list of the guns you really like, then we can help you with the brands that make the best guns that you like, in your price range.
Also remember your not only buying a gun, you need your kit as well.

Welcome here, first off, are you in Canada? Plus how old are you?
If you are 18+ you should look into getting age verified so you'll have access to the classifieds on this site.

Welcome to the sport. Get age verified ASAP. There are two verifiers in your area: Sebastien (R3CON1) and Jonathan (F34N0R). Send either of them a private message to get you started.

Weapon choice is a matter of preference more than anything.

I personally support the following AEG brands: TM, CA, G&G, ICS, JG. My preferred choice is the AR platform due to the high availability of spare and upgrade parts as well as the many different possible configurations.

There are about as many opinions on here as there are individual users, so you're going to have to make your own decision there.

You get what you pay for.

Manufacturer is generally more important then the style. Generally all airsoft aeg's work the same so how it looks like outside is up to you. Though the advice in the Airsoft Newbie Buying Guide about styles is good. Generally ak47, m16/m4 or mp5 are good starter gun styles due to the availability of accessories and upgrades.

For the price range you specified you're generally going to be restricted to the low or mid quality guns. For $300 you could get a JG. Yeah JG's are China clones but they're getting quite respectable nowadays. JG's M4 runs about $290. You could get one of the G&G cansoft (clear receiver) M4's for about $340. G&G is the cheapest of the midgrade guns. $400-$450 would get you an ICS which is a higher end midgrade gun. Anything else is going to be out of your specified price range.

Thanks,

I am 40, getting age verified this weekend with Defcon 1. For the type of guns I prefer, I tend to go toward the M4 or G36, I like the special ops kinda look with laser sights, flashlights, etc...

When you say I will need a kit, you mean combat pants, gear, glasses and boots? This is not a problem, like I said, my initial budget is 300-400 for the gun, but if I can get only crap for that amount I can boost it to 500-600$ I just don't want to be stuck with a piece of crap.

For example, I found for 370$:

Would I be happy with this? And is it easy to find a replacement lower receiver in black abs or metal?

Yea, its pretty solid, consider the CAS line-up of G&Gs if you want to save a little money.

it's a good starter combo. And yes M4 metal bodies are widely avaliable. Although I must say it's hard to get them in Canada since they are illegal to import. Your best bet is to paint the gun in black if you want more realism.

as much I personally don;t like 97% of them ... gotta recommend an M4 .. by a manufact. that you can afford (JG, G&G etc etc etc.) the build options with an M4 are pretty much endless.. any style, design, thought, dream, etc can by found with the M4 base. and they are relatively easy to resell (pretty much any airsoft short of a totally clear gun.. like crossman )

For $500 you can get a BNIB TM M4 if you run into it?

Im a sucker for the G36, you should go with one of them ;)
they look great, pretty versatile, folding stock is really good for CQB, and... well they look great ;p

AUG!
just imagine it with a foregrip instead of a XM203 and flashlight!
Okay I know, rare gun=rare parts, but so sexy.....
http://www.teamhassle.co.uk/images/t...m/DSCF0007.JPG

Holy Long Barrel!

What is that 650mm?

The TM Mp5K PDW was a great starter choice for me. Many shots through it and shoots straight and true. FPS is only about 260-270 with its stock internals, but that makes it reliable. The gun is great for cqb and ok for outside/long range.

http://s650.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/DSCN6840.jpg




http://s650.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/DSCN6819.jpg

You want to stay away from stock TM M16/M4's, the creak and barrel wobble are pretty bad.

+1!

If your going to save up 500 bucks for stock TM M4, why not just save a little longer and get a CA?

Or!

Get a Cansoft G&G and a can of krylon, then spend the extra 200 buck you would have spend on the TM on mags and BBs

i would recommend waiting until you are age verified before buying a gun, there is much more to be seen here.

and if you go the route of the g36 i will recommend classic army and nothing else.

+1 to Classic Army recomendations, I absolutely love mine.

I did extensive research and settled on the Tactical Carbine version of the Classic Army M15A4 as my first gun. If an Armalite is what you're looking for then I think it's the best of all possible versions. You have the shortened M4 carbine barrel, which makes you less likely to smack your barrel off something when turning quickly, combined with the full stock which houses a large battery. Small batteries don't have near the run time of a large battery, not to mention that the reinforced slip ring (the ring that keeps the fore-grip on) is really stong. While this is mostly a good thing and a big step up over CA's previous M15 versions, it makes changing small batteries in the field very difficult if not impossible.

CA's M15A4 series in general is a big step up over their previous versions and as far as stock armalites go they're probably the best. All metal where the real steel version is, the plastic parts where the real steal version is plastic are made of high quality enhanced nylon fiber rather then abs for great texture and feel. Classic Army has a deal with Armalite so you get all the proper markings. Plus that deal also goes to show the quality of the manufacture, Armalite wouldn't put their name on a shoddy product.

Internally the gearbox is reinforced metal and all the gears are metal as well. It fires hotter stock then Tokyo Marui's as well, firing at 300-320 fps where your average TM only fires 280-300 fps.

All in all this is a great starter gun if you can afford it. Because it's all metal you don't have to worry nearly as much about breaking it and you won't get any of the wobble or creaking that is infamous in stock TM M4/M16's. Unfortunately affording it is the biggest problem, they're not cheap. For reference I got my CA M15A4 from the classifieds, upgraded with a bunch of Systema internals to fire 390fps, for $600 shipped which was a great price.


http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...ineextras1.jpg

Ok, so for the G&G GR16 I was looking at, I can't seem to find any parts for it, so I guess it is not a good choice if I want to customize it overtime. Is it compatible with something else? This is really hard to navigate with all these models and parts.

G&Gs are TM compatible, so they'll work with most spare and after-market parts out there. This is my G&G CAS version M4 after extra goodies and some paint...

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/764...eapr252009.jpg

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/605...ejune72009.jpg

I did all the work myself, and I'd never worked on an airsoft gun before.

G&G seems to be pretty acceptable rifle but, wait till youre aved, and take look into the classifieds before buying a clear lower gun. my 2 cents

Yes will do for sure, I will be AV tomorrow, can't wait.

Very nice paintjob, what kind of paint do you use? I have an airbrush already.

Krylon Camo spray-paint can be found at Canadian tire, and is generally what is used for painting airsoft guns.

But, if you can use an airbrush, that would probably work better

Yup, Krylon. Satin Black for the base layer on the M4 lower, as well as the frame on the KJW G23 (it's the Cansoft version from 007). Then I used a muddled, oversprayed mix of gray primer, camo tan and OD on the rifle. It works well where we play, lots of gray rocks around, as well as pale birch bark. ACU works well in th YK area.

Keep up to date -.-
New TMs no longer creak or wobble at all.
I've seen some go for $500 or less.
Airbrushes can be used to make your own sexy and awesome pattern, especially if you have experience airbrushing stuff.
CAs are good too, if you can afford them. Or build your own custom one =p (lemegacool)

hep hep hep! its a custom G&P/madbull i built lol!:p

But it's not airbrushed, so HA!
I find no end to G&P's annoyingness, even after I replaced every single part besides the mechbox shell and spring guide...(Okay okay... and the trigger n wires)

Electric - CA CA25
[AR014M] - [Classic Army] $379.99
Specifications:
* Length: 510mm
* Capacity: 470rds
* Weight: 8.4lbs
* Velocity: 390-410FPS
* Battery: Large Type

GREAT Starters buy

http://basscommand.com/armoryairsoft/dept08/ca25.jpg

SR25's are NEVER a great starter buy.

Non-standard gearbox (Modified V2), and non-standard magazines.

I love the SIG 552 commando and though it lacks some tacti-cool readiness, I say check it out. Though the mechbox would need some work.

Sorry but that is by no means a great starter rifle. As Amos stated, its a one a of a kind gun that requires certain parts and expertise to maintain the gun.

thats not a good starters gun

Why repeat the same thing 3 times... hell, I didn't even say it right after I saw amos' post.