Getting Started.

[davidslfc]

Hello, new to the forum.

I recently did a skirmish with a few friends after a while of them talking and asking me about it. I enjoyed it more than i thought and i am considering investing in some kit to get started. However i just have a few questions. I read the READ THIS page and seen the makes/models for each gun and what is best for each. I am just wondering what the quality of entry level guns are like compared to those that are £200+. I used my friends warrior l96 and although sniping was fun i wanted to be more in the action with an assault rifle.

A friendly guy allowed me a quick 5 mins with his SCAR with a gas recoil. What a piece of kit that was. I didnt ask the guy how much he payed but i assume something of that quality, all metal and recoil would be £400+.

Here are a few questions i would like to guide me on my first purchase.

1. How much am i looking at for a entry level electric rifle. full auto/semi for skirmishing?

2. M4, G36C, AK, . Are they all basically the same? real life models will obviously behave differently, but is there much difference in airsoft apart from looks?

3. What are some good quality guns, I'm talking about mostly metal, attachments can be plastic but if the main body is plastic I dont want to be spending money on it to trip over and smash on my first outing.

4. I am aware i will need a Two-Tone gun as i do not have a UKARA license, Am i allowed to buy a non two tone if it is from a 2nd hand website such as gunstar or classified forum ads?.

5. Buying a gun 2nd hand? I had a quick look before this post at the classifieds and I think 90% of the guns listed are above my budget and non two tone. What are some trusted sites that have some 2nd hand guns?

6. Brands to avoid / Best Brands. Being new i dont want to buy a gun that will break within 3 months. I want a quality gun that will last me a good amount of skirmishes.

I think this will cover most areas of my concern. I appreciated any and all help.

Regards

Dave

 

[Samuelol]

I'm sorry I don't have the time to offer much more advice but the general guideline for a beginner is to go a few times more and potentialy sort out your UKARA. It's well worth renting, checking some other players kit out and just generally getting your head around things before investing.

Once you're comfortable enough, I'd say take a look at G&G's Combat Machine line of m4s. Whilst they may be 'plastic', said plastic is a good quality polymer in reality. Many real guns are constructed of polymer to make use of the low weight yet still maintain a strong build.

Hope that helps.

Edit: Most new players I've met regret buying a two tone rather than waiting for their UKARA to purchase a shiny realistic replica! But that's up to you entirely.

5 years ago.. Scary.. I rented until sorting my UKARA and even to this day, my first, polymer G&G CM which cost no more than £150 is one of my favorites.

 

[lemon191]

1. How much am i looking at for a entry level electric rifle. full auto/semi for skirmishing? ---- ---------around 130, but you also need to budget in for extra mags, a battery or 2 and a charger.

2. M4, G36C, AK, . Are they all basically the same? real life models will obviously behave differently, but is there much difference in airsoft apart from looks?------------ basically yes they all work in the same way and barrel lengths doesn't have the same effect like real guns so it is down to what you like.

3. What are some good quality guns, I'm talking about mostly metal, attachments can be plastic but if the main body is plastic I dont want to be spending money on it to trip over and smash on my first outing.---- -----------if your on a budget your better off getting a good quality plastic than a cheap metal , metal doesnt = indestructible, also if you are on a budget worry more about the internal quality than the outside materials as you will want something thats going to last

4. I am aware i will need a Two-Tone gun as i do not have a UKARA license, Am i allowed to buy a non two tone if it is from a 2nd hand website such as gunstar or classified forum ads?. ---- -----------the law covers all sales so until you gain a site membership it's bright colours only

5. Buying a gun 2nd hand? I had a quick look before this post at the classifieds and I think 90% of the guns listed are above my budget and non two tone. What are some trusted sites that have some 2nd hand guns?----- ----------forums are you r best bet for second hand stuff , there are some bargains to be had however there is the risk of no warranty so if it fails your out of pocket so you might be better off looking new.

6. Brands to avoid / Best Brands. Being new i dont want to buy a gun that will break within 3 months. I want a quality gun that will last me a good amount of skirmishes.--------------- choose a gun you like first then ask and people will recommend the best for that type.

I think this will cover most areas of my concern. I appreciated any and all help.

Regards

Dave

As Samuel said best advice is gain membership and ukara and buy a gun then , if you buy a two tone you will end up spending money to replace it with a black one not long after,

 

[sokar666]

1. How much am i looking at for a entry level electric rifle. full auto/semi for skirmishing?

G&G CM16 is probably one of the most common entry level guns but it really is what ever your budget is.

2. M4, G36C, AK, . Are they all basically the same? real life models will obviously behave differently, but is there much difference in airsoft apart from looks?

It is basically cosmetic, skirmishes i use my M4 because of attachments but you cant beat the iconic look of a real wood AK47

3. What are some good quality guns, I'm talking about mostly metal, attachments can be plastic but if the main body is plastic I dont want to be spending money on it to trip over and smash on my first outing.

Right this basically personal opinion, what is good for one person is terrible for someone else. And don't fall into that bracket of only metal is good, i've seen people use an all plastic gun that could take some real punishment and a full metal take one graze against a tree and fall apart. A really really really really good airsoft gun is about the internals not the externals, for example Tokyo Marui are classed as one the best manufacturers, there internals are all quality materials but the body of the guns are predominantly polymer (plastic). My goto gun for myself is my ICS Tranform4, personal opinion as i love the split motor but i also have a ASG Scorpion Evo for CQB indoors fights which i will say apart from the charging handle is all plastic but has got to be one of the best out of the box guns there is.

4. I am aware i will need a Two-Tone gun as i do not have a UKARA license, Am i allowed to buy a non two tone if it is from a 2nd hand website such as gunstar or classified forum ads?.

UKARA is not a license, its a form of defense for sellers to protect themselves. goto http://www.ukara.org.uk/ it will tell you anything you need to know. But by the letter of the law to be able to purchase a RIF you need to be over 18 years of age and hold a valid defense which can be detailed on ukara database, a valid site membership, a movie maker or war reenacter. Now if you dont have a valid defense then it needs to be painted a bright non military colour red, green, blue but you still need to be 18 years of age. The same rules are applied for 2nd hand purchases, it is solely the seller's responsibility to check these details. To be honest just do what most do and rent site guns for the first 2 months a get your defense/site membership doesn't take long and then you have nothing to worry about.

5. Buying a gun 2nd hand? I had a quick look before this post at the classifieds and I think 90% of the guns listed are above my budget and non two tone. What are some trusted sites that have some 2nd hand guns?

Can't really comment as i don't buy 2nd hand unless it's a hard to find gun but this site has a really good classified section but your above question about ukara will still count.

6. Brands to avoid / Best Brands. Being new i dont want to buy a gun that will break within 3 months. I want a quality gun that will last me a good amount of skirmishes.

Again completely personal opinion, its like asking is tea or coffee the best, it really cant be answered. The stickied buying guide is about as accurate as you will get with trusted brands for beginners. But my personal opinion is depending on budget would be ICS, Ares, G&G, Tokyo Marui, Krytac, Classic Army, King's Arms are good brands, there are many more just a few of the top ones off the top of my head. When it comes to damage, well that is basically upto you, take care of your gun, clean it if needed, don't wield it like a sword and it will last you a long time barring unforseen accidental breakages from yourself or a rogue bb damaging something.

 

[davidslfc]

Thanks for all the replies guys, The common view is to borrow/rent for a few months till i'm able to buy a realistic. Guess It's best to do that and save the money getting two tone then realistic few months down the line.

Cheers lads.

 

[Sacarathe]

If a person is going to play their third game on day 56, perhaps. If I could go around again I'd buy a two tone m4.

Hel

2. M4, G36C, AK, . Are they all basically the same? real life models will obviously behave differently, but is there much difference in airsoft apart from looks?

 

[ikarma70]

Welcome aboard Dave, firstly UkARA is not the only defence although there are some shops that only accept UkARA as the only valid defence however I tend to buy from 3 retailers which accept other defences plus my defence covers me for £10 million insurance across all my forms of shooting disciplines and I would happily pass the details onto you if you would like them.

The type of gun you want is really a personal choice but there are advantages to each gearbox used in respective models of gun.

V2 is a good reliable system but all the wiring is inside the gearbox so you will need to open the gearbox for anything wiring/gear related plus it's usually found in m4 style guns which means you have short barrels which can restrict the range of the gun but m4's do have loads of accessories as they come with rails everywhere in the more modern styles of m4 also the way the motor mounts to the gearbox is not the best.

V3, the wiring is external to the gearbox and this is a big plus when you have wiring issues.

The motor fits inside a cage which bolts directly to the gearbox so there's no need to adjust the motor height each time you strip the gear box out unlike the m4 system.

Standard ak47 style guns usually have longer barrels which helps range to a certain degree depending on the barrel if it's a tightbore(g&g ak's are superb for 60+ yards ranges).

The hop on the ak in particular is better than the standard m4 hop however you can buy rear mounted rotary hops for m4's called pro win and these are great upgrades.

Ak's also tend to have greater capacity magazines.

Makes.... My goto gun is a g&g cm ak47, it absolutely shows up my other guns because from the box it out ranges them,the weight is so light and it's really sturdy and all that from a gun that cost £140.

Cyma , G&G and TM are the makes I have had the best performances from and JG was the worst both in build quality and performance but they may work great for you.

Hope that helps!

 

[Sacarathe]

covers me for £10 million insurance across all my forms of shooting disciplines and I would happily pass the details onto you if you would like them.

This doesn't sound VCRA compatible.

 

[Samuelol]

BASC membership? Not sure that would count if that's what you're insinuating.

 

[ikarma70]

I'm not in BASC and never have been.

My local retailer told me of this defence as he has customers who buy airsoft GBB RIF's for re-enactments.

This same defence is accepted by LWA and JD airsoft.