Looking for advice/opinions

[Darth_SS]

Hello all,

I'm new to the forums, though I've been reading them for about a month now. For the record, I almost feel bad creating an account solely for one thread. Nevertheless, I'll get on with it.

I am, at the moment, 3 months away from turning 17, and am just finishing grade 11. At the moment, I am planning to go to Saint Francis Xavier for university, though I have toyed with the idea of RMC.

This effectively gives me a year and a bit to begin saving up and preparing before I can start airsoft.

Now, to the best of my understanding, the approximate list of stuff I need to be fairly effective is...

-Load Bearing Vest, modular is not neccesary, but probably the better route

-If I go modular, then I need to get the pouches

-Eye protection.

-Multiple extra magazines

-Extra batteries

-Modifying the gun to fit me is suggested

-Sling

-A gun itself

-Ideally, a back-up/sidearm

-If I get a sidearm, I'd need a drop-leg holster becase Crossdraw just takes up room better spent on ammo

-A healthy supply of BB's.

-Bags to carry all of this stuff in


Now I have a few questions about this:

1) How much of this is actually neccesary/a good idea?

2) Around what price range am I looking at? My initial figuring was about 1500 to 2000

3) At the moment, I'm looking at getting a G36C, an MP5 (retracting stock,) an M4A1, or a SIG 552.

The M4 and MP5 are the current favorites, for a few reasons...

a. Most accesories, magazine holders, etc. seem to be designed for these two

b. They have the most customizable options

c. They're highly reccomended by people on this site

4) Are airsoft guns water proof? I currently half my life-guarding, snorkeling, and scube qualifications and I want to know if I can exploit those.

5) What's a good way to get into the game? Just say "Hey I'm new, can I play a game with you?"

6) I recently went to Seattle on a Band trip. Airsoft guns down there were about 30 bucks American, and there was no age restriction. I almost bought one right there, but decided I'd be the more mature person, and realized I probably couldn't get it across the border. The normal prices I'm seeing on Canadian sites is around 400/450. Why the massive price difference? If there really any difference in quality?

7) Any other suggestions I should heed while I save up?

[-=]MH[=-RaiDen]

TAKING HEAVY FIRE!!! Greylocks please repond, over!!!

forget it.
college/university + airsoft = baaaad

save your money for alcohol. airsoft will easily suck up waaay to much money way to fast. Try airsoft when your done your post-secondary...trust me, you'll thank me later.

[Kid]

Don't feel bad at all about creating a user. It's great to have another name instead of 'Guest 19124', etc. Welcome to Airsoft Canada!

I'm not going to try to expand on any of the gear questions, because I'm lacking in that aread, but I'll try to comment on what I can.

As I'm not into the gear, my price estimate will be off, but you're budget price is about fitting for the gear you have, assuming that you are using high end low caps and high end gear.

I suggest just a gun, a highcap or some midcaps, a couple batteries, some camo, a sling and goggles... but to each his own, some like less, some go all out. It's totally what you think you want, what you think looks good, and what you think fits your budget.

A gun that is customizable, as you said the M4 is, is not always what you want, as it will encourage you to put lights and flashy grenade launchers on it. This will both add weight to hinder you, and cost you a arm and both legs.

Get a gun that you like the look and feel of. I've made that mistake to buy 'What ASC thinks is best' too many times and I know that reviews mean... well... nothing. Internals can be changed. Get the model you like.


There are some guns that run on gas or air that it is possible to use underwater, such as the old out of production ones, but even those are questionable. It's just not a good idea. AEGs and GBBs is a definate 'no no'.

There is a definate increase in price here, about 2x the price. That is because of supply in demand and licencing. The $30 gun you saw is likely worthless. Definately not the same quality.

In all, buy what you think is cool. Not what ASC says. At least in the terms of guns.

[The Saint]

1) How much of this is actually neccesary/a good idea?

Remember, more stuff you own = more crap you're tempted to carry into the field. Plus, there's just simply the financial aspect. If you buy a bunch of stuff you didn't try first and find out you didn't really need, it's something of a hassle to get rid of them. You probably won't need multiple batteries, unless your gun only takes minis. Even then, we're probably talking about 2 batteries at the most, with the way NiMH is advancing. As for mags, that's really up to how often you like to change mags, and there are different schools of thought on how to approach this.

2) Around what price range am I looking at? My initial figuring was about 1500 to 2000

That's a very good beginning amount, more than enough to get you everything you need to play and some things you end up getting because you think they're neat.

3) At the moment, I'm looking at getting a G36C, an MP5 (retracting stock,) an M4A1, or a SIG 552.

The M4 and MP5 are the current favorites, for a few reasons...

a. Most accesories, magazine holders, etc. seem to be designed for these two

b. They have the most customizable options

c. They're highly reccomended by people on this site

Well, you can join the thousands of existing Armalite users, that's fine. I'd recommend checking out Classic Army's M15A4 Carbine instead of a M4, though. Remember, the more accessories a gun can hold, the more tempted you are for overdressing your gun.

4) Are airsoft guns water proof? I currently half my life-guarding, snorkeling, and scube qualifications and I want to know if I can exploit those.

I've seen a video of people emerging from underwater, AEG rat-at-tatting, so it is possible. Recommended? Probably not so much. Also, you'd need to find fields with bodies of water that deep first...

5) What's a good way to get into the game? Just say "Hey I'm new, can I play a game with you?"

Sign up for a game in the Events forum and show up, be friendly, that's about it.

6) I recently went to Seattle on a Band trip. Airsoft guns down there were about 30 bucks American, and there was no age restriction. I almost bought one right there, but decided I'd be the more mature person, and realized I probably couldn't get it across the border. The normal prices I'm seeing on Canadian sites is around 400/450. Why the massive price difference? If there really any difference in quality?

Well, the $30US stuff would be shoddy brands that don't really make it into Canada. The Canadian airsoft community really starts with Tokyo Marui, Classic Army and UTG as the minimum acceptable standard for airsofting. We wouldn't touch Crossman and such, because they wouldn't last 5 minutes in Canadian airsoft games. If airsoft were mountain biking, Canadians would be getting into mountain biking with a mountain bike, Americans would be getting into mountain biking sometimes with street bikes or tricycles. It's that big a difference.

7) Any other suggestions I should heed while I save up?

Always keep an eye open for good deals, but becareful of buying stuff that you don't need. Plan ahead, plan smart and try to stick to the plan.

[Darth_SS]

My thanks to everyone who replied.

Also, Droc-

While I will be in res for first year, it's questionable whether or not I'll come back to Calgary for the summer, or if I'll just get a place out there and work out there for the summer. If I stay in res, I won't piss off the RCMP/Campus and I'll wait more. If I don't, then I'll start then. Optimally, res won't be an issue.

And, neither will alchohol really. I have an allergy to brewer's yeast, so I'd start vomiting after one beer anyways.

Another random question:

Is the temptation for flashy add-ons really that overwhelming? Looking at both guns right now, all I think I'd be tempted to add on is a foregrip, but I haven't checked prices on those. Is the marketing really that overpowering?

[Red Ghost]

I have a TM SR-16 ,and it has the rail system on the forend. Speaking for myself, it's not really the marketing that overpowers me. I seem to look at it as a "what else can i stick to the rails" kind of problem. Thus, i frequently find myself looking at the working PEQ boxes, RIS grenade launchers and other such crap I don't need.

I've managed to constrain myself to a rail-mounted flashlight. And I don't even use my vertical foregrip, but that's again personal preferance.