New to Airsoft

[bench]

Hello, i am new to airsoft besides Canadian tire clearbodies. I won't be 18 till August so i time to piece together my equipment. I have a couple questions 1) which gun gun should i get? I need something relatively affordable, that can be upgraded as time goes on. i have been looking at the G&G L85A1, classic army SCAR-H and the G&G G4 CQB-H anyone one have opinions on these guns or ones in this price range? 2) What other equipment should i buy besides the gun and how much should i expect to pay? 3) How many spare magazines should i buy? Any input would be greatly appreciated.


-Thanks

[TokyoSeven]

Welcome new user.

Please take the time to fill in your profile, where you’re from, your birthday etc.
This forum holds a lot of information. Please keep in mind before starting a new thread, that there maybe an existing one already. Near the upper right hand corner next to the quick links and log out tab is the search tab. With that you can attempt to see if there is a thread on the topic, don’t get discouraged if you don’t find something right away, change up your search words as well, the search system doesn’t just find tittles it looks for word matches in the content as well.

I’m sure you have a lot of questions, and in time you will find all the answers. There’s a lot to learn and it cant be picked up in a week or two. But I’m time you will learn what you need.

Here is a little reading Id like you to have a look at.
A Big Ol' Airsoft Q&A - Airsoft Canada
It will shed a little light on airsoft in Canada in general.

Now as for airsoft in Canada, just as a general consensus this website and the majority of its members follow the 18 years of age rule. Meaning that it is recommended that a person be the age of 18 before they acquire their first gun. It is recommended because 18 is the recognized age where a person can be held legally responsible for their actions. Now it may not be illegal in all provinces to own airsoft, but I do believe there is a province out there where there is an actual law stating that one must be 18 to purchase. Which one that is, I cannot remember. Hopefully someone can perk up and jump in on that part (I believe its Ontario). The majority of fields used for airsoft play usually require that a person be 18 years of age as well, although I have heard of fields where there have been players as young as 16, with parental consent.

I would like to take a moment to touch on maturity. I find people of all ages quote maturity, unfortunately stating maturity is irrelevant when it comes to airsoft, for the most part at least. There have been people as old as 40 and up who have acted like they were 12. I have already stated why the age of 18 was chosen. Now from time to time I hear people who are underage say that they have grown up with firearms all their life and they hunt and everything etc. If this applies to you then you should pay attention to this, if not you should read it and take it to heart anyways. So you have hunted for a long time? Been around guns since you were little? Well good you should have a firm grasp of trigger and muzzle control then. Now unfortunately regardless how much experience you have with fire arms you can not use it as a bargaining chip to skirt around what has been set as a rule among this community.
In my personal opinion an airsoft gun is not a fire arm; however that’s my personal opinion. For me, an airsoft gun only looks like a fire arm but that’s where I draw the line in comparisons. They do not function the same, sure relations can be made but they still are not the same. Now although I may not consider an airsoft gun a fire arm, authorities will in most instances. If you get caught doing something stupid with an airsoft gun you will be charged as if you are committing an offence with a real fire arm. If you are under the age of 18, the damage falls onto your legal guardians, so the shit really hits the fan. If you’re 18 and over at least you can be held responsible for being stupid. That’s the jist of it, accept it or don’t.

This website has a process called age verification, where if you are 18 or older you can meet with a volunteer representative of this website who will meet with you in person, there is no way around this, no phone, no webcam, in person only, where they will require to see a legitimate piece of photo identification. After the process is completed, it can take sometime as this is all volunteer work, you will be granted access to this websites buy and sell section, where you can find both new and used guns as well as parts, for fair and competitive prices. Although it’s not always the case, it is sort of an open market. However age verification is only required to purchase from ASC buy and sell and any of its retailers and a few other non ASC based Canadian sites. I you are not interested in age verification then you will have to do your own ground work to find an airsoft gun.

Things to keep in mind when initially getting into airsoft.

-Its usually best to start with an AEG.

-Remember to factor in the costs of gear for your kit, BDU's, footwear, vest or holsters, slings and most of all, eye protection. Money can fix teeth, but I don’t think we can fix a shot out eye yet.

-You don’t always have to have a side arm in the beginning, its something you can pick up along the way.

-In most cases its recommended to play with your gun stock for a while before considering upgrades. Upgrading can be costly and can cause complications in some cases.

-Don’t forget to buy magazines for whatever gun you choose. High caps are ok, but well they rattle. Mid caps and low caps in my personal opinion are best.

This link is a link to a page that has some information in regards to picking your first AEG. I suggest you take sometime and read it.

For newbies: Choosing a first AEG. - Airsoft Canada

Gun reviews can be found all over the internet, regardless which search engine you use, a different combination of search words can yield different searches. Let me keep it short and sweet, for the bulk of it, AEGS are simple motors that drive pistons that compress a spring to expel air to propel a BB down a barrel. How you want that set up to look is up to you. There are many brands of companies out there that make airsoft guns, how much you pay maybe relevant to the quality you receive.

Tactics and gear questions, tactics and other movement and communication methods can be learned on the internet or will be picked up overtime as you play. Gear, people build kits that suite their needs, its not just about looking cool. Some people simple use a holster for a side arm and carry a few mags in pockets. Others prefer to carry a full kit. To each his own. Its something you build and develop to your playing style over time.

Today’s airsoft guns are nothing more than a motor driven gear set that cranks back a piston which is then released to push and compress air in a cylinder which is then directed out the nozzle to propel the BB down the barrel. How you want it to look is up to you.

As an addendum to that statement you may wish to consider a few of the following points.

1. Cost, is the airsoft gun you desire in your price range? Is it in your price range in the future if you save. Is it the brand you want? Its not just about the looks of the gun, each and every company has their own little take and twist. An example of this is that ICS M4 have a different threading on the upper receiver than that of say a Classic Army M4. Taking that into consideration you would be limited to front ends made specifically for ICS guns if you choose to change out your front end eventually. Unless however you choose to purchase a rethreading tool to change the threading of your upper receiver. Which brings me to my next point.

2. Cost + availability or parts and your own ability to do upgrades. So you have chosen your airsoft gun. Now you want to do some modifications and upgrades. Do you know what you’re looking for in terms of compatible parts? Do you know where to acquire them easily and do you have the know how to do the work yourself or are in a situation where you know someone who can do it for you. If your not mechanically inclined and do not have access to an airsoft gun doc, I would recommend that you purchase something that has already been preupgraded or at least something that has already had the standard preventative maintenance performed on it be it used or new. Preventative upgrades are simple upgrades that will keep the airsoft gun running longer (maybe not forever but defiantly longer). Most airsoft guns come with nylon bushings; the bushings are what help hold the gears in the mechbox. Most people believe that under heavy stress they bushings can melt and warp, it is recommended that they be replaced with metal bushings. Another example of a preventative maintenance upgrade would be a spring guide. A tokyo marui M4 comes with its stock plastic TM V2 spring guide, while this maybe all fine and dandy for the time being with its stock spring, attempting to run a spring with to high a strength rating may cause that spring guide to break. Over time even with its stock spring the spring guide can weaken. It is suggested that this be an item that you do replace if performing preventative maintenance, usually with something along the lines of a bearing spring guide.

3. Is it available in Canada through one of our retailers? It’s a well known fact that attempting to import an airsoft gun from outside of Canada is equal to that of tossing your money in the toilet, lighting the toilet on fire and then pushing it out of the back of a moving school bus. It may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you are out a bunch of money and you also ruined a perfectly good toilet.

4. Magazines, you have your airsoft gun and you only have one magazine well that’s all fine and dandy but I’m certain there may come a day where you will require more than one magazine. You may wish to look into the different brands and manufactures out there to see what is compatible with what and how much it costs.

5. Other. You may wish to consider cost and availability of other items you may want in the future and their availability. For example lets say you bought some form of armalite variant and wanted to go the SR 47 look. Well unfortunately at this time do the Canadian law you would be unable to bring the parts in required since they are prohibited, even if it were possible it is en extremely rare mod to find and even more expensive to buy. Another example would be an under barrel grenade launcher. Hope you can find someone in Canada because importing is a no no. Other things you may wish to consider are the cost of a sling, maybe some gear and optics.

Finally this website also has a FAQ section that holds some useful info, it may not be entirely up to date, but I suggest you poke around in there as well. You may find something handy.

[Bowers]

Originally Posted by bench

1) which gun gun should i get? I need something relatively affordable, that can be upgraded as time goes on. i have been looking at the G&G L85A1, classic army SCAR-H and the G&G G4 CQB-H anyone one have opinions on these guns or ones in this price range?
2) What other equipment should i buy besides the gun and how much should i expect to pay?
3) How many spare magazines should i buy? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

hello bench

first off which kind of gun do you like? also what is relatively affordable to you?

in terms of gear get some proper eye protection and good boots a vest or webbing is good too and you can get surplus webbing for about 50 bucks also extra batterys and magazines are good as well

[bench]

Thanks all the info is helpfull.The kind of guns i like are the scar and L85A1. my price range is 550ish i dont mind spending an extra $50 or so for something that will be better in the long run.

[BootYourFace]

Also depends on what you want to get out of airsoft.

You could just be a more casual airsofter. A basic set of BDU's in really any camo scheme.
An LBV (Load bearing vest)
I'd say 4-7 mags. (For me, it depends on what kind of vest I'm wearing)

If you're wanting more to replicate a specific army and what not, then research about the the type of stuff that interests you. (I have a Waffen SS and Russian VDV loadout)

Don't forget spare batteries!!

[kalnaren]

Stay away from the G&G L85A1. It's seriously the worst L85 currently in production. If you want an L85, the ICS one is probably the way to go unless someone can get an Ares/STAR one.

[bench]

Thanks for the advise

[L473ncy]

Since you can't get a gun right now I guess the only thing you can do is get your gear.

Check out the non AV classified section for gear/clothing.

You can show up to games in jeans and t-shirt (white is best cause everyone will know you're a newbie and won't shoot you as much).

I've heard of some people showing up in dark jeans and navy blue or black shirts doing pretty good for a first time out.

List of your first few things to get.

- BDU's
- LBV (Load bearing vest)
- Mask or ballistic goggles (ask your local group first some play at paintball fields and therefore for insurance reasons require paintball approved mask).
- Good set of boots, doesn't have to be anything special, pick some up at Marks Work Warehouse or an outdoors shop or if you want the Army Surplus store.
- Gloves, anything to protect your hands really. I have a pair of Watson Gloves at home I believe they were made for biking or as work gloves though but what the hell it works so I'm cool with that, you don't need uber leet tacticool 5.11 gloves or anything.

When August rolls around you might want to secure a rental first and head out to the field just to check out everyone else's guns, this allows you to check out different guns and see what you like, ergonomics, weight, brands, etc. (unless you are for sure hooked on a specific model/make of gun).

I personally have spent a good $650 on my gun (M4 and mags) and about $350 on gear and safety stuff (glasses/mask, RAV vest, mags, BDU's etc.).

One last thing DON'T CHEAP OUT ON SAFETY. It's fine to get a $30 paintball mask from CT if it's approved and all but don't think you can get away with $5 Dentist glasses. Dunno who it was who said this but apparently someone came to the field with Dentist glasses and the guys proceeded to "test" them by shooting at them to make sure they were up to snuff protection wise. Don't know what happened though they probably got some rental masks or something.

I personally have 5 mags (30 round real-caps) and thats enough for me. I shoot at what I can hit and take things slowly unless I need to do a peel back or suppressing fire to let my teammates move up then I'll dump the mag and do a quick reload. Really depends on your playstyle though I think, do you like being the "SAW gunner" to give suppressing fire? Well maybe get 10 or so 68 round mid-caps with an assault pack is for you. Do you like being sneaky and take things slow like Snake or Sam Fisher? Well 3-5 real-caps with a dropleg mag panel might be your cup of tea. Also make sure you read rules and regs of your local team. Some may not allow high-caps and have ammo limits. A lot of Milsim games will restrict you to low or mid-caps. Eg. You can carry unlimited low-caps as required for your "mission" or you can carry max of 3, 68 round mid-caps to balance out the disadvantage guys with lows get.

[pusangani]

Originally Posted by kalnaren

Stay away from the G&G L85A1. It's seriously the worst L85 currently in production. If you want an L85, the ICS one is probably the way to go unless someone can get an Ares/STAR one.

there's also the Army one I think too, but I heard that one is kinda shitty too

[bench]

Are there any Canadian retailers that sell the L85 made by ICS?

[KND]

Yes, they do have it. just need to get verified you age then you are good to go.

I used to have ICS L85A2, I'm so impress with this gun but I end up broke it and sell it as parts.

I would suggest you go to VFC SCAR-L which I used it right now if you are looking for SCAR.

Keep in mind that L85A2 give me a hard time to reload magazines once you used to reload mag in the front.

KND

[kalnaren]

Originally Posted by pusangani

there's also the Army one I think too, but I heard that one is kinda shitty too

I used to own one. Basically, it's better than the G&G. The problem is the quality control is COMPLETE CRAP. So while G&G's are universally crappy, the Army one you may get a good one or you may get a dud.

[pusangani]

Originally Posted by kalnaren

I used to own one. Basically, it's better than the G&G. The problem is the quality control is COMPLETE CRAP. So while G&G's are universally crappy, the Army one you may get a good one or you may get a dud.

Yes! it was you who posted that the rubber butt pad turned orange i think lol

[bench]

Originally Posted by KND

Yes, they do have it. just need to get verified you age then you are good to go.

I used to have ICS L85A2, I'm so impress with this gun but I end up broke it and sell it as parts.

I would suggest you go to VFC SCAR-L which I used it right now if you are looking for SCAR.

Keep in mind that L85A2 give me a hard time to reload magazines once you used to reload mag in the front.

KND

How much does the VFC SCAR-L roughly cost? and what magazines does it use?

-Thanks

[KND]

Originally Posted by bench

How much does the VFC SCAR-L roughly cost? and what magazines does it use?

-Thanks

VFC SCAR-L can start up from 500 $ to 800 $ and it takes M4 magazines.