New to Airsoft and England

[Flanker7227]

Hello everyone,

So as the title says, I am generally new to airsoft. I've played just friendly games with a few of my friends, but never serious games or on fields that were more than a back yard. Not only that, but I'm new to England. Or rather will be in about a month. I'm US military, and along with a few friends, we're being sent over seas. I'm really excited to come!

But like I said. I'm relatively new to airsoft. I have a Steyr AUG-type gun and an M249 that I am thinking of having sent over if at all possible. This brings up my first question: Are airsoft guns sold in the US the same the UK? I only ask because I know a few countries have different laws regulating what types are allowed. Like Canada has that weird "Canadian Legal" clear thingy. I wasn't sure if you guys had a limit (other than what might be imposed by a field) on FPS or appearance. From what I have seen, it all looks relatively the same.
I guess the second question would be what all goes into having a battle on a public field. I haven't even seen much gameplay from over in the States, so I'm curious as to how it gets organized (i.e. how are teams divided, how are kills counted, etc.). I know that's a pretty broad topic, but like I said. I hardly know anything about this sport.
And finally, and I guess most importantly, what are some good places to go in the UK? Travel isn't really an issue for me, so location doesn't matter. I just wanna know where my friends and I can go to have a good time and shoot and get shot.

Thanks!

[Comicbook Hero]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Welcom to the forum and the UK Flanker.

The main difference between airsoft guns sold in the US and the UK will be the FPS.
Generally, most UK sites have a limit for AEGs of 350, with semi only DMRs about 400. You may just need to change the spring to reduce the FPS. Most Airsoft shops will help you out there.

As for how games work on sites, well thats a bit more varied.

For normal games you book in, turn up and get split into teams and then play the various games.
How games are run is very varied. For example the last time I went we played 4 scenarios, each twice so one time you attacked then swapped to become the defender. Generally the defenders get restriceted lives and can only respawn twice whilst attackers get unlimited lives. Once scenario was to capture a building, another was to rescue a VIP and escort them to a safe location. There was an all out attack using the whole site and then one to capture three objectives.

On these days you do get more new players and hi cap heroes but don't let that put you off. If they are well run they can be great fun.

Milsims are run more strict with set teams, restricted ammo and missions. Not been on one so can't offer any real advice on them.

Filmsims are a bit more free and easy than a milsim but have more structure than the general games. So you choose your team, they are likely to be structured with maybe some one in charge and you get plans for your missions. There are a couple of these advertised on the forums and they look good fun.


Where abouts in the UK are you looking to game?

CBH

[Flanker7227]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Sounds like good fun. If my guns needed reworked to be acceptable, that's fine. I think they should be fine though. I think I'd like the general games more than milsims. I've seen people who try to act like they're in the military and it just comes out awkward. For someone who is in the actual military, it makes me cringe.

But what are filmsims? I've never heard of that term, it sounds interesting though.

As for where, I'm going to be around the RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall areas. I may travel a lot so depending on what I'm told, I may be able to bring my stuff with me if we go across the country or country. I take it the laws are pretty much the same for all of the UK, not just England?

[JCheeseright]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Northern ireland has a 1 joule limit on all airsoft guns, other than that I'm 99% sure it's the same all across the UK.

Milsim in the UK seems a lot different to milsim in the US... there's no tolerance for walter mitty (google it) over here as a good percentage of attendees to any of the more serious milsims here are serving military and can spot a fake from 100 yards.

[Flanker7227]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Sounds like you guys have standards for that sort of thing. Over here (not necessarily for airsoft, but just stolen valor morons) are either obese or have played waaaay to much Call of Duty and think it's an actual representation of the military.

[JCheeseright]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Sounds like you guys have standards for that sort of thing. Over here (not necessarily for airsoft, but just stolen valor morons) are either obese or have played waaaay to much Call of Duty and think it's an actual representation of the military.

Yeah, MILSIM here is a lot less "tan vs green" skirmishing... well there are games that cater for that but there's organisers that go a bit further too.

have a look on youtube for cobaltmilsim, teamgrayfox and teamdiablo, there's plenty of videos from them of the more serious end of UK milsim (and the less serious end too).

[Flanker7227]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Wow. I watched one of CobaltMilsim's HVT Abduction videos. Having flashbacks of survival training. Looks pretty neat though.

[RWJP]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

The big thing that hasn't been addressed here is the legality of Airsoft guns in the UK.

You mentioned the "Canadian Legal" airsoft guns. We have something kind of similar here in the UK, which are called "Two-Tone". These are Airsoft guns that are painted predominately a bright colour such as neon green. These are considered non-realistic.

The law in the UK currently stands like this:
- Airsoft guns (realistic or non-realistic) can only be sold to 18+
- It is illegal to sell a realistic airsoft gun
- It is illegal to manufacture a realistic airsoft gun
- It is illegal to import a realistic airsoft gun into the UK

To avoid being prosecuted for any of those, you need to have a defence against the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. There are numerous ways of doing this, and we have a specific defence as Airsofters, where we have to prove that we intend to use the Airsoft guns solely for Airsoft games at a proper Airsoft site that holds full public liability insurance.

The easiest and most common way of doing this is by becoming a member of your local site, and then registering your membership details with the UK Airsoft Retailers Association (UKARA). To do this, you need to play at least three games at the site over a period of no less than 2 months (at least 60 days between Game 1 and Game 3).

There are alternative options to this though. You do not have to register with UKARA, as the site membership alone is enough to prove you are a regular player. Alternatively a signed letter from your site owner would work, or similarly a signed "Skirmish Diary" showing the dates you played, along with a signature from a member of site staff, would also work, however it is up to the retailer in question if they chose to accept those or not.

The "Defence" applies to importing as well, so you would likely have your current guns siezed if you attempted to bring them in yourself without a defence.

In your specific situation, I would recommend that you get in contact with a site local to where you will be based in the UK, and see if it is possible to ship your guns to a member of staff there who holds the necessary defence, then when you arrive in the UK, you can pick them up from the site.

You can find a map of most active sites in England and Wales here: Community Airsoft Map. There are a few sites fairly close to RAF Lakenheath, so I would look into those first.

[Flanker7227]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Well that's some news there. Thanks for telling me. That would explain some rumors I heard about my base just destroying things that looked remotely like guns. But once I settled in I'll take a trip to some sites and see what I can work out. But do tall guns have to be the neon green non-realistic type? Or is what you were telling me the criteria for realistic ones? I've never seen these "non-realistic" ones.

[Tiercel]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

But do tall guns have to be the neon green non-realistic type? Or is what you were telling me the criteria for realistic ones? I've never seen these "non-realistic" ones.

simple answer is this:

Realistic - requires proving youre an airsofter to purchase:



Not realistic - anyone over 18 can buy, no questions asked:




To be classed as "not realistic" it needs to be spray painted at least 50% of the body of the gun a neon colour... because of course no criminal ever has spraypainted a gun to make it look like a toy... Stupid and pointless/confusing, yes? Its a dumb law as a kneejerk reaction made by politicians with no idea what theyre on about... like all laws really :P

[Flanker7227]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

I would comment about UK guns laws, but since I am 'Murican and own like 15 real guns despite being the ripe old age of 19, I may be biased. Okay, I'd be extremely biased.

But yeah. That makes sense. Soon as I settle in and find a field and register or what not, I'll see about having my guns sent over. Thanks for the informations.

[Tiercel]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

All I'll say about our gun laws is that they're working just fine, America's had more mass-shootings this year alone (and were only 2 months into it!) than the UK has had in the last 20 years

[Flanker7227]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

Never said ours are perfect. They need work. Wouldn't mind having how easily you can buy them restricted. I would just like to keep my AKs, thank you. But yeah, mass shootings is like a national sports here it seems. :P

[Tiercel]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

You can buy AKs here too. Once you get the appropriate licence, pass all the background checks, install a gunsafe thats permanently bolted to the property so nobody can steal them easily and a second gunsafe to keep ammunition in a seperate part of the house to prevent kids getting their hands on loaded guns or impulse shootings.

Heres a handy guide as to whats legal incase you fancy getting some whilst youre over here http://i.imgur.com/yS6Sxb2.png

[Flanker7227]

Re: New to Airsoft and England

I may just fancy that. That's something that I did not know. I spend so much time looking into my own countries gun laws to see what anti-tank rifles I can buy that I never thought about looking into my new temporary home's laws. Huh. Might just fancy getting a mag fed semi-auto shotgun. If they let me that is.