there’s no time like the present. Anyway,
loads of new people are turning up, playing
once then becoming regulars. Once you’re
in there’s no going back! It will become the
biggest hobby in your life.
Airsoft may be addictive but it’s in a good,
healthy way (when put next to crack or
ballet, at least). So moms, if you don’t want
your boy joining the military then let him get
it out of his system early with airsoft – and
if he still joins then at least you know he’s
practised!
5 It’s cheap!
airsoft a live action game of chess; the
players that are the most successful are the
ones that can out-think and outmaneuver
their opponents
4 Airsoft vs military.
I know I’m going to be immolated for this,
but airsoft really is the next best thing to
joining the military. The thrills you get from
running around shooting people, diving in
and out of bushes, crawling through bushes
and ambushing people is indescribable.
What more does a young boy (or grown
man) want than to run around tactically
(or recklessly) shooting people in a forest
(or building)? It’s a guys’ dream! I couldn’t
exaggerate more how exhilarating this is. So
fellow adrenaline junkies – get into airsoft!
Right now. You won’t need to do anything
else.
Airsoft is genuinely the next best thing.
The community is still growing at pace; I
know I’ve seen loads of new people turning
up at my local site, and mainly youngsters.
Young guns are the next generation and
074
March 2012
Now before you jump to any conclusions let
me explain that statement.
Airsoft is cheap in comparison to the
other technologies out there such as
Simunition, laser systems and paintball.
Assuming that you’re a regular player,
enthusiast, trainer, or someone who just
loves war games, airsoft is probably your
least expensive option – even the initial
investment isn’t too bad.
If you think about it all you really need
for airsoft is a basic AEG with a hi-cap
magazine, some cheap woodland camo, eye
protection and BBs. Other than the gun,
which might run at between £150-£200, the
rest of your essentials can be found for less
than £30 a piece.
An entry-level paintball gun will cost
about the same as an entry-level airsoft
AEG, but all the other essentials are usually
considerably more. Quality paintballs are
hugely expensive compared to quality airsof t
BBs. A pack of 2,000 RPS Stinger paintballs
costs around £35-£40, while 5,000 .20g
BBs come in somewhere around £11-£15.
Not only that, but paintball players have to
purchase extra tanks if they want to play
more than a couple of rounds (add £35-£150
on top), get each tank filled for £5-£10 and
then hope they don’t run out of CO2 or HPA
on the field.
As an airsofter, all you need is an
inexpensive battery and charger and if your
battery dies on the field all you have to do is
charge it again. Simple, straightforward and
no massive CO2 tank necessary.
I’m also a skateboarder, and overall airsoft
is cheaper than skating. For example you
can pay £100-£200 for a gun, then £20 for
a whole game day Let’s say you play twice
a month minimum and need a gun service
twice a year at £35 a time. That makes your
minimum first-year cost around £800 when
you factor in ammunition.
Your first year of skating would easily tip
the £1,000 mark. Let’s say your first board
(full set-up) costs £200-£300. If you’re
skating regularly you’ll go through shoes
like you wouldn’t believe, tearing them up
in a month or so, and a decent replacement
pair could set you back £60 a time. Let’s
assume you break your deck four times
that year, at a cost of £50-£60, and you’re
already at a minimum first year cost of more
than £1,200. That’s not even factoring in
stuff like trucks and wheels that break and
burn down too. So while airsoft may not be
the cheapest of sports it can be far from
expensive, and much more economical than
some people would have you believe.
In the end airsoft is one of the most
practical, safe, and fun activities anyone
could do with their free time. It’s the
evolution of MilSim and, if you ask anyone
that plays with an organized group, they’ll
say the same thing.
This is WarWolf signing out until next
time. ■