WTF is an airsoft loadout?

[Zargon]

Did you dress up like GI Joe though?

you can get decent bdu/acu's for less than the price of a pair of jeans, and if you get lucky you can get the ammo belt/vests for under 20 bucks from surplus stores or airsoft outfitters. it sure beats wearing a backpack or dropping $$$'s of ammo on the ground out of a cargo pocket

 

[Texashiker]

I thought about getting an airsoft AR-15 or FN/FAL as a training aid. There are no tactical courses around here. I could put together a course at the deer camp, but you never know where 150 grain 308 round is going to go.

To me, airsoft is a safe alternative to real firearms. Its not only the people on the course you have to worry about with real ammo, its the people that are 2 and 3 miles from where your shooting.

I priced an airsoft SA58 FN/FAL and it came it at around $450 or so.

 

[Saint Nick]

I go into airsoft arenas and bring my AK47. I win every fucking time.

 

[Farmer]

I have a bunch of airsoft guns because I live in a gun unfriendly area of a gun unfriendly state. The gas ones are kind of fun to shoot.

 

[Zargon]

I thought about getting an airsoft AR-15 or FN/FAL as a training aid. There are no tactical courses around here. I could put together a course at the deer camp, but you never know where 150 grain 308 round is going to go.

To me, airsoft is a safe alternative to real firearms. Its not only the people on the course you have to worry about with real ammo, its the people that are 2 and 3 miles from where your shooting.

I priced an airsoft SA58 FN/FAL and it came it at around $450 or so.

the 100-200 dollar range will net a pretty decent airsoft gun

airsplat.com is actually pretty reputable

 

[Texashiker]

the 100-200 dollar range will net a pretty decent airsoft gun

airsplat.com is actually pretty reputable

$384 for what I would want.

The folding stock adds about $50 - $60 to the price.

Classic Army Armalite SA58 Airsoft Gun - http://www.airsplat.com/Items/ERA-CA-SA58.htm

The barrel is only 13 inches. To be life-like I need a barrel in the 16 - 18 inch range.

 

[Spike]

Whats amazing is how many former/current military and police play airsoft. At my teams games we have many people wearing whatever parts of their issue loadout they were able to keep and having a blast. Yes, you are playing dress up but in the areas we play if your not in camo your getting shot up way too often. There is a point of going too far with the "outfit" but if it's all functional then go for it.

For reference I typically have whatever camo is appropriate (M88, MARPAT, Multicam, etc...) then vest/chest rig for spare mags, flashlight, dead rag, etc..., knee pad, ess goggles, aeg and sling. I sometimes carry a radio with headset as well (for larger many hour or multi-day games) but otherwise thats it. I don't see a need for "useless" gear just for the look of it but neither do I get annoyed at those who do. It's actually quite fun.

 

[CVSiN]

I think to some people it's kind of....disrespectful? Here are a bunch of suburban man-boys "playing" what thousands of men do for real, and often die doing.

I know that sounds smug but there's something about taking Airsoft so seriously that just doesn't sit right with me.

Most of the guys I used to play Milsim airsoft were ex military.
We all used the gear we were issued in the Military.
and at least the community down here in Houston and Austin we had alot of active guys as well.
We did it to stay sharp.
We have SWAT US Army, US Marines, US Navy, Local LE Officers.
All play.

My group was all US Marines and US Navy prior service.

Seems to have died out in popularity here the past few years mainly because of lack of places to play due to over development and housing builders buying up all the lands we used to play on.

 

[Zargon]

$384 for what I would want.

The folding stock adds about $50 - $60 to the price.

Classic Army Armalite SA58 Airsoft Gun - http://www.airsplat.com/Items/ERA-CA-SA58.htm

The barrel is only 13 inches. To be life-like I need a barrel in the 16 - 18 inch range.

yeah thats higher end stuff. looks like stuff has gotten pricier though, more like 150-300 for something 'decent'

 

[Lithium381]

I've wanted to get into it for a while but never found the motivation to go all in since it's kinda expensive to get started. I know quite a few people who play. They're part of a club of about 30 people and if you're found to cheat ie not call yourself out, then you're out of the club and have to play elsewhere.... it really is about experiencing the (watered down) rush of combat without putting your life in harms way. Looks like fun to me.

 

[WelshBloke]

Is this some kind of cosplay or LARP?

 

[Farmer]

Is this some kind of cosplay or LARP?

I guess. Depending on the attitude, it ranges from paintball-like to LARP-like. Cosplay sounds kinky, so no, I wouldn't say its like cosplay.

There are people who are just in it to shoot their friends with pink colored machine-gun look alikes. Then there's people who spend thousands of dollars to look exactly like Navy SEALs. Most people are somewhere in between.

 

[WelshBloke]

I guess. Depending on the attitude, it ranges from paintball-like to LARP-like. Cosplay sounds kinky, so no, I wouldn't say its like cosplay.

There are people who are just in it to shoot their friends with pink colored machine-gun look alikes. Then there's people who spend thousands of dollars to look exactly like Navy SEALs. Most people are somewhere in between.

Yeah, before this thread I just assumed it was people going to the woods and shooting each other (in a fairly harmless way), but some of the pictures and posts about the equipment seem to make it seem more like a cosplay/LARP thing.

 

[Farmer]

Yeah, before this thread I just assumed it was people going to the woods and shooting each other (in a fairly harmless way), but some of the pictures and posts about the equipment seem to make it seem more like a cosplay/LARP thing.

Well it is harmless, just some folks take it more serious than others.

 

[CVSiN]

Yeah, before this thread I just assumed it was people going to the woods and shooting each other (in a fairly harmless way), but some of the pictures and posts about the equipment seem to make it seem more like a cosplay/LARP thing.

It's way more than that..
like I said most large OPS are not only organized by active/retired military but alot of the larger OPs are hosted on Military bases all over the US.

one of The biggest being the LIONCLAWS op http://www.oplionclaws.com/

The individual units work within the larger unit structure with all different objectives..
these ops can last for days at a time.. 24 hours in some ops where NVGs are required.

the ops can take place on 1000 acre wooded areas with over 500+ people involved.
radio setups are mandatory for almost all ops.
as are proper uniforms for your unit.
(ours since we were all dept of the navy personnel we wore MARPAT and the proper firearms ( M4s and variants/M9s SAWs) for the deployment.

OPFOR will usually dress the part depending on the op as well.
from anything like Somali like urban attire with AKs to full blown Russian or Chinese BDUs and equipment.
there are units that only do OPFOR just as mine only did US Armed Forces.

its alot of fun but very physical as well as demanding of knowing how to move in combat situations.
most people that haven't served in a combat unit don't seem to like it as much as just going lone wolf in paintball.

very expensive hobby as there is lots of travel and the equipment is expensive even if you already have most of it from serving..
my Airsoft weps alone were in excess of 2000 bucks.

Not to mention radios/Throatmikes/NVGs for night ops etc..

 

[WelshBloke]

Well it is harmless, just some folks take it more serious than others.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, some parts look fun (the shooting the shit out of your friends and hiding in the wood bit), but yeah, if you take anything too seriously it starts to get ridiculous.

 

[WelshBloke]

It's way more than that..
like I said most large OPS are not only organized by active/retired military but alot of the larger OPs are hosted on Military bases all over the US.

one of The biggest being the LIONCLAWS op http://www.oplionclaws.com/

The individual units work within the larger unit structure with all different objectives..
these ops can last for days at a time.. 24 hours in some ops where NVGs are required.

the ops can take place on 1000 acre wooded areas with over 500+ people involved.
radio setups are mandatory for almost all ops.
as are proper uniforms for your unit.
(ours since we were all dept of the navy personnel we wore MARPAT and the proper firearms ( M4s and variants/M9s SAWs) for the deployment.

OPFOR will usually dress the part depending on the op as well.
from anything like Somali like urban attire with AKs to full blown Russian or Chinese BDUs and equipment.
there are units that only do OPFOR just as mine only did US Armed Forces.

its alot of fun but very physical as well as demanding of knowing how to move in combat situations.
most people that haven't served in a combat unit don't seem to like it as much as just going lone wolf in paintball.

very expensive hobby as there is lots of travel and the equipment is expensive even if you already have most of it from serving..
my Airsoft weps alone were in excess of 2000 bucks.

Not to mention radios/Throatmikes/NVGs for night ops etc..

This possibly being an example of taking things too seriously.

 

[CVSiN]

This possibly being an example of taking things too seriously.

Well why dont you read the link...

99% Ex/Active US Military and Police are the ones that go to this stuff..
so yeh maybe we are warmongers..
with full US ARMY cooperation and use of their bases.

 

[Farmer]

so yeh maybe we are warmongers..

Speak for yourself. Having fun shooting your friends with harmless BBs, whether you're in your PJs or in a $10000 ninja commando suit, is not "warmongering."

Stating that a lot of ex-mil guys and police play doesn't really mean anything, nor should it be necessary to "qualify" airsoft. It should be within the rights of any citizen to exercise such freedoms, well at least I think so.

Regardless of the social stigma surrounding firearms, airsoft is a sport far less violent than, say, American football.

 

[CVSiN]

Speak for yourself. Having fun shooting your friends with harmless BBs, whether you're in your PJs or in a $10000 ninja commando suit, is not "warmongering."

Stating that a lot of ex-mil guys and police play doesn't really mean anything, nor should it be necessary to "qualify" airsoft. It should be within the rights of any citizen to exercise such freedoms, well at least I think so.

Regardless of the social stigma surrounding firearms, airsoft is a sport far less violent than, say, American football.

I was being sarcastic to the Welsh guy as most from GB don't seem to really get the American fascination with weps and warfare.

 

[WelshBloke]

I was being sarcastic to the Welsh guy as most from GB don't seem to really get the American fascination with weps and warfare.

You don't think that what you described could be construed as taking things a bit too far?

 

[hanoverphist]

Stupid airsofters playing dress-up.

i have a few airsoft guns, but i dont have any actual supporting equipment to have a "load out" of any kind...

i do use my airsofts to teach beginner firearm safety and get people that arent real comfortable with guns yet want to learn more about them a feel for it all, without really handling a "dangerous" firearm. and when those people arent looking, its fun to use my full auto m16 airsoft to chase the neighbor kids around with. i relaxed the springs in it so it only fires about 270ish fps instead of the 390ish it used to be.

 

[CVSiN]

You don't think that what you described could be construed as taking things a bit too far?

not at all..
it was a hobby and it was alot of fun to be around my Military freinds doing something we were trained to do.

against other trained personnel from all over the world and the US and other armed forces/Police units.

hell Ive got over 10k wrapped up in RC helis Right now..
its just a hobby.

 

[finbarqs]

hobby will be hobbies...

 

[brblx]

anyone who sees the need to make fun of someone for playing airsoft (or paintball) is probably the type who thinks their 'hobbies' are the only legitimate use of free time.

computer games? RC? they're all based on 'toys.' even real firearms are 'toys' for most owners- they're for taking to the range and plinking with (carry/home defense weapons aside). not for 'real' war. and frankly the thousands of dollars that some invest just to shoot semi-auto firearms at pieces of paper could be construed as pretty damn stupid, too.

running around the woods in jeans and shooting your friends? fun.

stalking human beings through much larger woods in an attempt to 'hunt' them? crawling through the dirt to sneak into an enemy base? sprinting, dodging, and generally doing whatever john woo shit you can to avoid being shot? crouching behind cover as automatic fire ricochets all around you in what is pretty definitively the closest to a large firefight that you're ever going to get? more funnerer. all of these things.

no one thinks it's real. but when your breathing is getting ragged, BB's are flying everywhere, grenades are popping, and you're absolutely determined to continue to successfully attack/defend your current position without being shot, it's still fucking tense. it's taking your average team-based online shooter and actually adding some type of immersion due to real actions and consequences.

go for a stroll through the woods and randomly take a 500fps BB in the face. then you'll get the idea of why the serious players (i.e. not the ones playing dress-up*) do it. it's an adrenaline thing. your walk through the woods becomes a little more intense when you are not only worried about being taken out of the game, but also about physical pain- and that's where it happens. in CQB most people will just pop you in the chest; in the woods, someone might just spray a half a mag at you because they thought they saw movement. and if you're close and happen to take 10-20 rounds in the face...motherfucking ow.

*you can say i'm doing the same, but in the end, i only have two concerns with what i'm wearing when i play- it needs to be as effective, barebones, and functional as possible (i.e. provide me with easy access to water and ammo but not be bulky or akward), and it needs to aid in concealment. going to an actual organized game and not at LEAST investing in a pair of standard BDU pants and a dark shirt is flat out stupid, you're going to get lit up constantly.

edit: and for that matter, what the fuck would you EXPECT someone to wear? rather than have cheap camoflauge with lots of cargo pockets, you'd rather play in jeans and a t shirt so you don't look like you're trying too hard? lulz.