S.C.A.G.

Boose · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:56 am Post subject: Ohh...What to buy?

The list of recommended items below has been compiled after consulting several experienced players who have gone through the process of trial and error concerning the purchase of airsoft necessities and my own personal experience in the hobby. Although there is always a better product for more money, the list below reflects items that are as inexpensive as possible while being always adequate and, more than not, exceptional. To be sure, if you purchase the items recommended for each category, you will not have to lose money upgrading to a better version as so many others before you have done.
Weapon

Type
Unless you are absolutely sure you have researched the issue thoroughly and have made a wholehearted decision to play the game of airsoft as a sniper, I recommend against purchasing an expensive sniper rifle. Gas guns require constant refills, have limited range, and are not that prolifically produced.
Recommend: Automatic Electric Gun [AEG]

Brand
A few brands have emerged as the leaders in airsoft guns, out of the following I'd recommend TM for beginners.
Recommend: Tokyo Marui/Classic Army/ICS

Model
When choosing an AEG, one must take into consideration certain factors that are dictated by the realities and logistics of airsoft. The barrel must be of sufficient length to provide for the range and accuracy desired. It should be a popular enough model so that upgrade paths, info on maintenance, and places to find spare parts are well known. Gear that fits model's magazines should be easily found.
Recommend:G36/M4/M16/or AK series

Retailers
Most of the time it's often the most reliable to buy from a local dealer as this doesn't involve shipping, however this is sometmes impossible. However, It's highly advised to at least buy from a US based company.

Recommend: Local Dealer/USA dealer

Upgrade Parts
There are many things you can do to your mechbox and AEG to increase the performance and longevity. If you did them all, you would bust your pocketbook. To achieve compatible performance with other players, there are only a few upgrades that are necessary.
Recommend:
Spring: PDI 170, Guarder 120, or Systema 120
Bushings: Guarder Double Oil Channel/Ditch Steel [no CA, no bearings]
Shims: Systema Metal
Lube: Lithium Grease, Silicone Grease

Silicone Spray
Silicone Spray is necessary to lube your AEG. It can be applied to the hopup unit, inside the mags, and used to clean the inside of the barrel. Make sure the silicone spray does not contain any petroleum distillates; these can degrade plastics and rubbers in your AEG.
Recommend: STTI Silicone Spray

Magazine Capacity
I agree that low-cap magazines are much more milsim. They force a user to undergo more frequent mag changes, and one must be cognizant of his ammo reserves. On the other hand, these take much longer to reload than hi caps, and are a pain to reload in the field. Moreover, to get enough ammo for a large skirmish, one would be forced to spend a great amount of money on mags. Mid-caps provide more capacity, but still suffer from the reload problems mentioned above.
Recommend: Hi-Caps, 300-450 rounds

Brand
There are many brands out there that have been tried and tested. The only brand that I advise against are Classic Army [CA] mags.
Recommend: Tokyo Marui, G&G

Eye Protection/Goggles
You should have a set of full sealing goggles. These are goggles that form a complete seal with no gaps around your eyes. Goggles should meet the ANSI Z87.1 rating. They should also be adjustable enough to fit your size head, and they should be very comfortable. You do not want to take off your goggles to adjust them in the field. Having some anti-fog capabilities is nice.
Recommend: ESS Thermals ; Pyramex V2 Goggles

Shooting Glasses
Some fields allow players to wear shooting glasses that meet the same ANSI Z87.1 rating. These shooting glasses should wrap all the way around your eyes leaving very little gap between the lenses and your skin.
Recommend: Safety Glasses USA

Batteries
Batteries come in two flavors, NiMH and NiCad. NiCads give you more bang and longer life. NiMH develop less memory. Therefore, if you just top off your batts and don't cycle them completely, NiMH will be better. Caution: NiMH batts are more susceptible to overheating while charging. Therefore, you may want to get a peak charger. I do not think that you'll be asking so much of your batts that the lifespan is of significance. Note: You will need batts that give you the most life per skirmish.
Recommend: NiMH 3000mah

Voltage
Most upgraded mech boxes are run on 9.6v or 8.4v batts. 9.6v does give you a boost in rate of fire [ROF]. With the increase in ROF, there is also increased stress to the mechbox.
Recommend: 8.4v, [9.6v for higher ROF]

Charger
You will need a quality charger to recharge your batts. Now, you can get away with using the stock quick-charger that comes free with many AEG purchases. If you do not get this free charger or otherwise want to purchase an upgraded charger, this is where I'm going to recommend you spend a little more. You will spend hours charging batts as a serious player, and you'll want the quality product. The charger should charge both NiCad and NiMH. It should have a quick and slow charge mode as well as a built in decharger. You should be able to control the amperage and discharge rate. It should be able to charge up to, at least, 9.6v batts. Also, you're going to want it to have the capability to feed off a car's battery. If you're going to to spend the money to get a charger like described above, you might want to spend a little more to get one with a digital readout which helps you gauge the discharge and recharge of your batt.
Recommend: MRC Super Brain Peak Charger

Now, It's of course no necessary to BUY everything listed above, but I think it has some good guidelines for the average newcomer.

Written by:Jay Covington

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