A simple explanation of your first airsoft game from the safety briefing at the start to your return to the safe zone after the game.
The first 20 minutes of a new site are usually the most confusing of the day. Where do I park? Where do I get my rifle chronographed? Where does the game start for the first match of the day? This is a simple overview of a day at airsoft so you can play the game and not the administrative tasks around it.
Arrival and check-in
Most sites open for a hour before the first game of the day. Upon arrival to the site report to the check-in area, sign the waiver if not already completed online and get your rifle chrono’d. Most sites require you to bring your own BBs in a sealed bag within the safe zone for safety reasons. Often BBs are restricted to within the safe zone as well for safety reasons.
Remember that a safe zone is a magazine-less area where you can park your rifle (with eye protection) and not be shot at. Treat this area with respect. Don’t get into bad habits. Take the magazine out of your rifle before entering the safe zone.
The safety brief
The safety brief doesn’t have to be as painful as it sounds. Simply state what sort of rules the site shall be operating under and make sure that everyone understands how things such as bangs, medics, shot distance etc will be handled. Even state if head shots are going to be discouraged or if there is a minimum engagement distance.
Make sure to ask for clarification of anything that is not clearly explained prior to the start of the game, don’t wait until you are engaged in fire and it becomes a logistical nightmare to ask for clarification.
Your first game
- Follow experienced field players on the first two games of the day.
- Keep moving as little as possible as novices are normally found moving.
- Fire fewer rounds than you think necessary. Have a good look before opening fire.
- Call your hits out loudly. Indicate if you hit someone or not by putting your hand up in the air. This keeps the game honest.
- Drink water before you feel thirsty
The walk back
Belt your rifle when walking back to the car, empty the mag, put your eye protection back on and walk into the safe area of the venue. For the following twenty minutes or so of your time take the rifle apart and clean the barrel, empty the mags and reload them, check the and recharge the batteries of any powered equipment such as PCS etc. Then wipe down any gel or paint that may have come loose during the day.
Start with field rules
Range limits, Minimum engagement, Full seal eye protection and Transportation of Airsoft replicas can vary between clubs, regions and venues. It is best to check the specific field rules prior to purchasing Replica air guns and their associated parts and accessories, and before making changes to your Replica such as blowing out the barrel or altering the spring. Manufacturers’ airgun velocity figures can be influenced by a variety of factors including the weight of the BB, hop setting, temperature, and the airgun’s maintenance history.
Treat protective equipment as part of the system
Protect your eyes well so you can see far. Most players wear protective masks that are fairly comfortable and are in good condition. They check to see that they can wear the same hat, use the same headset, and lie in the same cheek weld as they do when they are playing airsoft on the field. Lenses are replaced as needed and cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to evaluate the advice
One should differentiate between proven facts and personal preferences. The weight, length, the magazine size of airsoft guns as well as the chronograph results can all be checked. However, things like the trigger pull, the overall balance and the useful area of the stock are all highly dependent on the individual using the gun. Good advice therefore should detail the tests that were undertaken to evaluate a piece of equipment, and should also take into account that other people may get different results.
A sensible next step
Start by working out your field limit, what role you play on the field and what problem you are trying to solve. Then go out and test one change, which can cost as little as a few pounds. When you start upgrading airsoft guns in search of more performance, you can end up adding lots of weight and expense to a gun that was previously reliable, very comfortable and accurate enough.
Legal and practical responsibility
Replicas should be treated with the same amount of respect as a real firearm and should never be handled carelessly in public. They must be transported in an appropriate case, replicas should never be brandished in public and airsoft players should check with local authorities for current laws and for rules at venues where they plan to play.
Read specifications in context
Note that data provided for velocity, range, accuracy, product dimensions, etc., can be influenced by a host of variables (BB weight, temperature, hop-up setting, barrel condition, method of measurement etc.). Sensible use of a gun’s specifications would be to provide a short-list of potential firearms, then look for repeatable tests performed on the field, as well as owner reports detailing their own experiences with the gun in similar conditions.
Plan upgrades in stages
First start off by getting your Airsoft gun set up in its standard form, give it a good clean and set up the hop up to fire the best it can. Next test a few of the relevant BB weights and record the results on a chronograph to get an average velocity. From there you can start making changes one at a time to see which part has the biggest impact. Remember to test the same test each time to get accurate results, and also note down any problems you find along the way. These can be fixed before you continue to make any more changes to your Airsoft gun. Also remember to keep within the field limit and don’t add too much weight to your Airsoft gun, also cosmetic changes can be made after you have sorted out the necessary functions of the gun.
Make the equipment easy to live with
A useful Airsoft setup is one that can easily be taken to and from Airsoft games, set up and taken down, and then cleaned and serviced as required. A short pre-game service of all parts of the replica, including all fasteners, the sling, the optic mount and protective eyewear, can reveal problems that may cause inconvenience and even result in the loss of hits in future games. But by identifying and putting right problems with Airsoft replicas prior to games, players can be sure that they are able to concentrate on the matters of communicating with teammates, moving around the field and making safe and effective shooting decisions.
Field checklist
- Confirm with the venue what the current energy limits are, and what the minimum engagement distances are.
- Properly rated eye protection is to be used and checked prior to the game.
- Test with the same BB weight and with the same hop setting as you will use in the game.
- Document changes for future reference, to repeat useful modifications or to reverse them.
- Stop using damaged equipment until it has been inspected and repaired.
Final perspective
The First Game Day: What to Expect at a Woodland Site post should be read within the context of the rest of the playing advice. In reality, playing well is not about reading a long list of upgrades to a gun, but rather about how well the equipment performs in terms of reliability, fit to self, safety and how familiar you are with it all. Take care when testing, abide by the rules of the field and make sure your Airsoft gear can assist you in playing the way you play best.
