A Full Skirmish Loadout Ordered By Priority – A Realistic Breakdown of Where to Spend Your Money First.

A kit is not a shopping list, it is an order of operations to be completed one after the other. Buying a replica in the wrong order can mean that you will end up with an expensive rifle that you cannot carry, and that you will be unable to shoot at people because your goggles keep fogging up.

Priority one: protection

Good quality eye protection (full-seal rated), gloves and good footwear should be bought first and are not negotiable. Consider a face mask if you play airsoft indoors or are purchasing for a younger player, also consider knee pads if your site is rocky and you are to be playing in areas that could cause harm.

Priority two: a working rifle and its support kit

One rifle, two magazines for it, a speedloader for those magazines, a sling for your back and something to carry water with. In the first season of Airsoft games a Spring Rifle shooting at about 380 FPS or a simple AEG will be more than sufficient to learn the games.

Priority three: clothing that solves a problem

  • Boots with ankle support — the single most underrated purchase.
  • Breathable long-sleeve tops over heavy cotton camo clothing.
  • A simple chest rig or belt setup that holds two magazines and water
  • A hat or helmet that fits under your goggles without lifting them
  • Gloves you can actually feel a trigger through

Priority four: everything else

The things you can buy to enhance your gameplay, such as radios, extra sidearms, plate carriers, ghillie suits and upgraded optics, are force multipliers. They only work when you already have a good set of basic kit to start with, with the rifle being the most important piece. A good set of basic kit will allow you to play better than someone with lots of expensive kit but unable to move quietly.

Where to save and where not to

Cosmetics, pouches and clothing are very cheap for excellent quality. The biggest cost of Airsoft kit is for very good eye protection, excellent boots and to get the very best out of your rifle, a high quality hop-up or a very good quality barrel. The rest is just personal preference!

Build around a normal game day

A useful kit will initially solve the problems of the normal game day. These are to carry water, to reload magazines, to protect eyes and teeth, to move about without being hindered by loose straps and to carry the replica to and from the site in safety.

Test the loadout before the event

Practice wearing your whole loadout at home. Kneel. Go prone. Shoulder your replica from the side. Test for blocked pockets, tight straps, and interfered with optics. This will help you avoid discovering these issues on a paid game day.

How to evaluate the advice

When weight, length, calibre, number of magazines, and chronograph results are all hard facts; trigger feel, balance, and the useability of a replica’s stock are all subjective and personal. Good advice clearly states the test conditions and allows for the alternative view of another user.

A sensible next step

List your field limit, the role you play and the problem you want to solve. Then test one affordable change to solve that problem. There is a risk of a chain of expensive upgrades that add weight to your airsoft kit and do not solve any problems with reliability, comfort or hit rate.

Legal and practical responsibility

Please remember to treat your Airsoft replicas with respect. You must check the local laws and regulations concerning the purchase, appearance, public display and use of replicas. Also, always carry them in a secure case, never use them to brandish or to threaten someone and always check with the relevant authorities or the site’s administration for any updates on the field’s rules and regulations before you go to play.

Read specifications in context

Velocty, range and accuracy of Airsoft guns are usually published under test conditions which are not always completely realistic. This is especially true for the weight of the BBs used for the test, ambient temperature, the hop up setting, the length and condition of the inner barrel, and the method of measurement. Also, the dimensions of replicas can be misinterpreted when sightes, bipods, slings, etc. are attached, and magazines loaded. So, use the specifications of Airsoft guns to choose from within a short list of replicas, and read repeatable field test reports and owner reports as well. A single figure without context is of little use against more important criteria such as a replica’s reliability, support for parts, and how well it fits the player.

Plan upgrades in stages

Start by establishing a solid base line for your replica, shoot it in the stock form, give it a good clean, set up the hop up to shoot as well as possible, and test a few different weights of BB’s. Record a chronograph string for each type of BB to get an average velocity. Make changes one at a time and retest to see what has the most affect, also this will help you to diagnose any problems, and keep the upgrades within your field limits. Cosmetic changes can be made at a later date once you are happy with the replicas function, safety, and comfort.

Make the equipment easy to live with

Simple equipment also means to be better equipped for the game itself. Therefore, a few important points have to be observed and tested before a game starts: Use eye protection that is properly rated for airsoft. Test your replicas with the BB weight and the hop setting that you intend to use for the game. Take note of any adjustments that you make to your replicas to be able to go back to the previous setting if needed. Only use replicas that are in good working order. Replicas that are damaged have to be inspected by the airsoft field staff before they can be used for play.

Field checklist

  • Check for current Energy Restriction (ER) and minimum engagement distances for the venue.
  • Make sure you are wearing properly rated eye protection.
  • Test with the BB weight and hop setting you intend to use. BBweight,hopsetting.
  • Record changes so that a useful adjustment can be repeated or reversed.
  • Stop using damaged equipment until it has been inspected and repaired.

Final perspective

How to Build a Complete Airsoft Kit on a Budget is best read in context of a complete playing system. The parameter for “good” for an Airsoft replica is reliability, fit, safety and familiarity. Play to test and be respectful of the rules of the field and of play. Select equipment that will support your type of playing.