Quick Question

Damo1174

I am after being in a newly opened airsoft shop. Myself - I have no experinece really with airsoft. I have had one or two air pistols but nothing worth mentioning really.

So I went in to this shop and saw (what I thought was) a nice gun. An mp5 machine gun. The guy at the counter told me he wouldnt sell it to me because its "for pro's". He told me that if he sold it to me that I would end up breaking it and then being down the E250. So instead he wanted to sell me a far cheaper handgun and then learn how guns work airsoft guns work.

I do appreciate his advice and the fact he actually does care about his custormers and isnt trying to rip us off. However during our conversation he said he only got into airsoft about 3 months ago.... Thats why Im doubting his expertise.

Anyway my (unprofessional) theory is that if I get the good one, chances are the workmanship is alot better and so long as I follow the instructions and dont do anything stupid Im not going to break it.

So going on my theory, I am thinking about getting somebody else to go back in and buy it for me. However I just want to be sure. Is that guy right. Is there a high chance that a newbie to the sport will break it.

And BTW I wont be using it for "skirmishes". I'll only be shooting targets... so Im not going to be doing something sloppy just to get it done faster.

I appreciate any thoughts on the matter.

Sod'o swords

That is my single largest hate in airsoft.

Tbh I hate this much more than non hit taking.

The fact he's only in the sport 3 months is, just, bah!

Don't even get someone to get the gun for you, there's plenty other airsoft shops where you can get the same or similar gun.

I know plenty people playing airsoft almost since it was legal, myself included, that have problems with guns breaking.

I've gone through god knows how many guns..

We all had to start somewhere.

Damo1174

So do you think I should get the gun (either with him or with somebody else).. I mean do you think its a bad move for a beginner, or (my theory) am I better off spending a bit of extra money and getting something good - (thus maybe avoiding a sloppy start with crap quality stuff)

TheDoc

Its like most things in live, if you have the money to splash out big, you can get something or much higher build quality, durability and performance.

I know sometimes when I'm working I might discourage some new players from their choices. Alot of young guys would be swetting for a 249 thinking its the dogs, but not realising its heavy, clunky, they cant go on assault missions etc. A similar thing with sniper rifles.

To experience airsoft as a whole I'd always recommend an assault rifle, or an SMG. It gives you a large spectrum of play style and you can enjoy the game fully. Then down the line you can go into a niche like support gunning or sniping.

Clone rifles or low end rifles are usually entry level for players, and most new players will go for that mostly because of the attractive price. Instead of hurling out hundreds then maybe finding you dont like the game or dont have the time, a €100-150 rifle isnt a huge investment in the grand scheme and you can get a good feel for wether you like the game. After that down the line, you probably will want to upgrade to a better brand for either increased performance,durability or merely looks or a different rifle.


I cant get my head around why he would discourage you purchasing that item. If it was a 249 or sniper rifle or somethng I'd understand, but to say " you'd just break it" doesn't give me much confidence in the rifle you were looking at. It souns like a very strange situation.

Theres enjogh threads already here and a serious amount of experienced players that can direct you towards buying a good rifle for what you want.

Perhaps maybe if you ellaborate on what type of rifle you want we can throw you in the right direction.

For MP5's.

Jing Gong do a serious impressive performing piece for around the €150 mark. Its a plastic body but its pretty durable and has a great rate of fire and accuracy. The plastic body may give way in time, but only after serious abuse.

G&G are realising blowback mp5's which should be a really nice addition to the MP5 airsoft family. Going on their typical build quality and performance it will be a really nice piece, and as part of their plastica range I would say it will become the instant number 1 mp5.

Classic Army do a range of mp5's that have decent to good bodies on them but have as you may or may not be aware, pretty poor internals. A large rate of classic army products over the last 12 months have a significant fail rate.

Cyma do a nice full metal blowback mp5 that wont cost an arm or a leg, dont know about performance as I've never used one but the finish on them looks great.

Galaxy do the range of mp5k's and mp5 pdws. These are bullet proof. Seriously reliable and good performing. They lack range over long distance and cannot immediately take 9.6 battery upgrades but they are a solid piece of kit.

Stercus Accidit

It might not even be worth the 250 depending on brand, did you catch the brand name?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1117

Have a look there, its our retailers section, best places to buy imo.

This forum is perfect for any questions you have on maintenance etc. and never mind random airsofter A whomever he was, have a read here and get the head round the sport and its equipment.

You can ask anything you want here; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1119

Damo1174

@ TheDoc: To be honest I actually wanted to get a Steyr AUG. And even that was more or less for aesthetics - though dont get me wrong I would have done quite a bit off shooting with it. The guy told me that Steyr's are a bad design, he said that the BB's usually end up inside getting stuck inside the gun. He said it's no harm to the gun but when you start running everybody will hear the BB's bouncing about.

So he went on to recommend a small co2 handgun. I spotted the mp5 and inquired about it. He showed it to me. Its made of metal, he lett off one or two shots... I fell in love with it. But then he said he wouldnt sell it to me because I would break it and went back to recommending the handgun. Which as he demonstrated could be completely taken apart.

That was yesterday, and now today I just really want to get that gun. I think Im just kinda justifying it by thinking to myself that the guy only got into to this 3 months ago so he's not that experienced - (not that I am either)...

Puding

The guy told me that Steyr's are a bad design, he said that the BB's usually end up inside getting stuck inside the gun.

do you remember what make it was? very strange comment, he seems very keen to sell you a pistol it seems, your best bet would be maybe to visit another shop

the comment about not selling it to you because it could break seems very strange to me,

if you knew the brand of the aeg you where looking at it would be easier to provide a little more info on the product

Craigsy

From the sounds of it I wouldn't go back, something doesn't sound quite right, could be the fact that he has only been playing for 3 months, so he would be new to the sport as well. +1 to what Doc said

Damo1174

@ Pudding: No I didnt catch the make. I dont know if its any good to you but its made of steel and certain parts are plastic.

It seems other people are having the same problem with steyr's

http://filairsoft.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15919

Stercus Accidit

Get a Jing Gong steyr, no problems, a bb getting into the body is no issue, not even worth mentioning, you rattle it out.

Its a solid aeg, get one if you want.

Puding

you can find problems with every aeg on the market tbh if you look on forums, some brands/models have a higher lemon count or have fundamental problems but without knowing the what your looking at impossible to say

lochdara

Im a relative newbie, started off with a JG g36k from seairsoft in Jan, i got the advise from Steven brought it home, read the instructions, skirmished with it and asked proper questions once i got the feel for it, i havent broken it yet and it has lived through a few very wet days.

Get urself to a recommended supplier and do your deal with them, at least if you do break it, they can help you fix it.

Rob2593

If your really interested in the gun, if I were you i'd go back to that shop, not getting somebody else to go in, go in yourself and tell him after taking his words in you still would like that gun. If he doesn't sell it to you thats one less customer for him which in these recessionary times, he most likely wouldn't want to miss.

So its simple: go in, tell him that after you thinking a lot about what he said, you still want this gun. Can't see why he wouldn't sell it to you. Also let him know its not for skermishing, i'd say thats why hes worried.

Stercus Accidit

Why on earth would a retailer be worried an aeg is for skirmishing? Thats what they are for.

Toasty113

I find the fact that he would recommend a CO2 pistol even stranger. CO2s are a bit iffy, in that some models have a tendancy to break because of the increased pressure (flying slides anyone?) and in hot weather some versions can go over the limit. Ok, so they dont suffer from the cool down effect but still.

Damo1174

Thanks for all your help peoples, I think I found my answer. I didnt realise that airsofteire.com are based in the same town Im from. Im just going to go there instead, even though they are a webbased company I'm gonna try and make some sort of contact with them and hopefully maybe even meet up with the person/people and Im guessing they will have alot more experience and will know what he/she is talking about and can give me some good advice. Thanks again for all your help.

senordingdong

Perhaps he was just trying to flog you a pistol, expecting you would come back for the AEG.

Making you crawl before you walk becasue there would be more money in it for him.

ED E

Can I ask was he a pure airsoft retailer, or was it part of a larger business?


Also, that Aug comment shows he really doesnt know what he's on about. I have had it happen before, but only because I forgot a cover reasembling it. BB's can make it into the trigger mech, but only if you remove the barrel while the mags in. Simple to avoid. Even if you forget, I got 20bbs out a lads Aug last time I was in fingal, its an easy fix.


The fact that he wanted to sell you a pistol instead really proves it though. Yeah, it might be cheaper, but ask most airsofters and they'll tell you to get an AEG first if you want to skirmish. GBBs are a laugh for a half an hour, but to play you really need the firepower of an assault rifle. [eg: JG G63C, JG MP, JG Aug A1/A2, Dboys M4, Budget Ak etc...]

TBH, it sounds like Silver Haze would make a better retailer (some may not get this).

AR-Mad

while CA are notorious for reliability, my CA MP5A2 has worked reliably. My King Arms M4A1 has a broken selector switch now while my CA MP5 still clicks into place. I got my AEG off Steve and he made well sure my AEG worked before it left the shop.

ps. my CA is 6 months older than my M4

Craigsy

AR-Mad wrote: »

while CA are notorious for reliability, my CA MP5A2 has worked reliably. My King Arms M4A1 has a broken selector switch now while my CA MP5 still clicks into place. I got my AEG off Steve and he made well sure my AEG worked before it left the shop.

ps. my CA is 6 months older than my M4

Usually I'm the first to jump on the CA bashing wagon, but despite the grief I give CA i do have a CA P90 that works perfectly and has done for ages (despite the fact that the barrel was in the wrong way when i got it)

Masada

CA P90, lol
I read a deadly comment about them a while back, someone had bought one to see if they'd be any good, then afterwards posted back with "me dog banged the gun with his tail and it broke". hahaah. thats brilliant.

Craigsy

Masada wrote: »

CA P90, lol
I read a deadly comment about them a while back, someone had bought one to see if they'd be any good, then afterwards posted back with "me dog banged the gun with his tail and it broke". hahaah. thats brilliant.

Yeah, buying CA is like playing the lotto, you've very little chance of getting something good out of it. When I took it out of the box, tilted it forward, and watched the barrel slowly fall out all I could do is laugh and say, "Yep, that's a CA alright"

Tommyboy71

My CA MP5 is still going strong after almost 18 months and despite my attempt to destroy it. I musta gots lucky.

I should also add that Richies assistance when I...erm.....attempted to clean it and it....eh, broke for no reason.

Craigsy

I think the worse you treat them the longer they last, just to spite you. And if you look after them, they'll break just to annoy you

Shiva

Craigsy wrote: »

I think the worse you treat them the longer they last, just to spite you. And if you look after them, they'll break just to annoy you

Please stay on topic Craigsy....we were talking about airsoft guns, not girlfriends.

Stercus Accidit

Shiva wrote: »

Please stay on topic Craigsy....we were talking about airsoft guns, not girlfriends.

Shoo shoo, back to your designated quarantine retailer area.

ScumLord

That's pretty bizarre. AEGs don't really have allot of moving parts. The internal firing mechanism does sure but they're self contained and pretty standard. The casings are usually one solid lump, compared to a gas powered pistol that has essential moving parts that need lubrication it makes no sense what he said.

Beginners are better off with a nice big AEG, they're simple straight forward devices, the hand pistols are more along the lines of collectors items prone to all sorts of malfunctions unless you pay allot of money, even then they require care and attention. My first pistol was a disaster that just doesn't work properly and never did.

My collection is made up almost entirely of gas powered stuff simply because they look cool when being fired and make cool noises but they're a pain in the hole to use. My AEG Thompson is rock solid and has never given me any grief what soever even though it's the cheap one.

andros

Funniest post I read in months. Priceless.

Craigsy

Shiva wrote: »

Please stay on topic Craigsy....we were talking about airsoft guns, not girlfriends.

:pac::pac: