Starter setup

Hi there,

I'm new to this too but since noone replied yet I figured I'll give you my two cents anyway. If I'm spouting nonsense someone correct me please.

I only started airsoft for plinking at home, I have no intention to go and actually play with other people yet.

Spring guns are the cheapest, they don't require batteries or gas. They're cheap to get and run, and if you are into target shooting you can spend from as little as 20e for a plastic pistol up to 200e or more for a decent sniper replica. Needless to say, if you're actually playing against other people, any spring gun will leave you at a huge disadvantage. For close range target shooting a decent spring pistol can be good enough, however it's not really natural or fun to manually rack the slide to load the gun before each shot.

Green gas guns are generally regarded as the most fun. They usually have a blow back system that realistically moves the slide back when shooting. For handguns, this can feel rather realistic. For heavier guns, maybe not so much. They come with running cost (gas costs money) and other disadvantages (bad and inconsistent performance in the cold) though. Also, the moving slide is one more part that can break and these replicas might need a bit more care and maintenance. For plinking I got myself a green gas pistol, and that was the right choice.

CO2 is almost only found in pistols, up- and downsides similar to green gas. Not sure about temperature though.

Electric is the most trouble free way to go. High fire rate, consistent performance. No blow back though, and because the gear box, battery etc need some space, you won't find decent electric pistols. So if it's a handgun you want, green gas or CO2 (or spring) is the way to go.

As to what type of gun you want, that's completely up to you.
Handguns are fun if that's your type of thing, since you can't mount them on your shoulder you won't hit things after a certain distance though, especially not if you (or they) are moving. Same as in the real world really.

Shotguns are similar, most airsoft shot shoot 3 BBs at a time, so they're not even useful for target shooting. They're a close quarter thing really.

If you want to actually play airsoft (and not "just" shoot targets) you'll want a primary that's capable to clear some range (an SMG, AR or LMG), however since I haven't actually skirmished I really can only guess.

As to regards to costs (ballpark figures). A decent handgun for plinking probably starts around 80-100e (unless you're ok with a spring pistol), decent electric primaries start around 120e. There are loads of different brands out there, and many are rebrands of others, so your best bet is to either ask or search for opinions about a specific model, or ask a general question like "I settled on an electric MP5, which one is the best in the price range of up to 200e".

These really are very rough figures, you can easily pay 500e for a good gun, and you can also get one for 50e.

Sour Lemonz wrote: »

Hi, I am possibly looking to get into air soft or archery once covid has fkd off.

From an air soft perspective what would be an ideal starter set to get and associated costs for firearm, equipment etc?

Types of air soft firearms i would be interested in would be sidearm, shotgun or lmg.

For type of firearms which is better, spring, gas or electric?

I haven't played in quite a while, but just a small bit of friendly advice, don't be using the term "Firearm".
They are not firearms and it's not a term favoured by Airsofters, Airsoft sites or Airsoft suppliers.
AEG, Gun or RIF (realistic imitation firearm) is ok.
As far as buying anything, don't.
Go play at a few sites first, hire their equipment and see if it's something that you want to stick with before dropping a lot of money on. Different types of sites and gameplay require different equipment set up.
We always favoured C.O.2 for pistols and electric for anything else with the exception of one short shotgun which was a springer.
So go try before you buy.

Platforms

M4/16 - readily available easy to handle and light tons of externals available , handguards ,rails ,stocks , lights ,peq boxes ,red dot sights ,scopes,

Brands - specna arm's ,cyma ,g&g ,g&p Tokyo mauri ,vfc available from €160 -€600 +

AK 47 /74 - not as popular as the M4 but widely regarded not as many external upgrades compared to the M4 , solid internals and very reliable,
Brands - cyma ,g&g ,e&l ,LCT,Tokyo mauri ,JG,king Arms

G36 - another popular choice comes in 3 main variants C,K,E ,all polymer receiver like the real gun ,solid performances ,a clean modern design chunky magazines I prefer the k length carbine over the shorter version,some come with a built-in optic which is crap for most part like the real one ,
Brands - cyma ,JG ,specna arm's ,vfc , Tokyo mauri ,vfc ,ics ,SRC , classic army , umarex ,Ares

M14 - solid heavy gun ,not much happening external wise wooden receiver available , Great DMR platform add a scope and your away

cyma ,g&g , Tokyo mauri , AGM

MP5 - nice light smg not too many seen these days a few external upgrades available , easy to use and easy to shoot,
Cyma ,JG , Tokyo mauri ,ics

Evo scorpion - new smg from cz modern looks and fantastic out of the box performance light weight ,comes in 2 lengths short barrel similar to Mp5 but also comes in two carbine lengths one with a supressor and modern looks ,
Brands ASG (exclusive)

Shotguns - M870 types are the most popular but Also available in spas 12 ,fabarm stf12 , spring , single shot and spring 3 shot ,Also Tri shot and 6 shot gas .
A few upgrades available including hpa (high pressure air) conversion kits

Brands cyma , double eagle ,aps , Tokyo mauri.

Sniper rifles-.

VSR 10 ,bar 10 ,L96 and a few variations of , reliable , spring powered bolt actions easy to use ,quite great starting point if you want to get into sniping , accurate out of the box ,

Brands Tokyo mauri ,well ,Jg ,cyma , novrtich

Gas blowback pistols - Glock ,H&K , Barretta ,Sig ,CZ , Colt , Smith and Wesson , Desert Eagle ,IMI ,1911

All use green gas and have a gas blowback action some are better than others especially in cold weather ,some can upgrade slides and barrels and blowback units for faster shooting and accuracy ,
Also non blowback available quite and easy to shoot not many upgrades available ,
Brands Tokyo mauri ,Asg ,kjw ,g&g ,ics ,cyma
Tokyo Mauri by far make the best performing and upgradeable pistols available , mostly high quality plastic frame and slides but are perfect unless you really want a metal slide others you can build 200 different pistols from the part's available and no two will look the same (hiccappa)

This is only a few bits of whats available others are also available m249s,M60s ,Fn scar and scar heavy ,SVD ,MiniGuns (6 barrel Gatlings) Thompsons , Enfields ,mp40 Sten ,SA80 ,UZi , Sig 550 /1/2/3 ,PKMs ,Kriss vectors ,
Various 40 mm grenade launchers (similar to shotguns )load a shell with up 200 bbs and fire from a launcher , shell stays in tube 200 + bbs shoot instantly using gas Great for close range fun,
And lever action Winchesters
FN fal ,H&K G3 HK33 /53

As a word of warning, there's a bit of a beginner hard lesson to learn with sniping. It's something a lot of folks think it's going to be great sneaking around, but to be honest it's very very difficult as a new person and not a lot of fun. Most beginners who get a spring powered rifle end up buying an AEG after their first game.

The one most frustrating thing about it is people not taking their hits because they just didn't feel the bb. I was up at Spec Ops over the summer with my L96 and was driven mad by this. Nobodies fault at all. Just 1 bb flying through the air and pinging on someone who's running for example has a high chance of just not being noticed by them. I'm sure I've done it too lots myself over the years.

If you like the idea of a long rifle, buy a long AEG and do a DMR type set up, can still lash a scope on it and hide in the bushes.

Just means if you want to, you can fire off quick semi auto rounds or stick it on full auto.

Running about with your gun on full auto is just way too fun an experience not to have, especially as a new person.

Sour Lemonz wrote: »

Is there a platform which would fill that role on balance with aeg or is it down to finding "what fits best for me" ?

M14 great platform for starting out ,you have semi and full auto fire ,just need a scope and your halfway there ,
A lot of people throw various scopes on M4s and call it a DMR too ,
Cyma do a great range of SR 25 type rifles based on the M16 but bigger , and come with upgraded internals would be another great starting point ,just need a scope and or bipod

Is that the g&p low profile scope mount I see

Sour Lemonz wrote: »

In terms of games, what are the rules around plastic bbs and steel bearings being used, also automatic fire ?

Plastic BBs and that's it, nobody shoots anyone with steel.

Full auto tends to be fine in big open areas, just don't be riddling people and try to avoid headshots if you can.

Unless you're being shot from up close, it doesn't hurt at all. Feels like someone is flicking you from most engagement distances.

It can be good practice to switch to semi auto only in confined areas. Usually a fun excuse to switch to a gas pistol.