Author: Dave

So you read our First top five article and snagged a gun for playing outdoors (or ignored it in favor of a killer speedsofter blaster) and don’t know what to get next. We’ve got you covered yet again, with a list of less obvious must haves.

Everyone knows the basics to get started. You’ll need a gun, ammo, and some basic safety equipment to get started; but what do you need after that?

1. The Smart Charger

Whether you are dealing with Lithium Polymer (or LiPO) or Nickel batteries like NiCad and NiMH batteries, you’re going to need a charger. You may think that the charger that was included with your gun is enough, and it can be for a game or two, but very quickly you’ll grow tired of the long waits to charge batteries and the guesswork to see if it’s fully charged or not. That’s where the smart charger comes in. It takes all the guesswork out, and often is much faster than the pack in trickle chargers that come with most beginner guns.

 

The differences between chargers can be vast, and a little confusing, but starting with something like this Tenergy LiPO charger or this Valken Nickel Battery charger can be the first step. If you want to graduate to something a little higher end with LCD readouts and all kinds of diagnostic tools feel free. Just read the instructions first!

 

 

 

 

2. Boots

The next thing most airsofters forget about is proper footwear. Airsoft is an athletic activity, and as such you need to have proper athletic equipment for the environment you are playing in.

Since airsoft is commonly played outdoors, on uneven ground, proper ankle support is a must. There are a million styles of boots on the market, and you can get some awesome styles from Condor and Under Armor but the most important thing is that you get boots that are comfortable and fit your feet well!

 

 

3. Slings

The last thing you want to do when you are enjoying a day at the airsoft field is fatigue yourself for no reason. Slap a sling on that new rifle so you can give your arms a rest in between games or while you’re waiting to respawn.

You have a ton of options, and which one is best depends on you, and the gun you are attaching it to. One point slings like this one are great for small light games or playing indoors. Two point slings can be amazing for longer rifles or for players that want to distribute the weight of the rifle better when it’s not being held up. If you really wanna get wild, pick up a three point sling and get stuck in a web of sling spaghetti while you play.

 

 

4. Hydration

Airsoft being the athletic activity that it is means that it will deplete your nutrients stored in your body. This includes water, electrolytes and salts. You need to keep these replenished and that means staying hydrated so you don’t suffer from heat stroke while you play.

Your options to accomplish this task are again plentiful. You can simply tuck a water bottle into your pocket, but if you want to be a little more high speed, picking up a backpack or a hydration carrier to attach to your vest is a wise choice. If you need that space for pouches, consider something like this ice plate from Qore as well.

 

 

 

5. Holster

The last most common thing new players tend to forget is a way to carry a sidearm. Often, new players get so wrapped up in making sure they get the best possible new blaster, that they forget they need a place to put it. While a magazine pouch is more than adequate much of the time, investing in a quality holster is key.

You can go drop leg, vest mounted, or even something on your hip. The important thing is that you have one that fits tightly to your gun, so you don’t lose it while you play!

Hopefully this clears up any confusion some of you new airsofters may have about what you really need to get out and play. Don’t forget your facemasks and ammo too! Stay safe, have fun, and sling some plastic!

The market for airsoft guns has gotten so large and full of options that picking a starting airsoft gun can be very difficult. There are so many features and styles to choose from that it can be very difficult to know if the gun you’re buying is the best one for you.

Fear not young Airsofters! We’ve got your six with a brand new top five list full of great beginner airsoft guns (in no particular order) that would make a great starting point to your outdoor and MILSIM airsoft career and all for under $200!

1. CLASSIC ARMY SKIRMISH ML-12 – $184.99

The first gun on our list checks all the necessary boxes for a quality starter airsoft gun.

 

High FPS? Check. Reliable Parts? Check. A barrel long enough for shots at distance? Check.

It also packs a ton of features into a budget friendly bundle. The built in tight-bore barrel makes it accurate, while the high torque motor and quality full metal internals make it snappy and a breeze to shoot. The most unique piece of this gun is in the trigger though. It’s ECS trigger allows this gun to be programmed for different options on the fire selector. Whether you intend to run semi-automatic only, with three or five round burst, or want to let your fun switch do the talking, this trigger can be programmed to a whole world of settings to fit your play style, whatever it may be.

2. Lancer Tactical LT-04 Gen 2 – $133.99

The next gun on our list is the perfect item for those after a classic MILSPEC look, but don’t want to blow out the budget on a new BB blaster. The Lancer Tactical LT-04 maintains the classic M4A1 stylings that many players want when they shop for a first gun, and comes packed with high performance parts.

The LT-04 also includes a tight-bore barrel for increased accuracy. This makes it more than capable of taking on the higher end guns owned by many experienced players, and definitely levels the playing field for a beginner. It stacks the box with value as well, coming with some extra rail covers, and a foregrip to let you customize your rifle just a bit more. In fact, many of the Gen 2 Lancer rifles feature this level of value and performance, and we could have honestly stocked this list with nothing but rifles from the Gen 2 line up.

3. Elite Force MP5 Competition series – $154.95

For the middle point in our list, we’re stepping away from the AR15 style rifles and moving to something a bit more classic. The Elite Force MP5 Competition line, available in both an A4/A5 variant, and the SD6 variant with a built in mock suppressor, is another budget minded option that punches well above its weight class.

The MP5 Competition guns may feature lower FPS than some of the other guns on this list, but they are still more than capable of being a functional outdoor gun. The hopup included with these models is great at sending BB’s out far enough for most mid-range gun fights, and the light weight and smaller stature make them perfect for recon focused playstyles as well. These are very maneuverable and small guns perfect for outdoor fields that can transition very quickly to tight quarters inside of buildings or thick brush. The added inclusion of an extra magazine in the package is just icing on the cake!

4. Lancer Tactical Full Metal AK-74 KTR – $190

Number four on the list is the full metal option for our less NATO inclined players. This option still allows for a ton of customization, but in a very decidedly non AR15 fashion.

The AK KTR hits a little harder than the rest of the guns on this list, punching in at 410-420 FPS. This means it will drive very hard through brush and foliage. A 600 round magazine means that you’ll worry a lot less about running out of ammunition in long firefights, and the tri-railed handguard means you have plenty of room for lights and lasers to accompany the sight you’ll inevitably bolt onto the railed gas block! If you wanted to stand out from the crowd, this is the gun for you!

5. Elite Force Ares Amoeba Striker Sniper Rifle – $184.95

Our last option hits the wild card spot. It’s not an automatic rifle, it’s definitely not for everybody, but there is definitely a niche for people that want a budget friendly bolt-action.

The Striker fixes a lot of problems with sniping on a budget. Most sniper rifles under $200 require upgrade after upgrade to be field ready, but the Striker makes an amazing bolt action scout style rifle out of the box. It’s lightweight, has a larger capacity magazine than most bolt guns, and only really needs a scope attached to be effective in the field. Sure, there are better bolt guns out there, but not for this price. The other guns in this category can’t perform like the striker does under $200. It’s not going to hit the farthest shots, but it’s more than capable of out ranging most AEG’s as is. It’s what you want when you need the extra challenge to stay entertained on the field.

These guns aren’t the only possible options on the airsoft battlefield, but these are some great places to start if what you need is a quick, effective budget minded starter rifle. They cater to a wide range of airsofters, and are all built with performance first. Don’t get caught with a cheap gun and get blasted. Take one of these for a spin and make sure you’re ready to land the shots you take.

As players get more experienced in airsoft, they tend to get choosier with their primary rifle than they once were. Most players start off playing airsoft with an M4A1 platform rifle with a 14.5-inch barrel, or an AK47 that has about a 16-inch barrel. For military use, 14.5-inch barrels are standard benchmark for barrel length when talking about a good balance for accuracy, weight, and maneuverability. Since the standard issue M4 in the military uses a 14.5-inch barrel, many airsoft replicas feature this as well, as most manufacturers aim to replicate standard service rifles.

The philosophy of use for rifles changes somewhat when the mission is more specialized. Anyone who has seen any kind of recent media featuring Special Forces groups or otherwise, Tier 1 Operators, the rifles are often shorter than the standard issue rifle. This is replicated in airsoft when more serious and experienced players build impressionist kits. This is more commonly seen with the MilSim aspect of airsoft. But why do the High-Speed guys use shorter rifles? Why does the standard infantry soldier use longer rifles, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

– Why Change Barrel Length?

 

To answer these questions, one simply has to look in to the mission and role these two groups are trying to fulfill. The standard soldier is meant to complete a wide array of objectives in an equally wide range of operating areas, from Urban combat areas to wide open deserts or in mountains, this means the rifle has to meet a wide range of specifications that allow the weapon to be used in just about every situation a soldier might be put in. Conversely, Special Forces units are, as the name suggests, more Specialized in what they do. Their rifles reflect that. The rifles of most SF units are often optimized to be compact and light weight, rifles such as the MK18 Mod 1 and HK416 fit this bill with their 10.5 or 11-inch barrels and customizability with accessories. These rifles shine with their maneuverability and general ease of use in close quarters. Even with shorter barrels, these rifles have the ability to engage out at longer ranges than just point blank, granting the Operators a bit of versatility.

Okay so that all sounds great, but what does it mean for airsoft? Interestingly, a lot of these ideas translate over pretty well, and the guys who do MilSim regularly, and/or build impressionist kits are often on the leading edge of replicating for airsoft what is being used in the real world. So clearly it works for a lot of people, but what are the pros and cons to having such a short barrel?

For those who aren’t “In the Know”, a short barrel might appear to be solely used for close quarters or indoor fields in airsoft. But once you get in to the finer aspects of building a rifle, you will find that this isn’t always the case. Generally, every weapon platform has its place in airsoft, but they aren’t always necessary. I’ll use my personal experience as the example for this.

I personally have run in to this conundrum, as I have a VFC G28, which is a purpose-built Marksman platform. It features a 16-inch barrel with the 7.62/.308 platform, and also weighs 9 pounds without any attachments. Start throwing attachments on it and that number starts climbing. The rifle shoots 300 feet with no issues out of the box and is semi-locked, which places this rifle firmly in to the Marksman or sniper category. I also have a heavily modified Elite Force Avalon M4 by VFC that replicates a certain youtuber’s “Block 3” MK18. The M4 weighs about 5.5lbs without any accessories, has a 10.5-inch barrel, as well as having full auto, but here’s the kicker, before you, reader, start yelling at your monitor “Colin, you’re comparing Apples and Oranges!” I say Nay-Nay. My M4 has an effective range of 300 feet like my G28. The problem I often run in to is that I want to use my G28, but why use the Marksman rifle when my short-barreled rifle can do the same job, and one is arguably more effective overall?

 

– So What’s the Point?

 

The difference between the two is a couple of things, the G28 is purpose built to be accurate at long range, and the M4 is built to be a versatile assault rifle. The G28 has a longer barrel, which lends itself well to slightly higher velocity for every BB weight when built properly, as well as tighter groupings across the board. This means if someone is peeking out from cover at long range, the BB has a shorter flight time, and is less likely to veer off course during that flight due to lack of stabilization within the barrel. Meanwhile, the aforementioned M4 was built to compensate for the short comings of the shorter barrel and specializes in use with heavier weight BBs to take advantage of the specific build it uses.

Longer barrels in airsoft, as stated before, facilitate more stabilization for the BB, slightly higher velocity and increased overall accuracy, but this comes with the trade-off of being a bit unwieldy and a longer barrel means more material, and thus more weight, as well as just moving around a larger weapon. Shorter barrels, conversely, allow for lighter weight, more compact weapons that make moving around a bit easier. Finding the right barrel length is more about building a rifle that fits your play style, or otherwise team role as a player. Personally, I run my G28 when I’m running with friends who want a dedicated long-distance rifle, and my MK18 is used for weekend skirmishes, or when a more versatile rifleman is needed, as the MK18 has a closer minimum engagement distance than the G28 but can still engage out at range. Pick a rifle that fits your needs during a game, and don’t be afraid to be the person that has a rifle that is slightly longer for accuracy reasons, because it can be beneficial over the standard rifle that everyone else is carrying, and as we all know, it always feels good to out range an enemy player, or score a tight angle hit because you took advantage of the properties of a well built rifle.

What kind of load bearing equipment do you buy when it’s too hot for a plate carrier, but you need more storage than you can get on a belt? You buy yourself a chest rig, that’s what!

Chest rigs are perfect for summer time airsoft play because they are light weight and allow for a ton of airflow! Picking the right one for you can be difficult though, so we recommend following these simple steps.

 

Step 1: How Modular Do You Need It To Be?

Chest rigs are relatively unique in the tactical gear world, as they often come pre-equipped with pouches, but that’s not always the case. Much like a plate carrier, chest rigs can also come sans pouches, and instead be smothered in MOLLE webbing.

This is important, as it gives you a choice between modularity, or a one-and-done setup that you don’t have to think very much about. If your chest rig is going to be the rig you utilize all of the time for every scenario, we’d recommend investing in one with MOLLE webbing, so that it can be as versatile as possible. However, there are plenty of merits to a pre-built set up as well.

Often times, a chest rig is something you only pull out in the summer, and it can be much more cost effective to utilize a pre-sewn setup to avoid the extra expenditure that comes from buying even more pouches or the time sink that is moving your existing pouches back and forth from your other setups. Often times, because the pouches are pre-sewn on these sorts of rigs, they can also squeeze in a few extra items that you’d be otherwise prohibited from carrying if you went with a modular MOLLE setup.

Step 2: Straps and Harnesses

Chest rigs can come with a variety of harness choices in the rear that can both negatively and positively impact your user experience. From the broad shouldered H-harness, to an X-Harness that is friendlier to smaller users, there are all types you can choose from.

The H-Harness provides the most comfortable dispersion of weight, but it isn’t ideal for everyone. Smaller players, or players with less broad shoulders may find the H Harness is simply too wide for their body type, and it sloshes around or comes loose during play. However, if the H-Harness fits you well, it is ideal, as it avoids a common tendency to ride up that you see with other styles.

The X-Harness features a pair of adjustable straps that form an X on your back which give it the name. This harness is excellent as it sizes up or down well for a much wider selection of players. However, from experience, X harness setups can bunch up, ride up, and cause issues when utilizing secondary storage like a back pack or a two point rifle sling. The upside is that this X harness is perfect for smaller framed players who need to lighten their load for the summer!

Lastly, you may find an older vest with a Y-Harness. These are an older style (and more common on old ALICE gear than chest rigs). We’d recommend avoiding these at all costs (unless you’re building an ALICE set up). They tend to not distribute weight evenly across your body, instead pulling on your shoulders and causing strain. There’s a reason these fell out of favor, and we strongly urge you to consider the other type.

You may also find chest rigs that replace these straps with a hydration harness, armor plate bag or other supplemental options like a backpack. These are great options as well, so long as they fit your needs.

Step 3: Carrying Capacity

The last thing to consider when buying a chest rig is carrying capacity. Your new set up does you absolutely no good if it can’t carry your mission essential items. Make sure you consider the items you wish to carry with you and try to pair down to the essentials to get the most out of your chest rig. This means carrying spare magazines, speed loaders, or a pistol may be a high priority, but loading up on things like grenades, radios, and bolt cutters would be a waste of space.

Some chest rigs accomplish this very well. If what you want is magazine storage, the Condor Barrage is built to carry nothing but magazines. Some of Lancer Tactical’s offerings are a bit more versatile with carrying space for additional items like your dead rag, or a grenade or two. Analyze your typical loadout for a game, pair it down to the bare essentials, and work from there. If you can squeeze a few extra items in, and still be light weight, that’s just icing on the cake!

 

Lastly: Choose What Works

Ultimately, everyone’s gear choice is about personal preference. Much like the harness styles, or MOLLE vs Pre-sewn gear, you’ll just need to try some stuff out, and see what fits your needs. Hopefully, our excellent selection of tactical equipment at Airsoft GI can help you find what you’re looking for, and this article has enlightened your thought process about buying gear!