Airsoft Hobbies
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,771
Likes: 2
We've recently bought a few guns for us and our grandkids. We have a blast!
BUT, just as in paintball you must drill into them the importance of wearing the mask at all times that anyone has a gun in their hands.
My youngest grandson (8) got shot in the eye at close range.
He was always the first to remove his mask and used removing the mask as his way of chickening out. He seemed to think that if he removed his mask no one could shoot him. He found out how wrong he was. Many hundreds of dollars later he's OK and now never removes his mask.
BUT, just as in paintball you must drill into them the importance of wearing the mask at all times that anyone has a gun in their hands.
My youngest grandson (8) got shot in the eye at close range.
He was always the first to remove his mask and used removing the mask as his way of chickening out. He seemed to think that if he removed his mask no one could shoot him. He found out how wrong he was. Many hundreds of dollars later he's OK and now never removes his mask.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
I'm against airsoft guns personally. I just don't think kids (or adults for that matter) should be running around shooting each other with bb guns that look identical to real assault weapons. Some of the higher end airsoft guns have the ability to switch out real weapon accessories to them, which is also stupid imo. If they have the orange tip at the end I don't have a problem so much, but a lot of them don't have that which to me is a major issue. Take this AR-15 airsoft for example.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 8,601
Likes: 1
From: La Habra
14 ? Put me with they guys who say something just a little more real and less about shooting other people. How about a .177 pellet air pistol? I have a Beeman P3 (single-pump) that is more accurate at 10 meters (Olympic sport distance) than I am, has sweeter trigger than a 1911, and quiet enough to use in a city.
Former Moderator
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 10,796
Likes: 2
From: Columbus
Originally Posted by Penforhire,Aug 2 2010, 01:40 PM
14 ? Put me with they guys who say something just a little more real and less about shooting other people. How about a .177 pellet air pistol? I have a Beeman P3 (single-pump) that is more accurate at 10 meters (Olympic sport distance) than I am, has sweeter trigger than a 1911, and quiet enough to use in a city.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
JG (Jing Gong), AGM, D-Boys. These are all great budget replicas.
I personally own a JG MP5 and AGM Scar-L. My MP5 is full metal body and the Scar is aluminum/composite.
Even a full-plastic/composite bodied airsoft replicate is going to be stronger than you would first expect. Most of the plastic bodies are ABS or composite. I actually had http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=32721 ordered, but the date on the ETA on the pre-order keeps getting pushed back, so I cancelled it.
The chinese clones have really come up in quality over the past few years, so you can get a great replica at an awesome price. My MP5 was shooting 380 fps stock, and the Scan 410 fps! I had to downgrade the MP5 significantly, to get it within indoor arena spec (300 fps at my local indoor field).
Unfortunately, the chinese manufacturers got shut down last year, and all inventory destroyed, so it has become a bit difficult to acquire some of them lately. Although, some retailers are sending out word of new guns from several of those shut down, so likely they're coming back into business.
The best Full-Auto replicas are electric, so you'll need an appropriate battery pack and charger (most of the chinese clones come with these already).
Most guns also come with 1 high-capacity magazine, which holds ~200 rounds. The guns usually come with a small tester pack of 25 bbs. toss those out and pick up something that won't jam the gun. I personally have great luck with the white Crossman .20g bbs at Walmart. (whatever you do, don't use anything lighter than .20g bbs, as the high-velocity of the gun will shatter them and cause additional repair costs and headache)
As has been mentioned, he'll also need a face mask. I played with one of these for quite some time, but any paintball mask will work: http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=29783 This mask is nice, because the goggles are mesh and therefore, don't fog up. With mesh goggles, there is a risk that inferior bbs can shatter on impact. Everyone I play with uses premium bbs, so it's not a concern.
We've had kids come on the field, thinking they would be safe with sunglasses. We either send them home, or get them to agree to a survivability test (put sunglasses on the ground, give them a point-blank shot from a 500 fps sniper gun).
Another VERY IMPORTANT accessory... a gun bag. We recently had a great outdoor field shut down, due to reports of kids brandishing firearms. If these kids would've spent $15 on a gun bag, we'd still have that field to enjoy. At a bare minimum, he can put the gun in a duffel bag or wrap it in a sweat shirt.
Anything else, feel free to shoot me a PM.
Other than Evike.com (airsoftpost), some other good online retailers are airsoftgi.com, airsoftmegastore.com, kapowwe.com, airsoftextreme.com
I personally own a JG MP5 and AGM Scar-L. My MP5 is full metal body and the Scar is aluminum/composite.
Even a full-plastic/composite bodied airsoft replicate is going to be stronger than you would first expect. Most of the plastic bodies are ABS or composite. I actually had http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=32721 ordered, but the date on the ETA on the pre-order keeps getting pushed back, so I cancelled it.
The chinese clones have really come up in quality over the past few years, so you can get a great replica at an awesome price. My MP5 was shooting 380 fps stock, and the Scan 410 fps! I had to downgrade the MP5 significantly, to get it within indoor arena spec (300 fps at my local indoor field).
Unfortunately, the chinese manufacturers got shut down last year, and all inventory destroyed, so it has become a bit difficult to acquire some of them lately. Although, some retailers are sending out word of new guns from several of those shut down, so likely they're coming back into business.
The best Full-Auto replicas are electric, so you'll need an appropriate battery pack and charger (most of the chinese clones come with these already).
Most guns also come with 1 high-capacity magazine, which holds ~200 rounds. The guns usually come with a small tester pack of 25 bbs. toss those out and pick up something that won't jam the gun. I personally have great luck with the white Crossman .20g bbs at Walmart. (whatever you do, don't use anything lighter than .20g bbs, as the high-velocity of the gun will shatter them and cause additional repair costs and headache)
As has been mentioned, he'll also need a face mask. I played with one of these for quite some time, but any paintball mask will work: http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=29783 This mask is nice, because the goggles are mesh and therefore, don't fog up. With mesh goggles, there is a risk that inferior bbs can shatter on impact. Everyone I play with uses premium bbs, so it's not a concern.
We've had kids come on the field, thinking they would be safe with sunglasses. We either send them home, or get them to agree to a survivability test (put sunglasses on the ground, give them a point-blank shot from a 500 fps sniper gun).
Another VERY IMPORTANT accessory... a gun bag. We recently had a great outdoor field shut down, due to reports of kids brandishing firearms. If these kids would've spent $15 on a gun bag, we'd still have that field to enjoy. At a bare minimum, he can put the gun in a duffel bag or wrap it in a sweat shirt.
Anything else, feel free to shoot me a PM.
Other than Evike.com (airsoftpost), some other good online retailers are airsoftgi.com, airsoftmegastore.com, kapowwe.com, airsoftextreme.com
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by Seattle2k,Aug 2 2010, 11:35 AM
JG (Jing Gong), AGM, D-Boys. These are all great budget replicas.
I personally own a JG MP5 and AGM Scar-L. My MP5 is full metal body and the Scar is aluminum/composite.
Even a full-plastic/composite bodied airsoft replicate is going to be stronger than you would first expect. Most of the plastic bodies are ABS or composite. I actually had http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=32721 ordered, but the date on the ETA on the pre-order keeps getting pushed back, so I cancelled it.
The chinese clones have really come up in quality over the past few years, so you can get a great replica at an awesome price. My MP5 was shooting 380 fps stock, and the Scan 410 fps! I had to downgrade the MP5 significantly, to get it within indoor arena spec (300 fps at my local indoor field).
Unfortunately, the chinese manufacturers got shut down last year, and all inventory destroyed, so it has become a bit difficult to acquire some of them lately. Although, some retailers are sending out word of new guns from several of those shut down, so likely they're coming back into business.
The best Full-Auto replicas are electric, so you'll need an appropriate battery pack and charger (most of the chinese clones come with these already).
Most guns also come with 1 high-capacity magazine, which holds ~200 rounds. The guns usually come with a small tester pack of 25 bbs. toss those out and pick up something that won't jam the gun. I personally have great luck with the white Crossman .20g bbs at Walmart. (whatever you do, don't use anything lighter than .20g bbs, as the high-velocity of the gun will shatter them and cause additional repair costs and headache)
As has been mentioned, he'll also need a face mask. I played with one of these for quite some time, but any paintball mask will work: http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=29783 This mask is nice, because the goggles are mesh and therefore, don't fog up. With mesh goggles, there is a risk that inferior bbs can shatter on impact. Everyone I play with uses premium bbs, so it's not a concern.
We've had kids come on the field, thinking they would be safe with sunglasses. We either send them home, or get them to agree to a survivability test (put sunglasses on the ground, give them a point-blank shot from a 500 fps sniper gun).
Another VERY IMPORTANT accessory... a gun bag. We recently had a great outdoor field shut down, due to reports of kids brandishing firearms. If these kids would've spent $15 on a gun bag, we'd still have that field to enjoy. At a bare minimum, he can put the gun in a duffel bag or wrap it in a sweat shirt.
Anything else, feel free to shoot me a PM.
Other than Evike.com (airsoftpost), some other good online retailers are airsoftgi.com, airsoftmegastore.com, kapowwe.com, airsoftextreme.com
I personally own a JG MP5 and AGM Scar-L. My MP5 is full metal body and the Scar is aluminum/composite.
Even a full-plastic/composite bodied airsoft replicate is going to be stronger than you would first expect. Most of the plastic bodies are ABS or composite. I actually had http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=32721 ordered, but the date on the ETA on the pre-order keeps getting pushed back, so I cancelled it.
The chinese clones have really come up in quality over the past few years, so you can get a great replica at an awesome price. My MP5 was shooting 380 fps stock, and the Scan 410 fps! I had to downgrade the MP5 significantly, to get it within indoor arena spec (300 fps at my local indoor field).
Unfortunately, the chinese manufacturers got shut down last year, and all inventory destroyed, so it has become a bit difficult to acquire some of them lately. Although, some retailers are sending out word of new guns from several of those shut down, so likely they're coming back into business.
The best Full-Auto replicas are electric, so you'll need an appropriate battery pack and charger (most of the chinese clones come with these already).
Most guns also come with 1 high-capacity magazine, which holds ~200 rounds. The guns usually come with a small tester pack of 25 bbs. toss those out and pick up something that won't jam the gun. I personally have great luck with the white Crossman .20g bbs at Walmart. (whatever you do, don't use anything lighter than .20g bbs, as the high-velocity of the gun will shatter them and cause additional repair costs and headache)
As has been mentioned, he'll also need a face mask. I played with one of these for quite some time, but any paintball mask will work: http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.ph...oducts_id=29783 This mask is nice, because the goggles are mesh and therefore, don't fog up. With mesh goggles, there is a risk that inferior bbs can shatter on impact. Everyone I play with uses premium bbs, so it's not a concern.
We've had kids come on the field, thinking they would be safe with sunglasses. We either send them home, or get them to agree to a survivability test (put sunglasses on the ground, give them a point-blank shot from a 500 fps sniper gun).
Another VERY IMPORTANT accessory... a gun bag. We recently had a great outdoor field shut down, due to reports of kids brandishing firearms. If these kids would've spent $15 on a gun bag, we'd still have that field to enjoy. At a bare minimum, he can put the gun in a duffel bag or wrap it in a sweat shirt.
Anything else, feel free to shoot me a PM.
Other than Evike.com (airsoftpost), some other good online retailers are airsoftgi.com, airsoftmegastore.com, kapowwe.com, airsoftextreme.com
I just got back from Airsofting on Sunday and have been doing it at least once a month for 3 years. My favorite brand that I suggest to everyone inexperienced and experienced is Echo 1. I started out with an Echo 1 M4 and since upgraded to a "better" gun and I still think my old Echo 1 was more accurate and fun to use.
This can be a REALLY expensive hobby. Luckily you only need to buy bbs and fix things that might break.
Being that he is 14 I am assuming he is not 6'4. I would suggest getting him a CQB (close quarts battle) rife. Since they have a lower FPS and are a smaller length.
I would suggest a Echo 1 CQB M4, paintball mask, gun bag, barrel plug and a vest.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,771
Likes: 2
If you're going to that much trouble and expense go ahead and make the leap to paintball.
As far as teaching kids to point guns at others, you'd be wrong. It teaches them NOT to point the gun at others.
It also shows them consequences. If you shot someone or get shot it hurts. Not like video games where it DOES teach them to shot, stab, gouge or run over people.
As far as teaching kids to point guns at others, you'd be wrong. It teaches them NOT to point the gun at others.
It also shows them consequences. If you shot someone or get shot it hurts. Not like video games where it DOES teach them to shot, stab, gouge or run over people.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post