Lock and Load!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

I've a new hobby now. One that I almost started before when I was in grade 6 but didn't pursue. I've bought a Marui MP5k before when gas type airsoft was the latest model in the early 1990s.

Since my dad is a retired military officer I've always been around soldiers ever since I was young. In my childhood days I would usually stop by after school at my fathers office in the AFP LOGCOM (Logistics Command) where he was then Vice Commander. I would usually look at soldiers walking around and carrying M16s or seeing the Haring Digma (the Philippines urban armored vehicle) pass along the streets of Camp Aguinaldo. My father also taught us how to handle a pistol at an early age and would practice at the shooting range near his office during summer. It's no wonder that I had an affinity for airsoft guns and wargames (not mentioning FPS games like Counterstrike).

Having heard from my friend that there are cheap airsoft being sold nowadays I've began researching the net and the forums and found out that China have made perfect replicas of the brand Tokyo Marui but at one third of their price. This models are very durable and have higher FPS (Feet per second) than TM models since Japan has a very low restriction limit on FPS. You can buy chinese made airsoft guns and you won't even have to upgrade it for a couple of months. A perfect buy for someone just starting out on this hobby.

I've bought a Jing Gong brand M4A1 Carbine which is the U.S. standard rifle for their soldiers. My friend said that I should buy another model since most of the airsoft community uses the M4A1. The only problem is I really like the M4A1 for it's aesthetics not to mention the amount of configurations you can change it into. I quickly chose the SOCOM (Special Operations Command) look since I like the idea of sneaking around and flanking my targets. I've added a front vertical grip, a flashlight, an ANPEQ replica (a device used for infra red laser for night battles) which is actually a battery case for my gun, a rail riser and a Trigicon ACOG scope.

I'm planning soon to change my buttstock into a crane stock to place my battery out of harms way since the wires are dangerously exposed and I don't know what will happen if a bb pellet slams into it.

Next on the list are my clothes and gear. I've purchased the MARPAT BDU(Marine Pattern Battle Dress Uniform) because it suits the jungle comouflage look here in the Philippines. I've seen other people use the desert storm BDU which would make them sittings ducks in our terrain but, hey, to each his own. More targets to see haha! I've also bought an OD (Olive Drab) vest that can carry four magazines for easy access during a fire fight, an elbow and knee pad set, half fingered gloves and shemaq; the scarf that most terrorists wear around their heads since I need some minor protection for my neck and ears. I rummaged my room for my old ROTC boots and my uniforms complete!

Having almost completed my collection (I still need a mask but I'm still searching for the right one) I have yet to participate in a skirmish. I still haven't registerd my gun in Camp Crame and it's liable to be confiscated without a permit to transport. I've already asked around for the nearest game sites near my home. One site is Camp Masada which is a 20 minute ride from my house. It's a 5 hectare jugle site in Muntalban. Another is my old elementary school OLGM which has been abandoned a few years back. They've turned it into a CQB (Close Quarters Battle) airsoft site every wednesday, saturday and sunday night. A sad ending for my old alma mater.

As a newbie in airsoft, I've asked around shops and gunsmiths alike for some sound advice. The first thing they always suggest is safety especially the right headgear. That's why I haven't bought one yet since I'm still researching until now the most durable and practical headgear in the market since my eyes are more priceless to me in exchange for a cheap set of goggles.

Hopefully by december I'll be playing my first game. Let's see what happens then.