When I was new to airsoft, I was culture-shocked at the amount of information I needed to know. Information such as the types of guns, types of gameplay, parts/ accessories, batteries, gasses, ammunition, gear, FPS rates, rules and regulations on top of everything else.

I usually got my information from a local magazine I would read. It was called Airsoft Xtreme. I’m not sure if this is still in production.

As a new player, you have this vision of what airsoft is or will be, but as you grow into it, we change and mature.

Here are some thought catalogs (that’s what I call them) I went through when I was new.

Mike and Dogmeat after a game.

“I need to upgrade my gun!”

The first time I played, I had a Tokyo Marui MP5 (secondhand) that I bought from Bravstar. 420 FPS. I played at KM 18 under BOYP’s hosting.

I would shoot at the first target I saw and get frustrated. I wasn’t hitting the target! This happened during 2 to 3 consecutive game days. I told myself that I needed to upgrade my gun.

TRUTH IS, I did not need a better gun. I needed more knowledge and experience in armed combat. I didn’t need my gun to shoot further just so I can sit around and shoot everything I saw. I needed to get off my butt and do something.

“ZOMBIE?!”

I remember conversations I’d have with myself whenever I would get into a firefight back then.

“What the heck?! I shot that guy already!!”

“Douchebag!!”

“MARSHAAAALL!!”

This got me frustrated, but a wise Jedi Master once said:

“Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda

THINK. Why was I frustrated? Why was I getting angry? It’s because the other guy didn’t call his hit. Should I let someone else dictate how I should feel? Would I let that one person wreck my entire week of waiting just to play airsoft? I certainly would not nowadays.

Redwing in position (Vantage, Freon, Mike)

“Cool Gear!”

I would frequent airsoft shops when I was new. “Wow! Check out those gloves! That helmet would look great on me! Drop leg holsters both look awesome and effective!” (I hate having drop leg holsters now, but that’s a personal preference.)

I was a sucker for cool things. I was also a sucker for trying to get what others thought was cool.

Most of the time, I found them impractical. Most of the time, they also did not match. I have a box of random airsoft gear that I don’t use anymore, which include vests, gloves, pouches, packs, etc.

DECIDE. If there was a piece of advice I would like to give new players, it would be to decide on a look you want to achieve and stick to it.
Borrow as much as you can before purchasing. A lot of the gear I got turned out ineffective for my play style. (Curse you, drop leg holster and knee pads!)

“I need to be the best!”

What makes me a good airsofter? Is it the amount of kills I make in a day? How do I become better than the others? Is there really a definition of the best airsofter?

THING IS, there are no rankings. There are no leaderboards. At the end of the day we pack up, go back to work or school, and dream about the weekend again.

Freon

So Here We Are

Maturing into the hobby, I’ve learned that you need to remember that it is airsoft and not the real thing. We can get as close as we can to the real thing in MilSim, but at the end of that, we’re just holding airsoft guns.

My advice to new players is to quickly define what fun in airsoft is for you. Don’t lose that attitude.

I have fun watching a squad tactically advance towards my direction. I watch them through my scope and in my ghillie suit. Whether I get caught and die, get all of them, let them slip by me without firing a shot, or even just watch them sit down is already enough for me.

I don’t need a kill at the end of the day to enjoy myself. I just need to be around good people doing what we love to do.

In life, we always need something to look forward to. Some people like to go clubbing and drinking on the weekends. Some people like to climb mountains. I prefer dressing up like a plant and looking at people through the scope of a airsoft gun.

Do share your thoughts and comments on the matter. Feel free to add anything like advice for new players.