Latest Acquisitions

I ordered 400fps and asked for the lower power spring to be added to the package. Warren seems to be overworked and it's easy to miss something like that.

As to the shot energy, judging by this data the law of diminishing returns kicks hard after you reach 400fps
http://mackila.com/airsoft/atp/
http://mackila.com/airsoft/atp/04-a-01.htm#VI-C

I will be using this rifle mostly at the open days where blaaaaart is the rule. I will need to be able to fire it relatively fast, even in the sniper role. 400fps spring (if that's what it is) is hard enough to cock, I don't want to go any higher just yet.

Heh... Always funny to read these FPS threads. Our rules here in SA are as follows:
- SMG, sidearms = 350
- repeating rifle (Garand, G43, SVT40) = 400
- automatic rifle (Stg.44) = 400
- unscoped bolt-action = 400
- scoped bolt-action = 500; must be accompanied by spotter at all times; 20m minimum range
- MG = 450; may only fire from braced position (on tripod, on bipod, braced on wall/sandbags/a shoulder); 20m minimum range
(all FPS above with .20g BB)

So when we get the Tercel Bar10's for bolt-action work, our snipers love it - they chrono 490~510 out of the box.

Heh... Always funny to read these FPS threads. Our rules here in SA are as follows:
- SMG, sidearms = 350
- repeating rifle (Garand, G43, SVT40) = 400
- automatic rifle (Stg.44) = 400
- unscoped bolt-action = 400
- scoped bolt-action = 500; must be accompanied by spotter at all times; 20m minimum range
- MG = 450; may only fire from braced position (on tripod, on bipod, braced on wall/sandbags/a shoulder); 20m minimum range
(all FPS above with .20g BB)

So when we get the Tercel Bar10's for bolt-action work, our snipers love it - they chrono 490~510 out of the box.

Theres a site in Watford (about 15 mins away from where Josh did the "Gothic Line") which has got insurance to allow full auto AEG's at 370 FPS.

In America its common place to have AEG's on full auto at 400. I wonder when we will catch up. On a side note I like the Gunman rules for bolt actions and single shot rifles to be tuned to 370 FPS with no minimum engagement distance. Means if tuned right have a slight edge over full auto guns and allowing for slightly longer engagement distances.

Stu

There have been 400 fps MGs before, they were bloody awful. I have heard people bragging that their rifles do 6-700fps and seen bits of people 'come off' from long range shots. I have seen fps come across as anything more than a Freudian crutch.

There have been 400 fps MGs before, they were bloody awful. I have heard people bragging that their rifles do 6-700fps and seen bits of people 'come off' from long range shots. I have seen fps come across as anything more than a Freudian crutch.

Well having a MG at 400 FPS would give it an advantage over SMG's counterparts at 350. Except for the additional ammo which MG's are normally allowed of course. But then FPS isn't the only thing which makes your gun fire over greater distances.

Stu

It doesn't though. I see the logic, and it is the first thought one goes to: "MGs have a longer range than smgs, therefore you want those with an SMG to have to move through the fire of the MG, and if they survive to assault it up close with the smg'. I have seen the films and played the computer games.
But this just doesn't happen, in fact I have never been in that situation, because the higher fps may possibly give a fractionally higher range, but it never applies.

Firstly the ranges used do not support it as fights are conducted in closer terrain almost universally, but more importantly they have still not been accurate at a range beyond where 350 smgs are effective. All it means is that you cannot use them closer up during the assault, or in ambush. SMGs can be tweaked and made able to engage at said range, and if they are used in a group plinking way they will still be able to toe to toe with a 400 fps MG.

Where MGs have been effective in a defensive role it has been because of position, cover and concealment, or with effective infantry support. All of which are good and should be encouraged.

Perhaps in an open day environment it would be useful, but that doesn't concern me.

Perhaps in an open day environment it would be useful, but that doesn't concern me.

To be honest even then I reckon it's only in people's minds.

I direct you back to a comment I got at an open day "My goodness your Tommy gun shoots a long way." At the time it was running at 210fps.

IMHO, all high fps does is hurt more.

The range benefits after 400FPS are marginal, agreed. We have simply allowed it in order for the snipers and MG's to use heavier BB's and still maintain a decent FPS.

Not sure what the UK terrain looks like, but SA is basically a constant knee- to chest-high thicket of grass and shrubs. A 500FPS sniper or a 450FPS MG, both firing at least a .30g BB, can punch through light cover that the SMG's and regular rifles just can't do. We also limit our SMG's to a max BB weight of .20g - which means that even with the best of hop tuning (which is where most of your range comes in anyway), they are still losing FPS so quickly that anything beyond short-medium ranges is just a waste of ammo. In CQB environments, they are wonderful - weak spring improves ROF, light BB's hurt less (loss of FPS as mentioned before) - but at range, where the rifles and the MG's play, the SMG's are lacking.

We are still testing the rules, will iron out niggles that pop up. Haven't had any problems to date though, and a LOT of peope have switched to rifles following the rule implementation

Early Father's day presents from my boys,
Repro Garand belt and bandolier

Just need the Garand now

Cad

new S&T PPsh
gettin a good testing tomorrow

Some photos of my newest acquisitions:

First, the Navy Mk.33 Mod.1 binoculars. These are 6x30 field binoculars which I believe were issued to officers aboard warships. The USMC had its own model (invariably marked "USMC" somewhere), and the Army had the M3 and a few other models. From what I can tell the primary manufacturers were Nash Kelvinator (for the Army M3s), Westinghouse, and Universal Camera Corporation (which supplied the Navy). Here's a very useful reference for military binoculars: http://tedbrink.webs.com/usa.htm

Unfortunately the strap snapped as soon as I took them out of the USPS box... this is to expected though as the strap was the original and was in very poor shape. Luckily WPG sells a cheap leather repro for only $8, so I went ahead and ordered it along with a repro M17 carrying case.

And unrelated, a cheap Japanese copy of a post-war Elgin "canteen" diver's watch. This type of watch was worn by the Navy frogmen towards the end of World War II and beyond. These watches were made by Hamilton, Bulova, and Elgin for the Navy - originals go for upwards of $1000 unfortunately. These were commissioned by the Navy's Bureau of Ships (BuShips). This organization later became NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command). BuShips is cooler IMO...

The large crown cover unscrews and makes the case watertight. Since this is a cheapo quartz watch though... not sure I want to take it swimming.

Decent repro M36 tunic bagded up as Heer: 50 Quid. Finally decided to join the dark side!

[EDIT] I have a sneaking suspicion that it may be an Epic repro, so double chuffed after seeing how much they cost!

ICS M1 Garand

Cad

Decent repro M36 tunic bagded up as Heer: 50 Quid. Finally decided to join the dark side!

[EDIT] I have a sneaking suspicion that it may be an Epic repro, so double chuffed after seeing how much they cost!

Good good, the lure of Hugo Boss is too strong to resist

Bought yesterday and used today the AGM Sten Mk. II

Very very positively surprised with its performance.

My Garand and other assorted kit
Just need rough out boots now to complete

1940 Battle Dress Jacket - ready to be badged up for 10th Dragoons, I decided taking the badges off my SBS one would be too painful
string vest (surprisingly comfy)
Spike Bayonet with scabbard
TL-122 Plastic Torch
MKVII Brown Cape (now how do I fold this crap...)
Sten Sling
White Enfield sling (for the LE bag)
Brass butt plate for the LE (I will need to work on the stock a bit for it to accept the plate)

M1928 Doughboy pack and meat can from Platoon in Bury

My Garand and other assorted kit
Just need rough out boots now to complete

...it looks veeeeeerrrrrryyyyyy clean.

...it looks veeeeeerrrrrryyyyyy clean.

As was all kit at some point