I was working on this as something to petition to place in the FAQ, but I thought I'd try it out here. Why is it so detailed? I'm trying to avoid doing real work for something else.
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Disclaimer: This is a guide/example for a bare bone kit. It is assembled by me, so my own personal taste and expectations are reflected in it.
It is by no means the cheapest or only possible way to get into airsoft, especially since for certain important items I went with the best choice rather than the cheapest choice (you can also probably do cheaper by using the Buy and Sell forum). Yet it is well priced guide for everything you will need to play (in shirt and jeans that is). I can do cheaper, but you’ll enjoy your airsoft experience progressively less and less. As such, this guide can be read as an explanation of why airsoft can cost so much to get into.
I’m not plugging my favourite retailers (or am I?); I’m listing retailers that happen to coincide with the needs of the guide (though I’ve done business with all listed except one). No guarantee is made here that any of these items will be in stock at the listed retailers or for exactly the price given, that’s for you yourself to make sure. I'm not doing your research by giving you the price, rather I'm proving that I'm not just making numbers up.
Prices given here are approximate. Shipping and tax are estimated and included whenever possible. Shipping is estimated assuming the buyer is in or near Ontario. There are also some minor rounding ups (who wants a dozen 9?).
Gun:
$520 Classic Army M15A2 Carbine x 1
Ammo:
$100 AE BB bag x 5
Battery:
$60 Intellect 9.6v 1400mah mini battery x 1
Charger:
$70 BB Bastard NPT x 1
Goggles:
$40 JT Guardian x 1
Misc:
$30 Taxes, undercounted shipping costs
Total:
$820
The following is a detailed breakdown of the above. The prices are: item (without tax, round up to the nearest dollar) + estimated shipping. A link is given for where I got the item’s price (and where it’d theoretically be available), followed by my reasoning for the item.
Gun:
$500 + $20 = 1 x Classic Army M15A2 Carbine (
http://aasurplus.ca/airsoft/product_...products_id=79)
Reasoning: Some people state that CA is less reliable than TM out of the box and thus a poorer choice as a newbie gun. My first gun is a CA and it’s not given me serious trouble, so I’m recommending from my own experience.
CA comes with a hicap instead of (with TM) a locap, which is generally what more newbie will want to start out with. No worrying about running low, getting a BB loader or having a huge supply of spare mags and a vest to carry them in. Just fill, wind and shoot. CA guns will generally shoot harder and sometimes faster than a TM, so no worry about getting out gunned. CA’s high stock performance and metal bodies will also negate the urge or need to upgrade later on.
Furthermore, a medium length weapon like the M15A2 carbine should provide good performance both in CQB and woodland, which is the flexibility a beginner will want. Plus an extendable stock is very, very good for comfort. A weapon that does not shoulder properly can be a very unpleasant thing and fixing a problem like that can be more expensive than getting more batteries. Finally, Armalites are generically ergonomic. One size fits all almost.
Ammunition:
$100 + $0 = 5 x bag Airsoft Elite BBs
(
http://www.airsoftkelowna.com/pellets.htm/)
Reasoning: Newbies are generally heavy on the trigger, which is fine. Nothing wrong with compensating lack of experience with volume of fire as long as it’s done safely. Why AE and Airsoft Kelowna? Free shipping on 5 bags of BBs. Why $100 worth of BBs? It’ll probably last you the entire year and change, plus it’s cheaper to order in bulk than one bag here and there. Besides, it sucks if you spend $500 on an AEG then can’t use it when you want to because you’re busy rationing your limited ammo. It’s not like BBs go bad anyways and unused bags can usually be easily sold off at games.
And if you intend to plink quite a bit at home, you can and will want a mix of 0.20g and 0.25g bags, because 0.20g comes with more BBs per bag and inside one’s house there’s not enough range to differentiate between the performances of the two different weights. For example, 2 bags of 0.20g (3750 per bag, 7500 rounds total) for plinking and 3 bags of 0.25g (3000 rounds per bag, 9000 rounds total) for games. If you’re really cheap or live in a region where there’s little to no wind all year around, then feel free to get purely 0.20g BBs.
Battery:
$50 + $10 = 1 x Intellect 9.6v 1400mah mini battery
(
http://members.airsoftcanada.com/jugglez/home.shtml)
Reasoning: This is a rather expensive mini battery, but it’s also the best available. Why don’t I suggest ordering just any mini battery, like the ones BB Bastard sell? Because CA guns can be very picky about their batteries and prefer the good stuff. Batteries that’ll run a TM will not always run a CA, and I know for a fact that TMs will hum off a BB Bastard mini while CAs choke on them. So you might be able to get two mundane minis for $60, but they won’t work as well as a single Intellect.
Be advised that Jugglez does one group order per month, so you’ll want to keep an eye on the time of the month. Alternatively, Raygis LasVegas and ILLusion are both able to bring these batteries in.
Charger:
$60 + $10 = 1 x BB Bastard NPT Charger
(
http://www.bbbastard.com/)
Reasoning: Most affordable, reliable, idiot-proof charger available, ‘nuff said.
Goggles:
$40 = 1 x JT Guardian Vision Goggle System
(Your local Canadian Tire)
Reasoning: Most fields require paintball goggles and JT’s as good as any. This isn’t the best model available, but it’s cheap. I’m not sure if this model allows the mask to be removed from the goggles; you’ll want to check before buying. Many airsoft rifle sights are difficult to use while wearing the complete mask.
Finally, items not included as you can play without them but really shouldn’t…
$60 Used analogue BDU set (shirt and pants), more for digital camo.
(ASC’s Gear Buy and Sell forum)
$40 Boots with lots and lots of ankle support.
(
http://www.armyissue.com/Gallery/thu....php?album=900)
And then there are the good to have (and “can’t help but get, always need more”) items… I’m not even going to bother listing the places they’re from (but most are available from every place I’ve already mentioned) and most prices are from memory.
You’ll want to hum “Spanish Flea” for this next part.
In no particular order:
$25 Gun case
$10 Padlock
$60 Another battery
$25 Kneepads
$25 Elbow pads
$50 Vest to carry everything on the field
$20 Duty belt
$70 Radio set (Moto)
$20 Armoured paintball gloves
$10 A cup (
http://www.darkaperture.com/gallery/040806/alv)
$10 Chemical icepacks (see above)
$10 Electric glow stick
$25 Mouth guard
$30 Sling
$20 Gortex socks
$20 Canteen
$25 Rain poncho
$10ea Locaps
$20ea Midcap
$40ea Hicaps
$10 BB Bottle
$15 A hat
$15 BB Lo/midcap Loader
$20 Duffle bag to store and transport all your stuff in
$20 Rubber knife
$90 Springer sidearm
$200 GBB sidearm
$10 Propane tank
$30 Propane adaptor
$5 Silicon oil
$30 GBB magazine
Have we broken the $1000 mark yet? I think we’re actually closer to $1200 now. As you can see, airsoft is not exactly cheap, certainly not cheaper than paintball (unless you’re into them chromed markers). Hope this has been a helpful guide and may you get into airsoft with less purchase-related, money-wasting mistakes than me.