32 replies to this topic

[Ronster]

Now, I know I am posting an airsoft related topic on a nerf forum and I know you guys are prolly going to hate me... But, I need help and who else could I turn to other than my trusting friends of the NIC.



One of the only concerns my father has with buying an AEG airsoft gun is that he thinks it looks too real.

But, wait a minute Dad, they're suppossed to...

The thing is, he is a policeman. He says he has seen too many cases where kids have gotten shot buy policemen and other people who thought the airsoft gun was real.
He said I could possible get a gun if I made the gun less real looking. He practically wants me to paint the whole thing orange. I said that I would paint the mag but not the whole gun. I don't want to ruin something as awesome looking as a real looking AEG with a bunch of slopped on orange paint. I would pay $150 for an awesome gun and that is exactly what I want!


So, I need some help... Maybe some of you experienced the same problem, I don't know. But I need to convince my dad to letting me keep the gun the way it is.

[Carbon]

I don't airsoft, but this is where I'd be coming from as a parent:

The best way of convincing your dad will be in showing him that an unpainted gun won't cause you problems. Where do you intend to play? Will they be hosted, regular events in out of the way areas? If you're going to be playing with a regular group, you might be able to get the leaders of that group to talk to your dad and tell him about what kinds of considerations and arrangements they've made with regards to law enforcement and regulations. It'd be a harder sell to me if the games were less structured, with others playing with unmarked guns in an unknown environment.

Talk to your dad about the circumstances in which the accidents he knows about occurred, and then illustrate how your gameplay will address that.

[Ronster]

Well, it's kind of a newly-formed group. We are taking it very seriously and hope to get sponsorships and such. We are even having patches made.

I live out in the country (sorta) on the outskirts of San Antonio. I've tried to tell my dad that we play on private property that is usually away from the road.

One of the suggestions that one of my teamates have made is to have an extra magazine painted orange to use in "at risk" places and the other to use when we're well out of view.

Maybe we could contact the local sheriff's department to let them know when and where we are playing to ensure that they know we are playing airsoft with fake guns...

[Carbon]

Maybe we could contact the local sheriff's department to let them know when and where we are playing to ensure that they know we are playing airsoft with fake guns...

Change that from a "maybe" to a "definitely" and I think you're on the right track.

Tell them what you want to do so that there's no surprises (and that you're legal with what you have - you may need the orange muzzle no matter what), and then give them a schedule of when you're going to play. You might want to talk to people who border the land you'll play on as well...might as well head off worried phone calls before they start.

You'll remove all confusion if everyone knows your schedule.

[sporkboyofjustice]

Definitely contact the local law enforcement and ask them what they would suggest to remove any doubt in case of an incident. If you conform to their suggestions then there shouldn’t be any problems with your dad. Of course they may say to paint the whole thing orange but I’m sure you can work with that.

I’ve seen some awesome paintjobs on this site that deviate from black, make it a fun project if it comes down to it.

[z80]

If you want to keep both you and your dad happy, I would say make some type of orange covering for the gun, like made out of cloth or something. And you can still make cool looking guns with orange guns. An orange and black gun can look rediculously cool if done right.

[puggy]

I saw orange duct tape in Walmart, just wrap the barrel or stock with it whenever your dad is around then when he is at work or somewhere you can take the tape off.

[Meaker VI]

Ahem...

My friends and I actually had the cops come to the house we were at -a county sheriff and a city deputy- and after we assured them that we had not had an argument in the street and then brought guns into the house (it was actually that we were shooting each other in the street and yelling "GOT YOU" and such, and then put the guns away in our cars), we talked to them about what we could/should do. First of all, the clear guns are the only things that they will treat as "fake," any paint job could be a real gun painted to look fake just as easily as an airsoft gun. Even the orange muzzle doesn't set them at ease. I kinda imagine that if airsoft guns were made their own style, like paintball and nerf, where the guns aren't replicas of real ones, that might put them at ease a bit. Or if you had something that isn't possible to get in real-steel, like the XM-8; but the best way to go is clear. And painting the mags won't do any good at all, any mag could be painted.

It is kinda funny though, we were playing with clear guns and shooting each other in the street, and the neighbors still flipped. *Shrug* -you should be alright playing out in the boonies, we were playing in an up-tight "neighborhood conduct" kinda area in one of the cities surrounding Seattle. Our cops carry AR-15's and combat shotguns in their cars, if that gives you any kind of idea of what goes on.

By the way, what kind of AEG are you getting for $150? As far as I know, the only ones worth getting are $200 and up.

Edited by Meaker VI, 28 February 2007 - 06:56 PM.

[deathwolf]

I'd really recommend doing what Boltsniper did to his FAR and SCAR; just make sure the orange tip is clearly visible, and perhaps put a strip of orange tape on the magazines to make it less real-looking.

[Prometheus]

I dunno if you know anybody who can sew, but get a strip of orange cloth, and attach a velcro pad and a short length of fabric elastic on to it, and measure it out so that it is slightly stretch around the stock or barrel (ensuring nice, visible and tight fit, cut it off, and sew the other mate to the velcro pad on to the other end. Just rip 'er off when ya don't want it.

[Talio]

I airsoft a bit and I can tell you this. The guys I play with are REALLY serious about being seen. Really, best bet? Keep it hidden. You're Dad's on the money. They're dangerous and they should be taken really seirously. Nerf is one thing. Guys walking around in camo with what appears to be assult rifles is completely different and a good way to get the cops called on you. And that orange tip? Sorry bro, doens't help. They'll treat it like it's a real gun and for a good reason. There's a shit load of thugs out there that spray paint their 45's orange so the cops won't take it seriously. But they do. They do very much. Mock weapons are real weapons. Did you ever realize that paintball guns are illegal to posess in populated cities? Guys hold up stores with those things and people have been killed over them. So in other words, you're Dad has done is research and isn't an idiot. Figure out how you're going to be responsible with it, and show this to your Father. If he decides that you can have one, great, if not, respect that. He's you're Father and he makes the rules. He's thinking in your best interest. Be thankful that you have him.

Talio.

[Ronster]

If you want to keep both you and your dad happy, I would say make some type of orange covering for the gun, like made out of cloth or something. And you can still make cool looking guns with orange guns. An orange and black gun can look rediculously cool if done right.

That is a very good idea! I run it by him and see what he thinks.

By the way, what kind of AEG are you getting for $150? As far as I know, the only ones worth getting are $200 and up.

http://www.airsoftgi...roducts_id=1974
It's a clone of the Tokyo Mauri G36C. It's alot cheaper and works just the same.

They're dangerous and they should be taken really seirously... They'll treat it like it's a real gun and for a good reason. There's a shit load of thugs out there that spray paint their 45's orange so the cops won't take it seriously. But they do. They do very much. Mock weapons are real weapons.

Yes. You are very correct. My dad knows of several occasions of gangs painting real guns to look fake.
He is just a bit worried because he is a cop himself. He doesn't want to see that happen to me.


I guess I could paint it (as much as I don't really want to...). A camo design with black, grey, and orange would be cool...

[PennyWise]

Dude, I had the same problem. What I did was reason that any cop worth their salt is not going to just open fire if he sees a bunch of kids playin around with guns with big ass orange tips. If anything he should give a warning, and if you hear that warning and don't cooperate, then quite frankly you deserve a couple rounds in your ass. My two cents.

[Richomundo]

I got all into airsoft two years ago, and all i wanted was a sweet looking Colt.

Sure enough, I bought one. It was great. But toooooo realistic for my area.
The metal realistic ones are fun, and as a film major they come in handy as inexpensive props (real guns and a gun wrangler are verrryyyy expensive on a student budget). But before i moved to school, I lived in a heavy gang area, so having all black guns or even guns with orange tips is risky, and can be inviting to trouble.

I bought a bunch of cheap AEG's that were clear or translucent plastic, and it's been the most fun I've had. If you're looking to get sponsored and whatnot i don't know what to tell you. listen to the above people about notifying sheriffs and surrounding people. You also don't have people complaining they've got the crappy guns.

But for just having fun, 10 people with clear aeg's and mini full auto mp5s is the most fun I've ever had. Just be sure to get quality AEG's. Lots of clear guns shoot just as hard and fast as the more realistic looking ones.

I'd rather roll around with clear guns and look goofy to onlookers than have any chance of anything bad happening from a misunderstanding.

[PiMpDaDdY]

You could wear a shirt that says "The gun I'm holding is an airsoft gun and not a real gun." Just an idea. But yeah trying take like orange duct tape and run it down both sides of the gun and mag. That it keeps you safe and it still looks cool.

[PennyWise]

Hey, couldn't you relay the money to one of your friends on your team and have them buy it for you so that whenever you play they could bring your gun for you? You could just buy a crappy clear springer and make your dad think your using that.

[Ronster]

If anything he should give a warning, and if you hear that warning and don't cooperate, then quite frankly you deserve a couple rounds in your ass.

It doesn't work that way.
A policeman has no need to warn you before he shoots. If several lives are in danger, he won't stop to say, "Hey Mr. Bad Guy, could you please put down your assualt rifle?"
A policeman will shoot if:
1) He feels his life is in danger;
2) He feels someone else's life is in danger.

I'd rather roll around with clear guns and look goofy to onlookers than have any chance of anything bad happening from a misunderstanding.

So would I. But it's kinda hard to convince your team mates to buy cheap clear guns when they already have bought themselves high-powered electronic airsoft guns...

You could wear a shirt that says "The gun I'm holding is an airsoft gun and not a real gun."

Uh. No.




I think I am just going to go with a CADPAT camo design with black, grey, and orange painted on the gun.
I expect it to look kinda like this:


Not bad, eh?

[Lampoon]

Hey, couldn't you relay the money to one of your friends on your team and have them buy it for you so that whenever you play they could bring your gun for you? You could just buy a crappy clear springer and make your dad think your using that.

I think his Dad's point is for him to be safe... Being trecherous causes unwanted consequences beyond mere safety issues.

I think I am just going to go with a CADPAT camo design with black, grey, and orange painted on the gun.
I expect it to look kinda like this:


Not bad, eh?

That's not bad!!.....Dont ignore the poor old folding stock.

Edited by Lampoon, 02 March 2007 - 06:48 PM.

[Ronster]

I want to keep all moving parts and handled parts (ie stock, pistol grip, charging handle, carrying handle) paint-free to keep problems down from worn off paint and such.

[PennyWise]

Sorry, guess I spoke out of ignorance but still, are a few 16 year old kids playin around in a field that threatning? And Lampoon... the whole point of being "trecherous" is not getting caught. Not that it matters, I wanted his opinion anyway. Also that CADPAT pattern looks pretty badass.

Edited by PennyWise, 02 March 2007 - 08:17 PM.

[Richomundo]

They have higher powered clear guns, they're just harder to find.
Mine gets around 300 FPS, is 1:1 scale, fully functional, and a good 50 bucks cheaper than the metal one.

are a few 16 year old kids playin around in a field that threatning?

No, but to a distant onlooker or passing motorist, a group of people dressed in camo/fatigues/facemasks darting strategically through trees with assault rifles and pistols can be.

Do you honestly believe that from distant house or vehicle, someone is able to discern a 1/4" strip of orange barrel on a quickly moving person? Most 16 year olds are almost the size of full grown adults.

Remember the age in which we are living... (link)

If you're looking to be serious and get sponsored, then you will find an approved place to play where there is absolutely no question about safety and onlookers, and I doubt you would even be asking this question.

If you're just screwing around and playing for fun (which is what i suspect since you are asking this question), don't play on public property or any property that is questionable with realistic looking guns. No matter how safe you may be, or how many strips of orange reflective tape, all it takes is one passerby who doesn't understand 911 ruining an otherwise safe and good time.

Edited by Richomundo, 02 March 2007 - 08:39 PM.

[PennyWise]

Good god...(sigh), Richomundo, if you seriously want to keep arguing about this then p.m. me.

[Lampoon]

Richomundo hit the nail on the head. No one is trying to spoil anyones goodtime. Just
keep everyone safe and the locals fear free.

Pennywise....your point did not escape me. I just dont think advising someone to go behind their
parents back and be deceptive is constructive. You wanted his opinion? He is seeking advice. Looks
like he got it. Now what will he do with it? I think his compromise looks pretty cool.
but hey...thats just me.

Looks like Ronster has a solution! ....ok....back to lurker mode.

Edited by Lampoon, 03 March 2007 - 08:09 AM.

[moubeus5018]

Ahem...
First of all, the clear guns are the only things that they will treat as "fake," any paint job could be a real gun painted to look fake just as easily as an airsoft gun. Even the orange muzzle doesn't set them at ease. I kinda imagine that if airsoft guns were made their own style, like paintball and nerf, where the guns aren't replicas of real ones, that might put them at ease a bit. Or if you had something that isn't possible to get in real-steel, like the XM-8; but the best way to go is clear. And painting the mags won't do any good at all, any mag could be painted.

Ok first off. Clear guns are (for the most point) worthless. They are made of plastic and WILL break. DONOT GET CLEAR. SURE you may find one or two that are clear that are good, but they are still platic bodies, and will break if you accedentally drop. A CA (classic army) gun has a metal body and will not break.

He is right about the paint but still, clear isnt going to help and they flat out suck. GOOD airsoft guns are made out of metal bodies, and are flat black.

AND ALSO

dont paint or put orange on it. A cop wont care. All orange dose is give away your position, makes gun sticky if it comes off and wastes the point of airsoft (TO LOOK REAL AS POSSIBLE) dont bother with cloth or tape. no point. keep the tip thats only thing should be orange.


Three things i recomend:

One.

Make sure you keep the orange tip and inform your dad that thats why its there, fed laws to show its fake
the guns are suppost to look real. Im NOT paying over 100 bucks for some clear peice of shit that looks like shit. If i guy im getting it to look just like an M16 or Ak47. And work good too. i have 1 clear rifle and 2 real looking rifles. The real ones out preform the clear one by a LOONNG shot. Same for pistols. Explain to him what airsoft is, where you play and tell him your responcibe enough not to branish in public.

two.

If there is any risk of some fucking neighbors being paranoid, before you play go to the neighbors and say "yo were about to play airsoft these are fake. Call cops on us im sewing you."

Inform police too.

Play on your own land, and not near a road. Hell you could do "damage" to cars and get your ass chewed out. get away from roads. Woods or large feild is best.

and three.


IF police officers and overreacting fuckers show up, raise gun above head and yell I SURRENDER and say I AM DROPPING THE MAG HOLD YOUR (insert word(s) here) FIRE. drop mag then slowly put on ground. Then when they come up to you tell them check it, its a toy. then they should go away. you short one bullet hole.

PS. I play airsoft and your full of bs if you think you can get an AEG for 150. 150 will only get you a good MPEG or loser or amazing pistol. If your getting a 150 gun I HIGHLY suggest the ECHO 1 M16A2 or the ECHO 1 M4A1. They are about the best they are for that cost.




THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING YOU CAN DO IS LIE TO YOUR DAD LIKE PENNYWISE SUGGESTS> BAD IDEA.

I agree that it can be hard for a passerby to dissern between an Al quida raghead with a AK47 (real) from a 16-18 year old in fatigues with a M16 airsoft. Just dont be where youll be seen and your set. But if people have any brians left in this country (which its getting less and less) they would notice the sound... Not a gun report but a popoppopopopop.

[flamebo388]

First off moubeus, I have some plastic airsoft guns that aren't pieces of shit(kwa m11 and the lower frame of my 93r is plastic) and there are plenty more than what I have. Plus the local airsoft field used to rent CA m15s and a kid managed to snap one in half and most the others broke too, so don't say CA doesn't break, I'd rather have a TM than a CA. Second, orange won't help much. The trick is to play on in a large area, on private property with the consent of the owner. Notify nearby residents of what you're doing and inform the cops as well. If someone does call the cops, do not act in anyway that might be percieved as a threat(like pointing the gun at the cops), and you probably shouldn't just drop your gun as they might think you have something dangerous simply because of your actions, though this is up to you of course. If you want more information on this kind of thing check out airsoftretreat.com and arniesairsoft.co.uk, I know I seen some topics on how best to keep things safe.

Edited by flamebo388, 03 March 2007 - 11:39 PM.