Wisconsin Airsoft Wars and Games

WOW it has been awhile since I stopped to Jot down some notes here, so I figured an update was overdue. During the course of this Wisconsin airsoft season we have seen allot of changes and met many new players and customers. ABZ staff have been busy with the Freefall airsoft game, Wisconsin Airsoft Expo and Codename Thunder airsoft events all within a one month period and I am happy to say it is not over yet!

We still have the well regulated militia airsoft event on August 23rd and 24th at Action Packed Paintball in Waterloo, WI then we head over to Poynette,WI for the Operation Vigilance airsoft game series on September 6th and 7th. Finally we get to return to the Airsoft Battle Zone home field in mid September for Operation Hard Drive A FATPD Production being held on the 14th of Sept.

October 5th brings the new Underworld series By Jedi and also Operation Plague 2 (Lupine Productions) on October 12th to the ABZ Fairchild, WI airsoft field.

As for the Airsoft Battle Zone Field store it to has seen a few changes and improvements but most of our efforts (when we are home) are going into the field. We did manage to get a large tower erected on the hamburger hill fire base which has made taking over the base quite difficult. The trench system in front of the CQB trailer houses has also been expanded upon and the trenches are now wide enough for the Jeep to drive through.

New airsoft gun releases

Airsoft gun suppliers have had a hard time in 2008 keeping stocks of new airsoft guns available so some great new releases are just entering the market this fall.

We are seeing some new full metal aeg's begin floating into airsoft stores. ABZ just got in the new AGM 416/614 series and have been running field trials and testing and I am very impressed with the build ,quality and performance of these new guns...Word Of Caution...These full metal 614's by agm chronographed at 450FPS...Most fields will not allow this without adding sniper class restrictions meaning you will have a minimum engagement distance and can only use semi auto. At distances of 50 feet or closer these guns Hurt bad!

The new JG full metal CQB M4's should be arriving this week...Can't wait to field test these as the early reviews have been very good. Parts for all airsoft guns especially Gas blowback handguns, have been harder and harder to get lately. If you are a airsoft gun wholesale part supplier we would love to hear from you and could bring much business your way. Please Contact Us!

One quick mention of the CodeName: Thunder 5 airsoft game and then I am off to work on more guns. ABZ staff and our sponsored airsoft teams Wolf Recon and CWC Airsoft Specialists made the 9 hour trip from Eau Claire, WI to the Sherwood Forest Paintball Field in Laporte, IN on August 9th and 10th 2008. Once again the US forces were beaten back by the Cartel. This game was by far one of the most bb filled, extreme airsoft events I have ever attended and the US had to fight for every inch of real estate it gained throughout this entire airsoft event. If you are looking to pick one airsoft game to attend in 2009 I would highly suggest saving your bb's up for this one...To date it is my favorite Milsim Airsoft Game!

Hope to "C" Ya on the Battlefield!

Armsdealer

"Airsoft! Come share the Welts"

Codename; Thunder 2008

5 Steps To The "Perfect Airsoft Gun" Shopping Guide

Alrighty then,

Now listen up parents and new airsoft players! "There are no perfect airsoft guns when it comes to quality"...Did you hear that? None!

However there are some choices you can make that will assure you are equipped with good basic airsoft equipment and a good safe airsoft game starter package that includes a quality checked airsoft gun so you and-or your childs first airsoft experiance is not a huge dissappointment.

1st. Research the airsoft gun model you will purchase- Airsoft guns now come in a mind boggling assortment of styles, designs and models. Your first decision needs to be which style you prefer...M16's, mp5's, and AK47's are just a few of the more common styles available. You can now buy almost every style of weapon used from world war two airsoft guns too, todays ultra tactical sniper and full automatic machine guns being used in wars overseas as I write this...Most will be 6mm caliber airsoft but some now feature a slightly larger 8mm caliber airsoft BB for muzzle realism. Some will have plastic gearboxes (not reccomended) some will have metal gearboxes, some operate on airsoft gas, some on propane, research cost $0. Can't find your answer...Call our Airsoft Gun Repair Department today at 715-514-0485

2nd. Research the airsoft safety gear you will purchase- This should probably be #1 on the list as it truly is the number 1 consideration that should be addressed either before or at the time of purchase. Eye protection must be purchased before you play airsoft. Many kinds are available but all must meet the impact standard for goggles as listed by ANZI 87.1 to be considered safe
Due to fogging issues in hot or humid climates many airsoft fields allow heavy mesh masks to be worn which will not fog up...ever, eliminating the threat of someone raising their goggles during a game due to fogging issues. However these must not be used with bio-degradable airsoft BB's. Average cost $20.00 for mesh $60 to $150 for good "no fog airsoft safety goggles"

3rd. Your budget: I frequently tell customers at airsoft battle zone to not purchase a new airsoft gun until they have saved more money. There are airsoft gun models featured online and at retailers that sell for less than 100 hundred dollars. If you have the mechanical aptitude and budget to replace broken cheap plastic body parts and weak gearbox internals then buy one...otherwise it is going to cost you a minimum of $120.00 for a quality 50% metal airsoft gun and 200 dollars or better for a full metal version.

4Th. Pick your model- After due diligence and research and once you have picked a model that fits your budget, go and feel it, handle it or call an airsoft retailer or repair shop and ask about your chosen model. Ask questions like: "how durable it is stock or new in the box"? How easy is it to get repair parts for this airsoft model? How hard is it to maintain and lubricate this airsoft gun model? Can I get an airsoft gun repair manual for this model? At airsoft battle zone every airsoft gun model is test fired and adjusted before we sell them to our customers. If you live in Wisconsin you can drive out to our airsoft field and game store located in Fairchild and test fire our airsoft models before you buy. We also have teamed up with technicians from our airsoft gun repair department and developed in depth repair manuals for most styles of quality airsoft guns we sell.

5th There is no perfect airsoft gun: Even the good ones have strengths and weaknesses as they are mechanical devices. Any airsoft gun will require periodic maintenance and repair, much like a car or any vehicle, you must oil and grease fast moving parts on your airsoft gun to maintain peak performance. Many veteran airsoft players have learned to rebuild guns themselves or only buy durability upgraded guns, again these are not the perfect airsoft gun but common models which have been quality checked and higher performance and more durable parts have been pre installed by an airsoft technician or airsmith.

Well now you at least have a starting point on your quest for the perfect airsoft gun. Just a quick FYI if you "find it" shoot us a message over at the Wisconsin Airsoft Forums we are a group of airsoft players technicians and retailers who have been wandering the globe since airsoft started and are still in search of the "perfect airsoft gun".

Free Airsoft Games in Wisconsin

Hey, when is the next airsoft game at ABZ?. This has become a real common question these days with spring knocking on our back door. Well now its simple...Every Sunday in 2008 we will have games at the Airsoft Battle Zone airsoft store and game field located in Fairchild, WI. We are currently about 50% done with building and airsoft store renovations, our AEG rental center is open for business right on the airsoft field, and features a nice selection of $20 a day rental airsoft guns. Both the field and store will be open from 10:00 AM until 5 PM every Sunday with the exception of our travel days to other major airsoft events in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. Check our ABZ Airsoft Game Calendar for specific game dates and times. You will have to fill out a waiver which can be done online at airsoftbattlezone.com or at the field, but a parent or guardian must sign with anyone under 18. On the calender you will note that there are Open Free airsoft Games, FATPD airsoft games and larger paid airsoft production events.

Let me Explain:

1st. The open airsoft game days are free. Bring your buddies and play together all day however you want, or join other groups of players for a larger game.

2nd. FATPD airsoft games are free airsoft games with a scripted scenario. These games will follow a certain storyline and usually will have special rules and regulations attached ie: Mid cap magazines only, special airsoft medic rules, cqb house special rules, game props in use and more scenario related guidelines.

3rd. Paid airsoft games are larger scenarios with annual game dates. These games typically play once a year and the entry varies from $20 to $50 depending on the event, how long it lasts (1 or 2 days) These large scenarios typically have MVP giveaways, cash prizes, door prizes or a variety of airsoft gear and gadgets available. These are full fledged airsoft productions sponsored by a plethora of airsoft companies.

4th. Airsoft Rentals are available for $20 dollars a day and include Metal Gearbox AEG of your choice, Full face mask, 1 hi-cap Magazine, battery. Airsoft bb's are available for purchase as well.

In closing let me remind players we are a Wisconsin Airsoft Association affiliated airsoft field and store meaning you must sign up and take the WAA AEC saftey course at a Wisconsin airsoft field to continue to be eligible to play on these fields. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the sport but if you choose to begin playing regular scheduled games then the Airsoft Education Course will be a requirement. Hope to see many new players join in the airsoft games this year. If you have any questions please visit the ABZ Wisconsin airsoft forum and ask the players as most are more than willing to help out.

C ya on Game day!
Armsdealer

Wisconsin Air Soft Winter Games

Yep that's right, the crazy cheese heads in Wisconsin play airsoft games all winter long. Just switch from standard BDU's and ACU's to some all white camo, put some white tape stripes across your airsoft gun to help break up the profile, and you are ready for some intense winter gaming. Our Fairchild, WI air soft game field operates year round. It helps that the 2800 sq ft, cqb/cqc buildings are heated as well as the large shed located in the safe zone. Re spawn points and times are typically adjusted so players can warm up for 15 min or so each time they are hit and called out. Safety awareness is critical as the trails and paths on the field have the potential to be rather slippery if we have fresh snow .Depending on the temperature on any given winter game day we will decide if we will be keeping mostly indoors or on warmer winter days we use the whole field, building foxholes and ambush points in deeper snow. Dressing in layers for winter airsoft games is super important so you can regulate your temperature and keep from sweating allot, as this will prematurely make you cold. Good waterproof nonslip footwear is essential to keep your feet warm and dry and I do not have to explain the purpose of the Nonslip soles on your boots.
We have many areas on the field with high grass and pine trees that make great ambush and cover spots for games all winter long. Another benefit to complete snow cover on the ground during winter games is the use of pyro type smoke that has to be lit with a match. Most of the year we do not allow this type of smoke to be used on the field due to the fire hazard it presents. In winter we do allow players to use smoke if there is 100% snow cover.
Really the winter air soft season can be just as much fun as the summer gaming if players are properly prepared for the season. Stock air soft guns seem to operate just fine outside in winter. Highly upgraded weapons will give you more trouble due to the already tight tolerances, however if you plan on playing inside the heated buildings your air soft gun will have to chronograph below 350 foot per second to be allowed inside for close quarters combat. Another nice thing about the heated cqc house is you can use your gas blow back pistols all winter long. Find yourself with nothing to do this winter on a Sunday, check out our airsoft game calendar and come on out and sling some bb's at the Airsoft Battle Zone field.