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Post by hajduk on Aug 12, 2016 23:10:19 GMT -5
So I have been thinking about the realities of combat during the Second World War, and how they translate to airsoft replicas. And of course came to the obvious conclusion that they do not at all. In our BB wars, the effective ranges of handheld repeating arms (like submachineguns and carbines), bolt action rifles, and machineguns of all calibers are all very similar. This is a stark contrast to actual performance of the weaponry of the time, with effective ranges differing by hundreds of meters.
This leads to an obvious preference for light-weight automatic weapons such as MP-40's, Thompson's, PPsH's and the like. So then my thoughts went to how to improve the effectiveness of bolt rifles to give them any sort of advantage over SMG's in order to make WW2 Airsoft events slightly more realistic with the equipment used.
Then I remembered how a modern-era milsim called Milsim West uses blank fire adapted real steel weapons to add to immersion. What I was thinking is that maybe we could use blanks in actual bolt action rifles from the era, and work in rules that would make them effective fighting tools. This way, someone will not be able to engage someone from 100 meters with an AEG but if they had a rifle and a line of sight they can make the shot. Maybe the extra range would urge more to take up rifles, and the added effects would increase immersion to both rifle and classic airsoft players.
I realize that this option somewhat limits the places where we can play, but if reenactments can have private tacticals with all BF weapons we would have to be able to find some place to play.
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shiftysgarand
Corporal
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Posts: 1,165
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Post by shiftysgarand on Aug 13, 2016 20:49:14 GMT -5
We have tried this before- sometimes it has worked pretty well. The main problem is getting Airsoft players used to feeling projectiles to call their hits from a blank.
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Post by brownien on Aug 14, 2016 13:03:22 GMT -5
My solution to the too-similar-range problems between Rifles and SMG's would be to limit smg's to very little or no hopup allowed. Simply turn it off. That's going to limit smg's to ranges of 100-80ft or less. While most rifles and lmg's can reach out to 100yds or more. This is much scaled down from actual firearms ranges, where a Thompson shooting a 45acp can reach out to 100yds on full auto and a Garand or BAR can reach out to 500-600yds easily.
Some people may not like this approach, as it does limit players with smg's greatly, but I do think that there is a very disproportionate amount of smg's in use in our events compared to the amount of actual smg's in use during the actual conflict. I personally would like to see a squad of 10 or so infantry, with 7-8 rifles or carbines, 1-2 lmg's and a squad leader with a smg. The actual standard squad layout for most countries during the war.
I personally would like to pick up another Thomson, a grease gun, a mp40 and maybe a sten, but with the number of smg's in use currently, I don't want to buy them because I don't want any more in use on the field. I would much rather get a g43, k98, m1903 or another Garand.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
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Post by 2nd Bat on Aug 14, 2016 15:18:04 GMT -5
I have been advocating for Brownians suggestion for a dozen years or more and hope such standardization might someday be commonplace. SMGs had the advantage of higher rates of fire and typically larger magazines while no where near as accurate,or capable of brush penetration. Add the reduced range and weapons selection becomes a real trade-off.
Blank fire adds emmersive sound effects and reduces the casual movement beyond airsoft range that can be so unsatisfying when it occurs. The challenge of course is that there is no way to precisely determine who specifically is targeted so blankfire beyond airsoft ranges typically just get your opponent to take cover. (Not necessarily a bad thing)
Limiting semi auto weapons to 420 fps and bolt actions to 550 with anything firing pistol ammunition limited to 330 fps and no hop up would be a nice way to encourage more long rifles. We're still a long way from these standards but limited ammo and mag capacity has sure improved our gameplay.
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Post by hajduk on Aug 15, 2016 13:14:49 GMT -5
Brownian - I like that idea! maybe even have a different FPS limit to replicate the difference in velocity between rifle and pistol rounds, like 2nd said.
Have any of the old guard drafted a universal rule book? I feel like if we have a published, universal set of rules for WW2 events hosting them would become that much easier.
Now if only they made cheap and reliable period rifles!
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Aug 15, 2016 16:56:36 GMT -5
We are still in fairly infantile stages in the hobby where official unwaivering standards for weapons together with the uniform, gear and magazine capacity restrictions would probably deter, rather than encourage participation. Things have progressed nicely on a gradual fairly informal basis where the host of an event typically posts requirements, gameplay rules, restrictions and expectations. With preferred as well as minimum standards. These have evolved into fairly universal parameters.
It was too long ago that burlap rapped modern guns stripped of scopes and laser sites were the only common expectations. Now period correct replicas with emphasis on semi auto weapon has become a pretty universal expectation with high caps not allowed except for crew served weapons. The owner operator for Millsim West was my protege early in his airsoft days and is implementing most all of the concepts we strove to initiate a dozen plus years ago.
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