To Check Out or not to Check Out? (I'm a new guy)

[stuka]

where it is now is fine, 150 for a good rifle?I highly doubt that, you can dream but lets be reasonable, 200$ is fine for those rifles.

[brownien]

Honestly, $200-$250 is really going to be the cheapest for a good airsoft rifle. The only reason Smg's are so low, is because , they are so close in performance to m4's, Ak's and mp5's. meaning that modern players can use them in regular games, while still being competitive and having a small nostalgic factor. This alone sells more Smg's than rifles that we could ever hope to be manufactured.

[wehrmacht1940]

I've decided to stick with rifles. I'm also considering (mind you, this is down the road) an SS impression. Suggestions in terms of camo or tunics?

[knights52]

If you're going for SS, I would suggest getting an Oak camo smock. It works for anything mid to late war. Dot 44 is always popular, but should only be used for events that take place on or after D-Day.

[aj czarkowski]

If you decide to get Dot 44, most ww2 airsoft games are usually D-Day or after D-Day, so you shouldn't have any problems. In fact, I only can remember one event that was before that

[wehrmacht1940]

For anyone who's seen Unsere Mütter, Unsere Vater (SPOILERS, DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO READ MAJOR SPOILERS) Friedhelm's death shows him wearing some kind of camo (is that oak camo?) but that's the look I'm going for. Here's a link to a Friedhelm tribute video that includes his death at the end with him in his camo. If anyone wants to watch a subtitled version online I've got links. Btw I know Friedhelm is Wehrmacht. Since I've got my Wehrmacht stuff coming already should I pursue this or a similar SS look?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy2bSs6he3U

[aldrich]

Actually that is an army pattern camo known as "splinter A". Camo smocks were not nearly as common in the Heer as they were in the SS. Rather it was more common to see those in specialist roles getting camouflage. An example of this would be tank hunters or snipers. The SS and Heer had completely separate camo patterns. Mostly this was due to political reasons. The German army and SS were two different institutions. While the army was headed by the commander and chief of the German armed forces, the SS was headed by the Nazi party. Thus, when the SS developed camouflage, they patented their designs so as to save the camo patterns for themselves and compete with the army. This forced the army to come up with their own designs, which they never got around to producing in any great quantity. Talk about working together! The Heer patterns that emerged were the splinter A pattern (splinter B was used by the air force) and "tan and water"/"tan and water with blurred edges". Splinter by far was the most common. However, if you like the camo look and want a more realistic route, try a zeltbahn! These were triangular camouflage shelter quarters that can either be combined with others to make a tent, or could be worn as a camouflage rain poncho. I would recommend this route as every soldier was issued one, plus it comes in handy on those rainy days. It is quite common to see them using these ponchos for camouflage.

[aldrich]

Here is a very tired looking me wearing my zeltbahn:

[wehrmacht1940]

I'm assuming there's a helmet cover of the same zeltbahn camo. Also, that's a sweet looking panzerschreck!By the way where'd you get that belt and ammo pouches? IMA? I have a stand-in beltbuckle (postwar West German maybe) if the belt you have didn't come with one. Do you have a mess-tin and canteen?

[knights52]

There are plenty of places to get all that gear. mantheline.com, hessenantique.com, militarytour.com, 1944militaria.com to name a few. I've ordered from all, and have never had any problems. They'll carry belts, buckles, pouches, canteens, breadbags, mess tins, all of it.

[wehrmacht1940]

I will check those out, and from what I saw from IMA they didn't have much in terms of equipment. Which of those websites has the most bang for your buck? I'm trying to spend as least as possible yet get the most accurate stuff.

[brownien]

From what I've found, different shops have better deals. I would go to each store online, and put all the items you want to buy in each stores cart. Then you can go through each item in your list and see what store has the best price per item.

[aldrich]

I do have a mess tin but not a canteen, I am working on it. At this point I hide a waterbottle in my gas mask canister. It helps add weight to the canister as well. You could also put one in a breadbag. The helmet covers were splinter A as well, yes. I got all my leather gear from IMA back when they had everything stocked. Unfortunately their supply has dwindled.

[wehrmacht1940]

I think I get what you mean. I suppose for now my priority is getting a belt and pouches, breadbag, then canteen, mess kit and finally the gas mask container, shovel, etc. When it comes to the belt in the link below, how exactly do I attach everything else to it such as the breadbag? Also, aren't there hooks to attach it to the uniform? What hooks do I use? What was your approach with the belt, alrich?

[knights52]

Y-straps may be helpful too.

[halfnelson]

wehrmacht1940, you attach your magazine pouches, bread bag etc. by simply sliding them on to your belt. They come with belt loops so it'll be pretty straight forward.
Oh, and I agree on getting a set of Y-straps. They help alot when your carrying a bit more stuff and you don't have to wear your belt so tight you can't breathe!

[Paul Rech]

wehrmacht1940: Just like halfnelson said, the ammo pouches and bread bag have belt loops, so it is straight forward. The entrenching tool cover and bayonet also have belt loops. My advice would be to go with the Y-straps and do not worry about the tunic belt hooks just yet, get those down the road. If you decide to go without Y-straps you'll have to get internal suspenders for the belt hooks; This will help with the weight of the gear.
As far as how to carry your gear, there is a ton of info out there, books, internet sources, ext. Don't forget, you will want to pick up a Bayonet as well since most German Wehrmacht/SS soldiers were issued with one and carried them all the time. The canteen and mess kit are attached to the bread bag via the metal "D" rings and small leather tab loops.
My advice would be to pick up equipment items in this order of importance:
1. Black leather belt with repro or original belt buckle.
2. Ammo pouches, rifle or smg.
3. Black leather Y-straps
4. Bayonet
5. Bread bag
6. Canteen
7. Mess kit
8. Gas mask canister
9. Entrenching tool, shovel
10. Zeltbahn

[brownien]

If you get the bayonet scabbard, and frog, TheFieldWerks.com makes rubber repro bayonets that should fit on your Dboys and hopefully the Redfire 98k, along with any REalSteel 98k

[wehrmacht1940]

I did assume they were that way, I just meant what the hooks sold all over are meant for, like are they meant for attaching to the tunics and straps? brownien: I will check out those bayonets, they seem really good-looking! Paul: My tunic is M40, will I need internal suspenders?

[Paul Rech]

You really don't need the belt hooks and internal suspenders if you stick with the Y-straps, but if you ever decide to go without them in order to carry your gear you will need the belt hooks and suspenders to help support all that weight.

[wehrmacht1940]

My dad says he has suspenders hidden away somewhere, I'll have to see if they're Y-strap. If they are, I'll have some decent stand-ins. I don't plan on having a whole lot, so it shouldn't be too heavy these first few months, then I can toss the stand-ins I've already got (they're quite light) and get quality repros. So far I'm only getting a belt, Mess-tin, and breadbag. I have some stand-in pouches and like aldrich said, I can hide a water bottle in my breadbag.

[knights52]

Y-straps are actually leather and go outside, they attach to your belt/pouches, and backpacks if you wear them.

[halfnelson]

As Knight52 said, the "proper" Y-straps are made of tough leather with D-rings and metal hooks for holding on to your belt/pouches. They're not like trouser suspenders where they snap onto buttons
attached to the insides of your trousers (although regular suspenders are great for holding your pants up!).

[wehrmacht1940]

Currently I have a pair of y-straps that is a stand-in. Until I can amass my ammo pouches, breadbag, canteen, mess kit, bayonet, etc. this seems to do the job. I placed several weighty things in a medic bag, my current pouches, and a reusable safeway bag and attached them to a belt I had with the suspenders attached. Both held up well but obviously this means little in comparison with a real high quality repro belt and leather suspenders. I get their function but until then I've got higher priority focuses.

[wehrmacht1940]

I see kar98 ammo pouches for $40 bucks each on hikishop. Given it's black leather I understand that pricing but is there a way I can find them cheaper than $40 a pop?

[wehrmacht1940]

Tunic and trousers arrived. Anyone know what the random belt buckle in the back of the trousers for?

[aldrich]

The buckle on the back is simply so you can adjust the waist to fit your size. It won't hold the pants up or anything, but just makes them more comfortable. As for pouches, repro ones can be had for around $40/$50 a pair give or take. Different sites have similar ones for around the that price. Look at At The Front's website. He has pricey ones, but also I saw some cheaper ones he has as well. Make sure to get the black ones.

[wehrmacht1940]

It may look grey but it's actually a field green.

[halfnelson]

Lookin' smart! Great start (rhyme unintended!).
As soon as you've got yourself some Y-straps, a pair of ammo pouches, maybe a fieldcap or paint that helmet fieldgrey, and some insignia you'll look even better!

Oh, and I just noticed your footwear; dig dem rubbers!

Keep it up!

[wehrmacht1940]

The helmet is gray in person and as previously stated the uniform is more greenish but the iPhone doesn't exactly have the best camera in the world.