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Nope, they respond quite quickly to my e-mails too. I bought some G&P VSR magazines from them recently and they stayed in touch about stock - just e-mail them. Usually takes them 24 hours to reply.

Hey, welcome to the forums. I can answer some of the generic 'is gas a good idea' questions but I've never owned a WE SMG-8 so can't help there I'm afraid. Is it ok to run gas in the winter as primary? In cold weather it can depend on many things really: The gun, gas and obviously temperature (as well as how much you shoot) all come into play, so giving a solid answer is hard. Some non-blowback systems are reliable in the winter, but most (the SMG-8 included) have some sort of blow back and therefore consume a lot more gas per shot - this exacerbates issues in the winter. What you're mostly battling with is how the propane in green gas (i.e. propane mixed with some lubricants and has the smelly additive removed) contracts when cold. In the winter, colder gas doesn't get as much mileage. This can set it at a disadvantage to AEGs. When any gas decompresses (in this case when it leaves the magazine, enters the expansion chamber/nozzle in your gun and then is blown out the barrel) it gets colder. This basic principle is how fridges work - refrigerant is expanded and contracted around the back of the fridge and draws heat away from the inside. In an airsoft gun, we tend to call this 'cooldown', and it's a real problem when you fire in quick succession (like in full auto) as the magazine rapidly cools and - as described before - the gas contracts, giving you less 'power'. In the winter, this is even worse as the magazine takes longer to warm up again. Mitigating both of these issues is really a two-step approach: A lot of people warm the magazines and/or try to minimise cooldown. Using handwarmers, only firing in semi-auto etc. The second thing is just efficiency of the gun in question and the gas that you're using (will come onto that later). There are certain aftermarket upgrades that claim to make guns less prone to cooldown. Tighter bore barrels, good hop seals etc. help to maximise the energy transfer of the gas to the BB without it venting away. Some of these work, some of them don't. Again, I can't comment on what actually works in the SMG-8, though some slightly modifications like a tight hop up bucking seal always helps. All in all though, it depends on the gun and gas. If this is your first time, I'd say avoid GBBs for winter though the SMG-8 may be very efficient like some of the newer designs and could be a viable option. Benefits to running over an AEG? Noise, recoil and trigger response. Noise sounds good and beefy on some GBBs and the recoil is fun. The trigger response is what I like most though as it's instantaneous on GBBs. What maintaining is needed for a gas gun such as this? Just lube in the right places. In fact, being mechanical they're easier than most AEGs as disassembling them is generally straightforward, though again I can't speak to the SMG-8. All you need is some silicone (I use high viscosity for places of prolonged contact like metal-to-metal and a low viscosity/spray can of silicone for the seals). Maintaining o-rings in your mags is the hardest bit about GBBs, though this isn't an issue so long as you leave some gas in them after every game and give it the occasional squirt of silicone when required. Most leaks are fixed by a disassembly, lube and reassembly. Gas Don't use duster as it's not powerful enough - green gas or propane (propane is just green gas with the smelly additive and without silicone, but it's a lot cheaper). Brand-wise, the strongest I've found is Guarder Black/powerful gas. That stuff is ridiculously powerful though but should fare well in the winter. Just don't use it in the summer.

Come on, don't be that guy. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=trojan+armoires+stockport

Agreed. I can just about bear mine for 2 weeks.

Until recently my brothers and I were all living in three different continents. Try not to let it get you down man - you'll remember how lucky you are after you've been around him for a couple of weeks again

I like how you've just linked us to a Youtube search of 'how to make a smoke bomb'.

Would also recommend Reaper Airsoft Customs.

Just be aware that legally your brother must own it and can essentially let you borrow it, but so long as you're not stupid then that shouldn't be an issue (your brother should know the ins and outs anyway). I agree with SittingDuck though - the G&G and ICS entry level guns are great. Go for a version with a rail though as it won't cost you must more and gives you more flexibility later on.

Because people buy them for that price. Also, machining all those parts isn't that cheap. Especially in the UK where labour is expensive.

Er, trying to compare gun models doesn't work in the same way in airsoft. Different companies have different blow back systems and different tolerances. You can find a decent version of most popular guns if you know the correct brand so I'm not sure what you mean. WE make good Glocks (and a lot of other stuff) but their 1911s are naff. Tokyo Marui make excellent 1911s, but my opinion would just be their newer M9 (not the fixed hop version) or just a TM Glock (or WE for that matter). It's quite hard to mess up with pistols really as there are so many great ones out there. Out of that list though, the F226 looks like the only not bad decision, but adding £20 to the budget would open you up to some amazing stuff.

What do you mean? Will they stop selling the Firebase*? Probably. *Autocorrect

Wide bore line and EU QDs helped me a lot to get mine more stable.

VSRs are cool and small. L96 is a lot bigger but equally accurate I've found so far. Either will do you well and both have a lot of upgrades, though the VSRs are more documented and straight forward to get parts for.

There are loads of guides out there on making dummy inserts. Nice videos too. Cardboard, spray adhesive, duct tape.

You'll be completely fine then. Refresh rate matters only with high rates of fire, and if you've got a solenoid then they require far less air so you'll be golden. It would appear that whilst this reg is an upgrade over the Firebase, it's mostly aimed at some of the mechanical pneumatic users (Daytona, Escort, PDiKs) or very high rate of fire solenoid engines. If you want some quick an easy upgrades for your DMR then switch to a wider bore grip/stock line and a wide bore line (maybe even EU QDs for better airflow). In some ways the line acts as the expansion chamber for HPA so having as much volume there as possible is a plus. I've got a 500mm 6.23 ORGA in my M249 and that thing chews through air like there's no tomorrow, but I've not noticed a massive fluctuation in pressure (maybe as much as 10psi at times). The real plus of this new reg is that it can operate at crazy-low tank pressures so that you can get the most out of your tank without needing to refill. That's the only reason I'm considering getting one, despite having a gun that's probably the least air efficient per BB that you can have.

More competition equals lower prices. Yay.

I think RM must have some policy against it. I mean they don't even allow compressed gas containers, so I imagine explosives are way out of the question. Maybe try TNT? ehehehehe

If you're not using a Daytona Gun I wouldn't worry. The refresh is really only needed for much wider bores.

Yeh, I got my shotgun primers through the letterbox. Came after Royal Mail did, so I'm not sure who delivered it (the package was almost completely unmarked apart from my address). Like you say, probably just a courier thing as legally they're fine to posses.

I'd just try posting the parts. In a Glock they're interested in the barrel - I don't believe anything else needs to be serialised and is therefore not restricted in the same way, though maybe a real steel shooter can confirm? Airport customs can be more on edge than the ones that manage the post. Mags shouldn't be an issue, but like you say: Remove the valves and I'd even put a note with them in case they open up your case.

Sorry that I don't have an answer for ya, but as you're new I feel it's worth saying that as It's AS it'll be overpriced. Do yourself a favour and buy a Guarder or Nova kit and fit it to a Marui M9.

DG group is a closed one. So here it is for everyone else:

I grabbed some .43s off that site when I got the TM receiver that Sp00n recommended. BB King are alright - I've used them in the past and these seem to feed fine too. .43g: http://www.airsoft-entrepot.fr/consommables/billes/bbking-billes-blanches-0-43g-sachet-de-1000.html .40g: http://www.airsoft-entrepot.fr/consommables/billes/bbking-billes-blanches-0-40g-sachet-de-1000.html

I'd also agree with disassembling it and cleaning it properly (as well as the magazine). Soapy water is great, but in those hard-to-reach places you may have to settle for isopropyl 'rubbing' alcohol. At least you've learnt not to do it next time.

Why does it matter?