UK Airsoft
Airsoft is a popular sport where battles with fake weapons that feel realistic can take place without having to face the danger of a real battle.
Although the weapons are generally harmless, there are rules in regards to carrying these around.
Airsoft equipment should not be taken out into public. If you carry it with you, it must stay concealed in a bag, unloaded. This is because these guns, even though they are fake, can cause unnecessary worry to the public if spotted.
Two-tone guns (guns of more than one colour) are recommended if they are ever carried anywhere other than a skirmish zone as to make the gun imitation appear less real but it is still advised that you conceal them.
Any damage you cause to people not wearing protective equipment can be designated as common assault and items broken can be classified as criminal damage.
That is why there are designated areas where people can take part in Airsoft with other players referred to as skirmish sites.
These skirmish sites range from woodland sites to urban sites where players are free to roam around and fire their weapons at others in the knowledge that those people are part of the game too.
There are over 150 skirmish sites are set up across the UK where you can get involved in a simulated battle with others, using your Airsoft equipment in the process.
This saves you from having to organise your own get together and find suitable space to play in.
You can contact the owner of the site to join in or you can set up your own skirmish site to have a battle simulation among a group of people, usually taking place on a Sunday.
Costs
If you are simply a person interested in becoming an Airsoft player, the cost is non-existent to take part in Airsoft activities. Some sites will allow you to buy or rent Airsoft equipment once you are there which, along with the cost of travel, is the only cost associated with Airsoft activities for players. Buying and owning your own weapons and protective gear beforehand means that you have everything you need and won’t have to pay for them each time you play.
The only added cost comes if you want to upgrade your current equipment.
You can register with the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association (UKARA) to become a registered player, requiring you to play three games on a UKARA registered game site over a two month period.
If you want to set up your own game site to run and have people join your group, there are a number of costs associated with bringing this to fruition.
You will need to reach an agreement with the owners of the land to rent or buy the site for yourself (even if the site appears abandoned), clean up the area and make it the layout you want.
Once all that is done, you will need to take out an Airsoft insurance to cover you for public liability so that those who take part in your activities are insured. The good news afterwards is that registration with UKARA is free.
