Airsoft replicas vs frost

It's winter on the northern hemisphere and in many regions we have temperatures below the freezing point of water (0°C → 32F). You might begin wondering if it's safe for you and your replica to attend airsoft games in such conditions.

Low temperatures

Airsoft electric guns - AEGs

AEGs are powered by batteries, mostly NiCd or NiMH rechargeables. Those batteries work best in room temperatures. If it's colder, their capacity drops. If it's very cold they won't supply enough power for the electric motor to pull the power spring in the mechbox. Low temperature also makes all greases and oils a lot more viscid -- it makes it even more difficult for the motor to move.

The issue with cold batteries may be resolved easily. Just make a cable long enough to put your battery in your pocket (preferably -- as close to your body as possible) and supply the replica with energy through that cable. It won't help with cold and viscid greases, but probably will be sufficient to ensure that your AEG will be operational.

There are other issues regarding electric replicas and frost. If you have tuned replica (stronger power spring), your mechbox may break more easily than during summer. Cold makes metal more brittle, so a shock caused by piston being stopped in a very brief time might break the mechbox. I read about couple of stories like that.

The last issue I know of is the hop-up bucking not being able to turn the BB enough for it to have proper trajectory. Hop-up buckings are made of silicone or rubber and are soft only in rather warm temperatures. If they become hardened by the frost, they won't work well.

I attended one game when it was -18°C (-0.5°F) and my replica worked fine. I used the stock MP5K PDW by Tokyo Marui. The battery capacity was very low and the motor worked very slow. I could only fire about 50 BBs when the battery died.

Pump action replicas

Such replicas don't need batteries as they're operated manually. If you have stock replica, it might work just well, except the hop-up bucking issue. Tuned replicas may have difficulties about metal brittleness...

Gas operated guns

Replicas powered by Green Gas (propane or propane/butane mixture) won't work well in winter.

Green gas is stored in canisters in liquid state, under small pressure of 6 atmospheres. In such pressure it boils in temperature close to -5°C (23°F). In such temperatures it won't be able to expand as fast as in summer, so the range of gas guns will drop dramatically. In extreme conditions (like shooting 10 BBs in short time) the gas valve might freeze and let all the gas from the magazine out in a large cloud of "steam". In Poland we call this a siphon. I don't know why...

Snow

As you probably know, all airsoft replicas are reasonably water resistant. They will work well in small rain, but won't if you drop them into a pond. So they will work well in snow. It won't hurt them.

Cold → warm transition

If you take electronic device from cold to a warm room you are not supposed to start it in some specified period. The water vapor from the warm room will condense on cold parts of the device and might cause electric shock.

You shouldn't be worried by this with your AEG. Typical AEG has none electronic parts inside, and a small amount of water condensed on any electric part won't hurt it. So if you must, you may freely use it. But who needs to fire his AEG indoors, anyway? ;)

Tuned mG36 tested this sunday

I wrote some time ago that my mG36 was tuned up to 390 fps. Two days ago I finally had a chance to test it during an airsoft game.

At first I was worried it'll work at all. I plugged fresh battery (4,000 mAh NiMH battery I bought last month) but it allowed me to fire only a couple of BBs when I was checking the hop-up position. I plugged another battery that lied around in my camper for a while, an old 1,800 mAh Sanyo NiCd and it worked just fine.

The game was short and not very interesting, so I used only about half a hi-cap magazine. But the most important thing is that it does work and shoots well. :)

I tested the M24 yesterday

So I finally had a chance to test my new replica -- the M24 I bought last month.

The game took place in Adamowice, in a forest with some small embankments. Nothing very interesting, that would differentiate this place from any other in the area. I took three replicas -- the M24 and mG36 for testing (the mG36 was repaired not so long ago) and the MP5K PDW. I wanted to have one replica that I am sure will work in almost any condition, that's why I took the Kurz. I also wanted to carry it while I was going to use the M24 in case I needed a sidearm. I didn't know how the M24 will work and also needed to have a replica to be used when the enemy was close to me. I don't want to hurt anyone with the 510 fps muzzle velocity of the M24. I also need a replica that'll allow me to spray some BBs when the enemy is close and I won't be able to reload the sniper rifle.

You know what was the result of this M24 testing? In three rounds I got shot 3 times and scored 6 hits. But only two hits with M24!

Why?

I have some trouble with the M24's hop-up. I am afraid that it can't turn up heavy BBs (0.35 g). So the range is not very long. But what do I need a long range for if the game takes place in a woodland, where there's a lot of twigs, brushes and leaves? I couldn't hit for several times, because the BB bounced off a twig.

The first time I used the MP5K was when I received a hit in the M24. I shouted that my gun was shot and left it on the ground. I took the MP5K and killed two guys using it... The second time it was used was when two guys were lying on a top of the embankment, behind two trees and aiming someone that was far on my left hand side. They were hidden by the trees so they didn't see me, so I hung the M24 on my back, grabbed the MP5K and ran to them. When I was close enough I told the first guy I killed him and shot some BBs to kill the second. ;)

And now a photo taken yesterday.

From 08-12-14-makowka-ambona

Best airsoft places, #3

I started some time ago a series of blog posts about my favorite places for airsoft games. Today's game was supposed to take place in one of those places (I didn't go as it was raining) so it is a good time to write about the SD.

The SD is a short for Sztab Dowodzenia, which means Command Staff. I wrote about one game that took place there, but I believe it is not enough! But before we go any further, take a look at the satellite photo of the place.



The lighter green is a large area covered with tall grass and the darker areas are woodland parts. There are many large hills, some of them made of concrete (built as large bunkers for trucks or something even bigger).

I don't have a lot of good photos but I uploaded something for you to take a look. I made this panorama using a bunch of poor quality photos taken with a crappy camera three years ago so take this into account. ;)

From Airsoft from Poland photos

Why do I like this place?

First of all it is H U G E but lies within the Warsaw city limits. It has a couple of small buildings you can play with and a lot of large obstacles like the hills you can see on the photo. You'll also find some barbwired fences, many trees, trenches and embankments, and a small creek. This place can hold games of up to (I guess) 200 airsofters.

You can see some interesting places on the second advertisement video we recorded there.