Close up of man using airsoft rifle UK like those available at Crawley Surplus Store We like to offer our readers little nuggets of wisdom to help them in their next skirmish, and to hopefully improve their all round game. Of course, airsoft is played for fun and by people of all different abilities, but if our hints can help improve just one person’s game, we would see that as a success! So without further ado, here are some pointers to help you up your game in your next skirmish. Take your time to aim Unlike John Rambo and 90% of Call of Duty players, you can’t expect to run around shooting from the hip and emerge victorious. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but that just isn’t how it works… We would encourage you to take the time and aim using your sights. This will result in your shots being much more accurate, whilst preventing you from emptying your mag and hitting nothing but air! Also, try not to panic fire if you suddenly spot an enemy nearby, as chances are you’ll miss your shot and reveal your position to said enemy. Keep a firm grip on your gun, keep the stock (if you have one) firmly pressed into your shoulder and squeeze the trigger once you have lined up the shot. Dress sensibly and appropriately One of the many joys of living in Britain is the unpredictable weather (ha…), but try to plan your outfit appropriately for the forecasted weather. If it is going to be a hot day, you don’t want multiple layers of underclothing, as you’ll get hot and uncomfortable, which could lead you to making hurried decisions. Likewise, if you are freezing cold, you’re not going to be able to concentrate fully on the task at hand. If possible, plan your outfit and then take some extra clothing with you to your skirmish sight that you can change into or layer underneath your outfit. Don’t be afraid to push yourself We have said many times, practice makes perfect, and it is true! You also mustn’t be afraid to push yourself when you are practising, as this is when you discover what you can truly do. For example, if you can hit a target from 50 feet away, imagine how easily you could hit a player at the same distance? When practising, try and find your optimal range of accuracy and then work backwards from there, pushing yourself to become more accurate. Trust us, it’ll soon start to pay off for you in combat situations. Use your head Airsoft is a tactical game, which requires you to work together as a team and take a strategical approach to many situations. Individual decisions will affect the overall team performance, and could ultimately sway the tide of battle away from you. So before you run off on a one-man mission, think about how your actions may affect the team. Remember, there’s no “I” in team, but there are two in idiot…! Look after your kit Lastly, this doesn’t directly impact your playing style and is probably one of the more obvious points but it is certainly an important one to remember. Take care of your guns, and they will take care of you. These guns are an expensive piece of kit, so ensure you keep them in a safe place where they won’t get broken, clean and lube them as required and ensure you use the correct ammunition for them. If you ever have any questions about any of your guns, please don’t hesitate to contact us. These are just a few pointers that can (hopefully) help you take your airsoft to the next level, but it is worth noting that the more you practice, the better you will become. Practice makes perfect after all! If you are looking to pick yourself up some new airsoft guns (UK based), why not take a look on our website or come and visit us in store?   Photo courtesy of Myneone, under Creative Commons