In the seventh part of our Starting Airsoft series, we’d introduce you to something a bit more intense; MILSIM Airsoft games. Not a reader? We have summed up all the important parts in this video too:
What is MILSIM? How does it differ from skirmishes?
In short, MILSIM stands for Military Simulation. These airsoft games are more demanding than regular skirmishes, mostly due to having more rules, complex structure, narrative and a degree of roleplay. MILSIM events are less common than skirmishes, so be sure to ask around community groups for recommendations. Moreover, these events are longer and more physically demanding so keep that in mind.
đź‘Ť Trying out a MILSIM adds a great deal of airsoft experience. Definitely try it out!
Quite often teams at a MILSIM game are identified by their clothing/gear instead of coloured armbands. For example, this could be camouflage vs non-camo, tactical helmets and plate carriers vs chest carriers, etc. These usually depend on the storyline attached to the event.
If you wanna get more of a feel for how it goes, check out this video:
If you don’t have much in terms of clothing and gear, your team choice may be limited, so be sure to check the rules ahead of time to ensure you have the correct clothing. Also research these different camo types so you can more quickly and easily identify friend and foe.
Very commonly there will be strict loadout requirements too, both in terms of what guns you can use and how much ammo you can carry. For example, only guns which are LMGs can be used with high-capacity magazines; you can’t use a standard M4 with a box mag as that gun isn’t designed for that role.
You may find that you will have a per mag ammo limit and an overall ammo limit too. For MILSIMs going for ultra-realism, they will commonly run 30 BB limits for AR magazines and 12 BBs for pistols etc but for more relaxed ones, they’ll give you a total ammo limit depending on your role which can often cap at 600 BBs for ARs.
You may also find you’re not allowed to carry loose BBs and everything you have must be in a magazine. All of these rules will be provided by the event so make sure you read them all before booking and again before attending to ensure you follow them correctly.
Travelling With Your Airsoft Guns
So now you’ve found your event, you’ve got your kit sorted and you’re ready to go. How do you transport your airsoft guns? As a universal rule, whenever you transport an airsoft gun of any kind, it cannot be exposed and must be concealed.
It’s also a great idea to transport it unloaded and without any BBs or power sources in the same bag or case. And to be honest, with longer games, you should consider a large bag as the number of items you’ll need goes up.
Is it ok to travel with your airsoft guns inside your gun bag? Yes. With them in a hard case? Of course. In a concealed holster you’re wearing? No. Can you open the case in public to check on them? Definitely not. If you run into a situation where you need to open the case for a security check or similar, inform the person before you open the case or bag of what’s inside so they’re not surprised by what looks like a firearm.
These rules work for transporting replicas on public transport and using your own car. For air and other types of international travel, there will be different rules depending on your travel provider, country of origin and destination, so please thoroughly check these rules before you travel.
Also, here is a useful cool walkthrough on gear prep before you even travel.
