Originally Posted by Gerkraz (Post 925033)

The point of not getting a sniper rifle to start with is for several reasons, which I will outline:

1) A properly upgraded sniper rifle can cost upwards of $1000. Things you'll need (in no particular order): Tightbore barrel, hop-up chamber, spring, spring guide, piston, barrel spacers, trigger, scope.

2) Airsoft sniper rifles do not tend to outrange AEGs out-of-the-box (see above). Even fully upgraded, they do not significantly outrange AEGs. This means that, either way, you're likely to be in-range of your opponents, so if you miss you will get lit up.

3) You will always, always, ALWAYS be out-gunned by your opponents. This can really wear down your morale, especially if you're not used to it. This apply doubly if you also are still learning and are thus not good at being a sniper.

4) It's ALL about your ghillie suit. If you get a sniper rifle, you will HAVE to own a ghillie suit. Most people make their own, since it's cheaper and better. This is painstaking process though, which is continually ongoing. When you reach the field, you will need to "update" it with local foliage. Don't forget to ghillie your rifle too...

5) Patience is essential; being a sniper is a slow game. The distance you move is often measured in inches, not feet.

6) Being a sniper does not mean camping. Expect to take flak from people if they had to spend 30 minutes trying to find you, because you didn't move from your spot.

Basically, being a sniper is HARD. It's like loading up an FPS you've never played and starting off at the highest difficulty: you're GOING to get your ass handed to you.

If you can deal with that, that's fine, but I (and the WHOLE airsoft community) can't recommend it.

I played airsoft for 2 years before I even considered buying a sniper rifle and making my ghillie suit.

Originally Posted by Rock 'N' Roll Outlaw (Post 925039)

Look in the FAQ section or use the search button to late the list of age verifiers, or look around and find someone in your area with the tag "AGE VERIFIER" under their avatar.

As for the Kraken, if you have a Bass Pro Shop near you they deal with Aftermath products. Once you get age verified you can also find lots of retailers that sell them, as well as people selling one used.

With your price range of about $350 you can get a decent starter AEG from the classifieds. Of course the most basic setup with be an M4/M16 variant as parts are readily available, alot of gear for them and great starter guns. Just try to stay away from lower end clone brands as they may seem like a good deal but they are money pits. Might as well save some money by spending a little more initially for a decent brand. Try to stick to brands like TM, CA, ICS, G&G, JG, and things of that nature.

Originally Posted by Darin (Post 925047)

Thanks, that pool of information was very helpful. I can get a G&G M4 Carbine for roughly 300. Hows that?

Originally Posted by CDN_Stalker (Post 925050)

He wants a sniper rifle, I'm not gonna tell him not to, he is hard set on getting one, so let him. Broken record telling him not to for a first gun, has a pistol to use as a primary anyways................... why is it I'm one of the very few that played my first game with a sniper rifle (and an M11A1)? Oh ya, I'm me. Sheesh!

Maruzen L96 is better and cheaper to upgrade then the TM VSR10 Gspec, the latter has sear issues that literally will snap even upgraded sears if you put a 400fps+ spring in it. Mauzen will always be better, and more solid too. I have a CA M24 that I can know trees down with, and have fallen on it, absolutely the most rock solid rifle available to the airsoft world. And it takes common upgrade parts.

Originally Posted by GabeGuitarded (Post 925063)

http://www.x-fire.org/e.index.htm for the L96 or VSR10

Originally Posted by kalnaren (Post 925069)

Something nobody else has mentioned yet is that, as a new player, you likely will not be allowed to field a high powered rifle at an organised event.

Originally Posted by Darin (Post 925071)

I assume this because if your new you have a lack of sense for the game, as well as little sense of how much these can hurt?

Originally Posted by kalnaren (Post 925074)

Yea, a lot of it has to do with minimum engagement distance...and not taking headshots.

Originally Posted by Darin (Post 925076)

I noticed lots of people wear masks. Makes sense if you ask me. Whats the minimum engagement range set at?

Originally Posted by kalnaren (Post 925078)

Most people actually just wear goggles. Most AEG MED is around 5'-10', bolt action rifles are usually around 30'.