Military Surplus Stores - Great loadouts @ Budget prices

Padre' (Whiskey-03) here of the Airsoft Ikaika Warriors, I just finished, almost, setting up my new "Deliverance" loadout. (Please no "Can ya squeal like a pig" jokes) YES this does include flotation plates that are capable of keeping me buoyant... Yes it has been tested and no I WILL NOT POST THE VIDEO! 

Today, The Warrior Blog is showing off this carrier and other "toys" that can be found at your local military surplus store.....
 
So let's start this out with some name dropping: SOG, Crye,Tactical Tailor, 5.11, TruSpec. Condor, Pantec, Rothco, Gerber, Ka-Bar, Maxpedition Gear, Blue Force, Belleville, Propper, Blackhawk. Mil-Spec Monkey, Oakley, ESS, Massif, CamelBak and more brands can be found with a little looking at the local military surplus stores! 


From the standpoint of gearing up, it doesn't matter whether you're into real steel, airsoft, (or both like me), disaster preparedness, a prepper or just plain like getting the best gear, this is an option that I found out that I can save hundreds on clothing and gear by going with military surplus!

So my goal when I decided to write this post was to see how much of my loadout that I could do from the local surplus store AND our newest sponsor - The Bunker. In order to do this, I had to be able to fill out the uniform requirements of my team for both the Light Camo (Multicam) and the Dark Camo (PMC - Private Military Contractor)

First Task, the Uniform:

So with about 10 minutes of looking I was able to find Rocky desert combat boots, Multicam pants, blouse (shirt), rigger belt, and OD boonie hat. For almost all of it, I had the choice of buying new or used but the used (Issued) clothing was in such good shape I didn't even look at the new.

 

For the PMC uniform, I was again able to to find everything that I needed in about 10 minutes. TruSpec OD pants, Rocky desert combat boots, Black shirt (I will be adding velcro to the sleeves), Black rigger belt, Patrol cap, Shemagh, & Kevlar helmet.

My next challenge was finding gear that would support all this!

While I have a number of other vests and plate carriers, I wanted to put together one that would be able to support ANY of my replicas without resetting the PC each time. I selected the OD Green Condor PC (I can already hear the Condor haters...) and started fitting it with the pouches that would best suit my needs..... 

From the rack of various used pouches, I was able to find a unmarked OD twin double stack (it is a little larger than the standard M4 pouch) that will accept

Airsoft safety

In a post that I wrote last year, I used the F.I.N.E. rule of firearm safety. http://airsoftikaikateam.blogspot.com/2013/06/keep-your-finger-off-trigger.html,- That rule is a good starting point but, is it enough? I have been to games / fields that I will never go to again because I don't agree with the lack of safety rules - that's my choice. I have also been to a facility where the safety was so highly pushed that the game was no longer fun or worth my time. So how do we come to that middle ground where we are both safe in how and what we do but don't unnecessarily cripple the "experience?"

 

 Table of Contents

What is safety?

 Rules & Consequences

Engagement distances

Thoughts on Eyewear

Physical contact

 Final Thoughts.

What is Safety?
Safety is defined as: "The condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury." We expect safety in our lives every day - from the cars that we drive, to the food that we eat, to the behavior of society.... For me safety really has to start with the expectations of the individual, setting a minimum that you will accept and weighing that minimum with the potential consequences if something goes wrong. Its a two edged sword, 

"What will keep me reasonably safe?" vs. "What will keep others from being harmed?"

So let me ask then, what are the potential risks in airsoft? 

• Damage or loss of eyesight.
• Damage to or loss of teeth.
• Broken bones.
• Burns.
• Sprains, strains and soft tissue injuries.
• Loss of dignity.
• Damage or theft of equipment / replica(s).
• Altercations (fights).

Over the past year, many of us have personally seen or have heard of all of these and more

Getting ready for the weekend....

Make sure that all you batteries are charged, keep those replicas in the gun bag until you're at the field and don't forget that eyepro! AND we better not even have to talk about "trigger control"...

For your Friday viewing enjoyment, here is our very own Ikaika Menehune playing at TAC.

Let's all be safe out there,
Padre' out...

  

The Warrior Blog's response to all this years, April Fools Day jokes....

Padre' out...