Interesting twist on FPS Rules. Take a look and let me know what you think.

[Arthur -Lex- Lowther]

So with the ever increasing FPS limits on many new weapons coming out. I've been looking around at other rule sets.

I just purchased a New A&K DMR Full metal and the thing chrono's at 418 with .25's! I was like holy crap! It as they say "Opened my eyes". Alot of the newer weapons on the market are pushing 400 plus FPS right out of the box.

So.. I found this FPS rule set. See what you think might be something to adjust to.

It still sits comfortably within our safety guidelines.

300 and below: Arms reach away.

300-350 FPS: 10 ft engagement distance.

350-400 FPS: 25 ft engagement distance. Can not fire inside/into buildings.

400-450 FPS: SEMI AUTO ONLY. 50 ft engagement distance. Can not fire inside/into buildings.

450-500 FPF: SEMI AUTO ONLY. 75 ft engagement distance. Can not fire inside/into buildings.

*All FPS limits calculated using .20 bb's. If using heavier BB's, subtract 15-25 FPS from your max limit. Heavier BB's transfer more force, and therefore must face tougher restrictions for safety reasons.

What do you guys think? It doesn't restrict what weapons can be used. It just restricts how they are used. I sort of like it. I'm not to sure about the shooting into buildings.. I think it can say shooting into buildings at a certain range limit perhaps. I do like the Cannot be Fired Inside a Building. Limits certain weapons for CQB use.

Thoughts?

[Trent Mankowski]

Glad you shared this Lex. I like the idea, but I think in practicality parts of it can be difficult to maintain. A lot of my guys (including myself) have a hard time remembering rules like "only torso and head shots count" or "you get three lives in your extremities", so we've stuck to just one shot kill anywhere. I think it will be difficult to maintain and enforce the 10/25/50/75 rule, especially for those that are young or those of us that just can't gauge distances. I can see people getting upset because they were shot at less than the distance specified, and the shooter thinking that it was "just enough" distance. The "inside buildings" part I kind of like, but I will suggest the way we play here: if you're inside a building, or on top of a window shooting in, you have to switch to a sidearm. I know some sidearms still hurt real bad, but at least its not on full auto.

For us, we have just reached the realization that at some point in Airsoft, your going to get shot at close range, and it may hurt, and it may break the skin (or get lodged in your neck and have to be pried out with plyers), but that's something we expect from the game. To us, its more about respect of the game, respect of the field, and respect of each other that keeps us from routinely messing each other up. Just a thought.

[Scott Chapman]

In Michigan its kind of the same way except they do anything below 350 is arms reach. Over 410 is semi-auto only and over 500 is bolt action only.

[D'man- S. D. Fornwalt]

Lex

Alot of the above info looks really good and I think that the adjustable engagement distance could be handled reasonably with little confusion at such a time as the person crono's to qualify for the event. They would know at that point what their specific engagement distance is, but I can see how that maybe confusing for the person's getting hit. It would be difficult for each player to keep track of all players engagement distances through out an event but this does offer us a great deal more options to be considered for both the rules and specifics that may apply to a select event. In my personal opinion I do not care for restricting anyone to such things as semi-auto only or bolt action only, I believe that rules and specific event tolerances should be set that so if a player shows up and can meet the entrance criteria, FPS etc then the weapons will be allowed to be used in whatever manner they were designed. Just my 2 cents.

[Joseph Garfield]

A lot of the game to us is the "bad ones" and for a wile we thought the more power the better...but hind-sight is like that. we are brutal but with training we will know what to pull at what time, the right tool fore the job right. Oh and by the by I' gittin' that H&K mp7 It's about 310 and good CQB auto fire.And we had all re outfitted to adjust to closer fighting. Sorry about that neck guy...we got that now.

[Bob Fornwalt]

Hey everybody! Here is my thoughts... It seems to me like re-inventing the wheel...only making it more intrinsic. It seems that to use a modded set of these rules would be a hassle for the player, and especially the event hosts\monitors. Some of the events we play are not monitored except be the players themselves, and you don't always know where the shot that gets you came from. I can understand folks liking the fact that it would allow more powerful weapons, but the difficulty in keeping track of these things could create a nightmare.

[Arthur -Lex- Lowther]

I agree that reinventing the wheel with the situation, I just found it interesting and always looking for information in bettering how we do things. No really looking to change anything it just is interesting to see how others do their set ups.

[ShivanRage]

I concur with Trent. its about respect. If you have a 600FPS blot action sniper rifle your not no scoping ppl from 15 foot away. thats just mean..... Or if your completely blindsiding some one and they have no clue that your there, only take 1 or 2 shots instead of full auto. Or as trent said pull out a side arm. and thinking about that 10/25/50 goes, if you think your just on the edge of it take 5 seteps back or try a surrender if you play by those rules.

[Josh Vasquez]

Trent, I couldn't have said it better my self. Although I'm used to, and prefer a three body shot one head shot rule. It simply comes down to two things, player honesty and player tolerance. Player honesty in the sense that you call your contact shots and die accordingly. Player tolerance works in a lot of different ways. Tolerance for the game mode chosen, tolerance for the other players, tolerance for the terrain, and most important tolerance for the pain! Bottom line is we know all this is a dangerous sport! Of course we need to be serious enough to not get hurt, but equally as important is having FUN!!!!!!!!!!!

[Milo Rivers]

to many rules make airsoft a dule boy. take the pain thats 1/2 the fun.

[ERIK HANSEN]

I see what you are saying with this, but remember K.I.S.S.
Just an idea tha runs with what you have here:
Pistol/Shot-gun: 350 FPS Max No limit on distance.
AEG/Assualt Rifle: 425 FPS Max 20' Minimum Engagement
Support Weapon*: 450 FPS 40' Minimum Engagement
Sniper/DMR: 500 FPS 100' Minimum Engagement
*Support Weapon means M249, M60, MG42, Mini-Gun or RPK ONLY. M-16, M14, AK-47, etc. with a drum mag is NOT a support weapon.
All FPS is measured with .20BB. The person operasting the Chrono station provides the BBs to guarentee consistant measurements. Require a Chrono station manned by the event sponser or desighnated person for all participants and mark the weapons as good. I have used this in the past and it works extreemly well, there is no confusion over any limits or minimum distance.

[Craig Scherf]

Being a heavy gunner, I have scaled back on different wepons. I have gotten guns shooting 470 and 430, but also got a scar for CQB that shoots at about 330. I like the engagement rules however there are always going to instances that will not allow for weapon change. I believe that if you sneak up on someone and they shoot you with a higher powered gun, you should accept it. I'm out for fun, but every senerio cannot be covered.

[Josh Donbraska]

Airsoft is about respect and having fun, and should always be done in a safe manner. I have been shot at extremely close range with high powered weapons and have the scars to prove it. These happened while having the 25 foot rule in effect, but I took the hits and walked off the field. I was not upset at whoever shot me at close range because I know its going to happen and its a part of the game. So what if my finger was swollen for a week and hurt like no other, and if my ear was bleeding. The guy who shot me came up to see if I was ok after he shot me and again after the senerio. We shook hands and laughed about it and was back out after we had lunch. The point is we both knew that we could get hit at close range by high powered weapons and that 99% of the time it is unintentional. I like that set of FPS rules and think that it will work just fine for what we are doing, and can be modified easily for different scenerios. Like Trent said its about respect. Respect the weapons, fellow players, the field and the rules. I know each and every time I go out on that field I am going to get shot and it isn't going to tickle.