Blanks in airsoft

[Darius137]

I saw this post in another thread and didn't want to shitpost up their thread with semi-related stuff, so here's a new thread on it. I couldn't find any previous blank-dedicated threads in a search so don't hate.

All respect to to Milsim West as it seems they put on high quality events, but I don't want to play with blanks. Both can coexist but I like what I see LC doing and for that I will pay 200 dollars. But full auto would be nice too.

You do understand that blanks aren't required right?

To add to that, blank fire adds immersion for me. Hearing blanks both in ambushes and in the distance adds some realism. A lot of the military types do this for realism.

You don't have to call blank hits. They are a courtesy. But it is an honor based thing. If you see blanks fired at you, and you see them staring right at you as they fire, I'd suggest calling it. There is a lot of information on blank fire with the MSW games. When I begin hosting games again, I plan on adding blanks.

Blanks and pyro are the best that the Pacific Northwest can come up with to add immersion and depth to airsoft.

Other states have vehicles and buildings. We have gorgeous, natural terrain. I'd honestly rather have the woods we do than a bunch of scrub brush deserts and then one or two good MOUT facilities that are most likely clogged up with speedsofters with drum mags.


Most blank fire people assume they won't get a kill with their blank. They do it for the fun, and for the immersion. In a way, they are paying more to attend, with less results, in a personal effort to improve the game for all, which is admirable to me. Given that courtesy they give me, whenever possible, I take blank hits.

[Darius137]

I've been playing a lot more the past couple years in Washington and California than Oregon due to the types of games I like playing.

I'm curious what Oregonians think about adding blank fire and pyro with more regularity to Oregon games.

[Mindspeed]

Call me a wuss, but pointing a real rifle at someone goes against everything that has been taught to me about muzzle control. Point at only what I am willing to shoot at. Not only that but I would be real nervous if it was someone that I didn't know on the other end and just "trusting" that blanks are indeed in the rifle.

Now if they were shooting in the air and such not at people to add atmosphere....that I could handle.

[NFS_Shadow]

Blanks are fantastic. And mindspeed in reference to your comment about trusting your fellow participant to not go apeshit and "forget they werent blanks" and whatnot, milsim west and other groups that out on events will regularly check all ammo that any blank fire participant is using. Its very safe. As well as tons of fun

[Jester316]

Call me a wuss, but pointing a real rifle at someone goes against everything that has been taught to me about muzzle control. Point at only what I am willing to shoot at. Not only that but I would be real nervous if it was someone that I didn't know on the other end and just "trusting" that blanks are indeed in the rifle.

Now if they were shooting in the air and such not at people to add atmosphere....that I could handle.

The procedure for blank firing at the recent MSW game was as follows:

1)Provide Full name and email address with a statement of intention to use blanks, as well as proof of over 21 years of age
2)Show knowledge of 4 rules for firearms use
3)Show knowledge of weapon system by disassembling it to field disassembly stage
4)Show proper blank firing adapter
5)Ammo inspection for any live rounds
6)Reassemble weapon system

Blank rifles had a 25' MED no matter what, and were not allowed in buildings (which I disagreed with, but they were worried about peoples ears).

It is actually very safe and provided a great atmosphere. It was nice to have something else to listen to than a bunch of angry sewing machines humming the song of their people.

No if only I could have gotten my blanks to cycle properly... that would have been great.

[Shortbu]

I personally would love blank fire allowed in games where the safety procedures were what Jesterr posted. And I agree with everything Darius posted as well. It would be awesome hearing real steel going off to add to the experience. It's obviously not going to be allowed at skirms, or games with kids, but in a milsim scenario it would definitely add to the experience.

[Mindspeed]

"4)Show proper blank firing adapter"

That would make a difference for me. It would still have to highly regulated.
Open muzzle, still a no thank you for me.

Thank you for posting the rules. (guess I could have googled them before posting) Without the rules supporting the question it sounds like running around the woods firing blanks at each other.

[Jewish Ninja]

I'd love blanks at more games. I really want to get my G3 working so I can burn through the blanks I bought for it...

It would be nice if people would call more blank hits, but sometimes, that's asking too much.

[ClownBaby]

Their are hundreds of reported injuries in the military associated to blanks and the miles system. I have a very close friend who's Army career was ended because some shazaam who did'nt call a grenade hit from inside a room, shot one too close to his face. Even with a blank adapter on. They had to use an electro magnet to get the metal fragments out of his eye and face.

What Dan said about people paying money to not get kills is cool, but I personally would only feel comfortable with the game staff doin the shootin.(give admins the guns, that way if they need to talk to someone, their not having to try and yell over fire) Also, shooting into the ground is much safer.

Heard there were a few incidents of pyro going of late, in peoples face, or at their feet instead of airbursting as planned at MSW. If someone could confirm that for me would be appreciated. That stuff should probably be in the ground or on wires, high enough that is not an issue.

[Junto]

Sounds like another minor thing for people to blow way out of proportion. I also like hearing live fire during airsoft and fully support well-regulated blank use, with adapters. The rifle is more likely to have trouble or be damaged than the people around the rifle and they won't allow them indoors, which mitigates the second-hand story of the metal fragments. As long as this isn't happening at the average skirm or weekend OP, it's fine by me. I've been familiar with some of the MSW guys for a long time; they're worth trusting both with pyro and blank fire. People having a hard time picturing that level of regulation and organization because they only go to low and mid-level production games is a problem with their perspective, not the topic.

[ClownBaby]

Just to be clear the injury that I reported happened to my friend while he was in the army, during a training exercise. I just brought it up as an example of why they can be a bad idea indoors.

Chewy says hi.

[pathfinder]

BSP is the promoter who brought blank fire to the PACNW. it was used for atmosphere and background noise....occasionally would be used to sim a arty strike.

asking people to react to or take a hit from blank fire is STUPID.

want to play with things that go bang? get a muzzle cage and a miles system.

alot of the games i am seeing that are charging 200+ bucks so you can "look cool in the AO!" is fricken dumb and just a opprotunity for some dumb news producer to use your image in a "CRIMERRIAN CRISIS 2014!" news story or news paper ad.

airsoft has gotten so fuckin dumb.

[Cameron Zombie]

^^You seem really sassy for no apparent reason.

[Darius137]

The MSW Crimean Crisis game was $100, but that is divergent of the blank fire topic, as is non-blank pyro.

MSW is not the first, nor are they the last to use blanks. I don't really see anything as proprietary in airsoft, because it's just different hosts using different game mechanics depending on what they like, and ultimately, borrowing ideas will help overall airsoft games improve. But that is just, like, my opinion, man.

I'm just curious on Oregon's larger opinion of blank fire because I am with a group that plans on hosting an event using blank fire and I know the Oregon crowd is a little more skiddish than other states.

I have been to BSP events that have also used blank fire to great effect in Oregon, though their games have kept relatively small attracting dedicated MILSIM players.

It sounds like people like:
1.) Who can use blanks (Admins only, or players)
-would an alternative option (to admin only) be a required x amount of time on Day 1 to go through an in-person safety brief to understand the use of blanks? Similar to how First Sword (oh noes more idea stealing) had a sniper qualification course so they knew their bolt action users knew the MED and could prove it?
2.) Blank fire adapters (BFAs) *REQUIRED*
-I know that in previous events people have used weapons that didn't have BFAs but I know that at the moment MSW requires BFAs and last I remember, BSP also required BFAs. When my group hosts, we of course would also require BFAs.
3.) Use of Blanks indoors
-Contentious issue?
4.) Calling of Blank Hits
-I think that using blanks for hits is an honor system. Reenactors use blanks and "call hits". I think this is a step in the opposite direction to paintballers saying they wouldn't call a hit from an airsoft BB because it didn't leave paint. But you have honor violations at all levels. I have yet to see any group require "blank hits" but rather make them "suggested for gameplay"

[Darius137]

Just to be clear the injury that I reported happened to my friend while he was in the army, during a training exercise. I just brought it up as an example of why they can be a bad idea indoors.

Chewy says hi.

There is no metal coming out of a BFA with a military rifle. If anything he could see burns but the barrel would literally have to be touching him with the little amount of powder in Army issue 5.56 blanks combined with their BFA that nearly seals the barrel.

You might be talking about damage from an arty sim or one of the pyro pieces the Army uses. That is just an unsafe Safety Officer on a military course.