Why plate carriers?

[CBDennis]

I use both a plate carrier (replica IOTV) and a battle belt setup. I use a replica because I have not found a decently priced real IOTV that I know for sure is not stolen government property. I use the IOTV because that’s what I am use to; I don’t find it as hot or as cumbersome as much as I did the real thing anyway. It gives me lots of MOLLE real state to I can adapt it to whatever position on the fire team I am need to be i.e. grenadier, rifle man, saw gunner, DMR. I use the battle belt system usually on really hot days or I’m playing some type of OPFOR. Just my 2 cents.

[Rako]

Some people might say that.... However i dont know a vet that would complain lol... Usually veterans get a little touchy when you use nick names for units or specific types of troops... Using their patches usually strikes a cord too, but often for reenacting they'd tend to be lenient, but its still touchy.

Most kids in airsoft these days pay homage to mw2 or BF2 which couldn't be less accurate. Any vet should be happy that i actually know enough about Vietnam to do a reenactment/impersonation to honor them because of how i feel about the impossible feats they achieved and the sacrifices they made, instead of getting hung up on how i refer to the war... I also lost a family member in Vietnam due to dioxin (agent orange), thats not equal to being there though still. To fight for my right to agree or disagree but say what i want, as long as i dont use specific words is a little hypocritical.

I wish kids were more into history, and less into trying to look cool. Then they might think it actually was cool to buy a BAR and be a marine raider... Or get a sten and be a british commando. Even 90s era seals are cool in my opinion... Overall, the cost is about the same. I dont see why everyone thinks that having the same m4qd with magpull stock and p mags with multi cam and plate carriers so you all look the same is the thing to do. Dont get me wrong, i like that fancy stuff too, but i also like to be unique and original. To each their own though.

Thats what I was originally going to try to do, but it seems like all the historical guns are either the cheap ones or $500.  I do have a WW2 backpack and helmet (from the days when i used to play army ), so I might try that route if I can find a gun around $200.

[Comrade Commissar]

AGM is known for making some alright WW II guns for under $200, however youd need to settle for the sten, or the mp44... Their mp40 is alright to but then (with german weapons) youd have to do a OSS/ FSSF load out. That gives you some leway in uniform though. The newest Cyma thompsons (without drum) shoot well and are a good TM clone. You can pick them up on CL for about $100 sometimes. The drum version while cool, is partially inaccurate due to body/bolt designs/changes. For $100 you cant go wrong, that leaves you with $40 for a set of king arms mags, and $60 to get a ver. 6 cylinder head upgrade, and maybe a bolt, tightbore, cylinder, or piston even.

AGM is due to have a BAR out sometime for $300, a copy of the VFC one. The hexagon PPSH has most of its problems fixed and mid cap drums do exist for it now. Its pricey at the $300 mark too however.

A guy on the WW II airsoft boards offers M1 Garand AEG conversion kits in 2 styles for the m14, and will build you one too. One kit is all wood, while one kit is wood with some resin made replacement parts for wood. This offers an economic version of the kit. The gun uses m14 mags shortened and comes with 2. Instructions on how to make more magazines are included and you can purchase more i believe.

Alot of the gas shell k98s are crap, and i dont hear anything good about the m1/m2 carbines or gas garand. All use 8mm, hold realistic ammo amounts, and the m1 needs to be cocked every time, the m2 does not though. Tanaka makes a cool gas shell trench gun, but picking up the shells would suck and its harder to find now.