Last night I went to Mongkok after work to see what kind of airsoft related stores they had there. Since I went to do it in HK for the first time a few weeks ago (and played against some people who have their own arsenals of fancy guns and uniforms), I have been thinking about getting a bit of gear of my own. (yes, just what I need, another hobby to spend money on!)
A quick search on google maps for 'airsoft' shows a cluster of stores in and around the Yan On building, which is at Kwong Hua street, off Dundas at the south end of Mongkok (actually closer to the Yau Ma Tei MTR stop I think. Check it out on Google maps here:
In this mall and around the outside on the same block there are at least a dozen shops small and large. Some specializing only in airsoft guns, some general hobby stores that also carry RC cars and model kits. It was about 9:30pm when I got there and some of the stores were already closing, by the time I had made it all the way around the block, it was after 10pm but a few were still open late.
I was quite impressed with the selection and the pricing. The prices here seemed to be significantly cheaper than the store at the indoor airsoft place we played last time. M16 type guns for only about ~HK$1000-1200 (US$120-145). Some places had pretty decent looking pistols from HK$500 (US$60) and up (even less for junkie plastic ones) and lots of random accessories and spare parts. A few shops specializing in just uniforms boots, helmets and patches.
Here's a few of the stores, some with gunhappy names:
One issue you definitely face is: too much selection… How to choose? (without going nuts and breaking the bank?)
(those are airsoft face shields at the bottom, they have a lot of 'novelty' ones like Predator, Iron Man, Snake Eyes, Jason, etc... I think the fancy ones just make a more attractive target... but I digress). :-P
Go for modern? Go for classic? WWII? WWI? Vietnam War era? Old West? Go for a a mish-mash? (dressed up like a Navy Seal shooting an old west six shooter and brandishing a tommy gun!) :-O
One thing I realize, for me at least, I associate a lot of these guns with favorite movies of mine growing up -
1851 Colt = Clint Eastwood in his Sergio Leone films
C96 Mauser = Bubba Zanetti in Mad Max
Mac-10 = John Wayne in McQ
Uzi = The Terminator (amongst many others)
H&K MP5 = Die Hard 1
Walther PPK = Roger Moore Bond films
44 Magnum = Dirty Harry films
etc etc etc... ...I think I watch too many movies. :-P
as much as I want the Mauser.... i should resist... or can I? Hmm.... maybe just a Mac 10 for CQB?? :-P
ps - yes, these are all fake guns that only shoot plastic balls. I don't advocate regular people playing with real assault weapons!
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