Game in the Brain

Relative to the Philippines which has a 300 ($6) minimum wage and a GDP/capita of $1,700 (Php 6,737 per month) a hobby that costs around Php12,000 ($240)

Gun: Ak-Tactical (best buy because of durability, cost, availability of accessories and anecdotal review of many users) best price is Php4,500 ($90), most often found at Php5,500 ($100).

Registration Php200 + 100 notary

Permit to transport Php360 per 5 guns. (minimum 360)

–> note, download the forms and fill them up at home and in your sweet luxury. double check them and double write them. bring money for change. Photocopy Everything when there. will write up a specific process. Anyway, look for the papers in the sidebar.

–> Extra Mags x2 300@, bag of BBs ICS 0.25 Php300

Php7500

load bearing gear: H-suspenders plus Pistol belt are Php250, US surplus is a Y-suspender at Php450. Pouches are php50-80 each. Total 350

Battle-Dress Uniform Set (BDU): best price 1,200, common price 1,800. A set is made up of 2 pieces top and bottom. Half the price for each piece.

Gloves: Php40 for thin cloth, Php 500 for mechanic gloves, those of inbetween are of varying quality and costs.

Knee and Elbow Pads: Common price is php500, Quiapo or Best price is the same product for Php300

Goggles: Php300 for the cheap. Php1,500 for the 7joule certfied protection and a taiwanese uncertified but similar make costs php800.

Water Pack (Water bladder container): Local brand OD Php300. Costs Php300-500.

Water Bladder (placed in the pack): Php 300-500

Bag to Carry Everything Else: P200

Gunbag (enough for the AK tactical): Php500

Good Boots or Shoes: Php 600 for the nice cheap one. Any cheaper is meant for dress and not for running, they are painful to use and I learned the hardway. The expensive ones go to Php2,000-4,000. Although they are khaki.

Php11,590. Add the cost of gas, opportunity cost of gathering the gear, and returns and changing your mind. even if that bumps up the price to by 33% (Php15,500). it is an expensive hobby by Philippine standards.

*two kinds of quality: Local Manufacture and American Surplus. You will notice that the Am-surplus is much thicker metal and canvas, with better stiching. Doubles the cost of the equipment.
OD – olive drab.

Costs of the Hobby.

It is futile to try to look for a better deal than this because people are spending WAY more than this per year in their Airsoft Budget. Just looking at people’s gear and equipment, many of the choices is aesthetics and trial-and-error (like me). Trial and error, when trying to improve and make more efficient load out. People in the hobby have families, kids, houses, etc. they are professionals that earn comfortably enough to support this hobby.

I do just remember there are a few concessions to price, given this hobby. Groups, usually can negotiate for better rates and discounts because of the scale of their collective spending. If your group is about 10 and you are all buying several sets of everything, you can negotiate for a Larger Bulk discount.

As for gun services, if your group has a number of guns that need maintenance you can negotiate with a smith that your entire team will go to him for services if he can give you all a good deal. Having a gunsmith regularly or seasonally check your guns with a professional eye to keep future costs down and less hours for himself for a retainer fee is cheaper when you consider that the extra costs of last minute repairs.

Heck if the gunsmith can serve as your groups armory better. Those groups who plan to own a lot of guns, but don’t have the time to maintain them all can probably by locker room for a gunsmiths armoury service.

If the armory business picks up, he can probably use it to get out of the next gunban! By moving all the weapons on site location and having players play in one location for the next 8 months. Of course business models shouldn’t assume beyond 1 years ROI.

Still a licensed gunsmith, selling his services to groups can expect steady income and good pay for preventive maintenance. The cost of preventing all those problems and repairing all that battle damage every game in one package, a gun smith can easily package the cleaning, tinkering, and the calibrating services into the the total cost and sell it instead of simple “good will service”.

In the next 6 years before the next gun ban, a gunsmith can take the initiative and consolidate his resources.

Spending Update: Holy crap my repairs, maintenance and update has just cost me Php6600! thankfully the parts are transferable.

This years gun spending. I can’t spend anymore 🙁

• Smart, Multi-Charger (potential fire-hazard and batteries are an investment) Php6125
• Permits and registration Php2430
• Maintenance, Upgrade, and Repairs Php6600
• BDUs (for me and my pasalubong for my bros) Php3600
• Additional and replacement Gear Php800
• – small ruck sack bag (need more containers to protect gear)
• – New pads (old and may break down, and i’d hate to scramble for a replacement last minute
• – New water pack (BROKE in a middle of a game)
• – Long-sleeved OD shirt for very HOT weather

This year totals about Php19,555

This does not count the lifestyle change that comes from the game.

Gas, Toll, Gatorade, more washing, multi-vitamins, painkillers or muscle relaxants and eating out.

I guess i will only be able to afford a new gun next year.