What is Airsoft?
Airsoft is the product of Japanese expert engineering and a strong desire for
realistic firearms replicas. Airsoft models are 1/1 scale replicas of real-steel
firearms. Unlike traditional BB guns, Airsoft guns fire a 6mm plastic projectile
at speeds between 200-550 feet per second (FPS), depending on the gun and
any upgrades applied. Guns are available in three distinct types: spring
operated gas operated and electric, or battery-operated.
Spring operated Airsoft guns require the user to cock the slide or bolt for each
shot.
Gas operated Airsoft models use a propellant similar to CO2 known as GREEN GAS
(HFC134a or HFC22 combined with a silicone lubricant). These models are
semi-automatic and/or fully automatic and require the user to merely pull the
trigger to fire each round or burst of rounds. Gas guns often feature blow back
action resulting the in the highly realistic cycling of the slide, very similar
to the operation of a real firearm.
Battery powered Airsoft guns, often referred to as AEGs (Airsoft Electric Gun)
use a gear and piston system to fire each round. Electric models are semi-
and/or fully automatic.
Airsoft is rapidly growing in popularity among paintball players and war gamers.
Make no mistake - Airsoft is THE most accurate and realistic war gaming
technology on the market today. It is for this reason that Airsoft is being
adopted by tactical teams and law enforcement groups around the world for its
superior delivery of force-on-force training. Airsoft can be found being
played in everything from back-yard skirmishes to large, organized scenario
games with multiple missions and objectives.
What are Airsoft guns made of?
All our guns are made of the same durable ABS Plastic used in items such as
motorcycle helmets. Some manufacturers also produce metal body guns and
after-market, metal replacement bodies for the guns. Airsoft guns cannot
be modified to fire real ammunition. Because they are made of plastic and/or
light metal, the guns tend to be a little lighter than their real counterparts.
How realistic are Airsoft Guns?
Even law enforcement officers are often unable to distinguish Airsoft from real
steel. Never take an Airsoft gun out in public, doing so WILL endanger your
life.
How do Airsoft guns operate?
An Airsoft gun can operate off one of any three principles.
1. Spring guns: Spring guns must be cocked before each shot, usually by racking the slide or cocking handle (rifles). Cocking the gun compresses a spring attached to a piston, when the trigger is pulled, the piston flies forward, compresses the air in the cylinder and fires the BB. Most people start off with spring guns and often move up to gas blowback guns.
2. Gas Guns: Gas blowback (GBB) pistols use HFC22 or Green Gas. Green gas is loaded into the bottom of the magazine along with the ammunition. This design allows for rapid magazine changes to replace both expended rounds and propellant. GBB guns operate in a manner very similar to real firearms. After inserting the magazine you cock the gun to chamber the first round. Upon pulling the trigger, gas is released to propel the BB out of the barrel. A small amount of gas is also captured to force the slide back, resetting the hammer and chambering the next round. This is a very efficient system allowing you to fire the gun as fast as you can pull the trigger.
3. Airsoft Electric Gun: Electric powered
guns use a gear and piston system to offer semi and sometimes fully automatic
operation.
Some commonly asked questions:
What kind of protection do I need to
play Airsoft?
Full face protection is highly recommended and eye protection is absolutely
REQUIRED for any Airsoft activity. Airsoft guns can cause serious eye injury and
shatter teeth if unprotected. We also recommend using neck protection, elbow and
knee guards.
How far will Airsoft guns shoot?
Airsoft guns have a maximum-effective range of about 60 yards depending on
whether or not the gun has been upgraded. Stock full-size electric rifles can
shoot accurately up to 30-50 yards, gas guns 15-20 yards, and spring guns 10-15
yards.
How accurate are Airsoft guns?
Airsoft guns are very accurate for smooth-bore guns. At 20 yards, you can shoot
a 6-8" group.
How old do you have to be to purchase an Airsoft gun?
Most retailers require that you be at least 18 years of age to purchase any
airsoft gun product.
What do the numbers mean on the bb’s?
The numbers refer to bb weight in grams. Some guns are designed to use a certain
weight of BB. Most low-end springer guns are designed to shoot only .12
gram BBs. AEGs will typically use .20 or .25 gram BBs. Sniper rifles
will typically use BBs in the .3 gram range with some using BBs in the .4 range
though this is very rare.
What is the muzzle velocity?
Depending on the type of gun and any upgrades applied to it, most airsoft guns
will shoot anywhere between 150-550 FPS (Feet Per Second).
What is the magazine capacity?
The magazine capacities are never lower than the real gun. There are three
different types of magazines available on the market. Low capacity
magazines are typically what a gun will com with.
Typical capacities of low-caps are: Pistols are 10-25 rounds, subguns 25-50 rounds, assault rifles 50-70 rounds.
Mid-Capacity magazines are currently available for M-16 and MP-5 variants, these will hold 130 rounds and 100 rounds respectively.
High Capacity magazines are available for most assault rifles and submachine guns and can vary in capacity from 200 - 600 rounds.
There are also larger drum magazines sold for some AEGs
that have capacities measuring in the thousands.
What styles of guns are available?
Most military weapons are either available on the market or are in the works. Some of the most popular guns on theairsoft fields today are:
M-16/M-4 Variants
MP-5 Variants
G-3 Variants
AK Variants
There are many others available as well such as the G36, Uzi, MAC-11, PSG-1, G-3SG-1, M-24, M700, M-249 Variants, M-60 Variants, many more pistols and custom guns as well.