What is Airsoft?

Not everybody straight away will know what is being talked about if you mention the word ‘airsoft’. Of those people, a majority would probably not even guess that it is a sport. Also commonly known as ‘soft air’, airsoft guns have not completely become mainstream just yet in this day and age. While airsoft guns are sold at many outdoors stores; the guns, BBs, and gun accessories sold are not always of best quality. While I personally have started out with these guns, I will personally tell you that these guns will not hold their own against brand name airsoft equipment.

Airsoft is a quickly growing sport that has in fact been around since the early 1980s. It all started in the country of Japan where the possession of personal firearms was deemed illegal. As a safe alternative, a small company produced 1:1 scale replica spring pistols which fired the 6mm plastic BB, which is still used in modern day airsoft guns. Over the years, the sport of airsoft has grown past Southeast Asia to North America and Europe. In North America and Europe however, the sport of airsoft came to a slow start, but in the late 1990s with the production of automatic electric guns (AEG) came a boost of popularity with hobbyists. Currently airsoft weapons are used in the training to today’s militaries along with uses as props in movies due to their similarities in contrast to their real steel counterparts. This is due to the fact that most real steel firearms have been translated into an airsoft version, ranging from the very portable derringer pistol to the monstrous .50-caliber behemoth known as the Barrett M82 sniper rifle.

There are currently three types of airsoft guns: spring guns, gas guns, and electric guns. Of the three, the electric variants are the most popular because they offer very close details to the real steel version with automatic fire at a cost much lower than that of an automatic, gas-powered rifle.

• Electric Guns

  Most AEGs are powered by batteries similar to what you would find to power an r/c car, while the weaker electric blow-back (EBB) is powered by the more easily obtainable alkaline batteries. The voltages in the batteries range from 7.2V (mainly for automatic electric pistols [AEP]) to the very powerful 12v (recommended ONLY for heavily-upgraded guns). Basically the voltage is the input to the gun, and the higher the voltage, the higher rate of fire you will achieve. The first AEG produced was the FAMAS G2 by the company known as Tokyo Marui. Nowadays you’ll find almost any type of rifle in a nice airsoft design, including the H&K XM8, which was actually a cancelled experimental gun. This leaves a lot to the imagination to those who prefer certain types of guns, for example if you are a big fan of the M4 rifle, you will most likely find your dream version with the many different variations of the M4 available in the airsoft world.

• Gas Guns

  Gas guns come in two forms: gas blow-back (GBB) and gas non blow-back (NBB). While a GBB will offer more realism with a bolt or slide that actually blows back, it is more gas consuming than the NBB due to the GBB requiring more gas to push back the bolt or slide. The three main gasses that will power these guns are 134A, green gas, and CO2, listed in the order of increasing gas pressure. 134A gas is mainly used to guns with weak plastic slides such as the gas guns produced by KSC and Tokyo Marui. Green gas is the most common gas used in airsoft guns. Green gas is often debated to be treated propane designed to lubricate the gun with each shot, however many airsoft enthusiasts will debate that green gas is not propane at all, and the use of propane will in fact damage your guns internal valves. Personally I prefer CO2 pistols over green gas. CO2 is the strongest of the gasses listed and is also probably the most accessible. Many EBB rifles and machine guns will use CO2 canisters like the ones used in the sport of paintball, while pistols and other, smaller guns will use the 12gram CO2 cartridge which can easily be purchased at a local sporting goods store. In my honest opinion, the CO2 blowback pistols offer the most realistic detail being constructed with mainly metal parts and having a kick after every shot due to the high pressure of the gas released with each shot.

• Spring Guns

  Spring guns constitute the classic airsoft gun being the first version produced. Needing nothing more than magazines and BBs, these guns basically are cocked prior to each shot. A personal favorite due to their durability in most terrain and weather conditions, spring airsoft guns will offer the user the least trouble due to their straightforward nature. The main downside to these guns is lack of automatic fire, having the gun forced as an accurate weapon (if a sniper rifle, assault rifle, smg, or single-shot shotgun) or a last resort weapon (if a pistol). In recent times though, the role of the spring gun has increased with the production of more reliable sniper rifles and shotguns being able to shoot three BBs at once.

The main thing to keep in mind while keeping and using an airsoft gun is to treat the airsoft gun as a real firearm. Although not capable of lethal injury, the guns can still severely injure an individual. Please keep your magazine unloaded and out of the gun until ready to shoot, do not point the gun barrel at anything you are not willing to shoot, keep your finger off the trigger unless ready to shoot, and make sure you know what you are shooting at before you shoot. One more important firearm rule, which should be especially practiced with airsoft guns, is do not rely on the safety on the gun. As one of my best friends told me, the safety on a gun is a mechanism that can, and possibly will fail on you one day. Basically with all rules and guidelines being common sense, airsoft is a fun sport to play with friends, whether it is a backyard battle, tactical training, or military simulation.

The main point of airsoft is this: Have Fun!