If you looking for a pastime that combines excitement, skill and a sense of adventure, then airsoft guns may well be for you. As one of the country’s fastest growing recreational sports, airsoft guns give you all the excitement of shooting a real gun without the expense, fuss or danger. You can use them for everything from target practice to war games. You have a wide range of airsoft guns to choose from such as the spring airsoft gun and the electric airsoft gun along with airsoft rifles. Here’s your guide this exciting activity. more
First, let’s look at exactly what airsoft guns are. Airsoft guns are models of actual firearms but fire plastic bullets or pellets (BBs) which are some 6-8 millimeters in circumference. They’re made from plastic or metal or a combination of both. The great thing about these items is that they give you the experience of shooting real guns without the risk or expense. You can use them for target practice, shooting competitions or recreational shooting just like the real thing by with the confidence that you’re in no danger.
Airsoft guns were originally developed in Japan in the 1980s where there was a passion for guns but strict laws against their ownership. The solution was to develop a spring powered gun that was a replica of an existing weapon. Airsoft guns later became popular in the United States and newer types of greater sophistication have since been developed using gas and electricity for propulsion. Here’s a look at the different types of airsoft gun.
The original spring airsoft guns or ’springer’ as they’re known to aficionados are still in use and are now the entry level weapons of choice for both handguns and rifles. The springer is a single action weapon that fires a single BB before you need to manually re-cock it before the next shot. One great benefit is that they need no power source such as gas or electricity so they’re cheaper to use and they won’t run out of power.
The second generation of airsoft guns featured gas-powered mechanisms using propane, nitrogen or carbon dioxide. These types can be semi-automatic or fully automatic and they’re lighter and more compact then the electric powered guns. Gas airsoft guns are fine for target practice but not really suitable for games. They also work better in warmer climates.
AEGs (Automatic Electric Guns) are now the most popular airsoft weapons. They use rechargeable high-capacity rechargeable batteries for power. They come in both automatic and semi-automatic models so you can continuously fire without having to pull the slide, bolt, or other mechanism. This makes them more suitable for competition than spring airsoft guns, for example.
Among recent innovations is a Hybrid airsoft. These are highly realistic as they use encased ammunition so a metal casing will be ejected during each shot just like in the movies.
One of the major pleasures of airsoft guns is their realistic appearance. You can get them in a huge range of types. For example, there are shotguns with real pump action as well as replicas of hunting rifles. Some of the most popular models are replicas of military weapons. Nostalgia buffs will be delighted to find models weapons used in the Wild West and on the battlefields of yesteryear, while the more technically minded can acquire items such as sniper rifles used in today’s conflicts around the globe.
If you’ve decided to investigate the world of airsoft guns, here are a few things you should bear in mind.
First, it’s important to remember that airsoft guns are not toys. Though they’re perfectly safe when used responsibly, you need to keep them away from children.
Next, you need to choose the right type for your needs. It’s best to buy a basic type to start to see if they are for you. If you spend some time on target practice and get hooked, then you can upgrade to a more sophisticated model.
To get the best deals, you can visit one of the reputable online vendors of airsoft guns and browse their illustrated catalogues. Choose the model that appeals, place your order, and your item will be delivered by courier. Buying online is safe, simple and economical. Remember you have to be at least 18 years old and that it is not legal to own airsoft guns in New York City (all 5 boroughs) and Michigan.
So if the idea of organizing your own war games appeals to you or you, or you just want some target practice or try your hand on a rifle range, check out airsoft guns for the ultimate in thrills and realism.

There is a wide range of airsoft guns with varying levels of power. Any one of the many airsoft guns will provide more than adequate power during combat gaming. Typical power ranges for airsoft guns typically run between 200 to 300 feet per second. Certain guns have greater power like the Broomhandle 96 Mauser gas rifle. In addition to being an amazingly powerful gun at 497 feet per second, this gun is also an exquisitely realistic replica. more
Electric airsoft rifles run around the mid 300’s in terms of feet per second. While this is a bit less than say the Broomhandle, they are amazingly powerful none the less. For a moment consider an airsoft gun that fires at 320 feet per second. That speed translates to 218 miles per hour. Now imagine what that speed translates to upon impact. Spring action type rifles don’t fall off in terms of power either. Many of these airsoft guns still provide a capability of 300 feet per second and more.
If there is a perception that pistol falls off in terms of power, than that would be an incorrect one.
All airsoft guns have great power performance. In general, pistols can match up with 350 feet per second and greater. One great example of such a pistol is the gas tactical Beretta 92 with a 360 to 390 feet per second capability. Speed is power and airsoft guns have great speed to distance ratios. Regardless of size, shape, color, style or method of propulsion airsoft users will not find themselves in need of power.

The sport of air soft has been all the rage the last few years, and its growth shows no signs of slowing any time soon. But don’t let the name of the sport fool you. An air soft gun shoots BBs at speeds that can easily cause serious injury. If you’re looking to learn about air soft, or you’re an experienced player looking for a review, this article covers the basics of the equipment and safety protocol.

The popularity of the sport likely stems from how realistic the guns and scenarios are. Almost all air soft guns are modeled after a real gun model (known as “real steel”), modeling even the reloading mechanism and weight. Players typically wear camouflage and work together as teams to win the game. Like paintball, when someone gets hit they are out of the game, either until a new game starts or until a predetermined amount of time has passed.

Air Soft Guns and Equipment

There are three main types of systems that an air soft gun may use to shoot a BB. Electric powered guns, or AEGs (automatic electric guns), use a battery pack to power the shooting mechanism in the gun. These guns are by far the most popular and, given their typically higher quality, the most expensive of the three types. One advantage of AEGs is that spare batteries are smaller and lighter than spare gas canisters, so carrying backup power in the field is easier.

Gas powered guns operate on a similar system to that of most paintball guns. A gas canister, either attached to the gun via a hose or physically attached to the gun, pressurizes gas that is released to propel the BB out of the barrel of the air soft gun. One neat feature that is becoming more popular with gas-powered guns is call blowback. Right after the gun shoots the BB, a small amount of gas is used to power the reload mechanism. While this uses more gas, it greatly increases the speed at which one can fire in succession.

Spring-loaded guns are perhaps the least popular, simply because they do not feature semi- or fully-automatic capabilities. The spring must be recocked every time after firing, obviously decreasing the rapid succession firing capabilities of a player.

Air Soft Safety

Safety should be the primary concern of anyone using an air soft gun in any situation. Six millimeter BBs traveling at hundreds of feet per second will hurt when they hit you – they can cause more serious damage if they hit unexposed skin or the eyes. Needless to say, ALWAYS wear eye protection (preferably whole face masks) when playing air soft or when you are near air soft guns. Covering unexposed skin, including your hands, neck, and head, will also help reduce the risk of injury.

Even though you “play” air soft, air soft guns are not toys. The same precautions taken with real steel should be followed with air soft guns as well. While this is not a comprehensive list, following the safety guidelines below will help you stay safe.
• First and foremost, always treat the gun as if it were loaded. Given the BBs small size, it is markedly harder to tell if an air soft gun is loaded than it is to determine if a real gun, which uses bigger ammunition, is loaded.
• Use the gun’s safety when you are not actively using it. After removing the safety, you should keep your finger out of the trigger guard until right before you are ready to shoot. This will help minimize “friendly fire” incidents and keep everyone safer.
• Never point the air soft gun at something you’re not going to shoot. This goes for when the gun is loaded or not.
• Never store your air soft gun loaded. Double and triple check to make sure the gun is completely unloaded before storing it, and always store ammunition separate from the gun.

A final note on safety: one disadvantage to the air soft gun’s looking like a real gun is that law enforcement officers and others usually cannot tell the difference between the two. There have been several incidents where an air soft gun was mistaken for a real gun, and terrible things have happened because of the mistake. Only use your air soft gun in controlled environments, and if it is possible that someone may see you and confuse your gun for a real one, the best thing to do is to contact the local law enforcement agency and tell them what you are doing.

Air soft can be fun, exciting, and intense. Given the nature of the sport, it is also dangerous, and no matter how careful you are, injury may be sustained. However, following the guidelines outlined in user manuals and this article, the likelihood of your getting hurt can be greatly reduced.