What are Airsoft Guns: A Beginner’s Guide!

If you're new to the world of airsoft, or if you've been looking for a fun way to get out from behind your computer screen or TV set, then this guide is for you! You'll learn all about airsoft firearms: how they work and what makes them unique, as well as some helpful tips for buying one and caring for it properly. 

Airsoft guns are replica firearms which fire plastic BBs instead of bullets. They are most often used for recreational purposes, most notably as a game by military professionals and hobbyists. Airsoft was invented in Japan in the early 1980s and was first used for military training. 

Today, airsoft players enjoy a wide variety of games and competitions, from storyline-based reenactments to intense speed-shooting matches. These guns are often referred to as "airsoft weapons" or simply "airsoft" when used for a specific game or competition, though they're more commonly known as just "airsoft" when they're being discussed among players.

 

One of the most popular types of airsoft is an assault rifle. Assault rifles have been a favorite weapon type with both soldiers and civilians alike since World War II.

Airsoft Guns Style:

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the subject, we should understand the terms listed below. There may be a lot more difference between these terms when referring to actual firearms. For now, we'll use these terms to describe how guns are held and how they're built:

1.   Airsoft Pistol

In airsoft, a pistol is any firearm designed to be used by one hand. The barrel and trigger mechanism are located to be operated by the user's dominant hand. Pistols can include flare guns and blank pistols, which fire cartridges or blanks that are usually used for starting races at horse racing tracks.

The airsoft pistol is a replica automatic pistol designed for play in war games such as Combat Airsoft or other similar game types like MilSim Paintball Games where they may also refer to them as "Rod Guns". These pistols are more powerful than airguns (usually referred to as "BB Guns").

2.         Airsoft Rifle

A rifle that is modeled or based on real rifles, firing a non-metallic lead pellet to simulate the ballistics of a projectile. They are often used for military simulations and recreational target shooting.

 

A term derived from air-soft, which is short for airsoft firearm; any firearm that uses a compressed gas to propel its projectile instead of gunpowder. These guns usually fire plastic pellets in order to make them lighter and safer than firearms with moving parts such as revolvers, bolt action rifles and shotguns.

Airsoft Firing System:

Airsoft guns have three basic firing systems and 99% of these guns fall under these three systems:

1.   Spring

A spring powered gun is a replica of the real thing. They generally have a metal body, an internal magazine that can hold up to 20 BBs for each shot, and are made of ABS plastic or metal.

 

These guns fire at around 300-400 FPS with .20g BBs. They use compressed air instead of CO2 cartridges (which are found in paintball guns) to propel the BBs down their barrel, giving them the ability to shoot for longer periods without having to reload or carry extra ammo packs.

2.          Electric

In the world of airsoft guns, there are many different types of models. Some are powered by gas, while others are powered by batteries. What is an electric powered gun? A typical electric powered gun has a battery pack that powers a motor to spin the gears in the rifle. 

This motor spins the bolt in an extremely fast secluded chamber at a whopping 5500 RPMs (revolutions per minute). The high energy causes BBs to be shot at hundreds of feet per second, giving players that "real" feel when they’re shooting on earth or wide open fields with no obstructions.

3.          Gas: Blowback & Non-Blowback

A blowback gas powered airsoft is a type of airgun in which the piston is not operated by an expanding gas as in a conventional airgun, but instead uses an energy source such as a spring or flywheel to operate the piston.

 

Non blowback gas powered guns are another type of airgun that doesn't have any moving parts on the exterior. Instead its operation turns outwards through pressure inside and without any moving parts to wear down or break.

Enhance Your Shooting Skills!

Many people like to call themselves armed for self-protection and for hunting, but no weapon is more versatile than an airsoft firearm. 

 

Airsoft guns are just a game that you can use to practice your shooting skills without having to worry about the risks of harming people or animals, while also still being able to have some fun. When you consider the advantages of airsoft, it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular option amongst shooters.