Gobbo and the world of Airsoft Part II

What is Airsoft?

Well Wiki defines Airsoft as:

Airsoft is a recreational activity in which participants eliminate opponents by hitting each other with round non-metallic pellets launched via replica firearms.  Usually 6mm biodegradable plastic BBs.

Gameplay varies in style and composition but often range from short-term skirmishes, organized scenarios, military simulations, or historical reenactments. Combat situations on the battlefield often involve the use of common military tactics to achieve objectives set in each game. Participants typically emulate the tactical equipment and accessories used by modern military and police organizations.

Shot to the teeth

An airsoft gun is simply a BB gun which is designed to fire plastic BBs and not metal BBs or pellets.  They are used in MilSim [military simulation] and scenario games.  You dress in camouflage and shoot at each other.  These are NOT TOYS!!!!  Yes, they sell them at wal*mart and other retail locations, but these can be very dangerous and should not be given to kids to play with in their backyards or public parks.  Eye protection is critical and face masks are highly recommended as these guns can fire a BB at up to 500+ FPS [not that most do with out extreme modification] and a shot to the eye or tooth CAN have permanent damaging effects!

There are 4 basic types of guns that are made for airsoft, these are Springers, CO2, AEG, and Gas pistols.  Let's go over all of them.

Spring powered clear pistol

Springers

Spring powered guns are very common, these are the ones you usually find at Wal*mart, Sporting Goods stores and many online stores.  Springers are relatively weak, and usually made of lower grade plastics, although some spring shotguns and sniper rifles can be very powerful and shoot at velocities of 400–700 FPS.  Many are clear, but not all are, and not every clear gun is spring powered.  Most of these guns require you to re-cock the spring mechanism before every shot and tend to be loud.  They have a very minimal rate of fire and tend to not hold up to any serious play.  This is not to say you can not use them in actual MilSim [lord knows I have been shot by springers in game] and any hit is a kill!  Springers come man many models and run from pistols all the way up to sniper rifles.  These also tend to be smaller scale than other airsoft, so you may find your sniper rifle is only 2/3 scale instead of a 1:1 scale.

CO2 airsoft pistol

CO2 powered Guns

CO2 is compressed Carbon Dioxide that usually comes in small cartridges that are inserted into the airsoft gun.  CO2 guns have a higher FPS than springers and can be very effective in games as one cartridge can power many more shots than gas pistols.  These guns are sold are Sporting goods stores and airsoft retailers.  Some of these guns are "blow back" and some are not.  We will discus that term later.  The nice thing about this type of gun is the cost of a CO2 cartridge is much less than the cost of Green Gas used in blowback pistols.

AEG in action

AEG [Automatic Electric Guns]

AEGs are the most commonly uses Airsoft gun on use by airsoft players.  They are powered by a battery, similar to the ones in RC cars to power a motor that compresses air through a piston.  These guns tend to b e very customizable, have very high rates of fire and while they can be clear bodied, they tend to be one to one scale replicas of actual guns.  These guns can have very high rates of fire and can use some very large capacity magazines [500+ rounds in some cases].  The nice thing about AEGs is the fact you can change out the gears, springs and barrel easier than most of the other guns and they can be as cheap as $35.00 for AEG pistols all the way up to $3,000.00 for a replica Mini-gun.  

Gas blow back pistol

Gas Pistols

Now, there are other gas guns than pistols, there are gas rifles, but these are not very common.  I have seen a few and they may well be the way of the future, but no one really knows for sure right now.  Gas pistols use green gas [propane which has had the "scent" removed and silicone oil added to it to help keep the gun functional] to propel the BBs from the gun.  Gas pistols are very common and most people have one as a "secondary" in case some one bum rushes their position while they are changing magazines.

Lets go over a couple things I have brought up in a little more detail:

• Blow back - This term is used to describe an airsoft weapon that has recoil like its real steel equivalent.  It uses gas or a mechanical means to give the gun a realistic action.  the most common type is the gas blow back pistol.
• BBs - The BBs used in airsoft are 6mm and most outdoor fields require biodegradable BBs.  The range in weight from .20 grams at the low end and go up to higher weights for sniper rifles and DMR [dedicated marksman rifles].  Most people use about .25 gram [at least locally].

Next post I will try to go over safety equipment and CQB [Close Quarters Battle].