What's Airsoft?

Airsoft is a sport in which the players simulate combat, warfare, or other military scenarios using authentic military tactics and replica weapons. Airsoft guns use 6mm BBs made of ABS plastic as ammunition, which generally weigh from .12g to .43g on average. Airsoft guns themselves are almost always exact replicas of real military weapons.

Airsoft is a product of the far East and is now available in the Western world. It has spawned a sport, a growing following, and an industry that spans several continents.

Airsoft guns are accurate replicas of the originals usually manufactured under license (beware of cheap bb guns) Airsoft bb guns fire 6mm plastic bb's and are used for target practice, fun plinking and the new xtreme sport Airsoft, which is similar to paintballing however the advantages of airsoft are that they are more accurate, fire further and more realistic, and also cheaper! Short History of Airsoft

1886 - The airgun projectile we call a BB began in 1886 as common lead shotgun shot, sized BB or 0.180-inch diameter.
1887 - Clarence Hamilton of .22 rimfire fame followed Markham by inventing an all-metal spring-piston airgun.
1960's - Airsoft as we know it today has its history in both Japan and America, going back about 30 or 40 years. In Japan, ownership of firearms was banned in the 1960’s, and the response was the production of extremely realistic and collectable replicas of real military firearms. It didn't take long for firearm enthusiasts and manufacturers to design and market a spring powered gun, replicating the looks of its real counterpart.
1970's - The sport we all know of today as Airsoft originated in Japan in the 1970's. Shortly after as the sport began to grow, improvisations were made to airsoft guns. Manufacturer's began to produce airsoft guns that were gas, and electric powered as well.
Before the end of the 1970’s, these were introduced into the Japanese market as "soft-air" guns. Naturally the Japanese took the system and began to incorporate it into their own extremely realistic false gun models and created the perfect, non-lethal realistic alternative to actual firearms.
1990's - These then became popular in the Asian markets as "soft-air" or "air-soft" guns. Gas-powered Airsoft guns evolved into cheaper-made AEGs (Automatic Electric Guns) in the mid 1990's.
In America, air guns were expanded with handguns that fired pellets stored in shells, very similar to spring Airsoft guns today.


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. The most common and cost effective are our line of 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 at an average velocity of 250 FPS. Most people start off with spring guns and often move up to gas blowback guns. Gas blowback 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. BB 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 at an average of 300 FPS. 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. Electric powered guns use a gear and piston system to offer semi and sometimes fully automatic operation.


Which gun is the BEST?
We get dozens of emails every day asking which gun is the best. Here is the answer: The M4 is our most popular spring rifle while the M9 remains the most popular spring pistol. The AEG rifles and Beretta pistols are the most popular battery powered guns. The M11 is by far the coolest of the gas blowback guns with the M9 following as a close second. For the absolute highest rate of fire, go with the HFC gas blowback guns.


What kind of protection do I need to play Airsoft?
Full face protection is REQUIRED for any Airsoft sporting 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 60-130 yards depending on whether or not the gun has been upgraded. Stock full-size electric rifles can shoot accurately up to 20-60 yards, spring guns 15-20 yards, and electric guns 10-40 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 loud are Airsoft guns?
Airsoft guns are quieter than a .22 caliber rifle, but a bit louder than a typical air rifle.


What are Airsoft guns made of?
Some of our guns are made of the same durable ABS Plastic used in items such as motorcycle helmets, others are made of metal or both. Airsoft guns cannot be modified to fire real ammunition. Because they are made of different materials, the guns tend to be a little lighter than their real counterparts.


What do the numbers mean on the bb’s?
The numbers refer to bb weight in grams. All of our guns are designed around a specific weight of bb. The recommended bb weight is automatically selected for each product.


What is the muzzle velocity of different airsoft guns?
Spring pistols tend to fire 190-350 fps, Spring rifles 220-450 fps, and electric guns and pistols or gas guns fire 175-400 fps.