Airsoft Weapons

Airsoft Weapons - A Safer Target Training Tool For Everyone

Executive Summary by Walter Sobchack

airsoft weapons

Do you love competitive combat games but, hate the pain of paintball? Then Airsoft Weapons may very well be for you.

Airsoft weapons are safe, less painful during combat re-enactments or combat games as well as safer for local neighborhood target plunking in areas where many types of firearms are not allowed.

There are various types of weapons available from simple air handguns and rifles to electric airguns, gas type air guns.Parents can feel some degree of safety by allowing kids to play combat without the danger of the classic BB gunfights of the 1970's.

When avoiding aiming for the head Airsoft are many times safer overall than many of the classic firing play weapons on the market today.

Training Officers can feel more secure in quality valid training than using non-firing weapons or actual weapons and live rounds increasing safety issues. Utilizing Airsoft weapons many being very similar to the actual weapons they are based upon with similar attachments, etc.

Many of these weapons are really excellent replicas of actual weapons for those in the military or law enforcement too make training more cost effective. The M-15 style weapons, 9mm style pistols and even sniper styled weapons are available for your needs to allow for realistic training without the excessive costs of bullet reloads, etc.

Costs of weapons can vary depending on your choices of a basic package for beginners to the more extensive equipment packages that can range from one hundred to several hundred dollars but, still in many cases more affordable for training purposes than overall costs of using the actual weapons.

Basically, Airsoft weapons are safer more cost effective to both promote safer training, target practice, handling of weapons in many environments while allowing the true feel of live weapons.

Air Soft Guns

Air Soft Guns - Everything You Need to Know

Executive Summary by Nick Smith

air soft guns

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.

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.

o 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.

o 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.

o Never point the air soft gun at something you're not going to shoot. This goes for when the gun is loaded or not.

o 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.

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.

Airsoft Pistols

How to Choose the Right Airsoft Pistols

Executive Summary by Andy West

airsoft pistols

The first thing buyers should consider is their purpose for using the airsoft gun. In other words, is the pistol simply for shooting at targets or is it to be used in serious airsoft competition? If the answer is the latter, it's best to choose electronic or gas powered airsoft rifles as they give you the power you need in the heat of the battle. 

However, if you're just doing some target practice, the manual spring powered airsoft gun will work just fine. Spring-loaded airsoft pistols don't work well in competition because you have to reset the spring after each shot as opposed to the automatic firing power of gas and electric guns.

Your local weather conditions also play a role in determining which airsoft gun is best for your needs. Gas powered automatic guns tend to malfunction and perform poorly in cold weather, whereas spring loaded pistols perform well in all weather conditions.

Of course, consumers also have to set a budget when shopping for airsoft pistols. These guns come in a wide range of prices, so there really is something available at almost any budget. But don't just look at the upfront cost of the airsoft pistol; you must also consider maintenance costs and other related expenses. As an example, automatic weapons will use ammunition faster, thus increasing your costs to stock up on BBs. With gas-powered airsoft pistols, you also have to purchase gas canisters on a regular basis. In short, don't be shortsighted when buying your pistol, look at the bigger picture.

You should also consider the quality of the airsoft gun before buying it. Does it look like it will break easily? If you're using it for skirmishes, you need one that features durability. Make sure to note how much of the gun is crafted from metal and how much of it is plastic. Depending on your needs, you might be able to get away with a lower quality gun if it's just for target practice.

For serious airsoft players, you need to determine the level of upgrades you can perform on the pistol. Some airsoft pistols are very flexible, allowing the owner to modify them to perform an array of various functions. Other guns, aren't quite as flexible, meaning what you see is what you get. Also, think about how much it will cost to upgrade the pistol to get it to perform how you'd like it to. If the price is too high to upgrade, you might be better off springing for a better, more expensive gun.

Lastly, you should never buy an airsoft gun just because you think it looks "cool." Sure, aesthetics are important, but performance is much more crucial. Many of the flashy-looking guns simply don't perform as well as you might think. Accuracy, durability, and precision should always trump the physical appearance of the pistol. In short, you want an airsoft pistol that will shoot where you want it to shoot every single time.

With all of these tips, finding your next airsoft gun should be a breeze. Just remember to practice safety with all of your airsoft pistols, and be sure to maintain the gun properly to extend its lifetime.