What Are Airsoft Guns Used for

Often kids come up home and inform their parents they Need an airsoft gun, and most parents so ask, "What is an airsoft gun and why do you demand one?"

1. Airsoft Is Older Than Paintball.

A little history, airsoft was invented earlier paintball back in the '80s. Tokyo Mauri in Japan created the showtime airsoft gun, about eight years earlier paintball was invented. The early guns were powered by a compressed air cylinder which was connected to the gun by a hose. They were used for target shooting and playing state of war games in the wood. It became popular in Japan along with paintball. Years later Tokyo Mauri came out with a M16 replica gun that ran on a bombardment they chosen it an AEG (automatic electric gun), and airsoft took off worldwide.

G36C AEG, Sniper Rifle, Shotgun, M4 Commando AEG

Larry Grenevitch

ii. These Are Low Velocity Non-Lethal Guns.

Airsoft guns were created to be low velocity non-lethal guns. This is accomplished by using a 6mm or 8mm plastic BB that is very light (.12 to .45 grams), fired at low velocities 170 to 550fps (feet per second). In Japan, the fps limit is 300fps with a .20 gram BB for all guns. Kids large and small have ever wanted to play soldier, and these guns give them an opportunity to exercise that with the right protective gear. They should not be confused with Daisy BB guns sold in the United states of america for years which at close range are lethal.

three. Be Aware of Safety Concerns.

There are safety concerns that parents need to be aware of. Children demand to play with full clothing, long sleeve shirts, pants, and gloves. BBs will only leave a red spot through clothes, but on bare skin information technology can cause a blood blister and can drain, if hit at close plenty range with a high enough velocity gun. This is one reason airsoft fields in the US and around the earth take a x to 20ft minimum engagement distance and any gun shooting .20 gram Bulletin board system at more than 400fps must discover a 100ft minimum engagement altitude. This may sound bad or scary to some, only in reality it is a minor issue, and you find adults (18-22 yr olds) on the field all the fourth dimension in shorts and short sleeve t-shirts. However, this is besides why I personally do non let my children to play in the backyard, unless there will be an developed supervising.

The greatest danger in airsoft is being shot in the heart with a BB. That is why all fields indoor and outdoor require full seal goggles designed for paintball or airsoft. Even if your child is only doing target shooting, he and anyone in the expanse should at a minimum have shooting glasses on. This is because the low velocity plastic Bulletin board system bounciness off hard objects, wood, rock, etc. I have personally shot at a wood board threescore feet away and had the BBs bounce back and hitting me on the head. The danger to the eyes cannot be overemphasized, and this needs to be communicated to your child, and your child needs to fully understand this before he touches any airsoft gun!

4. Responsibility and Gun Safety Are Disquisitional.

Since there is an element of danger with these guns, this was an excellent fashion to teach responsibility and gun prophylactic. I have personally institute with 3 of my children that my imposing strict gun prophylactic rules with them has helped them to be safe, mature, and see that they need to be careful even when playing a "game" that is "rubber." In fact, they are now actually more careful than I am which is comforting, and yes, I did have to ban them occasionally.

Gun safety rules:

Always habiliment eyewear when shooting.
Always indicate the gun in a safe management.
Never look downwardly the barrel.
Always have the gun on safe (safetied) until you are about to shoot.
Never put your finger on the trigger until you are aiming at the target and are ready to shoot.
Always treat the gun every bit if it is loaded.
Ever care for your airsoft gun like a real gun.

If yous follow these rules, you can be safe and have a lot of good clean fun.

5. Airsoft Guns Bear Resemblance to Existent Guns.

Like any gun owner, airsoft players bask the pleasance of owning a respected gun, whether that is a M16, SCAR, AK47, MP5, G36, etc. Calculation track, handles, barrels, zero-betoken triggers, etc. All the things that you can do with a existent guns are as well the rage for airsoft guns. This is what has fabricated the sport so popular. Heckler & Koch makes the guns used past special forces units around the world and some of the about reliable guns in the globe; the airsoft replicas perform up to that reputation and are very popular.

At that place are many countries that ban their people from owning real guns, Japan and England to name simply two, so airsoft guns with their close resemblance to the existent steel guns is the closest people in these countries tin get to owning a real gun.

6. Airsoft Guns Can Be Fun: Target Shooting, Outdoor Play, and Indoor Play.

I have spoken about the dangers involved now let's talk about the fun you and your kid tin accept. Target shooting is where we started, with a spring pistol from BassPro Shop. I next purchased an AEG considering I could do target shooting and play on an airsoft field with information technology (I thought), then a shotgun and finally a sniper rifle. The most fun per dollar has ever been using my Double Eagle shotgun and I would highly recommend whatsoever shotgun that has an adjustable hopup. For authentic shooting and learning how to apply all the shooting techniques of a real gun the sniper rifle has been the most fun.

Having small skirmishes in the backyard is as well fun and good grooming for going to an organized outdoor airsoft field. These fields may be a property owned by the person putting on the game day, or land rented from the county, or country, or a slice of country where the owner allows organized play. This type of play will usually be based on simulated war machine type missions.

Indoor fields let younger players to play in a more paintball like way. Games ordinarily last 5 to ten minutes. Although dressing with layers of article of clothing would be recommended, since minimum engagement distances are shorter than those in outdoor play.

7. Know Your Laws.

Before purchasing an airsoft gun you as well need to notice out what the laws are in your city, your state, and for those outside the US, your country. For instance, in Massachusetts it is illegal for anyone except the child's parent to give a kid an airsoft gun: grandparents, aunts, or uncles volition get to jail if they purchase i and give it to a child. In many cities/towns it is illegal to discharge ANY BB gun even airsoft guns, so target shooting in the backyard is illegal. And some states practice not allow an airsoft gun to leave the store except in a gun case.

Questions & Answers

Question: how old practice yous recollect your child should be to own an airsoft gun?

Answer: Totally depends on maturity. They take to be able to grasp this is a toy that can injure someone and take respect for that.

Question: What method should I utilise to secure an airsoft gun? I'm in California.

Answer: You lot can use a gun trigger lock.

Question: Will airsoft pellets harm siding on a house?

Answer: Perchance

Question: How exercise the biodegradable Bbs affect the environment? Do animals eat them?

Answer: That is the source of nifty debate. The biodegradable BBS - half of the BB has to break down into dust in 6 months. Where I played in Georgia places with high concentrations of BBS would be muddier considering they are pea-size gravel and allowed water to go into the globe more easily.

Question: What are the laws in Due south Carolina for airguns?

Answer: SC final time I lived there was one of the to the lowest degree regulated states.

Question: What about laws in Oklahoma?

Answer: I do not know. Y'all will have to practise a search similar Oklahoma airsoft laws or pellet gun laws.

Sam on January xxx, 2019:

but I see this as related though. Don't you lot call back so, it all about airsoft.

Hello on Dec 24, 2018:

HEY Chris don't talk similar that on and airsoft page information technology isnt even realated to this topic

Chris on Oct 01, 2017:

I almost wish that we lived in a country that banned guns so that we could run around our neighborhood playing Airsoft without worrying about a bad cop shooting united states, or, some lunatic with a concealed carry allow shooting us imagining that he'll exist some kind of "hero" for shooting one of us because "he had a gun".

We did play "Cops and Robbers" with Airsoft guns in our back yards a few times and it was Corking fun, we all LOVED it, but, I'm agape it's just likewise dangerous, that somebody might shoot my kid. So although I really want my kids to play exterior like that, get some exercise, have a ton of fun, and get away from the jail cell phones and video games for a while, it might just not be worth the take a chance :(

I hope anytime that will alter, and society volition finish accepting constabulary officers murdering innocent people because they mistakenly "thought they were a threat" or were "scared" - 1 should simply not be a cop, not be allowed to exist a cop, if they can't cease themselves from shooting people who are not really aiming a gun at someone or if they can't exist patient enough (and keep their distance) to figure out that a child has but a toy gun or airgun instead of behaaving like a trigger happy psycho and murdering the kid within seconds of arriving at the scene (speaking about the poor boy who was murdered by a bad cop in Cleavland Ohio).

Tristan on July 19, 2017:

Hey guys I'grand an Airsoft technician out of AZ, I'm here to add a few things to this intro to airsoft and clear upward some confusion acquired by the comment section. First the defoliation, I've seen multiple people say mesh masks's are bad for Airsoft, while this is true for center protection, this is not true for face up protection, yes in that location is nonetheless a gamble at indicate bare that a bb could shatter through, while bad for the eyes, the velocity of the BB fragments after entering the mask would exist so low that a mere scratch would be the worst thing that I've ever seen come of it (personal experience), now on some things that you lot may nevertheless be wondering if y'all plan on letting your kiddo come and sling Bbs with the rest of the states. First is that every field has their own fix of reasonable limits, for case the indoor field I work at has a not conditional fps limit of 350 and you lot MUST utilize house Bulletin board system (special colored field BBS purchased at the front end), the reason for this is to prevent people from bringing .32'south or even higher in a chrono check when they should be using .20's this would issue in some one with a High powered Airsoft passing a chrono at 350 fps but having the kinetic energy (resulting in pain) of a bb flying at 450+. Second, is that some modifications to your Airsoft "weapon" could exist illegal depending on where you live and so exist sure to check land laws, 1 smashing example of this is calculation a more realistic looking flash hider or an Airsoft suppressor (mock or functional) ; if your here in the U.s. then I'm sure your very familiar with the orangish flash hiders and butt tips that come on every Airsoft gun in stores, it is a federal law that these guns have these orange flash hiders and tips up to the indicate of sale, once the transfer has been made it is upward to land law and your own discretion to decide if y'all want to remove the flash hider or non, here in AZ it is no where near illegal to remove an orange tip compared to a place similar California where the gun must have the orange tip during transportation and must have a piece of colored tape around the grip, trigger guard, and magazine. Be certain to cheque your state laws before modifying your Airsoft "weapon". Now if y'all ever want to know nearly the technical specs of Airsoft guns, need guidance or help modifying your "weapon" (internally or externally) or only take more full general questions about the sport/ hobby it'due south self, y'all can caput to your local Airsoft field and ask the technician and other staff there or y'all can contact me at tristan mares on Facebook (the picture is of me in a helmet it'south hard to miss lmao) or @twistairsoft on instagram, you guys have a great twenty-four hour period

Tristan on July 19, 2017:

Hi, I want to cover a few things that the author may have forgot to mention and articulate up any mischief that the comments may have stirred up, in an airsoft technician out of AZ, and accept worked at multiple fields with my current chore residing at our priemier local indoor field, beginning of all yes it is possible for a bb to bounce back at lx anxiety, there are and so many factors that come up into how a bb ricochets that it's near impossible to tell if one won't. now, the author did a swell job at explaining and actually created the nicest into to Airsoft I've seen all the same, but everyone forgets something then here's the minor details that he may have forgotten

Dylan on July 12, 2017:

I take a glock xviii, it'south an astonishing gun considering I got it for £15 pounds, but it's not the smallest or easiest to handle. What pistol should I aim for now?

Maurice Dudeley on February 07, 2017:

Like your point of view!

Definitely, parents should really aware of and should picket over their kids when playing airsoft.

http://deadcenterairsoft.com/all-time-airsoft-gun/

larryg2011 (author) from Portland, OR on February 02, 2017:

Did the constabulary arrest him? Schools are gun complimentary zones even airsoft guns.

Will on January 31, 2017:

I'm 11 and hoping to convince my mom to let me go an air soft gun. What is a expert, cheap, starter gun, similar a pistol, etc. Cheers for the amazing insight! ;)

RavioliAssassin on January 25, 2017:

What would I where if I have a 300fps SCAR what should my friends and I where

Ryan on Jan 21, 2017:

Eddie that is admittedly wrong... Wire mesh in my opinion is most as safety as a full mask.... And whatsoever bb would never be able to explode and go into your centre unless you lot weren't wearing goggles or safe glasses.... Shame on you if you weren't!

jesmond on January eleven, 2017:

a child had one at my schoolhouse and shot some1

RealAuzzie on Dec 22, 2016:

Non a very informative article. Might I suggest telling us some of the rubber concerns of airsoft. Or maybe, tell us a little virtually the history. Similar, which is older? Airsoft or paintball?

Haha, merely kidding mate. Keep up the bang-up work, it is very fun to read.

larryg2011 (author) from Portland, OR on December 09, 2016:

I am sorry yous feel that way. How many outings did you get from your AEG earlier it broke? What was your cost per outing? A lot more than the $25 to $thirty that a shotgun costs, so my point is if the shotgun but lasts one outing it is still cheaper than your AEG, and the user can decide if he or she wants to upgrade to an AEG.

Pg on December 02, 2016:

Not to exist mean or anything only double hawkeye Is kind of a sucky brand for airsoft

bgigstead on April 08, 2016:

Great Article. I have been playing with my son for the past 2 1/2 years.

Louis on Apr 03, 2016:

What are the rules for air soft guns in the UK,Godalming???

Yay 2.0 on April 01, 2016:

In Ohio there are a number of fields blooming! Fallen Warriors is one. Located in Chillicothe. Their is State of war Den Airsoft near Cincinnati. And many more. I personally prefer fallen warriors. Airsoft Ohio is a peachy website for events and news in Ohio!!

gabrielle on February 17, 2016:

we alive in the hastens and my son is ten and he has been bugging me for a year what historic period should he go a airlift be he said he would get a pink m4

kevin on January 14, 2016:

just play safe and simply have fun

Yay on August 01, 2015:

Any skilful fields in Ohio

yolomickswag on Apr sixteen, 2015:

i don't want one to shoot just to play with

Grayson on March 14, 2015:

I am 16 i have been playing airsoft for 3 to 4 years now i vest to and help manage a small-scale team chosen woodland rebels airsoft. Overall this article does take useful info but get-go whenever looking for your start gun think about what you will exist doing if its backyard play some .12 gram bulletin board system will exist perfect as well as a low powered cheap double eagle or crossman springer or aeg if playing at a field you may want something a trivial stronger considering if you lot use those guns y'all volition hit nothing for the younger ages 10 and nether i would propose a g&g combat auto and for information technology buy .20 gram bbs also equally a ix.6 volt bombardment for ages to a higher place that id get with something a chip ameliorate however a piffling more than expensive a we katana works nicely which y'all would utilise the same battery and a.23 or .25 gram bb of form y'all need face protection of any sort some fields require full face protection some exercise not it is smart to buy a smart charger for your battery. For safety if the histrion is wearing goggles you should not worry well-nigh center damage nearly players inside a sure range even without a condom rule volition not shoot instead warn you lot that you are out and for you to get dorsum to your spawn (why waste ammo) if you become to a field more times than not you will render with a few whelps merely yous should not worry too much just keep in mind to be courtious and call your hits as well BE RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR AIRSOFT GUN don't walk around on the street with information technology in hand reccomended is a burglarize pocketbook just almost of all have fun and exist safe

John Doe on December 26, 2014:

I am 23 yr old airsofter, at first this sport seemed light-headed to me up til a few years ago when i started getting interested with the ammo shortages changing my shooting habits. Since the spark of my interest I institute myself at a CQB field and decided to await into it and ask questions then came done to trying it. At first I was there simply to waste matter fourth dimension simply after it really changed my view and I'm looking forward to getting more agile in the sport. I started out with a WE Heavy Weight CQB Master 1911 (from Evike.com) with a pair of goggles that I liked and did research on (Smith Eyes, if you were wondering) and the knowledge that its a good idea to wear a long sleeve shirt with pants ( of course). Starting out, I knew I didn't want to get inexpensive b/c of my fondness of the realistic weight of the gear tickling my obsession with real steel firearms this sport has taken me by a landslide. A tip for the younger and newer players is to call your hits b/c nada is more irritating to a regular player than someone who don't have or telephone call their hits (More fun and less arguing with someone else or a referee.

Charlie Leonidas on December 06, 2014:

In the example of California, you're correct.. the discharge of airsoft guns is illegal, but only PUBLICLY. Nowhere does information technology say that discharge in private property is banned. Only if you do not let the public ( your neighbors for instance) get offended, or experience dangerous. Check with your neighbors and local laws. But other than that, you should be fine

Craig on October 21, 2014:

This was a good article. I recently went to an indoor CQB arena with my eleven year old son. He had been bugging me for a while, and it sounded like fun. We rented gear, played several rounds, and I recollect I had as much fun as he did! While there is some inherent take a chance, the facility was very prophylactic cautious. They do a full safety briefing followed by a facility walkthrough, and while they don't have a set age limit, they were very engaged during the walkthrough and asked my son very specific questions to see if he was paying attention.

Parents with kids who express interest in airsoft, my advice would be to have the time to educate both yourself and your kid. Airsoft guns are not toys, and should not be treated every bit such, but they besides are not something to fear. If your child has the maturity to acquire the proper rubber, it can be a very fun and rewarding action.

larryg2011 (author) from Portland, OR on September 29, 2014:

In Massachusetts it is illegal for anyone except your parent to give a child an airsoft gun.

Kevin on September 25, 2014:

Is it ture that your uncle and etc can get to jail

Nate on August 13, 2014:

I'chiliad 12 I've been playing with airsoft since I was iii actually all you need are glasses and my outset was a stinger p3 11 at Walmart or anywhere really for about $14

larryg2011 (author) from Portland, OR on August 05, 2014:

Thank you for the clarifications.

Matt on August 04, 2014:

Past the style Real Steel guns ARE LEGAL in England, providing you have enough infinite to safely shoot abroad from houses and civilians, and that you lot take a checked gun locker, you will get your license for up to .22 Semi-Automatics, any quotient over this must be single or bolt action, shotguns crave a separate permit and all handguns excluding revolvers are banned except for on a few of the U.k.'south surrounding isles.

larryg2011 (author) from Portland, OR on July 23, 2014:

Aye, glasses will fit under masks.

absurd on July 23, 2014:

Wait I accept glasses will they fit under masks?

Scott on July xviii, 2014:

Disagree with the 60' bounciness back and laugh if you lot want, but his point was sound.

BB'southward bounce. Protect everyone'south eyes.

Geoff on June 15, 2014:

^not necessarily. It ask depends on how much yous're willing to spend, and your idea of fun. Just do your enquiry before every single purchase, because there'southward chances you could of bought something better for your money.

Colin on June 13, 2014:

Well as an extreme airsoft player I can safely say that this person (in some places) has no idea what their talking about. It'south funny actually. Likewise there is NO way that they could have shot a board at 60 feet and still have been striking by it. Also double Eagle is terrible, and shotguns are terrible get an echo 1 Xcr-c, or a Yard&G combat machine mk18. As a starter weapom

Brony on June 03, 2014:

Ethan, different guns accept different accuracy, fps, and many things can be determined by the size of the bullet. It is possible for a bullet to bounce off a wood board and back at you lot. It has happened to me before.due east.

Anyway, good article/post.

colin on Apr 22, 2014:

this is a great way to acquire the concepts of an air soft gun.

Mike on January 05, 2014:

I agree with ethan how is that possible

ethan on Dec 10, 2013:

I must disagree with the "woods board bounces dorsum bulletin board system at 60ft", I accept an Ashbury airsoft sniper that does 530 fps and never once accept I been hit even at 40ft.

Eddie on February 16, 2013:

Interesting. Whatever you do, do not purchase mesh face masks. If it is shot with an airsoft gun over 400 FPS, information technology will shatter and go far your eyes.

Trisha on Jan 15, 2012:

Thank you for your article. I constitute my 6 year one-time playing with the 10 yr old neighbour kids and had no thought what airsoft was. While I am not still totally convinced this is a expert idea at his historic period, I'm not as put off as I beginning was. We will be buying some safety goggles.