Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Airsoft Guns
Remember your BB gun? Well, now instead of a steel ball bearing, imagine a plastic one. Then, instead of the primitive lever-operated or pull-back spring system, substitute an electric motor with gears: Airsoft guns.
Manufacturers realised that there was a demand for realistic-looking weapons that could actually be used for sport and military games. From there, they started to evolve, and a sport called Airsoft involving the guns spread throughout the world. Since 2001, it’s the fastest growing outdoor sport.
There were many manufactures making hundreds of different sizes and systems. Since then, the BB calibre has been standardised to 6mm or 8mm. Also, the Airsoft gun system for shooting these pellets has evolved from a simple hand-cocked spring to the most common method (for larger guns): an electrically-operated motor that drives gears to automatically cock, pull back the spring bolt, and release the bolt to shoot the BB. The automatic firing mechanism is now called the AEG – Automatic Electric Gun.
A typical Airsoft gun can shoot the BBs at speeds of 200 to 500 feet per second (60 to 150 metres per second). Rates of fire range from 300 up to 2000 BBs per minute, depending on the capacity of the gun’s magazine. Magazines are classed as the following: low cap: around 50 BBs, mid cap: around 120 BBs, or high-cap: 200-500+ BBs. Magazines include a spring, or manually-operated ratchet to help the BB into the chamber. There are also electrically-operated magazines available that may hold up to 5000 pellets. Military-simulation Airsoft games, however, may require you to have a more realistic magazine capacity to make the experience more genuine.
Smaller guns use gas as a propellant, although it is also becoming more in demand for the larger models, due to its less artificial feel and noise. Oil and fragrances are even added to the gas to heighten this sensation. A container on the gun that may be refilled from a propane camping gas bottle may be used. The Automatic Electric Gun has a further range than gas powered guns, though, and the batteries usually hold out for longer than the gas tank.
Airsoft guns are also getting better in terms of quality, with metal being used for many parts. Aluminium and alloys are taking the part of plastic in many of the moving parts, making them more durable and longer-lasting. However, most of the gun is still plastic. Some guns even have metal weights in them to make them feel like the real thing.
Bullet velocity is from 50 m/s (160 ft/s) to around 125 m/s (410 ft/s). With the right adaptations, muzzle velocity can be souped up to 180 m/s (590 ft/s). You may install a module to cause backspin on the BB. This increases the amount of lift on the BB by the air flow on the underside of the ball being offset by that on the top. Lift increased and so does range. This is called a hop-up unit. Although AEG range is usually up to 75 metres (250ft), the hop up unit can double this.
You can buy 6mm paintballs for your Airsoft gun, but these may explode inside your chamber, meaning a ruined gun.
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