What
is Airsoft
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Airsoft is a military simulation sport in which players
participate in mock combat with military-style mock weapons and tactics.
Airsoft guns usually use 6 mm spherical pellets typically made of solid
plastic.
Airsoft refers to a class of replica air powered guns
that originated from Japan (although the origins go back to the US in the
70s). The power levels are way below those of traditional airguns, but the
guns are 1:1 scale copies of original pistols, rather than original designs.
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Airsoft guns |
| The guns used in airsoft are
typically replicas of real firearms. Airsoft guns can be divided into three
groups by what powers them: spring powered, electric powered, and
gas-powered. |
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Spring powered
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| Spring-powered airsoft guns
(often called "springers" or "spring guns") are single-shot devices that use
potential energy stored in a spring to launch an airsoft pellet down the
barrel of the gun. The user must cock a spring gun prior to each shot much
like you would a real shotgun or bolt-action rifle. This is typically
achieved by pulling back the slide (pistols) or bolt (rifles), which in turn
compresses the spring and makes the gun ready to fire. Because of this these
guns are incapable of automatic or semi-automatic fire.
While most electric guns also use springs for this
they are not considered to be in the same category as the single-shot
spring-powered guns. Low-end spring guns tend to be much cheaper than their
electric-powered equivalents due to their simplicity and cost of components
(spring assembly vs. spring assembly, electric motor, battery, and battery
charger) and thus are widely available. These guns are less suited for
competition because they are at a disadvantage against automatic guns in
close combat and don't provide enough accuracy and power for long-range
uses. Higher-end spring-powered airsoft rifles can be quite expensive; these
guns are typically suited for "sniper" applications in airsoft matches and
can provide competitive muzzle velocities. |
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| An example of a spring gun,
Classic Army M24 Socom Spring Sniper Raffle
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| Gas
powered |
| Gas-powered airsoft guns use
pressurized gas to propel pellets. These guns are capable of automatic and
semi-automatic operation. The most common gases used are propane (usually
referred to as "green gas" by airsoft players) and HFC134a refrigerant. Less
commonly used gases include CO2 and nitrogen.
Gas power tends to be used in airsoft pistols where
size constraints make electric-powered mechanisms impractical. Other
instances where gas is favored are where adjustable velocities are required
or where a blow-back feature is desired. A blow-back feature is a mechanism
which cycles a slide or bolt to better simulate a real firearm's operation.
Because of the mechanical complexities involved with distributing and
regulating gas these guns have largely given way to electric guns for less
specialized applications. |
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| An example of
a Gas Blowback pistol., KWA G18C Full Auto Airsoft
Gas Blowback |
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Electric powered |
| Electric-powered airsoft guns
typically use a bank of rechargeable batteries to drive an electric motor,
which cycles an internal piston/spring assembly in order to launch pellets.
Automatic and semi-automatic operation is possible which gives these guns
the popular name "automatic electric guns" or AEG's. These guns often attain
muzzle velocities of 200 to 300 feet per second (60 to 90 m/s) and fire
rates of 300 to 700 rounds per minute and are by far the most common and
widely available airsoft guns in serious competition use today.
These guns were originally developed in Japan, and the
Japanese model giant Tokyo Marui dominates the market today with many
quality models. In a Marui AEG, the motor drives a series of 3 gears mounted
inside a gearbox. The gears then compress a piston assembly against a
spring. Once the piston is released, the spring drives it forward through
the cylinder to push a pellet into the chamber, through the barrel, and
forward from the muzzle. Many manufacturers have now more or less replicated
this basic model, adding reinforced parts or minor improvements. |
Airsoft BB
guns have a relatively long history. Designed and marketed her in the United
States about 30 years ago by a major BB gun manufacturer, AirSoft was
conceptualized as a new approach in BB gun application. In place of the
utilitarian airgun designed for hunting, the AirSoft BB gun was created with
a pure recreational application in mind. It was created for people who enjoy
target practicing or indoor plinking with friends: individuals who are not
concerned about the high power hunting application of a BB or pellet gun but
just wanted to have Fun. This is exactly where AirSoft BB guns fit in.
The design of the AirSoft BB gun centers on a unique propulsion system
utilizing a small amount of air to accurately shoot lightweight plastic BB
pellets. This design philosophy resulted in a BB gun, which generates a much
less damaging projectile that is still accurate enough to be FUN.
As the AirSoft product matured, manufacturers added another feature, which
drew hobbyist and collectors alike to AirSoft. By modeling AirSoft BB guns
after world famous pistols and rifles, an entire line of Replica AirSoft
products were created. This created a huge splash not only here in the
United States, but it also brought this hobby to the rest of the world.
Italy, Japan and many Asian countries caught the craze and took the
development of AirSoft to new heights.
Over several generations of development and constant improvement, AirSoft BB
guns are now returning to the United States with newer and better designs.
The highly matured plastic polymer technology industry in Asia has created a
new generation of AirSoft BB guns with amazing durability and detail. Adding
to its hobby collector market, the new AirSoft BB guns have created new uses
in firearm safety training, movie productions, replica collecting, and
recreational sport. Partly due to our history, the attraction and
availability to firearms and its associated shooting sports run deep in the
United States. AirSoft guns offer a potential alternative for the hobbyist,
collector, and shooter. The combination of realism, safety, flexibility, and
low cost makes AirSoft more appealing to the average consumer who would like
to exercise his or her steady eye/hand coordination without the inherent
dangers.
The U.S. Government have approved and specified regulations applicable to
AirSoft BB guns. The blaze orange marking is a federal requirement: all
reputable AirSoft manufacturers and dealers must be in compliance with this
ruling for legal use. All AirSoft products, foreign or domestic, must meet
this regulation.
What is a Joule? A Joule is a measurement used to
calculate the power of the gun and is more accurate than using Feet Per
Second. It is a formula combining the weight and velocity of a projectile to
come up with the force it will hit the target with. The higher the Joule
number the more powerful the gun is.
What is Hip-Hop? A Hop-Up or Spinup system puts an upwards spin on
the BB as it goes down the barrel. This reduces the affects of gravity to
increase the flight time and range of the BB.
What are Spring guns? Most often single shot with high capacity
magazine. A spring compresses a cylinder when pulling back the slide or
cocking handle. Upon pulling of the trigger the spring is released a burst
of air hits the BB. Spring guns can be the most accurate and reliable of the
airsoft guns.
Do we have a walk-in store? Yes. It is open Monday through Friday
12PM to 7 PM. We are closed Saturday and Sunday.
What does Blowback mean? Blowback action on a Gas or Electric gun means
the slide of the gun will recoil when the gun is fired like a real firearm.
What are airsoft guns? AirSoft BB guns have a relatively long
history. Designed and marketed here in the United States about 30 years ago
by a major BB gun manufacturer, AirSoft was conceptualized as a new approach
in BB gun application. In place of the utilitarian air gun designed for
hunting, the AirSoft BB gun was created with a pure recreational application
in mind. It was created for people who enjoy target practicing or indoor
plinking with friends; individuals who are not concerned about the high
power hunting application of a BB or pellet gun but just wanted to have fun.
What does FPS stand for? FPS means feet per second. The velocity
of the BB as it leaves the barrel.
How do gas guns work? Gas guns use a compressed gas and silicon oil
mix called green gas as a propellant. Most Gas guns are semi automatic while
some are semi and fully automatic. On Gas Blowback models, gas is discharged
to propel the BB forward and the slide to the rear while mimicking the
action of a real gun.
How do electric guns work? Electric guns: Most often select fire semi
and full auto. A motor runs a gear box that compresses a cylinder
compressing air. The electric guns are also reliable and normally last
thousands of rounds without trouble. Batteries are rechargeable nicad type.
Generally they use 8.4 volt batteries that are similar to r/c car batteries.
What is the term round? A round is another term for a BB so e.g
22 rounds mean that the gun holds 22 BBs.
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What does Fully Automatic mean? Fully Automatic. When the trigger
is depressed and held the gun will keep firing until the trigger is
released.
What does Semi-Auto mean? Semi Automatic. It means, each pull the
trigger the gun, will fire once.
If an item is out of stock, what is the lead time for restocking it?
Usually when an item goes out of stock it means that item is on back order.
When this happens we do not know exactly when it will become available
again. What you can do is click on the Please Notify Me icon next to the gun
and enter your user name and password. When the item comes back in stock you
will be automatically emailed to inform you the item is available.
