Have a fun with airsoft

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!” is the infamous catchphrase from the holiday classic, “A Christmas Story”. You know the one. Ralphie wants nothing more for Christmas than a Red Rider BB gun. But every person he tells about his wish tells him the catchphrase. Alas, the happy ending includes Ralphie getting his wish, and of course, shooting his “eye out”. This section of the movie has played over and over again in the minds of gift-givers across the country, as well as any part of the world that has been lucky enough to see this flick.

If you have a gift recipient who has a BB or paint gun on their list, and you just don’t feel safe with BB’s flying around, nor are you thrilled about having tiny splotches of soap/paint all over potentially missed targets, then an airsoft gun is the perfect gift. The BB’s used are made of plastic, are significantly larger than traditional metal BB’s, and are not designed to harm anyone or anything. These traits are helping to make airsoft guns a favorite of gun enthusiasts around the globe.

To help you pick out the perfect airsoft gun for your recipient, we’ve come up with the top 4 tips to help you shop smart for your purchase. They are:

1.) Find a real company with a business address, not just a post office box. There are a lot of scam artists out there on the World Wide Web preying on unknowing, trusting customers, so making your purchase from such a company will help to ease your mind and protect your payment information. A secure site, like one with the Verisign or other type of security logo will help to keep your payment information protected.

2.) Check to make sure the company has a decent return policy. Too many times a company’s lack of return policy is found out too late.

3.) My personal favorite- a troubleshooting area on their website. This is especially important for beginners that don’t know all there is to know about these guns. Instead of spending hard-earned money shipping the product back for service (not to mention the time without the gun), a troubleshooting section will help you over the humps of the technological and basic aspects of the gun.

4.) A variety of guns for you to choose from, as well as every possible accessory (BB’s, lubricants, batteries, chargers, tactical gear, etc.) Even if you’re buying for a newbie to the industry and choose to start at the beginning with a small, basic gun, you’ll be gaining a lot of know how from (not to mention the trust you’ll get for) the company. The ability to add on and move up within the products in the same online store will yield many years of loyal service from both sides of the proverbial cash register.

As the Sport of Airsoft grows in popularity today, many enthusiasts of both the Sport of Airsoft and the Sport of Paintball have debated over the differences and similarities, in the comparisons of both sports. Questions eventually come to the following: Which sport is better? What sport is more cost effective? What is the difference between Airsoft guns and Paintball guns? Finally, which sport is geared toward a larger demographic of people? I will briefly examine both sides of the Airsoft and Paintball argument and hopefully come to an opinion on which sport is emerging and which sport is fading out.

The initial argument between the Sport of Airsoft and the Sport of Paintball has been the cost differences between each sport. However, if you take a closer look at the costs for each sport you will find that both sports have an initial investment. For both sports, if you want to get completely decked out in every form of equipment available you are looking to spend up into the hundreds of dollars and sometimes into the thousands. There are variations in the pricing, but let’s say you use tons of ammo in Airsoft and not so much (which I think is unlikely) in Paintball then you will spend more on ammo for Airsoft (again this is very unlikely). This money can be spent over a period of time if you are not seriously trying to compete in the sports.

Most people continue to talk about the costs and how one sport is cheaper than the other but it depends on what you want and what you are looking for in each sport that will actually determine what you will spend. This includes everything from the gun, equipment and ammo, to the upgrades. In other words, either sport can be relatively cheap or relatively expensive, it all depends on you.

So if the money is not so important (well it’s important to most, and trust me I am all about getting the best for my money) what are the differences between the sports that one can draw a clear contrast about? What makes one sport different from the other? One of the major differences are the guns for each sport.

All Paintball guns, also known as “Markers,” have a similar style and look, only varying in specifications rather than in styles. There’s not much more to the variations except the quality and effectiveness of the Paintball guns. There is hardly any diversity or character when it comes to each gun simply because they are made to specifications.

Airsoft guns have 1:1 scale replicas. This means they actually look like the real thing, so much so that all the guns come with a federally mandated orange tip. It is interesting to note that these guns also come with metal components making even the weight of the replica guns very similar to the actual gun. Plus, you can find many of the guns that you would have some interest in using, like an M16, Sniper Rifle, or an AK47. Some would say this is scary, but others (including the Airsoft enthusiast) would consider this a great way to own an arsenal that is not lethal, nor illegal for that matter.

I know the reader might be saying that as far as cost’s are concerned, “one cannot draw a conclusion on which sport out does the other,” but as we have looked into the matter deeper we have found that realistic attributes can make a big difference in what you would want to participate in. In fact it makes all the difference for me!

In this part one of The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball we have concluded that that money or cost has no bearing on whether the Sport of Airsoft is better than the Sport of Paintball.

For one reason or another, gun enthusiasts around the world are turning to airsoft as an alternative to paintball and BB guns. It all began in Japan, where owning any type of gun is illegal.

To keep the gun enthusiasts in Japan law-abiding citizens, the airsoft market flourished by creating all types and sizes of guns as identical replicas of real firearms. Every detail, including any trademarks, is recreated for this plastic BB shooting gun to make everything as authentic-looking as possible. They look so real that many police and military training programs around the globe use airsoft guns for training purposes. Many countries mandate orange painted barrel tips on all airsoft guns to help authorities differentiate real guns from airsoft.

Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or an old pro at airsoft, you’re going to need to buy new equipment at some point. Here are 5 tips for you to keep in mind when you’re shopping for airsoft guns.

1)Be sure that you’re dealing with a reputable company, not one that’s only been around for just a few months. A good sign is a business that has a brick and mortar location, not just a post office box. A phone number in addition to an email address is also a good sign.

2)A good selection of guns (pistols, rifles and shotguns), ammo (including BB’s and loaders), tactical gear and clothing, gas, lubricants and batteries/chargers. Keep in mind that even though you are into one particular type of gun now, your hobby might eventually lead you down another weaponry path, so it’s important to keep your options open. Kits to upgrade and maintain your current gun are also good things for your chosen e-commerce website to carry.

3) A good return policy is another thing to keep in mind while shopping for you airsoft gun. The majority of retailers do have an “All Sales Final” policy, but if your gun doesn’t work when you receive it, that’s another story altogether.

4)Make sure the website is secure. Above and beyond anything else, your security from every possible angle should be their concern, and you shouldn’t settle for anything other than the latest in Internet security. The best e-commerce sites will prominently display security badges on their homepage for the entire world to see.

5)Look for a troubleshooting section on their site. Just because the semi automatic mode on your gun doesn’t work it doesn’t mean that you need to send it in for repairs, especially if you’re somewhat of a newbie to the sport. A good company will value you as a customer and try to help you when they can. One of the best ways for a company to show you their appreciation is by saving you the hassle of a needless return.

No matter how safe a game or sport is, the fact still remains that there’s just no such thing as a pastime that’s guaranteed to be accident- (or incident-) free. This holds true for bike riding, jogging, baseball, and even airsoft guns. But just like everything else, if you use the proper safety techniques, are aware of some of the basic mishaps and carry a suitable first aid kit, you’ll be able to enjoy a worry-free day of airsoft fun.

First on our list of safety topics is the all-important first aid kit. While most of the major playing fields and areas will have a substantial kit or a medical professional available, you might want to consider the possibility of injury when you’re well out of range of the base. For this reason and many others, you should always carry a personal-sized first aid kit. Most discount retailers, convenience stores and pharmacies carry the “ready-made” kits for you to grab and go, or you can make your own for a lot less money. It needs to be the right size to carry with you at all times, but also needs to hold the essentials like waterproof band-aids, eye-wash pods (to get dust and other tiny, foreign objects out of eyes), Tylenol or Advil, wound dressing, wound disinfecting spray and medical tape. Remember that you’ll want to treat a small cut or abrasion early on before it gets infected and becomes a real problem.

It also might be a good idea to carry a cold-pack and an Ace bandage or other flexible support with you in your gear bag to aid in any ankle or wrist twists that may happen during your adventure. Slipping on wet grass or leaves, or turning holding your airsoft rifle incorrectly for a prolonged period of time can have quite an impact on certain body parts.

But the most important of all safety tips is to wear your protective gear like gloves and other body coverings. Always use your protective eyewear according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as eye injuries can be some of the most painful of all. If your eye ruptures, there is a good chance that you will lose your eyesight permanently, so don’t try to “look cool” by skipping protective eyewear!

Common sense reminds us to know our bodies when heading out for a safe day of airsoft. If you have weak ankles, be sure to wear the proper footwear and ankle support for a long day on your feet. If you’re prone to back pain, a back brace or other support will help to keep you comfortable and pain free while you spend some relaxing time practicing the latest maneuvers and tactics in the realm of airsoft guns.

In the previous article of The Sport of Airsoft vs. The Sport of Paintball, we established one of the major differences between the two sports is the actual guns, and not necessarily the cost. I would now like to turn to the conditions of each sport and what they entail.

I have recently seen more and more professional Paintball games being played and broadcasted on Television. I watch the teams compete and the strategy they import to the playing fields. With no offense towards these Paintball teams, I have to say I don’t see much strategy used, especially in “SpeedBall.”

It always seems to come down to the same thing and same strategy for every team. Get your sprinters to get in close, making sure the first line is spread out while the back field players shoot as much and as fast as they can. Now, I know that most people think that this is strategy, but in my experience any Joe Blow who can move their index and middle finger fast enough can get into the sport.

When I first started participating in Paintball games I had a rental gun that wasn’t so accurate or effective from a long distance. I remember that a guy on the other team had a great gun with a double tap trigger and stood in the very back of the field shooting tons of paint towards our team. I understand that he was using the only strategy that he knew to work, but to me that contradicts the game.

In that specific case there is no sport involved, it has everything to do with equipment. I could only imagine if they had five other people standing back there doing the same thing. How much fun would that be?

So is strategy involved in Airsoft, or a better strategy that involves more than just equipment? I want to make a note that better equipment will definitely optimize your sport experience, but I don’t think a sport should solely rely on having the best equipment. It takes the fun out of the game and sooner or later it takes the strategy out as well.

Personally, I would much rather be holding a sniper rifle with a long range scope, backing my team up from an elevated level several hundred feet behind them and making sure that their every move is safe. Or posted on the flank while skirmishing through a thick set of woods holding an M16 fully-automatic machine gun, backed up with a 9milimeeter strapped to my ankle incase I needed it for some close combat.

Gaming can take place in an open field with no barriers or a 100-yard field full of trees, brush, and bushes. This all happens while talking on the radio, knowing every location my team is in. This makes for some extreme planning and strategy, not to mention some extreme fun.

So what sport is emerging and what sport is becoming the ‘equipment war’ rather than a sport? When it comes to The Sport of Airsoft versus The Sport of Paintball I would have to choose Airsoft, and not just because of the costs or the clean up, but simply because of the realistic features and adventures involved. From the guns to the gaming it makes more sense to have fun in a realistic game of warfare without the death part.

In any case, when it comes to sport, I would have to say crawling on the ground under brush or posting yourself 35 feet in the air decked out in camouflage sniping people from an elevated position is more sport than standing in the back of a field loading and shooting, loading and shooting as fast as you can. In other words I think it is evident which sport is actually emerging and unfortunately which equipment race is on its way out.

It’s been said in many circles that paintball guns may have seen their time in the spotlights, and airsoft guns are the wave of the future. Still others think this theory is ridiculous, and lovers of paintball will continue the legacy that paintball has left. But one cannot overlook the impact that airsoft guns have made with gun enthusiasts all over the world.

It all began in Japan, where any type of genuine gun ownership is strictly prohibited. The laws of the country didn’t stop the love of the weaponry, it merely created a space of airsoft guns to live and breath in the community. Instead of shooting bullets, BB’s or plastic balls filled with paint, airsoft bullets (plastic balls) are used to hit the targets.

Unlike paintball guns, airsoft guns can be exact replicas of even the most covert firearms available. In fact, many militaries are using airsoft rifles, pistols and other firearms for training purposes, due to their authentic look and feel.

Now that you’ve got the basics down, you need to know what to look for while shopping for airsoft guns and their accompanying accessories.

First of all, just like with any purchase, you’ll find the best selection and deals over the Internet. But just like any purchase made online, you need to be sure that the company you’re dealing has been around for a while and has a solid reputation. One positive sign is a physical address listed on their website, not just a P.O. box and email contact information.

And while we’re on the topic of the World Wide Web, be sure that the company you choose is secure and that the security of your payment and personal information is one of their primary focuses.

Now that we’ve covered safety, let’s cross the path of the guns themselves. Not only should your dealer have a wide variety of airsoft assault and sniper rifles, pistols and support weapons (like M80s), but also ammunition, clothing, baggage, gear, parts, silencers, as well as any other accessory that you could possibly think of. You need to think a bit down the road, too, for even though one particular weapon might suit your fancy now, you might just fall for something a bit bigger down the road. It would be a bummer to build a solid reputation with one dealer now, only to have to switch down the road.

Finally, the last topic I’ll brush upon is important to me personally when it comes to my airsoft gun. When I was a newbie, I didn’t have the faintest idea how to operate my gun. In fact, I thought it was broken on several occasions. My dealer had (and still has) a troubleshooting section on their website to help those who aren’t airsoft-savvy get through the basics and begin enjoying the sport of airsoft.

The gaming and tournament circuit has made an impact on airsoft guns, just as it has for paintball and regular bb guns. Creating the right atmosphere is imperative to the positive airsoft gaming experience that any player wants to have. With this in mind, your shopping list will basically make itself with just a bit of help to get you into the right frame of mind.

First things first, you’ll need to choose your gun style to create your ultimate player. Sniper rifles are a prime choice, as the actions of such a skilled rifleman are often imitated in the airsoft hobby. Pistols definitely have their following, while traditional rifle and shotgun users also have a crystal-clear home in the airsoft gun industry, as this hobby uses products and accessories that are the closest possible to the real thing.

Safety glasses, goggles, or a full-face airsoft mask are the most important of accessories. The airsoft bb travels at approximately 300 feet per second and will hurt if you’re struck by one (yes, I know this from personal experience), so you really should keep your eyes protected from the possibility of temporary or even permanent blindness. If you engage in tactical airsoft (against other human opponents), the odds of a bb flying past your face is significantly higher than if you’re shooting parallel to a fellow airsoft enthusiast at a target 40 feet in front of you.

Tactical vests are a “must-have” for any airsoft devotee who can’t remember which pocket they put their co2 cartridges, bb’s and loaders into while out in the field, or just anyone who likes to have lots of places to keep their smaller-sized airsoft paraphernalia within an arm’s reach at all times. Hidden inner-pockets are quite common on the sleeveless jacket style, while the harness-type of vest boasts a lighter, less bulky version that has plenty of room for your ammo, water bottle and snack. Please note that even though the sleeveless jacket style will help to protect you from accidental (or intentional) bb bruises, the harness version offers hardly any protection. In this case, a combat vest might be a wise investment to wear out onto the battlefield.

If you’re really a fanatic about airsoft, there are a few more interesting items that just might be of interest. For the airsoft snipers, a Ghillie suit is “the” type of camouflage worn most often in real world combat. Two caveats to keep in mind regarding this type of gear: one is that the suit itself is relatively heavy and warm and the second is that most airsoft “soldiers” won’t be shocked to see a 6’ tall running bush, so don’t think that you and your new-found tactical ensemble are really fooling anyone.

For the interested person who is looking to join the exciting and exhilarating fun of the sport of Airsoft, finding an affordable Airsoft gun is not as complicated as it may seem. Although some of the higher-end guns can be expensive, the average newcomer does not have to spend a small fortune to purchase and enjoy a quality Airsoft gun. Before the interested buyer begins to search for his optimal weapon, an understanding of the different types of guns that are available, and how these guns work can be very helpful.

Generally speaking, Airsoft guns fall into three different categories, which are defined by how the guns are designed and operate. The more complicated the inner mechanisms that fire the guns, usually the more expensive they become. The first category we will examine is the Automatic Electric Airsoft Gun or what is commonly referred to as the AEG. These electric guns are arguably the most popular guns among veteran Airsoft players. They have given the sport its greatest appeal and are singularly responsible for its explosive growth around the world. The AEG has an electric motor that is powered by an onboard battery. The motor turns the gears inside the gun, which in turn causes a piston to compress and release. The piston creates a blast of air that propels a 6mm plastic BB through the barrel of the gun. This fully automated system gives these guns the exciting rapid-fire feature that makes them so popular. These guns also tend to be the most expensive of the Airsoft gun family, usually costing around several hundred dollars.

The next group of guns to look at is the Gas Powered Airsoft guns. These guns operate by compressed air that fires the BB. The gas is either stored in an onboard cylinder or a gas filled magazine that connects to the gun. Some of the more popular styles are the gas blowback guns or commonly called the GBBs. The compressed air that fires the BB also returns the firing slide to the fire position at the same time. This return action creates a realistic “recoil” sensation from which the name blowback is derived. Reputed to be great fun to play with, the high-end GBB model guns can also cost around several hundred dollars. The non-blowback gas guns are less costly and start at around 40 dollars.

The last category of guns to look at is the Spring guns, which are also referred to as the “Springers”. Commonly tagged the cheap Airsoft gun, these spring guns were the original Airsoft models. In order for the gun to fire, a spring mechanism must be manually cocked back each and every time. Due to their simplistic design, the Springers are the most inexpensive and cost effective Airsoft guns. These guns are recommended as perhaps the best for entry-level players. Most players at some point have owned one of these models, which can be purchased for as little as 20 dollars.

In an effort to find a cheap Airsoft gun the shopper must keep in mind the value for the money. Even though one can purchase a gun for around 20 dollars, this does not mean that the gun is cheap in quality. A well made 20 dollar Springer can be a great value for the money, just as a two hundred dollar AEG can be a great value as well. Usually no matter the price, buying a gun from a well-established Airsoft manufacturer is important and worth the investment.

Airsoft guns, also known as soft air guns and are usually powered by a mechanism which uses a combination of electric power, spring contraptions or gas. These are guns that shoot small plastic pellets, typically six to eight millimeters around, though there is some debate as to whether the spring powered weapons are actually air guns at all. Some of these airsoft guns are used for playing airsoft which was developed mainly in Asia since firearms were illegal, airsoft is sort of like paintball except that airsoft is usually done in a military action simulation with clear objectives and not a last player standing wins kind of game (the later one would be paintball).

Paintball and airsoft weapons can be used for different types of contests, however in America, paintball weapons are preferred because they don’t resemble actual weapons as much as the airsoft models do.

Airsoft guns were designed to resemble the original models as much as possible, therefore there are several factors you must consider before purchasing one of these replicas. First, there are a couple of factors which are often considered selling points by those dealing with these type of weapons, these are power and precision. Some sellers promise power but precision is just as important. some of the specifications you might want to look at are the speed per second that the gun is able to shoot at and just how fast are the pallets fired from the gun. If the specifications include a comment such as “it can be used indoors” then the quality might not be as good as you want it to be, at the same time you will want to get an airsoft gun which can be used at a closed range without giving you any problem.

Moreover, you should consider local and state laws about firearms. Airsoft guns are not considered firearms but you absolutely must do some research to make sure your state doesn’t define “Airsoft guns” as a dangerous weapon. You will also want to double check that your barrel has an orange tip which is the mark that separates Airsoft replicas from actual guns, remember that they are designed as replicas of the original so removing this orange tip would actually be illegal. If you remove this orange tip, a police officer may think you are carrying an actual gun and things could get ugly, so for your own safety, operate these replicas away from public areas, wear protective equipment at all times (face masks, chest and neck protectors, shin and knee protectors and barrel plugs) and DO NOT remove the orange tip, this is to comply with safety procedures and federal regulations.

Remember to keep these valuable replicas away from the reach of children and operate them in designated areas to avoid any problem.