As an airsoft gun owner, you should want to take care of your investment so that it can be used and enjoyed for years into the future. Having an airsoft gun that wears out before it’s time or starts malfunctioning due to poor airsoft gun care is not only entirely avoidable, but also really unnecessary. If you’ve just purchased an airsoft gun and are looking for ways to keep it in prime condition, here are some great airsoft gun care tips to consider.
Cleaning the Barrel
The barrel of your airsoft gun should be cleaned after every use. If you live in a sandy environment, this is especially important. If you own an electric airsoft gun, you’ll want to fire several shots in the semi-automatic mode in order to decompress the gearbox once you’re done firing, though some guns have a button which will decompress the spring. With spring air guns, be sure not to leave the gun cocked, with the safety on to help prevent accidental injury. You’ll also want to consider spraying a non-corrosive silicone spray into the gun barrel and hop-up chamber occasionally to help keep your airsoft gun in good working order.
Magazine Care
For electric and spring airsoft guns, you’ll want to empty the magazine after each use to help preserve the strength of the magaine spring. This will help ensure long time enjoyment from your airsoft gun. Magazines for gas airsoft pistols though should be left pressurized so that all the necessary seals stay in tact. If the gas you’re using doesn’t havae silicon lubricant in it, then add a drop or two on the internals, otherwise you should be all right. Always remember that when expelling gas from your airsoft gun to never use the release valve, as you run the risk of freezing the O ring which can cause gas leakage in the future.
Observing the Batteries
Batteries are an important part of the lifepan of electric airsoft guns. Be sure to use batteries with the correct voltage. A battery with excess voltage will cause the gearbox to cycle at a rate that could damage internal components of your gun; while a battery with voltage too low can result in lack of power to cycle the gearbox at all. You will also need to be aware of the mAh of your battery. This will indicate how long a battery will continue to power your gearbox. Batteries with a higher mAh have a higher current draw which will increase the firing rate of your gun.
Airsoft Gun Touch Ups
As you continue to use and enjoy your airsoft gun, you may notice the paint starting to scratch or wear off. Experts typically advise against touching up your gun. If a full repainting is required be sure to use a flat, enamel based spray such as Krylon, or check with an airsoft retailer who will offer painting service to return your airsoft gun to it’s original appearance.
With the proper airsoft gun care, you can ensure that your air gun will be in excellent working order for many years to come!
The Airsoft Skirmish Game has it’s roots in the higher-power skirmish game of paintball. There is some contention in the Airsoft community, as to when the first true ‘Airsoft’ model was marketed, but what is known, is that an American air gun manufacturer, Daisy, marketed what they called a Softair gun in the late 1970s and early 1980s, which fired a miniature 6mm hollow plastic shuttlecock-like projectile, and incredibly low speeds, from a toy gun. The intention, it would appear, was to develop a new market for its products. They succeeded, and a new generation of rifle shooters was born.
This series of softair guns are generally thought, on balance, to be the ancestors of what we now know as Airsoft models.
Shortly after Daisy marketed their softair guns, Tokyo Marui, then marketing self-assembly plastic replica gun kits, modified some of their designs to fire the same form of projectile. Within five or so years, they had all but halted production of the 1:1 replica kits, and gone into full-time production of virtually 1:1 self-assembly low powered ‘ASGK’ Airsoft kits, firing a new 6mm spherical plastic projectile. Within another five or so years, in the early 1990s, spring powered Airsoft models became ‘old news’, as the first generation of Automatic Electric Airsoft Guns, or AEGs, were marketed, not as self-assembly kits, but ready to use out-of-the-box models, of remarkable realism and accuracy to the real-world counterparts that they represented.
The rest is history, as well over ten main-stream manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan, and other p art s of the far east, have sprung up to supply a brand new hobby sport, that uses these models in mock-combat games, called Airsoft Skirmish Games.
So, now we know the history of the models, how about the game?
The original hobby sport combat game is, of course, paintball, and this has been so well documented over the years, that it would be redundant to go into its origins here. However, paintball is illegal in Japan , which has probably the strictest firearms laws on the planet. This means that no-one may own any form of firearm privately, without a great deal of red tape to comply with, making it, for all intents and purposes, a non-starter. The same applies to paintball markers, which, as I understand it, are classified as firearms in Japan .
However, the Japanese, due to their culture of group-led activities, do enjoy combat games. How they accomplished this prior to Airsoft models being manufactured is beyond me (do you know? PLEASE tell me!), but the introduction of these models gave them the edge they needed to develop the hobby sport, which they get involved in, in truly massive numbers; it’s not unusual for there to be well over 100 players at any given playing venue, on any given playing day, and well over 500 players at a competition/convention event!
The rules to the game originated in Japan . Similar to the Paintball Skirmish game, there are one or two major differences. Firstly, the Airsoft models have a much lesser range than paintball ‘markers’; second, there are no paint gel projectiles used in the Airsoft Skirmish game, thus an honor system predominates. The fact that paint is not used to mark your opponent could have been a major problem. However, since personal honor is a way of life and culture in Japan , an d disgrace follows a cheat in that country, they found that to get the rules to work, all they needed to do was rely on their innate codes of personal honor. Thus, if you were hit by an Airsoft projectile in a game, you were required to declare this, and remove yourself from the game. It worked, too, as cheating tends to spoil the fun of the game for every one else involved. The basic rules were, therefore:
You cannot use physical force, as the object of the game is to shoot the opposition, and have fun – it is, after all, only a game.
If you’re hit, you’re out of the game.
These are the rules that form the basis of the Airsoft Skirmish Game, and, for all practical purposes, have not changed one bit.
The game then grew, moving to Hong Kong , Korea , Taiwan , and the Philippines . It was then only a matter of time before other countries saw, and adopted the game. It appeared in America and Canada at about the same time, and Europe during the mid 1990s, but it is only in the last three to five years, that the hobby sport has started to thrive in the UK.
Now, in mid 2000 AD, there are well over twenty playing sites in the mainland UK alone, and more planned. However, the feature that appeals to the hobbyists most of all, is also the most controversial feature: the realistic nature of the models used in the game. It was therefore paramount to professional site operators that some checks and balances were imposed, in the form of self-regulation. This has resulted in an unwritten code of conduct, that, broadly speaking, mirrors air weapon rules. These unwritten rules appear to be codified into the following:
No one under the age of seventeen (18 in the USA – this text added by Strike Back Now 6-18-04) should be permitted to purchase an Airsoft model.
Airsoft models should NOT be shown in public places, and the Safety rules that apply to real air weapons and firearms should, in the most p art , apply to Airsoft models.
So far, then, this seems to be a good start , and would appear to work in the majority of cases. It remains to be seen if the APAC campaign will result in a more formal code of conduct for the UK Airsoft scene, but one lives in hope.
This, in mid 2000 AD, is where the hobby is at. A minor, but legal (if somewhat controversial to some), hobby sport, enjoyed by hundreds of people around the country. In any event, both the technology, and the hobby, appear to be here to stay – and long may that continue!
How to play:
To get started playing Airsoft all you really need is an Airsoft Gun (if it’s a spring gun) and some BBs. The most affordable guns start at under , so Airsoft is a hobby that virtually anyone can afford. Once you have a gun and some BBs, you can practice shooting at home against a target, you can shoot cans in your backyard, or anything like that. Airsoft guns are actually made to be able to shoot at other people safely, when proper safety precautions are taken (i.e. eye protection, body covering).
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Things You Need to Know About Different Airsoft Gun Brands
Deciding on an airsoft gun that is right for you will all depend on the intention of the gun. There are a number of reasons for acquiring an airsoft gun; to use it for hitting targets in order to improve eye and hand co-ordination, coaching beginners on firearm safety or to engage in a combat game. The police and military utilize airsoft guns during their training as it is safer and a cheaper alternative than using real guns. Airsoft guns are seldom exact replicas of the real thing. They also have a higher level of safety, flexibility and cost less to buy; all of which adds to their appeal for the airsoft enthusiast.
There are a number of airsoft gun manufacturers. Some of the better known brands include Tokyo Marui, Classic Army, ICS, Crosman, Jing Gong and Cybergun.Whether you decide for the higher quality leading brands or the economical versions, how much you are willing to pay will be the biggest deciding factor. This article aims to direct you towards a couple of things you should be aware of before deciding upon a brand of airsoft gun.
The leading manufacturer of high quality airsoft guns is Tokyo Marui. They are the largest international manufacturer around the world and their guns have a reputation for being consistently reliable and durable. They are in charge for making a first-rate series of AEGs, AEPs, gas and spring powered guns. Leading the way in designing and improving airsoft products, many other brands replicate their models. As a manufacturer, they are appreciated by airsoft enthusiasts due to their intricate designs and detail and ability for highly accurate firing. As all metal body AEG’s are forbidden in Japan, guns are produced from ABS plastic and parts reinforced using metal.
ICS has a highly valued standing in the airsoft community for making reliable quality guns. With a history that goes back twenty years, they use only the highest quality materials, extending to the internal workings of the gun, such as metal gearboxes, steel gears, and silicon steel bushings. Their guns have an outstanding durability and are highly sought of by experienced airsoft players.
Classic Army are based in Hong Kong and produce high quality AEGs with metal bodies. Their models are particularly realistic-looking and durable. Their metal rifles consist of metal gears and gearboxes, precision barrels and high performance electric motors. Rifles produced by Classic Army are appropriate for upgrading and adding accessories.
Jing Gong manufactures top of the range airsoft guns or AEG’s in the low to mid price range. Skilled game players fancy this brand as their guns are quite low cost whilst offering quality. JG ensures their guns are long-lasting by addinginserting quality internal parts including metal gears and gearboxes. Recently updating the AEG, it is now capable of firing more than 400fps.
CYMA airsoft guns are not expensive but durability is quite low too, this makes them a good choice for beginners. Recently, however, they have unveiled a new series of full metal and wood AEGs with the focus on high quality, reliability and performance. Many of their newer models are replicas of AEGs from Tokyo Mauri. Due to their modernized models, CYMA are gaining popularity with softgun enthusiasts as manufacturers of quality guns at affordable prices.
Crosman are a well known America manufacturer and distributor of airsoft guns and BB guns. Their guns are known as being reliable and dependable with a reputation for durability. They have a selection\collection from entry level airguns for beginners to high powered adult airguns. Crosman are a mid range priced brand and hard-wearing, and popular with the younger end of the market.
Cybergun is a name you will pay attention to amongst other brands of airsoft guns, although they don’t actually construct guns themselves. They work together with manufacturers such as Jing Gong, CYMA and KWC to produce officially licensed highly detailed replicas with full branding of popular gun makers including Colt, Smith & Wesson, Thompson, SIG SAUER, Desert Eagle, UZI, Kalashnikov, FAMAS and more.
These are just a few of the brand names that manufacture and distribute airsoft guns. Whether you need a gun for fun or a more serious reason you will find a large selection of companies, guns and types to satisfy all levels of skill and experience.
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Airsoft Guns ? Have Fun With Guns and Know the Differences
There’s a vast range of airsoft handguns and pistols on offer. As with most things in life there are always some favourites that never really change over time. Like Airsoft Sniper Rifles as an example, there’s a certain something about airsoft rifles that their owners simply can’t explain. The dream of owning your own M16, G36 or AK47 is something that some of the other people will never understand. The surprising thing about most airsoft rifles is that they’re actually quite heavy and very well built. They’re designed to be an almost exact copy of the original firearm in every possible way – which in turn gives you an idea of what it would be like to handle the real thing.
The quality and features of your airsoft replica will depend on your budget. There are three basic types of airsoft guns – differences and approx. expenses are listed below:
Spring Airsoft Guns:
Spring powered airsoft guns differ from the other gas powered and electric powered airsoft guns because they are a single shot or spring cocked devices much like a real shotgun or bolt action rifle. The user has to cock the spring by pulling back the slide or bolt before firing each shot. Though they may not be very suitable for close combat competitions, they are widely used for “sniper” and “marksman” functions.
Electric Airsoft Guns (AEG):
The electric airsoft gun, also known as AEG (Airsoft Electric Gun) these are the top of the range when it comes to airsoft guns. Each AEG has a tiny but very powerful motor inside which powers the firing mechanism. There is still a spring inside an AEG but this is controlled by the electronic motor to achieve high rates of fully automatic fire. One of the really neat things about this type of airsoft gun is that it can be loaded with miniature paintballs. A word of warning however – if a paintball breaks inside an AEG it can clog up the entire firing mechanism meaning you’ll have to strip the gun down and clean it.
Gas powered Airsoft Guns:
Gas powered models add one immediate feature – automatic fire. With a gas powered airsoft rifle or pistol you don’t need to cock the gun each time because it has a gas charge built in. These are far more powerful than most spring airsoft guns and slightly more expensive. This extra power comes at an added expense – the gas needs to be refilled. This can be achieved with co2 cartridges or a portable hand pump. For the added expense gas airsoft guns definitely feel more like the “real thing”.
AATV presents a new airsoft fun video: The 10 Commandments of Airsoft. Lot’s of bad english inside, but still enjoyable (hopefully You can get a downloadable version of this video at www.aatv.at
AirSoft and PaintBall are two popular commercially available guns that are meant for games. Children and game lovers in shooting types of games use both of these guns. AirSoft was invented in Japan in the year 1970 and PaintBall was invented in the United States. Today, AirSoft guns are also manufactured in China, which has reduced the market of AirSoft guns in Japan. In this article we will have a brief description of the differences between these two guns.
AirSoft Made for Realism:
AirSoft guns are very similar to the real guns. These guns are popular in Asia and Europe. The guns have all the properties of real military guns. Since AirSoft guns have most of the qualities of a military gun, they are banned in many countries. AirSoft guns come with a complete package. Since AirSoft guns are highly dangerous, they have all the safety equipment along with the gun in a complete package. AirSoft guns are available in various models in the market.
PaintBall guns on the other hand are manufactured in United States and are famous in North America. PaintBall Guns are not as dangerous as AirSoft. Even these guns have safety equipments. PaintBall guns got their name as they make a mark with paint on the target. The PaintBall guns are not as realistic as AirSoft, but are very safe to play.
AirSoft and PaintBall Differences:
The manufacturing cost of AirSoft guns is very low compared to that of PaintBall guns. But the equipment for AirSoft guns is quite costly. The pellets of AirSoft guns are very cheap compared to PaintBall guns. The kinetic energy of a PaintBall gun is higher than that of an AirSoft gun. An ordinary AirSoft gun will produce just 1 Joule of energy compared to 12 Joules of energy produced by PaintBall guns.
The shots of AirSoft guns are much faster and they have the potential to damage the skin if hit at close range. This is due to the small size of the AirSoft pellets. Many countries have declared many safety precautions while using these guns. The Safety equipment of PaintBall are better than the safety equipment of AirSoft. The PaintBall goggles available with the PaintBall kit covers the enter area around the eye along with teeth and ears, Whereas the AirSoft masks are very soft and there are chances of damage to the eyes.
Conclusion:
Many teenagers prefer to get one AirSoft gun as it shoots at much higher speed compared to PaintBall guns. Also the pellets of AirSoft guns are much cheaper than PaintBall pellets. Parents prefer to get PaintBall guns, as they are safer to use. This is the only reason why PaintBall guns have high demand in the market. Also in the defense academies, AirSoft guns are preferred as they are cheap and less risky compared to original military guns. The AirSoft guns looks more majestic and original compared to PaintBall, which is another reason why children prefer to get them.
You can get a downloadable version of this video at www.aatv.at
