Airsoft Guns: A Sport Warrior Arsenal Intro

The replicas of real guns, these sometimes miniature electric powered (battery) airsoft bb guns, are now seen around the world and probably in your backyard or neighborhood. They are powered by batteries both AA and AAA and are most of the time either semi-automatic or fully automatic. They shoot or fire those tiny little pellets or bbs as they are called, that in case you don't know are very small. They usually hold about 70-80 shots and have a range of around 100 yards and if one can remove the dangers associated with weapons they can be fun to play with. It is quite surprising the quality of these authentic looking weapons that are often mistaken for the real thing. I am sure you have seen the stories in the news where an officer acted when he or she mistook a toy gun for a real one. Federal laws now requires at least a 6mm (about a quarter inch) orange end to be on all replica guns (including airsoft sport replicas) that are imported into the US. Unfortunately this measure is not always effective and remains open to much debate because it is much too easy to remove the orange tips or paint over when the owner wants a more genuine gun appearance. There is a full range of airsoft guns available including the most popular military and law enforcement weapons. New ones are coming out all the time and one ironic point or maybe more accurately an indication of the quality of these replicas is that they are cast in authentic gun molds. There are AK47s at 410 grams, G3A3s that weigh 375 grams holding eighty rounds, the M16 airsoft gun weighs 410 grams and holds 70 rounds, the Xm 177 mini also is about 410 grams and it holds 70 rounds too. The Uzi mini is 375 grams in weight and holds about 80 rounds. One of the higher capacity models is the Aug weighing in at 375 grams and holding 170 rounds about twice what most other airsoft guns. Holding to the tradition of a toy, they are made of tough ABS plastic and run on AA or AAA batteries. Sometimes these batteries are rechargeable sometimes they require disposable and sometimes will use both. The energy referred to from these guns is measured in Kinetic energy that is transferred from the bb upon impact. 330 fps will transfer one joule of energy with a pellet that weighs .20 grams. The established limits range between 300 fps to 550fps depending on the application with all of them being measured using a .20 gram bb. The weight of the bb and the velocity it is fired both are primary factors in determining kinetic energy. Some games like the ASH Hawaii have no limit fps games but usually games have set limits. If this article is your introduction to airsoft guns you have a long way to go. It is a sport that is enjoyed by many but needs to be approached with a measure of caution. Good luck and be safe.

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