Friday, September 11, 2009

Airsoft Guns- General Information You Need To Know

By Anthony Carter

In many countries around the world it is nearly impossible to own firearms. If you do wade through all the red tape to finally get a permit, buying a gun can be prohibitively expensive and you will probably find more restrictions than permissions on where and for what you can use your gun. Therefore, a new type of weapon has come onto the market: airsoft guns. Airsoft guns are perfect for people who like to target shoot or engage in mock military games but either can't or don't want to have a real steel weapon around the house. They look and feel like the real thing, but are no more deadly than, say, your lawn mower. In other words, accidents can happen, but only if you're not being careful.

There is little thrill in going into an arena and shooting colored balls and pre-teen boys. Hardcore military simulation, or MilSim, fans have turned to airsoft guns.

When fired point blank, plastic BBs can hurt as much as rubber bullets, however most people engaging in military simulations with airsoft guns wear thick military garb. Additionally, precautions are taken to protect the neck, face, and eyes. Many people chose to wear a balaclava around their face and neck and ANSI approved eye protect is a must. The only place that plastic BBs can really cause damage is to your eyes.

The only way a plastic BB could actually cause permanent damage is if it were fired into your eyes. However, people who engage in military simulations with airsoft guns are required to wear ANSI approved eye protection that is guaranteed not to shatter if impacted with a BB. This way you can have your fun without worrying about accidentally hurting someone.

Before each shot you need to cock the gun to exert pressure on a spring-loaded mechanism. When you pull the trigger the pressure on the spring releases and the pellet is propelled out of the gun. Electric airsoft guns use either a rechargeable or lithium-ion battery to power a small electric motor in the stock of the gun.

There are three different ways in which an airsoft gun fires a BB. The first variety available on the market was the spring fired gun. These were developed in the late 1970's in Japan in response to the nation's ban on firearms. The spring mechanism works through a system of tightly wound coils that hold enough force to propel the BB forward. When you fire a spring airsoft gun, know that you have to cock it prior to each firing.

The next innovation in airsoft guns was the electric model. It utilizes a battery to power a small electric motor that propels the bullets forward. While you can achieve a higher rate of firing, it is not as consistently reliable as a spring mechanism. These days the most popular airsoft gun is gas powered. These guns most closely resemble real weapons. When you load your pellets, you also load a small pressurized gas canister onto your gun. The pressure released from the canister shoots out your bullets. Gas is used in nearly all machine airsoft guns.

Regardless of what type of airsoft gun you choose for your paramilitary games or range practice, know that you have chosen a proven and safer alternative to standard weapons.

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