Thursday, October 29, 2009

Airsoft Guns: What Are They?

By Anthony Carter

The word gun makes a lot of people cringe these days. Guns are typically used as weapons in battle or for the sport of hunting and some are just for recreational purposes such as target practicing. There are many real firearms that have become collectable. Airsoft guns are toy guns modeled after the real firearms.

Airsoft guns are for recreational purposes only. They are designed after firearms however they do not shot regular bullets; they expel pellets usually made from a soft metal such as cooper or plastic. The pellets are driven from the gun by either a spring or compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or propane. Traditional firearms expel bullets which are usually made up of lead and some sort of explosive material which creates a fire or explosion propelling the bullet out of the barrel.

These toy guns are fun but they should be treated and used with care. Recreational facilities often require users to be age 18 but there are some that will allow users age 16 and older to use airsoft guns. Airsoft guns are great for teaching proper handling of firearms and for practicing shooting with. It is recommended that protective gear be used when playing with these guns. The plastic pellets will usually not penetrate the skin but there are cases where they can when used at certain distances and when the pellets are soft metal.

Manufactured in the 1970's in Japan, the airsoft guns were originally produced with springs. It was later on in the 1990's when compressed gas was used as the firing mechanism in these guns. The airsoft guns became popular in the United States after the compressed gas firing mechanism was introduced. Anyone selling or using an airsoft gun in the United States was required to have the tip painted blaze orange as a safety precaution.

Many models of airsoft guns are available. Many are actual replicas of the real guns. If you purchase an airsoft gun, make sure the dealer has obtained trademark rights. If a gun is reproduced without the trademark rights it is considered illegal.

As with most guns, airsoft guns also have additional accessories that can be purchased. Imitation clips, magazines, sites and spotlights are just some of the accessories available. They can be modeled after real gun accessories to allow for an exact copy of the real thing. Airsoft guns can range from cheap to very expensive depending on the upgrades for accuracy and velocity.

The firing mechanisms for the airsoft guns can be found on the outside or can be built directly into the gun itself. Outside mounted firing mechanisms resemble paintball guns. Believe it or not some airsoft guns are electric and come with rechargeable batteries as the firing mechanism. Compressed gas firing mechanisms are the most popular airsoft guns in use today.

When you think of airsoft guns, you are basically looking at an upscale model of a BB gun. It shots plastic pellets, is modeled after real firearms and is used for recreational purposes. Airsoft guns are much safer than real firearms and can be a great way to train on how to properly use real firearms. Airsoft guns can add excitement to recreational time for the gun lover but remember to always use your head when messing with a real firearm or an airsoft gun.

About the Author:

No comments: