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Remember your BB gun? Well, now instead of a steel ball bearing, imagine a plastic one. Then, instead of the primitive lever-operated or pull-back spring system, substitute an electric motor with gears: Airsoft guns.
Since then, technology and refinement have increased in leaps and bounds, and now there are hundreds of guns, of varying quality and types, to choose from. This has also been fuelled by the fastest growing outdoor sport since 2001 - called simply Airsoft.
Nowadays, some standardisation has taken place, and BBs are now 6 or 8mm in diameter. Also, the method of delivering the payload has been standardised, with some variations, and is now named AEG - Automatic Electric Gun. These have an electric motor, which both cocks a spring and also drives a pellet into the chamber. The spring is then released, smacking into the pellet and propelling it out of the chamber.
The Airsoft gun fires pellets at around 200 to 500 feet per second (60 to 150 metres per second). These are fired at rates of 300 to 2000 BBs per minute. Gun capacity is limited by the magazine size: low cap: around 50 BBs, mid cap: around 120 BBs, or high-cap: 200-500+ BBs. The BBs in the magazines are pushed into the chamber by a spring, or by a manually-operated ratchet. Also available are electrically-operated magazines that may hold up to 5000 pellets. When entering a MilSom Airsoft game, however, you may need to prove you have limited capacity of a certain number of pellets to make for a more true to life gaming experience.
Smaller guns use gas as a propellant, although it is also becoming more in demand for the larger models, due to its less artificial feel and noise. Oil and fragrances are even added to the gas to heighten this sensation. A container on the gun that may be refilled from a propane camping gas bottle may be used. The Automatic Electric Gun has a further range than gas powered guns, though, and the batteries usually hold out for longer than the gas tank.
Airsoft guns are becoming more refined in their manufacture, and the mass produced plastic parts may now be replaced with harder-wearing alloys of aluminium, producing a longer-lasting machine, with better power and accuracy. You may even buy weighted AEGs to make it feel like you are wielding the real thing.
Bullet velocity is from 50 m/s (160 ft/s) to around 125 m/s (410 ft/s). With the right adaptations, muzzle velocity can be souped up to 180 m/s (590 ft/s). You may install a module to cause backspin on the BB. This increases the amount of lift on the BB by the air flow on the underside of the ball being offset by that on the top. Lift increased and so does range. This is called a hop-up unit. Although AEG range is usually up to 75 metres (250ft), the hop up unit can double this.
You can buy 6mm paintballs for your Airsoft gun, but these may explode inside your chamber, meaning a ruined gun.
Since then, technology and refinement have increased in leaps and bounds, and now there are hundreds of guns, of varying quality and types, to choose from. This has also been fuelled by the fastest growing outdoor sport since 2001 - called simply Airsoft.
Nowadays, some standardisation has taken place, and BBs are now 6 or 8mm in diameter. Also, the method of delivering the payload has been standardised, with some variations, and is now named AEG - Automatic Electric Gun. These have an electric motor, which both cocks a spring and also drives a pellet into the chamber. The spring is then released, smacking into the pellet and propelling it out of the chamber.
The Airsoft gun fires pellets at around 200 to 500 feet per second (60 to 150 metres per second). These are fired at rates of 300 to 2000 BBs per minute. Gun capacity is limited by the magazine size: low cap: around 50 BBs, mid cap: around 120 BBs, or high-cap: 200-500+ BBs. The BBs in the magazines are pushed into the chamber by a spring, or by a manually-operated ratchet. Also available are electrically-operated magazines that may hold up to 5000 pellets. When entering a MilSom Airsoft game, however, you may need to prove you have limited capacity of a certain number of pellets to make for a more true to life gaming experience.
Smaller guns use gas as a propellant, although it is also becoming more in demand for the larger models, due to its less artificial feel and noise. Oil and fragrances are even added to the gas to heighten this sensation. A container on the gun that may be refilled from a propane camping gas bottle may be used. The Automatic Electric Gun has a further range than gas powered guns, though, and the batteries usually hold out for longer than the gas tank.
Airsoft guns are becoming more refined in their manufacture, and the mass produced plastic parts may now be replaced with harder-wearing alloys of aluminium, producing a longer-lasting machine, with better power and accuracy. You may even buy weighted AEGs to make it feel like you are wielding the real thing.
Bullet velocity is from 50 m/s (160 ft/s) to around 125 m/s (410 ft/s). With the right adaptations, muzzle velocity can be souped up to 180 m/s (590 ft/s). You may install a module to cause backspin on the BB. This increases the amount of lift on the BB by the air flow on the underside of the ball being offset by that on the top. Lift increased and so does range. This is called a hop-up unit. Although AEG range is usually up to 75 metres (250ft), the hop up unit can double this.
You can buy 6mm paintballs for your Airsoft gun, but these may explode inside your chamber, meaning a ruined gun.
About the Author:
Author information: Anthony Carter enjoys everything about airsoft guns. If you are interested in a great airsoft gun then JD Airsoft Guns is where you should look.
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