If you are just starting in with airsoft or thinking to get your hands on the best electric airsoft rifle, then this guide to electric airsoft rifles will surely be of great assistance. In this article, you will learn what an airsoft gun actually is, where it came from, how it works, and more. So, let’s dig a bit deeper.
What is Airsoft?
Airsoft is an indoor/outdoor game that is played on a relatively large predetermined area. The objective of each player is to hit or tag other players using an airsoft gun. Since an airsoft gun’s ammo is BBs, unlike paintball or laser tag, it is difficult to tell when a player has been hit. Therefore, hits rely on an honor system that every player has to follow when playing the airsoft game.
To better understand the concept, you should bear in mind that a traditional BB gun isn’t anything like an airsoft gun. This is because a BB gun fires round or pellet-shaped, 0.177 caliber metal BBs at relatively high speeds. These guns are great for hunting or target shooting but dangerous for war games or indoor shooting. Therefore, an airsoft gun is used that has low shooting speeds compared to a traditional BB gun.
Airsoft History
Airsoft game is not an old school sport – it is, in fact, a modern-day game that started in the 1970s from Japan. But now it is way more popular in the USA, Brazil, and the UK. However, there is no clear name or evidence about who started the game of airsoft. In the beginning, these guns were used as replicas of real guns and called soft air guns.
The purpose of these guns was to replace expensive weapons in shooting training as well as in military training. Since these guns are cheaper than real guns, easily available, and cause very minimal damage, they are highly preferred to use in training. They became popular because the local and international laws made it difficult to buy and own real firearms.
The enthusiasts of shooting games started playing it as a hobby. Over time, it became a popular sport, especially in the USA. Now, there are many airsoft playing fields in the USA and other countries, and airsoft tournaments are also arranged for airsoft lovers.
Airsoft Equipment
We can divide airsoft equipment into the following two major categories:
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Necessary Equipment
This category includes all the equipment that is essential for playing airsoft game.
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Airsoft Guns
Of course, airsoft guns are necessary equipment of airsoft. Winning an airsoft battle depends on some factors, and choosing the right airsoft gun is the most important one. You can find airsoft guns in various types, for example, handguns/pistols, shotguns, and rifles. In this guide, we will only talk about the most popular type, which is an airsoft rifle.
However, most beginners might opt for pistols or handguns as they are easier to handle and swift compared to rifles. The quality of guns can range between low-quality plastic to a mixture of high-quality plastic and polymer or even metal. The higher the price, the better the quality.
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Airsoft Pellets
Airsoft pellets are commonly known as BBs or Ball Bullets. They are small spheres that are fired from airsoft guns and used to tag or hit other players in the game. Like real bullets, ball bullets are also available in a wide variety to choose from. It entirely depends on the player to choose the type of pellets – be it bio-degradable, tracers, non-traceable, etc.
However, two types of airsoft pellets are quite famous among airsoft players: 6mm and 8mm. The former ones weigh between 0.12g to 0.40g while the latter has slightly more weight. The pellets’ mass and material determines the impact after hitting.
Also, the choice of the pellet depends on the style of airsoft game being played.
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Safety Equipment
This category includes all the safety equipment that is important to wear before playing.
- Goggles
- Helmet
- Gloves
- Ear protectors
- Body Armor and Vest
- Face Masks
- Elbow and Knee Pads
Wearing these equipment lowers the chances of damage during the airsoft war game.
Types of Electric Airsoft Rifles
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Automatic Electric Rifles
Electric Rifles fall under the category of AEGs (Automatic Electric Guns). They are equipped with rechargeable batteries, mostly NiCad. The electric power enables them to compress the spring and provide acceleration to the pellet. Automatic electric rifles are the most used guns because of their high shooting power, good range, great accuracy, and less maintenance. Although their material is similar to their spring counterparts (plastic to steel), their firing mechanism is completely different.
Some players go a step further and modify their electric guns externally to give them a more realistic look. Among AEGs, there are some guns called LPEGs (Low Power Electric Guns). These are cheaper compared to AEGs and work like springers, with the only difference of being powered by a battery.
If you are looking for investing in an affordable airsoft rifle, check out our article on Top 5 Electric Airsoft Rifles under $100.
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Electric Blowbacks
Electric blowbacks are somehow new to the world of airsoft – came around in the year 2000. They are equipped with a motor similar to the automatic electric gun but also have a blowback feature that adds recoil when a player is shooting.
Salient features:
- An excellent choice for both beginners and experts
- Doesn’t provide much shooting power
- Entry-level electric blowback uses 4 AAA batteries
- Advanced level electric blowback uses NiMH or LiPO batteries
Terminologies Used in Airsoft
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Muzzle Velocity
The velocity with which ball bullets leave the nozzle of the gun is called the Muzzle Velocity.
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Foot Per Second (FPS)
FPS is the unit for measuring the muzzle velocity of an airsoft gun. Whenever you are looking for a quality electric airsoft rifle, you should consider checking its FPS.
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HOP-up
HOP-up is an acronym for High Operation Power-ups. Being widely used today, HOP-up systems increase the range of airsoft pellets by providing more spin to them. Therefore, this system minimizes the effect of gravity on the pellets and hence their range increases.
Some Tips for Playing Airsoft
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Guns Will Break
When playing airsoft in a physically demanding environment, you need to consider the fact that your airsoft rifle can break. For example, if you are playing in a desert where there isn’t a lot of places to take cover, you might have to drop onto your stomach or back, which can cause your rifle to break. The gun’s stock, site or barrel might break badly due to being under challenging circumstances.
Therefore, the best thing you can do to prevent this from happening is to reinforce your rifle’s fragile parts, so they don’t break in the middle of the game.
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Maintenance
People say that airsoft guns are very fragile and can easily break down internally. Actually, this is not quite the case. If you clean your airsoft gun and maintain it properly after every use, your gun will last longer than you expect. It there is dirt in the barrel, simply blow it out. Don’t let it stay there for weeks or months only to complain later that your gun stopped working or broke.
You can also lubricate your gun’s spring system and chamber with WD-40, and it will work like magic.
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AEG for Life
An automatic electric gun is a must-have to win the game of airsoft. If you are using a springer, then you will most likely get shot by someone using an AEG.
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Airsoft Sniper Rifles
If you want more accuracy over the range of 100 to 150 feet, then an ordinary airsoft gun won’t do any good. You need to invest in an airsoft sniper rifle that will look cool, has scopes, and can shoot accurately within a couple of hundred feet.
Final Words
We hope that this guide has helped in clearing most of your confusions regarding airsoft and electric airsoft guns/rifles. When buying an electric airsoft rifle, always look for its durability, accuracy, and power. AEGs are great – if you can afford one, don’t hesitate to buy it right away.
Furthermore, electric airsoft rifles don’t just look cool but are also capable of destroying your opponents with the sheer volume of airsoft BBs you can fire at them.