Airsoft guns (ASG or AEG) are air guns used in airsoft sports. They are a special type of low-power smoothbore guns designed to shoot non-metallic spherical projectiles (airsoft pellets) often colloquially (but incorrectly) referred to as "BBs", which are typically made of (but not limited to) plastic or biodegradable resin materials. Airsoft gun powerplants are designed to have low muzzle energy ratings (generally between ) and the pellet balls have significantly less effective range, penetrative and stopping power than conventional airgun pellets and shots, and these characteristics make airsoft guns generally safe as toy guns for competitive sporting and recreational purposes as long as adequate protective gear (e.g. protective eyewear, face shield, firm clothing) are worn over the more vulnerable exposed parts of the body.
Depending on the mechanism for pellet propulsion, airsoft guns fall into two broad groups just like conventional airguns. One group is spring-piston guns, which utilize elastic energy of a coil spring to propel piston air pump that is either manually cocked (i.e. "spring guns", commonly referred to as "springers", and are the simplest, cheapest and generally of low quality); or automatically cycled by a battery-powered electric motor gearbox (i.e. "automatic electric guns" or AEGs). The other group is pneumatic guns (i.e. "gas guns"), which operate by bash valve-controlled pressure release of prefilled bottled gas such as compressed propane mixed with silicone oil (commonly known as "Green Gas") or canisters (Powerlets.). Pneumatic guns can be cycled either manually by hand-pulling back the bolt or slide, which loads the subsequent shot; or automatically by having the released propellant gas also pushing back the action (i.e. "gas blowback guns" or GBBs).
Airsoft guns are often designed to aesthetically resemble real firearms, which provides more realism but also makes it difficult to distinguish them from actual lethal weapons. Despite some jurisdictions issuing a mandate of bright orange-colored muzzle tips for better identification, the strong aesthetic resemblance has led to incidents of police misidentifying airsoft gun handlers as active shooters with real firearms and subsequently shooting them under the probable cause and plausible deniability of thinking they thus pose a deadly threat.
Usage
Airsoft in the past was used almost solely for recreational purposes, but in 2012, gas blowback (GBB) airsoft technology became adopted by US federal and state institutions as an affordable and reliable tactical training tool for close quarters battles. In 2018, the United States Coast Guard officially adopted SIG-branded P229 airsoft pistol for training. The GBB guns allow for correct weapon manipulation drills, muscle memory training, stress inoculation and force-on-force simulations for a fraction of the cost of conventional bolt conversion kits that use marking cartridges with wax bullets from training ammunition manufacturers such as UTM and Simunition. Airsoft guns also allow basic and advanced shooter training in a safer environment by reducing the risks of accidental injury or death from a negligent discharge.
There are clubs, teams, and even athletic associations devoted to airsoft events around the world. Europe is home to some of the largest events, with skirmishes of over 2,000 people participating. In North America, in 2012 alone, Fulda Gap Airsoft Game in Taylorsville, North Carolina had over 1,100 participants, and Operation Lion Claws Military Simulation Series (OLCMSS) had 800 people attend at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California. American Mil-sim, Black Sheep, and Ballahack also host large games. Events may include a variety of equipment ranging from small arms to armored vehicles.
In many countries, every airsoft gun owner and active enthusiast must be affiliated with an accredited airsoft association or federation. Most airsoft players host games at a registered field where combat situations are simulated using airsoft weaponry like replica pistols, submachine guns, carbines/assault rifles, DMRs/sniper rifles, light machine guns, grenades and landmines. Great variety and profusion of militaria is usually used. Historical reenactment of famous war situations is another favorite of many airsoft players and clubs. In addition, a number of companies such as Systema Engineering and Celsius Technology manufacture ultra-realistic high-velocity airsoft rifles designed specifically for the police and military for non-lethal training purposes. People today may also use airsoft guns as props for film making, particularly after the Rust shooting incident.
An Airsoft Two-Tone Gun is an Airsoft replica which has been sprayed over 51% a bright, non military colour, so that it complies with the Violent Crimes Reduction Act (VCRA, 2006), allowing anyone to buy a replica without having to prove that they have a legitimate use for it.
Types
Spring-powered
Spring-powered airsoft guns (or "air-cocking guns" as called by Tokyo Marui) are single-shot devices that use the elastic potential energy stored within a compressed coil spring to drive a piston air pump, which is released upon trigger-pull and rapidly pressurizes the air within the pump cylinder to in turn "blow" pellets down the gun barrel. These guns are almost identical (though simplified and underpowered) in design to spring-piston air guns and have the same operating principles. The user must manually recompress the spring under stress prior to each shot, typically by pulling back the slide (pistols), bolt handle (rifles) or forend pump (shotguns) on the weapon, which cocks and readies the gun. Because of this, spring guns are incapable of automatic or semi-automatic firing by design.
Spring-powered airsoft guns are generally not as powerful as gas-powered ones, but are more powerful than electric airsoft guns because stiffer springs can often be used without the worry of overloading any motor-gearbox, although some spring shotguns and bolt-action rifles can be very powerful with muzzle velocities up to . Spring guns are generally inexpensive (except the high-power sniper rifles and shotguns), and may not last long (depending on the build quality) due to the tension exerted on the gun parts by the recoiling of a powerful spring. However, many spring guns can be modified and upgraded to last longer and shoot more powerfully.
Low-end spring guns tend to be much cheaper than their electric equivalents due to their lack of electrical components (electric motor/actuator, spring-gearbox assembly, battery and battery charger). These guns are less common in competitions because their rate-of-fire is a disadvantage against automatic guns in close combat, and they do not provide enough accuracy and power for long-range use. There are some exceptions, however, as higher-end spring-powered airsoft rifles can be quite expensive; these guns are typically suited for "marksman" applications in airsoft matches and provide competitive muzzle velocities. Additionally, pump shotguns are sometimes used for both short and long range engagements.
In colder weather, spring pistols are more reliable than gas-powered pistols and even the batteries on automatic electric pistols (AEPs) both of which can be adversely affected by extremely low temperatures. This represents one of the major advantages of spring airsoft gun, as it can be fired in practically any situation without relying on batteries or bottled gas. This independence from external power sources causes some players to favor spring-powered guns. Spring guns are also less susceptible to the effects of water, where a battery-powered gun could short-circuit and malfunction when wet.
Because of their low price, availability, and simplicity, spring guns tend to act as training guns for new players. In the UK, they are affectionately known as "springers" and were often a player's introduction to the sport due to the entry-level cost in comparison to AEG and GBB weapons. Some veteran airsoft players still rely on sniper rifle and shotgun-type spring guns as a primary weapon due to reliability, high power, accuracy, low noise, and ease of repair compared to AEGs and GBB guns.
Battery-powered Automatic electric guns (AEGs)
Electrically powered airsoft guns use a spring-loaded piston pump just like spring guns, but instead of manual operation they typically use portable rechargeable battery packs to power an internal electric motor, which powers a gearbox, which in turn compresses the pump spring, propels the pellets via the compression of air, and loads the next pellet in cyclic fashion. Selective fire options among automatic, 3-round burst and semi-automatic operations are all possible, which gives these guns the popular name "automatic electric guns", or AEGs. They are the most commonly used and widely available type of airsoft gun.
AEGs were developed in Japan and the Japanese company Tokyo Marui is credited with creating the original gearbox system. In a Tokyo Marui AEG, the motor drives a train of three gears mounted inside a gearbox, which then loads a pump piston against a spring. Once the spring is released, it pushes the piston plunger forward through the pump cylinder to propel a pellet resting within the chamber forward through the barrel and out of the muzzle. Many manufacturers have now more or less replicated this basic model, adding reinforced parts or minor improvements.
The electric airsoft guns were powered primarily by nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries with varying voltages and milliampere-hour ratings. The most common battery is an 8.4 V large battery pack, with a capacity between 2200 and 5000 mAh. Also available are "mini" and "stick" batteries, which generally have 900 ~ 1600 mAh capacities. Voltages for NiMH batteries range from 7.2 V to 12 V. The usual rule of thumb is that the higher the mAh rating, the longer the battery lasts; the higher the voltage, the higher the rate of fire. Recently, however, the more energy-dense lithium polymer (Li-Po) batteries are becoming more popular in the airsoft world, since they last longer, have higher mAh and voltages, and can be charged more frequently without concerns for voltage depression, while at the same time being small and lightweight.
The most common AEGs are the AR-15 series (such as M16 rifle and M4 carbine, sometimes referred to as the ArmaLite or Colt series), the H&K MP5 series, and the AK or Kalashnikov series. Also increasingly popular is the H&K G36 and, more recently, the FN P90 and H&K MP7. Subsequently, numerous parts for repairs and modifications are commonly available for these rifles.
Low-powered electric guns (LPEGs)
Some airsoft guns are called low-powered electric guns (LPEGs) to distinguish them from the original, more expensive and more powerful AEGs even though their mechanical/electrical design and operation is similar.
Medium-power electric guns (MPEGs) MPEGs are the middle ground between LPEGs and AEGs.
Some companies, like UTG with their popular MP5 and AK-47 models, have improved their quality to such an extent that some models are now considered more affordable AEGs.
Electric blowbacks Electric blowbacks, also known as EBBs, are typically available at lower prices than their battery-powered counterparts. They generally run on AAA or AA batteries. Most models utilizing this system are rifles. EBBs simulate the blowback action of a real pistol or rifle. Essentially an AEG in design, EBBs are just as powerful. However, a drawback to having the realistic recoil feature is the tendency of the battery to quickly deplete. Additionally, blowbacks can cause extra stress on the gear box which may result in a shorter life span.
Automatic electric pistols