Let's be honest. Every hobby has it's price, and Airsoft is no exception. But remember this, and don't disregard this at the risk of being disappointed. If you want something that will last, and that you can be proud of, be willing to pay for it. In an Airsoft gun, you want to avoid, and look for certain brands before you buy. ABSOLUTELY AVOID: Cyma, CSI, Double Eagle, Well, and ANY Airsoft that claims to be an "Exact clone/replica" of another brand, regardless of what it is. If you buy a replica of a good brand, you most likely got a brand listed above. If you got a replica of one of the brands listed above, my sympathies. TRY TO GET: Tokyo Marui, Classic Army, ICS, Maruzen, D-Boys, JG, Echo-1 and various other smaller companies. If you are unsure of the gun's quality, check the price. If you see multiple sellers selling it at a similar price, consider it. If one sells higher than another, to a unreasonable degree, assume that he is ripping people off, and avoid him. Nothing can beat research, so check websites other than Ebay. Be sure that when comparing, you have the same model of gun, AND the same manufacturer.

     Now that we have covered the "Rip-off" versus the "Bang for your Buck" guns, we can move on to the different types of Airsoft guns. There are really only three types of Airsoft guns, at least that I am aware of. These are Spring Powered, Gas Powered, and Electric Powered. Each has different capabilities and as such, the buyer must be aware of what the product will do before he or she purchases it.

      Let's start with Spring Powered. These are generally the cheapest of Airsoft guns, and by far the most simple, as well as durable. I recommend these to anyone just starting out, as they require no extensive maintenance unless they break, which they rarely do. The downside to Spring guns are that they are required to be manually re-cocked after each shot, which during a skirmish can be costly. They also are usually weaker than Gas or Electrical Power. Spring Guns can include Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles, Submachine Guns, and Shotguns, and in rarer cases Grenade Launchers (Limited to Tokyo Marui M203). 

     On to Electric Powered. These are probably the most common of Airsoft guns, almost all automatic rifles are electrics, and are often referred to as AEG's (Automatic Electric Guns). They require more maintenance than a Spring gun, but are far more reliable. Pistols are capable of semi-automatic fire without re-cocking after each shot, as batteries power the slide and automatically cock the gun after each shot. AEG's are capable of fully automatic fire in most cases, and usually have more that one firing mode, such as Fully Automatic (Rapid fire) and Semi-Automatic (Single shot). The downside is really only on the pistol side. The batteries are almost always in the handle of the gun, and so special, awkward magazines (Ammo clips) are required. Extra ammo is almost always necessary. Being limited to one magazine could be the difference between (simulated) life or death. The downside to AEG's is their price, and need for batteries, but hasn't been found to be bothersome at all. Electric Guns include Rifles, Pistols, occasionally a Sniper, Submachine Guns, and Heavier Machine Guns.

     Gas guns are probably the most realistic of all. They require more maintenance, but pack the most punch, and are probably the most helpful. The most common type of gas gun is a pistol. They are usually powered by HFC22 "Green Gas" which can be found almost anywhere. Most have recoil, giving them a more realistic feel to them, and almost all are Semi-Automatic. The bad thing about gas guns are that they require special magazines to contain gas, and thus are more expensive, but are not oddly shaped like electric gun magazines and can fit in regular pouches. They also require the most maintenance. Probably the worst is that they are the most expensive. Remember, you get what you pay for. If you use a Gas Powered Airsoft gun in a skirmish, bring extra gas, you may need it. Gas Guns include Rifles, Pistols, Revolvers, Snipers, Submachine Guns, Grenade Launchers (Gas Powered Shells) and Shotguns.

     Whatever you decide to do with Airsoft, just have fun! If you're not having fun, try selling your gun and buying a different type. Sometimes just testing a different role can change your entire outlook. Try joining or even making your own Airsoft team. Google "Airsoft" and maybe where you live, try and find people near you who share your interest, or an Airsoft Field that's close by. Talk to your friends, ask them if they want to try this, but ALWAYS be sure to notify law enforcement of any Airsoft events in rural areas!  Airsoft guns look IDENTICAL to real guns, except for an orange tip. DO NOT risk getting arrested, or worse, shot. NEVER remove the orange tip, or paint over it. It is there for your safety.

     Lastly, here are a few rules that you should follow to avoid injury or death: (1.) DO NOT remove or paint over the orange tip of an airsoft gun. While metal flash hiders are available, colored identically to the real firearm's, I DO NOT recommend buying them. The orange tip is for law enforcement to understand the gun is a toy. If they cannot tell, they may shoot first, and they don't use bb's. (2.) ALWAYS wear eye protection when using Airsoft guns. Sunglasses and Glasses aren't going to cut it, a weak gun will probably shatter them. Use a full face mask if possible, paintball masks will work fine. Goggles work too, but bb's can chip teeth if you're not careful. Be SURE your eye protection is going to stop a bb. More expensive goggles are better that being blind. (3.) NEVER carry your gun in public, the orange tip is NOT that big, if anyone mistakes it, you're still screwed. (4.) We hear all the time of people misusing Airsoft guns in crimes. Many have heard this line once, We didn't make it, but we find it very wise. "Many people are concerned about the use of Airsoft guns in crimes. A criminal is a criminal and will use whatever means they can to break the law. We would prefer a less dangerous criminal with an airsoft gun to a criminal armed with a real gun and the capability to kill innocent people." That is NOT saying to commit a crime, it is saying that an airsoft gun is NOT a dangerous tool in the hands of someone responsible.

Airsoft Guide For Dummies

What is an airsoft gun?

An airsoft gun is a toy replica of any real life gun model, only they shoot 6 mm plastic bbs that give them the term "soft".

What powers an airsoft gun?

Electric & Spring operated airsoft guns use a plunger system that forces a jet of air through a small hole which propels the bb through the barrel. Gas guns use a valve, much like a Co2 bb gun. There are three ways to power this system that consists of one of the following methods:

Gas powered: these are models powered by green gas that is usually stored in the clip of the gun. They must be recharged with gas when they run out of energy & are therefore the most expensive to use.

Electric & Manual powered: Both electric and manual cocking models are powered by an internal spring. The only difference is that electric models are battery operated and retract the spring through a system of gears without your assistance. Manual guns must be cocked with your hand before each shot can be fired but are also the most cost efficient. Electric guns can fire semi-auto and sometimes fully auto or both. Air is still the gas that propels the bbs out of the barrel.

Are airsoft guns dangerous?

In some ways, airsoft guns are not exactly toys. They can widely range in power anywhere from a low, and harmless, 120 fps to a blistering 350+ fps. Airsoft guns that can shoot 230 feet per second and above, should only be used by adults or under adult supervision and should never be used to shoot at people or animals. (No, Airsoft guns are not powerful enough to kill vermin, but can cause injury to soft tissue and eyes.)

There are special circumstances where airsoft guns are used in tournament settings where protective gear is used and this insures a safe and fun environment. You should always use protective shooting glasses when firing an airsoft gun and follow the basic rules that apply to handling any firearm.

What is Hop-Up?

Hop up is an industry term used to define the spin that is put on the bb in order to increase its overall range and accuracy. Some hop-up models are adjustable and allow you to tune-in your target, at range, depending on the weight of the bb used.

What does blowback mean?

 Blowback models are made in both gas powered and electric powered pistols. The term simply means that the slide "blows back" automatically when fired, just like the real gun in which they replicate.

What types of ammo can an airsoft gun shoot?

Airsoft guns can shoot are wide range of 6 mm ammo such as plastic, paintball or aluminum. These can vary in weight measured in grams anywhere between .12 g- .28 g. The most common bb weight is .12 g and comes in a wide variety of brands, quality and colors. It is essential that you only use the best, seamless bbs you can find in order to avoid jamming and damage to your airsoft gun. Paintballs should only be used in guns with an open breech so you can clean out the gun if the paintball bursts and gets stuck. Also, paintballs are best used in gravity fed tanks. Guns that shoot under 240 fps will have a hard time breaking the hard outer shell of a paintball and therefore are not recommended for use in anything slower than 240 fps. Aluminum bbs are usually reserved for use in gas and electric models, where their extra power can utilize the weight for maximum distance targeting.

Where are airsoft guns made?

Airsoft guns are made in many Asian countries including Japan, Korea, China & Taiwan. The name brand manufacturers in

Taiwan include brands such as:

• KWC, UHC, KSC, KWC, Y&P, KJW & HFC.

• From Japan comes:

• Tokyo Marui, Western Arms, Marushin, Classic Army, ICS & Maruzen.

• From China comes:

• Double Eagle, Well, CYMA, Both Elephant, just to name the most popular.

Certain companies, such as, Cybergun (SoftAir USA- a French owned company), purchase licenses from gun manufacturers and sell trademarked models made by several Taiwanese manufacturers and even some Korean and now Chinese models too.

What are airsoft guns made of?

Most are made up of an assortment of high quality plastics that are molded into the replicas that they are replicating. Japanese manufacturers tend to have the best fit and finish followed by Taiwanese models, Korean & then Chinese. In many cases, metal alloys hidden inside the handles and/or barrel give the gun the term "heavyweight" model.

Lightweight models simply lack the extra metal alloy. There are some metal parts on some models such as triggers, hammers, switches, stocks, barrels, bodies, slides, gears or clips, but these vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. HFC models tend to use the most metal parts. There are some all metal guns that have recently hit the market from China and you can expect more models to be all metal in the near future.

How far can an Airsoft gun shoot?

This varies greatly with the type of bb used and the power and hop-up of the Airsoft gun in question. A general rule of thumb would be this: For distance, use a bb with .20 g of weight or higher and purchase a model with an adjustable hop-up that you can tune in. Also, the fps rating is important because a heavier bb will need a more powerful model (280+ fps for bbs that weigh .20 or more). Airsoft guns, such as Tokyo Marui, can be upgraded to achieve extremely high power and range. This is not the case for airsoft guns made in China or Taiwan. For casual use or target shooting, a low powered model without hop-up is preferable and more cost effective.

What is an Ultra Grade Model?

 Ultra grade models are airsoft guns made out of the best materials available and shoot for realism in weight, scale, and high accuracy. These models are usually spring, manual cocking guns made by KWC and distributed by Cybergun USA with full trademarks.

How long will my gun last?

If taken care of, an Airsoft gun can last quite a long time, years even. This, of course, depends on the frequency of use and the amount of abuse the gun is taking. The fastest way to break your gun is to reuse old bbs or using bbs that are cheap and not perfectly round. Never use dirty bbs and always lubricate the inside of your barrel with silicone spray after every 1000 shots to keep the power and longevity of the rubber internal parts working up to par.

• Never drop your airsoft gun or overfill the clip. Make sure the safety is off before squeezing the trigger.

• Do not leave your clip filled with bbs; this will weaken the spring over time and cause loading problems.

• Do not get your gun wet or leave out in the sun because the rain will cause rusting and the sun can literally melt plastic faster than you might think.

If you suspect that your ammo is cheap, don't use it! Quality ammo is seamless and round, while cheap ammo is often times irregularly shaped and full of imperfections such as mold lines & plastic points that stick out of the bb.

What size is this model?

Unless stated otherwise, most airsoft guns are 1:1 scale replicas.