Airsoft guns are very popular for recreational use and becoming even more popular today as the market evolves for these detailed replicas of the real thing. Just what exactly is an airsoft gun though?
In simple terms, an airsoft gun is an exact copy of the real thing. The exception is that they fire plastic pellets, not bullets and use compressed gas. CO2 cartridges are the most commonly used form of compressed gas, but some gun models operate using electrical motors or springs. 6mm plastic pellets travel through this toy with a muzzle velocity of somewhere between 30 to 250 meters per second.
This information should not mislead you though, if used with metal based ammunition these toys can still cause a lot of harm. You should always use the recommended plastic pellets to prevent injury since they are pretty safe and won't break the skin. 16 years or older is the recommended age for use with some states going above this and restricting the age you can enter a tournament to 18. Never let children younger then the recommended age play with these gun replicas and especially not without supervision.
The history of airsoft guns is a unique one, dating back to the 70's in Japan where owning firearms was illegal. People still had an interest in weaponry so they found a loop hole around this law and began to manufacture fakes that looked like the real thing but fired plastic and rubber balls. The 6mm and 8mm size ammunition later became standard. These older models were all spring powered but later became gas powered.
In the 1990's this fun toy wandered over to North America and changed how we viewed recreational fun forever. Once North American's added their knowledge to the mix we ended up with what we know these gun replicas as today.
Because cheap versions of these guns were being manufactured the United States had to toughen up on the import. Today, in order for an airsoft gun to be imported in to the country or sold here legally they must have a bright orange tip. This is for safety reasons since they look so much like real weapons.
Life like accuracy is so close in some cases that companies often times encounter legal problems with intellectual property laws because they weren't given permission by the gun manufacturers to create copies. Most of these companies have been based in Japan and so the United States has banned import on specific models because of the detailed similarity to the real deal.
Do airsoft guns sound fun yet? They should because they definitely are. Whole families are enjoying this recreational activity together and some others using it as a way to relieve stress. You can easily find a tournament at any given time somewhere in some state. Winter weather does not hinder fanatics from having a little pellet action fun. This is definitely a sport one should look in to if they are looking for fast paced action without a high safety risk. - 30320
In simple terms, an airsoft gun is an exact copy of the real thing. The exception is that they fire plastic pellets, not bullets and use compressed gas. CO2 cartridges are the most commonly used form of compressed gas, but some gun models operate using electrical motors or springs. 6mm plastic pellets travel through this toy with a muzzle velocity of somewhere between 30 to 250 meters per second.
This information should not mislead you though, if used with metal based ammunition these toys can still cause a lot of harm. You should always use the recommended plastic pellets to prevent injury since they are pretty safe and won't break the skin. 16 years or older is the recommended age for use with some states going above this and restricting the age you can enter a tournament to 18. Never let children younger then the recommended age play with these gun replicas and especially not without supervision.
The history of airsoft guns is a unique one, dating back to the 70's in Japan where owning firearms was illegal. People still had an interest in weaponry so they found a loop hole around this law and began to manufacture fakes that looked like the real thing but fired plastic and rubber balls. The 6mm and 8mm size ammunition later became standard. These older models were all spring powered but later became gas powered.
In the 1990's this fun toy wandered over to North America and changed how we viewed recreational fun forever. Once North American's added their knowledge to the mix we ended up with what we know these gun replicas as today.
Because cheap versions of these guns were being manufactured the United States had to toughen up on the import. Today, in order for an airsoft gun to be imported in to the country or sold here legally they must have a bright orange tip. This is for safety reasons since they look so much like real weapons.
Life like accuracy is so close in some cases that companies often times encounter legal problems with intellectual property laws because they weren't given permission by the gun manufacturers to create copies. Most of these companies have been based in Japan and so the United States has banned import on specific models because of the detailed similarity to the real deal.
Do airsoft guns sound fun yet? They should because they definitely are. Whole families are enjoying this recreational activity together and some others using it as a way to relieve stress. You can easily find a tournament at any given time somewhere in some state. Winter weather does not hinder fanatics from having a little pellet action fun. This is definitely a sport one should look in to if they are looking for fast paced action without a high safety risk. - 30320
About the Author:
Author: Anthoy Carter is very knowlegdeable about airsoft guns. Go to JD Airsoft Guns to find the best place to get airsoft guns online.
