Little Ralphie longed for a genuine Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, but his parents were reluctant to let him have it in the classic film, "A Christmas Story." Wonder what Ralphie's folks would say if they could see some of today's airsoft guns.
Airsoft guns became immensely popular when they arrived in North America from Japan in the mid-1990s. It was illegal then in Japan to own a firearm, and this ban may have fueled Japanese interest in them. The ever-inventive Japanese manufacturers paid attention to this customer curiosity and developed the first airsoft guns, powered by springs.
Airsoft players compete according to an honor system, in which participants are expected to admit honestly when they've been, because airsoft pellets don't leave marks, unlike paintballs. Airsoft pellets also are light enough that, depending on the airsoft gun's muzzle velocity and the players' distance between once another, a targeted player may not even feel the "hit."
While the prospect of such realistic replicas may alarm some parents, airsoft gun enthusiasts insist that their games are not intended for children. Most airsoft guns are age-restricted to players over 16, and commercially organized airsoft games usually require players to be at least age 18.
A key component of games involving airsoft guns is the honor system of play. Since airsoft pellets are so light, and fired at such a slow velocity, they don't leave a mark on skin or clothing, unlike a similar game, paintball. Consequently, a player targeted from far away might not even feel it if hit by an opponent's projectile. However, when they do feel a hit, airsoft players are honor-bound to report it, which eliminates them from play.
As the market demand increased, manufacturers began creating ever more highly detailed replicas of law enforcement and military firearms. These later models powered by various forms of compressed gas such as CO2, propane or Green Gas. Originally they fired several different calibers of plastic or rubber BBs. Eventually these diverse sizes were standardized into 6-mm and 8-mm sizes.
Usually these projectiles are too light to penetrate skin and move too slowly, although airsoft projectiles made of copper or metal alloy can penetrate skin. Velocities for airsoft guns using spring power or compressed gas typically range from 30 to 260 meters per second, or 100 to 850 feet per second. In comparison, authentic bullet speeds range from 370 to 1500 meters per second.
Projectiles shot from spring-power or compressed-gas airsoft guns travel at velocities from 100 to 850 feet per second (30 to 260 meters per second). Electric-powered airsoft guns fire pellets at 150 and 500 feet per second (60 to 150 meters per second). Genuine bullets shoot out at speeds from 370 to 1, 500 meters per second.
AEGS are powered typically by a rechargeable battery. The battery drives an electric motor in the gun's handle that runs a piston device to launch the plastic bullets. Because they can fire so much faster than spring-powered or compressed-gas guns, the invention of AEGs led to the development of replicas of semi-automatic or automatic airsoft guns resembling genuine weapons such as the AK-47. Airsoft guns with battery power can shoot up to 3, 000 rounds per minute. That's pretty good for a pretend gun in a pretend battle. - 30320
Airsoft guns became immensely popular when they arrived in North America from Japan in the mid-1990s. It was illegal then in Japan to own a firearm, and this ban may have fueled Japanese interest in them. The ever-inventive Japanese manufacturers paid attention to this customer curiosity and developed the first airsoft guns, powered by springs.
Airsoft players compete according to an honor system, in which participants are expected to admit honestly when they've been, because airsoft pellets don't leave marks, unlike paintballs. Airsoft pellets also are light enough that, depending on the airsoft gun's muzzle velocity and the players' distance between once another, a targeted player may not even feel the "hit."
While the prospect of such realistic replicas may alarm some parents, airsoft gun enthusiasts insist that their games are not intended for children. Most airsoft guns are age-restricted to players over 16, and commercially organized airsoft games usually require players to be at least age 18.
A key component of games involving airsoft guns is the honor system of play. Since airsoft pellets are so light, and fired at such a slow velocity, they don't leave a mark on skin or clothing, unlike a similar game, paintball. Consequently, a player targeted from far away might not even feel it if hit by an opponent's projectile. However, when they do feel a hit, airsoft players are honor-bound to report it, which eliminates them from play.
As the market demand increased, manufacturers began creating ever more highly detailed replicas of law enforcement and military firearms. These later models powered by various forms of compressed gas such as CO2, propane or Green Gas. Originally they fired several different calibers of plastic or rubber BBs. Eventually these diverse sizes were standardized into 6-mm and 8-mm sizes.
Usually these projectiles are too light to penetrate skin and move too slowly, although airsoft projectiles made of copper or metal alloy can penetrate skin. Velocities for airsoft guns using spring power or compressed gas typically range from 30 to 260 meters per second, or 100 to 850 feet per second. In comparison, authentic bullet speeds range from 370 to 1500 meters per second.
Projectiles shot from spring-power or compressed-gas airsoft guns travel at velocities from 100 to 850 feet per second (30 to 260 meters per second). Electric-powered airsoft guns fire pellets at 150 and 500 feet per second (60 to 150 meters per second). Genuine bullets shoot out at speeds from 370 to 1, 500 meters per second.
AEGS are powered typically by a rechargeable battery. The battery drives an electric motor in the gun's handle that runs a piston device to launch the plastic bullets. Because they can fire so much faster than spring-powered or compressed-gas guns, the invention of AEGs led to the development of replicas of semi-automatic or automatic airsoft guns resembling genuine weapons such as the AK-47. Airsoft guns with battery power can shoot up to 3, 000 rounds per minute. That's pretty good for a pretend gun in a pretend battle. - 30320
About the Author:
Author Information: Anthoy Carter is enticed by everything airsoft and knows alot about airsoft guns. Visit this website to find the best place to find airsoft guns.
