Airsoft Guns

With larger airsoft teams, it’s important to assign specific roles to each member of the squad. Each role provides a particular team function, but there are certainly situations where some crossover does occur. In an attempt to keep the team structure as simply as possible, we have narrowed down the various airsoft roles into three distinct classes.

Rifleman/Assault Soldier

The rifleman is the most common and versatile role on an airsoft team. Their main responsibilities include eliminating hostile forces and assisting with team goals. The rifleman squad will typically incorporate battlefield tactics such as flanking and suppressive fire in order to achieve their objectives. A rifleman should be able to rapidly deploy and quickly respond to identified threats with appropriate action. They should also be willing to take orders without question.

Sniper/Spotter

The sniper/spotter usually operates autonomously from the rest of the squad and is considered the “lone wolf” of the team. Their primary responsibilities are to pursue, harass and indentify the opposing force while at the same time remaining unseen. They’re also tasked with communicating the enemy’s position and movements to the rest of the squad. Generally, the sniper role should be filled by someone who is stealthy, quick and doesn’t mind working alone. The sniper should also have a pair of binoculars or a scoped airsoft sniper rifle in order to hit and spot targets from an extended range.

Support Gunner

The support gunner’s main responsibility is to simply suppress the enemy force in an attempt to allow his or her troops to move more freely. The support gunner is able to accomplish a high level of suppression by using a fully automatic weapon. A support gunner’s weapon will typically feature a large capacity airsoft magazine and a high rate of fire. Their marksmanship and tactical awareness are not all that important, because their primary objective is to merely suppress the enemy and not to eliminate them. However, a support gunner will need to be strong and agile in order to quickly move with such a heavy weapon.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the President and COO of Airsoft Megastore, an airsoft retailer offering electric and gas powered airsoft guns, including high-powered spring and pump airsoft shotguns. Please visit Airsoft Megastore to shop for airsoft AEGs, full metal airsoft rifles or the right airsoft gas gun for players of any experience level.

Labels: airsoft cqc, airsoft gunner, airsoft rifleman, airsoft roles, airsoft sniper

Voided warranties are one of the biggest complaints I hear in the airsoft community. Airsoft gun warranties are surprisingly easy to invalidate. Because they are not "real" guns, many users overlook the complexity of these devices. Airsoft guns are in fact very realistic replicas with sophisticated firing systems and multiple moving parts. For this reason, manufacturers have stringent warranty rules when it comes to airsoft gun operation. I have found that there are three core rules that will not only help protect your weapon from harm, but they will also make certain that you are compensated if your firearm has technical difficulties.

1. Unless you are a pro, do not attempt to disassemble your gun or perform upgrades on your own.
Unless you are an airsoft expert, you should not disassemble your gun for any reason, even if only to perform a simple upgrade. As mentioned earlier, airsoft guns are complex devices with intricate inner workings. If you need to disassemble your gun, or want to perform an upgrade, seek out an airsoft expert at a certified airsoft retailer. If you or any other non-professional toy with your airsoft gun, you will likely cause irreversible damage and void the gun’s warranty.

2. Use only high quality airsoft BBs.
High quality BBs will improve your shot accuracy, increase FPS, protect your gun’s internals and reduce or eliminate jamming. Cheap BBs like the ones sold in Walmart and large sporting goods stores will jam frequently, tear up your internals, diminish your performance and void your warranty. The bottom line is... always use good BBs. Look for BBs are high-polished, high-density and seamless. Only purchase airsoft ammo from certified airsoft retailers. It is also critical that you carefully read through your manual’s instructions regarding loading the BBs. Every airsoft gun is different and if you load the ammo incorrectly, it can cause major issues and also void your warranty.

3. Know your gun’s battery charge time.
AEG batteries are surprisingly sensitive and each one has specific requirements for the amount of time they are to be charged. Most standard chargers do not have a chip that alerts the device to stop charging. If your charger does not feature a smart kill switch, be careful to not exceed the recommended charging time.




About the Author: Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, an airsoft retailer offering electric and gas powered airsoft guns. Please visit Airsoft Megastore to shop for airsoft AEGs, full metal airsoft rifles or the right airsoft gas gun for players of any experience level.

Labels: airsoft warranties, airsoft warranty, protect airsoft warranty

One of the most coveted roles in airsoft is that of the sniper. Snipers are powerful forces on the field, often playing key roles in eradicating opponents and transmitting communications. The time-tested sniper tips that I consider to be the Big Three of successful sniping include stealth, patience and practice. After all, a sniper can only be successful if they remain undetected (stealth), wait for the right moments for the kill shot (patience) and shoot with high accuracy (practice, practice, practice!) In addition to the Big Three, you should also invest in the right gear. There are a number of airsoft sniper rifle upgrades and various airsoft field gear that will improve your performance, such as scopes, bipods, ghillie suits, a side arm for potential enemy ambushes and - of course - good-old black electrical tape.

While these tips - stealth, patience and practice - are all valuable and effective, they are also a bit general. The Airsoft Megastore team set out to find out more specific, concrete sniper recommendations and here are few "unconventional tips" that came straight from the playing field…

• Know the local vegetation. One sniper we spoke with noted that they recently discovered that they couldn’t crawl through a specific type of shrub. Even though they were flat on their belly, the bush tops moved significantly, giving away their position. Some other foliage is noisy or even painful to crawl through. Look for paths through the bush rather than attempting to crawl through.


• Consolidate equipment so that it is easy-to-reach. One inventive sniper we spoke with disclosed that he duct tape equipment like his radio to his arm or weapon. It keeps the item always within reach. The less you have to move, the less likely you will be seen.


• Partner up. Snipers are sometimes thought of as lone wolves, but partnering up with a spotter can make you much more effective. Lay side to side, facing opposite directions. This formation allows you to have a near 360 visual range.


• Sit one out. Volunteer as an airsoft skirmish referee. It is valuable to impartially observe a skirmish at some point in time. You can gain insight and create new strategies based on what you observe on the field.


• Take a note. After every skirmish, take a few moments to jot down what you learned from that day’s activities. Refer back to your notebook before the next match. It will refresh your memory and help you improve. Many airsoft players are predictable and use the same maneuvers time after time. By taking notes, you not only push yourself out of your ineffective ruts, but you can also identify other players' typical behaviors for future reference.


• Test all gear ahead of time - including your clothing. Make sure that your gear not only works, but is also quiet. Noisy items are truly frustrating on the field. If zippers / buckles jingle or pant legs rub together noisily, use black electric tape to correct the situation before you hit the field.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the President and COO of Airsoft Megastore, the #1 fastest growing Airsoft retailer in the U.S. Airsoft Megastore offers a full selection of gas and electric Airsoft guns including airsoft sniper rifles and spring airsoft shotguns.

Labels: airsoft sniper rifles, airsoft sniper tips, airsoft snipers