Airsoft Guns

Part of what makes airsoft guns so popular is their authenticity and preparation for airsoft skirmishes is just as realistic. Getting ready for an airsoft skirmish is exciting, nerve-wracking and strategic – and we want to make sure you don’t miss a beat before heading out to the battle field. Here’s a quick checklist to double (or triple) check before each airsoft battle.

• Airsoft gun(s)



It’s pretty obvious, but you don’t want to forget your airsoft gun on a battle day. Many airsoft fanatics like to clean their gun the night before or morning of, an airsoft skirmish so they can ensure its functionality; if your gun has any kinks, you want to find out before you’re on the battlefield with limited supplies and options. If you have one, stow away your airsoft gun in an airsoft gun bag for safe and easy transport. The airsoft bags are big enough to fit your other gear as well as your gun, so if you pack it all in there, you only have to grab one bag as you walk out the door to the skirmish.



• Airsoft ammo



Next to your airsoft gun, bringing along ample airsoft ammo is crucial to your ability to outlast on the battlefield. Eject your magazine and load it up pre-skirmish with quality airsoft bbs. Make sure that you choose quality airsoft ammo that won’t jam up your airsoft gun or pistol during game play. Even if you don’t have a high capacity magazine, as long as you bring extra bbs you can outlast the competition. Toss a bag of extra ammunition into your airsoft gun bag and you’ll be ready to engage without worrying about running out of airsoft bbs.


• Airsoft safety goggles & face protection



Just like real the deal, in a milsim game like airsoft, safety and protective gear is vital. The small, dense airsoft bbs are a huge safety concern; therefore, make sure you have impact resistant airsoft goggles. Another recommendation for safety is to protect yourself with a mesh full-face mask.



• Ghillies or other camouflaged gear/attire



Talk with your team to discuss a uniform to wear on battle day. Typically airsoft players will individually equip themselves in camouflaged gear to match the battlefield. Be sure to think about the area where you’ll be playing airsoft: is it more green-hued like a forest or woods or is it more neutral like open plains or a desert? Wear gear that reflects the environment in which you’ll play. If you have a particularly competitive or intense skirmish, be sure to think about a head-to-toe tactical ghillie suit.



• Random supplies to fix guns and parts



Come prepared for your skirmish with tools to fix a simple gun error: electric tape, oil, cleaning patches, multi-head screwdriver and a rod to fix ammo jams. Don’t allow for surprises on the field and over-plan for problems you may encounter.



• Nourishment



Skirmishes will get your heart rate up, so avoid sugar crashes or low energy when you’re playing on the field by packing granola bars, trail mix, water bottles and electrolyte-packed drinks. Bring more nourishment than you think you’ll need in case a fellow team member is running low.



• Review strategy



What kind of airsoft role do you have in skirmishes? Review milsim strategy with fellow airsoft enthusiasts before a big game and talk tactics. If you know the opposing players, your team can discuss their strengths and weakness and possible areas for domination. Check out our airsoft resource center for a number of helpful field strategies.



• Additional supplies



Depending on your gun and your type of game-play, you may need to toss a few extra supplies into your airsoft gun bag. If you plan on battling with an airsoft electric gun, bring an extra battery or two. If you’re playing the sniper role, think about bringing binoculars or an airsoft rifle with a scope for a higher shooting range. You may want to bring along some green gas if you have a gas or CO2 gun. Once again, you can never be too prepared for an airsoft battle.

If you have a special pre-airsoft skirmish ritual, make sure to add that to this checklist. Head out early to the battle, get a map of the territory to learn the battlefield (if you can) and talk strategy with your team. You are now fully equipped to dominate in an airsoft skirmish.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the President and COO of Airsoft Megastore, a growing online Airsoft retailer that carries airsoft guns and airsoft tatical gear. Airsoft Megastore offers a 125% low price guarantee on all new airsoft guns and airsoft ammunition.

Labels: airsoft battle checklist, airsoft bbs, airsoft gun bbs, airsoft shotguns, pump airsoft shotgun

When playing with airsoft bb rifles, it is always important to choose the right equipment for the type of environment where you will be playing. Part of choosing the right equipment for the environment is choosing the right airsoft gun to use. When playing with airsoft rifles outdoors, most fields have a large playing area and have a higher FPS limits (usually around 400 FPS). Playing on a larger outdoor field normally means that you will be engaging targets at a longer range, and maneuverability through tight spaces won’t be as important. CQB fields are normally indoor fields with limited space for engaging your target with your airsoft bbs, and they normally have much lower FPS limits (usually around 350 FPS). Maneuverability is much more important on CQB fields, where there isn’t much as much space for moving and engaging your targets.

When playing at an outdoor field where range is important and the FPS limits are set much higher, a standard size AEG rifle is the best choice. Standard Size AEGs normally fire airsoft bbs between 375 – 400 FPS, and have a longer barrel than CQB size airsoft AEGs rifles. The standard size AEG’s longer inner barrel allows it to hit targets at longer distances than a CQB AEG; however the longer barrel limits its maneuverability in a CQB type environment. Another standard size AEG feature that is great for outdoor fields but limits maneuverability in indoor fields is a full length stock. Having a full length stock helps to properly aim down the sights or scope, increasing your chances of hitting your target at long distances, however it also increases the length of the AEG making it more difficult to move in close quarters environments. There are some standard size AEGs guns that work well in both CQB and outdoor field environments. These AEGs rifles normally have shorter barrels such as the M4, R36, and M5 type AEGS. Some standard size AEG rifles also have folding or collapsible stocks that make them much more maneuverable in CQB environments to accurately fire the airsoft bbs.

In a CQB situation it is important to have an AEG rifle that is compact and lightweight, allowing you to be much more agile. CQB engagements are normally fought out in building type structures with limited space to move, and shorter engagement distances. CQB AEGs are designed specifically for CQB environments, with short barrels and stocks to make room clearing and cornering much easier. Their compact design and lower FPS is perfect for quickly engaging targets around corners, and allows for much greater maneuverability. The CQB guns lower FPS design normally means that it will have a higher rate of fire than a standard size AEG, which gives CQB AEGs a slightly faster trigger response. CQB AEGs can be used at outdoor fields as well, but you will probably have to move in close to your targets which can leave you vulnerable.

Making sure you have the right airsoft equipment and right airsoft gun for the type of environment where you will be playing is always important. Having a gun that is too bulky for a CQB field or having a gun that can’t hit targets at longer ranges at an outdoor field is likely to make your day of airsoft much less enjoyable. It always helps to do a little research of the field you will be playing at to determine what equipment to bring. And remember it is always better to over prepare than under prepare. If you are unsure about the type of field you will be playing at, bring both a CQB AEG and a standard size AEG just to be safe!

To see our full selection of tactical gear and airsoft guns, visit our airsoft gun supply store.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the President and COO of Airsoft Megastore, an online airsoft retailer offering electric and gas powered airsoft guns, as well as airsoft parts, upgrades and accessories. 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 aeg, airsoft ammo, airsoft gun bbs, airsoft shotguns, CQB AEG

Airsoft enthusiasts spend hours debating the weaponry and accessories currently available, all in an effort to not only improve their game, but more importantly their ‘life-expectancy’ in a skirmish. From feet per second to rate of fire, from metal gearboxes to upgraded springs, from red dot versus optical zoom scopes and red versus green lasers and more, it’s all about speeding target acquisition and ‘time on target.’ All understandable, but what about the one component inherent to the entire process: the airsoft pellet itself?

As anyone who’s ever operated an actual semi-automatic firearm can tell you, all the bells and whistles simply won't matter if low-grade ammunition is used. An enjoyable afternoon of target practice can become an exercise in frustration, with stove-pipe jams and misfires galore. This writer used to own an old Charter Arms AR-7, and I can attest to this. Low-grade ammunition did not make for a happy fire-arm, or a happy shooter.

The same can be said for the sport of airsoft, and for those new to the game, let me clarify: these aren’t your grandfather’s BB guns. Firstly, airsoft electric air guns, as well as most airsoft guns (whether they be spring or gas-operated), are not built to fire those old copper BBs you are most likely familiar with. In fact, they’ll cause irreparable damage to your airsoft gun. Also will low-grade plastic BBs. What are low-grade BBs? Here’s a bit of a primer on quality:

Unfortunately most BBs marketed by most sporting goods and ‘big box’ stores are of an inferior grade and should not be used with high performance Airsoft guns, although the packaging won’t tell you that. They may even list them as ‘Seamless Airsoft Gun BBs’ but in most cases, they simply aren’t. They lack the high density and spherical consistency needed for dependable operation of an airsoft gun, and will most often have a tendency to shatter during use, which will only serve to yield the costly repair of your airsoft weapon. I know this from personal experience. Upon my initial purchase of an AEG, I fed my gun low-grade airsoft pellets and came away with a not only a missed skirmish, but also with a cracked piston and a gearbox full of plastic shrapnel. Needless to say, I learned my lesson.

The majority of airsoft guns fire 6mm, seamless, polished BBs, and most sporting goods stores simply don’t carry the quality brands rated for use in airsoft guns. Most airsoft specialty retailers and airsoft websites do, however. It's easiest to make it a habit to purchase a few of these bags in addition to your latest acquisition of weaponry or accessory. What brands you may ask? I personally use ‘GoldenBall ProSlicks” for regular skirmishing, and GoldenBall MaxSlicks for competition and bigger OPs where I need every advantage I can get. I choose these after years of trial and error, and so far like them for their accuracy, as due to their construction there seems to be little to zero flight deviance when fired. Simply put, if my sighting is dead-on, so is the BB. Purchasing the right airsoft ammo will serve to keep you in the game, instead of sitting one out while waiting for your order of a replacement gearbox or gun to arrive.

The bottom line is this: the use of high-grade, seamless, polished and spherically dense airsoft BBs will not only ensure the life of your airsoft gun, but will also increase your ‘time on target.’ Your choice of airsoft pellets is as important as the gun itself.

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 ammo, airsoft bbs, airsoft gun bbs, airsoft pellets

You’re now the proud owner of a new Airsoft gun. You picked the Bolt Action Kar 98 "98K" Mauser Carbine WWII Rifle or the M9 MEU Tactical Semi Automatic Gas Blowback Pistol - you’re ready to play! Except for one thing: which ammunition should you get?

Each gun has its own specifications and arenas of usage – sniper rifles are not used for close range combat and hand guns are no good for long range shooting. Ammunition can seriously impact how your gun functions and the types of game play in which you can participate.

Airsoft bbs come in different shapes, sizes and weights. Most airsoft pellets, also known as BBs (ball bearing) are normally 6mm spherical plastics. They typically run from 5.93-5.98mm in diameter, but don’t be fooled by these small numbers! Even a small, plastic pellet can do damage if protective gear and correct game play are not enforced. Some guns can even use bullets up to 8mm in diameter!

BB pellets are measured in hundredths of grams and are available in different weights ranging from .12g to .43g.

A different, newer option for Airsoft guns are the starch-based biodegradable bb pellets. Oftentimes, these pellets are required in outdoor game play where sweeping up is not an option. They eliminate having to try to locate the minuscule bbs, without causing harm to the environment!

How do diameter, weight and material affect game play?

Velocity: lighter pellets achieve higher velocity; therefore selecting a .12g bb will result in faster speeds. However, this lighter Airsoft ammo is subject to external factors like wind. Additionally, heavier bbs will retain velocity faster than their lighter counterparts – that is, less heavy bbs will start of fast, but slow down quickly.

Trajectory: trajectory is the curved path a projectile takes; lighter pellets have more markedly curved projectiles.

Weight: Heavier pellets cause more damage to its target, especially at close ranges; additionally, they may only be used with more powerful Airsoft guns.

Why is it so important to select one or the other? Having the wrong size, type or even weight bb pellet could damage your gun.

• .12g are usually used for gas and spring-load weapons, not for high-end AEGs (automatic electric guns).


• .23g is a heavy weight for AEGs and .25g is the heaviest weight a standard AEG, blowback or spring gun can manage.
  
• .30g-.36 are standard to heavy pellets for sniper rifles; 0.43 g is for highest levels of upgrades sniper rifles.

Airsoft gun bbs may not damage the skin but are extremely dangerous to the eyes, so goggles or other protective gear must be worn at all times while playing Airsoft sports.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, the fastest growing of all airsoft stores in the nation. Airsoft Megastore offers deep discounts on sale items for players interested in cheap AEG airsoft guns and looking to find airsoft sniper rifles cheap.

Labels: airsoft ammo, airsoft BB, airsoft bbs, airsoft gun bbs, airsoft pellets