Airsoft Guns

Considering the exorbitant amount of time airsoft enthusiasts spend in selecting their airsoft weapon... not to mention the amount of time they spend endlessly discussing the varying spring tensile strengths, gearbox upgrades and batteries available... I’ve always found it rather interesting how little focus many avid airsoft players place on the quality of airsoft BBs they employ with their hardware.

To put it simply, the choice of airsoft BB used is as important as the airsoft gun a player selects. Ammunition-grade influences everything from effective range and impact to the very mechanics of their airsoft gun... all things crucial to not only a player’s field survival, but also to their pocket-book. So if you will, let’s take a moment to address the positive impacts of using high-grade airsoft ammunition, what it is, and how the varying weights of BBs will affect one’s game-play.

Airsoft guns fire 6mm precision-polished, seamless, plastic pellets made expressly for airsoft guns, so the next time you are at your local sporting goods store, stay away from that old box of bronze BB ammo. It won’t work with your airsoft gun. In fact, those bbs will damage your firearm, as will most of the low-grade airsoft BBs sold by these distributors. Unfortunately, most of the airsoft ammunition you’ll find at these stores simply won’t cut it. These low grade BBs lack the spherical density and consistency needed to not only lend your gun 'effect on target', they also have the unfortunate tendency to jam your gun, or - even worse - shatter and damage the internals of your gun. So please take the time, as you did in the selection of your airsoft weapon, in your choice of airsoft ammo. Visit a specialized airsoft retailer, whether online or otherwise, and purchase high-quality airsoft ammo. I personally use GoldenBall ProSlick .20 gram BBs in conjunction with my current AEG (a JG M4 S-System), and I have been more than happy with the results.

With that, as we’ve now touched on the impact of the manufacturing-grade of the airsoft BB on your gun, let’s briefly address the varying weights of airsoft ammunition, and how they may affect your target shooting and/or combat operations, the two main sports airsoft players engage in.

Airsoft pellets range in weight from very light 0.12 gram BBs (used most often in starter spring/electric air guns) to 0.25 gram BBs (airsoft snipers prefer the heavier pellets for accuracy), and their varying performances are dependent not only the previously-discussed and quite important quality of manufacture, but also of course on Newton’s First Law of Motion, which is, ‘Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.’

In this case, the external force will be gravity, which unsurprisingly affects the flight of every airsoft BB, as do external weather factors (wind, rain, etc.). Simply put, the lighter the airsoft BB the further it will fly, although it will have less effective range the further it travels (meaning it’ll eventually begin to stray from its flight path). The heavier the airsoft BB, the less distance it will fly, although the effective range of a heavier airsoft BB is greater than its lighter counterparts (the additional weight provides flight stability), which lends itself to an increase in accuracy and impact energy. (For airsoft enthusiasts that play CQC, this also means that the heavier BB hurts a lot more).

Choose the weight and grade of your airsoft BB wisely. Both will affect not only your tactical operations and battle-field longevity, but also the life-expectancy of your beloved airsoft gun.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the President and COO 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 ammunition, airsoft bbs, airsoft pellets

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