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What Are Air Soft Guns?

by Joe White

Overview

Air soft guns are pellet guns, generally smaller than live firearms, that shoot small plastic pellets using one of a variety of propulsion mechanisms. Airsoft guns shoot smaller projectiles at a faster speed than paintball guns, but a larger projectile at a lower speed than metal-shot BB guns. They are available in a wide range of models and styles, usually based on well-known firearm types, such as sniper rifles, handguns and submachine guns.
Spring-loaded guns

Spring-loaded airsoft guns are the most basic type. They are usually the cheapest and shoot at the lowest muzzle velocity. The internal mechanism is a relatively simple one, a firing pin that is powered by a compressed spring that is released with every shot. Since spring-loaded airsoft guns have no internal source of power, they must be cocked by hand before every shot, unlike other types of airsoft actions. Most spring-loaded airsoft guns are handguns that are cocked by pulling the top of the gun back and then pushing it forward.

Gas-powered guns

Gas-powered guns are powered much like paintball guns. They have a canister of compressed gas, generally carbon dioxide, which runs a pipe into the firing chamber and releases a burst of air when the trigger is pulled to propel the pellet down the barrel. "Blowback" guns also propel the firing pin to slide down the chamber and push the pellet, whereas non-blowback guns direct the entire energy of the gas burst into accelerating the pellet itself.
Electric guns

Electric guns are the most advanced, most expensive and best-performing air soft guns. They shoot at the highest velocity, but are sometimes more unwieldy because they are equipped with a battery pack to provide power. The battery produces electric power, which is used to fire an air piston to propel the pellet down the barrel.
Uses

Airsoft guns are shot for recreation and target practice, but they are also often used in pseudo-combat games similar to those favored by paintball enthusiasts. Just like paintball games, these contests are organized in wilderness areas or deserted industrial areas, in imitation of real war zones. The games include multiple variations on capture the flag, as well as siege-based scenarios and total elimination games in which the last man standing wins.
Safety issues

Airsoft guns can be dangerous, especially the high-velocity versions such as the electrically powered guns. They can easily damage an unprotected eye and leave a significant welt on uncovered skin. But they can also be dangerous because, in some cases, they look so similar to live firearms, and may be mistaken for a threat by police officers or others.