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Airsoft guns are basically BB guns that fire plastic balls instead of metal ball bearings. They evolved in Asia from realistic children’s toys that operated with a pull-back spring. Although these cheap toys were popular, they often broke due to the force involved, and had poor muzzle velocities.

Since then, technology and refinement have increased in leaps and bounds, and now there are hundreds of guns, of varying quality and types, to choose from. This has also been fuelled by the fastest growing outdoor sport since 2001 – called simply Airsoft.

Nowadays, some standardisation has taken place, and BBs are now 6 or 8mm in diameter. Also, the method of delivering the payload has been standardised, with some variations, and is now named AEG – Automatic Electric Gun. These have an electric motor, which both cocks a spring and also drives a pellet into the chamber. The spring is then released, smacking into the pellet and propelling it out of the chamber.

An AEG is capable of attaining muzzle velocities of 200 to 500 feet per second (60 to 150 metres per second) and can fire from 300 to 2000 pellets per minute. How many you actually shoot depends on your magazine. These are usually classified as low cap: around 50 BBs, mid cap:around 120 BBs, or high-cap: 200-500+ BBs. These push the BBs into the chamber either using a spring, or manually-operated ratchet. You can even find guns with electrically-operated magazines that can hold up to 5000 pellets! However, if you are entering a military-simulation game, your magazine capacity may be restricted, to ensure you are a close to the real thing as possible.

Smaller guns use gas as a propellant, although it is also becoming more in demand for the larger models, due to its less artificial feel and noise. Oil and fragrances are even added to the gas to heighten this sensation. A container on the gun that may be refilled from a propane camping gas bottle may be used. The Automatic Electric Gun has a further range than gas powered guns, though, and the batteries usually hold out for longer than the gas tank.

Although Airsoft guns used to be made almost entirely out of plastic, aluminium and alloys are now seeing their way into manufacture, for durability and increased power. Some AEGs, especially when used in military simulations, also contain lead weights to make them feel more like authentic weapons.

Muzzle velocity in AEGs may range anywhere from 50 m/s (160 ft/s) to around 125 m/s (410 ft/s). Modifications to the gun may allow velocity to be increased up 180 m/s (590 ft/s). There are also motorised units available called hop-up units which cause the bullet to backspin, increasing lift, and so range. Typical range can be 75 metres (250ft), which may be doubled by the unit.

You can buy 6mm paintballs for your Airsoft gun, but these may explode inside your chamber, meaning a ruined gun.

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