What is Airsoft?

Airsoft has a relatively long history. Designed and marketed in the United States about 30 years ago by a major BB gun manufacturer. AirSoft was conceptualized as a new approach in BB gun application. In place of the utilitarian air gun designed for hunting, the AirSoft BB gun was created with a pure recreational application in mind. It was created for people who enjoy target practicing or indoor plinking with friends. Individuals who are not concerned about the high power hunting application of a BB or pellet gun but just wanted to have Fun. This is exactly where AirSoft BB guns fit in.

The design of the AirSoft BB gun centers on a unique propulsion system utilizing a small amount of air to accurately shoot lightweight plastic BB pellets. This design philosophy resulted in a BB gun, which generates a much less damaging projectile that is still accurate enough to be FUN. As the AirSoft product matured, manufacturers added another feature, which drew hobbyist and collectors alike to AirSoft. By modeling AirSoft BB guns after world famous pistols and rifles, an entire line of Replica AirSoft products were created. This created a huge splash not only here in the United States, but it also brought this hobby to the rest of the world. Italy, Japan and many Asian countries caught the craze and took the development of AirSoft to new heights.

Over several generations of development and constant improvement, AirSoft BB guns are now returning to the United States with newer and better designs. The highly matured plastic polymer technology industry in Asia has created a new generation of AirSoft BB guns with amazing durability and detail. Adding to its hobby collector market, the new AirSoft BB guns have created new uses in firearm safety training, movie productions, replica collecting, and recreational sport. Partly due to our history, the attraction and availability to firearms and its associated shooting sports run deep in the United States. AirSoft guns offer a potential alternative for the hobbyist, collector, and shooter. The combination of realism, safety, flexibility, and low cost makes AirSoft more appealing to the average consumer who would like to exercise his or her steady eye/hand coordination without the inherent dangers. (Safety glasses must still be worn for protection)

The U.S. Government have approved and specified regulations applicable to AirSoft BB guns. The blaze orange marking is a federal requirement: all reputable AirSoft manufacturers and dealers must be in compliance with this ruling for legal use. All AirSoft products, foreign or domestic, must meet this regulation. (Removal of the tip will also void all Warranty's and Refunds)

What is HOP-UP?

The basic theory of Hop-Up is spin theory. When the BB bullet is shot, there is a friction put on the upper side of BB Bullet, the BB bullet spins up-ward. The power of spin can offset the affection of gravity, wind power, air friction.... and push the BB bullet fly to farther distances.

Gun Types:

Spring Pistols & Rifles

Stylized after all of the world’s famous firearms: automatics, competition/race guns, submachine pistol, carbines, bull pups, and sniper rifles are readily available in spring air powered category. A large selection of these spring/air AirSoft BB guns are available from us. They are true to scale and some are true to weight and easy to operate. Excellent for collecting and recreational use. Because of their maintenance free design and their affordability, these are excellent entry level AirSoft guns to promote and cultivate new hobby enthusiasts. This class of AirSoft products is very durable and have extremely low failure rate.

How do they work...

Just pull back the slide which is at the top of the gun for each shot.

With the aid of simple manpower, a piston head within a cylinder moves rearward to draw air into the cylinder and compresses the spring behind the piston. At the end of the piston head’s travel, a hook or "sear" engages the piston and holds it in place with the spring at full compression. When the trigger is pulled, the sear releases the piston, allowing it to travel forward from the energy released by the compressed spring. The air pressure generated inside the cylinder creates a jet of air that propels the BB and sends it on it’s way through the barrel and outward to the target. A simple process as this, earns the simple designation of "Air" or "Spring" gun classification in AirSoft. Sizes and materials of cylinders, pistons, and springs will vary depending on the gun configuration.

Gas Guns

Truly the most effective in AirSoft gun performance runs on a gas driven mechanism. Models utilizing such a compact operation include a large line of automatics, revolvers, and rifles. All are manufactured to a high degree of surface detail and dimension. Sub-categories of gas powered AirSoft guns include "Non-Blowback" and Blowback" models. Function and realism is experienced much better with the action of "Blowback" gas guns that are not only more powerful, but heavier in weight. However the Non-Blowback is a great entry in the gas guns because of less moving parts and less to break down.

Low-temperature carbon dioxide (CO2), Freon, and "green gas" are the most popular of gases used. The gas is either injected into a reservoir chamber within the gun or magazine or attached to an exterior assembly containing the gas canister and an expansion tank. Activated by the trigger, gas is released at a valve atop the reservoir or from the expansion tank, depending on the design. The small amount of cold gas reacts with the warmer atmosphere, expands instantly, and is channeled through a directed nozzle at the BB. The resulting pressure launches the BB out of the barrel toward its intended target. The label "Gas Gun" will be used to address any gun with this type of design mechanism in the AirSoft category.

The latest AirSoft gas operation incorporates the "Blowback" effect; a simulation of the slide action in actual gun firing. Essentially, the Blowback effect is created by directing the gas to an interior chamber within the slide of the AirSoft gun, causing it to move rearwards from the expanding gas, hence the "Blowback" action. The slide compresses a metal spring, which forces it to move forward as the gas escapes. In its movement, a BB is collected from the magazine and placed into the barrel, and readies the gun for the next trigger pull. Being a highly modified Gas Gun, this class of AirSoft gun will be identified as a "Gas Blowback" AirSoft Gun. All gas guns that do not incorporate this type of gas actuated slide mechanism will be labeled simply "Gas Gun" or "Gas Non-Blowback" AirSoft Gun.

To load gas hold both Green gas canister and AirSoft gas magazine upside down, insert canister nozzle into the gas charging port on the bottom plate of the gas magazine. Make sure valves match and is aligned. Press down on the gas canister in 3 short jabbing motions. This should adequately charge the gas reservoir inside the magazine. Each charge should be good for 2 - 3 fills of BB’s. Pressurized gas is cold, keep hands away from the immediate surrounding of the gas port when charging. Do not continuously recharge the magazine when it gets too cold. Rotate magazines or let the magazine warm up before recharge. Leak could occur if seals are frozen or cracked.

Before firing:

1. Chamber the first round of BB by pulling the slide back.

2. Pull the trigger to shoot, "Blowback" action will cycle the slide back and load the next round.

3. Slide will lock open when all rounds are fired.

Electrics

The highest popularity with AirSoft variant guns are termed "Air Electric" guns. The electric powered mechanisms are usually encased in a large gun with a high capacity magazine along the scale of a submachine gun or rifle configuration. Most are finely detailed while some are equipped with functional accessories and components. Other unique selections in this category are the science fiction guns from popular movies and the cute, compressed "Mini AirSoft" guns, which are basically stubby and exaggerated copies of actual rifles and submachine guns. The Mini's are a great start for getting into Airsoft.

The Electric AirSoft BB Guns incorporate a battery powered motor, transmission gearing, and circuit board onto the air piston assembly. Instead of manually cocking the piston head for every shot, the motor and gears perform the cocking action and release of the piston at the moment of trigger pull. The speed at which the motor and gears perform the entire action is within a fraction of a second, allowing for near instantaneous firing response. The circuit board is hooked up directly to the trigger pull for each shot. A constant pull on the trigger with the selector dial at full allows for a constant electrical stream from the battery to the motor, keeping the entire firing system in continuous motion until pressure is let off of the trigger. Recent advances in Air Electric design even allows for the user to control the number of shots fired during burst mode by adjusting the circuit board setting.

Accessories

The 6 millimeter BB is the single most significant aspect of AirSoft which differentiates it from the traditional class of metallic BB’s and pellets. The standard AirSoft projectile is made of various composite materials that differ in mass and density: the most common is of ABS plastic assortment. By using this material, AirSoft manufacturers can easily create variations in the color and weight of the projectile yet maintain its relative hardness to assure proper operation. BB colors are as abundant as the rainbow, including contrast of blacks, grays, silvers, and white. Weight of AirSoft BB’s range in gram measurement from 0.12 gram to the heavyweight 0.5 gram BB’s. The 0.2 gram BB’s are the most popular weight class, used for all categories of AirSoft guns. When fired through the various types of AirSoft gun mechanisms, each BB weight will deliver varying results on target accuracy but still maintain the low velocity rating of AirSoft guns. Also kept within safety specifications are the impact energies generated by the 6mm BB’s, measuring between 0.2 joules up to 0.8 joules, depending upon the projectile weight used. Effective range of AirSoft Bb’s span from 25 to 75 yards, with a maximum range estimated to within 100 yards based upon the type of AirSoft gun used.

Product Admonishment Warnings

In response to recent changes in the laws affecting the sale of Airsoft products. Our manufacturers have acted to assure compliance with the new legislation by making the AirSoft products expel metallic projectiles, such as BB's, through the force of air pressure, CO2 pressure or spring action. These products have also been made to comply with current legislative changes in that they can also be used as a spot marker gun capable of shooting paint balls for your fun and enjoyment.

Safety Tips!!

Please read these important safety tips to make your experience with AirSoft guns a safer one.

• ALWAYS WHERE SAFETY GOGGLES!!!!!!!
• DO NOT look directly at the gun barrel!!
• KEEP OUT of reach of small children!!

Purchasing Agreement

I am at least 18 years of age and do not know of any local or state laws that would prohibit me from purchasing or owning Airsoft products. I hereby state that all questions have been answered truthfully and I hold the Vendor and all of its agents harmless of any and all legal action arising from my purchase from AirsoftUS.com.

I understand that removal of any warning stickers or any protective markings or colored tips will violate federal law and store warranty. Furthermore, I understand that federal law states that the use of any look-alike, toy gun in a crime carries the full ramifications of a real firearm. I have read and understand all warnings, liabilities, and warranties related to the products offered and hold harmless the Vendor and all of its agents of any and all legal action.