Cincinnati Airsoft Forum

What is Airsoft
For those who are new to airsoft, these guns shoot 6mm round pellets commonly known as “BBs.” They travel at speeds much lower than real bullets and although a bit painful when hit by one of these pellets, they cannot kill someone nor cause heavy-bleeding injuries unlike real guns. Even though airsoft is considered a toygun, safety precautions should still be taken into account when playing with these replicas.

As mentioned most airsoft are the exact copies of the actual guns. Some manufacturers even use real mould of the originals in order to create the look, feel and even weight of their real-steel counterpart. Automatic Electric Guns can only cause welts. It is still painful however when the BB pellets hit the skin, since they travel at high speeds. That is why during "skirmishes," protective gears must be worn to avoid serious injuries, especially around the eyes. Also, thick protective outfits are also recommended to be worn. There are special camouflages similar to those used by cadets that can be worn. Sweatshirts and thick pants can also protect the skin from being directly hit.

Airsoft guns can be categorized into 3 types. They are:

1. Automatic Electric Guns (AEG)
2. Gas-Powered
3. Spring-Powered

The Automatic Electric Guns (AEG) is among the most popular, although the most expensive, gun out of the three. Ranging an average of about $300, these guns are not anywhere cheap. Tokyo Marui is by far the most popular manufacturer of these guns. AEGs are powered by the Nickel Cadmium battery. It operates the motors that run the three gears inside the gun. These gears, in turn, compress and release the piston creating a blast of air that propels the BB pellets out of the gun barrel. The system allows the gun to function efficiently with its fully-automatic features in compare to most AEGs resulting in a realistic Rate-of-Fire. It can reach anywhere from 600 to 900 Rounds-per-Minute replicating the capabilities of the real-steel gun. For those who are advanced in the field, these are the guns of choice because even though pricey, they are worth it.

The next most popular gun is the gas-powered ones. Designed for those who are intermediate to the field of airsoft guns, they are less expensive than the AEGs. There are several types of gas-powered guns. The most popular one is the Gas-Blowback, also know as GBBs. They operate using CO2 to compress the air used to propel the BBs out of the barrel. The same gas is used to cycle back the slide, creating a recoil by cycling the slide back and forth. The gas is either stored in the magazine or on-board. Similar to AEGs, the Gas-Blowbacks allow realistic semi-automatic firing. The gun allows the ease of magazine reload and making it very appealing to its users.

Finally, the Spring-powered airsoft guns are among the least expensive. They can go as low as $20 for a pistol. They are among the guns that novice or beginners use to start out with. They work by

And finally the spring-powered Airsoft gun. Spring-cocking guns are true to their name in that you cock the spring first, and then fire. Cock spring, fire, cock, fire, cock, fire, etc. These guns are usually magazine fed and semi-automatic, but they must be hand-cocked after every shot. This system is very cost-effective, and the guns are surprisingly sturdy. Every Airsofter, in his lifetime, has owned at least one spring-powered gun, either a pistol or a rifle. Due to it's relatively cheap price-range, this is usually the gun of choice for the person just starting to play airsoft. A spring-powered handgun can be purchased for as little as $20.

Another bit of What is Airsoft.

What is Airsoft?



Airsoft is one of the newest and fastest growing sports in the U.S. It is somewhat similar to paintball in that your primary goal is to shoot your opponent with an air-powered weapon but that is where the similarities end. Most paintballers play in small field with brightly colored flashy uniforms. Airsofter's on the other hand prefer MilSim (Military Simulation). You will find that most Airsofter's like to dress-up the part of a military soldier to engage in simulated combat and/or reenactment.



Airsoft guns are toy BB gun that for the most part are exact copies of real firearms. You can find almost any airsoft version of a real firearm from as snub nose revolver to a 6 barreled Gatling gun! Some Sci-Fi and fantasy airsoft guns can also be found. Although it's realistic looks are what attract many players. They can easily be mistaken for real firearms to those who are unfamiliar with it. Extreme care should be used at all times and should be treated as a real firearm when handling and transporting them. Reckless handling of these guns especially in public can lead to confiscation of your airgun, fines, jail time or even death. The latter, although very rare, was the result of individuals brandishing an airsoft gun in the presence of Law Enforcement. (No one has ever been killed by an airsoft gun). However, used properly and treated with respect. You'll find airsoft to be an exciting hobby and superior to paint ball, at least in our opinion.



As a safety precaution, airsoft guns are designed in such a way that they are impossible to convert them to real firearms or be modified to the point where they are lethal.



Please keep in mind that there are Federal, State and Local laws that regulate the use of airsoft guns. So, before you buy your first airsoft gun. We highly recommend that you research the laws in you area first in order to avoid any unwanted encounters with Law Enforcements. The best way to find out about these is to contact your local airsoft store, fields, teams, forums and police department.



Most airsoft guns fire a 6mm (.25 caliber) light weight plastic or biodegradable BBs. Some newer guns shoot 8mm BBs. The most common type of ammo used is a 6mm 0.20 gram (1/2 ounce) weight BBs. This is considered the standard weight. However, BB weights can range from 0.12 gram to 0.43 grams but most places restrict BBs to a maximum weight of 0.25g for safety reason. You'll also find that BBs come in many different colors. In most cases color has no real significant effect on the BBs performance. Some manufactures, such as Excel, do use color to help distinguish different BB weight (Ex. 0.20g-cream, 0.23g-light green, 0.25g-light blue).



Airsoft guns are powered by a variety of methods such as spring (hand cocked), compressed air, gas (CO2, Nitrogen and Freon 134a) and electric air pumps. The most popular versions are called AEG's (Air Electric Gun). These gun have an built in internal air pump, known as a “Gear Box”, that is powered by a rechargeable RC batteries similar to those used by remote control cars. The standard battery that usually comes with a new airgun is an 8.4 volt. Upgraded airguns usually require a 9.6v but you can find players using up to 12v.



Airsoft guns can cause minor injuries (nick, welts, BB size bruises and so on). In the most sever case one can loose an eye. So when you play, it is strongly recommended that you wear the proper safety goggles. It is also highly recommended that a face guard or mouth guard be used as well. BBs have been known to chip teeth.



With that in mind, one of the most common questions asked is how much does it hurts? The pain of being shot can vary depending on the range. Long range will feel like a tap but close range shots can give a nasty sting. One of the best explanations we heard is that it feels like someone snapping you with a rubber band.