Monday, November 9, 2009

Useful Information About Airsoft Guns

By Anthony Carter

Airsoft is now a very popular pastime for both young and old Americans. Thousands of people enjoy playing in these realistic combat simulations every week. Most airsoft guns and pistols are realistic looking replicas of well known fire arms. They are classified depending upon the type of mechanism that they use to fire the pellets.

There are three dominant forms of mechanisms present on airsoft guns. These are gas, spring, or most recently, electric. The performance of the gun will vary depending upon its exact characteristics. The accuracy, battery life, capacity, range, size, and weight will be different in various models. Originally, the first airsoft guns used a spring mechanism, but then at a later date the gas powered mechanism was developed in Japan, such gas powered guns are referred to as classic airsoft guns. They functioned by using a gas flow system which powered the firing mechanism. The gas was generally carbon dioxide or compressed air and was contained in an external tank.

Today the most popular form of airsoft guns is what is known as automatic electric guns or AEGs. These have batteries which are rechargeable that trigger a mechanism to displace air and launch the pellets. Gas powered guns are still popular amongst certain airsoft players as they are often seen to be more realistic.

Most gas powered pistols and guns require propane gas. You can now purchase the magazines that have a compact cylinder of gas built in that has enough strength to fire all the projectiles. It is aid that this creates a more realistic feel.

Originally airsoft guns were almost completely made out of plastic with just a couple of metal pieces internally. Nowadays they will have internal and external metal components. The weight of a typical airsoft pistol or gun is not so heavy when compared to an actual gun. To add another realistic dimension you can now get hold of airsoft guns that have had extra weight added to provide a greater feeling of reality.

There is an assortment of magazines available for different types of airsoft guns. Pistols often have only a small capacity of up to 30 pellets, but it is possible to get hold of hi-cap magazines that may contain as many as 50.

AEGs have magazines of many different capacities. These are sold as high, mid, and low. The highest capacity magazines will contain as many as 500 pellets, the mid range option can hold between 80 and 150 pellets, whereas the lowest capacity AEG magazines will have a maximum capacity of 80 pellets.

When playing airsoft it is also possible to use replica mines, grenades, and grenade launchers. These are generally powered by compressed gas and are designed to appear as similar in appearance to the real thing. A grenade or grenade launcher may hold or fire as many as three hundred pellets at a time. A mine may not release any pellets but only produce a thick cloud of smoke when exploded.

There are also anti-tank weapons available but due to their weight and cost they are not so common.

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