Airsoft is becoming a more popular sport every year with thousands of Americans of all ages enjoying participating in these real time combat simulations. More often than not the guns used to play airsoft are replicas of actual firearms, with the difference being that they use a mechanism to fire 6mm or 8mm diameter projectiles. Airsoft guns are mostly classified by their operating mechanism.
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.
Propane gas is often used to power airsoft guns. It is possible to buy numerous magazines that will have a relatively small gas cylinder contained within. This has enough power to fire all of the projectiles from that magazine thus giving the user a feeling that is better in comparison with a real gun.
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.
Automatic electric guns have magazines that are sold in three different capacities - low, mid, and high. Low capacity means between thirty to eighty pellets, mid range have eighty to one hundred and fifty, whereas high capacity AEG magazines can hold up to five hundred or even more pellets.
If you have played airsoft you may have come across mines and grenade launchers. These are most often powered through compressed gas and can seem quite realistic. An airsoft grenade launcher may contain as many as 300 pellets. Airsoft mines do not generally hold any projectiles; instead they simply produce a lot of smoke and noise.
You can also get hold of airsoft anti-tank weapons. These are not widely used as their weight and cost is rather prohibitive to most people.
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