What is an airsoft gun?
Is an airsoft gun a weapon?
I think it's good to start with one issue that is sometimes a bit difficult for new airsoft players. In most state jurisdictions, an airsoft gun (replica) is not classified as a firearm. You can even seek the truth in the statement that this is one of the foundations of the existence of these constructions. It is assumed that the replicas that we use today to shoot our friends were created to facilitate military exercises. Their advantage compared to real rifles was that they were cheaper and less regulated by law. Whether we accept it as true or not, it is worth remembering that it is the availability of replicas that usually do not require additional permits or licenses that makes them so interesting for people who want to try their hand at shooting. Of course, we are dealing with local variants. There are countries where owning an airsoft gun requires a license or permit. Sometimes it also happens that the constructions that are the subject of this article are subject to different power limits, but more on that later in this text.
Often, especially on the Web, we meet a person looking for an airsoft gun, for example for a beginner player. Such a delinquent sends a link to an online store or offer and asks "Is this gun good to start with?". This is an incorrect term. And I don't mean to make anyone feel bad because we're pointing the finger at them. None of these things. The point is that guns and replicas are two different things. What's more, we, airsoft players, usually care about this distinction. With all the military simulations, however, we need to make it clear that airsoft replica is not a weapon. Thanks to this, we avoid many negative connotations and controversies that firearms can evoke. So, if we're just going to remember one thing from this article, it's that we say "airsoft gun", not "gun".
What is not an airsoft gun?
Before we can create a definition of what an airsoft gun is, it is worth considering for a moment what a airsoft gun is not. Sometimes, especially in the English-language media, replicas are confused with air guns. We're getting a bit linguistic here, but I think it may be because the word "bb gun" for an airgun is associated with the projectiles we call "bbs" in English. But let's not go deeper into that. This may be a consideration for another material. And it's true that compressed air is basically what drives the BBs in our replica. Almost like an air gun. However, these constructions are different from our airsoft guns. They have different calibre and operating principle. In addition, in some countries, they are also legally defined differently.
What is an airsoft gun?
If we have discussed briefly what they are not, let's think about what this airsoft gun is. I think three factors define them.
Ammunition. It is very specific that our replicas shoot 6 mm plastic BBs.
Imitation firearms. Although we have established that the airsoft gun is not a firearm, they are built to at least resemble one. And regardless of whether we are talking about replicas that are quite faithful to the original or miracles created for speedsoft matches. The untrained eye can still mistake it for something that shoots.
Principle of operation. It is also very characteristic of replicas how they are powered. Most often, some element compresses ordinary air, which drives the ball when the trigger is pressed. Sometimes this effect is achieved by expanding the gas contained in the chamber, as in the case of GBB or HPA airsoft guns. However, there is no combustion reaction or other force such as propelling the projectile with kinetic energy as in a bow or slingshot.
Only after the occurrence of the above factors at the same time can we, in my opinion, talk about an airsoft gun. In that case, the airsoft gun will be a construction resembling a firearm, which, using the energy from the expanding gas, propels projectiles, which are plastic balls with a diameter of 6mm. It is certainly not a definition worth a dictionary or a scientific study, but it gives us a point of reference.
Types of airsoft guns
Since we already know more or less what airsoft guns are, it is worth making a short distinction at the end. It seems to me that it will be useful because it is often reflected in online stores or even in descriptions of limits on airsoft games. I mean the type of replica power supply. In my opinion, this is the most basic and quite universal division of replicas, which will be useful when we are looking for a construction for ourselves.
Electric airsoft guns
This is probably the most popular group. There are both constructions that try to faithfully copy real constructions and those that have no flammable equivalent. In simple terms, they have a mechanism that quickly tightens the piston and releases it in a special cylinder. This rapid movement of the piston compresses the gas in the cylinder, which in turn escapes through the nozzle just behind the ball, setting it in motion.
Spring airsoft guns
They work on a similar principle as those described a moment ago. We also have a cylinder, piston, and nozzle. However, the difference is that the movement of the piston is not the responsibility of the engine driven by the battery or other power source, but most often the operator or shooter. They seem to be less popular. Probably because they have a lower rate of fire.
Gas-powered airsoft guns
Here we are still dealing with the expansion of the gas, which thus propels our projectile. The difference, however, is that the described effect is obtained by quickly opening a valve in some kind of container that holds this gas in a compressed form. Such airsoft guns are popular HPA constructions that expand ordinary air as well as those based on a special mixture, usually called green gas.
Author: Boreq
Check out similar entries:
