What Is An Airsoft Gun?

By Anthony Carter

Airsoft guns are very popular for recreational use and becoming even more popular today as the market evolves for these detailed replicas of the real thing. Just what exactly is an airsoft gun though?

Basically put, they are exact replicas of real guns. The big difference though is that they fire plastic pellets instead of real ammunition. They fire by way of compressed gas, usually in the form of a CO2 cartridge, or sometimes from a spring powered piston or even electric motor. Their muzzle velocity is in the 30 to 250 meters per second range with pellets normally being 6mm in size.

This information should not mislead you though, if used with metal based ammunition these toys can still cause a lot of harm. You should always use the recommended plastic pellets to prevent injury since they are pretty safe and won't break the skin. 16 years or older is the recommended age for use with some states going above this and restricting the age you can enter a tournament to 18. Never let children younger then the recommended age play with these gun replicas and especially not without supervision.

Airsoft guns have an interesting history to go along with them that starts in Japan around the 1970's. You see, during that time it was illegal to have a firearm, but because people were still interested in them these replicas were invented. These earliest version were powered by springs themselves and fired rubber pellets. The standard 6mm to 8mm size we see today came later. They did evolve quickly in to gas powered guns however.

Around the mid 90's these amazing creations found their way into North America and quickly became a popular hobby for many. The airsoft gun evolved in to what is known today at this point and North American's have been having fun ever since. Many say its even a great stress reliever too!

Cheap versions of the toy forced the United States to crack down on import regulations of the item and even today each one must be painted with a very bright orange tip before import. This is mainly as a safety precaution because of the similarities to real weapons.

Some airsoft gun models are so life like in fact that there have been a few Japan based companies that have encountered problems with intellectual property laws several times through the years. The United States battles this by restricting certain models from being imported in to the country for sale.

Just reading the description of airsoft guns makes it sound so fun, which it is. It is a great outdoor recreational activity that many enjoy. It has quite the following and tournaments take place on a regular bases in almost every state. If you are looking for a little excitement without to much risk and danger then this sport would be one that you might want to look in to. Entire families sometimes get involved and it's a great way to spend family time together. - 29943

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