Post by Berdugo on Sept 30, 2006 23:48:45 GMT -5
What is Airsoft?
Airsoft is a unique and exciting sport being played worldwide with similarities to the popular skirmish game called Paintball. Airsoft weapons are exact replicas of real assault weapons. The difference is that airsoft uses 6mm soft plastic, ceramic or biodegrable BB pellets fired from air-powered guns. Airsoft guns either electric, gas or spring power. Airsoft combat is a growing hobby among firearms enthusiasts and recreational soldiers both young and old. Combining the technical skill required to operate or 'run' a gun, with the tactical and strategic skills required on the battlefield to attain victory, Airsoft combat allows a safe experience of high-adrenaline, head-to-head combat that is the closest many will get to automatic weapons and wargaming. Airsoft was founded on the basis of realistic weapons, both in terms of function and appearance, combined with the high-energy sport of organized paintball.
History of Airsoft
The sport of Airsoft started in Japan during the early 1980s. It was illegal to own firearms in Japan but there was a significant interest in them, so a company started producing spring-powered replicas of firearms that fired 6mm, plastic BBs. The market emerged for a new, low-pressure airgun that could be owned an operated in an enclosed area and with little danger to the user or bystanders. The invention that filled this gap was called Airsoft or SoftAir in the United States, and became an instant hit with gun enthusiasts in the early 1980's. During the latter part of the 1980s the sport migrated to neighboring countries such as Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Airsoft started appearing in North America and Europe during the middle of the 1990s but it is only during the last 2-3 years that the sport started thriving in these venues.
As Airsoft began to gain popularity, many people were eager to organize events for combat. Due to the inexpensive operation and safe nature of these guns, an early form of 'skirmishing' grew as did the number and type of weapons available to players. At first, the only weapons available were spring-piston pistols which fired a 6mm round plastic BB, and are still widely available to this day. Based on a simple mechanism of spring compression being released to power an air piston in a cylinder, this method of BB propulsion became an industry standard and lead to the development of many off-shoots of the hobby.
Early Airsoft guns produced low pressure and this, combined with their low-tolerance smooth bore, caused the guns to fire erratically and inaccurately. Due to the lightweight 6mm round pellets, range was particularly short. Furthermore, many variants of spring-piston handguns sold in the U.S. by Daisy required the storage of individual round BB's in the nose of plastic 'cartridges' which were loaded into a magazine before firing. Since the gun ejected the 'casings' as the slide was released to be re-thingyed, these casings were difficult to handle quickly and load reliably. While providing for loading and cycling much like their steel counterparts, these expended cases were easily lost, and soon the gun's utility was questionable. Early revolvers of this type had individual 'cartridges' with internal springs which were compressed prior to loading and powered a skirted 6mm pellet. These early forms of 'SoftAir' imports were eventually discontinued by Daisy in the early 1980's, and have not been marketed since then.
While the sales and popularity of 'SoftAir' in the United States was coming to a close in the mid- 1980's, Airsoft sales boomed overseas in the oriental market. Enthusiasts who did not have legal access to firearms in these countries were scooping up Airsoft weapons as they became available. Spring-piston rifles soon became standard fare, as they could accommodate larger piston/cylinder combinations and a longer barrel, resulting in better range and accuracy for wargaming. Muzzle velocity increased to around 200-250 feet-per-second, and range and power was extended. In the course of marketing, the selection of Airsoft weapons grew larger and encompassed steps forward in function and utility. With these advances came more organized skirmishes which met the demand for coordinated strategic movements and elaborate playing fields. The term 'skirmish' was originated to describe group meetings to conduct safe, organized Airsoft combat.
The next major step in the development of the Airsoft industry came with the introduction of gas-operated 'blowback' systems. These guns were an evolutionary step beyond their spring-thingyer predecessors and allowed for even greater range and accuracy while making a leap forward in realism. These 'gas-blowback' rifles used compressed air (commonly Freon or FLON) stored in an airtank remotely attached to the gun to provide propulsion and reloading. This mechanism, while very similar to common paintball guns, also made available full-automatic operation to mimic the machineguns they were designed to replicate. This one achievement became a major driving force in modern Airsoft combat as we know it today. The only drawbacks were the remote airtank and connections required for operation, and the nasty tendancy for these guns to 'freeze-up' when fired repeatedly, reducing both range and accuracy.
These gas-blowback rifles were the weapon of choice for Airsoft combat, as their range and rate-of-fire allowed them to be easily carried onto the battlefield and brought to bear against opponents. Full-automatic operation spiked the interest of individuals who were looking for a cheaper alternative to the escalating National Firearms Act (in the U.S.) and drew many newcomers to this hobby. The expense and ease of owning and operating an Airsoft gun brought many new participants to the field. Although the airtanks were large and cumbersome while attached to the gun by a coiled rubber hose, this method of propulsion still exists to this day.
The advances in technology increased in frequency as the market grew in Asian countries. The introduction of HOP-UP mechanisms on gas-blowback handguns gave extended range to the BB at the same muzzle velocity and further increased accuracy at these longer ranges. This invention soon made it's way to gas-blowback rifles and machine-pistols, and today, is found on nearly every Airsoft gun manufactured.
With further miniaturization of gas control systems and smaller air bottles, gas-blowback handguns were next to surface and extended the range, power and accuracy of gas-operation in a hand-held, easily portable weapon. By charging the air tank contained within the removable magazine of the gun, many shots could be fired, and additional magazines could be swapped for tactical reloading. These guns were capable of repeating fire by routing the gasses against a baffle plate to manipulate the slide in semi-automatic pistols. This performs two purposes; the first, to propel the BB down the muzzle, and the second to cycle the action, much like a real firearm, which then loads the next round, and proceeds to prepare the weapon for continued firing. While these guns seemed to suffer less from air-expansion freezing, their rate of fire was limited to the air capacity of the small magazines. Players must often resort to heating these magazines before a game (to increase gas pressure), and carrying many of them to counteract the limited capacity of gas and BB's.
The next generation of Airsoft guns came in the early- to mid- 1990's in the form of Auto-Electric Guns, or AEG's. These long guns took a new direction in design, but returned to the time-tested method of spring-piston operation. This time, the spring-piston would be operated by a geared electric motor which would draw power from an on-board battery, and removed the necessity of air-charging or remote airtanks. This provided for a self-contained, select-fire airgun capable of semi-automatic or full-automatic fire which duplicated the originals exactly. While the system is still in it's infancy, the mechanism is fairly large and is commonly housed in full-sized battle rifles and sub-machineguns. Auto-Electric handguns have yet to be built due to the size of the battery and associated electrical wiring and switches.
These AEG's, as they're commonly called, swept the market and soon, many manufacturers were copying the design and introducing new models for consumers. The major selling points of AEG's were their exact likeness to the actual rifles, retention of the BB's in a removable magazine, and ease of battery operation, which could be replaced quickly in the field. The magazines carried anywhere from 30-50 rounds for submachine guns with an added capacity for up to 200 rounds in special 'High-Capacity' versions. This facet allowed for greater realism during combat by requiring the participant to manage ammunition and perform tactical reloads during combat.
This new wave of Airsoft guns became the pinnacle of modern Airsoft combat, and with good reason. The full-automatic mode in most AEG's fires at approximately the same rate as the real firearm, which adds tremendously to the functionality and realism of these guns. Airsoft players found easier and more effective means toward victory on the playing field.
In time, many distributors began to sponsor organized events for their customers and the fully-matured version of modern skirmishing was born. Organized Airsoft combat became a pastime for weekend camping trips, and has been making steady progress on converting players from the costly and messy sport of paintball.
Airsoft is a unique and exciting sport being played worldwide with similarities to the popular skirmish game called Paintball. Airsoft weapons are exact replicas of real assault weapons. The difference is that airsoft uses 6mm soft plastic, ceramic or biodegrable BB pellets fired from air-powered guns. Airsoft guns either electric, gas or spring power. Airsoft combat is a growing hobby among firearms enthusiasts and recreational soldiers both young and old. Combining the technical skill required to operate or 'run' a gun, with the tactical and strategic skills required on the battlefield to attain victory, Airsoft combat allows a safe experience of high-adrenaline, head-to-head combat that is the closest many will get to automatic weapons and wargaming. Airsoft was founded on the basis of realistic weapons, both in terms of function and appearance, combined with the high-energy sport of organized paintball.
History of Airsoft
The sport of Airsoft started in Japan during the early 1980s. It was illegal to own firearms in Japan but there was a significant interest in them, so a company started producing spring-powered replicas of firearms that fired 6mm, plastic BBs. The market emerged for a new, low-pressure airgun that could be owned an operated in an enclosed area and with little danger to the user or bystanders. The invention that filled this gap was called Airsoft or SoftAir in the United States, and became an instant hit with gun enthusiasts in the early 1980's. During the latter part of the 1980s the sport migrated to neighboring countries such as Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Airsoft started appearing in North America and Europe during the middle of the 1990s but it is only during the last 2-3 years that the sport started thriving in these venues.
As Airsoft began to gain popularity, many people were eager to organize events for combat. Due to the inexpensive operation and safe nature of these guns, an early form of 'skirmishing' grew as did the number and type of weapons available to players. At first, the only weapons available were spring-piston pistols which fired a 6mm round plastic BB, and are still widely available to this day. Based on a simple mechanism of spring compression being released to power an air piston in a cylinder, this method of BB propulsion became an industry standard and lead to the development of many off-shoots of the hobby.
Early Airsoft guns produced low pressure and this, combined with their low-tolerance smooth bore, caused the guns to fire erratically and inaccurately. Due to the lightweight 6mm round pellets, range was particularly short. Furthermore, many variants of spring-piston handguns sold in the U.S. by Daisy required the storage of individual round BB's in the nose of plastic 'cartridges' which were loaded into a magazine before firing. Since the gun ejected the 'casings' as the slide was released to be re-thingyed, these casings were difficult to handle quickly and load reliably. While providing for loading and cycling much like their steel counterparts, these expended cases were easily lost, and soon the gun's utility was questionable. Early revolvers of this type had individual 'cartridges' with internal springs which were compressed prior to loading and powered a skirted 6mm pellet. These early forms of 'SoftAir' imports were eventually discontinued by Daisy in the early 1980's, and have not been marketed since then.
While the sales and popularity of 'SoftAir' in the United States was coming to a close in the mid- 1980's, Airsoft sales boomed overseas in the oriental market. Enthusiasts who did not have legal access to firearms in these countries were scooping up Airsoft weapons as they became available. Spring-piston rifles soon became standard fare, as they could accommodate larger piston/cylinder combinations and a longer barrel, resulting in better range and accuracy for wargaming. Muzzle velocity increased to around 200-250 feet-per-second, and range and power was extended. In the course of marketing, the selection of Airsoft weapons grew larger and encompassed steps forward in function and utility. With these advances came more organized skirmishes which met the demand for coordinated strategic movements and elaborate playing fields. The term 'skirmish' was originated to describe group meetings to conduct safe, organized Airsoft combat.
The next major step in the development of the Airsoft industry came with the introduction of gas-operated 'blowback' systems. These guns were an evolutionary step beyond their spring-thingyer predecessors and allowed for even greater range and accuracy while making a leap forward in realism. These 'gas-blowback' rifles used compressed air (commonly Freon or FLON) stored in an airtank remotely attached to the gun to provide propulsion and reloading. This mechanism, while very similar to common paintball guns, also made available full-automatic operation to mimic the machineguns they were designed to replicate. This one achievement became a major driving force in modern Airsoft combat as we know it today. The only drawbacks were the remote airtank and connections required for operation, and the nasty tendancy for these guns to 'freeze-up' when fired repeatedly, reducing both range and accuracy.
These gas-blowback rifles were the weapon of choice for Airsoft combat, as their range and rate-of-fire allowed them to be easily carried onto the battlefield and brought to bear against opponents. Full-automatic operation spiked the interest of individuals who were looking for a cheaper alternative to the escalating National Firearms Act (in the U.S.) and drew many newcomers to this hobby. The expense and ease of owning and operating an Airsoft gun brought many new participants to the field. Although the airtanks were large and cumbersome while attached to the gun by a coiled rubber hose, this method of propulsion still exists to this day.
The advances in technology increased in frequency as the market grew in Asian countries. The introduction of HOP-UP mechanisms on gas-blowback handguns gave extended range to the BB at the same muzzle velocity and further increased accuracy at these longer ranges. This invention soon made it's way to gas-blowback rifles and machine-pistols, and today, is found on nearly every Airsoft gun manufactured.
With further miniaturization of gas control systems and smaller air bottles, gas-blowback handguns were next to surface and extended the range, power and accuracy of gas-operation in a hand-held, easily portable weapon. By charging the air tank contained within the removable magazine of the gun, many shots could be fired, and additional magazines could be swapped for tactical reloading. These guns were capable of repeating fire by routing the gasses against a baffle plate to manipulate the slide in semi-automatic pistols. This performs two purposes; the first, to propel the BB down the muzzle, and the second to cycle the action, much like a real firearm, which then loads the next round, and proceeds to prepare the weapon for continued firing. While these guns seemed to suffer less from air-expansion freezing, their rate of fire was limited to the air capacity of the small magazines. Players must often resort to heating these magazines before a game (to increase gas pressure), and carrying many of them to counteract the limited capacity of gas and BB's.
The next generation of Airsoft guns came in the early- to mid- 1990's in the form of Auto-Electric Guns, or AEG's. These long guns took a new direction in design, but returned to the time-tested method of spring-piston operation. This time, the spring-piston would be operated by a geared electric motor which would draw power from an on-board battery, and removed the necessity of air-charging or remote airtanks. This provided for a self-contained, select-fire airgun capable of semi-automatic or full-automatic fire which duplicated the originals exactly. While the system is still in it's infancy, the mechanism is fairly large and is commonly housed in full-sized battle rifles and sub-machineguns. Auto-Electric handguns have yet to be built due to the size of the battery and associated electrical wiring and switches.
These AEG's, as they're commonly called, swept the market and soon, many manufacturers were copying the design and introducing new models for consumers. The major selling points of AEG's were their exact likeness to the actual rifles, retention of the BB's in a removable magazine, and ease of battery operation, which could be replaced quickly in the field. The magazines carried anywhere from 30-50 rounds for submachine guns with an added capacity for up to 200 rounds in special 'High-Capacity' versions. This facet allowed for greater realism during combat by requiring the participant to manage ammunition and perform tactical reloads during combat.
This new wave of Airsoft guns became the pinnacle of modern Airsoft combat, and with good reason. The full-automatic mode in most AEG's fires at approximately the same rate as the real firearm, which adds tremendously to the functionality and realism of these guns. Airsoft players found easier and more effective means toward victory on the playing field.
In time, many distributors began to sponsor organized events for their customers and the fully-matured version of modern skirmishing was born. Organized Airsoft combat became a pastime for weekend camping trips, and has been making steady progress on converting players from the costly and messy sport of paintball.