Having adequate knowledge on the different types of airsoft guns is important before you purchase any of them and this is an article to guide you on the differences.

Spring Airsoft Guns: These are basically single shot or spring cocked gadget which resembles the bolt action rifle or the shotgun. In order to use these guns to fire, there is a need for the user to pull back the slide or bolt to cock the spring before each shot is fired. They are not recommended for close combat competitions because of their unsuitability for this type of competitions. However, they are most commonly used for marksman and sniper functions.

Electric Airsoft Guns (AEG): They are also known as AEG which stands for Airsoft Electric Gun. They are considered to be the best type of airsoft guns. Their firing mechanism is powered by a tiny but very powerful motor inside each of the gun. There is also a spring in each of them. However, the spring is under the control of an electronic motor to attain high rates of fully automatic fire. AEGs have an advantage over other types of guns, which is they are capable of being loaded with miniature paintballs. However, you have to be careful with this because in the event of any paintball breaking inside them, their entire firing mechanism can be clogged and you will have to strip the guns down to clean them.

Gas-powered Airsoft Guns: They are capable of automatic fire and they are more convenient to use because there is no need to cock the guns every time you want to fire because the guns have a gas charge built inside each of them. These guns are much more powerful then most of the spring airsoft guns and they can be more expensive as well. The gas used by these guns needs to be refilled using co2 cartridges or a portable hand pump. Gas-powered guns have a more realistic feel then the other types of guns.

Airsoft is very similar to paintball, however with airsoft no visible marks are left when you are hit. This is because airsoft is played with guns that actually shoot small plastic 6mm ball bearings instead of solid balls of paint. All airsoft guns propel their plastic ball bearings from compressed air, but the air can be compressed in many different ways.

Most of the airsoft bb guns actually compress their air using an electronic gear box system, which works by pulling back a powerful spring (by doing this the air is then compressed) Then there are the single shot airsoft guns (usually airsoft sniper rifles) that feature the same concept, however they do no feature an electrical gearbox (these work by manually cocking the gun before each shot) Lastly, there are the airsoft bb guns that use CO2 (pre-compressed air) to power the gun.  

The single shot spring powered airsoft sniper rifles are the cheapest of the 3 different types of airsoft guns, while the electric AEG airsoft guns and the C02/Gas airsoft rifles are far more expensive. Generally spring airsoft rifles cost about $80 – $130, while the electric and gas powered airsoft rifles tend to cost about $100 – $200 or more.

As far as the battlefields that airsoft is played in, they are usually very realistic. For example, many airsoft battlefields provide walls, bunkers, tactical towers, and in some cases even buildings. This makes for a very tactical experience, where it takes more than just good aim in order to win.

The role that you play in the airsoft games (or scenarios) generally depends on what type of airsoft gun you have. Airsoft snipers use powerful airsoft sniper rifles, while those who like to move around more (and get more action) use automatic electric airsoft rifles (also known as AEG airsoft guns). The most popular electric guns are the airsoft AK-47, airsoft M4, airsoft M16, and even airsoft M249 SAW rifles (which are used for heavy support).

The types of airsoft games can vary quite a bit, based on the location and amount of players. The most popular type of airsoft games are short matches (or “skirmishes”). However, military simulations are also pretty popular, along with a few other types of organized scenarios. Also, another fairly popular thing that airsoft guns are used for is re-enactments of historical events (for example, a re-enactment of Vietnam).

The rules involved with airsoft games are straightforward and simple. The main rule is simply to admit it when you have been hit by your opponent. There is actually an honour system that is used; you are expected to always call out and raise your hand when you know that you have been shot.

Being hit at close range can be painful. With that being said and done, if you sneak up behind an opponent you can just tap them on the back to get your kill, rather than blasting them from a few feet away. This is basically another part of the honour system, but it isn’t a necessity.

All in all, airsoft is a sport just like any other, and is all about having fun, and being respectful to others. But rather than kicking or throwing a ball around, players shoot each other with plastic BBs. Strategy and using terrain correctly is essential, which makes airsoft a very realistic war simulation.

Airsoft is a sport that has gained a lot of popularity in recent times. It is safe, fun and unlike its counterpart paintball, is non-messy. As a result, the sport now has a huge adult fan following. If you have also been bitten by the Airsoft bug and are planning to buy or upgrade your airsoft gun, then the huge variety available in the market and online may confuse you no end. And if you select the wrong kind of airsoft gun, then you will regret your decision for a long time to come.

Good airsoft guns should be treated as investments in the sport and in your airsoft skill, and some thought and research definitely needs to go in there if you want to enjoy airsoft to the hilt. We discuss below the main types of airsoft guns to give you a better idea of what the best gun will be for you.

Airsoft Machine Guns

Almost all airsoft machine guns are powered by an electric motor which makes their operation fully automatic or at least semi automatic. Coming in light yet realistic looking versions of real machine guns models, these plastic and metal airsoft guns are perfect for those who want to go on and on when they get down on the battle field. Battery powered airsoft machine guns come with a rechargeable battery that works the internal gears of the machine to cock a powerful spring. Every time the trigger is pressed, the spring propels airsoft BBs with power and precision.

The advantage of airsoft machine guns is that they are very fast and powerful, and unlike spring loaded guns, do not need to be cocked for every shot. The downside is that you may have to carry spare batteries whenever you plan on playing for a long time.

Airsoft Sniper Rifles

Airsoft sniper rifles are single shot spring propelled guns. Just like real rifles, these guns have to be cocked for every single shot. While spring airsoft guns come in all price ranges and are a good bet for beginners, you may invest in a high end airsoft sniper rifle if performance and aim are what you are looking for. High end airsoft snipers perform as well as real ones when it comes to hitting the bull’s eye and are perfect for those who are into precision shooting and target competitions.

The only disadvantage of these guns is that they are not battery powered and need to be cocked for every shot, which makes them second best when you are playing a war game. However, using airsoft grenades can give you extra power on the battlefield when you are using spring loaded mechanisms.

Airsoft Pistols

Even though CO2 airsoft guns are available in all formats, they are most popular as airsoft pistols. Powered by green gas or CO2 in the gas chamber, gas airsoft guns are extremely powerful and as close to the real thing as you can imagine. With a blowback mechanism, CO2 airsoft guns give users a real gun like feel every time they fire a shot.  However, these airsoft guns are usually the costliest in the market and are advised only for enthusiasts and collectors.

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There’s a vast range of airsoft handguns and pistols on offer. As with most things in life there are always some favourites that never really change over time. Like Airsoft Sniper Rifles as an example, there’s a certain something about airsoft rifles that their owners simply can’t explain. The dream of owning your own M16, G36 or AK47 is something that some of the other people will never understand. The surprising thing about most airsoft rifles is that they’re actually quite heavy and very well built. They’re designed to be an almost exact copy of the original firearm in every possible way – which in turn gives you an idea of what it would be like to handle the real thing.

The quality and features of your airsoft replica will depend on your budget. There are three basic types of airsoft guns – differences and approx. expenses are listed below:

Spring Airsoft Guns:

Spring powered airsoft guns differ from the other gas powered and electric powered airsoft guns because they are a single shot or spring cocked devices much like a real shotgun or bolt action rifle. The user has to cock the spring by pulling back the slide or bolt before firing each shot. Though they may not be very suitable for close combat competitions, they are widely used for “sniper” and “marksman” functions.

Electric Airsoft Guns (AEG):

The electric airsoft gun, also known as AEG (Airsoft Electric Gun) these are the top of the range when it comes to airsoft guns. Each AEG has a tiny but very powerful motor inside which powers the firing mechanism. There is still a spring inside an AEG but this is controlled by the electronic motor to achieve high rates of fully automatic fire. One of the really neat things about this type of airsoft gun is that it can be loaded with miniature paintballs. A word of warning however – if a paintball breaks inside an AEG it can clog up the entire firing mechanism meaning you’ll have to strip the gun down and clean it.

Gas powered Airsoft Guns:

Gas powered models add one immediate feature – automatic fire. With a gas powered airsoft rifle or pistol you don’t need to cock the gun each time because it has a gas charge built in. These are far more powerful than most spring airsoft guns and slightly more expensive. This extra power comes at an added expense – the gas needs to be refilled. This can be achieved with co2 cartridges or a portable hand pump. For the added expense gas airsoft guns definitely feel more like the “real thing”.

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