Airsoft was invented in Japan during the 1970s as a hobby toy category, designed for people who wanted to enjoy real-steel guns but couldn’t. The first airsoft guns were simple, plastic, and more like toys than anything else. 

However, airsoft has since evolved into something much bigger and is enjoyed by millions of airsoft players worldwide. 

An airsoft gun is a realistic-looking toy gun — a replica — that often imitates real firearms. Airsoft guns shoot small plastic BBs using air pressure and come in all shapes and sizes. 

Due to their extreme realism and mirrored functionality with their real-steel counterparts, they’re often used as props by movie companies or training devices by law enforcement and military personnel. 

How Do Airsoft Guns Work?

Airsoft guns fire plastic projectiles called BBs using air pressure, which is created or stored in several ways depending on the airsoft gun’s power source. Electronics, pressurized gas, springs, and high-pressure air (HPA) are all common power sources. 

Regardless of how the pressurized air is created, it pushes the BB out of the airsoft gun’s barrel to fire a projectile. 

What are the Different Types of Airsoft Guns?

Most airsoft players choose the type of airsoft gun they want to carry based on the role they want to play or the types of airsoft games they participate in. 

For example, an airsoft pistol or compact rifle works well for close-quarters battle (CQB), like what you’d find on small indoor airsoft fields. However, airsoft rifles — including sniper rifles — can reach across larger fields. 

Below are most of the different types of airsoft guns: 

Airsoft players who want to take their gameplay to the next level can invest in a professional training weapon (PTW). Featuring some of the best electric platforms, these PTWs come at a cost and can far exceed most players’ budgets. However, they’re an indispensable tool for training purposes. 

Spring Airsoft Guns

Spring airsoft guns have one of the simplest designs and are, therefore, favored by beginners. You can easily purchase a spring airsoft gun for less than $100 — or even $50 — and test out what it’s like to fire one without getting too far into the sport. 

However, many airsoft players quickly graduate from spring airsoft guns to electric or gas-powered platforms. 

You must manually cock a spring airsoft gun every time you want to fire it. To do so, you’ll need to compress an internal spring that, once cocked, is held in place until you pull the trigger. When you fire a spring airsoft gun, the spring releases its tension, pushing forward a piston that meets a cylinder and creates a pocket of compressed air that propels the BB out of the barrel. 

Inner workings of a spring airsoft gun

Spring airsoft guns don’t incorporate many moving parts or require batteries, compressed gas, or high-pressure air (HPA). However, they can fall short when it comes to gameplay because players must cock their airsoft guns every time they want to shoot. 

It’s often faster for a player with a gas-powered or an electric gun to pop off a BB or two before you can cock a spring-powered airsoft gun. 

Gas Powered Airsoft Gun

Gas-powered airsoft guns are either powered by green gas or CO2, which is stored in the magazine. 

Selecting between green gas vs. CO2 is dependent upon the magazines and what they’re capable of containing. Some gas-powered airsoft gun magazines can run both types of gas, while others are only green gas or only CO2. 

CO2 airsoft guns and green gas airsoft guns offer the most realistic shooting experience, including disassembly and assembly. The gas charge that fires the BB also operates the internals to produce a realistic recoil. When you pull the trigger, a valve releases enough gas to propel the BB out of the muzzle and energize the gun. 

Inner workings of a gas powered BB gun

This realistic experience is most evident in the gas blowback (GBB) airsoft pistol. The internals mimic many of the components found in a real-steel pistol. These airsoft pistols are often highly sought after, as they’re great tools for training competitive shooters, law enforcement, military members, and responsible citizens. 

Electric Airsoft Guns

Electric airsoft guns, also known as automatic electric guns (AEGs), are one of the most widely used types of airsoft guns. These battery-powered airsoft guns use a gearbox and an electric motor to cock a spring and pull back a piston that drives air through a nozzle to propel BBs down range. AEGs began in the 1980s based on the Tokyo Marui Version 2 gearbox, which is still in use today. 

AEGs are ideal if you want to customize your gun because there’s a wide range of aftermarket parts available. You can also select from electric airsoft pistols, rifles, submachine guns, sniper rifles, and shotguns. However, the internals are mainly optimized for rifles due to their size. 

Airsoft Guns FAQ

Still have questions before exploring RedWolf’s selection of airsoft guns, parts, accessories, and ammo? Keep reading to learn more about airsoft guns. 

Are Airsoft Guns Safe?

Airsoft is extremely fun and action-packed. Like any action sport, there’s always a chance of injury. Getting shot with a BB can hurt, but most airsoft fields institute velocity regulations to ensure serious injury doesn’t occur. 

When you play airsoft, bruises and welts are part of the action. However, most airsoft guns are regulated for a set velocity based on the airsoft field or the country you’re playing in. Most airsoft guns also feature realistic safety switches to encourage players to operate their airsoft guns safely. Still, you can also remove the batteries or gas magazines to make the airsoft gun safe. 

Personal protective gear — such as the best airsoft masks — makes a major difference in reducing the injuries you could sustain from playing airsoft. ANSI-rated goggles ensure your eyes are protected, while full face masks keep the majority of your face safe from stray BBs. You can also buy plate carriers or other airsoft accessories to dampen the sting of an airsoft BB. 

What Do Airsoft Guns Shoot?

Airsoft guns shoot strictly airsoft BBs, which are round, plastic projectiles that mirror ball bearings. Differentiated by diameter measurement, airsoft BBs are commonly 6mm in diameter but can also be 4.5mm or 8mm. Since airsoft first began, BBs have undergone significant development and can now be produced to highly precise specifications. 

Airsoft BBs typically weigh from 0.12 grams to 0.48 grams, but 0.2 and 0.25 grams are the most popular. You can also purchase tracer BBs, which are coated with glow-in-the-dark materials. As the BBs leave the barrel, the tracer unit flashes the exiting BB with an LED diode, which charges the BB and makes it glow red or green upon exiting the barrel. 

What is FPS?

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FPS stands for “feet per second,” which is a measurement of the BB’s velocity as it exits the muzzle. In short, it tells you how fast the BB moves, like the speedometer for your car. Most airsoft guns measure between 280 and 400 PFS with a 0.2 gram BB, but you can increase the FPS of any airsoft gun if you install certain upgrades. 

Most airsoft players want to increase their airsoft gun’s FPS to just within the airsoft field’s limits without going over. However, you may find that you need to know how to lower the FPS of your airsoft gun so you can use it on the field. Check out our blog for more information. 

How Much Do Airsoft Guns Cost?

Getting into the sport doesn’t have to break the bank, as you can purchase an airsoft gun from anywhere under $100 to over $1,000 or more. The differences between price points depend on what type of airsoft gun you want to buy, what manufacturer you want to go with, and many other minor details.

Figuring out how much to spend on an airsoft gun is only the tip of the iceberg when you consider how much airsoft really costs. You also have to pay for ammo — BBs — compressed gas if you own a gas gun, a battery charger, one or more batteries for AEGs, and a full tank of compressed air for HPA platforms. That’s not to mention the protective gear most airsoft fields require, including a face mask and goggles.

Are Airsoft Guns Considered Firearms?

Airsoft guns are not necessarily considered firearms, at least in the United States, where they’re considered to be toys or replica firearms. In some European countries, airsoft guns are regulated under the same laws as firearms, and you must have a license to own one. 

Other countries have made airsoft guns illegal, even though most are incapable of shooting the same munitions as real-steel guns. 

Airsoft guns are legal in the United States but are illegal or restricted in other countries. In countries where airsoft guns are allowed, you typically have to obtain a license to legally own an airsoft gun. Check our guide about airsoft gun laws by state. 

Do Airsoft Guns Hurt?

So, do airsoft guns hurt? In truth, airsoft BBs can hurt and leave a mark, but they’re typically not too painful. Most airsoft fields require that you wear facial protection, like goggles and a face mask, but you can also wear thicker clothing to reduce the impact of any BBs that come your way. 

What Are Airsoft Guns Made Out Of?

6061 Aluminum vs 7075 Aluminum - Parts Badger

Airsoft guns are made out of many materials, ranging from plastic and wood to metal. The materials used to make a particular airsoft gun depend on several factors, from manufacturing costs to the specific real-steel gun the airsoft gun replicates. 

For example, many World War II airsoft replicas are made using real-wood stocks for realistic gameplay. 

Most airsoft guns are full metal unless otherwise specified. For instance, Glock airsoft pistols are made with aluminum and polymer, similar to the real-steel versions. Polymer is also a common material among airsoft guns, as it’s easy and affordable to manufacture. Higher-end materials — like stainless steel, titanium, and steel — are used in specific airsoft gun components, including slides, frames, and mounts. 

Is An Airsoft Gun The Same Thing as a BB Gun?

Airsoft guns and BB guns are similar but different. BB guns — also known as pellet guns or airguns — shoot a different type of projectile. However, both BB guns and airsoft guns use air pressure to fire their respective projectiles. Visit our blog to learn more about airsoft guns vs. BB guns. 

Start Your Airsoft Journey With RedWolf 

Airsoft guns are fun replicas that are awesome to play with, especially with friends. Many people from different walks of life can appreciate airsoft, as it’s highly realistic but safe. Some airsoft guns even help fulfill a collector’s childhood dreams or allow others to get a taste of gun ownership in countries where owning a firearm may not be permitted. 

Get ready for your first — or next — airsoft game with RedWolf! We have a wide selection of airsoft guns, ammo, accessories, and replacement parts. Whether you get an airsoft gun for target practice, to shoot in skirmishes on the airsoft field, or participate in a military simulation (mil-sim) game, RedWolf is your go-to source for airsoft!

Sources: 

What Does CQB Mean? A Deep Dive into Close Quarters Battle | The Ranch

Airsoft for Realistic Training - SWAT Survival | Weapons | Tactics

Plate Carriers: Your Ultimate Guide | Next Day Armor