| When you talk about a ball bearing, most people | | | | The term Airsoft not only refers to guns now |
| think of very small metal balls, used in a ring and oiled | | | | however, it can also refer to an activity that is |
| up to facilitate a turning mechanism such as a cog or | | | | becoming more and more popular in the UK. This can |
| a wheel. Small metal BBs are in some cases used in | | | | be played almost anywhere, indoors and outdoors at |
| some guns and these are very dangerous weapons. | | | | any time of day. It is similar to paintball. You get two |
| When we think of a BB gun however, we mostly | | | | teams and have an objective that needs to be |
| think of a cheap plastic toy gun with small plastic balls. | | | | completed by one team and stopped by the other. |
| The reality of modern Airsoft BB Guns is somewhere | | | | The rules can be anything you want; there are many |
| in the middle. They do not shoot deadly metal BBs, | | | | templates for game styles, even a straight up death |
| but they are also not cheap plastic toy guns either. | | | | match where the last person standing wins. Where it |
| The middle of the road and better quality BB guns | | | | differs from paintball however is the means of |
| that are used by fans are often mostly made of | | | | marking a target "dead". You will usually be clad in |
| metal and anything but a cheap toy. They can rage | | | | protective gear and have paper targets attached to |
| anywhere from £40 for a quality pistol, all the way | | | | you. When a BB hits these targets, it will leave a hole |
| up to £1300 for a high powered Airsoft sniper rifle. | | | | and you know you have been hit that way. There |
| Most however range around £90-200 for a decent | | | | are often rules in these games such as the maximum |
| quality rifle. | | | | power of Airsoft gun you are allowed to use, |
| The power of the BB | | | | protective gear that must be used, the type of BB |
| Essentially Airsoft guns refer to guns that fire smaller | | | | that must be used. These are usually whole day |
| plastic BBs as opposed to metal BBs. The name | | | | events where lots of people will turn up to |
| "Airsoft" refers mostly to the firing mechanism. The | | | | participate. They are usually arranged through various |
| BBs are propelled by air, either compressed from a | | | | Airsoft clubs and are usually open to anyone over a |
| gas canister or from an electric or spring mechanism | | | | certain age. |
| that forces air manually through a tube. This can | | | | Summary |
| propel the BBs at varying speeds, depending on the | | | | One thing is for sure, Airsoft, whether the activity or |
| quality of the gun. A high powered Airsoft sniper rifle | | | | genre of gun is good fun. Whatever you purchase an |
| can shoot a BB anywhere up to 500fps (foot per | | | | Airsoft BB guns for, be it simple target practice in the |
| second). A normal Airsoft gun however ranges from | | | | back garden or taking part in 100 man battles you will |
| 200-300fps. | | | | enjoy it. |
| Airsoft Games | | | | |