The Art Of Being An Airsoft Sniper

by: PJ Ace

Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney P. Nowland

As the sport of Airsoft continues its surge in worldwide popularity, the number of Airsoft teams and clubs continue to climb as well. These dedicated groups gather as weekend warriors at outdoor venues to participate in sophisticated war games. Dressed in military like fatigues, and armed with replica Airsoft guns, these teams engage in simulated military battles commonly referred to as the Mil-Sim (military simulation).

Of all the role players one can choose to be in these weekend battles, perhaps the most popular of all is the “Sniper”. The Airsoft Sniper is often referred to as the Lone Wolf or Rouge of Airsoft. This is the gamer that wants to place himself in the perfect hidden location in order to eliminate the opposing players in a deadly ambush. Although a popular identity among Airsoft warriors, few players have mastered the skill of becoming a feared and effective “Super Sniper”.

The first step in becoming a successful Super Sniper begins with having the right equipment! This begins by choosing the Sniper’s most important accessory-the sniper rifle like 4X32mm Range Estimating A.O. Full Size Master Sniper Scope. The goal of the Sniper is to be able to shoot the enemy from long distances, therefore his rifle does not need to be fully automatic or even semi-automatic. A well built spring–action rifle is usually the choice. The spring sniper rifle must be one of the more powerful models in order to shoot from long distances with great accuracy. It is also important to keep in mind that the most powerful weapon the Sniper has is his stealth or the ability to stay hidden. The spring action sniper rifles are much quieter than the electric automatic rifles.

One of the most recommended!!! spring sniper rifles is the WELL L96 AWP Spring Airsoft Sniper Rifle, which is widely recognized as one of the premier manufacturers of spring guns.

Perhaps the next most important piece of equipment for the secretive Super Sniper is his riflescope. The ability to see long distances with accuracy is critical to his success. Often the original equipment scope does not fulfill this requirement and an upgrade is needed. A minimum 4x32 power scope is the desired measure.

The successful Sniper has also mastered the art of military camouflage. Without proper clothing the Sniper is doomed to failure. It is essential for him to be undetected by the opposing teams. Investing in a “ghillie” or camouflage suit Ghillie Rifle Wrap is critical to maximum concealment from enemy patrols and other snipers. This suit is made from a central binding layer and loose strips of material designed to break up the shape of the human body. Super Snipers typically customize their suits by adding plant-matter or rolling in the dirt or mud in order to deaden color contrasts. With the potential for wearing this suit a long time during battles, comfort is a premium.

One of the great mistakes of the amateur sniper is running out of ammunition. As simple as this may seem, this is a common mishap due to the underestimated length of many Airsoft skirmishes. Many a sniper meets his demise as he emerges prematurely from his secret hideout at the most inopportune time in order to retrieve more pellets. You will always find the wise Super Sniper well stocked with plenty of ammo!

Understanding the role and choosing the right equipment will help the Airsoft warrior to be well on his way to becoming a Super Sniper.

Two-Man Team CQB Tactics (Part #1)

Tactics: Two-Man Team CQB Tactics (Part #1):

Photo Credit: DoD photo by Staff Sgt.

Alright…here’s what most of you have been waiting for: CQB/room clearing tactics with diagrams. The first thing I’m going to say is that these are strictly my versions of tactics for room clearing. Everyone will have a little bit different way of doing them. Some claim their way is the best, and that’s great, but I’m a firm believer in “whatever gets the job done, efficiently and you still have all of your guys/team-mates in the end, is a good plan.” So I don’t want to receive any hate mail saying that this and that are wrong. I’m not trained in the military or any law enforcement fields so my ways are probably not be the best ways, but they have worked, and worked successfully, for me in the past. So with that said, let’s get to the article.

For Part #1, I will be discussing two-man units. These are probably the most easiest to complete, yet the hardest in some aspects because your team has only two people which means each individual has to cover more then they would if there were more people; and you all know that in CQB, it’s a lot easier to get shot then it is in outdoor areas...usually Over the next few articles, I will discuss three, four, and maybe multiple fire-team tactics for CQB.

Let’s do a little review. If you remember what I said in our second issue of U.S.A.S.O.C. - The Only Free Online Airsoft Magazine(http://www.officialusasocmagazine.com/), you will remember there is a method for completing close quarters combat missions. It was the “AFS” method (Aggressive, Fast, while using Stealth). Remember to also have a general plan laid out before going in: individuals assigned to certain positions such as the point-man, the scout, the riflemen, the team leader, the rear guard, etc. The more you can do beforehand, the better the mission will usually go.

Basic Four-Corner Room with One Entrance:

We’re going to start with the basic room. It has four walls and only one entrance. This could be a bedroom, bathroom, etc in a real world situation.


This is your standard four-wall room. It has one primary entrance. For this instance, we’ll say there are either no windows, or for some reason, the entry team can’t go through them. The photo above is step #1. You want to stack up on either side of the entrance, preferably, the side with the most cover. I don’t think I need to explain why. For this case as well, we are assuming there are no rear threats.


In photo #2, these are the first actions taken by the fire-team. The black unit immediately scans the entire room upon entering. His main fire sector should be where the blue area is: between the right top corner and the right bottom corner. Now the fire-team needs to act like one person meaning that both individuals should be entering the room within milliseconds of each other. As you can see, the red unit’s fire sector should be from the left top corner to the center of the room. This is an easy way to clear a whole room very quickly and accurately if done right.


Photo #3 shows the following movements of the fire-team. The black unit should advance to the right bottom corner covering the right top and bottom corner of the room. Red unit should move to the left top corner while covering the center/right top corner.



In photo #4 (above), this is the only stopping place that the fire-team should’ve stopped at. Everything up to this point should have taken no longer the five to fifteen seconds, depending on the size of the room, what’s in the room, etc. That’s why CQB is very dangerous, and you really need to know what’s going on at all times. As you can see, black unit has stopped in the right bottom corner while covering the right top sector, while red unit has stopped in the left top corner while covering the right top sector as well.



And in photo #5, both units turn their attention to the entrance way again.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look at one way to enter/clear a room with a two-man team. Each week, I will be providing new articles on CQB tactics among other things. To see all of U.S.A.S.O.C. tactical articles, and more, go to http://www.officialusasocmagazine.com/ and download any of our issues for free. We usually have 100+ pages in them so enjoy!

All of this content (Wording and Photos) are copyrighted by U.S.A.S.O.C. You may copy and use them as long as you give credit to U.S.A.S.O.C.

If you have anything on tactics or things relating to tactics and want to see them in U.S.A.S.O.C., email them to: usasoc_themagazine@hotmail.com or visit: www.officialusasocmagazine.com.

Protect Your Eyes and Your Pimple

Your Beautiful Eyes

Always use Google!!! not search engine I mean... ^_^ Many people are concerned that the realism of airsoft guns makes them dangerous. Parents need to be aware that giving an airsoft gun to irresponsible children can put their child in danger. In certain countries where real firearms are illegal the police and others may understand that children are playing with fake guns. In the United States, however, airsoft guns are regularly mistaken for real guns. Just as you would not brandish a real firearm in public, the same is true with airsoft guns. Airsoft guns are not cap guns or squirt guns. Be aware that if your child brings an airsoft gun to school or any other public place they may be arrested or, at worst, shot by a police officer.

Don't Shoot my Pimple!!!

If you are a parent and are reading this, thank you for taking responsibility and being pro-active in learning about airsoft guns. To learn more about airsoft gun safety please read on.Not only do airsoft guns appear to be real, they also shoot plastic pellets. Many of the more expensive models such as AEGs are fully automatic. The speed at which airsoft bb's come out of airsoft guns is much slower than the speed that bb's are shot out of a traditional bb gun. Generally speaking, this speed allows people to shoot at each other with airsoft guns safely, under certain conditions. The first condition is eyewear. Never, ever, shoot at someone who is not wearing proper eye protection. Proper eye protection means eye goggles rated at least ANSI Z87.1 or paintball goggles. Proper eye protection is not military sun/dust/wind goggles, ski goggles, or shop goggles. Do not risk your own eyes or take on liability for your friend's eyes. Always wear proper eye protection when shooting airsoft guns! I recommend use Protection Mask - Clear Lens this stuff can protect your eyes also your lovely pimple.

Playing Airsoft

Feel under attack !!!

What are the main ways of playing?

I would say there are three kinds of ways of playing:

CQB
CQB stands for close quarters battle, others prefer to call it CQC for close quarters combat. This is a very exciting, quick, and effective way of playing airsoft. Since CQB is usually played in relatively small areas, and indoors, you get to the heat of the battle very quickly. It is necessary to be carrying a smaller gun in CQB, so you can manuever in the small areas, and you have to be able to move your gun where necessary very quickly. The most popular guns for CQB are the 1:1 Scale Completed High Grade MP5.SD6 Air Sport Gun.

The .357 Magnum Revolver BB Airsoft Gun
If you're the kind of guy who enjoys SWAT type simulations, and/or special forces making raids, etc. CQB is for you. There is a lot you can do with CQB, all kinds of realistic scenarios such as disarm the bomb, rescue the hostages, etc. The only difficulty is it is hard to find CQB arenas to play in, with out paying a signifficant amount of money to build, or acquire one. But you would be surprise how many lucky people are out there.

.Woodland
Probably the most common airsoft arena is the outdoors, and the woods. Very simple and efficient, it requires no money in most cases, and no work to get it set up, you just go out there and your set. The woodland provides only natural cover, which makes it fun, and adds a lot of strategy, since it is quite difficult to manuever close to the enemy with out being seen, or heard. The woods is also a favorite destination by snipers everywhere. It is where the ghille suits work, and where they can have the natural cover they are looking for. Snipers may also get a good distance away from the enemy, while keeping the ability to hit them.
Woodlands takes a lot more time for actual firing to start, but there is a lot more natural feel, and when the battles do get started, they are a blast. It is a lot better to hear pellets ripping through leaves and brush, then bouncing off a wall. You also can get dressed up in camoflouge, and get your face painted, etc. The woods allow for a lot more creativity, and realism if your going from a military standpoint. Not saying there isn't CQB in real wars, but when it is played in airsoft it more simulates SWAT teams then the army. But there is good special forces simulation in CQB. In the woods its you using your surroundings, and trying to out smart the enemy, all natural, and in some cases dozens of acres to spare.
Close Quarters, and woodland
I know it is kind of cheesy that the third way is the first two combined but what are you going to do. Prime examples of this are a CQB building surrounded by woods, or just open ground. A town, or village, with signifficant space in between buildings, or surrounded by open space. Or there is scattered bunkers in the woods, or open ground. The possibilities are infinite, but those are the most likely.
This is a example, you can see empty space at the end of the tunnel, and there is another building in the background.

.What kind of Scenarios are there?
Scenarios is what Airsoft is all about. You don't just get two teams together and shoot until everyone's dead (at least not most of the time) you make things a little more fun, complicated, and realistic by using a realistic scenario. Whether it be rescue the hostage, defuse the bomb, find the downed pilot, etc. they have scenarios, some more complicated than others. Here we will just give you some ideas for scenarios and it will be updated over time.

· Scenario: Assissination / Body Guard
Assissination / Body Guards
Team A: Has their team start on one end of the field, and wait there. They choose a speciffic guy, give him no weapons, or arm him lightly. He must stick out from the rest of the group in some way, and the other team must be told before hand who it's going to be.
They must transport this person from one end of the field to another, with out him getting killed. Everyone can get killed but him, but he has to make it to the pre-determined point.
Optional: If you have some kind of road/path on the playing field that goes pretty far, you can make a rule so that Team A can only stay on the determined path. This makes it so the other team has an idea of where they'll be which is quite common in real life situations. If someone was trying to be assassinated like in this scenario, the opposing force usually knows where the guy will be.
You also could make it so they have a couple different paths to choose from, to make it more difficult for the opposing force.
Team B: must set up somewhere between Team A's starting point, and objective point (place where specified person needs to get to). They will hide, camp, ambush, and do what ever they like when the enemy comes, they just need to take down the one guy. Everyone else they kill does not matter to the scenario, they can't win unless the one guy gets hit.
Both Teams: If you get hit by a BB from either team you are out and must get out of the battles way, and may in no way interfere with the game. You are out until the scenario is over. You may in no way act like you are dead, or alive if it is not true.

· Is there organized airsoft?
Yes. Airsoft can be just as organized, as any sport, depending on where you live. In places where airsoft is popular, you are likely to find many fields, and organizations where airsofters will get together and play, with numbers ranging from 10-200 people participating. More than likely there are places in your area where you can go, and play with a bunch of people, for a field fee, and they will divide up into teams, and play scenarios.
Most organizations for playing can be found online, and others can be found through talking to other people that play airsoft in your area. So that is probably the best way to find out about such games. So airsoft is very organized in most cases and areas. If you don't have any knowledge of airsoft in your area, then simply search for players in your area, and organize them yourself! With such a great sport, it shouldn't be too hard to convince people to play.

· Where should I not play?
The sport of airsoft is very sensitive, and is in danger due to people doing stupid things with these realistic looking gun replicas. That is why you must be very careful where you play this sport, and where you use/take these guns.
First off, NEVER aim or weild these guns at someone who doesn't know what they are (of course never aim at someone without a mask too). They don't know it is a fake gun, and they may react in a dangerous way to you, or others if they think the gun is real. Also never ever take the gun into public. You can get yourself killed by a police officer, you can get arrested, and you can get the sport of airsoft banned. No matter how cheap your airsoft gun is, or how unrealistic it is to you, someone not knowing much about guns, and from a distance may assume it real. Especially at these times in the world, with people worrying about terrorist, walking around with a realistic looking gun, is a VERY bad idea.
Okay, now your wondering where would be a safe place to play? Well first off, the best place is on a playing field, designed for airsoft or paintball, and you usually have to pay a small fee to get on the field. These are the safest, since everyone there knows what you are doing, you have full permission, and no one gets any surprises. Now a lot of people in the airsoft world like to play on private property since it is more convenient, cheaper, and maybe thats all they can play on. You have to be positive that you own the property or you have full permission of the owner to use it and they know you are there. If there is land by you where you assume no one is, don't just use it. This could cause several problems, such as if someone happens to be back there, it could be a place for hunters or something, etc. and this can lead to all sorts of legal problems, as well as life threatening situations. If you have a small yard that is surrounded by other houses, or with in plain view of a public road, you should not play there. Neighbors, people walking by, and people driving by may see you, causing obvious problems.
A few rules of thumb are that you have full permission to play at this place, anyone who can possibly see you knows you and exactly what you are doing, no one is with in range of being shot by the pellets, you have complete ownership of the land, or have full permission by who owns it.
You may think that I'm taking this too far, and jumping too far, but your wrong. These things have happened, and they can happen to you quite easily, and quickly. Plus, it is not worth risking yourself, others, and the sport of airsoft just for one place to play. There is always somewhere to play.