Friday, September 18, 2009

Choosing your Weapon

Airsoft has officially replaced paintball as the “it” game these days. For those who are hearing the term for the first time, airsoft is a type of war game that is played in a wooded area similar to a paintball course, however instead of shooting paint, an airsoft gun projects small plastic or rubber pellets that create a mild but distinguishable physical impact. The gun you use to play the game is a major part of your experience, and selecting the perfect model for you is key to enjoying your time on the airsoft field. Read on to learn what you should consider when shopping for your ultimate game weapon!

The first thing to think about is where you are planning to use your airsoft guns or airsoft pistols. Aside from regulation game play, your airsoft gun could be used primarily for game training or shooting practice. The distinguishing factor between most types of guns is the reload time, and therefore determining where you are planning to use the gun the most will help you select the ideal gun for you.

Some guns, such as low-powered sniper rifles or shotguns, have a slower reload time than the assault rifles or support weapons, making them better suited for practice environments than games. Also, it should be noted that these slower reload guns are great choices for individuals new to the game as it allows them to learn on a weapon that doesn’t have an extreme kickback or overwhelming automatic shot power.

Once you have identified your gun’s purpose, you need to consider what type of loading energy works best for you. The choices have typically included gas, spring load, or electric, however now some companies are coming out with hybrid models that incorporate various aspects of these three systems. Gas shots are the classic form of propulsion for airsoft guns, and also one of the most powerful shot sources. They work by using compressed carbon dioxide from a tank attached to the weapon and can shoot continuously until the tank is expended, making them great for game play. The pressure of the gas can also be regulated to increase the speed of fire depending on the pace of play. A spring load airsoft gun is a single-shot weapon, which means you can only fire one shot at a time before you need to manually reload the gun by cocking the spring, making this type of gun better for practice or sniper work in a game scenario.

Electric guns use either an electric motor or battery to power the propulsion of pellets and come in three distinct varieties: low power, medium power, and automatic power. Automatic power provides the fastest shot rate and is considered to be an ideal game weapon. However, low-power weapons have such a minimal output and slow reload time that there are spring load guns that outpace them. Therefore, a low-powered electric airsoft gun is a better training and target practice weapon.

The distinction of loading style is just one of the most basic things to consider when looking for a new airsoft gun, and it is also one of the most important. While other features like scopes, handling, design and brand names all come into play eventually, they don’t mean anything if you are working with the wrong gun type for your needs. Airsoft is a challenging, exciting, and fun game that requires skill, and just like any skill the tool used to work is vital to your success. Don’t underestimate the power of the right airsoft gun!