Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Airsoft Guns - Some Brief Information

By Anthony Carter

Airsoft guns are very popular for recreational use and becoming even more popular today as the market evolves for these detailed replicas of the real thing. Just what exactly is an airsoft gun though?

Basically put, they are exact replicas of real guns. The big difference though is that they fire plastic pellets instead of real ammunition. They fire by way of compressed gas, usually in the form of a CO2 cartridge, or sometimes from a spring powered piston or even electric motor. Their muzzle velocity is in the 30 to 250 meters per second range with pellets normally being 6mm in size.

Don't let these recreational toys fool you though, in cases where heavy projectiles are used they can and will penetrate the skin causing severe damage. If plastic pellets are used as recommended though, airsoft guns are relatively safe for play. The are recommended for ages 16 and up, but in some select areas you must be 18 to participate in any type of tournament. This is for safety reasons of course and children under 16 should never attempt to use one.

The history of airsoft guns is a unique one, dating back to the 70's in Japan where owning firearms was illegal. People still had an interest in weaponry so they found a loop hole around this law and began to manufacture fakes that looked like the real thing but fired plastic and rubber balls. The 6mm and 8mm size ammunition later became standard. These older models were all spring powered but later became gas powered.

Around the mid 90's these amazing creations found their way into North America and quickly became a popular hobby for many. The airsoft gun evolved in to what is known today at this point and North American's have been having fun ever since. Many say its even a great stress reliever too!

Cheap versions of the toy forced the United States to crack down on import regulations of the item and even today each one must be painted with a very bright orange tip before import. This is mainly as a safety precaution because of the similarities to real weapons.

Some airsoft gun models are so life like in fact that there have been a few Japan based companies that have encountered problems with intellectual property laws several times through the years. The United States battles this by restricting certain models from being imported in to the country for sale.

Just reading the description of airsoft guns makes it sound so fun, which it is. It is a great outdoor recreational activity that many enjoy. It has quite the following and tournaments take place on a regular bases in almost every state. If you are looking for a little excitement without to much risk and danger then this sport would be one that you might want to look in to. Entire families sometimes get involved and it's a great way to spend family time together.

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