airsoft questions

[hood]

Edge, I noticed that you've got a lot of airsoft related page stuff in your signature. I've always viewed airsoft guns as BB or pellet guns that you'd use on targets or something, but it seems like you're using it like paintball where you shoot other guys. Is this correct and wouldn't that hurt a lot? Inform me! :D

[Anonymous]

Hood:

you are correct. Airsoft is played as a war game. I play in the midwest every weekend, we either do force vs. force or some type of scenario with objectives and other fun items (props etc)

check out my team website: http://tacairsoft.airsoftretreat.com/
we have pictures & video in the gallery

airsoft replicas use plastic BBs that shoot between 200 to 500 Feet per second (FPS), depending on type of gun and the type of rules you have (for example, we dont allow more than 400 FPS at our games). It stings good, but doesnt hurt as much as paintball I dont think. With all the gear on most hits dont even sting. (you just hear a pop sound of the BB hitting nylon or bouncing off your gogges ;) )

cheers,
t

[Anonymous]

so what do you guys use? gas or electric... gas being the similar stuff as paintball? i would assume the electric would be better since it's more consistent. what's a good website where they sell the guns you're using? I did a search for the Tokyo name one but didn't come up with much that was in english.

[Anonymous]

We use gas pistols (the blowback versions kick back like a real pistol), electric rifles (full auto ;) ) and we do run around and shoot at each other.
Gives us reasons to collect all kinds of cool gear

shopping:
www.infinityairsoft.net (US)
www.redwolfairsoft.com (hong kong)
www.airsoftextreme.com (US)

Player sites:
www.airsoftplayers.com
www.airsoftzone.com

news:
www.airsoftretreat.com
www.airsoftnetwork.com

I am lucky enough to have a walk-in store that sells airsoft about 5 minutes from my house, so I do my shopping there. They dont have a website for airsoft tho :(

hope that helps

cheers,
t

[The Edge]

Hood-

Trunkz pretty much explained everything.

However, I don't think Trunkz has been shot in the places I've been shot, by the guns people people tend to use here on the "right" coast. ;)

Examples: Been shot around the mouth and cheek (from almost point blank distance) -- left some mighty obvious blood blisters for a week or two. Fun at work and in the general public ("Ohmygod, what happened?" -- "A bird attacked me/cut myself shaving/scratched too hard/etc").

Been shot with some pretty hot guns (I'd say 400fps *minimum*, here). Left scars/marks on my arms that still quite haven't gone away (even after almost 2 years).

Accidentally shot myself in the hand at literal point blank range with a 350fps gun (Was checking something, thought gun was empty, thought wrong). That left a big ol' blister for about a week and a half that hurt quite a bit. I'm surprised it didn't turn into a callouse.

People have had their teeth chipped and I remember one dude that got shot in the lip and the BB bounced up INTO his nasal passage. He eventually sneezed it out... pretty nasty. There's a picture floating around of a guy in Hong Kong who apparently didn't like the idea of wearing eye protection... Safety is paramount, especially with airsoft.

Personally I'm a bit leery about the sport right now, especially in light of the Maryland sniper thing going on. And although I can only speak for airsoft in my general area (which is the northeast), but it HAS been getting fairly political, player-wise. Some people are taking airsoft way too seriously and it is starting to get to into their heads that they are "the real deal". Very dangerous to the hobby and sport, overall.

Still though, airsoft is pretty fun and it gives a lot of people an excuse to buy gear. It's like America's Army, only more invigorating. And at least you actually get to hold a "rifle". ;)

[Anonymous]

Airsoft was basically started in Hong Kong by paintball fans who wanted more realistic guns. And since guns are illegal in Hong Kong collectors turned to airsoft .

What kind of guns do you guys use? I haven't gone in a while but I use...
M4A1
Mosquito Molds RIS
Surefire Flashlight on RIS
Guarder Outer Barrel reinforcement (lets me switch from normal to commando)
CA SOCOM Silencer
Systema m130 spriong (430 fps)
Systema Full Metal body
Guarder Red Dot Scope

[The Edge]

Airsoft was basically started in Hong Kong by paintball fans who wanted more realistic guns. And since guns are illegal in Hong Kong collectors turned to airsoft .Uh, are you certain about that? From what I understand "airsoft" actually originated in the 'States, manufactured by companies such as DAISY/CROSSMAN/etc., to replicate *as close as possible* real steel pistols. Until of course, they started to draw some rather negative media attraction.

http://www.airsoftohio.com/phpBB/history.php

Until it caught on in Asia... Japan, specifically. Everything I've read and everyone I've talked to (HK locals included) say nothing about HK being the "birthplace" of airsoft.

If you could provide me with some place to read up on the HK origins, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

http://redwolfairsoft.com/new_to_airsoft.htm

Airsoft was invented in Japan and describes pistols and rifles that look, feel, and operate exactly like real firearms. Their shape, form, and trademarks are true to form, and almost all airsoft models are actually replicas of real world weapons. Civilian gun ownership in Japan is illegal and airsoft naturally found a large market of gun enthusiasts that wanted to own and collect their favorite weapons but were not ready to break the law for their hobby! As such, authenticity and realism is a top priority for airsoft guns and most manufacturers have licensed agreements with the real gun manufacturers to copy the real gun styles and use their trademarks. In fact, in many cases you can install real gun accessories onto airsoft guns due to their similar dimensions and design. At close range, it is extremely difficult to discern an airsoft gun from real guns. That is why some countries, such as the United States, requires all imported airsoft guns to possess orange painted barrel tips. In fact, airsoft guns are so authentic that many police and military training programs across the world use airsoft products for training purposes.

[Anonymous]

I took one in the tounge once.....dont ask......several in the lip, girlfriend shot me in the tip of my nose (had a nice rudolph effect for 2 weeks), several in the ear, still have a scar on my left bicep from last weekend
haha. Those flight gloves have saved my knuckles a few times.

in the middle coast here...err, well no coast really, things have been going well so far. Politics havent played a big part in it yet...tho I wonder about some of our players :) We've got a shop in town thats helped us so much in getting games going, and of course our friends at wildcat paintball have been so open to airsoft its unbelievable. After 3 1/2 years I finally have more airsoft to play than I have time for. we'll see how long that lasts.

With all thats going on up your way I would be concerned too. Big scenario game on saturday - I'm running it, muhahahah. You can fly out to st louis if you want

cheers,
t

[[SAB]Grey]

Wow I didn't even know any of this was out there. I need to get on the ball. Freaking looks cool though.

[Judas-X[IMOC]]

god damn, i'd be tempted to wear a full face mask or something like in paintball. It cant be fun to get shot in the teeth or lips. imagine one flew directly into your ear canal. DEATH! lol
but it definitly sounds like alot of fun otherwise. Oh ya i'd have to wear a cup too. I definitly wouldnt want blood blisters on my cack'n'balls.

[Anonymous]

it really is a lot of fun, the best way to play soldier that I have found.

I wear full seal goggles (ESS Turbo cams) so my ears normally dont get hit anymore (cause the straps cover them). Also I usually wear a balaclava or shemagh

the face masks can make it hard to shoulder your rifle and get a good cheek weld for your scope.

t

[Anonymous]

I usually wear a protec helmet and some bolle goggles under a balaclava

[Anonymous]

well, what sparked my interest was the realistic looking guns. I can't see how carrying a huge oddly shaped paintball gun can really feel authentic. I'll have to see if there are any airsoft places on Long Island...

[The Edge]

well, what sparked my interest was the realistic looking guns. I can't see how carrying a huge oddly shaped paintball gun can really feel authentic. I'll have to see if there are any airsoft places on Long Island...
Well.

There's the www.neasg.net whom I have issues with (they've actually gone as far as to "ban" me from "their" events). But they're the only large scaled organization around here.

Otherwise, there are private games that are held over in Prospect, CT and Tolland,MA.

[Anonymous]

I been playing Airsoft for 5+ years, and i have more fun playing than i did in my 10+ years in military. If you decide to start playing it will be one of the most rewarding things you can do. It maybe a little hard on the pocket for some (ME!!! :cry: ) but its makes up for it, the first time you pull the trigger and see the BB nail a guy in the chest.

[Judas-X[IMOC]]

I can't see how carrying a huge oddly shaped paintball gun can really feel authentic.

lol it doesnt at all. It's still very fun though if you have a good place to play. I go to skirmish USA up in the poconos at Jim Thorpe, PA. Supposedly people come from all over the world to play there. You can buy kits to hook your paintball gun up to like like an m4 though. That's what the special forces guys do that play there. they just have reguler tipman guns with mod kits. The thing that cracks me up most about a big paintball game is that the sounds remind me of a civil war battle. Like the way the guns have that *pop*/*poomf* sound. Plus, is it easy to tell when you've hit someone in airsoft games? i mean they are just rubber pellets right?
But i've only played at that field and the environments are what really make it so much fun.
check it out
http://www.skirmish.com/

[The Edge]

We go by the "honor rule".

So far, it's been more or less pretty good. Cheaters are there, of course, but they're quickly ostracized and they either shape up or ship out.

Most do the former.

Beats having to deal with paint all over the place. ;)

[Judas-X[IMOC]]

Beats having to deal with paint all over the place.

ya but is there a castle, an urban street simulationn field, and a fortress field? :P

I can see how an honor system would work in airsoft games. Public paintball games suck because people cheat like thier lives depend on it. Everytime i've gone i've gotten into an argument over wether i shot someone before they got shots off back at me. So gay.

[Anonymous]

Just popped in and found this thread
There is a really big airsoft game next weekend in East Tennessee..
CQB in a 250,000 sq ft factory. Last time we did CQB was in an old meat packing plant and it kicked.

If you want info about it, go to this address
http://www.lebanontn.org/BadKarma/Important_Info/Wollen_Mills/wollen_mills.html
It will give you the skinny on the game
Our team website is
http://www.shadowcell.org/
We are definately tangos on the airsoft field..In real life I am a ssgt in the AF and the team boss is an Army Intel Captain, so its fun to tote an AK and be a bad guy.

Airsoft is a lot of fun. I've been playing for about 6 years now and couldn't go back to paintball

Powell

[Jedi]

ya but is there a castle, an urban street simulationn field, and a fortress field?

Certainly. In fact many paintball fields with just those types of facilities are finding it profitable to host airsoft games as well. In addition, some players have had the opporatunity to play in places where paintball would never be welcome, such as the San Diego County Sherrif's Duffy Town.

I strongly discourage anyone from trying to compare airsoft to paintball. They are simply different. Paintball, for the most part, is an extreme sport which involves fast paced action. Airsoft is a a military simulation hobby that can adopt many of the aspects of true military situations.

The draw is very different as well. For most interested in paintball, it is an individual sport. In airsoft, there is much more emphasis on teamwork and the team as a whole.

Now, that being stated, there is a great deal of grey area where airsoft is played in same way as paintball, even speedball. But I beleive that at the core of both, there are very different ideas of what they are all about.

Just my 2¢

[Anonymous]

As for protection, I use a paintball mask. Not too bad for shouldering a weapon and using sights, but a bit of modification will certainly improve it. All while protecting my teeth and face.

[Anonymous]

sounds like alot of fun. Is it cheaper to play airsoft as well? i know paintballs cost way too much money for me to play on a regular basis if i plan on playing for the whole day.

[Jedi]

A great deal cheaper. A bag of 3700 BBs will cost around $12-$15. Additionally, the most commonly used guns are electric and use rechargable batteries, so there is no nead to ppurchase CO2 refills.

[Anonymous]

Hey, I was looking at your TAC airsoft gallery, and I noticed this rifle http://tacairsoft.airsoftretreat.com/tacairsoft/galleries/20020511/images/IMG_1908.jpg

I was wondering if you knew any details about the paint used and what colors? or any other ifo about the paint sceme?

Also, where do you find the particular riser mount shown there?

[Anonymous]

That rifle actuall belonged to a guy we met at a game.
I think they used Krylon flat paint. The scope is actually a replica of the NSN ACOG and the laser box on the front is just a fake AN/PEQ type unit. That riser is from bushmaster I believe. There are several on the market. The airsofts are mostly 1:1 so the real stuff usually fits them.

tac_trunkz

[Anonymous]

Yup, i know what you mean. I own an Airsoft rifle of my own.
Planning on painting a camo sceme on it and am looking for some pics of what other people have done
http://www.paavo-ilmari.net/~tfgreyskull/ORIGIN/MyM4A1.jpg

[Anonymous]

cant bring myself to paint it -
here's my rifle & SOE gear setup
http://tacairsoft.airsoftretreat.com/tacairsoft/graphics/17_Soe.jpg

tac_trunkz

[Anonymous]

Hey I saw the topic I thought I'd Chime in, I have been playing for 2 years now, and right now my main gun is a SR16 with a standard M16 scope im getting a flashlight and laser put on it soon. I lead a team, SOF (special ops. Force) our site is

http://rangers.negativemass.net

we have been around for some time now, and are growing all the time

oh and Hi to Ernie and Rooster

-Mid

[Anonymous]

I am unaware of all the details of the airsoft rifles.
Do dudes really spend the money for ACOG and EO Tech optics? That **** ain't cheap!
Obviously some of the equipment was fake, but what about optics?

How much do dudes drop for this stuff?
thanx

[Jedi]

Well, the level of commitment depends on the player. A good amount of airsofters are interested in the hobby because they are already gear collectors. For a true gear collector, it makes sense to spend a great deal of money outfitting your airsoft rifle with real equipment, because it is simply more gear to collect.

Other players simply go for the 10' rule... if it looks ok at 10' foot, that is perfect. So they buy knock-off gear, including imitation optics, vests, etc...

A great number of the 10' rule crowd will defend their purchases with a comment of "it is only for airsoft, not like it will really need to be that tough..." which I find rather silly. After all, airsoft is a simulation of real battle. As such, there is just about as much chance of gear failing during airsoft as actual battle. Think about how many times gear has failed during training.

There is a last group who wants to be gear collectors, but just can't get the money together to make it to that level. So generally, they will use scaled down solutions which are real world proven, but not as effective as the new high speed gear.

So you can see, the investment in airsoft is really up to the player and why they play. It can range from as little as $500 to well over $5000.

[Anonymous]

as jedi stated, depends on the player. I drop money for the big ticket items, the vests, scopes, lights, & other gear. the airsoft gun stuff is directly transferable to real steel (as far as lights/scopes/mounts go).

The gear also can be fitted with real or airsoft mags. Many people dwell in both worlds. For force on force, in some respects you cant beat airsoft, especially if you have a hardcore crowd that arent just paintball to airsoft converts. (no offense, because some converts become very hardcore)

Many of the collector pictures at www.specwargear.com feature airsoft teams from all over the world showing off their gear.

tac_trunkz