Overview of airsoft gun systems.

Ok all, this is a post for those just coming into the game that is intended to explain how an airsoft replica gun works.  And if you have been playing with friends for a while using a spring gun, this might help you get a bit of understanding on AEG's before you decide on which one to buy.

For the most part, all airsoft guns work in very similar ways.  A piston is pulled back by some mechanism (the users muscles cocking a spring, an electric motor moves the piston and compresses the spring or a pressurized gas system compresses the spring).  Once it's released by the trigger, it is pushed forward quickly by a strong spring, and the air it compresses is pushed through a nozzle.  This stream of fast moving air is blown down a barrel with the bb inside it, and carries the bb out of the barrel toward the target.  Most replica guns have a "hop up" mechanism in the top of the barrel to just catch the bb and make it backspin in flight.  This backspin will help the bb travel further on its way to the target, but more on that later.

The biggest difference between most guns is how the piston is pulled back.  Let's look at these mechanisms in more depth.

The least complicated replica airsoft guns are powered by human muscle.  While all airsoft guns use a spring, these are defined by this part.  They are usually called spring guns, or "springers" for short.  They mostly fall into a few categories; pump action, bolt action or slide action.

Pump action is most commonly though of on hunting shotguns.  The user holds the fore-grip under the barrel in their non trigger hand, and moves it back firmly to cock the spring and ready the replica to shoot. Most shotgun replicas are pump action, and a few spring rifle replicas are also bolt action.

The bolt action is much like a normal hunting rifle; a lever on the side of the piston is moved up and back to cock the spring (this moving section on a hunting rifle is called the bolt, thus bolt action, since the bolt moves to charge the rifle).  Most sniper rifle replicas are bolt actions.

Many spring pistols are slide action.  The user grasps the slide with the non trigger hand and pulls the slide back to cock the replica.  A number of spring rifle replicas are also a form of slide action, but a spring powered Colt 1911 pistol is a good example.

A lot of people start their time playing airsoft using springers.  They are often inexpensive, easy to find at your local superstore or sporting goods store, and come in a variety of sizes and shapes.  You can expect to pay as little as $10 US for a springer pistol, and up to several hundred dollars for a top end sniper rifle replica that is spring powered.  Many of the more inexpensive springers are fairly low power, so they are nice for backyard games where the ranges are not that long and play is fast and furious. In a large open field though, they will not be able to throw a bb far enough to reach distant opponents.  On the other hand, a very strong sniper rifle replica really shouldn't be fired up close; the bb will really friggin hurt and may break the skin.  Yeah, don't do that.

Something to be aware of: All springs have a "break in" period, while the works all settle in and the spring looses a little power as it adjusts to being used.  A brand new springer in particular will seem less powerful after a few hundred shots.  This is quite normal, and is the result of the spring compressing and shrinking just a small amount.  A few super high quality upgrade springs for AEG's and certain bolt action spring guns are pre shrunk so this effect does not seem to happen. In reality, it was done at the factory, but it adds several more steps to the manufacturing process, and thus makes the spring more costly.

Posted in progress... more soon!

Eyewear for Airsoft

To play the sport of airsoft, one critical piece of equipment is absolutely required. Nope, not a airsoft gun even... it's eye protection! Yeah yeah, we know, you can squint really good and duck pretty fast. It doesn't matter, you still need something between your peepers and incoming plastic bb's.

Goggles: Ok, so they don't look that sexy. We all gotta wear em, deal. Besides, while eye patches look cool for pirates, it screws up your depth perception a heck of a lot if you only have one eye, which makes hitting your target a lot harder.

Most people use full seal goggles, though others will use a full face mask of some type. Let's start with goggles since they are most common. Cheap safety goggles might work, but most players will use a goggle designed specificity to be hit repeatedly by something like a paintball or bb. These should conform to the ASTM F 1776-01, ANSI 87.1 2003 (civilian), or MIL-V-43511C (military) standards for impact resistance. These standards are usually printed on the goggle packaging, and if you are buying at a local airsoft store you can ask if they are rated for airsoft play. Most sold there will be. A lot of standard safety goggles for construction work are not rated to take a hit repeatedly in the same location game after game, so if you are going to use these, check them!

Shooting glasses do not fully seal to the face, so a bb can easily come in from the side or deflect off your cheek and strike the eye. This would suck, you don't want this. Make sure the goggles you are looking at fully contact the face all the way around your eyes. If you can, ask to try on a pair. If you are shopping online, look for “full seal” in the description. Usually, the edge of full seal goggles is soft foam rubber so it will conform to the shape of your face. Some are just rubber, the choice of which one is best for you is easiest to make after you have worn a few pairs, so if you can ask your friends to borrow theirs for a while and try em out.

The big complaint on goggles is usually fogging. There are a bunch of ways to deal with fogging that all work decently. None are perfect in every situation. Chemical anti-fog wipes are a cheap, basic way to help keep your goggles fog free. The work pretty well, even in warm humid weather. Just follow the directions on the package and go for it. When you take a break, try not to wear your goggles on top of your head too. That can easily transfer sweat from your hair to the inside of your goggle lenses. Either drop them down around your neck, or take them completely off until its game on time again.

A more advanced goggle may have specially designed vents to help air move through the goggle and carry away moisture and humidity. A good example of these are FlackJacks. These goggles work pretty well, and combined with anti-fog wipes are effective for most people. If that isn't enough though, you can get goggles with built in fans or after market add on fans to blow air through the vents on your goggles. These are usually powered with a small battery, so if you have one of these units, make sure you have extra batteries with you. Having your fan cut out when you really need it blows. Or doesn't in this case.

Goggles can cost from as little as 10 dollars up to several hundred for some really special, x-ray specs. Ok, probably not x-ray. Are the 200 dollar goggles any better than the 25 dollar ones? Probably not. They might look cooler, but they likely have very similar lenses in them. A good, basic pair will cost you about 25 bucks, and will work just fine. But, goggles only cover your eyes... what happens if you get hit in the cheek or tooth? Well, it hurts. Want to not get shot in the face? Then let's talk about....

Full face masks (including paintball masks). These masks are designed to offer both good eye protection and facial coverage, while allowing easy breathing and minimal fogging. Some are better for paintball than airsoft though, as their vent slits are big enough to allow a bb to enter the mask and hit you on skin.  Look at them carefully when buying to see if it looks like the slits or holes might be larger than 6mm.  Most paintball masks also have a slight brim over the eyes, so it can help to keep the sun out of your eyes while you are playing.  If you are playing in really bright areas, you can also often swap out the lens for one with a smoke tint, or a yellow tint for hazy days.

Some paintball masks also cover the ears, which can be nice if you do not wear a scarf or other wrap, just in case of an ear hit.  Be aware that most ear protection will also reduce your hearing somewhat though.

So in closing, decide if you want just goggles or a full face mask, do some research and wear friends gear if you can to see what works for you.  Don't wear your protection on top of your head, take care of the eyewear with chemical wipes to prevent fogging, and get out and play!

Over and out!

 

CQB season is at hand

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Our little corner of the airsoft world is under way and already getting some folks interested in writing for us.  Sadly, the weather is looking like it might be time to head indoors since the AEG batteries won't like the cold much and our soaking wet feet and hands will like it even less.  Once there is a good snow pack, it's back outdoors for some winter airsoft combat though!  Hey, I might finally be able to use those black bbs and see the danged things in the air!

Now just because the weather is nasty doesn't mean that airsoft season is over.  It's CQB time!  For those new to the sport, CQB is "Close Quarter Battle", or occasionally CQC for "close quarters combat".  This means exactly what it sounds like - up close and personal.  Inside a large barn, or other facility, a number of players work on their indoor tactics with airsoft replicas shooting under 350 feet per second.

A lot of folks bring out their springer shotguns and pistols for CQB for a couple reasons.  They tend to shoot under 350 fps, and the cold does not weaken how strong a springer replica shoots.  The cold will, however, reduce how effective the battery in an AEG airsoft replica is.  In case you didn't know, AEG means Automatic Electric Gun, and are the full auto capable electric airsoft guns.  Now back to those spring powered guns...

Spring powered guns are often the first replicas someone buys to get into airsoft and get their feet wet.  Then they buy better boots and try again.  Most springers fire a single airsoft bb, though some shot guns fire multiple bb's at once.  These work fairly well in the short ranges that a lot of CQB combat takes place at.  And hey, think about this; do you really want someone pasting you at 8 feet with a really powerful replica gun?  Yeah, not so much.

So dig out that classic arsenal and find someones mostly empty hay barn to play in.  Get permission though, breaking into the neighbors place and leaving bb's all over won't go over well.  Hey, they might be interested and join you, and next thing you know you have a whole farm to use!

And once you have a bit of a feel for CQB, there are several places to play inside in West Michigan too.  We will have an article on The Airhouse in Kalamazoo soon, so keep your goggles clean for that one.

Ok, that's it for now, briefing is over.  Move out!

We are The Roadcrew!

Welcome all to the Roadcrew Review!

First, we need to start by saying this is going to be a little different than many other airsoft review sites. We are in this for fun, and that means weird angles on things, weird stories and that kind of thing. Some stuff will be serious (mostly) but even those posts will take a strange twist in getting to the point.

Second, we are going to only post reviews on products we have in our hands. A lot of sites just repost the review they found on someone else's site or were given by the manufacturer or reseller they got the info from, without changing a word. Not us. If we don't get a chance to break it, it ain't getting reviewed!

Our rating system for airsoft equipment is based on a 0 to 5 scale.
In the form of a burst.
Yep, that's right.
If it sucks, its a Jam (0) and if we can't live without it, it's a 5 shot burst. Basic, functional gear but with nothing notable or fancy gets a 3 shot burst.

Something we have to test further probably will be listed as empty clip or something like that.

Firing Blanks will probably be a term for something that looks great but doesn't function for crap.

Got it? Great. Let's move out!