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!