If you’re looking to start your airsoft career, then you need to know a bit about the guns, ammo, and gear to use. After all, the market is so diverse in offers that a beginner could easily get lost in the tons of designs and models available.

Still, before you start your journey, you should know that this is a war game. The guns are very realistic and they try to mimic the force and action of real firearms. The main purpose is to make players feel like they are in a real battlefield and they need to solve real military or police scenarios without risking to get injured by real bullets.

You should also know that, while it is a fun game, it is also a bit addictive and you might end up with a cool airsoft guns collection! That’s how it happened to me: I started playing on a dare, with a gun borrowed from a friend, and 20 years later, I am still playing every chance I get. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that you should be prepared to be into this for the long run.

Now that you’ve been warned, let’s take a look at the main gun groups you can find on the market.

AIRSOFT GUN CATEGORIES

A quick browse on Goog Gun will show you that the main difference between the gun categories is the power supply. At a closer look, you’ll notice that the three main categories are gas, spring, and electric weapons.

SPRING POWERED GUNS

These are the models that need pumping or coking with every shot in order to work. This means a slower rate of fire, but this is a good thing, especially for a beginner. These weapons behave well in close quarters battle scenarios, are reliable, and the price is acceptable which is why I like to recommend them to anyone who is just starting in this field.

ELECTRIC POWERED WEAPONS (AEGS)

These are highly accurate and have a rapid rate of fire (as long as the battery is powerful enough). They are supplied by a battery that usually goes in the stock, and come in a wide range of designs.

Sadly, as the battery runs out, so does the rate of fire or the power of the rifle. Still, when they are at their peak, these rifles can reach up to 450FPS which is impressive considering both the gun and the ammunition.

GAS POWERED GUNS (GBBS)

Also called the gas blow backs, these are more powerful than both spring and AEGs and have a recoil which brings them a lot closer to regular firearms. Still, the gas doesn’t last long so you’ll find yourself carrying supplies on the field.

They are also not as reliable as the first two models we discussed so it’s best to use them as a secondary weapon.

THE AMMO

Airsoft guns use BBs or round airsoft pellets usually made out of plastic and colored white. Of course, you can find them in different colors and weights, but the standard size is 6mm in diameter. There are some selective models that use 8mm, but most guns are good with the 6mm pellet.

The weights are different, but you can use most versions with every gun. You can find BBs with weights ranging from 0.12g to 0.48g, but the most popular ones are the 0.20, 0.25, and 0.28g. These are the ones with better accuracy and distances.

One cool thing about BBs is that they are quite cheap and you can buy them in bulk.

THE GEAR

You shouldn’t get on the field or even play with your airsoft gun without wearing some sort of protective gear! This is the fundamental rule of airsoft and you must use it if you want to save yourself some pain.

BBs may look harmless, but when shot at high speeds they can hit you in the eye, ears, face, or even teeth and they can do some damage. That’s why goggles are mandatory but I strongly recommend wearing a full face mask that will protect your face, neck, and ears.

In the gear category we can also talk about cool accessories such as scopes, flashlights, lasers, and so on. Just like the weapons, these come in a wide range of models so you can have your pick. However, I wouldn’t recommend getting too many accessories before you know you like airsoft and want to continue.

WRAP UP

Before we finish, I want to highlight that it’s important to choose the gun, ammo, and gear that suits you. The wrong weapon or ammo could completely ruin your first experiences and the wrong gear may render your first game unbearable. That’s why you should talk to someone who is experienced in the game of airsoft and knows how to guide you.