| The collecting and use of airsoft guns is becoming a | | | | about 25 feet. The pellet hit me in the upper body |
| more popular hobby each and every day. These guns | | | | through a t-shirt but still left a large bruise and it really, |
| offer a high speed extreme hobby that's enjoyed by | | | | really hurt when it hit me. If that same bb had hit me in |
| thousands of people all over the world - with more | | | | the eye there's a strong chance it would have blinded |
| getting hooked all the time. You can take part in | | | | me. The lack of care and protection in this situation |
| backyard target shooting (also known as plinking) using | | | | could have cost me part of my eyesight. |
| old tin cans or even custom made airsoft targets. | | | | Airsoft guns are classed as toys but the speed they |
| You're not just limited to firing airsoft plastic bbs | | | | fire bbs at puts them in the category of toys requiring |
| however. Your airsoft gun can also be filled with | | | | supervision and caution. Even if you're firing your airsoft |
| airsoft paintball pellets so you can take paintball to the | | | | gun indoors you still need to take proper precautions |
| next level - going full auto with replica assault rifles and | | | | and wear protective glasses. BBs can ricochet around |
| handguns. | | | | a room very quickly and you'll never see them coming |
| One note of warning - never get involved in any type | | | | back at you until it's too late. |
| of airsoft wargame unless you're wearing proper eye | | | | Does wearing safety glasses or a protective mask |
| protection. This is true of paintball and equally true of | | | | take away from the freedom people see in airsoft as |
| airsoft. | | | | a hobby? Some people feel it does. If you look at it |
| An airsoft gun fires a plastic bb at speeds of | | | | another way by wearing proper protective eyewear |
| anywhere from 180 feet per second to well over 300 | | | | you can engage in the most intense airsoft battles |
| feet per second. The actual speed will depend on the | | | | imaginable without having to worry about any serious |
| type of firing system your gun has; with gas and spring | | | | injury. |
| generally being the most powerful. Being hit by one of | | | | So how much does protecting your eyesight cost? |
| these bbs on exposed skin at these speeds definitely | | | | From as little as $10 you can make sure you can |
| hurts and at close enough range can be powerful | | | | enjoy airsoft to the full. Surely your eyesight is worth |
| enough to leave quite a nasty bruise. I've been shot | | | | $10? Right? |
| with a gas powered Desert Eagle from a range of | | | | |