| Airsoft guns are replicas of firearms developed for | | | | were designed to fire various calibers of rubber or |
| recreational purposes. They are designed after actual | | | | plastic BBs. Over time the design and capacity of the |
| firearms but propel non-metallic bullets or pellets. | | | | guns were improved and standardized 6mm and 8mm |
| Airsoft guns come in various models and are operated | | | | sized bullets were used. The first models were spring |
| based on the mechanism that drives the pellet. They | | | | powered but they later were largely replaced by gas |
| can be operated manually, via a spring, electric motor | | | | powered models. Now there exist various models in |
| or using compressed gas. Air soft guns can shoot | | | | different shapes using various systems and |
| pellets at velocities within 100 to 600ft/s. The fire | | | | mechanism. Airsoft guns were introduced into North |
| mechanism of the guns fire pellets using a piston that | | | | America around the mid 90s. |
| compresses pockets of air behind the BB. The | | | | Air soft guns are considered safe for players above |
| standard weight of the guns is .12 -.30 grams although | | | | 10 years. The pellets or BBs travel at relatively low |
| some models can weigh as up to .43grams | | | | velocity so that impact is not enough to pierce the skin. |
| The history of Air soft guns can be traced back to | | | | Some Airsoft guns make use of heavier projectiles |
| Japan during the 80s. Back then it was illegal to own | | | | such as metals or copper which can penetrate the |
| firearms although there was huge interest in them. | | | | skin. Such heavy projectiles are usually banned from all |
| Spurred by the available interest in firearms, | | | | Airsoft games events. By law most states in America |
| manufacturers began to produce replicas of the real | | | | require that an orange marker be placed on the tips of |
| thing. The guns they produced looked real enough but | | | | Airsoft guns to differentiate them from real firearms. |