We at Circuit Airsoft believe that all new potential Airsoft Players should be informed of the world in which we live when it comes to becoming a Skirmisher. Airsoft is becoming the new Paintball, Its becoming bigger and bigger in the United Kingdom and attracts all types of people.
Airsoft is an activity used primarily for recreation or sport wherein replica firearms shooting 6mm or 8mm plastic rounds are used for personal gaming or professional training purposes (Military Simulations and Police training exercises).
Airsoft games vary greatly in style and composition depending on location, budget, and the quantity of participants but often range from short-term skirmishes and organized scenarios to military simulations and historical re-enactments.
Combat situations on the battlefield often involve the use of common military tactics to achieve the objectives set in each game. Participants typically use varying types of Airsoft weaponry along with either real or replica military gear and uniforms.
Airsoft products are not designed to deliver serious harm, and are powered by various methods to propel a 6mm plastic BB at distances of 50 to 200 feet at between 200fps to 600fps. Most Airsoft guns are designed to shoot plastic BBs weighing 0.2g to 0.25g. Some of the entry level guns, such as the mini guns and electric blowback guns are happier shooting 0.15g BBs, and modified weapons are capable of shooting over 0.3g.
Airsoft guns can be modified to deliver serious power, though not life-threatening. Highly modified and powered-up Airsoft guns can break skin and cause bleeding, but will never penetrate flesh or lodge itself under the skin. That is why Airsoft is perfect for recreational skirmishing since they are non-deadly.Shooting can be performed in semi-auto, and full-auto on selected models at approximately 10 to 14 rounds per second. For example, Marui's electric MP5A5 machine gun is capable of 12 rounds per second, while KSC's M11 sub-machinegun is capable of delivering 1200 rounds per minute (which is as fast as the real M11). Accuracy varies depending on models but a 1-inch deviance at 20 feet is standard on stock, unmodified models. With the proper modifications and upgraded parts, your Airsoft rifle can be deadly accurate and attain a deviance of only 2 inches from 50 feet.
Automatic Electric Guns (AEG)
Automatic Electric Guns are powered by an electric motor that run off of a rechargeable battery. The motor powers a series of gears which wind and compress a spring, which in turn is connected to a piston and cylinder mechanism. When the spring is completely compressed by the motor, it is released and exerts force on the piston and cylinder mechanism. This in turn forces compressed air through a nozzle and onto a BB, which in turn is propelled out of the gun. Stock AEGs can deliver BB speeds of 240fps to 285fps using a standard 0.2g BB. Upgrading the spring, and hence the supporting gears, can easily deliver BB speeds of over 400fps or more.
To play you will need what we consider a Basic Pack and Circuit-Airsoft can put this together for you (if in stock) to make the process easier, typically you will need:
1. An AEG Gun
2. A Battery (specific to your choice of AEG)
3. A Large Pack of BB’s (0.2g or 0.25g)
4. A BB Loading Tool
5. A Battery Charger/Discharger
Gas Powered Guns (GBB)
Gas types include HFC134a and HFC22, the latter being higher pressure and thereby delivering more power. However not all Airsoft guns are designed to withstand the added pressure of HFC22 and buyers should be careful to ensure their selected model can handle HFC22 before using. Gas is typically "charged" into the butt of Airsoft guns, right into the magazine which contains a gas container. Blowback pistols cock just like real pistols, and semi-automatics require you to cycle the slide first in order to chamber the first round, and cock the hammer. When you pull the trigger, the hammer is released and pushes on a pin which in turn applies pressure to a valve on the magazine. This valve in turn releases a pocket of charged gas from the gas container within the magazine, and the gas is used to propel the BB out of the gun. This same pocket of gas is used to also cycle the slide backward, thereby re-cocking the hammer and chambering the next round. This action causes a recoil effect, though it is relatively weak compared to a real gun. Overall, the operation of Airsoft blowback pistols is exactly the same as a real gun. BB's are stored in the clip and are re-loadable just like in real pistols.
To play you will need what we consider a Basic Pack and Circuit-Airsoft can put this together for you (if in stock) to make the process easier, typically you will need:
1. A Gas Powered gun
2. Canister of propellant gas, either HFC134a or HFC22, depending on the gun.
3. A Large Pack of BB’s (0.2g or 0.25g)
4. A BB Loading Tool
Electric Blowback Guns (EBB)
These are relatively new to the Airsoft scene. Electric blowbacks are designed for those who want to experiment with Airsoft and want semi-auto functionality. However serious shooters and Airsoft fans should opt for gas blowback pistols, which deliver far greater power, recoil, realism, accuracy and range. These fire in semi-auto mode, and are very light and basic on the details.
Protection
Although Airsoft is not considered as life threatening, as with most sports protection is a must and responsible Gaming sites will not allow you to play unless you have some form of protection, Circuit Airsoft Advises the following:
1. Eye Protection that can withstand 3 joules of impact and sealed around eyes. (Not cheap Sun Glasses or Reading spectacles)
2. A Full Face Mask (Not essential but always have one handy)
3. Gloves (Summer and Winter variants)
4. Sturdy Boots, Military Type or civilian Pattern with Rubber Sole for Good Grip.
How much will it cost?
Prices Vary from one website to another but are all pretty much the same, it is also dependant on what you actually want as there are so many accessories, upgrades etc. A Typical Package for an AEG will run into several hundreds of pounds though the “basics” as described above for an AEG Package should cost between £200-£600 to get you started depending on what you buy.
Honour System
If anything this is the most important thing to understand about Airsoft, Players worldwide adopt what is known as the Honour System whereby the players rely on each others' honesty to admit to being hit.
The effect of a marking bb on the honour system is an addition to the game but does not remove "honour" from the game as it still remains with the player to choose whether or not to call his or her hits. Instead, it simply allows for verification when the need arises. For instance, depending on the muzzle velocity of the gun and distance from the shooter, the targeted player may not feel the impact.
Players are discouraged from calling out hits on an opponent - instead players are expected to signal a marshal to judge how effectively they have hit their opponent. Simulated 'knife kills' can, at the venue's discretion, be recognized when a player touches or taps an unaware opponent. This prevents the player being forced to shoot him or her at point-blank range. Some sites will allow players to use training knives made out of rubber, plastic or occasionally non-bladed metal to perform a 'knife kill' as long as they do not use violent stabbing or cutting movements. Similarly, a 'courtesy kill' occurs when a player refrains from shooting an opponent at close range while enforcing that opponent's surrender, instead of risking injury. Players are usually prohibited from firing blindly when not able to see their target, especially around corners. In some instances, players don't call out hits they have sustained as a result of this "blind fire". Players are expected to avoid the shooting of an opponent who has already admitted to being hit. Harsh language and forceful physical contact between players is strongly discouraged and even penalized. Players are expected to resolve disputes politely and with proper decorum.
All Airsoft players are expected to acknowledge being hit, even if they are in doubt, by shouting "I'm hit" loudly, and raising their hand or gun high and/or displaying a 'hit indicator' or dead rag while walking back to the safe zone.
Legality (UK)
In the United Kingdom, Airsoft replicas are classified as realistic imitation firearms or RIFs. The sale, manufacture or importations of RIFs are restricted to activities that are exempted or have been granted a defence by the Home Office under the Violent Criminal Reduction Act. Airsoft has been granted a defence, and a skirmisher as defined under British law is allowed to purchase, manufacture or import Airsoft replicas. Usually, the only accepted method of proving entitlement is to be a member of a site that holds public liability insurance. A scheme set up by UK retailers, called UKARA, recommends that an Airsoft site only give membership to a player who has played at least three games over a period of no less than two months. It is also possible to purchase Airsoft replicas with a Re-enactors license.[citation needed] The right to buy a RIF is still reserved for individuals age 18 and over.[11]
Many retailers are part of the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association (UKARA) scheme and will only sell to players who are registered to a Skirmish site that fulfils the desired requirements for the VCRA Defence. A player cannot have membership of UKARA, only a retailer can have membership. Retailers must renew their membership annually. The Association has a database of registered players from approved an Airsoft site that is updated on a regular basis by the sites themselves. Retailers who are members of UKARA have access to the database and can check using the player’s site membership number for proof of eligibility of purchase before selling any RIFs.
