Back To Basics - Chapter 1 - What is Airsoft?

Airsoft is a game, hobby, sport – call it what you like. Airsoft is an opportunity to shoot people without causing serious harm. It’s a game of strategy, and game of honour, a team bonding exercise, an evolution of paintball. Airsoft is a way to relieve stress, a fun way to exercise, a chance to play soldiers. Whatever Airsoft is to you, it is what we do.

Airsoft became an important part of all our lives at one point or another. The game of Airsoft seems quite new and a lot of people have never heard of it, but it came to the UK in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, after becoming a ‘thing’ in Japan in the early 1970’s. Ichiro Nagata decided he wanted to make model guns, that either didn’t shoot, or that shoot projectiles that aren’t capable of killing someone. These guns were referred to as “soft air guns”, and they tailored to the needs of gun enthusiasts, whilst conforming to Japan’s strict gun control laws.

The name “soft air” referred to the compressed Freon-silicone oil mixture that was used as a propellant for these model guns (hence the name “soft-air gun”), which was a much weaker propellant than the carbon dioxide used in real air guns. The compressed Freon-Silicone oil mixture was later replaced with a propane-silicone oil mixture, known as “green gas”, which is still used to this day in airsoft guns that are gas propelled.

Since the introduction of these model guns, airsoft has become much more than just model guns, and is known and played worldwide. Most airsoft guns are still manufactured in Asia, but they are now globally produced. Many organisations use airsoft to train, for example military and police organisations and actually, in 2018, the United States Coast Guard officially adopted airsoft for training.

As an airsoft player you have many options, which you can choose between to suit your level of ability and preferred play style. For example, some players may want to have a dabble at being an airsoft sniper. Sniper rifles are available from many brands, and in many different styles, and bolt action snipers are typically allowed at most airsoft sites with a maximum limit of 500fps. Some players prefer to go balls deep and get an airsoft rifle. Most airsoft rifles are battery powered now, known as AEGs, but some gas propelled rifles are available. Another weapon that most players carry is a pistol, or sidearm. This is an important bit of kit, useful for getting you out of a tight spot, and essential if you are a hardcore CQB (Close Quarter Battle) player. Another great choice is a shotgun! Usually, you would not use a shotgun as your primary airsoft weapon, however they are great fun and add another layer of realism to your airsoft game.

For the purpose of clarity, to us, Airsoft is a game, and a hobby that we love. If you have any questions regarding Airsoft, it’s rules or safety, or anything else, then please read more of our posts or feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.