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| What is Airsoft |
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You may be wondering what airsoft is. After all, if you knew; you probably wouldn’t be here, or your just curious as to what is actually written here. This article has been created to give an insight to what airsoft is and why people are quickly taking up the trend around the world. So, what is airsoft? Airsoft is an individual or team oriented tactical combat sport, or sometimes referred to “MilSim”, “TacSim” or ’skirmishing’. It involves the use of airsoft replicas which mimic real world weapons in size, look and feel; although the inner workings of an airsoft replica are somewhat different to the conventional ‘conventional ammunition’ firearms. Airsoft replicas are incapable of firing conventional ammunition because of the manufacturing process: the materials used are too weak to withstand the force of an exploding round and is likely to rip itself a part. What a typical airsoft sniper and his spotter may look like. An airsoft sniper with his spotter concealed in foliage. Because airsoft replicas are an almost 1:1 external build of it’s real world counterpart, airsoft is not without controversy. As the word ‘replica’ suggests (a close reproduction of the original), airsoft replicas have been designed with realism in mind right down to the trademarks on the replica, which to the untrained eye looks exactly like the real thing. Airsoft was originally conceptualised in Japan when local authorities disallowed private ownership of any conventional firearm to any civilian collector. Airsoft was born when collectors started producing 1:1 scale and look replicas that non-explosively discharged six millimetre plastic bearings. Airsoft replicas were quickly adopted as the “realistic man’s alternative to paintball” because the replicas looked like real firearms in comparison to the ’space age like’ paintball markers and laser tag guns in use, and that the replicas accepted mods like scopes, airsoft suppressors, better gearboxes and such. Military simulation just became a whole lot more realistic. Classic Army M15A4 carbine rifle. Classic Army M15A4 with targeting reticle sight. Comparison to paintball Airsoft rounds (or BB’s) do not leave a defining mark where a person has been ’shot’ where as paintball does, so airsoft is a sport of “honor” by calling your shots truthfully and calling yourself out when you have been hit. The pain caused by being struck with an airsoft round varies greatly with the amount of protection (clothing and non-ballistically approved body armor) you are wearing and the muzzle velocity (measured in Joules (J)) of the replica where the round originated. Because airsoft rounds are smaller, they are able to travel further at higher velocities with minimal effort and because they have a smaller surface area, their “strike response” is more of a sting than a thud. Some argue that this is adds to the realism, because one does not want to receive such a response from being hit multiple times. As the power of an airsoft replica rises (typically measured in feet per second (fps)), the more painful the hits become and the more likely they can potentially cause small welts. Paintball’s “strike response” is more painful and can leave bruising where you have been hit, because a paintball has a greater mass and surface area than an airsoft BB. Safety aspects Safety in airsoft is absolutely paramount because of the nature of the sport. Because of the BB’s size, it is capable of causing injury to the eye if the player has not taken precautions to protect himself from this danger. It is a requirement of KCAC (in any match, sanctioned or not) that some sort of approved eye-protection is used. This typically involves some sort of approved clear spectacles (much like the ’sun-glasses’ style clear plastic goggles used in say a woodwork room). Sun glasses not specifically approved for eye protection are not acceptable. Full face protection is recommended, but not required, though specific ‘fields’ can enforce their own rules: only if they exceed the KCAC standard, and aren’t blatantly ridiculous. You can help avoid things like welts and the stinging pain by wearing more than one layer of thick clothing, using non-ballistically approved armor and using tactical movement to avoid being shot in the first place. |
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