Airsoft: Realism/Comparison USP

[aig1]

I think that these are great training tools, but I have been leary to buy one because I have seen them form about $20 up to $300. It seems like there is a wide range of quality. Any one know what the good brands are?

It depends on what kind of gun you are looking for. Some guns are only made by a single company (ex. Tokarev), but most comanies will be making some kind of Beretta, glock, Colt 1911 look a like.

Western Arms (Japan) is possibly one of the best regarded comanies. most of their products are with licenced logos, so they will look almost exactly like the real stuff. they are also some of the most expensive airsoft guns (~$200).

KSC and Tokyo Marui (sp?) are two other Japanese companies that also offer very high quality product, though some of their guns have no licenced logos, so you will have "KSC" insted of "P. Beretta" on the grips, etc., but the gun would operate much like the real ones in terms of controls levers, locking mechanism, etc.

I tend to stay away from Taiwanese stuff (HFC, KWA, KJ Works). These are cheaper, but they definitely fall short when compred to more expensive stuff. For example I bought a full metal HFC beretta 92 clone. though it was metal it did not have a functional de-cocker, and some weld seams on the frame were visible. i still like my KSC much better from realism, aesthetics point of view. the Taiwanese partner of KSC (KWA) is also lower quality than the Japanese KSC, though the internals are identical.

If i were to buy another AirSoft gun, I'd rake the money and go for Western arms if they make what I want ( and they do Beretta cougar).

Here is a site with many reviews on AirSoft Guns
http://snowman.ascuk.net/reviews.htm

At some point this gets almost as expensive as buyng real guns (Makarov, CZ52, and some others go for ~$200)

I hope that helps.

Alexi

 

[PILMAN]

Yes many law enforcement are using airsoft for training now as well, heres a video about it.

http://fwbairsoft.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=13

The guy in the video is incorrect about systema being only for law enforcement, no one in the US sells systema however it's possible to import them into the US (and many people do) though they are very expensive.

Quality brand names are anything from Classic Army, Tokyo Marui, KSC, Western Arms (some of the most realistic handgun replicas made), G&P (realistic AR-15's), and a few others.

Maruzen makes some awesome replicas as well, I think they are the only ones who replicate the M1 Garand and the Jericho 941 (baby eagle) though most of Maruzens guns aren't really skirmishable, they are more for looks. I know a few people who collect world war II airsoft guns as well, some of the companys make arisakas with the imperial japan flower on it and people use them as wallhangers.

 

[shooter71]

ahhh nothing like a punk kid/wanna be gang banger having an airsoft and trying to scare someone to show off in front of their buddies..but not realizing the other fella has a CCW and the real thing or an LEO

 

[Wasz]

Sigh. Really it is a serious hobby. Its fun, its physical activity, its mental activity. Its good stuff, it just needs some help. One would hope that a participants of a hobby that is as hated as the one shared across this board. Would maybe be more willing to see it from an inside point of view and find the good and excitement in the sport. Instead of letting the bad people bring it down and make it ugly.

 

[PILMAN]

ahhh nothing like a punk kid/wanna be gang banger having an airsoft and trying to scare someone to show off in front of their buddies..but not realizing the other fella has a CCW and the real thing or an LEO

I'm not sure what or who that was directed to. I own both a real firearm and airsoft replicas. I collect airsoft guns simply because certain firearms I will never be able to own either because they are not imported here (the HK416, L85, various other weapons) or because I simply don't have a use for them due to the cost (Desert Eagle, Galil). Very few "punks" spend the money for a quality replica. If you want to think punks, think of some young kids at walmart spending 20 dollars on a clear see through replica of a beretta M9, then taking it home and spray painting it black. Most of the people that spend money on a quality replica are not about to go in the street holding people up. There is a lot of detail and work involved in making the higher quality stuff.

 

[scurtis_34471]

Sorry, kids do not need to have these realistic looking toy guns. I'm not against toy guns ... my kid has several. But these things look so real kids just shouldn't have them, for their safety and ours.

I agree completely. I bought an Airsoft gun to help teach my daughter shooting and handling techniques. The one I bought is made of bright orange and clear plastic and could not be mistaken for anything but a toy at any distance. I could have purchased a replica of a Walther PPK/S and almost did, because it would be very similar to my actual gun. I chose not to, because I did not want there to be any possibility of it being confused with the real thing. It is flat-out dangerous for kids to have replica guns. People have already gotten shot that way and I don't want my child to be a statistic.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

Well, I think that kids should have realistic toy guns as a stepping stone to realistic real guns. I just think that they need to be supervised and educated with them much more than they seem to be today.

I mean, it's the same deal we used to have with air rifles and BB guns. Instead of "you'll shoot your eye out," the new bogeyman is "some cop will shoot you."

(Interestingly, no cop has ever shot me even when I've been carrying one of my real guns. Why would an airsoft gun somehow be more dangerous?)

It's defining things on the basis of "you don't need" that put people on exactly the same level as the gun grabbers.

 

[PILMAN]

I agree completely. I bought an Airsoft gun to help teach my daughter shooting and handling techniques. The one I bought is made of bright orange and clear plastic and could not be mistaken for anything but a toy at any distance. I could have purchased a replica of a Walther PPK/S and almost did, because it would be very similar to my actual gun. I chose not to, because I did not want there to be any possibility of it being confused with the real thing. It is flat-out dangerous for kids to have replica guns. People have already gotten shot that way and I don't want my child to be a statistic.

No offense, but whats the difference with gun control and saying that realistic airsoft guns shouldn't exist? It's not the gun, it's the parents who buy their kids the thing and expect them to be competent.

I don't agree that kids should be able to own airsoft guns, I think it's an 18+ age thing. The fact is people need to start treating realistic airsoft guns like a real gun and keep it in a case for transport. Parents blame the gun and say "oh we need orange tips permanent so people can tell it's not a real gun". There are a few kids 16-17 years old who take it seriously and are responsible. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with my kid owning one so long as he kept it in the case when transporting it back and forth to the field and was OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW while using it.

 

[mmike87]

No offense, but whats the difference with gun control and saying that realistic airsoft guns shouldn't exist? It's not the gun, it's the parents who buy their kids the thing and expect them to be competent.

I'd never say they shouldn't exist. I just wanted to point out something to keep in mind when wishing for these guns to looks as real as possible.

I'd hate to have so many realistic airsoft's floating around that when someone draws on you that you find yourself trying to squint to see if the gun is "real" or airsoft.

Like it or not - shoot a kid who is carrying an airsoft pistol and you're up sheet creek regardless of whether we here would think it's justified. I think in most areas you'd be screwed. Not to mention the "see I told you so" comments from the peanut gallery of antis just waiting for incidents to "prove their point."

Can't they just make the darn things purple or something?

 

[PILMAN]

I'd never say they shouldn't exist. I just wanted to point out something to keep in mind when wishing for these guns to looks as real as possible.

I'd hate to have so many realistic airsoft's floating around that when someone draws on you that you find yourself trying to squint to see if the gun is "real" or airsoft.

Like it or not - shoot a kid who is carrying an airsoft pistol and you're up sheet creek regardless of whether we here would think it's justified. I think in most areas you'd be screwed. Not to mention the "see I told you so" comments from the peanut gallery of antis just waiting for incidents to "prove their point."

Can't they just make the darn things purple or something?

You have a point, however if a kid wants to paint his gun black, he will do it regardless. The goal is to keep airsoft out of kids hands, if it were like BB guns where you have to wait until your 18 I seriously think we would have less accidents though it wouldn't be completely avoidable. We have too many idiot kids going on the streets pulling their airsoft guns on cops or people to scare them, same **** was happening in England and it was nearly banned permanently.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

You can't circumvent darwinism by placing the blame on inanimate objects.

Idiots will be idiots, and if said idiots get themseves killed in their idiocy hopefully they can get it out of the way before they breed. People place far too much value in this "sanctity of human life" crap and whining and wringing their hands about "for the children" and forget that, in the end, we're just funny shaped animals with tools.

 

[dust_101]

just as an FYI to how real these things are, after talking to a rep from SoftAir at SHOT and showing me the Sig P226 metal version I'm convinced these things are getting WAY advanced. Most internals on their metal AR-15's will swap in to a real AR and fully function.

As for the Sig, don't bother trying to buy one, as of the show the rep told me they can no longer distribute them, Sig bought them all and are distributing themselves.... the damn things were SO real Sig freakin bought them all!!

Oh and someone mentioned revolvers, how about a Taurus Raging Bull airsoft that has the pellet in a cartridge that looks like a standard brass cart. .... granted it wasn't a steel replica but it looked neat.

...and the steel Taurus M100 has a selector switch for single shot and full auto.

 

[scurtis_34471]

No offense, but whats the difference with gun control and saying that realistic airsoft guns shouldn't exist? It's not the gun, it's the parents who buy their kids the thing and expect them to be competent.

I never said they shouldn't exist. I said it is stupid to give them to kids.

 

[mmike87]

You can't circumvent darwinism by placing the blame on inanimate objects.

You're right - if we let Darwinism run it's course. We however don't place the blame on the objects - we'll place the blame on the cop or citizen that shoots the kid with the airsoft.

Make no mistake - the antis are just sitting around WAITING for these things to happen just so they can say "See, we told you so. One more dead kid because of guns."

In the end it all comes down to parental supervision, or in these cases the lack of.

 

[mmike87]

You can't circumvent darwinism by placing the blame on inanimate objects.

Idiots will be idiots, and if said idiots get themseves killed in their idiocy hopefully they can get it out of the way before they breed. People place far too much value in this "sanctity of human life" crap and whining and wringing their hands about "for the children" and forget that, in the end, we're just funny shaped animals with tools.

I read this again and I think someone's been reading some George Carlin ... ever read his take on things being "For the Children"?

 

[BucksDC]

Hello

I have a question for the Airsoft players.
Do the BUIS made for airsoft fit real firearms? Are they metal or plastic.
This discussion made me look at some airsoft pages, and the stuff looks great.
I have some AR's that could use BUIS.
Before anyone flames me for using toy gun parts on firearms. I have plenty of serious and fully loaded out rifles.

 

[Manedwolf]

Sigh. Really it is a serious hobby. Its fun, its physical activity, its mental activity. Its good stuff, it just needs some help.

Yes, and it's being used as a backdoor way for the antis to eliminate guns as a fun hobby.

How many sporting goods stores have removed all firearms and now only have airsoft toys? Why, why would one ever need a REAL gun that can KILL, when you can have a nice, saaaafe, soft-plastic-pellet replica toy instead?

And here, let's eliminate all those sharp edges on walls and put pillows on everything, too...

I see more and more airsoft encroachment on traditional shooting sports in stores, at gun shows, and elsewhere, along with a disturbing sentiment of "Oh, no, REAL guns are bad, we just like the pretend ones."



And personally, I get no joy at all from it. They're all looks, no thunder, nice to look at, an absolute "that's it?" when firing one. A weak airsoft toy is no substitute for real noise, real muzzleflash, real recoil, real smell of gunpowder. It'd be like running up to what looks like a Dodge Viper in a showroom, only to start it up and find it's a replica with a three-cylinder Citroen engine.

And it's becoming the norm.

 

[dixierifleman]

so youve spent over $3,000 on toys, and say youd rather not spen so much on the real thing? maybe i just dont get it. i stopped playin with toys when before i went into high school.

 

[Glockfan.45]

Looked at some of the manufactures sites you linked PILMAN and saw an M60 E3 that looked so real it was just plain scary . I want one to keep the cat out of my chair . I have a Glock 19 (Mauri) gas blowback that my little brother got for me on my birthday one year. I used it to teach my wife proper safety before handing her the real thing, side by side they are identical and operate the same. I can see their potential for practice and training in cases where the real thing isnt safe. I do however have a problem with kids having them. They pose a threat unlike real firearms since a lot of parents would have no trouble handing little Jimmy a toy gun to go play with and not see a problem, where as they would never think of doing so with a real firearm. Last year in my area a 11 year old was fatally shot by an LEO when he pointed a airsoft gun at the officer. You can argue Darwins viewpoints all you want but kids are kids and most of them are stupid. I dont blame the LEO for shooting as I likely would have done the same. I blame the parents for giving a child a realistic looking toy gun. Also their realism I fear gives kids the idea that all guns are toys. I am not against airsoft but dont think children need to be running around with realistic replicas.

 

[PILMAN]

so youve spent over $3,000 on toys, and say youd rather not spen so much on the real thing? maybe i just dont get it. i stopped playin with toys when before i went into high school.

Ughhh no, I'm saying there are certain guns I have no practical use for or I cannot legally obtain. Why would I spend 1,000 dollars for a desert eagle? I buy guns for home defense, hence I like the desert eagle so I bought a realistic replica. I am also into mil-sim.

For those of you calling them toys, go ahead and insult them, however most our players are infact military/airforce who intend to have a good time, I mean after all it's not exactly safe to play in the woods and shoot real guns at each other as we do want players to come back and play.

The fact is it's not realistic for me to pay 3,000 dollars for a Galil or 5,000 dollars for a civilian legal MP5, it's also not realistic for me to attempt to import a L85A1 which is banned for import into the US. For those who do it, fine that's your choice. I pick whatever works, and as a real firearm owner and a airsoft owner, I find it quite sad folks like to think I need to grow up and stop playing with "toys". I guess where it specifically states on the box "this is not a toy 18+" is the reason so many kids are getting shot for going in the streets pointing these so called "toys" at people.

For those of you who want pictures of the dissasembly of the gun, I will post those momentarily.

Also in Israel, when training for Krav Maga, they train the guys with realistic Glock airsoft guns before using the real thing, it's mostly for shooting someone without the worrys of them being killed however letting them know they are hit.

It's unfortunate that not only are antis against airsoft (heck in the UK they tried to ban the things completely), but there are even gun owners who are against it. Airsoft is really the bastard step child in this fight.

 

[dixierifleman]

they are toys. i played with them up until i was 13 or 14. then we started usin the one pump daisy bb guns to shoot at each other. they put that "not a toy 18+" warning on there just to cover their ass. they might use them in Israel to train with, but here in America we use Sim-unition. i would rather spend $10,000 on real firearms than $3,000 on fake ones, but thats just me and i quit playin with toys when i hit puberty. Airsoft is the bastard stepchild because its a kids game that adults take way to seriously. you wanna go shoot at people and get shot at? do what i did. enlist in the Marines.

 

[PILMAN]

they are toys. i played with them up until i was 13 or 14. then we started usin the one pump daisy bb guns to shoot at each other. they put that "not a toy 18+" warning on there just to cover their ass. they might use them in Israel to train with, but here in America we use Sim-unition. i would rather spend $10,000 on real firearms than $3,000 on fake ones, but thats just me and i quit playin with toys when i hit puberty. Airsoft is the bastard stepchild because its a kids game that adults take way to seriously. you wanna go shoot at people and get shot at? do what i did. enlist in the Marines.

Then what is your opinion on paintball? Paintball is a milsim game is it not? Laserquest is a milsim game is it not? Is there a problem having realism? Like I stated, plenty of military guys play airsoft. It's something to do, a hobby, the joy of being able to run around in the woods and shoot at each other without the worrys of death like in war. I didn't realize having fun made me a kid, then again, that is your opinion and you are entitled to it. Why do I play games? Aren't games for kids? Why do I shoot guns? Aren't those for neo nazis and rednecks? What about model airplanes? They sure look like toys. Everything can be stereotyped,

 

[dixierifleman]

i feel the same about paintball. its a game for kids, not the adults that take it so seriously. its by far one of the dumbest professional sports. a bunch of wannabe soldiers is all they are.

 

[PILMAN]

i feel the same about paintball. its a game for kids, not the adults that take it so seriously. its by far one of the dumbest professional sports. a bunch of wannabe soldiers is all they are.

Do you know how many people have called me a wannabe soldier for owning an AR15? Or carrying a handgun concealed saying "who do you think you are, a cop?"

 

[shooter71]

that wasnt directed at anybody on this site at all Pillman

you always read about some idiot with a rubber gun or bb gun trying to pull some stuff ...and with airsoft being so real to the eye (provided they get rid of the orange plug) i can see someone using one of these to try and do some fellonious acts.