What do you think of airsoft?

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SIGarmed

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I've been checking out pictures of a bunch of airsoft guns on the net and the details are pretty good. Especially the high end ones like Tokyo Marui and the Top machine guns. They have replica's of SAW's and M60's and stuff that shoot plastic BB's.

Anyone ever tried playing with airsoft. I've played paintball some but how do you tell if you get hit with BB's? It would be easy to cheat. Is it more of e re-enactment thing?

I'm tempted to buy me one of them SIG 552 SEAL rifles. :)
 
You know those Franklin Mint cars you can buy? The very detailed and expensive miniatures? To me, an airsoft is like one of those that is big enough to take up garage space.
 
You usually know when you're hit. Stings more than paintballs (which break on impact). There ARE, however, cheaters galore. No wiping needed here. That's why we only play with friends.

The details are great. Can get kinda expensive quick with upgrades. Almost as much as their real steel counterparts.
 
Airsoft is great fun. Ian, Chris Rhines (unfortunately not in Indiana anymore) and Daniel Flory from this board have played before. I think the thing that appeals most to most players is that the weapons look and operate exactly like the real thing. And the fact that they come in such a variety of styles means you can usually find a replica of your favorite gun to train with. Unfortunately we didn't have time last semester to play, hopefully this coming semester will be better.
 
The cheap ones are plastic toys not fit for young kids, might make a good chew toy for your dog.

The high end ones are interesting. But for the price I'd rather spend the money on ammo.

Smoke
 
I got into paintball a bit, but just as "Woodsball" (i.e. dressing paramilitary and wearing camo, trying to emulate small unit tactics) was beginning to take a back seat to "Speedball", making paintball a "sport", dressing in colorful jerseys, naming positions and the paintball markers getting very colorful and outlandish etc.

If you wanted to get into paintball, hoping to play "Woodsball", Airsoft is where that kind of play seems to have migrated. Even the "Tactical to Practical" show on The History Channel managed to catch the distinction at least amongst the civvy population that Airsoft is a much more paramilitary game, than paintball is in it's current form.

The investment in a quality paintball marker, and an AEG (automatic electric gun) seem to be about the same, although on the "high end" paintbll stuff will go still higher. After the initial investment, bb's and charging your battery, or buying "green gas" for the smaller airsoft pistols, will be much cheaper than paint. Especially if you play paintball at a field that requires you buy their "field paint" at an outragerous markup...

Since Airsofts are such exact replicas, you'll accessorize with several "real" lights, lasers, slings, etc. which can drive up the price, or be a savings if you already have the accesories. And as others mentioned, you can buy a replica of a real weapon you own, aiding in training/play commonality.
 
I really like playing both. I'm mostly a woodsball PB player, but have gotten to play some airsoft with borrowed equipment.
I wish the guns were'nt so expensive though. But there's no paint mess to deal with either. It's a great way to practice movement, etc.
As others have stated, using a 1:1 scale replica is a plus.
But... there were times when I did'nt even know I was hit. With PB, you usually know you have been tagged. To Me, in this instance, increased pain factor is a great teaching tool. I always came home with some welts after a day of PB. With airsoft, barely nothing.
Cheaters are a big problem. If you thought it was bad in PB, I've found it to be worse in airsoft. Just play with friends and people you trust if possible.
Both games have their limitations though. Namely, the use of a spherical projectile. Besides that, great fun.
 
Just about the most friggin' irritating things in the world... ok, the airsoft guns aren't, but the jerks who live across the hall think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread, and like to re-enact the seige of Stalingrad in our dorm at around o-dark-thirty every night.

Aside from that, I think they're kinda cool.
 
I was really into it for a while... play only with your friends or honorable aquaintences. Otherwise, it's kinda expensive... at least here it is, if you live in Hawaii, California, or have some sort of import connection it can be reasonable or dirt cheap (the HK knock offs of Japanese knock offs, heh).

Overall, I'd recommend a gas pistol (non-blowback is less realistic action but gets you more shots/range/accuracy) for CQB games then just stop... it can be a real money sink! ;)
 
For someone who is not really familiar with either (played paintball once), what do folks mean by cheating?
 
People sometimes will cheat in airsoft by saying that they were not hit by your pellet. Easier to do in airsoft rather than paint ball as paint balls leave a mark. This is why it is best to play with a group of people you know and trust.
 
I haven't really ever seen too many complaints of cheating, I must be lucky to have played with a good bunch of guys. Paintball or Airsoft.

(Paintballs aren't exactly the end-all be-all of cheat-proof either, especialy later in the day when you're messy.) Plus, the paintball "Bounce-no break" rule is sort of the same thing as Airsoft cheating in reverese IMO.

Airsoft, like paintball, usually stings enough, or rattles your mask enough that it will take the fight out of you for a second or two, and that yelling "HIT!" and proceeding to the wounded point, enemy camp, or whatever you're supposed to do based on the game, for a break, is appealing.

One downside however is that Airsoft bb's riccochet like mad, so calling yourself on "false out's" from bounces flying everywhere are almost as easy as cheating.

But it is so much fun.
 
If you get an airsoft gun over 20 dollars, do not, I repeat, do not use the airsoft paintballs. The action breaks them and they can get into the internals and cause serious problems.
 
Stings more than paintballs
Click to expand...
no way. i'd rather be bunkered by airsofter anyday rather than my a paintballer. But back to topic at hand. Airsoft has the high initial cost, almost as bad as paintball, but you don't have to buy a scuba tank and pay $50-60 for a case of paint. It's fun if you're looking for a military sim and you like to collect all that cool tactical gear. The only other airsoft I'd get is maybe one of those SVI blowback made by western arms. Be nice to shoot in the backyard or in the house. It can get expensive, but if you're happy with it, go for it.

i got my MP5 from these guys: airsoftextreme
 
no way. i'd rather be bunkered by airsofter anyday rather than my a paintballer.
Click to expand...

Yup, I got shot once at very close range in the upper thigh playing PB. Moron had his gun dialed-up too high. He was beyond shooting "hot". This was from about four feet away.
I was bleeding. A lot more than I would have thought. It looked like I got shot with a .22 or something...Had that scar for a year and a half before it went away.:cuss:
 
I used to play PB a lot. We played in the woods and ran the guns really hot. I took three in the shoulder that turned my whole shoulder solid black from so much bruising. My wife was furious, and I mean really - not joking mad, but furious because it swelled up so badly. Many times we had someone bleeding from the lips or cheeks just from the gelatin shell fragments that flew through the vents on the masks. The reasoon we played them so hot was because you have to to get through the palmetto cover in the Florida woods. After a while we stopped playing like that because of the purple goose eggs we had all over ourselves after each battle. A paintball at 400 FPS can completely shatter the blood vessels and fatty tissue on a "love handle" even without breaking the skin. Horrible painful bruises. I sold my gear on eBay a long time ago.
 
I’ve been looking into airsoft. I’m thinking of buying myself a springer 92FS since I wont be able to get my hands on the real thing for a few years. :banghead:

I was surprised by how inexpensive spring pistols are. You can get a quality spring pistol and a few thousand BBs for less than $40. The AEGs are more expensive though, I’ve seen some of their real counterparts cost less.

I found this site really helpful.
Airsoft Newbie FAQ
 
Airsoft >>> Paintball. Case in point:

FullPak.JPG


Piper Precision Products M134 Minigun w/1200-round ammunition pack.
 
The only thing that I think detracts from Airsift in the US is the regulations for how they look. They have to have a orange muzzle to identify them as toys and all the copyrigted markings are taken off.

If you can find any that made it through customs intact from overseas, they look more realistic.
 
i like airsoft.on days that its pour down rain,..the bbs are cheap..reusuable and they wont break the huge glass aquarium i have should one bb bounce out of the cardboard trap.i have the walthar p99 and a beretta 92 copy...bought them new for 10 bucks each off a friend that sells them at shows.they do sting on bare skin...glow in the dark bbs are fun at night...specially from a full auto green gas powerd airsoft.
 
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