Weekend warriors with a penchant for winning will find that airsoft offers a strong alternative to paintball. Fast-paced and energy charged, this game delivers all the shoot-‘em-up fun of paintball without all the mess. Getting into the game even offers a tremendous selection of options in the hardware department. Airsoft guns are not one size fits all creations by a long shot.
Airsoft guns resemble actual weapons in many cases, but they rely on battery charges or a form of gas to fire BBs or pellets. That means while a sting similar to a paintball will be experienced by players, the game is all in all pretty harmless for those utilizing proper safety gear. As it is with paintball, eye protection is the most important aspect.
Guns for Every Taste
Since airsoft is an extremely popular, ever-growing sport, the selection of available gun styles tends to run a pretty broad spectrum. Some of the basic styles include:
* Rifles – Designed to resemble military and assault rifles in many cases, these airsoft guns are perfect for “war games” such as capture the flag that take part on fields and courses that are large. They can be modified with enhanced sights, optics, and other devices that transform them into excellent sniper rifles, as well.
* Shotguns – While offering less fire per second than their assault rifle counterparts, the shot gun style of airsoft gun is a popular choice. This is also excellent for use in outdoor play arenas.
* Machine guns – When a lot of firepower is desired for a game, it’s hard to top these airsoft guns. Designed to mirror a number of popular gun types, these weapons fire a barrage of BBs rather quickly.
* Handguns and pistols – Superior for close-quarter play, handguns are used as main weapons by some and auxiliary side arms by other players.
* Grenade launchers – Often used as accessories with rifles, this style of gun can shoot hundreds of rounds a second cutting a huge swath of “damage” through “enemy” lines.
The best airsoft guns for players will depend on personal play style and the type of games pursued. High powered, heavy fire action models, for example, might not suit every game. They are, however, excellent for battles in certain types of terrain.
