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5 Common Mistakes of Airsoft Beginners

We were all the new guy at one point. We have all been there. Standing on the field in our tracksuit and trainers with a hire G36 in hand, mesh mask on and listening to the safety brief thinking “Blind fire…. What the hell is that?!”. I’m sure now we are looking back on those days like they were a distant memory – Just like shaking hands, meeting people down the pub or speaking to mates face to face! We are going to take a look at 5 mistakes that airsoft beginners should try to avoid.

  Wait Wait Wait So you have just played your first game of airsoft and you loved every minute of it. The comradery, the stories in the safe zone, the adrenalin, shouting “get to da choppa” every time someone mentioned the downed helicopter on the site. So you have decided that this is the hobby for you and you want to jump into it with both feet – STOP! WAIT! Don’t go out and buy the first RIF you see in-store or online with a starter bundle label and order it as two-tone. Work with the site that you have been too and complete your site membership. It’s only two more visits along with the one you have just completed. Once you have your defence this will then enable you to purchase any RIF you heart desirers in any colour you like – Pink is also an option!

2. Buy short, Buy Twice

So you have finally got your defence and you are off to your local airsoft shop to buy your first RIF. You take your hard-earned cash into the store and start to browse the shelves. I know what you are thinking “Hmm I could get that pistol for £80 and still be well under budget”. You need to think about how useful that pistol is going to be. If you are a player that just wants to run a pistol then fill your boots but don’t forget you are going to have very limited ammo so you will need extra mags (and those gas mags are not cheap!). You are going to need to take into account the temperature of the environment as well (due to gas guns being temperature sensitive).

  It would be a much better choice to go for a rifle or carbine. Something like an AR15, M4, AK, G3 or even an Aug if you are a bullpup fan. A good budget for a starter rifle will be in the region of £120 to £180 and this should set you up to be able to keep pace in any game you get stuck into. It’s worth not scrimping on your first rifle – that’s not to say that you need to drop a month’s wages on it but at the same time it’s worth getting something that is going to last and grow with you as you enter the hobby. 

  Eye Eye! The is the most important thing of all when it comes to getting into airsoft. Eye Protection. Currently, on the NHS there is no replacement for the MK1 eyeball so you need to take care of the pair you have. You can often see players on the field with thousands of pounds worth of kit on including RIF upgraded to the highest level, Comms equipment that a military unit would be proud of and night vision that is worth more than my car and yet… they are wearing a £10 pair of eye protection from eBay.

  Take care of your eye protection first! Good eye protection can range from £30 to £200. Get the best you can afford.

Give injury the boot! This is another area that is commonly overlooked. Most airsoft sites are abandoned or derelict and as such are normally full of slips and trip hazards. Although the site owners do a great job in making them safe and protecting us from harm they can not be everywhere at once. Even if they have just completed a site walk there is nothing to stop little Peter rabbit digging a hole in the middle of the site and then you sticking your foot down it whilst running full speed for cover. Trainers and shoes do not offer us the ankle support we really need when playing in these places. Make sure you get yourself a decent pair of boots – You can pick these up from airsoft or military surplus stores and they can range from £25 to £300 (Depending on brand and popularity). Again, Like eye protection, get the best you can afford! 

Play the game

The reason you got involved in airsoft was to have fun. Try to remember that when you are arguing with your friends about what is better over speedsoft or Milsim. Make sure you are having fun and let others around you have fun in the way they see fit, whether that is in a pair of Crye Trousers or Leggins and long socks! Have fun, Be honest, stay safe and most importantly….. Take your Hits!

    5 Common Mistakes of Airsoft Beginners was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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All New Jefftron Leviathan Evo3 Airsoft Mosfet!

Exciting news! Jefftron has just announced the release of the improved MOSFET for the ASG Scorpion Evo AEG Due to release April 2020. Below is some information on the new release

Pre order your Jefftron Leviathan Evo3 Airsoft Mosfet 

  Leviathan – EVO3 is processor-controlled mosfet with Bluetooth communication. It adds new shooting modes, controls RoF, pre-cocking, active braking, low battery indication, statistics… Everything is controlled via application in the smartphone (iOS and Android). Device is fully integrated inside the gearbox version ASG EVO 3 A1 instead of the original electronics. It keeps all functions as original electronics – empty magazine detection, bolt catch, burst fire, battery under-voltage protection,… Comes with completely made wires to the front with deanT connector – no soldering needed.

MAIN FUNCTIONS: – Adds new shooting modes independent for every position on the fire selector (SEMI – BURST – AUTO) – Three adjustable bursts (range 2 – 20 shots) – Rate of fire can be reduce to 40%. It add breaks between shots to reduce RoF. It gives fast trigger response even with very low rate of fire, just like in a real gun – In the package is included ARL mode set to make anti-reverse latch which allows using pre-cocking, lower level active braking and DSG gears – Adjustable strength active braking (can be disabled with installed ARL mode) – Pre-cocking function for an instant shot on SEMI fire (can be used only with installed ARL mode) – Bolt catch lever has to be pulled after battery connection, which simulates load the bullet into the barrel like in the real gun – Empty magazine sound indication and bolt catch lever can be deactivated in the app – The delay between shots adds time in which isn’t possible to shoot, it simulates the delay from gun reload or recoil (range 0,1 – 4,0 seconds) – Electronic fuse set sensitivity for high current detection to avoid any damage if something goes wrong – Low battery indication for 2S – 4S li-pol and 3S – 4S li-fe – Statistics screen shows shooting output with cycle timing, motor current consumption, rate of fire and MOSFET temperature. It allows you to do fine-tune gearbox upgrade – Application shows actual battery voltage value. Colour lines indicates battery charge status – User can save multiple settings under profiles – Update function fixes bugs and adds new features to the device – There are three shot counters. Total count every shot during the device lifetime. User counter can be reset by user anytime. Power-up counter is reset by battery connection – Error log shows errors made during the device life – For better security Bluetooth can be disabled by the selector switch (can be deactivated) – Leviathan – EVO 3 monitors current, voltage and temperature to avoid any damage when something go wrong. – The motor vibrates and beeps as feedback for the user – Programmed settings are saved in the Leviathan – EVO 3 memory immediately after their change, so settings aren’t lost when is Bluetooth or battery disconnected

FIRE MODES: Independent for every position on the fire selector (SEMI – BURST – AUTO) – SAFE: no responding on the trigger pull. – Semi: it fires single shot per trigger pull. – Semi/BurstX: short trigger pull fires single shot, long trigger pull fires burst. – Binary trigger: it fires single shot when trigger is pulled and another single shot when is released. – BurstX: gun shoot burst per trigger pull. – BurstX+BurstY: short trigger press fires burstX, long trigger press makes burstX+burstY fire. – BurstX/Full: short trigger press fires burstX, long trigger press makes auto fire. – Full: gun makes auto fire until releasing trigger.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: – Easy installation inside the gearbox version ASG EVO 3 A1 – No modifications is needed in the gun or Leviathan – EVO3 – Compatible with Scorpion EVO 3 – A1, Scorpion EVO 3 – A1 B.E.T., Scorpion EVO 3 – A1 carbine with gearbox gen.1, version 2018 and version 2020 – Compatible with stock and CNC trigger – Installation ARL Mode: with anti-reverse latch you can use precocking, lower level active brake and DSG gears – It uses micro switch actuated by sector gear for perfect semi and burst fire timing – Thanks to advanced electronics, Leviathan – EVO 3 can be used with any common gearbox upgrade and gun rate of fire – Completely made wiring allows the fastest and the easiest installation into the gun, it is long enough for all kind of weapons with battery placed in the front. No soldering is needed – There are high-quality wires 1,5 qmm (AWG16) with thin and hard MPPE insulation – Wire outer diameter is only 2,06 mm – Board is covered by conformal coating, it protects Leviathan – EVO3 against water – Specified for common batteries up to 17V (Ni-xx 8.4 – 12V, lipol 7.4 – 14.8V) – Device increases gun rate of fire and battery holds longer than with basic wiring – With active braking ON piston isn’t partially stretched, spring is fully released, parts in mechabox aren’t under strain and nozzle locks hop-up chamber in greater part (depends on ROF) – In weapons with a very high rate of fire (ROF) active brake solves multiple shots in semi mode – The braking effect is the most powerful with high torque motor – Remove from the gearbox: cut off lever, stock electronic, you will not need them with the Leviathan – EVO 3

LINKS: Mobile application Leviathan by JeffTron to iOS and Android smartphone Installation manual to Leviathan – EVO3 in English [PDF, 5.76 MB] Leviathan by Jefftron Q&A discussion forum on Facebook

PACKING: – Leviathan – EVO3 drop-in electronic module with wiring to front, DeanT connector – ARL Mode: Anti-reverse latch, spring and special screw – Two plastic washers under screw for securing device in the gearbox – Black Leviathan sticker 40 mm – Foam to keep device in place – Installation manual in English

SAFETY WARNING: – Installation of this device into the gearbox requires advanced technical skills! – Please read the information before installing your device to prevent any damage. – Short circuit or incorrectly connected battery will cause immediate damage to the device which is not covered by the warranty. It can lead to fire or even battery explosion. – Disconnect battery, when you aren’t using the gun! Otherwise, you will fully discharge the battery. Because the device drains a small amount of current from the battery all the time. – Don’t connect battery when gun pointing towards you, another person or an animal. – Don’t modify, repair and put into any kind of liquids or thermal shock the Leviathan – EVO3.

    All New Jefftron Leviathan Evo3 Airsoft Mosfet! was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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The basics of gun drawing, shooting and movement

        You’ve got your Airsoft gun and you’re ready to go but do you know the proper technique for drawing your gun, shooting your gun and moving with your gun?

It’s not just for looking cool, like in the movies, proper technique for these three aspects of using your weapon can give you a real advantage in battle.

Pistols and rifles given their differing weights and size may have slightly different approaches in order to get the best result.

Gun Drawing

If you are carrying your pistol, you should hold it in your dominant hand down by your side. For a rifle, you should hold it close to your chest with your dominant hand holding the pistol grip.

Otherwise, you should keep your pistol in your holster until it is time to draw it out and then take up one of the stances mentioned below:

Weaver Stance– In this stance, the strong arm is extended while your supporting arm is bent at the elbow. Your foot on the supporting side should be pointing ahead of you towards the target while the foot on your strong side is pointed 45 degrees outward allowing you to pivot quickly if necessary. This stance offers stable push-pull grip with the pull of the support hand and the push of the strong hand.

Isosceles Stance– For this pose, the shooter faces the target directly with legs spread shoulder width apart. Both arms are extended to bring the gun in line with your eyes giving you maximum peripheral vision when firing.

While taking up these stances, you should slide your foot over the ground and into the ground to clear debris or other trip hazards before you aim and move at the same time.

These stances apply to both pistols and rifles.

Shooting

Once you’ve chose a stance, ensuring a proper grip of the gun is essential for proper sight alignment when you line up your shot.

For a pistol, you should grip the handle with your dominant hand with one finger curled towards the trigger while the supporting hand is used to grip the underside of your pistol; with this pose, your thumbs should be touching each other.

The supporting hand should be providing the majority of your grip strength, your hold, on the pistol.

For rifles, your dominant hand should hold the pistol grip while your supporting hand should hold the hand guard or a grip mounted on it as far along the hand guard as possible.

You should hold the buttstock fully on your shoulder along with holding the hand guard as far forward as possible as this technique can lessen the effects of recoil.

It may not be obvious straightaway but everybody will have their own dominant eye, like a dominant hand or leg, which gives you the best sight.

Regardless of which side your dominant hand is on, you should use your dominant eye to look through the sights of your gun.

Movement

Once you have your stance and shot lined up, you will need to know techniques for how to transition out of it and move with your weapon.

You should always move forward when carrying your gun as you can never be too sure what’s behind you; rather than backing away, you should turn to face where you want to go.

If you have to make a turn, you should lower your pistol to your side while you should lower your rifle to give you full view of where you are moving to.

During a turn of 180 degrees to go backwards or any other pivot turn, turn with your supporting leg in the direction you want to go; this allows you to use your supporting hand to move people or objects out of your way rather than bashing them with a gun.

Kneeling is another important movement in combat.

The standard kneeling technique is simple but can make your aim a bit unsteady while there is a particular kneeling technique more suitable for modern combat.

This technique involves going down to one knee with your knee facing out 30 degrees to the side of your body rather than straight on with your toes touching the ground. Your standing leg should also be pointed out to the side away from the body.

This provides a more stable base for you to draw and aim your gun while also offering better freedom of movement with your upper body to turn from side to side to hit multiple targets from one position.

The basics of gun drawing, shooting and movement was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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Airsoft events UK

                There are a number of Airsoft events taking place this year where Airsofters from across the UK and Europe come together to play, buy and sell and socialise with other players.

National Airsoft Festival- 28th August-30th August 2020

Somerly Estate, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2DF

The National Airsoft Festival has been held over a full weekend annually since 2007 and is based in Ringwood, Hampshire.

The festival has grown year on one to become one of the largest gatherings of Airsoft players in the world, not just the UK.

The standout feature of the weekend is Ground Zero, a two day Airsoft game taking place over 175 acres of land with terrain varying from open roads to tunnels and bunkers.

The event places a lot of emphasis on the social aspect of people coming together to share their hobby with like-minded people while bars, stalls and live music give it a real festival feel.

Booking for the event is not yet open but if you are interested, you should check the National Airsoft Festival Facebook page for updates.

North V South Airsoft & Combat Festival 8th – 10th May 2020

MOD / DIO (Defence Infrastucture Organisation) Swynnerton, Cold Meece, (nr Eccleshall), Staffordshire, ST15 0QN.

The North V South Festival idea started off with paintball but was opened up to the Airsoft market a couple of years ago with its own event.

Around 400 Airsoft players will converge on Staffordshire for three days with a number of game types on offer throughout.

Overall, there is over 600 acres of land in which these different games take place throughout the day.

As the festival name suggests, the main attraction of the weekend is the big north vs south battle which takes place on the Sunday and it is up to you to decide which side you are on.

There are other events such as axe throwing and archery combat to add even more variety to the weekend.

Booking is open now and tickets are still available.

Midlands Airsoft Fair Sunday 7th June 2020

Lincoln Rd, Coddington, Newark NG24 2NY

The Midlands Airsoft Fair focusses on the buying and selling of Airsoft guns and equipment rather than on the playing.

It started off as an Airsoft boot sale and has increased on a large scale but there is still a boot sale element to it.

The fair is open for five and a half hours on a single day giving you plenty of time to look around the different stools to see if there is anything you want to buy.

If you have equipment to sell, there are still places open for booking for you to set up your own pitch; if you just want to look around and/or buy, you simply just have to turn up on the day.

Milsim events

Some Airsoft sites in the UK host special  events with specific scenarios which are more than just your standard walk-in weekend games, with themes and set rules to follow; below are a couple of honourable mentions:

24hr Milsim–Descent: Homeland March 28th-March 29th 2020

Hosted by Gunman Airsoft, this 50 player event takes place over a continuous 24 hours in Eversley, Hampshire.

Bramley BattleSim: Operation Darkwood

Legion Airsoft Events hosts a 7 hour day with military objectives, roles and the terrain to match.

It is worth keeping an eye on sites close to you which offer these kind of themed events to make a change to your standard game just as the big festivals do.

Airsoft events UK was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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Best Airsoft videos from YouTube

  With the consistent growth of the Airsoft market year on year, it is no surprise that there are now a number of Airsoft videos on YouTube.

These videos range from someone uploading one-off recordings of their skirmish experiences to full-on channels delivering news and reviews on Airsoft products, as well as instruction videos for skirmish tips, gun maintenance and upgrades.

We have compiled a list of some of the top YouTube channels based in the UK and what they cover.

Airsoft Mike

Airsoft Mike was started in June 2014 and has since them amassed over 310,000 subscribers and close to 50 million views across all videos.

This channel reviews all things Airsoft from guns and accessories to headwear and gun cases as well as regular unboxing of new Airsoft gear.

Its most popular video was a review of the WE Double Barrel G18 with 8.7 million views; the first video managed a respectable 24,000 views.

w4stedspace

Although w4stedspace is not specifically just for Airsoft, there are a number of instructional videos with the most popular ones being for people who are starting out in Airsoft.

The 128,000 subscribers and 22 million views over 13 years aren’t all for Airsoft but 5 of the 10 most popular videos on the channel are Airsoft related, with the top viewed video Starting out with Airsoft: The Basics / What You Need to Know – Beginners Guide garnering over 2 million views.

Airsoft CamMan

Airsoft CamMan is a YouTube channel that aims to bring humour into the world of Airsoft with close to 85,000 subscribers and over 12 million views altogether.

As the name suggests, one of the main types of video released are filmed Airsoft events but these clips are also used to highlight weapons, gears and examples of how well certain tactics or certain equipment works in practice.

This often goes hand in hand where the user either reviews a weapon and shows examples of its use or shows clips of skirmishes and then reviews the weapon afterwards pointing to examples.

This channel also takes part in the unboxing of new Airsoft equipment.

MattTheMusketeer

The MattTheMusketeer channel has been running for over nine years, with 163,000 subscribers and over 16 million views.

There is a mixture of skirmish event videos, gun reviews/first impressions, tips and tricks and ‘how to’ videos.

As well as the basics, the how to videos cover some more advanced tasks such as how to make your own Special Forces helmet.

Femme Fatale Airsoft

An extension of the popular Femme Fatale Airsoft blog with a focus on female Airsoft players, the Youtube channel provides reviews, unboxing, vlogs and gameplay with 11,000 subscribers.

Not only is Airsoft gear reviewed but events and shows are covered by the channel including Shot Show 2020 as well as the National Airsoft Festival.

The channel is not as active as some others in regards to the regularity of new videos but the channel and blog owner, Kelly Louise Hardwick, is a highly recognisable name in the world of Airsoft so you can be sure that she knows what she is talking about.

That is not to say that Airsoft videos and channels with fewer views or less subscribers won’t provide you with the information you need but these channels have the added benefit of providing news and reviews you might not know you needed.

These channels provide a good consistent source for new videos but it is likely that whichever weapon or piece of gear you are curious about or if you are after particular advice, you will find a YouTube video to cover it.

Best Airsoft videos from YouTube was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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What to look for when buying airsoft gear

When buying Airsoft gear, it is important for you to understand what it is you need for the type of Airsoft game you play and the way you want to play it.

The basics include at least one gun, most people usually carry a rifle and a sidearm such as a pistol along with sturdy, weather-resistant clothing and protective eyewear which are usually all that is necessary for a skirmish or speedsoft.

There are a range of optional gear choices which can give you the advantage during the game although not everything will be suitable for every player or game type.

Milsim

While you may go into skirmishes and treat it like a military operation, there are usually few restrictions about gun capability, what you do or what you wear whereas milsim can be stricter.

Camouflaged clothing is a good way to blend into your surroundings for any Airsoft game but it is more of a requirement for milsim; after all, it is a military simulation and the military wear camouflage.

Milsims also rely on players being assigned roles based on real life military roles; if there is a particular role that interests you, you can choose the weapons and accessories to suit you beforehand otherwise you can see which role suits you best with the weapon and style of play you have developed.

There is not much point to buying every kind of Airsoft gun possible and bringing it along so perhaps just a few different guns should be purchased to cover a few potential player roles.

This being said, gear like a Ghille suit may look like a great way to camouflage your whole body and keep you hidden but it is not practical to wear and move quickly over great distances as it is designed for sniper rifle users to set up in one place for a while without being seen.

If you are playing skirmishes an hour at a time, it may not be necessary to have body armour such as a plate carrier with holsters and straps for your weapons and pockets or other attachments for your magazines and ammo.

With milsims, this type of gear is more important as these game modes can last for two days or more and last into the night so you need enough ammo and supplies while you may need extras such as torches, laser sights and night vision equipment.

Non-Airsoft gear to bring

If you’re caught up in the excitement of getting your gear together, you may not think about the simple everyday things you should bring along.

Although Airsoft rucksacks, bags and cases may be suited to fit the specific shape of guns, a regular rucksack for carrying your items around the battlefield can be used as well, preferably a waterproof rucksack or bag. The same applies to clothing, including footwear.

Whether you’re constantly running around during a skirmish or speedsoft or playing for hours at a time during milsim, chances are you will need a drink at some point and you will likely need food for a milsim.

Food, or food rations, and water or hydration packs are essential during any type of physical activity and Airsoft is no different. It is important to stay hydrated and keep your strength up especially given the fact that you may be on your own for long periods at a time during the game.

While not everyone may own night vision equipment or gun attachments to help with night vision, a standard torch can be brought along to help you make your way forward in the dark.

Second hand equipment

When looking around for Airsoft gear, not everything has to be new; see our article for good places to find second-hand equipment and what to look out for.

There are only a few things which are a must-buy for Airsoft so it is important for you to consider how much extra gear you need or want to ensure your best Airsoft experience at the right price.

What to look for when buying airsoft gear was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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National Airsoft Festival UK - AUGUST 28TH - 30TH, 2020

This year’s National Airsoft Festival will take place on August 28th-30th August bringing players from all over the UK and Europe together for a weekend of all things Airsoft.

History of the event and what to expect

It is one of the longest surviving Airsoft events across the world, having started in 2007 and has grown in popularity year on year to over 40,000 Facebook fans.

Its success is due to the fact that the festival continues to evolve, adding more events, activities and in-depth game features with each festival.

Ticket prices cover the whole weekend’s activities while there are optional extras such as private toilets and gun hire.

The whole weekend has something for everybody with bars, stalls, live music and a prize draw.

The event prides itself on being a social gathering for Airsoft players from far and wide to come together to play and share their Airsoft experiences.

The main attraction, however, is Ground Zero, the largest ever Airsoft game to take place. Anyone over the age of 14 can play and there are no restrictions on what you wear although there are limits on the following weapons:

Full Auto (AEG/Gas, Pistol & Rifle) 350FPS

Semi Mode Only (AEG/Gas Rifles) 425FPS with 4 seconds between shots to simulate cocking and to stop people spamming their trigger

Bolt Action Sniper Rifle (Spring Rifle Only) 500FPS

The two day game sees three teams; Bravo, Delta and Others compete against each other over 175 acres of land.

Whether you are going to the event on your own or as part of your own team, there is a space on Ground Zero for everybody.

The terrain is varied throughout with open roads, tunnel networks and bunkers among other things so everyone who takes part has a good chance of finding their best way to play.

While there is no limit on the number of people who can buy a ticket for the event, it is advised to book as soon as possible to ensure the festival organisers can provide the right amount of food and facilities for the weekend.

Booking for the event is not yet open but if you are interested, you should check the National Airsoft Festival Facebook page for updates.

History of the local area

The county of Hampshire has played a big part in Britain’s military history, particularly Portsmouth and Southampton’s rich naval history.

Ringwood, Hampshire, the area where this festival takes place, is on the edge of the border of The New Forest which also has a rich military heritage, making it an appropriate choice for a huge gathering for Airsoft players.

During World War 2, twelve airfields were hastily built as well as an experimental bombing range while thousands of Allied troops made their home in tented areas nearby.

The New Forest’s distance to the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth made them a potential prime target for invasion especially once Germany invaded and took control of France.

Defences were set up throughout The New Forest during the war and some defences were even put up before the start of the war such as anti-aircraft and searchlight sites.

Even church bells were silenced throughout The New Forest and would only ring as a ‘call to arms’ if action needed to be taken.

Training with small firearms all the way up to tank exercises took place there before many moved onto overseas battles either from the airfields or from the ports of Southampton and Portsmouth.

There is also a former RAF base, RAF Ibsley, two miles north of Ringwood, which was used for US pilots based in the UK.

(AEG/Gas Rifles) 425FPS with 4 seconds between shots to simulate – Plagiarised… from https://www.airsoftfestival.com/faq.php

National Airsoft Festival UK – AUGUST 28TH – 30TH, 2020 was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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Difference between skirmish, milsim and speedsoft

  You may be reading this and only recognise one of the following terms; skirmish, milsim or speedsoft or perhaps you started with one and have stuck with it ever since.

These are the three most popular Airsoft games around with their own style of play.

By taking a look at how they differ, you can decide which ones you like or which ones are more suited to you and your weapons or you may find that there are parts of all of them that you like for you to mix up your Airsoft games from time to time.

Skirmish

A skirmish is the most common game type run on Airsoft sites on weekends where two teams are placed on a battlefield (a skirmish site) and generally there is free rein to approach it in any way you want, wear what you want, use any weapon you want.

You may choose to be tactical and use the terrain to your advantage but you also may just go out and start shooting, much like a game of paintball.

There are a number of game modes and objectives to be completed ranging from straight shoot-outs, a team deathmatch, to capturing the flag.

Skirmishes offer short bursts of one hour battles throughout the day with breaks in-between which are needed due to the fast-paced nature of these game modes.

Milsim

‘Military simulations’ look to replicate the feel of a real military operation with tactics, player roles and patience making up a huge part of the game.

Each player will be assigned a role or position as part of their team’s ‘army’ for both defensive and attacking purposes to protect your own side and weaken the other.

There will often be restrictions on what types of guns or accessories can be used for different milsim modes to put everyone on a level playing field or to reflect what would be available to soldiers in the real life scenario.

This game type can be slower in terms of action depending on which role you hold but you have the satisfaction of being on a winning team if you and your teammates succeed in the roles assigned to you.

The slower pace means the game can last for two days or longer until the battle is won so it will require you to bring plenty of ammunition to see you through.

This will also be suited to those who have a tactical mind, whether or not they are interested in military operations, such as those who like strategy games such as board games or video games.

Speedsoft

Speedsoft seemingly changes the rules of most other Airsoft games with options for indoor and outdoor games and not much call for camouflage.

Speedsoft takes away the tactics of milsim and the terrain of skirmishes to provide a stripped back experience where the only goal is to hit others with your gun and has been compared to paintball with Airsoft guns.

The games are short and sweet lasting around five minutes at a time so it requires high energy levels for a small amount of time.

Summary of main differences

Whether you choose one or have a go at all three depends on your preferences for the style of game mode and the physicality of the game mode.

Skirmishes and speedsoft offer a more relaxed option in terms of freedom to do what you like while milsims are treated as realistically as possible in regards to military operations.

Skirmishes and speedsoft run for a fixed amount of time so you have an idea of how much equipment you will need to bring to see you through the day while milsims can last two days or more.

Milsim’s reliance on a tactical approach and assigning specific roles to players can slow the game down so you expend less energy than skirmishes and speedsoft but may stand around without seeing action for a long while.

Difference between skirmish, milsim and speedsoft was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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BB Guns vs Airsoft Whats the Difference?

  It is easy to think that BB Guns and Airsoft guns are the same, after all the ammo for Airsoft guns are called BBs but there are a number of differences between the two.

BB guns came into existence in 1876, nearly 100 years before Airsoft guns, and were mass produced two years later allowing people to shoot BB projectiles.

Airsoft originated in Japan in the 1970s and was originally used for target practice before it was used recreationally for war games and arrived in the UK in the 1980s.

Airsoft guns were not only just manufactured for skirmishes but were made to imitate the look and feel of real firearms.

This is the first major difference between the two; BB guns generally do look like firearms but Airsoft guns are made to resemble specific models throughout history or more modern models.

Both guns fire BB pellets but Airsoft guns use plastic pellets which do little to no damage while BB guns fire lead or metal projectiles which can potentially cause damage and/or harm depending on the force and distance of the shot.

In the UK, there is no real call for members of the public to own a BB gun as these are usually used for training or target practice. BB guns are more popular in places like the USA where citizens may own a gun and would use BB guns as practice.

Airsoft guns are used for battle simulations held on a number of sites across the UK and the world from skirmishes to military simulation; militaries may also often make use of Airsoft guns for training purposes.

Both Airsoft guns and BB guns are capable of producing powerful shots with a potential velocity of 500fps but the material used for the pellets make BB gun shots capable of causing damage to people, property or animals.

The ammunition used for BB guns also makes them more accurate than Airsoft guns as the lead and steel pellets are more resistant to wind and other conditions keeping their trajectory on course.

Airsoft weapons are often customisable or come with accessories which can help to combat wind resistance such as the hop-up system which improves accuracy over long distances to put it level with and perhaps beyond the accuracy of BB guns.

Both types of guns can be as cheap or as expensive as you need them to be. Simpler versions of BB guns and Airsoft guns without an array of different features can be relatively cheap.

Guns with more features, made from more durable materials or made to look like a particular iconic model can make BB guns and Airsoft guns a premium purchase.

The added cost of Airsoft guns comes from the maintenance and accessories for the gun as well as costs associated with regularly taking part in skirmishes or milsim or other Airsoft events.

Airsoft guns and its plastic pellets makes it suitable for use against other people in these events as long as everybody wears eye protection while BB guns should never be used against people.

Some BB pellets for Airsoft guns are bio-degradable so that once it is shot and drops to the ground, it will eventually go back into the earth.

Neither type of gun should be carried in public no matter how fake it looks (Airsoft guns in particular can be two-tone meaning they are brightly coloured) so they must be stored away if you are carrying them around or to an event.

For someone to own an Airsoft gun, they must be at least 18 years old and will need to become a registered member at a skirmish site and play for at least three days over two months.

Otherwise, these can be used for historical re-enactments, for a museum or for film and television production.

Further steps are necessary if you want to own a Realistic Imitation Firearm for your Airsoft gun collection.

A run-down of some of the major acts regarding Airsoft Laws can be found on our site here.

BB Guns vs Airsoft Whats the Difference? was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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Best buys and bargains in our shop

  Premium weapons and accessories aren’t the only way to go to improve your Airsoft experience and acquire the best gear.

There are plenty of budget bundles and special offers in our shop which offer good value for money with equipment that can still pack a punch.

Bundles

Our two newest bundles offer a great weapon with a number of helpful accessories at cheaper prices than some of our other bundles.

Airsoft Valken ASL AEG bundle

Bundle includes:

– One of the Valken TRG, Tango, Mod-M or Kilo models

– 2x Oper8 8.4v 1600mAh crane stock batteries

– 2x E&C Mid caps or high caps

– Kombat UK Elite gun case

– Proball 0.25g BBs (3000)

With four different models to choose from, this bundle gives you a chance to pick the particular rifle that suits you best.

All four models share the same features so it simply case of choosing the one you like the look of best.

The 8.4v for the crane stock batteries is an increase on the more common 7.4v batteries giving you the added advantage of your gun having extra power over others.

This bundle also gives you the choice between mid cap or high cap magazines; the mid cap magazine can hold less of your 3000 BBs (also included in the bundle) but does come with a speedloader to load the BBs in at a faster rate.

To top it off,  it comes with a gun case for your weapon which is easy to carry and contains four pockets on the outside to store your magazines in.

Airsoft Ruger MK1 Pistol Plinker Bundle

Bundle includes:

-KJ Works Ruger MK1 non-blowback gas pistol

–1x Spare KJ Works Ruger MK1 magazine

–1x WBD BB Catching target

–1x Abbey Predator Ultra 700ml

–3000x 0.25g Proball Bbs

This bundle offers a lot for only £85.00 and would be suitable for those new to Airsoft.

The Ruger MK1 has a simple lightweight design but boasts a velocity of 390FPS with a 55m range which makes it a competent weapon for use during a skirmish.

The 3000 BBs will last a long time for the magazine which has a 17 round capacity and when it does run out, there’s a spare magazine in the bundle for you.

The catching target provides target practice for you to understand the range and flight of your shot so that you can be ready for battle.

The Abbey Predator offers 700ml of gas to refill your pistol to ensure that the gun performs to its full ability.

SPECIAL OFFERS

You will find a number of special offers on our site on guns, accessories, clothing and everything else Airsoft.

With over 300 special offers to choose from, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best savings to be found.

For guns:

WE g17 Double Barrel GBB pistol reduction of £98

WE 1911 Double Barrel GBB Pistol reduction of £78

Ares M45X-S with EFCS gearbox reduction of £30

KRYTAC War Sport GPR-CC – Black reduction of £28

Classic Army M4 CQB pistol AEG reduction of £18

There are some real bargains to be found among the special offers as highlighted by the big reductions in price of the two WE pistols.

Some of these guns may be reduced in price because newer versions have been released but they still have a lot to offer and some can be customised to bring them closer to the newer models without spending lots of money.

For gear and accessories:

Madbull Chronograph Ver. 2.1 reduction of £40

WBD The Cage Assault Vest (MEC) reduction of 25.40

Army Force Blackwater Fluorescent Auto Tracer Illuminator Unit reduction of  £16

G&P Tank Front Set for Marui M16 / m4 Series AEG GP839 reduction of £45

Army Force Extension 20mm Rail Multi Mount w/ Sight (Black) reduction of £21

Oper8 Tactical Apron – Multi Camo reduction of £36

WBD Multifunctional rucksack (Black) reduction of £25

Element em961 Torch reduction of £42

Carrying capacity needs vary from person to person depending on what type of weapon they have and what accessories they own so it is worth checking out vests and rucksacks for a bargain to get everything you need for as small a price as possible.

It is also worth taking a look at the items such as the torch and chronograph which aren’t essential pieces of kit but you may look to add to your inventory if you think this might give you an added advantage especially if the price is right for you.

Best buys and bargains in our shop was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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What’s new in Airsoft for 2020?

              The Airsoft market continues to grow in the UK and worldwide meaning that new weapons, gear and accessories are constantly added to our wide range of stock.

Airsofters look to new stock and new developments for that extra edge in battle for improved performance or improved comfort.

Demand for innovation over the years means there will always be new items taking the best parts of what has come before while improving and ironing out the kinks of previous versions.

Weapons

New rifles, pistols, shotguns, snipers and grenade launchers have been added to our site since the start of 2020 and no doubt there will be lots more to come throughout the year.

We have four new rifles; DBoys ARX160 CQB AEG battle rifle, AGM STG44 Full Metal And Wood , S&T M1903A3 Springfield Bolt Action Rifle (Spring)  CSI S.T.A.R XR-5 Advanced Battle Rifle (Combat Grey)

The standout from these is the CSI S.T.A.R Rifle with a look and design unlike anything else on the market at the moment.

The rifle is lightweight yet durable and similar in feel and performance to the M4 series but it is the futuristic design, looking as though it has come straight out of a science fiction film, which makes it stand above the rest.

There are three new pistols all from the King Arms brand; King Arms SAA .45 Peacemaker Revolver S – Bluing (Reconditioned), King Arms SAA .45 Peacemaker Revolver M – Electro BK (Reconditioned), King Arms KA17 CNC Custom l – Tan And Silver

The reconditioned pistols have come onto the market after a problem with leaking gas had been fixed.

The KA17 may not look new but King Arms make use of all their know-how to design a pistol from the frame to the barrel to the sights to ensure a good feel and performance throughout your Airsoft session.

There are two new shotguns; Golden Eagle M870 Sawed-Off Gas Pump-Action Shotgun, Secutor Velites Invicta G-III Gas Shotgun – Tan

The M870 continues the trend of the use of real wood, particularly in shotguns as we edge closer to perfecting the imitation of a real firearm.

There are two new sniper rifles– AirsoftPro x JG VSR 10 / Bar-10 Airsoft sniper rifle (Upgraded), Ares Amoeba Striker AS02 Short Sniper Rifle (OD)

The VSR 10/Bar-10 has always been a popular sniper rifle to pick with its premium quality and has now had all the internals except for the cylinder replaced with Airsoft Pro upgrades.

The AS02 is a successor to the AS01 models and is a worthy one at that with its compact design and shorter barrel length complemented by an upgraded body.

There is one new grenade launcher on offer, the Arthurian “The Lance” Pistol 40mm Grenade launcher

With its own nickname, it seems that this new launcher has a lot to live up to but it passes with flying colours with its firing range of 20m to unleash your 40mm moscarts.

Accessories

There are two new accessories of note to help with night skirmishes; Wadsn SF X400 Ultra Rail  Mounted Flashlight And Laser – Black and Aim-O ACOG Style 4×32 Scope With DR Sight And QD Mount.

These new additions add more options to the market for improving vision and aim while competing in the dark at night time with lasers and lights on the rail for Wadsn and 4x magnification for the Aim-O ACOG

There are new accessories for improving the performance of weapons such as the Airsoft Pro L96 upgrade set for MB01,05,06,SW M24 and ZCI M-BLock M4 Gearbox Reinforcing Clamp.

Other items may not improve performance but may still be a neat addition to your gun such as the Oper8 Tactical Frog Sound Hog which increases the sound of your gun shots.

For more news on some of the latest innovations in Airsoft already released or coming soon in 2020, SHOT Show 2020 took place at the end of January displaying new and upcoming weapons and gear.

What’s new in Airsoft for 2020? was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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Top five tools to add to your Airsoft toolkit

          Once you have your Airsoft equipment ready to go, the next step is to keep your gear in good shape to extend its longevity.

There are a number of tools you can make use of to repair, tune and upgrade your weapons to ensure it maintains its peak performance.

This will allow you to get the most out of your weapon rather than buying a new one as soon as a problem occurs with your current weapon.

Wrenches

Wrenches and spanners or a combination of both are important for maintaining your weapon for as long as possible.

The most common reason you will need this tool is to tighten or remove nuts found in the stock of rifles.

At point of removal, you can try to repair the stock your weapon currently has or you can upgrade it by replacing it with a new one.

Our tool, the Delta Ring and Barrel Nut Armorer Wrench Tool, is useful for maintaining a number of rifles such as the M16, M4, and AR Variant Rifles.

For other Airsoft weapons, you will need to work out what nuts make up the stock and buy suitable wrenches with a half-inch drive.

Valve Tool

Valves make up the structure of the magazines of gas blowback airsoft guns so keeping these intact is important to make sure your gun works as efficiently as possible.

A common problem with gas blowback guns is a leaky magazine which reduces the amount of shots you can get out of your gun before you have to fill it up again.

The valve tool is designed to remove these valves whether you need to replace them if they are leaking or upgrade them if you find a new magazine you want to insert.

Removing and replacing leaking valves will increase the gun’s capacity once more without the need for you to go out and buy a new one.

It is possible to remove these without it but this tool has been specifically designed to remove them which makes the process much easier.

Our tool, the PPS Steel Valve Key Tool, is designed for use on all GBB pistols and rifles.

Cylinder head tool

The cylinder tool is useful for removing the nozzle off the cylinder on your gun with ease.

From the cylinder, you have access to the spring which is responsible for the propulsion of bullets out of the front of your gun.

Repairing or upgrading the spring ensures that your gun is performing at full strength in terms of projectile strength and range.

Our tool, the Airsoft Pro Cylinder Head Tool, acts as a universal cylinder head for all sniper rifles.

Calipers

Once you’ve opened the gearbox, calipers are a useful tool to measure various elements within your gun.

It can be used for measuring the thickness of shims you place into your electric gun to let you know if your shims are the thickest they can be or whether you are able to replace them with something thicker.

You can also measure hop-up length among other things so that you can compare its current length against other options out there to see how your current gun stacks up.

A digital caliper does all the measuring for you and displays the results so it is recommended you purchase one of these rather than peeking into the innards of your gun and working out the measurements for yourself.

Screwdrivers

The screwdriver, or a set of screwdrivers, are a staple of any handyman and its usefulness extends to Airsoft weapons as well.

AEG guns have a number of different sized screws such as the stock screw in M4 weapons or the smaller screws found in the gearbox.

Keeping your gearbox healthy is important to prevent your gun from misfiring or misfeeding while you are stuck in a battle.

While Airsoft sites will sell tools suited to particular types of guns, Amazon, Halfords and eBay are some of the best places to find specific tools or universal tools which will work on most Airsoft guns.

Screwdrivers are sometimes capable of achieving the same results of the above tools but may require more effort to get there but, more likely than not, having a set around will come in handy.

Top five tools to add to your Airsoft toolkit was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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What Airsoft Battery Should I Use?

What Airsoft Battery Should I Use?

When getting into airsoft its hard to choose the correct airsoft battery, whether it is NIMH / Lipo / LiFe / Li-Ion, and then which format of cells you require for your Airsoft gun.

Below we have a short breakdown of the benefits and types of batteries available to help guide you through the purchase of your new airsoft battery.

Battery Chemistry

When choosing  a battery you will notice there are three common types of Airsoft battery

NIMH LiPo and Li-Ion – although other cells are available like LI-FE and NICAD these are becoming obsolete.

NIMH

NIMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) are a great starter battery constructed from cells with a nominal voltage of 1.2v per cell and commonly built-in packs of either 8 or 9 cells producing 8.4v and 9.6v.

These are known for being reliable and low maintenance for people new into the sport,  and most commonly found as a free battery on starter packages.

Pros 

Safe

Reliable

Smaller voltage increments

Easy to maintain

Cons

Bulky

Heavy

Inefficient

Storage can be effected by Temperature change and can find on cold days they run out faster.

LiPO

LiPO (Lithium-ion Polymer) are probably the most commonly used batteries in airsoft. This is not only due to there performance but also due to there size.

Lipos typically are smaller and slimmer than NIMH cells enabling them to fit into smaller space. ie stock tubes and stocks with limited space. All though they are common they also have cons

Common Airsoft Lipo pack size 7.4V and 11.1V

Pros

Flat compact cell design

High discharge rate

Not affected as much by cold weather

High capacity to size ratio

Cons

Require a balance charger

Requires additional care when charging

If run-flat they can not be safely recharged

When using LIPO cells please follow any safety instructions and do not leave them unattended

Li-ION

Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) are one of the newest types of airsoft battery coming into the market over the last year or two. Although very similar to LIPO, there are some differences.

From looking at them they can look very similar to NIMH cells in size and shape, however maintenance and performance are drastically different.

Common Airsoft Li-Ion pack size 7.4V and 11.1V

Pros

No Memory effect

Higher capacity (MAH) compared to Lipo and NIMH

High efficiency

Long-lasting

Cons 

Can combust

Currently higher price point over NIMH and Lipo but over the last 2 years prices have dropped by around 60%

Bulkier over Lipo sizes making it harder to fit some AEGS

Battery MAH Rating

What is the MAH rating on airsoft batteries? its simple its basically how long it lasts compared to another. Typical airsoft batteries go from 800mah to 4000mah and some reaching up to 7000mah+

All though there isn’t an exact calculation of how long your battery will last (as it needs to take into account how much your airsoft guns draw, and very few are exactly the same)

The more upgraded your AEG is, the more chance it will draw on the battery due to more stress. The power used for the gun to cycle a stronger spring will increase the tension on the motor, causing it to use higher amp draw on the battery.

Along with other factors, like motor start-up current, if using single shot your motor uses higher draw to get the motor started,  compared to when it’s running on full auto.

Battery Connector

There are three common types of connectors used in airsoft below

Tamiya

These are available in two common types both standard and mini Tamiya. Tamiya is the industry standard for out of the box airsoft guns when you first purchase, but normally one of the first things people change out of the box.

All through standard, these can dramatically affect performance in the long run due to the pins becoming dislodged and female ends sprayed causing higher resistance, and risk or short circuit when the connector becomes damaged.

T plug / Deans

T plug are most commonly referred to as deans connectors, and are also available in two sizes – Standard (most used) and Mini.

These are airsoft go-to connectors, providing great connection and low resistance, as well as soldered direct to the cables and not crimped like on Tamiya. Providing a decent join is made, its very unlikely any issues will occur in the life span of these connectors. The main cause of failure is when players disconnect the battery from the airsoft gun by pulling from the cables and not the Deans connector.

XT 30 / XT60 

XT 30  and XT60 Connectors all though not as popular these are a great alternative to T plug connectors.

XT connectors provide a secure connection and are rated up to 60 amps on a XT60,  providing low resistance and high draw capacity.

Battery Layout and Design

When buying an airsoft battery you may be confused when looking at all the different styles and battery types.

Common airsoft batteries are normally in all three cell types.  Although please ask which types are best suited for your AEG

Stick

Sticks are normally great for certain types of airsoft guns which require a long type,  including AKs / MP5ks or even down the stock tube of your airsoft gun on some lipo sticks.

Block

Designed normally to fit into the front hand guard, or into a solid stock with limited joining cables which reduces risk of snagging and cable damage.

Crane stock/nunchuck

Normally split into two or three packs resembling a nunchuck, these are great for fitting into stocks which have tubes down the side. This enables quick and easy change and limited rattling.

What Airsoft Battery Should I Use? was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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What Airsoft Gas To Use?

What Airsoft Gas To Use?

It can be confusing when looking at the different types of gas available. There are many different types, and different brands but these all look very similar, with the only difference being the packaging. There are three common styles with different power levels, which provide lubrication for your seals and gaskets on your gas blowback airsoft gun.

So which one do you need?

Green Gas

Green gas is one of the lower pressure Airsoft Gas formally known as 134a which was commonly used as a refrigerant gas. This gas has recently been banned as a HFC gas due to damages to Ozone and environment. The gas has been replaced with 144a gas with lubricant. Green gas is designed and used to work best with plastic slide pistols like Tokyo Marui, or non-blowback pistols where higher power gas can cause damage.

Red Gas

Red Gas is a medium power, and a good general gas for metal slide pistols, or when the ambient temperature drops

This gas can provide a higher power and can increase the cycling of your airsoft pistol when needed.

Great for WE Pistols.

Black / High power Gas

Guarder Black Gas / Abbey Vertex Gas

Black gas is mainly used in extreme cold temperatures to enable complete cycling of your metal slide pistol. It can also be used in gas blowback rifles, which require lubrication in moving the heavier internals. This gas is not designed for most pistols – in warmer weather this gas can cause damage as well as increased FPS over site limit.

What Airsoft Gas To Use? was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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Cost of Airsoft

Airsoft Prices – Prices to play Airsoft

There is a lot to consider when calculating the cost of Airsoft.

The question of how much you need to spend depends on how often you take part, what equipment you feel you need and if you have a desire to customise your weapons to improve performance.

Getting kitted up

A good pistol can cost anywhere from £50-£250 so it is up to you to decide if the features boasted by each pistol you look at is worth the money for what you want out of the game.

The pistol is the standard weapon for shooting at a target but there are a number of weapons from rifles to submachine guns which can either be used to give you more firepower or help you in a specific tactical role.

This is where the price can shoot up to over £500. From there, guns can be customised and accessorised further to improve performance increasing the cost further.

It is important to note that there is no need for you to buy multiple weapons or to customise them in order to take part although those who do may gain an advantage.

There is no set attire for Airsoft but camouflage and weather-resistant gear can be bought from Airsoft shops to help you blend in to and tackle the terrain.

You are free to wear your own clothing and boots but it is advised that these should be weather resistant.

The one thing that is a MUST for your attire is face protection. Tightly secured goggles or glasses are needed to protect your eyes from flying BB pellets.

If you do buy your own equipment, there will be a further cost of buying gun bags and/or rucksacks to store and transport your equipment to and from the skirmish site.

Alternatively, you can rent replica guns, equipment and attire from the runners of the skirmish site so that you do not have to worry about owning, maintaining and transporting the equipment.

Guns can usually be rented for between £20-£30 while equipment such as eye protection will probably cost another £20.

This might be the best option if you only plan to partake in Airsoft every once in a while but if you want to become a regular, having your own gear which you can customise may be the best way forward.

Ammo

3000 0.2g BBs should be enough to see you through a day of Airsoft for a single gun, costing you somewhere in the region of £6-£12. This type of BB is the standard for most pistols and rifles.

However, weapons such as sniper rifles require heavyweight BBs in order to match the sniper’s range and accuracy which will cost £10+.

You will have to consider the number of weapons you bring and the type and amount of BBs needed for each to determine the overall cost.

Admission to day game

The good news is that registration with the United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association (UKARA) is free; you are required to play three games on a UKARA registered game site over a two month period to complete the registration.

Admission to a skirmish site usually ranges between £20-£30 which is a fair price whether you want to go every now and again or every available weekend.

Overall, the cost of Airsoft varies widely on how often you take part and how much you invest in your guns and equipment.

The basics needed for a day game work out favourably, particularly if you are just renting equipment so you can enjoy the game as it is but you might find yourself going further down the rabbit hole once you get a taste of it.

Cost of Airsoft was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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History of Airsoft

The beginning – A brief History of Airsoft

Airsoft began in Japan in the mid-1970s but the story starts before that.

At the end of WW2, citizens were no longer allowed to carry firearms so they turned to buying replica firearms which, at that point, had no purpose other than to look like the real thing.

Moving on to the 70s, replica guns were created to fire projectiles, small BB pellets, by a spring-loaded system which allowed the people of Japan to buy a weapon that could mimic the feel of firing a gun as well as copying the look.

While the skirmish sites weren’t really there at that point in time, these people now had an opportunity to play with their friends using these safe replica weapons, marking the start of Airsoft as a hobby.

Rise in Popularity

The growth in popularity among Japanese citizens was noticeable and companies in Japan soon latched onto it and began to create a marketplace for these weapons.

Airsoft grew further as Japan began exporting to other countries in Asia such as Korea, Taiwan and China, all of which had strict gun laws as well.

The spring-powered guns provided the firing ability but lacked the FPS to make the guns anywhere near as fast as their real counterparts.

The 1980s saw advances in the design of replica weapons and the technology used to propel pellets towards someone else.

Gas-powered guns, those with a blowback ability, came in to increase the velocity of the shot and still be safe to use against opponents.

It was during the 80s that Airsoft’s popularity began to spread outside of Asia, reaching the UK and US markets.

Cultural factors

Many in the UK and the US welcomed the idea of Airsoft where people could shoot at each other with realistic looking and feeling guns.

They could do this without ending up with bruises which were the case for the fairly new and popular battle simulation of paintball.

Action movies brought forward the idea of an action hero who relied on an arsenal of guns to take down the bad guys.

War history enthusiasts, whether through film, documentaries or books, would have gained an interest and knowledge of the guns used throughout history which these replicas could faithfully imitate.

The 2000s saw a boom in the number of video games released regarding war which introduced gamers to many of the famous brands of pistols and rifles such as the Desert Eagle and the AK47.

Many people wanted to feel like an action hero, a solider or like they were playing a real-life video game and Airsoft gave people this chance without being in any danger.

Growth of Airsoft stock

As the market began to grow, people’s interest in a gun’s look and capability grew as people sort to not only play Airsoft as a hobby but also to invest time and money into buying Airsoft guns and accessories which suited their needs.

With the constant innovation and increase of new military-style weapons since WW2, there was an ever-growing list of real weapons where a replica was demanded.

In the 90s, Tokyo Marui invented the first electric gun, the AEG, to improve the rate of fire further.

Since then, guns have been built and designed with a number of features, along with customisation options, for people to get everything they need from their gun.

Airsoft today

Airsoft has grown on a global scale with Asia, North America and Europe, in particular, embracing it with a huge number of websites selling Airsoft guns internationally.

Almost every European country has skirmish sites while the UK now boasts over 150 of them.

It is a popular market which is still growing with no signs of its popularity stalling or declining anytime in the near future.

History of Airsoft was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog

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Global Airsoft

Airsoft around the world – Where can you do airsoft?

Airsoft is a hobby that has made its way around the world.

It’s reflected by the number of international Airsoft sites which are selling Airsoft guns and equipment.

Europe

Airsoft Guns

The Airsoft Guns website caters for the whole of Europe but the actual Airsoft store is based in the Czech Republic which has been selling imported Airsoft goods for over 10 years.

Led by experienced professionals, they offer professional repair, upgrade and custom work as well as selling Airsoft equipment.

Airsoft Zone

Airsoft Zone may be based in Austria but it is far-reaching with distribution rights for famous airsoft brands like Krytacand Airsoft Innovations within the European Union.

It has been selling Airsoft equipment on the website since 2011, shipping orders from the warehouse which covers 2000 square metres.

Airsoft Shop

Airsoft Shop operates as an online retailer as well as having a shop located in Belgium covering the full range of weapons from pistols and rifles to SMGs.

AFG

Slovakian based AFG has exclusive rights to represent companies and to import certain Airsoft goods into Slovakia.

USA

Red Wolf Airsoft

Founded in 1998, Red Wolf Airsoft claims to be the first international Airsoft retailer with the most diverse range of Airsoft weapons and equipment.

With offices in the UK and Hong Kong, Red Wolf is spread far and wide offering repairs, upgrades and other customisation options for Airsoft equipment.

Evike

Evike have an eye-watering number of Airsoft brands on their website providing you with plenty of variety when considering your options. They also offer the chance to book a place on a number of themed skirmish events across the USA.

Airsoft Atlanta

This store was founded in 2000 with a walk-in store opening the following year to provide a physical and online presence, specialising in high-end custom Airsoft guns.

Airsoft Atlanta not only provides Airsoft equipment but have their own skirmish site too with Power Ops Airsoft, which provides over 100,000 square feet of field space for skirmishes to take place.

Airsoft Station

Airsoft Station was founded in 2006 as a part-time hobby that soon grew to the point where the website was set up in 2008. They now operate online and from their Minnesota store to provide Airsoft equipment on an international scale.

Airsoft Megastore

This site is committed to cheap prices to make Airsoft accessible for as many people as possible without dropping the quality.

They also have a commitment to making their company as green as possible with eco-friendly packaging and procedures. This is an Airsoft site with a clear ethos that goes beyond selling Airsoft equipment to customers.

Asia

Echigoya

One of the oldest Airsoft shops in the world, Echigoya was founded in 1993 selling Airsoft replicas among other toys. It has grown to 4 branches across Japan supplying top brands to the worldwide Airsoft market.

Impulse101

Impulse101 has an international feel about it, made up of Franco-Japanese Airsoft enthusiasts who also speak English.

Its story began with Pulse Airsoft in 2013; the men behind the company’s rise left and set up Impulse101 instead which has been going strong ever since.

Airsoft Shop Japan

This online shop ships out Airsoft equipment to people all over the world. Its collection of Airsoft equipment is fair but it is a bit on the smaller side in comparison to its competitors.

WGC Shop

Hong Kong’s WGC started life in 1998 as an Airsoft forum, War Gamer Club, for people to share their experience of Airsoft weapons, equipment and skirmishes.

Two years later the name changed to WGC Shop and the website began selling Airsoft equipment and quickly grew with a number of offices and warehouses being owned.

In 2008, they opened their first showroom to display their stock to members of the public.

John’s Airsoft

John’s Airsoft owns 5 stores in the Philippines called Vincent’s Hobby Shop. With a focus on pistols and rifles, there isn’t as much gun choice with a lack of SMGs and grenade launchers and limited shotgun options.

Where it does excel is in Airsoft accessories with almost 250 items to choose from.

Global Airsoft was originally published on Socom Tactical Airsoft Shop Blog