Airsoft....

[Excalibur]

Airsoft is an expensive hobby. I tried in College. Got fatigues, vests to carry mags, a side arm and all this gear most likely almost cost me enough to get a real gun but at the time I had fun and the training the team leader taught us helped me get into real guns. The guy I did Airsoft with was a transfer student who served in the British Paratrooper. He came over to America after his tour was up and took over the Airsoft club at the college. He gave everyone actual training and set us up like a squad. It was in Airsoft where I learned the firearm safety rules, moving while shooting, suppressive fire, taking cover, hand gestures, military jargon (at least british military jargon), etc. It wasn't official training, but I learned to not be bothered by wading in knee deep mud, standing still behind a tree in cover while bugs crawl all over you, deal with the elements like rain and snow. It was a great learning experience. But the costs is not for the faint of heart.

I'd like to get one of these to hang on my wall to commemorate what I carried in the Gulf War:

But not for over $300

Unless you mean the recent war in Iraq, they didn't make the M16A4 back during the first Gulf War. Hell the M4 wasn't even invented yet.

 

[Dragon]

I'm not casting condemnation upon the sport overall and I'm aware there are adults who enjoy this activity. My experience should be taken with a grain of salt since it is but one persons experience. I do have a voice and a right to voice an opinion though. Plain and simple. My words are but one persons opinion of an experience. Dont listen to me, I'm not seeking an audience. Have fun.

That's not at all what I was saying and if that's how you read it, I apologize for not making my point clear enough for all. My point was, there are layers of any hobby which can take you from the bottom to the top of said hobby. Voicing your opinion is great, I just try to open the eyes of people who've never seen airsoft at its best. And btw, it might not have helped with your PTSD but I've spoken to others who've had better results and I hope you have found or find something that can.

 

[Dragon]

Airsoft is an expensive hobby. I tried in College. Got fatigues, vests to carry mags, a side arm and all this gear most likely almost cost me enough to get a real gun but at the time I had fun and the training the team leader taught us helped me get into real guns. The guy I did Airsoft with was a transfer student who served in the British Paratrooper. He came over to America after his tour was up and took over the Airsoft club at the college. He gave everyone actual training and set us up like a squad. It was in Airsoft where I learned the firearm safety rules, moving while shooting, suppressive fire, taking cover, hand gestures, military jargon (at least british military jargon), etc. It wasn't official training, but I learned to not be bothered by wading in knee deep mud, standing still behind a tree in cover while bugs crawl all over you, deal with the elements like rain and snow. It was a great learning experience. But the costs is not for the faint of heart.

This is a very normal chain of events with people who play. Others like myself got into airsoft as a hobby that stems from real firearms first. The cost can be fairly low or very high and I definitely don't think it's a replacement for real courses and practice but what it does give is a safe method for doing training that most civilians can't get.

 

[Sgtusmc]

Airsoft is an expensive hobby. I tried in College. Got fatigues, vests to carry mags, a side arm and all this gear most likely almost cost me enough to get a real gun but at the time I had fun and the training the team leader taught us helped me get into real guns. The guy I did Airsoft with was a transfer student who served in the British Paratrooper. He came over to America after his tour was up and took over the Airsoft club at the college. He gave everyone actual training and set us up like a squad. It was in Airsoft where I learned the firearm safety rules, moving while shooting, suppressive fire, taking cover, hand gestures, military jargon (at least british military jargon), etc. It wasn't official training, but I learned to not be bothered by wading in knee deep mud, standing still behind a tree in cover while bugs crawl all over you, deal with the elements like rain and snow. It was a great learning experience. But the costs is not for the faint of heart.





Unless you mean the recent war in Iraq, they didn't make the M16A4 back during the first Gulf War. Hell the M4 wasn't even invented yet.

My A2 with M203 didnt have the detachable "carry handle" but I'm quite aware I was carrying an A2. Thanks.

 

[CitiusFortius]

I've always wondered, what if I painted my flash hider bright orange on my AR-15, would people assume it's a toy and not give it a second look?

 

[Sgtusmc]

I've always wondered, what if I painted my flash hider bright orange on my AR-15, would people assume it's a toy and not give it a second look?

Ive thought that this could be one of those perfect tragedies. Guy shows up to an airsoft event loaded down with his gear. No one takes a second look. Cnn reports multiple shot at an airsoft event.

Btw, some guy was already arrested by doing the same to his real AK while walking on a trail. Painting his muzzle orange that is.

 

[CitiusFortius]

Btw, some guy was already arrested by doing the same to his real AK while walking on a trail. Painting his muzzle orange that is.

No kidding. Didn't know it was illegal. Not that I would ever do it, just something I've thought about from time to time as the fake guns look very real.

 

[danielson]

If you play paintball or airsoft with any amount of seriousness, theres a certain element of tactics and military emulation. I was making it clear that I did not serve, and did not want to confuse that point.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I don't "play airsoft", or at least haven't yet; but I did buy an airsoft 1911 pattern pistol (a Tokyo Marui 1911 MEU, if anyone is interested) for the express purpose of practicing live holster draws, sight acquisition, sight picture, target transitions and other drills that would translate to IDPA, USPSA, Steel, etc. For that purpose, I have found it to be quite useful.

 

[danielson]

I bought snapcaps for that

 

[Sgtusmc]

I bought an Airsoft M4 just to reaquaint myself with the weight and grip of the platform that I longed to feel once again. It was the only afforable way to do it, then I decided to play with it.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I bought snapcaps for that

Airsoft is both more realistic, and more fun...and more expensive.

 

[Joseph]

I play airsoft from time to time, I got into golf is why I stopped playing regularly. In order for it to work as a training tool you have to set very strict rules to it which makes it a bore lol. It is what it is when playing "a game" sure you can learn to move as a squad and such but for the most part it is just fun. Now using airsoft stuff for real steel training, I think it's good. I have a airsoft pistol and have done multiple drills that made me a better shooter from the draw. That first round at 10 to 17 feet will give you a good idea of where a real round would go and it helps to teach you not to push the muzzle down for recoil anticipation. As for kids yelling it happens lol

 

[Excalibur]

Airsoft in the long run is actually cheaper than paintball when it comes to ammo cost. We used to buy thousands of bbs in bags that would costs us upwards to 20 dollars for heavier types. The heavier the bb, the more accurate but less range depending on the motor that shoots the little stuff out.

With Airsoft, we pretty much get to shoot each other with stuff that functions like real guns. By the time I graduated college, most of us had switched to gas powered blow back rifles that functions even more like their real steel counterparts. I sold mine when I left college, it was an M4 with a fake Eotech and some early magpul accessories on it. I actually bought a real Magul stock and 10 magazine grips which fits the Airsoft replicas. Got a lot of money back for it when I sold it. With gas powered Airsoft, you have to work the charging handle to chamber a bb, and when the mag is empty, the bolt locks back and when you reload, you press the paddle to send the bolt forward. I love how it replicated a real rifle down to the markings. The recoil was fairly strong too, almost simulating a real rifle's recoil

 

[-Rogue-]

In my case, I am an avid airsofter who enjoys it as it is, a recreational activity where you get to shoot one another. As an added bonus, no one dies during said shooting. As it is said many times, the most dangerous hunt is another human being.

Having now lurked on these forums for quite a while, I see that airsofters get a generally bad wrap by those who hold their noses a bit too high. Airsofters have their reasons and who are you to judge them?

As with anything, there is a stratification of people within the airsoft community much the same as with the "real-steel" community. There are idiots who get a lot of airtime (since they are prepubescent tacti-cool walmart gun-toting morons), but there is also a real core group of people who enjoy it for the sportsmanship, the other people of character who play with them, and their replica guns. You don't usually hear of those high-character people much the same as no no one really hears of all the responsible gun owners on the news. True airsoft communities teach the same safety rules and same martial responsibility to each other.

It CAN be a good training tool, but like all things, it takes a a real investment.

There really are two ways to train with airsoft. 1.) There are airsoft weapons that truly mimic size, weight, operation (including bolt cycles), etc. 2.) The tactics for group engagements are largely the same as real life, especially at the shorter ranges airsoft weapons are capable of shooting.

Multiple police departments use airsoft weapons as training aids. So does the DHS, which just purchased over 500 airsoft weapons for their training center in Georgia.

I will proudly say I also use them too. Given the price of ammo these days, I can buy an airsoft gun and run over 2000 rounds through it before I touch the price of 500 rounds of real ammo. The weight and operations are perfect, especially when I can practice in the house and not worry about shooting anybody or anything with something lethal.

And finally, I strongly believe that the "real-steel" community ought to thank airsofters. The explosive growth of the sport has done much to improve the real shooting community.
1.) With the larger number of people buying tactical gear and accessories, there has been increased competition and innovation, dropping prices on many items making "real-steel" shooting less expensive.
2.) Airsofting is an easily accessible activity for the very young introducing them to real firearms and turning them into avid shooters with both real-steel and airsoft weaponry. (Stats are showing that the total number of young people shooting is dropping so any positive outreach is a good thing.)
3.) For the older players, airsoft weapons are a good way to test some of the more exotic weapons. Many change over to real versions after "testing" them.

 

[grahamsy2k]

Do the AR15 airsoft guns operate like real AR15s?

 

[Excalibur]

Do the AR15 airsoft guns operate like real AR15s?

As in it only fires semi auto. I don't think I've run into someone who made their Airsoft semi auto only unless you go to New Zealand which actually counts Airsoft as a firearm and restricts it like one.

Otherwise, if you had read my post up 2 posts ago, it should have answered your question

 

[Sgtusmc]

Do the AR15 airsoft guns operate like real AR15s?

The whining of the motor is louder than the poof of air exiting the barrel. And no, most airsoft guns just look like their real counterparts. Their motor being in the pistol grip, operating a gearbox assembly in the receiver portion that pulls back a piston in the upper portion. A BCG is non existant, usually just a facade with the charging handle doing nothing but popping open the dust cover.

Regular electrics are different from the gas operated versions which provide a "blowback" feature to simulate movement of a bolt to provide a sense of recoil. They're a tad louder being that they use green gas.

Edit: airsoft rifles are not made to spec. Usually an upper from an airsoft will not fit onto a real lower due to the differences. Also they're mostly made of zinc metal....not good to handle any amount of the pressures of a real firearm. You're better off making a zip gun than trying to turn one of these into a firearm.

Open up an airsoft rifle and they look nothing like their real counterparts. Its a rediculous notion to believe the anti gun community saying these could be used to be made into real rifles.

 

[Dragon]

There are very easy ways to modify airsoft M4's to behave like an AR-15 by removing/prohibiting select fire. There are several available on the market now which function EXACTLY like real AR-15's and M4's, they're called Professional Training Weapons and are made by Systema, Celsius, and a new company G&D. These PTW's have a functioning bolt catch and when the last round is fired from a magazine the bolt locks back so it must be released before you can fire the next shot after a reload. All of the PTW's are nearly identical internally to real steel AR-15's as they have a split design where the cylinder is in the upper acting as the bolt and the gears in the lower where the trigger mech would be. Other than recoil, they're about as realistic as it gets because they're programmed with trigger response accurate to real AR's and rate of fire as well.

 

[Excalibur]

Yes, those guys like Systema make their internals look like a real steel M4. I've seen one up close. They are hilariously expensive and in my opinion, defeats the purpose of having a cheap practicing tool over the real thing. If you have a thousand plus dollars to burn, get a real rifle. A lot of other Airsoft Companies like Toyko Marui are making their own electric power rifles with simulated recoil, where the bolt locks to the rear and you need to manipulate the bolt catch. But as I said, these things are hilariously expensive for the purpose.