A basic guide to the sport of Airsoft By Chris Smith

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Weapon classes Weapon classifications describe how a weapon works, how fast it shoots, and what it looks like. Weapon Classifications can vary greatly between fields and regions of the country, but the accepted standard by the North Texas Airsoft group (NTA) is as follows.

Pistols/Sidearm Class A Pistol, or Sidearm, is a weapon that resembles a typical (real) pistol. It is fired with one hand, and is required to shoot at under 350 fps. It has no minimum engagement distance. Pistols are typically used as a secondary weapon, when your larger gun is out of ammo, or when you are not allowed to continue using your larger weapon.

Rifle Class Rifle Class airsoft guns are rifles that fire below 400 fps. They can be used semi-automatic indoors, and fully automatic outdoors on most fields. They have a 20ft minimum engagement distance.

DMR DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) class rifles are rifles that fire below 450 fps. In order to use these on an airsoft field, you must have full auto permanently disabled, allowing players to only use semi-automatic shooting. They have a 50ft minimum engagement distance and are not to be fired indoors unless they are being fired out of a window.

Support Weapons Support Gunner Class weapons are any Airsoft weapons that are considered to be support weapons by the airsoft field or park you are playing at. They must have fire at a speed of less than 450 fps, with a minimum of 50ft engagement distance. Usage of support weapons is not allowed indoors unless they are being fired out of windows.

Gear Gear is extremely important for Airsoft Gun-Play. It is everything you wear that isn’t a gun. Without proper gear, you could get seriously injured. Gear is your safety – It protects all of your vitals and keeps airsoft from being a very painful experience. Make sure that Gear is the one thing you don’t save expenses on; it could save your game, and your health.

Eye protection Eye protection is the single most important piece of gear for airsoft. NTA rules require a full face mask for players under the age of eighteen. A full face mask covers your entire face, including your eyes and mouth. After the age of eighteen, it is still very highly recommended that you continue to wear full-facial protection because your teeth have the potential to be shot out. All eye wear must meet, or exceed Z qualifications. All eye wear must seal to your face, which means that shooting glasses which do not completely adhere to your face are not allowed. Fogging can often be an issue, depending on the weather and how much you sweat. Because of this, some goggles come with built in fans or vents to increase airflow.

Footwear It is a good rule of thumb to always wear closed- toe shoes while playing games with airsoft guns, in order to protect the soft tissues of your feet from debris. Some airsoft fields will require that you wear boots for ankle support d due to insurance policies.

Water Water is extremely important to carry with you when you are in places that are high in heat, like Texas. The risk of dehydration and heat stroke is very high. You can either carry water bottles with you, or purchase something called a camelback. Camelbacks are water pouches that you wear on your back like a backpack, with a tube running around to the front that you can drink from.

Gloves Gloves are not typically required, but they are always a good idea for protecting your hands against debris and BB impacts. A good set of gloves with thick material across your knuckles is recommended, just keep in mind that your fingers need to remain flexible in order to operate your weapons.

Safety/Legality Safety while using airsoft guns is extremely important, which is why we covered so many aspects of gear and safety equipment in the last section. Right now, we’re going to take a brief look at many safety precautions you should take, and many things you should watch out for. We’ll also mention a few things regarding the legality of airsoft guns, and how to avoid trouble with the law.

Laws Regarding Airsoft Guns: Always play on a legal airsoft field. Brandishing an airsoft gun in public is against the law because it can be mistaken for a real weapon. This can confuse citizens as well as law enforcement, so airsoft weapons must remain concealed at all times unless you are at a legal airsoft field. Always carry your airsoft guns in a gun bag, not visible to the public. When driving, store airsoft guns and gear in the trunk, out of view of civilians who may see it and panic.

Safety Precautions BB’s can easily take out an eye or a tooth if someone not wearing facial protection is nearby and you are not careful. Always exercise trigger and muzzle discipline. This means that you should only aim at what you want to shoot, and don’t put a finger on the trigger unless you intend on shooting it. Although it is rare, airsoft guns (specifically AEG’s) can malfunction and misfire. Keep the safety switch on whenever you are not purposefully shooting at something. Always remove magazines and clear the chamber between rounds or when entering a safe area to reduce the chance of gun breakage or malfunction. Barrel condoms protect against misfires Protect those pearly whites!