Airsoft is the term given to BB guns that do not use actual steel BB’s. Plastic BB’s with a larger circumference of 6mm replaces the steel ones. The plastic BB’s enable players to safely simulate play with identical working guns without the concern of serious injury. The toy Airsoft guns are 1:1 scale replicas of actual firearms that propel plastic BB’s with compressed air. Often the only way to tell the difference between their real counterparts is when the trigger is pulled or by their bright orange tip. These guns are replicas in every sense of the word. They look, feel, and act like the real thing. They are the same weight and size, and they blow or “cock” back when fired. These guns are also capable of using small paint balls in the same way they load and shoot the regular plastic pellets.

?The most popular real-steel firearms usually have an Airsoft counterpart; The prestigious H&K G3 Battle Rifle series, SIG 550’s, FAMAS, and the Colt M16’s; The Heckler& Koch MP5 series, including MP5A4, MP5SD5, MP5PDW, Steyr AUG’s, and the AK-47’s. There are also different machine gun styles such as the M60, or the IMI Uzis and Ingrams, which are sub-machine gun models. Sniping rifles that include the PSG-1, Blaser 93r, and the M40A1 can be purchased. Replica style pistols are also available such as the famous Baretta series, Colts, SIGs, and Glocks. Shotgun styles in the make of the Benelli M2 and the Remington 870 are also popular.

?With the sports enormously growing popularity; the number of replicated Airsoft guns is sizeable and growing as well. Even the Hollywood Terminator gun, the M134 Vulcan (a six barrel gatling) gun is available.

Harmless and immense fun to use, Airsoft guns have taken over the replica and toy gun markets. Collectors enjoy the high level of realism in the replica models. Often the Airsoft gun is the only legal way the general public can own fabulous looking firearms.

Law enforcement groups around the world now train with the replica Airsoft gun. While providing a level of realism not found with any other training device, these guns are very safe as well. Even at high velocities, the pellets are incapable of causing more than minor bruising.