Which brand do I want? Do I really need that piece of equipment? How much should I actually spend?
All these and more are the questions weighing on new airsofters. Reasonable so; most have no experience with legitimate airsoft, and the field of airsoft guns alone is daunting, even without all the other gear.
I went through this exact scenario when I began airsoft. Nothing on the internet helped; it all pointed to the high-end, ridiculously expensive equipment. Through some extensive research and a bit of personal experience, I’ve acquired a bit of an understanding of the airsoft world. So this is my guide to airsoft. You’ll find my tips and opinions helpful, one (more experienced) beginner to another.
We’ll start with guns. I’ll lay down the facts for you. If you’re going to play at an official field, you will need a decent aeg (automatic electric gun) or a sniper rifle (which are far less helpful). If you want to play in the woods with your friends, a pistol may be enough. If this is the case, any co2 powered handgun will serve you well. (A note on co2: while the co2 does present an additional periodic cost, it is definitely worth it as it will last longer and work better than a spring pistol, which is the other kind of handgun.)
If you are looking into rifles, here are some tips on what to look for:
- Metal gearbox. This is ultimately what determines how long your gun will last. Full metal means the same thing, except that the body is also metal.
- Hi-cap mag. High capacity magazines require the magazine to be wound, but generally hold 300-400 bbs.
- Electric. Electric guns will outcompete spring rifles every day of the week.
- Hop-up. This allows you to adjust how much you bbs will curve up (yes, up) or down.
- Brand. If you just want a cheap gun so you can see if you even like airsoft, get something from Crosman. If you want something more permanent but are still on a budget, go with Heckler&Kock or JG. Top of the line brands include GG and KWA. These brand categories apply to handguns as well. (Note: brands to avoid include Umarex and Double Eagle. These brands are low quality, at best.)
- Model. Standard models are M4 and G36C.
That concludes the rundown of guns. Now we will move on to bbs.
Bbs can be intimidating because of the sheer quantity one can buy. Gee, do I really need 10,000? In general, 5,000 will keep someone with an aeg going all day at an official arena. But what about quality?
Well, let’s look: there are different weights of bbs, which result in the respective accuracies and powers behind them. There are .12g, .20g, .25g, .30g, .35g, and .38g. We’ll look at the basic ones: .12, .20, and .25.
One could buy 11,000 .12g bbs from amazon for $6.39. 2,700 .20g bbs cost $10.44. This is because .12g bbs are so poor quality. They break, jam and don’t fly straight. I personally only use these for just shooting in the back yard.
.20g bbs are what nearly everyone uses. They are reliable and not especially expensive. However, if you really want to care for your gun especially well, use .25s. ( the reason for this is that the break even less than .20s. They shoot about the same, however.)
Lastly, we have gear. Some people go all out with this one: vests, gloves, boots, slings, helmets, gillie suits, backpacks, the whole nine yards. So what do you really need?
Obviously, some eyewear. I’ve seen some people go drastically wrong with this one: sunglasses, ski goggles, chemistry goggles. None of these are designed to defend against tiny projectiles going 1/12 the speed of sound. Goggles are fairly cheap: I like the JT Elite Prime Goggle set, which is a full mask with detachable goggles.
The mask is only necessary if you really want it. From experience, the mask is hot, but it pays off when it shields you from those bbs (1/12 speed of sound, remember?).
The vest is nice, but pockets do the same thing.
Glove are optional, but bbs hurt a lot when the occasional one hits the back of your hand.
A sling for your rifle and a holster for your pistol are generally good ideas.
So there you go: airsoft info 101. If you have questions, feel free to comment and then follow the post or the blog.
If you are wondering where to get equipment, Amazon in easiest. Craigslist is good too, but make sure to do your research. The website Airsoft Atlanta also provides a wide selection, at a slightly higher cost.
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