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This guide is intended to give an overall understanding into the world of airsoft that is general and easy to understand. While some topics are more in-depth, no topic in this guide is completely covered from head to toe as we merely touch the most common need to know basics of each topic.**For a quicker guide to these topics that contains only the most essential information please see: Airsoft 101
An airsoft gun is an air powered gun that generally shoots 6mm round projectiles (other sizes do exist but are less common). Most airsoft guns are replicas of existing firearms and are typically used for military simulation. Typical airsoft guns make use of compression for launching its projectiles. With this in mind there are essentially two types of compression used; the first being spring which includes Electric and manual types, and Gas compression which includes Green Gas (Propane with Silicone Lubricant), CO2, and HFC – 134a. Additionally each propulsion system has several sub categories which it can be broken down into which provides slight variations in functionality.
Airsoft Electric Guns (AEG) are among the most popular airsoft guns for skirmish play as they have high capacities, high rates of fire and decent accuracy. AEGS work on electric as the name implies, the battery powers the motor which turns the gears which draws the piston back on the spring. When the piston is drawn it creates tension on the string. The tension stored in the spring determines how hard (FPS) the AEG will shoot. When the tension is released on the spring the piston shoots forward compressing the air which then propels the BB down the barrel. Airsoft Electric Pistols (AEP) work in a very similar manner to the larger AEG’s just on a smaller scale.Things to note about AEG’s
Springers are a technological step back from the AEGs and AEPs, while still using a spring compression propulsion system the user is required to manually draw the spring into compression which is referred to as working the action. These still work by drawing back the piston which stores tension on the spring. When the trigger is pulled the spring tension is released which pushes the piston forward creating compression which propels the projectile (BB) down the barrel. These guns tend to be on the cheaper end of the curve but happen to be very reliable as there is less that can go wrong.Things to note about Manual Spring Guns:
Gas Guns offer some of the most realistic replica gun options and operate much the same as a paintball gun. A gas gun has a storage tank for a pressurized gas (generally in the magazine) which holds green gas, propane, HFC-134a or CO2. When the trigger is pulled the tank valve is opened which releases the pressurized gas into the gun which propels the projectile (BB) down the barrel. Generalization is required as the specific details for how this works changes from gun to gun and is slightly different between CO2 and the other gases. Things to note about Gas powered guns:
Sometimes it’s the smallest piece of the puzzle that is most important! Low quality cheap BBs will cause your airsoft gun to have continual problems and cost you more money in repairs and problems than its worth. AirRattle highly recommended to purchase high quality precision BBs from a reputable airsoft supplier such as airrattle.com. High quality BBs provides many advantages such as accuracy, reliable, power and reduces the chance of gun malfunction and breakage significantly. Low quality BBs such as the BBs purchased at various sporting goods stores as well as retail outlets and most of the ammo provided in the box with the airsoft gun, have a large number of potential hazards. With low quality BBs the number of things that can go wrong are numerous but the most common issues are shattering and jamming. Shattering happens because of poor materials, inconsistent sizing and voids (air pockets) inside the BB’s. When a BB shatters it can create blockage which can cause jams. On a good day these are easy fixes and can be fixed using a clearing rod, but on a bad day they will cause a surge of back pressure which can strip the gears or destroy the piston; both will require professional repair. With this is mind spending a little more for quality ammo will not only improve your overall performance but will likely save you money in the end. In addition to using high quality BBs it is recommended that BBs not be reused as they can be warped or dirty which can cause the same problems as using low quality BBs. Lastly the most important thing to note about using lower grade BBs is that in many cases it will void most warranties.Explanation of quality ammo and its usage: Quality ammo comes in varieties of materials and weights each having its own purpose. Mostly plastic ranging in weights from .20g to over .40g and ranging in sizes around 6mm. Higher grade BB’s will have tighter tolerances and will remain closer to 6mm. High grade BB’s are seamless and are consistent in size and weight.
The majority of the BB’s fall into this category and can be used for play or practice. Best used for indoor play or target practice where they can be collected when finished.
Biodegradable BBs are made of special resin which allows them to degrade over time into the earth whereas regular BBs will stick around for at least several hundred years. Many outdoor fields require Biodegradable BBs to be used. These BB are of the same quality standards as plastic and follow the same guidelines for precision; both in weight and size.
Not generally available from retailers and are not to be used for anything other than target practice. These BBs can potentially shatter ANSI goggles and facemasks. These should generally be avoided.
6mm paintballs are available from various retailers but should not be used in any gun with hop-up or hi-cap magazines as these things can cause the paintballs to shatter which will create a mess and will render the weapon useless until thoroughly cleaned.
The weight of the projectile (BB) has a large effect on its flight characteristics. Heavier BBs tend to fly more accurately over a greater distance. With this in mind they will travel at a lower FPS but still have about the same kinetic energy as a lower weight BB shot from the same gun.
Many myths surround batteries in the airsoft world and there are lots of conflicting stories about many aspects on different batteries. While this guide will not cover everything it will give you a general understanding of how things work. What it basically boils down to is voltage and milliamp hours (mAh). There are other factors that do apply but are beyond the scope of this article. Voltage will determine rate of fire and milliamp hours will determine how long the battery lasts while being used. Various things will change how long the battery lasts such as ambient temperature and how much current is being drawn. In lower temperatures the battery will not last as long as it will on a nice summer day. While many factors still apply that haven’t been covered the basic rules should suffice for keeping your getting the most out of your batteries and guns without causing additional wear on the gun. With stock guns of the midrange variety it is not recommended running voltages higher than 8.4v. Higher voltages will cause the motor to spin faster causing the gears to turn faster which causes additional wear and tear on the internals. Higher end guns can withstand this extra stress but lower to midrange guns will strip gears, pistons, crack gearboxes, burn out trigger contacts and various other issues that will cause the gun to stop working. In the end it boils down to higher voltage equals higher rate of fire and more stress on the gun. Keep in mind that this is a generality and doesn’t exactly remain true when Lithium Polymer batteries are thrown into the mix. For more information about how Lithium Polymer batteries play into this mix see the LiPo section.
The following are the two most common types of batteries each has its own purpose and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
These are by far the most commonly used battery. The main advantage when compared to LiPo batteries is its relative low cost by comparison. The other large advantage over LiPo batteries is that they are commonly available and can be put into nearly every airsoft gun without any modification. The primary disadvantage to NiMH batteries is the overall size and weight compared to output. LiPo batteries can output similar voltages with similar capacities with a smaller footprint.
LiPo batteries have many misconceptions about them and without a solid understanding of electronics it is difficult to truly explain how and why these batteries perform better at lower voltages. The simple explanation is to think of the two batteries as glasses of water. While they both contain the same water (have the same voltage), the LiPo battery has a thicker straw. This allows the same about of water to be delivered much more quickly. Basically LiPo allow a larger current draw which provides better performance. While this isn’t 100% accurate it does provide a basic understanding. An example is that a 7.4v LiPo can slightly out perform a 8.4v NiMH battery of similar quality. This being understood the one of the primary advantage to LiPo batteries are that they will provide the best performance for high end and highly modified guns. The other advantage over NiMH is that they are smaller and lighter so higher output batteries can be fit into smaller spaces on guns that are too small to allow a NiMH battery of similar voltage and capacity. While these batteries have some serious advantages over NiMH batteries they do have several disadvantages. The first disadvantage is the cost, these batteries cost significantly more than NiMH. Another disadvantage is the complexity, these batteries require some serious care and attention must be carefully paid, as these batteries require cell balancing and must use a smart charger which incurs more cost. The final disadvantage is that these batteries can be somewhat dangerous if not handled properly.
Batteries can be a confusing thing to someone just getting into airsoft, as instructions are somewhat limited. The best recommendation is to buy a smart charger and forgo a lot of the confusion and frustration that comes with charging a battery with a standard wall charger. For those who are on a budget and will be using the basic wall charger some guidelines must be followed. Before we discuss the guidelines it is important to not the consequences of not following these guidelines. Not following the guidelines can at very least significantly shorten the life of your battery and at worst can cause combustion. The guidelines are designed as an attempt to prevent overcharging the battery. First and foremost never charge the battery pack unattended, it is important to keep an eye on the battery and to check its temperature from time to time, if it gets to hot disconnect the battery and wait for it to cool. The next equally important part of these guidelines is determining the output of the charger; this will be rated in mAh and located somewhere on the charger, normally it is around 300 to 600 mAh and varies from charger to charger. Once you locate this number you divide the capacity of your battery by the output of the charger. For example if your battery capacity is 1500 mAh and the charger output is 500 mAh you would charge a completely dead battery for 3 hours. Since your battery is unlikely completely discharged you’ll have to estimate some and reduce the charge time. An important side note is that NiMH do not need to be conditioned nor do they suffer from “battery memory” so completely discharging the battery is not required, this is an extremely common myth and more information can be easily found with a little be of searching. While discharging completely might not be required it may be useful in order to insure the battery does not get overcharged. Following these steps should increase the life of your batteries as most battery damage occurs from leaving them on the charger overnight. Properly charged batteries can last you over a year if cared for. In the end the best idea is still to buy a smart charger and save yourself the headaches. Also LiPo’s require a smart charger; failure to use a smart charger could result in a fire, as previously stated LiPo’s are much more volatile.
LiPo Ready is an interesting term that is popping up more and more and needs to be addressed as it can be confusing. First and foremost an interesting fact is that all guns by basic definition are “LiPo Ready”, as in a LiPo battery can be plugged into any gun, assuming the connectors are compatible. In reality all competition level AEG’s can accept a 7.4v LiPo battery with minimal additional stress on the internals of the gun. So in a sense all guns are “LiPo Ready”. The real trick to being LiPo Ready is having quality internal parts that can withstand high rates of fire and having a trigger system that will withstand the higher voltages. True LiPo ready guns have above average internal components and also include a MOSFET trigger. To make an extremely long story short a MOSFET allows higher voltages to be used without burning out the trigger contacts which will happen when running higher voltage LiPos such as an 11.1v. To sum it up for a gun to be higher voltage/current ready the gun should have upgraded internal components as well as a MOSFET trigger system of some sort.
Basic care and maintenance is important with any type of machine whether it be your airsoft gun or your car they both require a certain amount of care and preventive measures to help extend the life. Just like other complex machines your airsoft gun will eventually malfunction and require repair. The following tips are designed to help prolong the life of yours airsoft guns but should not be considered an exhaustive guide nor will it guarantee that your gun will never break.General
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