Hey I've stumbled on a sport that's been around a while but that I never really paid any attention to and that's Airsoft. Basically, it's like paintball but with guns that shoot plastic BB's, including biodegradable BB's. Also the guns are mostly models of real guns and look pretty realistic, for the most part.

Does anyone play? If so, can you give pointers? Advice on best places to buy or play? I live on the west side of Houston, Texas. I've found some info of groups in the area, but the only place I've tried to look up was a store with a website and I could not find the store. I'd rather get my info from people with a known reputation or that aren't trying to sell me something!

I was always intrigued by paintball but it looked expensive from an ammo standpoint and the guns operate on compressed gases. The airsoft guns look more relistic and are electrically operated, though some guns are gas operated if you prefer. Also BB's are much cheaper. If you don't know what Airsoft is there are numerous interesting and informative videos on YouTube.

This Frenchman uses a sniper rig and a home-made ghilla suit. He has a rear facing, muzzle mounted camera, a head mounted camera and a above scope mounted camera zoomed in with crosshairs added post processing. He has a few other sniper videos. Also be sure to check out his glider videos, they are awesome!

No1 Sniper	Small | Large

These blokes in Scotland have a great time and use all sorts of period costume and weapons, including modern dress and weapon styles. The video poster is scoutthedoggie and he has several dozen videos so you can find a lot of action from his videos.

One of scoutthedoggie's videos	Small | Large

This guy made a home-made howitzer that shoots a Nerf projectile with whistles attached. It's pretty awesome just to see it. He has some older videos of smaller and earlier versions that use a brass shell that recoils and ejects the brass, but this larger and newer version has purposely been kept simple, as he states early in the video.

Airsoft howitzer	Small | Large

There is even a Vulcan minigun Airsoft! It's high dollar to buy one and some people make their own.

M134 Vulcan destroying a TV	Small | Large

Video of a man portable minigun during a field event	Small | Large

From my experience the electric ones shoot better, though you can uh...tweak the CO2 ones to increase the power and get some good oomph from those as well.  However, if you do tweak them, the little pellets really freaking hurt. And leave wicked welts way worse than anything I've received playing paintball.  I have no idea where to get them in texas, our paintball store out here actually sells airsoft guns and that's where we got ours, though we buy our pellets at walmart because they're cheaper.

I've seen pump action airsoft rifles put holes in drywall.

Did you not watch the electric minigun video above?

I've read up and know quite a bit about the technology. The AEG systems (automatic electric gun) use a battery to drive a motor, which turns gears which pulls the spring loaded plunger back that, when released, forces air to push the projectile. The ways you upgrade these guns are to increase the battery voltage (increases speed of motor), the motor (to handle the stronger spring), the gears (so they don't strip under the greater stresses or if they are junky ones from the factory), the barrel (for a tighter fitting one that is more accurate), and most importantly the spring which is how you get your greatest increase in projectile speed.

The most reliable and coolest guns shoot about 300-350 FPS and yes they can cause some damage. Seems like a decent gun will run anywhere from $150 to $300 which is part of the reason I'm not jumping in head first.

Safety is a must. Most fields require you use a side-arm at short ranges, and if you get the drop on enemies you can just say "bang" and they are dead for the sake of safety.

As stated, the game relies on calling your hits. Good fields and known groups of players should solve this for the most part. Another reason I'm not in a hurry to spend hundreds of dollars to play with people I don't know! 

This guy uses an M240 airsoft that holds about 4000 rounds. There is a fella they keep talking about that does not call his hits, so that's of interest. Obviously, these support weapons are meant to make the enemy think twice about moving so it's about covering fire and support.

The Echo1 M240 Bravo in an Airsoft War Battlefield at OP: Route 66 - 720P HD	Small | Large

Blint,

Thanks for the info. Too bad you are in Michigan and I am in Texas... 

Oh, and great point about not calling your hits, especially with the auto guns pelting you. I think it's more of a problem when people are sniping (single shot bolt action guns) and the target thinks they can not call it and not get hit again for their trouble.

I played for awhile...now my guns are collecting dust   If you want to learn to disassemble and fix guns I'll hook you up with a real nice M4 and MP5 for cheap

But honestly what you've been told is correct...buy a nice gun, don't go cheap, and you will save money in the long run.  I would highly recommend a metal rifle.  Make sure you get a gun with Hop-Up.  All the nice ones will have it but make sure you do.  This actually puts spin on the BBs kind of like rifling and makes them more accurate and increases the range. 

I would also look into what you want to do and talk to local groups.  Are you more interested in indoor CQB style combat, paintball style capture the flag type games, scenario combat simulation type games?  This is really going to decide the gear you want and have.  Also, it has been my experience that the niche sport has created a pretty cool and helpful group of guys.  Start with making contact with some local groups and talk to players.  If there are groups around often, like many hobbies, the best thing to do is get what they have so they can help you set it up and give you the most info while you learn.  Then get what you want.

I learned that from buying a nice m4 airsoft gun that another guy had and he set it right up easy.  Now I'm working on learning r/c helicopters...did research online and fell for a noob  trap instead of something a guy here has and now I'm stuck with a crappy helicopter that no one likes to learn on.

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