Airsoft Guns Approved For Airsoft Games

I get emails daily asking me which airsoft guns are approved for airsoft games and which guns will work best on the field. I typically respond by informing customers that any gun that shoots less than 400 Foot Per Second (FPS) is a great gun for first time airsoft game players. Any airsoft weapon that chronographs at 401 FPS or higher will be designated (Sniper Class) and have extra restrictions and rules attached that must be followed. If your weapon shoots hotter than 550 FPS it will not be allowed to be used.

Can I Bring My Spring Pistol or Shotgun to a Game?

Short answer is YES. Many players have shown up to their first events wielding nothing more than a spring shotgun or pistol. While this is certainly allowed as far as field rules go...It is not recommended for outdoor style airsoft games as others teams and players will have you seriously out gunned with Automatic Electric Guns (AEG) that feature an extremely high Rate Of Fire (ROF). Now for CQB style indoor games a spring shotgun or pistol is the perfect weapon where targets will only present themselves for a brief second. Gas blow back (GBB) airsoft pistols also perform great in close quarter battle and close quarter combat (CQC) style situations.

Which Air soft Gun is Best for Airsoft Games?

I get asked this question often and the answer is always the same: The most crucial element is the gearbox that is inside your airsoft gun. I only recommend Metal Gearbox Guns for field use. You can then upgrade your airsoft weapon to fully suite your needs if necessary. Full metal airsoft guns with full metal gearboxes are now available for under 200 dollars so your best bet is to save up your cash or add it to the Birthday wish list and get a solid gun right from the start. There is also that Santa dude but rumors are he is a phony!
Basically your gun should be determined by the role or character you are playing. Are you a stealthy person who likes to sneak up on opponents positions and take them out slowly without being detected? Then an airsoft sniper load out would suit you best. Do you love extreme physical sports and want to be in every fire fight that breaks out? SAW gunner for you! The main point is the role or character you choose will help you decide the weapon that's right for your style of air soft game play.

Proper maintenance and repair of your airsoft gun will be a required necessity. Learning how to do it yourself is your best option but for full rebuilds and upgrades its always best to find a airsoft gun repair and parts shop. Many airsoft fields now have airsmiths available to service your guns onsite as well.

What type of airsoft gear will I need for games? That question will require another full blog just to begin. Until next time.....

Armsdealer....OUT!

Airsoft Game Props and Objectives

As owners of a popular Wisconsin airsoft store and game field, people ask us all the time..."Don't you get bored just running around and shooting people with plastic projectiles every weekend" I usually answer with a shocking "No.... I love to shoot people" and the props and scenarios we use keep it from becoming just another boring game of cops and robbers.

I know, airsoft guns ARE props, but you also need game objectives to capture, fight over and rescue. Sometimes we use fictional people such as the "Downed Pilot" who is behind enemy lines and must be protected and tactically extracted from some unknown hostile location . Other times it is an object or multiple objects that must be retrieved and brought back to your command center to score points for your airsoft team. The props you use can have a huge effect on the outcome of the game itself. Interactive style props, like a time bomb that must be found and brought back to a specific location within a predetermined allotment of time can have a huge effect on the final outcome of a game. These devices simulate explosions with bells or loud sonic tones. Large objects like ammunition caches or hidden secret weapons that must be recovered, protected and returned to a base reward players with points if they achieve the objective in a timely manner. Items that have to be recovered could include vehicles, Gems, Computer Equipment or even Satellite Dishes. Sometimes we use a single device separated into parts that must each be recovered to assemble a larger device like a big WMD puzzle. Ever try and find a blue Lego block on 40 acres of property?...Now try and search for it while 20 armed airsoft players are "Hunting You" at the same time.

Where do I get these airsoft props? Make them up or build them yourself from things laying around your house and garage, or if you are really creative build them from items like sonic personal alarms, or old military surplus ammo cans., everyone loves a secret agent bomb briefcase. The guys over at the MOA (A WW2 re-enactors group) like to use plywood cutouts of animals like pigs and sheep...If your forces cannot score enough critters during the airsoft game, then your troops are weakened from starvation. Bricks spray painted gold and packed in milk crates make a great Fort Knox style treasure. With little stretch of the imagination you can easily create story lines that are action packed and exciting for airsoft gamers of all ages.

Another great airsoft game tip is to try out different themed scenarios games instead of the same old war re-creationist games. Operation Plague (A zombie style game) and Freefall game ( A Sci-Fi airsoft game) are both very popular at the Airsoft Battle Zone game field and feature very unique airsoft props and objectives for players to exercise their brains with...while hunting human players with airsoft guns...My favorite pastime. Happy Hunting....

AirsoftArmsdealer

Safe Airsoft Games

I get asked many questions on the Airsoft Battle Zone Forums about "Safe Airsoft Games" and how to play and run them. I typically will answer by saying with safety educated players the safe airsoft games just happen. Our Wisconsin airsoft game field has many rules and regulations in place to help keep everyone on the field as safety minded as possible. Airsoft safety netting (as seen in photo) needs to be in place in "Safe Zones" and players must be aware of the rules associated with these areas.

Players on the ABZ field are required to take the magazines out of their airsoft gun and place a barrel condom or barrel blocking device over the airsoft gun muzzle when entering. This coupled with a keep your finger off the trigger rule keeps everyone in the safe zone, SAFE. Inside of these safe zones is the only place you are allowed to remove your goggles during an airsoft game in play.

This concept only works if everyone is aware of the field rules and follows them. Our job as airsoft field owners and event organizers is to communicate to players what we demand of each of them for the safety of all people participating in the game. Making sure all players hear the game briefing, and announcing special scenario game rules that might be in place for the day is top priority...How can new players be expected to follow the rules if we or you do not tell them. Make sure all players are fully aware of field property boundaries, indoor airsoft CQB-CQC rules, eye protection rules and guidelines plus any other special rules that may be enforced for the particular game you are attending.

We use running vehicles in many of our airsoft games and extra attention to detail must be used to prevent accidents or injuries from a fully armed jeep, or our new Bobcat based airsoft tank rolling across the field with 30 to 50 players running around. Only designated drivers and gunners are allowed closer than 10 feet while the vehicles are moving. Referees are on the field during games for all players safety, listen to what they are telling you their word rules! If you do not listen or follow the rules they will eject you from the game and perhaps from the field itself if you continuously violate the rules.

Most airsoft game fields will have protective clothing and eye wear rules as well that must be adhered to. Some fields only allow full sealed face protection while others will allow just safety glasses. At our ABZ field players 18 and over can wear full seal goggles or mesh type goggles that are safety rated or field approved, but under 18 must wear full face protection. This picture of "snake" shows a player safely dressed for an airsoft game. He is wearing a full face mask with eye protection and also has full skin coverage which allows him to enter and play in buildings on the field. We also require the red rag he is carrying which is a signal he has been hit. Displaying the kill rag and yelling "hit", when you have been shot, helps signal other players to stop shooting at you. The helmet is not required, but is nice to stop bb's from bouncing off your melon...which is not dangerous, but does hurt.

Players over the age of 18 are not required to wear the full face protection, but must have ANSI rated, full seal safety goggles. Below B-rik of the Minnesota Airsoft Association, sports some fine safety goggles along with his "Gucci" style kill rag. The gloves are not required but can stop those painful finger shots from hurting so much. The rest of his gear is completely optional and might change from game to game. Other safety tools like a compass or signal whistle, you might consider carrrying on your loadout as well...Just in case you get lost or sprain an ankle in the woods and need them. Water to most people is not considered a safety tool, but at airsoft games it is very important. Most players have a canteen, or bladder bag style backpack so they have water with them at all times. Playing airsoft on a hot July day and running up and down hills and through the woods can dehydrate a player in full load out gear in a hurry. If you are deep in the woods the dehydration can make you become disorientated in a hurry and suddenly you have a serious situation on your hands. I have seen players become dehydrated just as fast during winter games as well, so be sure and drink plenty of water during airsoft games. Some scenario events can run 1 or even 2 full days so snacks like energy bars or granola can be a good thing as well. Most airsoft players are self proclaimed adrenaline junkies and love the heart pounding intense feeling a full assault on an enemy base can create. 30 players in full load out gear charging down a hill with airsoft guns blazing and team commanders yelling orders and assaulting your teams base or position while you try and hold them off is an exciting time for all. Holding them off and pushing them back up the hill with massive airsoft firepower and watching them retreat back into the woods is more fun than any video game I have ever played, and can be completely safe and harmless fun if you just follow the airsoft safety rules.

One last thing I would like to mention is "where you play your airsoft games" this can be a huge safety factor. Secluded private areas are important so you do not have issues with neighbors or hikers. Our Wisconsin airsoft game field is set deep in the woods of Eau Claire County, on private land. Imagine looking out your window one day and on a tree line across the street from your house you see people dressed like the guys in the pictures shown here and sporting very real looking assault rifles and pistols. Your first reaction would probably have you calling 911 in a hurry. If the police are called to an airsoft game, it means they are responding to a call about people with guns and will react accordingly. They do not know they are airsoft guns until they touch them. This is a very dangerous situation and one you must avoid. Only play airsoft games on airsoft fields or private secluded land that is out of site of the general public, To do otherwise could cost you your life, for real! Airsoft is a fun, social and healthy game sport and will continue to grow in popularity if we all do our best to promote Safe Airsoft Games.