About airsoft
Airsoft
Do you enjoy the backyard airgun shooting? Airsoft can elevate this onto a whole another level. Do you enjoy playing action videogames? Airsoft can bring that experience into the real world. Are you passionate about history and always wanted to get those fancy uniforms? In airsoft reenactment you can put them to good use on the field of battle. Have you ever wanted to feel the thrill and euphoria of a sport shooting match? In airsoft you can represent your country at the world championship. Need to safely practice CQB and gun manipulation? Airsoft has got your back. Are you a fan of guns and would you like to collect them? There is no easier way than getting into airsoft then!
Airsoft is simply a fun for everyone. If you would like to start playing too, all you need is an airsoft gun, BBs and a pair of protective goggles.
A brief history of airsoft
The history of airsoft begins in the 1960s Japan, which is historically a country with very strict gun legislation. To supply the kids’ and collectors’ demand, first (not too realistic and non-shooting) replicas are being made, although these rather resemble toys more than anything else. However these serve as a stepping stone and so later on in the mid-1970s first primitive shooting gun replicas emerge using plastic projectiles based on the ones used in airguns. In the early 1980s manufacturers slowly move on to the current 6mm BB standard and replicas also begin to look more alike to their real-steel counterparts. The first manual airsoft guns are soon accompanied by the ones using pressurized gas. In the early 1990s the first AEGs are being made and airsoft quickly expands to the rest of the world. China takes notice and its companies begin their own cheaper production in the early 2000s making airsoft more affordable. In this day and age however it is not China nor Japan, but Taiwan who is the global superpower in terms of airsoft guns manufacturing.
Airsoft in the Czech Republic sees the light of day in the 1990s when first guns are being imported here from Asia. The poor supply and availability of guns and accessories back then are the reason behind the establishment of the Bohemia Air Soft company in 1996, whom since then grew into the largest distributor of airsoft products in the Czech Republic. Nowadays the airsoft community in the Czech Republic has over 10 000 enthusiasts and supporters and belongs among the most active ones in the world. That is why also a lot of the best and largest European airsoft events happen here with lots of international players participating.
The law and airsoft
Airsoft guns are gas-operated firearms using the expansion of a pressurized gas/air to shoot plastic BBs. Kinetic energy of a BB at the barrel muzzle usually reaches up to 2.5 J, which hand in hand with BB’s very low weight makes airsoft guns relatively safe. Still, it is essential to manipulate with them responsibly and with caution.
In the Czech Republic airsoft guns cal. 6mm BB are classified as cat. D firearms according to the Czech gun legislation (no. 119/2002 Sb.). They are available for purchase to persons 18 years old and above competent to perform legal acts, they do not have to be registered and you do not need to obtain a gun license in order to own them. Minors can use them only under the supervision of an adult (the same like when shooting an airgun). All cat. D firearms are forbidden to open carry and to shoot them wherever it could cause harm to any person or animal or damage property.
Also when you are travelling abroad with them be aware that the gun legislation is different in virtually every country (even within the EU). Often you have to use the orange tip or other “demilitarizing” modifications as well as limiting the gun’s power or disabling the select fire option.
The airsoft guns family tree
Airsoft guns are categorized based on their operating mechanism as manual, AEG or Gas-operated.
Manual airsoft guns are the simplest and cheapest type of airsoft guns. Due to their simple design and low cost they are the easiest way for someone to learn about airsoft or for occasional target practice. The downside is that as well as with airguns you also need to reload them after each shot. Each round gets its energy from the air compression within the cylinder that is caused by the piston and spring operation. Manual airsoft guns include replicas of pistols, revolvers and long guns. Some advanced airsoft guns still use the manual design, such as bolt action sniper rifles or shotguns.
Gas-operated guns are further divided into two groups – the ones with moving slide/bolt (blowback), which offer you more realism, and the ones with a fixed slide/bolt. Their advantage is that based on their design they can automatically load another round into the chamber providing you with semi or even full auto firing modes. Gas-operated guns include replicas of pistols, revolvers and long guns. Their downside is relatively shorter life of the mechanism due to much higher stress. Each round gets its energy from the gas expansion. Two of the most commonly used gases are greengas (filled manually into each magazine) and CO2 in cartridges. Many upgrade parts are available on the market for everyone to tune up their guns. There is also a separate category of gas-operated guns and those are the HPA guns that have a fixed connection with an air tank filled with pressurized air. However many events do not allow players to use them.
AEGs (Automatic Electric Gun) as the name suggests are airsoft guns powered by the electricity and as such they are probably the most commonly used and the most universal type of airsoft guns today with plenty of models on the market. Each round gets its energy from the air compression caused by the piston and spring operation; however this time the piston is operated by an electric motor and a set of gears. As they offer semi and full auto fire modes, increased longevity and easy maintenance, AEGs include replicas of SMGs, long rifles and machine guns. Some pistol replicas also use this mechanism (AEPs), however this use is very limited due to the mechanism’s required measurements and the small inside space pistols usually offer. You can find an abundance of aftermarket parts for AEGs and some models also offer blowback or even realistic recoil imitations. AEGs are powered by Ni-Cd, Ni-MH or Li-Pol batteries.
Grenade launchers form a separate group of airsoft guns as they are mostly gas-operated, however the mechanism’s function is somewhat similar to real-steel shotguns as they fire multiple BBs (buckshot) within one shot. The 40mm grenade does not leave the barrel and serves as a magazine for BBs and a gas cartridge.
Hop-up system
Airsoft guns use smooth-bore barrels inside which the BB “freefloats”. Most of their models today come with a built-in hop-up system. It is a specific mechanism made to help stabilize the BB and increase its range by utilizing aerodynamic principles of uneven airflow around the flying BB. Basically it is a pressure rubber that by obstructing the way of (and therefore effectively slowing down) the upper portion of the BB allows it to backspin. This backspin rotation channels more airflow underneath the BB (similar to airplane wings) and subsequently flattening the ballistic curve and increasing the range. In case of adjustable hop-up you are allowed to adjust it based on the environment you are currently in and the weight of BBs you use. Fixed hop-up system can be adjusted by using BBs of different weight.
Airsoft BBs
Airsoft guns use plastic projectiles of a spherical shape called BBs, their standard caliber being 6mm BB. 8mm BB caliber exists as well, although it is used very rarely. Weight of a standard 6mm BB ranges from 0.12g to 0.50g and its usage depends on the power of the gun – the more powerful the gun is, the higher the weight should be. BBs below 0.20g are usually used in less powerful manual guns. BBs between 0.20g and 0.30g are mostly being used in basic to mid-upgraded AEGs and gas-operated guns and BBs 0.30g and above are being used in strong upgraded AEGs and sniper rifles.
To achieve the highest quality it is essential that BBs weight is evenly distributed and also precise measurements of the sphere, exact match of both halves and absolutely no debris. By using questionable quality BBs the barrel could get clogged and the gun itself get damaged, it is also not advised to used BBs that were used before for the same reason as they can deform when being shot or when they reach their target.
BBs are usually made from plastic or biodegradable materials. BIO BBs decompose in the nature by being exposed to sunlight, humidity and microorganisms in the soil. Based on the environment the decomposition might take 1 to 5 years. Heavier BBs (over 0.28g) and BIO BBs are very sensitive to humidity; therefore they should be spent within a month from opening.
A specific type of BBs is tracer BBs coated in phosphorus. These should be used in combination with a tracer unit (usually built within a suppressor) to imitate real-steel military tracer rounds.
Realistic airguns
You can also find realistic airguns on our e-shop. These are gas-operated guns powered by 12g CO2 cartridges shooting 4.5mm steel pellets or 4.5mm lead airgun pellets. As well as airsoft guns, airguns belong into cat. D firearms as per Czech gun laws. Although usually derived from airsoft guns, they are more powerful, therefore they are only meant for a target practice. It is also essential to use only the ammunition meant for a specific airgun as steel pellets and lead airgun pellets are not interchangeable and swapping them would clog the barrel.
RAM guns
RAM (Real Action Maker) guns are derived from paintball rifles with focus on authenticity and training use. They are powered by pressurized CO2 from tanks or single-use 12g cartridges. Color-marking or rubber projectiles of caliber .43 are being used as ammunition, sometimes caliber .68 is used as well (paintball projectiles are caliber .68).
