Airsoft first originated in Japan where it was a way for people to collect replica guns, because the gun laws in Japan are strict.

Airsoft guns are exact replica's of real weapons, made of plastic with metal parts.

Some people may be unaware of what 'Airsoft' actually is, or even of its existence.

The following are some of the most commonly asked questions, and the answers:

What do Airsoft guns fire?

The guns fire 6mm plastic biodegradeable pellets (BB's) over a range of approximately 60 yards. Airsoft guns are designed to, and will only fire 6mm plastic BB ammunition. The BB's come in different weights for different accuracy and range. Only high grade BB's should be used.

How powerful is an Airsoft gun?

Airsoft guns vary in power, but the maximum laid down by the Home Office is 328 fps (feet per second) muzzle velocity.

What can I do with my Airsoft gun?

Airsoft guns can simply be collected, purely for their realism, or for use within your own home (such as target practice). Their best use however is to join an Airsoft community, such as Ultimate Wargames, where you can use it in realistic combat scenario's.

Does it hurt when I get hit?

Although the pellets may make small marks, and sting, they are completely safe when the correct protective clothing and face mask is used. Paintball hurts far more!

How do the weapons work?

The weapons are powered either by battery, or gas. Batteries last quite a long time, depending on their size, and can be recharged quickly. Gas weapons are recharged from canisters.

Are Airsoft guns dangerous?

No, not if used responsibly and if the correct safety procedures are carried out. The correct clothing must be worn, particularly goggles, or in the case of children under 16, full face protection.

Do I have to have any knowledge of weapons?

No. Find your local Airsoft site book a hire for the day and they will give you training on how to work, load and look after your rifle.

Methods of play

Skirmish

"Skirmishing" is the most common form of play. This form of play involves players that are some what dedicated to the sport, while still not as "hard core" as Milsim players. Players may use methods and equipment that may differ from a realistic battle (Hi-cap mags for example).

Most players in this group dress in the own BDUs and have guns ranging for £70 to £1000 in price. These battles can take place any where from an abandoned building, an area of woods, to a farm.

CQB

CQB, an acronym meaning Close Quarters Battle, or CQC, Close Quarters Combat, is a popular way of playing airsoft. The basic idea is for people to play in an enclosed arena at close quarters, resulting in fast action combat or multiple surprises.

Often the arena may be set up as if it were in an urban war zone or in terrain filled with enclosing walls, gates, doorways, stair ways, tunnels, apertures, overhead openings, or below-ground approaches that enable one player to shoot at another from a distance of a certain amount of feet.

CQB can also take place in night games or in dense vegetation such as tall grass, shrubbery, and closely packed trees. In these types of combat, the FPS (Feet per second) of the guns may have to be lower due to the closeness of the combat.

Simulated grenades and booby traps are effective due to teams sticking together in such a small area. Players in CQB scenarios may wear additional vests or protective clothing to avoid injury from close-in hits or ricochets. Some venues similarly restrict equipment to less powerful airsoft guns.

MilSim

An/MILSIM player operating in a sniper role and wearing a realistic gillie suit as camouflage.

MilSim, short for Military Simulation, generally combines airsoft play with some military live-action role-playing elements. Several goals or missions are assigned to each team, along with a basic load-out of ammunition (6 millimeter pellets), rations, batteries, and other suitable equipment, such as short-range radios and head-sets. Sometimes such airsoft equipment is provided whilst other times players may bring them at their own discretion.

The teams will remain in the field for the duration of play, only returning to a staging area or "safe zone" for medical emergencies, or other such circumstances. Military simulation games often last several days, for example the large BERGET event in Sweden lasts 6 days in a row, with no breaks.

In larger scale MilSim operations players may utilize vehicles such as painted vans and trucks. In some cases, such as Operation Irene, real APCs and tanks will be used.