a beginner’s manual

Playing With Airsoft Guns: A Beginner’s Manual

Written By: Jordan Luper and Chris Smith

Table of Content iii

Table of Content

Table of Content ............................................................................................................................ iii

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... v

Chapter 1: Guns .............................................................................................................................. 3

Weapon Classifications ............................................................................................................... 3

Weapon Types ............................................................................................................................ 4

Ammo ......................................................................................................................................... 5

Price Ranges (Ammo and Guns) ................................................................................................. 6

Chapter 2: Gear ............................................................................................................................. 11

Eye Protection ........................................................................................................................... 11

Footwear ................................................................................................................................... 11

Water ......................................................................................................................................... 11

Gloves ....................................................................................................................................... 11

Clothing..................................................................................................................................... 12

Vest ........................................................................................................................................... 12

Holster(s)................................................................................................................................... 12

Chapter 3: Gun Usage ................................................................................................................... 15

Loading ..................................................................................................................................... 15

Shooting .................................................................................................................................... 16

Safety/Legality .......................................................................................................................... 16

Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................ 18

Chapter 4: Games and Etiquette ................................................................................................... 21

Game Types .............................................................................................................................. 21

Park Etiquette ............................................................................................................................ 22

Index ............................................................................................................................................. 23

Glossary ........................................................................................................................................ 25

Introduction v

Introduction

Everyone has a hobby. Some people knit, or collect stamps. Some people, really awesome

people, like to buy guns and shoot each other. Not real guns, of course. A majority of fake-gun

enthusiasts prefer either Paint Ball or Airsoft. Airsoft Guns are electric and gas powered guns ,

usually made of plastic or metal, which use air to propel plastic BB’s. They are easily identified

by the orange ring around the tip of the barrel, but other than that, appear exactly like a real gun

would. They are almost always modeled after the real version of a specific gun, and come in just

as many weights, sizes and classifications as a real gun would. The difference between the two

is, when you shoot an airsoft gun at your buddy, the most damage he’ll take is a very small

bruise or red spot, and when you shoot a real gun at your buddy, you are probably going to go to

jail.

Airsoft guns are typically used for playing gun-games. These games are usually things like tag,

or capture the flag, only geared towards the usage of airsoft guns. Men and Women of any age or

size will get their airsoft guns, and their protective gear, and gather at a park to play these games

against each other.

There are many very important things to take into consideration when starting your journey into

the world of Airsoft Guns. How much money should I spend on an airsoft gun? What type of gun

should I buy? What kind of clothing, or gear, do I need? What does the law say about airsoft

guns? How can I use them safely? In this manual for beginning players, we will answer these

questions and much more. By the time you’re done reading, you will be absolutely prepared for

your new hobby.

For any terminology you don’t understand (though it should be few and far between) please

reference the glossary and index located at the end of the manual.

Chapter 1 3

Chapter 1: Guns

Weapon Classifications

Weapon classifications describe how a weapon works, how fast it shoots, and what it looks like.

Weapon Classifications can vary greatly between fields and regions of the country, but the

accepted standard by the North Texas Airsoft group (NTA) is as follows.

Pistols/Sidearm Class

A Pistol, or Sidearm, is a weapon that resembles a typical (real) pistol. It is fired

with one hand, and is required to shoot at under 350 fps. It has no minimum

engagement distance. Pistols are typically used as a secondary weapon, when

your larger gun is out of ammo, or when you are not allowed to continue using

your larger weapon.

Rifle Class

Rifle Class airsoft guns are rifles that fire below 400 fps. They can be used semi-

automatic indoors, and fully automatic outdoors on most fields. They have a 20ft

minimum engagement distance.

CQB Class

A CQB (Close Quarters Battle) Class gun is a rifle that fires below 300 fps. It can

be used at full auto indoors, and has no minimum engagement distance. Not many

playing fields allow CQB class, because of potential confusion between CQB and

Rifle class due to how similar the weapons are in appearance. Some fields may

host CQB and pistol only matches, but this is rare.

DMR Class

DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) class rifles are rifles that fire below 450 fps.

In order to use these on an airsoft field, you must have full auto permanently

disabled, allowing players to only use semi-automatic shooting. They have a 50ft

minimum engagement distance and are not to be fired indoors unless they are

being fired out of a window.

4 Playing with Airsoft Guns: A Beginner’s Manual

Support Gunner Class

Support Gunner Class weapons are any Airsoft weapons that are considered to be

support weapons by the airsoft field or park you are playing at. They must have

fire at a speed of less than 450 fps, with a minimum of 50ft engagement distance.

Usage of support weapons is not allowed indoors unless they are being fired out

of windows.

Sniper Class

Sniper Class guns are essentially like an actual sniper rifle, and they work about

the same way. The only criteria is that they must look like a sniper rifle, with a

maximum speed of 550 fps.

We recommend the rifle class for a new and inexperienced player. It is the most versatile class

on the field, and is the most budget friendly.

Weapon Types

Airsoft weapon types are defined by the way a weapon works and what powers it. In this manual,

we will describe two different types of airsoft guns, AEG and GBB.

AEG

AEG stands for Automatic Electric Gun, which means that the airsoft weapon is

powered by a battery. Battery sizes are usually 8.6, 9.5, or 11.1 volts. Batteries are

typically rechargeable, and the amount of time they last depends entirely on the

size of the battery.

Pros:

AEG weapons require relatively low maintenance

AEG weapons are very reliable in terms of repair and upkeep

AEG weapons are very consistent in speed and distance of firing.

Cons: AEG weapons are not as realistic as GBB’s (defined below)

GBB

GBB stands for Gas Blow Back, which means that the airsoft weapon is powered

by propane gas.

Pros:

Realism: GBB guns behave very similarly to a real gun. The slide blows

back, just as the real version would, and the sound is more realistic, etc.

GBB is the standard pistol variant. Very few AEG pistols exist on the

market of Airsoft guns.

Chapter 1 5

Cons:

Magazines for GBB guns are more expensive than magazines for AEG

weapons.

The propane you have to use has a foul odor

GBB guns require more maintenance than AEG’s

The ammo capacity is very low because the propane gas only lasts a

certain amount of time.

The power of GBB weapons is effected by temperature. As the gas heats

up, it expands and gains pressure.

Our recommendation to you, as a new player, is to buy yourself an AEG. While learning how to

use airsoft guns, AEG are more reliable and easier to maintain.

Ammo

There are several things to take into account when purchasing ammo for your airsoft gun. In this

section, we will cover various sizes, weights and types of ammo. The kind of plastic BB’s you

should purchase depend entirely on your weapon, your pocketbook, and the standard rules of the

airsoft field or park you intend to play at.

Size

The standard, accepted size of BB’s is 6mm for airsoft guns. For some types of guns,

8mm bb’s are made, but this is relatively rare and should not be expected.

Weight

.12g

This weight should be avoided. It is the lightest, cheapest BB class, but because of

its light weight, it is adversely affected by wind and other elements of the

weather. Most brands of .12g BB’s have imperfections that can damage guns.

.20g

This weight of BB is the standard for most weapons. It is generally well suited for

average AEG’s and GBB weapons up to 350-375 fps in speed. It has very few

imperfections, and is only mildly affected by wind and weather.

.25g-.27g

This weight of ammo is used for weapons between 375 and 450 fps. It’s a little bit

more expensive than .20g weight BB’s but it is also less effected by wind and

other elements of the weather than .20g BB’s.

.30g and above


This is the most expensive ammo class allowed on airsoft fields and parks. It is

exclusively used for DMR and sniper class weapons shooting above 450 fps. It

takes very little effect from wind, and is extremely consistent in quality.

Exotic/Specialty (metal, paintball, glass)

Metal, paintball and glass ammo are not allowed on any airsoft field or park

because they are not safe to fire at humans. These types of ammo could have the

actual effect of a real gun, causing permanent damage to the person they were

fired at.

Bio/Non-Bio

Bio-degradable ammo is made out of materials that will degrade over time, making them

more environmentally friendly than non-bio-degradable ammo. Some airsoft parks and

fields will require that you use bio-degradable BB’s on their fields, so you will have to

check the rules of the park you intend to go to before you arrive. Biodegradable BB’s

generally cost about twice as much as regular non-biodegradable BB’s, though this

depends largely on the brand of the BB’s and the retailer.

Price Ranges (Ammo and Guns)

Price ranges of ammo and guns vary greatly, and some guns and ammo may or may not be worth

that expensive tag. In this section we will cover what is worth spending money on, and what

would be a waste of your time.

Ammo price ranges

The general trend with BB’s is that you get what you pay for. In other words, the more

money you spend on them, the more you’ll get out of your ammo. BB’s are very much a

personal preference, so before you buy a whole lot of one weight or brand, try out several

different combinations of the two in order to find what works best for you. Avoid

Crossman® and Matrix® brand BB’s, as they have a bad reputation of poor quality.

AEG price ranges

Low-Range ($80-$200)

Low range AEG’s make very good starter guns. They aren’t the best, but they’ll

be able to compete in the field fairly well. You’re likely to run into internal

problems in the future, such as part’s breaking, and it’s not a very good long-term

investment. Good brands to purchase are Dboys®, Boyi® and CYMA®.

Mid-Range ($260-$350)

These are decent starter guns as well, with a good blend between reliability,

durability and price. Good brands to purchase are G&G® and Echo1®

Chapter 1 7

High-Range ($275-$600)

These are good guns for experienced players that are looking for an upgrade. For

a beginner, we do not recommend them. The good brands to purchase depend

entirely upon what it is that you want the most out of your gun. KWA® brand is

known for their durable internal parts, and solid metal exterior. However, because

of modifications to the design to improve durability, they are not compatible with

several replacement parts. Like KWA®, Classic Army® brand is known for both

durable internals, and metal externals, however it’s compatible with most

replacement parts. G&P® is really just an overall step-up in quality from G&G®.

Tokyo Marui® brand has a weaker plastic body, and is slightly lower powered

than most other guns in this price range, but makes up for it with superior build

quality and extremely good accuracy and consistency.

Top of the Line ($1000-$1600)

Top of the line brands are primarily used for training purposes in law enforcement

and the armed services. They are very realistic, extremely durable and high

quality. A good brand to buy is Systema®. In order to play with them on the field,

however, you would need to replace their spring because the stock version of a

Systema® gun fires at about 500+ fps, making them illegal on most airsoft fields.

Chapter 2 11

Chapter 2: Gear

Gear is extremely important for Airsoft Gun-Play. It is everything you wear that isn’t a gun.

Without proper gear, you could get injured or very ill. Gear is your safety – It protects all of your

vitals and keeps airsoft from being a very painful experience. Make sure that Gear is the one

thing you don’t save expenses on; it could save your game.

Eye Protection

Eye protection is the single most important piece of gear for airsoft. NTA rules require a

full face mask for players under the age of eighteen.

A full face mask covers your entire face, including

your eyes and mouth. After the age of eighteen, it is

still very highly recommended that you continue to

wear full-facial protection because your teeth have

the potential to be shot out. All eye wear must meet,

or exceed Z87.1-2003 qualifications. All eye wear

must seal to your face, which means that shooting

glasses which do not completely adhere to your face

are not allowed. Fogging can often be an issue,

depending on the weather and how much you sweat.

Because of this, some goggles come with built in fans or vents to increase airflow.

Footwear

It is a good rule of thumb to always wear closed-toe shoes while playing games with

airsoft guns, in order to protect the soft tissues of your feet from debris. Some airsoft

fields will require that you wear boots.

Water

Water is extremely important to carry with you when you are in places that are high in

heat, like Texas. The risk of dehydration and heat stroke is very high. You can either

carry water bottles with you, or purchase something called a camelback. Camelbacks are

water pouches that you wear on your back like a backpack, with a tube running around to

the front that you can drink from.


Gloves

Gloves are not typically required, but they are always a good idea for protecting your

hands against debris and BB impacts. A good set of gloves with thick material across

your knuckles is recommended, just keep in mind that your fingers need to remain

flexible in order to operate your weapons.

Clothing

When selecting your clothing for playing with airsoft guns, keep in mind that you are

being shot at. While plastic BB’s won’t break your skin (typically) or do permanent

damage, they still hurt quite a bit, and will hurt a lot more if your skin is exposed. Try to

cover as much as you can without being uncomfortable in heat. Most airsoft fields

hosting weekend games will have the games set up as green team vs. tan team. Try to

wear distinctly tan or green clothing. Some games will require specific camouflage

patterns, so check the rules before you go.

(Photo copyrighted by: David Bixter,

Featuring Chris Smith)

Vest

Vests are extremely useful for carrying magazines, Speedloaders, BB’s, water and other

gear. While they are not required by any airsoft fields, it is a very good idea to have one.

Holster(s)

If you’re using a pistol along with another gun, you will need a holster to put your pistol

in when it is not in use. If the game you are playing requires the use of a pistol, make sure

that you invest in a good holster before you go.

Chapter 3 15

Chapter 3: Gun Usage

Using your Airsoft gun can be tricky business – All kinds of things could go wrong, and some of

them may not even be your fault. In this section, we will teach you how to load, shoot and fix

your gun, and we will teach you how to do it safely.

Loading

Loading Pistol (GBB)

Step 1: Take

Magazine in your hand.

Step 2: Release propane into

valve on the bottom of the

magazine

Step 3:

Pull back

Spring

In the side

Of the

Magazine Step Five: Tighten

Spring

Step Four: Fill with BB’s

From top hole

Step Six: Put Magazine back into the

Pistol


Loading Rifle (AEG)

5) Put Magazine Back in Gun

Shooting

Shooting Pistol (GBB)

First, when you are ready to use the gun, turn the safety switch at the back off. Second, Position

yourself and aim carefully. Lastly, Place your finger on the trigger and pull it.

1) Open Magazine

Door

2) Pour BB's Inside 3) Close Magazine

Door 4) Tighten Crank at

Magazine Bottom

Chapter 3 17

Shooting Rifle (AEG)

First, Place the stock of the gun firmly against the inside curve of your shoulder. Then, when you

are ready to use the gun, turn the safety switch off. (Located at the back) Aim carefully, place

your finger on the trigger, and pull it.

Safety/Legality

Safety while using airsoft guns is extremely important, which is why we covered so many

aspects of gear and safety equipment in the last chapter. Right now, we’re going to take a brief

look at many safety precautions you should take, and many things you should watch out for.

We’ll also mention a few things regarding the legality of airsoft guns, and how to avoid trouble

with the law.

Laws Regarding Airsoft Guns:

Always play on a legal airsoft field. Brandishing an airsoft gun in public is against the

law because it can be mistaken for a real weapon. This can confuse citizens as well as

law enforcement, so airsoft weapons must remain concealed at all times unless you are at

a legal airsoft field. Always carry your airsoft guns in a gun bag, not visible to the public.

When driving, store airsoft guns and gear in the trunk, out of view of civilians who may

see it and panic.

Safety Precautions

BB’s can easily take out an eye or a tooth if someone not wearing facial protection is

nearby and you are not careful. Always exercise trigger and muzzle discipline. This

means that you should only aim at what you want to shoot, and don’t put a finger on the

trigger unless you intend on shooting it. Although it is rare, airsoft guns (specifically

AEG’s) can malfunction and misfire. Keep the safety switch on whenever you are not

purposefully shooting at something. Always remove magazines and clear the chamber

between rounds or when entering a safe area to reduce the chance of gun breakage or

malfunction.


Troubleshooting

Problem Solution(s)

No response when trigger is pulled

Is the battery charged?

Check the fuse on the battery

Try using a different battery

High-pitched, muffled, whine sound when

trigger is pulled

The gear box is locked up, or an internal

gearbox part has broken. Do not pull the

trigger until the weapon is fixed. Take the

gun either to the manufacturer, a professional

gun repairman, or experienced player to fix.

Grinding sound when the trigger is pulled

Try adjusting the motor placement by twisting

the screw on the bottom of the handgrip. *SEE

PICTURE BELOW*

Gear or piston may be shredded, if first

solution doesn’t work. Take the gun to the

manufacturer, a professional gun repairman, or

experienced player to fix.

Chapter 4 21

Chapter 4: Games and Etiquette

In this final section of the book, we will teach you the most enjoyable part of playing with airsoft

guns – How to play games with them.

Game Types

There are an infinite number of games you can play with airsoft guns, because you can make

them up right as you go along. Keep in mind that while these are the typical game types and

typical game rules, it is up to the discretion of the players and the airsoft field to decide on the

actual parameters of the game; keep your ears and eyes open for different game variations of

what this section teaches you.

*Please note that in this context, “respawn”, or the ability to continue playing as a new “life”

after you have been shot down or “killed”, refers to the number of times a player can be “killed”

or shot down before they are out of the game. When a player “respawns” or comes back to life,

they must walk back to their “spawn” or team base and resume play again from that location in

the field.

Elimination

In the game “Elimination” both teams battle against each other until every member of one

of the teams has been “Eliminated” or shot down per the rules of the playing field. There

is no respawn in elimination, a player only receives one “life”.

VIP

In the game “VIP”, one team defends a person, or “VIP”, as they move throughout the

field completing pre-ordained objectives. The opposing team has to eliminate the “VIP”.

The game ends when either the “VIP” is eliminated, or the “VIP” completes his pre-

ordained objectives. Examples of pre-ordained objectives include capturing an object, or

making it to the other side of the field. Respawn rules on this game vary, but usually it is

a combination of unlimited respawns for all non “VIP” players and medic teams (healing

teams)

Attack/Defend

In the game “Attack/Defend”, you have two teams. One is the “defend” team and one is

the “attack” team. The “defend” team has to defend a specific objective, like a building,

for a specified amount of time. The “attack” team has to eliminate all the “defend”ing

team members and occupy the building, or objective. The game ends when the “attack”

team gains control of the objective, or the time runs out. The “defend” team has no

respawns, the “attack” team has unlimited respawns.

Capture the Flag (CTF)


There are two different versions of capture the flag, or CTF. It depends on the number of

flags present in the game.

1 Flag CTF

An objective, or “Flag”, is placed somewhere near the middle of the field or park.

This objective may be a crate, or a rubber chicken for all it matters. An unlimited

number of teams fight against each other to capture the objective and take it back

to their spawn point, or base. When playing 1 Flag CTF, you receive an unlimited

number of respawns with medic (healing) teams.

2 Flag CTF

An objective, or “Flag”, is placed somewhere near the spawn (base) of each (2)

team. Both teams fight to capture the opposing teams objective and bring it back

to their own spawn (base) without losing their own objective, or “Flag”. When

playing 2 Flag CTF, you receive an unlimited number of respawns with medic

(healing) teams.

Park Etiquette

In order to play with airsoft guns at all of your favorite airsoft parks, you must be very careful to

always exercise player and park etiquette. Offending the other players and the park

referees/owners is not a good way to be invited back again.

Always remember that each field has varying rule-sets, so be sure to check the website of the

field (park) before heading out so that you don’t get turned away. Most fields in North Texas

follow the standard NTA rule set, but there are some exceptions. Some fields may also have

additional rules, such as specific footwear or uniforms. Also be sure to check the cost of entry to

the park, as most good airsoft playing parks are not free to use.

Most fields use zip ties to label guns as chronographed. Chronographed means that they measure

the speed of the gun in feet per second, and label it according to how fast and hard your gun

fires. Do not remove zip ties during the game, or during the day, and do not use weapons that

have not been chronographed as this may result in your ejection from the park without a refund

or re-entry.

Index 23

Index

1 Flag CTF, 20

2 Flag CTF, 20

AEG, 4

Airsoft Guns, v

Ammo, 5

Attack/Defend, 19

Automatic Electric Gun, 4

Bio-degradable ammo, 6

camelback, 11

capture the flag, 20

Chronographed, 20

clothing, 11

CQB Class, 3

CTF, 20

DMR Class, 3

Eye protection, 11

Footwear, 11

games, 19

Gas Blow Back, 4

GBB, 4

Gear, 11

Gloves, 11

green team vs. tan team, 11

holster, 12

Laws, 15

Loading, 15

medic, 20

objectives, 19

park etiquette, 20

Pistol, 3

respawn, 19

Rifle Class, 3

Safety, 15

secondary weapon, 3

Shooting, 15

Sidearm, 3

Sniper Class, 4

spawn, 19

Support Gunner Class, 3

Troubleshooting, 15

Vests, 12

VIP, 19

Water, 11

Weapon classifications, 3

zip tie, 20

Glossary 25

Glossary

Airsoft Field (Airsoft Park) – A park or

field where people go to play with airsoft

guns – typically privately owned, indoors

and outdoors.

Airsoft Guns- Guns made of metal or

plastic that fire plastic BB’s

Ammo- What you shoot out of a gun. In the

context of this manual, it is a plastic BB.

BB’s - Small, round balls made of various

materials and shot out of BB guns and

Airsoft Guns

FPS – Feet Per Second. Refers to the speed

at which an airsoft gun shoots a BB

Full Auto - This is when your gun shoots

fully automatically. You can hold the trigger

and BB’s will not stop coming out until your

magazine is empty.

Gun-Games – Games that you can play

with airsoft guns. See Chapter 4

Magazines – This is a clip-on part to your

gun that holds all of your ammo as it feeds

into the gun. Before beginning a game, fill

extra magazines with ammo for easy reload.

Medic (Healing) Teams – These are teams

who run around during Airsoft games and

are allowed to “pick up” or “bring back to

life” players that have been shot down or

“killed” so that the shot down players can

resume game play.

Minimum Engagement Distance –

Minimum distance a player can be from

their opponent when firing their weapon

North Texas Airsoft group (NTA) – They

write all of the standard rules for playing

with Airsoft guns. Their mission is to make

the game as honorable and safe as possible.

Paint Ball – Paintball is very similar to

airsoft, but instead of shooting plastic BB’s,

you should soft plastic balls full of paint to

tag your enemies.

Pistol – A small hand gun which usually

holes about six to eight shots, sometimes

less. Usually a secondary weapon.

Propane Gas - A byproduct of natural gas

after it has been processed. Typically used to

power gas stoves and grills.

Secondary Weapon – A weapon that you

use when you are not allowed to use your

primary, or larger, weapon. Usually a small

gun, like a pistol.

Semi Auto – This is when your gun shoots

semi-automatically. You can only fire BB’s

in bursts, so holding the trigger will not let

out a blast of ammo all at once.

Sidearm – See Secondary Weapon

Sniper Rifle - A weapon used to shoot, or

“snipe” things from a very long distance.

Usually has a long barrel and a strong scope.

Speedloaders – A device that allows you to

quickly reload your magazines with BB’s

Support Weapons – A support weapon is

any kind weapon that can support advanced

weapons/soldiers in the field. (heavy and

light machine guns, etc.)

a beginner’s manual

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