by Chris Allen

Created on: March 24, 2010

Airsoft is a sport like any other. Must like paintball players dress up in various types of camouflage, goggles or face masks, and other gear and meet up in the woods, the back yard or some private acreage where you have permission to play and simulate combat experiences by shooting at one another. Whether you are an experienced player or new player alike there are a few things you should consider before purchasing a weapon from any seller.

If you play with a local team or non-profit organization then be sure that you know what the fps (feet per-second) limits are on all gun types, be it a sniper rifle, AEG (automatic electric gun), or a pistol. Each gun class will likely have individual fps limits, like say 500 fps for snipers, 400 for an AEG, and about 350-400 for a pistol. The higher your fps the more potentially dangerous the weapon can be at close range which is why some groups have set up engagement limitations for each class so long as it follows the fps guidelines. This is why you need to be up to date with the limits with any group that you plan to play with. If you purchase a gun that is over the limit for its class you will either have to modify it so that it shoots under or at the limit, or you may have to leave it behind in your vehicle.

Secondly you are going to want to consider how it is exactly that you want to play the game. Will you want to snipe, or be more of a frontlines assault rifleman? Whatever it is you decide upon as your style of game play will help you to narrow down the type of weapon that you will want to be purchasing. For a sniper rifle you are likely want to go with something that has range, accuracy, and reliability. An AEG user would want to decide if they want more of looks, weight, reliability, range, and accuracy to their guns. Cheaper guns can be reliable but they may not last as long as those that are more expensive, but the more that you expect out of your weapon the heftier the price it is that you are looking at.

These considerations are not just simple decisions; they will affect how you play the sport, sometimes drastically. Remember these steps when you are looking at buying a new weapon, make sure its going to fit the style of game play that you are wanting to do and most of all, have fun!

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