How do they work...

Just pull back the slide which is at the top of the gun for each shot.

With the aid of simple manpower, a piston head within a cylinder moves rearward to draw air into the cylinder and compresses the spring behind the piston. At the end of the piston head’s travel, a hook or "sear" engages the piston and holds it in place with the spring at full compression. When the trigger is pulled, the sear releases the piston, allowing it to travel forward from the energy released by the compressed spring. The air pressure generated inside the cylinder creates a jet of air that propels the BB and sends it on it’s way through the barrel and outward to the target. A simple process as this, earns the simple designation of "Air" or "Spring" gun classification in AirSoft. Sizes and materials of cylinders, pistons, and springs will vary depending on the gun configuration.

Gas Guns

Truly the most effective in AirSoft gun performance runs on a gas driven mechanism. Models utilizing such a compact operation include a large line of automatics, revolvers, and rifles. All are manufactured to a high degree of surface detail and dimension. Sub-categories of gas powered Airsoft include "Non-Blowback" and Blowback" models. Function and realism is experienced much better with the action of "Blowback" gas guns that are not only more powerful, but heavier in weight. However the Non-Blowback is a great entry in the gas guns because of less moving parts and less to break down.

Low-temperature carbon dioxide (CO2), Freon, and "green gas" are the most popular of gases used. The gas is either injected into a reservoir chamber within the gun or magazine or attached to an exterior assembly containing the gas canister and an expansion tank. Activated by the trigger, gas is released at a valve atop the reservoir or from the expansion tank, depending on the design. The small amount of cold gas reacts with the warmer atmosphere, expands instantly, and is channeled through a directed nozzle at the BB. The resulting pressure launches the BB out of the barrel toward its intended target. The label "Gas Gun" will be used to address any gun with this type of design mechanism in the AirSoft category.

The latest AirSoft gas operation incorporates the "Blowback" effect; a simulation of the slide action in actual gun firing. Essentially, the Blowback effect is created by directing the gas to an interior chamber within the slide of the AirSoft gun, causing it to move rearwards from the expanding gas, hence the "Blowback" action. The slide compresses a metal spring, which forces it to move forward as the gas escapes. In its movement, a BB is collected from the magazine and placed into the barrel, and readies the gun for the next trigger pull. Being a highly modified Gas Gun, this class of AirSoft gun will be identified as a "Gas Blowback" AirSoft Gun. All gas guns that do not incorporate this type of gas actuated slide mechanism will be labeled simply "Gas Gun" or "Gas Non-Blowback" AirSoft Gun.

To load gas hold both Green gas canister and AirSoft gas magazine upside down, insert canister nozzle into the gas charging port on the bottom plate of the gas magazine. Make sure valves match and is aligned. Press down on the gas canister in 3 short jabbing motions. This should adequately charge the gas reservoir inside the magazine. Each charge should be good for 2 - 3 fills of BB’s. Pressurized gas is cold, keep hands away from the immediate surrounding of the gas port when charging. Do not continuously recharge the magazine when it gets too cold. Rotate magazines or let the magazine warm up before recharge. Leak could occur if seals are frozen or cracked.

Before firing:

1. Chamber the first round of BB by pulling the slide back.

2. Pull the trigger to shoot, "Blowback" action will cycle the slide back and load the next round.

3. Slide will lock open when all rounds are fired.

Electric Rifles

The highest popularity with AirSoft variant guns are termed "Air Electric" guns. The electric powered mechanisms are usually encased in a large gun with a high capacity magazine along the scale of a submachine gun or rifle configuration. Most are finely detailed while some are equipped with functional accessories and components. Other unique selections in this category are the science fiction guns from popular movies and the cute, compressed "Mini AirSoft" guns, which are basically stubby and exaggerated copies of actual rifles and submachine guns. The Mini's are a great start for getting into Airsoft.