How to Create a Successful Airsoft Team

If you want to start an airsoft team, you need to players, after you have players you need to decide on their roles. The traditional roles are Team Leader, Tactical Officer, Rifleman, Support Gunner, Designated Marksman, Recon, and Sniper. This article is here to help you decide on your teams player roles.

The Team Leader is the captain on the field. He will not only play as another role during the game, but will need to be the uncontested leader. There is only ONE Team leader, however the Tactical Officer is the Team Leader's go to guy. He will also play a standard role during the game, but will be there to assist the Team Leader in making decisions and if need be fill in for an eliminated Team Leader.

Most players on the team will be good old fashioned infantry. The Rifleman is your standard infantry unit. A semi automatic airsoft rifle with good accuracy at a mid distance is a standard in the field. It is also recommended that a Rifleman carry an airsoft pistol for a sidearm. The Support Gunner is the heavy infantry unit on the team. Fully automatic weapon with a high rate of fire and large magazine will be a defining characteristic of this player. The Support Gunner will roam the field or be strategically used to lay down suppressive fire to aid his comrades. The Designated Marksman is the teams most effective non sniper combat threat. This specialized infantry unit shoots from long range, but unlike the sniper the DM is engaged in main combat instead of staying covert. Generally an accurate shooter combined with an effective long range semi auto rifle will create a good DM. Depending on your team's style of play and size you will want 1 to 2.

Recon units main role is to assist the other team members, generally one or two will do. Recon is all about setting traps and gathering enemy intell. Generally you want a fast and agile player in this role. Generally a Recon Role can be supplemented by carrying a pistol and/or a shotgun for close quarters combat and fast action.

The Sniper. One of the most feared tools in an airsoft game. The Sniper should have a high powered and highly accurate airsoft rifle as well as a dependable side arm for close quarters engagements. Camo becomes more essential for this position. The Sniper's key role is to tactfully take out opposing targets based on the recon and instruction of the team leader. As a covert unit, depending on field size, one is all you will need. See our article information on Airsoft Sniper Tactics.

We hope that this will help your team function well. Feel free to comment or email us with questions!

Maintaining an airsoft gun, the right way!

You want to get the most from your gun and you demand the highest performance. Preventative maintenance can ensure that you are getting top performance as well as make sure that your gun lasts the long haul. Mistreatment of your airsoft gun will surely lead it to premature retirement.

The barrel of your airsoft gun is crucial to keep clean at all times. After a day of using your airsoft gun, clean the barrel thoroughly as any sand or dirt can cause severe damage. Spray silicone spray into the barrel and hop-up chamber clean the inside of the barrel using your cleaning tool and the outside with a rag. Make sure to respray the barrel after cleaning. Taking care of your barrel is more than just making sure that it is clean, making sure that you are using quality BB's is just as crucial. Low quality BBs break apart easily and that leads to jams, stripped pistons, and chipped gears. High quality BBs are sold at airsoft specialty retailers and will minimize jamming, improve FPS, and improve firing accuracy. For more information read our article on selecting a quality airsoft BB.

After each game you will want to decompress the spring or gearbox, releasing the pressure from it; this will keep your spring strong. If you have an electric airsoft gun, decompress the gearbox by firing the empty gun several times in semi-automatic mode. Be familiar with your gun as some guns even have a button to decompress the spring. If it is a spring airsoft gun, all you need to do is not re-cock your gun after your last shot. If your gun is already cocked at the end of the game just shoot it once and do not cock it again. For gas or co2 airsoft guns, remove the fuel source and be sure there is no pressure in the airsoft gun by safely discharging it to ensure the pressure has been entirely released.

Make sure to clean your clip or magazine regularly as well. Electric and spring guns utilize a spring to push up the airsoft bb's in their magazines. Keeping the magazine empty when not in use to keep the spring inside the magazine strong and ensure proper functionality for a long time. Gas magazines should be left with pressure in them as to keep the seals intact and prevent them from dry rot (never use the release valve to release gas as it could freeze the o-ring and damage it).

Oddly enough, batteries play a big part in the longevity of your gun. Make sure that if you ever need to replace the battery you select one with the correct voltage to your gun. Using a battery with higher voltage can over work your gearbox and possibly damage it. If you use a battery with a voltage lower than your gun is rated for you will loose performance or it may not even power it. The mAh of a battery dictates how long it will power your gun in one session. The higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last and the higher the rate of fire (rof) will be. When you first charge your battery charge it all the way up and then make sure to drain it completely. Then fully charge it again (make sure not to over charge a battery, a standard wall charger will not stop when the battery if full this leads to damaged battery cells). This will ensure a good battery memory. Another important aspect of having your battery charged correctly is when your rifle battery is low, it's easier for the gearbox to "lock up" which can lead to damaged internal components. To avoid these issues, keep your firearm appropriately charged and stop using the rifle when battery life is low. We carry a large supply of high quality batteries at overtairsoft.com/performance.

If you follow these simple tips your airsoft gun will last longer and will be more reliable. We also recommend that you have your airsoft gun's internal maintenance done every 4 to 6 months by an professional.

Giving the gift of Airsoft!

If you are considering giving airsoft gifts this holiday season, or anytime for that matter, you are in luck. During this holiday season we at Overt Airsoft have put some of our best products on sale! These are some of our best airsoft deals of the year. There is a sale product geared towards just about everyone from airsoft beginners to advanced players. Remember are here to help you decide which package is the right fit, if after reading this article you still don't know what gift is right for your airsoft lover email us at support@overtairsoft.com.

You will need to do a little recon on the gear your airsoft enthusiast already has to see what gift would be right for them. If you still feel a bit confused by all the options, there are always gift certificates available from our trustworthy airsoft website. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to find out what package is right for you:

• What is your budget? You can always go with a gift certificate for your designated amount or find the package that fits your budget. If the packages are outside of your budget, consider looking at our accessories and tactical gear.

• What's the skill level of the airsoft player you are buying for? Beginner or advanced? Generally a cheaper gun will do the job just as well for a beginner.

• What role do they play on the field? Do they consider themselves a sniper or field player? Or maybe they're a field player who is interested in trying out a sniper position? This will dictate the kind of the guns and gear they will use. Airsoft Snipers need a high degree of accuracy, while field players require durability, agility, and a high rate of fire.

• Where do they plan to do most of their playing? Indoors or out? Large or tight spaces? What will be more important... range or maneuverability? Choose an airsoft gift that will compliment that terrain.

• What kind of gear do they currently use if any? With this information you'll be able to identify holes in their selection, replace worn out gear, or find upgrade opportunities for their current airsoft gear.

• Lastly, is there anything they have been hinting at? Do you want to ask them what they want? The element of surprise is always part of the fun, but if your airsoft enthusiast has some gear on their wish list, it's always good to know.

Airsoft has a lot of variety, so it can be a bit overwhelming at first, but with our support team and holiday airsoft gift sale we will help you find what you are looking for at the right price!

Happy Holidays from Overt Airsoft!

Are airsoft guns safe?

Many people are concerned that the realism of airsoft guns makes them dangerous. Parents need to be aware that giving an airsoft gun to irresponsible children can put their child in danger. A question that we often receive here at Overt Airsoft is: "Are airsoft guns dangerous?" Just like any other firearm the real answer is no, but if misused they can be.

Airsoft guns shoot plastic bb's at moderately high speeds. Many AEG airsoft guns are fully automatic. The speed at which airsoft bb's come out of airsoft guns is much slower than the speed that bb's are shot out of a traditional bb gun. This speed allows people to shoot at each other with airsoft guns safely, under certain conditions.

Protective safety goggles are a must. Never shoot an airsoft gun at someone not wearing proper eye protection! The biggest danger of injury you can receive from airsoft guns is getting shot in the eye. Wearing safety goggles are considered by most to be sufficient eye protection, however some players will use a paintball face masks to ensure eye safety and add ear protection. You can see our line of airsoft eye protection here. Other than eye protection airsoft protective gear is more your preference. The average player is able to tolerate a direct hit to the skin from an airsoft gun, but it can still break the skin if the variables are all right. Most players would not recommend wearing anything other than a long sleeve shirt and jeans as much thicker clothing and you would not feel the hit.

Eye protection is not the only way to protect your self. The majority of injuries while playing airsoft come from the terrain. Rocks, trees, old metal or wire, sinkholes, or other natural hazards in the playing field. Before you begin playing clear out any potential safety hazards possible. Otherwise just make sure you are always aware of your surroundings. Walk the field if you are not familiar with it before your game, this will help not only with safety but strategy as well!

Those are just a few rules to keep your airsoft experience safe and enjoyable. Airsoft is not a dangerous sport as long as everyone playing understands safety. For any questions airsoft related feel free to email us at support@overtairsoft.com and we will do our best to assist you in a timely manner.

Check out our post Paintball and Airsoft Safety Tips for more valuable safety information and remember OvertAirsoft.com for all your airsoft needs!

What you need to know about airsoft sniper rifles!

Airsoft sniper rifles are used for precise fire on long range targets. Airsoft snipers take well aimed shots from carefully chosen positions for maximum effectiveness. Airsoft sniper can be hugely important in most airsoft games do to their ability to deliver precise fire on targets at great range. To be truly effective in this role an airsoft sniper rifle must be both powerful and accurate as necessary tool for distance and effectiveness. There are many important factors in deciding on the best airsoft sniper for you. Airsoft sniper rifles come in the standard airsoft styles of AEG, gas, or spring powered. Most airsoft snipers choose to use a spring rifle, but the choice ultimately comes down to user preference, funding, and the situations they use their rifle in.

Most players will use a spring sniper rifles due to their relatively low cost and high power without sacrificing power or accuracy. Spring rifles use manual strength to cock the rifle so they can have a heavier spring. A heavier spring will increase muzzle velocity meaning the sniper has much more power. Stealthiness and the ability to keep their position from being compromised is key to a snipers success and a spring airsoft rifle is also generally much quieter than its AEG or gas counterparts. Spring sniper rifles are however single shot weapon due to the fact that it is manually cocked. This puts a spring rifle at a disadvantage when it comes to the rate of fire. If you have read our article on airsoft sniper tactics we highly recommend that you carry a side arm no matter what type of rifle you use for firefight situations. Most airsoft snipers feel that rate of fire is not a big issue compared to the benefits in cost, power, accuracy, reliability, and stealth.

Electric airsoft rifles (AEG) offer a couple features that cannot be found in other types of airsoft sniper rifles. Electric powered sniper rifles offer an incredibly high rate of fire, an extremely high rate of fire is not often a need for a sniper, but it does allow for some flexibility. For this reason an AEG sniper rifle can sometimes double as an assault rifle if the situation so requires. High-end electric sniper rifles can also offer power and muzzle velocity that rivals their spring and gas powered counterparts, but you will definitely feel the cost.

Gas airsoft sniper rifles can provide an excellent combination of muzzle velocity and rate of fire while remaining within an affordable price range. While most only fire in semiautomatic do not offer a fully automatic fire mode, a gas sniper rifle can reach muzzle velocities exceeding 400 and even 500 feet per second. This gives you a chance to have the best of both worlds without spending excessive amounts. There are issues with noise and functionality with gas airsoft rifles that may not always make them the best choice for everyone.

Accessories can also be important factor in selecting an airsoft sniper. A hop-up system will give your rifle extended range thus improving its effectiveness. Optical accessories such as scopes can greatly increase long range accuracy. Rails and mounts underneath the gun barrel can be used to attach bipods for further stability and comfort while aiming.

Although choosing a quality rifle is important, it doesn't necessarily make or break a sniper. There are many factors that determine the success of an airsoft sniper, the rifle is just one of them. If you're going to purchase online, we always recommend going to a quality supplier. Overt Airsoft will always go to the extreme to make sure you are satisfied.

Selecting the right BB for an airsoft sniper

There are plenty of aspects that come into play in becoming a successful airsoft sniper and using the right ammo for your gun is one of them. Your gun is only as good as the person pulling the trigger, but the ammo you're using better be right for the application!

First things first, finding the heaviest BB your gun can handle without its reducing effective range. BBs generally weigh from .12g to .43g. so how do you know what is best for your gun? It's going to take a little trial

and error usually, but there are a few basic guidelines. First of all, never use a weight below .25g. Most if not all experienced airsoft snipers will say that even this weight is too light, but it is a good place to start. The most common weight for a stock airsoft sniper will be about .27g-.29g. Any heavier than that and you will generally need to upgrade your gun internally with performance airsoft parts.

After weight you also will need to factor in sizing. Keep in mind that shooting the wrong size ammo (even being off by a fraction) in your gun could cause some serious damage! To find the right BB for you first check out the diameter of your inner barrel. A precision barrel usually runs 6.00m

m to 6.04mm. What you need to keep an eye on is selecting a BB that has a smaller diameter than the barrel including a +.02mm variance for a little security. Firing a BB that is too large is going to give you a jam in the barrel which is going to give you a huge issue in the field.

For an airsoft sniper sniper getting high end BBs is going to be important if you want the most out of your gun. High end BBs are shaped to higher standards and polished to a high extent which makes for more consistency and accuracy. Like mentioned above you may have a little trial and error when finding the right ammo for you. Check out some of these quality airsoft BBs to find the one that's right for you! Check out our selection of airsoft snipers too!

Airsoft Sniper Tactics

A sniper is an infantry soldier who specializes in shooting from a concealed position over longer ranges than regular infantry, often with a specially designed or adapted sniper rifle. It requires skill in marksmanship, camouflage and field craft. This article is about adapting sniper techniques to make you the best airsoft sniper you can be!

1. Side arms are very important to any airsoft sniper and do not require a very substantial investment. An airsoft pistol is the perfect side arm when you get into a cornered up situation. You are in a lot of trouble if your position is compromised and you get charged by the enemy with nothing to defend you but your airsoft sniper rifle. While spring is better for a sniper rifle a side arm should be at least semi-auto. One thing to remember is to bring an adequate amount of ammunition for your side arm as well as your rifle (Usually 2-3 magazines depending on magazine capacity, especially if it is semi or fully automatic).

2. Know your rifle. Spend a good amount of time getting to know your gun, and how the shots react to wind, temperature, and different distances (make sure to understand it's maximum accurate distance). Take a while to get to know your gun and make sure to practice to stay comfortable with it.

3. Know that being an airsoft sniper is not as much action as other positions of the field. A common misconception is that airsoft snipers get the most kills, when in reality, they usually get the least. Keep in mind that you might not be racking up the kills, but you can take out important targets (take out high priority targets such as Commanders, VIPs, etc.). Know that observation and sabotage are some of an airsoft snipers main goals in the field.

4. Modify your rifle to fit your needs. There are tons of aftermarket parts for airsoft sniper rifles. The main things a sniper should consider are purchasing quality BBs (More information on selecting the right BB for your airsoft sniper), a tight bore (around 6.01), and usually a new hopup. These will ensure tight compression and maximize distance and accuracy.

5. A good scope can be a snipers best friend. Make sure you get a scope that suits your rifles needs. You don't need a hugely powerful scope for an airsoft sniper. A 3-9x40 scope is plenty of scope another good coice is a 4x32 scope (try to get a scope with adjustable parallax). Bipods are extremely helpful in assisting with accuracy and also they are great for sustaining a stable shooting position for long amounts of time. You should also learn to make rests in the field from branches, sticks and other natural features.

6. Camo is important, without it you will not be able to conceal yourself from enemies and opposing snipers nearly as effectively. A gillie suit is a great form of camo that is textured to help you blend in even further. In making a gillie suit use generic colors, brown, lighter brown, greens, and even some blacks and dark greens and browns. Wearing a light mesh top layer is great in helping you create camo as you can utilize a good variety of the sticks, leaves, and dirt from the field to make a very effective gille adapting your camo to your surroundings.

7. Buy some good ammunition. High polish BBs are important to an airsoft sniper to prevent damage as well as improve accuracy. Higher weight equals higher accuracy and lower FPS, but heavier BB's carry more kinetic energy for longer distances, check out our article on selecting the right BB for an airsoft sniper.

8. If you have the opportunity before the game to check out the field make sure to do so, the more you know about the field the more of an advantage you have. Make mental notes of good sniping positions, good observation points, where trails lead, when you will have open shots, and well covered areas for a retreat.

9. Stay low. Prone is going to be the best position for an airsoft sniper as it conceals most of your body and you blend into the surroundings better as a more natural shape.

10. Always have an escape route. Good cover and an escape route is more important than field of vision. When you find a good field position make sure to have at least two routes of escape.

11. Keep on the move. Staying stagnant will ruin your cover. Take one or two shots and then move on. Even if you don't think your position has been compromised, it may very well have been. Remember that you have a limited amount of shots you can take before you are compromised, make them count. Use surprise as best you can, move about a lot and attack from many different angles not to let them rest easy.

12. Recruit a spotter. Not only can he help you in a firefight, he can also help you spot possible targets. Weigh your options here as tt is easier for one person to move unnoticed than two, but considering your competition and terrain you should be able to make the right choice.

13. Find a way to communicate with your team, especially if you are working with another team of snipers. Whether you run radios or if you create signals based on showing colors find something that works for you. You are part of a team and part of your job as a sniper is recon.

Tuck Stoffers

The Classic Army M15 A4 Automatic Electric Gun (AEG)

What's new with the M15 A4?

The two best things in the world, thats what! Power and Quality.

The a4 is mostly metallic featuring a metallic hop-up chamber (as well as metal loading nozzle) & new hop-up rubber, but a great perk is the plastic parts are made from durable fiber reinforced polymer (nylon & glass fiber) that is much stronger than its predecessor helping prevent cracking and shattering.

Another HUGE benefit is the M15 A4 now comes with a newly designed high-speed gears 6mm oily gear box featuring steel gears and also a reinforced slip ring. The previous M15 had a major strain on the gears, which would lead to a terrible noise and, more times than not a major problem with your AEG. The EG1000 motor is also a nice power compliment on the a4. It also contains a bore-up cylinder, reinforced spring guide and a new yellow piston in the box. With the gearbox screws being compatible with philips heads, it makes it easier to work with the mechbox.

The wiring for this Classic Army M15s is also improved. The loom is now made from a much nicer, fatter, and more flexible wire set. The previous (Classic Army) M15 A4s had an unappealing mess of wires.

What's in the box?

Here's what you get when you order from OvertAirsoft.Com

You get the 300 round high capacity magazine, the cleaning rod, the hop-up adjuster, and your new state of the art M15 A4!

Specs

Here's the data for the nerd inside of all of us.

- Weight: 3.143 kg / 6.9 lbs.

- Barrel Length: 510mm

- Barrel Caliber: 6.08mm

- Magazine Capacity: 300

- Projectile: 6mm BB

- Initial Bullet Speed: 85-95 m/sec or 280.5 - 313.5 fps

- Operation: AEG

The ugly.

You know not the good, not the bad, but...

Range could have been a little better, but still an improvement. The dust cover is only held on by a piece of magnet attached to it. This may be a cosmetic thing but the metal cover that is meant to look like the real bolt is quite shiny and unrealistic. The biggest downfall is the absence of the foregrip removal tool which is needed especially for quick battery changes.

The Good

Gun feels is amazingly durable and has a great rate of fire. Very respectable accuracy for not having a tightbore. Great aftermarket following (internal AND external upgrades available) with plenty of upgrades available, can support up to a 10.8 battery, and even comes with a high capacity mag to top it off. Go ahead check out our aftermarket performance accessories

The basic rundown.

You know, not the long, but the short of it.

This guy is built like a tank and you aren't going to find a better gun for the money. Internally you've got nice space inside the gearbox for upgrading. Externally its not quite as smooth because of minor sizing differences, but you can make it work with some elbow grease and a file. As with all Classic Army guns the M15 A4 is very impressionable

Gas Airsoft Guns

Gas airsoft guns are airsoft guns which are powered by one of two styles. One option is an internal tank using CO2 or green gas, generally in disposable tanks that can shoot 30 to 40 rounds before running out of power, or even within the ammunition casings. Green gas (which consists of a mixture of propane and a polysiloxane lubricant) is probably the most used option. Red gas wich is a high preformance propellant would also fall into this category. Red gas has a higher pressure can cause damage to an airsoft gun that has not ondergone upgrades, but provides a higher muzzle velocity. CO2, nitrogen, and high pressure air are less common because they need to be stored at higher pressures than the standard green gas. The second, and less common, propellant style is using an external CO₂ tank much like a paintball gun. Generally they are higher priced than an AEG airsoft gun but provide a more realistic approach to airsoft with a more approximate weight and having a recoil. Depending on your style of play the recoil can be taken as a disadvantage or a benefit. While gas airsoft guns can be adjusted to have a higher muzzle velocity than an AEG airsoft gun, most players use them at about the same power as a standard AEG airsoft gun. A great feature of gas airsoft guns are they may be fitted with Long Range Barrel or LRB over a traditional hop-up unit. The long range barrel turns the entire barrel into a hop-up system, giving a consistent spin on the BB. The rate of fire on these can be regulated by the amount of air being fed through the system, versus the motor strength of an AEG. Gas airsoft guns tend to be mostly airsoft pistols, there are few rifles or sub machine guns on the market today. This is taken as a negative for this style of gun as most players only use pistols as a back up weapon. In colder weather, spring pistols are more reliable than gas-powered pistols and even the batteries on electric airsoft guns, both of which can be adversely affected by extreme cold.

Check out our store if you are looking for an airsoft gun or an airsoft propellant!

AEG Airsoft Guns

An automatic electric gun (AEG) uses an electric motor powered by a rechargable battery to give you either a fully automatic or semi-automatic operation which gives these guns their name "automatic electric guns" a.k.a. AEGs. The AEG arisoft gun is the most popular type of airsoft gun and is widely available.

AEG airsoft guns are powered by battery just like in a remote control car either nickel cadmium (NiCd) or nickel metal hydride (NiMH). The most common airsoft battery is an 8.4 V. The rule of thumb on airsoft batteries is the higher the mAh, the longer the battery lasts while the higher voltage, the higher the rate of fire. The battery-powered motor turns gears inside the gun to compress and release a piston, creating the blast of air needed to propel the airsoft bb through the gun's barrel. This system allows the gun to generate the power needed to support the fully-automatic features and allows AEG airsoft guns have an amazing rate of fire of between 100 and 3000 rounds per minute.

At OvertAirsoft.com you can find a large selection of AEG airsoft guns including airsoft sniper rifles and airsoft assault rifles. Whatever you are looking for, we have what you need in an AEG airsoft gun.

Spring Airsoft Guns

Spring powered airsoft guns are generally the most cost effective type of airsoft guns. Spring airsoft guns are manually cocked after each shot by pulling back a section of the pump. When you release it it forces air out of the gun, propelling the bb forward. The more heavy duty the spring the harder it is to pull back, but you will aslo get increased muzzle velocity. Spring airsoft guns are single shot mechanisms, meaning you have to do this to fire each shot. Spring airsoft guns are simple and are generally very high quality replicas. This makes them very durable since they have few moving parts. Another advantage is that they do not require batteries or gas as they are powered by you and the release of the spring.

At OvertAirsoft.com you can find a large selection of spring airsoft guns including airsoft sniper rifles and airsoft assault rifles. Whatever you are looking for, we have what you need in a spring airsoft gun.

How To: Airsoft Grenades

Have you ever heard of an airsoft grenade? Here is the information you need on how to make two different styles of airsoft grenades.

Pressure Airsoft Grenade

What you will need:

• One 1 Liter bottle
• 75 to 100 airsoft bb's
• vinegar
• baking soda
• toilet paper
  

Remove the cap from an empty bottle and pour the plastic airsoft bullets till the bullets fill about 1/2-2 inches of the bottom of the bottle (75 to 100 airsoft bb's for a quart sized bottle). Pour vinegar in the bottle till the bottle is a little more than half full. Get about 2 feet of toilet paper our 2-4" cheese cloth and lightly scatter baking soda down half the length. Roll the paper up so that you can slide it into the mouth of the bottle. When you are close to using the airsoft grenade insert the baking soda in the cloth into the bottle then place the cap on and shake it up (

Do not to squeeze the airsoft grenade while shaking it, it will combust if to much pressure is added). As the baking soda and vinigar react to one another they will let off carbon dioxide and put incredible pressure on the bottle. The airsoft grenade is now ready to use. Carefully throw against any hard surface and the bottle will explode scattering the airsoft BBs.

Water Ballon Airsoft Grenade

What you will need:

• 50 to 75 airsoft bb's
• Water balloon
• Speed Loader (optional)
• Water
  

Pour 50 to 75 of the airsoft bb's into an uninflated water balloon. Using a speed loader makes this go by MUCH faster. After you have a fair amount of bb's in the balloon you will want to add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of water to the ballon. Next, you will want to blow air into the balloon until it is about the same size as a large apple and tie it shut. The airsoft grenade is now ready to use, just throw the balloon against a hard object and the airsoft grenade will burst causing the airsoft bb's to scatter.

If you are looking for some great TSD manufactured airsoft grenades check out our store!

Warning: airsoft grenades are not toys and can seriously harm people, take caution while using.

Airsoft vs Paintball

Most airsoft and Paintball games are extremely similar. So similar in fact that it has sparked a rivalry, what is better? Airsoft vs Paintball! Airsoft and Paintball are rapidly growing sports played all across the world and the choice is totally up to you. The biggest controversy is cost, is paintball more expensive than airsoft? With either sport equipment costs will vary greatly depending on how much you like the sport. You can equip yourself from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand. The difference in a $200 gun and a $1000 gun isn't going to usually make a huge difference to a casual or competitive airsoft player, but in high levels of competition with paintball you need the fastest most functional equipment possible to even be able to compete. Paintballs are generally quite expensive in relationship to airsoft bb's. Airsoft bbs costs roughly $20 for a bag of 3000-5000 airsoft bb's depending on the quality compared to $30-50 for the same quantity of paintballs. Generally more paintballs are used per game vs airsoft bbs. In paintball, the volume of paintballs you send downrange is critical, especially at a more competitive level. In airsoft, spray and pray occurs, but usually if a player is spraying bbs, they aren't aiming or hitting their target. You would pay around 5 times as much in ammo alone for paintball than you would in Airsoft. Both Paintball and Airsoft guns use different types of propulsion (electricity, compressed air, or manually cocking the gun). Paintball guns use either Co2 or compressed air, the large canister is generally attached to the back of the gun. Click here for one of our articles to provide you information on paintball propulsion. As for airsoft propulsion there are three main types, first being a spring gun. A spring airsoft gun is manually cocked after each shot by pulling back a section of the pump. When you release it it forces air out of the gun, propelling the bb forward. The second would be an AEG airsoft gun or Automatic Electric Gun, which harnesses electricity to pull the pump back, making fully automatic fire possible. The last type is a gas gun and there are two types of gas that can be used. The most common is a 12-gram Co2 canister, and the other is compressed air in the form of either Green or Red gas. There are pros and cons to all three types of guns, look back later for a more detailed comparison. Again Airsoft wins in price, because those tanks cost to fill. With airsoft guns using spring or electric no gas is used, and with Co2 pistols very little gas is used, for the projectile is much smaller, however you have the added cost of running airsoft guns due to the batteries. Safety gear is generally minimal for both sports because all you need in Airsoft is eye protection, and all you need in paintball is full face protection. About $10-$20 for ether goggles or a mask. You can get additional padding at similar costs for each sport again. Airsoft players generally say airsoft is better because it hurts more and the guns are more realistic as you don't have a huge hopper and air tank sticking off your gun. A huge downfall to airsoft in the eyes of paintball players is that everyone is at their word and don't have a big paint slat to answer to. Speedball players also generally are not big on the milsim attitude of airsoft players or milsim paintball for that matter so the sport is even less appealing to them.

Paintball and Airsoft Safety Tips

•Never assume that a paintball gun or airsoft gun is empty.

•Keep your face mask on at all times when on the playing field.

•When not in play barrel plugs or condoms should be in use at all times on a paintball gun.

•Only wear masks that are made specifically for your sport.

•Never try to take a tank apart to try an repair it. Take it to someone who is qualified to do it.

•Keep guns and tanks out of direct sunlight when not playing.

•Replace your lens as needed. Never play with cracked or broken lens.

•Make sure any tank you use is within it's hydro testing date.

•Paintball guns should always have a velocity under 300 feet per second.

•Never look down the barrel of a paintball or airsoft gun.

•Be careful when unscrewing an air or CO2 tank from a paintball gun.

•Never shoot someone with the barrel directly touching their body.

•Never use a damaged CO2 or air tank.

•Never alter your equipment unless using specifically designed parts.

•Never over fill a tank.

Selecting Paintball Fields

One important factor in playing paintball is well, having a place to play.

 Generally your choices of paintball 

fields include indoor parks, outdoor parks, and

 general outdoor venues like public or 

private land where paintball is allowed. 

Most public land is not a good place for any paintball fields as it is generally illegal, but there are exceptions. 

When selecting paintball fields there are three main factors that you want to take into consideration are: What type of game do you want to play, how many people you have, and what other services do you need? The terrain is an important factor in selecting your paintball fields depending on what type of paintball games you play. Generally speedball is played in more open level areas with more maneuverability and for woods ball the paintball fields of choice are generally wooded areas with plenty of cover and hiding places.  

Commercial paintball fields can really vary in size and generally limit the number of players on the paintball field.  

Indoor parks can vary from your standard room to an entire steel building size wise where as outdoor fields are pretty limitless in most cases and you size the field to the number of players. When you are determining the size of your outdoor paintball fields take into account the number of players and the cover within the playing area. The amount of space and cover needs to be taken into consideration as paintball fields with less cover need to be larger to accommodate for all players.  

Other than size and the games you like to play you need to take into account your players and their needs when selecting your paintball fields. Commercial fields can often stimulate your day with air and CO2 refills and additional paint, not to mention food, equipment, repairs, and restroom facilities. Generally finding your own paintball fields gives you more control of the rules you play by, the choice of your terrain, and your company & atmosphere. 

Paintball Barrels

When selecting your paintball barrel there are two areas that you want to focus on: the threading and the barrel shaft (length, diameter, and porting).

When selecting your barrel you are going to want to start with your threads. Every brand and gun may have its own thread pattern so the first thing you want to ensure is that the barrel that you are looking at matches your paintball gun.

Another Factor to consider is going to be your barrel length. The longer your barrel is the more accurate you gun is. The longer the ball has to travel down the barrel the longer it has to straighten out your shot improving your accuracy, however the further the ball has to travel further down the barrel requiring more air to shoot the ball, in turn making your gun less efficient. In addition to the loss of efficiency to your gun in barrels over 14" the barrel is actually long enough that it starts to slow the ball down before it leaves the barrel, decreasing your range and accuracy! It is also good to factor in the maneuverability of having a shorter barrel over a longer barrel depending on your style of play.

Porting consists of the holes and openings in the sides of a barrel near the tip. Porting is used to dampen the sound of the gun when firing. The openings allow air to gradually leave the barrel instead of all at once through the business end of the barrel. As a rule of thumb, the more porting the quieter the gun, however like with the barrel length to a point. The more porting also requires more air to shoot the ball, so it will also eventually reduce gun effeciency and accuracy.

Paintballs for the average paintball gun are designed to be .68" diameter, however the shape or size can change with temperature and humidity. If a paintball is larger than the barrel, it might break inside the barrel and clog up the barrel and if the paintball is too small for the barrel, air will escape around the paintball when firing causing a drop in speed, accuracy, and efficiency. Different barrels also come in different sizes and having a good paint to barrel match is critical. To check for paint to barrel match put a paintball in the barrel holding it vertically, if it falls right through the paint is too small. If you try and blow the paint out the barrel it should come out with a good blow, if not the paintball is too big.

One of the best options

for solving this problem is to purchase a barrel kit. A barrel kit turns your barrel into a two piece system. The first smaller section creates the barrel diameter and having it interchangable will allow you to have a perfect paint to barrel match most all of the time. The second piece will determine the length and porting of your barrel. There are also barrel kits that have inserts to help you adjust your bore diameter.

When purchasing a barrel or even if you already have one it is important to have the proper barrel accesories as well. Squeegees are used to clean the paintball barrel when paint has broken inside. A squeegee does what it sounds like, it has rubber disc that slides down the inside walls of the barrel wiping it clean.

A battle swab is another way that you can clean your barrel and are generally known for being extremely quick in cleaning. The paintball battle swab usually consists of a rod, jointed in the middle that has a soft wool like material on both ends for cleaning out debris and absorbing the paint in the barrel.

Whichever tool that you prefer it is essential to keep a clean barrel or else you will find your accuracy severely reduced.

Tucker Stoffers

How to play Paintball Games

Elimination & Team Elimination:
Pretty Standard, you tag the opposing player, they are out. You can play team vs. team or every man for himself. Last man or team standing wins.

Ace:
Each player starts with a designated number of paint balls, usually 10-20, if you run out of paint or are tagged you are out.

Capture the Flag:
You have two even teams, each defending a flag. The objective is to get the other teams flag and take it back to your base first.

Cops and Robbers:
You give one team an item they have to defend, like a flag or a hopper, and the other teams goal is to retrieve that item and get it back to the starting point. You give the "robbers" a couple minutes head start and then the "cops" take pursuit. If the robber carrying the item is tagged they must drop the item and they are eliminated. If the robbers hold the item for a certain amount of time take out all of the cops they win.

Black Hawk Down/Storm the Fort:
You will want to stick a highly outnumbered team (at most 4 players) in a very easy to defend area, like a fort or a foundation. Then the other team will aim to take it over. It is a fast exciting game for any number of people.

Checkpoint:
You divide into small teams, generally the smaller the better (two to three players is perfect). Your goal is to obtain an item from each checkpoint before your opposing teams. At each checkpoint you will have one item for each team to take and whoever gets all of the items back to a certain area first wins. Of course you will play with standard elimination rules so if your whole team is eliminated, you loose.

Cat and Mouse/kick the can:
You can play this paintball game two ways. With both versions will have at least one defender of a certain point or object. The difference is the other players either aim to kick an object (like a can) or all reach a certain point or area. Only the defenders have guns and their goal is to eliminate the other players before they all reach the point or before the object is kicked over.

Fortress:
One team starts off with players in a Fortress or building and in the surrounding area. The other teams goal is to eliminate all of the players inside the fort, the players outside don't matter. The defending team must keep at least one player in the fort and eliminate the attackers.

Assassin/Protect the President:
You will have one person who is designated as the target and one who is assigned to take him out. Depending on how many people you have playing you can have another assassin, otherwise everyone else will be bodyguards for the target. The guards must remain in close proximity to the target unless the assassin starts shooting, in which case you can send them out in small numbers (usually either one or two). You can either give the target a destination that they must make it to or just go until the target or assassin(s) have been eliminated.

King of the Hill/Defend the base :
You can play King of the Hill paintball basically however you want, but the most common way that I have seen is to get a certain player or number of players from a team on top of the hill (or any other area predetermined by the teams) that is defended by the other team. It is also pretty common to set a goal to capture a flag from a hill, have both teams trying to get to the hill first, or to hold the hill for a certain amount of time, but this paintball game is very customizable.

Raiders:
Raiders starts with one paintball team in an enclosed area, or an easily distinguishable area with solid defence positions. The other paintball team starts outside of the area and needs to "raid" the area within a certain amount of time and hold the zone for a certain amount of time without it being taken back over. If the raiding team does not take control of the defence position in a certain amount of time, then the team that was originally in control of the area wins the paintball game.

Iron Man/king on the forest:
In this paintball game your goal is simple, see how long you can hold a small designated area. You will is to tag your opponent, before he tags you. Whoever wins stays in the designated zone and the loser leaves and send someone else in. You see how many opponents you can go through before you are eliminated. This in a never ending game, usually played with few people.

Over the Bridge:
This paintball game requires a bridge and a divide or creek to play. Two even teams start on opposite sides of the divide and the goal is to get a player across the bridge. You can also play where one team defends their side of the divide and the other team has to take it out, very similar to King of the Hill or defend the base.

Predator:
One player is the predator they get a certain amount of time to go out and hide. When the given time is up the rest of the players go hunt them down. If the predator tags you, you are now a predator as well and your goal is now to take out the hunters. The predators can either be eliminated by any hunter tagging them, or you can give them an advantage by making it so they have to be hit in a certain place or a given number of times.

Civil war:
You line up two even teams directly across from one another in an open field. Each "soldier" gets 3 paint balls and alternate shooting as a team. The team with most players left after all rounds are shot win. You can also play to a last man standing scenario where you have unlimited paint and you alternate shots moving closer until you can't take the pain any longer.

Tucker Stoffers