Definition: The hobby of collecting realistic, non-lethal, shooting replicas of actual firearms either for display or for the purposes of skirmishing (playing war games) in friendly competition.

History: The sport of Airsoft started in Japan during the early 1980's. It was illegal to own firearms in Japan but there was a significant interest in them, so a company started producing spring-powered replicas of firearms that fired 6mm, plastic BBs. During the latter part of the 1980's the sport migrated to neighboring countries such as Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Airsoft started appearing in North America and Europe during the middle of the 1990's but it is only during the last few years that the sport started thriving in these venues.

The Guns: This is essentially what attracts players into the sport. Airsoft guns are nearly perfect replicas of real firearms but fire 6mm, round, plastic pellets commonly called "BBs" propelled by compressed air.

In most cases, Airsoft guns mimic the looks and functionality of its real-steel counterpart in feel, weight, and functions. Airsoft guns are such close replicas that in many instances parts from "real steel" firearms can be fitted directly onto an Airsoft gun.

There are 3 major types of Airsoft guns: Automatic Electric Guns (AEGs), Gas-Powered, and Spring-Powered.

The most popular of the 3 types is the Automatic Electric Gun. These guns have an internal air piston driven by an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery. This system enables most AEGs to fire at a very realistic fully-automatic Rate-Of-Fire (ROF) of 10-15 rounds-per-second. Most standard (stock power) guns have an effective range of about 25 meters and maximum range of about 50 meters. Modified (upgraded), they can have an effective range of 70-100 meters and maximum range of 100-150 meters. Probably the best AEG manufacturer is Tokyo Marui of Japan; due to their high-quality construction and the immense number of add on products and upgrades available for their guns. Combat Games rental guns are exclusively Tokyo Marui AEGs.

Gas-Powered Airsoft guns are generally semi-automatic and are almost exclusively pistols and smaller submachine guns. The gas is either stored in the butt of revolvers or in the magazine of semi-automatic pistols and submachine guns. On some guns the gas that propels the BB can also be harnessed to blowback (cycle the slide back) after each shot, creating realist recoil. This system gives a hand gun the capability to empty a magazine as fast as you can pull the trigger, and to be easily reloaded by inserting a fresh magazine.

he Spring-Powered Airsoft guns fire one pellet at a time, having to be manually re-cocked for each shot. This system is very cost-effective, and the guns are surprisingly sturdy, but are no match for a fully-automatic AEG.

The Appeal: Airsoft gives people the ability to own a shooting version of their dream gun (although non-lethal) which, due to the law and the cost, they may not otherwise be able to own.

Almost every type of firearm has an Airsoft replica. This includes most leading assault rifles, submachine and machine guns, shot guns, sniper rifles, pistols and revolvers. Even "Hollywood" guns like the RoboCop auto-pistol and the M134 Vulcan (6-barrel gatling gun) made famous by the Predator and Terminator movies are available. The list of Airsoft guns is already huge and is still growing.

The ability to own and play with these "dream guns" is appealing enough for many enthusiasts. Being able to take these guns out to a local skirmish site and "shooting" their best friends with it in friendly competition makes it even better.

Another appeal with Airsoft is the ability to "role-play". There are countless clubs, teams and organizations devoted to the sport of "waging war" (skirmishing) with Airsoft guns. In essence, role-playing allows people to fulfill their fantasies, which (due to circumstances or physical disabilities) they never got the chance to. These people may be bankers, insurance brokers, secretaries, students, computer programmers by profession, but for 1 day a week they can be Green Berets, Snipers, SWAT members, Navy SEALs or whatever else they want to be. This role-playing ability is enhanced by the fact that Airsoft guns are extremely realistic. After all, it's rather difficult to play the part of a Navy SEAL when you're holding a neon, orange-yellow-colored, Super-Soaker water pistol.