What is AIRSOFT? The ultimate AIRSOFT guide 101! What is AIRSOFT, BB Gun, and Airsoft? A beloved child has many names! In this guide, you'll find everything you might be wondering about! Here's a brief introduction to what AIRSOFT is, rules, and concepts. What is AIRSOFT/Airsoft? Airsoft/AIRSOFT – A type of gun that shoots 6mm plastic pellets (BBs). Also referred to as AIRSOFT guns. Most airsoft weapons are made to resemble real guns and are often used for training purposes.Airsoft games are held all over the world and the sport is becoming increasingly popular.

Rules for AIRSOFT in Norway 

In Norway, you must be over 18 years old to purchase AIRSOFT. If someone under 18 is to use the AIRSOFT replica, this must be done under the supervision of someone over 18 years old. The weapon should only be used in suitable areas and should not be carried in public under any circumstances.

Key Concepts

If you want to become a real Airsoft expert, we recommend you learn these terms:

AEG – Auto Electric Gun or Automatic Electric Weapon. 

BBs – 6mm AIRSOFT pellets (BBs) are used as ammunition for airsoft/AIRSOFT weapons. They come in several different qualities distinguished by weight. 0.12 g BBs weigh 0.12 grams per pellet. 0.20g BBs weigh 0.20 grams per pellet and so on.Heavier bullets are usually only used for more powerful weapons.

Blowback  – A feature on many AIRSOFT pistols (and some rifles) that causes the slide to be pushed back when a shot is fired. This is to increase realism by making you feel a “kick” as if you are shooting a real weapon.

GBB/GNB  – Most often used on pistols. GBB stands for Gas with Blowback and GNB stands for Gas No Blowback.High Capacity (Hi Cap) Magazine – A type of magazine for airsoft guns that can hold a large number of BBs. You can turn a small wheel on the bottom of the magazine to force more BBs into the rifle's chamber. This type of magazine allows the user to shoot many shots from just one magazine. The downside is that you have to turn the wheel on the magazine every 30-70 shots. "Flash" magazines have a string you pull to wind up the magazine, this is a more time-efficient variant of Hi-Cap.

CQB – Stands for “Close Quarters Battle” and is a type of game where you play at very short distances. In airsoft, this term refers to airsoft guns that are meant for airsoft games at limited distances. Usually, these guns have a high rate of fire and are shorter to give you better maneuverability. Most CQB games have a limit on the muzzle velocity of around 350 FPS with a 0.20g BB, so if you plan to play CQB, this is an important factor to remember.

Gearbox – The sequence of gears connected to the motor of an electric AIRSOFT.They take the rotational energy from the engine and transfer it to the spring mechanism that shoots out the bullets. This is an integral part of every AEG, the higher the quality of the gearbox, the higher the quality, and the price is on the rifle.

Hop-Up – A feature found  in most airsoft guns that allows the user to adjust the backspin on the bullet as it exits the barrel. The rotation makes the bullets fly straighter and longer. So, you can influence the bullet's trajectory by simply adjusting the Hop-Up. Hop-up can also be "fixed," meaning it is permanently mounted in a certain position and cannot be adjusted.FPS – Stands for "Feet per Second" and is the speed of the bullet when it leaves the barrel. FPS refers to how powerful an airsoft gun is. The higher the FPS a gun has, the more energy the bullet has when it comes out of the barrel. To keep it simple, FPS is usually measured with a 0.20g bullet. This makes it easier to compare FPS with different types of weapons. Heavier bullets will lower the FPS, but usually increase accuracy.MPS – Same as FPS, but now given in "Meters per second" Pump-Action – Refers to a AIRSOFT that looks like a shotgun where the handle is pumped back and forth to load the spring and prepare the weapon to shoot. The weapon must be pumped before each shot. – Rail Integration System.Airsoft rifles with R.I.S have a system of rails mounted on the front of the rifle. These rails allow for the mounting of a variety of accessories. These accessories include products like scopes, lasers, grenade launchers, red dot sights, and much more. They are normally 21mm, and any accessory with a 21mm mount can be attached. 

MLok, Keymod, 21mm Rail – Mounts on weapons are standard, and these usually come in the form of a 21mm rail (mounting rail) but sometimes MLok and Keymod are also available. With these mounting options, you can attach various equipment like lights, laser optics, grips, and much more to the weapon.What ammunition does AIRSOFT use? Ammunition for AIRSOFTs is 6 mm BB pellets. These are perfectly round pellets that come in various weight classes. Heavier BBs are often used for more powerful rifles. BIO pellets are BBs made from eco-friendly and naturally degradable materials. In the Norwegian climate, it may take several years before the pellets are completely decomposed, but they are not harmful to the environment.Tracer bullets are glow-in-the-dark BBs. Often used with a Tracer suppressor.

Accessories for Airsoft - Necessary and practical products

There's a lot of accessories for airsoft, some more necessary and others just for fun. This is a MUST have: Make sure to have the right protective gear, always use safety goggles when handling AIRSOFTs, even outside of "active play".Masks are recommended and for some clubs and games, they are required. You can find masks and goggles here. Paintball masks can be nicely used for airsoft. They cover the entire face and the side of the head while being fog-free.Find paintball masks here!