Mar 26, 2021

What is a Softgun

What is Softgun?

The ultimate Softgun guide 101!

What are Softgun, BB Gun and Airsoft? A beloved child has many names! In this guide, you'll find everything you might be wondering about! Here is a short introduction to what Softgun is, as well as the rules and terminology.

What is Softgun/Airsoft?

Airsoft/Softgun – A type of gun that shoots 6 mm plastic pellets (BBs). Also referred to as softgun pistols. Most airsoft weapons are designed to resemble real firearms 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 to purchase an airsoft gun. If anyone under 18 wants to use an airsoft replica, this must be done under the supervision of someone over 18. The weapon may only be used in a suitable area and must not be carried in public under any circumstances.

Important Terms

Want to become a true airsoft expert? We recommend learning these terms:

AEG – Auto Electric Gun or Automatic Electric Weapon.

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

Blowback – A feature on many softgun pistols (and some rifles) that makes the slide move back when a shot is fired. This adds realism, giving you a “kick” that feels like you’re shooting a real firearm.

GBB/GNB – Most often used for pistols. GBB stands for Gas Blowback, while GNB stands for Gas No Blowback.

High Capacity (Hi-Cap) Magazine – A type of magazine for airsoft guns that holds 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 fire many shots using just one magazine. The downside is that you have to wind the wheel on the magazine every 30–70 shots. “Flash” magazines have a cord that you pull to spin up the magazine, making them a more time-efficient version of Hi-Cap.

CQB – Stands for “Close Quarters Battle” and refers to a type of game played at very short distances. In airsoft, this term refers to airsoft guns intended for airsoft games in confined spaces. These guns usually have a high rate of fire and are shorter to give you better maneuverability. Most CQB games have a muzzle velocity limit of around 350 FPS with a 0.20g BB, so if you’re planning to play CQB, this is an important factor to keep in mind.

Gearbox – The sequence of gears connected to the motor of an electric airsoft gun. They take the motor’s rotational energy and transfer it to the spring mechanism that fires the BBs.This is an integral part of every AEG: the higher the quality of the gearbox, the higher the quality and price of the rifle.

Hop-Up – A feature found in most airsoft weapons that allows the user to adjust the backspin on the BB as it leaves the barrel. The spin helps the BBs fly straighter and farther. In other words, you can affect the 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 BB 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 BB has when it exits the barrel. To keep things simple, FPS is usually measured using a 0.20g BB. This makes it easier to compare FPS across different types of guns. Heavier BBs will lower the FPS, but usually increase accuracy.

MPS – Same as FPS, but stated in “meters per second”

Pump-Action – Refers to an airsoft gun that looks like a shotgun, where the handle is pumped back and forth to load the spring and get the gun ready to fire. The gun must be pumped before each shot.

R.I.S. – Rail Integration System. Airsoft rifles with R.I.S have a system of rails mounted on the front of the rifle. These rails allow you to attach a wide range of different accessories. These accessories include products such as scopes, lasers, grenade launchers, red dot sights and much more. It is normally 21 mm, and any accessory with a 21 mm mount can be attached.

MLok, Keymod, 21 mm Rail – Mounts on weapons are standard, and these usually come in the form of a 21 mm rail (mounting rail), but sometimes MLok and Keymod are also available. With these mounting options, you can attach various equipment such as lights, lasers, optics, grips and much more to your weapon.

What ammunition does an airsoft gun use?

Airsoft gun ammunition consists of 6 mm BB pellets. These are perfectly round pellets that come in several weight classes. Heavier BBs are often used for more powerful rifles. BIO pellets are BBs made from environmentally friendly and naturally biodegradable material. In the Norwegian climate, it can take several years for the pellets to fully break down, but they are not harmful to the environment. Tracer pellets are glow-in-the-dark BBs. Often used together with a tracer suppressor.

Airsoft Accessories - Essential and Practical Products

There are lots of airsoft accessories, some more essential and others just for fun. You MUST have these: Make sure you have the right protective equipment. Always wear safety glasses when handling airsoft guns, even outside of "active play". Airsoft mask is recommended, and is required by some clubs and for certain games. You can find masks and goggles here. Paintball masks can also be used for airsoft. They cover the entire face and sides of the head while remaining fog-free.Paintball masks can be found here!