Airsoft

Steezie · Nov 23, 2006

I play airsoft recreationally, its a fun thing to do on a free Saturday or for maybe an hour or two a week.

For those of you who dont know, airsoft is a sport/hobby where people use plastic (Sometimes metal) guns that fire plastic pellets. The pellets are propelled using an electric motor powered by a battery, gas supplied from a small tank attached to the gun (Not as large as in paintball), or a spring mechanism.

I decided to skip work today (This IS going somewhere) and hang out with a couple of friends and have a little airsoft match out in the mountains. I have a long range sniper rifle so its my kind of teritory. We had a good time and as we were packing up, a couple walked out of the canyon a bit over from us. They saw us with our guns and got a little spooked but when they saw they werent real they calmed down.

The woman came up to us and said "You should play with those, its bad to do that." Her husband didnt speak but you could tell he agreed.

This isnt the first time I've been told this. Ive heard the argument that it teaches people how to be violent or fosters a violent mindset. Ive heard that training with airsoft guns can help some people with real weapon skills and make them dangerous (Which is BLATANTLY false). And my favorite, that airsoft guns can be modified to fire live ammunition. These reasons are bogus in my view but im curious as to the view of others on airsoft.

So my question is this. Do you think airsoft is bad or negative if done correctly and safely?

katautumn · Nov 23, 2006

I steal my little brother's pellet gun all the time. We have target competitions just about every weekend. I honestly do not believe Airsoft guns are immoral or promote violence, anymore than paintballing does. So long as it's done in a safe and smart manner in a confined area, what's the big deal?

WingsOfTheNeophyte · Nov 23, 2006

Do you think airsoft is bad or negative if done correctly and safely?

No way

having people vent their primal hunt instincts is only for the better,

Btw, I play paintball, when you get hit, everyone knows, do the pellets in airsoft stain your clothes, or do people just rely on honesty?

Steezie · Nov 23, 2006

You can get mini-paintballs, but they have a tendency to break in your gun so few people use them.

Its tough to ignore an airsoft gun shot, even with layers of clothing on it still hurts. So if you see someone fall back or double over, you have a pretty good indication that that person is hit. Even a shot with a cheapie spring pistol through jeans will leave a good sized welt and cause a fair ammount of pain so its not like you can just ignore getting hit. Especially when you're dealing with dozens of pellets from upgraded guns, you notice.

Sometimes pellets will strike the folds of clothing which will neutralize the shot, a person may not even feel it if that happens.

Airsoft relies heavily on the honor system, cheaters tend to get run out of games regularly.

The Nihilist · Nov 23, 2006

those people were idiots.

Chajara · Nov 23, 2006

Haha, I don't have an airsoft gun but I did just get a Nerf Maverick. My poor boyfriend is going to hate me, I'll be shooting him constantly

I think it's silly for people to think it fosters a violent mindset. If you're violent, you're violent, and not playing with fake guns isn't going to change that I don't think. Same if you're not violent... and I don't think you have to be violent to find it amusing to shoot plastic pellets (or in my case, suction cup darts) at your buddies. People shoot spitwads in school all the time

Browncoat · Nov 24, 2006

My friend has bought a few airsoft guns and we frequently shoot each other with them.

He lives out in the country and we run around for hours, just the two of us trying to find each other.

I believe that playing with airsoft guns, paintball guns, even first person shooter games DO aid in the honing of primal skills. I don't think that it is wrong to do these things though.

If there is anyone on this site that is against violence or even just playing with airsoft guns they should take a look at the Old Testament.

-Browncoat

katautumn · Nov 25, 2006

Steezie said:
Even a shot with a cheapie spring pistol through jeans will leave a good sized welt and cause a fair ammount of pain so its not like you can just ignore getting hit.

HAHAHAHA that reminded me of something that happened recently. I was over at my parents' house one night a couple of months ago and my husband was shooting at a target my brother had set up in the backyard. My bro's Airsoft gun is spring loaded (he's begging my mom to buy him one with a cO2 cartridge). Anyway, he asked my husband, "you think it would hurt if you shot yourself with one of these?" and my husband said, "I dunno. Probably. Let me see." and he shot himself in the bare arm with the barrell against his skin. His didn't flinch, so my little bro shot himself in the leg through his pants and did this little dance around the backyard. Both of those goofballs had blood blisters where they shot themselves.

So, I got really envious of their bravery and I told my little brother I was going to shoot myself with it, just to prove how "tough" (translated: stupid) I am. I was going to shoot myself in the buttcheek, but my mom saw me and took the gun away. My brother thought it was pretty funny.

Eudaimonist · Nov 25, 2006

Steezie said:
So my question is this. Do you think airsoft is bad or negative if done correctly and safely?

I played a game of Splatball once. It was a lot of fun, and perfectly safe. I didn't become more violent as a result, and I see nothing wrong with such games.

eudaimonia,

Mark

Browncoat · Nov 25, 2006

My friends airsoft guns are all spring loaded, and I don't find they hurt.

He has one though, that shoots about 250 feet per second. Now that one gives us welts. One day we were playing and he had the good gun, and I decided to do the "Terminator" walk. I just walked towards him, as he shot me repeatedly. I still had the welts 2 weeks later.

-Browncoat

Mrs.Sidhe · Nov 25, 2006

Steezie said:
I play airsoft recreationally, its a fun thing to do on a free Saturday or for maybe an hour or two a week.

For those of you who dont know, airsoft is a sport/hobby where people use plastic (Sometimes metal) guns that fire plastic pellets. The pellets are propelled using an electric motor powered by a battery, gas supplied from a small tank attached to the gun (Not as large as in paintball), or a spring mechanism.

I decided to skip work today (This IS going somewhere) and hang out with a couple of friends and have a little airsoft match out in the mountains. I have a long range sniper rifle so its my kind of teritory. We had a good time and as we were packing up, a couple walked out of the canyon a bit over from us. They saw us with our guns and got a little spooked but when they saw they werent real they calmed down.

The woman came up to us and said "You should play with those, its bad to do that." Her husband didnt speak but you could tell he agreed.

This isnt the first time I've been told this. Ive heard the argument that it teaches people how to be violent or fosters a violent mindset. Ive heard that training with airsoft guns can help some people with real weapon skills and make them dangerous (Which is BLATANTLY false). And my favorite, that airsoft guns can be modified to fire live ammunition. These reasons are bogus in my view but im curious as to the view of others on airsoft.

So my question is this. Do you think airsoft is bad or negative if done correctly and safely?

I don't think airsoft is bad or negative at all. Why don't people mind their own business?! I've never played airsoft before but I used to have a pellet gun and I'd play around with foam/bendy plastic swords and things a couple of years ago and it never made me want to go slice someone's head off..sheesh.

Some people sure can be idiots.

joey444 · Nov 26, 2006

I have an airsoft gun and some wind chimes that I mess around with whenever I get bored, and even with the elite training it's given me and hours upon hours of playing Wolfenstein, I have yet to go on a rampage and kill everyone in my school.

The Lone Gunmen · Nov 26, 2006

I have enough real ordinance to stage a coup d'etat in a small third world country, so far be it from me to criticize you for playing with fake weapons.

It seems like it would be a good way to get out and relieve some stress too.

Also, the Airsoft MP-5's look wicked.

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