What is the difference between airsoft guns and real guns

Short range shooting is undoubtedly where Airsoft guns shine. Also, Airsoft guns have a hop up system that puts a bit of a spin on the BB, allowing it to shoot straighter for longer distances. This greatly increases accuracy for long distance shooting. As any Airsoft player will tell you, sometimes it can take a bit of time to get your hop up tuned just right, but once you get it locked in you'll be good to go.

The price of an Airsoft gun vs. BB guns are the same. The ammo goes about the same between Airsoft guns and BB guns, though steel BBs tend to be a bit on the cheaper side, but only by a small amount.

Due to the differences between the two, Airsoft guns and BB guns may excel or suffer in different environments. For example, you can use an Airsoft gun up close and personal on an individual and not worry too much about injury if you're practicing the proper safety procedures.

Even if the ammunition ricochets, you should be fine. However, using a BB gun up close and personal can be potentially dangerous because ricocheting ammunition can lead to great personal injury. With that being said, be careful of your backstop when using a BB gun.

Your backstop needs to be capable of stopping a steel or lead BB. No matter what type of gun you're using, always wear eye protection. If you're shot in the eye with a BB, you're going to have a very bad day.

Airsoft guns will almost always be the better choice for indoor shooting due to their effectiveness at close range. Airsoft should also be considered for backyard shooting if you don't have a decent backstop, such as your neighbor's house. Children should always be supervised around BB guns and Airsoft guns, as they can both cause injury.

With that being said you should never shoot a BB gun at another human being. If you're looking to go to war with your friends, Airsoft guns that fire plastic BBs should be your go-to choice. Otherwise, prepare to take your friend, or yourself for that matter, to the hospital. Even though they are safer than BB guns you must always make sure that the other participants are aware of the game and are wearing proper safety equipment. Under federal law, airsoft guns and BB guns are not classified as firearms and are legal for all ages, so a person of any age may use one and with the permission of their parents, for anyone under However, in some major cities, the definition of a firearm within their respective ordinances includes spring powered or compressed air weapons, making airsoft subject to applicable laws.

For example, in California airsoft and BB guns can be bought only by a person above the age of However, no laws indicate an age requirement to sell airsoft guns.

Generally speaking, toys and imitation firearms must have an orange tip during shipping and transportation. This was used for hunting deer. Normally a male deer, antelope, and many other game animals are called a buck. So the name buckshot came to be for this type of shotgun pellet. Smaller sized pellets were normally used to shoot down small and medium-sized birds so it was called birdshot. Birdshot is called number 9 shot or BB shot.

The term BB actually came from birdshot. In Clarence Hamilton developed a complete metal spring-piston air gun which could shot led projectiles. The gun then was shown to a businessman named Lewis Cass Hough.

From then the weapon was destined to be mass-produced and sold. Due to successful marketing, it became a very popular household name and in the company name was changed into Daisy Manufacturing Company.

Around Daisy Manufacturing Company changed its bore diameter to 0. After that, they began to produce and sell led shots specifically for their BB guns. The term BB became very common and general for the public. Currently, it refers to any small round projectiles of different materials and calibers. This includes small marbles, 0. There are a few reasons for that. One is that BB guns are there in the market for much longer. And airsoft guns were made using more or less the same mechanical concept of BB guns.

Because of the similarities between those two different projectile shooters, many people started calling them both with the same name and the confusion is still present today. Despite being made for completely different purposes, airsoft and BB guns have some common features which made it confusing for us to differentiate between them.

Both of them shoot round balls of projectiles instead of bullets. This is actually the main reason people mix up these two different weapons. This is the most apparent difference that easily sets the two weapons apart. Also, airsoft guns shoot 6 mm or 8 mm diameter plastic BBs and the weight usually ranges from 0. On the other hand, BB gun usually shoots 0.

But some of them even have a weight range of 0. Another apparent difference between airsoft guns and BB guns is their originality.

Airsoft guns are all about how they look and feel. The manufacturers make sure it has the same details like an original gun. On the other hand, BB guns are not manufactured for a realistic look.

They still can look a lot like the original firearm but not as in the same level as an airsoft gun. BB guns better in performance compared to airsoft guns rather than looks. Because airsoft guns plastic BBs are larger but lighter compared to metallic BBs shot from BB guns which are definitely smaller have more mass relatively.

This is why even when shot at the same velocity, metallic BBs tend to penetrate more than plastic BBs. Normally plastic BBs shot from an air gun stings on the skin which may leave a small bruise and sometimes can break the skin on the point of impact.

Within that range, plastic BBs shot from airsoft guns cannot penetrate human skin. A metallic BB with the speed of fps has the capability of piercing human skin. Both airsoft and BB guns can hit targets pretty much accurately when optimized.

But BB guns have a bit more advantage on accuracy over airsoft guns. The plastic BBs usually gets influenced by natural elements like wind and because of that the velocity loses fairly early and the accuracy also decreases.

As for metallic BBs, they are relatively smaller in size and heavier in weight which made them denser than airsoft plastic BBs. Because of this extra density, BB gun BBs are less affected by the wind and tend to maintain speed as well as accuracy.

If you want to increase your accuracy try these 5 amazing airsoft training drills. BB guns are lethal compared to airsoft guns since they can penetrate human skin fairly easily. So it definitely should not be used indoors at any cost.

So low powered airsoft guns can be practiced indoors pretty easily. The real has the same exact engravings. It would be really hard for anyone to see. In general, Airsoft guns are used for training, competitions, and war games similar to paintball. Airsoft guns usually have a orange tip to prevent confusion with the real thing. Stapleton said he's seen the orange tips more so on Airsoft rifles opposed to pistols.

But people have painted or removed those tips in the past, increasing the chance of misunderstanding. News Local News. Actions Facebook Tweet Email. Billings gun range owner highlights similarity between Airsoft and deadly guns Juveniles with Airsofts caused Billings Senior High lockdown.