For many years, airsoft guns or airsoft guns, as they are called, enjoy great popularity, especially among teenagers. It is not just teenagers who have fallen in love with the air-pressure specimens – airsoft guns are also used in the IPSC shooting sport discipline. This is a sport usually practiced at the professional level, where goals have to be met with movement. Airsoft guns and their use are subject in many nations, including Germany, strict rules and are seen in the public reluctant.

Replicas close to reality

As a rule, the design of a softair weapon is modeled after that of a real weapon – sometimes under license – so that said replicas differ only slightly from their models. In the past, this likelihood of confusion repeatedly led to incidents that led to discussions regarding the legal situation. Basically, Airsoft guns can be divided into three categories considering their functioning.

Spring, gas and electricity

In the lower price range, spring-pressure-based products, known as springs, are mainly available. By pressing the loading lever here voltage is generated, which is ultimately converted into air pressure and brings the ammunition in motion. In view of the described mode of operation, springs are not fully or semi-automatically usable. In contrast to the above, gas airsoft weapons make it possible to theoretically work fully automatically. In the Federal Republic of Germany, however, only the semi-automatic variant is allowed. The third class carries the short name AEGs, which stands out for Automatic Electric Guns. These models work with the help of an electric motor and were originally developed as training aids for the military and the police. As the name implies, AEGs work completely automatically and do not need to be loaded before each shot.

Legislation limits use and possession

From a legal point of view, airsoft weapons usually appear in the mantle of the bargain weapons – it is therefore not allowed to perform in public. By law, the sale of airsoft guns with a projectile energy of more than 0.5 joules is legal only to adults. Exceeding 7.5 Joules, the affected model is only available with a permit; It is considered as a full-fledged firearm in the context of the weapons law. The law varies from nation to nation.

Shooting sports and his perception

Due to the huge interest in airsoft guns, the associated market has expanded steadily over the decades. From cheap feathered to high-end models for four-digit sums – online stores and local stores offer an enormous range of products. For athletes, the best quality products are usually indispensable to compete with like-minded people. Monthly or even weekly national tournaments take place, in which the shooting sport with airsoft weapons in the focus stands. The International Practical Shooting Confederation, IPSC, will culminate in the World Cup. The most successful athlete is Frenchman Eric Grauffel – he has already been able to display his skills several times and secure the victory. Despite ordered structure and security measures, the aversion to the sport mentioned is often great – especially in Germany, this picture is emerging. In nations whose laws are more open to possession and use of firearms, the issue faces less resistance.