Pellpax Sponsors Family Airsoft Team: Ragna Elites

Pellpax is a company led by a strong ethos of giving something back to the community. Over the last few years, Pellpax has given financial support to shooting clubs, charitable organisations, and talented individuals who are striving for excellence in their chosen discipline. This is just one way in which Pellpax is helping to nurture the future of British shooting sports.

Today, we’re delighted to welcome Jett Pease to our sponsorship family. Jett, who lives with his wife and two daughters in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is an enthusiastic and experienced airsoft player, and will be reviewing many of the airsoft products featured on the Pellpax website. So, before we find out how some of the best airsoft guns on the market fare in Jett’s capable hands, let’s get to know a bit about the man himself.

Jett grew up in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and this is where he was introduced to the game of airsoft. Jett’s first skirmishes, however, didn’t take place in woodland or wasteland or deserted buildings … they were played out in the family home!

Robert Pease and his three sons, Alan, Jett, and Sean, would regularly enjoy skirmishes around the house, dressed in combat gear, and toting imitation firearms. But as the boys grew, they needed their sport to be more elaborate, with wider spaces, more people, better opportunity to plan and execute complex missions. And so the Pease family joined Hockley Airsoft Arena.

Hockley Airsoft Arena also has an indoor range, and this is where Jett’s younger brother, Sean, enjoys shooting.

“Sean has a learning disability,” Jett explained, “and he’s uncomfortable around unfamiliar people. Sean likes to shoot at the range, where there’s no pressure on him to communicate with strangers.”

In recent times, Jett’s older brother, Alan, hasn’t had a lot of opportunity for airsoft.

“Our mum has a physical disability, and Alan’s her primary carer. He’s still really into the sport, though. He particularly enjoys playing Action RPGs, and also games like Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.”

A family affair

United by their love of airsoft and by strong family ties, Jett, Robert, Alan, and Sean are proud to be the only members of their own airsoft team, Ragna Elites, which is represented, in the main, by Jett.

“When I play airsoft games, I play with integrity and professionalism all the time. It’s a game, yeah, but it’s competitive, and I play like I’m in a real firefight with the enemy.”

Jett looks on airsoft more as a sport than just a fun pastime. Focused on improving his skills and widening his experience, Jett has set his sights on specialised training at the ESA (European Security Academy) in Książ Wielkopolski, a town in Śrem County, Poland.

Jett described the type of training he’d be doing at the ESA.

“I’d like to do the Combined Firearms course, which covers topics like ‘fundamentals of shooting’, ‘weapon maintenance’, and ‘firearms design and mechanics’. You also get taught skills such as ‘speed emergency re-load’, ‘tactical shooting principles’, ‘safety rules’, and ‘shooting with use of cover’.”

Another course that Jett hopes to do at the ESA is Close Quarter Battle, designed for the more experienced shooter. And then there’s Tactical Combat Casualty Care:

“This course teaches you to deal with casualties in an environment where professional emergency care is scarce, and medical equipment is limited.”

Airsoft Weapons of Choice

Although Jett still enjoys the occasional game of airsoft at Hockley, his local game site is now Dirty Dog Airsoft at Shildon, County Durham. His weapons are mainly Colt firearms (such as the KWC 1911 CO2) and Glock sidearms (for example, the KWC G17C CO2) as backups.

Jett is also a gold member of UKAPU (UK Airsoft Players Union), the not-for-profit, voluntary association for airsoft players who want to protect the future of airsoft.

The UKAPU website says, “By becoming part of this united and official organisation, players can engage in discussion with the government, the press, and others, when airsoft skirmishing comes under threat.”

In the months to come, we’ll be following the progress of Jett Pease as he moves on in the world of airsoft, and Jett will be testing and reviewing some of the airsoft equipment that we sell, here at Pellpax.

You can check out our range of products for skirmishers and airsoft teams in our Airsoft section.  If you’d like to know more, feel free to contact us via Chat, email us on [email protected], or just give us a call on 01263 731 585 to speak to one of our experts.

BB Guns in the UK

What is a BB Gun?

‘BB gun’ is a very broad term that can cover a lot of different items that we sell here at Pellpax, but as a rule of thumb, BB guns are mainly pistols that can fire a round, solid ball bearing. The two main sizes that BBs come in are 4.5mm and 6mm. The 4.5mm BBs are made from steel, whereas the 6mm are made from plastic and ceramic. The guns that fire these BBs are also referred to with different terms, with the 4.5mm steel BB guns classed as airguns, and the 6mm ones as airsoft guns.

4.5mm BB Firing Airgun Pistols

 

 

Here at Pellpax, the majority of our CO2-powered air pistols fire the 4.5mm steel BBs, and use the small 12g CO2 capsule as their power source. These pistols come in different shapes and sizes, with most of them being replicas of famous and iconic pistols that you will recognise. Some examples are the Umarex Beretta M9 A3 and the Remington P-1911 RAC, to name but a couple. The 4.5mm BB airguns don’t require any licence to purchase and own, although you must be over the age of 18 and have ID to prove age, name, and address when we deliver. ID such as a driving licence is perfect.

A lot of the pistols that fire the 4.5mm steel BBs also feature a blowback action, which means the slide moves back on each shot to reload the next BB into the barrel, just as a real gun would do. This feature is huge fun and adds a sense of realism to the pistol, but does use more CO2 gas in the process (so you get fewer shots) and causes a lot more movement, which affects the accuracy. If you’re just looking for a BB gun for a bit of plinking and target shooting, and love the blowback and sense of realism, then I would suggest looking at the Remington P-1911 RAC Tactical, which offers superb reliability and quality at a great price.

The other alternative to blowback is non-blowback pistols, which are available in the standard classic pistol shape, or as revolvers. The non-blowback pistols allow you to get better accuracy and groupings when shooting, as you don’t have the movement from the slide when shooting. And because the CO2 isn’t being used for a blowback system, you also get a higher shot count. If you’re after one of these types of pistols, then good considerations are the Gamo GP-20 4.5mm BB or the Heckler & Koch USP.

Revolvers are great as well, if you prefer that style, with a lot of revolvers available in iconic styles such as the Colt Python, Colt Peacemaker, ASG Schofield, and Webley MKVI. An advantage of the revolver is that the hammer system is exposed so that it’s very easy to cock the pistol prior to each shot and shoot with a lighter trigger for increased accuracy and precision on each shot. A slight downside to revolvers is that a lot of them are limited to 6 shots in the revolving cylinder, but this is being really picky.

A few good choices for a BB gun revolver are the Dan Wesson 2.5″ Silver and the Umarex Colt Peacemaker Nickel, which are both full metal pistols and offer extremely good value for the price point.

6mm BB Airsoft Pistols

6 mm BB firing guns are referred to as Airsoft guns, as they are designed to be used in the recreational sport of airsofting, which is similar to paintball, except 6mm BBs are used. Airsoft guns are much less powerful than the 4.5mm BB guns, so as not to inflict harm when partaking in the sport; they also require a UKARA licence to purchase and own.

The power levels that these guns are restricted to is 1.3 joules for a gun capable of firing multiple shots with one trigger pull, and 2.5 joules for those that fire one shot per trigger pull.

Airsoft pistols are mainly separated by their power types, which here at Pellpax are CO2 powered and green gas powered. Gas powered air pistols are becoming the more popular of the two types, mainly because the 12g CO2 cylinders can be fiddly to change when out on the airsoft field in the midst of a match, whereas gas is quicker and easier to refill. Green gas also provides a more stable pressure, so your power and accuracy between shots is more consistent.

If you prefer the CO2 BB guns, then a lot of them are available in the classic pistol shapes, such as the KWC M-92 CO2 6mm Airsoft, based on the M92 frame, and the KWC Desert Eagle CO2 6mm Airsoft, which is quite self-explanatory as to what it is based on! These are both great pistols and perfect if you don’t mind the CO2 canisters.

As for gas-powered BB guns, again they are all mainly based on classic pistol frames and are all of good quality, but a couple to take a look at are the WE Big Bird 6mm Airsoft and the Nighthawk 1911 6mm Airsoft, both of which offer superb build quality and stable reliability. The green gas and BBs are loaded into the dropout magazines, making it easy to have a few on hand to drop in when one runs out, which is very useful when out on the field. Most also have adjustable hop-up, which is the spin on the BB that many shooters find useful when outside in the elements, shooting.

We also have two-tone pistols, which are below the 1 joule limit, and which have at least 51% of their frame painted in a bright colour – normally blue, orange, or clear. These items don’t require any licence to purchase and own, although you must be over the age of 18. A lot of these are spring powered, so you pull the slide back to cock, then fire the shot. This makes them very simple and reliable to use and great for a bit of plinking in the back garden. You can view the whole range here…

I hope this article has helped explain a bit more about what BB guns are and how you would go about obtaining one in the UK!

A Guide to Airsoft Guns

Photograph courtesy Tohico

This month, Steph Brooks takes a closer look at the world of airsoft equipment – specifically the airsoft rifles and pistols that form the core of this exciting sport.

The sport of airsoft is extremely competitive, with many enthusiasts spending thousands of pounds on the right equipment and gear. Some go further than others. I’ve seen videos on YouTube of attack helicopters fitted with miniguns that fire airsoft BBs, and if you think you’re going to be able to combat that with a £30 spring rifle, I have some news for you: you won’t. No, to go from so-so to soldier, you’re going to need the best rifle you can get your hands on.on.

AEG Guns (Automatic Electric Gun)

The first and most common form of gun that you will find on the battlefield is basically powered by an electric motor or AEG. This stands for Automatic Electric Gun, and pretty well describes what these airsoft guns are all about. Inside the gun, there’s a battery that has to be charged, which powers a motor that can continually engage the firing mechanism. Often either single shot, burst fire, or fully automatic, AEG guns give you great flexibility on the battlefield, allowing you to pick out individual targets at long range, or flip the switch to full auto and soak an area with continuous fire.

AEG guns also have the ability to be easily upgraded with bigger batteries, better gearboxes, and more durable internals, all readily available. Just be aware that airsoft sites will have a specific power limit, usually around 1.3J and under for full auto guns, and 2.5J for single shot only guns, and going over these limits will prevent you from playing. AEG airsoft rifles also tend to be cheaper than other types, so if you’re new to the world or airsoft, or you’re planning to go to war, or are looking for something that’s able to be customised completely, inside and out, then an AEG rifle might be for you.

One thing of note when buying an AEG airsoft gun: get one with a metal gearbox. Plastic gearboxes are OK for a while, and if you are just going to be shooting tin cans in your back garden, they will probably hold up, but they are just not resilient enough to stand up to the test of the battlefield on a regular basis. Metal is the way to go.

GBB (Gas Blowback) Guns

The second type of airsoft gun is what’s called a gas blowback or GBB. These guns are powered by gas canisters, which fill a reservoir and propel the pellet out at great speed. Of course, this ties you to buying canisters of gas every time you need a refill, but all but the very cheapest of guns are quite efficient with their gas, so refills shouldn’t need to be too frequent.

The main reason people plump for gas rifles is the added realism that comes with the blowback mechanism. This is where a portion of gas moves part of the gun, such as the slide or the cocking handle, to give the gun a better sense of recoil and more closely imitate what it would be like to fire a real gun. This will obviously affect the gun’s accuracy, as there’s a large kick, so that’s something to bear in mind if you’re intent on shooting competitively.

Another advantage the gas-powered guns have over AEG rifles is that they are able to be refilled almost instantly. If you’re at a skirmish site and your battery runs flat, you either need to change the battery or wait a couple of hours for yours to charge, but with a GBB gun, just top it up with some gas and you’re good to go again, often in less than a minute.

Gas guns are for shooters that prefer their guns easy to use and refill, ready at a moment’s notice, and able to be shot at any time. From my experience, people tend to use gas guns for their sidearms, i.e. pistols or small SMGs, and AEG guns for their main weapon of choice; but there’s some debate in the airsoft community about what is best.

Below, I’m going to take you through some of my personal favourites, in detail, to give you an idea of what to expect.

Airsoft Guns : Four Of The Best

E&L MK18 Mod1 AEG : An AEG that is customisable to suit any situation

Made by E&L, this airsoft rifle is equipped with four extended weaver rails that allow you to fit a large variety of attachments to the gun. The gun is also capable of semi-automatic fire as well as full auto, meaning that whatever battlefield role you wish to perform, the MK18 is right there with you.

For example, the gun can be equipped with a foregrip, laser sight, and red dot reflex … and switch to fully automatic with the stock retracted, and you have the ultimate assault rifle that can clear trenches and buildings with ease, and is light and responsive with a great trigger.

Alternatively, switch to semi-automatic fire, extend the butt stock, trade in the laser sight for a rangefinder, and swap the reflex sight for a rifle scope or night vision, and you have a great sniper rifle that can easily pick off individual targets in the distance. There are two versions: Elite and Platinum.

WE Big Bird Full Auto GBB : A sidearm that can compete with the best of them

The WE Big Bird Airsoft 6mm is an impressive Gas Blowback gun

From WE Europe comes the Big Bird. It’s both gas blowback and fully automatic, making it great fun to shoot. Its shape means it fits into most hip, leg, or shoulder holsters, and the gun, when fully loaded, weighs less than half a kilogram, which makes it ideal for carrying as a sidearm.

The pistol is fully automatic and therefore capable of emptying its magazine very quickly, so it’s good news to hear that there’s a variety of spares available, including a 50-round version that can take the gun from sidearm to primary weapon, especially if you have a couple of them stocked with you.

The Big Bird is also capable of carrying a torch or laser, thanks to its weaver rail, which is located under the barrel, to add a little customisation. The gun is well made, durable, and will serve any skirmisher well.

LCT TX-5 AEG : A modern take on a classic

The LCT brand is perhaps one of the most well known in all of airsoft, thanks to their uncanny ability to provide high grade airsoft guns at competitive prices, and the TX-5 is no different.

Based on the ever-popular AK74 design, the gun has instant recognisability, although instead of using a folding stock or a static wood design, the TX-5 is fitted with a retractable M4-style stock that adds flexibility and sheds weight.

The LCT is also capable of both semi and fully automatic fire, as well as being fitted with multiple rails that allow for a variety of attachments. The adjustable hop-up unit allows for perfect accuracy, while the gun’s metal body makes it almost as indestructible as the real thing.

ICS CXP HOG Tubular SDSR AEG : The ultimate professional

Looking similar to the famous Honey Badger, the CXP HOG is an AEG rifle for those who prefer stealthy play. The inbuilt silencer provides excellent muzzle noise reduction, and, capable of both semi and fully automatic fire, this rifle is great at any range.

The gun itself has a multitude of great features, including a modular stock design that features an adjustable cheekpiece and butt pad to ensure a comfortable shooting position for skirmishers of any size. The gun itself is able to perform at any range, and its barrel is exceptionally well made, ensuring great accuracy.

Although fitted with flip-up iron sights, the CXP HOG has a top-mounted rail that can carry either scopes, lasers, or red dot sights to ensure you always have a clear shot on your target.

To check out our full range of airsoft guns, head to the Airsoft section of our store

UKARA Membership for Pellpax

United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association
Pellpax is proud to announce we are now members of UKARA. Great news for our airsoft customers

We are pleased to announce that Pellpax is now a member of UKARA (UK Airsoft Retailers’ Association), the organisation that is dedicated to the promotion of airsoft and to public safety.

The Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006 introduced tight restrictions on the use, ownership, and sale of realistic imitation firearms (RIFs). In response to these new laws, an association of UK airsoft retailers was formed, for the purpose of producing a system for monitoring the sale of RIFs, and thereby protecting the airsoft sport and trade.

Frank Bothamley (centre), head of UKARA

UKARA operates an effective and politically acceptable system, which protects retailers of airsoft equipment, whilst maintaining the safety of the public. The UKARA database holds a record of all participating airsoft players and game sites, and is available to retailers for verification of sales and purchases. This system allows retailers to check that RIFs are being sold only to legitimate purchasers.

Permitted RIF purchaser groups include, amongst others, film and theatre producers and participants in organised historical re-enactments. But it’s airsoft players who form the largest RIF purchaser group in the UK, and skirmishers can find an increasing range of airsoft equipment at Pellpax. If you’re new to the game, and thinking about buying your first airsoft gun, expert advice is available from our staff members.

The UKARA chairman is Frank Bothamley, a former designer of DB2 databases, who co-founded Firesupport Ltd and Free Fire Zone, an airsoft skirmish site near to Peterborough. I asked Frank about the work that UKARA carries out on behalf of the airsoft industry.

The ICS CXP-08 is an excellent main airsoft gun
The ICS CXP-08 Crane Stock AEG

“We successfully lobbied for the airsoft limit to be set higher than 1 joule. We achieved a recognised definition in law for airsoft guns, and we got 6mm and 8mm pellets officially tested to prove that they were not lethal at the limits advertised by the Home Office. We meet regularly with the home office and have contact with FELWG [Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group]. We continue to speak to the CPS [Criminal Prosecution Service] and border controls about the impact of PCA [policing and crime act] 2017.”

At Pellpax, we stock many brands of airsoft guns and accessories. We have recently added ICS products to our range, including the ICS WW2 M3 Greaser AEG, which has an effective range of approximately 50 metres, and the small, compact ICS CXP-08. We’re also pleased to have available some two-tone airsoft rifles and pistols for customers who are not yet registered to an airsoft club in the UK. Note that it is against the law to alter the appearance of these items in order to render them more realistic.

When it comes to maintaining your airsoft equipment, we can recommend some superb products, such as ProShot Precision Gun Grease, or the water-repellent ProShot Precision ‘A’ Grade Silicone Gun Oil Aerosol. We also stock some convenient cleaning kits by ProShot. To talk to someone about our airsoft rifles, pistols, and accessories, or for advice on accessing local skirmish sites, just give us a ring, and we’ll be glad to help. And check out our range of airsoft guns and accessories here.

Brand Focus: Hatsan

Hatsan make air rifles, PCP rifles, and shotguns
The logo of Turkish gunmakers, Hatsan

Hatsan are a large company based in Turkey who produce a range of firearms from shotguns to air rifles and pistols, meaning their product range stretches across a whole host of different shooters and disciplines.

Hatsan have been producing firearms from around 1976 and pride themselves in being totally self-sufficient in that they produce everything in their factories from the stocks to breech blocks and the barrels. This way they can ensure the best quality at every step along the way and there is no chance of sub-standard materials being included in the final product. Hatsan use the latest in CNC machines along with their 650-strong work force to ensure a high output of their range of airguns and shotguns, which is distributed to over 90 countries across the globe, with 95% of its production being exported.

By exporting all around the world, Hatsan are able to invest a large amount into design and research, so that they are at the forefront of quality and innovation, which is displayed each year at the IWA show in Nuremberg. Here in the UK, a lot of Hatsan’s latest releases aren’t imported due to restrictions with either power output or demand in the UK market, but the items that are imported are a real hit.

PCP Rifles

One of Hatsans latest rifles which has caused a splash is the Gladius which is a Pre-Charged Pneumatic (PCP) rifle in the Bullpup, style which basically means that the action is seated right at the back of the stock to allow a full-length action, but with a much shorter overall length. The Gladius incorporates multiple unique features such as a super quick, tool-less adjustment of the cheek piece, multiple magazine holders bolted onto the stock, as well as much more to make it a very high spec rifle for the price point. The rifle also has a 3-stage power adjustment although this feature is mainly aimed towards the FAC power levels, and cocking and loading is done through the smooth and precise side lever action.

The Gladius is based on a similar to action to the AT44, which has probably been one of Hatsans best-selling PCP rifles over the past years thanks to its easy operation, high quality, and competitive price point. The AT44 was also Hatsan first PCP to come to the UK and has been improved over the years to improve both the accuracy and the overall feel of the rifle, and is available today in several different stock options. The most popular is the Synthetic Thumbhole and the Synthetic Tactical which has a very striking appearance, as well as adjustability for the length of pull to accommodate all build sizes. The AT44 uses the same 10 shot magazine as the Gladius which is quick and easy to load and pellets are fired down the steel rifled barrel, all made on site at Hatsans factory.

Here at Pellpax we can offer the Hatsan AT44 Tactical combo which comes as a complete set including the rifle, a Bushnell 3-9×50 scope with mounts, a Caldwell AR bipod, and a high-quality silencer making it the perfect choice to get started with a PCP rifle.

Spring Rifles

Hatsan also produces a fine range of spring powered break barrel air rifles which are priced in the mid-range of spring rifles, one of which being the Hatsan Breaker 900X. This rifle is a full powered spring air rifle, with a standard break barrel making it simple and easy to use. The 900X Breaker has a rifle steel barrel for great accuracy and precision, and is fitted with a moulded-on silencer to reduce the muzzle report when fired. This all adds up to make it a great hunting/pest control rifle, as well as a day at the range. The rifle comes with open sights as standard, although a scope can be mounted on the standard 9-11mm scope rails to allow greater precision on those long-range shots.

Another model in Hatsans spring rifle range is the Hatsan Striker 1000X which is the bigger brother of the Breaker 900X, so is slightly larger in overall size. Other changes are a more ergonomic walnut stock with fine checkering to the cheek piece and fore stock, as well as a raised comb on each side for excellent ambidextrous eye to scope alignment. The action has a longer barrel with a muzzle break to improve accuracy, and make cocking the rifle quick easy. The muzzle break also means that you are not having to touch any metal work, to prolong the overall finish of the rifle to keep it in great shape. The Striker 1000X is also available as the Hatsan Striker 1000S which has a synthetic stock as opposed to wood, and is available with different coloured inserts to suit your tastes.

Shotguns

Hatsan is probably best known by most people for producing a range of robust and reliable shotguns, at a very competitive price in the shotgun market. One of the most popular in their range is the Hatsan Escort which is available in both synthetic and walnut stocks, as well as black barrels and actions, and a Marine silver.

Over the past few years the Escort has always been reviewed as a basic but functional shotgun that just does what it says on the tin and gets on with the job. This is perfect if you’re looking for a solid workhorse that won’t let you down when shooting and one that you’re not afraid to get out in the field and put to use.

Colt M1911 Pistol – A Buyer’s Guide

If you’re looking for an attractive and instantly recognisable replica handgun, then the M1911 has to be on the menu. This month Steph Brooks take a close look at this classic weapon in a buyer’s guide.

The Colt M1911 is one of the enduring pistol designs and is instantly recognisable to anyone who knows about guns, and even to some who don’t, thanks to its prevalence in movies, TV shows and video games. The reason for this love affair with the M1911 is simple. To many Americans it is the pistol that won the Second World War, so its role throughout Hollywood as the hero’s weapon of choice was sealed.

Even in real world applications, the 1911 remains incredibly popular. The Colt M1911 was meant to be replaced with the Beretta M9 in 1986, but due to its popularity it has never been phased out completely, and modern variants of this classic pistol are still used by section of the US navy and Marines.

So, where does that leave us? Well, here in the UK we take quite a different approach to firearms, especially pistols and trying to get your hands on a real 1911 is either going to be very hard or very, very illegal but for those looking to capture some of the feel of holding one of this iconic pistols in air pistol form, there are several options available, particularly in 12g CO2. Let’s have a look at the options below…

Colt M1911 Pistol Replica
The Umarex Legends 1911 is an affordable version of this iconic weapon

3rd Place: Umarex Legends 1911

By far the most affordable 1911 pistol on the site, this German made 1911 feels very sturdy and well made. The slide on the top of the pistol is metal and the whole pistol is moulded around a metal frame, giving great strength and a realistic weight. In fact, picking this pistol up, I was surprised at how good it feels especially compared to other pistols of a similar price. The only downside to the feel was the trigger, which did have some lateral movement straight out of the box.

The pistol also features an under mounted weaver rail, which is a nice touch, and allows for use of a laser or torch to be easily attached to the gun. The pistol also looks great, finished in black. There is not too much writing down the side of the pistol, unlike some other models.

Considering the price, I can’t complain about this too much, but it would have been nice to see more metal involved in the pistol’s construction. More and more guns these days are from polymer or plastic, but the 1911 represents a time when metal was the only viable option, and it would have been nice to see that reflected here.

The 1911 is also a non-blowback semi automatic action. What this means the air pistol will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger but only the hammer will move, not the whole slide. This increases accuracy as well as CO2 efficiency, allowing you to get more shots per refill but I have to say, the Legends is not going to win any target shooting competitions, as it is smooth bore. A blowback action would have been quite nice to give a bit more realism.

Pros : 

+ Low price
+ Overall good build quality
+ High shot count
+ Weaver rail

Cons :

Main body is plastic
Non Blowback
Smoothbore barrel

2nd Place: Remington P-1911 RAC

Remington P-1911 Air Pistol
Remington P-1911 RAC

Remington are a well known and well respected brand that have been manufacturing high quality airguns for many years and their take on the world famous pistol is one of the best on the market. Straight out of the box the care an attention to detail is obvious. Full metal, big plus from me there, and the finish is excellent. It’s almost like a power coat over the top of the metal giving it a suitably dull, gun metal colour. It just looks great… except for one thing.

For some reason plastered down side of the slide is a big warning saying you must read the manual, don’t point it at your face blah blah blah. It seems so insulting to be to put that on there, like the automatic assumption is the person shooting the gun is going to be either a criminal or a child. If you are old enough to buy the gun you are old enough to know better, so next time Remington, just put it in the manual instead please, it’s ugly.

The gun is smooth bore and fires 4.5mm BBs, with a realistic semi automatic blowback action, kicking the slide back and making the pistol feel powerful. If you are looking for a fun and capable pistol, the Remington M-1911 is great choice although the smoothbore barrel and 4.5mm BB ammunition limit its use for much else. The pistol is also pretty limited in terms of offering accessories, as it has no rail to speak of which is a shame.

The Remington is also quite Co2 hungry thanks to its blowback action getting you around 40-45 shots on a good day, and less if its cold, meaning you will be having to change CO2 capsule after every 2 magazines, if you are planning on using the pistol a lot that may be something to bear in mind when shooting.

Pros : 

+ Full metal
+ Powerful blowback action
+Great finish
+18 round magazine

Cons :

-Ugly writing
Gas hungry
No accessory rail

1st Place: Umarex Colt 1911 A1 Government

Colt 1911 A1 Government Replica Handgun
Umarex Colt 1911 A1 Government

Made by Umarex and licensed by Colt, this pistol looks about as close to the real thing as any of us are likely to see with the all black version in particular looking absolutely fantastic. This version of the 1911 is pellet firing and fully rifled and so is suitable for target shooting, unlike the others mentioned. It is also non blowback and while I would normally say this is a downside in BB firing models, when it comes to the A1 with its fully rifled barrel, accuracy is one of the main selling points of the pistol. Minimal recoil is the name of the game.

Adding to this accuracy is the power of the pistol, shooting at around 2.5 ft/lbs it is around double the power of other 1911’s you can buy leading to flatter trajectories and better range. Pellets have better aerodynamics than BBs anyway and are far less likely to ricochet, meaning that you are more likely to be able to be allowed to shoot them down your local airgun club.

The build quality of this pistol is again fantastic and the overall weight and feel is spot on, finding a balance between not feeling too “toy like” and being too heavy to aim properly. The trigger in particular on this model is great, solid and robust without being clunky or imprecise.

The trigger is double action although the hammer can be cocked by hand for a single action shot making the trigger lighter. I found this to be the best way of shooting the pistol and was happily putting pellet after pellet thought the gun with no problems. The grouping was quite good at ranges of around 10m and with my tin of ProShot Practice pellets I was having great fun.

The Colt 1911 A1 features standard Umarex 8 round rotary magazine that is seated inside the main slide which is maybe not as many shots as other pistols, these type of rotary magazines have been around for many years and are unlikely to go wrong.

Pros : 

+ Accurate shooting
+ Pellet firing
+ Great build quality
+ Reliability

Cons :

Only 8 shot magazine
More expensive than others
No accessory rail

Conclusions

 

There you have it, the 3 best 1911 air pistols available on the market today. Hopefully with this guide you can pick which one is for you. For all the latest news and product reviews keep checking our blog here at Pellpax.

The Big Interview: Scout The Doggie (Airsoft)

airsoft legend Scout The Doggie
John Welsh, aka Scout The Doggie, pictured here in civilian mode, with his young son.

This month, our correspondent Hazel Randall spoke to airsofting legend, Scout The Doggie about his many adventures in the sport.

It was a great pleasure to talk to Scout the Doggie, whose YouTube videos have inspired so many people to take up the game of airsoft. With almost 700,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel and over 200 million views of his airsoft videos, Scout’s popularity continues to draw thousands of visitors from the UK and abroad to Section 8, a 1,400-acre woodland skirmishing site in Scotland, where he does most of his filming.

Airsoft skirmishes

Originally designed for target practice, airsoft guns first made an appearance in Japan, circa 1980, and were introduced in the UK a decade later. Since then, airsoft equipment has been used for police and military training drill and, increasingly, for recreation. Registered airsoft sites are plentiful in the UK, with a growing number of enthusiasts gathering at weekends for skirmishes.

The appeal of airsoft skirmishing has a lot to do with the illusion of realism. Airsoft guns are replica weapons that launch spherical, non-metallic pellets, and the games are played out in unmodified woodland or disused industrial areas.

There is often no evidence that a pellet has hit a player; therefore the game relies on a system of honour, whereby a player who is ‘killed’ must declare the fact. Although some occasional cheating occurs, the airsoft code of honour is tight, and when dishonesty is discovered, it is never tolerated.

That’s not to say that the pellets are totally harmless:

“These guns will knock people’s teeth out. I’ve seen them embedded into players’ faces and ears, and jammed up noses, which is why many choose to wear full face masks”, Scout tells us.

Scout the Doggie

He’s one of the best known personalities in the rough-and-tough world of airsoft. Scout the Doggie, is a Scotsman who dominates the international YouTube airsoft scene with his exciting videos of simulated military battle.

A little daunted by the masked, gun-toting, gruff-voiced action men (and women) on the videos, I must say I was a trifle apprehensive about talking to the mysterious figure behind the camera. But

john welsh in ww2 uniform, airsofting in Scotland
Airsofting can sometimes involve re-enactment. Like this WWII Uniform. (Credit: John Welsh)

when I spoke to the real life person who adopts Scout as his ‘stage’ name, John Welsh’s gentle Scottish voice and friendly chuckle put me immediately at my ease.

John is a skilled film maker. Before his involvement in the world of airsoft, he made training videos for large companies. He had no training in the medium – unless you count the one-day course at the Apple store in Glasgow:

“That took about an hour!” John told me.

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Scout at Section8, the Scottish airsofting location. (Credit: John Welsh)

John has always been an avid collector of music videos and has used his filming skills to capture rock legends such as AC/DC and the Sex Pistols on film. His extensive video library has contributed to media archives all over the world, and on several DVDs, John is credited for the footage he supplied.

So how and when did John get into airsoft skirmishing?

About ten years ago, he bought a Heckler & Koch MP5 airsoft rifle for a close friend’s birthday.

“I was really impressed with the quality of it. As kids, we’d had a lot of fun with airguns, and I suddenly got the urge to do a bit of shooting again. The first gun I bought for myself was a Tokyo Marui G3/SG1. There were many more after that!”. Another one of John’s favourite airsoft guns is the AGM MP40 rifle.

The first time John tried out airsoft, he went alone. “My expectations were exceeded. It was far better than I imagined – much more organised and just good clean fun.” He added, mischievously, “It’s great meeting new friends – and then shooting them!”

And the videos?

John was always keen to introduce friends to the world of airsoft, but found that some people were reluctant to give it a go. So, about a year after his own initiation into the game, he took a video of the action in order to share with his friends the fun that was to be had at a skirmish. He put a few of these videos onto YouTube and was surprised at their popularity.

In an airsoft game, when you’re ‘killed’, you have to drop out of play until a new game begins. During these periods of inaction, John would video his team mates, edit the footage, and post the videos on You Tube. He was beginning to get a name for himself, and it wasn’t John. Scout’s stage name was in fact taken from his beloved dog, a very dear white German Shepherd.

The popularity of Scout the Doggie’s videos grew so quickly and unexpectedly that John was soon in a position where strangers all over the world were familiar with his videos and the regular players who featured in Section 8 skirmishes. Other sites were keen to have Scout film their airsoft games, and airsoft manufacturers benefitted hugely from Scout’s product endorsements.

What are Scout the Doggie’s plans for the future?

“I’d love to visit the USA,” he told me. “Most of my views come from America, closely followed by the UK and Germany. So I’d maybe film at a few American airsoft events. But to be honest, I’d be happy just to spend most of my time meeting the people who watch my videos.”

You can find Scout’s youtube channel here.

Stay in tuned to the blog for more airsoft news, reviews and interviews.

Check out our interview with another airsoft celebrity, Femme Fatale Airsoft.

And take a look around our online airsoft store to put together your perfect loadout. 

Air Rifle Scopes: A Guide

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Looking down a rifle scope

The world of air rifle scopes can be a confusing place for those who are ill prepared. Choosing the right scope for your air rifle can be as important as deciding which pellet or calibre you are shooting with, when it comes to success. Sub 12ft/lb air rifles will kill at ranges up to 50 yards, and trying to judge your impact point at these ranges with iron sights can be almost impossible. Luckily, there are many manufacturers on hand to help you.

Brand Awareness

Deciding on your brand is simple enough when you know what each has to offer. Brands like BSA, SMK and AGS look like the real deal but don’t offer much in terms of magnification or lens quality, and are not really suitable for anything more than informal target shooting. One thing I would say is there is more to picking a scope than just what magnification you want. For example, not all 4×32 scopes are the same and when it comes to picking optics, most of the time you really do get what you pay for.

Hawke Scopes

At just 18 pounds more expensive than the BSA scopes are the Hawke range of air rifle scopes and the difference in quality is immediate and obvious. The mono tube construction of the scope is made from anodised aluminium which not only makes the scope incredibly strong, but also makes the Hawke range of scopes the exceptionally light and unlikely to affect the balance of your rifle when attached. These scopes are so well made that they are even suitable for centerfire and rimfire rifles thanks to their inherent ability to withstand recoil.

The lenses of the Hawke scopes are multi coated to transfer as much light into the eye as possible, producing a crystal clear image of the target in all light conditions and are available with a range of reticles and magnification options. Available from around £50 all the way up to the mid £800s, there is an air rifle scope for everyone in the Hawke range.

MTC Scopes

Slightly more expensive than the cheapest of the Hawke range, MTC produce a range of scopes that are not too dissimilar to their lower priced alternatives. Their glassware is not noticeably different from most Hawke scopes but a lot of the MTC scopes come with illuminated reticle as standard, something you have to pay extra for with the Hawke models.

Bushnell Scopes

Starting at around the 260 pound mark, Bushnell air rifle scopes are similar in price to the most expensive of the MTC range but their Ultra High Definition range delivers some of the most accurate target selection in any range of scopes. Their glassware is of the very highest quality and the fast focus eyepiece is located at the rear of the scope and is easily adjusted for target acquisition in seconds.

The matte black body of the scope is made from a specially formulated alloy that is water, shock and fog proof and is rugged enough to provide a long lasting scope that is perfect for outdoor hunting. The Bushnell scopes are ideal for hunters and go all the way up in price to the £1000 mark, and are serious bits of kit for serious shooters.

Meopta Scopes

A step up in quality again, the Meopta range, consisting of MeoPro, MeoStar and Artemis models, is ideal for the most serious of shooters looking for a long lasting scope that really can do it all. One thing that stands apart for the Meopta range is not just its image quality at long distance, but also up close and gives you a real indication of the quality of the lenses. MeoStar scopes can be used for target shooting and hunting and are the only serious choice for shooters looking for the very best.

Sig Sauer Scopes

The Sig Sauer range of scopes are another premium air rifle scope brand with prices starting at around 200 pounds and increasing past the 2 grand mark. The Tango 6 range are world renowned for being amongst the finest scopes that money can buy and their illuminated reticle actually varies its intensity based upon the external light conditions to ensure you always have a clear picture of your target no matter what time of day you are shooting.

They also use extra low dispersion glass in their scopes to ensure class leading light transmission into the eye and produces incredibly clear imagery at all times. If you have £2,000 to blow on a scope, first of all well done, and secondly, there is no better choice out there than a scope from Sig Sauer.

Reticle

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A Mil Dot Reticle
An example of a Duplex Reticle

There are a few different choices when it comes to choosing a reticle but most choices come between either a Mil Dot (see image) or  a (See image). The Duplex reticle is essentially a centre cross with a thicker outside to help focus your eye towards the centre. Its simple design prevents it from obscuring the target but it doesn’t offer any other measurements to help judge distance or help with your shooting.

A variation of the The Duplex reticle is the Modern Ballistic. This features lines on the bottom of the reticle to help judge elevation for when you shoot above the target at particularly long ranges although this kind of reticle is more common in centerfire and rimfire rifles as they can shoot many times further than a 12ft/lb air rifle. Snipers at the extreme end of the spectrum even have to compensate for the curvature of the earth! Your air rifle is unlikely to be able to cover these distances so in my mind the Modern Ballistic reticle is unnecessary unless you are shooting a FAC air rifle.

The Mil Dot reticle features, as the name suggests, dots across its centre lines that can be used to judge both elevation and windage when shooting. These dots are available at various increments but the idea remains the same. The Mil Dot reticle does obscure more of your vision when shooting but this is compensated for by its increased accuracy.

Hundreds of different reticles are also available but they are either variations of the Mil Dot or the Duplex or wildly unnecessary on an airgun like the German or the SVD, so bear that in mind while selecting.

Mounts

When selecting scope mounts there is one important thing to consider, the size of the scopes body. The majority of scopes will either be 1 inch or 30mm and this will largely determine what mounts you require. If your top rail is shorter, you may require a reach forward mount and higher mounts are available if your rifle features iron sights that are obscuring your vision.

Retaining pins are included on most mounts and are important on everything but airsoft guns, as the recoil from your rifle can cause something known as “scope creep” which is where the scope moves continually backwards and will require constant re-adjusting to remain accurate.

Most mounts fit onto a weaver base and come with Allen Keys for easy installation and don’t forget, here at Pellpax we offer FREE sport mounts whenever a scope is ordered with a rifle.

2-7x32-vantage-2590To Sum Up

In conclusion, there are many scope available to buy but my personal favourite is the always reliable Hawke Vantage. Relatively cheap, but a truly incredible scope for the money, there is a reason why this little scope has made it onto so many of our air rifle kits is because we know it does the business. Unless you are looking for something costing the best part of a grand, there are very few scopes that are better for the money.

Check out our huge selection of air rifle scopes here. 

The Big Interview : Kelly Hardwick (Femme Fatale Airsoft)

femme-fatale-2Kelly Louise Hardwick is Femme Fatale Airsoft – one of the biggest names in the UK Airsofting community. She’s hugely popular on social media, blogs regularly, writes for the UK’s leading Airsoft publication and goes out to Airsofting events across the length and breadth of the country. We spoke to her about her experiences….

How are you?

I’m really good thank you.

How did FFA start?

I started Airsoft as a hobby in August 2014, and then I had a car accident, and lost my job in November of that year and created the blog to fill my spare time. It’s snowballed and snowballed since then (laughs). After the accident, I thought, I’m going to have a look at all the kit I wanted to buy when I was able to play again. And after searching the internet for around 9 hours, over two days, I was like ‘why isn’t there anything for women?’. And two, ‘there’s not really anything out there that encourages women’.

There was a massive gap in any information available to help women. And, there was a quote that was in a book that I read when I was 16 years old, that said ‘be the change you want to see in the world’, so I thought, ‘Why not?’.

The problem was, I was new to it anyway. So it’s been a massive, massive learning curve. And it’s been me trying to find me feet in airsoft, which I have, quite quickly.

What’s happened over the past two years for you then?

A lot! The blog has enabled me to travel, meet new people and be a part of some amazing experiences. One of the most notable would be that in July 2015, I got approached by Airsoft Action magazine, and I became the first female contributor to a UK Airsoft Publication. I’ve been lucky to travel internationally with them to the IWA in Nuremburg (annual trade show). It’s been crazy, absolutely crazy…I have travelled up to 800 miles at weekends to play airsoft. I love it, I absolutely love it and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s been a crazy, crazy two years.

Just give us a ballpark on the Airsoft. How many sites have you been to?

femmeonsite
Kelly on top of a chopper, with some smoke grenades of the kind used in some airsoft adventures….

I would say I’ve probably been to about 20 to 30 sites, in the last two years. So my home site is Strikeforce CQB in Gloucester. That’s the site I play the most often. The furthest north I’ve been to is Edinburgh, in Dalkeith, that was a long trip! And then the furthest south I’ve been is the UCAP Sandpit in Kent. I play more southern sites than I do any other. I think the south has a better selection of CQB sites. I would say a lot of the northern sites are woodland, and I don’t play woodland too often.

Airsoft’s quite an unusual sport. How would you describe airsoft for the uninitiated?

How I had it described to be was that it’s like a real-life Call Of Duty, but you’re the player, if you see what I mean. It’s a fun hobby. Everyone’s really friendly. You shoot each other with plastic pellets, and they don’t hurt that much.

Tell us a bit more about the Airsoft community. It seems quite secret and underground. What is it like? Who goes?

I would say that one of the best things about Airsoft is the community. I think if you know about it, you know about it. If you’ve never heard of airsoft, you won’t have any idea. This one game can bring so many people together. You can get builders, doctors, people from all walks of life and we all run around woods, dressed as soldiers playing with toy guns! I think the advertising for the sites/shops are more prevalent than they used to be. Some people in general don’t really understand what we do but more people know about it now. I read in a newspaper article once that the UKARA website had around 15,000 people registered on it in 2012. And the industry as a whole has grown 5 fold since then so i
t’s constantly expanding, so more people know about it which is only a good thing.

On a normal game day, you’ll turn up at the site, get everything from your car and get your kit to the safe zone to get ready. Safe zones are anything from purpose built, to gazebos. Anything works. It’s a very odd sport (laughs). After that, once everyone has turned up, we all get kitted up, and sling plastic for a bit.

What is there out there, in terms of unusual or interesting Airsofting locations?

femme-asg
FFA checks out the CZ805 from ASG.

There are some that I’ve heard of that sound really interesting, I really want to play them but I haven’t had a chance yet such as Red 1 The Boat. I think the most interesting sites I’ve been to so far are the Mall in Reading, it’s a shopping mall, and it’s so strange! You’ve got all the shops, all the windows, all the escalators. The escalators don’t work because obviously, with BBs everywhere that would be dangerous. But, it’s bizarre because, you obviously recognise shopping centres in the daylight, when they’re really busy, but it’s really eerie to see it dark, with no one in it.

I’d say another interesting site I’ve been to is the Gaol in Rutland. It’s an old Category C men’s prison. So it’s not like high security, but all the cells are still there, all the gates, everything like that. It’s dead cool.

What is the gender balance like in the sport?

I would say, the gender balance is predominantly male, and it always has been. Do I think it always will be? Maybe. I think it takes a special sort of person to play airsoft. You have to enjoy getting shot at, and a little bit of pain! (laughs).

I think from when I first started two years ago, the industry has moved forward quite a lot. Back then, there wasn’t a lot of well known female players, and I spent ages looking for them! You’ve obviously got big name players like Desert Fox, Scout The Doggie, on the male side. There were only a couple of really female players making waves such as Unicorn Leah, Airsoft Hasmeen and Adella Relentless. And there weren’t many companies making tactical clothes for women, now, there’s a lot more coming into the market with brands such as 5-11 Tactical (http://www.511tactical.com) making a lot more women’s tactical clothing, which is great.

What’s it like being a woman Airsofter?

You have to learn how to put a load out together, and if you’ve not got thing specifically made for you, it can be quite difficult. It is nice to have that female presence online and on the field to help with any questions.

femme-fatale
Kelly has shown that girls can smash stereotypes in her alter ego as FFA

There’s one thing about women, as well, they seem to play harder than some of the guys do. It’s insane. Some of the women – and I make a point of meeting as many female Airsofters as I can, just so we can get more of a female solidarity thing going. Spice Girls / girl power sort of thing  – and.. some of them are crazy. Absolutely crazy, and it’s amazing to see.

What does your loadout for your typical event consist of?

For my primaries, I have two favourites, my two go-tos. G&G sent me a custom CM16 SR-L. Basically, it’s a mash up between the first Black Rose, and the CM16 SRL with a Key Mod rail system. That’s my favourite gun to use. It’s got a custom Cerakoted real steel red dot sight, and it’s got a mini launcher – 40 BBs of pure terror, out of one tiny little launcher. And I’ve got my Scorpio Evo by ASG as well. That has no pink on it, so that’s my serious gun for games I can’t really take the pink one to. It’s a good all rounder.

As for my sidearms I’ve got two. I’ve got the WE, M&P the M Force one. It’s got a silver vented slide with a gold barrel. It’s got a pink grip. It’s very blingy! And then, for serious games I’ve got my CZ P-09, by ASG. That’s got no pink on it!

I was wondering how feminine you are with your presentation!

See people have an issue with the pink! Pink’s not my favourite colour, believe it or not. Purple is, but there’s not a lot of kit out there in purple, so pink’s a good substitute. Because it’s a fun hobby, I like to have fun loadouts. What’s the harm with a little pink here and a little pink there? (Laughs).

In terms of your ‘brand’, Femme Fatale Airsoft, it’s been very successful what do you plan to do next with it?

I’ve never really thought about it. Because it started out as a fun hobby. And I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t fun. I just take each day as it comes. One thing I like about it is I get to travel with it, I get to meet new people and obviously I’d say, representing the hobby in a positive light. I’ve no specific plans for where to take it next so we’ll see where it takes me.

You can follow Femme Fatale Airsoft on her blog. She’s also on Instagram, YoutubeFacebook and Twitter

BB Guns & Airsoft: A Guide

daisy
Daisy was the very first BB Gun brand

BB guns have been around since the 1900s, with Daisy being one of the first companies to manufacture them. Although the term “BB Guns” has become a very broad term, it was originally used to refer to 4.5mm ball bearings.

What is a BB Gun?

BB Guns are a type of air gun that shoots small ball bearings. The majority of the BB guns are CO2 powered and the ball bearings are often zinc or copper, or gold plated. This type of ammunition is often referred to as 4.5mm BBs. The term ‘BB gun’ was used to specifically describe air guns that fired ball bearings, but is usually misused to describe pellet guns. Some models like the Heckler & Koch P30 (see below) fire both BBs and pellets, giving you the best of both worlds, while others are strictly 4.5mm, like the Beretta Elite.

Daisy Guns

Daisy started in 1882 in Plymouth, Michigan as a windmill company. In 1886 they started to give away BB guns with each Windmill, but the gun became so popular they packed up the windmill business and sold just BB guns instead. One of their most famous BB guns was the Red Ryder Model. This was named after a comic strip and followed the design of lever action rifles. Even to this day the Red Ryder is still available to buy.

The U.S army trained recruits in safe firearms handling using the Daisy Model 99. This helped the soldiers learn to use, handle and quickly draw their weapons. The sights were removed from the BB gun during training and the technique’s name changed from Quick kill to Quick fire.

Competitive Shooting

There are many competitions for 4.5mm BB guns around the world. Daisy hold their own one each year. Their competition is a 5m target shooting contest and sees teams from all around America compete. To qualify for the daisy competition your team must place within the top 3 in a state championship.

Competitions like this exist in the UK as well and follow a similar structure. There are restrictions on power, BB grain etc. to ensure a fun, fair shoot for everyone.

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The GHK GK74 Blowback, a great airsoft rifle

The Law on BB Guns

A 4.5mm BB gun must be less than 6 ft/lbs (8.1 J) by law. If a BB gun is more powerful than this they count as a firearm and are illegal in the UK. Any BB gun under 0.737 ft/lbs (1 J) is not included in the firearms regulation but are included in the VCR Act.

In Scotland you must have an air weapons certificate to own a 4.5mm BB gun no matter the power form the 1st of January 2017.

The last few important things to note about the law is that due to the 2006 Violent Crime Reduction Act all sales of new air guns must be done face to face either at a gun shop, or delivered to your door by us here at Pellpax, where we conduct the face to face transaction at your door, by delivering to you in person.

To buy either a 4.5mm or 6mm BB gun you must be at least 18 years of age and have ID to prove so. When transporting these guns you must do the following or it counts as an offence;

  • – The BB gun must not be loaded with ammunition or propellant
  • – They must be in a non-easy to reach area such as a boot
  • – Must be kept inside a bag or case

The Japanese airsoft craze

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Airsoft Snipers on a Milsim patrol

In the early 1980s, airsoft guns were sold in Japan. They were known as soft-air which referred to the green gas they use. The main reason this craze took off was down to the fact you could hit humans without injury and they closely resembled real guns. Airsoft now has a variety of game modes such as C.Q.B (Close quarter Combat), Field, MilSim and historical reenactments. Airsoft has also been used by modern military and police organisations for training purposes.

Although BB guns used to refer to the 4.5mm made by Daisy Guns, the term has broadened in recent years and started to include airsoft guns as well.

Airsoft uses spring, gas, electric or co2 and come in a variety of powers. The WE 999k is a mid-range rifle firing at around 330fps and comes in either Gas or Electric. A higher end gas rifle is the GHK GK74 (pictured, above) which shoots at around 380fps and starts at £509.99.

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The Heckler & Koch P30, a great example of an airsoft sidearm

The biggest factor that separates an airsoft gun from a BB gun, is the ball bearing it shoots. Where airsoft uses plastic BBs that measure 6mm, BB Guns use 4.5mm made of copper or zinc. Although the terms use to be separate the definition of BB Guns has changed and now includes a variety of different guns. To get started in airsoft, you can pick a decent tub of 0.20g BBs up for £7.99 here. The 4.5mm BB comes in tubes of 1500 and are available here for £5.89.

Type of airsoft

Airsoft guns are often referred to as BB guns as they shoot 6mm plastic ball bearings.  Today airsoft is bigger than ever with over 200 venues in the UK all offering a variety of game modes. Most venues offer basic game modes such as Capture the Flag, TDM, hostage rescue and more. Some venues offer more specialised game modes like planting the bomb, hostage rescue, president etc.

One type of airsoft that is growing in popularity is MilSim. This is an abbreviation for Military Simulation and is focused on providing the most realistic experience to players.  These are often done over the weekend and last 1-3 days. Some of the most popular venues in the UK are Warzone and Airborne which offer events all year round.

To learn more check out our MilSim blog here. The official War Zone site is here. The official Airborne site is here.