Sunday, January 31, 2010

Airsoft Guns Are The Milsim Preferred Weapon

By Anthony Carter

What are you doing next Saturday? If you are like thousands of others who have discovered airsoft guns and MilSim games, you may be planning to spend the weekend in the woods with your buddies, shooting at each other. No you don't have to belong to the National Guard.

These weekend warriors are not the National Guard nor are they Military reserves; these guys aren't even in the real military. What these guys and gals are doing is playing what is known as MilSim or military simulation. These grown-up versions of kiddie games are anything but child's play. Military simulation is exactly what it sounds like. MilSim is a game play that involves some sort of weapon and teams of warriors ready for action.

There are a variety of play in MilSim and while some may involve groups of players playing via the internet or Xbox Live, most of these games take place outdoors in the woods and fields all across the country. There are two categories of weapons involved. There are those players that use paintball guns and there are those that prefer airsoft guns.

Airsoft guns are exact replicas of real firearms, in most cases military weapons such as m16's. These guns which got their start in Asia have become popular in the U. S. And involve some sort of forced air firing mechanism. These guns can be gas powered, battery powered or hand pump weapons.

The basic difference from paint ball guns and airsoft guns is that paintball guns use pellets that splatter paint when they hit a target. Airsoft guns pellets are not paint filled and do not leave a mark when they strike a target. This difference requires players to be honest when they are hit since it is not obvious as it is with paintball guns.

For the weekend MilSim warrior authenticity is often important and this is why airsoft guns are the preferred type of weapon. These guns look and feel like the real thing. However in the United States they are required to have a distinctive orange marking on them so they can be distinguished from the real thing. Players tend to take their play seriously and play in uniforms and use military style walkie-talkies and may even carry rations.

Often these skirmishes last several days and require players to remain in the playing field until the war has ended, except in the case of accidental injury.

As airsoft guns become more popular their availability is becoming more widespread as well. These authentic looking weapons can be found at MilSim sap meets and also at flea markets and retail outlets such as mall stores and kiosks. A wide variety of retailers are also available via the internet.

So why sit in front of the TV all weekend when you could be outside enjoying the fresh air and getting shot at? There are many MilSim organizations across the country and many of them use airsoft guns. To locate clubs in your area you can look online or you could even establish your own club with friends and coworkers. Imagine playing war in the woods on the weekend with your coworkers, wouldn't it be great to get an opportunity to shoot at the boss?

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