Airsoft gun buying advice

[Bloodwhiner]

My son's BB rifle got destroyed (my fault, not his) and I need to replace it. This was a higher power rifle, not a Daisy Red Ryder (fps exceeded 22's, but didn't have the carrying distance). Considering the use he gave it, I want to replace it for him. However he was a target shooter and plinker, never taking it off our property.

I'm thinking an Airsoft type gun may make more sense and be more fun for him. Especially if I get one that can go full-auto and still be relatively safe given the plastic BB's it uses. He has shown himself to be very responsible with a weapon, so I'm not too concerned with him shooting his eye out.


But I know nothing about the makers of Airsoft equipment or differing types. The guns vary from $20 (presumed to be junk) up to several hundred (cost equal to the real thing); some are gas, others electric.. I'm looking at stuff in the $50-$100 range.

Anyone got buying (not political) advice? What type am I looking for? Who are the makers to buy (or who to avoid)? Anything else?

TIA

 

[Kemaiku]

Wolfe Armouries (UK) and Tokyo Mauri (Japan) are the best that I remember but I haven't bought any in a couple of years now.

 

[Emher]

I've got a gaspowered KJ Works Beretta M9. Great gun, fun plinker, even got some decent kick because of the gas-blowback action. Pretty cheap as well, and full metal.

As for electric I used to have a Tokyo Maruai P-90 TR with a redpoint mounted on the rails when I was a more serious airsoft player. Great gun, never jammed, great range for s such a compact gun because of the bullpup design and really easy to operate. Had to withdraw from a weekend game and a squad mate borrowed it and used it as a support gun because of the steady stream of fire it had. Mostly plastic though, and a bit higher price they you're preffered range, but worth it.

All really depends on what look you want, but KJ Works and Tokyo Marui I can heartilly recommend. The Classic Army G36 series are pretty nifyt as well, haven't used them myself but the G36K would have been my next weapon if I'd continued with the sport.

 

[SilentP]

If you live in the UK, you won't be able to buy any Airsoft gun without some kind of membership to a site, or a UKARA membership, IIRC, though this doesn't apply to ownership. My best advice would be to go to the ArniesAirsoft website for advice on the legality of how to go about purchasing weapons.*

As for brands, Tokyo Marui make very reliable, out of the box replicas, as to Classic Army, though these are the only 2 brands I can speak with any experience on. If you want to get him a fully automatic gun, nearly anything that's based off an assault rifle or SMG will do you.

Generally, fully automatics will be electric powered, so grab your battery, charge it, slap it in and away you go. You do get gas powered automatics, but I believe these are generally more expensive and less reliable, due to greater wear on parts from more movement of parts and greater stresses. Again, since it's been a while, my remembering of the knowledge is rusty, so I'd go over to ArniesAirsoft for advice.

*though I just noted that you're giving a price range in $, so all that advice is moot, and I'm also not sure what prices over there will be like.

 

[Lonemagpie]

If you live in the UK, you won't be able to buy any Airsoft gun without some kind of membership to a site, or a UKARA membership, IIRC

Almost- you can't buy one in the right finish without such a membership, but you can buy stupid-looking primary-coloured ones. (Obviously, painting said ones black is illegal and will get you about three years)

That's why I gave up collecting them.

 

[John Picard]

I cannot believe no one has said this yet, so here goes:

































YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!!!