Should Parent’s Allow Teens to Use Airsoft Guns?

Well, my first response would be YES! Why not??? But there are some things to look at when your parents are deciding whether or not to buy you an Airsoft gun. Lets take a look at some of the concerns they may have.

WHAT IS AIRSOFT?

Well, you have to get into your parents head for a moment. When they were kids, they had BB guns. You know “You’ll shoot your eye out” type of guns. And I am sure this is exactly what your parents are thinking you want, a metal BB gun. But let us look at what Airsoft is.

Airsoft is a realistic TOY gun that replicates the more popular real fire arms. They shoots plastic BB’s or pellets at about 150-500 feet per second. And let us just put the myth that the pellets do not hurt. They can, but not like your Dad’s BB gun of the past that shot metal BB’s.

Airsoft guns have been around for more then 25 years. They were invented in Japan with their harsh gun laws they had. They came up with a way to use compressed air to shoot BB’s at targets and small animals. It is just recently that the newer versions of Airsoft and Paint guns have become more popular as a recreational event for kids and adults alike.

ARE THE GUNS SAFE?

Well? Yes and No. The main thing is to play safe! Guys, be smart. Wear the right clothing. Long sleeve shirts, pants, gloves, and of course face, head, and neck protection. Airsoft pellets can leave a red spot through clothes, but on bare skin it could cause a small blood blister. But good news is most of the shooting  fields have a 10 foot minimum engagement distance. This is good becasue at that distance it is just a sting.

OK, this can really sound bad to your parents, but in reality, it is not the big a deal. You will find LOTS of people on the field in shorts and a tank top, but as I have stated, play it safe and let’s not worry Mom! Wear the right clothing.

OK, but there is really a large danger in Airsoft that we really need to look at. Being shot in the eye with a pellet. All Airsoft fields, whether indoor or  outdoor require goggles designed for paintball or Airsoft. They require them even for just target practice. Guys, not worth the loss of an eye. Even in your backyard you should have some sort of eye protection at all times.

GUN SAFETY RULES!

As you know by now, our parents worry about everything, So I am sure they have some rules of their own for you to follow. But here are a few rules that you really should live by when shooting your Airsoft guns.

  1. Never look down the barrel of your gun
  2. Always wear eye/face/neck protection when shooting
  3. When not involved in a game, have the safety on
  4. Never have your finger on the trigger unless you are ready to shoot
  5. Treat your gun as if it is real. Another words, pretend it is always loaded and treat it with respect
  6. Listen to your parents rules. Play by the rules and you will have fun, not get hurt and not have your guns taken away from you

TYPES OF GUNS?

There are really just three main types of Airsoft guns.

  1. AEG “Automatic Electric Guns”or battery powered
  2. CO2 or gas powered
  3. Spring operated

AEG is my favorite. This can be operated in full and semi automatic. They use a rechargeable battery to run the electric motor. This then turns the internal piston assembly and launches the pellets. These are the most widely used and in my opinion the most fun to use.

There is also the CO2 (gas) operated Airsoft guns. Gas powered guns use compressed carbon dioxide to shoot the pellet. These can sometimes be hard to chrono. A chronograph is a device for measuring the speed of a projectile. In Airsoft it’s used to measure the muzzle velocity of the pellet and get an idea of the gun’s power. These CO2 guns can sometimes be too fast for the field you are playing on. So bring you other guns with you when you play.

On the spring operated guns, you need to cock the gun by pulling back the bolt each time you shoot, much like a shotgun or bolt-action rifle. Spring-powered guns are typically seen as entry-level Airsoft guns, although spring-powered sniper rifles can be very powerful upper-level fun.

 

So once again I say yes parents, let your teens have fun with Airsoft. If they are old enough, wise enough and are willing to follow some simple safety rules, go for it. Start out with some target shooting in the back yard. then move onto some skirmishes in the backyard or on a large empty lot. Get your parents involved in the game. But the most fun you can have is finding a shooting field to run around and pretend your in the Army or Police or whatever. Have fun and be safe.