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UK Airsoft

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  1. Army R26 - 1911 Austrian Custom (ARMY-R26)
    SKU: 110571
    £99.99
  2. -13%
    Huntsman Tactical H17 Gas Blowback Pistol (Metal Slide - Polymer Body - with Case - Pre-Two-Tone)
    SKU: 111513
    Regular Price £79.99 Special Price £69.95
  3. AEG F18 Gas Blowback Pistol
    SKU: 110764
    £129.99
  4. WE G18 Gen. 4 Gas Blowback Pistol
    SKU: 110296
    £111.69
  5. -5%
    Ares Amoeba Modular M4 AA (Compact Short - M4-AMSS-DE - Tan)
    SKU: 211422
    Regular Price £209.99 Special Price £199.99
  6. Ares SOC SLR Sniper Rifle (MSR-SOC)
    SKU: 211318
    £699.99
  7. WE 1911 Hex Cut GBB Pistol
    SKU: 110627
    £134.99
  8. Armorer Works Custom Hex-Cut (AW-VX0100)
    SKU: 110563
    £174.99
  9. Ares - Honey Badger - AM-013 - AEG Rifle
    SKU: 210115
    £309.99
  10. ARES AM-008-BK Amoeba M4 Assault Rifle
    SKU: 210109
    £209.99
  11. A&K M43 AEG with Box Magazine AK-MK43
    SKU: 210070
    £609.99
  12. LCT LCKMSU74 NV AEG (LCKMSU NV)
    SKU: 210825
    £409.99
  13. WE F226 Gas Blowback Airsoft Pistol
    SKU: 110305
    £134.99
  14. -8%
    HFC 23 Socom Gas Pistol with Silencer (GGH-0302)
    SKU: 110076
    Regular Price £59.99 Special Price £54.99
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Which Airsoft BB Gun is Right for You?

 

What combines the thrill of combat video games, marksmanship practice in a realistic setting, the strategic prowess of Sun Tzu, and the physical exertion of a particularly spirited game of freeze tag? If you happen to be an Airsoft enthusiast, you know the answer well! From backyard skirmishes to large-scale open-air competitions, Airsoft BB guns appeal to soldiers of all ages and skill sets.

 

Since their development in the early 1980s, Airsoft BB guns have been growing in popularity and complexity. Today, there are three main types of Airsoft guns—spring-loaded, electric, and gas-powered. Each type of gun carries its own set of strengths and setbacks, so you should weigh its usefulness based on context and technique. Below is a brief overview of the three main categories, their characteristics, and their most common uses.

 

Spring-Loaded Guns

 

As their name suggests, spring-loaded Airsoft guns are powered mechanically by elastic potential energy from a spring located inside the barrel. Because they must be cocked before each shot, spring-loaded guns cannot fire in rapid succession, making them a mismatch for electric and gas-powered guns at both close and long range. However, they possess other practical qualities that are not to be ignored, for instance:

 

·         Low Cost—For many people, the price of an electric or gas-powered Airsoft gun is dauntingly steep. A spring-loaded gun typically comprises more commonplace materials that will not break the bank. They are easily the cheapest Airsoft guns in the UK: While some prices are as high as £350, many can be bought for pocket change (under £5).

·         Ease of Repair—On the one hand, spring-loaded guns are prone to wearing down more quickly than the other types of guns. On the other hand, their nuts-and-bolts assembly makes them easy to repair and modify when they do fall into disrepair. Do-it-yourselfers will appreciate the customizable nature of a spring-loaded gun.

·         Weather Resistance—An entirely mechanical device such as a spring-loaded gun can be used in all kinds of weather, be it stinging wind, pouring rain, or scorching heat. Whereas other guns are susceptible to externally-rooted malfunctions like extreme cold and water, spring-loaded guns remain operational and accurate come rain or shine, making them ideal for your Arctic adventure or a jaunt in Vladivostok.

·         Accessibility—Spring-loaded Airsoft guns can be purchased more easily than other types of Airsoft guns in the UK, thanks to their relative simplicity. They are also considered elementary enough for learners trying to get a foothold on Airsoft.

 

Although their single-shot capability puts them at a marked disadvantage against electric and gas-powered guns in competitions, spring-loaded Airsoft BB guns are great for beginners, renovators, coin-counters, and backyard skirmishes.

 

Electric Guns

 

Electric Airsoft BB guns take several forms, but the most commonly used are automatic electric guns (AEGs) and medium-price electric guns (MPEGs). The primary difference between the two is—you guessed it!—price. A less-expensive electric gun can be purchased for a mere £25, while some high-end AEGs are closer to £500!

 

Depending on the brand, an MPEG may approach the quality of an AEG at a fraction of the cost. Alternately, you might soup it up to match or surpass the power of an AEG. The difference between a standard AEG and a dazzling MPEG is negligible, so both will be referred to simply as “electric guns.”

 

Electric guns are the most popular Airsoft BB guns in the UK. They are not as powerful as gas-powered as guns or as weather-resistant as spring-loaded guns, but they find a happy medium in both areas. They run on hardy rechargeable batteries, fire automatically, and come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and weights to suit the tastes of a broad customer base. These Airsoft guns are also highly visually authentic.

 

Essentially, the electric gun combines the advantages of spring-loaded and gas-powered guns without their considerable drawbacks.

 

Gas-Powered Guns

 

Green gas, propane, and HFC-134a are the most common gases powering the most expensive of the three categories of gun. There exist some pistols for under £20, but the best-quality gas-powered Airsoft guns in the UK can exceed £500. Propellants for gas-powered guns can also be pricey. On top of that, standard gas-powered guns can be extremely sensitive to changes in temperature. Yet, these firearms are most popular among serious hobbyists/collectors, and this for the following reasons:

 

  • Authenticity—Gas-powered guns are built like real guns, look like real guns, and “feel” real. Automatic settings for many gas-powered guns include the blowback one experiences when firing a real gun.
  • Compactness—A spring-loaded or electric pistol would be improbable, as both require a certain amount of volume to operate effectively. Gas-powered guns are not so constrained, and can thus be conveniently petite.
  • Sheer, Brute Power—Gas-powered guns can achieve a tremendous muzzle velocity, providing the shooter with the ability to shoot with greater accuracy over longer distances. Like electric guns, gas-powered guns are capable of automatic firing.
  • Adjustable Velocity—The main advantage to a gas-powered Airsoft gun is its capacity for adjustable velocity. This trait allows the shooter to adapt to different types of combat at different ranges.

 

These are not characteristics most hobby shooters will require while they enact the zombie apocalypse, but the serious Airsoft enthusiast may appreciate the quirks and subtle edge of a gas-powered gun. Hybrid gas/electric guns are an option for those wanting the best of both worlds, offering the electric gun’s ease of use with the power of a gas-powered gun (but not, sadly, the authenticity of a real gun’s foibles).

 

To browse the best selection of Airsoft guns in the UK, check out our inventory on www.onlybbguns.co.uk! We stock the hottest brands, models, and components for Airsoft enthusiasts of every stripe.

 

FAQs

1.     What is a BB gun used for?  BB guns are mostly used for practice shooting and training. The stronger ones (i.e. Air Rifles) can also control pests or hunt small animals.

2.     Do you need a Licence in the UK for a BB gun? No, you don't need a licence for a BB gun in the UK, but there are rules. The BB Gun needs to be in two colours; one has to be a primary. All our guns are on the website as per default.

3.     Is a BB gun a good weapon?   BB guns, despite sometimes being seen as toys, can be dangerous. They fire pellets at high speeds and can cause serious harm, or even be deadly in some situations.

4.     Can you shoot BB guns in public in the UK without a Firearm license? BB guns in the UK navigate a legal grey area. While certain models, notably low-power 'soft air' types, typically evade classification as section 1 firearms, more potent versions may require a valid firearms certificate to avoid legal repercussions.

5.     Can you shoot a BB gun in your garden? You can use a BB gun in your garden under UK law, but you have to ensure the pellets don't go into your neighbour's yard, plot or land. If they do and you don't have permission, it's against the law.

6.     Which UK law am I breaking if the pellets go into my neighbour's law without permission?  If your BB gun pellets go into your neighbour's yard without permission, you're breaking UK laws. Specifically, the 1968 Firearms Act and possibly the 2003 Anti-Social Behaviour Act, because you may be causing your neighbours trouble or worry.