From manually operated spring loaded pistols to fully automatic electric rifles, the variety of guns available to airsoft players today is vast. Airsoft players have more options than ever when choosing what types of guns to add to their collections. The guns used for airsoft fall into one of three main categories based on how they are powered:
Spring Loaded
Spring loaded guns fire single shots using the potential energy stored in a spring, which is compressed when the gun is cocked and then released when you shoot. Cocking a spring loaded gun compresses the spring in preparation for the next shot, so spring loaded guns must be cocked before each shot.
In general, spring loaded airsoft guns cost less than their electric or gas powered counterparts, making them popular starter guns for newcomers to the sport. Most experienced players prefer electric or gas airsoft guns for their power and realistic feel.
Electric
Electric guns, also called airsoft AEGs (automatic electric guns) because of their automatic or semi-automatic capabilities, utilize an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery to cycle an internal piston or spring that fires the pellets. Because of their power, performance and realism, AEGs are the most common type you will see used in the sport of airsoft and are also the most widely available.
Gas
Gas guns are powered by pressurized gas – in the form of either green gas or CO2 – that is used to propel pellets from the chamber. Unlike spring loaded guns, gas airsoft guns do not have to be manually cocked before each shot. Gas powered airsoft guns are renowned for their power and precision. They are further classified as either non-blowback or blowback airsoft guns .
A blowback airsoft gun will have a slide that kicks back each time a shot is fired, mimicking the feel of firing a real gun. Non-blowback guns, on the other hand, have fixed slides and revolvers, and do not kick back as blowback guns do. Non-blowback guns give airsofters an economical alternative to blowback gas guns, but because of their realism blowback guns remain the most popular type of gas gun.
Deciding which type of gun you prefer for the sport of airsoft may just take some trial and error. Many airsoft players have different types of guns to use for different purposes.