5 Steps To The "Perfect Airsoft Gun" Shopping Guide

Alrighty then,

Now listen up parents and new airsoft players! "There are no perfect airsoft guns when it comes to quality"...Did you hear that? None!

However there are some choices you can make that will assure you are equipped with good basic airsoft equipment and a good safe airsoft game starter package that includes a quality checked airsoft gun so you and-or your childs first airsoft experiance is not a huge dissappointment.

1st. Research the airsoft gun model you will purchase- Airsoft guns now come in a mind boggling assortment of styles, designs and models. Your first decision needs to be which style you prefer...M16's, mp5's, and AK47's are just a few of the more common styles available. You can now buy almost every style of weapon used from world war two airsoft guns too, todays ultra tactical sniper and full automatic machine guns being used in wars overseas as I write this...Most will be 6mm caliber airsoft but some now feature a slightly larger 8mm caliber airsoft BB for muzzle realism. Some will have plastic gearboxes (not reccomended) some will have metal gearboxes, some operate on airsoft gas, some on propane, research cost $0. Can't find your answer...Call our Airsoft Gun Repair Department today at 715-514-0485

2nd. Research the airsoft safety gear you will purchase- This should probably be #1 on the list as it truly is the number 1 consideration that should be addressed either before or at the time of purchase. Eye protection must be purchased before you play airsoft. Many kinds are available but all must meet the impact standard for goggles as listed by ANZI 87.1 to be considered safe
Due to fogging issues in hot or humid climates many airsoft fields allow heavy mesh masks to be worn which will not fog up...ever, eliminating the threat of someone raising their goggles during a game due to fogging issues. However these must not be used with bio-degradable airsoft BB's. Average cost $20.00 for mesh $60 to $150 for good "no fog airsoft safety goggles"

3rd. Your budget: I frequently tell customers at airsoft battle zone to not purchase a new airsoft gun until they have saved more money. There are airsoft gun models featured online and at retailers that sell for less than 100 hundred dollars. If you have the mechanical aptitude and budget to replace broken cheap plastic body parts and weak gearbox internals then buy one...otherwise it is going to cost you a minimum of $120.00 for a quality 50% metal airsoft gun and 200 dollars or better for a full metal version.

4Th. Pick your model- After due diligence and research and once you have picked a model that fits your budget, go and feel it, handle it or call an airsoft retailer or repair shop and ask about your chosen model. Ask questions like: "how durable it is stock or new in the box"? How easy is it to get repair parts for this airsoft model? How hard is it to maintain and lubricate this airsoft gun model? Can I get an airsoft gun repair manual for this model? At airsoft battle zone every airsoft gun model is test fired and adjusted before we sell them to our customers. If you live in Wisconsin you can drive out to our airsoft field and game store located in Fairchild and test fire our airsoft models before you buy. We also have teamed up with technicians from our airsoft gun repair department and developed in depth repair manuals for most styles of quality airsoft guns we sell.

5th There is no perfect airsoft gun: Even the good ones have strengths and weaknesses as they are mechanical devices. Any airsoft gun will require periodic maintenance and repair, much like a car or any vehicle, you must oil and grease fast moving parts on your airsoft gun to maintain peak performance. Many veteran airsoft players have learned to rebuild guns themselves or only buy durability upgraded guns, again these are not the perfect airsoft gun but common models which have been quality checked and higher performance and more durable parts have been pre installed by an airsoft technician or airsmith.

Well now you at least have a starting point on your quest for the perfect airsoft gun. Just a quick FYI if you "find it" shoot us a message over at the Wisconsin Airsoft Forums we are a group of airsoft players technicians and retailers who have been wandering the globe since airsoft started and are still in search of the "perfect airsoft gun".

Free Airsoft Games in Wisconsin

Hey, when is the next airsoft game at ABZ?. This has become a real common question these days with spring knocking on our back door. Well now its simple...Every Sunday in 2008 we will have games at the Airsoft Battle Zone airsoft store and game field located in Fairchild, WI. We are currently about 50% done with building and airsoft store renovations, our AEG rental center is open for business right on the airsoft field, and features a nice selection of $20 a day rental airsoft guns. Both the field and store will be open from 10:00 AM until 5 PM every Sunday with the exception of our travel days to other major airsoft events in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota. Check our ABZ Airsoft Game Calendar for specific game dates and times. You will have to fill out a waiver which can be done online at airsoftbattlezone.com or at the field, but a parent or guardian must sign with anyone under 18. On the calender you will note that there are Open Free airsoft Games, FATPD airsoft games and larger paid airsoft production events.

Let me Explain:

1st. The open airsoft game days are free. Bring your buddies and play together all day however you want, or join other groups of players for a larger game.

2nd. FATPD airsoft games are free airsoft games with a scripted scenario. These games will follow a certain storyline and usually will have special rules and regulations attached ie: Mid cap magazines only, special airsoft medic rules, cqb house special rules, game props in use and more scenario related guidelines.

3rd. Paid airsoft games are larger scenarios with annual game dates. These games typically play once a year and the entry varies from $20 to $50 depending on the event, how long it lasts (1 or 2 days) These large scenarios typically have MVP giveaways, cash prizes, door prizes or a variety of airsoft gear and gadgets available. These are full fledged airsoft productions sponsored by a plethora of airsoft companies.

4th. Airsoft Rentals are available for $20 dollars a day and include Metal Gearbox AEG of your choice, Full face mask, 1 hi-cap Magazine, battery. Airsoft bb's are available for purchase as well.

In closing let me remind players we are a Wisconsin Airsoft Association affiliated airsoft field and store meaning you must sign up and take the WAA AEC saftey course at a Wisconsin airsoft field to continue to be eligible to play on these fields. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the sport but if you choose to begin playing regular scheduled games then the Airsoft Education Course will be a requirement. Hope to see many new players join in the airsoft games this year. If you have any questions please visit the ABZ Wisconsin airsoft forum and ask the players as most are more than willing to help out.

C ya on Game day!
Armsdealer

Airsoft Players Tribute

Since I had lots of pictures from the 2007 airsoft game season we decided to put a little music with a slide show of people we airsofted with in 2007.



Enjoy! Armsdealer

Airsoft Forum Tunnel Vision

Airsoft Tunnel Vision

Airsoft Tunnel Vision

Call it what you want we have all experienced it at one time or another. Something we have wanted really bad, had to have, searched for a long long time to no avail, then one day CLICK OMG... there it is, the Golden AEG and its only 2 gazillion dollars, click, click, type... click, got it, its mine hahahaha! Hmmmm....Who did I buy that from?? Click contact us first, before website buys!

Caution is required anytime you make any online purchases, and the contact us page is the starting point for any safe online commercial airsoft website purchase. Random airsoft forum buys must be watched carefully as well, since most airsoft forums do not have a contact us page for each user. Most will allow you to click on a user name and view user entered information in a separate window. Moderators on airsoft forums can be private messaged to ask about the credibility of a seller or buyer. Be sure to PM the mods and not ask publicly as this is considered bad forum netiquette. On our Wisconsin Airsoft Forum most teams will list the stuff they have for sale on their boards or post and let people know to check out a large sale on the team website. As most players know each other from local airsoft games, you already know of this persons integrity or you know someone on the forums who can vouch for them. Most airsoft team boards and forums are free to join and the recent increase in airsoft teams with websites can only mean the sport is growing rapidly so the importance of safe airsoft tunnel vision shopping will greatly increase your enjoyment of the sport. Shopping airsoft forums can be like having little mini airsoft garage sales all over your neighborhood and with a little caution as safe as the local gas station.