Practical Airsoft Recommends:
28 Days Later (VHS/PAL UK Video)
28 Days Later (Soundtrack CD)
28 Days Later (Book)
Fuji Finepix A204 digital camera
Cobra Microtalk 110 PMR446 2-way radio
What IS Airsoft Skirmishing?
Airsoft 'skirmish' games are the latest version of 'tag', but with toy guns that fire a 6mm plastic pellet.
You may well have heard of 'paintball' games. Unlike paintball games, the guns used in an airsoft skirmish game look remarkably like 'real world' firearms. They are, of course, NOT firearms.
About the guns, generally...
While outwardly appearing to resemble 'real world' firearms, Airsoft guns are not firearms. Airsoft guns fire a plastic 'bb', or ball, of about 6 millimeters diameter. The guns are specifically designed to fire these pellets, and only these pellets. The method they use to achieve this is by the use of a small 'pump', which delivers a measured amount of air behind the pellet, which is then forced though a smooth-bore barrel, to fly toward whatever the user of the airsoft gun has aimed at, which is normally another player of the game.
You might be worried about this, i.e., that you would be firing plastic pellets at other people, and vice-verse. There is nothing to really worry about. The velocity (speed) of the pellet, combined with its' very low weight (0.2-0.4 grams), means that at the very worst, a small bruise of about 6mm will be caused, and only if the firer is at very close range to his or her target (that's right - girls and women play too). The sort of range we're talking about here, would be less than about five to ten metres.
About the types of gun...
Airsoft guns fire in a variety of methods, all basically the same. There are 'spring', 'gas', and 'electric' (or 'AEG') guns available.
'Spring' guns fire one pellet at a time, having to be manually re-cocked for each shot. They have a lower range than other modes of gun.
'Gas' guns use an inert gas, normally CFC-free gas, which delivers a higher range than a spring gun. In addition, these can fire either semi-automatic or fully automatic fire ('select fire', which incorporates semi- and -automatic fire), depending on the model of airsoft gun used. Mostly, these are used in pistol format guns, firing one shot for each squeeze of the trigger, or 'semi-automatic' fire. Some versions of these airsoft pistols (called 'Blowback' guns) even go so far as to simulate the 'slide' (the top part of an automatic pistol) moving in simulated cartridge ejecton (nothing is ejected, though) - at a cost of using more gas!
The new kid on the block, so to speak, is the electrically powered airsoft gun. These are called 'AEG's, or 'Automatic Electric Guns'. These are modelled on either rifles or sub-machine guns, and can fire in select fire mode. They use a small electrically-powered motor, powered by a battery, and supply greater range and more rapid rates of fire.
The games...
Let's take a fairly typical example of a skirmish game, using the 'Take The Flag' scenario. Two (or more, if numbers and confusion permits!) teams of equal numbers start at different locations ('bases'). The object of the game is to capture the other team's flag, without losing your own flag to the other team (the 'enemy'). The teams attack and defend against each other's assaults, which comprise what the Army calls 'Fire and Manouevre' actions. Note that no fist-fighting or other forms of hand-to-hand fighting, are permitted in these games. Eliminating an enemy is achieved by shooting him (or her) with your airsoft gun. You get hit, and you're out of the game (to re-appear in any sequels that come up?!).
That, in a nutshell, is what Airsoft Skirmishing is all about. To put it another way, it's paintball, without the messy paint!