30 replies to this topic

[usmc0621fro]

You’ll shoot your eye out!
But the latest air guns help take away the sting

By C. Mark Brinkley
Times staff writer


  
Let ’em know, you’ll be back.

LAS VEGAS — So much for the trusty Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle.

That might have been good enough for plunking cans 50 years ago, but these days, the game has changed — it’s all about victory through superior firepower.

Tippmann Sports aims to deliver.

Arguably the top manufacturer in the paintball industry, Tippmann unveiled a new line of weapons Feb. 9 at the 28th Annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Unlike the company’s other products, these don’t send globs of paint zipping through the air at high speeds. Instead, the weapons fire “airsoft pellets” — inexpensive, lightweight plastic balls, easily cleaned up with a broom or vacuum cleaner. Unlike their metal predecessors, airsoft projectiles generally won’t pierce skin, and they don’t pack the sting of paintballs.

Airsoft’s been all the rage in Japan and other Asian countries for nearly 20 years, edging out paintball as the war game of choice. In recent years, airsoft has picked up steam in the U.S., with many players buying foreign products from specialty stores or via the Internet.

“A lot of the paintball fields are now having airsoft days,” said Ron Goldblatt, a Tippmann representative. “We’re trying to get involved and turn it into a real sport.”

A handful of American companies have tried to cut into the foreign market, launching airsoft lines that often resemble M16 rifles and popular handguns. Compared to the Tippmann weapons, however, the difference is obvious.

“I think the market is hungry for a quality air gun,” said Bill Bussler, a Tippmann representative. “Something that feels real.”

The new weapons will begin shipping to stores in April, with prices ranging from $25 for a spring-powered pistol to $150 for a fully automatic, battery-powered AK47 variant.

“It’s a heavier-weight product with a high rate of fire,” Goldblatt said, showing off prototypes of the new weapons. “We’re trying to do as much with it as we can.”

The weapons are fine for kids playing on a field under adult supervision, but these aren’t really toy guns. Imagine the stir Little Johnny might cause, walking down the street with a “mock” AK47, spraying the neighbors. We can hear the 911 calls already.

As with the Red Ryder, you could still put your eye out. Most players wear goggles or full-face masks to prevent permanent damage to the head.

Damage to your pride after being ambushed by a 10-year-old in a sandlot firefight? Well, that’s your own worry.


     Ok who the hell is Tippmann to say they are "trying to turn airsoft into a REAL sport." I think airsoft had been doing just fine without the paintball companies being involved. Tippmann really ###### me off with this one. I looked at their line of weapons and I am very unimpressed. I honestly feel like Tippmann's comment is an insult to all the work alot of us have done to bring airsoft into the big picture in the world. I for one will be boycotting Tippmann's products. Airsoft is already a REAL sport cause we haven't sold out to big companies and started appearing on ESPN with a thousand sponsors on our uniforms.

[Donut]

Great... the last thing airsoft needs is publicity...  

[AdamLazzara]

I believe this topic was brought up once before. Dig a little...

But Tippman's not even manufacturing the guns. They are doing what leapers did, Which is buy chinese guns at dirt, then package them up all nice (and in english) then ship them to us for triple what they paid.  And I dont care how nice Tippman paint guns are, I'm not buying an airsoft gun from them, I'll stick to my CA or TM.

[meGrimlock]

well, of course tippmann is going to tell people that they are going to do it better than everyone else, they are trying to sell their ######!


but yeah, i don't think we need to start a tippmann boycott, i think it will happen naturally. very unlikely that tippmann can compete with companies like tm and ca because they already hold so much of the market. besides, to keep costs down, tippman probably buys labor from china, so i doubt the guns will be any better than the cheap hk clones.

[Krazy L]

Oh dear god No....Well there goes this sport....  the day Airsoft goes mainstream I am starting wargames with fish slapping....

[Slade xTekno]

     Ok who the hell is Tippmann to say they are "trying to turn airsoft into a REAL sport." I think airsoft had been doing just fine without the paintball companies being involved. Tippmann really ###### me off with this one. I looked at their line of weapons and I am very unimpressed. I honestly feel like Tippmann's comment is an insult to all the work alot of us have done to bring airsoft into the big picture in the world. I for one will be boycotting Tippmann's products. Airsoft is already a REAL sport cause we haven't sold out to big companies and started appearing on ESPN with a thousand sponsors on our uniforms.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As much as I dislike the notion of airsoft becoming a "real sport," I feel that I must present the other side, inspired by your rather feeble response.

Some may cite paintball as a example of a fringe sport gone "real."  It is already too late for paintball, and as a former player of five years I would know.  Rudeness and a defiance of authority are now standard and is expected from tournament players.  There are still players from the beginning still struggle hold on to the spirit that the sport was founded on, but those are few and far between.
We have a different opportunity with airsoft; with airsoft comes [in my opinion] a code of military-inspired honor.  If we accept new players with open arms and instill in them the spirit of this code, we will have a strong base of players that can fairly represent our sport.  However, if we continue to remain hostile to the "newbie," they will simply see our honor as superficial, and will treat it as such and maybe spread it to those whom they invite to join.  

By the way, it's cute how you make it sound like Tippman's Chinese imported clones hard to boycott.

[usmc0621fro]

Oh dear god No....Well there goes this sport....  the day Airsoft goes mainstream I am starting wargames with fish slapping....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

AMEN with the fish slapping brother!

[Scoped.In]

the army reserve people near me have started a team for training and they all use TM or CA.

[Serotonin]

Oh dear god No....Well there goes this sport....  the day Airsoft goes mainstream I am starting wargames with fish slapping....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well think of us Brits for once.

If Airsoft was 'mainstream' then we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now with the porspect of a ban.

Seeing as how some US states (Florida etc) have proposed airsoft bans, then I think American players need to get their heads out of their arses if they have this attitude. You could be next.
Anything that legitimises Airsoft further has to be a good thing.

[Maple-Leaf]

Anything that legitimises Airsoft further has to be a good thing.

Hear, hear!

BUT, its down to us players, site owners and retailers to "own" and promote, defend and extend the sport.  NOT some loud-mouthed, know-nothing American company that doesn't even manufacture their own stuff.

Tippmann can spout off all the macho marketing hype they want to - but who's it going to impress?  Certainly not the thousands of EXISTING airsofters; and if Tippmann is really looking to be a significant player in this market then they shouldn't start off by alienating their target customers.  

[Sale]

Most players wear goggles or full-face masks

Isn't that all players?

Definitely not a good move to talk BS like that while trying to sell something.

[Bert]

Well think of us Brits for once.

If Airsoft was 'mainstream' then we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now with the porspect of a ban.

Seeing as how some US states (Florida etc) have proposed airsoft bans, then I think American players need to get their heads out of their arses if they have this attitude. You could be next.
Anything that legitimises Airsoft further has to be a good thing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd rather not play airsoft than play a dumbed-down version of paintball. The whole point is that airsoft ISN'T a sport and shouldn't be, it's a hobby. A simulation game.

[TDS]

Some may cite paintball as a example of a fringe sport gone "real."  It is already too late for paintball, and as a former player of five years I would know.  Rudeness and a defiance of authority are now standard and is expected from tournament players.  There are still players from the beginning still struggle hold on to the spirit that the sport was founded on, but those are few and far between.
We have a different opportunity with airsoft; with airsoft comes [in my opinion] a code of military-inspired honor.  If we accept new players with open arms and instill in them the spirit of this code, we will have a strong base of players that can fairly represent our sport.  However, if we continue to remain hostile to the "newbie," they will simply see our honor as superficial, and will treat it as such and maybe spread it to those whom they invite to join. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bravo
+1

and thats going in my F'ing sig

[TheQuietWarlock]

Amen brotha!

That too ###### me off, Tippman has no right to say their turning airsoft into a real sport. That's pretty much what they said with Paintball, which long ago use to be like airsoft, in the woods, and tactical, and then it got turned into a rich noobies fest TV showing sport.

Their guns seem to be another UTG variant, and I think we will be seeing a great increase in noobs. My greatest concern, is that Tippman corrupts airsoft.

Airsoft is already *fruitcage*ed. You ask 10 random people on the streets what airsoft is, 75% of them will not know what it is, and 25% will say that airsoft is awesome for picking up a cheap gun and shooting at cars when your bored. Now, airsoft being much more known due to Tippman, there will be more people purchasing cheap guns and shooting at cars when your bored.

The day I see Tippman START corrupting airsoft, I will purchase a plane ticket, and protest outside of the Tippman factory.

Edited by TheQuietWarlock, 09 April 2006 - 12:18 PM.

[Onerimeuse]

I hear that. I landed in paintball at the very end of it's hayday.. right as speedball took over, and inflatable courses started ruling the game.. the day my M4 is orange and blue, and the MOUT site for the opp comes with an aircompressor, people start dying.

until then, this is kinda 50 50.. I mean, we've allready got brass eagle equivalants in the sport, thanks to american companies trying to get in on the game. the main differance now is that maaaaaybe it'll bump america up in the airsoft market standings, and companies here will pick up the ball and quit making 10$ springers.

I just don't want it commercialized, so you can be a pro airsofter.. as cool as it would be to play airsoft, and get payed for it, I think it would remove the sportmanship from the game alltogether.

ah well, that's my semi organized ramble.. I'm suprized I didn't see that in army times, must have missed that weeks. read the article about that unit out of washington? the 55 this, 108 that, something something... damn cool. damn i need to swap to 11b.

and i need more sleep.

Edited by Onerimeuse, 09 April 2006 - 08:04 PM.

[Slade xTekno]

@TheQuietWarlock: How long have you played paintball?  How much do you know about its history?  I want to get a good measure of your experience before I set the tone of my response.

[Kingmob3]

It will be intresting what happens when those players that buy tippman attempt to play in a skirm with proper AEG's. My feeling is that about 25% will convert to quality equipment(ie CA,TM STAR etc), whale the other 75% will whine about the cost(as in PB) and degrade our sport by cheating.

Eventually, as in all things demand for quality equipment will push this stuff to the back shelf in the hardware stores sports section with CYMA, Lepers, and CyberGun.

I do however see a problem that could come from this: the same tactic that CyberGun used in the US to attempt to force people to by there products: Support law's that would prohibit the import and sale of replicas w/o a orange tip and that arent clear.I have a feeling that tippmann wouldent hesitate to do this, as for them as most companys its not about the sport but about the profit.

Overall this will help our player base in the US, however it also will probably create more gun phobia, and new legislation that has its head firmly up its ass.

The real problem for the US is that the majority of asian manufactures who make quality equipment dont care about the US markte as we are a minority. If any of the major manufactures, aside from Systma set up a booth at the SHOT show the US manufactures would be sent packing.All they realy need is somebody who's willing to set up a US office and put a bit of money into good PR.
KM3

[TheQuietWarlock]

@TheQuietWarlock: How long have you played paintball?  How much do you know about its history?  I want to get a good measure of your experience before I set the tone of my response.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Never touched paintball. I know I was wrong saying Tippmann converted paintball into speedball, but this is possibly what's going on with airsoft.

Paintball was once primarily like airsoft, woodland and CQB. And then it got converted in to speedsball.

If Tippmann, CYMA, UTG, if they keep all this up, and airsoft gets more well known, it will become more of a competition sport, than a hobby sport.

[Tunershark]

yea i read that article in the times, that was a ahile back though i think

[stack27]

Not to bust any bubbles but i'm pretty sure tippmann is only doing this because they don't want to go down with paintball. The economy is low and since paintball is so expensive...it's dying off.