Spend a little bit of time in a sporting goods shop or get to know guys that are serious and you’ll soon find out that not all airsoft guns are the same. Naturally, there are airsoft pistols, rifles, shotguns, and other platforms modeled on different types of machine guns and other equipment, but these are usually only cosmetic differences.

Airsoft guns also vary in the way they operate, and you’d better believe that has a much bigger impact on their practicality and usefulness than the shape of the gun.

When it comes to airsoft rifles, the three main categories of operation are spring airsoft guns, gas-powered guns, and battery-powered (or electric) airsoft guns. Here’s a quick breakdown of the value of each.

Spring Airsoft Rifles

Spring-powered airsoft guns use a spring that powers a piston to propel the BB out of the barrel. These types of airsoft guns can be very powerful and fast, but as a general rule, they are not useful for competitive play because the action must be cycled manually between each shot. There is, however, one glaring exception to this rule.

Airsoft sniper rifles are almost exclusively powered by spring pistons and a bolt-action. The main drawback to a spring action is that you need to be able to utilize a high rate of fire under pressure; a spring airsoft gun cannot offer you this. However, due to the nature of the concealment and stealth exhibited by most players as snipers, this high rate of fire is not necessary.

Speed, power, and accuracy are more important to these players, and airsoft sniper rifles often provide this is no small order.

Gas Airsoft Guns

Gas airsoft rifles are more practical in competitive engagements because they offer a much higher rate of fire than spring powered guns. Using green gas or CO2 as a propellant, they utilize a gas blowback (GBB) mechanism that cycles much like the action of a real rifle. This gives gas rifles a much more authentic, much cooler feel to them.

The other thing about gas rifles is that players can carry more than one cartridge of gas with them into a match, which is highly valuable. Batteries die and lose power as they sit around, so even if you carry multiple rechargeable batteries with you in the field, you can’t carry a battery charger. This gives a slight edge in preference to gas rifles, at least for some players.

Despite this, however, most competitive players prefer to use automatic electric guns (AEGs) in the course of matches because they are just as fast and powerful and because most electric airsoft replicas and other electric guns have a higher capacity than gas guns

Electric Airsoft Rifles (Including AEGS)

The final category consists of electric, battery-powered airsoft rifles. These comprise all-electric powered airsoft guns, but a class of them are known as AEGs or automatic electric guns. The best AEGs in the industry are some of the most high-quality, highest performing airsoft rifles in the game today.

Many AEGs feature all-metal construction or at least construction from high-impact, extremely durable polymers. They can typically accept a number of different accessories and attachments from optics to magazines to slings. They also offer an impressive rate of fire and many can be paired with hi-cap magazines for impressive performance. Pair with this the fact that most if not all electric guns have adjustable hop-up systems and are highly modular and you have the makings of the most popular airsoft weapons on the airsoft battlefield.

Call Us for Advice

Now you should have a working knowledge of the differences between the categories of airsoft rifles that we sell here at MiR Tactical, but if you want to learn more or get our professional take on what type of airsoft gun you should carry into a match, by all means, call us!

We’d love to help you determine which airsoft gun is best for you, and we’ve done it before for many of our clients. Just give us a call at 800-581-6620.

Don’t Go without Tactical Gear and the Other Essentials

One more thing, before you leave. An airsoft replica rifle isn’t the only thing you’ll need to carry into a match. It isn’t even the only thing you’ll need even if you only plan to plink. You’ll still need airsoft BBs, magazines, batteries and chargers, gas, and other accessories at the bare minimum.

Needless to say, you can get them all here, but you also pick up sidearm airsoft pistols, airsoft shotguns, and a variety of other tactical gear here. Take a look through our collection today and remember, all orders get a price match guarantee and flat-rate shipping, and some even qualify for free shipping!