Everyone has a personal style of play and that’s part of what makes airsoft so interactive and so challenging. Teams are made up of individual players that have their own quirks, equipment, and methods of tackling challenges and objectives. It’s a dynamic game of strategy, the likes of which are rare elsewhere. In short, it’s a great game with a lot of room for strategy and creative out of the box thinking.

When it comes down to style of play, this can be boiled down further into the types of airsoft guns that players prefer, and how those players utilize supporting tactical gear and attachments. Some players like to use a bare AEG with no attachments because the thrill of shooting over open sights seems more personal. Then, of course, there are the gearheads who feel like an airsoft gun isn’t even worth shooting until you’ve doubled its weight with airsoft attachments. Between these two extremes, there is room for a lot of customization according to the style of play you prefer, and there’s no denying that some airsoft attachments can improve your game. Consider some of these for the various scenarios you are likely to encounter in the field during a match.

Optics

First and foremost come optics because they are, far and away, the most common attachments that most airsoft players will use and with which they will become familiar. There are many different types of optics out there and the most common forms you will encounter are in the form of scopes and reflex sights.

Scopes can really improve your game, but they aren’t useful in every situation. Generally, scopes are most practical for snipers and for players who will be covering a large amount of territory. Since shooting with a scope diminishes your sight picture and can adversely affect target acquisition, a scope is most practical for unharassed shooters working from a relatively stable position. That being said, at long-range a scope can vastly improve your ability to connect with targets, and it can provide you the benefits of reconnaissance as well.

The most common forms of reflex sights you will come across are probably red dot sights, which offer an improvement over iron sights with some of the benefits of scopes. With a red dot sight, you keep a full, clear sight picture and the time needed for target acquisition is much lower than with a scope. At the same time, you don’t need to line up two sights or work with the crosshairs - you just guide the red dot at the intended point of impact and shoot. Red dots can be fast, effective, and accurate, especially in close quarters.

Lights and Lasers

Rail-mounted lights can be a real game-changer if there are large indoor compounds as part of a given airsoft course, or if you are playing in what are otherwise low light conditions. In addition to the fact that a light gives the person behind it the advantage of being able to see, lights have the ability to startle and disorient targets which can be an important element of surprise during a match.

Lasers are more akin to optics in that they help with target acquisition and accuracy. You can mount a laser sight to the bottom of your airsoft pistol or to the side rail of your AEG and make the most use of it in close-quarters engagements. You can become much faster and more proficient with a laser sight and some practice.

Sling Points

Sling points can be a valuable attachment if only because they are so cheap, lightweight and low profile and can make it much easier to carry your airsoft guns around. If you are covering a lot of ground during a match and need to keep up with a lot of other gear, carrying your rifle via a sling can free up your hands to do other, more important work.

Saddles

Saddles are another really useful addition to the catalog of airsoft attachments. As we mentioned in the previous section, some matches will require you to be more prepared with gear than others, which means space can really command a premium. Most tactical vests have pockets dedicated to the storage of shells, airsoft bbs, loaders, and magazines, but you can also find saddles that will hold shells or magazines for you. It’s a great way to keep the necessities close at hand without, to use the expression, keeping your hands full.

Anti-Cant Device

We’re including this interesting device here because it’s a great attachment for those who don’t want to weigh themselves down with a ton of attachments. If you shoot over open sights, it is critical that you don’t shoot on a cant, especially over long distances. Shooting on a cant over long distances can counteract the positive effects of the hop-up system and can throw your accuracy way off. Set your rifle up with an anti cant device and you can be sure your aim will be true.

There are many other airsoft attachments out there, but these are some of the most valuable and widely used. Consider your style of play, and if you have any questions about these or any other attachments or airsoft gun accessories we offer that can help you refine your skills, give us a call at 800-581-6620 and we’d be glad to help.