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"Air Soft" is a generic term used to describe guns that are very
commonly accurate replicas of real firearms that fire,
using gas, spring, or electricity, 6mm ceramic, metallic, or
plastic pellets. The
accuracy of reproduction is quite startling. The picture of the MP5 that
has been on the Unofficial H&K USP Home Page for so long is actually
an Air Soft replica (note the telltale green pellets in the magazines.)
Air Soft pellets are propelled in one of three ways: gas, spring, or electric. Gas systems can either use an external gas source (such as a compressor with a hose) or an internal source. These are truly amazing because the gas actually cycles the action of a semiauto to mimic the true operation of the firearm.
Electric systems, most often for selective fire replicas, use a motor which compresses a spring which strikes a plunger that propels the pellet forward through the barrel. These generally use rechargeable batteries that are commonly used to power RC cars. This is the system that is used to power the MP5 on this page.
Spring piston powered systems are probably the most powerful and accurate, but are usually only single shot. The user pulls back a bolt which compresses a spring. When released, the spring pushes a piston forward which then generates air pressure to propel the pellet forward through the barrel.
There are currently quite a few manufacturers of Air Soft type pistols and I'm still gathering information about the different types. Some that have definitely sparked my attention include the HK MP5K 9mm submachine gun (uses the electrically powered reduction gear that fires at ~800 RPM at over 300fps,) the Beretta M93R (the select fire Beretta pistol complete with folding shoulder stock,) and of course, the HK USP40 (a gas blowback powered replica of the most advanced semi-automatic pistol in the world.) Note that the MP5K pictured above uses a gas type propulsion system.
There are few sources of Soft Air guns for non-law enforcement due to legal difficulties with the ATF, Customs, Product Liability, Patents and Trademarks. It seems that M. Frost International has a bunch of gas blowback pistols sitting in US Customs until a patent issue is resolved. Michael Frost of MFI has graciously agreed to send me a T&E unit to review for this page as soon as this matter is resolved. He has since sent me a copy of his FA MAS F1, an electric, select fire bullpup carbine. See the review section further down the page.
For those interested, Vincent Ryan Wong carries a full line of Air Soft guns. He has an MP5K model that is accurate down to the factory proofmarks which goes for somewhere around $280. Email him for information on how to get his catalog ($10US).
Shown on the right is the FA MAS F1 Air Soft bullpup rifle. Michael Frost
of MFI, one of the leading distributors
of Air Soft type products on the Internet, graciously sent me a T&E unit
for this review. This model is powered by an included Ni-Cad rechargeable
battery, and is selective fire. It uses standard 6mm plastic pellets and
shoots them at over 300 feet per second. The FA MAS is available through
MFI for $350, which includes battery,
charger, and 100 pellets.
The resemblance to the real FA MAS is remarkable. This replica will certainly get you killed if used in an irresponsible manner. The detachable 60 round magazine, barrel and bipod are steel, while the body is tough ABS plastic. With the battery in place, the weight and balance of the rifle are excellent. All the extras work as they should. The grenade launcher, bipod, and peep sights are as real as they get.
Operation is simple. With the battery installed inside the forward grip, flip the selector switch under the buttstock from safe to either single fire or full auto. With the weapon aimed downrange, push the safety flap inside the trigger guard to the left or to the right (it's fully ambidextrous) and depress the trigger. Then it's time to rock and roll. This weapon is very accurate and easily punches through paper from across a large room. In full auto, while held steady, it's possible to empty an entire 60 round magazine in a 1" hole at an amazing 500 rounds per minute! The flip up peep sights are easy to use and can be zeroed by the operator. The dummy charging handle operates like the actual FA MAS as does the bipod. Included is a detachable cheekpiece/brass deflector that can be attached on either side for fully ambidextrous characteristics. This is one mean machine.
If you are a citizen of California, Air Soft rifles may be the closest thing to real full auto you can own. For training purposes, this may be an invaluable tool. With proper protection, I fathom that force on force training in a controlled environment would be possible. Also, with the current political climate and ranges closing left and right, Air Soft replicas may be an excellent supplement to shooting at the range and learning proper weapons handling and trigger control.
After evaluating the FA MAS F1 for a month, I was sad to return it to MFI. Though it was not the real thing, it was a welcome, albeit temporary addition to my firearms collection. For fun or training, I highly recommend it to any firearms enthusiast.
The following set of images are of products available through
MFI, one of the leading distributors
of Air Soft replicas on the Internet. Please give them a visit.
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And now for your viewing pleasure, the Soft Air Girls. Keep in mind that this section is not for the faint of heart. By clicking on the picture on the left, you agree that you are not offended by scantily clad (or un-clad as the case
may be) women holding replicas of state of the art weaponry.
Also, bear in mind that these pictures are for entertainment value only,
as many firearms safety rules are broken in these images.
That said, on with the show! |