Crosman

If you have paid any attention to sports like paint ball you will have no doubt at least heard the term "airsoft" often in conjunction with the name Crosman or with the term "gun". You may have found yourself wondering exactly what this term means. This is relatively new term and is directly related to a newer type of weapon that is currently in use by both the police and the military as a training tool. In recent years these guns have also found their way into military war gaming sports in much the same was as paintball, but without the mess.

Companies like Crosman have created a series of rifles, machine guns and hand guns that are so realistic that if it were not for the bright orange tips on the barrels it might be impossible to tell the difference between them and the real thing. Instead of bullets or paintballs these weapons fire plastic pellets via a compressed gas cylinder, usually CO2, a spring loaded mechanism or in some cases and electric motor. Most beginners start out with a spring loaded weapon as they are easy to use and generally the least expensive. Airsoft weapons like those made by Crosman got their start in the 80s in Japan where it is illegal for residents to own real firearms. While they may not be able to own real firearms the desire to own them and use them still exists with many of them.

As such toy manufacturers decided to create a complete line of highly functional weapons that were exact replicas of the real thing, but were completely non-lethal. The name airsoft was created specifically to make them sound like toys. They are in fact by all legal descriptions a toy and as such must be fitted with a bright orange muzzle tip in order to be imported into the US. Weapons made by companies like Crosman produce high quality weapons that can be used for war gaming once the tips have been painted over to make them harder to see when the players are hiding. For safety it is against the law to carry one of these weapons in public with the tip covered or painted over because they replicate the real weapons so realistically that law enforcement officers cannot tell the difference. As for them being toys in many ways they are and as long as the children who are using them are wearing the appropriate safety gear and clothing. In general as long as the person firing the weapon is at least 10 feet away from the intended "victim" no harm should be done, however the face and eyes should be properly protected. If you are looking for Crosman airsoft supplies including weapons, ammunition and accessories there is only one place online to shop. At Simply BB Guns you will find a full selection of airsoft supplies at rock bottom prices. They work with all of the most popular manufacturers to bring you a wealth of supplies at prices that will fit most budgets.