The Short Answer

“Airsoft gun” refers to a sort of imitation firearm that propels 6mm-8mm plastic “BBs,” generally for gaming and recreational purposes. Because these devices do not eject projectiles via controlled explosions, they are not “firearms” according to Federal Law. (For more on this, see “Are Airsoft Guns Firearms?“) However, as replicas, they are often manufactured to look like real weapons, and so carry some risk.

Airsoft “weapons” were designed to be fired at people as part of a combat-simulation game. Hence, this sort of play can possibly be safe given the construction and function of the guns (e.g., they generally shoot their pellets at relatively low velocities), provided that players are be properly outfitted with safety gear and observe the Airsoft rules of engagement, and that the guns used have not been neglected, tampered with, or otherwise modified.

A Longer Answer

In general, and similarly to so-called “paintball” guns, Airsoft guns are intended to be fired at people in the context of play combat. This is quite unlike traditional “BB” guns (for example, those manufactured by Daisy Outdoor Products) and other weapons that usually expel metal ball-bearings or pellets. These latter devices are often used only for target practice, small-game hunting, or other, related activities.

Airsoft pellets generally weigh between 0.10 and 0.50 grams. They are usually ejected at velocities of 150 to 400 feet-per-second.

Therefore, the lightweight construction of the Airsoft ammunition, as well as its relatively low propulsion speed, allow for this difference. These two factors theoretically permit people to shoot safely at each other without fear of serious or mortal injury.

As long as players are equipped with the proper safety gear, Airsoft can be harmless fun.

Even though Airsoft guns are not nearly as dangerous as other sorts of pellet guns, they still have attendant risks.

Safety Concerns

Preliminary Question: Is There a Risk of Death?

News reports of Airsoft-related fatalities usually end up revolving around two, possibly interconnected things. Number one, otherwise innocent individuals are sometimes observed carrying or discharging Airsoft guns that are mistaken for actual firearms. In some cases, these individuals are then confronted by armed citizens or law-enforcement officers – occasionally with tragic results. (Airsoft players ought to give some thought to how they would – and should – respond if confronted, for whatever reason, by police officers.)

Number two, periodically, individuals will use Airsoft replica weapons in the commission of crimes such as assault or robbery. These instances, too, sometimes end disastrously.

Relatedly, serious injury or death could result from mixing regulation Airsoft guns with other types of weapons – for example, traditional BB guns, which have lethal track records.[1]

For more information on the attendant legal issues, see HERE. For safety recommendations from congresspersons and police officers, see HERE.

Primary Concern: Your Eyes

The first risk is bodily injury if proper safety is ignored or neglected. And the chief concern, here, is damage to the eyes. Adequate eye protection is an absolute must. Truth be told, most Airsoft fields and groups will require this of all participants.

At a minimum, “adequate eye protection” refers to glasses, goggles, or shields conforming to such standards as ASTM International’s[2] F2879 or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) protocol designated Z87.1.[3] Paintball-rated masks and eyewear (that fall under ASTM F1776) may also suffice.[4] Look for, and insist on, these designations with respect to any eyewear purchase that you make.

Regular eyeglasses, magnifiers, readers, sunglasses, and the like offer insufficient protection. The same can be said of non-ASTM-F2879/ANSI-Z87.1-rated safety goggles.

Workshop glasses are designed to protect wearers against flying debris of various kinds but may lack the sorts of side shields that serve to protect wearers from BBs and pellets coming at them from all angles.[5]

The danger to the eyes is severe and should not be ignored or understated. Even in a best-case scenario, Airsoft BBs may cause corneal scratches, internal bleeding, or lens dislocation. In worst-case scenarios, impacts to the eye could result in temporary or even permanent blindness. The practical bottom line is: Always protect your own eyes by sticking to Airsoft- and paintball-rated eye protection.

Moreover, to protect others: Don’t fire at anyone who isn’t wearing the proper eyewear.

Even if you or your child are only plinking targets, wear eye protection. Low-velocity pellets have a tendency to bounce off of hard surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, stone, and wood. Even if no one is shooting at you, you may find that one of your BBs ricochets back at you.

Secondary Concern: Your Exposed Skin

Damage to the eyes is the major concern. But that doesn’t mean that there is no risk in exposing other areas of the body to being hit with Airsoft pellets. Airsoft pellets routinely cause minor injuries such as abrasions, blisters, bruises, and welts. Occasionally, an Airsoft BB might break the skin and draw blood.[6] Because of these risks, it’s a good practice to play only after covering all (or most) exposed flesh.

For some people, who like dressing the part of a mercenary or soldier, this isn’t hard at all. For these people need little motivation to deck themselves out in various kinds of combat accoutrement. You might see them sporting body armor, ghillie suits, military fatigues, and so on. This is absolutely fine and, besides adding a splash of color and realism to the game, accomplishes the purpose of protecting other parts of your body.

But players certainly need not go all out like this just for safety. If you have no interest in (or no budget for) head-to-toe combat gear, then realize that everyday clothing can be enough. For obvious reasons, preference should be given to long-sleeve shirts and pants.[7] You may opt for a full mask to protect the mouth and teeth. And, if you really want to be thorough, you might want to throw in a pair of gloves to your outfit.[8]

You Might Also Consider…

Besides wearing goggles and longer clothing, you can also limit yourself to lightweight shot and low-velocity guns. But, we understand that some might say: Where is the fun in that?

Another way to minimize the risks of eye and skin damage is to observe sufficient engagement distances. Some Airsoft clubs and parks enforce their own rules about this. It is not uncommon to read regulations specifying certain minimum engagement distances. For higher-velocity guns or higher-mass pellets, such distances might run 100 feet or more.

It perhaps goes without saying that one should review the boundaries of the Airsoft playing field and understand and respect any areas that are marked “out of bounds” or “off limits.” And of course, additionally, one should always abide by Airsoft and firearm safety procedures.[9] For safety tips from lawmakers and law-enforcement officials, see HERE.[10]

What Does Getting Shot Feel Like?

The actual experience of felt pain will vary – and, of course, partially depends upon players’ individual pain thresholds. But because Airsoft pellets are, for the most part, lightweight, pain will usual be minimal.

Typically, players report that the sensation of being shot with an Airsoft gun feels like a “bite,” “pinch,” or a “sting.” The difficulty with these descriptions – beyond vagueness – is that stings (and so on) themselves vary considerably, depending on whether the “stinging” is done by an ant, a bee, a nettle plant, or a scorpion. Still, the key idea is that the pain is by no means excruciating and, if you heed the long-sleeve clothing suggestions, then it will be even more muted than it would have been otherwise.

A Word About Modifications

What has been written thus far assumes that players are using off-the-shelf Airsoft guns that adhere to whatever manufacturing and retail standards might be in place.[11] However, bear in mind that people sometimes modify Airsoft guns similarly to how they would modify traditional handguns or long guns.[12]

Modifications may be aimed at increasing the firing speed. When this is done, Airsoft guns might exceed the velocities allowable (typically in the neighborhood of 400 feet-per-second) by various Airsoft fields or Airsoft leagues.

One good piece of advice is to know, and trust, your fellow Airsoft players. This will help to ensure either that: (1) no one is using any modified weapons; or else that (2) anyone using a modified gun is experienced and knows what he or she is doing.[13] Relatedly, a version of the kitchen adage “when in doubt, throw it out” could be: if you’re in doubt about a gun’s firing capabilities, then disallow its use.

Another sort of modification to the actual Airsoft gun would be the (ill-advised) removal of its “blaze-orange” tip. One should probably question the motivation of anyone who would perform this modification. The most charitable interpretation of this action might seemingly be that the person is trying to camouflage the weapon so that it is not easily spotted during game play. However, besides being a probable violation of Airsoft rules, this is dangerous. The orange tip should give players confidence that all guns are regulation. For more information on the federal laws mandated the orange tips (including who the laws apply to), see HERE.

A final category of modifications are sometimes performed not to the guns themselves, but to the pellets. People might freeze pellets, fill them with paint (or other substances), or attempt to “lubricate” them with graphite or “jacket” them in low-friction, Teflon-like materials. These modifications may be efforts to increase projectile velocities or maximize damage. However, they can damage Airsoft guns and cause injuries to other players.

Final Words

Airsoft guns can be fun to play with and shoot. However, they should be treated with the same respect that actual firearms should be treated. For one thing, this builds good gun-handling habits (and avoid bad ones). Accidental discharges – especially at close ranges – can be devastating.

For another, Airsoft guns are usually replicas of real guns. If replica guns are mishandled or recklessly brandished, they can be mistaken for real guns and, as we rehearsed above, this can lead to tragedies.

As always: Be safe; but have fun!

Notes:

[1] For just one example, see the recent tragedy of Pennsylvania teenager John Tucker Mahoney who was shot in the head by a Daisy BB gun, and later died from his injuries. See: “Teen Reaches Settlement for $18 Million,” UPI, Mar. 17, 2001.

[2] Formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials.

[3] There are other, military-grade lenses. These would conform to such specifications as MIL-PRF-31013 and MIL-V-43511D, both of which are rated as withstanding impacts from higher-caliber projectiles launched at velocities – upwards of 500 FPS – typically in excess of what you will see with an Airsoft gun. They’re also going to be more expensive to buy.

[4] This latter was originally defined in 1989 but was amended and augmented in 2003. It is now known as ANSI Z87.1-2003.

[5] Safety goggles have various tests. Some glasses may only have passed low-impact testing at low velocities. Even eyewear that has withstood higher-mass impacts may not have been tested against high-velocity projectiles.

[6] Modified or custom-made pellets have the potential to do greater harm. In particularly bad cases, such BBs might embed themselves in a person’s skin and require medical or even surgical procedures to remove.

[7] Of course, I am talking here about being protection-conscious. Many people play Airsoft dressed only in shorts and t-shirts. And most appear to suffer few if any ill effects – at least, few lasting effects.

[8] The trick with gloves is being able to handle your weapon while wearing them. Fingerless gloves can provide a bit of protection for your hands while still enabling you to use your fingers effectively.

[9] Strictly speaking, firearms training, per se, is not required for safely using Airsoft weapons. Still, having this deeper background and knowledge can be a valuable asset for players.

[10] If you are borrowing someone else’s airsoft gun, be sure to check that the blaze-orange tip is intact and that the gun is functioning properly.

[11] All weapons should have been manufactured and distributed according to all federal, state, and local legal codes.

[12] Among other things, these sorts of modifications can be expected to void warranties.

[13] For instance, experienced players should be able to accurately estimate firing ranges and should be trusted not to engage at unsafe distances.