Airsoft or softair is a sport that is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. The tactical off-road game is similar to paintball or laser tag, as the players compete against each other in groups. Softair guns are visually based on mainly tactical handguns and are available in a price range from about 100 euros to several thousand euros . Unlike paintball and laser tag, however, the players themselves have to indicate that they have been hit because the bullets do not leave a mark on their clothing. This circumstance and the high attention to detail in the equipment, the exchange with other airsoft players make airsoft a very social and fair game. Modern airsoft guns can shoot accurately up to a hundred meters, which also makes the game a challenging sport.
Legal aspects of airsoft weapons
Anairsoft or softair gun is a compressed air weapon (sometimes also spring-loaded weapon) used in the tactical terrain game of airsoft. Airsoft guns are often deceptively replicas of real firearms made under licenses, but they do not cause life-threatening injuries. Softair weapons shoot round balls made of various materials, mostly so-called BB bullets made of plastic with a diameter of 4 mm, by means of spring pressure, gas or an electromechanically operated compressed air system.
In the treatment of airsoft weapons under weapons law, various rules are applicable for prima facie weapons, for bullet energy and for fully automatic weapons.
Because airsoft weapons are replicas of real firearms and, like model weapons, can hardly be distinguished from them, they are therefore subject to special provisions in German weapons law as prima facie weapons: They may not be carried in public spaces. For example, if an airsoft gun or toy is made in an unrealistic size or brightly colored, it is not to be treated as a prima facie weapon.
Anyone who carries a prima facie weapon even though it is prohibited is committing a misdemeanor. When transporting apparent weapons, they must be carried in a locked container. This can be a case, or even a cardboard box, which was taped shut.
The Weapons Act does not apply to toy firearms, which give the projectiles a kinetic energy of no more than 0.5 joules, with the exception of the above-mentioned regulations on apparent weapons. However, they are often sold only to persons who are at least 14 years old.
Softair weapons that fire projectiles with an energy of less than 7.5 joules but more than 0.5 joules may be sold to persons 18 years of age or older. These weapons must be marked with an "F" in a pentagon and cannot be fully automatic weapons. Without a firearms license, they may only be carried and used on pacified property, for example, on one's own property or on an airsoft playing field. During transport, the weapon must not be ready for access or firing.
Softair weapons whose projectiles are fired with an energy of more than 7.5 joules are firearms requiring a permit in the sense of the Weapons Act. Fully automatic weapons are permitted if they have a maximum muzzle energy of 0.5 joules; above this, they are prohibited.
What to look for when buying?
If you want to buy an airsoft gun, you should first of all be clear about your own requirements. The market offers a huge selection of realistic brands, not only tactical but also historical or traditional weapons, especially through licensed replicas. From the modern AR-15 to the AK-47 known as Kalashnikov to the traditional shotgun, there are weapons for all tastes.
The bullet energy should be adapted to your own requirements. Although the legal limit is 7.5 joules, which would suggest choosing the highest possible bullet energy, at this high muzzle energy, for safety reasons, a minimum distance from the nearest player must be maintained when being fired upon.
For assault rifles, DMRs (Designated Marksman Rifle) and sniper rifles, a joule number of two to three joules is often recommended. On many events, repeating is mandatory and a specific scope is required. The recommended safe distance that should be maintained to avoid injuring teammates is 20 to 30 meters-so these weapons are too dangerous for close range.
For submachine guns, PDWs (Personal Defence Weapon) and shotguns, the recommended power is between one and 1.5 joules and the recommended distance is between 10 and 20 meters.
Pistols between 0.5 and 1.2 joules are suitable for almost all events and for distances of 10 meters or more.
Automatic weapons are limited to a maximum of 0.5 joules, so the safety distance is also only five meters.
In principle, the more powerful the weapon, the higher the bullet energy and the greater the range and usually also the precision at longer distances. In competition, however, care should be taken to ensure that the models of the various players do not differ too much from one another in terms of their performance.
When choosing a weapon, you should also ask yourself what role you want to play in the team. If you like to play the role of a sniper, you need a sniper weapon and not an assault rifle. If you want to engage in urban combat, you will need a submachine gun or a compact assault rifle. As a secondary weapon, however, a pistol makes sense for every player.
Besides the designs and the shooting performance, there are also functional aspects to consider: For one, there are spring-loaded weapons that require self-replacement: This makes sense and is true to reality for sniper rifles, but for pistols and assault rifles, gas pressure weapons are recommended.
For those who love details, weapons with a blow-back system are recommended: part of the air pressure is used to quickly open and close the breech: the weapon also looks exactly like the handgun it was modeled after when fired.
Unlike the blow-back system, a hop-up system is essential for softair guns. This hop-up system causes a backward spin of the bullets. The trajectory of the bullet is deflected towards the side on which it rotates with the flow, i.e. upwards. The resulting overpressure under the bullet pushes it upwards against the earth's gravity - the bullet flies much further, more present and straighter.
Finally, attention should be paid to the material of the gun. As a rule of thumb, many airsoft experts say that the more metal is used instead of plastic and the closer the gun is to its original, the better.
Online there are a lot of dealers like for example Frankonia or 4comma5, which are less restricted due to less stringent legislation towards airsoft weapons. On well known sites like eGun or Auctronia airsoft weapons are also offered, however.
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