I want to start playing airsoft with my brother this summer. Being a girl, I'm sure that he would just scoff at me when I ask him. Knowing him, would make a big deal out of having to carry his little sister around. But, I figured that if I get a gun of my own he'd realize that I'm seriously into it. Of course, it would help if I get a really cool one so he'd see that I know what I'm getting into. What are the different types of BB guns? What else do I need to get in order to start playing airsoft? 

It’s really hard to enter a man’s world. Unfortunately, most of boys have already marked this world as their territory. The good news is that not all boys feel the same way about having girls in their airsoft team. So, there is still hope for you yet. Even though you are a girl, you still have a good chance of excelling in it. You just need to have quick reflexes, good decision-making skills and a powerful gun.

Before you start picking a gun for yourself, you have to check out your brother’s BB guns. This would tell you what kind of BB gun he uses during his games. Most likely, his teammates use the same type of weapon. There are many types of BB guns in the market. Based on the source of power that propels the pellets forward, there are three types of BB guns: the Automatic Electronic Guns (AEG), the springers and the gas guns.

Among these three types of BB guns, the AEG is most commonly used. Most AEG’s are replicas of rifles. Most of these BB guns are very detailed and you could hardly tell the difference between the real one and the plastic one. Because AEG pistols have a very low range and have the tendency to burn out after two months, most people prefer to use gas airsoft pistols instead. Springs are the least used airsoft guns because they would be no match against AEG BB guns that have a longer range and can fire a higher number of pellets in a minute. Springers are manual and you need to pull the slide every time you need to shoot. AEG’s, on the other hand, can be fully automatic or semi-automatic. Gas pistols are usually semi-automatic.

If your brother is using an airsoft rifle then that should be your first BB gun. Since BB guns can come in many shapes and sizes, do try to pick one that you can easily carry. Remember that in an airsoft game you will be moving around a lot. Most of the time, you will be crouching as you move around, making yourself as invisible as possible to your opponents.

The next thing that you should consider is your budget. China-made plastic guns that can be replaced by a metal gearbox cost less than $50. The disadvantage of getting one is that you’ll pay more because when you decide to upgrade the gearbox, you will need to replace it with a metal one. Perhaps you should try getting a China-made gun with a metal gearbox. Upgrading this gun is not as costly. But, if you have the money for it, you should getting a rifle from Tokyo Marui and other high-end BB guns.