The first airsoft guns date back to 1970s when Japan began their production responding to the state prohibition to possess firearms. In 1990s they became popular in North America and soon spread all over the world.

So what is the secret of such fast growing popularity?

It’s rather easy to understand while looking at what the airsoft is actually is: it is a real replica of military firearm which fires with small plastic pellets (6-8 mm) and thus cannot cause any harm to living beings (unless fired directly into persons eyes). They are ideal for peaceful gun fans who admire fire arms but are not homicidal maniacs as they usually treated.

The airsoft hobby is pretty new but has become massively popular in a very short space of time. The airsoft guns can be used for cans shooting at your garden and more powerful electronic airsoft guns (AEG) can be used in airsoft wargames (like Strikeball and Airsoft). Or you can just hang the airsoft replica over the wall and show off your friends. Another advantage of airsoft guns is that you are free to choose from a lot of types: gas, spring and electric in rifles, pistols, assault rifles and even grenade launchers. Furthermore to your airsoft gun you can add face masks, body harnesses and even a laser sight in order to feel yourself in the heart of the war.

One of the main pluses of airsoft guns is their rather low price. You don’t have to spend a huge sum of many to own life-sized airsoft military replica. And in this case the cheap doesn’t mean low quality product. The airsoft guns give you all the features of a top end gun but at about 50% of the normal cost.

The cheapest out of the airsoft guns is spring-powered airsoft guns. They are single-shot devices that use potential energy stored in a spring to compress air to launch an airsoft pellet down the barrel of the gun. The one annoying thing is that the gun needs to be cocked every time you fire. Because of their price, spring guns tend to act as "training guns" to bring new players to airsoft games and are considered the primary weapon of "backyard skirmishes."

For $19.57 you can own UHC 1911 Spring Airsoft Pistol based on the classic Colt 1911 - the original side-arm of the US military. This is beautifully detailed with fully working safety catches - as with the real gun, it will not shoot unless you are gripping it properly! The black version of the gun was used by Samuel L. Jackson & John Travolta in the Quentin Tarantino film 'Pulp Fiction. And besides, it offers great power, great accuracy, it feels real and it's easy to cock.

James Bond’s fan? Then don’t miss Y&P Spring Pistol SP-124G Heavy Weight NEW by Airsoft! For only 19.95 you will boast a high quality replica of agent 007gun. This airsoft gun features all design characteristics unique to the real Walther P-99 especially with the slide. If you´re looking to replace one of your low-end spring pistols, or just want to enter the airsoft realm, this is the item to get.

M9 Spring Airsoft Gun by HFC is sold at $26.50 and it really worth it: it’s fast (300-370 fps), it’s accurate, it’s easy to use and it have great design – it looks exactly like a REAL gun.

The HFC M9 weighs in at 1.50 lbs making it feel very real. This soft air gun has an effective range up to 90ft. This beautiful, highly realistic handgun was used by Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, and is the standard issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces! It has been said that it "sets the standards by which others are measured."

Next are the gas airsoft guns. These guns offer more power but you need to keep them full with gas to get the top performance. Gas airsoft can give you fully automatic fire rates but you need to have rechargeable pumps at hand which are rather bulky.

Crosman C11 BB gun air pistol offered at $35.99 has lots of advantages: great accuracy within 100 feet, shoots as fast as you can pull the trigger, no jams, easy CO₂ loading. Real semi auto fun!

For $69.95 you can get Firepower® Icon XL CO2 Airsoft Gun - similar in design to the gun used by the character Laura Croft in the movie Tomb Raider. This high powered Icon XL CO2 pistol features All In One CO2 Technology. This new technology features a magazine which holds the CO2 cartridge and BBs. This gun is non-blowback and semi automatic. One CO2 cartridge will fire up to 150 BBs.

The last ones are airsoft electric guns (AEGs). Electric-powered airsoft guns typically use a rechargeable battery to drive an electric motor, which cycles an internal piston/spring assembly in order to launch pellets. These guns are the top of the heap when it comes to airsoft. These guns often attain muzzle velocities between 60 to 150 m/sand rates of fire of between 100 and 2000 rounds per minute. They are the most commonly used and widely available type of airsoft gun.

At first here we have Well M16 RIS Electric Airsoft Machine Gun AEG just for $24.50. It’s good for airsoft starters as it comes with tons of accessories but still easy to use and it makes everything to turn you into an airsoft enthusiast:

-6 setting adjustable shoulder stock easily caters to your shooting style.

-High battery life keeps you in the game all day long.

-No jams

-Hop up system is great for that extra distance.

-Accessories (Flashlight, Electronic Sight, Extra Barrel) are a fun addition the gun.

-Powerful, but not too powerful for children of all ages.

-Realistic look and weight gives you the feel of an actual M16.

Then comes $26.99 Heavy M4 M16 Replica Airsoft Gun Double Eagle M83 A2 Full Automatic Electric Rifle. One of our best selling AEG machine guns. Well made by Double Eagle. New generation Hop-Up Version Airsoft Electric Gun with Heavy Weight feel that makes it more realistic and sturdy. Full size replica M16 M4 Carbine rifle made nicely by Double Eagle. Has selector switch for full auto or semi-auto. Comes equipped with adjustable red dot sight, adjustable laser aim module and flashlight. This is a fully loaded gun that you can play in the daytime or night time. It shoots at about 250 FPS. It does hurt when it hits your skin. Amazing beginner gun for learning basics.

The BE Steyr Military Airsoft Electric Rifle would also be a good choice for $35.00. The Steyr AUG is an Austrian assault rifle introduced in 1977. In Austrian service it is designated StG-77 (for Sturmgewehr 77, German for Assault Rifle 77). AUG stands for Armee Universal Gewehr, meaning Army Universal Rifle. The AUG is generally regarded as a modern ergonomic design for a combat rifle. It is amazing that Chinese Manufacture can produce high power airsoft AEG rifle, this is good price for airsoft lover don't want to spend 500~600 dollar for Japan made Tokyo Marui AEG. This airsoft gun comes with a rechargeable battery pack so you don't have to constantly buy new batteries; saving you time and money. The A/C adapter that charges the battery is included. This gun has the full-auto function which shoots the bullets out rapidly when the trigger is squeezed. The safety lock is functional and is a nice feature to have. It also teaches children to set the safely on guns when not in use. Good gun control lesson. The speed loader is also included. This device is very helpful when you are trying to load your clip in a hurry. Simply load the speed loader with pellets and use the speed loader rod to jam the bullets into the clip. This is a VERY nice feature to have when using this gun in an airsoft battle.