Jun 30, 2005 -- The Loudoun Sheriff’s Office has not received a positive identity from the medical examiner of a body four teenagers found June 10 in an old building near Hillsboro.
Last week, the sheriff’s office said it believes the body is that of William Sims, 50, of Gainesville, who has been missing since October 2003. Sims was visiting a relative in Purcellville before he disappeared. The Purcellville Police Department said Sims walked away from the relative’s home and that he was depressed, delusional and had a heart condition.
The body was found by a group of teenagers that was playing a game of Airsoft, which is similar to paintball, near the old, shed-like two-story building. The body was hanging from a rope tied to the man’s neck.
The structure has since been razed by the owner of the property, who lives out of state.
At about 7:30 p.m. June 10, Chaz Langston, 14, of Lovettsville, said the group was using the building as a fort. He said there was a very strong odor but they thought it was just a dead animal. On the bottom level, he said there was a big room with two couches and an old mattress. A cabinet had a beer can inside that “looked somewhat recent,” and a shelf below it had a dusty six-pack of beer with two empty cans. In an adjacent room, he said there was a remote-control car that had been taken apart and street signs. A porch connected to the structure was littered with items such as a scooter, a lawn mower and a bike with a basket.
“That was the first time I had been there,” Langston said. “My friends said it looked like some of the stuff had been moved around.”
Langston said he wanted to hide in the upstairs loft but he could not find a way to get up there. One boy in the group was able to reach up to the latch that opened an attic-like door, but Langston said it took a couple of minutes to actually get the door to open. Once open, he said he saw a hand.
“I thought it was a Halloween costume,” he said. Curious to see what it really was, Langston said the teens lifted each other up into the attic space and it was then they all realized they had found a dead person. To be sure, Langston said he poked the body with his gun. He couldn’t tell the nationality of the man and he said the body was already well decomposed.
Langston said the space where the body was found was small and shaped like a triangle. At its highest, he estimated it was maybe 6 feet 6 inches high. The clothes the man was wearing were dusty, he said, and he noticed that the man’s knees were almost touching the ground.
“I didn’t think he could have done this to himself,” Langston said. “His knees were close enough where he could have touched the ground.”
Langston also wondered how the man found the building off Ballenger Lane because it was surrounded by trees.
Spokesman Kraig Troxell said the sheriff’s office was waiting until it had a positive identity on the body before it released any information about the incident. When the information was discovered by the press, Troxell said that investigators found evidence that led them to believe this was a suicide, not a homicide. He said investigators believe the body had been in the building for about two years.
“Once the investigation of the crime scene was complete the structure was released back to the property owner as we would in any investigation,” he said. “We are comfortable and confident with the evidence we had collected on that day.”
Langston said once he and his friends realized it was a body, they ran from the building to the home of one of the teens, where they told the parents. Several adults returned to the scene, he said, and then called police.
A specialist had to be called to review the man's dental records which has resulted in a delay of the final autopsy report, Troxell said.
In the article to appear in Leesburg Today's July 1 edition, the final paragraph should have stated that the autopsy report is delayed because a specialist had to be called to inspect dental records. Although there is a backlog of cases at the Fairfax medical examiner's office, it is not the reason for the delay of the autopsy in this case.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Armalite Folding Stock
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Safe place for toy gunplay
KENT, Wash. - They're called Airsoft guns, and they feel and handle, just like the real thing.
They are perfect tools for training marines and recruits, not so perfect for minors playing cowboys and Indians on someone's roof.
"Any minor that has one or anybody that has one and police man sees it, they're gonna treat it as if its a real firearm," said Mark Deeds, who runs Northwest Tactical, a Kent company that sells a variety of soft air pistols. They're also in the business of training law enforcement officials in realistic urban warfare. In Washington, it's illegal to sell the fake guns to anyone under 16. Unfortunately, Deeds says, minors have found a way to get a hold of the fake hardware.
"Minors are getting them on the Internet, or their parents aren't aware of what they're getting their children and they're getting ahold of them and they're playing games in their back yard or in the neighborhood and it's scaring other people," he said.
Deeds is opening up his business every Tuesday this summer to teens under 18, and their parents. By providing a controlled space, he believes they can curb the potential dangers.
The sessions run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"If parents are gonna buy these guns for them we want them playing somewhere controlled and sanctioned as opposed to a back yard or school block," said Deeds.
They are perfect tools for training marines and recruits, not so perfect for minors playing cowboys and Indians on someone's roof.
"Any minor that has one or anybody that has one and police man sees it, they're gonna treat it as if its a real firearm," said Mark Deeds, who runs Northwest Tactical, a Kent company that sells a variety of soft air pistols. They're also in the business of training law enforcement officials in realistic urban warfare. In Washington, it's illegal to sell the fake guns to anyone under 16. Unfortunately, Deeds says, minors have found a way to get a hold of the fake hardware.
"Minors are getting them on the Internet, or their parents aren't aware of what they're getting their children and they're getting ahold of them and they're playing games in their back yard or in the neighborhood and it's scaring other people," he said.
Deeds is opening up his business every Tuesday this summer to teens under 18, and their parents. By providing a controlled space, he believes they can curb the potential dangers.
The sessions run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"If parents are gonna buy these guns for them we want them playing somewhere controlled and sanctioned as opposed to a back yard or school block," said Deeds.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Realistic toy guns hold danger for teens
BELLEVUE, Wash. – Bellevue Police once again came up against a teenager wielding a toy gun. Officers said the boy came within inches of being shot to death. The guns teens play with are the same types Bellevue officers use for training. It's impossible to tell them apart from the distance.
Their realism is the appeal, but it also creates the danger.
Seventeen-year-old Bryan Brooks isn't cavalier about the game he was playing that almost got his best friend killed.
"The cop said drop your weapon or else I'm going to blow your brains out," said Bryan.
Bryan and three of his friends were playing in his neighborhood with Airsoft pistols that look and feel exactly like the real thing.
Bellevue cops have faced this problem before – boys playing modern-day Cowboys and Indians with very realistic weapons.
They fire plastic pellets, but a neighbor looking out her window only saw teens jumping over fences with guns and called police. When confronted by the officer, Bryan's friend refused to drop his pistol.
"I was telling him to drop the gun, but he was selfish, he didn't want it to shatter," said Bryan.
"The officer almost shot the kid. Had that kid raised the barrel, even an inch, the officer would have fired a round," said Officer Michael Chiu, Bellevue Police Dept. Bellevue officers have shown amazing restraint, but these fake guns aren't going away. They can easily be purchased on the Internet or at gun shows, and Bryan's father worries at some point a kid is going to get killed.
"It's heartbreaking to realize that kids have taken these games so far to reality, it's just very scary," said Sloan Brooks, Bryan's father.
He will now make sure Bryan stays away from the Airsoft weapons unless the environment is completely controlled.
"We'll definitely be more careful," he said.
There are designated areas for this type of play, including one in Snoqualmie. But officers advise using these toy weapons only indoors, making sure everyone within sight knows it is just a game, and locking them up so no one will confuse them with the real thing.
It's not illegal to own the fake guns, but it is illegal if you use them to threaten someone.
Pat McReynolds News Report Video Clip
Their realism is the appeal, but it also creates the danger.
Seventeen-year-old Bryan Brooks isn't cavalier about the game he was playing that almost got his best friend killed.
"The cop said drop your weapon or else I'm going to blow your brains out," said Bryan.
Bryan and three of his friends were playing in his neighborhood with Airsoft pistols that look and feel exactly like the real thing.
Bellevue cops have faced this problem before – boys playing modern-day Cowboys and Indians with very realistic weapons.
They fire plastic pellets, but a neighbor looking out her window only saw teens jumping over fences with guns and called police. When confronted by the officer, Bryan's friend refused to drop his pistol.
"I was telling him to drop the gun, but he was selfish, he didn't want it to shatter," said Bryan.
"The officer almost shot the kid. Had that kid raised the barrel, even an inch, the officer would have fired a round," said Officer Michael Chiu, Bellevue Police Dept. Bellevue officers have shown amazing restraint, but these fake guns aren't going away. They can easily be purchased on the Internet or at gun shows, and Bryan's father worries at some point a kid is going to get killed.
"It's heartbreaking to realize that kids have taken these games so far to reality, it's just very scary," said Sloan Brooks, Bryan's father.
He will now make sure Bryan stays away from the Airsoft weapons unless the environment is completely controlled.
"We'll definitely be more careful," he said.
There are designated areas for this type of play, including one in Snoqualmie. But officers advise using these toy weapons only indoors, making sure everyone within sight knows it is just a game, and locking them up so no one will confuse them with the real thing.
It's not illegal to own the fake guns, but it is illegal if you use them to threaten someone.
Pat McReynolds News Report Video Clip
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Wikipedia - Definition of Airsoft
Airsoft
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Airsoft is a military simulation sport in which players participate in mock combat with military-style mock weapons and tactics. Airsoft guns usually use 6 mm spherical pellets typically made of solid plastic.
The sport is extremely popular in eastern Asia, in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, where real arms are difficult or impossible to obtain because of local laws. For this reason the vast majority of airsoft guns, accessories, and aftermarket upgrade parts are made in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. Airsoft has been since made illegal in most parts of Mainland China (the Hong Kong SAR being apparently excepted). There is currently a growing interest in the West again, especially in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Denmark, bolstered by an active and expanding Internet scene.
Contents
Airsoft
Early history
Airsoft began in Japan during the mid-1970s where real guns are prohibited by Japanese law. It can trace it roots to 1:1 scale plastic model kits of popular real firearms. From that point on it went into three separate directions; air-driven pellet guns, cap-type guns, and pellets driven by a spring.
The guns which had bullets driven by a spring had a spring in each shell. The bullet was forced into the shell and held by a two small locks. Placing the loaded cartridge into the chamber, and firing the gun, would force the cartridge forward and releasing the locks on the bullet. The spring would propel the bullet forward. Pulling back the slide would cycle the next cartridge. The drawback with this design was that this bullet would have a maximum range of 20 feet (6 m).
The cap-type guns used a powerful explosive cap to make the noise of the gun and in later versions, to actually eject the spent cartridge from the gun. More sophisticated versions included the MAC-11, and CAR15 with a fully loaded magazine, can fire fully automatic. These guns were good alternate movie-prop guns. But since these guns did only cycle the action and make a bang, the popularity of these cap-type guns never really caught on because no projectile was fired from it.
Early Japanese air-driven pellet guns had a soft plastic bullet shaped like a pointed mushroom, which was then inserted into a hollow cylindrical plastic shell, which approximated the size of a real gun cartridge and had the look of one. These guns were based from semi-auto pistols, and the plastic cartridges were loaded into a magazine which was then inserted into the gun. The number of cartridges loaded into the magazine would be similar to a real firearm magazine. The gun was spring-powered normally by pushing the slide forward to strip the cartridge off of the magazine, loading it into the chamber to fire, and simultaneously cocking back the spring air piston. Pulling the trigger of the gun released the spring piston, the air went through the rear of the hollow cartridge and expelled the plastic pellet through the barrel. By continuing pulling back the trigger, the locking mechanism for the slide would release, the slide moving rearward and the empty plastic shell would be ejected. By repeating this process, another pellet can be fired until the magazine was empty.
Unfortunately, this process had some drawbacks. The shells were easy to lose, and the pellets were few and expensive. The next evolutionary design step was to replace the plastic bullet with a round BB (pellet). The shell was kept and the BB was inserted into the shell to make a cartridge. A rubber O-ring in the lip of the hollow shell held the BB in place. BBs were plentiful and easier to manufacture compared to the plastic pellet. Eventually, the plastic shell was removed from the design to evolve into the airsoft guns we know of today.
Airsoft in American culture began with several abortive attempts in the 1980s by the Daisy BB gun company of the USA to market a BB gun that could be safely shot by opposing players at each other. It was known then as "Replisoft" and "soft air," a name which airsoft is still sometimes known by. These spring guns used the plastic shell and BB design. The products did not prove popular in the U.S. market. However the sport continued to prosper in Asia and gained significant popularity. Most modern airsoft technology developments were created in 20 years of expanding interest in Japan. This is great stuff
Growth in the West
Starting with early 2003, Daisy has once again begun marketing airsoft guns for sale in the US, under their "Powerstrike" brand name. This and other models have begun appearing en mass in major brick and mortar distributors, expanding what in the US was traditionally a generally Internet based operation. US-based manufacturers of tactical gear and equipment have also begun to recognize the sport, some marketing products specifically for use in airsoft. On the Internet, the online auction site eBay has noticed airsoft as well, and has created several categories specifically for the thousands of listings of airsoft gear and guns. Popularity in the UK has grown with similar measures.
Airsoft guns
The guns used in airsoft are typically replicas of real firearms. Airsoft guns can be divided into three groups by what powers them: spring powered, electric powered, and gas-powered.
Spring powered
Spring-powered airsoft guns (often called "springers" or "spring guns") are single-shot devices that use potential energy stored in a spring to launch an airsoft pellet down the barrel of the gun. The user must cock a spring gun prior to each shot much like you would a real shotgun or bolt-action rifle. This is typically achieved by pulling back the slide (pistols) or bolt (rifles), which in turn compresses the spring and makes the gun ready to fire. Because of this these guns are incapable of automatic or semi-automatic fire.
While most electric guns also use springs for this they are not considered to be in the same category as the single-shot spring-powered guns. Low-end spring guns tend to be much cheaper than their electric-powered equivalents due to their simplicity and cost of components (spring assembly vs. spring assembly, electric motor, battery, and battery charger) and thus are widely available. These guns are less suited for competition because they are at a disadvantage against automatic guns in close combat and don't provide enough accuracy and power for long-range uses. Higher-end spring-powered airsoft rifles can be quite expensive; these guns are typically suited for "sniper" applications in airsoft matches and can provide competitive muzzle velocities.
Gas powered
Gas-powered airsoft guns use pressurized gas to propel pellets. These guns are capable of automatic and semi-automatic operation. The most common gas used is propane (usually referred to as "green gas" by airsoft players). Less commonly used gases include CO2 and nitrogen.
Gas power tends to be used in airsoft pistols where size constraints make electric-powered mechanisms impractical. Other instances where gas is favored are where adjustable velocities are required or where a blow-back feature is desired. A blow-back feature is a mechanism which cycles a slide or bolt to better simulate a real firearm's operation. Because of the mechanical complexities involved with distributing and regulating gas these guns have largely given way to electric guns for less specialized applications.
Electric powered
Tokyo Marui MP5-SD5 AEG
Electric-powered airsoft guns typically use a bank of rechargeable batteries to drive an electric motor, which cycles an internal piston/spring assembly in order to launch pellets. Automatic and semi-automatic operation is possible which gives these guns the popular name "automatic electric guns" or AEG's. These guns often attain muzzle velocities of 200 to 300 feet per second (60 to 90 m/s) and fire rates of 300 to 700 rounds per minute and are by far the most common and widely available airsoft guns in serious competition use today.
These guns were originally developed in Japan, and the Japanese model giant Tokyo Marui dominates the market today with many quality models. In a Marui AEG, the motor drives a series of 3 gears mounted inside a gearbox. The gears then compress a piston assembly against a spring. Once the piston is released, the spring drives it forward through the cylinder to push a pellet into the chamber, through the barrel, and forward from the muzzle. Many manufacturers have now more or less replicated this basic model, adding reinforced parts or minor improvements.
Becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to the Japanese Toyko Marui guns are the Chinese aisoft guns, made by manufacturers such as CYMA and WELL. While these are much cheaper than the high-end Toyko Marui guns and come with all sorts of bells and whistles (laser sights, silencers, etc.) they are of much cheaper quality and cannot sustain heavy use like their Japanese counterparts.
Components
The various internal components of airsoft guns can usually be replaced or upgraded. The following is a short list of commonly referred to parts. Not all of these parts apply to all airsoft types (spring-powered guns don't use batteries, for example).
Barrel - Serves the same purpose as in real firearms: guides the pellet and also maintains gas pressure behind it.
Battery - Powers the motor that moves the spring assembly. These are typically NiCad rechargeable batteries but may also be NiMH.
Gearbox - A gear assembly that transfers the electric motor's drive to the spring assembly.
Hop-up - A small detente that applies a backspin to the pellets to improve ballistics.
Electric motor - Used to provide energy to cock the springs in AEG's.
Nozzle - A plastic or metal piece that connects the barrel to the air piston.
Spring - Spring and electric guns both use springs to propel the pellets. The stronger the springs generally the more powerful the gun will be.
Airsoft pellets
Some 6mm plastic airsoft pellets
Airsoft pellets (often referred to as "BB's", short for "ball bearing" or "big ball" in reference to smaller shotgun shot) are typically made of plastic and are almost always 6mm spheres. Pellets of a given size come in different weights ranging from 0.12 to 0.43 g. In addition to standard plastic pellets, starch-based biodegradable, metal coated, graphite coated (often used by snipers), and steel pellets are also available. Pellets other than 6 mm, 0.12 g, 0.20 g, or 0.25 g plastic or biodegradable pellets are not commonly used.
Glow-in-the-dark tracer pellets are also used in conjunction with a special device that charges the pellets up by flashing it with a quick burst of UV light prior to firing so that they remain luminescent in flight for use during nocturnal operations/games.
There have also been guns made that shoot aspherical pellets. The best known of these is the Asahi "Blade Bullet", which are now extremely difficult to find and quite expensive to buy. These were designed to be shot from the short-lived Asahi M700 and M40 premium grade rifles, which were produced in 1993. Compatibility with other airsoft guns is highly limited, especially due to their inability to be used with hop-up features.
Paint pellets are available but are incompatable with guns with hop-up features as the hop-up will break the pellet in the gun. Paint is very unpopular with airsofters because it tends to stain gear and clothes.
Pellet weights and their usage
0.12 g - Used by some gas and spring weapons. High velocity and low stability.
0.15 g - Same uses as 0.12 g. Uncommon.
0.20 g - Standard weight for most weapons. AEG's uses these or slightly heavier pellets.
0.22 g - Western Arms pellets for their gas blowback pistol series. Uncommon.
0.23 g - Heavier pellets for AEG's. Blends range of 0.20g with accuracy of 0.25g.
0.25 g - Heaviest weight for standard AEG's, blowback and spring guns.
0.29 g - Maruzen’s pellets for their APS series. Uncommon.
0.30 g - Standard weight for most sniper rifles.
0.36 g - Heavier pellets for sniper rifles. Very slow but high stability.
0.43 g - For the highest level of upgrades in spring and gas sniper rifles. Aluminum coated.
Pellet ballistics
Pellet velocity, energy and weight
The pellet velocity of automatic electric guns is determined in large part by the tension of their main spring and so there tends to be a stratification of values. The most common airsoft velocity limits are between 300 to 400 ft/s (90 to 120 m/s) for AEGs and 400 to 500 ft/s (120 to 150 m/s) for single shot guns (sniper rifles). Here are some common levels of airsoft gun pellet velocity.
notes:
3.00 g is the typical weight for a paintball pellet. This weight is for comparison purposes only and is not used on Airsoft. Higher energy but different collisions read Elastic collisions (airsoft) and Inelastic collision (paintball) topics for further information.
Dangers to humans
Airsoft pellets typically leave small welts on human targets. While only mildly painful this isn't especially damaging to the skin. Eye protection is universally required to prevent damage to eyes. It is also often recommended that face masks be worn while during airsoft matches to protect the players' teeth as on very rare occasions players have had teeth chipped or knocked out by a well-placed pellet.
The following excerpts are from the United Kingdom Parliament's "Principles of firearms control", Home Affairs Select Committee Second Report, 6th April 2000, expound on the level of danger involved with low-energy projectiles:
:25. The Firearms Act 1968 defines a firearm "a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other :missile can be discharged".[51] In this context, a "lethal weapon" means a weapon capable of firing a projectile with sufficient :force to inflict more than a trivial injury, i.e. with a force sufficient to puncture the skin.[52] The force with which a firearm :is able to deliver a projectile is normally expressed in terms of the kinetic energy it generates at its muzzle—the "muzzle energy". :This force is normally expressed in units of foot-pounds (ft·lbf) or joules (J).[53]
:26. The Home Office and the Forensic Science Service considers that the lowest level of muzzle energy capable of inflicting a penetrating wound is one foot pound force (1.35 J): below these power levels, weapons are "incapable of penetrating even vulnerable parts of the body, such as the eye".[54] However, more recent analysis by the Forensic Science Agency for Northern Ireland has indicated that a more reasonable assessment of the minimum muzzle energy required to inflict a penetrating wound lies between 2.2 and 3.0 ft·lbf (3 to 4 J).[55] We will deal more fully with this discrepancy at paragraphs 123 to 130 below.
:123. The power level at and above which an air weapon is considered a firearm in law is presently set at 1 ft·lbf. However, we note above that the Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland has more recently assessed the power level at which a barrelled weapon is capable of inflicting a lethal wound as between 2.2 and 3 ft·lbf, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has proposed that the law relating to firearms in Northern Ireland be amended to take this into account.[201]''
Protection
Eye protection is typically a mandatory requirement in airsoft matches and is usually used without question to prevent eye injuries. Mouth protection is also often worn to prevent chipped teeth. Clothing may also be chosen to insulate skin from collisions with high-energy pellets.
Performance
Airsoft guns shoot 0.2 g BBs at velocities from 100 ft/s (30 m/s) for a low-end spring pistol, to 550 ft/s (170 m/s) and beyond for heavily-upgraded customized sniper rifles. Most non-upgraded AEG's using the Tokyo Marui system are in the middle, producing velocities from 270 to 300 ft/s (80 to 90 m/s), but upgrades to the internal components can increase the pellet velocity significantly.
Hop-up & Bernoulli's principle
Bernoulli's principle as applied to an airsoft pellet is as follows. As a spinless spherical pellet flies along its trajectory through the air (the air being the "fluid" in this case) the pressures on all sides of the pellet are equal because the air is traveling the same velocity relative to the surface of the pellet. If a spin is applied to the pellet about an axis perpendicular to the velocity vector (e.g, a backspin) the air will be rushing faster (relative to the pellet surface) on the side that is spinning away from the velocity vector and slower on the side that is spinning towards the velocity vector. Bernoulli's principle says this difference in fluid velocity implies a difference in pressures, which is a force that will cause the pellet to move in a direction perpendicular to the velocity vector.
Airsoft hop-up devices apply a backspin to the pellet so that the pressure force acts on the pellet opposite the direction that gravity is pulling it. This causes the pellet to fall less over a given distance than it would without the spin applied to it.
In airsoft guns this is often implemented as a rubber piece at the rear of the barrel that is thicker at the top of the barrel than the bottom. As the pellet moves past this piece it tends to roll, inducing a backspin. This is usually adjustable so that the effect can be tuned.
Legal issues
Airsoft guns and playing airsoft is legal in many parts of the world, but not all. Some countries have specific restrictions such as maximum muzzle energy, rules against using the trademarks of real firearms, and special marking requirements (such as brightly colored barrel tips). In addition, the similarity between genuine firearms and airsoft replicas is close enough to provoke interaction with law enforcement personnel if an airsoft gun is mistaken for its real counterpart.
Airsoft variants
Paintball is a sport similar to Airsoft, but uses a different type of projectile and gun.
External links
E.C.H.O. - East Coast Homeland Operations (http://www.echo-airsoft.com) - Virginia's Elite Airsoft Team
Virginia Airsoft (http://www.virginiaairsoft.org) - The meeting place for Virginia airsofters.
Milsim Airsoft (http://www.the-hunters.nl) - The Hunters Dutch Airsoft Team
Airsoft BB Gun Authority (http://www.airsoftbbgunauthority.com) - Airsoft BB Gun Authority
Airsoft News in Media (http://airsoftgun.blogspot.com) - Airsoft Local News
AirsoftSplat Information (http://www.airsoftsplat.com) - General Airsoft Information
Airsoft Information (http://www.airsplot.com) - Airsoft Information
Airsoft Arizona (http://www.airsoftarizona.com/forumbb) - Forum for airsofters in Arizona, but milsim players from anywhere are welcome.
AirsoftForum.com (http://www.airsoftforum.com) - World wide Airsoft & MILSIM discussion board with more than 4,000 users online to meet and talk with.
Softair Forum (http://www.softairforum.de) - Airsoftportal for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (German language)
Tiroler Gotcha Club (http://www.tirolergotchaclub.com) - Airsoftportal for Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Airsoft Hawaii (http://www.airsofthawaii.com) - The oldest airsoft group in the United States, founded in 1987.
New Jersey Airsoft Operations Command (http://www.njaoc.net/) - A New Jersey message board, used goods marketplace and retailer's site. Contrary to most people's beliefs, Airsoft is perfectly legal in New Jersey
Airsoft Canada (http://www.airsoftcanada.com/) - A Canadian message board, used goods marketplace and retailer's site
858Airsoft (http://www.858airsoft.com) - Resource site for San Diego, and SoCal Airsoft Players.
Milsim Airsoft (http://www.milsimairsoft.com) - Military Simulation in Airsoft Interest Group
Minnesota Airsoft Association (http://www.mnairsoft.org) - The MAA site has a message board, reviews, and an online Safety Manual that is a "must read" for any Airsofter.
Airsoft SitRep (http://www.airsoftsitrep.com) - An Airsoft Blog Site
Action Games League (http://www.agl1985.org) - Manila, Philippines; first airsoft organization outside of Japan
AirSoft Community United Kingdom (http://www.ukasc.net/news.php) - The airsoft community of UK.
Arnie's Airsoft (http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk) - A major, and one of the best airsoft hubs located in the UK but provides excellent worldwide airsoft information as well.
Airsoft Pacific (http://www.airsoftpacific.com) - A Professional Airsoft League based in the Pacific Northwest. Has detailed Team/Player Listings, Pictures/Videos of local games, Events Calendar, and Local and Worldwide Airsoft News. Along with a well populated Discussion Forum.
Airsoft Players of Hawaii (http://www.apoh.org) - A news site for Hawaii Airsoft Players
Airsoft Retreat (http://www.airsoftretreat.com) - USA airsoft news, articles, discussion forums
Airsoft Core (http://www.airsoftcore.com) - Big Airsoft forum
PAairsoft (http://paairsoft.proboards18.com) - An airsoft forum for airsofters in PA
Airsoft Related Links (http://www.loairsoft.netfirms.com/links.html) - Good resource for retailers, gear, forums, and manufacturers.
Airsoft Players (http://www.airsoftplayers.com) - Airsoft news, articles, and discussion forums.
Seattle Airsoft (http://www.seattleairsoft.com) - An airsoft information site for the Seattle area.
Team Omega Zone (http://www.ozairsoft.com) - Omega Zone Airsoft, Philippine Premier Airsoft Site, based in Metro Manila .
Airsoft Guns (http://www.airsoftgunhelp.com) - Airsoft guide for new players. Emphasis on airsoft safety -- specifically eyewear. Also information about using military gear such as tactical vests and combat boots in airsoft games.
Airsoft for rookies (http://home.swipnet.se/~w-52892) - A short handbook on the subject of Airsoft by Ronny "Thinker" Ohlsson
Airsoft for rookies (http://home.swipnet.se/~w-52892/files/airsoft_for_rookies.zip) - Ronny "Thinker" Ohlsson Airsoft Handbook ZIP file. (very good)
TM Mech Box Version 2&3 Disassembly Instructions (http://airsoftguns.com/articles/skyfire/mechbox/) - Francis Zhou (skyfire) translation of the "Airgun Custom Parts Catalog '98" by Seibido Mook in Japan.
Filairsoft (http://www.filairsoft.com/) - Philippines
Airsoft Philippines Blog (http://www.macalua.com/category/airsoft-sniper/) - Philippines
North East Airsoft Club CH (http://www.neac.ch/) - Switzerland
Gotcha Adventure Game Club (http://www.gagc.ch/) - Switzerland
Airsoft Club Ru (http://www.airsoftclub.ru/) - Russia
Airsoft in Russia (http://www.airsoftrussia.ru/) - Russia
Airsoftgun.ru (http://www.airsoftgun.ru/) - Russia
UN Friedenstruppe Edelweiss (http://www.strikeball.com/) - Russia
UK government consultation 2004 'Controls on firearms' (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs3/controls_on_firearms.pdf)
Home Affairs -Second Report (http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmhaff/95/9502.htm) - Principles of firearms control
Airsoft New Zealand (http://www.airsoft.net.nz/) - Airsoft New Zealand Community Website
Airsoft Communities of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (http://www.airsoft.lv/forums/index.php?act=idx/) - Baltics (russian language)
Low End Airsoft (http://lowendairsoft.schtuff.com) - small site devoted to low-cost Chinese guns (reviews and other info)
North Eastern Airsoft Group (http://www.neasg.org/) - The North Eastern Airsoft Group (NEASG) is an association of airsoft enthusiasts in the northeast region of the United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Airsoft is a military simulation sport in which players participate in mock combat with military-style mock weapons and tactics. Airsoft guns usually use 6 mm spherical pellets typically made of solid plastic.
The sport is extremely popular in eastern Asia, in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, where real arms are difficult or impossible to obtain because of local laws. For this reason the vast majority of airsoft guns, accessories, and aftermarket upgrade parts are made in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. Airsoft has been since made illegal in most parts of Mainland China (the Hong Kong SAR being apparently excepted). There is currently a growing interest in the West again, especially in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Denmark, bolstered by an active and expanding Internet scene.
Contents
Airsoft
Early history
Airsoft began in Japan during the mid-1970s where real guns are prohibited by Japanese law. It can trace it roots to 1:1 scale plastic model kits of popular real firearms. From that point on it went into three separate directions; air-driven pellet guns, cap-type guns, and pellets driven by a spring.
The guns which had bullets driven by a spring had a spring in each shell. The bullet was forced into the shell and held by a two small locks. Placing the loaded cartridge into the chamber, and firing the gun, would force the cartridge forward and releasing the locks on the bullet. The spring would propel the bullet forward. Pulling back the slide would cycle the next cartridge. The drawback with this design was that this bullet would have a maximum range of 20 feet (6 m).
The cap-type guns used a powerful explosive cap to make the noise of the gun and in later versions, to actually eject the spent cartridge from the gun. More sophisticated versions included the MAC-11, and CAR15 with a fully loaded magazine, can fire fully automatic. These guns were good alternate movie-prop guns. But since these guns did only cycle the action and make a bang, the popularity of these cap-type guns never really caught on because no projectile was fired from it.
Early Japanese air-driven pellet guns had a soft plastic bullet shaped like a pointed mushroom, which was then inserted into a hollow cylindrical plastic shell, which approximated the size of a real gun cartridge and had the look of one. These guns were based from semi-auto pistols, and the plastic cartridges were loaded into a magazine which was then inserted into the gun. The number of cartridges loaded into the magazine would be similar to a real firearm magazine. The gun was spring-powered normally by pushing the slide forward to strip the cartridge off of the magazine, loading it into the chamber to fire, and simultaneously cocking back the spring air piston. Pulling the trigger of the gun released the spring piston, the air went through the rear of the hollow cartridge and expelled the plastic pellet through the barrel. By continuing pulling back the trigger, the locking mechanism for the slide would release, the slide moving rearward and the empty plastic shell would be ejected. By repeating this process, another pellet can be fired until the magazine was empty.
Unfortunately, this process had some drawbacks. The shells were easy to lose, and the pellets were few and expensive. The next evolutionary design step was to replace the plastic bullet with a round BB (pellet). The shell was kept and the BB was inserted into the shell to make a cartridge. A rubber O-ring in the lip of the hollow shell held the BB in place. BBs were plentiful and easier to manufacture compared to the plastic pellet. Eventually, the plastic shell was removed from the design to evolve into the airsoft guns we know of today.
Airsoft in American culture began with several abortive attempts in the 1980s by the Daisy BB gun company of the USA to market a BB gun that could be safely shot by opposing players at each other. It was known then as "Replisoft" and "soft air," a name which airsoft is still sometimes known by. These spring guns used the plastic shell and BB design. The products did not prove popular in the U.S. market. However the sport continued to prosper in Asia and gained significant popularity. Most modern airsoft technology developments were created in 20 years of expanding interest in Japan. This is great stuff
Growth in the West
Starting with early 2003, Daisy has once again begun marketing airsoft guns for sale in the US, under their "Powerstrike" brand name. This and other models have begun appearing en mass in major brick and mortar distributors, expanding what in the US was traditionally a generally Internet based operation. US-based manufacturers of tactical gear and equipment have also begun to recognize the sport, some marketing products specifically for use in airsoft. On the Internet, the online auction site eBay has noticed airsoft as well, and has created several categories specifically for the thousands of listings of airsoft gear and guns. Popularity in the UK has grown with similar measures.
Airsoft guns
The guns used in airsoft are typically replicas of real firearms. Airsoft guns can be divided into three groups by what powers them: spring powered, electric powered, and gas-powered.
Spring powered
Spring-powered airsoft guns (often called "springers" or "spring guns") are single-shot devices that use potential energy stored in a spring to launch an airsoft pellet down the barrel of the gun. The user must cock a spring gun prior to each shot much like you would a real shotgun or bolt-action rifle. This is typically achieved by pulling back the slide (pistols) or bolt (rifles), which in turn compresses the spring and makes the gun ready to fire. Because of this these guns are incapable of automatic or semi-automatic fire.
While most electric guns also use springs for this they are not considered to be in the same category as the single-shot spring-powered guns. Low-end spring guns tend to be much cheaper than their electric-powered equivalents due to their simplicity and cost of components (spring assembly vs. spring assembly, electric motor, battery, and battery charger) and thus are widely available. These guns are less suited for competition because they are at a disadvantage against automatic guns in close combat and don't provide enough accuracy and power for long-range uses. Higher-end spring-powered airsoft rifles can be quite expensive; these guns are typically suited for "sniper" applications in airsoft matches and can provide competitive muzzle velocities.
Gas powered
Gas-powered airsoft guns use pressurized gas to propel pellets. These guns are capable of automatic and semi-automatic operation. The most common gas used is propane (usually referred to as "green gas" by airsoft players). Less commonly used gases include CO2 and nitrogen.
Gas power tends to be used in airsoft pistols where size constraints make electric-powered mechanisms impractical. Other instances where gas is favored are where adjustable velocities are required or where a blow-back feature is desired. A blow-back feature is a mechanism which cycles a slide or bolt to better simulate a real firearm's operation. Because of the mechanical complexities involved with distributing and regulating gas these guns have largely given way to electric guns for less specialized applications.
Electric powered
Tokyo Marui MP5-SD5 AEG
Electric-powered airsoft guns typically use a bank of rechargeable batteries to drive an electric motor, which cycles an internal piston/spring assembly in order to launch pellets. Automatic and semi-automatic operation is possible which gives these guns the popular name "automatic electric guns" or AEG's. These guns often attain muzzle velocities of 200 to 300 feet per second (60 to 90 m/s) and fire rates of 300 to 700 rounds per minute and are by far the most common and widely available airsoft guns in serious competition use today.
These guns were originally developed in Japan, and the Japanese model giant Tokyo Marui dominates the market today with many quality models. In a Marui AEG, the motor drives a series of 3 gears mounted inside a gearbox. The gears then compress a piston assembly against a spring. Once the piston is released, the spring drives it forward through the cylinder to push a pellet into the chamber, through the barrel, and forward from the muzzle. Many manufacturers have now more or less replicated this basic model, adding reinforced parts or minor improvements.
Becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to the Japanese Toyko Marui guns are the Chinese aisoft guns, made by manufacturers such as CYMA and WELL. While these are much cheaper than the high-end Toyko Marui guns and come with all sorts of bells and whistles (laser sights, silencers, etc.) they are of much cheaper quality and cannot sustain heavy use like their Japanese counterparts.
Components
The various internal components of airsoft guns can usually be replaced or upgraded. The following is a short list of commonly referred to parts. Not all of these parts apply to all airsoft types (spring-powered guns don't use batteries, for example).
Barrel - Serves the same purpose as in real firearms: guides the pellet and also maintains gas pressure behind it.
Battery - Powers the motor that moves the spring assembly. These are typically NiCad rechargeable batteries but may also be NiMH.
Gearbox - A gear assembly that transfers the electric motor's drive to the spring assembly.
Hop-up - A small detente that applies a backspin to the pellets to improve ballistics.
Electric motor - Used to provide energy to cock the springs in AEG's.
Nozzle - A plastic or metal piece that connects the barrel to the air piston.
Spring - Spring and electric guns both use springs to propel the pellets. The stronger the springs generally the more powerful the gun will be.
Airsoft pellets
Some 6mm plastic airsoft pellets
Airsoft pellets (often referred to as "BB's", short for "ball bearing" or "big ball" in reference to smaller shotgun shot) are typically made of plastic and are almost always 6mm spheres. Pellets of a given size come in different weights ranging from 0.12 to 0.43 g. In addition to standard plastic pellets, starch-based biodegradable, metal coated, graphite coated (often used by snipers), and steel pellets are also available. Pellets other than 6 mm, 0.12 g, 0.20 g, or 0.25 g plastic or biodegradable pellets are not commonly used.
Glow-in-the-dark tracer pellets are also used in conjunction with a special device that charges the pellets up by flashing it with a quick burst of UV light prior to firing so that they remain luminescent in flight for use during nocturnal operations/games.
There have also been guns made that shoot aspherical pellets. The best known of these is the Asahi "Blade Bullet", which are now extremely difficult to find and quite expensive to buy. These were designed to be shot from the short-lived Asahi M700 and M40 premium grade rifles, which were produced in 1993. Compatibility with other airsoft guns is highly limited, especially due to their inability to be used with hop-up features.
Paint pellets are available but are incompatable with guns with hop-up features as the hop-up will break the pellet in the gun. Paint is very unpopular with airsofters because it tends to stain gear and clothes.
Pellet weights and their usage
0.12 g - Used by some gas and spring weapons. High velocity and low stability.
0.15 g - Same uses as 0.12 g. Uncommon.
0.20 g - Standard weight for most weapons. AEG's uses these or slightly heavier pellets.
0.22 g - Western Arms pellets for their gas blowback pistol series. Uncommon.
0.23 g - Heavier pellets for AEG's. Blends range of 0.20g with accuracy of 0.25g.
0.25 g - Heaviest weight for standard AEG's, blowback and spring guns.
0.29 g - Maruzen’s pellets for their APS series. Uncommon.
0.30 g - Standard weight for most sniper rifles.
0.36 g - Heavier pellets for sniper rifles. Very slow but high stability.
0.43 g - For the highest level of upgrades in spring and gas sniper rifles. Aluminum coated.
Pellet ballistics
Pellet velocity, energy and weight
The pellet velocity of automatic electric guns is determined in large part by the tension of their main spring and so there tends to be a stratification of values. The most common airsoft velocity limits are between 300 to 400 ft/s (90 to 120 m/s) for AEGs and 400 to 500 ft/s (120 to 150 m/s) for single shot guns (sniper rifles). Here are some common levels of airsoft gun pellet velocity.
notes:
3.00 g is the typical weight for a paintball pellet. This weight is for comparison purposes only and is not used on Airsoft. Higher energy but different collisions read Elastic collisions (airsoft) and Inelastic collision (paintball) topics for further information.
Dangers to humans
Airsoft pellets typically leave small welts on human targets. While only mildly painful this isn't especially damaging to the skin. Eye protection is universally required to prevent damage to eyes. It is also often recommended that face masks be worn while during airsoft matches to protect the players' teeth as on very rare occasions players have had teeth chipped or knocked out by a well-placed pellet.
The following excerpts are from the United Kingdom Parliament's "Principles of firearms control", Home Affairs Select Committee Second Report, 6th April 2000, expound on the level of danger involved with low-energy projectiles:
:25. The Firearms Act 1968 defines a firearm "a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other :missile can be discharged".[51] In this context, a "lethal weapon" means a weapon capable of firing a projectile with sufficient :force to inflict more than a trivial injury, i.e. with a force sufficient to puncture the skin.[52] The force with which a firearm :is able to deliver a projectile is normally expressed in terms of the kinetic energy it generates at its muzzle—the "muzzle energy". :This force is normally expressed in units of foot-pounds (ft·lbf) or joules (J).[53]
:26. The Home Office and the Forensic Science Service considers that the lowest level of muzzle energy capable of inflicting a penetrating wound is one foot pound force (1.35 J): below these power levels, weapons are "incapable of penetrating even vulnerable parts of the body, such as the eye".[54] However, more recent analysis by the Forensic Science Agency for Northern Ireland has indicated that a more reasonable assessment of the minimum muzzle energy required to inflict a penetrating wound lies between 2.2 and 3.0 ft·lbf (3 to 4 J).[55] We will deal more fully with this discrepancy at paragraphs 123 to 130 below.
:123. The power level at and above which an air weapon is considered a firearm in law is presently set at 1 ft·lbf. However, we note above that the Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland has more recently assessed the power level at which a barrelled weapon is capable of inflicting a lethal wound as between 2.2 and 3 ft·lbf, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has proposed that the law relating to firearms in Northern Ireland be amended to take this into account.[201]''
Protection
Eye protection is typically a mandatory requirement in airsoft matches and is usually used without question to prevent eye injuries. Mouth protection is also often worn to prevent chipped teeth. Clothing may also be chosen to insulate skin from collisions with high-energy pellets.
Performance
Airsoft guns shoot 0.2 g BBs at velocities from 100 ft/s (30 m/s) for a low-end spring pistol, to 550 ft/s (170 m/s) and beyond for heavily-upgraded customized sniper rifles. Most non-upgraded AEG's using the Tokyo Marui system are in the middle, producing velocities from 270 to 300 ft/s (80 to 90 m/s), but upgrades to the internal components can increase the pellet velocity significantly.
Hop-up & Bernoulli's principle
Bernoulli's principle as applied to an airsoft pellet is as follows. As a spinless spherical pellet flies along its trajectory through the air (the air being the "fluid" in this case) the pressures on all sides of the pellet are equal because the air is traveling the same velocity relative to the surface of the pellet. If a spin is applied to the pellet about an axis perpendicular to the velocity vector (e.g, a backspin) the air will be rushing faster (relative to the pellet surface) on the side that is spinning away from the velocity vector and slower on the side that is spinning towards the velocity vector. Bernoulli's principle says this difference in fluid velocity implies a difference in pressures, which is a force that will cause the pellet to move in a direction perpendicular to the velocity vector.
Airsoft hop-up devices apply a backspin to the pellet so that the pressure force acts on the pellet opposite the direction that gravity is pulling it. This causes the pellet to fall less over a given distance than it would without the spin applied to it.
In airsoft guns this is often implemented as a rubber piece at the rear of the barrel that is thicker at the top of the barrel than the bottom. As the pellet moves past this piece it tends to roll, inducing a backspin. This is usually adjustable so that the effect can be tuned.
Legal issues
Airsoft guns and playing airsoft is legal in many parts of the world, but not all. Some countries have specific restrictions such as maximum muzzle energy, rules against using the trademarks of real firearms, and special marking requirements (such as brightly colored barrel tips). In addition, the similarity between genuine firearms and airsoft replicas is close enough to provoke interaction with law enforcement personnel if an airsoft gun is mistaken for its real counterpart.
Airsoft variants
Paintball is a sport similar to Airsoft, but uses a different type of projectile and gun.
External links
E.C.H.O. - East Coast Homeland Operations (http://www.echo-airsoft.com) - Virginia's Elite Airsoft Team
Virginia Airsoft (http://www.virginiaairsoft.org) - The meeting place for Virginia airsofters.
Milsim Airsoft (http://www.the-hunters.nl) - The Hunters Dutch Airsoft Team
Airsoft BB Gun Authority (http://www.airsoftbbgunauthority.com) - Airsoft BB Gun Authority
Airsoft News in Media (http://airsoftgun.blogspot.com) - Airsoft Local News
AirsoftSplat Information (http://www.airsoftsplat.com) - General Airsoft Information
Airsoft Information (http://www.airsplot.com) - Airsoft Information
Airsoft Arizona (http://www.airsoftarizona.com/forumbb) - Forum for airsofters in Arizona, but milsim players from anywhere are welcome.
AirsoftForum.com (http://www.airsoftforum.com) - World wide Airsoft & MILSIM discussion board with more than 4,000 users online to meet and talk with.
Softair Forum (http://www.softairforum.de) - Airsoftportal for Germany, Austria and Switzerland (German language)
Tiroler Gotcha Club (http://www.tirolergotchaclub.com) - Airsoftportal for Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Airsoft Hawaii (http://www.airsofthawaii.com) - The oldest airsoft group in the United States, founded in 1987.
New Jersey Airsoft Operations Command (http://www.njaoc.net/) - A New Jersey message board, used goods marketplace and retailer's site. Contrary to most people's beliefs, Airsoft is perfectly legal in New Jersey
Airsoft Canada (http://www.airsoftcanada.com/) - A Canadian message board, used goods marketplace and retailer's site
858Airsoft (http://www.858airsoft.com) - Resource site for San Diego, and SoCal Airsoft Players.
Milsim Airsoft (http://www.milsimairsoft.com) - Military Simulation in Airsoft Interest Group
Minnesota Airsoft Association (http://www.mnairsoft.org) - The MAA site has a message board, reviews, and an online Safety Manual that is a "must read" for any Airsofter.
Airsoft SitRep (http://www.airsoftsitrep.com) - An Airsoft Blog Site
Action Games League (http://www.agl1985.org) - Manila, Philippines; first airsoft organization outside of Japan
AirSoft Community United Kingdom (http://www.ukasc.net/news.php) - The airsoft community of UK.
Arnie's Airsoft (http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk) - A major, and one of the best airsoft hubs located in the UK but provides excellent worldwide airsoft information as well.
Airsoft Pacific (http://www.airsoftpacific.com) - A Professional Airsoft League based in the Pacific Northwest. Has detailed Team/Player Listings, Pictures/Videos of local games, Events Calendar, and Local and Worldwide Airsoft News. Along with a well populated Discussion Forum.
Airsoft Players of Hawaii (http://www.apoh.org) - A news site for Hawaii Airsoft Players
Airsoft Retreat (http://www.airsoftretreat.com) - USA airsoft news, articles, discussion forums
Airsoft Core (http://www.airsoftcore.com) - Big Airsoft forum
PAairsoft (http://paairsoft.proboards18.com) - An airsoft forum for airsofters in PA
Airsoft Related Links (http://www.loairsoft.netfirms.com/links.html) - Good resource for retailers, gear, forums, and manufacturers.
Airsoft Players (http://www.airsoftplayers.com) - Airsoft news, articles, and discussion forums.
Seattle Airsoft (http://www.seattleairsoft.com) - An airsoft information site for the Seattle area.
Team Omega Zone (http://www.ozairsoft.com) - Omega Zone Airsoft, Philippine Premier Airsoft Site, based in Metro Manila .
Airsoft Guns (http://www.airsoftgunhelp.com) - Airsoft guide for new players. Emphasis on airsoft safety -- specifically eyewear. Also information about using military gear such as tactical vests and combat boots in airsoft games.
Airsoft for rookies (http://home.swipnet.se/~w-52892) - A short handbook on the subject of Airsoft by Ronny "Thinker" Ohlsson
Airsoft for rookies (http://home.swipnet.se/~w-52892/files/airsoft_for_rookies.zip) - Ronny "Thinker" Ohlsson Airsoft Handbook ZIP file. (very good)
TM Mech Box Version 2&3 Disassembly Instructions (http://airsoftguns.com/articles/skyfire/mechbox/) - Francis Zhou (skyfire) translation of the "Airgun Custom Parts Catalog '98" by Seibido Mook in Japan.
Filairsoft (http://www.filairsoft.com/) - Philippines
Airsoft Philippines Blog (http://www.macalua.com/category/airsoft-sniper/) - Philippines
North East Airsoft Club CH (http://www.neac.ch/) - Switzerland
Gotcha Adventure Game Club (http://www.gagc.ch/) - Switzerland
Airsoft Club Ru (http://www.airsoftclub.ru/) - Russia
Airsoft in Russia (http://www.airsoftrussia.ru/) - Russia
Airsoftgun.ru (http://www.airsoftgun.ru/) - Russia
UN Friedenstruppe Edelweiss (http://www.strikeball.com/) - Russia
UK government consultation 2004 'Controls on firearms' (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs3/controls_on_firearms.pdf)
Home Affairs -Second Report (http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmhaff/95/9502.htm) - Principles of firearms control
Airsoft New Zealand (http://www.airsoft.net.nz/) - Airsoft New Zealand Community Website
Airsoft Communities of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (http://www.airsoft.lv/forums/index.php?act=idx/) - Baltics (russian language)
Low End Airsoft (http://lowendairsoft.schtuff.com) - small site devoted to low-cost Chinese guns (reviews and other info)
North Eastern Airsoft Group (http://www.neasg.org/) - The North Eastern Airsoft Group (NEASG) is an association of airsoft enthusiasts in the northeast region of the United States
Friday, June 03, 2005
Police Blotter
Woman followed
A resident of an apartment complex on the 1600 block of Sand Hill Road in Palo Alto reported being followed by a man in his 20s, who was about 6 feet 3 inches and 200 pounds. She reported the incident about 10 a.m. May 25.
PALO ALTO
LOST PROPERTY A person on the 700 block of Alma Street called police about 1:15 p.m. May 24 to report lost ChapStick.
STOLEN VEHICLE A light blue 1990 Toyota Camry was reported stolen on the 1200 block of Middlefield Road about 10:45 a.m. May 23.
FOUND PROPERTY A person turned in more than $150 cash found at Churchill Avenue and Emerson Street about 10 a.m. May 23.
SIMPLE ASSAULT A 12-year-old boy attending a birthday party at Juana Briones Park, 620 Arastradero Road, was cited for shooting at an 11-year-old girl with an Airsoft BB gun about 5:30 p.m. May 21.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
STOLEN VEHICLE A black 2005 Nissan Titan pickup with paper license plates was reported stolen on the 2100 block of Old Middlefield Way about 9:15 p.m. last Thursday.
STOLEN VEHICLE Someone stole a 2001 Dukati (license 15S7215) on the 200 block of Polaris Avenue. The theft was reported about 1:15 p.m. last Thursday.
DISTURBANCE About noon last Thursday, two neighbors on the 1100 block of Boranda Avenue got into an argument over which one of them was entitled to a discarded chair.
ARSON Someone set fire to cardboard and a dried wreath on a fence in front of a residence on the 1900 block of Gamel Way. The incident was reported about 1 p.m. May 25.
LEWD CONDUCT ARREST A 30-year-old Mountain View man who allegedly exposed himself to a 3-year-old girl at Mountain View Library on April 6 was arrested after he returned to the library May 24 and was recognized by a staff person. The man was located nearby in Eagle Park and charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY Someone forced open the door to a residence on Church Street and removed a VCR and laundry. The theft was reported about 10:45 p.m. May 22.
LOS ALTOS
GRAND THEFT Someone entered a perimeter fence surrounding a residential construction site on the 800 block of South Springer Road and stole power tools valued at $1,100. The theft was reported about 9:15 a.m. May 23.
PETTY THEFT Someone pried open a locked storage shed at Excel Pool & Patio, 949 Fremont Ave., and stole about five cases of chlorine. The theft was reported about 9 a.m. May 23.
MENLO PARK
INDECENT EXPOSURE ARRESTS Two men in their 20s were arrested about 6:30 p.m. May 25 for allegedly exposing themselves from a balcony on the 600 block of Oak Grove Avenue.
BURGLARY Jewelry was stolen from a residence on the 200 block of Hedge Road by someone who removed a bedroom screen and entered the residence through an open window. The theft was reported about 4:30 p.m. May 24.
BURGLARY Someone who activated an alarm at a residence on the 600 block of Central Avenue while forcing open the front door was gone when police arrived about 10:30 p.m. May 22.
ROBBERY Two men and a boy allegedly involved in a purse snatching on the 1100 block of Crane Street were arrested nearby in Atherton about 3:15 p.m. May 22 with the purse in their possession.
STOLEN VEHICLE A 1998 Acura was reported stolen on the 1000 block of Forest Avenue about 1:45 p.m. May 22.
BURGLARY Someone entered a residence on the 800 block of Coleman Avenue between 10 p.m. May 20 and 2:30 May 21 and removed video gaming equipment.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES About 3 p.m. May 20, a man in a white cargo van on the 1100 block of Elder Avenue appeared to be holding a handgun out the window.
Segment from www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/
A resident of an apartment complex on the 1600 block of Sand Hill Road in Palo Alto reported being followed by a man in his 20s, who was about 6 feet 3 inches and 200 pounds. She reported the incident about 10 a.m. May 25.
PALO ALTO
LOST PROPERTY A person on the 700 block of Alma Street called police about 1:15 p.m. May 24 to report lost ChapStick.
STOLEN VEHICLE A light blue 1990 Toyota Camry was reported stolen on the 1200 block of Middlefield Road about 10:45 a.m. May 23.
FOUND PROPERTY A person turned in more than $150 cash found at Churchill Avenue and Emerson Street about 10 a.m. May 23.
SIMPLE ASSAULT A 12-year-old boy attending a birthday party at Juana Briones Park, 620 Arastradero Road, was cited for shooting at an 11-year-old girl with an Airsoft BB gun about 5:30 p.m. May 21.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
STOLEN VEHICLE A black 2005 Nissan Titan pickup with paper license plates was reported stolen on the 2100 block of Old Middlefield Way about 9:15 p.m. last Thursday.
STOLEN VEHICLE Someone stole a 2001 Dukati (license 15S7215) on the 200 block of Polaris Avenue. The theft was reported about 1:15 p.m. last Thursday.
DISTURBANCE About noon last Thursday, two neighbors on the 1100 block of Boranda Avenue got into an argument over which one of them was entitled to a discarded chair.
ARSON Someone set fire to cardboard and a dried wreath on a fence in front of a residence on the 1900 block of Gamel Way. The incident was reported about 1 p.m. May 25.
LEWD CONDUCT ARREST A 30-year-old Mountain View man who allegedly exposed himself to a 3-year-old girl at Mountain View Library on April 6 was arrested after he returned to the library May 24 and was recognized by a staff person. The man was located nearby in Eagle Park and charged with lewd and lascivious acts with a child.
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY Someone forced open the door to a residence on Church Street and removed a VCR and laundry. The theft was reported about 10:45 p.m. May 22.
LOS ALTOS
GRAND THEFT Someone entered a perimeter fence surrounding a residential construction site on the 800 block of South Springer Road and stole power tools valued at $1,100. The theft was reported about 9:15 a.m. May 23.
PETTY THEFT Someone pried open a locked storage shed at Excel Pool & Patio, 949 Fremont Ave., and stole about five cases of chlorine. The theft was reported about 9 a.m. May 23.
MENLO PARK
INDECENT EXPOSURE ARRESTS Two men in their 20s were arrested about 6:30 p.m. May 25 for allegedly exposing themselves from a balcony on the 600 block of Oak Grove Avenue.
BURGLARY Jewelry was stolen from a residence on the 200 block of Hedge Road by someone who removed a bedroom screen and entered the residence through an open window. The theft was reported about 4:30 p.m. May 24.
BURGLARY Someone who activated an alarm at a residence on the 600 block of Central Avenue while forcing open the front door was gone when police arrived about 10:30 p.m. May 22.
ROBBERY Two men and a boy allegedly involved in a purse snatching on the 1100 block of Crane Street were arrested nearby in Atherton about 3:15 p.m. May 22 with the purse in their possession.
STOLEN VEHICLE A 1998 Acura was reported stolen on the 1000 block of Forest Avenue about 1:45 p.m. May 22.
BURGLARY Someone entered a residence on the 800 block of Coleman Avenue between 10 p.m. May 20 and 2:30 May 21 and removed video gaming equipment.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES About 3 p.m. May 20, a man in a white cargo van on the 1100 block of Elder Avenue appeared to be holding a handgun out the window.
Segment from www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
New paintball, airsoft fields open near Findlay
An up-and-rising new sport, as well as an old one, now has a huge facility in the area. Just opened on May 21, Battle Creek Park offers air soft and paintball enthusiasts a huge area in which to participate in their sport. The Park is open every Saturday, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, from noon - 5 p.m. The largest airsoft and paintball field in the state, the site encompasses 50 acres, mostly wooded area. It has nine different playing fields, two of which will be used at a time.“We have a lot of room. The smallest field is under one acre and the largest is seven acres," said Derek Pearcy, facility owner. "We can hold 200 people there easily in a day," he explained. "There are just that many people in the area who play. We have no limit on the amount of team which can play here."The site offers food and drink, and has restroom facilities available.While at the site, participants must use field ammunition, due to insurance reasons. But, according to Pearcy, the ammunition is not any more expensive than what players would purchase elsewhere. Battle Creek will also have rental guns and CO2 cartridges available for players also.The facility can accommodate private party reservations by appointment for 14 or more people. The site can be reserved for a weekday for these numbers. The minimum participation age is 12 on paintball and 16 on airsoft. Individuals are also welcome to come out and play and will be incorporated into a team playing at the facility. "We do have three referees currently working. They start and stop the games and handle any official decisions to be made in the course of play," Pearcy said.He continued that the most the facility will have is two games at a time, one of each airsoft and paintball at a time. They will rotate around to each of the fields.Eventually, once business increases, league play could be offered, as well as tournaments, Pearcy said.“One of things we might think of doing is scenario events,” Pearcy explained. "We will give them different missions and scenarios, with objectives to accomplish, reaching certain points or to find items. These can be a one- or two-day event."“I highly recommend camouflage, and boots for better ankle support. It's a great form of exercise,” Pearcy explained.The field has space for camping for those wanting to do a two-day event, but Pearcy said he would have to check with his insurance company about camping facilities. He mentioned he has a special rate worked out with the Shelby Historic Inn for overnight players.For additional information about the facility, interested persons are invited to go to its website, www.battlecreekpark.com. Directions to the facility are on the website.The field is four miles north of Findlay. Field fee is $15 per person to get in and field glasses are required.
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