Airsoft Shotguns a Sniper New Best Friend

Tokyo Marui Airsoft Shotgun

In the world of Airsoft the main goal is simple—to eliminate your opponent. And for you to do that you must be packed with the best arsenal possible.

Airsoft started in Japan in the 1980s and they only used pistols which were sensible enough because of its handiness. During that time weapons of any sort was banned in the country that lead to the invention of the sport. Plastic round bullets or BBs are used for ammunition. When it reached the United States the hobby was changed completely. Military and police force alike used the recreational sport for training and added more replicas.

An awesome addition to their firearms is the Airsoft shotgun. Some carry it as a primary weapon alongside a pistol, some prefer to use it alone. I tend to carry a multi shot Airsoft shotgun as my secondary and my AGM MP001  sniper rifle as my primary of course. I have found that this  combination of welding 2 firearms, one for long range fire and another being short range of close encounter combat. Veterans in this sport find the shotgun as a weapon of choice for beginners or amateurs unlike rifles. But the SWAT uses it primarily because of its effectiveness in close-combat missions.

Shotguns spray multiple shots in a single round. Airsoft Shotguns spray up to 17 BBs and can reach a velocity of 350 feet per second or fps. It can fire a shot quicker and faster than any automatic pistol available as long as you know how to use it. Since it sprays multiple shots the chances of hitting an opponent is much higher than rifles. It’s also effective on thick bushes due to its firepower.

Like all of the guns out there, the Airsoft shotgun also has its disadvantages. Since it packs more BBs the size of the shotgun has been compromised. While a participant is running to find cover or to find a perfect ambush spot, the weight of the weapon slows him down. If not used alongside any weapon, reloading can be cumbersome. Some designs require magazines, some use shells like the real ones. Since the shots spread when fired, the accuracy of the weapon depends on the distance of the target.

ACM SG M500 Airsoft Shotgun

There are several types of Airsoft shotguns that are in the market today. The ACM Mossberg 500 is a popular model when it comes to shotgun. It is a 1:1 replica of the real world counterpart and uses gas as its source of power. Five BBs are fired each time spreads out at least 6 to 12 inches apart until they reach 15 feet. Accuracy can range from 25 to 30 feet. Muzzle velocity readings are between 250 fps to 281 fps. ACM Mossberg Airsoft shotgun uses tube magazine that can hold 50 BBs with rooms to spare. Although reloading can be slow, overall the ACM Mossberg 500 is a recommended weapon that comes in handy with a pistol.

Remington TAC-1 Airsoft Shotgun

Another popular model is the Remington TAC-1. It comes with a sling and a high capacity magazine that can hold up to 240 BBs. It is a pump-action shotgun and can fire multiple BBs depending on how many times it is pumped. Projectile speed can reach up to 350 fps and for distance and accuracy the TAC-1 Airsoft shotgun uses the Hop-Up system. Hop-up system is just a small piece of rubber located in the barrel that causes the BBs to have a certain amount of backspin when it hits it to prolong hang time. Reloading is quite easy since a player can bring multiple magazines and can simply pop it in.

Regardless of the weapons used, Airsoft still requires great tactics and good teamwork.