Index

Airsoft Weapon Terms
GBB / Gas Blowback: Gas guns that have blow back feature (moving slides) when the trigger is pulled. Similar to that of a real gun. Uses more gas. GNBB / Gas Non-Blowback: Gas guns that do not have the blowback feature (Moving slides). These usually use less gas than GBBs. AEG / Automatic Electric Gun: AEGs or electric guns are just rifles/pistols that shoot fully automatic or use a battery. Commonly, people call guns AEGs even if they only shoot semi, but AEG can be used to describe any battery operated gun. AEGs are the favored primary of most airsoft players. ROF / Rate of Fire: The rate of fire is the amount of rounds ejected from the gun in a certain amount of time. Usually ROFpM (Rate of fire per minute). FPS / Feet Per Second: The system of speed measurement used to tell how fast an airsoft gun can propel a BB. The higher the FPS, the faster the BB is going. FPS is found by Chronoing the gun with a Chronograph machine. AEG – This stands for Automatic Electric Gun. These are full-size, high-quality electric airsoft guns. They use batteries and metal gearboxes to propel the bb’s. Often quite expensive and more powerful than spring guns and gas handguns. AEP - This stands for Automatic Electric Pistol. These are handguns powered by small batteries. More reliable and efficient than EBBs. Also more expensive. AK - Stands for "Avtomat Kalashnikova". This is a Soviet designed weapon series. This particular reference usually stands for the well-known AK-47. BB – The correct term for the projectiles fired from airsoft guns. Categorized by their weight. Example: .20gram, .25g, .30 grams, etc. The heavier the BB, the harder it will hit, but the slower it will fly. CA - Stands for Classic Army, a popular AEG manufacturer. Their weapons have full metal bodies and often have a higher FPS than most other stock AEGs. Not as high quality internals as Tokyo Marui. Deagle, DE - Slang for Desert Eagle, a large Israeli made .45 or .50 caliber pistol. EBB - Stands for Electric Blow Back pistol. Electrically powered blow back handguns. Less powerful and reliable than GBBs and AEPs. Use AA batteries, as opposed to custom made AEP batteries. FPS – This stands for feet per second, or in other words, the velocity at which your bb’s are leaving the barrel. Some players use MPS, meters per second, instead. Both systems equal the same muzzle velocity when the units are converted. Hi-Capa – The Hi-Capa is a competition style handgun, now widely popular in the airsofting world. There are many variations on the original Tokyo Marui version, with WA in the lead for quality, power, and reliability. Hi-Cap - A high-capacity magazine. Usually holds 200-500 rounds for an AEG and 30-40 in a handgun. Disliked by mil-sim players for its unrealism. ICS – A widely accepted AEG manufacturer. Lower-quality metal bodies than Classic Army but have a lower price tag. The internals vary from weapon to weapon but are generally considered on par with Classic Army. Stock FPS is in the high 200s. King Arms, KA – A very popular manufacturer of aftermarket AEG and GBB accessories. Seemingly popular because of their low prices. Note, their quality is a bit less then other, more expensive after-market accessory manufacturers. KJW – Stands for Kuan Ju Works. A manufacturer of mid-priced gas weapons including the infamous USP series and the inexpensive version of the M700 gas-powered sniper rifle. For those with a low budget, KJW is great, but the quality will suffer with the low price tag. KSC – A Japan based manufacturer of extremely reliable gas-powered handguns. The prices are somewhat higher than other companies but the quality and reliability is somewhat higher as well. Their ABS plastic bodies are crisp and accurate, though using green gas is considered risky, due to their lack of metal slides. KWA – The Taiwan based sister company of KSC. Prices are cheaper, but the internal quality is somewhat less than KSC. Most KWA handguns come stock with metal slides. Low-Cap - A low-capacity magazine. Typically holds 30 rounds for an AEG, though some hold 20 rounds. G&P – Another growing manufacturer of quality AEGs. The full metal externals are exquisite while their internals may need after market work on specific AEG models. G&G, Guay2 – Stands for Guay Guay. G&G is fast growing, popular manufacturer of AEGs. Their externals are typically all metal and very detailed, but their internals have a reputation of being somewhat shoddy. G17, G18, G19, etc. – Abbreviation for the Austrian-made Glock style handguns. There are several variations of the Glock, including the Glock 17, which is a full sized version of the Glock 19, or the Glock 18, which can fire in full automatic. There are several other, less popular versions of the Glock. GBB – This stands for Gas Blow Back. These are gas-powered handguns, not to be confused with NBBs. Magazine/Clip – The correct term for the piece of equipment that holds bbs and snaps into your gun is the “magazine” or “mag”. A “clip” is something completely different and for the sake of consistency should not be used in place of “magazine”. Mid-Cap - A mid-capacity magazine. Depending on the manufacturer may hold 90-120 rounds for an AEG. NBBs – This stands for Non-Blow Back. The only difference between NBBs and GBBs is that NBBs’ slides do not “blowback” or slide back when fired. Thus, they have minimal recoil and most often have a higher fps and higher reliability. Realism is the sacrifice for fps in this case. Silencer – See Suppressor. Speed loader – A tool that can hold several hundred bbs, and is used to quickly load AEG (and sometimes handgun) magazines. Suppressor – Often misinterpreted as “silencer”. Suppressors are most often metal tubes attached to the muzzles of weapons to suppress the gas (and thus the sound) that blasts out of the barrel. No suppressor completely silences a weapon. Springers – A term for spring guns (does not include high-quality spring sniper rifles such as those made by Classic Army or Tokyo Marui). Standard - A standard magazine. Holds 60-70 rounds in an AEG and comes with most stock AEGs. Tightbore – A term for a tight bore barrel, or one that has a smaller inner diameter than normal. Stock barrel have an average inner barrel diameter of 6.08mm while the average tight bore barrel has an inner diameter of 6.04mm. TM - Stands for Tokyo Marui. Perhaps the most popular airsoft manufactures. All AEGs come in high-quality ABS plastic and have VERY good internals. Stock FPS in the mid to high 200s. WA – Considered the Cadillac of GBB manufacturers. Their GBBs are top quality and their prices represent that. Most WA weapons cost upwards of $200. Wei-Tech, WE – A GBB manufacturer comparable in quality to KJW. Their Hi-Capas are popular for their low price but high quality. However, there are currently many debates over the long term reliability of the WE hi-capa series, both metal and plastic.

Airsoft Weapon Terms

GBB / Gas Blowback: Gas guns that have blow back feature (moving slides) when the trigger is pulled. Similar to that of a real gun. Uses more gas.

GNBB / Gas Non-Blowback: Gas guns that do not have the blowback feature (Moving slides). These usually use less gas than GBBs.

AEG / Automatic Electric Gun: AEGs or electric guns are just rifles/pistols that shoot fully automatic or use a battery. Commonly, people call guns AEGs even if they only shoot semi, but AEG can be used to describe any battery operated gun. AEGs are the favored primary of most airsoft players.

ROF / Rate of Fire: The rate of fire is the amount of rounds ejected from the gun in a certain amount of time. Usually ROFpM (Rate of fire per minute).

FPS / Feet Per Second: The system of speed measurement used to tell how fast an airsoft gun can propel a BB. The higher the FPS, the faster the BB is going. FPS is found by Chronoing the gun with a Chronograph machine.

AEG – This stands for Automatic Electric Gun. These are full-size, high-quality electric airsoft guns. They use batteries and metal gearboxes to propel the bb’s. Often quite expensive and more powerful than spring guns and gas handguns.

AEP - This stands for Automatic Electric Pistol. These are handguns powered by small batteries. More reliable and efficient than EBBs. Also more expensive.

AK - Stands for "Avtomat Kalashnikova". This is a Soviet designed weapon series. This particular reference usually stands for the well-known AK-47.

BB – The correct term for the projectiles fired from airsoft guns. Categorized by their weight. Example: .20gram, .25g, .30 grams, etc. The heavier the BB, the harder it will hit, but the slower it will fly.

CA - Stands for Classic Army, a popular AEG manufacturer. Their weapons have full metal bodies and often have a higher FPS than most other stock AEGs. Not as high quality internals as Tokyo Marui.

Deagle, DE - Slang for Desert Eagle, a large Israeli made .45 or .50 caliber pistol.

EBB - Stands for Electric Blow Back pistol. Electrically powered blow back handguns. Less powerful and reliable than GBBs and AEPs. Use AA batteries, as opposed to custom made AEP batteries.

FPS – This stands for feet per second, or in other words, the velocity at which your bb’s are leaving the barrel. Some players use MPS, meters per second, instead. Both systems equal the same muzzle velocity when the units are converted.

Hi-Capa – The Hi-Capa is a competition style handgun, now widely popular in the airsofting world. There are many variations on the original Tokyo Marui version, with WA in the lead for quality, power, and reliability.

Hi-Cap - A high-capacity magazine. Usually holds 200-500 rounds for an AEG and 30-40 in a handgun. Disliked by mil-sim players for its unrealism.

ICS – A widely accepted AEG manufacturer. Lower-quality metal bodies than Classic Army but have a lower price tag. The internals vary from weapon to weapon but are generally considered on par with Classic Army. Stock FPS is in the high 200s.

King Arms, KA – A very popular manufacturer of aftermarket AEG and GBB accessories. Seemingly popular because of their low prices. Note, their quality is a bit less then other, more expensive after-market accessory manufacturers.

KJW – Stands for Kuan Ju Works. A manufacturer of mid-priced gas weapons including the infamous USP series and the inexpensive version of the M700 gas-powered sniper rifle. For those with a low budget, KJW is great, but the quality will suffer with the low price tag.

KSC – A Japan based manufacturer of extremely reliable gas-powered handguns. The prices are somewhat higher than other companies but the quality and reliability is somewhat higher as well. Their ABS plastic bodies are crisp and accurate, though using green gas is considered risky, due to their lack of metal slides.

KWA – The Taiwan based sister company of KSC. Prices are cheaper, but the internal quality is somewhat less than KSC. Most KWA handguns come stock with metal slides.

Low-Cap - A low-capacity magazine. Typically holds 30 rounds for an AEG, though some hold 20 rounds.

G&P – Another growing manufacturer of quality AEGs. The full metal externals are exquisite while their internals may need after market work on specific AEG models.

G&G, Guay2 – Stands for Guay Guay. G&G is fast growing, popular manufacturer of AEGs. Their externals are typically all metal and very detailed, but their internals have a reputation of being somewhat shoddy.

G17, G18, G19, etc. – Abbreviation for the Austrian-made Glock style handguns. There are several variations of the Glock, including the Glock 17, which is a full sized version of the Glock 19, or the Glock 18, which can fire in full automatic. There are several other, less popular versions of the Glock.

GBB – This stands for Gas Blow Back. These are gas-powered handguns, not to be confused with NBBs.

Magazine/Clip – The correct term for the piece of equipment that holds bbs and snaps into your gun is the “magazine” or “mag”. A “clip” is something completely different and for the sake of consistency should not be used in place of “magazine”.

Mid-Cap - A mid-capacity magazine. Depending on the manufacturer may hold 90-120 rounds for an AEG.

NBBs – This stands for Non-Blow Back. The only difference between NBBs and GBBs is that NBBs’ slides do not “blowback” or slide back when fired. Thus, they have minimal recoil and most often have a higher fps and higher reliability. Realism is the sacrifice for fps in this case.

Silencer – See Suppressor.

Speed loader – A tool that can hold several hundred bbs, and is used to quickly load AEG (and sometimes handgun) magazines.

Suppressor – Often misinterpreted as “silencer”. Suppressors are most often metal tubes attached to the muzzles of weapons to suppress the gas (and thus the sound) that blasts out of the barrel. No suppressor completely silences a weapon.

Springers – A term for spring guns (does not include high-quality spring sniper rifles such as those made by Classic Army or Tokyo Marui).

Standard - A standard magazine. Holds 60-70 rounds in an AEG and comes with most stock AEGs.

Tightbore – A term for a tight bore barrel, or one that has a smaller inner diameter than normal. Stock barrel have an average inner barrel diameter of 6.08mm while the average tight bore barrel has an inner diameter of 6.04mm.

TM - Stands for Tokyo Marui. Perhaps the most popular airsoft manufactures. All AEGs come in high-quality ABS plastic and have VERY good internals. Stock FPS in the mid to high 200s.

WA – Considered the Cadillac of GBB manufacturers. Their GBBs are top quality and their prices represent that. Most WA weapons cost upwards of $200.

Wei-Tech, WE – A GBB manufacturer comparable in quality to KJW. Their Hi-Capas are popular for their low price but high quality. However, there are currently many debates over the long term reliability of the WE hi-capa series, both metal and plastic.