How powerful are these things, like in layman terms? Would the bullet go through a telephone book? A record album? One inch of wood? Like if you shot me in the leg from across the room would the pellet go right in or just leave a welt?
I used to have a pump action air rifle and it was weak as hell. We'd play war and shoot each other with it. So long as you only got hit where you were covered with denim you'd be fine
I used to play airsoft - high end airsoft. Long all day matches w/ 50+ players and various battle scenarios w/ LAV's n various other military vehicles.
The highest power rifles in airsoft are the sniper rifles. They often use very heavy bb's (.3-.4gram) in weight, traveling at 500fps or more ... there are usually minimal distance engagement rules(generally 50ft minimum) due to their danger up close. They can easily reach beyond 150ft+ accurately.
The next up are your medium range AEG's (electric airsoft guns) ... Which through the entire spectrum of options generally shoot .2-.25gram bb's @ 400-500fps (most fields I think still limit to 400ish in the states) for their matches. These are used for anywhere from pointblank(frowned upon but people still do) to 100ft. The types of AEG's available in this category break down to:
A. 10-20lb SAW (squad automatic weapon) .. like machineguns etc that are used for suppression fire in matches(much like real life role in battle). These generally have 2000+ bb count magazines which are electrically fed internally and can be built up to have really good accuracy as well and/or an insane ROF. But they are generally built really beefy internally so their components can withstand holding the trigger down for as many bb's as needed w/o causing insane wear on the gearbox etc....
B. The most common type of AEG is of course the assault rifle platform. These are seen most common in all matches. There are hundreds of airsoft AEG replicas that look pretty dang close to their real firearm counterparts. If you invest into the $300+ range of AEG rifles you get into replicas that are metal, the look , feel & weight are often true to their real firearm couterpart. Serious players often tweak the internals of the AEG rifles ... for velocity, accuracy & ROF.
C. There are many SMG AEG's out there as well, which can nearly all be modded like assault rifles.
D. Then there are pistol AEG's ...which are usually meh......
Next there are ur close quarter compressed air powered guns, such as pistols ... some SMG's ... these can range all the way from shit in quality to very nice in quality. One that I own is an MP7, officially licensed from H&K, it uses green gas ... or propane, I roll w/ propane cuz its cheaper and largely the same stuff iirc.
Its surprisinly extremely accurate, internally functions very much like a real firearm (has recoiling bolt for working of the action), is loud , shoots at a rate of 22RPS & its fps is over 400 stock LOL! its nuts. Thats on the nice end of gas guns...
Lastly there are your spring powered airsoft guns - the cheapie freaking airsoft guns u see at big box stores like fucking walmart n shit. Little kids usually are introduced to airsoft w/ these. They grow up from there and learn to use real airsoft guns in matches =P
**Although, there may be some very nice spring powered sniper rifles now... not sure.
