help with air soft gun

[moongirl]

My DS9 and DS12 both are interested in getting an air soft gun for Christmas. They have never used one and I know nothing about them. I've looked online and most seem to look like hand guns which makes me really nervous. My brothers had BB guns as kids which is what I know about. My DS9 is really into target shooting through Cub Scouts. He has used BB guns and a bow there but not an air soft gun. I am okay with the idea of them target shooting but have heard that these guns are used in place of paint ball guns. Is that true? Please fellow DISers, educate me! I want to get them something that is used ONLY for shooting non-human targets. I don't want them to be used like paint ball guns for shooting at each other. Recommendations/advice/experiences greatly appreciated !!

 

[Aimros]

you'll shoot your eye out, kid.




Sorry, had to.

 

[rock_doctor]

The airsoft guns are nice. They are basically like BB guns but shoot a plastic BB and tend to be spring loaded rather then BB guns that can be CO2 powered. You can get airsoft guns that are clear and this is what i would suggest. Your kids will not be happy with the clear ones as they can't easily pretend they are real but they are obviously not real guns and there is a safety factor in making sure people can't mistake it for real... So go for it but be sure to also get some targets at the same time and set up a target range otherwise they will be shooting at things in the house... Use the white plastic BBs. They come in different colors but the paint can peel off causing problems. The white is the natural color. You may want to buy something like this off the web as you will have a much better selection but i think walmart also carries these unless you live in a major city. Then you may need to make a trip to the suburbs.

 

[tinkarooni]

Not to belabor the point about shooting your eye out......but.......make sure you purchase them eye protection and they wear it. I personally think 9 might be young for this. I am an insurance claims adjuster and I just recently settled a claim for a 12 year old boy who was playing with his friends and the friend accidently shot the 12 y/o in the face and it hit his eye. 4 surgeries later he still will be left with some vision loss and problems with his cornea. It was an accident no doubt but these things do happen. Eye protection is so important anytime they even hold these guns in their hands.

Good luck OP whatever you do.

 

[lurkernj]

I have two boys, 12 and 15 who both have several airsoft guns. They do use them to shoot other kids who also have airsoft guns, it's like live Call of Duty. The guns have orange tips, so they can be identified as fake. They wear a full face mask to avoid "shooting their eye out", along with long pants and long sleeved shirts. If they happen to get shot in an uncovered area, it leaves a small red mark, smaller than a mosquito bite, but it does sting a little. They use small plastic pellets. They play in an empty field/wooded area and there are usually no less than 10 kids that play (there have been as many as 24). It's very popular among the boys in our area. They build bunkers and wear camo. Even the dad's were impressed when they went to check it out (I think they are jealous).

When this started about 2-3 years ago, someone called the police saying they saw kids running around with guns. Since then, the police requested they notify them when they are playing.

I'm sure there will be naysayers who will flame me because I let my kids do this, but they are outside, getting exercise, having a good time with their friends, and to this day, no one has gotten hurt.

If there is anything negative to say, it's that the guns are generally not made well and we have had several broken. Also, I am constantly sucking up those tiny pellets in my vacuum cleaner.

 

[3mickeymom]

kids in my neighborhood have dented/cracked siding and shutters, sniper shot at passerbys from upstair windows, shot at unarmed kids which leave larger than mosquito bite sized welts that sting, especially when fired at close range. Most of this goes on when parents are at work and when the parents are told we get the "Not my child!" explanation. The orange and green balls all around the neighborhood should be proof enough. SO, responsible supervision is definitely the answer

 

[momto2inKC]

My 13 year old son has an airsoft hand gun. We went over the rules/safety in great length before he was allowed to use it. We live right in the middle of town, so he is not allowed to use it at home. It's something we allow him to take to our lake lot when we go. He is not allowed to shoot anything that breathes basically But he does enjoy it quite a bit. Make sure you buy a big tub of the pellets, you'll be amazed at how quickly boys go through those things!

 

[Psychodisney]

When I saw what they looked like there was NO way I was buying them for my boys. Way too realistic.

 

[tnkr mom]

My DS 12 & 9 have them we live in a big open area and they KNOW the rules! YES Wear face protection, YES they will shoot each other instead of just targets( I have the guns hidden as much as they use them because of it, and those plastic pellets can leave a nasty bruise depending on where they hit the body) also I did find bio-degradable pelletts somewhere; so they eventually wash away with the rain! The do have a lot of fun with the air soft's but you have got to have rules from day 1! Good Luck!!)

 

[okeydokey]

My kids are never allowed to point even play guns at other people, never mind shoot their friends, so no air soft guns for us. My husband is a hunter and a huge gun safety nut.

My niece and nephew have them and have left marks on each other and shot them all over their house. The little bee bees are a pain to vacuum up. Parenting is a bit lax in that house though.

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Another option: We have a local league that plays airsoft every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a local park. The field is enclosed and set-up right next to the paint-ball fields. There are rules and they must be followed or you are asked to leave the field. Full face masks are a must, and all guns are calibrated prior to play and they must be under a certain fps. Games are run for about 30 to 40 minutes with different objectives and such. My kids and husband only handle the guns at home in the garage while they are cleaning or working on them. They do look like the real thing, but teaching the boys about what is acceptable and what is not is a huge priority. I believe that airsoft is a very popular thing to play, but under supervision with safety in mind is key.


Oops...I just reread the OP's last line...I apologize about explaining our airsoft league stuff. I just realized that you don't want them used against others...just for shooting objects. Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shops...all carry the clear airsoft guns for a reasonable price. They also have targets. Be sure to read on the guns instructions about what sized BBs to get...each gun is different and could get messed up with the wrong weighted BB.


I really know more about airsoft guns than I should. We have been playing every weekend for about a year now. My husband is into fixing the guns, too. It's never ending...but lot's of fun for the kids!


Crystal

 

[Swimalie]

The 15 and 14 year olds that live near us have them. While we haven't had any damage from them yet, our driveway is covered in white air soft balls. I'm waiting for the day when my 5 year old accidentally gets shot while we are in our yard. I think they are fine in a controlled environment but not if there aren't any parents around (these kids are doing it when their parents are at work still)

These kids have the clear ones but go all the way up to the sniper ones that look super realistic. My 5 year old wanted to hold one and I said "no way". He is now asking if he can have one when he is 12. We'll think about it at that age.

 

[moongirl]

OP here. Thanks for all of the information. With what I have read so far, I don't think that these guns are for us (or should I say me!) I think the temptation to shoot at each other and "battle" would be overwhelming and that they would be bored with being forced to just shoot at a target. I think we will stick to the foam nerf dart guns for battle games and look into a target shooting club for the boys instead.

 

[Colleen27]

I hate those things! All the boys in our neighborhood have them, and I'm the Meanest. Mom. Ever. according to my 12yo for my stance that shooting one's friends is not good clean fun! They really aren't meant for target shooting; they're meant to be used like Nerf or paintball guns, in mock battles, but in my experience the kids aren't careful enough with them. They don't want to wear eye protection so they take their safety glasses off as soon as they're out of sight of the house, they shoot at the girls to get their attention, etc. And the pellets end up all over the place because none of the boys is very good about cleaning them up. So my son won't be getting one, and I'm sure he'll continue to be mad at me about it every time it comes up until the neighborhood kids outgrow the stupid things.

I was quite happy to hear that the boy who usually brings his out first got them taken away. His dad caught him sitting on their balcony shooting at the girl he likes while she was riding her bike (why do preteen boys think that's how you attract a girl? ), and with him gun-less the other boys haven't had theirs out in weeks.

 

[aprilgail2]

kids in my neighborhood have dented/cracked siding and shutters, sniper shot at passerbys from upstair windows, shot at unarmed kids which leave larger than mosquito bite sized welts that sting, especially when fired at close range. Most of this goes on when parents are at work and when the parents are told we get the "Not my child!" explanation. The orange and green balls all around the neighborhood should be proof enough. SO, responsible supervision is definitely the answer

My neighbors to the back have a kid that has a paint ball gun and I can't tell you how tired I am of picking those darn things up from my back lawn and in my pool! The parents say "oh no thats not from my darling" .... well your "darling" is the only kid around here that has a paint ball gun! Parents who buy those for the kids and think because they have "laid down the law" the child won't ever misuse them....those parents are in for a rude awakening!

 

[hsmamato2]

I think the temptation to shoot at each other and "battle" would be overwhelming and that they would be bored with being forced to just shoot at a target.

Exactly- OP you are very wise. I HATE these things,b/c parents buy them as 'toys' ,hand them to unsupervised kids who get bored shooting at targets .....WHY would any sane person who lives in a neighborhood give their kid these things?!?
They are made to look like real guns, pistols,rifles,machine guns..... as a PP said,they are like live 'call of duty' weapons games. If you are comfortable with your kids shooting at other people and animals and property,and are willing to take the subsequent hassle and possible consequences (i.e. irate neighbors,injured friends,) then great...these may be just the 'toy' for your kiddos!
They are bb guns- they HURT when they hit another kid,and leave a nasty bruise at best-and I have an extreme dislike of bored kids+weapons+unattending parents...