Airsoft Do's and Don'ts - Safety Message: Is Airsoft Safe?

Airsoft Do’s and Don’ts

Preparing to start Airsoft skirmishing? We hope to see you out there on the field for some fast paced action soon! Even while seeking thrills and spills on the skirmish field it is crucial that we make safety our priority, and that we all do our part to ensure the sport and hobby of Airsofting remain safe and legitimate in the eyes of the public. With this in mind, we are going to have a quick refresher on Airsoft safety to avoid any disasters and keep our players safe to enjoy Airsoft for years to come.

Safely Transporting Your Airsoft Gun

Though it may be tempting, you should never take your Airsoft gun out in public, and it should never be used within public view. The majority of the public is not aware of the existence of Airsoft guns as we know them, and if they see you shooting targets in your garden they may assume that you are using a real gun and rightfully contact the authorities. We always recommend that you only shoot your Airsoft gun away from public view, and if you have nearby neighbours, first inform them of what you are doing in a polite and factual manner to avoid a visit from the police.

When transporting your Airsoft gun it should be entirely concealed inside a gun bag or case, with the battery disconnected and the magazine unloaded and stored separately from the gun itself. This should be the case whether you are transporting your Airsoft gun on the train to your local Airsoft site, or simply between the back door and the garden.

Safely Shooting your Airsoft Gun

Eye protection must be worn at all times whilst shooting an Airsoft gun by both the shooter and any spectators. This is absolutely essential, even for spectators, as ricochets happen and can cause serious damage to vision in a worst-case scenario.

Sunglasses, swimming goggles, skiing goggles and protective eyewear for use with power tools are NOT sufficient, you should only ever be wearing Airsoft branded protective eyewear or Ballistic eyewear intended for real firearms shooting. Going cheap on your eye protection is never a good idea, as you cannot buy a new set of eyes with the money you saved.

Airsoft guns are NOT suitable for pest control, and should never be fired at an animal for any reason. Airsoft power levels are low enough that the projectiles are considered “non-lethal”, and as such, they are not an effective or humane way to deal with pest control issues. 

When shooting your Airsoft gun on your own property it is important that your ammo does not land beyond your property boundaries. Should this occur it is legally considered to be “trespassing with a firearm”, which we are sure nobody wants to be charged with. 

We recommend only shooting your Airsoft gun with a barrier behind your target to catch any stray BBs to prevent this from happening. A barrier made from several layers of cardboard will generally stop BBs from travelling beyond it, as would a barrier made from soil. 

If you want to avoid the embarrassment of your friends thinking you don’t know how to handle your awesome new Airsoft gun, bushing up on the five rules of firearms safety cannot hurt. These rules apply to Airsoft as much as they do to real shooting, and have several levels of redundancy built-in to reduce the chances of an accident occurring to practically zero. 

1. Never point your Airsoft gun at anything you do not intend to destroy

2. Be aware of your target, what is between you and it, and its surroundings

3. Keep your finger off the trigger and out of the trigger guard until you are on target and ready to fire

4. Always treat your Airsoft gun as if it were loaded

5. Always wear appropriate protective equipment when handling your Airsoft gun

The consequences of a negligent discharge of an Airsoft gun are far less severe than with a real firearm, but the consequences can still be life-altering. Don’t leave things to chance, take command and ensure you and your fellows stay safe whilst enjoying this fantastic sport. Following these 5 rules means you have practically no chance of having an ND (negligent discharge) whilst skirmishing or target shooting, as such, we would highly recommend it.

Safely Storing your Airsoft Gun

How you store your Airsoft gun between skirmishes and shooting sessions is largely dependent on your household and the space available to you. That said, you should never store your Airsoft gun in an area that is visible through a window, and if you choose to do this you should keep the curtains closed to avoid potentially causing alarm and distress to the public.

If you have young children or other members of the household who shouldn’t be handling Airsoft guns we recommend storing your equipment in a locked hard case or cabinet. If you aren’t going to be around to constantly guard your equipment this is the best way to ensure your guns stay securely locked up between uses. 

If you have the luxury of dedicating an entire room to your Airsoft kit then lucky you! We recommend planning your layout and where you place your gun rack with appropriate consideration to what is visible from public land, and to avoid displaying your collection in view of a window or door to the outside. 

We recommend not storing Airsoft guns inside garages or cars, as these are prime targets for theft. 99% of the time we hear of Airsoft guns being stolen, they are stolen from a car boot or a garage. The best course of action to prevent this is to store your Airsoft guns inside the house if possible and to minimise the number of people who are aware of the value of your “investments” and their location.

Airsoft - Do's

> Always wear Airsoft or Ballistic-rated eye protection from the moment an Airsoft gun is loaded to the moment it is made safe. 

> Always be aware of the direction the barrel of your Airsoft gun is pointing. Never point an Airsoft gun at anything you aren’t willing to destroy (especially the TV). 

>Always store your Airsoft gun out of public view, and secure it from those who should not be using it. 

>Always keep your Airsoft equipment (including BBs, Gas, Lasers etc.) stored securely and out of reach of youngsters. 

>Always transport your Airsoft gun in a securely sealed gun bag or case. 

Airsoft - Don’ts

>Never take your Airsoft gun out in public

>Never shoot your Airsoft gun at targets beyond your property boundary

>Never shoot your Airsoft gun without wearing Airsoft or ballistic rated eye protection

>Never shoot your Airsoft gun at an animal

>Never shoot your Airsoft gun at a person who is not participating in an Airsoft skirmish at an official skirmish site with third-party liability insurance.

A perfect example of a "Don't" in Airsoft is the recent TikTok trend, the "Orbeez Challenge" which involves irresponsible idiots shooting "gel ball blasters" at unsuspecting members of the public. This is currently the subject of a multi-state investigation in the US and has led to multiple arrests. More information is available here. 

This "challenge" has not yet reached the UK, and we doubt it will, but just in case it does;  there is no excuse to ever shoot an Airsoft gun at another person who is not participating in an Airsoft skirmish. This can result in lifelong consequences for both parties involved, including permanent injury and criminal prosecution. No amount of social media follows cancels out a criminal record, and if our sport becomes illegal due to irresponsible acts such as this there is no getting it back.

 

Obviously, we are all out on the skirmish field to have fun and make the most of the fleeting weather, and as a whole, our community are very responsible. Airsoft players in the UK have proven themselves to be capable of self-policing the sport over several decades of safe, successful Airsoft skirmishing, thanks to vigilance from retailers, skirmish site operators and the sport's participants themselves. 

As the sport grows it is important that these safety considerations are passed down to new players, and that they understand that the immersive thrill of exchanging fire with the enemy team whilst skirmishing is underlined by many layers of safety considerations undertaken by the site. This includes public liability insurance, visible and present safety marshalls and strict adherence to the rules, both of the site and of the land. 

Our community are doing their part to keep you safe when skirmishing, but you must play your part in keeping our sport safe and within the law when you are not on the skirmish site. Owning and operating an Airsoft gun requires responsibility, maturity and discipline as the consequences of misusing our equipment could be life-altering, and could also mean Airsoft is banned for good. 

This article should have you refreshed on how to stay safe when skirmishing and shooting your Airsoft gun, and avoid getting yourself in any trouble, legal or otherwise. It is absolutely paramount that safety is our highest priority, and that we all stay well within the law as responsible Airsofters to ensure our sport gets the public image it deserves and is not compromised by irresponsible behaviour.