Many airsoft players are looking for a realistic combat experience. Recoil is a major part of unloading a real firearm, but because airsoft guns don’t naturally produce recoil, finding one with the right feel can be tricky.
Before spending cash on an airsoft rifle or pistol, ensure you know what you’re looking for in your go-to weapon. Remember, you can always contact our experts for personal advice if you have any questions.
Why Do Guns Recoil, Anyway?
Recoil is a natural result of Newton’s third law of motion – that every action causes an equal and opposite reaction.
Recoil in a genuine firearm is caused by the small explosion which sends the bullet out of the barrel. As the laws of motion state, when the bullet flies forward, the same amount of force is sent backwards, causing the firearm itself to move backwards at speed.
Why Airsoft Guns Have No Natural Recoil
Airsoft weapons don’t tend to have much recoil primarily because of how they work.
The forces involved when airsoft weapons are fired – regardless of whether they’re electric or gas-powered – are significantly smaller than in a real firearm. There’s no explosion and the projectiles tend to be lighter, meaning less force is created when firing.
How Realistic is the Recoil on Airsoft Guns?
Despite many millions being spent by real steel manufacturers to reduce recoil for the sake of accuracy, many airsoft players look to get as much realistic recoil as they can find.
Despite recoil not coming naturally to airsoft guns, many come with recoil features delivered by a separate mechanism that is activated when the trigger is pulled.
Because it’s not technically the projectile that causes recoil in airsoft guns, some airsoft players notice a lag between firing and feeling recoil in poor designs. However, recoil technology has come a long way over the years and now, most good airsoft weapons with recoil will have no noticeable lag.
Another point concerning realism is the strength of the recoil. Delivering an oomph similar to what you’d feel in a real firearm would be enough to destroy many airsoft guns, so the strength can be limited. Again, though, new technology and ideas are improving this side of the recoil game.
How to Find Airsoft Guns with Recoil
If you’re buying your first airsoft gun, we’d recommend going to a range and trying some weapons out before deciding whether recoil is for you. After all, many experienced airsoft players would much rather have no recoil and better accuracy.
However, if you’ve tried some weapons out and are now ready to purchase one with recoil, here are some things to look out for.
Gas Blowback Airsoft Guns
Gas blowback (or GBB) airsoft rifles are those that use air, usually CO2, to fire the projectile. At the same time as firing, the air will also trigger a blowback mechanism which produces recoil – hence the name.
GBB airsoft rifles are renowned for their realistic look and feel, including the recoil system, so this is a style to consider if realism is important to you. There are many GBB weapons on the market, so you’ll have plenty of options.
GBB airsoft rifles tend to be a little more expensive than their electric counterparts but you can find budget-friendly options in each style. Also, CO2-powered airsoft weapons can be susceptible to temperature changes which impact the gas and, therefore, the output of the weapon, so they can sometimes need a bit more care and attention to get right.
Electric Recoil Airsoft Guns
Electric airsoft guns, also known as AEGs (automatic electric guns), are arguably the most popular style of airsoft gun, particularly for beginners given their cheaper costs and lower maintenance.
However, not all electric airsoft guns will come with recoil – in fact, most will not. If you want an electric airsoft gun with recoil, you’ll have to look for companies that have specifically designed them as such.
Because it’s an additional feature, many electric airsoft guns with recoil will mention as much in their name – an example being Tokyo Marui’s popular Recoil Shock range. If it’s not in the name, it’ll certainly be in the product description, or you can speak to our team if you’re unsure.
