RTA's Beginners Guide To Airsoft
Rather you are brand new or a seasoned pro when it comes to airsoft, it is always nice to go back to the basics!
Gear
Before you spend hundreds of dollars on your first replica, go to your local field and buy their rental package! The biggest mistake new players make is buying these really cool looking replicas, but disliking it during their first couple of games. We here at RTA suggest getting the bare minimum to start off with (Face Pro, Replica, Red Dot Sight, and BBs). Luckily most entry level gear is designed to save you some money! You can also pick up used gear for an even more of a discount, just be cautious for they may or may not work! Over time you will figure out what works best for you.
Real Tac Airsoft has Specialized Operator Classes(S.O.C. for short) that will get you a full kit for either indoor CQB or outdoor Milsims. Just fill out the form at the bottom of the page!
Springer/AEG/GBB
Springer - Springers operate by manually pulling back a spring to fire. The two types of springers are Snipers or cheap rifles and pistols. They are great if you want a challenge or just getting into the hobby for real cheap!
AEG - Standing for Automatic Electric Gun. They operate on a battery and gearbox, and are the most commonly used type of replicas on the field. AEGs fill out every category of replicas from pistols to rifles and even snipers. The price range will very between platforms, but will often go from $150 to $500+
GBB - Standing for Gas Blow Back, they will operate on Green Gas, C02, or HPA (High Pressured Air). Most commonly used for the pistol platform, but is also used for the higher end rifle platform. For the pistols the price is usually $100 - $300, and for the rifles it usually starts at $400+
Buying Your First Replica
Buying your first replica is a very important decision to make! There are many factors that will come into play when choosing your first replica, like your price range, if you are playing indoors or outdoors, and what play style you want to run. Most airsofter's first replica is a M4, mainly due to the fact that it is easy to maintain and upgrade. M4s also have a large array of attachments that easily fit into place. Though if you want to be unique on the field, there are many different class options as well ex. AKs, Shotguns, SMGs, and even LMGs.
Just make sure your replica meets field specs!
Battery Types
NiMH - (Nickel-Metal Hydride)
NiMH batteries are the industry standard for beginners due to their durability, affordability, and forgiving nature.
LiPo - (Lithium-Polymer)
LiPo batteries are the most popular choice for experienced players because they deliver exceptional power and compact size.
Li-ion - (Lithium-Ion)
Li-ion batteries are a growing favorite, bridging the gap between the power of LiPos and the safety of NiMH
CONNECTORS
Mini Tamiya - Typically Green it shows a Square and Circle connector ends
Deans - Typically found in Red. Also known as a t plug , the connectors form a "T" shape
How To Read A Battery
Voltage "v" - Commonly found in 7.4v, 9.6v. and 11.1v. Each one has it's pros and cons, but the more voltage your battery has the harder it shoots. Just be cautious ALWAYS read up on what your replica can handle!
Milliampere-Hour "mAh" - Tells you how long your battery will last on one charge. For example, a 1500mAh battery will generally yield between 1500 and 2250 shots per charge.
Current "c" - Also known as your DISCARGE RATE It indicates the maximum, safe, continuous current the battery can deliver without overheating or damaging its internal cells.If you have a 1200mAh (1.2 Ah) battery with a 20C rating: 1.2 Ah × 20C = 24 Amps continuous output.
BBs & FPS/Joules
In airsoft the BBs you use matter just as much as the replica you're using! They range from .12g all the way up to .43g, and each is used in specific ways. Note that if you are playing outdoors, the field will most likely use BIODEGRADABLE BBs only! The three main weights you will find are .25g, .32, and .43g. The .25g are common in CQB indoor fields, the .32g are common for average outdoor fields, and .43g are almost always used in the Sniper class. Do also note that the heavier the BB the further it will travel, BUT will hit hit harder. In addition to BIO and non BIO BBs there are tracer BBs. That when paired with a tracer unit illuminates said BBs.
FPS(Feet Per Second) - Tells you how fast the BB is flying
Joules - Tells you how hard the BB hits
(Most fields nowadays use both to determine if your replica is field ready)
Playing Indoors Vs Outdoors
There is a big difference between playing indoors and playing outdoors!
Indoors will focus mainly on CQB (Close Quarters Battle), there will be tight corners and rooms you as a player need to clear to get to the game objective.
Outdoors will mainly be focused on the Milsim (Military Simulation), in which you have to traverse different landscapes and terrain to get to the objective.
Both types of fields have their advantages and disadvantages, do note that both types have their own set of rules that will almost never be the same
Get A S.O.C Kit
Simply fill out the required boxes, and we will happily get back back to you!
