Whether you’re just getting
target practice or are going out for full skirmishes, to stay safe
when using airsoft guns, it’s wise to treat them as if they’re
real, loaded, and ready to go off.
But
as much as you can avoid bad practices and do everything possible to
keep yourself safe, accidents can happen. Minimise the risk of an
airsoft or BB gun causing damage to you or others around you by
following our top airsoft gun safety tips below.
Always wear eye and face protection
If you aren’t already doing this, start now. Tactical goggles and mesh masks are fundamental pieces of airsoft kit and you should never enter the field without them. Even though they’re only made of plastic, airsoft pellets can cause real damage to your eyes. Whether it’s a direct hit or a ricochet, taking a BB to the eye can be easily avoided by just putting on some goggles.
Keep your firearm unloaded
Wait until you’re
on the field and all players have their safety gear equipped before
loading your gun. When leaving the field, eject the magazine and fire
a few shots at the ground to clear the chamber. This will ensure that
even in cases where there are pellets left in the gun, the power to
fire it is inadequate. For gas guns, eject the magazine and lock the
slide.
Following these
precautions will ensure that you never accidentally fire a shot when
you don’t mean to or aren’t prepared, cutting the risk of
injuring someone around you.
Practice good muzzle control
Even though it’s only an airsoft gun, make sure that you only ever point your muzzle at the enemy team during airsoft skirmishes or targets when you’re practicing. When you’re not meaning to fire in the immediate future, point your barrel at the ground instead. This simple to follow safety tip will prevent you from firing on friendlies or injuring someone accidentally.
Don’t rely on your gun’s safety setting
Airsoft guns employ a range of safety systems to prevent accidental BB pellet discharge. However, they’re not 100% fool proof and can, on occasion fail. Therefore, always treat your gun as if it’s loaded and ready to fire to avoid ever accidentally firing a pellet when you think your gun is safely locked.
Don't play in public areas
Only play airsoft at designated skirmish sites to eradicate the risk of injuring bystanders or causing a nuisance. This isn’t just a safety tip, it’s also illegal in some cases to discharge an airsoft or BB gun in a public setting.
Take immediate precautions if your gun fails to fire
If a functional failure occurs and your weapon doesn’t fire when you pull the trigger - unload the magazine, attempt to clear it, and utilise your secondary weapon. A misfire could mean that there’s something wrong with your airsoft gun that could affect its internal components and make it unsafe to fire. Use a secondary firearm if you have one and wait until you get home to safely investigate the issue with your airsoft gun.
Keep your barrel clean and clear
After each stage of a skirmish, eject your magazine and fire some shots at the ground to clear the barrel and hop up. This will prevent any accidental discharges in the staging area. After the game, clean your gun’s barrel as it’ll prevent any potential jamming and maintain your weapon’s accuracy in the long term.