Safety

Damage Effects on Human Flesh

the effect of a 'headshot' without protection

A close-range (5 feet) shot from an airsoft BB on bare skin from a gun with a velocity over 300 FPS can break the skin and cause minor bleeding. If playing with a t-shirt or thin clothing it may possibly make a small bruise. A shot two feet or closer to the eye area can cause serious injury and possible blindness. For this reason eye protection is mandatory for all players.

As a rule of thumb energy levels should be fairly below 350 feet per second or approximately 107 meters per second (penetration level, see Airsoft Pellets Ballistics for details). While it hurts for a few seconds up close, it only stings for a second from long range on the flesh.

Wildlife and Terrain Hazards

Because airsoft games are most often played in natural surroundings, animals can often interfere with these games and potentially be hazardous. These vary between countries and regions.

Whether in natural or built-up urban terrain, airsoft players can be subject to injury from terrain features such as slippery surfaces, steep slopes or heights, falls or trips, collisions with unseen obstructions, snags and sharpened objects, and even noxious substances (animal droppings, etc.). Scratches, cuts, bruises, concussions, and sprains, plus a few broken bones can easily occur in this type of activity. This is another reason for the need for military-style protective gear such as head and neck armor, all-terrain boots, thickened gloves, knee and elbow pads, and full-length rugged attire. Airsoft players are careful when running rapidly as well as moving hastily in the dark to avoid injury from such hazards.

Kinetic Energy

Although there is a considerable difference between Airsoft and paintball energy levels, the type of collisions that occur (elastic airsoft vs. inelastic paintball) must also be considered.

Kinetic energy is the energy that is transferred from the pellet to its target upon impact. One joule of energy will be transferred at a fps of 330 with a BB at the weight of .20g. A typical set of limits on guns might be 330fps for CQB, 400fps for outdoors and 550fps for bolt action sniper rifles, all measured with a .20g BB. The level of kinetic energy goes up and down depending on the weight of your BB and how fast your gun can propel that weight of the BB. There are certain places that play no FPS limit games.

In the United Kingdom, the energy limit for all Airsoft is usually one joule(328fps with a 0.2 gram 6 mm BB) regardless of the type of game play.

Most Airsoft guns are capable of shooting from 150 FPS to 400 FPS, though it is also possible to purchase upgraded springs for some Airsoft guns that will enable 400 to 600 FPS projectile velocities.

A hop-up unit, if present, puts backspin on the BB. This backspin generates lift and gives the BB a greater effective range. With too much applied hop, the BB will arc skywards; too little and it will fall to earth prematurely. Hop up can vary with the weight of the BB, .12 gram BBs are more effected by the backspin than the heavier .20 gram BBs The range of any Airsoft gun depends on both the fps at the muzzle, and the amount of HOP applied. Airsoft guns can have a range of 250 feet or more with enough power, the right barrel, and ammunition as well as a good hop-up unit. The hop-up rubber or bucking is also what retains the BB in the barrel until firing.

Unprotected Players or Bystanders

A player and any observer near an airsoft game site is required to keep their face mask, goggles, or shooting glasses on at all times. This is a standard safety requirement upon an airsoft site and this rule is always enforced by the marshal in charge to ensure that all players and observers remain safe and no accidents occur during the gameplay.

All players must immediately stop shooting when a person without eye protection is encountered in the playing area. One commonly adopted practice is for players to shout the words "Cease-fire, Blind Man!," "Heads up, Pedestrian!," "Noncombatant!," "Clear man!," "Walker!," "Civilian!" or "Unarmed personnel!" and halt an ongoing game if a player or bystander is seen in the designated game play area without proper eye protection: goggles and a helmet. Any player hearing the words must, in turn, stop and also shout the words, resulting in a chain reaction which halts and alerts the whole game. Once the situation is resolved by properly removing the unprotected person from harm, the game is usually resumed at the same point at which it was stopped. It may be smart to move to a different area after a safety call so you don't give away your location.

Community safety precautions

Some other rules such as a maximum BB velocity and distance guidelines are used in different ways by groups depending on their location. Various locations often offer similar safety rules with slight variations. In order to encourage the mixing of segmented communities into a larger community that can more easily engage each other, certain organizations have created safety rules and guidelines for players to share the field under common understanding and to band together in safe environments.

Airsoft replica of a H&K G36C. Note that this replica is not in use on a field, and therefore has the magazine removed (and the chamber cleared), and has a barrel bag placed over the muzzle

When not actively playing, some fields require "barrel bags," also known as barrel condoms, which were first introduced in paintball. Many airsoft guns, especially AEGs, come with small red plastic barrel blockers that fit over the muzzle. The magazine is usually removed as well, and the gun fired to clear the chamber. Many fields also require players to leave their guns set to the safety position when they are not shooting, even during active game play. This is a practice taken from real firearms training, in which one never puts a finger on the trigger or takes the weapon off safe until ready to fire.

In certain countries such as the Philippines where large numbers of players often play every weekend in commercial airsoft venues, additional special rules have been adopted to increase safety and avoid unnecessary injury. All "real steel" firearms, explosives, and bladed weapons are banned at any airsoft battlefield to prevent harmful accidents or misunderstandings and confusion between real and simulated weapons. Players are also expected to be discreet in transporting or carrying their gear and combat-style uniforms so as not to unduly alarm the general public and force the law enforcement agencies to investigate an incident involving airsoft guns. Pyrotechnic devices and effects may be allowed under special circumstances, but are rarely employed, because of the added danger to property or to the participants from fire and explosions.