Glossary of Airsoft Terms

AEG

  • Acronym for Automatic Electric Gun. A battery, gears, motor, piston and cylinder works in a smooth system to fire a BB. Most airsoft guns are of this type.

BB

  • Acronym for Ball Bering. In relation to airsoft it is a spherical ball of plastic used as an airsoft gun projectile. They are usually 6mm in diameter.

Blowback

  • is the action of a gas powered airsoft gun in which the expanding gases of propellant forces back the bolt in turn reloading the airsoft gun.

CQB

  • Acronym of Close Quarters Battle. It’s the name given to tactics in fighting at close range.

FPS

  • Stands for Feet Per Second. This is a measure of velocity to gauge the speed of BBs during flight. A velocity limit is always enforced before and during the game to ensure safety.

Full Auto

  • Shortcut for Full Automatic. It is also referring to switching your airsoft gun to fire one round after another.

GBB

  • Acronym of Gas Blow Back. This is a type of airsoft gun that is powered by compressed gas and has the ability to cycle the bold to reload the airsoft gun.

High Cap

  • Stands for High Capacity magazines. High capacity magazines usually holds 200 BBs up to 1000 BBs depending on the magazine. There is a wheel at the bottom that needs to be turned from time to time to rewind the spring that pushes BBs up.

Hit

  • is what an airsoft player shouts when he is hit by a bb.

Hop Up

  • is the back spinning of an airsoft BB to increase range and accuracy through a phenomenon called Magnus effect. It also can refer to the device that creates the backs spin off BBs.

Mid Cap

  • Stands for Medium Capacity magazines. Medium Capacity Magazines holds 100-120 BBs at a time and does not need to be wound up.

Milsim

  • is a shortcut for Military Simulation. It is an organized activity to simulate military strategy, tactics, and techniques. Most airsoft players play Milsim events.

Parley

  • it is the term called when 2 players being too close from each other from being safe. Both players will cease fire and step back a couple of feet and resume the game.

Real Steel

  • this term is used when referring to the real gun that shoots real bullets.

RIS

  • Acronym of Rail Interface System. This system enables attachments of accessories like laser, light, grip, etc. 

ROF

  • Acronym of Rate of Fire. A term used for the measurement of rounds fired in a given time. In airsoft it is usually the number of round in one second.

Semi Auto

  • Shortcut for Semi Automatic. Firing single shot without having to manually reload on each shot.

Springer

  • Term used for spring powered airsoft gun. Airsoft player usually have to manually cock the gun to engage the spring for the next round.