What Are AEG Airsoft Guns?

AEG airsoft guns are also known as Automatic Electric Guns. They are much more commonly referred to by those in the airsoft world as electric airsoft guns, and as the name suggests, they are airsoft guns that make use of electricity to operate. This is in comparison to other types of airsoft guns which use either manually-operated springs or compressed gas to function. There are a great many different models of electric airsoft gun on the market, from cheap airsoft pistols to expensive assault rifles.

Origins

Electric airsoft guns were first developed and manufactured in Japan, and they then spread from there to the rest of the world as airsoft enthusiasts discovered just how fun and easy to use they were.

Construction

Electric airsoft guns rely on a rechargeable battery to drive an electric motor that is incorporated into the design of the gun. The electric motor then cycles an internal piston and spring assembly to fire BBs. Electric guns have the added feature of being able to switch between full automatic, three-round burst and semi-automatic fire modes. This feature is also responsible for the name “Automatic Electric Guns”. Electric airsoft guns are the most widely available type of airsoft gun and they are also the most commonly used by airsoft enthusiasts around the world.

Operation

The battery, motor, piston/spring assembly and trigger form an electrical circuit, but when the trigger is not depressed, the circuit is broken and no electric current drives the motor. Once the trigger is depressed, the circuit is completed, and electricity flows through the motor, which then drives the piston/spring assembly. The basic design features a spring that sits at the back of the gun barrel, with the piston directly in front of it. The motor drives the piston back against the spring, compressing the spring against the back of the barrel. Once the spring is fully compressed, it is released, pushing the piston forward at high speed. The speed causes the air in the piston to be compressed, pushing out of the front of the piston at high speeds, launching the BB from the barrel of the gun.

The basic design of the gun as described above has been present in more or less the same form since the electric airsoft gun was first developed in Japan. While manufacturers have tweaked the design and made some slight changes, the overall design has remained the same, testament to the simplicity and elegance of the original Japanese design.

Battery

Most AEG airsoft guns make use of Nickel Metal Hydride batteries with differing voltages and capacities. The capacity of the battery determines just how much charge it can store and how long it will last during use, and the voltage determines just how powerful a motor the battery can drive. These are rechargeable batteries that can be recharged and used over and over again, although they do deteriorate slowly over time.

Ease Of Use

AEG airsoft guns are among the easiest airsoft guns to use because you simply pull the trigger and the gun fires. From cheap airsoft pistols to more powerful electric assault rifles, the rate of fire achieved by electric airsoft guns is difficult to beat and make them fun for a casual day in the backyard or a serious afternoon out on the playing field.