| Electric airsoft guns are the most popular type of | | | | charge. A high mAh indicates the battery will last a |
| airsoft gun. They are usually powered by | | | | long time, and a high voltage indicates the battery |
| rechargeable batteries, as using non-rechargeable | | | | can support a high ROF. The most common battery |
| batteries would be exhausted incredibly quickly. The | | | | used in AEGs is an 8.4V large battery with a 2400 |
| batteries power an internal piston, pulling it back and | | | | mAh. While 8.4V is the most common battery |
| pushing it forward in order to project pellets. In the | | | | voltage, some batteries have voltages as high as |
| case of full automatic guns, this cycling of the piston | | | | 12V. For some airsoft guns, regular AA batteries can |
| occurs at a very high rate. A popular acronym for | | | | be used. |
| these "automatic electric guns" is AEGs. Most AEGs | | | | Tokyo Marui, the most popular AEG company, |
| are modeled after real military weapons, such as M16, | | | | designed the basic mechanism used in most AEGs. |
| Steyr Aug, HK MP5, AK-47, M14, HK G36, and many | | | | The mechanism consists of a gearbox which holds |
| others. | | | | three gears, which are powered by an electric motor. |
| AEGs can achieve high speeds (of BBs, measured in | | | | The gears turn and pull back a piston against a spring. |
| feet per second) and rates of fire (ROF). High-quality | | | | Once fully compressed, the spring pushes the piston |
| AEGs can have speeds more than five hundred feet | | | | forward, thus forcing the pellet in the chamber out of |
| per second, and fire more than two thousand pellets | | | | the barrel. Many airsoft guns utilize metal gearboxes, |
| per second. In cases like this, drum magazines would | | | | a feature which prolongs the life of the gun and |
| be used so clips would not have to be replaced | | | | makes it sturdier. |
| frequently. For a common AEG, a ROF of six hundred | | | | Many companies, notably Classic Army, have made |
| rounds per minute and a speed of three hundred | | | | their AEGs full metal. Not only does this make the |
| feet per second would suffice in an airsoft game. | | | | gun nearly unbreakable, but it drastically increases the |
| Remember, the faster an airsoft gun is, the quicker it | | | | realism of the product. An alternative to full metal is |
| drains the battery (although very fast airsoft guns | | | | reinforced plastic, which has a similar effect. Other |
| have larger batteries). | | | | improvements and modifications of an AEG further |
| Speaking of batteries, a wide variety of batteries can | | | | add to the realism of the device. More importantly, |
| be used in AEGs. As stated, most airsoft batteries | | | | beneficial alterations can increase the functionality and |
| are rechargeable. Batteries are measured in volts (V) | | | | usefulness of a gun. However, noticeably useful |
| and milliampere-hours (mAh), which is a unit of electric | | | | modifications are usually expensive. |