| Perhaps the single greatest reason for the | | | | and desirable feature: a rate of fire (ROF) |
| surging world-wide popularity of the Sport of | | | | ranging between 600-900 rounds-per-minute |
| Airsoft was the development of the Automatic | | | | (RPM). |
| Electric Gun or what is commonly referred to | | | | |
| as the AEG. These guns are universally fully | | | | Like their real life counter-parts, the AEG |
| automatic replicas of real-world weapons, | | | | plastic ammunition BBs are stored in a |
| such as the M-16 and the AK-47. The | | | | magazine (a detachable part of the gun that |
| exhilarating lure of these Airsoft guns lies | | | | holds the ammunition ready for shooting). |
| in their wonderfully designed fully automated | | | | There are two types of magazines designed for |
| firing systems. These guns have batteries, | | | | the AEG Airsoft guns. The first is the low |
| motors, and gears that control the firing | | | | capacity magazine or also known as the |
| mechanism. It is this automated system that | | | | (Locap). Usually, every new AEG comes |
| creates the power needed to support the | | | | equipped with a Locap Mag. Depending on the |
| exciting rapid-fire feature of the AEG. | | | | model of the gun, the Locap holds roughly |
| | | | 50-70 BBs. The low-end capacity gun models |
| The automatic electric Airsoft gun system is | | | | would include the Thompson SMG and the |
| battery operated. Depending on the model | | | | Airsoft Uzi. The second type of magazine is |
| style, this battery is stored in the handgrip | | | | the high capacity mag, also known as the |
| or the stock of the rifle. The big, | | | | (Hicap). Once again, depending on the gun |
| full-stock Airsoft rifles such as the AK-47 | | | | model, the Hicap mag will hold between |
| use the larger AEG batteries. The smaller AEG | | | | 200-600 BBs. A high-end capacity AEG such as |
| sub-machine gun models like the M4 or the | | | | the AK-47 can hold a Hicap mag containing an |
| collapsible stock Airsoft rifles such as the | | | | astonishing 600 BBs. Although the new models |
| MP5 PDW use the mini or stick batteries. The | | | | come standard with the Locap mags, most of |
| on board Ni-Cad battery in both models drives | | | | the larger AEGs can be upgraded to the higher |
| a small but powerful motor that in turn | | | | capacity units. Designed to be completely |
| powers the AEG. | | | | like the guns they replicate, these Airsoft |
| | | | magazines can be changed out as soon they are |
| This is where the magic begins with these | | | | emptied just like their real counterparts. |
| guns! Merely pulling the trigger completes a | | | | |
| simple electrical circuit that causes the | | | | With its realistic look and feel, combined |
| motor inside the AEG to start spinning. The | | | | with a spectacular automated firing system, |
| motor then begins to drive the gears in the | | | | the Airsoft automatic electric gun, AEG, |
| mech box. The mech box action in turn causes | | | | continues to grow in its persona and |
| the piston to compress and release. The | | | | worldwide appeal. Gun enthusiasts, |
| motion of the piston creates a blast of air | | | | collectors, and avid Airsoft players can all |
| that propels the 6mm plastic bb through the | | | | enjoy owning one of these amazing replica |
| barrel of the gun. It is this fully automated | | | | guns. |
| process that gives the AEG its most dynamic | | | | |