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How an AEG Works

Automatic electric airsoft guns

Electric Airsoft Guns typically use a rechargeable battery to drive an electric motor, which cycles an internal piston/spring assembly in order to launch pellets. Automatic and semi-automatic operation is possible which gives these guns the popular name "automatic electric guns" or AEGs. These guns often attain muzzle velocities between 150 and 500 fts and fire rates between 100 and 2000 rounds per minute. They are the most commonly used and widely available type of electric airsoft guns.

These type of electric airsoft guns were developed in Japan and the Japanese company Tokyo Marui dominates the market. In a Tokyo Marui airsoft AEG, the motor drives a series of 3 gears mounted inside a gearbox. The gears then compress a piston assembly against a spring. Once the piston is released, the spring drives it forward through the cylinder to push a pellet into the chamber, through the barrel, and forward from the muzzle. Many manufacturers have now more or less replicated this basic model, adding reinforced parts or minor improvements. The video up at the top shows an illustration of how this works.

Electric Airsoft Guns are powered primarily by nickel cadmium with varying voltages and milliampere hour ratings. The most common battery is an 8.4 V large battery. Also available are 8.4 V mini batteries, which generally have 900-1700 mAh capacities. Voltages for large batteries range from 7.2 V, all the way up to 12 V. The rule of thumb usually is the higher the mAh, the longer the battery lasts while the higher voltage, the higher Rate of Fire.

External modifications, such as metal bodies and reinforced plastics that make an airsoft AEG look and feel even more realistic, have become very popular. Airsoft AEG manufacturers such as Classic Army and Tokyo Marui produce replicas that are visually nearly identical to their real counterparts. Tokyo Marui, however, sticks with a durable ABS plastic where as Classic Army features full metal bodied guns and stronger furnishings. Most airsoft AEG products produced as of late are designed to be as visually realistic as possible.

The two most common airsoft AEG fielded by players are the AR-15 series (M16 Airsoft Rifle, Airsoft M4 Carbine, etc.; sometimes referred to as the Armalite or Colt series) and the Heckler & Kock Airsoft MP5 series, because parts for repairs or modifications are commonly available. Also popular are the AK or Kalashnikov, the Heckler and Koch G36 and more recently, the Springfield M14. My personal favorites have to be the M16 Airsoft Rifle, Airsoft M4, and the Airsoft Mp5.