Airsoft at 400 FPS. Any risk?
 

Hi everyone.

I'd like to have your opinion about the risk of being harmed or getting injuries during an airsoft game.

Me and my friends are using .20 bbs at 400 FPS. Some of them wear full-faces, but personnally I use a mouth and goggles.

What's your opinion on minimal engagement range for those game and the risk of getting harmed?

Ness

10 - 20 feet
out side that it hurts but the risk is less
anything closer i ALWAYS call freeze

400 fps is the limit at many fields. Others allow 420. It's fine. Goggles are a must, tooth protection highly recommended. Face masks optional, but not a bad idea. I'd say 15-20 feet for minimum range.

Any action-adventure sport has a sense and level of risk that all participants must be aware of, especially if there are projectiles flying at ANY velocity.

400 FPS is the limit on many fields for what is considered safe with AEGs (ie capable of full auto). For CQB the limits in Quebec are usually around 350 FPS.

Minimum engagement distances are usually set to around 15 feet.

As for injuries, there's harm and then there's harm. I've gotten broken skin from being shot by a 250 FPS gun from about 10 feet away. If you're worried about small injuries like that then you really should wear full protective gear, or perhaps consider a different hobby (like Bingo :P ).

Otherwise if you're wearing proper eye protection and a mouth guard, 400 FPS won't cause much more harm than small welts and occasional broken skin.

The important thing to understand is that mercy distance is of secondary importance. Mercy should be part of a comprehensive engagement rule system that clearly sets when it is appropriate to shoot at what part of the body, if shoot at all. A 15' mercy won't protect anyone being auto'd to the side of the head, rules about what types of headshots are permitted would.

Yeah, for now I'll stick with my mouth and goggles. Thanks for your opinions, keep them coming too!

Between 10-20 feet I make sure to hit a vest or harness.. inside 10 I try to surrender them

If im inside ten I run away 5 feet and "SURPRISE DIRTBAG!"

Common sense.
Last game I was too close to someone and we were the only ones left. So I called myself out. No point in breaking the skin or teeth.

Like June 5th? Hope it's fixed good and nice.

But that wasn't from a close shot, guy shot from behind the berm into the top floor of the drug lab. 60-70 feet?

Oh, okay. My mistake. I herd wrong.

Accidents can always happen, and I believe that most (key words MOST) try to play with respect for others. I know for myself and others on our team we always play with other peoples safety on our minds. I will always give the person a chance to surrender if they are unaware of my position and I could easily shoot them or touch them, and if I am far enough away that its not going to a mercy kill, I will always switch to semi and aim for their gear to minimize an injury. Nothing ruins someones day more then a fat bloody lip or a full auto burst in the face from 15feet. Regardless of FPS from 20feet or lower a full burst to the face sucks and no one likes it. Basically what I am saying is, with the right people i could care less about what fps everyone is playing with cause I know that they are thinking about my safety along with their saftey when shooting at me.

There really isn't any reason to upgrade a gun to 400fps, regardless of what people might have told you. 350-380fps with the right ammo will have the same performace as a 397fps gun, possibly even better due to the hop up.