Airsoft, Softair, ASG: What's the Difference?
Airsoft, softair, ASG, replica. Newcomers hear these words used as synonyms, but they do not all mean the same thing. Knowing the difference helps you search for the right gear and sound like you know your stuff.
Airsoft: the sport
Airsoft is the international name of the sport: two or more teams face off on a field using replicas that fire 6 mm plastic BBs. When you say “I play airsoft”, you mean the activity, not the gear.
Softair: the same sport, the Italian name
In Italy (and a few other countries) the very same sport is called softair. It is not a different game: airsoft and softair are the same thing, the word just changes by country. So if you see “softair”, read “airsoft”.
ASG and replica: the gun
ASG (Air Soft Gun) and replica refer to the gun itself, the tool you play with. A replica is a copy of a real firearm, for example an M4 rifle or a Glock 17 pistol, that fires BBs at a limited, legally regulated power.
In short:
- Airsoft / softair = the sport
- ASG / replica = the gun you use to play it
What about AEG, GBB and spring?
When you start looking at replicas you will find more acronyms. These describe how the gun works, not the sport:
- AEG (Automatic Electric Gun): electric, the most common and the best to start with
- GBB (Gas Blow Back): gas powered, with realistic recoil
- Spring: spring powered, cocked before every shot
So which term should you use?
- For the sport: airsoft (or softair in Italy)
- For the gun: ASG or simply replica
- For how the gun works: AEG, GBB or spring
Now that the terms are clear, the next step is getting on the field. Discover what airsoft is and how to start, or see how much it costs in our beginner budget guide.