Airsoft is one of the quickest-growing outdoor activities in the world - particularly in the UK, where the standard for airsoft sites is pretty high! Men, women, and kids alike are all getting involved, but there's no denying that it takes time to perfect your airsoft shooting skills.
For complete airsoft beginners, there's a lot to take in. Especially if it's your first time even holding an airsoft gun or at an airsoft shooting range!
On your first attempt at shooting your airsoft gun, you'll probably find that you miss your target. A lot. But that's expected!
To really help perfect your airsoft shooting accuracy, our experts at Socom have put together ten tips to help you out so that you can hit your targets every time!
1. Use High-Quality Airsoft Guns
First things first, you won't get anywhere with your airsoft shooting if you're using poor-quality weapons. Cheap airsoft guns won't have the same power or accuracy as their more expensive counterparts, and you'll find it hard to hit the target if the gun is of sub-standard quality.
To help maximise accuracy, use a high-quality gun with a powerful motor and well-maintained internal components.
We have a whole range of top-quality airsoft guns from top-quality brands at Socom. Whether you're after sniper rifles, airsoft pistols, realistic imitation firearms or compressed gas guns, we've got you sorted.
2. Choosing the Right BBs
As well as having the right airsoft gun in your hands, you'll need the appropriate ammunition. The BBs you choose for your airsoft gun can make all the difference in your airsoft shooting accuracy – so choosing the right ammo is essential.
You'll notice that BBs are weighted differently, and you should choose the most suitable weight for your airsoft gun.
For example, if you're using a spring airsoft gun, BBs at 0.30g are usually ideal – but you can check the recommendations for your gun to make sure.
If you're using BBs that aren't the right weight for your gun, you won't get the best accuracy out of them because they won't be propelled correctly.
Biodegradable BBs
Biodegradable BBs are the most popular type of BBs right now, and a lot of airsoft sites actually require you to use them.
They're far more environmentally friendly than regular BBs, as they break down over time and don't create any long-term damage to the environment.
3. Use Good Airsoft Gun Optics
It can seem impossible to hit a target that's far away – how are you supposed to shoot accurately if you can't even see it? That's why optics are so important to help with your airsoft shooting accuracy.
There is a whole range of different optics for your airsoft gun, each offering different levels of accuracy and magnification.
The most common types are:
Red Dot Sights
Red dot sights are most commonly used on airsoft guns, providing a clear image of the target and an illuminated dot to aim at.
This type of sight is perfect for close-range shooting as it's designed for quick target acquisition and can be used effectively even in low light.
Holographic Sights
Holographic sights project a red circle onto your target, which gives you a much more accurate image of where the BB will go. They're incredibly useful for long-range shooting and require minimal adjusting.
Shop red dot and holo sights here
Telescopic Sights
Telescopic sights are a great investment for any airsoft shooter, as they offer adjustable zoom and an illuminated reticle to help with aiming
As a complete beginner, you might find these a little difficult to use, as the magnification can take some getting used to. But with a little practice, you'll soon be able to use telescopic sights with ease and shoot accurately.
4. Keep your Gun Stable
One of the most important things to consider when you're working on your airsoft shooting skills is the stability of the gun in your hands. Obviously, if you're not keeping your gun positioned still, then your BB isn't going to hit where you want it to.
It can be tricky to keep your airsoft gun completely still if you've never held one before – the weight of the gun can make it difficult.
The best way to ensure a stable shooting experience is to use some sort of support, like a bipod, sling or sandbag. This will help you keep your gun still while shooting and allow for more accurate shots.
These supports also help with aiming – a bipod or sling will help you keep your gun steady while aiming, making it easier to hit the target.
5. Practice Proper Breathing Techniques
As the common saying goes, "breathe in, shoot, breathe out".
Making sure that you're using proper breathing techniques is actually really helpful when you're practising your airsoft shooting accuracy. If you're breathing rapidly and erratically, it will be very difficult to keep your gun still and shoot accurately.
The best way to use breathing when shooting is to take a deep breath, let it out slowly and then squeeze the trigger as you exhale. That way, your body is still and steady when you fire the BB, ensuring a more accurate shot.
6. Perfect your Trigger Pull
You might have heard in action movies and TV shows where someone is learning to shoot, and they're told to "squeeze the trigger" rather than "pull it".
This advice is actually incredibly important when you're practising airsoft shooting accuracy, as pulling or jerking the trigger can cause your gun to move and the BB to go off in a different direction than intended.
Squeezing the trigger simply means that you apply pressure to it slowly and evenly in order to create a smooth motion when the BB is fired.
7. Aim for Small Targets
If you've never fired an airsoft gun before, you should initially practice with bigger targets so that you get a feel for the gun and build up your confidence.
But, to really hone in on your airsoft shooting accuracy, then practising with small targets is the way to go. When you start shooting smaller targets, it will become much more obvious when your shots aren't accurate, and then you can make the necessary adjustments to improve.
It's also a great way to work on your aiming and trigger control, as you'll have to be very precise when shooting at small targets.
Go to an airsoft shooting range where they will have a bunch of different targets you can use. Plus, the site will also have experts on hand who can give you real-time feedback and advice on how to improve.
8. Fire from a Comfortable Position
Another important factor affecting your airsoft shooting accuracy is the position you're firing from. If you're not in a comfortable position or you're not holding your weapon correctly, it can be difficult to get an accurate shot.
For most people, the best position is standing with your feet slightly apart, and your arms slightly bent. Your gun should be held firmly but not too tightly, and you should have a good grip on the gun's stock.
If you need more stability, try lying down or using a bench to rest your arm on. This will help ensure that your gun is still while you're firing and that you don't lose accuracy.
9. Time your Shots
It's important to remember not to fire too quickly when shooting with an airsoft gun – particularly since you haven't been shooting for long.
Take the time to line up your shot before pulling the trigger, and this will help increase your accuracy.
This also helps if you're shooting multiple rounds in quick succession – it's much easier to hit your target if you take the time to aim and fire each shot rather than trying to rapid-fire.
10. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Practice really does make perfect, and before you know it, you'll be hitting your targets in your airsoft games time and time again.
Putting in the time to practice at an airsoft shooting range and perfect your shooting accuracy will be worth it in the long run.
Wrapping Up: Expert Tips for Turning from Beginner to Pro
If there's one thing you should take away from this article, it's that all it takes is a bit of practice and time to perfect your shooting accuracy. While it might be frustrating at first, you'll eventually get the hang of it and be hitting your targets in no time.
Refer back to our list of tips and tricks whenever you need a refresher, and check out the rest of our blog where we have articles on airsoft basics, guns and gear, as well as general advice on how to become a better airsoft player.
