About Airsoft MilSim

MilSim is short for “military simulation,” a sport where we simulate combat situations using replica, safe weaponry. MilSim also includes reenactment simulations; however, reenactments are very different from non-reenactment simulations for many reasons.

Airsoft weapons are the weapon of choice for many MilSim groups because they are widely available styled as replicas of real weaponry, whereas our counterpart sport, paintball, generally has very distinctive-looking paintball weapons that need heavy customization to resemble real modern or historical firearms.

MilSim Simulations

The idea of a simulation is to set up some situation, hypothetical or historical, that did happen or might have happened sometime in the past or present and “get in the heads” of the people involved in those events. It gives us a chance to explore history from inside and get a real visceral experience out of it, instead of learning it abstractly from books and the History Channel.

MilSim Safety

The Airsoft weapons that are used for MilSim activities are regulated by the United States government. In order to be transported within or imported into the United States, an Airsoft weapon has to have a 6mm orange-colored tip to clearly distinguish it from an actual firearm. We recommend that you keep your tips on your Airsofts as much as possible. You are not technically required to by law, but it’s a good idea to make it clear that it’s not an actual deadly firearm whenever the question might come up. When you’re at a private Airsoft field you can go ahead and remove it for visual, simulation, and visibility purposes.

It’s also a good idea to wear eye and ear protection at all times. A stray BB isn’t going to leave much of a mark on your arm or leg, but it can do a real number on your eye, in the unfortunate occasion that one ends up there, and being around the constant firing of Airsoft weapons can lead to headaches or even hearing loss if you’re not careful. To avoid those, use noise-reducing earplugs or over-the-ear noise protectors and sturdy, Airsoft-rated goggles. There are many varieties of sport goggles available but it’s important that you use a set that’s designed to withstand having BBs fired at it; goggles for other sports or activities might not be made of safety high-impact material and actually shatter upon impact, which could cause much more damage than a BB to the eye alone could do.