What is Airsoft?

If you’d asked me in the early ’90s what Airsoft was, I’d probably have shrugged. Back then, I was fully immersed in the world of paintball, Predator costumes, and wild outdoor adventures. But, like many things that quietly creep into your life, Airsoft made its first appearance in the unlikeliest of places.

1994: The First Encounter

It all started in Leeds around 1994. I was having a second Predator costume made – the latex kind, used mostly for LARP. While chatting with the costume makers, my eye caught a large sniper rifle propped up in the corner. It looked cool, very “real steel,” so I asked what it was.

“An airsoft gun,” they told me.

I’d never heard of such a thing. At that time, the idea of a battery-powered gun was bizarre – especially when paintball markers were still gas-powered beasts. I took it over to the window, shot a few rounds into the nearby woodland, and was surprised. It was quiet, almost eerie. No kick, but the sight was accurate, and the little plastic ball it fired didn’t look like much – but it intrigued me.

Then I put it down and went back to talking Predator.

2003: The Temptation Returns

Years passed. Paintball was booming, especially with own gunners and tournaments keeping us busy. But in 2003, someone handed me an AK47 Spetznaz airsoft gun with a laser sight. Full auto. Battery powered. I won’t lie – it felt like a toy, but a very fun one.

I had mates running a paintball site in Birmingham at the time, and when I mentioned the airsoft gun, they revealed they were already dabbling in it. Apparently, some guy claiming to be ex-SAS was running military-style training there with airsoft kit.

And here’s where I met my first real “Walter Mitty.”

This bloke spun a cracking yarn, but turned out he’d never been closer to the army than the local Army & Navy store. Camo trousers were the height of his military credentials. Still, the scenario-based stuff he pitched sounded good. Real missions, tactics, teamwork… it got my brain ticking. I met a few more “active SAS” lads in the years that followed – one even whispered it to me in the woods like it was top secret. If you really were SAS, would you spend your Sundays playing soldiers with teenagers in Yorkshire?

Anyway, paintball kept me busy. I shelved the airsoft idea again.

2014: The Turning Point

Fast-forward to 2014. We had a shop alongside our outdoor centre, and two lads from Patrol Base – which I later found out was the UK’s biggest airsoft retailer – came in. They were asking about using compressed air in airsoft, and we got talking.

That conversation reignited something. Airsoft, it turned out, had been steadily growing while paintball, especially from the own gunner side, was losing its soul. The magic elements of paintball – hiding, creeping, tactical movement – were stripped away in the pursuit of tournament formats like Supair. Inflatable bunkers and tiny pitches replaced forests and stealth. It was shoot or be shot, with little else in between.

Airsoft? It had taken all the good bits – camo, tactics, stealth – and built a whole world around them.

The Patrol Base lads were eager to host monthly events, swearing there was a big enough community. I gave them a shot, and in 2014, Halo Mill Proving Grounds was born.

Today: The Halo Mill Legacy

Now, Proving Grounds is the North’s biggest monthly airsoft event, capping out at 300 players. That’s our limit – not because we can’t handle more, but because our undercover safe zone can only comfortably support that number. We won’t cut corners. Players deserve quality.

The games are rolling six-hour missions with layered objectives, time-critical moves, and real teamwork. It’s immersive, challenging, and totally different from anything else. Other venues have tried to copy the format, but unless you understand the why behind the design, you’ll never replicate the experience.

And trust me, players notice when it rains – especially when they’re not being dripped on.

So… What is Airsoft?

At its core, airsoft is an immersive, scenario-based outdoor game. Players gear up in camo, work in teams, and take on timed missions with real objectives – all while wielding realistic-looking guns that fire 6mm biodegradable pellets.

It’s about tactics, communication, and the thrill of outsmarting your opponent.

Airsoft guns are velocity-checked to keep everyone safe. For example:

Fully auto rifles (like M4s): 350fps (with .20g BBs)
DMRs (single shot): 450fps
Bolt-action sniper rifles: 500fps

It’s all about energy (measured in Joules), and we weigh BBs to the thousandth of a gram. Marshals even chrono-check mid-game using radar to keep everything fair. Break the rules? You’re out. No second chances.

Airsoft welcomes everyone – from teens to retirees. It’s a social, physical, outdoor escape from daily life. Whether you’re a student, an office worker, or a retired commando (real or imagined), there’s a spot in the woods for you.

But beyond the rules, the chrono checks, and the camo – airsoft is about experience. It’s about stepping into another world, if only for a few hours on a Sunday morning.

You’re not just holding a toy gun and running around aimlessly. You’re leading a squad through dense woodland, flanking an enemy base under the cover of smoke. You’re holding the line as your team fights to plant an objective. You’re lying prone in a bush, radio in hand, trying to co-ordinate a multi-pronged assault while pellets whizz past your ear. It’s tension. It’s teamwork. It’s tactics.

Airsoft is one of the rare hobbies that still lets grown-ups play make-believe in the best possible way. No judgement, no expectations – just you, your kit, and whatever story the game throws at you.

And for some, it’s all about the kit. The gear heads. The players who spend hours modding their rifles, tuning hop-ups, debating over the merits of 0.25g vs 0.28g BBs. There’s a real craftsmanship to it – and just like car enthusiasts or PC builders, they love perfecting every detail.

For others, it’s about the camaraderie. The banter in the safe zone. The shared laugh when someone gets out in a hilariously bad way. The brew during lunch. The debrief chat about “that moment” when your squad pulled off the impossible. It’s social. It’s inclusive. And it’s full of characters.

And then, of course, there are the roleplayers. The ones who show up in full tactical loadouts, patches for every squad they’ve joined, night vision, comms, the lot. Sometimes they’re ex-military. Sometimes they’re just well-researched. Either way, they add to the atmosphere – turning a simple objective game into a full-blown cinematic event.

The beauty of airsoft is that you can dip in as deep as you want. Want to play once a month with mates and have a laugh? Perfect. Want to invest in gear, join a team, train tactics, and travel the country? Go for it. Want to spend hours perfecting a ghillie suit made from real foliage and become a living bush? Knock yourself out.

Airsoft doesn’t judge.

It brings together people from all walks of life – teachers, tradesmen, students, ex-forces, gamers, film nerds, adrenaline junkies, and complete beginners. And when the whistle blows, everyone’s equal. It doesn’t matter what you do Monday to Friday – in the woods, with your team behind you and a mission ahead, it’s game on.

Two airsofters sneaking through the woods

Final Thoughts: Why Airsoft?

So, what is airsoft?

It’s adventure. It’s strategy. It’s escapism at its finest.

It’s getting muddy on a cold morning and still grinning from ear to ear. It’s heart-pounding missions, unexpected friendships, and that unbeatable moment when your team pulls off a win with seconds to spare. It’s for the casual players, the hardcore tacticians, and everyone in between.

Airsoft is whatever you want it to be – and that’s the beauty of it.

If you’re even slightly curious, come and see what all the fuss is about. Whether you’re a total beginner or looking for a fresh venue to play at, Halo Mill Proving Grounds delivers something unique every single month. No gimmicks. No compromise. Just proper airsoft, done right.