Airsoft Forum banner

Is Airsoft dying?

17K views 84 replies 42 participants last post by  snapshot311  
#1 ·
Hey everyone, sorry if there is a thread already about this. This question has been on my mind lately.
Is Airsoft dying out in the US?
I live in WI, and from here, I don't see a lot of new players and I certainly don't see any new fields. With rising opposition to "replica firearms" and the higher cost to play (higher than a regular sport/hobby) it seems to me as if the serious Airsoft player is a dying breed. What are your opinions/ comments?


Play for fun!
 
#2 · (Edited)
Subbed, I agree that the SERIOUS airsofter is dissapering. The few new players out there seem to not care about teching or even try to do research. They just stay on the Walmart level, never getting serious or checking out fourms.

Edit: Seeing the post(s) below I would have to agree with them. My field pulls a lot of players as well though they are never serious. Serious players are diminishing because most kids won't take the time to do research. Of the hundreds of people that turn up at fields how many can you count that are actually into airsoft as we are? They may play a few games and move on to other sports.
 
#3 ·
On a nameless Saturday, my local field still pulls 60+ players easily, and they're competing with SC Viper an hour away and Insight Interactive in the other direction. A good 70% of them are in the 16-22 age group and that's the core demographic for future growth. I wouldn't say at all that the sport is dying. Opposition to the guns themselves is no different than the opposition to violence in video games, meaning baseless fear of irresponsible people doing stupid things, but as long as rational politicians are in seats, and that is a stretch I know but let's not get into that, then airsoft is going to be fine. Now granted, this is Southern California I'm talking about and I think I live in the only town out of the seven around to NOT have a dedicated airsoft/paintball store. But, seeing airsoft stores pop up in malls, it's been keeping hope alive and such.


Sent from my iPad using Airsoft Society
 
#4 · (Edited)
It's not dying in the south. The local outdoor field here pulls 100+ on a Saturday, and around 30-40 for CQB. (The numbers are so lopsided because field play is more popular here, and the CQB place is tiny.) There are always new players playing, and some Saturdays last summer the numbers were easily 130-150 for outdoor. They also just lifted the ban on airsoft related items in a neighboring town, so numbers will increase even more. Granted, a lot of 13-16 year olds come out, but most are willing to learn, and they like to ask questions. I even know of a 14 year old (with mommy and daddy's credit card, but still...) who has one of the best Ranger kits I have ever seen. They seem to be doing their research, and I am also slowly weeding out all the Condor/NCStar/OETech Gear. Heh.

All in all, it just depends on location, and how local business owners are handling their area.

Also, it should be noted that there are always a good 40-50 of us old farts out there. We keep it going through the winter as well.
 
#5 ·
I would say if anything, airsoft is growing. Take a look at youtube, and how many people now have youtube channels that have something to do with airsoft, even if its not the main focus(EX: levelcap)
At my local outdoor field, crowds range from 50-70, 100+ for special events or nice days. While the 'hardcore' airsofter may be diminishing, there are still TONS of people that have decent gear, know how to tech, and are good players.
 
#6 ·
I thought it was dying in IL, but it was just the incompetency of a local group that hosted most of the games. Now there's enough people showing up that most IL fields hold their own open plays every weekend. These fields are starting to cater to the people who show up often with membership packages and discounts. And the big games are still around, and are actually starting to sell out.

In short: nope
 
#7 ·
I also want to point out, the "hardcore milsimer" isn't dying out. Most of those that I know play in smaller pick-up games a lot of times, and focus more time/money on OLCMSS, Mind Games, American Milsim, etc... games. They hit the local fields once in a blue moon just to hang out.

^This right here tends to be where I mostly fall into because of work. With the money I save on playing every weekend (Seriously, add it up. BBs, entry fees, and repairs from normal wear and tear can cost major cash...), I am able to afford LBT. Let's face it, LBT just makes life better.
 
#8 ·
Sales and the number of players is always climbing and falling.
Though I agree that the gub'ment (government) is part of the factor why participation has dropped a bit, I've personally come to notice that when there aren't any good shooter video games out or really good action movies out, airsoft tends to decline. But that's only because we don't get those players who in their heads want to be action stars; sliding to corners, jumping over barriers, and duel wielding pistols.

For those of us who have been in this sport for a few years, know that when a new military-like game comes out, we get all these new players (mostly young, under 17) saying, I want the Executioner pistol from the video game "Extreme Headshots!" because it's a bad [donkey] and is scary and totally awesome performing, and I only want to spend $50 on it. And we all say "Oh, you mean a 1911 with a laser and paintjob, but the only 1 in your price range is the craptastic WE 1911..."

Those players are what I call Seasonal Players, or as most other players call them "COD Players". Nothing against them or anything, it's how +90% of us got started. But these players only really show up when there's a new video game or movie out in theaters. They'll come and go with the times.

Also take into account the actual season... Summer is coming among us. Though many players are out of school, it's freaking HOT!
Overall, my point is that airsoft is not dying, it's just on a constant downslope

-mobile device-
 
#9 · (Edited)
I agree with the above posts. It's not dying, but from the southeast, it looks like serious players are disappearing. At my local cqb field, there's about 170+ players on any given weekend, but only between 10-30 of them even know what a gearbox IS much less how it works. My friends give me funny looks when I talk about brands/tactics/ teching, and dcu is the preferred camo.

That being said, it may have to do with my location. A majority of the retailers and large games are out west, and it's just not economical to buy guns, gear, and transportation for a single weekend when you can simply go to the local field. Sure, there's some annoying players, and they may not be serious, but at least there are some people who know what they're doing, and it's cheap. So basically, it's complacency and location that's killing them.

Bottom line: We are of a dying race my friends.
 
#10 ·
Slowly and gradually.. A clear cut sign is the way alot of US Online retailers consistently and blatantly stick it to the few customers that are left... Big name places selling broken guns, showing dated products, Not concerned with keeping there online store and current inventory in sync, outrageous shipping charges, hassling and not giving refunds because that was there biggest take all month.. Dont get me wrong there are some reputable places that go out of their way to ensure the customer is happy.. But those places are getting harder to find and are far and few between....

Like some other members mentioned airsoft is not completely dead, i play once during the week usually, and the games can range from 5 vs 5 to 20 vs 20.. The few Saturdays ive gone def 80-100 players but also ive seen it with as low as 50 players... So take it for what it is, currently still allowed in the US so enjoy it for what its worth..The only way to keep the sport current and active is by supporting your local field and following safety concerns and law set up by your state!
 
#11 · (Edited)
I think it's just more that it's by region. Areas where real firearms are easier to obtain, airsoft doesn't seem to catch on as well, probably because the real counterparts are easier to get, so why play with "toys"? But it's pretty popular in Cali where real firearms are much harder to obtain, especially with higher capacity magazines/sbr.
 
#12 ·
But Lost... I live in TN. Guns are easy to get, and airsoft is booming.
 
#13 ·
But Lost... I live in TN. Guns are easy to get, and airsoft is booming.
Well I don't know lol Wisco is almost unplayable most of the year, because it's either -50 or 100. There's only like 4 months that are in the middle, around 50-80. Otherwise, by me, it's always crazy hot or crazy cold.
 
#16 · (Edited)
I can't wait to move to Ohio... I'll be relatively close to fields in all directions.
Where in Ohio are you moving? I'm in Dayton. There is i70, which is north of Dayton, and honestly small. They do however do Night Ops on the first Saturday of the month which is kind of cool. There is also Hidden Spring Ranch in Springfield, not too far away from Dayton, and they have BIG events like Operation Blind Fury. There is Fallen Warrior in Chillicothe, OH which is east of Dayton, south of Columbus. Devil's Playground which is south of Dayton, north of Cincinnati. Lastly Black Ops Global. It's a CQB place. I've never been, but it seems fairly small from the photos and videos I've seen. It just opened though. It's in Cincinnati.
 
#17 ·
Where in Ohio are you moving? I'm in Dayton. There is i70, which is north of Dayton, and honestly small. They do however do Night Ops on the first Saturday of the month which is kind of cool. There is also Hidden Spring Ranch in Springfield, not too far away from Dayton, and they have BIG events like Operation Blind Fury. There is Fallen Warrior in Chillicothe, OH which is east of Dayton, south of Columbus. Devil's Playground which is south of Dayton, north of Cincinnati. Lastly Black Ops Global. It's a CQB place. I've never been, but it seems fairly small from the photos and videos I've seen. It just opened though. It's in Cincinnati.
Westerville for college :D

Dayton is only like an hour and a half away.. TAHA! :D
 
#18 ·
Westerville for college :D

Dayton is only like an hour and a half away.. TAHA! :D
When are you moving? Maybe we'll see each other at some events haha. I would say you could play on my team if you wanted, but I may be lone wolfing it myself. My team has kind of fallen apart lately. One of the guys that helps run it has kind of lost interest since his band is playing Warped Tour for 5 dates this summer. Not that it's some serious team, but it was at least some organization.
 
#19 ·
I think it's region based in some way. Here in Ohio, it isn't HUGE like Cali, but it's fairly substantial. However, it's not a huge group of SERIOUS players.
When I first showed up to play at this field with this group of guys that are friends with a friend of mine, I was one of two in camo, and one of like 3 that had something better than a walmart AEG and spring pistol. Those guys have since moved on to better AEGs, and spring snipers, and have camo. So it grows here a little. I think what helps is having serious players show the not so serious players how it's done.
 
#20 ·
I also plan on driving to events in Michigan and stuff, since apparently it's booming there... I also have family to stay with there so that's a plus.

I'll be moving out second week of August.
 
#21 ·
I also plan on driving to events in Michigan and stuff, since apparently it's booming there...
You can drop in on marine and Knief just to bug the crap out of them. :p
 
#22 ·
#24 ·
#25 ·
I'd say that here on the east coast the sport is growing. It's not as big as in California, but it is growing. The main problem is a lack of good fields. Speaking of which, does anybody know of decent fields in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey area?
 
#26 ·
I'd say that here on the east coast the sport is growing. It's not as big as in California, but it is growing. The main problem is a lack of good fields. Speaking of which, does anybody know of decent fields in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey area?
EAG is in Milhall, PA
Battlefield CQB in Boothwyn, PA
Grid Code CQB in Allentown, PA