"Airsoft" etiquette: how would you react?

[BigJ]

I had an interesting situation develop, and it got me to wondering what actually is the etiquette/opinion when it comes to air soft guns. Here's what happened:

A friend (call him Dan) brings in his son's air soft gun that has jammed. Neither son nor Dan are very mechanically inclined, so they asked me to take a look. After about 5 minutes I had the thing firing away again. No bid deal.

A second friend (call him Jim; actually he's my brother in law, business partner and very good friend) enters the scene and gets all gitty about the gun. He takes is from me, and immediately starts sweeping me, Dan, everywhere and anywhere in between. Just before he was about to sweep me again, I palmed the top of the muzzle, forcing it to point down to the ground, and said "hey you f*%$ing b&%ch tit, control that muzzle!" to which he replied by laughing it off and carrying on, although no longer sweeping me or Dan.

All three of us are grown men. I am by far the gun nut of the group, Dan hasn't really shot since he was a kid and Jim is currently a gun owner, although just for HD purposes. Both Dan and Jim have kids (I don't) and expect me to be the go to guy when it comes time to teach them the ropes.

Did I overreact? Is an air soft gun exempt from the rules of proper firearm handling? Or would you have done the same thing? Thoughts?

Edit: regarding the language I used and name calling... its how he and I interact. No insult was intended nor was any taken. We're friends, business partners, we're brothers in law going back nearly 20 years, and we're dudes who hang out with eachother in our free time... sometimes you call eachother names out of love, ya know?

[imtheomegaman]

I can't figure out what insult "***** tit" is.

I think you were okay, perhaps a bit fiery for a first time offense by a noob. A lot depends on your relationship, if a good friend called me out harshly it would be forgotten almost immediately, where as if an acquaintance did the same I would be a bit put off.

[Barbarossa]

I'd have corrected him as well, but without the kanguage

[kaligaran]

I'd have corrected him as well, but without the kanguage

I agree.

[BigJ]

I can't figure out what insult "***** tit" is.

I think you were okay, perhaps a bit fiery for a first time offense by a noob. A lot depends on your relationship, if a good friend called me out harshly it would be forgotten almost immediately, where as if an acquaintance did the same I would be a bit put off.

Yeah good friend. Brother in law, actually, and business partner. No worries on offending him ;P

But sounds to me like there is some leeway when it comes to air soft guns, eh? I mean, if it was a *real* gun I'd just got done fixing and firing, and was still hot, there's no question my reaction was justified. But maybe not so much with an air soft gun?

[CBR_rider]

Unless it was an airsoft that fired at 1,000fps or he was pointing it at your face, yes, you overreacted.

[BigJ]

PS: regarding the language, I agree when it comes to someone I don't know as well. I'm not in the habit of cussing anyone one out. This guy and I are family though, so comparing him to a female-dog's milk producing organ is par for the course

[CK_32]

Unless it was an airsoft that fired at 1,000fps or he was pointing it at your face, yes, you overreacted.

^^ This


As a avid paintballer and airsofter as a kid and teen you came off like an a hole. As far as muzzle discipline there isnt any aside from DO NOT AIM AT ANYONES FACE, but if you have a barrel condom or plug in/on its muzzle sweep away. Like the post above I quoted its a plastic/jelly projectile of 300 to 500 FPS.. And you treated it like a lethal organ exploding firearm going 0 to 100 mph in a heart beat like a soldier with PTSD making a scene for a small thing. But at least they have a true medical issue, you just tripped nutts and had a boring childhood.

But to teach him firearm discipline for actual firearms isnt bad but to make him sound like a terrorist for running with a toy you took the a** hat title.

[russ69]

..Did I overreact?..

Hell no. I would have done the same.

[desertrider]

I'd have corrected him as well, but without the kanguage

Muzzle control, even with airsoft, is still important.

Remember what Ralphie's mom told him about the Red Rider, "you'll shoot your eye out with one of those!".

But yeah, maybe leave out the "*******tit" language or you might get some of this...

[raven290]

I personally would have called him a dick bag, but that's all I would have done different.

Dick bag was a popular saying on my ship.

[CessnaDriver]

Airsoft could blind someone, so whatever method works to convey that. Nice is better of course. Sometimes that doesn't work.

[paratroop]

I have seen an airsoft gun knock a tooth out, well half a tooth.

[cabinetguy]

I consider the rules the same for any firearm, airsoft and paintball included. If you were actually in a game and playing with the airsoft, you would be the intended target, but hanging out is not a good time to get swepped. Its a good way to learn safe handling skills

[CSACANNONEER]

I consider the rules the same for any firearm, airsoft and paintball included. If you were actually in a game and playing with the airsoft, you would be the intended target, but hanging out is not a good time to get swepped. Its a good way to learn safe handling skills

+1, I think you should have kicked him in the balls as soon as the muzzle was pointed anywhere that was remotely unsafe.