Going to the great outdoors as a family can be a great way to strengthen your bond and improve your trust with each other. It’s also a fun way to get your kids to look forward to adventures that don’t involve gadgets and video games. 

While appreciating nature and the wilderness is the primary reason why you’re even going on such a trip, perhaps the unpredictability of it all is also what excites you.

It’s important to note that there are a number of things that can threaten your family outing—such as bad weather, which you certainly cannot control. However, for those scenarios that you can actually control, you’re better off knowing how to protect yourself. Bringing protective weapons, such as an airsoft pistol, maybe enough to help you stay away from bad situations.

Airsoft Pistol: A Safe Weapon for the Outdoors?

Before we go further into this topic, let’s just be clear that airsoft pistols are not meant to replace real handguns, especially for moments when using it. This may be already obvious, but this serves as a warning in case you’re thinking of using it as a bluff for the real thing.

This is only meant for smaller threats that don’t need to be completely taken out. Basically, an airsoft pistol is just an added safety measure for outings where the probable threats are more of a nuisance than an actual danger that you must run away from.

What an Airsoft Pistol Can Do For Your Family Outings

The kind of airsoft gun that you should get will depend on how you’re going to use it. If you’ll be using it in the wilderness, you’re better off getting one that fires automatically. That way, you only have to focus on hitting your target.

The most popular type of airsoft pistols are: 

• AEGs (automatic electric guns): This allows you to fire the gun in an automatic or semi-automatic manner, which is useful enough in a lot of scenarios. 
• Spring Powered: Needs to be cocked every time you need to fire it, which can be a real hassle when you want continuous shooting.
• The Gas-powered: Provides the closest experience to the real thing, which is especially helpful for skirmishes and tactical training.

If you wish to learn more about the various types of airsoft guns, Bach Bio is a very helpful resource. But if you’ve already decided to get one, here are a few reasons why having it in the wild can be a good thing:

• Small Game Deterrent

Airsoft pistols may only sting humans and larger animals, but it’s strong enough to put down or kill small game. If you’re planning to take a trip where small game can be rampant pests, instead of just being ignorable passersby, an airsoft pistol may help you deter them from coming into your territory or doing any significant damage.

• Confidence in the Wilderness

When you’re in the wild, there’s always the possibility that you’d have to face a challenge that you’ve never experienced before—no matter how prepared you are. You certainly don’t want to get into trouble, especially if you’re dealing with wild animals. 

Having a weapon with you serves as an extra cushion should things get out of hand.

• Self-Defense Against Animal Attackers

Sometimes, even the best precautions may not fend off an impending animal attack, and there are moments when you’ll be forced to fight back. Remember, only use your weapons when you’re attacked first. Because if you instigate the fight, they’ll readily see you as a threat. When they’re threatened, they won’t hesitate to jump on you.

When the worst happens, it’s better to have more weapons with you than none at all. Even though an airsoft pistol will never fire as strongly as a real handgun, it can still be enough to help you run away unscathed, especially from smaller attackers.

• Training for Live Gun-Handling Skills

Carrying an airsoft pistol can be a cheap but effective way to practice your gun-handling skills in the wild. You can try to practice your aim on a small game so that you’d learn how to hit a moving target. 

When done right, this form of training can translate well with using actual guns, just in case you need to use them.

Airsoft Pistols as a Deterrent and Training Device

Airsoft pistols may have enough sting to actually hurt, so it can serve as an emergency weapon when needed. 

When you’re in the wild, almost anything goes. For this reason, you’re better off bringing all sorts of weapons that you can easily carry with you.