Commercial airsoft was virtually non-existent in the Southeast until Chuck Thornton, a Winterville resident and paintball/airsoft pro shop owner, decided to start his own business in his backyard.
“I was having people come from several states over, from up North, places like that, because there were no commercial fields,” Thornton said.
Airsoft, a game that involves replica firearms that fire 6-millimeter plastic pellets in simulated combat, originated in Japan in the early 1970s and gained popularity in the U.S. by the late 1990s.
Eric Barnes of Airsoft Atlanta said Georgia Airsoft Inc. held the first commercial airsoft game in the U.S. on Sept. 19, 1999.
The business employs strict safety measures, including full-seal goggles, face masks and barrel covers, which are required. Airsoft grenades and magazines are prohibited.
Though business has fluctuated over the years due to economic factors and a lack of participation, airsoft experienced a revival during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“People were like, ‘I'm stuck inside. I want to get out and do something,'” Thornton said. “Well, our minimum range that you can shoot somebody is 20 feet, so you’re more than 6 feet apart from them. I had a lot of people start coming out for both paintball and airsoft, and that kind of gave it a resurgence.”
For standard play, a regular engagement rifle is limited to 1.55 joules from a 20-foot minimum engagement range, while designated marksman rifles and bolt-action snipers are limited to 2.2-2.3 joules from a 100-foot minimum range.
The business hosts walk-on game days every other Saturday, along with private events for groups of four or more. Although games are for any age, Thornton said most participants are typically between 15 and 17 years old.
“It’s a lot of fun and it’s mostly on the weekends, because we’re not really open 24/7,” said Ryan Sowell, an employee and student at the University of Georgia. “It’s just nice to kind of get outside and go outside of Athens for a little bit.”
Sowell said many people in neighboring cities and counties haven’t heard about Georgia Airsoft Inc., which can make business difficult at times.
Another challenge, Thornton said, is managing an inconsistent source of income.
“The other part is just learning how to conduct business and not panic when things get slow,” Thornton said. “Don’t spend money just because you’ve got a lot of money.”
Playing Airsoft
Georgia Airsoft Inc. is at 305 Lakeview Drive in Winterville. Players are welcome to bring their own equipment or rent gear from the pro shop. For more information, email info@georgiaairsoft.com.