Spokane Airsoft

If you're reading this page you're probably here because you're either surfing the site and checking things out, don't know a thing about airsoft and are thinking about getting into the activity or you're looking for some help getting into the sport for the first time.

Well you've come to the right place.

Airsoft is:

"... a hobby/sport/discipline, wherein replica firearms (pistols, assault and sniper rifles, etc.) that shoot 6mm plastic rounds, are used for personal collection, gaming (similar to Paintball), or professional training purposes (Military Simulations and Police training exercises)." Source: Wikipedia

Here in the Inland Northwest, Spokane Airsoft is committed to producing quality airsoft events for both recreational and MIL-SIM airsoft enthusiasts in Central and Eastern Washington, Northeastern Oregon, North Idaho and Western Montana.

Safety.

If your mom or dad is reading this, we're not an organization that's going to be hosting skirmishes within shooting range of the windows facing the backyard of the house. We don't play backyard airsoft. We encourage playing the sport in a safe and sane manner.Safety is the biggest thing we're concerned about in Spokane Airsoft.

Look at it this way: Remember Ralphie from A Christmas Story and how all he wanted for Christmas was a "Red Ryder carbine-action, two hundred shot Range Model air rifle with a compass in the stock and a thing which tells time"? Remember how everyone told him he'd shoot his eye out? Remember how he did, in fact, nearly shoot his eye out in the backyard?

Well if Ralphie had been playing with SA we would have made sure he was wearing suitable eyepro before he loaded that rifle up, we would have checked his gun to make sure the velocity of the rounds coming out of the barrel was at a safe speed, and we would have enforced our 20-foot engagement rule so that the BB wouldn't have ricocheted off his target and hit him.

Lets put it another way for your parents. The ownership of Spokane Airsoft includes a former Army captain who served as an MP, a former Army corporal who served with the 101st Airborne and a former Marine sergeant who served with the 1st Marine Division. All have served in peacetime and wartime. We are extremely safety conscious and treat airsoft rifles we carry now like we treated the real rifles we used to carry in the service.

Age Limit.

So how old do you have to be to participate in one of our skirmishes or events? Minors under 18 years old have to have a waiver signed by their parent or guardian presented to the event staff the morning of the event to insure they understand the rules and regulations regarding airsoft. We've had people as young as six or seven play with us, though that's the exception to the rule. Generally players range in age from 13 to well into their 40s.

If you are underage and as long as you have a waiver signed and you follow the instructions and rules on the field you are welcome to play with us.

What do I need to come out and play?

Well first of all you'll need some suitable clothes to play in. Click here for our handy guide on suggested attire for our skirmishes and events.

Second you'll need appropriate eye protection (EYEPRO) to play (Remember Ralphie?). Click here for our guidelines on EYEPRO.

Third you'll need to consider buying an airsoft replica. There are many different companies available to purchase guns from, many online and one or two that are in the Spokane / Coeur d'Alene area. Some people will tell you the merits of one gun over another, while others will tell you which gun is cooler looking than others while even more people will tell you that based on their experience playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 you should buy ...

Here's the bottom line on guns. Everyone's got an opinion. The one that matters most is yours. Do some research. Find the guns you like. Find out how much they cost and who makes them. Ask on the forums here for advice from other members of the community.

Where do we play?

There are several locations we typically play at. First of all there's the Nitehawk Paintball Field near Reardan. Nitehawk is Spokane Airsoft's home field and is owned and operated by Dale Burbridge. Second there's Dragon Wars Paintball Field near Colville. Third we occasionally play at a field called Camp Comia right outside the Cheney city limits and finally we are negotiating with the owners of the Spokane Paintball Club to start using their facilities for indoor CQB (Close Quarters Battle) skirmishes this winter.

What's a skirmish?

A skirmish is typically a recreational day where we get together without too many concerns about weapons restrictions or uniforms or what gear you're wearing and instead focus on just having a good time.

What's an OP?

OP is short for Operation. These are typically our re-enactment or military simulation events which feature more props including vehicles, pyrotechnics such as smoke and other devices as well as specific regulations on uniforms and gear. An operation can be a one-day event though we occasionally hold two-day events that include an overnight encampment. We typically hold a handful of these types of events each year.

What's MIL-SIM?

MIL-SIM stands for military simulation, defined in Wikipedia as:

"Mil-Sim is an abbreviation of Military Simulation, and refers to military simulations conducted by civilians for entertainment purposes. There are several forms of MilSim: airsoft games, paintball games, and video games simulating military scenarios and tactics.

MilSim most often falls into two different categories: reenactment and simulation. Reenactments focus on a particular event in history and aim to provide the most accurate representation of the time period, events and outcomes of the historical event. Simulation however may only focus on a particular time period and representation of which course a particular situation may have taken in history. In most cases a simulation event includes fictitious characters, groups and political situations."

In the past we have held re-enactments depicting combat in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury, mercenary operations in Africa and alternative reality games that involve "What If?" Cold War scenarios between US and Soviet forces to name a few. In a MIL-SIM event there will be specific requirements to help each individual get into character, such as uniform or gear requirements to help enhance the immersion each player will be faced with when playing.

Do I have to join anything to play?

Not at all. While we do have the Spokane Airsoft Club - which offers significant advantages including discounts on registration and each skirmish we host - you do not have to join the club to participate at any of our events. You don't have to be in a squad either. If you're just coming out on your own like Lone Wolf McQuade you're just as welcome as anyone else that's coming out to play at any of our events. Just as long as you follow the rules and regulations of the field that is.

What is the Spokane Airsoft Club?

Think of it as a discount club card like you'd get at Safeway or Costco but a whole lot more. The club affords its members discount pricing on all skirmishes and MIL-SIM events we host throughout the year, discounts on repairs and modifications to your guns through the Spokane Airsoft Tech Shop, access to participate in the OPFOR (Opposing Force),  as well as special club patches and name tapes to wear on your uniform to show your membership in the club. To find out more about the Spokane Airsoft Club click here.

Summary.

We hope this primer has given you a better idea of what airsoft in general and Spokane Airsoft in specific is all about. If you have any questions at any time about Spokane Airsoft feel free to drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .