The increasing popularity of low energy air, or airsoft, guns has led to the creation of a Subcommittee F08.27 on Airsoft, part of ASTM International Committee F08 on Sports Equipment and Facilities. The new subcommittee had previously been a task group under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F08.24 on Paintball and Equipment. Airsoft guns can be used with targets and in tactical gaming sports, similar to paintball.

Two airsoft standards were approved in 2007, ASTM F2654, Specification for Low Energy Air Gun (LEAG) Warnings, and ASTM F2679, Specification for 6 mm Projectiles Used with Low Energy Air Guns, and a third is in the process of finalization. Edward Schultz, director of engineering, Crosman Corp., and chair of F08.27, says that likely users of these new standards are those who can benefit from some structure within the industry, including manufacturers, distributors and dealers. "This is why it has been helpful to have a broad cross-section of people providing input to develop airsoft standards," says Schultz. "The final standards reflect that input. That is one of the strengths of ASTM International's method of creating standards, blending science with real world information."

All interested parties are invited to participate in the standards developing activities of Subcommittee F08.27. ASTM International standards can be purchased from Customer Service (phone: 610-832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact/) or at www.astm.org.

For technical Information, contact Edward Schultz, Crosman Corp., East Bloomfield, N.Y. (phone: 585-657-3037; eschultz@crosman.com). Committee F08 meets Nov. 19-21 during the November committee week in St. Louis, Mo. For meeting or membership information, contact Christine Sierk (phone: 610-832-9728; csierk@astm.org).

Release #8040