Spring Airsoft Guns or Rifles
(often called "springers") are single-shot that use potential energy stored in a spring to launch a pellet down the barrel of the Airsoft Gun. The user must cock a Spring Airsoft Gun prior to each shot much like you would a real shotgun or bolt-action Rifle. This is typically achieved by pulling back the slide (pistols) or bolt (rifles), which in turn compresses the Spring and makes it ready to fire. Because of this these Airsoft Guns are incapable of Automatic or Semi Automatic fire.
While most electric airsoft guns or rifles also use springs for this they are not considered to be in the same category as the single shot springers. Low-end spring airsoft guns and rifles tend to be much cheaper than their electric equivalents due to their simplicity and cost of components (spring assembly vs. spring assembly, electric motor, battery, and battery charger) and thus are widely available. These airsoft guns are less suited for competition because they are at a disadvantage against automatic airsoft guns in close combat and don't provide enough accuracy and power for long range uses. Higher end spring rifles can be quite expensive; these airsoft guns or rifles are typically suited for "sniper" applications in airsoft gun matches and can provide competitive muzzle velocities.
