• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Airgun Wire

Airgun News, Guns, Accessories, Industry Happenings, Airsoft, and Competition

  • Features
  • Airguns
  • Industry
  • Accessories
  • Competition
  • In the News
  • Subscribe
You are here: Home / Features / We Chat with SIG AIR Product Manager Dani Navickas About SIG AIR’s New ProForce Airsoft Guns
Sig AIR Virtus AEG Airsoft Rifle

We Chat with SIG AIR Product Manager Dani Navickas About SIG AIR’s New ProForce Airsoft Guns

February 6, 2019 By Tom McHale

Sig AIR Virtus AEG Airsoft Rifle
Sig AIR Virtus AEG Airsoft Rifle

At SHOT Show 2019, the Wires team caught up with SIG AIR Product Manager Dani Navickas to get some of her perspectives on the world of airgunning and SIG’s new venture into the airsoft market. Unless you’ve been in a 24-hour news cycle induced coma, you might have noticed that the folks at SIG SAUER are making some big moves in the airgun, and now airsoft, markets. Here’s what’s going on.

Airgun Wire: SIG SAUER just announced its new ProForce line of airsoft guns. Why did you decide to get into the airsoft market?

Dani Navickas: Well, we feel airsoft is just another great platform for training which is why we introduced the new ProForce line.  SIG AIR started with CO2 Advanced Sport Pellet and BB guns. What you get with our ProForce airsoft is the safer force-on-force training – that’s what the plastic projectiles are for. You can actually shoot them at each other in a gaming situation or a military simulation. It’s sort of like paintball but with more realistic guns. So, force-on-force training is a big advantage of airsoft, and we have achieved much more realism with our ProForce airsoft guns as far as function, feel, weight and features like full-drop magazines, a locking slide, field stripping capability and more. That’s why agencies and organizations like the U.S. Coast Guard train with SIG AIR ProForce airsoft guns.

Sig AIR's new M17 and P229 Airsoft pistols.
Sig AIR’s new M17 and P229 Airsoft pistols.

AGW: Just to be clear, as with paint ball, users have to use eye protection?

Dani: Absolutely. Eye protection, face masks, proper, ear protection – everything.  So, there are numerous clothing and safety regulations to be able to go on a paint ball or airsoft field.

AGW: Why is airsoft better for training than airguns?

Dani:  Airguns and airsoft are both great for training, they are just different.  With airsoft you’re shooting a six-millimeter plastic projectile as opposed to, say a BB gun, which fires a 4.5-millimeter steel projectile.  That’s why you’re able to shoot them at each other without much harm if you’re using the proper safety equipment, so this force-on-force training is what sets airsoft apart.

Sig AIR's first PCP air rifle is also a Virtus. Your choice, PCP and pellets or Airsoft!
Sig AIR’s first PCP air rifle is also a Virtus. Your choice, PCP and pellets or Airsoft!

With airsoft, the velocity is lower – usually in the 300 feet per second range.  Also, the weight of the projectile is a big factor. Airsoft projectiles usually weigh just .12 grams and maybe up to .25 grams, but generally don’t exceed that. That’s why airsoft projectiles don’t penetrate the skin. On fields of play, there are regulations that limit the power level and projectile weight.

AGW: So, how many different airsoft guns is SIG AIR making now?

Dani: Right now, we have one ProForce airsoft rifle, the MCX Virtus AEG. The AEG stands for automatic electric gun.  So, it runs off of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. We also have a few different ProForce airsoft pistol models, the M17, P226, and P229.

AGW: Can we assume that the airsoft models are just like the same model center-fire guns?

Dani: What we have done with the ProForce airsoft line is to match weight, feel, dimensions, and positioning of the all the features of the actual firearm so they are as close to identical as possible given the different projectiles and operating system. With the airgun and airsoft guns, you’re not training with a toy but rather a close replica.

AGW: What’s the price point for the new ProForce airsoft products?

Dani: For the handguns, we’re looking at the $150 to $170 range. For the long guns, we expect prices in the $399 to $459 range. These should be available in the late second quarter of this year.

Related

Filed Under: Features Tagged With: Airsoft, SHOT Show, Sig Air

Primary Sidebar

Search

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter



Airgun Wire Hunting

The High Road with Keith Warren continues to build new business for Pyramyd Air and Air Venturi

Umarex USA Announces Hunting For A Deal Scavenger Hunt

The Great Lakes Doe Challenge

More Hunting Articles

Airgun Wire - In the News

MidwayUSA Foundation Grants $1.5M to Youth Shooting Teams

Tread Lightly! Revamps Mascot and Youth Online Education Course

Receive Your Lasting Spot on the Firing Line Through the CMP Paver Project

More News

Topics

AirForce Airguns Airgun Hunting Legion Airguns Air Rifles Air Venturi Benjamin Big Bore Break Barrel Airguns Camp Perry Civilian Marksmanship Program CMP CO2 Competition Crime Crosman Daisy FX Airguns Gamo Hatsan Hatsan USA Hawke Optics Hunting ISSF Jobs JROTC MidwayUSA Foundation Olympics Orion Scoring Systems Paralympics PCP Pellets Pyramyd Air Scholarships Scopes SHOT Show Sig Air Sig Sauer Targets The High Road Training Umarex USA Shooting Velocity Outdoor Whitetails Unlimited World Cup
Airgun Wire Instagram

Find Us on Facebook

Find Us on Facebook

Footer

Categories

  • Accessories
  • Airguns
  • Airsoft
  • Competition
  • Features
  • Hunting
  • In the News
  • Industry
  • Uncategorized

TOPICS

AirForce Airguns Airgun Hunting Legion Airguns Air Rifles Air Venturi Benjamin Big Bore Break Barrel Airguns Camp Perry Civilian Marksmanship Program CMP CO2 Competition Crime Crosman Daisy FX Airguns Gamo Hatsan Hatsan USA Hawke Optics Hunting ISSF Jobs JROTC MidwayUSA Foundation Olympics Orion Scoring Systems Paralympics PCP Pellets Pyramyd Air Scholarships Scopes SHOT Show Sig Air Sig Sauer Targets The High Road Training Umarex USA Shooting Velocity Outdoor Whitetails Unlimited World Cup

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Go To

  • Accessories
  • Airguns
  • Competition
  • Features
  • Hunting
  • Industry
  • Contact Us

Resources

  • Subscribe to the Airgun Wire
  • Terms of Service

Copyright © 2023 · The Airgun Wire