oh dont get me wrong, shooting real guns > airsoft guns any day.

i personally have gone to a myriad of ranges shooting an assortment of berettas (handguns and shotguns) to moded colts (holy kickback batman) to remingtons to elephant guns (holy kickback batman x2) to assault rifles (wee).

i must say though, i have never shot an AK.

but the thing is, with airsoft, you get to shoot people in a recreational yet tactical manner. how many times can you shoot a fully automatic "assault rifle" at your friends and foes? do that with a real one and you will probably be on every television by the 10o'clock news.