How does an Airsoft Electric Gun (AEG) work?
AEGs use a battery powered high-speed motor to drive a set of gears that cocks back a spring-loaded piston to propel the bb forward. At the same time this mechanism loads the bb into the chamber and produces a muzzle velocity of about 0.8 joules and a rate of fire of about 12-15 rounds per second. All the mechanisms and power source are housed within the gun itself so to the outside it is a faithful replica of the original. There are no trailing wires or hoppers like on paintball guns. Standard magazines are loaded either with a spring plunger and are capable of holding 30-120 rounds. While after market hi-caps driven by clockwork are available (and considered the norm for skirmishing) and are capable of holding 180-5000 rounds!
