I was walking yesterday afternoon in a fairly busy suburban commercial area. I took a turn by a car stopped at a stop sign. When I was about five or 10 feet away, suddenly I heard a noise it sounded like rattatatta like a machine gun, though not loud like firearms. I was struck in the back with several somethings very lightly… Just enough to feel it, not enough to remotely hurt at all or even sting. Didn’t mark my clothes. I looked down on the ground and didn’t see whatever the projectiles were. I looked at the car and didn’t see anyone, just an open back window. Then they took off from the stop sign.

Does anyone know what they were using?

  • kungen@feddit.nu
    14·
    3 months ago

    gel bead shooter

    100% this. I tried the “Gel Blaster Surge”, it shoots off 10 gels per second and it makes such clicking noise for each one it shoots out. That’d also explain why OP didn’t see anything on the ground, they break into a ton of small pieces upon contact.

    They can actually sting a bit, but nowhere near as an airsoft pellet does.

    • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.world
      13·
      3 months ago

      They’re also super popular right now, or possibly just past the peak of their fad status. I bought one on clearance at Walmart a little while ago just on impulse. Because it glows in the dark… and also shoots gel beads that glow in the dark. Complete with an internal UV LED to charge them up, like the world’s dodgiest airsoft tracer unit. Hey, it was twenty bucks.

      I already took it apart. Inside is the most plasticy, most Chinese knocked off airsoft AEG style gearbox I’ve ever seen in my life. It just tickles me pink.

      • kungen@feddit.nu
        3·
        3 months ago

        Haha, I did the same thing when I was in the US a couple years ago… though it was like $50 then, and of course I had to buy two so my girl could have a fair fight.

        It was actually pretty fun, like paintball without as much pain or mess. I regret that I didn’t dare to take it back with me on the airplane.

        • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          3 months ago

          What, because it’s got zinc sulfide in it? Not really.

          I’m still not in a hurry to eat a spoonful of the things. Just don’t do that. And perhaps despite appearances I’m not particularly prone to licking my gun, either.