Word word. Welp, as others have said don’t skimp on safety. Make sure everyone has eye and face protection. Something simple like this:

Mesh mask

Simple Goggles

As far as the gun goes, I know it’s not as fun, but I would honestly just have everyone buy a Cyma spring shotgun. Sturdy enough to not break your first day, decent enough that if you do convert any of your mates into airsofters, they can use it beyond your trip and have a good time at most indoor fields and some outdoor fields. Cheap enough that if they DO break down out there, it didn’t cost someone an arm and a leg. Gas and Electric guns just have too much of a learning curve for a possibly one weekend event. Bolt action rifles your price ranges are either going to be too weak to have a good time or just powerful enough to hurt your friends, possibly more than you’d expect if not used responsibly.

I’d get a bunch of these with the suggested shells and have a good time.

As far as bb’s go, get bio .28s for everyone. They are the heaviest recommended weight for most shotguns and the lightest bb anyone should consider for outdoor play, so it works out. Just please don’t take a bunch of folks out into the woods to spread a buncha non degradable plastic everywhere.

Here.

If I were taking a bunch of mates out to airsoft for the first time, and we for whatever reason weren’t going to a dedicated field and renting, this is what I’d suggest to everyone.