So You Want a Good Airsoft Sniper but Only Have $180

If y'all're a seasoned airsoft role player, you lot've likely seen and used guns of all kinds. If you're the run and gun type and then you probably take a preference for electric guns. If y'all run a pistol and then you're probably familiar with gas powered guns. If you or someone yous know prefers sniping, at that place's no way you oasis't handled a bound powered gun at some point.

If you lot await at any other sport in the world, players are always required to bring specialized gear to maximize their potential. The sport of Airsoft is no unlike. If you lot're just getting intoairsoftor if you're simply interested in learning more, it's important to sympathize the differences between the diverse types of airsoft guns.

Overview

It doesn't matter how information technology'due south powered, the primary function of an airsoft gun is to burn down rubber or plastic projectiles known as Bbs. With that being said, the engineering science behind electric, gas and spring airsoft guns are quite dissimilar, and they can drastically modify the way y'all play the game.

Bound Airsoft Guns

Jump airsoft guns utilize the ability of a spring to propel Bulletin board system down the barrel of the gun. Spring guns piece of work on mechanical power, meaning they accept to be cocked dorsum (in the case of a pistol) or set in identify with a bolt activeness (in the case of a sniper or long range rifle). Spring powered airsoft guns are viewed equally both the worst in the game and the best depending on the power of the spring.

Gas Airsoft Guns

Unlike bound powered airsoft guns that operate on mechanical power, gas powered airsoft guns harness the power of gas to propel the BB down the butt. In the world of airsoft, the most common gas powered guns are pistols. They typically shoot harder and faster than spring powered guns. Gas guns tend to exist semi-automatic though sure models can shoot fully automatic.

The most common gas used for airsoft guns is propane or "green gas." Another type of gas used is CO2, which can be used for both rifles and pistols. On a side notation, CO2 guns tend to shoot at a higher FPS than light-green gas guns. Other less normally used gas types are HFC134a refrigerant and nitrogen.

Electric Airsoft Guns

Electric guns are the almost normally used guns on airsoft fields effectually the world. Electric airsoft guns typically come with a bombardment charger and a rechargeable battery. About electric airsoft guns have selective burn capabilities, in which the gun can switch between full machine, semiautomatic, and single fire modes.

Pistol vs. Rifle

There are two staples on the airsoft field — pistols and rifles. When it comes to gas guns, yous'll frequently observe at that place are more pistols than there are rifles. However, when it comes to electric guns, there are commonly more rifles than there are electric airsoft pistols

As you're making a choice of using either a rifle or a pistol (or both), you need to consider four things:

Size
Power
Capacity
Cost

Have rifles for example. Rifles tend to be more than precise and more than powerful. They're likewise capable of belongings more than rounds at one fourth dimension. With that being said, they're more cumbersome and heavier than a pistol. It's non every bit easy to maneuver with a rifle than it is with a pistol. Furthermore, they tend to be more expensive.

On the other manus, pistols are pocket-sized and piece of cake to motility with. They're fantabulous for engaging targets in CQB environments. Though pistols hold fewer rounds than a rifle, this tin be rectified with a high capacity magazine that allows you to stay in the fight for longer. However, depending on the skill of the histrion, matching a pistol vs. a rifle will put the pistol user at a disadvantage.

Not only does the burglarize accept better reach, just it holds much more ammunition. Plus, rifles shoot at a higher charge per unit of fire. Fifty-fifty fully automated pistols are outmatched because of how quickly they run out of ammo.

As yous make your choice of electric, gas, or leap powered airsoft guns, understanding the advantages and disadvantages of pistols vs. rifles will probable affect your conclusion.

Performance

Your selection of airsoft gun ultimately comes down to one question: what do you plan on using the gun for? Are you merely fooling effectually in your backyard? Do you lot intend to play at airsoft fields? Do you adopt battery power?

If you can answer that one question in your mind (along with the secondary subsequent questions that will inevitably follow), you'll be on the right rails of choosing the correct gun for your playing fashion.

Pros and Cons of Spring-Powered Airsoft Guns

Airsoft players oft have mixed feelings for spring powered guns. On the one hand, they're the least effective guns on the airsoft field, especially when compared to gas and electric guns. These would be the Wal-Mart make guns that y'all would probably buy for your kids. On the opposite end of the spectrum, spring powered guns tin can be the well-nigh powerful guns on the field. Spring-powered sniper rifles tin easily shoot at 500 FPS or higher. In other words, your opponent will definitely know they've been hit.

The principal disadvantage of leap-powered airsoft guns is they must be manually artsy every time the trigger is pulled. This isn't much of an issue for sniper rifles who sit ata distance, subconscious away. However, this can be a pregnant disadvantage in a CQB situation.

If yous're facing downwards three opponents who are using gas and electric guns, that would mean you would have to cock your weapon a minimum of iii times to take out all three opponents, implying your aim is dead on. That's all while non getting shot by guns that don't have the same limitations equally your spring powered gun.

Frankly, such a scenario is unrealistic. Your chances of winning such an engagement are slim, plus it's pretty frustrating having to cock your weapon after every shot. Furthermore, spring-powered airsoft guns tend to shoot at relatively low speeds. Bound powered pistols tend to sit down in the 170-350 FPS range while rifles can attain effectually 300-500 FPS. Low firing speeds equal less accuracy. Have into account environmental factors such as air current, and y'all'll discover that you are truly at a significant disadvantage.

Still, you can't discount the fact that spring-powered guns can shoot endlessly. As long as the jump holds out, you can go on firing away for as long as you please. This is unlike gas and electric guns who rely upon a battery or gas supply to go along firing.

Pros and Cons of Gas-Powered Airsoft Guns

Gas-powered airsoft guns are the side by side step up. They tend to fire harder, faster, and more accurately due to their semi-automatic firing style. Green gas, CO2, and other lesser known gas pistols tin can reach speeds of around 400 FPS while firing. Gas rifles tin reach up to 400 – 500 FPS. Because of the power backside each gas propelled shot, these guns tend to be very accurate.

When it comes to disadvantages, gas guns are a poor choice in common cold environments. CO2 is especially prone to malfunctions if exposed to the cold for too long. Plus, once you've expended your gas supply, it's game over.

Pros and Cons of Electric-Powered Airsoft Guns

Electric guns are the most popular airsoft guns for a reason. Electric guns can achieve up to 500 FPS and beyond and tend to look very tactical. Furthermore, rechargeable batteries let yous to save money. This is in comparison to gas guns that require a constant menses of gas y'all accept to buy to continue powering your gun.

Only even electric airsoft guns have their disadvantages. Due to the electric nature of the gun, the functioning tends to lag when the gun gets clammy. Furthermore, if your battery dies in the middle of a firefight, you lot're done (unless you lot're packing a backup pistol).

Price

You'll observe that amongst electrical, gas, and spring airsoft guns, the price range volition vary wildly. Take spring powered guns for instance. You can find a jump gun for as cheap as $45 at Wal Mart. However, at that place are spring powered sniper rifles that become for more than $one,000.

The general rule of thumb is that the more than money you spend, the better your gun, at least in virtually cases. The airsoft guns that sit in the $250 and beyond range tend to be more precise, shoot faster and are generally more than durable.

Every bit you consider the price of your gun, you lot accept to factor in two things: the initial cost and recurring expenses.

The initial cost of the airsoft gun

If you're looking for the cheapest gun out there, spring-powered guns will be your best friend. If y'all're new to the game and you're simply testing the waters to come across if you lot'll fifty-fifty relish the sport consider starting with a spring gun. That way you won't spend too much money if you decide airsoft isn't for you lot. If yous're a pro actor, higher-end sniper rifles will cost you a pretty penny, but y'all will indeed be a truthful terror on the field of boxing.

Gas guns tend to be more expensive than spring powered guns. Typically entry-level gas pistols are more costly than jump-powered pistols, and gas rifles are more expensive than jump-powered rifles. Budget around $180 – $240 to have access to decent mid tier guns.

Electric airsoft guns tend to sell around the same price every bit gas powered airsoft guns. The price is all over the spectrum. You can discover a decent entry level electric rifle for $150 if you look in the right places. Many of the middle of the road guns sit down in the $180-$240 range.

Recurring expenses

Equally you lot've likely deduced by this point, spring-powered guns are the least expensive to operate. You but need to purchase rounds, and you're practiced to go.

Gas guns are a good deal more expensive in terms of recurring expenses. Gas guns require cartridges or canisters of gas for continued operation. In the kickoff, you likely won't notice the expense as too much of a burden in the beginning. However, the cost of gas volition begin to pile upwardly. Give it a few months, and you'll find that you've spent a significant amount of coin on CO2 canisters and other forms of gas.

When it comes to electric guns, y'all'll have to purchase a battery and a charger. Therefore, they're much cheaper than gas guns but more expensive than spring guns. In terms of a recurring expense, you may have to purchase another bombardment in the future if your current battery dies on you lot permanently. On a side note, y'all're highly brash to purchase multiple batteries. That way if one battery goes out on you lot, you lot can easily swap it out for another.

Decision

Equally you're choosing between bound, gas and electric powered guns consider everything y'all've read in this guide. Think of your skill level as a player and how yous intend to use the gun. Jump, gas and electric guns all come up with pros and cons, and each gun type tin can be used effectively by the correct player.

Ultimately, if you're unsure of which gun to choose, try them all out. Airsoft is about having fun, and so experiment and meet which i suits your playing style the best. You might be surprised by your selection.

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