Airsoft Guns

The Airsoft Megablog has been delving into rifles lately, namely how to select, use and care for your airsoft rifle. So, now that we've covered the basics, I want to address the more complex issue of upgrading your rifle. The internet makes it easy to buy the upgrade parts for less, but it is important to understand that sometimes you will need to loop in a professional to get the job done right. If you dive into an upgrade on your own, you risk damaging the rifle and voiding your warranty. For best results, use a certified professional airsoft technician / shop. In most cases, you can have that professional show you how it's done. This will give you a better understanding of how the firearm works which will help you troubleshoot issues in the future.

Needless to say, there are a lot of upgrades to consider. For the sake of simplicity, I'll summarize a few of the most common upgrades for electric airsoft rifles below. Once you identify the upgrades you are interested in, you can contact an authorized retailer like Airsoft Megastore for further information and advice. In many cases, one upgrade may require further upgrades in order to make sure the parts are compatible.

• Hop Up. There are two parts to Hop Up that you may consider upgrading. Hop Up Bucking puts back spin on the bb. A quality bucking will improve your shot accuracy. Look for Bucking made in durable materials such as silicone, which will minimize deterioration. Another potential Hop Up upgrade is the chamber, which will also improve accuracy.


• Barrel. Many airsoft enthusiasts prefer to upgrade to a longer, tighter barrel. In most instances, the tighter the barrel, the better, assuming you are using quality BBs as is strongly recommended by any qualified airsoft dealer.


• Gears. There are three gears to consider: the sector, bevel and spur gears. Gears are both critical and expensive. Avoid sub-quality gears at all costs because they will break and lead to expensive gear box repairs. The type of gears you use depends on the other upgrades and I recommend speaking to a professional about your specific needs.


• Bushings. Gears rotate on the Bushings. They also keep the gears in place and are thus critical in their own right. Broken Bushings lead to stripped gears. Bigger Bushings constructed in highly durable materials are generally better.


• Piston. The piston is a flat-toothed gear that is maneuvered by the motor and spring. Because of the tremendous pressure on the piston, quality counts. Metal pistons are a common upgrade but in some firearms they may strip gears. I recommend discussing possible piston upgrades with a professional so that you can determine what will work best for you.


• Spring. Upgrading your spring will increase the velocity of the piston. If you plan on upgrading your spring, you will need to make sure your internals are upgraded as well to avoid damaged gears and pistons.


• Spring Guide. The spring guide does just what it says and prevents the spring from jumping into the gear case.


• Cylinder. The cylinder compresses the air that will force the bullet down the barrel. A longer barrel requires a bigger cylinder, so these upgrades typically go hand-in-hand.


• Cylinder Head. You can either silence your gun or improve the piece's air seal by upgrading your rifle's cylinder head.


• Air Nozzle. This part pushes the bb into the Hop Up chamber while also sealing the airflow.


• Motor. Too powerful a motor can decrease overall performance and negatively affect rate of fire, so speak to a professional before you commit to a motor upgrade purchase.


• Battery. A higher voltage battery increases your rate of fire, but too high of a battery voltage may damage internal components. Again, I recommending speaking to a professional about what your gun can handle.


• Scopes and optics. This external upgrade is certainly something you can install yourself. A quality scope will improve your accuracy, especially in a sniper-type role.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, an airsoft retailer. Please visit Airsoft Megastore to shop for airsoft AEGs, electric airsoft rifles or the right airsoft sniper rifle for players of any experience level.

Labels: airsoft aeg, airsoft rifle, airsoft upgrades, upgrading your airsoft gun

For the past ten years, the airsoft market has been dominated by Taiwanese and Japanese manufacturers like ICS, Classic Army and Tokyo Marui. These companies produce high quality products and enjoy strong brand recognition, but, unfortunately, their reputation for quality comes with a high price tag. Their airsoft sniper rifles start at $250 and are often priced in excess of $400, making them a major investment and limiting the average person's ability to purchase multiple arms. One could argue that this is simply the cost of quality, but as an industry insider I know the high price tag has more to do with their manufacturing costs than the guns' superior construction.

In recent years, some strong contenders from China have garnered attention. Manufacturers like Jing Gong (JG), AGM, DBoys, and CYMA may have at first been dismissed as Chinese knockoffs, but today it is clear that they manufacture to the same high performance/quality standards as their Japanese and Taiwanese counterparts. How do they manufacture high quality products for so much less? The Chinese factories tend to be larger and have lower labor and component costs. In fact, you are more likely to find these electric airsoft rifles on US military training bases than their East Asian competitors because you simply cannot beat the value.

The classic airsoft manufacturers may have met their match in the new generation of Chinese manufactured arms. Here are a few examples of high-value Chinese manufactured airsoft rifles:

• The JG M4 S-System: With a muzzle velocity that overpowers even Tokyo Marui AEGs, this firearm is a tremendous value considering its extremely solid ABS polymer body and full metal rail system and gear box. The JG M4 S-System is releasing a new 2010 version and features numerous tactical accessory upgrades, including flashlights, scopes, lasers, and grenade launchers.


• JG M4 S-System Full Metal: Similar to the KWA M4 S-SYSTEM, but more advanced, the JG M4 S-SYSTEM features full metal design and fires at 400-450 FPS. A pre-installed MOSFET CHIP ensures the highest rate of fire, quicker trigger response and longer battery life. It is literally the lowest priced MOSFET-equipped airsoft M4 S-System AEG there is.


• AGM L96 w/ scope & bipod: Perhaps one of the best rifles ever launched by AGM, the new AGM AWP L96 bolt action sniper rifle is one of the nicest bolt actions on the market for under $100. It features a long, one-piece, full-metal, tight-bore sniper barrel and shoots with extreme force (over 450 FPS) and accuracy.


• DE Multi-Shot Triple Burst Shotgun: This multi-shot, triple burst, heavyweight shotgun is the newest DE shotgun on the market. It features three barrels combined into one super-reinforced barrel to maximize power and tactical efficiency. Three BBs shoot out after every pump, making this the fastest-shooting airsoft shotgun on the market, not to mention one of the most versatile shotguns you can purchase for less than $100.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, an airsoft retailer offering electric and gas powered airsoft guns. Please visit Airsoft Megastore to shop for airsoft AEGs and full metal airsoft rifles. Airsoft Megastore offers deep discounts on sale items for players interested in cheap AEG airsoft guns and looking to find airsoft sniper rifles cheap.

Labels: airsoft rifle, airsoft rifle comparison, airsoft rifles, best airsoft rifles

While airsoft gear tends to be durable, I have come across a few prematurely broken electric airsoft sniper rifles in my time. More often than not, these rifles were victim to user misuse and abuse. I strongly believe that you should enjoy your airsoft gear to the fullest, but it's also important to take care of your investment so that it will last for the long-haul. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:

• Only use quality BBs. If you take only one concept away from this list, let it be this: avoid cheap BBs at all cost! Low grade airsoft BBs are found in sporting goods stores and Wal-Mart. They are sometimes labeled as "Seamless Airsoft 0.20g" or "Seamless Airsoft 0.12g" BBs but don't let the name fool you, these are sub-par BBs and need to be avoided. These cheap BBs break apart too easily, which leads to jams, stripped pistons, and chipped gears. Furthermore, if you use cheap BBs you will void your warranty. High quality BBs are sold exclusively at airsoft specialty retailers and will minimize jamming, improve FPS, and improve firing accuracy.


• Beware low battery power. When your rifle battery is low, it's easier for the gearbox to "lock up" which can lead to damaged internal components. To avoid this, keep your firearm appropriately charged and stop using the rifle when battery life is low.


• But also beware of over-changing. On the flip side, it is not wise to leave your battery charging overnight with a standard wall charger. This practice can lead to damaged battery cells. Charge for fixed periods of time using a hi-output "smart" charger, which will taper off the current when the battery is full.


• Be careful with upgrades. Upgrades should only be made by experts. Keep in mind that raising battery voltage will put more stress on your firearm as it increases will your Rate of Fire (ROF) as opposed to Feet per Second (FPS) or velocity. If you want to increase your FPS it makes more sense to upgrade your spring, but again, this will add more stress to the internals that have not been upgraded in proportion to the spring. In short, it's best to consult with an expert when considering upgrades to your rifle.


• Care for your gun. You should always perform general maintenance before and after serious game play. The general maintenance should include unjamming and clearing the barrel of debris, as well as lubing the internal barrel, the hop up and magazine. Expert internal maintenance should be done every 4 to 6 months.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, a leading online provider of airsoft guns, gear and accessories. Airsoft Megastore offers guaranteed lowest prices on airsoft guns including electric airsoft guns and airsoft sniper rifles.

Labels: airsoft gun care, airsoft rifle, airsoft rifle care, best airsoft practices, cleaning airsoft

A lot of people ask me for advice on selecting an airsoft rifle. Here's a quick check list for finding the right rifle for your needs:

• Spring or electric (AEG)? Electric airsoft rifles are the most popular choice because they shoot at a higher velocity and have longer range. Spring rifles, on the other hand, have slower speeds and thus shorter range, but they are less expensive. Spring airsoft rifles are appropriate for less experienced gunmen and younger players. I generally recommend electric airsoft rifles for experienced airsoft enthusiasts and anyone considering sniping. Look for an electric airsoft rifle with a velocity of at least 285 feet per second (FPS). If you plan to focus on sniping, it's best to look for Bolt Action sniper rifles with 400+ FPS.


• Metal or plastic composition? Metal is very durable and has a nice, real-life feel, but it is also heavier and may cause fatigue in long games with a lot of maneuvering. AEGs that feature plastic receivers or bodies are made of a composite polymer-ABS. The plastic has been engineered to have a high stress tolerance, making it resistant to shock or drop. In many cases these arms are just as durable as metal bodies, but a lot lighter. At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference and which "feel" suits you best.


• Gearbox or no gearbox? If the rifle you select has a gearbox, make sure the parts are metal. Other materials can break or warp much more quickly, damage gears, and will ultimately lead to an inoperable weapon.


• Scope or no scope? If you want to add optics to your airsoft rifle, you will need a rifle with railed sight mounts. Airsoft sniper rifles, for example, are intended to be highly accurate at long ranges, so a scope is really a must. Some rifles come with these sight mounts already in place; on others you can add them. You'll also want to check how the rifle mounts to bipods and other accessories.


• How much ammo can it hold? Ammo capacity varies. Some players prefer a high ammo capacity so that the need to reload is minimized. Others, however, are will to sacrifice ammo capacity for a more compact gun that is easy to maneuver. Choosing an ammo storage size really just depends on how you want to use your gun.

About the Author: Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, the fastest growing of all airsoft stores in the nation. Airsoft Megastore offers deep discounts on sale items for players interested in cheap AEG airsoft guns and looking to find airsoft sniper rifles cheap.

Labels: Airsoft, airsoft beginners, airsoft rifle, rifles