| | Airsoft Physics 101 |  Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:48 pm by Admin | This post is undoubtedly going to kick off another round of "mines cost more than yours so my bbs go 400ft farther and will last for 37years"...
OK maybe thats an exageration...
I would simply like to relay my experiences and relate them to the realities of airsoft.
1. All airsoft guns operate in the same way (With a VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS). This means that they all fire a 6 mm bb (Usually wieghing .2g) at velocities rarely exceeding 400 fps (Mostly around 300-350)
The vast majority of airsoft guns DO NOT have rifled barrels. I will talkabout why this is important to gaining a good grasp of the realities of airsoft.
This means, that there are certain parameters that all brands of airsoft guns operate within.
My expereince has shown that 150' is usually the MAX effective range for most airsoft guns using shooting angles (Less than 10 deg of muzzle elevation). 150' is truly the apsolute max, in reality most guns seem to perform their best at ranges of around 100'.
So what does this all mean and why am I saying it?
It means that no matter what airsoft gun you have, small, large, cheap expensive, you will not have a night and day deviation in performance.
(The possible exceptions being mini airsoft guns and or very low powered springers).
So here is the moral:
Yeah, you spent $350 + on that sweet full metal rig from XYZ brand, high priced manufacturer... BUt, just because you did, does NOT mean that you will be able to reach out and hit a target at 250'. Nor does it garuntee that the gun will "LAST" for a certain period of time. If you abuse the gun it may not last a year.
Likewise, that $100 Chinese clone may still be able to "Run with the big boys". After all they are simply reverse engineered versions of the "Big boys".
remeber, its all the same underneath (THere are no differences in cartridges, or recoil mechanisms or anything else.)
Therefore, bc the bbs are basically the same weight, and basically travelling at the same speed w/o rifling, the only real differences are aesthetic. Logos, gun finish, etc...
2. Barrel length is not everything in the sport of airsoft. (INfact it can be a detriment.)
Those of you who have been around for a while have no doubt heard me rant on this subject...sorry
To those of you who havn't here it is.
In real steel firearms, barrel velocity is usually joined at the hip with cartridge size and charge.
IN other words, a long barreled sniper rifle was a sniper rifle for (Among others) two major reasons.
a. LARGE CARTRIDGE capable of travelling at a VERY HIGH velocity.
b. Long specifically RIFLED BARREL perfectly suited for putting a spin on the non spherical metal projectile. This causes gyroscopic force which helps to stabilize the projectile. (Note: airsoft bbs are spherical and usually do not get shot out of a rifled barrel).
So, the sniper rifle usually has very high accuracy at very long ranges with a generally low ROF.
By contrast, the SMG fires a reatively low powered cartridge at relatively short ranges. This means that the range and "Terminal effectiveness" is relatively low in comparison to the sniper/marksman rifles.
Now, in the real steel firarms, the differences are so great that the sacrifices one must make to use and operate the larger guns, is worth it.
(You have to lug a huge honking piece of hardware, but, you can hit your target hundreds if not thousands of feet away).
By contrast, the SMG is favored when long ranges are not an issue and ROF and light weight is critical.
Now here is the hypothetical question...
"Wouldn't a sniper prefer to have a SMG sized and weighted sniper rifle with the same powerful cartridge?, and wouldnt the CQB fighter like to have a SMG with a hugely accurate capability?
The answers are usually "yes" and "Yes".
Now here is why I set this whole comparison up.
In airsoft, the sniper with the bolt action 10-14 pound airsoft gun is not going to appreciate the same significant advantage in range and power as in the real world firearm counterpart.
This type of player will gain , perhaps 20-40 ft of range using the heavier bbs, and with those heavier bbs will have a velocity of not much more than 40-60 fps advantage.
BC the bbs is still less than half a gram, wind, humidity and even temperature can still have a TREMENDOUS effect on the unrifled sphercal bb's trajectory. So even with that tight bore and that upgraded hop hup, a bb flying over a particularly hot section of sand/concrete may still fly off course. Not to mention what happens if there is a breath of wind.
SO, here is the point.
If you are playing to the sport and are looking for every possible playing advantage, the smallest, most compact airsoft gun is going to be the type of gun you buy.
It will provide the least amount of arm fatigue, it will get snagged on items in the field the least and it will be the most maneuverable.
Now, if your goal is historical reinactment or even simply having a replica, then this argument does not apply to you.
If you play to the sport, and accept the physics of airsoft, then it quickly becomes clear that he who has the greatest mobility, maneuverability and is least wieghed down will be in the best position to win.
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