Post by Lancelot on Mar 12, 2009 19:15:51 GMT -5
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AIRSOFT GUNS:
You need to remember the golden rule about airsoft replicas: Stock electric airsoft replicas are almost exactly the same in performance except for:
Inner barrel length: The longer the inner barrel, the more accurate a replica is. For example: the M16A2's inner barrel is 509mm, while the MP5SD6 only has a 229mm barrel, since the M16's barrel is over twice as long as the MP5's, the M16 is more accurate. However, it is also much longer and impractical for CQB use.
Battery capacity: Replicas with full stocks can hold a larger battery then other replicas. Batteries come in three styles: Mini, Large and Stick. Mini batteries are usually 8.4v and 600mAh while Large batteries are usually 8.4v 3000mAh or ever larger. Stick batteries are usually 8.4v 600mAh. When I started airsoft I learned that with a stock replica, a very rough guideline for how many shots you could take before your battery died is a 1:1 conversation. Meaning for ever mAh you have, you can fire one BB. Example, you have a 3000mAh battery, so you are generally going to be able to fire 3000 BBs before it needs to be recharged. As I stated, this a VERY rough guideline and is only really even that accurate on stock replicas, once things inside the mechbox start getting upgraded, the battery is forced to use more energy with each shot. For more information on batteries, please refer to the Battery FAQ (it's below this FAQ and the Mechbox FAQ).
Magazine capacity: Different replicas use different size magazines and therefore they hold more BBs per magazine. Standard magazines hold anywhere from 50 to 70 rounds, midcap magazines hold roughly 100 - 120, hicaps hold 200 to 600 and box magazines are known to hold up to 5000 BBs.
Except for those three major considerations, the last one is looks. Do you actually like how the replica looks? If not, then it probably isn't for you. 9/10 of airsoft is looking cool, so why run with something that you aren't happy with the looks of?
If you have looked through this post, and dug up information on the replicas you are still interested in, please feel free to post a question. There are a million little pieces of information about certain replicas that I will not post here, because it would make your eyes hurt just learning it all in one sitting. For example, the MP5A4 and -A5's are all known to be very weak between the back of the foregrip and the front of the upper receiver, and have been known to snap.
I posted this to save everyone on the forums a bunch of time and grief. Because if you do not read this, and you post a subject like, "What is better the MP5K or the M16?", you're going to get nailed with a bunch of negative comments or responses like, "Use Google". Please, use the resources that are available to you before asking very general questions like those on these message boards.
How do I choose an AEG?
Okay, this how section is dedicated to helping someone learn how to choose an AEG appropriately. There are a lot of factors in the choice, and the two most important are Company, and looks. Most guns will come in at the same prices if they are any good, but you have to be satisfied with the looks, and the gun has to be bought from a quality company. Companies that would be considered quality would be Tokyo Marui, Airsoft Elite, and Classic Army. Tokyo Marui being of the highest quality.
What Gun is good for my role?
The first question you should ask yourself is what gun fits your role. If you plan to be a quick recon guy, in the outdoors, you would be looking for a medium sized gun such as the M4a1. The reason being that you can move quickly with it, but it's long enough to give you some decent range. That's just an example for you. Here are some better explanations:
CQB Role
If you are going to be playing CQB, and that's what you want, and will do the majority of the time, you want to get a small gun. Period, hands down, no exceptions. In order to be at the top of your game in a CQB arena, you will need a smaller sized AEG. This is to be able to move quicker, and since your close to your opponent, you don't need the longer barrel length, since all AEG's have acceptable range for CQB play. There are times in CQB where you can use a long range gun, but for the most part, you'll need the small gun for rounding corners and such.
Woodland
Now CQB is pretty straight forward in terms of which gun you should get for that role. Woodland on the other hand, has many more variables to consider, and many more situations that can occur. There also are many different types of " Woodland " playing fields. So from all this, there are obviously more roles a player can choose when playing, and you can still put yourself in CQB situations in woodland battles.
Plain Assault
Plain assault is the most common airsoft role, which nearly all players will take. Most skirmishes that are public, and more leisurely, will mostly have plain assaulters, and maybe a sniper or two. But when you get to more serious players, and team play, you will have more strict roles, and positions on the team. You will have a more specific job, and way to do your job. If you plan on joining such a team, it may be in your best interest to find out exactly which role you may want to take, and choose your gun depending on that. But plain assault is always present.
Plain assault is where you are just plain skirmishing, and shooting back and forth. You are trying to get more kills for your team, or complete the team's objective. You choose your range depending on your guns range or your personal preference, and just use your regular assault tactics. Nothing special, or out of the ordinary. You'll have an objective in the game, and you'll just be going for that objective, and doing what you can for your team.
Recon
Recon is a role that most teams will have, and also any kind of organized large game will usually have a recon group to help scout out the area, and help develop a plan for attack, or a plan to complete the objective. The recon role is very interesting since it requires a bit of stealth and sniping tactics, the capacity to assault, but with the goal never to fire a shot in most cases. This role's weapon of choice should be personal preference only, and it would be a good idea to have a variety of different guns in a recon group. You see, if you want to be a sniper recon guy, you can... No problem, you just have to stay a good distance away from your targets, so that you have an advantage over your enemy. You can scope out the enemy positions with your scope, and recon that way if you wish. You can recon with a CQB gun, you can move quickly and quietly towards the enemy, and get in close to find out exactly what the enemy is doing. If things go down, you'll have a nice small gun to fight them off with, and move to a better location. Then you can have your basic Assault rifle... an AEG that is full size, so that you have a little more range, and a little more fire power. You can hold off better from long distances, and still be in range to do well in your recon objective. It is basically in between sniping and CQB.
Sniper/Sharpshooter
If you want to shoot people from a long distance like a sniper or a sharpshooter, then your options are narrowed down pretty quickly. You need a gun with a long inner barrel, in order to get the range and accuracy needed to shoot accurate at long distances. The main options are M16a2/a1/VN, G3a3, G3sg1, PSG-1, AUG mil, AUG civ, and more. Those are just popular choices. So basically you take your long barreled AEG, and maybe upgrade it, and then you can take it and use it at long distances to sharpshooter/sniper.
What is the BEST gun?
There is no such thing as the BEST gun for everyone out there, because if there was, everyone would have it, everyone would sell it, and so that would be the only gun you would know of. But there is not such a thing, each gun has its purpose, and everyone has their preferences and style. If you ever ask this question in the forums, be prepared, you are open game to being flamed.
Since you are looking for the BEST gun, I will help you find the best gun for you. There are a number of things to consider and I will help you narrow it down.
You need to remember the golden rule about airsoft replicas: Stock electric airsoft replicas are almost exactly the same in performance except for:
Inner barrel length: The longer the inner barrel, the more accurate a replica is. For example: the M16A2's inner barrel is 509mm, while the MP5SD6 only has a 229mm barrel, since the M16's barrel is over twice as long as the MP5's, the M16 is more accurate. However, it is also much longer and impractical for CQB use.
Battery capacity: Replicas with full stocks can hold a larger battery then other replicas. Batteries come in three styles: Mini, Large and Stick. Mini batteries are usually 8.4v and 600mAh while Large batteries are usually 8.4v 3000mAh or ever larger. Stick batteries are usually 8.4v 600mAh. When I started airsoft I learned that with a stock replica, a very rough guideline for how many shots you could take before your battery died is a 1:1 conversation. Meaning for ever mAh you have, you can fire one BB. Example, you have a 3000mAh battery, so you are generally going to be able to fire 3000 BBs before it needs to be recharged. As I stated, this a VERY rough guideline and is only really even that accurate on stock replicas, once things inside the mechbox start getting upgraded, the battery is forced to use more energy with each shot. For more information on batteries, please refer to the Battery FAQ (it's below this FAQ and the Mechbox FAQ).
Magazine capacity: Different replicas use different size magazines and therefore they hold more BBs per magazine. Standard magazines hold anywhere from 50 to 70 rounds, midcap magazines hold roughly 100 - 120, hicaps hold 200 to 600 and box magazines are known to hold up to 5000 BBs.
Except for those three major considerations, the last one is looks. Do you actually like how the replica looks? If not, then it probably isn't for you. 9/10 of airsoft is looking cool, so why run with something that you aren't happy with the looks of?
If you have looked through this post, and dug up information on the replicas you are still interested in, please feel free to post a question. There are a million little pieces of information about certain replicas that I will not post here, because it would make your eyes hurt just learning it all in one sitting. For example, the MP5A4 and -A5's are all known to be very weak between the back of the foregrip and the front of the upper receiver, and have been known to snap.
I posted this to save everyone on the forums a bunch of time and grief. Because if you do not read this, and you post a subject like, "What is better the MP5K or the M16?", you're going to get nailed with a bunch of negative comments or responses like, "Use Google". Please, use the resources that are available to you before asking very general questions like those on these message boards.
How do I choose an AEG?
Okay, this how section is dedicated to helping someone learn how to choose an AEG appropriately. There are a lot of factors in the choice, and the two most important are Company, and looks. Most guns will come in at the same prices if they are any good, but you have to be satisfied with the looks, and the gun has to be bought from a quality company. Companies that would be considered quality would be Tokyo Marui, Airsoft Elite, and Classic Army. Tokyo Marui being of the highest quality.
What Gun is good for my role?
The first question you should ask yourself is what gun fits your role. If you plan to be a quick recon guy, in the outdoors, you would be looking for a medium sized gun such as the M4a1. The reason being that you can move quickly with it, but it's long enough to give you some decent range. That's just an example for you. Here are some better explanations:
CQB Role
If you are going to be playing CQB, and that's what you want, and will do the majority of the time, you want to get a small gun. Period, hands down, no exceptions. In order to be at the top of your game in a CQB arena, you will need a smaller sized AEG. This is to be able to move quicker, and since your close to your opponent, you don't need the longer barrel length, since all AEG's have acceptable range for CQB play. There are times in CQB where you can use a long range gun, but for the most part, you'll need the small gun for rounding corners and such.
Woodland
Now CQB is pretty straight forward in terms of which gun you should get for that role. Woodland on the other hand, has many more variables to consider, and many more situations that can occur. There also are many different types of " Woodland " playing fields. So from all this, there are obviously more roles a player can choose when playing, and you can still put yourself in CQB situations in woodland battles.
Plain Assault
Plain assault is the most common airsoft role, which nearly all players will take. Most skirmishes that are public, and more leisurely, will mostly have plain assaulters, and maybe a sniper or two. But when you get to more serious players, and team play, you will have more strict roles, and positions on the team. You will have a more specific job, and way to do your job. If you plan on joining such a team, it may be in your best interest to find out exactly which role you may want to take, and choose your gun depending on that. But plain assault is always present.
Plain assault is where you are just plain skirmishing, and shooting back and forth. You are trying to get more kills for your team, or complete the team's objective. You choose your range depending on your guns range or your personal preference, and just use your regular assault tactics. Nothing special, or out of the ordinary. You'll have an objective in the game, and you'll just be going for that objective, and doing what you can for your team.
Recon
Recon is a role that most teams will have, and also any kind of organized large game will usually have a recon group to help scout out the area, and help develop a plan for attack, or a plan to complete the objective. The recon role is very interesting since it requires a bit of stealth and sniping tactics, the capacity to assault, but with the goal never to fire a shot in most cases. This role's weapon of choice should be personal preference only, and it would be a good idea to have a variety of different guns in a recon group. You see, if you want to be a sniper recon guy, you can... No problem, you just have to stay a good distance away from your targets, so that you have an advantage over your enemy. You can scope out the enemy positions with your scope, and recon that way if you wish. You can recon with a CQB gun, you can move quickly and quietly towards the enemy, and get in close to find out exactly what the enemy is doing. If things go down, you'll have a nice small gun to fight them off with, and move to a better location. Then you can have your basic Assault rifle... an AEG that is full size, so that you have a little more range, and a little more fire power. You can hold off better from long distances, and still be in range to do well in your recon objective. It is basically in between sniping and CQB.
Sniper/Sharpshooter
If you want to shoot people from a long distance like a sniper or a sharpshooter, then your options are narrowed down pretty quickly. You need a gun with a long inner barrel, in order to get the range and accuracy needed to shoot accurate at long distances. The main options are M16a2/a1/VN, G3a3, G3sg1, PSG-1, AUG mil, AUG civ, and more. Those are just popular choices. So basically you take your long barreled AEG, and maybe upgrade it, and then you can take it and use it at long distances to sharpshooter/sniper.
What is the BEST gun?
There is no such thing as the BEST gun for everyone out there, because if there was, everyone would have it, everyone would sell it, and so that would be the only gun you would know of. But there is not such a thing, each gun has its purpose, and everyone has their preferences and style. If you ever ask this question in the forums, be prepared, you are open game to being flamed.
Since you are looking for the BEST gun, I will help you find the best gun for you. There are a number of things to consider and I will help you narrow it down.
