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Blind Sniper

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
Hello!

What is the power source for your airsoft sniper rifle and why do you choose that? You have spring, hpa, green gas, co2, jet fuel, cat food and whatever else you can use to launch a bb.

I built this vsr-10 so I could quickly swap between spring hpa or co2. I like options and now there are 3 when I can't make up my mind, let me know what you think!!

(Edited links so they will hopefully work)

 
#2 ·
Spring. As consistent as HPA (with work), almost as quiet (also with work), no lines, no tank, no refills.

Easier to fix in the field, quickly, when things go wrong, if they go wrong. I don't see many well built spring rifles breaking down on the field. I see issues with HPA rifles more often, and CO2 way more often.

That said, I'd still have an HPA rifle if it was a purpose built system like another thread is discussing currently.
 
#3 ·
Spring because of one word

Reliable

I think we've all kind of figured out something here. The only real advantage of a gas set up is the bolt pull. For that pull you give up the solid reliablity of a springer.

I think its very cool to run a gas gun. It's loads of fun with that fast bolt, but even the best tuned HPA can still run out of gas, leak, snag. Its another thing to go wrong and to run out of. So sure, run an HPA but ALWAYS have a tuned springer in the car. Or in this case, a spring bolt handy... Actually thats kinda cool if you could hot swap the bolts on the field. just carry a spare bolt in your pack if your gas system goes down.
 
#4 ·
Spring because of one word

Reliable

I think we've all kind of figured out something here. The only real advantage of a gas set up is the bolt pull. For that pull you give up the solid reliablity of a springer.

I think its very cool to run a gas gun. It's loads of fun with that fast bolt, but even the best tuned HPA can still run out of gas, leak, snag. Its another thing to go wrong and to run out of.
Click to expand...
For me it is two words, Reliability AND Cost lol!

So sure, run an HPA but ALWAYS have a tuned springer in the car. Or in this case, a spring bolt handy... Actually thats kinda cool if you could hot swap the bolts on the field. just carry a spare bolt in your pack if your gas system goes down.
Click to expand...
I totally second that, great idea for this purpose!
 
#5 · (Edited)
For me the only downside to HPA is the issue of where to put the tank- praise be my luck in finding a teeny lil unicorn tank to put in the stock :p
I would personally consider an HPA rifle built by myself to be more reliable than spring; it's just the system I'm comfortable with- I can see why people would say spring over HPA there.
I will note, my intuition says springers should actually be easier to get to "perfect" consistency than HPA (note: your chrono isn't accurate enough to ever read perfectly consistent shots, so as long as you're within ~3 FPS, you have essentially perfect consistency), though I'm unsure of this- and spring may also be the cheaper route. However it gets complicated. Maybe it's true my build took more money to get to than an equivalent springer build, but mine can adjust power with the turn of a screw, meaning very convenient and no need to buy multiple springs...BUT getting even MORE complicated, this alters my output volume and some spring platforms actually support very quick spring changes, in which case altering the power while keeping volume static is much easier for the springer than for me, disassembling my Wolverine Bolt to adjust the tune.

In the end, my perspective is this:
Lack of bolt pull resistance is quite significant to me for concealment and the occasional quick follow-up shot (also just one of those things- I can't go to the other side after having gotten comfortable here), suppressing the system is much easier and gives me options (the quietest airsoft gun on the planet via solenoid valve versus slightly shorter barrel with a more intimidating muzzle sound), instant power adjustment so I can always be right at the field limit (different for the 4-5 fields near me- all measure in joules so no wiggle room via chrono-ing on irrelevant weights), and the cost difference is questionable enough that I'm not even 100% certain it's worse. The only question I ever had in my mind was where I would put the tank, because I did not want it attached to me- a little bit of luck, creativity, and hard work resolved that.

Btw OP, the forum doesn't take kindly to embedded YouTube videos- here's the link for those curious, or who didn't know he even posted a video:
youtube.com
/watch?v=opOmYw2B7y8

EDIT: Forgot to mention one other downside specific to the Bolt- the battery. Unlike what seems to be the majority argument, I don't believe the need for charging is relevant - it's simply far too infrequent (a tiny battery lasts months on end) - rather, I am paranoid and would prefer not to have any electronics present at all. That being said, I don't regret buying the Bolt because it's the quietest system possible. I hope to build another rifle with the Bolt M or SDIK to play with pressure curve, at which point I'll keep the Bolt classic around inside what I'll ensure is the utmost silent rifle on the planet. One day...
 
#6 ·
My choice of rifle is either a spring bolty or an ESR (Electric Sniper rifle. Has a delayer between shots)
Spring bolty because of reliability and consistency.
ESR because I do not have to move to make the next shot. Still. Totally motionless.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
I definitely agree with the reliability of the spring. Definitely have a spring as a back up everytime I hit the field! The Wolverine bolt has given me minor issues over the last few years. Even though they were minor, it’s still an inconvenience. Thank you Mr Marker for the tip on the YouTube link!!
 
#8 ·
My favorite bolt action style from a general feel/realism perspective is unfortunately the least consistent of the batch: gas. Nothing beats the feel of a spring-less bolt with all the individual sears and other bits latching into place. This preference does unfortunately put me at a disadvantage more often than not, but considering the fields I have access to, it's rare for me to take a bolt gun out to begin with. The times that I do take a bolty out it's definitely more for fun, so me enjoying the general experience and what not takes precedence over the number of hits I get. Really wish so-cal had an actual forest field of some sort, all these speed-ball style fields aren't meant for sniping at all.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Honestly, I mean...take a look at the Long Range 6mm Airsoft Specialists Facebook group- Lee Wade of Hunteering uses Tanakas with GOT DAMN GREEN GAS [YEAH, WITH THE LUBE] to make shots at distances around 140m (the rifle is basically a mortar; he uses an adjustable-angle riser).
For all intents and purposes, I'm sure a gas rifle can beat 99% of what else is on the field if built properly- most discussions here just operate on silly standards :p
Hell I just took my brother airsofting a week ago and let him use my Tanaka and started to sweat because it was shooting effectively just as well as my newer build using worse BBs...lol. It actually got me thinking about if over-volume is actually a good thing for accuracy (air cushion?)...needs investigation...
 
#11 ·
Discussion starter · #12 ·
1tonne said:
Here is a spring bolt action that is only doing 560-580fps and it is reaching 200 meters accurately. So I wonder what his max distance is?
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=2386015012
Spring bolt actions are the way to go.
Click to expand...
200 meters at that power? How? There was a guy on the hopup app telling me his GBBR had an effective range of 375 feet shooting 425 fps w/ .36s. I'm waiting on video footage of proof. Wonder if they are inhaling the green gas...
 
#13 ·
Gas or CO2/HPA for me.
Anything that doesn't have a spring style bolt pull. Not that I can't pull the bolt back or anything... just a bolt pull with no resistance feels *so* nice. I'm big on tactile feelings of things--externals and feel of the rifle is more important than consistency for me (within reason of course).
 
#14 ·
Blind Sniper said:
200 meters at that power? How? There was a guy on the hopup app telling me his GBBR had an effective range of 375 feet shooting 425 fps w/ .36s. I'm waiting on video footage of proof. Wonder if they are inhaling the green gas...
Click to expand...
Don't worry. The seller is just exaggerating massively. I have actually reported him for misleading false advertising. He also had another rifle on there that was firing at 500fps and he said that the effective range was 150 meters. Unfortunately, some poor sole has made a deal to purchase it and so he has put up a picture saying "SOLD"
 
#16 ·
AccurateDMD said:
I mean we can all lob bbs, most of us just prefer something akin to actual shooting.
Click to expand...
The point is that even a LUBED PROPANE based rifle is capable of remaining accurate to downright absurd distances to the point of becoming a mortar launcher- so, effectively, it's really not a significant performance disadvantage to run a gas BASR.
And no, this is not a case of someone claiming something ridiculous with nothing to back it up. I wouldn't doubt if Lee is tuned into his rifle better than just about anyone, and the videos of these ultra-long shots are pretty clearly documented.
 
#17 ·
I'm a member of the group. I'm not doubting his claims.

I just don't see the practicality of it for use in game beyond it being a neat hobby.

I can drop a bb onto a tree 400ft away from an elevated firing position and ~1 meter hold above where I want to hit. Consistently. Doesn't mean I'm going to try it in a game, or mount my scope at an extreme angle to enable lobbing on level terrain. More power to him for showing what can be done at the extremes.

Gas based rifles can still be consistent, it's just a lot more work to get there and you have to take temperature into account a lot more than with HPA or Spring.
 
#18 ·
It's more just gas being an additional variable that has to be accounted for. I don't doubt that gas rifles can get great groupings as my own platforms have shown me that, but gas can be quite a fickle thing especially when its going through some of those cheaper metals that aren't so temperature-resistant :p
 
#19 ·
I was just addressing whalesmash's comment. I agree with you on the practicality of lobbing, it wasn't really meant to be part of the discussion- just saying "even though it's true propane is the 'worst' power source, the rifles can be god-tier".
And my comment on claim validity was just in general, in case Lee was being lumped in with those other people making complete BS claims :p
 
#20 ·
Oh, my Mk23 runs on propane and it a tack driver, I know it can be accurate.

Not to get too far off topic, but on that group, I do notice a lot of people run .5g bbs over the .48g even though they're not as consistent. It's interesting to me how at the longest distances they'll take the added weight at the cost of ammo inconsistency. Not that I disagree with them, as I find ammo consistency to be about as important as lapping barrels when it comes to airsoft guns (that is, its somewhat important, but if its decent it'll work).
 
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