Best Airsoft Guns

Today I want to talk about airsoft sniper rifles. They are a weapon that require a lot of skill to use effectively but in the right hands they will instill fear on the enemy and can turn the tide of the battle.

No one likes it when team-mates start dropping like flies and no one has any idea where the shots are coming from.

They are also great for taking out that machine gun post that has been slaying your whole team for a while from a safe distance.

These days there are a lot of sniper rifles to choose from. You can also get lots of aftermarket mods for them and most of the guns won’t live to the full potential without some modding.

To help your pick the best airsoft sniper rifle I’m going to tell your what features your should be looking for in a good airsoft sniper rifle and find the best one in the market. I will introduce a couple options for different budgets.

The role of a sniper in airsoft

 

A good sniper knows when NOT to take the shot. Playing as a sniper your need to have a good situational awareness on the battle field. Some times it’s better not to take the shot even when the enemy is served to your on a platter.

The main role of a sniper is to give long range support to team-mates and to disrupt and wreak havoc among the enemy team.

To be successful in these goals a good sniper will avoid detection at any cost. A sniper will usually move alone or with a spotter away from the rest of the team.

If your have successfully flanked an enemy team and your give away your position your will be easily over taken. That’s why a good sniper never gets too close to the enemy and thinks twice before taking a shot.

Sometimes it’s wise to let the enemy move away from your to avoid detection instead of engaging.

A good sniper will know how to use his/hers surroundings for camouflaging and moving without detection. This means lots of crawling and staying still as well as choosing the right kind of camouflage or ghillie suit for the terrain.

An experienced sniper will enhance his/hers camouflage by using vegetation attached to his suit. It’s also wise to camouflage the rifle.

The requirements of a good Airsoft sniper rifle

 

For an airsoft sniper rifle to really shine in its role it needs a few key qualities.

Firstly it of course has to be accurate. This requires superior build quality of the stock and the mechanics since there cannot be any play or wobble between the parts.

It also requires very consistent operation since airsoft guns accuracy is highly dependent on the air pressure that drives the BB out of the barrel through the hop-up system. In low quality gun there can be surprisingly large variation of muzzle velocity between shots.

The velocity affects greatly how the BB reacts with the hop up and the accuracy and range at long distance.

This variation is usually not a problem on mid range weapons so it’s usually not something your have to worry about on your average AEG but with a sniper rifle it’s extremely important the shots are consistent.

Considering the role of a sniper, stealth is very important. A good sniper rifle needs to be as silent as possible.

In skirmish weapons it’s usually fine to make them loud if your like since this creates a certain level of realism and ambiance to the game. But since snipers role is to support and disrupt it’s very important to avoid detection as long as possible a silent rifle is very important.

In airsoft the ranges that a sniper uses to engage are only a fraction from the real life counter parts so the silence of the rifle is very important.

Since the main role of a sniper is to engage from a long distance a good airsoft rifle requires a lot of power. This means high muzzle energy and usually the need for heavy BBs since they have a more stable trajectory at long distances.

These days you can get even the heaviest BBs in biodegradable materials, so please save the nature and use them.

Good sniper rifles are dangerous at close ranges and should never been used at ranges below 30 meters (100 ft).

In general a good sniper won’t use semi auto rifles since firing multiple shots from the same location will increase the chance of detection.

That’s why semi auto rifles are more suitable for the designated marksman role and the true sniper rifles displayed here are all bolt action. Bolt action rifles also have higher power limits in most games so they serve the long range role better in that regard as well.

Accessories of a good airsoft sniper rifle

 

A good rifle also requires a good scope. In airsoft your don’t need crazy magnification but your should definitely invest in a quality scope that keeps it’s aim and is easy to adjust for windage and elevation. Cheap scopes are nothing more than a decoration.

 

Bi-bods aren’t really that useful in airsoft in my experience so they are optional. They are good for extreme range shots if your’re playing for example in a defending role that requires less movement but usually they will just get on the way when changing position.

Camouflage is important. If your mainly play in a one type of consistent environment your might consider painting the rifle. But if your play in varying environments I recommend using camo wraps that come in all colors.

The best airsoft rifle on the market

 

So your want a rifle that meets all the above requirements out from box? Well I got your covered. The best airsoft sniper on the market out of the box in my opinion is the ASG USMC M40A3. It’s a spring operated bolt action rifle based on the ever so popular Tokyo Marui VSR-10 design.

This means there’s are lots of after market parts if your decide your need to upgrade it. The thing is, this gun performs out of the box so well that there should be no need for major upgrades unless your want to really optimize everything about the gun.

The build quality of the M40 is phenomenal. The rifle is very solid and robust. The quality build makes it somewhat heavy but in a good way. You just know the gun can take a beating just by holding it.

The accuracy is superb out of the box even though it’s not the most powerful sniper rifle right out of the box. But your have to realize power is not everything when it comes to range and accuracy.

It’s the consistency between the shots and the guns mechanics that matter and this is where the m40 really shines. If your are worried about the power your can always upgrade the mechanics with something like PDIs kit.

The bolt action on the rifle is as smooth as your can get on a rifle with heavy spring. There are gas operated bolt action rifles but the biggest problem with them is inconsistency between shots since gas pressure is affected by the temperature. Gas rifles can also have problems with hop up consistency as the expanding gas cools the rubber down. That’s why I think spring action sniper rifles are better overall even though the bolt action on gas rifles is much more realistic. The hop up adjustment is located at the bottom of the gun and is easy to operate unlike in many sniper rifles, which require special tools.

The rifle doesn’t come with a scope so I recommend getting a high quality low magnification scope with large aperture for a large field of view (Such as this). The muzzle of the rifle is equipped with hidden threats for mounting a silencer adapter (not included). The gun is reasonably silent due to the sturdy built but a silencer can make it a bit quieter especially from the front.

The only downside of the gun is the 20 round internal mag. This is just a tad small for longer games but on the other hand it really makes your count your shots and hone your sniper skills. The reloading is also pretty fast so it’s not that big of a deal.

If your decide to get the gun your should definitely get some high quality heavy BBs with it to ensure high accuracy and smooth operation.

The best airsoft rifle on a budget

 

Believe I know everyone can’t spend thousands of dollars on toy guns. That’s why I’m also introducing the best airsoft rifle your can get if your are on budget. It is almost as effective and accurate as the M40 with a considerably lower price tag.

If your are on a budget my recommendation would be the Well full metal mb08.

I know it is not that much cheaper than the ASG m40 but a decent scope is included and the rifle is very high build quality for a “cheaper” manufacturer. This is a site about the best airsoft guns after all – not the cheapest :). Just like the ASG this rifle is fully upgradable and the performance is good enough out of the box for me to recommend it as the best airsoft rifle your can get on a budget. The mb08 is a replica of the British l96 bolt action sniper rifle and the gun is very sturdy and made out of metal and high quality polymer. Just like m40 the only real con is the smallish mag.

Conclusion

So what do your think of my choice for the best airsoft sniper rifle? Do your have better ideas or questions about the rifles? Drop a comment below and I’ll be happy to help your out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since this site is about best airsoft guns on the market I thought what would be a better way to start than by introducing the best airsoft gun you can get.

Of course this is all in my opinion and experience respectfully but I assure you the gun I’m about to introduce will blow you away (see what I did there har har).

Now the first problem in determining the best airsoft gun is the fact that there are many roles and styles of play – the same gun can’t simply be the best for sniping, fire support, CQB and mid range full auto skirmishes – or can it?

In all honesty no, it can’t – but what I’m about introduce to you will work better in any role than 99 % of guns out there.

The second problem is that there are many different ways airsoft guns operate. Some are spring-loaded, some work with green gas, some are electric and then there’s CO2 and pneumatic air systems.

There are even guns that combine some of those. And which you like best is highly preferential.

The gun I’m talking about will of course reflect my preferences but it is first and foremost the best airsoft gun for playing, not for showing off (even though it’s a handsome devil). So let’s get cracking!

What makes a good airsoft gun

 

To call an airsoft gun good It needs to have a few key features: reliable, easy to maintain, decent performance etc. To call it the best it has to have a lot more than that and everything about the gun has to be top-notch.

The first factor is of course build quality. Most airsoft guns on the market these days are made mostly out of cheap ABS plastic and the cheapest ones are made out of recycled mixed plastics that are so frail that they can fracture and break just by looking at them too intensely.

The few metal parts they have usually are made out of low quality cast zinc and nickel alloys that are almost as weak as the plastic. A quality gun will be made out of quality materials: reinforced polymers, metals like steel and aluminum and even natural materials like wood.

Even more importantly those materials will be cast, milled and forged in ways that ensure structural integrity and seamless fit of parts and mechanics.

Finally, those materials will be finished in a way that both looks good and protects the gun against wear and tear.

A quality gun will also have quality mechanics. This includes every single part within the operating mechanism of the weapon regardless of the operating principle. This also includes everything from the trigger mechanism to the bore tightness and quality of the barrel, hop-up, wiring, switches etc.

The mechanics in some cheaper guns are made of low quality parts that are not built in any standard set-ups used by the quality manufacturers. This means the gear boxes and other mechanics are easy to break and there won’t be any spare parts on the market so you can’t even fix them.

Quality guns use mechanics that are tried and proven and in most cases you can replace every single part if the need be or even upgrade the mechanics with after market parts.

To shine in many roles the gun has to be modular. This means it has to have rail-systems for attaching optics and accessories, it should accept many different sized magazines, the barrel should be easy to change and the stock should be adjustable. Power should be easy to adjust for different roles.

Well built guns always have a certain heft to them. They are usually heavier than cheap plastic ones but this should not be a problem in most situations. It means they are durable and most normal sized guns are easy to wield for the average sized player.

Exceptions are some very high quality WWII replicas and some machine guns that weight so much that they’re a burden and will slow you down on the battle field. So a good gun from purely playing standpoint won’t be too heavy to handle efficiently.

The roles of different kinds of airsoft guns

 

Main battle weapons: This is what I like to call you run-of-the-mill AEG assault rifle or sub machine gun. These weapons perform very well in most situations on the battle field but don’t really shine on any. Best in fast paced mid range combat that requires full auto capabilities for suppressive fire. In this role it’s a balancing act between power, firing speed and maneuverability. The power should be high enough (usually around 1.5 J) for decent range yet not too powerful to make close combat dangerous. That’s why there are usually power limits in games for main automatic weapons.

Firing speed should be decent but not too high as this will usually just lead to shortage of BBs without any real advantage. It doesn’t really matter if you hit the guy with 3 or 6 BBs when you’re spray gets there since airsoft is mostly a one hit game. Maneuverability is really a compromise between barrel length and accuracy. Generally shorter barrels mean less accuracy. Due to physics related to hop up and smooth barrels this is not always completely true but in most stock guns it is. Shorter guns are of course lighter and easier to handle in tight spaces. Other important qualities for this role are durability, reliability and ease of maintenance since these guns will usually see a lot of action.

Sniper rifles: Long range, accurate and powerful are the terms that best describe an airsoft sniper rifles qualities. Sniper rifles come basically in two variants. Probably the more common being a spring powered bolt action. These are usually very powerful and accurate at long distances but slow to reload and cumbersome to wield. Generally they require the most skill and the playing style of a “true sniper” to be effective. There are also gas operated and pneumatic bolt actions but they seem to be quite rare. Bolt action rifles usually have muzzle energies between 2 – 3 J and should not be used at close ranges due to risk of serious injury.

The second sniper variant is a DMR or designated marksman rifle. These are usually semi auto AEGs or gas operated rifles equipped with magnifying optics. Muzzle energies are usually between 1.5 J and 2.2 J. They are a bit more versatile than bolt actions and close the gap between true sniper rifles and assault rifles. In sniper rifles the build quality is extremely important. For an airsoft rifle to be accurate up to distances of 100 meters it requires very consistent operation of the firing mechanism since accuracy is highly dependent of even muzzle velocities. And there obviously can’t be wobbly barrels or sticky triggers if you intend to hit anything over 50 meters.

 

Fire support: Fire support essentially means machine guns. High rate of fire, high range and power and ridiculous ammo capacity. These can be modified assault rifles or dedicated machine guns. They are generally higher power like DMRs and not meant for close combat. The idea is to deliver lots of BBs far away so you’re mates can advance while the enemy is keeping their heads down. So power requirements are similar to DMRs but fire support weapons are full auto and usually very high RPM (round per minute).

Accuracy is not nearly as critical as on sniper rifles but the combination of high power and high firing rate require a lot from the gear box, motor and the battery. Oh and they are almost always electric weapons since firing thousands of rounds of BBs in one game can get very expensive with gas on compressed air.

 

CQB: The final role is of course CQB or close quarters battle weapons. Generally these need to be short, low powered and reliable. The best weapon types suited for CQB are obviously submachineguns short assault rifles and pistols. CQB weapons are generally the least demanding when it comes to quality since the firing distances are short and accuracy isn’t that important. However, reliability and things like smooth magazine changes and properly functioning selector switches become more important as reaction time is much shorter in close quarters and there is less room for mistake so quality does matter. There are usually power limits for CQB battles since the firing distances are short and potential for injuries and pain is high. Usually the power limit is around 1 J.

The different operating principles of airsoft guns

 

Now before I introduce the best airsoft gun around we have to look at the most common operating principles that we can choose from.

Spring powered: Spring operated airsoft guns are generally cheap toy guns but there are also high end spring-loaded guns like sniper rifles. The principle is simple: A spring is cocked using you’re muscles and when you pull the trigger the spring is released and the stored energy used to push a BBs down the barrel. Pros are simple construction and no need for external power source. Cons are slow firing rate and interruption of aim while reloading.

AEGs: Automatic electric guns are battery operated semi or full auto guns. Pulling the trigger the battery turns a motor that turns a gearbox that has a piston and spring that are used to propel the BBs down the barrel. Pros are cheap source of power (electricity), automatic fire capability and relatively reliable operation and easy maintenance. Cons are a very complex construction, not very realistic firing experience and reliability issues in cheap models.

Gas: Gas operated guns have a small pressurized gas tank usually in the magazine and sometimes in the frame or stock of the gun. When you pull the trigger a small amount of the gas is released to propel the BBs down the barrel. This is usually done by a sort of hammer and pin valve mechanism which results in a very realistic firing experience. Gas guns can be semi or full auto and they can have a blowback system. Blowback system mimics the recoil and reloading cycle of a real firearm. In pistols the slide will kick back and in rifles the bolt will cycle. Pros: As realistic firing experience as you can get with a toy gun, fun to shoot. Cons: Gas is relatively expensive, weak operation in cold weather. Some of the gasses can also be hazardous to the environment and health.

HPA (high power air) / pneumatic: HPA guns are getting more common these days. They are either completely mechanical and work like gas guns or they can be electrical and use a battery to drive a modified AEG gear box that controls the air valve. Pros: Simple operation and realistic firing experience, ability to control muzzle energy by pressure regulation Cons: Need a bulky air tank with a regulator that is a hassle to refill and is potentially dangerous if compromised.

The criteria for the best airsoft gun

 

So now that we have a somewhat good understanding of what makes a good gun, the roles on the field and what are the pros and cons of different operating mechanisms it’s time to list the criteria for the perfect gaming weapon. This is where it gets a bit opinionated.

The gun needs:

• Top notch build quality inside out.
• To be modular to accommodate any role.
• An operating principle that can meet the requirements of all roles.
• To be compact and nimble enough to work in CQB
• To be reliable and easy to maintenance

So we will have to rule out any cheap manufacturers with quality issues. We will also have to rule out certain types of guns like full sized rifles and machine guns since these won’t work well in CQB. We will also have to rule out spring operated guns as most roles require automatic fire.

The best airsoft gun

 

Let me introduce the gun that meets all the above criteria. Well at least most of them, you can’t really have it all. Not without modifications.

Krytac Trident SPR Mk.2

It is a top tier AEG in the mid size AR-15 configuration.

What’s really remarkable about this gun is the build quality and quality mechanics inside the gear box. It has a quick change spring guide which allows very fast spring changes.

The gearbox will easily handle springs up to m150 range which means it can be converted in to a DMR simply by swapping the spring (this will usually void the warranty FYI) and disabling full auto (if required by you’re local rules for DMRs) and adding a scope.

For support role adding a bigger LiPo battery (for fire rate and endurance) and a hi-cap drum mag with the spring is all that is needed. Cqb requires just a weaker spring and you’re good to go.

The frame is fully modular with rail system on upper and lower receiver and fully adjustable stock. The barrel can be changed to longer or a shorter one (you will of course have to buy one) but there’s really no need. It even has a MOSFET installed so you don’t have to worry about trigger issues or problems with higher voltage batteries.

The best thing about the weapon is it based on the very popular AR-15 frame and Marui mech box V.2 design. This means that there are endless amounts of after market parts and accessories you can use to modify the gun. But in all honesty it’s so good from the box that you don’t need any mods. Just load ‘er up and have fun!

Conclusion

 

Well there you go. The best airsoft gun you can get at the moment for overall performance and modifiability out of the box.

If you had the patience to read this far I hope you liked the article. Do you think my choice of the best airsoft gun was right or do you disagree? Drop a comment below in either case!

 

 

 

 

Hi I’m Jukka. I’m an airsoft enthusiast in my thirties. Welcome to my site dedicated to helping You find the best airsoft gear and deals on the market.

My story

I used to play airsoft for many years when I was younger but then life got busy with school, relationships, work, partying – all the usual stuff young adults do. Couple of years ago I had been looking for a new hobby for weekends and I remembered airsoft. Quick search on the internet revealed there was still an active scene in my city and games were being organized almost every weekend.

 

I actually still had my old Systema upgraded Marui Steyr AUG from circa 1998 so I got a new battery and to my surprise the gun was good to go (You can call that real quality). So I went in for a weekend game and have been hooked ever since. I was actually surprised I wasn’t even the oldest player on the field and the sport is more popular among young adults then teenagers these days.

Now the real problem was getting new gear after the first game. Even though my trusty AUG was in working order it was clear at the games that technology had advanced and I was in a serious disadvantage. I needed a new gun (or two). I realized I had to get a new BDU, some tactical gear, BBs, LiPo batteries, optics and all that stuff since all I had was the AUG and some hiking gear. So I asked around and the guys were really helpful and let me test many kinds of guns, AEGs, pneumatics, spring operated sniper rifles etc. They talked about R-hops, neodymium engines and Li-Po batteries… I was pretty much embarrassed to admit I knew nothing about modern airsoft guns and my knowledge was very outdated.

Finding the best airsoft gear is hard

As I started to research for a good main weapon and it became obvious very fast that the options were endless. I spend countless of hours trying to figure out what I needed and what was the best bang for the buck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finally settled with a Lonex m-4 variant since I needed something reliable and easy to maintain so an AEG (automatic electric gun) was the natural choice and Lonex is a top-notch brand. I like fast paced game play so snipers were out of the question. I was very pleased with my choice and the Lonex worked wonderfully out of the box even though I have upgraded it since with better motor, spring, battery and r-hop.

I found out that many new players weren’t as lucky. They had ended up spending hundreds of dollars on equipment that did not perform adequately, needed constant maintenance and tinkering or down right did not work. Some had even ended the hobby all together out of frustration. I think Airsoft is a great hobby and I don’t want You or any else to end up quitting it due bad experiences with gear. In all honesty airsoft is very much an equipment centered sport. Skill of course matter but especially for a beginner it’s very important to have a gun that performs and is reliable so You can concentrate on having fun and honing You skirmish skills. I feel passionate about airsoft and want to help people find the best airsoft gear for the best price so no one has to end the hobby due to disappointment in their gear!

The goal of BestAirsoftGuns.NET

While doing my research I learned there are a lot of cheap knock offs and untrustworthy brands (mainly from China) and without ample research it is very easy to make a bad decision which can lead to disappointment and even quitting the hobby. That’s why I decided to create BestAirsoftGuns.net. The number one airsoft site dedicated to cut through the crap and find the best guns out there – no matter what your budget. My goal is to do the research for You and cherry pick the best gear on the market. I promise You anything You find on this site is worth it’s price and will make gaming fun and help You dominate the field!

If You ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help You out.

All the best,

Jukka

BestAirsoftGuns.net