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 Frazzled wrote:
I'm sorry I'm being stupid and hopefully not taking this off track, but why does a higher fps help?

It can get kind of complicated, but basically "higher fps" really means: higher joules (or energy output). Airsoft pellet are available in different weights, from .12g to .20g(standard) to .46g. Heavier weight BB's naturally have more mass and thus are more resistant to external factors (wind, air resistance, etc) and so typically fly straighter and further than lighter weight BB's.

When a field regulates the joules of the participating airsoft guns, (generally regulated with a .20g at 350fps - 400fps for full auto capable, and 550 max for springers) then the participator's choice of BB doesn't a huge amount, since the energy output is not high enough to truly take advantage of higher weight BB's. However, with HPA (high pressure air) systems, some players are able to increase their energy output and really take advantage of the higher weight BB.

Under normal circumstances, higher weight BB's are designed around the spring-action "sniper rifle" airsoft gun, which usually have high joule outputs at a very minimal rate of fire. But, with HPA systems, players are able to fire "sniper rifle" style BB's at the fields maximum rate of fire (where I live, around 30 BB's a second, or 1800 rounds a minute.

 Frazzled wrote:
I'm sorry I'm being stupid and hopefully not taking this off track, but why does a higher fps help?

Say I'm using my airsoft gun, and it tops out at 380FPS (which is fairly normal for an auto rifle), and I'm trying to play against a guy who's shooting 500+ (typically reserved for snipers). That guy is going to have a huuuuge advantage since his bb's will hit me way before mine get close to him. Not to mention, something shooting 500FPS at a range of 125-150 feet is....well, painful to get hit by.

*Note, most electric airsoft guns shoot 330-350 out of the box, and most fields in the US have FPS regulated to 400 MAX for full-autos outdoors. Snipers typically have a 500 cap since they're at a distance, and only shooting one bb at a time, instead of 10-15

 Vaktathi wrote:
If they were still legal in the US, I'd totally get into airsoft with a Yunker-3.

Alas...double-banned

I just looked that up, It's made from an actual gun .

 Co'tor Shas wrote:

 Vaktathi wrote:
If they were still legal in the US, I'd totally get into airsoft with a Yunker-3.

Alas...double-banned

I just looked that up, It's made from an actual gun .

Ah! I have never heard of that. Pretty cool.

And I like how it's about the same price range of an actual AK74....well, before the ban.

 Co'tor Shas wrote:

 Vaktathi wrote:
If they were still legal in the US, I'd totally get into airsoft with a Yunker-3.

Alas...double-banned

I just looked that up, It's made from an actual gun .

Yeah, it uses a modified AK stamped receiver so the ATF decided it counted as a firearm


But they were so cool...

Its's great, just don't get spring-action guns, you'll get destroyed.

 mega_bassist wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:
I'm sorry I'm being stupid and hopefully not taking this off track, but why does a higher fps help?

Say I'm using my airsoft gun, and it tops out at 380FPS (which is fairly normal for an auto rifle), and I'm trying to play against a guy who's shooting 500+ (typically reserved for snipers). That guy is going to have a huuuuge advantage since his bb's will hit me way before mine get close to him. Not to mention, something shooting 500FPS at a range of 125-150 feet is....well, painful to get hit by.

*Note, most electric airsoft guns shoot 330-350 out of the box, and most fields in the US have FPS regulated to 400 MAX for full-autos outdoors. Snipers typically have a 500 cap since they're at a distance, and only shooting one bb at a time, instead of 10-15

How long does it take you to drop to the ground and then jump bakc up to a standing position?

If you can do it in 2 seconds, you've moved about 10 feet, or 300feet per minute. A crappy gun will shoot 200 fps, which is 12,000fpm. Note the extra two zeros. Neither of you are going to dodge any pellets either way if your aren't Neo int he Matrix. Note that a LOT of guns lie about fps, or at the least are "optimisitc". Wear a hat as well as _closed_ mask eye protection. A plastic pellet won't do too much damage most places through clothes, but the scalp likes to bleed.

RAWRAIrobblerobble wrote:

 mega_bassist wrote:

Say I'm using my airsoft gun, and it tops out at 380FPS (which is fairly normal for an auto rifle), and I'm trying to play against a guy who's shooting 500+ (typically reserved for snipers). That guy is going to have a huuuuge advantage since his bb's will hit me way before mine get close to him.

. A crappy gun will shoot 200 fps, which is 12,000fpm. Note the extra two zeros. Neither of you are going to dodge any pellets either way if your aren't Neo int he Matrix.

I think your confused about what he is saying. Higher FPS increases range (with the same weight BB). I don't think he was talking about being able to dodge BBs because of the lower speed.

RAWRAIrobblerobble wrote:

How long does it take you to drop to the ground and then jump bakc up to a standing position?

If you can do it in 2 seconds, you've moved about 10 feet, or 300feet per minute. A crappy gun will shoot 200 fps, which is 12,000fpm. Note the extra two zeros. Neither of you are going to dodge any pellets either way if your aren't Neo int he Matrix. Note that a LOT of guns lie about fps, or at the least are "optimisitc". Wear a hat as well as _closed_ mask eye protection. A plastic pellet won't do too much damage most places through clothes, but the scalp likes to bleed.

The Bb does not maintain its speed. It's only 300-400 FPS comign out of the muzzle. By the time the BB has traveled some distance, 100 feet or so, it's significantly slower. Slow enough that if you fired my way at about 100 feet, I can indeed register your shots, estimate your BB travel speed / trajectory, and tuck back into cover before the BB's make contact.

Admittedly, at closer ranges, it does become impossible to dodge, but CQB play was always more about proper aggressive play and instinctal shooting than dodging.

Just a quick query:

Can an airsoft gun break a window, and can it hurt a pigeon?
We have a bit of a pigeon problem where we live; pigeons like to live on our roof and...do pigeon stuff. Let's leave it at that.

So...we need something that can chase them off. Now I think an airsoft gun has the range, but the concern is that it can break the windows or hurt the birds (we only want to scare them, not injure them).

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Just a quick query:

Can an airsoft gun break a window, and can it hurt a pigeon?
We have a bit of a pigeon problem where we live; pigeons like to live on our roof and...do pigeon. Let's leave it at that.

So...we need something that can chase them off. Now I think an airsoft gun has the range, but the concern is that it can break the windows or hurt the birds (we only want to scare them, not injure them).

It may stun the pigeon for a moment, but otherwise, unless you fire it at very close range (<20 feet) not in any way deadly (unless you managed to hit an eye I suppose)

As far as windows are concerned... a heavy-weight BB might be able to put a crack in one. Standard weight BB's definitely less likely, but not impossible.

http://www.airsoftextreme.com/content01/

This is store I've bought from before. They also have some pretty nice reviews and packages.

 Dshrike wrote:

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Just a quick query:

Can an airsoft gun break a window, and can it hurt a pigeon?
We have a bit of a pigeon problem where we live; pigeons like to live on our roof and...do pigeon. Let's leave it at that.

So...we need something that can chase them off. Now I think an airsoft gun has the range, but the concern is that it can break the windows or hurt the birds (we only want to scare them, not injure them).

It may stun the pigeon for a moment, but otherwise, unless you fire it at very close range (<20 feet) not in any way deadly (unless you managed to hit an eye I suppose)

As far as windows are concerned... a heavy-weight BB might be able to put a crack in one. Standard weight BB's definitely less likely, but not impossible.

On that note, my dad works for the NPS, and they use airsoft guns it scare deer off the lawns and away from the gardens (he works at the FDR home).


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Ifurita wrote:
http://www.airsoftextreme.com/content01/

This is store I've bought from before. They also have some pretty nice reviews and packages.

That does look quite good. I wonder if it is weir that my first thoughts were "Holy crap, Grenades!"

 Steve steveson wrote:

RAWRAIrobblerobble wrote:

 mega_bassist wrote:

Say I'm using my airsoft gun, and it tops out at 380FPS (which is fairly normal for an auto rifle), and I'm trying to play against a guy who's shooting 500+ (typically reserved for snipers). That guy is going to have a huuuuge advantage since his bb's will hit me way before mine get close to him.

. A crappy gun will shoot 200 fps, which is 12,000fpm. Note the extra two zeros. Neither of you are going to dodge any pellets either way if your aren't Neo int he Matrix.

I think your confused about what he is saying. Higher FPS increases range (with the same weight BB). I don't think he was talking about being able to dodge BBs because of the lower speed.

Agreed. That is abundantly clear on a reading from a different perspective. If you had fencing on the brain (parry riposte) for whatever reason, it was less so.

 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Just a quick query:

Can an airsoft gun break a window, and can it hurt a pigeon?
We have a bit of a pigeon problem where we live; pigeons like to live on our roof and...do pigeon stuff. Let's leave it at that.

So...we need something that can chase them off. Now I think an airsoft gun has the range, but the concern is that it can break the windows or hurt the birds (we only want to scare them, not injure them).

Airsoft can break a window. Some of the pellets will fail to shatter impact and older windows are much more fragile than modern laminated triple-E etc ones. Plus you can scratch the coating. Airsoft can make a human bleed - a lot if you hit the right/wrong spot, so it can certainly kill a pigeon, but you are much more likely to wound it, leaving it to die slowly and painfully. A water gun is just as effective at chasing them away - especially if you shoot it at whoever is feeding them in the first place. If you want to shoot from inside at your OWN window so as to scare them off the window sill, then a cheap spring loaded one should do the job to startle them away. Or an owl decoy.

A supersoaker is a good idea.

I don't know about pigeons, but other birds just laugh at owl decoys.