Things You'll Need:
- FPS (feet per second) limits of the games/fields you wish to play in
- your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) or style of play
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Step 1
Selecting an airsoft AEG (automatic electric gun) gun requires a basic understanding of your needs combined with the rules of the games and airsoft fields where you play. It's way more than just budget, because the right gun can make a huge difference in how much fun you have actually playing.
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Step 2
Find out the FPS (feet per second) velocity limits of your field or game. Most FPS measurements are done using .20g plastic BBs, and most fields use limits of around 350fps for indoor/CQB games (close range) and 420fps for outdoor/woodland games (long range). It doesn't make sense to buy a gun that you can't use on the field because it shoots the BBs out with too high a velocity.
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Step 3
Figure out your MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) or playing style. If you like to play forward positions and rush in, guns blazing, you will most likely want a high ROF (rate of fire) gun with low FPS and a short barrel. If you like to play long-range support/sniping positions, you'll most likely need high FPS and longer barrels for more accuracy at your maximum range.
You should also consider overall weight of the gun. A too-heavy gun can take you out of the game quickly, because running with one and all the heavy tactical gear can really knock a person out. Most CQB guns should be around 3-4lbs., with long-range guns weighing 6-7lbs or more. -
Step 4
Consider whether you have the budget to customize your gun's internals. It is possible to make a CQB shoot as far as a long-range gun by upgrading its spring, and it's possible to make a long-range gun shoot as fast as a CQB gun by lightening the piston or upgrading the motor.
Upgrading tends to cost $150 and up for parts and labor, though, so it's not something to be taken lightly. However, it can make a huge difference in your airsofting. For instance, I once had a super-light and short Tokyo Marui MP5K (a CQB gun) that I had upgraded with a SP120 spring, ball bearings, and 11.1V LiPoly battery. The FPS was 400fps, and the ROF was 27rps! In the last game I played with it, I was able to take on people with long-range M16s and hit them while they couldn't hit me, and the high ROF meant that aiming while moving was supremely easy--just aim the white stream of BBs like it's a water hose. The best part was that the gun was only 3lbs, meaning I could outrun kids half my age with heavy M16s and aim around corners without exposing myself as much.
If you want to upgrade your gun, stick to the better brands that are "Tokyo Marui-compatible." This means that parts will be easier to get and will fit better. Brands like ICS and Classic Army tend to require proprietary parts that only work on their guns, which makes it expensive to upgrade their stuff. -
Step 5
Consider your battery technology. Batteries are measured in voltage (V), capacity (mAh), and continuous discharge rate (C). Higher voltage means higher rate of fire. Higher capacity means more shots per charge, and higher discharge rate means more cranking power which is useful for high-power springs.
Most of the time, you'll want 8.4V or 9.6V NiCD or NiMH batteries (unless these are too large for your gun) and around 1300-1600mAh so that you don't have to change batteries too often. They're affordable and charge quickly. The type of gun you buy will determine the size and shape of the battery; check the gun's user manual before buying batteries.
Airsoft batteries come in three types: Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH), and Lithium Polymer (LiPoly or LiPo). These differ in distinct ways:
NiCd has good cranking power, recharges quickly, and is cheap. The drawback is that NiCd batteries are very bulky, and you have to deal with the "memory effect" if you don't discharge them completely before storage.
NiMH also recharges quickly, is smaller than NiCd for the same voltage and capacity. It doesn't have the memory effect but discharges on its own, so you must charge them right before the event. Also, the discharge rate drops quickly on fully-automatic fire, so you often can only fire in bursts.
LiPoly is the smallest of the three types, has no memory effect, and has the highest discharge rate. Unfortunately, it takes hours to charge, costs a lot more than the other types, frequently has lower capacity per battery, and requires special balanced chargers. And LiPolys are often too powerful for most AEGs, resulting in more wear and tear on your gun. Buy these only if your gun is "LiPoly ready." Also, cheap LiPoly batteries can be dangerous and might burst into flame if they short out internally--buy only reputable brands such as Firefox and SOCOMGear and only LiPoly batteries with the additional balanced-charge connector. Also, LiPoly batteries come in totally different voltages (either 7.4V or 11.1V) and sizes than NiCD and NiMH, AND the discharge rate matters. With LiPoly batteries, you'll want 12C or higher, depending on size.
Personally, I use 11.1V LiPoly batteries exclusively for the super-high rate of fire and high continuous discharge rate (which means I can run full-auto for long times). I don't mind spending more on LiPoly-ready guns, and I can repair any internal damage done by the more powerful LiPoly -
Step 6
Next, consider your needed BB capacity. Smaller guns typically have smaller magazines, which means that you'll need to have more magazines to pack more rounds. Yes, you can buy high-capacity magazines, but these are often banned in certain games, and you may still need a lot of them to meet your capacity.
All-day games with hi-caps allowed often require between 2000 and 5000 rounds, so if you have a G36 hi-cap magazine which fits 470rnds, you'll still need to carry five magazines, which is a lot of bulk and weight! Of course, you could buy just a few mags and take time to refill them on the field, but that's often a good way to get "killed." -
Step 7
Finally, consider your budget. Yes, this is the last step. A decent airsoft gun usually ends up costing around $500 either once it's been upgraded to where it should be or if it's bought like that right out of the box. Cheaper guns may look more attractive but often break down and require expensive repairs. If you can't spend $500 now, buy a decent Tokyo Marui knockoff like Jing Gong, Echo 1, or KWA for around $150 and upgrade it later. If at all possible, buy Tokyo Marui guns, which cost around $250 and are very durable. You might never need to upgrade or repair a TM gun, because they are very accurate out of the box and are built well.
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Step 8
Okay, so now that you know what to look for, go and physically try out some guns at your local airsoft shop to see what fits you best. You may find that a gun that looks good on paper in the planning stage, might be too long or too heavy for you. And you might find that some of the coolest guns have the hardest-to-replace batteries, which can count in the middle of a game. Figure out how many magazines you'll have to buy and how much they weigh. Take a look through the sights and figure out if you'll need to buy and mount a scope. Attach a sling (if the shop will let you) and find out how it hangs on your body--you don't want the gun bumping you in tender spots.
Here's your chance to compare brands in person--look at the fit and finish. See how well-built or cheap the controls are. I've had parts fall off of guns in the middle of a game, which taught me to stick to better brands like King Arms and Tokyo Marui.
If you don't have a local airsoft shop where you can try out these guns in person, get online and read reviews of specific guns. You'll find out quickly which brands are better than others. -
Step 9
Finally, once you've decided on a gun, shop around for the price. Buying online is often the only way to get good brands of AEGs from airsoft specialty shops like: airsoftgi.com, evike.com, airsoftextreme.com, redwolfairsoft.com, shortyusa.com, strykeairsoft.com, ehobbyasia.com. Of course, you can always buy from a local shop if you have one in your town.
Once you've bought your gun, feed it nothing but high-quality BBs and keep its barrel clean. There's no sense in buying a good gun to ruin it with BB jams.
Enjoy your new AEG!
