Airsoft in the YubaCity / Marysville area.
AEG Upgrade Basics
Original posted on March 4th 2008.
When I talk about upgrades, I am not talking about scopes, mags, or rail systems. I am talking about the three that make the greatest difference.
The battery, the barrel, and the spring.
Let me first describe a little about each, only because no one ever did this for me when I started, and I wish they had.
As for the battery, it is the least important of the three. The battery has both power ( volts )and capacity ( MAH ). Standard AEG’s run at 8.4 volts, and come with a battery that should be sufficient. Now, should you choose to upgrade your battery by increasing the power (voltage). The result will be that you go through more BB’s in a game than you did before. All you achieve is more ammo fired at a greater rate ( exception in pulling a heavier spring ). Meaning the BB’s are going to come out closer together, and I have yet to see someone who can run through a stream of BB’s and not be hit. This is not useful. As for upgrading to a battery of standard power but a greater capacity, you will gain longer play time. If you can go the entire day playing in the style you enjoy, and your battery does not run out of power, why upgrade? Enough said.
Next let us look at the barrel. The barrel gives you accuracy. The longer it is the more accurate it will be at further range. That’s why rifles tend to dominate in long range open firefights. The other factor is the diameter of the barrel compared to the round ( BB ). This gives you a term called windage. When your barrel is bigger than your BB, then some of the pressure ( or wind ), of your shot escapes past the BB as it fires. This escaped air has reduced the power of the shot. To improve this we put in what are called tight-bore barrels. These can improve accurate range by approximately 25%. With the tighter fit less wind pressure is lost, and your gun fires longer, harder, and more accurately. The higher accuracy at longer ranges is what is noticed. A good choice especially for those with rifles, or those whom range makes a difference. ( Be aware of "barrel suck" for too long of barrel ).
Lastly, are the spring upgrades. These are sold in percent and mps (or meters per second). It wont matter. The idea, is that a stronger spring shoots the BB a further distance. More range with no add in accuracy. This is not typically helpful, unless you have already upgraded to a tight-bore barrel. For woodland fields it does help cut through the brush! Many fields have fps limits, and you may find that your new spring fires too hot to meet their requirements. Another thing that happens is, that your battery wears down faster. It takes more power to push the new spring, hence reduced operating time. I have seen a stock M15-A4 that could play a full day on a charged battery, upgraded to a SP300 spring. After the upgrade, the same gun needed recharging after just 300 rounds. (and was inaccurate beyond any hop-up adjustment) Too much power!
A last note of advice to add. The “rule” is to never upgrade more than two out of the three types of upgrades. If you do all three you are bound to have mechanical problems.
I hope this gives new operators some perspective when it comes to upgrading your gun. My AEG has only a SP120spring and works just fine. Learn to shoot, learn to work with your team, and don't rely on spraying to win. The guys who know how to shoot, get their kills with single shots, the double tap, and small bursts.
Play with Honor and have fun.
When I talk about upgrades, I am not talking about scopes, mags, or rail systems. I am talking about the three that make the greatest difference.
The battery, the barrel, and the spring.
Let me first describe a little about each, only because no one ever did this for me when I started, and I wish they had.
As for the battery, it is the least important of the three. The battery has both power ( volts )and capacity ( MAH ). Standard AEG’s run at 8.4 volts, and come with a battery that should be sufficient. Now, should you choose to upgrade your battery by increasing the power (voltage). The result will be that you go through more BB’s in a game than you did before. All you achieve is more ammo fired at a greater rate ( exception in pulling a heavier spring ). Meaning the BB’s are going to come out closer together, and I have yet to see someone who can run through a stream of BB’s and not be hit. This is not useful. As for upgrading to a battery of standard power but a greater capacity, you will gain longer play time. If you can go the entire day playing in the style you enjoy, and your battery does not run out of power, why upgrade? Enough said.
Next let us look at the barrel. The barrel gives you accuracy. The longer it is the more accurate it will be at further range. That’s why rifles tend to dominate in long range open firefights. The other factor is the diameter of the barrel compared to the round ( BB ). This gives you a term called windage. When your barrel is bigger than your BB, then some of the pressure ( or wind ), of your shot escapes past the BB as it fires. This escaped air has reduced the power of the shot. To improve this we put in what are called tight-bore barrels. These can improve accurate range by approximately 25%. With the tighter fit less wind pressure is lost, and your gun fires longer, harder, and more accurately. The higher accuracy at longer ranges is what is noticed. A good choice especially for those with rifles, or those whom range makes a difference. ( Be aware of "barrel suck" for too long of barrel ).
Lastly, are the spring upgrades. These are sold in percent and mps (or meters per second). It wont matter. The idea, is that a stronger spring shoots the BB a further distance. More range with no add in accuracy. This is not typically helpful, unless you have already upgraded to a tight-bore barrel. For woodland fields it does help cut through the brush! Many fields have fps limits, and you may find that your new spring fires too hot to meet their requirements. Another thing that happens is, that your battery wears down faster. It takes more power to push the new spring, hence reduced operating time. I have seen a stock M15-A4 that could play a full day on a charged battery, upgraded to a SP300 spring. After the upgrade, the same gun needed recharging after just 300 rounds. (and was inaccurate beyond any hop-up adjustment) Too much power!
A last note of advice to add. The “rule” is to never upgrade more than two out of the three types of upgrades. If you do all three you are bound to have mechanical problems.
I hope this gives new operators some perspective when it comes to upgrading your gun. My AEG has only a SP120spring and works just fine. Learn to shoot, learn to work with your team, and don't rely on spraying to win. The guys who know how to shoot, get their kills with single shots, the double tap, and small bursts.
Play with Honor and have fun.
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