| The sniper rifle is the most valuable
piece of equipment for the sniper. In this page, I am going to explain
to you all of the different sniper rifles that are in the airsoft world,
and what I know/have heard about them. I will also explain the various
modifications/accessories that you can get for your gun to enhance it's
performance. This is basically a review page with extras thrown in.
The guns
Custom guns:
Coming sometime:
- PDI M24 Sniper Rifle
- Classic Army M24
- Maruzen APS-2 EX
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AI L96A1 Sniper Rifle
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Anschutz N1403 Sport Universal Sniper Rifle
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PDI Kalashnikov Dragonuv SVD Sniper Rifle
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Maruzen APS-2 Sniper Rifle
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Maruzen APS-2 M97 Sniper Version Tournament Rifle
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Maruzen APS-2 M99 Sniper Version Tournament Rifle
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Sig Sauer R93 Tactical Sniper Rifle
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TM H&K PSG-1 Sniper Rifle
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TM H&K G3 SG/1 Sniper Rifle
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A whole lotta M16, AR, etc. conversions
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And more!!!
Improving Your Rifle
Accessories
Scope
Scopes (for me) are a must. They allow you to place your shots a LOT
more accurately than iron sights, and this way, you can verify that your
shot hit. They also allow you to gather intelligence from a long-range.
Not only that, but long-range shots are a lot easier, and more accurate.
They also look cool on the weapon, and I love looking through the crosshairs
of a gun at an enemy who is totally unaware...Anyways, I would have to
say that the best scope to get would have to be one with at least a 35mm
objective lense, and, for the long-range sniping, variable magnification,
or a fixed long range magnification. Any reticle is good, although illuminated
ones and range-finding ones are the best. Although some claim that scopes
are not neccessary for airsoft sniping, I believe that they are good for
long-range sniping, if not long-range observation. If you want to take
my advice, go with either: a fixed 4 power scope with a 40/50mm lense;
or a variable 3-7 power scope with a 40/50mm lense. I myself have a Simmons
3-9x50mm Deerfield scope, and I love it, so most scope choices are up to
your preference. Here's a little more help, though: the first number(s)
you see when picking the scope is the magnification: 4x30mm, where
the 4 is the magnification; the second number you see is the obejctive
lense diameter, and the larger, the better: 4x30mm, where 30 is
the diameter of the front lense of the scope.
Can be used on:
Reccomended Dealers:
Laser Sight
Laser sights are not as neccessary to me as a scope. All they are good
for is ensuring that your shot hits the target. Other than that, they are
bad. They warn the enemy that they are within your shooting distance when
the laser is sighted, and the laser itself can give away your position.
I'd only use it if the enemy's backs were turned, so they couldn't see
the laser.
Can be used on:
Reccomended Dealers:
Tracer
Tracers are a debatable topic when it comes to sniping. The bad and
most knowledgable thing about them is that they give away your position
if the enemy sees the shot. And if you are using heavy BBs, then the enemy
may see the BB a split second before it hits them, and they may move out
of the way. However, if you are using the light .2g Tracer BBs, then they
will be no good with the APS-2 SV, my fave. However, they also allow you
to confirm your shot on the enemy, and they look damn fine. Mayhaps there
is a way to take out the actual tracer mechanism and just use it as a silencer.
Hmmm...
Can be used on:
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Marui PSG-1
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Marui G3 SG-1
Reccomended Dealers:
Spring
A stronger spring allows you to increase your rifle's velocity, and
therefore give you the edge of more range. A spring's effectiveness all
depends on the type. A 300% spring, for example, raises your velocity by
a WHOLE lot more. However, if you upgrade to a stronger spring, then you
should also upgrade other parts of the gun internally, such as the gear
box, gears, spring guide, and/or piston. Why? Well, a stronger spring causes
a lot more stress on the internals of the gun, and, if they are too weak
to withstand the force, they may be damaged or broken. Unless you have
an APS-2 SV, which is RUMORED to have strong enough internals to withstand
the force of a stronger spring.
Gas Conversion
A gas conversion for your sniper rifle is maybe one of the most sought-after
modifications that you can get: it is said to increase the fps of your
rifle, and it will create a very satisfying sound. However, recently, I
have been told that gas conversion eat away at the internals of your gun.
That's right: the chemicals eat up the internals, therefore making your
gun useless. However, I am not sure what type of gas this applies to, so
be sure to research your conversion before you perform.
Tight Barrel
Tight barrels (6.04mm is a good size, but some go to 6.02mm) add more accuracy and a little more velocity to your
gun. Since most guns have an inside diameter of 6.08-6.12mm, some of the
air pushing the BB may be lost while pushing the BB out of the barrel.
By reducing a barrel's diameter to 6.04mm, this excess air can be harnessed,
and used as extra energy, increasing your velocity. Most tight barrels
are made of a special material that creates less friction, therefore increasing
velocity and accuracy. If you have the money, this is a must for the sniper.
Unless you have the APS-2 SV, which already has a tight barrel at 6.05mm (why do
you think they call it the Sniper Version?).
Bi-Pod
A bi-pod can increase the accuracy of your shot by using two "legs"
attached to the front of your gun to help steady it. It also can relieve
some of the fatigue that you encounter after long periods of observation
of the enemy by distributing the weight of the rifle onto the ground. Although
some say it just gets in the way, I say it's a must, for a sniper should
do everything possible to ensure the secureness of the shot.
Sniper BBS
Heavier BBs, or "Sniper" BBs as they are sometimes called, increase
the accuracy of your shots. Light BBs are more prone to being swept off
course by wind and other forces of nature. However, since Sniper BBs are
heavier, they are more stable, and more accurate. However, they also travel
slower than the lighter BB, and can be dodged more easily. Sniper BBs range
from .29g to .4g, but all help the accuracy of the shot. Guns with fixed
HOP-UP systems, such as the SV, require the use of Sniper BBs.
Sound Suppressor
Sound suppressors, or silencers, are being used more and more by airsoft
snipers. Not only do they look "cool" (har har), but they can quiet the shot considerably.
They are usually cylindrical in shape, and made of high-quality plastic,
or aluminum. These are usually paired when using Sniper BBs, because, due
to their slow movement, the target may hear the shot before it hits them,
and move out of the way. This would greatly decrease the chances of that
happening. On spring rifles, most people say it quiets the gun so much that the only sound you hear is the piston and cylinder.
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