Many Airsoft guns are powered by 1 of 3 main forms of power plants. These include Spring powered airsoft guns, Gas powered airsoft guns and Electric Airsoft guns (also referred to as AEGs). Here we will look at each of the 3 main power plants used in Airsoft and discuss their good points and their downfalls in terms of price, consistency, maintenance and noise.

An airsoft rifle’s power plant is one of the most important parts when comparing airsoft rifles. How a power plant functions in terms of shooting a BB does not have much to do with the overall performance of an airsoft rifle but rather how one feels using the gun and how one plans on playing with it.

Spring-powered rifles

To use a Spring Powered Air Rifle you only need to maintain the bolt of the gun. The rest of the air rifle is purely mechanical which means no parts can go wrong. This makes the Spring Powered Air Rifle perfect for the Sniper who will be playing from 1 location for long periods of time. As the Spring Powered Air Rifle is purely mechanical it is also very quiet when fired, work well in cold weather and is cost effective to use.

A high power spring such as used to reach 450 FPS is very power hungry and requires a lot of force to cock. Also high power springs are very ‘hold sensitive’ meaning that if you hold the rifle in a different position for each shot you will get very different results.

  • Best for: sniper roles, cold weather, low maintenance ownership.
  • Watch out for: Cocking effort, Single-shot only, Hold sensitivity

Gas-powered rifles

The operation of a Gas Powered Air Rifle is by using Pressurized Air (e.g. green gas or CO2) to propel the Airsoft Pellet at high velocity. Gas Air Rifles are typically used for Semi Auto / Full Auto Fire in Airsoft games played on Airsoft fields or woodland style Airsoft missions. They also can make for a good Sniper in woodland type missions as well as for standard Airsoft games.

Again the main problem with gas rifles is the gas pressure falling off in cold weather. This results in lower power shots. Also, the rubber seals can dry out with time and cause problems. Gas guns require a lot of maintenance to keep them in good working order. This can include lubing the seals with a silicone oil and storing the air rifle in a case to keep it clean.

  • Best for: semi-auto replicas, realism, compact platforms
  • Temperature can affect the pressure in gas bottles, such as green gas.
  • O ring and seal maintenance on the gun.
  • Expensive gas in the long term for high power guns.

Electric rifles (AEGs)

The AEG uses a small motor, battery and gearbox to deliver constant power to the pellets, the advantage of the AEG for the air rifle enthusiast, is that they can deliver high amounts of ammunition in short spaces of time and give consistent results in most weather conditions. The average Spring Air Rifle has a magazine of around 10 shots but an AEG can hold 30+ shots in a high capacity magazine. This type of air rifle also has the advantage of the spring being precocked before the next shot is fired, also programming in fire modes with the use of an electronic trigger.

An AEG also is able to sustain a high rate of fire, enabling lots of shots to be fired in a short space of time with good power. They can precock the spring for you before the next shot, which makes fast consecutive shots possible. This is in stark contrast to most Spring guns which only have a 10 round mag before needing to be reloaded. AEGs can hold lots of ammo in their mags, holding up to 30+ rounds in some cases. Many AEGs have the ability to precock the main spring before a shot and some even have the ability to set up the Air Rifles to fire in specific fire modes, such as 3 shot bursts, using the electronic trigger and pre-programmed fire settings.

On the down side AEGs are loud, can be very fragile and be prone to failure. With many AEGs already failing it is advisable to get any AEG repaired by a qualified airsoft technician. The main thing to remember with an AEG is to make sure you have got good quality batteries and to charge them up before you go out and use them. Also it is very important to store your AEGs in a case to keep them clean and free from any damage.

  • Best for: general play, volume of fire, all-weather reliability
  • Watch out for: noise, gearbox complexity, battery discipline

So which one should you buy?

The only thing to play at being a sniper is to use a springer, but then again gas rifles are so much fun to use for their size. For general Airsoft games on most fields though, the best thing to use is an AEG as you can fire as much ammo as you like and it is very reliable in most weather conditions.

Budget for the complete loadout

Note that price of the rifle itself is not the main cost when comparing different models. Most of the additional cost is in parts like magazines, speed loaders, ammunition, scope mounts, safety glasses, slings and even cases for your air rifle. Many of these are sold in starter packs at the beginning of the season.

Compare support as well as specifications

Also note how much support is available for your desired airsoft gun model, i.e. how many mags are there for it, how many different variants of seals and springs etc. are available for it, and what the retailers warranty is for it. Also, it is worth noting how many local airsoft techs there are that can fix your airsoft gun if it were to break.

How to evaluate the advice

Test data needs to be distinguished from the test persons’ subjective assessment. Measured values such as weight, length of the air rifle, number of magazines etc. are objective and will differ from model to model. In contrast, trigger pressure, ergonomics and utilization of the stock are subject to the test persons’ interpretation. It is therefore essential to clearly state the test conditions and to be aware of the fact that other results can be obtained.

A sensible next step

Consider the role you are going to play on the majority of your airsoft games within the boundaries of your field, the problem(s) that you are trying to solve, and set up a range of affordable test parts to test one change at a time. By upgrading in stages as opposed to buying heaps of upgrades to fit in all at once you can test for problems as you go and ensure that your markers are going to stay within the field limits of your airfield.

Legal and practical responsibility

Airsoft replicas must be treated with respect, as if they were real firearms. This also means that the replicas are subject to the same local laws and regulations, regarding purchase, display and public use as the real firearm. Always handle and transport your Airsoft replicas in a responsible manner. Also make sure to check the local laws regarding Airsoft with the local authorities or the venue where you intend to play.

Read specifications in context

You must also check the support offered for air rifle magazines, as well as for seals, springs and hop components for that model of air rifle. You should also check the warranty offered by the retailer and look for local airsoft techs who can repair your airsoft rifle should it break.

Plan upgrades in stages

First of all get the replica air rifle cleaned and then test it in the standard / stock form. Set up the hop up for the best results with the various weights of BBs you intend to use. Record the results from a chronograph test to find the average velocity for each weight of BB. Then make one change and test it out again to see if it has solved any problems. You will then be able to see if the part you have changed was the problem and if so it can be repaired or even replaced if necessary.