Sniper rifle advice/dilemna, please read and help!!

[Devildog]

Well, my younger brother is getting into airsoft and is dead set on an airsoft sniper rifle. We went on Airsoft GI and ordered him an AGM MK96 (L96) with scope in Olive Drab, well, OD was sold out and when I told him this, he was interested in the black version of the same gun. Well I noticed that the Socom Gear R700 is only $72 and I've heard it's better than the AGM (no scope with the Socom though). However, it only shoots 280 FPS with a .20 gram bb. That just isn't enough to shoot at airsoft sniper ranges. He is new and only needs a starter gun, but what I'd like to know is what upgrades and how easy are they to install to bring the gun to shoot in the neighborhood of 350-400 FPS? I've not done any real airsoft internal work, is there anyone who will be at the next TAS game who might have the expertise to install parts recommended to me? Please include links if possible

[Fluffy Boy 32]

[Fridge Gnome]

All or almost all bolt action sniper rifle are not ready to use out of the box, the echo1 M28 is looking to be the best out of the box BASR and might be able to outrange an AEG. However to get a proper sniper rifle that can out range an AEG and maintain accuracy you will have to heavily upgrade and modify the gun.

If this is his first gun I would highly recommend an AEG, if he is dead set on the sniper/dm role then I would get a M14 or something like fluffy mentioned.

[kirzach]

If he's just getting his feet wet, DO NOT buy him a sniper rifle. That is a guaranteed way to get him out of the sport. He will get his hands on it, stock and unupgraded, having high expectations for super-1337 accuracy and range out of the box, and he will be sorely disappointed. Most people don't seem to realize it, but most good airsoft sniper rifles require extensive upgrading and, if nothing else, fine-tuning to get the most performance out of them.

If he wants something that's accurate but is more reliable and takes a lot less work to maintain and use, get him something like an M16 with a tightbore. He'll still have great range and accuracy, but he won't have the problems (not to mention the financial requirements) that come with building a sniper rifle.

[Fluffy Boy 32]

Also, The good side to buying an AEG DMR is that once upgraded to its highest ability, it will be a WHOLE lot cheaper than it would've been to buy a stock sniper rifle and upgrade it to its max. I personally would buy an M16 unless he is a big kid and won't mind carrying around the weight of the M14. The SR-25 is also another excellent choice.

I would recommend a Marui M14 because that thing can out range just about anything. The G&G M14 is also a good contender. Being that there arent a lot of companies that make an M14, just about anything you choose will serve you well. I will say this, when buying a gun, "You get what you pay for". So don't go buying a CYMA M14 expecting it to be AMAZING. The G&G is the middle man. Good performance, high realism, lower price. Then you move up to the G&P and Marui which are amazing and have a high price. Whatever you do though...Don't get the Classic Army. For some reason when they copied the G&G design, the did it very poorly and from what I've heard they are total garbage after something breaks. If you want compatibility and cheaper magazines then I would tell you to spend the extra money on a G&P or Marui because the magazines for G&G are close to $30 but there is a rumor floating around that MAG is making magazines for them. Only time will tell...

Hope all of us have answered your question!

[phucheneh]

just get him the best m4 you can afford, and let him play first. then he can decide if he wants to use it as 'battle rifle' or a sniper rifle. as mentioned, it's a lot easier to mod an AEG to snipe than a spring gun (sort of- depends on how hardcore you want to go), and if nothing else, he won't be out much for the base AEG in comparison to what a sniper will cost.

only thing that might be useable off the shelf is the echo m28, and it could still use a barrel and bucking, so you're talking a good 250 bucks, and he's still going to have a hard time competing with modded AEGs.

[DRAGON64]

[phucheneh]

i wasn't too satisfied with the stock barrel. was unaware it was a 6.03. now i'm definately going to chop it down and use it in a GBB.

stock bucking is junk. mine had ragged edges all over it and it just had no consistency.

stock, the gun's barely got the range of 450-500fps (i.e. 425 with .25's, BK limits) AEG's. if he can't significantly outrange them and he's having to firing single shots, he's probably going to get shot. a lot.

[DRAGON64]

[Dannick]

Not to be "that guy", but there really isn't a stock sniper rifle that is good enough to skirmish and actually be competitive. If you know of one, then let me know. And honestly, with the performance of the M28, from what I've seen at least, it is not gonna have the accuracy or range to beat a full auto AEG.

Random thing I remembered, but this reminds me of this new player at Bad Karma that was sniping next to me with his brand new UTG L96, bone-stock, and I was using my Tanaka (300'+ range). He kept 'pretending' to be hitting people from 200'+, though I could clearly see his white (probably .2s) BBs hitting the ground much earlier than that, and even then not with much consistency. Gotta love that imagination.

Honestly, most people will enjoy a good AEG much more than a sniper rifle that they have to sink a bunch of money into to even consider being effective.

[Devildog]

haha we went with a JG G36, he may get into sniping when he has a job and Im not lending him money to get a gun haha

[DRAGON64]

[NOWWHATSUCCER?]

I am selling my echo 1 m14 It shoots about 125 FPS all it needs is a battery and a rear wire. Here is the link

http://www.golsn.com/listings/outdoor_a ... 77149.html

[redneckemt]

[Fluffy Boy 32]