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­By: Denski, as interviewed by Ogre and Brahma. Airsoft sniper rifles are supposed to be highly-upgraded AEGs that could perform like a sniper rifle as much as it looks like a sniper rifle. When you highly upgrade something, it will cost you money, lots of it! In that regard alone, I believe that there really is no such thing as a budget sniper rifle. I have been an airsoft sniper for more than five or so years. Whenever someone asks me how I ended up being one, my answer is always quick and direct—by accident.

Yes, I became an airsoft sniper by accident. I was sporting a longer-barreled weapon during a game and I realized I had longer range than the short-barreled assault rifles. I figured, if I have better accuracy, longer range and use a different tactic, I wouldn’t have to do close quarter engagements.

Much as I hate to admit it, I am lazy. I do not like running. With the sniper play-type, I would not have to do a lot of running. Boy, was I wrong! But I persevered and eventually got better at it. I remained an airsoft sniper, despite speedball becoming more popular, because there weren’t many players who could do it. I like being different.

Airsoft sniping has the highest dropout rate in all play types. This may be attributed to a lot of players wanting to become a sniper, only to realize they don’t have the patience and tenacity to endure, or their pockets are not that deep enough to sustain the ever increasing need to upgrade, maintain and upgrade some more cycle of owning a true-blue airsoft sniper gun. I know a lot of people out there are already raising their eyebrows. C’mon people, if you want maximum performance from your sniper rifles, be ready to shell out some dough. Also, what’s the use of having a sniper weapon when you cannot out gun an assault carbine?

ON SNIPER WEAPONS…

Airsoft sniper rifles are supposed to be highly-upgraded AEGs that could perform like a sniper rifle as much as it looks like a sniper rifle. When you highly upgrade something, it will cost you money, lots of it! In that regard alone, I believe that there really is no such thing as a budget sniper rifle.

I do not want to sound tight-assed, but even start-up sniper guns would cost you. Personally, I find the KJ MK1 carbine sniper rifle the best start out sniper rifle, It is a gas-operated bolt-action sniper rifle (BASR). All that you need to up its performance is to use red gas and you get over 500fps worth of BB thrust. The KJ MK1 has longer range and better accuracy than common assault guns, plus you can easily convert it to a pistol if you suddenly realize that sniping is not for you. 

However, gas-operated BASRs are notorious at being inconsistent in terms of accuracy, compared to a boltaction spring rifle. This is mainly because the gas used on gas rifles “act temperamental”, as it being affected by weather conditions and atmospheric temperatures. Try shooting a gas rifle in quick succession. Notice how your cylinder freezes over? This causes your shots to become less and less powerful. You’ll have to wait until the cylinder warms up again between shots.

On the other hand, spring-powered BASRs come with hefty price tags and are very expensive to upgrade, however, it is cheaper in the long run since you don’t need to purchase a canister of gas everytime. Also, spring-driven BASRs can sometimes be limited to 550fps—anything higher and you will find it hard to cycle the bolt (unless you’re Superman, of course!), not to mention that, upgraded or not, the bolt handle will not be able to withstand the stress of shots going over 550fps. By the way, a VSR’s bolt handle needs upgrading if you plan on going above 500fps, as it is prone to cracking. This is not much of a problem with bolt-action gas rifles, as even at 800fps (or even more), cycling the bolt is still smooth—you can even cycle the bolt with your pinky finger. Realistically speaking though, 500fps-muzzle velocity for BASRs is all you need. That’s about 200ft to 250ft precision accuracy at 300ft maximum range.

Fortunately, BASRs are more durable than AEGs, and require no batteries nor come with gears, fuses, wirings, or motors—parts that are, more often than not, prone to breakage and malfunctions. A properly upgraded and maintained BASR can outlast any AEG, whatever brand it may be.

Currently, my primary sniping weapon is the Maruzen APS Type 96. It has been fully upgraded to shoot at 650fps using 0.20g BBs. It comes with an OK cylinder set with pss210 spring. Other upgrades include an APS Type 96 6.04mm tight barrel and an APS Type 96 zero trigger set. A 3-9x 50mm Tasco scope with scope extension is mounted using a medium height scope mount. It sports a digital pattern paint job. 

Lately, 8-minute speedball CQB tournaments are in fashion here in Davao and there aren’t a lot of jungle bivouacs being held anymore. The sniping play type is only useful in very specific conditions—longer playtime and larger game areas. That is why, I have also transitioned to being a designated marksman. My primary marksman weapon is a TM Steyr AUG, fully upgraded to shoot at 450fps on 0.20g BBs. I fitted it with the following upgrades:

• 510mm TN 6.04mm tight barrel;
• Systema STU gears to crank a SP130 spring;
• upgraded switch assembly with high-temperature wires;
• MOSFET switch with 25A fuse;
• spring guide with bearing, V3 cylinder head with tightseal air nozzle, and Deepfire titanium teeth piston body;
• one-piece metal hop assembly with SCS hop nub and metal BB feeding tube;
• Magnum high-torque motor with CA pinion gear; and
• Systema bushing and shim set

I have also installed a custom Dynamat padding on the gearbox to reduce vibration and noise, especially when shooting at full-auto mode.

My TM Steyr AUG runs on 11.1V 1500mAh Li-poly battery pack; and it comes with a 3-9x 40mm Tasco scope, mounted via a medium height scope rings. I did a custom paintjob in OD on it. A 3-point rifle sling allows me to move freely with it.

In the pipeline for me is a custom M16 MSSR based on the Philippine Marine Scout Sniper Rifle system.

Just remember always, a sniper rifle that does not shoot accurately from a distance is not a sniper rifle. A sniper rifle that could not out-range an assault AEG is not a sniper rifle. If it looks like a sniper rifle but does not shoot like one, it’s not a sniper rifle...

...it’s just a damn wallflower.

...AND ACCESSORIES AS SUCH...

Here are some of the more common accoutrements for a sniper rifle:

Bipod. A bipod should be attached to a rifle, not to accessorize it, but rather, to give you more stability between shots. Actually, you do not really need a bipod that often. Sometimes leaning your rifle against a tree or rock will do. If you play/crawl/stalk in the underbrush and move often, its best you remove your bipod. As helpful as it may be, it also has its disadvantages, as it adds weight and snags a lot. To minimize snagging when using a bipod, fold it towards the inside of your rifle—it isn’t pretty to look at, but it helps. When folded outwards, it creates a pitchfork-effect that is susceptible to snags.

Airsoft recon snipers don’t use bipods often, but base snipers do. Difference? Recon snipers travel and move a lo more than base snipers. Assault rifles don’t need bipods.

Weapons with bipods are not built for shoulder slinging. It’s a base shooting weapon, you’re not supposed to carry it that often so no need for slings. Put it on the ground. 

Alternatives to bipods:

• Vegetation and Y twigs you see lying around the grounds of your gamesite.
• Rocks.
• Your rucksack.
• Your sniper veil (tie the two ends to opposite branches or twigs, hammock-style to make a rifle catch).Your limbs.

Things to remember when using a bipod:

• Do not use mags that are long enough to touch the ground even if you are using a bipod.
• Bipods are used for long rifles, and not for SMGs such as the MP5.
• Bipods are installed near the end of your barrel and not in the middle of your rifle’s front assembly.

In the real world, single or monopods and tripods are also good non-fixed rifle rests to use. Although uncommon, monopods are helpful when firing at a standing position. Tripods on the other hand are used for heavy munitions sniper rifles.

Silencers. Silencers in BASRs are practically useless for the following reasons:

• Inner barrel length does not make any difference in BASRs, so need in installing longer ones only to shroud it with a dummy silencer.
• Snipers usually engage an enemy from a distance. A BASRs report when fired is easily drowned by ambient sound from the surroundings.
• It adds weight to your front end sacrificing rifle balance. A BASR must not be back or front heavy. A good rifle is a balanced rifle.
• If your rifle is taller than you are then that is not the rifle for you. Get rid of the silencer extension.

Lens diameter.The larger the lens diameter the wider your view. Recommended sizes are 40mm and 50mm lenses.

Sight reticle.Illuminated light reticles (crosshairs)—either in red or green—help you aim in low light conditions. This feature is very handy when you’re playing night games of if games extend till the evening. Illumination can be turned off when not needed to save on battery.

Lens glare. A sniper’s position, most of the time, is given away by the glare of the scope lens reflected by any light source such as the sun or flashlights. In order to limit this you need a scope sunshade or a scope lens mesh. The sunshade is an elongated cylindrical tube attached to the front of the scope, while the mesh is commonly referred to as a “honeycomb” cover. Some riflescopes are already bundled with these accessories. A cheap alternative to mask your lens glare is your mama’s stockings and some rubber bands.

MAINTENANCE

Any ordinary glass cleaning solution will do. Just use lint free cloth to wipe away excess solution. Always remove the battery (for illuminated versions) when keeping the gun for storage. Cover the lenses.

Red dot scopes. While most versions are not magnified, there are some red dot scopes that feature from 2x to 3x magnification, definitely not for long range precision shooting. Red dot scopes are helpful for faster target acquisition, and not necessarily aiming.

Scope rings. Available in small to medium to high scope heights, these devices clamp your scope to your gun rail. I suggest you get medium to high scope rings, as small scope rings may be too low, especially when peering through the scope with your mask on.

...AND CHOOSING THE RIGHT AMMO...

There are many factors to consider in becoming a successful airsoft sniper, and choosing the correct ammo or BB for your gun is among them. You can have the nicest rifle with the most advanced upgrades available for it, but your gun is only going to be as good as the ammo you’re using!

Allow me to let you in on a little secret… the truth is, there really is no clear-cut way for me to tell you exactly which type of BB would be best for you and your gun. The type of BB you should choose depends on many factors like what gun you will be using, what (if any) parts are upgraded, what is the weather like most often where you play, and what distances are you most often shooting from, just to name a few.

Personally, environmental condition is my main consideration when choosing BB weight—the gustier the gamesite is, the heavier the BB I use. The lightest BB weight I have used is 0.25g. If you could use 0.2g BBs perfect for the environment without the BB trajectory being affected much by it; the better off you will be in terms of range. Too much BB weight and you will not be able to get optimum performance from your rifle.

First let me go over the more common BB weights available in the market today:

• 0.12g to 0.15g - Very lightweight. Too easily affected by wind speed and hop-up. NOT RECOMMENDED for any sniper gun!
• 0.20g to 0.23g - A well-made 0.2g will produce acceptable results, so would a 0.23g, but still not recommended.
• 0.25g - Now we're talking. This weight of BBs is the lowest recommended weight for a quality airsoft sniper rifle.
• 0.28g - Welcome to the heavyweights. These are for mid-grade (or upgraded guns) to high-grade sniper rifles.
• 0.30g+ - These are for high-end and/or heavily upgraded guns only. Find which works best for your rifle.

My best advice is to buy a few small bags of the recommended BB weights and try them out yourself! Be sure to zero your scope well and adjust your HOP up with each type of BB, making sure to fire off many rounds with each to get a clear idea of the individual performances.

Find which BB works, best with your needs and your gun's abilities and go with it! This process takes a small investment and possibly a good bit of time, but it's well worth it. Having the right BB for you and your gun can make a serious difference in your game.­

ON PLAYING THE SNIPER ROLE...

An airsoft sniper is identified by the way he plays and not by the way he looks. Wearing a ghillie suit and toting a sniper gun may convince others and mistake you for an airsoft sniper, but it sure does not qualify you being one. You may be firing from a concealed position, but that does not make you a sniper either.

So, how do you qualify an airsoft sniper? By this key phrase: “Precision long range shooting done with heavy emphasis on camouflage and concealment techniques.”

A sniper who shoots way below the engagement limit is not only a lousy sniper but also a useless sniper. A dead sniper is a useless sniper, so it is paramount that a sniper must not be seen. Designated marksmen or DMs, although tasked with performing precise fire support, do not need to be properly camouflaged or concealed, much less operate by their lonesome. This makes DMs a more flexible operator since they can be also part of the main assault group, as needed.

With the technical nitty-gritty of an airsoft sniper rifle out of the way, it is best that we also understand the main duties of an airsoft sniper—reconnaissance, support and assassination or VIP kills. Of course, these things only apply in long games or bivouacs.

Your number one duty is reconnaissance or recon. You don’t have to engage a target if it is not needed. That’s where your radio comes in handy. Contact your assault group and inform them of the location of the tango squad. Let them do their job. Leave the assault job to assault personnel. You kill less than they do but your kills are important. Besides, this is a team sport. You do not operate alone. You operate in a group that has specific roles and jobs.

When doing recon for your team, always remember to be “invisible”. Never hide in obvious places. A tower is an obvious place. Never, ever hide on treetops or anywhere where you have no clear egress points or escape routes. These are death traps. When discovered, you’re already as good as dead.

Your second duty is support. You provide precise fire support to your assault group when they engage tangos. This way, the tangos will be too busy to notice that you’re taking them out one by one. If you have to shoot, shoot when there is a distraction or better yet, fire when the tango is busy shooting at something other than you. If the tango is shooting in your direction, slither away and go to your fall back “hide”. A sniper needs to have at least three hides, the two being fall back hides, in case enemy patrols get too close to your primary hide.

The third duty of an airsoft sniper, especially on long games or scenarios, is assassination or taking out high priority  targets and VIPs, such as:

• Team leaders
• Gunners
• Radiomen
• Effective or veteran players
• “Zombies”

The last target has been included, not much for their “importance”, but rather, to rid the game of annoying players that will, sooner or later, be detrimental in the collective fun and success of a particular game. Having the psychological advantage of being able to “see them, without being seen”, an airsoft sniper must capitalize on stealth. If you miss on your first shot, refrain from shooting a “follow-up” until you have repositioned yourself to an alternative location. Assess first whether your intended target noticed the shot or not, before firing the second shot. Never fire more than three shots on an intended target from a single position. This will make your chances of being spotted close to nil.

DENSKIS' PROFILE:
Team: Airsoft Games Philippines, Inc. – Davao Chapter (ASG-Davao)
Primary Weapon: Maruzen APS Type 96
Secondary Weapon: KSC Glock GBB Pistols
Preferred Weapon: TM Steyr AU G
Preferred Loadout: Contractor Sniper

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