Snipers in airsoft

[AoiShikaku]

So I've gone through a lot of several threads about how new people shouldn't be snipers, minimum distances, lots of safety info (a lot of idiots aiming for the head with hot guns from what I've gathered), and a bunch of other scattered information in multiple threads.

Now I'm pretty new on the forums, but am not new to the role. I've handled firearms before, gone hunting, and have played paintball for a while and was curious about the sniper role in airsoft.

I understand that many people are more comfortable knowing that you are L2 BA or higher (I plan to attend when available in the area), but since I've had previous experiences as a sniper/recon/spotter/stalker in paintball, and hunting (just a lot slower) I was curious if these skills are transferable to the sport or if the role is completely different and also what are general thoughts about people new to BA sniper roles for airsoft if they've already handled an AEG for a while.

Since I have had previous experiences in the slow paced stalking of hunting, and the quick paced action, and tactics (attack, defend, rush/flank defense, when to fallback, etc.) in paintball how would you compare that in a sniper role for airsoft?

I know that this hasn't been in any other threads, but what BB's do you personal enjoy using (brand and weight) for airsoft games with a sniper rifle (let's just say your barrel is 6.1mm) and why?

FYI (please read this before you reply) - To avoid a lot of hated replies from members... Yes I will get myself age verified son, I also have no intention of playing sniper as my primary role for a while until I can hone my skills with my airsoft sniper rifle, and don't worry... I have no intentions of starting out with a sniper rifle even though I could potentially be suited for the role. This is merely for information that I wasn't able to gather from several threads and forums that I am pretty interested in.

[SniperSam]

I was a sniper in the states for several years, and now Im switching to a more DM role. But when I was there, it depended on hop up/the gun. For my L96, I used .30s, for my VSR10, I used .28s, and for a Dragunov I used .36g BBs. Different weight BBs means different kinetic energy, which means different overall distance and "punching power;" heavier BBs will not travel as far as lighter BBs, but will pack more punch and tend to be more accurate, while lighter BBs travel farther/faster, and arent as accurate. I've always used different rifles for different situations, such as in a small playing area I'd use the VSR10 with the .28s, while in dense vegetation, Id use heavier BBs to punch through leaves and such. All in all, it comes down to judgement, judgement of how veterans can trust you, and whether you know what to do when s*** goes down

[VooDooPeteK]

I started playing the sniper role in our local games and found .30's work the best for my situation and guns. I would like to try out heavier Bb's and will some time in the near future but anything less then .28's are useless IMO

one thing you will need to get use to is watching a BB hit your target just to have that target look around and not see where it came from... In turn not calling their hits.

Personally I have fun playing this role and a buddy and I work well doing it together.

Also I find 1 kill with the sniper rifle feels just as good as 10 with an AEG

[Styrak]

6.1mm is worse than stock TM barrels so....

[sirtaco27]

Take my post with a grain of salt. While being a sniper may look awesome and pretty fun, it is not. +1 to Voodoo about people shrugging off their hits. At least when you're charging in guns blazing they can't just shrug it off. When it's just you and him they will shrug it off like no tomorrow. This is not all players but there will be enough to make you throw up your hands.
Now on the topic of BBs, depending on how powerful your gun is you will want to use anything from .30s to .36s or if your gun is so powerful that those don't work, .43s

Grain of salt because I'm not a sniper

[scurvythepirate]

Originally Posted by Styrak

6.1mm is worse than stock TM barrels so....

I think he meant 6.01mm

[ThunderCactus]

Well the whole reason we suggest you be a rifleman before a sniper is primarily to get used to the physics of airsoft.
Your a hunter, that's great, you've got the stalking down to a tee.
Now you have to get used to a whole new rifle, new distances, new compensations.
Since you have lots of experience shooting, there's no reason for you NOT to buy a sniper rifle. It's just a good idea to get an AEG to try it out, worst case; if you don't like airsoft, AEG's are easier to sell!

First off, your going to want a name brand sniper rifle. The tokyo marui VSR-10 is widely regarded as a really amazing platform. And the peak performance of your rifle is only as good as the base you build it from.
So just for starters, 380fps spring, hopup rubber, 6.03mm barrel. That will give you REALLY great range and accuracy right off the bat. At 380fps (on .20s) you should be using .28g BB's, as they will give you the best range and accuracy at that velocity.
Later, you can buy a PDI cylinder set (~$250) and upgrade to 440fps on .20s. Then you can use .30g BBs for optimum range and accuracy.
There's not much of a point going past 440, I've found above 440 your accuracy actually decreases unless you use the significantly more expensive .36g BBs

As for barrels, the bore means dick. a 6.01 will shoot just as accurately as a good 6.08, but you have to clean it way more often.
The big thing with barrels is the consistency of the bore, and that pretty well goes entirely by name brand. So laylax or PDI would be your best bet!
tighter bore = slightly higher velocity
I myself use a laylax 6.03, 430mm length. I get the same range and accuracy of a 6.01x650mm PDI barrel.

And as for differences in paintball, it really depends who you play with and where.... Everyone has a different style of game and different field
It's a different role on every field. In the summer at our main field I'll have a typical engagement distance of about 40 feet, the winter closer to 100
On our old field that we lost, I'd be engaging anywhere from 15 to 220 feet (people WILL get that close if they can't see hear or smell you!)

Overall I would say it's a more boring and challenging role than being a rifleman, but every kill you get is MUCH more satisfying!

[SniperSam]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

Your a hunter, that's great, you've got the stalking down to a tee.
Now you have to get used to a whole new rifle, new distances, new compensations.
Since you have lots of experience shooting, there's no reason for you NOT to buy a sniper rifle. It's just a good idea to get an AEG to try it out, worst case; if you don't like airsoft, AEG's are easier to sell!


Overall I would say it's a more boring and challenging role than being a rifleman, but every kill you get is MUCH more satisfying!

+1. Sums up my experience

[VooDooPeteK]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

Overall I would say it's a more boring and challenging role than being a rifleman, but every kill you get is MUCH more satisfying!

It can be depending on game type

this is something in the original OP that was not mentioned

at our local field we do a lot of small skirms to the snipers can tend to get more shots off, in a milsim or larger op you will do a lot of waiting around and will get bored easy.

All in all I think the role is what you make of it

At our last game I was in the dead box with some players and every time someone stood up from in the tower I would call it that they where about to be picked off...sure enough they where and that made me happy along with the one picking them off.

Same game day our team would loose cause a bunch of guys would not call the sniper hits


so take the role with a grain of salt and be prepared for a good feeling with each kill and a bad feeling with eat kill that doesn't get called

[AoiShikaku]

Thanks a lot for all the replies to the questions and all the other valuable information that you've provided me with. It has been really helpful for understanding what to watch out for and gave me a better understanding of what to look for in a rifle.

I've also played in several different areas where sniper roles differentiate depending on the location. Whether it's moving a few inches at a time to avoid detection as recon, to moving with squads and playing as counter sniper and disorientating the enemy. I usually sit back a game or two to break in to understand the attacker tactics and learn how my team works together to provide them with the adequate role as a sniper.

I've already spec'd out rifles from other threads and am going to be working with two different rifles. I currently own an L96, and am hoping to find someone selling a TM VSR-10 at a later date when I get age verified because upgrades are easily accessable.

Here is what I currently have for my sniper rifle:
Base: TSD/Well L96
Barrel: PDI 6.01 - 495mm tight bore barrel
Hop up: PDI hop up system
Cylinder/Cylinder Head/Piston/Spring Guide: PDI Cylinder Set VC
Springs: PDI 220 + 240 Springs
Trigger box: Laylax Zero Trigger
Bucking: Prometheus Hard Hopup Bucking Kit
Muzzle: TM power down muzzle (for certain fields with lower FPS caps)
and a bunch of other misc stuff.


The one thing that wasn't really mentioned in previous replies is what Brand specific BB's would you recommend. I know that some people may disagree with your choices, but that is your own personal preference and I was mainly asking this because I'd rather not have cheap BB's that may potentially jam or worse, damage an internal component.

I'm pretty aware of people not calling shots in paintball and as annoying as it is just means all the more shots I will get him with until he does call the shot. I've had people get pretty pissed off trying to start an altercation with me because I was able to flank his squad and take them out with ease and the only reason why they didn't call the shoot was because they thought it was friendly fire. Pretty annoying at times especially with the younger kids which is why I'd like to step it up a notch and stay in 18+ airsoft games (or at least parental supervision).


here is a little goodie for all of you since I got some really good information from you guys. My side arm project (nearly completed). I'll post more details and how I did it on an upgrade/mod thread when It is 100%.

[CDN_Stalker]

And........ when you can get credit for hits at an airsoft game while you are elsewhere on the field, or even in your basement that day, then you KNOW you have the right stuff to become a semi-decent airsoft sniper.

[sirtaco27]

No Stalker that's just you. With your nonchalant throwing of BBs that magically hit every airsofter everywhere at the same time.

[CDN_Stalker]

Originally Posted by sirtaco27

No Stalker that's just you. With your nonchalant throwing of BBs that magically hit every airsofter everywhere at the same time.

Well, to be honest, most of those hits occur when players step on them later................... hmmm, ineffective landmines, must rethink this throwing of BBs thing.

[L473ncy]

I hope you realize how much that sniper project is going to cost you. As for BB's you can't go wrong with BBBastard BB's and you're in Toronto so yeah....

Your pistol looks pretty sexy too, (although I don't really like the grips, but to each his own) although I think that hand painted "logo" on the slide kind of makes it seem kind of cheap. If you seriously want a good logo on your slide look into getting printable "water transfer paper" (print off an inkjet, get the transfer wet and stick onto pistol like you would a sticker, I don't know about durability though since the only applications I've seen that used in, was in Warhammer models).

[sirtaco27]

Do you sell those landmines? And how do they work? Is it one BB that blows up into 5000?