SpudFiles

Is it true that airsoft sniper rifles are more accurate at long range than a paintball sniper rifle? Ive don't a bit of research and it seems that good paintball guns have a max effective range of about 100 feet, while airsoft snipers are effective at around 150 feet.

i belive so because an airsoft round has left surface area ands therefore less drag than a paintball.

Also, long range airsoft guns routinely exceed 500 fps, whereas paintball are usually limited to 300 or less. The effective range of an airsoft or paintball sniper depends almost entirely on his/her skill.

DYI wrote:Also, long range airsoft guns routinely exceed 500 fps, whereas paintball are usually limited to 300 or less. The effective range of an airsoft or paintball sniper depends almost entirely on his/her skill.

well paintballs are heavier so have more momentum but airsoft snipers do have hop-up, although a paintball gun with a flatline of apex barrel has much longer range.

Come to think of it, is there a velocity limit for airsoft? Or a muzzle energy limit?

Paintballs weigh 4-5 grams, and a decent airsoft round weighs about .3 grams. However, it has far less surface area on the nose, and is fired at higher velocity out of a long range airsoft gun.

Cranked up to the same velocity that long range airsoft guns achieve, I think that the paintball equivalent would outperform due to the ~17x higher kinetic energy.

And calling a gun a sniper is like calling a car a racer, or a plane a fighter pilot.

well the limit is set pretty low for snipers... i think its usually around 400fps which is under 2.5ft/lbs with a heavy .43g sniper bb.

There are several things that come into play. I have had a airsoft sniper (UTG M324, effective at 200 ft, $100 @ shortyusa.com), but I only have used a crappy rental paintball gun (unupgraded tipman 98 ).

First, the wind. Paintballs are less susceptable to wind because of their weight, whereas the standerd .25g airsoft bb can veer off course at 200 ft or less. Also, the energy behind the shot keeps the momentum, going straiter. Painballs pack a 10 joule punch @ 300 fps, whereas a .3 airsoft sniper bb has less than 2 joules @ 450 fps.

Second, spin. MOST airsoft guns have hop-ups, which counter wind, drag, and gravity. Upgrade hup-ups and rifled barrels are also used (only one may be used at a time), and they increase range and accuracy, respectivly. However, paintballs have a liquid inside (duh) that spins at a different rate then the capsule. This can negativly affect preformance.

So, I would say that airsoft bbs are more accurate than paintballs when it is not windy, and paintballs are more accurate when it is.

I have played airsoft for a year, and have only played paintball once, but I still think paintball is a heck of a lot more fun! In fact, because paintball "sniper" guns are expensive, and basicly just a mish-mash of upgrades, I am making my own!

If you want to make one, click my sig. If you want to make an airsoft sniper, it is the same idea, but scaled down. Or, you could buy one. ...but whats the fun in that?

Thanks (message too short) umm thanks again