Airsoft FAQs: What is Hop Up?

Author: Mike Zhang

Most serious airsoft players understand hop up and have formed their opinions as to its usefulness, but not all players have quite grasped the concept. Today’s installment of our new "Airsoft FAQs" series focuses on just that topic – what is hop up?

A hop up system in an airsoft gun is designed to increase the traveled distance and vertical accuracy of a pellet fired from an airsoft gun by adjusting its trajectory. Many airsoft players enjoy the ability to hit a target from longer distances than would be possible without a hop up system.

Put simply, a hop up system places backspin on a BB as it travels down the barrel to adjust the path it will follow when it exits the barrel. A small protrusion in the top of the barrel touches the BB as it passes, creating a controlled backspin. Backspin gives the BB lift, allowing it to counteract the effects of gravity for a longer period of time. This allows the BB to move along a more level path, increasing the distance it can travel. Generally speaking, vertical but not horizontal accuracy should be improved with the use of accurately adjusted hop up. Of course, in reality, many factors come into play with regard to accuracy, including the wind and the skill of the player.

Adjustable hop up allows the user to control the amount of backspin that is placed on a BB, but it is important to note that only those experienced with hop up should attempt to work with it. Usually hop up is adjusted by turning a wheel, which moves the protruding nub up or down to put more or less backspin on the BB. Hop up is an incremental adjustment, and adjusting it all the way to one side or the other can cause jamming and inadvertent damage to the gun’s internals. This is because the protruded piece can alter the shape of the BBs exit path too much. If you are not experienced working with this type of system, you may not want to take the risk by experimenting with your guns.

About the Author:

Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, the #1 fastest growing Airsoft retailer in the nation. Airsoft Megastore offers the latest airsoft guns and gear as well as a 125% low price guarantee on all new Airsoft guns and gear.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Airsoft FAQs: What is Hop Up?

Will just any BBs work in my Airsoft Guns?

Author: Mike Zhang

You may have noticed that some discount retailers and big box sporting goods stores sell BBs, and perhaps wondered if purchasing them for your airsoft guns would be a good bargain. More than likely, the BBs you find in retailers that are not airsoft stores do not meet the recommended specifications for use in airsoft guns. High powered airsoft guns can be permanently damaged and their warranties voided if used with incorrect or low quality BBs.

The quality of BBs used in an airsoft gun actually makes a big difference in performance. Seamless, precision high-grade BBs are recommended for optimal performance and to prevent damage to the gun. Often BBs labeled ‘seamless’ at big box retailers are not manufactured to the same strict specifications as are those offered by airsoft providers, and do not meet the recommended standard for use in most airsoft guns. Low quality BBs used in an airsoft gun can shatter, causing the gun to jam and potentially damaging internal components irreparably. If you use the wrong BBs and your gun is damaged, the warranty will be voided and you will be left with a broken gun.

The quality BBs that are recommended for airsoft guns will allow for better performance and protect the gun from unnecessary damage. Precision high-grade seamless BBS are manufactured to strict standards regarding density and spherical consistency and have higher quality craftsmanship, resulting in better performance and higher feet per second (FPS) than their cheaper counterparts.

The importance of using quality BBs is a lesson that too many new airsoft players learn the hard way. Remember that it is also important to use the correct BB size and weight recommended for each of your guns.

About the Author:

Mike Zhang is the VP of Operations of Airsoft Megastore, the #1 fastest growing Airsoft retailer in the nation. Airsoft Megastore offers the latest airsoft guns and gear as well as a 125% low price guarantee on all new Airsoft guns and gear.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Will just any BBs work in my Airsoft Guns?

Youngest Maxximus Airsoft Team Member

This kid was the youngest member of our airsoft team (Maxximus Airsoft Team), he was the son of my friend, his name was Jericho del Prado.
Don't be fooled by the looks of this kid, he may be look so innocent, but when you see him in airsoft action I am you sure you will be amazed with this kid. He never feared to to attack the enemies, and he shoots very well, he was very aggressive every game and if I am not mistaken in every he used to hit at least 2 to 3 enemies, not bad for a kid like him, compared to me, there are times that I don't anything but the walls.

My First Game

This was my very first picture holding an Airsoft gun, it is a gun of my friend, is is KWA M4-A1. In this picture, I think I was really like one of the terrorist, cause I was just wearing a jeans and my jersey. Cause normally airsoft players wear BDU (battle dress uniform) during games.
And this was also my very first airsoft game, this was at Sonic Boom. I think I never hit any one during this first game, cause I don't know yet the strategy and I am too nervous to be hit by BB's coming from our enemies gun. So what I did is just hide and hide, all throughout the game.
But after that day, me, my wife and my friend proceeded to an airsoft shop and buy my very first airsoft gun, it is an A&K M4 CQB.

A&K Dragunov Review

A review by Sir Blaze of FilAirsoft.Com

The Rifle is inside a long, plain, cardboard box without any markings, pulling the foam inserts from the box, It revealed the gun with a cheekpad already installed, a high-cap magazine, a adjusting tool and a bag of BB's.

The A&K Dragunov is a confirmed clone of the KA/AtoZ Dragunov. Performance was amazing, it clocked at 460~480 FPS and range was just ridiculously far, the BB just kept on going straight!

Everything on this gun is Metal, except for the Handguard and stock, the only part that attracts magnets is the trigger guard, I wouldn't say pot metal, the quality of the finish is good.





I quickly opened up the gun, everything is bone dry. It seems that A&K did not bother to lube the rifle. Disassembly is very easy, all you need is a set of jewelers, a 1.5 and 3mm Allen and a small, rubber mallet. the whole rifle is held together with grub screws and pins, which is a simple, yet solid design.
I was horrified to see large chunks of Metal(maybe from the fabrication of parts) inside the cylinder. The piston is ported and very light, and is ported. The piston and hop assembly is made from Blue anodized metal. The trigger assembly is quite tricky to remove and to later install back to the gun. After some tinkering and a tube of lube later, I tested it out again. It does not like to use BB's lighter than .25's .





You adjust the hop-up by cocking the both back and adjusting it by tightening or loosening a grub screw. I also found out that it uses a V-hop up design.



My thoughts about the gun:

After, 5 shots, the hand began to hurt, later i had bruises in my hand.
A good pair of gloves is important with this rifle.

It has a long and heavy trigger pull.

a good repro scope costs more than the gun!

Accuracy and range is just awesome!

I don't think the sear will last very long.

It is quite light.

cool blue piston!

cool blue hop-up!

Taking the gun down is easier than adjusting the Hop-up

Adjusting the hop is a two person job(one holds back the bolt while the other one adjusts the grub screw)

Hi-cap magazine should be able to hold at least a hundred rounds.

The whole barrel assembly, including the front sight and flashhider is one piece.

Oh yeah, there is no aftermarket support for this gun.

Did I mention the Accuracy and range is awesome?