Airsoft Physics - the science behind the sport
71
How does an Airsoft Gun work?
If you've ever shot or used an electric airsoft gun then you know they are pretty amazing. These detailed Milsim (Military Simulation) firearms are capable of shooting airsoft ammo accurately 100 meters or more. But exactly how do they work and what is the science behind the operation of Airsoft Electric Guns? Airsoft Guns come in Electric, Gas, and spring powered versions. For the purposes of this article we are limiting our discussion to Electric Airsoft Guns. Although some of the concepts here apply to all types of airsoft guns.
Airsoft Internals
Airsoft Electric Guns (AEG) use NiCad or NiMh Rechargeable batteries to power an electric motor, which turns a gear box that compresses a spring. At the end of the cycle the spring tension is released and the piston head drives forward, propelling a plastic airsoft BB through the hop-up chamber and out of the barrel. Using this common technology, electric airsoft guns can achieve muzzle speeds between 150 and 500 FPS (Feet Per Second). Electric airsoft guns typically operate in semi-automatic and fully-automatic modes. Full-auto airsoft guns can fire at a cyclic rate of 150 to 2000 RPM, depending on the model. Gear boxes are typically made of plastic or metal. Better durability and faster rates of fire are achieved with metal gearboxes. Manufacturers have also reinforced their gearboxes to give them greater durability.
HOP-UP Explained
One drawback to airsoft guns is the use of smooth barrels. In a real firearm, the barrel is rifled or grooved to put spin on the bullet. This spin helps maintain a stable trajectory; like the spin on a football. Airsoft Gun barrels do not create the stabilizing spin of their real steel counterparts and the BBs move at slower rates of speed. Because of this, the airsoft BB has a natural tendency to arc downwards due to equal air pressure on the top and bottom of the BB. Those equal air pressure forces cancel each other out and the BB quickly falls to earth due to gravity. Hop up counteracts the force of gravity. Basically, the hop up chamber has a rubber wheel that grips the top of the airsoft BB as it passes through, imparting back spin on the BB. Similar to an airplane wing, the spinning BB now has different levels of air pressure on the top and bottom. The result is the principal of lift. The airsoft BB stays aloft until the spin energy dissipates, the BB looses lift, and gravity pulls the airsoft round to earth.
Airsoft Accuracy vs. Distance
All of the above factors impart how much distance and how accurate your airsoft gun is going to be. Spring tension, and motor torque impart energy on the BB that will move it at a certain speed, and Hop-up ensures the BB has enough loft to carry it longer distances. The whole time your BB is working against Gravity (downward pull) and air resistance (forward resistance). 6mm Airsoft BBs come in weights of .12g, .20g, .23g, .25g, .28g, .30g, and heavier. Heavier BBs are able to better counteract wind resistance, and increase accuracy at further distances. However, because more energy is required to propel the heavier airsoft ammo forward, you loose muzzle velocity, and your range will be diminished. It's a trade-up best determined by testing various BB weights in your gun. With trying out different weights, you can determine which BB weight gives you the best combination of distance and accuracy for that particular gun.
Article By OnTarget Airsoft
- Discount Online Airsoft store
All your Electric Airsoft Gun needs. Airsoft Guns, Airsoft Ammo, and More!
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (10)
- Funny (3)
- Awesome (8)
- Beautiful (2)
- Interesting (1)
Comments, Questions, concerns? Let us know!Loading...
Good info on airsoft physics!
Great info. No other one component on your gun has more affect on the BB than the hopup. The bucking is the really impotant part. If the fin inside the bucking is crooked. The BB will not have even pressure and be very unstable leading to stray shots. Inside the bucking there is a crosswise fin that protrudes through the opening cut into the barrel. There is also a tongue and groove that helps you align the bucking on to the barrel. There are companies that are using actual grooves in the barrel same as the real steel, but I think that the barrel would need to be such an inside diameter that you would lose too much air pressure. Most guns now are being fitted with 50 degree or 60 degree silicone buckings. they are soft and pliable unlike the older ones. the new ones allow for very even pressure and greatly increase accuracy.
i will love to know if the piston in the chamber hits the bb or is it just the are pushing it out please wright back anwser
Thanks! This article helped me very much. I am about to order an airsoft gun, so I watched some review videos about the specific model I am getting. The people mentioned "Hop-Ups" but I didnt know what they were. So now I know what they are! Thank you!
Cory,
We hope you consider www.OnTargetAirsoft.com for your airsoft purchase. If you sign up for a user account on our site, we will email you a 5% off coupon for your purchase (check your SPAM Box if you do not get it).
Glad we could clarify hop up for you!
thanks big help with science project!
is there an acceleration for airsoft? or just velocity
in answer to joseph ross:
the piston itself simply forces air down the cylinder and through the nozzle, it is only this air which propels the bb.
Toby
cool
Great info. Know how it works now.
Smething Iv'e been wondering about. When I'd fire down the hall, after picking them up I'd notice a dot of black on them. Reading about the bucking I was wondering is this what those black marks are>
thanks this helped me on my science project
To answer your question yes it is. Think about the roads in which we drive on. Do you notice that the center of the lane is lighter colored than the outsides. This is particularly easier to notice on concrete roads and yet easier on turns. This is caused by the tire rubbing off onto the road after time it builds up. Now let's apply this in terms of Airsoft. The passing of the bb by the bucking is the equivalent of slamming on your brakes with no anti-lock braking system. The tires will lock up unable to go anywhere and will leave a skid mark on the pavement. Every time you fire your Airsoft rifle there will be a sight dark mark on your bb. It is just natural wear and tear. But like tires even buckings need to be replaced eventually. The particles of the rubber inside a bucking cannot be displaced perfectly even. And there for causing the bucking to wear down in quicker in some ares than in others eventually leading to innconsistancies in your shots. I cannot tell you how often you need to replace you bucking due to the wearing process of the bucking is affected by many factors and principles. I go by knowing my guns and when they are acting to there potential and when their not. I also perform regular mantanence on them in which I check for diminishing parts and performance.
As a comment to the question if the cylinder is hitting the bb or not, it would not even have time to hit the bb because the air would have puched the bb out the barrel by the time the cylinder stops
NO at airsoft are good man!!!
pffffffff all airsoft are good you retard spring are bedder for live quality do :()
Are there ant automatic airsoft guns that dont use batteries?
this helped alot on my science project
It cool man
It cool man
Physics is ant a game of air soft it about desiring of the wind and math ??
Brian 3 years ago
This page was a big help, thanks.