Post by 2nd Bat on Oct 2, 2010 15:17:01 GMT -5
For most this will just reinforce what you already know. For new players and even seasons players there may a thing or two that is worth being aware of.
The most significant piece of advice for care and maintenance of airsoft weapons regardless if they're gas, AEGs or quality springers is to use good quality BBs. Never use 12 gram or cheap retail store BBs in any AEG quality springer powered rifle or gas gun. You can visually see the quality upon close inspection as the cheap BBs will have tiny ridges or small nubs. These imperfections will cause inaccurate shots and contribute to jamming. They also tend to break easily in the barrel and wear out your hop ups more quickly. Use the best BBs you can afford and your satisfaction level with your airsoft guns will go up. Quality Bbs include: Airsoft Elite, Inertia, GoldenBall, ProSlick, P-Force Precision, TSD Tactical precision. Stay away from Walmart, Sports Authority. etc. Never reuse BBs or pick up BBs that have dropped in the dirt or on the floor.
If you encounter a jam while firing DO NOT continue firing. Use your unjamming rod and clear your barrel to avoid damaging your gun. Take care not to run the rod into the hop up system. Clean your barrel from time to time using the rod and a tiny patch of cloth along with a very light touch of pure silicon oil.
Do not use WD 40 or other solvents that contain abrasives as these will ruin your guns seals over time.
Fully charge your batteries before an event and if you don't use a quality trickle charger be careful to charge your batteries properly. Ignore the recommended charge time as they are almost always incorrect. Instead use this formula: Divide the Mah rating of the battery by the Mah of the charger. (It's typically on the chargers sticker) For example: an 8.4 volt battery with a Mah rating of 1200 Mah would usually come with a 250 Mah rated charger. Hence 1200 divided by 250 = 4.8 hours
In the long run you will find the typical battery that comes with the AEG is very poor quality and should be replaced with a good battery. A great investment for airsofters is a good trickle charger as your battery life and consistency of performance will go up considerably.
Never continue to fire your AEG if you notice the rate of fire starting to drop. This indicates a low battery and running your weapon on a low battery will frequently cause jams, gear lock up issues and internal damge to your AEG.
Refrain from taping your trigger, instead squeaze fully. Be aware that firing semi is harder on your gun that short bursts of full auto. Rediculously long bursts of full auto are also quite hard on your gun.
After firing full auto and before putting away your gun take a couple shots on semi to insure your spring tension is released. (Piston is fully forward) Storing a gun with the spring locked back will weaken the spring over time and reduce your FPS and guns durability.
For the same reason never store magazines when they are full. Empty the Bbs out and occassionally squirt some pure silicon oil in the magazine to lube the spring.
Refrain from storing the battery in the gun and if the gun has gotten wet while in use dry it thoroughly before storing it.
If you oil your gun or clean your barrel allow it to dry out before using as your initial shots will be soaked in oil and be very inaccurate.
Set you hop up specific to the weight of BBs used.
Obviously refrain from stcking the muzzle in the dirt and try to keep your airsoft weapon out of the mud and if possible avoid sandy soil.
Keeping the muzzle cap on when not being used in addition to being a great safety habit also tends to keep your barrel free of dust and grit.
Remember to pull it off before firing!!!!
The most significant piece of advice for care and maintenance of airsoft weapons regardless if they're gas, AEGs or quality springers is to use good quality BBs. Never use 12 gram or cheap retail store BBs in any AEG quality springer powered rifle or gas gun. You can visually see the quality upon close inspection as the cheap BBs will have tiny ridges or small nubs. These imperfections will cause inaccurate shots and contribute to jamming. They also tend to break easily in the barrel and wear out your hop ups more quickly. Use the best BBs you can afford and your satisfaction level with your airsoft guns will go up. Quality Bbs include: Airsoft Elite, Inertia, GoldenBall, ProSlick, P-Force Precision, TSD Tactical precision. Stay away from Walmart, Sports Authority. etc. Never reuse BBs or pick up BBs that have dropped in the dirt or on the floor.
If you encounter a jam while firing DO NOT continue firing. Use your unjamming rod and clear your barrel to avoid damaging your gun. Take care not to run the rod into the hop up system. Clean your barrel from time to time using the rod and a tiny patch of cloth along with a very light touch of pure silicon oil.
Do not use WD 40 or other solvents that contain abrasives as these will ruin your guns seals over time.
Fully charge your batteries before an event and if you don't use a quality trickle charger be careful to charge your batteries properly. Ignore the recommended charge time as they are almost always incorrect. Instead use this formula: Divide the Mah rating of the battery by the Mah of the charger. (It's typically on the chargers sticker) For example: an 8.4 volt battery with a Mah rating of 1200 Mah would usually come with a 250 Mah rated charger. Hence 1200 divided by 250 = 4.8 hours
In the long run you will find the typical battery that comes with the AEG is very poor quality and should be replaced with a good battery. A great investment for airsofters is a good trickle charger as your battery life and consistency of performance will go up considerably.
Never continue to fire your AEG if you notice the rate of fire starting to drop. This indicates a low battery and running your weapon on a low battery will frequently cause jams, gear lock up issues and internal damge to your AEG.
Refrain from taping your trigger, instead squeaze fully. Be aware that firing semi is harder on your gun that short bursts of full auto. Rediculously long bursts of full auto are also quite hard on your gun.
After firing full auto and before putting away your gun take a couple shots on semi to insure your spring tension is released. (Piston is fully forward) Storing a gun with the spring locked back will weaken the spring over time and reduce your FPS and guns durability.
For the same reason never store magazines when they are full. Empty the Bbs out and occassionally squirt some pure silicon oil in the magazine to lube the spring.
Refrain from storing the battery in the gun and if the gun has gotten wet while in use dry it thoroughly before storing it.
If you oil your gun or clean your barrel allow it to dry out before using as your initial shots will be soaked in oil and be very inaccurate.
Set you hop up specific to the weight of BBs used.
Obviously refrain from stcking the muzzle in the dirt and try to keep your airsoft weapon out of the mud and if possible avoid sandy soil.
Keeping the muzzle cap on when not being used in addition to being a great safety habit also tends to keep your barrel free of dust and grit.
Remember to pull it off before firing!!!!