FPS safety

[Bleak angel]

So me and a few friends are buying some airsoft guns for playing at my cottage. I have plenty of safe play space in the bush. approx 30 acres.... not like ill use it all lol. I want to know what a safe fps will be for play, I ordered a King arms M4A1.. I believe it will be shooting at 430fps? Im used to playing paintball at 300fps... My one friend wants to buy and mod a sniper to shoot 650 fps and use heavy bbs... I dont know much about size and weight about bbs and what they do to the fps. what is a safe fps we should be shooting at?

[Warlock]

In CQB it is safe below 350 FPS with .20G BB and outdoor below 400 FPS with .20G BB or 360 fps with .25g BB

This is a general rule for most of airsoft fields.

[winterrises]

WOAH!! a moded sniper with 650fps, i wouldnt want to be the guy getting shot also isn't 700+fps considered a firearm if so isn't that cutting it close?

[Warlock]

He might prefer to use a pellet rifle ?! lol

[Bleak angel]

So I should tell him to shoot 400 fps or dont play?

[AngelusNex]

most fields are 400 fps with .2 gram bbs max. some allow up to 450. I don't think any allow snipers over 500. Those are the well established safety rules for most of canada.

A newb with a sniper shooting that hot is a hospital trip waiting to happen.

[ap27]

Remember, its the energy that matters when you get hit, not just the FPS.
400fps on 0.2g is 1.48 Joules.
650 fps on 0.2g is 3.9 Joules. Using a 0.43g bb to bring that down to 440fps is still 3.9 Joules.

I wouldn't be anywhere near your friend if he has a rifle shooting anything about 400fps with 0.2g.

And for the love of god, make sure you wear eye protection. NOT safety glasses from some workplace. Proper eye protection.

[Curo]

That sniper is too hot try around 430-500 fps sniper max and even then he has to have an MED I say at 500 FPS no shooting within atleast 60feet if not more.

[Cliffradical]

Just so you know; a BB gun, a Pellet gun, and an airsoft gun are not the same thing.
Using anything other than an Airsoft gun for airsoft is megadumb.

Also, an airsoft 'sniper rifle' made to shoot 650fps will destroy itself very quickly, and yes you will go to the hospital.

Also, playing at your cottage probably isn't legal, as many rural municipalities zoned for recreation/ residential have very strict laws about projectile weapons and airguns of any kind, from slingshots to Daisys.

Please turn 18 and/ or start thinking about this seriously.

[CDN_Stalker]

Guys, since you aren't playing at a real field with insurance and rules and such, why not sort out your own shooting distances and velocities the old fashioned way? In other words, shoot each other at certain distances with the types of guns and see which hurts too much for which range. Paintball is quite a bit different than airsoft, paintballs are heavier and carry weight better, but hit with a larger surface area and break. Airsoft BBs are smaller, go faster, don't hit with the same impact as a paintball, but can break the skin and imbed themselves if too close or too high of a velocity.

Literally, is like posting the question "How much pain can my friends and I endure?", we don't know, up to you guys to decide your own rules, just expect lots of welts, bleeders and bruises. You'll sort it out.

[Eeyore]

Originally Posted by CDN_Stalker

Guys, since you aren't playing at a real field with insurance and rules and such, why not sort out your own shooting distances and velocities the old fashioned way? In other words, shoot each other at certain distances with the types of guns and see which hurts too much for which range. Paintball is quite a bit different than airsoft, paintballs are heavier and carry weight better, but hit with a larger surface area and break. Airsoft BBs are smaller, go faster, don't hit with the same impact as a paintball, but can break the skin and imbed themselves if too close or too high of a velocity.

Literally, is like posting the question "How much pain can my friends and I endure?", we don't know, up to you guys to decide your own rules, just expect lots of welts, bleeders and bruises. You'll sort it out.

As fun as it might be to watch what Stalker proposes, if your friend uses a gun that shoots 650 fps he is an idiot. If you allow you friend to shoot at you with a 650 fps gun you are a bigger idiot!

/_________________

[CDN_Stalker]

Add booze and it becomes a sport! Lol

To the above, and what I said, rough out 150ft and see what a BB from his rifle feels like on your back, then move in. Then make im be the target of his own rifle. If he's not responsible enough to understand after being shot by it at a certain distance he shouldn't shoot anyone inside of that distance, you just tell him to go shoot at pop cans while the rest of you play.

[Bleak angel]

Thank you guys for the info, you have made it very clear to me that i need to tell my buddy to f off if he wants to shoot over 450fps with a .20g bb. my paintball goggles will be ok for playing right? or do I need to buy a new set of goggles specifically for airsoft?

[Curo]

Paintball goggle are fine, You shouldn't tell him to "F-off" though just tell him that 500+ FPS can be really dangerous and should be avoided. I'm not sure but 600 FPS may just break a paintball mask.

[R1ghty]

Originally Posted by Bleak angel

Thank you guys for the info, you have made it very clear to me that i need to tell my buddy to f off if he wants to shoot over 450fps with a .20g bb. my paintball goggles will be ok for playing right? or do I need to buy a new set of goggles specifically for airsoft?

That depends. While most fields we(as a community) play at require paintball goggles, not all paintball goggles are safe for airsoft.

The biggest things you should check when using/buying goggles are:

1) Are they certified?
2) Do they seal around your eyes?
3) Are the lenses in good condition?

Also note that BBs can zip past some face protectors(if the mask has large holes), be mindful of that.