Which sniper rifle is the best?

*I decided to copy my response to a previous thread so I could sticky it and share it with upcoming/current snipers.
This is an extremely popular question, and one that gets answered often, especially on this forum. If you take the time to look around the forum you'll find the answer to your question. But, let me go ahead and answer your question to the best of my ability anyway:

1st - A good FPS for a sniper rifle is anywhere between 450-600 FPS, depending on your environment and field rules. Do not be confused by guns online that offer an $80 gun that's firing 500 FPS. FPS means nothing if your gun is crap and fires inaccurately. Besides, they're typically chronoed with .12g - .20g BBs. You should be using .25g to .30g+ BBs during skirmishes.

2nd - Here are some good choices of airsoft sniper rifles, from cheapest to most expensive. Please do not ask "Which one is better?" It all depends on you, your environment, your gear, your spending allowance, etc. etc. Obviously a Maruzen L96 will be better built than an UTG L96. However, maybe you don't have the $$ to spend on the gun and the needed upgrades. It all depends on YOU. I will say this though, for someone looking to get into sniping on a budget - the JG Bar-10 is a great rifle. I, along with most members on this forum, will always recommend this gun first (and it's only $100):

JG Bar-10: 4.4/5 overall rating
This gun is amazing, especially for it's $100 price tag. It looks and feels great, and gives you great performance out of box. One of the famous attributes of this gun is it's ability to be easily upgraded. It can be made into a rifle firing 500 +/- with only a few "tweaks" to the internals which can be done 100% FREE (except maybe for a tightbore barrel) - in fact, we even have a guide w/pictures on how to do this yourself.

Link: http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=2761
Upgrade Guide: https://airsoftforum.darkbb.com/sniper-rifle-upgrades-modifications-f8/jg-bar-10-free-mods-tutorial-with-pics-t201.htm

UTG/WELL L96: 4.0/5 overall rating
This is a very popular gun among airsofters because it offers all the specs and looks they desire, but still comes with a fairly low price tag of around $120-$130. The WELL version even comes with a scope. This gun is very impressive for its price, and can take some serious abuse w/its durable ABS plastic body and metal scope rail, outer barrel, trigger, bolt, etc. It has somewhat of a heavy pull to the bolt, but it makes up for it with a 435 average FPS (.25g). Upgrades can get costly, but if you're on a budget and looking for a good looking gun that you don't plan on putting a lot of upgrades into, then this gun will suit your needs just fine.

Link: http://www.airsplat.com/Items/AR-UTG-AWP-368B.htm

Tokyo Marui VSR 10: 4.2/5 overall rating
Tokyo Marui is one of the most advanced airsoft manufacturers out there, and therefore one of the most well-known as well. They pretty much set the standard for all guns, every model available. The VSR 10 is a great rifle made by TM. It feels great, shoots great, pretty much gives you everything you'd expect from a Tokyo Marui replica... including low FPS. Firing at a stock FPS of around 285, we're not talking great specs here. However, throw in a few upgrades and you have yourself a top-of-the-line sniper rifle. And because the rifle is fairly cheap (around $185), you won't have to completely break the bank throwing upgrades into it. You'll still be able to use it un-upgraded, but I honestly wouldn't recommend going like that for long. Then again, I'd recommend getting the JG bar-10 (G Spec) for $85 less and throwing the extra $$ into that - but that's my opinion.

Link: http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74_81&products_id=3268

KJW M700: 4.1/5
The KJW M700 is a clone of the impressive Tanaka M700 sniper rifle. It's different than standard sniper rifles you're used to seeing because it runs on gas as opposed to bolt spring/batteries. Because it's gas-powered it requires little bolt-pull and comes standard with a high stock FPS (around 500-550). I've yet to fire this gun myself, but based on reviews I've read it's very impressive and highly-underrated. I hear it's fairly accurate, although it could use a tightbore barrel, and it can be adjusted to shoot between 375 FPS all the way to 610+ FPS depending on your manual adjustments and type of Gas you use. One negative aspect to take note of is its small mag capacity of only 10 rounds. Also, gas guns are known to not work that well in very cold conditions.

Link: http://www.airsplat.com/Items/GR-KJW-M700.htm

Tokyo Marui M24: 4.3/5
The TM M24 is another impressive rifle that seems to be much like the VSR 10. It has the low FPS, but everything else is above par for airsoft sniper rifles. It looks and feels great, and you'll think you're holding a real steel rifle. You'll still most likely need the upgrades in this gun to reach satisfactory range and speed.
Link: http://www.guncity.co.nz/xurl/PageID/9567/function/viewprd/prd_id/120529/xid/1/orgfn/tokyo-marui-m24-sniper-6mm-bb-soft-air-gun/content.html
Link: (CA Version) http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ProductDetail?prodID=9407

Maruzen Type 96: 4.6/5
I thought I'd go ahead and throw out one of my favorite, more expensive rifles - the Maruzen type 96. It has a great physical feel to it and will impress anyone and everyone who lays their eyes upon it It's well balanced and has strong enough internals to simply throw in a stronger spring for higher FPS (as PrecisionAirsoft states in the link below), which means you're ready to go for fairly cheap upgrades! It's of course going to cost a little more ($400), but it's well worth it if you have the money.

Link: http://www.precisionairsoft.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SSR040

Tanaka Type 96: 4.7/5
This gun looks much like other type 96 rifles, but unlike most it's powered by Gas as opposed to the standard spring models. This can be good or bad depending on your preferences. I personally wouldn't mind having the gas version. It allows for a higher FPS w/fewer modifications and has several other benefits. The spring versions have their benefits too though which is why I stated it depends on your preferences. This gun is heavy, as are most type 96s, but still offers the great balance that most Type 96s have as well.

Link: http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ProductDetail?prodID=23491

Hope that helps! There are obviously other manufacturers and models to choose from, these are just a few I chose to mention. Just try to stick to popular manufacturers and if you feel a specific model/make needs to be included in this guide please PM me.

READ THIS AS WELL:

A lot of airsofters start off wanting to get into sniping because they remember back to watching movies like Shooter and Sniper and see it as this exciting role where they're making amazing long-distanced shots on "high-level" targets (presidents, VIPs, etc.). This just simply isn't the case. Most often they will be in the action, but not nearly as much as an AEG carrier. A Sniper's main goal will typically be to give recon to its team, provide support when needed, and harass troops. Sure it can be an adrenaline rush and it's a lot of fun, but it also takes patience, a clear mind, maturity, and skill in many different areas. That's why I recommend to most newer players that you start off with an AEG. They're still a blast to play with, they give you a better idea of how airsoft works, and they still have incredible ranges.

For those who are still going to purchase an airsoft sniper rifle, please - by all means - spend at least $100 on a gun. And the only reason I keep it that low is because of the JG Bar-10. (It really is an incredible rifle) Other than that, don't go out and throw down $70-$120 on a mid to low grade gun that looks great in the pictures and supposedly shoots a whopping 500 FPS (with .12g bbs). It's a waste of your time and money. If you don't have the patience to wait to save enough money to buy a decent gun, then I'd say you don't have the patience enough to be a decent sniper.

Another thing, and now I'm just venting - don't get on forums or go to events and brag about how great of a sniper you are, about how amazing of shots you've made, or about how great your gun is. You will only be laughed at, looked down upon and labeled immature, and you won't give a good name to snipers. If you make a great shot then awesome - isn't your internal pride of knowing it good enough? You can brag about it to one or two of your friends who may be playing with you, but don't start sharing it with everyone you cross ways with. If you come off as being cocky and arrogant, you come off as being weak and easy to manipulate. This is not the way of the sniper.

So purchase a nice rifle, take care of the upgrades, keep your gun well maintained, and have fun!! Just remember every single person out there on the field has a specific and important role - no one is superior to another. So show respect to everyone equally.

Thank you.

Admin good topic lots of useful information to take into considiration when choosing a sniper rifle.....keep up the good work man

I have one question about the JG Bar-10, are you talking about the G-spec or the regular JG Bar-10

I have the Well L96 and I love it!

Deadeye the only difference between the two is the barrel length/supressor thats on the Gspec. Internally(excluding the barrel)their 100% the same.

sticks

UTG MK96. Love it. Occasional Stray Shots but it isn't a bother considering how fast I can throw the bolt.

I don't get the name change from L-96 to MK 96 .

Box name is MK96, probably because they didn't get the license to call it the L96 and as not to cause confusion with the real gun, but it is the exact same gun.

Admin wrote:

*I decided to copy my response to a previous thread so I could sticky it and share it with upcoming/current snipers.
This is an extremely popular question, and one that gets answered often, especially on this forum. If you take the time to look around the forum you'll find the answer to your question. But, let me go ahead and answer your question to the best of my ability anyway:

1st - A good FPS for a sniper rifle is anywhere between 450-600 FPS, depending on your environment and field rules. Do not be confused by guns online that offer an $80 gun that's firing 500 FPS. FPS means nothing if your gun is crap and fires inaccurately. Besides, they're typically chronoed with .12g - .20g BBs. You should be using .25g to .30g+ BBs during skirmishes.

2nd - Here are some good choices of airsoft sniper rifles, from cheapest to most expensive. Please do not ask "Which one is better?" It all depends on you, your environment, your gear, your spending allowance, etc. etc. Obviously a Maruzen L96 will be better built than an UTG L96. However, maybe you don't have the $$ to spend on the gun and the needed upgrades. It all depends on YOU. I will say this though, for someone looking to get into sniping on a budget - the JG Bar-10 is a great rifle. I, along with most members on this forum, will always recommend this gun first (and it's only $100):

JG Bar-10: 4.4/5 overall rating
This gun is amazing, especially for it's $100 price tag. It looks and feels great, and gives you great performance out of box. One of the famous attributes of this gun is it's ability to be easily upgraded. It can be made into a rifle firing 500 +/- with only a few "tweaks" to the internals which can be done 100% FREE (except maybe for a tightbore barrel) - in fact, we even have a guide w/pictures on how to do this yourself.

Link: http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_info.php?products_id=2761
Upgrade Guide: http://www.airsoftallies.com/sniper-rifle-upgrades-modifications-f8/jg-bar-10-free-mods-tutorial-with-pics-t201.htm

UTG/WELL L96: 4.0/5 overall rating
This is a very popular gun among airsofters because it offers all the specs and looks they desire, but still comes with a fairly low price tag of around $120-$130. The WELL version even comes with a scope. This gun is very impressive for its price, and can take some serious abuse w/its durable ABS plastic body and metal scope rail, outer barrel, trigger, bolt, etc. It has somewhat of a heavy pull to the bolt, but it makes up for it with a 435 average FPS (.25g). Upgrades can get costly, but if you're on a budget and looking for a good looking gun that you don't plan on putting a lot of upgrades into, then this gun will suit your needs just fine.

Link: http://www.airsplat.com/Items/AR-UTG-AWP-368B.htm

Tokyo Marui VSR 10: 4.2/5 overall rating
Tokyo Marui is one of the most advanced airsoft manufacturers out there, and therefore one of the most well-known as well. They pretty much set the standard for all guns, every model available. The VSR 10 is a great rifle made by TM. It feels great, shoots great, pretty much gives you everything you'd expect from a Tokyo Marui replica... including low FPS. Firing at a stock FPS of around 285, we're not talking great specs here. However, throw in a few upgrades and you have yourself a top-of-the-line sniper rifle. And because the rifle is fairly cheap (around $185), you won't have to completely break the bank throwing upgrades into it. You'll still be able to use it un-upgraded, but I honestly wouldn't recommend going like that for long. Then again, I'd recommend getting the JG bar-10 (G Spec) for $85 less and throwing the extra $$ into that - but that's my opinion.

Link: http://www.airsoftextreme.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74_81&products_id=3268

KJW M700: 4.1/5
The KJW M700 is a clone of the impressive Tanaka M700 sniper rifle. It's different than standard sniper rifles you're used to seeing because it runs on gas as opposed to bolt spring/batteries. Because it's gas-powered it requires little bolt-pull and comes standard with a high stock FPS (around 500-550). I've yet to fire this gun myself, but based on reviews I've read it's very impressive and highly-underrated. I hear it's fairly accurate, although it could use a tightbore barrel, and it can be adjusted to shoot between 375 FPS all the way to 610+ FPS depending on your manual adjustments and type of Gas you use. One negative aspect to take note of is its small mag capacity of only 10 rounds. Also, gas guns are known to not work that well in very cold conditions.

Link: http://www.airsplat.com/Items/GR-KJW-M700.htm

Tokyo Marui M24: 4.3/5
The TM M24 is another impressive rifle that seems to be much like the VSR 10. It has the low FPS, but everything else is above par for airsoft sniper rifles. It looks and feels great, and you'll think you're holding a real steel rifle. You'll still most likely need the upgrades in this gun to reach satisfactory range and speed.
Link: http://www.guncity.co.nz/xurl/PageID/9567/function/viewprd/prd_id/120529/xid/1/orgfn/tokyo-marui-m24-sniper-6mm-bb-soft-air-gun/content.html
Link: (CA Version) http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ProductDetail?prodID=9407

Maruzen Type 96: 4.6/5
I thought I'd go ahead and throw out one of my favorite, more expensive rifles - the Maruzen type 96. It has a great physical feel to it and will impress anyone and everyone who lays their eyes upon it It's well balanced and has strong enough internals to simply throw in a stronger spring for higher FPS (as PrecisionAirsoft states in the link below), which means you're ready to go for fairly cheap upgrades! It's of course going to cost a little more ($400), but it's well worth it if you have the money.

Link: http://www.precisionairsoft.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SSR040

Tanaka Type 96: 4.7/5
This gun looks much like other type 96 rifles, but unlike most it's powered by Gas as opposed to the standard spring models. This can be good or bad depending on your preferences. I personally wouldn't mind having the gas version. It allows for a higher FPS w/fewer modifications and has several other benefits. The spring versions have their benefits too though which is why I stated it depends on your preferences. This gun is heavy, as are most type 96s, but still offers the great balance that most Type 96s have as well.

Link: http://www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/ProductDetail?prodID=23491

Hope that helps! There are obviously other manufacturers and models to choose from, these are just a few I chose to mention. Just try to stick to popular manufacturers and if you feel a specific model/make needs to be included in this guide please PM me.

READ THIS AS WELL:

A lot of airsofters start off wanting to get into sniping because they remember back to watching movies like Shooter and Sniper and see it as this exciting role where they're making amazing long-distanced shots on "high-level" targets (presidents, VIPs, etc.). This just simply isn't the case. Most often they will be in the action, but not nearly as much as an AEG carrier. A Sniper's main goal will typically be to give recon to its team, provide support when needed, and harass troops. Sure it can be an adrenaline rush and it's a lot of fun, but it also takes patience, a clear mind, maturity, and skill in many different areas. That's why I recommend to most newer players that you start off with an AEG. They're still a blast to play with, they give you a better idea of how airsoft works, and they still have incredible ranges.

For those who are still going to purchase an airsoft sniper rifle, please - by all means - spend at least $100 on a gun. And the only reason I keep it that low is because of the JG Bar-10. (It really is an incredible rifle) Other than that, don't go out and throw down $70-$120 on a mid to low grade gun that looks great in the pictures and supposedly shoots a whopping 500 FPS (with .12g bbs). It's a waste of your time and money. If you don't have the patience to wait to save enough money to buy a decent gun, then I'd say you don't have the patience enough to be a decent sniper.

Another thing, and now I'm just venting - don't get on forums or go to events and brag about how great of a sniper you are, about how amazing of shots you've made, or about how great your gun is. You will only be laughed at, looked down upon and labeled immature, and you won't give a good name to snipers. If you make a great shot then awesome - isn't your internal pride of knowing it good enough? You can brag about it to one or two of your friends who may be playing with you, but don't start sharing it with everyone you cross ways with. If you come off as being cocky and arrogant, you come off as being weak and easy to manipulate. This is not the way of the sniper.

So purchase a nice rifle, take care of the upgrades, keep your gun well maintained, and have fun!! Just remember every single person out there on the field has a specific and important role - no one is superior to another. So show respect to everyone equally.

Thank you.

Good advice. thx!

is the UTG m324 (master sniper) any good cuz thats the sniper I use and im a descent sniper but often bbs go stray wen i have a dead lock on sum1 and its frusterating, it often takes 3-5 shots until it goes straight down the pipe...

i have a well l96 and also love it...

im on evike.com and the 100 dollar Bar 10 has a sight on it can i take the sight off? so i can put my silencer on it

you should not have to take off the sight to add a silencer. Also, with scope mounts, they are some times riser style, common with snipers, and that sight could be a good back up.

Admin great info. I think your right on the KJW M700 it seems to be underrated by many. Many compare the rifle to the Tanaka M700, of which the KJW is a clone of, and expect to have the same performance. The KJW is about half the price of the Tanaka, and for what you pay ($200 mark) you get a powerful rifle, accurate to roughly 150-175 feet for head shots, but ultamitly is a rifle that needs a tightbore barrel to really shine. Ive just purchased a KJW myself and will let you all know how it functions, down to every detail.

Go with the L96, I don't like the look of the BAR 10

Its not about looks, Its about function, but they unique thing about airsoft, is it is custom to that players style unlike in the military, everyone is the same, Almost.

The Maruzen L96 is pretty impressive even without the gas converion to 500+FPS.

i upgraded my spring Maruzen type 96 and it has 550 fps with no problem. Im using .34 bbs and still gets to the person b4 they move

Wait shouldnt this question be in the Which gun or whatever section? It seems out of place in the general sniper discussions.

Personally I think I would have to pick one of the following... not sure how they shoot, but they look freakin awesome, and if you can afford it, I think you could afford to make it shoot good.

http://www.airsoftpost.com/preorder-5102009-ares-cheytec-intervention-m200-sniper-rifle-black-p-30240.html

http://www.airsoftpost.com/m82a1-midterm-type-airsoft-version-p-27628.html

http://www.airsoftpost.com/ares-full-size-airsoft-sniper-rifle-p-30407.html

As far as skirmishes are concerned... this is probably what I would buy:
[img][/img]

Ok, that is mine... In retrospect, I could have probably paid for half of one of those awesome rifles though with all the money that went into mine.

i like the kjw m700 out of all of them. Want to get it but don't have the money at the moment.

L96 is the way to go. thanks for all the good info.

i agree with murder i don't think there is any thing better then a m700

Great post! Very Helpful.

verry