hrrmmm....
Looking back, i didn't ever say that FPS doesn't do anything for range, but I didn't specify it either...
My point was, FPS is a "focus" that most folks have, and it doesn't mean as much as one would automatically "assume". It does mean SOMETHING ( hence my point of airseal ) , but in a base form, it doesn't mean Everything.
To answer above... no, a FPS measurement has nothing to do with velocity. ( Unless we are using different definitions of velocity, of such I could be mistaken on what you meant. )
FPS = Feet Per Second.
Out of a Chrono... the thing is, it either passes through a series of lights, or through a "radar" like sound point, that determines how fast an object is moving. It's kinda the same principle of a baseball pitcher, throwing a pitch, and having it measured in Miles Per Hour ( MPH) .
FPS is a unit of measurement of speed.
Above I referred to "joules" ... because I mentioned TMs and Japan's standards for airsoft gun operations.
Joules, measures velocity and speed, and I'm not sure what else... Like I said, we don't have to worry about an external highly enforced governmental law regarding out hobby guns here, so it's kinda pointless to worry about the exact scientific formula for "joules".
TMs were made with as much FPS as Japan's laws allowed, and they had to get GOOD at getting some kind of real distance out of a light plastic BB, given their limitations. The result was... a low-end FPS ( compared to the US based FPS ranges ), with decent to most excellent performance out of those AEGs.
In it's "base" conception, it was a remarkable Idea, one that after a while of doing the "quest for better FPS" myself, reverted back to TRYING to shave FPS down , yet not reduce effective range or performance.
Thats because... i wanted MOST of my AEGS to hit the 300 - 380 FPS range for field OPs anyways.
Since I don't care much for ROF ( standard ROF is fine for me) , but definitely wanted my primaries to Chrono good at events, and have better trigger response, while not reducing my effective range so I'd be disadvantaged so much it cripples ya in play... Which is why I choose to lighten my springs, and go with a much more productive Airseal and Hop-up ( bucking) route.
I'm gaining just as much FPS out of a m100 spring, with the airseal and improved buckings, that are comparable with those that use a standard m120 spring.
I found m120 springs, with the airseal and new buckings... put the FPS rating over most field limits for primaries. Since it's DUMB to have an MP5 set at DMR ratings, I choose a "less is more" route.
Unlike Metal, I've not seen much of change in performance by polishing the barrels I have, it doesn't seem to me, to do any better than just having a "clean" barrel to begin with... but as he says, thats Apples and Oranges, he uses different set ups and barrels than I do. I do see the "merits" of it theoretically though...
In Theory, a polished BB already 'slick" ( good BBs only apply here please ) , being spun back ( for hop up ) should "offer" less Surface resistance as it "spins" , ( less surface area touching the barrel tube) , and having the barrel tube "slick" means less resistance where it does touch the tube as it flies down it.
For the most part... keep in mind what you are TRYING to achieve.
A plastic BB ... no matter what, is only going to "fly" so far , before it looses it's inertia and falls due to gravity and air resistance.
But, since I play primarily in field/outdoors, and recently in a lot of MOUT situations... I've went with the "less is more" types of options. I simply don't "need" 400+ FPS , to accomplish my desired results.
Again... it fits me, my situation, and what I want to do with my AEGs.
If I was to build another DMR, or if I wanted to lugg around a support weapon, I might take other approaches for different results.
To switch this over into airsoft terms for you guys, the 7mm mag would be like having a field gun that shot 400fps and shooting .20g BB's in it. You're simply not gonna get very good results out of that due to that .20g bb has a point of diminished return in performance. The 7mm Mauser would be more like a field gun shooting somewhere in the ballpark of 330-350fps with .20g bb's. In that range the .20g is much more stable and can be used much more effectively. Now if the 400fps gun goes to shooting .25g bb's it will bring it's muzzle velocity down to about 370fps, BUT it will be doing so with a projectile with 25% more weight and in effect will travel farther, be more stable and accurate, and will be much less effected by outside factors like wind and foliage.
Which was what I meant by the "joules" reference , and the factor of BB weight in aegs in my first post, as well.
I'm even considering, getting an AK .. BLEH! ... but trying to get it field limit FPS ( under 400 fps) , yet still thwack out .28s ...
Why? Well, i need something for my insurgenty load-out, that is well... Insurgenty. AKs have a most incredible accuracy rate , one the best I've seen in AEGs... I hate the look, feel, and style of em... but, one cannot deny the end result of em at all. ( Not even me)
Why .28s you ask?
Simple... foliage and wind , play more a factor at 200' from your gun barrel, and I desire to keep as much kinetic energy in my BBs as possible. Since OK, and Kansas, and somewhat MO and AR have some degrees of wind almost all year around ... I'm just wanting to experiment.
The AK, best option for your money, and an already superb hop up and accurate gun... a great base to start with there.
Now mind you... I'm shooting for 380-400 FPS with a .20 , which probably translates into a 300 FPS max by using a .28 ( the AEG still has to pass a chrono with a .20. ) .. I could set the FPS rating at 380 FPS with a .28, but thats like what.. almost 500 FPS ( DMR or sniper only) rating with a .20?
What I am hoping for though, is not to have a BB traveling so slow, down range, that it could be outran by a turtle. Thats my key element right there... getting accurate distance, yet not sacrificing speed of long ranged shots.
It to me, doesn't do any good to be able to hit a quarter at 250 feet, if your target simply is able to constantly slide right out of it's way before it gets there.
