Guide To AEG Springs

This guide to Airsoft AEG springs will talk about what the different types of AEG springs there are and what they are used for. Watch The Video.

A Little Terminology
Free Length: an airsoft spring is considered to be at free length when it is not compressed. Length Before Set (Compressed Length): This is the length of the spring when it is fully compressed.

What Does The "M" Stand For?
Since most airsoft springs are made in Asia, they are rated in Meters Per Second rather than Feet Per Second (FPS). M stands for Meters Per Second. For example, an M100 spring is rated at 100 meters per second. How fast your gun actually shoots will depend on the manufacturer of the spring and what weight your BBs are.

Harder Vs. Softer Airsoft Springs
A general rule of thumb is: if you install a harder spring, your FPS will increase and your ROF decrease, but if you install a softer spring, your FPS will decrease and your ROF will increase. However, you can overcome some of the disadvantages of installing a softer or harder spring. For instance, if you install a harder spring, your ROF will decrease, but you can overcome this by installing a higher voltage battery to increase ROF.

What Is A Variable Pitch Spring?
To the left is a picture of a variable pitch spring and to the right is a picture of a normal (linear) AEG spring. As you can see, the length between coils on the variable pitch spring are not all the same, where as they are on the linear spring.

If you were to break a tooth on your piston, you would most likely break the first tooth. A variable pitch spring makes it easier for the gears to pull back at first when you are most likely to damage your piston. The resistance of a variable pitch spring then increases. Variable pitch springs also take longer to break in to where they shoot at a consistent FPS.

Brand New Airsoft Springs
When springs are first installed, they need to be broken in. The softer the spring, the more drastic the change in FPS will be after it is broken in. Once your AEG spring is broken in, it should shoot an a more consistent FPS.

Installing An AEG Spring When your spring is installed and at free length, there shouldn't be a gap at either side. If there is space, you may need to use spacers.

Video