fps limit?

[lorddemon]

Ok I hope I am posting this in the right area. I was reading the fps limit rules, and I'm a little confused. Please forgive the noob. I am wondering what the fps limts are now? I just bought a classic army m15a4, cqb barrle length version, off of a member on here. He said it shot right at 400 fps, and now I'm not to sure what the engagement limit is for me. If someone could post the new fps limts for this noob, this noob would greatly appreciate it.

[Gimpalong]

Below are the current rules as regards FPS and Minimum Engagement Distances (MED).

If your replica is chronoing at or above 340 FPS and at or below 400 FPS, you will have a 20 foot Minimum Engagement Distance, which means you must be at least 20 feet from an opposing player to shoot at them.

*See Knief's explanation below for the "10 FPS Buffer" info.

Article 15: The following are the minimum distance engagement limits for airsoft replicas. This is the closest a player can engage another player with a replica rated in the following feet per second (fps) categories using full-auto, semi-auto, or single shot capability. See Article 16 for extremely close quarter player elimination.

As of April 24, 2009, these rules include a 10fps "tolerance zone". Players will be allowed onto the field if their weapons shoot up to 10.0 fps over the published limit.

OUTDOOR/OPEN FIELD ENGAGEMENT LIMITS
• 1.0 - 340.9 fps - Arms length engagement limit


• 341.0 - 400.9 fps - 20 foot engagement limit


• 401.0 - 540.9 fps – 50 foot engagement limit, bolt action or permanent* semi-auto replicas only


• 541.0+ fps - Prohibited or allowed with permission of event organizer only

*Permanent semi-auto refers to replicas that do not have full-auto fire capability, no matter how the selector switch or other user input device is manipulated.

INDOOR/CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE (CQB)/ENCLOSED FIELD ENGAGEMENT LIMITS
• 1.0 - 340.9 fps – Arms length engagement limit


• 341.0+ fps – prohibited or allowed with permission of event organizer only

[Knief]

FPS rules are the same as they always have been:

Article 15: The following are the minimum distance engagement limits for airsoft replicas. This is the closest a player can engage another player with a replica rated in the following feet per second (fps) categories using full-auto, semi-auto, or single shot capability. See Article 16 for extremely close quarter player elimination.

As of April 24, 2009, these rules include a 10fps "tolerance zone". Players will be allowed onto the field if their weapons shoot up to 10.0 fps over the published limit.

OUTDOOR/OPEN FIELD ENGAGEMENT LIMITS
• 1.0 - 340.9 fps - Arms length engagement limit


• 341.0 - 400.9 fps - 20 foot engagement limit


• 401.0 - 540.9 fps – 50 foot engagement limit, bolt action or permanent* semi-auto replicas only


• 541.0+ fps - Prohibited or allowed with permission of event organizer only

*Permanent semi-auto refers to replicas that do not have full-auto fire capability, no matter how the selector switch or other user input device is manipulated.

INDOOR/CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE (CQB)/ENCLOSED FIELD ENGAGEMENT LIMITS
• 1.0 - 340.9 fps – Arms length engagement limit


• 341.0+ fps – prohibited or allowed with permission of event organizer only

Engagement limits are based on averaged fps readings using .20 gram weight bb’s only. The method for acquiring an airsoft replica’s average fps is to fire multiple (more than 2) shots through a chronograph, record the readings, add the fps readings together and divide by the total number of readings.
Gas operated airsoft replicas should be chronographed using a “warm” ambient temperature gas supply (i.e. magazine), or with heating device functioning if used during the cold season.
No allowance is made for airsoft replicas that have an average reading close to the lower end of the next highest fps category. Example- if the replica has an average reading of 351.5 fps it falls within the 20 foot engagement limit.

Again, these rules include a 10fps "tolerance zone". Players will be allowed onto the field if their weapons shoot up to 10.0 fps over the published limit.

To put it simply, there is a hard 350 FPS cap on CQB, a soft 400 FPS cap on full auto guns with a 10 FPS buffer zone, and a hard 550 FPS cap on bolt action and semi-only sniper rifles.

If your gun is full-auto capable, it may not shoot faster than 410 FPS. If your gun shoots faster than 410 FPS, then it must not be able to shoot full auto no matter how you manipulate switches and such.

[lorddemon]

Thanks guys I got it now. All I have to do is chrono my gun and see exactly what its shooting at. Just gotta get some tac gear and I will be ready to hit the field with you fine gentlemen.

[Overkill]

Just remember that if you go to play outside of these boards or outside of Michigan that these rules can vary a LOT! Always be sure to check with your field or community beforehand. Not all FPS limits, engagement limits, or standardized BB chronograph weights are the same (for example: one CQB place on the east coast has me chrono under 300 FPS with 0.25g BB's, and this is a point blank engagement limit).

[YoYo-Pete]

If you need to estimate your FPS, I found this from a thread on this site, but not sure who to credit for originally posting it.

www.redwolfairsoft.com/redwolf/airsoft/BulletDetail?bulletID=34

Edit: Found the original post from Zorak - miairsoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=test&action=display&thread=20028