Sniper Rifles. Best kind for my buck?

[deadprezident]

Ive decided to buy a sniper rifle for kicks and because I traded my last one. And I just want some advice/opinions on what would be the best sniper weapon for my dollar, as of todays vast sniper market.

Price range: 0-400

Some questions arise for me like:
Gas VS Spring
Brands
Upgrade-ability

So if I can get some feed back on that I would be very appreciative.

Thanks

edit: sry if I posted this thread in the wrong place due to the Gas vs spring question.

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Well we need some requirements that you have. What FPS? How heavy? Semi auto or bolt action?

[Toothbrush]

*I am going to assume you would like to use it all year round.*

You live in Michigan, in the winter Michigan tends to get cold, very cold, so cold that gas operated airsoft weapons become extremely ineffective or choose to not work at all. As a result, spring powered sniper rifle of one kind or another are generaly the prefered replica of choice in this neck of the woods.

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Therefore, your best bet in the spring department, depending on some specs, are:

::most spring rifles house the magazine infront of where the real steel would be housed. This may be a drawback for some people::

::Most all spring sniper rifles need to be upgraded when purchased::

The Maruzen APS series rifles.
-lighter (could be a + pending on your opnion)
-lots of upgrades available
-multiple types to choose frome
-plastic stocks...not so cool.
-relatively cheap
-they make the L96 version (very cool ++)

The M24's offered by CA
-heavy (might be a + if you're me.. I like heavy weapons.)
-very nice finish on the stock, seams are almost invisble.
-Comes in Civilian bull barrel stlye or Military fluted barrel.
-upgrades available, including a gas bolt (not the best ever but..) is interchangable for a quick swap between a gas and spring rifle.

The M40 and M700 series offered by Sun Project
-EXTREMELY nice finnish WOOD STOCK* (very high quality)
-somewhat rare
-due to rareness price goes up a little.
-very Viatnam sniper-esque (I loooveee this)

The TM VSR10 series
-cheap
-plasticy
-upgradability

Smokey's M82A1
-a BEAST of a rifle (coolness factor ++++++)
-expensive as shizzat.
-heavy as shizzat.

HFC VSR-11 series.
-Cheap
-Plasticy

UTG M324
-used by a lot of airsofters on this forum
-upgraded bolt scheduled to come out soon
-shoots 330 stock
-plasticy
-very cheap, but with reliability.

This is all from the top of my head so don't hold me to all of these facts. If it were me, I'd go with the M24 by CA or the Sun Project M40 series.

[BoredKender]

the maruzen APS series, including the L96, also has the gas bolt too. just in case that helps make your decision

there are too many different factors to get a "best bang for the buck" sniper rifle, beings as they all shoot stock in the neighborhood of 300FPS or less. so far the only ones that i have witnessed that perform higher stock are the KJW m700 gas powered, or the UHC Tactical 9 (there is also the AtoZ dragunov which is 500 out of box, but it's 500cash-money). neither of these brands are exactly heralded for their durability though. the only way you're going to be able to sue a sniper rifle for what it was meant for in airsoft is by dumping large ammounts of money into it. before doing this, i HIGHLY reccomend finding out if sniping is the right thing for you first. there are two "dedicated" player types which leave little room for anything else in their airsoft budget. these are snipers (marksmen as some prefer) and support gunners. both will easily drop a grand or two on their gun and equipment just to get it to the performance needed to accomplish the role

[Mandor]

i bought both my ca m24 and maruzen l96 for about 250-300. I ugraded my m24 to 500fps and it cost about $150. So total for the CA was $450.00. I upgraded my l96 to 500fps, new spring, new bolt, new hopup, tightbore barrel, $100 scope, $25 sling, $75 case. So about $900.00 Oh yeah, spare mags $35 each for the maruzen. So about $1000.00 total. Both are springers, i recomend springers here in Michigan, due to the weather. You have fps variance with gas; shooting hot in hot weather, and shooting low in cold weather. If you're patient, I would highly recommend the Maruzen series. Even with my upgrades, the trigger release is like butta, and the rifles have many upgrade options available.

[deadprezident]

Thanks guys, everything is helpin me make a decision. Ill check out the maruzen line more cuz they sound awesome. I'm defiantly going to get a springer because I'm liking the upgrades and "Michigan Friendliness" factor. Besides if I want a gas sniper rifle I can always make one . But I dunno if any of you guys want to play with a rifle that shoots 800-1000 fps... I have nothing else to say
anyway.
Thanks a lot yall
(anyones 2 sense after now is still very much appreciated)

o and Mr Embed, I like heavy guns too. I have nothing else to say

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deadprezident said:

o and Mr Embed, I like heavy guns too. I have nothing else to say

Yay!

[Livonia]

one thing with gas bolts, they can get really hot on FPS, andrewMp5k got his up to 700fps.

I would personally go with the Maruzen L96, good looking and has a fairly short stroke on it.

i used to own a 500 fps Gspec, untill the reciver warped and i didnt feel like fixing it, so now im parting it in commerce.

[frostee]

Over the years I've had the opportunity to try out a number of different bolt action rifles. Based on my experiences, if I were starting from scratch I would still end up with what I'm currently running. A Maruzen APS II SV with PDI cylinder, PDI piston head and PDI regular piston. A Guarder spring guide, three PDI SPR150 springs cut to specific lengths (to adjust fps), two nylon washers, and a rubber O-ring near the end of the inner barrel to stop wobble between then inner and flash hider.

The only addition I would make to this setup is a Guarder bolt handle. The original can take some seriously heavy use, but it will eventually break. Mine took five years and thousands of rounds before it snapped this spring.

If I was feeling quite adventurous I might reserve the option of using an APS II OR inner and outer barrel assembly for the added length. But, I would hold on to the SV barrel until I was absolutely sure the OR assembly was either more accurate or increased range.

That's my idea of a setup that works. No fancy "lighter than air" parts. No teflon coated "whizbangers." No adjustable hop-up or tightbore barrel. Only parts that can take abuse and do what I need them to, over and over and over...

[BoredKender]

also, i own an L96 by maruzen, and a tactical 9 by UHC. if anyone is near muskegon and would like to get a hands-on with either of these, let me know