HELP! HPA or AEG!?

[Krisz]

Whatever you read about HPA on the internet I'd say take it with a pinch of salt. Lots of people never tried it in real life but they're very opinionated or clearly biased againt it for whatever reason or being on the receing end once and since then it lives in their head rent free. Needless to say It's very easy to abuse it and the cunt speedsofter stereotype isn't made up they do exist. HPA has a very bad reputation on the internet because of a few bellends/bad actors.

HPA has it's place mainly as DMR/sniper (outdoor) because it can be made extremely quiet. The line will snag into everything so that would be a huge concern for me but as you said Wrath X and other options do exist.

I think HPA's main selling point is the extreme consistency and it's easy to tune. But this could be said about an good AEG or a purpose built DMR, too.

I do run my pistols on hpa if I can't use gas and I do run my hpa engined rattler as a back up in winter time but I only play indoor so it's very different dynamics from a forest/trenches etc. Plus one of my mate comes with me quite regularly so he can use it while I run gas/electric so it gives me more options to gear up two people at the same time. For me it's been always a good investment but you have to try it yourself because it's silly money to get into it from zero.

 

[Reidfc]

it’s only ever been used by team minions that were told to pump so I only have personal experience of pumping as a little top up

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Hahahah. This made me chuckle, but also really good to know the 13ci can be used if maintained without any faff of being checked! Thank you!!!

 

[Reidfc]

Th

To state the obvious, if you can, try before you buy.

I've had a go on a couple (including @Impulse 's DMR that he was kind enough to let me run for half a day) and though I love the idea of the silence I just find the experience of shooting it a bit meh. c02 bulbs are passable for a DMR, but constant changing on an AEG might be a pain and the line/tank may or may not be an issue depending on the sort of environment you need to crawl through (is it going to get hung up all the time, etc).
The 13ci stocks seem like a plan, but trying one in the shop I just found it bulky and awkward.

I've also had a Mancraft VSR, a polarstar F2, Wolverine SMP and currently have a Mancraft SRS. Both worked fine, although you still have the line issue to deal with. I only went for the HPA on the SRS as my elbow was wrecked.

Would still consider HPA for bolt guns, specific silent build or possible vehicle mounted MG where you can run dive cylinders, but other than that I'd probably stick with an AEG/recoil.

Can't answer the compressor question. But would consider a dive cylinder that you can get topped up (depending what you have available to you in the area).

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To be honest I think you’re right. If one came up for sale locally or if I ever saw the wraith X, it would be sensible to feel how it sits on the shoulder and cheek. Might end up hating it, good advice thank you!

 

[Reidfc]

Personally, given average uk site limits etc, id stick with AEGs all day long.
BUT
I'll start by saying no offence is intended, the info you supplied earlier indicates that you are someone, & you're not alone in it, that is always pursuing the limits on your kit, whether its fps, trigger response, or noise (or lack of it).
But IRL guns aren't quiet, even the suppressed ones have clunky metal moving parts (with just a couple of exceptions ?), triggers are only as quick as the person pulling it, & real world physics limit what's achievable with a bb while staying within the rules .
With all that in mind, & as by your own admission that you're not a sniper, surely your well set up aegs are going to be much less hassle, & expense, than bottles/lines/refills etc.
But that's just my opinion, id rather just get out there, plug & play, so to speak.

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I think you are right, I’m always trying to squeeze perfection out of my aeg’s as I work on them for fun. I actually enjoy it!

That being said, I’m no expert it can take a lot of time to get there and the maintenance is a pain. I guess you’ve made me question if I have a “the grass is greener” mentality when in reality it’s airsoft, it’s a plastic BB that can be affected by shape, wind ect ect.

Thank you!

 

[Reidfc]

Whatever you read about HPA on the internet I'd say take it with a pinch of salt. Lots of people never tried it in real life but they're very opinionated or clearly biased againt it for whatever reason or being on the receing end once and since then it lives in their head rent free. Needless to say It's very easy to abuse it and the cunt speedsofter stereotype isn't made up they do exist. HPA has a very bad reputation on the internet because of a few bellends/bad actors.

HPA has it's place mainly as DMR/sniper (outdoor) because it can be made extremely quiet. The line will snag into everything so that would be a huge concern for me but as you said Wrath X and other options do exist.

I think HPA's main selling point is the extreme consistency and it's easy to tune. But this could be said about an good AEG or a purpose built DMR, too.

I do run my pistols on hpa if I can't use gas and I do run my hpa engined rattler as a back up in winter time but I only play indoor so it's very different dynamics from a forest/trenches etc. Plus one of my mate comes with me quite regularly so he can use it while I run gas/electric so it gives me more options to gear up two people at the same time. For me it's been always a good investment but you have to try it yourself because it's silly money to get into it from zero.

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Yeah from your comment and the others it’s making me think. I really do need to have a full game day with the line and tank ect. Then maybe try a Wraith X if I get a chance.

My only worry is I’m trigger happy but the consistency you get with HPA makes me think I’ll maybe have to flick my finger less to get the BB where I want it.

Thanks for your reply, very good insight.

 

[Impulse]

Yeah, I mainly use GBBRs now and two of my gas sniper rifles don't use suppressors because I've come to realise that that level of silence is just... not really needed. And good players will still hear you unless you're shooting at distance, at which point they may not hear you anyway. Plus, as @Tackle said, real firearms aren't quiet. Even wet shots with suppressed subsonics and locked slides are pretty audible, so to me it's just immersion breaking to have airsoft guns that make no noise.

 

[Adolf Hamster]

I think you are right, I’m always trying to squeeze perfection out of my aeg’s as I work on them for fun. I actually enjoy it!

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If you're into trying to squeeze every drop you can then maybe it's worth it for you.

The thing i'd advise is if you're the type to tinker and tune then you might want to think about the dual solenoid engines. They give you much more control over the process and let you really dial in to what passes in airsoft for perfection.

Personally i'd suggest the polarstar f2 as a solid choice, once dialled in properly it's capable of top tier accuracy if the supporting hardware (barrel, hop etc) allows and unlike the fusion it's easily transferred to a different gun should the mood take you that way.

I wont comment on the other brands of single solenoid engines as i've not dissected them but avoid polarstars versions (the jack and f1 specifically), they're fundamentally limited in the performance you can get and only really good for the "haha hpa go brrrt" crowd, but if you go down that path you'll very quickly be hated for it.

Personally i never found line snagging to be that big a deal, it's no worse than having a sling, pistol lanyard or the many and varied ways your load carrying kit can catch on everything.

 

[snuff]

I moved from AEG to HPA and TBH I doubt I'd go back (although I'm out of the scene atm).
Our group using HPA has totaly different views of it.I like the ease of an OOTB MTW never fails and lets you know when it needs a new rubber.
Another friend (MTW owner) has bought an AEG AK as he says HPA (MTW) make the game too easy and he was getting frustrated with the game play.
We have a knowledgeable player who likes to convert his own weapons to HPA,unfortunately he spends too much time "fettling" them and not enough time playing.He doesn't like the trigger pull of MTW's ,it is very light more of a switch than a trigger,whilst his are always proper mechanical pulls.
The issue with HPA is if you buy a "built" model you must be sure that it has been modified so that you can replace parts if and when required,I've seen a lot of stories where people make them work in the end by dremeling cases to align nozzles,etc.
When I return depending on my mobility I may go for a HPA boltie and snipe if I'm unable to run about and use an Unleashed MTW.