If you got a new AEG that was tricked-out-to-the max by Umbrella Armory, you may not want to make any upgrades.

The truth is that plenty of stock AEGs come from the manufacturer offering plenty of speed and power, without needing any upgrades.

But it is also true that upgrades and mods are half the fun of this sport.

So if your AEG doesn’t offer the performance out of the box that you’d like to see, here are some things you can do to boost speed and accuracy.

How to Give Speed a Boost

If your AEG isn’t fast enough for your liking, there are a few things you can do to give speed a boost.

One is to upgrade the gearbox with upgraded parts. There are a variety of parts you can use, including upgrade pistons, piston heads, cylinders, cylinder heads, O-rings, springs and spring guides.

The cylinder head is one of the most important parts you can upgrade; the cylinder head is one of the main parts that provides good compression and air seal, directly boosting FPS.

An X-ring style O-ring is another basic upgrade that will improve the gas seal around your piston, which in turn can improve FPS rating.

However, one of the most impactful upgrades you can make is to upgrade the spring which drives the piston through the cylinder.

The stronger the spring, the more force it drives behind compression, improving FPS. Just make sure you use a spring that’s compatible with your gearbox.

Also be sure that you upgrade your spring guide if you upgrade your spring; if not, the spring guide will crack.

Another important internal you can tweak is the motor itself. There are two basic types of airsoft AEG motors: high-toque, and high-speed.

Don’t let the name throw you off. High-torque motors reach max RPM quickly, and actually enable the highest rate of fire (as a general rule).

On the flipside, high-speed motors take a short delay before reaching max RPM, resulting in a split-second delay - however, they offer an excellent rate of fire as well.

If you want to upgrade your AEG’s rate of fire and speed, the motor is another part you should upgrade.

In addition to higher speed and rate of fire, there are other advantages to replacing the stock motor in an AEG; doing so can improve trigger response, too.

(If you do replace your stock motor, consider upgrading the airsoft gun with a MOSFET, too, which will protect your trigger contacts from the battery’s high voltage.)

What Is a Good FPS Rating for an AEG?

Most AEGs come from the factory with internals that will enable them to shoot between 330 and 350 FPS, if not faster.

This is a good overall speed for an AEG, and it’s plenty of power to hit a target that’s at close to medium range.

But some players might want more, which is why we offered the tweaks and upgrades mentioned above.

Just keep in mind that airsoft fields all have their own rules about speed and power and you will probably have to chrono your airsoft gun before the match starts.

So if you max out your AEG to something insane above 400 FPS, you might not be able to play with it.

But it’ll still be fun for plinking and practice, so there’s that.

How to Give Accuracy a Boost

There are two things to address here. One is if the airsoft rifle itself just isn’t reaching your target, and the other is if there is a problem with the accuracy itself.

If your shots aren’t carrying far enough, it might not be an issue with the ammo but with the hop-up. Almost all airsoft guns have an adjustable hop up.

Increase your hop bit by bit and take a few shots to see how the BBs respond. More hop makes BBs fly farther by imparting backspin, which increases the Magnus Effect.

It could also be that you’re shooting ammo that’s too heavy. If hopping up doesn’t help, try shooting lower weight airsoft ammo.

Airsoft ammo weight can also have a pronounced effect on accuracy, but in this case, if your shots are erratic and inconsistent, it might be because your ammo is too light.

Light ammo experiences much greater air resistance, especially at high speeds, than ammo that is heavier and therefore denser.

Most FPS ratings are given with .20g BBs - but don’t think you need to stick with .20s. Higher power and faster FPS ratings call for denser BBs.

Try shooting .25s, .28s, or even .30g BBs. These are heavier and are more stable in flight, and will be less likely to veer off trajectory than lighter ammo.

You might need to do some trial and error before you can dial it in, though.

Top AEGs from G&G Armament, Lancer Tactical, KWA, and Umbrella Armory

Not here for parts? Here for a brand-new AEG that’s more accurate and more powerful? Consider a new model from G&G Armament like the ARP9 or CM16 Raider. Lancer Tactical and CYMA also make great, upgradeable AEGs - and models from Umbrella Armory are already upgraded.

Take a look through what we offer and get in touch with us at 800-581-6620 if you have any questions.