We’ve previously covered cheap airsoft gun upgrades on our website. This post is going to get even more granular with upgrades and cover a few things we didn’t last time.

So let’s take a look at how you can convert a cheap airsoft gun into a straight-up yeet machine that performs way outside of its price class.

Battery

If your AEG is Li-Po ready (some cheap airsoft guns, for instance, some Arcturus airsoft guns, are) then go for it.

Here’s what you need to know. The higher the voltage of the airsoft battery, the higher your ROF will be. Many Li-Po-ready airsoft guns can handle 11.1V Li-Po batteries. There are even 12V batteries but many builds cannot handle this power, so make sure you follow manufacturer recommendations.

The higher the mAH (milliampere-hour) rating, the longer the battery will last, and the more BBs you will be about to fire through. In general, 1 mAH tends to equate to one shot, so a 1200 mAH battery should last somewhere around 1200 rounds, give or take.

Also, be aware that the battery is often a weak point in a cheap airsoft gun. Charge it and test it out, but if it’s not offering the power and performance you want, it should be one of the first things you look at upgrading.

Spring and Guide

The power of the spring will dictate how much force is applied to drive the piston forward, and therefore how powerful (fast) your airsoft gun will be.

Beware, though, upgrading your spring without upgrading your other internals (specifically the piston and gears) may damage them or strip the gears. If you upgrade your spring, you will also want to upgrade these parts.

Upgrading the spring guide can also boost performance if you are using a higher-powered spring. Some cheap airsoft guns come with plastic spring guides, but a steel one with spacers will improve muzzle velocity and also prevent the spring from jumping into the gear case.

A higher-quality spring guide with ball bearings will also help eliminate twisting and kinking in the spring, which will both improve power and extend spring life by preventing fatigue.

Hop-up Bucking

The hop-up bucking is the component in the hop-up system that actually puts backspin on the BB and improves range and accuracy via the Magnus effect.

There are both hard and soft hop-up buckings. Softer hop-up buckings tend to have angles of 50° to 70°, whereas hard buckings tend to have steeper angles, between 75° and 80°. The softer the bucking, the better it will tend to perform in the cold.

Also, keep in mind, that as FPS rating increases, the harder your hop-up bucking should be. Reserve softer hop-up buckings for slower FPS airsoft guns.

That is, if you upgrade your spring and other internals to boost FPS, you may also want to upgrade the hop-up bucking, especially for high-powered airsoft guns.

Piston and Piston Head

The piston is the actual component that compresses air in the cylinder, under the pressure from the spring, providing the energy that forces the BBs through the hop-up and out of the barrel.

The piston head is the part of the piston that is foremost and actually compresses the air. There are special piston heads you can buy to make your AEG airsoft rifle quieter, and others you can get that offer improved performance and higher muzzle velocities.

Bushings

Many cheap airsoft guns come with upgradeable gearboxes with metal gears, but the bushings are something else to take a look at.

The gear bushings are the parts on which the gears rotate; they also keep the gears in place. If the bushings fail, the gears will strip or seize.

Most stock bushings are plastic. If you have a high-powered motor, it’s probably worth the investment to upgrade to metal bushings that can handle a higher ROF or higher torque.

Stock Upgrades

Stock upgrades are easy to make and don’t require any technical knowledge, but they can make a big impact on how the AEG “fits” you.

If length of pull (AKA LOP) is not well-matched to your dimensions, changing the stock for a better, adjustable model, can make the AEG fit better, which will make it more comfortable to shoot, while also making you more accurate.

Moreover, most AEGs have stocks that can easily be replaced.

Cylinder

The cylinder is the internal component in which air is compressed by the spring and piston, providing the potential energy that drives the BB out of the barrel. Some cylinders are ported to prevent premature wear and preserve accuracy.

This cheap airsoft gun mod is going last, because it really only becomes necessary if you add a longer barrel. Adding a longer barrel will require a greater volume of air to be compressed in order to preserve muzzle velocity.

Trigger Mechanism Tip

In our previous article on this subject, we advocated for a MOSFET which will perverse your trigger contacts by bypassing the battery. This will extend the life of your trigger mechanism and improve response, too.

This is not an upgrade but a tip: in addition to installing a MOSFET, you should also keep your trigger contacts clean. This will help prevent premature burnouts and will improve trigger response.

Sort of an Upgrade but Not Really: Airsoft Ammo

While this is not quite an upgrade to a cheap airsoft gun itself, if you’re not shooting the right airsoft ammo, you’re not doing yourself any favors.

Generally speaking, the more powerful the AEG is, and the higher the muzzle velocity, the heavier the airsoft ammo should be. Heavier BBs are more stable in flight and shoot straight and farther than lighter counterparts.

Just be aware that changing the weight of your ammo will require you to adjust your hop-up and might necessitate a harder hop-up nub (see above).

Cheap Airsoft Guns & Parts at the Industry’s Best Prices

You know what the best thing about getting cheap airsoft guns and parts from MiR Tactical?

Our price match guarantee, which all but ensures you’re getting the best possible prices on gear and all types of airsoft guns that are already cheap to begin with.

And now, with these tips, you can make them even better. Get modding and see how some of these upgrades serve you at your next airsoft event.