While a great number of parts comprises a high-quality airsoft gun to function effectively, one of the most important is the hop-up system. It greatly affects the accuracy of the gun. This article will help explain the purpose and role of the hop-up in airsoft guns.
What is a HOP-up?
The HOP-up, or more commonly referred to as ‘HOP’ inside your AEG Airsoft , Sniper rifle, or GBB gives the BB backspin when it enters the inner barrel. This raises the trajectory of the BB, giving it a farther flight and increased consistency. There are, yet again, two major types for HOP-ups: an AEG type or a GBB/VSR type.
How does a HOP-up work?
Basically, hop-ups work by providing a BB with backspin before the BB exits the barrel of the gun. Any person who has played ping pong or tennis will know that if a round object—like a ball or ping pong ball—travels through the air with backspin, it rises up in the air as it travels along its flight path. This will be due to something called the Magnus effect, in which objects spinning in the opposite direction to their forward motion rise, while objects spinning in the same direction as their forward motion fall more quickly.
The Science – The Magnus Effect
In simple terms, the Magnus Effect is the apparent behavior of a spinning object as it moves through Air, which is not seen when the same object is not spinning. This relates to differences in Air pressure caused by the spin and is similar in principle to the Aerofoil effect observed within the wings and control surfaces of an Aircraft. Enough with the physics lesson already, as this applies to Airsoft, one can see that the Magnus effect is present in BBs provided with backspin via contact with a surface which causes friction on one side of the BB. The HOP bucking extends the range and provides an upwards force allowing the BB to travel beyond the point that, due to gravity, it alone would fall.
Why Do You Need a Hop-Up?
Now, a short answer to the question of why a hop-up is an essential component within an airsoft gun: it’s supposed to make your BBs fly straighter over longer distances. Just like real bullets, the airsoft BBs are going to drop as they lose energy. What that means is you really have to aim above the target at longer ranges so they drop into your target. However, the drop would be more pronounced without a hop-up. A critical component of any airsoft gun to be used for any type of engagements other than close-quarters combat has to be a hop-up; this is because long-range accuracy is one of the most important qualities of any good airsoft gun.
What is an airsoft hop-up, and how does it manage to put backspin on a BB before it leaves the gun? While there are several different types of airsoft hop-ups, all of them work via a process known as “hop-up bucking.”. Now, when the BB travels through the chamber of the hop-up, it comes across a small protuberance at the top of the chamber known as the “nub”. Action by this nub on top of the BB holds the BB for a fraction of a second as it leaves the hop-up chamber and out through the barrel of the gun, thus creating backspin on the BB.
Once the BB leaves the gun, gravity immediately starts pulling it down. However, the backspin on the BB created by the gun’s hop-up pulls it upward, helping counteract the effect of gravity and limiting the BB’s drop over longer ranges.
With this knowledge, you probably want to dial in as much “hop” as possible through the hop-up unit. In theory, you would then put more backspin on your BB for longer effective ranges. Theoretically, it all sounds good. However, when you apply it, a problem occurs, and this problem is known as “over-hopping.”. When playing airsoft, what we really want to do is tune our hop-ups for specific ranges, and overhopping will put so much backspin on the BB that it will effectively shoot progressively upwards as if it’s going straight to the sky.
How to Adjust Your Airsoft Gun Hop Up
Below is just an overall, step-by-step guide on how to adjust your Hop-up. Every gun is different, so this is a general guide.
Step 1.
Pull back your charging handle, exposing your hop unit on your rifle, and locate the hop adjuster dial.
Step 2
Turn to the right to increase Hop up. Turn to the left to decrease Hop up.
Step 3
Check your airsoft gun to be sure you’re firing straight, then adjust and check again until you are firing true. Thanks to a hop up, your airsoft gun fires not only farther but also faster. And the faster they fire, the more accurate they are because they are less likely to be thrown off by wind.
Airsoft – it doesn’t just teach you the subtle art of not getting shot in the face. Sometimes you learn aerodynamics too. To make sure you’ve calibrated your airsoft gun properly, why not test your FPS on our calculator?
There are three main types of airsoft hop-ups, and while they may all function basically the same, there are some important distinctions between them.if you are going to purchase one of these types. Other types of hop-ups, meanwhile, require less tinkering and are better suited for beginners, but won’t provide quite as much long-range accuracy. The three types of hop-ups on the market today are:
- Standard Type Hop-Up: Mounted on most guns, ideal for general applications.
- Flat Hop-Up: More consistent backspin and better for heavier BBs.
- R-Hop: Best for precision shooting, offering the highest consistency in performance regardless of BB weight.
/li>
Examples of Hop-Ups
Nearly all airsoft guns will have a hop-up installed right from the box. However, replacing the hop-up that has come with your gun is one of the easiest ways of upgrading to extend range and increase accuracy in your weapon. At Airsoft Station, we are proud to offer so many good-quality airsoft hop-ups, ranging from standard hop-ups to flat hop-ups and R hop parts. If you are looking to upgrade your hop-up in your airsoft rifle, pistol, or SMG for an improvement in its long-range performance, this guide is for you.
Don’t miss these great products in our collection of airsoft hop-ups:
Archwick 50 Degree Silicone Airsoft AEG Hop-Up Bucking
When you have a good solid bucking from Archwick, you can expect consistency and accuracy with each shot. The bucking is made up of silicone and softness level of 50 to completement even heavier BBs as per its stiffness. It’s easy to install and costs less than other models.
Features:
- NBR rubber construction
- Maximum range and performance
- Easy to install onto tightbore barrels
- Good hop up accuracy
- Consistency on each shot
Maple Leaf Autobot Airsoft Hop-Up Bucking 70 Degree for Airsoft, Blue
This hop-up is one of the finest additions from Maple Leaf which comes with a hardness rating of 70 – it’s fairly firm. This small rubber part helps your airsoft guns shoot out small pallets more accurately and at a steady speed. The blue color is appealing and the bucking works well with specific models, such as Tokyo Marui/KJ gas blowback pistols and VSR-10 bolt-action airsoft rifles. You can also use them on older WE-Tech gas blowback models for good performance. The design has a C-Clip and a narrowed entrance to retain stable BB speeds, especially if your gun shoots BBs at speeds between 360 and 460 feet per second (FPS).
Features:
- Multi-Platform Compatibility
- 70 Degree Hop-Up Bucking
- Drop-In Fit
- Good Cold Weather Performance
- Range Optimized
MAXX Model CNC Aluminum Hop-Up Chamber ME Pro for M4/M16 AEGs Rifles, Silver
3. MAXX Model CNC Aluminum Hop-Up Chamber ME Pro for M4/M16 AEGs
Many consider the MAXX Model Hop-Up System to be one of the best upgrade parts that can be added to your electric airsoft gun. The hop-up itself is precisely CNC machined out of aluminum, making it among the finer upgrade parts for the shooter seeking pinpoint accuracy from his or her rifle. This unit is rotary in style for hop-up installation, so not only will adjustment become easier, but other branded upgrade parts, such as those from Airtech Studios’ R Hop nubs, will work with it.
Pros:
- CNC Aluminum Construction
- Allows an Extremely High Degree of Precision in Hop-Up Adjustments
- Works with M4/M16 Series Electric Airsoft Guns
- Works with Other Branded Accessories
Con:
- A lot more expensive compared to other branded chambers
Conclusion
Its effectiveness is uniform in all airsoft guns. In sniper rifles, this gun becomes capable of delivering shots precisely and repetitively. In electric guns, a well-adjusted hop-up will increase the shooting range, allowing one to compete against more powerful models. In gas-powered guns, especially pistols, it has been helping so much in close quarters within very small rooms. Airsoft Station has done a great job of offering quite huge varieties of different hop-up systems to modulate this component in line with its performance on various airsoft gun models so that each and every player shall be able to tune up his armament against any tactical situation.
