What is an airsoft inner barrel?
The inner barrel of an airsoft replica is the tube that sticks into the hop-up housing. It’s the actual barrel of the replica, situated inside the outer barrel that’s just there to make for a realistic look. The airsoft inner barrel has an important role regarding the accuracy and reach of a BB. Length, diameter, material and finish all play a large role. More of that under the header ‘Best airsoft inner barrel’.
How does an airsoft inner barrel work?
For a simple tube, to name it disrespectfully one last time, an inner barrel is a part of the airsoft replica that has been given more thought than you would think. And that’s because it’s essential for the accuracy of the replica. No matter how good the other internals are, your replica is only as good as its inner barrel.
BB’s are fed from the underside and are pushed into the inner barrel with a nozzle. From here, they’ll be fired, with the hop-up giving them a backward spin. It does that with a nub that pushes the bucking (the rubber sleeve around the barrel) into a slot in the barrel, making it protrude slightly inside. The grippy rubber rubs against the BB as it passes, bulling it backwards as it goes. This will give the desired spin that stabilises the BB. It does that partly because of centrifugal force and partly because of the Magnus-effect.
This spin will push the BB against the upper side of the airsoft inner barrel, while air blows past underneath, enhancing the spin-effect. Air passing the sides will stabilise the BB. All these things together, will make the BB fly to its target with optimum accuracy and reach.
Best airsoft inner barrel
Choosing the best airsoft inner barrel begins with selecting which one will is specifically designed for your airsoft replica. Roughly saying, there are five main types of inner barrels, suitable for most airsoft replicas:
- AEG
- GBB
- VSR10
- L96
- AEP
The difference between them is mainly in the bucking slots (window), O-ring grooves and the cut-out with or without a bridge (bridged or unbridged). It’s worth knowing that most GBB inner barrels can be used in a VSR10. But A VSR10 inner barrel can’t be used in a GBB replica. That’s because the VSR10 inner barrel has a deeper cut-out.
When you’ve picked a suitable airsoft inner barrel, the next important thing is to decide which diameter you’d prefer. You can keep the standard size, but you can also go smaller or wider. And in between these two, there’s a lot to experiment:
- Precision barrel – also known as a tight bore barrel. These are very tight barrels with a diameter of, for example, 6,01 or 6,03 mm. This will release less air around the BB, making the air push harder, upping the speed and power. On short distances, a tight bore inner barrel will be more accurate, hence the name precision barrel. As less air will flow past underneath and at the sides, the stabilising effect will be less, making for less reach.
- Wide bore barrel – in this inner barrel, the bore is significantly bigger, for example 6,23 mm, which gives a bigger airflow around the BB. An airsoft inner barrel like this will give you a greater reach. The grouping will be a bit bigger than with a tight bore inner barrel, but you’ll be able to shoot a lot further.
Inner barrel upgrade
Above, we’ve mentioned the different types of airsoft inner barrels and we’ve told you about the difference in diameter and the effect that has. However, the biggest effect on accuracy by far, is the finish inside the airsoft inner barrel. A standard inner barrel is made on a budget, which means it’ll work, but not optimal.
The inner barrel upgrades that we sell, are all exceptional quality. That means they’ve got a perfectly smooth finish inside; evenly finished with a mirror-like smoothness. Another important factor is the material. Most upgrade inner barrels are made from stainless steel, while a standard inner barrel is often made from brass or aluminium. The latter two can be subject to oxidisation, where stainless steel will keep its perfect finish. In weight, stainless sits between brass and aluminium.
Cleaning an airsoft inner barrel
We’ve just mentioned oxidisation of standard inner barrels. Which leads us to the next subject: cleaning of an inner barrel. Whether it’s a standard or an upgrade inner barrel, all airsoft inner barrels need cleaning. BB’s will leave residue, and the silicon in airsoft gas will leave deposits too. Grime and dirt will affect accuracy.
Cleaning is easily done with a cleaning rod with a patch or felt pellets, drenched with a cleaning agent. Make sure the hup-op is adjusted back completely, making the opening as large as possible. Now insert the cleaning rod from the hop-up side and push it through the barrel. Repeat a couple of times with clean patches or felt pellets.
Buying an airsoft inner barrel
We can completely understand that airsoft inner barrels can be a bit confusing. So, if you happen to be near, please feel free to drop by and ask our experts for advice. Or ask our customer service, they’re equally friendly and knowledgeable.