There are plenty of powerful AEGs available from airsoft weapon suppliers. Still, if you already have a weapon you love, it can be cheaper and more fun to upgrade instead of replace, so learning how to upgrade airsoft AEG weapons is a must!
With the right know-how, you can easily upgrade your trusty AEG weapons to improve the rate of fire, range, and accuracy, giving you a crucial edge on the airsoft field.
Read on to learn how to easily upgrade and improve your favourite AEG weapons for your next skirmish or Milsim.
What to Know About AEG Upgrades…
- Swapping to a high-quality motor and reinforced gears can dramatically boost the rate of fire and trigger response — just ensure parts are compatible.
- Upgrading your hop-up, bucking, and nub improves range and accuracy by creating a consistent backspin for straighter shots.
- Tightbore stainless steel inner barrels reduce BB wobble, enhance velocity, and deliver greater shot consistency over standard barrels.
- Installing a MOSFET increases electrical efficiency, protects trigger contacts, and sharpens performance, especially in high-rate setups.
- Always research your AEG model before buying parts to avoid compatibility issues and keep upgrades within your field’s FPS limits.
How to Increase the Rate of Fire of an AEG
Boosting the ROF of your AEG can give you the edge you need to triumph over enemy teams on the airsoft field, and best of all, it's not even that difficult to do!
Here's how to increase the rate of fire for your AEG to make a stronger, more powerful weapon and cut your opponents down:
1. Do Your Research
Before you start taking apart your AEG, make sure you do some homework on your weapon’s make and model (and we mean REALLY do your homework).
Every electric gun model is a little different, and knowing its specific parts will help you figure out the best AEG upgrades.
The world of airsoft upgrades is expansive. There are so many options for motors, gears, springs, and more. If you don’t do your research, you might end up with AEG parts that don’t fit or even hurt your gun’s performance.
So, take some time to check out manuals, guides, and online forums. A little prep goes a long way when it comes to upgrading your weapon!
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2. Do Minor Electrical Work
The first step to improving your AEG’s rate of fire (ROF) is making a few easy electrical upgrades.
One of the best things you can do is swap out the standard Tamiya connector for a Deans connector. Why? Because Deans connectors cut down on electrical resistance and boost power transfer, helping your AEG run more efficiently.
The good news is that this is a pretty simple upgrade, just a bit of basic soldering to replace the old connector with the new one, and you’re good to go.
Another great upgrade is rewiring your AEG with heavy-gauge wiring. Standard wires can slow things down by restricting the flow of electricity, which means slower trigger response and less efficiency overall.
Switching to thicker, heavy-gauge wiring fixes this by reducing resistance and optimising current flow, giving your AEG better performance.
You’ll need a wiring kit that works with your gearbox, a soldering iron, and some heat shrink tubing to lock in those connections.
Be sure to check your AEG’s manual or wiring diagrams so you can see if everything is installed correctly.
3. Upgrade Enhanced Internal Parts
Upgrading an AEG motor is one of the best ways to take its performance to the next level. With the right motor, you can hit insane rates of fire — up to 1600 rounds per minute or about 25 rounds per second!
Whether you go for a high-torque or high-speed motor, you'll get better trigger response, more power, and improved reliability.
Swapping out the motor is easier than you might think. While it's best to do some research into your specific make and model of AEG, here's a quick overview of what’s involved:
- Start by unscrewing the base plate on the motor grip.
- Carefully disconnect the wires (and make a note of their positions so you don’t mix them up later).
- Slide out the old motor and pop in your shiny new upgrade, making sure it’s lined up correctly.
- Reconnect the wires, screw the base plate back on, and adjust the motor height for the best performance.
If you’re upgrading to a more powerful motor, don’t forget to swap out your gearset for a stronger one.
A higher-powered motor can put a lot of extra strain on standard gears, which will wear out or break under the increased torque and speed.
In general, upgrading your gearset is pretty straightforward.
- Start by opening up the gearbox and carefully removing the old gears.
- Pop in the strengthened gearset that’s compatible with your motor (and that you’ve applied some gearbox grease to keep everything running smoothly).
- Check the shim spacing to ensure everything is aligned properly..
- Reassemble the gearbox and give it a test run.
Top Tip: Taking your time with alignment and setup now will save you a lot of headaches down the road, so take your time to tinker around.
If you’re upgrading your gearset, it’s a good idea to swap out the tappet plate for a hardened one while you’re at it. The tappet plate plays a key role in keeping your airsoft gun’s feeding system in sync with the gearbox.
A stronger one helps everything run smoother and keeps your rate of fire consistent—especially with high-performance setups. Just make sure it’s compatible with your build before you install it!
How to Get Better Range & Accuracy from Your Airsoft Gun
If you're less concerned with the ROF of your weapon and want to make sure your AEG is firing straight and true instead, there are some upgrades you can do that will improve the range and accuracy of your weapon for more precise shots.
1. Upgrade Your Hop-Up & Bucking
The hop-up bucking and nub are game-changers when it comes to improving the accuracy and range of your AEG.
The bucking, a rubber piece inside the hop-up, creates backspin on the BB, helping it fly farther and straighter.
The nub works alongside the bucking, applying steady pressure to keep the backspin consistent for better accuracy.
Here’s how to upgrade your bucking:
- Start by picking a high-quality bucking that suits your setup; softer buckings are great for lower FPS, while harder ones are better for higher FPS builds.
- Pair it with a precision nub, like a concave or flat-shaped one, for better spin control.
- Make sure everything is lined up properly in the hop-up unit to get consistent results.
- Don’t forget to adjust your hop-up based on your BB weight to fine-tune the backspin for the best range and accuracy.
2. Replace the Inner Barrel
The inner barrel of your AEG is super important when it comes to accuracy and performance.
A good-quality, well-maintained barrel helps your BBs travel smoothly and consistently, cutting down on wobble or misalignment that can throw off your shots.
That’s why tightbore inner barrels (with a smaller diameter, usually around 6.01mm to 6.03mm) are becoming standard in many airsoft guns; they keep your BBs on a straighter path.
But if you want to take things up a notch, upgrading to a stainless steel inner barrel is the way to go.
Stainless steel barrels are more durable, resist wear, and have smoother surfaces than basic aluminium or brass barrels, meaning less friction and better consistency overall.
To swap out your AEG’s inner barrel…
- Start by removing the hop-up unit from the outer barrel according to the manual for your AEG.
- Once you’ve got the hop-up unit free, carefully take out the existing inner barrel and bucking.
- Give the hop-up a good clean and pop a new bucking onto your replacement barrel for a snug seal.
- Slide the new stainless steel barrel into the hop-up unit, making sure the notches and bucking are aligned properly.
- Once that’s done, put the hop-up unit back together and secure it to the AEG.
- Adjust the hop-up as needed for pinpoint accuracy.
Boost Your Game With Our Airsoft AEG Upgrade Guide
By following the tips and advice outlined in this blog post, you can optimise the performance of your AEG weapon and gain a competitive edge in your next airsoft game.
Upgrades such as enhancing your hop-up unit or replacing your gearbox can significantly improve accuracy, consistency, and power.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, these customisations can take your gameplay to the next level, ensuring your equipment is reliable and tailored to your needs on the battlefield.
Order Genuine Upgrade & Replacement Parts From Socom Tactical
At Socom Tactical, we stock a wide selection of genuine upgrade and replacement parts for airsoft AEGs and other airsoft weapons. From high-quality motors and precision barrels to hop-up units and more, we have everything you need.
Shop online easily and enjoy free shipping on orders over £100!
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