A Couple Quick Questions

[Flash]

1. What is the minimum operating pressure for a vortex?
2. At that pressure, can I safely use it to airsoft?

I'm on vacation right now and I'm trying to decide if I should build another Nerf gun or try out a BBMG. I want to build a BBMG, but only if I can safely fire it.

[ALIHISGREAT]

well... it really depends on the gun.... if its one with loads of dead space and a crappy loose barrel, the performance will be worse than one with little dead space and an awesome tightbore barrel...

as well as the individual BB power, you need to account for the ROF of vortex guns, would you really want to unleash that on a friend?

and as for using it for airsoft, i assume porper sites won;t allow homemade BBMGs but if you are just mucking around with some friends then consider what i said above.

oh and people tend to run their BBMGs at off compressors, so about 100-120psi will give respectable performance (although i'm unsure of the power)

[Flash]

Thanks. I'm considering using a 100 psi portable air tank regulated down to around 25 psi. Do you think that, combined with a high flow rate valve and a good barrel that adds backspin is safe enough to mess around with friends?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

At 25 psi you should be quite safe, though i would test it against thick cardboard point blank range first to see what sort of damage it could do.

[brogdenlaxmiddie]

I think you should watch some of the video's in my signature. I personally would never go against my BBMG in a game... Look at the Folder video for that... And I'm sure it hurts A LOT, look at the Brother video for that...

[Davidvaini]

I've used vortex's up to 125 psi on people without complaints.

25 psi is a little low and I would recommend going to at least 50psi.

A good rule of thumb is at 80-115bb/sec you will want it to be under 350fps with .20g bbs.

[psycix]

I've used vortex's up to 125 psi on people without complaints.

25 psi is a little low and I would recommend going to at least 50psi.

I do not agree completely with that.
A 125psi BBMG with a short, crappy barrel MAY be outperformed by a 25psi BBMG with a long, tight one.
But yes, 25 is indeed very low.

It also heavily depends on the distance of your target.
And also unmentioned: your ammo. Using lightweight ammo thats small in diameter will hurt less then using big fat lead balls.

[Flash]

brogdenlaxmiddie: I'm not seeing your signature
EDIT: I see it now, I just had to reload the page.

I'll be using plastic airsoft bbs. In any case, I can always raise or lower the pressure using a regulator.

On a side note, does anyone know how much adding backspin effects the range of bbs?

[Ragnarok]

A quick question from me, what part of this rule:

4. Topic titles must be descriptive.
Example:
A good example is "Help needed with ignition".
A bad example is "HEEEEELP!".

Was so misunderstood that you thought the topic title "A Couple Quick Questions" was acceptable?

Seriously, pick a title like "Vortex Pressure Questions", which will be more likely to catch the eye of people who can help, and avoid annoying people like me - "A Couple Quick Questions" tells people nothing.

[Davidvaini]

I do not agree completely with that.
A 125psi BBMG with a short, crappy barrel MAY be outperformed by a 25psi BBMG with a long, tight one.

Actually at 120psi with .20g bbs with a standard airsoft barrel you start to get a decrease in velocity after around 14 inches because of friction. (no hopup))

With a hopup you can go with a longer barrel but I wouldnt suggest going over a 21" barrel.

To your credit you did say a short crappy barrel... but either way my comment above was regarding a tightbore barrel at 14 inches.

I would suggest chronographing your results before using it on other people. 350fps at 80-115bb/sec with .20g is safe.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I've used vortex's up to 125 psi on people without complaints.

0.12g BBs at 90 psi from a ghetto BBMG - I would NOT want that thing pointed at me! It must be pointed out though, this was at a few feet. BB velocity and dispertion decreases rapidly with range, so if you limit yourself to say 30 feet or more you should be fine.

[psycix]

Actually at 120psi with .20g bbs with a standard airsoft barrel you start to get a decrease in velocity after around 14 inches because of friction. (no hopup))

That just depends on how much of air you've got. (chamber size and flow)