This is a review and comparison of the best airsoft sniper rifles in 2023, I have ranked these best airsoft snipers by criteria that are essential for sniping performance. This review covers sniper rifles for players at all budgets and for any experience level.
I’ve created a spreadsheet of the important specs of each of these airsoft sniper rifles so that you can easily compare and sort by the specs that are important to you, this way you can choose the best airsoft sniper rifle for you personally.
Each player is going to have different preferences for sniper rifles, so I’ve done my best to create an unbiased list of the best airsoft sniper rifles.
Also, for fun, I reviewed and compared some awesome-looking sniper rifles that you might not necessarily want to bring out into the battlefield but would be cool to own for aesthetics or to periodically play with. You can find them at the end of this post.
This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you!
Let’s continue…
Table of Contents
What Criteria Makes An Airsoft Sniper Rifle The Best?
- Accuracy / FPS Consistency
- Overall FPS (Feet per Second)
- Upgradeability
- Easy In-Game Hop-Up Adjustability
- Durability
- Adjustability
- Price
- Stealth
- Magazine Capacity
- Weight
- Cool Factor / Aesthetics
Top 3 Airsoft Sniper Rifle Picks
JG BAR-10 | Novritsch SSG10 A1 | Silverback Desert Tech HTI Bullpup 50 BMG | |
Best Budget | Best Performance To Price Ratio | Best Big-Bore | |
Type | Spring | Spring | Spring |
Avg. FPS | 435 | 700 | 400 |
Weight | 5.0 | 4.4 | 12 |
Price* | 140 | 300 | 880 |
Availability | Shop Evike | Shop Novritsch | Shop Evike |
Best Airsoft Sniper Rifles Comparison Spreadsheet
Click on the headings below to organize the spreadsheet based on what you find most important in an airsoft sniper rifle.
VSR-10 Platform Airsoft Sniper Rifles | What You Need To Know
A VSR-10 is an airsoft sniper rifle platform. This platform has been around for a long time and thus many different manufacturers have made their own VSR-10 sniper rifles. This is great because most VSR-10 parts are compatible with other VSR-10’s. For this reason, there are a host of upgrades (more than any other sniper platform) available for snipers that have a VSR-10 platform. Upgradability is very important for airsoft snipers because it allows you to grow with your gun as you gain experience sniping in airsoft.
Many airsoft snipers choose to buy an inexpensive VSR-10 airsoft sniper rifle, knowing that they are going to spend money to upgrade it right away. This way they can spend money on upgrades that will actually make the gun better than many more expensive sniper rifles out-of-the-box.
Best Airsoft Sniper Rifles For In-Game Performance
Novritsch SSG10 A1
This is one of the best airsoft snipers on the market, read my Novritsch SSG10 A1 hands-on review here. The A1 model is the least expensive Novritsch SSG10, but the only difference between the A1 vs the more expensive A2 & A3 is the external design. This means that with the A1 you’re still getting basically the same gun as the A2 and A3 as far as performance but in a more affordable package.
You sacrifice some adjustability but it’s worth it if you’re looking to get an excellent sniper for a good price. The Novritsch SSG10 A1 is arguably the best airsoft sniper rifle for your money because you’re getting the best price-to-performance ratio.
The SSG10 A1 is light, only weighing 4.41 lbs, and is a simple design that is packed full of pro features so you don’t need to worry about upgrading this gun when it arrives like you would a VSR-10. That said, the SSG10 A1 is a VSR-10 platform and can take some VSR-10 parts.
You can buy this airsoft sniper rifle with an M220 spring, which shoots +/- 700 FPS, making it the fastest sniper rifle out-of-the-box on this list.
One of the biggest factors this rifle gets the number one spot on this list is that Novritsch offers a 25-year warranty for free spare parts. No other companies offer such a great warranty. This is huge because, with a guarantee like that, it means the company must ensure quality products to stay in business.
Tokyo Marui VSR-10 G-Spec
One of the longest-standing best airsoft snipers of all time is the Tokyo Marui VSR-10. One of the best features of this gun is that its upgradability is unmatched, this gun will grow with you for that reason.
VSR-10 parts are specifically designed to fit the Tokyo Marui sniper rifles making upgrades very easy to install so you don’t have to do make-shift mods that damage your gun, fail, or look ugly. It’s basically plug-and-play with these rifles when it comes to aftermarket upgrades.
Tokyo Marui snipers always have a low FPS out of the box, but with a spring upgrade, you can get this gun as fast as you want. The air-seal is solid so the FPS remains very consistent, which leads to better accuracy. Additionally, there is basically no ceiling when it comes to FPS because you can make the gun as powerful as you want by upgrading it.
This G-Spec version is quiet due to the added suppressor that comes with the gun. The G-Spec version also comes with a rail where you can mount a scope. The non-G-Spec version does not include a rail, you need to purchase it separately.
The hop-up is also very easy to find on the side of the gun and can be adjusted in-field on the fly.
JG BAR-10 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
This JG BAR-10 is a near replica of the Tokyo Marui VSR-10. This is very useful because as mentioned above, the Tokyo Marui VSR-10 is one of the most upgradable guns because it has the most aftermarket parts. Thus, you can pretty much expect the exact same upgradability from the JG BAR-10, meaning you can really make this gun outstanding and have it grow with you.
Although there is a lot of upgrade potential with this gun, you might choose not to upgrade it (at least for a while) because it comes already pre-upgraded out-of-the-box. This is one of the biggest reasons to go with the JG BAR-10 over the Tokyo Marui VSR-10. If you don’t like the fiddle factor of upgrading your own guns, this sniper could be for you.
The upgraded components that come with the JG BAR-10 include an upgraded metal trigger box, a 400+ FPS high power spring, sturdy bipod mount, VSR-10 scope mount, sling loops, metal bolt, and metal cylinder assembly.Â
The JG BAR-10 is much less expensive than the iconic Tokyo Marui VSR-10, even though the JG BAR-10 is basically an upgraded version of the Tokyo Marui VSR-10. For this reason, the JG BAR-10 is one of the best rifles out there for both quality and price, making it one of the best airsoft snipers on the market right now.
Novritsch SSG10 A3
Novritsch SSG10 A3 has a lot of external adjustability benefits over the A1, so it is more expensive. The adjustability in combination with the great performance of the SSG10 A3 makes it one of the best airsoft snipers on this list.
The A3 weighs 4.4 lbs, basically the same as the A1. The A3’s design is more futuristic with improved adjustability in the stock for a perfect fit. The stock is also foldable for easy transport. Also, there are MLOK slots for additional rail attachments.
Because the SSG10’s come with excellent internals you don’t need to worry about upgrading it like you would a VSR-10. That said, the SSG10 A1 is a VSR-10 platform so you can use some VSR-10 parts to upgrade this gun.
You can buy these airsoft sniper rifles with an M220 spring, which shoots +/- 700 FPS, making it the fastest sniper rifle out-of-the-box on this list.
This Novritsch airsoft sniper rifle also comes with a 25-year warranty for free spare parts. This is huge because, with a guarantee like that, it means the company must ensure quality products to stay in business.
You will want to glue the interchangeable bolt handle because it will come loose with use.
Maple Leaf MLC 338 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
The Maple Leaf MLC 338 is one of the best airsoft snipers on this list because this gun comes with the best Maple Leaf upgrade parts, including the crisp 90º zero 0-trigger, hop-up chamber set with Maple Leaf bucking, zero-resistance cylinder for smooth bolt racking, and a better air seal. It is a VSR-10 Platform so there is a lot of upgradeability possible with this gun, although out of the box, it has great specs due to the upgrades.Â
The gun is also very adjustable, you can add or remove stock spacers to get the perfect length of pull, and adjust the comb height for a perfect vertical fit so your aim down sight speed is quick, effortless, and comfortable.
Some airsoft sniper rifles have the issue of the bolt getting in the way of the safety mechanism. The Maple Leaf does not have this problem.Â
This gun is one of the faster out-of-the-box airsoft sniper rifles with a chronograph of +/- 490-500 FPS, it packs a punch. This sniper weighs +/- 6.2 lbs, so it is fairly lightweight but heavy enough so that it feels realistic and well-made.
Silverback TAC41P Airsoft Sniper Rifle
The Silverback TAC41P is a fantastic out-of-the-box airsoft sniper rifle. A big reason for this is that this sniper was not based on a real-world sniper rifle. For this reason, there were fewer limitations during the design phase and could focus on the performance of the gun.
The body of this sniper rifle is made out of a durable polymer and the profile is very slim which makes it handle well. The adjustable cheek riser and recoil pad spacers allow for a perfect fit when shouldering the gun. The hop-up is also easily adjustable for in-game use.
This gun gets around 400+ FPS and has a great air seal that gives the sniper great FPS consistency which leads to increased accuracy. The hop-up is a dial located at the top of the barrel just after the scope mount.
Silverback Desert Tech SRS-A2
The Silverback SRS-A2 is the newer model of the SRS-A1. The SRS-A2 has many similarities to its predecessor but is sleeker and lighter. The A2 weighs 5.5 lbs whereas the A1 weighs 7.4 lbs, almost a 2 lbs difference. Another great feature is that just about every SRS-A1 part is compatible with the SRS-A2 which makes this gun upgradeable.
The SRS-A2 is also easily adjustable so you get exactly what you’re looking for out of comfort with this gun. For example, there is an adjustable cheek riser for fast aiming down sight speed when shouldering the rifle. The hop-up is also easily adjustable on the fly for easy in-game use.
It has a very good air seal which means the FPS consistency is also good, thus increasing overall accuracy. Out of the box this gun shoots +/- 400 FPS.
One of the only downsides to this gun is that you can feel a little cramped when using the bolt because with the bullpup design, the bolt comes back close to the head when racking another round.
Overall, the SRS-A2 is one of the best airsoft sniper rifles on the market.
Modify Mod24 USR150 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
The Modify Mod24 USR150 is one of the best airsoft sniper rifles because it is built solid with full metal internal construction. The internals of this gun are also high-performing right out of the box so if you’re looking for a sniper with minimal upgrade fiddle factor out of the box, this would be a great option.
This is a great sniper but is a little lower on the list only because it does not have the same upgradability as a VSR-10. An upgraded VSR-10 can outperform a stock Mod24 USR150 but there is fiddle-factor involved to get a VSR-10 to the same or better level.
As far as out-of-the-box performance goes, the Modify Mod24 USR150 is tough to beat and likely has the best range, accuracy, and reliability out of any of the guns on this list making it one of the best airsoft snipers.
Tokyo Marui L96 AWS Airsoft Sniper Rifle
Tokyo Marui makes their own L96 line of sniper rifles and it offers basically the same comfort and adjustability that you would expect from an L96. For example, a comfortable thumbhole stock, adjustable cheek riser, and adjustable recoil pads to adjust the length of pull to get a perfect fit.
There are decent upgrades for these rifles and you can buy upgrade kits that are specifically designed for this gun. That said, there are not as many options as the VRS-10 rifles.
One feature of the Tokyo Marui L96 AWS is that it has a realistic magazine placement which makes it handle more like a real L96 sniper rifle, giving it a more accurate feel and handling. The hop-up on this rifle is easy to use and is found on the bottom of the gun.
This L96 is heavy but very durable and reliable due to it being made with a strong plastic body and all of the important parts are made of metal.
Because Tokyo Marui guns always have a low FPS out-of-the-box you’ll likely want a spring upgrade.
Tokyo Marui M40A5 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
Like you would expect from Tokyo Marui, their M40A5 is a well-built sniper rifle consisting of a strong plastic body with metal parts to prevent wear over time. Although the Tokyo Marui M40A5 is not a VSR-10, it gives the VSR-10 a run for the money. It’s a very accurate gun because of its FPS consistency.
It also comes with a front rail system which gives it a little more customizability out of the box than some other snipers.Â
The M40A5 also offers some adjustability because it comes with stock spacers to adjust your length of pull and a cheek riser for a perfect line of sign when shouldering your gun. You will notice that the trigger travels but with a little practice, you can feel the back wall and the trigger is crisp at that point.
The Tokyo Marui M40A5 has a fairly low FPS (around 292-300) when compared to other sniper rifles. So, you’ll likely want to consider upgrading this gun for more speed. Also, it is not interchangeable with VSR-10 parts, so the upgrade potential for this gun is less than VSR-10s.
ASG McMillan USMC M40A3 Sport Line
The ASC McMillan M40A3 is similar in appearance and adjustability when compared to the Toyko Marui M40A5. For example, this sniper comes with stock spacers to adjust your length of pull and a cheek riser for a perfect line of sign when shouldering your gun.
The receiver and barrel of the gun are made out of aluminum and the body is made of high-strength polymer. With these lighter materials, the gun weighs 7.5 lbs, which is light compared to the 16.5 lbs of the real M40A3 sniper rifle.
The ASC McMillan M40A3 makes the list because of its affordable price point and because it is ready to go out of the box. There is little need to upgrade this airsoft sniper rifle right away, making it one of the best airsoft snipers. That said, there are upgrade parts that will fit in this gun if you want to increase performance.
CYMA M40A3 VSR-10 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
One of the main reasons why this sniper made the list is because of the price point and upgradeability.
This sniper is very affordable, making it a great option for those just getting into airsoft sniping without breaking the bank. Additionally, because this is a VSR-10 sniper platform it has a host of options when it comes to upgradability allowing you to grow with the gun. For these reasons, it is one of the best airsoft snipers.
That said, if you are planning to buy this gun you will likely want to plan on making upgrades because it’s a pretty basic gun out of the box. But with the upgrade potential, you can make this gun a beast.
It is important to note that this gun has a weaver rail mount and not a Picatinny for mounting scopes.
WELL L96 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
The L96 is another well-known airsoft sniper rifle model. This model has been around for a long time. Many different manufacturers make their own version of the L96 which is beneficial because this has allowed for a lot of upgrade options. That said, due to slight variations in models from different manufacturers you need to do your research to determine which upgrades will work with this gun.
One of the benefits of the L96 over other sniper rifles is its comfort and adjustability. The thumbhole stock is really comfortable on the wrist when shooting, especially when prone. It also has an adjustable cheek riser so you can easily and quickly get a good sight picture when pulling up to look through the scope. Additionally, you can adjust the recoil pads on the end of the stock to adjust the overall length and length of pull that fits you perfectly.
This L96 is also affordable when compared to other companies that make the L96, like Tokyo Marui. Out of the box, the Well L96 comes with many metal parts for better longevity and reliability and can shoot 400+ FPS, making it one of the best airsoft sniper rifles for the price.
S&T USMC M40A3 Airsoft Sniper Rifle (With PDI Internals)
The S&T USMC M40A3 with PDI internals is one of the best airsoft snipers because you’re getting an upgraded sniper rifle right out of the box. With the PDI upgrades already installed on this gun you get; PDI steel internals to prevent part wear, a 90-degree trigger sear, stainless steel cylinder, an upgraded spring that reaches 500 FPS, and a PDI scope rail mount.
There is also some adjustability for added comfort. For example, it comes with an adjustable cheek riser so you get a perfect line of sight when looking through your scope. Additionally, the gun comes with segments to lengthen the recoil pad in order to adjust the length of pull for the perfect fit.
The biggest benefit of this airsoft sniper rifle is that it’s a good value gun. You also don’t need to worry about upgrading your sniper yourself because it comes pre-upgraded. That said, this sniper is compatible with some VSR-10 Parts so you have the option to keep upgrading. For these reasons, the S&T USMC M40A3 is one of the best airsoft sniper rifles.
One downside is that the hop-up is difficult to adjust in-game so keep that in mind if that is important to you.Â
AMOEBA Striker S1 Gen2
There are two unique features of the AMOEBA Striker S1 Gen 2. The first is that there is an open bolt design. This means that you can see the ammo going into the chamber when racking a round into the gun. Another benefit of this bolt is that it’s shorter, thus you don’t need to pull the bolt back as far as other sniper rifles, allowing for faster follow-up shots.
The magazine is located in the correct spot on the rifle, making it feel more realistic. A lot of other sniper rifles (like many VSR-10s) do not have accurate magazine placement.
There are also a wide variety of upgrade parts for the Gen 2 Striker, although different parts of the gun come from different manufacturers. For example, there are VSR-10 compatible parts, AMOEBA hop-up parts, and AEG compatible parts. You’ll want to do your research when upgrading this gun to ensure parts will fit.
USMC M40A5 Airsoft Sniper Rifle (PDI Custom Upgraded)
This USMC M40A5 makes the list of best airsoft snipers because of its high-quality out-of-the-box performance due to the PDI upgrades. It comes with a high-power stainless steel cylinder, PDI Spring system compatible with some VSR-10 springs. Out of the box, this sniper can shoot +/- 410-430 FPS, and with VSR-10 upgrades it can shoot even faster. It also comes with a PDI trigger system including steel trigger sear, trigger, transfer bar, and bolt retainer.
This gun also has some adjustability with the comb height and recoil pad length for a perfect aim-down-sight fit.
One downside to this gun is that the hop-up is tricky to use and can be a pain in-game. You will probably want to upgrade to a new hop-up.
The M40A5 is not a light gun, it’s a realistic weight of 7.13 lbs and quite long. You’ll also notice it is blocky and beefy overall, however for this reason it feels sturdy and unbreakable.
The Best Airsoft Sniper Rifles With Cool-Factor
ARES M40A6 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
This rifle is mostly constructed from high-strength aluminum with some smaller parts being made of steel. The aluminum helps it from weighing a lot compared to if it were steel. That said, because of the aluminum construction you may see some wear.
One of the best features of this gun is how adjustable and customizable it is. There are a lot of rails for attachments and the stock is basically infinitely adjustable so that you can an absolutely perfect fit on your rifle. The stock also folds for easier transportation. There is also a bipod stud on the forearm of the gun.
The ARES M40A6 is heavy and weighs about 7.6 lbs with no attachments with a 41-inch length. Because of its size and price, it is not the most efficient gun to take on the battlefield. That said if you’re after a cool-looking sniper rifle that still works pretty good the ARES M40A6 is a great choice.
There are some options for upgrading this sniper rifle and would recommend the upgrades if you plan to use this sniper a lot in a battle to help this gun perform better.
WELL MB4411 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
The Well MB 4411 is very similar to the M40A6 in looks and it is much more affordable. It’s a highly customizable sniper rifle with a plethora of rails for adding attachments. It also has an adjustable cheek riser (up, down, forward, backward) so you see perfectly down the scope when you shoulder the gun. It shoots a pretty fast 400+ FPS. The stock folds up which is nice because it makes the overall length shorter and easier to transport.
The MB 4411 is one of the most comfortable and customizable guns on this list. That said, it is lacking in durability in some cases because the rails are known to come loose and fall off. It is also a very heavy gun weighing in at 11.5 lbs. For these reasons, it’s not the most efficient gun to have on the battlefield, but it’s an awesome-looking airsoft sniper rifle.
Barrett M82A1 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
There’s no real benefit to having the Barret M82A1 other than it’s a badass-looking gun that you can brag about to your friends. It would be fun to play with but it’s not the most efficient gun to use on the battlefield. It’s not more powerful than other spring-powered sniper rifles, getting around 380-400 FPS. It’s also very heavy coming in at 12.4 lbs, tied for the heaviest gun on this list.
The Barrett M82 made the list because sometimes having a badass gun is more fun, and having fun is what airsoft is all about.
Barrett M107A1 Gen2 Airsoft Sniper Rifle
The Barrett M107A1 has almost identical specs to the Barrett M82A1, except it’s slightly more expensive.
Like the M82A1 there’s no real benefit to having the Barret M107A1 either other than it’s a sweet-looking gun that would be fun to play with. This rifle is not more powerful than other spring-powered sniper rifles, getting around 380-400 FPS. It’s also heavy coming in at 12.4 lbs.
Silverback Desert Tech HTI Bullpup 50 BMG
The Desert Tech HTI 50 BMG airsoft sniper rifle is light compared to other large-bore airsoft sniper rifles but it is heavy when compared to the smaller bore sniper rifles, which is to be expected. Because of this bullpup design, this gun is one of the best sniper rifles because it is one of the very few large-caliber sniper rifles that would actually be practical for in-game use.
The action is smooth and shoots standard 6mm airsoft bbs. This sniper is upgradeable, so there is some room for improving this gun which is always an added bonus. There is a high FPS ceiling for this reason. Because of the great air-seal of this sniper, the FPS consistency is great which means better accuracy.
One con of this gun is that it is heavy, +/- 12 lbs, which is to be expected out of a 50 cal model airsoft sniper rifle. This gun is basically an SRS-A2 on steroids, everything is bulkier. For example, the barrel and the mags are bigger. The gun is made out of aluminum and high-strength polymer. With this extra size, you do not see much difference in FPS, it reaches +/- 400 FPS out of the box.
Another thing to keep in mind is the bullpup design can make racking the bolt a little awkward because it is right next to your cheek. Lastly, there is a hop-up but it is difficult to use in-game because it requires the use of a tool. However, this hop-up can be upgraded with the SRS hop-up which is easily adjusted in-game.
Tanaka Works Kar98K
The Tanaka Works Kar 98K airsoft sniper rifles are beautifully made replicas of the real German-made Kar98Ks. The Tanaka Kar98K is one of the best airsoft snipers for realism and cool-factor. They have a stunning wooden body and have all metal parts. For this reason, the Kar98K weighs 7.3 lbs which is a normal weight for a real sniper rifle, which makes it feel like the real thing.
Because of the realism and price tag of these sniper rifles, they’re also a great collector’s item. That said, if you do plan to take this sniper into the battlefield they also have some upgrade potential, which makes them a little more practical for those looking to get the most out of their Kar98K.
Out of the box, this sniper only shoots 260-280 FPS but it does have a very consistent FPS. However, you’ll probably want to upgrade this rifle to have a higher FPS if you plan to use it in the field so you can stay out of range automatic rifles more effectively.
Matrix Mauser Kar98K
The reason this KAR98K made it on the list is that it’s a nostalgic, classic, and affordable airsoft sniper rifle. If you’re looking for a more affordable Kar98K airsoft sniper rifle than the Tanaka Works, the Matrix Mauser Kar98K is one of the best airsoft snipers for this reason.
Instead of real wood, the body is made of plastic imitation wood which reduces the realism but greatly helps the price tag (it’s 4.5x less expensive).
A benefit of this gun over the Tanaka Works Model is that it shoots faster (360-400 FPS) out of the box, compared to the Tanaka’s 260- 280 FPS.
How Far Can Airsoft Sniper Rifles Shoot Accurately?
The average out-of-the-box airsoft sniper rifle shoots around 400 FPS with .20g bbs. These snipers are accurate out to about +/- 30-yards out of the box. However, with some simple tuning you can get these guns to shoot +/- 60 yards.
Airsoft Sniper Rifle Springs
To get more range out of your airsoft sniper rifle you may want to upgrade to a more powerful spring. Springs that can launch .20g bbs 600 FPS+ are on the more powerful end of an airsoft sniper. Some regulations restrict how powerful your airsoft spring is so make sure to check your regulations. These snipers can shoot slightly over 100 yards.
Best BB’s For Airsoft Sniping
To increase your accuracy at longer ranges you’ll want a heavier bb. Heavy bbs are less affected by wind and fly straiter with proper tuning. The right bb choice for you will depend on your gun and what your hop-up can handle.
Using heavier bbs does lower your FPS but it’s worth it for the added accuracy. Additionally, a heavier bb is more likely to be felt by the player you are shooting because it has more energy behind it compared to a lighter bb that may not be felt at all at longer ranges.
Conclusion
There are a lot of great airsoft sniper rifles on the market right now and each has tradeoffs. Each individual player will have their own personal style of sniping gameplay so there is no one best airsoft sniper rifle for everyone. That said, some airsoft snipers are undeniably better than others and it is important to know why before purchasing your sniper.
Hopefully, this post helped you understand why some airsoft snipers are better than others and helped better inform you on the best airsoft snipers for your personal style.
What snipers do you think should be on this list? Let me know in the comments below.
Related Posts:
- Novritsch SSG10 A1 Review (Hands On) | Best Airsoft Sniper Rifle?
- 15 Best Cheap Airsoft Sniper Rifles For Beginners On A Budget
- 13 Best Cheap Airsoft Guns For Beginners On A Budget
Find Me On:
Credits:
-
- Novritsch
- Evike
- @Firinglinephotography (Feature Image)