If there are two things we can say about the Action Army AAP-01 (besides the fact that it is an enormously popular airsoft pistol), they would be that it both shoots fast and delivers an insane RoF, especially for an airsoft pistol.
On the former point: the Action Army AAP-01 can break 300 FPS, which is pretty fast for a gas pistol, especially considering most green gas Glocks shoot well below 300.
These uncustomarily high muzzle velocities, some airsoft players may find, are compounding issues with accuracy. But it’s not the AAP-01 that’s the problem.
Actually, it’s probably the airsoft ammo. Allow a short explanation.
Why Matching Airsoft Ammo to an Action Army AAP-01 Can Be a Challenge
While most airsoft guns are chronographed with .20g airsoft ammo, the fact of that matter is that, for many of them, .20g is probably just too light,
Truthfully, for most airsoft pistols, you’ll probably never have a problem with .20g ammo. But if you’ve upgraded to an AAP-01, which is faster and more powerful than your average gas blowback pistol, your ammo might need an upgrade too.
When “Light” Airsoft Ammo Is Too Light
The thing about .20g airsoft ammo is that they are light. Like, too light.
But wait, you say – isn’t it a good thing for airsoft pellets to be light? Doesn’t that make them shoot faster and farther?
Well, sort of. You’re half right. Muzzle velocities – just muzzle velocities – will always be higher with lighter airsoft ammo.
But you lose that ballistic advantage within a few yards of the muzzle. The reason for this is that .20g airsoft ammo is the same size as, say, .45g ammo. Since volume is the same, the density of the lighter one must be lower.
Lower density means that air resistance on the lighter ammo is drastically magnified. So what ends up happening is, while the lighter ammo is faster at the muzzle, it quickly decelerates as it gets farther away from the airsoft gun.
Light airsoft ammo simply can’t carry energy and consequently, total range suffers.
Accuracy is another problem. Because it is lighter and more dramatically affected by air resistance, .20g airsoft ammo is more likely to roll to one side or the other unexpectedly, even with a well-adjusted hop-up system.
When Is It Too Heavy?
While it should now be apparent what the potential issues are with lighter airsoft ammo, that doesn’t mean you should automatically shoot the heaviest ammo you can.
While heavier ammo is inherently more stable in the face of air resistance, if you try to shoot ammo that is too heavy, it won’t be long before you start to notice a visibly drooping trajectory.
So how heavy should you go? Well, that’s up to you – you should experiment.
For instance, can the AAP-01 hop .4g or .45g ammo? Possibly, but don’t waste your time. They’re probably too heavy.
Try out your AAP-01 with either .25g, .28g, or even .32g airsoft ammo. It will probably shoot farther and more accurately, all else being equal.
Airsoft Ammo at the Best Prices
Now you just need to get the best airsoft ammo at the best prices. For that, there’s MiR Tactical, online at MiRTactical.com.
They offer the guaranteed lowest prices on airsoft guns and gear, and no airsoft coupon code is required. They even offer low, flat-rate shipping and some orders qualify for free shipping.
This price match guarantee covers airsoft guns like the Action Army AAP-01, by the way, not just airsoft ammo. Check out their website for details or get in touch with them at 800-581-6620.
