The Beast-Turning a Paintball Gun Into an Airsoft Sniper Rifle

Do you play Airsoft? Do you play paintball?

Have you ever wanted one of those insanely powerful Airsoft sniper rifles, but could not afford the 300$+ price tag? Are you tired of paintball, and want to get into Airsoft, but don't want to shell out the big money for a new gun?

Problems: solved. 

I have created a simple Airsoft conversion kit for any side- or elbow loading, semiautomatic Paintball gun. I used a Tippmann 98 custom. This paintball gun is probably one of the most simple and reliable guns out there, and I recommend having one anyway. Even if you spend the $140 (US) to buy one new, then do the conversion on it, you will still come out ahead of the price of an Airsoft sniper with comparable performance. 

I recently found out that there is a company that makes something similar to this, the Barrage Barrel.
I have not used one of these Barrage Barrels (yet), but by reading the reviews, I have compiled a list of pros and cons of my gun system Vs. the Barrage barrel 

The Beast
Pros:

• Fully realized system, making the paintball gun much more like a real gun in shape and use.
• More streamlined system, allowing full prone positioning because the gas canister is not under the arm.
• Barrel length and bore are open to full customization.
• System allows for easy internal modification.
• Can be effectively suppressed.
• With tweaking, a high degree of tactically applicable accuracy can be obtained.

Cons:

• The current loading system gives the gun a rate of fire equivalent to that of a single-shot bolt-action sniper.
• Barrel has no built-in hop-up system.
• Attachment of forward canister rack requires the forward grip to be cut up, and a hole drilled in the gun itself, although with no side effects.
• Accuracy is heavily affected by atmospheric conditions, due to the gas system.

The Barrage Barrel
Pros:

• Super tough and simple, no moving parts.
• Extremely easy conversion- you just screw it on.
• Extremely reliable.
• Allows for full-semiautomatic fire.
• holds around 60 BBs
• Extremely accurate FPS control system.

Cons:

• Reports of terrible accuracy at medium to long range.
• High replacement cost- you can't just replace a single part.
• Unknown barrel bore measurements.
• Only 10 inch barrel available.
• Not able to be effectively silenced. 
• Shiny coating makes it really stand out in a game.

There is my simple breakdown of the pros/cons. I will let you be the judge. All that aside, however, I am here to show you how to build this conversion. This conversion outlines the steps to convert a Tippmann 98 Custom. 

-Note- This was the first Beast I made. This details loosely how I made this gun. In several months I will have built a new version, with much more detailed instructions for you! Consider this the Beta version.

Step 1 Tools

To make this conversion, you will need:

• Power drill
• Various drill bits
• Allen Wrenches
• screwdrivers
• wrenches 
• pliers
• a vise or something to hold stuff steady
• hacksaw  or reciprocating saw
• tubing cutter (or use the saw instead)
• tape measure or ruler

Comments

[The Cartographer]

This is awesome and exactly what I need, thanks! : )

[ilpug]

If you make one, show us!

[Aron313]

Wheres the mag or hopper that the bbs go in? And how much does it hold?

[ilpug]

There is none. You load them one per shot into the breech valve, much like a bolt action sniper rifle.

[Aron313]

Oh. Ok. Still a nice gun!!!

[ilpug]

Thanks! Make one!

[Aron313]

Thats probaby what im going to do i dont have a tippman tho so im gonna probably have a different set up. Im still gonna try.

[airsoftbeast40]

Pretty dang cool. Ill give you props for doing this but i think ill stick with my manufactured DMR haha.

[ilpug]

Thanks! I would probably stay with that gun too, this one is more of a support weapon, not a DMR.

[airsoftbeast40]

How do you use a single fire gun as a support weapon? Im thinking of a support weapon as like a light machine gun.

[ilpug]

There are multiple kinds of support weapons, ranging from long-range anti-material, to mortars, to LMGs. This serves the purpose of a long-range anti-material rifle, due to the extreme range and power, along with the sheer OHCRAP-ness that results from this thing being fired at you.

[onrust]

nice