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Airsoft is all about precision and accuracy, and the Hop-Up bucking plays a pivotal role in achieving just that. This inconspicuous component is responsible for imparting spin on the BBs, controlling their trajectory, and ultimately ensuring your shots hit the mark. While your finger is pulling the trigger, the hop-up bucking is setting the cannon. Without this little rubber master-work of airsoft engineering, your BB would only be able to fly a measly 20-30 feet before plummeting to the ground. For many players, upgrading the bucking is must-do operation. Who wouldn't want a substantial accuracy boost for such a small asking price?
That sounds awesome! But what even is a hop-up bucking?
At its core, a Hop-Up bucking is a rubber or silicone sleeve that fits around the inner barrel of your airsoft gun. As the airsoft BB is propelled out of your magazine, it makes contact with the bucking. The friction of the rubber striking the top of the BB applies backspin to the sphere, allowing it to seemingly "float" through the air. This physics phenomenon is known as the Magnus effect, and is responsible for making our long range engagements in airsoft so fun!
Not all buckings are created equally, however. The world of airsoft buckings is as diverse as it is nuanced. Many variations exist, differing in rubber hardness and design of the contact patch. The rubber's hardness affects how much backspin is imparted, while the contact patch design influences how evenly this force is distributed. These factors are pivotal, and require some consideration of your airsoft gun's FPS (feet per second) and the weight of the BBs you intend to use. An airsoft bucking also (usually) requires a nub, which is tiny piece of rubber that is used to carefully apply pressure to the hop-up bucking. Different buckings can call for different nubs, so be sure to consider whether the bucking you're selecting requires one.
If you're planning to upgrade your bucking, keep in mind there are two primary designs for buckings.
This is an AEG bucking, and is commonly seen on most electric airsoft rifles.
This a VSR10 bucking, and is commonly seen on gas blowbacks and bolt-action sniper rifles.
Alright. Which one is the best for my airsoft gun?
While a straightforward question on paper, the amount of variables involved can make it a bit tricky to answer. There is no single "best" bucking for every airsoft gun. Even for airsoft guns in the same category, certain brands may be pickier than others when it comes to installing aftermarket parts. For example the G&G Hopup Bucking for Airsoft AEG w/ Cold-Resistant Material bucking has been a historically popular budget upgrade bucking in the hobby. However, it does not operate well in the Matrix / S&T Sportsline M4 RIS Airsoft AEG Rifle w/ G3 Micro-Switch Gearbox (Model: Black URX 3.1 8") despite its otherwise effective use as a reliable upgrade. You should always consult with an expert, such as our knowledgeable staff at Evike.com, before choosing any upgrade part for your rifle.
Installing an airsoft bucking is typically one of the easier upgrade procedures in the airsoft hobby. However, improper installation is common. A poorly installed bucking can damage the involved components and worsen your accuracy. If you're unsure about disassembling your rifle or simply just want to make sure your parts are installed with the highest degree of expertise, consider taking it in to one of our many Evike.com locations to be serviced!
Nevertheless, here are some of our picks for the best bucking choices categorized by what role they suit best!
Indoor/CQB Buckings (1.0J to 1.14J)
CQB skirmishes usually demand a different set of hardware than outdoor games. Generally, airsoft guns with a lower velocity will also be running lighter BBs, which operate better with softer, lighter contact buckings. Here are three that I recommend for that purpose!
The Prometheus Purple bucking is probably the first upgrade bucking that comes to mind to any veteran airsoft player. While there are more modern options on the market, this bucking stands the test of time as one of the most reliable performance enhancers you can buy. It functions fantastically in a wide variety of rifles, especially in the realm of CQB. 0.2G - 0.28G BBs perform best with this bucking.
This bucking utilizes a dual-contact system in order to help stabilize the spin applied to your bb. Since dual-point buckings come into contact with less of the BB in total, they're typically recommended for accuracy rather than pure range. At CQB ranges, this bucking helps keep those shorter distance shots as straight as possible. 0.2G - 0.28G BBs perform best with this bucking.
The Maple Leaf 60 Degree Autobot bucking is the tried and true champion of pistol buckings. It's sheer ability to improve range and accuracy has earned itself the honor of being an option for some pre-installed pistol upgrade suites. If your pistol or CQB GBBR is compatible with this bucking, getting it installed is a no-brainer for those who demand precision.
Outdoor/All-Around buckings (1.1J to 1.5J)
In order to maximize your airsoft guns range, you're going to need to run heavier BBs. In order to run heavier BBs, you're going to need a high quality bucking. Here are three buckings I recommend for bringing your airsoft gun's range and accuracy to the absolute max!
Designed with input from many of the industry's leading techs, the EMG Atlas is one of the most advanced buckings airsoft has to offer. First of all, a bucking is a consumable part. Every time it comes into contact with the BB, a small portion of rubber is ground off. This is why the EMG Atlas comes with two buckings for the price of one; You're kept insured with a back up on hand in case any performance begins to decline. While it does come with an included nub, we recommend the Modify Baton Ryusoku Flat Hopup Bucking Spacer for Airsoft AEGs for best performance. With this nub, 0.25G - 0.32G BBs perform best with this bucking.
A personal favorite of the author! The Slong bucking wonderfully combines many of the genius design choices of airsoft's greatest buckings. Firstly, it takes advantage of a soft rubber material to ensure it feeds reliably in a wide range of airsoft guns. Second, it uses a concave patch design that uniformly applies backspin to the top of the BB for maximum consistency. And lastly, it has a ribbed exterior to keep the air seal to your hop up unit as tight as can be! This bucking has impressed me time and time again, especially when paired with the EMG / Maxx Model CNC Aluminum Hopup Chamber for M4 Airsoft AEG Rifles (Model: M4A / EMG Blue). For optimal performance, this bucking must be paired with a concave nub. The MAXX Hop unit comes stock with one of these concave nub arms, but if you're installing it into an ordinary hop-up unit, you'll need one of these: Maple Leaf Omega OHM Solid Edition Silicone Hop-Up Tensioner (Model: 50 Degree). For this bucking, .28G - .36G is the sweet spot.
As of 2023, many techs have been opting for the Modify Baton Ryusoku flat bucking. A flat-hop bucking maximizes contact with the BB, allowing for more friction to be applied while minimizing the downward force that can cause inaccuracies in your trajectory. Back in the day, many people had to sand down parts of regular buckings to get them to work like a flat bucking. Those days are no more, for Modify has your one-stop-no-awkward-modification option to maximize your rifle's range and accuracy.
Sniper/DMR Buckings (1.5J and beyond)
For those who want to push their airsoft gun's range to the absolute max, we have a few special buckings for you. A bucking with a harder rubber that also has a higher degree of contact with the BB may cause inconsistencies if ran with an airsoft rifle shooting a lower FPS or running lighter BBs. But if you have a marksman rifle and 0.32+ gram BBs lying around, these two bucking picks might be perfect for you.
Airsoft gun range enthusiasts are no stranger the brand Maple Leaf. Time and time again, their unique yet expertly crafted designs have proven to be industry leading in their ability to send BBs flying incredible distances. The Maple Leaf Super buckings in particular use a wide concave contact patch to maximize the BB contact made, allowing for optimal lift even with the heaviest airsoft BBs (this also means that we recommend a flat or concave nub for best results!). To help narrow down the buckings specifications to your specific need, the Maple Leaf Super offers five different options for rubber hardness depending on how hot your rifle is shooting. If 0.32G to 0.4G BBs are what you prefer to blast down range, then this is the bucking for you.
Our final recommendation in the buckings category is none other than the Maple Leaf Mr. Hop. With two spots taken in the sniper category and one in the SMG category, you might be wondering why we're giving so much praise to Maple Leaf. The answer is simple: They're just that good. The Mr. Hop bucking functions particularly great with VSR-10 style snipers, GBB rifles, and even pistols so long as you're using heavy enough BBs. Within the bucking lies an absolutely massive contact patch that ensures you get the BB contact you need to make your rounds fly awe-inspiring distances. 0.3G to 0.43G+ BBs are where this wonderful piece of rubber really begins to shine. If you really want to see some spherical plastic soar, this bucking might just be for you.
Optimizing your airsoft gun's accuracy requires careful consideration of the hop-up unit, bucking material, hardness, and design. Experiment, test, and fine-tune these components to find the perfect combination that suits your playing style and preferences. With dedication and the right upgrades, you can achieve near-pinpoint accuracy on the airsoft battlefield.