Airsoft Magazine: High Cap vs Mid Cap
This has been a never ending topic on the field and at airsoft forums. What’s the best airsoft magazine to have, high cap vs mid cap?
For those new to airsoft, there are 3 types of airsoft magazines. Low capacity (low cap), mid capacity (mid cap), and high capacity (high cap). Low cap magazines are not so popular; they are usually from the early Tokyo Marui guns and hold roughly 80 rounds of BBs each and the action that pushes the BBs up is by spring. Mid cap magazines holds 100-130 BBs per magazine and like low cap magazine they are also spring action. While most high cap magazines hold 300-600 BBs and others even more.
High cap magazines can carry 300-600 BBs and some can even hold up to 1000 rounds and requires lesser maintenance. With its great capacity, the player has to wind the magazine constantly which in turn winds the internal spring that turns some gear mechanism to push the BBs up and ensure continuous feeding of BBs. Another drawback of high cap magazine is that once it is half full, BBs inside the magazine can be heard rattling specially when running.
Mid cap magazines can hold 100-130 rounds and are spring action. This means that unlike high cap magazines the BBs are pushed up by a coiled spring thus the need to “wind” is gone. This requires a little more maintenance and greasing but because of its design, it doesn’t make rattling BB sound when you shake it.
We have to admit that airsoft is airsoft. And having a 30 round clip won’t cut it and a 130 round mid cap sounds really good, it captures the realism of having few rounds while compensating the reality of airsoft. This is great that is if you are the milsim type player. But sometimes you like to get in the middle of the action, unlimited regen, 600 round magazines and sending hundreds of BBs down range like on PS3 or Xbox and that’s cool too.
To think about it, it's more on player preference than which one is better or best but it usually comes down to the rules of the game you are joining. Some games require mid caps only, others 2 high caps and unlimited mid caps, and some high caps only. There are also games that do not have magazine restrictions and this is the time when you be you. Bring whatever magazine type you like and game on!
Airsoft is about having fun and the more trigger time you get, the more fun right?! And if you really need a number, it should be safe to say that having 2 high cap magazines and 8 mid cap magazines in your collection should be enough to get you in most airsoft games around.