Topic: Using an AEG after repeatedly submerging underwater. (Read 4203 times)

CallsignStalker · « **on:** July 19, 2012, 10:34:11 AM »

Like any other person with a decent amount of common sense, your intitial thought on this should be: Battery = Electricity, Electricity + Water = Death.

Now speaking through the ignorance of the average person, I'd like to be able to do this. I've heard rumors of the legendary EBHU (Enemy Bastards Hiding Underwater, Yes I Completely Just Made That Up But Get Over It), at several outdoor fields me and my team appear at regularly. We've always had our feet wet more often than dry because our strategy's usually include using the rivers to cover our movement, over the other option of making our way on dead branches and leaves. Rivers vary in depth at different points though, and we've never been able to use them to their full potential, being that we all use AEG's as our primary. But, if it is true that an AEG can be used after being completely submerged in water, or perhaps with the right modifications, then we could gain a big advantage over opposing teams.

The idea sounds completely idiotic to me, so I want to know what you think or have heard about the topic. Of course I could always try it and find out, considering an AEG battery doesn't have enough voltage to stop a human heart, but I would like to have kids someday.

Limey · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2012, 11:39:24 AM »

You would be surprised. I'm not sure if it's available your side of the pond, but a few years ago the DVD Airsoft Guide Vol1 took a TM AK and a KSC (I think) Glock GBB and first fired them while stood under a garden sprinkler. Next they dunked them both in a tank fully underwater and they both fired fine. Last they fired both while fully submerged, although the fps was reduced by the resistance from the water to the point where the bbs just dribbled out of the end of the barrel

Just remember to strip it down and dry it out properly to prevent rusting etc

deadeye11 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2012, 11:50:32 AM »

I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZugZlHUpQ4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

RLB · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2012, 01:23:23 PM »

Possible rust & corrosion on metal parts if not dried off properly.

CallsignStalker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2012, 09:58:25 PM »

I am surprised. Deadeye, I've actually seen that exact video before in the past, but had no way of knowing if they had modified any part of the wiring or what possible long term effects it may have had on the gearbox aside from rusting.

Drying the water from the gun would be my first action as soon as possible. I would most likely do a quick strip down in between rounds and I would advise anyone who does this to do the same.
A concern of mine is that if I were ever to partake in an overnight milsim operation (which I have yet to do) and submerged the gun early on, how bad would the damage be if I didn't get the chance to properly strip the gun, dry and clean it until the end of the op. What's a minimum time frame a player would have before risking permanent damage to the gearbox? I would assume only a few hours.

Also I know this is possible with GBB's, but are there any extra side effects the water would have on a GBB besides rusting?

lulukchoo23 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2012, 12:38:19 AM »

I remember I saw a video a while back on someone who took their SCAR, I forget which brand uhhhh I think it was VFC? But anyways, the guy took it, disassembled all of the gun (including the battery, I think?), and submerged it all in a tub of water for a while. Then, he took the gun parts out, reassembled the gun, and then successfully fired it.

I'm pretty sure nearly all of AEG's can withstand water well, as long as you throw it in a bag of rice once you're finished being bath buddies.

Buckshot · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2012, 12:57:57 AM »

Theoretically, couldn't you blue all the internal metal components so they wouldn't rust and you wouldn't need to worry about drying it?

DerBoeseKoenig · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2012, 01:02:39 AM »

It would still rust i believe

bzager1 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2012, 01:49:50 AM »

I may be being dense, but I fail to see a plausible situation where you'd need to completely submerge your AEG on purpose (regularly no less!)... I mean, are you really crossing 12 foot deep rivers often at your field? I understand it would be a cool photo or whatever, the quintessential "SEAL rising out of the murky deep" comes to mind... If it was absolutely imperative that I cross water that deep, I would bring a couple heavy duty trashbags, have half your team of elite maritime waterborne operators cover you from the far bank, wrap your rifles in the trash bags, cross, and cover the others as they did likewise. Will it look as cool? No, but I can state with the utmost confidence it'll save you some headaches down the road.

I'm thinking that your biggest issues with repeated submersion is going to be short circuits and accuracy degradation. We preach cleaning your tightbore regularly to keep it from fouling, you're looking at intentionally fouling the barrel with whatever sediment and grit happens to be suspended in your river... I'm theorizing that coupled with the risk to your barrel's accuracy comes the possibility of hydrolocking. If your gritty barrel gets a bb clogged in it I have to assume that your piston will still attempt to compress the air and water in your cylinder, water being an incompressible medium and with nowhere to go something's gonna give, be it the stoppage in the barrel, your piston teeth, etc. etc.
I've seen the videos of people shooting their AEG after submerging them, but I hardly think that it's sustainable as a long term practice, both from a reliability and accuracy standpoint you are asking for trouble dunking your rifle on a regular basis.

thefusescape · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2012, 05:48:26 PM »

Why would you even do this? I play in alot of envirmonts (rural michigan usually) and hour by hour the weather can change here. Never Have I even chased somebody into water deeper than my knees.

aznriptide859 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2012, 06:58:32 PM »

It's really just a "oh look what it can really do" scenario.

I honestly feel that since the voltage/amperage is so low, the water is acting more as a resistor rather than a conductor - the ROF is decreased, but it doesn't impede firing altogether. Firing your GB constantly while submerged though isn't a good idea - the extra resistance force the piston has to endure can't be good for its longevity.

CallsignStalker · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2012, 11:57:01 PM »

Quote from: aznriptide859 on July 20, 2012, 06:58:32 PM

It's really just a "oh look what it can really do" scenario.

Basically yes that's the bulk of even discussing doing this. More often than not there won't be any practical reason for doing this other than to try and show off. Where it would be useful the most to me is at private matches. We hold games in a lot of locations close to our town, Kenosha WI, including along the front of Lake Michigan. There are a few advantages that simply being able to do this would lend you if you have any fields with deeper water found in them. Like someone posted above "why would you even do this I've only ever had to go knee deep at the most", the great majority of fellow players you'll encounter will never expect someone to even be willing to do this. In all honesty have any one of you ever kept an eye on a river bed after checking down it and clearing it once? (Of course I'm only refering to players with fields that have deep enough water)
Aside from a possible unexpected direction of enemy fire, it would be great for getting around faster or slipping behind the line. Especially when the few bridges a river may have are considered a death wish for being such terrible choke points.

I hadn't considered yet the dirt and grit that would end up in your barrel (mentally picturing a world with nothing but water as pure as what we drink). That stops me, I could never willingly reduce my guns accuracy.

Although I would still jump at the chance to do this during summer months.

xspartanl337 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2012, 02:30:09 AM »

Would some form of "barrel plug" be enough to keep water out of your inner barrel? Assuming the air nozzle is in the forward position.

CallsignStalker · « **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2012, 04:54:21 PM »

Eh, it's possible. But taking the time to "plug" both ends of the barrel would probably take more time than it's worth, considering that the main point in doing this would be to save time.

The same goes for whoever brought up the idea to use a trash bag to transport the gun. Aside from taking extra time trash bags make too much noise for them to ever be considered a good thing in the field. You might as well tie a bell to your neck and skip everywhere you go.

Buckshot · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2012, 05:35:20 PM »

Quote from: CallsignStalker on July 21, 2012, 04:54:21 PM

The same goes for whoever brought up the idea to use a trash bag to transport the gun. Aside from taking extra time trash bags make too much noise for them to ever be considered a good thing in the field. You might as well tie a bell to your neck and skip everywhere you go.

I disagree with that. Wrapping a trash bag(s) around your rifle to traverse water, surfacing, shooting through the bag, and disposing of the bag sounds like it would work...

CallsignStalker · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2012, 08:08:12 PM »

No it would work, but the noise!

All the noise noise noise noise!! - Quote from The Grinch

Buckshot · « **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2012, 09:00:28 PM »

But underwater, no one can hear your garbage bag crinkle- indirect quote from Alien...

thefusescape · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2012, 12:39:02 PM »

well a springer shotgun could be used for these situations (or pistol) but I would never WILLINGLY do this. This winter I will play in the snow and at night in the snow. But I last a long time in wars (you get hit once you're out or you can become a prisoner I just shoot them either way if they say they want to be a prisoner) So I use a dual powerd hk mp5 and your results with this gun vary I have heard of problems and low fps with this gun but I have had higher than advertised fps and no problems ever so lucky me. Anyways if you don't shoot for awhile or something in those lines your battery(s) may freeze not to mention barrel frosting. And your mag being exposed to the cold (if your bbs are exposed to the outside which mine aren't) you can get snow inbetween the bbs and dang that sucks. Also that one 'alien pulse gun' is too technical for the cold same with gas and co2 powerd guns. I carry a multi tool with me all the time since I play in rural woods like the only changed thing in them is maybe a tree stand with plants growing so fast that even in winter you have to go through plant skelatons ohhhhhhh and not to mention the thorns that make me bleed like heck when I am aiming/stalking down an enemy. For my airsoft use I have to have a durable gun and I mean really durable gun.

CallsignStalker · « **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2012, 12:46:01 PM »

Quote from: Buckshot on July 21, 2012, 09:00:28 PM

But underwater, no one can hear your garbage bag crinkle- indirect quote from Alien...

You would have to put the bag over the gun outside of the water, then take it off after and possibly have to fold it up and carry it on you for a while until you could toss it. Plus while you're carrying it depending on where you have it there could still be that crinkling sound coming from it with every move you make.

I've blown cover before because of the sound of ammo rolling around in a High-Cap. You're garbage bag idea doesn't work for me.

Edit: Ha, oh and good one. I was too serious when I first answered to this, took me a second look to actually realize the joke.

thefusescape · « **Reply #19 on:** July 23, 2012, 09:13:44 PM »

^ Hi caps hate me. Can't wait til I get some more mags. Then attachments for my gun but that's all in good time, good time.

Limey · « **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2012, 03:37:26 AM »

If it worries you that much about dunking your rifle, an alternative to the binbag is a a condom over the muzzle and rubber band to hold it in place (insert smutty condom jokes now)

thefusescape · « **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2012, 08:27:05 AM »

That isn't that funny. At All. You can get a waterproof gun case?

CallsignStalker · « **Reply #22 on:** July 25, 2012, 05:39:41 PM »

Quote from: thefusescape on July 24, 2012, 08:27:05 AM

That isn't that funny. At all. You can get a waterproof gun case?

Whoa, Limey is a respected member here at ASR. You must never tell him if his joke is not funny. Even if it wasn't... (No offense Limey)

I can just picture it now.
Team Member: "Uhh, buddy...?"
Me: "Yes?"
Team Member: "Why do you have that huge case strapped to your back?"
Me: "Oh, that's my waterproof gun case. Jusy in case..."

Team Member: "Riight.. By the way who's the leader here?"
Me: "That'd be me."
Team: "Greeaat..."

No, now that I know the gun can take it, I'll simply do it when it's necessary and be sure to strip it later. Last question that I want a few more opinions on though, would you do it?

lulukchoo23 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 26, 2012, 04:26:24 AM »

Honestly, I think we've already come to a general consensus here on this topic. It's not the first time it's been discussed on the forum either.

Basically:
-You're not going to find an official field with deep enough water to swim in it.
-If you happen to find an outside patch of land with deep water out in the wild, either you're on a nature preserve, or you're croc food.
-Swimming in your pool with your gun = backyard airsoft = no no. Try a squirt gun.
-If you happen to drop your gun in a puddle, no need to soil yourself. Same with if it rains. It's like having dirt in your gun. You can keep playing with it, your fps/hop might be off, but you're gun's not gonna explode. Just take care of it at the end of the day. If it's light, hand dry it. If it's heavy, throw it in a bag of rice.

thefusescape · « **Reply #24 on:** July 26, 2012, 10:14:50 PM »

Good point. And if your gun happens to smash in half during intense action get shot and go home.

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Author Topic: Using an AEG after repeatedly submerging underwater. (Read 4203 times)