AEG, HPA, GBB,
and DMR Platforms
Understanding how each system moves air, cycles rounds, and applies hop-up pressure helps you choose the right BB weight and tier — so your Black Hole™ loadout feels dialed in instead of “just okay.”
How power systems change BB behavior
Every system moves air differently. The more you understand that, the smarter your BB choices become.
- AEG (Automatic Electric Gun) uses a piston and spring driven by an electric motor and gearbox. Great for consistency and volume of fire.
- HPA (High-Pressure Air) uses regulated compressed air with very consistent pressure and cycle timing — ideal for high RPS and precision tuning.
- GBB (Gas Blowback) uses gas stored in magazines, giving realistic recoil and feel, but with more temperature sensitivity.
- DMR / Sniper pushes fewer, heavier rounds with higher hop tension and longer barrels, where BB weight and polish matter most.
Automatic Electric Guns (AEG)
Reliable workhorses that love well-polished, mid-weight BBs.
AEG platforms use a motor-driven gearbox to pull back a spring-loaded piston and compress air behind each BB. The volume of the cylinder, barrel length, and hop-up setup determine how efficiently that air is used.
- Best with 0.25g–0.30g BBs for field and CQB.
- Mid-weight BBs keep the gearbox happy while tightening groupings.
- Consistent polish reduces friction and helps the hop-up grab cleanly.
- High RPS builds benefit from double-polished BBs to avoid misfeeds.
Black Hole™ recommendations
- Eclipse — rental rifles and entry AEGs, especially indoors.
- HyperNova — primary choice for tuned AEGs and midcaps.
- Singularity Pro — when your field requires bio BBs outdoors.
High-Pressure Air (HPA)
Ultra-consistent pressure for high RPS and laser-like tuning.
HPA systems route regulated compressed air from a tank through a line into an engine or nozzle assembly. Because the pressure and dwell can be tuned very precisely, HPA rigs can maintain remarkably consistent FPS and rate of fire — as long as the BBs keep up.
- Thrives on high-quality polish and tight tolerances to avoid air loss and jams.
- Commonly runs 0.28g–0.32g for field, lighter weights for indoor high RPS builds.
- Sensitive to poor-quality BBs, which can shatter under stress or misfeed at speed.
- Pairs well with tracer lines for night and indoor lighting effects.
Black Hole™ recommendations
- HyperNova — core choice for HPA, especially 0.28g and 0.30g.
- HyperNova Tracer — for night games and indoor arenas with tracer units.
- Singularity Pro — outdoor HPA setups where bio is required.
Gas Blowback (GBB)
Realistic feel and recoil with more temperature sensitivity.
Gas blowback rifles and pistols store gas in the magazine. Each shot uses that gas to propel the BB and cycle the slide or bolt. This creates a satisfying recoil and realism, but gas volume and pressure change with temperature and firing pace.
- Performs best with 0.25g–0.30g BBs in rifles; 0.25g in pistols is common.
- Clean, polished BBs reduce drag in tight pistol barrels and feed ramps.
- Consistency matters more as gas pressure drops in cold environments.
- Magazines benefit from BBs that don’t shed dust or shavings over time.
DMR and Sniper Platforms
Few shots, big impact — where BB quality is non-negotiable.
Designated Marksman Rifles and bolt-action sniper platforms rely on heavier BBs, stronger hop tension, and longer barrels. Small differences in weight distribution or surface finish become visible on target at range.
- Commonly uses 0.36g–0.48g BBs depending on field limits and hop capability.
- Heavier BBs maintain energy and stability better past 50–60 meters.
- Match-grade tolerances reduce “fliers” and unexplained vertical spread.
- Bio options are increasingly required for outdoor long-range play.
Black Hole™ recommendations
- Singularity UltraMatch — primary choice for DMR and bolt-action platforms.
- Singularity Pro — when fields require bio at long range.
Turn platform insight into better BB choices
Once you know what your system does to the air and the BB, choosing the right line becomes simple.
- Use lighter BBs and Eclipse or HyperNova for CQB and rental AEG setups.
- For most AEG field rifles, start with HyperNova 0.28g as a baseline 6mm BB, then fine-tune weight from there.
- Lean on HyperNova and HyperNova Tracer for HPA rigs that demand smooth feeding at high RPS.
- Pick mid-weights in HyperNova for GBB pistols and rifles that see mixed indoor/outdoor use.
- Step up to Singularity Pro and UltraMatch for outdoor, long-range DMR and sniper roles.
Need a recommendation?
Tell us your platform, field limits, and role — we’ll recommend a weight and line combination that matches the way you play.
Ask for a LoadoutQuick line × platform matrix
Use this as a fast reference for which lines are ideal or secondary fits across AEG, HPA, GBB, and DMR.
Need something you can tape behind the counter? A printable A4/A5 one-page matrix PDF is coming soon so staff can glance down, match a platform, and recommend the right line in seconds.
| Line | AEG | HPA | GBB | DMR/Sniper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse | Ideal | Also | Also | |
| HyperNova | Ideal | Ideal | Ideal | Also |
| Event Horizon | Ideal | Also | Also | |
| Singularity Pro Bio | Ideal (Outdoor) | Ideal (Outdoor) | Also | Also |
| Singularity UltraMatch | Ideal | |||
| HyperNova Tracer | Ideal | Ideal | Also |