The Designated Marksman is responsible for covering their teammates from a distance through accurate, long-range shooting.
The role is similar to that of a sniper in a sense, although a Designated Marksman will usually operate closer to the rest of their team, whereas snipers tend to be positioned separately from their team, usually on higher ground.
The position of Designated Marksman on an Airsoft team is typically awarded to the player with the best aim over long distances. So, skill is clearly a fundamental aspect of the role.
However, even the most naturally skilled Marksman will struggle to perform at their full potential if they’re using the wrong type of rifle.
Although there is no official list of features and functions that make an Airsoft rifle suitable as a DMR, a good DMR should have a high FPS rating, an impressive range, a clear and adjustable scope, and a decent magazine capacity.
Without a rifle with these features, your skill as a Marksman may go unnoticed and unrewarded.
Thankfully, we’ve done our research and compiled a list of the top 5 best airsoft DMRs on the market, so you can start proving your true worth as a Marksman today!
Our top pick is the Cold M4A1 CQBR Dark Earth Combat Electric Powered Airsoft Gun.
This is a versatile rifle, capable of firing on a full and semi-automatic basis. Control is a significant aspect of the Designated Marksman’s skillset, so the ability to tailor the shooting functionality to what is required for a specific situation is invaluable.
Rated at 370 FPS, this rifle’s muzzle velocity is at the lower end of what we would recommend for a Designated Marksman.
However, given that this FPS is combined with an adjustable hop-up system that puts backspin on the ammunition, ensuring less drop over longer distances, the rifle still performs very well in terms of straight, long-distance shooting.
The Colt M4A1 has a plastic frame but benefits from a metal internal construction. The gears are made of steel, so you can trust that the mechanism of the rifle will hold up for a long time and won’t fail on you suddenly during a game.
Despite the metal gearbox and gears, the Colt Dark Earth Combat rifle weighs in at just 6 lbs, so it won’t induce hand fatigue or become cumbersome to work with over the course of the game.
Unfortunately, the stock magazine that comes with this rifle isn’t of the highest quality compared to the rest of the gun, and some customers have experienced firing issues related to this.
Therefore, replacing the magazine with a higher-quality unit may be necessary to benefit from this gun’s full potential.
Pros
Full and semi-automatic - Versatile
Adjustable hop-up - Suited to long distances
6 lbs total weight - Lightweight and practical
370 fps - Straight trajectory
Metal gearbox and gears - Durable internal construction
As our runner-up pick, we have chosen the ASG Tac-6 CO2 Semi-Automatic Airsoft Sniper Rifle.
Now, as we explained in our introduction, a Designated Marksman is different from a sniper, mainly in terms of positioning and cohesion with the rest of the team. However, the right Airsoft sniper rifle can work very well as a DMR.
This sniper rifle is powered by CO2, which allows for more power and a higher firing rate - exactly what you want in a Designated Marksman’s rifle!
Rated at 440 FPS, this is an excellent long-range rifle that promises an impressive trajectory. However, since there is no hop-up function, shots may occasionally fall short.
Fitted with a red laser and a removable orange fiber-optic sight, the ASG rifle can be used accurately in all lighting and will help you to find your target effortlessly.
Another great thing about this Airsoft rifle is that, as a sniper rifle, it’s extremely lightweight, weighing just 3.5 lbs.
The lightweight build of the ASG Semi-Automatic will help Designated Marksmen to hit their targets quickly and accurately without getting tired prematurely.
However, we should mention that the gun comes with a folding bipod for sniper use, which won’t be as useful for a Designated Marksman.
Pros
440 FPS - Straight trajectory over long distances
CO2-powered - Extra powerful
Red laser sight - Enhanced accuracy
Detachable orange fiber-optic sight - Works in all light conditions
3.5 lbs - Super lightweight
Cons
No hop-up function - Some shots may fall short
Comes with folding bipod - Not useful for a Designated Marksman
Airsoft rifles can be quite costly, but here at Airsoft2Day, we wholeheartedly believe that a lower budget shouldn’t get in the way of anyone’s involvement in fun, teambuilding sports like Airsoft. So, if you’ve been looking for a budget-friendly DMR, look no further!
Lancer is one of the best brands in the Airsoft industry for high-quality yet budget-friendly tactical rifles, and the Lancer Tactical Gen 2 M4 SD is a perfect example of this.
The Lancer Tactical Gen 2 has nylon polymer components which are both highly durable and lightweight. So, in addition to being a tough and wear-resistant gun, this model also weighs a meager 4.20 lbs - light enough to carry around for hours!
This rifle fires at a rated speed of 370 to 390 FPS with the help of a rotary hop-up function, which increases the trajectory and power of each shot and reduces pellet drop.
Rounds are fired from a high-capacity, 300-round magazine that will ensure you never run out of ammunition.
Fitted with flip-up front and rear sights that deliver clear and zoomed-in perspective and can fold ergonomically out of the way for convenience, this gun is clearly built for accuracy.
Plus, a beginner with great potential in terms of accuracy could benefit from acting as Designated Marksman on occasion outside of pro league or high-stakes games.
Our only real complaint would be that the sound suppressor, which comes included with the purchase, doesn’t always function properly.
Pros
Nylon polymer construction - Lightweight and durable
If you want to enhance your performance as Designated Marksman through a super high-quality, premium Airsoft rifle, we’d recommend the G&G Electric Airsoft Rifle.
Due to the hop-up function, this rifle can fire at anywhere between 350 and 450 FPS, so it should be suitable for use on smaller and larger Airsoft fields.
The 300-round magazine ensures that you always have enough ammunition loaded, while the red dot sight helps to maintain accuracy even at very long distances.
This rifle is constructed using high-quality polymer materials, so you won’t have to worry about wear and impact damage for a long time.
While this is a fantastic rifle for use by a Designated Marksman, we would primarily recommend it to players with a good amount of upper body strength.
This is because the rifle weighs in at 10 lbs, which is right at the upper end of the weight spectrum that we would recommend for DMRs.
Finally, we’d also like to recommend the Lancer Tactical rifle with Full Metal Gear and 10 Keymod Rail Interface System.
With the ability to fire at rates of 405 - 415 FPS depending on the use of the hop-up, this is a great rifle for long-distance shooting, especially because of the clear, detachable iron sights.
Admittedly, there is no included scope, so the rifle won’t provide magnification out of the box. However, you can always add a scope post-purchase.
Because the outer barrel is reinforced with metal, this gun can hold up against some pretty intense use in the field, while the 300-round magazine capacity ensures that you can always be prepared for what the game has in store.
While this isn’t a particularly heavy gun, you can enhance its portability further by attaching a sling. The sling itself doesn’t come with the rifle, but the ring attachment makes it possible for you to attach a carrying aid of your choice.
Pros
405 - 415 FPS - Powerful and long-range
300-round magazine - High ammo capacity
Reinforced outer barrel - Enhanced durability
Detachable iron sights - Good level of accuracy
Sling ring attachment - Allows easy portability
Cons
No scope included - Does not magnify
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Airsoft DMR
Since there is no hard-and-fast set of rules to dictate what is and isn’t a DMR in the world of Airsoft, choosing the right DMR for your needs as a player can be difficult.
If you’re still feeling conflicted about which rifle to choose, read on and find out which features you should be prioritizing.
Durability
Airsoft rifles in general, but especially rifles of a caliber high enough to be classified as potential DMRs, don’t often come cheap. DMRs are also likely to see some intense action in the field.
For both of these reasons, we would recommend looking closely at the materials used in the construction of all the rifles you research so that you can be sure of their longevity.
Most Airsoft rifles have plastic frames, which is actually a good thing because it prevents the gun from getting too heavy for most players to use comfortably (more on rifle weight below).
However, you should still make sure that the type of plastic used is durable enough to withstand intensive use. We would always recommend prioritizing high-quality polymers.
With the exception of the frame, a good-quality Airsoft rifle should have some level of reinforcement from metal materials. The gearbox and gears, for example, should be steel-made where possible, and the outer barrel can always benefit from additional strengthening.
Weight
Although you’ll want your DMR to be made of wear-resistant, long-lasting materials, you also need to bear in mind the total weight of the rifle.
A Designated Marksman needs to be able to move and react quickly in order to take out members of the other team from a distance before they can pose a threat.
If their rifle is too heavy, a Designated Marksman may begin to suffer from hand and arm fatigue, which will make it more difficult for them to perform optimally.
In our opinion, the cut-off point for a DMR in terms of weight should be around 10 lbs. Much more, and even physically strong Marksmen may struggle over the course of a long game, especially if a lot of physical exertion is involved.
The lightest sniper-style rifles that can be used as DMRs can weigh as little as 3.5 lbs, but you can also find a 10 lb rifle on our list. The right rifle weight for you will depend on your upper body strength, but when in doubt, aim lighter.
It’s better to have a rifle that feels a little less weighty and satisfying in your hands than one that leaves you with sore arms and damages your performance.
Scopes and Sights
The nature of the Designated Marksman’s role as a long-distance, high-accuracy shooter means that the ability to see a clear version of the field through the sight or scope is of paramount importance.
The ideal DMR should have front and rear sights as well as a scope.
The difference between a sight and scope is that sights typically just help you to line up your shot (possibly with the help of a red dot or laser), while scopes usually provide a zoomed-in version of the field, although the two terms are often used interchangeably.
The higher the zoom on your scope, the better. If your ideal rifle in all other ways doesn’t come with a scope, though, don’t worry - if attachment rails are included in the construction of the rifle, you always have the option of attaching a separately bought scope following the purchase.
Adjustability for scopes and sights is also key.
Unfortunately, fully adjustable scopes and sights are usually features of high-end Airsoft rifles, which may not be accessible to everyone, but at the very least, your scopes and sights should either be detachable or folding so that you can tailor your use of the rifle to your needs moment by moment.
If you play in varying light conditions, you may also wish to consider a fiber-optic sight for use in all lights.
Feet Per Second
The feet per second that a rifle is able to deliver also factor into its potential classification as a DMR.
The more feet per second your rifle is capable of firing at, the more powerful it will be over longer distances.
However, we would recommend selecting a rifle in the general range of 370 to 450 FPS. Make sure your tournament or field rules allow for higher FPS rifles, though.
Hop-Up
Frames Per Second is a good indication of trajectory over certain distances, but a hop-up function on your rifle can help to extend your shooting range and prevent premature ammunition drop.
A hop-up mechanism on an Airsoft rifle usually consists of a spring-loaded projectile that reduces top-side air pressure and creates backspin on the ammunition. This backspin helps the ammo to travel further without a drop in trajectory.
Magazine Capacity
A decent magazine capacity is essential if you want to deliver a fast-paced, uninterrupted performance on the field as a Designated Marksman.
We would always recommend choosing a rifle with at least 250 rounds of capacity, although 300 rounds would be ideal.
Before you go ahead and choose your new DMR, you should consider the dimensions and layout of your field, as well as the rules in your playing area or specific tournament.
Some areas and tournaments may have limits on the number of FPS, for example, so you’ll need to be aware of this beforehand. Moreover, playing Airsoft on a smaller field will call for a lower FPS and may not need as much hop-up as playing on a larger field.
Ultimately, your perfect DMR will depend a lot on your space and playing style, so the most important thing to make sure that the rifle is compatible with you and your field.
