[Sha Do]

The BIG difference between a BA and any other airsoft is the ROF, or more specifically, the lack of a ROF. It was therefore decided a long time ago that a BA was allowed a higher FPS to compensate for the lacking ROF. It was also decided that any BA was allowed 450 FPS with .036 weight BBs. Yeah, 0.20s are what we chrony with now, but no one uses 0.20s in their BA for ballistic reasons (unless the BA is stock, and even then Marushin made 0.29 grand master BBs specifically for Stock BAs).
Anyways, there are those in our community that other people trust implicitly, regardless of what FPS their BA is at.....and that is because those people have been around a fairly long time. No one is going to a complete no body to use a 400 plus FPS airsoft, regardless of what it is. We tell new players who wish to utilize "hot" BAs that the MED with a 450 FPS (wt 0.36) is 200 feet. This is well beyond a safe limit, but it not only challanges the new players, but it also allows them time to build up their repore with the rest of the community while maintaining a "clean" record (refering to not injuring other players with a hot gun).
Everyone has their own opinion of what sniping is in airsoft, and most of the players really don't care, but there are those of us who have been around long enough, and are experienced enough to be allowed to use rather insane FPS with our BAs. Getting good clean kills at over 500 feet while hiding in plain sight, is when sniping comes into its own, and the real threat of a sniper on the battle field looms in the back of everyones mind.
But no one is going to allow people on to their field who has not put in their time, showing the community that they can do this SAFELY.
It is not an eliteist way of thinking......anyone is allowed to host a "hot" game as long as the FPS limit is posted for all to see, and all safety precautions have been taken for player safety, and as long as everyone agrees on a MED, thing should be good.

In terms of other airsoft, there should be a MED for various FPS, but that's for the community to decide.
With that being said, it was the senior airsoft community that decided that we should have a uniform guideline for snipers to follow. Upon completion, they have one year to remain clean before they can "upgrade". If one of the snipers injures someone they are to be reported, and will be publically striped of they certification for one year. This way, a level 3 certified sniper who has invested two years to qualify, goes back to a stock level for a year, and must re quallify each year for the next two years to get back to level 3. But this only works if the community enforces the banned to stock BA limit on that player. It is up to the community as a whole.

Now enough of my ramble...
SHA DO