The Maple Leaf 2021 Silicone hop-up rubber series is an updated version of the highly acclaimed Desepticons line. In the Silicone series, the rubber material has been replaced with a silicone-based compound, which improves hop-up performance in varying temperatures. These Silicone hop-up rubbers stand out especially in cool or cold conditions, as silicone retains its elasticity even in low temperatures.
Desepticons nub
The nub design of the Maple Leaf Desepticons rubber is very similar to that of the Maple Leaf Autobot hop-up rubbers. The Desepticons nub is slightly steeper in shape compared to the Autobot nub, which means the hop-up effect is applied more to the sides of the BB rather than across the entire surface, as with the Autobot. With the Desepticons rubber, it is possible to achieve slightly better accuracy compared to the Autobot rubber, but at the cost of a weaker hop-up effect, which may result in a slightly shorter range. The weaker hop-up effect is due to the smaller contact area between the nub and the BB.
In airsoft guns, a standard round nub does not work optimally with Maple Leaf’s new hop-up rubbers designed for long nubs, as the point-shaped nub bends the contact area of the hop-up rubber into a curve. This prevents full utilization of the MR hop’s extended contact surface and may cause the rubber to bend into an unintended position. We recommend using a Maple Leaf curved nub or a curved adjustment arm with MR hop for optimal performance. For GBB pistols, it is recommended to use the Maple Leaf I-Key nub.
Hop-up rubber degree rating (hardness)
The degree rating of hop-up rubbers indicates their softness. The lower the degree, the softer the rubber. Different hardness levels perform differently across various power ranges. In other words, the degree rating can be used as a guideline when selecting a suitable rubber for an airsoft gun, based on its power. As a rule of thumb, the more powerful the gun, the harder the hop-up rubber should be. The table below shows the Taiwanese manufacturer’s own recommendations for rubber suitability across different power levels.
| Hardness and color |
Recommended power range |
| 50 – green |
Below 110 m/s (1.2 J) |
| 60 – yellow |
90-120 m/s (0.8-1.5 J) |
| 70 – blue |
110-140 m/s (1.2-2 J) |
| 85 – black |
140+ m/s (over 1.8 J) |
