Airsoft Pistols

How to Choose the Right Airsoft Pistols

Executive Summary by Andy West

airsoft pistols

The first thing buyers should consider is their purpose for using the airsoft gun. In other words, is the pistol simply for shooting at targets or is it to be used in serious airsoft competition? If the answer is the latter, it's best to choose electronic or gas powered airsoft rifles as they give you the power you need in the heat of the battle. 

However, if you're just doing some target practice, the manual spring powered airsoft gun will work just fine. Spring-loaded airsoft pistols don't work well in competition because you have to reset the spring after each shot as opposed to the automatic firing power of gas and electric guns.

Your local weather conditions also play a role in determining which airsoft gun is best for your needs. Gas powered automatic guns tend to malfunction and perform poorly in cold weather, whereas spring loaded pistols perform well in all weather conditions.

Of course, consumers also have to set a budget when shopping for airsoft pistols. These guns come in a wide range of prices, so there really is something available at almost any budget. But don't just look at the upfront cost of the airsoft pistol; you must also consider maintenance costs and other related expenses. As an example, automatic weapons will use ammunition faster, thus increasing your costs to stock up on BBs. With gas-powered airsoft pistols, you also have to purchase gas canisters on a regular basis. In short, don't be shortsighted when buying your pistol, look at the bigger picture.

You should also consider the quality of the airsoft gun before buying it. Does it look like it will break easily? If you're using it for skirmishes, you need one that features durability. Make sure to note how much of the gun is crafted from metal and how much of it is plastic. Depending on your needs, you might be able to get away with a lower quality gun if it's just for target practice.

For serious airsoft players, you need to determine the level of upgrades you can perform on the pistol. Some airsoft pistols are very flexible, allowing the owner to modify them to perform an array of various functions. Other guns, aren't quite as flexible, meaning what you see is what you get. Also, think about how much it will cost to upgrade the pistol to get it to perform how you'd like it to. If the price is too high to upgrade, you might be better off springing for a better, more expensive gun.

Lastly, you should never buy an airsoft gun just because you think it looks "cool." Sure, aesthetics are important, but performance is much more crucial. Many of the flashy-looking guns simply don't perform as well as you might think. Accuracy, durability, and precision should always trump the physical appearance of the pistol. In short, you want an airsoft pistol that will shoot where you want it to shoot every single time.

With all of these tips, finding your next airsoft gun should be a breeze. Just remember to practice safety with all of your airsoft pistols, and be sure to maintain the gun properly to extend its lifetime.

Airsoft Guns

How to Choose the Best Airsoft Gun

Executive Summary by Danny Woods

airsoft guns

To say the least, airsoft guns come in a very wide variety. Airsoft guns can be purchased anywhere from $15 to over $500 and the quality more or less depends on the price. The lower-end guns can seem more like toys while the higher-end ones can be very functional, very realistic, and quite effective when playing with others.

The three primary types of airsoft guns are spring-loaded, electric, and gas blowback.

Spring-loaded guns are the most inexpensive (typically $20-$60) but they are mostly used only for target practice or for the aesthetics of the model gun. After that, there are electric guns which come in low-powered, medium-powered, electric blowback, and automatic electric.

Automatic electric guns (AEGs) are the most reliable and powerful but they are also more expensive than the others. Finally, gas blowback guns work very well but are the most expensive, and where electric guns only have to have their batteries replaced, gas guns obviously require gas to be replaced.

After that, there is the type of gun itself. Airsoftguns come in all the forms that real firearms are available in. Semi- and fully-automatic pistols, rifles, carbines, submachine guns, and sniper rifles are all available in airsoft form. Depending on the model, brand, and cost of the gun, accuracy, muzzle velocity, rate of fire, and overall reliability vary.

As expected, smaller guns have smaller clips and shorter-barreled guns are less accurate than longer-barreled ones. As far as aesthetics goes, some airsoft guns will be painted in the colors that they would normally be seen in if they were real firearms but others come in clear plastic. All airsoft guns must be painted orange at the tip of the barrel for legal reasons (so that they are not mistaken for actual firearms)- so make sure that if you modify your gun yourself, you don't repaint the tip some other color.

As far as game play goes, it is important to use a weapon that is fitted to the type of activity you are involved in. For target practice and general shooting, a spring-loaded gun will suffice but when playing with others, it is necessary to have a better gun. Because of how many different types of airsoft guns in the market, it can be intimidating trying to find a specific one worth spending money on.

First, look for the type of gun that you want. Pistols are good to start with because they are simple and less expensive than other types. Look for a gun with a good clip size and a muzzle velocity of over 250 feet per second. If you want a fast gun, make sure the clip is large (at least 200 BBs) or you'll end up spending a lot of time reloading.

In trying to pick an optimal airsoft gun, it is important to do a little research and look at reviews about what people have said about specific models of guns. Due to the large amount of brands, price ranges, and models available, this is the only way to ensure that you get the most out of your money.