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Today we have something different! I’m going to introduce the best blank guns for under $100 on the market right now. “But blank firing guns have nothing to do with airsoft Jukka?”. I know, I know, but hear me out for a minute.

Many people look in to airsoft guns because they need film or theater props. Or maybe gear for reenactments and live action role-play. Airsoft guns are mostly replicas of real guns after all.

For these uses blank firing replica guns might be sometimes better suited for the job than airsoft guns. Especially if you don’t need to fire plastic BBs at people and need some serious bang for the buck (pun intended).

And if you are looking for a replica for these types of uses, you usually can’t spare too much cash on them. That’s why I thought a hundred bucks would be a nice cut off price. It’s enough to get you a decent blank gun replica that isn’t so cheaply made it’s dangerous but it won’t break the bank either.

Lets start with a quick recap on what blank guns are exactly!

What are blank guns

 

Blank guns, also known as blank-firing firearms are weapons that fire blank cartridges that (obviously) don’t have a bullet but still produce the loud bang and flash.

Blank firing guns are typically used for film productions, theater, military and police training, live action role play and as starter pistols in sports (not that much anymore).

Blank guns can be roughly split into three categories. Front firing, top firing and real firearms.

Front firing blank guns have an open barrel and firing the blank looks very similar to firing a real firearm. The muzzle flash will come out of the barrel and the action is very realistic. These are typically used in movies. They are however not capable firing a real firearm cartridge and generally have precautions so they can’t be easily modified to real firearms.

Top firing blank guns are the typical start pistol without a real open barrel. The blank fires in the chamber and the expanded gasses are vented through gaps between the chamber and the frame. This results in a loud bang without the muzzle flash from the barrel.

There are special blank cartridges for real firearms. Some blanks have just the bulled and most of the powder removed. This is usually enough to produce a loud report and flash but usually the pressure is not enough to cycle a semi-automatic weapon. This requires a muzzle adapter and special wooden or wax rounds that break at the muzzle adapter.

Especially real firearm blanks are potentially lethal and should never be used for simulated firing towards other people (even though they do, at least in the military). They should be treated like live rounds. That takes us to the next important topic. Safety.

Blank gun safety

 

Since blank guns use real gun powder they require a license or a permission from authorities in most countries and states. There’s a good reason for this. Even though blank firing guns don’t fire projectiles they posses great danger.

Most front firing blank guns and blank cartridges for real firearms have something called a wad. It’s a plug made out of paper, wood or plastic that seals the gun powder in the shell casing. At close ranges this wad and the pressure from the blank can be potentially lethal or at least cause severe injuries. Especially for the eyes. That’s why it’s important to wear eye protection when using blank guns.

There are several cases of actors getting killed by misuse of blanks. Probably most famous one is the case of Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee. He was killed during the filming of the movie The Crow. This was because they used real firearms loaded with blanks during filming and one of the weapons had a real bullet lodged in the barrel. This resulted in the blank functioning just like a real round, expanding gasses forcing the bullet out of the barrel at high velocity with tragic results.

The other threat blank guns posses is that they can be very easily mistaken for actual gunfire. This can make people worried and easily cause misunderstandings with the police. Ofcourse they can be used as deterrents and as fake firearms by criminals and this was especially common when blank firing guns didn’t require permissions.

Thirdly they are as harmful to your hearing as real firearms. A single fired blank can cause permanent hearing damage if necessary hearing protection is not used.

So if you use any sort of blank gun, please make sure you have all the required permission and that you understand all the necessary safety precaution before using them.

So now that we have the important safety stuff under the way let’s look at the best blank guns for under $100 on the market today!

Blank guns under $100

 

Olympic 9mm top firing blank revolver

A top firing .357 snub nose revolver replica that uses .380 blanks. At just under $90 this thing is a steal.

• Price: $89.99
• Length: 7.25″
• Weight: 1.5 lbs.
• Barrel: 2.5″
• Caliber: Fires .380 9mm Blank Firing

 

Magnum 9mm Black Revolver Top-Firing Blank Gun

Bigger brother of the previous revolver. A replica of a full size .357 Magnum Colt Python style revolver. Features a working single and double action trigger and a five round revolver.

• Price: $98.99
• Length: 9.5″
• Weight: 2lbs
• Caliber: Fires 9mm (.380) Blanks

 

Bruni Bond Style Semi-Auto 8mm Black Blank Gun Black

A compact sized semi-automatic blank gun modeled after the Walther PPK, made famous by James Bond in the original movies. Fire round as fast as you can squeeze the trigger, just like a real automatic firearm.

• Price $98.99
• Caliber: 8 mm Blanks

Blank guns a bit over $100

I know I was supposed to stick to guns under $100 but for just a few bucks over you can fund some awesome front firing ones and a wider variety of models so I decided to include these.

 

WW II M38P Semi Auto 8mm Top-Firing Blank Gun

A semi-automatic top-firing blank gun modeled after the German Parabellum p.08 better known as the Luger. Great for WW1 and WW2 movie and theater prop. Fires 8mm blanks in semiautomatic.

• Price: $104.99
• Length: 8.5″
• Weight: 2.35lbs
• Caliber: 8mm Blank Cartridge
• Black Finish

R1 Fume Blank Revolver

The R1 is a front firing blank revolver, modeled after a .357 magnum revolver. It has a six round revolver with realistic ejector.

• Price: $119.99
• Capacity: 6 Rounds
• Weight: 1.5lb.
• Height: 5.51″
• Length: 7.3″
• Caliber: .380 blank

 

Kimar 92 Front Firing Blank Gun

Now this is a bit more expensive but it is a solid front firing semi-automatic pistol, as realistic as can be. Modeled after the Beretta m92 or M9 widely used by the U.S. military and law enforcement. Disassembles like the real thing for cleaning and maintenance.

• Price: $154.99
• Length: 7.25″
• Weight: 1.9 Lbs
• Caliber: 9mm
• Magazine: 16
• Finish: Black

 

 

 

Conclusion

There you have it! best blank guns under $100 (and a bit over). If you are looking for some great movie props give these a try. Please drop a comment if you have any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

 

 

 

 

Today I want to talk about BBs. Biodegradable ones to be exact. Good for the environment sure, but are biodegradable airsoft BBs any good for gaming? Read on to find out.

My personal opinion is that regular BBs should be banned, except for the heaviest ones used in airsoft sniper rifles. The reason for this is that the world is drowning in plastic as is. We should be responsible in everything to lessen the impact on nature, including our hobbies like airsoft. This means using less plastic, which regular BBs are made out of like you will soon learn.

Using regular BBs means essentially littering forests and other playgrounds with plastic debris at an incredible rate. I’m sure most of you reading this have seen the amount of BBs on an airsoft field even if it’s been in use just for couple years. Here’s a newsflash for you, those BBs aren’t going anywhere for thousands of years and they will just keep piling up!

I’m certain if someone did some serious research on the effects of airsoft BBs on the ecology of a forest there would be all sorts of negative outcomes. At the least they produce micro plastics that end up in our food chain. In the worst case scenario small animals and birds mistake them for berries and suffer horrible deaths from bowel impaction. So this stuff is important even if you don’t think so!

The only logical solution to this is to ban regular BBs and require everyone to use biodegradable ones. The only exception I would allow is using heavy BBs in spring-loaded sniper rifles as the amount of BBs fired from these are minimal compared to your average AEG and other automatic airsoft guns.

But that’s enough preaching, let’s get on with the facts!

Difference between bio and non bio bbs

 

So what exactly is the difference between biodegradable BBs and “regular” ones? Let’s start with the obvious. As the name clearly suggests, biodegradable BBs are, well, biodegradable and regular BBs really are not. This of course comes down to the material the BB is made out of. Most airsoft BBs are mainly made out of something called barium sulfate powder. It’s an inert mineral salt (like chalk really) that doesn’t have environmental effects and is biodegradable

The differerence between regular airsoft BBs and biodegradable ones is the stuff that is used to keep the barium sulfate powder together. The so called binder and coating.

Regular BBs
In regular airsoft BBs the binder is made out of plastic. Most of the plastics used, like polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene, are from petrochemical sources.

They are very resistant to bio degradation and it takes hundreds or thousands of years for a plastic BB to degrade in the soil. The plastics also contain chemicals that are bad for the environment and to humans and as they degrade they produce micro plastic that ends up in the food chain.

 

Biodegradable BBs

Biodegradable BB binder can be made of several different organic polymer resins. Most commonly used ones are corn starch and sugar cane based polymers. These are essentially plant based plastics that can be consumed by the microbes in the soil. The also don’t posses any harmful chemicals to the environment as they are made of completely natural substances.

Are biodegradable bbs really biodegradable

Well yes and no. This depends on the BB. Quality BBs use materials that are truly biodegradable. Some test have been made by the airsoft community that have shown that some of the brands don’t seem to really degrade any faster than real BBs. Of course considering that regular ones can take hundreds of years you have to take these kinds of tests with a grain of salt.

On the other hand many have tested that the high quality ones do degrade in a couple of years in the nature in right conditions. The length of the degradation process will vary highly depending on the environment. For instance pretty much nothing degrades in dry sand since there isn’t many microbes which are responsible for the decomposing process.

How long does it take for bbs to biodegrade

Like I pointed out in the previous paragraph the time it takes for a BB to decompose depends a lot on the environment.

A low quality biodegradable BB in a dry sand play field might take decades to decompose. On the other hand a high quality biodegradable BB in a moist forest floor with ample amounts of decomposing microbes might be gone in a few months.

The lesson here is to use high quality biodegradable BBs that are known to be made out of truly biodegradable materials.

Better quality biodegradable BBs will break down faster and are more resistant to premature degradation which can happen with some cheap biodegradable BBs if they get wet or are forgotten in the sun for long periods of time.

Are biodegradable bbs bad for your gun?

In short, high quality ones aren’t. There is no difference between high quality regular and biodegradable BB concerning performance and reliability.

There have been some reports of low quality biodegradable BB leaving a coating in the barrel and the hop-up unit. Also, some low quality biodegradable BBs are prone to deforming if they get wet.

I want to emphasize however that this is not a problem with high quality BBs. I’ve been using G&G bio BBs for years and never had feeding problem that was caused by a BB.

Even low quality regular BBs are notorious for causing feeding issues and even damaging your gun. That’s why it always wise to use high quality BB’s from an established manufacturer.

Using cheap BBs to save a few cents can turn expensive fast if your gun breaks and is really a foolish thing to do.

Best place to buy airsoft bbs

There is currently only one brand of biodegradable BBs that I can honestly recommend. They’re products are accepted as very high quality BBs by the airsoft community and the materials used in them are truly biodegradable.

I actually recommend getting your BBs from Amazon as they generally have very fast delivery times and usually the lowest price on the market. Only place you can find the BBs cheaper is buying in bulk straight from the manufacturer.

The best brand of biodegradable BBs available is Bioshot. Their biodegradable airsoft bbs are competition grade and contain no toxic chemicals. They have tested the time it takes for their BBs to decompose.  With ideal conditions it can happen in 60 days  and takes at max 3 years in poor conditions. So they are truly biodegradable. The come in all the common sizes from 0.20g to 0.43g. That means they can be used with even high power sniper rifles.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR BEST OFFER

 

Conclusion

That’s about it for today! Please consider using high quality biodegradable BBs even if it’s not required by your local rules. The price difference to regular high quality BBs is marginal and some times there isn’t one.

By using bio BBs you are being responsible and doing the right thing. This is also important for the reputation of the sport. We don’t want airsoft to be banned because of environmental reason do we?

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below!

 

 

 

 

Today we’ll talk about one of the weapons you see less often in airsoft – Shotguns. There are many models available from high full metal ones to very cheaply made plastic ones.

I will first talk a bit about what shotguns are used in real life for and what they are good for in airsoft. If you want to skip straight to my recommendations, just jump to the end of the post.

I will especially focus on cheap airsoft shotguns as I can’t really recommend getting the more expensive ones for playing airsoft since you can get so much more for the money buying an AEG or gas operated rifle.

The expensive ones can of course be very fun if you are just collecting replicas for other reasons, so take into consideration that I’m talking from playing perspective.

Role of shotguns in real life

 

In real life shotguns are usually simple, affordable and powerful at close ranges. Their effectiveness is based on the fact that they usually fire a round consisting of several lead or metal BBs or shots.

When the shots leave the barrel they start to spread. This effectively increases the chance to hit you target and that’s why shotguns are the preferred weapon when hunting birds.

Shotguns can fire a variety of rounds with different amounts of shots depending on the application. This includes slugs – a single bullet type round with immense stopping power at close to medium distances.

Shotguns are also commonly used by law enforcement units as a more powerful option to sidearms. In law enforcement the ranges of engagement are relatively short and it’s important that shots fired in a fire fight don’t penetrate surrounding structures to avoid bystander casualties.

So in this role the shotguns high stopping power combined with low penetrability is a natural choice.

There are military shotguns but they are very rarely used for other purposes than security and guarding duties by military police.

In military application the short range, low ammo capacity and low penetrability make shotguns a one trick pony for close quarters assault. An assault rifle in full auto or bust mode is as effective for close range battle with superior penetration power and they are also effective at longer ranges when used semi auto.

This is the reason why assault rifle is the weapon of choice for pretty much all military forces around the world.

Real life shotguns can be break barrel, pump-action, semi-automatic or full automatic. Break barrels shotguns are very common in hunting due to simple construction, pump-action is probably as common in hunting and most common in law enforcement.

Semi auto shotguns are used for hunting and by the military. Full auto shotguns are only used by military due to the immense firepower and need for training to operate one effectively. They are extremely rare even in that application though.

The role of shotguns in airsoft

 

Now that we know the uses of real shotguns, let’s look at how they reflect to airsoft.

Firstly in airsoft the range of engagement is generally very short, pretty much the same that would be effective with a real shotgun.

This means that airsoft shotguns are quite easy to replicate by range standards and can be used for what’s considered medium to long ranges in airsoft, depending on the model.

Secondly there is no penetrability with airsoft BBs, so this is a variable we don’t need to consider.

What airsoft shotguns usually share with their real rifle counter parts is low ammo capacity and the lack of automatic fire. This means using them as a main weapon against an AEG puts you in a disadvantage.

They are best used as back up weapon if your main weapon fails. They are usually too cumbersome to use as a true sidearm though.

One thing about airsoft shotguns is that you can get a fairly powerful airsoft gun with a decent range for a very affordable price. If you are just getting in to airsoft and really can’t afford an AEG, you can get a decent quality shotgun with good range for around $50.

Don’t expect to dominate the game but at least you have a fighting chance. You just have to count your shots and learn how play stealthily to use the element of surprise in your advantage.

Different operating principals

Gas

There are spring and gas operated airsoft shotguns but there are no electric shotguns that I know of. In general the gas operated shotguns use shells that look like real ones that are loaded with green gas and BBs. So the shotguns essentially work just like real ones, with the only difference being that instead of gun powder there is gas in the cartridge.

This is a big problem in airsoft games. It means every shell is single shot and unlike real shells you have to be careful to collect them since they are reloadable and quite expensive. This makes them very inefficient weapons for games.

You can find gas shotguns in break barrel sawed off double barrel models and pump-action ones. Both share the problem of single shot shells. Gas shotguns are also rather expensive so they really only serve the replica hobbyists and live action role-play purposes. Since the topic is cheap airsoft shotguns, I will focus on spring operated ones from this point forward.

Spring
Spring operated airsoft shot guns come in two varieties. Single BB firing with internal or external magazine and 3 BB firing with a shell magazine. Spring operated shotguns are always pump-action models.

The single BB firing models are usually the cheapest and offer decent power and range for a very affordable price.

The 3 BB firing models are usually a bit more expensive. They are all based on the Tokyo Marui shotgun system with three barrels which they introduced in the 90s in their spas 12 and Benelli shotguns. The performance in general is pretty good and firing 3 BBs at a time increases your chance to hit your target significantly. The shell magazines hold 30 BBs, so you get 10 shots before you have to reload. The reload process is fairly simple yet not as fast as with an external clip AEG for example. This means you have to count and think your shots.

My recommendations

 

Single BB firing one:

My first recommendation is the Crosman ASGM47 Voodoo Spring Powered Single Shot Pump Action Shotgun.

It is a VERY high-powered (up to 390 fps) single fire shotgun for a very affordable price. The build quality is very good considering the price and the fact that it comes equipped with hop up (this increases range), very high power, a stock and a tactical rail for attaching sights is pretty astonishing considering it costs a bit over 30 bucks.

IMPORTANT: The description says you can fire full auto in electronic mode, this is complete nonsense. The gun is 100 % spring operated and does not contain or can not be modified to use any kind of electronically operated mechanism. For a cheap spring operated gun the gun is very good however and Crosman is a very well-established manufacturer that has been making air guns for decades and in recent years has started making airsoft guns as well. -i recommend getting a reflex sight for the shotgun since it doesn’t come equipped with any kind of iron sights.

 

Three BB firing one:

The second shotgun I recommend fire 3 BBs simultaniously from three separate barrels. It’s based on the Marui design like I discussed earlier. Meet the Double Eagle Heavy Weight Pistol Grip 3 Shot Shotgun

The gun is modeled after the Benelli M3 and the build quality and reliability are superior for the price point. This is probably due to the fact that the gun is an exact copy of Tokyo Maruis Benelli which was a very high quality shotgun back in the day. Double Eagle is a Chinese airsoft manufacturer with a long track record and is known for making decent quality airsoft guns for a very affordable price.

Conclusion

 

So that’s about it of the topic of cheap airsoft shotguns. Thinking about getting one or have questions? Drop a comment and I’ll get back to you!

 

 

 

 

When it comes to choosing a sidearm in airsoft, the options are plenty. Pistols in airsoft are the one weapon group where I think you can have more show than go.

Pistols are mainly used as sidearms in case your main weapon malfunctions or you run out of ammo in the middle of a fight and don’t have time to reload mags. They are also pretty much mandatory for a sniper as a close combat weapon. In CQB they can even be used as main weapons due to close firing distances and their agility.

Pistols come in many models, building materials and working principles. From cheap plastic springers to full metal gas operated full metal ones. Today I will talk about what I think is important in airsoft pistols and what are the best airsoft pistols available right now.

The role of pistols in Airsoft

 

Like I stated before, pistols are mainly considered sidearms and only in rare occasion should they be used as main weapons. Even though they are very light and agile, the short length and lack of a stock make them fairly inaccurate just like their real life counter parts.

However in airsoft the firing distances are a lot shorter and there is no real recoil which makes airsoft pistols a lot easier to operate than real ones. But it doesn’t change the fact that fighting with a pistol in a woodland or an open terrain, you are in a serious disadvantage accuracy wise, compared to someone wielding some sort of rifle.

The other thing about pistols is the small ammo capacity. Pistols are small and the magazines or magazine wells usually house components required by what ever operating principle the gun is using. This all means there is not much room for BBs and a typical airsoft pistol magazine holds between 15 to 40 BBs.

In real life this might be plenty of ammo but in airsoft you will empty your clips faster than you can say “out of ammo”. The other problem the small size causes is that there is not much room for a power source – be it gas or battery the capacity won’t be very high and even if you have time to reload BBs, you will run out of power pretty fast.

So due to these technical limitations, you generally don’t use pistols as main weapons. Although for an experienced player it can be very fun to play fast skirmish games with a pistol for a change and challenge.

What is blowback

 

Before I go on about the pistols I want to quickly talk about feature called blow backsince it’s very relevant when choosing a pistol.

Blowback is a feature that simulates the recoil and loading cycle of a real firearm. In pistols this generally means the slide moving back violently after each shot while the mechanism loads a new BB in to the chamber.

Blowback is mainly a feature of gas guns since it takes quite a bit of energy to cycle the slide. In real fire arms this is done by using the recoil force and the expanding gasses of the fired cartridge and it’s a very useful feature since this allows semi-automatic fire with a light trigger pull (compared to revolvers for example).

In airsoft blow back is not needed for the reloading cycle, since it takes a lot less energy to push a BB in to the chamber than a real cartridge. So the only function of blow back in airsoft is to add a feel of realism at the expense of energy in the form of gas. Oh and did I mention it’s really fun! 🙂

Different operating principles

 

Just like in bigger guns there are mainly three different operating principles in airsoft pistols. Manually cocked spring, electric ang gas.

Spring
Spring loaded pistols are generally cheap toys that are only good for blinking at the backyard. You can have a quality one – I had a Marui Glock 17 for a long time – as a back up of a back up weapon in case all our other weapons malfunction and no one has anything to borrow. Playing with springer against AEGs sets you in a huge disadvantage but at least you get to play and it’s still fun and challenging.

The thing about quality springers is that they are fool proof and will function in any weather condition. I have witnessed this many times in cold winter games where batteries run empty very fast and gas doesn’t work at all. This is not such a big issue these days after the invention of Li-Po batteries, since they can handle cold fairly well. In the old days in winter games it was normal to see players changing to springers towards the end of the games, as the main weapons started dropping out of action one by one.

Quality springers actually have a decent range for a pistol but the biggest stumbling block is the need to reload manually after every shot. You lose you aim and the opposing player has plenty of time to return fire.

Electric
Marui brought out their first AEPs or automatic electric pistols in the beginning of the 2000s. They are battery powered pistols with a gear box similar to full size AEGs. Due to size restrictions of pistol frames the mechanism takes out most of the space in the handle and AEPs use a stick type magazine because of this.

The size of the gear box and the small battery capacity also limits the power of the pistols. The springs used in AEPs are actually weaker than in quality springers. This was actually considered a big disappointment back in the day when they came out. You have to remember that what you lack in power you gain in semi auto fire (or full auto in some models) and the guns usually feature an adjustable hop up which increases effective range. The lack of power really isn’t an issue when you remember what the role of pistol is in airsoft.

AEPs generally feel solid and hefty, but due to the gear box the slides are fixed and there is usually no blow back feature. This makes the guns feel more like a toy gun especially when firing. But then again, you have to remember this is airsoft, and for gaming purposes I think certain AEPs are great. Especially with a couple simple modifications.

There are AEPs with blow back features but the action is so slow and the slide so light it really doesn’t feel realistic at all and I would not recommend getting an AEP with blow back feature. The ones without it are more reliable and there is more room for the battery and gearbox which usually means better performance.

Gas
Gas pistols can be divided in to blowback and non-blowback categories. They are either operated by green gas or CO2. Green gas is usually filled in the magazine of the gun and in some models the gas container is inside the magazine well. CO2 guns use the same CO2 cartridges that air guns use. Most quality guns these days accept bot green gas and CO2.

The biggest difference between green gas and CO2 is that CO2 can be used in colder temperatures. When you start to go close to freezing temps, green gas looses it’s capacity to expand, and the power of the gun will greatly diminish.

Gas pistols without blowback are generally very simple guns with few moving parts. This makes them fairly reliable but usually the trigger pull is heavy because it has to set the trigger and reload a new BB all with the energy from your finger.

In blow back guns the trigger is usually set by the slide moving back just like in real fire arms. This makes the trigger pull nice and light. But of course the biggest thing going for blow back guns is the blow back feature itself. When you shoot a quality blow back pistol with a heavy metal slide you will be surprised by the kick and the sound. It’s as close to firing a real firearm you can get in airsoft. That’s why high quality airsoft blow back pistols are used in IPSC Action Air, a practical shooting based airsoft sport and as rehearsal tools by any militaries and law enforcement organisations

What I use

 

I personally have a Tokyo Marui original AEP Glock 18C. I actually bought it a while ago used for $15 dollars or so. It’s easily worth the original asking price of around $100 in my opinion. The original battery was pretty much dead so I bought the smallest 7.4 V Li-Po battery I could find from a hobby store and with a bit of fiddling and soldering it fit the gun very nicely.

I also modified the hop up unit in to a flat hop up and made it as air tight as possible. And boy did the gun come alive. The Li-Po batterys superior performance made the firing instantaneous and the rate of fire very good. With the upgraded hop up the range is more than enough for a sidearm.

The Tokyo Marui Glock 18 can be very hard to find these days but there are some decent copies on the market. Like the on M9 made by Cyma, which has pretty much identical internal parts. Even the famous YouTube Airsoft sniper NOVRITSCH used to use a Marui Glock 18C AEP before his channel grew and he needed something with more show.

Best airsoft pistols on the market right now

 

There are several very good airsoft pistols on the market. The ones I would recommend are all gas blow back guns made by well-established quality manufacturers.

KWC COLT 1911:

The KWC Colt 1911 is a tried and true model that comes in many different variations, which are basically the same base gun. It’s also distributed by Cyberguns and few other companies but they are all manufactured by KWC. This is not a bad thing since the KWC’s replicas of the 1911 are extremely well-made.

KWC (Kein Well Toy Industrial Co. Ltd) is a well-established Taiwanese manufacturer that specializes in high quality performance handgun replicas. They have been making replicas of the 1911 for many years now and it is sort of flagship model of their line up and comes in many variations.

The original Colt m1911a1 was adopted by the US military over a century ago but due to its modern design it is still used today and it’s one of the most iconic handguns out there, The semi-automatic .45 caliber pistol had superior stopping power, firing rate and accuracy compared to handguns of the time.

The airsoft version built by KWC is as close as you can get to the real deal with replica both in form and function. Performance and reliability is among the best on the market and leaves nothing to hope for. The only real downside is that the guns shoot pretty hot which means they might not be allowed in all CQB arenas. There are modifications available for lowering the muzzle energy, but if you are getting the gun only for CQB, I would recommend something else.

KWC and Cybergun have currently many models on the market. From the classic m1911a1 to very modern tactical versions with rails for attaching accessories.

KJW M9:

The KJW M9 is replica of another iconic handgun, the Beretta M9 (also known as 92FS). KJW makes an excellent replica of this hand gun with very good performance and intricate attention to detail. Beretta M9 is actually the hand gun that replaced the m1911a1 as the standard issue side arm of the US military. It is a more modern design (with roots as old as the 1911) that uses the popular 9 mm round.

KJ Works is another Taiwanese manufacturer that has been making airsoft products since the early 90s. They specialize in high quality gas blow back handguns and sniper rifles. Just like KWC the build quality and performance is their gas blowback weapons is excellent.

The M9 is another replica that is very true to the original counter part. The only difference to the real steel firearm is that the KJ Works Beretta can fire full auto. With a high power blow back pistol this is hilariously fun. Your accuracy will suffer and you will run out of BBs fast, but it’s all worth the fun!

Performance wise the M9 leaves nothing to be desired for. The muzzle energy is a bit lower than the KWC 1911. This combined with the full auto capability makes the M9 my pistol of choice for CQB.

Conclusion

 

So that’s my take on best airsoft pistols. What do you think of my choices? Did I miss your favorite or do you have questions about airsoft pistols? Don’t hesitate to drop a comment below and I promise to get back to you soon.

 

 

 

 

When I made a comeback to Airsoft I noticed that most players these days use simple protective classes without any cover for their faces. Back in the day when I started playing airsoft pretty much everybody was using either Sansei airsoft masks with steel mesh goggles or paintball masks. This felt natural since getting a burst of BBs from a high power AEG in to your face can be very painful and potentially dangerous to your teeth.

The reason many people prefer clear tactical glasses or goggles is the unobstructed field of view and the ease of breathing and communication. This however comes at a price. When compared to mesh goggles the clear glasses fog up easily especially if you sweat a lot from your face.

The other downside is there is no protection for your face. While this is not that dangerous it can be very painful and you can end up with bruised face for a couple weeks if you get hit bad.

An airsoft BB can also easily chip a tooth even from a distance if your mouth is open and you get a direct hit. I’ve seen this happen. I have also seen a BB stuck under the skin of a cheek. It ain’t pretty.

I actually tried using tactical glasses at the beginning of my comeback but I soon reverted back to using mesh goggles with a mesh mask to protect my face. Part of my day job is customer service so I can’t risk having bruises on my face and I really don’t like the thought of chipped teeth either.

So today I will discuss about the best airsoft face protection and how you can effectively and comfortably protect your face and teeth in airsoft.

A word about safety

 

IMPORTANT: I would like to point out that safety gear is the last thing you want to save your money on. A quality set of eye protection and a face guard will cost you less than $50 and they are pretty much indestructible. There are cheap hardware store eye protection and mask available but I can’t recommend getting something like that.

There have been reports with cheap Chinese metal mesh masks cracking from BB hits and clear plastic goggles cracking from normal AEG hits. You have only one set of eyes so please don’t make uninformed decisions when choosing your protection. In Airsoft safety always comes first.

So please get your protective gear from a well-known manufacturer and supplier. Most airsoft stores only carry tested quality masks and glasses so airsoft store are in general a safe place to buy your face protection.

Different kinds of face protection

There are a few options to choose from if you want to protect your face in airsoft. The BBs have relatively low kinetic energy so it doesn’t take much to soften the impact enough to protect you from bruises.

A simple balaclava or a scarf will offer some protection but fabric won’t completely stop the BB and you can still get stung badly. That’s why I recommend using solid face protection.

You have basically two options. Option one being a complete mask with eye protection and full face cover. This means your typical paintball (or paintball style) mask or a lighter airsoft mask.

The paintball style masks usually have the greatest level of protection and usually cover also your ears and parts of your neck. The airsoft style masks usually just cover your eyes, forehead, cheeks, nose and mouth.

The other option is to use separate eye protection and face protection. This offers a lot of different options depending on your preference.

Full masks

 

If you decide to go the full mask route, my recommendation would be an airsoft mask with steel mesh eye protection. The steel mesh will slightly obscure your vision but once you get used to it, it really isn’t a problem. What you get in exchange is complete freedom from fogging up your vision no matter what the weather is like.

The only downside in my opinion is the theoretical change of a BB fragment penetrating the mesh and hitting your eye. I want you to be aware of this risk but in all my years playing airsoft I have never seen this happen. I have once read about it happening but even in that case the fragment didn’t cause any injuries, so I figure it’s a pretty safe bet to say mesh goggles are safe.

IMPORTANT: What I stated in the previous paragraph only applies to quality mesh goggles. There are cheap and dangerous ones on the market. If you have any concern about the quality of mesh goggles you, or some of your friends is using, ALWAYS test the eye protection with the most powerful weapon on the playgrounds.

If you however decide you want to go with the paintball mask style make sure you get something with quality glasses that are well ventilated. This will keep you vision clear and save from a lot of frustration.

Some mask can also make breathing a bit more difficult especially when breathing heavy while sprinting. This can be avoided by choosing a mask with good ventilation or by drilling small holes to the mask to increase air flow. Masks can also muffle your voice a bit which can make communication more difficult.

Face guards

 

If you don’t want to use a full mask the best option in my opinion is to use a separate face guard. They are usually made out of steel mesh and painted in some sort of camouflage color. The mesh is thick enough to stop even high power BBs but open enough to not cause any problems with breathing like full masks can

.

This is what I prefer to do myself. You can use pretty much any kind of eye protection with the face guards. It will work with clear goggles and glasses or with mesh goggles and glasses. I actually use either the mesh goggles from my circa 1996 Sansei Airsoft mask that is still going strong or a set of Nuprol Pro mesh goggles.

The face guard I like to use is a Nuprol mesh one. I don’t really have anything bad to say about it. It’s flexible enough so you can contour it to fit to the shape of your face and I have had no problems with breathing or anything else really while wearing it.

Conclusion

 

So that’s pretty much all that there is to know about the best airsoft face protection available. As always drop a comment below if you have any questions and I will get back to you soon!

 

 

 

 

 

When you are just starting out airsoft and just thinking about getting you first gun it can be very hard to decide on what to get. There are so many options to pick from and then there are the hardware store $50 all included packages that seem so enticing.

Most players start with a cheap spring pistol that they borrow or buy from a toy store to blink at the backyard with couple of friends.

There is nothing wrong with that as long as everyone is wearing appropriate eye protection and there is no risk for bystanders to think something illegal is going on. Airsoft does not need more bad rep, just saying :).

 

 

This article is aimed to the player thinking about getting the first serious airsoft gun for more official games. So let’s get cracking and let’s see what makes the best airsoft gun for beginners and what’s there on the market to pick from.

What’s important for a beginner gun

 

The very first thing I’d like to point out from personal experience is that the gun you get has to be interesting to you. It doesn’t really matter if the gun you get is real cream of the crop technically if it doesn’t speak to you. If you think a certain model looks ugly, don’t get it even if everybody recommends it.

You will enjoy the sport so much more when you feel awesome just by holding your new awesome BB shooter. There are a lot of options, believe me. So pick something that looks super cool to you or something you’ve always though was the coolest gun on action movies.

On the other hand I have to point out that there are some rare weapons that have only subpar airsoft replicas available and I can’t recommend a beginner get something like that. Instead, pick something fairly common that is made by some of the well-known manufacturers.

That is actually the second point. A good beginner airsoft gun is made by a well-known manufacturer. Nothing kills the enthusiasm for the hobby like a constantly malfunctioning weapon so it’s important you get something reliable as a beginner.

Most of the largest AEG manufacturers use the same Tokyo Marui standard gear boxes any way so if something get’s broken you can always find spare parts and someone who knows how to install them.

Try around if possible

If you have friends that play airsoft or if there is an active local airsoft scene I recommend asking around if you could try out different kinds of airsoft guns. Looking at pictures and videos sure is fun but it can be very deceiving.

You can’t really perceive from pictures or videos how the weapon feels in your hand, if the grip is the right size for you or if the gun feels too big for you. That’s why it’s important to get a feel for yourself.

Since airsoft stores are few and far between these days as most guns are sold online it’s good to ask around your local scene.

The Best type of gun for a beginner

 

I definitely recommend getting an automatic electric gun or an AEG as your first weapon. They are simply the most versatile type of gun you can get with decent price. AEGs combine good range and accuracy with automatic fire and modifiability.

The only real downside to them is lack of realism especially when comparing with gas blow back guns. There are also more moving parts inside them when compared to HPA (high pressure air) or gas guns but they are very reliable and very easy to maintain.

These days there are some very cheap AEGs available that are decent quality and up gradable if your budget is very tight.

The only accessories an AEG requires is a battery and charger and many times these are included in deals. As a beginner, it’s probably wise to buy enough BBs and some quality eye protection.

Best beginner airsoft guns

 

G&G Combat Machine M4A1

One of the most affordable AEGs with a decent build quality is the G&G Combat Machine M4A1 carbine.

It’s your run-of-the-mill Taiwanese made M4 which uses a Marui V2 style gearbox so the insides are fully up gradable with after market parts. The performance and quality are actually ridiculously good considering the price. You could not get anything even close to this price and performance when I was starting the hobby.

G&G is actually a high end manufacturer and the Combat Machine is their budget range with very little compromise. Pretty much the only upgrades you would need for this gun is a better barrel and some finishing touches to the gearbox to make it a long time keeper.

DBoys Kalash SLR-106U

The DBoys Kalash is a very affordable Chinese made Kalashnikov replica. It closely resembles the AK74 AKSU carbine but is not an exact replica. However the most incredible thing is that it’s almost all metal. Combine this with the tried and true V3 gearbox based AK design and good out of the box performance and you have the makings of a great gaming gun.

The company DBoys is a large Chinese manufacturer with mostly decent quality control. However with these cheaper guns you kind of have to expect there might be some tinkering involved. You get what you pay for. Usually this is something minor like resetting the hop up bucking or tightening some screws but sometimes it’s something bigger like malfunctioning gear box but this kind of malfunctions are always covered by the guarantee and most of the guns run just fine out of the box.

If you want an AK with a very affordable price tag, this is the one to get. Otherwise I would recommend getting the G&G M4 or a bit more expensive AK models.

T3

If you like big rifles or want to go German my recommendation would be the JG T3 which is modeled after The Heckler & Koch G3 battle riffle. The gun is big, solid and very cheap when you take in to consideration that it comes with a battery and a charger. Performance

JG or Jing Gong is a Hong Kong based airsoft manufacturer that specializes in making low to mid price range guns with very high quality. They essentially copy Tokyo Marui designs and upgrade them with higher performance parts. Of course the quality is not as high as Marui because, well, nothing is as high quality as Marui :). But the performance is superior out of the box.

ASG Steyr AUG

If you like something completely different looking like the crossbreed of a pressure washer and a waffle I would recommend the ASG Steyr AUG. My first gun was actually a Marui AUG I bought around 1998 and I still have it, although as a heavily modified DMR.

The Steyr AUG is and Austrian made assault rifle from the 1970s that has very futuristic looking bull pup design. bull pup means that the bolt and the magazine are situated behind the trigger. This allows for longer barrel in compact design.

The ASG AUG is a clone of the Marui AUG (noticing a pattern here?:). The performance is very good out of the box and you get the same cool features you get with TM AUG and the real AUG. These include a two stage trigger (pull half-way for semi auto and pull all the way for full auto) and quick disassembly of barrel, frame and stock which make transporting a breeze. Oh and it’s fully ambidextrous.

ASG stand for Action Sports Games and is a Danish based manufacturer of fully licensed airsoft guns and airguns. This means their replicas have high detail in finishing touches and have the same stamps as the real counter parts. I suspect the airsoft guns are manufactured in China by some large manufacturer like JG.

For the price you get a very good airsoft rifle with couple short comings. The AUG design is prone to problems with the semi fire function of the trigger. This is due to the design of the trigger connectors and is pretty easy to fix if you know what you are doing. The other is the tendency for BB feeding issues that also might need some tinkering if you encounter these problems. There are also some reports the muzzle velocity is usually less than the advertised 380 fps. This isn’t really an issue in beginners airsoft gun since the velocity id still decent (somewhere closer to 300 usually).

Conclusion

 

That’s my suggestions on the best beginner airsoft guns. I hope my tips help you make an informed decision and get you excited about the hobby! Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about airsoft guns for beginners and I promise to get back to you soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Today I want to talk about airsoft sniper rifles. They are a weapon that require a lot of skill to use effectively but in the right hands they will instill fear on the enemy and can turn the tide of the battle.

No one likes it when team-mates start dropping like flies and no one has any idea where the shots are coming from.

They are also great for taking out that machine gun post that has been slaying your whole team for a while from a safe distance.

These days there are a lot of sniper rifles to choose from. You can also get lots of aftermarket mods for them and most of the guns won’t live to the full potential without some modding.

To help your pick the best airsoft sniper rifle I’m going to tell your what features your should be looking for in a good airsoft sniper rifle and find the best one in the market. I will introduce a couple options for different budgets.

The role of a sniper in airsoft

 

A good sniper knows when NOT to take the shot. Playing as a sniper your need to have a good situational awareness on the battle field. Some times it’s better not to take the shot even when the enemy is served to your on a platter.

The main role of a sniper is to give long range support to team-mates and to disrupt and wreak havoc among the enemy team.

To be successful in these goals a good sniper will avoid detection at any cost. A sniper will usually move alone or with a spotter away from the rest of the team.

If your have successfully flanked an enemy team and your give away your position your will be easily over taken. That’s why a good sniper never gets too close to the enemy and thinks twice before taking a shot.

Sometimes it’s wise to let the enemy move away from your to avoid detection instead of engaging.

A good sniper will know how to use his/hers surroundings for camouflaging and moving without detection. This means lots of crawling and staying still as well as choosing the right kind of camouflage or ghillie suit for the terrain.

An experienced sniper will enhance his/hers camouflage by using vegetation attached to his suit. It’s also wise to camouflage the rifle.

The requirements of a good Airsoft sniper rifle

 

For an airsoft sniper rifle to really shine in its role it needs a few key qualities.

Firstly it of course has to be accurate. This requires superior build quality of the stock and the mechanics since there cannot be any play or wobble between the parts.

It also requires very consistent operation since airsoft guns accuracy is highly dependent on the air pressure that drives the BB out of the barrel through the hop-up system. In low quality gun there can be surprisingly large variation of muzzle velocity between shots.

The velocity affects greatly how the BB reacts with the hop up and the accuracy and range at long distance.

This variation is usually not a problem on mid range weapons so it’s usually not something your have to worry about on your average AEG but with a sniper rifle it’s extremely important the shots are consistent.

Considering the role of a sniper, stealth is very important. A good sniper rifle needs to be as silent as possible.

In skirmish weapons it’s usually fine to make them loud if your like since this creates a certain level of realism and ambiance to the game. But since snipers role is to support and disrupt it’s very important to avoid detection as long as possible a silent rifle is very important.

In airsoft the ranges that a sniper uses to engage are only a fraction from the real life counter parts so the silence of the rifle is very important.

Since the main role of a sniper is to engage from a long distance a good airsoft rifle requires a lot of power. This means high muzzle energy and usually the need for heavy BBs since they have a more stable trajectory at long distances.

These days you can get even the heaviest BBs in biodegradable materials, so please save the nature and use them.

Good sniper rifles are dangerous at close ranges and should never been used at ranges below 30 meters (100 ft).

In general a good sniper won’t use semi auto rifles since firing multiple shots from the same location will increase the chance of detection.

That’s why semi auto rifles are more suitable for the designated marksman role and the true sniper rifles displayed here are all bolt action. Bolt action rifles also have higher power limits in most games so they serve the long range role better in that regard as well.

Accessories of a good airsoft sniper rifle

 

A good rifle also requires a good scope. In airsoft your don’t need crazy magnification but your should definitely invest in a quality scope that keeps it’s aim and is easy to adjust for windage and elevation. Cheap scopes are nothing more than a decoration.

 

Bi-bods aren’t really that useful in airsoft in my experience so they are optional. They are good for extreme range shots if your’re playing for example in a defending role that requires less movement but usually they will just get on the way when changing position.

Camouflage is important. If your mainly play in a one type of consistent environment your might consider painting the rifle. But if your play in varying environments I recommend using camo wraps that come in all colors.

The best airsoft rifle on the market

 

So your want a rifle that meets all the above requirements out from box? Well I got your covered. The best airsoft sniper on the market out of the box in my opinion is the ASG USMC M40A3. It’s a spring operated bolt action rifle based on the ever so popular Tokyo Marui VSR-10 design.

This means there’s are lots of after market parts if your decide your need to upgrade it. The thing is, this gun performs out of the box so well that there should be no need for major upgrades unless your want to really optimize everything about the gun.

The build quality of the M40 is phenomenal. The rifle is very solid and robust. The quality build makes it somewhat heavy but in a good way. You just know the gun can take a beating just by holding it.

The accuracy is superb out of the box even though it’s not the most powerful sniper rifle right out of the box. But your have to realize power is not everything when it comes to range and accuracy.

It’s the consistency between the shots and the guns mechanics that matter and this is where the m40 really shines. If your are worried about the power your can always upgrade the mechanics with something like PDIs kit.

The bolt action on the rifle is as smooth as your can get on a rifle with heavy spring. There are gas operated bolt action rifles but the biggest problem with them is inconsistency between shots since gas pressure is affected by the temperature. Gas rifles can also have problems with hop up consistency as the expanding gas cools the rubber down. That’s why I think spring action sniper rifles are better overall even though the bolt action on gas rifles is much more realistic. The hop up adjustment is located at the bottom of the gun and is easy to operate unlike in many sniper rifles, which require special tools.

The rifle doesn’t come with a scope so I recommend getting a high quality low magnification scope with large aperture for a large field of view (Such as this). The muzzle of the rifle is equipped with hidden threats for mounting a silencer adapter (not included). The gun is reasonably silent due to the sturdy built but a silencer can make it a bit quieter especially from the front.

The only downside of the gun is the 20 round internal mag. This is just a tad small for longer games but on the other hand it really makes your count your shots and hone your sniper skills. The reloading is also pretty fast so it’s not that big of a deal.

If your decide to get the gun your should definitely get some high quality heavy BBs with it to ensure high accuracy and smooth operation.

The best airsoft rifle on a budget

 

Believe I know everyone can’t spend thousands of dollars on toy guns. That’s why I’m also introducing the best airsoft rifle your can get if your are on budget. It is almost as effective and accurate as the M40 with a considerably lower price tag.

If your are on a budget my recommendation would be the Well full metal mb08.

I know it is not that much cheaper than the ASG m40 but a decent scope is included and the rifle is very high build quality for a “cheaper” manufacturer. This is a site about the best airsoft guns after all – not the cheapest :). Just like the ASG this rifle is fully upgradable and the performance is good enough out of the box for me to recommend it as the best airsoft rifle your can get on a budget. The mb08 is a replica of the British l96 bolt action sniper rifle and the gun is very sturdy and made out of metal and high quality polymer. Just like m40 the only real con is the smallish mag.

Conclusion

So what do your think of my choice for the best airsoft sniper rifle? Do your have better ideas or questions about the rifles? Drop a comment below and I’ll be happy to help your out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since this site is about best airsoft guns on the market I thought what would be a better way to start than by introducing the best airsoft gun you can get.

Of course this is all in my opinion and experience respectfully but I assure you the gun I’m about to introduce will blow you away (see what I did there har har).

Now the first problem in determining the best airsoft gun is the fact that there are many roles and styles of play – the same gun can’t simply be the best for sniping, fire support, CQB and mid range full auto skirmishes – or can it?

In all honesty no, it can’t – but what I’m about introduce to you will work better in any role than 99 % of guns out there.

The second problem is that there are many different ways airsoft guns operate. Some are spring-loaded, some work with green gas, some are electric and then there’s CO2 and pneumatic air systems.

There are even guns that combine some of those. And which you like best is highly preferential.

The gun I’m talking about will of course reflect my preferences but it is first and foremost the best airsoft gun for playing, not for showing off (even though it’s a handsome devil). So let’s get cracking!

What makes a good airsoft gun

 

To call an airsoft gun good It needs to have a few key features: reliable, easy to maintain, decent performance etc. To call it the best it has to have a lot more than that and everything about the gun has to be top-notch.

The first factor is of course build quality. Most airsoft guns on the market these days are made mostly out of cheap ABS plastic and the cheapest ones are made out of recycled mixed plastics that are so frail that they can fracture and break just by looking at them too intensely.

The few metal parts they have usually are made out of low quality cast zinc and nickel alloys that are almost as weak as the plastic. A quality gun will be made out of quality materials: reinforced polymers, metals like steel and aluminum and even natural materials like wood.

Even more importantly those materials will be cast, milled and forged in ways that ensure structural integrity and seamless fit of parts and mechanics.

Finally, those materials will be finished in a way that both looks good and protects the gun against wear and tear.

A quality gun will also have quality mechanics. This includes every single part within the operating mechanism of the weapon regardless of the operating principle. This also includes everything from the trigger mechanism to the bore tightness and quality of the barrel, hop-up, wiring, switches etc.

The mechanics in some cheaper guns are made of low quality parts that are not built in any standard set-ups used by the quality manufacturers. This means the gear boxes and other mechanics are easy to break and there won’t be any spare parts on the market so you can’t even fix them.

Quality guns use mechanics that are tried and proven and in most cases you can replace every single part if the need be or even upgrade the mechanics with after market parts.

To shine in many roles the gun has to be modular. This means it has to have rail-systems for attaching optics and accessories, it should accept many different sized magazines, the barrel should be easy to change and the stock should be adjustable. Power should be easy to adjust for different roles.

Well built guns always have a certain heft to them. They are usually heavier than cheap plastic ones but this should not be a problem in most situations. It means they are durable and most normal sized guns are easy to wield for the average sized player.

Exceptions are some very high quality WWII replicas and some machine guns that weight so much that they’re a burden and will slow you down on the battle field. So a good gun from purely playing standpoint won’t be too heavy to handle efficiently.

The roles of different kinds of airsoft guns

 

Main battle weapons: This is what I like to call you run-of-the-mill AEG assault rifle or sub machine gun. These weapons perform very well in most situations on the battle field but don’t really shine on any. Best in fast paced mid range combat that requires full auto capabilities for suppressive fire. In this role it’s a balancing act between power, firing speed and maneuverability. The power should be high enough (usually around 1.5 J) for decent range yet not too powerful to make close combat dangerous. That’s why there are usually power limits in games for main automatic weapons.

Firing speed should be decent but not too high as this will usually just lead to shortage of BBs without any real advantage. It doesn’t really matter if you hit the guy with 3 or 6 BBs when you’re spray gets there since airsoft is mostly a one hit game. Maneuverability is really a compromise between barrel length and accuracy. Generally shorter barrels mean less accuracy. Due to physics related to hop up and smooth barrels this is not always completely true but in most stock guns it is. Shorter guns are of course lighter and easier to handle in tight spaces. Other important qualities for this role are durability, reliability and ease of maintenance since these guns will usually see a lot of action.

Sniper rifles: Long range, accurate and powerful are the terms that best describe an airsoft sniper rifles qualities. Sniper rifles come basically in two variants. Probably the more common being a spring powered bolt action. These are usually very powerful and accurate at long distances but slow to reload and cumbersome to wield. Generally they require the most skill and the playing style of a “true sniper” to be effective. There are also gas operated and pneumatic bolt actions but they seem to be quite rare. Bolt action rifles usually have muzzle energies between 2 – 3 J and should not be used at close ranges due to risk of serious injury.

The second sniper variant is a DMR or designated marksman rifle. These are usually semi auto AEGs or gas operated rifles equipped with magnifying optics. Muzzle energies are usually between 1.5 J and 2.2 J. They are a bit more versatile than bolt actions and close the gap between true sniper rifles and assault rifles. In sniper rifles the build quality is extremely important. For an airsoft rifle to be accurate up to distances of 100 meters it requires very consistent operation of the firing mechanism since accuracy is highly dependent of even muzzle velocities. And there obviously can’t be wobbly barrels or sticky triggers if you intend to hit anything over 50 meters.

 

Fire support: Fire support essentially means machine guns. High rate of fire, high range and power and ridiculous ammo capacity. These can be modified assault rifles or dedicated machine guns. They are generally higher power like DMRs and not meant for close combat. The idea is to deliver lots of BBs far away so you’re mates can advance while the enemy is keeping their heads down. So power requirements are similar to DMRs but fire support weapons are full auto and usually very high RPM (round per minute).

Accuracy is not nearly as critical as on sniper rifles but the combination of high power and high firing rate require a lot from the gear box, motor and the battery. Oh and they are almost always electric weapons since firing thousands of rounds of BBs in one game can get very expensive with gas on compressed air.

 

CQB: The final role is of course CQB or close quarters battle weapons. Generally these need to be short, low powered and reliable. The best weapon types suited for CQB are obviously submachineguns short assault rifles and pistols. CQB weapons are generally the least demanding when it comes to quality since the firing distances are short and accuracy isn’t that important. However, reliability and things like smooth magazine changes and properly functioning selector switches become more important as reaction time is much shorter in close quarters and there is less room for mistake so quality does matter. There are usually power limits for CQB battles since the firing distances are short and potential for injuries and pain is high. Usually the power limit is around 1 J.

The different operating principles of airsoft guns

 

Now before I introduce the best airsoft gun around we have to look at the most common operating principles that we can choose from.

Spring powered: Spring operated airsoft guns are generally cheap toy guns but there are also high end spring-loaded guns like sniper rifles. The principle is simple: A spring is cocked using you’re muscles and when you pull the trigger the spring is released and the stored energy used to push a BBs down the barrel. Pros are simple construction and no need for external power source. Cons are slow firing rate and interruption of aim while reloading.

AEGs: Automatic electric guns are battery operated semi or full auto guns. Pulling the trigger the battery turns a motor that turns a gearbox that has a piston and spring that are used to propel the BBs down the barrel. Pros are cheap source of power (electricity), automatic fire capability and relatively reliable operation and easy maintenance. Cons are a very complex construction, not very realistic firing experience and reliability issues in cheap models.

Gas: Gas operated guns have a small pressurized gas tank usually in the magazine and sometimes in the frame or stock of the gun. When you pull the trigger a small amount of the gas is released to propel the BBs down the barrel. This is usually done by a sort of hammer and pin valve mechanism which results in a very realistic firing experience. Gas guns can be semi or full auto and they can have a blowback system. Blowback system mimics the recoil and reloading cycle of a real firearm. In pistols the slide will kick back and in rifles the bolt will cycle. Pros: As realistic firing experience as you can get with a toy gun, fun to shoot. Cons: Gas is relatively expensive, weak operation in cold weather. Some of the gasses can also be hazardous to the environment and health.

HPA (high power air) / pneumatic: HPA guns are getting more common these days. They are either completely mechanical and work like gas guns or they can be electrical and use a battery to drive a modified AEG gear box that controls the air valve. Pros: Simple operation and realistic firing experience, ability to control muzzle energy by pressure regulation Cons: Need a bulky air tank with a regulator that is a hassle to refill and is potentially dangerous if compromised.

The criteria for the best airsoft gun

 

So now that we have a somewhat good understanding of what makes a good gun, the roles on the field and what are the pros and cons of different operating mechanisms it’s time to list the criteria for the perfect gaming weapon. This is where it gets a bit opinionated.

The gun needs:

• Top notch build quality inside out.
• To be modular to accommodate any role.
• An operating principle that can meet the requirements of all roles.
• To be compact and nimble enough to work in CQB
• To be reliable and easy to maintenance

So we will have to rule out any cheap manufacturers with quality issues. We will also have to rule out certain types of guns like full sized rifles and machine guns since these won’t work well in CQB. We will also have to rule out spring operated guns as most roles require automatic fire.

The best airsoft gun

 

Let me introduce the gun that meets all the above criteria. Well at least most of them, you can’t really have it all. Not without modifications.

Krytac Trident SPR Mk.2

It is a top tier AEG in the mid size AR-15 configuration.

What’s really remarkable about this gun is the build quality and quality mechanics inside the gear box. It has a quick change spring guide which allows very fast spring changes.

The gearbox will easily handle springs up to m150 range which means it can be converted in to a DMR simply by swapping the spring (this will usually void the warranty FYI) and disabling full auto (if required by you’re local rules for DMRs) and adding a scope.

For support role adding a bigger LiPo battery (for fire rate and endurance) and a hi-cap drum mag with the spring is all that is needed. Cqb requires just a weaker spring and you’re good to go.

The frame is fully modular with rail system on upper and lower receiver and fully adjustable stock. The barrel can be changed to longer or a shorter one (you will of course have to buy one) but there’s really no need. It even has a MOSFET installed so you don’t have to worry about trigger issues or problems with higher voltage batteries.

The best thing about the weapon is it based on the very popular AR-15 frame and Marui mech box V.2 design. This means that there are endless amounts of after market parts and accessories you can use to modify the gun. But in all honesty it’s so good from the box that you don’t need any mods. Just load ‘er up and have fun!

Conclusion

 

Well there you go. The best airsoft gun you can get at the moment for overall performance and modifiability out of the box.

If you had the patience to read this far I hope you liked the article. Do you think my choice of the best airsoft gun was right or do you disagree? Drop a comment below in either case!

 

 

 

 

Hi I’m Jukka. I’m an airsoft enthusiast in my thirties. Welcome to my site dedicated to helping You find the best airsoft gear and deals on the market.

My story

I used to play airsoft for many years when I was younger but then life got busy with school, relationships, work, partying – all the usual stuff young adults do. Couple of years ago I had been looking for a new hobby for weekends and I remembered airsoft. Quick search on the internet revealed there was still an active scene in my city and games were being organized almost every weekend.

 

I actually still had my old Systema upgraded Marui Steyr AUG from circa 1998 so I got a new battery and to my surprise the gun was good to go (You can call that real quality). So I went in for a weekend game and have been hooked ever since. I was actually surprised I wasn’t even the oldest player on the field and the sport is more popular among young adults then teenagers these days.

Now the real problem was getting new gear after the first game. Even though my trusty AUG was in working order it was clear at the games that technology had advanced and I was in a serious disadvantage. I needed a new gun (or two). I realized I had to get a new BDU, some tactical gear, BBs, LiPo batteries, optics and all that stuff since all I had was the AUG and some hiking gear. So I asked around and the guys were really helpful and let me test many kinds of guns, AEGs, pneumatics, spring operated sniper rifles etc. They talked about R-hops, neodymium engines and Li-Po batteries… I was pretty much embarrassed to admit I knew nothing about modern airsoft guns and my knowledge was very outdated.

Finding the best airsoft gear is hard

As I started to research for a good main weapon and it became obvious very fast that the options were endless. I spend countless of hours trying to figure out what I needed and what was the best bang for the buck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I finally settled with a Lonex m-4 variant since I needed something reliable and easy to maintain so an AEG (automatic electric gun) was the natural choice and Lonex is a top-notch brand. I like fast paced game play so snipers were out of the question. I was very pleased with my choice and the Lonex worked wonderfully out of the box even though I have upgraded it since with better motor, spring, battery and r-hop.

I found out that many new players weren’t as lucky. They had ended up spending hundreds of dollars on equipment that did not perform adequately, needed constant maintenance and tinkering or down right did not work. Some had even ended the hobby all together out of frustration. I think Airsoft is a great hobby and I don’t want You or any else to end up quitting it due bad experiences with gear. In all honesty airsoft is very much an equipment centered sport. Skill of course matter but especially for a beginner it’s very important to have a gun that performs and is reliable so You can concentrate on having fun and honing You skirmish skills. I feel passionate about airsoft and want to help people find the best airsoft gear for the best price so no one has to end the hobby due to disappointment in their gear!

The goal of BestAirsoftGuns.NET

While doing my research I learned there are a lot of cheap knock offs and untrustworthy brands (mainly from China) and without ample research it is very easy to make a bad decision which can lead to disappointment and even quitting the hobby. That’s why I decided to create BestAirsoftGuns.net. The number one airsoft site dedicated to cut through the crap and find the best guns out there – no matter what your budget. My goal is to do the research for You and cherry pick the best gear on the market. I promise You anything You find on this site is worth it’s price and will make gaming fun and help You dominate the field!

If You ever need a hand or have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help You out.

All the best,

Jukka

BestAirsoftGuns.net