How to Choose Your First Airsoft Gun

First of all, don’t stress about this! You don’t need to worry too much about what you pick because, unlike a real gun, picking a “bad” or “cheap” gun won’t threaten your life in any way. That is, thankfully, your family’s lives don’t depend on this choice. However, there are some things you should consider, because this is money you’re spending, and you don’t want to waste any of it.[1]

There are six main considerations to keep in mind when choosing an Airsoft gun. I will briefly list them, here, and then go into greater detail.

1. Check to ensure that it is legal for you to own or use Airsoft guns in your area. See our legal guide, HERE.
2. Gun style and type. Do you want a handgun or long gun? Do you want it to be electric powered, gas powered, or spring powered?
3. You need to think about what you want to do with your Airsoft gun and where you want to shoot it. For example, actually playing Airsoft competitively involves being a part of a team. Each participant will be assigned a particular role. If this is your ambition, then you’ll need to acquire a gun that is suitable for your “position.” If you simply want to shoot your gun in your own yard, then your considerations will be different.[2]
4. Here the basic idea is that some weapons allow you to clip on little add-on devices. Examples include flashlights, Go-Pro cameras, grenade launchers, laser sights, optical sights, specialized grips, and so on. For the most part, accessories can be purchased for guns that are equipped with an Airsoft “Rail System.” Simply put, a “Rail Interface System” (RIS) or a “Rail Accessory System” (RAS) is just a spot on the gun that allows users to attach accessories.
5. For most people, the cost of the gun will be a major factor in their purchase decision. We will go into greater detail on this, below. For now, suffice it to say that price ranges vary drastically. Inexpensive spring guns might start at less than $50. Expensive gun kits – with multiple accessories – might run hundreds of dollars.
6. This might be thought of as an extension of the price. You’ll want to know what (if any) manufacturer’s guarantee comes with your product. You’ll also want to know if your local retailer gives you the option of buying an extended warranty. If you’d like to avail yourself of such an offer, then make sure that you understand what is and what is not covered and, since the extended warranty will add to your purchase price, that you budget accordingly.

6 Things to Think About

Number One: Is It Legal for You to Buy an Airsoft Gun?

Let’s get the boring stuff out of the way first. Before you lay down money for an Airsoft weapon, you need to make sure that it’s legal to own one in your area.

Keep in mind that the laws covering Airsoft purchase and use vary from state to state, and from town to town. Among the many considerations, here, is your age. As far as I have been able to tell, federal law does not say anything about how old you need to be to buy an Airsoft gun.

It is true that a person has to be 18 to buy a firearm. But Airsoft guns are not considered to be “firearms” under federal law. Individual states set various guidelines. For an introduction to this issue, and other related issues, see HERE.

But the real wildcard can be your municipality or township. Yours may be permissive, restrictive, or somewhere in between. A police or sheriff’s office can be a good resource. Also check with your aldermen, city or county councils, etc. Again, for a head start – and a few research leads – see AIRSOFTLOUNGE’s legal guide.

Number Two: What Type of Weapon Do You Want to Get?

Part of this equation is simply personal preference. Traditional, personal small firearms come in a variety of styles. For example, you have: handguns (e.g., pistols, machine pistols, revolvers, etc.) as well as “long guns” (which include carbines, rifles, and shotguns). One also has so-called “assault rifles” and machine guns such as light machine guns (LMGs), medium machine guns (MMGs), heavy machine guns (HMGs), and submachine guns (SMGs).

Insofar as Airsoft guns often replicate or simulate the look (and, to an extent, feel) of real-world firearms, they come in many of the same types as those just listed, above. If you have a favorite firearm type, then, you may naturally gravitate towards an Airsoft replica of the same (or similar) type. Thus, style is certainly part of the equation.

Another huge piece of the puzzle is the type of Airsoft gun that you buy.

There are three main types of Airsoft guns:

1. Spring-loaded
2. Gas/Air-powered
3. Electric-powered (also called “AEGs,” or “automatic electric guns”)

For a more detailed introduction into these gun types see HERE (~under construction~). Suffice it to say, presently, that for many roles, a good choice for your first primary weapon will be to go the electric route. (On this, see our “General Recommendation,” below.) However, spring-loaded guns are usually the least expensive of the three types. They make good choices for those on tight budgets and for those in the market for inexpensive, secondary weapons.

However, the remainder of the equation falls out from the following, related question.

Number Three: What Will You Be Using the Airsoft Gun For?

For instance, are you going to be playing Airsoft with other people as a competitive sport? If you are, then one thing you need to do is decide on what role you will be playing. See HERE [~under construction~] for my guide to choosing your role.

Sometimes, the role you choose will more or less dictate what sort of gun you need to buy. For example, if you aspire to be a sniper, you’ll have to get a long-range rifle as opposed to, say… a handgun. (Of course, you may still desire to carry a handgun as a secondary – or “backup” – weapon.) If, on the other hand, you’re a support gunner or a scout, then you may rely heavily upon pistols or short-range weapons.

Contrariwise, if you just want to try Airsoft weapons to plink tin cans in your yard, then you are less constrained in your selection. You could choose anything from a pistol to a machine gun to a sniper rifle and simply shoot them at your leisure, without feeling that you are not adequately carrying out a particular role in a game.

Either way, you might want to peruse the websites for various online Airsoft-gun dealers. My list of retailers is HERE [~under construction~]. Pay particular attention to statistics that matter for your anticipated purpose. For instance, as a sniper, you’ll be concerned with accuracy over distance. As an infantryperson or “rifleman,” you might be more interested in how many shots you can unleash in a short period of time.

You’ll want to look at well-written product reviews, check YouTube for product demonstrations, and visit chat forums for helpful discussions. (You can read AIRSOFTLOUNGE’s recommendations, HERE. ~ under construction~)

Even after (or if) you settle on the functionality and style, the next obvious consideration is price point.

Number Four: How Much Are You Able or Willing to Spend?

To state the obvious: Airsoft guns range widely in price. They may begin at around $50 and run upwards of $500. It is not uncommon for Airsoft competitors to spend between $250 and $350 (£190 to £275) to obtain quality weaponry. And for the serious Airsoft connoisseur, prices in the multiple hundreds (or thousands) are not unheard of.

As hinted at in a previous section, some of this difference has to do with style. To put this point more clearly, you should expect to spend a bit more to purchase a replica Colt M-16 than you would to obtain a replica Walther PPK pistol.

Number Five: Is Your Airsoft Gun Upgradeable?

Upgradeability is another thing that affects weapon pricing. Some guns are able to be “upgraded.” Usually, this means that you have the option of buying accessories for the gun. Common accessories include grenade launchers, laser sights, and optical scopes, among other things. You can often tell at a glance whether a given model gun is upgradeable. Upgradeable weapons typically incorporate what is called a “Rail Integrated System” (or RIS), which is just a piece of metal or plastic with ridges that allows accessories to be bolted onto the gun.

Upgrade capabilities may add value to a gun, but they also add to its cost.

While we’re on the subject of accessories, let me talk a minute about what you can expect to get right out of the box.

If you buy new,[3] your weapons should come with everything you need to fire them. Necessary accessories usually include batteries, chargers, and magazines. These necessities are usually (but not always) included. Typically, the only required item that will be sold separately is the ammunition. (But check the item description or “contents” listing on the product’s box.)

Airsoft guns fire lightweight BBs. It is a good idea to avoid purchasing cheap BBs. Low-quality ammunition can jam the firing mechanism.[4] If this occurs, you may have to have your gun serviced, which brings me to the last point.

Number Six: What Kind of Warranty Does Your Airsoft Gun Have?

In this context, the word “warranty” basically refers to a promise, from the weapon manufacturer, that guarantees that the product will be free from material defects, and that this will be apparent because the product will last a certain period of time – provided that the purchaser uses the product in a “normal” way and only in “normal” conditions. If the product does not last, under normal use, then the warranty prescribes that manufacturer will repair or replace the defective product – usually at little to no cost to the consumer.[5]

Common guarantee periods might be 30, 60, or 90 days. “Normal” use and conditions can be defined in various ways, but is intended to impel the manufacturer to redress your grievance if your brand new gun falls apart when you first pull the trigger, but to also relieve the manufacturer of the obligation to replace your Airsoft rifle in the event that, say, you use it as a baseball bat.

It is not unusual for a manufacturer to require that you properly maintain your Airsoft gun in order to quality for warranty replacement or service. In order to maintain your weapon, you must clean it regularly. See AIRSOFTLOUNGE’s article “How to Clean Your Airsoft Gun.” (~under construction~)

Retailers may also offer “extended warranties” that can help to guarantee you a working gun for a longer period of time than you would have on the strength of the manufacturer’s warranty alone.

If you think that you even might be interested in purchasing an extended warranty for your gun, be sure to budget accordingly. Extended warranties will add a few dollars onto the purchase price.

General Recommendation

This article is not intended to give product-specific recommendations. For readers who are interested in my favorite products, please see my “Recommended Products” page. (~under construction~) However, generally, after perusing all of this data, I would personally suggest the following.

Airsoft beginners should invest in some sort of introductory electric, automatic (or AEG) assault rifle. It is a good idea to make sure that it has a rail-integrated system (or RIS), which would bring your expected cost to around $100. An automatic assault rifle – in whatever style suits your personality – is a great beginner weapon because it is quite easy to get the feel of. Additionally, most electric Airsoft weapons work relatively the same way. This means that it’s a fantastic weapon to learn on. And at around $100, it wouldn’t really be too expensive, considering the range of possible prices.

However, if $100 is a bit too expensive (e.g., for younger readers who might be saving up allowance or birthday money), then try getting a spring-powered pistol instead. A pistol would also get you used to how Airsoft guns really work, and it would typically only cost $25-$50 dollars. And this is for a respectable, first weapon. If, later on, you have the funds and interest to make a second purchase, your spring loader can become your backup weapon.

As stated earlier, it is your responsibility to ensure that Airsoft guns are legal to purchase and use in your area. (See, again, HERE.) Additionally, before actually shooting it, make sure that you have a handle on proper safety procedures – as well as the requisite safety items (minimally, ear protection). For some safety tips right from state congresspeople and police officers, see HERE.

Be safe; and happy shopping!

Notes:

[1] In this post, I will give you some things to think about. I am concerned to help you decide on what general type of gun to buy. For specific, product recommendations, please check out AIRSOFTLOUNGE’s “Recommended Products” page.

[2] Again, keep in mind that local restrictions may apply. See our LAW GUIDE for more.

[3] We recommend that you only buy from reputable stores.

[4] There are miniature paintball BBs that you can buy for Airsoft guns. The appeal for competitive Airsoft is apparent. The paint marks remove the guesswork when it comes to tracking when, where, and how often a player is “hit” during game play. Despite this theoretical advantage, however, available reports suggest that these can be highly unreliable and may sometimes even burst open inside of the gun, damaging or ruining the firing mechanism. Presumably, use of these mini-paintballs also voids any applicable manufacturer’s warranty. For these reasons, AIRSOFTLOUNGE strongly cautions against the use of these BBs.

[5] In some circumstances, the buyer may need to pay to ship the product to the manufacturer. In other cases, the manufacturer pays for this as well.