Need some help picking out the right airsoft gun? If so, you’re not alone! With everything from airsoft pistols to AK-47s available with the click of a button, choosing the wrong airsoft gun is an easy mistake to make, and it’s also a costly one.
In order to avoid wasting your hard-earned money on a subpar airsoft gun that won’t cut the mustard, you need to take a few things into consideration. Lucky for you, we’ve broken them down step-by-step.
Step 1 – Think About Your Budget
If you’re tight on cash and don’t have much to spend on an airsoft one, you’ll be better off saving up some dinero for a quality model that’s been proven in the field. Sure, you may have to wait an extra week or two, but trust me, you’ll be better off in the long run.
That being said, there are plenty of good airsoft guns available for budget-conscious players. Although you could spend several hundred for the absolute best airsoft gun, you definitely don’t need to in order to dominate the competition. You could splurge and buy the best airsoft assault rifle or the best airsoft pistol money can buy, but your performance will depend just as much on your skill and tactics as it will on your airsoft weapon.
Nonetheless, you should be ready to spend at least $100 for a decent airsoft gun. If you want the very best beginner airsoft gun, you should even be prepared to spend a little more.
Step 2 – Consider What You’ll Be Using It For
After you’ve set a budget and know how much you want to spend, the next step in choosing an airsoft gun is considering what you plan on using it for. Is it going to be used for target shooting? Do you want to use it for the action-packed thrills of CQB and tournament play? Perhaps you want an airsoft gun just to have some fun with your friends?
If you’re going to be using it for target shooting or sniping, then an accurate airsoft gun with an extra-long barrel and high FPS is a must. If you plan on doing some CQB, then an AEG would be best as it will provide you with better maneuverability and rapid fire shooting. You get the point.
Step 3 – Determine Your Role
Similar to deciding upon the type of airsoft activities you want to participate in, the next step is determining the specific role you want to play.
If you just want to mess around with friends in your backyard, then any airsoft gun will probably work. However, if you plan on playing in tournaments and attending events, you need to have a clear picture in your mind of what role within the team you want to play.
For instance, do you want to be right up front in the middle of all of the action, or would you prefer to hide in the background while you pick off targets and provide cover for your team? Here’s a look at the typical roles within an airsoft team you can choose to play:
- Airsoft Sniper – As an airsoft sniper, you’ll need an airsoft sniper rifle with a long barrel, superior accuracy, and a high FPS. The best sniper rifles are generally non-electric and feature a traditional bolt-action, single-shot design.
- Airsoft Support Gunner – The Support Gunner position usually requires a fully automatic airsoft gun with a large magazine capacity and a high rate of fire. Gunners like to make it rain airsoft pellets and often just spray hundreds of rounds at their opponents hoping for a hit. If this sounds like you, it’s important to know this technique is seriously frowned upon, so you’ll want a weapon capable of popping off accurate semiauto bursts as well.
- Airsoft Rifleman – If you’re new to airsoft and interested in finding the best airsoft gun for beginners, this is the role or position for you. The Rifleman position is by far the most popular and makes up the majority of most squads. As a Rifleman, you will have to deal with a variety of situations and ranges. One minute you can take a target out at 100 feet and the next you could find yourself taking an up close “kill shot.” Therefore, the best airsoft guns for this position are typically M4s, G36s, AK-47s, and other semi-automatic workhorses.
- Airsoft Team Leader – If you rise up through the ranks and become Team Leader or Section Commander, you’ll need an AEG with a rapid fire system and semi- and fully-automatic capabilities. Basically, any quality assault rifle will work just fine for this role.
Step 4 – Decide On a Type of Weapon
From M16s and MP5s to G36s and P90s, there are dozens of different types of airsoft guns made to resemble and shoot just like the real thing. After you know your budget, the type of shooting activities you want to do, and the role you’ll play within your team if you go the competitive route, you need to decide which specific type of gun you want for your arsenal. There’s no right or wrong answer here. It all depends on your needs, likes, and what you want out of your airsoft gun.
Step 5 – Consider the FPS
An acronym for feet per second, FPS is a common term in the airsoft world used to describe the speed at which an airsoft gun can propel a pellet. If you plan on sniping, the higher the FPS the better, because a sniper rifle with a high FPS will shoot more accurately. If you’re into CQB, however, a high FPS might not necessarily be a good thing, because getting pegged at close distance by a sniper rifle or another high-FPS gun is anything but fun.
Step 6 – Don’t Forget About Weight
The weight of an airsoft gun is another important consideration. Although it may seem cool to run around with a fierce M60 or RPK, the weight of these beastly guns is way too much for most airsoft players to handle. If you’re built like a middle linebacker and have the strength to tote one of these bad boys around with you all over the place, more power to you. However, chances are you’ll be much better off going with a versatile lightweight model.
Still wondering what is the best airsoft gun for you? Our airsoft gun buying guide and in-depth reviews will certainly help you make up your mind. So, think about these tips and check out the rest of the resources on this site in order to find the right airsoft gun for you today!
