The airsoft pistol is more likely the very first airsoft weapon you came in contact as a beginner. I am saying this not because I think a pistol is a weapon for beginners, but because this is a small, light weapon that’s easy to maneuver. These are the reasons why they are best fitted for inexperienced players.
Of course, not everyone is the same, so you’ll need to find a pistol that fits your needs and expectations. Sadly, this is a bit more complicated since the market is flooded with lots of models and producers. This makes it difficult to find the best airsoft pistol for your needs, especially if you’re a beginner. But don’t worry! The guide below will help in finding the best air soft pistols on the market for your needs.
To make things extremely simple, I reviewed the top 3 models you can find online for sale. I compared their most important features and below you can learn more about their behavior in various situations and specifications.
Don’t forget to visit my other reviews. If you are into airsoft you may also be interested in learning who’s the airsoft sniper champion, the top airsoft brands you need to know about and how to pick a premium airsoft rifle before buying one.
H&K .45 Blowback (Best Airsoft Pistol)
Type: Semiautomatic with a CO2 cartridge
Muzzle Velocity: 350 – 420 FPS
Material: ABS plastic stock and metal parts
Weight: 1.36 lbs
Range: 35 feet
Magazine: 28 rounds, drop-free metal magazine
Special features: Hop-up, Accessory rail
The H&K .45 Blowback is similar to the H&K USP so if you’re used to one of those, the transition will come extra-easy. Still, even if you’re a beginner, you’ll notice the pistol feels good in your hands. The stock is made of ABS plastic but the rest of the components are full-metal and this makes you think about a real weapon.
The design is simple and elegant with nice H&K trade marks on the left side. I honestly like the craftsmanship, but I appreciate the grip the most. It is well-shaped and covered with a textured surface, so there’s no need for any tricks to improve your grip. In my hands (medium size) it feels like it belongs and I don’t think a beginner will have any problems. Still, if you have small hands, the level of comfort may be a bit lower.
The pistol is produced by the top airsoft pistol brands in the market and you can see they didn’t spare any attention to details. The manual safety and the ambidextrous magazine release are some great features that usually don’t show up on airsoft pistols. The magazine release implements a simple mechanism and makes reloading a piece of cake.
The trigger is smooth and responds quickly, so you won’t hurt your hand by pulling it hard. This may also be a disadvantage for a nervous shooter so beware of this feature!
The gun is equipped with an NS2/System7 gas system that works extremely well in warm weather but drops in efficiency in cold weather. Actually, this is valid for most gas-powered pistols out there on sale, so it’s not a flaw in the design. Regarding velocity and range, you should get about 350 to 400 FPS (according to the BBs used), and you’ll get 100% accuracy at a 35 feet range.
Like with most high-quality pistols, the BB feeder has metal lips (for increased durability) and there is an additional safety feature that locks the trigger during transportation. This way, it is prevented any accidental discharge.
As you can see in the name, the H&K .45 has a Blowback action. This means there is some recoil and you’ll feel the slide coming back with each shot. Still, don’t expect to have the same action as a real gun (that if you’ve ever used one). The Blowback action is also useful in letting you know when you’re out of BBs as the slide will be locked in the back position. To release it, use the ambidextrous slide release that can be easily accessed with your thumb.
Finally, the hop-up can be easily adjusted and you don’t have to take the pistol apart to do so. All in all, this is a great airsoft pistol for sale for beginners and experienced users as it offers quite the experience.
Pros:
- Healthy weight
- Lots of metal components
- Good speed and range
- Accurate
- Affordable
- Good for both beginners and advanced users
Cons:
- Sensitive trigger
- Powerful Blowback action (not so great for young users)
- De-cocker is not ambidextrous
Colt 1911 CO2 (Most Affordable Handgun)
Type: Semiautomatic with blowback CO2 pistol
Muzzle Velocity: 340 – 380 FPS
Material: full metal body
Weight: 2.4 lbs
Range: 30 feet
Magazine: 15 – 17 rounds
Special features: Rear sight can be adjusted for windage, Adjustable hop-up
I’m sure you know Colt is one of the most well-known gun manufacturers in the world, but did you know the M1911 design is just as famous? Besides being extremely popular among military and law enforcement agencies all over the world, the M1911 showed up in a ton of Hollywood movies.
The Colt 1911 CO2 is an almost-exact replica of the old M1911 and I honestly consider this one the best airsoft pistol ever! This airsoft is not cheap but it really does what you want, which is fun. The most excellent part is that it copies a more modern version of the old Colt and features an M9-style trigger with a light pull so make sure to keep your safety on whenever you’re not shooting.
Keep in mind that this is a full metal pistol with powerful blowback action so make sure you keep it away from kids and beginners. It is also pretty accurate, but it is highly dependent on the type of BBs you’re using. For instance, for my test, I used.20g BBs and the Colt was shooting a lot higher than expected. You’ll probably get better results with heavier BBs.
I like that it is fast and the magazine is easy to drop and reload, so you’ll have time to regroup when you’re on the field, taking fire. Also, you’ll know when you’re out of BBs as the slide locks back. Another feature I like: the slide gets released when you put a new magazine in so you don’t have to look for a release button.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a more realistic gun, the Colt 1911 is one of the champion airsoft pistols to buy.
Pros:
- Great weight (makes it feel real)
- Powerful and fast
- Good Blowback action
- Durable
- Affordable
Cons:
- The hop-up is too strong
- The CO2 runs out pretty fast
- It has a powerful recoil, so it’s not recommended for beginners
KJW M9 (Fantastic Choice For Beginners)
Type: Semiautomatic with blowback green gas/CO2 pistol
Muzzle Velocity: 310 – 330 FPS
Material: full metal body
Weight: 2 lbs
Range: 30 feet
Magazine: 26 rounds
Special features: Adjustable Hop-up, On-frame safety, Rail integrated into the frame for lasers and flashlights, Grips can be replaced
This is quite a beautiful pistol! The smooth design and elegant look make it one of the best-rated airsoft handguns for every enthusiast (beginner or not). I especially like that there are no engravings or trademark notices on the barrel.
Since it is full metal, the feel is very realistic in both weight and touch. It is also extremely durable and will not break in case you drop it. The pistol is great in a close-quarters battle but make sure your magazine is full before entering the field. There are some issues with reloading, so it’s also recommended to bring an extra one.
Speaking of the magazine, I love the fill valve it features! The rubber gasket keeps gas from leaking out during filling and it keeps things silent. Have you ever been discovered because your enemy heard you filling your mag with gas? Well, this won’t happen anymore with the KJW M9!
One feature I love is the fact that the airsoft gun supports different types of gases (green gas, propane, and CO2) without having to do any upgrades. This means any guns for sale won’t be sensitive to weather (CO2 doesn’t work that well in cold weather) and you won’t be limited by the local stores. Of course, you can always buy your airsoft pistols and accessories online, but some countries limit the type of gas you have access to.
Regarding accuracy, it gives 100% in a 30 feet distance, but you may have some troubles at larger distances. Of course, it matters the type of BBs you’re using (our test was done with .20g BBs). The hop-up is adjustable and this will help your accuracy, but you have to remove the slider and use the small wrench that comes with the pistol to twitch it. So it’s a bit complicated.
Just like any other airsoft weapon out there, make sure to activate the safety when you’re not on the field. The fire selector moves from safety to fire mode very easily and you can access it with your right thumb.
The trigger is quite long, but light and the blowback is not as powerful as you would expect for such a gorgeous gun. This makes it one of the best airsoft support guns on sale out there or one of the best pistols for beginners. Still, I recommend this to anyone looking for a Beretta 92 look-alike as this is one of the best replicas you can buy online.
Pros:
- Solid build and good weight
- Easy to break apart and put back together
- It works with green gas, CO2, and propane
- Good accuracy and speed
- Good recoil and easy to upgrade
- Great for CQB situations
Cons:
- The magazine is a bit difficult to reload
- The blowback is not as powerful as expected
- It is a loud gun
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