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Styles and Models of Airsoft Pistols
Learn about airsoft pistols and handguns and how you can use them as backup guns or as primary weapons on the airsoft playing field. Getting the right pistol and practicing with it can make all the difference in hitting your shots. Pistols, by nature, are shorter range airsoft guns. They are usually designed after real pistols or replicas of real handguns. Many airsoft pistols are fully licensed versions of their real gun counterparts and look and operate in the same ways while shooting airsoft BBs instead of real bullets.
Types of Airsoft Pistols
There are several types of airsoft pistols including CO2, green gas (blowback and non-blowback), spring powered, and AEG automatic electric pistols. Each of these types of pistols has positives and negatives associated with them. Learning about the types of airsoft pistols helps you decide which type is right for you and your airsoft play style.
CO2 Airsoft Pistols
CO2 airsoft pistols are one of the most common and durable types of pistols. They are all season guns working well in many types of weather and climates. These pistols use high pressure CO2 gas to propel airsoft BBs out of the gun barrel. The CO2 cartridge is normally stored in the pistol's magazine.
These types of airsoft guns are great for playing in colder weather since the compressed CO2 gas is less prone to variation with temperature. This provides great FPS and shot consistency while playing airsoft in the winter for example where other types of guns like green gas stop functioning or barely shoot airsoft BBs.
About CO2 Gas and CO2 Cartridges
CO2 airsoft pistols are powered by standard 12 gram CO2 cartridges. These cartridges look like a metal cylinder and contain high pressured CO2 gas consisting of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms hence the molecular formula of "C + O2". These atoms are bonded in the following order "O=C=O". The gas is stored in the 12 gram cartridges under very high pressure of around ~800psi which converts to 55bar.
The CO2 cartridges are not reusable and you can usually buy them in packs of 12, 20, 50, or 100 12 gram CO2 cartridges. They come sealed to keep the CO2 gas securely inside, but once they are opened (firing them in an airsoft gun breaks the seal) they will begin to lose pressure if they are left unused. You should try to use up the entire CO2 cartridge the same day you open the seal. If the airsoft games end and you still have CO2 gas left, use the opportunity to do some pistol target practice and use up the rest of the extra gas. There is no gas level indicator on the cartridge so you need to shoot until the gun stops firing.
CO2 cartridges have a long storage life if they are kept sealed. They do have a manufacturer's expiration date usually listed on the box or cartridge, but they will last for a very long time past this date if the cartridge seal is not broken.
Best Selling CO2 Airsoft Pistol
- Compatible with the Walther PPS M2 CO2 Airsoft pistol (2272817)
- 15-round capacity
- For use with 6mm plastic airsoft BBs
- Easy to load and carry
- NOTE: Includes airsoft gun mag only (Airsoft gun NOT included, CO2 NOT included)
Last update on August 7, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Green Gas Airsoft Pistols
Green gas airsoft pistols are similar to CO2 pistols, but they do not use CO2 cartridges. Instead, they use green gas or propane for propellant to shoot the airsoft BBs. The effect on the battlefield and green gas weapon performance is practically the same as CO2 pistols with the guns shooting up to 300+ FPS. Shots are quickly fired in semi-automatic or automatic firing modes and accurate at short to mid-range distances.
The green gas is stored in the pistol's magazine which can often hold between 15 to 20+ BBs depending on the pistol model. A series of valves, rubber gaskets, and seals keep the gas stored in the magazine until the pistol's trigger is pulled. It is a good idea to refill and top off your green gas in the magazine each time you reload it. Pistol-wielding players can also carry extra bottles of green gas in the field for reloading between lulls in the battle or between games.
When carrying a green gas pistol on the airsoft field as a primary or secondary weapon, additional magazines are recommended for quickly reloading. Having extra magazines helps you get back in the action during firefights or while clearing buildings in CQB (close quarters combat) room-to-room combat.
Green gas pistols are ideal for CQB at airsoft fields since rifles and full-sized AEGs are usually not allowed to be used during indoor game play. This is a safety rule due to the close range proximity of players during shooting engagements. While green gas pistols still shoot airsoft BBs at around 300 FPS, the short pistol barrel helps to keep the joules and energy propelling the BB lower compared to airsoft rifles, sniper rifles, and long guns.
About Green Gas Blowback (GBB) VS Green Gas Non-blowback
There are two different types of green gas airsoft pistols. First there are green gas blowback pistols or GBBs. These pistols operate like a real handgun with the slide "blowing back" with every shot. The gas causes the slide to cycle when a new airsoft BB is chambered. This effect is very cool, but the guns often cost more and potentially have more to break. The green gas non-blowback airsoft pistols have a fixed slide which does not move. The non-blowback guns usually cost less than GBBs. Performance is about the same between the two types of green gas pistols.
About GBB and Green Gas Limitations
While green gas usually performs very well, it does have limitations. This includes when they are used during the winter in the snow or in cold weather (like under 32 degrees F). Since the green gas or propane is stored in the magazine using rubber seals and gaskets, the cold can affect these seals and cause the gas to leak out before shooting. This can cause the airsoft BBs to only shoot a few feet (like 10 feet in the cold) when it would normally shoot airsoft BBs over 100+ feet in warmer weather).
One solution to this problem is to keep the GBB pistol magazines warmer by placing them next to your body before game play. This can help to warm up the seals and better seal in the green gas. If you really want to play with a dependable airsoft pistol in the cold, it may also be worth getting a CO2 version of your favorite handgun. The CO2 cylinders come sealed and perform much better in sub-freezing temperatures and while playing in the snow.
Best Selling GBB Airsoft Pistol
- 15-shot, .177 caliber BB air pistol
- Powered by a 12-gram CO2 cartridge (CO2 not included)
- Shoots .177 caliber steel BBs at up to 410 FPS
- Integrated Weaver rail for easy mounting of accessories
- Fixed Glock-style sights and officially licensed Glock markings
Last update on August 8, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Spring Airsoft Pistols
Spring airsoft pistols are powered by powerful springs that launch the BBs out of the pistol barrel. They are usually single shot. The manual actions of reloading, cocking, and firing spring pistols makes the fire rate much slower than CO2 and GBB pistols. This makes them fun to use but less effective when facing opponents on the airsoft field with fully automatic airsoft AEG rifles and CO2 or GBB airsoft pistols.
Spring pistols work best in springer wars where players can only use similar, single shot spring guns or as a transition weapon for CQB environments when you can usually surprise other airsoft players to get a guaranteed one-shot-one-kill. In the latter case, a fast second followup shot isn't needed because the other player is already hit and out of the game or heading back to respawn. Be careful when engaging multiple opponents since the gun only fires as fast as you can re-chamber an airsoft BB manually.
About Spring Pistol Performance
Spring pistols are very effective under the right circumstances. Their FPS usually chronos at around 250 FPS to 300 FPS with 0.12g airsoft BBs. These guns usually fire lighter weight airsoft BBs since the springs are less powerful than other types of airsoft guns. Spring pistols can usually shoot up to 120 feet or more with 0.12g BBs but accuracy decreases quickly. Using standard 0.20g weight airsoft BBs, you will probably have less range of around 60 to 80 feet with increased accuracy.
Best Selling Spring Airsoft Pistol
- Fabric: Lightweight, non-stretch denim
- Distressed patches, Frayed hem
- Rise: 9in / 23cm
- Inseam: 2.75in / 7cm
- Button closure and zip fly
Last update on August 8, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
AEG Automatic Electric Airsoft Pistols
AEG airsoft pistols or AEPs (automatic electric pistols) are also an option to carry as a sidearm on the airsoft field. These automatic electric pistols are commonly powered by mini stick batteries in the gun's handle. They operate much like an AEG rifle and use compressed air with electrically cycled cylinders and gearboxes to shoot airsoft BBs quickly and rapidly.
AEG pistol magazines normally hold around 20 to 30 airsoft BBs. The pistols can shoot airsoft BBs up to around 300 FPS with 0.12g airsoft BBs or 200 to 250 FPS with 0.20g airsoft BBs. The electric gearbox system can shoot around 700+ BBs per minute assuming you have enough magazines to reload and the battery lasts that long. These pistols can accurately shoot airsoft BBs at around 150 foot ranges.
AEG Pistol Quality and Performance
AEG pistol quality has increased significantly in recent years. The early generations were a little bit questionable and unreliable, but the newer models have the bugs worked out and make effective airsoft secondary weapons. They can be upgraded with increased magazine capacities as well as accommodating larger batteries.
A huge benefit of using an AEG pistol is that you have the ability to rewire the connectors to use a larger battery. Depending on the AEG pistol model, you can gain a large jump in performance by using a two cell Lipo battery (2S Lipo) instead of the stock battery. Be careful with modifying the components and wires since you must take into account the voltages, mAh, and loads of the batteries. If you have modding questions, ask a professional gun technician at your closest airsoft store.
Best Selling AEG Airsoft Pistol
- 15-shot, .177 caliber BB air pistol
- Powered by a 12-gram CO2 cartridge (CO2 not included)
- Shoots .177 caliber steel BBs at up to 410 FPS
- Integrated Weaver rail for easy mounting of accessories
- Fixed Glock-style sights and officially licensed Glock markings
Last update on August 8, 2022 // Source: Amazon API
Which Airsoft Pistol is Right for Me?
Choosing the right airsoft pistol for you depends on your budget, how much you want to play airsoft with it, and where you plan to play. If you have $100 or more to spend on your airsoft pistol, check out a green gas blowback pistol or AEG pistol. These are usually the top of the line, have the best performance, and can be a good investment. If you have between $50 to $100 to spend, check out a CO2 pistol or cheaper GBB pistol. These will still get the job done and can be durable sidearms. If you have less than $50, look for a low end CO2 or spring pistol. You can still find a durable airsoft pistol to use for the pistol games.
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