Airsoft Basics: What is a Pistol?
What is a Pistol?
An Airsoft pistol is usually a replica of a real world pistol design which uses compressed air or gas to fire a 6mm BB at Airsoft skirmishing safe velocities.
Not to be confused with Air pistols which fire 6mm BBs, an Airsoft pistol must shoot below 350 FPS to be permitted in an Airsoft skirmish.
Airsoft pistols come in all shapes and sizes, and there are several different types of pistols, each of which has its pros and cons. Read on to learn more about the different types of Airsoft pistols and which one suits you the most!
Pistol Types
So, what type of pistol suits your needs? For more information on each pistol type, click the top line!
Spring Action
Spring action pistols use an internal piston and spring system, and require the slide to be cocked back before each shot to load the BB and compress the spring. When the trigger is pulled the spring pushes a piston forward, compresses the air inside the cylinder and shoots the BB down the barrel and at the target (if you pointed it in the right direction, that is!).
Spring pistols come in many different price ranges, and most of the cheaper ones are made from poor quality materials and don't tend to last very long. If a spring pistol is what you want, we recommend going with a reputable brand such as Tokyo Marui, UHC, Umarex or Cyber Gun for your spring pistol needs.
Gas Blowback (GBB)
Gas Blowback pistols are the bread and butter of Airsoft skirmishing, and almost every skirmisher who has been at it for a while will carry a GBB pistol with them in game as a backup weapon and for close range firefights. Gas blowback pistols are powered either by Green Gas or CO2, and store their power source inside the magazine along with the BBs.
These are the most realistic Airsoft pistols on the market, and provide powerful and jarring recoil with each shot which makes keeping the sights on target a challenge, but the shooting experience is unlike anything else you can legally shoot at other people in a skirmish setting.
Each time you pull the trigger the shot fires, the slide cycles and emits a cloud of gas through the ejection port, making for an immersive firing experience like no other. GBB pistols are usually semi-automatic, meaning each trigger pull fires a shot and cycles the action, just like a real semi-automatic pistol.
There are a huge variety of Airsoft GBB pistols out there these days, so if you have seen a pistol in a movie or TV show that you like the look of the chances are you will be able to get your hands on an Airsoft replica of it. The most popular GBB pistols for beginners include the Hi-capa and EU Series which have a wealth of upgrade parts, spare magazines and holsters available. GBB pistols usually come equipped with an adjustable HOP-up unit so you can tune them for different ammo weights and extend your range.
There are certain GBB pistols that are also capable of fully automatic fire, such as the ever popular EU18 series and the mould-breaking AAP-01 Assassin, so if you really want to unleash the thunder down range one of these will give you what you crave! Full auto capable GBB pistols are an excellent choice as a backup weapon to an Airsoft Sniper Rifle, being the perfect tool to keep heads down as you relocate to a new firing position while being convenient to carry and easy to wield with a single hand.
Automatic Electric (AEP)
The Automatic Electric Pistol (AEP) was conceived as a winter alternative to GBB pistols which can suffer from poor performance in colder weather due to a reduction in gas pressure. AEPs use a miniaturised version of the AEG (automatic electric gun) gearbox, and are powered by a small NiMh or LiPo battery.
AEPs are usually capable of both semi-automatic and fully-automatic fire, but the slide does not cycle with each shot due to the space limitations inside a handgun sized platform. AEPs have an adjustable HOP-up unit which is usually accessible when the slide is removed. This is also where the battery compartment of the AEP is located, and AEPs use their own battery type which is far smaller than a standard Airsoft AEG battery.
An AEP would be a fine choice as a sidearm for the winter months, and is also useful as a secondary to an Airsoft Sniper Rifle thanks to their fully-automatic capability. Their low price and slightly lower velocity also makes them perfect for backyard shooting, and younger users who may not yet be ready for a full power AEG.
Gas Non-blowback (NBB)
Gas Non-Blowback (NBB) pistols are a specialised Airsoft pistol which is designed for pure efficiency. The NBB operating system uses all of the gas from each shot to propel the BB, and the slide stays fixed and doesn't move during firing. This also makes NBB pistols very quiet when compared to GBBs, and those Airsoft snipers who require stealth as a priority generally choose an NBB as their secondary.
An NBB does not require manually cocking before each shot, and instead uses the action of the trigger to both load the BB and release the internal hammer to expel gas from the magazine and shoot the BB downrange. This means a single fill of gas lasts a lot longer in an NBB pistol than a GBB pistol, and NBB pistols perform better in cold weather and are generally more consistent and accurate.
NBB pistols are very affordable, sitting just above spring action pistols in price point, though many don't have the option to upgrade the parts later down the line, our favourite, the ASG MK23, is the most upgradable NBB out there. The MK23 can provide sniper like stealth, range and precision when set up properly, though this requires a lot of research and expertise to carry out and is not recommended for new users. If you want to know more about the MK23, check out our review right here!
Like many things in Airsoft, everything is a trade-off, and the improved efficiency of the NBB system comes at the price of a heavier trigger pull, and a lower rate of fire when compared to a GBB or AEP pistol. If you skirmish primarily outdoors an NBB would be a great choice, though a GBB or AEP will be better for close quarters due to their rate of fire advantage. NBBs also make great winter sidearms, and offer more power than an AEP with decent cold weather performance, though they lack the full-auto fun switch that AEPs have.
Why use a Pistol?
Airsofters generally use their pistols as a sidearm, living comfortably in a holster until they are required to take a tight corner on the skirmish field, or when the primary weapon runs dry.
Being small in size, easy to carry and fast to draw makes pistols the natural choice for those who require a secondary weapon and want to get access to it rapidly in an emergency situation.
Any pistol can be used as a sidearm, though the most common pistols used for this are GBB and AEP pistols, and snipers generally prefer an NBB pistol for stealth or a full auto capable GBB for extra firepower.
Some skirmishers choose to use pistols as a primary weapon in CQB (Close Quarters Battle) skirmishes to take advantage of their compact size when compared to rifles, gaining extra agility and allowing more effective use of cover in cramped conditions.
For CQB a GBB pistol would be the best choice due to their almost instantaneous trigger response and high rate of fire in semi-automatic. This gives you the edge when entering a room, and improves your chances of getting the first shot off and getting the kill before the enemy lands one on you!
GBB pistols are also loved by Airsofters for their realism, both in the way they operate and the way they look and feel. The moving slide action and recoil of a GBB pistol are hard to beat when it comes to realism, and GBB pistols are often used as props in the Film and TV industry, and by Military and Law Enforcement for demonstration and training scenarios.
Fingers crossed you now have the foundational knowledge needed to make the right choice when it comes to shopping for your first Airsoft pistol. If you are ready to lock and load and get straight into it, check out our range of Airsoft pistols by clicking the button below!