Buyers Guide: 4 Easy-to-Use Airsoft Guns for Beginners

Have you decided to venture into the exciting world of Airsoft?

Congratulations. You’re in for loads of fun!

The sport started in Japan in the 1970s when shooting enthusiasts weren’t allowed to use real guns or bullets. Today, Airsoft is quickly becoming one of the most popular and enjoyable outdoor sports—we even have international Airsoft events sponsored by big brands in the industry. 

To get started, you need a well-performing and affordable gun. Guns are the most important and expensive investment for an Airsoft player when it comes to tactical gear.

Finding the perfect gun replica, especially as a beginner, can be tricky. With many different gun replicas on the market to choose from, you can easily get overwhelmed and confused about which ones are best to start with. 

To help you have an easier time shopping for your first Airsoft gun, we’ve compiled a list of the best gun replicas that are suitable for beginners. We’ll explore their specifications, prices, and pros and cons to empower you to make the best purchasing decision.

Table of Contents

1. What Are the Main Types of Airsoft Guns?
2. The Best Airsoft Guns for Beginners
3. What’s Our Favorite Airsoft Gun For Beginners?

What Are the Main Types of Airsoft Guns?

Before we start recommending gun replicas, you need to understand the main types of Airsoft guns. With this knowledge, you will be able to make a more informed choice that suits your budget, needs, and style preferences. 

There are four main types of Airsoft guns: electric guns, gas guns, spring guns, and HPA guns. The table below shows how the guns in each category work.

Airsoft Gun Type	Mechanism and Performance
Automatic Electric Gun (AEG)	Battery-powered—the battery powers a motor that spins a series of gears and a piston to create air compression to fire a ball bearing Capable of automatic firing Able to be modified or upgraded The most commonly used Airsoft gun Ideal for beginners
Gas Guns	Feature a built-in gas canister that’s inserted into the magazine. Pulling the trigger releases the gas, which travels to the nozzle to propel the BB. Often regarded as the coolest and best-performing Airsoft guns Use either CO2 or green gas Require more maintenance and lubrication than electric guns Subject to performance fluctuations based on weather Ideal for beginner and intermediate players looking for more realism
Spring Guns	Have a manual propulsion system that relies on you cocking the action before each shot to fire a BB Not as durable as other types of gun replicas Not suitable for competitive play Most of them are best suited for intermediate and advanced players
High-Pressure Air Gun (HPA)	Have a compressed air tank attached by a hose. Pulling the trigger forces the HPA engine to project the compressed air and fire the BB Most AEGs can be converted into an HPA system by swapping the electric internals out for an HPA engine Highly advanced guns that are also quite expensive Ideal for experienced players

The Best Airsoft Guns for Beginners

With an understanding of the different types of Airsoft guns available on the market, the next step is to explore some of the best options for beginners. 

These are our top picks of the best gun replicas for beginning players:

Best Overall Beginner Gun: Soft Air Colt M4A1

Specifications 
Manufacturer: Officially Licensed Colt Trademarks
Material: Metal/ABS plastic
Caliber: 6
Weight: 4 lbs
Dimensions: 26.75 x 3 x 10 inches
Muzzle velocity: 380 FPS
Magazine Capacity: 350 rounds
Powerplant: AEG
Action: Semi-automatic/full-automatic 
Safety: Manual
Hop-Up: Yes, adjustable

Lightweight, durable, and affordable, this gun is perfect for beginners. The gun’s exterior is made of polymer, while the interior is made of metal—making for a light weapon with long-lasting performance. 

The gun comes with a 350 round hi-cap winding magazine that will keep you in action as it shoots a strong 380 FPS. You can use it as either a semi- or full-automatic rifle to help you stay at the top of the pack and bring victory to your team. 

It comes with other accessories, including a six-position adjustable stock and rechargeable battery, as well as four accessory rails to mount attachments. 

With a compact and lightweight design, the Soft Air Colt M4A1 is perfect for both close-quarters indoor combat and run-and-gun style field play. 

We highly recommend it to beginners and intermediate players looking for a reliable, affordable, and versatile gun. It can also be an affordable backup platform for advanced airsoft players.

Pros	Cons
Compact and lightweight design Suitable for both indoor and outdoor play Removable rear sight Charges quickly	Requires a backup battery Needs careful maintenance to prevent misfiring

Best Beginner Spring Gun: Sig Sauer SIG1 MPX Airsoft

Specifications
Manufacturer: Sig Sauer
Frame Material: Plastic
Caliber: 6
Length: 25 inches
Weight: 2.2 lbs
Velocity: 300 FPS
Power Source: Spring
Magazine Capacity: 26 rounds, plus 500-round reservoir

One of the coolest-looking submachine guns on the market, the Sig Sauer SIG1 MPX is suitable for new Airsoft players.

With an all-polymer construction, it’s an affordable, lightweight spring gun that is comfortable to play with during extended games. 

All you have to do is pull the charging handle to load and cock the rifle. Since the gun is spring-operated, you don’t have to worry about carrying gas canisters or batteries during combat. 

The gun has a full metal barrel assembly that assures durability. It also has a Picatinny top rail, where you can attach optics, flashlights, lasers, and other accessories. 

With front and rear sights, the Sig Sauer SIG1 MPX Airsoft has amazing accuracy even when you’re shooting from a distance. Its accuracy and precision are further enhanced by its rubber buttpad and ergonomic grip.

The Sig Sauer SIG1 MPX Airsoft comes with a 26-round magazine and a reservoir that holds 500 more, ensuring you don’t run out of ammo mid-combat. The gun fires at 300 FPS. 

If you want to make it even more compact, you will be delighted by the gun’s detachable three-position stock.

Pros	Cons
Doesn’t require batteries Durable and lightweight polymer construction Easy to use, hence perfect for beginners Retractable stock	Can be quite noisy Unrepaireable

Best Torque: G&G Combat Machine CM16 SRXL

Specifications
Manufacturer: Guay Guay Trading Co. Ltd. G&G
Frame Material: Metal
Caliber: 6
Length: 37 inches
Weight: 4.14 lbs
Velocity: 400 FPS with 0.20 g BBs
Power Source: AEG
Magazine Capacity: 450
Fire Modes: Semi-automatic/full-automatic
Safety: Programmable to 3-round burst
Hop-Up: Yes, adjustable

If you’re willing to dig a little deeper into your pockets, the G&G Combat Machine CM16 SRXL is an ideal starter gun for you.

It has Combat Machine’s standard features and offers high-quality upgrades and modifications at a great price. 

Some of its improvements include an ambidextrous magazine release, redesigned polymer receiver, a metal key-MOD rail system, and metal flip-up sights. The gun also boasts an ergonomic grip, a micro-switch trigger, and an adjustable stock.

While the G&G Combat Machine CM16 SRXL beats other AEGs in price and styling, its interior design and upgrades are even more important. 

It’s installed with a MOSFET, which allows you to use batteries without worrying about damaging the gun. It also has a programmable fire control that enables you to choose either full-auto fire or three-round burst fire modes. 

With the latest tech features, this is an excellent gun for a beginner that’s willing to spend a little bit more. The gun will shine in outdoor, open-field environments.

Pros	Cons
High-quality upgrades and modifications at an affordable price Can be disassembled easily for maintenance Ergonomic grip for steady shooting Programmable fire mode Comes with an adjustable hop-up	Doesn’t come with either a battery or charger Unable to pull back charging hand

Best Budget Beginner Gun: Tippmann Tactical Commando AEG 

Specifications
Caliber: 8
Weight: 10 lbs
Frame material: Plastic
Sights: Flip-up front and rear
Muzzle velocity: 350–370 FPS
Magazine type: Mid-cap
Powerplant: AEG

Tippmann Tactical Commando AEG is one of the most advanced yet affordable rifles for new Airsoft players. 

Tippmann is known for their mass-market entry-level guns for both Airsoft and paintball. The Tippmann Tactical Commando is the Airsoft equivalent of the Tippmann 98, their popular paintball gun.

With a strong polymer build, the gun is both lightweight and durable. If you’re looking for a gun for younger players who don’t have the strength for heavier guns, the Tippmann Tactical Commando is a perfect choice. 

The gun comes with several amazing features that you may not find in other guns at this price point. For instance, to boost accuracy, it has flip-up iron sights with an unlock button and an ergonomic grip. In addition, with its integrated rails, the gun can be customized with accessories such as lasers and lights. Its rear sight is also adjustable.

It has an impressive muzzle velocity of 350–370, which gives it a realistic feel during combat.

Pros	Cons
Accurate sights Strong yet lightweight build Customizable Realistic look	Doesn’t come with batteries

What’s Our Favorite Airsoft Gun For Beginners?

Ultimately, the best replica gun for you depends on how much you’re willing to spend, your playstyle, and your preferences. 

If you don’t mind spending a little more on cool upgrades and powerful torque, we recommend the G&G Combat Machine CM16 SRXL. 

Do you dislike the idea of carrying gas canisters or batteries while engaged in combat? Go for the Sig Sauer SIG1 MPX Airsoft. 

If you are looking for the best budget gun to start playing, you won’t go wrong with the Tippmann Tactical Commando AEG Carbine 14.5in Airsoft Rifle.

Our favorite beginner gun, which offers the highest value for the price, is the Soft Air Colt M4A1 Gun. It’s lightweight and durable, and you can comfortably use it for both indoor and outdoor gaming.