9 Best Airsoft Guns Under $500 for 2024 (Ranked and Reviewed)

Having a great airsoft gun is crucial for any airsoft player. However, the best airsoft guns can be quite pricey. In order to help you choose the best gun for you, we ranked and reviewed 9 of the best airsoft guns under $500 on the market in 2024.

If you’re in a hurry:

The choice of airsoft guns on the market is huge, with literally thousands of options available. But, a lot of the airsoft guns available are low-quality and should be avoided. This is especially true for cheaper products. That’s why having a reliable guide in choosing a more affordable airsoft gun is crucial.

And before you pick which gun in particular to go with, you need to decide the type of airsoft gun you want. In airsoft, you can choose between assault rifles, pistols, sniper rifles, SMGs, as well as other types. In addition, depending on how they’re powered, there are electric, gas, and spring airsoft guns. If you’re a beginner looking to get into airsoft, we strongly recommend getting an electric airsoft rifle, or an AEG.

If you’re not really sure what airsoft guns even are, how they are used, what to look for in them, how to stay safe when using them, and what types of airsoft guns are there, you can check out our buyer’s guide below.

There are many factors to consider when choosing an airsoft gun. Some of the more important ones that we took into account when we made this list are the shooting performance (FPS), accuracy, reliability, build quality (both internal and external), value for money (we made sure to only include airsoft guns on the list if they’re definitely worth their respective price), the presence of an adjustable hop up, the reputation of the manufacturer, as well as others.

And now, here are the best airsoft guns under $500 on the market in 2024.

Best Airsoft Guns Under $500 for 2024

The good news is that $500 is more than enough for a high quality airsoft gun, whether you’re looking for an AEG, SMG, pistol, or a sniper rifle. In fact, with that budget, only some of the most premium options are outside of your reach.

Best Airsoft AEGs Under $500

1. Elite Force/VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4 AEG Rifle

FPS	370-380
Length	800mm-890mm, Adjustable
Inner Barrel	~363mm
Battery	9.6v Small Butterfly Type recommended
Magazine	120rd Mid-Capacity
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Elite Force / VFC

Among the many great AEGs, we chose the VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4 as the best airsoft gun under $500. This full metal (aluminum) airsoft gun is likely the best M4 replica on the market.

The VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4 is a powerful airsoft gun, with an FPS of around 370-380. It comes with a mid-capacity magazine of 120 rounds, and it features an adjustable stock, a quick spring change system, an ambidextrous selector switch, and a dual MOSFET.

This airsoft rifle is one of the most accurate and snappy replicas on the market. It’s a lightweight airsoft gun that has a great rate of fire. Both its externals and internals are of the highest quality. And it comes awesome right out of the box, without the need to customize. All in all, it’s difficult to find a flaw in the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4.

Apart from a carbine version with an inner barrel of 363mm, you can also find an Avalon Saber CQB version. This one comes with a shorter inner barrel length of 250mm and is a great choice if you want a more compact gun.

If you’re looking to spend around or less than $500 on an airsoft gun, the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4 is very likely your best choice.

2. Krytac Full Metal Trident MKII CRB Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	380-400
Length	675mm – 787mm, Adjustable
Inner Barrel	280mm
Battery	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type
Magazine	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Krytac

You can find good AEGs even below $400. One great example is the Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG. This is another awesome airsoft gun, which comes at a significantly lower price compared to the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4.

The Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG also comes great straight out of the box, without needing upgrades. Along with the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4, it’s one of the best M4s on the market, and in fact one of the best airsoft rifles overall.

The FPS of this airsoft gun is comparable to the best ones out there, at around 380-400. It’s on the shorter side, which makes it more comfortable and maneuverable. The Krytac features a high-capacity magazine of 300 rounds, an adjustable rotary hop up, and an ambidextrous selector switch and fire selector.

It’s manufactured by Krytac, which is owned by the KRISS ARMS group. This manufacturer is one of the most reliable ones when it comes to airsoft rifles, and the Trident MKII CRB AEG is a proof of this.

In a nutshell, the Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG is hands down one of the best airsoft guns out there. Although it might be a little bit below the VFC Avalon Saber Carbine M4 in terms of quality, for that price you really can’t go wrong with it.

3. Krytac Full Metal Trident MKII SPR Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	400
Length	840mm – 920mm, Adjustable
Inner Barrel	416mm
Battery	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type
Magazine	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine
Gearbox	Ver 2 Full Metal, Fully Upgradeable
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Krytac

Another very similar option to the Krytac CRB is the Krytac Trident MKII SPR AEG. Just like the CRB, this one is also great right out of the box, and features a high-capacity magazine of 300 rounds, an adjustable rotary hop up, and an ambidextrous fire selector.

The only differences between the Krytac Trident MKII CRB and the Krytac Trident MKII SPR are in the FPS and the rifle length. The SPR will generally shoot with a slightly higher FPS of 400 and above. On the other hand, the CRB is shorter, and is therefore more maneuverable. We ranked it before the SPR only because we value the compactness of the CRB more than the small increase in FPS.

Both the Krytac CRB and the Krytac SPR are some of the best options on the market, and you can’t really go wrong with any of those. Which one you choose will completely depend on whether you value the SPR’s slight improvement in FPS more than the compactness of the CRB.

4. KWA Full Metal VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine Airsoft AEG Rifle

FPS	390-440
Length	825.5mm – 908.1mm
Inner Barrel	396.9mm
Battery	7.4v Small Type LiPo recommended
Magazine	30/120rd Mid Capacity
Gearbox	Ver 2.5 Full Metal
Motor	Long Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	KWA

If you’re a beginner, and consider the Krytacs too expensive, there’s an even cheaper solid option. It’s the VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG, manufactured by another highly reliable airsoft manufacturer, the Taiwanese KWA.

One of the newest models on the list, it has already proven itself as maybe the best airsoft gun in its price bracket. It features the brand-new Variable Performance System by KWA, as well as other relatively newer features.

The KWA VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG is a full metal rifle that comes with a reinforced metal gearbox, matched heavy duty springs and high-torque motors, rotary style hop up, and a PTS Enhance Polymer Grip which provides more comfort.

It’s one of the more powerful airsoft rifles on the list, with a high FPS of around 390-440. It’s also accurate and highly dependable. On the other hand, it features a relatively lower (compared to some of the others rifles on the list) mid-capacity magazine with 30/120 rounds.

The KWA VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG may not be as excellent as the abovementioned airsoft rifles. However, if you’re looking for a good airsoft gun for a price of around $300, there is probably no better choice.

Best Airsoft SMG Under $500

5. Krytac KRISS Vector AEG SMG

FPS	375-395
Length	445mm / 665mm (Folded / Total)
Inner Barrel	155mm
Battery	11.1v 1400mAh or lower LiPo battery length cannot exceed 116mm.
Magazine	95 round VECTOR Mid-Cap
Gearbox	8mm VECTOR proprietary gearbox
Motor	Short Type
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Two-round burst/Full-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Krytac / Licensed by KRISS USA

If you’re looking for a shorter and more compact airsoft gun, you should consider a submachine gun (SMG). These are more maneuverable and portable than assault rifles, and are therefore better for close quarters scenarios. If you decide to go that way, there are some truly great airsoft SMGs on the market.

Among those, we chose the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG as the best one out there. It’s a sturdy and durable SMG, with great externals and an innovative internal design. And it looks awesome too, although that’s up to your taste.

The Krytac KRISS Vector SMG is accurate and powerful, shooting at an FPS of around 375-395. It features an 8mm VECTOR gearbox, an adjustable rotary hop up, a short type high torque motor, a quick change spring system, an ambidextrous fire selector, and a mid-cap magazine with a capacity of 95 rounds.

This SMG comes with picatinny rail systems both on the top and bottom, which are perfect for adding accessories. It also features an electronic trigger which enables a smooth trigger response. And unlike most of the airsoft guns on this list, which usually have semi and full auto firing modes, the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG also has a two-round burst firing mode.

An airsoft SMG can be a great alternative to an assault rifle, especially for close quarter scenarios. Indeed, while most assault rifles will be at least 700-800mm long and with an inner barrel of over 300mm, the Krytac KRISS Vector SMG comes with an inner barrel that is 155mm long. If the price tag isn’t an issue, you can hardly find a better SMG on the market.

Best Airsoft Pistols Under $500

Airsoft pistols are generally cheaper than AEGs. In fact, with a budget of $500, even the best airsoft pistols are comfortably within your reach. Here are the best airsoft pistols under $500 (and at the same time the best overall):

6. Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 Gas Blowback

FPS Range	250-300
Gas Type	HFC134a, Green gas
Dimensions	235mm x 143mm
Magazine	31 rounds
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
System	Gas Blowback
Firing Mode	Semi-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Tokyo Marui

Among the plethora of great options, we chose the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 Gas Blowback pistol as the best one out there. Manufactured by one of the most famous airsoft companies ever, the always reliable Japanese Tokyo Marui, it can hardly get better than this pistol.

While other companies have created similar airsoft pistols, this one is truly elite, fully living up to the reputation of Tokyo Marui.

It’s a gas blowback pistol featuring a high-strength polymer slide and frame. The Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 uses green gas and can shoot up to 300 FPS. Its magazine can carry 31 rounds, much more than standard gas blowback pistols, so it protrudes slightly from the bottom.  

The Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 is lightweight with a comfortable grip. It features a Hi-Grouping barrel stabilization and a hop up system which make it highly accurate. Apart from its high accuracy, it also has a great range. In a nutshell, the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 is characterized by great shooting consistency, FPS stability, and cycling speed.

It’s an all-plastic pistol, which comes with both advantages and disadvantages to full-metal pistols. Some of the advantages are the snappy blowback, the cycling speed, as well as having great gas efficiency.

One of the disadvantages of plastic airsoft pistols is that the slide is less durable. However, the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 has a solid construction and has proven to be very durable in various tests. Therefore, it successfully overcomes even the biggest concerns usually related to plastic pistols.

In addition to it being great out of the box, the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 is also highly upgradeable and customizable, with a number of aftermarket parts available for fine-tuning it.

The Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 may be among the pricier pistols, but without a doubt, it lives up to the price. And due to its gas efficiency, in the long run, it’s still cost-effective. Hands down, this is probably the best airsoft pistol you can get.

7. Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2

FPS	345
Gas Type	12g CO2 Cartridges
Dimensions	230mm x 135mm
Magazine	14+1 rounds
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
System	Gas Blowback
Firing Mode	Semi-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Elite Force / Umarex

Another option you absolutely can’t go wrong with is the Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2. If the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 is the best green gas airsoft pistol, then the Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2 is hands down the best CO2 airsoft pistol out there.

The Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2 features a full-metal construction, which makes it very realistic. Another thing that adds to the realism is the ultra-realistic slide action. This pistol has a great shooting performance and accuracy out of the box, and it comes with an adjustable hop up which further improves them.

It comes with all the features expected of a 1911 safety pistol. The usage of CO2 enables the Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2 to have an FPS of around 345, which is among the highest on this list. The CO2 also enable this pistol to have a very strong blowback, making it one of the most realistic airsoft pistols out there.

The Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2 has a built-in rail to which you can add on a flashlight or a laser. It also features a threaded tip which allows you to add a mock silencer or a suppressor.

The only con to this gun is its relatively low magazine capacity of 14+1 rounds, which is characteristic of all single-stack 1911s.

Even though we ranked it as the second pistol on our list, the Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2 is a viable alternative, and for some players even a better choice than the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1.

Some of the instances when you should definitely consider getting the Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2 over the Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 are:

• if you prefer a full metal build over an all-plastic pistol;
• if you prefer CO2 to green gas; or
• if you want to save some money and not sacrifice quality.

Best Airsoft Sniper Rifles Under $500

8. AMOEBA “Striker” S1 Gen2 Bolt Action

FPS	400
Length	1085mm
Weight	4100g
Magazine Capacity	55 rounds
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
System	High Power Spring, Bolt Action
Manufacturer	AMOEBA

Among the plethora of great options, we chose the AMOEBA “Striker” S1 Gen2 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle as the best one out there. Although relatively new, this powerful sniper is proven enough to justify taking the number 1 spot when it comes to airsoft snipers under $500.

At a little more than 4kg (9 lbs) and 1085mm long, the AMOEBA “Striker” S1 Gen2 is not among the lightest bolt action sniper rifles. However, it’s among those with the highest magazine capacity. This sniper rifle features a magazine capacity of 55 rounds, an adjustable hop up, and shoots BBs at an FPS of 400.

One of its greatest advantages is that it’s highly customizable and upgradeable. It’s customizable with many items, such as with AEG springs, which allow you to adjust its velocity on the fly. In fact, it may be the best airsoft sniper in that regard. This makes the AMOEBA “Striker” S1 Gen2 great for more experienced players. But even if you’re a beginner, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t start with this sniper rifle.

The “Striker” S1 Gen2 is produced by AMOEBA, which is a relatively new company. Despite that, they have proven themselves very solid in manufacturing all kinds of airsoft guns and accessories. This sniper rifle is not an exception.

Taking all relevant factors into account, the AMOEBA “Striker” S1 Gen2 is a great choice for a sniper rifle. It’s powerful, very customizable, and comes at a surprisingly affordable price for a sniper of its quality.

9. Tokyo Marui VSR-10 G-Spec

FPS	260-290
Length	950mm – 1135mm
Weight	2090g
Magazine Capacity	30 rounds
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable
System	Bolt Action
Manufacturer	Tokyo Marui

Another good option is the Tokyo Marui VSR-10. Manufactured by one of the most legendary airsoft companies ever, the always reliable Japanese Tokyo Marui, this sniper rifle is a great choice. It’s such a famous design, that other companies have created snipers based on its exact design. For years, this sniper rifle was and still is considered among the very best ones on the market.

Apart from the unprecedented reputation of its manufacturer, this sniper rifle is one of the most customizable and durable on the list. It provides you with a very sturdy base and a bunch of aftermarket parts for upgrading it.

As with all Tokyo Marui guns, its FPS of 260-290 is on the lower end. This is due to Japanese laws which limit the muzzle velocity of airsoft guns. Therefore, if you want higher FPS, you’ll need to upgrade the sniper rifle itself. So, it’s fair to say that this sniper rifle is more suited for experienced players.

The Tokyo Marui VSR-10 is one of the lightest sniper rifles on this entire list, with a weight of just above 2 kg (4.6 lbs). It features an adjustable hop up and a magazine capacity of 30 rounds.

If you don’t mind paying for a more expensive sniper rifle, than it can hardly get better than the Tokyo Marui VSR-10. Excluding the price as a factor, it would have probably be ranked first among sniper rifles. This is especially true if you don’t mind its lower muzzle velocity, or if you’re planning to upgrade it yourself.

Comparison Table of Best Airsoft Guns Under $500

	VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4	Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG	Krytac Trident MKII SPR AEG	KWA VM4A1 2.5 / M4 Carbine AEG	Krytac KRISS Vector SMG	Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1	Elite Force 1911 TAC Co2	AMOEBA “Striker” S1 Gen2	Tokyo Marui VSR-10
FPS	370-380	380-400	400	390-440	375-395	250-300	345	400	260-290
Type	AEG	AEG	AEG	AEG	AEG SMG	Pistol	Pistol	Sniper rifle	Sniper rifle
Power Source	9.6v Small Butterfly Type recommended	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type	9.6v 1600mAh Butterfly Type	7.4v Small Type LiPo recommended	11.1v 1400mAh or lower LiPo battery	HFC134a, Green gas	12g CO2 Cartridges
Magazine	120rd Mid-Capacity	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine	300rd Hi-Cap M4 magazine	30/120rd Mid Capacity	95 round VECTOR Mid-Cap	31 rounds	14+1 rounds	55 rounds	30 rounds
Hop up	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable	Yes, Adjustable
Firing Mode	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi/Two-round burst/Full-Auto, Safety	Semi-Auto, Safety	Semi-Auto, Safety
Manufacturer	Elite Force / VFC	Krytac	Krytac	KWA	Krytac / Licensed by KRISS USA	Tokyo Marui	Elite Force / Umarex	AMOEBA	Tokyo Marui

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• Best Airsoft Guns Under $300
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• Best Airsoft Guns Under $100
• Best Airsoft Guns for Beginners

Buyer’s Guide

What Are Airsoft Guns?

Airsoft guns are essentially very realistic replicas of real guns. They closely resemble their real-life counterparts in both looks and feel. Some airsoft manufacturers replicate real guns to the smallest details, right down to the triggers, switches, and even logos.

Unlike the real guns they replicate, airsoft guns shoot small plastic pellets, which are 6mm in diameter and weigh 0.1-0.2 grams. Since these are completely safe (if all safety procedures are followed and eye protection is worn), airsoft guns are a great option for combat enthusiasts.

Realism is one of the things that make airsoft so appealing to people who like combat simulations. Airsoft guns allow people to completely immerse themselves into a combat game and be safe at the same time.

In most of the US and the world, airsoft guns are completely legal to use for everyone, and you don’t even need a license. Still, there are some notable exceptions such as Australia, so make sure to research the legality of airsoft in your country.

Staying Safe When Using Airsoft Guns

Keep Your Eyes and Face Protected

The first thing to keep in mind is to always have at least eye protection (goggles) on, but full-face protection (full-face masks) is strongly recommended. Having the full face protected is especially important for children. In fact, at many airsoft fields wearing a full-face mask is mandatory for children.

The reason for wearing eye and face protection is that the face, and especially the eyes, is a very sensitive area. Indeed, the most dangerous airsoft injuries come from being shot in the eyes, which can cause serious issues, and in extreme cases even the loss of the eye. Ears should also be protected since it’s another very sensitive area. Finally, face masks will protect your teeth, which can be easily chipped if shot.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

While you don’t need to wear any special clothes for airsoft, there are certain things you should consider, such as the following:

• You shouldn’t leave any skin exposed. That includes wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, and gloves.
• Wear shoes that offer ankle support. Many airsoft fields are in wooded areas, with a lot of trees and logs, so tripping is possible. Keeping your ankles safe is always a good idea.
• While far from mandatory, knee and elbow pads can also be a good idea.

Always Treat Your Airsoft Guns Like You Would Real Guns

This is another crucial thing. While airsoft guns aren’t real, you need to always treat them as if they were. This includes the following:

• NEVER show off your airsoft guns in public. Yes, you know they are toys. But they look very realistic, and most people won’t be able to tell the difference. If people see you with an airsoft gun in public, they will get frightened, they could call the police, or in the worst case they could pull out a real gun in self-defense. If you want to avoid all that chaos, keep your airsoft guns hidden, carrying them in a gun case (or bag) on the way to the airsoft field.
• Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction, such as the ground. Don’t point the gun at anything or anyone if you’re not planning to shoot it/them. Accidental shootings happen.
• Keep your finger off the trigger unless you’re planning to shoot.
• Keep the gun’s safety on unless you’re planning to shoot.
• DON’T look down the barrel. Even if you have eye protection on.
• Always think of the weapon as if it were loaded. When you’ve finished playing, remove the magazine and ensure that it’s empty. After removing the magazine, shoot a few times on the ground.
• Avoid shooting hard surfaces from a few feet away. Airsoft pellets can ricochet and go pretty much anywhere.
• Keep the airsoft gun in a safe place.
• Don’t consume alcohol before (or during) playing airsoft.

Don’t Shoot Recklessly

You should also consider the safety of other airsofters. That includes never aiming at an opponent’s head and face. Also, avoid shooting from close proximity to an opponent. When in such a situation, yell “Bang!” or something similar instead of shooting the player. Being hit from a few feet away can cause some pain. Finally, don’t shoot blindly, or from small holes.

Follow Any Rules Set by the Airsoft Field You’re Playing At

The airsoft field you’re playing at will likely have its own set of rules, which may include the rules discussed above, but may also include additional rules not mentioned here. Whatever those are, they exist for a reason, and you should follow them at all times. Not doing so can mean putting yourself or others in danger, but could also see yourself banned from the airsoft field.

Types of Airsoft Guns Depending on Their Power Source

Depending on what powers them, there are different types of airsoft guns. Mainly, we divide them in 3 categories: spring, electric, and gas airsoft guns.

Spring Airsoft Guns

The simplest and by far cheapest are the spring airsoft guns. Although the first airsoft guns ever were spring guns, they aren’t practical for an airsoft battle. This is mainly because they require the player to manually cock the gun before each shot. Because of this, they have a much slower rate of shooting and are virtually unusable in an airsoft match.

A notable exception to this is using spring airsoft sniper rifles. Indeed, the only significant usage of spring airsoft guns is when it comes to sniper rifles. Since the slow rate of fire and the need to manually cock the gun before each shot is not an issue with sniper rifles, many of them are of spring type.

Electric Airsoft Guns

The most popular type of airsoft gun are the electric airsoft guns. This is especially true for beginners. We strongly recommend you to go with an AEG as your first airsoft gun, if you’re a beginner.

Electric airsoft guns are battery-powered. They use a motor to pull back a piston which compresses the air behind the pellet, therefore firing it out of the gun.

Electric guns will come with a rechargeable battery and a charger. This means that once you buy the electric gun, you don’t have additional recurring costs, apart from buying pellets. If your battery goes out, you can simply charge it. Having a reserve battery on you can also come in handy, since if the battery goes out while you’re playing that would be game over for you.

They’re also easy to maintain, powerful, accurate, durable, consistent, have a fast trigger response, and offer a wide variety of choices to modify them.

When we talk about electric airsoft guns, people usually think of airsoft rifles. But, there are also automatic electric pistols. While not as popular as gas-powered pistols, they can still be a good choice, and in some cases even a better option than the gas pistol (especially in cold weather, when electric airsoft guns perform better than gas guns).

Gas Airsoft Guns

A gas airsoft gun is a semi-automatic or fully automatic airsoft gun that uses gas as a power source to shoot airsoft pellets out of the gun. There are a couple of gases that can be used to power the gun, most notably green gas and CO2. Gas-powered pistols are a common choice for a sidearm.

These guns are the second most popular type of airsoft guns, following electric airsoft guns. But, there are use cases when gas guns are much more popular than even electric guns. Most notably, gas-powered pistols are more common than automatic electric pistols (AEPs). Therefore, they’re a great option for a secondary weapon.

Even though rifles are the most common, pistols are also widely used in airsoft, mainly as a sidearm. The airsoft pistol has its advantages over rifles, so having them as an option is usually a good idea. They’re especially useful in close-quarters battles and tight spaces because they’re small enough and let you easily move around with them.

Blowback vs non-blowback gas airsoft pistols

Some of the terms that you might have heard are blowback vs non-blowback gas pistols. In essence, gas blowback airsoft pistols are those that have a recoil upon firing, similarly to real pistols. This hugely increases the realism of these type of pistols, so they’re far more popular than any other type of airsoft pistols. A large majority of the items on our list of best airsoft pistols are gas blowback guns.

Still, you should be aware that gas blowback airsoft pistols have a disadvantage too. Once again, that’s their cost-effectiveness. A blowback pistol will use gas both for shooting the BB and for the recoil. In comparison, a non-blowback pistol will only use gas for the shooting.

Despite this, if you’re looking for the best of the best airsoft pistols, it’s very likely you’ll end up with a gas blowback airsoft pistol.

Other terms that you should know are fully and semi-automating firing modes. In essence, fully automatic shooting means that the gun will shoot out pellets for as long as the trigger is pressed, up until you release it. Semi-automatic means that the gun shoots out one pellet for every pressing of the trigger, and you need to release the trigger and press it again for another firing.

Different Airsoft Gun Categories

Airsoft Assault Rifles

This is probably the most popular, as well as the most beginner-friendly category. If you’re just getting into airsoft, your first gun will likely be an airsoft rifle. There’s a huge choice of assault rifles, ranging from relatively affordable to very expensive.

Assault rifles are fully or semi-automatic, which allows them to fire in bursts. They are usually electric powered. You can get airsoft replicas of some famous real-life assault rifles, such as the M4 or the AK-47. Airsoft assault rifles have a great range and are very easy to use.

Airsoft Pistols

An airsoft pistol is essentially a highly realistic replica of a real pistol. While they closely resemble the real pistol they replicate, airsoft pistols shoot small, round, plastic BBs.

In airsoft, pistols are mainly used as a sidearm, a secondary weapon. If you’re mostly playing close quarters, you may even opt for an airsoft pistol as your primary weapon. Pistols are also great for target shooting practice.

Airsoft pistols are highly popular, in part due to their affordability. Indeed, compared to airsoft rifles, pistols are usually much cheaper.

Airsoft SMGs

Airsoft SMGs are something in between assault rifles and pistols. This can often prove as an advantage, since they have the power and fire rate of an assault rifle, while having the compactness of a pistol. Just like assault rifles, airsoft SMGs are most commonly electric.

Airsoft Sniper Rifles

An airsoft sniper rifle is essentially a highly realistic replica of a real sniper rifle. They are long-range, accurate rifles.

Sniper rifles may not be the best choice for a complete beginner, since they are more challenging to use. Still, they can be one of the most fun weapons to use in airsoft.

Although you may think that sniper rifles are expensive, there are actually very affordable options. This is because most sniper rifles in airsoft are spring-type. Not only are they cheaper to get, they’re also cheaper to use because they don’t require gas or electricity. Yet, there are also some very high-quality and expensive sniper rifles.

Airsoft sniper rifles will often shoot at 400 FPS and over. And if you decide to upgrade it, this number can significantly increase. With a higher FPS, sniper rifles also have a better range than other weapon types.

Compared to other weapon types, sniper rifles should usually shoot much heavier BBs. Such BBs are more accurate since they’re not affected by the wind as much.

What To Look Out for When Buying an Airsoft Gun?

If you’re looking to buy an airsoft gun, it’s crucial to know what to look out for. We considered a bunch of different factors when creating this list of best airsoft guns for 2024. These factors are some of the most important things you should look for in an airsoft gun. Here are just some of the things to consider when buying an airsoft gun:

• Build quality – It’s no surprise that one of the key things to consider is the build quality, both internal and external. You want a gun with high-quality internal components (such as the barrel, trigger, and bucking), as well as high-quality external components (such as the grip, slide, and rail).
• Shooting performance – You want an airsoft gun with consistent FPS (meaning that the FPS doesn’t vary too much between different shots), high accuracy (so that you can hit opponents from a distance), and a hop up.
• Reliability – When it comes to construction, metal build is usually considered more reliable than plastic. However, in some cases, the plastic can be of high quality and very durable (such as the Tokyo Marui models), so it’s not a problem.
• Value for money – You’d be surprised how often price doesn’t correlate with quality when it comes to airsoft guns. Therefore, getting a more expensive airsoft gun is justified only if it lives up to its price. When making the list of best airsoft guns, we ensured that the price of each gun on the list is justified.
• The reputation of the manufacturer – Getting an airsoft gun from a well-known brand means that you shouldn’t worry too much about its quality. If you’re buying an airsoft gun produced by a company such as Tokyo Marui or Elite Force, it’s very likely that you’re getting a high-quality piece.

Conclusion

With thousands of airsoft guns out there, it’s difficult to distinguish the quality from the junk. So, we took into account the shooting performance, accuracy, reliability, build quality, value for money, and the manufacturer of the numerous guns on the market to create a list of the best airsoft guns under $500 for 2024.

In this article, we presented the 9 best airsoft guns under $500 currently on the market. Some of the best of the best are the:

• VFC Avalon Gen2 VR16 Saber Carbine M4 – best airsoft rifle under $500
• Krytac Trident MKII CRB AEG – a cheaper option
• Krytac KRISS Vector SMG – best airsoft SMG under $500
• Tokyo Marui Hi-Capa 5.1 – best airsoft pistol under $500
• AMOEBA “Striker” S1 Gen2 – best airsoft sniper rifle under $500

Although there are many options on this list, you really can’t go wrong with any of these picks.

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