I’ve been playing airsoft for sometime. And, I’ve decided to buy a new gun. I’m thinking of getting a pistol. They say that it’s a great support weapon. It would definitely look great in my vest. I’ve seen a lot of airsoft pistols online. Most of teammates carry a gas airsoft pistol. But I saw some electric airsoft pistols too. And, they looked impressive. I’m tempted to get an electric airsoft pistol but then since most of my friends use gas airsoft pistols, I’m not sure if I should get one. What do you think? 

Airsoft pistols are very good support weapons for airsoft games. There are three kinds of airsoft pistols: the spring pistol, the gas pistol and the electric pistol. Spring airsoft pistols or springers are the cheapest airsoft guns in the market. It is the best option for people who do not have the money to buy a gas airsoft gun or automatic electric gun (AEG). You can get these pistols for as low as $25. High-end springers cost $50. The disadvantage of using a springer is that it has a limited range and power.

Electric pistols, on the other hand, are powered by 4 AAA batteries. Some low-end electric pistols are as cheap as spring guns. Some of the high-end electric airsoft pistols are just slightly more expensive like the Tokyo Marui Dezert Eagle Electric Pistol which fires semi-auto rounds and costs only $59. These pistols can go as high as $65. Although they are cheaper than gas guns, the disadvantage of using electric airsoft pistols is the power and range are also limited. They shoot around 100 to 130 fps and they are not very durable. They have the tendency to burn out after a few months.

You might as well settle for a cheap gas pistol. When it comes to power, range and accuracy, a cheap gas pistol can surpass the two other types of airsoft pistols. Perhaps this is the reason why your friends prefer to use gas airsoft pistols instead of electric ones. The only disadvantage of using a gas pistol is that it might not work well during cold weather. Also, gas pistols are very expensive. They cost around $100 and above. You also need to load these babies up with gas. A canister usually costs $20.

A realistic feature of gas guns is the gas blowback. It resembles the recoil that you would feel when you fire a live gun. Try firing one and you'll see the slide of the pistol move back just like a real gun.

Despite the extra expense, gas airsoft pistols would be more useful to you in an airsoft game. Gas airsoft guns have been used for a very long time. In fact, it has been around longer than automatic electric airsoft guns (AEG). In the past, there were gas assault rifles and machine guns. Unfortunately, none of them are manufactured today. But, if you visit a forum, you might find pictures of these "antiques".